US09034919B2

This invention relates generally to the field of compositions for use as nutraceuticals, food additives or adjuncts to conventional drug therapies. In particular, the invention relates to compositions derived from natural oil sources which can be used for effective and inexpensive treatment of cardiovascular diseases, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, cerebrovascular disease, neurological disorders, or liver abnormalities.
US09034908B2

Methods of treatment using bendamustine formulations designed for small volume intravenous administration are disclosed. The methods conveniently allow shorter administration time without the active ingredient coming out of solution as compared to presently available formulations.
US09034902B2

Therapeutic compositions and methods for treatment of attention deficit disorder (ADD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) include dosage forms that deliver a therapeutic amount of active drug in a delayed and controlled release formulation. The dosage form can be administered at night and drug release is delayed for from 4 to 6 hours or longer, followed by an ascending release rate.
US09034901B2

The invention provides the process for the preparation of pitavastatin and its pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. In particular, the invention provides a process for the preparation of stable pitavastatin calcium in crystalline form having water content less than 5% wt/wt. The present invention also provides stable crystalline form of pitavastatin calcium substantially free from crystal Form-A and use thereof for pharmaceutical compositions.
US09034898B2

The invention relates to novel heterocyclic compounds which are pyrazolopyridine derivatives that induce fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) dimerization, having the general formula: M1-L-M2 in which M1 or M2, which may be identical or different, each represent, independently of one another, a monomer unit M and L represents a linker group which links M1 and M2 covalently with the monomer unit which follows: Process for the preparation thereof and therapeutic use thereof.
US09034896B2

The present invention relates to novel N-(imidazolidin-2-ylidene) Heterocyclopenta[b]pyridine derivatives, processes for preparing them, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use as pharmaceuticals.
US09034858B2

The present disclosure is drawn to pharmaceutical compositions and oral dosage capsules containing testosterone undecanoate, as well as related methods. The capsule includes a capsule shell and a capsule fill. The capsule fill can include a solubilizer and about 14 wt % to about 35 wt % testosterone undecanoate based on the total capsule fill. The oral dosage capsule is such that when a single oral administration to a male subject of one or more capsules with a total testosterone undecanoate daily dose of about 350 mg to about 650 mg it provides a ratio of serum testosterone Cmax to serum testosterone Cave of about 2.7 or less. In yet another embodiment, a method for providing a serum concentration of testosterone within a target serum testosterone concentration Cave range for a male subject is provided.
US09034849B2

The present invention provides fatty acid amide hydrolase inhibitors, solid forms thereof, compositions thereof, and methods of making and using the same.
US09034848B2

A phenyl carbamate compound; a composition for treating and/or preventing stroke containing the phenyl carbamate compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof as an active ingredient; a method of treating and/or preventing stroke comprising administering the phenyl carbamate compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof to a patient in need of stroke treatment; and a use of the phenyl carbamate compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in treating and/or preventing stroke, are provided.
US09034846B2

The invention provides the use of a cyclodextrin compound for the manufacturing of a medicament for the treatment or prevention of bronchial inflammatory diseases, particularly for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
US09034838B2

The invention relates to the therapy of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) by means of modulating the amount of a specific miRNA (miR-31).
US09034837B2

The present invention provides compositions and methods of treatment of HCV infected subjects that are not sensitive to interferon treatment. Further, compositions and methods are provided for prevention of organ transplant rejection. The compositions of the invention comprise an anti microRNA-122 oligonucleotide, and are made for administration to a primate.
US09034836B2

This disclosure provides methods and compositions for treating disorders or injuries that affect motor function and control in a subject. In one aspect, the invention a transgene product is delivered to a subject's spinal cord by administering a recombinant neurotrophic viral vector containing the transgene to the brain. The viral vector delivers the transgene to a region of the brain which is susceptible to infection by the virus and which expresses the encoded recombinant viral gene product. Also provided are compositions for delivery of a transgene product to a subject's spinal cord by administering a recombinant neurotrophic viral vector containing the transgene to the subject's brain.
US09034835B2

According to the present invention, a plant disease control agent having a superior control effect on plant diseases at a low dose is provided. The plant disease control agent of the present invention includes at least one selected from tetrazolyl oxime derivatives represented by formula (I) and salts thereof, and at least one selected from the group consisting of imidacloprid, triflumizole, spinosad, hydroxy isoxazole, thiophanate-methyl, tricyclazole, clothianidin, benomyl, acetamiprid and salts thereof. In formula (I), X represents a C1-6 alkyl group or the like; n represents an integer of 0 to 5; Y represents a C1-6 alkyl group; Z represents a group represented by NHC(═O)-Q; Q represents a C1-8 alkoxy group or the like; R represents a halogen atom; m represents an integer of 0 to 3.
US09034832B2

The present invention features solid compositions comprising a selected HCV inhibitor in an amorphous form. In one embodiment, the selected HCV inhibitor is formulated in an amorphous solid dispersion which comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable hydrophilic polymer and preferably a pharmaceutically acceptable surfactant.
US09034829B1

Polymeric delivery systems for boronic acid-containing therapeutics, related compounds and methods of use, for a pH-sensitive chemoselective approach to delivery of such a therapeutic.
US09034824B2

Potent compounds having combined antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-radiation and metal chelating properties are described. Short peptides having these properties, and methods and uses of such short peptides in clinical and cosmetic applications are described.
US09034821B2

The present invention relates to a novel pharmaceutical composition comprising oxytocin and/or one or more fragment(s) and/or variant(s) thereof and at least one non-ionic cellulose ether, such as hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, said pharmaceutical composition having a low pH. The present pharmaceutical composition has been shown to provide an exceptionally suitable environment for oxytocin, as the stability thereof has increased significantly as compared to previous compositions with this molecule. The pharmaceutical composition according to the invention can be used for medical purposes, such as in the treatment of climacteric disorders.
US09034818B2

The invention concerns a soluble pharmaceutical formulation comprising an insulin derivative wherein the formulation further comprises more than 4 zinc atoms per 6 molecules of the insulin derivative, and a citric acid monohydrate and/or a histidine compound used in an amount sufficient to increase the tendency of the insulin derivative to self-associate into dodecamers. The invention further comprises a process for preparing the soluble pharmaceutical formulation.
US09034815B2

The described invention provides compositions and methods for treating or preventing adhesions in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising the step of (a) administering an adhesion-reducing amount of a composition comprising a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence YARAAARQARAKALARQLGVAA [SEQ ID NO: 1] or a functional equivalent thereof and a carrier. The methods are clinically useful for reducing formation of adhesions initially and for therapeutic treatment of existing scars.
US09034808B2

It is known by the inventor that a universal synthetic lubricant additive that can greatly enhance the performance standards of existing lubricants, petroleum based or synthetic, imparts a new and desirable property not originally present in the existing oil or it reinforces a desirable property already possessed in some degree can greatly benefit the consumer. Although additives of many diverse types have been developed to meet special lubrication needs, their principal functions are relatively few in number. This universal synthetic lubricant additive (invention) with micro lubrication technology, when used as directed will reduce the oxidative or thermal degradation of the host oil, substantially reduce the deposition of harmful deposits in lubricated parts, minimize rust and corrosion, control frictional properties, reduce wear, temperature, sludge, varnishes and prevent destructive metal-to-metal contact, reduce fuel consumption and harmful emissions while improving performance through increased horsepower and torque.
US09034806B2

Methods for treating a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore where shear recovery time of viscoelastic surfactant treatment fluids is shorten by adding an effective amount of an fiber based rheology enhancer. The rheology enhancer also increases fluid viscosity. Further, the rheology enhancer also improves proppant settling. Some examples of surfactants are betaines and quaternary amines, and an example of fiber based rheology enhancer is polylactic acid fiber. The fluids are useful in oilfield treatments, as well as methods of preparing viscoelastic surfactant based fluids.
US09034803B2

The current application discloses fluids and methods for treating a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore. In one aspect, there is provided a fluid comprising chitosan and titanate, where the fluid has an increased viscosity compared with a solution containing chitosan without titanate. In another aspect, there is provided a method of using such fluid to treat a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore. The method may comprise mixing chitosan and titanate in a carrying medium, forming a gel comprising chitosan and titanate, introducing the gel into a subterranean formation, and treating the subterranean formation with the gel.
US09034802B2

The invention provides an oilfield suspending friction reducer treatment composition fluid comprising from about 0.001 weight percent to about 0.5 weight percent of a drag reducing surfactant; at least one drag reducing enhancer selected from the group consisting of polymeric drag reduction enhancers, monomeric drag reduction enhancers, and mixtures thereof.
US09034786B2

A catalyst which comprises nickel and/or cobalt supported on a support that includes a mixed oxide containing metals, such as aluminum, zirconium, lanthanum, magnesium, cerium, calcium, and yttrium. Such catalysts are useful for converting carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide, and for converting methane to hydrogen.
US09034784B2

The present invention relates to a process for the production of propylene polymers in the presence of a Ziegler-Natta catalyst comprising a titanium compound having at least one titanium-halogen bond, and a blend of a diether compound and a succinate compound as internal electron donor, all supported on a magnesium halide in active form, an organoaluminium compound and an optional external donor.
US09034783B2

Catalyst component for the polymerization of olefins comprising Mg, Ti and an electron donor compound of the following formula (I) In which R1 to R4 groups, equal to or different from each other, are hydrogen, C1-C15 hydrocarbon groups, optionally containing an heteroatom selected from halogen, P, S, N and Si, R6 group is selected from C1-C15 hydrocarbon groups optionally containing an heteroatom selected from halogen, P, S, N and Si, and R5 is selected from phenyl groups mono or poly substituted with halogens, said groups R1-R4 being also optionally linked to form a saturated or unsaturated mono or poly cycle.
US09034770B2

A method of etching exposed silicon oxide on patterned heterogeneous structures is described and includes a gas phase etch created from a remote plasma etch. The remote plasma excites a fluorine-containing precursor. Plasma effluents from the remote plasma are flowed into a substrate processing region where the plasma effluents combine with water vapor. Reactants thereby produced etch the patterned heterogeneous structures to remove two separate regions of differing silicon oxide at different etch rates. The methods may be used to remove low density silicon oxide while removing less high density silicon oxide.
US09034769B2

A method for selective removing material from a substrate without damage to copper filling a via and extending at least partially through the substrate. The method comprises oxidizing a semiconductor structure comprising a substrate and at least one copper feature and removing a portion of the substrate using an etchant comprising SF6 without forming copper sulfide on the at least one copper feature. Additional methods are also disclosed, as well as semiconductor structures produced from such methods.
US09034762B2

A triple patterning method is provided. The method includes providing a substrate having a first region and a second region; and forming a first material layer. The method also includes forming a second material layer; and forming a plurality of core patterns on the second material layer in the first region. Further, the method includes forming sidewall spacers on side surfaces of the core patterns; and forming first patterns on the first material layer. Further, the method includes forming a third material layer on the first material layer and the first patterns; and forming second patterns on the third material layer in the first region and third patterns on the third material layer in the second region. Further, the method also includes forming fourth patterns; and forming triple patterns on the substrate in the first region and fifth patterns on the substrate in the second region.
US09034759B2

A method for forming an interlevel dielectric (ILD) layer includes the following steps. A MOS transistor on a substrate is provided. A first undoped oxide layer is deposited to cover the substrate and the MOS transistor. The first undoped oxide layer is planarized. A phosphorus containing oxide layer is deposited on the first undoped oxide layer. A second undoped oxide layer is deposited on the phosphorus containing oxide layer.
US09034758B2

A spacer etching process produces ultra-narrow conductive lines in a plurality of semiconductor dice. Trenches are formed in a first dielectric then a sacrificial film is deposited onto the first dielectric and the trench surfaces formed therein. Planar sacrificial film is removed from the face of the first dielectric and bottom of the trenches, leaving only sacrificial films on the trench walls. A gap between the sacrificial films on the trench walls is filled in with a second dielectric. A portion of the second dielectric is removed to expose tops of the sacrificial films. The sacrificial films are removed leaving ultra-thin gaps that are filled in with a conductive material. The tops of the conductive material in the gaps are exposed to create “fence conductors.” Portions of the fence conductors and surrounding insulating materials are removed at appropriate locations to produce desired conductor patterns comprising isolated fence conductors.
US09034756B2

A copper alloy layer is blanket deposited over a low k dielectric layer and in via openings within the low k dielectric layer. The blanket deposited layer is then anisotropically etch to form horizontal interconnects. The interconnects are annealed to form a metal oxide barrier lining. A second low k dielectric layer is then depositing over the horizontal interconnects. Air gaps can be formed between adjacent interconnects to lower parasitic capacitance therebetween.
US09034752B2

Methods of exposing conductive vias of semiconductor devices may comprise conformally forming a barrier material over conductive vias extending from a backside surface of a substrate. A self-planarizing isolation material may be formed over the barrier material. An exposed surface of the self-planarizing isolation material may be substantially planar. A portion of the self-planarizing isolation material, a portion of the barrier material, and a portion of protruding material of the conductive vias may be removed to expose the conductive vias. Removal of the self-planarizing isolation material, the barrier material, and the conductive vias may be stopped after exposing at least one laterally extending portion of the barrier material.
US09034744B2

In a replacement gate approach, the exposure of the placeholder material of the gate electrode structures may be accomplished on the basis of an etch process, thereby avoiding the introduction of process-related non-uniformities, which are typically associated with a complex polishing process for exposing the top surface of the placeholder material. In some illustrative embodiments, the placeholder material may be exposed by an etch process based on a sacrificial mask material.
US09034738B2

A method for manufacturing a light-emitting diode, which includes the steps of: providing a substrate having a plurality of protruded portions on one main surface thereof wherein the protruded portion is made of a material different in type from that of the substrate and growing a first nitride-based III-V Group compound semiconductor layer on each recess portion of the substrate through a state of making a triangle in section wherein a bottom surface of the recess portion becomes a base of the triangle; laterally growing a second nitride-based III-V Group compound semiconductor layer on the substrate from the first nitride-based III-V Group compound semiconductor layer; and successively growing, on the second nitride-based III-V Group compound semiconductor layer, a third nitride-based III-V Group compound semiconductor layer of a first conduction type, an active layer, and a fourth nitride-based III-V compound semiconductor layer of a second conduction type.
US09034731B2

An integrated, integrated circuit singulation system is provided including scribing a substrate using mechanical cutting or a plurality of passes of laser cutting, and dicing the substrate using mechanical cutting or laser cutting.
US09034729B2

An object of the invention is to provide a smaller semiconductor device of which the manufacturing process is simplified and the manufacturing cost is reduced and a method of manufacturing the same. Furthermore, an object of the invention is to provide a semiconductor device having a cavity. A first supporting body 5 having a penetration hole 6 penetrating it from the front surface to the back surface is attached to a front surface of a semiconductor substrate 2 with an adhesive layer 4 being interposed therebetween. A device element 1 and wiring layers 3 are formed on the front surface of the semiconductor substrate 2. A second supporting body 7 is attached to the first supporting body 5 with an adhesive layer 8 being interposed therebetween so as to cover the penetration hole 6. The device element 1 is sealed in a cavity 9 surrounded by the semiconductor substrate 2, the first supporting body 5 and the second supporting body 7.
US09034721B2

A semiconductor substrate is provided in which an alignment mark is formed that can be used for an alignment even after the formation of an impurity diffused layer by the planarization of an epitaxial film. A trench is formed in an alignment region of an N−-type layer formed on an N+-type substrate. This trench is used to leave voids after the formation of a P−-type epitaxial film on the N−-type layer. Then, the voids formed in the N−-type layer can be used as an alignment mark. Thus, such a semiconductor substrate can be used to provide an alignment in the subsequent step of manufacturing the semiconductor apparatus. Thus, the respective components constituting the semiconductor apparatus can be formed at desired positions accurately.
US09034719B2

A method of forming a variable resistive memory device includes forming a conductive pattern that alternates with a first insulation pattern along a first direction on a substrate that is parallel with a surface of the substrate, forming a preliminary sacrificial pattern on the conductive pattern that contacts a sidewall of the first insulation pattern, etching the conductive pattern using the preliminary sacrificial pattern as an etch masks to form a preliminary bottom electrode pattern, patterning the preliminary sacrificial pattern and the preliminary bottom electrode pattern to form a sacrificial pattern and a bottom electrode pattern that each include at least two portions which are separated from each other along a second direction intersecting the first direction, and replacing the sacrificial pattern with a variable resistive pattern.
US09034715B2

A finFET and method of fabrication are disclosed. A sacrificial layer is formed on a bulk semiconductor substrate. A top semiconductor layer (such as silicon) is disposed on the sacrificial layer. The bulk semiconductor substrate is recessed in the area adjacent to the transistor gate and a stressor layer is formed in the recessed area. The sacrificial layer is selectively removed and replaced with an insulator, such as a flowable oxide. The insulator provides isolation between the transistor channel and the bulk substrate without the use of dopants.
US09034714B2

A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes providing a dummy gate insulation film formed on a substrate, the dummy gate insulation film including a first material and providing a spacer formed at least one side of the gate insulation film, the spacer including the first material, removing the first material included in the dummy gate insulation film by a first process, removing the dummy gate insulation film from which the first material has been removed by a second process different from the first process, and sequentially forming a gate insulation film and a gate electrode structure on the substrate.
US09034712B2

A lateral diffused metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistor (LDMOS transistor) employs a stress layer that enhances carrier mobility (i.e., on-current) while also maintaining a high breakdown voltage for the device. High breakdown voltage is maintained, because an increase in doping concentration of the drift region is minimized. A well region and a drift region are formed in the substrate adjacent to one another. A first shallow trench isolation (STI) region is formed on and adjacent to the well region, and a second STI region is formed on and adjacent to the drift region. A stress layer is deposited over the LDMOS transistor and in the second STI region, which propagates compressive or tensile stress into the drift region, depending on the polarity of the stress layer. A portion of the stress layer can be removed over the gate to change the polarity of stress in the inversion region below the gate.
US09034710B2

A method of forming a nonvolatile memory cell includes forming a first electrode and a second electrode of the memory cell. Sacrificial material is provided between the first second electrodes. The sacrificial material is exchanged with programmable material. The sacrificial material may additionally be exchanged with select device material.
US09034709B2

A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, includes forming a first gate oxide film in each of a first region and a second region by thermally oxidizing a silicon substrate, forming a CVD oxide film on the first gate oxide film, implanting fluorine into each of the first region and the second region through the CVD oxide film and the first gate oxide film, removing the CVD oxide film from the first gate oxide film in the second region, removing the first gate oxide film from the second region, and forming a second gate oxide film in the second region by thermally oxidizing the silicon substrate.
US09034685B2

The present invention provides methods for making pnictide compositions, particularly photoactive and/or semiconductive pnictides. In many embodiments, these compositions are in the form of thin films grown on a wide range of suitable substrates to be incorporated into a wide range of microelectronic devices, including photovoltaic devices, photodetectors, light emitting diodes, betavoltaic devices, thermoelectric devices, transistors, other optoelectronic devices, and the like. As an overview, the present invention prepares these compositions from suitable source compounds in which a vapor flux is derived from a source compound in a first processing zone, the vapor flux is treated in a second processing zone distinct from the first processing zone, and then the treated vapor flux, optionally in combination with one or more other ingredients, is used to grow pnictide films on a suitable substrate.
US09034675B2

Techniques are provided for manufacturing a light-emitting device having high internal quantum efficiency, consuming less power, having high luminance, and having high reliability. The techniques include forming a conductive light-transmitting oxide layer comprising a conductive light-transmitting oxide material and silicon oxide, forming a barrier layer in which density of the silicon oxide is higher than that in the conductive light-transmitting oxide layer over the conductive light-transmitting oxide layer, forming an anode having the conductive light-transmitting oxide layer and the barrier layer, heating the anode under a vacuum atmosphere, forming an electroluminescent layer over the heated anode, and forming a cathode over the electroluminescent layer. According to the techniques, the barrier layer is formed between the electroluminescent layer and the conductive light-transmitting oxide layer.
US09034664B2

A method of repairing hollow metal void defects in interconnects and resulting structures. After polishing interconnects, hollow metal void defects become visible. The locations of the defects are largely predictable. A repair method patterns a mask material to have openings over the interconnects (and, sometimes, the adjacent dielectric layer) where defects are likely to appear. A local metal cap is formed in the mask openings to repair the defect. A dielectric cap covers the local metal cap and any recesses formed in the adjacent dielectric layer.
US09034662B2

The performance of an MR device has been improved by inserting one or more Magneto-Resistance Enhancing Layers (MRELs) into approximately the center of one or more of the magnetic layers such as an inner pinned (AP1) layer, spin injection layer (SIL), field generation layer (FGL), and a free layer. An MREL is a layer of a low band gap, high electron mobility semiconductor such as ZnO or a semimetal such as Bi. The MREL may further comprise a first conductive layer that contacts a bottom surface of the semiconductor or semimetal layer, and a second conductive layer that contacts a top surface of the semiconductor or semimetal layer.
US09034660B2

A first set of antibodies are bonded to a substrate, and are exposed to and bonded with target antigens. A second set of antibodies are bonded to nanoparticles, and the nanoparticle labeled antibodies are exposed to the targeted antigens. An electromagnetic write-head magnetizes the nanoparticles, and then a read-sensor detects the freshly magnetized nanoparticles. The substrate comprises a flexible film or a Peltier material to allow selective heating and cooling of the antigens and antibodies. Nanoparticles of different magnetic properties may be selectively paired with antibodies associated with different antigens to allow different antigens to be detected upon a single scan by the read-sensor.
US09034659B2

A chemiresistive biosensor for detecting an analyte can include a high specific surface area substrate conformally coated with a conductive polymer, and a binding reagent immobilized on the conductive polymer, wherein the binding reagent has a specific affinity for the analyte. The conductive polymer can be deposited on a substrate by oCVD.
US09034656B2

The present invention provides methods, devices, compositions (e.g., capture complexes), and kits useful for enhancing the detection of antibodies in a test sample. The methods, devices, and compositions utilize detectable Fc-binding molecules such as Protein A, Protein G, and/or an Fc-specific antibody to amplify the signal of a detected antibody in immunoassays, such as lateral flow assays.
US09034646B2

The invention concerns human platelet extracts rich in growth factors (PGF) for wound healing and stem cell expansion. Accordingly the subject invention relates to a virally-inactivated growth factors-containing platelet lysate depleted of PDGF and VEGF, which is preferably enriched in TGF, IGF and EGF-rich. The present invention further concerns a method for obtaining a platelet lysate comprising the steps of contacting a starting platelet concentrate with a solvent and/or a detergent, incubating the starting platelet concentrate with the solvent and/or detergent for a period of at least 5 minutes to 6 hours, at a pH maintained in a range from about 6.0 to about 9.0, and at a temperature within the range of from 2° C. to 50° C., optionally removing the solvent and/or the detergent by oil extraction and obtaining an aqueous protein phase, and incubating the solvent and/or detergent-treated platelet concentrate or the aqueous protein phase with charcoal.
US09034643B2

The present invention relates to antibodies that bind to CTGF. The antibodies are particularly directed to regions of CTGF involved in biological activities associated with fibrosis. The invention also relates to methods of using the antibodies to treat disorders associated with CTGF including localized and systemic fibrotic disorders including those of the lung, liver, heart, skin, and kidney.
US09034627B2

A method for producing a mutant glucosidase includes introducing DNA encoding a secretion signal sequence and DNA encoding Asn-X-Ser or Asn-X-Thr into DNA encoding a glucosidase derived from a thermophile, and introducing the resulting DNA into a eukaryotic microorganism and expressing it as a secretory protein. An enzyme composition contains the mutant glucosidase.
US09034623B2

Apparatus, compositions, methods, and articles of manufacture are disclosed relating to the design and production of biological components and/or their incorporation in devices and systems, including biohybrid photosensitive devices and systems. In some embodiments, biological components include light antenna structures that collect light and emit Stokes-shifted light to a photoactive non-biological component. In some embodiments, the characteristics of biological components are engineered via force-adaptation of an organism or adaptive system. In some embodiments, biological components are modified by removing reaction centers or other structure not contributing to desired performance.
US09034621B2

A method for operating a fermentation plant with at least one digester that is supplied with a substrate. The substrate is percolated using a percolate from a percolate container and biogas that is generated via the percolation process in the digester or/and in the percolate container is drawn off. The drawn off biogas is treated in a biogas treatment device and the CO2-containing exhaust gas that is generated during the treatment is introduced into the digester using a purge line, for forcing out and drawing off the biogas that was generated in the digester. Alternatively CO2-containing biogas that was generated in an additional digester in a different fermentation process can be introduced into the digester for forcing out and drawing off the biogas that was generated in the digester. The CO2-containing purge gas is forced to pass through the substrate dislodging any trapped biogas.
US09034618B2

The present invention relates to methods for sustaining microorganism culture in a syngas fermentation reactor in decreased concentration or absence of various substrates comprising: adding carbon dioxide and optionally alcohol; maintaining free acetic acid concentrations; and performing the above mentioned steps within specified time.
US09034614B2

Disclosed is a method of preparing alkyl butyrate, which comprises: (a) producing a fermented liquid containing butyrate salt through a fermentation process using butyric acid-producing strains; (b) obtaining an extracted liquid containing butyric acid from a continuous extracting apparatus using an extraction solvent, after converting the butyrate salt into butyric acid by adding an inorganic acid except for carbonic acid or carbon dioxide into the fermented liquid, wherein the continuous extracting apparatus includes a plurality of extraction plates which are installed inside an extraction column and perform a reciprocating motion vertically, and the broth and the extraction solvent are supplied to upper and lower portions of the column, respectively; and (c) reacting the extracted liquid and alcohol having a carbon number of 4 or less or a mixture thereof in an esterification reactor to convert a resultant product into alkyl butyrate. According to the present invention, butyric acid existing in microbic culture fluid can be efficiently extracted, and furthermore, competitively priced alkyl butyrate can be prepared without an additional process of separating the extracted solvent while minimizing energy consumption.
US09034601B2

A eukaryotic expression vector capable of displaying a multi-chain polypeptide on the surface of a host cell is provided, such that the biological activity of the multi-chain polypeptide is exhibited at the surface of the host cell. Such a vector allows for the display of complex biologically active polypeptides, e.g., biologically active multi-chain polypeptides such as immunoglobulin Fab fragments. The present invention describes and enables the successful display of a multi-chain polypeptide on the surface of a eukaryotic host cell. Preferred vectors are described for expressing the chains of a multi-chain polypeptide in a host cell separately and independently (e.g., under separate vector control elements, and/or on separate expression vectors, thus forming a matched vector set). The use of such matched vector sets provides flexibility and versatility in the generation of eukaryotic display libraries, for example the ability to generate and to display multi-chain polypeptides by combining and recombining vectors that express variegations of the individual chains of a multi-chain polypeptide. Entire repertoires of novel chain combinations can be devised using such vector sets.
US09034600B2

The invention relates to antibody molecules having specificity for antigenic determinants of both IL-17A and IL-17F, therapeutic uses of the antibody molecules and methods for producing said antibody molecules.
US09034599B2

DNA encoding a monomeric variant of red fluorescent protein eqFP611 comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID No. 1, SEQ ID No. 3 and SEQ ID No. 5. DNA comprising a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID No. 2, SEQ ID No. 4 and SEQ ID No. 6.
US09034597B2

Methods and compositions are described for detecting hydroxymethylated nucleotides (hmNs) in a polynucleotide preparation with a view to mapping the location of hmNs in a genome, quantifying the occurrence of hmNs at selected loci and correlating the occurrence of hmNs with gene expression and phenotypic traits. Embodiments describe the use of modifying enzymes together with site-specific endonucleases to detect the hmNs.
US09034596B1

The method for fluorescent staining of cellular and intracellular membranes includes contacting a cell sample, such as a cell culture, with a fluorescent probe including Zn(II) meso-tetrakis(N-n-hexylpyridinium-4-yl)porphyrin tetrachloride (ZnTnHex-4-PyPCl4). The fluorescent probe is an amphiphilic, water-soluble compound. The fluorescent probe does not interfere with cell culture media components or other staining products. The fluorescent probe is not harmful to cells.
US09034592B2

The present invention relates to an immunoassay for detection of BNP, proBNP and fragments thereof. Essentially the assay comprises: a) contacting the antigen with a first antibody specific to a fragment corresponding to amino acids 11-22 of BNP, or to a part of this peptide comprising at least three amino acids of said sequence, to obtain a first order immune complex. b) contacting the first order immune complex obtained at step (a) with a second antibody recognizing said first order immune complex, to obtain a second order immune complex, wherein said antibody is unable to recognize free BNP, proBNP or free first antibody; c) Detecting the second order immune complex.
US09034583B2

The present invention provides a rapid, highly sensitive and specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), referred to as N-Assay, a device, and a kit, for detection and identification of microorganisms in a sample, in thirty minutes or less, with little or no interference from non-target microorganisms. The present invention also provides for simultaneous determination of antimicrobial susceptibility of microorganism in the N-Assay.
US09034582B2

A method for detecting the risk of Alzheimer's disease comprises detecting immunomagnetic reduction signals of two biological markers in a biological sample from a subject, wherein the two biological markers are tau protein and Aβ-42 protein; and calculating concentrations of the above two biological markers and using the product of the concentrations of the above two biological markers to diagnose the risk of Alzheimer's disease, wherein the concentration is calculated by the conversion of the magnetic reduction signals.
US09034579B2

The present invention includes methods, devices and systems for isolating a nucleic acid from a fluid comprising cells. In various aspects, the methods, devices and systems may allow for a rapid procedure that requires a minimal amount of material and/or results in high purity nucleic acid isolated from complex fluids such as blood or environmental samples.
US09034571B2

Three-dimensional (3D), prevascularized, engineered tissue constructs, 3D prevascularized engineered tissue models of cancer, and bioreactors and bioreactor arrays including the tissue constructs are disclosed. Methods of making the tissue constructs, methods of using the tissue constructs, methods of drug discovery using the tissue constructs and/or cancer models, and the like are also disclosed.
US09034569B2

An extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUVL) process is performed on a target, such as a semiconductor wafer, having a photosensitive layer. The method includes providing a one-dimensional patterned mask along a first direction. The patterned mask includes a substrate including a first region and a second region, a multilayer mirror above the first and second regions, an absorption layer above the multilayer mirror in the second region, and a defect in the first region. The method further includes exposing the patterned mask by an illuminator and setting the patterned mask and the target in relative motion along the first direction while exposing the patterned mask. As a result, an accumulated exposure dose received by the target is an optimized exposure dose.
US09034564B1

Disclosed are methods for making read sensors using developable bottom anti-reflective coating and amorphous carbon (a-C) layers as junction milling masks. The methods described herein provide an excellent chemical mechanical polishing or planarization (CMP) stop, and improve control in reader critical physical parameters, shield to shield spacing (SSS) and free layer track width (FLTW).
US09034555B2

