US08642475B2
A method of manufacturing an integrated circuit system includes: providing a substrate; forming a polysilicon layer over the substrate; forming an anti-reflective coating layer over the polysilicon layer; etching an anti-reflective coating pattern into the anti-reflective coating layer leaving an anti-reflective coating residue over the polysilicon layer; and etching the anti-reflective coating residue with an etchant gas mixture comprising hydrogen bromide, chlorine, and oxygen to remove the anti-reflective coating residue for mitigating the formation of a polysilicon protrusion.
US08642474B2
Ultrafine dimensions are accurately and efficiently formed in a target layer using a spacer lithographic technique comprising forming a first mask pattern, forming a cross-linkable layer over the first mask pattern, forming a cross-linked spacer between the first mask pattern and cross-linkable layer, removing the cross-linkable layer, cross-linked spacer from the upper surface of the first mask pattern and the first mask pattern to form a second mask pattern comprising remaining portions of the cross-linked spacer, and etching using the second mask pattern to form an ultrafine pattern in the underlying target layer. Embodiments include forming the first mask pattern from a photoresist material capable of generating an acid, depositing a cross-linkable material comprising a material capable of undergoing a cross-linking reaction in the presence of an acid, and removing portions of the non-cross-linked layer and cross-linked spacer from the upper surface of the first mask pattern before removing the remaining portions of the first mask pattern and remaining noncross-linked layer.
US08642464B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a first interconnection and a second interconnection above a semiconductor substrate, forming a first sidewall insulating film on a side wall of the first interconnection, and a second sidewall insulating film on a side wall of the second interconnection, forming a conductive film above the semiconductor substrate with the first interconnection, the first sidewall insulating film, the second interconnection and the second sidewall insulating film formed on, and selectively removing the conductive film above the first interconnection and the second interconnection to form in a region between the first interconnection and the second interconnection a third interconnection formed of the conductive film and spaced from the first interconnection and the second interconnection by the first sidewall insulating film and the second sidewall insulating film.
US08642461B2
A method for providing a semiconductor chip package with side wettable plating includes singulating a semiconductor chip package from an array of packages formed in a block format, immersing the semiconductor chip package in a bath of plating solution, contacting a lead land of the semiconductor chip package with conductive contact material within the bath of plating solution, connecting the conductive contact material to a cathode electrical potential, connecting an anode within the bath of plating solution to an anode electrical potential, and plating the lead land of the semiconductor chip package.
US08642459B2
A method for forming a semiconductor device. One embodiment provides a semiconductor substrate having a trench with a sidewall isolation. The sidewall isolation is removed in a portion of the trench. A gate dielectric is formed on the laid open sidewall. A gate electrode is formed adjacent to the date dielectric. The upper surface of the gate electrode is located at a depth d1 below the surface of the semiconductor substrate. The gate oxide is removed above the gate electrode. An isolation is formed simultaneously on the gate electrode and the semiconductor substrate such that the absolute value of height difference d2 between the isolation over the gate electrode and the isolation over the semiconductor substrate is smaller than the depth d1.
US08642453B2
Disclosed is a silicon-on-insulator-based Schottky barrier diode with a low forward voltage that can be manufactured according to standard SOI process flow. An active silicon island is formed using an SOI wafer. One area of the island is heavily-doped with an n-type or p-type dopant, one area is lightly-doped with the same dopant, and an isolation structure is formed on the top surface above a junction between the two areas. A metal silicide region contacts the lightly-doped side of the island forming a Schottky barrier. Another discrete metal silicide region contacts the heavily-doped area of the island forming an electrode to the Schottky barrier (i.e., a Schottky barrier contact). The two metal silicide regions are isolated from each other by the isolation structure. Contacts to each of the discrete metal silicide regions allow a forward and/or a reverse bias to be applied to the Schottky barrier.
US08642446B2
A semiconductor wafer contains a plurality of semiconductor die separated by a saw street. A contact pad is formed over an active surface of the semiconductor die. A protective pattern is formed over the active surface of the semiconductor die between the contact pad and saw street of the semiconductor die. The protective pattern includes a segmented metal layer or plurality of parallel segmented metal layers. An insulating layer is formed over the active surface, contact pad, and protective pattern. A portion of the insulating layer is removed to expose the contact pad. The protective pattern reduces erosion of the insulating layer between the contact pad and saw street of the semiconductor die. The protective pattern can be angled at corners of the semiconductor die or follow a contour of the contact pad. The protective pattern can be formed at corners of the semiconductor die.
US08642444B2
Disclosed herein is a method of manufacturing a bonded substrate, including the steps of: forming a first bonding layer on a surface on one side of a semiconductor substrate; forming a second bonding layer on a surface on one side of a support substrate; adhering the first bonding layer and the second bonding layer to each other; a heat treatment for bonding the first bonding layer and the second bonding layer to each other; and thinning the semiconductor substrate from a surface on the other side of the semiconductor substrate to form a semiconductor layer.
US08642436B2
A first impurity region is formed by ion implantation through a first opening formed in a mask layer. By depositing a spacer layer on an etching stop layer on which the mask layer has been provided, a mask portion having the mask layer and the spacer layer is formed. By anisotropically etching the spacer layer, a second opening surrounded by a second sidewall is formed in the mask portion. A second impurity region is formed by ion implantation through the second opening. An angle of the second sidewall with respect to a surface is 90°±10° across a height as great as a second depth. Thus, accuracy in extension of an impurity region can be enhanced.
US08642424B2
A replacement metal gate structure and methods of manufacturing the same is provided. The method includes forming at least one trench structure and forming a liner of high-k dielectric material in the at least one trench structure. The method further includes adjusting a height of the liner of high-k dielectric material. The method further includes forming at least one workfunction metal over the liner, and forming a metal gate structure in the at least one trench structure, over the at least one workfunction metal and the liner of high-k dielectric material.
US08642423B2
A method of forming a trench structure that includes forming a metal containing layer on at least the sidewalls of a trench, and forming an undoped semiconductor fill material within the trench. The undoped semiconductor fill material and the metal containing layer are recessed to a first depth within the trench with a first etch. The undoped semiconductor fill material is then recessed to a second depth within the trench that is greater than a first depth with a second etch. The second etch exposes at least a sidewall portion of the metal containing layer. The trench is filled with a doped semiconductor containing material fill, wherein the doped semiconductor material fill is in direct contact with the at least the sidewall portion of the metal containing layer.
US08642413B2
A method to form a strain-inducing epitaxial film is described. In one embodiment, the strain-inducing epitaxial film is a three-component epitaxial film comprising atoms from a parent film, charge-neutral lattice-substitution atoms and charge-carrier dopant impurity atoms. In another embodiment, the strain-inducing epitaxial film is formed by a multiple deposition/etch cycle sequence involving hydrogenated amorphous silicon, followed by charge carrier dopant and charge-neutral lattice-forming impurity atom implant steps and, finally, a kinetically-driven crystallization process.
US08642409B2
According to one embodiment, there is provided a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device. In the method, a substrate portion and a fin portion on the substrate portion are formed. A first silicon oxide film is formed on each side surface of the fin portion. A polysilazane film having an upper surface lower than the upper surface of the first silicon oxide film is formed on each side surface of the first silicon oxide film. The polysilazane film is converted into a silicon oxynitride film. The first silicon oxide film is etched to make the upper surface of the first silicon oxide film not higher than the upper surface of the silicon oxynitride film. A heavily doped semiconductor layer is formed in the fin portion.
US08642406B2
An object of the present invention is to increase adhesiveness between thin films, particularly a high molecular film formed on an insulating surface, and the present invention provides a semiconductor device with high reliability and a method for manufacturing the semiconductor device with high yield. A semiconductor device of the present invention comprises a laminate structure formed in close contact with an organic insulating film on a hydrophobic surface of an inorganic insulating film including silicon and nitrogen. A film having the hydrophobic surface is an insulating film having a contact angle of water of equal to or more than 30°, preferably of equal to or more than 40°.
US08642402B2
To provide a method for producing a thin film transistor improved in stability, uniformity, reproducibility, heat resistance, durability or the like, a thin film transistor, a thin film transistor substrate, an image display apparatus, an image display apparatus and a semiconductor device.In the semiconductor device, a crystalline oxide is used as an N-type transistor and the electron carrier concentration of the crystalline oxide is less than 2×1017/cm3. Furthermore, the crystalline oxide is a polycrystalline oxide containing In and one or more positive divalent elements selected from Zn, Mg, Cu, Ni, Co and Ca, and the atomic ratio In [In] and the positive divalent element [X][X]/([X]+[In]) is 0.0001 to 0.13.
US08642401B2
In an insulated-gate type semiconductor device in which a gate-purpose conductive layer is embedded into a trench which is formed in a semiconductor substrate, and a source-purpose conductive layer is provided on a major surface of the semiconductor substrate, a portion of a gate pillar which is constituted by both the gate-purpose conductive layer and a cap insulating film for capping an upper surface of the gate-purpose conductive layer is projected from the major surface of the semiconductor substrate; a side wall spacer is provided on a side wall of the projected portion of the gate pillar; and the source-purpose conductive layer is connected to a contact region of the major surface of the semiconductor substrate, which is defined by the side wall spacer.
US08642388B2
A method for manufacturing LEDs includes following steps: forming circuit structures on a substrate, each circuit structure having a first metal layer and a second metal layer formed on opposite surfaces of the substrate and a connecting section interconnecting the first and second metal layers; cutting through each circuit structure along a middle of the connecting section to form first and second electrical connecting portions insulated from each other via a gap therebetween; arranging LED chips on the substrate and electrically connecting the LED chips to the first and second electrical connecting portions; forming an encapsulation on the substrate to cover the LED chips; and cutting through the substrate and the encapsulation between the first and second electrical connecting portions of neighboring circuit structures to obtain the LEDs.
US08642383B2
An integrated circuit package system that includes: providing an electrical interconnect system including a first lead-finger system and a second lead-finger system; connecting a first device to the first lead-finger system with a wire bond; stacking a second device over the first device; and connecting the second device to the second lead-finger system with a bump bond.
US08642380B2
An object is to provide a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device having a high field effect mobility and including an oxide semiconductor layer in a semiconductor device including an oxide semiconductor. Another object is to provide a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device capable of high speed operation. An oxide semiconductor layer is terminated by a halogen element, and thus an increase in the contact resistance between the oxide semiconductor layer and a conductive layer in contact with the oxide semiconductor layer is suppressed. Therefore, the contact resistance between the oxide semiconductor layer and the conductive layer becomes favorable and a transistor having a high field effect mobility can be manufactured.
US08642359B2
An integrated circuit intended to be assembled with an electromagnetic radiation detector, the integrated circuit comprising a device for processing signals stemming from the detector, the processing device being covered with at least one conductive plate for protection against electromagnetic radiation, intended to be placed between said detector and said integrated circuit, said conductive plate including one or more apertures letting through conductive elements providing an electrical connection between the processing device and the detector.
US08642338B2
An anterior ocular segment related cell sheet or three-dimensional structure that have only a few structural defects as they have been recovered retaining the intercellular desmosome structure and the basement membrane-like protein between cell and substrate. The anterior ocular segment related cell sheet or three-dimensional structure is produced by a process comprising the steps of cultivating cells on a cell culture support comprising a substrate having its surface covered with a temperature responsive polymer having an upper or lower critical dissolution temperature of 0-80° C. with respect to water, optionally stratifying the layer of cultured cells by the usual method, and thereafter, (1) adjusting the temperature of the culture solution to either above the upper critical dissolution temperature or below the lower critical dissolution temperature, and further optionally (2) bringing the cultured anterior ocular segment related cell sheet or three-dimensional structure into close contact with a polymer membrane, and (3) detaching the sheet or three-dimensional structure together with the polymer membrane.
US08642336B2
Methods and materials for making complex, living, vascularized tissues for organ and tissue replacement, especially complex and/or thick structures, such as liver tissue is provided. Tissue lamina is made in a system comprising an apparatus having (a) a first mold or polymer scaffold, a semi-permeable membrane, and a second mold or polymer scaffold, wherein the semi-permeable membrane is disposed between the first and second molds or polymer scaffolds, wherein the first and second molds or polymer scaffolds have means defining microchannels positioned toward the semi-permeable membrane, wherein the first and second molds or polymer scaffolds are fastened together; and (b) animal cells. Methods for producing complex, three-dimensional tissues or organs from tissue lamina are also provided.
US08642334B2
The present invention relates generally to the field of cell biology of stem cells, more specifically the directed differentiation of pluripotent or multipotent stem cells, including human embryonic stem cells (hESC), somatic stem cells, and induced human pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) using novel culture conditions. Specifically, methods are provided for obtaining neural tissue, floor plate cells, and placode including induction of neural plate development in hESCs for obtaining midbrain dopamine (DA) neurons, motorneurons, and sensory neurons. Further, neural plate tissue obtained using methods of the present inventions are contemplated for use in co-cultures with other tissues as inducers for shifting differentiation pathways, i.e. patterning.
US08642327B2
A method for screening cells with high level expression of a target protein is disclosed. The method includes introducing into a plurality of host cells a DNA construct that encodes both a target protein and an inhibitor to an endogenous selectable marker in the host cells, screening host cells harboring the DNA construct for the expression of the endogenous selectable marker, and isolating cells with reduced expression of the selectable marker. Also disclosed is a DNA construct configured to express both the target protein and the inhibitor inside the host cell.
US08642323B2
A multi-compartment resealable container for testing for the presence of micro-organisms is provided with or adapted to receive a sample in a first substantially rigid transparent compartment, a growth medium in a second compartment, and a sanitizer in a third compartment, the compartments being separated by foil seals, the second and third compartments have an associated plunger which when depressed causes serrated cutters to puncture the foil seal and allow the contents to be added to the liquid containing or comprising the sample.
US08642322B2
The present invention relates to methods for measuring an amount of an analyte using an electrochemical assay in a conduit comprising a sensor, wherein said sensor comprises an electrode having a surface layer of immobilized antibody that binds said analyte, and a counter/reference electrode disposed within said conduit. A solution comprising a substrate for said enzyme and at least one air segment contacts the sensor to remove unbound analyte and labeled antibody from a region of the sensor. The disclosed invention is adaptable to the point-of-care clinical diagnostic field, including use in accident sites, emergency rooms, surgery, nursing homes, intensive care units, and non-medical environments.
US08642307B2
A surface supporting growth of cells in culture, the surface prepare to provide hydrophilic moieties exposed thereon for enhancing the attachment of biological materials. The surface contains the hydrophilic moiety as part of an amphipathic molecule also having a hydrophobic region that is anchored or embedded within a polymer substrate, and oriented such that the hydrophilic moieties are exposed on the outer surface of the substrate. In one embodiment the surface is customized to provide qualitative and quantitative moieties to enhance particular cell growth. In one embodiment, the surface is provided on a culture apparatus such as a dish or plate.
US08642302B2
A stable continuous method for producing ethanol from the anaerobic bacterial fermentation of a gaseous substrate containing at least one reducing gas involves culturing in a fermentation bioreactor anaerobic, acetogenic bacteria in a liquid nutrient medium; supplying the gaseous substrate to the bioreactor; and manipulating the bacteria in the bioreactor by reducing the redox potential, or increasing the NAD(P)H TO NAD(P) ratio, in the fermentation broth after the bacteria achieves a steady state and stable cell concentration in the bioreactor. The free acetic acid concentration in the bioreactor is maintained at less than 5 g/L free acid. This method allows ethanol to be produced in the fermentation broth in the bioreactor at a productivity of greater than 10 g/L per day. Both ethanol and acetate are produced in a ratio of ethanol to acetate ranging from 1:1 to 20:1.
US08642296B2
A microorganism identified as a Lactococcus lactis strain (NRRL B-30656) produces an extracellular transferase enzyme when cultured and grown in sucrose-containing medium, which can be purified when it is brought into contact with a sucrose-based medium in suitable temperature and pH conditions, thereby producing a glucose and fructose polymer.
US08642294B2
Methods are described for determining the pattern of cytosine methylation in a DNA specimen, where the methods involve comparing the amount of DNA fragments generated by a methylation-sensitive restriction enzyme with the amount of DNA fragments generated by a methylation-insensitive isoschizomer of the methylation-sensitive restriction enzyme.
US08642289B2
The invention is a process for producing ethanol from sugarcane bagasse, the principal steps of which are mild sulphuric acid hydrolysis of the hemicellulose fraction of the sugarcane bagasse, followed by extraction of the hydrolysate and then fermentation thereof with the yeast Pichia stipitis. The process can be carried out with different solid : liquid ratios, and provides a step of acclimatizing the Pichia stipitis yeast, which results in a greater rate of ethanol production. The process takes place in a press reactor specially designed for this purpose, which allows more efficient extraction of the hydrolysate and, as a consequence, better process performance.
US08642287B2
Methods and apparatus for designing and measuring a cell-electrode impedance sensor to detect chemical and biological samples, including biological cells. The method of designing a cell-electrode impedance sensor comprises: determining a cell free cell-electrode impedance and a cell-covered cell-electrode impedance; obtaining a sensor sensitivity of the cell-electrode impedance measurement system; and choosing one or more design parameters of the cell-electrode impedance sensor to maximize the sensor sensitivity. When the frequency of AC signal between electrodes ranges from 10 kHz to 40 kHz, the sensitivity of the sensor is maximized.
US08642286B2
The invention is a method for using an avian embryo to identify the neuripotency of a cell population. The invention may be used for applications such as screening for candidate neuripotent cell lines for masterbanking, validation of working cell banks, and identifying agents and conditions capable of inducing neural differentiation in a cell population.
US08642267B2
The present invention is related to a biomarker for diagnosis of canine cancer, wherein the biomarker is KMO (kynureinie 3-monooxygenase) gene, and the canine cancers including CTVT (canine transmissible venereal tumor) and MGT (mammary gland tumor). The expression level of KMO gene in canine malignant tumor tissues is up-regulated as compared with benign tissues. Furthermore, the expression level of KMO gene in malignant tumor tissue is higher than in the non-metastasis tumor tissue. By detection of the expression level of the present invention biomarker in suspecting tissue specimen, malignancy of tumor tissues can be determined correctly and rapidly.
US08642261B2
The invention provides compositions and methods for the differential detection of high risk forms of HPV from a urine sample provided by a patient. Specifically, the invention provides primers and probes that specifically recognize and bind sequences within the E1 gene of HPV. Detection of high risk forms of HPV identify individuals at risk of developing or in the early stages of cervical carcinoma.
US08642257B2
Described are diagnostic and pharmaceutical compositions comprising a microorganism or cell containing a DNA sequence encoding a detectable protein or a protein capable of inducing a detectable signal, e.g. a luminescent or fluorescent protein, and, in a particular embodiment, furthermore (a) DNA sequence(s) encoding (a) protein(s) suitable for tumor therapy and/or elimination of metastatic tumors, e.g. a cytotoxic or cytostatic protein.
US08642247B2
The invention provides an ink composition having at least (A) a polymerization initiator, (B) an ester or amide of (meth)acrylic acid having a 1,3-dioxolane ring skeleton or a 1,3-dioxane ring skeleton or (B′) an ester or amide of (meth)acrylic acid having a 1,3-diketone structure, and (C) a colorant. The invention further provides an inkjet recording method and a method for producing a planographic printing plate, each of which includes at least (I) ejecting the ink composition onto a hydrophilic support and (II) curing the ink composition by irradiating the ejected ink composition with active radiation so as to form a hydrophobic image region on the hydrophilic support. The invention furthermore provides a planographic printing plate formed by the method for producing a planographic printing plate.
US08642241B2
The present teachings describe an apparatus for mixing developer. The apparatus includes a first loader for dispensing a predetermined amount of toner particles into a container and a second loader for dispensing a predetermined amount and carrier particles in the container. A sealer seals the container. An acoustic mixer is provided for mixing the container, toner particles and carrier particles at a resonant frequency. A method of mixing developer is disclosed.
US08642232B2
Direct-write lithography apparatus and methods are disclosed in which a transducer image and an image of crossed interference fringe patterns are superimposed on a photoresist layer supported by a substrate. The transducer image has an exposure wavelength and contains bright spots, each corresponding to an activated pixel. The interference image has an inhibition wavelength and contains dark spots where the null points in the crossed interference fringes coincide. The dark spots are aligned with and trim the peripheries of the corresponding bright spot to form sub-resolution photoresist pixels having a size smaller than would be formed in the absence of the dark spots.
US08642225B2
A high-pressure fluid supply apparatus that avoids gas leakage due to a reduction in the performance of a seal member provided inside piping is provided. A high-pressure fluid supply apparatus is provided, the apparatus including: piping that supplies a fluid from a high-pressure fluid supply source to a fluid utilizing device via a first valve device and a second valve device; a seal member that is arranged at a pipe part between the first and second valve devices in order to maintain sealing property of the pipe part, the seal member being made of an elastic material; and a control unit that controls closing and opening of the first and second valve devices to be able to adjust a pressure variation rate of the fluid in the pipe part, wherein the control unit adjusts the pressure variation rate in accordance with a temperature of the seal member.
US08642224B2
The present invention relates to a fuel cell system including a fuel cell, a hydrogen gas piping system for supplying a hydrogen gas to the fuel cell, an injector which adjusts a gas state on an upstream side of the hydrogen gas piping system to supply the gas to a downstream side, and a control device which drives and controls the injector in a predetermined driving period, wherein a driving characteristic of the injector is learnt, and a driving parameter of the injector can be set based on a result of the learning. In the present invention, during an operation of the fuel cell, a supply pressure of the hydrogen gas can appropriately be changed in accordance with an operation state. In addition, even when the pressure is broadly varied, a satisfactory pressure response property can be secured regardless of fluctuations due to aging and individual difference of the injector.
US08642222B2
A power request controller that prevents a power request signal to a fuel cell stack controller from providing more compressor air and hydrogen gas than is necessary to meet the current power demands of the vehicle. The stack controller generates a signal of the available current from the fuel cell stack. This signal and the measured current actually being drawn from the stack are received by a proportional-integral (P-I) controller in the power request controller. If the available stack current is significantly greater than the stack current being used, the P-I controller will provide an output signal that reduces the power request signal to the stack controller so that the current produced by the stack and the current being drawn from the stack are substantially the same. A transient detector turns off the P-I controller so that it does not reduce the power request signal during an up-power transient.
US08642219B2
A cooling system of a fuel cell is provided with a main cooling flow passage and a bypass cooling flow passage which is arranged parallel with the main cooling flow passage and diverts the same coolant, as flow passages through which coolant flows. A radiator and a coolant circulation pump (WP) and the like are arranged in the main cooling flow passage. Coolant from the main cooling flow passage enters the bypass cooling flow passage and reaches a second heat exchanger via a case of a motor of an ACP and the like. At the second heat exchanger, heat exchange is also performed with a supply gas flow passage, after which the coolant returns to the main cooling flow passage. The manner in which the coolant is distributed can be changed depending on where the coolant is diverted from the main cooling flow passage and the arrangement of the circulation pump.
US08642218B2
A coating including a silica-based material having pendent functional groups.
US08642216B2
A composite anode active material includes a metal that may be alloyed with lithium, an intermetallic compound incapable of alloying with lithium, and a carbonaceous material, wherein the intermetallic compound exists in a phase structurally separated from the metal capable of alloying with lithium. Since the composite active material contains an intermetallic compound that does not form any alloy phase with lithium nor the metal capable of alloying with lithium but rather exists in a structurally separated phase, the composite active material exhibits excellent coulombic efficiency. Further, anode electrodes and lithium batteries including the composite anode active material exhibit improved charge and discharge characteristics.
US08642215B2
A negative active material for a rechargeable lithium battery includes a SiOx (0.5≦x≦1.5) compound including crystalline Si, and a SiCy, (0.5≦y≦1.5) compound including crystalline carbon. The negative active material may be used in a rechargeable lithium battery to achieve high capacity and good cycle-life characteristics.
US08642214B2
A process includes preparing a solution including a silicon precursor or mixture of silicon precursors and a monomer or mixture of monomers; polymerizing the monomer to form a polymer-silicon precursor matrix; and pyrolyzing the polymer-silicon precursor matrix to form an electrochemically active carbon-coated silicon material.
US08642208B2
A secondary battery includes: a battery module including an electrolyte layer in a form of a plate, a positive electrode disposed on a first main surface of the electrolyte layer and containing a positive electrode active material, and a negative electrode disposed on a second main surface of the electrolyte layer and containing a negative electrode active material; and a conductive layer provided between battery modules, the secondary battery having more than one battery module and more than one conductive layer stacked in layers, wherein the positive electrode active material and the negative electrode active material are set in concentration in accordance with a temperature distribution in the secondary battery.
US08642207B2
A secondary battery includes an electrode assembly formed by winding two different electrodes and a separator interposed therebetween, a can housing the electrode assembly, a cap assembly at a upper opening of the can; and a gasket interposed between the cap assembly and the can. The gasket has a relaxed condition prior to compression between the cap assembly and an upper portion of the can and a compressed condition after compression between the cap assembly and the upper portion of the can. The gasket includes a sidewall portion bent inwardly from outside of the can when the gasket is in the compressed condition, a bottom portion at a bottom of the sidewall portion and extending inwardly from a periphery of the can, a protruding portion on which the cap assembly is seated, and a concave portion formed between the protruding portion and an inner surface of the sidewall portion.
US08642202B2
An organic electrolyte solution for use in a redox flow battery and the redox flow battery including the organic electrolyte solution has a high energy density because re-precipitation is prevented in the organic electrolyte solution or eduction is prevented in an electrode during reduction of a metal ion used as an electrolyte.
US08642194B2
A fuel cell system has an inlet shutoff valve provided in a main route forming an oxidized gas supply flow path, a humidifier bypass valve provided in a humidifier bypass route which is a route bypassing the main route, a fuel cell bypass valve provided in a fuel cell bypass route bypassing a fuel cell stack, and fuel cell bypass valve controlling unit. Under abnormal conditions in which one of the inlet shutoff valve and the humidifier bypass valve does not function even if the pressure in a valve opening pressure chamber of the one of the valves is at a first pressure value, the fuel cell bypass valve controlling unit restrict the opening of the fuel cell bypass valve to increase the pressure in the valve opening pressure chamber.
