US08367425B1
A method for determining asphaltene stability in a hydrocarbon-containing material having solvated asphaltenes therein is disclosed. In at least one embodiment, it involves the steps of: (a) precipitating an amount of the asphaltenes from a liquid sample of the hydrocarbon-containing material with an alkane mobile phase solvent in a column; (b) dissolving a first amount and a second amount of the precipitated asphaltenes by changing the alkane mobile phase solvent to a final mobile phase solvent having a solubility parameter that is higher than the alkane mobile phase solvent; (c) monitoring the concentration of eluted fractions from the column; (d) creating a solubility profile of the dissolved asphaltenes in the hydrocarbon-containing material; and (e) determining one or more asphaltene stability parameters of the hydrocarbon-containing material.
US08367424B2
A microchip includes fluid circuits therein, formed by uniting together at least a first substrate that is a transparent substrate and a second substrate having grooves provided at the substrate surface and/or through holes penetrating in a thickness direction. The fluid circuits include a liquid reagent receptacle unit to store a liquid reagent, a quantification unit to quantify the liquid reagent or specimen, and an overflow liquid storage unit connected to the quantification unit to store the liquid reagent or specimen overflowing from the quantification unit during quantification. There is also provided a method of using the microchip.
US08367418B2
The invention provides a method for determining a suitable drug combination for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes by obtaining data from a Type 2 diabetes population in which all of the Type 2 diabetics are not taking any Type-2 diabetes drugs and obtaining reference levels of glucose supply and insulin demand parameters. Data from discrete samples of Type 2 diabetes populations in which all individuals are being treated with one or more Type 2 diabetes drugs at a therapeutic dose are also obtained, and the effects of the drugs on the glucose supply and insulin demand parameters are used to determine adjustment factors which represent the effect of each of the drugs at the therapeutic dosage, which are used to determined a ratio of a Glucose Supply Index (S) to an Insulin Demand Index (D). The ratio is further utilized in scoring cardiovascular risks for Type 2 diabetics and recommending therapeutic interventions.
US08367415B2
A method for detecting a predisposition to breast cancer in a subject is provided. The method includes detecting in a biological sample from the subject one or more polymorphisms in the sequence of CD44 gene. The presence of one or more polymorphisms in the sequence of CD44 gene indicates that the subject has a predisposition for developing breast cancer.
US08367412B2
The present invention provides a technique for crystallizing a desired protein at a high probability; namely, a protein crystallizing agent and a method of crystallizing protein. The present invention also provides a technique for determining the conditions for protein crystallization easily with high efficiency; namely, a method of screening the conditions for protein crystallization and a protein crystallization screening reagent. As the protein crystallizing agent, at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a basic amino acid, acidic amino acid, ester derivative of amino acid and amide derivative of amino acid is used, or at least one of these compounds is used in combination with another protein crystallizing agent.
US08367411B2
An artificial tissue capable of carrying necessary nutrients for maintaining activities of cells and tissues, and a method of manufacturing an artificial blood vessel. A plurality of forms of blood vessels are extracted from an image of a living tissue and made into a blood vessel form image. Each of the blood vessel forms of the blood vessel form image is adjusted and a blood vessel formation pattern is formed. A blood vessel cell culturing pattern of forming is formed, in a cell culturing layer. The blood vessel cell culturing pattern includes: a cell adhesion portion having adhesive properties with a blood vessel cell and formed to the blood vessel formation pattern; and a cell adhesion-inhibiting portion having cell adhesion-inhibiting properties for inhibiting adhesion with a blood vessel cell and formed in an area other than the cell adhesion portion. A blood vessel cell is adhered to the cell adhesion portion, and cultured into a tissue.
US08367402B2
The present invention relates to methods of synaptic network remodeling by means of extranuclear RNA splicing. The present invention also provides methods of extranuclear RNA splicing, and methods of protein translation based on extranuclear RNA splicing.
US08367393B2
The invention relates to an improved Saccharomyces strain displaying improved viability and growth during anaerobic fermentation of pentose carbon sources such as xylose and producing fermentation products such as ethanol.
US08367371B2
A bacterium which belongs to the Enterobacteriaceae family and has an ability to produce an L-amino acid such as L-lysine, L-threonine and L-tryptophan and is modified to enhance glutamic acid decarboxylase activity is cultured in a medium to produce and accumulate the L-amino acid in the medium or cells of the bacterium. Then, the L-amino acid is collected from the medium or the cells.
US08367367B2
A method of positively detecting toxic materials within a sample, the method including contacting sub-mitochondrial particles having competent mitochondrial enzymes formed from inner membranes of mitochondria, an electron donor which transmits electrons to an electron transfer system of the sub-mitochondrial particles and the sample, and forming reaction resultants, adjusting a pH of a pH indicator which change color according to a change in pH, adding the pH indicators to each reaction resultant and identifying color changes of the pH indicator. Also provided is a kit for positively detecting toxic materials within a sample.
US08367364B2
The present invention provides methods of screening an agent for an activity in an isolated organ, e.g., eye, from a teleost, e.g., zebrafish. Methods of isolating eyes from zebrafish are provided. Methods of screening an agent for an ocular activity in the isolated eye are provided. Methods of screening an agent for an ocular activity in a model of ocular disease or disorder are provided. Methods of screening an agent for an ocular activity in the isolated eye and for screening the agent for cell death and/or toxic activity in the eye or other organ or tissue are provided. The invention further provides high throughput methods of screening agents for an activity in isolated eyes of zebrafish in multi-well plates.
US08367354B2
A novel method for determining the levels of TGF-β1 or TGF-β2 in a sample of milk, raw protein source, or nutritional composition is provided. The method involves, in some cases, reconstituting the sample; in some cases, centrifuging the sample; activating the sample using particular ratios of sample:acid:base; diluting the sample using particular ratios of sample:buffer agent; and determining the concentration of TGF-β1 in the sample using an ELISA assay.
US08367349B2
A method for assessing the effect of a test compound on LRRK2 in a cell-based system, the method comprising the steps of a) assessing the effect of exposing the cell-based system comprising LRRK2 to the test compound on the phosphorylation state of Ser910 and/or Ser935 of the LRRK2; and/or b) assessing the effect of exposing the cell-based system comprising LRRK2 to the test compound on the binding of the LRRK2 to a 14-3-3 polypeptide. The method may comprise or further comprise the step of assessing the effect of exposing the cell-based system comprising LRRK2 to the test compound on the subcellular location of LRRK2. The method is considered to be useful in assessing the effect of putative LRRK2 inhibitors in cell based systems, including in vivo systems.
US08367342B2
The invention provides means and methods for at least in part inducing, counteracting, preventing and/or investigating cardiac hypertrophy.
US08367320B2
The invention pertains to a method for performing an expression modulating analysis or assay, wherein an apoptosis inducing expression modulating compound targeting a repetitive element present in the untranslated region, in particular the 3′ UTRs of protein coding gene transcripts is introduced into cells to induce apoptosis in the cells as a positive control. Also provided are suitable kits and compositions.
US08367318B2
The disclosure provides methods for inhibiting the activity of a miRNA cluster in a cell, and also for screening a cell for a phenotype(s) of interest resulting from inhibition of a miRNA cluster. The methods use a cluster pool which comprises at least one miRNA inhibitor specific for each miRNA in the miRNA cluster. MiRNA inhibitors are described that induce apoptosis in breast cancer cells and hence are useful in the treatment of breast cancer. The disclosure also provides pharmaceutical compositions which are useful for the treatment of breast cancer; methods for inducing the nuclear translocation of NF-κB in a breast cancer cell; methods for inducing the nuclear translocation of c-Jun in a breast cancer cell; method for inhibiting the nuclear translocation of NF-κB in a breast cancer cell; and methods for providing prognostic medical information relating to breast cancer progression.
US08367311B2
Provided is a fabrication method with which a laminate having a hollow structure can be produced more easily, while enabling to produce a multilayer structure as well. That is, a method for producing a hollow structure, a fabrication method by stacking-up a structural material among fabrication methods of a hollow structure on a substrate, the method including; a step of forming a structural material layer on a substrate, a step of forming a pattern on the structural material layer, a step of forming a sacrificial material layer by burying between the patterns with a water-soluble or an alkaline-soluble polymer as the sacrificial material to be buried between the patterns, a step of further laminating a structural material layer and forming a pattern on the structural material layer laminated, and a step of finally removing the sacrificial material after all of lamination is completed.
US08367309B2
A method of forming a pattern including a first pattern portion having a first minimum dimension and a second pattern portion having a second minimum dimension includes a first exposure step of performing exposure using a Levenson-type mask and a second exposure step of performing exposure using a half tone-type mask. When second minimum dimension is 1.3 time or more than the first minimum dimension, the exposure amount of the second exposure step is set to be equal to or smaller than the exposure amount of the first exposure step.
US08367307B2
A system for fabricating a radiation-cured structure is provided. The system includes a radiation-sensitive material having a first refractive index; a mask formed from a mask material having a second refractive index; and a radiation source. The mask is disposed between the radiation source and the radiation-sensitive material, and has a plurality of substantially radiation transparent apertures. The radiation source is configured to generate radiation beams for at least one of initiating, polymerizing, and crosslinking the radiation-sensitive material. The system includes at least one of a) an at least one normalizing surface disposed between the radiation source and the mask, b) a refractive fluid having a third refractive index disposed between the radiation source and the mask, and c) the refractive fluid having the third refractive index disposed between the mask and the radiation-sensitive material. A method for fabricating the radiation-cured structure is also provided.
US08367306B1
A system for forming a plurality of polymer waveguides includes at least one collimated light source adapted to produce a plurality of collimated light beams; a channel having an exposure area for the collimated light beams to pass through and for holding a photo-monomer adapted to polymerize when exposed to the collimated light beams, the photo-monomer moving with respect to the plurality of collimated light beams; and a mask disposed between the at least one collimated light source and the photo-monomer. A method for forming a plurality of polymer waveguides includes moving a mask across an exposure area of a channel containing a photo-monomer; exposing the photo-monomer to collimated light through the exposure area of the channel; growing the plurality of polymer waveguides from the exposure area into the photo-monomer to form an interconnected ordered three-dimensional polymer micro-truss structure; and removing the ordered 3D polymer micro-truss structure from the channel.
US08367298B2
A salt having a divalent group represented by the formula (aa): wherein Xa and Xb independently each represent —O— or —S—, Ra, Rb, Rc and Rd independently each represent a hydrogen atom, a C1-C4 alkyl group or a C1-C4 alkoxy group, and m represents 1 or 2.
US08367293B2
A method for producing a carrier, including a step of periodically forming and discharging liquid droplets of a carrier core composition liquid from a plurality of nozzles formed in a thin film, using a liquid droplet forming unit having the thin film and a ring-shaped vibration generating unit disposed in a deformable area of the thin film so as to be along a circumference of the area and to vibrate the thin film, a step of forming carrier core particles by solidifying the discharged liquid droplets, and a step of coating the carrier core particles with a resin layer.
US08367292B2
A toner including a binder resin, a coloring agent, and a releasing agent, the toner formed by dispersing a toner liquid material which is prepared by dispersing the binder resin, the prepolymer, an elongation agent and/or a cross-linking agent for the prepolymer, the coloring agent, and the releasing agent in an organic solvent, dispersing the toner liquid material in an aqueous medium to obtain a liquid dispersion in at least one of cross linking reaction and elongation reaction, and removing the organic solvent from the liquid dispersion, and the toner satisfying the following relationship: 1.35< or =M(g)/M(p)< or =1.90, where M(g) represents the content of the gel composition formed in the at least one of cross linking reaction and elongation reaction and M(P) represents the content of the prepolymer in the toner liquid material when the total of M(P) and the content of the binder resin in the toner liquid material is set to be 100 g.
US08367281B2
A photoresist layer exposed through first slits of a mask is exposed using first light. The photoresist layer exposed through second slits of the mask is exposed by using second light. The first light passes thorough a transflective shutter to generate the second light.
US08367272B2
A method for producing a gold fine particle-supported carrier catalyst for a fuel cell, which reduces a gold ion in a liquid phase reaction system containing a carbon carrier by means of an action of a reducing agent, to reduce the gold ion, deposit, and support a gold fine particle on the carbon carrier, wherein a reduction rate of the gold ion is set within the range of 330 to 550 mV/h, and pH is set within the range of 4.0 to 6.0 to perform the reduction of the gold ion, deposition, and support of the gold fine particle.
US08367270B2
A fuel cell comprising anode and cathode flow field plates having a multitude of flow channels separated by land features wherein the land features of the anode side are wider than the land features of the cathode side is disclosed. In fuel cells, the flow field plate arrangement of the present invention provides higher power (lower cost per kW), improved durability, and less stringent assembly alignment.
US08367264B2
A fuel cell system of the present invention includes: a hydrogen generator (1) having a reformer (1a) configured to generate a hydrogen-containing gas by a reforming reaction using a raw material; a fuel cell (2) configured to generate electric power using the hydrogen-containing gas supplied from the hydrogen generator (1); a combustor (3) configured to combust an anode off gas discharged from the fuel cell (2) to heat the reformer (1a); a CO detector (7) configured to detect a carbon monoxide concentration of a flue gas discharged from the combustor (3); an electric heater (8) configured to heat the CO detector (7); and a controller (19), and the controller (19) is configured to increase an amount of energization to the electric heater (8) in accordance with an increase in an amount of electric power generated by the fuel cell (2).
US08367257B2
A fuel cell system (10) that includes with a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (22) having a polymer electrolyte membrane is provided with a determining portion that determines whether a moisture content in the polymer electrolyte membrane is low, and an anode gas pressure regulating portion that sets a gas pressure on an anode side of the fuel cell lower than a set value of the gas pressure on the anode side during steady operation in which the moisture content is not low, when it is determined that the moisture content is low.
US08367249B2
Field of use: the electrotechnical industry, in particular, anode materials for lithium-ion ECCs. Essence of the invention: Anode material based on lithium-titanium spinel that contains doping components, chromium and vanadium, in equivalent quantities, of the chemical formula Li4Ti5-2y(CryVy)O12-x, where x is the deviation from stoichiometry within the limits 0.02
US08367243B2
In a lithium secondary battery, the electrode assembly includes a positive electrode and a negative electrode which are assembled together with a separator interposing between said both electrodes. Each of the electrodes includes an active material mixture layer portion and an active material mixture layer free-portion which are arranged on a surface of said metal foil. A relationship of B1
US08367241B2
Disclosed are a separator for a fuel cell realizing both the high electrical conductivity and the corrosion resistance and enabling using stably for a long period of time in the fuel cell and a manufacturing method for it. The separator for a fuel cell 1 includes a substrate 2 composed of pure aluminum or aluminum alloy and a plating layer 3 formed on the substrate 2, wherein the plating layer 3 has a copper layer 3a formed in the substrate 2 side and a tin layer 3b formed on the copper layer 3a, the tin layer 3b is formed in an uppermost layer, the thickness of the copper layer 3a is 0.10 μm or above, and the value obtained by dividing the thickness of the tin layer 3b by the thickness of the copper layer 3a is 0.1-50.
US08367240B2
A battery comprising a first electrode, a second electrode, a separator interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, and an electrolyte having lithium ion conductivity. The first electrode and the second electrode are wound with the separator interposed therebetween to form an electrode assembly. The first electrode includes a current collector and an active material layer carried on one face of the current collector. The active material layer includes columnar particles having a bottom and a head, the bottom of the columnar particles being adhered to the current collector. The head of the columnar particles is positioned at an outer round side of the electrode assembly than the bottom.
US08367237B2
An electronic device comprises a housing, a battery retainer arranged in the housing, a battery, a movable member and at least one resilient member. The battery retainer defines a battery cavity and a spring tab. The battery retained in the battery cavity defines a recessed portion and a protrusion protruding from the bottom of the recessed portion. The recessed portion defines a plurality of sloped surfaces and vertical walls surrounding the protrusion. The protrusion defines a side wall. The movable member comprises a first end rotatably connected to the battery retainer and a second end connecting the sloped surfaces. After the battery is pushed into the battery cavity, one of the sloped surfaces engages the second end of the movable member to move until the second end disengages from the side wall of the protrusion.
US08367233B2
A battery pack thermal management system is provided that is comprised of at least one enclosure failure port integrated into at least one wall of a battery pack enclosure, where the enclosure failure port(s) remains closed during normal operation of the battery pack, and opens during a battery pack thermal runaway event, thereby providing a flow path for hot gas generated during the thermal runaway event to be exhausted out of the battery pack enclosure in a controlled fashion.
US08367230B2
According to one embodiment, a soft magnetic layer, a first nonmagnetic underlayer having a fine crystal structure and made of Pd or a Pd alloy, a second nonmagnetic underlayer made of Ru or an Ru alloy, and a perpendicular magnetic recording layer are stacked on a nonmagnetic substrate.
US08367226B2
A layer system that can be annealed comprises a transparent substrate, preferably a glass substrate, and a first layer sequence which is applied directly to the substrate or to one or more bottom layers that are deposited onto the substrate. The layer sequence includes a substrate-proximal blocking layer, a selective layer and a substrate-distal blocking layer. Also provided is a method for producing a layer system that can be annealed and has a sufficient quality even under critical climatic conditions and/or undefined conditions of the substrate. During the heat treatment (annealing, bending), the color location of the layer system is maintained substantially stable and the color location can be widely varied at a low emissivity of the layer system. For this purpose, a first dielectric intermediate layer is interposed between the substrate-proximal blocking layer and the selective layer and is configured as a substoichiometric gradient layer.
US08367199B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a thin biaxially oriented film excellent in dimensional stability against humidity change, as well as a magnetic recording medium and a film capacitor using the same. The present invention provides a single layered or laminated biaxially oriented film comprising an aromatic polyester (a) and a polyolefin (b) having a melting point of from 230 to 280° C., wherein the ratio of the polyolefin (b) is from 5 to 30% based on the entire weight of the film, and the film thickness is from 1 to 10 μm.
US08367190B2
The present invention relates to a composition for preparing an excellent protecting film with high strength, wear resistance, and excellent barrier property by low temperature hardening, a protecting film prepared therefrom, a substrate comprising the same, and a component or device comprising the same. The composition comprises an organosiloxane polymer a), a photobase generator b), and an organic solvent c).
US08367187B2
A window pane for an automobile includes a single sheet of glass plate and an infrared cutoff film formed on the single sheet of glass plate. A film thickness of the infrared cutoff film on an upper portion of the window pane is greater than the film thickness on a lower portion of the window pane when the window pane is installed in the automobile. A variation from a minimum value in the film thickness on the lower portion to a maximum value in the film thickness on the upper portion is at least 1000 nm per 600 mm in a vertical direction of the window pane when installed in the automobile. The infrared cutoff film is formed on a surface of the single sheet of glass plate by using a flow coating method.
US08367181B2
Filamentary materials, such as yarn (18), is wound a frame (28), provided by pairs of movable filaments or wires (35, 38), about which the end of the spindle (22) rotates provides the turns (26) of the winding as the article having the winding is moved along a process path. Mechanically or hydraulically actuated pins (34) support the winding frame in a fixed position. The filaments of the frame may be provided by laterally spaced pairs (44, 46) of filaments of weldable material.
US08367179B2
A recordable optical recording media is provided with an inorganic recording layer prepared by magnetic sputtering. The recording layer is a combination film including a primary component selected from cupper (Cu), silicon (Si), chromium (Cr) or the combination thereof. The purpose of recording data can be achieved by way of altering micro-structure of the recording layer after irradiating the recordable optical recording media by a laser beam.
US08367164B2
Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a template for a high-density patterned medium and a high-density magnetic storage medium using the same. In the method, magnetic particles are used as a mask and no lithographic process is required.
US08367163B2
An enamel flow coating process and apparatus is arranged as a four arm Ferris wheel like apparatus which is mounted over a bathtub like tank which holds enamel slip. Coils of steel tubing formed into heat exchangers are mounted to the arms of the wheel to rotate and to pivot. The wheel is rotated between four stations. In the first station, a coil is loaded onto the wheel. In a second station the coil is pivoted into the tank of enamel slip, where it is coated, and withdrawn by operation of a pivoting bracket. The coated coils are rotated through third and fourth stations where the coating solidifies, and the coated heat exchanger is removed, and replaced with an uncoated one in the first station. After leaving the wheel, the heat exchanger is fired and installed in a water storage tank.
US08367162B2
Disclosed is a pretreatment method for improving antioxidation of steel T91/P91 in high temperature water vapor, which includes applying a slurry, containing rare earth oxide, on a surface of a substrate; holding the temperature in a gas mixture environment of inert gas and water vapor after drying; and cleaning away the solid powder left by the slurry on the surface, thereby obtaining the substrate with a surface rich in chromium and having a small amount of rare earth oxide. As a result of the method, the antioxidation capability of steel T91/P91 in the 500-750° C. water vapor environment can be improved, and films rich in chromium oxide can be formed on the surface of steel T91/P91.
US08367158B2
The method forms a liquid-repellent film on a surface of a nozzle plate having nozzle apertures through which droplets of liquid are ejected. The method includes: a termination process step of carrying out a hydrogen termination process or a halogen termination process on a surface of a nozzle plate, at least a portion of the surface of the nozzle plate being made of a material containing silicon; and a liquid-repellent film formation step of forming a liquid-repellent film on the surface of the nozzle plate after the termination process step by bringing a liquid-repellent film raw material into contact with the surface of the nozzle plate while applying energy to the surface. Each molecule constituting the liquid-repellent film raw material has an unsaturated carbon bond at an end and has a liquid-repellent functional group. The liquid-repellent film is bonded to the surface of the nozzle plate through silicon-carbon bonds.
US08367144B2
The invention relates to a pet's chew prepared from natural materials of renewable sources. The chew is both edible and biodegradable, and furthermore has excellent mechanical properties giving it a long lasting time, even if used for strong animals such as large dogs.
US08367139B2
An enzyme resistant starch type III having a melting point or endothermic peak of at least about 140° C. as determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) is produced in yields of at least about 25% by weight, based upon the weight of the original starch ingredient. A gelatinization stage, nucleation/propagation stage, and preferably a heat-treatment stage are used to produce reduced calorie starch-based compositions which contain the enzyme resistant starch type III. The high melting point of the enzyme resistant starch permits its use in baked good formulations without substantial loss of enzyme resistance upon baking. A gelatinized, starch-based bulking agent having at least 30% by weight of the enzyme-resistant starch may be used in bar-type, extruded, sheeted, or rotary molded food products. The melting enthalpy of the bulking agent may be from about 0.5 to about 4 Joules/g and its water-holding capacity may be less than 3 grams.
US08367134B2
A method for applying a color image to a non-planar comestible may include applying a color image onto a substantially planar carrier and deforming the carrier to form a non-planar relief mold of a three-dimensional image, including deforming the color image whereby the deformed color image is proportionate relative to, i.e., is in register with, the three-dimensional image. A comestible material, e.g., chocolate or a gelatinous edible composition, may be deposited into the relief mold to substantially overlie the color image. The comestible material may be removed from the relief mold, with the color image applied thereto. In one implementation, the color image may be applied to the substantially planar carrier by screen printing one or more colors forming the color image onto the carrier using an edible ink composition.
US08367127B2
The object is to provide beverages that allow for sustained intake and which have an effect of improving the vascular endothelial function as by promoting the secretion of NO from vascular endothelial cells so as to potentiate the NO action.The object is attained by providing proanthocyanidins containing tea beverages that contain procyanidin B1 (PB1) and procyanidin B3 (PB3) in a total amount not smaller than a certain concentration and which are free from any peculiar flavor to become easier to drink; they allow for sustained intake and have an effect of improving the vascular endothelial function.
US08367125B2
A method for improving water quality in aquatic ecosystems is described. An effective amount of Quercus infectoria nut gall powder is added to the ecosystem to prevent excessive proliferation of pathogenic bacterial species thereby improving the health of aquaculture species in the ecosystem.
US08367118B2
Spray dried solid dispersions comprising a sparingly soluble drug and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose acetate succinate (HPMCAS) provide increased aqueous solubility and/or biavailability in a use environment.
US08367111B2
A unit dosage form, such as a capsule or the like for delivering drugs into the body in a sustained release fashion similar to that produced by INDERAL® LA indicated for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, comprises two populations of propranolol-containing particles (beads, pellets, granules, etc.). Each bead population exhibits a pre-designed rapid release profile (i.e., substantially complete release within 60 minutes) or sustained release profile over a period of 24 hours. Such a cardiovascular drug delivery system is designed by combining immediate release (IR) beads and sustained release (SR) beads. SR beads may be obtained by membrane coating IR beads with a water-insoluble polymer such as ethylcellulose or a mixture of a water insoluble polymer and a water-soluble polymer such as hydroxypropylcellulose at a ratio of from about 65/35 to 95/5.
US08367106B2
A pharmaceutical formulation of compounds with low aqueous solubility and method of manufacture thereof. The formulation may include a pharmacologically active compound having low aqueous solubility and starch in the amount of greater than about 25 weight percent. A manufacturing method may include blending the active compound and starch, compressing the blend into a solid, comminuting the solid into granules, wetting the granules, drying the granules, and tabletting the dried granules to make a solid pharmaceutical formulation.
US08367102B2
An oral pharmaceutical composition of isotretinoin containing at least two lipidic excipients, one of them being hydrophilic (i.e. having an HLB value superior or equal to 10), the other being an oily vehicle.
US08367101B2
The present invention is directed to pharmaceutically acceptable polymeric compositions suitable for injection molding of single or multi-component pharmaceutical dosage forms comprising a plurality of drug substance containing sub-units, being capsule compartments and/or solid sub-units comprising a solid matrix of a polymer which contains a drug substance, the sub-units being connected together in the assembled dosage form by a weld between parts of the assembled dosage form.
US08367095B2
An osmotic delivery system flow modulator includes an outer shell constructed and arranged for positioning in an opening, an inner core inserted in the outer shell, and a fluid channel having a spiral shape defined between the outer shell and the inner core. The fluid channel is adapted for delivery of an active agent formulation from the reservoir of the osmotic delivery system.
US08367090B2
A coating on a balloon of a medical device is provided. The coating comprises a drug and a polymer. Also provided are methods of forming and using the coating.
US08367085B2
Cosmetic compositions with anti-free radical activity have been developed. Such compositions preferably contain an association of at least the following three substances with anti-free radical activity: idebenone; N-acetylcysteine, and alpha-tocotrienol or an ester thereof with a C2-C4 organic acid.
US08367078B2
The invention relates to kinase inhibitor compounds and methods of identifying and using them. The invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions and methods for treating disorders, especially cancer.
US08367077B2
The present invention relates to virosomes comprising hemagglutinin (HA) with improved fusion activity. Preferably, the HA comprised in said virosomes was derived from influenza virus produced in a cell line. The present invention also relates to compositions and a kit comprising the virosomes according to the invention. Further, the present invention relates to uses and methods involving said virosomes, as well as to a method for preparing same.
US08367074B2
Recombinant human parainfluenza virus type 2 (HPIV2) viruses and related immunogenic compositions and methods are provided. The recombinant HPIV2 viruses, including HPIV2 chimeric and chimeric vector viruses, provided according to the invention are infectious and attenuated in permissive mammalian subjects, including humans, and are useful in immunogenic compositions for eliciting an immune responses against one or more PIVs, against one or more non-PIV pathogens, or against a PIV and a non-PIV pathogen. Also provided are isolated polynucleotide molecules and vectors incorporating a recombinant HPIV2 genome or antigenome.
US08367056B2
A method for treating a renal disease in a subject is disclosed. The method includes administering into a kidney of the subject with an effective amount of a gutless adenoviral vector containing a polynucleotide encoding a therapeutic agent. The gutless adenoviral vector contains the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:13 or SEQ ID NO:15 and expresses the therapeutic agent in a kidney tissue of the subject.
US08367046B2
Disclosed is a method of reducing the appearance of coloring streaks in a composition that has a colorant comprising adding a guar gum containing compound to said composition.
US08367040B2
Contrast agents comprising a scaffold protein having at least one operative integrated metal ion binding site.
US08367038B2
This invention relates to agents that are inhibitors or activators of variant forms of endogenous proteins and novel methods of identifying such variants. Of particular interest arc inhibitors and activators of endogenous protein variants, encoded by genes which have mutated, which variants often arise or are at least first identified as having arisen following exposure to a chemical agent which is known to be an inhibitor or activator of the corresponding unmutated endogenous protein.
US08367036B2
The invention provides a novel polyanion-based electrode active material for use in a secondary or rechargeable electrochemical cell, wherein the electrode active material is represented by the general formula AaMb(SO4)2Zd.
US08367035B2
The present invention provides arrays of longitudinally aligned carbon nanotubes having specified positions, nanotube densities and orientations, and corresponding methods of making nanotube arrays using guided growth and guided deposition methods. Also provided are electronic devices and device arrays comprising one or more arrays of longitudinally aligned carbon nanotubes including multilayer nanotube array structures and devices.
US08367031B1
A method of making hydrogenated Group IVA compounds having reduced metal-based impurities, compositions and inks including such Group IVA compounds, and methods for forming a semiconductor thin film. Thin semiconducting films prepared according to the present invention generally exhibit improved conductivity, film morphology and/or carrier mobility relative to an otherwise identical structure made by an identical process, but without the washing step. In addition, the properties of the present thin film are generally more predictable than those of films produced from similarly prepared (cyclo)silanes that have not been washed according to the present invention. The present invention advantageously provides semiconducting thin film structures having qualities suitable for use in electronics applications, such as display devices or RF ID tags, while enabling high-throughput manufacturing processes that form such thin films in seconds or minutes, rather than hours or days as with conventional photolithographic processes.
US08367030B2
The present invention relates to a thin film of a metal-silicon compound and a process for producing the thin film of the metal-silicon compound. The metal-silicon compound is a compound of a transition metal and silicon, and has a transition metal-containing silicon cluster as a unit structure, the transition metal-containing silicon cluster having a structure in which a transition metal atom is surrounded by seven to sixteen silicon atoms, two of which are first and second neighbor atoms to the transition metal atom.
US08367024B2
According to an example of the invention, a test tube holder includes a holder body including a cylindrical wall defining a cylindrical hollow portion, at least three guide grooves in the cylindrical wall and open on the inner peripheral side and upper end surface side, cam grooves which face the guide grooves and inclined obliquely upward, a plurality of holder members for test tube attachment which are fitted individually in the guide grooves of the holder body so as to be movable vertically and radially, cam pins which engage with the cam grooves so as to guide the holder member vertically and radially, and an urging spring which elastically urges the holder member to be pushed up so that the holder member is pressed upward and toward the inner periphery of the cylindrical wall.
US08367022B2
A manually directed, electronic multi-channel pipettor uses servo controlled motors to drive a carriage and pipetting head in response to a user's manipulation of a control handle. The pipetting head include an array of tip fittings, e.g. 96. The system includes a check processor to avoid unintended motion in case of system faults or crashes. The system requires substantial force to attach the array of tips, and therefore includes controls that require both of the user's hands be occupied during the tip attachment process.
US08367019B2
The invention relates to a microfluidic channel (6) with shifted levels comprising a channel pillar (2a, 2b) and a channel bridge (3) which microfluidic channel (6) connects a channel (4a, 4b), situated in a first level of a base plate (1, 11) which contains a microfluidic system, with a second level of said base plate (1, 11). A longitudinal hollow with an edgeless cross-section is connected, as a channel pillar (2a, 2b), with one end, to the ending of the channel (4a, 4b) to be connected and formed in the first level of the base plate (1, 11), furthermore, the channel bridge (3) created at the second level of the base plate (1, 11) and having a cross-section fitting to the channel pillar (2a, 2b) is surrounded by a filling-up material (7) filled in subsequently, and a rounding-off is formed at the junction of the connecting end of the channel bridge (3) and the end of the channel pillar (2a, 2b) extending to the second level.
