US08993516B2
A method treating a patient includes administering a physiologically effective amount of a fibrillation-resistant insulin analogue or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof to the patient. The fibrillation-resistant insulin analogue or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof, contains an insulin A-chain sequence modified at position A8 and an insulin B-chain sequence or an analogue thereof. The fibrillation-resistant insulin analogue may exhibit thermodynamic stability similar to or exceeding that of wild-type human insulin and displays a susceptibility to fibrillation similar to or exceeding that of wild-type human insulin. An insulin analogue may display greater in vitro insulin receptor binding than normal insulin while displaying binding to IGFR less than twice that of normal insulin and less than that of fast-acting insulin analogs. The fibrillation-resistant insulin may be used to treat a patient by subcutaneous injection or by using an implantable or external insulin pump, due to its fibrillation resistance.
US08993510B2
Peptides having at least 2 amino acids and no more than 15 amino acids are provided. The peptides comprise amino acid sequence X-Y or Y-X, wherein X is an aromatic amino acid and Y is any amino acid other than glycine. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions and kits including such peptides as well as methods using same for diagnosing and treating amyloid associated diseases.
US08993509B2
The present invention relates to agents, and methods for identifying compounds, which agents and compounds are effective in the treatment, and more particularly, that inhibit cachexia, and its associated or related disorders and conditions. In addition, the invention relates to compositions and methods for the use thereof in treating conditions that are characterized by cachexia, and its associated or related disorders and conditions and/or cachexia, and its associated or related disorders and conditions, such as for example, cancer cachexia and cachexia associated with AIDS, autoimmune disorders, drug addiction, alcoholism, chronic inflammatory disorders, cirrhosis of the liver, anorexia and neurodegenerative disease. In particular, the diagnostic marker and drug target of the invention is the ATGL Lipase, which can be inhibited by e.g. siRNAs and compounds with any of the following structures (I).
US08993508B1
The present invention relates to a laundry care composition comprising from 0.00001 wt % to 0.5 wt % mono-azo carboxylate dye having the structure of Formula I: wherein each R3 is independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl, oxyalkyl, oxyaryl, sulfonamidoalkyl, sulfonamidoaryl, amidoalkyl, amidodialkyl, amidoaryl, amidodiaryl, halogen, thioalkyl and thioaryl; wherein the index a is an integer from 0 to 4, preferably from 0 to 2; wherein D is an aromatic or heteroaromatic group, with the proviso that the heteroaromatic group is not a thiophene; wherein R1 is independently selected from the group consisting of: (a) unsubstituted or substituted C1 to C12 alkyl chains, optionally the alkyl chains comprise ether (C—O—C), ester and/or amide links, optionally the alkyl chains are substituted with —Cl, —Br, —CN, —NO2, —SO2CH3, —OH and mixtures thereof; and (b) (CH2CH2O)y((CH2)wNH)zQ; wherein R2 is (CH2CH2O)y′((CH2)w′NH)z′Q′.
US08993506B2
A hydrophilized article includes (a) a substrate having a hydrophobic surface, and (b) a hydrophilizing layer disposed on at least a portion of the hydrophobic surface of the substrate. said layer comprising an organophosphorus material or a vinyl alcohol material, or a mixture of an organophosphorus material and a vinyl alcohol material.
US08993504B2
The present invention provides an oxidation catalyst for bleaching containing a component (a) which is an anion caused from a chelating agent having less than or equal to coordination position 5 and/or the chelating agent, and a component (b) which is a copper and/or manganese compound; and a binder compound (c); a hydrogen peroxide-based compound (d) which dissolves in water and generates hydrogen peroxide, the bleaching composition containing a granulated product or a molded product in which at least the component (b) and the component (c) are granulated or molded together. According to the invention, an oxidation catalyst that promotes the oxidation effect of hydrogen peroxide-based compounds with a trace amount of the composition, and has excellent effects of suppressing the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide-based compounds and suppressing coloration of the catalyst itself, and a bleaching composition containing the oxidation catalyst can be utilized.
US08993500B2
The invention relates to a liquid cleaning and disinfecting hand dishwashing detergent composition comprising at least one surfactant selected from the group consisting of anionic, nonionic, cationic, zwitterionic, amphoteric surfactants, and mixtures thereof, at least one organic solvent and/or at least one hydrotrope, and a single antibacterial active and/or at least one sequestering agent. The cleaning and disinfecting hand dishwashing detergent composition eliminates 99.999% of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus hirae in no more than 5 minutes at an 80% product concentration and 20 degrees Celsius according to the EN1276 suspension testThe present invention further relates to methods of cleaning and disinfecting dishware and/or dishwashing implements and/or skin using such a liquid of cleaning and disinfecting detergent composition.
US08993494B2
Compositions containing a reverse micelle comprising a first compound and a second compound are disclosed, wherein the second compound is configured to change conformation in response to a stimulus, a first conformation selected for formation of the reverse micelle, and a second conformation selected for disruption of the reverse micelle; and wherein the first compound is selected to interact with the first conformation of the second compound to form the reverse micelle.
US08993493B2
Sliding parts are made of Pb-free Cu—Bi based sintered material. The side in contact with a shaft is machined to a predetermined roughness. A number of Bi phases are present on the finished surface. Stable performance of Bi is to be exhibited. Machined sintered material covers a portion of the Bi phases. The ratio of the exposed surface area of the Bi phases is 0.5% or more relative to the area of the finished surface.
US08993490B2
The present invention relates to environmentally friendly compositions and methods for removing or suppressing metal ions in waters, flowback waters, and produced waters to make such waters suitable for subsequent use in oil-field applications and for delinking metal cross-linked gelling agents. One embodiment of the present invention provides a method of providing a competitive binder and allowing the competitive binder to interact with interfering metal ions in a flowback fluid to suppress or remove interfering metal ions.
US08993484B1
Methods of improving the growth of a plant by applying a plant growth effective amount of a plant growth composition that includes a hydrated aluminum-magnesium silicate and at least one dispersant selected from the group consisting of a sucrose ester, a lignosulfonate, an alkylpolyglycoside, a naphthalenesulfonic acid formaldehyde condensate and a phosphate ester to plant propagation material in the absence of insect pest pressure.
US08993477B2
The present invention relates to a catalyst composition and a catalyst material produced therefrom for the steam reforming of methane in fuel cells, in particular for the direct internal reforming of methane in molten carbonate fuel cells. The invention further relates to a process for producing such catalyst compositions.
US08993475B2
An excellent oxygen storage capacity is achieved even in the case used for a long period of time under high temperature conditions. An oxygen storage material contains a first particle made of a composite oxide of cerium and zirconium or a composite oxide of cerium, a rare-earth element other than cerium and zirconium, a second particle including a composite oxide of a rare-earth element, an alkaline-earth element and zirconium, and a precious metal. A part of the precious metal forms a solid solution with the composite oxide included in the second particle.
US08993474B2
This invention relates to a dehydrogenation catalyst having a macropore size and a high active density of platinum, suitable for use in dehydrogenation of a hydrocarbon gas. This dehydrogenation catalyst having a macropore size and a high active density of platinum is highly active, has high active density per unit catalytic surface area, facilitates material transfer of reactants and products, delays deactivation due to coke formation, keeps the initial activity constant after being regenerated thanks to the disposal of coke, has high strength and so is resistant to external impact, and undergoes neither structural changes due to heat nor changes in the properties of active materials.
US08993470B2
Organometallic compounds of the general formula (I), in which M=Mo, W, are claimed.
US08993457B1
A method of fabricating a memory device is described. Generally, the method includes: forming on a surface of a substrate a dielectric stack including a tunneling dielectric and a charge-trapping layer overlying the tunneling dielectric; depositing a first cap layer comprising an oxide over the dielectric stack; forming a second cap layer comprising a nitride over the first cap layer; patterning the first and second cap layers and the dielectric stack to form a gate stack of a memory device; removing the second cap layer; and performing an oxidation process to form a blocking oxide over the charge-trapping layer, wherein the oxidation process consumes the first cap layer. Other embodiments are also described.
US08993455B2
Atomic layer deposition (ALD) can be used to form a dielectric layer of zirconium aluminum oxynitride (ZrAlON) for use in a variety of electronic devices. Forming the dielectric layer may include depositing zirconium oxide using atomic layer deposition and precursor chemicals, followed by depositing aluminum nitride using precursor chemicals, and repeating. The dielectric layer may be used as the gate insulator of a MOSFET, a capacitor dielectric, and a tunnel gate insulator in flash memories.
US08993435B2
In the formation of an interconnect structure, a metal feature is formed in a dielectric layer. An etch stop layer (ESL) is formed over the metal feature and the dielectric layer using a precursor and a carbon-source gas including carbon as precursors. The carbon-source gas is free from carbon dioxide (CO2). The precursor is selected from the group consisting essentially of 1-methylsilane (1MS), 2-methylsilane (2MS), 3-methylsilane (3MS), 4-methylsilane (4MS), and combinations thereof.
US08993428B2
A method and structure to create damascene local interconnect during metal gate deposition. A method includes: forming a gate dielectric on an upper surface of a substrate; forming a mandrel on the gate dielectric; forming an interlevel dielectric (ILD) layer on a same level as the mandrel; forming a trench in the ILD layer; removing the mandrel; and forming a metal layer on the gate dielectric and in the trench.
US08993416B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes growing a first GaN layer on a SiC substrate, and forming a second GaN layer on the first GaN layer, the second GaN layer being grown under such conditions that a ratio of a vertical growth rate to a horizontal growth rate is lower than that in the growth of the first GaN layer.
US08993414B2
In embodiments, a hybrid wafer or substrate dicing process involving an initial laser scribe and subsequent plasma etch is implemented for die singulation. The laser scribe process may be used to cleanly remove a mask layer, organic and inorganic dielectric layers, and device layers. The laser etch process may then be terminated upon exposure of, or partial etch of, the wafer or substrate. In embodiments, a multi-plasma etching approach is employed to dice the wafers where an isotropic etch is employed to improve the die sidewall following an anisotropic etch. The isotropic etch removes anisotropic etch byproducts, roughness, and/or scalloping from the anisotropically etched die sidewalls after die singulation.
US08993411B2
A method for forming a pad in a wafer with a three-dimensional stacking structure is disclosed. The method includes bonding a device wafer that includes an Si substrate and a handling wafer, thinning a back side of the Si substrate, depositing an anti-reflective layer on the thinned back side of the Si substrate, depositing a back side dielectric layer on the anti-reflective layer, defining a space for a pad in the back side dielectric layer and forming vias that pass through the back side dielectric layer and the anti-reflective layer and contact back sides of super contacts which are formed on the Si substrate, filling one or more metals in the vias and the defined space for the pad, and removing a remnant amount of the metal filled in the space for the pad through planarization by a CMP (chemical mechanical polishing) process.
US08993405B2
Embodiments of MIM capacitors may be embedded into a thick IMD layer with enough thickness (e.g., 10 KŘ30 KÅ) to get high capacitance, which may be on top of a thinner IMD layer. MIM capacitors may be formed among three adjacent metal layers which have two thick IMD layers separating the three adjacent metal layers. Materials such as TaN or TiN are used as bottom/top electrodes & Cu barrier. The metal layer above the thick IMD layer may act as the top electrode connection. The metal layer under the thick IMD layer may act as the bottom electrode connection. The capacitor may be of different shapes such as cylindrical shape, or a concave shape. Many kinds of materials (Si3N4, ZrO2, HfO2, BST . . . etc.) can be used as the dielectric material. The MIM capacitors are formed by one or two extra masks while forming other non-capacitor logic of the circuit.
US08993403B2
The present invention provides a socket by which a capacitor element can be produced without causing contamination of chemical conversion treatment liquid or semiconductor layer forming liquid even if the chemical conversion treatment liquid or the semiconductor layer forming liquid has a corrosive property, and a lead wire of a positive electrode can be stably retained even if diameters of the lead wires are difference. The socket (1) of the present invention is provided with a conductive socket body portion (2) having an insertion port, a resin insulation portion (5) covering a part of the socket body portion (2) so as not to close an insertion port (37), and a resin coating portion (3) coating at least the insertion portion (37) of the socket body portion (2).
US08993396B2
A method for fabricating a capacitor includes forming a mold structure over a substrate, wherein the mold structure has a plurality of open parts and has a mold layer stacked with a support layer; forming cylinder type lower electrodes in the open parts; forming a first upper electrode over an entire surface of a structure including the cylinder type lower electrodes to fill the cylinder type lower electrodes; defining a through hole that passes through portions of the first upper electrode and the support layer; removing the mold layer through the through hole and exposing the cylinder type lower electrodes; forming a second upper electrode to fill the through hole and spaces between the cylinder type lower electrodes; and forming a third upper electrode to connect the second upper electrode and the first upper electrode with each other.
US08993392B2
A vertically stacked, planar junction Zener diode is concurrently formed with epitaxially grown FET raised S/D terminals. The structure and process of the Zener diode are compatible with Gate-Last high-k FET structures and processes. Lateral separation of diode and transistor structures is provided by modified STI masking. No additional photolithography steps are required. In some embodiments, the non-junction face of the uppermost diode terminal is silicided with nickel to additionally perform as a copper diffusion barrier.
US08993391B2
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a conductive layer over first and second regions of a semiconductor substrate, forming a trench extended in the first region of the semiconductor substrate through the conductive layer, forming a recessed gate electrode in the trench, doping the conductive layer and the recessed first gate electrode, and forming a second gate electrode by etching the doped conductive layer.
US08993389B2
A method of forming a semiconductor device comprising a dummy gate interconnect includes forming a dummy gate on a substrate, the dummy gate comprising a dummy gate metal layer located on the substrate, and a dummy gate polysilicon layer located on the dummy gate metal layer; forming an active gate on the substrate, the active gate comprising an active gate metal layer located on the substrate, and an active gate polysilicon layer located on the active gate metal layer; and etching the dummy gate polysilicon layer to remove at least a portion of the dummy gate polysilicon layer to form the dummy gate interconnect, wherein the active gate polysilicon layer is not etched during the etching of the dummy gate polysilicon layer.
US08993387B2
There is provided a method for manufacturing a flexible semiconductor device. The method of the flexible semiconductor device according to the present invention comprises the steps of: (i) forming an insulating layer on one of principal surfaces of a metal foil; (ii) forming a semiconductor layer on the insulating layer, and then forming source and drain electrodes so that the source and drain electrodes contact with the semiconductor layer; (iii) forming a flexible film layer so that the flexible film layer covers the semiconductor layer and the source and drain electrodes; (iv) forming vias in the flexible film layer, and thereby a semiconductor device precursor is provided; and (v) subjecting the metal foil to a processing treatment, and thereby forming a gate electrode from the metal foil, wherein, in the step (v) of the processing treatment of the metal foil, the gate electrode is formed in a predetermined position by using at least one of the vias of the semiconductor device precursor as an alignment marker.
US08993379B2
A method of forming a chip stack is provided and includes arraying solder pads along a plane of a major surface of a substrate forming walls of electrically insulating material between adjacent ones of the solder pads.
US08993378B2
A method for assembling a flip chip ball grid array package includes mounting solder spheres to a ball grid array substrate, applying flux to a plurality of flip chip solder bumps provided on a diced wafer, aligning the ball grid array substrate over a chip on the diced wafer, picking and separating the chip from the diced wafer by urging the chip upwards towards the ball grid array substrate until the flip chip solder bumps on the chip come in contact with the ball grid array substrate, whereby the chip attaches to the ball grid array substrate in an upside-down orientation, and subjecting the chip and the ball grid array substrate to a thermal process whereby the solder spheres reflow and form solder balls and the flip chip solder bumps reflow and form solder joints between the chip and the ball grid array.
US08993377B2
A semiconductor wafer has first and second opposing surfaces. A plurality of conductive vias is formed partially through the first surface of the semiconductor wafer. The semiconductor wafer is singulated into a plurality of first semiconductor die. The first semiconductor die are mounted to a carrier. A second semiconductor die is mounted to the first semiconductor die. A footprint of the second semiconductor die is larger than a footprint of the first semiconductor die. An encapsulant is deposited over the first and second semiconductor die and carrier. The carrier is removed. A portion of the second surface is removed to expose the conductive vias. An interconnect structure is formed over a surface of the first semiconductor die opposite the second semiconductor die. Alternatively, a first encapsulant is deposited over the first semiconductor die and carrier, and a second encapsulant is deposited over the second semiconductor die.
US08993376B2
A semiconductor device has a base substrate with first and second opposing surfaces. A plurality of cavities and base leads between the cavities is formed in the first surface of the base substrate. The first set of base leads can have a different height or similar height as the second set of base leads. A concave capture pad can be formed over the second set of base leads. Alternatively, a plurality of openings can be formed in the base substrate and the semiconductor die mounted to the openings. A semiconductor die is mounted between a first set of the base leads and over a second set of the base leads. An encapsulant is deposited over the die and base substrate. A portion of the second surface of the base substrate is removed to separate the base leads. An interconnect structure is formed over the encapsulant and base leads.
US08993355B2
A semiconductor wafer structure includes a plurality of dies, a first scribe line extending along a first direction, a second scribe line extending along a second direction and intersecting the first scribe line, wherein the first and the second scribe lines have an intersection region. A test line is formed in the scribe line, wherein the test line crosses the intersection region. Test pads are formed in the test line and only outside a free region defined substantially in the intersection region.
US08993354B2
According to one embodiment, a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device is disclosed. The method includes heating a resistor pattern by scanning the resistor pattern with a first beam. The resistor pattern includes resistors, and a connection structure connecting the resistors in series. The resistors is arranged in matrix of two or more rows and two or more columns. The method includes further heating the resistor pattern by scanning the resistor pattern with a second beam having a different scan direction as that of the first beam.
US08993347B2
A method to detect local antibodies such as antigen-specific IgE via a brush biopsy specimen of a mucosal surface of a subject is disclosed. The method is easily performed in an office setting on both adult and pediatric patients. Also disclosed is a brush device specially designed for harvesting materials from a mucosal surface such as the medial surface of the inferior turbinate.
US08993342B2
A magnetic separation unit is provided, including a first member made of non-magnetic materials comprising a trench extending within the first member and a second member made of magnetic materials including a protrusion portion protruding over a surface of the second member, wherein the first member connects the second member such that the trench functions as a fluid channel formed between the first and second members, and the protrusion portion of the second member is contained by the trench of the first member.
US08993329B2
Provided are a method of improving iPS cell establishment efficiency, comprising the step of transferring Lin28B or a nucleic acid that encodes Lin28B to a somatic cell, particularly to a somatic cell on which Lin28 is ineffective or less effective than Lin28B in improving iPS cell establishment efficiency, and a method of producing an iPS cell, comprising the step of transferring Lin28B or a nucleic acid that encodes Lin28B and a nuclear reprogramming substance to a somatic cell. Also provided are an iPS cell comprising a nucleic acid that encodes Lin28B, that can be obtained by the method of producing an iPS cell, and a method of somatic cell production by forcing the iPS cell to differentiate into a somatic cell.
US08993318B2
The use of interferon induced transmembrane protein 1, 2, or 3 (IFITM1, 2, or 3) as a viral restriction factor, and methods of using the same to produce virus, transgenic animals expressing exogenous IFITM1, 2, or 3, and methods of treating or inhibiting viral infections by targeting a gene identified herein.
US08993316B2
A composition and method comprising an anti-adjuvant such as DOI (an anti-inflammatory) together with any gene therapy plasmid is disclosed. A method for GHRH production in-vivo using a set of compositions and methods for use of those compositions is provided.
US08993308B2
A cryopreservation storage device (100), in particular for cryopreservation of biological samples, comprises a plurality of multi sample modules (20) being adapted for accommodating the biological samples and sample memories, a module control device (30) controlling an access to sample memories accommodated by the multi sample modules (20), and a data interface (41) for accessing to the module control device (30), wherein the module control device (30) includes a data management processor (31), which can be controlled via the data interface (41). Furthermore, a cryopreservation apparatus including at least one cryopreservation storage device (100) and a method for cryopreservation of biological samples are described.
US08993302B2
The present invention relates to a mutant Francisella tularensis strain comprising an inactivated clpB gene and compositions comprising such mutant. Methods of producing the mutant are also described. The present invention also encompasses a method of conferring immunity against F. tularensis in a host, comprising administering the described mutant F. tularensis strain.
US08993301B2
The present invention relates to novel expression cassettes and expression vectors, comprising three nucleic acid sequences for araA, araB and araD, each coding for a polypeptide of an L-arabinose metabolic pathway, in particular, a bacterial L-arabinose metabolic pathway. The invention particularly relates to expression cassettes and expression vectors, comprising codon-optimized nucleic acid sequences for araA, araB and araD. The invention further relates to host cells, in particular modified yeast strains containing the expression cassettes or expression vectors and expressing the polypeptides for the L-arabinose metabolic pathway, in particular, for the bacterial L-arabinose metabolic pathway. When using these modified host cells, arabinose is more effectively fermented by these cells, in particular into ethanol. The present invention is therefore relevant, inter alia, in connection with the production of biochemicals from biomass, such as bioethanol for example.
US08993293B2
This invention provides for the design of novel nitrile oxidoreductases that can be used as biocatalysts for industrial chemical processes and; and thus, provide attractive alternatives to traditional chemical synthesis. Generally, this technology relates to crystal structures of nitrile oxidoreductases, and of crystal structures of nitrile oxidoreductases complexed with substrates and co-factors. For example, the invention provides for the crystalline structure of the nitrile oxidoreductase, QueF, as well as for a computer-readable medium having QueF crystal structure information stored thereon.
US08993272B2
The present invention relates to a microorganisms of the genus Corynebacterium producing 5′-inosinic acid, in which the expression of genes encoding purine biosynthesis related enzymes is increased higher than the intrinsic expression, and to a method for producing 5′-inosinic acid, comprising culturing the microorganisms of the genus Corynebacterium with improved 5′-inosinic acid productivity.
US08993270B2
The present invention provides for a novel system and method for amplification and detection of nucleic acids within a miniaturized device.
US08993262B2
The present invention provides methods for catalyzing the conversion of an olefin to any compound containing one or more cyclopropane functional groups using heme enzymes. In certain aspects, the present invention provides a method for producing a cyclopropanation product comprising providing an olefinic substrate, a diazo reagent, and a heme enzyme; and admixing the components in a reaction for a time sufficient to produce a cyclopropanation product. In other aspects, the present invention provides heme enzymes including variants and fragments thereof that are capable of carrying out in vivo and in vitro olefin cyclopropanation reactions. Expression vectors and host cells expressing the heme enzymes are also provided by the present invention.
US08993240B2
The present teachings provide methods, compositions, and kits for performing primer extension reactions. In some embodiments, a reverse transcription reaction is performed on a target polynucleotide with a hot start primer comprising a blunt-ended self-complementary stem, and a loop, and extension products form at high temperatures but reduce extension product formation at low temperatures.
US08993231B2
The present invention relates to methods for rapidly expanding a stem cell population with or without culture supplements in simulated microgravity conditions. The present invention relates to methods for rapidly increasing the life span of stem cell populations without culture supplements in simulated microgravity conditions. The present invention also relates to methods for increasing the sensitivity of cancer stem cells to chemotherapeutic agents by culturing the cancer stem cells under microgravity conditions and in the presence of omega-3 fatty acids. The methods of the present invention can also be used to proliferate cancer cells by culturing them in the presence of omega-3 fatty acids. The present invention also relates to methods for testing the sensitivity of cancer cells and cancer stem cells to chemotherapeutic agents by culturing the cancer cells and cancer stem cells under microgravity conditions. The methods of the present invention can also be used to produce tissue for use in transplantation by culturing stem cells or cancer stem cells under microgravity conditions. The methods of the present invention can also be used to produce cellular factors and growth factors by culturing stem cells or cancer stem cells under microgravity conditions. The methods of the present invention can also be used to produce cellular factors and growth factors to promote differentiation of cancer stem cells under microgravity conditions.
US08993228B2
The present invention provides an antibody that specifically binds to envelope protein 2 of HCV of genotype 2a but does not immunologically react with envelope protein 2 of HCV of genotype 1a.
US08993219B2
A method and an apparatus for forming a surface relief microstructure, especially an optically variable image on a paper substrate are provided, the method comprising the steps of: A) applying a curable composition to at least a portion of the frontside of the paper substrate; B) contacting at least a portion of the curable composition with surface relief microstructure, especially optically variable image forming means; C) curing the composition by using at least one UV lamp (1, 2, 3) which is arranged on the backside of the paper substrate; D) optionally depositing a layer of a transparent high refractive index material and/or a metallic layer on at least a portion of the cured composition, wherein the lamp (1, 2, 3) having emission peak(s) in the UV-A and near VIS range and the curable composition comprises at least a photoinitiator which absorbs in the UV-A region and preferably in the near VIS range. A paper product obtainable uses the method and an apparatus for forming a surface relief microstructure on a paper substrate. Surface relief microstructures, such as holograms may be replicated rapidly and with accuracy on a paper substrate by using the method and the apparatus.
US08993218B2
One or more techniques or systems for controlling a profile for photo resist (PR) are provided herein. In some embodiments, a first shield layer is formed on a first PR layer and a second PR layer is formed on the first shield layer. A first window is formed within the second PR layer during a first exposure with a mask. A second window is formed within the first shield layer based on the first window. A third window is formed within the first PR layer during a second exposure without a mask. Because, the third window is formed while the first shield layer and the second PR layer are on the first PR layer, a profile associated with the first PR layer is controlled. Contamination during ion bombardment is mitigated due to the controlled profile.
US08993217B1
Innovative techniques are disclosed for fabricating microelectronic devices using an alternating phase shift mask. Some embodiments of the invention encompass a double exposure technique that utilize high resolution line patterning such that two opaque lines intersect at an angle. After development, substantially circular images may be formed. In certain embodiments, high resolution disk imaging as small as 60 nm is possible.
US08993207B2
A method for forming fixed images including the step of applying a toner for electrostatic image development containing at least a resin binder, a colorant, and a releasing agent to an apparatus for forming fixed images without a filter in a gas discharge part, wherein the resin binder contains a polyester, and wherein the releasing agent is a hydrocarbon-based wax, wherein the hydrocarbon-based wax has a melting point as determined by a differential scanning calorimeter of from 70° to 85° C., and contains components melting at a temperature equal to or lower than 65° C. having an amount of heat absorption as determined by a differential scanning calorimeter of less than 7.5 J/g, and a toner for electrostatic image development used in a method for forming fixed images. The method for forming fixed images of the present invention is suitably used in the development of a latent image formed in, for example, electrophotography, electrostatic recording method, electrostatic printing method or the like.
US08993205B2
An electrophotographic photosensitive member comprises a support, an undercoat layer formed on the support, and a photosensitive layer formed on the undercoat layer, wherein the undercoat layer has a structure represented by the formula (C1) or the formula (C2).
US08993202B2
A color filter comprising a cured layer of a photosensitive resist composition comprising a highly reactive polyacrylate monomer and an alkali soluble binder having a side chain containing an ethylenically unsaturated bond in the side chain and a process for the preparation thereof are provided. The color filter is especially useful for low temperature applications such as electrophoretic displays, polymer dispersed liquid crystal displays, OLED devices and the like.
US08993198B2
Disclosed is a method for preparing a platinum/support catalyst or a platinum alloy/support catalyst, including: a) preparing a dispersion solution including urea, a support and a water-soluble salt of at least one metal(s) having catalytic activity; (b) reacting the dispersion solution at high temperature so as to deposit the metal hydroxide particles derived from the at least one metal(s) on the support; and (c) reducing the metal hydroxide particles. The size and distribution of the platinum particles or platinum alloy particles are greatly improved by the use of urea.
US08993197B2
A bipolar plate for a fuel cell comprises a substrate formed of stainless steel; an oriented amorphous carbon film formed at least on a surface of the substrate facing an electrode, and containing C as a main component, 3 to 20 at. % of N, and more than 0 at. % and not more than 20 at. % of H, and when the total amount of the C is taken as 100 at. %, the amount of C having an sp2 hybrid orbital (Csp2) being not less than 70 at. % and less than 100 at. %, and (002) planes of graphite being oriented along a thickness direction; a mixed layer generated in an interface between the substrate and the oriented amorphous carbon film and containing at least one kind of constituent atoms of each of the substrate and the oriented amorphous carbon film; and a plurality of projections protruding from the mixed layer into the oriented amorphous carbon film and having a mean length of 10 to 150 nm.
US08993188B2
Each separator of a fuel cell stacked alternately with the power generation bodies has a first surface facing the first electrode of the power generation body, a second surface facing the second electrode of another power generation body, a first reactant gas channel that supplies or discharges a first reactant gas to or from the first electrode and that extends in the separator and has an opening portion opened in the first surface, and a second reactant gas channel that supplies and discharges a second reactant gas to or from the second electrode facing the second surface and that extends in the separator and has an opening portion opened in the second surface. The opening portion of the first reactant gas channel and the opening portion of the second reactant gas channel are both disposed along a first portion of a peripheral border of a power generation region.
US08993187B2
A method of and fuel cell system for limiting an amount of a fuel crossing over a membrane in a fuel cell, the method including determining an appropriate molecular ratio of the fuel and water for a fuel-water mixture 503; and controlling an amount of the fuel-water mixture that is available to an anode side of the membrane 507 in the fuel cell according to an amount of the fuel that will be electro-oxidized by the fuel cell. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell membrane 103 having an anode layer 107, a cathode layer 109, and an electrolyte layer 111 where the cathode layer is exposed to an oxygen source, and a fuel delivery system 105 including a fuel chamber 119 disposed around and proximate to the anode layer at a side opposite to the electrolyte layer, the fuel delivery system implementing the method above.
US08993183B2
Loss of flow battery electrode catalyst layers during self-discharge or charge reversal may be prevented by establishing and maintaining a negative electrolyte imbalance during at least parts of a flow battery's operation. Negative imbalance may be established and/or maintained actively, passively or both. Actively establishing a negative imbalance may involve detecting an imbalance that is less negative than a desired threshold, and processing one or both electrolytes until the imbalance reaches a desired negative level. Negative imbalance may be effectively established and maintained passively within a cell by constructing a cell with a negative electrode chamber that is larger than the cell's positive electrode chamber, thereby providing a larger quantity of negative electrolyte for reaction with positive electrolyte.
US08993182B2
A fuel cell system includes at least one fuel cell and a circulation system for anode exhaust gases of the fuel cell around an anode region. The fuel cell system also includes a drain line for feeding liquid and water from the region of the circulation system into a process air flow to a cathode region of the fuel cell. The drain line opens into a line element for the process air flow which runs from a lower position into an upper position arranged higher when used properly in the direction of gravity. The flow of the process air runs from the lower position to the upper position of the line element.
US08993181B2
A valve-closing pressure chamber and a valve-opening pressure chamber are arranged on both sides of a main diaphragm inside an outlet shutoff valve. An upper supply/discharge tube and a lower supply/discharge tube are connected to a housing forming the outlet shutoff valve. The upper and lower supply/discharge tube supply and discharge air to and from the valve-closing pressure chamber and the valve-opening pressure chamber, respectively. An opening end, which is on the pressure chamber side, of each supply/discharge tube is obliquely cut relative to the direction of axis of the supply/discharge tube, which increases the opening area of the opening end. This prevents water present in the pressure chamber from adhering to the opening end of each supply/discharge tube and prevents the adhered water from freezing. As a result, operation performance of the outlet shutoff valve is enhanced.
