US09005971B2
A container system includes a bag having of one or more sheets of flexible polymeric material, the bag having an interior surface at least partially bounding a chamber that is adapted to hold a fluid. A sparger is secured to the interior surface of the bag so that a compartment is formed between the interior surface of the bag and the sparger. At least a portion of the sparger includes a sparging sheet formed from a flexible sheet of a gas permeable material. A tubular port or tube is coupled with the bag so that a passage bounded by the tubular port or tube communicates with the compartment.
US09005960B2
The present invention relates to a functionalized semi-permeable membrane composed of a porous biocompatible support pretreated so as to increase the surface energy thereof and characterized in that it includes at least two layers, each having a hydrophilic polymer and at least one biological active molecule, and to the use thereof in particular for producing a bioartificial organ.
US09005953B2
This invention relates to a recombinant microorganism having improved butanol production capacity and butanol production with the use of such recombinant microorganism with good efficiency. In this invention, the acetoacetyl-CoA synthase gene encoding an enzyme capable of synthesizing acetoacetyl-CoA from malonyl-CoA and acetyl-CoA and a group of genes involved in butanol biosynthesis that enables synthesis of butanol from acetoacetyl-CoA are introduced into a host microorganism.
US09005947B2
The present invention provides a novel β-glucosidase nucleic acid sequence, designated bgl7, and the corresponding BGL7 amino acid sequence. The invention also provides expression vectors and host cells comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding BGL7, recombinant BGL7 proteins and methods for producing the same.
US09005943B2
Bone cages are disclosed including devices for biocompatible implantation. The structures of bone are useful for providing living cells and tissues as well as biologically active molecules to subjects.
US09005940B2
Recombinant microbial cells are disclosed herein that comprise (i) a down-regulation of an endogenous polynucleotide sequence encoding Sou2 sorbitol utilization protein, and (ii) a polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) biosynthetic pathway. The down-regulation of the polynucleotide sequence encoding Sou2 sorbitol utilization protein can increase the lipid content of the microbial cells and/or decrease the total amount of sugar alcohols produced by the microbial cells. Also disclosed are methods of using the recombinant microbial cells to produce oil containing omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids such as EPA.
US09005926B2
The present invention pertains to methods of preventing and eliminating trisulfide bonds in proteins such as antibodies. In one embodiment, trisulfide bonds in proteins are converted to disulfide bonds as part of chromatographic purification procedures. In another embodiment, the formation of trisulfide bonds in proteins is inhibited by implementation of methods described herein during the cell culture production of such proteins. In another embodiment, monoclonal antibodies are produced by the methods described herein.
US09005924B2
The present invention relates to an antibody acceptor framework and to methods for grafting non-human antibodies, e.g., rabbit antibodies, using a particularly well suited antibody acceptor framework. Antibodies generated by the methods of the invention are useful in a variety of diagnostic and therapeutic applications.
US09005923B2
The present invention relates to yeast species which are normally capable of producing sophorolipids but which are modified in such way that they are incapable producing the latter compounds. These sophorolipid-negative strains surprisingly display equal growth characteristics and biomass formation as their wild type counterparts and are hence useful for the production of compounds such as recombinant proteins, glycolipids, polyhydroxyalkanoates and carotenoides. In addition, the present invention discloses two glucosyltransferase genes with key-functions in sophorolipid production.
US09005922B2
The present invention discloses a sensor chip for screening a topoisomerase inhibitor and a screening method thereof. The sensor chip comprises topoisomerase I and a biochip. The topoisomerase I is immobilized on the biochip, and the topoisomerase I has DNA catalytic activity. This provides a rapid screening method for topoisomerase I inhibitors.
US09005912B2
The present invention provides a hybridoma cell line (DSM ACC3145), wherein the hybridoma cell line produces an antibody which specifically binds to an amino acid sequence of type II collagen comprising: K-G-E-P-G-D-D-G-P-S-C (as set forth in SEQ ID NO. 1); and a method for detecting osteoarthritis, by identifying a presence of type II collagen in a urine sample through containing the urine sample with the said antibody.
US09005910B2
The purpose is to produce, with high reproducibility, a complex of labeled probes and a carrier, said complex being to be used for detecting and measuring a target substance to be measured with high sensitivity and high stability. The means for accomplishing the purpose is that a label is bound to a probe-water soluble carrier conjugate using specific binding of an avidin compound such as avidin, streptavidin, etc. to biotin, and the binding of the avidin compound to the probe is performed before the binding to the carrier. Namely, after conjugating the avidin compound to a substance which is capable of binding to the target substance, the conjugate is bound to a high-molecule water-soluble carrier to produce a complex of the avidinized probes and the water-soluble carrier. Then the complex of the avidinized probes and the water-soluble carrier is mixed with a biotinylated label. Thus, a stable complex of the labeled probes and the water-soluble carrier, which enables the highly sensitive detection and measurement of the target substance, can be obtained with high reproducibility via the specific binding of the avidin compound to biotin.
US09005908B2
The present invention relates to Mycobacterial infections and provides a method of diagnosing infections of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (Map), the causative agent of Johne's disease. In addition, the invention also provides as kits for use in the diagnosis of Map infections and vaccines/immunogenic compositions.
US09005906B2
The present disclosure describes tetrahydropyran nucleoside analogs, oligomeric compounds prepared therefrom and methods of using the oligomeric compounds. More particularly, tetrahydropyran nucleoside analogs are provided, having one or more chiral substituents, that are useful for enhancing properties of oligomeric compounds including nuclease resistance and binding affinity. In some embodiments, the oligomeric compounds provided herein hybridize to a portion of a target RNA resulting in loss of normal function of the target RNA.
US09005903B2
The invention is directed to β1-6 glucans, compositions, diagnostic kits, and devices comprising the same, and methods of use thereof in modulating immune response and treating, delaying progression of, reducing the incidence or severity of cancer, infection, inflammation, and autoimmune diseases. The β1-6 glucans of certain embodiments of the invention are enriched for O-acetylated groups and/or conjugated to a solid support or linked to a targeting moiety. The β1-6 glucans of certain embodiments of the invention recruit immunoglobulin G antibodies to mediate complement and neutrophil killing. The conjugated β1-6 glucans of certain embodiments of the invention are targeted to cells to stimulate the immune response at the target location by activating complement-mediated lysis and recruitment of neutrophils.
US09005898B2
The present invention provides a method for controlling hair growth, a method for selecting or evaluating a hair growth control agent, and a hair growth suppression agent. The present invention provides a method for selecting or evaluating a hair growth control agent, including the steps of administering a test substance to a cell capable of expressing DnaJC6; measuring the expression of DnaJC6 in the cell; and evaluating the controlling effect of the test substance on hair growth based on the expression. The present invention also provides a hair growth suppression agent containing funabarasou (Cynanchum atratum) or its extract as the active ingredient.
US09005895B2
The present invention is directed to compositions, methods and kits useful for the synthesis of nucleic acid molecules. More specifically, compositions, methods and kits are provided for the amplification of nucleic acid molecules in a one-step RT-PCR procedure comprising one or more agents used to increase tolerance to PCR inhibitors.
US09005890B1
Metal enhanced luminescence using alloy nanoparticles offers additional degrees of freedom for tuning their optical properties by altering atomic composition and atomic arrangement when compared to pure metal nanoparticles such as gold and silver. Surface plasmon resonance wavelengths of silver-copper nanoparticles were tuned in the visible and near infrared region by changing annealing temperature. Strong emission enhancement of luminophores at the vicinity of the Ag—Cu nanoparticles was shown when the SPR spectrum was tuned to produce maximum spectral overlap. As the SPR spectrum can be easily tailored, this platform can be effectively used to enhance luminescence of different luminophores.
US09005889B2
Compounds, compositions and methods for the treatment of HIV/HSP/HPV, in particular, compositions and methods for a 3 part combination therapy for HIV/HSV/HPV, comprising a viral attachment inhibitor, a viral sequence integration inhibitor, and a proviral transcription inhibitor. The therapy is advantageous for the treatment of HIV infection, and is also effective for HSV and HPV infection. Also disclosed are novel viral attachment inhibitors and methods of use.
US09005888B2
The invention relates to compositions and methods for isolation of microvesicles produced by mammalian cells. These microvesicles, known as extracellular microvesicles or circulating microvesicles, are isolated from sample materials such as body fluids, or from cell culture media that has been used to culture and maintain mammalian cells in vitro. The isolation of microvesicles as described herein results in purification and concentration of the microvesicles.The invention also provides related methods for producing blood serum and/or blood plasma that is free of detectable microvesicles, largely depleted of microvesicles, or has reduced concentration of microvesicles compared to the blood serum or blood plasma starting material (collectively termed “microvesicle-depleted”). The generation of microvesicle-depleted blood serum or plasma is critical for use in experimental systems where it is desirable to use a cell culture media that does not contain endogenous microvesicles, or has been depleted of endogenous microvesicles, from the source material.
US09005886B2
The present invention discloses a method for cryopreservation of human spermatozoa: the method comprises providing spermatozoa free from seminal liquid; mixing the spermatozoa with vitrification medium, wherein the main cryoprotectant agent is 0.1-0.3 M sucrose; placing the sample inside straws and rapidly freezing them; refrigerating the straws with no need of liquid N2; and devitrifying the sample in a medium of the present invention. The present invention furthermore discloses a portable kit that makes easy to implement the method, said kit comprising vitrification and devitrification solutions in the volumes required to develop the method and the physical support to carry out the same, i.e. the straws. The use of this kit is also disclosed for the treatment of disorders related to reproductive failures.
US09005885B2
Presented is an airway organ bioreactor apparatus, and methods of use thereof, as well as bioartificial airway organs produced using the methods, and methods of treating subjects using the bioartificial airway organs.
US09005884B2
A developer composition for a printing plate containing (a) alkali metal salt of saturated fatty acid having carbon number of 12 to 18 and (b) alkali metal salt of unsaturated fatty acid having carbon number of 12 to 18 in a weight ratio of from 20:80 to 80:20 in terms of (a):(b). The developer composition may further contain an alkali agent (c). In this case, a weight ratio of (a):(b) may be from 20:80 to 80:20, and the alkali agent (c) may be contained in amount of 0.01 to 10 part(s) by weight to 100 parts by weight in total of the components (a) and (b).
US09005879B2
A method for manufacturing an electrode for a display apparatus includes printing and drying a conductive paste on a substrate, and printing a glass paste on the dried conductive paste, followed by patterning.
US09005878B2
A thiosulfate polymer composition includes an electron-accepting photosensitizer component, either as a separate compound or as an attachment to the thiosulfate polymer. The thiosulfate polymer composition can be applied to various articles and used to form a predetermined polymeric pattern after photothermal reaction to form crosslinked disulfide bonds, removing non-crosslinked polymer, and reaction with a disulfide-reactive material.
US09005876B2
A method for producing a through electrode includes providing a semiconductor wafer having an integrated circuit provided on a surface of the semiconductor wafer and a hole provided in the semiconductor wafer along a thickness direction of the semiconductor wafer. At least a portion of a back surface of an electrode of the integrated circuit is exposed through the hole. A positive photosensitive resin composition is sprayed to form a coating film so that the coating film covers an inner surface of the hole. The positive photosensitive resin composition has a viscosity of 0.5 to 200 cP and includes an alkali-soluble resin, a compound which generates an acid when exposed to light, and a solvent. At least a portion of the coating film is exposed and developed to form a coating film pattern.
US09005869B2
A method for producing a developing agent including preparing a dispersion liquid containing first fine particles containing a binder resin and second fine particles containing a color developable compound, a color coupler, and a color eraser, and aggregating the first and second fine particles in the dispersion liquid to form aggregated particles.
US09005867B2
A process includes forming a filter cake from a slurry of emulsion aggregation toner particles and washing the filter cake with an alcohol to create porous toner particles.
US09005866B2
Disclosed are a toner and a preparation method thereof. The toner of the invention has honeycomb-shaped core-shell structured particles. The honeycomb-shaped core-shell structured particles comprise two or more core layers. Each core layer is completely covered by a shell layer.
US09005864B2
A toner including: toner base particles; and an external additive, the toner base particles each comprising a binder resin and a colorant, wherein the external additive comprises non-spherical particles and spherical particles, wherein the non-spherical particles are each a secondary particle in which spherical primary particles are coalesced together, and wherein the non-spherical particles and the spherical particles in the external additive satisfy a relationship expressed by the following formula (1): 3Ca(%)
US09005852B2
During a calculation technique, a modification to a reflective photo-mask is calculated. In particular, using information specifying a defect associated with a location on a top surface of the reflective photo-mask, the modification to the reflective photo-mask is calculated. For example, the calculation may involve an inverse optical calculation in which a difference between a pattern associated with the reflective photo-mask at an image plane in a photo-lithographic process and a reference pattern at the image plane in the photo-lithographic process is used to calculate the modification at an object plane in the photo-lithographic process. Note that the modification includes a material added to the top surface of the reflective photo-mask using an additive fabrication process. Moreover, the modification is proximate to the location.
US09005851B2
The present invention provides a photomask blank used for producing a photomask to which an ArF excimer laser light is applied, wherein: a light-shielding film is provided on a light transmissive substrate; the light-shielding film has a laminated structure in which a lower layer, an interlayer and an upper layer are laminated in this order from the side close to the light transmissive substrate; the thickness of the entire light-shielding film is 60 nm or less; the lower layer is made of a film containing a metal and has a first etching rate; the upper layer is made of a film containing a metal and has a third etching rate; the interlayer is made of a film containing the same metal as that contained in the lower layer or the upper layer and has a second etching rate that is lower than the first etching rate and the third etching rate; and the thickness of the interlayer is 30% or less of the thickness of the entire light-shielding film.
US09005849B2
A photomask used for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes a substrate; and one or more layers disposed over the substrate, the one or more layers defining a full field area and a reduced field area with a primary pattern being formed in the reduced field area, wherein the full field area is defined by a width of at least 90 mm and a length of at least 100 mm, and the reduced field area is defined by a width within the range of approximately 20-80 mm and a length within the range of approximately 20-80 mm, a center point of the primary patterned area being spaced a predetermined distance from a center point of the photomask so that the primary patterned area avoids photomask defects.
US09005847B2
A method for fabricating a fuel cell component includes the steps of providing a mask having a plurality of radiation transparent apertures, a radiation-sensitive material having a sensitivity to the plurality of radiation beams, and a flow field layer. The radiation-sensitive material is disposed on the flow field layer. The radiation-sensitive material is then exposed to the plurality of radiation beams through the radiation transparent apertures in the mask to form a diffusion medium layer with a micro-truss structure.
US09005846B2
A partly oxidized substrate is disclosed. According to one aspect, the substrate is formed by subjecting a substrate made of a porous metal or metal alloy including particles of at least one metal or metal alloy bound by sintering. The substrate includes a first main surface and a second main surface. The porosity of the substrate gradually changes from the first main surface to the second main surface. The substrate is partially oxidized by an oxidizing gas such as oxygen and/or air. A method for preparing the substrate and high temperature electrolyzer (THE) cell including the substrate are also disclosed.
US09005840B2
A fuel cell separator pair has first and second separators having front and back surfaces, a corrugated plate portion shaped in a wave form at the central portion, and a flat plate portion formed in the peripheral portion and surrounding the corrugated plate portion, wherein the corrugated plate portion of the front surface constitutes a reaction gas channel and the corrugated plate portion of the back surface constitutes a coolant channel. The back surfaces of the first and second separators are facing each other. The flat plate portions of the first and second separators are arranged on top of each other so as to be in contact with each other. The flat plate portion of the second separator protrudes toward the outside beyond the flat plate portion of the first separator. The fuel cell separator pair has a seal member (A) disposed on the flat plate portion of the front surface of the first separator, a seal member (B) disposed on the flat plate portion of the front surface of the second separator, and a seal member (C) disposed on the region protruding beyond the flat plate portion of the first separator in the flat plate portion of the back surface of the second separator.
US09005839B2
In a carbon black (CB)/PTFE composite porous sheet that can be used as a gas diffusion layer in an electrochemical device in applications involving electro chemical reaction such as a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, electrolysis, gas sensor and the like, wrinkle or breakage may be produced due to its flexibility. A method is provided which makes it possible to easily handle this sheet that is difficult to handle, without giving rise to wrinkle or breakage.The present invention relates to a method for laminating the composite sheet on MEA, comprising the steps of: providing a membrane electrode assembly (MEA); providing a composite sheet comprising functional powder and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE); providing a release film; superimposing the composite sheet on the release film and pressing them at normal temperature; superimposing the composite sheet having the release film pressed at normal temperature thereto on MEA and hot-pressing them; and separating the release film from the composite sheet.
US09005831B2
An offset control arrangement is disclosed for controlling voltage values in a fuel cell system including an anode side, a cathode side and an electrolyte between the anode side and the cathode side. The fuel cell system can include at least one fuel cell array of at least two fuel cells, and at least one load for performing load function. The offset control arrangement can include voltage monitoring for monitoring an input voltage of the load, a control processor for processing the monitoring information, and at least one offsetting source in serial connection to the at least one fuel cell array, with a power level of the offsetting source being substantially low compared to the power level of the fuel cell array, and the offsetting source being arranged to perform at least unidirectional shifting of fuel cell array output voltage.
US09005827B2
Process for operating a high temperature fuel cell stack by the steps of: connecting the fuel cell stack in parallel to a power supply unit at a predefined temperature and/or voltage of the fuel cell stack, applying a voltage from the power supply unit of between 700 to 1500 mV per fuel cell across the fuel cell stack irrespective of the electro-motive force of the fuel cell stack, heating up the fuel cell stack from the predefined temperature to operation temperature while maintaining the voltage per fuel cell the power supply unit, maintaining the fuel cell stack at or above a predetermined operation temperature and/or above a predetermined voltage until the fuel cell stack is to be put into operation, supplying fuel to the fuel cell stack, and disconnecting the power supply unit followed by connecting a power-requiring load to the fuel cell stack.
US09005823B2
An electrolyte for a rechargeable lithium battery includes a non-aqueous organic solvent, a lithium salt, and an additive. The additive includes a gamma butyrolactone compound substituted with at least one F atom at the α-position.
US09005820B2
The lithium secondary battery of the present invention is a lithium secondary battery including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a separator provided between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and a non-aqueous electrolyte containing a lithium salt, wherein the non-aqueous electrolyte includes, as a solvent, an ionic liquid containing a bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide anion as an anion component; and the separator is a nonwoven fabric comprising at least one member selected from an organic fiber and a glass fiber and has a porosity of 70% or more.
US09005818B2
A negative electrode active material including mesoporous silica having mesopores filled with a metal and a lithium battery including the same.
US09005817B2
A lithium battery electrode body includes: a collector electrode; and an electrode mixture layer in which a plurality of first particles including electrode active material and a plurality of second particles including solid electrolyte are mixed, wherein the electrode mixture layer is provided on one of sides of the collector electrode, and an average particle size of the plurality of second particles is smaller than an average particle size of the plurality of first particles.
US09005797B2
A battery includes a stack of bipolar individual battery cells, each of which includes an electrode stack and two sheet metal covers bounding the individual battery cell at least in the stacking direction. The electrode stack is connected to at least one of the sheet metal covers by at least one weld. In the region of the at least one weld, the sheet metal cover welded to the electrode stack and/or the sheet metal cover of the adjacent individual battery cell in contact with the sheet metal cover is/are of a set-back design. As a result, the sheet metal covers of adjacent individual battery cells do not have any contact in the region of the at least one weld.
US09005791B2
Disclosed herein is a rotary jig for battery cells to successively manufacture battery cells having different sizes including a main body configured to have a hexahedral structure having a rotary rod mounted at a lower end thereof, the main body being provided at sides thereof with mounting frames having sizes corresponding to sizes of battery cells so that the battery cells can be uprightly mounted in the mounting frames in a state in which electrode terminals of the battery cells are exposed upward, a die disposed at a lower end of the main body, the die connected to the rotary rod so that the die can be rotated manually or by a rotary motor, and support members formed at the die to support the mounting frames of the main body and the battery cells mounted in the mounting frames, wherein the rotary rod is rotated so that resistance welding is performed with respect to a portion of one of battery cells to be welded using a welding rod located above the battery cell in a state in which the battery cells are mounted to the corresponding sides of the main body.
US09005787B2
A secondary battery, in which working pressure and rupture pressure of a safety vent are effectively controlled with respect to a slope of the safety vent and shapes of rupturable grooves. The secondary battery includes an electrode assembly arranged within a can, a cap assembly coupled to the can and including a lower portion arranged above the electrode assembly and having a through-hole arranged at a center thereof, a safety vent electrically connected to the electrode assembly through the through-hole and an insulator arranged between the safety vent and the lower portion of the cap assembly, wherein a first distance between a portion of the safety vent arranged at a region near the through-hole and the lower portion of the cap assembly is smaller than a second distance between a portion of the safety vent positioned furthest from the through-hole and the lower portion of the cap assembly.
US09005782B2
Provided is a magnetic disk that is excellent in durability, particularly in LUL durability and CFT properties, and thus has high reliability despite the low flying height of a magnetic head following the rapid increase in recording density in recent years and despite the very strict environmental resistance following the diversification of applications. A magnetic disk (10) has at least a magnetic layer (6), a carbon-based protective layer (7), and a lubricating layer (8) provided in this order over a substrate (1). The lubricating layer (8) contains a compound having a perfluoropolyether main chain in a structure thereof and having a polar group other than at ends of a molecule thereof.
US09005777B2
A heterocyclic compound represented by Formula 1 below, and an organic light-emitting diode including the heterocyclic compound, and a flat display device including the organic light-emitting diode. wherein Ar1 to Ar4, X1, X2, Y1, Y2, L1, and m are defined as in the specification.
US09005775B2
A composition includes: (B) an arylamine derivative having at least one polymerizable group; and (A) a cyano group-free azo based polymerization initiator.
US09005766B2
The invention provides a biaxially-oriented polyester film that comprises a biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate film and contains 9000 ppm or less of ethylene terephthalate cyclic trimer, has a molten specific resistance of within 1.0×108Ω·cm, and at least one surface of the film has a surface resistivity of 13 log Ω or less under a relative humidity of 65 %. The invention also provides a wrap-around label for a container produced from the film.
US09005757B2
The present invention provides a metal-salen complex compound having a controlled grain size that enables the metal-salen complex compound to exert its pharmacological effects as a medicine, at a target region. This metal-salen complex compound is composed of the following that has a crystal grain size of 8 μm or less, and that is represented by the chemical formula below. N,N′-Bis(salicylidene)ethylenediamine metal M is Fe, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Mo, Ru, Rh, Pd, W, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Nd, Sm, Eu, or Gd.
US09005751B2
Fibers containing nano-sized diamond and platinum nanocolloid, and bedding formed thereby.
US09005747B2
Disclosed is a transparent electrode which is configured of a first conductive layer that is composed of a metal or metal oxide fine wire that is formed in a pattern on a substrate; and a second conductive layer that covers the first conductive layer and contains a conductive polymer. The transparent electrode is characterized in that the fine wire of the first conductive layer satisfies the conditions mentioned below. Also disclosed is an organic electronic element. Line width (W): 20-200 μm Height (H): 0.2-2.0 μm Aspect ratio: 0.001
US09005745B2
Polymeric foam and polymeric foam products that contain a foamable polymer material, at least one blowing agent, activated carbon, and water are provided. The activated carbon acts as both a water absorbent and carrier for the water. The activated carbon is able to control and increase cell size even in the presence of carbon dioxide, HFCs, and/or infrared attenuating agents. Additionally, the activated carbon permits a desired amount of water to be introduced into the polymer melt. By controlling the amount of activated carbon and its water content during an extrusion process, a broad range of cell sizes can be obtained in the extruded product. In exemplary embodiments, the activated carbon is added to a primary extruder and water is directly injected into a secondary extruder. Alternatively, the activated carbon is compounded with a polymer resin, pre-hydrated by conditioning or steam impregnation, and added to a primary or secondary extruder.
US09005744B2
A conductive micro-wire structure includes a substrate. A plurality of spaced-apart electrically connected micro-wires is formed on or in the substrate forming the conductive micro-wire structure. The conductive micro-wire structure has a transparency of less than 75% and greater than 0%.
US09005740B2
Provided are a resin composition which offers both high transparency and a low linear expansion coefficient and can be used as a material for a dry film, and also a dry film obtained from this composition, an optical waveguide, and a photoelectric composite wiring board. The resin composition for an optical waveguide includes: (A) an epoxy resin constituted by a solid epoxy resin with one or less hydroxyl group in a molecule, and a liquid epoxy resin with one or less hydroxyl group in a molecule; (B) a curing agent with one or less hydroxyl group in a molecule; and (C) a nanosize silica sol, and contains no compound including two or more hydroxyl groups in a molecule as a resin component.
US09005735B2
A composite of metal and resin includes a metal piece and a resin piece. The metal piece includes a surface. Micropores are formed on the surface. The micropores have inlet diameters smaller than bottom diameters thereof. The resin piece is partially inserted into the micropores to combine with the metal piece.
US09005732B2
A composition comprising polymer-bound fiber tows containing carbon fibers, the polymer-bound fiber tows having an average length of 3 mm to 50 mm measured in the fiber direction, and an average bundle thickness of 0.1 mm to 10 mm measured perpendicular to the fiber direction, and in which at least 75% of all polymer-bound fiber tows have a length that is at least 90% and not greater than 110% of the average length combined with a carbon-ceramic material.
US09005730B2
A multifunctional fully integral panel system design, a unique material configuration, and a process for fabricating a net shape (or nearly net shape) panel in one production cycle. The panel may comprise a base facing with an outer perimeter, a decorative film applied to the exterior of the base facing, an aft facing having an outer perimeter fused to the base facing, and a reinforcement core disposed between the unfused portions of the base and aft facings, which reinforcement core also acts as acoustic insulation (i.e., a noise attenuator). Alternatively or additionally, a foam core or blanket having thermal and/or acoustic insulation properties is attached to the external surface of the aft facing. The fabrication process involves the application of different heat treatments to panel components having different forming temperature or rubbery/elastic plateaus.
US09005723B2
A filament for use in an artificial grass field, wherein the filament has a front and a back surface and at least one of the front surface and back surface includes a plurality of adjacent concave indentations extending generally from a first end to a second end.
US09005722B2
A color material dispersion liquid comprising a color material represented by the following general formula (I), a dispersant, and a solvent having a solubility of the color material of 0.1 (mg/10 g solvent) or less at 23° C., having excellent solvent resistance and excellent electrical reliability; a color resin composition for color filters, which can form a color layer that has high contrast, excellent solvent resistance and excellent electrical reliability; a color filter formed with the color resin composition for color filters; a liquid crystal display device having the color filter; and an organic light-emitting display device having the color filter.
US09005714B2
A process for the production of a dark-color multi-layer coating, comprising the successive steps: (1) applying an NIR-opaque coating layer A′ from a solventborne coating composition A to a substrate, (2) applying a coating layer B′ from a solventborne coating composition B onto the substrate provided with coating layer A′, (3) subjecting the coated substrate obtained in step (2) to a drying step, (4) applying a clear coat layer, and (5) curing the coating layers simultaneously; wherein both coating compositions A and B comprise binders and crosslinkers comprising melamine-formaldehyde resin crosslinker, wherein both coating compositions A and B comprise certain proportions of cellulose ester binder and NAD binder and/or sheet silicate and/or fumed silica and/or urea SCA and/or polyolefine wax, wherein the pigment content of coating composition A consists 90 to 100 wt. % of aluminum flake pigment and 0 to 10 wt. % of further pigment, wherein the pigment content of coating composition B consists 50 to 100 wt. % of black pigment with low NIR absorption and 0 to 50 wt. % of further pigment.
US09005702B2
High-temperature fabrics with a coatings to provide oxidation protection at high temperatures, and capable of being formed into a variety of softgoods parts, and methods for their manufacture are disclosed.
US09005683B2
Provided is a method for producing a yeast containing glutamic acid at a high concentration. In the method for culturing a yeast, a yeast in a stationary growth phase is subjected to liquid culture under the conditions that the pH of a liquid medium is 7.5 or higher and lower than 11. After the pH of the liquid medium for the yeast in a stationary growth phase is adjusted to 7.5 or higher and lower than 11, the yeast is further cultured, whereby a yeast with a high glutamic acid content can be produced. In the invention, as the yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae or Candida utilis can be used. Therefore, by using the yeast with a high glutamic acid content obtained by the above-said method and the extract obtained by extraction from the yeast, a seasoning composition and a food or drink with a high glutamic acid content can be provided.
US09005679B2
The invention provides methods for treating and/or preventing the recurrence of a senile cataract, and/or for inhibiting the development of a senile cataract and/or an incipient senile cataract, in a human or animal subject. The invention further provides nutraceutical compositions suited for the same, derived from an extract of the plant Capraria biflora. The compositions comprise the extract in a therapeutically sufficient amount for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of a senile cataract in a human and/or animal subject.
US09005678B1
The present invention discloses a pharmaceutical composition for treating cancer, comprising: (1) a herbal composition generated from Astragali membranaceus radix, Cinnamomi cortex, Paeonia alba radix, Jujubae fructus, and Zingiberis rhizoma or an extract of the above mixed herbal medicine; (2) one or more chemotherapeutic compounds. The present invention also discloses use of the above pharmaceutical composition in the preparation of medicament for treating human cancer and in the preparation of medicament for reducing side effects of chemotherapeutic compounds in human body. The pharmaceutical composition of the present invention can reduce chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathic side effects such as limb paresthesia, pain, cold skin, formication, powerlessness and the like, increase tolerance dosages of anticancer drugs, and enhance efficacy of anticancer drugs.
US09005667B1
Methods are provided for isolating and using a whole-saliva leech extract. The methods can include feeding a phagostimulatory agent to a leech; inducing a regurgitation in the leech, the inducing including placing the leech in an environment having a temperature of less than about 0° C.; and, collecting an unrefined, whole saliva in the regurgitation of the cooled leech. The methods can include revitalizing the leech by warming it at a temperature ranging from about 5° C. to about 40° C. Stable, lyophilized, whole-saliva extracts of a leech are also provided, the extract having a stable activity when stored for use at a temperature below about −20° C., the extract maintaining at least 70% of the activity for at least 6 months. The extracts can be used to treat solid tumors, treat liquid tumors, treat diabetes, treat a viral disease, treat a parasitic disease, treat an antibacterial disease, or serve as an anti-oxidant.
US09005665B2
Disclosed herein are methods and compositions for treating or preventing Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) infection in a subject.
US09005654B2
The present invention provides apparatus and processes for producing liposomes. By providing a buffer solution in a first reservoir, and a lipid solution in a second reservoir, continuously diluting the lipid solution with the buffer solution in a mixing chamber produces a liposome. A therapeutic agent, such as nucleic acid, is included in one of the buffer solution or the lipid solution. Upon mixing a liposome encapsulating the therapeutic product is substantially instantaneously formed. Thereafter the liposome solution formed is immediately diluted with buffer solution to enhance homogeneity and maintain small particle size.
