US07770808B2
The invention relates to a thermostatic mixing valve in which the access path of the hot water to the mixing chamber is completely formed within a bottom base (2) and the ceramic disks (4, 5) of the valve group, the slider (8) of the thermostatic member sealingly sliding in a central seat of the upper disk (5). By having the hot water not pass through the metallic members of the valve it is possible to eliminate the problems of asymmetric thermal expansion of said metallic members when only hot water is delivered, and also to greatly reduce the problems of calcareous encrustations since the latter build up with difficulty on the ceramic material. Furthermore, the valve is manufactured with a compact and simplified structure, including a small number of pieces, with totally independent temperature and flow rate controls.
US07770807B2
A water valve assembly including a housing, an inlet chamber defining a water inlet for receiving a flow of water into the inlet chamber and a valve for controlling the flow of water through the inlet into the inlet chamber. A mixing chamber is connected to the inlet chamber so as to receive water from the inlet chamber, the mixing chamber defining a supplementary water inlet for receiving a supplementary flow of water and defining a mixed water outlet from which a mixture of water from the inlet chamber and the supplementary water inlet may be provided. The inlet chamber and the mixing chamber are both provided within the first housing and are arranged one within the other. A second housing may be provided with an inlet chamber, a valve for controlling flow of water into the inlet chamber and a supplementary water outlet for connection to the supplementary water inlet of the first housing. The two housings can be arranged in a relatively flat configuration with water connections at an inlet end of the assembly and control connections at a control end of the assembly.
US07770804B2
Provided is a method for encoding an orientation-independent dot based data package template for printing on a carrier. The method includes the step of allocating a number of background entries for printing as background dots on the carrier to define a constant background pattern detectable by a reader. The background pattern has an orientation component to indicate an orientation of the carrier to said reader. The method also includes the step of allocating a number of data entries for printing as data dots in a data area on the carrier for detection by the reader. The pattern and data area defines an arbitrary shaped data package indicating how the data itself is stored as dots within the data package.
US07770802B2
A stored-value card includes a housing, an auxiliary member and an account identifier. The housing includes a base and a cover coupled to the base. The cover and the base each include a primary panel and a side wall extending therefrom. An edge is defined by the side wall of the cover and is positioned to abut an edge defined by the side wall of the base to define a chamber between the base and the cover. The auxiliary member is formed separately from the housing, is at least partially positioned within the chamber, is accessible from a position external to the housing, and is configured to move relative to the housing upon user interaction with the stored-value card. The account identifier is coupled to the housing and signifies a financial account or record linked to the stored-value card. Other cards, assemblies and associated methods are also disclosed.
US07770800B2
A device includes a carrier having a form factor of a smart card and a mechanism for reversibly retaining a card within an aperture of the carrier. The card is configured according to a standard, such as an ID-000 format, with an electronic circuitry. The mechanism can be by means of cuts, adhesive label, breakable extensions, solidifying adhesive material, connectors, etc.
US07770799B2
There is provided in one embodiment an optical reader having an image sensor array. In one embodiment, the image sensor array can include a first subset of pixels and a second subset of pixels. The first subset of pixels can be devoid of light polarizing filter elements, and the second subset of pixels can be light polarizing pixels including light polarizing filter elements. An optical reader can be configured to selectively read out image data from an image sensor array's light polarizing pixels. In one embodiment there is provided a portable apparatus having a first image sensor array and a second image sensor array.
US07770774B2
A surgical device is described herein that can be used to fire different types and sizes of disposable loading units. In a preferred embodiment, the device applies parallel rows of surgical fasteners to body tissue and concomitantly forms an incision between the rows of staples during an endoscopic or laparoscopic surgical procedure. The device can be utilized with disposable loading units configured to apply linear rows of staples measuring from about 15 mm in length to about 60 mm in length and can be used to fire disposable loading units containing surgical clips and individual staples.
US07770772B2
A cooling system for combustion-powered fastener-driving tools comprises the use of cooling fin structures upon the external wall members of the combustion chamber and cylinder. Fluid flow paths are constructed between internal wall portions of a surrounding tool housing and the cooling fin structures mounted upon the external wall members of the combustion chamber and cylinder. In this manner, ambient cooling air is passed over and through the cooling fin structures whereby the combustion chamber and cylinder components of the fastener-driving tool are efficiently cooled such that the temperature level of the fastener-driving tool is maintained at a desirable temperature level despite the substantial amount of heat normally generated during each combustion cycle.
US07770764B2
An aerodynamic spare tire cover system is provided for use with a spare tire stored on a vehicle underbody. The cover system can be used to cover a full sized spare tire or a temporary spare tire, while providing the same aerodynamic qualities. The cover system includes an annular spare tire cover defining a central aperture, a removable center cap for selectively covering the central aperture, a center spacer supported by the annular spare tire cover that is adjustable between a first position and a second position depending on whether a full sized spare or temporary spare is being covered, and removable spacers supported by the annular spare tire cover. A full sized spare tire and the center spacer in the first position space the spare tire cover the same distance from a position on the vehicle underbody, on the opposite side of the spare tire, as a temporary spare tire, and the center spacer in the second position.
US07770757B2
A microdosing device for a liquid medium includes a dosing compartment and an electrically or electronically activatable vibration unit which can cause at least one contact area of the dosing compartment to vibrate for the delivery of a volume of medium. A medium reservoir is connected to the dosing compartment by at least one flow channel. A manually operable conveyance device for conveying medium to the dosing compartment and/or for conveying medium back from the dosing compartment to the medium reservoir is assigned to the at least one flow channel.
US07770755B2
A device for packaging and dispensing several fluid products is described. The device includes at least two sealed flexible gags arranged in a single rigid container, associated with at least one pump, the rigid container consisting of an open cylinder and the bags are provided each with a pump and a push button, and are mounted opposite on each of the two opposite openings of the cylinder. The device is applicable to appliances containing fluids to be dispensed independently of one another.
US07770751B2
A baking tray includes an outer shell and a bottom plate positioned within the outer shell for supporting a food item. The bottom plate is removable from the outer shell to separate the food item from the outer shell. The baking tray also includes a divider assembly positionable within the outer shell adjacent to the bottom plate. The divider assembly is configured to divide the food item supported on the bottom plate into a plurality of pieces.
US07770749B2
A cover set includes a ring mounted on a bin, a cover pivotally connected to the ring, a lifting device for lifting the cover from the ring and at least one buffer for buffering the cover near the end of the lifting so that the lifting is steady and quiet from the start to the end.
US07770743B1
A support structure for hanging plants. The support structure includes a plurality of frames having a plurality of clamping sites formed thereon and a plurality of mounting members formed thereon. A plurality of rods are supported by the frames for suspending the hanging plants therefrom, wherein at least two frames support each rod. A plurality of clamping members are connectable to a respective clamping site for securing the rods to the frames. The frames are supported by a base portion, wherein a plurality of elongate support members extend between the base portion and the frames to hold the frames above the base portion.
US07770741B2
A support rack for storing, organizing and managing tack is disclosed having a backbone, at least one support leg attached to the backbone for securing the support rack to a fence and at least one hook attached to the backbone for allowing tack to be placed on the hook and for receiving, supporting and organizing tack. The support rack may be placed over fence rails of a fence such as is typically found near show arenas or corrals or, in one embodiment, may be placed directly on a flat surface. As a result, the support rack for tack, particularly equine tack, is a unitized convenient means to organize, store and transport tack in an efficient manner.