US08367016B2
A method for producing an image of an object within a chamber of a microfluidic device includes providing the microfluidic device having x, y, and z dimensions and a chamber depth center point located along the z dimension. The chamber depth center point is located a known z dimension distance from a fiducial marking embedded within the microfluidic device. The method also includes placing the microfluidic device within an imaging system that includes an optical device capable of detecting the fiducial marking. The optical device defines an optical path axially aligned with the z dimension and has a focal plane perpendicular to the optical path. When the focal plane is moved along the optical path, the fiducial marking is maximally detected when the focal plane is at the z depth in comparison to when the focal plane is not substantially in-plane with the z depth.
US08367015B2
An analytical strip including a substrate and a channel structure is disclosed. A substrate has a flat surface and the channel is formed on the flat surface according to a predetermined pattern. The surface of channel structure is not lower than the surface of the substrate. The channel has a hollow-matrix conformation and the channel is more hydrophilic than the flat surface of the substrate is. The strip also contains a reaction material formed in the hollow-matrix.
US08366996B2
A system for disinfecting regulated refuse using steam disinfection used a refuse container where the regulated refuse is deposited. Temperature sensors are positioned below and above the refuse to detect the temperature of the disinfecting process, while a recording device operationally connected to the temperature sensors creates an identifying chart, which provides for identification of the time and temperature of processing, origin of the regulated refuse, as well as date and location of the processing.
US08366995B2
The removal of moisture from an object to be sterilized is provided through at least the steps of placing the load in the chamber, reducing the pressure within the chamber to increase the rate of evaporation of moisture from the load, monitoring over a predetermined period of time the increase in the quantity of vapor within the chamber resulting from evaporation of moisture from the load, admitting gas into the chamber and repeating the steps following placing the load into the chamber.
US08366984B2
A method of forming a composite article from a work piece at elevated temperatures and pressures. The method steps include disposing within a pressure chamber the work piece in contact with a mold, disposing a substantially incompressible medium in the chamber so that the medium is capable of transferring a substantially uniform predetermined pressure to the surface of the work piece, disposing within the substantially incompressible medium a fluid filled elastomeric vessel in fluid communication with a source of high pressure fluid so that the vessel is capable of causing a substantially uniform predetermined fluid pressure to the substantially incompressible medium, and causing the vessel to produce a pressure in the range of 400 to 20000 psi (2.8 to 138 MPa) to be applied to the substantially incompressible medium.
US08366981B2
A composite structure is provided. The structure includes at least one ply of preimpregnated material formed into a curved elongated member of continuous fibers onto a mandrel. The fibers have a select orientation. The curved elongated member has a length and a cross-sectional geometry that varies along the length.
US08366961B2
This invention comprises a lightweight, portable chemical combination of reagents for sterilizing or disinfecting objects in the absence of electrical power or fire. The chemical combination includes a chemical oxidant with the capacity to liberate a biocidal intermediate, a chemical reductant of the oxidant with the capacity to react with the oxidant, and an effector to induce a reaction between the oxidant and reductant. In one embodiment, the oxidant comprises chlorite, the reductant comprises sulfite, and the effector comprises ascorbate. In another embodiment, the chemical combination comprises the oxidant, reductant, effector and iron-activated magnesium. When water or water solutions are added to either embodiment, the chemical combination generates heat, steam and a biocidal intermediate that can destroy contaminating microorganisms. In one embodiment, the biocidal intermediate is a halogen-based biocidal intermediate, such as chlorine dioxide. In another embodiment, the biocidal intermediate is a halogen-free biocidal intermediate.
US08366951B2
A liquid discharge head includes an Si substrate which is provided with an element for generating energy used in discharging a liquid and a liquid supply port which is provided to pass through the Si substrate from a first surface to a rear surface so as to supply a liquid to the element. A method of manufacturing the substrate includes: forming a plurality of concave portions on the rear surface of the Si substrate of which a plane orientation is {100}, the concave portions facing the first surface and aligned in rows along a <100> direction of the Si substrate; and forming a plurality of the liquid supply ports by carrying out a crystal axis anisotropic etching on the Si substrate through the concave portions using an etching liquid of which an etching rate of the {100} plane of the Si substrate is slower than that of the {110} plane of the Si substrate.
US08366946B2
A rigid holder is provided for supporting a flexible article. The rigid holder may include a first frame member and a second frame member which are held together through magnets.
US08366945B2
Diamond electrodes with improved adhesion of the diamond layer to the electrode are produced by sandblasting a surface of the electrode body, and then non-oxidatively etching the roughened (sandblasted) surface so as to remove at least 5 μm of material from under the roughened surface. By removing at least 5 μm of material, the sand particulates in the surface of the electrode body are eliminated, and damage in the form of cracks in the electrode body which result from sandblasting is reduced or eliminated, and further, a surface metal oxide coating is not created. All of these contribute to preparing a surface where spalling of the diamond layer is less likely to occur. Concentrated phosphoric acid is an exemplary non-oxidative etchant used in the process.
US08366944B2
A method of fabricating an image drum includes preparing a hollow drum body having a slot extending in a longitudinal direction, preparing a printed circuit board (PCB) having a plurality of board terminals, mounting the PCB inside the hollow drum body with a fixing member such that the board terminals of the PCB are placed in the slot of the hollow drum body, coating a first insulating layer on an outer circumference of the hollow drum body, forming a plurality of ring electrodes on the first insulating layer corresponding to the board terminals of the PCB, in which a portion of ring electrodes which corresponds to the board terminals of the PCB is non-continuous, exposing the board terminals below non-continuous area of the ring electrodes by etching the first insulating layer with the ring electrodes as an etching mask, and forming a connecting electrode to electrically connect the board terminals to the ring electrodes.
US08366929B2
A membrane element 36 includes filtration membranes 45 on the flat part of the membrane element 36. Spacing members 60 keep spacing S between the filtration membranes 45 between the membrane elements 36 when the membrane elements 36 are arranged with the filtration membranes 45 opposed to each other. The spacing members 60 each have spacer sections 61a and 61b that keep the spacing S between the filtration membranes 45 between the membrane elements 36 in the direction of a membrane surface cleaning stream that flows along the surface of the filtration membrane 45.
US08366928B2
A filter (20) configured to separate the solid components and the liquid components from a slurry. The filter (20) includes a plurality of filter plate assemblies (46) that cooperate to define a plurality of filter chambers (70), each defining a perimeter (96) having an open section (98) when the filter plates (68) are in a closed position relative to one another. Each filter plate assembly (46) includes a closure (104) configured to close the open section (*). Preferably, the closures (104) are movable to an open position to permit a particulate cake to be removed from the filter chambers (70) without separating the filter plates (68).
US08366921B2
A dialysis machine that includes a valve body defining a pressure passage and a sealing cap disposed at a first end of the valve body such that the sealing cap closes off the pressure passage at the first end of the valve body. The sealing cap has a deformable area configured to deform outwardly away from the valve body when pressurized fluid is introduced into the pressure passage of the valve body. The sealing cap is configured so that, when a dialysis fluid cassette is disposed in a cassette compartment of the dialysis machine and pressurized fluid is introduced into the pressure passage of the valve body, the deformable area obstructs a fluid channel of the dialysis fluid cassette to control dialysis fluid flow therethrough.
US08366916B2
A magnetic nanoparticle complex includes a magnetic nanoparticle; and a ligand associated with the magnetic nanoparticle, the ligand including a functional group capable of combining with an acid component or a conjugate base of the acid component, in an oil. A method for preparing a magnetic nanoparticle complex, includes preparing a pre-ligand having at least one amino group and at least one carbamate group or dithiocarbamate group; associating the pre-ligand with a magnetic nanoparticle to form a magnetic nanoparticle-ligand complex; and modifying the ligand to form a modified ligand having a functional group capable of combining with an acid component in an oil or a conjugate base of the acid component.
US08366914B2
Compounds having the formulae and general formulae: wherein each R1, R2, R3 and R4 are the same or different and may be hydrogen, an alkyl group, an aryl group, a halogen, a nitro group, an alkyl or aryl ester, and an alkyl or aryl ether; compounds having the general formula: wherein R is an alkyl, aryl or electron withdrawing group; mixtures thereof; can be used as additives for crude oil and hydrocarbons. These compounds may be used to scavenge mercaptans, sulfides, cyanides, and primary or secondary amines; either alone or in combination.
US08366913B2
The invention relates to a process for the desulfurization of a gasoline fraction with high recovery of olefins and reduced loss of Research Octane Number (RON). A petroleum fraction is contacted with hydrogen and a commercially available hydrodesulfurization catalyst under mild conditions with to remove a first portion of the sulfur present, and is then contacted with an adsorbent for the removal of additional sulfur.
US08366904B2
Cathodic protection of a structure including a steel member at least partly buried in a covering layer, such as steel rebar in a concrete structure, is provided by embedding sacrificial anodes into the concrete layer at spaced positions over the layer and connecting the anodes to the rebar. The anode body is formed, by pressing together finely divided powder, flakes or fibers of a sacrificial anode material such as zinc to define a porous body having pores therein. The sacrificial anode material of the anode member is directly in contact with the covering material by being buried or inserted as a tight fit into a drilled hole so that any expansion forces therefrom would be applied to the concrete with the potential of causing cracking. The pores are arranged however such that corrosion products from corrosion of the anode body are received into the pores sufficiently to prevent expansion of the anode body to an extent which would cause cracking of the covering material.
US08366901B2
A process is provided for metallizing a surface of a substrate with electrolytically plated copper metallization, the process comprising electrolytically depositing copper over the electrically conductive polymer by immersing the substrate in an electrolytic composition and applying an external source of electrons, wherein the electrolytic composition comprises a source of copper ions and has a pH between about 0.5 and about 3.5. In another aspect, a process is provided for metallizing a surface of a dielectric substrate with electrolytically plated copper metallization, the process comprising immersing the substrate into a catalyst composition comprising a precursor for forming an electrically conductive polymer on the surface of the dielectric substrate and a source of Mn(II) ions in an amount sufficient to provide an initial concentration of Mn(II) ions of at least about 0.1 g/L to form an electrically conductive polymer on the surface of the dielectric substrate, and electrolytically depositing copper over said electrically conductive polymer.
US08366898B2
The high throughput particle separation system includes an aqueous solution container for storing an aqueous solution containing specific particles to be separated, an electrode array, having a plurality of electrodes arranged at regular intervals or at various different intervals in series or in parallel, for deflecting specific particles simultaneously in a nonuniform electric field according to sizes and dielectric properties of the particles to separate a large quantity of the particles at high throughput, a path separation unit for establishing movement paths of the particles separated by the electrode array, and a control unit for applying the same voltage and frequency or different voltages and frequencies to the electrodes of the electrode array based on sizes and dielectric properties of specific particles to be separated.
US08366893B2
A gas sensor including a pump electrode and a method for manufacturing a conductive paste for forming the pump electrode. When the pump electrode constituting an electrochemical pump cell for adjusting an oxygen partial pressure inside a gas sensor to measure a concentration of a gas component in a measurement gas by a current-limiting method is formed of a cermet of a noble metal and an oxide having oxygen ion conductivity, the noble metal contains a first noble metal having a catalytic activity, and a second noble metal having a catalytic activity suppressing ability to suppress the catalytic activity of the first noble metal with respect to an oxide gas except for oxygen, and an abundance ratio of the second noble metal with respect to the first noble metal in a particle surface of the first noble metal existing in the pump electrode is to be 0.01 to 0.3.
US08366886B2
A fluorine/fluoride gas generator which has an electrolyte made of mixed molten salt containing hydrogen fluoride in an electrolytic cell including an anode chamber and a cathode chamber, and generates a gas containing fluorine by electrolyzing the electrolyte, includes a raw material supply pipe for supplying an electrolysis raw material, reaching the inside of the electrolyte in the electrolytic cell, a normally-closed valve provided in the middle of the raw material supply pipe, and a bypass pipe provided with a normally-open valve, joining the raw material supply pipe on the downstream side from the normally-closed valve to a gas phase area of the electrolytic cell. Accordingly, the electrolyte is prevented from being suctioned into the raw material supply pipe in the fluorine/fluoride gas generator, and solidification of the electrolyte inside the raw material supply pipe can be prevented.
US08366879B2
A soil and/or moisture resistant secure document and a method for producing such a secure document, are provided. The inventive method preferably employs a size press or other similar device to force a soil and/or moisture resistant formulation into the pores of the substrate and to remove excess formulation from opposing surfaces thereof. Soil and/or moisture resistant formulations when applied this way instead of by way of standard coating techniques do not obscure optically variable effects generated by non-porous OVDs that may be employed on or within these secure documents. In addition, thin layers of fibers (e.g., papermaking fibers) overlying and thus embedding portions of security devices in windowed secure documents that have been rendered soil and/or moisture resistant in accordance with this invention demonstrate increased durability.
US08366876B2
Method and arrangement for improving a washing step after completed cooking in a continuous digester
The method and an arrangement are for the improvement of a wash after completed digestion in a continuous digester for the production of cellulose pulp. The softened chips are exposed to a radially directed displacement wash after they have passed the rotating bottom scraper. The displacement wash has been established in the flow of digested softened chips through the outlet tap before the softened chips are defibrated by the fall in pressure across the blow-valve that is arranged after the digester.
US08366873B2
A debonder apparatus includes a chuck assembly, a flex plate assembly, a contact roller and a resistance roller. The chuck assembly includes a chuck and a first wafer holder holding a first wafer of a bonded wafer pair in contact with the chuck. The flex plate assembly includes a flex plate and a second wafer holder holding a second wafer of the bonded wafer pair in contact with the flex plate. The flex plate is placed above the chuck. The contact roller is arranged adjacent to a first edge of the chuck and pushes and lifts up a first edge of the flex plate, while the resistance roller traverses horizontally over the flex plate and applies a downward force upon the flex plate and thereby the bonded wafer pair delaminates along a release layer and the first and second wafers are separated from each other.
US08366870B2
The invention provides a plasma processing apparatus capable of minimizing the non-uniformity of potential distribution around wafer circumference, and providing a uniform process across the wafer surface. The apparatus is equipped with a focus ring formed of a dielectric, a conductor or a semiconductor and having RF applied thereto, the design of which is optimized for processing based on a design technique clarifying physical conditions for flattening a sheath-plasma interface above a wafer and the sheath-plasma interface above the focus ring. A surface voltage of the focus ring is determined to be not less than a minimum voltage for preventing reaction products caused by wafer processing from depositing thereon. The surface height, surface voltage, material and structure of the focus ring are optimized so that the height of an ion sheath formed on the focus ring surface is either equal or has a height difference within an appropriate tolerance range to the height of the ion sheath formed on the wafer surface. Optimization of the structure is realized by setting up an appropriate tolerance range taking into consideration the variation caused by consumption of the focus ring.
US08366867B2
Provided are a bonded structure, a sealed structure, an electronic component including the same, a bonding method, and a sealing method, the bonded structure and sealed structure allow hermetic adhesion using an adhesive even when the materials of the bonding surfaces are different, or the bonding surfaces have low wettability for the adhesive. A sealed structure 21 used for an electronic component or the like includes a first bonding surface 17 on a first adherent 11 bonded to a second bonding surface 18 on a second adherent 16 via an adhesive layer 24, the first and/or second bonding surfaces 17 and 18 having films 22 and 23 of film-forming compounds, the film-forming compounds being bound to the surfaces 17 and 18 at one end of the molecule thereof, and bound to a molecule of the adhesive at the functional group at the other end of the molecule.
US08366859B2
A method for sealing a first packaging material laminate, comprised of at least one layer of magnetizable particles and a sealable layer, to a second packaging laminate involves facing the sealable layer towards the second laminate, providing an alternating magnetic field to the laminates in a sealing zone, thereby generating magnetic hysteresis losses in the laminate having the magnetizable particles, which losses create heat substantially melting the sealable layer in the sealing zone, and applying a sealing pressure to the first and second laminate to cause the first and second laminate to be pressed together in the sealing zone, thereby sealing the laminates to each other.
US08366857B2
Methods, apparatus and systems for collecting thin tissue samples for imaging. Thin tissue sections may be cut from tissue samples using a microtome-quality knife. In one example, tissue samples are mounted to a substrate that is rotated such that thin tissue sections are acquired via lathing. Collection of thin tissue sections may be facilitated by a conveyor belt. Thin tissue sections may be mounted to a thin substrate (e.g., by adhering thin tissue sections to a thin substrate via a roller mechanism) that may be imaged, for example, by an electron beam (e.g., in an electron microscope). This tissue sections may be strengthened before cutting via a blockface thinfilm deposition technique and/or a blockface taping technique. An automated reel-to-reel imaging technique may be employed for collected/mounted tissue sections to facilitate random-access imaging of tissue sections and maintaining a comprehensive library including a large volume of samples.
US08366856B2
A method for manufacturing a decorating accessory includes the steps of: (a) preparing a base, a first film and a second film; (b) attaching the first film to the base; (c) cutting the first film; (d) removing a remaining portion of the first film; (e) attaching the second film to the first film; (f) cutting the second film; (g) removing a remaining portion of the second film to form a stacked array; (h) hot pressing the stacked array to get a finished decorating accessory; (i) collecting the finished decorating accessory.
US08366854B2
The invention relates to a method for producing a decorated laminate having a plate-shaped core made of wood or wood material, a decorative layer on at least one side of the core, and a cover layer made of aminoplast on the decorative layer, comprising the following steps: attaching the decorative layer, applying a layer made of an aqueous solution of an aminoplast precursor to form a cover layer on the decorative layer, at least partially drying the cover layer, curing the aminoplast under pressure and heat, wherein a part of said solution of said aminoplast precursor is initially applied and the partial layer thus generated is dried and said step is repeated at least twice, in order to form the final cover layer.
US08366849B2
The invention relates to a method for lining a container, especially a reservoir, a tank or a basin in a water-tight manner. In order to avoid possible leakages and/or contaminations, the walls of the large container are provided with hook-and-loop-type fastening elements. Sealing webs are attached to these fastening elements by means of fastening elements.
US08366834B2
An endoscope cleaning/disinfecting apparatus according to the present invention includes a chemical bottle, an insertion portion, a chemical receiving portion, a blade portion, a first limit switch and a second limit switch. When the chemical bottle is moved to a first position, the first limit switch changes from off to on to detect the first position, when the chemical bottle is inserted to a second position at which an inner face of the chemical receiving portion and a spout portion are aligned to each other, the second limit switch changes from off to on to detect the second position, and when the chemical bottle is inserted to a third position at which a stopper portion is opened, the first limit switch is released by a stepped portion from pressing by the chemical bottle, and thereby changes from on to off to detect the third position.
US08366833B2
Provided is a plasma processing apparatus including: an electrostatic chuck configured to hold a substrate inside a vacuum container, a pulse power source configured to apply a pulse having positive and negative polarities as a bias voltage and a controller configured to control the positive and negative polarities of the pulse.
US08366830B2
The present invention discloses a susceptor mounting assembly for holding semiconductor wafers in an MOCVD reactor during growth of epitaxial layers on the wafers, that is particularly adapted for mounting a susceptor in an inverted type reactor chamber. It includes a tower having an upper and lower end with the upper end mounted to the top inside surface of the reactor chamber and a susceptor is arranged at the tower's lower end. Semiconductor wafers are held adjacent to the susceptor such that heat from the susceptor passes into wafers. A second embodiment of a susceptor mounting assembly according to the invention also comprises a tower having an upper and lower end. The tower's upper end is mounted to the top inside surface of the reactor chamber. A susceptor is housed within a cup and the cup is mounted to the tower's lower end.
US08366829B2
A tandem processing-zones chamber having plasma isolation and frequency isolation is provided. At least two RF frequencies are fed from the cathode for each processing zones, where one frequency is about ten times higher than the other, so as to provide decoupled reactive ion etch capability. The chamber body is ground all around and in-between the two processing zones. The use of frequency isolation enables feed of multiple RF frequencies from the cathode, without having crosstalk and beat. A plasma confinement ring is also used to prevent plasma crosstalk. A grounded common evacuation path is connected to a single vacuum pump.
US08366821B2
A method is provided for advantageously altering the rate of hardening of a magnesium silico-phosphate cement (MSPC). Addition of on the order of 1% of an [MF6]n− salt or acid to an MSPC, obtained by adding the salt or acid either directly to the dry mix or to the water used to effect hydraulic hardening of the cement, significantly alters the hardening rate without adversely affecting the physical properties of the final set cement. In preferred embodiments, Na2TiF6 and/or K2TiF6 are used as retardants, while K3AlF6 is used as an accelerant. Other embodiments use M′n-MF6 compounds wherein M′ is an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, or H, and M is chosen from inter alia Ti (n=2), Zr (n=2), Si (n=2), P (n=1), Al (n=3), and Sb (n=1).
US08366816B2
The invention provides an adsorptive filtering material endowed with integrated particle and/or aerosol protection and with protective performance with regard to biological and/or chemical noxiants, in particular biological and/or chemical warfare agents, the adsorptive filtering material having a multilayered construction comprising a carrier layer, an adsorptive layer assigned to and preferably fixed to the carrier layer, and optionally a covering layer disposed on that side of the adsorptive layer that is remote from the carrier layer, wherein the adsorptive filtering material is additionally equipped with a particle and/or aerosol filtering layer which is preferably disposed between the adsorptive layer and the covering layer, wherein the particle and/or aerosol filtering layer is embodied as an air pervious textile fabric formed from fibers. The adsorptive filtering material is particularly useful in NBC protective materials of any kind (e.g. NBC protective apparel) and for producing filters.
US08366809B2
An example deaerator assembly includes a deaerating member disposed within a housing. The deaerating member includes an apertured stem extending from a pedestal. The apertured stem is configured to communicate air away from a mixture of air and coolant when the mixture of air and coolant is communicated about the apertured stem.
US08366804B2
The present invention discloses a new type of polyimide membranes including hollow fiber and flat sheet membranes with high permeances for air separations and a method of making these membranes. The new polyimide hollow fiber membranes have O2 permeance higher than 300 GPU and O2/N2 selectivity higher than 3 at 60° C. under 308 kPa for O2/N2 separation. The new polyimide hollow fiber membranes also have CO2 permeance higher than 1000 GPU and single-gas selectivity for CO2/CH4 higher than 20 at 50° C. under 791 kPa for CO2/CH4 separation.
US08366802B2
The cyclone is for separating gas from a gas laden liquid stream by pressure reduction of the liquid stream. The cyclone has a cylindrical casing, having a tangentially directed inlet arrangement for the gas laden liquid stream, a lower outlet line for liquid and an upper outlet line for vapor and gas. The inlet arrangement is connected to a common supply source (BLPR), and has at least two insertion pipes. The flow in at least one of these insertion pipes is controlled by at least one valve that depends upon an order of flow from the common supply source to maintain a flow velocity above a critical value.
US08366793B2
Method of decarbonation and its use in producing crystalline sodium sulfite or other alkali products
A sodium sulfite liquor is formed by reacting sodium carbonate with sulfur dioxide. A CO2 byproduct may be removed from the formed liquor by injecting a stripping gas (e.g., steam and/or air) into the liquor, either into a transfer pipe or into a tank that is vented; by increasing the liquor temperature; and/or by reducing the liquor pressure. The decarbonated sodium sulfite liquor with a reduced carbon dioxide content is introduced into a crystallizer connected to a circulation loop comprising a heater and/or a filter. Additional decarbonation by heating, stripping and/or depressurization of the liquor may be carried out in a circulation loop connected to the crystallizer. The condensing side of the heater may be vented. The flow rate of the circulation loop and/or heater temperature differences may be monitored. Additional CO2 may be vented from a holding tank to maintain circulation loop flows and heater temperature differences.
US08366792B2
The subject of the present invention is dye composition for keratin fibers, comprising, in suitable dyeing medium, a coupler of formula (I) or addition salts thereof with an acid a particular cationic or noncationic aminopyrazolopyridine derivative. The composition of the present invention makes it possible in particular to obtain a coloring with varied, intense and/or chromatic, aesthetic and relatively nonselective shades which are highly resistant to the various attacks to which the hair may be subjected.
US08366791B1
Disclosed and claimed herein are a natural coloring formulation for coloring hair, and methods of its use. The coloring formulation includes a catechol-based precursor and an oxidizing agent. Additionally an alkalizing agent may be present. The formulation is substantially free of organic solvents, co-solvents and diluents.
US08366784B2
A system and method of implanting a distal wrist implant relative to a host bone is presented. A distal radial component having a body including a first connection portion couplable to a stem is coupled to a second prosthetic coupled to a medial surface of the body. The second prosthetic replaces at least a portion of the sigmoid notch.
US08366782B2
A knee implant system includes a femoral adapter. The femoral adapter has a threaded bore so that a stem extension can be threaded onto the proximal end of the adapter. The same stem extension can be threaded onto the distal end of the tibial tray so that the number of stem extensions required in the system is reduced. The femoral adapter has a tapered exterior surface so that a metaphyseal sleeve can be frictionally connected to the femoral adapter. The metaphyseal sleeve has a threaded bore so that the same type of stem extension can be threaded onto the metaphyseal sleeve. The system can include a group of adapters to give the surgeon the option of selecting the appropriate valgus angle and anterior-posterior position of the stem extension.
US08366779B2
Embodiments of the invention include expandable, implantable devices and methods. Devices expand linearly to provide secure fixation between or among anatomical structures. In some embodiments, an implant replaces one or more vertebral bodies of the spine.
US08366778B2
A method of forming and the resulting bioadhesive hydrogel composition for repairing or supplementing a nucleus pulposus of an intervertebral disc comprises at least a first component, a second component and a third component, wherein the first component, the second component and the third component are crosslinked. The first component comprises an amine-containing polymer component at a concentration from about 0.1% weight by weight to about 13.65% weight by weight. The second component comprises a hydrophilic polymer or pre-polymer component at a concentration from about 3% weight by weight to about 35% weight by weight. The third component comprises an aldehyde component at a concentration from about 0.1% weight by weight to about 30% weight by weight. A method of repairing or supplementing a nucleus pulposus of an intervertebral disc comprises implanting the bioadhesive hydrogel composition in a patient.
US08366769B2
A sewing ring for prosthetic heart valves that is connected and configured to pivot outward. A biocompatible fabric covering surrounds at least a portion of the sewing ring, and the ring may be exclusively connected to a stent with the fabric. The sewing ring may be generally planar and of uniform thickness, or may be of varying thickness. The fabric may be used to encompass both the stent and the sewing ring, and may be a single piece. A seam may be provided in the fabric as a discrete pivoting line. The sewing ring may be convertible between bi-stable positions. The ring may extend outward in a frusto-conical shape so as to enable inversion between a position facing the inflow end of the valve and a position facing the outflow end of the valve. The sewing ring may have a compliant insert having a celled construction defined by outer walls and inner ribs. A method of implantation, and a method of assembly of the heart valve is also provided.
US08366767B2
A method for delivering a sutureless cardiac valve prosthesis using a transapical approach is provided. The implantation device utilizes movable claspers for both positioning and anchoring the valve prosthesis within the native cardiac valve, minimizing the extent of imaging necessary.
US08366765B2
A stent includes a continuous wave form wrapped around a longitudinal axis of the stent at a first pitch angle to define a first helix comprising a plurality of turns. The wave form includes a plurality of struts and a plurality of crowns. Each crown connects adjacent struts within a turn to define the continuous wave form. The stent also includes a plurality of connections configured to connect selected crowns of adjacent turns so that when the stent is in an unexpanded condition, the plurality of connections are aligned at a second pitch angle to define a second helix, and when the stent is in an expanded condition, at least some of the connections align along a substantially straight line parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stent.
US08366764B2
By a contrast means contained in an inventive stent which has a greater permeability for x-radiation features than the body tissue surrounding the stent in a relevant body conduit, this stent can be clearly detected in its position on an x-ray image of the relevant body conduit while at the same time exhibiting good biological compatibility; a gas, especially one contained in cavities of the stent is provided as a contrast means. The inventive production method for this stent with the aid of a catheter embodied specially for the purpose enables the production of the stent from a malleable polymer mass in the relevant body conduit so that the stent is adapted especially precisely to the shape of the relevant body conduit.
US08366763B2
A prosthesis is disclosed for placement across an ostium opening from a main body lumen to a branch body lumen. The prosthesis comprises a radially expansible support at one end, a circumferentially extending link at the other end and at least one frond extending axially therebetween.
US08366743B2
An occlusion device has a right disc made from a metal mesh having a plurality of openings, and a left disc having at least two skeletons that are covered by a membrane. Each skeleton passes through openings of the metal mesh to interlock the right and left discs, and a coil is wrapped around each opposing end segment of the skeletons. The skeletons can have a looped section where the skeleton is twisted or looped to cross or overlap itself. In addition, each skeleton can be formed from a braided strand of a plurality of wires.
US08366738B2
Disclosed is an apparatus and a method for removable of undesired material from body lumens. The apparatus may be used for fragmenting or removing a thrombus or occlusion from a blood vessel. The apparatus includes first shape segments and second shape segments connected to form a coiled member. A longitudinally extending tether is positioned inside the first shape segments and outside the second shape segments along the length of the coil. Applying a proximal force on the tether produces a change in the shape of at least a portion of the coil from a first generally linear configuration to a second complex three dimensional shape. A method of using the apparatus to engage and remove, or fragment, the thrombus or occlusion is disclosed.
US08366726B2
An occlusion clip for permanently occluding a bodily vessel, such as the vas deferens. The occlusion clip has a first leg, a second leg, joined on their proximal ends by a spring coil. The spring coil provides a biased torsional force to the first leg and the second leg, to force them into a closed position. The first leg and the second leg have on their distal ends a vessel occlusion portion that occludes the targeted vessel when the clip is in a closed position.
US08366725B2
A suturing instrument including multiple needle and suture assemblies that are at least partially disposed within the suturing instrument allows a surgeon to place multiple sutures intercorporally without having to remove the instrument from a surgical site and reload the instrument between placing each suture. The suturing instrument includes an elongate body member that includes a distal portion defining an opening. The suturing instrument further includes a first needle disposed within the opening, a second needle disposed within the opening, and a needle deployment mechanism disposed at least partially within the elongate body member and connectable sequentially to the first needle and the second needle.
US08366720B2
An interventional medical device system operable while within a body vessel is provided with a generally hollow tubular proximal portion, distal portion, and intermediate portion. The proximal portion and at least part of the distal portion remains outside of the body in use, with the remainder of the distal portion positioned within the body. The intermediate portion includes a spiral ribbon having adjacent turns, with at least one frangible bridge member between two adjacent turns. The proximal and distal portions are movable away from each other by elongating the spiral ribbon and, eventually, breaking the frangible bridge member. According to a method of using such a system to deploy an implantable medical device, such as an embolic coil, an actuation member is moved proximally with the proximal portion to disengage a bond or joint between the actuation member and the implantable medical device.
US08366716B2
A trial head and shell for use in trial reduction of hip implants, and particularly bipolar implants, having locking features that prevent the head from dissociating from the shell during trialing, yet which allow the head and shell to be readily assembled and disassembled in the operating room. A cut-out region is formed in an outer bearing surface of the head. The cut-out region allows the head to pass through a trial shell opening and into the shell, yet is oriented such that when the head is associated with a femoral neck, the head cannot disassociate from the shell. Orientation indicators can be provided for use in assembly and disassembly. The trial head and associated shells can be provided in the form of a surgical kit including hip implants. Methods of use are provided.