US08993174B2
Disclosed is an integrated electrode assembly having a structure in which a cathode, an anode, and a separation layer disposed between the cathode and the anode are integrated with one another, wherein the separation layer has a multilayer structure including at least one two-phase electrolyte including a liquid phase component and a polymer matrix and at least one three-phase electrolyte including a liquid phase component, a solid component, and a polymer matrix, wherein the polymer matrices of the separation layer are coupled to the cathode or the anode and the liquid phase components of the separation layer are partially introduced into an electrode in a process of manufacturing the electrode assembly.
US08993170B2
A composite carbon material of negative electrode in lithium ion, which is made of composite graphite, includes a spherical graphite and a cover layer, wherein the cover layer is pyrolytic carbon of organic substance. Inserted transition metal elements are contained between layers of graphite crystal. Preparation of the negative electrode includes the steps of: crushing graphite, shaping to form a spherical shape, purifying treatment, washing, dewatering and drying, dipped in salt solution doped by transition metal in multivalence, mixed with organic matter, covering treatment, and carbonizing treatment or graphitization treatment. The negative electrode provides advantages of reversible specific capacity larger than 350 mAh/g, coulomb efficiency higher than 94% at first cycle, conservation rate for capacity larger than 8-% in 500 times of circulation.
US08993169B2
A positive electrode composition is presented. The composition includes at least one electroactive metal; at least one alkali metal halide; and at least one additive including a plurality of nanoparticles, wherein the plurality of nanoparticles includes tungsten carbide. An energy storage device, and a related method for the preparation of an energy storage device, are also presented.
US08993163B2
A positive electrode active material provided by the present invention is formed of a lithium-nickel-containing metal phosphate compound represented by a general formula: LiNi(1-x)MxPO4(1) (in Formula (1), M is one or more metal elements selected from divalent and trivalent metal elements, and x is a number satisfying the condition 0
US08993159B2
Embodiments described herein relate generally to electrochemical cells having high rate capability, and more particularly to devices, systems and methods of producing high capacity and high rate capability batteries having relatively thick semi-solid electrodes. In some embodiments, an electrochemical cell includes an anode, a semi-solid cathode that includes a suspension of an active material and a conductive material in a liquid electrolyte, and an ion permeable membrane disposed between the anode and the cathode. The semi-solid cathode has a thickness in the range of about 250 μm-2,500 μm, and the electrochemical cell has an area specific capacity of at least 5 mAh/cm2 at a C-rate of C/2.
US08993158B2
The present invention provides a non-aqueous electrolyte solution which contains a silyl ester group-containing phosphonic acid derivative.
US08993146B2
The present invention relates to a cable-type secondary battery having a horizontal cross section of a predetermined shape and extending longitudinally, comprising: a core for supplying lithium ions, which comprises an electrolyte; an inner electrode, comprising an open-structured inner current collector surrounding the outer surface of the core, and an inner electrode active material layer formed on the surface of the inner current collector; a separation layer surrounding the outer surface of the inner electrode to prevent a short circuit between electrodes; and an outer electrode surrounding the outer surface of the separation layer and comprising an outer electrode active material layer and an outer current collector.The core disposed in the inner electrode having an open structure, from which the electrolyte of the core for supplying lithium ions can be easily penetrated into an electrode active material, thereby facilitating the supply and exchange of lithium ions.
US08993138B2
A rechargeable battery according to the present invention includes an electrode assembly that includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, a case that contains the electrode assembly and a cap assembly that is connected to the case. The positive electrode includes a current collector and a positive active material layer that includes an NCM-based positive active material disposed at the collector. The cap assembly includes a vent plate having a notch, and a current interrupt portion that interrupts electrical connection in a case of an increase in pressure inside the case. When a current interrupt pressure of the current interrupt portion is “A,” a vent fracture pressure at which the vent plate fractures at the notch is “B,” and the capacity of the rechargeable battery is “X,” they satisfy a formula of A/B=1.22−0.39X+D (−0.08≦D≦0.08).
US08993116B2
For imparting enhanced water-repellency and oil-repellency properties to substrates compositions comprising blends of (A) one or more ester oligomers and (B) one or more polycarbodiimides. Also methods for applying such compositions and articles treated with such compositions.
US08993115B2
An aspect of the present invention relates to a press-molding glass material, which comprises a core part comprised of optical glass and a silicon oxide film of less than 15 nm in thickness covering at least a portion of the core part, the portion being to be an optically functional surface, as well as has a surface free energy as measured by a three-liquid method of equal to or lower than 75 mJ/m2. A further aspect of the present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a press-molding glass material comprising a core part comprised of optical glass and a silicon oxide film covering at least a portion of the core part to be an optically functional surface. The silicon oxide film is less than 15 nm in thickness, and film formation processing is conducted with a film-forming material comprised of SiO2 in an atmosphere with an oxygen content falling within a range of equal to or higher than 5 volume percent but less than 20 volume percent to form the silicon oxide film on the above portion of the core part.
US08993111B2
The present invention provides surface treated articles comprising a recoatable surface treatment of an acrylic or vinyl polymer that does not change the appearance of the treated surface, and which imparts blocking resistance and/or stain and dirt pickup resistance to the treated surface. The one or more acrylic or vinyl polymer has a number average molecular weight of from 1,000 to 100,000, a glass transition temperature of −10° C. or higher, preferably, 30° C. or higher, and comprises the polymerization product of one or more non-ionic monomer, such as methyl methacrylate, with up to 47 wt. % of an ethylenically unsaturated acid monomer and, preferably, is non-migrating under use conditions. When dry, the surface treatments may form a layer of domains of polymer distributed all over the treated surface, rather than a film. Treated articles include coating or painted articles and elastomer films.
US08993108B2
An object of this invention is to provide a polyimide film suitable for use in flexible printed circuit boards and the like which have high flexibility and dimensional stability, and to provide a laminate and metal-clad laminate which uses such a polyimide film. This invention relates to a multilayer polyimide film being a polyimide film having a multilayer structure, including: a core layer; and clad layers provided on each side of the film, which clad layers are exposed, the core layer being a non-thermoplastic polyimide having an average coefficient of linear expansion at a temperature from 100° C. to 200° C. in a range of 5 ppm/° C. to 20 ppm/° C., each of the clad layers being a polyimide having a peeling strength of 3 N/cm or less, the film as a whole having an average coefficient of linear expansion at a temperature range of 100° C. to 200° C. in a range of 9 ppm/° C. to 30 ppm/° C., and (a)>(b), where (a) is an average modulus of elasticity of the core layer and (b) is an average modulus of elasticity of the clad layers.
US08993103B2
The present invention relates to a process for the production of three-dimensional patterns in coatings which comprise flake-form effect pigments, to patterned coatings produced thereby and to the use thereof in decoration and security products.
US08993096B2
A heat shield for a vehicle comprising at least one layer of a 3D structured metal sheet with a plurality of indentations or embossments, wherein the embossments protrude in a common direction normal to the surface of the sheet material, defined as the neutral plane n. The embossments also protrude a first distance h away from this neutral plane and together form a regular network, where each embossment forms a junction by intersecting with at least two other embossments.
US08993095B2
The present invention provides a composite material that is excellent in the bonding ability between a cemented carbide layer and a cermet layer is excellent and deformation after sintering can be suppressed and a coated cutting tool having a base containing the composite material. A composite material 10ii is obtained by laminating a cemented carbide layer 11 and a cermet layer 12 and has the cemented carbide layer 11 on the surface side. The boundary between both the layers 11 and 12 has a concave portion 23, and the maximum depth Dmax of the concave portion 23 is 50 μm or more and 500 μm or lower. When the thickness of the composite material is defined as h1 and the thickness of the cemented carbide layer 11 is defined as h2, h2/h1 is in the range of more than 0.02 and 0.4 or lower. By providing the concave portion 23 to the boundary, both the layers 11 and 12 are sufficiently bound and the bonding ability therebetween is excellent. Due to the fact the cemented carbide layer 11 satisfies the given thickness mentioned above, the composite material 10 is difficult to deform.
US08993092B2
A polycrystalline ferroelectric and/or multiferroic oxide article includes a substrate having a biaxially textured surface; at least one biaxially textured buffer layer supported by the substrate; and a biaxially textured ferroelectric or multiferroic oxide layer supported by the buffer layer. Methods for making polycrystalline ferroelectric and/or multiferroic oxide articles are also disclosed.
US08993087B2
A ballistic-resistant article includes a stack of sheets containing reinforcing linear tension members, the direction of the linear tension members within the stack being no unidirectionally, wherein some of the linear tension members are linear tension members comprising high molecular weight polyethylene and some of the linear tension members comprise aramid. A sheet and a consolidated sheet package contain the ballistic-resistant article, and a method of manufacturing produces the ballistic-resistant article.
US08993086B2
A recordable optical recording medium is provided enabling reliably preventing the deterioration of the recording characteristics, even when stored for a long period of time in an environment of high temperature and humidity. A recordable optical recording medium includes a substrate, and on the substrate, a reflective layer, a recording layer, a protective layer, a light transmission layer in a single layer structure having optical transparency, and a hard coat layer. The recording layer is formed by addition of an additive which functions as reducing agent to an azo metal complex dye having a triazole structure.
US08993079B1
An insulated container includes a first laminated structure having a metal layer and a second laminated structure having a metal layer. The metal layer of the first laminated structure faces the metal layer of the second laminated structure. The insulated container also includes a foam material layer disposed between the first laminated structure and the second laminated structure. The metal layer of the first laminated structure is bonded to the metal layer of the second laminated structure at a plurality of locations.
US08993077B2
An artificial Christmas tree includes a central trunk broken into at least two separate portions including a fixed trunk portion and at least one rotating trunk portion. The fixed trunk extends up from an underlying base. Rotating trunks rotatably attach at midpoints thereof at least indirectly to an upper end of the fixed trunk. Limbs are pivotably attached to the rotating trunks with optional lights coupled thereto. These limbs pivot between a perpendicular orientation extending from the rotating trunks and a collapsed configuration closer to a centerline of the rotating trunks. The rotating trunks can be pivoted from a first collapsed configuration with a first end above a second end to a deployed configuration with the second end above the first end. During pivoting, the limbs attached to the rotating trunk transition between a collapsed to a deployed configuration automatically. A wheeled base and cover further facilitate storage and deployment.
US08993075B2
A stretched film comprised of a “B1” layer comprised of a thermoplastic resin 1, an “A” layer comprised of a styrene-based resin, and a “B2” layer comprised of a thermoplastic resin 2 stacked in that order and having a width of over 1000 mm, wherein a ratio of the “A” layer in the stretched film is 45 wt % or less, an average value of an orientation angle θ with respect to a width direction across at least 1000 mm of the width direction is 0°±1°, a variation in orientation angle θ is 0.5° or less, and a value of an Nz coefficient is −3.5 to −0.5 in range.
US08993072B2
Described herein are precursors and methods of forming films. In one aspect, there is provided a precursor having Formula I: XmR1nHpSi(NR2R3)4-m-n-p I wherein X is selected from Cl, Br, I; R1 is selected from linear or branched C1-C10 alkyl group, a C2-C12 alkenyl group, a C2-C12 alkynyl group, a C4-C10 cyclic alkyl, and a C6-C10 aryl group; R2 is selected from a linear or branched C1-C10 alkyl, a C3-C12 alkenyl group, a C3-C12 alkynyl group, a C4-C10 cyclic alkyl group, and a C6-C10 aryl group; R3 is selected from a branched C3-C10 alkyl group, a C3-C12 alkenyl group, a C3-C12 alkynyl group, a C4-C10 cyclic alkyl group, and a C6-C10 aryl group; m is 1 or 2; n is 0, 1, or 2; p is 0, 1 or 2; and m+n+p is less than 4, wherein R2 and R3 are linked or not linked to form a ring.
US08993065B2
The present invention relates to a method of making a coated substrate, and products therefrom, using a coating possessing a nanoparticle having a shell containing a hydrophilic nitrogen containing compound and a vinylic polymer having quaternary ammonium compounds, and a core made of at least a hydrophobic vinylic polymer, wherein such coated substrate exhibits antibacterial properties without the use of harmful organic preservatives.
US08993060B2
A method includes: providing a substrate having a plurality of chemically contrasted alignment features, and depositing a self-assembled material on at least a portion of the substrate, wherein the position and/or orientation of substantially spherical or cylindrical domains of the self-assembled material is directed by the alignment features, to form a nanostructure pattern, and wherein the period of the alignment features is between about 2 times and about 10 times the period of the spherical or cylindrical domains. An apparatus fabricated according to the method is also provided.
US08993053B2
There are provided a method of manufacturing a reverse osmosis membrane and a reverse osmosis membrane manufactured thereby. The method includes forming a polysulfone layer by applying a solution including a mixed solvent containing two or more solvents having different solubility parameter values to a surface of a porous support; and forming an active layer on the polysulfone layer.
US08993052B2
A continuous process for manufacturing a porous material is provided. The process includes the steps of mixing a non-ionic surfactant with a precursor of a carbonaceous material to form a mixture comprising a continuous phase and a liquid crystalline mesophase comprising the non-ionic surfactant, wherein the precursor is essentially located in the continuous phase, coating or depositing the mixture onto a non-woven substrate, drying or heating the mixture, and converting the precursor to form a polymer.
US08993051B2
A method for covering particles having a diameter of maximally 60 μm by means of atomic layer deposition, whereby said method comprises the step of fluidizing said particles in a fluidized bed reactor using a first reactant gas comprising a first reactant for substantially completely covering said particles with a monolayer of said first reactant.
US08993043B2
A method for fabricating color filter layer of an LCD comprises forming a plurality of black matrixes separated at certain intervals on a color filter substrate, and forming R, G and B color filter layers by using a plurality of needles between the plurality of black matrixes on the color filter substrate.
US08993037B2
The present invention relates to an improved process for the preparation of an extract enriched in dihydrochalcones, and more specifically enriched in phlorizin, starting from a dry polyphenolic fraction originating from industrial apple processing. The invention also relates to a dihydrochal-cone extract obtainable by this process, and to a food or a nutraceutical product comprising a dihydrochalcone extract of the present invention.
US08993034B2
The present disclosure relates to the isolation, purification, and characterization of a diacylglycerol acyltransferase 2 (DGAT2), and genes encoding DGAT2, from algae. DGAT2 can incorporate very long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids into triacylglycerol more efficiently than DGAT1. The disclosure concerns methods of regulating seed oil content, fatty acid synthesis and fatty acid composition using the DGAT2 gene and to tissues and plants transformed with the gene. The disclosure also relates to transgenic plants, plant tissues and plant seeds having a genome containing an introduced DNA sequence of the disclosure, and a method of producing such plants and plant seeds.
US08993031B2
A method of making a gel-type livestock feed includes initially forming a feed mixture by mixing feed nutrient components, water, alginate, and a calcium component insoluble in water or a sequestrate to inhibit the calcium component from reacting with the alginate. Once the feed mixture is formed, the calcium component is solubilized or the sequestrates affecting the reactivity between the alginate and the calcium component is removed such that a gel feed is formed that includes a gel matrix containing the feed nutrient components. The gel feed may then be fed to the livestock. In another aspect of the present invention, piglets are weaned by feeding the gel feed for at least seven days directly after weaning. The gel feed may also include protein derived from blood with or without egg protein.
US08993016B2
To provide a flavor enhancer having, in a good balance, a raw milk feeling which gives a flavor of a fresh milk, a rich feeling of the raw milk, a natural feeling, and a preference property. That is the flavor enhancer for food or drink, which comprises, as an effective component, a treated product which is obtained by subjecting a total milk protein to a lactic acid fermentation treatment and protease treatment.
US08993011B2
The invention of the present application provides a natural material derived from Swinglea glutinosa leaves that in combination with low doses of pyrethroids, maintains the effect of high doses of pyrethroids over mites. The material derived from Swinglea glutinosa leaves, in a preparation with pyrethroids, results in a mix material with the potential to lower the doses of synthetic pyrethroids, eliminating the need to use high doses of synthetic pesticides for acari control.
US08993004B2
A composition contains at least one pest control active and a mixture of unsaturated C12-C26 fatty acids and/or salts thereof and saturated C6-C14 fatty acids and/or salts thereof. The pest control active is preferably at least one plant essential oil. The composition is suitably in the form of an emulsion, particularly a transparent microemulsion. The mixture of fatty acids and/or salts thereof can be used as part of, or as the sole, emulsifying system. The emulsion can exhibit improved pest control properties.
US08993002B2
Highly compactable granulations and methods for preparing highly compactable granulations are disclosed. More particularly, highly compactable calcium carbonate granulations are disclosed. The granulations comprise powdered materials such as calcium carbonate that have small median particle sizes. The disclosed granulations are useful in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical tableting and provide smaller tablet sizes upon compression than previously available.
US08993001B2
Methods for treating feline hyperthyroidism comprising (1) administering to a feline an antithyroid agent in conjunction with feeding the feline a composition comprising from about 0.1 to less than about 1 mg/kg iodine or (2) feeding the feline a composition comprising from about 0.1 to less than about 1 mg/kg selenium on a dry matter basis.
US08992999B2
A composition for preventing or reducing harmful effects of protozoal infection is provided, comprising in one embodiment a yeast cell wall and a preparation derived from oregano. The composition may further include a mineral nutrient selected from selenium and/or zinc. The composition may also include a preparation derived from Yucca. Efficacy of the composition is shown against a variety of protozoal organisms.
US08992996B2
A composition is provided that includes a fish spawn protein isolate. A natural product extract is also present that includes unsaturated fatty acids and sterols. An emulsifier is provided to form a mixture of the isolate and the extract. A composition is also provided that includes an egg hatching protein isolate and at least one biocide protective of isolate activity. An emulsifier forms a mixture with the isolate that has an aqueous phase buffered to a pH of between 5.6 and 7.9. A process of producing such a cosmetic has an emulsion or an aqueous phase that is buffered to a pH of between 5.5 and 7.9 prior to the addition of isolate to the emulsion. A process of improving skin appearance is provided that includes the application of the cosmetic to the skin at least three times per week to achieve the improvement of the skin appearance.
US08992994B2
The present invention relates to stable topical pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of psoriasis. Disclosed are in particular nonoemulsions comprising nano size droplets of one or more anti-psoriasis agents, e.g. clobetasol and/or salicylic acid. These compositions exhibit greater permeability, and improved bioavailability. The invention also relates to processes for the preparation of such compositions.
US08992991B2
Degradable polymers were synthesized that self-assemble with DNA to form particles that are effective for gene delivery. Small changes to polymer synthesis conditions, particle formulation conditions, and polymer structure provides significant changes to efficacy in a cell-type dependent manner. Polymers presented here are more effective than commercially available materials, such as LIPOFECTAMINE 2000™, FUGENE®, or polyethylenimine (PEI), for gene delivery to cancerous fibroblasts or human primary fibroblasts. The presently disclosed materials may be useful for cancer therapeutics and regenerative medicine.
US08992990B2
The present invention discloses a magnetic nanocomposite for inhibiting/treating cancer and a method for fabricating the same. The magnetic nanocomposite comprises a core formed of a plurality of magnetic nanoparticles made of ferric ferrous oxide (Fe3O4); a shell made of a carboxy-functionalized polyaniline; and an anti-tumor medicine bound to the external surface of the shell. The method of the present invention fast fabricates the magnetic nanocomposite in a simple way. The medicine of the present invention has a longer half life and a better thermal stability. The present invention disperses the water-insoluble medicine in water uniformly to decrease the biological rejection. Moreover, the magnetic nanocomposite of the present invention is guided to the nidus by an external magnetic field to increase the local concentration of the medicine and provide an effective chemotherapy. Therefore, the present invention has competitive advantage over the conventional BCNU.
US08992987B2
Polysaccharide derivatives having a median Equivalent Projected Circle Diameter (EQPC) of less than 140 micrometers and a particle size and shape distribution meeting condition A or B or both are useful for preparing dosage forms, particularly for preparing compressed sustained-release dosage forms: A. non-compacted polysaccharide derivative particles have a flowability of at least 45 g/sec through a vertically inverted cone having a vertex angle of about 40 and an outlet diameter of about 50 mm, or B. i) no more than 40 volume percent of the polysaccharide derivative particles are fine particles having a particle length LEFI of less than 40 micrometers and ii) no more than 40 volume percent of the polysaccharide derivative particles are fibrous particles, and the sum of the fine particles and the fibrous particles does not exceed 50 volume percent.
US08992986B2
A process is provided for releasably encapsulating a biological entity. The process comprise combining a solution of a surfactant in a non-polar solvent with a precursor material and the biological entity to form an emulsion. The emulsion comprises a polar phase dispersed in a non-polar phase, wherein the polar phase comprises the biological entity. The particles comprising the biological entity are then formed from the polar phase.
US08992982B2
The present invention relates to methods for producing particles of indomethacin using dry milling processes as well as compositions comprising indomethacin, medicaments produced using indomethacin in particulate form and/or compositions, and to methods of treatment of an animal, including man, using a therapeutically effective amount of indomethacin administered by way of said medicaments.
US08992979B2
The present invention provides compositions for extended release of one or more active ingredients, comprising a lipid-saturated matrix formed from a non-biodegradable polymer or a block-co-polymers comprising a non-biodegradable polymer and a biodegradable polymer. The present invention also provides methods of producing the matrix compositions and methods for using the matrix compositions to provide controlled release of an active ingredient in the body of a subject in need thereof.
US08992977B2
Compositions and methods for modifying biologically active substances to achieve multi-day delivery of such substances, particularly through oral or parenteral administration, are disclosed. The compositions include the biologically active substance conjugated to a carrier having a suitably long half life, typically more than one day, wherein the conjugate optionally contains a spacer linking the carrier to the biologically active substance. Pharmaceutical formulations of the conjugates are also disclosed, as are methods of extending delivery of a single dose of a biologically active substance for more than one day.
US08992972B1
A capsular design is disclosed for self-administered delivery of a pre-determined amount of liquid medication. The capsular design can be constructed as having either a single piece or two piece capsular wall construction where a portion of the liquid medication contained within can be administered sublingually and the remaining portion can be subsequently swallowed for gastro-intestinal absorption.
US08992971B2
The present invention relates to a non-animal soft capsule shell composition having improved disintegration stability and shell hardness. More particularly, the present invention relates to a non-animal soft capsule shell composition and to a method for preparing same, in which an antioxidant and a disintegration aid are added to the non-animal soft capsule shell composition that is typically made of starch or a starch derivative, gums, a plasticizer, a buffering agent, and purified water which inhibit starch retrogradation and thus inhibit an increase in disintegration stability and capsule shell hardness, thereby improving disintegration stability and shell hardness.
US08992965B2
An osteoinductive composition, corresponding osteoimplants, and methods for making the osteoinductive composition are disclosed. The osteoinductive composition comprises osteoinductive factors, such as may be extracted from demineralized bone, and a carrier. The osteoinductive composition is prepared by providing demineralized bone, extracting osteoinductive factors from the demineralized bone, and adding the extracted osteoinductive factors to a carrier. Further additives such as bioactive agents may be added to the osteoinductive composition. The carrier and osteoinductive factors may form an osteogenic osteoimplant. The osteoimplant, when implanted in a mammalian body, can induce at the locus of the implant the full developmental cascade of endochondral bone formation including vascularization, mineralization, and bone marrow differentiation. Also, in some embodiments, the osteoinductive composition can be used as a delivery device to administer bioactive agents.
US08992960B2
Briefly described, embodiments of this disclosure, among others, include compositions, gels, methods for synthesizing multifunctional silica based nanoparticle gel, method of treating, preventing, or both treating and preventing, a disease in a plant species, method for simultaneously treating citrus plants for citrus canker and preventing the invasion of an Asian Citrus Psyllid (ACP) vector that carries the pathogen and spreads the citrus greening disease in citrus plants, and the like.
US08992956B2
The present invention relates to a cosmetic composition having a high content of a stable oil phase, and more particularly to a cosmetic composition, which combines advantages of spreadability and softness of an oil-in-water type with emollient effect and water resistance of a water-in-oil type as a resulting of stabilizing, based on the total weight of the composition, 30-56 wt % of an oily component by multiple emulsification of W/O/W, and which provides skin moisturizing and softening effects by a large amount of oil components, and also which allows irritations caused by active ingredients to be relieved by a high content of the oily component.
US08992952B2
The present invention provides for compositions for administering a therapeutically effective amount of a therapeutic component. The compositions may include an ophthalmically acceptable carrier component; a therapeutically effective amount of a therapeutic component; and a retention component which may be effective to reduce wettability, induce viscosity, increase muco-adhesion, increase meniscus height on a cornea of an eye and/or increase physical apposition to a cornea of an eye of a composition.
US08992949B1
Compositions comprising a polymer-based macroscopically homogeneous polymer alloy comprising a plurality of microcrystalline components dispersed within an amorphous component, which is biocompatible, bioerodable, substantially non-toxic, and excretable, or metabolized when introduced into a mammalian body. In preferred embodiments, malleable molded devices such as implants, films, drug delivery systems and the like, are comprised of the compositions. Methods of making such compositions by controlled cooling of the molten alloy are also described.
US08992940B2
The use of an agent in the manufacture of a medicament to affect an allergic condition and/or a hypersensitivity condition is described. The agent is capable of modulating a ganglioside associated activity. The agent is not coupled to an antigen. The modulation of the ganglioside associated activity affects an allergic condition and/or a hypersensitivity condition.
US08992939B2
This invention discloses a method of increasing production of virus-like particles comprising expressing an avian influenza matrix protein. The invention also comprises methods of making and using said VLPs.
US08992934B2
The present specification discloses an immunogenic composition comprising polypeptide, wherein each of the polypeptides has no more than 100 amino acids, which polypeptides comprises one or more sequences having at least 60% homology with any of SEQ ID 1-4, or comprises two or more epitopes having 7 amino acids or more, each epitope having at least 60% homology with a sub-sequence of any of SEQ ID 1-4 that has the same length as the epitope,wherein, the polypeptide is immunogenic in a vertebrate expressing a major histocompatibility complex (MHC) allele, and wherein the polypeptide is not a complete HIV virus protein.
US08992925B2
Chimeric molecules comprising receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) antibodies and parathyroid hormone/parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTH/PTHrP) peptides are described. Compositions and methods for the treatment of bone diseases are also described.
US08992924B2
The present invention is in the fields of cell biology, immunology and oncology. The invention provides humanized antibodies that recognize αvβ6 integrins, which antibodies comprise a variable region of nonhuman origin and at least a portion of an immunoglobulin of human origin. The invention also provides methods for preparation of such antibodies, pharmaceutical compositions comprising them, and methods of treating, diagnosing and/or preventing various diseases and disorders by administering the humanized anti-αvβ6 antibodies of the invention. The invention also relates to the identification of differential expression of the integrin αvβ6 on the surfaces of tumor cells and tissues, the use of this differential expression in determining the metastatic potential of tumor cells, and methods of diagnosis and treatment/prevention of tumor metastasis and for elimination of residual metastatic tumor cells using ligands, particularly antibodies, that bind to integrin αvβ6.
US08992919B2
The invention provides anti-polyubiquitin antibodies and methods of using the same.
US08992918B2
Disclosed are methods of treating chronic nervous system diseases or injuries, e.g., chronic spinal cord injury, using Nogo receptor antagonists, including Nogo receptor-1 (NgR1) polypeptides, Nogo receptor-1 antibodies and antigen-binding fragments thereof, soluble Nogo receptors and fusion proteins thereof, and polynucleotides. Also disclosed are methods of noninvasively monitoring axonal growth during and after treatment with an axonal growth promoting agent.
US08992912B2
Antibodies, humanized antibodies, resurfaced antibodies, antibody fragments, derivatized antibodies, and conjugates of same with cytotoxic agents, which specifically bind to, and inhibit A class of Eph receptors, antagonize the effects of growth factors on the growth and survival of tumor cells, and which have minimal agonistic activity or are preferentially devoid of agonist activity. Said antibodies and fragments thereof may be used in the treatment of tumors that express elevated levels of A class of Eph receptors, such as breast cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer, ovarian carcinoma, synovial sarcoma and pancreatic cancer, and said derivatized antibodies may be used in the diagnosis and imaging of tumors that express elevated levels of A class of Eph receptors. Also provided are cytotoxic conjugates comprising a cell binding agent and a cytotoxic agent, therapeutic compositions comprising the conjugate, methods for using the conjugates in the inhibition of cell growth and the treatment of disease, and a kit comprising the cytotoxic conjugate are disclosed are all embodiments of the invention. In particular, the cell binding agent is a monoclonal antibody, and epitope-binding fragments thereof, that recognizes and binds the A class of Eph receptors.
US08992893B2
In an embodiment, the barrier-forming composition includes a carbohydrate gum, a humectant, and an antimicrobial agent. The composition furthermore meets the following requirements: about 0.01%≦C≦about 0.4%; about 4.5%≦H≦about 65%; and 0.050%
US08992892B2
The invention concerns the use of a deoxy hesperetin dihydrochalcone or a salt of the deoxy hesperetin dihydrochalcone (I) or a mixture comprising or consisting of a plurality of salts of the deoxy hesperetin dihydrochalcone (I) or a mixture comprising or consisting of deoxy hesperetin dihydrochalcone (I) and a salt or a plurality of salts of the deoxy hesperetin dihydrochalcone (I), to influence the strength of taste impressions of sweet-tasting, unpleasant-, in particular bitter-, tasting or both sweet- and unpleasant-, in particular bitter-, tasting substances or mixtures of substances.
US08992891B2
The present invention relates to compositions and methods for the treatment of the Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and related disorders. More particularly, the invention relates to combined therapies for treating said disease by affecting PMP22 expression in a subject.
US08992883B2
Disclosed are methods for producing ZnO nanostructures, the methods comprising heating an aqueous solution comprising a zinc compound, a base, and a polymer which is polyvinylpyrrolidinone or poly(ethylene glycol).
US08992880B2
[Subject] Manufacturing onion-like carbon at a low cost.[Means for Realizing Subject] According to the invention, DLC powder, which is hard carbon powder, is produced by plasma CVD using a hydrocarbon gas as a material gas, in a first step, i.e. a DLC powder producing processing step. Then, in a second step, i.e. a DLC-to-OLC converting processing step, the DLC powder is heated in a vacuum or in an inert gas atmosphere to thereby convert the DLC powder into OLC. Like this, according to the invention, since a hydrocarbon gas can be used as a starting material to manufacture OLC, OLC can be manufactured at a significantly low cost.
US08992874B2
A method of producing a hydrazine-coordinated Cu chalcogenide complex, including: a step (I) in which Cu or Cu2Se and a chalcogen are reacted in dimethylsulfoxide in the presence of hydrazine, a step (II) in which a solution obtained in the step (I) is subjected to concentration and filtration, and a step (III) in which a purifying solvent is added to a solution obtained in the step (II).
US08992872B2
The present invention is apparatus for, and method of, purification of silicon by electric induction heating and melting of silicon in a crucible or susceptor vessel, with subsequent directional partial cooling of the silicon melt to an initial amorphous-to-crystalline (solidification) temperature to produce a directionally solidified purified quantity of silicon and a separate quantity of high impurity silicon. The quantity of high impurity silicon is removed from the vessel and the purified quantity of silicon at solidification temperature is remelted in the vessel for removal from the vessel or further processing.
US08992871B2
A CO shift catalyst according to the present invention reforms carbon monoxide (CO) contained in gas. The CO shift catalyst is prepared from one or both of molybdenum (Mo) and cobalt (Co) as an active ingredient and an oxide of one of, or a mixture or a compound of, titanium (Ti), silicon (Si), zirconium (Zr), and cerium (Ce) as a carrier for supporting the active ingredient. The CO shift catalyst can be used in a halogen-resistant CO shift reactor (15) that converts CO contained in gasified gas (12) generated in a gasifier (11) into CO2.