US07770739B2
This invention provides a process for making microporous membranes from a polymer solution and the membranes therefrom. A thermal assist, such as heating of the polymer solution can be effected subsequent to shaping the solution, such as by forming a film, tube or hollow fiber of the solution under conditions that do not cause phase separation. In a preferred embodiment, the formed solution is briefly heated to generate a temperature gradient through the body of the formed solution. The polymer in solution then is precipitated to form a microporous structure. The formation of a wide variety of symmetric and asymmetric structures can be obtained using this process. Higher temperatures and/or longer heating times effected during the heating step result in larger pore sizes and different pore gradients in the final membrane product.
US07770736B2
A method and apparatus for introducing wash water into a flotation froth in a flotation separation system, where the wash water is injectioned into the froth in the form of a horizontal sheet of water. The sheet is typically formed by impinging a downwardly directed liquid jet issuing from a nozzle onto a horizontal plate or disc where it changes direction and travels radially outwards as an axi-symmetric planar liquid jet or sheet. The depth of the disc can be adjusted by a support rod. Other embodiments are described where the horizontal sheet is ejected through a horizontal slit, or where the sheet of wash water is rectangular rather than axi-symmetric.
US07770735B2
A process for beneficiation of trona includes supplying a trona feedstream that is crushed and dried. The trona is then separated into a first size fraction and a second size fraction. Impurities are removed from the first size fraction using at least one magnetic separator. The magnetic separator includes a plurality of stages. Each stage includes a conveyer system including a first end, a second end, and a conveyer belt. Each stage also includes a magnetic roller disposed at the second end of the conveyer system and a splitter disposed adjacent the second end of the conveyer system for separating a fraction of magnetic impurities from the trona to create a beneficiated fraction. At least one conveyer belt is deionized. Airborne dust particles are removed from an area surrounding at least one conveyer system.
US07770733B2
Vacuum packed absorbent articles including diapers, kits thereof, and retail packages including vacuum packed and non vacuum packed absorbent articles are disclosed.
US07770726B2
A sheet material wrapped about a catheter to form a package. The catheter extends generally longitudinally within the package, and the sheet material extends from a point beyond the proximal end to a point beyond the distal end of the catheter. Confronting proximal end edges, distal end edges and side edges of the sheet material are joined by a seal to define a sealed cavity. The sheet material has a tear strip affixed thereto which causes the package to open along an intended opening line. A gas permeable, liquid impermeable barrier divides the sealed cavity into a first compartment within which the catheter is contained and a second compartment within which a wick wetted with an aqueous liquid is entirely confined.
US07770711B1
A rebar guide attachment for a conveyor for preventing the rebar from coming out of the conveyor while be cut and for aligning the rebar for dispensing into a rack. The rebar guide attachment for a conveyor includes a rebar guard and alignment assembly being attached to a dispensing rack for preventing rebar from spilling out of a conveyor upon being cut and for aligning the rebar prior to being dispensed onto a receiving rack.
US07770705B2
A drive lug for a piston plate in a torque converter, including a base operatively arranged for attachment to the piston plate and a protruding portion integral to the base and extending axially from the base. The protruding portion is operatively arranged to engage with a damping element in the torque converter. In some aspects, the plate is arranged for attachment with a plurality of drive lugs, while in other aspects, the drive lug is arranged for attachment to the plate with at least one rivet. In some aspects, the lug is made of a hardenable material or by forging. In some aspects, the piston plate further includes an outer circumference and the drive lug is arranged to be secured proximate the outer circumference. In some aspects, the damping element further includes a spring and the drive lug is arranged to engage with the spring. In some aspects, the piston plate further includes an axial width, the drive lug further includes a radial width, and the radial width is greater than the axial width.
US07770702B2
This Invention publicizes a kind of oil buffers with automatic reset, aiming to provide a kind of buffers with simple structure, long service life and function of automatic compensation of oil leakage. Its technical kernel includes a cylinder and a case around the outer surface of the Cylinder, where elastic capsule for oil storage is provided between the cylinder and case and wraps outer surface of the cylinder, there are through holes to atmosphere on the case. This Invention can be applied in application of keeping speed constant, shock absorption and etc.
US07770699B2
A brake disk with a friction ring (2) and a linking element (4) which are interconnected by a threaded fastener arrangement (6). The threaded fastener arrangement (6)encompasses a screw, a nut, and an intermediate element (12). The intermediate element (12) prevents direct contact between the friction ring (2) and the linking element (4). Also provided is a sleeve element (14) that is disposed on a shaft (16) of the screw (8). A sliding block (18) is plugged onto the sleeve element (14). The intermediate element (12)at least partly encloses the sliding block such that thermal expansions acting in a radial direction can be compensated by a relative movement between the sliding block (18) and the intermediate element (12). The intermediate element also has a springy effect in an axial direction, whereby mechanical and thermal stresses can be compensated in the axial direction.
US07770691B2
A plurality of pellets include at least one of a snythetic, biomass, mineral, or polymer based material. The pellets can have a specific gravity of about 0.01 to about 0.3 g/cm3 and are dimensionally stable, substantially dust-free, substantially non-hygroscopic, and resistant to settling and compression.
US07770686B2
The invention relates to a drivetrain for a motor vehicle which has a first and a second axle and a chassis. The drivetrain comprises a drive unit which is mounted to the chassis in the region of the first axle and has an output shaft. Further, the drivetrain comprises a propeller shaft arrangement which is connected to the output shaft and to an input member of a differential which is mounted to the chassis in the region of the second axle. The propeller shaft arrangement comprises at least a first propeller shaft section and a second propeller shaft section which are connected to one another by means of an articulated joint. The propeller shaft arrangement is mounted to the chassis in the region of the articulated joint. The second propeller shaft section of the propeller shaft arrangement is connected rigidly to the input member of the differential. The second propeller shaft section is mounted in the region of the articulated joint and is designed to resist bending moments around the second axle.
US07770675B2
An engine controlling device and method for a hybrid vehicle that includes an engine and a motor-generator as driving sources and has an electric-vehicle (EV) drive mode in which the vehicle is driven using only the motor-generator as a driving source and a hybrid (HEV) drive mode in which the vehicle is driven while including the engine as a driving source. When the vehicle is in a stopped state while the driving force of the engine is not being used, the device estimates a minimum driving torque required for starting the vehicle from the relationships among a brake torque, a motor-generator torque and a vehicle speed during a transitional period of a brake-pedal releasing operation. Based on the estimated minimum driving torque, the device determines prior to pressing of the accelerator pedal whether it is necessary to use the engine for a driving force of the hybrid vehicle.
US07770663B2
Measurements are made continuously with a seismic while drilling (SWD) system and the measured data are stored in a working memory of a downhole processor along with quality control (QC) measurements. The QC data are analyzed and based on the analysis, portions of the data in working memory are recorded in permanent memory for retrieval. Alternatively, QC measurements are made substantially continuously predictions are made when data quality for SWD measurements are likely to be good. Recording of SWD data are then started based on the prediction.
US07770661B2
A fluid driven tool has an outer housing and an inner motor housing nested in the outer housing and defining a cavity therebetween that has a first end with a first exhaust passageway and a second end with a second exhaust passageway. The inner motor housing has a motor chamber with an inlet port for a fluid driven motor and fluid inlet, and an inlet manifold disposed in the cavity. The inlet manifold has a recessed portion with a surrounding seal that engages the inner motor housing and connects the fluid inlet to the at least one inlet port of the inner motor housing. An inner surface of the outer housing and an outer surface of the inner motor housing have portions that mate upon nesting the inner motor housing in the outer housing and provide reinforced areas for clamping regions of the outer housing located over the reinforced areas.
