US08933387B2

An optical potentiometer includes a metal pipe having one end closed, a metal pipe that has a relationship of a nested structure with respect to the metal pipe and guides the metal pipe movably in a longitudinal direction, a light source and an optical fiber which supply light into the metal pipe, and an optical power meter that detects a change in the amount of reflected light from inside the metal pipe. The metal pipe has a slit along the longitudinal direction. The optical power meter detects a change in the amount of reflected light from inside the metal pipe caused by a change in the opening amount of the slit caused in accordance with the movement of the metal pipe in the longitudinal direction.
US08933381B2

Provided is a packaging pouch for a microwave oven, provided with a steam releasing seal portion having a weakened portion, in which no clogging occurs in the steam releasing seal portion at the time of heat-cooking in a microwave oven, and any clogging occurred can be automatically eliminated. In the present invention, hermetic sealing is effected through heat sealing of a plastic film, and at least one steam releasing seal portion having a weakened portion is provided, with a width of the weakened portion gradually increasing from a forward end portion thereof to be opened toward a rear end portion thereof.
US08933378B2

In a power supply system for a three-phase arc furnace (1), comprising at least one furnace transformer (4), the furnace transformer (4) is connected on the secondary side to the three-phase arc furnace (1). On the primary side, the furnace transformer (4) is connected to a three-phase supply mains (3) through an indirect converter (5). The indirect converter (5) comprises at least one rectifier (6) on the mains side, at least one inverter (7) on the transformer side, and an intermediate circuit (8) between the rectifier (6) and the inverter (7). Each phase of the three-phase supply mains (3) is connected to the intermediate circuit (8) through two converter elements (11) of the rectifier (6) in each case. Each primary-side phase of the furnace transformer (4) is connected to the intermediate circuit (8) through two converter elements (2) of the inverter (7) in each case.
US08933374B2

A pulse laser machining apparatus and method generates a clock signal, emits a pulse laser beam in synchronization with the clock signal, scans the pulse laser beam in synchronization with the clock signal only in a one-dimensional direction, moves a stage in a direction perpendicular to the one-dimensional direction, passes or cuts off the pulse laser beam in synchronization with the clock signal, and controls the passing or cutting off of the pulse laser beam based on the number of light pulses of the pulse laser beam.
US08933362B2

A method for welding weldable parts together, for instance for welding annular objects (1), wherein the parts (IA, IB) are subjected to a thermal resistance upset welding process for making the parts (IA, IB) flow together at contact surfaces (S), wherein the welding process (W) depends on a number of input parameters, comprising a pressure exerted on the parts to be welded and a heating current fed through the parts (IA, IB), wherein a number of welding process output parameters, for instance a welding temperature and a displacement of the parts (IA, IB), depend on the input parameters, wherein, during the welding process (W), at least one welding temperature and/or electrical resistance of said parts (IA, IB) is determined, wherein the result of the welding temperature determination and/or resistance determination is used by at least one regulator (R) for automatically readjusting a number of welding process input parameters during the welding process (W), or for automatically adjusting the welding process (W). The invention further provides a welding system, a regulator and a computer program.
US08933358B2

Disclosed are a power transmission device for a vacuum interrupter, and a vacuum breaker having the same. The device includes: a driving link coupled to an adjuster; a driven link coupled to a movable electrode of a vacuum interrupter; connection links configured to connect the driving link and the driven link with each other, and coupled to the driving link and the driven link such that an interval between the driving link and the driven link is varied; cams coupled to the connection links in a perpendicular direction; and cam guides having guide recesses for slidably coupling the cams, and configured to guide the interval between the driving link and the driven link to be changed.
US08933354B2

An electronic device in which a waterproof structure is formed without hindering a lever operation to a lever switch is provided. A device main body has a housing member in which an opening is provided to house a switch main body, and a cover member that is engaged to the housing member to form at least a part of the front surface of the device main body, and the device main body has an elastic sheet arranged at a rear surface side of the cover member to cover the opening of the housing member, having a shape extending to a position overlapping with engaging surfaces between the housing member and the cover member, and having an outer edge portion interposed between the engaging surfaces of the housing member and the cover member, and a bottomed cylindrical portion that projects from a front surface of the elastic sheet.
US08933342B2

A wiring substrate includes a substrate main body having a first main face and a second main face opposite the first main face; a resistor formed on the first main face; a plurality of first-main-face-side wiring layers which are each formed on the resistor and which each include a grounding metal layer formed of a metal having a resistance lower than that of the resistor and a conductor layer formed on the grounding metal layer; a second-main-face-side wiring layer formed on the second main face; and a via which is formed in the substrate main body and which establishes electrical connectivity between the first-main-face-side wiring layers and the second-main-face-side wiring layer. The wiring substrate further includes a conductive covering layer which covers an upper surface and substantially covers the side surfaces of each of the first-main-face-side wiring layers.
US08933335B2

A current lead with a configuration to reduce heat load transfer in an alternating electrical current (AC) environment is disclosed. The current lead may comprise a conductive material having a configuration for reducing heat load transfer across the current lead when an alternating electrical current (AC) is applied to the current lead. A temperature gradient a may be exhibited along a length of the current lead.
US08933333B2

A shielded electrical cable includes conductor sets extending along a length of the cable and spaced apart from each other along a width of the cable. First and second shielding films are disposed on opposite sides of the cable and include cover portions and pinched portions arranged such that, in transverse cross section, the cover portions of the films in combination substantially surround each conductor set. An adhesive layer bonds the shielding films together in the pinched portions of the cable. A transverse bending of the cable at a cable location of no more than 180 degrees over an inner radius of at most 2 mm causes a cable impedance of the selected insulated conductor proximate the cable location to vary by no more than 2 percent from an initial cable impedance measured at the cable location in an unbent configuration.
US08933331B1

A reversible electrical box for securing electrical fixtures or devices on the exterior wall of a building. The electrical box has an interchangeable rear element and an extension spacer which allow the achievement of a desired reveal depending on the wall finish thickness. It can be installed on unfinished walls upon which a finishing, such as stucco, is then applied or it can be installed as a retrofit on an existing finished wall. Two principal embodiments are shown with the first embodiment serving to attach electrical devices and the second embodiment serving to attach electrical fixtures.
US08933328B2

A dye-sensitized solar cell module comprising: a plurality of electrically series-connected solar cells having a first conductive layer formed on an insulating substrate; a photoelectric conversion device formed on the first conductive layer; and a second conductive layer formed on the photoelectric conversion device, wherein the photoelectric conversion device has a photoelectric conversion layer having a porous semiconductor layer adsorbing a dye, a carrier transporting layer and a catalyst layer and the dye-sensitized solar cell module is characterized in that the second conductive layer of the above-described one solar cell contacts the first conductive layer of an adjacent another solar cell and the photoelectric conversion device of the above-described adjacent another solar cell contacts the second conductive layer of the above-described one solar cell.
US08933327B2

A conventional thin-film photoelectric converter using amorphous germanium or crystalline silicon as a photoelectric conversion layer is problematic in that light having a long wavelength of 1100 nm or more cannot be used for photoelectric conversion, and is inefficient. The problem is solved by a thin-film photoelectric converter including one or more photoelectric conversion units each having a photoelectric conversion layer sandwiched between a p-type semiconductor layer and an n-type semiconductor layer, wherein the photoelectric conversion layer of at least one photoelectric conversion unit includes an intrinsic or weak n-type crystalline germanium semiconductor, and the absorption coefficient of infrared-absorption peak at wave number of 935±5 cm−1 of the crystalline germanium semiconductor is less than 6000 cm−1. The problem is also solved by a thin-film photoelectric converter having acrystalline germanium semiconductor whose absorption coefficient of infrared-absorption peak at wave number of 960±5 cm−1 is less than 3500 cm−1.
US08933322B2

A tracking system configured to orient light concentrators to face a light source. The system includes a movable support structure for providing global alignment of the light concentrators with the light source. The system also includes a light concentrator (LC) module that is coupled to the support structure and has an array of light concentrators that are in fixed positions with respect to each other. The system also includes a secondary alignment mechanism having a module joint that movably couples the LC module to the support structure and an actuator assembly. The actuator assembly is configured to selectively move the LC module about two axes relative to a pivot point of the module joint thereby orienting the array of light concentrators.
US08933320B2

One example embodiment includes a PV module comprising a conductive backsheet, a substantially transparent front plate, a plurality of PV cells, a plurality of conductive spacers, and a power conversion device. The PV cells can be disposed between the conductive backsheet and the front plate and can be arranged in a plurality of rows. The PV cells within each row can be connected to each other in parallel and the rows can be connected in series. The PV cells can be interconnected between the conductive spacers. The power conversion device can be redundantly connected to the PV cells via a last conductive spacer connected to a last row. The power conversion device can substantially maintain a maximum peak power of the PV module and can convert a lower voltage collectively generated by the PV cells to a predetermined stepped up voltage greater than or equal to 12 volts.
US08933315B2

A portable electronic drumhead includes a sensor responsive to drumstick impacts in producing electrical signal pulses input to headphones to thereby simulate sounds of an acoustic drumhead. The sensor includes a Force Sensing Resistor (FSR) lamination coated with an electrically conductive polymer ink, a spacer lamination, and a flexible electrode lamination having on an inner surface thereof a pair of interdigitated electrodes, the electrode lamination elastically contacting the FSR lamination in response to drumstick impacts on the outer surface of the electrode lamination or FSR lamination to thus momentarily reduce electrical resistance between the electrodes. Resilient batter pads overlying the laminations muffle sounds produced by drumstick impacts. Optionally, the sensor may have an annular ring shape which may be placed concentrically on the head of an acoustic drum, the sensor having an upwardly protruding resilient bumper strikable to produce electronically synthesized rim shot sounds.
US08933313B2

Disclosed is a system and method that allows users to customize audible and visible signals, such as music or video, to maintain a pre-determined or specified pace or to achieve a new pace in repetitive motion activities such as, but not limited to, running, walking, swimming, cycling, aerobics, and the like. Other applications of the system and method include, but are not limited to, enhancing the results of medical rehabilitation programs, physical therapy, weight loss programs, disc jockey services, and industries or manufacturing settings where repetitive motion is common and where audible cues designed to help users maintain a consistent pace are useful. Other features of the invention include providing target- or pace-specific advertisements, and broadcasting target- or pace-specific information about athletes.
US08933310B2

An acoustic/electronic drum assembly comprising a mesh batter drumhead comprising a mesh membrane and an annular ring, a resonant drumhead comprising an acoustic membrane and an annular ring, the acoustic membrane capable of creating acoustic sound in response to a force applied to the mesh batter drumhead, an annular shell member for maintaining the mesh batter drumhead in fixed relation to the resonant drumhead, and a pick-up acoustically coupled to at least the resonant drumhead for picking up the acoustic sound and creating an electrical signal.
US08933307B2

The present invention is in the field of soybean variety WN0913499 breeding and development. The present invention particularly relates to the soybean variety WN0913499 and its progeny, and methods of making WN0913499.
US08933302B2

The present invention relates to the isolation of Jatropha curcas curcin genes and tissue-specific promoters and to the production of curcin-deficient Jatropha plants. More specifically, the present invention relates to the isolation of Jatropha curcas Curcin 1, Curcin 2 and Curcin 2 A. The present invention further relates to of the Curcin 1, Curcin 2 A and Curcin 2 genes and more particularly to tissue specific promoters of the Curcin 1 and Curcin 2A genes. The present invention further relates to production of curcin-deficient transgenic jatropha plants by using RNAi technology to suppress curcin gene expression.
US08933299B2

The invention provides nucleic acids, and variants and fragments thereof, obtained from strains of Bacillus thuringiensis encoding polypeptides having pesticidal activity against insect pests, including Coleoptera. Particular embodiments of the invention provide isolated nucleic acids encoding pesticidal proteins, pesticidal compositions, DNA constructs, and transformed microorganisms and plants comprising a nucleic acid of the embodiments. These compositions find use in methods for controlling pests, especially plant pests.
US08933296B2

Pairs of plants are provided in which complementing constructs result in suppression of a parental phenotype in the progeny. Methods to generate and maintain such plants and methods of use of said plants, are provided, including use of parental plants to produce sterile plants for hybrid seed production. Also provided are methods for maintaining a homozygous recessive condition and for repressing transmission of transgenes.
US08933294B2

Absorbent products for feminine protection, for example sanitary pads, pantiliners or tampons, comprising a cationic modified starch. The starch is modified by a cationizing agent comprising an ammonium group, wherein the degree of substitution of the cationizing agent is from about 0.070 to less than 0.50.
US08933291B2

A dehydration sensor having a stable, printable, buffered-ink composition that enables one to miniaturize the detection zone and permits both buffer and indicator dye to be applied in the same area of a detection zone, without need for a conventional, large buffer pad region.
US08933285B2

Methods are provided for producing a jet fuel composition from a feedstock comprising a natural oil. The methods comprise reacting the feedstock with a low-weight olefin in the presence of a metathesis catalyst under conditions sufficient to form a metathesized product. The methods further comprise hydrogenating the metathesized product under conditions sufficient to form a jet fuel composition.
US08933278B2

A process for producing ethanol and, in particular, to a process for reducing the concentration of acetic acid in a crude ethanol product by esterifying unreacted acetic acid with an alcohol.
US08933273B2

A borate moiety-contained linker and a bio-sensing element containing the same are disclosed. The borate moiety-contained linker can be used to modify a sensing molecule and connect the sensing molecule to a substrate to form the bio-sensing element.
US08933269B2

A method for preparing a rosuvastatin calcium intermediate, including a) contacting a halogenated ethene with magnesium metal to obtain a halogenated ethene Grignard reagent, and carrying out a Grignard reaction between the halogenated ethene Grignard reagent and R-epichlorohydrin; b) adding sodium cyanide for carrying out a nucleophilic substitution reaction; c) adding alcohol for carrying out an alcoholysis reaction; d) adding a basic solvent for carrying out protection of a first hydroxyl group; e) selectively oxidizing a second hydroxyl group; and f) adding triphenylphosphine in alkaline condition for carrying out a Wittig reaction.
US08933256B2

A complex of formula (I): wherein M is zirconium or hafnium; each X is a sigma ligand; L is a divalent bridge selected from —R′2C—, —R′2C—CR′2—, —R′2Si—, —R′2Si—SiR′2—, —R′2Ge—, wherein each R′ is independently a hydrogen atom, C1-C20-hydrocarbyl, tri(C1-C20-alkyl)silyl, C6-C20-aryl, C7-C20-arylalkyl or C7-C20-alkylaryl; each R1 is a C4-C20 hydrocarbyl radical branched at the β-atom to the cyclopentadienyl ring, optionally containing one or more heteroatoms belonging to groups 14-16, or is a C3-C20 hydrocarbyl radical branched at the β-atom to the cyclopentadienyl ring where the β-atom is an Si-atom; n is 0-3; each R18 is the same or different and may be a C1-C20 hydrocarbyl radical optionally containing one or more heteroatoms belonging to groups 14-16; each R4 is a hydrogen atom or a C1-6-hydrocarbyl radical; each W is a 5 or 6 membered aryl or heteroaryl ring wherein each atom of said ring is optionally substituted with an R5 group each R5 is the same or different and is a C1-C20 hydrocarbyl radical optionally containing one or more heteroatoms belonging to groups 14-16; and optionally two adjacent R5 groups taken together can form a further mono or multicyclic ring condensed to W optionally substituted by one or two groups R5.
US08933250B2

A method of preparation of N-(1-benzo[b]thien-2-ylethyl)-N-hydroxyurea of formula (I) with the use of a reaction of 1-(benzo[b]thien-2-yl)-ethanol of formula (II) with hydroxyurea of formula (III) in organic solvents, organic acids, their mixtures or in mixtures thereof with water, being catalyzed by strongly acidic cation exchangers or various hydrogen sulphates.
US08933239B1

A bis(aryl)acetal has the formula wherein Y1 and Y2 are each independently chloro, bromo, iodo, mesylate, tosylate, triflate, or Bx, provided that Y1 and Y2 are not both selected from chloro, bromo, and iodo; each occurrence of Bx is independently a boron-containing functional group bonded to Ar1 or Ar2 via a boron atom; Ar1 and Ar2 are each independently unsubstituted or substituted C6-18 arylene, or unsubstituted or substituted C3-18 heteroarylene; provided that Ar1 and Ar2 are not covalently linked to each other to form a ring structure that includes —Ar1—O—C—O—Ar2—; and R1 and R2 are each independently hydrogen, unsubstituted or substituted C1-18 linear or branched alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted C3-20 cycloalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted C6-18 aryl, or unsubstituted or substituted C3-20 heteroaryl. The bis(aryl)acetal is useful as a monomer for oligoacetal and polyacetal synthesis via Suzuki polycondensation.
US08933228B2

The present invention relates to respiratory formulations comprising a compound of formula (I): and use of said compounds and compositions in treatment, for example in the treatment of an inflammatory disease or a respiratory disorder, in particular an inflammatory mediated and/or virally mediated respiratory disorder such as asthma and COPD or the treatment or prevention of viral infection, for example infection by influenza virus, rhinovirus or RSV. The invention also extends to certain novel compounds of formula (I).
US08933219B2

The subject matter of the invention is a method for decontaminating starch hydrolysates from which glucose polymers for producing peritoneal dialysis solutions will be prepared.
US08933218B2

The present application describes a process for conjugating a PNAG which is less than 40% N-acetylated to a carrier protein.
US08933212B2

The present invention relates to a method of inhibiting metastasis comprising the administration of an inhibitor of protease nexin-1 (PN-1), characterized in that said inhibitor is administered at a therapeutical dosage that does not completely inhibit the expression and/or activity of PN-1.
US08933209B2

The present invention relates to DEP2, as well as other proteins, and their uses in connection with the treatment of major depression or related disorders.
US08933208B2

The purpose of the present invention is to provide novel liquid crystalline compounds that are capable of inducing phase transition by a light stimulus and are useful in the display, optoelectronics, and photonics field. The present invention relates to the liquid crystalline compounds represented by general formula (1): wherein R1, R2 and R3 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxyl, alkoxycarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyloxy, alkanoyl, alkanoyloxy, alkoxyphenyl, and N-alkylaminocarbonyl, and n is an integer.
US08933206B2

The present invention provides a new method for isolation and/or purification of immunoglobulins from a solution containing one or more immunoglobulins using a solid phase matrix represented by the formula: M-SP-L, wherein M is designates a matrix backbone, SP designates a spacer and L designates a substituted benzimidazole ligand.
US08933200B2

The invention relates to a method for recovering a stress protein from a plant, comprising: obtaining a liquid comprising the stress protein from the plant; precipitating one or more components other than the stress protein from the liquid; adding a fibrous filter aid and a mineral powder to the liquid; then subjecting the liquid comprising the stress protein, precipitated component(s), the fibrous filter aid and the mineral powder to a first filtration step over a filter, thereby separating the precipitate, fibrous filter aid and mineral powder from the filtrate comprising the stress protein; thereafter subjecting the filtrate to a further filtration step; and thereafter purifying the stress protein.
US08933188B2

The tendency of a two component laminating adhesive based on polyurethane chemistry to form a mist of fine droplets when applied at a high line speed may be reduced by including both a high functionality polyol and a lower functionality polymeric polyol in Component B which is combined and reacted with an isocyanate-functionalized polyurethane prepolymer in Component A.
US08933184B2

A method for synthesizing concrete polycarboxylic acid water-reducing agent at room temperature under non-stirring situation is disclosed, which comprises dissolving reactive materials, initiator, chain transfer agent and promoter into a solvent, reacting on standing at 0-50° C.; then adding neutralizing agent at the end of reaction. The method makes use of oxidation-reduction system reacting at low temperature, and can adapt to a variety of reactive material monomers. It does not need to control feeding speed or provide extra heating, does not need to stir during the reaction, and remarkably simplifies operation steps in traditional process, which makes it possible to not only produce in large scale, but also produce in small scale in concrete construction site at any moment.
US08933183B2

In a method for polymerizing a (meth)acrylic monomer by living radical polymerization in the presence of a transition metal complex catalyst, the combined use of a multidentate amine (A), a base (B) and a reducing agent (C) makes it possible to achieve a rapid polymerization reaction and high monomer conversion rate and obtain a polymer having a narrow molecular weight distribution when 5-30 ppm by weight of copper atoms and a mole amount of 7 mmol % or less of multidentate amine (A) are used, each based on the total amount of (meth)acrylic monomer introduced.
US08933182B2

A polymer comprising a first repeat unit comprising ArhX2 wherein ArhX2 comprises a substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl group and each X is the same or different and independently comprises a substituted or unsubstituted aryl or heteroaryl group and a second repeat unit that is adjacent to the first repeat unit wherein each X that is part of a main body of the polymer backbone is directly conjugated to the second repeat unit.
US08933180B2

The present disclosure relates to solid catalyst components comprising titanium, magnesium, halogen and an internal electron donor compound containing at least one 9-(alkoxymethyl)-9H-fluorene compound. The 9-(alkoxymethyl)-9H-fluorene compound include octyl-9-(methoxymethyl)-9H-fluorene-9-carboxylate; 7-methyloctyl-9-(methoxymethyl)-9H-fluorene-9-carboxylate; 2-ethylhexyl-9-(methoxymethyl)-9H-fluorene-9-carboxylate; and 9-(methoxymethyl)-9H-fluorene-9-yl benzoate. The present disclosure further relates to catalyst systems containing the catalyst solid components, organoaluminum compounds, and organosilicon compounds. The present disclosure also relates to methods of making the solid catalyst components and the catalyst systems, and methods of polymerizing or copolymerizing alpha-olefins using the catalyst systems.
US08933177B2

To provide a release modifier which provides a heavy release force to a cured release layer of silicone coating composition. The release modifier comprises an organopolysiloxane resin-organopolysiloxane condensation reaction product that is obtained by the condensation reaction of (a1) 100 weight parts of MQ-type organopolysiloxane resin in which the molar ratio of the M unit to the Q unit is 0.6 to 1.0 and the content of the hydroxyl group or alkoxy group is 0.3 to 2.0 weight % with (a2) 20 to 150 weight parts of chain-form diorganopolysiloxane that has an average degree of polymerization of 100 to 1000 and at least one hydroxyl group or alkoxy group; this organopolysiloxane resin-organopolysiloxane condensation reaction product preferably has a prescribed hydroxyl group content.
US08933171B2

Disclosed are cold flow resistant and dimensionally stable compositions containing a diene rubber and a conjugated diene monovinylarene block copolymer, and generally, these compositions have solutions viscosities and cold flows that are less than that of the diene rubber. Methods for reducing cold flow and for storage-stabilizing bales of diene rubbers also are disclosed.
US08933168B2

There is provided a cyanoacrylate composition comprising: a cyanoacrylate; and a 2-substituted benzothiazole or a derivative thereof wherein the 2-substituent is an alkyl, an alkene, an alkylbenzyl, an alkylamino, an alkoxy, an alkylhydroxy, an ether, a sulfenamide, a thioalkyl or a thioalkoxy group, with the proviso that an amide portion of the sulfenamide does not have a tert butylamino or a morpholine group.
US08933167B2

A polyamide comprising (a) a unit comprising adipic acid and hexamethylenediamine and (b) a unit comprising isophthalic acid and hexamethylenediamine, wherein a ratio of the isophthalic acid component to the total carboxylic acid component in the polyamide is 0.05≦(x)≦0.5 and a range of blocking ratio (Y) is −0.3≦(Y)≦0.8. Also provided are compositions comprising 30 to 95% by mass of the above polyamide and 5 to 70% by mass of an inorganic filler.
US08933166B2

The present invention provides poly(ureaurethane)s including a reaction product of components comprising: (a) at least one isocyanate functional ureaurethane prepolymer comprising the reaction product of: (1) at least one isocyanate functional urethane prepolymer comprising the reaction product of: (i) a first amount of at least one polyisocyanate; and (ii) a first amount of at least one branched polyol; and (2) water, to form an isocyanate functional ureaurethane prepolymer; and (b) a second amount of at least one polyisocyanate and a second amount of at least one branched polyol; compositions, coatings and articles made therefrom and methods of making the same.
US08933165B2

The present invention related to a method for producing a modified conjugated diene-based polymer, the method comprising a step of reacting a conjugated diene-based polymer with an organometallic compound, and a step of reacting the resulting product and a compound containing a nitrogen atom and a carbonyl group.
US08933152B2

Spun-dyed aramid fibers, wherein spun-dyeing was performed with a completely organic pigment exhibiting the chemical structure of formula (I): wherein, independently from one another, R1 represents a substituent of formula Xa or a substituent of formula Xb: wherein Xa is linked via the group NH having two bonds in the structure represented by Xa, while Xb is linked via the carbon atom, which is in a para relationship with the NH2-group of Xb; and R2 represents H or NH2. The spun-dyed aramid fibers exhibit constant coloristic properties and wash proof properties.
US08933150B2

This invention describes a composite molded material consisting of granular ceramic or ceramic coated material and liquid epoxy or urethane resin or vinyl ester resin or polyester resin or mixtures thereof in various ratios by weight and the processes by which the invention is produced. This invention results in a composite material of two or more dissimilar materials which improves the characteristic properties, such as wear, stain and abrasion resistance, oxidation resistance, corrosion resistance, heat resistance, electrical and thermal conductivity, and mechanical strength for which a monolithic material is not satisfactory.
US08933147B2

The invention relates to plastics which are self-disinfecting. The invention relates in particular to polyether or silicone based dental plastics and impression materials in which a biocidal material is incorporated. The dental impression material ace. to the invention comprises at least a polymerizable base paste BP and a non-aqueous catalyst paste CP, wherein the base paste BP comprises about 0.001 to about 10% by weight of a water-stable anti-microbial agent. Preferred anti-microbial agents are selected from the group consisting of Hexitidin, Cetypyridininumcloride (CPC), Chlorhexidine and its derivates (CHX) and Triclosan.
US08933144B2

Provide a curable composition for imprint, which is improved in the surface roughness of the cured film. A curable composition for imprint comprising a polymerizable compound (A), a polymerization initiator (B), and a non-polymerizable compound (C), the non-polymerizable compound (C) comprising at least one species of surfactant (C1) which contains 20% by mass or more of fluorine atom, and, at least one species of polymer (C2) which contains 3% by mass or more and less than 20% by mass of fluorine atom and/or 5% by mass or more and less than 40% by mass of silicon atom, and has a weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of 1,000 to 100,000.
US08933141B2

An ink composition which is used for active energy ray-curable inkjet printing, has excellent curability or adhesiveness to multiple base materials while having low viscosity, and exhibits excellent non-yellowing properties of the printed matter is provided. The composition comprises a polymerizable monomer (A) and photopolymerization initiators (B), the polymerizable monomer comprising 2-(2-vinyloxyethoxy)ethyl acrylate (A-1), and the photopolymerization initiators comprising oligo(2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-(4-(1-methylvinyl)phenyl)propanone) (B-1) and other initiator (B-2).
US08933122B2

Cationic surfactants derived from the condensation of fatty acids and esterified dibasic amino acids, such as from lauric acid and arginine, in particular the ethyl ester of the lauramide of the arginine monohydrochloride (LAE), may be used for the treatment of objects which are infected with spores. The spores may originate from bacteria or fungi.
US08933115B2

The present invention is directed to statin formulations having improved solubility and/or stability and methods for the same.
US08933112B2

A novel method and composition is disclosed for treating burn injuries on human skin by promoting healing of the damaged skin. In particular, a topical liquid drug formulation is used to treat burn injuries caused by exposure of the skin to heat (thermal burns), the sun or ultraviolet radiation (sunburn), ionizing radiation (radiation burns), chemicals (chemical burns) and electricity (electrical burns). The topical burn treatment liquid contains clotrimazole as the active pharmaceutical ingredient to promote the healing of the burn damaged skin by reducing the edema, erythema, blistering, pain and other symptoms associated with burns, as well as preventing the spread of the burn damage and promoting healing.
US08933110B2

The present invention discloses compounds of Formula (I), and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, or prodrugs thereof: Q-G-A-L-B—W  (I), which inhibit RNA-containing virus, particularly the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Consequently, the compounds of the present invention interfere with the life cycle of the hepatitis C virus and are also useful as antiviral agents. The present invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the aforementioned compounds for administration to a subject suffering from HCV infection. The invention also relates to methods of treating an HCV infection in a subject by administering a pharmaceutical composition comprising the compounds of the present invention.
US08933109B2

A first aspect of the invention relates to a compound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate, complex or pro-drug thereof, wherein: one of R3 and R4 is H, and the other is selected from C1-6-alkyl, C1-6-haloalkyl, C1-6-alkoxy, and C6-12-aralkyl; or R3 and R4 are each independently selected from C1-6-alkyl and halo; R9 is a substituted 5 or 6-membered aryl or heteroaryl group or a 6,5- or 6,6-fused biaryl or heterobiaryl group. Compounds of formula (I) exhibit surprisingly high efficacies for human cathepsin S, excellent selectivity verses other mammalian cathepsins and are useful for treatment of diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, transplant rejection, diabetes, Sjogrens syndrome, Grave's disease, systemic lupus erythematosis, osteoarthritis, psoriasis, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, allergic rhinitis, asthma, atherosclerosis, obesity, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic pain.
US08933106B2

The invention relates to 2-(4-Substituted phenylamino) polysubstituted pyridine compounds as inhibitors of non-nucleoside HIV reverse transcriptase, preparation methods and uses thereof. Specifically, the invention relates to compounds of formula I or the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7 and X are as defined in the description. The compounds of formula I of the invention are a type of anti-HIV active compounds having new backbone structure.
US08933090B2

The present invention relates to 1-aza-bicycloalkyl derivatives of Formula (I); wherein the substituents are as defined in the specification, to processes for their production, their use as pharmaceuticals and to pharmaceutical compositions comprising them. Formula (I), wherein A represents O or N(R1); Y represents a group of formula, or wherein the left bond is attached to the A group and the right bond is attached to the R group; R represents a substituted or unsubstituted C5-C10aryl, substituted or unsubstituted hetero-C5-C10aryl, a group N(R1)(R4), or a group N(R2)(CHP3R4); R represent a hydrogen, C1-C4alkyl, or CF3; R2 represents hydrogen, C1-C4alkyl, or CF3; R3 represents hydrogen, C1-C4alkyl, or CF3; R4 represents a substituted or unsubstituted C5-C10 aryl or a substituted or unsubstituted C5-C10heteroaryl; in free base or acid addition salt form.
US08933087B2

Proteinopathies result from the proteasome not acting efficiently enough to eliminate harmful proteins and prevent the formation of the pathogenic aggregates. As described herein, inhibition of proteasome-associated deubiquitinase Usp14 results in increased proteasome efficiency. The present invention therefore provides novel compositions and methods for inhibition of Usp14, enhancement of proteasome activity and treatment of proteinopathies.
US08933085B2

The present invention provides cyclobutyl substituted pyrrolopyrimidines and pyrrolopyridines of Formula I: wherein X, Y, Z, L, A, R5, n and m are defined above, as well as their compositions and methods of use, that modulate the activity of Janus kinases (JAKs) and are useful in the treatment of diseases related to the activity of JAKs including, for example, inflammatory disorders, autoimmune disorders, cancer, and other diseases.
US08933082B2