US08992869B2
A treatment device configured to receive a flow of exhaust from a power source is disclosed. The treatment device may have a first layer, a second layer, and a substrate layer. The first layer may include a selective catalytic reduction layer, and the second layer may be disposed downstream of the first layer and include an oxidation catalyst support. The substrate layer may be disposed adjacent to the second layer. Additionally, an additive may be disposed downstream of the first layer. The additive may be operative to substantially prohibit migration of a component of the second layer to the first layer upon treatment of the flow of exhaust by the oxidation catalyst support.
US08992852B2
A device including a first part having a substrate made of a material based on a silicon compound, a coating made of a coating material having a ceramic oxide, a transition layer having silica extending between the substrate and the coating, the transition layer exhibiting a thickness of less than 10 μm, and a first shrink ring and/or a layer made of a compliant material having an alloy with at least two materials selected from silver, gold and palladium, the coating defining at least a portion of the interface between the first part, and the first shrink ring and/or the layer made of a compliant material.
US08992849B2
Disclosed is an apparatus for preparing silicon nanoparticles. The apparatus includes a corona discharge section charging silicon nanoparticles to exhibit unipolarity in order to prevent agglomeration of the silicon nanoparticles after the silicon nanoparticles are generated from an injected gas by plasma reaction of an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) coil. The apparatus may facilitate grain size control of silicon nanoparticles while improving discharge performance of a mesh filter for collection of generated nanoparticles by preventing agglomeration of the silicon nanoparticles generated by plasma reaction using inductively coupled plasma (ICP), and may permit replacement of the mesh filter even during operation of the apparatus, thereby improving productivity while reducing manufacturing costs.
US08992848B2
The present invention relates to a delivery apparatus for delivering electromagnetic energy into a solution. The delivery apparatus comprises a coil means arranged within an outer housing for delivering a magnetic field into the solution, a voltage assembly means coupled to the coil means for delivering an electric field into the solution, and connection means for delivering an electromagnetic signal to the coil from electromagnetic signal generation circuitry contained within the housing. The arrangement of the present invention confers significant physical stability on the delivery apparatus and ensures that heat generated by heat generating components of the apparatus is conducted away from the electromagnetic signal generation circuitry so that the apparatus can be operated continuously.
US08992847B1
A honeycomb structure includes a honeycomb unit. The honeycomb unit has a plurality of through holes defined by partition walls along a longitudinal direction of the honeycomb unit. The partition walls have a thickness of approximately 0.1 mm to approximately 0.4 mm. The honeycomb unit is manufactured by molding raw material paste by extrusion molding and thereafter by firing the molded raw material paste. The raw material paste contains zeolite and an inorganic binder. A specific surface area of the zeolite is more than or equal to approximately 500 m2/g and less than or equal to approximately 800 m2/g. An external surface area of the zeolite is more than or equal to approximately 40 m2/g and less than or equal to approximately 80 m2/g.
US08992842B2
A system for producing ammonia includes sources of hydrogen and nitrogen gas, a hydrogen gas booster for producing produce pressurized hydrogen gas, a nitrogen gas booster for producing pressurized nitrogen gas, and a synthesis reactor that receives a mixture of the pressurized hydrogen and nitrogen gases. The synthesis reactor includes an inlet for receiving the pressurized gas mixture, a heating zone adjacent the inlet for heating the gas mixture, a catalyst zone downstream from the heating zone for catalyzing a reaction of the mixture to form ammonia and a by-product, and a cooling zone downstream from the catalyst zone for cooling the ammonia and the by-product. The system has a separator for separating the ammonia from the by-product, an ammonia storage tank for collecting the ammonia, and a recycle loop for re-circulating the by-product back to the synthesis reactor.
US08992841B2
A fluidized bed reactor includes a bottom portion, a roof portion, and side walls vertically extending between the bottom portion and the roof portion, forming a reaction chamber of the reactor. At least one side wall of the reaction chamber forms at least one vertical indentation in the reaction chamber, which indentation extends from the plane of the at least one side wall towards the reaction chamber. The indentation extending from the plane of the at least one side wall towards the reaction chamber is formed of a portion of the at least one side wall, protruding from the plane of the at least one side wall towards the reaction chamber, and the portion of the at least one side wall includes at least two substantially vertical indenting wall portions deviating from the plane of the at least one side wall at vertical lines within a distance from each other.
US08992838B1
Disclosed herein is a system for recovering flash gas from an oil storage tank. In one example of the invention, the system may include a flexible storage tank that receives the flash gas and temporarily stores the flash gas; a compressor having an input receiving the flash gas from the flexible storage tank, the compressor compressing the flash gas to form compressed gas; and an oxygen reduction subsystem receiving the compressed gas, the oxygen reduction subsystem reducing an amount of oxygen from the compressed gas. In this manner, the resulting compressed oxygen-reduced gas that has been recovered can be injected into a sales gas line for use, under certain conditions.
US08992823B2
In a blast furnace plant, at least three regenerative heaters are cyclically operated on blast and on gas: while a regenerative heater is operated on gas, hot flue gas is produced and caused to flow through the regenerative heater so as to heat the heat storage elements; and while a regenerative heater is operated on blast, process gas, i.e. a CO-rich fraction of the top gas, is blown through the regenerative heater so that the process gas takes up heat from the heat storage elements, such that during a changeover of a regenerative heater from on-blast to on-gas operation, the regenerative heater is purged from process gas using flue gas collected after having flown through at least one of the regenerative heaters.
US08992820B1
A method of making ceramics is provided. The method comprises preparing a dispersion of a nano-material. A slurry of a ceramic matrix material is prepared. The nano-dispersion is mixed with the matrix slurry to form a nano-dispersion/slurry mixture. The nano-dispersion/slurry mixture is dried. The nano-dispersion/slurry mixture is pressed into a final manufacture comprising a granular structure including the nano-material bonded within and uniformly distributed throughout the granular structure. The manufacture comprises an increased fracture toughness compared with a conventional manufacture produced without bonding the nano-material within the granular structure. The nano-material has a size on the order of tens of nanometers. The matrix material has a size on the order of several micrometers. Five percent of the nano-dispersion/slurry mixture comprises the nano-material dispersion. Sintering is performed on the final form using a sintering process following the pressing step. The sintering process includes a hot isostatic pressing process.
US08992818B2
Described herein is a method of forming a seamless transfer member suitable for use with an image forming system. The method includes spray coating a UV curable polymer and conductive particles onto an inner surface of a rotating cylindrical mandrel. The UV curable polymer is cured with ultra violet energy. The cured UV polymer is removed from the cylindrical rotatable mandrel.
US08992814B1
A method for dry casting concrete block using a resilient mold having a cavity for forming a block face and a form having a block body forming cavity. The form may be offset from the mold to provide steps where the block face joins the body for aligning stacked blocks. Alternately, the form cavity may have a dimension smaller that the height of the block face and can be offset to form a step between the block face and either the top or bottom of the block. Alternately, an insert may be placed in the form adjacent the mold for forming a downwardly projecting lip along the back of the block. Blocks are formed using a dry cast concrete block machine. After casting, the form is removed from the block. The block remains supported on the mold until after it has cured.
US08992813B2
A component made of at least one thermoformable material, having a first layer made of a first material, a second layer made of a second material, and a third layer made of the first material. The three layers form a sheet, which is formed to various shapes, depending upon the part that is to be created. The sheet may be formed to produce the bumper of an automobile, a door panel for an automobile, a flotation device, such as a pontoon for a pontoon boat, or the like. The first and third layers are SMC, and the second layer, or “core,” is disposed between the first and third layers, allowing the strength of the first and third layers to be used more efficiently, compared to a sheet having only the first and third layers, and no core.
US08992806B2
An absorbing composition is described herein that includes at least one inorganic-based compound, at least one absorbing compound, and at least one material modification agent. In addition, methods of making an absorbing composition are also described that includes: a) combining at least one inorganic-based compound, at least one absorbing compound, at least one material modification agent, an acid/water mixture, and one or more solvents to form a reaction mixture; and b) allowing the reaction mixture to form the absorbing composition at room temperature. Another method of making an absorbing composition includes: a) combining at least one inorganic-based compound, at least one absorbing compound, at least one material modification agent, an acid/water mixture, and one or more solvents to form a reaction mixture; and b) heating the reaction mixture to form the absorbing composition. Yet another method of making an absorbing composition is described that includes: a) combining at least one inorganic-based compound, at least one absorbing compound, at least one material modification agent, and one or more solvents to form a reaction mixture, wherein the at least one material modification agent comprises at least one acid and water; and b) heating the reaction mixture to form an absorbing material, a coating or a film. In other methods of making an absorbing composition described herein, those methods include: a) combining at least one inorganic-based compound, at least one absorbing compound, at least one material modification agent, and one or more solvents to form a reaction mixture, wherein the at least one material modification agent comprises at least one acid and water; and b) allowing the reaction mixture to form an absorbing material, a coating or a film.
US08992805B2
A liquid crystal polyester resin composition of the present invention comprises: 100 parts by mass of a liquid crystal polyester; and 50 to 150 parts by mass of titanium oxide, wherein the liquid crystal polyester comprises 2 to 30 mole % of a repeating structural unit represented by the following formula (1), and 40 to 80 mole % of a repeating structural unit represented by the following formula (2).
US08992802B2
An intermediate transfer member that includes a crosslinked poly(ether ether ketone) polymer, an optional conductive component, an optional polymer, and an optional release additive.
US08992799B2
A polymer composite composed of a polymerized mixture of functionalized carbon nanotubes and monomer which chemically reacts with the functionalized nanotubes. The carbon nanotubes are functionalized by reacting with oxidizing or other chemical media through chemical reactions or physical adsorption. The reacted surface carbons of the nanotubes are further functionalized with chemical moieties that react with the surface carbons and selected monomers. The functionalized nanotubes are first dispersed in an appropriate medium such as water, alcohol or a liquefied monomer and then the mixture is polymerized. The polymerization results in polymer chains of increasing weight bound to the surface carbons of the nanotubes. The composite may consists of some polymer chains imbedded in the composite without attachment to the nanotubes. The resulting composite yields superior chemical, physical and electrical properties over polymer composites that are only physically mixed and without binding to the surface carbons of the nanotubes.
US08992794B2
A method for preparing a layered oxide cathode using a two step calcination procedure, wherein the first step includes pre-calcination utilizing a rotary calciner.
US08992790B2
A patterning process which uses self-assembly, including: forming a silicon-containing film by applying a silicon-containing film composition having an organic substituent group substituted with an acid labile group onto a substrate to be processed, forming a photoresist film onto the silicon-containing film, pattern-exposing of the photoresist film, removing the photoresist film, forming a polymer film by applying a self-assembling polymer onto the silicon-containing film, self-assembling the polymer film to form a microdomain structure, forming a pattern of the polymer film having the microdomain formed, transferring the pattern to the silicon-containing film by using the pattern formed on the polymer as a mask, and transferring the pattern to the substrate to be processed by using the pattern transferred to the silicon-containing film as a mask. There can be provided a pattern having a microdomain structure formed by self-assembly with uniformity and regularity.
US08992788B2
In conjunction with a photomask blank comprising a transparent substrate, a pattern-forming film, and an etch mask film, a set of etching conditions for the pattern-forming film is evaluated by measuring a first etching clear time (C1) taken when the etch mask film is etched under the etching conditions to be applied to the pattern-forming film, measuring a second etching clear time (C2) taken when the pattern-forming film is etched under the etching conditions, and computing a ratio (C1/C2) of the first to second etching clear time.
US08992781B2
A water filter-pitcher includes a water pitcher with at least two chambers separated by at least one filter, and an ozone generator to generate ozone for sanitizing at least internal surfaces of said two chambers.
US08992772B2
An aeration and microbial reactor system for use in decontaminating water including a housing adapted to float and/or submerged within the medium such that a top portion thereof remains adjacent a top surface of the contaminated water while the bioreactor containing inoculated carrier media is attached below. Beneficial microbial populations thrive and spread throughout the liquid medium, and consume or fix the contaminant such that the contaminant is removed from the water.
US08992771B2
Disclosed herein are methods for isolating heavy saturated hydrocarbons from a subsurface shale formation comprising kerogen and an extractible organics component. These methods can be used to provide a bright stock product. The process comprises extracting an extractible organics component from subsurface shale formations comprising kerogen and the extractible organics component in an inorganic matrix and isolating a heavy hydrocarbon fraction comprising saturated beta-carotene. The methods utilize a hydrocarbon solvent to at least partially solubilize the extractible organics component. Among other factors, these processes are based on the discovery that the extractible organics is composed of a heavy hydrocarbon component containing saturated beta-carotene. The saturated beta-carotene product is a valuable commercial product. The presently disclosed processes are more environmentally benign, more economical, and more efficient in producing commercial products and in providing access to kerogen.
US08992766B2
A method of upgrading naphtha and diesel yields from fluid catalytic cracking and hydrocracking units by improving a feed quality of a petroleum feedstock, product or fraction mixture. The method of improving the feed quality of the petroleum feedstock, product or fraction mixture occurs by first determining the API Gravity of a petroleum feedstock, product or fraction mixture. A temperature at which about fifty percent of the petroleum feedstock, product or fraction boils (T50) is then determined. The feed quality for the petroleum feedstock, product or fraction mixture as determined from the API Gravity and the T50 for the feedstock, product or fraction mixture is then estimated followed by adjusting the petroleum feedstock, product or fraction mixture to achieve a higher feed quality.
US08992765B2
The embodiments disclosed herein can provide a process for converting a hydrocarbon feed. The process may include hydrocracking the hydrocarbon feed slurried with a particulate catalyst in a presence of hydrogen in a hydrocracking reaction zone to produce a hydrocracked stream, separating at least a portion of the hydrocracked stream, and passing the at least the portion of the hydrocracked stream through a thermal cracking heating zone at conditions effective for thermally cracking the at least the portion of the hydrocracked stream.
US08992752B2
There is provided a gas sensor element for detecting the concentration of a specific gas component in gas under measurement, which includes a plate-shaped element body and a porous protection layer. The element body has, at one end portion thereof, a gas sensing portion formed with a solid electrolyte substrate and a pair of electrodes. The porous protection layer has a porous structure formed of ceramic particles and surrounds at least the circumference of the one end portion of the element body. In the present invention, the porous protection layer has an inner region, an intermediate region and an outer region laminated together in order of mention from the element body toward the outside. The intermediate region has a porosity lower than those of the inner and outer regions. There is also provided a gas sensor with such a gas sensor element.
US08992751B2
The present invention relates to test strips and preparation method thereof. More particularly, the present invention relates to a test strip comprising: (a) an insulating substrate; (b) an electrode system disposed on the insulating substrate; (c) an insulation layer disposed on the electrode system, in which an accommodation space is disposed at one side of the insulation layer for exposing a part of the electrode system to carry out an electrochemical reaction of an analyte; and (d) a gel, disposed in the accommodation space and formed by dissolving a reactive enzyme reacting with the analyte in a hydrogel and being cured.
US08992750B1
Embodiments of the invention include a test strip with a sample chamber opening spanning the width of the test strip at the sampling end and including a portion of the lateral sides at that end. The chamber is vertically bounded by upper and lower substrate layers, horizontally bounded by the front face of a spacer layer, and open on the remaining sides. The test strip fills rapidly and requires small sample volumes. Both 1-up and 2-up manufacturing techniques for producing such test strips eliminate registration and alignment steps, and other techniques relating to the 2-up technique (simultaneously manufacturing test strips arranged in multiple columns) are also disclosed.
US08992748B2
A sputtering target made of aluminum and one or more alloying elements including Ni, Co, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Mo, Nb, Ta, W, and rare earth metals (REM). The addition of very small amounts of alloying element to pure aluminum and aluminum alloy target improves the uniformity of the deposited wiring films through affecting the target's recrystallization process. The range of alloying element content is 0.01 to 100 ppm by weight, which is sufficient to prevent dynamic recrystallization of pure aluminum and aluminum alloys, such as 30 ppm Si alloy. The addition of small amount of alloying elements increases the thermal stability and electromigration resistance of pure aluminum and aluminum alloys thin films while sustaining their low electrical resistivity and good etchability. This invention also provides a method of manufacturing microalloyed aluminum and aluminum alloy sputtering target.
US08992732B2
The invention relates to a process for making paper or paper board comprising forming a cellulosic suspension, flocculating the suspension, draining the suspension on a device to form a sheet and then drying the sheet, wherein the suspension is flocculated using a formation improving 3-component flocculation system comprising a) a linear cationic or ampoteric co-polymer of: i) acrylamide, and ii) a substance with formula (I) with a halide as counter-ion; b) at least one water soluble component chosen from the group of anionic polyacrylamide, non-ionic polyacrylamide and polyethyleneoxide; and c) inorganic microparticles, whereby the flocculation system does not contain a wafer-dispersible or branched anionic organic polymer. The invention also relates to use of the flocculation/retention system in the manufacture of paper or paper board, and to paper and paper board thus produced.
US08992730B2
A method of manufacturing coated paper by applying a coating liquid to a strip-shaped web of paper to form a plurality of bands extending in the width direction of the web and spaced from each other in the longitudinal direction of the web includes: a coating step (S1) of applying the coating liquid to the web to form the bands with a coating band pitch narrower than a design band pitch defined as a standard for the coated paper; an aftertreatment step (S2), executed after the coating step, of drying the web; and a tension applying step (S3), executed after the aftertreatment step, of expanding the band pitch of the web by applying tension to the web to cause the band pitch of the web to approach the design band pitch.
US08992728B2
The cellulose nanofiber production method of the present invention comprises an oxidation treatment step for oxidizing native cellulose in a neutral or acidic reaction solution containing an N-oxyl compound and an oxidizing agent that oxidizes aldehyde groups, and a dispersion step for dispersing the native cellulose in a medium following the oxidation treatment step. According to the production method of the present invention, a cellulose nanofiber is provided that has long fibers and demonstrates high strength.
US08992686B2
Provided is a mounting table structure for use in forming a thin film on a surface of a target object mounted on the mounting table structure by using a raw material gas including an organic metal compound in a processing chamber. The mounting table structure includes: a mounting table main body which mounts thereon the target object and has therein a heater; and a base which supports the mounting table main body while surrounding a side surface and a bottom surface of the mounting table main body, the base having therein a coolant path where a coolant flows therethrough and being maintained at a temperature higher than the solidification temperature or the liquefaction temperature of the raw material gas, but lower than the decomposition temperature of the raw material gas.
US08992684B1
The geometry of transition from cylindrical to rectangular shape through the conical part in hydride vapor phase epitaxial (HVPE) systems for deposition of III-nitride films is disclosed. It is used to ensure the laminar gas flow inside the growth zone of the system. For the velocity of flow within the atmospheric pressure reactor to be sufficient, the precursors are injected through the narrow diameter tubing injectors. The quartz reactor geometry is introduced to control the transition from jet to laminar flow.
US08992678B2
An ink set for ink jet recording is provided, the ink set containing a first ink which contains a first pigment and a second ink which contains a second pigment, wherein each of the first and second inks contains polyester-modified polydialkylsiloxane.
US08992669B2
The hydrogen separation membrane module according to the present invention is used for separating hydrogen from a gas to be treated containing hydrogen, and is provided with a tubular hydrogen separation membrane being selectively permeable to hydrogen, a casing for the hydrogen separation membrane, an insertion member being arranged on the inside of the hydrogen separation membrane and having an outer surface that defines a flow path of the gas to be treated together with an inner surface of the hydrogen separation membrane, a gas supply port for supplying the gas to be treated to the inside of the hydrogen separation membrane, a gas discharge port for discharging a non-permeating gas that does not permeate the hydrogen separation membrane, from a downstream side of the flow path, and a hydrogen discharge port provided in the casing, for discharging hydrogen having permeated the hydrogen separation membrane.
US08992668B2
A gas separation membrane including, a separation-active membrane containing: a compound represented by the following Formula (I) having a boiling point or a decomposition temperature of 200° C. or higher; and a cross-linked polymer containing a dissociable group and a repeating unit derived from alkylene glycol: wherein, in Formula (I), R1, R2 and R3 represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent; Wi represents a bivalent linking group; when R1, R2 and R3 represent a substituent, R1 and R2, R1 and R3 or R2 and R3 may be combined together to form a ring and wherein, in the compound represented by Formula (I), [total molecular weight of primary amine group+total molecular weight of secondary amine group]/[molecular weight of Formula (I)] is from 0.3 to 0.84.
US08992666B2
Provided is a method of leaching copper ore which contains chalcopyrite, the method includes a first leaching stage based on an oxidative leaching reaction of copper by iron (III) ion, and a second leaching stage, in succession to the first leaching stage, using a solution containing iodide ion and iron (III) ion.
US08992661B2
A series of inventions leading to the production of specific aluminum alloys (especially aluminum beverage can sheet product) through novel approach of introducing, selectively partitioning and managing alloying elements. This invention also enables manufacturing practices to enhance the performance characteristics of aluminum alloys produced. The selected elements can be derived from carbon anodes made from calcined petroleum coke with high metallic contents (such as nickel and vanadium). Alloying elements can also be introduced and managed from other raw material such as alumina and bath constituents added during aluminum smelting process. Additionally, cell operating parameters, such as cell temperature, off gas flow rate, aluminum tapping rate and impurity partition characteristics can also be manipulated to produce low cost aluminum alloys and facilitate utilization of high metallic content calcined petroleum coke.
US08992653B2
Disclosed are methods of enhancing plant growth, comprising treating seed at least one month prior to planting with an effective amount of a plant signal molecule, wherein upon harvesting the plant exhibits at least one of increased plant yield measured in terms of bushels/acre, increased root number, increased root length, increased root mass, increased root volume and increased leaf area, compared to plants harvested from untreated seed, or compared to plants harvested from seed treated with the signal molecule just prior to or within a week or less of planting.
US08992649B2
Enclosures for use in hazardous areas include sintered filters for thermal management. The enclosures include an opening to which a filter holder housing and sintered filter are coupled. The enclosures can also include a second opening to which a vent or a second filter holder housing and sintered filter are coupled. The internal temperature of the enclosures can be actively managed by such a system because air within the enclosure can be displaced to and from the atmosphere through the sintered filters. Air from the atmosphere enters the enclosure via the second opening and exits the enclosure via the first opening.
US08992644B2
A plastic soft composition is formed of soft base material constantly provided with plasticity, porous fine particles for polishing contained in the base material, and the like, and a polishing process and a coating process are performed to a painted surface and the like using the plastic soft composition. The fine particles for polishing are impregnated with a coating agent (a surface protective agent) added with an activator which is emulsified by contact with water, and the coating agent is held in concave portions formed in the fine particles. Both polishing work and coating work are achieved by sliding the plastic soft composition on a painted surface by a palm pressure of a user.
US08992638B2
Measurements are taken of moisture, BTU/lb (British Thermal Units per pound), ash, forms of sulfur, volatile material, grindability, and absorption properties of any of a wide variety of mine-run solid fuels. Using that information, a dry electromagnetic process technology has been developed that can be controlled and monitored to selectively alter and enhance metallurgical solid fuel properties. Specific changes include altering the mechanical structure and chemical composition of solid fuels such as coal, coal coke or petroleum coke, increasing the BTU/lb to optimum levels, decreasing all forms of sulfur, and decreasing ash, while maintaining the BTU/lb of the fuels. A new family of solid fuel designer coals not found in nature can be produced via these methods and apparatus.
US08992635B2
A process for producing anodes includes providing a foil comprising tantalum or niobium. A surface of the foil is oxidized so as to form oxides on the foil surface. The foil is heated so that the oxides formed on the foil surface diffuse into the foil. A paste comprising a powder selected from the group consisting of a tantalum powder, a niobium powder, a niobium oxide powder and mixtures thereof is applied to the foil. The foil with the applied paste is sintered.
US08992628B2
A covering for delivering a substance or material to a surgical site is provided. The covering, with substance provided therein, may be referred to as a delivery system. Generally, the covering may be formed of polymers for providing extended shelf life and/or increased moisture and radiation resistance, and may include a single or multi-compartment structure capable of at least partially retaining a substance provided therein until the covering is placed at a surgical site. Upon placement, the covering may facilitate transfer of the substance or surrounding materials. For example, the substance may be released (actively or passively) to the surgical site. The covering may participate in, control, or otherwise adjust the release of the substance. In various embodiments, the covering may be formed of a biocompatible material and is suitable for a variety of procedure specific uses.
US08992627B2
A reverse hip prosthesis comprising an acetabular cup for implanting in an acetabular socket. The acetabular cup is secured to the acetabular socket. The acetabular cup has a stem extending from the center of a concave portion thereof and an acetabular ball is attached to the stem. A femoral implant has a femoral cup attached to the proximal end thereof. The femoral cup has a stem which can be made with several stem lengths in order to accommodate the various sizing requirements of patients. After implantation of the acetabular cup and ball and the femoral cup, the members are assembled together so that the femoral cup can articulate on the acetabular ball. The prosthesis of the invention has a wide range of motion and substantially improved tribology.
US08992622B2
An interbody spinal implant including a body having a top surface, a bottom surface, opposing lateral sides, opposing anterior and posterior portions, a substantially hollow center, and a single vertical aperture. The single vertical aperture extends from the top surface to the bottom surface, has a size and shape predetermined to maximize the surface area of the top surface and the bottom surface available proximate the anterior and posterior portions while maximizing both radiographic visualization and access to the substantially hollow center, and defines a transverse rim.
US08992621B2
An expandable osteosynthesis implant has branches (5) each connected at one end to a seat (7) which is pierced by an orifice (8), suitable for being slid from a posterior direction between the facing faces of two consecutive vertebrae in order to hold them a given distance apart and restore stability of the spinal column. According to the invention, said branches (5) and said seat (7) define a hollow cage (1) which, in a “rest” position, has an outside general shape that is a cylinder of circular section, and a portion at least of the inside volume (9) of the cage (1) towards the distal ends of said branches (5) is in the form of a circular truncated cone whose large base is towards said seat (7) which implant has at least three branches (5) and, inside said inside volume (9) at least one spacer (2) suitable for passing through said orifice (8) and the large base of the truncated cone.
US08992620B2
A spinal implant which is configured to be deployed between adjacent vertebral bodies. The implant has at least one extendable support element with a retracted configuration to facilitate deployment of the implant and an extended configuration so as to expand the implant and effectively distract the disc space, stabilize the motion segments and eliminate pathologic spine motion. The implant has a minimal dimension in its unexpanded state that is smaller than the dimensions of the neuroforamen through which it typically passes to be deployed within the intervertebral space. The implant is provided with a locking system having a plurality of linked locking elements that work in unison to lock the implant in an extended configuration. Bone engaging anchors also may be provided to ensure secure positioning.
US08992615B2
An in-bone implantable shaft for prosthetic joints or for direct skeletal attachment of external limb prostheses, comprised of a central body fitted in the zone of the bone's medullary cavity conventionally prepared for implantation, and of side elements attached to the central body and fitted in the slots specially made in the bone's walls surrounding said medullary canal; said side elements have spaces between them, arranged to be filled by bone cells to provide a natural and safe osseolocking of the shaft. A method of preparing the bone for implantation of a prosthetic shaft, comprising the steps of: placing a cylindrical guide with slots made in the longitudinal direction of said guide inside said bone's canal which is conventionally prepared for implantation; cutting said bone's walls by progressing a saw along the edges of the slots of said guide; removing the guide; fitting the shaft in the bone's canal, provided that the side elements are fitted to the slots in the bone's walls.
US08992614B2
Tissue fixation devices are provided. The devices include a first component and a second component, the components having different rates of in vivo degradation. The first component and second component are arranged so that, upon degradation of one of the components, the other component provides a scaffold into which bone can grow.
US08992610B2
Many modern implantable ophthalmic devices include electronic components, such as electro-active cells, that can leak harmful substances into the eye and/or surrounding tissue. In the implantable ophthalmic devices disclosed herein, electronic components are hermetically scaled within cavities formed by bonding together two or more glass wafers. Bonding the glass wafers together with laser fusion bonding, pressure bonding, or anodic bonding creates a seal that leaks at a rate of less than about 5×10−12 Pa m3 s−1 when subjected to a helium leak test. Hermetically sealed feedthroughs formed of conductive material running through channels in the wafers provide electrical connections to components inside the sealed cavities. In some cases, the conductive material has a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) that is roughly equal to (e.g., within 10% of) the CTE of the glass wafers to minimize leakage due to thermally induced expansion and contraction of the conductive material and the glass wafer.
US08992603B2
The present invention relates generally to the maintenance of blow flood using drug eluting stents and/or other coated medical devices to increased length of time of blood flow. Further, the present invention relates to drug-releasing coated devices for reducing smooth muscle cell proliferation and platelet activity to further limit restenosis utilizing resveratrol and quercetin, polyphenols that are linked to the cardioprotection of red wine consumption. The present invention also provides products and methods for treating or preventing atherosclerosis, stenosis, restenosis, smooth muscle cell proliferation, platelet cell activation and other clotting mechanisms, occlusive disease, or other abnormal lumenal cellular proliferation condition in a location within the body of a patient.
US08992600B2
A marker composite for medical implants composed of a biocorrodible metallic material and a medical implant comprising an X-ray marker which was made of the marker composite. The marker composite contains a large number of particles composed of a radio-opaque metal, which are embedded in an electrically non-conductive polymer. The particles have an additional electrically non-conductive coating.
US08992591B2
An improved delivery system for an implantable medical device includes a retention sheath having a proximal end, a distal end, and an inner lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end. The implantable medical device is disposed within the inner lumen of the retention sheath, which restrains the implantable medical device. A plurality of substantially incompressible rings are disposed within the inner lumen of the retention sheath in a stacked co-axial configuration that extends from the proximal end of the retention sheath in a pre-deployment position to a proximal end of the implantable medical device. Each ring in the plurality of separate rings abuts at least a portion of an adjacent ring. The plurality of separate rings is configured to prevent the implantable medical device from moving toward a proximal end of the retention sheath when the retention sheath is moved from the pre-deployment position to a deployment position.
US08992587B2
A surgical implant comprising a screw element having a screw head, a first thread having a first thread pitch, a second thread having a second thread pitch and an intermediate portion coupling the first and second thread pitches with the first and second thread pitches being different. The implant has a buttressing head associated with the first thread, and it is dimensioned to be larger than a diameter of the first threads to provide external buttressing as the first and second threads compress a first bone and a second bone together.
US08992586B2
A surgical bone screw (1) and driver (31), and a method for using them for repairing an osteotomy or fracture. The screw has a shaft having a head (5) at its proximal end, screw threads (3) at its distal end and a compression member (7) between the head and the screw threads. In an embodiment, the threads are self-tapping and self-drilling, the head is polygonal, and the sides of the polygon are convex. The driver turns the screw until the threads cross a fracture site and the compression member contacts the proximal bone fragment. The threads and compression member draw the fragments together and leaves the head entirely clear of the bone surface. The screw is removed through a small incision. Tilting the driver to allow the socket to engage an inwardly extending lower portion of the head permits the driver to lift the screw out of the bone.
US08992583B2
Embodiments provide methods, apparatuses, and systems for fixation of a fractured bone. In various embodiments, the systems and plates may provide elastic suspension of the receiving holes relative to the osteosynthesis plate. This elastic suspension may promote load distribution between the screws that connect a bone segment to the plate, thereby reducing stress risers and load shielding effect. In addition, stress at the screw holes, and within the construct as a whole, is reduced by incorporation of these elastic elements in the plate. Additionally, in some embodiments, for instance if fracture healing by callus formation is desired, elastic suspension of the receiving holes relative to the osteosynthesis plate may enable small, controlled amounts of relative motion between bone fragments connected by the plate, which may promote fracture healing by callus formation.