A method for producing a liquid developer containing toner particles containing a resin containing a polyester and a pigment, and an insulating liquid, wherein the toner particles are dispersed in the insulating liquid, including: step 1: melt-kneading the resin and the pigment, and pulverizing a melt-kneaded mixture to provide toner particles; step 2: dispersing the toner particles obtained in the step 1 in the insulating liquid in the presence of a basic dispersant to provide a dispersion of toner particles; and step 3: wet-milling the dispersion of toner particles obtained in the step 2 to provide a liquid developer, wherein the basic dispersant is an amide compound obtained by a reaction between a polyethyleneimine and a polyester (D) obtained by self-condensation of 12-hydroxystearic acid. The liquid developer obtained by the method of the present invention can be suitably used in development of latent images formed in, for example, an electrophotographic method, an electrostatic recording method, an electrostatic printing method, or the like.
US09034553B2

A method of transferring a foil comprising: forming a foil transferring face on a photoreceptor employing a foil transferring face forming toner; transferring the foil transferring face onto a base substance, followed by fixing the foil transferring face; supplying a transfer foil having at least a foil and an adhesive layer on the base substance having the fixed foil transferring face, heating the transfer foil and the foil transferring face while the adhesive layer of the transfer foil is in contact with the foil transferring face to adhere the foil onto the foil transferring face; removing the transfer foil from the base substance while leaving the foil adhered onto the foil transferring face, wherein the foil transferring face forming toner comprises at least a binder resin, wherein the binder resin comprises a polymer formed by using a vinyl monomer comprising at least a carboxyl group.
US09034549B2

A toner is provided that exhibits a satisfactory heat-resistant storability and an excellent low-temperature fixability. The toner has toner particles each of which contains at least a binder resin and a wax, and is characterized in that this toner is obtained by attaching a metal compound to the surface of the toner particle and thereafter performing a surface treatment with a hot air current; the binder resin contains at least a polyester resin; and the metal compound is formed by coordinating or bonding a specific aromatic oxycarboxylic acid to a metal.
US09034547B2

Main performances of a toner are significantly affected by a shape and surface characteristics of toner particles. Using an external additive may be a factor that complicates control of surface characteristics of the toner particles, and anti-offset properties of toner change according to a wax and a binder composition at a surface portion of the toner particles. Provided is a toner usable in electrophotography, wherein the toner has improved durability, fixability, charging stability, and cleaning properties through an appropriate distribution of a binder, a wax, and an external additive on a surface portion of toner particles.
US09034545B2

A charge-transporting layer of an electrophotographic photosensitive member has a matrix-domain structure having a domain which comprises at least one resin selected from the group consisting of a resin A1 a resin A2 and a specific silicone oil, and a matrix which comprises resin C and a charge-transporting substance, wherein a content of the structural unit represented by the formula (A-1) and the structural unit represented by the formula (A-2) is from 10% by mass to 40% by mass based on the total mass of the resin A1 and the resin A2.
US09034534B2

A fuel cell or electrolysis cell stack has force distribution members with one planar and one convex shape applied to at least its top and bottom face and in one embodiment further to two of its side faces. A compressed mat and further a rigid fixing collar surrounds the stack and force distribution members, whereby the stack is submitted to a compression force on at least the top and bottom face and potentially also to two side faces. The assembly is substantially gas tight in an axial direction of the primarily oval or circular shape and can be fitted with gas tight end plates to form robust gas inlet and outlet manifolds.
US09034533B2

A fuel cell has a structure in which generation modules are stacked. In each of the generation modules, there are cells are stacked. Each of the cells generates unitary power from fuel energy. A fuel cell system including the fuel stack operates either all or some of the generation modules in consideration of the quantity of power consumed by a load.
US09034530B2

A system and method for increasing the temperature of a fuel cell stack quickly, especially at cold stack start-up. The method includes determining whether the fuel cell stack is below a first predetermined temperature threshold, and, if so, starting a cooling fluid flow through the stack and engaging a shorting circuit across the stack to short circuit the stack and cause the stack to operate inefficiently. The method then determines a desired heating rate of the fuel cell stack and calculates a cathode airflow to the fuel cell stack based on the desired heating rate. The method reduces the flow of cathode air to the stack if a minimum cell voltage is below a predetermined minimum cell voltage threshold and disengages the shorting circuit and applies vehicle loads to the stack when the stack temperature reaches a predetermined second temperature threshold.
US09034525B2

Amorphous lithium lanthanum zirconium oxide (LLZO) is formed as an ionically-conductive electrolyte medium. The LLZO comprises by percentage of total number of atoms from about 0.1% to about 50% lithium, from about 0.1% to about 25% lanthanum, from about 0.1% to about 25% zirconium, from about 30% to about 70% oxygen and from 0.0% to about 25% carbon. At least one layer of amorphous LLZO may be formed through a sol-gel process wherein quantities of lanthanum methoxyethoxide, lithium butoxide and zirconium butoxide are dissolved in an alcohol-based solvent to form a mixture which is dispensed into a substantially planar configuration, transitioned through a gel phase, dried and cured to a substantially dry phase.
US09034521B2

Provided is an anode material for an electrode mix comprising a carbon material and a lithium titanium oxide (LTO), wherein a ratio of an average particle size of LTO relative to that of the carbon material is in a range of 0.1 to 20%, and LTO is distributed mainly on a surface of the carbon material. The anode material of the present invention can prevent excessive formation of a SEI film, and is of a high capacity due to a high energy density and exhibits excellent output characteristics and rate characteristics. Further, it has superior electrolyte wettability which consequently results in improved battery performance and life characteristics.
US09034518B2

A secondary battery that includes a sheet-like member containing at least an electrode active material and an electrolyte; and first and second conductive layers containing at least a conductive aid and which are positioned on the opposed principal surfaces of the sheet-like member. The electrode active material contains an organic compound (for example, an organic compound having a stable radical) which participates in both oxidation and reduction reactions such that the positive electrode active material and negative electrode active material are formed from the same organic compound. In addition, the sheet-like member includes at least a polymer compound, and the organic compound contains at least one of a nitroxyl radical, a verdazyl radical, and a nitronyl nitroxyl radical.
US09034509B2

The present invention provides a polyolefin microporous membrane in which a degree of crystallinity is from 60 to 85%, and a tie molecular volume fraction is from 0.7 to 1.7%.
US09034501B2

An electric power storage unit includes plural storage element blocks, an external bus bar for electrically connecting the storage element blocks, a base made of metal for fixing the storage element blocks, and a cover fixed to the base for accommodating the storage element blocks. Each of the storage element blocks includes plural electric power storage elements connected electrically to each other, and a case made of heat-conductive insulating resin for holding the electric power storage elements. This electric power storage unit reduces variation of cooling of the electric power storage elements, hence having high reliability.
US09034500B2

Provided are a laminated electrode-type battery having high joint strength and mechanical strength around a connecting portion between a positive-electrode current collector and a positive-electrode core member and around a connecting portion between a negative-electrode current collector and a negative-electrode core member, a manufacturing method therefor, a vehicle, and a device. The leading end of a positive-electrode core member and a positive-electrode current collector are joined by a connecting material. The melting point of the connecting material for positive-electrode is lower than that of the positive-electrode core member. Meanwhile, the leading end of a negative-electrode core member and a negative-electrode current collector are joined by a connecting material. The melting point of the connecting material for negative-electrode is lower than that of the negative-electrode core member.
US09034499B2

According to one embodiment, a battery includes an electrode group, a tab, a conductive nipping member, a case, a lid and a lead. The conductive nipping member includes first and second nipping sections. The first and second nipping sections divide the tab into two bundles in which portions of the tab are laminated onto each other in a thickness direction of the electrode group. The lead includes a connecting section connected electrically to a terminal, and current collecting sections which are two sections branched from the connecting section and sandwiching the nipping member.
US09034494B2

Disclosed herein is a secondary battery protecting circuit connected in parallel with a nonaqueous secondary battery, the secondary battery protecting circuit including: a first voltage detecting circuit; a second voltage detecting circuit; a switch section; and a heat radiating section.
US09034488B2

The present invention relates generally to jewelry articles comprising a substrate and a metallic, external coating.
US09034486B2

A triazole derivative represented by General Formula (G0) is provided. In the General formula (G0), A represents a substituted or unsubstituted carbazolyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted dibenzothiophenyl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted dibenzofuranyl group, E represents substituted or unsubstituted triazolo [4,3 f]phenanthridine or substituted or unsubstituted triazolo [3,4-α]isoquinoline, and Ar represents a substituted or unsubstituted arylene group having 6 to 13 carbon atoms. E-Ar-A  (G0)
US09034480B2

There is provided a hot-dip Al—Zn coated steel sheet that has a steel sheet containing Si and Mn as a base steel sheet and has excellent coating appearance and corrosion resistance. The Al—Zn coating layer has an Al content in the range of 20% to 95% by mass. The Al—Zn coating layer has a Ca content in the range of 0.01% to 10% by mass. Alternatively, the Ca and Mg content is in the range of 0.01% to 10% by mass. A steel sheet surface layer within 100 μm from a surface of the base steel sheet directly under the Al—Zn coating layer contains 0.06 to 1.0 g/m2 per surface of an oxide of at least one selected from Fe, Si, Mn, Al, P, B, Nb, Ti, Cr, Mo, Cu, and Ni in total.
US09034475B2

Provided are a thermosetting adhesive composition excellent in storage stability, reliability, and low-temperature adhesion properties; and a curl-resistant heat-resistant film and a wiring film obtained using the composition. The thermosetting adhesive composition includes 100 parts by weight of a phenoxy resin having a bisphenol S skeleton in the structure thereof; 5 to 30 parts by weight of a maleimide compound containing a plurality of maleimide groups in the structure thereof; and 3 to 20 vol % of an inorganic needle-like filler. The heat resistant adhesive film is obtained by applying the thermosetting adhesive composition onto a polyimide film, followed by drying. The wiring film is obtained by placing a conductor wiring layer on the heat resistant adhesive film.
US09034470B2

A resin composition, a multi-layered film, a backsheet for photovoltaic modules, a method thereof, and a photovoltaic module are provided. The multi-layered film including a coating layer including a fluorine-based polymer has an excellent durability and weather resistance, and also exhibits high interfacial adhesive strength to a substrate since the multi-layered film is formed by coating a cured product of the resin composition including the fluorine-based polymer, an acrylic polymer including a thermosetting functional group, and a heat-curing agent on the substrate. In addition, drying can be performed at a low temperature during the manufacture of the multi-layered film so that the manufacturing costs can be decreased, productivity can be increased, and the deterioration of the product due to heat modification, heat shock, and the like, can be prevented. The multi-layered film can be effectively used as a backsheet for various photovoltaic modules.
US09034466B2

Slide member is provided with an Cu-based bearing alloy layer including hard particles, and DLC layer laminated over Cu-based bearing alloy layer. At least some of the hard particles included in Cu-based bearing alloy layer are exposed on DLC layer side surface.
US09034464B2

There is stably provided a hydrophilic cured product, such as a single-layer film, in which anionic hydrophilic groups are concentrated at a surface that is in contact with the air and which is excellent in transparency and adhesion to a substrate and tends to be rarely cracked. The hydrophilic cured product or single-layer film comprising a resin composition is produced by applying a mixture containing a polyvalent monomer (II) having two or more (meth) acryloyl groups and a compound (IV) having a specific group and a sulfonic acid group to a substrate or the like, drying the mixture if necessary, and then performing polymerization.
US09034460B2

An ink set includes a first ink composition, and a second ink composition, in which the first ink composition contains a first pigment, and an alkyl diol having carbon atoms of 6 or less and a normal boiling point of 240° C. or more, the second ink composition contains a second pigment, and the alkyl diol, in the first ink composition, a content of the first pigment is 2.5% by weight or more, and a content of the alkyl diol is 3% by weight to 15% by weight, in the second ink composition, a content of the second pigment is less than 2.5% by weight, and the content of the alkyl diol is 8% by weight to 30% by weight, and the content of the alkyl diol in the second ink composition is greater than the content of the alkyl diol in the first ink composition.
US09034457B2

A mixture used in photochromic devices comprises a photochromic dye and a thermoset adhesive. An optical device using the mixture may include a carrier substrate which may then be secured to another substrate or a lens. Assembly of the carrier substrate and mixture to another substrate and/or lens may be accomplished by thermoforming, lamination, insert molding or the like.
US09034451B2

A splicing adhesive tape having a first carrier and a first splittable connector element having a left and a right boundary edge, wherein at least one of said two edges is not straight and comprises protrusions that are round at the locations thereof protruding out the farthest, and a second splittable connector element having a left and a right boundary edge, wherein at least one of said two edges is straight, wherein the first and the second splittable connector element are disposed adjacent to each other on the carrier.
US09034444B2

Paper or cardboard packaging produced from recycled paper contaminated by mineral oil, where the packaging includes a barrier layer obtained by applying an aqueous polymeric dispersion containing a mixture of at least two polymers A and B. Polymer A is obtained by emulsion polymerization of C1-C4 alkyl(meth)acrylates, acid monomers, e.g., acrylic acid or methacrylic acid, 0-20 wt % of acrylonitrile and 0-10 wt % of further monomers, where the glass transition temperature of copolymer A is greater than +45° C. and the glass transition temperature of polymer B is less than +10° C. The mean value calculated from the glass transition temperatures of the individual polymers is +10 to +45° C. The barrier layer may be situated on one of the surfaces of the packaging or form one of multiple layers of a multilayered packaging coating or be situated as a coating on one side of an inner bag situated within the packaging.
US09034436B1

Disclosed is a method for inhibiting corrosion on corrosion-sensitive metal with a bacterial exopolysaccharide. Specifically, exopolysaccharides precipitated from NRRL bacterial strains B-1254, B-1355, B-1498, and B-1500 coated on low carbon steel alloy confers anti-corrosion coating to corrosion sensitive metals. Preferably with the coating, the corrosion rate for coated metal is less than 0.4 milli-inch per year.
US09034432B2

Swellable nonwovens with reduced washoff loss are produced.
US09034427B2

A method of forming an opaque layer includes forming a first layer by discharging droplets of an ink composition containing a metallic pigment on a record medium by an ink-jet recording process and forming a second layer by discharging droplets of an ink composition containing a white pigment on the record medium by an ink-jet recording process. The opaque layer is formed on the record medium on the side where the first layer and the second layer are formed in a region where the first layer and the second layer overlap each other.
US09034424B2

Disclosed are a hand-tearable adhesive tape which is made of a sheet woven with warps and wefts, in which the warps have a smaller titer than the wefts, and is coated with a flame retardant to provide flame retardancy and is with an adhesive agent, and a method for manufacturing the same. Advantageously, the hand-tearable adhesive tape can exhibit superior adhesive force, while providing flame retardancy and can be torn by hand.
US09034421B2

The present invention relates to electrochemical cells, electrodes, and related methods. In some embodiments, a removable filler material may be employed during fabrication of an electrochemical cell, or component thereof, to produce electrochemical devices having improved cell performance and rate capability. Electrochemical cells may exhibit enhanced utilization of electroactive species and/or increased accessibility of electroactive species within the electrochemical cell during operation. In some cases, the invention may provide electrodes which advantageously possess both high loading of an electroactive species (e.g., greater than 1.5 mg/cm2), while also maintaining the stability and good mechanical properties of the electrode.
US09034416B2

A method for fabricating an organic electroluminescent display device usable for large-area applications includes: preparing a first substrate; preparing a transfer plate having at least one transfer pattern; forming a first electrode on the first substrate; forming organic light emitting patterns on the at least one transfer pattern on the transfer plate within a region; and bonding the first substrate to the transfer plate, and after the bonding, transferring the organic light emitting patterns from the transfer plate onto the first substrate using a pressure difference between an area within the region and an area outside of the region.
US09034401B1

The present disclosure describes pharmaceutical compositions and methods for reducing duration, intensity, and/or bothersomeness of common colds in humans and for reducing severity or duration of common cold symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, watery eyes, dry/scratchy throat and sneezing in humans exhibiting such symptoms. The compositions herein comprise extracts of at least one of Luffa Operculata (L. operculata), S. officinale (V. sabadilla), and Galphimia Glauca (G. glauca) in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, and in various embodiments, comprise a mixture of all three Luffa Operculata (L. operculata) 10% extract MT, S. officinale (V. sabadilla) 3× extract, and Galphimia Glauca (G. glauca) 10% extract MT in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
US09034388B2

This invention discloses new krill oil compositions characterized by having high amounts of phospholipids, astaxanthin esters and/or omega-3 contents. The krill oils are obtained from krill meal using supercritical fluid extraction in a two stage process. Stage 1 removes the neutral lipid by extracting with neat supercritical CO2 or CO2 plus approximately 5% of a co-solvent. Stage 2 extracts the actual krill oils by using supercritical CO2 in combination with approximately 20% ethanol. The krill oil materials obtained are compared with commercially available krill oil and found to be more bioeffective in a number of areas such as anti-inflammation, anti-oxidant effects, improving insulin resistances and improving blood lipid profile.
US09034383B2

The present invention provides nanoparticulate policosanol, and octacosanol formulations including these particles, as a well as methods of using the particles and formulations for treatment and prophylaxis of various diseases and conditions.
US09034380B2

Materials and Methods are disclosed for producing nanoparticles linked to antibacterial ligands, including antibiotics and/or molecules which bind to bacterial markers, and for the use of the nanoparticles for the treatment of conditions treatable by the antibiotic ligands.
US09034379B2

An article containing N-acylchitosan is manufactured by a process comprising the steps of providing a mixture containing chitosan and/or N-acylchitosan, and extruding the mixture to form an N-acylchitosan hydrogel. Alternatively, the process comprising the steps of providing a chitosan and/or N-acylchitosan hydrogel, and extruding the hydrogel. An article with a memorized shape is formed by fixing the N-acylchitosan hydrogel in a desired shape, and at least partially drying the fixed hydrogel. A patient is treated by injecting the N-acylchitosan hydrogel.
US09034363B2

A method for delivering at least one drug at a target site in a blood vessel for treating at least one of an acute myocardial infarction, a thrombus containing lesion and a saphenous-vein graft lesion is disclosed. The method includes delivering nano-carriers at the target site. The nano-carriers include one or more drugs encapsulated with a first biological agent. The nano-carriers further include a second biological agent in contact with one or more of the first biological agent and the one or more drugs. The first biological agent and the second biological agent have a first dissolution rate and a second dissolution rate respectively. The first dissolution rate is different from the second dissolution rate. The one or more drugs are released at the target site from the nano-carriers at a first release rate and a second release rate in response to dissolution of the first biological agent and the second biological agent, respectively.
US09034354B2

Provided are antibacterial and antimicrobial surface coatings and dental materials by utilizing the antimicrobial properties of copper chalcogenide and/or copper halide (CuQ, where Q=chalcogens including oxygen, or halogens, or nothing). An antimicrobial barrier is created by incorporation of CuQ nanoparticles of an appropriate size and at a concentration necessary and sufficient to create a unique bioelectrical environment. The unique bioelectrical environment results in biocidal effectiveness through a multi-factorial mechanism comprising a combination of the intrinsic quantum flux of copper (Cu0, Cu1+, Cu2+) ions and the high surface-to-volume electron sink facilitated by the nanoparticle. The result is the constant quantum flux of copper which manifests and establishes the antimicrobial environment preventing or inhibiting the growth of bacteria. The presence of CuQ results in inhibiting or delaying bacterial destruction and endogenous enzymatic breakdown of the zone of resin inter-diffusion, the integrity of which is essential for dental restoration longevity.
US09034351B2

Provided herein are chemical matrices, compositions, methods and devices for the treatment of skin diseases and disorders in an individual. Described herein are non-homogenous chemical matrices and compositions comprising an alcohol selected from ethanol, isopropanol or n-propanol, at least one excipient, and, optionally, at least one pharmaceutical agent, wherein the alcohol is distributed within the chemical matrix as a microbubble. Additionally, methods are described for the use of said chemical matrices and compositions for the treatment of skin diseases and disorders.
US09034347B2

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to the oral administration of Bryostatins for the treatment of neuro-degenerative disease.
US09034345B2

The present invention generally provides methods and compositions for eliciting an immune response against Neisseria spp. bacteria in a subject, particularly against a Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B strain.
US09034328B2

The present invention relates to an antibody or an antibody fragment thereof which recognizes an extracellular domain of erbB3 and inhibit EGF-like ligand-dependent phosphorylation of erbB3, a DNA encoding the antibody or the antibody fragment thereof, a method of producing the antibody or the antibody fragment thereof, a therapeutic drug including the antibody or the antibody fragment thereof, and therapeutic application using the antibody or the antibody fragment thereof.
US09034310B2

A method for pharmacological treatment of cancers and other diseases is presented which includes the novel combination of a statin (Hmg-CoA reductase inhibitor, such as lovastatin, simvastatin, atorvastatin, cerivastatin, fluvastatin, pravastatin, or newer agents), with an interferon (such as interferon alfa-2b or others) and also including concurrent administration of selenium and calcium. The method disclosed in this invention is useful because it can prove more effective than previously known therapies for certain diseases and because its use may be more tolerable, less disfiguring, and less expensive than other methods. The method here disclosed can be readily reproduced by any person skilled in the art of treating disease.
US09034309B2

Pharmaceutical compositions containing biocidal co-polymers of poly(styrenes), poly(acrylates), poly(acrylamides), and poly(C1-C6)alkylene glycols are disclosed, along with methods of using the compositions to treat microbial infections in mammals.
US09034295B2

This invention relates to a method for the preparation of lithium carbonate from lithium chloride containing brines. The method can include a silica removal step, capturing lithium chloride, recovering lithium chloride, supplying lithium chloride to an electrochemical cell and producing lithium hydroxide, contacting the lithium hydroxide with carbon dioxide to produce lithium carbonate.
US09034291B2

A storage material for obtaining H-silanes which is present in the form of a hydrogenated polysilane (HPS), as a pure compound or as a mixture of compounds having on average at least six direct Si—Si bonds, the substituenis of which predominantly consist of hydrogen and in the composition of which the atomic ratio of sabstitueot to silicon is at least 1:1.
US09034285B1

A ferrous sulfide suspension that includes at least FeSm and Al(OH)3 and which can be used to reduce mercury emissions in flue gases. Through a combination of complex chemical reactions, precipitation, co-precipitation, and surface adsorption the ferrous sulfide suspension of the present invention effectively removes mercury from gaseous streams while concurrently preventing mercury re-emission.
US09034284B2

A system and method scrub a vapor. In embodiments, a vacuum truck scrubber system includes a liquid vat, a first carbon canister, a second carbon canister, and a third carbon canister. The first carbon canister and the second carbon canister each contain carbon. The liquid vat is connected to the first carbon canister. The first carbon canister is connected to the second carbon canister. A vapor having contaminants is fed to the liquid vat and is introduced from the liquid vat to the first carbon canister wherein a portion of the contaminants is removed from the vapor. The vapor is introduced from the first carbon canister to the second carbon canister wherein another portion of the contaminants is removed. The vacuum truck scrubber system also includes a monitoring system for reading and recording of sample measurements in the first carbon canister, the second carbon canister and the third carbon canister.
US09034283B2

The present invention is directed to a hybrid process using ion exchange resins in the selective recovery of nickel and cobalt of leaching effluents that is comprised of the steps of processing (1) the laterite ore (M), which is then treated through leaching (2) (either atmospheric or under pressure), considering solutions from the solid-liquid separation step of existing plants already in operation (2) as well, in a way that the downstream process comprises an ion exchange hybrid circuit, wherein the first ion exchange step (3) with resins (Re) exhibits specific selectivity conditions for the removal of iron, aluminum and copper and an increased pH, and the second ion exchange step (4) allows the removal of nickel and cobalt.
US09034275B2

A chemical sensor using metal nano-particles and a method for manufacturing a chemical sensor using metal nano-particles are provided. The chemical sensor includes: metal nano-particles; single-ligand organic molecules (or a single molecule) that binds to the metal nano-particles by using a metal bonding functional group; a substrate bonding functional group formed at the metal nano-particles and the single-ligand organic molecules as bound to each other; a substrate; electrodes formed on the substrate and having an interdigitate (IDT) structure; and a substrate functional group formed on the substrate and positioned between the electrodes, wherein the substrate bonding functional group and the substrate functional group are covalently bonded.
US09034271B2

Ultraviolet radiation is directed within an area. Items located within the area and/or one or more conditions of the area are monitored over a period of time. Based on the monitoring, ultraviolet radiation sources are controlled by adjusting a direction, an intensity, a pattern, and/or a spectral power of the ultraviolet radiation generated by the ultraviolet radiation source. Adjustments to the ultraviolet radiation source(s) can correspond to one of a plurality of selectable operating configurations including a storage life preservation operating configuration, a disinfection operating configuration, and an ethylene decomposition operating configuration.
US09034267B2

In an internal combustion engine, inside of an engine exhaust passage, a hydrocarbon feed valve (15) and an exhaust purification catalyst (13) are arranged. The exhaust purification catalyst (13) is comprised of a mixture of a first catalyst in which platinum (51) and a basic layer (52) are carried on alumina (50) and a second catalyst in which rhodium (56) is carried on zirconia (55). The concentration of hydrocarbons which flow into the exhaust purification catalyst (13) is made to vibrate by within a predetermined range of amplitude of a 200 ppm or more and within a predetermined range of period of 5 second or less, whereby the NOx which is contained in exhaust gas is reduced at the exhaust purification catalyst (13).
US09034257B2

The invention provides systems, compositions, kits and methods for automated processing of biological samples and analysis using a flow cytometer.
US09034252B2

In an embodiment, a fuel decontamination unit comprises a decontamination region containing fuel; and an ultraviolet light located in the decontamination region; wherein the ultraviolet light is configured to irradiate the fuel. In an embodiment, a method of decontaminating fuel comprises flowing a contaminated fuel into a decontamination unit; irradiating the fuel with ultraviolet radiation that is emitted from the ultraviolet light such that the contaminated fuel becomes a purified fuel; flowing the purified fuel out of the decontamination unit; wherein a microorganism level in the purified fuel is less than that of the contaminated fuel.
US09034249B2

A process and system for sterilization of a product pathway of a blow-fill-seal machine. The process comprises steps of: (1) isolating a holding tank from the product pathway; (2) supplying a sterilizing agent to the product pathway of the BFS machine when the holding tank is isolated; (3) stopping the supply of sterilizing agent to the product pathway when a threshold is reached; and (4) supplying filtered compressed air to the product pathway when the supply of sterilizing agent is stopped. The process is preferably executed automatically without human intervention once initiated. Also described is a system for carrying out the process including a processor, valves and temperature and/or pressure sensors which provide information to the processor to determine when to open and close the valves to supply sterilizing agent and/or compressed air to the product pathway or holding tank.
US09034243B2

The invention relates to a method of using a suspension smelting furnace and to a suspension smelting furnace and to a concentrate burner (4). The concentrate burner (4) comprises a first gas supply device (12) for feeding a first gas (5) into the reaction shaft (2) and a second gas supply device (18) for feeding a second gas (16) into the reaction shaft (2). The first gas supply device (12) comprises a first annular discharge opening (14), which is arranged concentrically with the mouth (8) of a feeder pipe (7), so that the first annular discharge opening (14) surrounds the feeder pipe (7). The second gas supply device (18) comprises a second annular discharge opening (17), which is arranged concentrically with the mouth (8) of the feeder pipe (7), so that the second annular discharge opening (17) surrounds the feeder pipe (7) opening (14).
US09034229B2

Disclosed herein is a method for preparing a near infrared shielding fiber. The method includes the steps of preparing and compounding a composition, then pelletizing the compounded composition to obtain the near-infrared shielding masterbatch, and melt spinning the near-infrared shielding masterbatch into the near-infrared shielding fiber. The composition includes at least one metallic ionic compound powder in an amount of about 1-25 wt %, a cross-linking agent in an amount of about 0.1-2 wt %, a thermoplastic polymer in an amount of about 67-98.7 wt %, a cross-linking initiator in an amount of about 0.1-1 wt %, and a dispersing agent in an amount of about 0.1-2 wt %.
US09034227B2

The present invention provides a method of making a flexible foaming member from recycled material. The present invention relates to a production method to recycling wastes containing rubber, plastic and metal materials and pulverize them into scraps under normal temperatures, then roughly separate the various materials contained in the waste scraps into different layers based on the difference of specific gravity, and further take out the scraps of rubber and plastic materials with lower specific gravity from the waste scraps, then conduct multiple heating and pulverizations under different temperatures to produce composite-material scraps, and then using some composite-material scraps to mix flexible materials and foaming agents, then pressing the mixture into a plate-like foaming material, and conduct vulcanization and foam forming for the plates of foam material to become a elastic foam.
US09034204B2

Novel core-shell nanoparticles comprising a phosphorescent core and metal shell as well as methods of synthesizing and using said core-shell nanoparticles are provided. In a preferred embodiment, the phosphorescent core comprises an upconverting phosphor and the shell comprises gold.
US09034202B2

A fire suppressant mixture comprising: an organic or supplemental organic fire suppressant compound having a boiling point; and an organic compound with a boiling point lower than the boiling point of the organic fire suppressant compound, wherein the organic fire suppressant compound and the organic compound are combined such that a boiling point of the mixture is lower than the boiling point of the organic fire suppressant. In some embodiments, the organic fire suppressant compound is FK 5-1-12 and the organic compound is carbon dioxide. In other embodiments, the mixture is supplemented with an additional organic compound CF3I and an inorganic pressurizing gas, such as nitrogen.
US09034200B2

The present invention relates to a method of producing a diamond surface including the steps of providing an original diamond surface, subjecting the original diamond surface to plasma etching to remove at least 2 nm of material from the original surface and produce a plasma etched surface, the roughness Rq of the plasma etched surface at the location of the etched surface where the greatest depth of material has been removed satisfying at least one of the following conditions: Rq of the plasma etched surface is less than 1.5 times the roughness of Rq of the original surface, or Rq of the plasma etched surface is less than 1 nm.
US09034198B2

A plasma etching method using a plasma etching apparatus including a lower electrode and an upper electrode is provided. The plasma etching method includes a first etching step of performing plasma etching using a first process gas and a second etching step of performing the plasma etching using a second process gas. The adhesion of a radical of the second process gas to an object of processing is less than the adhesion of a radical of the first process gas to the object of processing. While alternately repeating a first condition of turning on high-frequency electric power for plasma generation and a second condition of turning off the high-frequency electric power, the second etching step applies a negative direct-current voltage to the upper electrode so that the absolute value of the applied voltage is greater in a period of the second condition than in a period of the first condition.
US09034196B2

A microfluidic device with a filter includes a substrate; a flowpath including a well formed in the substrate in fluid communication with a channel formed in the substrate; and a filter disposed across the flowpath and associated with the channel.
US09034194B2

An apparatus for treating a flow of fluid with microwave radiation, the apparatus comprising: a vessel having a sidewall and opposed first and second end walls defining a substantially cylindrical chamber, the first end wall being disposed a predetermined distance d1 from the second end wall; a pipeline for flowing fluid through, the pipeline passing through the first end wall towards the second end wall of the vessel, the chamber and the pipeline being substantially co-axial and the pipeline being substantially transparent to microwave radiation; and a microwave radiation inlet in the side wall of the vessel for admitting microwave radiation of wavelength λ into the chamber, wherein the distance d1 is substantially equal to an integral multiple of λ/2 so that the chamber is a microwave resonator.
US09034192B2

