US08721996B2
A shell which encloses an interior and has at least one first orifice for feeding at least one gas stream into the interior and at least one second orifice for withdrawing a gas stream fed to the interior beforehand via the at least one first orifice from the interior, the surface of the shell, on its side in contact with the interior, being manufactured at least partly, in a layer thickness of at least 1 mm, from a steel which has a specific elemental composition, and in the interior, a process for continuous heterogeneously catalyzed partial dehydrogenation of at least one hydrocarbon to be dehydrogenated is carried out in a reactor which is manufactured from the steel on its side in contact with the reaction gas.
US08721987B1
A system for disinfecting regulated refuse using steam disinfection used a refuse container where the regulated refuse is deposited. Temperature sensors are positioned below and above the refuse to detect the temperature of the disinfecting process, while a recording device operationally connected to the temperature sensors creates an identifying chart, which provides for identification of the time and temperature of processing, origin of the regulated refuse, as well as date and location of the processing.
US08721980B2
Systems and methods of producing chemical compounds are disclosed. An example chemical production system includes an intake chamber having intake ports for entry of a gas mixture. An igniter ignites the gas mixture in the intake chamber. A nozzle restricts exit of the ignited gas mixture from the intake chamber. An expansion chamber cools the ignited gas with a cooling agent. The expansion chamber has an exhaust where the cooled gas exits the expansion chamber. A chemical compound product is formed in the expansion chamber.
US08721971B2
A mesoporous, transition metal oxide material having an average pore diameter ranging from 2 to 20 nm, a basic surface character defined by an isoelectric point>pH 7, and a specific surface area greater than 50 m2/g can be incorporated into a NOx sensing device as a NOx film. The mesoporous, transition metal oxide material includes an oxide of yttrium, lanthanum and/or cerium, and can be formed using a surfactant-templated self-assembly process.
US08721963B2
Methods for sterilizing a biocompatible hydrogel polymer are provided via treating the biocompatible hydrogel polymer with a supercritical CO2 treatment composition at a treatment pressure of about 4 MPa to about 30 MPa and a treatment temperature of about 5° C. to about 75° C. The supercritical CO2 treatment composition can be substantially pure CO2 or may further include hydrogen peroxide (e.g., in an amount of about 10 ppm to about 1,000 ppm). In certain embodiments, the biocompatible hydrogel polymer can be treated with the supercritical CO2 treatment composition for about 30 minutes to about 5 hours. According to these methods, treating the biocompatible hydrogel polymer can kill about 90% or more of any S. aureus and E. coli present in the biocompatible hydrogel polymer.
US08721953B2
An injection mold for an intake hose and an intake hose production method utilizes a main core removably dualized to automatically extract a molding-completed intake hose from the main core after injection molding is completed and an air supplying member supplying compressed air between the main core and the molding-completed intake hose is configured in the main core to automatically extract the intake hose from the main core without an additional extraction equipment, thereby reducing an entire manufacturing process and saving a manufacturing cost.
US08721945B2
The present invention provides inks and methods for making colored silicone hydrogel contact lenses. The ink of the invention comprises an actinically-curable binder copolymer comprising fluorine-containing segments and is characterized by having capability to be cured actinically or thermally to form a colored film on a molding surface of a mold or a silicone hydrogel contact lens and by having an increased durability in a solvated state in a silicone-hydrogel lens formulation in relation to a control colored film obtained from a control ink including an actinically-curable fluorine-free binder copolymer. The invention also provides methods for making colored silicone hydrogel contact lenses based on print-on-mold processes for producing colored contact lenses.
US08721943B2
Dimensionally stable nonwoven fibrous webs include a multiplicity of continuous fibers formed from one or more thermoplastic polyesters and polypropylene in an amount greater than 0% and no more than 10% by weight of the web. The webs have at least one dimension which decreases by no greater than 10% in the plane of the web when heated to a temperature above a glass transition temperature of the fibers. A spunbond process may be used to produce substantially continuous fibers that exhibit molecular orientation. A meltblown process may be used to produce discontinuous fibers that do not exhibit molecular orientation. In some embodiments, the fibers comprise a viscosity modifier and/or an anionic surfactant. The webs may be used as articles for filtration, sound absorption, thermal insulation, surface cleaning, cellular growth support, drug delivery, personal hygiene, medical apparel, or wound dressing.
US08721930B2
This invention relates to compounds, polymeric compounds, and compositions used to prepare semiconductor and optoelectronic materials and devices including thin film and band gap materials. This invention provides a range of compounds, polymeric compounds, compositions, materials and methods directed ultimately toward photovoltaic applications, transparent conductive materials, as well as devices and systems for energy conversion, including solar cells. In particular, this invention relates to polymeric precursor compounds and precursor materials for preparing photovoltaic layers. A compound may contain repeating units {MB(ER)(ER)} and {MB(ER)(ER)}, wherein MA is Ag, each MB is In or Ga, each E is S, Se, or Te, and each R is independently selected, for each occurrence, from alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, alkenyl, amido, silyl, and inorganic and organic ligands.
US08721922B2
Disclosed herein are compositions comprising an electron transport compound, an emissive compound, and an organic solvent. The emissive compound comprises an organic indium complex attached to a nanoparticle core. These compositions are useful in fabricating light emitting devices and can be deposited on a substrate via a printing process.
US08721915B2
This invention relates to partially ordered and ordered oxynitride perovskites of the general formula ABO2N that are polar insulators. A comprises one or more cations or set of cations that sit in sites derived from the A-site in the perovskite structure. B comprises one or more cations or set of cations that sit in sites derived from the B-site in the perovskite structure. C comprises oxygen, O, with optionally some nitrogen, N, and D comprises N, with optionally some O. The total valence of the cations A+B is equal to the total valence of the anions 2 C+D. Also disclosed are methods of producing such oxynitride perovskites and uses of such oxynitride perovskites.
US08721913B2
A lead-based particulate piezoelectric material has a median diameter of less than 1 μm and a particle size distribution expressed by [arithmetic deviation/mean] of no greater than 15% and in which no less than 85% of all particles are cubic.
US08721907B2
A system and a method for milling and inspecting an object. The method may include performing at least one iteration of a sequence that includes: milling, by a particle beam, a first surface of the object, during a first surface milling period; obtaining, by an electron detector, an image of a second surface of the object during at least a majority of the first surface milling period; wherein the object is expected to comprise an element of interest (EOI) that is positioned between the first and second surfaces; milling, by the particle beam, the second surface of the object during a second surface milling period; wherein each of the first surface milling period and the second surface milling period has a duration that exceeds a long duration threshold; obtaining by the electron detector an image of the first surface of the object during at least a majority of the second surface milling period.
US08721902B1
A method provides an EAMR transducer. The EAMR transducer is coupled with a laser and has an ABS configured to reside in proximity to a media during use. The EAMR transducer includes an NFT for focusing the energy onto the media. A sacrificial layer is deposited on the NFT and a mask having an aperture provided on the sacrificial layer. A portion of the sacrificial layer exposed by the aperture is removed to form a trench above the NFT. A heat sink is then provided. At least part of the heat sink resides in the trench. The heat sink is thermally coupled to the NFT. Optical material(s) are provided around the heat sink. A write pole configured to write to a region of the media is also provided. The write pole is thermally coupled with the top of the heat sink. Coil(s) for energizing the write pole are also provided.
US08721898B2
Disclosed is an improved water treatment cavitation reactor cone. The tank operates on a continuous flow of fluids which are subjected to ultrasonic waves in combination with a high level of injected ozone. The treatment tank includes a tangential inlet that induces a rotating flow into the tank thereby increasing the mixing of the ozone within the effluent. The effluent is further treated with DC current. The treatment tank provides a cost efficient and environmentally friendly process and apparatus for cleaning and recycling fluids as contaminated as frac water, used to stimulate gas production from shale formations, as well as other types of fluids having various levels of contaminants such as aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and suspended solids. The calcium carbonate scaling tendency is reduced to an acceptable level without the use of acids, ion exchange materials, or anti scaling chemicals which is of economical and environmental significance and benefit.
US08721892B2
Systems and methods for monitoring analytes in real time using integrated chromatography systems and devices. Integrated microfluidic liquid chromatography devices and systems include multiple separation columns integrated into a single substrate. Using such a device, parallel analysis of multiple samples can be performed simultaneously and/or sequential analysis of a single sample can be performed simultaneously on a single chip or substrate. The devices and systems are well suited for use in high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) applications. HPLC chips and devices including embedded parylene channels can be fabricated using a single mask process.
US08721888B2
A wastewater treatment method using annularly arranged microorganism carriers in a reaction tank, which defines therein an upper reaction area, a lower reaction area and a passage area surrounded by the microorganism carriers and kept in communication between the upper reaction area and the lower reaction area. Microorganisms including nitrifying bacteria and autotrophic denitrifying bacteria are attached to the surface of each microorganisms carriers and suspending in the water of the reaction tank for causing Anammox reaction to convert NH4+ and NO2− in wastewater into nitrogen gas, achieving removal of total nitrogen compounds from water. The microorganism carriers are used to retain microorganisms in the reaction tank, enhancing the treatment efficiency.
US08721884B2
Disclosed are hemodialysis and similar dialysis systems including fluid flow circuits. Hemodialysis systems may include a blood flow path, and a dialysate flow path including balancing, mixing, and/or a directing circuits. Preparation of dialysate may be decoupled from patient dialysis. Circuits may be defined within one or more cassettes. The fluid circuit and/or the various fluid flow paths may be isolated from electrical components. A gas supply may be provided that, when activated, is able to urge dialysate through the dialyzer and blood back to the patient. Such a system may be useful during a power failure. The hemodialysis system may also include fluid handling devices, such as pumps, valves, mixers, etc., actuated using a control fluid. The control fluid may be delivered to the fluid handling devices using a detachable external pump. The fluid handling devices may have a spheroid shape with a diaphragm dividing it into two compartments.
US08721881B1
The present invention relates to apparatuses for improving pool skimmers. In some embodiments, the apparatus is a pool skimmer basket system that includes a skimmer basket, a first tube that is attached to the skimmer basket, and a second tube that is adjacent to and rotatable relative to the first tube. The first tube includes a longitudinal slot that feeds water into the skimmer basket. Without being bound by any particular theory, it is believed that the slot increases the velocity of water flowing into the basket and that the system increases the debris-holding capacity and allows one to avoid having to reach through dirty water to remove the skimmer basket.
US08721872B2
A method for thermally cracking an organic acid containing hydrocarbonaceous feed wherein the feed is first processed in a vaporization step, followed by thermal cracking.
US08721868B2
One embodiment of the invention includes a photovoltaic system that provides both electricity and low-grade heat, together with many options of utilizing the energy. The electricity may efficiently be used to drive a high-pressure electrolyzer that produces hydrogen. The hydrogen pressure may be boosted to a final compression of at least 700 bar. In one embodiment the pressure may be boosted using a metal-hydride compressor and stored. The stored high pressure hydrogen may be used to fill fuel-cell electric vehicle (FCEV) tanks. The electricity can also be used to efficiently charge the batteries in an extended range electric vehicle (EREV).
US08721866B2
A method for electrochemical production of synthesis gas from carbon dioxide is disclosed. The method generally includes steps (A) to (C). Step (A) may bubble the carbon dioxide into a solution of an electrolyte and a catalyst in a divided electrochemical cell. The divided electrochemical cell may include an anode in a first cell compartment and a cathode in a second cell compartment. The cathode generally reduces the carbon dioxide into a plurality of components. Step (B) may establish a molar ratio of the components in the synthesis gas by adjusting at least one of (i) a cathode material and (ii) a surface morphology of the cathode. Step (C) may separate the synthesis gas from the solution.
US08721864B2
A metal covered polyimide composite comprising a tie-coat layer and a metal seed layer formed on a surface of a polyimide film by electroless plating or a drying method is provided. A copper layer or a copper alloy layer is formed thereon by electroplating. The copper plated layer or copper alloy plated layer includes three layers to one layer of the copper layer or copper alloy layer. The metal covered polyimide composite effectively prevents peeling in a non-adhesive flexible laminate (especially a two-layer flexible laminate), and more particularly, effectively inhibits peeling from the interface of a copper layer and tin plating. A method of producing the composite and apparatus for producing the composite are also provided.
US08721858B2
A novel method for visualizing electrokinetic process zones (e.g., for isotachophoresis (ITP)) is provided. We introduce negligibly small concentrations of a fluorophore that is not focused by isotachophoresis. This non-focusing tracer (NFT) migrates through multiple isotachophoresis zones. As it enters each zone, the NFT concentration adapts to the local electric field in each zone. ITP zones can then be visualized with a point detector or camera. The method can be used to detect, identify, and quantify unknown analyte zones, and can visualize complex and even transient electrophoresis processes. This visualization technique is particularly suited to microfluidic and lab-on-a-chip applications, as typical fluorescence microscopes and CCD cameras can provide high-resolution spatiotemporal data.
US08721852B2
An electrochemical sensor system that continuously monitors and calibrates the sensors included in the system. The invention also includes a method for determining failure patterns of a sensor and incorporating into an electrochemical sensor system the ability to recognize the failure pattern and initiate remedial action.
US08721851B2
A sensor chip includes two measuring units. The first measuring unit includes an electrode system having a portion of an electrode and a portion of an electrode, and a portion of a capillary containing the portion and the portion. The second measuring unit includes an electrode system having a portion of a sensor electrode and a portion of an electrode, and a portion of a capillary containing the portion and the portion in addition to a reaction reagent layer. Data related to the temperature of the blood sample is acquired based on the dimension of a current flowing through the temperature electrodes, and data related to a concentration of an analyte in the blood sample is acquired based on the dimension of a current flowing through the analysis electrodes.
US08721849B2
A substantially ring-shaped seat section (8) protrudes from an inner circumference wall in a through hole (4) of a container attaching section (6) made of a metal. On an outer circumference of an electrode shaft (3) held in the through hole (4) through an insulator (5) made of a synthetic resin, locking protrusions (13, 14), which have a diameter larger than a hole diameter of the seat section (8), are provided at a distance from the seat section (8), on at least inner side or outer side of the seat section (8) in a shaft direction of the electrode shaft (3). Thus, for instance, when the inside of the metal container (2) is at a high temperature, the insulator (5) is destroyed and the electrode shaft (3) is to jump out from the container attaching section (6) to the outside or the inside of the metal container (2), the locking protrusions (13, 14) lock the seat section (8) and prevent the electrode shaft (3) from jumping out. Furthermore, since a space provided between the electrode shaft (3) and the container attaching section (6) due to the destruction of the insulator (5) is covered by having the locking protrusions (13, 14) lock the seat section (8), leakage of a liquid in the metal container (2) can be suppressed to minimum even the insulator (5) is destroyed.
US08721845B2
A coated article is provided. The coated article comprises a substrate having a first anti-fingerprint layer, and a second anti-fingerprint layer formed thereon and in that order. The first anti-fingerprint layer is an aluminum oxide layer. The second anti-fingerprint layer is an aluminum-oxygen-nitrogen compound layer implanted with one or more ion species selected from the group consisting of fluorine ion, boron ion, and nitrogen ion. A method for making the coated article is also described there.
US08721841B2
Pulper used in the paper industry that processes pulp which pulper comprises a pulper container (19), a punched plate screen (15) installed to the mentioned container, a binnacle (8) out of the lower part (3) of the container for the mass that has penetrated the punched plate screen (15) and a rotating mixing rotor located in the container (19) and equipped with wings (1); (5) the purpose of which mixing rotor is to defibrate paper and mix the mass in the container (19) and that the mixing rotor further comprises a cylinder part (20) directed downwards towards the punched plate screen (15) and that rotates along the mentioned rotor to which cylinder part wings (2) that clean the punched plate screen (15) are attached and which cylinder part (20) is located between the mixing rotor and the punched plate screen (15). The pulper comprises a dilution arrangement of the pulp that streams towards the punched plate screen (15) in which dilution arrangement the dilution water is brought along the pipework (9) inside the cylinder part (20) and is directed from the gaps (13) of the cylinder part to be mixed with the pulp stream before the mentioned stream has faced the cleaning wings (2) and the punched plate screen (15) in which case the consistency of the mass is adjusted to be thinner than in the pulping space (16) during the mixing.
US08721837B2
In a digester, wood chips and white liquor are combined and cooked under pressure to pulp the wood. This produces black liquor which is concentrated and burned in a recovery boiler. The recovery boiler produces ash that contains sodium, sulphur, potassium and chloride. The ash is dissolved and subjected to a process that recovers sodium sulfate and burkeite. The concentration of potassium and chloride is reduced, in part at least, by subjecting the ash to adiabatic cooling in a crystallizer which produces glaserite and a purge stream rich in chloride. By leaching the glaserite, sodium sulfate is removed from the glaserite, leaving potassium sulfate. The recovered sodium sulfate and burkeite can be recycled and used as pulping chemicals. The removed potassium and chloride can be further treated or appropriately discarded.
US08721834B2
There is provided an apparatus for treating a substrate using a plurality of treatment solutions in sequence. The apparatus includes treatment liquid collecting vessels for separately collecting used treatment solutions, and an exhaust member for separately discharging pollutant gases generated during a process.
US08721825B2
A method for forming cushions including the following four steps: (1) a compression step in which the structure (2) is compressed in a mold (3); (2) a thermal softening step in which the structure (2) is thermally softened by means of a heating medium; (3) a curing step in which the structure (2) directly undergoes forced cooling in a cooling medium, and is then cured; and (4) a mold release step in which the structure (2) is released from the mold (3).
US08721823B2
A method of forming a seal ring includes heating an extruded rod to a temperature above a glass transition temperature. The extruded rod has first and second ends. The method further includes bending the extruded rod into a circular structure while the temperature is above the glass transition temperature, joining the first and second ends of the extruded rod to form a semi-finished ring, and annealing the semi-finished ring.
US08721818B2
A method of encapsulating a toxin on a contaminated surface includes providing a plastic air-tight substrate having first and second opposing surfaces. An adhesive substance is disposed on the first surface. The first surface of the plastic substrate is applied to the contaminated surface such that the plastic substrate is adhered to the contaminated surface, and such that the toxin is completely covered by the plastic substrate.
US08721814B2
The invention relates to the use of a strip of an adhesive tape for reinforcing cardboard packaging particularly in the region of die-cuts and simultaneously as a tear strip for said cardboard packaging, characterized in that a polyolefin film oriented monoaxially in the lengthwise direction of the strip is used as carrier material for the adhesive tape, the film comprising a mixture of an olefinic and a polar non-olefinic polymer.
US08721813B1
Bimetallic alloys prepared in a ball milling process, such as iron nickel (FeNi), iron palladium (FePd), and magnesium palladium (MgPd) provide in situ catalyst system for remediating and degrading nitro explosive compounds. Specifically, munitions, such as, 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), cyclo-1,3,5-trimethylene-2,4,6-trinitramine (RDX), nitrocellulose and nitroglycerine that have become contaminants in groundwater, soil, and other structures are treated on site to remediate explosive contamination.
US08721811B2
The present invention provides a casting having increased crashworthiness including an aluminum alloy of about 6.0 wt % to about 8.0 wt % Si; about 0.12 wt % to about 0.25 wt % Mg; less than or equal to about 0.35 wt % Cu; less than or equal to about 4.0 wt % Zn; less than or equal to about 0.6 wt % Mn; and less than or equal to about 0.15 wt % Fe, wherein the cast body is treated to a T5 or T6 temper and has a tensile strength ranging from 100 MPa to 180 MPa and has a critical fracture strain greater than 10%. The present invention further provides a method of forming a casting having increased crashworthiness.
US08721810B2
Illustrative embodiments provide systems, methods, apparatuses, and applications related to annealing nuclear fission reactor materials.
US08721807B2
A method of making a hypereutectoid, head-hardened steel rail is provided that includes a step of head hardening a steel rail having a composition containing 0.86-1.00 wt % carbon, 0.40-0.75 wt % manganese, 0.40-1.00 wt % silicon, 0.05-0.15 wt % vanadium, 0.015-0.030 wt % titanium, and sufficient nitrogen to react with the titanium to form titanium nitride. Head hardening is conducted at a cooling rate that, if plotted on a graph with xy-coordinates with the x-axis representing cooling time in seconds, and the y-axis representing temperature in Celsius of the surface of the head of the steel rail, is maintained in a region between an upper cooling rate boundary plot defined by an upper line connecting xy-coordinates (0 s, 775° C.), (20 s, 670° C.), and (110 s, 550° C.) and a lower cooling rate boundary plot defined by a lower line connecting xy-coordinates (0 s, 750° C.), (20 s, 610° C.), and (110 s, 500° C.).
US08721803B2
An exposure apparatus exposes a substrate through an exposure liquid with exposure light. A cleaning liquid is provided to the exposure apparatus, in order to clean at least part of the exposure apparatus. In the cleaning liquid, a prescribed gas of an amount that is greater than or equal to the saturation concentration is dissolved.
US08721799B2
A method for controlling and monitoring operation of a dishwasher appliance is provided and includes directing a first automatic wash cycle within a series of automatic wash cycles to be executed by the dishwasher appliance with a control device associated therewith. Each wash cycle is configured to have an increased energy usage level over a previous automatic wash cycle, and the energy usage level for each wash cycle is determined from at least one operational parameter associated with each respective automatic wash cycle. The method further includes directing a second automatic wash cycle, following the first automatic wash cycle, to be executed by the dishwasher appliance with the control device in response to a selection with an actuator device operably engaged with the control device. The selection may be based on a cleanliness evaluation of dishware washed by the dishwasher appliance.
US08721795B2
A process is described for the preparation of water-soluble cellulose hydrolysis products The process comprises admixing cellulose with an ionic liquid capable of solvating or dissolving at least some of the cellulose, said ionic liquid being a compound comprised solely of cations and anions and which exists in a liquid state at a temperature at or below 150° C., and in which the anions are selected from sulfate, hydrogen sulfate and nitrate; and treating the resulting solvate or solution with an acid in the presence of water, said acid having a pKa in water of less than 2 at 25° C.
US08721789B2
An apparatus for crystallization of silicon includes a crucible for containing silicon, a heating and heat dissipating arrangement provided for melting the silicon contained in the crucible and for subsequently solidifying the molten silicon, and an electromagnetic stirring device provided for stirring the molten silicon in the crucible during the solidification of the molten silicon. A control arrangement is provided for controlling the heating and heat dissipating arrangement to solidify the molten silicon at a specified solidification rate and for controlling the electromagnetic stirring device to stir the molten silicon in response to the specified solidification rate of the molten silicon such that the ratio of a speed of the molten silicon and the specified solidification rate is above a first threshold value.
US08721788B2
A method for charging with liquefied ammonia comprising sequentially a feeding step of feeding gaseous ammonia in a condenser, a liquefaction step of converting the gaseous ammonia into a liquefied ammonia in the condenser, and a charging step of feeding the liquefied ammonia formed in the condenser to a vessel to thereby charge the vessel with the liquefied ammonia wherein a cooling step of feeding the liquefied ammonia formed in the condenser to the vessel and cooling the vessel by the latent heat of vaporization of the liquefied ammonia and a circulation step of feeding the gaseous ammonia formed through vaporization of the liquefied ammonia in the previous cooling step to the condenser are carried out between the liquefaction step and the charging step.
US08721784B2
A method of sequestering a greenhouse gas is described, which comprises: (i) providing a solution carrying a first reagent that is capable of reacting with a greenhouse gas; (ii) contacting the solution with a greenhouse gas under conditions that promote a reaction between the at least first reagent and the greenhouse gas to produce at least a first reactant; (iii) providing a porous matrix having interstitial spaces and comprising at least a second reactant; (iv) allowing a solution carrying the at least first reactant to infiltrate at least a substantial portion of the interstitial spaces of the porous matrix under conditions that promote a reaction between the at least first reactant and the at least second reactant to provide at least a first product; and (v) allowing the at least first product to form and fill at least a portion of the interior spaces of the porous matrix, thereby sequestering a greenhouse gas.
US08721782B1
A phase change ink formulation comprising an ink base, carbon black pigment and a poly(hydroxystearic acid) derived dispersant.
US08721778B2
The present invention relates to a foil trap device for debris mitigation, in particular in an EUV system. The foil trap comprises a plurality of spaced apart foils (4) extending from an entrance side towards an exit side of the foil trap, said foils (4) being arranged to allow a straight pass of radiation between the entrance side and the exit side. The foils (4) are coated at least at entrance side edges with a layer (8, 11) of a carbon material containing a fraction of at least 60% of sp3-hybridized carbon atoms, or with a layer (8, 11) of carbon nanotubes. As an alternative, the foils (4) are made of a bulk carbon material of the above composition. The proposed foil trap offers the combination of a high thermal conductivity, a high thermo-chemical resistance against Sn and other liquid metals and a high mechanical stiffness.
US08721774B2
Disclosed is a gas separation composite membrane comprising a polyamidoamine dendrimer (A) having a specific group, a vinyl alcohol-based polymer (B) containing 0.5 to 5 mol % of carboxyl groups, and a crosslinking agent (C) having an azetidinium group, wherein the mass ratio (A)/(C) of the polyamidoamine dendrimer (A) to the crosslinking agent (C) having an azetidinium group is 20/80 to 65/35, and the mass ratio (B)/(C) of the vinyl alcohol-based polymer (B) to the crosslinking agent (C) having an azetidinium group is 20/80 to 80/20. Thus, a gas separation composite membrane capable of separating a specific type of gas from a mixed gas containing water vapor is provided.
US08721763B2
A method for separating metal nanoparticles from colloidal metal solution includes providing a colloidal metal solution, including a plurality of metal nanoparticles; mixing a precipitating agent with the colloidal metal solution for maintaining the power of hydrogen value (pH) of the colloidal metal solution in a specific value; keeping the colloidal metal solution stationary for a static time at an environmental temperature such that the metal nanoparticle precipitates from the colloidal metal solution, and the colloidal metal solution forms a supernatant and a precipitating liquid; separating a precipitate from the precipitating liquid by a filtering process; and liquid blasting the precipitate by a first solvent to obtain the metal nanoparticles.
US08721762B2
A process for synthesizing metal submicron and nano-scale powders for use in articles of manufacture. In a suitable reactor, single metal or multiple metal complexes are heated to a temperature whereby, upon contact with hydrogen gas, an exothermic reaction begins. The further temperature rise in response to the exothermic reaction is minimized by reducing the external heat input, thereby minimizing the agglomeration or sintering of the metal nano-scale particles resulting from the process. Preferably, after drawing a vacuum on the metal complexes in the reactor, the hydrogen is introduced at about, equal to or below ambient pressure and the reaction is purposely made slow to prevent agglomeration or sintering.
US08721761B2
A surface covering composition of abrasion resistant character adapted for disposition in overlying bonded relation to a metal substrate. The surface covering composition includes metal carbide particles within a metal matrix at a packing factor of not less than about 0.6. Not less than about 40 percent by weight of the metal carbide particles are characterized by an effective diameter in the range of +14-32 mesh prior to introduction to the metal matrix. Not less than about 3 percent by weight of the metal carbide particles are characterized by an effective diameter of +60 mesh prior to introduction to the metal matrix.
US08721752B2
A PCD cutting element for use in earth boring drill bits where die interstices remote from the working surface are filled with a catalyzing material and the interstices adjacent to the working surface are substantially free of the catalyzing material is described. An intermediate region between the substantially free portion and filled portion has a plurality of generally conically sectioned catalyst-free projections which taper down, extending to a second depth from the planar working surface, preferably about 0.5 times or more of the first depth.
US08721751B2
An abrasive article including an abrasive body having abrasive grains made of microcrystalline alumina contained within a bond material, wherein the bond material comprises a total content of alumina of at least about 15 mol %.
US08721750B2
A process for producing hydrocarbon products onboard a marine vessel for carbonaceous feedstock includes the steps gasification of the feedstock in a thermal conversion plant connected to an onboard power plant and forming hydrocarbons in a chemical reaction plant.
US08721746B2
A solid fuel molded out of a mixture of wood pieces having a size of 1 to 25 mm, paper pieces having a size of 1 to 25 mm and thermoplastic resin, wherein the mixture contains 80 to 95 parts by weight of the total of the wood pieces and the paper pieces and 5 to 15 parts by weight of the thermoplastic resin, and the weight ratio of the wood pieces to the paper pieces is 20:80 to 90:10.The solid fuel which generates a stable amount of heat is manufactured by using waste wood, waste paper and waste thermoplastic resin in a well-balanced ratio.
US08721745B2
The invention relates to fuel formed by a fuel mixture, whose one component is formed by partially dewatered stillage from the bioethanol production and the other one are milled materials, where the ratio of total of sodium weight and potassium weight in the ashes to the weight of the other non-combustible components of a value less than 1:5.85 and/or it set up to achieve the resulting ash melting temperature of the mixture higher than 760° C. It also relates to the method of obtaining thermal energy from this mixture, in which first the critical combustion temperature causing slagging in the furnace and/or on the heat transfer surfaces and/or of the fluidized bed with melted ashes is ascertained and then the ratio of stillage from the production of bioethanol and to the biomass with low melting temperature of ashes to milled materials is set up in a ratio giving a higher ash-melting temperature of the resulting mixture than the ascertained critical temperature and then the obtained partially dewatered mixture is combusted in the combustion apparatus. It also relates to the method of obtaining thermal energy from waste in the preparation of the fuel mixture, e.g. from centrate, and to the apparatuses for the implementation thereof.
US08721743B2
Batteries and related methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method of making a battery can include passing a mandrel through an opening defined by a pellet that includes an electrode composition. The mandrel can have a transverse cross-section with a first dimension and a second dimension that is larger than the first dimension.
US08721742B2
The present invention is drawn to an agent and process for altering the color of keratin fibers wherein the agent comprises: (A) a color base composition containing a fatty substance having a viscosity greater than about 50 mm2/s at 40° C.; a rheology modifying polymer; and an alkalizing agent; a short alkyl chain hydroxy compound chosen from monoalcohols and polyols; a direct dye; optionally an oxidative dye precursor; and (B) optionally, an oxidizing composition comprising an oxidizing agent.
US08721740B2
The present invention is drawn to an agent and process for altering the color of keratin fibers wherein the agent comprises: (A) a color base composition containing from about 5% to less than about 50% by weight of a fatty substance; a rheology modifying polymer; an alkalizing agent; and a short alkyl chain hydroxy compound chosen from monoalcohols and polyols; an oxidative dye precursor; and an oxidizing composition comprising, an oxidizing agent; and wherein the pH of the agent for altering the color of keratin fibers ranges from about 1 to about 7.
US08721738B1
Systems and methods for limiting access to data in a portable data storage device. An exemplary method may use an electronic computing device to prevent access to the data and includes the step of providing the portable storage device with a first software program that has a current expiration time value. The first software program is able to compare the current expiration time value against a time based parameter and activate a security mechanism protecting the data stored in the portable data storage device based on the comparison. The method also includes the step of providing an electronic computing device with a second software program. The second software program is able to identify the portable data storage device and reset the current expiration time value of the first software program to a later time value when the electronic computing device is electronically communicating with the portable data storage device.
US08721728B2
The present teachings provide a modular glenoid prosthesis for replacing a portion of the anatomy. The prosthesis can comprise a platform having a coupling portion, a base and a central bore that extends from the coupling portion through the base. The central bore can define a tapered region, and the coupling portion can include a plurality of bores and a groove coupling feature. The prosthesis can include a glenoid component having a plurality of pegs. Each of the plurality of pegs in combination with at least one tab, the tab configured to engage the groove coupling feature of the platform can be coupled to a respective one of the plurality of bores. The prosthesis can include a glenosphere including a tapered stem couplable to the tapered region. The glenoid component and the glenosphere are selectively couplable to the platform for replacing the portion of the anatomy.