US08642190B2
An object is to provide a new fluorene derivative as a good light-emitting material for organic EL elements. A fluorene derivative represented by General Formula (G1) is provided. In the formula, R1 to R8 separately represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted biphenyl group. Further, α1 to α4 separately represent a substituted or unsubstituted phenylene group. Ar1 represents a substituted or unsubstituted condensed aromatic hydrocarbon having 14 to 18 carbon atoms forming a ring. Ar2 represents a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group having 6 to 13 carbon atoms forming a ring. Ar3 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms. Further, j, m, and n separately represent 0 or 1, and p represents 1 or 2.
US08642189B2
The invention provides an organic compound which shows an excellent electron-injecting/transporting performance, has a hole-blocking ability and shows a high stability as a film, that is, having excellent characteristics as a material for organic electroluminescent device having high efficiency and high durability; and provides an organic EL device comprising the compound and having high efficiency and high durability. The organic compound being a substituted bipyridyl compound represented by the general formula (1);
US08642183B2
Preservation of cellulose based products, such as wood, may be accomplished in an environmentally friendly manner by esterification of the wood with rare saccharides, thereby rendering the wood unfavorable for microorganism based degradation.
US08642181B2
The present invention provides a metal-clad white laminate including: a white resin layer which is composed of a resin composition obtained by mixing a polyimide having a repeating unit as represented by a particular chemical structural formula with a white pigment; and at least one metal layer, the white resin layer being an adhesive layer for the metal layer. The metal-clad white laminate of the present invention uses a white resin composition which has high reflectance and whiteness and excellent light resistance, and is easy to be reduced in thickness and weight.
US08642176B2
In one embodiment, a multilayer structure comprises: an initial terpolymer layer, a second layer comprising plastic and/or glass, a polycarbonate layer, and an adhesive layer. The initial terpolymer layer comprises a polycarbonate terpolymer derived from a first dihydroxy compound, a second dihydroxy compound, and a third dihydroxy compound, the first dihydroxy compound has Structure (A) wherein Rf is a hydrogen or CH3; the second dihydroxy compound has Structure (A) and is different from the first dihydroxy compound; and the third dihydroxy compound does not have Structure (A), and wherein a sum of mole percent of all of the first dihydroxy compound and the second dihydroxy compound is greater than or equal to 45% relative to a sum of mole percent of all of the first dihydroxy compound, the second dihydroxy compound, and the third dihydroxy compound in the polycarbonate terpolymer.
US08642172B2
A nanofiber sheet including a nanofiber layer containing a polymeric nanofiber, a surface of nanofiber sheet being adhesive. The nanofiber preferably contains an adhesive component and a water insoluble polymer. The nanofiber sheet preferably has a water soluble layer containing a nanofiber containing a water soluble adhesive component and a water insoluble layer containing a nanofiber containing a water insoluble polymer laminated to each other. The nanofiber sheet preferably further includes a base layer located on one side of the nanofiber layer and an adhesive layer located on the other side of the nanofiber layer.
US08642170B2
A coating system that includes a plurality of portions, each portion comprising one or more layers. The coating system includes an outer portion, which is an infrared radiation (IR) interaction portion, that dissipates incident (IR). Underlying this outer portion is a performance portion. The performance portion comprises at least one layer that includes microspheres. Between the substrate and performance portion is a compliance portion. The compliance portion comprises at least one layer of high temperature material that has a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) intermediate the performance layer and the substrate. The compliance portion thus reduces any high temperature thermal mismatch between the substrate and the performance portion.
US08642157B2
Methods for fabricating sub-lithographic, nanoscale microstructures in one-dimensional arrays utilizing self-assembling block copolymers, and films and devices formed from these methods are provided.
US08642152B2
An optical information recording medium including: a substrate; two or more information signal layers provided on the substrate; and a cover layer provided on the information signal layers, wherein the surface of one of the side of the substrate and the cover layer is a light irradiation plane, wherein at least one of the information signal layers other than the information signal layer at the deepest portion from the light irradiation plane includes an inorganic recording layer that includes a W oxide and a Pd oxide, a first protective layer that is provided on a first principal plane of the inorganic recording layer, and a second protective layer that is provided on a second principal plane of the inorganic recording layer, wherein at least one of the first protective layer and the second protective layer is a layer with an extinction coefficient of 0.05 to 0.6.
US08642141B2
A liquid crystal composition including a dioxolane compound represented by the general formula (G1) as a chiral agent is provided. In the general formula (G1), R1 and R2 individually represent any of hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, an aryl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, and an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms and having a phenyl group as a substituent; R1 and R2 may be bonded to each other to form a ring; R3 and R4 individually represent any of hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and a cycloalkyl group; and R5 to R40 individually represent any of hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and an aryl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms.
US08642138B2
A method for forming a thin film photovoltaic device. The method includes providing a transparent substrate comprising a surface region and forming a first electrode layer overlying the surface region of the transparent substrate. The first electrode layer has an electrode surface region. In a specific embodiment, the method includes masking one or more portions of the electrode surface region using a masking layer to form an exposed region and a blocked region. The method includes forming an absorber layer comprising a sulfur entity overlying the exposed region and removing the mask layer. In a specific embodiment, the method causing formation of a plurality of metal disulfide species overlying the blocked region. In a specific embodiment, the metal disulfide species has a semiconductor characteristic. The method includes subjecting the plurality of metal disulfide species to electromagnetic radiation from a laser beam to substantially remove the metal disulfide species. The method includes exposing the blocked region free and clear from the metal disulfide.
US08642122B2
The invention discloses utilizing isostatic-press (IP) processes apply a polymeric material (e.g, a PTFE foil) to uncoated razor blade edges forming thin, dense, and uniform coatings on blade edges which in turn exhibit low initial cutting forces correlating with more comfortable shaves. The isostatic press may be a hot isostatic press (HIP) or a cold isostatic press (CIP) or any other isostatic press process. The HIP conditions may include an environment of elevated temperatures and pressures in an inert atmosphere. The CIP conditions may include room temperature and elevated pressure. The polymeric material may be a fluoropolymer or non-fluoropolymeric material or any composite thereof. The lower surface of the polymeric material may be modified (e.g., chemical etching) to enhance adhesion to the blade edge. Two or more layers of polymeric material of similar or different properties may be isostatically pressed onto the uncoated blades.
US08642117B2
A liquid composition for forming an activator-containing layer on a substrate, for activating a chemical reaction to produce a solid layer on the substrate, comprises activator, surfactant and solvent and/or binder. The liquid composition is deposited on a surface of a substrate, desirably by inkjet printing. The layer is used to activate a chemical reaction to produce a solid layer on the substrate surface, e.g. a layer of conductive metal. The surfactant in the liquid composition has beneficial effects on the behavior of the liquid composition when applied to certain substrates.
US08642109B2
The present invention relates to food materials containing a high concentration of protein and processes for their manufacture. More particularly, the present invention relates to protein extrudates containing high concentrations of soy protein, dairy protein, and mixtures thereof and low concentrations of carbohydrates, processes for manufacturing such protein extrudates, and the use of such protein extrudates as functional food ingredients.
US08642106B2
Methods for preparing cheese blends of analog cheese and soft or firm/semi-hard, ripened or unripended, cheese are provided. The methods generally involve combining a slurry that contains the basic ingredients for an analog cheese and optionally one or more other ingredients with a mass of heated soft or firm/semi-hard cheese. Slurries that are used in the methods and cheeses produced by the methods are also provided.
US08642094B2
A medicinal combination of herbs, herbal extracts, and their chemical constituents that is synergistically effective for promoting human and veterinary health. The combination is a blood lipid level lowering synergistic composition comprising Ku ding cha, berberine or a berberine-containing plant extract, and other optional active ingredients. Methods of extraction and combination in synergistic amounts are also disclosed. The compositions according to the present invention may be used to treat or reduce the chance of contracting or the progression of a number of diseases or conditions in a subject, particularly cardiovascular diseases.
US08642093B2
The present disclosure relates to methods and systems for use of photolyzable nitric oxide donors for the treatment of sexual dysfunction.
US08642084B2
Compositions of the invention for regenerating defective or absent myocardium comprise an emulsified or injectable extracellular matrix composition. The composition may also include an extracellular matrix scaffold component of any formulation, and further include added cells, proteins, or other components to optimize the regenerative process and restore cardiac function.
US08642077B2
The present invention relates to, inter alia, pharmaceutical compositions comprising a polyunsaturated fatty acid and to methods of using the same to treat or prevent cardiovascular-related diseases.
US08642074B2
A thermosensitive liposome for the delivery of active agents and a composition thereof are disclosed, wherein the liposome comprises at least one phosphatidylcholine, at least one phosphatidylglycerol and at least one lysolipid, and the gel to liquid phase transition temperature of said liposome is from 39 0° C. to 45° C.
US08642072B2
The invention relates to a membrane for supporting cells, especially RPE cells. The membrane is useful in the treatment of conditions such as age related macular degeneration.
US08642071B2
Microencapsulated materials are added to compressed products. Microencapsulation permits a wide range of products to be incorporated into these compressed products while maintaining the dry, compressed nature of the products. In one aspect, methods are provided that comprise forming the article, that comprises paper or fabric, in a size of intended use; attaching a plurality of microencapsulated beads containing a material therein to the paper or fabric; and compressing the article to a compressed size that is smaller than the size of intended use. In another aspect, articles comprise a liquid-expandable paper or fabric, and a plurality of microencapsulated beads containing a material therein attached to the paper or fabric.
US08642060B2
A device includes a first reservoir configured to include a degradation agent, a second reservoir configured to include an osteogenerative agent, and a controller configured to selectively initiate access to the first reservoir or the second reservoir.
US08642059B2
A device includes a sensor configured to determine a condition associated with a nucleus pulposus, a reservoir configured to include a first agent capable of affecting the condition associated with the nucleus pulposus, a control element configured to provide access to the reservoir, and a controller in communication with the sensor and the control element. The controller is configured to manipulate the control element to provide access to the reservoir in response to the condition determined by the sensor.
US08642049B2
VACCIN AGAINST GROUP A BETA HEMOLYTIC STREPTOCOCCUS AND RESPECTIVE PROCESS FOR OBTAINING THEREOF, which predicts the production of recombinant protein cloned from the gene emm5, which contains a sequence of oligonucleotides corresponding to 52 and/or 87 amino acid residues capable of protection, isolated after the sequential molecular identification of the epitopes from the M protein carboxy-terminal region, differing in 01 amino acid residue, identified by antibodies and T lymphocytes of health human beings and of patients carriers of rheumatic fever, capable of generating a protective response by antibodies depending on the T lymphocytes; prevention of the development of the autoimmune disease by the selected epitope was evaluated in vitro with T lymphocytes from the cardiac tissue of patients with lesions arising out of rheumatic fever.
US08642042B2
The invention relates to vaccine compositions having a carrier protein and an antigen of interest entrapped in a complex, methods of making such vaccines, and methods of vaccine administration.
US08642041B2
The present invention relates to the use of Adenylyl Cyclase-Associated Protein (CAP1) as a target for immuno-modulation. More specifically, the invention relates to the use of compounds that interact and bind CAP1, specifically, anti-CAP1 antibodies, and/or to CAP1 molecule or any fragments thereof, for the treatment of immune-related disorders by modulation of the Th1/Th2 balance. The invention further provides screening method for immuno-modulatory compounds that interact with CAP1.
US08642033B2
The present invention encompasses methods for inducing in vivo tolerance to a foreign tissue.
US08642031B2
In certain aspects, the present disclosure relates to the insight that a polypeptide comprising a ligand-binding portion of the extracellular domain of activin-like kinase I (ALK1) polypeptide may be used to inhibit angiogenesis in vivo, particularly in mammals suffering angiogenesis-related disorders. In certain aspects, the disclosure demonstrates that antagonists of BMP9 and/or BMP10, ligands for ALK1, may also be used to inhibit angiogenesis in vivo.
US08642029B2
The present invention relates to methods and compositions for Lactobacillus Replacement Therapy (LRT). Methods for improved stability and recovery of dried bacterial preparations are also provided.
US08642028B2
The present invention relates to the field of gene therapy and the treatment of tumors.
US08642025B2
The present disclosure relates to compounds, compositions and methods for the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds and methods for using these compounds in the treatment of HCV infection.
US08642024B2
Provided herein is an anhydrous cosmetic composition comprising at least one organic structuring agent, at least one modified starch, at least one wood meal, at least one surfactant, and at least one anhydrous liquid phase. Also provided is a method for cleansing and/or conditioning keratin materials, comprising applying at least one of the anhydrous cosmetic compositions to the keratin materials.
US08642023B2
Problem To provide a skin cosmetic which exerts a feeling of ameliorating effect on skin wrinkles and sagging by application, and is free from uncomfortable feelings in use, such as stickiness, twisting of the cosmetic applied on the skin, and squeakiness.Means for Solution A skin cosmetic is provided, which comprises an aqueous liquid of an anionic or amphoteric urethane resin dissolved or dispersed in water and wherein the anionic or amphoteric urethane resin is prepared by reacting (a) an isocyanate compound with (b) a polyol compound containing the following components (b-1) to (b-3) or the following components (b-1) to (b-4) and having a ratio of (b-1)/(b-2) of 0.15-3.0 (by mass, in terms of charge): [(b-1): cyclohexanedimethanol, (b-2): polypropylene glycol having a molecular weight of 1000-3000, (b-3): a compound having an active hydrogen and a carboxyl group in one molecule, (b-4): a compound having an active hydrogen and a tertiary amino group in one molecule.].
US08642020B2
The subject of the present disclosure is a composition for treating keratin fibers comprising, in a cosmetically acceptable medium, at least one oxidizing agent; at least one nonionic amphiphilic hydrophobic compound which is solid at ambient temperature; and, optionally, at least one hydrophilic surfactant; wherein the weight ratio of the at least one hydrophilic surfactant to the at least one nonionic amphiphilic hydrophobic compound ranges from 0:1 to 0.16:1, on the condition that when the at least one hydrophilic surfactant is present, it must be chosen from cationic and zwitterionic hydrophilic surfactants; and further wherein the composition is in the form of an aqueous dispersion.
US08642013B2
Compositions and methods are disclosed for evaluating a subject's vasculature integrity, for differentiating between a malignant lesion and a benign lesion, for evaluating the accessibility of a tumor to nano-sized therapeutics, for treating tumors, and for live or real time monitoring of a nano-probe's biodistribution.
US08642009B2
Methods and compositions are provided for the analysis of skin surfaces to determine the presence of neoplastic tissue. In the methods of the invention, a composition comprising a florescent probe that binds to a specific neoplasia associated marker is applied topically to the area of interest. After topical administration, the probe preferentially binds to markers associated in neoplastic lesions in situ, which binding is detected with a compact illumination unit that provides illumination at a wavelength appropriate for image acquisition. The illumination unit comprises a light source and fiber optic bundle to direct the light towards the area of examination. A detection unit is used to capture and record an image of the area of investigation. The detection unit may be a digital camera, film camera, etc. A mapping module may also be provided to catalogue the site of examination.
US08642007B2
This invention provides a combination of a gene and isotope therapy that is applied to a cancerous tissue to selectively kill that associated cancer cells with minimal negative effects on surrounding non-cancerous cells. Functionally, the specific DNA fragments with labeled isotope are able to bind the tumor cells DNA through recombination, and then the isotope kills the tumor cells. A gene is employed as a carrier to deliver the P-32 which can kill cancer cells through radioactive emission. Unlike traditional gene therapy, which employs a gene to express a protein, which can suppress the cancer cell growth or increase the sensitivity for radiation therapy or chemotherapy, the illustrative embodiment actually binds the radioactive substance via a gene. The illustrative embodiment produces the compound/agent containing a gene (DNA fragment) and P-32 through use of conventional P-32 labeling techniques such as those employed in molecular biology experiments (for example experiments used to test gene expression and gene amplification potency). In the illustrative embodiment, however, the same P-32 labeled DNA is employed directly for cancer treatment through a novel medical treatment method. Appropriate doses are provided to patients as part of a medical treatment method.
US08642005B2
A method for producing hydrogen via a thermochemical route from water, based on the cerium-chlorine cycle is provided. The method comprises, according to a first reaction scheme, the following reactions: H2O+Cl2=2HCl+½O2; (A) 8HCl+2CeO2=2CeCl3+Cl2+4H2O; (B) 2CeCl3+4H2O=2CeO2+6HCl+H2; (C) or, according to a second reaction scheme, the following reactions: H2O+Cl2=2HCl+½O2; (A) 8HCl+2CeO2=2CeCl3+Cl2+4H2O; (B) 2CeCl3+2H2O=2CeOCl+4HCl; (B′) 2CeOCl+2H2O=2CeO2+2HCl+H2; (C′) wherein the reaction (B) for chlorination of cerium oxide is conducted in a liquid phase, the cerium chloride passing into solution, and wherein the reaction (B) is catalyzed by fluoride ions.
US08641995B2
Rare earth magneto-optical nanocrystalline oxides provide a material that is transparent in the visible range and has a high magnetic response to external magnetic fields. The material can be manufactured using current activated pressure assisted densification (CAPAD). The result is a rare earth magneto-optical nanocrystalline oxide having an average grain size of less than about 100 nm and a Verdet constant greater than or equal to about 300 rad T−1 m−1 for light having a wavelength of about 632.8 nm.
US08641982B2
A vaporizer for the sterilization of containers, includes a housing, a first opening arranged in the housing for supplying a gaseous medium to the housing, an injection device for injecting into the housing a substance which contains hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). A heating device is arranged inside the housing for vaporizing the hydrogen peroxide, and a second opening is arranged in the housing for discharging a mixture of the gaseous medium and the vaporized hydrogen peroxide from the housing. The injection device extends in a longitudinal direction perpendicular to a plane of the heating device and the first opening is adjoined by a pipe section which extends at least partially in a longitudinal direction (L) of the injection device, wherein the injection device runs at least partially inside the pipe section.
US08641974B2
A device dynamically detects particles of a fluid. The device can be miniaturized for detecting and selecting magnetized particles, particularly cells.
US08641968B2
A chemical analyzer, a method for sample-based analysis, a device for handling cuvette assemblies including a rotatable incubator with at least one curved opening for receiving a new cuvette assembly, an analyzer arranged around the incubator for analyzing contents of the new cuvette assembly, and a loading device adapted to carry the new cuvette assembly while initially being aligned in a straight manner before being loaded. The loading device includes a feed funnel having a first end for receiving the new cuvette assembly initially aligned in the straight manner into the feed funnel, and a second end for feeding the new cuvette assembly into the at least one curved opening, the second end having a curvature which corresponds to the curvature of the curved opening, the second end for bending the initially straight new cuvette assembly and fitting the new cuvette assembly into the at least one curved opening.
US08641965B2
Method for controlling the sterilization of products in an autoclave, in which products are placed in at least one closed, unsealed and confined container of any type, and according to which inside this same container there is a loaded and autonomous device for measuring in the container at least one sterilization parameter wherein during at least one part of the duration of the sterilization cycle and according to a predefined frequency, at least one representative value of the measurement of the at least one parameter is recorded in the loaded device and at least one of these representative values is transmitted directly through the container that remains closed, through wireless transmission by electromagnetic rays of waves with a frequency of less than 250,000 GHz.
US08641958B2
Devices positioned between an energy source and an imprint lithography template may block exposure of energy to portions of polymerizable material dispensed on a substrate. Portions of the polymerizable material that are blocked from the energy may remain fluid, while the remaining polymerizable material is solidified.
US08641956B1
A gasket apparatus is disclosed for forming an undercut on an inner surface of a molded part, along with corresponding methods for molding and positioning the apparatus within the undercut. The apparatus provides, in an exemplary embodiment, a gasket removably molded about a circumferential perimeter portion of a substantially disk-shaped insert. The perimeter portion is configured for forming a gasket groove in the gasket, the gasket groove itself configured for subsequently accepting and retaining an object therewithin when the insert is removed. The apparatus is configured for extending a distance into the inner surface of the molded part during the molding process, thereby forming the undercut therewithin. Upon cooling of the molded part, the insert is able to be disengaged and removed from gasket, leaving the gasket within the undercut and allowing the object to be positioned and retained within the gasket groove.
US08641951B2
The invention relates to a method for producing a programmed shape memory polymer, which assumes a first temporary shape and at least two additional stored thermally activatable shapes, namely at least one second temporary shape and a permanent shape, with the steps of: (a) providing a shape memory polymer which has at least two switching segments (A, B), which through phase segregation each form a switching phase having each a corresponding transition temperature (TtransA, TtransB), (b) deforming the shape memory polymer into a shape corresponding to the first temporary shape at a temperature above the upper transition temperature (TtransA), and (c) cooling to a temperature below the lower transition temperature (TtransB) by fixing the first temporary shape. The method of the invention provides a one-step programming method for a triple-shape plastic material.
US08641947B2
A method and extrusion line for producing peroxide-cross-linked polyethylene pipes in an extrusion line having an extruder, a cross-linking furnace and a flue. The extruded tube is subjected to a stretching process, and the cross-linking furnace has a first heating section that extends from its inlet to an actuated deflection roller and a second heating section from the deflection roller to its outlet. The stretching process in the first heating section and the stretching process in the second heating section are monitored and regulated in such a manner that the necessary stretching of the pipe takes place primarily in the first heating section, and the stretching of the pipe in the second heating section is subjected to zero adjustment. In this case, the height of the deflection roller(s) of the cross-linking furnace and the angle of the heating sections to the horizontal plane can be height-adjustable.
US08641945B2
The invention relates to vitreous aroma particles and the preparation thereof, as well as to the use thereof in foods, consumer articles and pharmaceuticals.
US08641940B2
A method for the monolithic furnaces construction with refractory concrete for the manufacture of glass through the formation of temporary structures for the filling and molded of refractory concrete.
US08641936B2
In a method for manufacturing a structure of curable material, a first structure from a first curable material is molded and cured on a substrate, and a second structure of a second curable material is molded and cured on a first surface of the first structure facing away from the substrate, so that at the first surface of the first structure a boundary surface forms between the first and second structures so that the first structure is not covered by the second structure in a passage area. A solvent is introduced into the passage area to dissolve the first curable material of the first structure so that a cavity forms between the second structure and the first surface of the substrate. After curing, the first curable material is soluble and the second curable material is insoluble for the solvent. An optical component and an optical layer stack are made of curable material.
US08641934B2
A method for fabricating a light guide plate includes the following steps. Injection molding a light guide plate to obtain a light guide plate with a stub. Cutting away the stub to obtain a light guide plate with a cut edge. Providing a thermal resetting apparatus having an nano release material layer. A thermal melting temperature of the nano release material layer is higher than that of the light guide plate, heating the thermal resetting apparatus to make a temperature of the nano release material layer higher than the thermal melting temperature of the nano release material layer. And resetting the cut edge of the light guide plate by contacting the nano release material layer of the thermal resetting apparatus with the cut edge of the light guide plate to obtain a light guide plate with a smooth edge.
US08641923B2
Disclosed is a liquid crystal mixture that includes an isotropic mixture of liquid crystal molecules and a photo-polymerizable monomer. In addition, disclosed are a liquid crystal display (LCD) including a first display panel and a second display panel facing each other, and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first display panel and the second display panel and including a plurality of liquid crystal regions and a plurality of polymer structures positioned among the plurality of liquid crystal regions, and a method of manufacturing the liquid crystal display (LCD). The liquid crystal layer is formed of a liquid crystal mixture in which liquid crystal molecules and a photo-polymerizable monomer exist isotropically.
US08641917B2
A thermoelectric material that comprises a ternary main group matrix material and nano-particles and/or nano-inclusions of transition metal oxide dispersed therein. A process for making the thermoelectric material that includes reacting a reduced metal precursor with an oxidized metal precursor in the presence of transition metal oxide nanoparticles.
US08641913B2
A method includes applying a final etch-resistant material to an in-process substrate so that the final etch-resistant material at least partially covers first microcontact portions integral with the substrate and projecting upwardly from a surface of the substrate, and etching the surface of the substrate so as to leave second microcontact portions below the first microcontact portions and integral therewith, the final etch-resistant material at least partially protecting the first microcontact portions from etching during the further etching step. A microelectronic unit includes a substrate, and a plurality of microcontacts projecting in a vertical direction from the substrate, each microcontact including a base region adjacent the substrate and a tip region remote from the substrate, each microcontact having a horizontal dimension which is a first function of vertical location in the base region and which is a second function of vertical location in the tip region.
US08641911B2
A centrifugal bowl (105) comprises a base (3) that can rotate about an axis of rotation. A filter sieve in the shape of a perforated peripheral side sieve wall (151) extends from an open end to the base, and a plurality of vanes (155a . . . 155f) is disposed in a predominantly radial direction on the inner surface of the perforated peripheral side sieve wall (151).
US08641908B2
A method of recovering polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) from municipal waste sludge includes: (a) measuring a solid content in the municipal waste sludge in terms of a volatile suspended solid in the municipal waste sludge; (b) removing supernatant from the municipal waste sludge; (c) freezing the municipal waste sludge; (d) conducting a pretreatment of the municipal waste sludge that has been frozen; (e) adding a surfactant into the pretreated sludge to obtain a slurry; (f) adding a controlled amount of sodium hypochlorite solution to the municipal waste sludge obtained in step (e), a ratio of a volume of the sodium hypochlorite solution to the solid content of the municipal waste sludge ranging from 0.67 mg/ml to 1.25 mg/ml and being defined as a liquid-solid ratio; and (g) separating PHAs from non-PHAs substances in the municipal waste sludge obtained in the step (f).
US08641901B2
A filter element is disclosed. The filter element includes a filter casing defining an inner radial surface, a filter body disposed within the casing, the filter body having an axial, dirty side surface and an axial, clean side surface, wherein the filter body includes fluted filter media having one or more flutes that extend from the dirty side surface to the clean side surface and a pre-filter including an axial, dirty side surface and an axial, clean side surface, the pre-filter arranged within the casing so that the dirty side surface of the pre-filter is proximate the clean side surface of the filter body, wherein the filter body and the pre-filter are fixably retained by the inner radial surface of the casing.