Provided is a filter device for filtering liquid by passing it through one or more filtering media. The filter device comprises a cartridge defining a treatment region filled with said one or more filtering media and has a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet. A locking mechanism may be located within a liquid flow through the cartridge and configured to lock at least one of the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet upon expiration of life time of said at least one filtering medium.
US09034175B2

A method for reducing the mercury content of natural gas condensate, comprising the steps of providing a nanofiltration membrane having a feed side and a permeate side; contacting the natural gas condensate with the feed side of the membrane; and obtaining a mercury-depleted natural gas condensate at the permeate side of the membrane; and a natural gas processing plant comprising a condensate workup section including a nanofiltration membrane separation unit for reducing the mercury content of natural gas condensate.
US09034174B2

The present invention provides a method of preparing an iron oxide magnetic nanoparticle, comprising the steps of: i) reacting a water-soluble ferrous salt with a water-soluble ferric salt in a mole ratio of 1:2 in the presence of a base and a citrate to give an iron oxide particle surface-coated with the citrate (c-MNP); ii) reacting the c-MNP obtained in step (i) with a thiophilic compound to give a thiophilic compound-bounded iron oxide particle surface-coated with the citrate (thiophilic-c-MNP); and iii) modifying the thiophilic-c-MNP obtained in step (ii) using a surfactant for phase transfer of the thiophilic-c-MNP from aqueous phase to organic phase. The present invention also relates to the iron oxide magnetic nanoparticle prepared by the above-mentioned method and the use of the nanoparticle in desulfurization. The iron oxide magnetic nanoparticle of the present invention is capable of effective deep desulfurization.
US09034169B2

The method for detection of cyanide in water is a method for the detection of a highly toxic pollutant, cyanide, in water using ZnO2 nanoparticles synthesized locally by an elegant Pulsed Laser Ablation technique. ZnO2 nanoparticles having a median size of 4 nm are synthesized from pure zinc metal target under UV laser irradiation in a 1-10% H2O2 environment in deionized water. The synthesized ZnO2 nanoparticles are suspended in dimethyl formamide in the presence of Nafion, and then ultrasonicated to create a homogenous suspension, which is used to prepare a thin film of ZnO2 nanoparticles on a metal electrode. The electrode is used for cyanide detection.
US09034168B2

Devices, systems, and methods for detecting molecules of interest within a collected sample are described herein. In certain embodiments, self-contained sample analysis systems are disclosed, which include a reusable reader component, a disposable cartridge component, and a disposable sample collection component. In some embodiments, the reader component communicates with a remote computing device for the digital transmission of test protocols and test results. In various disclosed embodiments, the systems, components, and methods are configured to identify the presence, absence, and/or quantity of particular nucleic acids, proteins, or other analytes of interest, for example, in order to test for the presence of one or more pathogens or contaminants in a sample.
US09034164B2

The present invention is configured to be provided with: a bottom-equipped tubular cell main body that forms an internal space S1 that extends in a longer direction, and has one end part that is opened; a pair of applying electrodes that are arranged so as to face to each other in the internal space; and a fixing spacer that intervenes between the pair of applying electrodes to thereby define a distance between the applying electrodes, and fixes the pair of applying electrodes, wherein in a state where the fixing spacer is inserted into the cell main body, in a lower part of the internal space of the cell main body, a zeta potential measuring space in which the pair of applying electrodes are exposed is formed.
US09034161B2

The present invention provides methods, devices, and kits for separating and selecting top sperm from a sperm sample of a subject. In one aspect, for example, such a method can include removing a portion of negatively charged protein from sperm in the sperm sample, immobilizing the sperm, electrophoretically separating the sperm, and selecting mature sperm based on electromotility properties.
US09034158B2

A sensor cartridge for supplying a sensor is used. The sensor cartridge includes a casing within which the plurality of sensors can be arranged, and that allows a sample to be introduced to a sensor located at a preset location, and a connection structure. The connection structure electrically connects an external device and a sensor electrode of the sensor located at the preset location. The casing is formed so as to be held by the external device when the external device and the sensor electrode of the sensor are electrically connected via the connection structure.
US09034156B2

Provided is a sputtering apparatus which deposits a metal catalyst on an amorphous silicon layer at an extremely low concentration in order to crystallize amorphous silicon, and particularly minimizes non-uniformity of the metal catalyst caused by a pre-sputtering process without reducing process efficiency. This sputtering apparatus improves the uniformity of the metal catalyst deposited on the amorphous silicon layer at an extremely low concentration. The sputtering apparatus includes a process chamber having first and second regions, a metal target located inside the process chamber, a target transfer unit moving the metal target and having a first shield for controlling a traveling direction of a metal catalyst discharged from the metal target, and a substrate holder disposed in the second region to be capable of facing the metal target. A distance difference between a linear distance, which is a distance between a substrate loaded on the substrate holder and the metal target, and a length of the first shield is less than 3 cm.
US09034155B2

Provided is an inorganic-particle-dispersed sputtering target in which inorganic particles are dispersed in a Co base material, wherein the inorganic particles have an electric resistivity of 1×101 Ω·m or less and the volume ratio of the inorganic particles in the target is 50% or less. The sputtering target thus adjusted is advantageous in that, when sputtering is performed using a magnetron sputtering device comprising a DC power source, the inorganic particles are less charged, and arcing occurs less frequently. Accordingly, by using the sputtering target of the present invention, the occurrence of particles attributable to the arcing reduces, and a significant effect of improving the yield in forming a thin film is obtained.
US09034144B1

A web product having a machine direction and a cross-machine direction orthogonal thereto is disclosed. The web product has at least one ply having a first plurality of pillow regions having a first total area in the machine and cross-machine directions and a second plurality of pillow regions having a second total area in the machine and cross-machine directions where the first and second total areas have a different value. The web product has a Dry Bulk, DB, value greater than 15.5 cc/g and a Total Tensile Strength, TT, value greater than 2000 g/25.4 mm.
US09034140B2

An adhesive sheet having high adhesion and removability, low metal corrosion, small outgas generation, and particularly suitable for adherence to an electronic part, which sheet includes an adhesive layer provided for at least one surface of a substrate sheet, in which a pressure-sensitive adhesive forming the adhesive layer includes a resin composition mainly formed of an acrylic copolymer obtained by blending a carboxyl group-free acrylic copolymer obtained by copolymerizing the following components (A) to (C) with (D) an isocyanate-based cross-linking agent: (A) 76.999 to 94.999% by mass of an alkyl(meth)acrylate; (B) 5.0 to 23.0% by mass of an ethylenically unsaturated group-containing morpholine-based compound; and (C) 0.001 to 1.5% by mass of a functional group-containing unsaturated monomer; and a ratio M2/M1 of the mole number (M2) of isocyanate groups in the component (D) to the mole number (M1) of functional groups in the component (C) is 1.5 to 15.0.
US09034109B2

A method of operating a dishwasher having a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber for receiving utensils and a spraying system spraying liquid in the treating chamber, to determine at least one parameter of the cycle of operation based on the set of load condition by selectively spraying liquid in multiple portions of the treating chamber.
US09034105B2

An apparatus and method for holding a solid precursor in a sublimator such that the solid precursor can be vaporized for saturating a carrier gas. The apparatus may include alternating disks or shelves that form inner and outer passages, as well as spaces between the disks for fluidicly coupling the passages to create a winding, tortuous fluid flow path through the sublimator for optimizing solid vapor saturation. The method may include directing a carrier gas into a sublimation chamber, around the first shelf in the outer passage, over the first shelf in the space, around the second shelf in the inner passage, and back out of the sublimation chamber.
US09034099B2

The present invention relates to a novel cement which makes possible the preparation of concrete, grout or mortar which is resistant to internal sulfate reactions and to external sulfate attacks, and also the use of this cement for the preparation of concrete, grout or mortar.
US09034098B2

A hydraulic binder includes, in parts by mass: (a) from 20 to 60 parts of Portland clinker; (b) from 20 to 40 parts of slag; and (c) from 0 to 60 parts of inorganic material other than the clinker and the slag; the sum of (a), (b) and (c) being equal to 100 parts; which binder further includes a slag activator including, relative to 100 parts of the sum of (a) and (b): from 1.4 to 6.55 parts of alkali metal salt, expressed as equivalent-Na2O; and from 1.1 to 11.0 parts of calcium sulfate, expressed as SO3.
US09034087B2

An ink formulation for marking living tissue comprises a dispersion of carbon black pigment particles encapsulated in water soluble shells, mixed with a pharmaceutically accepted carrier, such as water, and a preservative. A dispersion formulation is preferential to a suspension formulation for marking living tissue because the carbon particles of the dispersion formulation are less likely to aggregate and sediment over time. In addition, the absence of large quantities of additives makes a dispersion formulation less reactive to living tissue, further enhancing its appeal as a biological marker.
US09034084B2

Embodiments herein relate generally to distribution of flow into vessels containing packed beds of media. An example application of such beds is to pressure swing or temperature swing adsorption systems. Systems herein may include a vessel and a distributor for distributing flow into a lower portion of the vessel. The system may include: a vessel comprising a top head and a bottom head; and a bottom head feed/effluent nozzle. A lower distributor having at least one flow permitting surface is disposed within the vessel and encompasses an inlet of the bottom head feed/effluent nozzle. A flow gap is formed between a bottom portion of the lower distributor and the bottom head feed/effluent nozzle.
US09034083B2

An array of hollow fibers including a plurality of hollow fibers of a predetermined diameter configured to receive a gas having oxygen therein and transfer the oxygen to a fluid and/or transfer carbon dioxide in the fluid to a gas. The array is configured in a predetermined pattern having a predetermined packing density that is a fraction of a total cross-sectional area of the array occupied by the hollow fibers.
US09034075B2

A process for manufacturing high aspect ratio silver nanowires is provided, wherein the recovered silver nanowires exhibit an average diameter of 25 to 80 nm and an average length of 10 to 100 μm; and, wherein the total glycol concentration is <0.001 wt % at all times during the process.
US09034072B2

An improved composition comprising substantial spherical UFP particles and an active agent, such as NBPT, and optionally other components is used as an additive for liquid and solid fertilizers, typically containing urea. Methods of making the compositions and their use are also disclosed.
US09034071B2

A composition includes a first chelating agent, a second chelating agent, and a plurality of metal ions. In one embodiment, the second chelating agent includes citric acid and is different than the first chelating agent. A method for forming a composition includes mixing a first chelating agent, a second chelating agent, and a metal salt together to form a mixture and processing the mixture to form at least one of a granulated composition and a powdered composition. In some embodiments, the second chelating agent includes citric acid and is different than the first chelating agent.
US09034068B2

A panel filter including a generally rectangular border frame having four sides; a filter media supported by the border frame and extending within the border frame; and a key formed into the border frame is provided. The key is used to properly determine if the filter is appropriate for mounting in a housing. It may also be used for properly orienting the filter within the housing. A system including the housing is also provided. Methods of providing biosecurity for animal confinements are also provided.
US09034065B2

A diesel particulate defuser (DPD) for collecting particulate matter (PM) in exhaust gas is connected to an exhaust pipe of a diesel engine, and when the amount of PM in the DPD becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined amount, the exhaust gas temperature of the diesel engine is increased by performing exhaust pipe injection and DPD is automatically regenerated. In such an exhaust gas purification system, an exhaust gas temperature during DPD regeneration in automatic regeneration is detected, a difference between the detected exhaust gas temperature and a target regeneration temperature is determined, and in a case where an exhaust pipe injection amount is PID controlled based on the difference, when a transition is made from the traveling automatic regeneration to the idle automatic regeneration conducted during a stop, an integral control term in the PID control is reset to zero to control the exhaust pipe injection amount.
US09034057B2

Catalyst activator, in particular, a catalyst activator for heat conditioning a catalyst. The activator includes a vessel for containing a catalyst charge having an internal diameter of at least 1.2 meters and/or an internal volume of at least 5 m3; a fluidisation grid plate disposed in the vessel, the fluidisation grid plate having an upper major surface and a lower major surface; an array of generally conical depressions in the upper major surface that overlap by less than 17%; and an array of holes perforating the fluidisation grid plate, the holes extending from at least some of the generally conical depressions through the lower surface.
US09034047B2

A prosthetic joint module to provide a variety of motions and functions similar to human joint systems during rigorous activities. The joint module includes a housing component attached to a proximal prosthetic device, an elastomeric polymer attached to the housing component and a yoke component attached to the elastomeric polymer and to a distal prosthetic device. The yoke component and distal prosthetic device are moved relative to the housing component and proximal prosthetic device causing the elastomeric polymer to distort. This distortion allows the joint module to flex, and absorb, capture, store and return the energy from the movement to of the yoke component.
US09034046B2

A vertebral body replacement device includes a body member and a central rod member having two threaded portions and configured to be operatively associated with the body member. The device also includes a first end member and a second end member with the end members configured to threadingly engage the threaded portions of the central rod member. The body member and the two end members are further constructed to inhibit rotational movement of the two end members when the device is positioned within a space within a spine as the two end members will engage the adjacent respective vertebral bodies following rotational actuation of the central rod member causing the end members to move in an axial direction relative to the body member, thereby allowing the two end members to apply a force to the two vertebral bodies. A surgical instrument and method for using the device are also disclosed.
US09034041B2

A device for insertion into a spinal (intervertebral or intravertebral) space is expandable from a first circumference to a second circumference through axial compression of segments of the device, particularly once the device has been properly situated within a vertebral space. The interbody/intravertebral body device is characterized by a plurality of axially stacked, individual segments that are provided on a central insertion and deployment rod. Each segment includes a central plate or body to which are pivotally attached plate or leaf structures. Pivoting of the structures provides a collapsed or unexpanded position of the first circumference and an open or expanded position of the second circumference.
US09034032B2

Devices and methods for implantation at a native mitral valve having a non-circular annulus and leaflets. One embodiment of the device includes a valve support having a first region configured to be attached to a prosthetic valve with a plurality of prosthetic leaflets and a second region. The device can further include an anchoring member having a longitudinal dimension and including a first portion configured to contact tissue at the non-circular annulus, a second portion configured to be attached to the valve support, and a lateral portion between the first portion and the second portion. The second portion of the anchoring member is attached to the second region of the valve support while in a low-profile configuration in which the anchoring member and the valve support are configured to pass through vasculature of a human. The lateral portion is transverse to the longitudinal dimension. The anchoring member and the valve support are configured to move from the low-profile configuration to an expanded configuration in which the first portion of the anchoring member at least partially adapts to the non-circular annulus of the native mitral valve and the first region of the valve support is spaced inwardly from the first portion of the anchoring member relative to the longitudinal dimension of the anchoring member such that a shape of the first region of the valve support is at least partially independent of a shape of the first portion of the anchoring member.
US09034030B2

An arrangement for temporarily retaining a side arm (36) of a stent graft (30) in a selected position during loading thereof onto a deployment device, the side arm extending from an ostium (38) in the tubular body (32) and substantially helically around and along the tubular body to an open end (40). A first tie down wire (48) is stitched through the tubular body and through the side arm and then through the biocompatible graft material of the tubular body at the open end of the side arm. The stent graft can then be loaded into a sheath of a deployment device for the stent graft. There can be a second tie down wire (50) stitched through the biocompatible graft material of the tubular body and through the side arm and then through the biocompatible graft material of the tubular body at the ostium end of the side arm. The first and/or second tie down wires can be withdrawn after the stent graft is loaded into the sheath or left in place until delivery.
US09034029B2

A stent may include a stent body having a stent axis. The stent body may include structural members defining openings through the stent body. The structural members are provided with regions having different widths. The relative sizes of the widths are selected to control the length of the stent body as the stent body is radially expanded from an undeployed orientation to a deployed orientation. In one embodiment, the regions having different widths are provided by tapering the widths of selected segments of the structural member.
US09034027B2

A stent graft (10) for deployment into the aorta of a patient has a tubular body (12) with a proximal portion (14) of a selected diameter and a portion (16) of a reduced diameter less than the selected diameter distal of the proximal portion and a tapered portion (18) extending between the proximal portion and the portion of reduced diameter. Low profile side arms (26, 28, 30, 32) are provided in the portion of reduced diameter and/or the tapered portion. The side arms are for connection of an arm extension to an aortic branch vessel. A paraplegia prevention vent tube (34) is provided in fluid communication with the main lumen and open to external of the tubular body in the region defined by the portion of reduced diameter and the tapered portion. The paraplegia prevention vent tube is not intended to be connected to a side branch of the aorta but is intended, and is so constructed and arranged, to provide temporary perfusion to external of the stent graft after deployment of the stent graft into the aorta and is intended, and is so constructed and arranged, to be subsequently blocked.
US09034024B2

A minimally invasive method for treating varices in especially sensitive areas, including pelvic varices in females, varicoceles, and also oesophageal varices is presented. The method comprises the steps of making a micro incision into the blood vessels of a patient, endoscopically inserting a catheter device into the blood vessel of a patient and advancing the distal end of the catheter to reach the varix or varices. For treatment of male varicocele, insertion is preferably made directly at the testicle. Alternatively, insertion can be made in the femoral vein and advanced using a catheter. Preferably, x-ray, angiography, or other imaging techniques are used to visualize and position the catheter. An optical fiber is then inserted into the catheter and the distal end is advanced to a predetermined point near the varix or varices. Optical fiber distal end is preferably a slim, radial 360 degree emitting fiber end. Laser energy of preferably 1470±30 nm is then transmitted to the varix to close the blood vessel. Other wavelengths with similar or greater absorption in blood/water than at 1470 nm are also effective. Imaging techniques such as angiographies may again be performed to confirm closure of the vein. The laser source linked to a radial emitting fiber allows for thermo occlusion of varicoceles using about 2-3 W of emitting power with little or no pain or discomfort for patient. The present invention is an out-patient procedure that requires no anesthesia and minimal recovery time, and does not require that any foreign objects be left in the body. This method has been shown to have a high success rate and minimum pain or side effects for the patient.
US09034020B2

An implant for use for adjacently arranged bone plates is described, having a first bearing part, a second bearing part and a coupling element for tension-proof coupling of the first bearing part to the second bearing part. The bearing parts are curved concavely and comprise a plurality of ribs, which extend radially outwards from a central portion of the respective bearing part. The upper bearing part comprises a main body and an insert connected thereto by means of at least one connecting element. The connecting element is supported against the coupling element with regard to movement into a release position. The upper bearing part additionally has a deflectable fixing element, which is supported against the upper bearing part in the event of movement of the upper bearing part away from the lower bearing part.
US09034019B2

A spinal interbody fusion implant has an impact rod fitting that is configured and adapted to be connected to an impact rod during implantation of the implant. The implant also comprises one or more openings that are encircled by portions of the implant and that extend into the top of the implant and continue through to and out of the bottom of the implant. The top and bottom of the implant each have a load bearing footprint. Each of the load bearing footprints has a centroid that is closer to the leading end of the implant than to the trailing end of the implant. A method of implanting a spinal interbody fusion implant between two vertebrae of a spine comprises inserting the implant into a patient through a posterior incision and guiding the implant into a position between the two vertebrae using a pair of shims.
US09034015B2

The present invention relates generally to a surgical device for the correction of deformities of the spinal column and finds particular, although not exclusive, utility in devices which are surgically implantable. Presently known implantable surgical devices are unable to provide for the progressive correction of spinal deformities assisted by active movements of the human body without fusion of the involved part of the spinal column. The present surgical device comprises a spinal column straightening means for permitting the relative rotation of two substantially adjacent vertebrae about a common axis substantially only in opposite rotational directions.
US09034014B2

A suture anchor device and method for attaching soft tissue to bone includes an anchor body and a suture locking wedge movably disposed within the anchor body. The suture locking wedge includes lateral portions which engage slots or windows in the anchor body. Tension applied to one limb of a suture causes the suture locking wedge to translate and rotate to a position which compresses the suture, thereby locking the suture in the anchor.
US09034012B2

A lattice stitch and stitching method for closing wounds are characterized by the use of a tension limiting device. First and second anchor stitches are arranged in a tissue layer spaced from and generally parallel to the wound, with the first and second anchor stitches being on opposite sides of the wound. A closing stitch is looped around the fist and second anchor stitches and tied to draw the wound to a closed condition. The tension limiting device is used during stitching of the anchor stitches. The device is arranged between the anchor stitches and the tissue layer adjacent to the wound to prevent over-tightening of the anchor stitches and lend support to the closure. The tension limiting device can be used in any soft tissue surgical application to displace and disperse suture tension at the surface of the underlying soft tissue, to fasten a dressing to the surface of a wound, and to bolster skin graft repairs of wounds.
US09034003B2

A method of performing a bariatric procedure through a natural body orifice is disclosed. The method comprises the step of providing a surgical instrument, comprising a handle portion, an elongated portion extending distally from the handle portion, and an end effector disposed adjacent a distal end of the elongated portion. The method also comprises the steps of inserting the surgical instrument through a natural body orifice of a patient such that the end effector is adjacent a portion of the patient's stomach, and using the surgical instrument to perform a surgical task.
US09033991B2

A low profile patient specific cutting block for a knee comprises a plurality of bone interfacing portions and a cutting slot. The plurality of bone interfacing portions are configured to overlie portions of an end of a bone. The bone interfacing portions each have a surface generally a negative of the portion of the bone the bone interfacing portion overlies. The bone interfacing portions are angularly offset from each other such that a first of the bone interfacing portions overlies an anterior portion of the bone and a second of the bone interfacing portions overlies a portion of bone generally perpendicular to the anterior portion of bone. The cutting slot is oriented in a fixed position relative to the bone interfacing portions such that the cutting slot directs a cutting tool at a fixed angle and at a fixed depth from the bone interfacing portions.
US09033990B2

A directed structure placement guide assists with positioning at least one directed structure in at least one of a predetermined insertion trajectory and a predetermined insertion location with respect to a patient tissue surface during preparation of the patient tissue surface to receive an implant. The implant has a tissue-contacting surface. A guide base has a distal base surface mimicking the structure of at least a portion of a tissue-contacting surface of the implant. The guide base also has a proximal base surface longitudinally spaced from the proximal base surface. At least one insertion guiding structure is movably supported by the guide base and is adjustable into a guiding configuration in which at least one of the predetermined insertion trajectory and the predetermined insertion location is selectively imparted to the directed structure.
US09033985B2

A brace for supporting an exterior surface of a damaged bone including a plurality of elongated members interconnected at each of intermediate overlapping and end-to-end locations. An additional pair of end disposed supports is pivotally interconnected to outermost of the elongated interconnected members. A pair of elongated ties seating through apertures formed in the end disposed supports. The brace is adapted to being placed in encircling fashion over the damaged bone, following which the ties are displaced relative to at least one of the end disposed supports in order to cause the elongated members to inter-extend in scissor-like fashion in order to tighten the brace against the bone and to apply a preferred degree of compressive and immobilizing force around the damaged exterior bone.
US09033984B2

A bone fixation nail having an elongated body configured and dimensioned for insertion into a bone. The elongated body has a first slot extending from the leading end to a first end and defining first and second wings, the first and second wings configured to splay radially outward upon application of an internal stress thereto.
US09033976B2

This relates to treating reversible chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and more particularly, to exchanging energy with airway tissue such as that found in human lungs. This exchange of energy reduces the ability of the airways to constrict, reduces the resistance within the airway to the flow of air through the airway, reduces mucus plugging of the airways, and/or increases the airway diameter. This energy exchange also may reduce the ability of the lung to produce at least one of the symptoms of reversible obstructive pulmonary disease.
US09033973B2

A system and method for transmitting electrosurgical energy from a generator to an electrosurgical instrument are provided. The electrosurgical system includes a generator adapted to generate electrosurgical energy for treating tissue. The generator includes one or more active output terminals which supply energy to the tissue. The active output terminals are operatively connected to one or more active leads. The generator also includes one or more return output terminals which returns energy from the tissue. The return output terminals are operatively connected to at least one return lead. The system also includes an electrosurgical instrument operatively connected to the one or more active leads and one or more return electrodes operatively connected to one or more return leads. The system further includes an electrosurgical cable including one or more active leads and one or more return leads. The one or more active leads and one or more return leads are wound in a double helix fashion such that the electrical field along the cable is mitigated along the length thereof.
US09033968B1

A method and system for increasing safety of cardiac ablation procedures comprises a computer based system that monitors the esophageal temperature. During atrial fibrillation ablations, based on a pre-determined increase in esophageal temperature, the computer based system activates different levels of alarm(s), and/or initiates ablation energy interrupt based on pre-defined programmed values. In one embodiment, an esophageal cooling means is incorporated for cooling the esophagus during the procedure. If the temperature starts to increase a cooling means can be initiated and/or an ablation interrupt means is activated based on pre-determined events.
US09033956B2

A medical device with an outer surface prepared to reduce crystalline growth or surface fowling thereon is provided. The device includes an elongate member that extends between a distal end and a proximal end, and a lumen defined through at least a central portion of the member. The member is defined from a wire that is coiled to define the lumen therethrough, the coils of the wire are configured such that a plurality of the neighboring coils define a small space therebetween. The coiled wire includes a central metallic core that extends along the entire length of the wire defining the member and a polymeric jacket is wrapped around the core, wherein the polymeric jacket is configured to retain an electric charge disposed therethrough.
US09033953B2

A suction pump unit comprises a vacuum port, an excess pressure port and a switching valve. The switching valve comprises a valve body with two inputs, wherein a first of the inputs is connected with the vacuum port, and a second of the inputs is connected with the excess pressure port. The switching valve further comprises an output with a through hole, wherein the output can be moved relative to the inputs from the first input to the second input and back, as a result of which the through hole alternately establishes a fluid-communicating connection with one of the inputs. The through hole of the output is released and ventilated during at least part of the movement between the two inputs. This suction pump unit permits passive and active ventilation of an output line connected with the output.
US09033949B2

A device (2) for bringing a first vessel member (6, 26) in fluid communication with a needle member (4), which device (2) includes an adaptor (20) having a housing (14) with a holding arrangement (16, 18) configured to secure the needle (4) to the housing (14), where the housing (14) has at least a first opening (38, 40) sealed by a seal (10, 12); a cutting device (32, 34) configured to perforate the seal (10, 12). The cutting device (32, 34) is configured to perforate the seal (10, 12) and thereby break the seal (10, 12) by bringing the seal (10, 12) into contact with the cutting device (32, 34) by moving the adaptor (20) towards the vessel member (6, 26) in a manner in which the needle member (4) is not brought into contact with the seal (10, 12).
US09033934B2

Provided is a medicament delivery device having an initial locked state, an intermediate priming state, and a medicament delivery state. The medicament delivery device is configured such that individual dose setting and activation of medicament delivery is prevented until the cap at the proximate end of the medicament delivery device is removed.
US09033926B2

An intravascular needle and catheter arrangement that ensures flashback is indicated after the catheter is safely inserted through the needle puncture in the vascular wall and emplaced into the vessel. This placement location, at which flashback first occurs is sufficient to begin threading the catheter without risk of over-insertion or under-insertion. The catheter overlies a needle having a distal tip that defines a point. The needle tip includes an enclosed distal-most end and a port located along at least one of the proximal portion of the point and an adjacent cylindrical sidewall of the needle. The distal end of the catheter exposes the port for entry of blood from a vessel thereinto only after the distal end of the catheter has entered sufficiently into the interior of the vessel. An opposing second side of the tip defines a curved surface that prevents puncturing of the back vessel wall.
US09033925B2

An improved pump, reservoir and reservoir piston are provided for controlled delivery of fluids. A motor is operably coupled to a drive member, such as a drive screw, which is adapted to advance a plunger slide in response to operation of the motor. The plunger slide is removably coupled to the piston. A method, system, and an article of manufacture for automatically detecting an occlusion in a medication infusion pump is provided. The electrical current to an infusion pump is measured. Based on measurements of one or more variables, the infusion pump detects whether there is an occlusion in the system. The methods of detecting occlusions may be dynamic.
US09033915B2

Fluid delivery devices and methods for delivering fluid to the body of the patient are disclosed which include a housing having an upper wall and a lower wall defining an opening, a well-arrangement mechanism configured to be disposed inside the housing and between the upper wall and the lower wall and including a tubular member having a bore, wherein the bore is configured to be disposed within the opening, a penetrating cartridge for delivery of therapeutic fluid to the body of the patient, wherein the penetrating cartridge is configured to engage the bore following its insertion through the upper opening and the lower opening, and a tilting tool configured to rotate the bore prior to insertion of the penetrating cartridge, wherein therapeutic fluid is configured to be delivered through the tubular member into the penetrating cartridge into the body of the patient when the penetrating cartridge engages the bore.
US09033908B2

The present invention relates to a device for the removal of toxic substances from dialysate fluid, blood or blood plasma, said device comprising i) a sorption-filter (E) for removing toxins, toxic solutes, toxic small and middle-sized molecules and protein bound toxins from the dialysate fluid, blood or bloodplasma, said sorption filter comprising a nanostructured material, a porous polymer matrix or a combination of the two, ii) an inlet (4) for entry of dialysate fluid, blood or blood plasma into said device, iii) an outlet (5) for the removal of purified dialysate fluid, blood or blood plasma from said device, and iv) a conduit connecting said inlet with said outlet and holding said sorption filter such that said dialysate fluid, blood or blood plasma is forced through said sorption filter.
US09033906B2

A therapeutic compression apparatus having a primary wrap, a foot wrap and a stirrup is provided. The primary wrap encircles a first portion of a leg and applies compression thereto. The foot wrap encircles at least a portion of the foot and applies compression thereto. The foot wrap may be integrated with the stirrup, detachably connected or provided separately. The compression apparatus may be configured such that one or more bladders are provided therein. The compression apparatus may include a pressure gauge and pump for controlling an amount of pressure applied to the treatment site. A bladder assembly with a number of fluid bladder configurations is also provided for use within a compression apparatus. The bladder may be configured to provide a gradient pressure profile to the treatment site when filled.
US09033893B2

Methods and systems for assessing cardiac fibrillogenicity in a patient includes generating a map of a duration of one or more measurements indicative of a number of electrical circuit cores and distribution of the electrical circuit cores across a cardiac tissue substrate in the patient's heart in response to electrical activity in the cardiac tissue substrate, the map being registered onto a representation of the patient's heart, applying a set of executable instructions to the map to define an optimal placement of at least one ablation lesion in the cardiac tissue substrate, and calculating total length of the at least one ablation lesion, wherein the total length measure is indicative of the patient's cardiac fibrillogenicity to inform treatment using catheter ablation.
US09033882B2

A system and method include generating at least one bubble in tissue using ultrasound. The at least one bubble generated is detected and correlated to gas saturation of the tissue.
US09033876B2