Germline mutations in the NF1 tumor suppressor gene cause Von Recklinghausen's neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), a common genetic disorder of the nervous system characterized by plexiform neurofibroma development. Using adoptive transfer of hematopoietic cells, we establish that NF1 heterozygosity of bone marrow derived cells in the tumor microenvironment is sufficient to allow neurofibroma progression in the context of Schwann cell nullizygosity. Further, genetic or pharmacologic attenuation of the c-kit signaling pathway in hematopoietic cells greatly diminishes neurofibroma initiation and progression. These studies identify haploinsufficient hematopoietic cells and the c-kit receptor as therapeutic targets for preventing plexiform neurofibromas and implicate mast cells as critical mediators of tumor initiation. Administering therapeutically effective doses of a tyrosine kinase inhibitor such as the compound imatinib mesylate to a patient in need thereof to treat tumors in a human patient afflicted with plexiform neurofibroma.
US08933081B2

The invention relates to an orodispersible tablet comprising the components pharmaceutically acceptable sildenafil salt (a), polymeric adsorbent (b), in particular cation exchanger resin, sweetener (c), and flavoring (d) and, preferably, mucilage (e) and glidant (f). The invention furthermore relates to a process for the preparation of orodispersible tablets comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable sildenafil salt and to the use of a combination of cation exchanger resin and mucilage for masking the flavor of medicaments for treating erectile dysfunction.
US08933080B2

Bridged bicyclic heteroaryl substituted triazoles and pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds are disclosed as being useful in inhibiting the activity of the receptor protein tyrosine kinase Axl. Methods of using the compounds in treating diseases or conditions associated with Axl activity are also disclosed.
US08933078B2

A method for treating cancer is described using combination therapies comprising the use of hyperbaric oxygen with histone deacetylase inhibitors, with and without glycolytic therapies. The patient is subjected to a hyperbaric environment of substantially pure oxygen. A predetermined dose of one or more HDACI substances is administered to the patient. In addition, glycolitic inhibitors may also be administered. Dosages, pressures, and durations are selected as described herein to have a therapeutic effect on the patient.
US08933069B2

Provided is a compound useful for the prophylaxis or treatment of cancer.The present invention relates to a compound represented by formula (I): wherein each symbol in the formula is as defined in the specification, or a salt thereof or a prodrug thereof, which is useful for the prophylaxis or treatment of cancer.
US08933067B2

The present invention concerns the compounds of formula wherein a1-a2=a3-a4 represents a divalent radical selected from N—CH═CH—CH, N—CH═N—CH or CH—CH═N—CH; Z represents NH; Y represents —C3-9alkyl-, —C1-5alkyl-NR13—C1-5alkyl-, —C1-6 alkyl-NH—CO— or —CO—NH—C1-6alkyl-; X1 represents —O— or —NR11—; X2 represents —C1-2alkyl-, —O—C1-2alkyl, —O— or —O—CH2—; R1 represents hydrogen or halo; R2 represents hydrogen, cyano, halo, hydroxycarbonyl-, C1-4alkyloxycarbonyl-, Het16-carbonyl- or Ar5; R3 represents hydrogen; R4 represents hydroxy, C1-4alkyloxy-, Ar4—C1-4alkyloxy or substituted C1-4alkyloxy; R11 represents hydrogen; R12 represents hydrogen, C1-4alkyl- or C1-4alkyl-oxy-carbonyl-; R13 represents morpholinyl-C1-4alkyl; Het2 represents morpholinyl or piperidinyl optionally substituted with C1-4alkyl-, preferably methyl; Het14 represents morpholinyl; Het16 represents morpholinyl or pyrrolidinyl; Ar4 represents phenyl; Ar5 represents phenyl optionally substituted with cyano.
US08933045B2

The present invention related to miR145, miR132, miR212, and the genes or gene products regulated by these miRNAs. miR145 is downregulated in cells infected with HCMV. This downregulation modulates expression of miR145 target genes, including IRS-I. Transfection of cells with a miR145 agent, such as a miR145 mimetic, reduces HCMV replication and protein expression. miR132 and miR212 are upregulated in cells infected with HCMV. This upregulation modulates expression of miR132 and miR212 target genes, including MeCP2 and RICS. Transfection of cells with a miR132 and/or a miR212 antagonist reduces HCMV replication and protein expression. Accordingly, the invention provides methods of attenuating HCMV replication by modulating, for example, miR145, miR132, and/or miR212, and targets thereof. Also provided are methods of detecting an HCMV infection, and compositions and kits useful for attenuating HCMV replication.
US08933042B2

The present invention relates to methods for controlling pest infestation using double stranded RNA molecules. The invention provides methods for producing transgenic cells expressing the double stranded RNA molecules, as well as compositions and commodity products containing or treated with such molecules.
US08933040B2

The invention provides compounds for selectively inhibiting glycosidases, prodrugs of the compounds, and pharmaceutical compositions including the compounds or prodrugs of the compounds. The invention also provides methods of treating diseases and disorders related to deficiency or overexpression of O-GlcNAcase, accumulation or deficiency of O-GlcNAc.
US08933032B2

Surfactant protein D (SP-D) is a 43-kDa member of the collectin family of collagenous lectin domain-containing proteins that is expressed in epithelial cells of the lung. Described herein are methods and compositions for the treatment of disorders associated with lung injury, including methods and compositions for the treatment of bronchopulmonary disorder (BPD) using recombinant human surfactant protein D and surfactant formulations.
US08933029B2

Antimicrobial and/or anti-inflammatory peptide compositions and therapeutic uses thereof are provided. The peptides and analogs or derivatives thereof may be used as an antimicrobial agent and/or as an anti-inflammatory agent. In certain embodiments, the peptides are cationic peptides. The peptides are useful for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, such as microorganism-caused infections, acne, and psoriasis. The peptides and peptide formulations may be used topically or parenterally.
US08933025B2

An agent for suppressing postprandial elevation of blood insulin concentration, comprising a polyglutamic acid as an active ingredient.
US08933020B2

Disclosed are compositions and methods related to improving pharmacological properties of bioactive compounds targeting nervous system.
US08933018B2

Disclosed herein are polybasic bacterial efflux pump inhibitors containing boronic acid functionality and their methods of synthesis, methods of use, and pharmaceutical compositions. Some embodiments include methods of treating or preventing a bacterial infection by co-administering to a subject infected with bacteria or at risk of infection with bacteria the efflux pump inhibitor with another anti-bacterial agent.
US08933005B2

Disclosed is a paint removing composition including an aluminum containing salt, calcium hydroxide, and calcium sulfate. When applied to wet latex paint, the composition neutralizes the paint molecules and causes the colloid to come out of suspension by the process of flocculation. The composition is prepared as a dry powder and added to a sufficient amount of water to create an aqueous solution. Also disclosed is a method of cleaning paintbrush containing wet paint. The composition is placed in contact with a wet paint-containing paintbrush for a sufficient time to cause the paint to come out of suspension in the form of floc.
US08932996B2

Methods relate to using phosphate and/or nitrate brines to reduce hydrate formation in flowlines under conditions conducive for hydrate formation in the absence of the phosphate and/or nitrate brine. The phosphate and/or nitrate brines may include compatible anti-corrosion additives.
US08932995B2

A combinatorial processing chamber is provided. The combinatorial processing chamber is configured to isolate a radial portion of a rotatable substrate support, which in turn is configured to support a substrate. The chamber includes a plurality of clusters process heads in one embodiment. An insert having a base plate disposed between the substrate support and the process heads defines a confinement region for a deposition process in one embodiment. The base plate has an opening to enable access of the deposition material to the substrate. Through rotation of the substrate and movement of the opening, multiple regions of the substrate are accessible for performing combinatorial processing on a single substrate.
US08932989B2

A method of selecting nucleic acid samples from a plurality of nucleic acid samples based on desired alleles including the steps of performing a first reaction in a plurality of pools of the alleles to be identified to produce reaction products including a source tag identifying said each pool; pooling the pools to provide pooled pools; for each of the desired alleles to be identified, performing a second reaction using said reaction products to produce allele-specific second reaction products comprising a marker tag and a derived source tag; identifying said allele-specific second reaction products to select nucleic acid sample. In some embodiments, the first reaction may not be performed. A source tag sharing number “d” may be determined for each of the alleles. Alleles may be binned together.
US08932985B2

A vinyl chloride-based resin latex which froths little when unreacted monomer remaining in the latex are recovered under heat and reduced-pressure conditions, and a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet which has satisfactory water resistance, does not yellow during storage, and gives images having excellent durability and light resistance. The invention provides a vinyl chloride-based resin latex contains a copolymer containing a vinyl chloride and an epoxy-group-containing vinyl or contains vinyl chloride, an epoxy-group-containing vinyl, and a carboxylic acid vinyl ester, wherein a content of the epoxy-group-containing vinyl is 0.1% by weight or more but less than 3% by weight, and wherein the latex contains no surfactant, and has a solid concentration of 25% by weight or more; a process for producing the latex; and a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet obtained using the latex.
US08932973B2

A catalyst for selective catalytic reduction of NOx having one or more transition metals selected from Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ce, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Mo, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, In, Sn, Re, Ir, Pt, and mixtures thereof supported on a support, wherein the support has a molecular sieve having at least one intergrowth phase having at least two different small-pore, three-dimensional framework structures.
US08932962B2

A method and apparatus for dispensing a liquid etchant onto a wafer dispenses the liquid etchant onto a wafer using a scanning dispensing nozzle while controlling the dispensing temperature of the etchant in real time as a function of the radial position of the dispensing nozzle over the wafer. The dispensing temperature of the etchant is controlled to enhance the effectiveness of the etchant and thus compensate for the lower etching rate zones in the wafer.
US08932959B2

Etching of a thin film stack including a lower thin film layer containing an advanced memory material is carried out in an inductively coupled plasma reactor having a dielectric RF window without exposing the lower thin film layer, and then the etch process is completed in a toroidal source plasma reactor.
US08932957B2

A method includes receiving a substrate having an etch stop layer deposited over the substrate and a dummy mandrel layer deposited over the etch stop layer, forming a plurality of hard mask patterns using a hard mask layer deposited over the dummy mandrel layer, wherein the hard mask patterns includes a first dimension adjusted by a predetermined value, depositing a first spacer layer over the hard mask patterns, wherein a thickness of the first spacer layer is adjusted by the predetermined value, forming a plurality of spacer fins in the dummy mandrel layer, wherein the spacer fins include a second dimension, a first space, and a second space, performing a first fin cut process to remove at least one spacer fin, adjusting the second dimension to a target dimension, performing a second fin cut process, and forming a plurality of fin structures in the substrate by etching the spacer fins.
US08932954B2

According to one embodiment, an impurity analysis method comprises performing vapor-phase decomposition on a silicon-containing film formed on a substrate, heating the substrate at a first temperature after vapor phase decomposition, heating the substrate at a second temperature higher than the first temperature after heating at the first temperature, to remove a silicon compound deposited on the surface of the silicon-containing film, dropping a recovery solution onto the substrate surface after heating at the second temperature and moving the substrate surface, to recover metal into the recovery solution, and drying the recovery solution, to perform X-ray fluorescence spectrometry on a dried mark.
US08932948B2

A NAND flash memory chip is formed by depositing two N-type polysilicon layers. The upper N-type polysilicon layer is then replaced with P-type polysilicon and barrier layer in the array area only, while maintaining the upper N-type polysilicon layer in the periphery. In this way, floating gates are substantially P-type while gates of peripheral transistors are N-type.
US08932947B1

Embodiments of the present invention provide methods to etching a recess channel in a semiconductor substrate, for example, a silicon containing material. In one embodiment, a method of forming a recess structure in a semiconductor substrate includes transferring a silicon substrate into a processing chamber having a patterned photoresist layer disposed thereon exposing a portion of the substrate, providing an etching gas mixture including a halogen containing gas and a Cl2 gas into the processing chamber, supplying a RF source power to form a plasma from the etching gas mixture, supplying a pulsed RF bias power in the etching gas mixture, and etching the portion of the silicon substrate exposed through the patterned photoresist layer in the presence of the plasma.
US08932946B2

According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, a method for driving a power semiconductor device that has a source electrode, a drain electrode, a semiconductor layer formed between the source electrode and the drain electrode, a plurality of gate electrodes formed within the semiconductor layer, and a plurality of conductive layers that are formed between the gate electrodes and the drain electrode and in electrical communication with the gate electrodes. The method comprises providing a first electric potential to the source electrode, providing a second electric potential to the drain electrode, providing a third electric potential to the gate electrodes, providing a first electric potential to at least one of the conductive layers, and providing a third electric potential to at least another one of the conductive layers.
US08932945B2

A system and method for mitigating annealing fingerprints in semiconductor wafers is provided. An embodiment comprises aligning the semiconductor wafers prior to each annealing step. This alignment generates similar or identical fingerprints in each of the semiconductor wafers manufactured. With the fingerprint known, a single compensation model for a subsequent photoresist may be utilized to compensate for the fingerprint in each of the semiconductor wafers.
US08932941B2

The method of manufacturing a graphene device includes forming an insulating material layer on a substrate, forming first and second metal pads on the insulating material layer spaced apart from each other, forming a graphene layer having a portion defined as an active area between the first and second metal pads on the insulating material layer, forming third and fourth metal pads on the graphene layer spaced apart from each other with the active area therebetween, the third and fourth metal pads extending above the first metal pad and the second metal pad, respectively, forming a first protection layer to cover all the first and second metal pads, the graphene layer, and the third and fourth metal pads, and etching an entire surface of the first protection layer until only a residual layer made of a material for forming the first protection layer remains on the active area.
US08932935B2

A three dimensional shallow trench isolation structure including sets of parallel trenches extending in two perpendicular directions may be formed by depositing a conformal deposition in a first set of parallel trenches, oxidizing the second set of trenches to enable selective deposition in said second set of trenches and then conformally depositing in said second set of trenches. In some embodiments, only one wet anneal, one etch back, and one high density plasma chemical vapor deposition step may be used to fill both sets of trenches.
US08932931B2

Aspects of the invention provide a method of forming a bipolar junction transistor. The method includes: providing a semiconductor substrate including a uniform silicon nitride layer over an emitter pedestal, and a base layer below the emitter pedestal; applying a photomask at a first end and a second end of a base region; and performing a silicon nitride etch with the photomask to simultaneously form silicon nitride spacers adjacent to the emitter pedestal and exposing the base region of the bipolar junction transistor. The silicon nitride etch may be an end-pointed etch.
US08932927B2

The present application discloses a semiconductor device structure and a method for manufacturing the same, wherein the method comprises: forming a semiconductor substrate comprising a local SOI structure having a local buried isolation dielectric layer; forming a fin on the silicon substrate on top of the local buried isolation dielectric layer; forming a gate stack structure on the top and side faces of the fin; forming source/drain structures in the fin on both sides of the gate stack structure; and performing metallization. The present invention makes use of traditional quasi-planar based top-down processes, thus the manufacturing process thereof is simple to implement; the present invention exhibits good compatibility with CMOS planar process and can be easily integrated, therefore, short channel effects are suppressed desirably, and MOSFETs are boosted to develop towards a trend of downscaling size.
US08932926B2

A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, includes forming a gate oxide film on an SiC region by a first thermal oxidation treatment in a first oxidizing atmosphere, performing a second thermal oxidation treatment at an oxidation speed of at most 5 nm/hour in a second oxidizing atmosphere having a lower oxygen concentration than the first oxidizing atmosphere, to increase film thickness of the gate oxide film, after the first thermal oxidation treatment, and forming a gate electrode on the gate oxide film with the increased film thickness.
US08932923B2

A gate structure of a semiconductor device having a NFET and a PFET, includes a lower layer of a hafnium-based dielectric over the gates of the NFET and PFET, and an upper layer of a lanthanide dielectric. The dielectrics are annealed to mix them above the NFET resulting in a lowered work function, and corresponding threshold voltage reduction. An annealed, relatively thick titanium nitride cap over the mixed dielectric above the NFET gate also lowers the work function and threshold voltage. Above the TiN cap and the hafnium-based dielectric over the PFET gate, is another layer of titanium nitride that has not been annealed. A conducting layer of tungsten covers the structure.
US08932922B2

A method of fabricating a semiconductor device having a dual gate allows for the gates to have a wide variety of threshold voltages. The method includes forming a gate insulation layer, a first capping layer, and a barrier layer in the foregoing sequence across a first region and a second region on a substrate, exposing the gate insulation layer on the first region by removing the first capping layer and the barrier layer from the first region, forming a second capping layer on the gate insulation layer in the first region and on the barrier layer in the second region, and thermally processing the substrate on which the second capping layer is formed. The thermal processing causes material of the second capping layer to spread into the gate insulation layer in the first region and material of the first capping layer to spread into the gate insulation layer in the second region. Thus, devices having different threshold voltages can be formed in the first and second regions.
US08932921B2

The present disclosure provides an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit includes a semiconductor substrate having a first region and a second region; a first gate stack of an n-type field-effect transistor (FET) in the first region; and a second gate stack of a p-type FET in the second region. The first gate stack includes a high k dielectric layer on the semiconductor substrate, a first crystalline metal layer in a first orientation on the high k dielectric layer, and a conductive material layer on the first crystalline metal layer. The second gate stack includes the high k dielectric layer on the semiconductor substrate, a second crystalline metal layer in a second orientation on the high k dielectric layer, and the conductive material layer on the second crystalline metal layer.
US08932920B2

A self-aligned diffusion barrier may be formed by forming a first masking layer, having a vertical sidewall on a semiconductor layer, above a first portion of the semiconductor layer. A first spacer layer, including a spacer region on the vertical sidewall, may be formed above the semiconductor layer. A second portion of the semiconductor layer not covered by the first masking layer or the spacer region may then be doped. A second masking layer may then be formed over the first spacer layer and planarized to expose at least a portion of the spacer region. The spacer region may then be etched to form a notch exposing a third portion of the semiconductor layer. The third portion may then be doped with a barrier dopant. The first masking layer may be removed and a second spacer layer filling the notch may be formed. The first portion may then be doped.
US08932918B2

A finFET with self-aligned punchthrough stopper and methods of manufacture are disclosed. The method includes forming spacers on sidewalls of a gate structure and fin structures of a finFET device. The method further includes forming a punchthrough stopper on exposed sidewalls of the fin structures, below the spacers. The method further includes diffusing dopants from the punchthrough stopper into the fin structures. The method further includes forming source and drain regions adjacent to the gate structure and fin structures.
US08932913B2

To provide a semiconductor device which prevents defects and achieves miniaturization. A projecting portion or a trench (a groove portion) is formed in an insulating layer and a channel formation region of a semiconductor layer is provided in contact with the projecting portion or the trench, so that the channel formation region is extended in a direction perpendicular to a substrate. Thus, miniaturization of the transistor can be achieved and an effective channel length can be extended. In addition, before formation of the semiconductor layer, an upper-end corner portion of the projecting portion or the trench with which the semiconductor layer is in contact is subjected to round chamfering, so that a thin semiconductor layer can be formed with good coverage.
US08932907B2

A semiconductor device has an interposer frame mounted over a carrier. A semiconductor die has an active surface and bumps formed over the active surface. The semiconductor die can be mounted within a die opening of the interposer frame or over the interposer frame. Stacked semiconductor die can also be mounted within the die opening of the interposer frame or over the interposer frame. Bond wires or bumps are formed between the semiconductor die and interposer frame. An encapsulant is deposited over the interposer frame and semiconductor die. An interconnect structure is formed over the encapsulant and bumps of the first semiconductor die. An electronic component, such as a discrete passive device, semiconductor die, or stacked semiconductor die, is mounted over the semiconductor die and interposer frame. The electronic component has an I/O count less than an I/O count of the semiconductor die.
US08932905B1

A method and apparatus for forming an organic semiconductor circuit. A circuit printer is positioned relative to a location on a surface of a composite structure. A number of organic materials is deposited in a pattern on the surface of the composite structure at the location to form the organic semiconductor circuit on the surface of the composite structure at the location.
US08932904B2

A semiconductor device including a graphene layer and a method of manufacturing the same are disclosed. A method in which graphene is grown on a catalyst metal by a chemical vapor deposition or the like is known. However, the graphene cannot be used as a channel, since the graphene is in contact with the catalyst metal, which is conductive. There is disclosed a method in which a catalyst film (2) is formed over a substrate (1), a graphene layer (3) is grown originating from the catalyst film (2), an electrode (4) in contact with the graphene layer (3) is formed, and the catalyst film (2) is removed.
US08932903B2

A wiring which is formed using a conductive film containing copper and whose shape is controlled is provided. A transistor including an electrode which is formed in the same layer as the wiring is provided. Further, a semiconductor device including the transistor and the wiring is provided. A resist mask is formed over a second conductive film stacked over a first conductive film; part of the second conductive film and part of the first conductive film are removed with use of the resist mask as a mask so that the first conductive film has a taper angle greater than or equal to 15° and less than or equal to 45°; and the resist mask is removed. The first conductive film contains copper.
US08932898B2

In one embodiment, a method is provided for fabrication of a semitransparent conductive mesh. A first solution having conductive nanowires suspended therein and a second solution having nanoparticles suspended therein are sprayed toward a substrate, the spraying forming a mist. The mist is processed, while on the substrate, to provide a semitransparent conductive material in the form of a mesh having the conductive nanowires and nanoparticles. The nanoparticles are configured and arranged to direct light passing through the mesh. Connections between the nanowires provide conductivity through the mesh.
US08932891B2

A method for manufacturing a nitride based single crystal substrate and a method for manufacturing a nitride based semiconductor device. The method for manufacturing the nitride based single crystal substrate includes forming a nitride based single crystal layer on a preliminary substrate; forming a polymer support layer by applying a setting adhesive material having flowability on the upper surface of the nitride based single crystal layer and hardening the applied adhesive material; and separating the nitride based single crystal layer from the preliminary substrate by irradiating a laser beam onto the lower surface of the preliminary substrate. The method for manufacturing the nitride based single crystal substrate is applied to the manufacture of a nitride based semiconductor device having a vertical structure.
US08932889B2

A display includes: a first light-emitting device disposed in a first region on a substrate and including a transfer organic layer; a second light-emitting device disposed in a second region adjacent to the first region on the substrate and not including a transfer organic layer; and a level difference provided between the first region and the second region, and being large enough to inhibit transfer of the transfer organic layer to the second region when the transfer organic layer is formed in the first region.
US08932888B2

A method of applying a conversion means to an optoelectronic semiconductor chip includes preparing the optoelectronic semiconductor chip having a main radiation face, preparing the conversion means, the conversion means being applied to a main carrier face of a carrier, arranging the conversion means such that it faces the main radiation face and has a spacing relative to the main radiation face, and releasing the conversion means from the carrier and applying the conversion means to the main radiation face by irradiation and heating of an absorber constituent of the conversion means and/or of a release layer located between the conversion means and the carrier with a pulsed laser radiation which passes through the carrier.
US08932886B2

A light emitting die package and a method of manufacturing the die package are disclosed. The die package includes a leadframe, at least one light emitting device (LED), a molded body, and a lens. The leadframe includes a plurality of leads and has a top side and a bottom side. A portion of the leadframe defines a mounting pad. The LED device is mounted on the mounting pad. The molded body is integrated with portions of the leadframe and defines an opening on the top side of the leadframe, the opening surrounding the mounting pad. The molded body further includes latches on the bottom side of the leadframe. The lens is coupled to the molded body. A composite lens is used as both reflector and imaging tool to collect and direct light emitted by LED(s) for desired spectral and luminous performance.
US08932885B2

A light emitting diode having a transparent substrate and a method for manufacturing the same. The light emitting diode is formed by creating two semiconductor multilayers and bonding them. The first semiconductor multilayer is formed on a non-transparent substrate. The second semiconductor multilayer is created by forming an amorphous interface layer on a transparent substrate. The two semiconductor multilayers are bonded and the non-transparent substrate is removed, leaving a semiconductor multilayer with a transparent substrate.
US08932884B2

Structures and methods are disclosed for evaluating the effect of a process environment variation. A structure and related method are disclosed including a plurality of electrical structures arranged in a non-collinear fashion for determining a magnitude and direction of a process environment variation in the vicinity of the plurality of electrical structures. The plurality of structures may include a first polarity FET coupled to a second polarity FET, each of the first polarity FET and the second polarity FET are coupled to a first pad and a second pad such that the structure allows independent measurement of the first polarity FET and the second polarity FET using only the first and second pads. Alternatively, the electrical structures may include resistors, diodes or ring oscillators. Appropriate measurements of each electrical structure allow a gradient field including a magnitude and direction of the effect of a process environment variation to be determined.
US08932881B2

New chemiluminescent compounds, stable in aqueous buffers, for use in biological assaying include acridane-based compounds and 1,2-dioxetanes. Among the new acridane-based compounds are water-soluble acridanes, enhancer coupled acridanes, bis and tris-acridanes as well as acridane-1,2-dioxetanes. Among the new 1,2-dioxetanes are electron deficient group-containing dioxetanes and tethered bis-1,2-dioxetanes. The 1,2-dioxetanes are useful as substrates for various enzymes. The acridanes can be admixed with an oxidizing agent, an aqueous buffer and, optionally, a stabilizer to form a substrate or reagent formulation useful for assaying, inter alia, HRP.
US08932876B2

The present invention provides a simple and inexpensive method for removing metal and other impurities in a radioisotope solution. The invention further includes the development of a new parent/daughter generator system for collecting the daughter isotope in a concentrated solution.
US08932875B2

The invention generally relates to systems and methods for sample analysis. In certain embodiments, the invention provides a system for analyzing a sample that includes a probe including a material connected to a high voltage source, a device for generating a heated gas, and a mass analyzer.
US08932872B2

The present disclosure identifies methods and compositions for modifying photoautotrophic organisms as hosts, such that the organisms efficiently convert carbon dioxide and light into n-alkanes, and in particular the use of such organisms for the commercial production of n-alkanes and related molecules.
US08932860B2

The invention provides methods and nucleic acid constructs that may be used to modify a nucleic acid of interest at a target locus within the genome of a host. In some aspects, the invention contemplates producing in vivo a gene targeting substrate (GTS), which may be comprised of both DNA and RNA components. The gene targeting substrate may comprise a gene targeting nucleotide sequence (GTNS), which is homologous to the target locus, but comprises a sequence modification compared to the target locus. The gene targeting substrate may be produced by reverse transcription of a gene targeting message RNA (gtmRNA). The gene targeting message RNA may be folded for self-priming for reverse transcription by a reverse transcriptase. The gene targeting message RNA may in turn be the product of transcription of a gene targeting construct (GTC) encoding the gene targeting message RNA. The gene targeting construct may for example be a DNA sequence integrated into the genome of the host, or integrated into an extrachromosomal element. Following expression of the gene targeting systems of the invention, hosts may for example be selected having genomic modifications at a target locus that correspond to the sequence modification present on the gene targeting nucleotide sequence. In some embodiments, the structure of retrons may be adapted for use in the gene targeting systems of the invention.
US08932851B2

The present invention relates to an improved culture medium and method for the enhanced growth and detection of Mycobacterium growth. The invention further relates to an improved mycobacterial reagent system or kit that can be used for the enhanced growth and detection of Mycobacterium.
US08932850B2

An electroporation apparatus comprising an elongated hollow member in order to provide a uniform electric field during electroporation, wherein specifically, electroporation is carried out by applying electric pulses through a couple of electrodes from both end parts of the elongated hollow member, after the hollow member is charged with fluid specimen including cells and material which would be injected into the cells.
US08932848B2

A bioreactor designed to produce N2O from organic nitrogen and/or reactive nitrogen in waste is coupled to a hardware reactor device in which the N2O is consumed in a gas phase chemical reaction, e.g., catalytic decomposition to form oxygen and nitrogen gas.Heat from the exothermic reaction may be used to generate power. The N2O may alternatively be used as an oxidant or co-oxidant in a combustion reaction, e.g., in the combustion of methane. The bioreactor may have various designs including a two-stage bioreactor, a hollow-fiber membrane bioreactor, or a sequencing batch reactor. The bioreactor may involve Fe(II)-mediated reduction of nitrite to nitrous oxide.
US08932841B2

A thermophilic microorganism is modified to permit the increased production of ethanol, wherein a first modification is the inactivation of the lactate dehydrogenase gene and a second modification upregulates the pyruvate dehydrogenase gene.
US08932835B2

A process for the enantioselective enzymatic reduction of a keto compound of general formula I wherein R may represent any protective group for amino functions (tert. butyloxycarbonyl group (BOC), benzyloxycarbonyl group, 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl group) and X═—Cl, —CN, —OH, Br, F.
US08932832B2

Methods are described herein for detecting and identifying distinct species of nucleic acids, in a single container, for example, from a certain genus of infectious agents or otherwise causative agents comprising, for example, providing a forward PCR primer common to a homologous gene region between the distinct species, and providing a reverse PCR primer common to a homologous gene region between the distinct species, to thereby define a PCR target region amongst the species, and providing a first oligonucleotide probe specific to a nucleic acid sequence within the target region that is characteristic of a first species, providing a second oligonucleotide probe specific to a nucleic acid sequence within the target region that is characteristic of a second species, wherein the first and second oligonucleotide probes are each detectably labeled with distinctly different detectable labels, conducting a PCR reaction in the container by means of the primers to amplify the target region amongst the species, and detecting the distinct labels, thereby identifying distinct species of nucleic acids corresponding to distinct species of infectious agents. Methods are preferred, for example, wherein the infectious agent is a member of the Herpesviridae family.
US08932831B2

The present invention concerns a method for inserting one or more tag sequences into a nucleic acid characterized by the following steps: (a) preparation of a template nucleic acid; (b) hybridization of at least one anchor sequence of at least one anchor oligonucleotide with one sequence section of the template nucleic acid; and (c) synthesization of a new strand of nucleic acid, which is partially complementary to the template nucleic acid and which contains a sequence complementary to the non-hybridized portion of the anchor oligonucleotide, e.g. to at least one tag sequence, on its 3′ end.
US08932829B2

Disclosed are pharmaceutical and synergistic compositions comprising human recombinant alpha-fetoprotein expressed in eucaryotic cells for preparation of therapeutic agents for use in oncology, immunotherapy, stem cell therapy and cosmetology and also for the diagnosis of cancer and embryonic pathologies.
US08932827B2

Rapid, animal protein free, chromatographic processes and systems for obtaining high potency, high yield botulinum neurotoxin for research, therapeutic and cosmetic use.
US08932825B2

The present invention relates to host cells having modified lipid-linked oligosaccharides which may be modified further by heterologous expression of a set of glycosyltransferases, sugar transporters and mannosidases to become host-strains for the production of mammalian, e.g., human therapeutic glycoproteins. The process provides an engineered host cell which can be used to express and target any desirable gene(s) involved in glycosylation. Host cells with modified lipid-linked oligosaccharides are created or selected. N-glycans made in the engineered host cells have a GlcNAcMan3GlcNAc2 core structure which may then be modified further by heterologous expression of one or more enzymes, e.g., glycosyl-transferases, sugar transporters and mannosidases, to yield human-like glycoproteins. For the production of therapeutic proteins, this method may be adapted to engineer cell lines in which any desired glycosylation structure may be obtained.
US08932810B2