US09005650B2
A drug delivery device that includes a capsule for implantation into the body; the capsule further includes a reservoir for containing a substance such as a therapeutic agent, at least one port for allowing the substance to diffuse from or otherwise exit the reservoir, and a nanopore membrane in communication with the capsule at or near the exit port for controlling the rate of diffusion of the substance from the exit port. The device also includes an optional screen for providing structural stability to the nanopore membrane and for keeping the pores of the nanopore membrane clear. One embodiment of the drug delivery device includes an osmotic engine internal to the device for creating fluid flow through the device.
US09005631B2
Disclosed herein are isolated immunogens including variant hepatitis B surface antigens (HBsAgs). In an example, a variant HBsAg includes a HBsAg with one or more transmembrane domains of the HBsAg replaced with a gp41 antigenic insert. The antigenic insert can include an antigenic polypeptide fragment of gp41 including the membrane proximal region of gp41 and a transmembrane membrane region of gp41. The replacement of a membrane spanning domain of HBsAg with a membrane spanning domain of gp41 anchors gp41 into HBsAg in virtually the identical orientation as on HIV virions and correctly orients the nearby MPR on the lipid layer. Thus, the disclosed variant HBsAgs display the neutralization-sensitive MPR in association with a lipid layer, while presenting it at the most immunogenic site on HBsAg. Also disclosed are uses of these variant HBsAgs, and nucleic acids encoding variant HBsAgs, such as to induce an immune response to HIV-1.
US09005628B2
The present invention is directed to analgesic Clostridial neurotoxin derivatives comprising polypeptides having a long-lasting SNARE protein-selective endopeptidase activity. These derivatives selectively bind to and are internalized by non-neuronal cells secreting cytokines or sensory neurons in preference to motor neurons or autonomic neurons. The invention is also directed to nucleic acid constructs encoding such polypeptides, and methods of making such derivatives and nucleic acid constructs, and methods of treating pain, such as chronic pain, by administering such derivatives to a patient suffering from, or at risk of suffering from such pain.
US09005626B2
A liquid composition suitable for topical use comprising is provided that includes a phospholipid foaming agent and at least one solvent; and a pharmaceutically acceptable active agent; wherein the liquid composition is capable of mechanically foaming without an additional propellant; and wherein upon mechanical foaming of 250 ml of the liquid composition results in a foam with a foam volume of at least about 400 ml and a foam stability wherein at least about 50% of the foam volume is still present after about 5 minutes at 25° C., as determined using a SITA foam measurement. Also provided herein are methods of making disclosed compositions and methods of use.
US09005625B2
The present invention provides conjugates formed between toxins and sugars and toxins and peptides, such as antibodies. In an exemplary embodiment, a toxin-sugar construct is conjugated to an antibody through an intact glycosyl linking group.
US09005620B2
Binding members, e.g. human antibody molecules, which bind interleukin-6 (IL-6) and neutralize its biological effects. Use of binding members for IL-6 in medical treatment e.g. for treating inflammatory diseases and tumors associated with IL-6.
US09005617B2
An antikine antibody binds to two, three, four, five or more CC chemokines, such as RANTES/CCL5, MIP-1α/CCL3, MIP-1β/CCL4, or MCP-1/CCL2. Methods for affinity maturation and humanization of antikine antibodies as well as the production of hybridoma cell lines producing antikine antibodies by sequential immunization are also disclosed.
US09005613B2
Described herein are compositions and methods of use of anti-pancreatic cancer antibodies or fragments thereof, such as murine, chimeric, humanized or human PAM4 antibodies. The antibodies show novel and useful diagnostic characteristics, such as binding with high specificity to pancreatic and other cancers, but not to normal or benign pancreatic tissues and binding to a high percentage of early stage pancreatic cancers. Preferably, the antibodies bind to an epitope located within the second to fourth cysteine-rich domains of MUC5ac (amino acid residues 1575-2052) and are of use for the detection and diagnosis of early stage pancreatic cancer. In more preferred embodiments, the anti-pancreatic cancer antibodies can be used for immunoassay of serum samples, wherein the immunoassay detects a marker for early stage pancreatic cancer in serum. Most preferably, the serum is extracted with an organic phase, such as butanol, before immunoassay.
US09005610B2
Provided herein are compositions, foods comprising nepenthesin or a derivative thereof and methods of using nepenthesin or a derivative thereof for modulating gluten intolerance and related conditions, such as celiac disease. Further provided herein are pharmaceutical compositions comprising nepenthesin or a derivative thereof and methods of using nepenthesin or a derivative thereof to treat bacterial infections of the gastrointestinal tract, such as C. difficile or H. pylori. Further provided herein are compositions comprising recombinant nepenthesin I or nepenthesin II, or homologous proteins, and methods for making the same.
US09005605B2
The specification discloses compositions and methods for treating a soft tissue defect of an individual.
US09005604B2
A scaffold assembly and related methods of manufacturing and/or using the scaffold for stem cell culture and tissue engineering applications are disclosed which at least partially mimic a native biological environment by providing biochemical, topographical, mechanical and electrical cues by using an electroactive material. The assembly includes at least one layer of substantially aligned, electrospun polymer fiber having an operative connection for individual voltage application. A method of cell tissue engineering and/or stem cell differentiation uses the assembly seeded with a sample of cells suspended in cell culture media, incubates and applies voltage to one or more layers, and thus produces cells and/or a tissue construct. In another aspect, the invention provides a method of manufacturing the assembly including the steps of providing a first pre-electroded substrate surface; electrospinning a first substantially aligned polymer fiber layer onto the first surface; providing a second pre-electroded substrate surface; electrospinning a second substantially aligned polymer fiber layer onto the second surface; and, retaining together the layered surfaces with a clamp and/or an adhesive compound.
US09005603B2
This document provides methods and materials related to Prevotella histicola preparations. For example, Prevotella histicola preparations in the form of an oral medicament or dietary supplement (e.g., a pill, tablet, capsule) are provided. In addition, methods and materials for using a Prevotella histicola preparation provided herein as an anti-inflammatory agent are provided.
US09005598B2
Novel compounds of the general formula (I): in which X represents a polymer; Q represents a linking group; W represents an electron-withdrawing moiety or a moiety preparable by reduction of an electron-withdrawing moiety; each of R1 and R2 independently represents a hydrogen atom or a C1-4alkyl group; and either Z1 represents a protein or a peptide linked to CR2 via a nucleophilic moiety, and Z2 represents a molecule linked to CR2 via a nucleophilic moiety, or Z1 and Z2 together represent a single group derived from a protein or peptide linked to CR via two nucleophilic moieties.
US09005597B2
The present invention is directed to a composition for treating vaginal dryness and lack of lubrication comprising: a poloxamer component; a phospholipid component; an optional oil component; and a non-aqueous carrier; wherein the composition is substantially anhydrous. In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a method of treating vaginal dryness comprising the step of administering to a patient suffering from vaginal dryness the above composition.
US09005595B2
A Chinese medicine hair-blackening preparation and formula and a preparation method therefor, wherein the preparation comprises ginger, astragalus mongholicus, polygonum multiflorum, black sesame, angelica sinensis, fructus lycii, ligusticum wallichii, salvia miltiorrhizae, chrysanthemum indicum, red dates, black soya bean, walnuts, cortex mori radicis, fructus liqustri lucidi, eclipta alba, mulberry fruit, fat extract of silkie, fat extract of duck, 65% ethanol solution and 40% ethanol solution; the preparation is prepared by using techniques of mixing, grinding, soaking and extraction to produce an ointment; the preparation is suitable for all hair and scalp types, and when it is used after hair wash, it produces no allergic reactions or toxic side-effects, thereby allowing the medically active elements to penetrate quickly into the skin and to be absorbed by the skin to achieve quickly visible hair blackening effect.
US09005580B2
Methods for treating renal cancer by administration of certain 3,3′,4,4′-tetrahydroxy-2,2′-bipyridine-N,N′-dioxide compounds, especially 3,3′,4,4′-tetrahydroxy-2,2′-bipyridine-N,N′-dioxide (Orellanine), conjugated to an alpha-emitting radionuclide (e.g. Astatine-211) to increase the efficacy of the formulation and/or a large molecule (e.g. a oligomer/polymer such as a PEG or a polysaccharide such as a dextran or a Ficoll®) to reduce the filtration and consequently the renal exposure. Particular administration protocols and dosing regimens, as well as pharmaceutical compositions suitable for use in the treatment methods can be used.
US09005574B2
The invention relates to (glyco-) proteins, in particular monoclonal antibodies, which have an immunoreactivity of >81%, preferably >90%. The inventive monoclonal antibodies are produced using a fluidized bed reactor in conjunction with a conventional protein-chemical purification method or preferably with a purification method involving less column chromatography. The monoclonal antibodies thus produced are suitable, in gamma-irradiated form, e.g. Tc-99m labeled, for the in vivo diagnosis of inflammatory diseases and bone marrow metastases. In alpha- or beta-irradiated form, e.g. astatine or Re-188 or Y-90 labeled form, the inventive monoclonal antibodies can be used, for example, in the treatment of leukemia.
US09005567B2
A method for producing isolatable oxide microparticles or hydroxide microparticles using an apparatus that processes a fluid between processing surfaces of processing members that are arranged opposite each other so as to be able to approach to or separate from each other and such that at least one can rotate relative to the other. At least two fluids are mixed and oxide microparticles or hydroxide microparticles are separated, said two fluids including: a fluid containing a microparticle raw material solution comprising a microparticle raw material mixed into a solvent, and a fluid containing a microparticle-separation solution. Immediately thereafter, the following are mixed to obtain isolatable oxide microparticles or hydroxide microparticles: a fluid containing the separated oxide microparticles or hydroxide microparticles; and a fluid containing a microparticle-treatment-substance-containing solution that contains a microparticle-treatment substance that adjusts the dispersibility of the separated oxide microparticles or hydroxide microparticles.
US09005554B1
A method and an apparatus is disclosed that uses a gas lift tubing arrangement to produce synthetic hydrocarbon related products. Using the Fischer Tropsch process as an example, the tubing is packed with a suitable catalyst and then hydrogen and carbon monoxide are injected into the top of the tubing in a fashion similar to a gas lift process. As the gases travel past the catalyst, synthetic hydrocarbons are formed and heat is rejected. The synthetic hydrocarbons and water flow out of the bottom of the tubing and travel up the annulus to the surface. In some embodiments, this process is carried out in a producing well or a in producing riser. In a producing well or a producing riser, the production from the well which flows up the annulus cools the synthetic hydrocarbon derived products. In additional and alternate embodiments, this process can be used in non-flowing wells.
US09005548B2
Methods for fabricating of high aspect ratio probes and deforming micropillars and nanopillars are described. Use of polymers in deforming nanopillars and micropillars is also described.
US09005532B2
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for continuous recovery of (meth)acrylic acid, and more specifically to a method of continuous recovery of (meth)acrylic acid, including: conducting gas phase oxidation of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of propane, propylene, butane, i-butylene, t-butylene, and (meth)acrolein in the presence of a catalyst to obtain a mixed gas containing (meth)acrylic acid; quenching the (meth)acrylic acid-containing mixed gas to remove high boiling point by-products in the (meth)acrylic acid-containing mixed gas; contacting the high boiling point by-product-free (meth)acrylic acid-containing mixed gas with water or an aqueous solution to obtain an aqueous solution containing (meth)acrylic acid; and purifying the aqueous solution containing (meth)acrylic acid to obtain (meth)acrylic acid.The continuous recovery method of (meth)acrylic acid according to the present invention may significantly reduce energy consumption and continuously recover high purity (meth)acrylic acid with excellent production efficiency compared to the previous recovery methods.
US09005529B2
A housing having a suction port and a discharge port, an impeller 21 and a casing 22 that houses the impeller 21, an air blower 2 housed in the housing, a filter that lets through the air suctioned from the suction port by the air blower 2, and two ion generating sections that generate positive and negative ions are provided. The ion generating section is arranged on a circular-arc guide wall 2a in the casing 22. The positive and negative ions generated by the ion generating section are efficiently included in the air passing through as laminar flow along the circular-arc guide wall 22a.
US09005525B2
A transportable, self-contained assay facility built in a modified standard shipping container that is completely equipped to melt and assay precious metals, particularly gold and silver. An induction furnace melts the metal that is then poured into an ingot. The ingot is weighed and analyzed using an XRF alloy analyzer and the percentage of gold and/or other metals recorded. The value of the gold at current market prices is calculated and the assay and the value of the ingot is printed and given to the seller. The seller may opt to receive the ingot and pay the assayer an assay fee. Alternately, the seller may ask to be paid in cash, by bullion, wire transfer, or by an open hedge. A transfer or hedge is initiated and confirmed from the assay facility. The ingots may be securely stored in a safe within the assay facility.
US09005522B2
A platinum-free silver alloy may include about 0.1% to 0.9% Au, about 83% to 90% Ag, about 2% to 3% Pd, about 3% to 5% Zn, about 2% to 8% Cu, about 0.01% to 0.4% B, about 0.1% to 0.3% Ge, and about 0.01% to 0.03% Ir.
US09005515B2
The present invention relates to a method for the manufacturing of a container or parts of a container for fuel or compressed gases by extrusion blow molding and container or parts of container for fuel or compressed gases made thereof.
US09005508B2
An automated mandrel dip coating process assembly for RTV silicone dispersions is described, including an enclosure adapted to hold a moisture-cure ambient temperature curable medium for mandrel dip molding and at least one mandrel having a surface for contacting the moisture-cure ambient temperature curable medium. An automated motive drive assembly is arranged to removably translate one or more of the mandrel(s) into contact with the moisture-cure ambient temperature curable medium in the enclosure, and to subsequently translate at least one mandrel contacted with the moisture-cure ambient temperature curable medium into at least one of (A) contact with a bubble crusher in the enclosure, and (B) disengagement from the moisture-cure ambient temperature curable medium in the enclosure and rotation of the mandrel at a vertical displacement angle of from 70° to 110°. By such arrangement, air bubble entrapment on the dip molded film on the mandrel is avoided, and controlled film thickness is achieved at desired location(s) so that the product molded film article is free of pinholes and air bubble inclusions in the film, and complies with desired thickness specifications.
US09005502B2
The object of the invention is to provide a mold that is capable of high-precision, stable patterning, and improved in terms of handleability as well, and a manufacturing method thereof. The mold of the invention has a pattern-formation surface defined by one surface, wherein the pattern-formation layer has a projection-and-depression structure area for patterning, and a base surface defined by another surface. At least the pattern-formation layer and the base surface each comprise a polydimethylsiloxane layer. Given a low-molecular-weight siloxane of a cyclic structure represented by [—Si(CH3)2O—]k where k is an integer of 3 to 20 inclusive, the polydimethylsiloxane layer positioned on the pattern-formation layer comprises a high-content polydimethylsiloxane layer containing the low-molecular-weight siloxane in a larger amount, and the polydimethylsiloxane layer positioned on the base surface comprises a low-content polydimethylsiloxane layer containing the low-molecular-weight siloxane in a smaller amount.
US09005501B2
The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for producing a film web made of thermoplastic material in which the thermoplastic material is extruded in at least one layer as plastic melt from a wide-slit nozzle in an extrusion direction and subsequently led away over at least roller, wherein tensile forces are exerted in the extrusion direction and transversely to the extrusion direction in order to stretch the film web longitudinally and transversely, wherein during application of the tensile forces in and transversely to the extrusion direction the film web has a temperature at least corresponding to the melting temperature of the same.
US09005496B2
Asymmetric membranes comprising a first asymmetric porous zone including a first porous asymmetry that increases from the first exterior surface through the first porous zone of the bulk, and a second asymmetric porous zone including a second porous asymmetry that increases from the second exterior surface through the second porous zone of the bulk, wherein the first average pore size is larger than the second average pore size, as well as methods of making and using the membranes, are disclosed.
US09005494B2
Prior art processes for producing protein-based capsules (for example, capsules for use in electrophoretic media) tend to be wasteful because they produce many capsules outside the desired size range, which is typically about 20 to 50 μm. Capsule size distribution and yields can be improved by either (a) emulsifying a water-immiscible phase in a preformed coacervate of the protein; or (b) using a limited coalescence process with colloidal alumina as the surface-active particulate material.
US09005491B2
A photosensitive resin composition for a color filter includes (A) an acrylic-based binder resin including a structural unit represented by the following Chemical Formula 1, wherein the definitions of R1, R2, R3 and R4 are the same as set forth in specification; (B) an acrylic-based photopolymerizable monomer; (C) a photopolymerization initiator; (D) a colorant; and (E) a solvent.
US09005487B2
A tablet for ion plating enables to attain high rate film-formation of a transparent conductive film suitable for a blue LED or a solar cell, and a noduleless film-formation not generating splash, an oxide sintered body most suitable for obtaining the same, and a production method thereof. A tablet for ion plating obtained by processing an oxide sintered body includes indium and cerium as oxides, and having a cerium content of 0.3 to 9% by atom, as an atomicity ratio of Ce/(In+Ce). The oxide sintered body has an In2O3 phase of a bixbyite structure as a main crystal phase, has a CeO2 phase of a fluorite-type structure finely dispersed as crystal grains having an average particle diameter of equal to or smaller than 3 μm, as a second phase. The oxide sintered body is produced by (a) mixing raw material powder consisting of indium oxide powder with an average particle diameter of equal to or smaller than 1.5 μm, then (b) molding the mixed powder, and sintering the molding by a normal pressure sintering method, or (b′) molding and sintering the mixed powder by a hot press method.
US09005485B2
The present invention relates to a composition for a one-part die attach adhesives material useful for packaging semi-conductors including HB-LED. The composition of the present invention includes a thermal and electrical conductive filler, a polymer matrix and a solvent which form a material with high thermal conductivity, low curing temperature and high self-life temperature. The present invention also relates to a method of preparing said composition by mixing a size-selected and surface-modified filler formulation, a polymer matrix and a non-reactive organic solvent together followed by curing the mixture at a low temperature.
US09005483B2
Nanoparticle paste formulations can be configured to maintain a fluid state, promote dispensation, and mitigate crack formation during nanoparticle fusion. Such nanoparticle paste formulations can contain an organic matrix and a plurality of metal nanoparticles dispersed in the organic matrix, where the plurality of metal nanoparticles constitute about 30% to about 90% of the nanoparticle paste formulation by weight. The nanoparticle paste formulations can maintain a fluid state and be dispensable through a micron-size aperture. The organic matrix can contain one or more organic solvents, such as the combination of one or more hydrocarbons, one or more alcohols, one or more amines, and one or more organic acids. Optionally, the nanoparticle paste formulations can contain about 0.01 to about 15 percent by weight micron-scale metal particles or other additives.
US09005482B2
A paste composition for a rear electrode of a solar cell according to an embodiment comprises conductive powder including a first powder having a first mean particle diameter, a second powder having a second mean particle diameter larger than the first mean particle diameter, and a third powder having a third mean particle diameter larger than the second mean particle diameter, and an organic vehicle.
US09005477B2
A liquid crystal composition containing a polymerizable compound according to the present invention is used in a liquid crystal display element in which a liquid crystal alignment capability is provided through polymerization. The liquid crystal composition contains a polymerizable compound that polymerizes without a photopolymerization initiator or with an extremely small amount of photopolymerization initiator. Therefore, the alignment properties after the polymerization become more stable and the display characteristics do not degrade. Thus, the polymerizable compound is suitable as a practical component of the liquid crystal composition. A liquid crystal display element that uses the liquid crystal composition containing a polymerizable compound according to the present invention can be suitably used for VA and IPS liquid crystal display elements.
US09005472B2
An aqueous polishing agent, comprising, as the abrasive, at least one kind of polymer particles (A) finely dispersed in the aqueous phase and having at their surface a plurality of at least one kind of functional groups (a1) capable of interacting with the metals and/or the metal oxides on top of the surfaces to be polished and forming complexes with the said metals and metal cations, the said polymer particles (A) being preparable by the emulsion or suspension polymerization of at least one monomer containing at least one radically polymerizable double bond in the presence of at least one oligomer or polymer containing a plurality of functional groups (a1); graft copolymers preparable by the emulsion or suspension polymerization of at least one monomer containing at least one radically polymerizable double bond in the presence of at least one oligomeric or polymeric aminotriazine-polyamine condensate; and a process for the chemical and mechanical polishing of patterned and unstructured metal surfaces making use of the said aqueous polishing agent.
US09005471B2
A heat transfer fluid comprising a carrier fluid and a nano-additive is provided. The heat transfer fluid is manufactured by dispersing the nano-additive in the carrier fluid. The nano-additive comprises nano-particles having a porous structure that provides dispersion stability of the nano-additive in the heat transfer fluid. The nano-additive structure has an aspect ratio of about 1.0 to about 10,000, a porosity of about 40% to about 85%, a density of about 0.4 g/cc to about 3.0 g/cc, an average pore diameter of about 0.1 nanometer to about 100 nanometers, and a specific surface area of about 1 m2/g to about 4000 m2/g. The nano-additive increases the heat transfer efficiency of the heat transfer fluid and also reduces the moisture content of the heat transfer fluid.
US09005459B2
A disclosed film deposition method includes steps of loading plural substrates each of which includes a pattern including a concave part in a reaction chamber in the form of shelves; depositing a silicon oxide film on the plural substrates by supplying a silicon-containing gas and an oxygen-containing gas to the reaction chamber; etching the silicon oxide film deposited on the plural substrates in the step of depositing by supplying a fluorine-containing gas and an ammonia gas to the reaction chamber; and alternately repeating the step of depositing and the step of etching.
US09005453B2
Expedient and sensitive detection of a detection target substance is enabled in target substance detection that detects the detection target substance at a sensor portion provided within a flow channel. A detection target substance detecting method for a detecting detection target substance which may be contained in a liquid sample emits ultrasonic waves that propagate in a direction transverse to a flow channel when the liquid sample flows within a ultrasonic wave emission region at which ultrasonic waves can be emitted, to concentrate the detection target substance at a wall surface of the flow channel toward the side of the sensor portion and to detect the detection target substance.
US09005451B2
Method and device for treating a liquid effluent, in which this effluent enters a vessel. An intermediate level of liquid in the vessel is detected; an influx of a dilution liquid into the vessel is instigated; a high level of liquid in the vessel is detected; the influx of dilution liquid is stopped and a discharge of the fluid is instigated; a low level of liquid in the vessel is detected; the discharge of the liquid is stopped; and, while it is being discharged, the discharged liquid is exposed to light radiation in at least one treatment channel.
US09005447B2
A procedure for the preparation of the radioactive tracer 3′-deoxy-3′-[18F]fluorothymidine ([18F]FLT) comprises the following steps: a) preparation of anhydrous [18F]F-fluoride; b) labelling of a precursor, for example 3-N-Boc-1-[5′-O-(4,4′-dimethoxytrityl)-3′-O-nitrophenylsulfonyl-2′-deoxy-β-D-lyxofuranosyl]thymidine; c) hydrolysis of the mixture obtained by means of the previous steps; d) purification of the mixture to obtain the radioactive tracer [18F]FLT. In this procedure steps a), b) and c) are carried out by means of known methods. In step d) the mixture obtained after step c) is purified by means of the passage through a ventilated filter and one or more cartridges of the cationic exchange type (e.g. a Chromafix PS-H+), one or more cartridges of the reversed phase type, and finally a passage through cartridges either of the alumina N type, or diol cartridges, or anionic exchange cartridges or a combination thereof. Furthermore, the mixture which is present in the cartridges is eluted with H2O for injection, whereby the resulting product is forwarded to a container or ampoule for the collection of [18F]FLT.
US09005444B2
Disclosed are methods for the chromatographic separation of rebaudioside A from stevioside in glycoside solutions that are derived from stevia. The chromatographic separation may be an adsorb/desorb type of chromatographic separation or a fractionation type of chromatographic separation.
US09005429B2
The present invention relates to hydrocarbons and particularly to the manufacture of hydrocarbon components suitable as aviation fuels or jet fuels and as blending stocks for aviation fuels. The process comprises the stages, wherein in the first stage an oil feed of biological origin and hydrogen gas are subjected to conditions sufficient to effect hydrodeoxygenation in the presence of a hydrodeoxygenation catalyst to yield n-paraffins; in the second stage the n-paraffins and hydrogen gas are subjected to conditions sufficient to effect isomerization in the presence of an isomerization catalyst to yield isoparaffins and separating fractions; and recycling the fraction boiling at a temperature above 200° C. under atmospheric pressure obtained from the second stage to reisomerization, where isomerization is effected in the presence of an isomerization catalyst.
US09005424B2
A method is provided for determining analyte concentrations, for example glucose concentrations, that utilizes a dynamic determination of the appropriate time for making a glucose measurement, for example when a current versus time curve substantially conforms to a Cottrell decay, or when the current is established in a plateau region. Dynamic determination of the time to take the measurement allows each strip to operate in the shortest appropriate time frame, thereby avoiding using an average measurement time that may be longer than necessary for some strips and too short for others.
US09005422B2
Methods and apparatus for the preparation of nitrogen fertilizers including ammonium nitrate, urea, urea-ammonium nitrate, and/or ammonia are disclosed. Embodiments include (1) ammonium nitrate produced via the reduction of a nitrogen source at the cathode and the oxidation of a nitrogen source at the anode; (2) urea or its isomers produced via the simultaneous cathodic reduction of a carbon source and a nitrogen source: (3) ammonia produced via the reduction of nitrogen source at the cathode and the oxidation of a hydrogen source or a hydrogen equivalent such as carbon monoxide or a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen at the anode; and (4) urea-ammonium nitrate produced via the simultaneous cathodic reduction of a carbon source and a nitrogen source, and anodic oxidation of a nitrogen source.
US09005417B1
Embodiments of the present invention provide devices, systems, and methods for microscale isoelectric fractionation. Analytes in a sample may be isolated according to their isoelectric point within a fractionation microchannel. A microfluidic device according to an embodiment of the invention includes a substrate at least partially defining a fractionation microchannel. The fractionation microchannel has at least one cross-sectional dimension equal to or less than 1 mm. A plurality of membranes of different pHs are disposed in the microchannel. Analytes having an isoelectric point between the pH of the membranes may be collected in a region of the fractionation channel between the first and second membranes through isoelectric fractionation.
US09005416B2
Improvements in references electrodes, halogen sensors, pH sensors, TDS sensors, combinations thereof, and related methods.
US09005413B2
A film formation apparatus includes: a chamber having an inner space in which both a body to be processed and a target are disposed so that the body to be processed and the target are opposed to each other, a first magnetic field generation section generating a magnetic field in the inner space to which the target is exposed; a second magnetic field generation section generating a perpendicular magnetic field so as to allow perpendicular magnetic lines of force thereof to pass between the target the body to be processed; and a third magnetic field generation section disposed at upstream side of the target as seen from the second magnetic field generation section.
US09005409B2
An electrochemical deposition apparatus adapted to deposit metal onto a surface of a substrate, the apparatus has a frame configured for holding a process electrolyte. A substrate holder is removably coupled to the frame, the substrate holder supporting the substrate in the process electrolyte. An anode fluid compartment is removably coupled to the frame and containing an anolyte and having an anode facing the surface of the substrate, the anode fluid compartment further having a ion exchange membrane disposed between the anode and the surface of the substrate, the anode fluid compartment removable from the frame as a unit with the ion exchange membrane and the anode. The holder, the anode and the membrane are arranged in the frame so that ions from the anode pass through the ion exchange membrane into and primarily replenish ions in the process electrolyte depleted by ion deposition onto the surface of the substrate.
US09005407B2
A method of fabricating a composite field emission source is provided. A first stage of film-forming process is performed by using RF magnetron sputtering, so as to form a nano structure film on a substrate, in which the nano structure film is a petal-shaped structure composed of a plurality of nano graphite walls. Afterward, a second stage of film-forming process is performed for increasing carbon accumulation amount on the nano structure film and thereby growing a plurality of nano coral-shaped structures on the petal-shaped structure. Therefore, the composite field emission source with high strength and nano coral-shaped structures can be obtained, whereby improving the effect and life of electric field emission.
US09005402B2
The present technology describes apparatus, systems, and methods for the thermal decomposition of carbonaceous feedstocks through continuous pyrolysis. A reciprocating reactor is described that includes an inner reactor pipe and an outer reactor pipe. The outer reactor pipe has a first portion that surrounds the inner reactor pipe forming an annulus space, and a second portion that extends beyond the inner reactor pipe and forms a turnaround zone. The inner reactor pipe defines an inner reactor zone that produces partially reacted carbonaceous feedstock, and the annulus space defines an outer reactor zone that produces product gases and solids.
US09005401B2
A system for tire distillation including an upper chamber, a first conveyor configured to transport a tire through the upper chamber, a lower chamber located beneath the upper chamber, the lower chamber that includes an ultrasonic purge chamber configured to radiate the tire with ultrasonic radiation, a microwave radiation chamber configured to radiate the tire with microwave radiation, and a second conveyor configured to transport the tire from the ultrasonic purge chamber to the microwave radiation chamber. The system further includes a vacuum system configured to maintain an atmosphere in the ultrasonic purge chamber and the microwave radiation chamber under a vacuum wherein the tire is preheated during conveyance through the upper chamber from heat produced in the lower chamber.
US09005397B2
The invention relates to an aqueous polymer dispersion comprising an anionic water-soluble dispersion polymer comprising in polymerized form a monomer mixture comprising (i) one or more anionic monomers, (ii) a first non-ionic vinyl monomer which is acrylamide, and (iii) at least one second non-ionic vinyl monomer; a water-soluble salt and a stabilizer, wherein the water soluble salt is present in an amount of at least 2.0% by weight, based on the total weight of the dispersion. The invention further relates to a process for producing the aqueous polymer dispersion, use of the aqueous polymer dispersion as a flocculating agent in papermaking or for water purification, and a process for producing paper which comprises adding one or more drainage and retention aids comprising the aqueous polymer dispersion to an aqueous suspension containing cellulosic fibers and then dewatering the obtained suspension.
US09005395B1
The present disclosure is generally directed to a dispersible moist wipe comprising hydroentangled fibers and a binder composition. The moist wipe demonstrates high initial wet strength while maintaining effective dispersion in an aqueous environment. The moist wipe has potential application as a flushable surface cleaning product and/or a flushable cleansing cloth.
US09005386B2
A sling label comprises a single layer label portion having an upper surface and a lower surface, a cut in the label portion forming a sling, and adhesive on the lower surface of the label portion. The adhesive is inactivated on the lower surface of the label corresponding to the position of the sling. Further, a method for making a sling label comprises placing a single layer label portion over a backing layer so that the label portion adheres to the backing layer by means of the adhesive, and inactivating a portion of the adhesive on the lower surface of the label portion. A diecut is made in the label portion where the adhesive on the lower surface of the label portion has been inactivated, and the label portion is re-fastened to the backing layer.
US09005385B2
A bonding apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure includes a first holding unit, a second holding unit, a first cooling mechanism, a second cooling mechanism, a third heating mechanism and a fourth heating mechanism. The first holding unit has a first heating mechanism and holds a first substrate. The second holding unit has a second heating mechanism and holds a second substrate. The pressing mechanism contacts and presses the first substrate and the second substrate. The first cooling mechanism cools the first substrate through the first holding unit. The second cooling mechanism cools the second substrate through the second holding unit. The third heating mechanism heats the first cooling mechanism. The fourth heating mechanism heats the second cooling mechanism.