US08641898B2
An apparatus for treating a liquid includes: (a) a pump volute or hydrocyclone head having an inlet and a throat having an outlet and a central axis, (b) a tank connected to the outlet of the throat, wherein the tank has a maximum inner diameter that is larger than an inner diameter of the outlet of the throat, and (c) a wave energy source having a first electrode within the pump volute or hydrocyclone head that extends through the outlet of the throat along the central axis, and a second electrode within the tank that is spaced apart and axially aligned with first electrode along the central axis. The liquid is supplied to the inlet of the pump volute or hydrocyclone head, and is irradiated with one or more wave energies produced by the wave energy source.
US08641895B2
A method and apparatus for recovering oil from oil-containing sorbents, such as drill cuttings obtained from drilling with an oil-based mud. The method includes peptizing the substrate with an acid reagent and direct thermal desorption with combustion effluent gases at high temperature under turbulent mixing conditions. Another method disclosed includes upgrading the oil in the substrate to improve one or more of the properties of the recovered oil relative to the oil in the substrate, such as, lower aromatics content, lower sulfur content, lower functional group content, higher saturates, higher viscosity, higher viscosity index, and any combination thereof. The apparatus provides for efficient recovery of oil from the substrate with a short residence time, high throughput, low residual oil content in the treated solids and/or high percentage of oil recovery. The apparatus may be transported to a remote location for on-site treatment of drill cuttings or other oil-containing solids.
US08641890B2
The invention relates to a method for removing mercury from mercury containing materials, such as feedstreams, natural gas streams, natural gas condensates, and so forth. The method involves passing a fluid (e.g., gas or liquid) stream containing mercury along a polymeric membrane contact module, while a cleaning or scrubbing solution passes along the other side of the membrane. The scrubbing solution facilitates removal of mercury from the first solution via, e.g., mercury reactive components contained in it.
US08641886B2
An electrolytic method for treatment of water to increase the dissolved oxygen content, the method including: (a) contacting the water with at least one first electrode device; (b) providing at least one second electrode device in non-physical, electrical contact with the water; (c) introducing an oxidant to the water, and (d) passing an electric current between the second electrode device and the first electrode device, so as to establish an electric field in the water of sufficient strength and duration to effect the electrolytic dissociation of the water to produce dissolved oxygen and/or hydrogen species.
US08641885B2
Disclosed is a system and method for reducing carbon dioxide into a carbon based product. The system includes an electrochemical cell having a cathode region which includes a cathode and a non-aqueous catholyte; an anode region having an anode and an aqueous or gaseous anolyte; and an ion permeable zone disposed between the anode region and the cathode region. The ion permeable zone is at least one of (i) the interface between the anolyte and the catholyte, (ii) an ion selective membrane; (iii) at least one liquid layer formed of an emulsion or (iv) a hydrophobic or glass fiber separator. The system and method includes a source of energy, whereby applying the source of energy across the anode and cathode reduces the carbon dioxide and produces an oxidation product.
US08641882B2
Described is a capillary column cartridge. The cartridge can be used to perform separations according to various techniques such as capillary gas chromatography, capillary electrophoresis and capillary liquid chromatography. The cartridge includes a capillary column secured in a cartridge body. The capillary column includes an inlet port and an outlet port that, in some embodiments, are disposed on a planar surface of the body. When the body is engaged to a separation system module, the inlet port is aligned to receive a sample to be separated and the outlet port is aligned to provide the separated sample to the separation system module. The path of the capillary through the body has a non-planar path shape such as a coil shape. Consequently, longer column lengths can be accommodated, leading to an improvement in separation resolution. The body can include a material having a high thermal conductivity to achieve improved thermal performance.
US08641880B2
Method and apparatus for the manipulation and/or control of the position of particles using time-variable fields of force; the fields of force can be of dielectrophoresis (positive or negative), electrophoresis, electrohydrodynamic or electrowetting on dielectric, possessing a set of stable points of equilibrium for the particles.
US08641874B2
This is an electrolytic apparatus and process for the production of Hypochlorous Acid (HClO) and Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) in a closed-loop arrangement. A brine solution in an electrolyzer cell is subjected to an electric current, causing HClO and/or NaOH to be produced in water circulated through the cell. The produced solution is recirculated through the cell as its chemical properties are monitored by a sensor, connected by a controller which controls a recirculating pump and the electric current, until the sensor indicates that the concentration of the solution has reached a desired value, and the controller stops the process.
US08641870B2
The invention relates to a method for the surface treatment of a titanium dioxide with aluminum phosphate and hydrous aluminum oxide that leads to pigments with improved greying resistance, while simultaneously maintaining good brightness and opacity. The method is characterized in that phosphoric acid is initially added to a TiO2 suspension with a pH value of at least 8, in which context the pH value drops to 3 or below. An alkaline aluminum compound is subsequently added, in which context the pH rises to at least 5, after which an acid aluminum compound is added, as a result of which a pH value of 4.5 to 7 is obtained. The pigment manufactured by the method according to the invention is eminently suitable for use in decorative laminating paper.
US08641862B2
Plasma is generated using elemental hydrogen, a weak oxidizing agent, and a fluorine containing gas. An inert gas is introduced to the plasma downstream of the plasma source and upstream of a showerhead that directs gas mixture into the reaction chamber where the mixture reacts with the high-dose implant resist. The process removes both the crust and bulk resist layers at a high strip rate, and leaves the work piece surface substantially residue free with low silicon loss.
US08641856B2
A method for adhesive bond joining of two surfaces, where a metallic or non-metallic solder is applied to at least one of the two surfaces, where the solder has a temperature-dependent optical property. The solder is radiated with electromagnetic radiation with a predetermined spectrum, such that the solder reaches a predetermined temperature above its melting temperature and moistens the surfaces, such that the temperature-dependent optical property is modified reversibly or irreversibly at the predetermined temperature of the solder. The solder is cooled to below its melting temperature, such that the solder solidifies and connects the surfaces in an adhesive bond.
US08641852B2
Methods are disclosed for converting on a mass scale elongated material webs into finished parts or devices. Slits form strands in a web, the strands comprising interconnected objects which correspond to parts of finished devices. Strands are combined with additional webs to form a material laminate from which finished devices are die cut. The methods are suitable for a range of converting applications including medical devices, particularly the external nasal dilator. Complex dilator devices produced from the methods are formed as a single body truss having horizontal regions adapted to engage outer wall tissues of first and second nasal passages of a nose. When in use the dilator stabilizes or expands nasal outer wall tissues and prevents the outer wall tissues from drawing inward during breathing. Methods of manufacture comprise separate steps for fabricating and assembling the elements and layers of finished dilator devices and for packaging finished devices individually or in groups. Waste material is incorporated into subsequent fabrication processes to produce the same or complementary devices.
US08641844B2
The present disclosure relates generally to a telecommunications wire including an electrical conductor and a dielectric insulator surrounding the electrical conductor. The dielectric insulator defines a plurality of channels defining void space containing a material having a low dielectric constant such as air. The channels each run along a length of the electrical conductor. The channels are configured to lower an overall dielectric constant of the dielectric insulator while maintaining desirable mechanical properties such as crush resistance.
US08641838B2
A copper alloy sheet material, having a composition containing any one or both of Ni and Co in an amount of 0.5 to 5.0 mass % in total, and Si in an amount of 0.3 to 1.5 mass %, with the balance of copper and unavoidable impurities, wherein an area ratio of cube orientation {0 0 1} <1 0 0> is 5 to 50%, according to a crystal orientation analysis in EBSD measurement.
US08641836B2
The present invention provides steel plate for line pipe excellent in strength and ductility and a method of production of the same. The steel plate has a steel composition containing, by mass %, C: 0.04 to 0.15%, Si: 0.05 to 0.60%, Mn: 0.80 to 1.80%, P: 0.020% or less, S: 0.010% or less, Nb: 0.01 to 0.08%, and Al: 0.003 to 0.08%, having a balance of iron and unavoidable impurities, and having a value of Ceq shown by the following formula <1> of 0.48 or less, comprised of a mixed structure of ferrite and pearlite or ferrite and pearlite partially containing bainite in which a ferrite percentage is 60 to 95%, having a yield strength of 450 MPa or more, and having an amount of hydrogen contained in the steel of 0.1 ppm or less: Ceq=C+Mn/6+(Cu+Ni)/15+(Cr+Mo+Nb+V+Ti)/5+5B <1>.
US08641832B2
An objective of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a rare earth metal-based permanent magnet having an Al film containing Mg, which exhibits an excellent salt water resistance. The present invention, which is to accomplish the objective, is a method for producing a rare earth metal-based permanent magnet having formed on the surface thereof an Al film containing Mg by a vapor deposition, characterized in that the production method comprises, in the case of cooling the magnet from a high temperature of 160° C. or higher after the completion of the vapor deposition step inside the treating chamber of a deposition apparatus, rapidly cooling down the magnet at a cooling rate of 10° C./min or higher until the temperature of the magnet reaches at least 60° C.
US08641830B2
Apparatus and related methods for continually measuring and dispensing precise amounts of bulk chemical in a car wash application. A gravimetric dispensing assembly can include a load cell and a syringe dosing pump that is suspended below the load cell such that an entire mass of the syringe dosing pump is communicated to the load cell. In this manner, the load cell can measure the actual mass of chemical being dispensed from the syringe dosing pump on a continuous basis without solely relying on the rated volumetric capacity of the syringe dosing pump. The syringe dosing pump can be driven by a stepper motor that can be pulsed as directed by a controller so as to maintain, increase or decrease an amount of bulk chemical being dispensed from the syringe dosing pump.
US08641829B2
Disclosed is a substrate processing system, including: a processing chamber to process a substrate; a vaporizing unit to vaporize a material of liquid; a supply system to supply the processing chamber with gas of the material vaporized by the vaporizing unit; an exhaust system to exhaust an atmosphere in the processing chamber; and a cleaning liquid supply system to supply the vaporizing unit with cleaning liquid for cleaning a product deposited in the vaporizing unit, wherein the cleaning liquid supply system supplies at least two kinds of cleaning liquids into the vaporizing unit so that the product can be removed from the vaporizing unit by action of the two kinds of cleaning liquids on the product.
US08641820B2
An implementation of a Czochralski-type crystal growth has been shown and embodied. More particularly, a furnace with suitable insulation and flow arrangement is shown to improve the cost-efficiency of production of crystals. That is achieved by the shown new hot-zone structure, gas flows and the growth process which can decrease the power consumption, increase the lifetime of hot-zone parts and improve the productivity, e.g., by giving means for opening the hot-zone and easily adapting the hot-zone to a new crystal diameter.
US08641816B2
Provided are new functionalized surfactants and methods of their preparation and use. The surfactants are compounds of formula I: wherein R1, R2, and R3 are as defined herein.
US08641813B2
A system and method for optimizing the gas/liquid separation process for a fluid flowing within a pipe is provided, wherein the method includes receiving a fluid flow having a liquid component and a gas component. The method further includes separating the liquid component from the gas component, wherein the liquid component is separated from the gas component via a separator device. The method also includes generating gas component data and liquid component data, wherein the gas component data is responsive to the liquid carry-over into the gas component and wherein the liquid component data is responsive to the gas carry-under into the liquid component. Furthermore, the method includes processing the gas component data and the liquid component data to generate apparatus optimization data.
US08641807B2
Hollow fiber membranes, such as those used in air separation modules, are generally made from solution spinning. Typically, solvent is present in the bore of the fiber for the spinning process. This solvent, in addition to the solvent already present in the polymer casting solution, may cause voids in the fiber material. By adding a polycarboxylic acid to the polymer casting material, these voids may be reduced or eliminated.
US08641797B2
The method of the present disclosure includes providing an organic compost material, combining the organic compost material with a crop to be grown, heating the organic compost material, combining the organic compost material with water, and extracting an aqueous liquid comprising humic acid and fulvic acid. The organic compost material may include straw and manure and the straw and manure may be subjected to several days and/or weeks of aerobic composting. The crop may include a variety of plants, trees, vegetables, fruits and fungi. In one embodiment, the crop may include mushroom spores, mycelia, or mushrooms.
US08641796B2
Thermoplastic bicomponent binder fiber can be combined with other media, fibers and other filtration components to form a thermally bonded filtration media. The filtration media can be used in filter units, such as breather caps. Such filter units can be placed in the stream of a mobile fluid and can remove a particulate and/or fluid mist load from the mobile stream. The unique combination of media fiber, bicomponent binder fiber and other filtration additives and components provide a filtration media having unique properties in filtration applications.
US08641784B2
The present invention relates to organic coloring agents with a high color stability to weathering for thermoplastics. The invention furthermore relates to a polymer composition containing at least one thermoplastic and at least one organic coloring agent, preferably a combination of at least two organic coloring agents, of a specific structure. The invention moreover relates to the use of the coloring agents according to the invention for coloring polymer compositions, in particular for transparent formulations such as are required for the production of panes for use in buildings, motor vehicles and track vehicles or aircraft.
US08641778B2
A method and apparatus for reducing the incident of infection proximate to an exit site where a prosthesis fastener, e.g., a bone screw, percutaneously penetrates a patient's skin/soft tissue. Infection reduction is achieved in accordance with the invention by growing a tissue integrating seal around the fastener proximate to the exit site.
US08641774B2
An osteochondral composite including a hydrogel with implanted biological cells joined to a porous supportive base at a mechanically-interlocked interface is disclosed. A method of fabricating the osteochondral composite and a method of treating damaged or diseased articular cartilage by implanting an osteochondral composite are also disclosed.
US08641768B2
The present invention provides an intervertebral implant for implantation in a treated area of an intervertebral space between vertebral bodies of a spine. The implant includes a spacer portion having an inferior and superior surface, wherein the inferior and superior surfaces each have a contact area capable of engaging with anatomy in the treated area, and the inferior and superior surfaces define a through-hole extending through the spacer body. The present invention further provides screw holes extending from a side portion to the inferior and superior surfaces of the spacer portion and a plate portion rigidly coupled to the spacer portion through a coupling means, wherein the plate portion contains screws holes for receiving screws. A screw back out prevention mechanism adapted on the plate portion and prevents the back out of screws from the screw holes.
US08641761B2
The creation and implantation of an artificial nail in the treatment of deformed or missing nails includes preparing the nail bed. A polypropylene mesh is applied and anchored to the nail bed. Nail restoration material is applied to the polypropylene mesh. The nail restoration material is secured by regenerated nail tissue growing through the openings of the mesh whereby the mesh acts as an interface for the nail bed and the nail restoration material.
US08641760B2
A system is provided for stabilized total ossicular replacement in a middle ear having an intact stapes with a capitulum and a footplate. The system includes an ossicular replacement prosthesis including with elongate shaft and a head coupled to the shaft, and a stabilizer that couples the prosthesis to the stapes. The stabilizer has a first portion with a first opening and a second portion with a second opening, said first opening sized to stably engage the shaft of the prosthesis, and said second opening sized to stably engage the capitulum. When the shaft and capitulum are engaged they are retained in an side-by side configuration. The stabilizer may be constructed of an elastic polymer, an elastic metal alloy, a plastic material or a shape memory material.
US08641751B2
A prosthesis is disclosed for placement at an Os 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. The support is configured to be deployed in the branch body lumen, with the circumferentially extending link in the main lumen and the frond extendable across the Os.
US08641746B2
Apparatus and methods for delivering stents and other prostheses to body lumens include a prosthesis forming and deploying mechanism carried at the distal end of a catheter shaft. The mechanism is adapted to form and deploy prostheses of a variable length, and to form and deploy multiple prostheses during a single interventional procedure.
US08641728B2
An endoscopic apparatus shaped and dimensioned for passage through an orifice in the body includes a scope attachment member coupled to an endoscopic instrument, and a connection member attaching the scope attachment member to the endoscopic instrument. The connection member has an insertion orientation sized for passage through the orifice and a deployed orientation too large to pass though the orifice. When the connection member is in its insertion orientation the endoscopic instrument is positioned closely adjacent an exterior of an endoscope for low profile insertion of the endoscopic instrument through an orifice, and when the connection is in its deployed orientation the endoscopic instrument is spaced from the endoscope to improve visibility.
US08641726B2
A method for robotic surgery on a joint using a robotic system and a navigation system. The robotic system includes a base, a plurality of arms, and a cutting tool. The navigation system tracks movement of bones associated with the joint during the surgery. Information related to tracked positions of the bones is communicated from the navigation system to the robotic system. The navigation system may include a plurality of locating devices.
US08641724B2
Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for the formation of an arteriovenous fistula in the limb of the patient. Embodiments include a device for the creation, modification and maintenance of a fistula that includes an integral fistula creation assembly near its distal end that passes through the skin of the patient, through a first vessel such as an artery, and into a second vessel such as a vein. The fistula creation assembly preferably includes an anastomotic implant that is placed within the fistula to maintain long-term blood flow therethrough. The devices, systems and methods can be used to treat patients with one or more numerous ailments including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure, hypertension, hypotension, respiratory failure, pulmonary arterial hypertension, lung fibrosis and adult respiratory distress syndrome.
US08641720B2
A surgical instrument is configured to introduce a spinal fixation rod into a vertebral implant such that once the spinal fixation rod is engaged with the surgical instrument and the surgical instrument is put into a retention configuration, the spinal fixation rod cannot be removed from the surgical instrument until the spinal fixation rod is properly located and oriented with respect to the surgical construct and the surgical instrument is released from the retention configuration. The surgical instrument for introducing a spinal fixation rod includes a surgical instrument body with an actuator, and an engagement assembly at opposing ends and a transfer assembly extending between the actuator and the engagement assembly. The surgical instrument can also be used as part of a method for introducing a spinal fixation rod. Additionally, the surgical instrument can be part of a kit for introducing a spinal fixation rod, the kit including a plurality of spinal fixation rods of varying shapes and sizes.
US08641716B2
Disclosed herein are methods, compositions and tools for repairing articular surfaces repair materials and for repairing an articular surface. The articular surface repairs are customizable or highly selectable by patient and geared toward providing optimal fit and function. The surgical tools are designed to be customizable or highly selectable by patient to increase the speed, accuracy and simplicity of performing total or partial arthroplasty.
US08641715B2
An apparatus for penetrating the bone marrow of a bone is provided. The apparatus includes a handle having a drive shaft, a connector having a first end operable to connect to a drive shaft and a second end operable to connect to a penetrator hub and a penetrator hub having a penetrator that accesses the bone marrow.
US08641713B2
An endoscopic forceps is disclosed including an end effector assembly having two jaw members movable from a first position in spaced relation relative to one another to at least a second position closer to one another for grasping tissue therebetween. Each of the jaw members is connectable to an electrosurgical energy source for conducting energy through tissue held therebetween. The jaw members are biased to the first position. The end effector assembly of the endoscopic forceps further includes a wire snare having a proximal end connectable to an electrosurgical energy source and a distal end translatably extending out of one of the jaw members and operatively associated with the other of the jaw members. In use, withdrawal of the proximal end of the wire snare results in movement of the jaw members from the first position to a second position and clamping of the tissue between the jaws.
US08641697B2
A steering mechanism for a catheter includes a tubular member defining a passage. The tubular member has a longitudinally extending, bend-enhancing portion formed at a predetermined region of the tubular member. An actuator is received in the passage of the tubular member, with the distal part of the actuator being fastened to a distal part of the tubular member.
US08641690B2
An apparatus for treatment of external hemorrhaging has a panel for applying pressure to an absorbent pad and a wound on a body part. The panel has a central portion located between first and second arms which extend outwardly and in transversely opposed directions from the central portion. The apparatus includes a strap which is attached to the first arm at or near a first strap end, and is releasably attachable to the second arm at an attachment region of the strap spaced apart from the first strap end. When the panel is strapped to the body part, the tension in the strap pulls on and elastically deforms the first and second arms of the panel inwardly toward the body part, and applies localized pressure to the pad and wound.
US08641688B2
An assembly for identifying a power injectable vascular access port, including a vascular access port and an identification feature. The port is structured for power injection and includes a housing and a septum together defining a reservoir. A radiographic feature incorporated into the port is perceivable via x-ray following subcutaneous implantation, the radiographic feature identifying the port as suitable for flowing fluid at a fluid flow rate of at least 1 mL/sec therethrough. A structural feature of the port is perceivable via palpation following subcutaneous implantation, the structural feature identifying the port as suitable for accommodating a pressure within the reservoir of at least 35 psi. The identification feature is separated from the port and confirms that the port is both suitable for flowing fluid at a rate of at least 1 mL/sec therethrough and suitable for accommodating a pressure within the reservoir of at least 35 psi.
US08641687B2
A device and kit are described for mixing and instillation of a two-part chemical system within a body cavity, under pressure. More particularly, a vaginal hygiene system is illustrated utilizing a two-part chemical system effective for achieving stasis of the vaginal flora, whereby bacterial vaginosis is effectively mitigated, thereby eliminating undesirable vaginal discharge and discomfort. In one embodiment a kit is described including a highly portable dispenser having separate and distinct reservoirs which segregate the two-part chemical system until the desired time of use, and further include a combination applicator nozzle and blending manifold, wherein activation of the device results in the fluidic coupling of the chemical reservoirs, and provides immediate intermixing of the two-part chemical system concomitant with pressurized expulsion through an imperforate nozzle into the vaginal canal.
US08641685B2
A medical connector is described which is formed by a body having an inlet port, an outlet port through a male luer portion of the body, and a fluid path between the inlet port and the at least one outlet ports. A retractable post extends through the fluid path in the male luer sealing a tip of the male luer thereby closing the fluid path when the connector in not activated. There is a seal between the retractable post and the body that forms a fluid volume within a portion of the cavity. The fluid path passes through the fluid volume. When actuated, the retractable post is forced away from the tip of the male luer, thereby opening the fluid path through the medical connector and decreasing the fluid volume.
US08641680B2
The present invention safety device is a one-piece needle assembly that has a base and a housing pivotally connected to the base. The base has a distal portion to which a needle is fitted. At the base there is formed longitudinally along its distal portion a catch mechanism that may be in the form of an anchor projection. At the back wall of the housing there is extended another catch mechanism that may be configured in the form of two clasping fingers. Also providing in the housing is an integral hook. As the housing and the base are pivoted relative to each other, and as the needle makes contact with the hook, the respective catch mechanisms at the base and the housing also make contact with each other, resulting in the coupling of the catch mechanisms and the coupling of the needle to the hook. As a result, the catch mechanisms are interlocked and the needle is fixedly retained by the hook within the housing. The catch mechanisms may also be configured as a hook and a latch in the form of a rib with an opening whereto the hook is fixedly coupled. The gauge of the needle may be determined by the color of both the base and the housing, which are molded as a unitary single unit.
US08641677B2
An intravenous catheter device and system includes: (a) a medical tubing connector at a first end of the intravenous catheter device; (b) a length of flexible, non-kinking, supported medical tubing, a first end of the non-kinking tubing being connected to a first end of the medical tubing connector; (c) an intravenous catheter portion having a first end attached to a second end of the non-kinking tubing, the non-kinking tubing extending between the intravenous catheter portion and the tubing connector; and (d) a cylindrical-shaped cuff attached to a first outside end portion of the intravenous catheter portion, and a second outside end portion of the non-kinking tubing; wherein a central channel of the intravenous catheter portion is in fluid communication with a channel of the non-kinking, flexible tubing when the intravenous catheter device is in use. This simplified abstract is not intended to limit, and should not be interpreted as limiting, the scope of the claims.
US08641668B2
A disposable injector with a housing (10) in which are arranged at least one mechanical spring energy reservoir (50), at least one cylinder/piston unit (100), at least one piston-actuating ram, and at least one trigger unit. For this purpose, the housing has at least one inverted draw hook, which has at least one support surface respectively in the region of its free end. The spring-loaded piston-actuating plunger rests on the support surface, whereby the contact zone placed between the draw hook and the piston-actuating plunger represents a variable-speed gear pair thrusting the draw hook radially outwards. The locking position of the draw hook is secured by an actuating element positioned in a locked position. The actuating element has a triggering position which effects radially outwards aligned retreat of the draw hook when the piston-actuating plunger is released.
US08641667B2
A perfusion device and method is provided in various examples. In an example, the device includes a container having a first internal chamber configured to hold the material; a port for introducing the liquid into the chamber; a vent for releasing gas and liquid from the chamber; and a flow control device for sealing the vent to allow a vacuum to be drawn on the first chamber. In an example, the container includes a syringe that defines the internal material chamber and includes an end cap and a plunger. The vent may be formed by a venting passageway in the plunger and/or the cap. In various examples, the vacuum may be created by a medical syringe coupled to the container. In some examples, the medical syringe may also be used to deliver the liquid into the container.
US08641666B2
Catheters with laminar flow bioactive agent delivery properties and methods of using for treating or preventing vascular disease are disclosed.
US08641661B2
A system includes a cylinder having a bore with a piston disposed therein, the piston moveable along the bore of the cylinder and having a passage therethrough. The system also includes a mixer disposed in the passage in the piston and including at least one porous mixing device, the at least one porous mixing device comprising a three-dimensional lattice defining a plurality of tortuous, interconnecting passages therethrough, and having physical characteristics to sufficiently mix the first and second components, which characteristics include a selected one or more of mean flow pore size, thickness and porosity.
US08641651B2
An improved foot abduction apparatus allowing movement in a horizontal and vertical plane. The embodiments allow a user to more easily manipulate the apparatus in one or both planes through the use of strategically placed pivot points. The device utilizes at least one rigid member attached to coupling devices which contain at least one pivot point. The specialized coupling devices may be selectively attached to shoe receiving member or plates which are well known in the art. Additionally the shoe receiving members are able to receive an improved shoe containing a sole member contained with a silicone boot.
US08641637B2
The present invention provides a method of measuring an acoustic impedance of a respiratory system. The method comprises selecting a frequency range for an acoustic wave, directing the acoustic wave into the respiratory system and receiving an acoustic wave from the respiratory system. The method also comprises determining the acoustic impedance for a plurality of volumes or volume ranges of the respiratory system. Each volume, or the volumes within each volume range, is larger than RV or FRC and smaller than TLC whereby the determined acoustic impedances are specific for respective volumes or volume ranges. Further, the method includes determining a volume, or volume range, dependency of the acoustic impedance of the respiratory system and characterizing the respiratory system by analyzing the dependency of the acoustic impedance on the volume or volume range.