Provided is a method for determining whether a horse is normal, a carrier, or is affected with Lavender Foal Syndrome (LFS). The method entails, in a biological sample obtained or derived from a horse, determining a single nucleotide deletion which introduces a translational stop codon in the 49th codon of exon 30 of the equine MYO5A gene. Homozygosity for the absence of the deletion is indicative that the horse is normal for LFS. Heterozygosity for the deletion is indicative that the horse is a carrier of LFS. Homozygosity for the deletion is indicative that the horse is affected with LFS. Methods for selecting horses for breeding and kits for determining the LFS-associated deletion are also provided.
US08932802B2

Methods and apparatus for performing an atomic layer deposition lithography process are provided in the present disclosure. In one embodiment, a method for forming features on a material layer in a device includes pulsing a first reactant gas mixture to a surface of a substrate disposed in a processing chamber to form a first monolayer of a material layer on the substrate surface, directing an energetic radiation to treat a first region of the first monolayer, and pulsing a second reactant gas mixture to the substrate surface to selectively form a second monolayer on a second region of the first monolayer.
US08932798B2

Provided is an alkali-developable photosensitive resin composition, the dry coating film of which has a favorable dryness to touch, excellent storage stability and few substances that are harmful to humans. The alkali-developable resin composition comprising (A) a carboxyl group-containing resin, (B) a photopolymerization initiator, (C) a compound with two or more ethylenic unsaturated groups in the molecule, (D) filler and (E) an aromatic petroleum solvent, is characterized in that the naphthalene content of said composition is 300 ppm or less.
US08932792B2

A method for preparing latex emulsion compositions uses a steam-driven emulsification process, and a method for preparing a toner using the latex emulsion compositions. The method includes contacting a resin with an organic solvent and optionally a neutralization agent; and applying steam or heated water vapor to contact the resin to prepare a latex emulsion. An apparatus can perform the method.
US08932786B2

The new metal azo pigments comprising the adduct of a) at least two metal azo compounds of the formula (I) or their tautomeric forms in which the substituents have the definition indicated in the description, and b) at least one compound of the formula (II) in which R6 has the definition indicated in the description, are characterized in that in the X-ray diffractogram with a lattice constant of d=10.3 (±0.2) Å the metal azo pigment has a signal S1 with an intensity I1 and in the lattice constant range from d=16.05 Å to d=11.78 Å has no signal S2 whose intensity I2 in relation to the intensity I1 of signal S1, expressed as ratio I2/I1 of the background-corrected intensities, exceeds a value of 0.02, and are outstandingly suitable for producing pigment preparations and especially for producing color filters.
US08932777B2

Disclosed herein is a fuel supply comprising a compressed gas chamber and liquid fuel chamber. A pressure regulator connects the compressed gas chamber to the liquid fuel chamber. The pressure regulator is capable of taking a high pressure input from the compressed gas chamber and providing a substantially constant lower output pressure to the liquid fuel chamber. The pressure of the compressed gas chamber can decrease over time, but the pressure that urges liquid fuel out of the liquid fuel chamber remains substantially at the same level.
US08932776B2

The invention provides tubular solid oxide fuel cell devices and a fuel cell system incorporating a plurality of the fuel devices, each device including an elongate tube having a reaction zone for heating to an operating reaction temperature, and at least one cold zone that remains at a low temperature below the operating reaction temperature when the reaction zone is heated. An electrolyte is disposed between anodes and cathodes in the reaction zone, and the anode and cathode each have an electrical pathway extending to an exterior surface in a cold zone for electrical connection at low temperature. In one embodiment, the tubular device is a spiral rolled structure, and in another embodiment, the tubular device is a concentrically arranged device. The system further includes the devices positioned with their reaction zones in a hot zone chamber and their cold zones extending outside the hot zone chamber. A heat source is coupled to the hot zone chamber to heat the reaction zones to the operating reaction temperature, and fuel and air supplies are coupled to the tubes in the cold zones.
US08932771B2

Electrochemical energy storage devices, such as alkali metal-oxygen battery cells (e.g., non-aqueous lithium-air cells), have a cathode architecture with a porous structure and pore composition that is tailored to improve cell performance, especially as it pertains to one or more of the discharge/charge rate, cycle life, and delivered ampere-hour capacity. A porous cathode architecture having a pore volume that is derived from pores of varying radii wherein the pore size distribution is tailored as a function of the architecture thickness is one way to achieve one or more of the aforementioned cell performance improvements.
US08932770B2

A bacterial fuel cell including a plurality of anodes and a plurality of cathodes in liquid communication with a liquid to be purified, the plurality of anodes and the plurality of cathodes each including a metal electrical conductor arranged to be electrically coupled across a load in an electrical circuit and an electrically conductive coating at least between the metal electrical conductor and the liquid to be purified, the electrically conductive coating being operative to mutually seal the liquid and the electrical conductor from each other.
US08932762B2

A method for manufacturing an active material containing a triclinic LiVOPO4 crystal particle that has a spherical form and an average particle size of 20 to 200 nm. The method includes a step of manufacturing the crystal particle by hydrothermal synthesis.
US08932758B2

An electrode active material of the present invention is made of a layered composition including organic backbone layers containing an aromatic compound that is a dicarboxylic acid anion having a naphthalene backbone; and alkali metal element layers containing an alkali metal element coordinated to oxygen contained in the carboxylic acid anion to form a backbone. The layered composition has an interplanar spacing between (002) planes of 0.42400 to 0.42800 nm, an interplanar spacing between (102) planes of 0.37000 to 0.37600 nm, an interplanar spacing between (211) planes of 0.32250 to 0.32650 nm, and an interplanar spacing between (112) planes of 0.30400 to 0.30700 nm, as measured by X-ray diffraction. Preferably, the layered composition has an interplanar spacing between (200) planes of 0.50500 to 0.50950 nm as measured by X-ray diffraction.
US08932756B2

A battery. including a cathode, an anode, and an electrolytic solution where at least one of the cathode, the anode, the separator, and/or the electrolytic solution contains at a fluorine resin and is effective to improve cycle characteristics.
US08932752B2

A battery includes an electrode assembly having a first electrode plate and a second electrode plate each having an uncoated portion, and a separator located between the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate; a case accommodating the electrode assembly and having an opening; an electrode terminal connected to the electrode assembly and protruding from the case; and a cap assembly comprising a cap plate sealing the opening of the case, wherein the electrode assembly is constructed such that at least one of the uncoated portions of the first and second electrode plates extends along only a portion of the electrode assembly, and wherein the case has a bent portion formed on at least one side to generally correspond to the electrode assembly.
US08932750B2

A housing for an energy storage cell includes an interior which provides beneficial properties to fabricators of the cell. The cell may be hermetically sealed by conventional laser welding techniques.
US08932749B2

A battery module includes one or more battery cells aligned in one direction, a housing member that accommodates the battery cells, and is opposite to a whole of at least one surface of the battery cells; and a top cover that is connected and fastened to at least one portion of the housing member, and covers tops of the battery cells.
US08932748B2

(1) a combination of a microporous layer made of a polyethylene resin and a microporous layer made of polypropylene and a heat-resistant resin having a melting point or a glass transition temperature of 170° C. or higher, or (2) a combination of a microporous layer made of a polyethylene resin and a microporous layer made of polypropylene and inorganic filler having an aspect ratio of 2 or more provides a multi-layer, microporous polyolefin membrane with well-balanced permeability, mechanical strength, heat shrinkage resistance, shutdown properties and meltdown properties.
US08932743B2

A method of operating a RESS thermal system in a vehicle having a coolant loop for directing a coolant through a RESS and a refrigerant loop configured to selectively cool the coolant flowing through a chiller in the coolant loop, including: determining a current target temperature range for the RESS based on a current vehicle operating mode and ambient temperature; determining a temperature of the RESS; determining if the temperature of the RESS needs to increase or decrease to be within the current target temperature range; if the determination is made that the temperature of the RESS needs to increase, determining if an active heating or a passive heating of the coolant will be employed, the active heating using a greater amount of energy over a shorter time period than the passive heating; and activating the determined active heating or passive heating of the coolant.
US08932730B2

The present invention provides for organometallic and organic dopants suitable for use in organic carrier transporting materials. Also provided are organic light emitting devices containing doped organic carrier transporting materials.
US08932723B2

Provided is low emissivity glass including a low emissivity layer containing electrically conductive metal; and a composite metal oxide formed on one or both sides of the low emissivity layer and expressed by a following chemical formula 1: TiCeOx  (1) wherein Ti is titanium element, Ce is cerium element, and Ox is oxide. Since the dielectric layer which serves as protecting low emissivity layer of low emissivity glass and reducing emissivity contains the composite metal oxide expressed by the above chemical formula 1, visible light transmissivity can be greatly increased with excellent low emissivity.
US08932717B2

Provided are a use of a lipolytic enzyme for forming anti-fingerprint coating, a method of forming anti-fingerprint coating including treating a substrate with a composition comprising the lipolytic enzyme, a substrate including the anti-fingerprint coating formed by the same method, and a product including the same. The anti-fingerprint coating can reduce contamination of display devices, appearances of electronic devices or building materials by fingerprints.
US08932715B2

The present invention relates to maintaining bioactive molecules in their native or substantially near-native form and preventing or reduce aggregation. In particular, the present invention relates to precipitation-protective or stabilizing additives and a method of using said precipitation-protective/stabilizing additives to protect and maintain the bioactive molecules in a native or substantially near-native form and to prevent or reduce aggregation during or following precipitation to form particles.
US08932713B2

The wet friction material of the present invention is obtained by impregnating a friction base material with a bonding resin composition comprising a resol phenolic resin and a maleinized drying oil and curing the resulting material. The maleinized drying oil is obtained by reacting a drying oil such as tung oil or linseed oil with anhydrous maleic acid. The content thereof is preferably 50 to 250 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the resol phenolic resin. The wet friction material of the present invention has a high static friction coefficient and excellent durability.
US08932704B2

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. Antishrinkage and antistatic additives are also added to the fibrous webs. 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.
US08932703B2

The present invention provides an electrostatic adsorbable sheet that can attach and display a printed material as it is on an object to be attached, as a poster, an advertisement or the like, has a high electrostatic adsorbability during display use, can be used for display over a long period of time with sufficient durability of the electrostatic adsorbability, has electrostatic adsorbability that is hardly affected by humidity, and can be easily peeled away after display use. In the electrostatic adsorbable sheet, since the electrostatic adsorbability is not exhibited externally before display use, troubles such as blocking of sheets themselves and attachment to a roll particularly in a printing step hardly occur, handlability is good, and the adhesiveness of ink is excellent, so that the sheet is compatible with a variety of printing methods.
US08932702B2

A spin-on dielectric of novel composition formed as a sol comprising an a source of silicon such as an orthosilicate ester, alone or in combination with an alkylated orthosilicate ester, a polar solvent, water, an acid catalyst, which may be a strong acid catalyst, and an amphiphilic block copolymer surfactant, optionally including an organic acid, a co-solvent and/or a reactive solvent. Also provided is a method of formulating the sol, a film made from the spin-on dielectric that has desirable electrical and mechanical properties, methods for treating the film described to optimize the film's electrical and mechanical performance, and methods for depositing the film onto silicon, steel or other surfaces.
US08932700B2

A panel which includes, among protrusions protruding from a predetermined reference surface, flat sections being flush with the reference surface, and recesses being recessed from the reference surface, the protrusions, and the flat sections or recesses, wherein; when the panel includes the flat sections, the entire periphery of each of the protrusions is surrounded by the flat sections, and the entire periphery of each of the flat sections is surrounded by the protrusions, while when the panel includes the recesses, the entire periphery of each of the protrusions is surrounded by the recesses, and the entire periphery of each of the recesses is surrounded by the protrusions.
US08932695B1

A pressure vessel includes a first (base or innermost) layer composed of a resin-impregnated woven sleeve with chopped basalt fibers assembled in the voids of the sleeve and impregnated with an epoxy resin. A second and third layer is composed of continuous basalt fiber filaments arranged in a helical pattern, with the helical angle of the second layer being not equal to that of the third layer. A fourth layer is composed of continuous basalt fibers arranged in a hoop pattern. The fifth (outermost) layer is composed of randomly oriented chopped basalt fibers impregnated with a resin matrix and compacted with the subsequent wound filaments at up to ten pounds of tension.
US08932692B2

Cushions include a plurality of pockets formed from a support material and a deformable member comprising a deformable polymer material disposed in each pocket of the plurality of pockets. The support material may comprise at least one of a fabric and a film. Each of the deformable members may be configured as a column having a column axis. Methods of forming cushions include forming a plurality of deformable members, forming a plurality of pockets from a support material, and disposing each of the deformable members of the plurality of deformable members in each of the pockets of the plurality of pockets. The deformable members may be configured so that each of the deformable members is isolated from the other deformable members by the support material.
US08932687B2

A process for producing a molded printed material is provided that includes (A) a step of forming an image on a support by an inkjet method using an ink composition comprising a polymerizable monomer, a colorant, and a polymerization initiator, (B) a step of forming a surface coating layer on the image by an inkjet method using a liquid composition comprising a polymerizable monomer and a polymerization initiator and comprising substantially no colorant, (C) a step of curing the image by irradiation with actinic radiation, (D) a step of curing the surface coating layer by irradiation with actinic radiation so as to obtain a printed material having the image and the surface coating layer cured on the support, and (E) a step of molding the printed material. There is also provided a molded printed material obtained by the process for producing a molded printed material.
US08932686B2

A method for producing a piezoelectric composite substrate having a single-crystal thin film of a piezoelectric material includes an ion-implantation step and a separation step. In the ion-implantation step, He+ ions are implanted into the single-crystal base made of the piezoelectric material to form localized microcavities in a separation layer located inside the single-crystal base and apart from a surface of the single-crystal base. In the separation step, the microcavities formed in the ion-implantation step are subjected to thermal stress to divide the separation layer of the piezoelectric single-crystal base, thereby detaching the single-crystal thin film.
US08932680B2

Method of making a golf ball. A blend of a first highly neutralized acid polymer, a second highly neutralized acid polymer, and an ionomer-based masterbatch comprising an ionomer resin and an additive is used to form a layer of a golf ball. A second layer that essentially encloses the blend-containing layer then is formed.
US08932675B2

Classes of liquid aminosilanes have been found which allow for the production of silicon carbo-nitride films of the general formula SixCyNz. These aminosilanes, in contrast, to some of the precursors employed heretofore, are liquid at room temperature and pressure allowing for convenient handling. In addition, the invention relates to a process for producing such films.The classes of compounds are generally represented by the formulas: and mixtures thereof, wherein R and R1 in the formulas represent aliphatic groups typically having from 2 to about 10 carbon atoms, e.g., alkyl, cycloalkyl with R and R1 in formula A also being combinable into a cyclic group, and R2 representing a single bond, (CH2)n, a ring, or SiH2.
US08932659B2

A process for the isolation and/or purification of a desired component, particularly 3′sialyl lactose, from whey, particularly cheese whey, comprising the steps of: optionally subjecting the whey to ultrafiltration to provide a protein concentrate and a whey permeate; contacting the whey or whey permeate with at least one series of ion exchange resins, said series comprising a first weak acid cation resin, a first weak base anion resin, a second strong acid cation resin, a second weak base anion resin to demineralize the whey permeate; contacting this demineralized permeate with two final ion exchange resins comprising a strong acid cation resin and a final weak base anion resin, wherein the desired component, such as 3′ sialyl lactose, is taken up on the final anion resin; and eluting the desired component from the final anion resin.
US08932656B1

A blend of oils for treating or preventing skin ailments, such as diaper rash and eczema and for soothing the skin. The blend includes virgin coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil, jojoba oil, calendula oil, vitamin E oil, tea tree oil, German chamomile extract. The vitamin E is essentially free from corn oil and soy oil.
US08932653B2

The present invention is directed to anti-microbial cleanser compositions comprising linalool, hinokitiol and dipropylene glycol. The present invention further provides methods for using these compositions to maintain eyelid hygiene, to treat an ocular disorder or to clean a skin surface. The cleanser compositions of the present invention can be in the form of a foam, gel or liquid.
US08932652B2

Provided herein are microalgal skin care compositions and methods of improving the health and appearance of skin. Also provided are methods of using polysaccharides for applications such as topical personal care products, cosmetics, and wrinkle reduction compositions. The invention also provides novel decolorized microalgal compositions useful for improving the health and appearance of skin. The invention also includes insoluble polysaccharide particles for application to human skin.
US08932651B2

The invention relates to a heat shock protein from alfalfa and/or a hydrolysate of a heat shock protein from alfalfa in the manufacture of a food product for the prophylactic or therapeutic treatment of a chronic inflammatory disorder. Further, the invention relates to a clinical food product comprising heat shock protein from alfalfa and/or a hydrolysate of a heat shock protein from alfalfa.
US08932646B2

A contact lens disinfecting solution that comprises 0.5 wt. % to 6 wt. % hydrogen peroxide, or a chemical precursor of hydrogen peroxide, and a P-metal modulating compound. The presence of the P-metal modulating compound in the disinfecting hydrogen peroxide solution slows the rate at which the hydrogen peroxide is neutralized, particularly during the initial two hours, by a catalyst element that includes a P-metal. This reduction in rate of peroxide neutralization provides a more effective solution for killing certain microorganisms and fungi.
US08932640B2

A process for preparing a particle comprising a biological molecule typically a DNA plasmid, and a carrier polymer, typically poly-lactic acid (PLA), in which an organic solvent solution of the biological molecule and the carrier polymer in an organic solvent medium, nearly saturated with the biological molecule, is prepared, then this solution is contacted with an antisolvent substance, typically supercritical carbon dioxide to separate a particle comprising the biological molecule and the carrier polymer. High loadings of the biological molecule in the particle can be achieved.
US08932627B2

The present invention provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising a glucocorticoid or glucocorticoid derivative stably encapsulated in a liposome. The glucocorticoid or glucocorticoid derivative is selected from an amphipathic weak base glucocorticoid or glucocorticoid derivative having a pKa equal or below 11 and a logD at pH 7 in the range between −2.5 and 1.5; or an amphipathic weak acid GC or GC derivative having a pKa above 3.5 and a logD at pH 7 in the range between −2.5 and 1.5. The therapeutic effect of the pharmaceutical composition of the invention was exhibited in vivo with appropriate models of multiple sclerosis and cancer.
US08932626B2

An adhesive patch is a felbinac-containing transdermally absorbable preparation substantially free of a solubilizer for felbinac in a final preparation but still having high releasing of felbinac. The adhesive patch in which lidocaine and felbinac are formulated has the releasing of felbinac without losing the releasing of lidocaine. The felbinac-containing transdermally absorbable adhesive patch contains felbinac as an active component and lidocaine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof as an absorption promoter. In particular, the content of felbinac is from 0.1% to 10% by weight to the total weight of the drug-containing plaster and the content of lidocaine or the pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is from 0.01% to 20% by weight to the total weight of the drug-containing plaster.
US08932611B2

The present invention relates to a solid anhydrous cosmetic composition comprising at least one non-spherical silicone elastomer and at least one silicone elastomer powder coated with a silicone resin. The invention also relates to a makeup process comprising the application to keratin materials of the said composition, and also to its use for obtaining a uniform makeup result that shows good fastness of the color over time.
US08932603B2

Recombinant antibody-based molecules that trigger both T-cell and B-cell immune responses are disclosed. The recombinant molecules are comprised by at least one targeting unit and at least one antigenic unit connected through a dimerization motif. Also disclosed are nucleic acid molecules encoding the recombinant antibody-based molecule and methods of treating multiple myeloma or lymphoma in a patient using the recombinant antibody-based molecules or the nucleic acid molecules.
US08932601B2

A hybrid complement-regulating protein comprises a first functional unit of a first complement regulatory protein having complement regulating properties, a first spacer sequence of at least about 200 amino acids encoding a polypeptide that does not exhibit complement regulating properties and at least a second functional unit attached to the spacer sequence. The second functional unit may be a polypeptide providing a functional unit of a second complement regulatory protein, a polypeptide derived from an immunoglobulin, or a polypeptide that enhances binding of the protein to an animal cell. The hybrid protein may also contain a second spacer sequence and a third functional unit of a complement regulatory protein, a polypeptide derived from an immunoglobulin, and a polypeptide that enhances binding of the protein to an animal cell. The optional third functional unit may be the same or different from the first or second functional units.
US08932585B2

The present invention is directed to compositions and methods of delivery of CoQ-10 solubilized in monoterpenes. Use of monoterpenes as dissolving agents, greatly effects the ability to incorporate greater amounts of bioactive CoQ-10 in formulations, such as soft gel capsules.
US08932584B2

The present invention is directed to compositions and methods of delivery of CoQ-10 solubilized in monoterpenes. Use of monoterpenes as dissolving agents, greatly effects the ability to incorporate greater amounts of bioactive CoQ-10 in formulations, such as soft gel capsules.
US08932580B2

The present invention relates to a method for the selective purification of bacterial cells and/or cell components, whereby the purification is performed by means of a solid support.
US08932579B2

The present invention relates to compositions of rosmarinic acid or its derivatives and to the use of a hydrolytic enzyme or of microorganism containing or producing hydrolytic enzymes in these compositions. The invention also pertains to methods for improving the biological effects of the rosemary extracts and for administering such compositions to a human or animal subject for improving the skin, coat, hair or health of the subject.
US08932574B2

Liquid interferon compositions having a pH between 4.0 and 7.2 are described. The compositions comprise interferon-beta and a stabilizing agent at between about 0.3% and 5% by weight which is an amino acid selected from the group consisting of acidic amino acids, arginine and glycine. If needed, salt is added to provide sufficient ionic strength. The liquid composition has not been previously lyophilized or previously cavitated. The liquid is preferably contained within a vessel having at least one surface in contract with the liquid that is coated with a material inert to adsorption of interferon-beta. A kit for parenteral administration of a liquid interferon formulation and a method for stabilizing liquid interferon compositions are also described.
US08932569B2

Compositions and methods are disclosed for preventing or reducing frizzy appearance of keratin fibers, including hair, and reducing the amount of fly-away strands of hair, particularly in humid conditions, by forming a coating on hair that is resistant to water vapors from the air or surrounding environment. The compositions comprise a combination of a hydrophobic particulate material comprising a hydrophobically surface-modified aluminum oxide and one or more hydrophobic film formers in a cosmetically acceptable vehicle.
US08932568B2

Provided is a low odor hair conditioning composition which is free of oily and greasy feel upon finish, and can impart good manageability and moisturized feel. Specifically provided is a hair conditioning composition including a component (A): a compound represented by a general formula (1) R1O—(PO)n/(EO)m—R2 (1), where R1 represents a straight or branched, alkyl or alkenyl group having 8 to 12 carbon atoms, PO represents a propyleneoxy group, EO represents an ethyleneoxy group, an average addition mole number “n” represents a number of 1.5 to 3.0, an average addition mole number “m” represents a number of 0 to 1.0, and R2 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; and a component (B): a surfactant other than the component (A), wherein a content of R1OH, where R1 represents a straight or branched, alkyl or alkenyl group having 8 to 12 carbon atoms, is 80 ppm or less.
US08932562B2

Provided herein are animals expressing light-responsive opsin proteins in the basal lateral amygdala of the brain and methods for producing the same wherein illumination of the light-responsive opsin proteins causes anxiety in the animal. Also provided herein are methods for alleviating and inducing anxiety in an animal as well as methods for screening for a compound that alleviates anxiety in an animal.
US08932559B2

Nuclear Transport Modifiers such as cSN50 and cSN50.1, afford in vivo islet protection following a 2-day course of intense treatment in autoimmune diabetes-prone, non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice, a widely used model of Type 1 diabetes (T1D), which resulted in a diabetes-free state for one year without apparent toxicity and the need to use insulin. cSN50 precipitously reduces the accumulation of islet-destructive autoreactive lymphocytes while enhancing activation-induced cell death of T and B lymphocytes derived from NOD mice. cSN50 attenuated pro-inflammatory cytokine and chemokine production in immune cells in this model of human T1D. cSN50 also provides cytoprotection of beta cells, therefore preserving residual insulin-producing capacity. Because intracellular delivery of a Nuclear Transport Modifier peptide such as cSN50 and cSN50.1 can result in lowering of blood glucose levels and may reducing insulin resistance, the compositions, methods and cells described herein can also be used for treating Type 2 diabetes (T2D).
US08932558B2

Provided herein are methods and compositions for the in vitro formation of multi subunit biological platforms. The biological platforms may be used to screen chemical or biological compounds, in particular compounds that may disrupt or otherwise affect the formation of the multi subunit complexes, or disrupt already-formed in vitro assembled multi subunit complexes. Also provided herein are methods and compositions for the in vivo formation of multi-subunit biological complexes. The methods and compositions described herein may be used to develop animal models of diseases or disorders.
US08932556B2

Ordered acicular aggregates of elongated TiO2 crystallites which resemble nano-sized flower bouquets and/or triangular funnels, and process for their preparation by thermally hydrolyzing a soluble TiO2 precursor compound in aqueous solution in the presence of a morphology controlling agent selected from carboxylic acids and amino acids.
US08932550B2

Methods for producing muticrystalline silicon ingots by use of a Czochralski-type crystal puller and pulling assemblies that include a plurality of seed crystals for pulling multicrystalline silicon ingots.
US08932549B2

A silica-containing composition is disclosed. The composition comprises a compound having the following formula: (SiO2)x(OH)yMzOaF.B: wherein M is at least one of the following: boron, magnesium, aluminum, calcium, titanium, vanadium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, zirconium, molybdenum, palladium, silver, cadmium, tin, platinum, gold, and bismuth; wherein F optionally exists and comprises at least one of the following: a functionalized organosilane, a sulfur-containing organosilane, an amine-containing organosilane, and an alkyl-containing organosilane at a surface area coverage of about 0.01 to about 100%. The molar ratio of y/x is equal to about 0.01 to about 0.5, the molar ratio of x/z is equal to about 0.5 to about 300, and the molar ratio of a/z is dependent on the nature of the metal oxide. B comprises a hygroscopic solid and preferably comprises at least one alkaline earth oxide, lanthanide oxide, or combinations thereof.
US08932546B2

A catalytically active particulate filter is proposed which is suitable for use in an exhaust gas cleaning system for diesel engines. The particulate filter removes diesel soot particles from the exhaust gas and is also effective to oxidize carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons and to convert nitrogen monoxide at least proportionally into nitrogen dioxide. The particulate filter comprises a filter body (3) and two catalytically active coatings (1) and (2) which contain platinum and palladium, or platinum or palladium respectively, wherein the platinum content of the second catalytically active coating (2) is higher than the platinum content of the first catalytically active coating (1).
US08932539B2

Saliva sample collection systems are configured with special attention to ease-of-use for the unskilled user and safe transport and delivery by a conventional delivery services such as Federal Express. A sealed cavity is formed by tight coupling of two primary elements: a receiving vessel element and a sealing cap element. The receiving vessel has integrated therewith: a standing means, a fill-line window, a funnel system, a knife, a threadset, and containment tube among others. A complementary cap element includes a cooperating threadset, label receiving surface, gripping surface, seal means and reservoir with piercable thin-film membrane. These two primary elements may be accommodated in an application-specific shipping container which support two shipping modes whereby the system may be shipped safely to and from a donor user each way in a different shipping mode.
US08932538B2

A apparatus for analyzing sample to prevent a sample from being stuck to a surface of the apparatus for analyzing sample in the course of being injected into the apparatus for analyzing sample. The apparatus for analyzing sample includes a platform having a disk shape. The platform includes chambers and channels, a sample inlet hole which is formed in an outer surface the platform and through which a sample is injected into the platform; an opening which is formed in the outer surface of the platform and through which a residual of the sample, present on the outer surface of the platform around the sample inlet hole, is introduced into a receiving space isolated from the chambers and channels; and a barrier which is formed on the outer surface of the platform around a portion of the opening to prevent the residual of the sample from moving past the opening in a radial outward direction of the platform.
US08932537B2

A portable tester to detect one or more analytes from explosives, drugs, or household chemicals, comprising: a plurality of chemical disposable, detachable reagent reservoirs storing reagents to induce a series of color reactions, wherein developed color depends on sequences of applied reagents to respective pads on a support base, reaction times and temperatures on said pad to create one or more color bar codes for a specific analyte. The tester comprises a piezoelectric dispenser coupled to each respective reservoir to dispense a mist of reagent onto respective test pads to increase sensitivity and reduce reaction heat and time; wherein piezoelectric dispenser is processor controlled to control dispensing time and volume in each step. The tester also includes a programmable digital camera system for imaging and data collection at specific times, temperature, and applied reagents for analysis by the processor, and a processor to interpret resulting changes in color codes of the test pads throughout the analysis occurring at specific times, temperature, and applied reagent and to identify or characterize the type explosive or class of explosives, clandestine drugs, or household chemicals.
US08932530B2

A reducing agent aqueous solution mixing device includes an exhaust pipe, an injector, an inner pipe and a tubular guide member. The exhaust pipe includes an elbow part having a curved portion, and a linear part disposed downstream of the elbow part. The injector is disposed outside of the curved portion, and injects a reducing agent aqueous solution into the elbow part towards the linear part. The inner pipe is disposed downstream of the injector within the exhaust pipe. The inner pipe has an inlet portion opening facing the injector and an outer peripheral surface spaced apart from the inner wall of the linear part. The inner pipe allows the exhaust gas to flow through the inside of the inner pipe and along the outer periphery of the inner pipe. The tubular guide member directs the reducing agent aqueous solution injected from the injector to the inner pipe.
US08932524B2

A stationary medium is employed both to separate chemicals from a sample solution and also to generate surface-enhanced Raman scattering, so that spectral analysis of the separated analyte chemical can be performed. Applied driving force causes the sample to flow into the stationary medium and to distribute therethrough, thereby causing rapid separation of the analyte chemical, and surface-enhanced Raman scattered radiation is quickly detected, at a plurality of locations along a flow path defined by the stationary medium, for ultimate analysis.
US08932506B2

The resin injection molding method of the present invention is a method for molding resins inside a cavity formed within a mold. The method comprises injecting resins into the cavity through a plurality of paths installed so as to be openable and closable and optionally maintaining the resin inside the cavity at a pressure; closing each of the plurality of paths such that the resins injected from each path converge, there being a time difference between when a first path and a second path of the plurality of paths are closed; and solidifying at least the resin which is injected from the path closed earliest with a crystallinity greater than or equal to a predetermined crystallinity degree.
US08932498B2