US09005376B2
Alloys and methods for preparing the same are provided. The alloys are represented by the general formula of (ZraAlbCucNid)100-e-fYeMf, wherein a, b, c, and d are atomic fractions, in which: 0.472≦a≦0.568; 0.09≦b≦0.11; 0.27≦c≦0.33; 0.072≦d≦0.088; the sum of a, b, c, and d equals 1; e and f are atomic numbers of elements Y and M respectively, in which 0≦e≦5 and 0.01≦f≦5; and M is selected from the group consisting of Nb, Ta, Sc, and combinations thereof.
US09005375B2
A steel sheet for cans containing 0.0060 to 0.01 mass % C and 0.02 to 0.12 mass % Nb and having the following characteristics: (i) an average ferrite grain size in a cross section in the rolling direction in a region from a surface layer of the steel sheet to a position ¼ of a sheet thickness away from the surface layer of the steel sheet is 7 μm to 10 μm or less, and (ii) an average ferrite grain size in a cross section in the rolling direction in a region from the position ¼ of a sheet thickness away from the surface layer of the steel sheet to a sheet thickness center portion of the steel sheet is 15 μm or less, wherein the average ferrite grain size (1) is smaller than the average ferrite grain size (2).
US09005371B2
A domestic appliance, in particular a dishwasher, includes an appliance door which has a front operating panel with a handle shell which is formed at least from a bottom handle-shell part and a handle-shell cover. The handle-shell cover has a side wall which is directed towards the front operating panel and, together with the front operating panel, forms a double-wall structure with a free installation space arranged therebetween.
US09005366B2
The present invention discloses a cleaning process, utilizing a gas flow to an interior of a hollow object in a fluid ambient. After capping the object to seal off the interior volume, gas is introduced to the object interior. The pressure is built up within the object interior, loosening the seal. The gas pressure is released, and the seal returns. The vibration caused by the cycling of gas pressure can be used to perform cleaning of particles adhering to the object. The cleaning process can be used in a combinatorial processing system, enabling in-situ cleaning of process reactor assemblies.
US09005359B2
A chemically treated carbon black product is provided, which includes a pellet having an agglomerated mass of carbon black aggregates densified in a generally spheroidal form. The carbon black aggregates have polysulfide adsorbed on surfaces thereof. The polysulfide is thereby distributed throughout the pellet. Elastomeric compositions containing the chemically treated carbon black are also provided, and exhibit a reduction in hysteresis and equivalent or better abrasion resistance. A method for manufacturing the treated carbon black product is also disclosed.
US09005356B2
The invention provides methods, compositions, and devices for promoting adhesion or migration of endothelial cells.
US09005352B2
Embodiments of the invention are directed towards a trap canister for adsorbing fuel vapor contained in breakthrough gas discharged from a main adsorbent canister. The main adsorbent canister is connected to a fuel tank has a case defining an adsorption chamber therein and an adsorbent filled in the adsorption chamber. The case has a first end open to the atmosphere and a second end for introducing breakthrough gas into the adsorption chamber. The adsorbent filled in the adsorption chamber adsorbs the fuel vapor contained in the breakthrough gas. The trap canister further has a bypass path for bypassing the adsorption chamber and a valve configured to block the bypass path and to allow for opening during refueling. This prevents the fuel vapor from flowing into the atmosphere during normal operation while also decreasing pressure loss during refueling.
US09005350B2
A trap canister for adsorbing fuel vapor contained in break-through gas discharged from a main canister. The trap canister may include a trap case having an adsorption chamber defined therein and containing an adsorption material, so that the break-through gas flows through the adsorption material in a gas flow direction. The adsorption chamber may include a gas introduction side and a gas outlet side located on a downstream side of the gas introduction side along the gas flow direction. The adsorption chamber may have a passage with a cross-sectional area gradually decreasing from the gas introduction side toward the gas outlet side. The trap canister may further include a temperature control device configured to control the temperature of the adsorption material.
US09005342B2
The present invention is characterized in that a filter made of resin comprises a through-hole film portion (14); and a structure reinforce portion (13), wherein a through-hole (15) is provided in a through-hole film portion (14), the thickness of the through-hole film portion (14) is from 0.5 to 2.0 μm, the bore of the through-hole (15) is from 0.05 to 0.5 μm, the thickness of the structure reinforce portion (13) is bigger than the thickness of the through-hole film portion (14), the structure reinforce portion (13) encloses the through-hole film portion (14), a damage-reduction structure is provided on the upper surface of the structure reinforce portion (13), and wherein, the damage-reduction structure may be an uneven structures.
US09005332B2
A process for producing pig iron or liquid primary steel products is provided. Charge materials containing iron ore and, if appropriate, additions are reduced in at least one reduction unit by means of a reducing gas, and at least parts thereof are smelted in a smelting unit, with coal being added and with formation of the reducing gas. Reducing gas from the smelting unit and/or top gas from the reduction unit are/is subjected to cleaning. The process water obtained during the wet cleaning is degassed and in the process volatile organic compounds are removed from the process water.
US09005329B2
The present invention relates to a fine grained WC-Co cemented carbide. By adding an extremely small amount of Ti, V, Zr, Ta or Nb alone or in combinations, a grain refined cemented carbide structure with less abnormal WC-grains has been obtained.
US09005303B2
The present disclosure relates to prosthetic knee implants (100), components (101,102,103,104,105) of prosthetic knee implants, and methods of fixating the components to one another and, especially fixation of the implants to bone.
US09005301B2
A system for modifying a talocalcaneal spatial relationship in a foot in a body, including a subtalar spacer having an articulating surface and implanted in the sinus tarsi of the foot and a fastener that fastens the subtalar spacer to a bone surface in the foot, in which the articulating surface of the subtalar spacer directs relative movement between the calcaneus and the talus of the foot.
US09005300B2
A tibial implant includes a baseplate having a proximally facing surface surrounded at least in part by a proximally extending wall. The wall has a ramp surface extending from the wall towards the baseplate proximally facing baseplate surface and a bore located distally of the ramp. A polyethylene bearing insert is mounted on the baseplate and has a distally facing surface engaging the proximally facing surface of the baseplate. The distally facing bearing insert surface has a recess and the insert has a side surface with a passageway extending from the recess through the insert side surface. A spring detent is mounted in the bearing insert recess and has a moveable pin biased outwardly of the bearing insert side surface and into the bore of the baseplate.
US09005289B1
A nucleus pulposus replacement is described that includes a containment balloon that can sequester synthetic and/or tissue engineered fill material(s) in the nucleus pulposus region of the IVD thus mitigating migration and expulsion of the fill materials. The containment balloon can be formed of a biocompatible material that includes the structural proteins elastin and collagen. The containment balloon is joined to a closure device that can be used to deliver a fill material, e.g., a hydrogel, to the interior of the containment balloon following implantation of the replacement device in the intervertebral disc area.
US09005288B2
Methods and systems are disclosed for accessing and treating the interior of the facet joint for vertebral distraction and immobilization. The systems include a number of tools that facilitate access to the facet joint, distraction of the articulating decortication of the articulating surfaces, and delivery of implants and agents into the facet joint for fusion.
US09005284B2
A method of dilating an infundibular space within the human head includes directing at least a distal portion of an elongate member of a medical device into a nasal cavity of the human head, the distal portion including a piercing tip and an expandable portion. The piercing tip is directed through tissue of an uncinate process or tissue near an uncinate process and into an ethmoid infundibulum and the expandable portion of the distal end is expanded within the ethmoid infundibulum.
US09005279B2
An apparatus and method for mitigating prolapsed are disclosed. The apparatus includes a contact member and an elongated rod that can be used to hold the contact member in position for coapting with a patient's native leaflets. A similarly configured sizing apparatus can also be used to facilitate implantation.
US09005269B2
Bioabsorbable self-expanding medical devices formed of an integral framework with a multiplicity of fenestrations are provided. The framework is continuous, non-filamentous, non-braided, and non-interlaced. The devices includes a non-blended hydrolysable co-polymeric material comprising an amorphous component with a glass transition temperature that is below ambient body temperature and a crystallizable component that possesses a crystalline melting point in excess of ambient body temperature. The devices radially expand from a compressed first diameter to an uncompressed second diameter equal to or greater than 1.5 times the first diameter within two minutes in an aqueous medium at 37° C. following release of a compressive force placed on the devices. Additionally, the medical device does not change axial length significantly as the radial dimensions of the devices are changed. Further, the medical devices may be constructed of different bioabsorbable polymers, polymer ratios, and/or different geometries and portions may bioabsorb at different rates.
US09005256B2
A spinal plate having an upper surface and a lower surface, the lower surface adapted to contact bone. A plurality of holes extend from the upper surface to the lower surface through the plate which is configured and adapted to receive bone fasteners for fixing the spinal plate to bone. At least one set screw receiving hole adjacent from each one of the plurality of holes, the set screw receiving hole configured to adapt with a set screw. The lower surface of the spinal plate comprises a ridge that protrudes from the underside of the plate and encloses the plurality of holes spaced inward from the perimeter of the spinal plate.
US09005230B2
A surgical cutting and fastening instrument that is motorized. The instrument comprises in one embodiment a charge accumulator device, separate from a battery, that provides additional power to the motor under certain conditions. In addition, the motor may comprise multiple windings.
US09005229B2
A dermatological skin treatment device is provided. The device comprises a handpiece and a cutting tool, wherein the tool is inserted through the conduit and percutaneously inserted into a tissue disposed within a recessed area of the handpiece. The device and method cut the fibrous structures under the skin that cause cellulite at an angle substantially parallel to the surface of the skin and replace these structures with a non-cellulite forming structure by deploying a highly fibrous mesh through a single needle hole to create a highly fibrous layer directly or through wound healing processes.
US09005220B2
A device and method of promoting tissue adhesion to reinforce tissue apposition that may include collecting advancing a tissue apposition device to a body cavity having cavity calls, collecting tissue from the cavity walls, passing at least one tissue securement device through the tissue, applying energy to the collected tissue to produce injury to the tissue, and apposing the collected tissue and securing the one or more tissue securement devices. In this illustrative embodiment, the device and method promotes tissue adhesion between one or more portions of tissue, wherein the tissue adhesion may reinforce a tissue apposition.
US09005218B2
A method and device for the extraction of follicular units from a donor area on a patient. The method includes aligning a dissecting punch over a follicular unit and rotating the dissecting punch to score the epidermis layer of the skin so that hair follicles are disposed within the lumen. The dissecting punch is then moved through the dermis layer and fatty tissue layer of the skin to dissect the follicular unit from the tissue surrounding the follicular unit.
US09005215B2
A specimen retrieval apparatus includes a housing having an elongated tubular member extending distally therefrom. The elongated tubular member defines a longitudinal axis. An end effector assembly is coupled to a distal end of the elongated tubular member. The end effector assembly is configured to retain a specimen retrieval bag thereon. An articulation mechanism is operatively coupled to the elongated tubular member and the end effector assembly. The articulation mechanism is configured for selectively articulating the end effector assembly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the elongated tubular member.
US09005214B2
An apparatus for locating a central axis of a spinal column and method of using the same is disclosed. The apparatus and method includes one or more members capable of spanning a center line which may then be identified by at least one additional member positioned therebetween. Furthermore, the device may contain or be capable of accommodating various additional tools for marking the location of the central axis of a spinal column.
US09005207B2
Patient specific surgical instruments, and in particular cutting guides, and methods of use and manufacture are described. The surgical instrument can be used in an orthopaedic arthroplasty procedure to be carried out on a joint of a patient and can allowing soft tissue balancing for the joint. The instrument comprises a body having an attachment area configured using data specific to a bone of the joint of the patient so as to attach to the bone in a unique position. The instrument includes at least a first cutting guide and an adjustment mechanism operable to change the position of the cutting guide relative to the bone.
US09005206B2
A low profile bone screw system includes a retainable washer and a low profile bone screw having a smooth conical head for insertion into the washer. The washer has an axial bore with a conical portion for fully seating the screw head and a smooth outer surface shaped like the head of a conventional compression bone screw head. Washer dispensing units are also provided for assembling screw and washer assembled units.
US09005205B2
Rod insertion tools, rods and methods for placing rods in patients are described. An exemplary spinal rod insertion tool comprises a handle, a main body connected to the handle, a rod engaging member disposed within an inner passageway defined by the main body and adapted to move from an extended position to a chambered position in which the rod engaging member distal end is disposed within the inner passageway, and an adjustment mechanism operably connected to the rod engaging member and adapted to cause movement of the rod engaging member from the extended position to the chambered position.
US09005200B2
A bipolar electrosurgical instrument is provided. The bipolar electrosurgical instrument includes first and second shafts each having a jaw member extending from a distal end thereof and a handle disposed at a proximal end thereof for effecting movement of the jaw members relative to one another. A first conductive lead is adapted to connect to a first electrical potential and a second conductive lead is adapted to connect to a second electrical potential. One of the first and second conductive leads extends through the pivot to connect to a respective jaw member.
US09005199B2
In various embodiments, a surgical instrument is provided that may comprise an end effector for performing a surgical procedure on tissue, for example. The end effector may comprise at least one energy delivery surface and heat dissipation means for dissipating heat from at least a portion of the end effector. For example, in at least one embodiment, the end effector may comprise a first jaw, a second jaw, and a cutting member. The cutting member may comprise a cutting surface and a body, which may define a cavity and at least one opening communicating with the cavity. A fluid may be moved through the cavity to and/or from the opening(s). Additionally, in at least one embodiment, a surgical instrument's end effector may comprise a first jaw, a second jaw, a cutting member, and at least one heat pipe. Various other heat dissipation means are also disclosed.
US09005197B2
A medical instrument is provided for a ablating tissue. The medical instrument has an inner bipolar electrode and an outer bipolar electrode. The inner and outer electrodes are separated by an insulation layer. The inner and outer electrodes form a loop that may be rotated around a tumor to ablate the tumor tissue.
US09005196B2
A device may include a sheath including a lumen, a distal end, and a proximal end. The device may further include an end-effector unit and an elongate member connected to the end-effector unit. The end-effector unit and the sheath may be movable relative to each other to achieve a first state of the end-effector unit and a second state of the end-effector unit. Moreover, the medical device may include a handle having a first handle portion connected to the proximal end of the sheath, a second handle portion connected to the proximal end of the elongate member, and a compliant member longitudinally aligned with the sheath between the first handle portion and the second handle portion. The first and second handle portions may be configured such that relative movement of the first and second handle portions causes the end-effector to move between the first and second states.
US09005189B2
A new method for the ablation of undesirable tissue such as cells of a cancerous or non-cancerous tumor is disclosed. It involves the placement of electrodes into or near the vicinity of the undesirable tissue through the application of electrical pulses causing irreversible electroporation of the cells throughout the entire area of the undesirable tissue. The electric pulses irreversibly permeate the cell membranes, thereby invoking cell death. The irreversibly permeabilized cells are left in situ and are removed by the body immune system. The amount of tissue ablation achievable through the use of irreversible electroporation without inducing thermal damage is considerable.
US09005184B2
For fixedly implanting a device for material or signal delivery or acquisition or a part of such a device in a human or animal body, an opening is provided in hard tissue of the body, the opening reaching through a hard tissue layer, e.g. through a cortical bone layer into cancellous bone underneath. The device includes a plug portion (P) and/or a cover portion (C) which includes a ring of a material having thermoplastic properties extending around the plug portion (P) or on a tissue facing surface of the cover portion (C). The opening provided in the hard tissue has a cross section at least in the area of its mouth that is adapted to the plug or cover portion such that the plug portion (P) can be introduced through the mouth of the opening or the cover portion (C) can be positioned over the mouth of the opening such that the ring extends around the opening, along its wall and/or on the hard tissue surface around its mouth.
US09005179B2
In certain embodiments, a vial adaptor for removing liquid contents from a vial comprises a piercing member and a bag. The bag can be contained within the piercing member such that the bag is introduced to the vial when the vial adaptor is coupled with the vial. In some embodiments, the bag expands within the vial as liquid is removed from the vial via the adaptor, thereby regulating pressure within the vial. In other embodiments, a vial comprises a bag for regulating pressure within the vial as liquid is removed therefrom. In some embodiments, a vial adaptor is coupled with the vial in order to remove the liquid. In some embodiments, as the liquid is removed from the vial via the adaptor, the bag expands within the vial, and in other embodiments, the bag contracts within the vial.
US09005177B2
An absorptive breast bandage adapted to conform to the contours of a human breast. In one embodiment, the absorptive breast bandage comprises a half-moon shaped planar absorbent body configured for absorbing secreted bodily fluids from a post-surgical patient's surgical incision on the human breast. The half-moon shaped absorbent body includes a first surface and a second surface and it is configured to draw the secreted bodily fluids from the post-surgical patient's surgical incision and store the secreted bodily fluids.
US09005175B2
For a person who has a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (“PEG”) tube and an esophagus stoma, a method for using an ostomy pouch is provided, where inlet of the ostomy pouch is connected to the esophagus stoma and an outlet connected to one end of an interconnecting tube. An opposing end of the interconnecting tube is connected to the PEG tube, so that when the person consumes matter by mouth, the matter flows out the stoma, through the ostomy pouch, the interconnecting tube and the PEG tube, and into the stomach.
US09005171B2
A resettable dosing mechanism comprises a dose button and a dial grip operatively coupled to the dose button. A spindle acts on a bung of a cartridge and a driver is operatively coupled between the dose button and the spindle. During an injection of the dose, the dose button moves in an axial direction to cause the spindle to administer the dose. During resetting of the dose setting mechanism, the spindle is retracted back into the dose setting mechanism. An advantageous resetting mechanism is described.
US09005157B2
A surgical cassette arrangement is provided. The arrangement includes a flow selector valve configured to operate with a handpiece to selectively irrigate and aspirate fluid with respect to an ocular region. The flow selector valve includes at least three ports, with one port fluidly connectable to the handpiece. The arrangement further includes a reservoir fluidly connected to a second port of the flow selector valve via a first flow segment and configured to receive fluid from the flow selector valve, and a collector fluidly connected to a third port of the flow selector valve via a second flow segment and configured to receive fluid from the flow selector valve and from the reservoir. The flow selector valve selectively controls irrigation and aspiration flow to the handpiece and ocular region.
US09005151B2
Provided herein are an apparatus and methods to induce electromagnetic field in biologic tissue for thermal therapy. The apparatus comprises electromagnetic devices fitted to be releasably deployed inside a body, magnetic materials to be deployed in a body, and a magnetic centrifuge machine. An electromagnetic device includes a controllably flexible fiberoptic tubular device with a magnetic-flux-controlled electromagnetic assembly on its distal end. The electromagnetic device receives direct or alternating electric current. Implanted particulate magnetic materials in close proximity to said electromagnetic assembly form reversible magnetic vascular mold in target blood vessels by static magnetic field produced by direct electric current to said electromagnetic assembly. Implanted magnetic materials generate heat by alternating magnetic field induced by alternating electric current to said electromagnetic assembly. A magnetic centrifuge machine removes magnetic materials from blood by centrifugation under static magnetic field after completion of thermal therapy.
US09005148B2
A kit of parts for forming an orthotic head support. The kit includes at least one frame having a plurality of arms extending from a central region. Examples of such frames are W-frames, Y-frames and H-frames. The kit further includes at least one extension connectable to a frame. Such extension members include straight extensions, L-shaped extensions, and extension with two elements at an acute angle to one another. The kit has elements for attaching the extensions to the frames. The frames and extensions may have lines of reduced stiffness formed therein about which they are preferentially bendable to conform the support to the shape of a wearer's head and/or neck. The kit further includes padding members connected, or connectable, to the frames and/or extensions on the surfaces thereof which in use are to be adjacent the wearer.
US09005147B2
A mounting assembly for mounting a transducer to a plumbing fixture is provided. The mounting assembly includes a bracket configured to be affixed to an exterior wall of the plumbing fixture. The mounting assembly further includes a shield defining an internal cavity and configured to be removably coupled to the bracket. The shield is configured to be coupled to the transducer and to enclose at least a portion of the transducer within the internal cavity.
US09005137B2
A device and method for collecting a urine sample from a neonate is provided. The device is attached to the neonate shortly after birth and removed after the neonate produces a urine sample. An interior shell and an exterior shell form the device, and an absorbent material is located inside the interior shell to absorb the urine sample. The interior shell and the exterior shell are connected by a hinge and are initially in a nesting position, with the exterior shell on top of the interior shell. After the urine sample is absorbed by the absorbent material, the exterior shell is rotated around an axis defined by the hinge to contact and compress the absorbent material to release the urine sample for collection.
US09005134B2
An implantable medical device having a flexible diaphragm is provided with a housing including a shell and an outer layer. The flexible diaphragm extends along the shell. The outer layer has an outer surface and an inner surface. An adhesive coating is applied between the diaphragm and the inner surface of the outer layer. The outer layer includes a recess along the diaphragm for receiving the adhesive.
US09005133B2
An apparatus (2) for use in diagnosing and/or treating a neurological disorder is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a sensor device (4) designed to resemble a pen to provide a first signal containing first data representing a force applied by at least one finger of the subject, an integrated writable surface (10) to (i) provide at least one second signal containing second data representing a position of the sensor device (4) relative to the writable surface (10) and/or (ii) provide at least one third signal containing third data representing an engaging force of the sensor device on the writable surface, and a camera (20) to provide at least one fourth signal containing fourth data representing a position of at least one part of an arm of the subject holding the sensor device (4).
US09005121B2
A system and method tests the gastric valve and urethral sphincter in a patient. A contrast agent is administered into the esophagus of a patient followed by inducing an involuntary reflex cough epoch within the patient to isolate the gastric valve from the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and isolate the external urethral sphincter from the internal urethral sphincter. An imaging sensor detects the flow of the contrast agent during the involuntary reflex cough epoch and determines whether stomach reflux occurred indicative of a malfunctioning gastric valve. A determination is made if urine leakage occurs indicative of stress urinary incontinence (SUI).
US09005116B2
Various devices and methods are provided with respect to inserting multiple surgical instruments through a single surgical access device. A medical device including a flexible tissue retractor a releasable insert having multiple instrument openings, and a member such as a sleeve is disclosed. The insert can be in the form of an insert assembly including multiple components. The sleeve can support the insert with respect to the retractor such that the insert and sleeve can be removed together with the retractor remaining in the incision. A method of using the insert is also described.
US09005100B2
A method is described for decreasing activity of at least one sympathetic nerve, nerve fiber or neuron innervating at least one blood vessel in the pulmonary vasculature of a patient to ameliorate pulmonary hypertension. In one embodiment, the method may involve advancing an intravascular treatment device to a target location in a target blood vessel within the pulmonary vasculature of the patient and using the treatment device to decrease activity of at least one sympathetic nerve, nerve fiber or neuron innervating the target blood vessel at or near the target location to ameliorate pulmonary hypertension.
US09005098B2
Containers and methods for disposing unused pharmaceutical product are disclosed. Each container (100, 200, 300) may include a container body (104, 204, 304) with an internal chamber (116, 216, 316) for storing pharmaceutical product, along with a cover (124, 224, 324) for selectively limiting access to the chamber (116, 216, 316). An encapsulation component (128, 228, 328) may be selectively disposable within the chamber (116, 216, 316), and may be operable to encapsulate the pharmaceutical product within the container (100, 200, 300). For instance, the encapsulation component (128, 228, 328) may melt and/or flow into contact with the pharmaceutical product and thereafter solidify to encapsulate the pharmaceutical product. The encapsulation component (128, 228, 328) may melt and thereafter solidify between the cover (124, 224, 324) and shell (104, 204, 304) to limit removal of the cover (124, 224, 324) from the shell (104, 204, 304).
US09005097B2
A vertical centrifugal separator includes a casing, a bowl that is rotatably housed in the casing and provided to separate a solution to be processed which is supplied to an interior of the bowl into a liquid and a solid by an action of centrifugal force and discharge the liquid and the solid, and a discharge assembly that is rotatably housed in the bowl and provided to discharge the solid in the bowl. The bowl and the discharge assembly each have an engagement portion that is engaged or disengaged when the bowl and the discharge assembly are moved relative to each other in an axial direction and a position adjustment mechanism for adjusting a phase between the discharge assembly and the bowl relative to a rotation axis, for example, at a single relative position.
US09005094B2
A method of forming a valve bag suitable for filling with, for example, powder, grain, cement, animal foodstuffs, via a chute tube inserted into the valve, including forming a combined web from two webs of material, including steps of forming the combined web into a plurality of bag sections, sealing the bag sections at one side such that a valve portion is defined, separating the two webs and moving them outwardly until the bag sections are turned inside, and sealing the two webs to form a valve bag having an strong, effective seal and a valve portion for filling.
US09005080B1
A control device for a drive device of a vehicle which is provided with an engine, a supercharger to raise a pressure of intake air introduced in said engine, an accelerating member manually operable by an operator of the vehicle to accelerate the vehicle, and an automatic transmission constituting a portion of a power transmitting path between said engine and drive wheels, and wherein said engine is placed in a first operating state in which said supercharger is operated, or a second operating state in which an operation of said supercharger is restricted as compared with that in said first operating state, said control device comprising: a speed ratio selection control portion configured to implement a speed ratio selection control to change a method of selecting a speed ratio of said automatic transmission depending upon a rate of increase of an operation amount of said accelerating member, where said engine will be placed in said first operating state if said automatic transmission is shifted to select a first speed ratio value according to a predetermined shifting map while said engine is placed in said second operating state, said speed ratio selection control portion implementing said speed ratio selection control to shift said automatic transmission to select said first speed ratio value when the rate of increase of the operation amount of said accelerating member is relatively low, and to shift said automatic transmission to select a second speed ratio value at which said engine is kept in said second operating state and which is higher than said first speed ratio value, when the rate of increase of the operation amount of said accelerating member is relatively high.
US09005078B2
A drive control device for a hybrid vehicle provided with: a first differential mechanism having a first rotary element connected to a first electric motor, a second rotary element connected to an engine, and a third rotary element connected to an output rotary member; a second differential mechanism having a first rotary element connected to a second electric motor, a second rotary element, and a third rotary element, one of the second rotary element and the third rotary element being connected to the third rotary element of said first differential mechanism; a clutch configured to selectively couple the second rotary element of said first differential mechanism, and the other of the second and third rotary elements of said second differential mechanism which is not connected to the third rotary element of said first differential mechanism, to each other; and a brake configured to selectively couple said other of the second and third rotary elements of said second differential mechanism which is not connected to the third rotary element of said first differential mechanism, to a stationary member, the drive control device comprising: a torque capacity control portion configured to increase torque capacities of both of said clutch and said brake upon lowering of an operating speed of said engine when a control to stop said engine is implemented while the hybrid vehicle is placed in a neutral state.
US09005077B2
A hybrid transmission includes a transmission having a selectable clutch device effective when engaged to mechanically couple an internal combustion engine to a first axle at a fixed engine speed to axle speed ratio. A method for starting the engine includes executing an engine start event including spinning and fueling the engine such that an engine speed to axle speed ratio exceeds the fixed engine speed to axle speed ratio, and engaging said selectable clutch device after the engine speed to axle speed ratio exceeds the fixed engine speed to axle speed ratio.
US09005075B2
Systems and methods for improving operation of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, a driveline may selectively enter a sailing mode to provide quick driveline torque response with reduced impact on fuel economy.
US09005074B2
The invention relates to an internal gear hub for a bicycle includes a rotating cam which locates against a retractable cam follower within a multiple speed internal gear hub. The position of the cam determines which speed is selected. The cam is actuated by reversing the direction of the drive input (pedaling backwards) by a fixed or predetermined amount of rotation. The cam follower is retracted when the drive input is reversed and when the rotation is greater than that required to rotate the cam into the next position. When the cam follower retracts, the cam will return to a default position and will select a default speed.
US09005072B2
A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, at least four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices include clutches and a brake actuatable in combinations of four to establish a plurality of forward gear ratios and at least one reverse gear ratio.
US09005070B2
A clutch arrangement has a rotary element which is mounted on a housing so as to be rotatable about a longitudinal axis and which defines a cavity. A clutch has a first clutch element and a second clutch element which can be coupled thereto, which clutch is arranged in the cavity. The first clutch element or the second clutch element is coupled to the rotary element. A fluidic actuator arrangement has a first and a second actuator element which can move relative to one another in order to activate the clutch. At least the first actuator element can be secured in a rotationally fixed fashion to the housing and extends from outside the rotary element into the cavity.
US09005068B2
A continuously variable bicycle transmission mechanism includes a ring roller, at least one conical planetary roller, a sun roller and a carrier. The at least one conical planetary roller is frictionally engaged with the ring roller. The at least one conical planetary roller is rotatable about a rotational axis of a roller axle of the at least one conical planetary roller. The sun roller is frictionally engaged with the at least one conical planetary roller. The carrier rotatably supports both ends of the roller axle of the at least one conical planetary roller. The carrier is movable along an axis with the at least one conical planetary roller.
US09005062B2
This invention is applicable to bicycle non-circular chainrings or ovoid chainrings, attachable to a drive crank arm with a spider, forming a structure with anchorage points distributed in a star like shape; the said ovoid chainring (1) having a major diameter, whose angle with the said crank arm measured in the pedaling direction defines its orientation; whereas, said ovoid chainring has a number of anchorage points to said spider which is a multiple of the number of anchorage points of the spider, constituting multiple anchorage options to this crank arm, separated in such a distance that respective orientation values differ in 3°; and for such a small variation, the proposed constructive solution is equipping the ovoid chainring with consecutive overlapped holes and respective countersinks with different depth, forming stair steps which help supporting tangential loads to the chainring.
US09005061B2
A clamping device (1) of a traction mechanism drive, comprising a fixedly positioned base part (2), with which a pivot arm (3) is associated. The pivot arm (3) can be pivoted via a rotary bearing, consisting of a hub (9), a pin (5) of the base part (2) and a sliding bearing (10). A spring means (12) inserted between the base part (2) and the pivot arm (3) exerts an expansion force and effects a non-positive support of a tensioning roller (11) that is connected to the pivot arm (3) on a traction mechanism. In order to damp adjusting movements of the pivot arm (3), a damping device (13) is provided, which comprises two separate spring-loaded friction elements. For this purpose, a friction disk (14) is supported with form fit on the supporting disk (8) connected to the pin (5) of the base part (2) and with friction fit on the pivot arm (3). The damping device (13) further comprises a friction ring (17), which is fixed to the pivot arm (3) and is supported with friction fit on an inner wall (19) of the crucible-shaped base part (2) and which directly cooperates with the spring means (12).
US09005057B2
According to one aspect, an apparatus is configured to couple to an arrow-mounted electronic device where the apparatus includes a housing, a receptacle included in the housing and at least one electrical contact configured to couple to a contact included in the arrow-mounted electronic device. According to one embodiment, the receptacle is configured to receive at least a portion of the arrow-mounted electronic device, the at least one electrical contact includes a spring-bias in a first direction and the spring bias is opposed with the arrow-mounted electronic device inserted within the receptacle.