Various methods and apparatuses for measuring a state parameter of an individual using signals based on one or more sensors are disclosed. In one embodiment, a first set of signals is used in a first function to determine how a second set of signals is used in one or more second functions to predict the state parameter. In another embodiment, first and second functions are used where the state parameter or an indicator of the state parameter may be obtained from a relationship between the first function and the second function. The state parameter may, for example, include calories consumed or calories burned by the individual. Various methods for making such apparatuses are also disclosed.
US09033863B2

Highly miniaturized electro-mechanical medical implants for certain applications cannot be fit into the available anatomic space unless their diameter can be made small enough. With devices such as rotary blood pumps or linear actuators, using rotary or linear electric motors, a thin motor stator that provides sufficient power must be encased in a corrosion resistant hermetically sealed enclosure into which electric wires must pass. Hermetic feedthroughs of the prior art are not structurally suited to maximal miniaturization with optimal electrical properties because of the need for welding of ferrules or other support components. The sub-miniature medical implants having the robust feedthrough of the present invention integrate the feedthrough wires, insulators, and sealing within a radially extending flange that is part of the end wall of the motor enclosure. This permits the largest feedthrough wire and thickest insulator to be built into the limited available space.
US09033854B1

A forearm exercise apparatus includes a frame having a pair of rear vertical support legs and a pair of front vertical support legs with upper longitudinal bars coupling the respective rear and front vertical support legs. A seat platform is disposed over the upper longitudinal bars and a pair of pivoting forearm support platforms is disposed in front of the seat platform. The pivoting forearm support platforms have sleeves disposed on an underside thereof. An angle of the forearm support platforms relative to a horizontal plane of the apparatus is adjustable by rotating the respective sleeve around the respective upper longitudinal bar.
US09033851B2

A motor drive assembly can prevent a two-way roller clutch of the current speed ratio and a two-way roller clutch of the next speed ratio from engaging simultaneously, and includes a first-speed friction plate formed with engaging protrusions on the first-speed side, and a shift ring formed with engaging recesses. While the shift ring is in a first-speed shift position SP1f, the engaging protrusions are adapted to be engaged in the engaging recesses, thereby preventing rotation of the shift ring relative to the first-speed friction plate. The shift ring is provided with projections on its inner periphery. The drive assembly further includes an annular protrusion formed with cutouts. When the projections are axially and circumferentially displaced from the respective cutouts, the projections are adapted to interfere with the annular protrusion, thereby preventing axial movement of the shift ring between the first-speed shift position SP1f and a second-speed shift position SP2f.
US09033850B2

A method of operating a drive-train of a vehicle that comprises a combustion engine whose torque for driving the vehicle can be transmitted to a drive output via a transmission, with a hydraulically actuated clutch when the clutch is engaged. An electric machine provides torque which can act upon the drive-train. The clutch is closed by filling the clutch with hydraulic fluid through a circuit by way of a pump which can be driven by the engine and the electric machine. The method is to engage the clutch when the combustion engine is initially off and/or when the electric machine is initially switched off, determining a driving dynamic based on the behavior of the driver and adjusting the speed of the electric machine based on the determined driving dynamic such that the greater the determined driving dynamic is, the more rapidly the clutch is filled by the pump.
US09033846B2

A multi-gear planetary transmission for a vehicle having four planetary gearsets (RS1, RS2, RS3, RS4), a plurality of shafts (I, II III, IV, V, VI, VII VIII, IX) and six shifting elements (A, B, C, D, E, F) which can be actuated to obtain a plurality of gears. At least the fourth planetary gearset (RS4) is a plus planetary gearset, the first shaft (I) is the drive input (An) which is connected to the planetary carrier (PT1) of the first planetary gearset (RS1) and to the third shifting element (C). The second shaft (II) is the drive output (Ab) which is connected at least to the ring gear (HO4) of the fourth planetary gearset (RS4). For each gear, at least four of the shifting elements (A, B, C, D, E, F) are engaged.
US09033845B2

A vehicular automatic transmission includes three single pinion planetary gear sets and a plurality of engagement elements. A plurality of gears is selectively established by three of the plurality of engagement elements being engaged and three of the plurality of engagement elements being released. One of the plurality of engagement elements is a dedicated reverse engagement element that is engaged when a reverse gear is established and is released when a forward gear is established.
US09033838B2

A drive unit having a transmission, which has an input axis and an output axis, which are arranged parallel to one another and spaced apart. In a drive unit of this kind, provision is made for the transmission to be designed as a cartridge which forms a unit and is connected to a support element forming a component part of the drive unit. A drive unit embodied in this way allows quick and easy mounting of the transmission while allowing for the required transmission forces and transmission torques of the transmission. Moreover, the transmission can be embodied in a space-saving way.
US09033835B2

The invention relates to a multipart sprocket (1), in which an inner ring (2) for fixing the multipart sprocket (1) to a wheel hub comprises through-holes (5) which are located on a common hole circle, wherein the inner ring (2) on the periphery thereof comprises radially outwardly directed inner ring lugs (2A) for receiving a gear rim (8), and the gear rim (8) comprises radially inwardly directed gear rim lugs (11) which are spatially associated with the radially outwardly directed inner ring lugs (2A), and means (12, 13, 14) are present, which connect the inner ring (2) and the gear rim (8) axially and radially.
US09033823B2

A high performance golf ball includes a resin inner core, a rubber outer core, and a cover. The resin inner core is made of highly neutralized polymer, and may include a blend of different highly neutralized polymers. The cover is a two layer cover, with a hard inner cover and a thermoplastic polyurethane outer cover. The ball as a whole has properties to maximize performance and aesthetic properties, such as feel and sound.
US09033819B2

A golf club head is provided having a club body and a contact plate secured to the club body. The contact plate defines at least a portion of a striking surface having a plurality of striking surface grooves. The contact plate is formed using an electroforming process.
US09033817B2

Golf clubs and golf club heads, such as iron heads, may include an iron body and a ball striking plate engaged with the iron body. The ball striking plate may include a face layer and a backing layer. The face layer of the ball striking plate may be formed of a metal material, while the backing layer may be formed of a polymeric material. The backing layer isolates the face layer from the iron body. In some arrangements, the backing layer of the insert may be visible at the top, the bottom, the side and/or the front surfaces of the iron head. Methods for making such iron devices are also described.
US09033816B2

Disclosed a hybrid golf shaft in which one or more aramid fiber containing prepregs (H) are laminated in a length section of 5 cm or more of the whole length of the golf shaft, and three or more carbon fiber prepregs (C) are laminated in a length section of 50 cm or more of the whole length of the golf shaft. The golf shaft is configured in that aramid prepregs (H1) or hybrid prepregs (H2) with excellent impact absorbability are arranged in a length section of 5 to 50 cm from a thin end of the golf shaft or along the whole length (L) in an axial direction of the golf shaft, to thereby effectively reduce the number of vibrations in the golf shaft when the golf ball is hit.
US09033814B2

Golf club heads which may include an iron-type golf club head body and an adjustable member configured to be engaged with iron-type golf club head body. The adjustable member may include a first surface and a second surface. The first surface of the adjustable member may form at least a portion of the sole of the iron-type golf club head and at least a portion of the rear of iron-type golf club head when the adjustable member is engaged with the iron-type golf club head body in a first orientation. Additionally, the second surface of the adjustable member may form at least a portion of the sole of the iron-type golf club head and at least a portion of the rear of iron-type golf club head when the adjustable member is engaged with the iron-type golf club head body in a second orientation, which is different from the first orientation.
US09033812B2

Some embodiments include a golf club. The golf club includes a golf club head body having a face surface arranged for impacting a golf ball, a rear surface opposite the face surface, a sole surface, a crown surface including a first crown surface and a second crown surface, and a toe surface including a first toe surface and a second toe surface. The toe surface transitions to the crown surface at a toe end curved boundary surface comprising a first curved boundary surface where the first toe surface transitions to the first crown surface, a second curved boundary surface where the second toe surface transitions to the second crown surface, and a toe end radius of curvature. At least part of the toe end radius of curvature varies. Other embodiments of related golf clubs and methods are also disclosed.
US09033803B1

A method of changing a virtual world of a computer-implemented game based on real-world locations of players of the computer-implemented game is disclosed. A presence of a player of the computer-implemented game is detected at a physical location. A presence of an additional player of the computer-implemented game is detected at the physical location based on a communication received from the player of the computer-implemented game. An aspect of the virtual world of the computer-implemented game is changed based on the detecting of the presence of the player at the physical location and the detecting of the presence of the additional player of the computer-implemented game at the physical location.
US09033783B1

The present invention provides a system that allows users to directly participate in advertising resource allocation decisions for advertisers and to actively cause navigation swarms to specific websites. Swarms of users can be enabled by playing a form of hide and seek, where users (hiders) actively hide at a specific network location (the place where a swarm is desired) and other users (seekers) then actively search for the hiding users, thereby creating a swarm effect toward a particular site or set of sites.
US09033782B2

A sensing baseball game apparatus (10) has a game machine (12) connected to a television monitor (18). A bat input device (32) is provided with an acceleration sensor. An acceleration signal is transmitted by an infrared-ray LED (34) to an infrared-ray receiving part of the game machine (12) whereby the game machine (12) determines a moving speed of the bat input device (32) to calculate a moving parameter of a ball to be batted. Accordingly, a batted ball is moved in the game scene according to the parameter.
US09033780B2

A biomass feed system includes a device to propel an airborne flow of the biomass along a trajectory within a collection device. At least one air flow port is disposed and operable in cooperation with at least one fan for discharging a flow of air for creating a blanket of pressurized air within the interior cavity beneath the trajectory for supporting and extending a distance of travel of the biomass within the collection device. The collection device can include an air flow outlet adjacent to a terminal end of the trajectory, to and through which the pressurized air will flow, in a manner for lifting and carrying at least some of the airborne biomass farther into the interior cavity. And, vanes or other elements can be provided to used to achieve better sideward distribution.
US09033779B2

A cleaning system for a combine harvester that includes a cleaning shoe having a sieve, a cleaning fan, an air plenum and a pair of air diverters is provided. The cleaning fan is rotatably driven for generating a flow of air and positioned within the air plenum. The air plenum extends across the entire length of the cleaning fan and includes an inlet for the intake of air, an outlet downstream the inlet for directing the flow of air in a first direction, lateral walls forming a portion of the outlet, and a bottom wall extending between the lateral walls. The pair of air diverters extends inwardly from the lateral walls. Each air diverter is configured substantially as a pyramid having a rounded corner that extends inwardly from the lateral wall and upwardly from the bottom wall.
US09033768B2

The invention relates to a device (1) for machining a stepped shaft (2), having a workpiece rest (6); having a disk arrangement (3) which has a grinding disk (4) and a control disk (5); and having an axial stop arrangement (7), wherein the axial stop arrangement (7) has a contact adapter (8) which can be temporarily placed in contact with an end surface portion (9) of the shaft (2) and which has a punctiform contact surface (10) for contact against a stop part (11) of the stop arrangement (7).
US09033767B2

A run-off securing device, in particular a run-off securing device of a handheld power tool, is configured to avoid running off of a clamping element and/or a tool from a spindle. The device has at least one transmission unit, which is removably coupled to the spindle and has at least one first transmission element and at least one second transmission element. The at least one second transmission element is movable in relation to the at least one first transmission element. The transmission unit has at least one movement changing unit, which at least partially transforms a first relative movement between the at least one first transmission element and the at least one second transmission element into a second relative movement in a braking mode.
US09033761B2

An interlocking toy block set may include at least two blocks with at least one constraining groove formed in a surface of each of the at least two blocks. At least one connector may have at least two attachment members formed thereon. The attachment members may have a cross-sectional shape corresponding to a cross-sectional shape of the constraining grooves.
US09033754B2

A releasable water ski binding system includes a trigger mechanism that causes releasable bindings to release a boot from a ski. The trigger mechanism senses a displacement of a portion of a body of a skier past a point of criticality and causes the releasable bindings to release the boot from the ski.
US09033752B2

A swivel bracket is coupled via a horizontal bracket to a clamp bracket to be mounted on a vessel. A trim mechanism adjusts a trim angle of an outboard motor by rotating the swivel bracket about the horizontal shaft. The trim mechanism includes a trim cylinder coupled to the clamp bracket and a trim rod that is projectable and retractable from the trim cylinder. A thrust receiver is attached to the swivel bracket. The thrust receiver receives a load from the trim rod. The thrust receiver is grounded. The thrust receiver includes a conducting portion in contact with the trim rod.
US09033741B2

By a simple insertion operation, a connector forms electric conduction by contact, and is therefore applied to a fluorescent lamp tube, a power-saving lamp tube or a similar lamp tube. A light-emitting-diode lamp tube of the present invention includes a light module and two end caps. The connector connects the two end caps at two ends of the light module, and is composed of an insulator body, a conductive plate and a connection terminal. The insulator body includes an insertion slot, the connection terminal is disposed in the insertion slot to connect with the conductive plate, and includes two elastic terminal units. By inserting directly a conductive terminal of the end cap into the connector, and forming electric conduction by contact with each elastic terminal unit, electricity is transmitted, thereby constituting a structure that can be assembled easily, and parts thereof can be replaced and repaired by an ordinary person.
US09033738B2

A cable assembly comprises: an insulative housing and a terminal module assembled to a rear end of the insulative housing. The terminal module comprises a plurality of pairs of differential signal terminals and a plurality of grounding terminals arranged long a widthwise direction thereof. Each of terminal defining a mating portion, a body portion and a soldering portion. Mating portions of the signal and grounding terminals are located on a row, body portions and soldering portions of the signal and grounding terminals are located on two rows. There are at least one grounding terminal is intervened between two pairs of differential signal terminals to totally space apart the body portions and soldering portions of two adjacent pairs of differential signal terminals located on two rows.
US09033737B2

An electrical connector electrically connecting a chip module to a printed circuit board, includes an insulative housing comprising a top surface, a bottom surface opposite to the top surface and a plurality of passageways penetrated from the top surface to the bottom surface, a number of terminals received in the passageways and a number of shielding plates received in the passageways, the terminals includes a number of grounding terminals and a number of signal terminals, the shielding plates located beside the terminals respectively, the insulative housing includes a number of tubers with strip shape protruding from the top surface, upper surface of the tubers are plated with a metal layer and the shielding plate electrically contacts with the metal layer, as well, the grounding terminal electrically contacts with the metal layer.
US09033728B2

A telecommunications patch panel is provided having a plurality of connector modules rotatably mounted to a frame member. Each connector module has a front face and an opposite facing rear face, and each front face includes a plurality of connector jacks. Each rear face includes a plurality of wire termination blocks. The wire termination blocks are electrically connected to the connector jacks. Each connector module is rotatable about a rotation axis relative to the frame member. A lock selectively locks each connector module to the frame member as desired. The connector jacks and the connector modules are arranged in linear arrays perpendicular to the axis of rotation.
US09033726B2

Systems for establishing electrical interconnections for helmet-mounted devices are disclosed. A system for establishing an electrical interconnection for a helmet-mounted device is comprises a first interconnect mechanism coupled to one of a helmet and the helmet-mounted device, and a second interconnect mechanism coupled to the other one of the helmet and the helmet-mounted device. The first interconnect mechanism comprises a first frame, a biasing member, a plurality of first electrical contacts, and a first projection. The second interconnect mechanism comprises a second frame, a plurality of second electrical contacts, and a second projection. As the first interconnect mechanism is moved toward the second interconnect mechanism, the contact between the first projection and the second projection causes rotation of the first frame in a direction opposite the predetermined rotational direction.
US09033720B2

Lever-falling prevention walls configured to prevent a pair of arm plates of a lever from falling to an inner side are provided on a collar-like plate portion of a hood to protrude in a same direction as a pair of support wall portions protrudes.
US09033715B2

Provided are an inter-board connection terminal with which electrical connection between two boards can be simplified, the operability and productivity thereof can be enhanced, and reliability of electrical connection can also be ensured, as well as an inverter and an electric compressor employing the same. An inter-board connection terminal includes a group of numerous metal terminals which is inserted, individually at both tips thereof, into through-holes in boards to electrically connect two boards, wherein paired resin linking members are provided, which have a predetermined space therebetween with respect to the group of metal terminals and which join the group of metal terminals into a single unit by linking the terminals in the form of a row at both tips thereof near the bases of portions to be inserted into the through-holes in the boards.
US09033712B2

The invention relates to training and can be used for learning and/or developing movement skills, fixing dynamic stereotypes and for training movement coordination. The aim of the invention is to provide a trainee with on-line correcting tactile feedback during training and to improve techniques and rate of a movement by bringing it as close as possible to a reference movement. The inventive training method consists, when learning a movement, in digitizing said movement, in comparing it with the digitized pattern of a reference movement and, if the trainee deviates from the reference movement, in receiving by said trainee a tactile feedback (tactile action) for on-line correcting said movement. The inventive device comprises sensors for on-line movement digitizing, a computer for comparing the thus obtained digitized movement with the reference movement (specified by an expert or simulated on the computer) for controlling the tactile feedback elements and said tactile feedback elements for performing the correction action.
US09033707B2

Tool and method for creating a perforation or cavity in a bone or bone structure in contact with a membrane, the tool including a drill having a free end and a channel adapted for supplying a liquid under pressure to the free end, the tool further including a source of the liquid under pressure such that the liquid flows partially into and through the bone or bone structure toward the membrane while drilling the bone or bone structure with the drill, which allows to perform a progressive detachment of the membrane when the drill is close to the membrane while still being inside the bone or bone structure, and before completely piercing the bone or bone structure.
US09033705B2

A hydrogen vacuum furnace (100) is provided with a process chamber (1) wherein a subject (10) to be heated is stored; a heating chamber (2) wherein a heater lamp (25) is stored; and a crystal board (3) for separating the subject (10) and the heater lamp (25) one from the other. In the hydrogen vacuum furnace (100), the subject (10) is heated by a radiant ray applied from the heater lamp (25). The process chamber (1) and the heating chamber (2) are provided with gas feed ports (11, 21) and exhaust ports (12, 22), respectively, for feeding and exhausting a gas. When the subject (10) is being heated, atmospheric pressure in each chamber is adjusted so that the heating chamber (2) is under positive pressure to the process chamber (1) by feeding or exhausting the gas.
US09033694B2

A molding apparatus for making a continuous molded article generally includes a pair of spaced-apart molding assemblies, which cooperatively generate a movable mold having a dynamic mold-cavity therein, each of the molding assemblies including a series of movable mold segments, which are adapted to fit together to form a portion of the dynamic mold-cavity, a drive mechanism for conveying the mold segments along a path, and a dispenser for dispensing a moldable, expandable material into the dynamic mold-cavity.
US09033690B2

A scavenge gear pump and its method of operation is described. The scavenge gear pump includes a pump housing defining a pump chamber, an inlet passage, an outlet passage, and a fluid injection passage in fluid communication with the pump chamber. The inlet passage receives an admixed fluid at low pressure and the outlet passage the admixed fluid at high pressure from a downstream region of said pump chamber. The fluid injection passage receives a third fluid at an injection pressure for input into the pump chamber. A pair of driveable gears is disposed in the pump chamber. The third fluid is injected directly into the gear meshing area of the pump chamber through the fluid injection passage so that the third fluid fills voids at least between said intermeshing teeth of the driveable gears and so that the second fluid does not occupy the gear meshing area.
US09033684B2

A ventilating fan comprises a ventilating fan body, a ventilating fan mounting member, and a power supply case. A power supply wire disposed in the ventilating fan body to be connected to a blower is provided with an internal terminal at a leading end of the power supply wire. The power supply case projects from the power supply opening to be located outside the cylinder of the ventilating fan mounting member, and is fixed to the ventilating fan mounting member from the indoor side. An external terminal is mounted on an indoor side of the power supply case. An external electric wire for supplying electric power to the ventilating fan is connected with the external terminal in the power supply case, and the internal terminal is connected with the external terminal, so that the connection operation becomes simpler.
US09033679B2

A displacement control system (A) of a variable displacement compressor sets a target for pressure in an intake chamber or a crank chamber, on the basis of a detected evaporator-outlet air temperature and a target for evaporator-outlet air temperature. The pressure of a refrigerant in a high-pressure section is detected, and a regulating current is supplied to a solenoid (316) of a displacement control valve, on the basis of the pressure of the refrigerant in the high-pressure section and the target for pressure.
US09033669B2

A rotating airfoil component of a turbomachine, in which the component has an airfoil aligned in a spanwise direction of the component, a shank, and a platform therebetween oriented transverse to the spanwise direction. The platform has an outer radial surface adjacent the airfoil, and at least one recessed region defined in its outer radial surface. The recessed region extends opposite the spanwise direction from a platform plane that contains portions of the outer radial surface that are upstream and downstream from the recessed region. The recessed region is contiguous with an end wall of the platform and extends therefrom toward the airfoil. The recessed region defines a surface shape whose boundary is contained by the platform plane, and has a profile shape that extends from the end wall toward the airfoil. The recessed region is sized and shaped to increase the stiffness of the platform.
US09033668B2

A combined fan-compressor impeller comprises a single hub and a plurality of spaced main blades extending outwardly from the hub such that an air passage channel is defined between two of the main blades. Each of the main blades is a mixed flow blade which continuously extends from a fan section at an inlet end of a channel to a compressor section at an outlet end of the channel without any axial clearance between the fan section and the compressor section, providing aerodynamic matching of pressurized air flowing through the channel from the fan section to the compressor section.
US09033652B2

An airfoil for a gas turbine engine includes a first sidewall and a second sidewall coupled together at a leading edge and a trailing edge, such that a cavity is defined therebetween. A plurality of cooling circuits are defined within the cavity. Each cooling circuit channels cooling fluid through at least one cooling chamber to facilitate cooling the airfoil. More specifically, a cascade impingement circuit, a down pass circuit, a flag tip circuit, and a trailing edge circuit are provided. The cascade impingement circuit includes a central chamber and a plurality of impingement chambers.
US09033650B2

Disclosed herein is a variable blade type tidal and wind power generator with increased generation efficiency. The tidal and wind power generator includes an installation frame (10), a vertical rotating shaft (20), blade installation bars (30) and (30′), support rings (40) and (40′), vertical support rods (50); rotor blades (60) and (60′), vertical support frames (70), horizontal frames (80), an installation member (20′), a support wire (50′), a blade-spreading-degree control means (90), a generation efficiency enhancing means (100) and a generation means (200) which is coupled to the lower end of the vertical rotating shaft to generate power. The tidal and wind power generator can be operated even in conditions of gentle winds or low tides regardless of the direction of the wind or the tidal flow.
US09033634B2

A round rod guide (10) for mounting a stud bolt attached to a container side includes a plastic body, the stud bolt shaft (30) of the stud bolt being insertable onto and attachable to the plastic body. The plastic body has in its interior a channel (35) for receiving the stud bolt shaft (30) and on its free end, a receiving opening (19) for insertion of a round rod. The plastic body is formed as two parts with a first, cup-shaped base part (11) and with a second insertion part (16) insertable into the cup-shaped base part (11) in at least two different insertion positions that are rotated relative to one another at a predetermined angle. The receiving opening (19) for the round rod and the channel (35) for receiving the stud bolt shaft (30) and for attaching the round rod guide (10) are formed on the insertion part (16), whereby the receiving opening (10) formed in the insertion part (16), when the insertion part (16) is inserted in the base part (11) in the first insertion position, has a different spacing to the foot of the stud bolt shaft (30) than when in the second insertion position.
US09033628B1

The present disclosure relates to methods and devices for securing cylindrical goods in containers during transportation. Some embodiments include void fillers configured to restrain motion of objects in freight containers. Some embodiments include methods of fabricating void fillers for use in freight containers. Some embodiments include methods of using void fillers to restrain object motion in freight containers. In some cases, a void filler is fabricated from a honeycomb-style cardboard materials. In some cases, a void filler is used to restrain an upright cylindrical item such as an upright paper roll in a freight container.
US09033624B2

This invention relates to a screw tap which is rotatable about a rotational axis and has a number of thread-cutting teeth, which respectively have a radially outer tip cutter and are disposed mutually offset, with a predefined thread pitch, in an arrangement running spirally or helically around the rotational axis. In a lead region adjoining one end of the screw tap axially to the rotational axis, the maximum radial distance of the tip cutters of the thread-cutting teeth from the rotational axis increases with increasing axial distance of the tip cutters from one end of the screw tap according to a predefined radial distance function. At least some of the thread-cutting teeth in the lead region, at least in the region of the tip cutters, respectively have a defined cutter rounding between tool face and tool flank.
US09033621B2

A cutting insert (14) is formed with an insert aperture (32) opening out to insert top and bottom surfaces (14A, 14B) of the cutting insert (14). In a plan view of the insert top surface (14A), the cutting insert (14) and the insert aperture (32) both have oblong shapes which are elongated along a common insert longitudinal axis (AIL). The aperture (32) includes first and second side surfaces (32A1, 32A2) which each extend along the insert longitudinal axis (AIL), and aperture first and second end surfaces (32B1, 32B2) which each extend transverse relative to the insert longitudinal axis (AIL). At least one of the aperture first and second end surfaces (32B1, 32B2) is formed with a clamping lip (32C1, 32C2).
US09033620B2

A geomembrane liner for a containment system including liner panels and connected by a seam at overlapped edges, with the top panel having a conductive lower surface which is non-conductive across the seam. Heat welding of the seams is accomplished by a welder having a heating unit with a projection which interrupts the conductive lower surface of the top panel before forming the seam. Such seams may be used separately or selectively with a lined containment system having a plurality of liner panels covering at least a portion of the containment system bottom. The liner panels have a conductive lower surface and overlap with adjacent panels, and conductive members underlie adjacent panels and contact the conductive lower surface of both adjacent panels to provide an electrical connection between the conductive lower surfaces of the adjacent panels.
US09033614B2

A connector assembly, riser assembly and method of producing a connector assembly are disclosed. The connector assembly includes a body portion for locating over a flexible pipe and arranged to be connectable to or formed integrally with one or more buoyancy compensating element, and one or more protrusion extending from the body portion and arranged to reduce or interrupt vortex induced vibrations in water surrounding the flexible pipe in use.
US09033612B2

The present invention relates to an ADA compliant detectable warning or guidance tile for pedestrian platforms, walkways, and sidewalks and the like having a detectable warning surface containing raised truncated domes detectable by the visually impaired in accordance with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities and being provided with one or more additional means on the top surface of the tile to provide visual or tactile information to sighted and visually impaired pedestrians.
US09033608B2

A ring mechanism has an elongate housing and rings for holding loose-leaf pages. Each ring has ring members mounted on pivoting hinge plates for movement between open and closed positions. An actuator has opening and closing arms extending from an actuator body for opening and closing the rings. The mechanism has a travel bar moveable between a locked position in which a locking element blocks pivoting movement of the hinge plates and an unlocked position. The actuator has a flexible arm positioned to push the travel bar toward the locked position when the actuator closes the rings. At least a portion of the flexible arm is adapted to deform during closing in a manner that includes rotation in a first direction relative to the body of the actuator. Movement of the actuator to close the rings includes rotation of the actuator in the first direction relative to the housing.
US09033606B2

A container adapted to contain and dispense a product and method for its use. The container comprises a hollow body, a filling opening, a dispensing opening, a valve and a resiliently deformable means for said valve. The valve may form a leak-tight engagement with the dispensing opening, and is openable by an external force acting on said valve whereby the leak-tight engagement is disengaged, allowing the product to be spread onto a fabric by the valve. The container may be used in a method for pretreating and subsequently laundering pretreated fabrics in an automatic washing machine.
US09033595B2

An apparatus for mounting a mobile device on a tripod includes a frame with a rigid peripheral member defining an opening therethrough. The peripheral member includes a mount configured to releasably couple the frame to the tripod. An insert is sized and shaped to be placed into the opening of the frame and releasably engage at least a portion of the peripheral member in an assembled configuration. The insert has a membrane in the form of a cavity configured to releasably receive and support the mobile device. The membrane extends over at least a portion of the opening of the frame in the assembled configuration and includes at least one camera hole extending therethrough that is aligned with a camera lens of the mobile device when the mobile device is mounted in the cavity.
US09033590B2

A connector includes: an electric transmission section; an optical transmission section; and a partition section provided between the electric transmission section and the optical transmission section.
US09033586B2

A two piece rolling element cage for a bearing assembly comprising a first and second cage, with axial projections extending from a cage body, oriented toward each other and inserted between rolling elements, on opposite axial ends of the rolling elements.
US09033583B1

The present subject matter is directed to a bearing assembly for a wind turbine. The bearing assembly includes an outer race, an inner race rotatable relative to the outer race, a plurality of rolling elements positioned between the inner and outer races, and a cage assembly configured to maintain separation between neighboring rolling elements. The cage assembly includes a plurality of cage elements and a plurality of spacers. Each of the cage elements are separated by at least one of the spacers. Further, each of the cage elements extends around at least a portion of the plurality of rolling elements. Moreover, at least one of the spacers contact one or more of the rolling elements.
US09033581B2

Dynamically-lubricated bearings and methods of dynamically lubricating bearings, including bearings used in gas turbine engines. Such a bearing includes an inner race having an inner race groove between a pair of inner race cage lands, an outer race having an outer race groove between a pair of outer race cage lands and opposes the inner race groove, rolling elements disposed between the inner and outer races and in rolling contact with the inner and outer race grooves, and a cage disposed between the inner and outer races to maintain separation between the rolling elements. A lubricant is introduced into a cavity between the inner and outer races, and rotation of the inner race relative to the outer race causes the lubricant to exit the cavity through recessed surface features in at least one of the inner and outer race cage lands.
US09033578B2

The present invention is a washable and reusable storage bag comprising a plastic coated canvas made from cotton and polyethylene. The storage bag comprises a front panel having a zipper and a back panel, a bottom edge and a top edge, and two side edges. The bag further comprises a rectangular transparent polyurethane window in the front panel, preferably in the shape of a rectangle. Two opposing sides of the transparent polyurethane window are heat sealed to the plastic coated canvas to create a liquid tight seal between the transparent polyurethane window and the plastic coated canvas. The outside of the storage bag can be customized with, e.g., designs, branding, and/or advertising. The storage bags can be hand washed, put in the dishwasher or put in the washing machine and clothes dryer.
US09033568B2

The present invention discloses a fluorescent lamp assembly for a liquid crystal display. The assembly comprises a bracket having a fluorescent lamp fixing channel and a wire fixing channel; a fluorescent lamp positioned inside the fluorescent lamp fixing channel; a conductive elastic member positioned inside the bracket with one end thereof connected to the fluorescent lamp through the fluorescent lamp fixing channel; and wire positioned in the wire fixing channel. One end of the wire is connected to the other end of the conductive elastic member.
US09033567B2

A backlight assembly includes: a light guide; a light source at one side of the light guide and separated from the light guide; a circuit board on which the light source is mounted; and a buffer member between the light guide and the circuit board. An opening is defined in the buffer member and exposes the light source.
US09033561B2