US08721725B2
An intervertebral prosthesis, in particular for the cervical spine, has two attachment plates connected in an articulated manner. The attachment surfaces of the attachment plates, which are configured for attachment to adjacent vertebral bodies have a base surface configured to bear on the surface of the vertebral bodies, and self-tapping fixing projections rising from the base surface. These fixing projections are formed by at least one pair of ribs which extend in opposite directions obliquely with respect to a predetermined implantation direction and whose side faces oriented more away from the implantation direction are steeper than their side faces oriented more in the implantation direction. The ribs can be toothed.
US08721722B2
An intervertebral implant and associated method. The intervertebral implant can include a first component having a first articulating surface and a first bone engagement surface for engaging a first vertebra, and a second component having a second articulating surface and a second bone engagement surface for engaging a second vertebra adjacent to the first vertebra. The first and second articulating surfaces articulate with each other for substantially replicating a natural spinal movement. The first and second bone engagement surfaces define an outer surface substantially shaped as an envelope of five cylinders.
US08721720B2
A dilator may include a substantially conical body having a tip portion at a proximal end and a base portion at a distal end thereof. A wire lock portion may be configured to lock a guide wire to the dilator. A voice prosthesis holding portion may be connected to the substantially conical body by a connecting portion. The holding portion may have a central passage configured to have a tubular body of a voice prosthesis positioned therethrough, wherein at least one flange of the prosthesis is substantially unfolded proximally of the central passage.
US08721719B2
A blood pump controller includes a microcontroller and a communication interface. The microcontroller is configured to communicate with various types of blood pump communication modules. The microcontroller is further configured to determine, based on communication with a particular type of blood pump communication module, the particular type of blood pump communication module communicated with. The microcontroller is further configured to select, based on the determination of the particular type of blood pump communication module, control logic used to control the particular type of blood pump communication module. The microcontroller is further configured to generate, based on the selected control logic, commands for controlling the blood pump communication module. The communication interface is configured to connect the microcontroller to the particular type of blood pump communication module.
US08721708B2
A prosthetic valve assembly for use in replacing a deficient native valve comprises a replacement valve supported on an expandable valve support. If desired, one or more anchors may be used. The valve support, which entirely supports the valve annulus, valve leaflets, and valve commissure points, is configured to be collapsible for transluminal delivery and expandable to contact the anatomical annulus of the native valve when the assembly is properly positioned. Portions of the valve support may expand to a preset diameter to maintain coaptivity of the replacement valve and to prevent occlusion of the coronary ostia. A radial restraint, comprising a wire, thread or cuff, may be used to ensure expansion does not exceed the preset diameter.
US08721707B2
An endoprosthetic device for treating abdominal aortic aneurysms using suprarenal fixation. A stent ring is anchored in an area above the renal arties using self-flaring barbs that project during the nitinol expansion process. Sutures extend from the stent ring to an area below the renal arties to a bifurcated trunk portion comprising a nitinol fabric on a non-kinking frame. The bifurcated trunk is sealed proximal the iliac arteries and includes iliac leg holders having self-flaring retention struts for non-traumatic holding of iliac leg prosthetics. Suprarenal fixation and collapsible cells having retention projections and barbs that only flare during the nitinol expansion process assist in lowering the devices profile and sheathability for percutaneous delivery and may provide for recapturing the anchored device.
US08721704B2
An improved stent-graft device is provided that delivers a smooth flow surface over a range of operative expanded diameters by applying a unique cover material to the stent through a technique that allows the cover to become wrinkle-free prior to reaching fully deployed diameter. The unique cover material then allows the device to continue to expand to a fully deployed diameter while maintaining a smooth and coherent flow surface throughout this additional expansion. Employed with a self-expanding device, when the device is unconstrained from a compacted diameter it will self-expand up to a fully deployed diameter with the graft being substantially wrinkle-free over diameters ranging from about 30-50% to 100% of the fully deployed diameter. Preferably, the graft component comprises an elastomeric material, such as silicone, polyurethane, or a copolymer of PAVE-TFE.
US08721700B2
A therapeutic heated pocket and method of use in accordance with the present disclosure generally comprises an outer covering, edge trim, baby-dry material, insulation material, headliner material, heating coil, heating element, power cord and power adjustment controller. The pocket allows an arthritis sufferer to quickly and evenly warm an affected area in order to increase blood flow to the area. This has been shown to increase mobility and decrease pain for several hours after use.
US08721689B2
A multi-axial spinal cross-connector is configured for connection between spinal fixation devices such as spinal fixation rods. The cross-connector has first and second connection members that are joinable at a fixable pivot junction. The pivot junction allows the connection members to assume various positions relative to one another. A clamp is provided on each end of the first and second connection members whose open and closed states are controlled by fixation of a pivot structure which also fixates the positions of the first and second connection members relative to each other. The cross-connector provides single and/or multi-step locking of both end clamps at the pivot joint. The cross-connector also provides easy in situ sizing, positioning and adjustability.
US08721678B2
A surgical tourniquet cuff system includes a tourniquet cuff with a cuff connector for communicating pneumatically with the cuff and for releasably connecting to a tourniquet instrument connector to establish a pneumatic passageway between the cuff connector and the tourniquet instrument connector. A tourniquet instrument supplies pressurized gas through the pneumatic passageway to the cuff. The tourniquet instrument connector includes a cuff pressure transducer for producing a cuff pressure signal indicative of the pressure of gas within the gas passageway near the connection. The cuff may include a cuff usage register for containing a cuff usage record and the tourniquet instrument connector may include a cuff usage register interface for reading the record. The tourniquet cuff may further include a cuff sheath forming a flexible conduit containing the cuff connector and sized to allow the connection of the cuff connector to the tourniquet instrument connector within the sheath.
US08721668B2
Disclosed herein is a system for releasing a ligament. In one embodiment, the system includes a proximal handle, a tubular body, and a flexible body. The tubular body includes a proximal end and a distal end. The handle is coupled to the proximal end. The flexible body extends through the tubular body and includes a tissue cutting portion. The flexible body is longitudinally displaceable relative to the tubular body to move the tissue cutting portion between a non-deployed state and a deployed state.
US08721659B2
A stylet-lead assembly includes a therapy delivery element and a stylet. The therapy delivery element includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen having a lumen length extending from the proximal end to almost the distal end. The stylet includes a stylet handle including a locking insert having a first channel adapted to receive a proximal end of a stylet wire. A portion of the stylet wire extending beyond a proximal end of the locking insert includes at least one bend. The stylet handle has an opening at a distal end adapted to compressively engage the proximal end of the stylet wire to the locking insert, such that an exposed portion of the stylet wire measured from a distal end of the stylet wire to a distal end of the locking insert generally comprises the lumen length.
US08721657B2
A medical instrument for performing a medical procedure within a body cavity includes: an insertion part which is inserted into the body cavity and has a bending part capable of bending in a predetermined range; a manipulating part which manipulates the bending part; a wire which connects the bending part with the manipulating part; and a clutch which is provided in the manipulating part and maintains a bending state of the bending part.
US08721656B2
Methods and devices are adapted for implanting into the eye. An incision is formed in the cornea of the eye and a shunt is inserted through the incision into the anterior chamber of the eye. The shunt includes a fluid passageway. The shunt is passed along a pathway from the anterior chamber through the scleral spur of the eye into the suprachoroidal space and positioned in a first position such that a first portion of the fluid passageway communicates with the anterior chamber and a second portion of the fluid passageway communicates with the suprachoroidal space to provide a fluid passageway between the suprachoroidal space and the anterior chamber.
US08721646B2
A staple constructed from shape memory material provides the ability to move from a first shape to any point up to and including a second shape. The staple includes a bridge having a first member and a second member, and allows the second member of the bridge to change elevation with respect to the first member, thereby creating compressive forces, offset forces, or distraction forces. Upon the application of energy, the second member moves upward or downward to deliver forces, dependent upon a desired effect. The staple further includes first and second legs for attaching to first and second bones. The offsetting forces may be utilized to offset the second bone relative to the first bone, or to align offset bones. The bridge may include a transition member or plurality of transition members in communication with the first and second members, whereby the transition member moves about the first member.
US08721642B1
Methods and devices are disclosed herein that generally involve cooling tissue (e.g., localized cooling of tissue), and in particular applying therapeutic hypothermia to the spinal canal, tissue disposed within the spinal canal, and/or nerve roots extending from the spinal canal. In some embodiments, tissue can be cooled by clamping a cooling instrument to a bone or implant that is proximate to the tissue. The cooling instrument can define a chamber through which a chilled fluid, expandable gas, or other coolant means can be circulated, delivered, or activated to cool adjacent tissue. The degree of cooling can be regulated using a controller, which can be configured to increase or decrease the cooling effect based on any of a variety of measured or predicted physiological or thermodynamic properties. Methods are disclosed for utilizing cooling instruments and for carrying out various treatment regimens that involve cooling tissue using such instruments.
US08721639B2
An energy delivering probe is used for thermally coagulating and/or constricting hollow anatomical structures (HAS) including, but not limited to, blood vessels such as perforator veins. The probe includes a shaft and at least two electrodes where at least one of the electrodes has a generally spherical or toroidal geometry.
US08721638B2
A handheld surgical assembly has a body, a first end, a second end, and a body length separating the first and second ends, an energy input and output, the energy output located at the first end of the body, the assembly also having a sensor that is coupled to the handheld surgical assembly, in fluid communication with an outside environment, and operable to identify a plurality of gases, with the assembly additionally having an electronic circuit system communicatively coupled to the sensor, the electronic circuit system being operable, upon the identification of at least one of the plurality of gases by the sensor, to control the energy output from the handheld surgical device.
US08721631B2
An improved device and method for safe, accurate and efficient surgical procedures are disclosed. The disclosed device is an optical fiber set with an asymmetric distal end configuration, comprising a bent tip fiber with a fused sleeve as an integral part of it, placed at the fiber's distal (output) end and with a rotatable connector at the proximal (input) side. Fiber tip and tissue-contacting surface located at the distal end of the tip may be constructed with different shape configurations, such as convex tip to improve focusing characteristics, concave tip to achieve diverging irradiation or an expanded beam tip to achieve an effect similar to that obtained by electrosurgical tools. A grip guarantees and enhances the ability to twist and rotate it easily. In another preferred embodiment, twisting maneuvers are enhanced through a special configuration. Both special features (bent tip and rotatable connector), allow for improved and enhanced treatment of diverse pathologies, making possible to efficiently and easily reach and treat specific tissues. Optical fiber's steerability, twistability and rotation lead to a more precise and improved effect on tissues.
US08721630B2
Methods and devices are provided for controlling movement of a working end of a surgical device. In one embodiment, methods and devices are provided for moving an end effector on a distal end of a surgical fastening device. Movement can include rotational movement of the end effector about an axis of the shaft, articulation of the end effector relative to the shaft, and actuation of an end effector, e.g., closing, firing, and/or cutting. In other embodiments, a single cable actuator is provided and is movable between a first position, in which it is effective to rotate an end effector without actuating (i.e., closing and firing) the end effector, and a second position, in which it is effective to actuate the end effector without rotating the end effector. In other aspects, methods and devices are provided for moving a flexible neck formed on a distal end of an accessory channel for use with an endoscope. Movement of the flexible neck can be used to control positioning of a tool extending through the flexible neck.
US08721629B2
Devices for treating wounds and methods of treating wounds are described. In use, the devices allow both mechanical force and negative pressure therapy.
US08721621B2
A method delivers an implantable device through the urethra and into the bladder. A deployment instrument is inserted into the urethra, the implantable device is inserted into the deployment instrument, and a stream of fluid is injected into the deployment instrument. The stream of fluid drives the implantable device from the deployment instrument into the bladder. The deployment instrument is removed from the urethra, leaving the implantable device wholly implanted in the bladder.
US08721617B2
A liquid component collecting device capable of more easily collecting a liquid component. A liquid component collecting device (100) is provided with: a flexible cylindrical liquid component storage container (21) having an opening at one end thereof; a cylindrical first housing container (22) for housing the liquid component storage container (21) and having an opening at one end thereof; and a first cap (23) connected to the opening in the liquid component storage container (21) and fitted to the opening in the first housing container (22). A pressure regulating space (26) independent of the internal space of the liquid component storage container (21) is formed between the outer side of the liquid component storage container (21) and the inner side of the first housing container (22). The first cap (23) is provided with a liquid component inlet channel (27) for introducing blood into the liquid component storage container (21), a first communication channel (28) communicating with the internal space of the liquid component storage container (21), and a second communication channel (29) communicating with the pressure regulating space (26).
US08721615B2
An ampoule including a casing, a facing side and a seal, wherein the casing has an outer diameter and the seal extends radially beyond the outer diameter and seals the facing side.
US08721612B2
A system and method for intermixing the contents of two containers. The system includes a first container, a second container, and a connector for providing fluid communication between the first and second containers. The connector includes at least one resilient retention member for securing the first container to the connector. In addition, the connector accommodates standard vials containing, for example, medicaments, and prevents the unwanted discharge of the contents of the vial into the environment.
US08721611B2
Absorbent article, in particular a diaper or an incontinence product, includes an absorbent structure (1) including a back-sheet (20), a top-sheet (22) and an absorbent core (24) there between. The absorbent structure (1) has a front portion (10) defining a front lateral edge (16), a rear portion (14) defining a rear lateral edge (18) and a crotch portion (12) situated between the front portion and the rear portion. A pair of belt sections (30, 32) is present for fastening the absorbent article to the waist of a wearer, the belt sections being fixedly attached to the rear portion of the absorbent structure. The absorbent article has a maximum lateral extension B between the respective lateral-most edges (302, 322) of the belt sections that is governed by the following expression: 0.3
US08721601B2
A dosing device for setting a dose to be delivered by an injection device, the dosing device including a setting element, e.g. a setting sleeve, and a drawing element, e.g. a rotating sleeve, which can be rotated out of the dosing device for preparing a dose delivery. A stop is on the setting element, and a counter stop is on the drawing element so that a rotational motion of the drawing element relative the setting element can be limited by the stops. The present invention encompasses a method for setting a dose that should be delivered by an injection device, wherein the dose to be delivered can be set by a setting element, e.g. a setting sleeve, and a drawing element of the injection device, e.g. a rotating sleeve, can subsequently draw up the dose by effecting a rotational motion to deliver the set dose from the injection device in a subsequent step. According to the present invention, the setting process is isolated from drawing process.
US08721598B2
A medical device anchor for use with electrical stimulation leads or catheters, and method of manufacture thereof. The anchor may include a gripping structure and a body portion molded on the gripping structure. The gripping structure forms a serpentine arrangement of a continuous nature with axial segments alternately interconnected between shoulder segments and bridging segments. The shoulder segments extend radially outward relative to the through hole further than the axial segments. The body portion may be formed by molding to securely capture the shoulder in the body portion, with the body portion being molded of material that is softer and more compliant than the gripping structure.
US08721597B2
Methods and devices described herein facilitate improved treatment of body organs.
US08721590B2
A device for interventional surgical or medical procedures is presented. The device is generally in the form of a balloon and is used to position itself or other working elements up against or through lumen walls in the body. The balloon is comprised of at least two materials of different elastic modulus, which allows for a flexible but relatively non-distensible, unfolding component of the balloon as well as an elastomeric, inflatable component of the balloon. The elastomeric component is fixedly attached to the flexible but relatively non-distensible component and together they form a pressure vessel that can be inflated within the lumens of the body.
US08721577B1
An exemplary embodiment of an anti-fatigue device includes a framework worn adjacent a body of a user; and interaction of a cable and the framework provides an anti-gravity support of the body that reduces user fatigue from an activity the user performs. In another exemplary embodiment, the anti-fatigue device includes a head support halo coupled to the framework, the head support halo provides an anti-gravity support of the head that reduces user fatigue while the user performs the activity. In an alternative exemplary embodiment, the anti-fatigue device includes a leg support that substantially secures the framework adjacent the body while the user stands to perform the activity. In yet another exemplary embodiment, the anti-fatigue device includes a seat plate worn adjacent a buttock of the user substantially secures the framework adjacent the body while the user sits on the buttock to perform the activity.
US08721576B2
A cervical collar having a vertically adjustable chin support, the collar including a chin support adjustably connected to a collar body, a cable reel for adjusting the length of a cable, a cable stop connecting between the collar body and the chin support and slidingly positionable along a slot on the collar body and a pulley located on the collar body adjacent to the elongate slot. Adjustment of the length of the cable adjusts the position of the cable stop along the slot and adjusts the vertical position of the chin support relative to the collar body.
US08721568B2
A method for performing an orthopaedic surgical procedure on a knee joint of a patient includes resecting a proximal end of a patient's tibia to create a resected surface of the patient's tibia and positioning a tibial paddle of a sensor module on the proximal end of the patient's tibia. The tibial paddle includes a sensor array generating sensor signals indicative of the joint force of the patient's knee joint. The method also includes performing a number of orthopaedic surgical steps while monitoring a display of the sensor module that provides a visual indication of the medial-lateral balance of the joint force of the patient's knee joint.
US08721566B2
This invention is a minimally-invasive device, including bone-moving members and motion-measuring members, that can help surgeons to obtain objective, quantitative information concerning spinal flexion, extension, lateral bending, decompression, compression and torsion in order to select the best therapy for each patient. The prior art does not offer surgeons the opportunity to objectively and independently measure each of these movements. As a result, currently there is tremendous variation concerning which therapies are selected for which conditions. It is very unlikely that quality is being optimized and costs are being best managed with such high variation in practice patterns. This variation may be greatly reduced by the availability of objective information concerning spinal motion from this device. In this manner, this device can help surgeons to select the optimal therapy, to improve the quality of care, and to reduce the risk and expense of unnecessary spinal procedures and hardware.
US08721565B2
A device for tissue characterization, comprises a structure; a first mechanism, associated with the structure, configured for exerting a first force on a tissue, for fixing the tissue to the structure, so as to substantially immobilize the tissue; and a second mechanism, associated with the structure, configured for pressing a sensor against an external surface of the immobilized tissue, thereby exerting a second force on the immobilized tissue, wherein at least a component of the first force is in opposition to at least a component of the second force, forcing the immobilized tissue against the sensor, and forcing the sensor against the immobilized tissue, bringing about an effective contact between the sensor and the immobilized tissue.
US08721564B2
An intravascular guide wire having two core materials joined together without the use of a connector tube or sleeve, the core materials being stainless steel and psuedoelastic metal alloy, nitinol. The core materials are joined to each other through an intermediate transition piece made essentially of nickel, which is welded on either side to the two core materials. In a multi-segment intravascular guide wire, discrete, high modulus and medium modulus core portions of different materials are welded to a shapeable, low modulus distal core portion made of a third material having a flattened, shapeable section at a most distal end that is not welded to but made from the distal core portion, so the flattened, shapeable section can be deformed to create a steerable tip. Processes such as simultaneous resistance and friction welding can be used to join the core portions.
US08721562B2
Support structures for positioning sensors on a physiologic tunnel for measuring physical, chemical and biological parameters of the body and to produce an action according to the measured value of the parameters. The support structure includes a sensor fitted on the support structures using a special geometry for acquiring continuous and undisturbed data on the physiology of the body. Signals are transmitted to a remote station by wireless transmission such as by electromagnetic waves, radio waves, infrared, sound and the like or by being reported locally by audio or visual transmission. The physical and chemical parameters include brain function, metabolic function, hydrodynamic function, hydration status, levels of chemical compounds in the blood, and the like. The support structure includes patches, clips, eyeglasses, head mounted gear and the like, containing passive or active sensors positioned at the end of the tunnel with sensing systems positioned on and accessing a physiologic tunnel.
US08721559B2
A system comprising a housing containing a signal generator coupled to an antenna and a dielectric material disposed about the antenna. The device is adapted to generate and direct a plurality of signals towards the heart of the person and measure a magnitude of a signal returned from the heart. The device further comprises a processor to compare differences between a magnitude of a signal propagated and the magnitude of the signal returned off the heart and determine a signal frequency having a maximum return loss value based on those differences. The processor also estimates a change in the amplitude of motion of a portion of a wall of the heart based on the differences between the magnitude of the signal propagated by the device and the magnitude of the signal returned off of the portion of the heart.
US08721558B2
A device for the in vivo determination of the blood flow rate in a patient's blood vessel includes a microelectrode arrangement provided for placement in the blood vessel, an electrical power source which provides excitation energy having physiologically harmless parameters for obtaining a measured signal, a signal detector for detecting an electrical measured signal resulting from the blood flow in the presence of the excitation energy at measuring electrodes of the microelectrode arrangement, and a signal evaluation device, connected to the signal detector, for determining the blood flow rate on the basis of the measured signal.
US08721556B2
One or more cardiovascular parameters is estimated as a function of the arterial pressure waveform, in particular, using at least one statistical moment of a discrete representation pressure waveform having an order greater than one. Arterial compliance, the exponential pressure decay constant, vascular resistance, cardiac output, and stroke volume are examples of cardiovascular parameters that can be estimated using various aspects of the invention. In one embodiment of the invention, not only are the first four moments (mean, standard deviation, skewness, and kurtosis) of the pressure waveform used to estimate the cardiovascular parameter(s) of interest, but also heart rate, statistical moments of a set of pressure-weighted time values, and certain anthropometric patient measurements such as age, sex, body surface area, etc.
US08721543B2
The invention includes a system and processes to gather and analyze data to monitor, track, and provide care. The major subsystems of the invention include the Medical Digital Assistant (“MDA”), Server, Monitoring Devices, Dispensing Devices, Server, Dashboard, and Application Software. The invention includes the method for conducting data acquisition, monitoring, analysis, and reporting to diagnose and treat medical conditions such as diagnosing and treating specific medical conditions such as fertility and congestive heart failure.
US08721537B2
Embodiments of a surgical access system useful for single or limited port procedures comprise a trocar comprising a fixation cannula, a retractor, and a gel cap removably coupled to the retractor. The gel cap comprises a gel pad that acts as an artificial body wall, through which instruments may be inserted into a body cavity, either directly or through one or more trocars. The fixation cannula comprises a retainer and a bolster, which together, capture the artificial body wall therebetween, thereby fixing the trocar thereto. The gel pad permits flexible instrument placement, as well as translational and angular degrees of freedom for the instruments while maintaining a gas tight seal.
US08721531B2
An electronic endoscope includes a distal end portion of an insertion portion which incorporates an image pickup unit, a first metal frame which holds an observation window, a second metal frame which holds an objective optical system, a third metal frame which is made to fit with a rear portion of the second metal frame and holds an electronic component, an anti-fogging unit which prevents fogging of the observation window, and a thermal insulation member which thermally insulates the anti-fogging unit and the second metal frame from each other to inhibit transmission of heat generated in the anti-fogging unit to the third metal frame, an outer circumferential face of which fits with an inner circumferential face of the first metal frame, and an inner circumferential face of which fits with an outer circumferential face of the second metal frame.
US08721527B2
A dissection device comprising an elongate cannula having proximal and distal ends and a central axis and arranged to receive at least a remote viewing device therein, a handle arranged to be attached to the proximal end of the elongate cannula and a dissection tip arranged to be attached to the distal end of the elongate cannula, the dissection tip comprising a curved hollow shroud that when the dissection tip is orientated for use defines a substantially concave working cavity having an open underside, the hollow shroud comprising a pair of laterally extending lateral extensions, each wing extending from an opposing lateral portion of the periphery of the hollow shroud.
US08721522B2
The invention relates to an implantable surgical ring (1) designed to be closed on itself to form a closed loop (2) having an extension medium axis (XX′) for tightening a biological organ (3), wherein said ring (1) includes at least a first and a second ring tightening chamber (12, 13) attached to each other designed to contain a filling fluid for tightening said biological organ (3), said first and second tightening chambers being stepped along the extension medium axis (XX′), said ring being characterized in that the first and second tightening chambers (12, 13) include between them a material-free clearance area (20), in which the wall of the biological organ (3) may move without contacting the ring (1), in order to tighten said biological organ (3) at the level of at least two axially-separated contact areas (14A, 14B).
US08721519B2
Disclosed are mesh materials adapted for use in an implantable sling. The mesh materials include biodegradable and non-degradable components that may be adapted to facilitate scar-tissue in-growth as the biodegradable components degrade.
US08721510B2
The present invention discloses a foldable skateboarding fitness equipment having a dual-rail track bar in a circular arc shape and slidably sheathed on a cushion frame by a pulley, a turnable cushion seat pivotally coupled to the cushion frame by a ball bearing, a front support frame of an elbow support cushion fixed separately on both sides of the top of the track bar by a pivoting base, a link rod pivotally coupled between the bottom of the front support frame and the top of the track bar, such that a user can kneel on the cushion seat and push the cushion seat to drive the cushion frame to slide back and forth along the track bar, as well as contracting and bending the waist or abdomen to rotate the cushion seat to the left and the right.
US08721508B2
A counterbalance device for weight training includes a brake unit and a control unit. The brake unit includes an outer cylinder, a resistant spring received in the outer cylinder, and a screw rod extending through the outer cylinder and the resistant spring. The screw rod is connected with a steel cable of a weight training apparatus. An adjusting member is coupled around the screw rod and movably threaded into the resistant spring. A gear is provided at a front end of the resistant spring. The control unit includes a transmission gear which can be driven by a motor and is engaged with the gear. When the motor is actuated, a position of the adjusting member relative to the resistant spring can be changed, so that a number of spring coils of the resistant spring for compressing are changed, therefore a counterbalance of the weight training apparatus can be adjusted.
US08721503B2
A training method and device. Signals are received from a training transducer. Training schedule data of exercises for a user is received from a remote correspondent. The training schedule data is stored in a first memory. A human perceptible signal, which is outputted in accordance with a feedback template, includes data content relating to performance of exercise by the user, said feedback template specifying a manner in which the data content is to be conveyed to the user. Output status data from which the human perceptible signal is generated is stored in a second memory. A determination of whether the received signals satisfy criteria of conforming to the training schedule data is continuously carried out in real time as the user is performing the exercises. The training schedule data is updated as a function of a result of the determination. The training device includes the first and second memory.
US08721493B2
A drive train system comprising a power transfer unit configured to selectively transfer power from a front driveshaft of a vehicle by providing an output torque through a ring gear, wherein the power transfer unit includes an input shaft that receives torque from a first device, and a first clutch configured to selectively couple the input shaft to the ring gear when activated; a cardan shaft in rotational communication with the ring gear and configured to transfer the output torque; and a rear drive unit coupled to the cardan shaft and configured to selectively transfer the output torque received from the cardan shaft to a rear driveshaft of the vehicle, wherein the rear drive unit includes a torque shaft that is driven by the output torque received from the cardan shaft, and a second clutch that is configured to selectively transfer the output torque from the torque shaft to the rear driveshaft when activated.
US08721484B2
In a reduction-transmission mechanism, a plurality of output members are arranged at such positions that a size that is the sum of a fitting clearance formed between an outer periphery of each output member and a corresponding one of needle roller bearings, a fitting clearance formed between the needle roller bearing and an inner periphery of an input member, which defines a corresponding one of a plurality of pin insertion holes, and a radial internal clearance in the needle roller bearing is smaller than a size that is the sum of a fitting clearance formed between a ball bearing and an outer periphery of an eccentric portion, a fitting clearance formed between the ball bearing and an inner periphery of the input member, which defines a center hole, and a radial internal clearance in the ball bearing.
US08721477B2
A lacrosse head includes a socket, a base region adjacent to the socket, and a pair of sidewalls extending from the base region to a scoop. A lower rail of each sidewall includes an open channel that is visible from an exterior of the lacrosse head. Multiple support ribs are located in each of the channels and extend from a first wall of the channel to a second wall of the channel. A ball stop extends between the sidewalls adjacent to the base region. A flexible cartridge optionally is positioned between the ball stop and the socket. The support ribs provide increased stiffness near the joint between the ball stop and the socket.
US08721473B2
A first golf ball 2 includes a core 4, a mid-layer 6, and a cover 8. The core 4 includes a center 10 and an envelope layer 12. The mid-layer 6 includes a metal ion source (C) that can neutralize an ionomer resin. The mid-layer 6 has a melt flow rate (at 190° C. and 2.16 kg) of 4 g/10 minute or greater. The difference (H3−H1) between the JIS-C hardness H3 of the cover 8 and the JIS-C central hardness H1 of the center 10 is equal to or greater than 45. A second golf ball 22 includes a core 24, a mid-layer 28, and a cover 30. The mid-layer 28 has a melt flow rate (at 190° C. and 2.16 kg) of 4 g/10 minute or greater. Preferably, the mid-layer 28 includes a high melt viscosity resin (A), a low melt viscosity ionomer resin (B), and a metal ion source (C1).
US08721472B2
An adjustable golf club incorporates instructions into the golf club, and more particularly, in connection with the club head. More specifically, encoded information is visibly provided on the club head, the encoded information relating to the performance of the club head. In addition to the encoded information, a decoder or device for interpreting the encoded performance information is also provided on the club head. The encoded information, in conjunction with the decoder, allows the golfer to easily adjust his or her club head based on playing conditions or his or her swing. Typically, the encoded information relates to a weight of the club head, and may be used to vary the weight of the club head. A method of configuring a putter-type golf club head adaptable to a plurality of configurations is described, as well as a kit for selectively configuring components of a golf club head.
US08721470B2
A golf club head includes a body member having a ball striking face, a crown, a toe, a heel, a sole, and a skirt extending between the crown and the sole and between the toe and the heel. The club head includes a drag-reducing structure that may include one or both of a continuous groove extending from a front portion to a rear edge of the toe, and along an entire length of the skirt, and a substantially V-shaped recess formed in the sole and having a vertex positioned proximate the ball striking face and the heel and away from the skirt and the toe, and a pair of legs extending to a point proximate the toe and away from the ball striking face, and curving toward the skirt and away from the ball striking face.
US08721469B2
Golf club, golf club head and/or golf club grip structures include portions formed of a recycled regrind material. For instance, a golf club head, such as a putter head, may include a ball striking surface at least partially formed of regrind. In some examples, the golf club grip, such as a putter grip, may be at least partially formed of the recycled regrind material. For example, the grip may have an interior grip portion formed of regrind to provide a firm, sturdy grip structure, and it may include an exterior portion wrapped around the interior grip portion and formed of a softer material. In other examples, portions of the exterior surface of the grip may be formed of regrind while other portions may be formed of a different material that may, in some examples, be softer than the regrind.
US08721457B2
A secure offline interactive gambling system includes a subscriber unit operative, through interaction with a user, to execute an offline interactive gambling application, a secure processor operatively associated with the subscriber unit and a central gambling facility. The secure processor includes a random gambling input generator operative to randomly or pseudo-randomly generate gambling input to the offline interactive gambling application during execution of the offline interactive gambling application, and a secure memory operatively associated with the random gambling input generator and operative to securely store information related to the execution of the offline interactive gambling application. The information, that is securely stored and the user cannot modify, typically includes the gambling input and user selections made in response to the gambling input and can be used to derive at least one result of the offline interactive gambling application. The information is transmitted to the central gambling facility that re-executes the offline interactive gambling application with the information replacing the gambling input actually generated and the user selections actually entered. By re-executing the offline interactive gambling application at the central gambling facility the at least one result is derived and validated and the user may be credited or debited based on the at least one result. Related apparatus and method are also described.
