US09057050B2

Compositions and methods for conferring hydroxyphenyl pyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) herbicide resistance or tolerance to plants are provided. Compositions include amino acid sequences, and variants and fragments thereof, for mutant HPPD polypeptides. Nucleic acids that encode the mutant HPPD polypeptides are also provided. Methods for conferring herbicide resistance or tolerance, particularly resistance or tolerance to certain classes of herbicides that inhibit HPPD, in plants are further provided. Methods are also provided for selectively controlling weeds in a field at a crop locus and for the assay, characterization, identification and selection of the mutant HPPDs of the current invention that provide herbicide tolerance.
US09057043B2

The present disclosure provides methods and materials for the cultivation and/or propagation of a photosynthetic organism. Such methods may comprise the use of a lamp assembly that comprises a plurality of circuit boards, each comprising at least three edges, arranged in a substantially spherical shape defining an interior lamp assembly volume, wherein the plurality of circuit boards comprise a first planar surface in contact with the interior lamp assembly volume and an opposing second planar surface comprising light emitting diodes (LEDs); and a barrier that surrounds the plurality of circuit boards forming the substantially spherical shape.
US09057040B2

The present invention relates to variants of a parent laccase. The present invention also relates to polynucleotides encoding the variant laccases and to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides, and methods of using the variant enzymes.
US09057031B2

A process for the co-gasification of carbonaceous solids (coal, coke) and biomass in which the biomass material is pyrolyzed to provide a biomass pyrolysis oil and biomass char or coke which are then mixed with the carbonaceous solid to form a slurry. This slurry is then heated if necessary to achieve a viscosity which can be processed conveniently in the gasifier. The heat required for pyrolyzing the biomass can conveniently be obtained from the heat exchanger used to cool the hot synthesis gas product emerging from the gasifier.
US09057020B2

Described is a black dichroic dye composition comprising 2 or more dyes, wherein at least one dye, generally a red dye and optionally a yellow dye, conforms to the formula A and at least one dye, usually a blue dye, conforms to the formula B Ar1—N═N—[Ar2—N═N—]qAr3—N═N—Ar4 (B) with symbols as defined in present claims. The dye composition is well suited for combination with liquid crystal material for use, inter alia, as polarizing film and/or in liquid crystal displays, showing, inter alia, high dichroic ratio and excellent compatibility with the LC material.
US09057019B2

A liquid crystal composition is described, which has a nematic phase, contains a specific compound having a high maximum temperature or a large dielectric anisotropy as a first component and a specific compound having a large dielectric anisotropy as a second component, and may also contain a specific compound having a high maximum temperature or a small viscosity as a third component and a specific compound having a high maximum temperature or a large dielectric anisotropy as a fourth component. An active-matrix (AM) liquid crystal display device including the liquid crystal composition is also described.
US09056996B2

An ink-jet recording ink set includes: an ink (I) containing a dye D1, a compound C1 represented by the following formula and having a U+V of S1, and water; and an ink (II) containing a dye D2, a compound C2 represented by the following formula and having a U+V of S2, and water in which in case that a surface tension γL1 (mN/m) of an evaluation liquid L1 obtained by adding, to a 5 mass % aqueous solution of the dye D1, a compound C3 in an amount corresponding to 1 mass % of the aqueous solution, and a surface tension γL2 (mN/m) of an evaluation liquid L2 obtained by adding, to a 5 mass % aqueous solution of the dye D2, the compound C3 in an amount corresponding to 1 mass % of the aqueous solution satisfy a relationship of γL1−γL2≧10 (mN/m), the S1 and the S2 satisfy a relationship of 2≦S2−S1≦7.
US09056992B2

A nonaqueous ink composition for ink jet recording includes a solvent represented by general formula (1) and having a hydrophile-lipophile balance value of 10.5 to 20.0: where R1 denotes an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms.
US09056991B2

A composition useful as an inkjet ink is described as well as methods of making the composition. The composition includes a pigment and a polymer and the polymer may include a polyurethane. The composition exhibits properties that make it useful in thermal and piezo inkjet applications.
US09056980B2

A substrate having a flame retardant polymer chemically bonded to at least a portion of the substrate. The use of a substrate possessing at least a partially coated outer surface of a flame retardant polymer enables the manufacturing of polymer composites, containing the coated substrate, that possess very effective flame retardant performance while reducing the loading levels over conventional flame retardant additives.
US09056978B2

A non-halogen flame retardant and high rigidity polycarbonate resin composition is disclosed. The non-halogen flame retardant and high rigidity polycarbonate resin composition has excellent flame retardancy and rigidity by overcoming a conventional problem such as poor rigidity occurred, upon adding a flame retardant agent in polycarbonate resin composition reinforced with a glass fiber having improved rigidity such as flexibility and surface smoothness etc., imposed by the use of the glass fiber.The polycarbonate resin composition has excellent fluidity, appearance surface quality and flexibility, together with high impact resistance and toughness, and also flame retardancy.
US09056973B2

Halogen-free flame-retardant polymer composition, preparation method and use thereof are provided. The composition comprises a propylene polymer, a thermoplastic elastomer, and an intumescent flame retardant system comprising a piperazine component. The obtained halogen-free flame-retardant polymer composition is used to make wire or cable sheath.
US09056972B2

Barrier films made from a composition comprising vinylidene chloride (VDC) interpolymer and poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) exhibit improved tear resistance in both the machine and cross directions without a significant deterioration in oxygen transmission rate as compared to barrier films made under like conditions and from a composition alike in all respects except that the PBS is replaced with additional VDC interpolymer.
US09056964B2

A process for making bis(aryloxyalkyl)terephthalates useful as antiplasticizers for thermoplastic polyesters is disclosed. Dimethyl terephthalate is reacted with an excess of an aryloxyalkanol in the presence of a condensation catalyst to produce an intermediate mixture comprising a bis(aryloxyalkyl)terephthalate, a mono(aryloxyalkyl)terephthalate, and unreacted aryloxyalkanol. This mixture continues to react at reduced pressure while unreacted aryloxyalkanol is removed and the mono-ester content is reduced to less than 1 mole % based on the combined amounts of mono- and bis-esters. Both steps are performed substantially in the absence of oxygen. Additional unreacted aryloxyalkanol is then removed to provide a purified bis(aryloxyalkyl)terephthalate having an overall purity of at least 98 mole % and a yellowness index less than 10. Careful control over catalysis, exposure to air, and other process conditions enables the preparation of high yields of bis(aryloxyalkyl)terephthalates that have low color and other valuable attributes. A method of producing bis(aryloxyalkyl)terephthalate articles having improved compressive strength is also disclosed.
US09056962B2

A protective sealant composition that is useful for sealing a colorant to a substrate, such as carpet. The protective sealant composition is formulated such that, upon drying, the composition forms a topcoat on the surface of the substrate, with the topcoat having a hard component and a soft component. The composition provides a durable protection against color fading and resoiling to the applied colorant, as well as to the rest of the surface of the substrate. The composition also provides wear resistance to the carpet by reducing the amount that the widths of the top ends of carpet fibers increase when subjected to wearing.
US09056950B2

A process for forming shaped three-dimensional products is described made from a composition containing at least one filler and an aromatic liquid crystal polymer. In one embodiment, the process includes forming a substrate such as a film, a sheet or a tube, through an extrusion process. Once the substrate is formed, the substrate is then heated and fed to a shaping process. The shaping process may comprise a thermal forming process or a blow molding process. In order to form the three-dimensional products, the aromatic liquid crystal polymer has a high heat of crystallization, a high melt temperature and/or a high melt viscosity.
US09056942B2

A solvent-free curable epoxy resin composition including (a) at least one divinylarene dioxide; and (b) at least one hardener; wherein the solvent-free curable epoxy resin composition is substantially free of solvent and has at least two exotherm peaks and wherein the exothermic peak difference of the two exotherm peaks is sufficient to allow the curable solvent-free epoxy resin composition of being B-staged.
US09056935B2

A photocurable resin composition includes an ester (meth)acrylate, an antistatic agent, a silicone additive, an initiator, and at least one UV-curable unsaturated compound. The at least one UV-curable unsaturated compound may include a monofunctional or multifunctional UV-curable monomer, and a (meth)acrylate containing about 10 mol % or more of an ethylene oxide group.
US09056925B2

A process for producing a modified conjugated diene based polymer includes a step (a) of reacting a silicon compound with a conjugated diene based polymer having an active end so that the reaction takes place at the active end, the silicon compound having a protected primary amino group in the molecule thereof and a silicon atom to which a hydrocarbyloxy group and a reactive group are bonded, to thereby modify the active end, and a step (b) of performing condensation reaction, in the presence of a titanium compound serving as a titanium-based condensation-accelerating agent. A rubber composition contains the modified diene polymer, and a tire is produced from the rubber composition.
US09056918B2

Prion peptides comprising prion epitopes and fusions thereof, that display enhanced immunogenicity are described. Also described are methods of treating and diagnosing prion disease.
US09056916B2

An antibody, which specifically recognizes adducts between pyrrole and cellular macromolecules. Such adducts are likely to occur in mammals suffering an incident of pyrrolizidine alkaloid poisoning. The antibody can be produced using a synthetic immunogen conjugated with a pyrrole as a hapten and it can be used, for example in an assay kit and/or by itself, as a novel means for detecting or diagnosing pyrrolizidine alkaloid poisoning both clinics and research laboratories.
US09056914B2

Provided herein are compounds of formula (I):
US09056912B2

The invention includes a GAS antigen, GAS 40, which is particularly suitable for use either alone or in combinations with additional GAS antigens, such as GAS 117, GAS 130, GAS 277, GAS 236, GAS 40, GAS 389, GAS 504, GAS 509, GAS 366, GAS 159, GAS 217, GAS 309, GAS 372, GAS 039, GAS 042, GAS 058, GAS 290, GAS 511, GAS 533, GAS 527, GAS 294, GAS 253, GAS 529, GAS 045, GAS 095, GAS 193, GAS 137, GAS 084, GAS 384, GAS 202, and GAS 057.
US09056905B2

The present invention is directed to antibodies and fragments thereof having binding specificity for TNF-α. Another embodiment of this invention relates to the antibodies described herein, and binding fragments thereof, comprising the sequences of the VH, VL and CDR polypeptides described herein, and the polynucleotides encoding them. The invention also contemplates conjugates of anti-TNF-α antibodies and binding fragments thereof conjugated to one or more functional or detectable moieties. The invention also contemplates methods of making said anti-TNF-α antibodies and binding fragments thereof. Embodiments of the invention also pertain to the use of anti-TNF-α antibodies, and binding fragments thereof, for the diagnosis, assessment and treatment of diseases and disorders associated with TNF-α.
US09056904B2

Provided are peptide analogs of PA-IL and compositions containing them. The PA-IL peptide analogs have altered carbohydrate binding specificity relative to a PA-IL of SEQ ID NO:1, and thus the analogs contain amino acid substitutions in SEQ ID NO:1. The substitutions can be at positions 50, 52 and 53 of SEQ ID NO:1 and can include combinations of amino acid substitutions at those positions. Also included are methods for detecting changes in the glycosylation of carbohydrates and for separating biomolecules which contain glycoproteins or glycoconjugates.
US09056891B2

A peptide or peptidomimetic comprising the amino acid sequence KKRLSVXLTSSLFR (SEQ ID NO: 1) or the inverse thereof, or comprising at least eight contiguous amino acids of helix C of β-catenin (SEQ ID NO: 41) or inverse thereof, wherein the peptide or peptidomimetic comprises a total of about 50 or fewer amino acids and inhibits the Wnt pathway, as well as a method of inhibiting the Wnt pathway in a cell, a method of treating or preventing a disease mediated by the Wnt pathway, and related compounds, compositions, and methods.
US09056889B2

TRPV1 inhibitory peptide and a composition thereof for skin-aging prevention, wrinkle improvement, skin-whitening, or alleviating inflammation, irritation or pain is described, where the TRPV1 inhibitory peptide inhibits the expressions of MMP and proinflammatory cytokines induced by UV exposure and reduces skinfold thickness and intracellular Ca2+influx.
US09056882B2

The present invention provides a process for preparation of tenofovir by dealkylation of its phosphonate ester using Ionic complexes. The present invention also provides a process for preparation of tenofovir disoproxil or a salt thereof using the tenofovir of the present invention.
US09056874B2

The present invention provides a compound of formula I: a method for manufacturing the compounds of the invention, and its therapeutic uses. The present invention further provides a combination of pharmacologically active agents and a pharmaceutical composition.
US09056873B2

Disclosed are compounds of Formula 1, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein G, p, R1, R2, R3a, R4, and R5 are defined in the specification. This disclosure also relates to materials and methods for preparing compounds of Formula 1, to pharmaceutical compositions which contain them, and to their use for treating disorders, diseases, and conditions involving the immune system and inflammation, including rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, and other disorders, diseases, and conditions for which inhibition of SYK is indicated.
US09056869B2