A vehicle lighting unit can include LEDs and at least two long light guide bodies arranged adjacent to each other. At least two light transmitting lenses can be disposed in front of the at least two light guide bodies. The at least two light guide bodies each can include a gap portion interposed therebetween. A first end portion of the light transmitting lens can be positioned at the gap portion so that the first end portions of the light transmitting lenses overlap with each other in a front-rear direction. The first end portions of the at least two light transmitting lenses can have a surface processed portion on its front surface. The surface processed portions can be configured to direct light exiting through the respective first end portions of the at least two light guide bodies forward.
US09033557B2

Embodiments are directed to underwater lights for attachment to a niche, the niche including a threaded hole. The underwater lights include a light body that defines a flange. The flange includes an elongated slot. The elongated slot is configured and dimensioned to receive a fastening element therethrough for securing the light body to the niche. The underwater lights can include a spacer through which the fastening element is inserted. Tabs of the spacer can be inserted into the elongated slot of the flange. The elongated slot is configured and dimensioned to receive the fastening element therethrough. The threaded hole is configured and dimensioned to receive the fastening element. A position of the light body relative to the niche is adjustable by translating the fastening element within the elongated slot. Embodiments are also directed to underwater light systems and associated methods.
US09033554B1

The present disclosure relates to a light source module. The light source module includes a light source and a lens facing the light source. The lens includes a bottom surface, a light input surface, a light output surface and a transparent ball. The light input surface is a curved surface depressing from a center of the bottom surface. The light source faces the light input surface. The light output surface is opposite to the bottom surface. The light output surface includes a concave surface located at a center thereof and a convex surface located at peripheral thereof and surrounding the concave surface. The transparent ball is received in a cavity defined by the light input surface. The transparent ball defines a plurality of hollow holes therein.
US09033553B2

An electronic flameless candle including a body having a top surface, a bottom surface, a sidewall between the top surface and the bottom surface, and a cavity defined by the top surface, the bottom surface and the sidewall, the body configured in shape and size to simulate a true flame candle. The candle may also include a light source operably connected to the body, the light source electrically operated to illuminate in a way that simulates a natural flicker of a real candle flame. The candle may also include a scent component, operably connected to the body, the scent component configured to emit a scent when heated and/or a sensor component, operably connected to the body, the sensor component configured to sense an environmental condition and affect a mode of the light source upon the sensing of the environmental condition.
US09033549B2

A surface mount light (10) comprises a base assembly (12) and a first diffuser (14). The base assembly (12) includes (i) a housing body (25) having a base (16) and a side (18) that is coupled to the base (16), the base (16) being mountable on a surface (15); (ii) a light assembly (22) positioned substantially within the housing body (25), the light assembly (22) including one or more LED lights (34), wherein power is selectively provided to the light assembly (22) such that at least one of the one or more LED lights (34) directs light away from the base (16); and (iii) a first attachment member (40). The first diffuser (14) includes a second attachment member (42) that selectively engages the first attachment member (40) to selectively attach the first diffuser (14) to the base assembly (12) without damaging the base assembly (12) and the first diffuser (14).
US09033544B2

An LED lamp includes an LED assembly including a plurality of LEDs. The LED lamp includes a circular base plate in thermal communication with the LED assembly. The LED lamp includes an electrical module electrically coupled to the LED assembly and configured to supply power to the LED assembly. The LED lamp includes a lamp body coupled to and in thermal communication with the base plate at a first end and concealing at least a portion of the electrical module at a second end. The lamp body includes a substantially smooth surface extending from the base plate to the electrical module. The Led lamp includes an optic configured to disperse light generated by the LED assembly.
US09033541B2

A lighting system includes a longitudinal flexible metal strip which may be helically rolled, first and second clamps securing opposite ends of the metal strip to first and second selected locations, and a longitudinally extending strip with lights such as LEDs secured to one side of the longitudinal metal strip. The first and second clamps each include a clamp arm secured to a base by a ball and socket connection.
US09033540B1

A flashlight mount for use on helmets and on equipment is provided. The mount includes a light holder, a clamp and fastening device. The light holder is rotatably coupled to the clamp, wherein the clamp operates to retain the light holder in a user selected orientation, thereby preventing rotation of the light holder. The clamp further includes a top clamp portion and bottom clamp portion, wherein in some embodiments, they are hingedly coupled together on a first end and the securing device repeatably and releasably clamping the top and bottom clamp portions together on second ends of the clamp portions by use of a securing device, or the clamp portion are fixed for receiving a protrusion from equipment or a helmet with a securing device for securing the clamp to the protrusion or helmet.
US09033535B2

A control system for automatically switching power between two separate light sources integrated with a welding shield pivotally mounted to an adjustable headband includes at least one magnetic positional switch attached to the headband having electrical communication with at least one battery and the light sources, and two magnetic positional sensors strategically mounted on the interior surface of the welding shield along a defined arcurate path of rotation of the shield about the headband.
US09033528B2

A device (1) for concentrating solar radiation in an absorber (2), an anchoring frame (8) and an inflatable concentrator pad (3), which has a light-transmissive entry window (4) for coupling in the solar radiation and a reflector film (5) subdividing the concentrator pad (3) into at least two cavities (6, 7), wherein the reflector film (5) is designed to concentrate the solar radiation in the absorber (2) which is arranged in the cavity (6) of the concentrator pad (3), and with an anchoring frame (8), arranged outside of the concentrator pad (3), for anchoring the concentrator pad (3), wherein the absorber (2) is attached to the anchoring frame (8) by means of an absorber mount (15) and the concentrator pad (3) has at least one attachment opening (26) for the absorber mount (15) to pass through.
US09033523B2

The present invention provides a novel image output apparatus that includes an operation processing unit that processes an operation request from a user, a projecting unit that projects a display image from a video providing apparatus and UIs from the image projector, a determining unit that determines whether or not it is necessary to switch a source of a video signal by using a current input type and a source of a video signal with reference to a data table that associates an input type that indicates a type of a port from which an image to be projected is acquired with a source of a video signal that forms an image to be projected, and a controller that switches a source of a video signal and executes a process indicated by an operation request from a user if it is necessary to switch the source of a video signal.
US09033518B2

An illumination system includes a first light source, a first rotation wheel, a first phosphor element, and a light combining element. The first light source is capable of emitting a first color beam. The first rotation wheel is disposed on a transmission path of the first color beam and includes a first transmissive region and a first reflective region. The first transmissive region is capable of allowing the first color beam to pass through so as to form a first color transmissive beam. The first reflective region is capable of reflecting the first color beam to form a first color reflective beam. One of the first color transmissive and reflective beams excites the first phosphor element to form a second color beam. The light combining element combines the second color beam and a beam originating from the other one of the first color transmissive and reflective beams.
US09033514B2

An image projection apparatus includes a light source; an intake port to take in low-temperature air into the image projection apparatus; an exhaust port to exhaust air from the image projection apparatus; a ventilation unit to generate an air flow from the intake port to the exhaust port; a first flow path for hot-air exhaust having increased its temperature by taking heat from the light source; a second flow path for a part of the low-temperature air, taken from the intake port; and a mixing unit to mix the hot-air exhaust flowing from the first flow path and the low-temperature air flowing from the second flow path. The air mixed and exhausted from the mixing unit converges with another part of the low-temperature air, flowing from a third flow path set outside the mixing unit, at a space between the mixing unit and the exhaust port.
US09033501B2

An ophthalmologic imaging apparatus includes an observation light source configured to generate infrared light for illuminating a subject's eye via an illumination optical system, an imaging unit configured to receive light returned from the subject's eye via an imaging optical system, and an electronic shutter control unit configured to refresh charge generated caused by light received by the imaging unit in response to turning off of the observation light source.
US09033491B2

An article of eyewear includes an elongated bi-stable spring, two lenses disposed along a side edge of the elongated bi-stable spring in a spaced apart relationship with each other along the side edge, a flexible covering encasing the elongated bi-stable spring and the two lenses, and an arcuate shape defined between the two lenses.
US09033480B2

A liquid replenishment system for a printing apparatus that includes a dispensing nozzle and a supply reservoir is improved by a replenishment system having a volume control network responsive to a signal representative of the volume of liquid within the reservoir for generating a volume control signal. The volume control signal is applied to a pump operable to inject replenishment liquid from a replenishment source into the reservoir. The replenishment liquid is injected at a pressure at least substantially equal to the pressure in the reservoir and at a flow rate selectable in accordance with the volume control signal such that the volume of liquid in the reservoir is maintained at a predetermined reference level. A temperature control network for adjusting the temperature of the replenishment liquid to a temperature that lies within a predetermined range of the temperature of the liquid in the reservoir may also be provided.
US09033473B2

A piezoelectric device according to the present invention is a laminated body including stacked first and second sheets. The laminated body is divided by a plurality of grooves.In the laminated body, first driving units each have a fifth region where the first electrode of the first sheet and the second electrode of the second sheet are opposed to each other while second driving units each have a sixth region where the first electrode of the first sheet and the second electrode of the second sheet are opposed to each other. The grooves are interposed between the driving units.The fifth regions of the first driving units are located along a straight line separate from a straight line along which the sixth regions of the second driving units are located.
US09033470B2

In one embodiment, a fluid ejection device includes a substrate with a fluid slot and a membrane adhered to the substrate that spans the fluid slot. A resistor is disposed on top of the membrane over the fluid slot, and a fluid feed hole next to the resistor extends through the membrane to the slot. A shelf extends from the edge of the resistor to the edge of the feed hole, and a passivation layer covers the resistor and part the shelf. An etch-resistant layer is formed partly on the shelf and in between the fluid feed hole and the resistor.
US09033465B2

A flow path unit having a liquid flow path through which liquid flows includes a first flow path substrate that forms a flow path wall of the liquid flow path, a second flow path substrate that forms a flow path wall of the liquid flow path, and a coating film that is provided on an area from a coating portion for coating the flow path wall of the first flow path substrate to a fixing portion for fixing the first flow path substrate and the second flow path substrate. Provided are the flow path unit in which the liquid flow path is coated with the coating film without inhibiting fixing of the substrates, a liquid ejecting head, a liquid ejecting apparatus, and a flow path unit manufacturing method.
US09033462B2

The case 22 of a waste ink tank 13 has ribs 51, 52 that partition the space between a waste ink inlet 36 and an air vent 33. Air passages 65, 66 that connect the waste ink storage spaces S1, S2, S3 partitioned by the ribs are formed at the top ends of the ribs 51, 52. Waste ink permeates all of a sponge 21 through the space between the ribs 51, 52 and the bottom wall 24. Because a path for air to flow to the air vent 33 is constantly maintained inside the case 22 by the air passages 65, 66, air is discharged from the air vent 33 as waste ink is introduced to the case 22. The strength of the case can therefore be increased without interfering with introducing waste ink to the case and absorption of introduced waste ink by the sponge.
US09033457B2

A print head and an ink jet printing apparatus are provided which can have smaller sizes if a print head is used which includes a substrate with a plurality of ejection port arrays and a substrate with ejection port arrays longer than the plurality of ejection port arrays. A drive circuit formed in a substrate is formed outside ejection port arrays in the substrate along the extending direction of the ejection port arrays. The drive circuit formed on an overlapping side of the substrate where the ejection port arrays overlap is formed to be longer, along the extending direction of the ejection port arrays, than a drive circuit formed on a side of the substrate which is opposite to the overlapping side. Furthermore, the ejection port arrays of the substrates overlap in the extending direction of ink supply ports, and the substrates are mounted on a support.
US09033454B2

A liquid discharge device includes a head, an optical sensor and an air blowing unit. The head is configured and arranged to record on a medium. The optical sensor is configured and arranged to detect presence or absence of foreign matter. The air blowing unit is configured and arranged to blow air toward the optical sensor for removing the foreign matter.
US09033451B2

Provided is a printed matter for measuring printing precision of a printing apparatus configured to perform printing to both sides of a printing medium. The printed matter includes a plurality of positioning reference marks printed orthogonal to a transportation direction of the printing medium; and an inspecting window bored in a positioning reference mark of the plurality of positioning reference marks, the positioning reference mark corresponding to an object to be inspected. The printing medium is folded so as to make another positioning reference mark on the printing medium visible through the inspecting window, and the positioning reference mark on a side of the inspecting window is compared with the positioning reference mark visible through the inspecting window, whereby printing precision is measured.
US09033449B1

A recording apparatus includes: first and second recording modules; a storage accommodating a recording medium; a first path extending from the storage to the first recording module; and a second path extending from the storage to the second recording module and including a shared portion shared with the first path. A trailing edge of a recording medium for which recording is being performed by the first recording module on a leading edge of a recordable area is located upstream of a branch position on the first path. When recording is being performed by the second recording module on a trailing edge of a recordable area of a recording medium, the trailing edge of the recording medium on which the recording is being performed by the first recording module is located downstream of the branch position on the first path and a module path of the first recording module.
US09033447B2

A method and apparatus are for contactless-printing on tablets that are supplied successively at random spacings in the conveyance direction, respectively in plural rows. The apparatus includes a hopper to supply tablets, a distributing unit to distribute the supplied tablets in plural rows, a conveyor to convey the tablets randomly with the random spacings in the conveyance direction and with the rows maintained, a detection camera to detect the tablets during conveyance, an inkjet printer to print on the tablets based on data detected by the detection camera, an inspection camera to check a printing state on the tablets, and a defective tablet rejection unit to reject a defective tablet during conveyance of the tablets based on the check result of the inspection camera.
US09033446B2

A liquid jetting apparatus includes: a jetting section having a plurality of jetting ports for jetting a liquid; a transport section configured to transport the recording medium along a transport pass having a facing area which faces the plurality of jetting ports; a charging section arranged on an upstream side of the facing area in a transport direction in which the recording medium is transported by the transport section, and configured to charge the recording medium; a charged-area determining section configured to determine a non-landing area, of the recording medium, in which the liquid jetted from the plurality of jetting ports is not landed in a case that the recording medium is disposed at the facing area, as a charged area; and a controller configured to control the charging section to charge the charged area determined by the charged-area determining section.
US09033433B2

A pull-out guide for drawers or the like, includes a body rail, a drawer rail, and an automatic retraction for retracting the drawer rail into its closed final position. The automatic retraction is fixed to the body rail or drawer rail and has a pivotable coupling element that is guided in a longitudinally displaceable manner and interacts with a catch which is provided on the respective other rail. The automatic retraction and the catch are arranged in a vertical intermediate space, which is formed between a horizontal web of the body rail and a horizontal web of the drawer rail. The automatic retraction housing abuts the horizontal web of that rail to which the automatic retraction is fixed, and the coupling element can be pivoted about a horizontal axis into a locked position.
US09033432B2

What is described is a dishwasher (1) comprising a body (2), at least one rack (3) placed into the body (2), having a base and side walls (4) surrounding the base and wherein the objects to be washed are placed, at least one shelf (7), mounted to the side walls (4) of the rack (3), having a carrying surface (5) whereon kitchenware like cups, glasses etc can be placed. At least one slot (8) with both ends closed is located on the shelf (7) and an auxiliary element (10) having at least one pin (9) that can both rotate and slide inside the slot (8) is folded over the carrying surface (5) by being rotated around the pin (9) when the pin (9) is rested against any end of the slot (8).
US09033431B1

A track assembly for traction of a tracked vehicle, such as an agricultural vehicle, an industrial vehicle (e.g., a construction vehicle) or a military vehicle, is provided. The track assembly comprises a plurality of wheels which comprises a drive wheel and a plurality of roller wheels, as well as an elastomeric endless track disposed around the plurality of wheels for engaging the ground. A roller wheel may comprise a wheel body and a covering on the wheel body. The covering may comprise a lateral portion dimensioned to contact a drive/guide lug of the track. The roller wheels and the track may implement a self-alignment system of the track assembly. The track assembly may comprise a cooling system for transferring heat away from a roller wheel. The track assembly may comprise a lateral motion mechanism allowing a roller wheel to move widthwise in response to a side load.
US09033426B2

A vehicle braking system includes a master cylinder having first and second outputs. First and second hydraulic braking circuits are provided between the respective master cylinder outputs and respective hydraulic wheel cylinders. A first pump provided in the first hydraulic braking circuit is operable to generate pressure and move hydraulic fluid within the first hydraulic braking circuit. A second pump provided in the second hydraulic braking circuit is operable to generate pressure and move hydraulic fluid within the second hydraulic braking circuit. A valving arrangement establishes fluid communication between the first pump and the second hydraulic braking circuit in a first configuration and prevents fluid communication between the first pump and the second hydraulic braking circuit in a second configuration.
US09033425B2

A pick tool comprising an insert and a steel holder for the insert, the insert comprising a superhard tip joined to a cemented carbide support body having an insertion shank; the steel holder comprising a shaft for connection to a tool carrier and provided with a bore configured for receiving the insertion shank; the volume of the cemented carbide support body being at least 6 cm3.
US09033422B2

One lower end portion of a belt anchor bracket is supported on a lock unit rotatably in a front-rear direction, the other lower end portion of the belt anchor bracket is fixed to a leg, and a seatbelt anchor is supported on an upper end portion of the belt anchor bracket rotatably in the front-rear direction.
US09033421B2

A chair has a seat support (101), a seat portion (13), a back portion (15), and a supporting frame. The supporting frame is formed by a castored base (11), a height adjustment mechanism (17), and a main transom (21). The seat portion (13) is selectively moveable relative to the supporting frame, with the seat portion having a locked configuration and a released configuration. The back portion has a back frame (25) and a compliant cover (61). The back frame has hook features for receiving a portion of the compliant cover (61). The back portion (15) is reclinable relative to the supporting frame between an upright position and a reclined position. A recline mechanism has deformable members operatively connecting the seat portion and the supporting frame. A recline resistance mechanism is selectively engageable to resist movement of the back portion toward the reclined position.
US09033417B2

A child chair apparatus includes a supporting device and a seat device. The seat device is disposed on the supporting device. The seat device includes a fixing component and a seat component. The fixing component is disposed on the supporting device. The fixing component includes a first shaft and a second shaft. The seat component includes an oscillating base and an adjusting base. The oscillating base and the adjusting base are slidably connected to the first shaft and the second shaft respectively, such that the seat component is slidably disposed on the fixing component. The child chair apparatus of the present invention can be switched between the high chair and rocking chair, and has advantages of easy operation and convenient usage.
US09033411B2

A chair including a dynamically-flexible back and seat having a shape that adjusts to the movements of a user seated in the chair to enhance user comfort. Each of the back and seat has an air gap formed therewithin and a resilient frame or liner with a spring memory. The resilient liner is adapted to flex in response to compressive forces that are generated as the user slides his body back or from side-to-side in the chair. Accordingly, some of the chair back and some of the chair seat move into respective air gaps so that the shapes of the back and seat change to conform to the movements of the user. The air gaps also establish air flow ventilation channels which run laterally through the back and seat of the chair.
US09033408B2

A safety sill for a vehicle body, which is characterized by at least two molded parts that are connected to one another in a form-closed manner and form a body member, wherein the first load-bearing molded part is a support element having an inside and an outside and the second load-bearing molded part is a sill element, the outside of the support element faces the sill element and either the support element or the sill element can be mounted to the body-in-white and the other load-bearing molded part can be mounted to the molded part mounted to the body-in-white, is provided.
US09033404B2

A vehicle body includes a hollow structural member having an inner surface. The hollow structural member includes a first metal or metal alloy. A structural reinforcement member is positioned in the hollow structural member and includes a stiffener including a second metal or metal alloy different from the first metal or metal alloy. A gap is provided between the stiffener and the inner surface of the structural member. An adhesive is secured to the stiffener. The adhesive is substantially dry to the touch prior to activation and is activatable to expand toward the inner surface to fill at least a portion of the gap. A frame is secured to the stiffener and is positioned between the stiffener and the inner surface of the structural member to maintain the gap prior to expansion of the adhesive. The frame is adapted to insulate the stiffener from the hollow structural member.
US09033403B2

A vehicle, an assembly for the vehicle and a method of assembling the vehicle are disclosed. The assembly includes a windshield and a panel disposed adjacent to the windshield. The assembly also includes a first retainer member secured to one of the windshield and the panel. Furthermore, the assembly includes a second retainer member secured to the other one of the windshield and the panel. Additionally, the assembly includes a third retainer member selectively attached to the first and second retainer members to selectively couple together the panel and the windshield.
US09033395B2

A motor vehicle having a side door is disclosed having lower and upper parts. The upper part comprises a window surround for fixed and drop-down windows. The fixed window has a much larger barrel radius of curvature than the drop-down window and the inclusion of the fixed window reduces the chord length of the drop-down window between a beltline of the motor vehicle and a lower edge of the fixed window. This combination allows the use of more tumblehome on the motor vehicle without needing to increase the thickness of the lower part of the side door in order to accommodate the drop-down window when it is lowered.
US09033389B2

A partition for separating front and rear occupant areas of a vehicle comprises a frame and multiple panel members. The frame is attached to the vehicle and has an upper lateral member, respective angled side tubular members and a window. The multiple panel members are configured to fit vertically between the window and a floor pan and horizontally between first and second sides. The multiple panel members comprise a first panel member for positioning adjacent the first side, a second panel member for positioning adjacent the second side and a center section laterally adjacent and separating the first and second panel members. The center section protrudes rearwardly relative to the first panel member and the second panel member. The second panel member is recessed forwardly of the first panel member and forwardly of the center section to increase space available in a rear seat aligned with the second panel member.
US09033388B2

There is provided a pillar trim structure. A plate-shaped slider is configured to slide on a backside of a pillar trim in a longitudinal direction. A tunnel part is provided at an upper end of the backside of the pillar trim and formed with a through-hole. A rib is provided so as to stand at one side of an entrance of the through-hole over the longitudinal direction and inclined so that one edge of the slider gets away from the pillar trim as the slider gets over the rib. The entrance is cut out in an elongated shape at an opposite side and is cut out widely so that the entrance is more inclined with respect to the pillar trim than the slider from a predetermined starting point towards the one side and the entrance abuts on the slider at the starting point.
US09033374B1

A flexible multi-load connection includes a coil of a flexible high strength cord having a loop end and two running ends, a releasable connection joining the two running ends, the releasable connection comprising a knot, and a connecting arrangement releasably joining the loop end and the two running ends.
US09033359B2

A binding for a boot on a gliding board adapted to be used during a sporting activity involving gliding phases, the binding making it possible to attach the boot of a user in a first longitudinal position in relation to the gliding board. The binding includes a plate having at least one slide; a base adapted to be attached to the gliding board; at least one rail fixed to the base and cooperating with the slide, the plate being movable in translation along the rail and in both directions, in relation to the base between a maximum advance position in which the plate is in support against a first stop, and a maximum retraction position in which the plate is in support against a second stop; a damping mechanism damping the translational movement of the plate in both directions, in relation to the base, and which positions the plate by default in a central position in which the plate is located, along the rail, between the maximum advance position and the maximum retraction position.
US09033351B2

The invention provides a multifunctional baby walker, which comprises a tray frame, a chassis frame, a supporting frame and roller wheels. The chassis frame comprises two side brackets respectively located at two sides of the baby walker and a front bracket for connecting front ends of the two side brackets. A lower portion of the supporting frame substantially is connected to the middle of the front bracket, the supporting frame has an accommodating space and a handle provided at an upper portion thereof. The baby walker also comprises a seat pocket assembly which comprises a front support rod, a seat pocket slidably connected to the front support rod along the extending direction of the front support rod, and rear support rods at two sides of the baby walker with rear ends respectively rotatably connected to rear portions of the side brackets. The rotation axis of the front support rod relative to the front bracket extends horizontally. A front end of each rear support rod is detachably connected to a rear portion of the seat pocket, a front portion of the tray frame is detachably connected to the upper portion of the supporting frame, and a rear portion of the tray frame is detachably connected to the front end of each rear support rod. The baby walker of the invention has three statuses, and the baby walker has a simple configuration and can be conveniently operated.
US09033350B2

Air traveling is a daily procedure, people need to move quickly within and around airports with their luggage. The invention, hereafter called “SkateTrolley ”, is a luggage designed to be used as a standard trolley or the traveler can ride luggage rather than carrying it. SkateTrolley has a platform with steerable rear wheels that can be pulled out to be ridden in a skateboard manner and a pull out driving stick that drives the front wheel in a scooter way while the content of the luggage remains in place. The design is developed to minimize weight, the suitcase shell acts as a frame and maximize maneuverability thought the double steering effect.SkateTrolley can be built in different sizes, one will fit the carryon luggage airline requirements.Note: FIG. 5 represents the invention the most.
US09033349B2

A wheeled medical device—such as a cot, stretcher, bed, wheeled chair, or other medical device—includes a pole on which is mounted a removable topper. The topper may include a plurality of IV hooks used to support an IV bag. The hooks may be defined in an endless ribbon that is circular, or that is another closed shape. No prongs, hooks, or other projections extend outwardly from the topper, thereby reducing the potential dangerousness of accidental impacts with the topper. Whether the topper includes hooks or not, it may also be used as an information communication medium, such as through the use of colors, shapes, or other structures that signify certain information. The information may identify characteristics of the patient associated with the medical device or characteristics of the medical device itself, or still other information.
US09033345B2

A radial shaft seal for separating two media includes two radial shaft sealing rings each including an axial surface and a sealing lip. The sealing rings are disposed with the axial surfaces facing one another and the sealing lips axially opposed to one another with a space between the sealing lips including a vent. At least one of the sealing rings includes clamping cams configured to grip an inner rim of the other sealing ring so as to join the sealing rings in a form-locking, rear-engaging position relative to each other.
US09033343B2

A domino match game employs a standard domino set and a game board or game play surface that has a common play region and peripheral regions for placing house tokens that are awarded to players during play of a game or hand, and risk regions for placing tokens awarded in an earlier hand to permit the players to make side wagers. A bogus stone may be used to indicate a player is to miss a turn. There are separate game play tokens and house tokens.
US09033342B2

An apparatus is for shuffling a plurality of playing cards used in gaming. The apparatus includes a card support adapted to support the unshuffled cards on-edge. An exciter is also included, and is adapted to impart vibrational action to the supported cards. Cards drop in a random fashion such as by controlling the relative position of the cards and passage through one or more card slots in a card rest. In at least some of the apparatuses, a medial card receiver is adapted to receive at least one card dropped from the card support and to retain the at least one received card to substantially block the card slot to prevent further cards from dropping. A positioner is preferably included to change a relative position of the unshuffled deck and card slots though which the cards drop.
US09033334B2

A sheet feeding apparatus comprising: a storage portion; a feeding portion; and a separation portion, wherein the separation portion includes: a separation member which rotates around a rotation center shaft to separate one by one the sheets; an urging portion which applies a force to the rotation center shaft toward the feeding portion; a torque imparting portion to impart a torque to the separation member in a direction opposite to a direction which the separation member rotates; a first and a second support member which supports one end and other end of the rotation center shaft while regulating rotation of the rotation center shaft; and a deviation restraining portion which restrains deviation of a reaction force of the torque applied to the separation member by the torque imparting portion and acting on the first support member and the second support member.
US09033314B1

A visualization, alignment and support tool permitting one person fence rail installation, and greatly speeding the installation when more than two persons are employed. Specifically, the tool magnetically affixes temporarily to a fence pipe and offers support for a length of fence rail; especially the ends of adjacent fence rails, so that the rails are supported and level relative to a fence pipe bracket which is affixed to the fence pipe. The rail ends can then be fastened with screws or other fasteners to the fence pipe bracket when desired without further adjustment required.
US09033302B2

A form tie for use in constructing building components and structures, including but not limited to concrete walls, concrete sandwich walls, and concrete foundations is disclosed. The form tie includes a central body portion and two end portions. The two end portions each include a taper that decreases in width inwardly toward the center of the form tie. Also disclosed is a clamp device for releasably securing the form tie to a form assembly. The clamp device includes a tapered passageway that grips a taper of the end portions of the disclosed form tie. Also disclosed is a form assembly including a first form wall, second form wall, and at least one form tie and clamp device of the present invention.
US09033295B2

A display fixture includes a cross support mounted to a display structure. The cross support includes a cross bar having a plurality of holes extending through at least a top of the cross bar. The holes are spaced apart from each other across a length of the cross bar. The display fixture also includes at least one display hook having three downwardly depending mounting members. The at least display hook is mounted to the cross bar by engaging two of the three downward depending mounting members with two holes in the cross bar.
US09033292B2

A load-supporting apparatus includes four levers each including first and second ends, a pushing element, a hanging element and an extending device. The first end of the second lever is connected to the second end of the first lever. The first end of the third lever is connected to the second end of the second lever. The first end of the fourth lever is connected to the second end of the third lever. The second end of the fourth lever is connected to the first end of the first lever. A first end of the pushing element is connected to the first lever. A first end of the hanging element is connected to a second end of the pushing element. A first end of the extending device is connected to the first end of the hanging element. The second end of the extending device is placed against the second lever.
US09033273B2

An aircraft ground control system that moves an aircraft on the ground between landing and take off without external mechanical assistance from airport tugs or tow vehicles or reliance on thrust produced by the aircraft's engines is provided. The aircraft ground control system interfaces only with an aircraft auxiliary power unit or other aircraft power supply, but otherwise operates independently of aircraft systems. A system integrator and controller links cockpit controls designed to actuate the transmission of power to system components and to activate system components only under predetermined conditions with selectively activatable drivers in driving connection with one or more aircraft wheels to move the aircraft on the ground at selected torques and speeds.
US09033259B2

A method and system of feeding fuel into a gasifier are provided. The feed injector system includes a first injector port assembly including a plurality of annular channels substantially concentric about a longitudinal axis that define corresponding fluid flow paths that direct a flow of fluid substantially axially therethrough from a respective source to a reaction zone and a second injector port assembly including a flow port surrounded by a plurality of auxiliary ports spaced about a circumference of the flow port, the plurality of auxiliary ports communicatively coupled to a toroidal passage configured to receive a flow of fluid and channel the flow of fluid to the auxiliary ports such that the flow of fluid is discharged from the auxiliary ports having an axial flow component, a radially inward flow component, and a circumferential flow component.
US09033253B2

A designer-adaptive visual code (32, 32′, 32″) includes a user-selected set glyphs (36, 36′, 36″, 36′−), a user-selected set of allowable glyph orientations relative to a user-selected reference angle, and a user-selected spatial arrangement of the glyphs (36, 36′, 36″, 36′″). The user-selected set of glyphs (36, 36′, 36″, 36′″) has a size sufficient to recover geometric characteristics of at least one repeating code portion so as to generate an analyzable image when captured via a camera-equipped mobile device (26). The user-selected spatial arrangement of the glyphs (36, 36′, 36″, 36′″) includes the at least one repeating code portion (34) to be visible on a surface from at least two different areas of the surface.
US09033251B2

An RFID tag is provided that is suitable for mounting on surgical instruments, and by means of which stable anchoring on the instrument, encapsulation of the RFID elements from the surroundings, good cleanability and improved detectability can be achieved. The RFID tag has a metal holder, a housing that is made of an electrically non-conductive or slightly conductive material, an accommodating chamber and an RFID element with an antenna. The RFID element is arranged in the accommodating chamber of the housing. The housing has a first end which is held on the metal holder. The accommodating chamber in the housing is formed to be spatially spaced apart from the first end of the housing. The RFID element is positioned in the accommodating chamber in such a way that the antenna of the RFID element is spatially arranged substantially outside of the metal holder.
US09033250B2