US08721449B2
The provision of a paragaming event on an electronic gaming machine is provided by intercepting a cashout event, identifying the account balance and presenting an offer to participate in the paragaming event. If the customer agrees, the account balance is appropriately reduced and a voucher in followed by a cashout event is initiated to maintain a record of the transaction. A cash voucher and a transaction receipt are then printed for the customer.
US08721447B2
With a game delivery server, a gaming system and a controlling method for a game delivery server of the present invention, a list of games to be played by a player at a gaming machine can be determined at the game delivery server. Therefore, an administrator of the game delivery server can determine a list of games appropriate for the player. For example, if a player is Japanese, games familiar to Japanese can be listed.
US08721444B2
A frame image acquiring unit acquires a captured image of an input device that is provided with an illuminator. A device information deriving unit derives position information of the input device from the captured image. An input receiving unit acquires attitude information of the input device. An operation object control unit controls the motion of an operation object in accordance with the position information and the attitude information of the input device. A non-operation object control unit controls the motion of a non-operation object. A collision control unit determines the motion of at least one of the operation object and the non-operation object in accordance with a collision mode for the collision between the operation object and the non-operation object.
US08721442B2
Of possible values of input data varying, depending on a motion of an input device itself, a predetermined value is set as a first reference value. Also, of possible values of a game parameter converted from the input data, a predetermined value is set as a second reference value. Further, of an input value range, a predetermined range including the first reference value is set as a conversion range. When a value of input data is included in the conversion range, the input data is converted into a game parameter by a first conversion expression which provides a value closer to the second reference value when the input data is directly converted. Based on the game parameter, a game process is performed.
US08721432B2
Some embodiments include a computer-implemented method for monitoring and making marketing offers using electronic devices in a wagering game network. The method can include detecting an event in the wagering game network, wherein the event indicates a player's eligibility for a marketing offer, wherein the event originates from one of the electronic devices. The method can also include determining a monetary value of the marketing offer based on terms associated with the marketing offer, and determining, based on the monetary value, that the player's acceptance of the marketing offer would exceed a marketing budget. The method can include reducing the monetary value of the marketing offer to be within the marketing budget, and causing presentation of the marketing offer on the one of the electronic devices.
US08721427B2
Gaming devices and methods are set forth which provide for face or body tracking to provide gesture input and also to generate content displayed based upon the motion parallax of the player to create a 3D effect. In a community gaming environment gaming content may be superimposed over real time or recorded scenes to create a 3D effect between players of the community game.
US08721422B2
A gaming machine includes a value input device, one or more displays, and a controller. The value input device receives a wager from a player to play the wagering game. The one or more displays display a trail including a plurality of spaces and an award value associated with one or more of the plurality of spaces. The controller is operative to change the award value based on an occurrence of a random event independent from the trail.
US08721418B2
A method, apparatus, and computer readable storage medium for implementing a video poker game allowing a player to double (or increase) his or her initial bet. After the initial deal, the player can decide to double the initial bet before drawing new cards. Both the initial bet and optional doubled bet are paid to the player.
US08721413B2
A puzzle game where the objective of the game is to create a target number of HEXA and DIA formations per level using a set of primary sub-formations. The game is further intensified by the introduction of secondary sub-formations and a set of Reward Buttons that are awarded for completing different formations. The present invention uses a novel way of scoring where points are calculated based on the formations created by a player and the time remaining in the level. Therefore, if a player finishes a level faster, the player gets additional points. There is also an Infinite game mode for PDA and mobile phone users that allows play until the battery in the device runs out or the device shuts off due to a low battery that has no set levels and set scoring based on various possible formations only.
US08721407B2
A vehicle includes an air intake that facilitates air transfer from an ambient environment outside the vehicle to a vehicle space. The air intake inhibits liquid transfer from the ambient environment to the vehicle space. The air intake includes an inlet for receiving air from the ambient environment, and an outlet in communication with the inlet. The outlet is disposed in an upper portion of the housing. A blocking member is disposed within the housing adjacent the inlet for preventing upward fluid flow from the inlet directly to the outlet. The air intake receives ambient air through an aperture in a window in the vehicle, thereby reducing the size of the air intake.
US08721399B1
A combination sharpener assembly which is particularly useful for fishermen, includes an electrically powered knife sharpener. A manually operated scissors sharpener is mounted in the recess of the housing for the knife sharpener. A hook sharpener is detachably mounted in a compartment in the housing of the knife sharpener. The motor for the knife sharpener is mounted in a sealed inner housing and can be selectively operated under either direct current or alternating current.
US08721384B2
An apparatus includes a fixed base, a platform supported by the fixed base, and a mechanism for causing vibration coupled to the platform and adapted to induce vibration of the platform sufficient to cause a vibration-powered vehicle to move across the platform without relying on an internal power supply of the vehicle. In some cases, a substantially planar cover is situated approximately parallel to the platform and spaced apart from the platform at a great enough distance to allow the vibration-powered vehicle to move across the platform and at a low enough distance to deter the vibration-powered vehicle from turning over.
US08721383B2
An aircraft for unmanned aviation is described. The aircraft includes an airframe, a pair of fins attached to a rear portion of the airframe, a pair of dihedral braces attached to a bottom portion of the airframe, a first thrust vectoring module and a second thrust vectoring module, and an electronics module. The electronics module provides commands to the two thrust vectoring modules. The two thrust vectoring modules are configured to provide lateral and longitudinal control to the aircraft by directly controlling a thrust vector for each of the pitch, the roll, and the yaw of the aircraft. The use of directly articulated electrical motors as thrust vectoring modules enables the aircraft to execute tight-radius turns over a wide range of airspeeds.
US08721382B2
A reusable piñata including a first container intended to contain gifts to be given, the first container being provided with a top filling mouth and a horizontal axis for its hanging and knocking down. A second container able of vertical displacement and provided with a upper mouth for introducing inside this various elements by participants or players, in order to cause the descent of the second container. An actuating cord can be mounted on support elements and describing an inverted U-like general path. One of the ends of the cord being externally fixed to the bottom of the first container and on top to the second container for its hanging fastening and causing during the descent of the second container a dump of the first container and the fall of the gifts contained therein.
US08721374B2
An electrical connector includes an electrical terminal and a housing having a front end and a back end with an opening configured to receive the electrical terminal. The housing includes a first lock system configured to allow insertion of the electrical terminal into the housing and prohibit removal of the electrical terminal from the housing. It also includes a tapered surface and for guiding the electrical terminal to a desired position when the electrical terminal is inserted into the housing. A second lock system cooperates with the housing in a lock position for prohibiting removal of the electrical terminal from the housing. It also cooperates with the housing in a pre-lock position wherein a tapered surface of the second lock system is configured to cooperate with the tapered surface of the housing for guiding the electrical terminal to the desired position when the electrical terminal is inserted into the housing.
US08721373B2
A connector (A) includes a resiliently deformable resilient receiving portion (35) arranged to traverse an opening area of a lock hole (32) formed in a holder (30) and linked to an inner surface of the lock hole (32) at links (36) on opposite ends in a longitudinal direction. A locking rib (15) projects from a lock projection (12) formed in a housing (10) and extends along the longitudinal direction of the resilient receiving portion (35). The locking rib (15) causes the resilient receiving portion (35) to curve and deform in the process of assembling the housing (10) and the holder (30). Escaping edges (18) are formed on opposite longitudinal ends of a projecting edge (16) of the locking rib (15). The escaping edges (18) are oblique to the longitudinal direction of the resilient receiving portion (35) that is not resiliently deformed, and substantially face the links (36).
US08721370B2
A USB connector comprising an insulating base, a plurality of conducting terminals, a circuit board and a housing is disclosed. The insulating base has a plurality of slots at an end of the insulating base and a plurality of abutting grooves on a surface of the insulating base, with each abutting groove communicating with a respective one of the slots. Each conducting terminal is inserted in a respective one of the slots and has an abutting portion arranged in one of the abutting grooves communicating with the respective slot. The circuit board abuts against the surface of the insulating base whereon forms the abutting grooves, with the circuit board having a plurality of electrical contacts electrically connecting with the abutting portions of the plurality of conducting terminals. The housing is hollow to receive the insulating base and circuit board.
US08721356B2
Docking stations having a connector with a compliant mount to provide improved durability and flexibility are provided herein. The compliant mount may couple a connector to a base of a docking station and may include at least a first and second flexure disposed therebetween. The first and second flexure may be configured to have flexural movement in along transverse direction so that, in combination, the flexural movement pivots the connector about a virtual pivot point a distance away from the flexures. The first and second flexures may be configured to project the virtual pivot point to a location on the connector where the connector protrudes from an opening in a docking housing, thereby minimizing the clearance required between the connector and docking housing, while providing controlled movement of the connector relative the dock.
US08721353B2
An electrical connector socket includes a casing, a main body received in the casing, a first power contact terminal one distal end of which is mounted inside the power transmission body, a first power detect terminal, a second power detect terminal, a second power contact terminal, a ground terminal, upper terminals, lower terminals, an upper enclosure provided to enclose the bents of the upper terminals and a lower enclosure provided to enclose the bents of the lower terminals and to combine with the upper enclosure.
US08721349B2
A connector includes an electrode sheet, a cover, and a resistor sheet. A plurality of electrodes are attached on a side of the electrode sheet. The electrode sheet is an insulator. The cover covers the electrode sheet. The resistor sheet is provided between the cover and the electrode sheet and has electrical resistivity.
US08721334B2
Apparatus is provided that includes a dental implant having a proximal implant end and a lateral external surface. The implant is shaped so as to define a lumen therethrough having a lateral opening through the lateral external surface. The apparatus further includes an applicator, which is removably coupled to the proximal implant end. The applicator includes a delivery tube having a distal tube end that is removably coupled to the implant such that the delivery tube is in fluid communication with the lumen via the lateral opening. Other embodiments are also described.
US08721332B2
A non-custom, dental tray device includes a moisture-resistant barrier layer having a labial-buccal wall, a lingual wall, and a bottom wall. The dental tray device includes at least one of the following structural features to enhance the fit of the device; (1) the bottom wall includes an abrupt reduction of width at a location corresponding to where the first bicuspid meets the canine; (2) a bottom wall in the posterior region having a width that is equal to or less than the width of the bottom wall in the anterior region, with no lingual wall in the posterior region; or (3) a transition portion between the bottom wall and either the labial-buccal wall or the lingual wall has a larger radius of curvature as compared to a radius of curvature at a transition portion between the bottom wall the other of the labial-buccal wall and the lingual wall.
US08721331B2
A drug delivery device 10 has a support structure 20 and a medicine-laden member 100 affixed or otherwise attached to the support structure 20. The device 10 is sized to fit into the mouth and upon exposing the medicine-laden member 100 to saliva, medicaments 101 are released into the mouth. The drug delivery device 10 permits a new method of medication delivery. The method of oral transmucosal drug delivery has the steps of providing a drug delivery device 10 that fits into the mouth, the device 10 having a medicine-laden member 100; wearing the drug delivery device 10; activating release of medicine 101 by contact with saliva; and transmitting the released medicine 101 transmucosally to the bloodstream.
US08721328B2
The present invention is directed to a U-shaped patch for oral health care, comprising a thin film layer and a support layer, and the inner and outer margin of the U-shaped patch have at least one notch or cut line so that the patch can be folded as a three-dimensional concave shape, wherein the thin film layer comprises a health care agent. The present invention uses a two-layered design comprising a thin film layer and a support layer, and a health care agent in the adhesive layer effective for caries prevention, whitening and/or remineralization. The patch of the present invention can closely cover teeth with the thin film layer to enable the health care agent to tightly contact the teeth so as to increase the efficacy on tooth care.
US08721327B2
A dental tartar detection and removal device (10) comprises a powered tartar removal instrument (12) adapted to be displaced along a tooth (T), illumination means (14) for illuminating with an incident light a region on the examined or periodontal site, detection means (16) for collecting the light reflected there at, and an analysing system for providing a signal to an operator (OP) of the tartar removal instrument (12) or to the tartar removal instrument when measurements on the reflected light in one or more predetermined ranges of wavelengths fall within any first predetermined range of values that are characteristic of tartar, or when said measurements do not fall within any second predetermined range of values that are characteristic of artefacts other than tartar. As a result of the signal, the removal instrument becomes actuated, either by the operator (OP) or automatically, and the operator can proceed to removing the detected tartar (S) without having to remove the detection device, whereby detection can be continued while the tartar removal instruments (12) is in a tartar removal position, and until all tartar (S) has been removed.
US08721311B2
A windshield repair apparatus includes a bridge for holding an injector adjacent to a break area of a windshield. The bridge includes a suction cup for mounting the bridge to the windshield. An articulating arm mounts to the bridge for holding equipment, such as a flashlight, a tool holder, and/or a sun blocker. The bridge includes a pivotally mounted arm which allows for pivotal movement of the injector away from the break area, and a registration system which allows for accurate replacement of the injector over the break area following pivotal movement back toward the break area. The arm also is pivotally moveable toward and away from the windshield and is controlled by a threaded adjustment mechanism. The injector is also threadably adjustable vertically relative to the windshield. The articulating arm includes a quick connect/disconnect feature.
US08721309B2
An airtight compressor includes a compression mechanism disposed inside an airtight container in a position below a gas retention space. An oil supply passage supplies oil from an oil reservoir both to the gas retention space (14) and to a sliding portion of the compression mechanism in a compression space. The oil supply passage communicates the gas retention space with a second space located on an opposite side of the piston from the intake chamber. A second channel is a channel that is different from the oil supply passage. The second channel enables a gas medium to flow from the gas retention space to the second space. Preferably, passage resistance when the gas medium flows through the second channel is less than when the gas medium flows through the oil supply passage.
US08721307B2
A device for blowing air by a nozzle assembly includes a base seat for generating an air stream to supply air flow and a nozzle assembly supported by the base seat and comprising a slot-shaped opening for blowing air. An airflow passage is connected between the base seat and the nozzle assembly. An intake end of the airflow passage is opened on the outer surface of the base seat, and an output end is connected to the nozzle assembly by a pivot component. An intake end of the nozzle assembly is connected to an output end of the base seat by the pivot component. An impeller and electric motor for driving the impeller to rotate are provided within the base seat. The nozzle assembly is rotatably fixed on the base seat by the pivot component.
US08721302B2
A fan assembly includes an active fan, a supporting base and a passive element. The active fan includes a first impeller and a motor. The passive element is driven to rotate by an airflow from the active fan. The passive element includes a impeller and at least one load. The load is connected to the impeller.
US08721296B1
A hand pump includes a base having an inlet opening and an outlet opening, a manual pump disposed on the base and communicating with the inlet opening of the base, a receptacle disposed on the base and communicating with the outlet opening of the base, a casing disposed on the receptacle and having a passage coupled to the outlet opening of the base and having a channel coupled to the receptacle and having a pathway formed between the passage and the channel of the casing, and an outlet hole communicated with the channel of the casing, a valve shank is slidably engaged in the channel of the casing for selectively blocking and sealing the outlet hole of the casing.
US08721289B2
A cover of an airfoil having opposing pressure and suction sides of a rotatable turbine stage to prevent fluid from crossover-flowing from a pressure side of a leading airfoil to a suction side of a trailing airfoil is provided. The cover includes pressure and suction side edge portions, one of which having a shape that is discontinuous relative to that of a complementary one of suction and pressure side edge portions of an aft cover of a corresponding one of a trailing and a leading airfoil, respectively.
US08721287B2
A compressor impeller including at least one blade connected to an impeller hub via a junction of curved shape, the blade extending along a defined chord between a leading edge and a trailing edge of the blade. The junction presents the shape of an ellipse that varies along the chord.
US08721273B2
An arrangement with a ring diffuser for an axial turbomachine, for example for a gas turbine, is provided. The ring diffuser includes an outer wall and with an inner wall coaxial thereto, between which a diffuser duct extends in ring form along an axial extent so as to diverge from an inflow-side end to an outflow-side end, the inner wall and the outer wall in each case including a wall surface delimiting the diffuser duct. In order to specify a diffuser duct which is adapted to an inflow uneven along the circumference and by means of which a specially efficient conversion of kinetic energy into static energy is possible, the wall surface which delimits the diffuser duct on the inlet side is rotationally asymmetrical.
US08721265B1
A high compression ratio compressor having multiple stages of airfoils to produce the high pressure rations, where the last stage airfoils are cooled by passing cooling air through the airfoils without discharging film cooling air. A portion of the compressed air from the discharge of the compressor is bled off and passed through a heat exchanger to preheat a fuel and to cool the compressed air. The cooled compressed air is then passed through the last stage airfoil of the compressor to provide cooling. The cooling air is then reintroduced back into the compressor at an earlier stage or passed through an airfoil in the turbine to provide cooling.
US08721261B2
A centrifugal compressor for a turbine engine, including a cover with an upstream end and a downstream end; a casing presenting an upstream edge and a downstream edge; and a bladed impeller mounted to rotate in the casing. The cover covers the blades of the impeller to define an outside surface of a gas-flow passage extending between the upstream and downstream edges of the casing, while being fastened to the upstream edge of the casing via its upstream end while its downstream end remains free. The cover further includes an abutment limiting axial movement of its downstream end relative to the downstream edge of the casing while the compressor is in operation.
US08721260B2
A fan retention shaft is provided for retaining a fan within a gas turbine engine in the event of fan shaft failure. The fan retention shaft has a first shaft which in use extends from the engine and a second shaft to which in use the fan is attached, the second shaft being coaxial with the first shaft and the first and second shafts defining an annular passage between them. An energy absorbing medium is disposed within the annular passage. The fan retention shaft has a retaining formation for preventing the first shaft and the second shaft from moving axially with respect to one another. The retaining formation is configured to release the first shaft and the second shaft from their relative axial positions when a threshold axial load is applied to the fan retention shaft. The energy absorbing medium is arranged to absorb kinetic energy from the second shaft as the second shaft moves axially with respect to the first shaft.
US08721252B2
A work aligning system capable of easily altering the kind of works to be aligned. The work aligning system (1) comprises a storage device (10) in which nuts (11) are stored, a take-out base (30) on which the nuts (11) are placed, and a robot (20) for grasping and taking out the nuts from the take-out base (30) and aligning the nuts. An electromagnet (53) is provided at the tip end of the robot arm (23) of the robot (20). The storage device (10) is equipped with a plurality of buckets (131-134) in which nuts (11) of different kinds are stored, and a feed screw mechanism (14) for moving one bucket selected from the plurality of buckets (131-134) to a position near the take-out base (30). The take-out base (30) is equipped with a part (31) on which the nuts (11) are placed and a drive device (32) for discharging the nuts (11) on the part (31) to one bucket selected from the plurality of buckets (131-134).
US08721249B2
A method for loading a pack storing device of an order-picking line with packs, particularly packs of one or a plurality of beverage articles, including providing at least one group of packs, particularly a pallet, especially the at least one group of packs comprising packs at least of a single article, particularly beverage article; and manually loading the pack storing device with at least one pack from the at least one group of packs, particularly a pallet, by one or more operators.
US08721245B2
A penetration load reduced staple includes a pair of leg portions configured to penetrate sheets of paper, a crown portion connecting the pair of leg portions. Each of the leg portions includes a protrusion protruding in a direction intersecting with a longitudinal direction of the leg portion, from a portion of a side surface of the leg portion between the crown portion and a distal end portion of the leg portion and near the distal end portion.
US08721244B2
In a connected fastener assembly, the shaft sections of multiple fasteners are connected using a connecting band made of a synthetic resin. Retaining sections for allowing the shaft sections of the fasteners to be inserted therein and connecting sections for connecting the adjacent retaining sections are formed continuously. The connecting sections are offset from the center line “a” connecting the centers of the adjacent fasteners (retaining sections).
US08721237B2
A machining device for a workpiece wherein a first feed axis extends through a workpiece holder, a first machining tool is disposed on a first side of the feed axis, and a second machining tool is disposed on a side of the feed axis opposing the first side. Between a first feed axis and perpendicular to a second feed axis, at least one machining tools has a predetermined fixed angular offset.
US08721232B2
A rolling bearing includes at least a first ring with an undulating rolling surface and a second ring, the rings being coaxial and given a relative rotational and reciprocating axial movement, and at least one row of rolling bodies mounted in rolling contact between the respective rolling surfaces on the rings. The rolling bearing further includes at least a third ring with an undulating rolling surface that collaborates with either the first row of rolling bodies or with a second row of rolling bodies, the second row of rolling bodies being inserted between the rolling surface of the third ring and a rolling surface of a fourth ring. At least one of the third or fourth rings is mounted to rotate as one with the first or second ring respectively, and the rings which rotate as one are mounted such that they can move axially one relative to the other.
US08721231B2
Provided herein is a system and method for alleviating gridlock in a pneumatic tube system. In various instances where inter-zone transactions conflict, one of the transactions is removed from a conflicting set and temporarily delivered to an alternate location in the system. This allows other blocked transactions to proceed. Once the gridlock condition is alleviated, the temporarily delivered carrier is retrieved and rerouted to its intended destination.
US08721228B2
The present invention provides a foundation-unit structure of a structural object such as a retaining wall installed fixedly on a foundation ground, in which the foundation ground is formed therein with a concavity, a sliding resistive element is placed within the concavity, and at least the front surface side of the sliding resistive element is filled with a grain-sized material so as to form a layer thereof, and an internal frictional angle of the grain-sized material forming the grain-sized material layer is equal to or greater than that of a grain-sized material comprising the ground and supporting the grain-sized material layer, and the grain-sized material layer exerts a reaction force (passive) via the sliding resistive element so as to reinforce a sliding resistance of the structural object mounted on the grain-sized material layer. In this way, a retaining wall excellent in a sliding preventive function is provided.
US08721224B2
An apparatus for inhibiting damage from impact between a marine structure and an adjacent watercraft, and a related method, are described. The apparatus includes a cushion body forming a mounting surface and a watercraft-engaging surface substantially opposing the mounting surface, at least one rigid support member, the rigid support member defined by or configured for contact with the mounting surface of the cushion body and disposed, during use, between the cushion body and the portion of the marine structure, and attachment means for detachably attaching the cushion body to the portion of the marine structure. The cushion body, when attached to the portion of the marine structure, is sized and configured to prevent destructive contact between the marine structure and a watercraft when the watercraft-engaging surface is contacted by the watercraft.
US08721219B2
An attenuating element includes a head part, neck part and base part. The neck part is narrower compared to the head part and neck parts of adjacent attenuating elements form a continuous channel. Via the head parts, this channel is connected so that the cross-sectional area of the head parts is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the base parts. In this way, a water-control structure, sound-attenuating wall and the like can be provided. Such attenuating elements can be produced in a very simple manner by dividing them vertically and producing each of the vertical parts from concrete in a mould.
US08721218B2
A vibrating plate for compacting soil comprises an upper mass; a lower mass, which is elastically coupled to the upper mass and which has at least one soil contact plate, and; a vibration generator device that acts upon the soil contact plate. The vibration generator device comprises at least four unbalanced masses that can each be rotationally driven about a rotation axis, the rotation axis of at least two of the unbalanced masses being arranged at an angle to the rotation axes of the other unbalanced masses. One of the unbalanced masses depicts a reference unbalanced mass that does not require its own phase adjusting device. On the other hand, a separate phase adjusting device is assigned to each of the other unbalanced masses, enabling the phase position of these unbalanced masses to be individually adjusted with regard to the reference unbalanced mass.
US08721213B2
A seal assembly can be incorporated into a track pin joint assembly including a pin defining a longitudinal axis, a first member and a second member both coaxial with the pin about the longitudinal axis. The first member is pivotable about the longitudinal axis with respect to the second member and includes a load ring engagement surface defining a seal cavity disposed in proximal relationship to the second member. A seal assembly including a seal ring and a load ring is disposed in the seal cavity and sealingly engages the first and second members. An axial segment of a seal ring engagement surface of the load ring extends over at least half the length, measured along the longitudinal axis, between a radial segment of the seal ring engagement surface and a radial segment of a first member engagement surface of the load ring. At least one of a load ring engagement surface of the first member and an axial segment of the first member engagement surface of the load ring includes a convex rounded portion.
US08721212B2
A cosmetic pen includes a pen tube, a liquid storage core received in the pen tube, and an applicator disposed to a front portion of the pen tube. The applicator includes a metal sleeve connected to the liquid storage core and a brush received in the sleeve. The brush includes a front end projecting out of a lower end of the sleeve and a rear end positioned on an upper end of the sleeve. The sleeve includes an air slot having front and rear sections. The rear section of the air slot of the sleeve is disposed inside the liquid storage core so that the cosmetic liquid stored inside the liquid storage core can be penetrated through the air slot into the brush. The front section of the air slot of the sleeve is located outside the liquid storage core for introducing air.
US08721203B2
A print head for use with a printer. The print head includes an input that receives data or commands associated with printing from the printer. A memory component of the print head is connected in communication with the input and is configured to bi-directionally communicate information to the printer via the input. For example, the memory component may be soldered to a circuit of a print head and connected to a data line normally used to communicate print data to the print head. In this manner, the print head may hold configuration information in the memory module for easy upgrades without an additional dedicated communication line. Also, printers may be upgraded, and print heads retrofit, with the memory component without installation of a dedicated input or communication line.
US08721202B2
In one embodiment, a two- or dual-sided thermal print switch is provided to direct printing of received print data on one or both sides of thermal media such as a receipt, document, or label. In a further embodiment, a dual-sided thermal print switch is provided to select custom or predefined data for printing on one or both sides of thermal media with or without received print data. Dual-sided print switch operation may be defined using commands implemented with, for example, setup configuration settings in hardware or software, escape sequences, real-time printer commands, and the like.
US08721194B2
The present invention provides an optical transceiver module, comprising: a circuit substrate; a z-axis positioning base connected to the circuit substrate that, wherein the z-axis positioning base comprises two first sides respectively provided on two lateral sides of the optical transceiver sub-module, a second side provided between and connecting the two first sides, an opening corresponding in position to a side of the optical transceiver sub-module that faces away from the second side, and a step difference provided on each of the two first sides and the second side; a fiber-optic lens element provided on the z-axis positioning base and comprises a cover and a fiber-optic lens sub-module, wherein the cover comprises a recess and step differences surrounding the recess and respectively corresponding in position to the step differences provided on the z-axis positioning base, so as for the cover to be fitted on the z-axis positioning base.
US08721181B2
A sleeve is retained to a shaft without the use of a keyway through at least one end connection that has a preferably flat face with one or more projections from the flat face. Rounded projections are preferred. The projections go into shape matching depressions on the sleeve. Alternatively the sleeve can have the projections and the end retainer can have the depressions. The end retainer is spring loaded for axial deflection in the event of an over-torque. If that happens there is planned for slippage until the condition is alleviated at which point the spring bias is able to again match a projection to a depression for continuing tandem driving of the shaft and the sleeve. The sleeve is preferably carbide and resides in a carbide bushing.
US08721179B2
A medical bed apparatus of an embodiment includes: a tiltable top board on which to place an examinee; a photographic mechanism configured to radiograph the examinee; an operation unit which is provided to a lateral side of the top board, and through which at least one of the top board and the photographic mechanism is operated by an operator; and a horizontally-holding mechanism configured to hold the operation unit horizontally when the top board tilts.
US08721178B2
A dental product for the evaluation, according to scale, of X-ray recordings of areas which are to be diagnosed, in particular areas of the tooth and/or jawbone, within the oral cavity of a patient, has a main body 10′, the shape of which is such that it is able to be received by the patient and is able to be fixed in the immediate vicinity of the area which is to be diagnosed by X-raying. The main body 10′ consists of a material which is penetrable by X-ray beams, wherein in the interior of the main body at least one reference object 12′ is held, which consists of material which absorbs X-ray beams.For the diagnosis, the dental product is placed into the patient's mouth and is fixed in that the patient bits onto the dental product. An image of the diagnosed area, which is initially distorted on X-raying, is calculated in a correcting manner by means of the known size of the at least one reference object held in the interior of a main body of the dental product, so that a display, according to scale, is possible.
US08721176B2
An X-ray imaging system includes a portable cart, a power source disposed on the portable cart, and a detector bin disposed on the portable cart. The detector bin includes a power adaptor configured to adapt power from the power source to power suitable for charging a rechargeable battery, and a first coupling component configured to receive power from the power adaptor. The imaging system also includes a digital X-ray detector configured to be inserted into the detector bin for charging. The detector includes a rechargeable battery, and a second coupling component configured to couple with the first coupling component and transfer power from the first coupling component to the rechargeable battery.
US08721172B2
Method for calibrating an electronic chip, electronic chip and heat pattern detector for this method
A method for calibrating an electronic chip comprises: the placing of a calibration transducer of a chip to be calibrated in contact with a first element and the measurement of a corresponding temperature variation ΔTc with this calibration transducer, the calibration thermal transducer having thermal characteristics different from those of the normal transducer so as to measure a temperature variation ΔTc that is different from a variation ΔT1 measured by the normal transducer, and the calibration of the chip to be calibrated on the basis of the measured variations ΔT1 and ΔTc.
US08721170B2
A rotation detection unit configured to detect the condition of rotation of a stepping motor on the basis of an induced signal generated in a drive coil of the stepping motor in a detection period in which the condition of rotation of the stepping motor is detected and a control unit configured to rotationally drive the stepping motor by supplying a drive signal to the drive coil of the stepping motor within the driving period in which the stepping motor is rotationally driven are provided. The driving period and part of the detection period are configured to overlap with each other in a first time interval, and the control unit stops supply of the drive signal to the drive coil of the stepping motor in the first time interval.
US08721165B2
A blender includes a container having a plurality of substantially triangular shaped ribs projecting into a processing zone of the container. The plurality of spaced ribs each include a width and a depth that taper from a top end section adjacent a teardrop shaped opening of the container to a more narrow bottom end section adjacent a bottom wall of the container. A side wall of the container continuously tapers from the teardrop shaped opening to a substantially square shaped bottom end portion including first, second, third and fourth side wall sections connected to one another at respective rounded corners. A blade assembly is coupled to the container and includes a plurality of blades angled at different planes with respect to a horizontal plane. Each of the blades includes a beveled leading edge, resulting in a downward suction force that draws ingredients down into the blade for processing.
US08721161B2
A device comprising a substrate having a surface that comprises a conductive base layer. The device also comprises fluid-support-structures on the conductive base layer. Each of the fluid-support-structures has at least one dimension of about 1 millimeter or less. Each of the fluid-support-structures is coated with an electrical insulator. The device is configured to oscillate a fluid locatable between tops of the fluid-support-structures and the conductive base layer when a voltage is applied between the conductive base layer and the fluid.
US08721158B2
The invention provides an LCD device. The LCD device includes a frame. The frame is internally provided with a lightbar, an LGP, and a reflecting surface. A long and narrow reflecting cavity is formed between the lightbar, the reflecting surface, and the LGP, and the frame is provided with heat dissipating holes which are communicated with the outside of the LCD device in the corresponding positions of both ends of the reflecting cavity. In the invention, the frame at the open parts of both ends of the reflecting cavity is provided with heat dissipating holes, thereby forming a “chimney effect”, namely hot air rapidly rises and then is discharged from the top holes, and cold air is rapidly supplemented from the bottom holes. Thus, heat convection is accelerated, thereby improving heat dissipation effect.
US08721154B2
The invention discloses a backlight module, a manufacturing method thereof, and an LCD device. A backlight module comprises an LGP; the light emergent surface of the LGP is covered with more than two material layers with different refractive indexes. In the invention, coatings of different refractive indexes are covered on the light emergent surface of the LGP, P light selectively transmitted, S light is reflected to the LGP for being reflected and converted to P light and then is transmitted again. The transmittance of the P light is increased by such repetition. The utilization rate of light energy is increased, and the brightness of LCDs is increased. In addition, that the material layers with different refractive indexes are covered on the light emergent surface of the LGP can be carried out using various processing modes, such as making general adhesive membranes in advance, or directly coating coatings onto the light emergent surface of the LGP, etc. The mode has the advantage of simple process, and is suitable for manufacturers to select the technical scheme of lower cost in accordance with self situation to reduce production cost.