US08641636B2
A electronic vital-sign monitoring system is provided here, which uses an external electronic device to compute a physiological value detected by an electronic vital-sign monitoring device and obtain a heart frequency spectrum; and provide power to the electronic vital-sign monitoring system; and further transfer the computed physiological value and the heart frequency spectrum to a database for data integration and incident reporting. In addition to the original function of detecting physiological values, the electronic vital-sign monitoring system further can detect heart frequency spectrum and offers telecare service to help patients, elders and general users according to different requirements.
US08641622B2
A method and system for ultrasound treatment of photoaged tissue are provided. An exemplary method and system are configured for first, ultrasound imaging of the region of interest for localization of the treatment area, second, delivery of ultrasound energy at a depth and pattern to achieve the desired therapeutic effects, and third to monitor the treatment area during and after therapy to assess the results and/or provide feedback. The exemplary treatment method and system can be configured for producing arrays of sub-millimeter and larger zones of thermal ablation to treat the epidermal, superficial dermal, mid-dermal and deep dermal components of photoaged tissue.
US08641610B2
An assembly for accessing a body cavity during a surgical procedure. The access assembly includes a compressible body having proximal and distal ends and a substantially hourglass-shaped central portion extending therebetween and includes first and second lumen extending therethrough. The access assembly further includes a translating mechanism operably positioned within the compressible body between the first and second lumen for selectively translating the first and second lumen relative to each other.
US08641606B2
An endoscope apparatus includes: a long insertion portion that is inserted into an examination object; an illumination portion provided at a distal end portion of the insertion portion, that irradiates illumination light at the examination object; an image pickup portion provided inside the distal end portion, that picks up reflected light captured in the insertion portion; and a heat radiating member that radiates heat emitted from at least one of the illumination portion and the image pickup portion. A distal end of the heat radiating member is disposed on a further proximal end side of the insertion portion than a maximum external diameter portion of the image pickup portion within the distal end portion. Therefore, not only can heat be radiated from the distal end portion of the insertion portion, but the distal end portion of the insertion portion can also be formed with a narrow diameter.
US08641595B2
An implantable hearing instrument is provided that reduces the response to unnaturally high vibrations (e.g., due to a patient's own voice), without necessarily or substantially affecting the response to desired signals. The implantable hearing instrument system is operative to selectively alter/lower the gain of signals that have a magnitude above a predetermined threshold. Signals having unnaturally large amplitudes (e.g., due to a patient's own voice) are amplified less than desired signals, so that a patient may experience a more representative sound.
US08641591B2
A dunnage system for processing material into dunnage is herein described. A converting station of the system can include a drum having a drum surface first and second axial sides and guides protruding adjacent the drum surface on the first and second axial sides associated with the drum to rotate with the drum surface. A supply gripping member can be provided to grip a supply roll, and can include a rotatable base. A pivotal blade can be used to cut the dunnage.
US08641586B2
A personal stretching device is used to move a user's torso toward a distal structure. The personal stretching device includes an elongated tensile member, a shiftable uptake, and a manually-powered drive mechanism. The shiftable uptake is attached to the elongated tensile member at a proximal location, with the uptake operable to move along the elongated tensile member to change an adjustable length dimension defined between the proximal location and the distal structure. The manually-powered drive mechanism is operable to drive the uptake and thereby move the uptake along the tensile member. The drive mechanism includes a driven element attached to the uptake and a pair of drive elements shiftably mounted relative to the uptake. Each of the drive elements is drivingly coupled to the driven element independent of the other of the drive elements so that the user can drive the uptake by powering either one of the drive elements and thereby change the adjustable length dimension.
US08641584B2
The present invention relates to an apparatus for kicking exercise, and more specifically, to an apparatus for kicking exercise which includes a plurality of hitting parts coupled to a body which is fastened to a gravity center frame or a running machine to enable martial arts exercise such as taekwondo, karate, kickboxing and the like, thereby enabling a user to do martial arts exercise by hitting and kicking the hitting parts with the hand and foot.
US08641582B2
Disclosed is a leg-stretching exercise apparatus comprising a base, a handle connected to the base about a front vertical member assembly extending from the front thereof, a waist belt extending from a rear vertical member extending from the rear of the base, and a pair of generally horizontal track assemblies extending collinearly from either side of the base. Each track assembly comprises at least one rail pipe extending between a pair of proximal and distal blocks, a foot-supporting platform coupled to the at least one rail pipe such that the platform can slide along the length thereof, and a resilient member connecting the platform to the proximal block.
US08641581B2
A stationary, ergometric exercise apparatus including a hand/foot-operated drive with two drive elements that are operated alternately and a measuring device for measuring the drive force applied to the drive force includes a measuring device for measuring the angular position of the drive, having a pair of sensor devices which are arranged in positions opposite to each other relative to a wheel that is joined to the drive so as to be synchronous in motion with it, which positions each correspond to a position in motion of a load alternation between the two drive elements. A computer receives the signals from the force measuring device and calculates the temporal progress of the drive force, as well as variables that can be derived from it, and alternately output a dedicated right or left limb reading for a person in training depending on the load alternation notified by the measuring device.
US08641575B2
A driving force transmission apparatus includes: a front housing and an inner shaft coaxially with each other and rotatable relative to each other; a main clutch transmitting torque between the front housing and the inner shaft; and a cam mechanism having a main cam and a pilot cam and using the main cam to press the main clutch. Where a circumferential gap angle between each spline tooth of the front housing and a corresponding first protrusion of outer clutch plates is θ1, a circumferential gap angle between each spline tooth of the inner shaft and a corresponding protrusion of inner clutch plates is θ2 and a circumferential gap angle between each spline tooth of the inner shaft and a corresponding protrusion of the main cam is θ3, the inequality θ1+θ2−θ3≧1.0° is satisfied.
US08641567B2
Hybrid powertrain with manual transmission and off-latching clutch, and method of operating the same
A powertrain for a hybrid vehicle includes a clutch interconnecting an internal combustion engine and an electric motor. The electric motor is coupled to a manually operated gearbox operable in at least one electric only drive position and at least one hybrid drive position. A latch is coupled to the clutch and is moveable between a closed position inhibiting the clutch from interconnecting the internal combustion engine and the electric motor when the gearbox is disposed in the electric only drive position, and an open position allowing the clutch to interconnect the internal combustion engine and the electric motor when the gearbox is disposed in the hybrid drive position.
US08641565B2
An inverted tooth chain drive system includes an inverted tooth chain structured for inside flank engagement. The chain includes link rows each including leading inside flanks that project outwardly relative to trailing outside flanks of a preceding link row. The system further includes a sprocket with which said inverted tooth chain is drivingly engaged. The sprocket includes a plurality of teeth circumferentially spaced about an axis of rotation, each tooth comprising an engaging flank and a disengaging flank. Some of the teeth are defined with a first tooth form in which said engaging flank thereof is defined with a first pressure angle and others of said teeth are defined with a second tooth form in which the engaging flank thereof is defined with a second pressure angle that is different from the first pressure angle in order to stagger or modulate the initial meshing impacts between the leading inside flanks of the chain and engaging flanks of the sprocket teeth. The sprocket can be optimized for manufacture by a hobbing process, by arranging the different tooth forms in a specific “hob-compatible” pattern.
US08641563B2
A belt pulley damper for attenuating torsional vibrations of a drive shaft and includes a belt pulley for driving a pull mechanism, particularly a pulling belt. A torsional vibration damper, particularly a decoupler for torsional vibrations is connected with a drive flange and includes a driven disk movable circumferentially relative to the drive flange, and a driven disk is axially movable relative to a belt pulley. The belt pulley and the driven disk include axially-opposed teeth. The belt pulley teeth and the driven disk teeth can be engaged below a threshold pull force occurring during drive operation, and can be disengaged above the threshold pull force. In that manner, undesired torsional vibrations can be avoided by a free-wheel device without substantially increasing noise.
US08641560B2
An apparatus is described that includes a bat handle and a bunt element within a region of space extending from the baseball bat handle where a meat portion of a bat would exist if the bat handle was part of a baseball or softball bat. The bunt element has solid material in a first location of the region of space that is struck by a pitched ball that first meets the region of space within a bunt window on the region of space. The bunt element has empty space in a second location of the region of space that is struck by a pitched ball that first meets the region of space outside the bunt window.
US08641559B2
A golf ball is provided that includes a coating. The coating is designed to allow a golfer to modify or increase the tackiness of the coating. The coating changes tackiness when exposed to a soaking material. A method of determining a desirable length of soak is also disclosed.
US08641553B2
A flexible golf club grip having a brightly colored underlist of elastomeric material of a certain durometer and an outer layer of less durometer. The outer layer may have voids to expose portions of the underlist or the underlist may have portions thereof extend into the voids during molding but remain recessed below the surface of the outer layer. In another version, a brightly colored cover layer is molded over the underlist and a spiral wrapped strip of softer elastomer is molded thereover with the edges of the strip spaced to expose the original strip of the cover layer.
US08641549B2
Putters include a putter body having a ball striking face member made of a material having a first hardness characteristic. A cavity is defined in the putter body behind the ball striking face member, and plural openings are defined in the ball striking face member extending rearward with respect to the ball striking face member and into the cavity. A polymeric material at least partially fills the openings and the cavity, wherein the polymeric material has a second hardness characteristic that is softer than the first hardness characteristic. The ball striking face member and the polymeric material exposed in at least some of the openings provide a ball striking surface of the putter. The ball striking surface may include grooves or scorelines to affect the launch angle, spin, and/or roll of the ball during a putt. Methods for making such putter devices also are described.
US08641546B2
Systems, methods, and computer readable media for changing and controlling settings for adjustable golf clubs are described. Such setting adjustment systems may alter one or more of: lie angle, loft angle, face angle, shaft stiffness, shaft kickpoint location, weighting, weight positioning, face flexibility, maximum face flex location, etc. These systems and methods may use various types of information to determine the appropriate settings, such as: ball launch monitor data, swing path data, weather input data, course condition input data for a location of play, course design input data for a location of play, daily course layout input data for a location and a time of play, golfer past performance data (e.g., recent past performance, past performances at the location of play, past performance during an ongoing round of golf (i.e., on earlier played holes), etc.), current adjustable club setting information, and information indicating specific holes to be played.
US08641541B2
A wheel amusement ride is depicted, which moves carriages containing riders around the wheel on a track. In other words, the carriages move, not the wheel. This design allows a moment frame to be used to support the wheel. Because a moment frame can be constructed to be much narrower than the supports for a traditional Ferris wheel, the wheel of the present invention can be installed in a much narrower land area, while still achieving great height.
US08641534B2
A gaming machine is provided, which includes a cabinet having a front opening, a front door, a display device, an input device and a controller. The front door is pivotably coupled to the cabinet via a hinge that is attached to a lateral end portion at a front face of the cabinet, and opens and closes the front opening. The display device is placed in the front face of the cabinet. The input device allows a player to perform operation related to the game. The front door has an operation table that projects forward from the cabinet. The input device is placed on the operation table. A cutout is arranged such that a side portion of the operation table closer to the hinge has a recess.
US08641532B2
A gaming device includes a housing and a game display carried by the housing for displaying one or more games. The gaming device further includes two card readers carried by the housing: a first card reader to read information indicative of a player identity from a player club card issued by a casino, and a second card reader to read information indicative of a financial account from a financial card issued by a financial institution.
US08641523B2
When a new character is selected by a game player, the game apparatus changes the visual point and the visual axis corresponding to the newly selected character with preventing camera sickness.When a character is changed, a visual point moves from point A to point B parallel to the line connecting a start point and a finish point with maintaining a direction of a visual axis. And then the visual point circular moves from point B to point C at a predetermined speed.
US08641518B2
Disclosed herein are techniques and equipment for providing a temporary ID for a player tracking account. The temporary ID may be created by a first player with a first level of access to a first player tracking account. The temporary ID may be used by a second player to gain a second level of access to the player tracking account. The second level of access may be less than the first level of access.
US08641517B2
A gaming machine is provided, which awards loyalty points to players playing the game who have identified themselves to the machine. The machine is arranged to award loyalty points to the player and to play two game means wherein, the first or base game may be provided by the slot machine game as a stand alone function with no dependence upon a supporting communications network, the second game may be linked game in which a plurality of network connected machines (50) participate with control of the game being provided by a central game controller (60), while the communications network (62) is controlled by a network controller (61). A first game mode is available to all players and a second enhanced game mode is made available to players who have reached a predetermined threshold of loyalty points.
US08641513B2
A gaming machine connected in a gaming network or operating as a stand-alone machine, is capable of accepting two or more currencies for wager game play. The machine operates internally using a native monetary type and converts non-monetary bills to native amounts in the form of restricted or cashable credits. The multiple currency capability of the machine is utilized to encourage the use of restricted credits by adjusting conversion rates, payback tables, and the like. These features, combined with the use of restricted credits, also enable ways to monitor abuse and illegal activity on the gaming machine and implement ways to limit losses by a player. Certain post-conversion processes are used to ensure that the player is returned non-converted amounts. The gaming machine has additional hard and soft meters to process multiple monetary types.
US08641511B2
Systems and methods for real-time interactive wagering on event outcomes are presented. Clients are first qualified and given wagering limits before being allowed to interactively wager on event outcomes. Event outcomes may be based on, for example, financial markets and indices, sporting and entertainment events, casino performances, and natural phenomena such as weather and earthquakes. Events on which wagers can be placed include both those with known and unknown outcome probabilities, and wagers can be a fixed-odds type or a spread-bet type. Wager transactions, including acceptances and confirmations, are executed in real time. Clients can customize displays of events on which they are authorized to wager. Real-time client credit management, automatic dealer hedging, automatic price-spread adjustments, and automatic client and dealer defined wagering limits are also provided.
US08641506B2
The present invention is to provide an effect with its high entertainment property. Those which are printed in a superimposed manner on the effect panel 813 are: the first picture 813a that is printed in an ordinary manner with the use of color ink (such as silk printing or offset printing, for example); and the second picture 813b that is printed with a polarizing pearl ink with its higher light transmission property than that of color ink. Further, the lamp 813c is disposed on a rear side of the effect panel 813, and light is emitted to a rear face of the effect panel 813 at higher luminance than that of external environmental light in accordance with the progress of game.
US08641504B2
A gaming machine includes a controller for controlling operation of the machine, a primary display is provided on which a game to be played is displayed. A secondary display is also provided on which a scorecard, indicating prizes to be paid upon a winning game being achieved, is displayed. The game and the scorecard are controlled by the controller and the scorecard is a dynamic scorecard with the relationship between combinations of symbols constituting a winning game and the prizes awarded by the scorecard for that particular game changing from game to game.
US08641499B2
According to one aspect of the present invention, a method of conducting a wagering game is provided. The method allows an opportunity to achieve a first progressive award and a second progressive award. The method comprises the acts of receiving a primary wager from a player for playing the wagering game and initiating the wagering game. The method further includes displaying a randomly selected outcome of the wagering game via a plurality of symbols. The plurality of symbols are selected from a set of symbols including a predetermined symbol. In response to the randomly selected outcome including a first number of the predetermined symbols, the method includes triggering an event in which the first progressive award can be achieved. In response to the randomly selected outcome including a second number of the predetermined symbols, the method includes triggering an event in which the second progressive award can be achieved.
US08641489B2
A distribution housing including an upstream portion and a widened downstream portion along the transverse axis relative to the upstream portion, in which an air inlet formed in the upstream portion is adapted to correspond to an outlet of an air conditioning apparatus, first and second outlets formed in the downstream portion are respectively adapted to correspond with a duct network for distributing blown air towards a de-icing board and side louvers, first pipes connect the inlet to the first outlets and extend between separation walls of the ducts and side walls of the housing, and a second pipe connects the inlet to the second outlet and extends at least partially between the duct separation walls. The second pipe opens, on the air inlet side, at the center of the air inlet, and the first pipes open on both sides of the first pipe. The housing has a different profile along the plane between the first and second pipes.
US08641481B2
Bonded abrasive tools, e.g., grinding wheels, can be reinforced using, for instance, one or more fiberglass web(s) having a surface of glass per unit of at least 0.2. Alternatively or in addition, the fiberglass web has a thickness of 2 mm or less. The web can be designed to provide improved adhesion between the fiberglass reinforcement and the mixture employed to form the bonded abrasive tool. In some examples, the middle reinforcement at the neutral zone of the wheel can be eliminated or minimized.
US08641479B2
A tool assembly for machining a bore. The tool assembly includes a cutting tool and a tool holder. The cutting tool has an abrasive grit disposed continuously around a circumference of the cutting tool. The tool holder has a first coolant passage and a secondary coolant passage that extends at an angle from the first coolant passage.
US08641475B1
A bra cup with an air bag contains a body including an inner cup portion and an outer cup portion hot pressed together. The inner cup portion has a first elastic layer having a first connecting face for connecting with the outer cup portion. The inner cup portion also has an inner layer hot embossed and connected with the first elastic layer. The outer cup portion has a second elastic layer having a second connecting face for connecting with the inner cup portion. The outer cup portion also has an outer layer hot embossed and connected with the second elastic layer. At least one screen adhesive is connected between the inner cup portion and the outer cup portion of the body. An air bag is connected between the inner cup portion and the outer cup portion of the body.
US08641472B2
A toy snake that reproduces the natural movement of a snake as it moves across surface is described. The toy snake comprises a head that is pivotally mounted to a tail and a motor unit located within the head. In a preferred embodiment a body is employed to pivotally mount the head to the tail. The motor unit comprises at least two independently driven wheels located towards opposite sides of the head and the motor unit is configured to introduce a periodic oscillation between the operation of the independently driven wheels. The motor unit may also be configured to operate a tongue that extends out from the head to further increase the realistic nature of the toy. Embodiments of the snake may be adapted for use on land or water.
US08641469B2
A packaging method includes the following steps. A cover substrate is provided. A blocking dam having a first height is formed in the peripheral region of the cover substrate. The blocking dam has a second height after being hardened. A sealant surrounding the blocking dam and having a third height is formed. An encapsulation glue is filled in the active region of the cover substrate, and blocked by the blocking dam. A device substrate is provided, and a compression process is performed on the device substrate and the cover substrate. After the compression process, a buffer space is formed between the blocking dam and the sealant and between the cover substrate and the device substrate to accommodate the encapsulation glue spilling out of the active region of the cover substrate. The sealant is hardened, so that the cover substrate and the device substrate are bonded together through the sealant.
US08641465B2
A water walking apparatus having a pair of inflatable pontoons with footwells at their center, allowing user to step into. The pontoons are connected together by stretch cords and a platform that allows the user to sit and rest after walking on the water. The platform has a ladder inside the cavity of the platform assisting the user to get on the apparatus from water. Pontoons have pockets at bottom for scoops, the scoops pass over water freely when pontoons are going forward, and drop down into water when opposite pontoon is going forward. When scoops are down into water they reduce the backward movement of pontoon. The front ends of pontoons are up and out of water like the bow on a boat. The apparatus can come apart for easy storing and transporting.
US08641462B2
In an apparatus for controlling operation of an outboard motor having an internal combustion engine and a transmission selectively changeable in gear position to establish speeds including a first speed and a second speed and transmitting power of the engine to the propeller with a gear ratio determined by established speed, it is configured to control operation of the transmission to change the gear position to the first or second speed in response to an outputted speed change command, determine whether an engine speed is continuously equal to or greater than a predetermined speed for a predetermined time period when the speed change command to the first speed is outputted, and when the determination is affirmative, change the gear position from the first speed to the second speed. With this, it becomes possible to mitigate the load on a transmission gear to improve durability of the transmission.
US08641459B1
An example power adaptor is provided. In one aspect, the power adaptor may include a brick and a cable. The brick may further an actuator mechanism configured to allow detachment and attachment of a removable outlet attachment.
US08641448B2
The invention relates to a plug-in connection having shielding, in particular a multi-pin, multi-row plug-in connection comprising a male multipoint connector and a female multipoint connector, the plug-in connection comprising signal contacts, which are arranged in a contact pattern of differential pairs and which form a contact group together with an L-shaped shielding element that surrounds the signal contacts, the contact groups being arranged in rows and columns and adjacent contact groups in adjacent columns being offset from each other by a specifiable length dimension in the longitudinal direction of the columns, the plug-in connection being characterized in that the specified length dimension corresponds to approximately half the distance of two adjacent contact groups in a column.
US08641444B2
For an object of providing a connector which has improved heat radiating efficiency, the connector includes a terminal 2 including a wire connecting portion 21 which an electric wire is connected, and a connector housing 3 provided with a terminal receiving section 30 receiving the terminal 2. Heat radiating portions 45, 55 are provided at a position of the terminal receiving portion 30, at which the wire connecting portion 21 is covered. In the heat radiating portions 45, 55, a plurality of projections 49, 59 formed to project from the surface 4a, 5a of the terminal receiving section 30 is arranged at intervals to each other.
US08641435B2
A Universal Serial Bus (USB) memory device capable of being concealed within a housing exterior designed to resemble a toy car. The device has a USB connector, which can slide out of the rear end of the toy car and be inserted into a USB port on a computer to establish a communication link between the computer and the device. The headlights of the toy car will blink, when a connection is established Alternatively, the tires may spin and the sound of a revving car engine will be emitted from the device when the connection is established. The housing is capable of concealing the USB connector inside of the toy car exterior, making the device completely unrecognizable as a USB memory device. Concealment of the device is intended to discourage theft of the USB memory device and the sensitive information contained thereon.
US08641432B2
An electrical connector system includes a plurality of electrical connectors that can be mounted onto a powered rail. Each of the electrical connectors includes a connector housing that retains an electrical contact. The powered rail includes a tapered alignment guide that receives a complementary tapered arm of the connector housing that locates into the alignment guide so as to position the connectors to the rail.
US08641431B2
A coaxial cable connector is provided having an inner contact configured to be terminated to a center conductor of a coaxial cable. A dielectric insert holds the inner contact. A shell holds the dielectric insert. The shell extends between a mating end and a cable end. The cable end includes a housing having an edge. The cable end is configured to be terminated to an end of the coaxial cable by pressing the edge into the end of the coaxial cable such that the housing is positioned radially inward of a jacket of the coaxial cable and the housing is in direct contact with a cable braid of the coaxial cable.
US08641424B2
A method for the electronic publication and distribution of customized educational materials comprises an educator compiling a set of customized educational course materials from selected segments of educational works stored in an educational materials database of available materials (150-180), and indexing the set of customized educational course materials in an electronic database where it is available for purchase in an electronic format by students (270, 277). Copyright infringement is discouraged by providing the educator the option of electronic testing and grading of only those students that have purchased the educational materials. Hence, only such students are eligible to receive a grade in the class (265, 280). The customized educational course materials are easily updated without the publisher incurring traditional printing and distribution costs, simultaneously reducing the time to market for new editions of educational materials.
US08641419B2
This invention relates to methods and devices for restoring teeth using fixed restorations. In particular, the invention provides a system, kit, and devices for the management of interproximal areas for traditional cementation and/or bonding of dental crowns, onlays, inlays, veneers and bridges. In the method, a barrier is positioned in contact with the tooth being restored and an adjacent tooth to cover a section of the tooth being restored and to create separation of the tooth being restored and the adjacent tooth. Cement is applied to the first mating surface of the fixed restoration and/or to the second mating surface of the tooth, and the first mating surface of the fixed restoration and the second mating surface of the tooth are positioned adjacent each other to seat the fixed restoration on the tooth. The barrier covers a section of the tooth being restored to prevent cement from bonding to the section of the tooth. This eliminates the need to remove hardened cement from this section of the tooth.
US08641410B2
A mold devised for molding of footwear bottoms, composed of overlapping layers made with expandible reticulable polyolefin material, as well as for molding of other manufactures with monolithic structure composed of overlapping layers of expandible reticulable polyolefin materials.
US08641409B2
In a blow mold for manufacturing blow molded or stretch-blow molded containers with mold support parts movable relative to each other by a force-transmitting actuation mechanism for opening, closing and locking mold parts defining a mold cavity and mounted to the mold support parts, each mold support is an integrally formed composite component with areas of different materials, wherein at least one first area of a material in the mold support part predominantly is a force transmission element, while at least one second area of another material predominantly is a filling or enclosing or spacer element.
US08641407B2
A tubing expansion device is adapted to be advanced axially, without rotation, through tubing to be expanded. The device comprises a body and a plurality of expansion members mounted on the body, the expansion members being independently radially movable. The expansion members may be rotatable, or may be non-rotating.
US08641405B2
The invention concerns a piston (1) for positioning a food pot decoration in a mold, a positioning device comprising this piston, and an associated positioning method. The piston (1) comprises at least one means (10) for prefolding or folding the decoration over its full height.
US08641401B2
A combination scoop and mold press includes two generally cup-shaped half-mold members, which engage one another at mold member edges in mirror-image alignment to form a generally enclosed mold. The half-mold members of the scoop and mold press are carried on opposite ends of a unitary piece of injection molded polymeric material, which has a live hinge joint equidistantly spaced between the mold members. Either of the half-mold members may be utilized to scoop out an appropriate mass of bait dough having at least the volume of the closed mold. At least one of the half-mold members is equipped with a notch or slit through which the shank of a fish hook, or the line which is tied to the fish hook, may pass. Finger pressure is used to bring the mold half-members together, compressing the bait dough around the hook.
US08641400B2
There is provided a mold clamping apparatus that can prevent a molding material from spouting from a split surface of a mold even if in-cavity resin pressure causes offset of a mold opening force, and can extend the life of the mold. The mold clamping apparatus includes a control device that estimates a mold opening force by mold internal pressure for molding with mold internal pressure being asymmetrical with respect to a center of a mold block, determines a mold clamping hydraulic value applied to each tie bar correspondingly to the estimated mold opening force, and distributes hydraulic pressure supplied to each tie bar so that the determined mold clamping hydraulic value is reached.