US09005054B2
A golf ball teeing tongs comprising a pair of levers, spring hinged in an end pivot point, their free ends adaptable to receive and hold a golf ball and tee, an adjustable pressure disk attached to the end of two connectively moving swing arms, which are fastened inside the members to move in concert with their opening and closing, thus exerting a straight back and forth movement on the adjustable pressure disk, causing a clamping force to be exerted, when manually closing the members, so as to hold a golf ball and tee in a rigid grip for positioning into the ground, at which point the spring pressure is manually released to open the members, which action lifts the adjustable pressure disk from the golf ball to allow removal of the tongs.
US09005049B2
The invention provides a solid golf ball which has a core of at least one layer and a cover of at least one layer. At least one layer of the core is formed primarily of polybutadiene and includes at least 0.05 part by weight each of (I) a rubber powder obtained by granulating a rubber material containing acrylic acid or a metal salt of acrylic acid and (II) a polyurethane resin powder per 100 parts by weight of rubber component. At least one layer of the cover is formed primarily of polyurethane.
US09005045B2
A golf club grip includes an elongated body having an irregular pentagon-shaped five-sided cross-section with a contoured periphery and a consistent cross section along a longitudinal length of the body. The body can have at least one aperture formed therein. The at least one aperture can include first and second apertures defined by hollow cylindrical openings extending through one longitudinal end of the body. Each of the first and second apertures can have a longitudinal axis, which can extend parallel to one another. The longitudinal axes can define a plane extending in a direction generally perpendicular to a putter head face to be assembled to the body for right handed and left handed golfers, wherein a putter shaft to be located in either of the first and second apertures during assembly provides either an offset position or an onset position of a putter face with respect to the grip.
US09005042B2
A combined CV joint boot and inner seal includes a boot portion having a first end and a second end and having a shaft sealing portion at the first end for sealing with a first shaft of the CV joint. A front can sealing portion is positioned at the second end of the boot portion. An inner seal portion extends generally inwardly towards the CV joint longitudinal axis to block lubricant from migrating into the interior of the boot portion.
US09005033B2
Methods, apparatuses, and techniques for recording a user's game play experience. The player's game play can be recorded by recording a player's commands as the player navigates a game level as well as game data that can include a state of the game and variables, such as random numbers, generated during the game play that were used to control aspects of the game. The recording of the player's game play can then be reviewed and shared with others.
US09005020B2
A multi-action poker game played via a networked system such a server-based system or global computer network (e.g., the Internet). The poker game generally involves players playing two or more independent poker hands substantially simultaneously at the same virtual poker table. The multiple poker hands are distinguished using distinctive playing cards (and/or card placements) and/or poker chip counts or by multiple representations of the same virtual poker table. Alternatively, a single chip count may be used for each of the at least than two hands.
US09005016B2
Methods and systems are provided for managing a wagering system. In one exemplary embodiment, state information of a live event such as a sports game may be received in real time. During the event, a plurality of possible future states of the event and their associated probabilities (and odds) may be determined based on the state information, historical information, and current in-game information. A betting market is created for betting on the possible future states at determined odds. The betting market is closed, and winning and losing bets are resolved based on updated state information.
US09005012B2
A method in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is provided, the method comprising the steps of generating a first outcome of a game of chance, determining a target outcome, receiving a first wager, generating a second outcome based on the first outcome, and repeating the step of generating the second outcome until the second outcome matches the target outcome, before receiving any second wager.
US09005006B2
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a slot machine having a variety of methods of play to enable wild symbols to be created in the play matrix. In one embodiment, a game comprises: a plurality of reels, each of the reels including a plurality of symbol positions; a first plurality of symbols at the plurality of symbol positions on the reel, the first plurality of symbols comprising at least one designated symbol, the designated symbol having both a normal and a wild form thereof within the first plurality of symbols; a second plurality of symbols replacing a subset of the first plurality of symbols, the second plurality of symbols comprising a plurality of wild forms of the designated symbol; at least one predetermined winning symbol combination of a plurality of winning symbol combinations; and an award associated with the predetermined winning symbol combination.
US09005005B2
Novel methods, devices and systems are described for mapping a variety of Class III game outcomes to sets of bingo patterns. Each game theme may have a different entertaining display, based upon a corresponding Class III game. Preferably, each game theme will offer game play and paytable percentages closely matching those of the original Class III game. Some implementations provide a system wherein separate pay tables and bingo pools are formed according to the number of paylines played on slot-type game themes and/or the number of hands played on poker game themes. In some such implementations, players will be limited to predetermined numbers of lines (or hands) played, e.g., only 1, 3, 5 or 9 lines. In alternative implementations, a player's options regarding the number of lines played will depend, at least in part, on how many other players are playing any given number of lines on a slot game. Preferred implementations provide a range of payback percentages for each of the predetermined numbers of lines (or hands) played.
US09005003B2
Examples disclosed herein relate to systems and methods, which may receive wagers on one or more paylines. The disclosure relates to an electronic gaming system which allows a player to make one or more inputs via human gesturing, and associated methods.
US09005002B2
A given content list stores information about a content that has been given to a player. When a prize content selected by a lottery has been registered in the given content list, it is determined that the prize content satisfies a duplication condition, and an alternative content is selected from an alternative content list, and given to the player instead of the prize content selected by the lottery. An alternative content notification screen that notifies the player that the alternative content has been given to the player is displayed.
US09005000B2
An apparatus for gaming, comprising a card reader system for reading card data from a game card associated with a player. An instant win game system for associating an instant win game entry with the card data. A jackpot game system for associating a jackpot game entry with the card data.
US09004990B2
A device for use in suspending an animal carcass in an elevated condition includes a device body having an upper section which is integral with a lower section by way of a compound bend. The upper section is formed with a protrusion and the lower section includes a plurality of arms. The animal carcass includes a pelvic bone and the device is constructed and arranged to be positionable within the animal carcass such that the protrusion engages the pelvic bone in order to suspend the animal carcass in the elevated condition.
US09004982B2
A supply device for a handheld power tool for a cutting grinder includes a cutting tool and a protective cover which at least partially surrounds the cutting tool. The supply device includes a U-shaped element which can be arranged on the protective cover and via which a fluid medium can be supplied to the cutting tool. The U-shaped element has a connection piece on which a coupling element can be arranged. On the coupling element a pipeline can be connected via which the fluid medium can be supplied to the U-shaped element through the connection piece. The coupling element can be turned about the axis of rotation of the connection pieces.
US09004981B2
The invention relates to an apparatus for the double-sided, grinding machining of flat workpieces with an upper and a lower work disk, each of which has a work surface with a grinding layer, wherein the work surfaces form a work gap amongst themselves, in which workpieces can be ground, wherein at least one of the work disks is rotatably drivable by means of a driving mechanism, and further having a device for guiding the workpieces in the work gap. It is provided according to the invention that debarring means are arranged on at least one of the work disks, which are designed to deburr the workpieces during their machining in the apparatus.
US09004979B2
The invention relates to a replaceable fine machining membrane (19) for fixing on a tool head (1), to which pressure can be applied, of a stationary fine machining tool for fine machining a workpiece surface. A fine machining means substrate (27) is integrated in the fine machining membrane (19), said fine machining membrane (19) having a crosslinked elastomer (40) and said fine machining means substrate (27) being embedded in the crosslinked elastomer (40). The invention also relates to a method for producing such a fine machining membrane (19) and to a stationary fine machining tool with a tool head (1) to which pressure can be applied and which has a removable fixing means (31) for fixing such a replaceable fine machining membrane (19). Finally, the invention relates to a method for producing the novel fine machining membrane (19). The invention allows the precise reproducible fine machining of workpiece surfaces even with highly convex or freely shaped membranes (19). Furthermore, a detaching or tearing of the fine machining means substrate (27) is prevented, and the fine machining is simplified and accelerated.
US09004977B2
In an embodiment, a transmit controller compatible with an auxiliary user interface device is provided. The transmit controller has a memory with operational parameters, a control user interface, an auxiliary user interface connector, and a transmit controller processor. The transmit controller processor is configured to transmit the operational parameters to the auxiliary user interface device and modify the operational parameters in accordance with a parameter instruction from the auxiliary user interface device. The transmit controller processor is further configured to receive a control instruction from the control user interface, determine an output signal based on the control instruction and the one or more operational parameters, and transmit the output signal to the model vehicle.
US09004976B2
A toy projectile launching system including at least one launchable toy projectile, including at least one RFID tag, and a toy projectile launching apparatus, including a housing, a projectile launching mechanism, a projectile receptacle, and an RFID writer adapted to write tag data to the at least one RFID tag, wherein the toy projectile is adapted to be loaded into the projectile receptacle and launched by the projectile launching mechanism.
US09004964B2
An activation and deactivation assembly for an electric outboard motor with an internal motor controller, a tiller arm, a handle mounted on the tiller arm, and a rotating knob attached to the distal end of the handle. The knob has a longitudinally aligned key slot that receives a complimentary shaped key. Located inside the handle is a reed switch and mounted on the key is a magnet that is magnetically attracted to the reed switch. An optional lanyard attaches the key to the tiller arm, an optional dead main lanyard is attached to the lanyard, and a linear hall effect sensor is located in the handle.
US09004962B1
A tilt and lift jack plate comprising several components, in combination. There is a pair of transom mounting brackets and a pair of slide plate holders. A slide plate is slidably coupled to each of the slide plate holders. A tilting hydraulic cylinder ram mounting bracket is coupled to the slide plate. A lifting hydraulic cylinder ram bracket is coupled to the slide plate.The cylinders are coupled to a hydraulic pump and control valve.
US09004961B1
A marine outboard engine has an engine, a cowling, an alternator, and a controller electrically connected to the alternator. A primary charger is electrically connected to the alternator and is adapted to charge a primary energy storage device. A starter motor is selectively operatively connected to the engine and is adapted to be electrically connected to the primary energy storage device. An auxiliary charger is electrically connected to the alternator and is adapted to charge at least one auxiliary battery adapted to power an auxiliary device. The controller, the primary charger and the auxiliary charger are disposed inside the cowling. A vehicle bus connects the auxiliary charger with the controller to provide data from the controller to the auxiliary charger. A watercraft having the marine outboard engine and an auxiliary device is also disclosed.
US09004944B2
A connector having a body, at least one contact accommodated in the body with an insulator being interposed, a casing defining a housing designed to accommodate all or part of the body, and an armature placed around at least one portion of the casing, at least one portion of the body being accommodated in the portion of the casing, the armature having feet for fastening the connector to a printed circuit board, wherein the feet project beyond that portion of the casing around which the armature is placed and wherein the armature is placed in a set-in manner relative to the casing.
US09004943B2
An electrical connector is provided having an electrically insulative connector housing that supports a plurality of signal contacts, as well as a plurality of ground contact networks. The ground contact networks include a conductive ground coupling bar supporting a plurality of ground contacts along a pair of columns that are spaced apart along a row direction.
US09004942B2
An electrical connector with reduced cross talk and controlled impedance. The connector comprises hybrid shields with lossy portions and conductive portions. The synergistic effect of the lossy portions and the conductive portions allows the hybrid shields to be relatively thin such that they can be incorporated into the mating interface regions or other mechanically constrained regions of the connector to provide adequate crosstalk suppression without undesirably impacting impedance. The conductive portions may be shaped to preferentially position the conductive regions adjacent signal conductors susceptible to cross talk to further contribute to the synergy. The conductive regions may include holes to contribute to desired electrical properties for the connector.
US09004930B2
A set of outlets including a sheet and a base adapted for electrical work to each other in a detachable manner, the sheet including at least two electric tracks in a concentric ring configured to respectively cooperate with electrical contacts of an electrical socket. A magnetic mechanism generates a first control force for positioning and holding the sheet on the base. The base includes at least two movable electric contacts movable between a first position inside the base and a second position outside the base to be respectively in direct electrical contact with the electrical tracks, the first force control to move the electrical contacts between the first and the second positions.
US09004921B2
A motion and vibration cuing system for use with a motion simulator provides vibratory, impulse, onset and sustained motion cuing, independently or simultaneously, by operation of a frame assembly capable of producing vibration and six degrees-of-freedom of motion in coordination with one or more motion seats, mounted to the frame assembly, which produce surge, sway, heave and roll motions.
US09004920B2
The invention relates to a device (1) for the amelioration of a recess (8), e.g. a recess in a (human) bone (7). The device comprises an element (2) for producing or coupling mechanical energy, and a cylindrical collar (4) comprising a cylindrical lateral surface having an outside diameter and having a central recess (26) for accommodating a guide pin (3). The guide pin (3) is provided to be inserted substantially down to the base of the recess (8) before applying oscillations, and in the region of the end thereat facing the base of the recess it is surrounded by an amelioration sleeve (6) made from a material that can be liquefied by way of ultrasonic oscillations. The cylindrical lateral surface of the amelioration sleeve (6) substantially has the same outside diameter as the collar (4), and the guide pin (3) is accommodated in the central recess (26) in a displaceable manner such that the collar (4) upon applying ultrasonic oscillations can be displaced relative to the guide pin (3) in the direction toward the base of the recess (8) while liquefying and laterally and/or longitudinally displacing the material of the amelioration sleeve (6).
US09004918B2
Dental dressing assemblies are formed from hydrophilic polymer sponge structures, such as a densified chitosan biomaterial. The invention also contemplates systems and methods that can be used in conjunction with stents and periodontal dressings to promote hemostasis and secondary healing in free gingival graft palatal donor sites and all other oral and maxillofacial surgical sites.
US09004917B2
Apparatus for detecting motions of a lower jaw relative to the upper jaw of a vertebrate, comprising a first holder (30) to be fixed to the head of a vertebrate with a fixed assignment relative to the upper jaw for accommodating transmitter or receiver units of a position determining system (1) for the detection of motion, a second holder (40A) to be fixed to the lower jaw on the left side for accommodating corresponding left-sided receiver and transmitter units of the position determining system, a third holder (40B) to be fixed to the lower jaw on the right side for accommodating corresponding right-sided receiver and transmitter units of the position determining system, and a first evaluation unit (13) for processing signals from the receiver units so as to generate a differentiated dynamic image of the motions of the left and right sides of the lower jaw from relative positional changes of the transmitter units (11) which are associated with the motions of the lower jaw and are detected by the receiver units.
US09004912B2
A combustor includes an end cap having an upstream surface axially separated from a downstream surface. A cap shield circumferentially surrounds the upstream and downstream surfaces, tubes extend from the upstream surface through the downstream, and a plenum is inside the end cap. A first baffle extends radially across the plenum toward the cap shield, and a plate extends radially inside the plenum between the first baffle and the upstream surface. A method for supplying fuel to a combustor includes flowing a working fluid through tubes, flowing a fuel into a plenum between upstream and downstream surfaces, radially distributing the fuel along a first baffle, and axially flowing the fuel across a plate that extends radially inside the plenum.
US09004908B1
An injection-molding device includes a male part, a female part, a vertically-moveable slider, a horizontally-moveable slider and an elastic element. The female part is detachably engaged with the male part, and an insertion groove is collectively formed by the male part and the female part. The vertically-moveable slider is detachably inserted in the insertion groove, and formed with a first inclined plane. The horizontally-moveable slider is detachably inserted in the insertion groove, formed with a second inclined plane being slidably engaged with the first inclined plane, and a closed cavity is collectively defined by the vertically-moveable slider, the horizontally-moveable slider, the female part and the male part. Two opposite ends of the elastic element are respectively abutted against the vertically-moveable slider and the horizontally-moveable slider.
US09004905B2
An apparatus for producing plastic containers includes a heating module that heats plastic preforms and a molding module for molding the preforms into containers. The heating module includes a first transport unit that transports the preforms during the heating and a first interface. The molding module is downstream of the heating module in the transport direction and includes a blow molding unit for applying a flowable medium onto the preforms for expansion thereof, a second transport unit that transports the preforms during the expansion, and a second interface. The first and second interfaces allow a mechanical connection and an electrical connection between the modules such that the molding module may be disposed on the heating module and at least one further module integrated between the heating and molding modules. The further module treats the preforms following the heating and prior to the molding.
US09004901B2
This invention relates generally to an apparatus for casting a portion of a tire, and, more specifically, to an apparatus that has a cap and an outer ring that are rotatably attached to a fixed portion of the molding apparatus for centrifugally molding the spokes of a non-pneumatic tire from polyurethane or some other suitable material. The cap and outer ring have separate rotatable attachments to the apparatus and are not otherwise connected to each other, so they are free to rotate without obscuring the pouring slot of the mold.
US09004899B2
Noodles with hand-made quality consisting of thick and thin portions are processed by introducing a noodle belt between first and second cutting rolls 5 and 6 having first and second cutting blades 3 and 4 each formed by large and small diameter portions 3a, 4a and 3b and 4b, and spacers 7. The cutting rolls are relatively shifted in an axial direction such that the thick portion is formed by opposing large diameter portion and spacer and the thin portion is formed by opposing large diameter portion and small diameter portion.
US09004879B2
A discrete, heat-insulating exhaust muffler device (8) and a refrigeration compressor using the exhaust muffler device are provided. The exhaust muffler device (8) includes a metal cavity body defining cavities (9, 10), and intake pipe and exhaust pipe installation holes respectively arranged on the cavities (9, 10). Non-metallic shell bodies (17, 18) are further arranged outside the cavities (9, 10), and the exhaust muffler device (8) is disposed outside cylinder blocks (14) and is separated from the cylinder blocks (14). By disposing a layer of the non-metal shell bodies (17, 18) outside the metal cavity body (9, 10), thermal contact between exhaust gas and gas inside a compressor can be reduced owing to a better heat-insulating effect of the non-metallic material, thereby reducing heat transfer from the metal cavity body (9, 10) to the outside. The gas inside the compressor can have a relatively lower temperature, and the efficiency of the compressor is improved. The metal cavity body (9, 10) are formed by stamping, thereby reducing material cost and the weight of the device, simplifying the manufacturing process, and leaving more room at the periphery of the cylinder blocks (14).
US09004878B2
A fan assembly for creating an air current includes an air inlet, an air outlet, an impeller, a motor for rotating the impeller to create an air flow passing from the air inlet to the air outlet, the air outlet comprising an interior passage for receiving the air flow and a mouth for emitting the air flow, the air outlet defining an opening through which air from outside the fan assembly is drawn by the air flow emitted from the mouth, a control circuit for controlling the motor, a remote control for transmitting control signals to the control circuit, and a plurality of magnets angularly spaced about the air outlet to provide a plurality of angularly spaced docking positions for the remote control on the air outlet.
US09004877B2
A multi-stage diaphragm suction pump, includes at least two pump chambers, each having a inlet having at least one inlet valve, and a outlet having at least one outlet valve, and a suction line, which connects the fluid inlets of the pump chambers. Successive pump chambers are connected to one another by at least one connection line such that, when a differential pressure in the suction line is reached/exceeded, the diaphragm pump changes from parallel to an operating mode that is at least also serial. At least one check valve, which opens to a downstream pump stage, is interposed in each of the inflow and outflow regions of the at least one connection line. A suction-side opening or a pressure-side opening of the connection line is arranged in a region of the pump chamber on which a diaphragm associated with the pump chamber rolls first during a pump cycle.
US09004865B2
A blade for a turbomachine impeller including an airfoil and at least one platform at one end of the airfoil, the blade configured to be arranged with a plurality of substantially identical blades so as to form a ring, the platform surface having a suction surface profile and a pressure surface profile respectively along the suction surface and the pressure surface. In the blade, the pressure surface profile including a pressure surface recessed part is located axially in an upstream half of the airfoil. Due to this configuration, efficiency of the blade is improved.
US09004861B2
An example blade assembly includes, among other things a blade tip having a pressure side and a suction side, and a plurality of grooves within the blade tip. At least one of the grooves has a contour that is different than both a contour of the pressure side and a contour of the suction side.
US09004858B2
An annular nozzle for a ceiling fan includes an inner wall defining a bore having a bore axis, an outer wall extending about the inner wall, an air inlet for receiving an air flow, and an air outlet section extending between the inner wall and the outer wall. The air outlet section defines an air outlet for emitting the air flow. An interior passage extends about the bore axis for conveying the air flow to the air outlet. The air outlet section is configured to emit the air flow away from the bore axis.
US09004852B2
A turbomachine high-pressure turbine including a rotor disc with upstream and downstream annular flanges separating a radially internal annular cavity in which the hub of the disc extends from two radially external annular cavities, of which one is upstream of the disc and receives a ventilation air flow and of which the other is downstream of the disc, the upstream flange of the disc including a mechanism connecting to the upstream eternal cavity and the internal cavity for ventilating the hub of the disc.
US09004851B1
A system for converting wind energy to rotational mechanical energy, comprising a conical impeller having multiple spiral vanes on its outer surface, the impeller supported so that it can rotate about its vertical, central axis in response to airflow impinging on the impeller, and connected to a mechanical drive system to transmit energy from the rotation of the impeller to a device that performs useful work using the transmitted energy.
US09004850B2
A compressor for a gas turbine engine with variable inlet guide vanes each defining an airfoil portion twisted such that at each location of the airfoil portion along the pivot axis, an angle is defined between a respective chord extending between the leading and trailing edges and a same reference plane containing the pivot axis and extending radially with respect to the compressor. The angle, which is measured along a direction of rotation of the rotor, varies from a minimum value near the hub side wall to a maximum value near the shroud side wall. A method of reducing vortex whistle in a radial inlet of a compressor is also provided.
US09004849B2
A gas turbine engine includes a bearing structure mounted to the front center body case structure to rotationally support a shaft driven by a geared architecture. A bearing compartment passage structure is in communication with the bearing structure through a front center body case structure.
US09004847B2
A method and apparatus for automated aerating and handling a sub stack of a stack of rectangular paper sheets where the sub stack is gripped near or at opposed corners of a common edge of the sub stack by means of two robotic grippers (A, B) having two opposed gripping fingers (A1, A2, B1, B2), lifting and rotating the corners in mutually opposite first directions such that the work stack achieves an upwards concave form, gripping the corners by the robotic grippers (A, B), and rotating the grippers in second directions opposite to the first directions such that the upper sheet of the sub stack has a curvature smaller than the bottom sheet of the sub stack, preferably a substantially plane form.
US09004846B2
A gripper assembly for use with a moving device is disclosed. The moving device can be a mechanical device such as a robot. The gripper assembly includes a platform and an elongate arm extending from the platform. The elongate arm is in the form of least one elongate member. Each elongate member has a body which has a proximal end and an opposed distal end. A gripping mechanism is rotatably supported relative to the arm, and includes a holder having a pivoting arm pivotably joined to the body in the region of the distal end of the body. An actuator is in operable communication with the pivoting arm to impart pivotable movement to the pivoting arm and rotational movement to said gripping mechanism about a horizontal axis upon actuation of the actuator. The gripper assembly may have a center of mass substantially aligned with a vertical rotation axis of the gripper assembly.
US09004837B2
A method and a device for pressing a book block over the rounded back of a book block having a longitudinal axis extending in the center and along the back. The book block is clamped between two clamping jaws of a clamping device, in a region adjacent to the back of the book block, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the back. A pressing device presses a pressing member against the back, wherein the pressing member is placed approximately in the center of the back onto the book block back. At least a section of the pressing member is then moved across the back. Once the pressing member, which is oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the back, is placed onto the back it then moves along at least one continuously preselected movement path over the back.
US09004835B2
A building structure including a first building member and a second building member may be connected by a plurality of fasteners, each fastener having a head, a threaded portion having a through hardness of between HRB 70 and HRC 40, a thread-forming portion of at least HRC 50 hardness enabling the fastener to form threads in at least the second steel building member, and a fluted lead portion of at least HRC 50 hardness with a nominal diameter between 70 and 95% of major diameter, such that the fastener is capable of providing a ratio of strip torque to thread-forming torque of at least 2.7 and a ratio of strip torque to drive torque greater than 6.0 when the second steel building member having a thickness of 0.25 inch and the fluted lead portion having at least one diameter within nominal diameter between 80 and 98% of major diameter.
US09004834B2
A female thread member capable of preventing seizing caused by inclined insertion, and being smoothly fastened from any directions in which a bolt is inserted, and a fastening member using the female thread member. A non-thread portion is formed on an inner peripheral surface of a female thread member body having a female thread for a length corresponding to at least one pitch from an end surface on a bolt-inserting side, and a projection which comes into contact with a flank surface of a male thread of an inserted bolt is formed on a line extending from a helical line of the female thread. The female thread member is used in combination with the bolt having no incomplete thread portion, and there is no adverse possibility of seizing regardless of any directions in which the bolt is inserted.
US09004832B1
An extendable, intermodal transport platform is disclosed. The invention comprises a standard ISO-length loading platform supported by main beams and crossmembers. The platform has ISO lifting and stacking fitments at its four corners. The platform has extendable supplemental platforms at each end, the extendable supplemental platforms fitting beneath the deck bed of the platform, or extendable to position stacking fitments at over-the-road trailer positions for North American fleet. Inner stacking fitments may laterally expand and retract so as to slide underneath the deck bed between the main beams. In some embodiments the platform includes posts that extend upward to position ISO lifting fitments at standard heights, such as under hydraulic power.
US09004825B2
The invention relates to a multiple edge drill such as is especially used for machining difficult-to-machine, e.g. high-toughness materials, such as e.g. cast steel, steel for hardening and tempering or other difficult-to-machine steel materials including metallic cast materials, such as e.g. gray cast iron, and especially GGV or ADI cast iron. The facet is designed in such a manner that the main cutting edge has at least two main cutting edge sections that define point angles of different size, the radially outer point angle being smaller than the radially inner one, thereby obtaining a good cutting behavior and long service life of the tool.
US09004824B2
A milling cutter for chip removing machining, including a basic body rotatable in a predetermined direction around a center axis and having a front end surface and an envelope surface that extends axially backward from the front end surface and is concentric with the center axis. A number of indexable milling inserts are mounted in respective peripherally spaced-apart seats having a mutually fixed pitch, each milling insert including an upper side, an under side and at least one clearance surface, the clearance surface together with the upper side delimiting at least two alternately active cutting edges that are uniform in their extension between first and second end points. The cutting edges of each milling insert are situated on different levels in relation to the under side of the milling insert to alter the effective pitch between the active cutting edges of the milling inserts by indexing of at least one of the milling inserts.
US09004818B2
Systems, methods and apparatuses for the installation or removal of buoyancy modules onto or from a submerged conduit are described herein. A system may include a buoyancy module (30), a control panel (76), an actuating means (72), and a clamp tool (40). The buoyancy module may include at least two sections. The clamp tool may hold the sections of the buoyancy module. The clamp tool (40) may include at least two plates (50, 52, 54, 56) that are actuated opened or closed using the control panel (76) and/or the actuating means (72) during attachment or removal of the buoyancy module (30) to the submerged conduit (10).
US09004811B2
A system for measuring the height of paving material distributed by an auger of a paving machine in front of a grading implement, such as a screed, is disclosed. The system includes a sonic sensor and a laser pointer. The sonic sensor generates a sonic signal which is directed at the paving material distributed by the auger. The laser pointer generates a laser beam which is similarly directed at the paving material that has been distributed by the auger. The laser beam and the sonic signal meet at a common position on the paving material.
US09004810B2
A manhole cover assembly configured to behave as a relief valve in an explosion event, opening so that fluid, such as air or explosive gas, may vent from an underground area. The manhole cover assembly may include a manhole cover and a frame, and may be configured to limit movement of the manhole cover with respect to the frame in response to increased pressure on the manhole cover. In one embodiment, the manhole cover may include legs that are configured to enable a range of movement of a portion of the cover such that the cover can be unseated at an angle with respect to the frame to allow fluids to escape from the underground area.
US09004804B2
An elastically deformable bridging piece includes an engaging protruding part between two ends of the piece, insertion of a portion of an attaching member in a direction intersecting a longitudinal direction of the bridging piece is permitted by elastically deforming the bridging piece by contacting with the engaging protruding part with the portion, and the engaging protruding part engages an engaging hole formed in the portion at an insertion terminating position by elastically returning the bridging piece. A restricting part restricting elastic deformation of the bridging piece is provided. When inserting the portion, the restricting part inclines the bridging piece to position the engaging protruding part on the obliquely downward side, and when a force in a reverse direction to the inserting direction acts on the portion located at the insertion terminating position, the restricting part restricts inclination of the bridging piece, which is reversely-oriented to the former inclination.
US09004799B1
The Self-Assembly System is composed of a series of units that take an external force that activates an individual state in each unit and sequentially folds/rotates/expands to form a rigid 3-dimensional structure. The system self-assembles from a flexible linear chain or 2-dimensional grid pattern into a rigid 3-dimensional structure, simply by adding an external energy source. The mechanism and placement of each unit provides the sequence of fold angles that is activated by external energy. When the system is assembled, unit-by-unit, or pre-manufactured as a single linked strand, the user is actually “programming” the folding sequence, much like our body's protein strands, that take external energy and fold in a 3-dimensional structure. This demonstrates that structures can be built from 1-dimensional or 2-dimensional flexible geometry and self-assemble into 3-dimensional rigid geometry without manual assembly or construction, simply through an external means of energy.
US09004789B2
A processing device comprising a ribbon cartridge including an ink ribbon wound around a feed-out core and a wind-up core winding up the ink ribbon, a device main body to which the ribbon cartridge is detachably attached, a cartridge-side brake mechanism provided to the ribbon cartridge and applying a rotational braking force to the ribbon cartridge, and a device-side brake mechanism provided to the device main body and applying a rotational braking force to the ribbon cartridge, wherein a rotational braking force by the cartridge-side brake mechanism is set stronger with respect to a rotational braking force by the device-side brake mechanism.
US09004785B1
An adjustable shroud assembly for mounting to a surveillance camera comprises a mounting bracket, a cover, and a locking mechanism. The mounting bracket has a base plate fixedly mountable to the camera and at least one pair of opposing resilient squeeze tabs extending outwardly from each side of the base plate; the squeeze tab is laterally movable relative to the base plate between an engaged position and a disengaged position. The cover is slidably mountable to the mounting bracket along a longitudinal direction. The locking mechanism has a first locking portion on the squeeze tab and a second locking portion on the cover. The first and second locking portions interlock when the pair of opposing squeeze tabs are in the engaged position thereby fixing the cover relative to the mounting bracket, and do not interlock when the squeeze tabs are in the disengaged position thereby allowing the cover to slide relative to the mounting bracket.
US09004783B1
A camera mountable arm includes a first segment, a second segment, and a third segment. The first segment includes a recess extending substantially along a length of the first segment, and is configured to detachably couple to a camera. The first segment is rotatably coupled to the second segment and the second segment is rotatably coupled to the third segment. The arm is operable in a plurality of positions, including: a folded position, where the first, second, and third segments are aligned to be mutually length-wise parallel such that the second segment is enclosed within the recess along the first segment, and the first and second segments are substantially flush with the third segment; and an outstretched position, where the first and second segments are separated by a first angular displacement and the second and third segments by a second angular displacement.
US09004779B2
An assembly tool is provided for installing an optical fiber in an optical fiber connector having a known length of fiber extending from the connector ferrule after termination of the optical fiber connector. The assembly tool includes a base having a connector mount disposed on a first end thereof and a cradle that holds a shaped ferrule disposed near the second end of the base, such that shaped ferrule is resiliently held within the cradle. The connector mount is configured to receive and secure the optical fiber connector to the base.