US08721153B2
A back reflector for a lightguide in a turning film backlight includes a prism film layer in direct contact with a reflective layer. The lightguide includes a light guiding region having a refractive index that is substantially spatially uniform. The reflective layer may be specular or diffuse and may include a multilayer polymeric film.
US08721143B2
The invention relates to an actuator (1), having a motor (2) and an actuator component (3) operable by the motor (2), having a movable gear component (4) with a limit stop component (5a, 5b), and at least one limit stop element (6) with a reference plane serving as stop for the limit stop component (5a, 5b) of the gear component (4), wherein at least one limit stop element (6) and/or the first and/or the second limit stop component (5a, 5b) is/are made from a high-temperature plastic material. Furthermore, the invention of such an actuator (1) relates to the use of such an actuator for the headlamp leveling of a headlamp.
US08721142B2
A novel vehicular light fixture (10) is disclosed. The light fixture (10) is compact, yet efficient, and employs semiconductor light sources (44) to produce output light in desired patterns. The fixture (10) can be used to produce fog lamps, driving lamps and other non-headlamp vehicle lighting functions. Depending upon the light output required, one or more semiconductor light sources (44) and a corresponding number of optical bodies (64) are employed in the fixture (10) to produce the desired light pattern.
US08721138B2
A light conduit nautical navigation light with improved usable life and reliability. It replaces electrical energy coupling by light energy coupling, thereby eliminating electrical contact corrosion problems. It further offers a more robust light emitting structure due to its solid structure.
US08721137B1
The present invention discloses an angle-adjustable hand-held lamp, which comprises a support, a protection cover, a first angle adjusting device, a second angle adjusting device, a base, a handle, a threaded joint, a bottom housing and a lamp bulb; the illumination angle of the lamp bulb is enabled to be adjusted through the first angle adjusting device and the second angle adjusting device.
US08721136B2
A construction lighting apparatus having a plurality of lighting modules, each comprising an electrical cord having approximately a 10 foot length, the electrical cord comprising an integral molded light source located midway, one end having a male electrical plug and the other end having a three-directional three-way female electrical outlet plug, the male electrical plug further having at least two pliable loops, the three-directional three-way female electrical outlet having at least two hooks. If two lighting modules are attached the pliable loops of the male electrical plug of one lighting module will be secured to the hooks of the three-directional three-way female electrical outlet of the other lighting module.
US08721135B2
A fluid cooled lighting element is disclosed. A fluid, preferably a liquid, cools and stabilizes the p-n junction of a light emitting diode thereby reducing the energy required to power the light emitting diode, lengthening its usable lifetime, and outputting more consistent light. The fluid can cool a heat sink, printed circuit board, metal plates to which the light emitting diode is mounted, the lens surrounding the light emitting diode, or other heat transferring elements proximate to the light emitting diode.
US08721120B2
An LED worklight includes a center core and a first panel and a second panel coupled to the center core. The first panel includes a first LED die package disposed within a first opening formed within the first panel and a first lens disposed over the first LED die package. The second panel includes features similar to the first panel. The second panel is rotatable around the center core from a zero degree closed orientation to about a 359 degree orientation, and is positionable at any intermediate angle therebetween. The first and second panels each include an attachment mechanism having an elastic band with a hook attached thereto. The attachment mechanisms are used to attach or hang the worklight to or around one or more objects. The attachment mechanisms are stored in the worklight such that the attachment mechanisms do not interfere with its operation when not in use.
US08721115B2
A light panel is disclosed. The light panel comprises a circuit assembly, a plurality of light sources, a light reflective structure, and a diffuser layer. The light reflective structure has a plurality of concaves, which are continuously connected to form a plurality of ridges. Each of the concaves has an opening formed on the bottom surface thereof, and each of the light sources is disposed corresponding to each of the openings of the concaves. The diffuser layer is supported by the ridges of the light reflective structure. In some aspects of the present invention, the diffuser layer may have a sloping inner surface or is coated with patterned diffuser coatings on the top surface. Each light source can be added with a lens.
US08721107B2
An open bulb fixture is a lighting fixture presenting a light bulb exposed and unprotected to an area around the light bulb. A light cover is a transparent or translucent cover protecting a light bulb while permitting light from the light bulb to pass through the light cover to the area around the light bulb. A method for protecting an open bulb lighting fixture includes positioning a light cover to the open bulb fixture.
US08721103B2
A welding shield includes a durable shell body having a front viewing window pivotally attached to a headband, a welding shield lens attached to the shell body covering the front viewing window of the shell body, a first light source disposed to the front area of the shell body, a second light source disposed to the front area of the headband, and at least one control device for controlling the light sources.
US08721098B2
The invention relates to an illumination system having a light scattering and conversion plate comprising a non-converting but scattering layer and a thinner converting layer. By separating scattering and conversion, the characteristics of the illumination system can greatly be increased.
US08721082B2
The invention relates to a method for characterizing a perception of blur by a subject (10) in order to determine a dioptric blur value for an image (C) observed by the subject. The image has a blur generated by the low-pass filtering of the image components in accordance with the respective space frequencies of said image components. An indication of the perception thereof of blur in the image is provided by the subject and is associated with the dioptric blur value. Several images associated with different dioptric blur values are used for defining a dioptric blur threshold value for the subject that corresponds to a blur perception criterion. The invention can be used for adjusting the design of a progressive lens for the subject in accordance with the sensitivity to said visual blur of said object.
US08721081B2
A method and apparatus are provided for the differential diagnosis of a patient with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) from a patient with Parkinson's disease (PD). One method includes identifying a plurality of partially repetitive eye movements that over time define square wave jerks, each square wave jerk of the plurality of square wave jerks defined by a first horizontal saccadic movement that moves the eye away from a fixation target followed by a corrective saccadic movement towards the target shortly thereafter, measuring a vertical component associated with the plurality of square wave jerks, comparing the vertical component with a threshold value. PSP or PD is identified by comparison of the vertical component with the threshold value. In another embodiment, a patient's saccade rate is determined and compared to a threshold value, and PSP or PD is identified based upon the comparison of the saccade rate with the threshold value.
US08721079B2
An ophthalmologic apparatus including an index projection unit to project an index on a cornea of a subject's eye, an imaging unit to form an image on an imaging plane via an objective lens and capture an image of the index projected on the cornea, and a control unit to control a distance between the subject's eye and the object lens so that a size of the captured index becomes a predetermined size.
US08721067B2
A printer apparatus (10) is provided with a front and rear drive motor, which rotationally drives a feed roller (21) in a state that the plate-like medium (B) is pinched by the feed roller (21) and a pinch roller (24) which are paired to feed the plate-like medium (B) to the front side and to set to be located on the platen (13), a right and left drive motor which moves the printer head (32) in the right and left direction, and a controller which performs control for feeding the plate-like medium (B) and control for moving the printer head by the right and left drive motor (32). The platen (13) is provided with a feeding auxiliary member (40) which is protruded from a support face for supporting the plate-like medium (B) and is located on the front side with respect to a portion facing the printer head (32).
US08721066B2
An image recording device includes a recording unit, a feeding mechanism, a guide member, and a lock portion. The feeding mechanism is configured to feed a first feeding object along a feeding path. The feeding path has a straight path and a curved path. The recording unit faces the straight path. The guide member defines the curved path and is rotatable between an exposed position and a closed position. The lock portion is movable between a locked position at which the guide member is locked in the closed position and an unlocked position at which the lock is released. The guide member has a recess formed therein and the feeding mechanism further feeds a second feeding object to the recess along the straight path. When the second feeding object is disposed in the recess, the lock portion is disposed at the locked position.
US08721065B2
An ink jet printer comprising a conveyor belt unit 106 for transferring a print sheet 2 on a rotating conveyor belt 106a, a resist roller pair 111 and a BU roller 112 for feeding the print sheet 2 while flexing it in the transferring direction, and first and second ink jet head 104a, 104b for ejecting ink toward the print sheet, wherein the ink jet head 104b ejects ink darker in color than ink ejected from the ink jet head 104a. The ink jet head 104b serves to eject ink, that is darker in color than that of the ink jet head 104a, and is located at a position farther than the arriving position of the print sheet 2 when the print sheet 2 is displaced from the conveyor belt 106a in the transferring direction as the elasticity of the print sheet 2 due to flexure exceeds adhesion between the print sheet 2 and the conveyor belt 106a, while the ink jet head 104a is arranged between the ink jet head 104b and the BU roller 112. By this configuration, print quality can be sustained with high speed printing by using an ink jet head and reduction in printer size achieved.
US08721064B2
A printing apparatus includes a transport unit that transports a printing medium to a downstream side of a transport direction, a printing head that performs printing on the printing medium, a drying unit that performs a drying process on the printing medium in the course of a transport path of the printing medium, a transport roller that is disposed further to the downstream side in the transport direction than the drying unit, a de-curl roller that pinches the printing medium with the transport roller, and a curl correcting unit that corrects the curl of the printing medium, and the de-curl roller is positioned at a de-curl position of pinching the printing medium with the transport roller at the time of increasing the temperature of the drying unit to a predetermined temperature.
US08721057B2
An ink transport system for a phase change ink printer has been developed that enables accurate control of refilling a second ink reservoir from a first ink reservoir with minimal moving parts. The system includes a thermoelectric device that is operatively connected to a thermally conductive tube, which fluidly connects the first and second ink reservoirs. The thermoelectric device is operated by a controller to heat phase change ink in the thermally conductive tube and enable flow of ink from the first reservoir to the second reservoir, and to remove heat from the phase change ink in the thermally conductive tube to solidify ink in the tube and disable flow of ink from the first reservoir to the second reservoir.
US08721056B2
A continuous multi-nozzle inkjet recording apparatus includes a multi-nozzle inkjet head including a liquid chamber, an ink nozzle plate, and a heating unit, a gas flow applicator, a cap, and a gutter unit. The ink nozzle plate includes ink jetting nozzles to jet ink column. The heating unit stimulates the pressurized ink at an exit opening of the ink jetting nozzles to separate ink droplets from the ink column. The gas flow applicator applies a gas flow to flying ink droplets. The gas flow applicator includes an opening to jet the gas flow. The cap shields an area of the gas flow from an ambient atmosphere space existing around a transporting and image forming area for the recording medium. The gutter unit catches ink droplets. Ink droplets not caught by the gutter unit are directed onto a recording medium to form an image on the recording medium.
US08721055B2
There is provided a piezoelectric device comprising a first electrode, a piezoelectric layer that is formed above the first electrode, a second electrode that is formed above the piezoelectric layer and a coating layer that is formed above the second electrode consisting of tungsten or titanium.
US08721053B2
A liquid droplet discharge head includes: a liquid chamber including an inner wall; a plurality of nozzles on a part of the inner wall; a diaphragm to change a pressure inside the liquid chamber; a piezoelectric element to displace the diaphragm; a drive voltage generator to generate a pulse voltage for normal driving; a micro-drive voltage generator to generate a pulse voltage for micro-driving; a voltage applying means to apply a voltage waveform including each pulse voltage to the piezoelectric element; and a nozzle activation ratio processor to calculate a nozzle activation ratio based on drive data for discharging liquid droplets from the nozzle. Based on the nozzle activation ratio, the micro-drive voltage generator generates a pulse voltage for the micro-driving including a peak voltage corresponding to the nozzle activation ratio, and the voltage applying means applies an appropriate voltage waveform to the piezoelectric element.
US08721049B2
Inkjet printhead having suspended heater element and ink inlet laterally offset from nozzle aperture
An inkjet printhead includes a plurality of nozzle chambers disposed on a substrate. Each nozzle chamber includes: a floor having an ink inlet defined therein; a roof having a nozzle aperture defined therein; sidewalls extending between the floor and the roof; and a heater element suspended in the nozzle chamber, the heater element being connected to corresponding electrodes so as to heat fluid within the nozzle chamber thereby forming a gas bubble in the fluid which causes ejection of fluid through the nozzle aperture. The ink inlet is laterally offset from the nozzle aperture and a plane of the heater is parallel with a plane of the roof.
US08721048B2
The reduction in reliably of a liquid discharge head due to the dissolution of a protective layer is suppressed. A substrate for a liquid discharge head includes a base substrate, a heat-generating resistive layer placed on the base substrate, a pair of lines placed on the base substrate, and a protective layer covering the heat-generating resistive layer and the lines. The protective layer contains a material represented by the formula SixCyNx, where x+y+z=100, 30≦x≦59, y≧5, and z≧15 on an atomic percent basis.
US08721028B2
A method of controlling a maintenance operation in an inkjet printer, the method includes detecting that ink supply connection to a printhead has been interrupted; detecting that ink supply connection to the printhead has been restored; measuring a time interval between the interruption and the restoration of the ink supply connection to the printhead; and selecting a level of the maintenance operation, depending upon a length of the time interval.
US08721023B2
A recording apparatus includes a roller and a control device. The roller is configured and arranged to convey a recording medium. The control device is configured and arranged to set a pressure load of the roller contacting with the recording medium. The control device is configured and arranged to set the pressure load of the roller to a first pressure load when the recording medium is conveyed, and to set the pressure load of the roller to a second pressure load which is lower than the first pressure load when the recording medium is not conveyed while the roller is in contact with the recording medium.
US08721020B2
The throughput of a serial printer is improved. A inkjet printer 100 has a print unit that prints on a print medium; a first transportation unit that conveys the print medium in the primary scanning direction; a second transportation unit that conveys the print unit in a secondary scanning direction substantially perpendicular to the primary scanning direction; and a control unit that controls the transportation operations of the first and second transportation units, so that the time required to move the print unit from the stop-printing position where the print unit finishes printing one print area to the start-printing position where transportation for printing the next print area starts is shortest. The control unit also determines a transportation range that may include the print unit going beyond the stop-printing position when the print unit prints the one print area.
US08721002B2
Various embodiments of the present invention provide seating devices having an armrest with a triangular cross-section that twists along its length to provide a support surface with increased comfort to the occupant, in addition to making the chair strong and durable. The seating device of the present invention may also be stackable.
US08720992B2
An ergonomic saddle structure for bicycles and pedal machines, includes a shell made of relatively rigid material, and a connection member anchoring the shell to a frame of a bicycle or a pedal machine. The shell has a rear portion of enlarged plan shape and, a front portion with at least partially tapered plan shape, and an intermediate connection portion. The rear portion has uniformly joined lateral edges of a substantially convex shape. The intermediate portion has lateral edges of concave plan form and bend radius about equal to the average bend radius of the lateral edges of the convex rear portion (3), and a minimum width just greater than the maximum width of the connection member, so to define, at the user's thighs, a narrow zone adapted to reduce compression and rubbing of the inner surface of the thighs with the lateral edges of the shell.
US08720987B2
To improve layout performance of components for driving a panel in a sunroof apparatus adapted to retractably open/close a roof opening with two sheets of panels of front and rear panels.A front timing member is located in the front side of the front panel and a rear timing member is located in a rear end side of the rear panel so that the timing members are moved back and forth within the same timing guide groove formed in the guide rail.
US08720983B1
A front vehicle body structure includes a front pillar that extends in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle body, an upper frame that extends from the front pillar toward a front of a vehicle body, and a front side frame that is disposed laterally interior of the upper frame. The front side frame includes an outer face that faces laterally outward, an inner face that faces laterally inward, and an upper face that connects the inner face to the outer face. The front vehicle body structure also includes a connection member that extends upwardly from the upper face of the front side frame to the upper frame so as to connect the front side frame and the upper frame together.
US08720982B2
An arrangement for a front portion of a motor vehicle, including at least one structural box element including two substantially longitudinal intermediate beams and two upper substantially longitudinal elements at an end of which is attached a transverse technical element and supporting parts of the vehicle, the front portion supporting at least two headlights of the vehicle, a bumper, and two abutments for closing an associated hood. The transverse element includes at least two opposing upper transverse arms extending from a central portion and an end of each of which is attached to the upper longitudinal elements and includes a mechanism attaching at least one attachment tab of an associated headlight, at least one attachment point of the bumper, and the hood-closing abutment.
US08720981B1
A vehicle frame structure includes a longitudinal floor frame member and a frame stiffener connected with the floor frame member. The floor frame member connects with a vehicle floor panel to form a substantially closed cross section. The floor frame member includes a lower wall including a lower section, a higher section, and a transition section disposed between the lower section and the higher section. The lower wall transitions upward along the transition section from the lower section to the higher section. The frame stiffener connects with the floor frame member on an exterior of the floor frame member. The frame stiffener has a substantially U-shaped configuration in cross section and includes a bottom wall that is vertically offset below the lower wall of the floor frame member at least along a portion of the transition section.
US08720976B2
A vehicle collision protection apparatus includes a bracket. The bracket includes a deflecting force generating component provided at a rear end of the bracket. The bracket is disposed in a vehicle front space of a vehicle and extends in a front to rear direction of the vehicle and attach a vehicle component to a body of the vehicle. The deflecting force generating component deflects the rear end of the bracket in a width direction of the vehicle and rotates the bracket together with the vehicle component in the width direction when the deflecting force generating component impinges against a portion of the vehicle body as the rear end of the bracket is displaced in a rearward direction of the vehicle due to crushing of a front end of the vehicle during a collision at the front end of the vehicle.
US08720973B2
An encapsulated vehicle window assembly has, as a component thereof, a polymeric seal member surrounding at least a peripheral portion of a transparent glass substrate, the polymeric seal having interlocking portions. A method of installing the encapsulated vehicle window assembly in a vehicle body opening is also an aspect of the invention.
US08720971B2
A riding vehicle is provided with a downdraft fan assembly mounted on a vehicle roll bar for providing a flow of ambient air over the vehicle operator and a canopy carried by the fan assembly and providing solar and precipitation protection for the operator.
US08720969B2
A vehicle cargo compartment assembly is provided that has a vehicle floor defining an opening for a storage compartment and a lid sized for covering the opening and moveable between a closed position and an open position. A cargo mat has a body portion overlaying the lid and is moveable with the lid between the closed position and the open position. An outboard flap extends beyond the lid to overlay a portion of the vehicle floor bordering the opening when the lid is in the closed position. The outboard flap is supported by the vehicle floor when the lid is in the closed position, and the outboard flap is hinged to the body portion such that the outboard flap extends downward at a hanging angle with respect to the body portion when the lid is in the open position.
US08720968B2
A door latching system for the door covering the charge port of an electric vehicle, or for the door covering the fuel filler port of a conventional vehicle, is provided. The door latching system is comprised of a ferromagnetic member attached to an interior surface of the door, and a latching assembly integrated into the port housing, where the latching assembly includes an assembly case, an electromagnet, and a permanent magnet that maintains the door in a closed position when the electromagnet is not energized and releases the door when the electromagnet is energized. The latching assembly may include a magnetic flux sensor that monitors when the port door is open or closed. The magnetic flux sensor may be coupled to a system controller that performs a preset response when the magnetic flux sensor determines that the door is open.
US08720959B2
The invention describes a remote-actuable door opener for installation in a door having a preferably positionally fixed door frame and having a door leaf movably mounted thereon. The door leaf has a movable door opener catch (1) and a remote-actuable blocking device (2) which interacts directly or indirectly with the door opener catch (1) in such a way that the door opener catch (1) can be switched into a blocking position and into a release position. It is essential that an actuating device (200) is provided which automatically sets the door opener catch (1) into a position in which the door opener catch (1) abuts against the lock catch (90) in the closed position of the door. Here, the door opener catch (1) is in particular formed from a bearing body (110) and from a catch body (10) which is displaceably guided on the bearing body and which is driven by the actuating device (200) in the direction of the actuating movement.
US08720954B2
A fastening device for a hand-held applicator of foam cylinders enables the use of foam cylinders with hand applicators that were intended for applicator guns. A fastening device for a hand-held applicator is used, which is placed on the valve nozzle of a foam cylinder. The fastening device has a cavity on the side of the nozzle, in which there is a conical pipe. In addition grappling devices, such as cammed surfaces, on the inside wall of the cavity of the fastening device engage a border of the nozzle.
US08720951B2
The invention concerns a process for producing a film element having mutually registered metallic layers (11, 16) and a film element which can be produced by such a process. A first metallic layer (11) provided on a first surface of a flexible single-layer or multi-layer carrier film (10) and a masking layer (13) provided on the second surface of the carrier film (10), opposite to the first surface, are structured in accurate register relationship with each other by means of mutually synchronized structuring procedures. After structuring of the first metallic layer (11) and the masking layer (13) one or more further layers are applied to the first metallic layer (11). Applied to the one or more further layers (15) is a second metallic layer (16) to which a first photoactivatable layer (17) is applied. The first photoactivatable layer (17) is structured by means of trans-exposure through the masking layer (13), the first metallic layer, the one or more further layers and the second metallic layer (16) from the side of the masking layer (13) by means of electromagnetic radiation of a wavelength to which the first photoactivatable layer (17) is sensitive, or the first photoactivatable layer is exposed controlledly through the masking layer from the side of the film body that is opposite to the masking layer.
US08720946B2
A gas generator has two pyrotechnic charges in two chambers having openings for gas outlet to the outside. Only the first chamber is provided with an igniter for first charge. The chambers are separated by a third wall with a through hole for permanent gas communication, sealed in an initial state by a cap. The cap is configured to be broken under the pressure of the combustion gases from first charge to keep the hole opened permanently and allow the combustion gases from the first charge to go via the hole kept permanently opened from a first chamber to a second chamber, where these gases induce the combustion of charge. When in an initial state, the cap is configured to go under the pressure of the combustion gases from second charge to the permanent state, in which the cap is broken to keep hole opened permanently and allow the combustion gases from said second charge to go via the hole kept permanently open from the second chamber to the first chamber, where this combustion gases induce the combustion of charge.
US08720945B2
A gas generator includes a pyrotechnic charge contained in a chamber delimited by a wall and by two transversal walls. At least one of the walls comprises at least one through hole. A covering sheet in the form of a box is located facing the through hole. A seal gasket is provided between the sheet and one of the walls. The seal gasket is positioned between the first tubular part of the covering sheet and the wall for ensuring the seal between the box and the wall towards the through hole.
US08720940B2
A side airbag apparatus includes an inflator, which generates inflation gas in response to an impact applied from a side of a seat of a vehicle, an airbag, which is deployed and inflated forward with inflation gas on a side of an occupant seated in the seat, and an accommodating portion, which accommodates the airbag folded into an accommodation state. The airbag in the accommodation state is formed through first and second folding operations in a state where the airbag is deployed but not inflated. In the first folding operation, an upper portion of the airbag is folded downward. In the second folding operation, which is after the first folding operation, the airbag is folded rearward from front.
US08720937B2
A load cushion for a suspension system including a first cushion portion, a second cushion portion, a base plate having a flat top side and a bottom side, and a rate plate having a flat top side and a flat bottom side, wherein the top side of the base plate is parallel to the top side of the rate plate, wherein the first cushion portion extends away from the top side of the rate plate and has at least one vertical cross section having two tapering edges that extend towards each other as they extend upwardly from the top side of the rate plate until they end at an exposed upper surface, and wherein the second cushion portion extends between the top side of the base plate and the bottom side of the rate plate.
US08720926B2
A mobility chair is arranged for a high degree of maneuverability, and is particularly useful for handicapped individuals in need of a highly stable and maneuverable carriage. The mobility chair may be particularly useful for children, and includes a seat positioned between first and second wheels of a first wheel set, wherein the axial spacing dimension of the first and second wheels is greater than the axle height. The mobility chair is arranged for pivotability about the first wheel set axle to permit the user to freely pivot forward while in the seat of the chair, with the pivoting being limited in both circumaxial directions about the axle axis.
US08720913B2
A lightweight, easy-to-assemble, and portable cart for the performance of peritoneal dialysis is disclosed. The cart includes a top shelf, bottom shelf, and at least four adjustable connecting members or legs. The top shelf has a top surface designed to receive a PD cycler, and at least one hook to hang bags of solution. Various components of the cart include a plastic and foaming agent additive.
US08720910B2
Various mechanical closure systems and securing systems are disclosed, such as snowboard bindings and car rack systems. The systems include a mechanically reformable strap. The strap includes a wire disposed along a longitudinal axis of the strap. The wire maintains the strap in a desired geometry that is different from a previous geometry of the strap. In other embodiments, a wire-core strap can include transverse ridges, holes, or other types of grooves or apertures.
US08720907B2
An expansion ring assembly seals a gasket with respect to an annular wall of a rigid structure. The expansion ring assembly includes two arcuate expansion ring bands that cooperate to define a generally circular profile. At one side of the expansion ring assembly, a first pair of ends of the expansion ring bands overlap and include a ratcheting mechanism which allows the ring to incrementally expand but not to contract. At another location of the expansion ring assembly, a second pair of ends are joined by a drive mechanism for engaging and driving apart the opposing ends of an expansion ring to thereby non-incrementally expand the ring. The ratchet mechanism may be used to initially set and hold the expansion ring against a gasket in a desired position and to provide an initial expansion pressure, i.e., for a coarse adjustment. The drive mechanism may then be used to provide a final expansion pressure of the gasket, i.e., for a fine adjustment. Advantageously, the coarse adjustment followed by the final adjustment allows a user to quickly and precisely achieve a desired gasket pressure by manipulating the torque applied to the drive mechanism.
US08720903B2
A fluid seal assembly (the assembly) of the present invention is disposed between an outer surface, i.e. engine block or any other part that requires application of the assembly and a rotatable member, such as, for example a shaft, wherein the assembly circumscribes the shaft and lubricated the shaft and the same rotates around the axis. The assembly includes at least three members: a casing unit, a sealing ring unit, and a collar. The assembly eliminates problems associated with prior art designs such as static leakage of oil, clogging up the spirals with carbonized oil that negatively impact lifecycle of the fluid seals.
US08720899B2
A dual seal accommodates radial and axial movement, and accommodates positive and negative pressure differentials, when in sealing engagement about a rotating shaft.
US08720894B2
The present invention is a ground preparation apparatus for use in maintaining substantially uniformly soft and smooth soil while providing a movable roping target. The apparatus is usefully in avoiding the need to separately maintain ground to be used in roping practice while at the same time providing a moving roping target.
US08720892B2
An apparatus is for shuffling a plurality of playing cards used in gaming. The apparatus includes a card support adapted to support the unshuffled cards on-edge. An exciter is also included, and is adapted to impart vibrational action to the supported cards. Cards drop in a random fashion such as by controlling the relative position of the cards and passage through one or more card slots in a card rest. In at least some of the apparatuses, a medial card receiver is adapted to receive at least one card dropped from the card support and to retain the at least one received card to substantially block the card slot to prevent further cards from dropping. A positioner is preferably included to change a relative position of the unshuffled deck and card slots though which the cards drop.
US08720889B2
A conveyor device includes: a first conveyor having a first roller; a second conveyor having a second roller and disposed downstream of the first conveyor; and a storage storing first information and second information in which a velocity or a deceleration of the first and second rollers is less in the second information than in the first information. A controller executes: a first rotation processing in which, when a state in which a sheet is nipped by the first conveyor is kept during a next conveyance in intermittent conveyance, a first roller and a second roller are rotated according to the first information in the next conveyance; and a second rotation processing in which, when the state is not kept in the next conveyance, the first drive roller and the second drive roller are rotated according to the second information in the next conveyance.
US08720886B2
A sheet conveying apparatus which conveys a sheet, including: a first conveying path along which the sheet is conveyed; a second conveying path along which the sheet is reconveyed to the first conveying path; a reverse conveyance roller pair, which performs forward rotation to convey the sheet from the first conveying path and reverse rotation to convey the sheet to the second conveying path; a reconveying roller pair disposed in the second conveying path; and a control portion which causes the reconveying roller pair to nip a preceding sheet and a succeeding sheet in an overlaid manner, and thereafter rotates a first roller that is in contact with the preceding sheet while stopping rotation of a second roller that is in contact with the succeeding sheet so that the preceding sheet is conveyed to the first conveying path and the succeeding sheet stays in the second conveying path.
US08720872B2
Innersprings with alternating coil spring orientations have columns of interconnected coils in which the axial orientation of the coils alternates one hundred and eighty degrees column to column.
US08720870B2
The valve cover has a guide vane extending laterally and downwardly from the central portion towards and in spaced relation to the tray deck for deflecting a majority of the vapor passing upwardly through an orifice downward towards the tray deck. A de-entrainment device with a downwardly angled deflector in vertical alignment with an orifice in the tray deck may be integrated or not with the valve cover below the tray deck.
US08720846B2
A safety strap for securing flat panel displays to a support structure to prevent the flat panel display from tipping forward or side-to-side.
US08720840B2
A container-supporting apparatus includes a housing, a holder, a cup-supporting body, a flap, an elastic member for urging the flap in a direction of an insertion hole, a shaft part provided on either (for example, the flap) of the holder or the flap, and a shaft-bearing part provided on the other (for example, the holder) and provided with a shaft-bearing part capable of receiving the shaft part. When the holder is stored in the housing, the cup-supporting body contacts the flap whereby the shaft part moves inside the shaft-bearing hole of the shaft-bearing part.
US08720838B2
The present application teaches an extension arm including an articulating portion that approximately counterbalances the mass of the articulating portion and any objects connected thereto, for example an electronic device, throughout the positional range of the articulating portion, via the operation of a counter-balancing mechanism. In some embodiments according to the disclosed inventive concepts, the counter-balancing mechanism employs a spring coupled to a chain at a first end, the chain being connected at its opposite end to a pivoting member with which it interacts to support the articulating portion of the extension arm and any objects connected thereto.
US08720836B2
A system for raising and lowering a wide range of objects on an elongated tubular structure includes a carriage subsystem with a tubular body having an interior central channel an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of the elongated tubular structure. Rollers facilitate linear translation of the tubular body along the elongated tubular structure. At least one hook is pivotally mounted on the tubular body and configured to controllably engage a means for locking the carriage in a raised position. The carriage subsystem also includes a flange for attaching an object to the carriage subsystem. A winch and cable control motion of the carriage system between a lowered position adjacent to the base and a raised position adjacent to the top of the tubular structure. A collar attached to the top of the tubular structure includes a tubular body with an outer diameter less than the inner diameter of the tubular body of the carriage subsystem. At least one slot is formed in the tubular body of the collar and configured for controllable engagement by the hook pivotally mounted on the tubular body in the interior central channel of the carriage subsystem. At least one pulley is rotatably mounted to the tubular body of the collar and configured for guiding a lanyard attached to the carriage subsystem at one end of the lanyard. An irrigation subsystem may be provided to irrigate supported planters. An electrical subsystem comprising aligned electrode assemblies may also be provided to supply electric power to an electrical load supported by the carriage when the carriage is locked in the raised position.
US08720825B2
An aerospace vehicle includes a plurality of composite stiffeners. Each stiffener of the plurality has a stack of plies of reinforcing fibers. At least some of the plies in the stack have reinforcing fibers oriented at ±α with respect to an axis of primary loading, where α is between 2 and 12 degrees. At least some of the plies in the stack have reinforcing fibers oriented at ±β with respect to the axis of primary loading, where β is between 50 and 85 degrees.
US08720814B2
An aircraft may have a fuselage, a left wing extending from the fuselage, a right wing extending from the fuselage, a tail section extending from a rear portion of the fuselage, and a first engine and a second engine operably connected by a common driveshaft, wherein the first and second engines are configured for freewheeling such that if one of the first and second engines loses power the other of the first and second engines continues to power the aircraft.