US08992568B2
A system and method for treating a defect. The system may comprise a first expandable barrier insertable into a defect interior space in a compact state and then expanded once positioned inside the defect. The first expandable barrier is expanded to be positioned against the inner surface of the defect. The system may also comprise a second barrier which may be expandable, positioned against the outer surface of the defect. Each of the first and second barriers may expand laterally to a greater extent than axially. The first and second barriers may be in communication through a connection member which couples the two barriers together. The barriers each obliterate the defect and can prevent subsequent CSF or other fluid leaks. Fibrin glue may be introduced into the defect to seal and secure the barriers to the defect. Each barrier may comprise a mesh, a basket, an umbrella or a balloon.
US08992564B2
An instrument for minimally invasive surgery suitable for use with a manipulator comprising a tube provided at its first end with a mouthpiece wherein control means for the mouthpiece pass through the tube, and wherein at a second end of the tube opposite to the first end comprising the mouthpiece control organs are provided that are coupled with the control means for the mouthpiece that are passing through the tube.
US08992553B2
A cutting balloon assembly and a method for fabrication of the assembly is described. The cutting balloon assembly comprises a delivery catheter, an expandable balloon mounted on the catheter distal end, and a scoring mesh disposed around the expandable balloon. The scoring mesh comprises interlacing filaments that extend from a mesh proximal end towards a mesh distal end, form distal filament loops at said mesh distal end, and then return to the mesh proximal end. At least a part of the interlacing filaments forms one or more permanent links with neighboring filaments between the mesh proximal end and the mesh distal end.
US08992550B2
A method of suturing tissue includes driving a needle from a tool through tissue to form a channel in the tissue; inserting the needle into a capsule that is connected to a first length of suture attached to the capsule; engaging the needle with a second length of suture that is inserted through the capsule; and pulling both the first length of suture and the second length of suture through the channel formed in the tissue.
US08992542B2
A surgical system for positioning a prosthetic component on an anatomy of a patient includes a surgical tool configured to engage the prosthetic component, a force system configured to provide at least some force to the surgical tool, and a controller programmed to compare a target pose of the prosthetic component and an actual pose of the prosthetic component engaged by the surgical tool and generate control signals that cause the force system to allow movement of the surgical tool within a range of movement and provide haptic feedback to constrain a user's ability to manually move the surgical tool beyond the range of movement. The haptic feedback resists movement of the surgical tool by the user that would cause substantial deviation between at least one aspect of the actual pose of the prosthetic component and a corresponding aspect of the target pose of the prosthetic component. The controller is programmed to generate control signals that cause the force system to maintain the haptic feedback as the user implants the prosthetic component on the anatomy.
US08992541B2
The present invention relates to the medical field, in particular relates to the practice of percutaneous vertebroplasty where a pair of syringes in the distal extreme of a lengthened hydraulic device, are united by a camera of intermediate connection of larger diameter (pressure exerting body) or modified inverted syringe tube with a bolster, a hydraulic connecting tube of flexible material that transmits the pressure of the smaller diameter manual or impulsion syringe in the proximal extreme of the device toward the intermediate cylindrical larger diameter camera (pressure exerting body), this camera is in an inverted position with regard to the first syringe (fluid control), this intermediate camera has a moving piston longitudinal to the axis of the cylinder that is controlled with the first syringe (manual) and in cooperation with the atmospheric pressure. The injecting syringe loaded with bone cement is coupled with the bolster of the body of pressure, and to the needle that drives the cement toward the interior of the bone. The intermediate camera (pressure exerting body) together with the hydraulic tube and the manual syringe form a hydraulic press system (F/A=f/a) that allows to increase in a potential way the pressure exerted in the first syringe and to make the injection of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) at an approximate distance of 1.0 m to 1.5 m.
US08992534B2
A method and a system for cutting the knee joint using a robot. A cantilevered cutter is introduced into the knee joint from inside and outside of upper and lower bones of the knee joint to realize a tunnel cutting technique in which cutting is conducted such that tunnels are defined in bone and remnant bone is cleared. The cutter includes a shaft in which a substantial axial portion is fitted into a sleeve and a remaining axial portion serves as a cantilever extending out of the sleeve, and a head which is formed at a distal end of the shaft. A length of the cantilever and a diameter of the head are determined to have minimum sizes as long as the head can be introduced into bone in such a way as to define a tunnel and can be moved in the bone while cutting the bone.
US08992524B1
An electrosurgical Cobb elevator instrument, a soft tissue dissection and/or retraction tool, can be used with and without suction, and is capable of delivering monopolar or bipolar RF energy for cutting and coagulating soft tissue. The device is capable of footswitch or handswitch activation. The tool has a spoon-shaped edge that is preferably sharp to provide blunt dissection in addition to the energy-driven dissection. The instrument of the invention could be used in any procedure that requires soft tissue dissection and/or coagulation.
US08992523B2
Methods and systems for modulating intraosseous nerves (e.g., nerves within bone) are provided. For example, the methods and systems described herein may be used to modulate (e.g., denervate, ablate) basivertebral nerves within vertebrae. The modulation of the basivertebral nerves may facilitate treatment of chronic back pain. The modulation may be performed by a neuromodulation device (e.g., an energy delivery device).
US08992513B2
A device and method for treating a hollow anatomical structure using matter in a plasma state. Device includes a tubular delivery device comprising a tubular body, a hub, and a distal end, wherein the tubular body device having a longitudinal fluid delivery channel and an exit port near the distal end. Device also contains a container having pre-plasma matter being operatively coupled to the hub, at least one energy-emitting element operatively coupled near the distal end of the tubular delivery device. The energy-emitting element is operatively connected to energy source.
US08992502B2
A flexible container for fluid administration is provided having a body defining a cavity, a base, and at least one port comprising a flange in contact with a flange of a terminal port having a punctureable membrane layer. The body has a cross-sectional configuration including a lower body section of a first dimension, a middle body section of a second dimension, and an upper body section of a third dimension, wherein the second dimension is smaller than the first dimension and the third dimension. The flexible container may also include a base having a plurality of creases that are foldable to form two folded ends each including an extension having a base of a first dimension and a tip of a second dimension.
US08992500B2
A fastening tape comprising a tab portion formed at one end of a tape substrate made of a nonwoven fabric, and a fixing portion formed at the other end of the tape substrate so as to be attached to a disposable diaper, wherein: a male component of a hook-and-loop fastener is fixed to a surface of the tape substrate at the tab portion; the opposite surface of the surface with the male component of the tape substrate is embossed; the tab portion is folded back at the boundary between the tab portion and the fixing portion so that the male component is on the folded inner side; and the male component on the tab portion is joined to the fixing portion of the tape substrate.
US08992493B2
A chest drainage system includes a collection device and a fluid pathway configured to extend from the collection device to a patient. The fluid pathway has a proximal portion configured to extend proximally toward the patient and a distal portion configured to extend distally from the patient. The chest drainage system also includes a pressure source including an accumulator configured to selectively provide sub-atmospheric pressure to the distal portion of the fluid pathway and a valve configured to selectively relieve pressure in the proximal portion of the fluid pathway. The system is configured to open the valve and to introduce the sub-atmospheric pressure from the accumulator of the pressure source when a predetermined pressure differential is detected between the proximal and distal portions of the fluid pathway.
US08992492B2
A negative pressure (i.e., vacuum or suction) wound healing device and system incorporating the device. The device of the present disclosure is smaller, lighter, portable, and overall more manageable by both the user and the medical personnel than the conventional systems. The device could be readily worn by the user.
US08992482B2
The present invention includes syringes with valves. The valves control communication between the interior of a barrel of the syringe and the exterior of the barrel. In syringes that include two valves, the valves may be oriented opposite one another, such that one of the valves may enable fluid to flow into the interior of the barrel of the syringe while preventing fluid from flowing in the opposite direction, while the other valve may enable fluid to flow out of the interior of the barrel while preventing fluid from flowing in the opposite direction. Alternatively, a syringe may include a single valve, which is carried at or near a distal end of its plunger. Methods for using such syringes, including, but not limited to, manual pulsed aspiration methods and manual pulsed delivery methods are also disclosed.
US08992478B2
Fluid delivery and measurement systems and methods are disclosed.
US08992474B2
A housing may have a needle, plunger, and bias mechanism supported within the housing by a tab configured to retain the plunger in position and to allow the plunger to move under bias force imparted by the bias mechanism to move the needle to an insert position when the tab is removed. A base and a structure may be configured for relative movement there between and may be adapted to be secured to a user with a cannula extending through a body of the structure into the user during use of a medical device. A housing may be adapted to be secured to a user to support a medical device operable with an insertion needle, the housing having a magnifying material for increasing visibility of an injection site.
US08992466B2
A needle-free transdermal transport device for transferring a substance across a surface of a biological body includes a reservoir for storing the substance, a nozzle in fluid communication with the reservoir and a controllable electromagnetic actuator in communication with the reservoir. The actuator, referred to as a Lorentz force actuator, includes a stationary magnet assembly and a moving coil assembly. The coil assembly moves a piston having an end portion positioned within the reservoir. The actuator receives an electrical input and generates in response a corresponding force acting on the piston and causing a needle-free transfer of the substance between the reservoir and the biological body. The magnitude, direction and duration of the force are dynamically controlled (e.g., servo-controlled) by the electrical input and can be altered during the course of an actuation cycle. Beneficially, the actuator can be moved in different directions according to the electrical input.
US08992463B2
A system and method for balancing flows of renal replacement fluid is disclosed. The method uses pressure controls and pressure sensing devices to more precisely meter and balance the flow of fresh dialysate and spent dialysate. The balancing system may use one or two balancing devices, such as a balance tube, a tortuous path, or a balance chamber.
US08992458B2
Systems and methods are disclosed herein that generally involve CED devices with various features for reducing or preventing backflow. In some embodiments, CED devices include a tissue-receiving space disposed proximal to a distal fluid outlet. Tissue can be compressed into or pinched/pinned by the tissue-receiving space as the device is inserted into a target region of a patient, thereby forming a seal that reduces or prevents proximal backflow of fluid ejected from the outlet beyond the tissue-receiving space. In some embodiments, CED devices include a bullet-shaped nose proximal to a distal fluid outlet. The bullet-shaped nose forms a good seal with surrounding tissue and helps reduce or prevent backflow of infused fluid.
US08992450B1
A portable hydro massage device for submersion in a body of water containing a female user, i.e. a bathtub, provides a local massage to the labium region and a focused stimulant to the female user's clitoris thereby resulting in a superior sensation to the entire body promoting an overall euphoric state and calming effect. The apparatus employs a saddle shaped housing, where the buttocks are placed, and a saddle horn for controlling the stimulus. Disposed within the midsection of the saddle horn is a hydro jet with a driven flow from a circulating water pump that draws suction from the main body of water. The hydro jet is adjustable in pressure and a method is provided for aeration of the water discharged to allow for a rhythmic pulsation effect. The saddle horn may be held and the lower body positioned as needed to focus the discharged stream from the hydro jet to the desired point of the pelvic region.
US08992447B2
A system for applying focused ultrasound energy to a nerve surrounding an artery of a patient includes a piezoelectric array comprising a plurality of piezoelectric elements, a controller configured to control at least a subset of the piezoelectric elements so that at least one of the piezoelectric elements in the subset is in a signal transmitting mode, in a signal sensing mode, or both, a first platform on which the piezoelectric elements are coupled and a second platform, wherein the second platform is configured to support at least a part of the patient, a programmable generator configured to generate output power for one or more of the piezoelectric elements, and a programmable processor configured to process a signal sensed by at least one of the piezoelectric elements.
US08992442B2
The invention relates to a device for taking a liquid bone marrow sample (aspiration) and a solid bone sample (biopsy) in the same procedure, which can thus replace specialized needles for taking bone marrow and needles exclusively used for taking bone biopsies. The device for taking liquid bone marrow samples and a solid bone sample has a simple mechanism that uses two grooved clamps, it is easy to disassemble for sterilization and its handle is designed to perform the puncture easily. The needle of the device is hollow, and within it a guide is placed with two sections of different diameters. The guide makes it possible to open up the empty needle channel to allow the bone marrow liquid to flow and be extracted, and also to close the channel to be able to penetrate the tissue. The purpose of this invention is to combine the procedures of bone marrow aspiration and bone biopsy, thus reducing the patient's discomfort and the time needed for the procedure.
US08992437B2
Systems and methods for monitoring a sound pressure level dose at an ear are provided. A system includes an audio transducer which outputs a sound signal is placed within an ear to receive sound at the ear. A sound level threshold detector determines whether a sound pressure level of the sound signal is at a minimum level and outputs a sound pressure level signal corresponding to the sound pressure level when the sound pressure level is not at the minimum level. A time period is calculated during which the sound pressure level is not at the minimum threshold level. A listening fatigue calculator determines whether a cumulative effect of exposure to the sound signal at the ear over the time period will cause harm to the ear. At least a portion of the system is disposed in situ at the ear.
US08992435B2
A method and system for electronically classifying a pre-processed heart sound signal of a patient as functional (normal) or pathological is provided. The pre-processed patient heart sound signal is segmentised and features are extracted therefrom (104) to build up a feature vector which is representative of the heart sound signal. The feature vector is then fed to a diagnostic decision support network (105) comprising a plurality of artificial neural networks, each relating to a known heart pathology, which is in turn used to conduct the classification.
US08992432B2
The presence of a cardiac pulse in a patient is determined by evaluating physiological signals in the patient. In one embodiment, a medical device evaluates optical characteristics of light transmitted into a patient to ascertain physiological signals, such as pulsatile changes in general blood volume proximate a light detector module. Using these features, the medical device determines whether a cardiac pulse is present in the patient. The medical device may also be configured to report whether the patient is in a VF, VT, asystole, or PEA condition, in addition to being in a pulseless condition, and prompt different therapies, such as chest compressions, rescue breathing, defibrillation, and PEA-specific electrotherapy, depending on the analysis of the physiological signals. Auto-capture of a cardiac pulse using pacing stimuli is further provided.
US08992415B2
An implantable device used in a gastric band system includes an access port, a tube coupled to the access port, and a shielding device covering a portion of the tube. The shielding device is positioned adjacent to the access port and covers the end of the tube coupled to the access port. The shielding device is made from a puncture resistant material, to protect the tube from puncture by a misplaced syringe needle inserted by a physician.
US08992412B2
Method and system for treating a patient using an inflatable device. A removal device may be used to remove the inflatable device from the body. The removal device can have at least one manually-actuatable member and at least two opposing jaws at a distal end. At least one of the at least two jaws can be movable by actuation of the at least one manually-actuatable member. At least one of the at least two jaws can have a puncturing member.
US08992411B2
Described are methods, devices, and systems related to pelvic implants, including implants that include absorbable and non-absorbable materials.
US08992407B2
A blood pump (26) includes a stator assembly (122) that includes a motor stator, a fluid inlet (24), and a fluid outlet (26). A rotor assembly (120) includes a motor rotor (54) and an impeller (40) rotatable about an axis (44) to move fluid from the inlet (24) to the outlet (26). A permanent magnet radial bearing (100) supports the rotor assembly for rotation about the axis (44). The radial bearing (100) includes a permanent magnet radial bearing stator (106) fixed to the stator assembly (122) and a permanent magnet radial bearing rotor (108) fixed to the rotor assembly (120). The radial bearing (100) is configured such that the radial bearing stator magnets (106) and the radial bearing rotor magnets (108) are axially offset from each other when the pump is at rest.
US08992402B2
A disposable blood separation set and a centrifugal blood processing system comprising a blood processing chamber adapted to be mounted on a rotor of a centrifuge; a frustro-conical cell separation chamber in fluid communication with the processing chamber, the cell separation chamber having an inlet, and outlet and a side tap outlet adjacent the inlet. The inlet may protrude into the cell separation chamber forming a circumferential well surrounding the protruding inlet. The side tap outlet may connect to the well. The set and system comprise means for selectively drawing fluid from either the outlet or the side tap outlet.
US08992392B2
Exercise apparatus and method with selectively variable stabilization enabling a user to progressively increase his/her core body muscular strength. In various embodiments, the exercise apparatus includes a resistance cabling system providing a user defined line of motion, and a partial stabilizer pad being adjustably positionable offset from the line of motion, wherein the user's core body is positionable against the pad and required to resist the torque created by the offset. The user can progressively increase the distance between the line of motion and partial stabilizer pad, in order to progressively increase the force which the user's core body must resist to maintain an upright stature. In this way, the user can progressively, over time, increase his or her core body strength. A vertically and rotatably adjustable handle/arm assembly, resistance cabling and pulley assembly, and an overall exercise apparatus having a relatively small footprint but allowing multiple variable exercise routines, are also provided.
US08992385B2
Machines, apparatuses, systems and methods for providing adjustable tension to a cable system using a pivotally mounted leverage mechanism that employs an adjustably positionable weight. Embodiments are used in exercise and other muscle strengthening devices, and may include an electronic control system for monitoring, recording a user's progress, and for altering or releasing tension to the cable system based on feedback from the user. Embodiments include a user interface for inputting information for particular exercises or workouts, as well as outputting/downloading information following exercises or workouts.
US08992384B2
A training apparatus includes a training machine, a detecting unit, a signal generating unit, and a control unit. The training machine includes a displaceable part that is movable in response to exercise motions performed by the exerciser during training exercise. The detecting unit detects the displacement of the displaceable part or detects the displacement of the target training area of the exerciser resulting from the exercise motions. The signal generating unit generates a stimulus signal to be applied to the exerciser during the training exercise. The control unit corrects a content of processing relating to stimulus signal performed by the signal generating unit based on the displacement detected by the detecting unit.
US08992380B2
A vehicle control device for controlling a vehicle with an oil pump to be driven by rotation generated by a drive source and transmitted thereto and a continuously variable transmission including a power transmission member mounted between two pulleys includes coast stop control means configured to execute a coast stop control in which the drive source is stopped during vehicle running when a predetermined condition holds, and hydraulic pressure control means configured to execute a pulley pressure control in which a hydraulic pressure supplied to the pulley is increased such that frictional heat generated between the pulley and the power transmission member does not exceed upper limit frictional heat, below which the pulley or the power transmission member is not degraded, when the coast stop control is stopped, the drive source is restarted and the hydraulic pressure is supplied from the oil pump.
US08992378B2
A vehicle powertrain includes a first rotatable member and a second rotatable member. A clutch has an engaged state in which torque is transferred between the first rotatable member and the second rotatable member through the clutch. The clutch has a disengaged state in which torque is not transferred between the first rotatable member and the second rotatable member through the clutch. A clutch actuator includes a motor-generator that has a rotor rotatably drivable by one of the first rotatable member and the second rotatable member, and has a stator powerable to rotatably drive the rotor relative to said one of the first rotatable member and the second rotatable member. A controller is operatively connected to the stator and is configured to control the motor-generator to function as a generator to provide torque on the rotor. The motor-generator provides electrical power to a vehicle component.
US08992376B2
A power transmission device includes first and second rings arranged opposite each other, having a common rotation center axis, and rotatable relative to each other; a plurality of planetary balls having rotation center axes parallel to the rotation center axis, and radially arranged between the first and second rings and around the rotation center axis; a transmission control unit configured to change a rotation ratio between the first and second rings by changing the respective contact points of the first and second rings and each of the planetary balls through tilting motion of each of the planetary balls; and a rotation restricting unit disposed between the planetary balls adjacent to each other.
US08992369B2
An axial mounting of the planetary gearwheels of a planetary gearset having a sun gear that meshes with at least one planetary gearwheel mounted on a planetary bolt that is supported on the planetary carrier. The at least one planetary gearwheel meshes with a ring gear. At least one check-plate, which has a hole for the planetary bolt and which is positioned on one side of the planetary gearwheel between the planetary gearwheel and the planetary carrier, is associated with each planetary gearwheel. The check-plate is completely flat and is axially symmetrical relative to its longitudinal and transverse axes. The at least one check-plate has two wings that extend in the longitudinal direction, which are positioned in recesses formed in the planetary carrier, when the check-plate is in the installed condition, to secure the check-plate against rotation. The check-plate is fixed relative to the planetary carrier.
US08992367B2
A drive device for a vehicle includes at least one electric machine having at least one rotor element which is configured to delimit an installation area in a radial direction. Disposed, at least partly, in the installation area, is at least one transmission device which is configured to be driven by the electric machine via the rotor element.
US08992366B2
An electric drive for a motor vehicle is disclosed that comprises an electric motor and a drive unit drivable by the electric motor. The drive unit has a planetary drive and a differential drive 9, which are arranged coaxially to a rotational axis A. The planetary drive comprises a ring gear, a sun gear, a plurality of planet gears as well as a planet carrier. The ring gear is rotatingly driveable by the electric motor around the rotational axis A. The sun gear is supportable or supported relative to a stationary component against rotation. The planet carrier is connected to a differential carrier of the differential drive so as to transmit torque thereto. A motor vehicle with such an electric drive is also disclosed.
US08992360B2
In a hybrid drive arrangement having a power output, a primary drive machine with a primary drive shaft connecting the primary drive machine to a gear change set for establishing a form-fit connection between the primary drive machine and the power output, a secondary drive machine with a secondary drive shaft for permanently connecting the secondary drive machine to a planetary gear set which is coupled to the primary drive shaft and the secondary drive shaft, the planetary gear set is disposed in parallel to the gear change set in the power flow in at least one operating mode.
US08992356B2
A synthetic fiber ball and method of manufacturing the same is disclosed. The fiber ball includes a plurality of fibers having a predetermined length bound together with a fastening fiber at a central core. The plurality of fibers extend outwardly from the fastening fiber at the central core to form a generally spherical shaped ball. The plurality of fibers are heat shrunk in a spinning oven from a generally cylindrical shaped fiber bundle having a predetermined diameter to form the fiber ball.
US08992350B2
In one example, a basketball system includes a backboard to which a goal is configured to be attached, a support structure, a connecting structure configured to connect the backboard to the support structure, a lockable height adjustment mechanism operably disposed with respect to the backboard, and a means for absorbing shock. When the height adjustment mechanism is locked, the means for absorbing shock enables temporary displacement of the backboard in response to imposition of a load or force on the backboard if the imposed load or force exceeds a threshold load or force, respectively.
US08992344B2
A golf ball may include an inner core layer and an outer cover layer disposed radially outward of the inner core layer. The outer cover layer may be formed of an outer cover layer material having one or more grooves extending radially inward from an outer surface of the outer cover layer. In addition, the golf ball may include a groove material disposed within the one or more grooves. The groove material may have a compressibility that is different from a compressibility of the outer cover layer material. Also, the outer surface of the groove material may extend radially outward beyond the outer surface of the outer cover layer.
US08992338B2
Golf club head embodiments disclosed herein comprise a crown having a stepped portion located between a front portion of the crown and rear portion of the crown, such that the crown transitions steeply in height across the stepped portion from the front portion down to the rear portion. The stepped portion of the crown may extend from adjacent to the hosel in a toeward and rearward direction.
US08992333B2
A vibration damper, including a cover plate with an annular portion, and a spring portion including spring retaining portions forming respective spaces and a spring blocking portions including respective protrusion segments and respective tab segments including respective portions of an edge of the cover plate and having a same first thickness. The damper includes springs at least partially located in the respective spaces, and having respective longitudinal ends, and a second cover plate or output flange connected to the cover plate. The springs are arranged to transmit torque to the cover plate. The respective protrusion segments have a same second thickness and include respective protrusions. Respective first portions of the longitudinal ends of the springs are engaged with the respective protrusions. Respective second portions of the longitudinal ends of the springs are engaged with the respective tab segments.
US08992328B2
Disclosed are a method, an apparatus, and a recording medium for playing a game with server transferring in an online game environment. The method includes: receiving identification information for login from a first client; transmitting online game environment information to the first client; performing an advance operation of the server transferring for a server transferring of a second client with an outside server; receiving data for playing the game transmitted from the outside server or the second client; transmitting a resulting data of game play, in which the received data is applied to the online game environment, to the outside server or the second client, which has transmitted the data for playing the game; and storing a result of an interaction generated between the first client and the second client in a game history of the first client.
US08992320B2
Trajectory-based games of chance are described that may be implemented on a video gaming machine. In a trajectory-based game of chance, a trajectory of a game object may be generated in a 3-D gaming environment. A wager may be made on an aspect of the game object's trajectory in the gaming environment such as a termination location for the trajectory of the game object. The aspect of the game object's trajectory may occur according to a known probability. Hence, an award for the trajectory-based game of chance may be proportional to the probability of the aspect of the game object's trajectory occurring.
US08992317B2
A game system includes a game device and a terminal device. The game device obtains operation data representing an operation on the terminal device. Moreover, the game device generates a first game image and second game images based on a game process based on the operation data. The first game image is output to, and displayed on, a television separate from the terminal device. The second game image is wirelessly transmitted to, and displayed on, the terminal device. The game device calculates an attitude of the terminal device based on data output from an inertia sensor of the terminal device, and switches between second game images in accordance with the attitude of the terminal device.
US08992314B2
A gaming system that executes a web browser to display games produced by the at least one server, take over processing from the web browser using a plug-in for the web browser upon detection of a predetermined player interaction with the web browser, carries out a game transaction, using the plug-in for the web browser, including a game bet and an amount wagered for each game played, commits each game transaction, using the plug-in for the web browser, by sending at least the game bet and the amount wagered to the at least one server and to receive a validation transaction corresponding to the committed game transaction back from the at least one server, and relinquishes control, using the plug-in for the web browser, back to the web browser upon receipt of the validation transaction from the at least one server.
US08992307B2
A gaming system and method for use in one or more casino establishments for offering a secondary game initiated after a loss. The gaming machine and method are offered on electronic gaming machines such as slot machines and video poker machines, but may also be deployed in other forms such as on a general purpose computing device in stand-alone form or connected to a network such as the internet.
US08992303B2
A game apparatus includes a CPU, and the CPU displays a difficulty level setting screen on a second LCD prior to a start of the virtual game. On the difficulty level setting screen, a player sets a difficulty level so as to be higher or lower than an initial value by using coins that a player character obtains by playing a virtual game. For example, in a case that the difficulty level is high, the virtual game is made difficult, but a possibility of obtaining a rare item is made high. On the other hand, in a case that the difficulty level is low, the virtual game is made easy, but a possibility of obtaining a rare item is made low.
US08992297B2
A gaming system having a first skill, partial skill, or pseudo skill based game having a plurality of individually activatable designated components and a plurality of second chance based games each respectively associated with a different one of the individually activatable components of the skill based game. When each designated component of the first game is activated through one or player inputs, a corresponding chance based game associated with that designated component is activated. Each chance based game randomly determines whether the player wins an award. In one embodiment, the likelihood of activating each designated component is different and the chance based game associated with each different designated component is different.
US08992296B2
A gaming system and device, operable upon a wager, has a plurality of outcome systems. In one embodiment, the initial outcome system has one or more initial outcome generators, and the secondary outcome system has an intersection evaluation and grid outcomes.
US08992286B2
A method of controlling a polishing operation includes measuring a plurality of spectra at a plurality of different positions on a substrate to provide a plurality of measured spectra. For each measured spectrum of the plurality of measured spectra, a characterizing value is generated based on the measured spectrum. For each characterizing value, a goodness of fit of the measured spectrum to another spectrum used in generating the characterizing value is determined. A wafer-level characterizing value map is generated by applying a regression to the plurality of characterizing values with the plurality of goodnesses of fit used as weighting factors in the regression. A polishing endpoint or a polishing parameter of the polishing apparatus is adjusted based on the wafer-level characterizing map, and the substrate or a subsequent substrate is polished in the polishing apparatus with the adjusted polishing endpoint or polishing parameter.
US08992285B1
A toy vehicle system having interchanging wheels, tires and axles for altering ground clearance features a pair of anterior axle mount projections and a pair of posterior axle mount projections angularly located on a vehicle underside. Interchangeable anterior and posterior axle units are designed to position the toy vehicle at a ground clearance that proportionally resembles a full size vehicle ground clearance. The system features a first size plurality of wheels, a second size plurality of wheels, and a third size plurality of wheels, each having a tire located on an outer periphery thereon. The system features a plurality of fasteners for securing the anterior axle or the posterior axle. The system features a plurality of nuts located on wheel studs for securing a wheel on a hub. The system features a perpendicular wrench having four projections located thereon, radially projecting from a central hub.
US08992284B2
A reconfigurable toy assembly includes an external component having a first portion releaseably coupled to a second portion, the first and second portions forming a cavity when coupled together, and an internal component. A trigger is coupled to the external component. The internal component is reconfigurable between a retracted configuration and a deployed configuration. The internal component is retained in the retracted configuration via a latch and released from the retracted configuration upon actuation of the latch. The internal component is receivable in the cavity in its retracted configuration. The latch is actuatable by activating the trigger, so that the internal component is primed to reconfigure from the retracted configuration to the deployed position upon decoupling of the first and second portions.
US08992281B2
A toy figure display stand displays a toy figure behind a transparent fluid-retaining wall, thus simulating immersion of the toy figure within the transparent fluid. The simulated immersion provides an additional level of engagement between the toy figure and a child or collector. The wall may include an interior transparent shell portion and an exterior transparent shell portion. The interior transparent shell portion and the exterior transparent shell portion may together define a cavity. A fluid may be received within the cavity.
US08992262B2
An electrical connector has a housing receiving one or more series of electrical contacts. Each series of electrical contacts has a plurality of ground contacts and a plurality of signal contacts. The signal contacts are positioned in between the ground contacts, and the plurality of ground contacts are integrally connected to each other by a bus bar within the housing.
US08992256B2
An electrical connector adapter includes an electrical insulating terminal holder including a holder body defining a plurality of elongated openings and an abutment surface, a front extension and a front tongue, a conducting terminal set including conducting terminals suspending in the elongated openings, transmission terminals supported on the abutment surface, signal terminals formed integral with the transmission terminals and suspending in the front extension and mating terminals formed integral with the conducting terminals and suspending in the front tongue, and an EMI shielding shell including a main shell part surrounding the holder body, a first sub shell part surrounding the front extension and a second sub shell part surrounding the front tongue. Thus, the electrical connector adapter saves much installation space, facilitates convenient use without causing interference, and provides a wide range of applications.
US08992255B2
A connector receptacle includes an insulation body defining a plurality of terminal slots formed thereon, multiple terminals securely received in the plurality of terminal slots of the insulation body and a metal shell which covers the insulation body and includes an upper metal shell and a lower metal shell wherein the lower metal shell is connected to the upper metal shell via a connection portion which is formed on corresponding sides of the upper metal shell and of the lower metal shell.
US08992254B2
A connector includes a housing positioned in a cage. A vertical wall is positioned around the housing and is soldered to a printed circuit board that is supporting the connector. The vertical wall includes a plurality of fingers that are configured to engage the cage. The fingers are positioned at intervals such that the distance between the fingers acts to control the frequencies of EMI that emit from the connector.
US08992253B2
Electrical connector including a conductor pair having first and second signal conductors extending through the connector body along respective paths between the mating and mounting sides. The first signal conductor has a height and a thickness taken transverse to a direction of the respective path and includes a flag segment and a base segment. The height of the first signal conductor along the flag segment is greater than the height of the first signal conductor along the base segment. The electrical connector also includes a dielectric body extending between the mating and mounting sides and surrounding the conductor pair. The dielectric body has a signal-control trench that extends along and exposes the flag segment to an air dielectric. The signal-control trench has a height that is measured along the height of the flag segment. The height of the signal-control trench is less than the height of the flag segment.