US07770644B2
A method is described for treating a subterranean formation with a low viscosity fluid system that contains a viscoelastic surfactant at a concentration too low to viscosify the fluid, but that is concentrated in the formation so that the fluid system gels. The fluid optionally contains a formation-dissolving agent. The fluid is used in matrix acidizing, acid fracturing, and diversion.
US07770638B2
A method for inducing motion in solid particulates in a solid/liquid mixture located in proximity to the periphery of a wellbore or in the formation zone adjacent to a wellbore in an oil or gas formation. The method includes introducing a gas impulse device into the wellbore. It then requires firing the gas impulse device so as to generate impulses of high pressure compressed gas, thereby to produce pressure waves within the wellbore and its surrounding formation. This causes motion of the solid particulates which permits settling and/or redistribution of the solid particulates. In some cases it even causes particulate flow, as in cold heavy oil production with sand (CHOPS). The method also frees blockages caused by the solid particulates and stimulates productivity. The method may inter alia be used in gravel pack construction and maintenance, well cementing operations and in CHOPS stimulation.
US07770631B2
A supporting body within an isothermal plate includes a flat plate having two surfaces, and a plurality of bosses and pits arranged on both surfaces of the plate. The plate is provided thereon with a plurality of through holes. The though holes are located between the bosses and pits respectively. A portion of the bosses and pits protrudes from one surface of the plate, and the other portion thereof protrudes from the other surface of the plate.
US07770630B2
A modular capillary pump loop (CPL) cooling system and associated components. The modular CPL cooling system transfers heat from high-power circuit components, such as microprocessors disposed within computer chassis, to other locations within or external to the chassis, where the heat can be more easily removed. In various embodiments, the CPL cooling system includes one or more evaporators connected to one or more condensers via flexible liquid transport and vapor transport lines. A wicking structure, such as a volume of sintered copper, is disposed within each condenser. The wicking structure draws working fluid (e.g., water) in a liquid state into the evaporator based on a capillary mechanism and a pressure differential across a meniscus/vapor interface on an upper surface of the wicking structure. As the liquid meniscus is evaporated, additional fluid is drawn into the evaporator. The working fluid is then condensed back into a liquid in the condenser.
US07770627B2
A vent assembly (453) for a high pressure die casting system including a pair of opposed chill blocks (450, 452) having corresponding chill surfaces defining a continuous vent chamber therebetween, each of the chill surfaces comprising a plurality of adjoining chill faces (62, 136, 162, 163, 170) extending the length of the vent chamber, each chill face having a corresponding chill face on the paired chill block defining a section of the vent chamber, the plane of each chill face being oriented at an angle to an adjoining chill face on the corresponding block. Preferably the chill face on a chill block is substantially equidistant from the chill face of the corresponding chill block defining the respective section of the vent chamber.
US07770626B2
A release agent spray method and apparatus for a die casting machine. As a movable die plate is moved in a die closing direction, a spray head is moved in a perpendicular direction to a spray position. The movable die plate is stopped when it has reached a position at which the distance between the spray head and a die cavity surface of a movable die and the distance between the spray head and die cavity surface of a fixed die both become equal to a spray distance. A release agent is sprayed from the spray head onto the cavity surfaces of the movable die and the fixed die.
US07770625B2
A support assembly is provided for a roller tube having a sheet material wound therearound. The support assembly has opposed first and second mounts adapted to support the roller tube, which is rotatably coupled to the mounts. At least one support cradle is disposed between the first and second mounts. The support cradle is configured to support the roller tube along a length thereof A biasing member is arranged to reduce a force of the roller tube in a direction toward the support cradle, thereby preventing the sheet material from binding against the support cradle as it winds and/or unwinds.
US07770622B2
A plant for producing types of tyres different from each other includes a manufacturing unit including a plurality of work stations, devices for transfer and movement of the tyres being produced, and a vulcanizing unit including vulcanizing moulds for the tyres being produced. Each work station is designed to assemble at least one corresponding structural component on at least one type of tyre being produced. The devices for transfer and movement operate between the work stations and provide selective movement for each of the types of tyres being produced in proximity to corresponding work stations. The plant may also include a central processing unit. The central processing unit may control the devices for transfer and movement to coordinate processing stages for each type of tyre in the manufacturing unit and in the vulcanizing unit. Additionally, the plant may include holding stations associated with at least some of the work stations.
US07770619B2
Provided is a pneumatic tire in which left- and right-side lateral grooves extend between first main grooves and second main grooves, and in which left- and right-side sub grooves extend halfway from the second main grooves toward the first main grooves. The lateral grooves and the sub grooves are disposed alternately with each other at predetermined pitches in tire circumferential directions. The left- and right-side lateral grooves respectively include: first groove portions extending from the first main grooves; and second groove portions extending from the second main grooves while curving inwardly toward tire width directions. The left- and right-side lateral grooves are offset from each other in the tire circumferential directions. Opening portions at both ends of each of the lateral grooves, which are opened to the first main grooves and the second main grooves, are shifted from one another in the tire circumferential directions.
US07770616B2
A device for machining, in particular, profiling tree trunks is provided, which includes two rotating machining tools (2, 3), whose axes (A, B) are essentially offset by 90° in relation to one another and are oriented in an essentially perpendicular direction to the longitudinal axis of the tree trunk. The first machining tool (2) and the second machining tool (3) are arranged in relation to one another in such a way that the first axis (A) and the second axis (B) lie on a common plane (E) and/or that their respective workpiece machining zones (I, II) at least partially overlap one another in the transversal direction of the tree trunk or adjoin one another.
US07770610B2
An in-structure air delivery system comprises a control panel and a plurality of air delivery lines. The control panel is located at a first location in the structure and has an air supply inlet. Each air delivery line extends from the control panel to a different location in the structure. Valves are configured to selectively control the flow of air through each of the air delivery lines. In a method of use, a high pressure air supply such as a portable compressor is connected to the inlet of the system. Air is selectively delivered to one or more of the delivery lines. A control unit is connected to the outlet of the delivery line. Air is supplied to the control unit. The control unit is used to regulate the flow of air to a component of breathing equipment, such as to a firefighter's breathing equipment air cylinder to be re-filled.
US07770582B2
A comfortable and viable and removable device of channel-type tongue position correction for anti-snoring. The device is made of wire or band material, including a fixer, an upper and nether force-components which are connected with the fixer. The device is mostly applied on upper jaw. The force end of the upper force-component is designed to be suitable to the soft palate palatine velum, and acts to raise up the soft palate palatine velum and uvula upward/upward and backward suitably. The force end of the nether force-component is designed to be suitable to the normal configuration of the corpora linguae (anterior tongue), and acts on the portion in front of the sensitive position of the hind half of the corpora linguae (anterior tongue) to press the big tongue downward/downward and forward. Thus, depending on the co-action of the upper and nether force-components, the blocked respiratory tract could be expanded to prevent snore and remit sleep apnoea syndrome.