US08720813B2
A dispenser for dispensing paper from center-feed tissue paper rolls, the dispenser having a housing with a receiving portion for receiving two center-feed rolls, one of which is a full paper roll and the other one an almost used-up paper roll squeezed into the form of a sickle to make the dispenser less bulky. The two rolls dispense through separate openings, which may be linked to a common dispensing nozzle spaced apart from the openings.
US08720809B2
Provided are a seat belt retractor and a seat belt apparatus, which can reduce the emanation of abutment noise upon switching of a clutch. A first embodiment of a seat belt retractor according to the present invention includes a spool for retracting a webbing W to restrain an occupant, a motor for generating drive torque to rotate the spool, a power transmission means for transmitting the drive torque of the motor to the spool, a clutch for connecting or disconnecting the power transmission means and the spool, and a casing for housing the clutch and the power transmission means. The clutch has a pawl rotatably connected to the casing, an actuating pin for rotating the pawl in conjunction with the power transmission means, and a stopper portion for limiting the rotation of the actuating pin.
US08720805B1
Exemplary embodiments relate to a system for cooling a compression screw that includes a compression screw. The system may include a hollowed shaft, a tubular body extending through a proximal end portion to a distal end portion of the hollowed shaft, at least one flight, including a chamber in fluid connection with the tubular body, and a rotary union connected with the compression screw shaft, which is adapted to allow fluid to flow from a relatively stationary inlet into the compression screw such that fluid is adapted to be circulated through the tubular body and the at least one flight for cooling the compression screw.
US08720800B2
A shower head includes a main body seal seat fixed to a main body. The main body seal seat is fitted in a rotation seat in a rotation way and located above a cover seal seat. The cover seal seat is fixed to a cover unit. The joint of the main body seal seat and the rotation seat has a groove to receive a first seal ring. The main body seal seat has at least one water inlet. The water inlet is provided with a spring and a second seal ring therein. The spring is located between the second seal ring and the water inlet of the main body seal seat. The cover seal seat has at least one through hole corresponding in position to the water inlet. The cover unit has at least one water outlet.
US08720789B2
A wireless IC device includes a wireless IC element, a power supply circuit substrate including a laminate of a plurality of base layers and a power supply circuit connected to the wireless IC element, and a radiating element connected to the power supply circuit. The power supply circuit includes a first coil element connected in series with the wireless IC element, and a second coil element connected in parallel with the wireless IC element. The first coil element and the second coil element are wound and arranged such that winding axes of the first and second coil elements coincide or substantially coincide with each other and directions of magnetic fields generated in the respective first and second coil elements are opposite to each other.
US08720788B1
An apparatus for temporarily attaching an RFID device to a mobile object, includes an RFID tag comprising an enclosure, attachment mechanism, handles, and an RFID device. The handles may be rotatable between a stowed position and a deployed position. The attachment mechanism may comprise magnets, which are used to attach the RFID tag to a metal support surface.
US08720786B2
Card security apparatus and methods are provided. An obstruction layer (e.g., a hot-stamped scratch off foil label) may be provided in at least partially overlapping relation to a data field of a card (e.g., including proprietary information unique to the specific card). The obstruction layer may render all or at least a portion of the card data field unreadable in the presentation position. All or at least a portion of an exposed data field, such e.g., as an activation field, may be disposed on an outer surface of the obstruction layer such that the activation field is readable with the obstruction layer in the presentation position. Displacement of the obstruction layer may render the exposed data field, e.g., activation field, unreadable (e.g., via destruction of all or at least a portion of the obstruction layer) and the data field readable.
US08720783B2
A device for processing image data relating to bar codes is described. In one embodiment a bar code verification device is provided having an ergonomic form factor characterized by a domed hand held trigger and a viewing window. The verification device may be disposed in a network that includes a host processor system and other bar code reading devices which may include other bar code verification devices. Processing circuitry for processing image signals corresponding to printed bar codes may be partially disposed within the hand held verification device and partially disposed within a host processor system spaced apart from and associated with the hand held verification device. The hand held verification device may be in wireless communication with the host processor system to which it is associated. The bar code verification system may include signal enhancement modules which interpolate constructed pixel values from actual pixel values and which correct for signal degradation resulting from high frequency spatial sampling.
US08720782B2
A barcode decoding system and method for compensating for motion of between an image sensor and a barcode to improve decoding of the barcode. The barcode decoding system includes an imager for capturing an image of the barcode, a motion sensor for collecting acceleration data and a processor that is configured to determine a velocity of the image sensor during the exposure period based on the acceleration data and a periodic motion model. The determined velocity is used to adjust the edge detection algorithm used to detect the barcode features in order to decode the barcode. The orientation of the captured barcode can also be determined in order to determine the velocity in a direction perpendicular to the barcode features.
US08720779B2
Disclosed is a method of capturing and reading a pattern image having three or more pages generated from predetermined information using a capturing section provided in a reading apparatus. The pattern image is configured such that each page includes relevant page information indicating a position of the relevant page and the pages are displayed on a display screen sequentially and successively at a time interval and cyclically and repetitively. The method includes a step of, when two pages of the pattern image have been read, causing the reading apparatus to predict a capturing timing by the capturing section for each remaining unread page from a capturing time interval between the two pages and the relevant page information of each of the two pages, and to perform control such that each remaining unread page of the pattern image is captured and read by the capturing section with the predicted capturing timing.
US08720773B2
A method for performing transactions comprises receiving registration information and money transfer transaction specifications, generating a distribution profile based on the registration information, and storing the money transfer transaction specifications in the distribution profile. The distribution profile is identified based on an initiation instruction and associated user authentication data, and one of the money transfer transaction specifications in the distribution profile is identified based on the initiation instruction. Payment source status is verified according to the identified money transfer transaction specification, and a staged send transaction is initiated, based on the payment source status at the time the send transaction is initiated.
US08720763B2
A tape dispenser includes a housing having an outer surface and is configured to contain a roll of adhesive tape. Coupled to the outer surface of the housing includes features of an animal including at least one animal leg coupled to the housing and extending outwardly from the outer surface of the housing. The at least one animal leg moves relative to and along the outer surface of the housing upon adhesive tape being dispensed from the roll of adhesive tape.
US08720759B1
A bicycle accessory storage device and system are described. The device is comprised of an elongated bowl that is sized and shaped to mate to the bottom of a bicycle seat. The system includes the bowl and the bicycle seat.
US08720756B2
A clip for releasable engagement with a user-operated device and for releasable attachment to a user's person, and devices that comprise such clips.
US08720753B2
A handgun holster has a shaped holster body with through cavity for inserting and withdrawing the gun, which is furnished with a support for attaching the holster to the user, with a trigger safety catch and with a security system against removal of the gun from the holster where, in each of the two side walls of the holster body, in the area designed for ensuring the position of the inserted gun, there is a specularly arranged recess in which a safety catch is lodged. This recess has an opening for passage of the functional part of the safety catch into the cavity of the holster in the area designed for positioning the trigger guard of the gun. The outer covering of the safety catch, in the resting position, fits against the outer peripheral surface of the recess, while the functional part of the safety catch is a flat projection whose outer perimeter is smaller than the outer perimeter of the covering of the safety catch, so that this covering bears against the shoulder formed along the inner perimeter of the recess. Each safety catch is positioned on a pin fastened into the corresponding side wall of the body of the holster.
US08720750B2
Metal wire coated with a thermoplastic elastomer has non-slip properties, especially suited for textile and paper. The coated metal wire is further mechanically deformable for use as a clothes hanger or a paperclip.
US08720749B1
A portable mouthwash carrying device is provided for transporting and using a single use portion of mouthwash. The device includes a pouch having a closed bottom. A perimeter wall extends upwardly from the closed bottom. The closed bottom and the perimeter wall define an interior space of the pouch. A tab is coupled to and extends from the pouch. The interior space extends into a bottom of the tab. The tab is removable from the pouch to form an opening into the interior space. A fluid, more particularly mouthwash, is contained in the interior space.
US08720746B2
A power assembly that can obtain duration discharge of product upon a single turn of an actuator sleeve to pressurize product and ready it for dispensing. The assembly includes a piston carried by a piston housing for reciprocation in a cylinder cup having a pump chamber. The actuator sleeve is connected through a clutch disc to a drive screw that is connected to reciprocate the piston housing and piston when the actuator sleeve is rotated. The clutch disc is operative to first disengage the actuator sleeve from the drive screw and then move a stem valve to an open position when an actuator is depressed to dispense product. The power assembly can be used with various energy storage devices such as springs, gases or elastics to exert pressure on product to be dispensed when the actuator is turned.
US08720739B2
A cooler for holding two cans, particular beverage cans containing beer, soft drinks or the like, in a stacked or tandem arrangement. The cooler holds the cans snuggly, keeping them safe from bumps and the like, and also insulates the cans to preserve cold or hot temperature of can contents as long as practicable. The cooler has a cylindrical configuration including a body with an open top, a closed bottom, and an interior space. The body has a cylindrical sleeve and a bottom, which is either in the form of a separate panel or unitary with the sleeve. The bottom has an aperture for preventing or reducing vacuum on the inside of the cooler.
US08720733B2
A cooking device includes a cooking surface defined by a plurality of vertically adjustable members. Each vertically adjustable member of the plurality of vertically adjustable members is independently movable between a retracted position and an extended position. In certain applications, the cooking device may further include a cooking base and a sidewall upwardly extending from the cooking base.
US08720730B2
A device for flexibly retaining lids or tops to containers or receptacles. Flexible coil chord secures a container or receptacle to its lid or top. The device allows for flexibly securing a lid to its container or receptacle to reduce loss or damage that could be avoided by retaining them in proximity to each other.
US08720727B2
A packaging system includes a lid having a permanent portion and a removable portion. The permanent portion includes a first tab. The removable portion includes a second tab. In one embodiment a partially cut line extends between the permanent portion and the removable portion. In one embodiment the removable portion includes a latching region for latching to a container. In one embodiment the first tab is coplanar with the second tab. In one embodiment the lid includes a planar region and the second tab is coplanar with the planar region.
US08720723B2
A modular rainwater storage tank configured to allow storage capacity in a small area when positioned around the corner of a rectangular house or other structure utilizing run off from a roof top. The storage tank may be designed as a three-dimensional quarter-round such that three units will fit in a tight configuration around a right angle. Each storage tank has opposing overflow channels in a raised rim enclosing a recess in the lid. Downspout water is directed to an opening in the raised rim. When the storage tank is full, excess water in the recess in the lid may be directed to an adjacent storage tank in a cascaded configuration. In this manner, three storage tanks may be positioned and cascaded around a corner.
US08720711B2
A method of casting a core includes the steps of preparing a first half of a corebox, preparing a second half of a corebox such that the parting line of a core formed from the first and second coreboxes runs along the vertical axis of the core.
US08720698B2
A seafood grading apparatus that includes a first roller supported from the frame; a drive motor for rotating the first roller about a longitudinal axis thereof; a second roller also supported from said frame and constructed and arranged in juxtaposition to the first roller. The first roller has a helical outer surface, and the second roller is for driving about a longitudinal axis thereof and in unison with the first roller. An inlet port receives pieces of seafood for the purpose of the grading thereof and arranged relative to the rollers to dispose the seafood between the rollers. At least two receiving trays are disposed downstream of the inlet port for receiving different respective size seafood pieces.
US08720693B2
A main body may have a cavity for storing a plurality of parallel semiconductor wafers and an opening for transferring one or more semiconductor wafer into or from the cavity. A covering body may be mounted detachably to the opening in order to close the opening. A gasket may seal between an edge portion of the covering body and an edge portion of the opening. The gasket may be configured such that, when the opening is closed by the covering body, a size of a deformation margin of the gasket is formed to be smaller in a region that seals a vertical edge portion of the opening orthogonal to the face of each semiconductor wafer than in a region that seals a horizontal edge portion of the opening parallel to the face of each the semiconductor wafer.
US08720691B2
A lower cushioning structure and a package cushioning structure for a display panel are disclosed. The lower cushioning structure comprises: a supporting frame, comprising a baseplate as well as a first side plate and a second side plate extending upwards from two opposite sides of the baseplate respectively; two first cushions, being disposed at a location where the first side plate of the supporting frame borders the baseplate and a location where the second side plate of the supporting frame borders the baseplate respectively; and two second cushions, being disposed on an inner wall of the first side plate and an inner wall of the second side plate of the supporting frame respectively, wherein the second cushions are located above the first cushions. The present invention has a low cost and can provide satisfactory cushioning for the display panel.
US08720687B2
A tray includes a base having opposed front and rear walls and opposed side walls. The front and rear walls are shorter to provide access to products stored on the tray when in a stacked configuration. The tray includes reinforced intersections between the front and rear walls and side walls.
US08720683B2
A protective shell applicable to a handheld electric apparatus includes a back plate and a supporting plate. The back plate has a fixing portion and a first figure layer disposed opposite to the handheld electric apparatus. The supporting plate has a second figure layer, a connecting portion and a bendable portion. The second figure layer is disposed on the supporting plate. The connecting portion is disposed on the supporting plate for connecting with the fixing portion. The bendable portion is disposed on the supporting plate. In a first state, the supporting plate is provided to shield the first figure layer and the second figure layer is revealed to form a first expression figure. In a second state, the bendable portion is bent to reveal the first figure layer, so that the first figure layer and the supporting plate are combined to form a second expression figure.
US08720682B2
Holders for portable memory cards and methods for manufacturing such holders are provided. A holder for a portable memory card described herein is configured to attach to a host device such that a portable memory card can travel with a host even when the portable memory card is not being used with the host. A holder for a portable memory card described herein may have a low profile design compatible with host electronic devices of increasingly small form factor, such as mobile phones and portable media players. A holder for a portable memory card may also include a lock for locking a portable memory card in a compartment formed by the memory card holder to prevent accidental removal of the portable memory card from the compartment.
US08720680B2
A container system for separately storing and mixing two or more substances. The container system is comprised of a main container for holding at least one first substance and a cup for holding at least one second substance, the cup being removably mounted on the neck of the main container such that at least a portion of the cup is suspended within the main container. The cup has an upper portion, a lower portion, and one or more aims for connecting the upper and lower portions. Apertures are formed between the upper and lower portions of the cup such that the contents of the cup may mix with the contents of the main container following removal of an inner cap attached to the cup, and agitation of the main container. The cup and neck are sized to provide a void therebetween, thereby also permitting the substances to mix.
US08720678B2
Cell phone cradle that keeps a cell phone away from the head when it is held up to the ear. The cradle has a first end with a height corresponding to the thickness of the cell phone, a second end with a height substantially greater than the thickness of the cell phone, and tapered sides forming an enclosure having an open top and a depth which increases from one end to the other. The cell phone is placed in the cradle with the speaker in the deeper end so that the cell phone is spaced away from the head when the open side of the enclosure is held against the head with the speaker opposite the ear.
US08720670B2
The present invention relates to a star conveyor (1) and to a gripper device (2) for such a star conveyor or similar conveying unit, comprising gripper arms (4) arranged in a corresponding manner in pairs for gripping and holding a vessel (3) or similar body in a gripped position, wherein the gripper device (2) comprises at least one positioning element (6) that is independent of the gripper arms (4). Said positioning element is designed such that it positions the vessel (3) to be gripped at least along one axis in the gripped position.
US08720666B2
The present disclosure is directed to a transfer assembly for transferring discrete articles from or to a moving carrier member. The transfer assembly comprises a frame defining a rotation axis. The frame comprises a track having a circumferential shape surrounding the rotation axis. The transfer assembly comprises transfer members movably engaged with the track, each having a transfer surface. The transfer assembly comprises a wheel engaged with the frame and configured to rotate about the rotation axis. The wheel is engaged with the transfer members. As the wheel rotates about the rotation axis, the transfer members circumnavigate about a path about the rotation axis in correspondence with the track. The shape of the track causes the transfer surfaces to move radially relative to the rotation axis while the transfer surfaces are maintained a substantially constant distance away from the moving carrier member at the point of discrete article transfer.
US08720665B2
In a coin feeding machine 26 which uses a rotary disk 41 rotated at an inclined posture, a removal projection 59 for removing a smaller diameter coin is provided between a feeding projection 52 and a coin support portion 53 which are provided on a surface 41a of the rotary disk 41. The removal projection 59 is disposed to be positioned on the slightly outer side of the outer edge of a coin C when the coin C whose diameter is a lower limit value of a handling target range is brought into contact with the feeding projection 52 and the coin support portion 53. The side surface of the removal projection 59 is inclined relative to the surface of the rotary disk 41. When the coin is brought onto the inclined surface of this removal projection 59, the coin drops away from the surface 41a of the rotary disk 41. A coin C1 which is smaller than the lower limit value of the handling target range is brought onto the removal projection 59, so as to be dropped from the surface 41a of the rotary disk 41 and removed.
US08720664B2
In one aspect, a validation apparatus comprises a light source capable of emitting a broadband spectrum of light for illuminating an item of currency. The validation apparatus also includes a receiver configured to receive light emitted from the light source. In another aspect, the validation apparatus also includes a transportation unit configured to transport the item of currency within the validation apparatus. In a further aspect, the validation apparatus also includes a processor configured to reconstruct a spectral response of the item of current. In this design, the light received by the receiver comprises at least a portion of light reflected by or transmitted through the item of currency.
US08720663B2
A bill jam troubleshooting employed in a bill acceptor used in a consumer system includes the step of displaying an error message when a fake bill is identified by a sampling and validation module, the step of driving the transmission mechanism to carry the inserted bill back and forth over a validation zone repeatedly twice when a bill jam is detected, and the step of controlling the transmission mechanism to return the inserted bill to the bill slot. Thus, the invention improves the function and effect on the overall use of the product, and enhances the advantages and opportunities of commodity sales channels to increase product competitiveness.
US08720657B2
A rewindable electrical cable extension device includes a housing having first and second exit ports, and a cable having first and second ends defining opposing extremities of first and second contiguous cable sections having a common junction anchored to a rotating spool. The first end protrudes through the first exit port, and the second end is fixedly mounted in association with the second exit port. The first cable section is wound on a spool that is configured to rotate within the housing. The second cable section is wound in an opposite direction to the first section so that pulling on the first end unwinds and extracts the first cable section from the housing and uncoils the second cable section within the housing without rotating the second end of the cable.
US08720655B2
A wheeled luggage case may include first and second shells connected together at their perimeter edges to define a generally parallelepiped packing volume. A wheel device may be attached to each of the first and second shells. Each of these wheel devices may include a hub rotatably attached to a respective shell. A tire may be attached to the hub for rolling on the supporting surface when the tire portion and hub are rotated about this axis of rotation. The tire portion may include a series of tire segments. At least some of the segments may be attached to the hub portion by a hinge. The hinge may include a hinging axis of rotation at a substantially right angle to the axis of rotation of the hub itself.
US08720653B2
A drum-integrated electric parking brake apparatus may include a drum brake in which a lining may be pivotally installed, and extends and presses a drum when a parking cable engaged with the lining may be pulled, an actuator selectively pulling the parking cable, a sensor member for detecting a rotation number of the actuator, and a controller for controlling the amount of current supplied to the actuator by detecting a change in the rotation number of the actuator.
US08720650B2
A hub assembly for a wheelchair has a hub device and a switch device. The hub device has a hub shell, an axle, a ring and a ratchet. The ratchet has a cylinder section. The cylinder section has a recess formed in an outer surface of the cylinder section. The switch device has a pin and a wire. The pin is capable of being selectively inserted into the recess. The wire is securely connected with the pin. Because the pin is inserted into the recess and the ratchet engages the ring, the hub shell along with a wheel cannot be moved unintentionally backward on a ramp.
US08720644B2
A safety device designed to attach to a ladder used for accessing an aboveground pool to prevent small children from entering the pool unattended. The safety device is also designed for use as an emergency rescue flotation device. The safety device comprises a body portion made of a light weight floating material and an attachment portion for temporarily engaging the ladder and holding the safety device in place over a plurality of ladder rungs. In the event of a water emergency, the safety device may be used to extend the reach of a rescuer from a safe position without the need for the rescuer to enter the water.
US08720638B1
A bulldozer includes an engine, first and second exhaust treatment apparatuses, and an engine hood. The first and second apparatuses are arranged above the engine. The hood covers upper parts of the first and second apparatuses. Longitudinal directions of the first and second apparatuses extend along the vehicle front and back direction. The hood has an upper surface, left and right side surfaces, and first and second inclined surfaces. The first and second inclined surfaces contact the rear side of the upper surface and rear sides of the left and right side surfaces, respectively. The first and second inclined surfaces are inclined more obliquely to the right and left rear than the left and right side surfaces, respectively, and face downward to the rear. Front edges of the first and second inclined surfaces are positioned in front of rear edges of the first and second apparatuses.
US08720637B2
A honeycomb body for an exhaust-gas purification system may be used, for example, as a carrier body for catalytically acting coatings or as a filter, absorber or mixer in the exhaust system of an internal combustion engine. The honeycomb body has channels, an axial main direction, a planar front surface, a planar end surface and a circumferential surface disposed parallel to the axial main direction. The front surface and/or the end surface are disposed obliquely with respect to the axial main direction. Such a honeycomb body is advantageous, in particular, for applying reducing agent to the oblique end or front surface. A method for producing a honeycomb body, an exhaust line section and a motor vehicle are also provided.
US08720626B2
System and methods for driving a blower motor of a vehicle such as a mining truck or locomotive are provided. A drive system includes a blower drive circuit configured to receive power from an alternator and use the power from the alternator to drive the blower motor. The blower drive circuit is further configured to receive power from at least one traction motor of the vehicle during a retarding operation of the vehicle and use the power from the at least one traction motor to drive the blower motor. The drive system further includes a bypass circuit configured to electrically isolate the blower motor from the blower drive circuit when a fault is detected in the blower drive circuit and to provide power from the alternator to the blower motor such that the blower motor remains operable without use of the blower drive circuit.
US08720622B2
An internal motorized bicycle hub includes a hub axle, a motor, a partitioning wall section and at least one soundproofing member. The motor includes a stator. The partitioning wall section has least one opening and the stator mounted thereon. The at least one soundproofing member is disposed adjacent the partitioning wall section and blocking the at least one opening.
US08720621B2
An electrically driven vehicle equipped with a battery usable for running in which a power generation unit of engine driven type that charges the battery is detachably mounted on a vehicle body, includes including a first connection part that brings a high-voltage system in which the battery and the power generation unit are electrically connected together into a connected state in a state in which the power generation unit is mounted in a mounting position and brings the high-voltage system into a disconnected state in a state in which the power generation unit is dismounted from the mounting position, whereby the first connection part switches a connection state of the high-voltage system in accordance with installation or removal of the power generation unit. The first connection part includes a connector on the vehicle side and a connector on the power generation unit side.
US08720613B2
Drill bit (10) for a rock drilling tool (12), which drill bit (10) has a drilling surface (10b) that contacts rock during drilling. A longitudinal cross section (10t) of the drill bit (10) through the drilling surface (10b) exhibits the following relationships of Ltot(depth)/Ltot(5.0) and H(depth)/H(5.0) at the specied depths, where H(depth)/H(5.0) is measured according to a Vickers test and Ltot(depth)/Ltot(5.0) is measured according to the Palmqvist method, described in this document substantially along the drill bit's longitudinal axial center line (C): (table (I)). If the drill bit (10) has en length (L) of 10 mm or greater, and a longitudinal cross section (10t) of the drill bit (10) through the drilling surface (10b) exhibits the following relationships of Ltot(depth)/Ltot(3.5) and H(depth)/H(3.5) at the specified depths, where H(depth)/H(3.5) is measured according to a Vickers test and Ltot(depth)/Ltot(3.5) is measured according to the Palmqvist method described in this document, substantially along the drill bit's longitudinal axial center line (C): (table (II)). If the drill bit (10) has en length (L) less than 10 mm.
US08720612B2
The present disclosure relates in one aspect to a cutting element comprising a substrate and a cutting layer disposed on a surface of the substrate. The cutting layer comprises an ultra hard material. The substrate comprises tungsten carbide and a metal binder. The substrate has a magnetic saturation value in the range of from 80% to less than 85%. In another aspect, the magnetic saturation value may increase within the substrate along a gradient, wherein proximal to the interface with the cutting layer, the substrate has a magnetic saturation value in the range of from 80% to less than 85%. Also included are drill bits incorporating such cutting elements. Additionally, the present disclosure relates to methods of manufacturing cutting elements.
US08720609B2
A method of optimizing drill bit design and an optimized drill bit for drilling a well into an earth formation comprising a bit body; a number of blades spaced around the bit body, each blade having a curved outer edge and a forward face; a first row of cutter pockets recessed into the face along the outer edge of each blade; a second group of cutter pockets recessed into the face of each blade offset from the first row; and a plurality of cutting elements, each cutting element being brazed into a different one of the cutter pockets.
US08720608B2
A directional drilling system, a drilling hammer and a fluid flow telemetry modulator use a plurality of magnets arranged to convert rotational motion into reciprocating linear motion. Various types of motor can provide rotational motion to a part of the magnets and various linkages and other devices can cause steering or operation of a modulator valve. A torsional drilling hammer uses a plurality of magnets arranged to convert reciprocating linear motion into reciprocating rotational motion. A motor and linkage drives the linearly moving part of the magnets, and the rotating part provides torsional impact be striking the linearly moving part of the magnets.
US08720603B2
The invention relates to an underwater drilling arrangement for making a bore in the bed of a lake, sea or river with a platform which can be lowered for positioning on the bed of the lake, sea or river, a drill drive which is arranged on the service platform and a drill rod with drill head which can be driven in rotation via the drill drive. It is provided that the service platform comprises a guide tube, on the inner side of which at least one linear guide is arranged, along which at least one part of the drill drive is guided axially displaceably and the guide tube is held so that it can be adjusted and fixed in a mount of the service platform. The invention further relates to a method for creating a bore in the bed of a lake, sea or river.
US08720602B2
The present invention relates to a pulse generating device for inducing a shock wave in a tool, wherein the said pulse generating device comprises an impact means (201; 301) for transferring energy to a drill string (202) connected to the said tool, and wherein the energy transfer gives rise to the said shock wave, in which the said energy is mainly constituted by elastic energy stored in the impact means (201; 301) and/or an energy store. The device comprises control means for controlling the interaction of the impact means (201; 301) with the drill string (202), wherein the said control means for controlling the interaction of the impact means (201; 301) with the drill string (202) comprises a motor (207; 307), and wherein the said motor (207; 307) is designed to, through rotation, alternately open ducts for pressurization and depressurization of at least one drive surface (205) acting upon the said impact means. The invention is characterized in that the rotation axis of the said motor (207; 307) is arranged substantially coaxially with the drill string (202).
US08720598B2
The invention relates to a power drill, having a tool-clamping device that is coupled to a drive motor via a drive shaft and a torque clutch equipped with a transmission element. The torque clutch has a clutch-adjusting ring that cooperates at least indirectly with at least one clamping element that exerts a prestressing force on the transmission element. An end of the drive shaft oriented toward the tool-clamping device is guided in a bearing that axially fixes the drive shaft in a drilling or screwdriving position and axially releases the drive shaft in an impact drilling position. The bearing cooperates with a bearing holder, which moves the bearing axially via a user-actuatable actuating element. According to the invention, the actuating element is coupled to an adjusting element that axially fixes the transmission element and axially releases the bearing in the impact drilling position and axially releases the transmission element and axially fixes the bearing in the drilling or screwdriving position.
US08720589B2
Apparatuses and methods are disclosed herein relating to an apparatus to support a tubular member. The apparatus includes a bowl having a longitudinal axis extending therethrough, in which the bowl includes an inner wall formed about the longitudinal axis that is tapered with respect to the longitudinal axis. The apparatus further includes a plurality of slip assemblies movably disposed within to the bowl and having a tapered outer surface and a tapered inner surface with respect to the longitudinal axis. The tapered outer surface of the plurality of slip assemblies is configured to engage the tapered inner wall of the bowl. Further, the bowl may include a shoulder disposed on the inner wall that extends towards the longitudinal axis with respect to the inner wall. Each of the plurality of slip assemblies may be configured to engage the shoulder of the bowl.
US08720582B2
In some embodiments, apparatus useful for providing tubing into an underwater well includes at least one surface injector configured to control movement of the tubing into and out of the well and at least one underwater injector configured to apply pushing and pulling forces to the tubing.
US08720578B2
An orientation joint for a subsea landing string equipped to maintain both unitary and telescoping configurations. For example, the joint may maintain a unitary configuration to provide continuous orientation definition while lowering a landing string within a blowout preventer (BOP). Additionally, the orientation joint may be configured to telescope and provide an appropriately sized uniform outer diameter surface to enable a sealing engagement with an aligned ram of the BOP.
US08720566B2
An apparatus including a body, a mandrel disposed at least partially within the body, and a spring. The spring maintains the mandrel in a retracted position within the body until a predetermined pump rate is applied. The spring allows the mandrel to move to an extended position when the predetermined pump rate is applied. The spring returns the mandrel to the retracted position within the body when the predetermined pump rate is removed.
US08720561B2
A downhole tool provided within a casing string for use in cement staging operations. The tool includes a sleeve in the tool that selectively slides downward under pressure to expose ports formed in a side wall of the tool. Also, an annulus through the tool is selectively blocked so that cement in the casing string flows radially outward through the ports and into an annulus between the tool and a wellbore. An inflatable packer is included that is integral to the body of the tool and is inflated with a fluid that is pushed into the packer as the sleeve slides downward. An optional expanding agent can be included in the packer that is a metal oxide and is activated with the addition of water.
US08720554B2
A method of flow testing multiple zones in a wellbore includes lowering a tool string into the wellbore. The tool string includes an inflatable packer or plug and an electric pump. The method further includes operating the pump, thereby inflating the packer or plug and isolating a first zone from one or more other zones; monitoring flow from the first zone; deflating the packer or plug; moving the tool string in the wellbore; and operating the pump, thereby inflating the packer or plug and isolating a second zone from one or more other zones; and monitoring flow from the second zone. The zones are monitored in one trip.
US08720553B2
A completion assembly for operation in a subterranean well having multiple production zones. The completion assembly includes a lower completion assembly operably positionable in the well. The lower completion assembly includes first and second zonal isolation subassemblies. An upper completion assembly is operably positionable at least partially within the lower completion assembly to establish fluid communication between first and second fluid flow control modules, respectively, with the first and second zonal isolation subassemblies. A first communication medium having a connection between the upper and lower completion assemblies extends through the first and second zonal isolation subassemblies. A second communication medium is operably associated with the first and second fluid flow control modules. Data obtained by monitoring fluid from the production zones is carried by the first and second communication media and is used to control production through the first and second fluid flow control modules.
US08720551B2
Embodiments of the inventive technology may provide a leaked fluid detection and response system in one aspect, and in another aspect, an environmental enclosure for at least a component of such leaked fluid detection system. Various embodiments of the leaked fluid detection and response system may provide wireless communication of detected leaks and a PLC that automates response and provides information regarding the presence of a leak. Enclosures may, in various embodiments, comprehensively surround enclosed components, thermally insulate enclosed components, include a leaked fluid capture basin, be aerodynamically streamlined, and/or be vermin-tight.
US08720544B2
A fracturing jet nozzle assembly has nested telescoping sections that each have nozzles in them. The outermost stage makes for a large perforation as it and the adjacent stages begin extension. As the stage adjacent the outermost stage continues to extend into the perforation and reaches maximum extension the nozzles in the outermost stage are cut off from fracturing fluid flow and that flow is in turn redirected to the remaining stages that have not yet fully extended. The innermost stage preferably does not get cut off from jet fluid flow even at its full extension.