US08366713B2
An instrument(10) for use in performing arthroplasty is provided. The instrument(10) includes a first portion(11) adapted to prepare a convex surface(64) on the head(5) of the long bone(4). The instrument (10) also includes a second portion (13) adapted to prepare an elongated cavity (62) or a third portion (14) adapted to prepare a central support surface (56) on the head (5) of the long bone (4), or both second portion (13) and the third portion (14). The third portion (14) and the second portion (13) are operably associated with the first portion(11).
US08366709B2
A bipolar electrosurgical instrument has a pair of pivotable juxtaposed jaw members and a locking mechanism operatively associated with a second of the jaw members. The locking mechanism has a first position engaged with the second jaw member for preventing movement of the second jaw member between an axially aligned orientation and at least one angled orientation, and a second position. The second position is disengaged from the second jaw member allowing for movement of the second jaw member between the axially aligned orientation and the at least one angled orientation. The instrument has an actuation mechanism operatively connected to a first of the jaw members with the actuation mechanism operable to move the first jaw member between an axially aligned first orientation and at least one angled orientation. An articulation knob is operatively associated with the locking mechanism and effectuates independent operation of the locking and actuation mechanisms.
US08366706B2
Systems, apparatuses and methods are provided for use in closing punctures in vessel walls. An apparatus may have various combinations of an anchoring device, a positioning device and a heating element for closing a puncture within a vessel wall. An anchoring device may be a balloon, an expansible cage, a wire operated T-anchor, and/or a floating anchor. A positioning device may be a balloon, a sponge, and/or an expansible cage. A heating element may be flexible or rigid and preferably provides heat to target tissue through conduction and convection. A heating element may be flat-ended or dome-shaped. The heating element and anchoring device may be positioned a fixed distance apart to sandwich tissue between the heating element and the anchoring device. The heating element may operate in multiple stages. An initial stage may non-permanently adhere the heating element to the tissue and the subsequent stage may close the puncture.
US08366699B2
The intravascular catheter has two segments; a proximal segment with high stiffness and a distal segment with lower stiffness. The catheter can also have an intermediate segment of lower stiffness than the proximal segment and higher stiffness than the distal segment. The catheter comprises a polymeric inner tube, a reinforcing inner jacket which is spirally wound over the inner tube and which becomes progressively softer from a proximal end to a distal end, and a polymeric outer sheath extruded over the inner jacket according to the teachings of U.S. Pat. No. 5,445,624. The reinforcing jacket comprises helical coiled wires or fibers of various materials and layers wound over the inner tube in order to provide improved multi-axial mechanical properties, such as torque, compression, tension and anti-kinking characteristics. Stainless steel, carbon, glass, platinum, platinum/tungsten or palladium wire in either oval, round or flat geometry are used together with single or dual layers to achieve a graduated stiffness with the reinforcing jacket being stiffer at a proximal end and softer at a distal end. Methods for making the catheter and for annealing ends of the wound wire are also disclosed.
US08366688B2
A sterilized non-discolored eyelid cleansing pad, which has been sterilized by exposure to γ-radiation in a dose level of 2 Mrad.
US08366683B2
The disclosures made herein relate to an infusion device specifically adapted for syringe injections. In one embodiment of the disclosures made herein, an infusion device comprises a body including an accessible surface having a single inlet port therein, an engagement surface having a single outlet port therein, a medication delivery channel extending between the single inlet port and the single outlet port, and an identification feature on the accessible surface of the body adjacent to the single inlet port. The single inlet port of the medication delivery channel is tapered thereby forming a funnel-shaped entry into the medication delivery channel. A cannula is coupled to the body at the single outlet port and is adapted for receiving medication from the single outlet port and transmitting the medication therethrough.
US08366677B2
The present invention provides for transdermal delivery devices having microneedle arrays, as well as methods for their manufacture and use. In one embodiment, a transdermal delivery device is provided. The transdermal delivery device includes a polymer layer which has microneedles projecting from one of its surfaces. The microneedles are compositionally homogenous with the polymer base layer.
US08366660B2
The invention relates to a medical device for delivering a therapeutic agent to a tissue. The medical device has a layer overlying the exterior surface of the medical device. The layer contains a therapeutic agent and an additive. The additive has a hydrophilic part and a hydrophobic part and the therapeutic agent is not enclosed in micelles or encapsulated in particles or controlled release carriers.
US08366649B2
A disposable single-needle extracorporeal blood treatment circuit for such treatments of blood hemofiltration, plasma filtration, detoxification and alike includes a manually operated syringe attached to a proximal bifurcation and a patient's access port attached to a distal bifurcation. Both bifurcations are connected with each other by a withdrawal line and in parallel by a treatment loop including a blood treatment unit and an air removal element. In the first embodiment, one or two three-way valves (such as stop-cocks) are positioned at these bifurcations to allow directing the flow of blood from the patient to the syringe through the withdrawal line and redirecting the flow through the treatment loop when blood is being returned to the patient from the syringe. In a second embodiment, two check valves are positioned along said withdrawal line and said treatment loop to automatically direct the blood floe in the same manner. Additional flush and drain circuits are optionally included allowing a “stand-by” mode of operation.
US08366645B1
A cardio pulmonary CPR device and method that provides enhanced circulation by an optimal combination and sequencing of maximal positive and maximal negative intrathoracic pressures, while maintaining a degree of passive ventilation to the patient. Namely, the embodiments of the invention provide for an optimal positive thoracic pressure compression state, with passively or actively filled lungs, achieved by either passive chest recoil with an open airway, or an active inflation mechanism. Said embodiments also provide for an optimal negative pressure decompression state, combined with actively emptied lungs (by chest compression).
US08366641B2
Calibrating a posture detector for a patient's body involves measuring outputs of one or more sensors disposed in relation to the patient's body while the patient assumes a plurality of positions. A transfer matrix is formed having coefficients corresponding to the measured outputs. The transfer matrix defines a relationship between a coordinate system of the one or more sensors and a coordinate system of the patient's body. The body coordinate system is used as a reference coordinate system for posture detection. Posture, including tilt and/or tilt angle, may be determined based on first and second rotational angles defined in relation to the body coordinate system.
US08366637B2
A skin penetrating system is provided with a drive force generator and a disposable housing member. A plurality of penetrating members are positioned in the disposable housing member. Each penetrating member is coupled to the drive force generator. A plurality of analyte detecting members are each associated with a penetrating member and are positioned in the disposable housing member. Each analyte detecting member is positioned in a sample chamber. The sample changers have openings for transport of a body fluid into the sample chamber. Each analyte detecting member is configured to determine a concentration of an analyte in a body fluid using a sample of less than 1 μL of a body fluid disposed in the sample chamber. A user interface is configured to relay at least one of, skin penetrating performance or a skin penetrating setting.
US08366630B2
The present invention provides a system for measuring biomarker analytes indicative of various diseases comprising an array of sensors sensitive to volatile organic compounds. Particularly, the system is composed of a random network of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) coated with non-polar small organic molecules in conjunction with learning and pattern recognition algorithms. Methods of discriminating between breath samples of healthy individuals and of lung cancer patients are disclosed.
US08366629B2
A system for diagnosing and monitoring congestive heart failure for automated remote patient care is presented. A database stores a plurality of monitoring sets relating to patient information recorded on a substantially continuous basis. A server retrieving and processing the monitoring sets includes a comparison module determining patient status changes by comparing at least one recorded measure from one of the monitoring sets to at least one other recorded measure from another of the monitoring sets with both recorded measures relating to a type of patient information, and an analysis module testing each patient status change for one of an absence, an onset, a progression, a regression, and a status quo of congestive heart failure against a predetermined indicator threshold corresponding to a type of patient information as the recorded measures. The indicator threshold corresponds to a quantifiable physiological measure of a pathophysiology indicative of congestive heart failure. Hysteresis parameters may be used as a temporally-defined threshold for changes in pathophysiology.
US08366624B1
Some embodiments include acquisition of color Doppler data associated with a pulse repetition frequency (fPRF) and a baseline shift, detection of a first area of the color Doppler data representing zero flow velocity, detection of a second area of the color Doppler data, detection of a first transition between one or more velocities of the second area and one or more velocities of an adjacent third area of the color Doppler data, detection of a second transition between the third area and an adjacent fourth area of the color Doppler data representing non-zero flow velocities in the first direction, subtraction of a velocity corresponding to fPRF from each of the flow velocities of the third area if the second direction is positive, and addition of the velocity corresponding to fPRF to each of the flow velocities of the third area if the second direction is negative.
US08366623B2
An ultrasonic observing apparatus according to the present invention comprises a machine-side connector receptacle, an electronics-side connector receptacle, a mechanical echo signal detecting unit for detecting an echo signal obtained by receiving waves in a mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe connecting to the machine-side connector receptacle, an electronic echo signal detecting unit for detecting an echo signal obtained by receiving waves in an electronic scanning ultrasonic endoscope connecting to the electronics-side connector receptacle, and a signal processing unit for performing signal processing on the echo signal from the mechanical echo signal detecting unit and the echo signal from the electronic echo signal detecting unit.
US08366622B2
A method and system for noninvasive face lifts and deep tissue tightening are disclosed. An exemplary method and treatment system are configured for the imaging, monitoring, and thermal injury to treat the SMAS region. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the exemplary method and system are configured for treating the SMAS region by first, imaging of the region of interest for localization of the treatment area and surrounding structures, second, delivery of ultrasound energy at a depth, distribution, timing, and energy level to achieve the desired therapeutic effect, and third to monitor the treatment area before, during, and after therapy to plan and assess the results and/or provide feedback.
US08366618B2
Methods and systems for assessing the effects of therapy on a patient include obtaining baseline and treatment ultrasound scans of a treatment area of a patient where the treatment ultrasound scans are taken subsequent to the baseline scan and at various times during a course of radiotherapy treatment sessions. The baseline and treatment ultrasounds are compared, and as a result a damage map representing cell death within the treatment area can be constructed.
US08366606B2
A first bendable section which can be bent in an arbitrary direction and a second bendable section which can be bent in the bending direction of this first bendable section are provided at the tip end side of an insertion portion. A balloon which is inflated/contracted by feed/discharge of a fluid is provided in this second bendable section so that hardness of this second bendable section can be varied and insertion work into a curved portion is facilitated.
US08366605B2
An endoscopic instrument includes a shank which is bendable in at least one section and an endoscope head forming the distal end of the shank and in which the distal-side interfaces of the instrument are arranged. The endoscope head is bendable and is designed as one piece from an electroactive polymer. Electrodes are arranged in the endoscope head in the polymer, which may be subjected to electrical voltage.
US08366603B2
In one embodiment, an endoscope includes an elongate member having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. The distal end portion is configured to be inserted into a body lumen. An electrical component is disposed within the distal end portion of the elongate member and configured to produce a signal. An elongate conductive mechanical component has a proximal end portion and a distal and portion. The distal end portion of the elongate conductive mechanical component is electrically coupled to the electrical component and configured to conduct the signal or electrical power from/to the electrical component to/from the proximal end portion of the elongate conductive mechanical component.
US08366600B2
A patch and compositions for iontophoresis of triptan compounds are described.
US08366598B2
A therapeutic strand implant, for use in brachytherapy and deliverable to an implant site by way of a needle, includes a plurality of radioactive sources, and a polymeric material molded to encapsulate the radioactive sources. A space is defined by the polymeric material between each adjacent pair of the radioactive sources. A plurality of protrusions is defined by an outer surface of the encapsulating polymeric material.
US08366595B2
Writing implements, such as ballpoint pens and mechanical pencils, and method of making such writing implements, having a body made of recycled newspaper are disclosed. The writing implement's body, often referred to as a barrel, may be decorated, shaped, scented or have other desirable features.
US08366591B2
The present invention relates to a ungrounded, reconfigurable, parallel mechanism based, force feedback exoskeleton device for the human ankle. The primary use for the device is aimed as a balance/proprioception trainer, while the exeskeleton device can also be employed to accommodate range of motion (RoM)/strengthening exercises. This device is also used for metatarsophalangeal joint exercises.
US08366588B2
A method for controlling a drivetrain including an automatically shifted starting clutch and gear-shift clutch and a transmission, with a non self-locking clutch actuator, a gear actuator for engaging and disengaging transmission gears and a control unit which generates control commands for the clutch actuator and gear actuator and transmits such commands to the actuators such that, when the vehicle is at rest and a gear is engaged and if the clutch actuator fails, the clutch does not inadvertently engage. When a transmission gear is engaged, a control command is generated and sent for the clutch actuator to disengage the clutch. Thereafter, the vehicle speed is determined and if the speed is essentially zero and the clutch begins to engage, a control command is sent to the gear actuator to shift the transmission to its neutral position.
US08366584B2
A method for starting an internal combustion thermal engine of a hybrid vehicle having: the thermal engine provided with a drive shaft; at least one pair of driving wheels; a transmission, which transmits the motion from the thermal engine to the driving wheels and has a clutch; and an electric machine, which is mechanically connected to the clutch downstream of the clutch, so that the clutch is interposed between the electric machine and the thermal engine; the starting method includes the steps of: opening the clutch to separate the electric machine from the thermal engine; separating the electric machine from the driving wheels; making the electric machine rotate by operating the electric machine as a motor; and closing the clutch when the electric machine reaches a launch rotation speed.
US08366581B2
A transmission has an input member, an output member, two stacked planetary gear sets, a third planetary gear set, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. The stacked planetary gear sets have a first, second, third, fourth and fifth member and the third planetary gear set has a first, second and third member. The torque transmitting devices include clutches and brakes.
US08366579B2
An automatic transmission includes: a differential mechanism which includes a ring gear; a case which forms a differential chamber that houses the differential mechanism; and an oil pan which is fitted to the case, and which stores oil. The differential chamber includes a first space in which the oil supplied from the oil pan is gathered, and a second space which is formed on the opposite side of the first space with respect to the ring gear in the direction in which the rotational axis of the ring gear extends, and which is communicated with a space inside the oil pan. An oil passage, through which the oil is introduced from the first space to the second space, is formed in the case. The oil passage is formed in a bottom portion of the differential chamber.
US08366578B2
A gear train assembly includes a first reduction planetary gear set having a rotating carrier and a second reduction planetary gear set having a non-rotating carrier. A plurality of vanes are attached to the carrier to direct oil from an oil bath towards the non-rotating carrier as the rotating carrier rotates.
US08366575B2
A power transmission device that includes an uppermost side bearing; a lower side bearing; an uppermost side lubricating medium storage portion defined between the uppermost side bearing and the case to guide a lubricating medium to the uppermost side bearing; a lower side lubricating medium storage portion defined between the lower side bearing and the case to guide a lubricating medium to the lower side bearing, and located below the uppermost side lubricating medium storage portion when installing the power transmission device for a vehicle on the vehicle; and a communicating passage formed in the case to communicate the uppermost side lubricating medium storage portion and the lower side lubricating medium storage portion with each other.
US08366569B2
A golf ball having a plurality of dimples formed on its outer surface, the outer surface of the golf ball being divided into plural areas comprising at least two groups of areas, a first group of areas containing a plurality of first dimples and a second group of areas containing a plurality of second dimples, the first and second groups of areas being of the same shape and being arranged to form a Platonic solid, the first and second groups of areas and dimple shapes and dimensions being configured such that the golf ball is spherically symmetrical as defined by the United States Golf Association (USGA) Symmetry Rules and such that the first and second groups of areas produce different aerodynamic effects, and the first dimples being of different dimensions from the second dimples.
US08366568B2
A golf ball 2 includes a spherical core 4, a mid layer 6 positioned outside the core 4, and a cover 8 positioned outside the mid layer 6. The core 4 includes a spherical center 10 and an envelope layer 12 positioned outside the center 10. The center 10 has a diameter of 1 mm or greater and 15 mm or less. The center 10 has a JIS-C hardness H1, at its central point, of 20 or greater and 50 or less. The difference (H4−H3) between the JIS-C hardness H4 of the core 4 at its surface and the JIS-C hardness H3 of the envelope layer 12 at its innermost portion is equal to or greater than 10. The cover 8 has a flexural modulus of 300 MPa or greater and 1000 MPa or less, and has a tensile modulus of 400 MPa or greater and 1500 MPa or less.
US08366567B2
A golf club head according to one or more aspects of the present invention may include a main cavity having at least one auxiliary cavity and a base surface. An insert may be associated with the base surface and may comprise at least two contact elements, with a bridge member disposed therebetween. Different contact elements of the insert may be disposed in separate respective auxiliary cavities, such that each contact element may be associated with the base surface. The bridge member of the insert may be dissociated from the base surface. Moreover, a surface coating may be selectively applied to the head to permit a durable adhesive bond between the insert and the base surface.
US08366566B1
The present invention relates to an iron-type golf club head which comprises a body member with a central cavity therein, a damping member and a face member disposed within the central cavity. Further, the rear surface of the body member includes an opening, preferably circular in shape. The body member is composed of a first metal material and the face member is composed of a second metal material. The damping member is preferably composed of a EPDM material.
US08366547B2
A racing car steering wheel assembly provides an input/output interface for a participant in a multimedia interactive electronic game. Two primary paddles on the underside of the wheel control throttle and braking functions, respectively. Secondary paddles or buttons may be included on either the side of the wheel for optionally controlling gear selection. Integral accelerometers are included for determining wheel rotation. Steering inputs are caused either by rotation about a fixed point to which the wheel may be affixed or by rotation in free air. A wired or wireless interface to a PC or game console provides communication with game software and optional wired or wireless communication between the user and other individuals. Switches and buttons may be included to emulate controls on real race cars and for inputting game information. A panel display and/or a decorative logo plate may be included on the wheel.
US08366538B1
A gaming system including a cascading symbol game which utilizes a plurality of adjacent symbol display position grids arranged at different depths. The multiple symbol display position grids at different depths provides that one or more of the symbols of at least a first symbol display position grid at a first depth are displayed to a player while one or more of the symbols of at least a second symbol display position grid at a second depth are not displayed to the player. When one or more symbols are removed from the first symbol display position grid at the first depth, before and/or after shifting the remaining displayed symbols from the first symbol display position grid into created empty symbol display positions of the first symbol display position grid, one or more symbols from the second symbol display position grid at the second depth become exposed.
US08366534B2
Certain embodiments provide systems and methods for sweepstakes awards in a gaming environment. Certain embodiments provide a method including accumulating sweepstakes entries for a player based on at least one sweepstakes entry criterion and randomly selecting a winner from the pool of sweepstakes entries. The sweepstakes entries are associated with the player and incorporated in a pool of sweepstakes entries. In certain embodiments, the at least one sweepstakes entry criterion comprises at least one of one entry per player, accumulating points based on play, accumulating points based on machine outcome, and coin in. In certain embodiments, the method further includes determining eligibility of a player for the sweepstakes. In certain embodiments, eligibility is determined based on at least one of a player group, a machine group, a machine denomination, a machine type, a machine manufacturer, a game manufacturer, a game theme and a game title, for example.
US08366532B1
A gaming system, gaming device, and method providing an obstacle board slot game. A wagering game including object starting and ending areas spaced apart in relation to one another, a plurality of obstacles and a plurality of designated target areas between the object starting area and the object ending area, and a plurality of reels including a plurality of symbols is displayed. The gaming system receives a wager, causes the reels to display a plurality of the symbols, and displays an object moving from the object starting area to one of the designated target areas and/or the object ending area along one of a plurality of object paths through the obstacles. If the object moves into one of the designated target areas, the gaming system determines whether to cause one of the reels to move and causes one of the reels to move if it so determines.
US08366529B2
A media game that employs a method for randomly shuffling through a large set of video and/or audio clips stored on readable media using a media player, such as a DVD player, is disclosed. In addition to the readable media, the game also includes a game board, moveable play pieces, trivia question cards, random name cards, a numbered die, and a challenge die. The game board can be converted from long play to short play by lifting the endmost sections of the game board and placing them next to each other on top of intermediate sections of the game board. A path circumnavigates the game board and appears to be continuous in both long and short play modes. The begin and end regions reside at least partially on the endmost sections and appear as unbroken shapes when configured for both long and short play.
US08366528B2
Manual operation means controls a motion of an operation target character in accordance with operation data outputted from an input device. Automatic motion control means controls the motion of the operation target character in accordance with a series of pieces of operation data which are prepared in advance. Game control means performs a first process when a first condition is satisfied as a result of control of the motion of the operation target character by the manual operation means only in a predetermined interval in a game in progress, performs a second process which is different from the first process when a second condition is satisfied, and executes the first when the control of the motion is performed by the automatic motion control means in at least a part of the interval regardless of whichever condition is satisfied.
US08366525B2
The present invention is a system for conducting a combat simulation game in which each player is outfitted with equipment enabling data concerning the game play ability of the player to be transmitted to a local server for use in computing a player performance data for individual players in comparison with all other players having data stored within the system. The equipment transmits various data to the server which is utilized by the server to update the player performance data in a real-time manner that can be accessed and viewed by other players from remote locations.
US08366514B2
A planarization apparatus and method that thins and planarizes a substrate by grinding and polishing the rear surface of the substrate with high throughput, and that fabricates a semiconductor substrate with reduced adhered contaminants. A planarization apparatus that houses various mechanism elements in semiconductor substrate loading/unloading stage chamber, a rear-surface polishing stage chamber, and a rear-surface grinding stage chamber. The throughput time of the rear-surface polishing stage that simultaneously polishes two substrates is typically about double the throughput time of the rear-surface grinding stage that grinds one substrate.
US08366511B2
Garment supporting apparatus for a breast covering garment, comprising a flexible strap and a decorative attachment member.
US08366509B2
The control of a plurality of toy vehicles (10, 12) using a plurality of operating devices (14, 15) is effected in such a manner that the speed of the toy vehicles (10, 12) is controlled by means of a tappet (26). Each operating device (14, 16) is uniquely assigned to a toy vehicle (10, 12). The operating devices (14, 16) are connected to a control center (18). The latter converts the positions of the actuating elements (26, 28) of each operating device (14, 16) into digitally coded signals and adds a digital address, which identifies a particular operating device (14, 16), to each digitally coded signal or data packet. The control center (18) sends the data packets via the bus bars of the motor racing track, as symbolized with arrows (30), with the result that said data packets are picked up in each toy vehicle (10, 12) using the current collectors 922) and are forwarded to the respective digital decoder (24). A digital address is stored in each digital decoder (24) and the digital decoder (24) compares the digital address of each data packet received with the stored digital address. If the two addresses match, the digital decoder (24) identifies the corresponding data packet as belonging to this toy vehicle (10, 12) and evaluates the digitally encoded data contained in the data packet.
US08366507B2
A building toy block set consisting of base blocks and connection blocks is disclosed. Each base block has a connection notch located on each of multiple peripheral sides thereof and extending in direction toward the center thereof, and two pivot holes arranged at two opposite lateral sides of each connection notch. Each connection block has two pivot pins respectively located on two first opposing sides thereof and respectively pivotally connectable to the pivot holes at two opposite lateral sides of one connection notch of one base block, and a plug rod and a plughole respectively located on two second opposing sides thereof in such a manner that the plug rod of one connection block can be press-fitted into the plughole of another connection block.
US08366505B2
A packaging method of an organic light emitting diode (OLED) is described. First, a substrate is provided, and the substrate has the OLED device formed thereon. Thereafter, at least one protection layer is formed on the substrate, so as to cover the peripheral sidewall of the OLED device entirely. The step of forming the protection layer includes forming an organic layer on the substrate, and then forming a metal layer on the organic layer, wherein the metal layer at least covers a sidewall of the OLED device. Afterwards, an oxidation treatment is performed, so as to oxidize a portion of the metal layer.
US08366501B2
An outboard motor includes an engine, a housing, a catalyst, and an engine cover. The housing includes a partitioning wall that is arranged to partition an interior of the housing into a first exhaust space connected to exhaust ports of the engine, and a second exhaust space connected to the first exhaust space. The housing is arranged such that the second exhaust space is positioned at the same side as the first exhaust space with respect to a plane that includes central axes of the plurality of the cylinders. The catalyst is positioned at a height such that at least a portion of the catalyst overlaps with the first exhaust space when viewed from a horizontal direction. The catalyst is disposed in the second exhaust space so as to guide the exhaust guided from the first exhaust space to the second exhaust space.
US08366496B2
An electrical contact assembly electrical contact assembly comprises upper contact having a lower mating end at a lower end thereof, a lower contact having a base portion and a pair of mating beams extending vertically from the base portion for a length respectively and for engaging with the lower mating end of the upper contact, and a spring located between the upper contact and the lower contact. A channel is defined between the mating beams and providing a space to allow movement of the lower mating end. The pair of mating end has unequal lengths for providing unequal torque on the lower mating end, thus ensuring reliable electrical connection between the upper contact and lower contact even under worse circumstance.
US08366495B2
Appliance for connecting high-current electric apparatuses, primarily conductor bars, comprising an electrically conducting body (31) and at least one connection piece (22), where the connection piece (22) has a seat arranged to encircle the body (31) in a concentric manner. A preferably frustum-shaped retention portion having monotonic decreasing cross-sectional size is disposed on the body, the retention portion being retained in the seat by frictional connection. The retention portion has increased contact surface, and in specific cases the body (31) is adapted for receiving a cable end. The invention is essentially characterised by that the increased contact surface is constituted by indentations implemented as ribs arranged perpendicular to the axis of the body (31) and/or as grooves extending in the direction of the generator of the body (31), where the indentations undergo different amounts of local deformation along the axis of the body (31) as the appliance is pressed together.
US08366492B2
A terminal reversing block mounts to a standard electrical disconnect device such as a circuit breaker or a pullout switch. The disconnect device has a housing which defines a cavity that faces in one direction for receiving a cable. Front and rear contacts are in the housing, one of which extends into the cavity for engagement with a cable. A terminal reversing block has a housing with at least one pocket which faces in a direction other than the opposite of the direction in which the disconnect device's cavity faces. A terminal collar disposed in the terminal reversing block pocket is engageable with a cable inserted into the pocket. A terminal in the reversing block has a mating portion and a connecting portion. The connecting portion engages the terminal collar. The mating portion engages one of the front and rear contacts of the electrical disconnect device. The arrangement of the directions in which the cavity and pocket face permits routing of the cables to minimize space requirements in a confined area, such as an enclosure or a cabinet.
US08366472B2
A connector (10) has first and second housings (20, 40). The first housing (20) has a tubular hood (21) with opposite first and second surfaces and the second housing (40) can be fit in the tubular hood (21). A terminal fitting (80) and a retainer (60) are mounted in the second housing (40). A guide (29) projects from the second inner surface of the hood (21), and a striking part (27) projects from the first inner surface of the hood (21). The second housing (40) slides along the guide (29) in a process of fitting the second housing (40) in the hood (21) and is displaced toward the striking part (27). The retainer (60) projects from the second housing (40) prior to complete insertion and will strike against the striking part (27) to prevent the second housing (40) from fitting farther into the hood (21).
US08366462B2
A retractable power plug applied for an electronic apparatus or an extension outlet is disclosed. The retractable power plug includes a housing, a base, a movable unit and a plurality of prongs. The housing has a space for enclosing the base. The prongs are pluggably disposed on the base. The base is rotatably and movably located in the space. The movable unit is configured to prompt the base to move in the space. The direction of movement of the base is generally parallel with the connection direction of the prongs. So that, the prongs associated with the base is capable of moving up and down in the space.
US08366451B2
A contact arrangement (10) comprising fork-shaped contacts (15) that engage opposite faces of a blade contact (18). For good heat dissipation together with low transition resistance, the contact arrangement is made up of multiple planar, i.e., plate-shaped, fork contacts (15), which are supported and connected to each other on a shaft-like carrier (16) that is joined to a perpendicular connecting unit (14).
US08366445B2
The disclosure generally relates to a method for forming a dental mold. The method generally includes: (a) scanning an existing dental structure to generate a three-dimensional first digital model of the existing dental structure, (b) modifying the first digital model of the existing dental structure to generate a three-dimensional second digital model of a planned dental structure; (c) generating a three-dimensional third digital model corresponding to a negative of the second digital model; (d) digitally sectioning the third digital model into at least one buccal model portion and at least one lingual model portion of the third digital model; and (e) creating a dental mold comprising at least one buccal mold portion and at least one lingual mold portion based on the sectioned third digital model. The disclosure also relates to (a) methods of assembling the dental mold over a tooth and a gum of a patient having an existing dental structure in need of dental restoration, (b) methods of performing a dental restoration on the existing dental structure of the patient using the dental mold, and (c) kits including components for forming the dental mold and/or for performing the dental restoration using the dental mold.
US08366442B2
Methods and systems for making a computer model of a patient's jaws on the basis of digital information from computed tomography and non-radiographic digital imaging of the patient's teeth or dental casts of their teeth.
US08366441B2
A hand held curing light device having an integral, self-contained compressed-air system, which allows the operator to complete a procedure involving the use of light-curable compounds using a single hand-held instrument.
US08366436B2
Apparatus, comprising a rotating carousel and a plurality of handling elements supported by said carousel and movable in relation to said carousel, said handling elements being so shaped as to remove a container from a blow-moulding mould arrangement, wherein said apparatus further comprises a plurality of further handling elements associated with said handling elements, said further handling elements being so shaped as to deliver a dose of plastics to a compression-moulding mould arrangement, each of said further handling elements being fixed to a corresponding handling element.
US08366434B2
Sets of lithographic templates providing improved lithographic alignment are described. The sets include at least two templates. The first template has an array of first geometries and the second template has an array of second geometries. The second geometries correspond to the first geometries and at least one second geometry is intentionally offset from its corresponding first geometry.
US08366414B2
A diaphragm pump (1) having a diaphragm (11), a solenoid with a movable magnetic armature (8) as a drive element for the diaphragm (11), and a stop element (9) for adjusting the stroke for the drive element (8). The diaphragm pump includes at least one elastic damper (36) between the drive element (8) and the stop element (9), which elastic damper (36) has at least one compression chamber (26) which is surrounded and formed by at least one elastic boundary wall and by at least one rigid boundary wall of the drive element (8) and/or stop element (9).
US08366411B2
An axial flow pump (10) is presented which includes a housing (1) with an inlet (2) and outlet (3) and a magnetically active rotor (5) in the housing which is provided with a passage (6) in the interior and with at least one spiral-shaped vane (7) in the passage, wherein the pitch of the vane (7) varies in the axial direction. The axial flow pump (10) furthermore includes an electromagnetic drive (4, 8) with a stator (8) which is arranged at the housing and cooperates with a magnetically active rotor.
US08366406B2
A multi-stage compressor is provided that reliably prevents liquid compression in a higher stage compression mechanism and also prevents compression efficiency degradation resulting from overheating of injection refrigerant and from the lubricating oil being raised up together with the injection refrigerant. An injection circuit is branched into a plurality of circuits. A first circuit thereof is communicatively connected to an inside space of a closed housing that is at the same side as the higher stage compression mechanism with respect to an electric motor, and a second circuit is communicatively connected to an inside space of the closed housing that is opposite from the higher stage compression mechanism with respect to the electric motor. The first circuit and the second circuit are provided with a switching mechanism for switching the injection circuit to the first circuit or the second circuit according to the dryness of the injection refrigerant.
US08366403B2
A fan assembly includes a motor-driven impeller for creating an air flow, at least one heater for heating a first portion of the air flow, and a casing comprising at least one air outlet for emitting the first portion of the air flow, and first channel for conveying the first portion of the air flow to the at least one air outlet. To cool part of the casing, the casing diverts a second portion of the air flow away from the at least one heater, and comprises a second channel for conveying the second portion of the air flow along an internal surface of the casing. This second portion of the air flow may merge with the first portion within the casing, or it may be emitted through at least one second air outlet of the casing.