A booster antenna (BA) for a smart card comprises a card antenna (CA) component extending around a periphery of a card body (CB), a coupler coil (CC) component at a location for an antenna module (AM), and an extension antenna (EA) contributing to the inductance of the booster antenna (BA). A method of wire embedding is also disclosed, by controlling a force and ultrasonic power applied by an embedding tool at different positions on the card body (CB).
US09033248B2

According to one embodiment, a semiconductor storage device is provided with a memory chip including a storage circuit, a controller chip that controls a memory chip, and a substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposing one another, on the first surface of which the controller chip is mounted. Further, the semiconductor storage device is provided with an external connection terminal formed on the second surface of the substrate, and resin that encapsulates the memory chip, the controller chip, and the substrate, includes a third surface and a fourth surface opposing one another, and has a predetermined mark directly printed only on the fourth surface that is adjacent to the second surface of the substrate.
US09033246B2

Methods and apparatus for issuing a payment device from a remote dispensing device are provided. In an embodiment, a dispensing device receives a purchase request including a load amount, to purchase a proximity payment device. The dispensing device reads proximity payment device information from a stored pre-personalized proximity payment device, establishes a secure communications channel with a security terminal, encrypts a personalization data request, transmits it to the proximity device issuer server, and receives an encrypted personalization message. The dispensing device then decrypts the encrypted personalization message to obtain personalization data, writes the personalization data and the load amount to the pre-personalized proximity payment device, and then dispenses the personalized proximity payment device.
US09033243B2

In an embodiment, a method performed by a barcode rendering device for bonding the barcode rendering device with a mobile communication device is described. The method includes detecting a predetermined motion of a barcode rendering device. The method also includes detecting a first signal emitted by a mobile communication device, the first signal indicating that the mobile communication device is ready to bind with the barcode rendering device and to communicate information to the barcode rendering device. The method also includes binding with the mobile communication device in response to detecting both the predetermined motion and the first signal. The method also includes emitting a second signal indicating a readiness to receive the information from the mobile communication device. The method also includes receiving the information from the mobile communication device, the information including barcode data.
US09033240B2

A system for decoding an encoded symbol character associated with a product is provided. The system includes a scanning apparatus comprising a first scan source disposed within a housing, and a second scan source disposed within the housing. The second scan source comprises an operating technology distinct from an operating technology of the first scan source. The first scan source is adapted to output a first scan data set, and the second scan source is adapted to output a second scan data set. At least one of the first scan data set and the second scan data set comprises product bar code scan data.
US09033239B2

An automated projected image display planning and implementation system used in planogramming. Embodiments include a camera, projector, bar code reader, and software to store planograms as designed, communicate these planograms to retail locations, and provide an easy-to-use system insuring that the planograms are recreated as originally conceived. Embodiments create a unique QR code for storing and communicating fixture and merchandise data information as well as the relative placement location within the planogram. Embodiments are configured to project the image of the finished planogram on the display, and further, to illuminating the exact location within the planogram of merchandise and fixtures displayed on the planogram.
US09033233B2

A reader antenna includes dipole antennas, the dipole antennas including: a horizontal dipole antenna having the characteristic of horizontal polarization; and a dipole antenna perpendicular to the horizontal dipole antenna and including a vertical dipole antenna having the characteristic of vertical polarization, wherein the horizontal dipole antenna and the vertical dipole antenna may both have the characteristic of circular polarization. The reader antenna can be easily stored in an electronic shelf because it is realized in an ultrathin structure using a single-layered dielectric substrate.
US09033224B2

A graphics tablet system including a housing, a touch screen in the housing for receiving touch input, and for displaying graphics corresponding to the received touch input, a plurality of styli for performing touch input, each stylus including an RFID chip storing one or more graphic attributes, and a visible indicator of the one or more graphic attributes, an RFID reader in the housing for reading the stored one or more graphic attributes from a stylus touching the touch screen, and a processor in the housing, connected to the touch screen and to the RFID reader, for rendering a drawing on the touch screen according to the motion of the stylus on the touch screen and according to one or more graphic attributes read by the RFID reader from the stylus, wherein the plurality of styli store different one or more graphic attributes.
US09033215B1

A system and method for configuring an electronic device is disclosed. A location identifier module comprising a location identifier is positioned at a location, and the electronic device is positioned at the location. The electronic device is configured based on the location identifier.
US09033212B2

A thin film rectangular cuboid stand-up container composed of a first and a second elongated rectangular sheets of a thin film weldable plastic or laminate material, wherein the length of each of the first and second sheets is approximately equal to twice the length of a selected edge of the container plus the width of the other sheet, the first sheet is folded along two transversal lines to form first three panels of the rectangular cuboid container and the second sheet is folded along two transversal lines to form the complementary three panels of the rectangular cuboid container, the first and second sheets are seamed to each other along a welding margin surrounding their entire periphery forming an endless loop of fin like seam band extending along 8 of the 12 cuboid edges.
US09033211B2

A container for food and/or drink to be consumed on the move comprises a first portion (24) forming at least a first holder (3) for containing at least one food to be consumed on the move or for a first receptacle containing a food or a drink to be consumed on the move, and at least a second portion (25) connected to the first portion (24) and forming at least a second holder (4) for supporting a second receptacle containing at least one food or a drink to be consumed on the move. The first holder (3) and the second holder (4) are vertically aligned and they are distanced from each other in such a way as to allow the user independent access both to the first holder (3) and to the second holder (4). For that purpose, at least a third, connecting portion (28) is fixed to the first portion (24) and to the second portion (25) and forms at least one opening (29) for access from above to the lower holder. A method for making a container of this type is also claimed.
US09033208B2

A blank of foldable sheet material is provided. The blank includes a bottom panel, a first bottom side panel and a second opposing bottom side panel extending from opposing side edges of the bottom panel, and a front panel extending from a front edge of the bottom panel. The front panel includes opposing side edges. The blank also includes a first and a second diagonal panel extending from a front edge of the first and second bottom side panels, respectively, and a third and a fourth diagonal panel extending from each side edge of the front panel. The third and fourth diagonal panels have a length greater than a length of the first and second diagonal panels. The blank includes a first and a second corner panel, wherein the first corner panel is hingedly connected to the first and third diagonal panels and the second corner panel is hingedly connected to the second and fourth diagonal panels.
US09033204B2

Circular stapling instruments and anvil assemblies. The anvil assemblies may have collapsible anvil support members that may be inserted through an opening in a patient and then expanded to be attached to an anvil plate assembly that has a staple-forming surface thereon. The anvil support member is attachable to the anvil plate assembly in such a way that when the anvil assembly is coupled to the stapling head of a circular stapler, the staple-forming surface is in substantial registry with the staples supported in the stapling head. A variety of different anvil support members and anvil plate assemblies are disclosed. Various embodiments have a tissue-piercing feature.
US09033201B2

A device for attaching a sheet-like implant to a target tissue. The device includes a fastener push rod including a first portion, a second portion and a force limiting mechanism operably coupled between the first portion and the second portion. A fastener is carried by the second portion of the fastener push rod. The force limiting mechanism transmits longitudinal movement of the first portion to the second portion while the forces applied to the fastener by the fastener push rod are less than a predetermined value such that longitudinal movement of the first portion of the fastener push rod causes substantially equivalent longitudinal movement of the second portion. The force limiting mechanism allows relative longitudinal motion between the first and second portions while the forces applied to the fastener are equal to or greater than the predetermined value such that the application of undue forces to the fastener is prevented.
US09033196B1

A pre-threaded and knotted needle with a length of thread knotted though the eye of the needle and a connection securing the ends of the thread and a sleeve securing a bundle of the thread so that the thread is not tangled until it is released and ready for use The thread is bundle is formed by wrapping it into a bundle and securing a sleeve around the bundle of the thread so that the thread is not tangled until it is released and ready for use. The bundle is released for use by pulling on the needle and the end of the thread to release the bundle of thread.
US09033191B2

A fluid pumping device is disclosed. The fluid pumping device includes a housing having a front end and a rear end, a fluid discharge opening in the front end of the housing, a pump assembly, a crank assembly rotatably connected to the pump assembly wherein the crank assembly operates the pump assembly, and a fluid storage reservoir connected to the gear housing from which fluid is drawn into the gear housing to be pumped through the fluid discharge opening.
US09033190B2

A trigger dispenser device for a liquid provides an integral valve element comprising a suction duct and at least one flexible suction lip to obstruct the suction duct during the dispensing phase, and an annular obturator and a flexible flange supporting it, for opening the pressure chamber toward the dispenser duct during the dispensing phase.
US09033189B2

A sealer gun that discharges a liquid of a coating agent or filler from a nozzle on its tip is securely prevented from producing dripping that arises as a liquid drips from the nozzle tip and remains when the liquid discharge stops. A pump including a cylinder and a freely movable piston fitting therein is assembled onto a discharge cylinder of the sealer gun, an operation rod interlocked with the pump piston and a grip are interlocked via an interlock mechanism to perform pump operation of suction-discharge by movement of the piston caused by pivoting of the grip, and a suction-discharge aperture of the pump is positioned in an internal space of the nozzle, and configured so that when the liquid discharge sops by releasing the grip, a negative or positive pressure is introduced into the nozzle because of the pump operation caused by resilient pivoting of the grip.
US09033186B2

The present invention provides a container assembly for use with a reusable urn or vessel. The assembly includes a (1) flexible pouch, (2) a fitment connected to the pouch and having a flexible flange and a first fluid passageway therethrough in fluid communication with the chamber, (3) a tubing adapter having a first end connected to the fitment and a second end having a member for connecting to a tubing and a second fluid passageway in fluid communication with the first fluid passageway; and (4) wherein the flexible flange is capable of bending to conform to an interior wall of the urn or vessel to place the second fluid passageway in alignment with an axis of a through hole in the urn or vessel.
US09033184B2

A blade dispenser (100) has a blade supply container (110), a blade disposal container (120), and a detachable and reconnectable connecting means (130, 131, 132) that is embodied to connect the blade supply container (110) and blade disposal container (120) detachably to one another. The blade supply container (110) has a blade supply container upper side and a blade supply container underside, and is embodied to receive a blade stack (111) made up of multiple mutually abutting blades (112, 115). The blade supply container (110) also has a removal opening (116) through which at least one blade (112, 115) of the blade stack (111) is removable from the blade supply container (110). The blade disposal container (120) has a blade disposal container upper side and a blade disposal container underside, and is embodied to receive blades (120) to be disposed of.
US09033176B2

A waste disposal apparatus, such as a waste disposal container or unit that is configured to receive used personal care products in a discreet and sanitary manner. Instances of incontinence, menstruation or uncontrollable bodily functions can be a personal situation that is otherwise unknown to others. However, current receptacles available to dispose of used personal care products fail to provide for a hygienic, easily accessible and discreet that is designed for small spaces, such as a home bathroom or public restroom stall.
US09033170B2

Decorative stemware having a plurality of apertures about the circumference of the stem for the insertion of toothpicks having cocktails or hors d'oeuvres, the apertures being diagonally disposed within the stem so that when toothpicks with cocktails or hors d'oeuvres are inserted into the apertures, the stemware creates the appearance of blossoming stemware. The stemware features a base that functions as a toothpick disposer. Alternatively, a separate coaster can function as a toothpick disposer. The base, or coaster, comprises an opening for the insertion of toothpicks and a hollow interior for the insertion of a plurality of toothpicks. A themed design is disposed on the base or coaster to conceal or camouflage the disposed toothpicks.
US09033165B2

A crane assembly includes a main body, a boom extending from the main body, a cable, and a hook coupled to an end of the boom opposite to the main body by the cable, where the crane assembly is configured for lifting items via the hook. The crane assembly further includes a projection extending outward from the boom and curving toward the main body. The projection is configured to receive the hook over an end of the projection such that tension in the cable maintains the hook in place on the projection. Gravity is sufficient to release the hook from the projection when the boom is raised and the tension in the cable is released.
US09033153B2

Tamper-evident package comprises a container, a primary cap, and a secondary cap. The container comprises a sidewall defining a chamber and a rim defining a mouth to the chamber. The primary cap is removably-attachable to the rim of the container to selectively close the mouth of the container. The secondary cap is positioned over the primary cap to prevent removal of the primary cap when positioned thereover. The secondary cap includes a single-use lock, such as a cable tie, to secure the secondary cap in position over the primary cap. The package thus provides evidence that someone has tampered with or attempted to tamper with the container if the single-use lock is removed or damaged. Method of using the tamper-evident package is also disclosed.
US09033151B2

A pharmacy bottle system includes a bottle and a ring. The bottle is formed as a single piece of molded plastic material and includes a body and a neck. The body defines an interior cavity. The interior cavity extends from a first end to a second end of the interior cavity. The body includes a spine portion covering the first end of the interior cavity. The spine portion defines a spine width measured from a front to a back of spine portion. The neck extends from the second end of the interior cavity and has an opening therethrough providing access to the interior cavity. The ring is secured about the neck of the bottle. The ring defines a ring width measured between a front and a back of the ring. The ring width is larger than the spine width. The neck extends above a top surface of the ring.
US09033148B2

A sheath for a knife is ventilated or is formed with gaps in a way that sand and other debris cannot collect to dull the knife's blade. The sheath holds the knife, protects and safely covers the sharp edge, but does not provide a surface for abrasive sand to dull the edge. The sheath can include front and rear panels, held together with a plurality of spacers disposed between the panels. The spacers can be rounded to as to minimize contact between the spacers and the blade of the knife.
US09033144B2

A novel packaging for flat media having substantially square panels wherein at least one of the panels is adapted to form a compartment for storing a phonographic record, an audiovisual record or any flat media. The arrangement of the square panels enables the package to be folded in a compact, flat configuration for ease of storage and shipping. When erected, the package forms a cube that could be used as additional storage. The cube may be erected with either of the sides of the panels visible so as to afford greater opportunity for display.
US09033131B2

A transferring mechanism for transferring a workpiece from a tray to a fixture is provided. The transferring mechanism includes a main bracket defining an uploading hole thereon, an uploading assembly, a pick-up assembly and a transferring assembly. The pick-up assembly is located under the uploading hole. The pick-up assembly is mounted on the main bracket above the uploading hole. The transferring assembly includes a fixing bracket and a first transferring subassembly and a blocking member. The fixing bracket is mounted on the main bracket and located under the pick-up assembly. The first transferring subassembly is mounted on the fixing bracket. The blocking member is mounted on the first transferring subassembly and includes a driving portion. The driving portion moves upward to block and position the fixture to enable the pick-up assembly to release the workpiece on the fixture.
US09033130B2

A currency note processing device has a deposit opening. A currency note recognition section recognizes unique information of a deposited currency. A currency note storage section accumulates the deposited currency notes. A transportation control section controls the transportation of the deposited currency note such that the currency note is transported directly to the currency note storage section, and when a return instruction for the deposited currency note is detected, controls the transportation of the deposited currency note from the currency note storage section to the currency note recognition section. A comparison section compares the unique information recognized at the time of the first transportation, from the deposit opening to the currency note recognition section, is compared to unique information recognized at the time of the second transportation, from the currency note storage section to the currency note recognition section.
US09033129B2

A weighing machine (10) that may be scales employed in the packaging industry to deliver batches of product to a packaging machine below the weighing machine (10). The weighing machine (10) has a plurality of troughs (19) along which the product passes and that extend downwardly away from a generally central upright longitudinal axis (11). Each trough (19) extends downwardly from an inlet portion (21) to an outlet portion (22), with the outlet portion (22) spaced radially and angularly from the inlet portion (21) relative to the axis (11).
US09033126B2

A switchable clutch, including: a first clutch including a first outer race with first and second race plates; a second clutch including a second outer race with third and fourth race plates; an inner hub; and a selector system axially disposed between the first and second clutches, in contact with the first and second outer races, and including a selector plate. For a first operational mode, the selector plate rotates to a first circumferential position to non-rotatably connect the first outer race and the inner hub. For a second operational mode, the selector plate rotates to a second circumferential position to non-rotatably connect the second outer race and the inner hub. For a third operational mode: the selector plate rotates to a third circumferential position and the inner hub is rotatable with respect to the first and second outer races. The first and third plates are axially displaceable.
US09033124B2

A damper device is coaxial with a central axis of an electric compressor. The damper device includes a base portion and first and second weight portions. The base portion is configured to be fixed to a casing of the electric compressor. The first and second weight portions are oscillatable relative to the base portion.
US09033117B2

A motor for actuating brake members of an electric parking (EPB) system, includes a stator and a rotor rotatably mounted to the stator. The rotor has a shaft, a commutator, a rotor core fixed to the shaft, and rotor windings wound about teeth of the rotor core and electrically connected to segments of the commutator. The rotor windings have a plurality of winding units and each of the winding units have at least two coils. The coils of each winding unit are wound about the same teeth and are connected to a same pair of segments.
US09033113B2

An elevator derailment detection system (51) which provides for accurate detection of the derailment of a movable element (30, 32), such as a counterweight (32) or an elevator car (30), within a hoistway (22) even when the building (24) within which the elevator (20) is installed is of a substantial height and may be experiencing a significant degree of sway due to high winds, earthquakes, or other causes. By mounting an electric conductor (52) such as a sensing wire of the system (51) at spaced intervals (76) along the length of the hoistway (22), the electric conductor (52) in turn sways with the building (24). Accordingly, contact of the electrical conductor with sensors attached to a movable element within the hoistway, such as the counterweight, is limited to derailment situations and not normal building sway, and false trips are significantly reduced. In addition, by providing mounting brackets (60, 62, 64) and sensing apparatus (66) with a non-continuous perimeter, the operation and movement of the respective components (30, 32) is not hindered by this system (51).
US09033112B2

In a group control system which temporarily assigns a destination call registered from a hall destination call registration device to the car of each elevator and computes a plurality of prescribed kinds of evaluation values for each elevator, as one of the plurality of evaluation values, the priority is calculated whose value is determined according to ease with which the passenger who has registered a destination call from the hall destination call registration device moves in a hall and ease with which a passenger who later registers a destination call from the hall destination call registration device moves in the hall. Thereby, the degree of congestion in a hall is appropriately controlled also in consideration of the movement of the passengers in the hall.
US09033111B2

A governor system for an elevator is disclosed. The governor includes a shaft horizontally extending from a sheave of the governor system. A base, spring, and slider are mounted on the shaft with linkages extending from the base of the sheave to at least one flyweight. The spring and flyweights are sized such that centrifugal force will be sufficient to overcome the biasing force of the spring upon the sheave reaching a certain rotational speed. Overspeed sensors and mechanical switches are positioned proximate the flyweights and flyweights plates such that upon such motion of the flyweights, the governor system is triggered, thereby slowing and ultimately stopping the elevator. The governor system has a greatly reduced space requirement compared to previous governors, as well as a reduced likelihood of false trips due to acceleration or deceleration of the car.
US09033109B2

A system and method for lubricating gears in a wind turbine blade pitch drive are provided, wherein the pitch drive comprises a drive pinion gear with gear teeth that engage a pitch bearing gear coupled to a respective wind turbine blade. A grease distributor is configured to mount onto and rotate with the pinion gear, and is configured to deliver grease from an external grease supply to at least one valley defined between adjacent teeth of the pinion gear in a contact area of the pinion gear with the bearing gear without the distributor contacting inter-engaging teeth of the bearing gear.
US09033105B1

A rotatable elevated hunting blind includes a plurality of enclosure support legs; an enclosure base carried by the enclosure support legs, the enclosure base having a stationary base sprocket; a hunting blind enclosure carried by the enclosure base, the hunting blind enclosure rotatable with respect to the enclosure base; a seat assembly having a seat carried by the hunting blind enclosure; and a user-operable blind enclosure rotation mechanism carried by the hunting blind enclosure adjacent to the seat of the seat assembly, the blind enclosure rotation mechanism having a drive sprocket and a chain meshing with the base sprocket of the enclosure base and the pedal sprocket, the blind enclosure rotation mechanism operable to rotate the drive sprocket around the chain as the blind enclosure rotation mechanism revolves around the enclosure base.
US09033103B2

A traveller for a fall arrest system including a body having a bore and a slot narrower than the bore linking to the bore to the exterior of the body. A load member is connected to the body for pivotal movement relative to the body and suitable for attachment to fall safety equipment. The body has a center of gravity positioned so that when the traveller is supported on a safety line passing through the bore, the body will be urged by gravity to rotate about the safety line towards a position in which the slot has a predetermined orientation relative to the safety line.
US09033090B2

A brake hose guide includes a guide portion constructed of a pair of vertical wall portions with a connecting portion for connecting the vertical wall portions to each other. The brake hose guide is fastened to a support body for allowing a brake hose to pass through the inside of the guide portion. A mounting portion is connected to a specified vertical wall portion that constitutes at least one of the pair of vertical wall portions and is formed such that a portion of the mounting portion projects more toward the inside of the guide portion than the specified vertical wall portion. At least a portion of a fastening hole, that is formed in the mounting portion so as to allow a fastening member to pass therethrough, is arranged inside an outer end portion of the specified vertical wall portion as viewed from the fastening direction toward the support body.
US09033085B1

An undercarriage-mounted battery pack is provided that includes a foot well cavity that is aligned with the foot well corresponding to one or more of the vehicle's seats, e.g., the rear vehicle seats. A portion of the battery pack is located in front of the foot well cavity while a second portion is located behind the foot well cavity, where the two portions are coupled together using conduits. The bottom surface of the battery pack may be shaped in order to minimize drag and enhance the flow of air under the vehicle. The battery pack may include cross-members, either interposed between battery subassemblies or incorporated into the subassembly enclosures, to increase side impact resistance and provide further protection to the batteries within the pack as well as the vehicle's occupants.
US09033082B2

Fuel cell stacks 3 are arranged in a vehicle-transverse juxtaposition with a radiator 107 disposed in an engine room 104 vehicle-longitudinally rearward of a front member 108, and an air suction duct 2 introducing air to air in-taking aperture areas 31 of the fuel cell stacks 3 vehicle-longitudinally extends from the air in-taking aperture areas 31 up to the front member 108, having an upper air in-taking port 212A and a lower air in-taking port 212B vehicle-longitudinally frontward of the radiator 107 and opened toward a set of upper grill openings 110 and a set of lower grill openings 111, respectively.
US09033081B1

A wheel loader is provided with an engine compartment, a cooling compartment, a partition wall, a top plate, and a first duct body part. The top plate can be removed and defines an upper surface of the engine compartment. A first end part of the first duct body part is positioned inside the engine compartment. A second end part of the first duct body part is positioned inside the cooling compartment. The first duct body part is attached to the top plate.
US09033079B2

The present invention relates to a mobile robot, in which a wheel is mounted on a robot body in an elevatable structure.
US09033078B2

A system for connecting a power-supply battery to a motor vehicle, including a device for ventilating the battery, and a multi-connection plate which includes openings for connecting to at least two ducts for circulating a heat-transport fluid, and for connecting to the battery so as to connect the at least two ducts to an inner circulation circuit of the battery.
US09033075B2

An auto-seek operating mode for an electric vehicle adjusts the vehicle using a vehicle power steering system and a vehicle traction motor to move the vehicle toward a target connector for a utility power grid to charge a vehicle traction battery. If needed, vertical vehicle position adjustments may be made using a controllable vehicle suspension system.
US09033070B2

A cutting element for a drill bit includes an outer support element and an inner rotatable cutting element, a portion of which is disposed in the outer support element, where the inner rotatable cutting element has a body with a non-planar cutting face.
US09033069B2

A drill bit having a bit body, at least one blade extending radially from the bit body, a plurality of blade cutting elements disposed on each blade, at least one journal extending downwardly and radially outward from a longitudinal axis of the drill bit, a roller cone or roller disc mounted rotatably to each journal, and a plurality of cutting elements disposed on each roller cone or roller disc, and methods for making the drill bit are disclosed.
US09033067B2

A vibrational tool and method is disclosed, which may be utilized to assist in lowering a drill string into a wellbore. In one embodiment, a reciprocating member and a symmetrical rotating member are mounted within a vibrational tool housing. The reciprocating member is urged in one embodiment by a spring assembly toward the rotating member whereby engagement surfaces on the reciprocating member and rotating member encounter each other. As the rotating member rotates, variable surfaces on the engagement surface cause the reciprocating member to reciprocate as the variable surfaces follow or cam with respect to each other during rotation. The resistance to rotation by engagement surfaces and spring assembly, and mass of the rotating member, result in vibrational forces, when drilling fluid flows through the vibration tool housing.
US09033062B2

A control system for a machine is disclosed. The system includes a ripper sensor associated with a ripper of the machine configured to generate a signal indicative of a position of the ripper. The system includes a steering command sensor associated with a steering control module of the machine. The steering command sensor is configured to generate a signal indicative of a steering command of the machine. The system further includes a controller configured to receive the signals indicative of the position of the ripper and the steering command of the machine. The controller is configured to execute an action based on the engaged state of the ripper and the steering command of the machine.
US09033061B2

A fire suppression system includes a high pressure inert gas source that is configured to provide a first inert gas output and a low pressure inert gas source that is configured to provide a second inert gas output. A distribution network is connected with the high and low pressure inert gas sources to distribute the first and second inert gas outputs. A controller is operatively connected with at least the distribution network to control how the respective first and second inert gas outputs are distributed.
US09033057B2

A system for securing a first tubular to a second tubular including a housing having at least one group of at least one window therein. A gripping assembly is disposed in the housing and has at least one member operatively arranged for selectably extending through the at least one window for internally gripping the first tubular. A coupling unit is included having a first clamping mechanism and a second clamping mechanism. The first clamping mechanism is operatively arranged for externally clamping the housing, and the second clamping mechanism is operatively arranged for externally clamping the second tubular component. A method of securing together two tubular components is also included.
US09033047B2

A method for enhancing hydrocarbon recovery in low permeability reservoirs comprises first providing a subterranean reservoir comprising one or more hydrocarbons and water therewithin and a wellbore in fluid communication with the subterranean reservoir. Next, a substantially anhydrous composition is injected into the reservoir through the wellbore. The substantially anhydrous composition comprises carbon dioxide and one or more surfactants. The composition is suitable to form a foam upon contact with the water within the reservoir. The method often results in reduced wellbore corrosion and hydrate formation, reduced reservoir fingering, and enhanced carbon dioxide sweep efficiency over conventional methods.
US09033045B2

A method of fracturing an earth formation is disclosed. The method includes: isolating a section of a borehole in the earth formation; introducing a fluid into the isolated section and pressurizing the isolated section from a first pressure to a second pressure; introducing a stress concentration to a borehole wall at least one location in the isolated section when the fluid is at the selected pressure or during the pressurization; and initiating a hydraulic fracture in the earth formation at the at least one location.
US09033042B2

Systems and methods used in treating a subsurface formation are described herein. Some embodiments also generally relate to barriers and/or methods to seal barriers. A method used to treat a subsurface formation may include heating a portion of a formation adjacent to a plurality of wellbores to raise a temperature of the formation adjacent to the wellbores above a mobilization temperature of bitumen and below a pyrolysis temperature of hydrocarbons in the formation; and allowing the bitumen to move outwards from the wellbores towards a portion of the formation comprising water cooler than the mobilization temperature of the bitumen so that the bitumen solidifies in the formation to form a barrier.
US09033038B2

An apparatus for evaluating an earth formation intersected by a wellbore may include a logging tool conveyed into the wellbore through a drilling tubular, a speed control device associated with the logging tool, and a sensor operatively associated with the logging tool. In use, the speed control device varies an annular flow space between the speed control device and a surface adjacent to control speed. The flow space may be varied using a annular member that flexes between a nominal diameter and a second larger diameter.
US09033033B2

Disclosed herein are methods for extracting a kerogen-based product from subsurface (oil) shale formations. These methods rely on chemically modifying the shale-bound kerogen using a chemical oxidant so as to render it mobile. The oxidant is provided to a formation fluid in contact with the kerogen in the subsurface shale utilizing electrokinetic-induced migration. An electric field is generated through at least a portion of the kerogen rich zone to induce electrokinetic migration of the oxidant. A mobile kerogen-based product, that includes reaction products of kerogen conversion, is urged toward a production well utilizing electrokinetic-induced migration, and withdrawn from the subsurface shale formation. An electric field generated through at least a portion of the kerogen rich zone can also be utilized to induce migration of catalysts or catalyst precursors.
US09033031B1

A downhole well control tool allows for the control of in-situ fluid flow from a production well. The flow control tool is engaged to an electrical submersible pump (“ESP”) and allows for the in-situ fluid to flow through the tool when the ESP is both active and inactive. The tool also allows for the flow of drilling mud and other drilling fluids when necessary. In addition, the well control tool may also be used to seal off the flow of fluids, and may be used in the retrieval of the ESP.
US09033024B2

Provided in one embodiment is a method of making use of foams as a processing aid or to improve the properties of bulk-solidifying amorphous alloy materials. Other embodiments include the bulk-solidifying amorphous alloy/foam composite materials made in accordance with the methods.
US09033023B2

A copper alloy having an electrical resistivity lower than those of current copper alloys and a tensile strength higher than those of current copper alloys and a method of manufacturing such a copper alloy are provided. The copper alloy is produced by adding a predetermined amount of carbon to a molten copper in a high-temperature environment of a temperature in the range of 1200° C. to 1250° C. such that the copper alloy has a carbon content in the range of 0.01% to 0.6% by weight.
US09033021B2

A highly portable, modular hunting blind which adapts to different hunting areas by utilizing local grass and other vegetation for 3-D camouflage and cover purposes. The blind is ideally of a light weight material, such as plastic, and includes adjustable angles for natural cover, and a number of vegetation straps that adjust to any natural cover the hunter chooses to use, such as grass, corn, brush, or tree limbs. This allows hunters to place natural cover at angles that create a secure 3-D effect and allows hunters and game to see through this natural environment eliminating the undesirable “blob” affect caused by dark fabric material, while breaking the hunter's profile.
US09033018B2

An apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent body includes: a suction member for moving a suction section along a predetermined travel path; a cover member surrounding a predetermined range of the travel path; and a supply opening through which liquid absorbent particles fall. The supply opening is provided above the travel path in a space within the cover member. Of the space within the cover member, a space located in a downstream side of a position of the supply opening in a direction along the travel path is divided into a first zone in which the liquid absorbent particle is suctioned to the suction section and a second zone in which the liquid absorbent particle is suctioned to the suction section, the second zone being adjacent to a downstream side of the first zone.
US09033004B2

A guide wire includes a wire body having a first wire disposed at a distal end and a second wire joined to a proximal end of the first wire at a joint by welding. The joint is curved. In the joint, at least one component (e.g., Ti) of the material of the first wire decreases toward the proximal end and at least one component (e.g., Fe) of the material of the second wire decreases toward the distal end. When a tensile test is conducted on a region of the wire body including the joint, the region of the wire body has, in a tensile load and elongation diagram, an elastic section extending substantially straight upwardly to the right, a yield section extending substantially horizontally or upwardly to the right from the elastic section, and a substantially straight section extending upwardly to the right from the yield section.
US09033003B2