US08992251B2
An electrical splice assembly includes a housing having a forward portion, a rearward portion, and an intermediate portion defining a plurality of terminal retention cavities between the forward portion and the rearward portion. A conductive bus plate is retained within the forward portion of the housing. A plurality of terminals each extend into a respective terminal retention cavity and each terminal is in electrical contact with the bus plate. Each of the terminal retention cavities is defined by 1) a pair of opposing sidewalls connected to the forward portion and to the rearward portion and 2) a pair of opposing retention beams. The retention beams each include a latch which engages a respective terminal to retain the terminals in the terminal retention cavities.
US08992245B2
A connector comprises a housing extending in a front-rear direction and a sealing member attached in the housing. The housing has a rear wall located at a rear end portion of the housing and an enclosed portion extending from the rear wall in the front-rear direction. When the housing is formed by a molding process, a metal mold is used to form a plurality of seal stoppers around the enclosed portion. Each of the seal stoppers protrudes from the enclosed portion in a direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction. The housing has a plurality of holes which are formed when the metal mold is removed from the housing. Each of the holes pierces the rear wall in the front-rear direction. The holes face the respective seal stoppers in the front-rear direction. The sealing member is attached to the enclosed portion so as to be located between the rear wall and the seal stoppers in the front-rear direction. The front sides of the holes are covered by the sealing member.
US08992244B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a terminal fitting with improved waterproof property. A terminal fitting (10) includes a box-shaped main portion (21), barrel portions (22, 23) to be crimped and connected to a core (91) at an end portion of a wire (90), a waterproof wall (60) to be mounted between the barrel portions (22, 23) and the main portion (21) to partition between them in a liquid-tight manner, a restricting portion (25) configured to restrict a movement of the waterproof wall (60) toward the main portion (21) by coming into contact with the waterproof wall (60) from the main portion (21) side and a heat shrinkable tube (70) to be held in close contact with the barrel portions (22, 23) and the waterproof wall (60) while surrounding the core (91).
US08992243B2
A connector for forming an electrical connection includes a connector body and an insulator disposed in the connector body. The insulator includes a plurality of female contacts and a plurality of passages. Each passage allows access to one of the female contacts and is at least partially defined by a plurality of inwardly projecting rings. The connector also includes a plug having a plurality of male contact male contacts complementary to the female contacts. Each male contact male contact has a tower shaped to sealingly seat within an associated passage in the insulator.
US08992235B2
A connection structure for a terminal fitting (20) includes the terminal fitting (20) with a pair of resilient deforming portions (22), a through hole (11) formed in a circuit board (10) as a connection target of the terminal fitting (20) and into which the pair of resilient deforming portions (22) are press-fitted while being resiliently displaced toward each other, and locking portions (28) which are formed by recessing outer edges (24) of the resilient deforming portions (22) and engaged with the inner peripheral surface of the through hole (11) when the resilient deforming portions (22) are press-fit in the through hole (11).
US08992231B2
Prostate phantom comprising an artificial prostate (1) and an artificial lesion arranged within the artificial prostate (1), wherein the artificial prostate (1) comprises: a first part (1a) mimicking a peripheral zone of a zonal anatomy of the prostate, the first part (1a) being made of a first artificial tissue and comprising a closed outer surface, at least a second part (1b) separate from the first part (1a) and mimicking at least a second zone of the zonal anatomy of the prostate, the second part (1b) being made of a second artificial tissue and comprising a closed outer surface, the first (1a) and second (1b) parts contacting each other along an interface mimicking a boundary between the peripheral zone and the second zone.
US08992229B2
A timed assessment and graded activity, allows professional staff, occupational therapist, school psychologist, physician (neurologist and pediatrician), and the like, to assess their patients in various areas. The assessment and graded activity can be used for motor skills, including fine-gross motor coordination and hand speed. The assessment and graded activity can also be used for assessing vision, including color, eye-hand coordination, crossing midline, left or right side neglect, and eye movements, crossing midline and left-right side neglect. Furthermore, the assessment and graded activity can be used for determining cognitive skills, including processing, concentration, attention deficit, problem solving, and ability to follow instructions. The 21-piece challenge as an assessment and graded activity designed to use a set of wooden dowels with its respective board. The 21 pieces of wood dowels contains five pieces of a first color, four pieces of three other colors, and two pieces of two other colors.
US08992218B2
A prophy angle is provided that includes a housing with a prophy cup at the distal end, a first drive mechanism positioned within the housing and including a drive shaft for delivering mechanical energy to the prophy cup, a chamber enclosed within the housing to store paste in a controlled releasable manner, and an independent second drive mechanism within the housing to control the delivery of paste from the chamber to the prophy cup in a manner to reduce friction in paste delivery and to avoid contact of the paste with the first drive mechanism and its associated gears.
US08992215B2
An orthodontic appliance is automatically designed and manufactured from digital lower jaw and tooth shape data of a patient. A computer calculates the post-treatment positions of the teeth and produces three-dimensional images of the teeth, individually and in their calculated positions. The appliance is automatically designed according to the final design, which also can be interactively modified and approved by the orthodontist, with the computer recalculating the effects on the treatment as a result of the doctor's changes. Brackets are fabricated as an integrated set, either by cutting slots therein or by building the brackets in layers by, for example, stereo lithography. Three-dimensional custom jigs are automatically made to exactly position the brackets on a patient's teeth.
US08992210B2
A burner for diluted combustion includes a fuel nozzle for supplying fuel to a combustion chamber, at least one air nozzle for supplying air to the combustion chamber, and at least one oxygen nozzle for supplying oxygen to the combustion chamber. The air nozzle and oxygen nozzle are spatially separated from each other.
US08992207B2
A tool for curing a composite layup comprises a tool body having a surface adapted to support a composite layup thereon. The tool includes an integrated breather for allowing removal of air from the layup during curing.
US08992206B2
An imprint apparatus which brings a resin on a substrate into contact with a pattern surface of a mold and cures the resin, includes a substrate holder which holds the substrate, a mold holder which holds the mold with a mold holding surface, a driving mechanism which moves the substrate holder relative to the mold holder, and a controller which controls the driving mechanism such that the substrate holder moves relative to the mold holder while the substrate holder holds a cleaning member instead of the substrate, and the cleaning member is in contact with the mold holding surface, thereby cleaning the mold holding surface.
US08992203B2
A formliner, sheet, system, and methods of use and manufacture are provided in order to provide a product that can minimize and/or eliminate visible seaming between interconnected formliners during fabrication of a pattern on a curable material. In some embodiments, the formliner can comprise raised sections that define interrelated inner and outer dimensions. Thus, a plurality of formliners can be interconnected by overlaying raised sections thereof. Further, the formliner can comprise one or more detents and one or more protrusions to enable engagement between interconnected formliners without requiring adhesives. In this manner, formliners can be interconnected in a nested manner such that visible seaming between the interconnected formliners is reduced and/or eliminated.
US08992184B2
A lubricant pump system may include a lubricant pump controlled by a proportional valve. An actuating unit may be disposed in the lubricant pump and configured to control a delivery output of the lubricant pump. A first pressure chamber and at least one second pressure chamber may be configured to adjust the actuating unit against a spring, wherein the second pressure chamber is smaller than the first pressure chamber. In response to a failure of the proportional valve, the lubricant pump may be exclusively pressurized via the at least one second pressure chamber.
US08992182B2
Times of at least one of on cycles and off cycles of a pump operating in one of a sub-pump mode and a continuous pumping mode are monitored. A determination is made as to whether to switch the pump from the one of the sub-pump mode and the continuous pumping mode to the other of the sub-pump mode and the continuous pumping mode based upon the monitored times of the at least one of the on cycles and the off cycles of the pump. The pump is switched to the other of the sub-pump mode and the continuous pumping mode in response to determining to switch the pump from the one of the sub-pump mode and the continuous pumping mode to the other of the sub-pump mode and the continuous pumping mode.
US08992181B2
A wind turbine blade includes a multilayer composite structure including a first reflective layer, and a second layer including a plurality of resistive circuit analog (CA) elements. The CA elements are tuned so as to interact with the first layer to provide absorption of electromagnetic (EM) energy over a desired frequency range. The parameters of the CA elements can be varied to provide for frequency tuning and to maintain absorption at a specific frequency range despite varying layer separation, while at the same time ensuring that the mechanical properties of the CA layer are compatible with integration into the turbine blade.
US08992180B2
A rotor assembly. The rotor assembly may include a rotor, at least one axial slot positioned about the rim of the rotor having a first staking recess positioned therein, a blade positioned within each of the axial slots having a second staking recess positioned therein, a staking insert having a base portion and a projection extending therefrom with the base portion being disposed within the first staking recess and the projection being disposed within the second staking recess, and a shim positioned within the first staking recess adjacent to the base portion, opposite the projection, of the staking insert. The first staking recess retains the staking insert while the projection of the staking insert retains the blade in both the aft and forward directions.
US08992179B2
A turbomachine is provided and includes first and second endwalls disposed to define a pathway, each of the first and second endwalls including a surface facing the pathway and first and second blades extendible across the pathway from at least one of the first and second endwalls, each of the first and second blades having an airfoil shape and being disposed such that a pressure side of the first blade faces a suction side of the second blade. A portion of the surface of at least one of the first and second endwalls between the first and second blades has at least a first hump proximate to a leading edge and the pressure side of the first blade, and a second hump disposed at 10-60% of a chord length of the first blade and proximate to the pressure side thereof.
US08992178B2
In order to increase safety, flexibility and simplicity when handling a wind turbine nacelle compared to known solutions and devices, there is disclosed a wind turbine nacelle including a supporting structure, a nacelle housing and a plurality of handling devices to be used when handling the wind turbine nacelle. The four handling devices are connected to the supporting structure, and each of the handling devices includes an integrated moveable part. The integrated moveable part is moveable between a first position and a second position, and the integrated moveable part is inside or is flush with the nacelle housing in the first position and is extending out of the nacelle housing in the second position.
US08992174B2
A fan assembly includes a channel structure and a centrifugal fan. The channel structure includes a housing and at least a slit. The housing has an accommodating space and a flow channel adjacent to each other. The slit is extended along the flow channel. The flow channel is communicated with the outside of the housing via the slit. The centrifugal fan is disposed in the accommodating space. The centrifugal fan draws air along an axial direction and generates an airflow. The airflow flows into the flow channel along a radial direction, and flows out to the outside of the housing via the slit.
US08992173B2
A tie-rod nut includes a nut base that extends between a first nut end and a second nut end, and a nut flange that extends radially outwards from the nut base at the first nut end. The nut base includes a nut bore with a threaded bore region that extends axially from the second nut end towards the first nut end. The nut flange includes a plurality of mounting apertures that are arranged circumferentially around the nut base. The nut flange may be connected to a substrate by a fastener that extends through a first one of the plurality of mounting apertures.
US08992169B2
The present invention creates a layer system for the rotor/stator seal of a turbomachine, in particular a compressor, which is disposed between components of the turbomachine and can be run in with a movement of the components relative to one another, in such a way that at least one of the components is run into the layer system, having: a first adhesive layer disposed on at least one of the components; a protective layer disposed on the first adhesive layer; a second adhesive layer disposed on the protective layer; and a running-in layer, which is formed softer than the protective layer and which is disposed on the second adhesive layer. The present invention further provides a method for producing a layer system for the rotor/stator seal of a turbomachine, as well as a turbomachine.
US08992163B2
An impeller includes a hub, and a plurality of blades supported by the hub, the blades being arranged in at least two blade rows. The impeller has a deployed configuration in which the blades extend away from the hub, and a stored configuration in which at least one of the blades is radially compressed, for example by folding the blade towards the hub. The impeller may also have an operational configuration in which at least some of the blades are deformed from the deployed configuration upon rotation of the impeller when in the deployed configuration. The outer edge of one or more blades may have a winglet, and the base of the blades may have an associated indentation to facilitate folding of the blades.
US08992148B2
A self-locking connector system has a connector member having an external thread and an axially extending keyway, and a connecting interface at a distal end. A connector body has a distal end with a connecting interface that mates with the connecting interface of the connector member. An internally threaded nut is captive on the distal end of the connector body encircling the connecting interface and is configured to screw onto the externally threaded connector member. A locking collar is dimensioned to encircle the externally threaded connector member, has at least one key dimensioned to engage in the keyway, and is movable axially on the nut between a first position in which the nut is rotatable relative to the collar and a second position in which the nut is not rotatable relative to the collar.
US08992146B2
A cargo securing device for use in carrying cargo in pickup trucks and the like. The cargo securing device is formed of a flexible panel having straps on opposed sides which extend across the panel to attachment devices such as rings. The flexible panel may include apertures with removable covers to permit the ends of long devices to extend through and to be held from movement sideways.
US08992145B1
A key duplication system comprising a key duplication housing wherein at least one key receiving aperture on a first side of the housing sized to receive a key blade and at least one key clamp adjacent to the at least one key receiving aperture, the clamp comprising a first clamp arm with a surface topography corresponding to a first key blade surface topography and a second clamp arm with a surface topography corresponding to a second key blade different from the first key blade.
US08992143B2
The invention relates to a modular drill including a shank part with an end side. A cutting part can be connected to the shank part at its end side. The shank part has at least one torque transmission element which projects on the end side and has at least one torque transmission face for transmitting a torque in the rotational direction from the shank part to the cutting part. The cutting part has at least one torque receiving region for receiving the torque. The at least one torque receiving region has at least one torque receiving face which corresponds with the torque transmission face. The cutting part has at least one centering element for radially centering the cutting part in relation to the shank part. The cutting part is clamped to the shank part via a clamping element which acts at least predominantly in the axial direction.
US08992142B2
A cutting tool has a tool shank and a replaceable cutting head resiliently secured to the tool shank by an interference fit between a male fixation member of the cutting head and a female fixation member of the tool shank. The male fixation member has a resilience slit. In each cross section of the cutting tool taken perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the cutting tool through mutual abutment regions, the cross sectional profiles of the mutual abutment regions are arcuate sectors.
US08992140B2
The present invention relates to a hole-saw assembly (10) including a hole saw (26) having at one end a plurality of cutting teeth and at the other end two shafts. The assembly includes a mandrel (16) coaxially aligned with said hole-saw and including a body having two bores there through coaxially aligned with said shafts. An annulus (20) located on top of the body is coaxially aligned with said mandrel and hole saw and includes two holes, the annulus rotatable around its longitudinal axis from a first to a second position. In the first position the annulus holes are aligned with the bores and shafts allowing the shafts to be freely insertable and removable and in the second position the holes are misaligned to lock the shafts to the annulus. The mandrel further includes a pair of driving pins (22) adapted to engage driving apertures (24) found in hole saws especially larger ones. Typically the driving pins may biased to enable the assembly to be used even with those hole saws that do not include driving apertures and that also enables easier assembly of the device. A compressible O-ring (42) may further facilitate the operation of the assembly. This device avoids the problem of thread stripping.
US08992109B2
A butt-welded joint of a welded structure which includes a pair of target metals; a weld bead formed by irradiating a high-energy density beam to a butt portion between the pair of the target metals and has a width W on the irradiated side surface; and a pair of altered zones consisting of heat-affected zones formed by irradiating another high-energy density beam to both sides of the center of the weld bead in the weld bead width direction such that the pair of the altered zones are located on respective sides of the center of the weld bead and each has a band shape extending in the weld bead length direction and a method for manufacturing the butt-welded joint of the welded structure.
US08992108B2
A self-driven articulation designed for automatically deploying the elements that it connects including two articulation fittings made to rotate under the action of at least one passive drive element. The articulation includes at least one flexible duct for regulating the speed at which it deploys.
US08992105B2
Systems and methods are provided for generating customized labels having electronic circuitry such as RFID circuitry. A printing system generates the label by selectively transfer printing elements (e.g., electronic circuitry, physical components, etc.) and donor layers (e.g., conductive materials, non-conductive materials, etc.) from a ribbon to a receiver (e.g., an item that receives the indicia). In addition, the printing system can program and test the label or indicia thereof, thereby providing the ability to customize each label according to predetermined criteria and to ensure that each label functions properly.
US08992099B2
Optical interface cards, assemblies, and related methods, which may be suited for installation and use in antenna system equipment, are disclosed. In certain embodiments, an optical interface card (OIC) comprising a printed circuit board (PCB) having at least one optical sub-assembly (OSA) mounted to at least one first opening end of the PCB and extending into at least one opening and related methods are disclosed. In other embodiments, optical interface assemblies comprised of two OICs mounted together are disclosed. In other embodiments, a communications equipment enclosure including at least one fan configured to draw in air from a first side of the communications equipment enclosure into a lower plenum and across a plurality of communications components into an upper plenum to provide air cooling are disclosed. In another embodiment, a modular distributed antenna system assembly is disclosed.
US08992093B2
A wheel bearing for aircraft, that has a long service life and is reliable. The wheel bearing has a small number of individual parts and components that are simple to handle, to mount or to dismount. The wheel bearing of an aircraft landing gear has a wheel rim that is rotationally mounted about an axis over two roller bearings of a bearing arrangement. The external rings of the roller bearings are received together in a single-piece external ring bearing housing. The wheel rim can be detachably connected to the bearing arrangement in such a manner that it can be mounted or dismounted independently from the bearing arrangement.
US08992091B2
A bearing seal, which has a rubber body impregnated with an electrically conductive material such as graphite. A level of conductivity of the bearing seal depends upon an amount of graphite integrated into the rubber body. A bearing is also disclosed, which includes at least one closure element, such as a seal, arranged between an outer and inner ring of the bearing that is impregnated with an electrically conductive material, such as graphite, to create a conductive pathway for an electrical current to circumvent the rolling elements of the bearing. The closure element aids in ensuring electric current is kept away from the rolling elements by diverting electric current from the outer ring to the inner ring of the bearing.
US08992089B2
A bearing for retro-fit or repair of an engine provides high reliability through a sleeved bearing design having externally-supplied lubrication. The bearing assembly may be supplied as a kit including a lubrication delivery tube and an oil filter adapter having a port for supplying the external lubrication to a mounting flange of the bearing. In order to install the bearing a captive sleeve is inserted in a hollow end of the shaft being supported. A cap having a threaded stud is inserted with the sleeve into the hollow end of the shaft and secured by the required snap ring. Then a nut is used to secure the cap and the sleeve to a stud affixed to the mounting flange that secures the bearing assembly to the engine.
US08992084B2
Provided are pouches with rigid handles and/or internal supports and methods of making such pouches. In one aspect, a pouch with internal support includes a flexible pouch including a fitment coupled to a flexible pouch body and at least one inner support piece coupled to the fitment and extending into the inside of the pouch through the interior of the fitment. The fitment includes a fitment inner engagement feature and the at least one inner support piece includes an inner support engagement feature and at least one inner support extending from the inner support engagement feature. The fitment inner engagement feature and inner support engagement feature are interlocked to keep the at least one inner support piece from falling into or out of the flexible pouch body.
US08992079B2
A temperature measurement apparatus for estimating a temperature profile in a process container, includes a radiation temperature measurement unit configured to measure the temperature of plural temperature measurement areas at a surface of the rotating table in a radius direction of the rotating table by scanning the surface of the rotating table in the radius direction; an operation control unit that controls to start heating of the process container by a heater while keeping the rotating table immobilized, and controls to repeat a scanning operation, in which the radiation temperature measurement unit scans the surface of the rotating table in the radius direction to obtain the temperature of the plural temperature measurement areas while the rotating table is rotated in a circumferential direction of the rotating table, after a predetermined period has passed from starting the heating of the process container.
US08992076B2
A dilatometer for measuring metallic samples. The dilatometer includes a sample holder configured to receive and clamp a sample, an induction coil arranged on the sample, the induction coil configured to heat the sample, and a sensor for measuring the temperature of the sample.
US08992070B2
An improved method and apparatus for blending process materials. Preferred embodiments of the present invention are directed to a process material contacting system to increase wetted surface area for liquid contact as well as increase forced convective mixing efficiency of the liquid mixture. Use of a novel process material contacting apparatus allows one solid feeding element to serve multiple process material tanks, thus reducing overall system costs and decreasing set-up time/process variability while increasing operational efficiency. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, rather than adding a process material to a volume of liquid held in a blending tank, the added process material is remotely blended with the liquid outside the process material tank.
US08992054B1
A lampshade is provided with a longitudinal slit to receive a lampshade cover. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the lampshade includes an external surface and an internal surface. At least one fastener is affixed to an internal surface of the lampshade. The lampshade also includes at least one longitudinal slit on its outer surface. The longitudinal slit is configured to receive both ends of at least one lampshade cover. The lampshade cover includes decoration on an external surface. At least one fastener is affixed to an internal surface of the cover. A further embodiment of the present invention utilizes a method of applying a lampshade cover to a lampshade.
US08992050B1
In some examples, a projection display surface is configured to reflect a first image or image portion in a first direction and a second image or image portion in a second direction. In some cases, first light corresponding to the first image is projected onto a display surface that includes a first plurality of reflectors configured to reflect the first light in a first direction, but not reflect second light corresponding to the second image. The display surface may further include a second plurality of reflectors to reflect the second light in a second direction, but not reflect the first light. In some examples, the first light is within a first wavelength range and the second light is within a second, different wavelength range. In other examples, the first light has a first polarization and the second light has a second, different polarization.
US08992040B2
A method for modifying a beacon obstruction lighting system to replace the incandescent lamp with an LED lamp. The LED lamp includes a heat sink and is installed to be at the same location as the incandescent lamp.
US08992039B2
In a lighting apparatus comprising a light source housing is pivoted on a clip that can attach alternatively to a head strap adapter or to an adapter secured to a night vision goggle mounting plate. The clip includes a horizontal member having a bracket on the light source housing is rotatable, a pair of spaced, upwardly extending, tabs, and a vertical member extending upward from a location between the tabs. The upwardly extending tabs enter slots on the bottom of the adapter or mounting base, and a rib on the top of the adapter or mounting base is received by a snap fit in a downwardly facing slot on a horizontal part at the upper end of the vertical member of the clip.
US08992032B2
A Newtonian telescope secondary mirror mount which includes means for attaching a Newtonian telescope secondary mirror to the secondary mirror mount. The attachment means will define a secondary mirror plane. The mount also includes first and second means for adjusting the angular alignment of the secondary mirror plane. The first adjustment means defines a first adjustment axis and the second adjustment means defines a second adjustment axis. In all embodiments both the first and second axes of angular orientation adjustment are substantially parallel to the secondary mirror plane. Methods of adjusting the angular alignment of a Newtonian telescope secondary mirror are also disclosed.
US08992031B2
An imaging apparatus includes: a display module; a dust-proof plate arranged on an observer side of the display module and configured to substantially seal a surface of the display module; an eyepiece lens arranged on the observer side of the dust-proof plate and movable in an optical axis direction; and a cover member retaining the dust-proof plate and the eyepiece lens, wherein the cover member has an opening for removing foreign matter adhering to the surface of the dust-proof plate opposed to the eyepiece lens and to the surface of the eyepiece lens opposed to the dust-proof plate.
US08992030B2
An image projection apparatus includes a light source, light from which is used to form an image to be projected, a first flow path, a control unit configured to control a light emission from the light source, an electrical power stabilizing unit configured to stabilize an electrical power to be supplied to the light source, and an electrical power source unit configured to supply the electrical power to at least one of the control unit and the electrical power stabilizing unit. One or both of the electrical power source unit and the electrical power stabilizing unit is/are divided into a plurality of boards. The light source is arranged on a normal line of a surface of any of the plurality of boards. The plurality of boards configure surfaces of the first flow path except a surface nearest to the light source.
US08992028B2
A projection system (900) includes a scanner (802) and light source (801). The scanner (802) is configured to crate a scan cone (994) for forming images (995). A principal beam (992) defines a traveling direction of the scan cone (994). An optical device (880) having decentered, free-form major faces is disposed at an output of the projection system (900) such that the scan cone (994) passes through the optical device (880). The optical device (880) is configured to redirect the principal beam (992), and accordingly the traveling direction of the scan cone (994), by a predetermined amount and to correct both anamorphic distortion and vertical smile distortion initially present in the image.
US08992023B2
Improved indices for the diagnosis and evaluation of conditions affecting the eye. Specifically, the indices include an Enhanced Epithelial Irregularity Factor (eEIF) for the diagnosis and evaluation of conditions such as dry eye syndrome (DES), Bowman's Ectasia Index (BEI), including enhanced BEI (eBEI) and BEI-Max, and Bowman's Relative Thinning (BRT) Index for the diagnosis and evaluation of ectatic conditions such as keratoconus, pellucid marginal degeneration, post-refractive surgery ectasia, and keratoglobus, and Descemet's Membrane Thickening Index (DMT), Descemet's Rejection Index (DRI), and Descemet's Membrane Irregularity Factor (DIF) for the diagnosis and evaluation of conditions such as keratoplasty rejection and failure and Fuchs' dystrophy. These improved indices may be incorporated into optical coherence tomography systems, or any other imaging device capable of capturing high resolution images of the cornea, for more sensitive and specific diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of certain corneal conditions, in addition to the evaluation of new treatments.
US08992004B2
A system and method for printing on a continuous web of imaging material in an inkjet printing machine having a turnbar reverser to reverse the direction of the web for duplex printing. The turnbar reverser includes at least one turnbar having a predetermined pattern of apertures formed in a surface of the turnbar. The optimized apertures direct a flow of air provided by a blower to provide an air flow to float the web above the surface of the turnbar, allow for higher operating tensions, and reduce acoustic noise generation.
US08992001B2
Problems related to being unable to convey recording paper in a printer due to the tension guide that guides the recording paper while tensioning the paper are eliminated. A removable guide 40 can be removably installed to the tension guide 26 of the printer 1. The removable guide 40 has a second guide surface that is defined by a pair of rollers 45, 46. When printing on recording paper 25A that has a high friction coefficient for making wrist bands, the removable guide 40 is installed to the tension guide 26, the recording paper 25A is passed over the rollers 45, 46, and the recording paper 25A is guided to the paper feed roller 30 while tension is maintained. The recording paper 25A can be reliably conveyed because the paper feed load of the removable guide 40 pressed to the recording paper 25A by the tension guide 26 is small.
US08991995B2
An active-energy-ray-curable inkjet recording ink composition is provided, in which a polymerizable compound having an active-energy-ray-polymerizable group and a polymerizable compound having at least two active-energy-ray-polymerizable groups are used in amounts of 60 to 95 mass % and 5 to 40 mass % relative to the total amount of the active-energy-ray-polymerizable compound, respectively; the polymerizable compound having an active-energy-ray-polymerizable group includes N-vinyl-2-caprolactam and isobornyl acrylate in amounts of 1 to 15 mass % and 1 to 25 mass % relative to the total amount of the active-energy-ray-polymerizable compound, respectively; and the polymerizable compound having at least two active-energy-ray-polymerizable groups includes a polymerizable compound having a vinyl ether group. Furthermore, a method for forming an image is provided.
US08991990B2
A liquid cartridge includes: a cartridge body defining a liquid chamber therein; a liquid supply portion provided at the cartridge body; an air flow path provided in the cartridge body; and a valve configured to open and close the air flow path. The air flow path is in communication with the liquid chamber through a communication hole and in communication with ambient air to permit communication between the liquid chamber and ambient air through the air flow path. The valve includes: a slidable valve main body disposed in an internal space defined by an inner peripheral wall of the air flow path; and a sealing member provided on the valve main body, the sealing member including a first elastic portion configured to seal the communication hole and a second elastic portion configured to be in contact with and in sliding contact with the inner peripheral wall.
US08991989B2
There is provided an ink cartridge including a body, a particular interface and an engagement portion. The body has a front side at which an ink supply portion is located for supplying ink stored in an ink chamber to an exterior of the ink chamber, and a rear side located to face the front side. The particular interface is positioned substantially adjacent to the ink supply portion at the front side, wherein the particular interface is configured to be biased by a biasing member in a specific direction. The engagement portion is configured to be engaged with a locking section of a cartridge installation portion for retaining the body in an installed state.
US08991987B2
A printer includes: a fluid ejecting head provided with multiple nozzles that eject ink; an ink supply tube that supplies the ink to the fluid ejecting head; and a pressure application mechanism that pressurizes the ink to swell from the nozzles by pressurizing the ink within the ink supply tube and then depressurizes the interior of the ink supply tube while the ink is swelling from the nozzles.
US08991980B2
An ink jet print head is configured to reduce the inclination of an ink ejection direction to make improper print conditions such as stripes and density unevenness unnoticeable. An individual wire is extended to lie under a common wire. Thus, wires under ink channels arranged on the respective opposite sides of a pressure chamber are symmetric. Consequently, an equivalent step structure is provided at the bottoms of the ink channels arranged on the respective opposite sides of the pressure chamber.
US08991975B2
A liquid ejection head includes a substrate having a supply port that is a through-hole for supplying liquid; an energy generating element for generating energy to be used for ejecting the liquid; a first film that covers the energy generating element; a second film formed on the first film; and a flow path forming member bonded to the substrate, for forming a flow path for supplying the liquid supplied from the supply port to an ejection orifice. When viewed from a direction perpendicular to the substrate, an end portion of the first film extends inwardly from an opening edge of the supply port, and an end portion of the second film is located between the opening edge of the supply port and the end portion of the first film.
US08991971B2
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a housing and a movement region of a carriage including a liquid ejecting head, an ink tank positioned at the outer side of the movement region of the carriage, an ink supply tubes connecting the ink tank and an adapter on the carriage, and a fixing portion fixing a portion of the ink supply tubes. In the housing, a containing unit of a sheet feeding cassette is formed to project to a discharge direction of a sheet and an operation panel unit is configured to have a housing portion having an inclined surface whose lower side further projects to the discharge direction than the upper side. The ink supply tubes have a deformable moving unit performing a movement of the carriage on a portion of a liquid ejecting head side rather than a fixing portion using a fixing tool.
US08991970B2
A printing device or discharge test device comprising a head that includes a nozzle discharging liquid to a medium, a temperature obtaining section that obtains a temperature related to the head, a missing-dot detecting section that detects whether or not the liquid is discharged from the nozzle, and a control section that controls the head and the missing-dot detecting section. When the temperature obtained is within a first temperature range, the head is configured to discharge the liquid to the medium and whether or not the liquid is discharged from the nozzle is detected. No such detection is made at other temperatures. When the temperature obtained is outside the first temperature range and within a second temperature range, the head is configured to discharge the liquid to the medium, and when the temperature obtained is outside the second temperature range, the liquid is not discharged to the medium.
US08991968B2
A duplex printer system includes a double-sided label web and a duplex printer operable to print both sides of the label web. The label includes exposed adhesive on a first side thereof. The duplex printer includes a printer frame and first and second print heads arranged to print respective sides of the label web. The first print head is shiftably mounted relative to the printer frame for movement into and out of a printing position, in which the first print head is operable to print within a printable region of the first side. The first print head is selectively shifted out of the printing position so as to avoid contact with exposed adhesive during label web advancement. The first print head includes a printer interface positioned in printing engagement with the label web when the first print head is shifted to the printing position. The printer interface is spaced from a first adhesive side area and is thereby prevented from engaging the exposed adhesive applied thereto when the first print head is shifted to the printing position.