Disclosed is a device for preparation of liposomes, comprises a reaction tank and an infusion unit. The reaction tank comprises a collector mounted in a predetermined position of the reaction tank; Two inlet ports are included: the first inlet port for infusing an aqueous solution; and the second inlet port for infusing an organic solution. The infusion unit can introduce a bioactive agent containing-aqueous solution into the reaction tank. The infusion unit comprises a filter connected to one end of the infusion unit and being adjacent to the collector. The method using the device comprises the steps of infusing an aqueous solution and an organic solution into the reaction tank of the device and thus forming an interface between the filter and the collector; infusing a bioactive agent containing-aqueous solution and being filtered by the filter, the bioactive agent is encapsulated to form a water-in-oil emulsion; the water-in-oil emulsion is passing through the aqueous solution and thus to form a water-in-oil-in-water double emulsion. Finally the removal of the organic phase of water-in-oil-in-water double emulsion enables the harvest a plurality of liposomes. It has advantages such that simple-used and automation production. Thus nano size or sub-micro size liposomes can be prepared with high encapsulation efficiency without sonicators or delicate microfluidic systems.
US08932488B2

There is provided a thermoluminescent phosphor characterized in that a distribution of the emission intensity of thermoluminescence is present in a visible range that does not overlap the peak of the heating-caused emission intensity of the thermoluminescent phosphor itself and also has one peak within a temperature range in which a resin to be used as a binder can resist heat optically. There is also provided a method of producing the thermoluminescent phosphor. More specifically, there are provided a thermoluminescent phosphor that comprises lithium heptaborate as a base material and copper as a luminescent center present in the base material and which is characterized in that the distribution of the emission intensity of thermoluminescence versus temperature is a sole and monomodal distribution within the range of from 45° C. to 130° C., and a method of producing the thermoluminescent phosphor.
US08932485B2

The present invention provides fluorescent nanoparticle composites themselves, the process of preparing such composites, to systems for rapid diagnosis (as “kits”) containing such composites, and to the use of such composites. In a preferential embodiment, the composites of the present invention have an affinity for biological molecules, such as DNA. The present invention also comprises the preparation of probes containing biological material, upon which are added fluorescent nanoparticle composites, making viable a rapid and economic biological diagnosis of, for example, diseases and genetic traits, notably in the medical and veterinarian fields. There is yet the fact that the absorption of radiation in the ultraviolet and visible regions, with the emission of light in the near ultraviolet and visible range, including in the colors of deep blue and/or green, provides advantageous use of its fluorescent properties in photovoltaic or electroluminescent devices, such as organic LEDs, or for the increase in luminous gain of fluorescent lamps, which represents another characteristic of the invention.
US08932481B2

A cathode active material includes a core including a material having an olivine structure, and a nitrogen atom doped into at least a portion of the core.
US08932473B2

The invention relates to a method for making a 3D nanostructure having a nanosubstructure, comprising the steps of: i) providing a mold comprising at least one sharp concave corner; ii) conformational depositing at least one structural material in the sharp concave corner; iii) isotropically removing structural material; iv) depositing at least one other structural material; v) removing earlier deposited structural material; vi) forming a nanosubstructure; and vii) removing the mold thereby providing the 3D nanostructure having the nanosubstructure.
US08932462B1

An engine oil filter conversion assembly is provided for allowing a user to replace a standard canister oil filter with an assembly that facilitates removal and replacement of the internal paper filter element therein. The assembly comprises a housing similar to a canister oil filter, wherein the canister includes removably attached components such that the internal filter element is accessible, whereby the filter element can be replaced during an oil change instead of the complete canister. The purpose of the present invention is to reduce waste and allow the filter element only to be discarded, while facilitating quick access to the filter element and providing an assembly that can replace canister oil filters on modern internal combustion engines. The assembly comprises a baseplate, a louvered center tube, a removable filter element, a filter housing, a lower end seal and a joining fastener.
US08932460B2

The present invention aims at providing a preparative separation/purification system for vaporizing an eluate in a short period of time, while enhancing the efficiency of collecting the target substance by accelerating the initiation of collecting the eluate. The preparative separation/purification system in which water containing a target component is passed through a column 8 to capture the target component in the column 8 and then a solvent is passed through it to collect the target compound, includes: a liquid supply means 7 for supplying a solvent to the column 8, with the target component captured in the column 8, while the column 8 is vertically held with the inlet end thereof directed downwards and the discharge end thereof directed upwards, the solvent having a low solubility to water and having a specific gravity greater than that of water; a passage selection means 12 for changing the passage configuration so that a solution exiting from the column 8 is selectively sent to either a collection passage 13 or a disposal passage 14; a passage control means 30 for controlling the passage selection means 12 so that, when water exits from the column 8, the water is sent to the disposal passage 14, and when solution containing solvent exits from the column 8, the solution is sent to the collection passage 13; and a flow rate control means 30 for controlling so that the water is supplied at a first flow rate to the disposal passage 14, and the solution containing solvent is supplied to the collection passage 13 at a flow rate lower than the first flow rate.
US08932454B2

This invention relates to the composition, method of making and use of a hydrocracking catalyst that is comprised of a new Y zeolite which exhibits an exceptionally low small mesoporous peak around the 40 Å (angstrom) range as determined by nitrogen adsorption measurements. The hydrocracking catalysts of invention exhibit improved distillate yield and selectivity as well as improved conversions at lower temperatures than conventional hydrocracking catalysts containing Y zeolites. The hydrocracking catalysts herein are particularly useful in the hydrocracking processes as disclosed herein, particularly for conversion of heavy hydrocarbon feedstocks such as gas oils and vacuum tower bottoms and an associated maximization and/or improved selectivity of the distillate yield obtained from such hydrocracking processes.
US08932448B2

Membrane, cell and device suitable for reverse electrodialysis for the purpose of generating electricity, and methods therefor, the membrane comprising a number of channels arranged on at least a first side of the membrane, wherein the channels are suitable for throughfeed of a fluid, wherein the dimensions of the channels are aimed at obtaining a laminar flow of the fluid in the channels.
US08932444B2

A sputtering target of nonmagnetic-particle-dispersed ferromagnetic material is provided having a phase (A) such that nonmagnetic particles are dispersed in a ferromagnetic material formed from a Co—Cr alloy containing 5 at % or more and 20 at % or less of Cr and Co as the remainder thereof, and schistose textures (B) with a short side of 30 to 100 μm and a long side of 50 to 300 μm formed from a Co—Cr alloy phase in the phase (A); wherein each of the foregoing nonmagnetic particles has such a shape and size that the particle is smaller than all hypothetical circles with a radius of 1 μm around an arbitrary point within the nonmagnetic particle, or a shape and size with at least two contact points or intersection points between the respective hypothetical circles and the interface of the ferromagnetic material and the nonmagnetic material.
US08932432B2

A substrate separating method includes: holding, in a predetermined position, a substrate sandwiched between a first holder and a second holder opposed to each other; and relatively moving the first holder and the second holder while the substrate is held in the predetermined position. In holding the substrate, the substrate may be held in the predetermined position by effecting a pressurizing force or a suction force onto the substrate. Also in holding the substrate, the substrate may be held in contact with one of the first holder and the second holder.
US08932427B2

It comprises applying a mould release agent on a compaction tool (1), carrying out its curing and applying a layer with adhesive properties (2) on the mould release agent. It is characterized in that it also comprises extending an aerator blanket (4) along the layer (2) with dimensions larger than the adhesive layer (2), extending a membrane with resilient properties (5) on the entire surface of the tool (1) by applying vacuum to the membrane (5) for compacting the adhesive layer. This method reduces the number of stages required to perform the compaction and avoids the generation of waste materials thus reducing the cost of the process.
US08932426B2

A method for connecting a pipe fitting with a buried pipe from above ground in which the top, outer wall surface of the buried pipe is exposed to an aboveground location, producing an exposed outer wall surface. An opening into the pipeline is formed at the exposed outer wall surface following which a fitting to be connected with the pipeline is inserted through the opening into the pipeline and connected with a circumferential pipe surface encircling the opening into the pipeline. Preferably, keyholing techniques are used to carry out the steps of the method so as to substantially limit the amount of excavation required compared with conventional pipe fitting connection procedures.
US08932421B2

There is provided a method of molding a fiber-reinforced plastic hollow part that is capable of molding, with ease and at low costs, a fiber-reinforced plastic hollow part, which has a varying cross-section or a bent portion, in a state in which its weight is sufficiently reduced and in a state where its wall thickness is substantially uniform. A reinforcing fiber (21) and a matrix resin (24) are laminated on the outer circumference of a preformed hollow resin core (10) to obtain a hollow laminate (20). A pressurizing bag (30) is inserted and positioned inside that hollow resin core (10). The hollow laminate (20) is positioned inside a mold (40). Next, heat is applied while pressure is applied to the inside of the pressurizing bag (30) of the hollow laminate (20) positioned inside the mold, thereby integrating the resin and the reinforcing fiber.
US08932420B2

Method for transferring and placing beads for tires, providing: a bead storage unit in which a number of beads are vertically stacked placing spacers between them, a collection unit for empty spacers, a tire building machine for receiving the beads thereon, a bead retaining provided with engagement jaws that are arranged at equal angular distance in a circumferential direction on the bead retaining means, wherein the engagement jaws are driven or withdrawn in radial direction, a spacer retaining means for picking up and retaining a spacer, and arranging the bead retaining means and the spacer retaining means on a common transfer means. The spacer retaining means acts in a radial direction and is provided with at least two spacer engagement jaws that are arranged circumferentially at equal angular.
US08932417B1

Methods and systems for mixing propellant formulations are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method of mixing a solid propellant formulation includes placing a first component (e.g., a polymer or fuel) and a second component (e.g., an oxidizer of suitable particle size) in a mix vessel. The method further includes mixing the first and second components together by rotating the mix vessel about a first axis and, during at least a portion of the vessel rotation, revolving the vessel about a second axis spaced apart from the first axis. In one embodiment, the first axis can be a vessel spin axis, and the second axis can be spaced apart from the first axis so that the vessel revolves about the second axis in a planetary manner. In another embodiment, the vessel can rotate about the first axis in a first direction while revolving about the second axis in a second direction, opposite to the first direction.
US08932415B2

Provided is a welding metal in which a predetermined chemical component composition is satisfied, the A value as specified by formula (1) is 3.8% to 9.0%, and the surface area percentage of carbide having a circle-equivalent diameter of 0.20 μm or greater in the welding metal is 4.0% or less. A value=0.8×[C]−0.05×[Si]+0.5×[Mn]+0.5×[Cu]+[Ni]−0.5×[Mo]+0.2×[Cr]  (1) (Provided that [C], [Si], [Mn], [Cu], [Ni], [Mo] and [Cr] are the C, Si, Mn, Cu, Ni, Mo and Cr content (by mass percent), respectively) The welding metal is useful as a material for a pressure vessel of a nuclear power plant as the welding metal is high in strength and has good low-temperature toughness and drop-weight characteristics.
US08932400B2

Provided herein are compositions and methods including hydraulic cement, supplementary cementitious material, and/or self-cementing material. Methods for making the compositions and using the compositions are provided.
US08932395B2

A precursor batch composition that can be used to make porous ceramic articles is provided. The batch composition includes a cellulose-based polymer and, in particular, a methylcellulose having a number average molecular weight (Mn) from about 120,000 to about 170,000 grams per mole and showing a specified micro-calorimetry thermal response fingerprint.
US08932392B2

There is provided a water-based ink for ink-jet recording including: a colorant; water; glycerol; and at least one of raffinose and a derivative thereof in an amount ranging from more than 0% by weight to not more than 2% by weight with respect to an entire amount of the water-based ink. There is also provided a water-based ink for ink-jet recording including: a colorant; water; glycerol; diethylene glycol; and at least one of raffinose and a derivative thereof.
US08932389B2

A zinc oxide precursor for use in deposition of a zinc oxide-based thin film contains a zincocene having the following formula or a derivative thereof: where R1 and R2 are hydrogen or CnH2n+1. The n is a number selected from 1 to 3, and the R1 and R2 is one selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, a methyl group, an ethyl group and an i-propyl group. A method of depositing a zinc oxide-based thin film includes the following steps of: loading a substrate into a deposition chamber; and supplying the above-described zinc oxide precursor and an oxidizer into the deposition chamber and forming a zinc oxide-based thin film on the substrate via chemical vapor deposition. In an exemplary embodiment, the zinc oxide-based thin film may be formed on the substrate via atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition.
US08932388B2

The present invention is related to an apparatus and a method for converting gas into fuel. The apparatus for converting gas into fuel in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention can include: a first gas processing unit discharging first fuel gas by removing hydrogen sulfide in the raw gas by spraying a solution; a second gas processing unit discharging second fuel gas by removing moisture in the first fuel gas; a third gas processing unit discharging third fuel gas by removing hydrogen sulfide remaining in the second fuel gas; and a solution reservoir supplied with the solution from at least one of the second gas processing unit and the third gas processing unit and storing the solution.
US08932386B2

The present invention relates to an agglomerated zeolite adsorbent containing at least one polymer matrix that is greatly laden with at least one zeolite adsorbent. The invention also relates to the method for preparing such an adsorbent and to the uses thereof, particularly as an adsorbent of moisture, odors, volatile organic components, and the like.
US08932378B2

A high temperature bonded abrasive includes alumina abrasive grits, and a vitreous bond matrix in which the alumina abrasive grits are distributed, the vitreous bond matrix having a cure temperature not less than 1000° C. The alumina abrasive grits include polycrystalline alpha alumina having a fine crystalline microstructure characterized by an alpha alumina average domain size not greater than 500 nm, and the alumina abrasive grits further include a pinning agent that is a dispersed phase in the polycrystalline alpha alumina.
US08932373B2

The invention relates to a device for using oxygen for the thermochemical gasification of biomass in at least one fluidized-bed reactor, a heating system being located in the fluidized bed of said reactor and the fluidized-bed reactor being heated by the at least partial oxidation of a combustible gas using oxygen.
US08932370B2

Dyes, compositions comprising dyes and methods for using the same are provided.
US08932363B2

The present invention relates to methods for determining meniscal size and shape for use in designing therapies for the treatment of various joint diseases. The invention uses an image of a joint that is processed for analysis. Analysis can include, for example, generating a thickness map, a cartilage curve, or a point cloud. This information is used to determine the extent of the cartilage defect or damage and to design an appropriate therapy, including, for example, an implant. Adjustments to the designed therapy are made to account for the materials used.
US08932353B2

A mammary prosthesis built from a sack of elastic material or biocompatible material having a sealed interior cavity with the sack having an anterior surface forming a dome and a posterior surface forming a base, with a sealed and seamless interior cavity filled with microspheres of foamed or expanded polymers or a combination of both. The sack may also be permeable to establish equilibrium between body fluids and interstitial volume of the microspheres.
US08932352B2

An optical device comprising an optical hydrogel with select regions that have been irradiated with laser light having a pulse energy from 0.01 nJ to 50 nJ and a wavelength from 600 nm to 900 nm. The irradiated regions are characterized by a positive change in refractive index of from 0.01 to 0.06, and exhibit little or no scattering loss. The optical hydrogel is prepared with a hydrophilic monomer.
US08932348B2

The invention is device and method for reducing regurgitation through a mitral valve. The device and method is directed to an anchor portion for engagement with the heart wall and an expandable valve portion configured for deployment between the mitral valve leaflets. The valve portion is expandable for preventing regurgitation through the mitral valve while allowing blood to circulate through the heart. The expandable valve portion may include apertures for reducing the stagnation of blood. In a preferred configuration, the device is configured to be delivered in two-stages wherein an anchor portion is first delivered and the valve structure is then coupled to the anchor portion. In yet another embodiment, the present invention provides a method of forming an anchor portion wherein a disposable jig is used to mold the anchor portion into a three-dimensional shape for conforming to a heart chamber.
US08932345B2

Medical device coatings are provided that simultaneously release a therapeutic agent at different rates from different portions of the medical device coating. In a first embodiment, medical device coatings are provided that include particles comprising a therapeutic agent with two or more different particles sizes within a single layer on a surface of the implantable device. In a second embodiment, medical device coatings are provided having a higher concentration of the therapeutic agent in a first region of the coating than in a second region of the coating. In a third embodiment, medical device coatings are provided that are formed by certain coating processes wherein the droplet size of a spray coating solution is changed during the coating process. These coating processes preferably include applying a solution comprising a therapeutic agent and a suitable solvent to a surface of an implantable medical device. In a fourth embodiment, methods of treatment are provided that include implanting a coated medical device.
US08932343B2

A collapsible prosthetic heart valve includes a stent and a valve assembly. The stent has a proximal end and a distal end and includes a plurality of struts. The struts have free ends configured to inhibit tissue penetration. The valve assembly, including a plurality of leaflets, is disposed within the stent.
US08932340B2

A delivery system has a stent and a balloon. The stent has a first section made of a plurality of interconnected framework members which define a plurality of potential side branches. The balloon is a dual lumen balloon that can inflate from the proximal end to the distal end with a plurality of protrusions and/or herniations.
US08932334B2

A dynamic fixation device is provided that allows the vertebrae to which it is attached to move in flexion within the normal physiological limits of motion, while also providing structural support that limits the amount of translation motion beyond normal physiological limits. The present invention includes a flexible portion and two ends that are adapted for connection to pedicle screws.
US08932327B2

An anchoring device having an elongate body at a proximal portion, a distal portion of the elongate body forming a loop at a distal portion of the anchoring device. The loop further includes a plurality of anchors disposed along a surface thereof and the loop also including an end effector. Methods for securing anchoring devices of the present disclosure are also disclosed.
US08932326B2

Apparatus and method for repairing an abnormality in the wall of a body lumen, the method comprising isolating the abnormality in the wall of the body lumen from flow in the body lumen; positioning flowable forming material adjacent to the abnormality in the wall of the body lumen; and transforming the flowable forming material into a substantially stationary state so as to repair the abnormality in the wall of the body lumen, and the apparatus comprising a supply of flowable forming material; zone isolation apparatus for isolating the abnormality in the wall of the body lumen from flow in the body lumen; and positioning apparatus for positioning the flowable forming material adjacent to the abnormality in the wall of the body lumen so as to repair the abnormality in the wall of the body lumen.
US08932322B2

Disclosed are neuromuscular release (including myofascial trigger point) therapy devices, systems, kits and methods. The therapy tool comprises a body, wherein the body includes an outer surface, an inner surface, a tip defined at the upper-most portion of the body, a base, a stop surface defined in the body outer surface, a pocket defined by the inner surface and extending from the base upwards in the direction of the tip, and a recessed groove defined in the inner surface and extending upwards from the base and having a groove diameter and depth. The body can be generally bell-shaped with the base having a larger diameter than the tip. The system can further include a riser, either disk or wedge shaped, and a rocker base. The system components are configured to stack and nest into a compact assembly for easy carrying as a kit.
US08932313B2

A blood collection system for collecting blood from a body part for diagnostic purposes, comprising a housing with a lancet guide, by which a lancet is guided on a predetermined puncture path, and a lancet drive for driving a puncturing movement of the lancet on the predetermined puncture path. The puncturing movement comprises a forward movement phase in the direction of puncturing and, after reaching a reversal point, a subsequent retraction movement phase in the direction opposite the puncture direction. The lancet drive has a driving spring, which is arranged behind the lancet and is connected to the lancet during the forward movement phase of the puncturing movement so that the lancet is driven in the puncturing direction. The system comprises an oscillation control device for controlling oscillation of the lancet and the driving spring in such a manner that repeated puncturing of the body part by the lancet is prevented.
US08932312B2

A surgical cutting instrument for use with a drive motor, and related system and method, is described. The surgical cutting instrument includes an elongated drive member, a cutting tip secured to the drive member, a non-conductive coupling body adapted for connection to a motor assembly, a housing maintaining the coupling body, a fluid coupling assembly and an electrical connector for connection to a stimulating energy source. The electrical connector is in electrical communication with the cutting tip via an electrical pathway.
US08932305B2

A tissue fastening apparatus related to the present invention includes; a tissue fastening tool formed of a wire wound into a coil shape provided with a first tissue fixing section which is hooked onto a first biological tissue and a second tissue fixing section which is hooked onto a second biological tissue; a tubular puncturing tool which extends a tissue fastening tool and accommodates the stretched tissue fastening tool inside of the puncturing tool; a fastening tool pusher in which the distal end thereof is inserted into the puncturing tool and dispenses the tissue fastening tool inserted into the puncturing tool from a distal end of the puncturing tool when the fastening tool pusher advances; and a rotating mechanism to rotate the puncturing tool when the fastening tool pusher advances.
US08932302B2

An inserter can be used to implant a distractible intervertebral body fusion device into a disc space and expand the device. The inserter includes a shaft frame and a drive shaft assembly for expanding the device and a support shaft assembly for stabilizing the device extending distally from the shaft frame. A drive housing can be operably connected to the shaft frame and extend outwardly from shaft frame distal of a proximal end of the shaft frame. Drive housing can have an internal passage that provides access into the shaft frame to a proximal end of the drive shaft assembly. An actuation tool can be disposed with the drive housing with a distal end extending through the access into the shaft frame to interface with the proximal end of the drive shaft assembly such that activation of the actuation tool rotates the drive shaft assembly to expand the device.
US08932291B2

An electrosurgical generator is provided and includes an RF energy output module and an energy request detection module both in communication with one or more processors of the electrosurgical generator. The RF energy module outputting RF energy through a first transformer, and the energy request detection module in electrical communication with primary windings of a second transformer. An electrosurgical instrument is provided and includes a housing, at least one treatment member and one or more switches. The switch is in electrical communication with the first transformer and is coupled to secondary windings of the second transformer such that when the at least one switch is moved to a closed configuration the energy detection module detects an occurrence at the second transformer and provides a signal to the at least one processor to transmit electrosurgical energy to the electrosurgical instrument.
US08932285B2

An electrosurgical instrument is provided for the treatment of tissue, the instrument comprising an instrument shaft (10) having a longitudinal axis, and an electrode assembly at one end of the shaft. The electrode assembly comprises a first tissue treatment electrode (11), a second tissue treatment electrode (14), and a third electrode (25) which is electrically insulated from the first and second tissue treatment electrodes by means of an insulation member (12). The first and second tissue treatment electrodes (11, 14) each have an exposed surface for treating tissue, the exposed surface of the first tissue treatment electrode (11) being such as to treat tissue disposed on the longitudinal axis, and the exposed surface of the second tissue treatment electrode (14) being such as to treat tissue disposed laterally of the longitudinal axis. The instrument has a first set of connections (62A, 62B) by which the first tissue treatment electrode (11) can be placed in circuit with the second electrode (14) such that, in use, a current path is established therebetween. The instrument has a second set of connections (62B, 62C) by which the second tissue treatment electrode (14) can be placed in circuit with the third electrode (25) such that, in use, a current path is established therebetween.
US08932276B1

Shapeable guide catheters and methods for manufacturing and using such shapeable guide catheters. In one embodiment, the shapeable guide catheter comprises a tubular member having a shapeable region, a malleable shaping member attached to the shapeable region such that, when the shape of the shapeable region is changed from a first shape to a second shape, the shaping member will plastically deform to thereafter substantially hold the shapeable region in the second shape, a tubular outer jacket disposed about the outer surface of the tubular member and a tubular inner jacket disposed within the lumen of the tubular member. The shapeable region of the guide catheter may be manually formed into a desired shape before insertion of the guide catheter into the body. In some embodiments, the guide catheter is sized to be inserted through a nostril of a human patient and used to guide the transnasal insertion of another device (e.g., a guidewire, catheter, etc.) to a desired location within the nose, throat, ear or cranium of the subject.
US08932262B2

The present invention provides a medical device for insertion into a body, the device having at least one surface covered by and attached to at least one detachable cover and at least one surface hole, such as the cover encapsulate and seals the medical device. The cover can be detached and pulled off the device which remains in the body. The cover includes at least one sealing element for preventing ingress of fluids between the cover and at least part of the medical device. The cover and the at least one sealing element, encapsulates the medical device though it's length, overlapping at least one surface hole.The cover and the at least one sealing element are designed to isolate at least one hole from at least another holes, while enabling free passage through it, in at least partial time period in which the medical device is within the body.
US08932260B2

Tear-away and non-tear-away sheath introducers for catheters, methods for making such introducers, and methods for using such introducers are described. The sheath introducers contain movable valves that are encapsulated in a movable housing that allows the valve to move along the axis of the introducer. As the movable valve and housing travel along the axis, a portion of the hub protrudes past the valve and is exposed. As well, the sheath introducers can also contain a stationary valve and housing that can be opened to expose a portion of the hub when a conduit penetrates the stationary valve. In both instances, the protruding portion of the hub contains a friction-free pathway for a catheter into the sheath introducer. The introducers can therefore be used with any catheter, regardless of the size or material, because of the reduced or eliminated frictional force between the catheter and introducer.
US08932253B2

A method and apparatus for infusing medication into a patient's body using a medication chamber referenced to ambient pressure. The apparatus includes a medication chamber enclosed by a peripheral wall which includes a movable portion configured to transfer exterior ambient pressure into the chamber. Means are provided for exerting a negative bias force acting on the movable portion in a direction opposed to the ambient pressure force. Thus, the resultant pressure in the chamber will be negative with respect to ambient pressure, reducing the risk that the chamber can be overpressurized and produce an unintended medication discharge.
US08932249B2

A trocar assembly including a sleeve assembly defining a working channel extending axially therethrough and including an insufflation port in fluid communication with the working channel, and an insufflation valve assembly fluidly coupled to the insufflation port, the insufflation valve assembly including a valve member and a housing, wherein the valve member defines an inlet channel and is biased relative to the housing to a first position in which the inlet channel is in fluid communication with the working channel, and wherein the valve member is moveable relative to the housing from the first position to a second position in which the inlet channel is fluidly decoupled from the working channel.
US08932246B2

The present invention relates to a device for circulating a body fluid in a body of a living organism, especially to support the heart and/or circulation of the living organism, comprising a catheter device which has at least one inlet portion to take up the body fluid at at least one first location within the body of the living organism, at least one outlet portion some distance from the at least one inlet portion to discharge the body fluid at at least one second location some distance from the at least one first location within the body of the living organism and a pump device for directed transport of the body fluid between the at least one inlet portion and the at least one outlet portion of the catheter device; and a valve arrangement coupled to the catheter device for controlled uptake of the body fluid as a function of operation of the pump device at the at least one inlet portion of the catheter device and controlled discharge of the body fluid at the at least one outlet portion of the catheter device.
US08932244B1

A wearable device for spinal decompression of dogs or other quadrupedal animals. The preferred embodiment of the device comprises front and rear harnesses of flexible material extending around the animal's torso, curved members attached to the front and rear harnesses and lying along the animal's body, and rigid extensible braces connected to the front and rear curved members, generally parallel to the animal's spine. The harnesses, braces, and curved members are selected or can be adjusted to fit the animal. The extensible rods are adjustable, with means to produce therapeutic decompression and support of the animal's spine between the front and rear harnesses.
US08932240B2

A method and a continuous passive motion device for providing a dynamically loaded force and a static progressive force to a joint of a patient.
US08932234B2

Devices, systems, and methods for the collection of biological samples. In at least one exemplary embodiment, a device comprises a collection medium having top and bottom surfaces and a predetermined size and shape, the top surface comprising a position marker and at least one binding site operable to bind a biological sample, a protective facing substantially impermeable to the biological sample, the protective facing coupled to the top surface of the collection medium and having a size and shape substantially similar to the predetermined size and shape of the collection medium. The protective facing being sized and shaped to define a first void positioned to allow for the transfer of the biological sample through the protective facing and onto the at least one binding site of the collection medium, and a second void positioned to expose the position marker for alignment of the collection medium.
US08932231B2

A lacrimal drainage manometer includes a syringe having a syringe body and a piston. The syringe body defines a fluid cavity in fluid communication with a cannula configured for insertion into at least a portion of a lacrimal drainage system. The piston dispenses a fluid from the fluid cavity through the cannula. A pressure sensor is operably coupled to the syringe for measuring fluid pressure in the fluid cavity. A position sensor operably coupled to the syringe measures the position of the piston relative to the syringe body. A user feedback unit in electrical communication with the pressure sensor and the position sensor provides user feedback based on data from at least one of the pressure sensor and the position sensor indicative of a condition of the lacrimal drainage system.
US08932216B2

Methods and systems for providing therapy related data management are provided. The subject systems include one or more device components, and at least one memory storage unit and at least one data storage unit associated with such one or more device components. The device components may include one or more of an analyte monitoring system, a fluid delivery device and a remote terminal. The subject methods include use of the subject systems to optimize treatment of a patient.
US08932214B2

The invention is directed to a surgical access system that provides access to a surgical area while maintaining pneumoperitoneum during laparoscopic surgery. The access system comprises a sheath retractor adapted to dilate a wound stretchable to a desired diameter and a detachable seal adapted to be removable from the sheath retractor. In another aspect, the detachable seal comprising a valve including a plurality of overlapping sheets defining an access channel that extends into communication with the incision in the patient. Each of the overlapping sheets includes a portion of the perimeter that is not fixed to the inner diameter of the ring, which provide open edges defining the access channel.
US08932209B2

A scanning endoscopic device includes an optical fiber allowing irradiation light guided from a proximal side fiber portion to a distal side fiber portion to exit from a distal end thereof, and an actuator section placed to a distal direction side of the proximal fiber portion. The scanning endoscopic device includes a light absorbing section absorbing beam light having directivity in one direction, and the light absorbing section includes a black filling member filling a space between the proximal side fiber portion and an outer envelope tube in radial directions. The device further includes a light scattering section provided between the proximal side fiber portion and the outer envelope tube in the radial directions to scatter the beam of light.
US08932208B2

Devices, tools and methods for performing minimally invasive surgical procedures. Methods of performing minimally invasive ablation procedures. Methods of performing rapid exchange of tools in a device while the device remains in a reduced-access surgical space.
US08932202B2

A surgical implant for treating female urinary incontinence comprises a suburethral support and first and second polymer soft tissue anchors. The suburethral support has a first end portion and a second end portion located opposite the first end portion. Each of the first and second soft tissue anchors is connected to a respective one of the first and second opposite end portions of the suburethral support. The first and second anchors are configured to penetrate and retain in soft tissue. A length of the implant between the first and second soft tissue anchors is configured to allow the suburetnral support to be positioned below a urethra of a patient and to allow the anchors to be retained in soft tissue on first and second sides of the urethra without the anchors penetrating the abdominal wall.
US08932198B1

Provided in the present invention is a method of providing treatment for a sleeping disorder.
US08932188B2

A weight apparatus includes a bar including a handle rotatably attached to an anchorage. The anchorage includes a body and at least one radially extendable and retractable pin, the pin being movable relative to the body between an innermost position and an outermost position. An end of the pin extends radially beyond an external surface of the body when the pin is in the outermost position. The apparatus further includes a weight including a weight opening in which the anchorage is adapted to be received. The weight includes a radially extending pin opening adapted to receive the pin when the pin is in the outermost position to attach the weight to the anchorage. An arrangement is provided for driving the pin to the outermost position upon rotation of the handle relative to the anchorage.
US08932179B2

Systems and methods for improving operation of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, a method for transitioning between driveline braking and wheel brakes is provided.
US08932178B2

A vehicle includes a transmission between an engine and a drive wheel and includes a differential mechanism (planetary gear mechanism) between the engine and an engagement device (transmission). A controller (ECU) included in the vehicle calculates a variation rate in the whole rotation energy of the planetary gear mechanism when it is in the inertia phase of a shift. The ECU increasingly corrects an engine generated power and decreasingly corrects a transmission transfer power when the variation rate is higher than 0. The ECU decreasingly corrects the engine generated power and increasingly correct the transmission transfer power when the variation rate is lower than 0.
US08932176B2