The present invention provides tricyclic compounds, pharmaceutically acceptable salts, prodrugs, solvates, or hydrates thereof, having antimitotic activity, anti-multidrug resistance activity, for example P-glycoprotein inhibition, and antitumor activity, and which inhibit paclitaxel sensitive and resistant tumor cells. Also provided are methods of utilizing these compounds for treating tumor cells and inhibiting mitosis of cancerous cells.
US09056862B2

The present invention provides an anticancer drug having a Ras function inhibitory action.The present invention provides a Ras function inhibitor comprising a compound represented by the formula (I′): wherein each symbol is as defined in the present specification, or a salt thereof.
US09056860B2

The present disclosure provides processes for the preparation of a compound of formula I: which is useful as an antiviral agent. The disclosure also provides compounds that are synthetic intermediates to compounds of formula I.
US09056859B2

This invention relates to compounds having structural Formula (I); and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof which are inhibitors of the Renal Outer Medullary Potassium (ROMK) channel (Kir 1.1). The compounds of Formula I are useful as diuretics and natriuretics and therefore are useful for the therapy and prophylaxis of disorders resulting from excessive salt and water retention, including cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension and chronic and acute heart failure.
US09056857B2

Provided are methods of treating or preventing a neurodegenerative disease comprising administering to a subject having a neurodegenerative disease an effective amount of a compound of Formula I: where X, R1, R2, subscript m, subscript n and subscript v are as defined herein.
US09056855B2

The instant invention describes compounds having metalloenzyme modulating activity, and methods of treating diseases, disorders or symptoms thereof mediated by such metalloenzymes.
US09056849B2

Provided are amine derivative compounds, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and methods of treating ophthalmic diseases and disorders, such as age-related macular degeneration and Stargardt's Disease, using said compounds and compositions.
US09056847B2

An activity based probe (ABP) comprising a glycosidase inhibitor, and a detection-group. The ABPs of the inventions are used for diagnosing storage disorder for screening of compounds suitable for preventing and/or treating a storage disorder, for monitoring of therapeutic enzymes for lysosomal storage disorders, and for ultra-sensitive visualization of glycosidase-fusion proteins in molecular imaging.
US09056839B2

The present invention provides a solid form and compositions thereof, which are useful as an inhibitor of EGFR kinases and which exhibit desirable characteristics for the same.
US09056836B2

The present invention is directed to Benzomorphan Analog compounds of the Formula I-ID as shown below, wherein R1, R2a, R2b, R3 and R4 are as defined herein. Compounds of the Invention are useful for treating pain, constipation, and other conditions modulated by activity of opioid and ORL-1 receptors.
US09056835B2

Disclosed are compounds effective for inhibiting cellular apoptosis and for protecting cells and tissues from the apoptotic effects of chemotherapeutic agents and/or ionizing radiation. Compounds of the invention act as agonists of the LPA2 receptor. Compounds of the invention comprise non-lipid benzoic acid derivatives.
US09056828B2

The present invention is directed towards a method of preparing alkoxylated fatty acid alkyl estersin a one-pot alkoxylation reaction in the presence of a catalyst which is an alkaline earth metal oxide/mineral acid combination, preferably a barium oxide/sulfuric acid combination, or a Lewis acid, preferably Sn Cl4, comprising the steps of: a) providing a fatty acid alkyl ester, b) adding a catalyst to said fatty acid alkyl ester to obtain a first mixture, wherein said catalyst is an alkaline earth metal oxide/mineral acid combination or a Lewis acid, c) adding one or more alkylene oxides to said first mixture to obtain a second mixture and (d) isolating the alkoxylated fatty acid alkyl ester.
US09056825B2

This invention relates to processes for producing acetic acid and, in particular, to improved processes for recovering C2+ alkyl halides and removing permanganate reducing compounds formed during the carbonylation of methanol in the presence of a Group VIII metal carbonylation catalyst to produce acetic acid.
US09056824B2

An improved process for preparing hydroxy aldehydes, such as hydroxypivaldehyde, is provided. Specifically, the process employs an alkaline additive for separating by-product amine salts from a hydroxy aldehyde and other reaction products formed in the process of preparing a hydroxy aldehyde using an amine catalyst.
US09056816B2

The present invention provides a novel process and novel intermediates useful in the synthesis of pharmaceutically active compounds, especially renin inhibitors, such as Aliskiren, or a salt thereof, preferably Aliskiren hemifumarate.
US09056814B2

The present invention relates to the crystalline, polymorphic Form C of the calcimimetic compound {4-[(1R,3S)-3-((R)-1-Naphthalen-1-yl-ethylamino)-cyclopentyl]-phenoxy}-acetic acid, to methods of preparation thereof, to methods of characterization thereof by single crystal X-Ray crystallography (XRC), X-Ray Powder diffractometry, attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, Solid State NMR spectroscopy and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), and to its use. The invention also relates to the preparation of Form C by crystallization from a saturated solution of {4-[(1R,3S)-3-((R)-1-Naphthalen-1-yl-ethylamino)-cyclopentyl]-phenoxy}-acetic acid in the presence of crystallization seeds of Form C, or alternatively by conversion of an amorphous starting material into the different crystalline polymorphic Form X by crystallization of {4-[(1R,3S)-3-((R)-1-Naphthalen-1-yl-ethylamino)-cyclopentyl]-phenoxy}-acetic acid, followed by a solid solution transformation thereof into the desired polymorphic Form C.
US09056808B2

Processes for the production of chlorinated propenes are provided. The present processes make use of 1,2-dichloropropane, a by-product in the production of chlorohydrin, as a low cost starting material, alone or in combination with 1,2,3-trichloropropane. The present processes can also generate anhydrous HCl as a byproduct that can be removed from the process and used as a feedstock for other processes, providing further time and cost savings. Finally, the processes are advantageously conducted in the liquid phase, thereby presenting additional savings as compared to conventional, gas phase processes.
US09056803B1

A composition which provides bactericidal, fungicidal and insecticidal activity when treating plants with effective amounts. The composition comprises the blending of: (1) an aqueous salicylate solution from salicylic acid reacted in an aqueous media with ammonium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide; (2) a reaction mixture that provides fungicidal activity and fertilizers plants when applied in an effective amount and which comprises potassium phosphates, potassium polyphosphate, potassium phosphites, and potassium polyphosphite and potassium phosphate phosphite copolymers; and, optionally, (3) aqueous potassium acetate.
US09056799B2

The present invention includes a matrix powder system comprising one or more polycrystalline carbides, binderless carbides, or a combination thereof, a composite comprising the matrix powder system and a metal bond phase, a matrix bit body for a drill bit for oil and gas drilling made of this composite material, and a drill bit for oil and gas drilling comprising the matrix bit body and at least one cutter. The polycrystalline and/or binderless carbides may comprise carbides of W, Ti, V, Cr, Nb, Mo, Ta, Hf, Zr, or a combination thereof. The binderless carbides have less than 3 wt. % binder and the binderless and/or polycrystalline carbides may have a grain size of ≦15 μm and a hardness of ≧1900 HV (0.5 kgf). Additional ceramic components and/or metals may also be present in the matrix powder system. Alternatively, the composite material may be present on only a portion of the matrix bit body surface.
US09056796B2

Fused grain having the following chemical composition: more than 10% and less than 50% of alumina Al2O3; more than 10% and less than 50% of titanium oxide TiO2; more than 21% and less than 50% of zirconia; more than 1% and less than 10% of a compound chosen from the group constituted by MgO, CaO, Fe2O3, Cr2O3, MnO2, La2O3, Y2O3, Ga2O3 and mixtures thereof; less than 20% of silica SiO2; less than 10% of a compound chosen from the group constituted by alkali metal oxides, alkaline-earth metal oxides and mixtures thereof; less than 2% of other oxide species; the percentages being percentages by weight on the basis of the oxides. Application in the melting of metals.
US09056787B1

A method for texturing a glass substrate includes cleaning the glass substrate with at least one surfactant and etching the glass substrate using a caustic solution. The percentage of caustic solution is provided by controlling a fluid flow and temperature to control the depth of the etching. The method also includes acid cleaning the etched glass substrate to remove glass residuals and surfactants.
US09056786B2

The present invention relates to fabrics, composites, prepregs, laminates, and other products incorporating glass fibers formed from glass compositions. The glass fibers, in some embodiments, are incorporated into composites that can be adapted for use in high energy impact applications such as ballistic or blast resistance applications. Glass fibers formed from some embodiments of the glass compositions can have certain desirable properties that can include, for example, desirable electrical properties (e.g. low Dk) or desirable mechanical properties (e.g., specific strength).
US09056778B2

The present invention relates to a nano-graphite plate structure with N graphene layers stacked together, where N is 30 to 300. The nanometer nano-graphite structure has a tap density of 0.1 g/cm3 to 0.01 cm3, a thickness of 10 nm to 100 nm, and a lateral dimension of 1 μm to 100 μm. The ratio of the lateral dimension to the thickness is between 10 and 10,000. The oxygen content is less than 3 wt %, and the carbon content is larger than 95 wt %. The nano-graphite plate structure has both the excellent features of the graphene and the original advantages of easy processability of the natural graphite so as to be broadly used in various application fields.
US09056769B1

A method and apparatus for producing hydrogen and a passivating oxide using water splitting techniques is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a container filled with a passivating-oxide preventing agent that is substantially inert to water in an effective amount to prevent passivation of a solid-state material during oxidation and a means for inserting a solid-state material into the passivating-oxide preventing agent in which the solid-state material is submerged in the passivating-oxide preventing agent without being in direct contact with water. The solid-state material is capable of dissolving in the passivating-oxide preventing agent and reacting with the water. Thus, the method provides continuous dissolution of the solid-state material into the passivating-oxide preventing agent and its alloys in the presence of excess water at or near room temperature to enable continuous generation of hydrogen, passivating oxide and heat.
US09056762B2

A device includes a semiconductor substrate, and a capacitive sensor having a back-plate, wherein the back-plate forms a first capacitor plate of the capacitive sensor. The back-plate is a portion of the semiconductor substrate. A conductive membrane is spaced apart from the semiconductor substrate by an air-gap. A capacitance of the capacitive sensor is configured to change in response to a movement of the polysilicon membrane.
US09056760B2

The invention relates to a miniaturized electrical component comprising an MEMS chip and an ASIC chip. The MEMS chip and the ASIC chip are disposed on top of each other; an internal mounting of MEMS chip and ASIC chip is connected to external electrical terminals of the electrical component by means of vias through the MEMS chip or the ASIC chip.
US09056740B2

A printer absorbs conveyance speed differences between a conveyance mechanism and a reversing conveyance mechanism with a simple configuration. A printer 1 has a reversing conveyance mechanism 38 that reverses the front and back and returns printing paper P supplied from a main conveyance mechanism 17 to the main conveyance mechanism 17. The reversing conveyance mechanism 38 has a first reversing conveyance roller 31, and a first gear train 51 that transfers drive power from a reversing conveyance motor 39. A backlash part 70 enabling relative rotation in a preset angular range between the first final gear 64 and first reversing conveyance roller 31 is disposed between the first final gear 64 of the first gear train 51 and the first reversing conveyance roller 31.
US09056738B2

A device for reducing rotation of an article during singulation of a stack of articles is disclosed. The device may include a torsion element, a rotatable member configured to rotate about an elongated axis of the torsion element between a first position and a second position, and a revolving member coupled to the rotatable member. An outer surface of the revolving member contacts a drive belt in the first position and an article in the second position. The torsion element exerts torque on the rotatable member when it moves from the first position towards the second position. The torque causes the outer surface of the revolving member to apply a frictional force to the article, thereby minimizing rotation of the article. Systems and methods of singulating articles are also disclosed.
US09056737B2

An apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium. The apparatus includes a conveying unit conveying the recording medium; a driving unit driving the conveying unit; a calculation unit calculating a correction value based on a position error of the recording medium with respect to the image; a detection unit detecting a current conveying speed of the recording medium being conveyed by the conveying unit; a position controller calculating a second target conveying speed based on the correction value, the current conveying speed, and a first target conveying speed of the conveying unit or a target position of the recording medium; and a speed controller controlling the driving unit based on the second target conveying speed, the current conveying speed, and the first target conveying speed.
US09056727B2

A multi-piece shaft for an idler roller including a tube having a first end and a second end. The shaft includes a first stub secured to the first end of the tube by a mechanical interlock and a second stub secured to the second end of the tube by a mechanical interlock. The first stub extends from the first end and the second stub extends from the second end when secured to the tube such that the tube, the first stub and the second stub define a length of the shaft.
US09056725B1

A static resistant transport mechanism is configured as a set of slats where each slat is manufactured from a static-dissipative or static-resistive material to minimize or eliminate the build-up of an electrical or static charge in the product conveying system. With such a configuration, the static-resistant transport mechanism minimizes the likelihood of product either failing to enter a slat cavity from a hopper, prematurely exiting a slat cavity prior to dispenzation into a container at a dispensing location, or failing to exit a slat cavity and enter the container at the dispensing location. Accordingly, because the product conveying system can deliver product to containers for an extended period of time with a relatively low rate of error, the static resistant transport mechanism minimizes down time associated with the product conveying system.
US09056719B2