US07770574B1
A wheeled guide assembly for use with cut providing tools includes a base portion having a first end and a second end, and rockable between either of a first position, enabling straight-line cuts to be made, and a second position enabling controlled curved-line cuts. The base portion includes a plurality of wheels, with at least two pivot wheels, at least one fixed wheel, and at least one steerable wheel provided. The wheels are rollably coupled to the base portion and or a housing of the cut providing tool, such that the cut providing tool may be readily and easily rocked by the user into either the first position or the second position, as needed. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract, and is submitted with the intention that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope and meaning of the claims.
US07770572B2
A paint ball gun includes a frame defining a frame bore therein and a valve located below the frame. The valve communicates with a first path which communicates with the barrel. A bolt and a strike rod are received in the frame bore. The valve guides pressurized air to the rear end of the strike rod to move the strike rod to push the bolt which has a central passage. When shooting, the central passage opened and the pressurized air flows through the central passage to eject paint balls.
US07770558B2
An intake air control system for an internal combustion engine having at least one intake valve and a valve operating characteristic varying mechanism which continuously varies a lift amount of the at least one intake valve of the engine. A target intake air flow rate of the engine is calculated along with a command value of the lift amount according to a target engine rotational speed set in an idling condition of the engine and the target intake air flow rate when the engine is determined to be in an idling condition. The valve operating characteristic varying mechanism is controlled according to the calculated lift amount command value.
US07770555B2
A method, a device utilizing the method, and a motorcycle equipped with the device are provided, of controlling combustion of an engine to have an engine beat different from an equally-intervalled combustion. The method of controlling combustions of an engine having three or more pistons of cylinders per crankshaft includes causing simultaneous combustions of two cylinders among the three or more cylinders, the two cylinders having the same crank phase angle, causing a combustion of at least one -other cylinder, and in the process of said combustion offsetting a crank phase angle by a first crank phase angle, and repeating from the combustions of the first two cylinders further offsetting the crank phase angle by a second crank phase angle from the first crank phase angle.
US07770554B2
A recoil starter includes a base plate that has a bearing portion formed therein and a rotary shaft that is supported by the bearing portion so as to pass through the base plate. A rope reel is rotatably supported at one side of the base plate, and a recoil rope is wound around the rope reel. A recoil spiral spring urges the rope reel to rewind the recoil rope. A damper spring has one end connected to the rotary shaft and the other end connected to the rope reel, and a clutch mechanism is disposed on an end of the rotary shaft at the other side of the base plate. The clutch mechanism transfers a rotational force to an engine.
US07770552B2
An igniter for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The igniter may have a body, and a pre-combustion chamber integral with the body and having at least one orifice. The igniter may further have a focusing device configured to direct at least one beam of light energy into the pre-combustion chamber.
US07770548B2
A coolant passage in a cylinder head of a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine is divided into an intake-side passage below intake ports and extending in a cylinder arranging direction, and an exhaust-side passage including plural exhaust-side lateral passages corresponding to respective cylinders and an exhaust-side longitudinal passage. The exhaust-side lateral passages (1) are mutually separated by partition walls at a position corresponding to the section between a corresponding adjacent pair of the cylinders, (2) have an inlet for coolant in the vicinity of exhaust ports of a corresponding one of the cylinders, and (3) extend from the inlet toward the intake port via the vicinity of a top of a combustion chamber formed in the corresponding cylinder. The exhaust-side longitudinal passage extends along the cylinder arranging direction. Downstream ends of the exhaust-side lateral passages connect to the exhaust-side longitudinal passage.
US07770545B2
Improved alcohol reforming processes and reformed alcohol power systems utilizing those processes are disclosed. In preferred embodiments, the alcohol reforming processes utilize a thermally conductive reforming catalyst that allows efficient, low-temperature reforming of an alcohol fuel to produce a reformate gas mixture comprising hydrogen. The present invention makes possible the efficient utilization of alcohol fuels in an internal combustion engine to generate electrical or mechanical power such as in vehicular applications.
US07770536B2
A sleeve is positioned over a radially-expandable rod assembly and a stent is positioned over the sleeve. A mandrel is inserted into the rod assembly to thereby press the sleeve against the inner surface of the stent and expand the stent. A coating (such as a solvent, a polymer and/or a therapeutic substance) is then applied to the outer (abluminal) surfaces of the stent, by spraying, for example. The sleeve advantageously prevents the coating material from being applied to inner (luminal) surfaces of the stent and also allows the coating material to be efficiently applied to the abluminal surfaces.
US07770535B2
An object is to provide a chemical solution application apparatus capable of applying a chemical solution evenly and without irregularity by a spin coating method. A plurality of nozzles are provided for applying a chemical solution to an application object that is fixed over a stage. Each of the nozzles is individually mobile in vertical and horizontal directions. For this reason, controlling a discharging point or pattern is possible, and application responding to a wider viscosity range of chemical solutions is possible. By implementing the present invention, a chemical solution application apparatus equipped with a discharging method of a chemical solution by which a coating film having a small film thickness distribution over an entire substrate and an even thickness can be obtained, as well as for which use efficiency is improved by cutting down on waste of a chemical solution to be discharged.
US07770519B2
A printer, method and printed item are provided where the printer and method print an image having a relatively high durability and/or resolution. In particular, the printer and method include a plasma treatment stage or step for treating the surface of an item prior to printing. A printer is provided that is configured to convey an item or a plurality of individuated items through a plasma treatment stage to prepare the surfaces of the item for printing. Such printer may use a non-continuous ink jet printing assembly such as a drop on demand printing assembly.
US07770516B2
An apparatus and method for forming a pattern is provided, to improve a yield by decreasing the tack time for cleaning a printing plate. The apparatus includes a stage; a substrate loaded on the stage; a printing plate positioned on the stage; a printing unit that prints a printing material patterned by a predetermined pattern of the printing plate on the substrate; and a removing unit having a film so as to remove the unused printing material of the printing plate.
US07770504B2
Apparatus for firing a projectile comprises a receiver, a barrel, a supply of combustible gas, a combustion chamber, a valve arrangement for controlling flow of combustible gas from the supply to the combustion chamber, an igniter, and a passageway for directing combustion gases from the chamber to propel a projectile from the apparatus. In one embodiment, the barrel has a longitudinally-extending central axis, and the combustion chamber is disposed laterally adjacent the axis. A method of operating the apparatus comprises the steps of providing a combustible mixture of gas and air to the combustion chamber, igniting the mixture so as to generate combustion gases, allowing pressure in the combustion chamber to increase to a predetermined level, and releasing the gases from the combustion chamber and directing the gases to propel the projectile through the barrel.
US07770502B2
A cutting device for paper or other materials including a substantially flat base, a manually-operated cutting blade assembly, a sighting device, and a switch is provided. The base is adapted to receive substantially thin or flat materials for cutting. The manually-operated cutting blade assembly is pivotally attached to either side of the base and includes an elongated cutting arm positioned over a predetermined line of cut on the base. The sighting device includes a housing and an adjustable light source mounted within and protected by the housing, wherein the light source projects a fixed line of visible light along the predetermined line of cut. The switch and switch actuator activate and deactivate the light source.
US07770498B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a boring bar tool including a tool carrier adapted to translate along a boring bar. Adjustable guide members may be coupled with the tool carrier and adapted to contact the boring bar. The guide members may also be adapted to sufficiently support the tool carrier on the boring bar.