A method of locking a linear output member in a retracted position within a linear actuator, where the linear output member is capable of axial motion within a housing of the linear actuator, includes rotating a generally tubular rotor disposed within a rotary lock assembly of the actuator to a first rotor position, and shifting a lock capable of radial displacement within the rotary lock assembly based on rotating the rotor to the first position. The lock engages a radial groove of the linear output member when the linear output member is in a retracted position. The rotary lock assembly is constrained from axial motion. The radial groove of the linear output member includes an axially angled, substantially planar surface. The lock is configured to include an axially angled surface shaped complimentary to the axially angled, substantially planar surface of the radial groove.
US08932173B2

An automated manual transmission for a vehicle includes an input shaft and an output shaft disposed parallel to each other, a controller and a plurality of external gear trains, planetary gear devices and friction elements. Each external gear train comprises two external gears coaxially and respectively provided on the input and output shafts, and selectively engaged with each other to form a series of gear stages. Each planetary gear device selectively connects one of the two external gears in a corresponding external gear train such that a state of transmitting rotating force to a shaft, on which the selected external gear is provided, can be changed. Each friction element controls rotation of a rotational element of a corresponding planetary gear device. The controller controls the friction elements in accordance with driving conditions of the vehicle, thereby shifting the gear stages.
US08932167B2

A hydraulic control system for a transmission of a motor vehicle includes a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid that communicates with an analog electronic transmission range selection (ETRS) subsystem or a manual valve. The ETRS subsystem includes an ETRS valve, a park servo, a park mechanism, a mode valve, and a plurality of solenoids. The ETRS and manual valve communicate with a clutch actuator subsystem that engages a one-way clutch and six clutches/brakes.
US08932165B2

A toothed belt includes a body, at least one tooth formed of the body, a jacket disposed along a peripheral surface of the at least one tooth and having a compressed thickness in the range from 0.5 mm to about 0.8 mm, and at least one cord embedded in the body and having a diameter. The at least one cord and said jacket have a ratio of said cord diameter to said jacket thickness of less than 1.8, and said cord diameter and said jacket thickness describe an optical belt PLD of about 1.2 mm or less.
US08932164B2

There is provided a wear-resistant chain having a high durability even in severe use environments such as those of a timing chain of an engine even though it is highly efficient and productive. A miniaturizing agent containing silicon is doped in a vanadium cementation process of a base material of steel. Vanadium carbide forming a surface-hardened layer contains a secondary phase composed of an amorphous structure containing silicon within crystal grains and a crystal grain size of the vanadium carbide is miniaturized to 1 μm or less.
US08932162B2

A front derailleur that includes a fixing member that is configured to be fixed to a bicycle frame, a chain guide movable between a retracted position and an extended position with respect to the fixing member, a linkage mechanism coupling the chain guide to the fixing member, and a biasing member that biases the chain guide toward one of the retracted position and the extended position. The linkage mechanism includes a first link member that is pivotable with respect to the fixing member about a first axis and is pivotable with respect to the chain guide about a second axis that is positioned above the first axis when the fixing member is fixed to the bicycle frame. The biasing member is coaxially arranged around the second axis.
US08932145B2

To provide an inexpensive golf club grip with an improved feel of grip and ball direction control.A grip 10 has a double structure in a certain region 12. The grip 10 includes a grip main body 14 made of a soft resin and an end cap 15 made of a hard resin. The grip main body 14 is formed by insert molding with the end cap 15 being the insert. The end cap 15 includes a cylindrical portion 13. The cylindrical portion 13 has a specific length in the axial direction. The cylindrical portion 13 is inserted into a rear end portion of the grip main body 14. Thus, the torsional rigidity is improved in the region 12. The grip main body 14 is molded using a pin gate mold so that a gate mark 19 can double as a mark indicative of the center thereof.
US08932140B2

Club cards and tickets can be eliminated by providing an application that allows a player's mobile phone to process an image of an optical machine-readable representation of data. At the end of a wagering session on a WGM, the WGM can display a barcode representing a player's winnings, an achievement, game status, etc. The player takes a picture of the barcode with his or her mobile phone. The application on the phone processes the barcode image and automatically updates an account of the player in accordance with the data represented or carried by the barcode. For instance, the mobile phone sends a request to a wagering account server to electronically deposit the winnings, as represented by the barcode, in a wagering account associated with the player's club profile.
US08932127B2

An embodiment of the inventive method commences with the provision of a plurality of secondary games, which may be default secondary games and/or user-initiated secondary games. The latter may have aspects that are dependent upon data entered by the initiating user into their gaming terminal 5. The method proceeds with the provision to the users of information 32 regarding each of the available secondary games (or at least a subset thereof). This assists the users to make informed decisions regarding in which of the secondary games they wish to participate. The method further includes the step of allowing each of the users to register and/or deregister their respective gaming terminal 5 for participation in a selected one of the secondary games.
US08932121B2

Players in a multi-state card game, such as blackjack or baccarat, are presented with opportunities to exchange their cards for new cards when the card game is in one or more particular states. These opportunities may include offers to redeal the player's hand of cards or redeal the player's opponent's hand of cards. Additionally, when the player is dealt a new card to be added to the player's hand, the player may be offered options to discard the new card, replace the new card with another new card, or to redeal the player's hand and/or the opponent's hand. In this way, the player may be able to improve his or her position in the card game. At the same time, the game provider may charge the player for acceptance of these offers, thus improving the profit margin of the game provider.
US08932115B2

An abrasive article is provided. The article includes (a) a flexible backing having opposing first and second surfaces; (b) an abrasive layer comprising plurality of abrasive particles disposed on the first surface of the flexible backing; and (c) an adhesive layer comprising load bearing particles and an adhesive matrix, the adhesive layer disposed on the second surface of the polymer layer. At least a portion of the load bearing particles is substantially enveloped in the adhesive matrix and is in contact with the second surface of the polymer substrate.
US08932113B2

A grinding machine with 5-axis for cutters is disclosed, the grinding machine includes a grinding machine base (12) with an circular upper horizontal surface and a pillar (56) provided on one side of the grinding machine base, the pillar is curved with a radian of 180° along a side edge of the base, a groove body (63) on the circular base is enclosed by a curved vertical plate on the another side edge, and the height of vertical plate is lower than that of the pillar. The center of a circle is used as machining center of the grinding machine, so that heat is dissipated outwards uniformly and radially from the center of the grinding machine, the deformation caused by heat in all direction is approximate, and it is easy for temperature compensation, the influence on the machining quality caused by heat deformation is reduced, errors are reduced, the grinding machine is specially suitable for machining cutters with high accuracy requirements, the bed body with the circular base has good stability and balance performance.
US08932107B2

A polishing apparatus includes a platen to hold a polishing pad having a plurality of optical apertures, a carrier head to hold a substrate against the polishing pad, a motor to generate relative motion between the carrier head and the platen, and an optical monitoring system. The optical monitoring system includes at least one light source, a common detector, and an optical assembly configured to direct light from the at least one light source to each of a plurality of separated positions in the platen, to direct light from each position of the plurality of separated positions to the substrate as the substrate passes over said each position, to receive reflected light from the substrate as the substrate passes over said each position, and to direct the reflected light from each of the plurality of separated positions to the common detector.
US08932104B2

A one piece sports bra with a maximally adjustable back strap and two maximally adjustable shoulder straps of substantially elastic hook and loop material. The back straps can be attached to hardware atop breast two covers and worn in a crisscross or conventional pattern.
US08932103B2

A breast-supportive and breast-positioning brassiere designed to be used postoperatively by patients including obese patients and fuller-sized women who have undergone cardiothoracic surgery that requires a mid-sternal incision (sternotomy). The brassiere is also for other interventions in the thoracic region, when a comfortable and efficient individual positioning and support of the breast(s) would be desirable; an example being to prevent symmastia after breast augmentation surgery. The brassiere prevents gravitation of the breast tissue to the lateral sides, keeps the breast tissue away from the mid center, and supports the weight of the breasts. The brassiere is designed to promote less pain, less wound complications, esthetically improved wound healing, less heat generation, improved wound inspection and access for wound care, while maintaining support and dignity.
US08932095B1

An outrigger system for a paddle board uses an outrigger that is connected to the board via a pair of spaced apart extension arms that are angled upwardly above the water. A pair of plates is positioned onto opposing deck surfaces of the board and strapped together at either end and tightened so that boards of various sizes can be accommodated. The upper plate receives one end of the extension arm. Two such plate systems are provided with the lower plate spaced apart from the board surface via a riser system to help prevent plate twisting during board travel. One or two kick bars run between the two extension arms and provide a basis of side support for a rider who may be fishing and provide a rectangular frame for installing a deck between board and outrigger.
US08932094B2

A stringer for use in a board comprising an internal core and an outer skin, the stringer comprising a first compressible side member adjacent the outer skin on a first side of the board and a second compressible side member adjacent the outer skin on a second opposite side of the board. A central member is provided extending from a location adjacent the first member to a location adjacent the second side member, the first and second side members being relatively flexible in relation to the central member. Longitudinal flexing of the board results in compression of the first and second side members by the central member such that as the amount of flexing increases, the force transferred through the first and second side members from the outer skin to the central member increases, thereby increasing the stiffness of the board.
US08932082B2

An electrical connector mountable on a printed circuit board includes an insulative housing and pairs of power contacts. Each power contact has a contacting portion, a tail portion and an intermediate portion interconnecting the contacting portion and the tail portion. The intermediate portion is provided with a retention element in a rear edge thereof extending towards an inside wall of a passageway defined through the insulative housing. Each inside wall of the passageway forms a bump thereon extending along an insertion direction of a complementary connector. The retention element rides on the bump to thereby prevent an involuntarily anti-clockwise movement of the insulative housing with respect to the printed circuit board.
US08932080B2

An electrical connector for electrically connecting an IC package to a circuit board includes a first insulating housing, a second insulating housing and a plurality of contacts received therein. The contact includes a base portion received in the first insulating housing, and a contacting portion extending upwardly from the base portion and received in the second insulating housing. The first insulating housing includes a first shielding member around the base portion of the contact while the second insulating housing includes a second shielding member around the contacting portion of the contact so that an electrical connector with improved shielding means is provided.
US08932074B2

The invention relates to a contacting arrangement for conductors provided on flat structures, namely glass panes, the conductors having a contact point in their connecting section, wherein one end of a connecting cable or another connection device is electrically and mechanically connected with a pad including a conductive fleece or double-sided conductive adhesive tape, wherein the connecting cable configured in this way is introduced into an encasement block which is open at one side and which includes a frame which surrounds the fleece or the conductive adhesive tape and which is provided with adhesive, wherein the surface of the conductive fleece which is laterally defined by the frame is matched to the area of the contact point in order to provide a contact connection between the contact point and the fleece surface through an adhesive joint between the frame and the flat structure, wherein the frame with the encasement element closes off the contact point in sealing fashion towards the ambient and a portion of the frame is usable as a sealing lip for preventing adhesives from spreading out when the glass pane is fitted.
US08932073B2

The invention relates to an electrical clip connector for an electrical connection of a cable (20) to an electrical mating connector, in particular to an electrical connection device of a controller for an electric motor of a cooling fan, wherein the clip connector (100) has a holder section (110) and a fastening section (120), and at least one electrical line (200) of the cable (20) can be provided in the holder section (110) in such a way that an electrical contact device (210) of the line (200) projects freely from said holder section, and the clip connector (1) can be fitted to the connection device by means of the fastening section (120). The invention also relates to an electrical clip connection having an electrical clip connector (100) and an electrical mating connector, in particular an electrical connection device of an electrical/electronic device, wherein an electrical contact device (210), in particular a flat plug sleeve (210) or a socket contact, of the clip connector (100) can be accommodated and is accommodated in the mating connector by way of a circumferential section in at least two steps in a successively more interlocking manner when the clip connection comprising the clip connector (100) and the mating connector is established. The invention also relates to a ready-to-use electrical cable (20), in particular for electrically connecting a controller (3) to an electric motor (2) of a cooling fan, having an electrical clip connector (100) according to the invention.
US08932071B2

Aspects herein relate to an attachable plug-type connector for attachment to a plate-like component part, in particular a device or housing wall, with an attachable housing and a contact carrier. In one implementation, the contact carrier may be arranged in the attachable housing and has at least one female or male contact in a plug-in section of the attachable plug-type connector and at least one connection element. Further, the attachable housing may have at least one plug-in stop and may include an attachable arrangement with a plate-like component part and an attachable plug-type connector.
US08932067B2

An electrical connector (100) for electrically connecting an IC package (9) with a substrate and includes an insulative housing (10) with a plurality of contacts (101) received therein, a load plate (3) pivotally covered the insulative housing (10), a carrier (8) assembled to the load plate (3) for holding the IC package (9) and a lock member (4) for positioning the load plate (3) in a closed position, the carrier (8) comprises a holding member (81) and a sliding member (83) assembled to the holding member (81), the holding member (81) and the sliding member (83) both comprises a position portion (8101, 8311) fastened with the load plate (3), and the sliding member (83) slides along the holding member (81) to make the position portion (8311) of the sliding member (83) fastened with the load plate (3).
US08932063B2

One embodiment of a Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH) laser ablation simulator includes a frame, a mock hypotube, a mock laser fiber, a mock camera assembly, a laser fiber position tracker and a camera position tracker. The mock hypotube is supported by the frame, has a longitudinal axis, is received within the hypotube and is configured to move along the longitudinal axis and rotate about a laser fiber central axis relative to the hypotube. The mock camera assembly is attached to the hypotube and is configured to rotate about a camera central axis relative to the hypotube. The laser fiber position tracker is configured to output laser fiber position information that is indicative of a position of the mock laser fiber relative to the hypotube. The camera position tracker is configured camera position information that is indicative of a position of the mock camera assembly relative to the hypotube.
US08932060B2

Dentinal tubules sealing method using dentinal tubules sealant that is to be applied to a dentin surface to fill solid particles into dentinal tubules, wherein the dentinal tubules sealant comprises a water-based dispersing agent in which solid particles are dispersed and which has a solid/liquid ratio of from 0.3 to 2.6, and the method comprises applying the dentinal tubules sealant to a dentin surface to fill solid particles into dentinal tubules, and then removing a solid component adhering to the dentin surface by scrubbing using water. Thus, pains, hyperesthesia, and so on are allowed to be suppressed because dentinal tubules will be filled and sealed with solid particles and a curable composition is allowed to exhibit improved adhesive properties to a dentin surface because solid components adhering to the dentin surface can be removed by scrubbing using water.
US08932056B2

Endodontic instruments are described which have at least a section with a center of mass offset from an axis of rotation so that when the instrument is rotated, the section bends away from the axis of rotation.
US08932033B2

A positive displacement pump is provided. The pump includes a housing, and first and second meshed rotors rotatably disposed in the housing and arranged to transform relatively low-pressure inlet port air into relatively high-pressure outlet port air. The pump additionally includes first and second meshed timing gears fixed relative to the first and second rotors, respectively, for preventing contact between the first and second rotors, and sufficiently enclosed to generate a flow of lubricating fluid. Furthermore, the blower includes an input drive adapted to be rotatably driven at speeds proportional to speeds of an internal combustion engine and arranged to drive the first and second timing gears.
US08932030B2

A piston type pumping apparatus comprises a vertically oriented cylinder having a top and a bottom with a first aperture. There are first and second passageways for liquid in the cylinder at the top and bottom respectively thereof. A piston is reciprocatingly mounted within the cylinder and has an area against which pressurized fluid acts in the direction of movement of the piston. A hollow piston rod is connected to the piston and extends below the piston and slidably through the first aperture. There is a reload chamber below the cylinder. The piston rod extends slidably into the reload chamber and has a third passageway for liquid communicating thereto. A first one-way valve is located in the third passageway. There is also a fourth passageway that extends from the reload chamber to a source of liquid to be pumped and a second one-way valve therein.
US08932028B2

A bladeless fan assembly for creating an air current includes a nozzle mounted on a base housing a device for creating an air flow. The nozzle includes an interior passage for receiving the air flow and a mouth for emitting the air flow. The nozzle defines, and extends about, an opening through which air from outside the fan assembly is drawn by the air flow emitted from the mouth. The nozzle also includes a heater for heating the air flow upstream of the mouth.
US08932027B2

A portable air pump includes a head member located on one end of the pump body thereof and having a beveled face, a biasing member carrying a pressure gauge and having a beveled face pivotally connected to the beveled face of the head member in such a manner that the biasing member is biasable relative to the head member between a received position where the biasing member is kept in axial alignment with the portable air pump and an extended position where the pressure gauge is kept facing toward the handle of the portable air pump convenient for reading by the user and the biasing member is workable as a footplate for supporting the portable air pump on the floor for use as a floor type air pump.
US08932023B2

A rotor wheel for a turbomachine includes a rotor wheel body having a first face and an opposing second face joined by an outer diameter surface having a centerline. A blade receiving slot is formed in the outer diameter surface and extends about the rotor wheel body. A blade loading slot is formed in the outer diameter surface. The blade loading slot is connected with and axially off-set from the blade receiving slot.
US08932020B2

A low-pressure turbine for a turbomachine including turbine disks with festooned annular flanges for fastening to a festooned annular flange of a drive cone connecting the turbine disks to a turbine shaft, solid portions of the festooned annular flanges of the turbine disks and of the drive cone being connected to peripheries of the turbine disks and of the drive cone, respectively, via concave filets that are asymmetrical.
US08932018B2

A device for controlling orientation of fan blades of a turboprop including at least one set of fan blades having adjustable orientation attached in rotation to a rotating ring mechanically connected to a turbine rotor. Each blade of the set is coupled to a blade root support pivotably mounted on the rotating ring by a conical gear train including a first gear wheel attached to the blade root support and a second gear wheel attached to the rotating ring and bearing a counterweight that is eccentric with respect to its axis of rotation. A cylinder attached in rotation to the turbine rotor and a rod of which is connected to each counterweight through a connecting arm makes it possible to impart synchronous angular displacement to all the counterweights about the axis of rotation of their respective gear wheel.
US08932014B2

A fan assembly includes a first fan and a second fan stacked together. Each of the first fan and the second fan includes a frame and a supporting base received in the frame. Several extending portions extend from a bottom of the frame of the first fan. A buckling block is formed on an inner side face of each of the extending portions. Several receiving portions are formed at a top of the frame of the second fan corresponding to the extending portions, respectively. A positioning groove is defined in each of the receiving portions. The buckling blocks are engagingly received in the positioning grooves.
US08932011B2

A shaft assembly for a gas turbine engine that includes a shaft with a threaded shaft segment, an annular rotor disposed on the shaft, and annular stack nut. The stack nut includes a base nut segment and a clamping nut segment. The base nut segment includes a threaded nut bore that is mated with the threaded shaft segment. The clamping nut segment axially extends from the base nut segment to a load bearing surface. The clamping nut segment includes a radial thickness that decreases as the clamping nut segment extends from the load bearing surface towards the base nut segment. The load bearing surface exerts a force against the rotor securing the rotor to the shaft.
US08932010B2

A centrifugal fan module, a heat dissipation device having the same and an electric device having the heat dissipation device are provided, in which the heat dissipation device includes a fin module and a centrifugal fan module including a volute-shaped frame and a centrifugal fan pivoted in the volute-shaped frame. The volute-shaped frame includes an air inlet, a larger air outlet and a smaller air outlet. The air inlet and the smaller air outlet are both on the same surface of the volute-shaped frame. The larger air outlet is coupled to the fin module. The smaller air outlet is arranged correspondingly to a maximum wind-speed flowing path of the centrifugal fan.
US08932009B2

A device for supporting a ring of a gas turbine, the ring configured to surround mobile blades of the turbine which are driven by a gas stream flowing upstream to downstream. The device includes at least one upstream hook facing upstream, to be housed in an upstream groove of the ring, opened toward the downstream direction, and at least one downstream hook facing downstream, to be housed in a downstream groove of the ring, opened toward the upstream direction. The hooks are protected and clearances at apexes of the blades are more easily controlled. The device further includes, upstream from the upstream hook, a mechanism injecting cooling gas to cool the upstream hook and/or includes, downstream from the downstream hook, a mechanism injecting a cooling gas to cool the downstream hook.
US08932002B2

An air turbine starter is provided and includes a rotor including turbine blades, which is rotatable about a rotational axis, a housing including a portion thereof radially surrounding the turbine blades to define a pathway along which fluids flow to interact with the turbine blades and a containment ring affixed to an exterior of the portion of the housing radially surrounding the turbine blades.
US08932001B2

Certain embodiments of the invention may include systems, methods and apparatus for providing a labyrinth seal. In an example embodiment, a method is provided for sealing a flow path between a stationary element and a rotating element of a turbomachine. The method can include disposing at least one fixture on an inner surface of a stationary element associated with the turbomachine; disposing a packing ring linked via a spring element to the fixture wherein the packing ring comprises at least one bore; and disposing, according to a predetermined profile, a plurality of interdigitated packing ring teeth and rotor teeth intermediate to the packing ring and the rotating element; wherein the bore, packing ring teeth, and rotor teeth, cooperate to counter a moment associated with one or more axial forces.
US08931997B2

An apparatus for picking up stacks of bales and moving them into and/or out from a trailer. The trailer has a moving floor and is pivotally attached to the prime mover along a vertical axis and along a horizontal axis. Tandem wheels attached to the frame are moveable between a forward position and a rear position and can be locked in either the forward or rear position. Ground engaging tracks are attached to the trailer for moving the trailer forward or back. A starter conveyor section operatively attached to the rear of the trailer with a forward end being adjacent to the rear of the moving floor. The starter conveyor section tilts with the trailer to have a first elevated position when the frame is in transport position and a second position close to the ground when the trailer is in the tilted loading/unloading position.
US08931995B2

A seed cart includes first and second mating frames. The hopper is mounted on the first frame for holding seed and has an outlet to discharge the seed. A conveyor is mounted on the second frame for movement between seed loading and unloading positions. A plurality of cylinders with extendible and retractable arms control the desired position of the conveyor. A plurality of load cells are mounted on the second frame and support the first frame. The weigh scales weigh the first frame, the hopper, and the seed in the hopper, without weighing the conveyor. Therefore, an accurate amount of seed can be dispensed from the hopper via the conveyor. Wheels and a hitch tongue can be detachably mounted on the second frame to convert the cart from a stationary unit to a mobile unit.
US08931984B2

The present invention relates to a processing head for processing machines, preferably tooth milling and tooth grinding machines, comprising a direct drive which is arranged in a processing head bed of a processing machine, wherein the direct drive comprises at least two motors actuatable in synchronism with each other.
US08931982B2

A throw-away rotating tool includes plural protrusions formed in a part of an outer peripheral wall of a projecting coupling portion. Since the twist angle and a twist direction of the protrusions are set in such a way that with relative rotation when coupling the projecting coupling portion and erected portions together, due to the reaction force received by the protrusions from inner peripheral walls, the projecting coupling portion is pulled to the rear and side of the erected portions and the projecting coupling portion is stably held between the erected portions. Since the number of portions that require stringent dimension control and high machining accuracy can be reduced, productivity can be improved.
US08931981B2

In order to allow high-precision machining of the inner surface of a pipe using little machining time, the draw broach has a cutting part having a plurality of cutters extending in the axial draw direction. The cutting part is divided into a main part and an insertion part tapering conically in the draw direction. The insertion part in turn is divided into a front region, viewed in the draw direction, forming a pre-cutting stage, and a rear region, wherein the conicity of the pre-cutting stage is less than that of the rear region.
US08931979B2

A cutting insert has top and bottom surfaces in the thicknesswise direction, and front and rear surfaces in the widthwise direction. First and second cutting edges are formed in the lengthwise direction at intersection portions where the top surface intersects with the front and rear surfaces. Third and fourth cutting edges are formed in the lengthwise direction at intersection portions where the bottom surface intersects with the front and rear surfaces. The first to fourth cutting edges are divided by a plurality of recesses. The plurality of recesses are symmetric with respect to the lengthwise centerline (A), which runs between the first and third cutting edges on the front surface and are asymmetric with respect to the thicknesswise centerline (B) perpendicular to the lengthwise centerline (A).
US08931965B2

An optical connector includes an insulative housing, an optical module movably retained on the insulative housing, and a spring being assembled between the insulative housing and the optical module along a front to back direction. The optical module has a hemispheric projection at a rear side thereof. The spring has a first end positioned on the insulative housing and a second end ringing on the projection and resisting against a hemispheric surface of the projection. The second end moves on the hemispheric surface of the projection when the spring is compressed to move upwardly or laterally.
US08931963B2

The invention relates to a plug-in connector for connecting at least one conductor, in particular a conductor cable with an optical conductor, comprising a main body (2) having a continuous opening, a tube-like conductor holder (3) and an anti-kink element (4). The conductor holder (3) is arranged at least partially inside the main body and movably mounted therein. The anti-kink element (4) protrudes at least partially over the main body (2). A spring element (5) is provided for positioning the conductor relative to the main body (2) and is clamped between the conductor holder (3) and the anti-kink element (4).
US08931960B2

A bearing assembly (20) for use in a medical, surgical, or dental handpiece (10) that enables spindle rotation for a supported rotary tool (36) at high speeds. The bearing assembly (28) incorporates annular gap shields (50, 54) at each axial end to prevent contaminate ingress and to retain lubricating grease within the bearing assembly (28) to avoid re-lubricated after each use or sterilization cycle.
US08931958B2

In a synthetic resin-made thrust sliding bearing, a silicone grease whose base oil is a silicone oil, whose coefficient of kinematic viscosity at 25° C. is not less than 100 cSt and not more than 500,000 cSt, and which contains a thickener so as to set its worked penetration to not less than 200 and not more than 400 is interposed at sliding interfaces between, on the one hand, an upper surface of a lower annular flat plate-shaped portion defining a bottom surface of a lower annular recess and a lower surface of an upper annular flat plate-shaped portion and, on the other hand, an upper surface and a lower surface of a thrust bearing piece which are respectively brought into sliding contact with the upper and the lower surface.
US08931956B2

A hydrostatic rail guide includes a guide rail, a guide carriage, a hydrostatic supply device, a measurement device and a controller. The guide carriage is hydrostatically mounted on the guide rail and has a hydrostatic channel filled with oil. The oil keeps the guide carriage and the guide rail at a gap. The hydrostatic supply device is adapted for supplying the oil to the hydrostatic channel and adjusting the pressure of the oil. The measurement device is installed on the guide carriage and adapted for detecting the gap between the guide carriage and the guide rail and for producing a distance signal of the measured gap. The controller is connected to the hydrostatic supply device and the measurement device. The controller is adapted for controlling the hydrostatic supply device, based on the distance signal, in order to adjust the hydrostatic pressure of the oil after being pressurized.
US08931953B2

The present invention provides an ultra-low power embedded CMOS temperature sensor based on serially connected subthreshold MOS operation particularly well suited for passive RFID food monitoring applications. Employing serially connected subthreshold MOS as sensing element enables reduced minimum supply voltage for further power reduction, which is very important in passive RFID applications. The temperature sensor may be part of a passive RFID tag and incorporates a temperature sensor core, proportional-to-absolute-temperature (PTAT) and complimentary-to-absolute-temperature (CTAT) delay generators, and a time-to-digital differential readout circuit. In one embodiment, the sensor is embedded inside a passive UHF RFID tag fabricated with a conventional 0.18 μm 1P6M CMOS process. With the sensor core working under 0.5 V and digital interfacing under 1 V, the sensor dissipates a measured total power of 119 nW at 33 samples/s and achieves an inaccuracy of +1/−0.8° C. from −10° C. to 30° C. after calibration.
US08931946B2

A set of optical sheets may perform at least one of diffusion, refraction, and condensation of light. The set of optical sheets may include a first optical sheet that includes a first base film and a first distinction unit disposed outside the first base film. The set of optical sheets may further include a second optical sheet that includes a second base film and a second distinction unit disposed outside the second base film. The second distinction unit may be spaced from the first distinction unit in a plan view of the set of optical sheets if the second base film complete overlaps the first base film.
US08931944B2

Display apparatuses are provided. The display apparatus includes a light source package generating light, a circuit board including a recessed region in which the light source package is disposed, a display panel displaying images, and a light guide plate directing the light generated from the light source package onto the display panel. The light guide plate includes a top surface, a bottom surface, and a plurality of sidewall surfaces. One of the sidewall surfaces of the light guide plate is a light incident surface on which the light from the light source package is irradiated. A distance between the light source package and the light incident surface is less than a width of the circuit board.
US08931936B1

A height-adjustable pendant lamp canopy assembly with an overhead-mounted junction box; a base-plate mounted transformer therein; an apertured insulating spacer plate below the base plate; a releasable cord grip with a threaded lower end protruding through the aperture; and, a clamping nut securing, releasably, the canopy cover on the end of the cord grip. A cord braid connector has a metal body with a cord-receiving, through-socket, a terminating portion for a fixture ground wire, and, a transverse screw hole. A braid-clamping, metal collar is clamped around braid of cord extending through the through-socket with the collar stuffed axially into the through-socket; and a clamping screw in the screw hole anchoring the metal collar and braid in the through-socket in a permanent electrical connection of the braid and the connector body, irrespective of limited lamp raising or lowering movement of the lamp power cord.
US08931934B2

An LED lamp includes a heat sink, a lamp shell and a light module. The heat sink includes a substrate and a plurality of fins. The substrate has a top surface and a bottom surface. The lamp shell is fixed to a periphery of the substrate. The light module is received between the lamp shell and the bottom surface of the substrate of the heat sink. The substrate defines a first through-hole through the top and bottom surfaces thereof to communicate airflow channels between the fins with a space below the bottom surface of the substrate, wherein the light module is received in the space.
US08931928B2

A lighting module has an array of light-emitting elements, a housing defining at least one opening, and a window frame that is selectively removable from the opening of the housing. The window frame has a frame and a window that is operably secured to the frame. The array of light-emitting elements is positioned within the housing. The window frame is replaceable or selectively removable from the housing of the lighting module. The window frame may include a gasket that is positioned between the frame and a portion of the window that is operably secured to the frame. In some examples, the gasket is a die-cut expanded PTFE gasket.
US08931916B2

The engineering solution relates to means for lighting a territory, mainly under emergency conditions. The solution allows for improving —reliability and stability of a lighting installation, and —convenience of carrying thereof and providing protection thereof during transportation. The lighting installation includes a base with supports, an inflatable shell secured to the base, and at least one electric lamp positioned inside the shell. The inner cavity of the shell is in communication with an air blower installed in the base. Each support has at least one hinge enabling turning the support and means for fixing the support. The solution contemplates a method for using the lighting installation, including mounting the installation on a power unit, before transforming thereof from a transportation position into an operative position. The place of power unit is adjusted to evenly distribute the installation's weight, the shell is inflated, the installation is secured to the power unit.
US08931911B2

Disclosed herein are a backlight unit and a display apparatus using the same. The backlight unit includes a first reflector, a second reflector partially having an inclined surface, at least one light source module disposed between the first and second reflectors, and at least one reflective structure disposed on the second reflector.
US08931907B2