US08991963B2
There is provided a liquid discharging apparatus including: a first nozzle row and a second nozzle row in which nozzles for discharging liquid are lined up, and the second nozzle row is disposed by forming an overlapped region in which an end portion of one side in a predetermined direction is overlapped with an end portion of the other side in the predetermined direction of the first nozzle row; and a control unit which discharges liquid from the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row depending on input data of an image and a recording duty for discharging liquid, increases a recording duty in the overlapped region with respect to a recording duty in a non-overlapped region which is a region other than the overlapped region, and differentiates increased amounts of the recording duty in the overlapped region from each other depending on the input data.
US08991950B2
An apparatus for removing a modular electronic device from a chassis and a method for assembling thereof are provided. The apparatus for removing the modular electronic device from the chassis includes a door pivotally coupled to the chassis, a sliding element in slidable engagement with the door, an ejection actuator including a spring member connected to the ejection actuator and to the rear of the chassis, and a linkage element connecting the sliding element with the ejection actuator. Additionally, the apparatus for removing the modular electronic device from the chassis includes a guide rail disposed in the chassis enclosure to guide the modular electronic device and to guide the ejection actuator along the chassis enclosure.
US08991941B2
A vehicle brake apparatus in which a self-locked state of a cut-off valve is quickly relieved if the valve becomes stuck in the self-locked state. The vehicle brake apparatus comprises a master cylinder to have wheel cylinders generate a braking force, master cut-off valves of a normally open type, a slave cylinder electrically driven to apply a braking force to the wheel cylinders. The apparatus also includes pressure sensors for detecting brake fluid pressures generated by the master cylinder and the slave cylinder, and out-valves through which the brake fluid pressure on the wheel cylinders is reduced. If the brake fluid pressure corresponding to a depressing stroke of a brake pedal becomes higher than a valve openable pressure on the master cut-off valves while the brake pedal is being operated, the brake fluid pressure on the wheel cylinders is reduced through the out-valves.
US08991935B2
A child safety seat utilizes a compression-type resilient shock absorber in which a soft-material resilient member serves to dampen shocks applied to the seat's harness assembly by undergoing compressive deformation in a way that prevents the harness safety belts from experiencing a “hard stop”. The resilient member (e.g., a foam rubber block, a gel-like substance, or a fluid-filled bladder) is disposed such that one portion is held against a rigid support (e.g., the backside surface of the seat's shell), and a second portion is operably coupled to a fixed end of a safety belt. The resilient shock absorber is oriented such that tension applied to the safety belt pulls the two end portions of the resilient member toward each other and against the rigid support, thereby causing the resilient member to compressively deform against the rigid support.
US08991922B2
A lumbar support for a chair includes a member having a first portion separated from a second portion via a slit formed in the member and a slider mechanism. The slider mechanism has a slider that is moveable from a first position to a second position. The first and second portions of the member are attached to each other when the slider is at the second position via the slider. The first and second portions of the member are unattached at the second position when the slider is moved from the second position to the first position.
US08991921B2
A seating unit having a seat assembly and an adjustment assembly coupled to the seat assembly is provided, where the adjustment assembly includes a single drive mechanism for translating the seat assembly from a first position to a second position and expanding the seat assembly from a first configuration to a second configuration.
US08991917B2
A method and a structure of electrically connecting a conductive fiber in fabric to an external device electrically connects the conductive fiber to the external device by pressing a conductive member that is electrically connected to the external device against the fabric.
US08991914B2
The present invention relates generally to a device for providing a changing room and/or bathroom space on a watercraft. More specifically, a lounge chair is configured to open either manually or with aid of gas or air shocks in certain embodiments to reveal a changing room and/or bathroom space. On opening, a header bracket is released and deployed, in certain embodiments with aid of gas or air shocks, whereby the privacy curtain's substantially opaque and lightweight fabric is deployed around the revealed space.
US08991912B2
A drive mechanism comprising a guide channel and a cooperating slide shoe the which guide channel comprises a first part extending in a substantially horizontal direction configured to move the shoe on a first level and a second part extending downwardly relative to said substantially horizontal direction configured to move the shoe to a lower second level an elongate drive member is attached to the shoe and extends along the channel, substantially in parallel to the first part of the channel. At least one portion of the shoe moves relative to the remainder of the shoe so as not to interfere with the drive member when the shoe is positioned at the lower second level. The drive member is located within the vertical projection at a level above the level assumed by the lowermost part of the slide shoe when the slide shoe is positioned at the lower second level.
US08991908B2
A vehicle hood structure capable of both raising the energy absorbing ability when an impacting body has impacted a hood and enhancing deformation properties of the hood during a frontal collision. A framework formation section configuring a central region in a hood inner panel is provided with beads and indented portions formed to extend along the hood front-rear direction. Plural through holes are formed at a hood front-rear direction substantially central portion of the framework formation section in a row along the hood width direction. The through holes are formed in bottom portions of the indented portions. Beads are also formed in the two hood width direction edge portions in positions aligned with the hood front-rear direction positions of the through holes.
US08991896B1
A removable hard top system for a convertible sport utility vehicle is described. The system comprises an adapter kit which is installed onto a vehicle and which remains in place on a semi-permanent basis. The system further comprises a removable hard top assembly which disassembles into component parts that may be fully stored in the vehicle to allow the user to install the hard top assembly on the vehicle at a time and place either at or remote from the home base of the vehicle. The system is modular so that the user can customize the coverage desired.
US08991891B2
The invention relates to a device for covering a storage compartment (10), in particular a glove compartment in the interior of a motor vehicle, with a cover plate (22), the inner surface (30) of which in opened state forms a storage surface. The device is characterized in that the cover plate (22) is able to be moved from its closed position by means of at least one guide (40, 42) for the formation of the storage surface into a horizontal storage position or into a stowage position, wherein the storage compartment (10) is at least partly opened in the storage position and in the stowage position.
US08991888B2
A protective device is provided for a gripping device on a handling apparatus, e.g., a handling robot. The gripping device has gripping parts in the form of gripping fingers, which gripping parts are movable using a transmission mechanism. The gripping device has at least one overload safety device as the protective device which, in response to the exceeding of a certain force on the gripping device, has the effect of an evasion of the gripping device. The protective device responds exclusively in response to forces which occur from a direction and which act upon the gripping parts outside a direction of forces required for gripping objects.
US08991883B1
Disclosed is a connection fixture capable of attaching without the use of bolts to a substantially planar structure having a plurality of vertical holes therein to be lifted to facilitate the lifting thereof. In one embodiment, the connection fixture includes first and second bracket portions capable of interlocking with one another and securely holding the substantially planar structure. In the interlocked position, the connection fixture has a pair of generally C shaped lips which surround the edges of the substantially planar structure, a pin which engages a vertical hole in the substantially planar structure, and a pair of aligned transverse holes. A shackle can be secured through the aligned transverse holes in the connection fixture.
US08991870B2
A lubricating coating which can prevent the occurrence of galling even when makeup is carried out with a high torque and which has excellent rust preventing properties is formed on the contact surfaces of a pin and/or a box of a tubular threaded joint. The lubricating coating contains copolymer particles made from particles of an acrylic-silicone copolymer with an average particle diameter of 10-50 μm dispersed in a highly viscous matrix made from a mixture of a rosin-based substance selected from rosin and its derivatives, wax, a metal soap, and a basic metal salt of an aromatic organic acid (such as highly basic Ca sulfonate).
US08991858B2
A side airbag gas bag is provided for a motor vehicle, in particular a passenger car. The gas bag includes, but is not limited to an occupant region and a child seat region adjoining thereon, which with inflated gas bag optionally forms a recess for receiving a contour of a child seat or a volume for the lateral protection of an occupant.
US08991857B2
An airbag system (3) having a two-chamber airbag (4), wherein the main chamber has an impact surface (7) which the vehicle occupant can contact and a support surface (8) with the main chamber (5) supported on an interior fitting (2) of the vehicle. A secondary chamber (11) forms a support cushion for the main chamber (5), the main chamber (5) having a greater volume than the secondary chamber (11). The secondary chamber (11) is located between the support surface (8) and the interior fitting (2). The airbag (4) has an overflow protective element (24) between the main and secondary chambers (11). A first gas generator (16) inflates the main chamber (5) and a second gas generator (17) inflates the secondary chamber (11), wherein both generators (16, 17) or only the first generator (16) can be controlled for inflating the main chamber (5) as desired.
US08991854B2
A foldable frame for a stroller having front and rear legs with wheels disposed at the ends thereof and a handle support joined at a folding mechanism. The folding mechanism synchronizes motion of the front leg and handle to collapse them adjacent to the rear leg. The mechanism also actuates a swivel mechanism on a front wheel that swivels the front wheel to a predetermined position optimized to allow the stroller to be supported by the wheels when folded.
US08991848B2
In accordance with the present invention, an improved bicycle frame according to one embodiment of this invention has a top tube that allows the wheel base to lengthen by resiliently flexing or pivotally deflecting vertically while resisting torsional flex This feature is combined with a resilient, flexible, arcuate down tube extending between the bottom bracket of the bicycle and the bicycle head tube or the intermediate connection points The down tube has at least one arc and springs back to its original position from forces of tension as well as compression The combination of the two flexing members gives the bicycle a smoother ride and may also enhance the delivery of pedal” power to the rear wheel The down tube is replaceable in order to modify the flex characteristics of the frame and physical characteristics, such as head tube and seat tube angle, wheel base, and bottom bracket height.
US08991843B2
A materials handling vehicle is provided comprising a frame including an operator compartment having at least one entrance and a floorboard. The vehicle further comprises at least one step capable of being positioned across the entrance a spaced distance from the floorboard such that an operator may stand on the step when the step is positioned across the entrance to gain access to an elevated storage location.
US08991841B2
An air spring that can be used in an air suspension system includes a hollow piston, a hollow shaft and a body. The hollow piston has a hole through it. The hollow shaft has a shaft interior volume in communication with the hole in the piston. The body has a body interior volume in communication with the hole in the hollow piston. The hole in the hollow piston in communication with the shaft interior volume and the body interior volume provides a total interior volume. Wherein, the total interior volume is greater than the body interior volume thereby providing a linearized spring rate.
US08991838B2
A stroller frame with an automatic brake mechanism actuatable by hand detecting includes at least a first rear wheel, a first locking mechanism, a second rear wheel, a second locking mechanism, a battery and a hand-detecting handle. The hand-detecting handle is capable of detecting the caregiver's hand by a change of capacitance on its surface, generating a first control signal to a power supply circuit when the caregiver's hand is near, and generating a second control signal to the power supply circuit when the caregiver's hand is absent. The power supply circuit may provide currents in different direction to the first locking mechanism and the second locking mechanism according to the first control signal and the second control signal, so as to lock the rear wheels once the caregiver's hand has left the hand-detecting handle, and unlock the rear wheels when the caregiver's hand near the hand-detecting handle automatically.
US08991835B1
Lightweight inexpensive sleds, made of tough plastic or similar material, are disclosed for transporting injured people or inert loads. Tensile towing forces applied to a strap are distributed to avoid tearing the sled body.
US08991830B2
A heat-fusible gasket for affecting a flexible seal between two adjoining components of a coupling, such as the spigot end of a section of plastic pipe and a bell coupler to be fitted thereover. The gasket has an inner core which is constructed of an elastomeric material, and outer opposing sealing surfaces that are formed at least in part of a heat-fusible material that is compatible with the heat-fusible components with which the gasket is intended to engage. The gasket is co-extruded in continuous lengths with electrically conductive heat resistance wires embedded in the outer compatibly heat-fusible layers. For annular gaskets, the co-extruded lengths of gasket material may be cut and spliced into any desired diameter gasket. Upon connection to a power source, the gasket seal is perfected through electrofusion along the opposing sealing surfaces of the gasket, thereby providing enhanced sealing capability.
US08991823B2
An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment comprises a feed guide forming a feed path of a sheet and having an end portion movable between a closed position and an open position by rotating around a shaft, wherein the end portion is positioned above the shaft when the feed guide is in the open position, and the feed guide is configured to provide access for removal of a jammed sheet when in the open position. The image forming apparatus further comprises a holding unit configured to releasably hold the end portion of the feed guide in the open position.
US08991818B2
A sheet conveyor device includes a conveyor that conveys a sheet along a conveyance path in a conveying direction, a sheet stack portion that receives the sheet conveyed by the conveyor, and a conducting member. The conveyor includes an ejection roller that ejects the sheet to the sheet stack portion. The conducting member includes a contact portion, disposed along the conveyance path downstream of the ejection roller, which comes into contact with the sheet conveyed by the conveyor, and a discharge portion that discharges static electricity transferred to the contact portion by contact between the sheet and the contact portion.
US08991815B2
In one embodiment, a separating and taking out device has a feeding base, a takeout part, a support part and an ultrasonic vibrator. The feeding base places a piled stack. The piled stack is composed of a plurality of media stacked in a direction. The taking out part takes out the plurality of media one by one from one end in the direction of the piled stack. The support part has a facing surface opposing a side surface of the piled stack. The ultrasonic vibrator has a vibrating surface opposing the end in the direction of the piled stack and one end in the direction of the support part. The ultrasonic vibrator oscillates the vibrating surface along a line connecting the vibrating surface with a gap between the side surface of the piled stack and the facing surface of the support part.
US08991812B2
Methods, apparatuses, and systems that facilitate common feed path printing devices to discern between original media and blank media are described herein. The novel systems may include, among other things, a print and a scan mechanism having a common input path to receive a first and a second media, the first media being original media to be scanned by the scan mechanism, and the second media being blank media to be printed on by the print mechanism. The system may further include a divider and a first sensor. The divider being configured to provide to the common feed path the first and the second media by defining a first and a second input slot to locate the first and the second media, respectively, wherein the divider to provide the first and the second media to the common feed path via the first and second input slots. The first sensor may detect absence of the first media in the first input slot.
US08991811B1
An image recording device having a first housing, a second housing, and a support tray adjacent to a first side of the second housing and a first side of the first housing. The support tray is pivotably connected to the first housing and is movable between a third state and a fourth state and a retainer portion connecting the support tray to the second housing in a first state and a second state.
US08991807B2
Disclosed is an image forming system including: an image forming device to notify a downstream post-processing device of sheet information relating to a sheet on which an image is formed, before the sheet is discharged, and to notify the downstream post-processing device of set separation information indicating a final sheet of each set of document in synchronization with the sheet information relating to the final sheet of each set in case that a plurality of sets of document are printed, the image forming device being compliant with a first communication system; a post-processing device which is connected to a downstream of the image forming device and is compliant with a second communication system which is different from the first communication system; and the relay apparatus which is connected to the image forming device through the first communication system and is connected to the post-processing device through the second communication system.
US08991804B2
A method supports a tire building assembly. The method comprises the steps of: supporting one end portion of a radially collapsible building drum for assembling a green tire; moving the end portion in a first direction by an actuator acting in the first direction; and moving the end portion in a second direction by the actuator acting in the first direction.
US08991802B1
An apparatus for aligning barrier wall modules atop a retaining wall includes a flat base transversely disposed relative to a longitudinal axis of the retaining wall. The flat base is positioned between adjacent barrier wall modules disposed in end-to-end relation to one another atop the retaining wall. The flat base includes a central part, first and second flat arms and first and second elongate bolts secured to and extending from respective free ends of the first and second flat arms in opposite directions. First and second nuts screw-threadedly engage the first and second bolts. First and second housings slidingly ensleeve the first and second arms and the first and second bolts respectively. The first and second housings abut first and second sides of adjacent barrier modules when the first and second nuts are advanced and control positioning of the barrier modules atop the retaining wall.
US08991799B1
A shock absorbing assembly (10) has a front plate (12) and a rear plate (14) separated by spacers (16). The plates and the spacers each have holes (18A, 18B), the upper holes (18A) in the front plate preferably being threaded. Fasteners, such as but not limited to threaded rods (22A, 22B) and locknuts (24A, 24B), hold the spacers in position between the front plate and the rear plate. The threaded rods (22A) are screwed into the threaded holes in the front plate but do not protrude from the front face of the front plate. The threaded rods (22A) are secured by locknuts 24A on one end and the threaded rods (22B) are secured by locknuts 24B on both ends. The rear plate also has a pair of engagement plates (20) which position the assembly on the catwalk.
US08991796B2
An object is to provide a micro-bubble generator, etc., capable of efficiently generating bubbles having a particle size of a nanometer order. One aspect of the present invention is a micro-bubble generator provided with a swirl chamber, a fluid introduction opening connected to the swirl chamber, the fluid introduction opening for introducing fluid along a line tangent to an inner surface of the swirl chamber, and a discharge tube for guiding the fluid in the direction substantially perpendicular to the direction in which the fluid is introduced. The discharge tube penetrates a wall surface of the swirl chamber and protrudes to an interior of the swirl chamber. According to the present configuration, by isolating a path of the introduced fluid, a loss of kinetic energy of a swirl flow of the fluid can be reduced. Thus, the micro-bubble generator capable of reducing the size of the generated micro-bubbles can be obtained.
US08991780B2
A load carrier device is provided with a support structure and means arranged for connection to a lifting means. The support structure comprises one or more shock absorbers provided with a telescoping element which in an initial position projects downwards from an underside of the support structure and is arranged for damped compressive telescoping at the contact of the load carrier with a base.
US08991774B2
The present invention is directed towards a cable tie mount. The cable tie mount includes a body and a mount. The mount includes a top, a bottom, sides, and a channel therethrough. The body has a base member with a mounting hole and a receiving member with a locking hole. The receiving member extends at an angle from the base member. The mount is installed on the receiving member of the body such that the receiving member is positioned within the channel of the mount.
US08991770B2
A support assembly for a helicopter control stick is provided. The support assembly includes a supporting structure and an instrument panel fixed to each other; and a connecting assembly for connecting the stick to the supporting structure. The connecting assembly includes an arm elongated in a longitudinal direction and having one end supporting the stick; a guide for connecting the arm in longitudinally sliding manner to the supporting structure, to move the end to and from the supporting structure; and a rotary assembly for connecting the arm to the supporting structure in rotary manner about a horizontal axis, to adjust the height of the end. The rotary assembly has a first releasable retainer, wherein the first releasable retainer operates to lock rotation of the arm with respect to the supporting structure in a desired angular position.
US08991765B1
A method and apparatus for generating avoidance data. Strips are generated for a path of a space object. The strips are positioned relative to the path of the space object. The strips have parameters that obscure an identification of the path of the space object to form the avoidance data.
US08991757B2
A cabin structural segment is provided for an aircraft that includes, but is not limited to a fuselage structure and a floor structure. The fuselage structure defines an interior and separating it from an environment. The fuselage structure includes, but is not limited to an opening for a door. It is possible to provide via the opening a connection between the interior and the environment. The cabin structural segment is designed to be self-supporting. The cabin structural segment is fastenable exclusively to the floor structure. The cabin structural segment is constructed in such a way that the one cabin structural segment frames the opening.
US08991756B2
An aircraft crew rest station includes an overhead crew rest portion including a central deck portion, forward and aft bunk portions, and a central entry vestibule connected between a passenger seating area and the central deck portion. The forward and aft bunk portions include a plurality of adjacent partitioned individual sleeping berths configured in interfitting alternating trapezoid shapes to optimize spatial accommodation of body proportions of crew members in the available aircraft space. The central deck portion includes an emergency escape hatch, a fold-down jump seat, and a fold-down entry door that removably covers a stairway of the central entry vestibule.
US08991754B2
The invention relates to an anchoring harpoon intended in particular for an aircraft, capable of cooperating with an anchoring grate (2) of a platform, comprising jack means (3) including cylinder means (4) containing mobile piston means (5) provided with a rod (6) that extends beyond the cylinder means, the free end of which includes a harpoon head (7) that is hooked in the grate (2) and comprises retaining fingers (8, 13, 14) that can be moved between a retracted position and an active position by control means (9). The invention is characterised in that the cylinder means (4) include at least two telescopic cylinder portions (10, 11) which can move between a position in which one portion is retracted inside the other and an active position in which one portion projects out from the other.
US08991751B2
An aircraft for use in fixed wing flight mode and rotor flight mode is provided. The aircraft can include a fuselage, wings, and a plurality of engines. The fuselage can comprise a wing attachment region further comprising a rotating support. A rotating section can comprise a rotating support and the wings, with a plurality of engines attached to the rotating section. In a rotor flight mode, the rotating section can rotate around a longitudinal axis of the fuselage providing lift for the aircraft similar to the rotor of a helicopter. In a fixed wing flight mode, the rotating section does not rotate around a longitudinal axis of the fuselage, providing lift for the aircraft similar to a conventional airplane. The same engines that provide torque to power the rotor in rotor flight mode also power the aircraft in fixed wing flight mode.
US08991737B2
A method and apparatus are provided for decelerating an inverter-controlled machine reel in a paper machine. The method includes detecting a break in a paper web from a machine reel, determining the inertia of the machine reel, determining continuously the angular speed of the machine reel, and determining continuously the torque required to decelerate the machine reel, on the basis of the determined inertia and angular speed, for the purpose of stopping the machine reel in a predefined time. The method also includes decelerating the machine reel electrically to stop the machine reel, in accordance with the determined torque, and using a mechanical brake when the rotation speed of the machine reel is lower than a predefined rotation speed and when the torque obtained by electrical deceleration is too small to stop the machine reel in a predefined time.
US08991734B2
A food chopper having an integrated cutting surface for a food chopper is provided. The integrated cutting surface can be incorporated into food chopping compartment of the chopper and may include a window for allowing visual inspection of the chopped food while still within the compartment. The food chopper includes blade mechanism having at least one V-shaped blade and a blade cover/cleaner configured to maintain the at least one V-shaped blade covered from user exposure even when the food chopping compartment is removed from the chopper.
US08991727B2
An apparatus for generating a mist is provided. The apparatus has at least one working fluid supply conduit having an inlet in fluid communication with a supply of working fluid and an outlet in fluid communication with a first mixing chamber. The apparatus also includes a plurality of transport fluid passages, each of which has an inlet adapted to receive a supply of transport fluid and an outlet in fluid communication with the mixing chamber. Downstream of the mixing chamber is a nozzle having an inlet in fluid communication with the mixing chamber, an outlet, and a throat portion intermediate the nozzle inlet and outlet. The throat portion of the nozzle has a cross sectional area which is less than that of either the nozzle inlet or the nozzle outlet. The apparatus enhances the atomization of the working fluid to generate the mist.
US08991725B2
A pressure regulator in a rotationally driven sprinkler nozzle housing assembly includes pressure regulation of the upstream pressure to the sprinkler discharge nozzle and flow throttling. Full shut-off of the sprinkler assembly is provided, if desired. Throttling and pressure regulation are adjustable from the top of the nozzle housing.
US08991706B2
A security element is provided for a document of value. The security element includes an array of apertures through at least a portion of the document of value, the arrangement of apertures relative to one another forming an observable data item. The array of apertures includes apertures of at least two different shapes or orientations, the occurrence of the different shapes or orientations within the array representing an encoded data item. Also provided is a method of manufacturing a security element on a document of value, including: obtaining a first data item and generating an aperture array template; obtaining a second data item and encoding the second data item within the aperture array template; and perforating at least a portion of the security document according to the encoded aperture array template.
US08991704B2
An apparatus and method for selectively attaching sensor(s) or antenna(s) to a mobile device at a convenient location are provided. The mobile device includes a body and a processing unit housed within the body for running an application, where the body includes a forward end and a rearward end that supports engagement with a charging dock. In addition, the rearward end accepts engagement of a snap-on module that physically assembles to and electronically interfaces with the mobile device. The antennas or sensors are externally mounted to the mobile device at a location proximate to the forward end of the body. Further, these antennas or sensors are interconnected to the snap-on module using media-routing conduit(s) that are configured to carry signals from the antennas or sensors to the snap-on module for distribution as an input to the application running on the processing unit.
US08991703B2
The present invention relates to the field of radio frequency identification (RFID). In one form, the invention relates to a method and/or device adapted to provide at least some level of providing lateral discrimination within a given area. The invention has been developed primarily for interrogating multiple passive transponders which are attached to objects to be identified by those respective transponders and will be described hereinafter with reference to that application. A typical application is the identification of RFID transponders or other RFID devices, such as those embedded in plastic tokens or cards within a selected area and which may be provided near each other or stacked on each other.
US08991700B2
An apparatus and method for calibrating a barcode scanning tunnel has a conveyor structure and a scanning system. The scanning system has a laser light source, an optics system, and a processor. In a calibration mode, the processor locates a central area of the conveyor structure and identifies a first location at which there is a height above the level of the central area according to a predetermined criteria. The processor identifies a second location that is offset, by a predetermined distance in a direction transverse to the direction of travel of the conveyor structure, from the first location.
US08991699B2
Embodiments of methods and machines are disclosed for enabling contactless devices, such as contactless payment cards and other devices having near-field communication (NFC) capabilities, for use as fare media in a transit and/or transportation system. Embodiments include reading contactless data from a contactless device and associating it with information received from another source on the device. For example, associating a primary account number (PAN) and/or other information received from a contactless payment card's contactless interface with a PAN obtained from a magnetic stripe of the contactless payment card. The information can then be further associated with one or more products and/or a transit user account.
US08991697B2
A system verifying an item in a package comprises a package producer and a verifier. The package producer produces a package with a label, wherein the package includes an item each with one or more selected tag identifiers that are placed in a location on the item. The verifier verifies the item using 1) the one or more selected tag identifiers as detected using a spectral measurement or 2) a location or a shape of the one or more selected tag identifiers on the item, and 3) the label as read using a label reader.
US08991696B1
An electronic corporate credit system that includes a biometric corporate identification and documentation card which is associated with transmitting, verifying and interfacing with an agent of a corporate entity, a biometric reader operative to collect a biometric identifier from the agent, a storage module operative to store information and documentation about the corporate entity, a first communications module operative, a card reader associated with a credit-extending entity including a card interface operative to interface, a second communications module for receiving and transmitting biometric identifier information and documentation, a verification system for verifying and receiving the at least one agent's identity and authority to act on behalf of the corporate entity, verifying the accuracy of the information and documentation, and a display device connected to the card reader and operative to display the information and documentation about the corporate entity to an agent of the credit-extending entity.
US08991693B2
Embodiments of the invention may include a method, system, and apparatus that receives payment data that is associated with an issued payment device. Once the payment data is received, the method can then enable payment capabilities on a dynamic device. Such payment capabilities enabled on the dynamic device may be based on the payment data that is associated with the issued payment device.
US08991688B1
According to one aspect, a machine is located at a fixed location, and a scannable code is connected to the machine, the code indicating the fixed location and an application program having a user interface that is displayable on the machine. The code is scanned using a portable user device to generate first and second identifiers, the first and second identifiers identifying the fixed location and the application program, respectively. The first and second identifiers are transmitted from the portable user device to one or more remotely-located servers. User interface instructions are transmitted from the one or more remotely-located servers to the machine, the user interface instructions being associated with the display of the user interface on the machine and based on at least the application program. In several exemplary embodiments, the user interface may be associated with a commercial airline environment.
US08991685B2
Disclosed are partitions formed from a single blank that can be folded and glued on standard machinery, and that can be folded into an erected partition and loaded with product into a container using standard machinery. In certain embodiments, the partitions have a universal nature due to the curvilinear nature of the flaps of the partitions, which allow the partition to be used with bottles and other product of different dimensions.
US08991676B2
A surgical staple including a deformable member and a crown, where the deformable member can slide relative to the crown. In at least one embodiment, a staple cartridge can include a cavity and a deck, where the cavity can be configured to receive at least a portion of the deformable member and the crown can be positioned within an opening in the deck. In various embodiments, when soft tissue is captured between an anvil and the staple cartridge, the crown can apply a compressive force or pressure to the soft tissue even before the deformable member is deployed toward the anvil.
US08991674B2
An adhesive tape cutting device includes a cutting member and a supporting unit. The supporting unit includes a shaft seat mounted to the outer surface of an adhesive tape roll, a first pressing member disposed on the shaft seat, and a first supporting member disposed on the shaft seat. The cutting member is disposed on the shaft seat. The first pressing member has a biasing rod section extending from the shaft seat, and a pressing portion pressing against an inner surface of the adhesive tape roller. The first supporting member has a biasing rod section extending from the shaft seat such that the biasing rod sections of the first pressing member and the first supporting member flank the adhesive top roll, and a retaining portion retaining removably the pressing portion thereon.
US08991670B2
An in-vehicle mobile-terminal holding device holds a mobile terminal on a steering post turnably supporting a steering wheel. The steering post is provided with a holder support member to the tip of which a holder configured to detachably hold the mobile terminal is attached. The holder support member can be housed in the steering post. The holder support member is formed in an arc shape as a whole. The steering post includes a pivot shaft supporting the root of the holder support member having an arc shape such that the holder support member is pivotable between a use position and a housed position. The steering post houses the holder support member in such a way that the arc shape of the holder support member follows the outer periphery of the steering post having a circular column shape.
US08991663B2
Casting tube mounting including a centering device for the casting tube, a toothed centering crown and a centering ring having radial pins. When the casting tube is pressed on, the radial pins engage in tooth gaps of the centering crown and thus effect immovably precise centering and alignment of the casting tube.
US08991660B2
A vessel for use in rinsing a user's nasal cavity provides a resiliently collapsible main body, a self-sealing nozzle that increases in internal pressure when the vessel is squeezed, and a check valve in the nozzle to reduce back-wash into the vessel. A collar connects the nozzle and check valve to the main body. The check valve includes a first opening that provides fluid communication between the main body and a void formed in an interior of the nozzle and may allow pressure within the nozzle to increase upon deforming the main body. A second opening may provide fluid communication between an exterior of the main body and a fluid reservoir formed in the main body. The second opening may cooperate with a valve that allows selective fluid communication between the exterior of the main body and the reservoir formed in the main body.
US08991655B2
A fluid dispenser includes a dispense mechanism that provides for increased mechanical advantage. The dispense mechanism includes a lever member and an actuator. The lever member includes a first lever section that receives application of an input force and a second lever section that applies an output force to the actuator. The lever member and/or the actuator are configured to provide at least two contact points between the actuator and the second lever section during the course of a dispensing stroke such that the mechanical advantage provided at a first one of the at least two contact points is greater than the mechanical advantage provided at a second one of the at least two contact points.
US08991649B2
A dispensing system includes a housing and a refill container carrying a dispensable material and received in the housing. A pump mechanism is coupled to the refill container and movable from a first position to a second position and back to the first position. An identifier is carried by either the refill container or the pump mechanism, and a detection device is carried by the housing. The detection device monitors a status of the identifier and allows operation of the pump mechanism based on a status change of the identifier.
US08991647B2
A station combines a toilet paper dispenser, dispenser for dispensing hand wipes, a dispenser for dispensing surface antibiotic wipes, and a deodorant feature. The station includes a toilet paper dispenser made from a plastic type material and the toilet paper dispenser may be a single or double roll dispenser. The station cover houses a battery-operated fan that pulls air from inside the dispenser. A tray inside the dispenser holds a fragrance cup holding a quantity of deodorant. The base holds one or two rolls of commercial toilet paper, each of which rolls on a hollow plastic axle to hold a bottle containing wipes. A microswitch may be integrated in the cover to disengage the fan when the cover of the unit is open.
US08991646B2
A product dispenser including a housing for housing dispensable products in a product reservoir defined by the housing and a cover member defining a dispensing opening through which the products are dispensed. The cover member includes a lid member and a support member and the lid member is openable relative to the support member about a hinge. The cover member is removably mountable to the housing by at least one engagement member of the support member engaging at least one complementary engagement member of the housing. A strength of connection of the hinge to the support member and a strength of connection of at least one engagement member of the support member for removably mounting the support member to the housing is such that when the lid member is opened to a stop position and further opening force is applied to the lid member, at least one engagement member dismounts between the housing and the support member before the force gets so great as to break the hinge.