US08720537B2
A graphite sheet preventing leakage of a heat radiating member when a fluid heat radiating member such as grease is used and improving heat radiation performance is provided. A graphite sheet includes a first main surface and a second main surface opposite to the first main surface and has a large anisotropic thermal conductivity in a main surface direction. The graphite sheet includes a first concave portion provided on the first main surface and having a first bottom surface, a second concave portion provided on the second main surface and having a second bottom surface, a thin film portion formed in a region in which the first bottom surface and the second bottom surface are overlapped with each other, and a connecting hole penetrating the thin film portion and allowing the first concave portion and the second concave portion to communicate with each other.
US08720534B2
The invention relates to a heat exchanger, particularly for a motor vehicle, comprising a plurality of exchanger tubes (3) attached to at least one floor for conveying a first fluid, wherein the exchanger tubes (3) are disposed in a housing through which a second fluid flows, wherein a holding member (5) is disposed inside the housing, wherein at least two of the exchanger tubes (3) are supported relative to one another by means of the holding member (5).
US08720525B2
A window cover system includes an extendible window cover that has a pair of lift cords. A lift cord pulley shaft is coupled to a pair of spaced apart lift pulleys. A spring drive unit is constructed of a beveled gear system with a first gear that is spring biased to resist rotation of the first gear in one direction of rotation, and a second gear meshed with the first gear. The lift cord pulley shaft is operably coupled to the second gear and is configured to rotate therewith. The spring drive unit has a single output and no input, and the single output is coupled to the first gear.
US08720515B2
A tire with a radial carcass reinforcement comprising a crown reinforcement, itself radially capped by a tread strip, the said tread strip being connected to two beads via two sidewalls, the carcass reinforcement being anchored in each of the beads to form an anchorage region. The tire additionally comprises, in part of at least each of the anchorage regions, at least two layers formed by circumferential winding of a complex strip formed of two layers consisting of continuous reinforcing elements passing from one layer to the other, the said reinforcing elements being parallel within a layer and crossed from one layer to the other at angles with respect to the circumferential direction that are identical in terms of absolute value.
US08720513B2
A tire having a decorative side wall feature, the decorative side wall feature being based upon a rubber composition, the rubber composition comprising between 15 and 25 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of rubber (phr) of a highly unsaturated diene elastomer, between 60 and 80 phr of a butyl rubber and between 5 and 15 phr of an EPDM elastomer characterized as having an ethylene content of between 65 wt. % and 75 wt. % as measured by ASTM D 3900-95, not including diene, and a Mooney viscosity ML(I+4) at 125° C. of between 60 and 80. The light-colored rubber composition may further include between 5 and 25 phr of a paraffinic processing oil and a non-black filler.
US08720510B2
A tire patch for repairing an associated vehicle tire includes a patch body configured to overlay a portion of the associated vehicle tire, and a plurality of reinforcements received at least partially within the patch body, each reinforcement of the plurality having a first ending and a second ending, wherein the plurality of reinforcements are arranged to provide a staggered arrangement of the first endings.
US08720506B2
To significantly improve performances on ice by optimizing a tread pattern.This pneumatic tire has, in at least a part of a tread portion 1, a block group GB formed by arranging blocks 3 close to each other, the blocks being defined by grooves 2 and being independent of each other, and when a symbol P (mm) stands for a reference pitch length of the blocks in the block group GB, a symbol W (mm) stands for a width of the block group GB, a symbol a (pieces) stands for the number of the blocks 3 existing in a reference zone Z of the block group GB, the reference zone being comparted by the reference pitch length P and the width W, and a symbol N (%) stands for a negative ratio in the reference zone Z, a block number density S, which is the number of the blocks per unit of an actual ground contact area of the block group GB and given by a formula of S=a/{P×W×(1−N/100)}, is set within a range of not less than 0.003 (pieces/mm2) but not more than 0.04 (pieces/mm2).
US08720493B2
The invention relates to the filling of a frozen dessert product in a container, by performing the steps of: arranging at least one container to be filled on a slat conveyor, moving the container on the slat conveyor towards a dispensing nozzle, vertically displacing at least one slat supporting the container, and horizontally displacing the slat supporting the container in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the slat conveyor, while dispensing the product from the dispensing nozzle into the container.
US08720490B1
A tubular assembly to engage a leaking pipe under water includes an insert, a triangular shaped front guide, an outer annular sleeve, and a fluid supply assembly. The insert is hallow, tubular in shape and construction, and includes a first end, second end and an exterior surface containing a plurality of inflatable bladders and flanges. The front guide attaches to the first end of the insert, and includes a retarder tube to collect fluid from the leaking pipe. The outer annular sleeve is sized to surround both the insert and the leaking pipe, and includes retaining bolts capable of engaging the leaking pipe. The fluid supply assembly fills each inflatable bladder and includes a supply line, a distribution tube, a plurality of feed lines that communicates with each inflatable bladder via an injector, and check valves placed between each inflatable bladder and each feed line.
US08720489B2
The present invention provides a faucet with a wand that has a geometric orientation of the wand and/or a geometric relationship between components of the faucet.
US08720471B2
A fuel cutoff valve has a housing defining therein a float chamber and a float disposed in the float chamber. The housing defines a connection passage positioned above the float chamber and fluidly connecting the float chamber with outside of the housing and a hole positioned below the fluid chamber fluidly connecting the float chamber with outside of the housing. The float has a valve part that is configured to close the connection passage and defines therein a first passage passing through the float in a vertical direction and a second passage extending from a part of the first passage to an outer surface of the float in a substantial horizontal direction.
US08720458B2
A tubular crutch including a tubular crutch body, a cantilever handle and a ground engaging extension is described. The tubular crutch body includes a tubular posterior stabilizing element, a first concave curve adjacent to the posterior stabilizing element, a second convex curve proximate to the first concave curve, a third concave curve proximate to the second convex curve and a tubular elongated portion adjacent to the third concave curve. The cantilever handle includes a curved base plate, a bolt, a tubular member, a nut and a contoured component. The tubular crutch also includes a ground engaging extension with a spring loaded button that is configured to be received at the bottom of the tubular elongated member.
US08720453B1
A hair curler is provided having first and second hollow end tips. Each end tip has upper and lower clamping surfaces and has an open inner end. First and second spring clamps are within the first and second end tips, respectively. The first and second end tips are connected at their open inner ends. The first end tip is configured to hold one end of a lock of hair close to a user's scalp and the second end tip is configured to hold another end of the lock of hair after the lock of hair has been wound around the curler between the first and second end tips.
US08720450B2
A filter element for use in a smoking article and providing filtration of particulate material and gaseous components of mainstream smoke is provided. The filter element includes a segment of fibrous tow comprising a plurality of individual filaments, wherein each individual filament includes a plurality of adsorbent material particles at least partially encapsulated with a removable encapsulant imbedded therein. The individual filaments may further include an outer coating that provides a plurality of reactive groups adapted for reaction with one or more components of mainstream smoke. Alternatively, the multifunctional filter element combines different fibrous filter materials, such as cellulose acetate or polyolefin filaments combined with activated carbon filaments and at least one of ion exchange filaments and catalytic filaments. A method of providing a cellulose acetate fibrous tow containing an imbedded adsorbent material is provided, wherein a plurality of encapsulated adsorbent particles are mixed with a cellulose acetate dope.
US08720447B2
A device and method for enabling an individual located on a bed to sustain a side-sleeping orientation on either a left or right side. The device comprises a light weight, elongate pillow having a longitudinal axis and being configured to concurrently rest at a back side of the individual and an adjacent surface of a bed when reclined in a side-sleeping orientation on the bed. The pillow includes a flexible attachment structure which is positioned along a longitudinal edge of the pillow to secure the pillow to the individual's bed clothing. The attachment structure provides sufficient flexibility to allow the pillow to rotate with respect to and rest against the individual's back to a laterally offset and suspended, partial captured configuration in general alignment with the individual's spine and in concurrent contact with the bed surface to prevent a supine sleeping position.
US08720442B2
A breathing assistance system for providing breathing assistance to a patient is provided. The breathing assistance system may include a ventilation system for supplying a gas flow, a conduit operatively coupled to the ventilation system, and a pressure sensor configured to measure the pressure of the gas flow through the conduit. The pressure sensor may include a structure configured to create a localized pressure drop in the gas flow proximate the pressure sensor structure.
US08720441B2
The present invention relates to a system and method for determining a patient-ventilator breath contribution index in a spontaneously breathing, mechanically ventilated patient. A patient's efficiency to generate an inspiratory volume without mechanical ventilatory assist and a patient's efficiency to generate an inspiratory volume with mechanical ventilatory assist are calculated and used to determine the patient-ventilator breath contribution index.
US08720438B2
Breathing assist kits having a cranio-cervical extension device and a strapless breathing mask are presented. The mask comprises a seal that couples the mask to a victim's face preferably using an adhesive gasket that ensures the mask does not become dislodged while a care giver provides assisted breathing. The mask can also include, among other enhancements, a window or a light gathering lens to provide a view into the victim's mouth.
US08720429B2
A sawing wire (100,110,120,130) with abrasive particles (20) is presented wherein the particles (20) are partly embedded in said a metallic core (14) and partly in said an organic binder layer (30). The advantage of the wire (100,110,120,130) is that the application of a metallic binder layer (30) can be avoided. Metallic binder layers add to the cost of a fixed abrasive sawing wire and in many cases pose health and safety problems which can be avoided by the use of an organic binder layer. Moreover the advantages of a good fixture of the abrasive particles in the metallic wire are maintained. Different embodiments are presented with different degrees of embedment into the metal wire.
US08720413B2
A variable compression ratio apparatus of an exhaust gas brake in an engine, may include a piston reciprocally moving in a cylinder of the engine, and an exhaust control valve that selectively communicates a combustion chamber of the cylinder with an exhaust manifold in accordance with pressure generated by the piston in the cylinder to control operating pressure of the piston.
US08720410B2
An improved piston crankshaft interface device provides a stabilized and balanced follower-guide member or “follower” which supports a fulcrum that is created by the point at which the connecting rod fastens to the sliding members within the follower. Sliding members fitted for follower allow the fulcrum to slide with ease up and down, within the follower wherein the movement of the follower is stabilized by attaching members, which fasten the follower to the piston, such that the follower and piston move in unison, as a unit, within the cylinder.
US08720396B2
A compression-ignition “split-cycle” engine (100) having: a cylinder block with an expansion cylinder having an expansion piston that moves alternatively between a top dead center (ETDC) and a bottom dead center (EBDC) by a crankshaft mechanism that causes a predetermined position of the expansion piston to correspond to a predetermined crankshaft angle; a compression cylinder having a compression piston adapted to move alternatively between a CTDC and a CBDC according to a predetermined angular phase shift in delay to the expansion piston; a cylinder head that closes the cylinders and comprises a crossover passageway with an opening in constant communication towards compression cylinder and an opening having a transfer valve towards expansion cylinder, an intake valve and an exhaust valve; means for opening/closing the transfer valve; means for opening/closing exhaust valve at predetermined moments of the alternative cycle of the pistons, and a fuel injector in the crossover passageway.
US08720388B2
A water heating control and storage system, including an insulated tank for containing water to be heated. The storage system has a heat exchanger connected to the tank for using energy stored during off peak times as in water heated above normal storage temperature. An operation control device receives a demand response signal and enables water to be heated in a heat storing mode to heat water for usage. A method for controlling a water heating storage system includes providing an insulated tank for containing water to be heated; providing a heat exchanger coupled to the tank; and selectively operating in a heat storing mode in which water in the tank is heated to a higher than normal temperature and a heat exchange mode during which heat is extracted from the water stored in the tank by a heat exchanger for supplying stored energy to another energy consuming load in response to a demand response signal.
US08720385B2
A combined retractable leash and ball thrower device for allowing a user to walk a pet and throw a ball using a single device. The device includes a housing featuring a handle, and a leash retracting mechanism enclosed in the housing. An activation element or button is used to operate the leash retracting mechanism, with a portion of the activation element being exterior of the housing. A shaft extends from the handle of the housing, with a ball receiving element located at a distal free end of the shaft. The shaft is integrally formed with the handle or the shaft may be a separate unit removably attached to the handle. The ball receiving element is integrally formed with the shaft or the ball receiving element may be a separate unit removably attached to the shaft.
US08720378B2
Manure is scrapped from a barn floor including an elongated conduit by blades on a trolley moving in the direction of the elongated conduit. The manure passes into the conduit via a slot. The trolley has a paddle wheel and drive wheels bearing on the conduit interior lower surface. The entirety of the drive wheels and most of the paddle wheel are in the conduit. A sprocket and chain arrangement connects the wheels so that, as the drive wheels turn, the paddle wheel turns to urge manure into the conduit.
US08720371B2
A method of and arrangement for automatically milking an animal by use of an automatic milking system including a plurality of teat cups, a robot arm for automatic attachment of the teat cups and a control system arranged to control the milking system, wherein the teat cups are used, until a defect is established with respect to a teat cup. In that case, milking of the non-milked teat is automatically taken over by a different teat cup.
US08720369B2
The present invention relates to the application of surface coatings to treated aluminum articles utilized on aircraft, and more particularly to a system for masking portions of aluminum aircraft wheel and brake components for application of surface coatings to reduce or prevent wear and/or corrosion to the aluminum article. The system may be utilized for new aluminum aircraft components as well as aircraft components that have been subjected to non-destructive testing. The masking components are constructed and arranged to cooperate with portions of the aluminum component in a sequential manner to allow for application of multiple layers of primer and/or topcoat without removal of prior masking components so that a coated component complies with the manufacturer's written requirements for that component.
US08720366B2
The disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for preventing oxidation or contamination during a circuit printing operation. The circuit printing operation can be directed to OLED-type printing. In an exemplary embodiment, the printing process is conducted at a load-locked printer housing having one or more of chambers. Each chamber is partitioned from the other chambers by physical gates or fluidic curtains. A controller coordinates transportation of a substrate through the system and purges the system by timely opening appropriate gates. The controller may also control the printing operation by energizing the print-head at a time when the substrate is positioned substantially thereunder.
US08720357B2
A boat configured for rotating in response to passenger inputs such as rotation of a wheel or pumping a hand pump. The boat includes a hull with an upper portion for receiving at least one passenger and a lower portion comprising a bottom contact surface. Further, the boat includes a rider interface, provided on the upper portion of the hull, that is configured for receiving physical input from the passenger. The boat also includes a torque producing assembly with a boat-to-water interface provided on the lower portion below a waterline region and above bottom contact surface. The boat-to-water interface applies a force to water adjacent to the lower portion of the hull in response to the received physical input, whereby the boat rotates due to a resistive force applied by the water in response to the applied force.
US08720355B2
A water jet propulsion boat has a water jet propulsion device in a body, and is propelled by the water jet propulsion device. An electric unit having a waterproof structure and being separate from the body can be removably disposed in a storage section without using any tools. The storage section is defined by a recess provided in the body and being open upward.
US08720347B2
A rail road freight car truck has a truck bolster mounted transversely between a pair of side frames. The mounting interface between the wheelset axle ends and the sideframe pedestals includes a bearing adapter. It has an upper portion that seats in the sideframe pedestal. The underside, lower portion, of the bearing adapter defines sits on the wheelset bearing casing. The lower portion has an apex, and has a first land portion for engaging a first portion of the bearing casing, and a second land portion for engaging a second portion of the bearing casing. The apex lies circumferentially between the first and second lands portions. There is a relief formed at the apex over the bearing race, so that vertical load is split to enter the casing to either side of top dead center.
US08720346B2
In a bogie frame, a lateral beam disposed in the left-right direction which is the direction in which the rail ties extend is joined to left and right side beams arranged so as to extend in the front-rear direction which is the direction in which the rails extend. The lateral beam has a flat shape having a width in the front-rear direction greater than the thickness thereof in the top-bottom direction, and the lateral beam is provided with left and right joining sections joined to the side beams, and also with an intermediate section sandwiched between the left and right joining sections. The width of the intermediate section in the front-rear direction is greater than the width of the joining sections in the front-rear direction. A through-hole is formed in the intermediate section.
US08720341B2
A multiple output and effect grenade is provided, in which an exothermic delay column is utilized to initiate a series of primers via the application of heat to the strike faces thereof, thereby providing a reliable and relatively safe grenade to ship and store. In particular, a multiple output and effect grenade comprised of an exothermic delay column disposed within a central cavity, operable to initiate a series of primers disposed in primer cavities located within the main body of the grenade. The primer cavities may be arranged in a symmetrical or asymmetrical configuration, so as to produce a firing signature resembling an automatic weapon or random gunfire, respectively. In addition, effect charges, such as illuminants, sound agents, chemical irritants, etc., may be disposed within the primer cavities, as desired by the user.
US08720339B2
A method of printing on a web of substrate (510) using a web printer (610) comprising: interrupting a first print operation on a first substrate (512); attaching a second substrate (514) to the first substrate (512); and continuing the first print operation on the first substrate (512).
US08720323B2
A toasting appliance includes a toasting chamber, a heating element for heating a foodstuff located within the toasting chamber, an optical system having a first light source for illuminating the foodstuff with light having a first wavelength and an optical receiver for detecting light reflected from the foodstuff. A second light source is provided for illuminating at least the optical receiver with light having a second wavelength different from the first wavelength. A controller varies the intensity of the light emitted from the second light source during a toasting operation.
US08720321B2
The invention provides an hourglass shaped apparatus for cold brewing coffee, comprising a brew chamber, and extract chamber and a middle unit connecting the brew and extract chambers. The extract and brew chambers comprise two ends of the hourglass shaped middle unit. The brew chamber houses a free-standing self-contained filter containing coffee grounds inside a water-permeable barrier. Water is poured into the brew chamber to generate coffee extract through cold water infusion. After the brewing process, the apparatus is inverted, and the coffee travels into the extract chamber through the middle unit for dispensing. Coffee brewed in this manner is less acidic and more flavorful than the conventionally hot-brewed beverage. All the components of the apparatus, the filter, the brew chamber, the extract chamber, and the middle unit, are detachable.
US08720318B2
An actuator is equipped with a cylinder body in the interior of which a piston is disposed for displacement therein. A piston rod connected to the piston projects outwardly to the exterior from an end of the cylinder body. A guide unit, having a guide body that is attached to the cylinder body, and a pair of guide rods, which are disposed displaceably with respect to the guide body, are disposed detachably on the cylinder body. Additionally, by mutually interconnecting the guide rods of the guide unit and the piston rod through a connecting plate, when the piston rod is displaced in an axial direction, the piston rod is guided by the pair of guide rods.
US08720315B2
A combustion gas piston type movable guiding tube netting device includes a capture net (8), a traction head (6), a guiding tube (7), an igniter (3), a main gunpowder (5), a combustion gas generator (1) and a piston (2). The piston and the main gunpowder are placed in the combustion gas generator. The top of the piston contacts a triangular lug on the base of the guiding tube. The traction head is placed in the guiding tube, and another end of the traction head is tied on one corner of the capture net. When operating, the main gunpowder is ignited by the igniter, the resulting combustion gas pushes the piston to move, the piston pushes the guiding tube to move, and the combustion gas comes into the guiding tube and pushes the traction head to burst out the guiding tube, and the traction head drives the capture net to open. The combustion gas piston type movable guiding tube netting device has a quick expansion speed, and the area of the expansive capture net is big.
US08720300B2
A bicycle gear shift operating device is a device configured to be mounted to a handlebar. The bicycle gear shift operating device includes at least one operating lever, a support member that supports the operating member and a mounting member that supports the support member on a handlebar. The mounting member has a mounting portion configured to be attached to the handlebar and a fastening portion that is configured to fasten the support member. The mounting member is configured to be selectively fasten the support member in either a first mounting orientation in which the fastening portion is offset in a first axial direction of the handlebar from the middle portion or a second mounting orientation in which the support member is offset in a second axial direction that is opposite the first axial direction.
US08720296B2
A vertical articulated robot includes a base, a turning base, a first upper arm, a second upper arm, a front arm, a wrist assembly, a first motor, a second motor, a third motor, a fourth motor, and a wire body. The wire body includes a first wire portion, a second wire portion, a third wire portion, a fourth wire portion, a fifth wire portion, and a sixth wire portion. The first wire portion extends from the turning base along a third rotation axis and is connected to an outer surface of the first upper arm. The second wire portion extends from the first wire portion along a plane perpendicular to the third rotation axis and is connected to an outer surface of the first upper arm. The third wire portion extends in a U-shape from the second wire portion.
US08720294B2
A shifting apparatus capable of selecting any one of plural shift ranges according to a driver's manipulation intention and allowing the driver to additionally express his/her consecutive manipulation intention in a specific shift range may include: a main shaft, a shifting lever installed to slide in a straight line and pivot along the main shaft, and a gate plate limiting a reciprocation path of the shifting lever such that the shifting lever reciprocates on a single path while sliding in a straight line and pivoting along the main shaft. The gate plate may include a gate pattern having a plurality of shift ranges arranged in a line on the reciprocation path and formed in such a manner that a specific shift range among the plurality of shift ranges is discriminated from the other shift ranges.
US08720289B2
A loading machine for feeding a receiver includes, but is not limited to, a drum cam that is configured to rotate. The drum cam includes, but is not limited to, a first cam path, and a second cam path. A rammer subassembly is positioned proximate the drum cam. The rammer subassembly includes, but is not limited to, a first member that is configured to engage the first cam path and to move longitudinally with respect to the drum cam upon a rotation of the drum cam, and a second member that is configured to telescopically engage the first member and further configured to engage the second cam path and telescopically move with respect to the first member upon the rotation of the drum cam.
US08720282B2
An air pressure drop detecting device for detecting air flow volume of a cooling fan includes a first pressure sensor, a second pressure sensor, and a display unit. The cooling fan has an air inlet and an air outlet opposite to the air inlet. The first pressure sensor is positioned in the air inlet and detects a plurality of first pressure values. The second pressure sensor is positioned in the air outlet and detects a plurality of second pressure values. The display unit is connected to the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor to display the first pressure values and the second pressure values, and a position of the cooling fan in the computer case is determined by the pressure difference between the first pressure values and the second pressure values.
US08720278B1
A coating system includes at least one polymeric coating layer comprising at least one fluorescent dye, wherein an optical behavior of the fluorescent dye changes as a function of a stress of the at least one polymeric coating.
US08720276B2
An implantable medical sensor system provides signals representative of a magnitude of moment fraction applied to a sensor module at a selected site. A sensor module includes a first transducer producing a first signal having an associated first response to pressure and strain applied to the sensor module and a second transducer producing a second signal having an associated second response to pressure and strain applied to the sensor module. A moment fraction is computed in response to the first signal and the second signal. In various embodiments, the moment fraction is used to guide positioning of the sensor module, indicate a need for repositioning the sensor module, report loading of the sensor module during normal operation for use as sensor design information and in setting sensor calibration ranges.
US08720272B2
The invention relates to a method and to a device for sound emission analysis, wherein vibrations occurring during the use of a component, during the testing of a component or during the processing of a work piece by means of chipping, welding, forming, joining and/or separating or the like are registered and evaluated, wherein a vibration spectrum is recorded at different times or continuously and subjected to a multi-dimensional evaluation.
US08720269B2
A particulate material monitoring system for efficiently monitoring the level of particulate material within a container. The particulate material monitoring system generally includes a flange defining a front opening, a viewing cover attached to the flange covering the front opening, a viewing wall connected to the flange and a rear opening extending through the viewing wall.
US08720266B2
A measuring device for measuring the torque of a torsion spring, includes a base, an electronic scale secured to the base, a supporting plate fixed to the base, and a holding mechanism slidably secured to the supporting plate. The holding mechanism includes a screw slidably secured to the supporting plate, two nuts engaging with the screw and arranged at opposite sides of the screw, and a holding portion for holding the torsion spring. The nuts are operated to adjust the height of the screw relative to the supporting plate, to drive the torsion spring to depress the electronic scale. The electronic scale displays a weight value for calculating the torque of the torsion spring when depressed by the torsion spring.
US08720264B2
Performance of permanently installed tubing conveyed seismic arrays using passive acoustic absorbers
Methods and apparatus for reducing the impact of guided (or “tube”) waves in permanently installed seismic systems. By utilizing passive acoustic absorbers, the impact of tube waves may be reduced, leading to improved performance of permanently installed seismic systems that are installed onto production tubing when the well is completed.
US08720257B2
A method for detecting defects in a combustion duct in a combustion system of a turbine engine while the turbine engine operates, wherein the combustion duct comprises an inner surface, which, during operation, is exposed to the hot-gas flowpath, the method comprising the steps of: providing a first electrode that is electrically connected to the combustion duct; providing a second electrode that resides within the hot-gas flowpath; applying a voltage across the first electrode and the second electrode; and detecting current flowing between the first electrode and the second electrode.
US08720253B2
A reconfigurable leak testing system includes a leak testing station, an off-shuttle disposed adjacent to the leak testing station, and a fixture cartridge that is translatable between the off-shuttle and the leak testing station. The fixture cartridge is configured to selectively couple with the leak testing station and includes an upper fixture, a lower fixture, and a plurality of actuatable testing features. The fixture cartridge is configured to receive a part between the upper fixture and lower fixture, and the plurality of actuatable testing features are configured to contact the received part to create a closed volume adjacent the part, wherein the closed volume may be pressurized via a pressurized fluid, and examined for leaks.
US08720249B2
A calibration device according to embodiments of the disclosure is capable of being used with a non-invasive sensor. Certain embodiments of the calibration device simulate a human pulse by varying the volume of blood being measured by the optical sensor. Further, embodiments of the calibration device allow the generation of calibration curves or data for measured parameters over larger ranges of measured values compared to patient-based calibration.
US08720246B2
The invention relates to a method for shaping a barrel spring made of a unitary ribbon of metallic glass that comprises calculating the theoretical shape to be given to said unitary ribbon of metallic glass so that each segment, once the spring is fitted in the barrel, is subjected to the maximum bending momentum, shaping said ribbon by imparting bends thereto characteristic of said free theoretical shape in order to take into account a potential reduction of the bends once the ribbon is released, relaxing the ribbon in order to set the shape thereof by heating the same, and cooling down said ribbon.
US08720238B1
New and improved electronic locks and electronic keys with enhanced anti-tamper capabilities integrated into the electronic locks, additional contact-based communications and recharging capabilities in the electronic keys, and capabilities for an electronic lock to change the authorizations and characteristics of an electronic key by provide an access profile to the electronic key when the key touches the lock.
US08720219B1
A device and corresponding method for cooling electronics is disclosed. The device is an all-solid-state optical cryocooler and can include an optically pumped semiconductor laser (OPSL); a cavity configured to receive and control absorption of the optically pumped semiconductor laser, the cavity having a high reflection (HR) surface and an anti-reflection (AR) surface; and a doped crystal housed within the cavity, the doped crystal configured to cool in response to input of the optically pumped semiconductor laser. The method can include supplying an intracavity optically pumped semiconductor lasers to a doped crystal within a cavity; and configuring the cavity to include a high reflection (HR) surface and an anti-reflection (AR) surface, the HR surface and AR surface formed on or in connection with the doped crystal to increase pump light absorption at the crystal within the cavity.
US08720207B2
A gas turbine is disclosed which includes an annular combustion chamber defined by an inner wall and an outer wall. A stator airfoil row can be defined by an annular inner stator wall and an annular outer stator wall housing a plurality of stator airfoils, and at least a rotor airfoil row defined by an annular inner rotor wall and an annular outer rotor wall housing a plurality of rotor airfoils. A gap is arranged, for example, between at least one of the inner stator wall and the inner combustion chamber wall, and the outer stator wall and the outer combustion chamber wall, upstream of said stator airfoil row. A border of at least one of the inner and outer stator wall facing the gap can be axisymmetric. A zone of at least one of the inner and outer stator wall downstream of the gap and upstream of the stator airfoils can be non-axisymmetric and defines bumps arranged to locally increase the static pressure of a fluid flow passing through said stator airfoil row to increase the uniformity of the static pressure.
US08720203B2
According to one embodiment, a carbon-dioxide-recovery-type steam power generation system comprises a boiler that generates steam and an exhaust gas, an absorption tower that allows carbon dioxide contained in the exhaust gas to be absorbed in an absorption liquid, a regeneration tower that regenerates discharges a carbon dioxide gas from the absorption liquid, a reboiler that heats the absorption liquid of the regeneration tower, a turbine that is rotationally driven by the steam, a condenser that generates condensate by cooling steam exhausted from the turbine, a compressor that compresses the carbon dioxide gas, and a cooler that cools the carbon dioxide gas, which has been compressed by the compressor, while using a part of the condensate as cooling water. The reboiler is supplied with steam from the turbine and steam generated by the cooling of the carbon dioxide gas at the cooler.
US08720202B2
An internal combustion engine having an exhaust gas recirculation device for recirculating exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine to a fresh-air side of the internal combustion engine. For this purpose, it is provided that the exhaust gas recirculation device has at least one compressor for compressing the exhaust gas supplied to the fresh-air side of the internal combustion engine.
US08720201B2
A method of sensing a reduction in fuel screen area in a fuel system. The method includes detecting an engine shutdown, initiating an electronic engine control (EEC) built in test, shifting a metering valve from a first position to a second position, determining a travel time of the metering valve, and sensing a reduction in fuel screen area based on the travel time of the metering valve.
US08720196B2
Disclosed is a controller of a hybrid, construction machine wherein electric power is generated by utilizing the standby flow rate of first and second main pumps, and the standby flow rate is converted into energy. Pilot channels are connected to the upstream side of on/off valves which are closed when first and second main pumps ensure a standby flow rate, and a controller unit judges that the first and second main pumps are discharging at the standby low rate based on pressure signals from first and second pressure sensors, and brings first and second solenoid valves to an open position.
US08720194B2
An apparatus for evacuating exhaust from an exhaust pipe of a vehicle having an external turbine and an internal turbine connected to the external turbine such that when the external turbine rotates the internal turbine rotates. An apparatus for evacuating exhaust from an exhaust pipe of a vehicle having an external turbine, an external motor assembly and an internal turbine connected to the external motor assembly such that the external motor assembly rotates the internal turbine, and the external turbine drives the external motor assembly when the external turbine reaches a greater rate of rotation than the external motor assembly.
US08720181B1
A method and apparatus for launching a space vehicle. Operation of a first portion of a plurality of rocket engines associated with a space vehicle is started such that a flow of a gas is initiated through a duct system under the plurality of rocket engines. The gas is located in an area near the plurality of rocket engines. Operation of a second portion of the plurality of rocket engines associated with the space vehicle is started after the flow of the gas begins traveling through the duct system to launch the space vehicle.
US08720179B2
A power plant is provided and includes a gas turbine engine having a combustor in which compressed gas and fuel are mixed and combusted, first and second supply lines respectively coupled to the combustor and respectively configured to supply the compressed gas and the fuel to the combustor and an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system to re-circulate exhaust gas produced by the gas turbine engine toward the combustor. The EGR system is coupled to the first and second supply lines and configured to combine first and second portions of the re-circulated exhaust gas with the compressed gas and the fuel at the first and second supply lines, respectively.
US08720178B2
A component for a line routing system including at least one line routing device having at least one section of the surface of the component that is flocked. The component of line routing device is at least one of a chain link, a chain link plate of a chain link, a transverse web of a chain link, a cover of a chain link, a dividing web of a chain link, a guide element, a housing, a line, and a hose.