US08366401B2
Systems and methods including a valve piston in a pumping chamber. The pumping chamber may include a pump inlet and a pump outlet in fluid communication with the pumping chamber. The valve piston may be configured to rotate between a first position within the pumping chamber and a second position outside of the pumping chamber.
US08366392B1
A composite turbine rotor blade that uses the high heat resistance capability of a ceramic material along with the high strength capability of a high strength metallic material. A main body or insert piece with a leading edge, a trailing edge and a blade tip is made from a single piece of CMC, Carbon/Carbon or high temperature resistant metallic material such as Columbium or Molybdenum. A pressure side wall piece and a suction side wall piece both made of the metallic material that is bonded together to sandwich in-between the insert piece. The insert piece includes a number of cross-over holes in which locking pins pass through from one of the two metallic pieces and form bond surfaces to bond the two metallic pieces together with the insert piece sandwiched in-between. The two metallic pieces each include a serpentine flow cooling circuit to provide cooling air flow form the metallic pieces.
US08366385B2
A method for servicing a gas turbine engine includes providing access from a forward section of the gas turbine engine to a gearbox contained within a bearing compartment. A gas turbine is also disclosed in which a bearing package is mounted to a front center body support and a low spool. A front wall is removable from the front center body support to provide access to the gearbox.
US08366384B2
The invention refers to a pump assembly, and more specifically to a chopping pump assembly comprising a cutting wheel mounted on a drive shaft in coaxial and co-rotational relation with a pump wheel, and a cutting plate stationary mountable in a pump housing between the cutting wheel and the pump wheel, the cutting plate having perforations forming passages there through for a liquid to be transported by the pump wheel in rotation, the cutting wheel and cutting plate in co-operation providing a shearing interface effective for cutting solid matter which may be entrained in the liquid. An axial clearance between the cutting wheel and cutting plate is established at all times by eliminating an axial play in a threaded engagement between the cutting wheel and the drive shaft. The invention also refers to a method by which an operative shearing action is securable in the pump assembly.
US08366371B2
A battery movement, storage, and charging system for large size batteries used in lift trucks includes spaced, parallel storage racks, each of which have multiple storage and charging bays. A battery transport tower is positioned in an aisle between the storage racks and is moveable horizontally between the two rows of racks. The tower includes an extendable fork lift mounted which may rotate around the axis of the tower as well as move vertically upwardly or downwardly on the tower. A battery exchanger loads a discharged battery from a lift truck, places it on a pallet and then transfers the pallet and battery to a transfer bay in a storage rack where the tower forklift moves a pallet and battery to a selected charging bay.
US08366369B2
In a sheet finisher including an adhesive coating section, a movement mechanism, a control section that controls actions of the adhesive coating section and of the movement mechanism, is capable of multiple coating on a spine of a sheet bundle by causing the movement mechanism to move the adhesive coating section reciprocally and relatively with respect to the spine, and is capable of conducting a preparation process to cause the rotary adhesive supplying section to rotate for a prescribed period of time in a rotation direction corresponding to a movement direction of the adhesive coating section under a condition of no coating of the adhesive on the spine of the sheet bundle, after the movement direction of the adhesive coating section and the rotation direction of the rotary adhesive supplying section are switched, following the reciprocating movement in the case of the multiple coating.
US08366360B2
A mounting bracket device and method for mounting a blade of a wind turbine to a transportation device are disclosed. The mounting bracket device includes a clamping device for holding the blade, an adjustment system, and a connecting system adapted for being removably connected to the transportation device. The connecting system removably connects the clamping device and the adjustment system to the transportation device. The adjustment system is adapted to align the clamping device with respect to the transportation device around the first rotary axis and around a second rotary axis.
US08366357B2
A spade bit includes a shaft defining an axis about which the spade bit is configured to be rotated. The space bit also includes a blade attached to the shaft and having a first paddle portion and a second paddle portion. In addition, the spade bit includes a tip portion attached to the blade and aligned with the axis. The first paddle portion includes (i) a first leading end portion positioned on a first side of the axis and configured to define a first cutting edge portion, and (ii) a first lateral extension portion configured to define a first sloping surface. The first paddle portion defines a first relief space positioned adjacent to both the first sloping portion and the first leading end portion. The second paddle portion includes (i) a second leading end portion positioned on an opposite second side of the axis and configured to define a second cutting edge portion, and (ii) a second lateral extension portion configured to define a second sloping surface. The second paddle portion defines a second relief space positioned adjacent to both the second sloping portion and the second leading end portion.
US08366353B2
An access chamber assembly for use in a pneumatic transport system with a sealing arrangement that provides an intended bearing clearance relative to an access door device which is rotated between an open, access state and a closed state. The bearing clearance allows for radial adjustment of the door while being rotated between states of being fully closed and fully open to avoid binding and seal friction noise. When a seal status is desired, as when the access door is closed and the access chamber is in a pressurized state (such as when a carrier is being braked to a stop state in the access chamber), the seal arrangement provides for a tight seal as the access door device is radially adjusted by the pressure to take up the clearance, at a diametrically opposed side, which movement also increases a seal enhancement effect provided by the seal components surface interrelationship as with door bar seals having a slight taper that provides an increased seal wedge effect as the access door is radially pushed out by the pressure against a second seal component such as a fixed lip seal of a carrier support pocket.
US08366351B2
A method of making steel undersea pipes designed to convey corrosive fluids including water, the method including acting in a workshop on land to assemble together respective ends of at least two unitary pipe elements with carbon-steel first welds to form pipe strings, the first welds being protected by first linings, and acting at sea from a laying ship to assemble together respective ends of the strings by use of anti-corrosion second welds of stainless steel or of anti-corrosion alloy to form a pipe. Each of the ends of the strings are provided with an anti-corrosion cladding which extends over the inside surface made of carbon steel of each end unitary pipe element over a first length of at least 4 times the thickness of the wall of the pipe.
US08366348B2
To make it possible to hold a door body in an immobilized state without oscillating when the raising operation has been completed. A raised state holding mechanism of a flap gate for a breakwater provided with a two-folding support rod which immobilizes and supports a door body the front end side of which is supported to freely rise or lower with a rotating shaft as a supporting point, and a stay which supports this and to which is attached a guide roller the movement of which is guided by a guide rail. Between a two-rod double-acting cylinder device and an oil tank there is a raising side oil supply pathway which supplies oil to a raising side oil chamber, a raising side oil discharge pathway which discharges oil from the raising side oil chamber, and a lowering side oil pathway which supplies/discharges oil to a lowering side oil chamber. A check valve is provided to the raising side oil supply pathway, and a shut-off valve is provided to the raising side oil discharge pathway to prevent lowering of the door body during the operation of raising the door body and after raising of the door body is completed. It becomes possible to hold a door body in an immobilized state without oscillating when the raising operation has been completed.
US08366341B2
A mounting clip and structures to support the mounting clips. A clip may narrow in width and thickness to facilitate firmer mounting and to facilitate ease of clipping into a mating receiver. The clip may have different sections along its outer rail of different thicknesses and different widths.
US08366336B2
A floor finish applicator including a cart having wheels and a body member constructed and arranged to receive a source of floor finish. The floor finish applicator also includes a pump coupled to the cart and operable to deliver floor finish to a floor, a floor finish feed conduit in fluid communication between the pump and a container supporting floor finish, and a transmission assembly coupled to the cart. The floor finish feed conduit supplies floor finish to the pump. The transmission assembly includes an axle coupled to and driven by a wheel of the cart, a drive gear connected to the axle, a drive shaft having a driven gear for engaging the drive gear and driving the pump, and a hand-actuated spring-loaded clutch for selective engagement of the pump and the drive shaft with the axle.
US08366330B2
In an optical device including an optical system to form an optical image of an object to be photographed, an image capture unit to convert the optical image of the object to be photographed into an electrical signal, and an optical device arranged on the front surface of the image capture unit, a water repellent layer or a structure with a three-dimensional pattern to reduce the adhesive force of an alien substance is provided on a surface of the optical element on the opposite side of the optical system.
US08366320B2
A running roller carriage of a running roller guide. The running roller carriage has a carrying body and two running roller pairs which are formed by running rollers. The two running rollers of a running roller pair are arranged one behind the other in the running directions of the running roller carriage, and have a lubricating element which is arranged between the two running rollers of a running roller pair and is in lubricating contact with the running roller pair. The lubricating element has an absorbent lubricating body which is received in a receiving groove which is formed on the carrying body The receiving groove is configured for holding the lubricating body and for transferring lubricant onto the lubricating body.
US08366315B2
A system and method are disclosed for controlling a drywell including a receiver having upper and lower ends with the lower end being more insulated than the upper and having a temperature sensor in thermal contact therewith. Upper and lower heaters are in thermal contact with the upper and lower ends respectively. A controller includes an integrated circuit having a temperature sensor. A reading from the integrated circuit is used to control power to the upper heater and reduce a temperature gradient between the upper and lower ends of the receiver.
US08366312B1
Systems to store and agitate fuel can include a fuel storage tank including an air valve, and a fuel agitation system coupled to the fuel storage tank that can include an elongate fuel agitation member, a lumen, a plurality of valves extending from the elongate fuel agitation member, and an air passageway in fluid communication with the elongate fuel agitation member, where the air passageway is coupled to the first end of the elongate fuel agitation member by a rotational coupling located in the fuel storage tank that can be pneumatically actuated by air flow to rotate the elongate fuel agitation member as the air flow is introduced via the plurality of valves into the fuel storage tank, where the introduced air flow exits the fuel storage chamber out of the air valve.
US08366310B2
An optical member is disposed between an optical sheet and a pair of middle chassis and top chassis that securely support an edge of an liquid crystal panel and an edge of the optical sheet. The optical member reflects light emitted from light-emitting diodes at high reflectivity so that an amount of light loss through the edge of the optical sheet is reduced. This allows for higher light utilization efficiency, thereby enhancing the brightness.
US08366301B2
A combination dock light, safety light, and bollard serves the purposes of all three, without having any sensitive structure projecting out from the bollard into the traffic lane at the loading dock. A trailer lamp assembly within the bollard projects out a window cutout at an upper end of the tubular metal body of the bollard. A red/green safety light is visible through an elongated cutout on the proximal side of the bollard. A photo eye turns the lamp on when the loading dock door is opened, and off when the dock door is closed, and also switches the safety light to green or to red depending on whether the dock door is opened or closed.
US08366299B2
A lighting device includes a case body including a receiving cavity and at least a portion including at least one first hole, a light emitting module in the receiving cavity, the light emitting module including a plurality of light emitting devices, a lens on the light emitting module, and a case cover including an opening through which the lens is exposed, the case cover being disposed on the case body. A heat sink is between the light emitting module and the case body to transfer heat from the light emitting module to the case where the case body acts as a conduit to transfer heat from the light emitting module to the portion of the case body including at least one first hole and the case cover has at least a portion including at least one second hole and the first hole of the case body corresponds with the second hole of the case cover.
US08366298B2
An optical system includes a laser diode, a collimating lens and first and second housing parts. The first housing part retains the collimating lens therein. The second housing part engages the first housing part to retain the laser diode therebetween. The position of the laser diode is adjustable with respect to the collimating lens in X, Y and Z directions. One or more biasing members are interdisposed between the housing parts in the X direction, the Y direction, and/or the Z direction for biasing the laser diode relative to the collimating lens in the X direction, the Y direction and/or the Z direction. One or more securing members fixedly engage the first and second housing to one another and provide a compression force on the housing parts to maintain the relative position of the laser diode with respect to the collimating lens in the X, Y and Z directions.
US08366296B2
Lighting apparatus includes a casing (401) moulded from an electrically insulating and thermally conductive plastics material. It also includes a plurality of light emitting diode devices (501) configured to emit light in response to receiving electrical power. A plurality of metallic assemblies (601) are provided, in which each one provides electrical power to a respective one of the light emitting diodes. In addition, these assemblies conduct heat away from their respective light emitting diode to the casing. They are directly supported by the casing and allow each light emitting diode to be individually replaced.
US08366292B2
A plural color lighting device incorporating a plurality of LED emitters each emitting a different color of light upon being energized by a power supply. A color changer having an indexing position for each LED emitter for activating a related switch and connecting the power supply to the LED emitter while concurrently positioning a light concentrating optic about the LED emitter to concentrate the light emitted from that LED emitter. The plural color lighting device therefore permitting the user to easily select light of any one color from a plurality of colors and have that light efficiently concentrated about the axis of the light concentrating optic.
US08366286B2
A lower surface and an upper surface are provided in a detection panel 2. Lower electrode layers 11a and 11b, a lower wiring pattern 15, and a lower land portion 13 formed on the lower surface are covered with upper shielding layers 28a and 28c of the upper surface, and an upper electrode layer 21, an upper wiring pattern 25, and an upper land portion 23 formed in the upper surface are covered with lower shielding layers 19a and 19b of the lower surface. Therefore, an effect of a decorative area shielding light may be enhanced, and thus an electrical shielding effect may further be exhibited.
US08366284B2
An external rear view mirror assembly to be fitted to a motor vehicle is disclosed. The assembly comprises: a mirror base mountable to a vehicle; a mirror head frame rotatably mounted to the base for rotation about a mirror head axis; a detent operably interposed between the base and the frame; a spring acting between the frame and the base in a direction parallel to the axis, the spring for holding the detent engaged; and a power fold mechanism operably interposed between the base and the frame, the power fold mechanism having a drive train and a clutch mechanism, the clutch mechanism comprising a pair of axially spaced apart clutching faces, connecting the drive train to the base when the drive train is driving, the clutch mechanism arranged and constructed such that forces are not transmitted from the frame to the drive train when the drive train is not driving.
US08366281B2
In a coherent light projection system including an image forming system, a relay system, a speckle reduction element, and a projection subsystem, the relay system can have a first f-number, and the projection subsystem can have a second f-number less than the first f-number. The relay system can have a first working distance, and the projection subsystem can have a second working distance less than the first working distance. The image forming system can project an initial image having a first size, and an intermediate image can have a second size greater than or equal to the first size. The speckle reduction element can have a curved surface through which the intermediate image is transferred. The speckle reduction element can include a lenslet arrangement formed on a surface thereof. The speckle reduction element can be moved in a direction parallel to an optical axis of the speckle reduction element.
US08366275B2
Image display apparatus (102) comprising projector means (112), a light source (104), at least one primary modulator (106) for modulating light, an auxiliary modulator (110) for modulating the light modulated by the primary modulator (106), optical means (108) for relaying the light modulated by the primary modulator (106) to the auxiliary modulator (110), and control means (118, 120) for controlling the primary modulator (106) and the auxiliary modulator (110), characterized in that: the primary modulator (106) comprises a first array of pixels, and the auxiliary modulator (110) comprises a second array of pixels; each pixel in the first array of pixels of the primary modulator (106) is controlled by the control means (118, 120) as a function of video input data for each pixel in the first array of pixels; and each pixel in the second array of pixels of the auxiliary modulator (110) is controlled by control means (118, 120) as a function of video input data for each equivalent pixel in the second array of pixels, and each adjacent pixel in the second array of pixels.
US08366274B2
A subjective refraction technique uses a plane wave light source including substantially a point as a viewing target. The refraction method provide for a number of distinct identifiable end points. By finding such end points the process leads to an aberration-corrected vision. A defocus corrector assembly (DCA) includes a lens that is moveable along an optical axis between a patient's eye and the point light source for adjusting defocus power until the patient indicates that the blurry image has become a relatively focused line image. An astigmatism corrector assembly (ACA) which is capable of continuously variable in its amplitude is provided including a pair of astigmatism plates for adjusting astigmatism power and axis angle. The ACA is adjusted until the patient indicates that the line image has become a substantially round image. A reference marker provides displayed items including a sweep line overlapping at the point source and having an orientation which is adjustable. The patient may subjectively control the sweep angle of the sweep line and indicate that the sweep line is aligned with the sharp line image of the point source, thereby providing axis angle data of astigmatism errors of the patient's eye.
US08366273B2
An iris image definition estimation system using the astigmatism of the corneal reflection of a non-coaxial light source to assess both the resolution of the iris patterns and the direction of focus adjustment. The corneal reflection results in two virtual images on the meridional and the sagittal planes. These virtual images are formed behind the cornea and close to the iris. Yet, both are projected onto the same location and result in a composite glint area. In addition, the shape of the glint area of a non-coaxial light source varies with different camera focus settings. Furthermore, due to the high intensity of the glint area, the shape can be easily observed, and the size and the shape of the glint area can be used to determine the resolution of the iris image and the direction of focus adjustment, respectively.
US08366272B1
Disclosed is a method of determining an appropriately shaped soft contact lens for a subject with an irregular cornea, the method comprising the steps of: inferring or deducing the profile of the cornea over at least a portion thereof: selecting a first choice fitting lens, the selection being based on the profile of the cornea obtained in the preceding step; assessing the fit of the contact lens to the cornea, by investigating each of the following parameters; (i) translational movement of the lens on eye; (ii) rotation of the lens on eye; (iii) centration of the lens on eye; (iv) the perceived comfort of the lens for the subject; (v) the visual acuity of the subject when wearing the lens; and adjusting the choice of fitting lens, if required, according to the assessment and reiterating until a desired fit of lens to the cornea has been obtained.
US08366271B2
A surgical microscope assembly includes a microscope main objective and microscope imaging optics. The microscope main objective and microscope imaging optics define a viewing beam path that passes from a sample through the microscope main objective and the microscope imaging optics. The assembly includes an optical coherence tomography (OCT) unit having an illumination beam and a collection beam and a beamsplitter between the microscope main objective and the microscope imaging optics. The beamsplitter is configured to direct a portion of light from the microscope main objective to the microscope imaging optics and to direct another portion of light from the microscope main objective to the OCT unit collection beam. The beamsplitter is further configured to direct an illumination beam from the OCT unit to the microscope main objective and to the sample. A beam forming unit is between the OCT unit and the beamsplitter. The beam forming unit is configured to form the illumination beam of the OCT unit so as to generally correspond to a size of the microscope main objective.
US08366266B2
The present invention relates generally to safety eyewear and more particularly to a safety eyewear including a wicking device attached to the safety eyewear to remove or absorb perspiration. The safety eyewear of the present invention includes the wicking device attached to a frame of the safety eyewear to remove or absorb perspiration. In one embodiment, the wicking device includes a brow-bar, sub-frame, and wicking material. The sub-frame removably or permanently attached to the frame of the safety eyewear using a variety of means for attachment to the eyewear frame. The brow bar removably or permanently attached using variety of means for attachment to the sub-frame. The wicking material removably or permanently attached using a variety of means for attachment to the brow bar.
US08366254B2
A system has been developed that controls application of heat with a melt plate to an ink stick in a solid ink imaging device. The system includes a melt plate, a heater configured to heat the melt plate to a temperature sufficient to melt solid ink, a heat transfer unit configured to cool the melt plate to arrest the melting of the solid ink within a predetermined time, and a controller configured to actuate the heat transfer unit to selectively cool the melt plate in response to reaching a heater power off phase.
US08366253B2
A printer includes a set cover pivotally movably provided on a carriage. The cover can be set in a closed state in which the cover presses a head of the cartridge housed in the housing portion and an open state in which the cover opens the housing portion when the cartridge is replaced. A release lever is subjected to a bias force so as to protrude from an inner wall surface of the housing portion. The release lever is movable against the bias force. The release lever comes into contact with an end of the cartridge which faces the bottom surface when the cartridge is inserted into the housing portion. The release lever contacts the rear surface of the cartridge housed in the housing portion. The bias force is stronger when the cover is in the open state than when the cover is in the closed state.
US08366252B2
An ink supply system for an ink jet printer, particularly a continuous ink jet printer, has a docking station where one of more disposable cartridges of ink or solvent are releasably connectable to the printer. The cartridge comprises an inner collapsible container with an outlet that is connectable to an inlet of the ink supply system and a substantially rigid outer housing. A front wall of the housing has an opening providing access to the outlet and a window that provides access to electrical contacts (92) associated with a memory device containing information relating to the contents of the cartridge. The contacts in a fixed relationship relative to the outlet so that when the cartridge is docked to establish fluid communication with the ink supply system the electrical contacts are electrically connected to respective contacts associated with the printer.
US08366247B2
A print head is provided by which a temperature change depending on each region in the substrate can be suppressed. The print head has an ink chamber communicating with an ink supply port. Furthermore, the print head has: a plurality of nozzle groups each of which is formed as one unit by combining a plurality of: communication ports that are provided in the ink chamber and that communicate with the ink supply port; pressure chambers including heat generating elements, ink supply ports, and ejection ports. A plurality of nozzle groups are formed in the same substrate and form a plurality of nozzle group arrays that are formed by the nozzle groups and that extend in the same direction. The plurality of nozzle group arrays are formed to be offset from one another in the direction along which the nozzle group array extend.
US08366244B2
A printhead cartridge cradle is provided having a frame, a printed circuit board pivotally supported by the frame, a cover pivotally supported by the frame to pivot between a closed position at which a printhead cartridge is secured within the frame and the printed circuit board is pivoted to connect control circuitry on the printed circuit board with a controller of the secured cartridge and an open position at which access for the cartridge with the frame is provided and the printed circuit board is pivoted to disconnect the control circuitry and controller, and a motor operatively connected to a maintenance gear and actuator arrangement and a wiper gear and actuator arrangement for maintaining and wiping a printhead of the secured cartridge under control of the connected control circuitry.
US08366237B2
A maintenance assembly for cleaning a plurality of printheads in a printing machine comprises two or more cleaning members, each of the cleaning members sized and positioned to clean at least one but less than all of the plurality of printheads when in a cleaning position. A drive mechanism associated with each of the two or more cleaning members is configured to selectively move an associated cleaning member to and from the cleaning position and a retracted position. The cleaning members are supported on a frame with a mechanism provided for translating the frame into position juxtaposed with the plurality of printheads and a further mechanism to swipe the cleaning members across the printheads. The maintenance assembly is operable to clean only selected printheads in a single operation.
US08366223B2
An apparatus for communicating with an RFID tag having a feeding device that feeds a tag tape including an RFID tag circuit element having an IC circuit part and a tag antenna. The RFID circuit element is disposed on one side area along a width direction. To produce an RFID label a fixed inkjet head applies color printing to the one side area and a thermal head prints on another side area along the width direction. An apparatus antenna transmits and receives information to/from the RFID tag circuit element.
US08366222B2
A container refrigeration unit mounted on a container body (1a) includes a casing body (11) partitioning the container into the internal side and the external side thereof. A protruding portion (12) protruding toward the internal side is formed in a lower portion of the casing body (11), and the side stays (50) each extending vertically are mounted on both sides of the rear surface of the protruding portion (12). On the contrary, evaporator frames (40) each located above the protruding portion (12) and extending from the casing body (11) to a top end of the side stay (50) are mounted on both sides of an upper portion of a rear surface in the casing body (11). The bottom tip of the side frame (40) and the top end of the side stay (50) are fixed by a bolt.
US08366218B2
The invention relates to an item of furniture and a device for detachably mounting a furniture part on a guide unit, by means of which the furniture part is accommodated on a furniture body so as to be displaceable, and the guide unit includes a body rail that is associated with the furniture body and a movement rail that is associated with the furniture part. A mounting mechanism is present and includes an attachment part, which is mountable on the guide unit and is adjustable from a pre-assembly state mounted on the guide unit into a final assembly state, in which the furniture part is mountable on the guide unit in the intended manner by means of the mounting means.
US08366214B2
A damper has at least two damping components which are mounted such that they can move relative to each other during a damping stroke. A damping medium acts between the damping components, and at least one actuating element is operatively connected to the first damping component at least during the damping stroke of the damper. A locking device is arranged between the second damping component and a retaining part. The locking device couples the second damping component fixedly to the retaining part during the damping stroke of the damper. During the return stroke of the damper, the locking device decouples the second damping component from the retaining part so as to realize a freewheeling motion such that, during the return stroke of the damper, the second damping component moves together with the first damping component.
US08366213B2
A projection is formed on the upper edge of the side wall of a front cabinet, a depression is formed on the upper edge of the side wall of a front cover, and a protrusion is formed on the upper edge of the side wall of a rear cabinet. The front cabinet is supported between the front cover and the rear cabinet, such that the projection of the front cabinet is pressed against the depression of the front cover by the protrusion of the rear cabinet and the upper edge of the side wall thereof, and the projection of the front cabinet is locked by the depression of the front cover.
US08366209B2
An improved braking system and brake control method for a vehicle, in particular a truck, utilizes at least one pressure line for carrying a medium from at least one pressurized medium source to a brake device, and a brake pedal for receiving brake commands from a vehicle driver and for operating a brake line, which can be connected to the brake device. A pilot control valve with accompanying measuring capability quantitatively determines the brake pressure demanded by the vehicle driver.
US08366200B2
A furniture assembly for compact and efficient packaging, the assembly including a sofa having component parts defining a sofa confine, the component parts including a back, a seat, a pair of front legs, a pair of rear legs, and a skirt, wherein the skirt and the seat are removable, at least one chair having component parts defining a chair confine, the component parts including a back, a seat, a pair of front legs, a pair of rear legs, and a skirt, wherein the seat is removable, a coffee table, an end table, an ottoman, and a plurality of cushions and pillows, wherein the furniture assembly is arranged such that the at least one chair, the coffee table, the end table, the ottoman, and the plurality of cushions and pillows are located within the confines of the sofa.
US08366199B2
A headrest removal assembly may include a removal device that is operable by an engagement surface to permit removal of a headrest assembly from a seat. The headrest removal assembly may also include a cap that covers the engagement surface to prevent access to the engagement surface and to prevent removal of the headrest assembly. The cap may be moveable with respect to the removal device to uncover the engagement surface to provide access to the engagement surface and to permit removal of the headrest assembly.
US08366197B2
An angle adjustment apparatus has a first member, a second member, a lock member, and a movement mechanism axially moving the lock member. The first member has first teeth on a surface facing the lock member. The lock member has second teeth and a rotation regulation portion, the second teeth being engaged with the first teeth, the rotation regulation portion being engaged with the second member. The movement mechanism has an input member and a drive member, the input member being regulated from being axially moved relative to the first member or the second member, the drive member being regulated from being axially moved relative to the lock member. A first engagement portions is provided to the external peripheral surface of the input member. A second engagement portion engaged with the first engagement portion is provided to the drive member.
US08366192B2
A device for locking to a vehicle seat having a child car seat mounting system includes a pair of pawl assemblies with hooks that connect to the loops of a child car seat mounting system. The hooks are spring-actuated pawls. The device includes two indicator windows that can respectively display the open or locked status of the first hook and the second hook, which move in unison and also lock and open in unison. The indicator windows separately confirms the condition of both of the hooks. A button is interconnected to both of the hooks to simultaneously control opening and locking thereof. The button is also interconnected to a ratchet to permit simultaneous relocation of the hooks for custom adjustment. A child car seat can be mounted to the device to secure the child seat to a vehicle seat that includes a child car seat mounting system.
US08366182B2
A high-strength element structure for a vehicle body has high strength and rigidity effectively maintained while an increase in weight is reduced. The structure includes a vehicle high-strength element body which is provided at a front in a vehicle cabin of a vehicle and extends substantially in a vehicle width direction, in which the vehicle high-strength element body has a circular pipe-like cross section, and comprises partial high rigidity portions only in an inner diameter portion thereof without any change in an outer diameter shape; and the vehicle high-strength element body is functionally divided at least into a driver's seat-side portion and a passenger's seat-side portion, and the high rigidity portion of the driver's seat-side portion and the high rigidity portion of the passenger's seat-side portion are differently configured from each other.
US08366170B2
A heat shield having a body portion formed from a non-woven material and having an internal side and an external side. First and second heat patches are disposed on the internal side of the body portion. A first channel is disposed between the first and second heat patches and a second channel is disposed under the first and second heat patches. A convex air drafting portion is disposed on a rearward side of said vehicular heat shield.
US08366167B2
The invention relates to a vehicle used in transporting or treating large numbers of victims or patients from a mass-casualty incident to or from a hospital in an evacuation situation. The typical vehicle contains a stacked stretcher system, a loading ramp system, and an oxygen system. This vehicle must have an independent energy source or must be capable of being powered by an outside energy source. The vehicle can be flexible enough to provide facilities for treatment of victims either at the site of a disaster, in route from the disaster, at any remote site, or near a healthcare facility. A variation of the vehicle contains refrigeration or freezer units and is capable of transporting or maintaining casualties until mortuary services can be obtained. Variations of the equipment include trays made of stainless steel, stretchers that can be easily cleaned and that allow for easy drainage of liquids.
US08366165B2
The frame comprises a base (32), two telescopic siderails (33) and mounting means (35, 46) for pivotally mounting each longitudinal member (33) to said base. This frame can be placed in a stowed position, in which said siderails (33) are, on said base (32), in a retracted and transversal position, and into a position of use, in which the siderails (33) are in an extended and longitudinal position. The frame also comprises means for holding the siderails (33) in an extended and longitudinal position opposite said base. The bed comprises the frame and a number of slats (36). The method comprises the step of providing a bed of this type and a step for putting the base (32) in place on first elements fixed to the vehicle as well as steps for moving the bed from a stowed position and into a position of use.
US08366161B1
The multiple pot carry device provides for carrying multiple plant pots with one hand, with substantially automatic pot lip engagement retained until released by a user. Ease of pot engagement and disengagement are key features of the device. The device is not limited to three clamps pivotally suspended from the carry bar. Clamps are substantially automatic in engagement and disengagement with pot lips.
US08366152B2
A tank mounting structure adopts a new approach against a force of moving downward a high-pressure tank transversely mounted on a vehicle. A tank mounting assembly has a winding strap and a restraining strap located on an upper side and a lower side of a high-pressure tank to transversely fix the high-pressure tank between a frame and a frame. This structure causes the high-pressure tank to be transversely mounted on the vehicle. A winding strap is wound on the high-pressure tank. A restraining strap extended from a fixing bracket of the winding strap is laid on the winding strap to be placed directly on an upper end portion of a circumferential wall of the high-pressure tank and is fastened to the frame.
US08366151B2
A pretensioner (1) for a seat belt system (7) of an automobile includes a gas generator (2), a gas pipe (3), a piston (5) and a coupling mechanism (6). The gas generator is adapted to generate a high-pressure gas when a shock occurs in the automobile due to a collision, a sudden stop, etc. The gas pipe is formed to receive therein the gas generator. The gas pipe is adapted to guide the high-pressure gas released from the gas generator to the piston. The piston is adapted to be moved or displaced by the pressure of the high-pressure gas guided by the gas pipe. The coupling mechanism is connected to each of the piston and a buckle (8) of the seat belt system (7). The coupling mechanism is adapted to wind up or pull a seat belt (9) in accordance with the movement of the piston to increase a restraining force of the seat belt.
US08366149B2
A steering column for a motor vehicle, which can be adjusted at least in the longitudinal direction thereof, comprises a carrying unit fixed to the chassis, an adjusting unit that rotatably supports the steering spindle, and a tensioning mechanism, in the open state of which the steering column can be adjusted and in the closed state of which the set position is fixed and which comprises at least one locking part (16), which in the closed state of the tensioning mechanism is tensioned with an engagement part, wherein the adjusting unit is connected to the engagement part such that it is held non-displaceably in the longitudinal direction of the steering column relative to the engagement part during normal operation, and can be displaced in the longitudinal direction of the steering column relative to the engagement part while absorbing energy in the event of a crash. The engagement part interacts with at least one bending wire or strip, of which at least one section is carried along by the adjusting unit during the displacement of the adjusting unit relative to the engagement part, wherein the bending wire or strip deforms during the displacement of the adjusting unit relative to the engagement part.