According to an aspect, a projector device includes an image projecting unit and a control unit. The image projecting unit projects an image. The control unit acquires brightness information of regions included in a projection surface on which the image projecting unit can project the image, and causes the image projecting unit to project, based on the brightness information of the regions, the image on a low-brightness region, among the regions, whose brightness is lower than that of another region.
US08931901B2

An ophthalmologic apparatus includes a projection optical system configured to project a light flux on a subject's eye, a beam splitting member configured to form a split optical path corresponding to a light flux from a subject's eye, and an image-forming optical system configured to receive via the beam splitting member a light flux from the subject's eye, the image-forming optical system including an optical element having an optical characteristic that reduces astigmatism generated by the beam splitting member.
US08931900B2

A device for measuring depth of field of an eye optical system that includes a lens Badal having positive optical power, a positioning apparatus adapted to maintain the eye optical system on the image side of the lens at a first focal plane of the lens and a multi-vergency target that provides a plurality of objects that are simultaneously viewable, through the lens, by the eye optical system.
US08931898B2

An axially symmetric, bifocal, non-progressive ophthalmic lens which, in a smooth pathway between a distant vision field and a near vision field, has no perceptible progression of power, dividing line, image jump, nor other optical distortion.
US08931895B2

An adjustable eyeglasses cord structure is provided, which mainly comprises two temple sleeves, two spherical plugs, two retaining buckles and a cord. The open end of each temple sleeve has an accommodation space for receiving the temple and the tail end has a spherical chamber corresponding to the spherical plug. Both ends of the cord are inserted and fixed in the retaining buckles which are then disposed within the spherical plugs. Each spherical plug is disposed in the spherical chamber of the temple sleeve. A slot is provided in the spherical chamber for the cord to pass through. In this manner, a cord having stiffness can be deflected to adjust an angle adaptable to use. Temple sleeve with flexibility can facilitate the in-out of the spherical plug so as to enable the function of adjusting the cord angle and the convenience for both assembly and disassembly.
US08931893B2

A pair of multi-purpose eyeglasses is revealed. It has a pair of eyeglasses having a mounting stand provided on the upper end of a nose pad, the mounting stand having a buckling portion and positioning portion provided thereon; and an auxiliary lens frame having a buckling rod provided at the front end of a nose bridge connecting two lens holding sub-frames, the buckling rod being press-fitted and fixed into the buckling portion. The eyeglasses may he a pair of sports sunglasses or a pair of ski goggles. The eyeglasses and the auxiliary lens frame can be easily and quickly assembled with or disassembled from each other according to a user's intention.
US08931892B2

A sheet-supply device internally defining a supply route through which to supply a sheet. The sheet-supply device includes a supply member to supply the sheet from a rolled long sheet, a guide member to guide the sheet to the supply member, provided upstream in a direction in which the sheet is moved to the supply member and, movable between a guide position at which the sheet is guided to the supply member and an escape position at which the guide member is away from the supply route of the sheet.
US08931890B2

An approach is provided for contact leveling an image applied to a media substrate. The approach involves causing, at least in part, a contact leveling member comprising at least one textured surface configured to repel one or more inks to level an image applied to the media substrate. The at least one textured surface may comprise one or more micro/nano structures configured to cause, at least in part, the at least one textured surface to have an ink contact angle greater than 100° and a sliding angle less than 30° when the at least one textured surface contacts the one or more inks.
US08931888B2

A printing fluid cartridge includes a front face oriented toward a first direction, a printing fluid supply portion positioned at the front face, a rear face positioned opposite the front face and oriented toward a second direction opposite the first direction, an electrical interface positioned between the front face and the rear face and facing, and an engagement surface facing in the second direction.
US08931875B2

There is provided an inkjet printing apparatus which can output a stable image without density unevenness by performing appropriate drive control to print elements based upon an appropriate representative temperature of a chip whatever image data is printed on a print medium. For this purpose, detection temperatures of a plurality of temperature sensors are lined up in high temperature order, and coefficients by which the respective detection temperatures are multiplied, are determined to be associated with that order at the lining-up, determining a representative temperature by the weighted average method. The common drive pulse associated with to the individual chip based upon the representative temperature thus obtained, to be applied thereto. Thereby even if temperature variations of print elements on the chip exist, it is possible to appropriately control the entire chip in temperature.
US08931868B2

An ink jet recording apparatus has a first discharge port array in which discharge ports of a plurality of nozzles which discharge an ink composition containing an inorganic pigment are disposed side by side, a second discharge port array in which discharge ports of a plurality of nozzles which discharge an ink composition containing a coloring material other than the inorganic pigment are disposed side by side, a nozzle plate having the first discharge port array and the second discharge port array, a liquid repellent film provided on the nozzle plate, a wiping member which wipes the surface of the nozzle plate and has absorbability of the ink composition, in which, in a series of operations in which the surface of the nozzle plate is wiped by the wiping member, the second discharge port array is wiped in priority to the first discharge port array.
US08931867B2

A printing device is equipped with a head, a first reservoir unit, a second reservoir unit, a first flow path connected to the head and the first reservoir unit, a second flow path connected to the first flow path and the second reservoir unit, a third flow path connected to the second reservoir unit and the second flow path, a first pressure supply unit provided on the second flow path, a second pressure supply unit, and a control unit for stirring the sedimentary ink by returning the sedimentary ink inside the second reservoir unit to the first reservoir unit using the second pressure supply unit after moving the sedimentary ink inside the first reservoir unit to the second reservoir unit using the first pressure supply unit.
US08931848B2

A modular footrest assembly allowing an independent height and swivel adjustment functionality for a pedestal or wall-mounted seat configured in a modular manner. The footrest swivel is independent of the seat swivel and is obtained by manually lifting the seat until the swivel latch is disengaged. The footrest is then rotated and manually laid down to position on a bottom height limit. The footrest height adjustment is independent of the footrest swivel and is optional. The footrest may include a lockable piston element activated by a foot button to modify the bottom height limit position. The footrest swivel position may be manually changed in any height position and the height adjustment is the same after the swivel position modification. A damper may be added to the system to prevent a free drop of the foot support during a manual swivel adjustment operation.
US08931825B2

A vehicle front structure includes: an exterior member provided at a lower portion of a front end of a vehicle; and an energy absorbing bracket having front and rear ends, the front end facing a rear surface of the exterior member and the rear end being mounted on a vehicle structural member. The energy absorbing bracket has an upper surface which is disposed to be inclined downward toward a front of the vehicle, and the inclination increases continuously or stepwise from a rear of the vehicle to the front of the vehicle, lower vehicle width direction ribs which project downward from the upper surface, extend substantially in a vehicle width direction, and are disposed in a vehicle front-rear direction, and lower vehicle front-rear direction ribs which project downward from the upper surface, extend substantially in the vehicle front-rear direction, and disposed in the vehicle width direction.
US08931821B2

An adhesively bonded window and hardware assembly includes a window member (12) presenting a surface (12a), a hardware member (14) having a flange (14a) and a projecting portion (14b) contiguous with and projecting from the flange, an adhesive member (18) disposed between the flange and the surface of the window member and adhesively bonding the hardware member (14) to the window member (12), and a sealing member (20) that envelopes part of the flange, fully surrounds the adhesive member, and bonds to and seals against the surface of the window member. The sealing member (20) serves to protect the adhesive member (18) from heat and humidity in the surrounding environment. The sealing member (20) can comprise an overmolded member formed of a polymer material.
US08931819B2

Technologies and implementations related to open bed vehicle cover and storage systems are generally disclosed.
US08931818B2

Total four notched portions, two for each of both edges, are formed in a lateral leg to which a tensile load is applied when an assist grip is normally used. In an extending direction of the lateral leg, a position of the notched portion and a position of the notched portion are different from each other. Therefore, if excessive impact force is applied to the assist grip and a compression load is applied to the lateral leg, the notched portion is bent and the lateral leg buckles while being twisted. In this case, as compared to a case where the legs buckle by being bent so that the legs are overlapped with each other, the impact force is effectively absorbed.
US08931817B2

An aspect of the invention provides a robot hand that performs an action for gripping an object between plural finger sections provided to be capable of changing a distance between the finger sections. Between the plural finger sections, a palm section movable along a direction in which a base side of the plural finger sections and a distal end side of the plural finger sections are connected is provided.
US08931816B2

A metal detector digging tool apparatus has an elongated pole having a nonmetallic digging tool or scoop attached to one end thereof and a nonmetallic bracket removably clamped between the ends thereof. The nonmetallic bracket clamps to the pole between the ends thereof and has a metal detector clamp extending therefrom that clamps a pinpoint metal detector to said bracket adjacent the nonmetallic digging tool for remotely isolating and examining an object detected by a metal detector without the operator bending or kneeling over.
US08931809B2

A threaded tubular connection includes a first tube and a second tube. The first tube includes a pin member and the second tube includes a box member. A cross-sectional area of a pin critical cross-section is within approximately ±5% of cross-sectional area of a box critical cross-section of the box member. The cross-sectional areas of each of the pin and box critical cross-sections are within approximately ±5% of the sum of the cross-sectional areas of a box intermediate critical cross-section of the box member and a pin intermediate critical cross-section of the pin member. In a made-up state, a first seal surface on the pin engages a second seal surface on the box in a radial direction so as to form an off-center fluid tight seal that extends in an axial direction of the threaded tubular connection.
US08931807B2

A connector for use as a bend stiffener in a marine application comprising male and female connectors respectively provided with a downwardly dependent frusto-conical extension and a cylindrical extension. The female connector includes a hollow cylindrical body defining a through bore and surrounded by a spring loaded sleeve movable axially with respect to the body. Spring loaded latches extend through respective apertures to coact with grooves in the body. Hydraulic rams are disposed to push the sleeve against the spring loading which brings an internally wider diameter position of the sleeve adjacent locking balls extending through but retained by stepped apertures. The latches, rams and locking balls coact to lock the male and female connectors together or to enable their release and thus the locking together or release from that locking together of connected extensions. This in turn facilitates the operation of the connector in hazardous conditions.
US08931792B1

A staircase for a vehicle with a rigid frame attached to a rigid bed connector that is attachable to the bed of a vehicle. The bed connector is pivotably attachable to the bed so that the connector can be rotated between a stowed position in which the connector is above the bed and a deployed position in which the connector extends behind the vehicle bed. The frame is rotatably attached to the bed connector so the frame is rotatable between a deployed position in which an end of the frame rests on the ground and a retracted position in which the frame is parallel to the bed. The bed connector is then rotatable to bring the staircase to stowed position above the vehicle bed. A plurality of steps are attached to the staircase frame so that a user can walk up the stairs and onto the vehicle bed.
US08931786B1

A snow vehicle propelled by gravitation has a frame supported by four posts attached to four skis. The two rear skis are attached to the supporting posts using hinges with one degree of liberty. The two front skis are rigidly attached to the support posts and the posts are attached to the frame at a 45 degree angle using hinges with two degrees of liberty. Two linear actuators are attached to the frame and to the rear of the front skis using hinges with two degrees of liberty. The actuators are remotely controlled by a human using an on board computerized steering/braking controller that works in such a manner as to replicate the human wedge style of skiing (a.k.a. plow skiing).
US08931785B1

A steering sled board includes a supporting board for supporting a center of mass of a rider and a steering control which includes a steering board aligned with and movably coupled in front the supporting board in an inline manner, wherein the steering board is self-rotatable with respect to the supporting board and is arranged in such a manner that when the steering board is controllably shifted at a rotatable angle, said supporting board is correspondingly turned at a steering angle.
US08931783B2

A seal assembly for providing a seal between a pair of relatively rotatable components has; a first seal ring (30) mounted in sealing relationships, non-rotatably and for limited axial movement on a first of the components; a second seal (50) ring mounted in axially aligned relationship to the first seal ring, said second seal ring being mounted in sealing relationship, non-rotatably and for limited axial movement on a second of the components; first resilient means associated with the second seal ring urging it axially towards the first seal ring, second resilient means (40) acting on the first seal ring urging it away from the second seal ring to separate the first and second seal rings; and a centrifugal actuator (19) associated with the first seal ring, said centrifugal actuator comprising a radially extending chamber (38) between the first seal ring and the component associated therewith, said chamber being connected to a source of fluid, whereby when the components rotate relative to one another with fluid in the chamber, centrifugal pressurization of the fluid in the chamber will apply an axial load to the first seal ring urging it axially against the second resilient means and a sealing face of the first seal ring into sealing engagement with a sealing face of the second seal ring.
US08931769B2

The invention relates to a deblocking device and an associated method for deblocking optical workpieces, for example, eyeglass lenses. The deblocking device has a first moving apparatus for rotating a workpiece blocked on a block piece about a workpiece rotational axis, a nozzle assembly having a nozzle for discharging a high-pressure pressure medium jet in a direction substantially perpendicular to the workpiece rotational axis onto an edge area between the workpiece and block piece, and a second moving apparatus for generating a relative motion between the workpiece and the nozzle along the workpiece rotational axis.
US08931767B2

The present invention discloses an elasticity adjustment structure of physical training device which comprise one elastomer adjustment set; said elastomer adjustment set further comprises one first elastomer and one second elastomer. Overlapping the said second elastomer and said first elastomer with different rigidities at different depth positions to create a smooth elastic curve of said elastomer adjustment set; as a result the elasticity of said elasticity adjustment structure may be adjusted in accordance with different needs.
US08931766B2

A damper assembly including a cover having at least one aperture therein, a flange operatively connected to the cover, and a spring having at least one leg engaged with a radially outer surface of the flange, the spring having at least one post engaged in the aperture of the cover, wherein engaging the post in the aperture preloads the spring against the radially outer surface of the flange for exerting a force on the damper.
US08931764B2

An air spring has a rolling-lobe flexible member terminating in a conically-shaped bead defining a conically-shaped opening of the flexible member. A-roll-off piston has an end facing toward the flexible member and has a conical seat formed thereon for receiving the bead of the flexible member to conjointly define therewith an airtight force fit connection. The roll-off piston further has a support shoulder beneath the conical seat whereon the flexible member is supported when deflected and the roll-off piston has an annular groove formed therein between the end thereof and the conical seat. An annular locking member is seatable in the annular groove after assembly of the flexible member on the conical seat so as to hinder the bead from slipping off of the conical seat.
US08931759B2

A valve unit, having a housing, a flap, which is rotatably arranged in the housing and connected to a flap shaft supported in the housing, an electric motor for driving the flap shaft, and a transmission arranged between the electric motor and the flap shaft. A coupling, which consists of a flap-side component, an intermediate piece, and a transmission-side component is arranged between the flap shaft and a shaft of the transmission. At least one of the three coupling parts has at least two first holes of a same radial orientation. At least two second holes are arranged perpendicular to the first holes. Molded elements of an adjacent component of the coupling engage in the holes and the holes have a greater extension with respect to the radial orientation of the holes than the molded elements that engage in the holes.
US08931758B2

Provided is a solenoid valve stable in response performance, whose quickness and damping performance are appropriate. In the solenoid valve, a respiration port for flowing fluid into and out from a space located on one side of a plunger that faces the spool is formed in an end portion of a valve sleeve. Further, a respiration groove, which causes the space on the one side of the plunger and the respiration port to communicate with each other when an end portion of the spool and an end portion of a center post are in contact with each other, is formed on the spool. This configuration makes it possible to discharge, with an appropriate level of flow-channel resistance, fluid placed in the space located on the one side of the plunger.
US08931748B2

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. In some embodiments according to the disclosed inventive concepts a spring coupled to a cable is used, the cable being routed along a bearing surface and then attached within the articulating portion. In some embodiments, the bearing surface may be located on a pivotable member that rotates in correspondence with the articulating portion. In various embodiments, the spring may be located within the articulating arm, a base portion in operative engagement with the articulating portion, or entirely external to the extension arm.
US08931747B2

A bracket assembly includes an elongated plate that has a first end, a second end, a front side, a back side, an upper edge and a lower edge. A first coupler is attached to and extends away from the back side. The first coupler is positioned adjacent to the first end. A second coupler is attached to and extends away from the back side. The second coupler is positioned adjacent to the second end. A catch is attached to and extends away from the front side of the plate. The catch is positioned between the first and second ends. The first and second couplers are engageable with opposite sides of a support member to allow an article to be positioned on the catch.
US08931743B2

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a system for retaining wires or cords, such as those associated with electronic devices An apparatus is provided comprising a first channel configured to clamp a wire in a position within the first channel when the wire is inserted through the first channel, and a second channel adjacent to the first channel and comprising a larger clearance area than the first channel configured to allow the wire to pass through the second channel when the wire is inserted through the second channel. The first channel is formed between a first surface and an opposing second surface, wherein at least one of the two surfaces is movable relative to the other to grip a wire within the first channel.
US08931742B2

A cable management apparatus includes two mounting brackets, a cable management arm connected between the two mounting brackets and slidable vertically, and two elevating mechanisms. Each of the elevating mechanisms includes opposite sides respectively rotatably connected to one of the mounting brackets and abutting a bottom of the cable management arm. When the elevating mechanisms are rotated relative to the mounting brackets, the elevating mechanisms drive the cable management arm to slide vertically. The cable management arm defines a number of positioning holes. Each of the elevating mechanisms includes a locating pin to be operable to engage in one of the corresponding positioning holes to prevent the rotation of the elevating mechanisms.
US08931736B2

A nacelle is configured to be coupled to an underside of a wing and forms a clearance space between the nacelle and a leading edge slat of the wing. A portion of an outlet cowling moves longitudinally aft when a reverse thrust configuration is activated and the leading edge slat is deployed toward the nacelle. The outlet cowling also includes another portion located adjacent to the leading edge slat that does not move when the reverse thrust configuration is activated and thus maintains its clearance space from the leading edge slat.
US08931728B1

A rotorcraft is disclosed. The rotorcraft may include an airframe and a rotor connected to the airframe. The rotor may include a hub and at least one rotor blade having a tip jet. The rotorcraft may further include a plurality of compressors for generating compressed air and a network of conduits connecting the outlets of the plurality of compressors with every tip jet of the rotor. The rotorcraft may further include a control system preventing back flow through each outlet of the plurality of compressors.
US08931726B2

To provide a wire unwinding auxiliary device capable of, compared to a conventional device, effectively preventing an unwound wire material from getting twisted, entangled or flawed.A wire unwinding auxiliary device used for guiding an unwound wire material when unwinding the wire material which is wound in a coiled shape. The device comprises a plurality of rotation members 1a-1e on which the unwound wire material is set to run therethrough, and a non-rotation member 2 provided adjacent to at least a rotation member 1a through which the wire material passes first in the plurality of rotation members 1a-1e, thereby a running path of the wire material is stabilized between the non-rotation member 2 and the rotation member 1a.
US08931718B2

A valve assembly for an injection valve may include a valve body comprising a cavity with a fluid inlet portion and a fluid outlet, and a valve needle axially movable in the cavity, the valve needle preventing a fluid flow through the fluid outlet in a closing position and releasing the fluid flow through the fluid outlet in further positions, the valve needle comprising a radially extending protrusion and an electro-magnetic actuator unit configured to actuate the valve needle and comprising an armature in the cavity. The armature comprises an armature cavity having a first stop surface and a second stop surface that faces the first stop surface. The protrusion of the valve needle is arranged in the armature cavity axially between the first stop surface and the second stop surface such that a relative movement between the valve needle and the armature in axial direction is limited.
US08931716B2

The invention refers to a spray pump device for spraying a liquid operated by a memory shape element. The spraying device is provided with a memory shape alloy wire with electrical resistivity, that is able to generate heat that increases its temperature so that due to memory shape property, the wire shrinks when current is applied. This shrinking permits the wire to activate a pump that atomizes a volatile substance.
US08931712B2

The present invention provides a fragrance device for a vehicle capable of supplying plural fragrant ingredients to the inside of the vehicle as being contained in air flow of a vehicle-use air-conditioning device with a simple structure. The fragrance device for a vehicle according to the present invention includes a main body 10 having a fragrance retention container 5, an inlet passage 6, an outlet passage 7, an inlet passage opening/closing door 8 and an outlet passage opening/closing door 9, an actuator 11 fixed to the main body 10, and a cam 14 which rotationally drives a rotary shaft 12 of the inlet passage opening/closing door and a rotary shaft 12 of the outlet passage opening/closing door.
US08931708B2

A dual functionality temperature control measurement and low water cutoff measurement system is taught within a single tapping to a boiler. This dual functionality combines a low water cutoff and temperature sensor into one control utilizing a sensing element suitable for use in a single existing tapping for a boiler. Independent of low water functionality, the temperature sensor is also capable of monitoring temperature as a replacement probe in an existing temperature sensor-only well. A conductive member provides a compression fit inside the probe well for thermistors, while simultaneously providing conduction with the well interior for a low water cutoff signal in a two-conductor well.
US08931705B2

According to one embodiment, an IC card includes a communication module, a first command processing module, a determining module, a second command processing module, a response processing module. The first command processing module performs a process corresponding to a first command received from the external device. The determining module determines whether a second command is contained in a data portion of the first command. The second command processing module performs a process corresponding to the second command if the determining module determines that the second command is contained in the data portion of the first command. The response processing module sets a processing result of the second command executed by the second command processing module in the data portion of the response indicating a processing result of the first command executed by the first command processing module and transmit the same to the external device.
US08931702B2

A portable health data tool permits a health care provider to assimilate and display a plurality of health care data from a patient and to associate the data with patient identifying information all stored in a memory contained in the tool. The tool includes a code reader for reading patient information into the tool from a bar code or other coded tag. The tool is associated with a plurality of different data assimilation devices stored with the tool's housing, including but not limited to, instruments for measuring, temperature, blood pressure, two-finger or lead wire ECG data, pulse oximetry data, sound data and picture data obtained from an optional digital camera integrated within the housing. The tool further includes data receiver and/or transmitter ports, which may be wireless or cable ports, for transferring data between the health data tool and a separate computer system that stores patient records.
US08931700B2

A method and program for encoding and decoding color barcodes to increase their data capacity. The encoding steps include determining a shape and a color for each data cell to encode digital data, wherein a combination of the shape and the color for the data cell is chosen from a plurality of combinations of shapes and colors in accordance with a value of the digital data to be encoded, and coloring a subset of the plurality of pixels in each data cell in accordance with the shape and the color for the data cell determined above. The decoding steps include segmenting the data cells in a color barcode, recognizing a shape formed by a subset of pixels in each data cell and the color of the shape, and obtaining digital data from a combination of the recognized shape and color in each data cell.
US08931698B2

A card reader that can prevent phishing and causes no damage on a card in the case where no phishing comes up. A card reader equipped with a card transfer mechanism for taking in and ejecting a card includes a gate mechanism, in which formed is an insertion & ejection slot for inserting and ejecting the card. A protrusion protruding toward an ejecting direction of the card is formed in the gate mechanism. Furthermore, the gate mechanism includes: a card detection mechanism for detecting the card having been ejected by the card transfer mechanism to a pullout-enabled position where a user of the card reader can pull out the card; and a card pullout prevention mechanism for protecting the card from being pulled out when the card is not ejected to the pullout-enabled position at the time of ejecting the card. The card detection mechanism is placed inside the protrusion.
US08931692B2

The invention relates to a device design used in commercial premises, in which a physically independent plurality of units (Electronic Funds Transfer, Point-of-Sale (“EFT POS”) device, Pinpad, financial electronic cash register, Barcode reader and GPS based positioning device) are integrated in one single compact frame.
US08931690B2

Systems, methods, and devices for detection of a substance on the surface of an object are disclosed. An RFID receiver can communicate with an RFID device to determine a position of the RFID device and to initiate a transaction. When the RFID device enters a defined volume, an illuminator can be triggered, which illuminator illuminates the RFID device. Light property data for the RFID device can be collected by a sensor, and the light property data can be compared to light property information for one or several substances. If the light property data matches the light property information, then a substance can be identified as present on the surface of the object.
US08931687B2

Techniques for optimization of barcode processing are presented. Barcode configuration data is distributed from a server service to a mobile client device. The mobile client device includes an application to inspect the capabilities of mobile client device and render the barcode configuration data into a barcode that is optimally scanned from the mobile client device when presented on a display of the mobile client device.
US08931678B2

A pneumatic tool includes: a body; a pneumatic driving unit disposed in the body for performing pneumatically a fastener-driving operation; a trigger valve unit disposed on the body and adapted for controlling flow of air into the pneumatic driving unit and out of the body; and a passage unit formed in the body and including an air storing chamber adapted for guiding flow of air into the trigger valve unit, a bidirectional passage for intercommunicating the trigger valve unit and the pneumatic driving unit, an exhaust passage communicated with the trigger valve unit, and an expansion passage adapted for intercommunicating the exhaust passage and the atmosphere and extending along a peripheral portion of the body as to permit flow of air from the exhaust passage into the atmosphere therethrough.
US08931676B2

A fastening tool can include a housing comprising a nosepiece and a handle. The handle can define a first longitudinal axis. A magazine can be connected to the housing for storing a fastener. The magazine can define a second longitudinal axis that is substantially parallel to the first longitudinal axis and a fastener channel for receiving a fastener. The magazine can be movable relative to the housing between an alignment position wherein the distal tip of the fastener engages a workpiece and an activation position wherein the magazine moves toward the housing upon movement of the handle toward the workpiece. A driving mechanism can be disposed within the housing for driving the fastener into a workpiece. A trigger assembly can be coupled to the housing for activating the driving mechanism upon actuation of a primary trigger and movement of the magazine into the activation position.
US08931675B2

A vacuum roller for a web handling system comprises a hollow, cylindrical, rotably driven drum and an end cap threadingly mounted onto the rear end of the drum. Together, the drum and the end cap define a plurality of individual, externally communicable vacuum paths. A spherical, metal movable element is internally disposed within each vacuum path and regulates the passage of air therethrough. A plurality of magnetic elements is fixedly mounted on a stationary annular holder. In use, each magnetic element selectively displaces each movable element when disposed in close proximity thereto to the extent necessary so as to permit the passage of air through its corresponding vacuum path. As such, the vacuum roller is provided with a predefined range of suction, or vacuum zone, about the outer surface of its rotating drum that directly corresponds to the angular arrangement of the plurality of stationary magnetic elements.
US08931674B2

A tape feeder includes a guide part that guides a carrier tape and is detachably attached to a main body. The guide part includes: a lower member guiding the carrier tape and attached to and detached from the main body; an upper member pressing down the carrier tape from above; a tape introduction part guiding the carrier tape into the upper member at an upstream side thereof in a tape feed direction; a confirmation opening part disposed in the upper member for visually confirming that the carrier tape arrives at a pin engagement range; an open/close mechanism opening and closing the upper member with respect to the lower member; and a positioning mechanism fitting a positioning pin into a feed hole of the carrier tape in the guide part, thereby positioning the carrier tape relative to the guide part in the tape feed direction.
US08931673B2

A reversible attachment device comprises a reversible hanger having a piece of hook material on a first side and a piece of loop material on a second side and may optionally be assembled with either side facing an accessory holder. Embodiments of a reversible attachment stabilize and distribute loads from objects in accessory holders. By selecting which side of the reversible hanger faces the accessory adapter, an accessory holder may be suspended from a load-carrying structure having either loop material or hook material. In some embodiments, the hook material and loop material are formed into a sleeve which fits slidably around the reversible hanger. Alternative assembly configurations for an embodiment provide for a range of height adjustment between an accessory holder and a load-carrying structure. Some embodiments include an accessory holder with a reversible attachment device. Other embodiments include a duty belt or other load-carrying structure.
US08931667B2

A fluid dispensing system can be used with a container comprising at least one camming surface. In various embodiments, the fluid dispensing system can have a housing which can accept at least a portion of the container in a fixed orientation and a track which can be engaged with the housing. In at least one embodiment, the housing can be slidably movable along the track at least between a first position and a second position. In various embodiments, the fluid dispensing system can have a tube which can be engaged with at least a portion of the container to withdraw fluid therefrom when the housing is in the second position and can also have a fluid system in fluid communication with the tube.
US08931663B1

The present invention is a system for dispensing horizontally stacked moist towelettes. One embodiment involves turning a tub upside down and providing a side door for accessing the stacked towels. Another embodiment involves orienting a tub in an upright position and providing a means for users to easily access the contents. Moist towelettes are dispensed one at a time, from beginning to end. Once one towelette is removed, the next is in position for removal. Any towelette that falls back into the tub can be easily retrieved through the opening without having to open the entire package.
US08931657B2

A pharmaceutical container including a bottle having a bottom wall and side walls. A ridge proximate to the bottom wall projects from an interior surface of at least one of the side walls, to facilitate nested stacking of a plurality of bottles. One or more of the side walls includes a cover locking receptacle proximate to the top end of the side wall. The pharmaceutical container also includes a cover including a sliding lid contained in a cover housing. The cover housing has a top wall, which includes an opening, and cover side walls. A child-resistant closure mechanism is also provided to limit the movement between the sliding lid and the bottle.
US08931656B2

A recloseable and resealable beverage can end closure includes a base plate beneath the center panel and a tab plate above the center panel. The closure is slidable relative to the center a panel to uncover the pour aperture and then to position the closure over the pour aperture to enable resealing.
US08931653B2

A bracket secured to a vehicle body is firmly attached to an electrical junction box without causing any loosening. The electrical junction box includes a bracket securing section provided integrally on a casing outer surface and a bracket made of a resin molding material fixed on the bracket securing section by a bolt and a nut. Bolt holes are provided in the bracket securing section and the bracket, respectively. Positioning pins project near the bolt hole in one of the bracket securing section or the bracket. The positioning holes are provided in the other of the bracket securing and the section or bracket to receive the positioning pins. After the positioning pins are fitted in the positioning holes to position and hold the bracket on the bracket securing section, a bolt is inserted into the corresponding bolt holes and is fastened by a nut.
US08931649B2

The creation is a rack for cup objects, which provides a rack easy to use and capable of placing cup objects, including: an integrated bended form of two vertical rods providing with symmetrical, vertically separated aligned oblique projections, wherein the oblique projections are inclined to the two vertical rods with oblique angles, a space is formed between upper and lower oblique projections, the space may contain embedded cup objects, and the oblique projection may be used to jam the cup cover of the cup object such that the effect that the cup object is positioned, undetached, and thus multiple cup objects may be positioned in alignment and easy to access is achieved.
US08931641B2

A dedusting apparatus has a product outlet offset laterally with respect to a vertical line passing through the product inlet. The dedusting apparatus has a primary wash deck structure with a flow of air passing therethrough into the flow of product. Product discharged off the lower end of the wash deck passes into a Venture zone fed by a flow of air passing through openings in the support leg for the wash deck. The offset dedusting apparatus allows installation of a dedusting apparatus onto a diagonally oriented product discharge conduit without requiring the reconfiguration of the angle of repose for the discharge conduit. The wash deck is formed with reverse slots having deflectors raised upwardly from the top surface of the wash deck to orient the slot to direct the air flow downwardly with the flow of product and to create turbulence in the product flow to facilitate cleaning.
US08931640B2