US08641396B2
Foil extrusion lines use spiral distributors for producing a melt which is as homogeneous as possible during operation. The spiral distributors are mostly available as cylindrical or conical axial spiral distributors or as radial spiral distributors. The spiral distributors have spiral channels that run in a multiple spiral arrangement so that rather flat horizontal edges are formed precisely in initial sections and vertical edges are formed between the beginning of spiral channels and transition sections of adjacent spiral channels. The melt can easily adhere there. To accelerate the melt in critical areas, the course or the cross-section of the channels or the surface are modified.
US08641395B2
A system is provided for controlling the balance piston pressure in a screw compressor. The system can use the slide valve of the compressor as a valve to control the flow of fluid from a fluid source to the balance piston. When the slide valve prevents direct flow between the fluid source and the balance piston, an alternate path is used to provide fluid at a reduced pressure to the balance piston. The reduced pressure fluid is obtained by passing the fluid from the fluid source through an orifice to lower the fluid pressure.
US08641391B2
A built-in electric air pump mounted on an inflatable bed by heat binding or adhesion is provided, and includes a pump housing; an air duct conversion mechanism mounted in the pump housing; a cover assembly covering the pump housing; a switch assembly connected with the air duct conversion mechanism; an air valve assembly disposed on the bottom of the pump housing; and a power source device connected with the switch assembly and powering the air pump. The air pump receives power from combinations of power sources in four different modes, namely, dry batteries, a rechargeable battery pack assembly, a vehicle-mounted power source and an AC adapter which match one another, to drive the pump, thereby forming multiple power source configurations to drive the same set of air pump and enable the same inflatable bed to be used indoors as well as outdoors at any time.
US08641387B2
An inflating pump with auxiliary knotting functions for filling up air balloons has a cylinder, piston, actuating shaft, operating handle and outlet nozzle. The piston is set slidably into the actuating space of the cylinder. The inner end of the actuating shaft is linked to the piston, and the outer end protruded from one end of the cylinder. The operating handle is linked to the outer end of the actuating shaft. The outlet nozzle is set to connect with the actuating space of the cylinder. An auxiliary knotting portion is set with a spacing to the outlet nozzle and has a bulge and an internal flange formed at end of the bulge for knotting purposes. After the air balloon is filled up with air, the user could rewind the opening of the air balloon for auxiliary knotting by taking the bulge and internal flange as the guiding structure.
US08641375B2
Disclosed is a ceiling recessed ventilating fan with illuminating device, including a body, a blower disposed horizontally within the body and an illuminating device disposed inside the body. The illuminating device is disposed around an air inlet of the blower. The illuminating device is disposed within the body, and does not protrude from the surface of the ceiling.
US08641371B2
A turbine shroud (30) of a gas turbine engine comprises a plurality of arcuate shroud segments (31) combined into an annular configuration, each shroud segment including a main body (32) defining an inner circumferential surface opposing the tips of the turbine rotor blades (11a) at a small clearance and an engagement feature including an axial wall (33a, 34a) having a prescribed circumferential length and a prescribed axial length, the turbine casing including an axial slot (51, 52) extending coaxially around the center line of the engine and configured to receive the axially extending wall of each shroud segment. A clearance defined between each circumferential end part (E) of the axial wall and an opposing inner circumferential surface of the turbine casing is greater than that defined between a circumferentially middle part (M) of the axial wall and an opposing inner circumferential surface of the turbine casing under a cool condition of the engine. A radial temperature gradient that develops in each shroud segment when the engine is warmed causes a deformation of the shroud segment such that the clearance can be made substantially uniform over the entire circumference of the shroud segment and the cooling air leakage can be minimized while minimizing thermal stress that may be caused by the thermal expansion of the shroud segment.
US08641370B2
The present invention relates to a locking device (10) designed to fixedly attach a first element (9a) to a second element, comprising a locking member (12) intended to equip the first element, an additional locking element intended to equip the second element, and a control handle (13) connected to the locking member via transmission means, characterized in that the transmission means comprise a telescopic connecting rod (15) designed to oscillate freely between a minimum extension position and a maximum extension position, and means for returning the telescopic connecting rod to its position of maximum extension, said return means being placed in a prestressed state when the control handle is in the closure position.
US08641366B1
A rotating element is associated with at least one bearing compartment that includes a bearing to support the rotating element. A seal resists leakage of lubricant outwardly of the bearing compartment and allows air to flow from a chamber across the seal and into the bearing compartment. The seal has a seal face facing a rotating face rotating with the rotating element. The seal is a non-contact seal. A gas turbine engine is also disclosed.
US08641365B2
A rotor of a thermal turbomachine, particularly a gas turbine, is provided. The rotor includes a plurality of individual rotor components that are held together by a tie-bold and combined into a unit. The tie-bolt is supported by the assembly of the surrounding rotor components including the tie-bolt and the rotor disks. A hollow shaft which is made up of two tubular sections and a support wheel further support the rotor.
US08641356B2
An elevating conveyance device with improved versatility which can be utilized for transferring an automobile body in an automobile assembly line, etc., and according to a first aspect of the invention, the elevating conveyance device includes a multistage extensible column, a transfer means, and an extending and contracting drive mechanism, where the multistage extensible column includes a fixed column portion, one or more mid-stage elevating column portions, and a final-stage elevating portion, the transfer means is provided on the final-stage elevating portion, and the extending and contracting drive mechanism includes a counter weight supported on the fixed column portion movably vertically in a range of the height of the fixed column portion, a winding transmission tool which applies the gravity of the counter weight upward to the next mid-stage elevating column portion, an elevating drive means which drives and elevates the next mid-stage elevating column portion with respect to the fixed column portion, and winding transmission tools which convert an upward movement of the mid-stage elevating column portion into an upward movement of the next mid-stage elevating column portion or final-stage elevating portion.
US08641348B2
A table (31) is located in a first position and a second position which is rotated at 90 degrees from the first position. A cover (27) is arranged on a top face of the table (31) and fixed to the table (31) by fixing means (32a, 32b). Cardboards are preliminarily attached to predetermined positions on a rear face of the cover (27), and an outer margin of a predetermined width is formed outside the cardboard. Folding units (35) are arranged on either side of the table (31), and guided by guide rails (34) for reciprocal linear movement in directions toward and away from the table (31). The folding units (35) are located in an outer margin folding position at which said folding units (35) engage with the cover (27) on the table (31) and fold the outer margin of the cover (27) so as to attach the outer margin to the cardboards, and a standby position at which the folding units (35) separate from the cover (27). A control unit controls the table (31) and the folding units (35). The folding units (35) are synchronized with each other in such a manner that the folding units (35) simultaneously fold the outer margin of the cover (27) each time the table (31) is located in the first and second positions.
US08641347B2
A hollow fastening nut assembly including an upper head adapted to engage a wrench or other tightening tool and an integral co-axial, internally threaded lower section of reduced diameter adapted for insertion into an access opening in a fastened component. The lower section acts as a compression limiter. An optional annular disc spring may be disposed about the internally threaded lower section for engagement with the rear surface of the fastened component. A locking structure may be disposed at the exterior surface of the internally threaded lower section to engage the interior of the access opening to lock the nut assembly in place.
US08641339B2
An apparatus (100) for transporting a wind turbine blade (10) on at least two railcars over a railway is provided. The apparatus includes a root end support (22) for supporting the root end (12) of the blade, a mid span support (28) for supporting the mid span (14) of the blade, and a tip displacement limiter (24) for restricting a tip end (16) of the blade from extending beyond a lateral transportation limit (30) imposed by the railroad. The tip displacement limiter exerts a force on the blade which is counter to a force exerted on the blade by the mid span support only when the railcars navigate a design basis curve (32) in the railway to cause a bending of the blade in order to avoid exceeding the lateral transportation limit. The apparatus is particularly useful for the transportation of extra-long or curved wind turbine blades.
US08641337B2
A method of forming a part from a workpiece mountable on a porous spoil-board on the worktable of a CNC machine having means for applying a negative pressure on the underside of the workpiece, providing a pressure differential across the mounted workpiece, and a cutting tool displaceable along x, y and z axes, including programming the controller of the machine to generate a cutting pattern, computing the area of the part, comparing the computed area value of the part with a predetermined area value and positioning the cutting tool along the Z-axis to provide less than a through cut of the workpiece where the computed area value is less than the predetermined area value and providing a through cut when a computed area value exceeds the predetermined area value, mounting the workpiece on the worktable, actuating the negative pressure applying means and operating the machine to execute such program.
US08641335B2
An apparatus for forming recesses on a circumferential surface that defines a cylindrical bore in a workpiece includes a tool holder disposed coaxially with the cylindrical bore; a form roller support retained on the tool holder; a form roller rotatably supported on the form roller support, the form roller including projections on an outer circumferential surface thereof which are configured to form the recesses on the circumferential surface that defines the cylindrical bore in the workpiece. A control assembly is configured to control the form roller support such that the form roller is allowed to be in press contact with the circumferential surface that defines the cylindrical bore in the workpiece at a press contact load of a predetermined value on the basis of a centrifugal force which is exerted on the form roller support and the form roller during rotation of the tool holder.
US08641331B2
The invention relates to a milling cutting insert having a square or triangular shaped cutting face delimited in the plan view by a peripheral cutting edge having linear cutting edges (10) and curved cutting corners (11). According to the invention, each of the cutting edges (10) comprises an inclined region (10a) sloping toward a cutting corner (11), extending beyond the tangential point (14) determined by the point at which the linear cutting edge (10) transitions into a curved cutting corner (11), wherein adjacent thereto the cutting edge (10b) rises prior to the point (24) determined by a cutting corner angle bisector (15), wherein said rising region (10b) extends to a cutting edge maximum (17) on the other side of the cutting corner (11) on the adjacent cutting edge (10), which is linear in plan view, from where the cutting edge (10) continues, again inclined and sloping downward, resulting in a rotationally symmetric form having identically shaped cutting edges.
US08641330B2
A tool for chip removing machining includes a tool holder in order to releasably hold at least one cutting insert. The cutting insert is arranged to be fixable in an insert pocket of the tool holder by a locking screw. The locking screw has a head and is in threaded engagement with the tool holder via a threaded joint which is arranged to allow tilting of the locking screw in a working direction of the tool when the locking screw is partly unscrewed so that the cutting insert can be removed from the insert pocket. The head is arranged to clamp against a part of a front side of the cutting insert. The tool holder includes at least one space at least partly arranged to receive the head when the screw is partly unscrewed.
US08641329B2
Provided herein is a system and method for providing inter-zone connections between first and second portions of a pneumatic tube system. The systems and methods (i.e., utilities) permit creating a direct pneumatic path between the first zone and the second zone. In this regard, air pressure or vacuum from a first zone may be utilized to effectuate transfer of a carrier through a portion or all of the second zone and/or to provide operating pressure or vacuum to the second zone.
US08641327B2
Protective structures for offshore installations and methods for using same are provided. The protective structure can include a body adapted to be disposed at least partially about a primary structure of an offshore installation, and a support system can be disposed on the body. One or more protrusions can be disposed about an outer surface of the body. The protrusions can have a first end adapted to break ice. The support system can be adapted to isolate the one or more bodies from the primary structure such that the one or more bodies can absorb at least a portion of ice generated vibrations.
US08641326B2
An improved method for replacing existing underground sewer pipe is accomplished without excavation, pipe bursting, or pipe reaming. First, vertical sight holes are drilled into the ground and through the existing pipe. Slurry material from the vertical hole drilling fills the old pipe. Then, a pilot hole is drilled in a first direction through the old pipe. Then, a reaming tool is pulled in the opposite direction so as to enlarge the pilot hole and grind out the old pipe, while simultaneously pulling the new pipe into position behind the reaming tool. The broken old pipe and slurry are vacuumed out of the vertical relief holes.
US08641315B2
A kind of furniture connecting piece includes a base and a screw. The base has opposite upper surface and lower surface, opposite two side surfaces, and opposite front surface and back surface. The lower surface of the base is provided with a gapped groove extending to the upper surface of the base, and the gapped groove runs through the front surface and the back surface of the base. The upper surface of the base is provided with a screw hole communicating with the gapped groove. The screw passes through the screw hole and is partially contained within the gapped groove. The furniture connecting piece not only avoids suffering damage in the process of mounting the screw but also strengthens the installation intensity between the furniture connecting piece and the furniture component by setting the gapped groove in the screw hole.
US08641312B2
A rotating connector that is particularly suitable for staging and lighting trusses and that includes a rotating connector and an inside sleeve having at least two portions. The combination of the rotating connector and the sleeve are held together by an outside sleeve, and the assembled sleeve is attached to a truss member.
US08641299B2
An optical connector includes an optical element to be optically connected to an optical fiber; and an optical component. The optical component includes an element fixation part configured to fix the optical element to the optical component; a ferrule attachment part to which a ferrule having the optical fiber connected thereto is to be attached; and a lens to face the optical fiber when the ferrule is attached to the ferrule attachment part. The optical element is positioned relative to the optical fiber in response to attachment of the ferrule to the ferrule attachment part.
US08641292B2
A photonic assembly includes a midplane connector having connector channels extending therethrough. Fiber optic connectors are positioned within the connector channels of the midplane connector. The fiber optic connectors retain ferrules of midplane optical fibers and aligning the ferrules of the midplane optical fibers within the midplane connector. A midplane substrate is provided having an opening extending therethrough. The midplane connector is positioned within the opening of the midplane substrate. The midplane connector floats within the opening of the midplane substrate to position the ferrules of the midplane optical fibers.
US08641291B2
A comb-shaped resin retainer includes an annular section and a plurality of pillar sections which protrude to one side in the axial direction from one side of the annular section. A gap between the pillar sections, adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction serves as a pocket for retaining a cylindrical roller. A side face of the pillar section which serves as the inner face of the pocket is formed in a recessed shape. Each pillar section is tilted so as to become closer to the retainer axial center as the pillar section extends toward the tip of the pillar section. A flat portion is provided on the side face of the pillar section which serves as the inner face of the pocket. The flat portion continues axially from the tip portion of the pillar section to the base end portion thereof.
US08641283B2
There is provided a hydrodynamic bearing apparatus, including: a shaft; and a sleeve rotatably supporting the shaft, wherein at least one of an outer surface of the shaft and an inner surface of the sleeve includes upper and lower hydrodynamic grooves generating hydrodynamic fluid pressure while the shaft rotates, and at least one of the upper and lower hydrodynamic grooves has a depth of a lower part thereof greater than that of an upper part thereof.
US08641279B2
It is aimed to smoothly perform engagement and disengagement of a fastener of a packaging bag and easily take out an inner content by a desired amount. For these purposes, in a packaging bag 1 with a fastener 20 in which a male fastener element and a female fastener element are attached to inner surfaces of opposing flat surface portions 2a and an opening is opened or closed by engaging or disengaging both the fastener elements, pick-up tabs 40 are provided so as to project outward at a portion corresponding to a mounting portion of the fastener 20, or near the portion. The fastener is formed to be asymmetric with respect to the center thereof so that one side largely protruded is attached so as to be directed inward of the packaging bag.
US08641272B1
System for performing dilatometer tests on the seafloor including a unit to rest on the seafloor, including: a pushing rod including at its lower end a dilatometer blade, and a driver device to drive the pushing rod, and cause the dilatometer blade to penetrate into the seafloor and bring the dilatometer into a plurality of predetermined test depths; the driver device including: a clamping member to clamp the pushing rod, at least a pushing member for pushing down to the seafloor the clamping member when the clamping member is clamping the pushing rod, causing the rod and dilatometer blade to penetrate into the seafloor, and for pushing up the clamping member when the clamping member is not clamping the pushing rod, wherein the pushing member moves up and down the clamping member, and moves in an intermittent way the dilatometer between a predetermined test depth and the subsequent one.
US08641258B2
A light guide panel 1 having a reflective sub-wavelength diffraction grating 3 generates zero-order light and minus first-order light in the reflective sub-wavelength diffraction grating 3, extracts the minus first-order light as outgoing light, and transmits the zero-order light to generate new minus first-order light by satisfying the conditional expressions: sin−1(1/n)<θ1 (1) λ/{n(sin θ1+1)}≦Λ
US08641254B2
An illumination apparatus, comprising at least one light emitting source embedded in a waveguide material is disclosed. The waveguide material is capable of propagating light generated by light emitting source(s), such that at least a portion of the light is diffused within the waveguide material and exits through at least a portion of its surface.
US08641247B2
The present invention discloses a backlight module and a ventilation component thereof, and a back plate of the backlight module is provided with a plurality of the ventilation components. The ventilation component comprises: a tubular body, a ventilating filter, a filter washer, and a fixing ring. The tubular body is hollow, and the ventilating filter is carried in the tubular body. The ventilating filter can communicate the internal air with the external air of the backlight module circulate to effectively descend the temperature of the internal air, so that the thermal expansion of the light guide plate in the backlight module can be decreased to prevent from generating an optical problem.
US08641246B2
According to one embodiment, a lamp unit includes a light-emitting module, a lighting circuit, and a housing. The light-emitting module includes a light emitting portion having a semiconductor light-emitting element. The lighting circuit lights the semiconductor light-emitting element. The housing includes a case opening in the direction of irradiation of light, and a base on a side of the case opposite from the direction of radiation of the light. The lighting circuit is accommodated in the case, and the light-emitting module is mounted on the base at a position closer to the base with respect to the position of the lighting circuit.
US08641236B2
An LED device has an LED assembly connected to or abutting a heat sink, the heat sink connected to a cooling bridge and optionally enclosed within insulated connector end caps and crossover end caps and within a reflector cover and side cover. The cooling bridge conducts heat to the heat sink away from the reflector cover, and side cover, where the heat may be removed by a circulating coolant. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b).
US08641231B2
A lighting fixture includes: a base; a plurality of optical sources attached on an upper surface of the base to emit light; a heat spreader attached to the base to radiate heat emitted from the plurality of optical sources; and a light diffusion lens disposed on the upper surface of the plurality of optical sources to refract light emitted from the plurality of optical sources and to increase an irradiation angle of light. In the lighting fixture, an irradiation angle of light emitted from an optical source is close to that of a general electric-light bulb and thus a light distribution characteristic of the lighting fixture may be improved.
US08641228B1
A track-mounted decorative lighting system comprises a track system, a light string, and a motorized lighting cartridge. The track system comprises a flexible track with an inverted “T”-shape profile mounted by a user in a desired configuration upon a structure. The motorized lighting cartridge comprises a gear-type drive system which deploys or retracts the light string through the track. A user may use a hand-held remote controller to activate the internal motor to drive the lights out into position along the track system upon the structure. The lighting system provides a means to add additional light strings and light cartridges to obtain a greater length of deployed lighting. The motor withdraws the deployed lights back into the cartridge for storage. The lighting system further provides a hook embodiment onto which a user may secure existing string-type lighting while still utilizing the deployment and retraction functions.
US08641227B1
The present invention provides an anti-pressing apparatus for flashlight, comprising a space provided on one end of the flashlight, a dialing piece inserted into a slot adjacent to the space, a pressing piece provided on a perforation having the dialing piece inserted therein, a restraining piece corresponding to an outer end of the pressing piece on the central perforation of the flashlight in order to restrain the pressing piece to move upward and downward only; whereby during use of the anti-pressing assembly of the flashlight, only the push portion of the dialing pieces is required to be dialed to another side to drive the blocker of the dialing piece to rotate to a lower position underneath the protruding section of the pressing piece in order to restrain the downward movement of the pressing piece and accidental pressing down on the power of the flashing can be prevented.
US08641223B2
A flashlight screwing structure, applicable to a flashlight having a non-cylindrical gripping segment and a screwing unit for changing a battery quickly and conveniently, includes: a thread disposed on an inner surface at a rear end of the flashlight; a connecting unit inserted into the rear end of the flashlight and having a hole centrally formed in the connecting unit; and a thread segment extending inward from an outer cover capable of screwing so as to mesh with the internal thread at the rear end of the flashlight. Therefore, changing the battery of the non-cylindrical flashlight entails rotating and withdrawing the outer cover and the connecting unit, changing the battery, restoring the connecting unit to a position thereof, and rotating the outer cover to fix the outer cover to the rear end of the flashlight.
US08641215B2
A display device with switchable viewing includes a backlight module and a display panel. The backlight module includes a light guide plate, first optical structures, a reflector, a first light source, and a second light source. The light guide plate includes a bottom surface, a light exit surface, a first light incident surface, and a second light incident surface. The display panel is disposed on the light exit surface. The first optical structures are disposed on the bottom surface and each includes a first inclined surface and a second inclined surface. The angle between the first inclined surface and the bottom surface is smaller than that between the second inclined surface and the bottom surface. Lights from the first light source and the second light source enter the light guide plate from the first light incident surface and the second light incident surface, respectively. After entering the light guide plate, the lights can be reflected by the first inclined surface or the second inclined surface, or be refracted by the first inclined surface or the second inclined surface to the underlying reflector and reflected by the reflector back to the light guide plate from the first inclined surface or the second inclined surface. Based on such a structure, by controlling the on/off state of the first light source and the second light source, the viewing angle of the display device is switchable.
US08641210B2
Described is a device comprising a retro-reflective marker sphere comprising: a core ball comprising: a generally spherical body portion, a mounting base extending from one end of the body portion of the core ball, and a mounting recess having a recess opening in the mounting base and extending into the body portion of the core ball, and a retro-reflective covering on the core ball, the retro-reflective covering comprising an opening through which the mounting base of the core ball extends, wherein a flat lower surface of the mounting base is spaced proximally from a lower edge of the opening of the retro-reflective covering, and wherein the mounting recess includes an interior screw thread for engaging an exterior screw thread of a mounting post when the retro-reflective marker sphere is mounted on the mounting post.
US08641208B2
Disclosed are a projection display apparatus and a projection optics provided in the projection display apparatus. The projection optics has a refractive optics and a reflective optics. In the refractive optics, a lens (non-circular lens) provided on a reflective optics side has a non-circular shape forming part of an imaginary circular region whose center is an optical axis center of the refractive optics. In other words, the non-circular lens has a shape of a cut-out portion of an imaginary circular lens having an optical axis center coinciding with the optical axis center of the refractive optics.
US08641194B2
An in vivo method of characterizing dynamic tear films has been developed using a near infrared phase-shifting interferometer. This interferometer continuously measures light reflected from the tear film, allowing precision analysis of the dynamic surface topography. Movies showing the tear film behavior may be generated along with quantitative metrics describing the tear film surface as it changes in time.
US08641188B2
The present invention illustrates various methods of attaching a pair of eyeglass lenses or a lens shield to an eyeglass frame using magnets or magnetically attractive material. The magnetic attachment methods are beneficial because they allow the user to have interchangeable lenses or shields for indoor and outdoor use, enhancing their visual acuity during work or play. The lenses may be tinted, prescription, protective eyewear, or plano. The magnetic lenses are convenient and user friendly, allowing intuitive, tool-less interchangeability with no need to twist or stress the frame. These methods of attachment require no specific instructions or tools when the user replaces lenses.
US08641172B2
A liquid discharge head includes first and second element substrates including: a discharge port array; energy generating elements; and electric contacts electrically connected to the energy generating elements and including first and second electric contacts disposed linearly along one end and the other end. The first and second element substrates are configured such that a distance between the gravity center of the first electric contact and that of a discharge port provided at an end of the discharge port array on the first electric contacts side is different from a distance between the gravity center of the second electric contact and that of a discharge port provided at an end of the discharge port array on the second electric contacts side. The first electric contacts of the first element substrate and the second electric contacts of the second element substrates are disposed linearly, and vice versa.
US08641170B2
A liquid ejection device includes a head and a liquid-receiving section. The head has a plurality of nozzles configured and arranged to eject a liquid. The liquid-receiving section has a sloped face for receiving a liquid ejected from the nozzles when flushing is carried out by the head. The sloped face is formed on an elongated member and is configured and arranged to receive the liquid ejected downward from the nozzles. The nozzles forming at least one nozzle row extending in a direction along a longitudinal direction of the elongated member. The head being configured and arranged to carry out the flushing while travelling above the sloped face.
US08641164B2
A density correction value calculation method for a printing device comprising: (A) determining the density of each pixel column composed of pixels aligned in the intersecting direction in a duty determination pattern, and also determining the density of each pixel column in the duty determination pattern; (B) specifying the total duty for which the lowest density of the pixel column densities of the overlapping regions is equal to or greater than the lowest density in the pixel columns of the non-overlapping regions; and (C) calculating a density correction value of the pixel columns using a density correction pattern formed with the specified total duty, and also calculating a density correction value so that the lowest density of the pixel column densities of the density correction pattern is a reference.
US08641161B2
Disclosed is a printing apparatus that performs printing by using inks of plural colors including a white color, which includes a first nozzle group that ejects an ink of one color including a white color and at least one color other than the white color, and a second nozzle group that ejects the inks of plural colors. An image formed by the first nozzle group is an undercoat layer or an overcoat layer of an image formed by the second nozzle group.
US08641137B2
A vehicle headliner assembly includes a roof bow, a headliner, an alignment member and a fastener. The roof bow includes an attachment portion defining a first slot. The headliner includes a mounting portion defining a first aperture aligned with the first slot. The alignment member is non-movably attached to the roof bow at the first slot and defines an alignment hole that coincides with the first slot. The fastener includes an attachment projection that extends through the first aperture, through the alignment hole of the alignment member and through the first slot. The attachment projection has a retaining surface that contacts a surface of the roof bow adjacent to the first slot and faces away from the headliner such that the fastener retains the headliner to the roof bow.
US08641134B2
An air duct for an automotive vehicle is blow molded with an elongated, hollow structural member to be used as a portion of a body of the vehicle. The structural member has an inner wall defining an elongated cavity communicating with first and second access holes at respective longitudinal positions along the structural member. A parison comprised of a thermally insulating material is inserted into the internal cavity. A source of inflation gas is connected to a mouth portion or the parison. The parison is heated and inflated within the internal cavity to an expanded shape to form the air duct disposed against the inner wall and spanning the first and second access holes. The air duct at one of the access holes is configured as an air inlet. The air duct at the other one of the access holes is configured as an air outlet.