US07770496B2
A device that enables a user to install most any hardware item into any structure. The inventive apparatus includes a core portion with a standard female ACME thread so the core may be threaded onto a standard extension pole. At the upper end of the core is a cavity designed to accept wafers for various purposes. Hardware installing wafers are designed to accept pieces of hardware in a particular class and size such as eyebolts, hooks, right-angle hooks, and other suspension hardware. Tool wafers are wafers with various tools attached to them for performing different operations such as prying, lifting, nailing, tacking, threading, scrapping, grasping, cutting, drilling, marking, hole punching, and so on. Attachment wafers attach various implements and devices to the core.
US07770494B2
A ratchet device constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure is depicted. The ratchet device includes a ratchet body having a handle and a ratchet head. The handle is reciprocably rotatable in first and second handle directions about an axis extending substantially normal to a major axis of the ratchet head. The ratchet device further includes an output member coupled to the ratchet head, wherein the output member is rotatable in a substantially constant output member direction when the handle is reciprocated between first and second handle directions.
US07770482B2
A method for controlling a gear-shifting process from an initial gear to a target gear in a manual transmission with active interlock. According to the method, the active interlock gear-shifting mechanism includes at least one shifting finger which co-operates with a selector fork, and has a layout geometry including a finger and a cam. The method contains the following steps: the selector fork of the initial gear is brought into a reliable shifting position by a method for compensating errors on the gear shifting mechanism, and/or the selector fork of the target gear is brought into a reliable shifting position a method for compensating errors on the gear shifting mechanism, before the target gear is engaged, when ever a temporarily non-critical gear-shift is to be carried out.
US07770478B2
An apparatus and method for measuring a chuck attachment force are provided. The apparatus is capable of measuring loads applied to a measurement substrate, while the measurement substrate is detached from a chuck, and precisely calculating necessary force through a process of comparing and analyzing values of the measured loads. This may prevent errors in the application of attachment force during a semiconductor manufacturing process. In the semiconductor manufacturing process, when the substrate is detached from a chuck, the substrate may be prevented from being deformed or cracked.
US07770475B2
A hybrid manual-electronic pipette combines a manually driven piston with real-time electronic measurement of liquid volume and piston displacement while compensating for both pipette-specific and pipette model-specific variations. The hybrid nature of the pipette facilitates increased accuracy and improved ease of use, and enables additional functionalities not practicable with traditional manual pipettes.
US07770467B1
A test fixture for use with a Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer (DMA) restrains a hollow cylindrical tube for purposes of performing either a tensile or transverse/bending load test. The fixture includes a clamp that is configured to restrain the tube without imparting a preload or changing a mechanical property of the tube.
US07770458B2
The invention relates to a method of detecting damage in a bearing supporting at least one rotary shaft of an engine in rotation, the method consisting in: defining a measurement period corresponding to a range of speeds of rotation of the shaft during renewable activity at low speeds of operation of the engine; acquiring over the entire measurement period a vibratory signal representative of acceleration of components of the engine; sampling the vibratory signal as a function of the speed of rotation of the shaft during the measurement period; transforming the sampled vibratory signal into a frequency signal to obtain frequency spectrum lines as a function of the speed of rotation of the shaft; calculating the mean of the amplitudes of the spectrum lines; determining amplitude peaks around multiples of the theoretical frequency of a damaged roller; calculating the ratio between each amplitude peak and the amplitude level determined for a sound bearing; and comparing the ratio that is obtained with at least one predetermined damage threshold.
US07770454B2
A system for evaluating the integrity of a bonded joint in an article includes a laser configured in a laser shock processing arrangement to perform a laser shock processing treatment on the article. A beam delivery system employs an articulated arm assembly to communicate the radiant energy emitted by the laser to a process head proximate the article. The laser shock processing treatment causes the formation of shockwaves that propagate through the article, inducing internal stress wave activity that characteristically interacts with the bonded joint. A sensor detects a stress wave signature emanating from the article, which is indicative of the integrity of the bond. A detector such as a non-contact electromagnetic acoustic transducer provides a measure of the stress wave signature in the form of surface motion measurements.
US07770443B2
The present invention relates to a power feeding arrangement for electric loads (R) positioned in tires (20) of vehicles. According to the invention the arrangement comprises at least one feed coil (Lf) arranged in the vehicle (10), at least one receiver coil (Lr) arranged in the tire (20), and at least one load (R) electrically coupled to the receiver coil (Lr).
US07770441B2
A pressure sensor for sensing a fluid pressure in a high acceleration environment. The sensor has a non-planar membrane between fluid at a reference pressure and fluid at the pressure to be sensed, such that the non-planar membrane deflects due to pressure differentials between the reference pressure and the fluid pressure. The deflection is converted into an output signal indicative of the fluid pressure by associated circuitry. By keeping the area of the membrane exposed to the fluid in the chamber to less than 0.1 grams, the acceleration forces have minimal affect on the amount that membrane flexes.
US07770436B2
A micro-rheometer for measuring flow characteristics such as viscosity, elasticity, and flow rate of a sample liquid combines well defined micro-fabricated flow channels having geometry changes forming a constriction region therein to a monolithically fabricated pressure sensor arrays. The pressure sensor array positions pressure sensors to measure the viscosity of the sample liquid while flowing in a uniform length of the flow passage and to measure the extensional viscosity while flowing through the constriction region of the passage. The invention can improve the measurement accuracy of the flow rate, viscosities, or elasticities over a wide range of shear rate. The accuracy of the viscosity over a broader range of shear rate or flow rate measurement over broader range of flow rates can be accomplished by employing monolithically integrated pressure sensors fabricated with different sensitivities disposed in a known manner. The invention further includes necessary components such as a display, a pumping system, valve manifolds, and software for a portable or laboratory measurement instrument, process control, and high throughput measurements.
US07770434B2
The invention relates to a method for in-process integrity test of a filter. The method may comprise the steps of: coupling a gas source to an input side of a filter without removing the filter from a dispenser system, the gas source supplying a gas and controlling a pressure of the gas; coupling a tube to an output side of the filter, the tube being filled with a liquid; increasing the pressure while monitoring the tube, with a light beam, for a displacement of the liquid by one or more gas bubbles; and determining a value of the pressure at which the displacement of the liquid is detected.
US07770428B2
A high-strength hot bend pipe which has a balance between an excellent strength of at least X70 grade and toughness and which has excellent tensile properties and a weld metal with excellent low temperature toughness is manufactured. A UOE steel pipe having a base metal with a composition of C: 0.03-0.12%, Si: 0.05-0.50%, Mn: 1.4-2.2%, S: at most 0.01%, Al: at most 0.06%, N: at most 0.008%, and a remainder of Fe and impurities, with the carbon equivalent (Ceq) being at most 0.36% and the weld cracking parameter (Pcm) being at most 0.22%, and having a weld metal with a weld cracking parameter (Pcm) of at most 0.28%, a B content of at most 5 ppm, and an O content of at most 280 ppm is heated to a temperature range of 900-1100° C. and subjected to bending, and then is immediately cooled to a temperature range of 300° C. or lower at a cooling rate of at least 3° C./sec, and then is tempered in a temperature range of 300-500° C.
US07770425B2
A winder assembly is provided for rotating a component of a can necking machine to a desired angular position suitable for performing maintenance on the component. The winder assembly includes a shaft coupled to a motor of that drives the components of the can necking machine during operation. A handle can be removably connected to the shaft, such that rotation of the handle in a rotational direction correspondingly causes the shaft to rotate. The shaft causes the motor to rotate, which drives a gear train that rotates the components of the necking machine that are coupled to the gear train.