An automatic storage system includes a front rack and a rear rack, a stacker crane, and a crane controller. The front rack and the rear rack include a plurality of shelves located in a right and left direction and in an up and down direction. Each of the shelves includes a near-side storage portion and a far-side storage portion arranged in the depth direction. The stacker crane includes an elevator provided at the travelling vehicle such that the elevator can move up and down. The crane controller is programmed to control the elevator to move vertically between an upper stop position and a lower stop position when the article is transferred between the slide fork and the shelves. The upper stop position includes a far-side upper stop position corresponding to the far-side storage portion and a near-side upper stop position corresponding to the near-side storage portion. The crane controller controls the elevator such that the far-side upper stop position is higher than the near-side upper stop position.
US09056699B2

A cap for a container is provided. The cap includes a handling portion that is configured to engage the container about a dispensing opening of the container. The cap also includes an extendible spout that has a discharge passage. The extendible spout has a proximal end, with a proximal opening, and is affixed to the cap. The extendible spout also has a distal end, with a distal opening, and is configured to extend from and retract at least partially into the cap. The extendible spout is further configured to dispense a pourable material from the container through the distal opening when the handling portion is engaged with the container about the dispensing opening of the container and the distal end of the extendible spout is at least partially extended from the cap.
US09056691B2

Bag deflating devices and methods of using the bag deflating devices are provided. In a general embodiment, the invention provides a bag deflating device comprising a first gripper and a first mechanical finger attached to the first gripper and constructed and arranged to move with the first gripper. The first mechanical finger comprises an elongated rod and a support plate attached to the elongated rod and defining at least one aperture. The bag deflating device further comprises a second gripper opposing the first gripper and a second mechanical finger attached to the second gripper and constructed and arranged to move with the second gripper. The second mechanical finger comprises an elongated rod and a support plate attached to the elongated rod and defining at least one aperture.
US09056684B2

An aircraft includes a heat absorbent material carried by an airfoil susceptible to ice buildup and a transmitter spaced apart from the heat absorbent material. A method includes the process of transmitting the heat energy from the transmitter to the heat absorbent material that in turn warms the airfoil to break apart ice buildup.
US09056683B2

An airplane seat structure includes: a body frame including a plurality of seat boards and seat backs which are arranged in the longitudinal direction at predetermined intervals in a space having a small seat pitch and provide two or more seats in the traverse direction; a connection plate which is bendably connected to a front end of the body frame or the seat board and is horizontally spread to another body frame adjacent frontward to the body frame; a first bed space which is formed over the seat board and the horizontally-spread connection plate; and a second bed space which is formed below the seat board and the horizontally-spread connection plate or formed below the horizontally-spread connection plate and a seat board of the frontward adjacent body frame.
US09056676B1

Systems and methods are provided for docking an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with a vehicle. The UAV may be able to distinguish a companion vehicle from other vehicles in the area and vice versa. The UAV may take off and/or land on the vehicle. The UAV may be used to capture images and stream the images live to a display within the vehicle. The vehicle may control the UAV. The UAV may be in communication with the companion vehicle while in flight.
US09056668B2

An apparatus and method is provided for operating an aircraft control stick in an active mode and a passive mode. The method comprises subjecting the control stick to an a resilient restoring force in the passive mode, and neutralizing the restoring force in the active mode. A spring assembly is provided for exerting and neutralizing the restoring force, which may be varied between minimum and maximum values.
US09056667B2

The present disclosure describes flight training systems and methods for radio-controlled (RC) airplanes that rely on inertial attitude estimates. Preferred embodiments include an RC airplane with one or more control processors configured to (i) estimate an inertial attitude of the RC airplane based on one or more measurements from an attitude sensor array and (ii) control the inertial attitude of the RC airplane based the inertial attitude estimate. In operation, controlling the attitude of the RC airplane may include both controlling the RC airplane to a specific inertial attitude and/or keeping the inertial attitude of the RC airplane within a predefined flight envelope.
US09056660B2

A dock system including a collapsible frame, and method for assembling the dock system including collapsible frame are provided. A collapsible dock system includes a collapsible frame. The collapsible frame includes a first beam, a second beam, a cross-member, and a hinged bracket system. The cross-member system secures the first beam to the second beam. The hinged bracket system is selectively coupled to the first beam and the second beam in either a compact transport state in which the first beam is movable relative to the second beam or a fixed installation state in which the first beam is fixed relative to the second beam.
US09056654B1

The present disclosure relates to an elongated member for a hydrofoil, to a hydrofoil with such an elongated member and to a board equipped with such a hydrofoil. The elongated member comprises a front end for affixing to a front blade having a front lift ratio and a rear end for affixing to a rear blade having a rear lift ratio in such a manner that the front blade and rear blade face in a same direction, and the rear lift ratio is greater than the front lift ratio. The elongated member further connects with an end of a post in such a manner that the front blade is further from another end of the post for connecting to the board than the rear blade.
US09056653B2

Disclosed is a hand-foot compound bicycle with a double ratchet, which comprises a handle assembly which comprises a crank handle for generating handle power, and an upper gear to be rotated by rotation of the crank handle; a pedal assembly which comprises a pedal for generating pedal power, and transfers both or either one of the handle power and the pedal power to a rear wheel; and a power transfer unit which comprises a first power transfer gear corresponding to the upper gear, and a second power transfer gear for transferring the handle power from the first power transfer gear to the pedal assembly.
US09056647B2

A one-piece connector for a shock-absorbing frame of a bicycle is manufactured by casting, forging or high pressure hydraulic forming means, is made of aluminum and formed as a single piece without welding, and has a bottom bracket shell, a connecting tube, a pivot and a linking joint. The connecting tube is formed on and protrudes from a top surface of the bottom bracket shell. The pivot is formed with the connecting tube near the bottom bracket shell. The linking joint is formed on an upper end of the connecting tube. The bottom bracket shell, the connecting tube, the pivot and the linking joint are formed with each other to form the one-piece connector without welding to simplify the production process, to improve the precision, quality and appearance of the one-piece connector, and to reinforce the structural strength of the one-piece connector.
US09056644B2

A bicycle comprising a Frame (1), a Front Wheel (9), a Rear Wheel (10), a Drivetrain Assembly (11), a Pedal Assembly (6), a Seat Assembly (5), Handlebar Assembly (7), a hard Tail (2) or a movable Tail (2) which is supported by a Suspension Assembly (4) and a hard Fork (3) or a telescopic Fork (3), the mutually slidable parts of which are interconnected by a Suspension Assembly (4). Further, a center of the Front Wheel (9), a center of the Rear Wheel (10), a Bottom Bracket (6.1) center, a Seat (5.1) connection and a Handlebar (7.1) connection form the vertices of a pentagon, the shape of which is slope-modifiable by at least one positionally adjustable vertex, when Suspension Assemblies (4) are unloaded.
US09056629B2

A personal vehicle control device includes an operation portion for inputting an original command value related to a turning angle, an axis angle sensor for detecting physical quantities related to a roll angle and a turning angle, wheel sensors, and a control portion. The control portion executes at least one of a first calculation law in which an actual command value related to a rotation angular velocity for driving wheels is obtained on the basis of a roll angle and the original command value, and a second calculation law in which the actual command value is obtained on the basis of an integrated value of a difference and/or an integrated value which is an integral of a ratio between the command value related to the turning angle and the physical quantity related to the turning angle with respect to time and on the basis of the original command value.
US09056627B2

A steering column assembly comprises inner and outer tubes, an elongate slot in the outer tube closed by applying a load to either side of the slot to reduce the internal diameter of the tube, a pair of flanges fixed to the tube on opposing sides of the slot, and a clamp mechanism which connects one flange to the other, the clamp mechanism movable between a clamped position which applies a clamping force to the flanges to reduce the slot width and tighten the outer tube around the inner tube, and an unclamped position which permits the flanges to move away from one another, and a catch secured at one end to one of the flanges and catches a part of the other flange at its other end, to prevent movement of the flanges beyond a position wherein the inner diameter of the outer tube is equal to a predetermined maximum value.
US09056616B1

Tagged driving events may be generated during a driving session from sensor data collected via one or more sensors and/or entered by an instructor. The tagged driving events may include a description of each driving event and its associated severity or weight as it relates to a scoring process as well as a time and/or a location of the driving event. A driving session report may be generated using the tagged driving events and may include a driver feedback score that is weighted based on the severity associated with each of the tagged driving events and/or the collected data, a map of the driving session route that indicates a map location of each tagged driving event, and/or a listing of each tagged driving event. The driving session report may be displayed such that a user may select a tagged driving event to view information associated with the tagged driving event.
US09056615B2

A vehicle, a method and a vehicle system for control of vehicle safety parameters is provided. The system is arranged to determine a closing velocity between a host vehicle exterior portion and an external object in a road environment where the host vehicle and the external object approach each other. The system comprises image capturing means, processing means and a sensor arrangement. The processing means are arranged to determine the closing velocity for each time instance by forming a quota of a distance between a first position and the host vehicle exterior portion and the estimated time to collision between the first position and the external object. The vehicle system is arranged to control the one or more vehicle safety parameters as a function of the determined closing velocity.
US09056613B2

A hybrid vehicle has an engine, an electric machine connected to the engine by an upstream clutch, a transmission gearbox connected to the electric machine by a downstream clutch, and a controller. The controller is configured to, in response to a commanded upshift of the gearbox, modulate a pressure of the upstream clutch. A method for controlling a vehicle includes, in response to a commanded upshift of a gearbox, controlling an upstream clutch to a first nonzero speed differential corresponding to a first inertia connected to and upstream of the gearbox to reduce inertia torque during the upshift. A method for controlling a vehicle includes, in response to a commanded upshift of a gearbox when the vehicle is beyond an electrical limit and a fast path torque reduction limit, slipping an upstream clutch and reducing torque outputs of an engine and an electric machine.
US09056612B2

A driving force control device for a hybrid vehicle includes: a travel load calculation unit adapted to divide a predicted route from a current position to a predetermined distance ahead into a plurality of intervals, and to estimate a travel load in each interval; a recommended discharge amount calculation unit adapted to search for a regeneration possible interval, in which a travel condition required by a driver can be maintained even when an output of an internal combustion engine is stopped and regeneration is performed by a motor/generator, from an estimation result, and to estimate a charge amount expected value in the regeneration possible interval, and distributes the charge amount expected value preferentially to an adjacent interval to the regeneration possible interval as a recommended discharge amount in order to stop the output of the internal combustion engine; and an energy management unit that controls an operation of the motor/generator in the current position on the basis of a travel condition, a state of charge, and the recommended discharge amount in the current position.
US09056606B1

A system and method for controlling a stop/start system for an engine in a vehicle include auto starting the engine in response to a transmission gear lever being shifted out of DRIVE when the engine has been auto stopped while the gear lever is in DRIVE. The auto starting is further in response to the gear lever being shifted into another gear and a vehicle brake being released within a predetermined time interval after the gear lever is moved into the other gear.
US09056597B2

A bicycle control device is provided with a bracket, a first lever and a second lever. The first lever is pivotally mounted to the bracket on a first pivot axle for pivotal movement about a first pivot axis defined by the first pivot axle. The second lever is pivotally mounted to the bracket on a second pivot axle for pivotal movement about a second pivot axis defined by the second pivot axle. The second pivot axle is disposed inside the first pivot axle.
US09056596B2

In an electronic control unit having a metallic control block in which a plurality of control equipments are installed, a metallic cover member fitted onto the metallic control block, and an electronic control mechanism retained between the control block and the cover member to drive the control equipments, the electronic control mechanism includes: a bus bar constituent made of a resin material and having a power electronic circuit to drive the control equipments; and a print board to control the drive of the control equipments via the bus bar constituent, the print board on which a plurality of electronic parts are mounted being fixed onto the bus bar constituent by means of a metallic fixture section and an electrically conducting section being disposed to electrically conduct the control block to the cover member to provide the same electric potential for both of the cover member and the control block.
US09056576B2

A utility vehicle includes a front seat, a rear seat at a rear side of the front seat, and a cargo bed at a rear side of the rear seat, and a screen for partitioning the cargo bed and a riding space at a front side of the cargo bed. The cargo bed includes left and right fixed side walls, a front wall movable into the riding space, and left and right expansion side walls expandable into the riding space. The cargo bed is changeable between an expanded state in which the cargo bed is expanded forward into the riding space and a non-expanded state in which the cargo bed is not expanded into the riding space. The screen is attached to the front wall, and each expansion side wall is foldably attached to the front wall and a corresponding one of the fixed side walls.
US09056562B2

An actuator device for the seat adjustment in a motor vehicle, exhibiting at least one ratchet fitting (1), a transmission element (2) and an actuator element (3), whereby the transmission element (2) is centered in the ratchet fitting (1) with a centering element (4) such that the centering element (4) allows for a limited torsional backlash between the transmission element (2) and the ratchet fitting (1) and creates a restoring force against the rotation, whereby said transmission element (2) is connected in a torsionally stiff manner to the actuator element (3), whereby the actuator element (3) is connected in a form-fitting manner to the centering element (4).
US09056560B2