US08641128B2
An insert that can be used support a vehicle floor if a cross member fails either mechanically or through corrosion. The insert may also be used to protect a fastener used in a vehicle floor assembly.
US08641127B2
A plasma spoiler is mounted in a rear portion of a vehicle for exerting a force on a passing air flow. The plasma spoiler has a dielectric substrate formed of a dielectric material, a first electrode mounted on a bottom surface of the dielectric substrate and insulated by the dielectric substrate, a second electrode mounted on an upper, exposed surface of the dielectric substrate, and a power source connected to the first and second electrodes. The first electrode is disposed in a rearward direction relative to the second electrode. A switch is disposed between the power source and one of the first electrode and the second electrode. The switch is controlled by a controller that is in communication with a speed sensor, so as to activate the plasma spoiler only when the vehicle exceeds a trigger speed.
US08641117B2
There is provided an assist grip for a vehicle capable of gripping a grip main body easily when in use and applying force thereon and facilitating movement of getting off. The assist grip 1 for the vehicle includes the grip main body 2 for supporting getting out movement from the seat 51 of the occupant, which is provided in the lower part of the door opening 10 beside the seat 51, where the grip main body 2 is provided in a manner capable of raising and lowering in an outward direction of the vehicle. Accordingly, since the grip main body 2 falls outward of the vehicle at the time of use of the assist grip 1, a portion to which a hand of the occupant is applied becomes large, and a flexibility of posture change increases, and getting out of the occupant becomes easy.
US08641111B2
An attachment to a shovel having a shovel head and a handle is provided, converting the shovel into a tool for collecting debris. The attachment has a clamping head and a pivot arm shorter than the shovel handle, and a pivot for attaching the attachment to the shovel handle. The attachment is movable between a closed position when the shovel head and the clamping head are juxtaposed face to face forming a tunnel therebetween, and an open position when the shovel head and the clamping head are spaced apart. In operation, the clamping head is moved into an open position to collect debris, and then moved into a closed position towards the shovel head to secure the debris, followed by rotating the tool by 90° plus an offset angle, thereby causing the clamping head to open under its weight and the debris to fall through the tunnel.
US08641104B1
A latch device (14) includes a latch bolt (30) movable between a latching position and an unlatching position. A sleeve (775) is mounted to an outer side (13A) of a door (11) and operatively connected to an outer operational device (12). A clutch (575) is mounted to and jointly movable with the sleeve (775). An unlatching member (711) is operably connected to the latch bolt (30) and releasably engaged with the clutch (575). When the unlatching member (711) engages with the clutch (575), operation of a handle (502) of the outer operational device (12) retracts the latch bolt (30). When the unlatching member (711) disengages from the clutch (575), the latch bolt (30) remains in the latching position if the handle (502) is rotated.
US08641101B2
A fluid transfer tube comprises a base, a plurality of external threads, and an annular shoulder. The base is disposed at a first axial end of the tube. The plurality of external threads are integrally formed into at least a portion of the base for securing the base into a boss. The annular shoulder is fixed to an outer diameter of the tube at a first distance from the first axial end, causing the shoulder to contact an outer surface of the boss with the base of the tube at a maximum depth in the receiving portion of the boss to prevent further downward travel of the base.
US08641099B2
A fluid coupling assembly has a single fluid connection, including a plate and at least a pair of nipples extending away from the plate in a first direction, and at least a pair of connection pipes connected to each of the nipples extending from the plate in a second opposed direction. The nipples include a thread at an outer periphery, a ramped surface spaced in a direction beyond the thread and towards the plate, and a ditch beyond the ramped surface. A fluid coupling has a thread at an inner periphery received on the thread on the nipple, and the coupling has a plurality of circumferentially spaced fingers spaced by grooves, with the fingers being snapped into the ditch and is biased against the ramped surface. The plate, at least a pair of nipples and at least a pair of connection pipes are all formed of an integral piece of metal.
US08641097B2
There is provided a pretensioner. The pretensioner includes: a pipe; a gas generator that generates a gas in the pipe in an emergency case; a gas generator mount on which the gas generator is mounted; a spool driving mechanism that rotates a spool in a direction to retract a seatbelt by the gas generated by the gas generator in the emergency case; a discharge hole formed in the pipe so as to allow communication between inside and outside of the pipe; and a blocking member configured to block the discharge hole from inside of the pipe, the blocking member being configured to open the discharge hole when the blocking member is pressed from outside of the pipe with a pressing force equal to or greater than a given pressing force.
US08641095B2
A steering column device includes a fixed member and a movable member disposed between a jacket and a mount bracket. The fixed member is located on a mount bracket side, and the movable member is located on a jacket side. The fixed member and the movable member include a lock member and a lock tooth disposed to face each other. The lock member includes an elastic claw having elasticity to achieve engagement with and disengagement from the lock tooth.
US08641086B2
A seat cushion airbag device mountable to a vehicle seat that includes: a seat section including a seat cushion supported by a support section; and a blower duct having an outlet provided below the seat cushion so as to allow air-conditioning air to be ejected upward. The cushion airbag device includes an airbag, at least a part of which is inflated with an inflating fluid such that a seat surface of the seat section is bulged out. The airbag includes a folded portion. Before the airbag is inflated with the inflating fluid, the airbag is disposed at a position on a front side of the outlet while the folded portion is folded such that the outlet is exposed from the airbag. When the airbag is inflated, the folded portion is deployed so as to extend to a position on a rear side of the outlet.
US08641081B2
A passenger airbag apparatus includes an airbag, an inflator, a case and a retainer. The case includes on a bottom wall a set-in opening through which the inflator is set in, a housing region that holds and houses the inflator, a mounting seat on which the airbag is mounted, lateral movement stopping sections that prevent the inflator from moving in an axial direction, and a rotation stopping section that prevents the inflator from rotating in a circumferential direction. The inflator includes a cut-out region engageable with the rotation stopping section. The retainer is secured to the mounting seats of the case with bolts while pressing a hem of an opening of the airbag against an upper circumferential plane of the inflator and the mounting seats, thus mounting the airbag and inflator on the case.
US08641080B2
The present invention relates to an air bag container consisting of an impact modified polyamide composition, wherein the polyamide composition has a Melt Volume-Flow Rate higher than 25 cm3/10 minutes. The polyamide composition preferably comprises a base polyamide, an impact modifier, reinforcing compounds and a flow improver.
US08641079B2
A multi-axle vehicle suspension system comprising a first torsion axle mounted to a first suspension pivot member, the first suspension pivot member pivotally coupled to a vehicle frame, a second torsion axle mounted to a second suspension pivot member, the second suspension pivot member pivotally coupled to the vehicle frame, a pivot member pivotally coupled to the vehicle frame, the first suspension pivot member pivotally coupled to the pivot member, and the second suspension pivot member pivotally coupled to the pivot member.
US08641070B2
A drive assistance device for a wheelchair includes a drive motor, a running wheel and a sensor device which is adapted to determine a driving force manually induced into the running wheel; and a control unit which is adapted to control the drive motor for driving the running wheel depending on the driving force manually induced by the user into the running wheel. The control unit of the drive assistance device includes a user force analysis operational mode which is adapted to determine data concerning physical efficiency and capacity of the user. These include a maximum force of the user as well as the maximum speed which can be reached with purely manual drive.
US08641069B2
On an apparatus for generating and/or storing compressed air, particularly for filling tires of a vehicle, particularly a bicycle, it is provided that the apparatus is accommodated in an element (17), particularly a frame element of the vehicle.
US08641066B2
An integrated vehicular suspension and differential mounting structure includes a metal base frame which supports a differential support member having a body formed of a resin or composite material. The differential support member further includes integrated annular collars having a central portion formed of a metal and a peripheral portion formed of resin or rubber. The peripheral portion of the collars are integrated with the resin or composite body of the differential support member. The base frame may further include a bracket for supporting the differential support member and a bracket for mounting an associated suspension system. The bracket for supporting the differential support member may be integrally formed with the bracket for mounting the associated suspension system.
US08641064B2
A tilting multi-wheeled vehicle includes a tilting frame supporting at least one seat; a body; and a suspension assembly, wherein the suspension assembly is structured and arranged to permit a transversely disposed pair of the wheels to tilt with the tilting frame. While the tilting frame tilts, the body remains in a controlled relationship with the tilting frame. In an embodiment, the controlled relationship with the tilting frame permits the body to remain substantially parallel to the road surface. Accordingly, the vehicle can support a wider automobile-like body which will not contact the road surface when the tilting frame tilts while navigating a turn. In another embodiment, the body can be allowed to remain substantially parallel to and equidistant from the road surface while navigating a turn.
US08641060B2
A support device for moving an item on a surface. A main body includes a panel and a sidewall. A handle assembly engages the main body and includes a first transportation mechanism. The support device includes a resistance portion on the main body for engaging a surface and resisting movement of the support device when in a resistive mode. The handle mechanism lowers the first transportation mechanism to engage the surface and disengage the resistance portion from the surface in a transportive mode to encourage movement of the support device and the item supported thereon.
US08641058B2
The hand truck brake provides automatic braking for a hand truck as it negotiates a stairway or other uneven surface. The brake is adaptable to various types of hand trucks, including powered stair-climbing trucks. The brake includes two major assemblies. The first is a reciprocating plunger having a distal roller that travels along the surface. When the roller travels over the nose of a stairway tread, the plunger extends to actuate the brake. The second major assembly is a rotary cam rotated by the plunger as it extends. The cam has an extension and a brake shoe, the brake shoe engaging the underlying surface to stop the hand truck when the cam is rotated to its brake-engaging position. The assembly automatically retracts when the hand truck is oriented vertically. Additional controls are provided for the operator to extend or retract the brake mechanism.
US08641056B1
A shoulder-carriable wheeled cart assembly includes a cart frame, a detachable backpack mountable on the cart frame, a plurality of laterally spaced support pegs mounted on the cart frame lower end portion, and a detachable harness strap. The harness strap is tightenable about articles mounted on the support pegs between the harness strap and the cart frame to secure said articles against the cart frame. A support tray attachable to the support pegs and interposable between the articles and the support pegs stabilizes the mounting of the articles on the support pegs. The cart assembly is mountable on a mobile passenger vehicle, such as a bicycle, via a docking fixture that receives and secures the cart assembly. A retraction cord connected to the harness strap upper end urges the harness strap upper end toward the upper portion of the frame, thereby avoiding dragging the harness strap along the ground.
US08641053B2
An actuator assembly for use in an active suspension includes a drive assembly having a first portion and a second portion configured to translate relative to each other. The first portion is coupled to a sprung mass and the second portion is coupled to an unsprung mass. The actuator assembly includes an air spring assembly disposed about the drive assembly having a first portion disposed in proximity to the sprung mass and a second portion disposed in proximity to the unsprung mass, the air spring assembly defining an air volume pressurized at an air pressure greater than atmospheric pressure. The actuator assembly includes a cooling assembly having a set of drive assembly channels disposed within the air volume and in thermal communication with the drive assembly and a pump disposed in fluid communication with the set of drive assembly channels.
US08641050B2
An apparatus for transporting a non-ambulatory individual up and down steps includes a seat for the non-ambulatory individual, two front wheels and two larger back wheels positioned under the seat. The apparatus can be used to move up steps through an operator by tilting the apparatus back and moving the apparatus such that the large rear wheels roll towards the steps. When descending steps, the seated occupant can be lowered through successive steps to a lower floor or incorporated landing by tilting the apparatus and moving the rear wheels down the steps. The apparatus includes extension rods which may be extended to stabilize the apparatus while moving up or down steps.
US08641046B2
A piston ring with a DLC coating comprises an adhesive layer on a base material from inside to outside, an amorphous metallic hydrocarbon layer and an amorphous non-metallic hydrocarbon layer, wherein primarily sp2 bonds predominate in the metallic hydrocarbon layer and the non-metallic hydrocarbon layer comprises sp2 and sp3 bonds, the sp3 bond fraction being higher than in the metallic hydrocarbon layer so that an electrical resistance of the DLC coating arises, said resistance being in the range greater than 5000 ohms, in particular greater than 5000 kohms.
US08641035B2
A sheet conveying apparatus includes: a sheet housing unit that houses sheets in a stacked manner; a sheet conveying unit that conveys a sheet to a predetermined conveyance target position; a sheet pick-up unit that picks up outermost one of the sheets housed in the sheet housing unit for conveying to a sheet conveying unit side; a separating and conveying unit that separates the next sheet from the outermost sheet, and conveys only the outermost sheet to the sheet conveying unit; and a sheet-conveyance-movement detecting unit that detects presence or absence of movement of a sheet in the conveying direction. The sheet-conveyance-movement detecting unit is arranged at a position at which the outermost sheet and the next sheet may overlap each other, and a separation portion is located downstream of the pick-up position and is an area where a separation action of the separating and conveying unit works.
US08641032B2
A sheet cassette includes a lower stage side tray that accommodates a sheet, an upper stage side tray that is slidable with respect to the lower stage side tray on an upper portion of the lower stage side tray and accommodates the sheet, and a discharged sheet tray that is slidable with respect to the upper stage side tray, is displaceable to a position to receive the sheet discharged after being recorded on, and covers an upper portion of the upper stage side tray. The upper stage side tray and the discharged sheet tray are configured to be driven by a driving unit, and the discharged sheet tray is displaced by the driving unit to a position to receive the sheet.
US08641030B2
A control apparatus that controls a stapling unit configured to staple sheets includes a control unit configured to determine a turning-over direction of sheets to be stapled by the stapling unit and to determine a maximum number of staplable sheets according to the determined turning-over direction.
US08641024B1
The present invention is directed generally to tools that are high quality, strong, and lightweight. For example, various tools such as clamps may be made using parts containing a compound or alloy including magnesium. Magnesium may be for cast or extruded parts. In one embodiment, an “F” style clamp may be made with one or both of the two cooperating jaw members or sections being cast from a magnesium compound or alloy. In one variation, the “F” style clamp may include a shaft made from extruded magnesium. In another embodiment, a “C” style clamp may be made with the “C” shaped frame being cast from a magnesium compound or alloy. In a further embodiment, a bar clamp having trigger indexing may be made with one or both of two jaw members or sections being cast from a magnesium compound or alloy. In a variation, the bar may be an extruded magnesium.
US08641013B2
A quick release connector has a body, a positioning mount, a sealing valve and an outer sleeve. The body has a connecting end, a linking end and an air inlet chamber. The positioning mount is detachably connected to the body and has a fixing end, an inserting end, an air outlet chamber, multiple ball holes, a returning spring, at least one sealing element and multiple balls. The sealing valve is movably mounted in the body and the positioning mount, selectively abuts the at least one sealing element and has a closed end, an open end, a mounting post, at least one air inlet, a sealing ring and a ring anti-drop cover. The outer sleeve is slidably mounted around the body and the positioning mount and has a spring recess, a holding recess and a pressing spring.
US08641006B2
A hands-free support device and method for supporting an airflow hood relative to an airflow register is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a support device operably attached to the airflow hood and configured to support the airflow hood relative to a first surface proximate the register. The support device is configured to engage a second surface spaced away from the first surface.
US08641005B2
A container mixing stand including a base plate, and a first wall and a second wall connected to the base plate, where the first wall is spaced from the second wall for receiving a container between the first and second walls. A tensioning mechanism independent of the first wall and the second wall is positioned adjacent to at least one of the first wall and the second wall. The tensioning mechanism is movable between a rest position and a tensioning position, where moving the tensioning mechanism to the tensioning position causes at least one of the first wall and the second wall to move along the base plate toward the container and secure the container between the first wall and the second wall.
US08641004B2
A cup holder for beverage containers has a deployable tray movable between a deployed position and a stowed position. The tray has an upper surface, a lower surface, and an aperture. A cup insert includes a cup ring, a cup bag, and a coil spring. The cup ring has an open collar for receiving a beverage container and has a seating flange configured to rest on the upper surface. The cup bag is made of flexible material having a generally cylindrical shape between an upper rim and a bag bottom. The upper rim is affixed to the open collar. A coil spring is coupled between the cup ring and the bottom end for urging them together for collapsing the cup bag. The coil spring is expandable under the weight of a beverage container placed on the bag bottom.
US08641000B1
A tile holder and methods of its use are described. Embodiments of the tile holder are adapted to mounting to suitable objects and removably and replaceably receiving tiles and the like. Embodiments of the tile holder comprise a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shaped tile frame having a frame having a face plate having an aperture for exposing a face of the tile and the like, a back plate removably and releasably fastened to the frame and having a stud for mounting to a post having a receiving hole for receiving the stud of the back plate and locking the back plate to the post with a fastener, another fastener for fastening the post to a suitable object, and an optional escutcheon for optionally fastening the post to the escutcheon and the escutcheon to a wall or other suitable object.
US08640993B2
Devices, methods, and systems for slowing the descent of an object in flight such as a baseball using a parachute are presented. A parachute assembly includes a canopy attached to a plurality of suspension lines converging downwardly to a corresponding number of attachment points on the surface of a ball. The attachment points are substantially equidistantly spaced apart along a line of substantially equal latitude. In one embodiment, each attachment point defines an opening to an interior channel extending to a central chamber. Each suspension line is inserted into an interior channel, through the central chamber, and out of the ball through a common shaft, where the lines are fastened together in a bundle and then withdrawn until the bundle lies in the central chamber, retaining the lines inside the ball.
US08640981B2
Reels or spools for carrying wires or the likes, where the flanges of these reels or spools have corrugations with undercuts selectively formed thereon, are provided. These undercuts may aid in the molding process, such as injection molding or compression molding with substantially rigid molds, among other things. The reels or spools may also have supports dispersed between the corrugations to provide additional structural integrity to the flange. These supports can be mid-plane supports between the corrugations and may be positioned closer to the inside surface or to the outside surface of the flange, and the supports may form an angle with the corrugations.
US08640978B2
An improved irrigation sprinkler nozzle is provided for enhanced short range or close-in distribution of water for irrigating vegetation and the like positioned relatively close to the sprinkler. The improved sprinkler nozzle includes a nozzle passage for outward projection of a water stream, at least a portion of which is defined by a generally vertically oriented, fan-shaped spray pattern. A lower margin of the nozzle passage defining this fan-shaped pattern is lined with a plurality of forwardly extending ramps each formed with a selected width and a different declination angle. A portion of the water discharged through the nozzle passage is forced and guided downwardly along these ramps for enhanced close-in distribution of water near the sprinkler.
US08640972B2
A sprayer has a tank for holding a spray solution that is applied to a ground or turf surface. The sprayer includes an agitation system having a plurality of agitation nozzles that extend into the tank that are accessible from outside the tank and can be removed and replaced without using tools. The sprayer may include a rinse system carried onboard the sprayer which is segregated from the spray and agitation systems to avoid contaminating the rinse liquid prior to the time the rinse liquid is sprayed into the tank through rinse nozzles. The rinse nozzles include upwardly and downwardly directed nozzle ports and a bottom spinner for thoroughly cleaning all interior surfaces of the tank. The sprayer may also include a chemical eductor mounted on the side of the tank, whose weight is counterbalanced by springs, and which easily pivots between lower and upper positions on the tank.
US08640971B2
A nebulizer comprising a main body, an atomizer, and a vibrating element. The atomizer comprises a substrate, a main recipient supported by the substrate for containing liquid and having surfaces delimiting the liquid reservoir, and a dosing reservoir arranged on the main recipient so as to delimit a predetermined amount of liquid to be expelled. The dosing reservoir comprises a hollow section defining the predetermined amount of liquid, a solid section, a central section, an orifice membrane plate, and a fluidic channel arranged in-between a bottom surface of the solid section and the flat top surface of the main reservoir so as to create a capillary communication between the hollow section and the orifice membrane plate.
US08640968B2
This specification discloses a device of controlling temperature gain and the method thereof. The invention detects the temperature of work environment and uses it to generate a control signal and a PWM signal for dynamically controlling the heaters around electronic elements to heat up. When the temperature of work environment is too low, the invention can increase the stability of the electronic elements.
US08640967B2
A network system for operating multiple printers in different locations includes an RFID tag or print information that is arranged at a location where the printer is used and stores location information for identifying the location. The system further includes a printer provided with location information read capability for electromagnetically reading the location information stored in the RFID tag or optically reading the location information stored in the print information. The system associates the read location information with a network address and assigns the associated network address to the printer that has the location information.
US08640966B2
A command destined for a smart card is received. If the command is of a state-altering type that places the smart card in a known state, it is relayed to a smart card reader unless the smart card is currently in the known state. If the command is a POWER OFF command, it is relayed to the smart card reader unless (i) the smart card is currently in the known state and (ii) within a predetermined time from receiving the command, a subsequent command of the state-altering type that places the smart card in the known state is received. If the command is not a POWER OFF command and is not of the state-altering type that places the smart card in the known state, it is relayed to the smart card reader. The command is discarded if not relayed to the smart card reader.
US08640951B2
Electronic delivery of counterfeit-resistant documents exchangeable for value such as admission tickets, gift certificates, coupons, vouchers, etc. directly to the person who ordered the documents over an open communications network such at the Internet. A first party orders a document from a second party, and the second party electronically delivers the ordered, counterfeit-resistant document to a device designated by the first party. For example, the document may be electronically ordered using a PC, and a printer coupled to the PC may print the document. In one embodiment, the first party transmits unsolicited offers over the open communications network The document may be made counterfeit resistant by assigning unique information to each document of a given type, e.g., admission tickets, and checking the uniqueness of a document and whether the unique information was previously read prior to allowing it to be exchanged for value.
US08640949B2
Methods and apparatus for providing multiple transaction cards in a single package are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method for forming a carrier package arrangement includes obtaining a plurality of transaction cards, obtaining a first parent activation code, and associating the first parent activation code with the plurality of transaction cards. The method can also include packing the plurality of transaction cards in the carrier package arrangement, and providing the first parent activation code so as to be on or accessible from the carrier package arrangement. The plurality of transaction cards can thereafter be activated using the first parent activation code.
US08640945B1
Methods and apparatus for managing cash items are disclosed. For example, a predetermined or calculated amount/composition of rolled coins may be dispensed based on a count of loose coins, or a mixture of rolled and/or loose coins may be dispensed based on a command from a cash management software program or module. Coins from an end of day deposit may be utilized to calculate a dispense requirement for start-of-day till preparation. A self-service device such as a kiosk, self-checkout lane, or payment island may be configured to also perform cash management tasks and/or to transmit an output to a back office and/or bank to receive provisional credit. Change orders, bank deposits, and/or other cash service tasks may be automated in various aspects including, for instance, scheduling, preparation of cash items (e.g., with predetermined or optimized amount/composition), central management of business rules, and reconciliation of fulfillment with invoices or SLAs.
US08640940B2
A system and method for use in NOTES is provided for reducing surgical invasiveness. An insertion body that is connected by an anvil assembly and joined to a thin wire guide or electric guide wire, is inserted via a natural orifice into a hollow organ so as to incise and remove a diseased or defective site from the hollow organ by using a pair of or front-end/rear-end linear cutters of a linear cutting/stapling device or linear stapler, after which the two cut ends of the tract are anastomosed and recovered by a circular anastomosis surgical stapler that is provided with the system.
US08640939B2
An explosively actuated fastener driving tool of the type having a driving piston for driving a fastener at the forward end of a barrel upon firing of the tool has a retractor pawl assembly with a pawl for resetting the piston into a rear end of the barrel by forward movement of the barrel relative to the receiver following firing. The pawl assembly is so constructed that the pawl can be withdrawn from the barrel to permit removal of the barrel for routine cleaning and maintenance but in this condition the assembly still remains attached to the tool to prevent components from being misplaced.
US08640934B2
The present invention is a roof rack having stowable, non-adjustable cross-bars. The roof rack also includes a plurality of mounts attached to a vehicle in an arrangement to provide a singular stowed position and a singular deployed position. The present invention also includes at least one cross-bar attached between the stowed position or the deployed position. The cross-bar is completely detached from the plurality of mounts to move the cross-bar from the stowed position to the deployed position.
US08640931B2
A tap for liquids dispenses liquids including wines from plastic bags or bladders packaged in cardboard boxes, and has three modes of operation. Liquids may be dispensed from the box on a shelf by manually turning a rotatable cap to open a valve for liquid to flow by gravity; an adapter attached to the tap automates the process and dispenses liquids through a pump; and the tap may be used to fill bags or bladders from an automated filling machine. In a first embodiment, the rotatable cap must be manually opened for both manual and automated operation. In a second embodiment, the rotatable cap may remain closed and the adapter can still dispense liquids through the tap using a pump.
US08640924B2
A water dispensing apparatus includes a lifting system and a water reservoir. The apparatus automatically installs a water bottle by lowering and inverting the water reservoir atop a water bottle, coupling the water reservoir to the water bottle, and raising and inverting the water reservoir with the water bottle coupled therewith. One or more compartments are filled with water from the inverted water bottle, and water is dispensed from each compartment through a dispenser. Multiple compartments may be included in the water reservoir, with the water in one compartment being electrically cooled and water in another compartment being electrically heated.
US08640912B2
A foldable box includes a floor and two longitudinal and transverse side exterior walls each lying opposite in pairs and foldable relative to the floor, each longitudinal side exterior walls including a protrusion at a transverse side end extending toward the transverse side exterior walls when upfolded, limiting foldability of the transverse side exterior walls to the outside. Each transverse side exterior wall including a locking mechanism at the outside of the transverse side exterior wall, including when upfolded, a snap-in element movable in a vertical direction relative to the floor surface, latchable with the protrusion. The protrusion and/or the snap-in element includes contact surfaces, inclined relative to the vertical direction when upfolded wherein the locking mechanism opens against a spring pretensioning when exceeding a predetermined inward force acting upon the transverse side exterior wall.
US08640911B2
A modular case and method of forming the same, the case preferably formed from a plurality of panels, edge members and corner pieces having ribs. The panels, edge members and corner pieces are preferably connected to align the ribs, forming substantially continuous ribs capable of distributing forces over a large area of the modular case. The case is most preferably made of plastic, the connections preferably being hot-plate welds. Most preferably, the panels and edge members have a dual skin construction with internal ribs, proving for greater strength and allowing for superior structural properties including air-/water-tight integrity. Edge members are preferably formed with protuberances to allow for better base-to-lid and case-to-case engagement. Hardware attachments to the modular case can be advantageously made while distributing the force on attachment points and without compromising structural integrity.