US08366147B2
An inflatable safety belt has a belt webbing (3) with at least two belt webbing layers (3a, 3b) put on top of each other and forming a hollow space in between, a gas generator (12) having a flow connection to the hollow space, and an anchor fitting (6) for fastening the belt webbing (3) and the gas generator (12) to a motor vehicle. The ends of the belt webbing layers (3a, 3b) are connected to the anchor fitting (6) in such a way that the flow connection to the gas generator (12) is free of tensile forces.
US08366145B2
Disclosed herein is a curtain airbag cushion. The cushion has a length appropriate for being deployed to the chest of a passenger. A blocking part which partitions the interior of the cushion into portions is oriented in the vertical direction. The lower end of the blocking part is spaced apart from the bottom of the cushion by a predetermined distance. Thus, when an inflator explodes, gas discharged from the inflator is guided towards the lower portion of the cushion and then guided towards the front or upper portion of the cushion through the space between the lower end of the blocking part and the bottom of the cushion.
US08366144B2
An inflatable cushion for a side of a vehicle is provided, the inflatable cushion having: a first cushion section formed from a first sheet of material secured to a second sheet of material, the first cushion section having a plurality of separate inflatable cells each of which having an inlet opening for receipt of an inflation gas; an internal passageway formed in the first cushion section, the internal passageway linking and fluidly coupling to each of the plurality of separate inflatable cells via the inlet opening of each of the plurality of separate inflatable cells, the internal passageway being formed by an upper portion of the first sheet of material and an upper portion of the second sheet of material; a fabric diffuser member located in the internal passageway, the fabric diffuser member being sealed at one end and open on another end for receipt of an inflation gas, the fabric diffuser being configured to supply the inflation gas to each of the plurality of separate inflatable cells through a plurality of inflation openings, wherein a height of the fabric diffuser in an inflated configuration is less than a length of the fabric diffuser in the inflated configuration and wherein the fabric diffuser is rolled inwardly to define an un-inflated configuration, the height of the fabric diffuser in the un-inflated configuration being less than the height of the fabric diffuser when it is in an inflated configuration.
US08366136B2
A horizontally and vertically adjustable Class IV certifiable trailer hitch assembly that has a 16 inch range of 12 vertical adjustments in the most common vertical increments. The main body of the trail hitch assembly, the trailer hitch minus the hitch ball components, has a two part connectable construction of a support member and a ball mount member, each of which can be rotated 180 degrees before connection. In any of these four configurations an optional coupling plate may be utilized.
US08366132B2
The invention relates to a middle hoop system for a vehicle joint. The vehicle joint is arranged between a vehicle front part and a vehicle rear part of an articulated vehicle, such as for example of an articulated bus, and forms a passage (24) between the vehicle front part and the vehicle rear part. The middle hoop system comprises a middle hoop (12) and a cable guide between the vehicle front part and the vehicle rear part. The middle hoop (12) surrounds the passage (24). The cable guide is arranged above the passage (24). According to the invention, for the cable guide, a leaf spring (14) is provided which extends from the vehicle front part to the vehicle rear part. By means of the leaf spring, cables (16) can be guided between the vehicle front part and the vehicle rear part over the entire length of the leaf spring (14). Undefined movements of the cables when the vehicle front part and the vehicle rear part move relative to one another are eliminated.
US08366130B2
A method and apparatus for an adjustable suspension system for a vehicle comprises at least one strut. In one embodiment, the stanchion (or slider) is non-uniform with a major and minor circumferential stiffness and is adjustable relative to a fore and aft axis of the vehicle in order to provide a differing amount of stiffness relative thereto. In another embodiment, a portion of the stanchion is circular and a reinforcement is annularly disposed therearound with axial retention formations, The reinforcement has a non-uniform circumferential characteristic and is rotatable relative to the fore/aft axis of the vehicle.
US08366115B2
A brush seal includes a plurality of bristles aligned in parallel to form a brush pack having a first end and a second end, and a joint securing the brush pack together. The joint is located centrally between the first end and the second end such that both the first end and the second end of the brush pack can form a sealing surface.
US08366109B2
A card shoe handling device includes a playing card output receiver including a playing card support surface and a ceiling at least partially disposed relatively over the playing card support surface. The playing card output receiver is sized and positioned to receive a number of playing cards handled by the playing card handling system. The playing card handling system also includes an elevator mechanism operable to selectively move the playing card output receiver between a lowered position and a raised position, where in the lowered position the ceiling limits access from an exterior of the playing card handling system to the playing cards carried by the card support surface of the playing card output receiver and in the raised position the ceiling does not limit access from the exterior of the playing card handling system to at least some of the playing cards carried by the playing card output receiver.
US08366108B2
The present invention relates to an apparatus for playing by means of launching projectiles, comprising at least one projectile propulsion device for propelling projectiles which slide on a playing surface; a raised substrate below which the launched projectiles circulate; and a set of playing pieces, the substrate being provided with means for the detachable support of the mentioned playing pieces comprising a pedestal on which at least one playing piece is stably placed; and a corresponding actuation lever, rotatably mounted with respect to the substrate, the power arm of which extends below the substrate and is susceptible to being hit by one of the propelled projectiles, forcing the lever to suddenly rotate about its rotation shaft such that it drives the rotating pedestal or the piece placed on it.
US08366107B2
A media presenter is described. The media presenter comprises: a chassis including a central track; a nose coupled to the chassis at a nose end of the chassis; and a carriage. The nose includes a presenting end distal from the chassis, and a nose track arranged to couple to the central track to provide a presenting track extending from the chassis to the presenting end. The carriage is mounted on the presenting track for movement therealong, and comprises a carriage body and a carriage plate movable between an open position at which media items can be placed on the carriage plate, and a closed position for clamping media items between the carriage plate and the carriage body.
US08366100B2
A discharge tray apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention is a discharge tray apparatus wherein a plurality of sheets of recording paper that have been successively transported at a fixed speed and a fixed interval, discharged from a discharge opening, and have landed on a discharge tray, are received and placed onto the discharge tray, the discharge tray apparatus being provided with a discharge tray moving means that performs a tray shift operation that moves the discharge tray in a horizontal direction approximately perpendicular to the discharge direction, such that after a preceding paper successively transported earlier has been placed on the discharge tray, a succeeding paper succeedingly transported after the preceding paper is placed at a position different from the placement position of the preceding paper on the discharge tray. This discharge tray moving means performs the tray shift operation with a decelerating movement that reduces the movement speed of the discharge tray just before movement of the discharge tray stops.
US08366094B2
A method of preparing batches of mailpieces using an envelope-stuffing machine. The method includes printing documents with each page bearing a first marking for causing the related document to be inserted into an envelope, and printing separator sheets each bearing a second marking for causing it to be folded into a predetermined particular geometrical shape; folding the documents and inserting them into empty envelopes having a common format; folding the separator sheets; and ejecting closed envelopes and the separator sheets folded into the predetermined particular geometrical shape. On being ejected by the envelope-stuffing machine, the separator sheets are interposed automatically between the closed envelopes as a function of the batches to be prepared, and the predetermined particular geometrical shape resulting in the separator sheets projecting from the predetermined common format of the envelopes.
US08366091B2
An automatic stop gauge used in woodworking to facilitate the cutting of multiple workpieces to the same length, or working of the pieces at equal positions along each, quickly and accurately has a plurality of stops, moveably mounted on a beam-like fence, which is in turn aligned with and connected to the existing top fence of a cutting or drilling tool when present “Pin” type stops deploy in succession by means of gravity from holes drilled in the beam at incremental spacings of one or more inter-hole distances. An operator presses a work piece against the beam which retracts one or more of the pins from its stop-defining position projecting from the beam, and with lateral movement of the work piece toward the working member of the tool, as guided by the beam, pins redeploy one at a time, to each provide a new stop position for the workpiece.
US08366076B2
A staple remover (10) for removing a staple (100) from a document (102) and simultaneously capturing the thus-removed staple. The staple remover includes a wedge (18) for prying the staple free from a document without the staple snagging to the wedge, a bin (20) into which the freed staple will fall and, when in the form of a handheld device, an enclosed clearance (26) around the wedge's top or bearing surface that lifts the staple and that is in communication with the bin such that when the remover is immediately tilted front end upwardly as the staple is freed, the staple falls through the clearance and into the bin. The surfaces of the wedge that engage or could possibly engage the staple's leg portions, are adapted to prevent snagging of the staple when freed from the document. The bin could include an opening (24) covered by a cap (22) that is removable to permit emptying.
US08366072B2
A valve, in certain embodiments, includes a drive shaft configured to couple to a fluid control component and having an interlace material at the joint between the drive shaft and the fluid control component. A valve, in other embodiments, includes a fluid control component configured to receive a drive shaft and having an interlace material at the joint between the fluid control component and the drive shaft. A valve, in further embodiments, includes a drive shaft having a mechanical locking system and a fluid control component coupled to the drive shaft at a joint, wherein the spline aids in coupling the fluid control component to the drive shaft.
US08366070B2
A valve includes a body, a throttling ball, and a shoe. The body includes an upstream flow passage and a downstream flow passage in fluid communication with an interior cavity of the body. The throttling ball is rotatable within the interior cavity on an axis to adjust the valve from a closed position to an open position and includes a fluid conduit extending through the throttling ball, where the fluid conduit is alignable with the upstream flow passage and the downstream flow passage. The shoe is disposed in the cavity abutting an interior surface of the cavity and includes a fluid passage there through having an inlet being alignable with the flow conduit of the throttling ball and an outlet being alignable with the downstream flow passage of the body. The interior surface of the shoe is disposed adjacent to and tracking an external surface of the throttling ball.
US08366062B2
A tripod head comprises a mount and an angle adjustment mechanism for adjusting and locking the angle of the mount with respect to a tripod. The mechanism comprises an elongated handle. The handle is adapted to rotate around its longitudinal axis to lock the angle of the mechanism when rotated in one direction and unlock the angle of the mechanism when rotated in the other direction. The handle comprises a proximal portion and a distal portion. The distal portion is attached at a pivot point whereby the distal portion can pivot between an operative position in line with the proximal portion and a storage position generally perpendicular to the proximal portion. The handle further comprises a locking device for releasably locking the distal portion in the operative position.
US08366054B2
An unmanned aerial vehicle including a controller operating in a search mode of operation where a receiver of an acquisition sensor searches for a target and causes flight control surfaces to guide the vehicle in a downward spiral path, a terminal mode of operation where the acquisition sensor detects a target and causes flight control surfaces to direct the vehicle toward the target, and an activation mode of operation where a trigger sensor detects a target within a predetermined distance to the vehicle and the controller activates a responder.
US08366041B2
An aircraft floor, and aircraft section provided with such a floor, and the utilization of such a floor in an aircraft section. The aircraft floor generally includes at least one central rail firmly mounted on a rigid structure of the aircraft, at least two lateral rails positioned on both sides of the central rail, and floor panels. Each lateral rail is connected vertically to the structure of the aircraft through a vertical connecting rod, each lateral rail being transversely free. Each floor panel is positioned between two adjacent rails, so that the transverse forces to which the lateral rails are subjected pass through the floor panels to the central rail.
US08366040B2
A rear part of an aircraft including a support structure for supporting engines, extending through the fuselage, through a first opening and a second opening. A connection structure connects the support structure to the fuselage, including a first connection mechanism connecting the support structure to a first casing forming the first opening and a second connection mechanism connecting the support structure to a second casing forming the second opening. The connection structure also includes at least one effort recovery connecting rod, the first end of which is mounted on the support structure and the opposite end is mounted on the fuselage, at a distance from the first and second openings.
US08366037B2
An unmanned, towable aerovehicle is described and includes a container to hold cargo, an autogyro assembly connected to the container and to provide flight characteristics, and a controller to control operation the autogyro assembly for unmanned flight. The container includes a connection to connect to a powered aircraft to provide forward motive force to power the autogyro assembly. In an example, the autogyro assembly includes a mast extending from the container, a rotatable hub on an end of the mast, and a plurality of blades connected to the hub for rotation to provide lift to the vehicle. In an example, an electrical motor rotates the blades prior to lift off to assist in take off. The electrical motor does not have enough power to sustain flight of the vehicle.
US08366023B1
The present invention discloses an improved handheld sprayer structure comprising an electric sprayer and a liquid container. The liquid container is filled with an appropriate amount of liquid, and this device is held by a hand, and a press button is pressed to trigger a start switch, such that a drive gear installed on a motor transmission shaft drives a plurality of wheels installed on a large gear to compress a hose to produce a suction, so as to suck the liquid in the liquid container upward, and spray the appropriate amount of liquid continuously and steadily from a spray head.
US08366021B2
The present invention discloses a windshield wiper system that affords for deicing of a windshield for a motor vehicle. The system includes a first container having a first liquid, a second container having a second liquid along with a spray nozzle or jet proximate to the windshield and in fluid communication with the first container and the second container. A pump operable to pump or force the second liquid through the spray nozzle and onto the windshield is also included. In addition, a time delay switch activates the windshield wiper only after the second liquid has been on the windshield a preset time.
US08366017B1
A system and method for monitoring soil and water resources is disclosed herein. Sensors capable of monitoring soil temperature, moisture and salinity are utilized with other sensors capable of monitoring such values as air temperature in order to provide real-time parameters to users/operators of land area.
US08366006B2
A combined laser and imaging scanner has an image capture device located under a horizontal platen such that the field of view of the image capture device points away from an operator side of the scanner in order to capture an image of an optical code which is being scanned by the laser scanner through the horizontal platen. The image capture device is located in amongst the mirrors which form the scanning optics of the laser scanner.
US08366002B2
A lens element is provided that includes a housing defining a center bore and an optical axis, and a light transmissive cover coupled to the housing. A first elastic solid lens is disposed within the housing adjacent the light transmissive cover, and is characterized by a first thickness and a first durometer hardness. A second elastic solid lens is disposed in the housing adjacent to and substantially conforming to the first elastic solid lens, and is characterized by a second thickness and a second durometer hardness. The second lens thickness is less than the first lens thickness, and the second durometer hardness is greater than the first durometer hardness. In one embodiment, the first durometer hardness is less than OO60 as measured by the Shore method, and the second durometer hardness is in the range of A20 to A60 as measured by the Shore method.
US08366000B2
A terminal for interacting with a signaling tag includes a controller capable of selecting a signaling tag and thereafter receiving a tag type from the signaling tag at least partially over an air interface. The controller is also capable of determining if the terminal is actively operating an application. In this regard, the controller is capable of performing a predefined action based upon the tag type, such as based upon a tag type of “Read Only,” “Read/Write” or “Transceiver in Show Mode.” And when the controller is actively operating an application, the controller is capable of performing the predefined action further based upon the application and a state of the application.
US08365998B1
A convertible barcode reader which includes different configurations for self-service operation and assisted-service operation. An example convertible barcode reader includes a first housing portion including a first barcode reader engine, a second housing portion including a second barcode reader engine, and a hinge for coupling the second housing portion to the first housing portion between the first and second barcode reader engines. The second housing portion is moveable between a first position for self-service operation and a second position for assisted service operation.
US08365997B2
A fuel management system for use by operators of temporary and/or permanent inventories of vehicles such as vehicle dealerships. Fuel vouchers are issued by authorized issuing personnel to authorized recipients if a validation procedure is passed using a database incorporating employee and vehicle inventory information. At the time of delivery, the fueling station will verify the vehicle and individual presenting the voucher. If verification occurs, the authorized quantity of fuel is dispensed. The voucher and sales receipt are returned to the dealership for future auditing and report generation. The system stores information to enable reports to be generated concerning fuel voucher issuance, actual fuel usage and to detect fraud or misuse, allowing more effective fuel expense management. In the event a report generates a fraud alert, appropriate management personnel are immediately notified by email, text messaging or other means.
US08365996B2
A method for visual tool identification employing unique indicia as an identifier of an owner of a tool. The indicia identifiers are assigned by a provider and a database of tools owned and bearing said indica is maintained. The unique indicia identifier is preferably discernable from a distance such as further than the unaided eye may recognize a face so that third parties may identify tools and their owners from a distance.
US08365995B2
A multi-checkpoint type clustered animal counting device is proposed, which is capable of providing a counting function that can be used for statistically determining the number of animals (such as fruit flies) within a region such as farmland or garden. The proposed animal counting device is characterized by the utilized to at least two object sensors, wherein the first object sensor is disposed at a first checkpoint while the second object sensor is disposed at a second checkpoint, and wherein the first object sensor is initially set to power-on state while the second object sensor is initially set to power-off state and can be switched on only when the first object sensor is triggered. When the second object sensor is triggered, the counting operation will increase the output count number by one. This feature allows a more accurate result and can help save power consumption.
US08365978B2
A package (2) comprises a box body (4) with an open end (22) at the top, a tongue-lid (6) adapted to close the open end (22), rotatably connected to a rear edge of the open end (22) by a lid hinge (30), and an inner pack (8) enclosed in the box body (4). The inner pack (8) includes an envelope (13) enclosing tobacco items (10) and keeping the inner pack (8) airtight.
US08365975B1
A surgical instrument may include a knife moveable from a stowed position completely within said surgical instrument to a cutting position in which at least part of the knife is positioned outside the surgical instrument. The surgical instrument may also include at least two cam slots, a cam pin extending from the knife into the cam slots, at least two guide slots that are substantially linear and are spaced apart from said cam slots, and a guide pin extending from the knife into the guide slots. In some embodiments, the cam slots are shaped to cause the knife to move from the stowed position to the cutting position as the knife is urged proximally.
US08365967B1
A valve formed from a frustoconical piece of foldable material, having folds extending from a closable end towards the other end that connects to a container of liquid, each fold having an inner crease extending into the interior region of the nozzle. The valve has a biasing mechanism that may include a spiral spring encircling a nozzle to bias the inner creases inward to cause them to abut each other at the closable end so that the valve is maintained in a closed position. When liquid is forced into the interior region under sufficient pressure it causes the nozzle to move from the closed position to an open position so liquid flows from the interior region out the closable end of the nozzle, and when the pressure on the liquid is removed, the biasing mechanism causes the nozzle to move back to the closed position.
US08365963B2
A fluid dispenser formed of a bottle for housing the fluid, a discharge mechanism for discharging fluid from the bottle, and a protrusion that is connected to and extends from the bottom of the bottle. The fluid dispenser may have a fastener and a stabilizer. The protrusion has a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the bottom wall of the bottle. The bottle is capable of standing upward on a horizontal surface without the use of a separate base or mount when the protrusion extends into an aperture in the horizontal surface such that the bottom wall of the bottle rests on the horizontal surface. Further, a method of installing a fluid dispenser.
US08365959B2
A drink dispensing tap water dispenser, kit and method of converting a tap water dispenser to a drink dispenser is disclosed. The dispenser includes an adaptor having a central body portion connectable inline to a domestic tap water dispenser. A dispensing nozzle is supported by the central body portion of the adaptor and includes at least one liquid connection to a liquid source for dispensing liquid separate from the tap water dispenser.
US08365958B2
A device for mixing and discharging plural materials has a body, a housing and a sealing plug. The body has multiple barrels and multiple tubes communicating with the barrels. The housing is rotatably attached to the body in a thread manner and has a mixing chamber and a discharging segment. The sealing plug is mounted in the mixing chamber to seal the tubes and has a sealing disk and multiple sealing sleeves. The sealing disk has multiple holes and multiple sealing lids mounted respectively in the holes, and each sealing lid has an outer edge connected detachably to the inner surface of a corresponding hole and having a thickness smaller than that of the sealing lid. The sealing sleeves are formed on the sealing disk, align respectively with the holes in the sealing disk and are mounted respectively around the tubes.
US08365956B2
A product dispenser reconfigurable in the field includes a housing, at least one tower unit, and a removable ambient box. The at least one tower unit includes at least one dispense point, whereby a product or diluent is delivered from a diluent or product source to the dispense point. The ambient box is an insulated product path that is adaptable to at least one external source and the tower units or the dispense points. The external source may be conditioned externally or may deliver an ambient temperature product, wherein the product circuits passing through the ambient box may deliver product to any tower unit, thereby providing increased product variability within a same product dispenser. The product dispenser still further includes a tower structure that is removable without disabling the product circuits, and a method of merchandising on the tower structure.
US08365948B2
A detachable grip device has a body, two jaw-forming elements which are mobile in relation to each other between an open position and a closed position, a system for displacing the jaw-forming elements which are designed in such a way as to be able to alternate between a stable closing state and a stable opening state, via an intermediate state of unstable equilibrium, and a system for opening the jaw-forming elements. The opening system is adapted in such a way as to drive the displacement system initially in their closed state past the intermediate state of unstable equilibrium. The opening system comprises at least one button which is arranged on a longitudinal side of the body and is mounted in a sliding manner according to a direction of displacement having a component in the transverse direction.
US08365946B2
A container, such as a bottle or jar, that includes a closed compartment and an active insert device for pressurizing the closed compartment. The active insert device comprises an elastic liner and an active insert that are affixed to a closure or cap or the container. The active insert includes at least one reactant that is triggered to a reaction by an external energy source. The reaction produces a gas, which is delivered to the closed compartment via the liner. The gas causes the liner to expand and open a passage to deliver the gas to the closed compartment.
US08365943B2
Disclosed is a portable cooler device comprised of recyclable materials. Some embodiments of the device comprise components constructed entirely of, or substantially of, cellulose. Other embodiments may be comprised of recyclable materials not classified as cellulose such as, but not limited to, cotton, bamboo, hemp, or other natural fibers. The specific percentages of recycled and/or recyclable content are not limiting factors for the invention; however, most embodiments have consistent materials of construction such that the entire device may be recycled in a single recycling process without the need for deconstruction. Further, if not recycled, embodiments are operable to biodegrade within a reasonable amount of time when exposed to the elements in a landfill. Typical embodiments are comprised of an inner shell, an outer shell having an integrally hinged lid, and pressed cellulose insulating boards sandwiched between the shells.
US08365937B2
A portable reservoir frame having a number of interlocking panels secured by a plurality of interleaved knuckle members is provided.
US08365935B2
The present invention discloses a container body structure and a vehicle having the same, the container body structure comprising: a front wall, a rear wall, a left side panel, a right side panel, a roof sheet and a floor, each of them being a separate individual part; and connectors being provided at peripheries of the front wall, the rear wall, the left side panel, the right side panel, the roof sheet and the floor respectively, for cooperating with each other during assembling, in which assembly and disassembly of the container body structure can be realized through assembly and disassembly of the connectors for the front wall, the rear wall, the left side panel, the right side panel, the roof sheet and the floor. Owing to the characteristics of the container body structure of the present invention, the production, transportation and subsequent maintenance of the container body may be simplified, and thus production efficiency may be improved and maintenance cost may be reduced.
US08365930B2
A railcar draft gear spring assembly including an axial stack of spring units. Each spring unit is formed from a non-circular elastomeric preform having a series of spaced corners with recessed sides extending between the corners. The preform includes a lobe formed at each corner for channeling the flow of elastomer when the preform is compressed between a pair of non-circular metal plates. Each plate has an outer profile and a series of grippers extending in a common direction away from one surface of the plate. The grippers are arranged in a predetermined pattern relative to each other and relative to the preform for initially positioning the non-circular preformed block of copolyester elastomer relative to the plates and for thereafter restricting the flow of elastomer relative to the outer profile of the plates.
US08365924B2
The present disclosure is directed to a manifold for a filter assembly. The manifold includes a first base which may define a first inlet configured to direct fuel flow to a first filter element, and a first outlet configured to direct fuel flow from the first filter element to the second filter element. The manifold includes a second base operably coupled to the first base. The second base may define a barrier which prevents the fuel flow from flowing from the first inlet to the second filter element without passing through the first filter element. The second base may also define a second inlet configured to receive fuel flow from the first outlet and direct the fuel flow to the second filter element, and a second outlet configured to receive the fuel flow from the second filter element.
US08365917B2
A carrier tray (1) for beverage cups, bottles, and consumables or edible products is disclosed which is able to be folded from a blank (11). The tray has a base (2, 3) an upper deck (5), side walls (12, 13), a handle (15) and container receiving apertures (6-9). The blank is able to be fabricated from a single sheet of cardboard without gluing and folded to form the carrier tray. Braces (32, 33) which fold out from the handle strengthen the tray. Unbalanced loads are able to be supported by the tray.
US08365914B2
A carton comprises a plurality of adjoined panels that define an interior space, including a front panel and a back panel opposite one another, and a first side panel and a second side panel opposite one another, at least one of which is a movable panel operative for being moved between a first position and a second position, and a heat-shrink patch at least partially joined to the movable panel on a side of the movable panel facing the interior space, the heat-shrink patch being operative for shrinking in response to heat so that shrinking the heat-shrink patch moves the movable panel from the first position to the second position.
US08365912B2
A wire containment structure includes a container and a bag. The container includes a sidewall that at least partially defines a container receptacle. The sidewall defines a first handle aperture and a second handle aperture. The bag is configured to entirely support a wire stack. The bag is disposed at least partially within the container receptacle and comprises a body, a first handle, and a second handle. The body defines a wire receptacle. The first handle is coupled with the body and is routed through the first handle aperture. The second handle is coupled with the body and is routed through the second handle aperture.
US08365911B2
A roller box assembly includes a roller box and a bedding product contained in the roller box. The roller box includes a cardboard box portion, a pair of fixed-axis wheels, and a handle. The fixed-axis wheels are disposed along a corner edge of a bottom portion of the box portion. The handle portion is attached to the top portion of the box portion. In one embodiment, the bedding product is a mattress that has been compressed and rolled into a cylinder shape. A retail customer can purchase the bedding product at a retail store, and can then transport the purchased product out of the store by pulling the box from the handle such that the box rolls on its rollers.
US08365907B1
A survival package provides fire making materials and water. The package includes a tube and at least one water bottle and fire starter assembly contained within the tube. The tube is made of combustible material, and may be a rolled paper or cardboard tube having first and second end caps and a plurality of tube sections. The tube may have a plurality of ventilation apertures. The water bottle and fire starter assembly includes a closed water bottle and a fire starter. The fire starter may be of wax and removably attached to the water bottle, or may be a paraffin toroid fitting over the water bottle cap, and may include a paper cup. The fire starter and the combustible tube can be used for fire making. The water bottle provides water for drinking or cooking. The survival package is usable in an airdrop package or as a standalone.
US08365904B2
A device is described for conveying sticks in an apparatus for inserting sticks into ice cream bodies, said device comprising guide means in which the sticks are supplied in the form of an elongate stack of sticks, and from which guide means the sticks are destacked singly, said device further comprising a conveying belt, said destacked sticks being deposited in a pocket on said conveying belt moving past the exit aperture of the guide means, said conveying belt comprising a plurality of pockets, wherein each pocket has a longitudinal surface for housing a part of one stick, and each pocket furthermore has at least two guide pins projecting upwards on each side of said longitudinal surface. Hereby the sticks are handled without problems, even at high rates of destacking and conveying, and even if the sticks are skewed or in other manner deviate from a standard stick having dimensions and shape in common with at least the majority of the sticks in a given stack.
US08365900B2
The system for removably blocking a drawing-abutting element to a cogged belt comprises: a drawing-abutting element (2A, 2B, 2C, 2D) of an article (3) in turn comprising a base (13) and an upper portion (14) which develops starting from the base (13) and is conformed for drawing or abutting the article (3); a coupling element (10) fixable to a cogged belt (4) at a first surface (23) of the cogged belt (4) located opposite a side (22) in which cogs (5) are arranged, in order to project with respect to the first surface (23); the base (13) of the drawing-abutting element (2A, 2B, 2C, 2D) affords a seating (11) for receiving the coupling element (10), the seating (11) and the coupling element (10) being conformed such as to joint-couple to one another; the base (13) affords at least a through-hole (17) opening in the first seating (11); the system further comprising first removable fastening means (12) for engaging in the at least a through-hole (17) and blocking the drawing-abutting elements (2A, 2B, 2C, 2D) to the coupling element (10) when the drawing-abutting elements (2A, 2B, 2C, 2D) and the coupling element (10) are joint-coupled to one another.
US08365898B2
A pick-up assembly for moving an object off a surface. The pick-up assembly includes a conveyor subassembly extending between lower and upper ends thereof. The conveyor subassembly includes a conveying means extending between the lower and upper ends, for moving the object to the upper end. The pick-up assembly also includes two or more engagement devices positioned proximal to the lower end of the conveyor subassembly for engaging opposite sides of the object respectively, to move the object onto the conveyor belt.
US08365895B2
A pressure plate for use in a friction clutch assembly comprises a substantially flat annular coupling face for frictional engagement with a coupling face of a clutch plate and one or more discontinuities formed in the coupling face of the pressure plate. The discontinuity(ies) decrease a greater relative proportion of the surface area closer to an inner radius of the coupling face of the pressure plate than an outer radius of the coupling face of the pressure plate to increase a mean effective radius of the surface area. The discontinuity(ies) include a generally circumferential groove around an inner portion of the coupling face of the pressure plate and, at each end of the generally circumferential groove, a wiper portion of the coupling face of the pressure plate extending inwardly toward an axis of rotation of the pressure plate(s).
US08365888B2
A ground power supply line for electric traction vehicles is provided with two conductors carried by a series of tiles aligned to one another; each tile has a conductive plate and a lower supporting structure, which is made of insulating material and accommodates electric connectors, normally open switches, and a control and command unit, which switches the switches for selectively electrically connecting the conductive plate to the conductors in response to a signal deriving from an electric traction vehicle passing over said external conductive plate; the upper surface of the conductive plates is flushed with the remaining part of a road surface.
US08365887B2
A retraction apparatus comprising a support housing comprising one or more generally cylindrical spindles, and a retraction assembly mounted on each of the spindles is provided. The retraction assembly comprises a spring member, a generally cylindrical spool member, a retractable cable, a latch member, and a contact wheel member. The spring member is mounted on each of the spindles and affixed to the support housing. The spool member comprising serrated plates is affixed to the spring member. The retractable cable is circularly wound around a cylindrical section defined between the serrated plates of the spool member and extends outwardly from the support housing. The latch member, in engageable communication with the spool member, controls rotation of the spool member. The contact wheel member, in engageable communication with the spool member, via selective drive mechanisms, is rotated to rotate the spool member for retracting the retractable cable.
US08365886B2
The present invention provides a luggage, which is mainly foldable and/or disposable. In preferable terms, the present invention provides said foldable and/or disposable luggage made of corrugated board having wheels adapted detachably to the luggage, which makes the luggage easy to handle, store and stackable. Said foldable and/or disposable luggage comprises two main panels, namely top main panel and a bottom main panel, and a plurality of side panels of the luggage formed by folding at least one scored die-cut flat blank, an extended panel, and a ply having wheels aligning with the holes of the said panel.
US08365876B2
An air bladder actuator for a railroad car retarder utilizes a simplified stroke limiting arrangement that can be used in new actuator construction or applied as a retrofit assembly to an existing air cylinder actuated retarder.
US08365875B2
A tire chock having an at least partially threaded rod; a first trunnion having an aperture therethrough that receives the rod; first and second locking members, one locking member being rotatably fixed relative to the rod, the other locking member being rotatably fixed relative to the first trunnion. A tire chock may alternatively have an at least partially threaded rod; an upper trunnion rotatably attached to the rod; a lower trunnion threadedly attached to the rod, the lower trunnion translating axially relative to the rod upon rotation of the rod relative to the lower trunnion; a pair of linkage arms, the pair of linkage arms forming an X-shape, each linkage arm being connected to the lower trunnion by a drive arm and being connected to the upper trunnion by a support arm, wherein, as the rod is rotated relative to the lower trunnion, the linkage arms expand or contract.