The present invention pertains to a stackable packaging unit (1) for the packaging of products (100), the said packaging unit (1) comprising at least one encircling wall (2) provided at least with a corner ridge (3) dividing it into at least two retaining panels (2a) Partially folded down towards one another about the said corner ridge (3) so as to hold the said products (100) to be packaged, at least one end of the said corner ridge (3) being connected to the corresponding edges of the said retaining panels (2a) by at least one inclined centring profile. The stackable packaging unit (1) also comprises an intermediate element. The invention also pertains to a packaging comprising at least one such packaging unit (1).
US08931629B2

A vernier adjustor for a feed dispenser is provided. The vernier adjustor includes first and second slotted members moveable in slidable relation and a pin, the first and second slotted members each including a plurality of slots separated by respective first and second spacings. The pin is adapted for placement within an aligned slot pairing to fix movement of the first slotted member relative to the second slotted member. The first and second slotted members are positionable in increments less than the first and second spacings. In particular, the first and second slotted members are positionable in increments substantially equal to the difference between the first spacing and the second spacing. Movement of the first slotted member relative to the second slotted member provides an incremental raising or lowering of a feed gate.
US08931624B2

This invention relates to a transport foil/film as well as a transport system for holding and transport of at least one thin flexible substrate and a corresponding method and a use of a flexible transport foil/film for holding and for transport of at least one thin, flexible substrate, the substrates being able to be fixed or being fixed at least temporarily on the transport foil/film and the transport foil/film being drivable by driving means for transport of the substrates.
US08931617B2

A device and a method for removing objects from a moving transport device having objects standing in a row thereon, including a removing device for pushing and thus removing selected objects at a right angle or any other angle with respect to the direction of travel of the transport device. The removing device is formed by a position-controlled linear actuator.
US08931615B2

A roller bearing and newel guide assembly (30) for a newel (24) in an escalator (10) has a newel guide (32), a roller chain (34), and a spring (40) connected between the roller chain (34) and the newel guide (32) to provide tension to the roller chain (34). The roller chain (34) comprises a series of interlinked chain units (36). Each chain unit (36) includes a frame (78), at least one roller bearing (72), and a pin (76) for connecting the roller bearing (72) to the frame (78). Each chain unit (36) has a female connector (62) and a male connector (64), which allow each chain unit (36) to connect to an adjacent chain unit (36) to form the roller chain (34).
US08931614B2

The invention relates to a passenger conveyor, comprising an endless transportation band comprising a plurality of transportation elements, at least one endless transportation chain drivably connected to the transportation band, the transportation chain comprising a plurality of transportation chain links, a plurality of transportation chain rollers, consecutive of the transportation chain links being connected via a respective of the transportation chain rollers, and a plurality of transportation chain roller axles, each of the transportation chain roller axles connecting a respective of the transportation elements to the transportation chain, the transportation elements comprising first transportation elements being supported by a respective transportation chain roller axle, and second transportation elements being supported by a transportation element axle.
US08931612B2

The invention relates to a device for operating a parking lock of an automatic transmission in motor vehicles, with pawl which interacts with a ratchet wheel, which pawl is impinged upon by a spring energy accumulator (24) and for disengaging the parking lock can be hydraulically impinged upon against the preload force of the spring energy accumulator (24) by a hydraulic transmission control with corresponding control valves, wherein the control valves are controllable in accordance with operating parameters of the motor vehicle and a electromagnetically operable locking element (28), which in the controlled state in defined operating conditions additionally holds the pawl in the disengaged position. According to the invention, a purely hydraulically acting self locking valve (40) is integrated in the hydraulic transmission control (10), which locking valve maintains the controlled system pressure when the parking lock operation (14) is pressurized or when the parking lock is disengaged.
US08931610B2

An isolator decoupler comprising a pulley, a shaft, the pulley journalled to the shaft on a low friction bushing, a spring carrier, the pulley journalled to the spring carrier on a low friction bushing, the spring carrier journalled to the shaft on a low friction bushing, a torsion spring coupled between the pulley and the spring carrier, a one way clutch spring frictionally engaged with the shaft, the one way clutch spring coupled to the spring carrier, the one way clutch spring is disposed radially inward of the torsion spring, and the pulley temporarily engagable with an end of the one way clutch spring whereby the frictional engagement of the one way clutch spring with the shaft is temporarily diminished.
US08931606B2

Force diversion apparatus, methods and devices including the same result in rotational motion being imparted to an impacting object.
US08931605B2

A fluid pressure damper is provided with a damper main body composed of an outer tube and an inner tube, a bottom member for sealing a bottom side opening of the damper main body, a suspension spring and a damper. The damper includes a cylinder storing a working fluid inside. The cylinder is inserted into the inner tube and fixed to the bottom member by being sandwiched between a head member fixed to a joint member coupled to the inner tube and the bottom member. The joint member includes a stopper member with the inner periphery of which the head member is threadably engaged, and a pin member which couples the stopper member to the inner periphery of the inner tube. The suspension spring is supported by the stopper member.
US08931599B2

An electric braking apparatus is provided and includes an electromechanical actuator (EMA) configured to apply an axial load on a brake stack and a damping end-stop. The damping end-stop is configured to transmit torque into the EMA and includes an end cap, a screw disposed such that a longitudinal axis about which the screw is rotatable extends through the end cap, a nut threadably engaged with the screw and movable with the end cap relative to the screw with screw rotation and a spring element anchored on the end cap to resist the screw rotation beyond a predefined position.
US08931597B2

An inertia pump is connected to and actuated by the vibration of a vibratory device to pump lubricant to lubricate internal components of the vibratory device. The inertia pump has a bottom end cap with an inlet in fluid communication with the vibratory device, a top end cap with an outlet for delivering the lubricant to lubricate components of the vibratory device, a tube disposed between and sealingly engaging the bottom end cap and the top end cap, and a piston having a lubricant passageway. The piston is slidably disposed within the tube downstream of the bottom end cap and upstream of the top end cap. Vibration of the vibration device causes the piston to oscillate within the tube to draw lubricant from the vibration device which passes through the lubricant passageway in the piston, and delivers lubricant to lubricate internal components of the vibration device. Upstream of the top end cap a heat exchanger and/or a filter can be used to cool and/or remove debris from the lubricant before lubricating the internal components.
US08931591B2

A modal attenuator may include an attenuator body having a lead-in segment and a lead-out segment joined by a connection segment, a perforated screen disposed within the attenuator body and spaced apart from the attenuator body to form an annular space, and a plurality of rings disposed between the perforated screen and the attenuator body. When fluid flows through the modal attenuator, sound waves pass through the perforated screen and are reflected back by the plurality of rings to disrupt other sound waves, thereby reducing fluid noise in the modal attenuator.
US08931586B2

A working vehicle includes a joy-stick lever which operates a front loader, and a main change lever etc., wherein a right side dashboard is located in the right side of the driver's seat, the forward end step part is located beside the steering wheel, and is provided with the joy-stick lever, a grip part of the main change lever is disposed at a lower position than the steering wheel, a grip part of the position lever is disposed at an outside position of the grip part of the main change lever on a plan view, and a grip part of the joy-stick lever is disposed at a front side position of the grip part of the main change lever on a plan view, and is disposed in a range of a height of the steering wheel on a side view.
US08931585B2

The cab is situated on the body frame. The engine cover is situated in front of the cab. The engine includes the crankshaft extending in the longitudinal direction of the bulldozer. The air cleaner is situated above the engine. The air cleaner is secured to the engine cover. The duct connects the air cleaner and the engine. The duct includes the first connector and the second connector. The first connector is connected to the engine. The second connector is connected to the air cleaner. The front mounting part supports the engine on the body frame. The rear mounting part supports the engine on the body frame. The rear mounting part is situated behind and above the front mounting part.
US08931584B2

A seal member may include a base portion, a plurality of deflector portions, and an expansion portion. The base portion may include a plurality of tabs adapted to be mounted to a heat exchanger. The plurality of deflector portions may each extending from a corresponding one of the plurality of tabs and manipulate a flow of fluid proximate the heat exchanger. The expansion portion may be disposed between adjacent deflector portions and may be expandable in response to exposure to heat between a first position at which the adjacent deflector portions are a first distance apart from each other and a second position at which the adjacent deflector portions are a second distance apart from each other.
US08931583B2

The present application relates generally to conveyances and, more particularly, to wheelchairs. In one embodiment, a wheelchair includes a seat assembly coupled to a chassis. The chassis includes a frame having a rear wheel support member, one or more front wheel support members extending in a forward direction from the rear wheel support member, and a seat support member. The rear wheel support member comprises a central portion and left and right portions extending downward from the central portion. The wheelchair also includes one or more drive wheels for propulsion of the wheelchair, a set of front wheels for supporting the wheelchair, and a shrouding system for at least partially covering the frame and other components of the wheelchair.
US08931581B2

A drilling tool that has a flexible shaft so as to be able to make short radius curves while still being able to transmit torque and axial loads. The drilling tool includes a drill shaft for transmitting axial load, comprising a series of coaxial ring members connected together such that adjacent ring members are flexible in an axial plane relative to each other; each ring member being connected to an adjacent ring member by connecting member arranged to transmit torque therebetween; and axial supports extend between adjacent ring members so as to transmit axial loads therebetween.
US08931580B2

Method for determining one or more optimal well trajectories and a drill center location for hydrocarbon production. A well path and drill center optimization problem (55) is solved in which one constraint is that a well trajectory must intersect a finite size target region (61) in each formation of interest, or in different parts of the same formation. The finite target size provides flexibility for the optimization problem to arrive at a more advantageous solution. Typical well path optimization constraints are also applied, such as anti-collision constraints and surface site constraints (62).
US08931574B2

A lubrication structure for a working machine is provided. A driven gear that engages with a driving gear connected to a driving source and rotates, is accommodated in a chamber in a case. An eccentric cam is provided on a surface of the driven gear, and connected to a coupling pin in a blade through a crank member. A fitting ring part is provided in one end of the crank member, and the eccentric cam is inserted into the fitting ring part so as to rotate relative to the fitting ring part. An annular groove is formed on the inner surface of the fitting ring part which faces the outer surface of the eccentric cam. The annular groove communicates with a first chamber via a first lubricating passageway and also communicates with a second chamber via a second lubricating passageway.
US08931569B2

A method and apparatus for a wellbore assembly. The wellbore assembly may comprise a conveyance member including at least one of a continuous spooled rod, a wireline, and a slickline; an accumulator system connected to the conveyance member; and a setting tool connected to the accumulator system. The accumulator system may be configured to supply a fluid pressure to actuate the setting tool. A method of operating a wellbore tool may comprise lowering a wellbore assembly into a wellbore using a conveyance member including at least one of a continuous spooled rod, a wireline, and a slickline, wherein the wellbore assembly includes an accumulator system and a setting tool. The method may comprise actuating the accumulator system to provide a fluid pressure to the setting tool. The method may comprise actuating the setting tool using the fluid pressure.
US08931564B2

A method to extract oil for a pool of oil in the ground utilizes an interconnected series of rotating helical blades extending from the surface of the ground through a canted bore to the pool of oil. The blades can be staggered and interconnected with a gear arrangement that moves oil from pool to pool and up to the surface of the ground.
US08931563B2

Force-dampening arrangement (100) for dampening forces between two interconnectable parts in a tube string, of which interconnectable parts a lower part (101) is connected to the upper end of a string element (105, 3a) extending into a subsea well (5) and an upper part (103) is suspended from a floating surface installation (1) through at least one suspension element (3b) extending up to said surface installation. The force-dampening arrangement (100) is connected to the tube string above a string-portion (3a) extending into said subsea well, and below at least a portion of said suspension element (3b). The force dampening arrangement (100) exhibits an upper and lower section (109, 111) that are vertically movable in relation to each other, thereby yielding for impact forces between said interconnectable upper and lower parts (103, 101) resulting from vertical heave movement of said portion of suspension elements (3b) moving vertically in respect of the string element (3a).
US08931561B2

A subsea wireline system for soft landing equipment during installation. The subsea soft landing wireline system includes coarse alignment members that can be part of a tree and interact with a funnel located on the equipment to be installed by the soft landing system. Smaller alignment members can provide fine alignment and also interact with a funnel located on the equipment to be installed. The funnels are used to trap sea water that provides a cushion for the equipment being installed. Once in alignment, trapped water can be released from the funnel or funnels via a restricted orifice and/or a control valve located on an ROV. The system achieves soft landing without the use of a running tool, thus reducing expense.
US08931559B2

A depressurization tool is described for use downhole in depressurizing an isolated zone. A decompression chamber containing a compressible fluid volume is described. The opening of the chamber is sealed with a closure that is configured to open upon application of a pressure differential across the opening. When used downhole within an isolated and nonpermeable wellbore zone, excessive ambient pressure will cause the closure to open and allow the chamber to fill with fluid at increased pressure, depressurizing the wellbore zone. The tool is useful in wellbore completion systems that include sliding sleeves.
US08931545B2

A heat exchanger arrangement is provided for an internal-combustion engine having a heat engine, which converts hot steam of a working medium by way of an expansion device to kinetic energy. The working medium, that can be delivered by a pump, can be heated in a first heat exchanger by a coolant and in a second heat exchanger by an exhaust gas of the internal-combustion engine. In the delivery direction, the working medium first flows through the first heat exchanger and, subsequently, through the second heat exchanger. The exhaust gas can flow through the first heat exchanger.
US08931541B2

A motor drive unit assembly for a motorized drapery system having a drapery fabric can include a motor having a drive shaft, an output member rotatable about a drive axis, such that rotation of the output member about the drive axis causes the drapery fabric to move, and a clutch member operatively coupled between the drive shaft of the motor and the output member. The clutch member is configured to automatically couple the output member to the drive shaft such that rotation of the motor drive shaft causes the output member to rotate about the drive axis when the motor drives the drive shaft. The clutch member is further configured to automatically decouple the output member from the motor drive shaft so that the output member rotates about the drive axis relative to the motor drive shaft when the output member is manually driven.
US08931539B1

An elastic cord device for use in cooperation with a window covering device of the type having a plurality of pulleys, a plurality of housings, a plurality of lift cords extending from a head rail, the lift cords used to raise and lower a window covering material. The elastic cord device has a spiral helical shape. The elastic cord device has a first end and a second end. The first end of the elastic cord device attaching to the lift cords of the window covering device. The second end of the elastic cord device is exposed and is accessible so that the elastic cord device can be pulled to raise and lower the window covering material.A window covering device of the type having an elastic cord device, the elastic cord device attaching to the free ends of the lift cords of the window covering device.
US08931538B2

A venetian blind operating device comprises a wand having a center hole and a slide slot. The slide slot runs through the wand in an axial direction and intersects the center hole. In addition, the operating device comprises a blind cord locking assembly locked in the center hole of the wand and coupled to a blind cord of a venetian blind. Further, the operating device comprises a control key surroundingly provided at a periphery of the wand, and a press key provided on the control key for disengaging the blind cord locking assembly from a locked state. The blind cord is hidden by being contained in the center hole of the wand. The press key, the control key and the blind cord locking assembly are cooperated to withdraw or draw the venetian blind.
US08931536B2

Described herein are devices for applying conductive gels to electrodes and the gel-laminated electrodes produced thereby. The devices permit the reuse of the electrodes by easily applying fresh gels to them for each subsequent use. In a first example embodiment, all of the components of the laminating device are provided in a single housing. In a second example embodiment, the gel applying and drive components are housed within the device, and a replaceable cartridge houses the gels and the gel delivery components. Also described herein are dispensers for storing and dispensing conductive gels that can be readily applied to and removed from an electrode.
US08931528B2

A stock feeder for woodworking equipment includes a base, a cross clamp, a horizontal bar unit, a vertical bar unit, a feeding unit, and an electrical unit. The electrical unit has an electrical unit main body and a variable-frequency drive. The electrical unit main body has a first housing, a plurality of heat dissipation grooves provided on the outer periphery of the first housing, and a power fan which is independently mounted on a top portion of the first housing and in communication with the heat dissipation grooves. The variable-frequency drive has a second housing, a variable-frequency circuit sealed in the second housing, and a control panel exposed outside the second housing. The second housing has an outer surface provided with a plurality of heat dissipation slots corresponding in position to and in communication with the heat dissipation grooves of the electrical unit main body.
US08931526B2

The invention relates to a filling element for a filling system or for a filling machine for filling containers with a liquid filling material. The filling element has at least one liquid channel designed in a filling element housing, which channel forms at least one discharge opening for the liquid filling material and can be connected to a source for providing the liquid filling material or a component of said filling material, at least one liquid valve in the at least one liquid channel for the controlled discharge of the filling material or the component at the discharge opening, and a gas barrier, which, when the liquid valve is closed, prevents the filling material from continuing to flow or drip, and for that purpose forms at least one flow channel having a reduced cross-section.
US08931525B2

An injecting device for filling a holder with separated liquid layers is provided herein. The device includes at least two containers for holding different liquids, an injector for filling a holder with separated liquid layers and moving means for setting the distance between the holder and the injector. A method for filling a holder with separated liquid layers is also provided. The method includes the steps of placing a holder with bottom, disposing inside the holder, and at a predetermined distance from the bottom of the holder, a feed conduit with an outflow opening for dispensing liquid, and allowing different liquids to flow sequentially out of the feed conduit, wherein the distance between the outflow opening and the bottom is maintained.
US08931524B2

A fluid transferer, including a volume changing part; a reciprocating member configured to reciprocate to expand a volume of the volume changing part to draw a fluid from an upstream side of a transfer direction and compress the volume thereof to transfer the drawn fluid to a downstream side thereof with pressure; and a drive controller configured to control reciprocation of the reciprocating member such that a time for compressing the volume of the volume changing part is longer than a time for expanding the volume thereof.
US08931523B2

The invention relates to a tank venting system for a fuel tank (12) of a vehicle, having a vent line (14) for discharge of gaseous hydrocarbons from the fuel tank (12) during refueling thereof. Gaseous hydrocarbons originating from the fuel tank (12) can be introduced in a filler pipe (20) of the fuel tank (12) via a recirculation line (24). A control device (34) controls a proportional valve (32) and changes in this way a pass-through cross section of the recirculation line (24). In this way, a load of an activated charcoal filter (16) which is coupled with the vent line (14) can be minimized. The control device (34) can especially determine a pressure in the fuel tank (12). Furthermore, the invention relates to a method of venting a fuel tank (12) during refueling thereof.
US08931519B2

A pin valve assembly and a method of controlling the flow of fluids comprising a pin block housing pin valves, a fluid plate with a fluid channel for fluidically communicating with the pin valves, and a fitting block housing fittings for fluidic communication with the fluid plate and for fluidic communication with fluidic components. The fluid flow through the channels of the fluid plate are controlled by the fluidic components and the pin valves.
US08931516B2

A pilot-controlled valve having a valve system switches a pressure medium flow between at least one working connection, a supply pressure connection and a ventilation connection, and includes at least one valve member of ceramic material operated rotationally/linearly by pilot control, at least one connecting channel is bringable into flow connection to the working connection, which, based on the valve member's position, produces a flow connection of the working connection to a first flow channel connected to the ventilation connection or to a second flow channel that is connected to the supply pressure connection, at least one section of the first and second flow channels being in at least one static valve body of ceramic material, at least the first flow channel is sealed from the second flow channel by at least one seal that is in a region outside a direct inflow by the pressure medium.
US08931515B2

A pulse valve for generating a high-volume pulsating fluid stream from a fluid supplied to the pulse valve from a pressure-generating unit. Window cut-outs are disposed opposite one another in pairs, in a housing wall, and form a first channel for conducting a constant, stationary sub-stream, a second channel for generating a second sub-stream that forms a basic pulse component, and a third channel for generating a third sub-stream that forms an additional pulse component. A rotatable rotor shaft disposed in the interior of the housing is provided with respective rotor blade assemblies associated with the second and third channels respectively. Upon rotation of the rotor shaft, the rotor blade assemblies, in cooperation with boundary edges of the window cut-outs of the second and third channels, periodically either allow a fluid stream impinging on the pulse valve to pass through the housing, or to interrupt such passage.
US08931512B2

Methods and apparatus for delivery of gas are provided herein. In some embodiments, a gas delivery system may include a premix tank having an inlet and an outlet; a plurality of gas supplies coupled to the inlet of the premix tank; a plurality of valves, each valve respectively disposed in line with a corresponding one of the plurality of gas supplies; and a conduit coupling the outlet of the premix tank to one or more gas delivery zones.
US08931510B2

A rail vehicle contains a sanitary system which has a waste water tank and a fresh water tank which are each equipped with associated filling level sensors. A control device is provided for establishing a link in terms of control between the filling levels in the fresh water tank and waste water tank. The control device monitors the filling level in the waste water tank by associated sensors and controls the filling level in the fresh water tank as a function of a measured filling level in the waste water tank.
US08931505B2

An infrastructure monitoring system and method include multiple communications devices. At least one communications device is coupled to an element of the infrastructure.
US08931504B2

The present invention applies to the hydraulic axial piston regulating valve with a linear position sensor, consisting of the valve body (1) and the central part (2), around which the fluid flows when the valve is opened, the hydraulic cylinder (3) with the piston (4) and the piston rod (5), to which the valve regulating piston (12) is firmly fastened. The linear position sensor (8) is placed inside the hydraulic cylinder, and in the electric version of the valve, the sensor with the magnetostrictive waveguide (20) is used. The present invention applies also to the utilization of the linear response of such valves for the regulation purpose using various driving aids; as e.g. electro-hydraulic drive, pneumatic drive or autonomous drive using the energy of the fluid flowing in the pipeline.
US08931502B2

The invention relates to a gas-dispensing device for connecting a plurality of pressurized gas sources (E1, E2, E3, E4) to a user, the device including a housing provided with a plurality of gas inlets to be connected to respective gas sources (E1, E2, E3, E4) and an outlet to be connected to a user member, a dispensing member that selectively movable, relative to the body, into separate dispensing positions for selectively putting each inlet in communication with the outlet in turn, while the other inlets are isolated from the outlet, characterized in that the device comprises an emergency discharge system that is movable into an operative position in which all the gas inlets are simultaneously forcedly connected to a gas discharge outlet.
US08931493B2

A smokeless tobacco product is provided. A tobacco product configured for insertion into the mouth of a user of that product comprises a water-permeable pouch containing a tobacco formulation that includes a granular tobacco composition, wherein the pouch comprises a fleece material configured to provide enhanced flavor.
US08931488B2

A mouth guard includes a pair of spaced-apart molar receiving members with an inner wall extending therebetween. The inner wall is configured for insertion between a user's lips and teeth. An outer wall is configured to confront an exterior surface of the user's lips. A conduit extends between the inner and outer walls and includes a passage formed therethrough. The passage extends through the inner wall between the molar receiving members and extends through the outer wall whereby a user may breathe or drink through the passage.
US08931484B2

A sealing lip device for a breathing mask includes a receiving opening for receiving at least the nose tip region of a mask wearer, a sealing lip which is formed from an elastomeric material and which surrounds the receiving opening and which is configured to cross the bridge of the nose and which has a contact zone provided for bearing against the face of a mask wearer in use. The sealing lip is elastically and yieldingly arranged in such a way that a first sealing lip zone which in use seals the region of the bridge of the nose has a higher degree of flexibility than a second sealing lip zone which in use is adjacent to at least one of the nostrils and the upper lip of the mask wearer in the application position of the breathing mask. The sealing lip includes a folding bellows structure that suspends the sealing lip in the region of the first zone provided for sealing of the region of the bridge of the nose. The folding bellows structure includes a fold indentation having zones of differing wall thickness.
US08931479B2

An inhaler for delivering dry-powder medicament to a patient from an open blister pocket of a blister pack. The blister pack has a plurality of blister pockets spaced apart in a length direction of the pack and each containing a measured dose of the medicament. The inhaler includes a housing for enclosing used and unused portions of the blister pack together with a medicament dispensing mechanism for opening the blister pockets of the blister pack. The inhaler also includes a manifold through which air can be drawn in use of the inhaler, the manifold including an air inlet for receiving external air, at least one medicament aperture for communicating with an opened pocket of the blister pack to enable entrainment of the medicament by the air drawn through the manifold, and an air outlet for delivery of the entrained medicament to the patient.
US08931477B2

Some embodiments include oral airway assemblies that can include a body having an opening extending from a first end of the body to a second end of the body with the body having upper and lower portions in one cross section. A flange can be included that extends from the first end of the body and outwardly from the opening. An upper member extending from the upper portion of the second end of the body and outwardly from the opening away from the lower portion can be provided. The assemblies can include a lower member slidably engaged with the body, with at least a portion of the lower member extending outwardly from the lower portion of the second end of the body and away from the upper portion when engaged with the body. In accordance with other embodiments a member can be provided to slidably engage with the body, and include a tab at one end, with the tab being pivotably coupled to the member.
US08931472B2

A cooking unit includes a base pan including a base, an inner wall, and an outer wall extending substantially perpendicularly from the base. A can is positionable on the base pan such that the inner wall extends around the can. A cooking drum is positionable on the base pan such that the can extends around the cooking drum. The cooking drum includes at least one opening extending therethrough.
US08931471B2

A hybrid concrete saw includes a saw blade, an internal combustion engine having an output shaft operably connected to the saw blade, and an electric motor connectable to a battery for receiving power therefrom and having an output shaft operably connected to the saw blade. A transmission is connected to the output shaft of each of the engine and the electric motor and the saw blade. A clutch selectively decouples one of the engine and the electric motor from the transmission. A controller controls operation of the engine and the electric motor. The concrete saw is operable in a first mode where the saw blade is driven solely by the engine, a second mode where the saw blade is driven solely by the electric motor, and a third mode where the saw blade is driven by both the engine and the electric motor.
US08931465B1

An improved crossbow is provided having a guard that is integrated into the barrel or stock on each side of the stock which runs parallel to the track or area that the arrow sits in for a length of at least where the string is at rest to where the string is held or secured in the ready or firing position while also having a loaded arrow safety actuator system integrated internally within a crossbow so as to be unexposed to the elements associated with normal outside weather hunting conditions. The loaded arrow safety actuator system incorporates a trigger safety and an arrow retention device for retaining an arrow within a crossbow and alerting a user that the arrow is loaded within the track of a crossbow by allowing the trigger safety to move from a ‘safe’ position to a ‘fire’ position.
US08931459B2

Disclosed herein is a system and method for controlling evaporative emissions in an internal combustion engine. A control valve assembly having a valve housing having an inlet portion, a first outlet portion and a second outlet portion, and a vapor chamber is provided. The vapor chamber is situated within the housing and is in communication with the inlet portion, first outlet portion and second outlet portion. The assembly is configured to receive fuel vapors from a fuel vapor source, through the inlet portion into the valve chamber. The assembly is further configured to selectively actuate a piston member situated at least partially inside the valve chamber for communicating the fuel vapors in the vapor chamber to either: (i) at least one of the atmosphere and an engine air inlet system via the second outlet portion when the engine is operating or otherwise engaged to be operated, or (ii) to a crankcase of the engine via the first outlet portion when the engine is not operating.
US08931458B2

A carburetor having an inlet opening that includes a pair of concavities operative to direct air toward the metering rod of the carburetor. A carburetor having an inlet opening that includes an arcuate manifold adjacent to the inlet opening and in fluid communication with a fuel reservoir. A carburetor having a slide assembly that includes a positioning mechanism operative to adjust the position of the metering rod relative to the throttle slide. A throttle slide that includes a flow guide that bisects an arcuate relief on an underside thereof. A method for configuring the throat of a carburetor that includes an upper portion of a first diameter and a lower portion of a second diameter that is offset from the first diameter. The method comprises deriving an optimum size for the first and second diameters and the offset based on the pumping efficiency and operating parameters of the engine.
US08931449B2

A filter arrangement (2) of a control valve (1) for a camshaft adjuster is provided in which the filter arrangement (2) has a filter (3) and a frame (4) with two articulated legs (5, 6) that are each provided with a change in cross section in a peripheral direction (10), so that the resistance to bending moments of each of the legs (5, 6) is constant along the entire leg (5, 6).
US08931438B2

A condensing fuel-fired appliance has a condensate trap that includes a trap body; a float; a flue gas inlet port for the introduction of flue gas into the interior region of the trap body; a condensate outlet port for the discharge of condensate from the interior region; and a flue gas outlet port for the discharge of flue gas from the interior region of the trap body. The float is configured to move in response to condensate collected in the interior region of the trap body to a position to substantially block the discharge of flue gas from the interior region through the flue gas outlet port. The float is also configured to move to a position to substantially block the discharge of flue gas from the interior region through the condensate outlet port when there is little or no condensate in the interior region of the trap body.
US08931435B2

An animal feeder includes a feed bin configured to hold feed stock. The feed bin has a first feed port. The animal feeder also includes an outer housing positioned around at least a portion of the feed bin. The outer housing has a second feed port. The animal feeder further includes a magnet supported by one of the feed bin and the outer housing. The magnet magnetically couples the outer housing to the feed bin. The outer housing is movable relative to the feed bin between a first position, in which the outer housing is magnetically coupled to the feed bin such that the first feed port and the second feed port are at least partially aligned, and a second position, in which the outer housing is not magnetically coupled to the feed bin and the first feed port and the second feed port are out of alignment.
US08931434B2

A bird feeder includes a seed reservoir formed as two or more telescopic components, which are reducible in size when not in use and which may be telescopically expanded by the owner thereof when in use to define a full-length seed reservoir. The bottom end of the reservoir is received in a base having a conically-shaped seed spreader situated therein, and the upper section of the reservoir is mounted to the underside of a hemispherically-shaped, anti-squirrel dome.
US08931425B2

A seed metering assembly for a farm implement has a meter roller that can be accessed and removed in a relatively quick manner. The seed metering assembly includes a fluted meter roller that is segmented into a number of discrete fluted sections. Each fluted section has an associated flow control member that is selectively operable to impede the flow of granular material from a seed hopper to its corresponding section of the fluted meter roller.
US08931422B2

A safe includes a body that has an opening for receiving and holding an object. A door is rotatably interfaced to the body by, for example, a series of pins, whereas the door obstructs the opening in a first position of rotation, and the door provides access to the body of the safe through the opening when the door is in a second position of rotation. A locking mechanism engages between the door and the body when the door is rotated to the first position of rotation thereby holding the door in the first position of rotation until the locking mechanism is released and, upon releasing by the locking mechanism, the door is free to rotate towards the second position of rotation.
US08931416B2

An inert axisymmetric projectile is provided for launching from a shipboard gun and dispersing submunitions at a target. The projectile includes a base plug, a sabot housing, a submunitions package, and a retainer ring. The sabot housing includes a plurality of sabot petals angularly arranged and attached to the plug. The housing includes a payload portion and a nose portion, with a passage corridor between these portions. The submunitions package is contained within the payload portion and constrained radially by the housing. The retainer ring constrains the petals for joining together. Upon launch aerodynamic pressure fractures the ring and causes the petals to unfurl, thereby releasing the submunitions package for dispersal.
US08931414B1

A reaction container has contains an amount of a water reactive material and a volume of water within the confined space of its interior. The water reactive material, which contains aluminum, is formed as two separate and spaced apart portions. The water is located between the two portions of the water reactive material. A detonation mechanism, which is configured to mix the amount of water reactive material and the volume of water, is provided in communication with each portion of the water reactive material. The volume of water and the aluminum in the water reactive material are stoichiometrically balanced.
US08931412B2