US08720174B2
A yarn, especially a sewing thread or an embroidery thread, is described, which has the structure of a core yarn with at least one core consisting of multifilament yarns and a spin over of staple fiber yarns. At least one portion of the fibers, which build the staple fiber yarn of the spin over, is bound between the filaments of the at least one multifilament yarn of the core over its total axial fiber length or over a section of its axial fiber length. Furthermore a method to produce this yarn is described.
US08720166B2
The invention relates to a method of, and a device for delivering a predetermined (1) volume of beverage into a thermoplastic container formed from a heated preform, the preform being positioned in a mold, characterized in that the method includes a step of injecting at least some beverage into a recess in the preform so as to promote expansion of the preform inside the mold, the mold defining the shape of the container, a longitudinal displacement of a stretch rod (10) carried out during a given period ensuring longitudinal elongation of the heated preform, the stretch rod being immobile at the end of the given period, and a volume of beverage greater than a predefined fraction of the predetermined volume, preferably equal to 50%, being present in the recess at said end of the given period.
US08720162B2
A motor-driven machine tool comprises a tool driven in a rotating fashion, a drive shaft driven by a drive unit and an output shaft for holding the tool. According to the invention, the rotating motion of the drive shaft can be transferred to the output shaft by way of an eccentric coupling device. A mass balancing device is provided for smoothing out vibrations, which has a stroking mass part moveably mounted in a carriage guide and impinged by an eccentric member driven by one of the shafts. The stroking mass part executes a rotary smoothing motion.
US08720161B2
The invention relates to a mast (10) for a wind turbine, which mast tapers towards the top and comprises at least two superposed annular mast sections (12, 14, 16, 18, 20). Every annular mast section consists of a plurality of prefabricated wall parts (A, B, C, D, E, F), wherein at least a part of which has a curved section, at least the curved sections of prefabricated wall parts in different annular mast sections having at least identical cross-section.
US08720160B1
A method for forming a vertical wall cavity above a raised foundation having multiple vertical rigid re-enforcement members linearly arrayed and protruding therefrom, the method utilizing spacers secured to re-enforcement members positioned between opposing wall formation panels secured in position, and semi-annular dams supported by center and edge dam supports, the cavity bounded by wall formation panels on two opposing sides and the dams and dam supports on the other two opposing sides.
US08720155B1
A system and method used in residential and commercial construction of floors, ceilings and roofs, where a beam and hanger together support a joist/rafter to which sheathing is applied. Hanger design features include bendable stiffeners that provide pinching structural support for opposing sides of an engineered wood I-joist web after the joist/rafter is seated into the bridge of the hanger, providing a superior structural interface connection, less material cost, and no contact between the hanger and sheathing which reduces unwanted noise in finished construction. Additional strengthening of the structural/load-bearing interface between the joist/rafter and beam may include selected horizontally-extending dato, groove, cut, or other detail formed in the support beams during their manufacture/milling and rearwardly-extending protections on the hanger configured to engage the detail.
US08720154B1
A cold-formed steel structural wall and floor framing system used for the construction of commercial and residential buildings. The framing system includes a plurality of horizontal, elongated, top and bottom spanning tracks. The spanning tracks are used for supporting a plurality of spaced apart vertical wall studs. Also, the spanning tracks are used to support a plurality of different floor systems, including but not limited to spanning steel floor decks with a concrete floor topping, composite floor joists, steel or wood joists, roof trusses and window and door headers.
US08720152B2
A truss hinge that allows hinging between truss parts, and also allows configuration into a different size.
US08720151B2
Floorboards for making a floating floor have a core (30) which includes at least two layers of material (L1, L2), which are arranged at different distances from the surface layer (31), and which differ in respect of material properties or material composition. Semi manufactures for making such floorboards are also disclosed.
US08720138B2
A fire barrier operable to be placed within a gap formed between two surfaces. The fire barrier may generally include a first intumescent section, a first foam section coupled with the first intumescent section, and a second intumescent section coupled with the first foam section generally opposite the first intumescent section. In some embodiments, the fire barrier may include a plurality of intumescent sections and a plurality of foam sections with each foam section being positioned between at least two of the intumescent sections.
US08720127B2
The present invention is an improved apparatus and method for forming a retractable tower or column. The present invention includes pointed hooks wherein the hooks are attached to each section of a section chain, one in a horizontal direction and one in an off-set manner. The section chains are placed on a take up mechanism in an operable position and then raised utilizing a motor. As the section chains are raised, they are guided by a guide tower, rollers, shims, and gear racks into a position whereby hooks from adjacent sections of the section chains form coupled engagements. The coupled engagement of the hooks of the sections of each adjacent section chains thereby form the column.
US08720126B2
The invention is an expandable and contractible, transforming habitable structure, ISO-certified container designed as a single unit with all primary components contained within, to be easily transported by water, air or land (truck and rail) in stacked configurations. The unit of fold-down floors, easy swing-out interior and exterior walls, and an inter-locking roof system, rapidly expands using: specially designed and engineered “box hinges” and “pivot pins.” When expanded, the unit is structurally secured via especially designed and engineered “spring bolts” requiring little construction knowledge or tools, into HUD-approved, habitable, family friendly structure for emergency and temporary individual, or single-family use, and can be combined in multiples for various field functional applications. The design and engineering of floor, wall and roof (stored for transport within the container) components allow for their simple maintenance by the removal and replacement of some bolts or specially designed and engineered “spring-loaded hinges.”
US08720125B2
A sustainable, mobile, expandable, structure is designed for both short and long term deployments for various uses such as emergency or homeless shelters, fire crews, mobile clinics, research or vacation facilities. A body carriage assembly has wheels, has rigid frame assemblies and a fixed floor panel assembly fixed to it. Foldable roof panels contain energy collectors on their exterior surfaces, which are protected by a screen that is retractable into a void of a roof overhang. Foldable roof panels and adjacent foldable floor panels are deployed by a cabling system assembly, set in motion by a simple tool, requiring no motors or hydraulics. Foldable sidewall panels create eave walls when deployed. Foldable end wall panels create a gable end closure when deployed. A collapsible perimeter ballast assembly use, store and recycle water and provides a windscreen and wind forces.
US08720111B2
A jalousie window in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure includes a jalousie window insert having parallel side rails and a plurality of window louvers extending between the side rails for simultaneous rotation around parallel horizontal axes, a window frame including a frame head, a frame sill, and a pair of spaced frame jambs interconnected with the frame head and the frame sill in a rectangular frame geometry. The window also includes a head adapter having an outer portion secured to the frame head, a sill adapter having an outer portion secured to the frame sill, and a pair of opposed jamb adapters including outer portions respectively secured to the frame jambs and inner portions having legs that receive outer edges of the side rails so that the side rails conceal the jamb adapters and to secure the jalousie window insert within the window frame.
US08720110B2
A business method comprising a step by step procedure for quick, clean and efficient cleaning of hydroponics growing (“Flood”) trays. The method essentially comprises the use of a custom-fitted tray insert of a lightweight material designed to fit inside the much heavier-duty hydroponics growing tray. After the plants are grown, the lightweight insert tray is removed and discarded, thus saving the manual labor of cleaning and sanitizing the heavy-duty growing tray before the next use.
US08720103B2
A firearm scope mount that is operable to mount to a firearm having a receiver and a sight housing. The scope mount has a rear support that is operable to mount to a side of the receiver and a front support that is operable to mount to the sight housing. A rail is coupled with and extends between the front and rear supports.
US08720095B2
A firearm magazine that is designed to make the loading of cartridges easier and faster, while being constructed of fewer parts for higher reliability and with no protruding elements that preclude its use in pre-existing firearms. In one embodiment, a box-type magazine is provided with an internal spring and a follower. The body of the magazine and the follower are specially constructed to facilitate manual loading. The body of the magazine incorporates a slot extending along the path of the follower. The follower is fabricated with a concave opening on a lateral surface that can be manually accessed through the slot in the magazine body, thereby allowing a user to depress the follower against the pressure of the internal spring using a finger or thumb while the cartridges are easily loaded at the top of the magazine body.
US08720090B1
This disclosure is concerned with a readily changeable sign display system which facilitates easy alteration of the sign indicia displayed but is also resistant to unauthorized tampering so that it can be deployed where it is not under continuous surveillance when exposed to the general public. It comprises vertical frame members which provide tracks for the insertion of horizontal frame members. In some embodiments the vertical frame members are joined to each other with a backing member while in other embodiments intermediate channel members are placed between the vertical frame members and adjacent members are joined by a backing member. The horizontal frame members carry grooves for the insertion of sign panels which carry indicia. The tracks for the horizontal frame members carry removable obstructions which hold these members in the tracks. The obstructions at the upper end of the tracks are readily removable.
US08720089B1
A label holder for a chassis having: a frame having a window therein and a flat, label holding member disposed within the window. The label holding member includes an integrally formed: frontal handle portion projecting outwardly from an outer edge of the chassis; label mounting surface portion disposed rearward of the handle; and flexible, serpentine spring portion disposed between the label mounting surface portion and a rearward end portion of the label holding member. The label holding member slides forward and rearward within the window. The spring portion has a plurality of elongated members traversing sides of the frame and interconnected at edges thereof by curved interconnecting sections, and wherein material forming the interconnecting sections is reduced progressively from a rearward portion of the spring towards a frontal portion of the spring.
US08720086B2
A cleat member is provided for use with an article of footwear. The cleat member includes an outer layer formed from a first material and an inner layer formed from a second material. The inner layer is at least partially encapsulated by the outer layer. The first material is distinct from the second material. A hole extends completely through the cleat member.
US08720080B2
A method and apparatus for drying a room within a building by sealing the room from outside ambient air ingress, heating the room internally, sensing humidity levels within the room, exhausting the air from within the room and drawing in outside ambient air, sensing water content within the room, and repeating the sequence until a dry status indication is received that the water content within the room has been reduced a predetermined level.
US08720079B2
A grain aeration assembly is provided for a hopper bottom bin, and includes a plurality of curved wall segments sized to pass through the manhole of the bin. The wall segments are assembled inside the bin to form a cylindrical tower extending upwardly. The wall segments include an internal frame and inner and outer screens. The tower is supported above the sloped floor of the bin by a plurality of legs. An air conduit extends between the tower and an exterior fan, which provides forced air into the space between the inner and outer screens of the wall segments. The air flows outwardly through the screens, while grain or stored material is prevented from passing through the screens into the wall segments.
US08720076B2
A concentricity test device includes a bracket, a positioning member, an operation member, and a probe indicator. The bracket includes a beam, and opposite first and second supporting arms. The positioning member is pivotably connected to the first supporting arm and includes a shaft. A pierced round workpiece is placed around the shaft. The operation member is pivotably connected to the second supporting arm and includes a pole detachably locked to the shaft. The probe indicator is fixed to the beam, and includes a spring-loaded probe and a gauge head connected to the probe to engage with a circumference of the workpiece. The pole, the shaft and the workpiece are rotated 360 degrees, values shown by the probe indicator show moving distances of the probe, and a maximal difference value of the moving distances of the probe reveals the concentricity of the workpiece.
US08720069B2
A reciprocating electric shaver with a shaving unit which includes an outer cutter(s) an inner cutter(s), a motor, and a drive mechanism all formed into a single unit and is provided to make a pivot motion in left and right directions, the shaving unit being supported in the grip section of the shaver by a pair of pivot parts provided on the front and back sides of the motor, and the head part, which includes the outer cutter(s), the inner cutter(s), and the drive mechanism, being provided to pivot front and back with respect to the motor.
US08720062B2
A molding method for a thin-profile composite capillary structure includes the steps of preparing a metal grid and metal powder separately; attaching a liquid medium onto the metal grid by means of spraying or brushing or steeping; attaching uniformly the metal powder onto the grid with the liquid medium; and fixing the metal powder onto the surface of the grid by means of sintering, such that a sintered powder layer is formed onto the surface of the grid. The structure includes a metal grid, which is of planar grid pattern made of woven metal wires. A sintered powder layer is sintered onto a lateral surface of the metal grid from the metal powder. The thickness of the sintered powder layer is 0.1 mm-0.7 mm. The total thickness of the thin-profile composite capillary structure is 0.2 mm-0.8 mm, thus presenting flexibility. The thin-profile composite capillary structure is particularly suitable for a heat pipe.
US08720061B2
A method for forming an inclined-blade blower wheel is provided by arranging a plurality of blades about respective circumferences of first and second end caps. The plurality of blades extend longitudinally between the first and second end caps and parallel to an axis defined by respective centers of the first and second end caps. The first end cap is rotated with respect to the second end cap a predetermined amount, therein skewing the plurality of blades at a desired longitudinal pitch between the first end cap and second end cap. The first end cap and second end cap are then rotated in unison while crimping the circumferences of the first end cap and second end cap, therein securing the plurality of blades to the first and second end caps and fixing the desired longitudinal pitch of the plurality of blades from the first end cap to the second end cap.
US08720058B2
A method of repairing a wind turbine blade while mounted on a tower without removing the blade from the tower is provided. The method may begin by positioning the wind turbine blade in a substantially vertical orientation. Next, a containment structure is suspended from a nacelle via a hoisting system that positions the containment structure at a damaged portion of the blade. The damaged portion is enclosed within the containment structure and the temperature of the air within the containment structure is controlled. The blade is repaired by removing a damaged portion of the blade, and installing a repair portion to the blade where the damaged portion was removed. The method may conclude by operating the hoisting system to remove the containment structure from the blade.
US08720055B2
The instant invention relates to a cam shaft for internal combustion engines of motor vehicles, which is supported on a cylinder head housing via at least one roller bearing, wherein provision is made for at least one thrust bearing, which supports the cam shaft in axial direction and which is embodied as ball or also as roller bearing.
US08720044B1
A method for manufacturing a magnetic transducer is described. The method includes providing a negative mask having a bottom, a plurality of sides, and a top wider than the bottom. The method also includes depositing a nonmagnetic layer on the negative mask. The nonmagnetic layer has a plurality of portions covering the plurality of sides of the negative mask. The method also includes providing a first mask having a first trench therein. The negative mask resides in the first trench. The method further includes depositing side shield material(s), at least a portion of which resides in the first trench. The method further includes removing the negative mask to create a second trench between the plurality of portions of the nonmagnetic layer and form a pole, at least a portion of which resides in the second trench.
US08720043B2
A method of allocating resources in a rack system includes establishing a budgeted amount of a resource for a defined amount of rack space in a rack system. Electrical modules are deployed in a particular space in the rack system having the defined amount of rack space such that the amount of the resource used by the electrical modules in the particular rack space is maintained within the budgeted amount of the resource.
US08720038B2
A pipe removal method includes navigating a flexible element through a first pipe. At least a portion of the flexible element is coupled with the first pipe. The flexible element and the first pipe are pulled as a composite assembly, and the flexible element reinforces the tensile strength of the first pipe. In one example, the first pipe is at least pulled in compression between the point of coupling between the flexible element and the first pipe and a proximal end of the flexile element. In another example, the method includes wrapping the composite assembly around a spool. The composite assembly is thereby removed from the ground surrounding the first pipe.
US08720035B2
A wiper arm assembly and method of assembly thereof includes a mounting head and a wiper arm configured for relative rotation during assembly from a disassembled position to a shipping position, wherein the wiper arm and mounting head are locked against rotation toward the disassembled position once in the shipping position. The mounting head and wiper arm have locking surfaces configured for locked engagement with one another while in the shipping position. The locking surfaces are brought into engagement with one another by a force imparted by a spring while rotating the mounting head relative to the wiper arm from the disassembled position toward the shipping position. When in the shipping position, the locking surfaces confront each other and prevent the mounting head and the wiper arm from rotating back toward the disassembled position from the shipping position.
US08720032B2
The object of the invention is a method for installing the hoisting roping of an elevator, in which method the hoisting roping of the elevator is lifted upwards into the elevator hoistway by means of a hoisting device. The hoisting roping is lifted upwards into the elevator hoistway in steps such that at least one rope of the roping is lifted by pulling it to the height and the aforementioned at least one rope is fixed to the elevator hoistway or to another fixed structure of the building, at least one of the ropes of the roping that is at the height and was lifted in phase is detached, at least one rope detached in phase is lifted by pulling it to the next height and the aforementioned at least one rope is fixed to the elevator hoistway or to another fixed structure of the building.
US08720025B2
A carriage is moved in a direction including a Y axis component in order to move a turning process tool that is attached to a tool spindle along a horizontal line that is perpendicular to a Z axis, and thus, a turning process is carried out on a workpiece which is attached to a workpiece spindle.
US08720006B2
A retractable pulling rod utilizing an elastic extension device, comprising: a pulling rod set, a plug set, and elastic extension device. The pulling rod set is provided with a first socket, a second socket, and a third socket, sleeved onto each other through their ends of small diameters, and each is provided with at least a positioning hole. A first plug and a second plug are disposed respectively at bottom ends of first socket and second socket, to dispose a protrusion tenon of elastic extension device in an indentation slot inside second socket. Through using elastic extension device to assist steel beads of first plug and second plug to position in or detach from positioning hole, retractable pulling rod is extended or retracted smoothly.
US08720005B2
A hydraulic hinge for a glass door has a fixing plate, a base, a pivot, a buffer module, and a clamping module. The base is combined with the fixing plate and has an oil passage. The oil passage is formed in the base. The pivot is rotatably mounted in the base and has an adjusting space communicating with the oil passage. The oil passage and the adjusting space are filled with oil. The buffer module is mounted in the base and has a sliding tube abutting the pivot. The clamping module is pivotally mounted on the pivot and can clamp a glass door. The glass door can be pivoted relative to the base. With the buffer module and the oil in the oil passage, the glass door can be closed in a smooth movement.
US08719992B2
A paint roller with an end-surface blocking piece, wherein the end-surface blocking piece is formed with a blocking groove to prevent paint from overflowing to the surface of a wall that doesn't need to be painted. Besides, the user doesn't have to turn the end-surface blocking piece when painting different surfaces of a wall in different directions since the end-surface blocking piece is round-shaped.
US08719984B2
An air foam mattress system includes a foam top component, and a foundation component including a plurality of segmented, individually wrapped, inflatable air cells allowing for a plurality of pivot points, a segmented perimeter, and individual pressure adjustment of the segments for maximum patient comfort in all articulated bed positions. In an embodiment, the air cell contains a u-shaped insert providing segmented perimeter sections integral to the air cell. In another embodiment, the air cell contains a trapezoidal shaped insert with multiple segments having different degrees of foam stiffness.
US08719980B2
This invented multiple-phase dynamic cushion comprises a frame, at least a driving source, at least a transmission assembly, and clusters of plural strips interleaved in parallel. Taking a two-phase embodiment as an example, the two-phase strips interleave with each other, in parallel, to form the cushion's surface and alternate their tensions in turn; when one phase's strips periodically tighten to support the user's body, the other phase's strips will loosen, allowing the user's body covered by the loosened strips to take a rest, averting a pressure-ulcer risk. The driving source is energized by an altering energy, making the two strip groups alternate in loosening and tightening states periodically in turn. This invention can be converted into a portable dynamic chair when the four holes on the bottom of its four corners are inserted with legs; it can also be converted into a dynamic support for a lying human body.
US08719974B2
A shower barrier, such as a curtain, is provided with a mechanism to hang the shower barrier next to a shower recess or stall. The shower barrier restricts water from exiting the shower recess and includes an access opening for a caretaker to access a patient through the access opening and assist the patient in showering. The access opening may include an elastic reinforcement around its circumference and a flap to cover the opening when not in use by the caretaker.
US08719972B1
A urine absorption system may comprise a toilet including a bowl having a rim portion with an upper surface. A toilet seat assembly may be mounted on the bowl of the toilet, the seat assembly including a pair of hinge posts mounted on the rim of the bowl. The system includes a urine absorption pad for absorbing stray urine on the upper surface of the rim of the toilet bowl. The absorption pad may be positioned on the upper surface of the rim portion of the bowl, and at least a portion of the absorption pad may be positioned between the pair of hinge posts of the toilet seat assembly.
US08719970B2
An odor ventilation system for a bathroom comprising: a venting assembly, where said venting assembly is installed under a toilet seat; an air hose assembly, where said hose assembly connects to the venting assembly at a first end; a fan motor, where said fan motor connects to the hose assembly at a second end; and a vent opening, where said hose assembly continues from the fan motor to the vent opening and said hose assembly transfers odors from the toilet seat to the vent opening.
US08719966B2
A garment having compartments for holding objects. Some compartments are operable to permit waste to pass out of the compartments. Others are attached to the garment on the thigh or other location to permit access where a standard hip pocket would be blocked by a toolbelt. Others have apertures in addition to the normal hip pocket opening which may permit access to the pocket where the opening to the hip pocket would be blocked by a toolbelt. The garment may be used by a worker, such as a carpenter, with knee pads in compartments in a knee area of the garment, the compartments having apertures operable to permit sawdust and other waste to empty from the compartment. Additionally, a thigh pocket may have a cover preventing waste from entering the pocket, and can provide storage where a hip pocket would be blocked by a toolbelt or rendered inaccessible by kneeling.
US08719962B1
Creating a garment which has a three-dimensional image on the garment created by removing a portion of the garment to create an image on an outer garment, the process being chemical etching, and thereafter a second garment has an image printed on the exact same location as on the first garment to match the see-through image and the second garment is affixed behind the first garment to create a three-dimensional image for the see-through image portion of the first garment, whether it matches up or complements the outer layer to give a three-dimensional look and feel.
US08726411B1
A charged probe and an electric field measuring method are provided. The probe can be charged with single electricity on single nano particle attached on the top of the probe tip being a charged probe and the probe is applicable for measuring the electric fields of object in the nano scale. The probe comprises an insulating tip base, a cantilever and a single nano-particle. The cantilever is arranged for supporting the insulating tip base and the single nano-particle is configured on the erosion plane. After conducting contact electrification method to charge the electric nano particle, the single nano-particle will be charged with fixed number of single electrical charge. Then, the amount of the fixed number of single electrical charge is calculated by the virtual image charge calculation method. The charged probe can be used to measure the electric fields distribution by tapping mode or f-d curve measurement.
US08726407B2
A method for authenticating a computing device or hardware component includes computer-implemented process steps for assigning a unique identifier to the hardware component, generating a baseline fingerprint for the hardware component using algorithm-processing characteristic configuration data determined from the hardware component as input, wherein the baseline fingerprint is capable of being regenerated from the hardware component so long as configuration of the hardware component is not changed, transmitting the identifier in association with the baseline fingerprint for storage in a computer-readable data structure, and generating a data signal, in response to a query comprising the assigned identifier, indicating whether the stored baseline fingerprint for the assigned identifier matches a second fingerprint regenerated from the hardware component at a time after the baseline fingerprint is generated.
US08726400B1
Systems and methods for detection and dispute management of claims made against proprietary content in a live data stream are provided in this disclosure. The system includes a reference stream generation component that updates a set of reference data streams based on an identification of data that is associated with non-live content (e.g., advertisements, flashbacks, etc.). Moreover, user generated content is compared with the set of reference data streams to facilitate identify the claims and a partner-defined policy is applied to the user generated content to facilitate dispute management and/or resolution.
US08726394B2
A method and a system for detecting one or more security vulnerabilities. The method comprises providing test instructions for an application, such as a web application or a client server application, adding test code to a code segment of the application according to the test instructions, sending at least one message to the application according to the test instructions at runtime thereof, monitoring test information pertaining to at least one reaction of the application to the at least one message during an execution of the test code, performing an analysis of the at least one reaction, and detecting a presence or an absence of at least one security vulnerability according to the analysis.
US08726390B1
This specification generally relates to controlling access of a device to a network based on detection of a network application running on the device. One example method includes maintaining one or more application profiles, each application profile associated with one or more network activities in a network; detecting one or more network activities associated with a device connected to the network; determining that the one or more detected network activities associated with the device substantially match network activities associated with a first application profile; and associating the device with a restricted network profile upon determining that the one or more detected network activities substantially match network activities associated with the first application profile, the restricted network profile configured to deny access by the device to one or more first resources on the network, and configured to allow access by the device to one or more second resources on the network.
US08726389B2
In one aspect, a method of classifying a computer object as malware includes receiving at a base computer data about a computer object from each of plural remote computers on which the object or similar objects are stored. The data about the computer object received from the plural computers is compared in the base computer. The computer object is classified as malware on the basis of said comparison. In one embodiment, the data about the computer object includes one or more of: executable instructions contained within or constituted by the object; the size of the object; the name of the object; the logical storage location or path of the object on the respective remote computers; the vendor of the object; the software product and version associated with the object; and, events initiated by or involving the object when the object is created, configured or runs on the respective remote computers.
US08726386B1
A computer-implemented method for detecting malware may include 1) identifying an application configured to use a permission on a mobile computing platform, the permission enabling the application to access a feature of the mobile computing platform, 2) determining that the application is configured to use the permission while executing as a background application on the mobile computing platform, 3) determining that the use of the permission is suspect based on the application being configured to use the permission while executing as the background application, and 4) performing a remediation action in response to determining that the use of the permission is suspect. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US08726384B2
A system at a central server and at a plurality of web filters is installed to observe traffic and to protect users from attempting connection to suspicious, malicious, and/or infectious targets. Targets are defined as Uniform Resource Identifiers (URI) and Internet Protocol (IP) addresses. Traffic is collected, analyzed, and reported for further analysis. Behavior is analyzed for each client attempting a connection to an uncategorized target. IP addresses and URIs are evaluated toward placement in either a Trusted target store or an Anomalous target store. The accumulated content of Anomalous target store is provided back to the Network Service Subscriber Clients. Warnings and tools are presented when appropriate.
US08726376B2
Methods, systems and devices examine data flows in a communication system control network for known malware threats and suspicious properties typically associated with malware threats. A policy management system inside the control network accesses a user repository and a charging network, and performs pattern matching and/or observed behavior detection methods to determine if the data flows carry content (e.g., malware) that poses a security risk to network or wireless devices. The policy management system generates policy rules based on user preferences and risk-level. The policy management system sends the generated policy rules to a gateway/PCEF, which blocks the data flows, allows the data flows, or restricts the data flow based on the policy rules.
US08726368B2
A security management system, comprising: an authentication unit for authenticating an operator of an operating terminal in order to determine whether the operator is permitted to log in or release a lock; a current operator information inquiry unit for inquiring for login status information and current operator information; an authority information inquiry unit for inquiring for authority information regarding the operator and that regarding the current operator; a lock unit for detecting an event, where a predetermined lock condition is satisfied, in the login status to allow the operating terminal to change to a lock status, and for allowing the operating terminal to change to an operable status in response to a login instruction or an instruction for a release; and a lock control unit for transmitting the instruction for a release to the lock unit when a predetermined condition is satisfied.
US08726358B2
Systems, computer-implemented methods, and computer-readable media for establishing an online account with a resource provider are provided. An authentication token including identification of a user from an authentication server is received. The identification of the user from the authentication token is utilized to establish an online account for the user with the resource provider. Additional credentialing information from the user for the online account is received. The additional information received from the user is associated with the online account for the user with the resource provider.
US08726356B2
For enabling single sign-on among applications, a linkage ID indicating connection between the authentication apparatus 1 including the client function and the server apparatus 2 is shared among a plurality of applications. For that, a SV information management unit Aa of the authentication apparatus 1 having the client function manages the linkage ID by storing it in a predetermined storing unit. An AP information management unit Ab manages and stores connection information between applications in a predetermined storing unit, wherein the connection information includes an application name corresponding to an application. Then, an AP decision unit determines whether an application name included in a received linkage ID request is registered in the AP information management unit Ab, obtains the linkage ID from the SV information management unit Aa when the application name is registered in the AP information management unit Ab, and returns the linkage ID to a source of the linkage ID request.
US08726355B2
A digital data sampler operating in a computer processor selects and stores digital data samples from a data stream used for generating audio-visual output during a session with a client operated by a user. The session generates the data stream independently of the data sampler. The data sampler may collect parameter data correlated to a probability will be remembered by the user at some future time, for each sample. The data sampler may store the data samples and parameter data as shared secret data for use in a future authentication session. During a future authentication session, an authentication device selects test data from the shared secret data to generate sensible output in an authentication process. The authentication process grants access to a controlled resource in response to user input indicating specific knowledge of the shared secret data selected from a presentation of similar sensible outputs.
US08726352B2
A system and method for access control key administration in a virtual world that includes identifying an action to be performed on a key provided to a user controlling an avatar in a virtual world. The key provides the avatar access to a virtual space, a service, or an item in the virtual world. The action is applied to the key. The action is applied to the key to modify one or more access parameters on the key. The action applied to the key may be, for example, an update action, a revalidate action, or a remove action.
US08726350B2
A user information handling system (IHS) link analysis tool intercepts requests to navigate to a webpage, such as a link. The user IHS link analysis tool transmits the link to a security IHS link analysis tool. The user IHS link analysis tool receives a network selection message from the security IHS indicating which network the user IHS should utilize based upon the content of the link.
US08726349B2
In one set of embodiments, methods, systems, and apparatus are provided to enable secure local invocation of a web service in response to receiving a request from a first composite application to invoke a web service operation of a second composite application, where the first application is associated with a reference policy, and the second application is associated with a service policy, then determining, based upon the service policy and the reference policy, whether local invocation is secure, and invoking the operation using the local invocation in response to determining that the local invocation is secure. Attributes associated with the reference and service policies can indicate whether those policies can be used in a local invocation, or if user authentication is needed before performing the invocation with those policies. The local invocation may comprise a procedure call in an application server from the first application to the second application.
US08726348B2
A cloud computing security system. An access manager module includes first and second client profiles. The first client profile has a first set of rules enabling access to a first set of cloud computing system resources, and the second client profile has a second set of rules enabling access to a second set of cloud computing system resources. A security logic module is in communication with the access manager module. The security logic module is configured to receive an access request for access to one of the first and second sets of cloud computing system resources. Responsive to determining that the access request complies with at least one of the first set of rules and the second set of rules, the security logic module is configured to provide an access grant that grants access to at least one of the first and second sets of cloud computing system resources.
US08726347B2
Generally speaking, systems, methods and media for authenticating a user to a server based on previous authentications to other servers are disclosed. Embodiments of a method for authenticating a user to a server may include receiving a request to authenticate the user to the server and determining whether authenticating the user requires matching an authentication plan. If a plan is required, the method may also include accessing a stored authentication plan with authentication records each having expected information relating to user access to a different server. The method may also include receiving an indication of the user's current authentication plan from an authentication store where the plan has authorization records each having current information relating to user access. Embodiments of the method may also include comparing the stored authentication plan with the received current authentication plan to determine whether they match and, in response to a match, authenticating the user.
US08726337B1
An improved technique for managing multiple virtual machines includes a presentation layer that receives user input for multiple virtual machines and renders output from the virtual machines in a unified presentation, which can be displayed to a user. In certain examples, Red/Green security is implemented by designating one virtual machine as a Green virtual machine and another as a Red virtual machine. Although different virtual machines are used, the presentation layer unifies the user's interaction with the virtual machines and reduces the need for the user to keep track of different virtual machines or to switch manually between them.
US08726335B2
A method for sharing content between clients at a common trust level in a trust hierarchy associated with a network implementing policy-based management includes making a first request for delivery of content, receiving the requested electronic content, receiving a second request for delivery of the electronic content, communicating the second request, receiving a decision, and delivering the electronic content if the second request is granted. The first request is made to a policy enforcement point in the network for delivery of content to a first client, and includes a trust level of the first client. The second request is for delivery of the content to a second client at the trust level of the first client and includes integrity information about the second client, and is communicated to the policy enforcement point. If the second request is granted, the content is delivered from the first client to the second client.