US09004775B2
The present invention provides a single-split cage capable of continuously holding a plurality of rolling elements stably for a long time by eliminating the difference in the strength between split regions, by maintaining the strength of the entire cage uniform in the circumferential direction and by maintaining the dimensional accuracy between the split regions constant at the time of molding and also capable of improving load capacity and achieving low cost for assembly. A split section 10 for splitting at one portion in the circumferential direction is formed at regions (split regions 10a and 10b) extending between pockets 2p adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction, engagement sections being engageable with each other are provided at the circumferential central position between the pockets and on a one-side split face Sa and the other-side split face Sb formed by splitting the regions, and in a state in which both the engagement sections are engaged with each other, predetermined clearances are formed between the one-side split face and the other-side split face and between the engagement sections.
US09004761B2
The present disclosure provides a multiple chamber container that includes a container body sealed around a peripheral edge and having an outlet. The container also includes a first peel seal having a projecting portion and a second peel seal that isolates the outlet. The second peel seal may also include a projecting portion. The first and second peel seals may be configured to define a symmetrical chamber. The chamber may include an axis of symmetry extending between the first and second projecting portions. The chamber geometry of the container ensures a correct sequential opening of the first and second peel seals.
US09004754B2
A thermal sensor includes a comparator having a first and second input nodes. A reference voltage generator is electrically coupled with the first input node. The reference voltage generator is configured to provide a reference voltage that is substantially temperature-independent. A temperature sensing circuit is electrically coupled with the second input node. The temperature sensing circuit is configured to provide a temperature-dependent voltage. The temperature sensing circuit includes a current mirror. A first metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) transistor is electrically coupled between the current mirror and ground. A first resistor is electrically coupled with the current mirror. A second MOS transistor is electrically coupled with the first resistor in series. The second MOS transistor and the first resistor are electrically coupled with the first MOS transistor in a parallel fashion.
US09004752B2
A viable strategy to enhance the bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs is to use amorphous solids in place of the more commonly used crystalline solids in pharmaceutical formulations. However, amorphous solids are physically meta-stable and tend to revert back to their crystalline counterpart. An effective approach to stabilizing an amorphous drug against crystallization is to disperse it in a polymer matrix. The drug's solubility in the chosen polymer defines the upper limit of drug loading without any risk of crystallization. Measuring the solubility of a drug in a polymer has been a scientific and technological challenge because the high viscosity of polymers makes achieving solubility equilibrium difficult and because pharmaceutically important drug/polymer dispersions are glasses, which undergo structural relaxation over time. The invention provides a method based on Differential Scanning calorimetry (DSC) for measuring the solubility of crystalline drugs in polymeric matrices. The method relies on the detection of the dissolution endpoint of a drug/polymer mixture prepared by cryomilling.
US09004733B2
Disclosed is a passive illumination apparatus for improving the visibility of an optical fiber by projecting reflected light to passively illuminate an optical fiber for allowing the user improved visibility for inserting the optical fiber into an orifice. One embodiment of the concept uses a passive illumination apparatus having a pattern of one or more colors for reflectively transmitting chromatic light along with an optional contrast surface such as a gray or black stripe for providing a highly contrasting background for the user to view the optical fiber against. The ambient light is transmitted or directed from a reflective surface such as a concave curved region for passively illuminating the optical fiber. The passive illumination apparatus may be used on any suitable device such as a connector installation tool, a splicer, a stripper for an optical fiber coating or a cleaver as desired.
US09004731B2
An illumination device can be arranged along a contour of a component in a motor vehicle so that the contour of the component is recognizable in the dark as a bright strip. The illumination device allows producing a light strip along a predetermined distance. For this, the illumination device has a longitudinally shaped light conductor for distributing light along the distance and a coupling-in element which is connected to the light contour for coupling light into the light conductor. The light conductor is supported positionally fixed relative to the component in a region by means of a fixed-bearing device. The coupling in element on the other hand is supported by means of a floating-bearing device for movement relative to the component along at least one direction.
US09004730B2
A lighting fixture includes a hexagonal housing having six side walls. Each side wall has a slot formed therein. Two or more lighting fixtures may be joined together to form a modular arrangement of lighting fixtures in a plurality of configurations by using an interlock piece which slides into channels formed in facing side walls of adjacent lighting fixtures to hold the lighting fixtures together.
US09004714B2
A lamp adapted for mounting on a wall structure having a front face. The lamp includes a plate positionable within an opening in the front face of the wall. The plate has a top side and an underside and a front edge and a back edge. The back edge extends in a substantially semi-circular shape. A flange attached to the front edge of said plate is oriented at an angle relative to the plane of the plate. A light fixture is positioned adjacent the underside of the plate within a perimeter defined by the plate and a surface of the flange. A method of creating an illuminated hardscape is also disclosed.
US09004706B1
A combination speaker and lighting tower for use outdoors. The lighting tower has a base and a housing that includes at least one lamp. A rotatable coupler is used to mount a speaker unit on the tower, which allows the speaker unit to rotate in a horizontal plane. A stop is provided in the coupler to prevent the speaker unit from rotating a full 360 degrees. The speaker unit may be fixed to a specific location or allowed to oscillate back and forth. The lighting tower may be installed on a patio or anchored in the ground.
US09004701B2
A light source unit may include a cooling device; a luminescent substance; an excitation radiation source having a laser source; and an optical element arranged between the radiation source and the substance; wherein the cooling device constitutes a heat sink, wherein the substance is linked thermally to the heat sink; and wherein the optical element is designed as an integrating optical element and is coupled between the radiation source and the substance in such a manner that a part of the radiation emitted by the radiation source, entering in an acceptance angle range of the integrating optical element, is subjected to an internal reflection in the optical element before it exits the optical element and strikes the substance, and that a part of the radiation emitted by the substance enters the optical element and exits the optical element as effective radiation.
US09004692B2
A projector includes an illumination device having a light source device emitting light, and a polarization conversion element adapted to emit light from the light source device as polarized light, a light modulation device adapted to modulate the light from the illumination device in accordance with image information, and a projection optical system adapted to project the light from the light modulation device, and the illumination device further includes a light diffusing unit disposed in at least one of upstream and downstream of the polarization conversion element.
US09004679B2
A lens device includes a frame, at least one lens and two fasteners. The frame has at least a lens recess. The lens is embedded in the lens recess, and has an indentation located at an edge of the lens. The fasteners are disposed pivotally to the opposite sides of the frame, respectively, and each have an inner surface, a supporting surface and a hook portion. The inner surface adjoins the supporting surface. The hook portion protrudes from the inner surface. When the fastener rotates so that the hook portion enters into the indentation of the lens, the supporting surface of the fastener is disposed against a side of the indentation.
US09004674B2
A printing system for indicating print media quality to printer users includes a printing assembly configured to route print media along a pathway for printing. In an example, the system includes, but is not limited to, a thermal printer having a thermal print head for printing onto paper. The system also includes a light meter configured to detect light reflected from the print media, such as the paper. The light meter also measures a characteristic of the detected light. An indicator is coupled to the light meter, and configured to present a quality level of the print media to a user based on the measured characteristic of the detected light.
US09004672B2
A recording device includes a conveying part, a recording part, a suction part and a control part. The conveying part is configured and arranged to convey a medium. The recording part is configured and arranged to record on the medium. The suction part is configured and arranged to suction the medium on a flat surface. The control part is configured to perform a suction action by a suction part to eliminate wrinkles that form in the medium after a conveying action by the conveying part and before a recording action by the recording part, and to vary a period of the suction action by the suction part.
US09004671B2
An image forming apparatus comprises a conveyor to convey a recording medium in a conveyance direction; first and second applicators to respectively apply first and second liquids to the recording medium, the second applicator being disposed downstream of the first applicator. One of the first and second liquids causes coagulation or precipitation of a component of the other liquid. The conveyor comprises a first pair of rollers; a second pair of rollers; and at least one third pair of rollers. The second applicator is disposed between the first and second pair of rollers. The first pair of rollers and the at least one third pair of rollers constitute a plurality of upstream-side pairs of rollers disposed upstream of the second pair of rollers, and a distance between adjacent two of the upstream-side pairs of rollers is larger than a distance between the first and second pair of rollers.
US09004668B2
According to an aspect of the present invention, by switching off the provisional curing device on the rear side in the direction of travel of the scanning direction, droplet ejection is carried out without performing provisional curing of the ink immediately after droplet ejection. The provisional curing of the ink is carried out by the provisional curing device on the front side in the direction of travel of the scanning direction, during scanning in the opposite direction to that during droplet ejection.
US09004666B2
The invention provides a process for producing a protective-layer-provided substrate in which a protective layer is formed on a substrate on the surface of which a plurality of structures have been arranged at intervals. The protective layer has a resin layer and a film for chucking. The process includes the steps of forming the resin layer between the respective structures, on the surfaces of the respective structures and on the surface of the substrate having the plurality of the structures; and forming the film for chucking on the resin layer to form the protective layer.
US09004654B2
An ink cartridge adopts a construction in which an air seal and an ink seal are arranged on the cartridge side and in which sealing between the ink cartridge and the recording apparatus is performed with a radial seal.
US09004645B2
To provide a belt cleaning device and the like by which a more compact apparatus overall can be configured without compromising the ability to replace a secondary wiping member or the like, the invention is provided with a wiper which is provided on an inner side of a cleaning vessel and further downstream than a rotating brush in a direction of travel of a conveyance belt, and wipes off in a relative fashion a cleaning solution that has attached to the conveyance belt. The wiper includes a primary wiping blade and a secondary wiping blade which are in contact with the surface of the conveyance belt, and a primary fixation plate and a secondary fixation plate which are attached to the inner side of the cleaning vessel and to which the primary wiping blade and the secondary wiping blade, respectively, are fixed. An axis line of a fixation section formed in the secondary fixation plate is tilted toward the upstream side in the direction of travel and is prevented from intersecting with the primary fixation plate.
US09004630B2
There is provided an inkjet printing apparatus which can perform stable ejection also in successive printing at high speed even in a case of performing printing in use of a print head provided with an ejection opening surface having hydrophilic properties. The inkjet printing apparatus comprises an inkjet print head wherein the control unit controls the print head such that, in a case where the ejection number of the ink ejected from the print head after removing the ink on the ejection opening surface by the ink removal unit is equal to or more than a threshold, a drive energy amount that is supplied for the preliminary ejection operation is larger than a drive energy amount that is supplied for the preliminary ejection operation in a case where the ejection number is less than the threshold.
US09004623B2
A door for a domestic appliance, in particular for a cooking oven. The door comprises two door columns on the left hand side and on the right hand side of the door, an outer door panel at the outer sides of the door columns, an inner door panel at the inner sides of the door columns, and a cover frame for covering the top sides of the door columns and the inner door panel. In a mounted state the cover frame is fastened on the door columns, and the inner door panel is clamped by the cover frame. In an intermediate state the cover frame is fastened at the door columns in another position as in the mounted state, so that the inner door panel is removable from the inner sides of the door columns. Further, a corresponding domestic appliance with at least one door.
US09004619B2
A mobile machine track shoe includes a ground engaging surface including a first grouser bar and a second grouser bar substantially parallel to the first grouser bar. The track shoe further includes a base opposite the ground engaging surface. The base includes a first relief disposed opposite the first grouser bar, and a second relief disposed opposite the second grouser bar.
US09004617B2
A brake device can prevent deterioration of braking force by applying a predetermined pressure in the drive hydraulic pressure chamber even when an electric system failure occurs. The brake device includes a stroke simulator portion, regulator, a first passage connecting the accumulator and the high pressure port of the regulator, a second passage connecting the reservoir tank and the low pressure port of the regulator, a third passage connecting the stroke simulator portion and the pilot pressure input port of the regulator, a fourth passage connecting the drive hydraulic pressure chamber and the output port of the regulator and a fifth passage connecting the accumulator and the drive hydraulic pressure chamber bypassing the high pressure port. The normally open type pressure decrease control valve is provided in the second passage or in the fourth passage whereas the normally closed pressure increase control valve is provided in the fifth passage.
US09004615B2
A method for operating a hydraulic brake system of a motor vehicle, comprising a pressure generating device used to build up additional brake pressure in a master brake cylinder or in addition to a master brake cylinder and in opposition to further pedal actuation wherein the additional pressure is a function of the pedal actuation travel distance. A method that reduces the limitations of a braking system's physical parameters on the build-up of additional braking pressure.
US09004608B1
An ice pulverizing knife comprises a frame and a plurality of blades. The frame has a substantially circular base and comprises a top, a base and at least one opening. The top has a socket adapted for mechanically coupling the frame with a vertical drive shaft. Rotation of the vertical drive shaft results in rotation of the frame. The base engages with ice on a ground surface. The at least one opening is positioned between the top and the base. The plurality of blades is secured to the frame. Each blade radially projects from the frame and engages with the ice on the ground surface for cutting the ice. Ice cut by the blade and accumulated inside the frame is expelled from the frame through the at least one opening. An ice pulverizing device is equipped with the ice pulverizing knife.
US09004597B2
A chair assembly including a first chair structure, a second chair structure, an actuator assembly coupled to the second chair structure to move the second chair structure between the first and second positions, a control input assembly coupled to the first chair structure, and a control link assembly coupling the control input assembly with the actuator assembly to move the second chair structure between first and second positions, and including a first shaft operably coupled to the control link, and rotatable about a second axis that is substantially orthogonal to the first axis and to the first direction, and first and second universal joint assemblies coupling the first shaft member to the second shaft, wherein actuation of the control input moves the second chair structure between the first and second positions.
US09004595B1
The present disclosure will provide a simple spinal support device that can be used while sitting to force the user to develop proper posture and reduce back strain. This is accomplished by creating a ‘T’ shaped device that can be ergonomically designed for the back. The user will place the device against the back rest of a chair prior to sitting. Alternatively, the device will be integrated within the chair. When in use, the spinal support member will force the user's shoulders to go backwards, improving his or her posture instantly.
US09004592B2
A wheelchair slipcover is provided that includes a first covering member and a second covering member that is adjustable for different wheelchair sizes and configurations. The first covering member has a back covering portion covering a back of the wheelchair, armrest covering portions extending around from both sides of the back covering portion and attaching vertically along the seat portion of the wheelchair. A second covering member covers the seat and the backrest, positioned on the first covering member.
US09004589B2
A seat cushion of a vehicle seat includes a cushion made of foam and at least one motor assembly located on or near an upper surface of the cushion. The at least one motor assembly includes a plurality of transducer cells.
US09004586B2
A vehicle seat assembly includes a seat, a pedestal, a swivel mechanism connected to the pedestal for permitting the seat to rotate about a vertical axis and a latch located external to the swivel mechanism for preventing rotation of the seat. The seat assembly may further include a bracket for mounting the seat to the swivel mechanism in any one of a plurality of positions. Another vehicle seat assembly includes a track, a seat having a seating portion and a seat back, a base connected to the seat and engaging the track so as to permit longitudinal movement of the seat along the track and a locking mechanism for retaining the seat in a desired position along the track. The locking mechanism includes a vertically extending pin located beneath the center of the seating portion of the seat.
US09004576B2
When a collision load is transmitted to a gusset, the load is transmitted to an inner side in a vehicle width direction via an inclined wall. Accordingly, moment that causes a front side member to be projected and bent inward to the inner side in the vehicle width direction with an intersection being a starting point acts on the front side member. Then, the front side member, which has been projected and bent inward, collides with a power unit that is disposed in an engine compartment from an outer side in the vehicle width direction. Accordingly, a lateral force to the inner side in the vehicle width direction can be obtained for a vehicle.
US09004567B2
A movable bulkhead 10, 110 for a motor vehicle such as a van 1 is disclosed comprising a number of panels 11, 12, 13, 111, 112 and 113 hingedly connected together to permit the bulkhead 10 to be moved or transformed between forward and rear positions by rotation of the panels 11, 12, 13, 111, 112 and 113. The bulkhead 10 is U-shaped defining a concavity that faces forward when the bulkhead 10 is latched in the forward position and rearwardly when the bulkhead 10 is latched in the rear position so as to maximize the cargo carrying capacity of the van 10.
US09004564B2
Disclosed is a wafer support and alignment apparatus. The wafer support and alignment apparatus includes a wafer support component adapted to seat, align and support a wafer. The wafer support component includes at least one flat portion to support the wafer, at least one alignment lip portion protruding upward from the at least one flat portion, and at least one recessed pocket carved out of a portion of the at least one base portion. The at least one recessed pocket is adapted to receive at least one pad.
US09004559B2
A compliant underactuated grasper includes a palm base and two fingers. Each of the fingers comprises: a proximal phalanx; a distal phalanx; a compliant flexure joint connecting the distal phalanx to the proximal phalanx; and a pin joint connecting the proximal phalanx to the palm base, the pin joint constraining angular movement of the proximal phalanx relative to the palm base to rotation about a pin pivot axis. The grasper further includes at least one actuator to move the fingers. The grasper has fewer actuators than degrees of freedom.
US09004556B2
A master coupling link assembly comprises a master coupling link and at least one sub-coupling link. The master coupling link has a first eye dimensioned to receive a lifting hook and at least two second eyes separated from the first eye. The at least one sub-coupling link is coupled to the master coupling link at one of the at least two second eyes, and the sub-coupling link is formed with the master coupling link.
US09004554B2
A safety guard for a vehicle, such as a school or transit bus, tractor trailer or the like-type vehicle, includes a front guard positioned at an angle in front of a wheel of the vehicle that will function to push individuals and other animate objects lying in the path of the vehicle out of the path of the wheels for safety purposes, while being mounted for telescoping movement to protect the safety guard from damage upon abutting an inanimate object during operation of the vehicle.
US09004548B2
This device for locking an opening part (9) of a jet engine nacelle with respect to a fixed part (7, 17) comprises: means (13, 16) for locking said opening part (9) with respect to said fixed part (7, 17), means for actuating (21) these locking means that are mounted such that they can move on said opening part (9) between a closed position, in which they enable said locking means (13, 16) to be immobilized, and an open position, in which they enable these locking means (13, 16) to be released. Said actuating means comprise gripping means (21). This device comprises means (41, 43) for immobilizing, in the open position, said gripping means (21) with respect to said opening part (9) at least in the direction of movement of said opening part (9).
US09004547B2
The invention relates to a fixing device for a vertically movable closing element (1) for the at least partial closing of an opening (2) of a room.According to the invention, the fixing device for fixing of the closing element (1) in a closed state comprises at least one first fixing unit (6), arranged on the closing element (1), and an engaging unit (7), corresponding to the first fixing unit (6), in an opening bottom (2.1) and at least one second fixing unit (11), which is arranged on a guide (3), arranged to the side of the opening (2), for the closing element (1) and has a tensioning hook (11.1), which in the closed state of the closing element (1) can be latched in the closing element (1) in the area of an upper side of the closing element (1).
US09004539B2
The present invention relates to a tire spray collecting assembly for a vehicle, such as a truck and/or trailer. There is accordingly provided a tire spray collecting assembly connectable to a fender of a vehicle. The assembly includes an air diverter connectable to the rear end of the fender for directing tire water spray towards the front end of the vehicle. The assembly includes a collector connectable to the bottom of the fender. The collector is configured to capture said water spray so re-directed.
US09004537B1
A regal push carriage for children including a cart ornamented with a crown atop an attachable roof and a plurality of decorative fleurons disposed upon the cart. A plurality of Light Emitting Diodes is disposed to illumine within the crown and the plurality of decorative fleurons when activated by depression of a switch member, wherein said plurality of Light Emitting Diodes scintillates and sparkles against a plurality of reflective elements disposed integral with the crown and plurality of decorative fleurons, thereby reminiscent of jewels and precious stones, whereby the appearance of traveling royalty is impressible to passersby.
US09004532B1
A utility vehicle includes a front boarding section, a rear boarding section having a rear seat unit, a ROPS delimiting space including a front boarding space acting as a ride-in space of the front boarding section and a rear boarding space acting as a ride-in space of the rear boarding section, and a loading platform mounted rearward of the vehicle body. The ROPS includes a plurality of posts and an upper frame supported to the posts and delimiting upper space of the front boarding space and the rear boarding space. The loading platform is switchable between a first position in which a front end of the loading platform is positioned rearward of the rear boarding space and a second position in which the front end of the loading platform enters the rear boarding space.
US09004527B2
A curtain air bag system includes a curtain air bag that is housed folded up in an upper edge portion of a door opening, and that includes a first deployment portion that deploys when a vehicle is collided with in a side collision as well as when the vehicle rolls over, and a second deployment portion that deploys at least when the vehicle rolls over, by receiving a supply of gas. The first deployment portion deploys in a cylindrical shape extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction, above a belt line such that a rear end side of the first deployment portion overlaps with a center pillar when viewed from a side of the vehicle, and the second deployment portion deploys such that a lower end extends below the belt line, in a position not overlapping with the first deployment portion when viewed from the side.
US09004517B2
A bicycle wheel carrier assembly is equipped with a rim brake with pads (5) which is built into the structure of the carrier assembly. The rim brake includes two actuating arms (3) and two pad-bearing brake arms (4). Each actuating arm (3) associated with a pad-bearing brake arm (4) is articulated in a recess of the structure of the carrier assembly between a first position in which it is retracted within the structure and a second position providing access to the pad-bearing brake arm (4).
US09004512B2
A shear spring having a base plate having a flat upper surface, and an upper plate having a V-shaped upper surface opposite the base plate adapted to mate with a corresponding V-shaped surface positioned on a side wall of a spring mount, the upper plate having a flat lower surface parallel to the flat upper surface of the base, and an elastomeric material positioned between the flat upper surface of the base plate and the flat lower surface of the upper plate.
US09004506B2
A ball cart comprising a removable and rotatable ball basket having a plurality of separated chambers that are each able to hold a different kind of ball. Thus, whenever a particular type of ball is desired, a user is able to rotate the basket and lock it in place such that a lid of the chamber that holds balls of that type is accessible to the user. As a result, the user is able to easily select that type of balls desired from the ball cart without sifting through all of the balls in the ball cart.
US09004502B2
A skate assembly includes a shell structure and a removable tendon guard. The shell structure includes a heel portion, a lateral ankle portion, and a medial ankle portion. The heel portion is formed to cover a human heel. The lateral ankle portion is formed to extend beyond the heel portion. The medial ankle portion is formed to extend beyond the heel portion. The lateral ankle portion and the medial ankle portion are spaced apart to form a notch extending toward the heel portion. The removable tendon guard is removably attached between the lateral ankle portion and medial ankle portion to cover the notch.
US09004495B2
A segmented intershaft seal assembly for counter-rotating and co-rotating turbine engines is described. The assembly includes a pair of end rings, an annular seal element, and at least one resilient element. At least one end ring has a flange that extends from one side thereof. The flange has a lower annular surface. The seal element includes at least two seal segments. Each seal segment includes a ring segment and a ring flange segment. The ring segment has an upper radial surface. The ring flange segment directly contacts and extends from the upper radial surface forming either a substantially “T”-shaped or “L”-shaped cross section. The seal segments are disposed between the end rings. At least one resilient element biases each seal segment away from the inner shaft so that the upper radial surface contacts the lower annular surface and a portion of the ring flange segment extends beyond the flanges.
US09004492B2
One embodiment of the face seal described herein includes a seal seat and a seal element carried by a seal housing. The seal element cooperates with the seal seat to establish a seal. The housing includes a seal element support and a shroud. The seal housing is made of a parent material and the shroud has a tip impregnated with a second material.
US09004488B2
A conveying apparatus includes a first pair of rollers having a drive roller and a pinch roller driven by the drive roller, a second pair of rollers provided downstream of the first pair of rollers, and an arm member supporting the drive roller and adapted to be swingable such that a force for pressing the drive roller against the pinch roller increases as a conveyance resistance of the sheet increases. The force for pressing the drive roller against the pinch roller decreases if driven by the moving sheet. The conveying speed of the second pair of rollers is set to be higher than the conveying speed of the drive roller so as to cause the drive roller to be driven by the sheet in the case where a skew of the sheet has been corrected and the sheet having the skew corrected is conveyed by the second pair of rollers.
US09004475B2
A clamping mechanism includes a positioning member, a support plate, a frame, a fastening assembly, and an operating assembly. The support plate defines a through hole. The fastening assembly is fixed to the frame. The fastening assembly includes a fastening member and an elastic member. The positioning member extends through the through hole of the support plate, and is fastened by the fastening member under an elastic force of the elastic member. The operating assembly resists the fastening member, thereby driving the fastening member away from the positioning member.
US09004467B2
A partition member for partitioning a primary liquid chamber and a secondary liquid chamber is provided with a damping orifice and an elastic partition member. A leg portion integrally projects from a lower surface of the movable diaphragm so as to be pressed vertically against a stopper surface formed on an upper surface of the bottom portion of a frame member. A third liquid chamber is defined between an outer circumferential portion of the leg portion and the support wall. When a bottom surface of the leg portion is pressed against the stopper surface, the third liquid chamber is sealed to confine a hydraulic fluid thereby increasing the internal pressure. When the leg portion is brought out of contact with the stopper surface, the third liquid chamber is opened to the secondary liquid chamber, thereby allowing the hydraulic fluid to flow out of the third liquid chamber.
US09004460B2
A combined collector and distributor for a distillation column that includes a collector portion connected to a distributor portion. The distributor portion includes a channel-like distributor to distribute liquid into an underlying packing The collector portion has spaced rows of collection elements that cover the open spaces and distribution elements of the distributor portion and one or more rectangular sumps into which descending liquid drains from the collection elements. The liquid in turn drains from the rectangular sump or sumps into a pre-distribution box located within a header of the distributor portion. The collection elements that cover the open spaces are set at higher positions than the collection elements covering the distribution elements to form chimneys to allow the ascending vapor to escape from the collector portion.
US09004456B2
A manual marine winch includes a safety knockout override preventing release of winch tension without the handle in stowed position. The winch includes a housing; a rotating drum on the housing; a winch line on the drum; a control for spooling and un-spooling the winch line on the drum, wherein the control includes a handle for selectively tensioning the drum and moveable between a position engaged with the drum and a disengaged stowed position; a tension holding mechanism on the housing comprising a ratchet gear coupled to the drum, a pawl selectively engaged with the ratchet gear, and a knockout configures to selectively disengage the pawl from the gear to allow for release of winch tension; and a safety knockout override coupled to the housing and selectively engaged by the handle and configured to prevent release of winch tension when the handle is not in the stowed position.
US09004453B2
A tapping fitting, particularly a flap or ball cock, with a fitting housing made from plastic for connection to a drain spigot of a plastic container for liquids, particularly an interior container of a transport and storage container, wherein the fitting housing is provided with a conductive device at least part of which is made from electrically conductive plastic for dissipating an electrostatic charge, wherein the conductive device is the conductive device has an integrally conformed earthing conductor for the electrically conductive connection of the conductive device to a ground potential and is also connected integrally with the fitting housing.
US09004450B2
Described herein is a fluid valve assembly includes a body that defines a fluid cavity. The body includes an inlet through which fluid enters the fluid cavity and an outlet from which fluid exits the fluid cavity. The fluid valve assembly includes at least one arm rotatably coupled to the body and positioned within the fluid cavity. Additionally, the fluid valve assembly includes a flap coupled to the at least one arm. The flap includes a domed portion and a flat portion extending radially outwardly away from the domed portion.
US09004449B2
A conical rotary valve for chromatographic applications is provided, including a valve stator, a valve rotor, a drive adaptor and a pair of stoppers each mounted to the stator. The drive adaptor is rotatable and coupled to the valve rotor for transmitting a rotating force thereto. The drive adaptor has a body and a pair of radial arms projecting from the body radially outward from the axis of rotation on opposite sides thereof. Each of the pair of radial arms is movable along a respective arcuate travelling course with respect to the stator. The stoppers are each positioned to obstruct one of the radial arms at an end of the corresponding travelling course. The stoppers are positioned to simultaneously engage the radial arms, thereby balancing the reaction forces created within the valve when the radial arms reach the ends of their travelling courses.
US09004444B2
Valve control device includes a body with a longitudinal axis, a control member housed at least partially in the body in a bottom portion along the longitudinal axis, a piston movable along the longitudinal axis and housed in a portion of the body forming with the piston a control chamber of the piston, an element movable in rotation with respect to the longitudinal axis on a top portion of the body, and sealing means between the movable element and the control chamber in the area of the connection port and/or of the passage.
US09004443B2
An early-stripping formwork system for concreting of constructions comprising beams, slab and columns comprises several rectangular standard formworks (1), props with multiple early-stripping support mechanisms (2), several filler beams (3) and filler panels. The standard formwork (1) consists of a panel (11) and a formwork frame (12), and the formwork frame (12) is provided with L-shaped corners (121) at its four corners. Each of the early-stripping prop (2) consists of an upper support inner tube (21) and a lower support tube (22) which form a telescopic connection, a rectangular head plate (23) is disposed at the top end of the upper support inner tube (21), one corner of the head plate (23) fits an internal corner of any one of the L-shaped corners (121) on the formwork frame (12). A load-releasing mechanism (24) is connected between the upper support inner tube (21) and the lower support outer tube (22). An early stripping mechanism (25) for early stripping of the standard formwork (1) is disposed on the upper support inner tube (21), short posts (251) for supporting the formwork frame (12) are disposed at four corners of the early stripping mechanism (25), and a structure for preventing the formwork frame (12) from slipping outwards is formed between the short post (251) and the L-shaped corner (121). The formwork frame (12), the filler panel, the filler beam (3), and a bridge beam (4) may be all in a detachable combined structure. In the formwork system, transport and storage of the formwork are convenient, and manufacturing cost is reduced.
US09004440B2
A ground-anchored umbrella stand comprises a base unit which is to be anchored in the ground and includes a soil sleeve extending into the soil. A pole mounting unit, in which the pole is inserted, is fastened to the base unit so as to be able to tilt relative to the base unit in all directions in space. An adjustment and locking mechanism between the base unit and the pole mounting unit allows tilting and aligning the pole mounting unit in all directions.
US09004437B2
A vibration proof structure of a seat apparatus for a vehicle, includes a first member and a second member movably arranged relative to each other in a first relative direction corresponding to a forward movement of a seat element in a front and rear direction of the vehicle and in a second relative direction corresponding to a rearward movement of the seat element in the front and rear direction, a first restriction wall restricting a relative movement of the first member to the second member in the first relative direction, a second restriction wall restricting the relative movement of the first member to the second member in the second relative direction, and a resistance force applying portion applying a resistance force to the first member moving in the first relative direction while not applying the resistance force to the first member moving in the second relative direction.
US09004430B2
An articulating mount for a television or other device with a display screen, permits in/out translation, left/right translation, and left/right roll or tilting movement of the display of the television or device. The left/right roll or tilting movement is about a generally horizontal axis that remains substantially perpendicular to the display screen of the device that is mounted to the bracket. The articulating mount further provides added retention and support of the television or device when a bracket of the mount is fully retracted, such as when the mount is used in a vehicle that is underway.