A vehicle seat assembly having a seat bottom that includes first and second side frame members and a front cushion module. The front cushion module has a support wire and a cushion. The support wire has first and second ends that are disposed proximate the front end of the first and second side frame members, respectively. The cushion receives and is supported by the support wire.
US09056556B1

A system and method for management of an energy storage system for a vehicle is disclosed. The energy storage system may comprise a battery system for a vehicle such as an electric vehicle or hybrid-electric vehicle. Vehicles may be in a group or fleet. The management system may be configured to use data and information available from data sources over a network or by instrumentation/sensors for vehicle systems. Data and information could be used in a system to manage the configuration and operation of the energy storage system and components, manage/control inventory and use/life-cycle of components, and/or aggregated/analyzed in analytics function for system and components. Predictive control of the battery system may be implemented through a management system using data sources external to the vehicle. Inventive concepts and features of the systems and methods are indicated in the specification and FIGURES.
US09056551B2

A braking system can include a monitor circuit and/or a contactor control circuit. The braking system utilizes a number of contactors coupled between a power bus. The contactors selectively provide power to resistive elements. The monitor circuit is configured to determine the number of closed contactors of the contactors using current transformers. The contactor control circuit is configured to open and close the contactors. The control circuit includes a solid state timer circuit for each coil associated with the contactors. The solid state timer circuit bypasses a resistive element in series with the coil for a period of time.
US09056542B2

A tonneau cover assembly for attachment about a top of a perimeter of a cargo box of a pickup truck. The tonneau cover assembly including a cover, a support frame and a securing plate having at least one locking member. Preferably, the tonneau cover assembly includes two biased locking members interconnected by a draw cord. The draw cord preferably includes a clip that removably and adjustably secures the draw cord to a channel in the securing plate. The draw cord preferably includes a pull loop that at least partially extends through an opening in the cover.
US09056538B2

A stabilizer link and a manufacturing method therefor in which there is less concentration of stress, the stud releasing load is improved, and the accuracy of centering of the ring member is improved. A second subassembly is formed by inserting a ball seat of a first subassembly into a ball seat receiving portion of a housing and by arranging a ring member at an opening side of the ball seat. A stopper base portion is abutted to an opening end surface of the ball seat. An outer peripheral end portion taper surface has a taper shape in which a diameter is increased toward an opening side in an axial direction, in a stopper base portion and it is abutted to a slope portion for a stopper base of the housing. An opening side of the ball seat is pressed through the ring member by caulking inwardly a caulking portion.
US09056530B2

A pneumatic tire comprises a tread portion provided with a shoulder main groove, shoulder lateral grooves extending from the shoulder main groove toward axially outwardly, the shoulder main groove extending in a zigzag manner comprising linear portions and curved portions which are arranged alternately in a circumferential direction of the tire, each linear portion inclined with respect to the circumferential direction of the tire, each curved portion having a radius of curvature of from 12-80 mm, the curved portion protruding toward axially outwardly of the tire, the shoulder main groove having a pair of groove edges and a circumferential space therebetween which straightly extends along the circumferential direction of the tire without coming into contact with both groove edges and the circumferential space with an axial width of from 0.2 to 0.7 times an axial groove width of the shoulder main groove.
US09056528B2

In a carcass (13), between first sections (13A) in which an inter-cord distance between a body portion and turn-back portions gradually decreases outward in a tire radial direction and second sections (13B) in which the inter-cord distance gradually increases, there are disposed first distance-invariant sections (13C) in which the turn-back portions (14B) are brought closer to the body portion (14A) that becomes a substantial bending neutral axis and in which the inter-cord distance is constant, so compressive force acting on the cords of the turn-back portions (14B) can be reduced. By disposing the first distance-invariant sections (13C) between the first sections (13A) and the second sections (13B), the direction of the cords of the turn-back portions (14B) is not suddenly changed, so it becomes difficult for stress to concentrate in the rubber between the cords of the turn-back portions (14B).
US09056518B2

A ballpoint pen tip in which ink grooves are formed around an ink guide hole at equally distributed places, the ink guide hole connecting a ball house and a back hole of a holder for holding the writing ball, and the ink grooves radially penetrate through from the ball house side to the front end portion of the back hole. Inward protrusions are formed at positions which are respectively in contact with the rear ends of the ink grooves. If the inner diameter of the ink guide hole is A, the inner diameter of the front end portion of the back hole is B, the diameter of the circle circumscribing the ink grooves is C, and the diameter of the circle inscribing the inward protrusions is D, their relationships are A
US09056508B2

A printer includes a fixed blade block and a movable blade block. The fixed blade block includes an installing member including a rotation shaft, a fixed blade installed in the installing member, a retaining member, and a spring attached to the installing member in a rotatable state with respect to the rotation shaft. The spring includes a first contact part that contacts with the fixed blade and a second contact part that contacts with the retaining member. The movable blade block includes a movable blade that is movable toward the fixed blade. When the fixed blade block and the movable blade block are connected, the retaining member presses the second contact part, causing the spring to rotate and push the fixed blade toward the movable blade.
US09056505B2

An inkjet recording apparatus may include a corrugate mechanism configured to form a sheet into a corrugated shape. The inkjet recording apparatus may be configured to receive sheets of various sizes and shapes. Accordingly, in some examples, the inkjet recording apparatus may include differently configured portions to handle sheets of different sizes or shapes. According to one arrangement, the inkjet recording apparatus may be configured to receive passage of sheets of a first size through multiple ones of the differently configured portions while receiving passage of sheets of a second size though limited ones of the differently configured portions.
US09056500B2

An image recording apparatus includes: a heating section which is located further on the downstream side of a transport pathway than an image recording area, but further on the upstream side of the transport pathway than a transport roller which is rotated by a motor; and a control section which lowers the suction power of a suction section to a medium from a first suction power to a second suction power lower than the first suction power during a recording operation and makes a first torque which is generated at the motor in a period which is during the recording operation and in which the suction power of the suction section is a suction power lower than the first suction power, be lower than a second torque which is generated at the motor during a transport operation.
US09056491B2

A nail print apparatus, including: a placement surface on which a drawing target is placed, the drawing target has a curved shape along a width direction of the drawing target; a drawing head in which at least one drawing tool is set, the drawing tool having a tip portion that contacts with a surface of the drawing target and performs drawing on the surface of the drawing target; and a head drive unit which moves the drawing head along the placement surface.
US09056474B2

A cap member has a fitting recess in which a liquid ejecting head is mounted. On inner surfaces of the fitting recess, a contact section configured to make contact with a side surface of the liquid ejecting head intersecting with a liquid ejecting surface is continuously provided along a circumferential direction of the fitting recess. A movement unit moves the cap member relative to the liquid ejecting head in a manner in which an area on the side surface of the liquid ejecting head with which the contact section makes contact is gradually increased when attaching the cap member to the liquid ejecting head.
US09056469B2

A printhead module includes a plurality of rows of printhead nozzles, at least some of the rows including at least one displaced row portion, the displacement of the row portion including a component in a direction normal to that of a pagewidth to be printed, wherein the displaced row portions of at least some of the rows are different in length than the displaced row portions of at least some of the other rows.
US09056460B2

An image forming apparatus includes: a liquid droplet discharge head; a pressure generator; and a driving waveform generator configured to generate a driving waveform including a plurality of pulse units for driving the pressure generator for discharging a liquid droplet. The pulse unit includes one or more first pulses, and one or more second pulses arranged after the first pulses for discharging a liquid droplet. The second pulse has a pulse width that is set in advance to generate a resonance with the liquid droplet discharge head. The first pulse has a pulse width different from the pulse width of the second pulse.
US09056444B1

Molded planar products such as solid interior and entry doors produced by molding lignocellulosic and cellulosic composite materials. The doors can be manufactured by compressing and heating a layered mixture of fine wood particles blended with thermo-set molding resins and coarse wood particles blended with thermo-set binding resins between two molds, which may contain relief patterns. The molded products are strong, solid and have hard, smooth, paint-ready outer surfaces.
US09056442B2

A ceramic multilayer substrate includes a ceramic substrate including a plurality of ceramic layers and electrodes (surface electrodes and internal electrodes) disposed on or in the ceramic layers, which are stacked on each other. A recessed portion is defined on a principal surface of any of the ceramic layers by the electrode and the surrounding ceramic layer. The electrodes (surface electrodes and internal electrodes) are buried or embedded in the ceramic layers. A peripheral portion of the surface electrode is preferably covered with a covering ceramic layer so as to prevent short-circuiting between adjacent electrodes even if surface electrodes and internal electrodes are disposed at narrow intervals and at high density.
US09056438B2

A curable composition includes polyepoxide, high-melting metal particles having a melting point above 300° C., low-melting metallic particles having a melting point of less than or equal to 300° C., and a fluxing curing agent comprising a fluxing curing agent comprising: a hydroxyalkyl-substituted tertiary amine, and at least one diacid compound represented by the formula: HO2C—Z1—CH2CH2CH2—Z2—CO2H wherein Z1 and Z2 independently represent a covalent bond or an aliphatic hydrocarbylene group. The at least one diacid compound comprises at least 50 percent of the total weight of carboxylic acids and anhydrides present in the curable composition. Articles comprising the curable composition, and methods of making the same are also disclosed.
US09056431B2

An apparatus includes a fitting connected to a body. The fitting has an engagement portion including a channel formed into a peripheral surface of it and an axis. The body includes an axial layer provided around at least some of the peripheral surface of the engagement portion of the end fitting and a hoop layer provided around the axial layer at a location corresponding to at least some of the channel so as to urge at least some of the axial layer into a portion of the channel. The channel is arranged such that at least some of it defines a pathway that is non-orthogonal with respect to the axis of the fitting, such that at least some of the surface area of the channel defines a load bearing surface for the transfer of torque between the fitting and body when a rotational force is applied to one of them.
US09056420B2

A draw press device may include a lower mold having a lower surface forming portion, a blank holder disposed outside the lower mold, an upper mold having an upper surface forming portion disposed at an upper side slider above an upper side of the lower mold, and a stretching forming portion that performs a stretching when both end portions of the material panel are grasped by a cam operation before shaping or pressing the material panel.
US09056415B2

A forming device and a method of manufacture of a fillet of plastic for aircraft assemblies. The fillet has a pre-determined profile for filling a cavity of a structural element. The fillet is formed using a former of a forming device. The method includes applying at least one blank of a base material of plastic between at least two opposed press beds of the former and at least one of the press beds including an elongated groove. At least one press bed is towards another press bed, until the press beds are in position for completed compression of the fillet. Each groove for forming of the fillet generates a fillet in correspondence with the pre-determined profile. The press beds are separated from each other for releasing the formed fillet. The formed fillet is removed from the former. The formed fillet is applied in the cavity.
US09056409B2

A process is disclosed for forming a brim-mount ring included in a container lid. The brim-mount ring is configured to mount on the brim of the container and to have a core made of a first material and a surrounding skin made of a second material
US09056395B1

Methods and systems for construction zone sign detection are described. A computing device may be configured to receive a 3D point cloud of a vicinity of a road on which a vehicle is travelling. The 3D point cloud may include points corresponding to light reflected from objects in the vicinity of the road. The computing device may be configured to determine a set of points representing an area at a given height from a surface of the road, and estimate a shape associated with the set of points. Further, the computing device may be configured to determine a likelihood that the set of points represents a construction zone sign, based on the estimated shape. Based on the likelihood, the computing device may be configured to modify a control strategy associated with a driving behavior of the vehicle; and control the vehicle based on the modified control strategy.
US09056393B1

An apparatus for installing a string of decorative lighting, such as Christmas or party lights, in an elevated location without requiring the use of a ladder. The apparatus allows the string of lights to be hung simultaneously with a hanging bracket or clip suitable for hanging the lights from a gutter or shingles. A clamp, actuated between an open and closed position, securely holds the light string by a socket rather than the wire string, while the light string is being hung. The clamp preferably includes prongs oriented in different directions, one direction adapted for hanging a string of lights with a hook-type hanging bracket and the other direction adapted for use with a clip-type hanger. A protective body covers the bulb while the light string is being hung.
US09056390B2

A power wrench has a housing with a forwardly extending tubular neck portion, a rotation motor, an output shaft extending coaxially through the neck portion, and a torque reaction bar supported on the neck portion via a splines coupling. The reaction bar is axially locked to the housing by a nut assembly co-operating with a threaded section of the neck portion. The nut assembly includes a nut element, a maneuver ring supported on the nut element, and lock pins extend through axial bores in the nut element and are arranged to positively engage the keyways of the splines coupling in a lock position to rotationally lock the nut assembly relative to the housing. The lock pins are secured to the ring, and a spring is arranged between the nut element and the ring to bias the ring and the lock pins towards the lock position.
US09056379B2

In a power tool dust collecting device, a blocking ring that is subject to elastic deformation upon contact with a workpiece surface for blockage between a suction head and the workpiece surface is provided to the front surface of the suction head to be brought into contact with the workpiece surface. The blocking ring has a ventilating portion (a V-shaped slit) that ensures the flow of air to the suction head regardless of whether the elastic deformation has occurred.
US09056378B2