US07770424B2
A cylinder lock device includes a rotor case in a cylindrical shape, a rotor arranged to be rotatable inside the rotor case including a key insert hole being formed to extend in an axial direction, a sleeve arranged to be rotatable between the rotor case and the rotor and having an engaging groove, and a plurality of tumblers provided in the rotor to be movable in a radial direction to engage with the engaging groove of the sleeve when biased to an outer radial direction and to release the engagement with the sleeve by disengaging with the engaging groove when a regular key is inserted into the key insert hole. A position in a circumferential direction and a size of the engaging groove of the sleeve is configured to contact with an inner surface of the engaging groove at a different position in a circumferential direction with respect to at least two tumblers among the plurality of tumblers.
US07770422B1
A lock for engaging a U-shaped staple is disclosed. The lock includes a cylindrical cover that has a front face open at a key hole aperture, a continuous annular side wall, and a rear side that is open at least at a staple slot. A lock cylinder assembly is housed within the interior space of the cylindrical cover and has a key slot in a front face thereof. A barrel is rotatably captured within a cylinder, such that the barrel is only rotatable within the cylinder when a properly-shaped key is inserted into the key slot. The barrel includes a cam follower that rotates between a locked position and an unlocked position. A bolt assembly is fixed at a proximal end to the cam follower and adapted so that a bolt thereof at least partially traverses the staple slot when the cam follower is moved from the unlocked position to the locked position.
US07770421B2
A padlock comprising a housing, a shackle, a lock mechanism and a movable block. The shackle is mounted on the housing and has a first end formed with a shaft portion movably mounted in the housing, and a second end formed with a locking portion moved with the shaft portion and extended outward from the housing. The lock mechanism is mounted on the housing, and includes a lock core and a limit knob. The lock core is mounted in the housing, and the limit knob is located outside the housing and movable by the lock core so as to engage or disengage with the locking portion of the shackle. The movable block is connected to the limit knob of the lock mechanism so that the movable block can be moved to an indication position by operating the lock core of the lock mechanism.
US07770414B2
The present invention relates to a process for manufacturing flat sheets of a glass-based material and to an apparatus therefor. The process comprises providing a glass preform, heating the glass preform in a furnace, forming a gob and a pre-sheet, removing the gob and drawing the glass pre-sheet into a flat glass sheet. Also provided is an apparatus for drawing a glass preform into a glass sheet, the apparatus comprising a draw furnace, stretching arms for stretching and drawing the pre-sheet into a glass sheet, and opposing edge rollers for applying a downward force on the glass sheet. The draw furnace may include a plurality of individual heating elements, the temperature of each heating element capable of being separately controlled. The apparatus may further include an annealing furnace for annealing the glass sheet.
US07770411B2
A humidity control method is provided for a multi-stage cooling system having two or more refrigerant circuits that balances humidity control and cooling demand. Each refrigerant circuit includes a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator. A hot gas reheat circuit having a hot gas reheat coil is connected to one of the refrigerant circuits and is placed in fluid communication with the output airflow from the evaporator of that refrigerant circuit to provide additional dehumidification to the air when humidity control is requested. The hot gas reheat circuit bypasses the condenser of the refrigerant circuit during humidity control. Humidity control is only performed during cooling operations and ventilation operations.
US07770396B2
A gas stream with a reduced oxygen concentration relative to ambient air is used to vaporize a liquid fuel or liquefied higher hydrocarbon gas, or is mixed with a vaporized gas, and the reduced oxygen vaporized fuel gas is fed to a combustion device such as a premixed or diffusion combustor. Preferably, the oxygen content of the gas stream is less than the limiting oxygen index. By mixing the fuel with a gas stream that has an appropriately reduced oxygen content, auto-ignition prior to the desired flame location in the combustor can be avoided. In some embodiments, the reduced oxygen stream is generated from an air separator or taken from the exhaust of the combustion device.
US07770387B2
A method for welding components in a torque converter, including: overlapping first and second edge portions of first and second components in the torque converter, respectively; applying energy to the first portion; and melting, in the absence of filler material, at least a portion of the first portion to weld the first and second components. In some aspects, the converter includes a cover and pump and the first component is one of the cover and pump and the second component is the other of the cover and pump. The present invention also broadly comprises a torque converter, including first and second components with overlapping respective edge portions and an autogenous weld, formed from the first component edge portion and in the absence of a filler material, connecting the first and second components.
US07770383B2
In a device for dosing and transporting dry urea, e.g., for implementing the SCR method in a motor vehicle, the device includes a storage vessel containing the dry urea in the form of pellets, the wall of the storage vessel having an opening to which a transport line is connected on the outer side. The device also includes a compressed air nozzle which is arranged inside the storage vessel at a distance from the opening, is oriented towards the opening, and may be supplied with compressed air, and a portioning element having an upper side oriented towards the inside of the storage vessel and a lower side opposite the wall of the storage vessel. At least one continuous channel having a larger cross section than the dimensions of the pellets connects the upper side and the lower side in order to form at least one receiving element for the pellets.
US07770382B2
During secondary air supply control, a secondary air supply system which supplies secondary air to an upstream side of an exhaust gas control apparatus obtains a secondary air flow rate supplied to an exhaust passage provided independently for each of a plurality of cylinder groups, and detects an abnormality in the secondary air supply system based on a noxious substance amount in exhaust gas discharged from the exhaust passages which is determined from the obtained secondary air flow rates.
US07770374B2
The subject matter of the invention is a chain link of an energy-guiding chain for guiding cables, lines, hoses and the like between a positionally fixed connection point and a moveable connection point, wherein the chain link is formed in one piece from at least one plastic by two lugs, which are arranged spaced apart from one another, and at least one transverse web which connects the lugs by means of a connecting region. At least one of the lugs has at least one recess which is formed adjacent to the connecting region.
US07770359B2
A banding system for piled products with a machine frame, a band feed mechanism disposed on the machine frame for feeding band material from a supply roll, means for forming a loop with said band material around the products to be banded, welding means to close said loop, and cutting means for cutting said band material, said means for forming the loop comprising transporting means for transporting the band material around the product to be banded and vacuum means connected to the transporting means. Said means for forming the loop are movable with respect to machine frame between an operating position where the means for forming the loop are in contact with the band feed mechanism to perform the banding operation and an open position where the means for forming the loop are displaced away from the band feed mechanism to create an opening therebetween allowing a transfer of products to be banded between the band feed mechanism and the means for forming the loop.
US07770358B2
An apparatus for facilitating the securing of a cap onto a cylindrical container includes a base and a plurality of blades, each of the blades including a sharp edge and being mounted to the base such that the sharp edge is exposed. The blades are mounted in a generally circular arrangement, with the sharp edges generally radiating from a central portion of the base, such that the sharp edges are positioned to engage a circumferential edge of a cap as it is being secured to the cylindrical container. In this configuration, the apparatus can firmly hold the cap as the cylindrical container (such as a pharmaceutical vial) is rotated to secure the cap onto the container.
US07770356B2
A bag tying apparatus for tying a ribbon about a gathered neck is provided. A holder-shear drive assembly moves a holder-shear assembly from side to side to grip and cut the ribbon. An over-travel compensation assembly compensates for over-travel of the holder-shear drive assembly relative to the travel of the holder-shear assembly.