A device for vibrating tubing as it is inserted into a wellbore is disclosed. The device has a fluidic switch that has no moving parts. The fluidic switch is connected to a piston that oscillates back and forth in a cylinder. The piston is the only moving part. As the piston oscillates, it blocks and unblocks openings in the cylinder or other components. The movement of the piston controls the timing of the oscillation, and also generates an impulse or vibration. The vibration may reduce the friction between the tubing and the wellbore.
US09033002B2

To improve operability of a switching operation and locking operation of an operation pattern switching valve for switching the operation pattern of controlling devices for actuator control valves. An operation pattern switching device has a rotating operation member that rotates around a shaft center of a rotating support shaft, and thereby performs a switching operation of the operation pattern switching valve; and an operation lever that is provided rotatably integrally with the rotating operation member and performs a rotating operation of the rotating operation member. The rotating support shaft is, at each pattern switching position of the operation pattern switching valve, in a circumferential direction, provided with a plurality of lock engagement parts each with which the operation lever engages. The operation lever moves in a direction orthogonal to the shaft center of the rotating support shaft, and be thereby made engageable/removable with/from each of the lock engagement parts.
US09032993B2

A damper system may include a handle mechanism for use with a damper actuator system. Illustratively, the handle mechanism may include a drive gear mechanism, a handle, a housing, and a spring, and may be actuated to set a crack pressure for the damper system. The handle may connect to the drive gear mechanism at a drive gear arm of the drive gear mechanism and may flip over or about the drive gear arm to move from a first position to a second position. In some instances, once the handle is in the second position, a force may be applied thereto to disengage the drive gear from a stop member and thereafter, the handle may be rotated to change the crack pressure of the damper system.
US09032988B2

A unitary stacked shuttle valve body assembly that may be used in a well drilling blow out preventer circuit. The assembly includes substantially similar shuttle valves that may be assembled and arranged in various configurations to accommodate the requirements and restrictions of the particular circuit in which the assembly may be used. Inlet ports and outlet ports are substantially coaxial and are assembled with central seal connectors that permit rotation of the valve bodies relative to one another. Feed passages, connector passages, and main passages are provided with plugs of different configuration to permit changing port configuration to accommodate the requirements and restrictions of the circuit in which the assembly is used.
US09032983B2

A connector device includes a male component pivotally coupled with a female component. The male component includes a projection extending from a first pole, with the projection having a first locking member. The female component includes a housing extending from a second pole, with the housing including a spring-biased engaging member and a second locking member at an upper portion of the housing. The male and female components are in a locked state when the engaging member is biased upward and the first and second locking members are engaged such that the first and second poles are fixedly aligned. The male and female components are in an unlocked state when the engaging member is biased downward and the first and second locking members are disengaged such that the first and second poles are pivotally movable with respect to each other.
US09032981B2

A painting implement cleaning and storage apparatus 10 is provided. The apparatus facilitates the cleaning and storage of painting implements such as a roller 12, a brush 14 and a roller pan 16. The apparatus includes a base 18 and a bracket 32 coupled to the base. The roller 12 is supported on the bracket 32 in an upwardly extending diagonal position between shields 45 and 54 for containing paint spreads from the roller. The brush 14 is supported on bracket 32 in a upwardly projecting position. A roller pan 16 is coupable to shield 45 and supported thereon in a descending position.Once the painting implements 12, 14 and 16 are supported on the apparatus 10, cleaning can be accomplished by the application of a stream of water thereto after which the implements can be left until they are needed.
US09032978B2

A dishwasher includes a washing compartment, at least one dishware container, and a guide assembly to allow the dishware container to be moved out of the washing compartment and into the washing compartment. The movement of the dishware container in relation to the washing compartment is cushioned by at least one damping device which is arranged inside the washing compartment.
US09032974B2

The present invention relates to a rotary powder container with a brush, wherein powder is discharged through a brush of a powder discharge case by rotating an internal case containing powder in an external case. The internal case is able to be rotated in the external case, wherein powder is discharged into a brush when a plurality of discharge holes of a powder discharge case are in line with a plurality of discharge member holes of a powder discharge member if the internal case is rotated in the external case, and powder is not discharged into a brush when the plurality of discharge holes of the powder discharge case are not in line with the plurality of discharge member holes of the powder discharge member if the internal case is rotated in the external case. The present invention is convenient to use and has an elegant look.
US09032956B2

A mask system for use between a patient and a device to deliver a breathable gas to the patient includes a frame including a channel and a cushion provided to the frame. The cushion includes an end portion that is inserted and retained within the channel. The frame includes a recess that communicates with the channel and a hole that connects the recess to a frame exterior. The hole and recess provide an exit route for air contained within the channel.
US09032954B2

A CO2 absorber bypass for an anesthesia machine includes a diverter for diverting exhaled gas to bypass the CO2 absorber of the anesthesia machine when the diverter is activated. The CO2 absorber bypass further includes a shunt for conveying the diverted exhaled gas, a coupler for connecting the shunt to the inhalation limb of the anesthesia machine, a shunt one way valve, a shunt adjustable pressure limiting valve, and a shunt reservoir. The CO2 absorber bypass allows the CO2 absorber to be changed while the exhalation limb conveys exhaled gas from a patient and the inhalation limb conveys gas to the patient.
US09032946B1

The present invention relates to a three dimensionally fiber-reinforced riser and to the unitary or single-step methods of making the same. In one embodiment (a cross bow riser for example), the riser has an interior support with opposed side members and a front brace. The front brace has a depression centrally located therein. Two side ribs are also provided for structural support. Two pockets each optionally having a divider wall defining a top and bottom section are provided for receiving respective top and bottom pieces of a split limb, when a split limb is used. The riser can be made of a composite material having fibers aligned there within in the directions of the highest stresses for enhancing the structural strength of the riser. Other bow parts or components can likewise be made via composite material as well.
US09032939B2

Embodiments for a charge air cooler are provided. In one example, an engine method comprises increasing intake air flow velocity through a charge air cooler in response to an estimated condensation formation value within the charge air cooler. In this way, condensation accumulation within the charge air cooler may be prevented.
US09032931B2

An Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) apparatus for recirculating engine exhaust gas comprising a valve member disposed in an exhaust gas recirculation passage of an engine, the valve member movable between an open position and a closed position to control the flow of the exhaust gas through the exhaust gas recirculation passage, one or more bleeders to enable flow of exhaust gas through the exhaust gas recirculation passage when the valve member is in the closed position.
US09032925B2

A phase varying apparatus capable of smoothly varying the phase angle of a camshaft relative to a drive rotor by comprising: a drive rotor supported by a camshaft and driven by a crankshaft; a first control rotor integral with the camshaft; a first torquing mechanism for providing the first drive rotor with a torque in one direction, and a reverse rotation mechanism for proving the first control rotor with a torque in the opposite direction, wherein the reverse rotation mechanism comprises a first radius-decreasing guide groove formed in the control rotor, a crank member adapted to rotate about a position offset from the rotational axis of the drive rotor, and a first pin mechanism mounted on the crank member and movable in the radius-decreasing guide groove, and a second operative mechanism for rotating the first control rotor in the opposite rotational direction relative to the drive rotor.
US09032922B2

A camshaft assembly can control the motion of the intake or exhaust valves of an internal combustion engine and includes a base shaft extending along a longitudinal axis. The camshaft assembly further includes an axially movable structure mounted on the base shaft and axially movable relative to the base shaft. The axially movable structure includes a plurality of lobe packs. Each lobe pack includes a plurality of cam lobes. The axially movable structure includes a barrel cam defining a control groove. The camshaft assembly additionally includes an actuator including an actuator body and a pin movably coupled to the actuator body between a retracted position and an extended position. The axially movable structure can move axially relative to the base shaft when the base shaft rotates about the longitudinal axis and the pin is in the extended position and at least partially disposed in the control groove.
US09032915B2

Various systems are provided for liquid-cooling of an internal combustion engine. In one example, an internal combustion engine includes a cylinder head, a cylinder block coupled to the cylinder head, a first return line fluidically coupled to the cylinder head and to a coolant valve and including a heat exchanger configured to remove heat from coolant, a second return line fluidically coupled to the cylinder block and to the coolant valve, a bypass line branching off from the first return line and fluidically coupled to the coolant valve, and an originating supply line fluidically coupled to the cylinder head, the cylinder block, and the coolant valve, the originating supply line including a pump configured to supply coolant. The coolant valve is configured to control coolant flow through the coolant lines via rotational selection of one of a plurality of working positions.
US09032910B2

A collar/harness and optionally leash system and method for assembling, using and manufacturing the same is provided. The system may include a single strap including means for connecting attached along the strap at positions predefined to be assembled to form a first loop adapted for use as a collar and a second loop adapted for use as a harness. The first and second loops of the assembled strap may form a figure-eight design.
US09032909B2

The present invention provides treatment apparatus, a fluid application device and methods of removing and applying fluid and relates particularly but not exclusively to an apparatus and method suitable for applying fluid to an elongate object such as a bovine teat or the like and to removing excess fluid. The device includes a holder (28) having a first end (58) and a second end (62) and an interior edge (54) defining a first opening, the first end having a second opening (56); a lower portion (70); and a cassette (30) for insertion into the second opening (56) and including a wiping device (32) having a wiping material (82, 84, 86) extending radially inwardly and extending at least partially across the first opening.
US09032907B2

The invention relates to a device for and method of milking dairy animals, in particular cows. The device and method have been improved in order to enhance the efficiency of use. In one embodiment, for the milking, teat cups are connected by means of a robot arm to respective teats of the dairy animal. This makes it possible to start the milking of the teats of the dairy animal. A milk flow from the respective teat can be measured. The milking can be ended by means of a control unit in dependence on a comparison value which is calculated on the basis of a milking parameter representative of a milk flow from the respective teat and in dependence on a deactivation threshold. According to the invention, the milking of the last teat is ended in dependence on a last-teat period to be calculated.
US09032905B2

An apparatus and method for coating a substrate using one or more liquid raw materials, includes: at least one atomizer for atomizing the one or more liquid raw materials into droplets, charging means for electrically charging the droplets during or after the atomization and a deposition chamber in which the droplets are deposited on the substrate, the deposition chamber being provided with one or more electric fields for guiding the electrically charged droplets on the substrate. According to the invention there is a charging chamber arranged upstream of the deposition chamber and provided with charging means for electrically charging the droplets.
US09032903B2

Proposed is a device for coating substrates by means of high-velocity flame spraying. The device comprises a combustion chamber (4), a first fuel feeder (L1) for feeding a liquid or gaseous fuel as well as at least one gas feeder for feeding an oxidative gas. The devise comprises furthermore a second fuel feeder (L5) for feeding a liquid or gaseous fuel as well as at least one further gas feeder for feeding a gas. Both the first gas feeder and the two fuel feeders (L1, L5) port into a common combustion chamber (4). In addition, means 24, 28 are provided for independent control of the fuel feed into the two fuel feeders (L1, L5).
US09032897B2

Planing hull extensions for watercraft are disclosed which may be mounted along the sides of the hull of a watercraft such as a boat or yacht. Typically, the hull extensions may be disposed along the side chines of the hull such that they extend the effective beam of the hull. The hull extensions may aid stabilizing the watercraft and/or inhibit wetting of the sides of the hull as well. In some cases, the hull extensions may be hydraulically operated between a closed position against the hull (or into a pocket along the side of the hull) and a fully open position substantially extending the width of the hull bottom. The position of the hull extensions may be automatically varied based upon throttle position, e.g. fully open at low throttle to fully closed against the hull at full throttle. Different hull extension position profiles may be used according to loading and water conditions.
US09032893B1

A method and device to permit a water vessel to releasably capture a line in a towing station, remote from a parent ship. The towing station may be attached to the parent ship via a tow line. The line capturing device is an actuated catch that includes a hook assembly that is moveable between a release mode and a retrieval and holding mode. The actuated catch also includes a spring biased retaining catch that prevents a captured line from being inadvertently released.
US09032890B2

A vessel includes a hull, a propeller for propulsion of the vessel and at least one rotatable cylinder which in its operational state is vertically mounted on the vessel, the cylinder having a rigid outer surface, a motor drive for rotating the cylinder around a longitudinal axis and a displacement member for displacing the cylinder to an inoperational position, wherein the motor drive is situated inside the cylinder.
US09032888B2

A bus seat for use in a bus comprises a frame and a seat back secured to a portion of the frame. The bus seat further comprises a seat cushion secured to another portion of the frame. The bus seat also comprises a removable two piece cover arranged over the seat back, wherein the cover pieces are secured to one another with a zipper. The zippered two piece seat back cover allows for easy installation, removal or replacement of any damaged or worn portions of the seat back trim cover.
US09032885B2

A paired row opener has a furrowing tip arranged to be selectively supported on a body of the opener. The furrowing tip includes a knife portion and a pair of wing portions extending rearwardly and outwardly therefrom where are separable together from the opener body. A pair of deflector wings are integrally formed on the opener body above inner edges of the respective wing portions which are abutted with the opener body so as to deflect disturbed soil away from a seam between the inner edge of the wing portions and the opener body. An insulated mounting block is fastened onto a rear bracket of the opener body which receives an anhydrous ammonia delivery tube therethrough so permit optional delivery of anhydrous ammonia at a location which is insulated and spaced rearwardly from the opener body.
US09032871B1

A system for adjusting the output of a densifier that includes a compression screw. The system may include a pressure system that includes a frame that at least partially surrounds at least a portion of a rail section of an extruder module associated with the densifier, at least one fluid spring associated between the frame and a wall of the rail section, and a compression system associated with the at least one fluid spring, wherein adjustment of the compression system is adapted to increase or decrease the compression force applied by the at least one fluid spring to the wall of the rail section.
US09032869B2

In one aspect, the present invention contemplates a strapping station that integrates with a machine for wrapping and clamping a strap around a load, particularly a palletized load. The strapping station includes a transfer conveyor and a compression conveyor that is supported to be lowered onto the upper surface of a load to apply pressure to or compress the load during the strapping operation. The compression conveyor is maintained in that position, continuously applying pressure to the load, even as the load is moved for the application of straps at different locations.
US09032865B2

The present invention relates to a device to regulate the level of a liquid inside a boiler of a coffee machine, having a transparent duct connected to the boiler and designed to visibly display the level of the liquid inside the boiler, a capacitive sensor that can be positioned outside the transparent duct in determined positions and designed to generate electric signals representing the presence or absence of liquid in correspondence to the position of the sensor along the transparent duct. The sensor of the device has first measuring elements and second measuring elements, both of capacitive type; the second measuring elements are positioned at a predetermined distance from the first measuring elements, and a measuring device designed to measure the impedance between the first and second measuring elements and to generate signals indicating the presence or absence of liquid in correspondence to the position of the sensor. The invention also relates to the machine that includes this device.
US09032858B2

A reactive protection arrangement for protecting stationary or mobile objects against threats posed by hollow charges, projectile-forming charges or kinetic energy penetrators is secured to the side of the object to be protected that faces the threat in a fixed or movable manner, and includes at least one protective area arranged at an inclination angle to the threat direction. This protective area comprises a front cover that faces the threat, and a rear cover that faces away from the threat and is spaced apart from the front cover and, is configured as a bulging arrangement. At least one fixed or movable reactive middle layer or reactive zone is present between both covers which includes at least two reactive partial areas each having at least one explosive field, wherein the reactive partial areas are plugged on all sides by means of the delimiting covers as well as lateral separating layers.
US09032857B2

The present invention relates to the field of electromagnetic rail launchers, and particularly to a rail launcher and an associated projectile-launching process including at least two longitudinal rails connected to a power supply circuit of these two rails, these rails being at least partially surrounded by superconductor elements able to generate a magnetic induction of a direction perpendicular to the plane formed by the rails and located therebetween during the flow of a current therein, launcher wherein the supply circuit includes the superconductor elements.
US09032853B2

A cutting apparatus is provided with a first blade (48, 82), a second blade (50, 84) intersecting with the first blade (48, 82), and a switching unit (72). The switching unit (72) switches between a first mode and a second mode. In the first mode, the first blade (48, 82) positions in a cutting position in which it is possible to cut a work-piece (12) and the second blade (50, 84) positions in a non-cutting position in which it is impossible to cut the work-piece (12). In the second mode, the second blade (50, 84) positions in the cutting position in which it is possible to cut the work-piece (12) and the first blade (48, 82) positions in the non-cutting position in which it is impossible to cut the work-piece (12).
US09032849B2

A material removal having a plurality of cartridges mounted on an active portion where a plurality of seating members mounted in each of the plurality of cartridges pivots about an axis between a retracted position and an extended position is disclosed. Alternative embodiments have a single pivotable seating member. The pivotable extending seating members operate to extend and retract in a scissors-like motion and enable compact and efficient machining operation, particularly for crank shaft bearing supports.
US09032847B2

A tool having a main barrel with an inner cavity, a tool bit holder adapted to be removably secured within the inner cavity, the tool bit holder having a first inner cavity adapted for receiving a first reversible tool bit and a second inner cavity adapted to receive a non-reversible tool bit, wherein the inner cavity of the main barrel serves as a first sized nut driver, the first inner cavity of the tool bit holder serves as a second sized nut driver, and the second inner cavity of the tool bit holder serves as third sized nut driver, where first, second, and third sized nut drivers each have a different size.
US09032846B2

A milling tool holder wrench is provided. A wrench includes two knobs that protrude outward and perpendicular from a surface of the wrench at a top end of a u-shaped portion of the wrench. The knobs adapted to snuggly engage recessed fittings of a milling tool holder to lock the milling tool holder steady within a milling machine while a tool is changed from the milling tool holder.
US09032842B2

A device for stripping coating from electric wires is provided with a function to detect any contact between a wire core and stripping blades even for electric wires which have been cut short. This device has a signal analyzer circuit for measurement of impedance via stripping blades capable of detecting any contact between the stripping blades and the wire core by detecting a change in impedance as a result of addition of impedance of the wire core to that of the stripping blades at the moment of any contact of the stripping blades with the core of the electric wire in the course of stripping coating from the electric wire.
US09032839B2

A crankshaft and method for manufacturing the same are disclosed. The crankshaft may comprise a web and a rod journal disposed adjacent to the web. The rod journal includes a fillet disposed proximal to the web. The fillet includes a tapered undercut having a concave shape with a graduated depth. The undercut is defined by a sweep angle and an offset angle.
US09032837B2

A pendulum absorber system attenuates torsional vibrations within a drive train of a vehicle. The system can be incorporated between an engine and an automatic transmission, for example, within a flex plate assembly attached to an engine's crankshaft, within a pump housing cover of a torque converter, or as a stand-alone unit between a flex plate assembly and a torque converter. The system includes at least one pendulum weight that dynamically moves along a predetermined path in response to variations in rotational velocities of a housing of the system and that is tuned to attenuate excitation of torsional vibrations within the drive train. A limiter assembly, which can include multiple limiters, is provided within the system for stopping movement of the weight when it reaches endpoints of the predetermined path, by mechanically impeding further movement at both of a first and second end of the weight.
US09032836B2

A device for preventing an inward shifting of a brake pedal during a collision. The device includes a mounting bracket. A pedal housing is combined with the mounting bracket such that the pedal housing is movable in a rearwards direction from the mounting bracket. A pedal arm is hinge-coupled at upper and middle parts thereof with the pedal housing and a push rod, respectively. A unit for preventing the inward shifting of the pedal arm has a separating plate which, as the pedal housing is moved rearwards, presses against a fixing pin to decouple the fixing pin from the pedal arm, enabling the pedal arm to turn outwards about a hinge point at the middle part.
US09032835B2

A steering column assembly comprises a steering column shroud comprising an inner and an outer tubular member, a support bracket which is fixed to part of the vehicle, and a clamp assembly which includes a cab mechanism having a fixed portion and a moving portion and a clamp pin which passes through arms of the support bracket, the clamp pin being provided with a first reaction member located towards one end of the pin outside of one arm of the support bracket and a second reaction member located towards the other end of the clamp pin outside of the other arm of the support bracket such that the arms of the bracket are located on the clamp pin between the reaction members and with the cam assembly located between the outside of one arm and one of the reaction members. The fixed cam portion is mechanically connected to the support bracket such that at least during an initial release phase of the clamp assembly the force required to produce a rotational movement of the fixed cam portion relative to the support bracket exceeds any rotational force exerted on the fixed part due to strain energy stored in the assembly.
US09032833B2

A securing element (1) with an annular body (3, 12a, 26) and with holding tongues (4) which emerge from the annular body (3, 12a, 26) and end at a hole (6) in the securing element (1), which hole is centered with respect to the center axis (5) of the securing element (1), wherein the hole (6) leads axially in the same direction as the center axis (5) through the securing element (1) and, at the radial narrowest points of the hole (6), is bounded at least by end edges (7) formed on the end sides of the holding tongues (4), and wherein in each case at least two surfaces (8, 9) bounding part of the holding tongue (4) meet and end at the respective end edge (7), and of which one of the surfaces (8) is formed on the front side of the holding tongue (4).
US09032830B2

The present disclosure relates to various shift selector assemblies having a shift gate with a plurality of indentations corresponding to transmission shift selections. At least one of the indentations is configured to have a flexible depth so as to selectively restrict and accept a pawl pin, thereby mitigating shift position overshoot.
US09032829B2

Provided is a button structure of a shift knob for use with a shift lever in which a rod is provided. The shift knob comprises: a button capable of being pushed to allow the rod to be moved downwardly from a lock position to a lock release position; a pinion gear provided in coaxial relation to a pivot shaft of the button; and a rack meshed with the pinion gear. The button structure moves the rod to a shift-lock release position, interlockingly with a downward movement of the rack caused by a swinging movement of the pinion gear in a forward direction, according to a pushing operation of the button, and moves the rod to a shift-lock position, interlockingly with an upward movement of the rack caused by a swinging movement of the pinion gear in a reverse direction, according to a push-mode releasing operation of the button.
US09032827B2

A locating beam and a robot linear motion unit having the same, wherein the locating beam comprises a first support beam and a second support beam which are parallel to each other, a crossbeam connected between the first support beam and the second support beam and is vertical to the beams, and a joints between the crossbeam and the beams is provided with a right-angle connecting piece. The robot linear motion unit includes a motion track and a transmission mechanism arranged along the extension direction of the motion track, and the motion track is arranged on a surface of the locating beam. Arranging the crossbeam and right-angle connecting pieces between the first support beam and the second support beam in the locating beam, improves the mechanical structure strength, reduces deflection deformation and twist deformation of the locating beam, and improves the impact resistance of the robot linear motion unit.
US09032826B2

A bevel gear drive (1) comprises a spur bevel gear (2) and a pinion which both mesh with one another. The spur bevel gear and the pinion are arranged within a housing (3). An abutment plate (4) is provided so as to avoid displacement of the spur bevel gear (2), under high operating loads. The abutment plate (4) is integrated in the housing (3) and supports the spur bevel gear (2) when forces, that can cause displacement of the spur bevel gear (2), act upon the spur bevel gear (2).
US09032818B2

A microelectromechanical (“MEMS”) load sensor device for measuring a force applied by a human user is described herein. In one aspect, the load sensor device has a contact surface in communication with a touch surface which communicates forces originating on the touch surface to a deformable membrane, on which load sensor elements are arranged, such that the load sensor device produces a signal proportional to forces imparted by a human user along the touch surface. In another aspect, the load sensor device has an overload protection ring to protect the load sensor device from excessive forces. In another aspect, the load sensor device has embedded logic circuitry to allow a microcontroller to individually address load sensor devices organized into an array. In another aspect, the load sensor device has electrical and mechanical connectors such as solder bumps designed to minimize cost of final component manufacturing.
US09032816B2

An ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving unit includes: a piezoelectric member supporting plate; an acoustic matching member fixed to one surface of the piezoelectric member supporting plate; a piezoelectric member fixed to the other surface. Moreover, the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving unit includes: an insulating vibration suppressing member integrally formed in such a manner as to cover the piezoelectric member and the piezoelectric member supporting plate, wherein the insulating vibration suppressing member has a hole reaching the piezoelectric member supporting plate.
US09032814B2

A measuring device (1) is provided for measuring the flow rate of a medium (5) flowing through measuring tube (3). The measuring device (1) contains means for generating a constant magnetic field (B) perpendicular to the flow direction (v) of the medium (5) and at least two decoupling regions (7, 7′) which are disposed in a plane (E) perpendicular to the flow direction (v) of the medium (5) on the wall (9) of the measuring tube (3). Each decoupling region (7, 7′) comprises an electrode (13, 13′) which has a non-metal porous layer (11) on the side facing the medium (5) and a measuring unit (19) for detecting a measuring signal. In the measuring device (1), the porous layer (11, 11′) comprises an oxidic and/or non-oxidic ceramic material.
US09032811B2

A robot apparatus includes an arm that includes an outer skin and a detector that detects the deformation of the outer skin. The detector includes a sending unit that sends a signal, a receiving unit that receives the signal, and a transmission route that is provided along the outer skin so as to lead the signal. The detector detects the deformation of the outer skin based on whether a signal reaches the receiving unit.
US09032808B2

According to one embodiment, a magneto-resistive effect device, includes a stacked body stacked on a substrate, a pair of first electrodes that feeds current to the stacked body, a strain introduction member, and a second electrode for applying a voltage to the strain introduction member. The stacked body includes a first magnetic layer that includes one or more metals selected from the group consisting of iron, cobalt, and nickel, a second magnetic layer stacked on the first magnetic layer, having a composition that is different from the first magnetic layer, and a spacer layer disposed between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer.
US09032797B2

A sensor device including a mechanical oscillator, an excitation unit which is configured to excite the mechanical oscillator to perform a mechanical oscillation within a non-linear range at a varying excitation frequency, and an evaluation unit configured to detect a jump, arising as a result of anharmonicity, in a resonance oscillation of the mechanical oscillation of the mechanical oscillator.
US09032794B2

A measurement system having a miniature, wireless inertial measurement unit (IMU) disposed within or on a moving object, such as a ball or other member, to calculate the kinematics of the moving object.
US09032789B2

A vehicle wheel service apparatus, in particular a wheel balancer or a tire changer, comprising a load means for applying a predetermined load onto a peripheral surface of a wheel/tire assembly, a sensor device arranged to determine forces acting between the peripheral surface of the wheel/tire assembly and the load means, wherein the forces comprise at least a first force acting in a radial direction of the wheel/tire assembly and a second force acting in a circumferential direction of the wheel/tire assembly, and an evaluation device arranged to determine a rolling resistance coefficient of the tire on the basis of the first and second forces.
US09032779B2

A gas sensor (1) has an inner protector (120) and an outer protector (110); the inner protector (120) has an inner wall portion (160) having an inner gas inlet (170) for introducing gas to be measured into the interior of the inner protector (120); the outer protector (110) has an outer wall portion (130) having an outer gas inlet (140) for introducing the gas to be measured into the interior of the outer protector (110); a clearance of 1.35 mm or less is provided between the detection portion (11) and at least a portion of the inner wall portion (160); and when the gas sensor (1) is in use, the inner protector (120) is higher in temperature than the outer protector (110).
US09032777B2

A system and method are disclosed for automatically calibrating capacitive transducers to neutralize feed-through capacitance using linear actuation. The method includes starting with an initial neutralization capacitance, applying no electrostatic force and two known electrostatic forces to a proof mass of the transducer, recording the transducer output changes due to the applied forces; and determining how to revise neutralization capacitance based on the changes. The method can use a binary search to find a final neutralization capacitance providing the best linearity. The method can include comparing the final linearity to a threshold linearity. The electrostatic forces can be applied using a charge control method where the electrostatic force is a linear function of the actuation duration. The linear actuation can be used for continuous self-test of capacitive sensors.
US09032776B2

A method for calibrating a torsion torquemeter including: placing a torsion torquemeter in a first state; performing first measurements determining first and second angular offsets, and measuring torque output by the power shaft using a reference torquemeter; placing the torsion torquemeter in a second state; performing second measurements determining the first and second angular offsets, and measuring torque output by the power shaft; placing the torquemeter in a third state; performing third measurements determining the first and second angular offsets, and measuring the torque output by the power shaft; placing the torquemeter in a fourth state; performing fourth measurements determining the first and second angular offsets, and measuring the torque output by the power shaft; calibrating the calculation unit based on the first, second, third, and fourth measurements.
US09032774B1

One aspect of the disclosure relates to a die comprising a primary plate and secondary plates. The secondary plates comprise through weld holes formed along a direction. The through weld holes of adjacent secondary plates do not overlap when viewed in the direction along which the though weld holes are formed. The primary plate is coupled to at least one secondary plate abutting the primary plate by first welds located in the through weld holes. The secondary plates abutting each other are coupled by second welds located in the through weld holes.
US09032772B2

A method of forming a product via induction heating and forming of the product includes providing an induction heating coil for induction heating of a component and providing a die forming shell for supporting the component and for defining the final shape of a formed product formed from the component. The die forming shell includes a metallic material. A support structure is provided for supporting the die forming shell during the induction heating of the component. The support structure includes a metallic material. The support structure includes insulating portions to limit or substantially preclude inducement of electrical current through the support structure during the induction heating process. The component is inductively heated along its length while the component is in the die forming shell. The component is at least one of (a) heated before the formed product is formed and (b) heated while the formed product is formed.
US09032769B2

The invention relates to an antitheft device (2) for the steering column of a vehicle, comprising: a locking portion (6) including a bolt for locking the steering column, and a mobile member (22) capable of controlling the locking-in-position of the bolt; and an access portion (4) including a latch and carrying a pivoting rocker arm (34) bearing against the mobile member (22) and against the locking portion (6).
US09032768B2

A device includes an actuating device, and the actuating device includes: a locking device having a lock; an actuating member which pivots about an axis of rotation to move a movable furniture part; and a spring device which biases the actuating member to pivot about the axis of rotation in an opening direction. The lock is lockable by a key for preventing the actuating member from pivoting about the axis of rotation, and the lock is unlockable by the key for enabling the actuating member from pivoting about the axis of rotation.
US09032763B2

Methods of manufacturing a knitted component for an article of footwear that include knitting an upper with an integral knit tongue during a knitting process on a knitting machine are described. The knitting process forms the integral knit tongue of unitary knit construction with the upper so that the integral knit tongue extends through a throat area of the knitted component. The integral knit tongue can include raised elements formed of unitary knit construction with the tongue.
US09032750B2

A variable capacity screw compressor for use in a refrigeration system is provided. Compressed refrigerant gas from the compressor is expelled into a discharge port in fluid communication with the refrigeration circuit. The volume associated with the discharge port can be periodically varied, allowing the efficiency of the compressor to be varied periodically. The discharge port volume includes a penetration that houses a movable member or plug that permits the volume to be periodically varied. This movable member is accessible from the exterior of the compressor housing to adjust the position of the movable member within the discharge port volume. The movable member may be adjusted to a full open position in which the discharge port volume is maximized, to a full closed position in which the discharge port volume is minimized, and to any position between full open and full closed.
US09032749B2