A manufacturing machine for processing a product includes a frame, a processing device, an input conveyor belt, an output conveyor belt, two work-stations, two manipulators, and two work-stations. The processing device processes the product. The input conveyor belt transfers the product to the processing device. The output conveyor belt transfers the product after the product being processed. Two work-stations load the product. The two manipulators take the product from the input conveyor belt to the two work-stations, and take the product from the two work-stations to the output conveyor.
US09056368B2

The invention relates to a method for monitoring a laser machining operation to be performed on a workpiece, comprising the following steps: detecting at least two current measured values by at least one sensor, which monitors the laser machining operation, determining at least two current characteristic values from the at least two current measured values, wherein the at least two current characteristic values jointly represent a current fingerprint in a characteristic value space, providing a predetermined point set in the characteristic value space, and classifying the laser machining operation by detecting the position of the current fingerprint relative to the predetermined point set in the characteristic value space, wherein the at least one sensor comprises at least one camera unit, which records camera images with different exposure times and processes them together by using a high dynamic range (HDR) method, in order to provide images having a high contrast ratio as the current measured values.
US09056365B2

A monitoring module for monitoring an electric arc machining process includes a camera, a photo flash lamp and a control system that controls the photo flash lamp in such a way that it illuminates when the camera records the image. The components are arranged in a common housing. The common housing includes a compressed air connection and an air outlet (7) or a deflection device arranged at the housing, which is provided for the orientation of the discharging air beam across the optical axis of the camera. Furthermore, an air flow caused by the compressed air is led via the light source and/or the control system and/or a charging connection for the light source.
US09056362B2

A system for performing exothermic operations or oxygen delivery uses a rod and handle configuration to create a flowpath of oxygen. The rod includes cables having stainless steel fibers that burn using the oxygen within a hollow center area. While burning, the rod cuts through material. A sheath covers the covers to contain the gases and prevent unraveling of the cables. The handle attaches to the rod and provides control of the flow of oxygen to the rod. A manifold fixing in place bottles of oxygen connects to the handle and can be fixed to provide different mixtures from different bottles. The rod is disconnected when needed to fix a mask thereto for delivering breathable oxygen to a patient.
US09056349B2

A coil wire material is bent by a first roll, a second roll, and a third roll. The bent coil wire material is pressed in a screwing direction, to shape a coil spring having a desired diameter and a pitch. A desired pitch can be accurately formed in a manner that a second roll provided on a downstream side of a conveying direction of the coil wire material is configured to be able to move hack and forth along the screwing direction of the coil spring and to be tiltable about an axis of rotation parallel to the conveying direction of the coil wire material.
US09056348B2

The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for manufacturing a back frame for flat panel display devices. The method contains the steps of: delivering a material belt to a stamping device; conducting a first stamping at a region of a mold in the stamping device corresponding to a first work location of a stamping process; moving the material belt or mold move a next work location after completing the first stamping; conducting a second stamping at a region of the same mold corresponding to a second work location of the stamping process by the same stamping device; and obtaining the main pieces and braces for the back frame after sequentially completing the stampings by the same stamping device and the same mold. The present invention as described is capable of saving the costs for the stamping device, mold, and material.
US09056338B2

The invention is a piezoelectric self-cleaning apparatus, such as a chemical injection pump. The chemical injection pump is self-cleaning by employing either as an integral part or as an added part, a piezoelectric component that implosively cleans the pump head. This invention involves a liquid delivery system made of a liquid processing path and a piezoelectric actuator connected to or integral with said liquid processing path to enhance removal of unwanted solids from the liquid processing path or to maintain a blend, mix and/or integrity of a liquid chemical, wherein the liquid chemical does not precipitate particles, crystallize, separate or come out of solution.
US09056337B2

The disclosure shows a device and method for automating the cleaning/sanitizing of the water and ice making system on a blended ice machine. The method eliminates the need to disassemble the unit in order to gain system access points to introduce cleaning and or sanitizing solutions. The method also automates the sequence of events required to insure cleaning is done according to a proven method.
US09056327B2

A modular plural component spray system configured for drawing at least two components, each stored in a discrete drum and sending the at least two components to a spray gun. The spray system comprises at least two flow lines. Each flow line includes a pump, a counter configured to measure the work performed by the pump and a heater disposed outside of each discrete drum downstream from the pump, where each of the two flow lines is configured to be connected at a first end to the spray gun and a second end to each discrete drum and each of the at least two components is drawn from each discrete drum and heated with the heater before arriving at the spray gun to be mixed and dispensed.
US09056323B2

The present invention is provided with a rich air sprayer component, which is disposed with a fixation part. The fixation part is disposed with an inlet part and an air enriching part. The inlet part is disposed with at least an inlet hole; the air enriching part is disposed with an air hole; the sectional area of the cavity of the air enriching part is larger than the sectional area of the inlet hole, making that negative pressure generates when water flows into the air enriching part from the inlet hole and air gets in from outside, air and water flow mix to form gas-water mixture, the sectional area of the cavity of the air enriching part is gradually narrowed, so that the gas-water mixture is dashed on the inner wall of the air enriching part to make water flow drawn air enough. It has advantages as below: the gas-water mixture is rich in air, making the sprayer with water saving, of granular sensation and strong spraying force.
US09056322B1

A self-contained fluid jet assembly that includes a first chamber having a fluid inlet and a second chamber having an air inlet and at least one fluid outlet. An opening is present between the first chamber and said second chamber and is surrounded by a nozzle in the second chamber. The nozzle terminates short of a fluid outlet such that an air gap is defined between the nozzle and outlet, thereby creating an improved jet action.
US09056304B2

The present invention refers to a catalyst for aldehyde production, in particular formaldehyde or acetaldehyde production, through selective oxidation of alkanol, especially methanol or ethanol, with oxygen, said catalyst having a spinel structure. The catalyst typically comprises a Fea+qVb+xMoc+yΔzO4 spinel structure wherein Δ is an optional cation vacancy and wherein z=3−q−x−y and q×a+x×b+y×c=8 in concentrations corresponding to 0.6
US09056296B2

An apparatus for manufacturing fine particles is provided. The apparatus includes a liquid droplet discharge device and a liquid droplet solidification device. The liquid droplet discharge device has multiple nozzles. The liquid droplet discharge device is adapted to discharge a liquid from the multiple nozzles to form the liquid into liquid droplets. The liquid comprises a solvent in which constituents of the fine particles are dissolved or dispersed or a melt of constituents of the fine particles. The liquid droplet solidification device is adapted to solidify the liquid droplets by an airflow. The multiple nozzles are arranged in a manner such that each of the nozzles does not overlap each other relative to a direction of the airflow.
US09056292B2

A barrel alignment structure for a pair of barrel sections each defining an end surface configured to abut each other is disclosed. The barrel alignment structure comprises of a plurality of alignment pins distributed on the end surface of the first barrel section. The barrel alignment structure further comprises of a corresponding number of slots defined on the end surface of the second barrel section, each slot configured to receive one alignment pin, wherein the slot has a width substantially equal to that of the alignment pin and a length larger than the width of the alignment pin permitting relative thermal expansion between the pair of barrel sections. An extruder barrel section is also disclosed. The extruder barrel section defining an end surface configured to abut the end surface of another extruder barrel section. The extruder barrel section comprises of a plurality of alignment pins distributed on its end surface. Each alignment pin configured to be received by a corresponding slot defined on the end surface of the extruder barrel section abutting it, wherein the slot has a width substantially equal to that of the alignment pin and a length larger than the width of the alignment pin permitting relative thermal expansion between the pair of barrel sections.
US09056289B2

The present invention is generally related to systems and methods for producing droplets. The droplets may contain varying species, e.g., for use as a library. In some cases, at least one droplet is used to create a plurality of droplets, using techniques such as flow-focusing techniques. In one set of embodiments, a plurality of droplets, containing varying species, can be divided to form a collection of droplets containing the various species therein. A collection of droplets, according to certain embodiments, may contain various subpopulations of droplets that all contain the same species therein. Such a collection of droplets may be used as a library in some cases, or may be used for other purposes.
US09056286B2

A feeder is disclosed for dissolving a chemical and mixing it with a liquid. The feeder includes a hopper adapted to hold the chemical, a nozzle located in the hopper, and a supply of the liquid to the nozzle to dissolve the chemical on contact with the liquid from the nozzle to form a solution. A solution basin is disposed under the hopper and a drain is provided from the hopper into the solution basin. An outlet from the solution basin has an outlet valve which opens when a solution level in the solution basin rises.
US09056278B2

A reduction in the accuracy of a failure determination of a filter due to a reduction in the detection accuracy of a PM sensor is suppressed. In order to achieve this, provision is made for a filter that is arranged in an exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine for trapping particulate matter contained in an exhaust gas, an NOx selective reduction catalyst that is arranged at the downstream side of the filter and reduces NOx by means of a reducing agent which is supplied thereto, a supply device that supplies the reducing agent to the NOx selective reduction catalyst from the upstream side of the NOx selective reduction catalyst, a PM sensor that detects an amount of the particulate matter in the exhaust gas at the downstream side of the NOx selective reduction catalyst, and a prohibition part that prohibits the use of a detected value of the PM sensor in cases where the reducing agent supplied from said supply device passes through the NOx selective reduction catalyst.
US09056267B2

A filtration device with filters that can be backwashed with purified water switches between water purification, first backwashing, and second backwashing modes, depending on a pivot position of a valve. During the first backwashing mode, while a tap water inlet is in communication with a second tap water passage port, first and second purified water passage ports are blocked from communication with a purified water outlet, so purified water from a second filter flows backward through a first filter and is discharged from a drain water outlet. During the second backwashing mode, while the tap water inlet is in communication with a first tap water passage port, first and second purified water passage ports are blocked from communication with the purified water outlet, so purified water from the first filter flows backward through the second filter and is discharged from the drain water outlet.
US09056265B2

Bioactive compounds extracted from a fermentation broth created by a unique microbial community during a fermentation process and fractionated into several fractions based on size. Four of the resulting fractions stimulate growth of plants that are planted in soil to which the fractions have been applied. The fractions can be applied to the soil individually or combined together prior to application. In another embodiment, the unique fractions can be freeze dried or spray dried.
US09056252B2

Latency compensation is performed during play of a multiplayer video game over a network. A first system includes a first estimator, a first player, and a first game object controlled by movement of the first player, and a second system includes at least a second player and a second game object controlled by movement of the second player. The first estimator receives data values characterizing delayed states of the second system via the network. Based on the received data values, the first estimator estimates a latency-compensated state of the second game object using a physics model of the second game object and a behavior model of the second player. The behavior model provides a representation of how the second player interacts with the video game relative to the first player. The first player is enabled to interact with the video game with compensated latency.
US09056240B2

This is directed to systems, processes, machines, and other means that simulate motion in a virtual environment. The invention comprising a constraining element and footwear that allow the user freedom of movement while limiting one to a circumscribed area. As the user moves within the circumscribed area ones movements are continuously recreated in virtual space simulating similar movements through the virtual space which are then displayed for the user.
US09056237B1

A netting apparatus adapted to display advertising content at a sporting event is disclosed. The netting apparatus comprises a first panel and a second panel. The first panel may comprise an open mesh netting, wherein the open mesh netting is adapted to safely stop a ball without significant obstruction of view through the open mesh netting. The second panel may comprise a open mesh netting, wherein the open mesh netting is located either in front of the first panel or behind the first panel.
US09056217B2

A stationary exercise apparatus includes a frame, a driving wheel assembly, two treading units, and a flywheel assembly. The flywheel assembly has a driven wheel. The driven wheel and the driving wheel assembly are positioned coaxially and pivotally. The treading units are arranged in a four-link manner and can actuate the driving wheel assembly. The driving wheel assembly drives the driven wheel to rotate at an inertial operating speed higher than the rotation speed of the driving wheel assembly. After being actuated, the stationary exercise apparatus operates continuously because of inertial rotation of the driven wheel. During their operation, pedals of the treading units keep lying on the same horizontal plane to thereby enable the user to tread smoothly and lower the prevalence of sports injuries.
US09056212B2

Systems and devices for and methods of energy management, property security and fire hazard prevention are provided. The systems, devices and methods are able to be centralized, computerized, and expandable. The devices and systems are capable of automatically reducing energy consumptions and minimizing losses of property caused by fire, theft, and vandalism using monitoring sensors (e.g., occupancy sensors) and computer software and equipments.
US09056190B2

Method of making a balloon catheter includes melt-extruding a thermoplastic polymeric material into a tube, cooling the extruded tube, placing the extruded tube within a capture member and biaxially orienting the polymeric material of the extruded tube while simultaneously tapering at least a section of the extruded tube by radially expanding the extruded tube with pressurized media in the tube lumen and axially expanding the extruded tube with an external load applied on at least one end of the tube as an external heat supply traverses longitudinally from a first end to a second end of the extruded tube in the capture member, wherein an overall axial load on the tubing is varied as at least a section of the tube is heated. The method includes cooling the expanded tube to form a tapered biaxially oriented nonporous thermoplastic polymer tubular member and sealingly securing a balloon proximate a distal end of the tubular member.
US09056188B2