US08991639B2
A tray held by a stair adaptor for securing the tray either on a stairwell or on a work bench. A first slidable arm and a second slidable arm each have an adaptor leg extending downward therefrom, wherein the first adaptor leg and the second adaptor leg are sized to be accommodated within a pair of parallel clamping members of a workbench. The first slidable arm and the second slidable arm include a mating member upstanding therefrom, the mating member shaped substantially similar to a shape of each of the slots on an underside of a tray body and configured to slidably engage with at least one of the slots, wherein the first slidable arm penetrates the right side of the stair adaptor and the second slidable arm penetrates the left side of the stair adaptor to level and secure the tray body on a stairway or workbench.
US08991638B2
A water heater system includes a water heater, a cover, a shroud and at least one ring. The water heater includes a tank, a layer of foam surrounding the tank and a wrapper surrounding the layer of foam. The cover is positioned on a top edge of the water heater. The shroud is positioned over the cover. The at least one ring is positioned around at least one of an inlet port and an outlet port of the water heater. The cover, shroud and at least one ring are operative to prevent a liquid from coming into contact with at least one of the layer of foam surrounding the tank and one or more components covered by the shroud.
US08991633B2
An externally threaded closure plug for tightly closing off the internally threaded opening in shipping and storage containers such as drums, pails and the like. The plug is formed as a cup having a bottom wall and threaded cylindrical sidewall terminating in a circumferentially enlarged rim. Immediately beneath the rim of the plug is a gasket seat defined by the undersurface of the plug rim, the plug sidewall and an annular gasket retaining lip lying in a plane parallel to the undersurface of the plug rim. In use, the plug is screwed into and out of a container wall opening, having an internally threaded portion and an unthreaded portion, the sealing gasket being compressed between the unthreaded opening portion and the plug gasket seat and lying in close proximity to the internal thread. The gasket seat acts to prevent interengagement of the sealing gasket and the opening internally threaded portion.
US08991628B2
A container base comprising recessed ribs. The curved recessed ribs permit lighter base weights than traditional bases. The base further permits a larger process window and improved product evacuation. Hot-fill performance of a container is also maintained and/or improved when using the base.
US08991626B2
A portable lifting system includes a moveable base component including a scissors lift assembly, and a crane assembly coupled the movable base component, the crane assembly including a support member and a boom coupled to the support member.
US08991620B2
The present invention relates to a filter cloth for a belt filter, wherein the filter cloth has an air permeability of 100 l/(min*dm2) to 350 l/(min*dm2) and fibers of the filter cloth have a fiber thickness of 25 μm to 35 μm and contain from 50% by weight to 100% by weight of perfluoroalkoxylalkane (PFA). The filter cloth has 25 to 35 warp threads (3) and 15 to 25 weft threads (2) per 1 cm.
US08991603B2
A slide card for selective insertion and withdrawal from a sleeve includes a base panel, a locking panel and at least one embossment. The locking panel is integrally formed with the base panel and hingedly connected to one of the opposing end edges of the base panel to engage at least part of the sleeve to lock the base panel in the sleeve. The locking panel extends from the one of the opposing end edges of the base panel to its free end edge that is located opposed to the one of the opposing end edges of the base panel. The at least one embossment is formed on one of the opposed surfaces of the base panel. The at least one embossment projects from the one of the opposed surfaces of the base panel and is spaced apart from receiving blisters on the base panel.
US08991598B2
A system for storing a device having an elongated shaft and a shank portion. The system having a body portion and a cover portion. The body portion having a sidewall portion defining an opening there-through. The cover portion having a generally open-ring shape. The cover portion having an open position and a closed position, where the cover portion closes at least a portion of the opening when in the closed position, and where the cover portion is spaced apart from the opening when in the open position.
US08991588B2
Conveyor for transporting articles such as a chain conveyor that can be changed between a stretched configuration and a compact configuration, the chain being formed from a plurality of articulated links. Each link includes a trolley provided with lateral guide mechanism cooperating with a track defining a predetermined trajectory, a support carrying a nozzle for the releasable attachment of an article, the support mounted rotatably with respect to the trolley between a straight position corresponding to the deployed configuration of the chain, and an oblique position, corresponding to the compact position of the chain and in which the support is inclined with respect to the straight position; and an actuator coupled to the support, capable of driving the support in rotation from its straight position to its oblique position, and reciprocally.
US08991584B2
A coin depositing and dispensing machine is provided where its transport mechanism is simplified and downsized while coins to be dispensed are subjected to the identifying action. A coin passage 32 is provided in an annular form along which a single annular transporting belt 43 remains supported for transporting the coins. An input feeding portion 34, denomination-specific accommodating and ejecting portions 35, a bulk escrow portion 36 are disposed at the inner side of the coin passage 32. The coin passage 32 has a receiving and transporting zone 39 for receiving the coins released from the input feeding portion 34, the denomination-specific accommodating and ejecting portions 35, and the bulk escrow portion 36 and a sorting and transporting zone 41 for sorting and delivering the coins to the input feeding portion 34, the denomination-specific accommodating and ejecting portions 35, and the bulk escrow portion 36. An identifying and transporting zone 40 where an identifying portion 58 is disposed is also provided between the receiving and transporting zone 39 and the sorting and transporting zone 41. The deposited coins and the dispensing coins can be transported by the single annular transporting belt 43. As the transport mechanism is arranged for common use between a depositing system and a dispensing system, its construction can thus be simplified and downsized.
US08991568B2
A brake system includes a brake cylinder having a piston rod and a brake lever connecting the piston rod to a brake beam and a slack adjuster. An actuating lever is connected to the brake beam and the brake cylinder. A trigger of the slack adjuster is connected to the actuating lever. The actuating lever is pivotally and rotationally connected to the brake beam and swivelably connected to the brake cylinder. Also, a piston stoke indictor including an indicia positioned on a support structure of a brake cylinder to be adjacent the end of a portion of a brake piston at its extended position.
US08991567B2
The invention relates to a combination cylinder, including a service brake cylinder as an active service brake with at least one service brake piston actuated by a pressure medium, the piston actuating a brake mechanism via a service brake piston rod, and further including a spring-loaded brake cylinder as a passive parking brake with a spring-loaded brake piston actuated by a pressure medium against the action of at least one pre-loaded spring, wherein the spring-loaded brake piston in the event of the parking brake is actuated transmits the power of the at least one pre-loaded spring by means of a power-transmitting transmission to the service brake piston rod. According to the invention, the transmission is designed such that the movements of the spring-loaded brake piston and the service brake piston rod are coaxial and the power transmission increases with increasing stroke of the spring-loaded brake piston.
US08991565B2
Disc brake piston cap (3) interposed between the caliper (1) and the piston (2) to protect the piston (2). The cap (3) has a bulge (351) on the inner fold (35) which is engaged in the groove (22) of the piston (2), and has an overmolded insert (31) fixed to the annular groove (11) of the caliper. The folded cap (3), with the overmolded insert (31), intermediate folds (33, 34) and an outer fold (32), comprises longitudinal ribs (352) on the face of the inner fold (35) to stiffen this fold and allow air to pass from the inside to the outside around the bulge (351) of the inner fold (35), housed in the groove (22).
US08991548B2
A suspension element for mechanically coupling an acoustic diaphragm to a stationary element. The suspension element is characterized by a total compliance. The total compliance includes a shear compliance and a beam compliance. The beam compliance is not significantly larger than the shear compliance.
US08991546B2
A work vehicle comprises a chassis, a compartment, a vibratory power unit positioned in the compartment and mounted to the chassis to move in vibration relative to the chassis, a pump, a fluid attenuator, and a rigid tube. The pump and the fluid attenuator are mounted to the vibratory power unit to move in vibration relative to the chassis. The rigid tube interconnects the pump and the fluid attenuator for fluid communication therebetween.
US08991545B2
A method for detecting a weight of at least one occupant of a motor vehicle includes the steps of detecting a first load which acts on a chassis of the motor vehicle as first weight value at a time point prior to entering of the at least one occupant into the motor vehicle, detecting a second load which acts on the chassis as second weight value at a second time point after entering of the at least one occupant into the motor vehicle; and determining the weight of the at least one occupant by forming a difference between the first and second weight values.
US08991542B2
A motorized reverse trike with a tiltable body comprises a frame with a header pipe, two front wheels, a tilting mechanism arranged on the header pipe, two suspension mechanisms hinged between the two front wheels and the tilting mechanism respectively, a steering mechanism with handlebars hinged between the header pipe and the two suspension mechanisms, and a locking mechanism for locking the tilting mechanism.
US08991541B1
A motorized snowboard having a board with a cut out section at the rear of the board, a motor, a downwardly biased track system, and a track housing.
US08991527B2
A moving device to move across a surface including a motor rolling motion apparatus is disclosed. The moving device is coupled to the motor and has a body with an outer surface. A dense population of fibrils protrudes from the outer surface, with each fibril having a free-end termination configured to establish adhesion to the surface by inter-molecular Van der Waals forces.
US08991520B2
A method of servicing a wellbore comprises determining a cation exchange capacity of a sample of a shale, determining a swelling characteristic of the shale using the cation exchange capacity in an equation comprising a term of the form: Az % salt=x(cation exchange capacity)y where Az % salt is a final swelling volume of the shale in the presence of an aqueous fluid having a salt concentration of z %, and x and y are empirical constants, determining a composition of a wellbore servicing fluid based on the determined swelling characteristic, and drilling the wellbore using the wellbore servicing fluid. The swelling characteristic of the shale can be determined using the cation exchange capacity of the shale and a salt concentration in an equation comprising a term of the form: Am % salt=f(m,z)*(x)(cation exchange capacity)y where Am % salt is a final swelling volume of the shale in contact with an aqueous fluid having a salt concentration of m %, f(m,z) is a function based on the salt concentration of m % relative to salt concentration of z % in the aqueous fluid in contact with the shale, and x and y are empirical constants defining the relation Az % salt=x (cation exchange capacity)y.
US08991516B2
An electric tool includes a gripping portion, a working portion rotatably connected to the gripping portion about an axis, an output shaft moving in a reciprocating manner and accommodated in the working portion, and a gear box accommodated in the gripping portion for driving the output shaft. The gear box has an opening so that the output shaft is moveable from one end to the other end of the opening when the working portion is rotated relative to the gripping portion about the axis. A leakage-preventing device, such as a bushing, is arranged at the opening so that the lubricating grease can be avoided from leaking.
US08991513B2
An apparatus for forming a water storage material from a biomass input material using supercritical or subcritical fluid processing, the water storage material capable of absorbing a liquid and releasing the liquid. The apparatus utilizes supercritical fluid processing, subcritical fluid processing, charring, or a combination thereof. The apparatus includes a controller configured to control the apparatus. The apparatus further including a processing station configured to hold the biomass input material, and to use the biomass input material for processing into the water storage material.
US08991510B2
A system comprises an injection well for accessing a reservoir containing a native fluid comprising a hydrocarbon. The reservoir is located below one or more caprocks, is at a first temperature, and is accessible without using large-scale hydrofracturing. The system further includes a production well in fluid communication with the reservoir, a supply apparatus configured to feed a non-water based working fluid at a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature through the injection well to the reservoir. The working fluid mixes with the native fluid to form a production fluid comprising at least a portion of the working fluid and at least a portion of the hydrocarbon at a third temperature that is higher than the second temperature. An energy recovery apparatus in fluid communication with the productions well converts energy contained in the production fluid to electricity, heat, or combinations thereof.
US08991505B2
A downhole tool that selectively opens and closes an axial/lateral bore of a tubular string positioned in a wellbore used to produce hydrocarbons or other fluids. When integrated into a tubular string, the downhole tool allows individual producing zones within a wellbore to be isolated between stimulation stages while simultaneously allowing a selected formation to be accessed. The downhole tools and methods can be used in vertical or directional wells, and additionally in cased or open-hole wellbores.
US08991503B2
A subsea wellhead assembly is provided. The subsea wellhead assembly comprises a tubing head structure with a tree above the tubing head structure, and a recoverable module attached to the tubing head structure below said tree, the recoverable module comprising at least one valve and at least one sensor.
US08991501B2
A subsea separation device for use in separating a pair of stabplate connector plates, the subsea separation device comprising a first engagement member adapted to engage, in use, a first one of the connector plates, or a component rigidly secured thereto, a second engagement member adapted to engage, in use, a second one of the connector plates or a component rigidly secured thereto, and drive means operable to urge the first and second engagement members apart and so urge the connector plates apart.
US08991484B2
A rotating head having a bearing assembly removably seated in a bowl housing such that a top end of the bearing assembly sits flush with a top end of said bowl housing, the bowl housing having a tapered interior body, and the bearing assembly having a tapered exterior slightly smaller in diameter than, but conforming to the shape of the interior body of the bowl housing, the bearing assembly further comprising a stripper rubber, a bearing cap having an upper seal, a lower seal, bearings, and a snap ring holding the bearing assembly together and the bowl housing further having a dual hinge clamp assembly.
US08991482B2
A temperature equalization system, including an installation, a heat equalizer disposed in a natural heat carrier and being made of a material of heat conduction to exchange heat with the natural heat carrier, a fluid transmission duct disposed between the heat equalizer and the installation and having a fluid contained therein for heat transmission, a pump connected in series with the fluid transmission duct for pumping the fluid, and a control means controlling an operation of temperature equalization system. The control means controls the pump to pump the fluid through the fluid transmission duct and an interior of the installation.
US08991481B2
A heat exchanger, in particular a heat exchanger of a motor vehicle, having cooling pipes and having collecting tanks, in which heat exchanger the cooling pipes extend between the collecting tanks, in which heat exchanger the cooling pipes and the collecting tanks are spatially connected to one another, in which heat exchanger the cooling pipes are produced from a strip material with at least one cooling pipe seam, in which heat exchanger the at least one cooling pipe seam forms an inner partition of the cooling pipe, and in which heat exchanger the cooling pipes have an external solder plating on the pipe outer side and the cooling pipes have more than one coating on the pipe inner side, wherein one of the coatings on the pipe inner side is arranged only partially in the region of the at least one cooling pipe seam, as a result of which particularly high demands with regard to a multi-coating layered construction of cooling pipes of the heat exchanger can be met in a cost-effective manner.
US08991477B2
A refrigerant radiator used for a vapor compression refrigerant cycle including a compressor configured to compress and discharge refrigerant includes tubes through which the refrigerant flows. The tubes are stacked and arranged in a horizontal direction, and extend in a direction perpendicular to the horizontal direction or with an angle from the horizontal direction. The tubes include a first heat exchange area where refrigerant having a temperature equal to or higher than a standard temperature exchanges heat with first air blown to a space, and a second heat exchange area where refrigerant having a temperature lower than the standard temperature exchanges heat with second air blown to the space. Generally, the second air has a temperature different from a temperature of the first air.
US08991473B2
Metal alloy injection molding techniques are described. In one or more implementations, these techniques may also include adjustment of injection pressure, configuration of runners, and/or use of vacuum pressure, and so on to encourage flow of the metal alloy through a mold. Techniques are also described that utilize protrusions to counteract thermal expansion and subsequent contraction of the metal alloy upon cooling. Further, techniques are described in which a radius of edges of a feature is configured to encourage flow and reduce voids. A variety of other techniques are also described herein.
US08991471B2
A method of forming an earth-boring tool includes introducing metal into a die, rotating the die to generate centrifugal forces on the metal, and cooling the metal in the rotating die. A rotary drill bit may include a unitary, centrifugally cast bit body including an integral shank, at least one blade, and at least one cutting element on the blade. A rotary drill bit or a roller cone may include a first centrifugally cast material and a second centrifugally cast material. Another rotary drill bit includes a bit body comprising a maraging steel alloy. A method of forming a rotary drill bit may include disposing cutting elements on a rotary drill bit comprising maraging steel and aging the rotary drill bit to form at least one intermetallic precipitate phase. Methods of repairing a rotary drill bit include annealing and aging at least a portion of a rotary drill bit.
US08991470B1
A portable gate assembly provides a portable enclosure that can fit any doorway in order to confine kids and pets to a desired area. The assembly includes a pair of spaced posts and a flexible net coupled to and extending between the posts. A sound emitter is coupled to the net. The sound emitter has a sensor positioned therein. The sound emitter is operationally coupled to the sensor wherein the sound emitter emits an audible indicator upon the sensor sending a proximity signal to the sound emitter when an object or a user is within a predetermined distance of the net.
US08991469B2
A slatted blind is configured such that the slats close create a light blocking blind. The slats may be supported by a tilt cord that comprises a low stretch strand or a low stretch cord may be attached to the tilt cord. The slats may be connected to the supporting tilt cord such that when the slat is rotated to a closed position the slat is suspended from the rung. The rung may have an effective diameter of less than approximately 14 mil. Recesses may be formed in the slat for receiving the rung when the slat is in a closed position. A bottom rail may have a thickness approximately equal to the thickness of the slats. A protrusion may be formed on the back of the slats such that the rung pushes on the protrusion to force the slat against an adjacent slat when the blind is closed.
US08991468B2
The window shade includes a header defined by a substantially elongated U-shaped channel. The top of the header includes attachment areas for attaching the header to a window frame. A folded blind has one end attached to the web of the header channel, and when folded, the blind is housed inside the channel. The other end of the pleated blind is attached to a footer. A magnetic latching assembly is disposed between the header and the footer to keep the blind in a folded condition. Alternatively, a retaining mechanism holds the footer when the blind is folded. Pulling a pull cord or handle disposed on the footer releases the magnetic latching mechanism or the retaining mechanism to thereby rapidly unfold the blind.
US08991463B2
A film peeling apparatus includes a peeling pin that push-lifts a first end portion of a cut portion of a film toward a second end portion of the cut portion, a peeling roller that push-lifts the second end portion of the cut portion toward the first end portion of the cut portion by closely contacting the second end portion of the cut portion and rotating, and an absorbing unit that absorbs and removes the cut portion of the film push-lifted by the peeling pin and peeling roller.
US08991461B2
A film lamination apparatus for laminating a film on a flat display panel including a display unit on one surface of a substrate, the film lamination apparatus including: a work table configured to support the flat display panel such that the display unit is below the substrate; and a transfer robot configured to support the flat display panel such that the display unit faces upward and then transfer the flat display panel to the work table while the flat display panel is turned over such that the display unit faces downward.
US08991458B2
A pneumatic tire including: a cylindrical annular structure; a rubber layer, which will become a tread portion, provided along a circumferential direction of the annular structure on an outer side of the annular structure; a carcass portion provided on at least both sides in a width direction of the cylindrical structure including the annular structure and the rubber layer; and an extending portion that extends from both sides in the width direction of the annular structure farther outward in the width direction than a ground contact edge on the outer side in the width direction of the tread portion, and that is provided in plurality on both sides in the width direction along the circumferential direction of the annular structure.
US08991455B2
A molded article comprises an outer interface element, an inner interface element, and a plurality of web spokes positioned therebetween. The common surfaces of the inner and outer interface elements and a pair of adjacent web spokes form a void space. The surface of at least a portion of an interface element common to one of the voids has an edge radius with a variation from a maximum radius at a circumferential location corresponding to a mid point between a pair of adjacent web spokes to a minimum radius at a circumferential location corresponding to the intersection of the interface element with the web spoke.
US08991452B2
A pneumatic tire includes a tread having a center main groove and a pair of shoulder main grooves, a pair of center portions between the center main groove and the shoulder main grooves, and a pair of shoulder portions between the shoulder main groove and tread edges. Each center portion includes: center lateral grooves extending from the shoulder main groove toward the axially inside of the tire without reaching the center main groove so as to have an axially inner end thereof on the center portion with an angle of 35 to 65 degrees with respect to an axial direction of the tire; center lateral sipes extending from axially inner ends of the center lateral grooves to the center main groove in the same inclination direction as the center lateral groove at an angle of 35 to 65 degrees with respect to an axial direction of the tire.
US08991451B2
A pneumatic tire includes a tread portion; a plurality of main grooves extending in a tire circumferential direction on the tread portion; at least four ribs sectioned by the main grooves on the tread portion; a plurality of open sipes, each formed across both edge portions of the rib, the open sipes being formed on each of the ribs; and a plurality of multisipes, each formed on one of the edge portions of the rib. The multisipes are formed on only each of the ribs between which an outer main groove is positioned, and are aligned along the edge portion of the rib. The outer main groove is a main groove in an outermost position in a tire width direction out of the main grooves.
US08991445B2
A hydrogen filling system to fill a hydrogen fuel tank with hydrogen includes a high-pressure water electrolysis device capable of electrolyzing water to produce oxygen and the hydrogen. A hydrogen pipe connects the high-pressure water electrolysis device and a filling mechanism to fill the hydrogen fuel tank with the hydrogen. At least one hydrogen storage tank is provided to the hydrogen pipe to store the hydrogen produced by the high-pressure water electrolysis device at substantially a same pressure as a maximum filling pressure of the hydrogen fuel tank. A first valve mechanism is arranged downstream of the at least one hydrogen storage tank. A bypass pipe is provided to the hydrogen pipe and connects the high-pressure water electrolysis device and the filling mechanism to bypass the at least one hydrogen storage tank and the first valve mechanism. A second valve mechanism is arranged on the bypass pipe.
US08991439B2
A metal pipe of single piece construction including a wall formed of a single corrugated metal sheet. The sheet has opposing first and second edges extending longitudinally along the sheet. The wall includes a seam that is formed by abutting portions of the first and second edges. The seam extends helically about and along a length of the wall. The sheet has a cross-sectional profile defining 3 corrugation peaks at an exterior wall surface and 3 flat segments, wherein each corrugation peak is separated from an adjacent corrugation peak by a respective one of the 3 flat segments. The sheet has a flattened sheet width of approximately 27 inches and a finished sheet width of approximately 24 inches. The wall defines a pipe diameter of at least 96 inches.
US08991433B2
An expandable accumulator and reservoir assembly includes a reservoir defining an interior chamber containing working fluid therein and an expandable accumulator. The expandable accumulator includes an inner layer and an outer layer at least partially surrounding the inner layer. The inner layer includes a higher fracture strain than the outer layer. The accumulator is at least partially positioned in the reservoir and at least partially immersed in the working fluid contained within the interior chamber. The accumulator is configured to exchange working fluid with the reservoir.
US08991432B2
A touch switch shower includes a shower body and a switch control device. The shower body is disposed with a root waterway, several diversion waterways and an outlet cover unit, each diversion waterway is disposed with an electromagnetic valve to control the on-off thereof. The front side of the outlet cover unit is divided into several touch areas with the same number of electromagnetic valves. The switch control device is disposed at least a processing unit, several touch modules with same number with the electromagnetic valves and a power device connected to the processing unit, the touch layer of the touch module is separately disposed in the corresponding touch area of the outlet cover unit, the processing unit is connected to the touch module in signal way, the processing unit is connected to the electromagnetic valve in signal way. The touch layer is separately disposed in the touch area.
US08991422B2
A diffuser assembly for a hydraulic reservoir is disclosed. The diffuser assembly includes an inlet tube for connection to the inlet to the reservoir. A middle portion of the middle tube is connected to a plurality of diffusers. The diffusers are disposed at an angle with respect to an axis of the inlet tube and the axis of the inlet to the reservoir so that fluid flowing into the reservoir must change flow directions for entering and exiting the diffusers. The disclosed diffuser assembly is less prone to damaged cause by fluid flow spikes and is particularly useful for high flow/high pressure applications.
US08991418B2
A pressure relief valve includes a bonnet threadedly secured to a pressure vessel, a floating device in the pressure vessel, a relief assembly, an actuator secured to the bonnet and communicating with the bonnet, a biasing element put on a stem and biased between a tubular member and a conic member, and a safety valve. The hollow cylinder is slidable in a space defined by the tubular member and a hollow, cylindrical actuating member. The stem is slidably disposed in the tubular member. Pressurized fluid enters a conic opening via an inlet connector, a first channel, a Venturi tube, and a second channel to push the tubular member so as to disengage a latch from a hook to release the pressurized fluid.
US08991416B2
A shuttle valve 8 includes a valve body 9, a shuttle 10, and an actuator mechanism 11. The shuttle valve 8 includes inlet ports 37 and 39 and outlet port 40. The shuttle 10 moves between first and second at rest positions to selectively connect one of the inlet ports to the outlet port and isolate the other inlet port from the outlet port. The actuator mechanism 11 includes first and second springs 63 and 66 and moves the shuttle 10 from one of its positions to another when a set pressure differential is attained between the inlet ports. The actuator mechanism 11 moves a partial stroke distance to move the shuttle 10 between its at rest positions and moves a full stroke distance to additionally open fluid communication between one of the inlet ports and the shuttle 10.
US08991412B2
A portable and foldable shelter has a canopy frame with an arm hub adjacent to a top end of a canopy pole, and a sliding collar on the pole. The canopy frame also includes a plurality of arms with each arm having an outer arm segment attached to an inner arm segment via an arm hinge joint. The arm hinge joint may include a slider movable into a locking position where the inner and outer arm segments are rigidly fixed in a straight locked-out. A flexible cover is attached to or supported on canopy frame. The portable shelter is lightweight, highly compact when folded, easy to use, and easy carry.
US08991398B2
A method of maintaining airway patency in an airway of a patient which includes the steps of implanting a device into tissue adjacent an airway, the device having a bioerodable material wound around a resiliently deformable body to temporarily maintain the deformable body in a stretched, deformed state, and permitting the bioerodable material of the device to bioerode to apply a force to maintain airway patency. The invention also provides devices for practicing the method.
US08991394B2
A breathing protector may include a filter housing having a central axis, a distal end, a proximal end, a first opening and a second opening. The second opening may be located in a proximal end of the filter housing and the first opening may be located distally of the second opening, such that the first opening is located upstream of the second opening. An exchanging filter may be disposed in the filter housing and a valve seat may extend around the first opening. A rail, located circumferentially of the valve seat, may extend axially and distally away from the first opening. The rail may include a distal end and at least one rib. A valve member may be arranged in a transversal plane to the central axis and engage the valve seat in a closed position. A return spring may press the valve member into the open position.
US08991390B2
The present disclosure provides a method and device for delivering a pharmaceutical to the airway of a human or animal patient. In one aspect, the device includes a dose drum formed into a cylinder and including a plurality of dose compartments for containing individual doses. In another aspect, the device may include a reservoir containing a pharmaceutical material in bulk form and a metering recess for metering the pharmaceutical material to form a pharmaceutical dose. Another aspect provides an inhaler with a combined reservoir and dosing chamber configured to contain multiple doses of a pharmaceutical material.
US08991367B2
The present invention makes it possible to accurately determine an EGR rate from an in-cylinder pressure. An EGR rate determination method for an internal combustion engine according to the present invention, a combustion period is calculated by using in-cylinder pressure data measured by an in-cylinder pressure sensor. An in-cylinder flame velocity is then calculated from the combustion period. Next, in accordance with prepared data indicative of the influence of an engine speed on the flame velocity, a portion of the flame velocity calculated from the combustion period that is affected by the engine speed is eliminated. Eventually, a current EGR rate is determined from the flame velocity from which the portion affected by the engine speed is eliminated.
US08991358B2
An internal combustion engine is configured to utilize a reactivity controlled compression ignition process and an exhaust gas recirculation (“EGR”) system. The EGR system directs a portion of the exhaust gasses from the exhaust system to the air intake system. The engine system is adapted to introduce a first fuel charge having a first reactivity to a combustion chamber at a first time during the intake-compression cycle of the engine. The engine system is also adapted to introduce a second fuel charge having a second reactivity at a second time during the intake-compression cycle to generate stratified regions of different reactivity in the combustion chamber. A controller operatively associated with the engine can monitor one or more operating parameters and can adjust either the EGR system and/or the second introduction of the second fuel charge based in part upon the operating parameter.
US08991355B2
The invention discloses a cylinder head of a small-sized general-purpose gasoline engine and a gasoline engine having the same. The cylinder head of the small-sized general-purpose gasoline engine comprises a cylinder head body (1), and an intake passage (9), an exhaust passage (5) and a sparking plug mounting hole (8) arranged on the cylinder head body (1); a combustion chamber surface (7), being a arched smooth curve, is formed at the inner side of the cylinder head body (1); the cylinder head body (1) is provided with an intake valve (11) corresponding to the intake passage (9) and an exhaust valve (4) corresponding to the exhaust passage (5); the intake valve (11) is inclined towards the intake passage (9) from the bottom part to the top part; the exhaust valve (4) is inclined towards the exhaust passage (5) from the bottom part to the top part; and the included angle between the axis of the intake valve (11) and the axis of the exhaust valve (4) is 24±5 degrees. In the invention, the parameters between the combustion chamber and the intake valve as well as the exhaust valve are inter-coordinated and matched, the operation efficiency of the gasoline engine is improved, the fuel is saved, and the discharge is reduced.
US08991352B2
An intake manifold section for installing in an intake system of an internal combustion engine may have a tube body including an inlet opening, an outlet opening and a fresh air path section running from the inlet opening to the outlet opening. An air mass sensor may be fastened to the tube body and protrude into the fresh air path section. A bypass channel may be disposed on the tube body and bypass the fresh air path section connected to a blow-by gas path at an inlet side.
US08991349B2
A method of manufacturing spring pallets of a switchable roller finger follower. The method includes the steps of forming the spring pallets of the roller finger follower as a single unit, forming a material web between the spring pallets, and separating the spring pallets apart from each other. Also, an intermediate assembly of the spring pallets of the roller finger follower is disclosed. The intermediate assembly includes a first spring pallet, a second spring pallet, and a material web which extends between the spring pallets, and adjoins the spring pallets together. Further, a method of manufacturing an inner arm of the switchable roller finger follower is disclosed in which the inner arm is formed by sheet metal, preferably by stamping.
US08991346B2
A hydraulic pressure control valve is received in a center hole of a vane rotor that is rotatable relative to a housing. A first tubular portion and a second tubular portion are fitted with each other to form an oil accumulation chamber. The oil accumulation chamber accumulates at least one of oil outputted from a gap between the housing and the vane rotor, and oil discharged from an oil passage communicated with the advancing chamber or the retarding chamber.
US08991336B2
A retrieving tool including a retrieving dummy and/or a kit incorporating the same is provided that facilitates training a dog or puppy to find and/or retrieve antlers that were shed by antler bearing animals. The retrieving dummy is shaped to resemble a naturally grown antler and emits an antler scent. A scent carrier may be applied to the retrieving dummy, to allow the retrieving dummy to emit such antler scent. The kit may further include a second retrieving dummy that is less similar in shape, texture, hardness or feel, to a naturally grown antler than the first, and a scent intensity of the antler scent may be varied with use of the one or more retrieving dummies so as to allow for incremental or gradual introduction of the shape, feel, and/or scent of naturally grown antlers to the dog or puppy being trained.
US08991329B1
Improved wafer coating processes, apparatuses, and systems are described. In one embodiment, an improved spin-coating process and system is used to form a mask for dicing a semiconductor wafer with a laser plasma dicing process. In one embodiment, a spin-coating apparatus for forming a film over a semiconductor wafer includes a rotatable stage configured to support the semiconductor wafer. The rotatable stage has a downward sloping region positioned beyond a perimeter of the semiconductor wafer. The apparatus includes a nozzle positioned above the rotatable stage and configured to dispense a liquid over the semiconductor wafer. The apparatus also includes a motor configured to rotate the rotatable stage.
US08991326B2
A displace hull with a shape that is both laterally symmetric and fore-to-aft symmetric is disclosed. The hull includes a pair of channels that help to manage a flow of water around the hull. The hull also includes sponsons and propellers that are located amidships on the port and starboard sides.