US08726334B2
Architecture that provides model-based systems management in virtualized and non-virtualized environments. A security component provides security models which define security requirements for services. A management component applies one or more of the security models during the lifecycle of virtual machines and services. The lifecycle can include initial deployment, expansion, moving servers, monitoring, and reporting. The architecture creates a formal description model of how a virtual machine or a service (composition of multiple virtual machines) is secured. The security requirements information can also be fed back to the general management system which uses this information in its own activities such as to guide the placement of workloads on servers can be security related.
US08726310B2
Media system control technology, in which an advertisement on a selected content channel being experienced by a user using a media system is detected, advertisement preferences of the user are accessed from electronic storage, and secondary content is selected based on the accessed advertisement preferences of the user. The secondary content is substituted for the advertisement on the selected content channel, and the media system is controlled to output the secondary content instead of the advertisement.
US08726309B2
Various embodiments of apparatus and/or methods are described for skipping, filtering and/or replacing content from an audio/video stream using text data associated with the audio/video stream. The text data is processed using location information that references a segment of the text data of the first audio/video stream to identify a location within the first audio/video stream. The location within the first audio/video stream is utilized to identify portions of the audio/video stream that are to be skipped during presentation. The portions of the audio/video stream that are to be skipped are filtered from the audio/video stream, and some of the skipped portions of the audio/video stream are replaced with substitute content. The filtered video stream, including the substitute content, is outputted for presentation to a user.
US08726307B2
Method for receiving and displaying thematic audio-visual programme sequences, and receiver therefor
The invention consists of a process for receiving and for screening audiovisual transmissions broadcast by a network. The transmissions consisting of events and of short transmissions possessing a distinctive element, these short transmissions being broadcast by services identifiable by this distinctive element. At a certain moment specified by the broadcaster, a sequence is transmitted on the network, it is replaced at the level of the display of the receiver by another sequence extracted from a service broadcasting short transmissions. The choice of this service is made at the receiver level. To avoid the appearance of a black screen between the network's transmitted sequences and the short transmissions, the receiver dispatches a filler transmission to the screen.The invention also consists of a digital television receiver for implementing the process.
US08726304B2
Methods, systems, devices and computer program products are provided to facilitate enhanced use and interaction with multimedia content that is based on a time-varying evaluation of the multimedia content. While a content is being presented on a first device, timing information identifying temporal locations of content segments are extracted and transmitted to a database along with a user's evaluation feedback of the multimedia content. The user then receives a response corresponding to feedback provided by a plurality of consumers of the multimedia content on a segment-by-segment basis.
US08726299B1
A system and method for managing data storage. A computer system comprises a data storage application and an API. The API presents a logical storage model to the data storage application for storing data on one or more storage appliances and accepts first and second plugins coupling first and second storage appliances, respectively, to the API. The first and second storage appliances store data according to different physical storage models. The API receives an access request from the data storage application targeting a portion of the logical storage model. In response to the access request, the API identifies a plugin and a corresponding storage appliance associated with the portion of the logical storage model and utilizes the identified plugin to map the portion of the logical storage model to a corresponding portion of the selected storage appliance's physical storage model.
US08726291B2
A job execution apparatus includes: a receiving unit configured to receive each job; a calculation unit configured to calculate an index value representing a load needed to execute each of a pre-processing sub-job and a post-processing sub-job when each of n jobs (n is a natural number equal to or more than 2) is decomposed into a pre-processing sub-job for generating information, and a post-processing sub-job for causing an output unit to output information generated by executing the pre-processing sub-job; a pre-processing execution unit configured to sequentially execute pre-processing sub-jobs which are respectively included in jobs received by the receiving unit and registered in a pre-processing sub-job queue; and a post-processing execution unit configured to sequentially execute, upon completion of the pre-processing sub-jobs, post-processing sub-jobs which are respectively included in the received jobs and which are registered in a post-processing sub-job queue.
US08726285B2
A system and method for triggering deployment of a workflow are provided. The method includes issuing, to a first device (e.g., a server) from application software executing on a second device (e.g., a client computer), an instruction to execute a workflow previously deployed at the first device. The workflow is formed as a function of information associated with a graphical representation of the workflow. The application software may be, for example, software for one or more word-processing, spreadsheet, database, email, instant messenger, presentation, browser, calendar, organizer, media, image-display applications; file management programs and/or operating system shells. Alternatively, the application software may be or include a module associated with such application software. This module may include or be formed as or from one or more plug-ins, add-ons, applets, shared libraries, and/or extensions.
US08726277B2
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for domain controller safety-features and cloning. Embodiments include cloning virtual domain controllers. Cloning permits virtual domain controllers to be rapidly deployed by copying/cloning the entire operating system state of an existing virtual domain controller. Other embodiments provide safety features protecting domain controllers running within virtual machines from introducing distributed corruption into a directory services data system. Protection is facilitated by detecting when a hypervisor or Virtual Machine Manager (“VMM”) uses features that cause a virtual machine to be rolled back in time outside of an operating system's awareness. In response to detecting a feature that causes rollback, safeties can be implemented to compensate for otherwise divergent state and prevent the introduction of duplicate unique identifiers.
US08726273B2
A method and a system of making a virtual machine space efficient are disclosed. The virtual machine includes a virtual disk. The method includes creating a temporary virtual disk and adding the temporary virtual disk to the virtual machine. The temporary virtual disk works in conjunction with the virtual disk. The virtual machine is configured to store temporary files in the temporary virtual disk rather than the virtual disk.
US08726270B2
Distributed installation configuration system and method are provided. The system and method in one aspect collects information about all products and components being installed from a centralized user interface, before the actual installation is performed, regardless of the target machine locations. The collected information is then stored centrally. Thereafter, subsequent installations, whether on the same or different machine locations, access this information for the subsequent installation procedure.
US08726267B2
A management service is provided for maintaining software of one or more users, or an enterprise. On behalf of users or enterprises, the management service collects supplemental metadata about the certification and updates of software as well as processes related to the development and testing of the software. Supplemental metadata relates to any information that qualitatively describes the software outside of its basic operations. Each piece of supplemental metadata may be individually authenticated to ensure its accuracy. In addition, pieces of supplemental metadata can be combined with other supplemental metadata. Accordingly, a user or system administrator may then use various policies to manage software and determine which updates to install based on the supplemental metadata in addition to the typical intrinsic metadata, such as dependency information.
US08726262B2
The present invention provides a firmware update process capable of realizing both recovery from an interruption of update and saving of a capacity of nonvolatile memory used for backup and storing difference data. Thus, intermediate data is included for always holding a status of firmware in rewriting in addition to the new and old firmware. In a case of updating all blocks configuring the firmware in an arbitrary order, the process successively compares blocks of the intermediate data and new firmware with each other; calculates an address of data for recovery from an interruption of update and a backup capacity required therefor; extracts difference data to be distributed, calculates a capacity thereof and creates an update procedure; and derives a processing order whose total of the backup capacity and the difference data capacity is the minimum (see FIG. 2).
US08726260B2
A technique for providing a software patch to an associated computer system includes receiving, at a wireless communication device, a communication. Next, it is determined, at the wireless communication device, whether the communication is associated with a software patch available for the associated computer system. When the communication is associated with the software patch, a notification is sent from the wireless communication device to the associated computer system that the software patch is available.
US08726257B2
The object file format and linker are enhanced to provide file attributes to allow flexible selection and placement of objects.
US08726256B2
Apparatus, systems, and methods for a compiler are disclosed. One such compiler parses a human readable expression into a syntax tree and converts the syntax tree into an automaton having in-transitions and out-transitions. Converting can include unrolling the quantification as a function of in-degree limitations wherein in-degree limitations includes a limit on the number of transitions into a state of the automaton. The compiler can also convert the automaton into an image for programming a parallel machine, and publishes the image. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
US08726244B2
The debugging system is provided that includes a debugging module that receives an application having one or more software breakpoints such that when a target system encounters the one or more software breakpoints the debugging module starts handling of the one or more software breakpoints. A determination is made as to whether the one or more software breakpoints is a selective software breakpoint, if it is determined that the selective software breakpoint has been encountered, the debugging module eliminates instruction replacement for all other remaining breakpoints and execution of the original instruction of the application at the encountered breakpoint or eliminates instruction replacement for all other remaining breakpoints and reinstalls the encountered breakpoint.
US08726233B1
A method is provided for interacting with the graphical model is provided. At least one of the plurality of views of the graphical model is parsed to create an intermediate representation. An interactive overlay is displayed using the display device. User interacts with the destination object based on an input instruction via the interactive overlay and modifies the destination object using the input instruction, the modifying allows the destination object to perform a modified operation when the model is executed. The graphical model includes execution semantics and a destination object, where the destination object is influenced by the execution semantics. The graphical model is rendered on a display device based on a selected view.
US08726231B2
A single software project can include heterogeneous types of artifacts. The artifact definition can be converted to a format compatible with a common model or information derived from the artifacts can be added to the common model so that tools that operate on the common model can provide information derived from the heterogeneous artifacts to developers during design time in an IDE. Build and deployment tools can operate over a more inclusive universe of data to provide a more accurate deployment plan. Build and deployment tools can operate within the context of the IDE or from the command line.
US08726222B1
A system and method are provided for establishing an automated routing environment in an electronic design automation (EDA) work flow for the routing of a circuit design. A user may merely specify a flow via pattern, a flow via location, and a start and end terminal and thereby, the auto router or path finder will automatically find the least-cost paths between each of the start terminals through at least one intermediate via of the flow via and ending at an end terminal. Upon successful routing of all needed terminals, an at least partially routed circuit design may be output.
US08726210B2
Systems and methods are provided to optimize critical paths by modulating systemic process variations, such as regional timing variations in IC designs. A method includes determining a physical location of an element in the semiconductor chip design within the critical path. The method further includes modulating a systemic process variation of the semiconductor chip design to speed up the critical path based on a polysilicon conductor perimeter density associated with the element.
US08726201B2
A method and system to predict a number of electromigration critical elements in semiconductor products. This method includes determining critical element factors for a plurality of library elements in a circuit design library using a design tool running on a computer device and based on at least one of an increased reliability temperature and an increased expected current. The method also includes determining a number of critical elements in a product based on: (i) numbers of respective ones of the plurality of library elements comprised in the product, and (ii) the critical element factors.
US08726198B2
A method includes entering, by a portable electronic device, a low-power condition after displaying an application image on a display. No information is displayed on the display during the low-power condition. While in the low-power condition, an input is detected. In response to detecting the input, a cover image is displayed. The application image is progressively revealed along with movement of a gesture while reducing display of the cover image, wherein the gesture controls a size of an area where the application image is displayed.
US08726191B2
A device may be controlled by: detecting a first user input associated with an element of a graphical user interface associated with at least one controllable device; detecting at least one second user input; and transmitting at least one device control signal to the at least one controllable device associated with the element of the graphical user interface when the first user input and the second user input are at least partially contemporaneous.
US08726190B2
Automatically transformed graphical user interface techniques and implementations are described, including displaying a graphical user interface in a first position, the graphical user interface having a composition having an interface element, detecting an input to change the composition, and transforming the graphical user interface in response to the input comprising adjusting at least one edge of the graphical user interface and orienting the graphical user interface to a second position relative to a point in a display.
US08726187B2
A macro element template is replicated to build a macro element library. A macro element is associated with executable instructions for controlling a plurality of production devices to produce a special effect or segment of a media production. One or more automation control objects are positioned onto a control interface to build a macro element template. Build information is associated with each automation control object to assign a variable name, device type, property page field(s), and variable naming table. A replicator control interface allows a range of sources to be assigned to the macro element template, and is associated with executable instructions for building the macro element library. The macro element library includes user-defined filenames that enables a director to quickly search and select a desired macro element. Changes in production values ripple throughout the macro element library to dynamically update the macro elements.
US08726186B2
In a server-based system for creating and editing image and or text-based projects, the system having access to a digital medium containing an executable graphics user interface (GUI) accessible by computer browser, a method is provided for scaling a project page using relative units including the steps (a) establishing a 0 point at the center of the project page, (b) from the center, scaling a number of relative units ending at a negative limit value for width equal to one half of total width value, (c) from the center, scaling a number of relative units ending at a negative limit value for height equal to one half of the total height, (d) from the center, scaling a number of relative units ending at a positive limit value for width equal to one half of total width, and (e) from the center, scaling a number of relative units ending at a positive limit value for height equal to one half of the total height. For all of the steps, each unit represents an equal division of the total value from the negative limit to the positive limit for width and for height.
US08726185B1
A method and apparatus for rendering overlapped objects are provided. In the method, multiple objects are sorted according to rendering properties thereof and placed into a source chain. As for a target object in the source chain, an object first overlapped with the target object is successively searched. If no overlapped object is found, the target object is moved to a target chain. Otherwise, a blending object is generated by blending an overlapping area of the target object and overlapped object according to an alpha-blending property thereof and the blending object and all non-overlapping areas of the target object and overlapped object are inserted respectively as a new object into the source chain. The above steps are repeated until all objects in the source chain are moved to the target chain. Finally, the objects in the target chain are rendered on an electronic device.
US08726183B2
An input apparatus configured to change a set value continuously, comprising: an operating key configured to be pressed; a detector configured to detect press of the operation key; a calculation portion configured to sequentially add or subtract a first variable to or from the set value during the press of the operation key and sequentially add or subtract a second variable greater than the first variable to or from the set value after a number of calculations with the first variable exceeds a first threshold number; and a change portion configured to change the operating key in color from a first hue to a second hue, when the number of the calculations with the first variable exceeds a second threshold number smaller than the first threshold number.
US08726180B2
An information processing device is provided that performs content transfer with a content recording device on which is stored content that has content identification information identifying the content. The information processing device includes: an identification information acquisition portion that acquires, from the content recording device, the content identification information for the content recorded in the content recording device; a display control portion that groups a list of the content identification information acquired by the identification information acquisition portion for each of a content type acquired from the content identification information and displays the list; and a sort control portion that sorts, for each of the content types, the list of the content identification information displayed by the display control portion, based on the content attribute information acquired from the content identification information.
US08726179B2
In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for providing in-line scheduling in an on-demand service in a database system. These mechanisms and methods for providing in-line scheduling can enable embodiments to provide a multi-tenant database that stores client scheduling information, client customer contact information, and enables drag and drop event scheduling. In a multi-tenant database, a system for managing client customer contact information and event scheduling is established, which may be useful for a tenant that is a salesperson or that employs salespersons. The multi-tenant database may include a combined view application that provides for the simultaneous display of a calendar view and list view of contact information. The multi-tenant database may further include drag and drop functionality, allowing list view information to be dragged and dropped onto the calendar view for event scheduling. The ability of embodiments to provide drag and drop inline event scheduling can enable efficient calendaring of events by rapidly transferring relevant information onto a calendar.
US08726178B2
An information retrieval device includes an area splitting unit that splits the input information into a plurality of subareas by each information attribute, an extracting unit that extracts a retrieval key from the input information in each of the subareas, a display control unit that displays the input information in the subareas on a first screen, and receives an instruction for specifying any of the subareas displayed on the first screen to be moved to a second screen on a display unit, and a retrieving unit that retrieves information via the network based on a retrieval key corresponding to the subarea that is moved to the second screen. The display control unit displays retrieved information on the second screen.
US08726176B2
Methods and apparatuses enable generation of and consumption of business context data. A server generates business context data that describes a resource, a view, and actionable context data related to a business scenario. The business context data is not specific to any particular UI capability of the client device, and may include tittle or no UI information. The server transmits the business context data to a client device that has an active client. The active client identifies one or more UI capabilities of the client device and generates a UI component based on the business scenario and the UI capabilities. The UI component enables functionality in the client device related to execution of the actionable context data. In one embodiment, the active client enables predictive deployment of services on the client device based on an understanding of the business scenario.
US08726175B2
A user interface generation apparatus is provided with a user interface generation unit for generating a user interface, a display unit for displaying the user interface generated by the user interface generation unit, and a memory unit for storing a definition file including object definition information which defines an object, which is a component of the user interface. If being instructed to generate a plurality of user interfaces, the user interface generation unit makes a selection from object definition information included in the definition file stored in the memory unit and executes processing to generate a compound user interface based on the object definition information selected.
US08726170B2
A communication is initiated between a first user and a second user via a collaboration channel. Thereafter, an identification of the second user relating to the collaboration channel is associated with a business entity (also referred to sometimes as a business partner). A service is automatically initiated that retrieves contextual information associated with the business entity in response to the initiation of the communication. A scope of the retrieved contextual information is based on a business partner type for the business entity. Subsequently, the first user is presented with at least a portion of the retrieved contextual information concurrently with the communication between the first user and the second user via the collaboration channel. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.
US08726168B2
A system and method hides latency in the display of a subsequent user interface by animating the exit of the current user interface and animating the entrance of the subsequent user interface, causing continuity in the display of the two user interfaces. During either or both animations, information used to produce the user interface, animation of the entrance of the subsequent user interface, or both may be retrieved or processed or other actions may be performed.
US08726161B2
Methods, systems and/or computer program products are disclosed that help facilitate visual presentation composition. A method includes analyzing a plurality of video clips, each video clip comprising a plurality of frames, to determine a subset of the plurality of video clips that have at least one frame depicting one or more faces. The method further includes presenting, in a user interface of a video editing application, the determined subset of video clips along with indicia indicating one or more face-related characteristics of each of the subset of video clips. Furthermore, the method includes receiving, from a user of the video editing application, a selection of one or more frames of at least one of the subset of video clips to populate a shot placeholder in a movie-building template, and generating a playable media file representing a movie based at least in part on the selection received from the user.
US08726156B2
The disclosure refers to a graphical user interface device. In one example, the device is configured to provide images for display on a plurality of split screen forming areas of a split screen display. The device displays to a user an operation window having operation areas, the number of operation areas being the same as the number of split screen forming areas of the split screen display. Each of the operation areas is associated with one of the split screen forming areas.
US08726150B2
Provided is a web page distribution system capable of distributing web pages that satisfy the output condition of a distribution target. The web page distribution system comprises a plurality of mobile phones and a web page distribution server. The mobile phones can communicate with Internet and have individually set output conditions for outputting all web pages including text data and image data referred to from the text data. The web page distribution server specifies, based on the reception of the distribution request for the web pages, the output conditions of the mobile phones and determines whether the web pages satisfy the specified output conditions or not. When it is determined that the output conditions are not satisfied, the web page distribution server converts the web pages that do not satisfy the output conditions into the ones that satisfy the output conditions and performs a process for distributing the web pages.
US08726148B1
Methods and systems for processing text or character data are disclosed. A text processing system receives a character input string and determines whether to apply character processing. A non-English language such as Italian can be entered into a processing system such as a computer using a standard English based keyboard such that additional keys for providing accents or other grammatical and punctuation symbols or characters not existing in English are unnecessary. In one mode, text is automatically accented or punctuated without requiring user intervention. In another mode, a user is provided with a list of accent or punctuation choices so that the user may select the optimum accent or punctuation. Text processing of an input may be activated by a predefined activator key pressed in a predetermined sequence, or may be activated in the event a predetermined sequence of characters is received.
US08726141B2
A method and system are provided for efficiently verifying the integrity of file-based video audio and other essence in a content production system. The method involves creating a sequence of hash codes for the editable units of the essence, which are stored as metadata apart from the content (either in a separate file or in a separate portion of the same file), and are correlated to the content by a time label (which may be an offset or a timecode number). Upon retrieval from storage, the hash codes are generated for the retrieved essence and compared to the stored hash codes to verify that the content has not been modified.
US08726138B2
A method and apparatus for decoding of tailbiting convolutional codes (TBCC) are disclosed. The proposed modified maximum-likelihood TBCC decoding technique preserves error correction performance of optimal maximum-likelihood based TBCC decoding, while the computational complexity is substantially decreased since a reduced number of decoding states has been evaluated. Compare to other sub-optimal TBCC decoding algorithms, modified maximum-likelihood TBCC decoding achieves improved packet error rate performance with similar computational complexity.
US08726137B2
A convolutional encoder (50) comprises an expurgation unit (22) and a first component convolutional encoder section (24). A convolutional turbo encoder (20) comprises an expurgation unit (22); a first component convolutional encoder section (24); a second component convolutional encoder section (26); and an interleaver (28). For both the convolutional encoder (50) and the expurgating convolutional turbo encoder (20) the expurgation unit (22) inserts predetermined values at selected bit positions of an input bit sequence and thereby provide an expurgated input bit sequence. A lower rate convolutional code is obtained from a higher rate code via expurgation.
US08726132B2
Disclosed is a method and system for validating a data packet by a network processor supporting a first network protocol and a second network protocol and utilizing shared hardware. The network processor receives a data packet; identifies a network packet protocol for the data packet; and processes the data packet according to the network packet protocol comprising: updating a first register with a first partial packet length specific to the first network protocol; updating a second register with a second partial packet length specific to the second network protocol; and updating a third register with a first checksum computed from fields independent of the network protocol. The system produces a second checksum utilizing a function that combines values from the first register, the second register, and the third register. The system validates the data packet by comparing the data packet checksum to the second checksum.
US08726127B2
A method begins by a computing device determining that dispersed storage network (DSN) memory is to be accessed regarding data. The method continues when the computing device is paired with a DSN access token module with the DSN access token module retrieving a plurality of sets of at least a threshold number of dispersed storage (DS) error coding function slices from the DSN memory via the computing device. The method continues with at least one of the computing device and the DSN access token module decoding the plurality of sets of the at least a threshold number of DS error coding function slices using a default DS error coding function to recapture a DS error coding function and executing, by one or more of the computing device and the DSN access token module, the DS error coding function to access the DSN memory regarding the data.
US08726124B2
Cyclic redundancy check (CRC) values are efficiently calculated using an improved linear feedback shift register (LFSR) circuit. CRC value generation is separated into two sub-calculations, which are then combined to form a final CRC value. A programmable XOR engine performs logic functions via a table lookup rather than via a random logic circuit. LCRC and ECRC calculations are performed using a single shared LFSR circuit. Multiple links share the same CRC value generator. One advantage of the present invention is that CRC values are generated using smaller and fewer LFSR circuits relative to conventional circuit designs. As a result, a CRC value generator utilizing the disclosed techniques consumes less surface area of an integrated circuit and consumes less power, resulting in cooler operation.
US08726116B2
Provided are a Physical Uplink Shared CHannel (PUSCH) encoder and an encoding method of the same. The PUSCH encoder includes a plurality of encoding units and a channel interleaving unit interleaving the data transferred from the plurality of encoding units. Herein, the respective encoding units perform encoding operations on different data. The PUSCH encoder is configured to perform the respective encoding operations in parallel. In accordance with the PUSCH encoder and the encoding method thereof, the encoding operations are performed on different data in parallel to reduce latency, leading to an increase in processing speed of a codec system. Furthermore, the increase in processing speed of the codec system results in the improvement of performance and throughput per unit hour in a data communication system.
US08726112B2
Methods and devices for using high-speed serial links for scan testing are disclosed. The methods can work with any scheme of scan data compression or with uncompressed scan testing. The protocol and hardware to support high speed data transfer reside on both the tester and the device under test. Control data may be transferred along with scan data or be partially generated on chip. Clock signals for testing may be generated on chip as well. In various implementations, the SerDes (Serializer/Deserializer) may be shared with other applications. The Aurora Protocol may be used to transport industry standard protocols. To compensate for effects of asynchronous operation of a conventional high-speed serial link, buffers may be used. The high-speed serial interface may use a data conversion block to drive test cores.
US08726101B2
An apparatus and method for tracing memory access information of a user program while ensuring a normal operation of the user program. An access permission about a memory region may be set to trace the memory access information. An instruction of the user program encounters a page fault according to the set access permission. If the page fault occurs, memory access information is stored based on the page fault, and apparatus executes an instruction causing the page fault while in a supervisor mode.
US08726098B2
The operator terminal 150 receives input in relation to a setting status check item being a setting item desired to be checked in the diagnostic code generation terminal, and generates a status check code, so that the status check code indicates the setting status check item received in the input. Then, the diagnostic code generation terminal 10 acquires the setting status of the diagnostic code generation terminal 10 in response to receiving the input of the status check code, the setting status corresponding to the setting status check item, and generates a diagnostic code indicating the setting status based on the acquired setting status. Then, the setting status of the diagnostic code generation terminal 10 is reproduced by inputting the diagnostic code to an operator terminal 150.
US08726095B2
Dissatisfaction variables track inputs made by an end user at an information handling system that are associated with end user dissatisfaction regarding the operation of the information handling system, such as corrective actions, so that an alert issues if a dissatisfaction variable changes by a predetermined amount over a predetermined time period. Dissatisfaction variables identify a pattern of a change in behavior by an end user rather than the operational status of system components. For example, an increase in end user forced shutdowns of the information handling system indicates end user dissatisfaction with the information handling system, such as repeated freezes of the operating system so that performing a timely diagnostics will improve end user satisfaction and proactively correct and impending system failure.
US08726092B1
The subject matter of this specification can be implemented in, among other things, a computer-implemented method for identifying causes of application crashes. The method includes receiving crash reports from multiple computing devices resulting from a problem that occurs in an application in operation at the computing devices. The crash reports include sets of properties that describe system states of the computing devices where the problem occurred. The method further includes identifying similarities between one or more properties in the sets of properties from the crash reports. The method further includes identifying differences between one or more properties in the sets of properties from the crash reports. The method further includes identifying one or more candidates for a cause of the problem in the application based on a clustering of the similarities and the differences. The method further includes generating a report that includes the one or more candidates.
US08726090B2
A management apparatus is connected to an information processing apparatus via a network, and includes: a determining unit that, when receiving a failure notification that installation of software fails from the information processing apparatus, determines a cause of failure based on the notification; a storing processing unit that, when the determining unit determines that the cause of the failure cannot be solved by remote control, stores registration information in which identifying information of the information processing apparatus and information indicating to-be-installed software which has not been installed on the information processing apparatus are associated with each other, in a storage unit; and a reinstallation instruction unit that, when receiving an inquiry as to whether there is the to-be-installed software from the information processing apparatus, searches the registration information in the storage unit, and instructs the information processing apparatus to install the to-be-installed software thereon if there is the to-be-installed software.
US08726089B2
A system error analysis device which includes a top unit and a storage unit coupled to the top module is mentioned. The storage unit is configured to store each of the input data, each of the output data and each of the bus data transmitted by the top unit. When receiving an interrupting signal, the system error analysis device outputs the input data, the output data and the bus data stored as soon as the interrupting signal is received and the input data, the output data and the bus data stored before the receiving of the interrupting signal. Accordingly, by comparing and analyzing the data output by system error analysis device, the system employing the system error analysis device is able to obtain the reason of the generation of the interrupting signal.
US08726073B2
A control apparatus controls a first and a second power supply units having a redundant configuration and converters connected to respective outputs of the power supply units. The power supply units generate a plurality of voltages and supply a storage device with the generated voltages through the respective converters. The control apparatus includes a determination unit for determining whether an abnormality occurs in a first voltage that the first power supply unit generates, upon the second power supply unit failing, and an instruction unit for instructing the converter connected to the first power supply unit to generate the first voltage on the basis of a second voltage that the first power supply unit generates, upon the abnormality occurring in the first voltage of the first power supply unit.
US08726072B1
A system for providing improved cluster operation performance comprises a storage system and a cluster system communicatively coupled to the storage system. The cluster system comprises an active node and a plurality of passive nodes. The active node comprises a storage system interface engine and at least one initiator engine and each of the plurality of passive nodes comprises a storage system interface engine and at least one initiator engine. The storage system interface engine of the active node is configured to coordinate communication between the cluster system and the storage system, and simultaneously communicate an operation request from each of the plurality of passive nodes of the cluster system to the storage system.
US08726070B2
Out-of-order reconstruction of a RAID storage device at a replacement storage device enables the replacement storage device to execute I/O for reconstructed regions during reconstruction of the replacement storage device. In one embodiment, the failed storage device is analyzed to find recoverable information, which is copied to the replacement storage device to reduce the need for reconstruction. In another embodiment, the priority for region's reconstruction is increased upon detection of an I/O to the region. The I/O is queued until reconstruction of the region and then executed after reconstruction of that region so that I/O at the region need not be repeated during reconstruction of the remainder of the replacement storage device.
US08726069B2
A method and system to provide a highly available file system in a directly attached storage (DAS). The storage is directly attached to a computer system that has an inactive operating system. A hardware module in the computer system receives a network command to access the file system. The hardware module determines a physical location of data blocks to be accessed in the storage. According to the network command, the hardware module accesses the data blocks in the storage.
US08726063B2
A computer-implemented method for performing processing including setting a timer associated with a first processing event, scheduling an expected time for the processing event using wall clock time, at the timer, using the expected time to calculate a delay associated with the timer, performing the first processing event in response to the timer, and setting a subsequent timer to compensate for the delay.
US08726055B2
The disclosed embodiments provide a system that operates a processor in a multi-core processor system. During operation, the system detects the creation of an asynchronous wakeup event for the processor. In response to detecting the creation of the asynchronous wakeup event, when the processor is subsequently placed into an idle state, the system configures the processor to resume operation at a reduced frequency that is a fraction of an operating frequency for the multi-core processor system, wherein the reduced frequency allows more power to be allocated to other processors in the multi-core processor system.
US08726054B2
A cloud-based energy-saving service system and method are disclosed. The service system and method of this invention use the strong computation capabilities of the cloud computing technology and systems to determine the power consumption policies of the mobile devices and provide the policies to the mobile devices, whereby the mobile devices implement the power consumption policies to save its power consumptions. In one aspect, the invented system and method calculate and determine the backlight level polices for a particular video stream, then provide the policies information to the mobile devices for implementation. The policies information may be provided to the mobile devices independently or along with the video stream. The calculation of the backlight illumination levels may be done in advance or on remand.
US08726049B2
Without disposing any dedicated management module, it is possible to monitor sensors of shared sections shared among computer modules. A computer system includes a state machine for monitoring a power state of each computer module and a state of a baseboard management controller of the computer module, shared modules of shared sections shared among the computer modules, and switches corresponding to the shared modules for selecting one of the baseboard management controllers to establish connections between the baseboard management controllers and the shared modules. At occurrence of an abnormality in the power state or the baseboard management controller of any one of the computer modules, the state machine dynamically conducts a switching operation to designate one of the baseboard management controllers to monitor sensors of the shared modules.
US08726048B2
Systems and methods of managing power provide for issuing a first operating requirement from a first processor core and issuing a second operating requirement from a second processor core. In one embodiment, the operating requirements can reflect either a power policy or a performance policy, depending upon the factor that is currently most important to software. Hardware coordination logic is used to coordinate a shared resource setting with the operating requirements. The hardware coordination logic is also able to coordinate the shared resource setting with independent resource settings of the first and second processor cores based on the operating requirements.
US08726045B2
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with automatically detecting and characterizing a power topology are described. One example system includes a topology logic that identifies connections between PDUs and computers that receive power from the PDUs. The example system may include a data store that receives PDU/computer association data from the topology logic. A computer may communicate with a power providing PDU over a power line connecting the two devices. The computer and the power providing PDU may be configured with network interface devices (e.g., Ethernet switches) configured to communicate over the power line using, for example, EoP. The topology logic may discover a PDU/CE association by examining data transmitted over a network to which the computer and/or the PDU are connected.
US08726044B2
A primary storage device stores a first encrypted version of data. The first encrypted version of the data is encrypted in accordance with a first encryption-decryption approach. A cache storage device for the primary storage device stores a second encrypted version of the data. The second encrypted version of the data is encrypted in accordance with a second encryption-decryption approach different than the first encryption-decryption approach.