This invention relates to a multi-room air conditioning system with a plurality of indoor expansion valves. A method for sequencing the initialization of each indoor expansion valve upon system startup is disclosed. The method includes the following steps: 1. Initializing expansion valves corresponding to active indoor units, 2. Turning on the compressor, 3. Adjusting the indoor expansion valves corresponding to active indoor units, 4. Initializing and adjusting indoor expansion valves corresponding to inactive indoor units.
US09032746B2

An ice making device may include an ice tray, a water-supply part for supplying water to the ice tray, an electrostatic capacity sensor having two or more electrodes attached to the ice tray, a water quantity detecting section for detecting a water quantity in the ice tray on a basis of variation of an electrostatic capacity between the electrodes of the electrostatic capacity sensor, and an ice frozen detecting section for detecting water supplied to the ice tray having been frozen on the basis of the variation of the electrostatic capacity between the electrodes of the electrostatic capacity sensor. A control unit for the ice making device controls the water-supply part, an ice tray drive part and an ice detecting part on the basis of variation of the electrostatic capacity between the electrodes of the electrostatic capacity sensor.
US09032741B2

A cryopump 10 includes: a first cryopanel including a radiation shield 18 having a shield opening 20 and a louver 23 arranged in the shield opening 20; a second cryopanel 24 surrounded by the first cryopanel; and a refrigerator 14 configured to cool the first cryopanel to a first cooling temperature and to cool the second cryopanel to a second cooling temperature lower than the first cooling temperature. A rough surface 42 is formed on the louver 23.
US09032738B2

A gas turbine engine includes a compressor for generating compressed air. The compressor includes a rotor defined by a plurality of axial disks including a first disk and a second disk. A first row of blades extends radially outwardly from the first disk, and a second row of blades extends radially outwardly from the second disk. A row of cantilevered vanes is located at an axial location between the first row of blades and the second row of blades. A bleed path extends at least partially through the second disk and includes an entrance at an axial location between the first row of blades and at least a portion of the row of cantilevered vanes. The entrance communicates with a compressed air flowpath through the compressor.
US09032734B2

Disclosed illustrative embodiments include modular power infrastructure networks, distributed electrical power infrastructure networks, methods for operating a modular power infrastructure network, and methods for fabricating a modular power infrastructure network.
US09032732B1

A high efficiency OTEC service station for supporting a novel high efficiency ocean thermal energy conversion system. The high efficiency OTEC service station generally includes a semi-submersible platform positioned in a warm ocean location. The station includes an upper deck having an interior which stores one or more fluid pumps, generators and turbines for use in generating electrical power. A lower deck having an interior stores one or more working fluid tanks, water storage tanks and spent working fluid tanks. Three heater assemblies are provided for heating working fluid at various stages of an OTEC cycle and for use in creating potable water for other applications. A heat exchanger extends from the lower deck, which also includes one or more buoyancy tanks. By utilizing a novel approach to ocean thermal energy conversion, the OTEC service station achieves greater efficiency and lower operating costs than prior art systems.
US09032731B2

A method for powering a cooling unit. The method including applying electromagnetic (EM) radiation to a complex, where the complex absorbs the EM radiation to generate heat, transforming, using the heat generated by the complex, a fluid to vapor, and sending the vapor from the vessel to a turbine coupled to a generator by a shaft, where the vapor causes the turbine to rotate, which turns the shaft and causes the generator to generate the electric power, wherein the electric powers supplements the power needed to power the cooling unit.
US09032725B2

A method for operating a working machine provided with a power source providing power and a plurality of power consuming systems connected to the power source includes the steps of providing a model predicting a power demanded by at least one of the power consuming systems, detecting at least one operational parameter indicative of a power demand, using the detected operational parameter in the prediction model, and balancing a provided power to the demanded power according to the prediction model.
US09032721B2

A flow passage defined between an inner and an outer boundary for guiding a fluid flow in an axial direction. A flow control vane is supported at a radial location between the inner and outer boundaries. A fluid discharge opening is provided for discharging a flow of the compressed fluid from a trailing edge of the vane, and a fluid control surface is provided adjacent to the fluid discharge opening and extends in the axial direction at the trailing edge of the vane. The fluid control surface has a curved trailing edge forming a Coanda surface. The fluid discharge opening is selectively provided with a compressed fluid to produce a Coanda effect along the control surface. The Coanda effect has a component in the radial direction effecting a turning of the fluid flow in the flow path radially inward or outward toward one of the inner and outer boundaries.
US09032714B2

An exhaust purification system is provided that can decrease the load acting on a device treating PM, even when switched to stoich operation. The exhaust purification system includes: a PM treatment device, a three-way purification catalyst, an LAF sensor, and an ECU (3) that performs feedback control so that an LAF sensor output (Vex) becomes a target value (Vop) determined so that the three-way purification reaction is optimized during stoich operation. The ECU (3) includes a fuel controller (32) that determines a fuel injection amount (Gfuel) so that a state in which an air/fuel ratio of the air/fuel mixture is leaner than stoich and a state richer than stoich are alternately realized by modulating a fuel correction amount (dGfuel) determined so as to cause the LAF sensor output (Vex) to converge to the target value (Vop) by employing a predetermined modulation algorithm.
US09032712B2

A method for heating a delivery system providing reducing agent to an exhaust gas treatment device of an internal combustion engine having electrical components, includes determining a temperature in the delivery system, determining thermal energy required for error-free operation of the delivery system in a time interval, and introducing the required thermal energy into the delivery system by operating the electrical components within the time interval. The electrical components are activated at a time offset of at least 30 seconds. The required energy is determined so that the quantity of reducing agent to be delivered hourly is provided in liquid form at least four times after the time interval. The method prevents overloading of an electrical system of a motor vehicle when heating the delivery system and prevents ice cavity formation in a reducing agent in a tank. A motor vehicle having a delivery system is also provided.
US09032709B2

Provided is an emission treatment system and method for simultaneously remediating the nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter, and gaseous hydrocarbons present in diesel engine exhaust streams. The emission treatment system has an oxidation catalyst upstream of a soot filter coated with a material effective in the Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) of NOx by a reductant, e.g., ammonia. Also provided is a method for disposing an SCR catalyst composition on a wall flow monolith that provides adequate catalyst loading, but does not result in unsuitable back pressures in the exhaust.
US09032705B2

The present subject matter overcomes the deficiencies in the prior art by introducing or generating charged particles in an air stream and manipulating the air stream with magnetic fields operating on the charged particles. Embodiments of the present subject matter compress the air stream by accelerating charged particles with a moving magnetic field, where the magnetic field has a velocity perpendicular to its flux lines. The increased velocity of the charged particles increases the statistical mean particle velocity and thereby increases the pressure in the air stream. The compressed air stream is then heated and expanded through a second magnetic field. The expansion of the air stream substantially increases the velocity of the air stream and the charged particles therein. The interaction of the high velocity charged particles and the magnetic field imparts a force perpendicular to the flux lines, this force powers the movement of the magnetic field and can also be extracted in the form of mechanical work.
US09032702B2

An accessory gearbox for an engine having at least one accessory gearbox shaft connectable to an auxiliary unit and driveable by a drive shaft, the drive shaft being operatively connectable to an engine shaft of the engine. At least one auxiliary unit can be arranged on the drive shaft and/or in the area of the operative connection between the drive shaft and the engine shaft and/or on an accessory gearbox shaft connectable to a further auxiliary unit.
US09032699B2

A system for preparing food product minimizes bacterial contamination and outgrowth within the packaged food product, includes a powered slicer to sequentially separate slices of food product to create a stack of food product slices. The system also includes a first spray nozzle for depositing a first predetermined amount of the antimicrobial preparation onto the first face of the log or other food product piece each time a slice is removed as well as a a second spray nozzle for depositing a second predetermined amount of the antimicrobial preparation into a vacuum pouch prior to reception of a stack within the pouch. In an embodiment, the spray system is implemented with respect to a mixer/blender to pretreat a mix prior to further processing.
US09032689B2

A method of self-erecting a jacking tower includes extending a lift assembly, inserting a first module assembly below the extended lift assembly, lowering the lift assembly around the first module assembly, engaging the lift assembly with the first module assembly, extending the lift assembly with the first module assembly engaged, inserting a second module assembly below the extended lift assembly, lowering the lift assembly, and coupling the first and second module assemblies.
US09032684B2

A decorative wall system comprises a supporting wall, a thin brick element with a mortise formed therein, and a dovetail tenon clip with fastening means for insertion and retention in the mortise, whereby the brick element is attached to the supporting wall. The dovetail tenon clip has a quadrilateral cross sectional shape, which is open on one side and structurally reinforced at the vertices.
US09032682B2

A free-standing wall includes an internal frame, a pair of wall panel assemblies supported on each side of the internal frame by cleats and a top plate. The internal frame includes opposing sides that define a thickness. Each of the pair of wall panel assemblies includes a panel having an interior surface and a width. The top plate includes a width that is at least as great as a combined dimension of the thickness of the internal frame and the widths of each panel. The top plate is coupled to a top of the internal frame to secure the pair of wall panel assemblies to the internal frame.
US09032680B1

A masonry block which includes two supporting parts and an insulative malleable member for interlockingly and tightly inserting between the supporting parts. The malleable member has a plurality of spaced grooves in at least one portion of each of its supporting part-engaging surfaces which is susceptible to binding. Its supporting part-engaging surfaces comprise otherwise thereover spaced convex surface portions for engaging the supporting part surfaces respectively to accommodate gradual enlargement of the supporting parts due to mold wear. For ease of picking up the block, the malleable member has in its upper surface a pair of spaced transverse hand holds, a centrally positioned longitudinal hand hold, and a pair of thumb holds positioned longitudinally outwardly of said transverse hand holds respectively.
US09032677B1

A pipe rack and a method for making a pipe rack where the pipe rack may include at least one foundation, two legs, and a horizontal support. The two legs are supported by the at least one foundation. Each of the two legs includes at least one aperture. The horizontal support has two ends. The first end is located in an aperture in a first leg of the two legs and a second end of the horizontal support is located in an aperture in a second leg of the two legs. The first end of the horizontal support has a cross-sectional area that is at most 75% of a cross-sectional area of the aperture in the first leg and the second end of the horizontal support has a cross-sectional area that is at most 75% of a cross-sectional area of the aperture in the second leg.
US09032676B2

A wall siding corner cover apparatus having an elongated length is provided. A corner portion is formed from first and second sides connected together at proximal ends of each of the first and second sides, wherein the first side is positioned substantially perpendicular to the second side. A first ending portion is connected to a distal end of the first side and a second ending portion is connected to a distal end of the second side. A first rear leg is connected to the first ending portion and a second rear leg is connected to the second ending portion. Each of the first and second rear legs extends towards the proximal ends of each of the first and second sides, respectively. Each of the first and second rear legs terminates in a position between the proximal and distal ends of each of the first and second sides, respectively.
US09032673B2

A system for mounting solar modules comprising a plurality of racks and clamps. Each rack has an inclined upper mounting surface to support one of the solar modules and an inclined lower mounting surface to support one of the other solar modules. Each upper mounting surface and lower mounting surface define a slot. One of the clamps slidably receivable by a slot of one of the upper mounting surfaces and configured to secure the one solar modules to the upper mounting surfaces and an other of the clamps slidably receivable by a slot of one of the lower mounting surfaces and configured to secure said one of the other solar modules to one of the lower mounting surfaces. Each rack has a tray having a first tower supporting the upper mounting surface and a second tower supporting the lower mounting surface.
US09032664B2

A plant growth container includes a tray, an inlet channel in the tray, a growth media retainer in the tray, one or more protrusions within the growth media retainer, an outlet channel connected to the growth media retainer, and a lid capable of being fixedly attached to the tray. The tray can be used in a hydroponic growth system for plants, where the system includes a container for growing plants. The container includes a tray, an inlet channel in the tray, a growth media retainer in the tray connected to the inlet channel, one or more protrusions in the growth media retainer, the protrusions capable of securing growth media from lateral movement, an outlet channel connected to the growth media retainer, and a lid. The system may include a reservoir for holding a liquid and a pump capable of pumping the liquid from the reservoir to the container.
US09032657B1

A universal fingerprint recognition system for firearms that greatly reduces misuse and accidental discharge of a firearm. The fingerprint recognition assembly is completely embedded within the firearm to prevent tampering. A chip embedded in the trigger scans the firearm owner's fingerprint, and when recognized releases a safety pin, allowing the trigger to be pulled. A charging port embedded in the firearm's grip allows a USB-type connector to be attached and charge the battery chip in the CPU.
US09032654B2

A trading card (10) comprises a first substrate (14A), a second substrate (14B) and a spacer (16A). The first substrate (14A) includes a first card image (18). The second substrate (14B) includes a second card image (20). The second substrate (14B) is spaced apart from the first substrate (14A). The spacer (16A) is positioned substantially between the first substrate (14A) and the second substrate (14B) to maintain the first card image (18) spaced apart from the second card image (20). The trading card (10) can further comprise a third substrate (14C) and a second spacer (16B). The third substrate (14C) includes a third card image (22). The third substrate (14C) is spaced apart from the first substrate (14A) and the second substrate (14B). The second spacer (16B) is positioned substantially between the second substrate (14B) and the third substrate (14C) to maintain the second card image (20) spaced apart from the third card image (22). The first card image (18), the second card image (20) and the third card image (22) can cooperate to form a full card image (12).
US09032646B2

An energy return shoe system has a shoe portion, a flexible lower sole portion and a toe mechanism. The toe mechanism has an upper toe plate, a lower toe plate, and at least two toe arms. The upper toe plate is affixed to the shoe portion, the lower toe plate is affixed to the lower sole, and the toe arms are pivotally affixed at ends to the upper toe plate and the lower toe plate and are substantially parallel to each other. The lower sole is made of a flexible material and there is at least one spring mechanism that urges the shoe portion away from the lower sole. As the wearer steps down, energy of the wearer's mass is stored in one or more spring devices and as the wearer begins to lift their foot, the stored energy is returned to help push that foot off the ground.
US09032637B2

A hanging jig for locating and marking anchor positions for hanging a picture is described. The hanging jig can include a first arm and a second arm in slidable connection to the first arm, and the first and second arms can be oriented perpendicular to one another. The first arm can also include a picture rest extending forward from a top end of the first arm. The second arm can also include first and second moveable marking members extending backward from the second arm and first and second moveable holding members extending forward from the second arm.
US09032634B1

A tool for measuring, marking, or cutting material, the tool formed of a rigid sheet of transparent material having a plurality of lines formed thereon, and a plurality of windows formed in the lines to enable viewing of material underlying the tool. The windows can be outlined in opaque lines, and alternating windows can be filled with contrasting transparent colors.
US09032630B2

A vegetation pruning device includes a cutting element; a guide bar for supporting the cutting element, the guide bar having a guide bar plane, the guide bar being pivotable in the guide bar plane about a fixed axis; a motor having a motor shaft for rotatably driving the cutting element; a motor housing for receiving the motor; a guiding mechanism connected to the motor housing, the guiding mechanism having a longitudinal axis; a handle assembly operable to move linearly along the longitudinal axis; and a transmission device for connecting the handle assembly to the guide bar through, the transmission device converting a linearly movement of the handle assembly to a pivoting movement of the guide bar, the cutting element thereby approaching or withdrawing from a workpiece to be sawn.
US09032620B2

Method for laterally replacing a heavy component of a plant assembly, the method including disconnecting the heavy component from other components of the plant assembly and from a base plate to which the heavy component is fixed; lifting the heavy component above the base plate with a lifting system provided within the base plate; connecting at least a pair of rails to the base plate, under the lifted heavy component, such that the at least a pair of rails extends at substantially a right angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the heavy component; lowering the heavy component on crawling mechanisms disposed on the at least a pair of rails; and laterally replacing the heavy component from the base plate and the other components of the plant assembly by actuating the crawling mechanisms.
US09032615B2

A method forms an electrical connection between a first metal layer and a second metal layer. The second metal layer is above the first metal layer. A first via is formed between the first metal layer and the second metal layer. A first measure of a number of vacancies expected to reach the first via is obtained. A second via in at least one of the first metal layer and the second metal layer is formed if the measure of vacancies exceeds a first predetermined number.
US09032613B2

A method for making a circuit board includes separating a plurality of versatile circuit boards from a collective board by cutting a connecting portion of the collective board, the plurality of versatile circuit boards being connected each other via the connecting portion, and cutting a part of a wiring formed on each of the plurality of versatile circuit boards to produce the circuit board. The cutting of the part of the wiring is conducted within the separating of the plurality of versatile circuit boards.
US09032611B2

A pick-and-place tool configured to pick and place at least one die on a workpiece includes a mounting head. The mounting head includes a die position determining unit configured to one of measure and detect an actual position of at least one die during a time between the placement of the at least one die on the workpiece and the picking up of a subsequent die for placement on the workpiece.
US09032610B2

Electrodes are established in a region of an electrically conductive liquid flowing along a pipe, by surrounding the pipe containing the liquid with a core of magnetically conductive material which passes through a primary coil energized by an electrical signal to create an electric field within the liquid, by connecting a secondary passage at the region for the liquid to flow between opposite sides of the core, and by restricting the flow of the liquid in the secondary passage to create an electrical resistance along which an electrical current flows through the liquid.
US09032608B2

In a method for manufacturing at least one mechanical-electrical energy conversion system including multiple individual parts, and a mechanical-electrical energy conversion, multiple different individual parts are positioned in an assembly device and joined in joining areas assigned to the individual parts in the assembly device, the individual parts including at least one piezoelectric element, one support structure and one seismic mass.
US09032607B2

A medical device-includes a polymer stent crimped to a catheter having an expansion balloon. The stent is crimped to the balloon by a process that includes heating the stent to a temperature below the polymer's glass transition temperature to improve stent retention without adversely affecting the mechanical characteristics of the stent when later deployed to support a body lumen.
US09032606B2

Systems and methods for personalizing prosthetic and orthotic devices are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method of personalizing a portion of a device configured to be worn by a wearer as at least one of a prosthetic or an orthosis may include facilitating an application of a wearer-selected artwork to the portion of the device. For example, in various specific embodiments, the facilitating an application of a wearer-selected artwork to the portion of the device may include creating a portion of material having a wearer-specified personalization artwork, and providing the portion of material having the wearer-specified personalization artwork to at least one of the wearer or a third party for application onto the portion of the device. In some embodiments, the portion of material may be provided to at least one of the wearer or a third party for application when the portion of the device is being fabricated.
US09032603B2

While a second component is brought into contact with a first component, the first component and the second component are rotated with respect to each other around a specific rotation axis, and rotation of the first component and the second component is stopped when a moment created around the rotation axis exceeds a predetermined threshold.
US09032593B2

A fastening or mounting apparatus for releasably joining two objects is disclosed. The apparatus uses a cam portion opposite a hook portion in a structure of one of the objects to engage with flanges, protrusions or ends of the other object. In the case of flanges, one of the flanges deforms a resilient element in the hook portion during insertion, and the other flange snaps into the detent of the cam portion upon application of force. The apparatus may be adaptable from small scale applications to large-scale heavy duty applications.
US09032580B2

Counterweight devices and systems for a hand tool, such as a paintbrush, having a forward working end and a handle extending rearwardly along a longitudinal axis, having a distal end, with the hand tool having a center of gravity located on the axis forward of the midpoint between the working and distal ends, are disclosed. A counterweight device includes a counterweight body configured to be mounted to a portion of the handle, and one or more counterweights supported on the counterweight body. The counterweight device is thereby adapted to shift the center of gravity of the hand tool rearward along the axis of the handle to a predetermined extent when the counterweight body is mounted to the handle. A counterweight system includes a set of interchangeable counterweights each having a different weight and each configured to be removably attached either to the counterweight body or to a counterweight attached thereto.
US09032568B2

Drainable hammocks with an arrangement of drainage paths in the fabric of the hammock bed are disclosed, wherein the drainage paths are openings in the fabric of the hammock bed. In one example, the openings are formed by grommets that are positioned in the fabric of the hammock bed. A method of operation of the drainable hammocks includes, but is not limited to, the steps of water impinging the uppermost surface of the hammock bed, water flowing due to gravity from the high points in the hammock bed to the low points in the hammock bed, and water exiting the hammock bed through the drainage paths and onto the ground below.
US09032550B2

The invention relates to an item of clothing, in particular to be worn during sports such as jogging, skating, cycling or similar. Said item of clothing is made of at least one yarn (3) that comprises a heat-reflecting covering (5).
US09032548B2

In this invention, a visor is configured to be inserted into a slit of a movable plate. One of an engaging projecting portion and an engaging concave portion is provided on the visor, and the other is provided on the movable plate. When the visor pivots in a first direction about the engaging projecting portion, a concave corner portion of the visor comes into contact with a first position regulating portion of the movable plate, thereby impeding the pivotal movement of the visor. When the visor pivots in a second direction, the outer wall surface of the visor comes into contact with wall portions of the movable plate, thereby impeding the pivotal movement of the visor.
US09038184B1

A security server renders a plurality of web pages. The security server logs script operations of the plurality of web pages that are performed when the web pages are rendered. Sequences of script data values that result from the script operations are determined. The sequences of script data values are tagged as either malicious or non-malicious based on whether the script operations associated with the sequence of script data values resulted in abnormal behavior in the computer. A statistical analysis is performed on the malicious and non-malicious script data values to determine likelihoods that identified sequences of script data values represent malicious behavior. The security server generates security data based on the statistical analysis. The security data are provided to clients. The clients monitor script operations of web pages accessed by the clients, and use the security data to identify malicious script operations.
US09038172B2

Sound, robust methods identify the most suitable, parsimonious set of tests to use with respect to prioritized, sequential anomaly detection in a collected batch of sample data. While the focus is on detecting anomalies in network traffic flows and classifying network traffic flows into application types, the methods are also applicable to other anomaly detection and classification application settings, including detecting email spam, (e.g. credit card) fraud detection, detecting imposters, unusual event detection (for example, in images and video), host-based computer intrusion detection, detection of equipment or complex system failures, as well as of anomalous measurements in scientific experiments.
US09038168B2

Described is a technology by which access to a resource is determined by evaluating a resource label of the resource against a user claim of an access request, according to policy decoupled from the resource. The resource may be a file, and the resource label may be obtained by classifying the file into classification properties, such that a change to the file may change its resource label, thereby changing which users have access to the file. The resource label-based access evaluation may be logically combined with a conventional ACL-based access evaluation to determine whether to grant or deny access to the resource.
US09038159B2

A user device is configured to request a secure web page from a web page server. The user device is further configured to receive a certificate from the web page server, the certificate including a serial number. The user device is further configured to receive different certificates from a plurality of certificate authentication servers. The user device is further configured to compare the different certificates to the certificate received from the web page server; determine that the certificate is valid; and send information to the web page server based on determining that the certificate is valid.
US09038147B2

Various embodiments are directed towards employing a container and communication protocol proxy component within a client device to receive securely real-time streamed, progressively downloaded, or adaptively streamed container over a network using one container and communication protocol, and to securely decrypt the container and provide it to a media player using a different container and communications protocol. In one embodiment, the container is in Flash Video (FLV) file format. A browser or the media player on the client device may be used to request the container. The requested container is sent over one communication protocol and intercepted by the container and communication protocol proxy component. The container may be received as selectively encrypted container. The container and communication protocol proxy component then may enable decryption of the container and providing of it to the media player using another container and communication protocol combination.
US09038145B2

A user's set top box (STB), or other client, executes a shell and has an application program interface (API) by which certain features of the client can be controlled. The client is in communication with a walled garden proxy server (WGPS). The client sends a request to the WGPS to access a service provided by a site in the garden. The site sends the client a message containing code calling a function in the API. The WGPS traps the message from the site and looks up the site in a table to determine the access control list (ACL) for the site. The WGPS includes the ACL in the header of the hypertext transport protocol (HTTP) message to the client. The shell receives the message and extracts the ACL. If the code lacks permission, the shell stops execution.
US09038138B2

Various techniques for providing a device token protocol for authorization and persistent authentication shared across applications are disclosed. In some embodiments, a device token protocol for authorization and persistent authentication shared across applications includes sending user credentials to a remote server to authenticate a user on a device for a plurality of applications; and receiving a device token from the remote server for the user to authenticate the user for the plurality of applications on the device, in which the device token facilitates authentication and authorization.
US09038129B2

Techniques for facilitating the exchange of information and transactions between two entities associated with two wireless devices when the devices are in close proximity to each other. A first device uses a first short range wireless capability to detect an identifier transmitted from a second device in proximity, ideally using existing radio capabilities such as Bluetooth (IEEE802.15.1-2002) or Wi-Fi (IEEE802.11). The detected identifier, being associated with the device, is also associated with an entity. Rather than directly exchanging application data flow between the two devices using the short range wireless capability, a second wireless capability allows for one or more of the devices to communicate with a central server via the internet, and perform the exchange of application data flow. By using a central server to draw on stored information and content associated with the entities the server can broker the exchange of information between the entities and the devices.
US09038126B2

A method for controlling and switching terminals includes a writing step and a logoff step. In the writing step, when there is a connection request from a given terminal, a processor of a switching device writes, into a memory, user identification information, a password, identification information of a communication system, and an IP address and port number so that their information and data are associated with one another. In the logoff step, if the same user identification information, password, and identification information of communication system as the above are already written in the memory, the processor logs off the other terminal that has the IP address and port number that are already so written in the storage unit as to be associated with the user identification information, the password, and the identification information of communication system.
US09038118B2

A mechanism for booking events comprising an event broker, one or more event managers and one or more action handlers. In one embodiment, the event broker is configured to register a plurality of event bookings, each of which identifies an event and a corresponding action. For each event booking, the event broker notifies an event manager which is configured to detect the type of event identified in the event booking. When the event manager detects the identified event, it notifies the event broker. The broker then notifies an action handler which is configured to initiate the type of action identified in the event booking. The action handler then initiates the action. If the event booking is non-recurring and the action is complete, the event booking is unregistered by the event broker.
US09038116B1

A method of delivering a live stream is implemented within a content delivery network (CDN) and includes the high level functions of recording the stream using a recording tier, and playing the stream using a player tier. The step of recording the stream includes a set of sub-steps that begins when the stream is received at a CDN entry point in a source format. The stream is then converted into an intermediate format (IF), which is an internal format for delivering the stream within the CDN and comprises a stream manifest, a set of one or more fragment indexes (FI), and a set of IF fragments. The player process begins when a requesting client is associated with a CDN HTTP proxy. In response to receipt at the HTTP proxy of a request for the stream or a portion thereof, the HTTP proxy retrieves (either from the archive or the data store) the stream manifest and at least one fragment index. Using the fragment index, the IF fragments are retrieved to the HTTP proxy, converted to a target format, and then served in response to the client request. The source format may be the same or different from the target format. Preferably, all fragments are accessed, cached and served by the HTTP proxy via HTTP.
US09038114B2

Embodiments of the disclosed invention include a system and method for recording media content. For example, in one embodiment, a method for recording media content is disclosed that includes communicating with a home gateway to determine whether a device connected to the home gateway has enough free storage space to store a media content in response to a determination that an internal data storage unit of a set top box does not have sufficient free storage space to store the media content. In one embodiment, the method routes the storage of the media content to the device via the home gateway in response to a determination that the device connected to the home gateway has sufficient free storage space to store the media content.
US09038107B2

A method and system is described for providing a customized media list to a user over a data network. The method comprises providing a personalized data of the user to a computer system, generating a customized media list by the computer system for the user based on the personal data, and providing the customized media list to the user through the computer system where the customized media list represents a customized content and a customized advertising. A system is further disclosed and claimed for providing customized media list to a user over a data network.
US09038101B2

A virtual channel table for broadcasting protocol and a method for broadcasting by using the virtual channel table includes identification information identifying and permitting discrimination of active and inactive channels contained in the virtual channel table. At a receiver, the virtual channel table transmitted from the transmitting side is parsed, thereby determining whether the current received channel is an active or inactive channel.
US09038099B2

An emergency alert is received. Information representing a map is generated from emergence alert information identifying an affected area, including a code that identifies a political region and a primitive shape corresponding to the affected area. Customer premises equipment is authenticated and the information representing the map is transmitted for receipt by the customer premises equipment. An indication of a selection of a user-selectable field is received, and in response, a second video stream associated with the emergency and the affected area is transmitted for presentation to customer premises. The first information is displayable as overlay video, providing a map of the affected area and occupying a portion of a display area. The map is displayable together with a user-selectable display field indicating that more information is available in relation to the emergency.
US09038077B1

A system for providing model level protection for resources holding data accessed by multiple tasks in a model is discussed. The protection occurs at the model level so that the protection mechanism does not interfere with model dynamics. Resources concurrently accessed by multiple tasks are identified so that a unified protection mechanism can be applied to the resource. A user interface may be provided which enables the selection of a particular type of protection mechanism for the data in the resource. User supplied protection mechanisms may also be implemented.
US09038068B2

Embodiments of the invention are directed to a system, method, or computer program product for providing capacity reclamation of resources allocated to one or more virtual machines. The invention monitors resource usage of the one or more virtual machines over a predetermined period of time, compares resource usage to resource allocation; and, based on the comparison of the resource usage to the resource allocation, adjusts resource allocation based on the monitored resource usage. Comparing the resource usage may include comparing resource usage to a target upper threshold percentage of allocated resources, and if the resource usage exceeds the target upper threshold, increasing the allocated resources by a predetermined amount and comparing resource usage to a target lower threshold percentage of allocated resources, and if the resource usage is less than the target lower threshold, decreasing the allocated resources by a predetermined amount.
US09038065B2

A technique is provided for creating virtual units in a computing environment. A virtual system definition is received by a processor that is utilized to create the virtual units for a virtual system. Relationship constraints between the virtual units in the virtual system are received by the processor. The relationship constraints between the virtual units include a communication link requirement between the virtual units and/or a location requirement between the virtual units. The virtual units in the virtual system are deployed by the processor according to the relationship constraints between virtual units.
US09038059B2

Methods, computer program products, and systems for installing an application at a runtime instance. A method includes receiving a request to install an application and accessing data defining shared resources required by the application. Data that defines shared resources already installed at existing runtime instances is accessed. An existing runtime instance with the greatest number of installed shared resources common to the shared resources required by the application is selected. The application is installed at the selected runtime instance.
US09038053B2

Updating software on first and second network controller entities (NCEs), without disrupting traffic processing, comprises resetting the second NCE after it receives a proposed software version from the first NCE. The second NCE runs the proposed software version in a standby role. While the second NCE runs the proposed software version in the standby role, databases of the NCEs stay synchronized. Resetting the first NCE induces the second NCE to assume the master role, and the first NCE to assume the standby role. The second NCE in the master role tests the proposed software version for a predetermined period. If validation succeeds, the second NCE instructs the first NCE to reboot and run the proposed software version in the standby role. Otherwise, the second NCE reverts to running the current software version in the standby role; and the first NCE, running the current software version, reverts to the master role.
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