In a method or system for printing of a recording medium, potential images of images to be printed are generated on a potential image carrier. The potential images are developed into an image film comprising image regions and non-image regions on the potential image carrier via application of a liquid developer comprising a polymerizable carrier fluid with dye particles suspended therein. The image film is transferred onto the recording medium. The image film is fixed on the recording medium via a cross-linking reaction of the carrier fluid such that the dye particles of the image regions are embedded in a fixed polymer matrix and the carrier fluid hardens into a transparent film that permanently bonds with the recording medium. The cross-linking reaction of the carrier fluid is started, accelerated, or extended by at least one component.
US08931411B2

A method for regulating a web tension in a processing machine for processing a product web, in particular a shaftless printing press, includes separating a first product-web section from a second product-web section by a delay section. The web tensions in the first and second product-web sections are influenced by first and second actuators, respectively. To regulate the web tension in the first product-web section, the method further includes defining a regulation output value from which an actuating command for the first actuator is derived. An actuating command for the second actuator is defined from the regulation output value and a delay element to decouple the web tension in the second product-web section from the regulation of the web tension in the first product-web section. The delay element delays the effect of the regulation output value on the actuating command for the second actuator by a delay time.
US08931409B2

A printing press includes a plurality of inking systems, which cooperate with at least one impression cylinder, each inking system including a print roller and at least one additional ink-transfer roller, each of which includes a roller body, at the front sides of which a first and a second end shaft journal is disposed. The printing press includes at least one roller-bearing device, in which the print rollers and the ink-transfer rollers can be mounted in roller-bearing positions, and a transfer element, via which at least the print rollers or the ink-transfer rollers can be transported between the roller-bearing positions and the inking systems. At least one roller-bearing position, in which one of the rollers can be set up for a subsequent print job, is provided in the roller-bearing device.
US08931407B2

A stamp assembly has a bracket, a stamping member, an ink cartridge, a spring, a housing and a pushing device. The stamping member is mounted in the bracket and is capable of being moved in a longitudinal direction relative to the bracket and being rotated. The ink cartridge and the spring are mounted in the bracket. The housing is mounted around the bracket and has a through hole formed through a front side of the housing. The pushing device is mounted on the front side of the housing and has a pushed member. The pushed member is slidably mounted in the through hole and is capable of pushing the ink cartridge out of the bracket. With the pushing device, the stamp assembly is convenient for a user to push and remove the ink cartridge.
US08931406B2

A delivery drum includes at least one supporting shell for supporting a printed sheet and for producing a vacuum region between the supporting shell and the printed sheet. The supporting shell extends over the entire width of the printed sheet. A circumferential length, which is at least one quarter of the sheet length of the printed sheet, is disposed between the sheet start of the printed sheet and the start of the vacuum region.
US08931404B2

A feeding and reversing mechanism for a strapping machine includes a forward-reverse wheel assembly and a tension wheel assembly which are mounted on a base and arranged in such a way to provide larger contact areas between a strapping band and the two wheel assemblies. The feeding and reversing mechanism further includes first and second spring units. The first spring unit helps to keep a suitable gap between an active wheel and a passive wheel of the tension wheel assembly for the strapping band to pass through. The second spring unit helps to move the passive wheel toward the active wheel of the tension wheel assembly, so that the strapping band can be clamped between the passive wheel and the active wheel tightly to facilitate reversing and tightening of the strapping band.
US08931387B2

A punching apparatus for a sheet media comprises a base and a handle actuator. The base comprises a first impression head that defines a first image-forming pattern and a second impression head that defines a second image-forming pattern. The base further comprises a first impression head protrusion having a first height and a second impression head protrusion having a second height. The handle actuator hingedly couples to the base. The handle actuator moves between a first position, a second position, and a third position. A limiting member contacts the first impression head protrusion when the handle actuator is moved to the second position, and the first impression head moves to a sheet media forming position. The limiting member contacts the second impression head protrusion when the handle moves to the third handle position, and the first and the second impression heads move to the sheet media forming position.
US08931384B2

In general terms, the present invention includes a slicing apparatus for vegetables powered by a pneumatic actuator. The present invention includes a slicing apparatus comprising: (a) a base portion defining a slicing area; (b) an actuator support portion, the actuator support portion adapted to be releasably connected to the base portion; and (c) an actuator, attached to the actuator support portion, the actuator comprising a drive rod and push block, the push block releasably connected to the drive rod; and (d) a slicing blade portion attached to the base portion and disposed such that the drive rod urges the push block toward the slicing blade portion.
US08931376B2

An apparatus for providing an increased moment of applied force to a tool. An elongated member extends the effective length of tool shanks. The elongated member has tool support to fit a range of tools, such as wrenches, to the elongated member which increases the distance from the fastener to the point of applied force, thereby increasing the moment of the applied force.
US08931368B2

A clevis pin (connecting pin) (26) is inserted into a clearance hole (72), and is displaceable relative to an operating pedal (16). A pivotal moving link (68) is disposed between the clevis pin (26) and a sensor pin (64) of a load sensor (30). A reaction force applied from the clevis pin (26) to the load sensor (30) always acts in a substantially constant direction (substantially leftward in FIG. 1A) even if the operating pedal (16) and an operating rod (22) are pivoted relatively around the axis of the clevis pin (26) in accordance with the depressing operation of the operating pedal (16). Thus, the detecting accuracy of the load sensor (30) is heightened, and variation in detecting accuracy is prevented, rendering the high reliability.
US08931360B2

A synchronization structure applicable to a slide cover to ensure synchronous movement and avoid deflection includes a slide member, a relative slide member and two extensible/retractable linkage assemblies. Second ends of the extensible/retractable assemblies are respectively pivotally connected to corresponding sections of two sides of the slide member. First ends of the extensible/retractable assemblies are connected with each other and restricted by a middle slide guide section between the slide member and the relative slide member. Two fixed support sections are respectively oppositely disposed on lateral sides of the middle slide guide section. The extensible/retractable assemblies are formed with slide guide sections in which the fixed support sections are fitted. A restriction slide guide mechanism is disposed between each extensible/retractable assembly and the relative slide member for cooperatively guiding the extensible/retractable assemblies to pivotally rotate and extend/retract so as to synchronize the moves of two sides of the slide member.
US08931357B2

A two-part coaxial needle for a pipetting device, in particular for use in microscopy of cell probes, makes it possible both to inject a liquid into a pipetting container and to remove by suction a liquid from the pipetting container. Both the drive for lowering the coaxial needle into the pipetting container, and injection and removal by suction of the liquid take place pneumatically by way of only one pressure source. The design of the coaxial needle and of the drive systems makes possible fast and reliable pipetting with high metering accuracy and a particularly compact pipetting unit which without mutual interference can be used with a multitude of widely-used microscope types.
US08931354B2

The invention relates to a Coriolis mass flow meter with improved zero point stability. The Coriolis mass flow meter has a pair of U-shaped measuring tubes. According to one embodiment of the invention, the Coriolis mass flow meter comprises a special housing for vibration compensation or vibration suppression in the region of the process connectors. Additionally or alternatively, a specific mass distribution of the vibration exciter and/or vibration sensor is provided, in order to neutralize unwanted vibrations by actively causing vibration.
US08931352B2

A cleaning quality control device to automatically determine cleaning quality as to whether or not cleaning has been completed from a detection signal of the electromagnetic flow meter,the cleaning quality control device includes, an S/N ratio measuring unit to measure an S/N ratio of the detection signal, and a cleaning completion determining unit which is provided with an S/N ratio•electric conductivity determining table in which outputs of the S/N ratio measuring unit and respective electric conductivities of detergent drains are previously made correspondent using the detergent drains with predetermined electric conductivities, and which outputs cleaning completion when an obtained electric conductivity thereof becomes not more than a predetermined electric conductivity, andobtains the electric conductivity of the detergent drain from a value of the S/N ratio of the electromagnetic flow meter, and thereby automatically determines the cleaning quality as to whether or not cleaning has been completed.
US08931346B2

A measuring transducer having exactly four flow openings, and an outlet-side housing end formed by means of an outlet-side flow divider having exactly four flow openings. A tube arrangement has exactly four curved or bent measuring tubes connected to the flow dividers for guiding flowing medium along flow paths connected in parallel. Each of the four measuring tubes opens with an inlet-side measuring tube end into one of the flow openings of the inlet-side flow divider, and with an outlet-side measuring tube end into one of the flow openings of the outlet-side flow divider. A first coupling element for adjusting eigenfrequencies of natural oscillation modes of the tube arrangement. An electro-mechanical exciter mechanism of the measuring transducer serves for producing and/or maintaining mechanical oscillations of the four measuring tubes. The first coupling element of first type includes, furthermore, a deformation body as well as four connecting struts, of which each is connected both with the deformation body as well as also with exactly one of the measuring tubes; conversely, also each of the measuring tubes is connected with exactly one of the four connecting struts.
US08931343B2

An inspection device (300) has an ultrasonic transducer (304) encased in a couplant block (302) mounted in a housing (328). The housing (328) has a pair of encoders (340, 342) mounted thereto. The transducer (304) is mounted to scan perpendicular to the contact surface (306) of the block (302). A coupling block with a PTFE layer on the contact surface is also provided.
US08931334B1

A re-usable tire monitor assembly for detecting wear of the tire includes a band that is selectively coupled to the tire on a vehicle. A processor is coupled to the band. A first sensor is coupled to the band. The first processor is operationally coupled to the processor so the first sensor monitors wear of the tire. A second sensor is coupled to the band. The second sensor is operationally coupled to the processor so the second sensor monitors wear of the tire. A first transceiver is operationally coupled to the band. The first transceiver is operationally coupled to the processor. A remote unit may be carried by a user. A second transceiver is coupled to the remote unit. The second transceiver is operationally coupled to the first transceiver so the first transceiver communicates information about the tire to the second transceiver.
US08931328B2

A multilayer structure includes: a microfluidic circuit, delimited at least in part by a first sealing structure; a fluid-tight chamber delimited in part by a second sealing structure and in part by the first sealing structure, which is arranged in the fluid-tight chamber and is configured to provide a signal indicative of a leakage between the microfluidic circuit and the fluid-tight chamber.
US08931325B2

A measuring device 1 for measuring structures is provided, wherein the measuring device including two inertial measuring units 3, 4 arranged at a distance from each other. The measuring device can be provided with means for engaging the constructions that are measured. Also, an arrangement including a measuring device and a base station 21 providing a reference point for the measuring device is provided. Moreover, a kit including the measuring device and adaptors are provided, wherein the adaptors can provide an interface between the measuring device and a measured construction. A method for measuring a stationary construction is also provided, using a measuring device, preferably a measuring kit.
US08931318B2

A device for surface-peening, especially for the ultrasound shot-peening of a component of a gas turbine, having at least one vibration means that comprises a surface that propels the peening material, and having a holding means with which a surface area of the component and the surface of the vibration means can be arranged with respect to each other is disclosed. In this context, the angular position of the surface of the at least one vibration means can be adjusted relative to the surface area of the component of the gas turbine. Moreover, a method is provided in which the angular position of the surface of the at least one vibration means can be adjusted relative to the surface area of the component.
US08931317B2

In a bending machine, there is provided at one back gauge abutting part (5) a plurality of contact confirmation sensors for confirming the contact thereof with a workpiece; and there is included control means driving a ram (1) on the conditions of ON of all the sensors automatically or manually specified among these contact confirmation sensors and ON of a foot pedal (6) when the workpiece is abutted.
US08931312B2

A drum type washing machine is provided. The washing machine may include a tub, a drum, a motor rotating the drum, bearing housings housing bearings to support a rotation shaft, a suspension connected to the bearing housings and a cabinet to mitigate vibration, a bracket coupled to the bearing housings, and a gasket installed between the bracket and the tub. Such an arrangement may allow volumes of the tub and the drum may be increased without increasing the volume of the cabinet.
US08931310B2

A bulk dispensing system for a washing machine is provided. The bulk dispensing system includes at least one bulk storage tank mounted within the washing machine. A tube provides fluid communication between the at least one bulk storage tank and a tub mounted within a cabinet of the washing machine. A pump is operatively coupled to the tube and configured to move fluid from within the at least one bulk storage tank into the tub through the tube. A controller is operatively coupled to the pump and configured to control an amount of fluid moved into the tub.
US08931301B2

Disclosed herein is a movable refrigerator including a main body travel driving unit configured to automatically rotate the wheel to move the main body and a main body travel switching unit configured to turn on or off the main body travel driving unit to automatically or manually move the main body. Accordingly, the user may suitably select and use automatic operation and manual operation according to the user's healthy condition, the environment of the used place, or the need of use, thereby greatly enhancing the use convenience of a movable refrigerator.
US08931297B2

A cooling apparatus includes a cabinet (100) defining a compartment for the storage of products to be cooled and a cooling system coupled to the cabinet for cooling an interior atmosphere of the compartment. The cooling system includes at least one condenser (130) and at least one compressor (125) positioned in a recess of the cabinet. The condenser has at least a first condenser portion (150) adapted to define a support surface for the at least one compressor, wherein the compressor is supported by the first condenser portion, and wherein the condenser has a second condenser portion (145) completely covering a rear of the recess.
US08931292B2

A refrigerated showcase is provided that can easily carry out a maintenance operation and the like of a cooling mechanism disposed in a machine chamber. A machine chamber 13 is defined on a side of a heat insulating box 16 defining a storage chamber 12 and also provided with a cooler to cool the storage chamber 12 to have a cooling mechanism 80 disposed therein to circularly supply a refrigerant to the cooler, and a front side of the storage chamber 12 and the machine chamber 13 is covered with a single front glass 14. Then, a side of the machine chamber 13 is defined by a detachable second side panel to configure the machine chamber 13 to open laterally in a state of removing the second side panel, and also the cooling mechanism 80 is placed on a unit base 38 drawable from the machine chamber 13 to configure to allow the unit base 38 to be drawn from the machine chamber 13 via a side opening of the machine chamber 13 opened by removing the second side panel.
US08931291B2

Provided in some embodiments is a system that includes a gas compressor including an engine, a compressor driven by the engine, and a vapor absorption cycle (VAC) system driven by waste heat from the compressor, wherein the VAC system is configured to cool at least one medium. In other embodiments is provided a method that includes generating waste heat while compressing a gas, driving a vapor absorption cycle (VAC) system with the waste heat, and cooling at least one medium via the VAC system.
US08931285B2

In one exemplary embodiment, a gas turbine engine includes a fan, a speed reduction device driving the fan, and a lubrication system for lubricating components across a rotation gap. The lubrication system includes a lubricant input. A stationary first bearing receives lubricant from the lubricant input and has a first race in which lubricant flows. A second bearing for rotation is within the first bearing. The second bearing has a first opening in registration with said first race such that lubricant may flow from the first race through the first opening into a first conduit. The first bearing also has a second race into which lubricant flows. The second bearing has a second opening in registration with the second race such that lubricant may flow from the second race through the second opening into a second conduit. The first and second conduits deliver lubricant to distinct locations.
US08931281B2

An external flap connection assembly for a turbine engine nozzle has a track frame, a slider track, and an external flap. The external flap is removably connected to the slider track via a retaining member which has a slider block.
US08931267B2

A pump for use in pumping hydraulic well control fluid expelled from a control device of a well, comprises means for accumulating such hydraulic well control fluid and means for using the pressure of hydraulic fluid supplied to the well to pump accumulated hydraulic well control fluid into a production flowline of the well.
US08931263B2

An exhaust pipe for a diesel engine is connected to a diesel particulate defuser (“DPD”). To automatically regenerate the DPD, an exhaust gas temperature is detected, a deviation of the detected exhaust gas temperature from a target regeneration temperature is evaluated, and an amount of post injection is controlled through PID control according to the deviation. When, during the automatic regeneration with a vehicle running, an exhaust brake valve is closed, the post injection is interrupted. While the exhaust brake is being closed, an operation of an integral control term is continued with the PID control, and when the exhaust brake valve is opened, the integral control term operated without interruption is used as an initial amount of operation.
US08931262B2

A method for controlling the effective heat transfer from a storage unit (1). During gas release from storage material (3) in the storage unit the storage material is heated by a heater (2). During re-saturation of the storage material (3) with gas the heater is off. Controlling of the effective heat transfer from the storage unit (1) is performed, during gas release, by ceasing convection of a convection gas and, during re-saturation, by performing or enabling convection of a convection gas to cool the storage unit (1).
US08931247B2

A reel for an agricultural harvesting head has a rotating wheel that is pivotally coupled to a plurality of bat extension links and each of the bat extension links is pivotally coupled to a corresponding bat.
US08931246B2

A header lift assembly for an agricultural harvester includes a lift cylinder and a lock assembly. The lift cylinder includes a sleeve and a piston, and the piston is configured to move in an axial direction relative to the sleeve. The lock assembly is coupled to the lift cylinder and is configured to automatically transition to a first locking position upon extension of the piston in the axial direction to a locking distance from the sleeve. The first locking position is configured to block retraction of the piston in the axial direction beyond a first distance from the sleeve. The lock assembly is also configured to automatically disengage from the first locking position to a unlocked position that facilitates retraction of the piston beyond the first distance upon extension of the piston to an unlocking distance.
US08931244B2

A horse boot assembly includes: a boot body shaped to accommodate a hoof of a horse, a fastening device associated with the boot body for fastening the boot assembly onto the hoof, and an adapter. The adapter is compressed against a rear part of the hoof upon fastening of the fastening device.
US08931236B2

The invention relates to a method for anchoring a load (26) to an anchorage (30) utilizing at least one unitary anchoring tendon (10) including a plurality of tensile elements (12) each having a free length (14) and a bond length (18). The tendon is located lengthwise in a bore (34) formed through the load into the anchorage, and different groups (G1, G2, G3) of the strands of the tendon are tensioned in a predetermined sequence to a respective initial displacement length prior to the different groups being collectively tensioned to a respective final displacement length to anchor the load.
US08931235B2

A method for erecting a facility includes the steps of constructing initial tower panels on a foundation. Work platforms and guys are installed so that additional tower panels may be installed on top of the existing tower panels. The work platforms with guys may then be raised, so that the process may be repeated until tower section height is reached. Tower sections are them completed by the addition of peripheral trusses and permanent guys, and additional tower sections are constructed by repeating the process to reach the desired facility height. Lifting units including truss and rail systems and rotatable modules with turbines in shrouds are assembled on the ground, then raised up the towers and operably mounted for generating electricity from wind. The erection process is sequenced to maintain structural integrity.
US08931234B2

Odor emissions from improperly prepared Chinese drywall commonly termed “Chinese drywall” are reduced by the use of a hydrophobic coating on preferably both sides of the drywall, and by positively ventilating air from between the joists onto which the drywall is mounted.
US08931232B2

Disclosed herein is a washer having a substantially planar annular area defining an opening for through passage of a fastener and a non-planar area radially outwardly disposed of the planar annular area. A method for fastening a roof deck comprising inserting a fastener through a washer having a substantially planar annular area and a non-planar area radially outwardly disposed of the planar annular area and driving the fastener through the roof deck or through an opening therein. A corrugated metal roof deck system comprising a subjacent support and a corrugated metal roof supported by the support. A waster having a substantially planar annular area defining an opening for through passage of a fastener and a second non-planar area radially outwardly disposed of said planar annular area with a fastener extending through said washer through said deck and into said subjacent support.
US08931231B2

A panel mounting system and method of securing a panel to a vertical surface. The panel mounting system, which may be used in a point of sale (POS) display, includes a panel having a channel open to a rear surface of the panel. The channel has a top surface configured to engage a portion of a horizontal cleat and a bottom surface. A channel access opening allows a security cleat to be inserted into the channel through the rear surface of the panel. The security cleat is then repositioned laterally along the axis of the channel, thereby engaging the top and bottom surfaces of the channel and securing the horizontal cleat to the panel. The panel may be decoupled from the horizontal cleat by simply repositioning the security cleat to the channel access opening and removing the security cleat.
US08931230B2

Disclosed are aspects of board finishing systems. For example, in various aspects, disclosed are joint compound compositions, wall assemblies, methods of treating walls, and products related to any of the foregoing, including reinforcement trim, e.g., for protecting corners where boards meet, fasteners, and tape. The joint compound preferably is a drying type composition with reduced shrinkage property, and includes binder and hollow spheres, resulting in an ultra lightweight formulation in some embodiments. The joint compound composition can be applied in a one-coat treatment in preferred embodiments. Other aspects of board finishing system accommodate such a one-coat treatment to thusly allow a user to manipulate the compound closer to the plane of board as compared with conventional formulations. Joint tape and reinforcement trim can include non-swelling synthetic paper facing material in some embodiments.
US08931215B1

An attic stairway insulator assembly configured for placement within a building scuttle is provided. The building scuttle has a length and a width. The attic stairway insulator assembly includes a base configured to cover the building scuttle. The base has a length and a width corresponding generally to the length and the width of the building scuttle. A bag is seated on the base and has insulative material within a jacket. The bag has a length that is longer than the length of the base and a width that is wider than the width of the base such that portions of the bag having the insulative material drape over portions of the base.
US08931211B2

A bag constructed of a weed suppression material for packaging a ground cover material. When the bag is in a closed configuration, the bag serves as a container for shipping, handling, and storage of the ground cover material. When the bag is opened and unfolded, and the ground cover material within the bag is spread over the opened and unfolded bag, the bag serves as a layer of weed suppression material on top of underlying soil and beneath the ground cover. In addition, the bag may be used for planting individual plants in a planting bed, for establishing a buffer zone around the foundation of a building, or for controlling erosion around a downspout of a building.
US08931207B2

The present disclosure relates to a pick-up and delivery system including a pick-up assembly and a delivery assembly. The pick-up assembly includes a robotic arm, a pick-up device rotatably mounted on the robotic arm, and a first vacuum pressure supply port operably connected to the pick-up device. The delivery assembly includes an insertion device. The insertion device may include an insertion member having a tip and a release assistance piston arranged inside the insertion member. The release piston is moveable between an extended position and a retracted position. When the release assistance piston is in the extended position, a proximal end of is substantially flush with an end of the insertion member. Further aspects are directed towards methods for grasping and releasing an object with a pick-up and delivery system.
US08931201B2

Gun support apparatus for supporting a gun or components of a gun for assembly, servicing, cleaning, or other gunsmithing operations. A vise may include one or more gun supports for supporting a gun. A gun support may include a magazine well insert receivable in a magazine well of a gun. The support may be pivotable and may include a hammer stop. A gun support may include a channel of tapering width which is pivotable for positioning a desired width of the channel for receiving a portion of a gun to be supported in the channel. A bolt support device may be used to mount a bolt for cleaning or servicing.
US08931200B2

A device for selectively engaging and depressing the slide lock of a firearm includes a pair of engagement tabs that may be utilized in the field stripping of a firearm. In particular, the tabs have slots that are configured to accept the slide lock of the firearm, and facilitate disengagement of the lock to the slide assembly of the firearm.
US08931195B2

A gun locking and unlocking device, which may be configured to be disposed adjacent the trigger of a gun to alternatively prevent or enable firing, includes a data receiver, a data memory and a logic device for determining whether data received by the receiver is the same, or substantially the same, as data stored in the data memory. One or more separate electronic gun keys are provided to transmit gun lock/unlock data to the data receiver of the gun lock device. The logic device responds to a gun control signal transmitted by one of the gun key devices with priority over a gun control signal transmitted by another gun key device. The logic device automatically locks the gun when it is located in a prohibited area, such as a school. The logic device also locks the gun when the gun user is intoxicated or acting in an irrational manner. Once locked, the user must set a timer which allows the gun to be unlocked only after a specified “wait” time.
US08931191B2

A vehicle license plate frame and bumper assembly has a substrate formed of a high-durometer first polymer compound, and an overmold component formed of a lower-durometer, second polymer compound that is chemically compatible with the first polymer compound. The substrate includes an endless frame with forward, inner and outer faces, and license plate screw mounting tabs inwardly extending from the frame. The overmold component includes a bumper cohesively bonded to the frame but not to screw head-receiving areas of the tabs.
US08931182B2

A portable articulated arm coordinate measurement machine, comprising: a manually positionable articulated arm having opposed first and second ends, the articulated arm including a plurality of connected arm segments, each arm segment including at least one position transducer for producing a position signal; a base section connected to the second end; and a probe assembly including a probe end and a handle; wherein the probe assembly is connected to the first end; wherein the handle contains electronics that include a processor; wherein the handle is configured to be gripped by a hand; and wherein the articulated arm coordinate measurement machine is configured to measure a three-dimensional coordinate of a point in space associated with the probe end.
US08931173B2

There is disclosed a member for sealing, baffling and/or reinforcing components of an automotive vehicle. The assembly generally includes a carrier, an expandable material and at least one fastener.
US08931172B2

A body hanger bracket aligns and attaches an accent panel to a vehicle body panel. The hanger bracket includes selectively detachable first and second alignment tabs. The first alignment tab engages a horizontal indexing feature on the vehicle body panel for aligning the hanger bracket horizontally and the second alignment tab engages a vertical indexing feature on the vehicle body panel for aligning the hanger bracket vertically. After the hanger bracket is aligned and attached to the body panel, the first and second alignment tabs are detached. The accent panel is then attached to the hanger bracket.
US08931166B2

A manufacturing method of electrical bridges, wherein a conductive pattern (2) from electroconductive material, such as metal foil, is applied over a substrate (1) made of electrically insulating material and the electroconductive material has at least one strip tongue (3) unattached to the substrate, one side of the tongue is attached to the conductive pattern (2), and the said strip tongue (3) is folded over an area insulated electrically from the conductive pattern (2), and the strip tongue (3) is connected electroconductively to a predetermined other part (5) of the conductive pattern (2).
US08931165B2

A method of manufacturing a coil device includes inserting planar insulating sheets into a single conductor formed in a solenoidal coil shape from a direction intersecting with a winding axis direction.
US08931162B2

A three piece fastener is provided for attaching two layers, e.g. a floor mat for a vehicle to a floor carpet which may then stabilize the mat relative to the carpeting. The three components may connect together through a combination of mechanical connections to provide a relatively simple and cost effective solution to floor mat retention.
US08931160B2

A method for fixing a piercing nut includes placing on a punching die a metal plate. A pilot portion is provided at a bearing surface of a nut main body of the piercing nut. A height from the bearing surface to an end face of the pilot portion is smaller than a thickness of the metal plate. The pilot portion is pressed to a first surface of the metal plate to be struck into the metal plate so that an inner peripheral surface of a punching opening portion of the metal plate engages with an outer peripheral surface of the pilot portion to fix the piercing nut to the metal plate. The end face is positioned between the first surface and a second surface of the metal plate. A punching slag is downwardly pushed to discharge the punching slag to a punching hole of the punching die.
US08931157B2

Fabric display panels mountable on a frame for displaying graphical images and methods of making same. In some embodiments, fabric display panels which can be mounted on foldable frames to provide portable display systems.
US08931155B2

A belt fastener installation tool is provided with a raised belt guiding surface for inserting the belt between upper and lower plates of a belt fastener held in the tool. The raised surface keeps interference with the lower plate during belt insertion between the fastener plates to a minimum. The raised surface can be formed on a separate riser plate member for being secured to an existing belt fastener installation tool; the raised surface can be formed as an integral, one-piece member in combination with the anvil plate of the tool; and the raised surface can be formed integrally with an extruded base of the tool. Gripping structure is also optionally included on the raised surface, such as on the portion thereof under the clamp bar to provide enhanced gripping of the clamped conveyor belt.
US08931152B2

A wedge installation and seating tool and associated method of operation that permits a worker to single handedly and expeditiously install and seat wedges in an anchor assembly of a post tensioned concrete member, thereby improving worker safety and productivity. In a preferred embodiment, the tool is an elongated member comprised of two body portions hingedly attached to one another for substantially surrounding the circumference of a reinforcing cable used in an anchor assembly of a post tensioned concrete member, and a wedge retention means for temporarily attaching the wedges to the tool. The tool and method of the present invention effectively eliminates the need for a separate seating tool, and the tool is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and is easy to use.
US08931147B2

A coffin for use in an alkaline hydrolysis processes described. The coffin comprises a dissolvable receptacle for a cadaver, the dissolvable receptacle being dissolvable in the alkaline hydrolysis process. A method of disposing of a cadaver is also described. The method includes the steps of placing the cadaver into a coffin comprising a dissolvable receptacle; placing the coffin in an alkaline hydrolysis unit; and adding water and a chemical into the alkaline hydrolysis unit with the cadaver, to break down the cadaver into a fluid component and a bone residue component and to dissolve the dissolvable receptacle of the coffin by alkaline hydrolysis.
US08931142B2

An article, such as, but not limited to, a cable strap to wrap, support, or secure one or more wires or cables, is formed by cyclically heating and cooling and/or irradiating an article formed of a static dissipative ethylene tetrafluoroethylen (ETFE) resin, to reduce an electrical resistivity and/or to increase a tensile strength of the article.
US08931139B2

A movable device for a movable body has a reception body fixed to a support body or the movable body relatively moving to the support body, and includes a plurality of engagement portions protruding from the support body or the movable body by being separated from each other; a base body provided in the other of the support body or movable body; an abutment body formed to move along a movement direction of the movable body, and engaging one of the engagement portions in a case wherein the movable body moves in a movement completion position thereof; and an urging mechanism formed urgingly between the base body and the abutment body, restricting a movement of the base body or abutment body by urging, and releasing restriction of the movement by engagement of the abutment body with one of engagement portions.
US08931125B2

A cradle drive mechanism is provided. The cradle drive mechanism includes a drive motor, an intermediate frame and a screw and nut transmission device driven by the drive motor so as to drive linear reciprocating motion of the intermediate frame. The cradle drive mechanism also includes a rotating, shaft having a first driving wheel and a gear, a transmission belt, and a rack meshed with the gear so that, during linear reciprocating motion of the intermediate frame, the rack forces the gear to rotate and drive rotation of the first driving wheel, wherein rotation of the first driving wheel drives rotation of the transmission belt. The cradle drive mechanism also includes a cradle connector fixed on the transmission belt and configured to connect a cradle and to drive linear reciprocating motion of the cradle.
US08931113B2

In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a jacket is provided having a lifeline access slot to allow a harness attachment to be accessed from outside the jacket. The access slot can be reinforced and designed to be barely visible but easily accessible.
US08935811B2

A sample stage for microscopy includes a sample holder including a body in which a sample-mounting part and a seating part are provided on a bottom of the body and a grip part for a mounting unit is provided on a top of the body, a sample rack, on which the sample holder is mounted, including a supporter supporting the seating part of the sample holder, and an elastic element provided on the sample rack, providing the sample holder with a pressing force inclined with respect to a vertical direction and fastening the sample holder to the sample rack while the seating part is being supported by the supporter. The sample stage may be vertically mounted.
US08935807B2

Various embodiments of systems and methods for visual securement of sensitive data are described herein. In one aspect, the method includes receiving a request for displaying a report. It is determined whether the requested report comprises sensitive data. When the report comprises the sensitive data, a display rule related to the sensitive data is identified. Based upon the identified display rule, the sensitive data within the report is displayed.
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