US08640910B2
A pressure container comprising a plastic container core (2) for storing a fluid under pressure, a support sheath (3) surrounding the plastic container core (2), a connection piece (4) formed at the plastic container core (2) and having an opening (5) for filling in and discharging the fluid from the plastic container core (2), a connection body (6) arranged radially outside the connection piece (4) and having a bore (7), a valve body (8) having a fluid duct (9) for conducting the fluid in and out through the opening (5) in the connection piece (4), wherein the valve body (8) is arranged in the opening (5) of the connection piece (4) and in the bore (7) of the connection body (6), wherein the connection body (4) has at least one radially inside annular groove (12) and a second seal (13) is arranged in the at least one radially inside annular groove (12), so that the second seal (13) rests radially outside on the connection piece (4).
US08640905B2
A container includes a container body defining a container cavity, the container includes a container top configured to create at least two container openings via at least partial depression of at least two container portions into the cavity defined by the container body.
US08640898B2
A cap for a container provided with an internal seal gasket that combines a first layer in contact with the cap, which first layer provides a narrower against gases such as oxygen and carbon dioxide. A second layer in contact with the first layer, which second layer possesses mechanical sealing properties.
US08640897B2
A teat for a feeding bottle has a one-way valve located remotely from the nipple of the teat to allow air to enter the feeding bottle to replace liquid sucked out of the bottle through the nipple while preventing liquid from leaking from the bottle. The one-way valve comprises an inwardly-oriented depression having opposed mutually inclined side walls meeting along a ridge having a slit. In the invention, when undeflected, the side walls make line contact with one another at the ridge and the thickness of the side walls is less than 0.4 mm so that, when acted upon by an increased pressure in the feeding bottle, the side walls collapse against one another and make sealing contact along a surface that extends from the ridge in the direction away from it.
US08640893B2
A shelving system having a top, bottom and intermediate shelves mounted on vertical supports. The intermediate shelves are mounted on adjustable brackets that permit individual removal of the intermediate shelves without disturbing the top and bottom shelves. The adjustable brackets comprise at one end a pin that is adapted to be inserted into a series of apertures formed along the length of each support. Opposite the pin, a mounting member is sized and shaped to receive a corner of each shelf. A stop is formed on the bracket between the pins and mounting member.
US08640883B2
A filtration barrier comprises first elements that are fibers, strips, or bristles wherein apertures between elements provide passages for a fluid transporting granules to the filtration barrier, and wherein the elements (11) are supported against deflection by second elements (12) when the fluid is flowing in a forwards direction whereby granules are prevented from accompanying the fluid through said passages by the barrier, but whereby the second elements do not support the first elements against deflection when the fluid flows in a (back-wash) direction opposite the forwards direction, when the elements (11a, 11b, 11c) become deflected by the fluid to increase the size of the apertures. In various embodiments of the invention the elements are supported at one end or both ends, and elements are arranged to deflect differently to further increase the apertures between neighboring elements as shown below.
US08640881B2
The invention relates to a screen changer in a system that processes flowable plastic. The screen changer includes an element, such as a portafilter, that is movable between two positions; two hydraulic pumps that effect position change of the screen changer; and a motor that operates both pumps. One pump provides greater flow volume and the other provides a lower flow volume, but with greater pressure. A non-return valve in the supply line to the hydraulic cylinder controls flow to the cylinder that moves the movable element between positions. The volume pump is used to move the movable element when resistance to movement of the screen is low and the high-pressure pump to move the element when resistance is high. The non-return valve selectively enables or interrupts flow from the pumps to the hydraulic cylinder. The screen changer allows use of a non-pressurized hydraulic fluid reservoir.
US08640878B2
A tilt roller grader for grading solid objects, such as shrimp. The grader has grading rollers obliquely arranged across a tilted grading bed. Jacks in cross members supporting the bed are used to jack up the grading bed across its width to adjust the flatness of the bed for uniform grading gaps between the grading rollers and the bed.
US08640874B2
A package for holding a plurality of non-spherical products, each product having at least one product axis, is provided. The package comprises a tray defining a tray plane, a plurality of open pockets protruding from the tray plane, each for containing a single product; and each pocket including an angular orienting pocket wall portion for angularly orienting the product within the pocket, so that a product axis is angularly oriented with respect to the tray plane.
US08640872B2
A container for receiving frangible items comprising a sheet of polymer formed into: a base portion and at least one cover portion with a hinge between the base portion and the cover portion. Abutment spacer are formed at an edge between the peripheral walls and the top wall and each comprise an abutment surface projecting into the concavity from one of the peripheral walls, and support walls relating the abutment surface to the top wall, with at least one of the support walls being in an acute angle relation with the top wall of the cover portion. Alignment channels are in at least one of the peripheral walls defining an alignment protrusion through the sheet of polymer, the alignment channel/protrusion being oriented vertically for guiding the nesting of an upper one of the cover portion descending into a lower one of the cover portion.
US08640870B2
A packaging system for personal care products includes a package configured for receipt of personal care products therein, the package including an external surface, a package circumference, a package height, and a package width; and a concealment element repositionable between a first position in which the packaging system exhibits product-identifying graphics and a second position in which the packaging system is substantially bereft of product-identifying graphics, wherein the concealment element is a tubular sleeve that is open at two ends and that, in the first and second positions and at all intermediate positions while being repositioned between the first and second positions, circumscribes the package at the package circumference and does not extend beyond one of the package height and the package width.
US08640861B2
A vernier adjustor for a conveyor system is provided. The vernier adjustor includes first and second longitudinal members moveable in slidable relation and a pin, the first and second longitudinal members each including a plurality of slots separated by respective first and second spacings. The pin is adapted for placement within an aligned slot pairing to fix movement of the first longitudinal member relative to the second longitudinal member. The first and second longitudinal members are positionable in increments less than the first and second spacings. In particular, the first and second longitudinal members are positionable in increments substantially equal to the difference between the first spacing and the second spacing. Movement of the first longitudinal member relative to the second longitudinal member provides an incremental tensioning of an endless belt associated with the conveyor system.
US08640860B2
Device (1) for gripping an object such as a blow-molding container preform (3), comprising: a guiding body (12); a stop body (13), mounted so as to move axially relative to the guiding body (12) along an axis (4) of the device, intended to be aligned with the object (3) to be gripped; a mandrel support (7), equipped with a gripping mandrel (15), able to move axially relative to the guiding body (12) and having a plunge-in travel (8) going from a set-back position to a plunged-in position in which the mandrel (15) is capable of gripping the object (3). The stop body (13) has, together with the mandrel support (7), a system of support stops (18, 19) arranged so that the mandrel support (7) drives the stop body (13) axially onto a terminal portion of the plunge-in travel (8). The device (1) includes a return means (34, 36) mounted between the guiding body (13) and the stop body, for the purpose of driving the stop body along an axial set-back direction opposite direction of plunge-in travel.
US08640855B2
A dust control apparatus and method for a bulk material handling transfer system having a chute comprising a pathway there through for handling varying volumes of bulk material flowing through the chute using gravity flow. A self-adjusting air restrictor gate is mounted in the chute for engaging the upper surface of flowing bulk material through the chute for restricting the air pathway during material volume flow variations to reduce dust emissions. The gate member contacts the upper surface of flowing bulk material and moves up and down in response to the flow of bulk material through the chute to restrict the flow of air to reduce dust. A counterweight mechanism and a damper helps maintain controlled contact of the air restrictor gate with the upper surface of bulk material flowing through the chute.
US08640851B2
A permanent magnet air heater has a housing with an internal chamber accommodating an electric motor rotating a fan to move air through the housing. A non-ferrous member having bores for cylindrical magnets and a steel member with a copper plate secured to the steel member are rotated relative to each other by the motor whereby the magnetic field between the magnets and copper plate generates heat which is transferred to air in the housing moving through the housing by the fan.
US08640849B2
A paper sheet processing apparatus capable of preventing an action of drawing out a paper sheet such as a bill is provided. A bill processing apparatus of the present invention has an insertion slot into which a bill is inserted and a traveling route through which the bill inserted into the insertion slot is conveyed. The traveling route has a first traveling route (3A) connected to the insertion slot and a second traveling route (3B) extending downstream from the first traveling route (3A) and being inclined relative to the first traveling route (3A). The second traveling route (3B) is provided with a shutter member (200) for preventing conveyance of the bill toward the insertion slot.
US08640848B1
The shaft positioning device includes a first supporting part, a second supporting part, and a position-limiting structure. The first supporting part includes a first hole. The second supporting part includes a second hole. After two ends of a shaft are penetrated through the first hole and the second hole, respectively, the position-limiting structure is located beside the first supporting part to limit the axial position of the shaft. Consequently, the shaft positioning device of the present invention is capable of positioning various types of shafts without the need of reserving a large installation space.
US08640847B2
A packaging apparatus includes a chute, a moving member, and a control unit. The chute encloses a passage space, and has a slit formed in a first portion. Items to be packaged are supplied from an upper apparatus to the passage space. The first portion surrounds a first space. The first space is part of the passage space, where the items targeted to be packaged, readily become clogged. The moving member is configured to move into the first space and withdraw from the first space through the slit. The control unit causes the moving member to enter the first space after the items targeted to be packaged have passed through the first space.
US08640842B2
A friction clutch assembly that selectively engages an input member and an output member to allow selective transfer of torque therebetween is provided. A clutch pack includes a first clutch member and a second clutch member. One of the first clutch member or the second clutch member is operatively coupled to the input member. The other of the first and second clutch members is operatively coupled to the output member. The first clutch member comprises an annular body that has a circumferential outer surface including a plurality of splines extending outwardly from the annular body. At least one of the splines has a deflected portion that is integrally formed with the annular body and curved in a circumferential direction toward a distal tip.
US08640835B2
A suspension unit, for example for a track-laying vehicle, comprises an oil-filled cylinder within which a piston, connected to a piston rod, is provided. The cylinder 4 is oil-filled, and communicates with an upper region of a spring chamber, the lower region 46 of which contains gas under pressure. The piston rod has a hollow interior filled with gas under pressure. The piston is connected by a connecting rod to a secondary piston which is slidable within the piston rod. On rebound the piston rod and the piston move relatively to each other between a retracted end position and an extended end position. During this movement and the return movement, oil is transferred, by way of apertures between damping chambers which serve to damp the relative movement of the piston and the piston rod so avoiding shock loading at the end positions of the movement.
US08640833B2
A pneumatically or electromechanically actuatable disc brake as a wear adjustment adjustment device, which is positioned in a caliper, and is actuatable by a brake lever, includes a central drive element. The central drive element is connected to a drive spindle by way of a ball ramp coupling and the ball ramp coupling has a drive output disc, which engages in the drive element, and a coupling ring, with the ends of a torsion spring being connected to either the disc or the ring. The torsion spring is a helical spring, preferably composed of a wound spring plate.
US08640814B2
The present invention relates to all terrain vehicles having at least a pair of laterally spaced apart seating surfaces. More particularly, the present invention relates to side-by-side all terrain vehicles having plural rows of seats.
US08640813B2
A breath alcohol ignition interlock device. The breath alcohol interlock device includes an ignition interlock system for use with a vehicle, the interlock system requiring a successful breathalyzer test to initiate operation of a motor of the vehicle, the interlock system including a CPU. A vehicle computer that controls functions of the vehicle related to motion receives a signal from the interlock system of a successful breathalyzer test to permit operation of the motor vehicle. A motion detection device associated with the vehicle determines when the vehicle is placed into motion. The motion detection device provides a signal to the CPU of the ignition interlock system when vehicle motion is detected. The CPU of the ignition interlock system initiates a breathalyzer retest algorithm upon receiving a signal from the motion detection device that the vehicle is placed in motion.
US08640810B2
A battery is disposed close to a through-hole of a swing shaft that pivotally supports a swing arm on a vehicle body frame so as to be freely swingable at a position closer to the front of the vehicle body in the swing arm. An electric motor is disposed close to an axle of a rear wheel at a position closer to the rear of the vehicle body in the swing arm. The control board is disposed at a position outside of the battery in the vehicle width direction, and the heating element board is disposed at a position rearward of the vehicle body with respect to the control board and forward of the vehicle body with respect to the motor.
US08640807B2
An inverted pendulum type vehicle provided with a body, a pair of wheels and that is attached to the pertinent body and that is arranged in parallel, drive mechanisms and that separately rotate the pertinent pair of wheels and around wheel axes, and a control member that controls the drive mechanisms and, wherein: the body is provided with a base to which the pair of wheels and is attached, a column disposed upright from the base, and a load-supporting part that is attached to the column and that sustains a payload; the column is joined to the base via a shaft that extends in a non-parallel direction relative to the wheel axes, and is provided so as to be capable of sliding around the shaft; and the shaft is provided with an actuator which imparts torque to the column that slides around the shaft with an orientation that is the reverse of the sliding direction of the column.
US08640806B2
A transport means (1) comprising: —at least two wheels (2), —a chassis (3) with a longitudinal axis, which is substantially parallel to a direction of travel of the transport means (1), and —at least one suspension system (4) operationally positioned between the chassis (3) and the wheels (2), wherein each wheel (2) has a wheel rotation axis (5), which is substantially horizontal, wherein the suspension system (4) includes a connection means (22) that interact releasably with a connection means (23) on the chassis (3), and wherein the suspension system (4) has a first orientation, wherein the suspension system (4) has at least one other orientation which is rotated in relation to the first orientation about a suspension rotation axis (6), which is substantially horizontal and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the chassis (3).
US08640803B2
A hydraulic excavator includes a lower travel body, an upper swivel body, a cooling unit, and first and second exterior members. The cooling unit includes a first cooling device disposed facing the first exterior member, and a second cooling device disposed on a side of the first cooling device towards the second exterior member and in midway in an air channel between the second exterior device and a cooling fan. The second cooling device extends in a direction intersecting a direction in which the first cooling device extends. The first and second exterior members have first and second openings in portions that overlap the first and second cooling devices in a height direction, respectively. A lower edge of one of the first opening and the second opening disposed at a higher position is positioned higher than an upper edge of the other of the first opening and the second opening.
US08640802B2
A radiator grill (10) for a motor vehicle comprises: a frame (12) for securing the radiator grill (10) to the vehicle, wherein a condition in which the radiator grill (10) is mounted on the vehicle will be designated in the following as the reference condition of the radiator grill (10), and wherein the frame (12) in the reference condition of the radiator grill (10) relative to the motor vehicle is mounted substantially immovably thereon, at least one air-conducting element (20) which extends along an air-conducting element longitudinal axis (L) and at least in sections forms at least one part of an outer side (21) of the radiator grill (10), at least one air-passage opening (30) which is designed to allow cooling air to flow into a motor vehicle interior region (24), which in the reference condition of the radiator grill (10) and during travel operation of the motor vehicle flows on to the outer side (21) of the radiator grill (10) counter to a travel direction (F), as well as at least one air flap (16) with a flap outer surface (27) and a flap axis (28), wherein the air flap (16) can move, at least between a closed position and an open end position, relative to the air-conducting element (20) in an adjusting movement comprising a pivoting movement about the flap axis (28) so as to vary an opening cross-section of the air-passage opening (30), wherein the air-conducting element (20) completely obscures over more than half of its axial extension, preferably over its entire axial extension, the air flap (16) in its open end position, viewed counter to the travel direction (F).
US08640797B2
An endless belt tensioner system adapted to apply a minimum tensioning force on a ground-contacting endless belt of a vehicle is provided, the minimum tensioning force being managed to prevent the endless belt to disengage from an operating configuration. A vehicle and a method of use thereof are also provided.
US08640782B2
An aerial retardant delivery system comprising a retardant tank mountable in the fuselage of an aircraft. The tank includes a pressure opening in fluid communication with the fuselage such that pressure in the fuselage may act on retardant contained in the tank. The tank includes an outlet extending through a sidewall of the aircraft's fuselage, through which retardant may be delivered to a target. The system also includes a discharge gate operative to open and close the outlet. An actuation mechanism is disposed on the exterior of the tank and operatively coupled to the at least one discharge gate. A variable flow controller controls the discharge gate open position in order to provide retardant over a desired area of terrain. A one-way flapper is disposed in the pressure opening and is operative to allow pressure in the fuselage to enter the tank while inhibiting retardant from spilling from the tank.
US08640780B2
An improved multi-bolt and nut torque wrench for installing and removing bolts or nuts from flanged joints or the like which includes a plurality of torque stations having a plurality of high torque wrenches for engaging the heads of the bolts or nuts during a high torque phase of removal or installation; a plurality of low-torque motors operatively engaged with the wrenches for rotating the bolts or nuts during the low torque phase of removal or installation; a source of hydraulic fluid for driving the low-torque motors during the low-torque phase, and driving the high-torque wrenches during the high torque phase; and a mechanism for switching between the two phases depending on the torque needed.
US08640772B2
Systems and methods for maximizing energy recovery from a subterranean formation are herein disclosed. According to one embodiment, a selected subterranean open-hole interval is isolated and at least one fracture is stimulated in the isolated subterranean open-hole interval.
US08640752B2
A wheel for a celestial running vehicle which enables the celestial running vehicle to sufficiently exhibit its desired running performance by maintaining a sufficient ground contact length, as well as reducing the wheel maximum width and the number of the sliding portions. The celestial body vehicle wheel (1) is mounted on a celestial body running vehicle and includes, a hub body (2) rotatable about a rotation axis, a grounding member (3) arranged radially outside of the hub body (2) and rotatable about the rotation axis while contacting a celestial body surface, and a load bearing device (4) arranged between the hub body (2) and the grounding member (3) for bearing radial load, the load bearing device (4) including, a plurality of first support members (5) arranged circumferentially to extend radially outward from the hub body (2) and terminate short of the grounding member (3), a plurality of second bearing members (6) arranged circumferentially to extend radially inward from the grounding member (3) and terminate short of the hub body (2), and elastic members (7) for connecting the first support members (5) and the second support members (6) to each other, wherein, under the radial load, the elastic members (7) are elastically deformed, and the first support members (5) and the second support members (6) are relatively displaced in directions approaching each other.
US08640748B2
The present invention provides a multiple liquid dispenser having an upper section for receiving ice to form a cooling chamber. The cooling chamber has a spiral passageway extending through the ice having a plurality of layers of passageways. The spiral passageway has an upper end for receiving the liquid to be chilled by the surrounding ice and a lower end connected to multiple tubes for distributing the chilled liquid. The lower section has multiple liquid dispensers connected to the multiple tubes for receiving and dispensing the chilled liquid from the multiple liquid dispensers. The multiple liquid dispensers are spaced around the periphery of the lower section and has valves for opening and closing the liquid dispensers for dispensing the chilled liquid. A vertical stand is provided for supporting the upper and lower sections. A turntable is also provided for receiving the mounting stand and for receiving a plurality of drinking glasses for receiving the dispensed chilled liquid from the multiple liquid dispensers.
US08640741B2
A woven papermaker fabric having a first woven fabric layer made of first threads and having a second woven fabric layer made of second threads, the two woven fabric layers being connected by binder threads formed by structural second threads at binder points and having knuckles having peaks constituting a peak plane parallel to a paper side plane, and the first threads forming knuckles with concave inner bends, the points of which lying nearest to the paper side plane constituting an inner plane, wherein the tension of the first threads extending transversely to the binder threads is such that the peak plane is nearer to the paper side plane than the inner plane thereby causing lateral deflections of at least one of the first threads.
US08640739B2
An undersea flexible pipe for conveying hydrocarbons, the pipe including from the inside to the outside an inner sealing sheath, at least one ply of traction armors wound about the inner sealing sheath, a deformable holding layer including at least one flexible ribbon or holding band wound about the traction armor ply, and at least one tubular structure surrounding the holding layer, wherein the ribbon includes fiber strands oriented substantially in the longitudinal direction of the ribbon. The ribbon is covered by a reinforcing layer of a polymer material for the deformation resistance of the holding layer.
US08640737B2
An apparatus and method for sealing pipes or underground structures is provided. In one embodiment, the end of a pipe is sealed by the use of a pipe liner and a sealing member. The sealing member may be a hydrophilic material, a hydrophobic material, a compressible material, or a paste. The sealing member is held in place by a mechanical fastener and a liner is installed adjacent the sealing member and against the wall of the pipe or other structure to be sealed. In another embodiment, a manhole is sealed by the use of a sealing member, a mechanical fastener, and a manhole liner.
US08640733B1
A valve for limiting excess flow includes a one-piece body having a seat, a diaphragm, and a plurality of flexible legs attaching the seat to the diaphragm and spacing the seat from the diaphragm, wherein the legs flex to seat the diaphragm within the seat if excess flow exceeds a limit.
US08640722B2
The rail skirt system includes a top rail, a skirt that hangs from the top rail, formed from rail bar members connected together at their inner ends by a middle connector tube connectable to a locking support leg, to provide support for the top rail on a side of a shelter. The outer ends of the rail bar members are connected to legs of the shelter by fixed corner connecting brackets.
US08640721B2
A portable hunting blind employs a hand-operated, spring biased clamp with a pair of compressible handles that open spring-biased clamping jaws. The clamping jaws include internal grooves for sure gripping. An elongated, bendable arm extends from one of the clamp handles. An attachment juncture formed in one of the handle ends secures the arm to the clamp. The flexible metal arm can be configured by bending as desired by a hunter to assume a desired shape. A camouflage curtain is secured to the arm, which supports it like a flag pole. When an area for deployment is reached, the clamp is affixed to an available object, such as a tree limb, support the curtain and camouflage a limited selected area. The shape of the concealed arm can be varied by bending the arm. The curtain bottom may be secured to a convenient object to prevent movement.
US08640717B2
Embodiments of this device or method repeatedly apply droplets of two or more liquids by means of nozzles of fixed relative direction in an alternate or sequential manner to a target location on a surface for removing material from the surface, adding material to the surface, or using the surface to biphasically catalyze a reaction of components of the liquids. The droplets have essentially no contact with one another before reaching the surface (FIG. 12A thru 13H). The effect of the droplets on the target surface can be modified by a continuous or interrupted flow of air or other gas to the target surface (FIG. 27A thru 29H), or by application of radiations such as sonic or ultrasonic radiation, or various frequencies of electromagnetic radiation, to the target surface, or some combination of these. Means may be included for adjusting the temperature of the liquids and gasses.
US08640710B2
The present invention is a protective cover assembly, pattern, and method for use for installation upon an external orthodontic headgear protraction appliance having a chin cup interface and a forehead pad interface. The present invention includes two aspects of a protective cover assembly, a protective chin cup cover assembly and a protective forehead pad cover assembly. Each protective cover assembly provides an absorbing soft cushioning fleece membrane between the facial skin of an orthodontic patient wearer and the hard surfaces of the orthodontic protraction headgear interfaces to prevent against a plurality of discomforts which result from wearing the orthodontic protraction headgear appliance during treatment of Class III Malocclusion; and configured to improve compliancy of use of the orthodontic protraction appliance in the orthodontic population, especially among growing children and adolescents.
US08640709B2
A multi-piece punctal plug has one a superficial plug removably connected to an anchor plug deeper in the naso-lacrimal canaliculus. The anchor is fixed to the wall of the lacrimal duct while the superficial plug is axially and detachably secured to the anchor plug so that the multi-plug complex may be inserted or removed together as one, or the superficial plug may be detached separately and replaced securely without disturbing the anchor. Removal and insertion is accomplished by a specific tool having an end for reversibly engaging the plugs.
US08640707B2
A multipurpose site guard for use at all peripheral and central venipuncture infusion sites, sensitive areas, and for pediatric and adult patients. The guard is a hollow plastic member with a base and a sidewall that forms a cover over the site. Improvements to this invention include holding the guard in place with a fabric connector having closure means, cushioning the guard's base with a soft material, and a hole disposed in the hollow member for providing access to the site.
US08640706B2
A surgical device for use in positioning an instrument for use in a surgical procedure. The surgical device comprises: a mechanical positioning mechanism configured to couple with an instrument outside of a patient's body and to move the instrument relative to said patient's body; a control mechanism comprising a detachable control handle configured to be detachably coupled with the mechanical positioning mechanism and is sealingly coupled with a drape interface mechanism of a sterile drape, the sterile drape being configured for isolating a portion of the surgical device within a sterile environment, the drape interface mechanism comprising a ring defining an opening through the sterile drape; and a connector operatively coupled with the control mechanism and the mechanical positioning mechanism and configured for causing the mechanical positioning mechanism to move the instrument by transmitting force applied by a human to the control mechanism through the connector.
US08640702B2
The aircraft emergency oxygen supply system includes one or more sources of supplemental breathable oxygen, one or more inlet valves for one or more breathing devices, connected to the inlet valves, and one or more cabin air pressure transducers. A pressure controller controls the inlet valves in response to the one or more cabin air pressure transducers. One or more second pressure transducers may connected to conduits downstream of inlet valves to be monitored, and the pressure controller may also control operation of the inlet valves in response to the one or more second pressure transducers.
US08640691B2
A fuel heating apparatus capable of heating fluid by use of solar energy to provide water for daily life is provided. The fuel heating apparatus includes a water tank, a lifting part and a control part. The water tank is configured to form an accommodation formed therein to store fluid, has an inlet/an outlet which are formed through the water tank to receive and discharge fluid, respectively, and is formed using light passing material or thermal conductive material. The lifting part is vertically installed at facing sides of the window to lift the water tank such that the fluid is heated through sunlight or solar heat introduced through the window. The control part controls operations of the lifting part. The heated fluid provided to the water tank is used for daily life water.
US08640682B2
An apparatus comprising an elongate member, a first arm, a second arm, a channel, and a cap. The elongate member has a first end and a second end. The first arm and the second arm extend from the first end. A space is present between the first arm and the second arm over the first end. The channel extends through the elongate member. The channel is in communication with an opening in the second end of the elongate member. The cap is configured to be secured to the second end and substantially seal the opening in the second end.