US07770355B2
There is provided a medicine feeding device which can apply uniform tension to wrapping paper wound in a roll state to wrap a medicine. The medicine feeding device comprises a tablet case which stores a medicine, and the wrapping paper wound in the roll state, wraps a medicine discharged from the tablet case in wrapping paper 72, and comprises a tension application mechanism 113 which applies predetermined tension to the continuously pulled-out wrapping paper. This tension application mechanism is constituted to freely move up-and-down, and to apply tension to the pulled-out wrapping paper by its own weight.
US07770346B2
A shear panel for constructing underlayments for floors and roofs of buildings includes a first rectangular layer of fire-resistant material, such as cementitious board, bonded to a second rectangular layer of thin high-strength material, such as galvanized steel. The length of the second layer is longer than the length of the first layer. The additional length of the second layer forms a tab extending from one end of the panel. During construction, a first panel is attached to a set of beams (floor joists or roof rafters) with the tab spanning between adjacent beams. A second panel is positioned on the beams with at least a portion of the second panel overlapping the tab of the first panel. The overlapping portion of the second panel is fastened to the tab of the first panel to form a continuous shear diaphragm for the floor or roof.
US07770335B2
A roof jack apparatus for sealing openings in roofs through which penetrating conduits may pass. The apparatus includes an inner jack and outer jack. The inner jack may include an inner collar, a first flange, and an inner door. The outer jack may include an outer collar, a second flange, and an outer door. A portion of the inner jack may be inserted into at least a portion of the outer jack. The inner and/or outer jack may be rotated about each other. When rotated so that the first door is aligned with the second door, a passageway may be opened that allows the roof jack apparatus to be slid across the sides of the conduit and into position. The passageway may then be closed by rotating the inner and/or outer jack so that the first and second door are no longer aligned, thereby closing the passageway.
US07770332B2
A construction object (a structure) that enables access to high altitudes.
US07770327B2
If a supply voltage for a motor drops below a predetermined level during movement of a windowpane, a controller of a power window system outputs a stop signal instructing the motor to stop rotating, and stores in a memory a first position and a motion direction of the windowpane derived from a first signal generated by a transducer (signal generator). The controller compares a second position of the windowpane derived from a second signal generated by the transducer when the supply voltage for the motor is restored to the predetermined level or higher with the first position of the windowpane stored in the memory. If the second position is different from the first position, the first position stored in the memory is corrected toward the motion direction by an amount corresponding to a difference between the first and second positions.
US07770323B2
Disclosed is a prefabricated type flowerpot block. It can be assembled in a simple manner, it can perform root-balling for a predetermined period and it can allow a plant to be transplanted to thus be conveniently moved. Accordingly, it eliminates the trouble of planting a plant to be transplanted in the ground during a transplanting process, and thus it prevents the roots of a plant to be transplanted from being damaged while the plant is moved to a transplanting place. The prefabricated type flowerpot block can also function as a flowerpot to plant therein any size of plant. In order to achieve the advantages as described above, the prefabricated type flowerpot block includes: four block bodies (10), each having an assembly protrusion (14) at a first end, an assembly depression (12) at a second end which is opposite the first end so that the assembly protrusion of another block body can be inserted into the assembly depression, a water supply hole (22) formed in an upper portion so that water can be introduced into a water tank (20) provided at an upper part thereof, and a plurality of water discharge holes (24) formed in an inner surface thereof; and a fixing unit (30, 30a, 30b) which is inserted into a coupling hole (16) provided in the assembly protrusion (14) and the assembly depression (12) of the block body so that the block bodies are securely coupled after the block bodies are assembled.
US07770317B1
In one embodiment, a handguard system with clamp device for use on a firearm. The firearm has a barrel, an operating member and a receiver. The barrel and operating member are joined to the receiver. The handguard system includes a barrel nut, a tubular handguard, a clamp device, and a low profile rail gas block. The barrel nut secures the barrel to the receiver and has an outer surface which lies inward of the operating member and engages the inner surface of the handguard. The handguard inner surface includes a groove for providing clearance to the operating member and gas block. The clamp device attaches to the handguard and includes an actuating screw and a spring loaded clamp pad which engages the barrel nut outer surface. The low profile rail gas block permits both interfacing accessories and rapid installation and removal of the handguard.
US07770316B2
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for firing a cartridge for firearms or a method and an apparatus for securing the firing of a cartridge for firearms. The present invention provides a cartridge comprising a securing mechanism. In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the firearm reads an identity from the cartridge and calculates a cartridge password from said identity together with further data. Said cartridge password is transmitted to the cartridge. The cartridge itself decides whether it fires or not.Thus, the present invention provides apparatuses and methods with which a securing of a firearm against accidental and/or unauthorized use is provided. Furthermore, the apparatus and method according to the present invention not only allow a securing of the firearm, but also a securing of the cartridge against accidental, improper and/or unauthorized firing.
US07770310B2
A fastening assembly (1) for releasable securement of first and second components. The assembly includes: a nut (2), having a threaded bore and a shaped outer surface; a retainer (3), associated with said first component, including a slot which is of complementary shape to said outer surface of said nut (2), and which is adapted to receive and retain said nut (2) therein; and, a bolt (4), having a head and a threaded shaft, which is adapted to engage said second component, and be secured to the nut (2) to thereby fasten the first and second components together. The fastening assembly (1) is particularly useful to secure a wearable edge to a bucket of a mining, earthmoving, agricultural or like machinery.
US07770306B2
The present invention teaches a custom article of footwear, a method of making the same, and a method of conducting retail and Internet business. In particular, the components of the custom article of footwear can be selected from a wide range of options, and they can be easily removed and replaced, as desired.
US07770304B2
A position-measuring device includes a code and a scanning unit. The code includes a sequence of code elements arranged one after the other in a measuring direction, at least two successive code elements in each case forming one code word having position information. The scanning unit includes a lighting unit for emitting directed light in the direction of the code for imaging at least the code elements forming code word onto a detector unit, the detector unit having in measuring direction at least two detector elements per code element forming code word, as well as an evaluation unit in which the code word having the instantaneous position information is ascertainable from the detector signals of the detector elements. The scanning unit and the code are arranged in a manner allowing movement relative to each other in measuring direction. The detector signals to be evaluated for forming the code word are selectable in the evaluation unit as a function of the imaging of the code elements forming code word onto the detector unit.
US07770296B2
Disclosed are an optical system and method for centering a tree within a tree spade apparatus that is mounted to a vehicle. Typically, the center point of the tree spade is difficult to align with the axis of the trunk of the tree. The present embodiments describe a projected pattern of light incident upon the tree trunk that assists the operator of the tree spade in centering the spade around the tree without additional assistance.
US07770291B2
Disclosed is an internal combustion engine component (1) which is made of an aluminum alloy and comprises at least one area (2) that is subjected to a great thermal load during operation of the internal combustion engine. Said area (2) that is subjected to a great thermal load is small compared to the entire component (1) and is provided with an alloy composition which is modified in relation to the entire component (1) in such a way that the area (2) that is subjected to a great thermal load has a greater breaking elongation than the entire component (1).
US07770290B2
The present invention relates to a method of properly connecting respective shields in a plurality of extra fine coaxial wires via a common conductive member. The plurality of coaxial wires having the shields that are partially exposed is arranged in parallel. A metal adhesive material is placed on the respective shields in the coaxial wires and is melted by being irradiated with laser light. Then, the respective shields are connected electrically via the common conductive member when the common conductive member is placed on the melted metal adhesive material.
US07770289B2
A tool for making the semiconductor package accurately contact with the terminals of a electrical connector, comprises a body with a through hole for passing through the semiconductor package thereof, a plurality of the latching members mounted on the body and a guiding member, the guiding member is received in the body and could move up and down relative to the body. The guiding member of the invention is a floatable model to decrease the damage of the semiconductor package while loading.