US09004429B2
A mounting device for installing a track for a curtain or blind has an engagement portion for cooperation with the track by a snap-type engagement. A resiliently deformable release means has a tongue portion (29) that has a free end that is positioned in a cavity of the track when the engagement portions are fully mutually engaged and a connected end that is connected to the mounting portion and spaced from the free end and that is positioned externally of the cavity of the track when the engagement portions are fully mutually engaged. The tongue portion (29) has an abutment face (33) disposed for assisting with prising apart the mounting device and the track by turning a tool, simultaneous with the operation of the tool against the tongue portion. The abutment face is opposed to and spaced from the track in use.
US09004428B2
A serving tray stand includes a top portion including a tray rack, and a base portion. The base portion includes at least one leg defining a vertical segment engaged to the tray rack, a horizontal segment extending from the vertical segment, an angled segment extending from the horizontal segment, and an attachment segment extending from the angled segment. The attachment segment of each the at least one legs is disposed in parallel orientation relative to the tray rack and spaced-apart from the tray rack to define a gap therebetween. The gap defined between each attachment segment and the tray rack is configured to receive the tabletop to mount the serving tray stand to the tabletop.
US09004426B2
A concealable hanging device for hanging seasonal decorations, pictures, coats or purses. The hanging device includes a sleeve having a proximal end, a distal end, an inside diameter and an outside diameter, and a pin having a proximal end with a head and a distal end with a tip. The pin is movably engaged in the sleeve and oriented such that the proximal end of the pin engages the proximal end of the sleeve and the distal end of the pin engages the distal end of the sleeve so that the moveably-engaged pin can be moved to an extended position and a retracted position within the sleeve but the tip configured such that the tip engages the sleeve to prevent the pin from being removable from the sleeve when the pin is moved to an extended position and the head engages the sleeve to allow the head to be grasped in order to allow the pin to be moved into the extended position.
US09004404B2
A sealing member for forming a seal in an aircraft, the sealing member comprising: a sealing material; and a stiffening element which provides structural support to the sealing material and comprises a material with a glass transition temperature below +50° C. The stiffening element is relatively flexible when the aircraft is at low altitude (high temperature) but becomes relatively stiff (increasing resistance to seal flutter) when the aircraft is at cruise altitude (low temperature).
US09004402B2
An aircraft capable of thrust-borne flight can be automatically retrieved, serviced, and launched. In one embodiment, for retrieval, the aircraft drops a tether and pulls the tether at low relative speed into contact with a horizontal guide. The tether is pulled across the guide until the guide is captured b an end effector. The tether length is adjusted as necessary, and the aircraft swings on the guide to hang in an inverted position. Translation of the tether along the guide then brings the aircraft to a docking carriage, in which the aircraft parks for servicing. For launch, the carriage is swung upright, the end effector is released from the guide, and the aircraft thrusts into free flight. A full ground-handling cycle can thus be accomplished automatically with a simple, economical apparatus. It can be used with low risk of damage and requires moderate accuracy in manual or automatic flight control.
US09004398B2
A hot air balloon with an adjustable deflation port at its upper end which can be selectively opened and closed on the ground and during flight. The positive control of the port by the operator of the balloon in the basket allows the deflation port to be adjusted at any position from full open to fully closed or held in intermediate positions as desired.
US09004395B2
The rotors of a helicopter are directly connected with electric high-torque motors, and are powered by the latter. Energy generation and rotor drive are separate from each other. The high-torque motor of the main rotor is pivoted to the cabin canopy, so that it can be tilted together with the main rotor.
US09004392B1
An apparatus and method for spooling wire or cable from a reel assembly. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises an inner flange assembly and an outer flange assembly. The inner flange assembly is capable of freely rotating relative to the outer flange assembly for spooling wire from any surface. In another embodiment, wire is spooled from a reel assembly comprising an inner flange assembly and an outer flange assembly.
US09004391B2
An apparatus for winding a hose line having a threaded male end. The apparatus comprises a frame that has a first side plate, a second side plate and means for positioning the side plates apart from one another. The first side plate has a circular aperture and a center assembly having a handle crank, a revolving handle and means for rotating the center assembly within the first side plate aperture when the handle crank is rotated by hand. A coupling jaw assembly is also provided and has a fork that is removably insertable into the center assembly to capture the threaded male end of the hose line. Rotation of the handle crank then winds the hose line to form a coiled hose within the apparatus. The coiled hose can be transported within the apparatus or can be left standing upright when released from the apparatus.
US09004389B2
A bobbin is provided, which includes a main body, a first block board, a second block board, and at least one guiding member. The main body extends along an axis. The first block board and the second block board circumferentially surround ends of the main body and radially extend from the main body, respectively. The guiding member is formed on the first block board or the second block board and comprises a dummy pin, radially extending from the first block board or the second block board.
US09004380B2
A shower head includes a shower head body, a water diversion plate with water diversion outlets, a water outflow member with nozzles, and a water outlet panel with water outlets. The nozzles of the water outflow member extend out of the respective water outlets of the water outlet panel. A gap is defined between each nozzle of the water outflow member and each water outlet of the water outlet panel. A water mix mechanism is provided between the water outflow member and the water diversion plate. The water mix mechanism is that the water outflow member has an air inlet and that the water diversion plate is formed with a water diversion lid at a lower surface thereof to cover the exterior of the air inlet. The water diversion outlets of the water diversion plate are aligned with the position between the air inlet and the water diversion lid.
US09004378B2
A system and method are provided for automated control of application of fluid to a surface. A surface map is annotated with shapes designating zones for spraying, and excluding others. A control system in a vehicle uses the annotated map and GPS to assist the operator of the vehicle avoid spraying on excluded zones, and provides a record of the spraying operation including locations sprayed and fluid spray rates. The control system operates valves to control spraying from a container on the vehicle, based on several parameters, so as to avoid spraying excluded zones and steep slopes, to avoid overlaps, and to limit fluid spray rates below pre-determined maximums. The system further assists the operator by providing a visual guide on a display. A kit can be provided to retrofit a vehicle for landspraying.
US09004365B2
A card for use in secure transactions includes a card body having a first major surface and a second major surface; one or more groupings of a plurality of individual distinct symbols viewable from the first major surface, each individual distinct symbol comprising a single segment defining the individual distinct symbol that upon activation illuminates the respective individual distinct symbol; and a controller coupled to the plurality of individual distinct symbols. The controller is operable to produce a one-time password value and to selectively activate individual ones of individual distinct symbols to identify a sub-combination of the plurality of individual distinct symbols, thereby displaying an illuminated one-time password token for use in a secure transaction.
US09004364B1
An illuminating, indicia-reading device includes a hand-held indicia reader and a charging-and-communication base. The charging-and-communication base's communication button places the hand-held indicia reader in presentation mode when the hand-held indicia reader is seated in the charging-and-communication base, thereby facilitating hands-free scanning and providing work lamp functionality via activation of the hand-held indicia reader's light source. When the hand-held indicia reader is not seated, the communication button pages the hand-held-indicia reader.
US09004362B1
The invention uses three-dimensional printing techniques to lay down a three-dimensional black and white grid (or “4-dimensional” grid, if color is used). To read and decode a three-dimensional bar-code, a light-field camera is used to capture the whole three-dimensional structure and the focus levels are then determined for a predetermined number of vertical levels. Adding color adds another degree of freedom (dimension) in the number and difficulty of encoding and decoding the three-dimensional bar-codes. These bar-codes cannot be simply made or copied, providing a level of security thereby.
US09004361B2
An electronic transaction card communicates with an add-on slot of an intelligent electronic device. The add-on slot may be a memory card slot. The intelligent electronic device may be a mobile phone or other device with or without network connectivity. The electronic transaction card may have magnetic field producing circuitry compatible with magnetic card readers, smartcard circuitry, other point-of-sale interfaces, or any combination thereof.
US09004359B2
A data reading system including one or more imagers, the data reading system having a lower main housing structure with a horizontal surface, across which items to be read are passed, and an upper reader module, such as pole-mounted top down reader (TDR) including an imager configured to provide a top down viewing angle from above the horizontal surface of the item in a read region. In one configuration, the pole-mounted upper reader module includes a one-piece post housing section mounted to the main housing structure and extending therefrom and containing imaging electronics and optics of the upper reader.
US09004355B2
A method and system for allowing the setting of reservations and the pre-authorization of credit to purchase a desired service for which a reservation is made. A customer accesses a reservation system that is integrated with a credit authorization system. The customer may make a reservation and substantially simultaneously become pre-authorized to pay for services to be provided at the reservation by one of any number of credit providers. Pre-authorized credit and reservation information is then supplied to the service provider in advance of services being provided, expediting the overall transaction time and allowing for a secure and cardless transaction procedure. The reservation and preauthorization information are typically stored upon the reservation system and then passed to the point-of-sale systems, but other types of input/output storage devices could be used to perform this function.
US09004354B1
A machine-readable code rendering device may include an electronic paper display and a machine-readable code rendering module that dynamically renders machine-readable codes on the electronic paper display. The electronic paper display may be configured so that the machine-readable codes are read by a light-based code reader off of the electronic paper display.
US09004352B1
A deposit management system is operable responsive to data read from data bearing records. The system is associated with financial funds depositories. Each depository can accept items, such as deposit bags. Each depository includes a bar code reader that can read data from a bar code label that is located on a deposit bag. The system allows merchants to preregister a deposit before performing the deposit. A preregistered deposit is linked with a deposit identifier in a data store. The deposit identifier can be represented in a bar code. If the system determines that a depository read a bar code having a deposit identifier that corresponds in the data store to a preregistered deposit, then that depository is operated to automatically unlock its deposit entry door to permit the deposit. The system also allows merchants to review their deposit history.
US09004351B2
A computerized method for generating a time-limited number for use in a payment card transaction involving a payment card issued by a financial institution. The payment card comprises an original payment card number. A first plurality of digits of the original payment card number is provided to a processor. The first plurality of digits are predetermined digits associated to the financial institution. A desired expiration date through which the time-limited number is valid for acceptance in the payment card transaction is provided to the processor. A program is executed by the processor to set a first plurality of digits in the time-limited number to the first plurality of digits in the original payment card number, generate a first number corresponding to the desired expiration date, set a second plurality of digits in the time-limited number to the first number, and output the time-limited number.
US09004349B2
An IC card and an IC card system are disclosed in which command processing performance is improved by storing current state data related to a first command upon interruption of an execution cycle for the first command by a second command. Upon completion of the second command, the current state information is reloaded and execution of the first command is resumed.
US09004346B2
A delivery receptacle for receiving objects, such as parcels, has a housing having an input opening, a delivery door rotatably coupled to the housing for opening and closing the input opening, and a drum rotatably coupled to the housing and having a drum access opening accessible through the input opening. The delivery door is mechanically coupled to the drum such that rotation of the delivery door in a first rotational direction causes rotation of the drum in the opposite rotational direction. The delivery door is rotatable between an open position in which the drum is oriented with the drum access opening aligned with the input opening such that a parcel can be inserted into the drum, and a closed position in which the drum is oriented with the drum access opening aligned with a drop area such that a parcel will exit the drum and enter the drop area.
US09004341B2
Provided is a method for producing a welded steel pipe having excellent buckling resistance. The method for producing a welded steel pipe according to the present embodiment includes steps of: preparing a welded pipe, and expanding the welded pipe over the entire length thereof by using a pipe expanding head such that an undulation wavelength ratio D defined by Formula (1) is not more than 0.8, or not less than 1.8: D=p/λ (1), where p is an undulation wavelength in the axial direction of the welded steel pipe, and λ is a Timoshenko's buckling wavelength as defined by Formula (2): λ=3.44×(r×t)1/2 (2), where r is an inner radius of the welded steel pipe and t is a wall thickness of the welded steel pipe.
US09004336B2
A sheet conveyance apparatus includes a conveyance roller pair that has a roller with a uniform diameter in a sheet width direction and that is configured to pinch and convey a sheet, and a guide unit that is provided on an upstream side of the conveyance roller pair and that is configured to regulate a position of an edge of the sheet, wherein the conveyance roller pair conveys the sheet in a state in which the sheet is bended by the guide unit so that on a roller side with a uniform diameter in a sheet width direction, the sheet convexly bends.
US09004334B2
A holder for a handheld electronic device, the holder including a container defining a space for receiving the handheld electronic device and an inner surface facing inwardly towards the space. At least a portion of the inner surface includes an infrared-neutral material or coating operative for interacting with infrared light emitted from the handheld electronic device and received by the infrared-neutral material. The interaction is such that, while the handheld electronic device is being received by the container, any reflected infrared signal effected by the interaction is inoperative for effecting activation of a functionality of the handheld electronic device when the reflected infrared signal is sensed by the handheld electronic device.
US09004333B2
Holders and cases for supporting portable handheld electronic devices, such as but not limited to iPhones®, IPODS®, IPADS™, cellular phones, smart phones and the like. The holders and cases protect a portable handheld electronics device holder with a built on bottle opener fixed to a rear face of the holders and cases.
US09004325B2
An ice dispenser for a domestic refrigerator includes a lever having a housing with a passageway defined therein and a flapper door configured to pivot between a closed position in which ice is prevented from advancing into the passageway and an open position in which ice is permitted to advance into the passageway. A linkage is coupled to the lever and the flapper door such that movement of the lever causes the flapper door to move from the closed position to the open position.
US09004323B2
A system for forming an acoustic texture coating on a surface, the system having an aerosol dispenser, a liquid portion of a propellant material, a gas portion of the propellant material, a base material, and a plurality of discrete particles of at least one of urethane foam and melamine foam, where the discrete particles define a physical structure. The liquid portion of the propellant material, the gas portion of the propellant material, the base material, and the plurality of discrete particles are disposed within the aerosol dispenser. The propellant material does not alter the physical structure of the discrete particles when combined within the aerosol dispenser. When the aerosol dispenser is operated, the base material and the discrete particles are deposited on an uncoated portion of the surface such that the base material dries to adhere the discrete particles to the uncoated portion of the surface.
US09004318B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a foam dispensing container that can homogenize foam quality and can discharge foam of stable quality. By providing a plurality of liquid intake paths for delivering the foaming liquid into the air-liquid mixing chamber and a plurality of air intake paths for delivering air, the air-liquid mixing efficiency can be improved significantly, stable volumes of air and foaming liquid can be delivered into the air-liquid mixing chamber, without the possibility of delivering a great volume of liquid with a single press, and consequently the foam quality can be homogenized and foam of stable quality can be discharged.
US09004317B2
A device for packaging and dispensing a flowable product comprises a casing comprising a nozzle for dispensing the product and a container designed to contain the product to be packaged. The casing comprises a rigid bottom, an air renewal and filtration assembly, a filter element, and an air inlet passage located in said rigid bottom. The nozzle comprises a tapered portion that defines a free end of the nozzle, an actuating portion resiliently movable between an engagement position and a rest position. A dose-defining chamber may be isolated from the air contained in the container and may have a determined volume in the rest position. The engagement position may be obtained by engaging the actuating portion against a stationary wall portion, so as to empty the chamber and expel a dose exactly corresponding to the determined volume of the chamber.
US09004314B2
A dispenser is disclosed for flat items such as disposable gloves that are contained within a dispensing bag that has an at least partially-open front side. The dispenser includes a base that has a rear wall and a pair of opposing side walls. A non-opaque cover with a dispensing aperture therethrough is pivotally fixed between each side wall and adapted to swing between an open and a closed position. At least one elastic cord is stretched between each side wall to urge the dispensing bag towards the cover when the cover is in the closed position and the dispensing bag is between the cover and the at least one elastic cord. The front side of the dispensing bag may be non-opaque and open at a dispensing bag aperture therethrough, a temporary adhesive being fixed proximate a periphery of the dispensing bag aperture.
US09004307B2
A container for holding product therein during shipment and being returned for reuse has a body, horizontal and vertical tracks attached to opposite sides of the body, and a plurality of support member assemblies extending between the tracks. Each support member assembly includes sliders or end members located at the ends of tubular supports, the sliders being movable in the tracks. The support member assemblies support dunnage for supporting products for storage or shipment.
US09004306B2
A convertible storage container and methods are provided for the remediation of environmentally damaged articles. The container defines an interior chamber for receiving the environmentally damaged articles therein, the container having at least one container door for closing an access opening into the container. A conversion door is removably positionable with respect to the access opening so as to close the access opening with the container door in an opened condition. The conversion door includes a conversion door panel and a plurality of access ports through the door panel for connection of ducts to permit remediation of the environmentally damaged articles within the interior chamber.
US09004305B2
The present invention discloses a container cover produced from a plastics film, having a rotating closure which has a rotatable cylindrical cutting device (100, 300), wherein the latter has a lower rim (110) on which at least one cutting edge section (120) is arranged, and wherein said at least one cutting edge section (120) has at least three teeth (130) which are located on a line extending in an inclined manner in relation to the bag, and wherein the front-most tooth in the direction of rotation comes first into contact with the plastics film during the cutting operation. The cutting device (100, 300) is characterized in that the inclination of the line on which the teeth (130) of each cutting edge section are located is selected such that, in the case of at least approximately maximum deformation of the plastics film before the latter is perforated by the front-most tooth, at least two following teeth of the same cutting edge section (120) are in direct contact with the plastics film.
US09004304B2
A device includes a first body having a curved wall with a top surface that slopes away from the first body and a second body having an interior configured to receive the curved wall of the first body, the interior including a curved ramp with a sloped bottom ramp surface. The second body is mounted on the first body with the bottom surface of the curved ramp resting on the top surface of the curved wall. A compressible seal extends from the first body bottom, and a shaft projects from the second body through a passage in the first body and into the interior of the compressible seal. Rotating the bodies relative to each other causes the shaft to pull the seal against the first body and radially expand the seal against an interior wall of an opening in which the device is placed to form a seal therewith.
US09004274B2
Described is a fishing rod storage container comprising a lid pivotally connected to a container housing by one or more hinges. The container housing comprises a pair of elongated sides and an interior volume adapted to store fishing equipment. The container housing further comprises a plurality of lower half supports extending between the pair of elongated sides that are adapted to support several fishing rods. The lower half supports are elevated above the bottom of the container housing so as to provide clearance for equipment stored on the bottom of the container housing. The lid comprises upper half supports that are positioned so as to align with the lower half supports, such that the lower and upper half supports are complementary halves of a fishing rod support. In this way, a fishing rod can be secured in place between the upper and lower half supports when the container is closed.
US09004270B2
A link belt for use in a sintering furnace, which is made of a plurality of first links, each of said links having working surfaces for supporting objects to be carried on the belt. A plurality of rollers are positioned intermediate certain of said first links, and a plurality of pins pass through apertures within said first links and within said rollers.
US09004265B2
A pump assembly includes a rotating component and a stationary component coupled to the rotating component such that the stationary component substantially circumscribes at least a portion of the rotating component. A high pressure outlet extends at least partially through the rotating and stationary components. An inlet is positioned a predefined distance from the high pressure outlet. The inlet extends at least partially through the rotating and stationary components. A solid fuel flow is channeled from the inlet to the outlet as the rotating component rotates. A flow control member is coupled to the rotating and stationary components in a first predefined position. The flow control member is selectively moveable from the first predefined position to a second predefined position to form a seal within the pump assembly such that the solid fuel flow and a fluid flow are substantially restricted from being channeled back into the inlet.
US09004258B2
A conveyor assembly adapted to convey material comprising an offsetting conveyor having an offsetting conveyor tail end, an offsetting conveyor swing end, and an offsetting conveyor belt and being adapted to move between an offsetting conveyor centered position an offsetting conveyor angled position, and an offsetting conveyor offset position. The preferred conveyor assembly also comprises an offsetting conveyor swing actuator that is adapted to move the offsetting conveyor between the offsetting conveyor centered position and the offsetting conveyor angled position. The preferred conveyor assembly further comprises a chute having a chute feed end and a chute discharge end and being adapted to move between a chute centered position and a chute angled position. The preferred conveyor assembly still further comprises a chute actuator that is adapted to move the chute between the chute centered position and the chute angled position. A method for moving an offsetting conveyor.
US09004248B2
It is an object of the present invention to achieve reduction in size and weight of, and inhibition of axial size increase of, a power transmission device for a torque converter including a turbine functioning as an inertia element. The power transmission device includes a torque transmission plate fixed to a turbine, a damper mechanism disposed between a front cover and the turbine, and an engaging part. The damper mechanism elastically couples the torque transmission plate and a transmission-side member. The engaging part couples the torque transmission plate and the damper mechanism on a radially inner side of a torus center C of a torque converter main body.
US09004241B2
An inlet, positioned to access the flow of air passing around and under a moving vehicle, may draw in air which is conveyed through a duct and discharged to cool a brake on a vehicle. The inlet has a closure. The closure is opened and closed on demand by a temperature-operated actuator incorporating an active or smart material under the direction of a controller. In embodiments, a sensor, suitably positioned to sense a temperature representative of the brake temperature, communicates the sensed brake temperature to the controller. The controller may respond to the sensed brake temperature, by triggering operation of the actuator. Typically the closure is opened to allow passage of cooling air to the brake when the sensed brake temperature exceeds, or is anticipated to exceed, a predetermined temperature.
US09004237B2
A self-energizing disc brake includes a brake-internal hydraulic arrangement with a supply circuit and an expansion vessel; a brake application device having a cylinder for applying a brake pad toward a brake disc; a force transmission unit supporting the brake pad at a wedge angle on the brake application device; a tangential-force absorbing cylinder for switching over the wedge angle, which is operatively connected to the force transmission unit; an electric-motor actuator for acting on the brake application device via the hydraulic arrangement; and a control unit. The force transmission unit has a deflection lever and a shoulder element attached thereto. Rolling surfaces thereof are in contact with respective corresponding rolling surfaces of a brake application element of the cylinder and a brake pad support device. The deflection lever has a pressure section with a rolling surface in operative connection with the tangential-force absorbing cylinder.
US09004233B2
A ring-shaped thrust bearing extending in an axial direction having an inner surface includes a first axial groove in the inner surface having a first flat wall and a second flat wall; and a first principal strain sensor positioned on the first flat wall of the first axial groove to measure compression in the axial direction.
US09004232B2
An end-fastener for fastening a suspension device of an elevator system has a housing which contains two side walls. The end-fastener has at least two essentially cylindrical wrap-round elements for fastening the suspension device, wherein the wrap-round elements each extend between the two side walls. The second wrap-round element is embodied as a movable bolt which can be inserted into the housing. The end-fastener includes a fixing element which can be mounted on the housing for fixing the second wrap-round element in its position in the housing. The fixing element is embodied in such manner that it engages in at least one groove of the second wrap-round element that comes to lie between the side walls of the housing.
US09004221B2
Torque sensor detects torque of steering shaft formed by first and second shafts which are connected through torsion bar. Torque sensor has: a magnetic member provided at the first shaft and having magnetic poles alternately arranged in circumferential direction concentrically with rotation axis; a first yoke member provided at the second shaft and having (a) first nail portions arranged concentrically with the rotation axis and facing the magnetic member in radial direction and (b) a first ring portion; a second yoke member provided at the second shaft and having (c) second nail portions arranged concentrically with the rotation axis so that the first and second nail portions are alternately arranged in the circumferential direction and the second nail portions face the magnetic member in the radial direction and (d) a second ring portion arranged to be separated from and face the first ring portion; and a magnetic sensor.
US09004219B2
A vehicle drive control system (1), such as a car, a boat, an aircraft and like, or of a driving simulator, such as a videogame console, simulation apparatuses and the like, and with a direction control device (2), such as a steering wheel, a rudder or the like, and with directioning means (21′, 22′, 21″. 22″), said system (1) being characterized by means (6) for detecting a position of said direction control device (2), an adjustment module (7, 7′, 7″) having a frame, mechanically coupled with said direction control device (2), provided with passive actuator and adjustment means (8′, 8″, 8a, 8a′, 8b, 8b′) to adjust resistance to the movement of said direction control device (2), one or more sensors (27) for detection of position of said directioning means (21′, 22′, 21″. 22″), and at least a central control unit (23).
US09004211B2
To provide a radiator exhaust structure for a saddle type vehicle that includes step floors provided on the left and right sides of a center tunnel, a radiator disposed in the center tunnel, an exhaust air guide that is provided rearwardly of the radiator and by which exhaust air from the radiator is guided, and an under cover by which the vehicle is covered on the lower side thereof. In the radiator exhaust structure, an air guide wall serving as a front end of the under cover and extending forwardly upward is disposed rearwardly of the radiator. The upper end of the air guide wall and the lower end of the exhaust air guide are disposed proximate to each other in the vertical direction.
US09004209B2
In a motorcycle with a cowl, a bent portion which has an upright wall facing forwardly and is bent in an upward and downward direction is provided at an intermediate portion in a forward and backward direction of an air intake duct. A plurality of dewatering devices are provided, and configured to be hit from the front by traveling wind to remove moisture from the traveling wind. The dewatering devices are disposed at a plurality of locations in the air intake duct spaced from each other along the traveling wind flowing direction in the air passage in the front of the upright wall. An overall extent of a range in which the air passage can be seen up to a rear end thereof without obstruction when the air intake duct is viewed from the front of the traveling wind inlet is occupied by the dewatering devices.
US09004207B2
A vehicle includes a charging unit for externally charging a power storage unit with electric power received from an external power supply, and an electric power generation unit capable of generating electric power from drive force received from an engine. The power storage unit is configured to be internally chargeable with electric power received from the electric power generation unit. The vehicle travels in selected one of EV priority mode restricting internal charging of the power storage unit and HV priority mode controlling internal charging such that a state of charge of the power storage unit is kept within a predetermined range. When a predetermined operating condition is satisfied while the vehicle is traveling, a control apparatus generates an operation request to the engine. The control apparatus changes the operating condition of the engine depending on whether the mode is EV priority mode or HV priority mode.
US09004206B2
An engine control device is provided including: detection units for detecting a driving state of a work machine using a generator, target engine speed setting units for causing, on the basis of the driving state, a target engine speed set for a case where electric power generation by the generator is OFF to be the same as a target engine speed set for a case where the electric power generation by the generator is ON, and engine target output calculation units for calculating an engine target output during electric power generation OFF that can be output at most when the electric power generation by the generator is OFF, and calculates an engine target output obtained by adding an output corresponding to an electric power generation amount by the generator to the engine target output when the electric power generation by the generator is ON.
US09004198B2
A hybrid-type earth boring drill bit is described having fixed cutting blades and rolling cones with cutting elements, wherein the rolling cones are associated with a spindle assembly that may be optionally divorced from the head pin assembly, and which includes bearing members that further include a plurality of polycrystalline diamond elements.
US09004196B2
A drill bit assembly has a bit head and a pin body. The bit head comprises a cutting end, an opposite connecting end with an engagement section, and a feature facing the connecting end. The pin body comprises a tubular body with an axial bore therethrough, a connecting end with an engagement section and a feature facing the connecting end. The drill bit assembly is manufactured by positioning the pin body connecting end with the bit head connecting end such that the pin body and bit head engagement sections overlap with a gap therebetween, and the pin body and bit head features are aligned; injecting a thermoplastic or other connecting material in liquid form between the bit head and pin body engagement sections and into the gap; and solidifying the thermoplastic or other connecting material such that the bit head and pin body are mechanically coupled together at their connecting ends and their features are securely aligned.
US09004193B2
Apparatus and the methods for deploying a sensor in the formation down a borehole. The apparatus comprises a downhole drilling system which is connected at a first end to the surface and is connected at a second end to a flexible drilling string downhole in the borehole. At least a portion of the flexible drilling string is locatable in a lateral hole of the borehole, and at least one downhole sensor is connectable to the portion of the drilling string that is locatable in the lateral hole.
US09004189B2
A protective device with a pressure tank (1) includes an elastic extinguishing agent balloon (3) filled with an extinguishing agent (23) and a propellant, where the elastic extinguishing agent balloon (3) borders onto at least one elastic component (32) and this elastic component is fluid permeable. The upper part of the elastic extinguishing agent balloon (3) is formed as a sealing ring. The device has the advantage that when it is used in mobile and stationary objects, where vibrations and other forces act on the extinguishing device, a high degree of operational safety of the extinguishing device can be assumed, that makes it possible to discharge almost 100 percent of the extinguishing agent without any malfunctioning. The operation of the extinguishing device is also temperature independent so that no additional safety measures are required in the case of a change in the spatial attitude of the pressure tank.
US09004188B1
An improved apparatus for treating a fire in a multi-floored building where the fire is located on an upper floor vertically displaced from a lower floor from which the fire is treated, and where the upper and lower floors each have a selectively openable environmental access along an external wall of the multi-floored building. The improved apparatus includes a tubular structure having an inlet, an intermediate portion, and an outlet and a bracing system. The bracing system has a frame, a first pivot point, and a second pivot point. The frame provides support against a sturdy surface. The tubular structure is supported on the first pivot point and rotates thereon to elevate or hoist the outlet towards the upper floor environmental access. The tubular structure is further supported on a second pivot point and further rotates thereon to elevate the outlet.
US09004170B2
A system for heating a hydrocarbon resource in a subterranean formation having a wellbore extending therein may include a radio frequency (RF) source, an RF antenna to be positioned within the wellbore, and a transformer to be positioned in the wellbore and configured to couple the RF source to the RF antenna so that the RF antenna supplies RF power to the hydrocarbon resource in the subterranean formation.
US09004166B2
A gas separator for separating gas from a fluid in a production stream in a producing hydrocarbon well is described. The gas separator includes a central tube sized to fit into a well casing of the producing hydrocarbon well and having an input at its lower end for receiving the production stream and perforations at its upper end to allow the production stream to flow into the space between the central tube and the well casing. A suction tube is located inside the central tube, the suction tube is operable to draw fluid from the space between the central tube and the well casing and to deliver the fluid to an artificial lift mechanism. A baffle assembly in the gas separator is comprised of a series of baffles, each baffle extending between an inner wall of the central tube and an outer wall of the suction tube for a portion of the available space between the inner wall of the central tube and the outer wall of the suction tube, each baffle offset from the other baffles in the baffle assembly, wherein the baffle assembly is operable to continually redirect the fluid and gas as it travels through the central tube.
US09004164B2
The present invention relates to a method and system for enhancing in situ upgrading of hydrocarbon by implementing an array of radio frequency antennas that can uniformly heat the hydrocarbons within a producer well pipe, so that the optimal temperatures for different hydroprocessing reactions can be achieved.
US09004160B2
A downhole tool that is used to seal a well bore. The downhole tool has at least one of a nose cap coupled to a slip means for converting shear forces into compression forces, a pultrusion rod, and a butterfly ring. The pultrusion rod extends the full length of the center mandrel. The butterfly ring includes a plurality of wedges configured to remove the extrusion gap when the tool is expanded to prevent failure of a sealing member over increased well bore diameters. The downhole tool includes a pressure equalization port to equalize pressure between a first and a second fluid volume during removal of the tool from the well bore.
US09004149B2
The embodiments described herein relate to methods and apparatus for counter-gravity formation of BMG-containing hollow parts. In one embodiment, the BMG-containing hollow parts may be formed by first feeding a molten metal alloy in a counter-gravity direction into a mold cavity to deposit the molten metal alloy on a surface of the mold cavity and then solidifying the deposited molten metal alloy.