US08365874B2
An electric parking brake actuator has an actuator device, a brake device and a cable-tension measuring device. The brake device has a cable and a tube assembly. The cable is mounted through the actuator device. The tube assembly is mounted around the cable and has a first tube, a second tube, a spring, a Hall IC and a magnet. The cable-tension measuring device has a first member and a second member which are mounted around the cable. The second member is capable of moving toward the first member relatively. The compressible spring is mounted between and abuts the first member and the second member. The Hall IC and the magnet are respectively mounted securely on the first member and the second member. The Hall IC is capable of measuring how much the spring is compressed to further measure the tension of the cable.
US08365871B2
A method for monitoring an elevator controls an image capturing device located inside the elevator to capture a current image inside the elevator when a malfunction of the elevator is detected by one or more monitor devices. The method further analyzes the current image to determines if there are passengers trapped inside the elevator. In addition, the method generates a rescue message and sends the rescue message to an emergency response department through a network upon the condition that there are passengers trapped inside the elevator.
US08365859B2
In a motor-driven steering apparatus in which a handle stay provided with a steering handle is fixed to a steering shaft, and a motor-driven steering assist unit is interposed between the steering shaft and a tire wheel side steering member, and a taper coupling portion provided in the handle stay is coupled and fixed to a taper support portion provided in the steering shaft.
US08365856B2
A shifting system for a motorcycle includes a shift link mechanism for transmitting operational force during a gear shifting operation. The shift link mechanism is arranged between a shift spindle and a change pedal operated by a shifting movement. A motion capture mechanism is provided on the shift link mechanism so as to transmit the operational force from the change pedal to the shift spindle via an resilient member including a compressive coil spring.
US08365852B2
A power supply system and method for powering a vehicle are provided that reduce or eliminate the need for a low voltage power storage unit. The system and method are configured to use power from a high voltage storage unit to support low voltage loads, including the load created by the activation of an ignition system.
US08365848B2
An articulated tracked vehicle that has a main section, which includes a main frame, and a forward section. The main frame has two sides and a front end, and includes a pair of parallel main tracks. Each main track includes a flexible continuous belt coupled to a corresponding side of the main frame. The forward section includes an elongated arm. One end of the arm is pivotally coupled to the main frame near the forward end of the main frame about a transverse axis that is generally perpendicular to the sides of the main frame. The arm has a length sufficiently long to allow the forward section to extend below the main section in at least some degrees of rotation of the arm, and a length shorter than the length of the main section. The center of mass of the main section is located forward of the rearmost point reached by the end of the arm in its pivoting about the transverse axis. The main section is contained within the volume defined by the main tracks and is symmetrical about a horizontal plane, thereby allowing inverted operation of the robot.
US08365833B2
Wellbore devices for use in filtration, wellbore isolation, production control, lifecycle management and wellbore construction may include at least a first and a second shape-memory material each having a an altered geometric position and each an original geometric position. Each shape-memory material may include a polyurethane material held in the altered geometric run-in position at a temperature below glass transition temperature (Tg), where the Tgs and/or the respective slope changes of the first and second polyurethane materials are different. Once the wellbore device is in place downhole and the first and second shape-memory materials are subjected to temperatures above their Tgs, the materials will deploy and expand to recovered geometric positions at or near their original geometric positions to perform their filtration, isolation, control or other function. These deployments or expansions may occur at different times or rates.
US08365832B2
To operate a device for use in a well, a counter mechanism is provided that is actuatable by pressure cycles to an active position that allows actuation of the device to a target state. A position retention mechanism is coupled to the counter mechanism to maintain the counter mechanism in the active position once the counter mechanism has been incremented by the pressure cycles to the active position.
US08365830B2
Methods for deploying a subsea blowout preventer stack system comprising a lower marine riser package, a blowout preventer stack with a first ram blowout preventer, and an additional blowout preventer package releasably coupled to the blowout preventer stack and comprising a second ram blowout preventer. The subsea blowout preventer stack assembly can be deployed by coupling a drilling riser to the lower marine riser package that is releasably connected to the blowout preventer stack. The lower marine riser package and blowout preventer stack are then toward a subsea wellhead and then landed on the additional blowout preventer package that is coupled to the subsea wellhead.
US08365823B2
A method for heating heavy oil inside a production well. The method raises the subsurface temperature of heavy oil by utilizing an activator that has been injected below the surface. The activator is then excited with a generated microwave frequency such that the excited activator heats the heavy oil.
US08365817B2
An apparatus for containing leaks from a stuffing box on a wellhead production assembly is provided. The apparatus comprises a containment vessel consisting of two half shells that are joined below the stuffing box. The apparatus further comprises a seal subassembly. The components of the seal subassembly are positioned one the nipple and pumping tee below the stuffing box. The half shells are positioned about and joined to the seal subassembly in a manner that provides a liquid tight seal. Additionally, the apparatus comprises a transparent topper having an upper opening to receive a polished rod extending from the stuffing box. The topper is secured to the containment vessel in a liquid tight manner such that the stuffing box is substantially isolated from the environment. As such, any leaks originating from the stuffing box will be contained in the apparatus.
US08365815B2
A system for the exploitation of geothermal heat and for conveying and decontaminating ground water is disclosed. The system comprises a main pipe (20), arranged in a pit (10) of well and is subdivided into an upper and a lower part by a transverse seal (21). The transverse seal has an opening in which a pump (22) is arranged which delivers water from the lower part of the main pipe. The pump is connected to a delivery pipe (30) which is connected to an overground closed circuit. The closed circuit at its other end leads to the upper part of the main pipe and the main pipe has through openings (23) towards the surroundings upstream and downstream of the transverse seal. The main pipe is surrounded by a porous bed which surrounds the hollow space of the pit around the main pipe. The porous bed is interrupted by a sealing material (12) at the level of the transverse seal so that the porous bed is hydraulically interrupted. The use of the system is also described.
US08365801B1
A roll type storm shutter including a plurality of elongated horizontally extending preferably corrugated shutter slats held together in an edge-to-edge arrangement. Each of the storm slats has complimentary first and second edges configured to slidably and interlockingly engage with a next adjacent slat for limited pivotal movement therebetween to facilitate rolled vertical deployment and retraction of the storm shutter. A central portion between the edges of each slat preferably has lengthwise extending corrugations for greater impact resistance to better withstand the impact of airborne flying objects produced during storms and hurricanes. Elongated solid panels may be provided each having enlarged parallel edge portions configured and spaced apart for dependent lengthwise slidable engagement between either inwardly or outwardly positioned grooves formed proximate to the edges of each of the slats. Each of said panels is coextensive with and preferably contacting inwardly or outwardly facing corrugation peaks, respectively, to further enhance the impact resistance of the storm shutter.
US08365791B2
According to the present invention, in adhering a belt edge tape (1) which is interposed between belt layers of a tire, press rollers surely adhere by pressing the belt edge tape (1) to a building drum (D) while preventing the press rollers from being caught by end portions of inclined cords which constitute a belt. For this end, in adhering the belt edge tape (1) to both respective side edge portions of the belt on the outer peripheral surface of the building drum by supplying the belt edge tape (1) toward the outer peripheral surface of the building drum by pressing using an extruder (10) which constitutes a supply device facing the building drum (D) in an opposed manner and by pressing the belt edge tape (1) to the building drum (D) using a press roller (15a), (15b) on a leading side as viewed from a position where the belt edge tape (1) is supplied in the rotational direction of the building drum (D), the building drum (D) is rotated in the direction that end portions of the reinforcing cords on the side edge portion of the belt which constitutes a tape adhering side are positioned on a trailing side in the rotational direction of the building drum (D) thus adhering the belt edge tape (1) to the side edge portion.
US08365789B2
The invention relates to a laminating foil having an initial roughness on at least one side, which makes the laminating foil matte, wherein the laminating foil has a marking configured as a surface pattern with surface portions on the matte side or at least on one of the matte sides, wherein the roughness of the surface portions is different from the initial roughness. The invention furthermore relates to a laminating foil set comprising the laminating foils, a method for hot laminating sheet material using such laminating foils, a laminating unit for using the laminating foil, and eventually a laminating system including the laminating unit and the laminating foils.
US08365788B2
A printer system includes a print and apply device that receives a single data stream containing label printing/encoding data and positioning data. The print and apply device transmits label data to a printer/encoder portion of the system and positioning data to motors that move the system. Once the printer portion and the applicator portion have indicated they are ready, a signal is sent to apply the label. The label can be applied anywhere in the X, Y, and/or Z directions on a package.
US08365779B2
The present invention is aimed at providing a method for simply measuring the liquid quantity of liquid material in a receptacle. A liquid quantity measuring apparatus for use in a liquid material supplying system comprising a receptacle for storing liquid material, a first pipe for feeding feeder gas into said receptacle, a first shutoff valve provided in said first pipe, a second shutoff valve provided in said first pipe downstream of said first shutoff valve and a second pipe for supplying the liquid material from said receptacle to supplier's destinations, and for measuring the liquid quantity of the liquid material in said receptacle, the measuring apparatus comprising: —a first pressure detection means for detecting the pressure of feeder gas in said pipe between said first shutoff valve and said second shutoff valve; —a second pressure detection means for detecting the pressure of gas in said receptacle; and —an arithmetic processing means for seeking by arithmetic calculation the liquid quantity of the liquid material in said receptacle on the basis of the detection results of said first pressure detection means and said second pressure detection means.
US08365769B2
A ball valve is provided for threaded connection to a separable component 72 having male threads 74. A housing 10 contains a ball 12 selectively rotatable for passing fluid through the housing, and a flange member 20 threadably secured to the valve housing. A stop ring 16 is positioned outward of the valve housing and engages the flange member. A coupling 20 is threadably secured to the stop ring and includes female threads for engagement with male threads on the separable component.
US08365765B2
A flow restriction member having a cylindrical body and two ends, a two-faced flange disposed radially about the body, and a hub formed by the outer surface of the body not otherwise disposed by the two-faced flange. The flow restriction member further includes a first conically-shaped circular torus opening disposed on one end of the body, the torus opening progressively reducing in cross-sectional area along the longitudinal axis into the body, a second conically-shaped circular torus opening disposed on the other end of the body, the torus opening progressively reducing in cross-sectional area along the longitudinal axis into the body, and a sill opening disposed between the first and the second torus openings, the sill opening of constant cross-sectional area along the longitudinal axis of the body. In one example, a handle disposed radially from the two-faced flange and an RFID tag disposed within the handle.
US08365763B2
A pressure limiting valve has a control element (10) which can be acted on in an opening direction, against a first control face, by a pressure which is to be limited, and which can be acted on in a closing direction by a spring (16) and, against a second control face, by a control pressure prevailing in a control pressure space (14). The pressure prevailing in the control pressure space can be limited by means of a pilot control valve (21). A control fluid can be supplied to the control pressure space through the control element via a control fluid nozzle (48). Upstream of the first control face, a plate (38) is held on the control element. Formed between the plate and the first control face is a gap with a predefined gap dimension. Said gap is situated upstream of the control fluid nozzle.
US08365759B2
A locking fire hydrant includes a fire hydrant body having an internal channel extending between a main cap recess and an auxiliary cap recess defined therein. A plunger assembly including first and second plungers is disposed within the internal channel. The first plunger is disposed such that an end thereof is capable of extending into a main cap recess and the second plunger is disposed such that an end thereof is capable of extending into an auxiliary cap recess. When the second plunger is actuated by mounting a locking cap on the fire hydrant body, one of the ratchet teeth provided on the back side of the auxiliary cap engages the second plunger to prevent the auxiliary cap from being removed from the fire hydrant body. A locking cap, an opening tool, and methods of securing an auxiliary cap to a fire hydrant also are described.
US08365758B2
A bladder system and apparatus for use with a beverage barrel or container, to reduce undesirable head-space in a wooden container of a beverage, especially a fermented beverage, such as wine. The system continuously protects the beverage contained in a wooden barrel from the harmful effects of oxidation at the air-to-fluid interface in the head-space and compensates for ullage, attributable to evaporation, leakage or sampling losses. The system includes an inflation stem connected to a barrel bladder inflatable by filling with an inflation gas. The inflation stem includes a liquid level sensor and inserts into a bung opening. The fluid level is sensed and a gas valve opens to fill the bladder, reducing head-space within the barrel. The system can combine the control of several barrels and optionally with other sensors, to create a barrel monitoring and control network.
US08365747B1
The present invention provides a structure of shaft of automatic umbrella, which includes a shaft assembly including a second section having a top end fixed to an internal plug. An inner tube is fixed at a top end thereof to the internal plug and receives therein an operation tube having a bottom coupled to an operation plug. The inner tube receives in a top portion thereof a pulley around which an operation cable wraps. An end of the operation cable is fixed to the bullet-like member and an opposite end fixed to the operation plug. To open the umbrella, a push button is depressed and an expansion spring pushes upward the second section so that the runner cable and the operation cable drive the runner and a third shaft section upward to completely open the umbrella.
US08365745B2
An eyelash curler used to shape an upper eyelash so as to make it appear longer and more full. The eyelash curler employs a “roller system” that curls an upper eyelash, rather than a “pressing system” that bends or crimps an upper eyelash to achieve a curled effect as with conventional eyelash curlers. The forming members of the eyelash curler, in all the embodiments of the present invention, are cylindrical and curved like the upper eyelash line to help achieve curling, and are less likely than conventional eyelash curlers to damage an eyelash.
US08365743B2
A hair extension removal tool is generally shaped like a pair of pliers with two jaws formed of two elongated members pivotally joined together. A body is attached to the first elongated member and houses a solvent container therein. A tubing extends from the container to an opening on an inside surface of one of the jaws. The container has a pump for ejecting an amount of the solvent through the tubing. A lever attached to the body is provided for activating the pump. In use, a strand of extension hair is placed within the jaws of the removal tool, the lever is pressed to eject an appropriate amount of the solvent through the tubing, and pressure is applied to the hair extension with the jaws of the tool to weaken the attachment, until the bonding material is sufficiently dissolved and the extension hair is detached and removed.
US08365739B1
A patient support device for use in patients undergoing spinal or epidural procedures while seated on a standard labor and delivery, operating room or other table or bed is described.An exemplary embodiment of the device includes an upper body support tray and a foot support tray which are independently adjustable along the length of an extendable pole assembly. The pole also connects to a base which provides a stable support and slides under the bulky support bases which are a part of modern hospital beds used in labor and delivery and operating rooms.
US08365732B2
A wearable protective device (100) including an eye shield (102), a holder (106) for a removable breathing filter (400), and an arrangement (104, 118) for fixing the device, in use, to a wearer's head. The eye shield and the holder are integrated or permanently connected together.
US08365719B2
A system architecture for large concentrated solar power applications that increases heliostat utilization efficiency and land utilization efficiency is described. Embodiments of the invention include a large heliostat field in which are distributed a number of receiving locations, and wherein there is the assignment of heliostats to receiving locations is dynamic. Embodiments of the invention include dynamically targeting heliostats to receiving locations wherein the target determination process is performed frequently during operation and wherein such dynamic targeting can be utilized to various ends. Embodiments of the invention include configurations wherein cosine losses associated with heliostat pointing are significantly reduced, wherein heliostats may be closely packed without incurring substantial shadowing and blocking losses thereby significantly increasing land utilization, and wherein other benefits are realized.
US08365713B2
A bowstring suppressor for an archery bow including a suppressor assembly and/or a bowstring attachment element. The assembly can include a housing within which resilient elastomeric elements are located. A push rod can be telescopically joined with the housing and located near the resilient elements. An engagement element can be joined with the push rod and can be engaged by a bowstring when an arrow is shot from the bow. The push rod can move toward the resilient elements and compress them when the bowstring engages the engagement element. Compression of the resilient elements provides energy absorption, vibration absorption and/or dampening in relation to energy generated by the bow. A string attachment element can be joined with the bowstring and can engage the suppressor assembly, with the attachment element seating in and optionally deforming the engagement element, which in turn, restrains lateral and vertical movement of the bowstring.
US08365712B2
A traditional archery bow includes a handle assembly, a bowstring, and at least one connection apparatus. The handle assembly includes a riser, an upper limb, and a lower limb. The upper and lower limbs each include a proximal end connected to the riser and a distal end. The bowstring extends between the distal ends of the upper and lower limbs. The at least one connection apparatus is mounted to at least one of the upper or lower limbs. An accessory such as a bushing or stabilizer may be mounted to one of the limbs with the connection apparatus.
US08365703B2
A fuel delivery system for a vehicle includes a fuel injector that meters fuel flow and provides for pre-heating fuel to aid combustion. A control circuit including a synthetic inductor drives a heated element within the fuel flow.
US08365700B2
The present disclosure is directed to injectors with integrated igniters providing efficient injection, ignition, and complete combustion of various types of fuels. These integrated injectors/igniters can include, for example, multiple drivers used to shape charges, controllers used to modify operations based on ionization parameters, and so on.
US08365696B2
A piston device for internal combustion engines includes a first compression ring and a second compression ring in an outer circumference of a piston, wherein the second compression ring includes a notch extending from the inner circumference to the outer circumference on a lower surface of at least one of a pair of ends of the ring, and a gap between the ring ends at the notch on the second compression ring is larger than a gap between the ring ends of the first compression ring, and a gap between the ring ends at the section other than the notch on the second compression ring is the same or smaller than the gap between the ring ends of the first compression ring, and the second compression ring contains an outer circumferential surface comprised of a tapered surface decreasing the ring radial thickness towards the upper side, and an axial parallel surface formed below the tapered surface. Instead of the axial parallel surface, the second compression ring may utilize a tapered surface with a taper angle smaller than the taper angle of the above tapered surface; or may utilize a tapered surface decreasing the ring radial thickness towards the lower side.
US08365691B2
An internal combustion engine is described having a valve mechanism that comprises two cams 120,122 mounted coaxially and a summation lever 124 having cam followers 126, 127 in contact with both cams so as to move in proportion to the instantaneous sum of the lifts of the respective cams. A control spring 128 is provided to maintain contact between one cam profile and its respective follower(s), and a valve actuating rocker 114 having a stationary pivot and rotatably connected to the summation lever serves to open the engine valve 110 in dependence upon the movement of the summation lever, so as to enable the valve timing, valve lift and valve event duration to be adjusted by varying the phases of the two cams. In the invention, the summation lever is constructed in two parts 124a, 124b that can be selectively locked and unlocked to allow the valve lift to be deactivated and the motion of both parts is controlled by the control spring 128 when the two parts of the summation lever are unlocked from one another.
US08365690B2
A hydraulically operated valve control system includes a hydraulic flow divider including a hydraulic valve adapted to distribute, between two lines feeding respectively to actuators coupled to two inlet or outlet valves of a cylinder, the flow of oil coming either from a source of oil under pressure or from the feeding lines. The oil flow is distributed between the two feeding lines on the basis of the ratio of oil flow-rates in these two lines.
US08365688B2
A method and reactor suitable for reformation of fuels at low temperatures is disclosed. The method includes introducing an oxidized porous metal felts with a catalyst powder in a reaction chamber having a heat exchange relationship with a heat-providing chamber, vaporizing a liquid mixture of alcohol and water using an Inconel tubing, and introducing the vaporized liquid into the reaction chamber for producing a methane gas. The fuel reforming reactor includes a heat-providing chamber in a heat exchange relationship with at least one reaction chamber. Each reaction chamber having an aluminum shim lining on at least one interior surface. Each reaction chamber accommodating a catalyst powder and an oxidized porous metal felt. The catalyst powder loaded onto the oxidized porous metal felt to facilitate production of methane gas from alcohol for use with the internal combustion engine.
US08365682B2
Substrate support methods and apparatus include vertically aligned lift pins that have bearing surfaces that engage friction plates and/or magnetic fields to maintain the vertical orientation of the lift pins during substrate lifting. In some embodiments, a magnetic field and/or weighting may alternatively or additionally be used to control the vertical orientation of the lift pins, limit the angle of the lift pins, and/or prevent the lift pins from unintentionally binding in a susceptor as the susceptor is raised and prevent the resulting uneven support of the substrate.
US08365672B2
This invention describes a frangible bullet made from particles of a copper-based metal powder with the aid of an organic lubricant, which have been pressed so that the pressed particles have a density of more than 6.9 g/cm3, where the composition has been treated with thermal oxidation.
US08365671B2
A method for detonating a munition comprising the steps of providing a plurality of micro-detonators and microprocessors in said munition and initiating said micro-detonators in a predetermined sequence by means of said microprocessor. Depending on the specific predetermined sequence which is selected, one of a variety of explosive modes may be achieved.
US08365659B2
Disclosed is a stamp head (1) for printing uneven surfaces, especially agricultural products such as poultry eggs, by means of screen printing. The stamp ink is stored in a tampon (5) within a stamp chamber (2) and is transferred to the egg surface with the aid of structures of a small coated screen printing plate (4). The stamp head (2) can be fastened to a stamp guiding assembly (7) via a stamp pressing element (10) such that an egg stamp (50) is created which can be vertically moved up and down on a stamp bar (18), the stamping process being carried out by means of the vertical movement. Several egg stamps (50) can be mounted on the stamp bar (18) such that a stamping apparatus is created which allows several eggs to be printed simultaneously.
US08365657B2
A grinding type juice extractor includes upper and lower grinding rings for providing both grinding and rolling effects during a process of extracting juice, and food materials are inputted for extracting juices, and the upper and lower grinding rings correspond to each other to define a clamping status, such that the inputted food material can be grinded, and a mechanism or method of applying two kinds of physical forces to the food material can be used for extracting the juice of the food material and maximizing the juice yield. In addition, a filter surface of a filter ring is provided for filtering the juice, and a juice outlet tube installed to a middle seat is provided for outputting the juice. Such juice extractor can improve the juice yield and reduce waste of resources.
US08365656B2
A rotary food processor including a base unit, drive elements provided with a rotary motor spindle, an active processing implement, a driveshaft to drive the active implement, and wherein the driveshaft is movable from a rest position to an active position in which it rotates by a force applied by a user. The driveshaft is a hollow shaft which defines an open housing in which the rotary spindle is at least partially retained and the rotary spindle freely rotates within the housing when the driveshaft is in the rest position.
US08365654B2
In one aspect, a brake pump assembly with a hydraulic block and a pumping element including a polymer piston that is received in a piston bore. A circumference of the polymer piston defines a high-pressure seal slideably engaging adjacent structure. The polymer piston may include a peripheral sealing lip projecting primarily longitudinally from the polymer piston for sealing engagement with the piston bore. In another aspect, a brake pump assembly with a hydraulic block, a straight bore polymer piston, a peripheral sealing lip projecting from a proximal portion of the polymer piston, and a elastomeric seal mounted to a distal portion of the polymer piston, where the peripheral sealing lip selectively acts to depressurize fluid accumulating between the peripheral sealing lip and elastomeric seal.
US08365650B2
This invention, as a unit, is a training adjustable combination sight, primarily intended to be mounted on a vehicle of smaller vessel for close-in defense of these against air and ground attacks. In its entirety, aside from the required sight sensors (16-18) situated in an intentionally elevatable sensor housing (4), the combination sight entails a weapon (8) that is controlled by the sensors. The sight sensors (16-18) included in the combination sight can also be utilized for fire control of exterior weapons located elsewhere as well as for gathering purely surveillance data.
US08365642B2
A closed-loop feedback system and method for performing a machining operation. A tool's operational properties are measured in real-time. The operating parameters of the machining process are adjusted in real-time based on the measured properties.
US08365637B2
An output transfer group, or drop box, can include a housing and a gear transfer train, rotatably supported within the housing, that includes an input gear adapted for enmeshing engagement with a transmission output shaft and a gear transfer output shaft that is rotatable upon rotation of the input gear. A coupler can be provided that includes a hub rotatively coupled with the gear transfer output shaft, a bearing carrier, a coupler output shaft rotatively coupled to the bearing carrier, and a coupling mechanism rotatively coupled to the bearing carrier. The coupling mechanism can be movable between an engaged position, wherein the coupling mechanism is rotatively coupled to the hub, and a disengaged position, wherein the coupling mechanism is disengaged from the hub. A solenoid can be arranged with the coupling mechanism to selectively move the coupling mechanism from the disengaged position to the engaged position.
US08365635B2
End caps are retained by handlebar grip clamps. The grip clamps include recesses to attach to protrusions on an outside end of handlebar grips, interior circumferential portions which clamp against the handlebar, and outward facing mouths with inside grooves. The grip clamps may be loosely attached to the handle grips allowing insertable portions of the end caps to be inserted into the mouths. The insertable portions include tapered portions to facilitate insertion into the mouths of the loosely tightened clamps, and raised captured portions and recessed portions for retention of the end caps by the inside grooves of the mouths. The grip clamps may then be tightened onto the handlebars and thereby both lock the handlebar grips onto the handlebars and retain the end caps. Damaged end caps may later be replaced by loosening the clamps without requiring removal of the clamps or the grips for easy repair.
US08365633B2
Featured are systems, devices and apparatuses for use in minimally invasive surgical, diagnostic or therapeutic methods and/or techniques, in particular methods and/or techniques for a mammalian throat. In particular embodiments, a dexterity apparatus including one or more dexterity devices is featured, where each of the dexterity devices comprises surgical tools and each is configured and arranged with end-tip dexterity for enhanced manipulation. A portion of the dexterity devices is snake like, which is re-configurable (i.e., can be bent) so as to in effect maneuver the surgical tool and put the tool in a desired position with respect to the surgical site. Another portion of the dexterity device includes the surgical tool thereby providing the capability of performing surgical actions such as sewing, gripping, soft tissue manipulation, cutting and suction of saliva, blood and other materials from the surgical site.
US08365629B2
A configuration of a gear wheel (4, 5) on a main shaft (1) of a transmission, having at least two lay shafts (2, 3). The wheel (4, 5) is designed as a sum wheel or gear wheel, meshes with both of the lay shafts (2, 3), and is movable in the radial direction between lay shafts (2, 3). An elastic element (8, 13) is positioned, between the gear wheel (4, 5) and the main shaft (1), and/or between the gear wheel and the lay shaft to reduce radially movement of the gear wheel (4, 5).
US08365618B2
A sled test apparatus for simulating a vehicle crash is configured to simulate a vehicle crash involving an intrusion into the cabin of the vehicle, as occurs, for example, in a so-called “small overlap” or “offset” impact. The apparatus has a sled carriage and a test buck. The sled carriage is mounted for linear movement along a test axis, and the test buck includes a first structure mounted to the carriage for guided movement relative to the carriage. The test buck further includes a second structure mounted to the carriage, and the first structure is configured to move relative to the second structure during the guided movement.
US08365613B2
For reducing an influence due to an external vibration, a frame has: a main frame that supports a vibration tube in a cantilever state; and a subframe that extends from the main frame toward a measurement portion side of the vibration tube, a detector and a vibration exciter are arranged on this subframe, and the outer case that surrounds the frame, the vibration tube and the like is engaged with the frame through the vibration isolating member.
US08365593B2
The present invention concerns a device (1) for measuring the position of the bed and surface of a river, in which the device comprises a support (2) along which a plurality of measurement areas (5) and means (3, 5) suitable for determining the local heat dissipation in each measurement area (5) are defined; the present invention also concerns a method for determining the position of such interfaces, in which a device (1) according to the present invention is arranged so that it intersects the interface, ensuring that one or more measurement areas (5) are immersed in each of the means constituting the interface and finding the value of the power dissipated in the measurement areas (5) from the temperature measured at said means.
US08365579B2
An apparatus for furnishing an amplified sensor signal of a knock sensor, encompassing an analog amplifier for amplifying the sensor signal in accordance with a first definable gain factor; an analog/digital converter for digitizing the amplified sensor signal into a digitized sensor signal; a digital amplifier for amplifying the digitized sensor signal in accordance with a second definable gain factor; and a control unit in order to furnish the first and the second gain factor as a function of a baseline sound level of the sensor signal, the baseline sound level corresponding to the component of the solid-borne sound signal generated in normal operation without knocking.
US08365571B2
A pipe expanding device inserts a pipe expanding punch into an opening end portion of a steel pipe with a special shape in the state where the opening end portion of the steel pipe with a special shape is pressed in an insertion direction of the punch.
US08365564B2
This ring rolling mill includes a main roll and a mandrel provided so as to be capable of being brought close to or separated from each other, and rolling a peripheral portion of a ring-shaped body in a radial direction of the ring-shaped body while the ring-shaped body is rotated along its peripheral direction in a state where the peripheral portion of the ring-shaped body is pinched in the radial direction between an outer peripheral surface of the main roll which is rotationally driven, and an outer peripheral surface of the mandrel which is rotatable. This ring rolling mill further includes a mandrel inclining/supporting mechanism which inclines and supports the mandrel with respect to the axis of rotation of the main roll such that the gap between the outer peripheral surface of the mandrel and the outer peripheral surface of the main roll differs on one side and on the other side as seen in a direction along the axis of rotation of the main roll.
US08365563B2
A method for flattening steel strip by cold rolling wherein the strip is passed through at least two cold rolling mill stands each having work rolls. A first mill stand has work rolls having local rigidity K significantly different from a second milled stand. The local rigidity K is calculated in Kgf/mm/mm in accordance with an equation. A six high mill comprises a pair of driven backup rolls disposed on the entry side, a pair of horizontal support rolls disposed on the exit side, and a pair of small diameter work rolls having an entry side face and an exit side face. The work rolls are disposed between the backup rolls and the support rolls, wherein during operation the entry side face of the work rolls engages the backup rolls and the exit side face of the work rolls engages the support rolls.
US08365556B2
One embodiment of the present invention is an improved sheet glass forming apparatus. In another embodiment, a precise thermal control system redistributes the flow of molten glass at the weirs to counteract the degradation of the sheet forming apparatus which inevitably occurs during manufacturing. In yet another embodiment, the invention introduces a counteracting force to the stresses on the trough in a manner such that the thermal creep which inevitably occurs has a minimum impact on the glass flow characteristics of the forming trough. Another embodiment creates a variable external cross-section which provides hydraulic stresses that are in opposition to the surface tension and body force stresses and thus, reduces the influence of surface tension and body forces.
US08365555B2
In the method and system for producing glass reduction of reduction-sensitive ingredients in the glass is reduced or preferably is avoided during the melting and fining processes. The glass preferably has a high refractive index. During the process an oxidizing agent is inducted into a fining vessel and preferably also into a melt crucible made of a slit skull that is cooled by a cooling agent. The oxidizing agent is preferably oxygen. Furthermore a system for conducting the method is also described.
US08365553B2
A jewelry item including a gemstone mounted to a gemstone setting having a plurality of reflective surfaces that selectively display colors from a region hidden beneath the gemstone while preventing viewing of the colored region through the gemstone itself.
US08365533B2
A gas turbine combustion system includes a supporting fuel manifold including a plurality of fuel nozzle support openings and a plurality of fuel line passages, and an aft case defining at least part of a combustion zone. The supporting fuel manifold is connected to the aft case. A plurality of fuel nozzles are supported one each in the plurality of fuel nozzle support openings, and a plurality of fuel lines communicate with the plurality of fuel line passages. The plurality of fuel lines deliver fuel to the plurality of fuel nozzles via the plurality of fuel line passages.
US08365526B2
Vehicle or stationary power plant having a turbocharged internal combustion engine as a drive source
A vehicle or stationary power plant having an internal combustion engine as a drive source and having components adapted to be supplied with heat from a medium accommodated in a closed loop The turbine of the exhaust gas turbocharger provided for turbocharging the internal combustion engine acts as a heat source. A heat exchanger is disposed externally on the turbine housing and can be incorporated or switchable into the medium loop The medium can be conveyed directly or channeled through the interior of the heat exchanger, and the medium is adapted to be heated up in such interior utilizing at least thermal radiation energy from the hot turbine housing.