US07770279B2
A micro-machined ultrasonic transducer substrate for immersion operation is formed by a particular arrangement of a plurality of micro-machined membranes that are supported on a silicon substrate. The membranes, together with the substrate, form surface microcavities that are vacuum sealed to provide electrostatic cells. The cells can operate at high frequency and can cover a broader bandwidth in comparison with conventional piezoelectric bulk transducers.
US07770277B2
A pulling tool having a support member, a first surface and a second surface. The first surface including a slot positioned thereon and the second surface include a recess in communication with the slot. A ledge is formed where the recess and the slot intersect. At least one rod is disposed in the slot and recess and includes a portion engageable with the ledge.
US07770269B2
The present invention relates to a apparatus for compacting (10) a web (N) of flexible fiber-based or filament-based material. The apparatus (10) includes at least one pair of superimposed plates (11), whose facing surfaces (11a, 11b) create therebetween at least one compaction space (12). The apparatus is fed with the continuous web (N), that is moved through said at least one space (12), so as to be subjected to compaction by the closure of the plates, actuated by thrust means (25). Moreover, the invention relates to a method for compacting webs (N) of flexible fiber-based or filament-based materials.
US07770268B2
Clamping device (1) for shoelaces (2) or the like lacing devices with clamping jaws, between which the shoelace (2) can be locked in a closed position and moved back and forth in an open position, wherein the clamping device (1) is engageable in an open position wherein the engagement in an open position of the clamping device (1) is releasably by a movement of the shoelace (2) to be locked in a direction out of the pulling direction of the shoelace (2) as well as a shoe with a clamping device (1) in accordance to the invention.
US07770266B2
A retainer employs a flexible arm with an internal rib. In another aspect of the present invention, a retainer has at least one generally triangularly shaped projection laterally extending from an arm. A further aspect of the present invention retainer provides a laterally enlarged member, a trim panel-retaining head and stem, a central post, one or more flexible wings flexibly spanning between a tip of the post and the laterally enlarged member, and an internal rib and/or at least a pair of generally angular extensions flexibly extending from each arm.
US07770263B2
Devices for holding paper, cards, and/or wallets. The devices generally have a non-metallic (e.g., plastic) clip to which two non-metallic (e.g., plastic) arms are pivotally coupled. Embodiments of the devices are relatively light-weight and can pass freely through metal detectors.
US07770261B2
A foldable electronic device comprising a first housing element, a second housing element and a knuckle assembly. The proximal end of the second housing element includes a knuckle receiving slot. A pivot assembly extends about opposing sides of the knuckle receiving slot. The first housing element is pivotably coupled to the second housing element. The knuckle assembly includes a base member, a knuckle and opposing spigot members. The base member is attached to the second housing element. The knuckle is positioned in the knuckle receiving slot of the second housing element. The opposing spigot members extend away from the opposing side surfaces of the knuckle and into the pivot assembly of the second housing element on opposing sides of the knuckle receiving slot. As a result, the first housing element pivots relative to the second housing element about an axis extending through the opposing spigot members.
US07770259B2
A suspension-type storage unit that is particularly well suited for storing works of art or other hanging items in a space-efficient manner The storage unit includes a number of features that enable the storage unit to be moved between retracted and extended positions with a smooth, easy motion, without vibration, so as to protect and prevent damage to articles or items carried by the storage unit. The storage unit includes an overhead rail that defines a downwardly open guide slot and a pair of support surfaces located one on each side of the guide slot, in combination with a frame and at least a pair of trolley assemblies interposed between the rail and the frame for enabling movement of the frame relative to the rail along the guide slot. Each trolley assembly is formed with a head section that extends through the guide slot, and a wheel arrangement that is mounted to the head section. The wheel arrangement includes a pair of wheels between which the head section is located. Each wheel is engaged with one of the support surfaces of the overhead rail, for providing movement of the trolley along the rail. Each trolley assembly further includes a pair of arms that extend in opposite directions from the head section, and the frame is engaged with the pair of arms in a suspension-type manner.
US07770254B2
A floor scrubber for cleaning floor surfaces that includes a cleaning head which defines a downwardly opening cleaning zone having a plurality of spray nozzles connected to a power washer pump for directing pressurized liquid flow streams onto the floor surface during a cleaning operation. The cleaning head further defines a separate downwardly opening vacuum zone connected to a wet/dry vacuum device operable for creating a vacuum pressure within the vacuum zone for removing liquid that has been directed onto the floor surface. The wet/dry vacuum device preferably further is operable for selectively directing a positive air flow into the vacuum zone to facilitate drying of the floor surface after cleaning and vacuum removal of the liquid.
US07770253B2
A vacuum cleaner includes a dust collector that compresses dust stored inside a dust container to minimize the volume of the dust. The dust collector would include one or more pressing plates that are used to compress the dust stored in dust collector. Various methods are used to control movements of the movable pressing plates to facilitate the compression operations. Also, various methods are used to determine when the dust collector is full and needs to be emptied.
US07770246B2
A foldable bed having a frame and a cover attached to the frame. The frame has two handles, two identical side beams each having a pair of groove beams pivotally connected to one of the handles, connectors and bars pivotally connected to the handles or the connectors. The foldable bed is able to be folded by a simple action of pulling the handle upward meanwhile stepping on the peddling member. And it is able to be expanded by a simple action of breaking off the two groove beams with two hands of a user. Furthermore, the foldable bed occupies relatively small storing space when folded since a width of the folded bed is much shorter than that of the expanded one's.
US07770244B2
A soap-dispensing faucet structure comprises an upright cylindrical faucet body, having a spout extending outwards at the front side, and a tube seat at one side of the lower section to which a core shaft, a locking cap, and a faucet handle are sequentially mounted thereto. The upper section of the faucet has an appropriate-depth receiving chamber to which a sleeve cover and a pump device are combined to form an individual soap-receiving accommodation space. The lower section of the faucet has a set of cold and hot water ducts and an outlet tube that are fluidly connected to the core shaft of the tube seat to provide another individual water-discharging chamber linked to the spout to form a water influx-and-outflow circuit to be switched on and off by the faucet handle, providing a concise and whole depth-extending visual effect, and easier assembly and maintenance of the soap-dispensing faucet thereby.
US07770242B2
A collapsible potty comprises a one piece, rigid seat with a central hole through it. A pair of opposed tracks on the seat lower surface extend from front to rear. Left and right support panels are pivotally attached, by means of support hinge knuckles, to seat hinge knuckles on the seat left and right ends, respectively. Hinge pins engage hinge holes in the knuckles. The support panels are able to pivot from a folded position adjacent the seat lower surface, to an open position extending downward.A flexible, sealable waste bag hangs beneath the seat to receive waste. A tray has a plurality of hooks, arrayed around a central hole, that engage holes in the waste bag. The tray slides into the seat tracks to position the tray central hole directly beneath the seat central hole. A zip-lock closure seals the waste bag.A resilient locking arm on the seat hinge knuckle expands into a notch in the support hinge knuckle when the support panel is rotated into the open position, to hold the support panel open. A pushbutton release member moves the locking arm out of the notch to release the support panel for folding.
US07770235B2
An improved fishing wader uses light weight nylon faced laminate material and taped unsewn sonic welds to achieve a durable, light weight, comfortable wader.