US09004128B2
Without decreasing the strength in the axial direction of the cord, and without increasing the thickness in the radial direction, a steel cord for reinforcing a rubber article, which improves durability against cut, as well as a construction vehicle tire utilizing the steel cord for reinforcing a rubber article as a reinforcing material is provided.A steel cord for reinforcing a rubber article is formed by twisting a plurality of sheath strands 2 formed by twisting a plurality of wires around a core strand 1 formed by twisting a plurality of wires, wherein the core strand 1 is constituted of a 4-layer-twisted structure and the diameter of the steel cord is 5 mm or larger. The tire of the present invention is a tire which has a belt constituted with 6 belt plies with cords arrayed on the outer side in the radial direction of the tire at a crown part of the carcass, which are crossed between the laminated plies, and wherein the steel cords for reinforcing a rubber article are applied to the third belt layer and the fourth belt layer.
US09004125B2
A pneumatic tire, wherein the central narrow groove includes an arc, the inner diameter side of the arc is facing towards the tire ground contact edge side, one end is open to another adjacent central narrow groove and the other end is open to the circumferential main groove on the inner side area side. A first central sipe is disposed between adjacent central narrow grooves, and connects the central narrow groove and the circumferential main groove on the inner side area side. One end of the notch portion is open to the circumferential main groove on the outer side area side, and the other end terminates within the central land portion. A second central sipe is disposed between adjacent notch portions. One end of the second central sipe is connected to the circumferential main groove on the outer side area side and another end terminates within the central land portion.
US09004124B2
Tire provided with a tread surface and lateral faces intersecting at two corner edges to determine a total width of tread between the said two corner edges, provided with grooves of depth H opening onto the tread surface and delimited by faces of material which are distant by at least a width equal to 2 mm, a plurality of grooves on at least one of the opposing faces that delimit them with at least one profiled protrusion delimited by a radially external surface and by a radially internal surface, the radially external surface being closer to the tread surface than the radially internal surface, meeting at those points of the protrusion that are furthest away in the direction of the groove, each of these radially internal and external surfaces of each protrusion has, in a plane of section parallel to the faces delimiting the groove, a profile of length greater than the length of the profile of the radially internal surface.
US09004123B2
A farm vehicle tire (1) having a tread (2), which has a toroidal base surface (3), and a number of lugs (5), each extending radially outwards from the base surface (3) and having a front wall (6) and a rear wall (7) with respect to a given rolling direction (8); the leading edge (11), with respect to the rolling direction (8), of the section of each lug (5) along any plane (12) perpendicular to an axis (4) of rotation of the tire is in the form of an involute curve outward of the base surface (3).
US09004122B2
A pneumatic tire has a shoulder land portion including a tread edge and a plurality of lateral grooves which are open to an outer wall of the shoulder land portion in a tread surface. One end in a tire circumferential direction of the outer wall is positioned on an inner side in a tire width direction with respect to another end between the lateral grooves which are adjacent to each other. A vacancy communicating with the lateral groove from the one end of the outer wall is formed so as to face the outer wall. A pawl portion protruding in the tire circumferential direction is provided in a wall surface of the lateral groove which is close to the other end of the outer wall. A height of the pawl portion from a bottom of the lateral groove is gradually decreased toward a leading end.
US09004119B2
A protective cover for handbags and like objects is provided, which comprises a portable and self-contained storage pouch. The protective cover can be attached to the exterior of a handbag by various mechanisms and can comprise one or more carrying straps. The protective cover can be made from a durable, water resistant and germ resistant material capable of preventing dirt, moisture and harsh chemicals from reaching the handbag. This protective cover can also prevent germ contamination of the handbag or other surfaces by removing it from the handbag and washing it after use.
US09004112B2
An apparatus and method for repairing defects in composite materials using a tapered disk sized to fit the part being repaired. Also included is a bolt sized to fit through a central hole in the disk. A spring is positioned on the bolt with a washer. A nut is attached to the end of the bolt and tightened to place pressure on the washer to compress the biasing device. An adhesive is applied to the tapered disk prior to engaging the composite material. A threaded bushing is used to fixedly attach a second bolt completely in the hole.
US09004111B2
A plug for a connector includes an insertion portion, and the insertion portion includes an O-ring abutment portion and a creep prevention portion. Also, when the insertion portion of the plug for a connector is inserted in a mouth portion of a connector, the O-ring abutting portion abuts against an O-ring mounted inside the connector, and closes the mouth portion of the connector. Also, the creep prevention portion prevents a creep of a lock member which is in a standby position.
US09004109B2
Block valve with emergency input, in particular for vacuum line or network, comprising a valve body traversed by a main fluid passage between a first orifice located at an upstream end of the said main passage and a second orifice located at a downstream end of the said main passage. The valve body further comprises a control device comprising a member operable manually by an operator and movable between at least an open position in which the said control device allows fluid communication between the first and second orifices, and a closed position in which the said control device interrupts any fluid communication between these orifices. An auxiliary fluid passage is fluidly connected via its upstream end to the said main passage between the control device and the first orifice, and comprises a third orifice at its downstream end.
US09004099B2
Disclosed is a check valve for a variable capacity compressor of a vehicle, which includes a valve seat including a refrigerant introduction hole, a valve case disposed above the valve seat, and including refrigerant discharge holes along a circumferential surface of a cylindrical body thereof, a spool valve disposed within the valve case to selectively open and close the refrigerant introduction hole and the refrigerant discharge holes, and an elastic member disposed between the valve case and the spool valve.
US09004096B2
The present invention provides a hose management system for a plumbing fixture fitting.
US09004081B2
A household appliance, in particular a household dishwasher, includes an external display, a transmission interface connected for signal transmission to the external display, and a power supply network for supply of electrical energy. The household appliance is isolated from the power supply network after completion of a treatment cycle, and the transmission interface is configured to transmit a signal to activate the external display to display at least the completion of the treatment cycle before the household appliance is isolated from the power supply network.
US09004076B2
A method of sectioning eyelashes into zones is disclosed. A method of sectioning eyelashes into zones comprises dividing a surface of an eyelid into zones and applying extension lashes to natural lashes within the zones. Zones can comprise an inner zone, a mid-zone and an outer zone. Furthermore, at least a portion of extension lashes within inner zone can have a first length, while the extension lashes within middle zone and outer zone can have a second and third length, respectively.
US09004057B2
An appliance comprises at least one heating component, a baffle component positioned below the at least one heating component, an air intake component positioned above at least a portion of the baffle component, and an air redirection component positioned between the air intake component and the baffle component. In an example of an airflow path in the appliance, air entering the appliance through the air intake component is directed down below the baffle component by the air redirection component before flowing up through the baffle component to the at least one heating component.
US09004055B2
The present invention relates to a device for delivering targets (2) comprising at least one column (4) for storing targets (2) capable of receiving a first target (11) at the lowest point of the column (4) and at least a second target (12) stacked on the first target (11), means for delivering the first target (11), and retention means for retaining the second target (12) in the column (4), characterized in that the retention means for retaining comprise a ramp (21) configured to exert a bearing force on the lower face of the second target (12) during the delivery of the first target (11).This invention also relates to a machine for launching targets (2) equipped with a device and a method for distributing the targets (2).
US09004044B2
The invention relates to a method for supplying a high-pressure pump (1) in a fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine with fuel, wherein for delivery and for controlling the delivered quantity a delivery pump (3) is used, wherein said delivery pump is arranged in a low-pressure circuit (2) and operated by an electric motor and by means of which, depending on the respective selected engine speed, a certain quantity of fuel is fed to the high-pressure pump (1), in which the fuel is first compressed and then fed to a fuel high-pressure accumulator (4). According to the invention, the fuel pressure on the intake side of the high-pressure pump (1) is controlled by means of a pressure control valve (5), wherein a supply of the high-pressure pump (1) with fuel for lubrication and/or cooling via the low-pressure circuit (2) and the delivery pump (3) is assured when the pressure control valve (5) is in the closed position. The invention further relates to a fuel injection system.
US09004043B2
A control device calculates a maximum amount of increase in an intake pipe pressure in a Δt obtained by moving a throttle to an opening side at a maximum speed, and calculates a maximum amount of decrease in an intake pipe pressure in the Δt obtained by moving the throttle to a closing side at a maximum speed. Then, command values for each of a VVT and a WGV are determined such that an amount of change in an intake pipe pressure in the Δt required to achieve a target intake air amount falls within a range from the maximum amount of decrease to the maximum amount of increase. Then, a target opening for the throttle for a purpose of achieving the target intake air amount is calculated on the basis of command values that have been determined for the VVT and the WGV.
US09004042B2
A prechamber spark plug may have a prechamber having a pre-determined aspect ratio and hole pattern to achieve particular combustion performance characteristics. The aspect ratio and hole pattern may induce a rotational flow of fuel-air in-filling streams inside the prechamber volume. The rotational flow of the fuel-air mixture may include both radial flow and axial flow characteristics based on the aspect ratio and hole pattern. Axial flow characteristics can include a first axial direction proximate the periphery of the rotational flow and a counter second axial direction approaching the center of the rotational flow. The radial and axial flow characteristics may further include radial air-fuel ratio stratification and/or axial air-fuel ratio stratification. The rotational flow, the radial flow and the axial flow may be adjusted by alteration of the aspect ratio and hole pattern to achieve particular combustion performance characteristics in relation to a wide variety of spark gap geometries.
US09004035B2
A starter motor for an internal combustion engine has an electric motor, a shaft driven by the motor, and a pinion assembly arranged to engage a flywheel of the engine. The pinion assembly has a drive collar mounted to a helical spline of the shaft, an output gear and an elastic member disposed between the drive collar and the output gear. A connection shell prevents axial separation between the drive collar and the output gear. The elastic member prevents direct contact between the connection shell and at least one and possibly both of the drive collar and the output gear.
US09004031B1
A variable valve lift apparatus that has a simplified configuration is provided. The apparatus includes a camshaft and first and second cam forming portions inserted with the cam shaft to rotate together with the camshaft and be movable in a shaft direction of the camshaft, and includes an upper cam and a lower cam. A valve opening/closing device is actuated by the upper cam or the lower cam. First and second moving units are inserted with the camshaft and are movable together with the cam forming portions. First and second actuating units selectively move the moving units in the shaft direction of the camshaft and are mounted on a mounting portion. A positioning unit is connected with the moving units, and has first and second grooves. A stopper unit is mounted on the mounting portion, and is selectively inserted into the grooves to align the cam forming portions.
US09004028B2
Even when sliding occurs between a radially extending face of a spring member and at least one of a driving-side rotary member and a driven-side rotary member, wear of the at least one of the driving-side rotary member and the driven-side rotary member is prevented. Along the axial direction of the camshaft, a torsion spring is provided between the driven-side rotary member and a housing side face portion for urging the relative rotational phase to the angle advancing direction or the angle retarding direction, and a spring washer is disposed between the driven-side rotary member and the torsion spring.
US09004027B2
A cam-data creation device includes: a waveform generating/processing unit that generates at least one of a stroke waveform and a velocity waveform of a follower for each piece of cam data from cam data stored in a cam-data storage unit, a cam-data waveform-image processing unit that converts a waveform for each piece of cam data generated by the waveform generating/processing unit into image data, and a screen generating/processing unit that generates a list display window that collectively displays the waveform for every piece of cam data having been converted into image data by the cam-data waveform-image processing unit and displays the generated list display window on a display device.
US09004022B2
An inline engine is provided. The engine includes a cylinder block with four cylinders and only three main bearing saddles. The engine also includes a crankshaft with only three main bearing journals. The engine may exhibit less friction than other similar engines.
US09004010B2
An ultrasonic noise device that can be used as an animal entertainment device and/or animal training device. The ultrasonic noise device includes a compressible bladder defining an air retaining cavity and a nozzle operably connected to the bladder and fluidly connected to the air retaining cavity. The nozzle including a nozzle flow pathway extending from a first end of the nozzle to a second end of the nozzle. The ultrasonic noise device also includes a resonator operably connected to the nozzle and defining a resonator flow pathway in fluid communication with the nozzle flow pathway and a pin positioned at least partially within the nozzle flow pathway and aligned with the nozzle flow pathway and a first end of the pin extends towards but does not reach a tip of the nozzle.
US09004002B2
A mask assembly is disclosed to improve organic material deposition efficiency including: a plurality of deposition masks, at least one of opposite ends of each of the plurality of deposition masks is formed to have a plurality of projections, which form at least one boundary aperture region at a boundary of adjacent two deposition masks.
US09003999B2
Liquid consumption counter devices are described herein. One liquid consumption counter device can comprise a body having a number of indicator points, and a counter coupled to the body, wherein the counter rotates around the body to each of the number of indicator points and wherein rotation of the counter to each of the consecutive indicator points indicates consumption of a volume of liquid.
US09003992B2
Apparatus for anchor line reeling to raise or lower an anchor using a cranked reel employing a clutch bearing and a drag, which drag is controllably released by reverse rotation of the crank. An additional reel drag is used to prevent reel overturning when the anchor is lowered and hits bottom.
US09003991B1
A pedal control is applied to a trolling motor shaft to allow the driver of a boat to control the direction of the trolling motor from nearly any location within the boat to which the trolling motor is attached, the pedal control having a mechanical adjustable length extension rod between an adjustable height arm on the pedal and a bracket mounted to the trolling motor shaft with a universal joint applied at each end of the extension rod, allowing placement at a variety of distances and a variety of angles from the pedal on the floor of the boat to the trolling motor. A cut-off switch is optionally applied to the pivotal footplate on the pedal to turn the trolling motor on or off or remain at a constant speed.
US09003985B2
A device includes a processor and a memory. The memory is configured to store a plurality of group information pieces, the number of thread colors to be used in embroidery sewing and computer-readable instructions. Each of the group information pieces is associated with one more thread colors among a plurality of thread colors. The computer-readable instructions cause the processor, when executed, to perform processes that includes acquiring image data including pixels, replacing a color of each of the pixels with a thread color from the thread colors, calculating a frequency of using each of the thread colors, selecting, until the number of thread colors selected from the thread colors is equal the number of thread colors to be used stored in the memory, one thread color from each of the group information pieces sequentially, based on the group information pieces stored in the memory and on the calculated frequency.
US09003984B2
An agricultural implement includes a frame assembly configured to support a storage tank. The frame assembly includes a pair of longitudinal beams positioned on opposite lateral sides of the storage tank, and multiple cross members extending between the pair of longitudinal beams. A substantially flat upper surface of each cross member is secured to a lower surface of each longitudinal beam, and each cross member is configured to support the storage tank via contact between the substantially flat upper surface of the cross member and a substantially flat lower surface of the storage tank such that the substantially flat lower surface of the storage tank is positioned vertically below an upper surface of each longitudinal beam.
US09003973B1
A high strength polymer-based cartridge casing includes an upper component of polymer, a bullet of a standard weight, a lower component of polymer, and an insert. The upper component has a shoulder portion and an upper component inner wall has a first diameter extending from the shoulder. The lower component has a lower component inner wall having a second diameter. The upper and lower component inner walls form a propellant chamber; and the first and second diameters reduce a volume of the propellant chamber. The reduced volume of the propellant chamber permits only enough propellant to propel a bullet engaged in the cartridge casing at subsonic speeds.
US09003963B2
A meat cutter, a blade head and an associated cutter blade (11, 12) are provided to reduce the complexity with respect to assembly and disassembly and the diversity of the parts, and the potential danger during assembly and disassembly. This is achieved according to the invention by providing the blade foot (2) of the cutter blade (1, 11, 12) with a toothing structure (8) with projections (9) and recesses (10), which point towards the drive shaft (19) and by means of which the cutter blade (11, 12) can be positioned in a rotationally secure manner in a matching toothing structure (14), by being pushed on in the axial direction.
US09003957B2
An apparatus for preparing a hot beverage. The apparatus includes a hot steam source for supplying a flow of steam into a vessel, a rotary stirring device including a rotatable shaft which carries a stirring rotor; and a cleaning container. A control unit controls movement of the stirring device between its rest position and its working position; the activation of the steam source and of the stirring device while the shaft and the rotor of the latter extend inside a vessel; and the activation of the steam source and of the stirring device while the shaft and the rotor of the latter extend in the cleaning container.
US09003956B2
A fluid cylinder mechanism (1) equipped with a cylinder (10) having a base end (12) and an open end (11), and a piston (20) having a flange portion (21) disposed inside the cylinder and a rod portion (25) that passes through the open end of the cylinder, in which a space inside the cylinder is partitioned by the flange portion of the piston into a first pressured chamber (14) on a side of the base end and a second pressurized chamber (15) on a side of the open end, is characterized by including: a first flow path (22) that permits flow of a fluid from the first pressurized chamber to the second pressurized chamber; a second flow path (32) that permits flow of the fluid from the second pressurized chamber to the first pressurized chamber; and an opening and closing means (35) for opening and closing the second flow path.
US09003949B2
A cup for an air valve assembly in a positive displacement pneumatic motor includes a cup body, a gas cavity, and a first pilot slot. The cup body is rectilinear and has a sliding face as one side, and the gas cavity is concave and extends into the cup body through the sliding face and terminates within the cup body. The first pilot slot extends from the gas cavity and into the cup body through the sliding face and terminates within the cup body.
US09003930B2
Fluid line clamping pliers include shanks, jaws, handles, a pivot connecting the shanks such that first and second jaws are opposed to one another and movable using first and second handles within a common plane between a clamping position and a non-clamping position. The pliers include a biasing mechanism, a locking mechanism, and a retainer return mechanism. A retainer is adapted to be pivoted to a locking position using an index finger of an operator of the clamping pliers while the operator's other fingers grasp the handles of the clamping pliers, and the retainer return mechanism is adapted to move the retainer from a locking position to a non-locking position when the operator squeezes the handles towards one another while the jaws are in a clamping position.
US09003929B2
An oil filter removal tool and system for the removal and drainage of an oil filter comprising: an oil drain connector, where said connector connects to an oil filter cap of the oil filter; a turn bolt at a distal end of the tool, where said bolt is used to turn the removal tool; a second turn bolt, where the second turn bolt turns counter clockwise to secure the connector to the filter cap; a drain tube provided at the distal end of the tool that inserts onto a drain plug; a body portion, where the body portion secures around the oil filter and surrounds the oil drain connector; and notches, where said notches are provided around a perimeter edge of the body portion of the removal tool.
US09003925B2
An axle module may comprise an outer housing and a ring gear assembly rotatably supported within the outer housing on a hub. The axle module may further include first and second shafts arranged within the ring gear assembly, and first and second inner hubs rotatably fixed to the first and second shafts, respectively. Additionally, the axle module may include first and second clutch packs, each having a first plurality of friction plates fixed for rotation to the first and second inner hubs, and a second plurality of friction plates fixed for rotation to the hub. Exemplary axle modules may have a reduced packaging width.
US09003918B2
The invention relates to a robot arm of an industrial robot. The robot arm includes a flange provided to secure an end effector and several sequentially-positioned members connected by means of links, of which one of the members is mounted immediately before the flange, and the flange is mounted to rotate with respect to an axis relative to this member. To adjust the flange with respect to the member mounted immediately before the flange, the robot arm comprises an adjustment device that includes a base carrier is detachably attachable to the flange particularly by means of screws, with an adjustment means disposed on the base carrier that interacts with a counter-adjustment means disposed on the member mounted immediately before the flange.
US09003917B2
A gear shifter includes a frame and a pivot frame pivotally mounted to the frame. A gear shift lever is pivotally interfaced to the pivot frame by a pivot pin passing through a bore in the gear shift lever. The gear shift lever extends upwardly beyond the frame and a lower section of the gear shift lever extends downwardly into the frame. A fastener passes at least partially though the gear shift lever and interfaces with the pivot pin such that, one position of the fastener locks the pivot pin within the gear shift lever and within the pivot frame and, a second position of the fastener frees the pivot pin from both, therefore facilitating removal of the gear shift lever. The lower section of the gear shift lever is interfaced to a first transmission linkage and the pivot frame is interfaced to a second transmission linkage.
US09003909B2
A rack bar supporting device for a vehicle steering apparatus, having a clearance between the rack bar and a support yoke can be kept always constant when the vehicle steering apparatus is operated, which makes it possible to reduce operational friction and noise, to maintain the supporting force of the support yoke and the rack bar to be constant for a long time, and to improve a steering feeling of a driver.
US09003906B2
A transmission is connectable to an input member and includes an output transfer gear, first and second shaft members, first and second countershaft members, a plurality of co-planar gear sets, and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. The torque transmitting devices include a plurality of gears, synchronizer assemblies and a dual clutch assembly. The transmission is operable to provide at least one reverse speed ratio and a plurality of forward speed ratios between the input member and the output member.
US09003904B2
A transmission assembly for a vehicle includes a transmission mechanism, a clutch unit and a switching mechanism. The transmission mechanism includes first and second gears meshing with each other. The clutch unit is slidable along a crankshaft rotation axis between an engaging position, in which the clutch unit engages the first gear, and a disengaging position, in which the clutch unit is disengaged from the first gear. The switching mechanism includes a motor, and a clutch-driving member that is driven by the motor to move relative to the transmission mechanism and the clutch unit and to drive sliding movement of the clutch unit from the disengaging position to the engaging position.
US09003900B2
A chain force measuring device for measuring a chain force of a bicycle includes a dropout body unit having frame and axle connecting portions which are respectively connected to a frame fork and a wheel axle to define an accommodation space therebetween, and a hall sensing unit having a sensor extending from the frame connecting portion to spacedly confront a magnetic element which is disposed on a slidable carrier. By shifting of the magnetic element with the carrier due to the chain force exerted on the wheel axle, a magnetic field generated thereby is changed so as to give off a signal indicative of the magnitude of the chain force.
US09003893B2
A chain link tester and method of use is disclosed herein. The chain link tester may contain a tapered lever and may be adapted to operatively connect to a torque metering device. The chain link tester may be used to test chain links.
US09003885B2
A tri-axis accelerometer includes a proof mass, at least four anchor points arranged in at least two opposite pairs, a first pair of anchor points being arranged opposite one another along a first axis, a second pair of anchor points being arranged opposite one another along a second axis, the first axis and the second axis being perpendicular to one another, and at least four spring units to connect the proof mass to the at least four anchor points, the spring units each including a pair of identical springs, each spring including a sensing unit.
US09003884B2
An oscillation type inertia force sensor includes an oscillator, an oscillation circuit unit, and a detection circuit unit. The oscillation circuit unit functions as a self oscillation circuit of a closed loop with the oscillator as a resonant element, and includes an AGC circuit. The AGC circuit includes a VGA circuit, a comparison circuit comparing a predetermined reference voltage with a voltage of the monitor signal to output a control signal based on the compared result, and a pulse width modulation circuit modulating the control signal to a pulse width modulation signal. Based on the pulse width modulation signal, the driving signal is modulated with the output of the VGA circuit switched between an ON state and OFF state to control the degree of the amplification factor of the VGA circuit.
US09003880B2
A system includes a non-destructive testing (NDT) system having an NDT probe and a processor. The NDT probe includes a testing sensor and a motion sensor. The testing sensor is configured to capture sensor data from an inspection area, and the motion sensor is configured to detect a measurement speed at which the NDT probe moves relative to the inspection area. The processor is configured to determine a speed comparison between the measurement speed and a reference speed range.
US09003876B2
A thermal mass flowmeter with a metal-encapsulated sensor system is provided. The sensor system included at least one heating resistor having a platelet geometry, and a sensor cap surrounding the at least one heating resistor. At least one distal end area of the sensor cap is formed with a flat rectangular cross section corresponding to the platelet geometry of the heating resistor, such that the distal end area of the sensor cap surrounds the heating resistor closely with an accurate fit (e.g., with a predetermined gap therebetween).
US09003869B2
This disclosure concerns a cytometry system including a handling system that enables presentation of single cells to at least one laser source. The laser source is configured to deliver light to a cell within the cells in order to induce bond vibrations in the cellular DNA. The system further includes a detection facility that detects the signature of the bond vibrations, wherein the bond vibration signature is used to calculate a DNA content carried by the cell.
US09003863B2
A controlling unit and a method of correcting an actual limit value of a sensor signal is described, wherein above or below the limit value a specific state of the sensor is recognized, the method including the steps of determining a new limit value of the sensor, determining a stability criteria to decide whether the actual limit value is corrected with said new limit value and approaching the actual limit value to the new limit value when the conditions are fulfilled to correct the actual limit value for said sensor.
US09003855B2
An extrusion press comprising a pressure ring (6) having a convex shape rear base (62) resting in a seat (71) of a platen (7). The convex shape is either spherical or truncated cone shaped so as to relieve onto the platen (7) the greatest amount of extrusion pressure exerted on the front face (61) of the pressure ring (6) of the die pack (3). This limits the deformation on the front base (61) and consequently the geometric variations of the extruded profile (5).
US09003850B2
A process for producing plate springs or undulating springs wherein surface regions which are subjected to tensile stresses when the spring is under load are provided with an internal compressive stress in the boundary layer, wherein said surface regions are rollingly compressed by a ball or roller or subjected to tensile stress and compressed by shot peening.
US09003849B2
An object of the present invention is to make it possible to provide a cord, in particular, a cord for reinforcing a rubber article in which rubber permeation properties are improved by coating filaments as constituents of the cord with rubber in a reliable and stable manner. The cord of the present invention is produced by, when the metal filament is guided to an extruder and extruded together with rubber from a mouthpiece of the extruder so that the metal filament is coated with the rubber, juxtaposing plural metal filaments in the mouthpiece and extruding the metal filaments together with rubber.
US09003843B2
Disclosed in one aspect is the fixed door pull handle assembly that includes an elongated door pull handle with two or more support standoffs projecting away from the elongated door pull handle and securing the elongated door pull handle to the doorframe or to the body of the door. One of the support standoffs is user rotatable, and rotatably engages a door latch assembly within the door. In another aspect, the support standoff is not user rotatable. Instead, a center-pivoting handle is mounted in-line with one of the support standoffs and rotatably engages the door latch assembly within the door. The center-pivoting handle is recessed within the elongated handle.
US09003842B2
A latch has a displaceable latching element in a housing for engagement with a separate striker arm to be latched behind an engagement shoulder of the latching element. The housing mounts a cylinder lock to receive a key from the front. A rotor is mounted on the rear of cylinder lock and rotation of the key causes rotation of the rotor to drive a locking element to engage and lock the latching element. The rotor may also be axial displaceable against spring biasing responsive to a rear unit pushing element whereby unlocking from a rear cylinder lock may rotate the rotor to unlock and pushing causes the latching element to be displaced against its biasing to release the striker arm.
US09003828B2
A process and system for liquefying a hydrocarbon gas is provided. The hydrocarbon feed gas is pre-treated to remove sour species and water therefrom. The pre-treated feed gas is then passed to a refrigeration zone where it is cooled and expanded to produce a hydrocarbon liquid. A closed loop single mixed refrigerant provides most of the refrigeration to the refrigeration zone together with an auxiliary refrigeration system. The auxiliary refrigeration system and closed loop single mixed refrigerant are coupled in such a manner that waste heat generated by a gas turbine drive of the compressor in the closed loop single mixed refrigerant drives the auxiliary refrigeration system and the auxiliary refrigeration system cools the inlet air of the gas turbine. In this way, substantial improvements are made in the production capacity of the system.
US09003825B2
A refrigerator door includes the ability to mount a variety of modules requiring utilities, such as electricity and fluids, within adjustable locations in the door of the refrigerator. The door includes a conduit extending in at least one direction and including one or more plug-in connectors for allowing a module with a mating connector to be positioned on the door for supplying operating utilities to the module. This allows the purchaser of the refrigerator to add components and accessories to the refrigerator after purchase or select desired features at the time of purchase.
US09003810B2
An aircraft nacelle includes at its outside wall a cowl moveable relative to the nacelle so as to block or unblock an opening. The cowl includes an articulation and locking/unlocking elements distant from the upstream edge of the cowl that include elements for limiting the appearance of scooping phenomena. The limiting elements include at least one lock integral with the rest of the nacelle or respectively the cowl that can occupy a locked state in which part of the lock interferes with the cowl or respectively the rest of the nacelle and prevents a deformation that includes a radial component of the cowl, and another free state in which the part no longer interferes with the cowl or respectively the rest of the nacelle and allows the opening movement of the cowl, with the switch from one state to the next being generated by a gas pressure variation.
US09003808B2
A gas turbine engine comprises an outer engine case, a combustor, a high pressure spool and a low pressure spool. The combustor is disposed within the outer engine case. The high pressure spool is configured for rotation coaxially with the combustor. The low pressure spool is configured for rotation coaxially with the high pressure spool. The low pressure spool is configured to rotate at speeds faster than that of the high pressure spool during operation of the gas turbine engine. In one embodiment, the low pressure spool includes a gear system configured to rotate a low pressure compressor faster than a low pressure turbine. In another embodiment, the high pressure spool rotates outward of the combustor within the outer engine case. In another embodiment, the high pressure spool includes a drum having radially inward projecting blades and vanes and radially outward projecting fan blades.
US09003804B2
A multipoint combustion system for a gas turbine engine includes a housing defining a pressure vessel. A master injector is mounted to the housing for injecting fuel along a central axis. A plurality of slave injectors are each disposed outward of the master injector for injecting fuel and air in an ignition plume radially outward of fuel injected through the master injector. The master injector and slave injectors are configured and adapted so the injection plume of the master injector intersects with the ignition plumes of the slave injectors. A primary manifold is included within the pressure vessel for distributing fuel to the slave injectors. An auxiliary manifold is in fluid communication with the auxiliary nozzles of the slave injectors for issuing an auxiliary flow of fuel from the auxiliary nozzles that is separate from the fuel flow of the primary manifold.
US09003803B2
A support structure for a burner tube in a combustor cap assembly for a gas turbine combustor includes an outer annular ring; an inner annular hub; and a plurality of struts extending radially between said outer annular ring and the inner hub. The inner hub is provided with a piston ring groove and a piston ring adapted to receive and seal an inner end of the burner tube.
US09003790B2
A turbocharger includes a compressor, a turbine, a shaft coupling the compressor to the turbine, and a turbo casing configured to improve pressure recovery and reduce energy loss from exhaust flow. In one embodiment, the turbo casing may include a geometry configured to improve exhaust flow towards an exhaust outlet. The turbo casing may include a torus shaped chamber having a cross-sectional area that progressively increases in an annular direction of the flow towards the exhaust outlet.
US09003787B2
An ECU is used for a Stirling engine that is provided with a starter that drives an output shaft of the Stirling engine. The ECU includes a control portion that commences an engine-starting drive of the starter within a phase interval, during which the torque of the Stirling engine that varies according to phase of the output shaft is relatively small. The phase interval is an interval during which the torque of the Stirling engine is less than or equal to the torque obtained when the compression begins. The phase at which the driving of the starter is commenced is set to the phase at which the torque of the Stirling engine becomes smaller than the torque obtained when the compression begins.
US09003783B2
Burner arrangement for a two-stroke locomotive diesel engine having an exhaust aftertreatment system
A diesel locomotive burner arrangement for controlling the temperature of exhaust gas at the exhaust aftertreatment system thereby controlling the oxidation of soot within the aftertreatment system filters. The burner is arranged in isolation of the locomotive engine to ensure freedom from vibration and excessive thermal input, as well as ease of servicing.