US08365523B2
A hydraulic assembly for driving and controlling small hydraulic units, such as hydraulic cylinders of a brake and/or clutch of a forestry winch, is disclosed. The hydraulic assembly includes a means for establishing and also maintaining a pre-determined pressure of a hydraulic media. The hydraulic assembly is characterized by as low as possible hydraulic loss. Also, a quantity of hydraulic media required for a regular operation and maintaining the pressure within the hydraulic assembly is as low as possible.
US08365522B2
A dual exhaust system includes a first exhaust component defining a first exhaust path and a second exhaust component defining a second exhaust path that is different from the first exhaust path. A first valve is associated with the first exhaust path and a second valve is associated with the second exhaust path. The first valve and second valve operate independently of each other to vary exhaust flow and provide sufficient noise control for varying applications.
US08365520B2
A system is disclosed including a primary engine that provides vehicle propulsion and a secondary engine that drives a generator to provide auxiliary power. The system further includes a first exhaust gas passageway from the primary engine and a second exhaust gas passageway from the secondary engine. The system further includes an emission treatment device including an exhaust inlet to treat exhaust from the primary and secondary engines. The system further includes an exhaust routing device that selectively routes exhaust from the first passageway or the second passageway to the exhaust inlet. The exhaust routing device at least partially blocks the first passageway or the second passageway from fluid communication with the exhaust inlet.
US08365507B2
In an assembly for filling medicine dispensers (11) with administering units (12/i) which are to be taken daily by patients, a deblistering apparatus (39) is provided for the separating, automatic removal of the medicines from the respective blister pack, the blister film (33) of which can be subjected to a notching or cutting pretreatment, only after which the medicine is removed. A transport device (18) is provided which supplies the medicine dispensers (11) to a feeding device, at which the individual medicines can be loaded into receiving compartments (14/1 to 14/4) of the medicine dispenser (11). The assembly comprises modules (17/i) which have in each case a blister shaft (62), a punching device and a feeding device and are arranged along the transport device (18) at spacings from one another which correspond to the spacing of the receiving compartments (14/i) of the dispensers (11/i) or to an integral multiple of said spacing.
US08365492B2
A blast resistant window system includes a plurality of anchor members disposed in a wall and first and second mounting bodies at first and second opposite ends of an opening in the wall secured with the anchor members. The first mounting body has a first pair of spaced brackets connected thereto, and the second mounting body having a second pair of spaced brackets connected thereto. First and second energy dampening devices are disposed between the first and second pairs of spaced brackets. First and second restraining cables extend between the first and second mounting bodies across the inside surface of the window pane. These cables have first and second ends connected to the first and second pairs of spaced brackets. The cables are coupled together at the first and second opposite ends of the opening by the first and second energy dampening devices.
US08365473B2
For establishing a more modern and environmental, inexpensive building, there is disclosed a prefabricated, self-supporting construction element (6) intended chiefly for apartment buildings, where a number of construction elements (6) are placed at the side of one another and on top of one another, and comprising at least two substantially parallel-extending walls (26), where the external side surface (14) is profiled with protruding ribs (16) which, in combination with corresponding external side surfaces (14) of corresponding construction elements (6) along the external side surfaces (14), form a plurality of channels (60) respectively intended for in-situ casting with a (flowing), hardening material (concrete) for the formation of a supporting construction in the form of columns (94) and beams for supporting a plurality of construction elements (6) placed on top of one another, and for the leading of supply pipes and cables to the building, which is characteristic in that the external side surfaces (14) comprise insulating material (18) which, when placed together with corresponding side surfaces, form a stable element which constitutes a permanent insulating cladding (16, 18) for the supporting structure molded in-situ later.
US08365472B2
A foldaway balcony comprises a platform structure tiltably mounted on a wall and a rail structure mounted to the platform structure. The platform structure comprises a box-like support structure and a planar floor structure which are tiltable relative to the wall separately from each other. The rail structure comprises a plurality of rail elements, which are hinged at the edge of the support structure of the platform structure, and are tiltable between a stored position, in which they lay within the support structure, and a deployed position, in which they stand relative to the support structure. When the platform structure moves from the closed position to the open position, first the support structure is tilted, then the rail elements move from the stored position to the deployed position, and finally the floor structure is tilted.
US08365471B2
A telescoping tower comprising a sensor for monitoring an environmental condition, a processor for comparing the monitored environmental condition to a predetermined value, and an actuator for automatically retracting the telescoping tower if the environmental condition is equal to or greater than the predetermined value.
US08365456B1
Firearms are provided that can include a firearm frame having a grip attached thereto; a power source recessed within the grip; and a power coupling assembly positioned along the frame, the assembly being in electronic communication with the power source. Firearm frames are provided that can include a grip having a power source therein; and at least one power line extending from the power source to an exterior portion of the frame. Methods of powering a firearm accessory are provided that can include providing a power source within a grip of the firearm; and powering the firearm accessory with the power source.
US08365454B2
An ammunition clip is described that includes a front end wall, a back end wall, two opposing sidewalls operably engaged with the front end wall and the back end wall to define an enclosure. The sidewalls each include a top section defining a first circumference for the enclosure, a lower section defining a second circumference for the enclosure that is larger than the first circumference, and a transition section between the top section and the lower section. The transition section includes a plurality of offset angled members opposite one another defining the transition between the top section and the lower section. A first guide extends inward into the enclosure from the front end wall substantially orthogonal thereto and a second guide extends inward into the enclosure from the back end wall substantially orthogonal thereto. A guided member is configured to travel within the enclosure in a substantially planar fashion and includes slots at each end thereof for engagement with respective said guides.
US08365447B2
A steam appliance having a split handle with the upper part biased away from the handle base and an actuator for a water pump. When the appliance is pushed, the handle upper part is depressed and displaces a pump actuator to activate the pump. Use of a steam frame and steam towel allows an iron to be used as a steam cleaner. When a pole is mounted on the upper handle part, the appliance may be used as a steam mop that is activated by pushing the pole which depresses the handle to actuate the pump.
US08365444B2
An articulating footwear sole is provided. The articulating footwear sole includes a midsole having a recess a first plate having a first end interlocking with a second end of a second plate, the first and second plates positioned within the plate recess and held in place free of adhesive. In another embodiment, the sole includes a midsole having a recess, a first plate including a first end, and a second plate including a second end, the first end configured to moveably overlap with the second end, the first and second plates positioned in the recess. Still other examples are also provided.
US08365438B2
The present invention relates to a dryer and a method for controlling the same. The dryer includes a selectably rotatable drum (20), a hot air heater (90) for heating air to supply hot air to the drum (20), a steam generator (200) for generating steam to supply the steam to the drum (20), and a water supply source (220) for supplying water to the steam generator, thereby removing wrinkles from clothes, effectively.
US08365437B2
Drum (1) for a washing machine or a dryer including a cylindrical metal body part (100). reduced parts (110) at opposite ends of the body part, each having a diameter smaller than a diameter of the body part. and bent parts (120) each having a folded edge of the reduced part, thereby providing a drum that preventing occurrence of vibration and noise.
US08365431B1
A glove holder is disclosed for coupling a glove to an air vent. The air vent discharges an air flow over a fan shroud. The glove holder comprises a cylinder having an interior surface. The interior surface defines an interior bore. The cylinder is inserted into the glove. A support arm extends from a first end to a second end. The first end of the support arm is secured to the interior surface of the cylinder. The second end of the support arm is positioned within the interior bore. A key receiver is secured to the second end of the support arm. A clamp extends between a key and a conical backing. The key slidably engages the key receiver and the conical backing frictionally engages the air vent. The air flow is displaced from the air vent, through the interior bore of the cylinder and through the body of the glove for drying the glove.
US08365429B2
A method and template enable the testing of fusion joints of plastic pipes to be conducted by a single operator in the field at the welding site by the efficient and precise extraction from the joints to be tested of a number of high quality tensile coupons. The coupons are tested to failure in a field-suitable, well controlled, self contained, tensile testing apparatus. A narrowing bow-tie-like pattern of the coupon ensures that the failure of the coupon in the tensile test will occur at the narrowest section of the coupon. The template can be visually aligned with the joint to ensure that it is the joint that will be tested.
US08365427B2
An angle gauge comprising multiple surfaces around its perimeter, each of which provides for two or more fixed sharpening angles; each angle incorporating angular compensation for workpiece thickness and variations in peripheral grinding wheel diameter in order to quickly and accurately set an angular relationship between an curved or planar abrasive surface and a tool rest. The angle gauge has no moving or adjustable parts and is separate from both the grinder and the tool rest. The angle gauge may also be attached to a holder allowing for angle setup when the workpiece cannot be supported by a platform or tool rest.
US08365420B2
Tightening device of the screw-nut type includes a tightening member, which can be rotated, and a rotary wrench for this tightening member, equipped with a handling arm. The wrench and the tightening member are joined by a connecting device in such a way that the wrench can swivel in relation to the tightening member around a swivel axis substantially perpendicular to the screwing axis of the tightening member. Thus, it can be placed in a rest position substantially perpendicular to the screwing axis and can rotate the tightening member around the screwing axis or rotated freely in relation to the tightening member around the screwing axis, over a range of angular clearance (α) of at least 170°.
US08365418B2
A cable tie removal tool for cutting a cable tie off of an underlying structure with which the cable tie is engaged. The tool has an opposed pair of cutting members each having a cutting edge, the cutting members movable between an open position in which the cutting edges are spaced from one another and a cutting position in which the cutting edges are close together or touching. The tool also has a mechanical structure that holds at least one cutting member off of the underlying structure as the cutting members are moved from the open to the cutting position.
US08365415B2
A nail clipper configuration accommodates permanent three dimensional covers on the front of the nail clipper by limiting the necessary movement of the operating handle to move from the stored position to the operating position.
US08365406B2
An exemplary clamp for clamping a bearing cartridge and shaft subassembly of a turbocharger includes an upper portion, a lower portion where the upper portion and the lower portion form a bore having a bore diameter sized to clamp a bearing cartridge and a fluid passage defined in part by the upper portion, the lower portion or the upper portion and the lower portion where the fluid passage includes an opening to the bore. Various other exemplary devices, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.
US08365400B2
A circuit board structure comprising a composite layer, a fine circuit pattern and a patterned conductive layer is provided. The fine circuit pattern is inlaid in the composite layer, and the patterned conductive layer is disposed on a surface of the composite layer. After fine circuit grooves are formed on the surface of the composite layer, conductive material is filled into the grooves to form the fine circuit pattern inlaid in the composite layer. Since this fine circuit pattern has relatively fine line width and spacing, the circuit board structure has a higher wiring density.
US08365399B2
A printed circuit board and method of making a print circuit board having one or more holes that are controllably drilled to extend into the printed circuit board substrate to a predetermined depth intermediate first and second faces. A mechanical locating pin is received into each of the one or more holes to mechanically align a first component for electronically interfacing with the printed circuit board substrate. A second component is installed on the second face directly opposite of the one or more holes such that the second component is in electronic communication with conductive traces or interconnects formed on the second face directly opposite of the hole.
US08365392B2
A rotor assembly and a method for fabricating the same are provided in which a solid rotor ring is formed at either end of a stack of laminated discs, the solid rotor rings yielding improved electrical and mechanical characteristics in a low weight assembly. The solid rotor rings are fabricated by brazing slugs between the end portions of the rotor bars, the braze joints contacting a large percentage (at least 90 %) of the rotor bar end portions.
US08365368B2
A buckle includes a male member and a female member. The male member includes: a base; a pair of legs that project from the base; engaging portions that are provided on the legs to be engageable with the female member; and a linking body that links the pair of legs. The linking body includes a curved portion that is curved such that the middle thereof is closest to the base. A pair of projecting portions that are substantially parallel with an insertion direction of the male member extend from the base to be disposed outside the curved portion such that the curved portion is interposed therebetween. With this arrangement, the linking body for linking the pair of legs can be disposed with less possibility that other objects are caught in a space in the male member and without increasing a length dimension in the insertion direction more than necessary. The male member can be stably held relative to the female member against a torsion force.
US08365358B1
A universal swing hinge assembly for a gravity-closing gate can be attached to a guardrail on either side of a guardrail opening. A hinge pin can be disposed through the universal swing hinge assembly and gravity-closing gate for attaching the gravity-closing gate thereto. The universal swing hinge assembly can have a C-configuration that allows the gravity-closing gate to swing open in either direction from a lowest neutral position. A recess of the universal swing hinge assembly can have an angled hinge face that opens towards the guardrail opening. In operation, the angled hinge face can cause the gravity-closing gate to rise from the lowest neutral position when the gravity-closing gate is opening, and the angled hinge face can cause the gravity-closing gate to return to the lowest neutral position when closing.
US08365357B2
A hinge mechanism includes a pivot shaft, a resilient member coiling around the pivot shaft, a first cam, a second cam, and a rolling assembly. The pivot shaft defines a through hole in a radial direction thereof. The first cam and the second cam are sleeved on the pivot shaft, the first cam defines two pairs of recesses at one end surface thereof, and the second cam defines a groove at one end surface thereof facing the first cam. The rolling assembly positioned between the first cam and the second cam includes a pin and two rolling bearings sleeved on opposite ends of the pin.
US08365352B1
A wheel assembly is disclosed for attaching to or integrally forming with an object, such as a plastic-molded tub or cooler. The wheel assembly includes an elongated axle terminating at each end with a wheel. A plurality of rails are each adapted for fixing with the bottom surface of the object. Each rail has a plurality of axle notches adapted to selectively receive the axle. A pair of arms are each fixed at a first end thereof with the axle proximate the wheels, each arm being fixed at a second end thereof to a pivot rod that is selectively and pivotally engageable with one of the axle notches. At least one axle lock is adapted to be fixed with a side surface of the object. As such, the axle may be pivoted between the inside position, wherein the object may be rolled along the ground surface on the wheels, to the outside position, whereby the axle is engaged with each axle lock and the wheels are lifted above the ground surface to prevent the object from rolling.
US08365350B2
A wet/dry vacuum that is configured to be powered by a DC power source.
US08365349B2
To avoid sandwiching of a sucked object in a gap between an inner wall of a fan case and a fan of a hand-held suction apparatus, an entering regulation part is positioned to extend into the air intake opening to return sucked objects back into the air intake opening and prevent sandwiching in the gap.
US08365348B2
A vacuum cleaner includes a housing having at least one holding device configured to receive a vacuuming tool in a parked position and at least one illumination device associated with the holding device.
US08365347B2
A floor cleaning device including a base assembly for movement along a surface, a handle, a nozzle, a nozzle lifting mechanism, a brush, a brush lifting mechanism, a recovery tank, and a liquid distribution system. The nozzle lifting mechanism moving the nozzle relative to the base assembly and the surface and the brush lifting mechanism moving the brush relative to the base assembly and the surface.
US08365341B2
A mop assembly includes a handgrip structure disposed above, connected telescopically to a rotary rod structure from above and a cleaning mop connected pivotally to a bottom end of the rotary rod structure. Once the cleaning mop is placed within a draining bucket, axially downward and upward movement of the handgrip structure relative to the rotary rod structure results in axial rotation of the rotary rod structure and the draining bucket relative to the handgrip structure in a predetermined direction and hence draining the water out from the cleaning mop.
US08365338B1
The wheel cleaning device is especially useful in cleaning lug nuts and the area and orifice within a wheel that surround a lug nut. The device may importantly provide for brush change, via a threaded fitting. Various bristle designs are provided. The device also importantly provides an arc within the shaft so that the brush can be inserted beyond a bulbous exterior of many typical lug nuts. The arc then allows a user to clean the area without device failure and without undue brush bristle fatigue, as the arc allows clearance adjacent to the most bulbous part of a lug nut so that the brush may better reach the confines of the spaces typically not reached. The cylindrically shaped handle may be provided with a rounded end as a more user friendly interface.
US08365321B2
A method of manufacturing a bathtub includes a first operation of forming an external structure layer forming an external appearance of the bathtub; a second operation of forming a mold-release agent layer having a bathtub forming surface corresponding to an internal shape of the bathtub and a flange extending from a circumference of the bathtub forming surface to the outside, on an external surface of an internal mold; and a third operation of forming a semi-rigid foam layer having a first unfoaming painted layer, a soft foam layer, and a second unfoaming painted layer in sequence such that the soft foam layer is sandwiched between the first unfoaming painted layer and the second unfoaming painted layer. The semi-rigid foam layer is formed between the external structure layer and the mold-release agent layer by being injected in a space between the external structure layer and the mold-release agent layer.
US08365320B1
The universal flush valve system comprises an universal system connector accommodating seating thereon of both a flapper style flush valve assembly and a canister style flush valve assembly, as required; a plurality of toilet tank specific connector extensions, each of which are threadedly engageable to a bottom portion of the universal system connector and are used to suitably engage the universal system connector to a water flow port in a toilet tank by extending through the port and receiving a suitable cooperating connection element thereover; a sealing device for sealing the required flush valve assembly against the universal system connector; and a locking mechanism for locking the required flush valve assembly onto a top portion of the universal system connector, seating over the sealing device to produce a water tight engagement therebetween.
US08370960B2
A modular AFM/SPM which provides faster measurements, in part through the use of smaller probes, of smaller forces and movements, free of noise artifacts, that the old generations of these devices have increasingly been unable to provide. The modular AFM/SPM includes a chassis, the foundation on which the modules of the instrument are supported; a view module providing the optics for viewing the sample and the probe; a head module providing the components for the optical lever arrangement and for steering and focusing those components; a scanner module providing the XYZ translation stage that actuates the sample in those dimensions and the engage mechanism; a isolation module that encloses the chassis and provides acoustic and/or thermal isolation for the instrument and an electronics module which, together with the separate controller, provide the electronics for acquiring and processing images and controlling the other functions of the instrument. All these modules and many of their subassemblies are replaceable and potentially upgradeable. This allows updating to new technology as it becomes available.
US08370956B2
Methods, apparatus, and media for rendering digital content by at least one recipient computing device in accordance with usage rights information. An exemplary method comprises receiving the digital content by the at least one recipient computing device from at least one sending computing device only if the at least one recipient computing device has been determined to be trusted to receive the digital content from the at least one sending computing device, receiving, by the at least one recipient computing device, a request to render the digital content, determining, based on the usage rights information, whether the digital content may be rendered by the at least one recipient computing device, and rendering the digital content, by the at least one recipient computing device, only if it is determined that the content may be rendered by the at least one recipient computing device.
US08370955B2
Techniques for facilitating the exchange of information and transactions between two entities associated with two wireless devices when the devices are in close proximity to each other. A first device uses a first short range wireless capability to detect an identifier transmitted from a second device in proximity, ideally using existing radio capabilities such as Bluetooth (IEEE802.15.1-2002) or Wi-Fi (IEEE802.11). The detected identifier, being associated with the device, is also associated with an entity. Rather than directly exchanging application data flow between the two devices using the short range wireless capability, a second wireless capability allows for one or more of the devices to communicate with a central server via the internet, and perform the exchange of application data flow. By using a central server to draw on stored information and content associated with the entities the server can broker the exchange of information between the entities and the devices.
US08370954B2
Key data is generated that contains a decryption key that decrypts an encrypted content, and a policy that defines the usage restrictions on the content. Binder data is then generated, which contains the encrypted content, key data, and the control data, which describes the applied conditions of the key data.
US08370951B1
Internet users will be accountable for their use by opening their internet with State Abbreviation and State Code and 13 digit numbers. Traveling State to State, State to Country, Country to Country you also have transfer code that applies to each Internet users. Internet users have to purchase ID card they will receive upon signing Contract Release that applies to each Category. Framework for software program consist of map with State abbreviation & State Codes, Country Abbreviation, Country Codes 5 Internet Contract Release forms with Fees, Framework for opening page that will scroll to what pertains to individuals. Internet ID Temp permit, Transfer code application for travelers, Transfer code receipt for customer code, map with Codes for U.S.A., Special Intelligence format a mandatory software format for internet Companies. This program is made to free internet users from, violent offenders, Identity theft, pirating, help import, export, And Keep Defense Information Safe.
US08370948B2
A system and method for determining an intent of a sender in transmitting electronic information in order to prevent unauthorized dissemination of electronic information is disclosed. The system and method facilitate cost-effective handling of dissemination events and comprise a traffic analyzer configured to analyze descriptors of the electronic information and parameters of the transmission of the electronic information in order to determine the intent of the sender. By determining the intent of the sender, it is possible to effectively quarantine the electronic information before it is disseminated.
US08370945B2
Identifying a security breach caused when a computer-based software application uses a computer-based web browser application, including identifying at least one function within a computer-based software application that causes a computer-based web browser application to access data from a source that is external to the software application, at least partially replacing the data with malicious content that is configured to cause a predefined action to occur when the malicious content is accessed by the web browser application, where the predefined action is associated with a known security breach when the predefined action occurs subsequent to the malicious content being accessed by the web browser application, causing the software application to perform the function, and determining whether the predefined action is performed.
US08370943B1
A system receives a scan request for a storage object in a clustered storage system. The system determines if an anti-virus (AV) server is executed on a preferred node in the storage system. The system requests information describing a plurality of nodes on the clustered storage system from a service manager. This information is used to select an alternate AV server which is executed on a substitute node if the initial AV server is not executed on the preferred node. The scan request is sent to the initial AV server if the initial AV server is executed on the preferred node. The scan request is sent to an alternate AV server if the initial AV server is not executed on the preferred node.
US08370942B1
A malware source analysis component determines which sources of malware are sufficiently suspicious such that all binary files located thereon should be analyzed. In order to makes such determinations, the malware source analysis component receives information concerning malware infections from a plurality of sources. The malware source analysis component analyzes the received information, and determines suspiciousness levels associated with specific sources. Responsive to identifying a given threshold suspiciousness level associated with a source, the malware source analysis component adjudicates that source to be suspicious. Where a source is adjudicated to be suspicious, the malware source analysis component submits submission instructions to that source, directing it to identify binary files thereon and submit them to be analyzed. The malware source analysis component receives binary files from suspicious sources according to the submission instructions, and analyzes the received binary files.
US08370928B1
A system, method and computer program product are provided. In use, votes from a plurality of nodes for node categorization are monitored. Further, a pattern associated with the votes is identified. Thus, malicious nodes may be identified based on the pattern.
US08370920B2
The system and method described herein may provide unified transport and security protocols. In particular, the unified transport and security protocols may include a Secure Frame Layer transport and security protocol that includes stages for initially configuring a requester device and a responder device, identifying the requester device and the responder device to one another, and authenticating message frames communicated between the requester device and the responder device. Additionally, the unified transport and security protocols may further include a Secure Persistent User Datagram Protocol that includes modes for processing message frames received at the requester device and the responder device, recovering the requester device in response to packet loss, retransmitting lost packets sent between the requester device and the responder device, and updating location information for the requester device to restore a communications session between the requester device and the responder device.
US08370917B1
A network media gateway is used to bridge trust between a Service Provider network and subscriber devices. The gateway is authenticated by the Service Provider by using knowledge of network topology. Subscriber devices are authenticated in response to subscriber input to the gateway via an interface. Trusted subscriber devices can be tightly coupled with the Service Provider network, thereby facilitating delivery of QoE. Mobile and remote subscriber devices may also be authenticated. The gateway may also facilitate establishment of VPNs for peer-to-peer communications, and dynamically adjustable traffic, policy and queue weightings based on usage patterns.
US08370914B2
A server system sends a first credential request to a passive requestor at a client device. After sending the first credential request, the server system receives a credential for a user of the client device. If the credential is valid, the server system can provide the passive requestor with access to a resource provided by the server system. After providing the passive requestor with access to the resource, the server system provides an active requestor at the client device with access to the resource without sending a second credential request to the active requestor. Consequently, it may not be necessary for a user of the client device to provide credentials twice in order for the passive requestor and the active requestor to access the resource.
US08370905B2
A domain access system may include a connection package for a remote device. The connection package may be installed and used to connect to a domain without having to be physically attached to the domain. The connection package may include a domain identifier and a machine name, as well as certificates used to authenticate the device to the domain, group policies, and other components and configuration information. An installation program may configure the remote device with the various components and certificates so that the remote device may connect to the domain.
US08370903B2
An MFP stores information of a web service for permitting use with respect to each user, and information for limiting a use of its function. When there is a web service allowed to be used by the logged in user, its list is displayed. When a linked function with the selected web service is not allowed to be used, a massage to the effect that is displayed and when the use of the function is limited, limited contents are displayed to confirm the use of the web service.
US08370901B2
An identity management method, apparatus, and computer readable article of manufacture tangibly embodying computer readable instructions for executing the identity management method. The method includes: creating an association table to record a first session ID between the user and the first Web application, a second session ID between the user and the second Web application, and an association of the IDs; sending a session ID request containing the first session ID by the first Web application to a return module; receiving the session ID request and searching by the return module for the associated second session ID in the association table according to the first session ID; and returning the second session ID to the first Web application, thereby providing identity management for a user in a Web environment in which a first Web application accesses a second Web application on behalf of the user.
US08370900B2
An image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus performs security management functions such as security transmission and security printing of data stored in a hard disk of the image forming apparatus and shared with a plurality of host computers through a network, to which a security tag is added for the security of the data so as to increase the security of the data. The image forming apparatus is connected to the network to be shared with the host computers to receive and store data transmitted from the host computers, and includes a storage device to store IP address information of a host computer which transmitted data and security data to which a security tag is added for the security of the transmitted data corresponding to the IP address information, and an image forming controller to perform security management function of the security data.
US08370895B2
A method and software product for limit privacy loss due to data shared in a social network, where the basic underlying assumptions are that users are interested in sharing data and cannot be assumed to constantly follow appropriate privacy policies. Social networks deploy an additional layer of server-assisted access control which, even under no action from a user, automatically evolves over time, by restricting access to the user's data. The evolving access control mechanism provides non-trivial quantifiable guarantees for formally specified requirements of utility (i.e., users share as much data as possible to all other users) and privacy (i.e., users expose combinations of sensitive data only with low probability and over a long time).
US08370893B2
A digital television receiver for use in a digital television broadcast system in which a plurality of digital television data streams can be provided in respective streams of television broadcast packets forming the lowest layer of a layered digital television structure and also in respective streams of Internet protocol packets forming the lowest layer of a layered Internet protocol structure, the streams of television broadcast packets being broadcast with a plurality of tables indicating where data of one layer of one structure can be found in another layer of one or other of the two structures, the received plurality of tables being used to determine where data contained in one layer can be found in an adjacent layer so as to construct tree structures or a new table allowing determination of in which stream of television broadcast packets the television data of a selected stream of Internet protocol packets is found.
US08370892B2
An interactive method includes receiving background video including a multiplicity of video frames, at least one of the multiplicity of video frames include a plurality of sub-pictures, each of the plurality of sub-pictures representing an alternative background (1200), and switching between a first sub-picture of the plurality of sub-pictures and a second sub-picture of the plurality of sub-pictures (1210).
US08370888B2
A data stream recorder system, for multi-stream recording and retrieval of utilizes a number of gateways, each for sending and receiving packets containing streaming multimedia content data at real-time rates via a packet data network. A session manager communicates via the network with source client devices and receiver client devices, to establish and control recording and retrieval sessions. The manager assigns sessions to the gateways for the sending and receiving of the packets to and from client devices. Content is distributed across storage devices associated in storage nodes. Each of the gateways receives packets containing content data at real time rates during a recording session and distributes the received packets from the session across all of the storage nodes. A scheduler of each respective storage node distributes content data from packets distributed to the respective storage node, across all of the digital storage devices of the respective storage node.
US08370886B2
Provided is a device for use with a headend, a household and an amplifier. The headend is able to provide signals within a high-frequency band fH. The household is able to provide signals within a low-frequency band fL, and to provide signals within a super-high-frequency band fR, where fL
US08370885B1
A method and apparatus for enabling IP service subscribers to share media contents with other IP service subscribers or Internet users in either a secured or open fashion are disclosed. In one embodiment, the present invention enables the sharing of home movies, pictures, and other media contents, where media could be stored media or media created in real-time. Namely, the present method allows IP service subscribers to effectively create their own TV station, e.g., complete with stored or live content programming and content scheduling.
US08370881B2
A STB resource sharing (RS) group of a home network comprises a plurality of STBs. In the STB RS group, a STB communicates with one or more other STBs to mutually share available device resources comprising hardware and software resources, and/or capabilities. The STB functions as an elected master (EM) or a STB RS client in the STB RS group. As an EM, the STB receives advertisements from other STBs to determine available resources. The determined available resources are announced to other STBs in the STB RS group. The STB manages the use of the determined available resources according to resource sharing requests received from other STBs. As a STB RS client, the STB advertises inherent resources to an EM of the STB RS group. The STB receives announcements from the EM for available resources in the STB RS group. The STB shares its available resources, accordingly.
US08370874B1
Subscription and channel management technology, in which a system allows a user to subscribe to a subset of the available channels on a content delivery network and personalize at least one channel. The system identifies a user identity of the user and stores, in a user database, channel subscription information for the user identity based on the subset of channels to which the user subscribed and the user personalization. The system identifies a downloader device associated with the user identity and controls the downloader device based on the channel subscription information stored in the user database.
US08370870B2
A method and system for use in providing content to a viewer that includes providing a service comprising an on demand video service to the viewer wherein the viewer has an option to view video content. The system is configured to compensate the viewer a reward for having viewed the video content, and the system maintains an accounting of the reward and corresponding viewer identification.
US08370866B2
Provided is a high-accuracy optical pickup supporting device by fixing guide shafts to a chassis by use of adjustment screws accurately. To this end, in the optical pickup supporting device, an end portion of a second guide shaft for supporting an optical pickup device is fixed to the chassis by use of: a coil spring included in an accommodation area of the chassis; and an adjustment screw. In addition, the adjustment screw is screwed to a fixation plate accommodated in an accommodation part of the chassis. Accordingly, a repulsive force produced by the coil spring does not concentrate on any part of the chassis. For this reason, the chassis is prevented from deforming and breaking due to this repulsive force.
US08370860B2
Methods for controlling complementary dual displays for use with an electronic device are presented including: receiving an input for display on a non-native display, where the input includes a native user interface (UI) input and a non-native UI input, and where the non-native display is a bistable, low frame rate display; if the input is the native UI input, sending the first native UI input to a corresponding application, processing the native UI input by the corresponding application, calling a non-native API for forwarding the processed native UI input to a non-native display driver, and sending a non-native display signal to the non-native display; receiving another native UI input for display on a native display, where the native display is a refresh-based, high frame rate display; and sending the other native UI input to the corresponding application.
US08370857B2
A device controller that improves transfer speed when the total data amount to be transferred exceeds a predetermined amount, without requiring a special configuration in the device.The device controller includes a cache memory that caches data received from an application software or device driver and data received from a target device, and a control unit that transfers the data cached in the cache memory to the target device and the application software or device driver. The control unit receives a read or write request from upstream and caches the transfer data in the cache memory. During writing, the data received from upstream is cached, and once a certain amount of data has been collected, it is sent downstream. During reading, a certain amount of data is collectively read out from downstream and sent upstream.
US08370856B2
Remote desktop software for use with guest operating systems that run on a controller kernel. Also, remote desktop software that can be used to remotely view and/or manipulate multiple containerized guest operating systems that run on a single computer. The multiple, containerized operating systems preferably run on a controller kernel. Alternatively, the multiple containerized operating system may be controlled to run on the single computer by other software, such as a hypervisor.