An extravascular system for accessing the vasculature of a patient may include a catheter, a needle disposed within the catheter, and/or a needle tip shield assembly. The needle tip shield assembly may have a needle cap, the needle cap may have a needle shield, and the needle shield may have one or more flags. The flags may include a first flag and a second flag. The first flag and the second flag may form an engageable barrier through which the needle cannot penetrate once the barrier is engaged. The needle shield may be a V-clip. The V-clip may include a first arm and a second arm, and the first flag may be secured to the first arm while the second flag may be secured to the second arm.
US09056182B2

A catheter having a catheter body with a lumen and a distal lumen opening. The catheter's lumen extends through the catheter body along a longitudinal axis of the catheter body. A splittable feature is formed within a wall of the catheter body.
US09056180B2

A catheter tip assembly comprises a marker band and a catheter tip. The catheter tip has an inner lumen therethrough and an outer portion and an inner portion with the marker band disposed therebetween.
US09056177B2

Various embodiments of a respiratory interface device, such as a mask (10), that includes a first substantially rigid portion (14), a second substantially rigid portion (16) and a connecting member (18) that is structured to flexibly connect the first and second substantially rigid portions. The flexible connection provides an effective fit of the respiratory interface device against the user's face.
US09056169B2

A private extension of the IEEE 11073 standard for enabling pass-thru communication between a external computing device and a medical device via a diabetes management device is disclosed herein. Within this context, a diabetes management system for configured to allow pass thru communication is described. The system includes a diabetes management device in communication with a external computing device and the first medical device. A pass-thru module of the diabetes management device uses a set of pass-thru commands for establishing a pass-thru communication path and enabling communication between the external computing device and the first medical device, and wherein the set of pass-through commands is defined in compliance with a communication protocol defined in accordance with IEEE standard 11073-20601.
US09056164B2

A fluid path set for a fluid delivery system includes a tube coil that is designed to optimally position one or more volumes of a pharmaceutical within an ionization chamber to measure and prepare a pharmaceutical dose for administration to a patient. The fluid path set includes a medical fluid component having a first tubing section for connection to a source of a medical fluid, a pharmaceutical component having a second tubing section for connection to a source of a pharmaceutical, and a coil assembly which includes the tube coil. The tube coil may be maintained in a desired dimensional geometry by means of a core structure around which the tube coil is positioned.
US09056159B2

A circulatory assist system has a pump with a motor coupled to rotate the pump at a selectable speed. A controller drives the motor at a target speed and collects blood flow measurements during operation of the pump. An impaired flow condition is identified when a plurality of successive blood flow measurements are between an expected minimum flow and a low flow threshold, such that the low flow would necessitate issuing an alert. During the impaired flow condition, it is detected whether an inflow obstruction exists by determining whether a reduction in speed of the pump is correlated with a predetermined increase in the blood flow measurements. If the inflow obstruction is detected, then the speed of the pump is further reduced to further increase the blood flow measurements.
US09056156B2

Disclosed are drug delivery systems comprising drugs admixed with polymers having drug solubility gradients and methods of making the polymers. Also disclosed are medical devices having coatings thereon comprising the drug solubility gradient-containing polymers and at least one drug.
US09056148B2

A method and apparatus for disinfecting and/or self-sterilizing at least a portion of the surface of a stethoscope is provided. Methods and devices are provided by which a device or apparatus can generate a sterilizing plasma such that a stethoscope, or portion of a stethoscope, can be placed within or near the device or apparatus so that the plasma disinfects and/or sterilizes and/or decontaminates at least a portion of the stethoscope. A method and apparatus are disclosed for providing a self-disinfecting and/or self-sterilizing and/or self-decontaminating stethoscope and stethoscope disinfecting and/or sterilization apparatus for disinfecting and/or sterilizing, respectively, all or at least a portion of a stethoscope.
US09056146B2

Container-producing arrangement which includes a blow-molding machine and at least one radiation emitter disposed at, on, or adjacent the blow-molding machine in order to sterilize a portion of the blow-molding machine and/or a portion of a housing which surrounds the container-producing arrangement.
US09056139B2

The invention provides compositions and methods for treating or preventing cancer with an inventive composition. The invention relates to the fields of biomedicine, pharmacology, and molecular biology.
US09056135B2

The present invention relates to novel molecular markers for diagnosis and classification of human breast cancer and lung cancer.
US09056133B2

This invention is related to the field of cancer treatment, more specifically to gene therapy in combination with a suitable chemotherapeutic agent. The present invention is related to a new oncolytic virus, which is able to inhibit the growth of malignant tumors or is a treatment of hyperproliferative mammalian cells, or is a treatment of cancer. The oncolytic virus works in combination with a suitable chemotherapeutic agent. More specifically, the present invention provides a pharmaceutical kit comprising an oncolytic adenovirus and a chemotherapeutic agent, and a method for the treatment of cancer.
US09056127B2

The present invention provides a hydrogel composition, preferably for the treatment of wounds, comprising a hydrophilic co-polymer carrying multiple pendant anionic groups, wherein the polymer is derived from a first monomer and a second monomer, wherein both monomers have an octanol:water partition coefficient LogP value of less than 0, and, the LogP value of the first monomer is greater (more positive) than the second monomer. The difference between the LogP value for the two monomers is preferably less than 2. The weight ratio (w/w) of the first monomer/second monomer in the hydrogel composition is preferably equal to or more than about 1. The pendant anionic groups may be sulphonyl groups, e.g. sulphonic acid groups or salts thereof. The anionic group in both first and second monomers may be in salt form and the counterion for both monomers is preferably the same.
US09056123B2

The present invention relates to specific Lactobacillus strains with an anti-oxidant effect.
US09056116B2

In certain embodiments, the invention is directed to composition comprising stable particles comprising ganaxolone, wherein the volume weighted median diameter (D50) of the particles is from about 50 nm to about 500 nm.
US09056104B2

An inhibitor of heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) can include a coumermycin A1 analog having a structure that inhibits HSP90 greater than coumermycin A1. That is, the coumermycin A1 analog is not coumermycin A1. The coumermycin A1 analog can have an antiproliferative biological activity, which can be superior to coumermycin A1. The activity can include the coumermycin A1 analog inhibiting a C-terminus of HSP90.
US09056099B2

Substituted perhydro pyrrolopyridines and methods for their use in the treatment of viral diseases including hepatitis C viral infections are described herein.
US09056095B2

An immunogenic composition includes as an effective ingredient an antigen-adjuvant microparticle complex containing an antigen encapsulated in an adjuvant microparticle composed of an amphiphilic polymer(s) whose hydrophobic segment is a poly(hydroxy acid), or a particle composed of the antigen-adjuvant microparticle complex associated together, can induce a high immune response against the antigen even with a small amount of the antigen and a small number of doses, so that the immunogenic composition is useful as a vaccine effective for therapy and prophylaxis of infectious diseases, cancer and the like.
US09056094B2

The present invention provides a vaccine adjuvant composition which is used in combination with an allergen vaccine, infection vaccine or tumor vaccine. The present invention specifically provides a vaccine adjuvant composition comprising hemozoin or β-hematin and being used in combination with an allergen vaccine, infection vaccine or tumor vaccine, and a vaccine composition comprising the vaccine adjuvant composition and an allergen vaccine, infection vaccine or tumor vaccine.
US09056093B2

A method of treating diabetes in a mammalian subject is carried out by: (a) providing mammalian amniotic fluid stem cells, and then (b) administering the cells to the subject in an amount effective to treat diabetes. Optionally, the cells may be differentiated into pancreatic-like cells or at least treated to initiate subsequent differentiation into-pancreatic-like cells, prior to administration.
US09056084B2

Cellfree adipose tissue extracts, implants including the same and methods for the preparation thereof. The extracts and implants are capable of inducing adipogenesis and angiogenesis and are, thus, useful in applications including soft tissue repair and engineering and angiogenesis induction, e.g., in wound healing, treatment of burn injuries and ischemic conditions.
US09056082B2

Provided is a Fingerprint sensor using Acoustic Impediography. The sensor includes an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC or IC) and an array of mechanical resonator used as sensing elements. The array of sensing elements contains multiple sensing elements arranged in rows and columns.
US09056079B2

This invention provides derivatives of dodecapeptide ISSIKEKYPSHS (SEQ ID NO: 11) which interfere with binding of calbindin to inositol monophosphatase, and their use in treating mood disorders.
US09056062B2

According to a first aspect, antiperspirant aerosol compositions are disclosed comprising antiperspirant active particulates, a propellant and at least 5% by weight of the entire antiperspirant aerosol composition of a silicone component, wherein (a) the antiperspirant active particulates are the only particulates in the antiperspirant aerosol composition; (b) the silicone component comprises one or more silicones and the or each silicone is a non-volatile silicone. According to a second aspect, packaged antiperspirant aerosol compositions according to the first aspect are disclosed.
US09056061B2

A transdermal nicotine salt delivery system to an individual. The system has a high nicotine salt loading to effect therapeutic flux rate. Acrylate polymeric drug reservoir with the high nicotine salt dissolved therein provides desirable adhesive characteristics and effective transdermal therapeutic properties.
US09056057B2

Nanocrystals, compositions, and methods that aid particle transport in mucus are provided. In some embodiments, the compositions and methods involve making mucus-penetrating particles (MPP) without any polymeric carriers, or with minimal use of polymeric carriers. The compositions and methods may include, in some embodiments, modifying the surface coatings of particles formed of pharmaceutical agents that have a low water solubility. Such methods and compositions can be used to achieve efficient transport of particles of pharmaceutical agents though mucus barriers in the body for a wide spectrum of applications, including drug delivery, imaging, and diagnostic applications. In certain embodiments, a pharmaceutical composition including such particles is well-suited for administration routes involving the particles passing through a mucosal barrier.
US09056046B2

The present invention refers to a medicament which activates gastrointestinal movement. The medicament consists essentially of Cucurbitacin D and one or more substances form the group including Cucurbitacin A, Cucurbitacin B, Cucurbitacin E, Isocucurbitacin B and Isocucurbitacin D. The medicament is made from an extract obtained from Muskmelon Base, the fruit stem of Cucumis melo L. The medicament can promote enterokinesia in both normal animals and in animal models where gastrointestinal movement is inhibited. It has also been demonstrated to activate the movements of the stomach, small and large intestines. The extract may be used alone or in combination with the other botanical ingredients or chemical substances to form the pharmaceutical preparation.
US09056045B2

Biocompatible intraocular microspheres can include an active agent and a biodegradable polymer that is effective to facilitate release of the active agent into the vitreous of an eye for an extended period of time. The therapeutic agent of the microsphere can be associated with a biodegradable polymer matrix and can be made by crystallizing the active agent in the matrix. the resulting biodegradable microspheres can be placed into an eye to treat or reduce the occurrence of one or more ocular conditions.
US09056041B2

The present invention is a device that is configured to secure a patient's head against the force of gravity during surgery (or other medical procedures) while the patient is in an upright, sideways (tilted to the side), or upside down position, or in any other non-horizontal position, for any duration of time. The device is designed to safely secure a patient's head or neck to prevent potential injury to the patient who is unconscious and unable to protect themselves through reflex reactions or otherwise. Without the device, a patient's head would drop forward or sideways by force of gravity, and if it remained in the dropped position, the patient's neck, shoulder, and/or spine regions could suffer temporary or permanent soreness, strain, and/or injury. This device is designed to reduce or eliminate such soreness or injury.
US09056038B1

A modified OEM vehicle including a modified rear axle with an axle beam moved rearward, a modified exhaust system with the secondary catalytic converter relocated forward of a firewall, and a modified floor. The modified OEM vehicle also includes a body lift kit, a modified rear seat moved rearward in the vehicle, and a lowered air box aligned with an OEM air intake system. The modified rear axle may also include a receptacle enabling a power kneel chain to pass through the axle. Methods for modifying an OEM vehicle include the steps of removing the OEM rear axle, attaching a modified rear axle, repositioning the secondary catalytic converter, and modifying the floor of an interior compartment of the OEM vehicle. Method steps include fabricating a modified rear axle, installing a body lift kit, and lowering the airbox.
US09056034B2

In an absorbent part of an absorbent product, super absorbent materials located between two sheets in an absorbent area swell by absorption of moisture of excrement, and spaces extending in a longitudinal direction from an opening, which is formed at a portion of upper absorbent layer facing the crotch region of a wearer, are formed between a non-absorbent area where the super absorbent materials do not exist and the upper absorbent layer and between the non-absorbent area and a lower absorbent layer. In the absorbent product, through the spaces, moisture of excrement in the second excretion and later can be quickly diffused over a wide area along the longitudinal direction of the absorbent part, and the moisture of excrement can be absorbed in a wide area of the absorbent part. As a result, it is possible to maintain high absorbing ability in multiple excretions in the absorbent product.
US09056028B2