US09003780B2
An exhaust gas purification device capable of enhancing handling operability such as maintenance of an engine includes two gas purification bodies which purify exhaust gas discharged from the engine, inner cases in which the gas purification bodies are incorporated, and outer cases in which the inner cases are incorporated. The outer cases are arranged side by side in a moving direction of exhaust gas and connected to each other. One of the adjoining inner cases is inserted into the other inner case to form a double-layer structure. A loosely-fitting gap is formed between an inner side surface of the one inner case and an outer side surface of the other inner case.
US09003779B2
A wheel loader includes an engine, a selective catalyst reduction device, and an injection device accommodated in an engine room defined by a vehicle body cover. The wheel loader further includes a partition plate, a reducing agent tank, a reducing agent pump, and a reducing agent pipe. The selective catalyst reduction device is for treating exhaust gas from the engine. The injection device is for injecting reducing agent into the exhaust gas fed from the engine toward the selective catalyst reduction device. The partition plate is disposed between the selective catalyst reduction device and the vehicle body cover. The reducing agent tank stores reducing agent. The reducing agent pump supplies the reducing agent from the reducing agent tank to the injection device. The reducing agent pipe connects the reducing agent pump and the injection device, and extends between the vehicle body cover and the partition plate inside the engine room.
US09003768B2
A turbine engine includes a plurality of variable fan inlet guide vanes. Where the turbine engine is a tip turbine engine, the variable fan inlet guide vanes permit the ability to control engine stability even though the fan-turbine rotor assembly is directly coupled to the axial compressor at a fixed rate. The fan inlet guide vanes may be actuated from an inner diameter of the fan inlet guide vanes.
US09003756B2
A flail rotor head attachment for use with any type harvesting machine having crop residue processing elements and including an input opening for receiving crop residue. The attachment includes a frame structure for operatively coupling the attachment to the harvesting machine, a flail rotor and an auger each mounted on the frame structure and a drive mechanism for rotating the flail rotor and the auger. The flail rotor includes a plurality of cutting elements for picking up and chopping crop residue from a field. The auger includes at least two flightings positioned in opposite directions for funneling crop residue towards the opening of the harvesting machine. Another embodiment includes a rake positioned between the flail rotor and the auger, the rake and the flail rotor rotating in the same direction and the auger rotating in an opposite direction.
US09003752B2
A harvesting machine for threshing crop materials includes a platform supported in front of a chassis, an erecting device having a number pairs of guiding bars attached to the platform and having a channel formed between two bar members of each pair of guiding bars, a guiding element disposed between every two adjacent pairs of guiding bars for guiding a stalk of the crop materials into the channel of the guiding bars, a number of pawls extended into the channel for sending the stalk of the crop materials into the channel, and a cutting device having two or more cutting elements for cutting the stalk into a lower base segment that carries no grain and an upper straw segment that carries grains.
US09003745B2
A working station for a packaging machine for sealing a package and quickly cutting a top film and a method for operating such a working station. The working station may include a sealing tool upper part, a sealing tool lower part, a sealing frame, a movable cutting tool having a blade for cutting a top film, and at least one energy storage device in operable engagement with the cutting tool and the sealing frame. The at least one energy storage device may be configured for accumulating potential energy upon a relative movement of the sealing frame with respect to the cutting tool. The working station may further include a holding mechanism that is operable to hold the cutting tool to a portion of the working station that is stationary with respect to the cutting tool and the sealing frame.
US09003741B2
Ceramic floors and methods of making thereof such that the ceramic tiles are quickly and easily removable from the floor substrate and replaceable at a future date.A ceramic tile floor is laid by releasably adhering a sheet to a floor substrate and bonding at least one ceramic tile to the sheet.A plurality of pre-fabricated articles each comprising a sheet and one or more ceramic tiles bonded to the sheet are laid onto the floor substrate with sheet edges abutting, and the sheets are releasably adhered to the floor substrate. The tile edges are set inwardly from the sheet edges so that a tile of one article is spaced from a tile of another article when the articles are laid. A non-Portland cement grout, preferably urethane grout, is provided between adjacent tiles.
US09003734B2
A mortarless retaining wall constructed of a plurality of segmental retaining wall (SRW) blocks stacked in an array of superimposed rows. Each SRW block includes a face unit having connectors and one or more anchoring units each having connectors. The anchoring unit connectors are of complementary shape to interlock with respective face unit connectors. The face unit and each anchoring unit forming the SRW block when interlocked, each anchoring unit for confronting soil being retained by the retaining wall. The face units have first and second load bearing surfaces and first and second end surfaces forming front edges which are non-linear along the entire edge. The first and second load bearing surfaces are non-planar across the entire load bearing surfaces.
US09003732B2
A mobile partitioning wall is disclosed and provided with several wall elements, which are displaceably suspended at running rails. The wall elements have a structure that is simple to manufacture and to mount and is universally usable. The wall elements are formed without supporting frame.
US09003728B2
A tubular building enclosure system with thermally-broken modules having evacuated air spaces assembled in rows and/or columns to form a structurally self-supporting, thermally insulating, and solar energy collecting facade.
US09003721B1
Provided is a leveling arrangement for a tower, which leveling arrangement comprises a leveling ring realized for placement between a tower foundation and the tower; and a leveling apparatus, which leveling apparatus comprises a connection means for detachably connecting the leveling apparatus to the leveling ring during a leveling procedure; and a number of adjustment legs, wherein an adjustment leg is realized to effect a displacement of the leveling ring relative to the tower foundation during the leveling procedure; along with a method of providing a level mounting interface for a tower; and a method of erecting a wind turbine tower; and a wind turbine tower assembly.
US09003717B2
The invention relates to a ventilation well with hurricane-resistant function for a building comprising an inclined roof (11), intended to be adapted to said building in such a way as to extend over its entire height, communicating towards the exterior of the building at the peak of the roof, and having at least one lateral opening (3, 4) communicating with the inside volume of the building, characterized in that it further comprises a cap (5) which may be adjustable in height and/or removable at the top of the well.
US09003713B2
A modular rail system for suspending sliding doors, including at least one rail profile having a top side arranged for being fixed against a horizontal wall part, a bottom side having a rail portion for carrying suspension wheels of a sliding door, a first lateral side arranged for being fixed against a vertical wall part, and an open second lateral side. On both opposite lateral sides the rail profile includes recesses having substantially the same shape for engaging complementary spacer elements. A sliding door system including a rail system, at least one sliding door with suspension wheels and at least one repositionable braking/stopping element having a stop for defining an extreme position of the sliding door and a releasable fixing element for fixing the braking/stopping element in the rail system. The fixing element is spaced a predetermined distance from the stop, chosen for maintaining user accessibility to the fixing element while the stop is located in a user inaccessible position.
US09003711B2
A seal arrangement is provided for an opening, in particular a door or window opening of a vehicle body, having a fastening flange delimiting the opening, which is used for fastening a peripheral seal profile part and is formed by at least one vehicle body part, the fastening flange provided with one or more projections arranged around the opening on at least one flange face and the seal profile part having at least one shoulder, which engages behind the projections, for fastening on the fastening flange. A seal profile part is also provided and a method is provided for the production of a seal arrangement. A seal profile part having at least one shoulder is applied to the fastening flange delimiting the opening. The at least one shoulder caused to engage behind one or more projections of the fastening flange to fasten the seal profile part on the fastening flange.
US09003701B2
The present invention is directed to device and method for promoting plant growth. The device is a plant spacing member that has a body and a first end and a second end. The first end and second end have openings for receiving at least one plant limb therein to create a space between the limbs of the plant. An increased flow of air and light then flow through the created space to the interior of the plant to stimulate the growth of the plant. In addition, the increase flow of air and light dries the plant to reduce the accumulation of mold and mildew.
US09003699B2
A cover for a plant-growing medium comprises a main cover portion, a peripheral base spaced from the main cover portion and defining an outer perimeter of the cover, and a peripheral wall extending from a first side of the main cover portion between the main cover portion and the peripheral base. One or more plant growth channels are defined by one or more tubes extending from the first side of the main cover portion. Each tube has a proximal end adjacent the main cover portion and a distal end relative to the proximal end, with a first aperture defined in the main cover portion at the proximal end of the tube and a second aperture defined at the distal end of the tube. The first aperture and the second aperture communicate through the tube to define each plant growth channel.
US09003698B2
The invention refers to a greenhouse screen comprising strips of film material that are interconnected by a yarn system by means of hosiery, knitting, warp-knitting or weaving process to form a continuous product. At least some of the strips comprise a film material in the form of a multilayer polyester film having a thickness less than 60 μm and comprising at least two layers, wherein at least one layer is white and at least one layer is black, the at least one white layer comprises polyester and a white pigment in an amount between 5 and 50 weight-% based on the total weight of the white layer, and the at least one black layer comprises polyester and a black opacifying agent.
US09003683B1
Improvements in a foldable sign are disclosed. The sign provide a foldable “A” frame floor sign that folds for easy storage. The folding sign generally includes An “A” frame. The “A” frame provides a stable platform with multiple cross members that support the sign from wind or uneven surfaces. The “A” frame folds in two dimensions to create a dense elongated collapsed structure. The storage is by folding the structure at the apex of the “A” frame and bringing the sides together. Because the sign is flexible, the sign can be folded or wrapped around the collapsed frame. In this dense elongated collapsed structure the folding sign can be placed in an elongated storage bag. While the sign is folded for storage and transportation, when the sign is expanded it essentially resembles traditional “A” frame structures with the same overall dimensions.
US09003682B2
A sign holder device for the support and display of signage. The device includes a base, sign holder and a stem, the stem having a first end appended to the base and a second end supporting the sign holder. The stem has a length defined by the distance between its first and second ends, the length being adjustable to vary the distance between the base and sign holder.
US09003678B2
An article of footwear includes an upper and a midsole positioned beneath the upper. The midsole includes an upper portion formed of a first material and a lower portion formed of a second material and positioned beneath the upper portion. The lower portion includes a plurality of support members spaced from adjacent support members. A plurality of connecting members extend between and are connected to adjacent support members, with the connecting members having a height that is less than a height of the support members to which the connecting members are connected, and an upper surface that is substantially flush with an upper surface of the support members to which the connecting members are connected.
US09003675B2
A fuel preprocess system for a coal combustion boiler is disclosed. The fuel preprocess system for a coal combustion boiler that dries biomass or refuse-derived fuel in accordance with the present invention can include: a dryer configured to dry the biomass or refuse-derived fuel by use of flue gas generated after combustion in the boiler; and a torrefier configured to devolatilize a fibrous component contained in the dried fuel from the fuel dried in the dryer by use of primary air that is heat-exchanged after the combustion in the boiler.
US09003665B2
An identification tag having one or more breakaway tools that may be utilized by uncoupling, or otherwise breaking the tool or tools away from the identification tag to expose a working edge or point for example. Generally includes identification information on the tag along with one or more relatively flat tool including but not limited to one or more knives, saws, screwdrivers, pry bars, can openers, bottle openers, chisels, awls, ice picks, sharpeners or any other relatively flat tool with a working edge or point or any combination thereof.
US09003661B2
A clutch apparatus is equipped with two clutch structures having a clutch drum therein. A driven plate and a piston are provided in the clutch drum of each clutch structure, and a primary coned disc spring and a secondary coned disc spring, which are ring-shaped, are provided between the driven plate and the piston. A flat portion 12 is formed on an inner peripheral portion of a convex surface of the primary coned disc spring 1, and the flat portion 12 can come into contact with a counter member first when a load is applied. A load in a flat condition due to elastic deformation is adjusted by the flat portion so as to be a desirable value. Blanks 1A and 2A of the primary coned disc spring and the secondary coned disc spring can be obtained from one sheet of material having the same thickness. In this case, the flat portion 12A is formed by press forming on an inner peripheral portion of the blank 1A in view of the shape thereof after bending forming is performed.
US09003658B2
A method for enclosing a heat pipe with metal is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: a) providing a tube made of a metal; b) putting the heat pipe in a hollow of the tube; and c) stretching the tube to shrink an inner diameter of the tube for tightly enclosing the heat pipe.
US09003654B2
A method for metalizing at least one blind via formed in at least one substrate, including: a) arranging at least one solid portion of electrically conductive material in the blind via, b) performing a thermal treatment of the solid portion of electrically conductive material, making it melt in the blind via, cooling the electrically conductive material, solidifying it in the blind via, and wherein, before carrying out step a), at least part of the walls of the blind via is covered with a material able to prevent wetting of said part of the walls of the blind via by the melted electrically conductive material obtained during the performance of step b), the solidified electrically conductive material obtained after carrying out step c) being able not to be secured to said non-wetting part of the walls of the blind via.
US09003653B2
A method for producing a ceramic multilayer circuit system, and a corresponding multilayer circuit system are provided. An embodiment of the method includes sequential deposition of a plurality of circuit layers of the multilayer circuit system on a substrate using a powder spray method; pressing of the deposited plurality of circuit layers; and thermal sintering of the pressed plurality of circuit layers. The individual circuit layers have electrically conductive areas made of at least one conductive material and electrically insulating areas made of at least one ceramic material.
US09003645B1
A system for determining the quality of an electrical wire crimp between a wire and ferrule includes an ultrasonically equipped crimp tool (UECT) configured to transmit an ultrasonic acoustic wave through a wire and ferrule, and a signal processor in communication with the UECT. The signal processor includes a signal transmitting module configured to transmit the ultrasonic acoustic wave via an ultrasonic transducer, signal receiving module configured to receive the ultrasonic acoustic wave after it passes through the wire and ferrule, and a signal analysis module configured to identify signal differences between the ultrasonic waves. The signal analysis module is then configured to compare the signal differences attributable to the wire crimp to a baseline, and to provide an output signal if the signal differences deviate from the baseline.
US09003643B2
Certain embodiments of the invention may include systems for providing stator bar shape tooling. According to an example embodiment of the invention, a system for shaping an element is provided. The system includes tooling that having at least one constraining surface that is fabricated at least in part by selective laser sintering, where the at least one constraining surface includes at least one curved element section to facilitate bending of at least a portion of an element around the at least one curved element section.
US09003636B2
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a control interface for motor vehicle comprising a touch pad exhibiting a front face, and a housing accommodating said touch pad, said housing exhibiting an aperture delimited by a border for access to the front face of the touch pad by a user, characterized in that: —in the course of a first step (101), the aperture of a housing is disposed around a touch pad provided with a film on the front face, the film covering at least the front face of the touch pad and the edges of the housing, —in the course of a second step (102), a holding force is applied to the housing so as to hold it, and —in the course of a third step (103), a liquid levelling lining material is introduced into a peripheral space partitioned off by the film, the border of the housing and the rim ate touch pad, so as to spread the liquid levelling lining material in said peripheral space.
US09003624B2
A gangable composite clip for attaching decking. The clip includes a bottom and a top. The bottom is made of a first material. The top is made of a second material. The first material of the bottom is different than the second material of the top. The first material of the bottom engages in the second material of the top during manufacturing so as to attach the bottom to the top and form the gangable composite clip without a need for any other means to attach the bottom to the top.
US09003623B2
An apparatus for forming an inclined-blade blower wheel is provided. A plurality of blades are initially positioned between first and second end caps, and a first engagement member mates with the first end cap, while a second engagement member mates with the second end cap. First and second end motors are configured to independently rotate the first and second engagement members. A crimping roller coupled to a crimping motor contacts and compresses a circumference of the first and second end caps to a plurality of blades. A controller is configured to rotate the first engagement member a predetermined amount with respect to the second engagement member, a then circumferential speed of the first and second end caps and the crimping roller is synchronized, therein fixing a desired longitudinal pitch of the plurality of blades between the first and second end caps.
US09003612B2
A coupler including an at least partially cylindrically shaped external body portion having a longitudinal axis, which further includes an integral first and second, axially opposed ends that have a taper along the longitudinal axis. The coupler includes an integral gate consisting of two axially opposed, disconnected tongue sections having an open space there between. The at least partially cylindrically shaped external body portion has an open space at least partially enclosed by an inner surface of the body portion and disposed over at least a portion of the at least partially cylindrically shaped external body portion. The external body portion is characterized by a maximum radial dimension, including a circumferential region of the at least partially cylindrically shaped external body portion intermediate the first and second axially opposed ends where the gate is disposed.
US09003610B2
The invention relates to a closure clip for closing tubular or bag-shaped packing casing for packing loosely goods or foodstuff. The closure clip includes two arms extending at least substantially in a plane and at least substantially parallel to each other, having first and second ends and inner and outer surfaces. The closure clip further includes a bottom portion arranged in the plane defined by the arms, having an inner and an outer surface and connecting the arms by their first ends, thereby forming a substantially U-shaped closure clip. The closure clip further includes at least one arbor having a first end and a second end that extends from the inner surface of the bottom portion, to which the arbor is coupled by its first end between the arms and parallel thereto. The closure clip further comprises a die for closing the closure clip. The closure clip further comprises two guide channels for guiding the second ends of the closure clip, which are separated from each other by a land.
US09003600B2
A new vacuum cleaner that is adapted for use in a vehicle has a user-removable debris collection tank that has spaced recesses on the bottom that inhibit both fore-and-back movement of debris within the collection tank and side-to-side movement of debris within the collection tank. The recesses are located in opposed outer corners of the tank, and have lower surfaces that support the tank in a standing position. Raised sections divide each of the recesses into two corner recess sections and an offset recess section, and inhibit both fore-and-aft movement of debris within the recesses and side-to-side movement of debris within the recess sections. The offset recess section has tracks that curve in different directions from an intermediate position adjacent or near a side of the tank. The bottom of the tank is generally curved downwardly towards the sides of the tank.
US09003594B2
The invention relates to a motor vehicle windshield wiper, comprising: a windshield wiper blade (42) that is hinged onto a windshield wiper arm (41) by means of an arm/blade connector (43, 44, 45, 51); and a washing liquid-spraying device (47) that is arranged on the windshield wiper blade and connected by means of a Connecting device (49, 53, 57) to a washing liquid delivery channel (46) that extends at least partially along the windshield wiper arm. Said windshield wiper is characterized in that the Connecting device is built into the arm/blade connector so as to automatically connect the spraying device to the delivery channel when Connecting the windshield wiper blade onto the windshield wiper arm and so as to automatically detach the spraying device from the delivery channel when disconnecting the windshield wiper blade from the windshield wiper arm.
US09003581B2
A support device for persons, such as a bed, treatment or operating table, chair, comprises: a frame; a first and a second movable member, which movable members can be adjusted independently of one another and which are designed to support the person or one or more parts of the person in various positions, and a hydraulic system for adjusting the movable members, the hydraulic system comprising: a reservoir for hydraulic liquid; a first and a second hydraulic actuator associated with the first and second movable member, respectively, which hydraulic actuators can each be moved in two directions; a hydraulic pump; a pump activating member which is operatively connected to the pump in order for an operator to activate the pump; a valve assembly which is provided in the hydraulic circuit between the pump and the respective actuators, and a valve assembly operating member which can be mechanically operated by an operator and is mechanically connected to the valve assembly for selecting and providing a connection between one of the actuators and the pump in order to be able to selectively move a movable member by supplying pressurized hydraulic liquid to the associated actuator upon activation of the pump.
US09003571B1
The present invention features a panties system with built-in storage covers for sanitary pad. The panties include an elastic waistband, a front panel and a back panel, a crotch panel to cover the genital area, a pair of leg openings. The crotch panel has a first crotch cover and a second crotch cover. The covers are adjacent to each other and sewed to the leg openings. The covers have optional elastic edges to hold sanitary pads on position securely between the crotch panel and crotch covers.
US09003569B2
According to the various features characteristics and embodiments of the present invention which will become apparent as the description thereof proceeds, the present invention provides partially fingered gloves and the use of said gloves, intended to increase the overall performance in sports activities including but limited to football and golf. Because of its unique finger configurations, grip enhancers, and/or its hand protective properties, the present invention makes a glove now operable on for football quarterback's throwing hand and golfers, for example.
US09009857B2
The availability of software assets on electronic devices, such as mobile devices of users, is restricted based on the time as determined by a managing server. An application that runs on the electronic devices communicates with the server to obtain information regarding which software assets are permitted to be accessed, and restricts user access accordingly. The server may use a clock, in combination with administrator-generated access restriction policies, to determine which software assets are to be made available on each electronic device at particular points in time.
US09009856B2
Mechanisms are provided to allow particular parties and applications access to protected application programming interfaces (APIs) without the use of security domains. Trusted parties and applications may have access to protected APIs while unfrosted parties and applications may be restricted to a more limited set of APIs. Public keys associated with individual applications that are used to enforce licensing policies can be repurposed for use in a verification process to prevent unauthorized access to APIs. A credential storage manager can be used to maintain permission and certificate information. An application authorization manager may access credential storage and maintain trusted application information.
US09009853B2
In an embodiment, communication is controlled between a service provider web application executed in a first web browser instance on a device platform of the device and a partner web application executed in a second web browser instance on the device platform. A signal is received, at a control module at the device, from the partner web application, the signal for initiating communication between the partner web application and the service provider web application. The control module, provided by the service provider and installed on the device, uses technology that is native to the device platform. The control module uses a list of partners approved by the service provider to determine whether the partner web application is approved for communication with the service provider web application. If the control module determines the partner web application is approved, the control module allows communication to proceed.
US09009852B2
The present technology relates to a method for granting a user secure access to one or more resources accessed by a process. The process is defined in a Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) registry and includes one or more process-steps, where each process-step accesses one or more resources stored in an SOA repository.
US09009850B2
Apparatuses, computer readable media, methods, and systems are described for accessing table layout data identifying a plurality of fields included in a table stored in a database, accessing log data identifying a number of times each of the fields of the table has been queried, ranking the fields based on the number of times each of the fields of the table has been queried, determining a first subset of the fields that have not been queried at least a predetermined number of times, and generating an update to the table by removing the first subset of the fields from the table.
US09009842B2
In an embodiment of the invention, wherein users must be able to access a computer system to perform respective functions, initial data is acquired from data sources, some of the initial data pertaining to previously granted system access rights. The initial data is used to create a crowdsourcing task, which is executed to acquire crowdsourced data from SMEs in an SME population, wherein the crowdsourced data comprises additional data pertaining to previously granted system access. The crowdsourced data is used to create a set of role definitions, wherein the role definitions determine which of the users are assigned to be members of a particular role associated with the system, and further determine the access rights that are granted to each member of the particular role.
US09009834B1
In a computer-implemented method, a digital content item to be tested is received. A display of a visual representation of the digital content item is simulated, where the visual representation is selectable and the digital content item is associated with a code snippet that is executed when the visual representation is selected. A simulated user click on the visual representation is received and the code snippet is executed in response. Processing actions of the code snippet are monitored, and it is determined whether the processing actions violate one or more predetermined system policies indicative of a content item unsuitable for service. A score for the code snippet is calculated based on one or more violations of the one or more predetermined system policies. The digital content item is suspended to prevent service of the digital content item if the score exceeds a predetermined threshold score, and validated for service otherwise.
US09009819B1
A method and apparatus for detecting rogue security software whereby a timeframe and a threshold pop-up score are defined. A user computing system is monitored/scanned for any pop-up events being presented to the user and once a pop-up event is detected, the source process, or application, associated with the pop-up event is identified. The identified source process is then monitored for at least the defined timeframe and each pop-up event associated with the identified source process in the defined timeframe is counted and used to compute a pop-up score for the identified source process. The pop-up score for the identified source process is then compared with the threshold pop-up score and if the pop-up score associated with the identified source process exceeds the threshold pop-up score, the status of the identified source process is transformed to the status of identified “suspect” source process.
US09009818B2
A system and method for detecting malware in compressed data. The system and method identifies a set of search strings extracted from compressed executables, each of which is infected with malware from a family of malware. The search strings detect the presence of the family of malware in other compressed executables, fragments of compressed executables, or data streams.
US09009797B1
A system and method for Media Resource Control Protocol (MRCP) access control for a mobile device. An entity requesting to utilize MRCP resources establishes a relationship with a MRCP resource provider. The MRCP resource provider maintains account information for the entity, and the entity receives a unique account number for identification purposes. The entity requests from the MRCP resource provider generation of at least one MRCP access PIN associated with the account information, and provides a data string associated with the MRCP access PIN to the MRCP resource provider.
US09009796B2
In one embodiment, a method to authenticate a claimant comprises receiving, from the claimant, at least one of a set of beam data from a spot beam transmission, comparing the claimed at least one set of beam data to a known valid data set, and authenticating the claimant when a difference between at least one set of beam data and the known valid data set is less than a threshold.
US09009794B2
Systems and methods are provided for assignment and exchange of temporary access rights based on proximity of user devices. A first user device may receive a temporary access right that enables a second user device to access a content asset which the first user device is not authorized to access. In response to receiving the temporary access right, the first user device may access the content asset. Access to the content asset may be maintained after the first user device leaves the proximity of the second user device until the content asset is played back in its entirety. The proximity may be based on physical location or virtual connections through online services. The temporary access right may be requested by or assigned to the first user device from the second user device and may limit the number of times that the content asset is accessed on the first user device.
US09009792B1
Methods, apparatus, and other embodiments associated with automatically configuring a secure wireless connection are described. According to one embodiment, an apparatus includes a security logic in a first device. The security logic is configured to determine a security code for wirelessly connecting to a second device by sending a request to initiate communication to the second device. The security logic is further configured to receive a reply from the second device in response to the request. The apparatus also includes a communication logic configured to establish a secure wireless connection to the second device from the first device by automatically initiating a Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) based, at least in part, on the security code.
US09009790B2
Devices and methods are disclosed which relate to managing multiple public user identifiers (PUIDs) in a database by setting customizable access rules and requiring authorization from applications for access. These PUIDs can be virtually any electronic identifier such as a telephone number, email address, FACEBOOK name, etc. The PUID database is on the memory of a mobile communication device. Applications on the mobile communication device or on the network request access to the PUID database. Access logic on the mobile communication device checks another database of PUID Access Policies and Preferences (PAPP) for authorization. The PAPP database may allow the application immediate access, deny access, or query the user for allowance. The PUID database and PAPP database are on a server on a network.
US09009778B2
A service category associates a set of authenticators and a set of authentication and authorization policies. When an authenticator attempts to connect the network, the service category for such authenticator determined and the authentication and authorization policies applied. A feature of the present invention is that these policies are segmented into several sub-policies to support multiple services and apply different authentication and authorization policies for each type of service. These sub-policies are a tunnel policy, a credential validation policy, in inner tunnel policy and an authorization policy. Successful negotiation of each policy allows the authenticator to connect a network.
US09009767B2
A system, method and computer readable media are disclosed for presenting a simultaneous multimedia experience to a plurality of computing devices, each at different locations. The method involves coordinating a simultaneous presentation of multimedia content to a plurality of computing devices, receiving a control signal from a computer of one of the plurality of computing devices to control the presentation of multimedia content, and broadcasting the control assigned to each of the plurality of computing devices such that a control event substantially simultaneously occurs in the presentation of a multimedia content at each of the plurality of computing devices. Where commercial breaks and length of presentation differences occur in various time zones or geographically disparate areas, the method may include utilizing synchronization points, adding new content in time gaps at a computing device and/or modifying the length of the presentation to maintain synchronization among the computing devices in a group.
US09009766B2
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving at a network device interposed in a network path between a source and a receiver, video optimized for a wired network link located between the source and the network device, identifying the receiver as a wireless device, optimizing the video for wireless transmission, and transmitting the video optimized for wireless transmission to the receiver. An apparatus is also disclosed.
US09009765B2
An object with embodiments of the present invention is to achieve a solution for fast channel change that improves bandwidth utilization, wherein the fast channel change is accomplished by initiating a unicast stream until a multicast stream can provide the desired media. The bandwidth utilization is achieved by delaying the multicast session and by terminating the unicast session at the latest when the multicast session starts. The delay of the multicast session is dependent on the network latency. Latency in this context refers to the time passed from when the client sends an IGMP JOIN message until it receives the first packet of the multicast stream.
US09009754B2
Alternate digital content is inserted into mobile devices with a method and apparatus that comprises an alternate content scheduler, an alternate content reporter, and a micro-splicer. The alternate content scheduler further comprises a mobile network interface for interaction with a mobile data and broadcast network, a micro-splicer interface for interfacing with a micro-splicer, a rulebook that is shared with the network which provides the rules for alternate content scheduling, a preference provisioning module comprising an alternate content scheduler library for storing user or network preferences, a scheduler for providing tight synchronization between original program content and alternate content, and a metric recording interface to an alternate content reporter. The micro-splicer works in tandem with the alternate content scheduler to render synchronized display of alternate multimedia content on the mobile device.
US09009752B2
A peer-to-peer (P2P) application which can be applied to TVs. The P2P application promotes a social networking aspect by allowing devices connecting to either the home mesh network and/or Internet to share contents and create common-interest channels. The P2P application does not require support from network infrastructure (e.g., no central servers), and consequently is extremely cost-effective and easy to deploy. The distributed nature of this system allows users to join or leave the network at will. It takes advantage of the local home mesh network connectivity, or existing Internet connections. A participant that tunes into a broadcast on an Internet channel is not only downloading a video stream, but also uploading it to other participants watching the program. Data mining systems capture user preferences and create personalized Internet channels on the TV using the P2P network.
US09009746B2
The present disclosure involves a method of conducting a transaction. In one aspect, the method includes: displaying a media program on a media display device; indicating, while the media program is being displayed, an item associated with the media program is available for purchase; receiving authentication information of a prospective purchaser of the item; and completing a purchase of the item in response to the authentication information. In another aspect, the method includes: receiving, from a media display device, a user authentication request that contains user login credentials; granting the user authentication request in response to the user login credentials; and sending an authentication permission to the media display device; wherein the receiving and the sending are each performed such that the user login credentials and the authentication permission are sent through one or more intermediate hops without being inspected by any of the intermediate hops.
US09009738B2
Device identification techniques using identifiable device functions are described. In one or more implementations, data is obtained that describes functions of a device that are identifiable for use in conjunction with a computing device and a device identifier (ID) is computed for the peripheral device based on the identifiable device functions.
US09009732B2
A method of processing raw events to typed events, each raw event including data items containing data values, the method includes: providing a library of event type objects, each event type object relating to a given event type and including attributes of given data types, the attributes in each event type object structured according to a given structure; for each raw event, determining an event type object in the library which meets: (i) each of the data items in the raw event maps to an attribute in the event type object, and (ii) a data value in each of the data items is of a data type detected to match the given data type of the mapped attribute; and generating a typed event from each raw event, the typed event including the data values of the raw event structured according to the structure of the determined event type object.
US09009721B2
A method and system for aggregating installation scopes within an isolation environment, where the method includes first defining an isolation environment for encompassing an aggregation of installation scopes. Associations are created between a first application and a first installation scope. When the first application requires the presence of a second application within the isolation environment for proper execution, an image of the required second application is mounted onto a second installation scope and an association between the second application and the second installation scope is created. Another association is created between the first installation scope and the second installation scope, an this third association is created within a third installation scope. Each of the first, second, and third installation scopes are stored and the first application is launched into the defined isolation environment.