US08370851B2
A system and method for processing messages in an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system is provided. A processing service generates a snapshot of a message queue, which contains a plurality of messages to be processed by the ERP system. Each message has an associated conversation, identified by a unique combination of an endpoint, channel, and subconversation identifier. For each conversation, the processing service determines whether messages of the conversation are to be processed in serial or in parallel, based on the subconversation identifier of the conversation. When the messages of the conversation are to be processed in serial, a task is created to process the messages serially. Alternatively, when the messages of the conversation are to be processed in parallel, a task is created for each of the messages. The messages of each task are processed serially by the task, while each task is executed in parallel with other tasks.
US08370844B2
Embodiments off the invention provide a mechanism for process migration on a massively parallel computer system. In particular, embodiments of the invention may be used to update process state data for a migrated compute node, such as MPI (or other communication library) state data, across a full collection of compute nodes present in a given parallel system executing a parallel task. Migrating a process form one compute node to another may be useful to address a variety of sub-optimal operating conditions. For example, one or more processes may be migrated to cure network congestion resulting from a poorly mapped task or when a compute node is predicted to experience a hardware failure.
US08370827B2
The present application relates to a method for editing and broadcasting compressed multimedia files composed of binary data blocks originating from digital transformations applied to an audiovisual or multimedia content according to the format of a parent file, said parent file having been separated into a first modified file having the format of the nominal parent file and into a complementary file including information on the modifications brought to the parent file, the method comprising prior to the transmission from a portal to the receiving terminal: a step of preparation including analyzing said first file for extracting time-codes therefrom, a second step including generating an index register table from said first modified file, a third step including generating a modified multimedia file according to the format of the parent file containing information of said first modified file and meta-data, a step of transmission of said modified multimedia file separate from said modified multimedia file, the elements of said complementary file making it possible to recreate a partial synthesis of the original audiovisual file.
US08370822B2
A programmable compiler detects from source code invocations of math functions that require reduced levels of accuracy, limited variable domains, or enhanced performance. The programmable compiler replaces such invocations with intrinsics from the compiler's own intrinsic library. The math function invocations are compiled into inline object code. The inline object can be subsequently optimized along with other object code through normal compiler optimization. If an accuracy requirement is beyond what any compiler intrinsic can provide, the programmable compiler preserves the invocation of the math function defined in a default library.
US08370803B1
A method of creating assets for agile software development includes detecting selection of an asset type for an asset template, receiving values of one or more attributes for the asset template, and creating the asset template. Upon detecting an action to select the asset template, creation of an asset of the selected asset type and having the received values is initiated.
US08370799B2
A method for providing codebase modification assistance includes receiving training data including learning application code prior to modification and the same learning application code subsequent to modification, the modification being of a known type. Portions of the learning application code that have been changed by the modification are detected. One or more substrings are identified from names associated with the detected portions of the learning application code that have been changed. A target application code that is to be modified according to the known type of modification of the training data is received. The identified one or more substrings are searched for from names associated with portions of the received target application code. The portions of the target application code for which the one or more substrings have been found within associated names are displayed.
US08370796B2
Mechanisms for development tooling enablement of audit event generation are provided. The mechanisms automatically generate and insert compliance audit record generation code where appropriate in identified portions of program instructions based on established compliance policies and labels associated with keywords/library functions appearing in the source code. The mechanisms may analyze the program instructions to identify at least one portion of program instructions meeting a compliance policy requirement for generation of a compliance audit record. Compliance audit record generation code for generating the compliance audit record may be generated. The compliance audit record generation code may be inserted into the at least one portion of program instructions to generate modified program instructions. The modified program instructions may be output for execution on a computing device.
US08370793B2
A method and system for specifying, deploying and updating work flows. A request is received from a user of a system with components comprising a computing system and human representatives. The components facilitate routing and servicing the request. A work flow comprising manual and automatic steps is specified to perform the routing and servicing of the request. The automatic steps are automatically performed by the computing system and the manual steps are manually performed by the representatives. Both the automatic steps and the manual steps are uniformly defined in a single general-purpose markup language (e.g., XML). Further, a manual step is dynamically transformed into a new automatic step that is represented as a new XML action element. The new XML action element includes an identifier of a software routine to be executed to perform the new automatic step.
US08370781B2
Design and verification support related to integrated circuits that includes acquiring a first use case diagram representing a function of an object subject to design and verification and an activity diagram representing a processing procedure of the object; analyzing a structure of the activity diagram acquired at the acquiring step; converting the activity diagram to a second use case diagram representing a function of the object, based on the structure analyzed at the analyzing; verifying uniformity of the first use case diagram and the second use case diagram; and outputting a verification result obtained at the verifying uniformity.
US08370756B2
Presence information of a first user in a messaging system, such as an instant messaging system, is relayed to a second user. A first communications client of a first user detects a change in the presence status of a first user and sends an alert message to a second communications client of a second user. Moreover, systems and methods are provided for sending the alert message to an alternate address, including alternate instant messaging (IM) addresses, e-mail address, or telephone numbers, in the event that the intended recipient of the alert message is not accessible at his or her original IM address.
US08370754B2
Data files are selected for downloading from a host device to an electronic device via a sync process. Once the sync process starts, the electronic device provides the user with dynamic sync status information so that the user, for example, knows how much data has been downloaded, how much time is remaining in the download, what data files are being downloaded, etc. In addition, the user is also provided with the capability to obtain general summary information about the data files downloaded after the sync process is complete, as well as detailed summary information that may, for example, provide the user the names of each song downloaded and the size of each file.
US08370753B2
A digital signage network employs a common data model and a subscription system to disseminate data gathered from a plurality of data sources to a number of displays. The network nodes interact with each other as content sources, content consumers, or both, with some systems acting as consumers to upstream sources and acting as sources to downstream consumers. The presentation of the data on a digital signage display allows for real-time binding of live data to provide a rich display effect.
US08370747B2
A method of generating a multimedia user interface includes playing music with an electronic device; ascertaining a parameter associated with the music; and adapting visual content displayed on a display of the electronic device in conformance with the parameter of the music by applying a visual effect to the visual content, the visual effect having an association with the parameter.
US08370746B2
A relativity controller is a scroll bar/window combination that provides a way to see data in relation to both the context of its wholeness and the salience of its contents. To accomplish this, the linear density or other appearance of the scroll bar (acting as a ruler or scale) varies with the density of the document salience (as indicated by different kinds of annotations or marks). It also provides a way to zoom between perspectives. This is usable on many different data types: including sound, video, graphics, calendars and word processors.
US08370745B2
A relativity controller is a scroll bar/window combination that provides a way to see data in relation to both the context of its wholeness and the salience of its contents. To accomplish this, the linear density or other appearance of the scroll bar (acting as a ruler or scale) varies with the density of the document salience (as indicated by different kinds of annotations or marks). It also provides a way to zoom between perspectives. This is usable on many different data types: including sound, video, graphics, calendars and word processors.
US08370742B2
A display device for displaying operating parameters of an agricultural machine which includes a working unit has a display unit designed such that it may display several subsections, to each of which an operating parameter is assigned, in a first operating state of the working unit, a closed main region having a central geometric focal point may be displayed, and a first subsection is limited on the side by a second subsection, in a second operating state of the working unit, the mean distance between one side of the first subsection and the central geometric focal point is changed, and an agricultural machine includes the working unit, a driver's cab, and the display device.
US08370740B2
The invention enables document level controls to be added to applications which display documents by using an application level add-in. The application level add-in tracks document opening and closing and dynamically constructs the document level control accordingly to ensure that the document level control is active only while the document is open.
US08370738B2
Automatic layout processing includes determining an area size based on a vertical size of sub-templates aligned in a row direction and a horizontal size of sub-templates aligned in a column direction, and locating each sub-template in a corresponding area.
US08370719B2
A device, method, machine-readable medium, and system are disclosed. In one embodiment the device is a memory controller capable of modifying a reference voltage to a persistent moving read reference (MRR) voltage level for use during one or more subsequent reads to a non-volatile memory array. This modification is in response to a change in a reference voltage supplying the non-volatile memory array from a previous reference voltage level to a temporary MRR voltage level.
US08370718B2
A method is for identifying a flash memory device coupled to a host device. The flash memory device may have a page size from possible page sizes, bootstrap code stored on a first sector thereof, and a data bus for accessing data stored in the flash memory device and with a data bus size from possible data bus sizes. The method may include reading data stored in a first page of the first sector as if the flash memory device had an assumed page size and an assumed data bus size, and reading content from memory locations where error correction code (ECC) bytes of the first page are stored if the flash memory device has the assumed page size and checking whether the ECC bytes include more than a number of errors associated with the assumed page size. The method may also include if the ECC bytes do not include more than the number of errors, generating a flag signal that the flash memory device has the assumed page size and the assumed data bus size.
US08370712B2
A computer-implemented method of managing a memory of a non-volatile solid state memory device by balancing write/erase cycles among blocks to level block usage. The method includes: monitoring an occurrence of an error during a read operation in a memory unit of the device, wherein the error is correctable by error-correcting code; and programming the memory unit according to the monitored occurrence of the error; wherein the step of monitoring the occurrence of an error is carried out for at least one block; and wherein said step of programming comprises wear-leveling the monitored block according the error monitored for the monitored block. A computer system and a computer program-product is also provided.The non-volatile solid state memory device includes: a memory unit having data stored therein; and a controller with a logic for programming the memory unit according to a monitored occurrence of an error during a read operation. The method includes: monitoring an occurrence of an error during a read operation in a memory unit of the device; and programming the memory unit according to the monitored occurrence of the error.
US08370703B2
A method of encoding information and a method of decoding information, and an apparatus to perform one or both methods, and an information storage medium on which to store the information, the method of encoding the information including encrypting data between two ECC-encoding operations, and the method of decoding the information including decrypting data between two ECC-decoding operations.
US08370702B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods, systems, and apparatuses related to multilevel encoding with error correction. In some embodiments, data may be programmed and/or read from a matrix of nonvolatile memory cells with concatenated encoding/decoding schemes. In some embodiments, a calculation module may determine an actual bit per cell value of a given combination of parameters of a nonvolatile memory device. Still other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US08370700B2
The present invention discloses a coding method, a coding device, a decoding method and a decoding device for low density generator matrix codes. Wherein the coding method includes: constructing the mother code set of the low density generator matrix code using P low density generator matrix codes of different code lengths at a code rate R0, wherein the mother code set of the low density generator matrix code has a uniform basic matrix Gbuniform, R 0 = k b n b , where kb is the row number of the basic matrix and nb is the column number of the basic matrix; obtaining the length L of an intermediate variable according to the relationship between the length K of the information bit sequence to be coded in the mother code set of the low density generator matrix code and the length L of the intermediate variable; obtaining an expansion factor zk for processing the basic matrix using the length L of the intermediate variable and the row number kb of the basic matrix, and obtaining a generator matrix Gldgc by modifying and expanding the basic matrix using the expansion factor zk; and coding the information bit sequence to be coded using a matrix Gldgc(1:L,1:N+L−K) comprised of L rows and the first N+L−K columns of the generator matrix.
US08370699B2
Provided is a semiconductor memory apparatus that may use an efficient protocol between an NAND flash memory device and a controller to reduce bus traffic. The flash memory device may include a memory cell array and an error correction encoder. The memory cell array may include a plurality of pages. The error correction encoder may generate first parity data based on normal data to be written to the memory cell array, compare the first parity data and second parity data encoded with the normal data stored in the memory cell array, and check an error. The error position detector may detect an error position in response to the error signal transmitted from the error correction encoder. Thus, since the semiconductor memory apparatus may transmit and receives parity data or a syndrome between an NAND flash memory device and the controller by detecting and correcting an error in the same memory chip, bus traffic may be reduced.
US08370697B2
A method and system are provided to transmit a meter power status. The method includes recognizing a power status change at a meter. The method includes, if the meter is scheduled to transmit first, transmitting a notification message to at least one neighboring meter towards a mesh gate, wherein the notification message includes a power status indicator and a meter identifier. The method includes, if the meter is not scheduled to transmit first, waiting a predetermined time period to receive a notification message from at least one neighboring meter. The method includes, responsive to receiving a notification message, adding a meter identifier to the received notification message before retransmitting the modified notification message to at least one neighboring meter. The method includes retransmitting the notification message.
US08370690B1
Embodiments of the present invention provide systems, methods, and computer-readable media for modifying frame error rates associated with a mobile device. In embodiments, a mobile device is assigned an initial frame error rate. In response to determining the initial frame error rate does not match a desired frame error rate, a frame error rate modification request is generated. The frame error rate modification request is transmitted to a base station. At the base station, a modified frame error rate that matches the desired frame error rate is associated with the mobile device.
US08370684B2
A microprocessor includes a bus interface unit that interfaces the microprocessor to a bus that includes a signal that, when asserted, instructs all bus agents to refrain from initiating bus transactions. Microcode causes the bus interface unit to assert the signal in response to detecting an event and resets the microprocessor, but does not reset a portion of the bus interface unit that asserts the signal on the bus. After the reset, the microcode causes the bus interface unit to deassert the signal on the bus. Additionally, the microcode sets a flag and saves the microprocessor state to memory before resetting itself, but does not reset the interrupt controller. After the reset, the microcode reloads the state of the microprocessor from the memory. However, if the microcode determines that the flag is set, it forgoes reloading the state of the interrupt controller.
US08370676B2
A receiving apparatus includes: a clock unit that outputs time information; a synchronizing (sync) packet receiving unit that receives a sync packet which contains transmitting time information and which is sent from a transmitting apparatus over an asynchronous network; a magnitude-of-jitter calculation unit that calculates as a magnitude of a jitter a difference between a first difference, which is a difference between the receiving times of two adjoining sync packets received by the sync packet receiving unit, and a second difference which is a difference between the transmitting times of the two sync packets; a delay time estimation unit that obtains the delay time of the sync packet on the basis of magnitudes of jitters calculated by the magnitude-of-jitter calculation unit; and a time correction unit that compensates the transmitting time of the sync packet, which is received by the sync packet receiving unit, on the basis of the delay time of the sync packet, which is obtained by the delay time estimation unit, so as to obtain a compensated time, and rewrites and corrects the time of the clock unit with the compensated time.
US08370675B2
A method for clock synchronization includes computing an offset value between a local clock time of a real-time clock circuit and a reference clock time, and loading the offset value into a register that is associated with the real-time clock circuit. The local clock time is then summed with the value in the register so as to give an adjusted value of the local clock time that is synchronized with the reference clock.
US08370671B2
Mechanisms for saving power by powering down an instruction fetch array based on capacity history information of an instruction buffer are provided. The mechanisms operate to receive a current access to an instruction buffer of a processor. The current access is a fetch of a group of one or more instructions to be stored in the instruction buffer. A determination is made, for one or more prior accesses occurring prior to the current access, if a predetermined pattern of capacity availability of the instruction buffer indicates that the instruction buffer is likely to have available capacity to store the group of one or more instructions of the current access. An instruction fetch unit array is powered down in response to a determination that the instruction buffer is not likely to have available capacity to store the group of one or more instructions of the current access.
US08370669B2
A memory device includes memory sleep logic operative to detect a repetitive pattern within at least one memory block, and place the memory block into a sleep mode in response to detecting the repetitive pattern. The memory device memory sleep logic may also provide a response to read commands to the memory block while it is in sleep mode, where the response is a constant output for any address location of the memory block. The memory device memory sleep logic may include pattern detection logic, associated with each memory block, to detect the repetitive pattern; and data port logic, coupled to the pattern detection logic, operative to receive an activation command from the pattern detection logic, and operative to return a constant output pattern in response to any read command to read data from the memory block.
US08370663B2
A central processing unit (CPU) can specify an initial (e.g., baseline) frequency for a clock signal used by a device to perform a task. The CPU is then placed in a reduced power mode. The device performs the task after the CPU is placed in the reduced power mode until a triggering event causes the device to send an interrupt to the CPU. In response to the interrupt, the CPU awakens to dynamically adjust the clock frequency. If the clock frequency is reset to the baseline value, then the CPU is again placed in the reduced power mode.
US08370658B2
Adaptive control of operating and body bias voltages. In accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, a desirable operating frequency for the microprocessor is determined. Information stored within and specific to the microprocessor is accessed. The information can comprise coefficients of a quadratic approximation of a frequency-voltage characteristic of the microprocessor for a set of body biasing conditions. An efficient voltage for operating the microprocessor at the desirable operating frequency is computed. The microprocessor is operated at the efficient voltage and the set of body biasing conditions.
US08370656B2
The power and data hub is a fan-less modular electronic system having a main housing member that forms a heat sink, which houses an electronic switch fabric backbone. The electronic switch fabric backbone connects multiple modular slots using a connection fabric backplane, which provides low voltage power input and command protocols. Cross-matrix switches are provided to interconnect stand-alone audio-visual, computer and other data, such as audio I/O, video I/O, and outputs via the integrated switch fabric backbone. Multifunction modular cards are provided and securely insert into modular slots disposed in the main housing unit. The system includes a control and DC power injector management unit for power control of connected units. Power management instructions can be issued to the main unit and modular cards. A network-based management utility controls, monitors and records operational parameters, and also stores and translates programmed instructions to the device.
US08370653B2
A motherboard which can play an image or a video in a power-off state is disclosed. The motherboard includes a circuit board, a north bridge chipset, a digital photo frame chipset, and a switch unit. The north bridge chipset, the digital photo frame chipset, and the switch unit are disposed on the circuit board. The digital photo frame chipset is activated according to a stand-by power in the power-off state. The switch unit is electrically connected with the north bridge chipset and the digital photo frame chipset, respectively. The switch unit electrically communicates with the north bridge chipset or the digital photo frame chipset according to a triggering signal. The motherboard may utilize the stand-by power in the power-off state to display an image by a display device via the digital photo frame chipset and the north bridge chipset when a computer system is powered off.
US08370652B2
In a data center which includes a plurality of servers, a discovery computer, a power measurement system (PMS), and a plurality of power-circuits which supply power to the servers, the discovery computer performs the following actions for each server. It transmits a first command to the server causing the server to start generating a power consumption signature if the server is able to do so. Upon receiving a SUCCESS response from the server, it instructs the PMS to start measuring the power consumption from each power-circuit. After a prescribed interval of time has elapsed, it collects the measurements from the PMS and analyzes the measurements to look for the presence of the signature. Upon detecting the signature in the measurement taken from a particular power-circuit, the discovery computer concludes that the server is connected to the particular power-circuit and creates a mapping there-between.
US08370646B2
Methods and systems for enhancing the security of data during input and output on a client computer system are provided to prevent attempts by unauthorized code to access, intercept, and/or modify data. Example embodiments provide a plurality of obfuscation techniques and security enhanced drivers that use these obfuscation techniques to prohibit unauthorized viewing/receiving of valid data. When the drivers are used together with the various obfuscation techniques, the security enhanced drivers provide mechanisms for “scheduling” the content of the storage areas used to store the data so that valid data is not available to unauthorized recipients. When unauthorized recipients attempt to access the “data,” they perceive or receive obfuscated data. The obfuscation techniques described include “copy-in,” “replace and restore,” and “in-place replacement” de-obfuscation/re-obfuscation techniques. In one embodiment, a security enhanced display driver, a security enhanced mouse driver, a security enhanced keyboard driver, and a security enhanced audio driver are provided. To complement the security enhancements, the methods and systems also provide for a watchdog mechanism to ensure that the driver is functioning as it should be and various user interface techniques for denoting security on a display device.
US08370642B2
A cryptographic processing apparatus includes: at least one register configured to store data for operation; a first operation block configured to execute an operation in accordance with data stored in the register; a second operation block configured to execute a logic operation between one of a register-stored value and a key and an operation result of the first operation block; and a decode block configured to decode binary data in units of the predetermined number of bits to convert the binary data into decode data having the number of bits higher than the number of bits of the binary data.
US08370629B1
A system and method are disclosed for determining and sharing of trusted location data. The system includes a network device or application and at least two independent trusted sources of location data/location assistance data, where the at least two independent trusted sources have unique and unalterable ID codes. The network device or application receive and authenticate the location information/location assistance data from the at least two independent trusted sources, and the network device or application calculates a trusted location estimate by comparing the location data of the at least two independent trusted sources. The network device or application is a self-aware device. The trusted location data may be virally shared with other self-aware network devices in the network.
US08370627B2
It is an object of the present invention to solve a problem included in the onion routing which is used as a confidential communication method, that if a system down occurs in a computer within a communication route, connection is not made to further components at all, or a problem that the system and the traffic become slow by using multiplexed encryption. It is a communication method in which a client of an information providing source encrypts random numbers and calculates its hash value using respective public keys of an information server to which it connects, a function server of a destination to be sent, and an information server to which the function server connects, respective servers decrypt the encrypted random number using their own secret keys to compare the random number with the hash value, and thus, the client determines whether or not the route is related to the client. In such a way, information can be provided as an information providing source and an information provided destination are hidden, and as a response to provided contents from the function server which is the information provided source can also be kept anonymous.
US08370621B2
Counting values can be encrypted as a set of counting value cyphertexts according to a hidden vector encryption scheme using sample values of a set of samples, where each of the samples can include multiple sample values. Additionally, tokens can be generated. The tokens can be configured according to the hidden vector encryption scheme, such that each of the tokens can enable decryption of matching cyphertexts. Processing of the counting value cyphertexts and the tokens can be delegated to a map-reduce computer cluster. The cluster can run a map-reduce program to produce and return count representations. Each count representation can represent a count of a set of the counting value cyphertext(s) whose decryption was enabled by one or more of the token(s). For example, the counts may be counts that can be used in constructing a data structure such as a decision tree.
US08370614B2
A method of booting a computing device includes, responsive to said computing device powering on, loading a first lightweight operating system on said computing device and executing an instant-on application through said lightweight operating system. The method further includes, during execution of said instant-on application, loading a hypervisor on said computing device and migrating said instant-on application to a first virtual machine executing a second lightweight operating system implemented by said hypervisor. The method further includes loading a full-feature operating system on a second virtual machine implemented by said hypervisor.
US08370609B1
This invention includes a circuit for tracking memory operations with trace-based execution. Each trace includes a sequence of operations that includes zero or more of the memory operations. The memory operations being executed form a set of active memory operations that have a predefined program order among them and corresponding ordering constraints. At least some of the active memory operations access the memory in an execution order that is different from the program order. Checkpoint entries are associated with each trace. Each entry refers to a checkpoint location. Memory operation ordering entries correspond to each one of the active memory operations. Violations of the ordering constraints result in overwriting the checkpoint locations associated with the selected trace as well as the checkpoint locations associated with traces that are younger than the selected trace.
US08370603B2
The disclosed architecture uses address mapping to map a block address on a host interface to an internal block address of a non-volatile memory (NVM) device. The block address is mapped to an internal chip select for selecting a Concurrently Addressable Unit (CAU) identified by the block address. The disclosed architecture supports generic NVM commands for read, write, erase and get status operations. The architecture also supports an extended command set for supporting read and write operations that leverage a multiple CAU architecture.
US08370602B2
A method for memory space management is disclosed. It uses a resident program loaded into an operation system or the controller of a storage device to monitor the storage space and the resource allocation of the file system of the storage device. The status of the logical address with an erased and invalid data mapped with a physical block is checked via a L2P mapping table. By using a data erase instruction, the controller modifies the L2P mapping table to cancel the link relation between the physical block and the logical address and erase the physical block to release the memory space. Finally, the check location is stored for a next check. The method for memory space management improves the access speed and the usage life of the storage device.
US08370594B2
A hash-optimized backup system and method takes data blocks and generates a probabilistically unique digital fingerprint of the content of each data block using a substantially collision-free algorithm. The process compares the generated fingerprint to a database of stored fingerprints and, if the generated fingerprint matches a stored fingerprint, the data block is determined to already have been backed up, and therefore does not need to be backed up again. Only if the generated fingerprint does not match a stored fingerprint is the data block backed up, at which point the generated fingerprint is added to the database of stored fingerprints. Because the algorithm is substantially collision-free, there is no need to compare actual data content if there is a hash-value match. The process can also be used to audit software license compliance, inventory software, and detect computer-file tampering such as viruses and malware.
US08370589B1
Techniques introduced herein allow writeable PPIs to be re-used. A writeable PPI manager can make use of existing writeable PPIs to offer logical units to clients without creating additional writeable PPIs. The writeable PPI manager can determine which writeable PPIs to re-use by testing the writeable PPIs for a variety of conditions. Advantageously, re-use of remaining logical units reduces unnecessary replication of data and increased overhead costs. Resources can thereby be conserved.
US08370585B2
A data processing system is provided. The data processing system includes a plurality of processors, a cache memory shared by the plurality of processors, in which memory a cache line is divided into a plurality of partial writable regions. The plurality of processors are given exclusive access rights to the partial writable region waits.
US08370577B2
Storing metadata that is disjoint from corresponding data by storing the metadata to the same address as the corresponding data but in a different address space. A metadata store instruction includes a storage address for the metadata. The storage address is the same address as that for data corresponding to the metadata, but the storage address when used for the metadata is implemented in a metadata address space while the storage address, when used for the corresponding data is implemented in a different data address space. As a result of executing the metadata store instruction, the metadata is stored at the storage address. A metadata load instruction includes the storage address for the metadata. As a result of executing the metadata load instruction, the metadata stored at the address is received. Some embodiments may further implement a metadata clear instruction which clears any entries in the metadata address space.
US08370570B2
Disclosed is a storage system that suppress occurrence of a bottleneck in the storage system, efficiently uses a bandwidth of hardware, and achieves high reliability. A storage system includes a storage apparatus that stores data, a controller that controls data input/output with respect to the storage apparatus, and an interface that couples the storage apparatus and the controller. The storage apparatus has a plurality of physical ports that are coupled to the interface. The controller logically partitions a storage area of the storage apparatus into a plurality of storage areas and provides the plurality of storage areas, or allocates the plurality of physical ports to the logically partitioned storage areas.
US08370562B2
Cache flushing is effected for a flash memory by copying, to a block of the memory, first and second portions of cached data, and servicing a host access in-between copying the first portion and the second portion. Either both portions are selected before the copying, or erasing the block is forbidden until after the copying, or a portion of the block left unwritten by the first copying remains unwritten until after the host access is serviced.
US08370545B2
A traffic manager includes an execution unit that is responsive to instructions related to queuing of data in memory. The instructions may be provided by a network processor that is programmed to generate such instructions, depending on the data. Examples of such instructions include (1) writing of data units (of fixed size or variable size) without linking to a queue, (2) re-sequencing of the data units relative to one another without moving the data units in memory, and (3) linking the previously-written data units to a queue. The network processor and traffic manager may be implemented in a single chip.
US08370540B2
A data transfer control device that selects one of a plurality of DMA channels and transfers data to or from memory includes a request holding section configured to hold a certain number of data transfer requests of the plurality of DMA channels and a request rearranging section configured to select and rearrange the data transfer requests that are held in a basic transfer order so that the data transfer requests of each of the plurality of DMA channels are successively outputted for a number of successive transfers set in advance.
US08370532B1
Techniques for portable device data archiving are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a computer implemented method for data archiving comprising detecting a connection of a device to a computing platform, identifying the connected device, and archiving data of the connected device according to a specified archive parameter.
US08370525B2
A method and apparatus for implementing ink data communication between multiple parties using computing and/or communication devices on a network is disclosed. An electronic chat system comprising a hardware interface layer for receiving raw ink data from an input device, an ink management layer for processing the raw ink data into a form useable by a chat interface layer, and a network interface layer for transferring the processed ink data across a network to a chat interface layer on a remote computer.
US08370522B2
An overlay protocol and system for allowing multicast routing in the Internet to be performed at the application level. The overlay protocol uses “native” Internet multicast and multicast routing protocols to route information, according to overlay routing tables. Overlay groups are mapped to native multicast groups to exploit native multicasting in regional or local forwarding domains. Use of the overlay protocol allows overlay distribution to be handled in a more intelligent and bandwidth-managed fashion. Overlay routers are placed at each of several local area networks, Internet service provider's point of presence, enterprise, or other cohesively-managed locations. The overlay computers are configured according to bandwidth and security policies, and perform application-level multicast distribution across the otherwise disjoint multicast networks by using the overlay routing. The result is an overlay multicast network that is effectively managed according to local network management policies. Application-level control can be applied to the transferred data at the overlay routers.
US08370521B2
Various embodiments of systems and methods for data message exchange in a client server network are described herein. In various embodiments, a client and a server network may implement a data message protocol for message exchanges. A method of an embodiment ensures message delivery, acknowledge message delivery, message delivery in a specific order, resending of lost data messages, and the like. In various embodiments, such data exchange may optimize data transmission and resource consumption in a client server network. A server can store data messages in a buffer and resend them only when requested by the client, as in the case of lost or out of sequence data message. A client with limited storage space need not concern itself with storing data messages and processing them at a later point in time. Furthermore, a client may optimize data transmission by acknowledging bulk data messages, rather than acknowledging them individually.
US08370520B2
A method and apparatus stores media content in a variety of storage devices, with at least a portion of the storage devices having different performance characteristics. The system can deliver media to a large number of clients while maintaining a high level of viewing experience for each client by automatically adapting the bit rate of a media being delivered to a client using the client's last mile bit rate variation. The system provides clients with smooth viewing of video without buffering stops. The client does not need a custom video content player to communicate with the system.
US08370519B2
A method for synchronizing files on an expandable memory card inserted in a wireless device with an application running on a computer desktop where downloading of files is performed wirelessly without user involvement.
US08370515B2
The present invention is directed to voice communication devices in which an audio stream is divided into a sequence of individual packets, each of which is routed via pathways that can vary depending on the availability of network resources. All embodiments of the invention rely on an acoustic prioritization agent that assigns a priority value to the packets. The priority value is based on factors such as whether the packet contains voice activity and the degree of acoustic similarity between this packet and adjacent packets in the sequence. A confidence level, associated with the priority value, may also be assigned. In one embodiment, network congestion is reduced by deliberately failing to transmit packets that are judged to be acoustically similar to adjacent packets; the expectation is that, under these circumstances, traditional packet loss concealment algorithms in the receiving device will construct an acceptably accurate replica of the missing packet. In another embodiment, the receiving device can reduce the number of packets stored in its jitter buffer, and therefore the latency of the speech signal, by selectively deleting one or more packets within sustained silences or non-varying speech events. In both embodiments, the ability of the system to drop appropriate packets may be enhanced by taking into account the confidence levels associated with the priority assessments.
US08370512B2
A multicast processing section constructs, when it is determined that a received packet is a packet on a multicast packet and multicast group management protocol, a table showing a correlation between a host device and a multicast group in a port number-multicast physical address correlation storing section as well as in a multicast router-connected port storing section according to the received packet, and controls to transfer a packet for each multicast group between a multicast router and host devices according to the table.
US08370503B2
A network component comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method comprising sending a message comprising an authentication mobility option to a mobile node, wherein the message is configured to revoke a mobility binding for the mobile node is disclosed. Also disclosed is a system comprising a home agent configured to send a binding revocation indication (BRI) to a mobile node and receive a binding revocation acknowledgement (BRA) from the mobile node, wherein the BRI comprises a first authentication mobility option and the BRA comprises a second authentication mobility option. Included is a method comprising receiving a BRI message comprising an authentication mobility option from a home agent, analyzing the authentication mobility option, and sending a BRA message to the home agent.
US08370492B2
A system and method of providing a quality of service (QoS) is provided. The method of providing the QoS in the link layer includes receiving, by a stream providing device, minimum and maximum resource requirement information of a stream receiving device; transmitting, by the stream providing device, a reservation message including the minimum and maximum resource requirement information; allocating a resource, by at least one bridge, based on the reservation message transmitted from the stream providing device; and receiving, by the stream receiving device, a stream transmitted from the stream providing device via the resource.