A dryness indicator includes a wicking strip continuous between a reservoir end and an opposed open end; a liquid-impermeable top layer disposed on one side of the wicking strip; and a liquid-impermeable bottom layer disposed on the opposite side of the wicking strip, wherein the top layer is affixed to the bottom layer to at least partially enclose the wicking strip, and wherein the indicator is configured such that the open end of the wicking strip can be placed in liquid communication with an object or surface. The dryness indicator also includes a reservoir including an oil-based colorant with the potential to be in liquid communication with the reservoir end of the wicking strip, wherein the wicking strip is configured such that colorant wicking from the reservoir end and an unreacted water-based fluid wicking from the open end meet to define a timing line.
US09056024B2

In one of its aspects, the present invention relates to an endovascular prosthesis. The endovascular prosthesis comprises a first expandable portion expandable from a first, unexpanded state to a second, expanded state to urge the first expandable portion against a vascular lumen and a retractable leaf portion attached to the first expandable portion. The retractable leaf portion comprises at least one spine portion and a plurality of rib portions attached to the spine portion. Longitudinally adjacent pairs of rib portions are free of interconnecting struts. The endovascular prosthesis that can be unsheathed and re-sheathed for repositioning of the endovascular prosthesis prior to final deployment thereof. There is also described a delivery device that that is particularly well suited to delivering the present endovascular prosthesis through tortuous vasculature in the body.
US09056020B1

Positioning an acetabular cup in a desired optimal alignment in relation to the patient's pelvis using conventional fluoroscopic equipment readily available in operating rooms in conjunction with a metallic jig as guide. The device having inclination metallic rods at 45 degrees angle to the cup impactor and anteversion rod situated at a distance from the midline that correspond to the degree of inclination. When said inclination and anteversion shafts are aligned with central anatomical structures such as symphysis pubis and middle of first sacral vertebra will result in correct placement of the acetabular cup at the desired version.
US09056009B2

A device for improving the function of a heart valve comprises a first loop-shaped support, which is configured to abut a first side of the heart valve, and a first flange unit being connected to said first loop-shaped support. The flange unit is configured to be arranged against said annulus when said first loop-shaped support is abutting said heart valve.
US09056001B2

Large diameter self-expanding endoprosthetic devices, such as stents and stent grafts for delivery to large diameter vessels, such as the aorta, are disclosed having very small compacted delivery dimensions. Devices with deployed dimensions of 26 to 40 mm or more are disclosed that are compacted to extremely small dimensions of 5 mm or less, enabling percutaneous delivery of said devices without the need for surgical intervention. Compaction efficiencies are achieved by combining unique material combinations with new forms of restraining devices, compaction techniques, and delivery techniques. These inventive devices permit consistent percutaneous delivery of large vessel treatment devices. Additionally, small endoprosthetic devices are disclosed that can be compacted to extremely small dimensions for delivery through catheter tubes of less than 1 mm diameter.
US09055999B2

An endovascular prosthesis is disclosed that includes a tubular graft and a radiopaque marker attached to envelop or enfold an edge of the tubular graft. A first segment of the radiopaque marker extends against an interior surface of the tubular graft and a second segment of the radiopaque marker extends against an exterior surface of the tubular graft such that the first and second segments sandwich or straddle the edge of the tubular graft. The radiopaque marker may include a living hinge that demarcates the first and second segments and aligns with the tubular graft edge when the radiopaque marker is attached thereto. The radiopaque marker may have a substantially U shape with the first and second segments biased toward each other by an end segment such that the end segment aligns with the tubular graft edge when the radiopaque marker is attached thereto.
US09055990B1

A dental prosthetic device and a method for its fabrication are disclosed. The method is applicable for metalloceramics or metalloplastics permanent dentures based on a light metal openwork frame strengthened by multiple layers of ceramic or plastic custom coating.
US09055989B2

The invention is a low-splash dental fluid distribution implement with the ability to evenly wear down tooth decay, diseased tissue, or undesired dentin in oral applications with live patients. The directed multi-beams of pressurized fluid are a combined plurality of individual beams paired in such a manner that the reflected fluid bursts are inwardly directed against each other. This canceling effect prevents damage to the oral tissues of the patient's mouth by curtailing outward bound bursts of fluid arising from the initial directed impact. Also, the outer edges of the strike zone receive a comparable force as that which hits the center.
US09055971B2

A surgical device is described. The surgical device may comprise a rotatable cutter configured to cut tissue for insertion of a cannula, and a first driver configured to be driven by a motor arrangement and to rotate the cutter. The surgical device may further include, for example, the cannula, at least one of the rotatable cutter and the first driver being disposed in a bore of the cannula. In one embodiment, the rotatable cutter may include an auger having a cutting thread. In another embodiment, the rotatable cutter may include a disk-shaped blade.
US09055966B2

The invention provides a rotational atherectomy device having, in various embodiments, a flexible, elongated, rotatable drive shaft with at least one flexible or inflexible eccentric enlarged abrading and cutting head attached thereto which comprises an abrasive surface. When placed against stenotic tissue and rotated at high speed, the eccentric nature of the abrading and cutting head moves along an orbital path, opening the lesion to a diameter larger than the resting diameter of the enlarged abrading and cutting head. Preferably the abrading and cutting head has a center of mass spaced radially from the rotational axis of the drive shaft, facilitating the ability of the device to travel along an orbital path. The abrading and cutting head comprises proximal and/or distal radiused surfaces that facilitate cutting difficult stenosis material while minimizing trauma to the vessel. In some cases, the abrading and cutting head is made from a relatively dense metal.
US09055965B2

Sinusitis and other disorders of the ear, nose and throat are diagnosed and/or treated using minimally invasive approaches with flexible or rigid instruments. Various methods and devices are used for remodeling or changing the shape, size or configuration of a sinus ostium or duct or other anatomical structure in the ear, nose or throat; implanting a device, cells or tissues; removing matter from the ear, nose or throat; delivering diagnostic or therapeutic substances or performing other diagnostic or therapeutic procedures. Introducing devices (e.g., guide catheters, tubes, guidewires, elongate probes, other elongate members) may be used to facilitate insertion of working devices (e.g. catheters e.g. balloon catheters, guidewires, tissue cutting or remodeling devices, devices for implanting elements like stents, electrosurgical devices, energy emitting devices, devices for delivering diagnostic or therapeutic agents, substance delivery implants, scopes etc.) into the paranasal sinuses or other structures in the ear, nose or throat. Specific devices (e.g., tubular guides, guidewires, balloon catheters, tubular sheaths) are provided as are methods for manufacturing and using such devices to treat disorders of the ear, nose or throat.
US09055955B2

The present disclosure relates to bone resurfacing. One embodiment includes a method for preparing an implant site in bone, comprising establishing a first working axis extending from said bone; establishing a second working axis extending from said bone, the second working axis is displaced from the first working axis; creating a first socket in the bone by reaming about the first working axis; and creating a second socket in the bone, adjacent the first socket, by reaming about the second working axis.
US09055943B2

Adapter assemblies are provided for selectively interconnecting a surgical end effector that is configured to perform at least a pair of functions and a surgical device that is configured to actuate the end effector, wherein the end effector includes a first axially translatable drive member and a second axially translatable drive member, and wherein the surgical device includes a first rotatable drive shaft and a second rotatable drive shaft.
US09055924B2

A digital non-contact tympanic thermometer has a tympanic probe with an IR sensor at the end of the probe in which the digital non-contact tympanic thermometer can be converted to a digital non-contact non-tympanic thermometer for non-tympanic surfaces by placement of removeable probe cover over the tympanic cover in which the probe cover includes a parabolic condenser at the tip of the probe cover that increases gathering of incoming infrared energy.
US09055911B2

A radiation imaging apparatus includes an arm configured to support a radiation generating unit that generates radiation, a post configured to support the arm, a movable portion configured to support the post and to be movable on a floor, and a supporting foot portion that is rotatable with respect to the movable portion. The supporting foot portion and the arm are operable to be placed in an open state and a closed state. In a state where the supporting foot portion and the arm are closed, the supporting foot portion covers the radiation generating unit.
US09055902B2

An eye-mountable device includes an electrochemical sensor embedded in a polymeric material configured for mounting to a surface of an eye. The electrochemical sensor includes a working electrode, a reference electrode, and a reagent that selectively reacts with an analyte to generate a sensor measurement related to a concentration of the analyte in a fluid to which the eye-mountable device is exposed. The working electrode can have at least one dimension less than 25 micrometers. The reference electrode can have an area at least five times greater than an area of the working electrode. A portion of the polymeric material can surround the working electrode and the reference electrode such that an electrical current conveyed between the working electrode and the reference electrode is passed through the at least partially surrounding portion of the transparent polymeric material.
US09055887B1

A system having one or more lenticular units and more supplementary parts without lenticular properties. The lenticular units consist of lenticular plates that are capable of visualizing various clinically relevant examination objects. In all the examination positions, the system may visualize a fixation area that is shown alone or together with clinically relevant examination objects targeted at the examination of clinically relevant visual functions. Supplementary parts with various optical properties may be fixed or be moved relative to the lenticular units. Various clinically relevant examination objects may be visualized for the right eye and the left eye in that the examination objects of the system are provided with different colors or light polarizations and using eyeglasses with a differently colored glass for the right eye and the left eye or with polarization filters with a different direction for the right eye and the left eye.
US09055885B2

Disclosed is an exemplary surgical illumination system that includes a first laser configured to emit a first light beam having a first spectral range, and an illumination probe optically connectable to the first laser. The first laser may be configured as a supercontinuum laser. The surgical illumination system may include a second laser configured to emit a second light beam having a second spectral range, and a beam combiner for combing the first and second laser beams to form a third laser beam having a spectral range of the first and second lasers. The illumination probe includes a fiber optic cable for delivering at least a portion of the first light beam to a surgical site. The fiber optic cable includes a fiber optic core having a diameter of 100 microns or less.
US09055884B2

An MRI-guided interventional system includes a trajectory guide frame for guiding an interventional device with respect to a patient in an MRI-guided procedure and including a base, a platform, a targeting cannula, and a stabilizer mechanism. The platform is mounted on the base and includes a support table and a moving plate that is translatable relative to the support table and the base along a translational axis. The targeting cannula is mounted on the moving plate for movement therewith and includes an elongate guide bore defining a trajectory axis. The stabilizer mechanism is operable to selectively control movement between the support table and the moving plate to stabilize a position of the targeting cannula with respect to the base. The frame is operable to translate the moving plate along the translational axis relative to the base to position the trajectory axis. The translational axis is transverse to the trajectory axis.
US09055882B2

In a method and apparatus to generate a magnetic resonance (MR) image in a volume of interest of an examination subject, the magnetization is excited in an additional volume in the subject by at least one RF pulse, in order to achieve a desired magnetization in the volume of interest. The additional excitation volume differs at least partially from the volume of interest. For this purpose, at least one MR overview image of the examination subject is analyzed automatically to determine a position of at least one anatomical structure of the examination subject, from which the volume of interest is automatically determined. The additional excitation volume is automatically determined using the position of the at least one anatomical structure. The MR image in the volume of interest is acquired with excitation of the magnetization in the automatically determined additional excitation volume.
US09055877B2

An example system and method of processing cardiac activation information are disclosed. The method includes accessing a first cardiac signal and a second cardiac signal obtained from a patient. The first cardiac signal and the second cardiac signal are processed to identify a point of change in the first cardiac signal at which a derivative of the first cardiac signal diverges with respect to a derivative of the second cardiac signal. An activation onset time is assigned in the first cardiac signal at the point of change to define a cardiac activation.
US09055875B2

A method and apparatus for measuring activity in the peripheral nervous system comprises a nerve cuff having an array of chemical detectors such as chemFETS or ISFETS. Activity within the nerve causes chemical responses which can be detected. The use of chemical rather than electrical detection minimizes interference problems and allows the cuffs to be made smaller.
US09055854B2

A water-guiding household appliance that includes a filter arranged in a line system, the filter including at least one filter element; and a base body, wherein the at least one filter element is secured to the base body in a pivotable manner at a rotation point and structured to be moved between a filter position and a cleaning position.
US09055850B2

A dishwasher includes a control device controlling a dishwashing cycle for cleaning items to be washed, a dishwashing chamber for the items to be washed, an inlet valve for controlled filling the washing chamber with washing liquid, and a circulating pump for circulating the washing liquid in the dishwashing chamber. The inlet valve is opened during a primary filling phase having a duration sufficient to fill the dishwashing chamber with a nominal amount of washing liquid and allowing the circulating pump running to run concentrically at a rated speed. A concentricity monitoring unit performs a concentricity check at the end of the primary filling phase to ascertain whether the circulating pump is running concentrically at the rated speed. The filling sequence is terminated when the circulating pump is running concentrically, whereas the filling sequence is continued when the circulating pump is not running concentrically.
US09055849B2

A dishwashing detergent composition comprising a malodor control component, and methods of cleaning dishware are provided. In some embodiments, the dishwashing detergent composition comprises at least one volatile aldehyde and an acid catalyst.
US09055838B2