US08991322B2
The invention relates to a load carrier, particularly a tray (1) for the transport and storage of goods, having a base (2) comprising a receiving surface (4) for the goods to be transported, and a base bottom having a structure (5) made from ribs (6, 7) crossing each other and projecting vertically from the base surface, characterized in that aligned openings (9) are made from one base side to the other in adjacent ribs (7) arranged parallel to each other, into the openings a reinforcement bar (11) can be inserted from one side of the base to the opposite side, wherein the openings (9) in the ribs (7) are formed by means of cut-outs (8) made in the vertical ribs (7) through the receiving surface (4).
US08991318B2
A stabilized railway car truck consists of two side frames and a holster. The bolster has laterally opposite ends, each end extending into and supported within a side frame opening on a spring group. The stabilized railway car truck also includes a transom extending into, and supported within, a side frame opening. The spring group is supported at each transom end. Each side frame has a pedestal opening at each end that receive a rotating lug to accept a elastomeric steering pad and bearing adapter. The attachment of the side frames and transom is a rigid pivotal connection. Friction shoes between the side frames and bolster provide damping of an initial low to a high rate friction once engaged. The pivotal decoupling of the side frame and transom, and the lateral movement of the friction shoes to the bolster, eliminates track displacement irregularities from reacting at the bolster and into the vehicle.
US08991313B2
Reducing print quality defects can include printing a pattern with an offset printing device having a binary ink developer roller, determining a variation for a hue shift of the printed pattern; and varying gain in a feedback loop of a servo motor coupled to the binary ink developer roller to reduce the variation.
US08991307B2
A lid for a pressure cooker with a removable lid handle, particularly a lid stem handle, with a technology module that has movable operational elements necessary for the function of the pressure cooker and with a masking module that masks the technology module.
US08991304B2
A brewing unit (1) of an espresso coffee machine including a brewing chamber (25) and at least one spring-loaded pressure valve (16) which is flow-technically arranged between the brewing chamber (25) and a coffee beverage outlet and which opens when the brewing chamber pressure exceeds a structurally predetermined value. In order to produce by means of the coffee machine one kind of coffee beverage selected from at least two kinds of coffee beverages, an atmospheric coffee beverage bypass channel (21) flow-wisely disposed in parallel relative to the pressure valve (16) between the brewing chamber (25) and the coffee beverage outlet (23) may be locked depending on the kind of coffee beverage selected.
US08991296B2
The compressor is provided with an oil separator for separating oil from refrigerant gas introduced into a separation chamber, an annular space for reserving oil separated from the refrigerant gas, and a reservoir chamber for reserving the thus separated oil. The oil separator is provided in a cylindrical hole formed in a discharge chamber from which the refrigerant gas is discharged and a lid for partitioning the cylindrical hole from the discharge chamber is provided in the cylindrical hole. The oil separator introduces the refrigerant gas from the discharge chamber to the separation chamber via the introduction passage. The annular space is provided around the lid and connected to the reservoir chamber via an oil passage. The reservoir chamber is connected to a crank chamber of a pressure lower than that in the discharge chamber.
US08991293B1
A semi-automatic pistol is provided having a barrel, a frame and a slide. The slide is adapted for linear motion along the frame during a firing sequence and has a forward end and a block end. The forward end has an upper cam follower surface and a lower cam follower surface on the inside surface adjacent to the barrel. The barrel has a ramp cam surface adjacent to the chamber end of the barrel to effect locking and unlocking of the barrel relative to the slide during the firing sequence, a bottom cam surface and a top cam surface. The bottom cam surface and the top cam surface extend from the front end toward the chamber end of the barrel and each have undulating surfaces that moves against the lower cam follower surfaces of the slide to cause oscillation of the barrel while the slide moves during the firing sequence.
US08991292B1
Firearm projectiles and methods of manufacturing firearm projectiles from a supply of clad wire. In some embodiments, the clad wire is manufactured as electrical wire, such as copper-clad steel wire. Bullets and shot, as well as methods of forming bullets and shot, from clad wire are disclosed.
US08991291B2
A multiple slicing device includes a frame including a receptacle and a plurality of cutting elements, and a working portion including an activation mechanism, a cam mechanism, and a forcing member. The activation mechanism can include two handles where moving one of the handles toward the other handle collapses the forcing member via the cam mechanism, onto a food item placed in the receptacle between the forcing member and the cutting elements, to efficiently and simultaneously cut or slice the food item into multiple pieces.
US08991290B1
A shearing apparatus may comprise a frame and a shearing assembly configured to shear a portion of a tire along a shear plane, the shearing assembly including a lower shear blade structure and an upper shear blade structure mounted on the frame. The apparatus may also comprise a tire indexing structure configured to advance a portion of the tire a distance through the shear plane for shearing the portion of the tire from a remainder of the tire. The tire indexing structure may include a tire clamping assembly to clamp onto the tire and movable between an initial and a final position to move the tire through the shear plane, a carriage assembly to move the tire clamping assembly between the initial and final positions, and a guide defining a path along which the carriage and tire clamping assemblies are movable between the positions.
US08991286B2
Coupling mechanisms for engaging and releasing a tool attachment such as a socket from a drive element include an engaging element and an actuating element. The actuating element can include a collar or other manually-accessible part, and various features allow for a relatively small outside diameter for the collar or other part. These features include configuring the actuating element to contact the engaging element within the drive element, placing the biasing elements within the drive element, and forming guides for parts of the actuating element within the drive element. Also, the engaging element can move along a direction that is oriented at an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis of the drive element, in whole or in part. The engaging element can have a first part that moves obliquely in the drive element and a second part that moves radially in the drive element to engage the tool attachment.
US08991282B2
A wave gear unit has an input shaft positioned along a center axis by first and second input bearings. A first unit end plate at the first-input-bearing side is a composite member in which a bearing housing member of an iron-based material is integrated with an end plate main body member of a lightweight material. A second unit end plate at the second-input-bearing side is integrated with a rigid internally toothed gear, and is a composite member in which a second member of a lightweight material is integrated with a first member of a lightweight material. The first member has an end plate main body portion of the second unit end plate and a gear main body portion of the rigid internally toothed gear, while the second member has a bearing housing portion of the second unit end plate and a teeth formation portion of the rigid internally toothed gear.
US08991277B2
Each tooth of a worm wheel has a first tooth flank in which a helical surface portion is arranged on one side in a rotational axis direction of the worm wheel and a concavely curved surface portion is arranged on the other side in the rotational axis direction, and a second tooth flank in which a concavely curved surface portion is arranged on the one side in the rotational axis direction and the helical surface portion is arranged on the other side in the rotational axis direction.
US08991276B2
A hydraulic system (1) for actuating at least one shifting element (2) of a transmission. The hydraulic system comprises a regulating valve device (3) that can be preset and has a regulating valve slide (8), and a shifting valve device (4) which can also be preset and has a shifting valve slide (6). The shifting valve device (4) interacts with the regulating valve device (3). The regulating valve slide (8) and the shifting valve slide (6) are coaxially aligned with one another and move in opposite longitudinal directions within a common boring (24) of a housing (25). Each of the slides has a control surface (5, 14) which faces toward one another and can be pressurized with a pressure signal (p_VS) via a common pressure chamber (26).
US08991270B2
An apparatus for analyzing a fluid of volume V includes a filter having a filter surface or area A, the filter being capable of allowing the fluid to flow through the filter surface. The fluid's volumetric flow density, averaged over the filter surface, is jmean. The apparatus further includes a scanner for scanning the filter surface with a scan rate B. The area A is optimized based on the volume V, the scan rate B and the volumetric flow density jmean to minimize the sum of filtering time and scanning time. Instead of one filter, at least two filters may be used each having a different area A. The apparatus also includes a mechanism for selecting one of the filters and placing the selected filter in an operating position, where the scanner scans the filter surface face of the selected filter.
US08991263B2
A device, assembly and method for clamping single fibers that utilizes snubbing surfaces simultaneously with magnetic gripping action are described. The device can be fabricated at miniature sizes with very low mass and volume, which are desirable requirements for testing of small fibers in highly sensitive force-transducing load frames. Advantageously, the combined use of snubbing surfaces and magnetic gripping greatly reduces the probability of slippage or fiber failure at the grip during testing.
US08991241B1
Various embodiments of the invention include methods for monitoring a gas turbine component. In some cases, a method includes: analyzing a gas turbomachine component to detect at least one of a void or a porosity of the gas turbomachine component while maintaining a structural integrity of the gas turbomachine component during the analyzing; and providing instructions to perform a hot isostatic pressing (HIP) process on the gas turbomachine component in response to at least one of detecting the void or detecting that the porosity exceeds a threshold.
US08991233B2
A self-contained analysis system operable to assess gas to oil ratio (GOR), shrinkage of reservoir fluid, and composition of pressurized reservoir fluids. The analysis system can be used for extended compositional analysis of rich flashed gas and lean gas samples as well as flashed equilibrium liquids, condensates, and black oils. Analysis of the various samples is achieved without cross contamination, for example, between rich flashed gases and lean gases or between extended natural gas and liquids (e.g., black oils and condensates). The system yields accurate results up to and including C20 for gas samples and up to and including C36+ for liquid samples, and entrained water.
US08991230B2
A roll forming method including a roll forming step performed by a plurality of roll formers and a bending step performed by a round bender provided with a plurality of bending roll units is disclosed.After a concave surface is formed at a surface of a shaped beam sequentially bent so as to have a closed section at the roll forming step, the concave surface is disposed so as to face toward an inward of a curvature of the shaped beam in the round bender and the shaped beam is formed to have the curvature through multiple steps at the bending step.
US08991228B2
An outer shell member positioning device includes a mounting base member mounted at an outer shell member, a bracket pivotally coupled to the mounting base member and biasable between a first position where constraint bars of the bracket are engaged in a locating hole of an inner shell member to stop the inner shell member in place and a second position where the inner shell member is released from the constraint of the constraint bars and movable out of the outer shell member, a sliding hook member mounted in one end of the bracket and hookable to the mounting base member to secure the bracket in the first position, and a locking device mounted in the bracket and operable to lock the sliding hook member to the mounting base member.
US08991225B2
A burglarproof device for electronic device including a fastener, a control unit, and a lock core is provided. The fastener includes a plurality of lever arms surrounding a virtual axis. The control unit moves relative to the fastener and drives ends of the lever arms to move toward each other when approaching the fastener; the ends of the lever arms move away from each other when the control unit leaves the fastener. The lock core in an unlocked status permits the movement of the control unit relative to the fastener while the lock core in a locked status restricts the control unit from moving relative to the fastener.
US08991222B2
Disclosed herein is a washing machine that is capable of increasing a frictional force between an outer diameter of a rotary shaft and an inner race of a bearing to prevent the sliding between the rotary shaft and the bearing due to a gap between the outer diameter of the rotary shaft and the inner race of the bearing, thereby preventing creep noise from the rotary shaft. The washing machine includes at least one elastic member disposed between the outer diameter of the rotary shaft and the inner race of the bearing to prevent noise due to the sliding between the rotary shaft and the bearing.
US08991221B2
The present description relates to a household appliance for treating soft goods, in particular a laundry washing or washing/drying machine of the electronically controlled type fitted with an electronic control system (17). The household appliance comprises an oscillating assembly connected to the frame by means of a suspension system comprising at least one damper (1). The damper (1) comprises two elements (3, 4) adapted to move reciprocally, at least one magnetic element, preferably a permanent magnet (9), and an electronic module (6) provided with at least one magnetic sensor, preferably a Hall element (12). The magnetic element (9) and the magnetic sensor (12) are housed in the damper (1) so as to detect the reciprocal motion of the two elements (3, 4). The electronic module (6) also comprises a microcontroller (16) connected to the magnetic sensor (12) and adapted to generate at least one piece of information, in particular at least one piece of information being representative of the value of the displacement of the oscillating assembly with respect to the frame, and to send said information to the electronic control system (17) over a digital communication line.
US08991215B2
Methods and systems for controlling bubble size and bubble decay rate of glass foams formed during submerged combustion melting. Flowing a molten mass of foamed glass comprising molten glass and bubbles entrained therein into an apparatus downstream of a submerged combustion melter. The downstream apparatus has a floor, a roof, and a sidewall structure connecting the floor and roof. The foamed glass has glass foam of glass foam bubbles on its top surface, and the downstream apparatus defines a space for a gaseous atmosphere above and in contact with the glass foam. The downstream apparatus includes heating components to heat or maintain temperature of the foamed glass. Adjusting composition of the atmosphere above the glass foam, and/or contacting the foam with a liquid or solid composition controls bubble size of the glass foam bubbles, and/or foam decay rate.
US08991214B2
A method is provided of refurbishing a quartz glass component which has been contaminated and eroded due to continuous use in a plasma process apparatus for semiconductor manufacturing. In the method, a surface deposit on the quartz glass component is removed by an appropriate cleaning method which is determined depending on the contamination status, and presence or absence of residual deposit on the cleaned component is carefully inspected through irradiating with light of a predetermined wavelength to cause fluorescence effect. Then the eroded portion of the quartz glass component is restored to the original state by flame treatment and precision machining. As a result, the refurbishment method can increase the mechanical strength of the quartz glass component, enhance the productivity and yield ratio through efficient use of the remaining materials of the quartz glass.
US08991213B1
A method by which recovered glass from waste steams can be used to create a closed cell foam glass in the 9 to 13 lbs/ft3 density range using a single-step foaming process. The waste glass is mixed with foaming agents and the boron content is adjusted and maintained between 7 to 14% of the mixture. The mixture is formed into a charge and fired at a temperatures ranging from 100° C. to 250° C. above the softening point of the waste glass for a controlled period of time. The waste glass can be obtained from commercial waste streams of high borosilicate glass to common container glass from recycling sources. The glass is ground to an appropriate size and mixed with fluxes, enhancers, and foaming agents which are then properly dispersed within the mixture. The mixture batch can be adjusted with respect to the additives, firing temperature and schedule to produce the desired closed-cell end product which is water insoluble, acid resistant and has a low coefficient of expansion within the range of 33×10−7 to 55×10−7.
US08991211B1
Methods for producing glass articles of a wide range of geometrical shapes, including shapes that are heretofore difficult or impossible to make monolithically. The glass articles are made by first building the nascent glass article from glass powder and a binder using a three-dimensional printing free-form fabrication process followed by sintering the nascent glass article at a temperature that is hundreds of degrees above the glass powder composition's glass transition temperature while supporting the nascent glass article in a bed of an inert powder having a high flowability.
US08991208B2
A variable speed liquid LNG expander (X1) and a variable speed two-phase LNG expander (X2) in line, downstream from X1. The rotational speed of both expanders can be controlled and changed independent from each other. The speed of expander X1 and expander X2 is determined in such way that the amount of liquid LNG downstream from the PHS compared to the feed gas supply is maximized and the amount of vapor and boil-off downstream of X2 is minimized.
US08991205B2
A refrigerator door is provided. The refrigerator door has an outer case forming a shape of the refrigerator door, an inner case provided within the outer case to configure a backside of the refrigerator door wherein a space between the inner case and the outer case is charged with a foaming liquid, an ice making unit provided to one side of the inner case to make ice, a fixing unit provided to the space charged with the foaming liquid between the inner case and the outer case and fixing the ice making unit to the refrigerator door, and a dispenser provided to one side of the outer case to discharge the ice supplied by the ice making unit.
US08991199B2
A heat pump system includes: a heat-source-side refrigerant circuit having a heat-source-side compressor, a first usage-side heat exchanger operable as a radiator of heat-source-side refrigerant, and a heat-source-side heat exchanger operable as an evaporator of heat-source-side refrigerant; and a usage-side refrigerant circuit having a usage-side compressor arranged to compress usage-side refrigerant with a pressure of the usage-side refrigerant corresponding to a saturated gas temperature of 65° C. that is 2.8 MPa or less at gauge pressure, a refrigerant-water heat exchanger operable as a radiator of usage-side refrigerant to heat an aqueous medium, and a first usage-side heat exchanger operable as an evaporator of usage-side refrigerant by the radiation of heat-source-side refrigerant. The weight of usage-side refrigerant enclosed in the usage-side refrigerant circuit is one to three times the weight of refrigeration machine oil enclosed to lubricate the usage-side compressor.
US08991195B2
A method with the following steps is described for testing a Peltier element: applying a voltage to the Peltier element; switching off the voltage at the end of a defined period of time; measuring the voltage at the Peltier element; and comparing the measured voltage with a reference value. Furthermore, a small electrical appliance, such as an electric shaver, with a Peltier element is described, which small electrical appliance has a safety device which ensures that a malfunction of the Peltier element cannot result in danger to the user.
US08991188B2
A cooling circuit for a fuel nozzle in a gas turbine includes an end cap cavity receiving passive purge flow from a compressor of the turbine, and fuel nozzle swozzles disposed in a swozzle shroud that impart swirl to incoming fuel and air. Purge slots are formed in the swozzle shroud and through the fuel nozzle swozzles in fluid communication with the end cap cavity. The purge slots are positioned upstream of a quat fuel injection passage, and the passive purge flow enters fuel nozzle tip cavities of the fuel nozzle to provide tip cooling and tip purge volume without mixing the passive purge flow with quat fuel.
US08991187B2
The present application provides for a combustor for combusting a flow of fuel and a flow of air. The combustor may include a number of fuel nozzles, a lean pre-nozzle fuel injection system positioned upstream of the fuel nozzles, and a premixing annulus positioned between the fuel nozzles and the lean pre-nozzle fuel injection system to premix the flow of fuel and the flow of air.
US08991178B2
An internal combustion engine has first and second non-deactivatable cylinder banks. Each cylinder bank is assigned exhaust lines which extend from exhaust manifolds. First and second exhaust-gas turbocharger in the exhaust line are assigned to the first and second cylinders, respectively. A first catalytic converter in the first exhaust line contains the first exhaust-gas turbocharger, and is arranged downstream of the first exhaust-gas turbocharger as viewed in the flow direction of the exhaust gas of the first cylinder bank. A second catalytic converter in the second exhaust line contains the second exhaust-gas turbocharger, and is arranged downstream of the second exhaust-gas turbocharger as viewed in the flow direction of the exhaust gas of the second cylinder bank. A flow transfer line is arranged between the first and the second exhaust line, and a first control element, by an exhaust-gas mass flow passing through the flow transfer line can be regulated.
US08991163B2
A burner for an exhaust aftertreatment system is provided that includes a nozzle assembly having a body and a heating element. The body may include first and second cavities, a fuel inlet passage and an air inlet passage. The first cavity may receive portion of the heating element and may be in fluid communication with the fuel inlet passage and a fuel discharge passage such that fuel from the fuel inlet passage is heated in the first cavity by the heating element and discharged from the first cavity through the fuel discharge passage. The second cavity may be in fluid communication with the air inlet passage and an air discharge passage. The first and second cavities may be fluidly isolated from each other and may supply fuel and air, respectively, to an exit aperture disposed downstream of the fuel discharge aperture and the air discharge aperture.
US08991162B2
An engine has an exhaust gas treatment apparatus attached thereto, wherein an exhaust pipe can be prevented from being damaged by a vibration of the engine body. An exhaust gas treatment apparatus is supported by an engine body and the engine body and the exhaust gas treatment apparatus communicate with each other through an exhaust pipe. The casing of the exhaust gas treatment apparatus consists of a plurality of casing units separable from each other. Connection flanges are disposed in respective end portions of the casing units. The casing units are coupled together by a connection of the connection flanges, and the exhaust gas treatment apparatus is supported by the engine body through the connection flanges.
US08991153B2
A method and system for treating emissions includes charging particles in an exhaust stream, producing one or more radicals, and oxidizing at least a portion of the charged particles with at least a portion of the produced radicals. At least a portion of the charged particles in the exhaust stream are then attracted on at least one attraction surface which is one of oppositely charged from the charged particles and grounded. The attracted particles are oxidized with another portion of the one or more produced radicals to self regenerate the at least one attraction surface. Downstream from where the attracted particles are oxidized, at least a portion of one or more first compounds in the exhaust stream are converted to one or more second compounds downstream from the attracting. Additionally, at least a portion of any remaining charged particles are oxidized into one or more gases.
US08991138B2
A medicine dispensing device including: a device body 3; a medicine containing unit 4 mounted in the device body 3 and including a plurality of medicine containers 9 configured to dispense medicines contained therein through a medicine ejecting portion; a medicine receiving unit 5 movably provided in the device body 3 and having at least two medicine receiving sections 26 that are moved to each of the medicine containers 9 of the medicine containing unit 4 to receive the medicine dispensed from the medicine ejecting portion and are moved to a discharging position to discharge the received medicines; a medicine collecting unit 6 having a plurality of medicine collecting sections 44 each collecting the medicines discharged from each of the medicine receiving sections 26 in the discharging position; and a control unit 7 configured to move each of the medicine receiving sections 26 to allow the medicine receiving section to receive the medicines dispensed from a corresponding medicine containing section and to discharge the medicines to a corresponding medicine collecting section 44 of the medicine collecting unit 6.
US08991136B2
A method for fastening cementitious components together or for fastening a cementitious component to a non-cementitious component to form a structure. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus is a screw having a hollow shaft from which threads protrude and a tip comprising a plurality of drilling teeth or a plurality of thread members that surround said central space, each of said thread members forming a two-dimensional spiral. In use, the invention is operated by screwing it into the cementitious components and then injecting an adhesive into the void created by the screwing step.
US08991135B2
The invention relates to an improved lightweight panel, novel uses thereof, as well as to an improved method for manufacturing the same.
US08991129B1
A tile assembly having a plurality of tiles adapted to join in an interlocking and repeating fashion. A plurality of tile assemblies are joined to each other, forming a roof with a streamlined look. Each tile assembly includes left and right center tiles laterally spaced along matching edges. The tile assembly includes upper and lower tiles of the same configuration as the center tiles, fitting over and under, respectively, the center tiles. Each tile has repeating patterns laterally spaced to each other and contiguous along matching lateral extents. Each pattern consists of a generally diamond shaped main surface with vertically spaced apices and laterally spaced apices. Two upper flanges extend upwardly and outwardly each pattern's main surface, along the upper edges, joining in an upper flange apex. Two lower flanges extend downwardly and outwardly from each pattern's main surface, along the lower edges, joining in a lower flange apex.
US08991128B2
The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one aspect thereof, is a portable drywall/plaster repair kit comprised of at least one pencil like structure comprised of a first end and a second end; a sharpener for sharpening at least one of said first end and said second end; and a cutting device for scoring or cutting the sharpened first or second end. The drywall/plaster repair kit eliminates the waiting time typically associated with other drywall/plaster repair methods and devices, and enables a user to repair a hole in drywall and/or plaster with a single application, thereby saving time.
US08991124B2
A concrete material, particularly for concrete compression elements transmitting compressive forces, to be used in a structural element as the thermal insulation in structural engineering, made of a high-strength concrete in the strength class C55 or higher, with the concrete being embodied as a thermally insulating, load-bearing material including titanium minerals as additives. Additionally, a structural element for thermal insulation and a brick-shaped thermally insulating element, each using said concrete material, are provided.
US08991123B2
Facilities for storing large quantities of potatoes, other tubers, vegetables, produce, and/or other crops are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a facility configured in accordance with the present technology circulates air from a pile of potatoes into one or more ceiling cavities above the potatoes to warm ceiling panels. Aspects of this embodiment can reduce undesirable water formation on the potatoes.
US08991120B2
A cross member for a narrow channel in a suspended ceiling grid comprising a carrier and a cover, the carrier having a web and a planar flange on a lower edge of the web, end connectors at opposite ends of the carrier web, the cover having a three-dimensional cross-section with an overall width generally equal to the width of the carrier flange and integral bendable tabs, the tabs being adjacent the ends of the cover and short in comparison to a length of the cover, the tabs being constructed to be manually folded over the flange of the carrier to lock the cover to the carrier.
US08991117B1
A modular tower assembly particularly suited for deployment in a parking lot area for collecting solar energy and precipitation includes left-hand and right-hand support modules, each having a base and a support pedestal having a bottom affixed to one end of the base. A solar panel mount has one end affixed to a pedestal top and cantilevered over the base. The left-hand support module pedestal is joined to the right hand support module pedestal such that the base of the left-hand module extends oppositely from the base of the right-hand module. A solar panel assembly is affixed to each of solar panel mounts. The modular assembly is particularly well-adapted for large scale collection of solar power for subsequent conversion to electrical power directly connected to a local power grid. Each tower is further adapted for the collection of fresh water from natural precipitation.
US08991115B2
A solar panel assembly including a solar panel spaced from a surface to create a gap and a barrier movable between an open position and a closed position, the barrier being adapted to inhibit airflow through said gap below said solar panel when in the closed position. The assembly may further include a rack supporting the solar panel and resting on the surface. The barrier may be adapted to move from the open position to the closed position upon detection of conditions indicative of a fire. In this way air flow below the solar panel is permitted during normal operation of the solar panel assembly but is inhibited upon detection of a fire.
US08991102B2
A door weather strip for a motor vehicle, which can be readily produced, and readily and securely attached to a corner of a door frame without coming off the same. In an upper side section and an upper side part of a corner section of the door weather strip, the door weather strip includes an exterior weather strip, an interior weather strip and a connecting section. The exterior weather strip includes an exterior base portion for attachment to the door frame or a door molding, and an exterior seal portion for contacting a door opening portion of a vehicle body when a door is closed, and the interior weather strip includes an interior base portion and an interior seal portion. A reinforcing rib is formed in a rear surface of the exterior base portion in the upper side part of the corner section.
US08991100B2
A door entryway system can include a door sweep capable of attachment to a bottom of a door panel. The system also includes a threshold assembly having a self-articulating threshold cap configured to be biased toward the door sweep and interact therewith to form a sealing barrier when the door panel is in a closed position.
US08991091B2
A launcher system, advantageously in kit form, is provided. The system generally includes a launching device, a pistol grip frame, and stock assembly. The pistol grip frame is characterized by a frame body and a pistol grip extending therefrom, the frame body having a first frame body portion adapted for select operative union with the launching device, and a second frame body portion adapted for select operative union with the stock assembly. The stock assembly is adapted for select operative union with the second frame body portion of the frame body of the pistol grip frame. No-tool select operator union of elements of the system is enabled.
US08991086B2
The present invention is an ammunition magazine, preferably made of a reinforced polymer, utilizing a structurally enhancing ridge, angular guide rails and a follower made to interface with said guide rails to reduce wobble. The preferred embodiment also features a protective cover that distributes forces from the spring to more structurally sound areas of the magazine, thus reducing feed end splay, and an ammunition indication system comprised of at least one window and a noticeable marker on the follower spring. The follower and magazine casing are also designed to interface to prevent the follower from popping out of the feed end and the floor plate of the magazine utilizes a locking plate and sliding relationship between the floor plate, locking plate and magazine to secure the floor plate onto the magazine casing. The cover features built in tools for, among other things, unloading and disassembling the magazine.
US08991084B2
A magazine is disclosed including a storage tube and a biasing member positioned within the storage tube. A strip engages the follower and extends toward a distal end of the storage tube. A display member is coupled to the strip and is viewable through the storage tube. The display member displays a state of the strip. The strip may be coupled to the follower and wrap around an axle or spool engaging an axle. The display member may be a window such that a portion of the strip around the axle is viewable. The strip may include visual indicators that are visible through the window and indicate a number of rounds within the magazine. A switch may be selectively activated to illuminate a portion of the strip viewable through the window.
US08991083B1
A cube display system uses a frame with upstanding outer periphery side walls. A series of uniform sized cubes has a portion of an overall picture on each face. The cubes are placed into the inner space of the frame in an appropriate position, with the appropriate face facing upwardly and properly oriented. When all of the cubes are so placed, the overall picture is displayed. Different pictures are formed when displaying different faces of the cubes. An opening is located underneath each cube such that a finger or a poking tool is inserted through the opening in order to dislodge a particular cube from the cube matrix. The openings are encompassed by a magnetically attractive material and another magnetically attractive material is disposed on each face in order for the cubes and base to magnetically attract each other. Alternately, the frame is a banding frame that cinches the formed matrix.
US08991081B2
A decorated card having at least one leaf, and a cutout formed in the leaf and defined by a cutout outline. The card is characterized by the fact that it has at least two threads extending under tension across the cutout outline, and a plurality of spangles, the spangles being held suspended from each of the threads under tension so as to cover at least part of the area defined by the cutout outline. A manufacturing method is also provided.
US08991070B2
The present invention is directed toward a shoe including an outsole, an upper, and a lining member integrated into the shoe. The sling includes a receptacle portion and a fastener assembly portion. The receptacle portion, which generally lines the interior of the shoe, is secured along the collar of the upper such that the sock is movably suspended within the foot cavity. The fastener assembly is includes a central web and fasteners that wrap around the ankle of a wearer.
US08991064B2
Provided is a measuring head (1) for a feeler (2) of workpieces (3) being machined, including a fixed portion (10) to be secured to an outer fixed support, a movable portion (11) including a constraint element (14) for a feeler arm (4), a rotational hinge (12) adapted to connect the fixed portion (10) to the movable portion (11), wherein the fixed portion (10), movable portion (11) and pivot bearing (12) are of one piece construction.
US08991063B2
A portable target comprising: (a) a complaint, energy-absorbing backer; (b) a target on a surface of said backer; and (c) a support mechanism for holding said surface of said backer in a vertical position.
US08991060B2
A fingertip mountable shaving device is provided by a flexible and breathable substrate layer including a first shaving surface, and a second adhesive surface opposite to the first shaving surface. The first shaving surface includes a plurality of rubber strips along the vertical peripheral edge and a plurality of blade assemblies affixed at predetermined locations. The blade assemblies of include a vertical stack of a plurality of rotary blades of different diameters alternately interspaced by spacers and having a hemi-spherical protective cap with a vertical stem, on the top. The second adhesive surface is coated with an adhesive suitable for temporarily mounting the device on a fingertip and is covered with a releasably connected protective peel off layer. The device can safely and closely shave hair from the face and other difficult to reach body surfaces, such as within the ear or nostrils.
US08991053B2
To provide a charging member that can not easily cause faulty cleaning on a photosensitive member while having a flexibility high enough to form a nip between it and the photosensitive member in a sufficient width. The charging member has an electro-conductive support and an elastic layer that is a surface layer, which elastic layer has at its surface a region having been cured by irradiation with electron rays, where this region supports spherical polyethylene particles in such a state that the spherical polyethylene particles are exposed to the surface of the elastic layer, thereby making the surface roughened.
US08991051B2
This invention is a manufacturing method of a liquid discharge head that includes a substrate having a plurality of discharge energy generating elements that generate energy that is utilized for discharging a liquid, and a discharge port forming member that constitutes a discharge port group including a plurality of discharge ports that discharge the liquid and flow paths that communicate with the discharge port group. The manufacturing method includes (1) disposing a photosensitive resin as material of the discharge port forming member on or above the substrate, and (2) forming an exposure pattern of the discharge port group using ultraviolet light in the photosensitive resin. In the aforementioned (2), the discharge port group is divided in a longitudinal direction and exposed, and the exposures are respectively performed so that regions in which there is a high degree of telecentricity face each other.
US08991049B2
A method of installing a solar energy system comprises laying an uninflated elongated tube of flexible material in a substantially flat configuration, winding the uninflated elongated tube on a spool, transporting the spool with the elongated tube, and filling the elongated tube with a gas and/or liquid such that the elongated tube inflates with the gas and/or liquid and unrolls from the spool.