A new portable slow cooker capable of engaging a lid and a liner container can is provided to prevent the soup from spilling out. The structure of the present invention comprises a cooking body, a liner container, a lid and a handle, wherein the liner container is disposed within the cooking body, and the lid is disposed on the opening of the liner container. The handle is spanned over the lid and has, lower ends in vertically slidable cooperation with handle boxes disposed at aside surface of the cooking body. The handle is locked by the handle boxes when slides to an lowest position, so as to press the lid to form a sealing engagement with the liner container. As long as the handle is pushed to the lowest position, being locked, the lid and the liner. container can be engaged to prevent the soup from spilling out.
US09055835B1

A decorative tree comprises a base, a pole inserted in the base, and plural hoops that are pivotably connected in series prior to complete assembly of the tree. The lowest hoop is attached to the outer rim of the base, an uppermost hoop is provided to connect toward the top of the pole, and one or more intermediate hoops are interposed between the lowest and uppermost hoops. Each hoop has a pivotable connection to an adjacent hoop. The connection of a particular hoop to a lower adjacent hoop is formed on one side of the hoop and a connection of that particular hoop to an upper adjacent hoop is formed on a substantially opposite side of the hoop. Upon complete assembly of the tree, the uppermost hoop is extended toward the top of the tree and the hoops are expanded upward so as to form a decorative pattern of hoops with alternating angular orientations. The hoops may be of one or more shapes and sizes and may be wrapped with light strips to illuminate the tree.
US09055834B2

The present invention is an adjustable hanger which allows for using a single hanger to be utilized for multiple different sized clothes. The shoulders utilize a locking button system. In some embodiments spring or magnetic clips are used on the horizontal beam of the hanger.
US09055832B2

A lid for a beverage container or travel mug is provided that has one or more visual indicators to identify the location of the pour spout opening of the container or mug in low light conditions.
US09055829B1

A bagging system that permits one or two plastic bags to be filled at the same time, one of which can be filled more fully as it is supported by a three-sided support off from a three-sided bag rack. A cross bar can be used to help create two separate areas in which two plastic bags are filled. The same bagging system can also be used with non-plastic and non-standard bags by placing such bags inside of the system, between the three-sided support and the three-sided bag rack, and securing handles of the bag to the bagging system.
US09055827B2

Display cases are designed to be mounted on at least one vertical support, such as a wall, pillar, or series of poles. The display cases include a display drawer that has a closed position within the display case and an open position beneath the display case. The display cases can be single sided, having a display drawer only on its front side, or double sided, having a first display drawer on its front side and a second display drawer on its rear side.
US09055826B2

A rack for holding water sports equipment includes a substantially upright surface, an arm, a pedal, and a linkage between the pedal and the arm. The arm is configured to hold a piece of water sports equipment between the arm and the substantially upright surface. The arm is movable away from the substantially upright surface, against a force biasing the arm toward the substantially upright surface, to allow the piece of water sports equipment to be inserted or removed from between the arm and the substantially upright surface. The pedal is positioned and configured to be moved from a closed position to an open position by a force applied by a human foot and to return to the closed position when that force is removed. The pedal is directly or indirectly connected to the arm in order to move the arm away from the substantially upright surface when the pedal is moved from the closed position to the open position.
US09055825B2

A plurality of sheets made of an elastic material such as vinyl and polypropylene are joined together by high-frequency gluing to form an airtight bag body. Then, the bag body is inflated by being filled with air to form a mannequin resembling the shapes of the upper and lower halves of a body. Regarding an upper bag body portion resembling the upper half of the body and a lower bag body portion resembling the lower half thereof, gussets are coupled through curved junction lines with sheets that form the respective base parts. A joining jig is used to join the sheets, thereby forming an airtight bag body. The foregoing provides an inflatable mannequin and a method of manufacturing the same that can express a natural and realistic body shape and that never damage the brand image of clothes a person who sees the mannequin wearing the clothes has.
US09055824B2

A bed step device is provided for assisting a human or pet in climbing into and/or out of a bed. The device includes a base, at least one step attached to the base, and a retention member attached to the base. The retention member is configured to be disposed and retained between opposed surfaces of a bed, typically either the opposed surfaces of a mattress and a box spring or those of a box spring and a bed frame. The disposition of the retention member between the opposed surfaces results in a retention force, typically a friction force, to resist sliding movement of the device across a floor surface on which the device is supported. The retention member may be a rigid panel or a flexible sheet. The base and step or steps may comprise a folding staircase linkage or a rigid, unitary housing including a storage compartment.
US09055818B2

A covering (3) for seating or reclining furniture (1), which is composed of a knit and aligned essentially in parallel with the mounting direction in a mounted condition transversely to a mounting direction, is elastically deformable, at least in one area, when under load transversely to the mounting direction. Accordingly it is suitable for adapting well to a body shape of a user.
US09055815B2

A press-control type sliding rail assembly includes an intermediate rail, an inner rail slidably coupled to the intermediate rail, a limiter member pivotally mounted at the intermediate rail and defining opposing first stop flange and second stop flange, and a stop block located at the inner rail for stopping against the first stop flange to prevent falling of the inner rail out of the intermediate rail when the second stop flange is pressed by an external force to bias the limiter member in moving the first stop flange toward the inner rail.
US09055814B2

A panel television support and mounting kit allows the consumer to employ any of the three modes of support, namely stand mount, elevated console mount and wall mount. The elevated console mount incorporates a vertical spine to elevate the panel television above the console and an offset arm to support the television over an upper shelf of the console. A mounting structure is provided that can be attached to the spine or to a wall. Pivoting and tilting is accommodated by the mounting structure.
US09055811B2

The invention relates to an office device having multiple spatial configurations, including a first work surface and a second work surface, each of the two surfaces having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis. The first work surface is connected, near a first end thereof, to the second work surface by assembly means enabling rotation of the first surface between a stowed position, in which the longitudinal axes of the work surfaces are aligned, and deployed positions, in which the longitudinal axes of the work surfaces are not aligned. The device is characterized in that the assembly means enable the sliding of the first surface along the longitudinal axis of the second work surface, as well as a rotation by an angle of no less than 90° at any point in the sliding path.
US09055806B2

A device for the manual transportation of loads that includes at least a front surface and at least a back surface, where said front and back surfaces are defined according to their position on the body of the user, joined through their top portion by at least one flat surface, to each one of the front and back surface to which at least one pillar is added, wherein said pillar is coupled by means of its top portion to the lower portion of the front and back sections and through the lower portion of said at least one pillar is coupled to at least one girdle.
US09055805B2

A utility bag having shoulder straps which allows the bag to be used as a backpack to carry clothing, shoes, wet items, personal grooming items, etc. to a gym. At the gym the utility bag can be hung up on one or more of the locker hooks and, when the front panel of the utility bag is opened, all items in the utility bag can be easily accessed without removing the bag from the locker. The bag has a number of separate internally located compartments where each compartment can have a see through mesh front panel which allows a user to see the contents of the compartment and allows air to circulate. The bag has pockets which are accessible from the outside of the bag which allow a user to quickly access a desired item such as a cell phone, wallet, etc. without opening the utility bag.
US09055789B2

Connection devices for holding objects, such as, for instance, keys or dog tags, are disclosed. The connection device includes a ring presenting spaced apart ends defining an opening therebetween through which objects may be added or removed to the connection device. The device also includes a body with a blocking portion configured to adequately span the ring opening to selectively prohibit addition or removal of objects from the ring. The ring and body are shiftably interconnected at a hinged connection.
US09055788B2

Footwear includes a support member having an upper surface attachable to a foot, and two bulbous protuberances, a forward bulbous protuberance and rearward bulbous protuberance. Each of the protuberances has a curved outer contour, and protrudes from a lower surface of the support member on opposite sides of a latitudinal midline thereof, the latitudinal midline being halfway between a calcaneus support portion and a phalanges support portion of the support member. The forward bulbous protuberance is positioned medially offset with respect to a longitudinal centerline.
US09055786B2

A cleat attachment system for footwear. The cleat includes a cylinder on a base with one or more locking tabs disposed around the outside of the cylinder. The receptacle includes a cylindrical cavity with one or more locking tabs on the cavity's inner surface. A cleat attaches to a receptacle embedded in footwear by inserting the cleat attachment structure into the receptacle, after ramps on the cleat attachment structure and the receptacle are oriented with respect to each other. The locking tabs engage to retain the cleat in the receptacle. Corresponding ramps on the cleat attachment structure and the receptacle cooperate to disengage the locking tabs when the cleat attachment structure is twisted about its axis. The cleat is thereby detached from the receptacle.
US09055776B1

An accessory for supporting the Windsor knot on a tie worn around the neck comprising a thin, narrow rigid or semi-rigid support member configured to slide vertically in between the wrapped layers of a Windsor knot. In one embodiment, the accessory includes a forward, upward extending hook designed to extend over the top edge of the Windsor knot when the support member is inserted into the Windsor knot. Formed or attached to the front edge of the hook is a decorative element. The support member is may be longer than the width of the Windsor knot so the lower end of the support member is visible. A decorative element may be attached or imprinted on the lower end. In a second embodiment, the upper hook is rotated rearward and a forward, upper extending lower hook is attached or formed on the support body. A decorative element is attached to the front surface of the lower hook.
US09055768B2

An apparatus for inserting one or more objects into a filter component of a tobacco rod includes at least one storage apparatus that stores a plurality of the objects, each object having a predetermined volume. At least one inserter wheel receives the objects stored in the storage apparatus, and inserts the objects into at least one band of filter material. Each of the at least one inserter wheels has an outer periphery with a plurality of pockets and distributed about the outer periphery. Each pocket has a shape configured to support one of the objects with between about one quarter and about one half of the volume of the object received in the pocket. The remainder of the object protrudes from the pocket above the outer periphery of the inserter wheel. A method of inserting one or more objects into a filter component of a tobacco rod is also described.
US09055763B2

The present invention provides probiotic compositions suitable for relieving symptoms associated with gastrointestinal disorders. In particular, the present invention provides compositions and methods to relieve symptoms associated with functional bowel disorders, irritable bowel syndrome, functional diarrhea, functional bloating, and other symptoms.
US09055761B2

Glucosyl stevia compositions are prepared from steviol glycosides of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni. The glucosylation was performed by cyclodextrin glucanotransferase using starch as the source of glucose residues. The short-chain glucosyl stevia compositions were purified to >95% content of total steviol glycosides. The compositions can be used as sweetness enhancers, flavor enhancers and sweeteners in foods, beverages, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.
US09055749B2

The invention relates to novel arylpyrroline compounds of formula (I) which have excellent insecticidal activity and which can thus be used as an insecticide.
US09055738B1

A portable and collapsible game animal lifting apparatus comprising a horizontal base member, a vertical support member pivotably attached to the base member, a horizontal lift member pivotably and slidably attached to the support member, and a winch attached to the support member. The winch is operably connected to the lift member for raising and lowering the lift member. The winch is operable to unwind a winch cable from the winch and thereby lower the lift member to receive the game animal thereupon. The winch is further operable to wind the winch cable about the winch and thereby raise the lift member to a desired height to assist in transferring the game animal to a transport vehicle.
US09055731B2

A method for positioning an individually metered out food portion on an animal cage arranged in a row of animal cages for fur animals, in particular mink, by means of a motorized feed cart having wheels, at least one driving wheel, and a feed container, the method including moving the feed cart along a row of animal cages, thereby turning the wheels of the feed cart, determining by means of the control unit that the feed cart has reached a given position corresponding to a given cage and a database of information related to at least positions of animal cages and desired size of food portions to each animal cage, controlling the feed cart to metering out the desired food portions at a suitable food delivering place at the given animal cage according to the information in the database, determining by means of the control unit and the database whether a medication should be provided at the given animal cage, and metering medication out according to the information in the database.
US09055729B1

A soybean cultivar designated 36391644 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 36391644, to the plants of soybean cultivar 36391644, to the plant parts of soybean cultivar 36391644, and to methods for producing progeny of soybean cultivar 36391644. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. The invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 36391644. The invention also relates to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines, or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 36391644, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing cultivar 36391644 with another soybean cultivar.
US09055727B1

A soybean cultivar designated 37144482 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 37144482, to the plants of soybean cultivar 37144482, to the plant parts of soybean cultivar 37144482, and to methods for producing progeny of soybean cultivar 37144482. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. The invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 37144482. The invention also relates to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines, or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 37144482, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing cultivar 37144482 with another soybean cultivar.
US09055720B2

A control system for stopping or reversing movement of an irrigation system comprises an electronic proximity sensor and a control device. The electronic proximity sensor is configured for mounting to the irrigation system and operable to detect a target. The control device is responsive to the electronic proximity sensor for stopping or reversing movement of the irrigation system when the electronic proximity sensor detects the target.
US09055719B2

A construction machine is provided. The construction machine includes a chassis and a ground engaging member (such as a wheel or a track) operable to support and move the chassis over ground. The construction machine further includes a work implement (such as a bucket) coupled to the chassis; a cab mounted on said chassis and having a user seat, and a first controller (such as a joystick) accessible to a user seated in the user seat. The joystick controls at least one of moving the work machine over ground and movement of the bucket. The joystick has a first actuator (such as a trigger button) that is operable to selectively engage ride control functionality.
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