US08640678B2
A fuel tank for storing an alternate fuel and providing the fuel to an internal combustion engine includes: an inner shell with an internal cavity designed to store fuel; an outer shell configured and positioned relative to the inner shell such that an interstitial volume is created between the inner and outer shells; and a heating unit positioned in the interstitial volume. In some embodiments, the interstitial volume is filled with air; in other embodiments, the interstitial volume is filled with a thermally insulative material.
US08640673B2
A fuel pipe assembly for supplying fuel to a fuel injector located within a bore of an engine cylinder head comprises a tube nut for connecting the fuel pipe to the fuel injector and a securing arrangement comprising a locking nut and a deformable clamp member for securing the fuel pipe within the tube nut. The tube nut comprises a tubular member defining an axial bore to receive the fuel pipe, a distal end shaped for cooperation with the head of the fuel pipe, and a proximal end having an attachment mechanism for engaging a compatible attachment mechanism of the locking nut. The locking nut has an axial bore to receive the fuel pipe, and an attachment mechanism for engaging a compatible attachment mechanism of the tube nut. The clamp member defines a bore to receive the fuel pipe and is deformable under compression. In a first state of engagement, the locking nut and tube nut define a volume therebetween that accommodates the clamp member in an unstrained configuration and the fuel pipe is able to move laterally. In a second state of engagement, the clamp member is compressed between the locking nut and tube nut into a strained configuration such that lateral movement of the fuel pipe is constrained.
US08640671B2
A bearing device includes a plurality of pairs of bearing parts for supporting shafts to each of which a plurality valves are attached and connecting parts for connecting the bearing parts.Each connecting part is elastically deformable and includes a bent portion in a bent shape to absorb the force that will act in at least one of an axial direction and a radial direction of the shafts when the shafts are rotated.
US08640662B2
A valve timing control apparatus for a combustion engine according to which a rotational member, such as a sprocket, is driven by said combustion engine, a rotor is mechanically coupled with a camshaft for controlling opening and closing of cylinder valves of said combustion engine, a first configuration is provided in which the rotor is locked to the rotational member; and a second configuration is provided in which the rotor is unlocked from said rotational member. In another aspect an operating method of said valve timing control apparatus for adjusting a valve timing of a combustion engine is provided. The apparatus controls a relative rotation between a camshaft and an output shaft, which can either be prevented or permitted.
US08640660B2
The apparatus includes a driving shaft with a first gear wheel, a frame able to rotate within limits about the driving shaft, a servo mechanism for controlling the angular position of the frame, a valve-lifting crankshaft with a second gear wheel supported by the frame, a rocker cam assembly, a connecting rod pivotally connected to the valve-lifting crankshaft and the rocker cam assembly, a cam follower operatively connected to a charge exchange valve, and a spring for urging the cam follower against a cam lobe. The engine rotates the driving shaft. The first gear wheel rotates the second gearwheel and the valve-lifting crankshaft. The connecting rod transmits motion from the valve-lifting crankshaft to the rocker cam assembly. Stroke, lifting duration, and phase can be controlled by the angular position of the frame.
US08640648B2
The present description relates to a media apparatus that can function as an animal litter box. In one case, the media apparatus includes a media storage portion configured to define a media receiving volume. The media apparatus also includes an animal support portion that defines an opening proximate the media receiving volume.
US08640644B2
A powder spraycoating method and powder spraycoating equipment. A dense phase powder pump is used. According to a predetermined conveying-air function in a control unit, different rates of compressed conveying air can be defined for different powder rates. In one predetermined total-air function in the control unit, the sum of total-air rate composed of the rate of compressed conveying air and of the rate of supplemental compressed air can be kept constant even if the rate of compressed conveying air changes.
US08640635B2
An improved corbel includes a first tier having first blocks and a second tier having second blocks. Each of the first blocks includes a first aperture extending through the block from a first surface to a back surface and a second aperture formed through a top surface of the block, extending into the first aperture. The first blocks are arranged on a substantially planar surface to align the respective first apertures to define a first passageway. Each of the second blocks includes a third aperture extending through the second block from a top surface to a bottom surface. The second blocks are disposed above the first tier to align the third aperture of each of the second blocks with the second aperture of the first blocks to form a second passageway.
US08640625B1
A kinetic energy training cartridge simulates the performance, weight, length, and external geometry of a tactical cartridge. The training cartridge includes a cartridge case and a projectile that is secured to cartridge case by means of a sabot. The sabot includes a rearward extension that encapsulates part of the projectile, to add weight and to increase a length to diameter ratio of the projectile, so as to decrease an intrusion volume of the projectile within the cartridge case. In a preferred embodiment, the length to diameter ratio of the projectile is at least 15.
US08640598B1
The embodiments described herein relate generally to a sleeve piston for operating the bolt carrier of a firearm. The sleeve piston can comprise a monolithic sleeve piston or it can comprise two or more sleeve-piston parts, thereby evenly distributing the reciprocating mass of an auto-loading firearm about its barrel, minimizing muzzle rise. The sleeve piston can further be coupled to the bolt carrier by two or more operating rods, thereby reducing the tipping force or off-axis torque experienced by the bolt carrier during firearm operation. The sleeve piston can also reciprocate in a sleeve gas block coupled to a barrel, thereby helping to transfer heat away from the barrel. The sleeve piston embodiments of the present invention provide a balanced and compact operating mechanism that is ideally suited for rifles, carbines, and personal-defense weapons.
US08640590B2
An armor system includes a ceramic armor layer and a ceramic composite armor layer adjacent to the ceramic armor layer. The ceramic composite armor layer includes a ceramic matrix and unidirectionally oriented fibers disposed within the ceramic matrix.
US08640587B2
A hand-operated cutting apparatus including a main frame at least including a front wall, a base wall and two side walls, in which an opening is formed in the front wall, and a rack formed on an upper surface of the base wall along the length of the main frame, a bracket disposed between the side walls of the main frame and movable along the length of the main frame, a cutter provided in the front of the main frame and including a cutting blade located within the opening, and a squeezer attached to the front surface of the bracket facing to the cutter. The bracket includes a base, a handle pivotally provided on the base and a pusher arm pivotally provided on the handle, in which a lower end of the pusher arm is located between two teeth of the rack, and the pivot axis of the pusher arm on the handle departs from the pivot axis of the handle on the base towards the rear of the main frame.
US08640582B2
A method for manufacturing a flexible substrate includes punching out a flexible substrate from a flexible tape wherein the flexible substrate has a first contour that is a part of a contour of the flexible substrate, and a second contour that is a remaining portion of the contour other than the first contour, and requires a punching accuracy lower than a punching accuracy of the first contour. The method includes the steps of: operating a first die by a control section to punch out the first contour from the flexible tape; judging by the control section as to whether a punching accuracy of the first contour meets a standard; and operating a second die by the control section to punch out the second contour from the flexible tape thereby separating the flexible substrate from the flexible tape when the control section judges that the punching accuracy of the first contour meets the standard, and not operate the second die when the control section judges that the punching accuracy of the first contour does not meet the standard.
US08640581B2
The invention relates to a cutting machine, in particular for cutting mats to size by means of a blade (21) arranged on a cutting head (8). The cutting head (8) can be displaced by means of a drive in at least two axes. The cutting-to-size of mats requires a vertical cutting angle (B-B) and an inclined cutting angle (C-C) in order to provide the mat cutout with the, in the main, usual bevel cut. In order to adjust the blade (21) from the first cutting angle (B-B) into the second cutting angle (C-C) or vice versa, the cutting head (8) is run up against a stop (17) arranged on the cutting machine and is brought into contact in such a way that a swivellable element (20) carrying the blade (21) is swivelled from one into the other cutting angle (B-B, C-C). This adjustment can thus take place in an automatically controlled manner, without an additional drive being required for this.
US08640576B2
A production machine for non-circular workpieces provided with a tool feed unit (1) comprising a tool carrier (2) for receiving the tool and a compensation body (3) for impulse decoupling. The work movement of the tool carrier (2) can be effected by a drive (4) acting between the tool carrier (2) and the compensation body (3). The tool carrier (2) is supported by rolling bodies (5) and the compensation body (3) is suspended via elastically deformable guide elements (6) at a housing part (7) of the tool feed unit (1). A mass of the compensation body (3) is larger than a mass of the tool carrier (2) carrying the tool so that the working movements of the tool carrier (2) effect compensation strokes of the compensation body (3) that are only within the range of the elastic deformation of the guide elements (6). The guide elements (6) thus effect the guiding and resetting of the compensation body (3).
US08640573B2
A ratchet wrench for use in connection with medical instruments comprises a handle and a drive element which is rotatable around an axis (M) with respect to the handle. The wrench is adapted to tighten or loosen a respective element and a ratchet mechanism which is in connection with the drive element and which permits movement with respect to the handle in a first direction of rotation (R1) and blocks movement in the other direction of rotation (R2). The handle comprises a flat arm, wherein the ratchet mechanism is arranged on a bearing surface of the flat arm, and wherein the drive element extends through an opening in the flat arm in which opening the drive element is rotatably arranged.
US08640571B2
An automatic rotating turret device for work machinery is provided, in which a lift turret is not used. The turret device is provided with an axial-direction slide body, which is advanced or retracted in the direction of the axis of rotation of the turret by the drive device advancing or retracting the drive body in a direction orthogonal to the direction of rotation axis; and a clutch device that is engaged or disengaged by the axial-direction slide body being advanced or retracted, the turret being of a non-lift-type, and there being provided to the drive body a tapering action part for generating an expanding action caused by the movement of the drive body and pressingly sliding the axial-direction slide body against the turret stage.
US08640564B2
This invention is revises the cap nut which the custom knows to suppose it to install trough's outline, will cause to install the dadoing to lead (lead angle to be small) lowly or on two above trundle ditch cap nut will not have the broken tooth's question, when will process should install the trough, only need use the face cutter then to process the forming, will reduce the production cost; And return circuit of this invention all establishes in the backflow part, therefore may promote and the cap nut supposes the backflow hole and the load way grade of fit, causes to roll the moving parts movement to be smoother, and reduces the noise production.
US08640563B2
An actuator for a ram air turbine system includes a lock bolt having a multiple circumferentially arranged lateral supports. A piston rod supports multiple up-lock wedges. Multiple rollers are supported by the lateral supports with chamfers on the rollers engaging one another and are configured to radially support the up-lock wedges in a retracted position.
US08640547B2
The invention relates to a pressure sensor (6). This pressure sensor (6) comprises a flexible membrane (11) cooperating with a transmission device (10) that enables a value representing the pressure to be supplied on the basis of the deformation of the membrane (11). The membrane (11) is made from an at least partially amorphous material in order to optimise the dimensions of the sensor (6).
US08640536B2
A water sensing device for positioning at or over a waste outlet to provide an indication of the duration of water flow out of the outlet. The device may be configured as a plug or waste cover. The indication may be by light sources on the top surface of the device.
US08640534B2
A tire pressure monitor mount includes a carrier (20) adapted to temporarily suspend a tire pressure monitor (36) between the sidewalls (16) of a tire (10) prior to installation of the tire (10) on a wheel (62). Upon installation of the tire on the wheel (62), the carrier (20) is fixed in place thereby suspending the tire pressure monitor (36) between the sidewalls (6) and in spaced relation to the rim (66) where the tire pressure monitor (36) is less likely to be impacted and/or damaged by debris/chemicals within the tire (10).
US08640530B2
Systems and methods for direct and indirect measurement of the density of a fluid which exhibits sag characteristics is disclosed. The sag measurement system includes a test container for holding a fluid mixture to be analyzed and a suction port on the test container. A pump is coupled to the suction port for circulating the fluid mixture from the test container through a circulation loop. A measurement device is coupled to the circulation loop and a return port directs the fluid mixture from the circulation loop back to the test container at substantially the same vertical location as the suction port. The fluid mixture flowing through the circulation loop passes through the measurement device before returning to the test container through the return port. The measurement device is operable to monitor the particle distribution of the fluid mixture as it changes due to gravity.
US08640529B2
Integrated acoustic phase separator and multiphase fluid composition monitoring apparatus and method
An apparatus and method for down hole gas separation from the multiphase fluid flowing in a wellbore or a pipe, for determining the quantities of the individual components of the liquid and the flow rate of the liquid, and for remixing the component parts of the fluid after which the gas volume may be measured, without affecting the flow stream, are described. Acoustic radiation force is employed to separate gas from the liquid, thereby permitting measurements to be separately made for these two components; the liquid (oil/water) composition is determined from ultrasonic resonances; and the gas volume is determined from capacitance measurements. Since the fluid flows around and through the component parts of the apparatus, there is little pressure difference, and no protection is required from high pressure differentials.
US08640519B2
Provided are a press-molding mold, in which cracks and wrinkles to be formed at the corner portions of a press-molded article are reduced regardless of the depth of the drawing, and a press-molding method using that mold. The press-molding mold (1) comprises a die (2) having a recess (2b) and a wrinkle holding face (2a) formed around the recess (2b), a punch (3) having a protrusion (3a) matching the recess (2b), and a blank holder (4) having a cushion face (4a) matching the wrinkle holding face (2a). In the press-molding mold (1), the wrinkle holding face (2a) and the cushion face (4a) form a clamping portion (14), by which a material member (5) is clamped for the press-molding operation. The clamping portion (14) of the press-molding mold (1) is divided by an opening portion (15) communicating with a corner recess (2c) of the recess (2b), into a first clamping portion (14a) and a second clamping portion (14b), by which the material member (5) is clamped.
US08640517B2
The invention relates to a method for feeding lubricant during hot rolling, in which the surfaces of the rolling rolls are fed with a lubricating emulsion, characterized in that said lubricating emulsion, consisting of a lubricating oil having a viscosity between 10 cSt and 400 cSt at 40° C., mixed with water, is directed onto the surfaces of the rolling rolls via at least one lubricant feed nozzle, at a temperature above 0° C. but below 25° C.
US08640512B2
A lock structure for an electrical device includes a rotatable fastener and a lock body. The rotatable fastener has an extending portion and a retaining portion, wherein the extending portion and the retaining portion form a T-shaped structure; the lock body is connected to the rotatable fastener and has a key hole. The lock body further has a first position and a second position in a radial direction of the extending portion. The key inserted in the key hole operates the lock body to displace from the second position to the first position, wherein the lock body drives the rotatable fastener to rotate to an unlocked position. When the lock body is in the first position, the lock body is pressed to displace from the first position to the second position, wherein the lock body drives the rotatable fastener to rotate to a locked position.
US08640511B1
A system for securing an item to an anchor is disclosed. The system may include a first extension extending from an item, an interface mechanism connected to the first extension, and a lock. The interface mechanism may include a cylindrical base, a sleeve, and a second extension. The cylindrical base may comprise an extension aperture receiving the first extension therewithin. The slide may surround at least a portion of the cylindrical base and occupy a blocking position locking the first extension within the extension aperture. The second extension may extend from the slide and comprise a traveler occupying a locking position locking the slide in the blocking position. The lock may engage the second extension and lock the traveler in the locking position.
US08640510B1
A system for securing an interface mechanism within an aperture is disclosed. The system may include an interface mechanism comprising a body portion, extension, anchor, and traveler. The extension may extend from the body portion and have a traveler aperture. The anchor may selectively move through a range of motion with respect to the body portion. The range of motion may include one or more extended positions of the anchor. The traveler may be positioned within the traveler aperture. The traveler selectively moving through a range of motion with respect to the extension. The range of motion of the traveler may contain one or more blocking positions wherein the traveler confines the anchor to one or more extended positions. The system may further include a lock engaging the extension and confining the traveler to one or more blocking positions.
US08640504B2
A glove including a knitted liner having a thickness of about 0.70 mm to about 0.90 mm and a plurality of stitches made from a first yarn having a denier of 221 or less, the knitted liner comprising a plurality of finger components, a thumb component, and a palm component, at least one reinforcement section located at a base of at least one finger component, at a base of the thumb component, or in the palm component, or combinations thereof, and a foamed polymeric latex coating adhered to the knitted liner, the foamed polymeric latex coating penetrating half way or more for at least a portion of the knitted liner, the foamed polymeric latex coating not penetrating the entire thickness of the knitted liner.
US08640499B2
Corrosion of the inner surface of the crown of a glassmelting furnace is reduced or avoided by directing at low velocity along that surface a gaseous stream comprising water vapor, or comprising the combustion products of an oxy-fuel burner operated at a stoichiometric ratio of at least 1.0, or the combustion products of a burner operated at a stoichiometric ratio less than 1.0, or by injecting into the furnace interior a gaseous reactant which reacts with alkali species in said space.
US08640498B2
Glasses are disclosed which can be used to produce substrates for flat panel display devices, e.g., active matrix liquid crystal displays (AMLCDs). The glasses have MgO concentrations in the range from 1.0 mole percent to 3.0 mole percent and Σ[RO]/[Al2O3] ratios greater than or equal to 1.00, where [Al2O3] is the mole percent of Al2O3 and Σ[RO] equals the sum of the mole percents of MgO, CaO, SrO, and BaO. These compositional characteristics have been found to improve the melting properties of batch materials used to produce the glass, which, in turn, allows the glasses to be fined (refined) with more environmentally friendly fining agents, e.g., tin as opposed to arsenic and/or antimony.
US08640497B2
To provide a magnetic-disk glass substrate manufacturing method that can reduce the inner diameter dimensional error.A magnetic-disk glass substrate manufacturing method of this invention including a chemical strengthening step of bringing a plurality of glass substrates 102 into contact with chemical strengthening treatment solutions of a plurality of chemical strengthening treatment baths 130, respectively, to chemically strengthen the glass substrates further includes an inner diameter measuring step of measuring the inner diameter of each of the glass substrates 102 before the chemical strengthening step, a grasping step of grasping a variation of the inner diameter of the glass substrate 102 to be generated by the chemical strengthening step for each of the chemical strengthening treatment baths 130, and a combination determining step of determining the chemical strengthening treatment baths 130, that perform chemical strengthening, based on the variations so that the inner diameters of the glass substrates, whose inner diameters are measured, after the chemical strengthening step become a desired value. In the chemical strengthening step, the glass substrates 102 are chemically strengthened in the determined chemical strengthening treatment baths 130, respectively.
US08640477B1
A hold-down bracket employed to secure an air conditioner to a roof mounted air conditioner support includes two bracket members which are adjustable relative to one another, one bracket member secured to the frame of the support and the other bracket member secured to the air conditioner.
US08640472B2
Recuperation systems and methods are applied to vapor compression cycles in dehumidification, such as in air conditioning. In some embodiments, a method for dehumidification includes introducing a refrigerant from a heating unit to a cooling unit along a first path; introducing the refrigerant from the cooling unit to the heating unit along a second path different from the first path; introducing the refrigerant from the heating unit to the cooling unit along a third path different from the first path; and contacting the cooling unit and the heating unit with a first gas stream.
US08640470B2
The present invention relates to a control method of a refrigerator which operates a cooling cycle including two storage compartments, a compressor, a condenser, a valve, fans, and evaporators for cooling the respective storage compartments, with one of the fans (5) corresponding to the storage compartment for storing items at relatively low temperatures being activated for a set amount of time even after the compressor is deactivated at the completion of cooling of the storage compartment for storing items at relatively low temperatures. In a refrigerator comprising a first storage compartment for storing an item, a second storage compartment for storing an item at a lower temperature than the first storage compartment, a cooling cycle including a compressor, a condenser for condensing a refrigerant from the compressor, a valve for directing the refrigerant from the condenser to first and second evaporators, with the first and second evaporators evaporating supplied refrigerants to cool the first and second storage compartments, respectively, and first and second (5) fans for circulating cool air from the first and second evaporators, respectively, and a controller for controlling the first and second (5) fans, the valve and the compressor, a control method of the refrigerator comprising: a first step of the controller activating the compressor if cooling of the second storage compartment is required and activating the second fan (5); and a second step of the controller deactivating the operation of the compressor, if the cooling of the second storage compartment is completed, and deactivating the operation of the second fan (5) after the operation of the compressor is deactivated.
US08640462B2
A geothermal energy system utilizes geothermal heat under the floor of a body of water. The system includes at least one well having a top and a bottom. At least one well is drilled to a sufficient depth to access geothermal heat from one or more areas under the floor. The system further includes at least one energy converter operatively coupled to the well. The at least one energy converter is configured to convert the geothermal heat to another form of energy.
US08640461B2
A power-generating tower comprises: at least one of the lower heat-exchange assemblies, at least one of the upper heat-exchange assemblies, a tower structure arranged to support each upper heat-exchange assembly, at least one ascending circulating-fluid column within the tower structure, at least one descending circulating-fluid column within the tower structure, and at least one turbine. Each ascending column is arranged and connected to receive the circulating fluid from at least one of the lower heat-exchange assemblies and to convey the circulating fluid thus received upward and into at least one of the upper heat-exchange assemblies. Each descending column is arranged and connected to receive the circulating fluid from at least one of the upper heat-exchange assemblies and to convey the circulating fluid thus received downward and into at least one of the lower heat-exchange assemblies. The turbine is arranged to be driven by flow of circulating fluid.
US08640460B2
An ocean wave electrical generating system is described. The generating system is adapted to harness the energy of ocean waves in a wide variety of applications and conditions. The system reduces the effect of the variable input energy from ocean waves by initially storing the energy in the form of potential energy and subsequently transforming the potential energy to kinetic energy. The release of kinetic energy is coupled with generators which are isolated from the effects of the variable input energy into the system by this process. This system is developed to utilize the variable potential energy available and to provide a constant kinetic energy output.
US08640457B2
A method includes substantially reducing specific fuel consumption and exhaust emissions of an engine by adjusting an exhaust flow from a set of predetermined cylinders among a plurality of cylinders of the engine through an exhaust gas recirculation system to an intake manifold, by adjusting a temperature of a cooler of the exhaust gas recirculation system, and by adjusting a fuel injection timing, in response to variance in a plurality of parameters of the engine.
US08640452B2
A hydraulic fluid circuit for a power transmission device includes a first hydraulic circuit segment fluidly decoupled from a second hydraulic circuit segment. A hydraulic pump includes a first fluidic pumping element and a second fluidic pumping element. The first fluidic pumping element fluidly communicates with the first hydraulic circuit segment. The second fluidic pumping element fluidly communicates with the second hydraulic circuit segment. The first fluidic pumping element is controllable to a first pump operating point to achieve a preferred high fluidic flow rate in the first hydraulic circuit segment. The second fluidic pumping element is controllable to a second pump operating point to achieve a preferred high fluidic pressure in the second hydraulic circuit segment.
US08640440B2
Disclosed herein is a catalytically active particulate filter, an exhaust gas cleaning system and a process for cleaning the exhaust gases of predominantly stoichiometrically operated internal combustion engines, which are suitable, as well as the gaseous CO, HC and NOx pollutants, also for removing particulates from the exhaust gas. The particulate filter comprises a filter body and a catalytically active coating consisting of two layers. The first layer is in contact with the incoming exhaust gas, the second layer with the outgoing exhaust gas. Both layers contain alumina. The first layer contains palladium. The second layer contains, in addition to rhodium, an oxygen-storing cerium/zirconium mixed oxide.
US08640436B2
With an arrangement for the discharge of oil-contaminated exhaust air separated from the lubricating oil de-aeration system of a gas-turbine engine and led to the atmosphere via a venting line, the venting line (13) issues into an attenuation chamber (12) formed within the exhaust cone (9) of the gas-turbine engine and connected to a Venturi nozzle (14) via a discharge tube (17) for drawing off the oil-contaminated exhaust air and blowing it into the exhaust-gas flow, with the Venturi nozzle (14) being arranged in the exhaust gas-flow of the gas-turbine engine and oriented in a flow direction. The oil-contaminated exhaust air is completely discharged with the exhaust-gas flow without contacting visible engine parts.
US08640431B2
In a medicine packaging machine including a medicine accommodating mechanism for accommodating plural medicines, a chute for guiding medicines arbitrarily taken out from the medicine accommodating mechanism to a medicine packaging sheet, and a medicine packaging mechanism having a heater for thermally welding the medicine packaging sheet, the heater is provided with an incision tooth for forming an incision at an edge portion of the medicine packaging sheet at the same time when the medicine packaging sheet filled with the medicines. Furthermore, a cutting mechanism for cutting at a predetermined position a separate package bag formed by thermally welding the medicine packaging sheet is provided.
US08640425B2
This is directed to systems, processes, machines, and other means that all a user to install flashing without removing exterior siding. The invention can allow a user to quickly and easily allow flashing which enables a structure to be more weather resistant.
US08640419B2
A steel reinforced concrete (PSRC) column is prefabricated with angle steels at the corners. The column has auxiliary reinforcement bars between the angle steels and tie bars surround the angle steels and auxiliary reinforcement bars. Column capital steel plates are fixed to the structure, outside the angle steels and the auxiliary reinforcement bars. Column capital reinforcing steel plates are diagonally attached inside the PSRC column. A mold is used to fill the column with cement.
US08640413B2
A method is provided of laser marking a graphic design in an unassembled multi-component structure. A graphic design to be laser marked in a multi-component structure is partitioned into a plurality of graphic design sections, with each of the graphic design sections being assigned to a corresponding component of the multi-component structure. The graphic design sections are laser marked in their corresponding components of the multi-component structure while the multi-component structure is in an unassembled state. The laser-marked components are adapted for assembly together into an assembled state in which the multi-component structure has a viewable expansive surface with the graphic design sections collectively simulating an overall appearance of a graphic design spanning across the corresponding components of the multi-component structure. A kit for assembling laser-marked components into a multi-component structure is also provided.
US08640412B2
In building a house, it is necessary to arrange bearing walls and non-bearing walls in a well-balanced manner. However, in the case where a bearing wall is configured by fixing a plate-like body such as a bearing wall panel to the exterior-side face of a structural frame member formed by assembling horizontal members and pillar members into the shape of a square frame, the surface of the bearing wall panel protrudes from the face of the structural frame member on the exterior side by a distance corresponding to the thickness of the bearing wall panel. Thus, the exterior-side face of the bearing wall in which the bearing wall panel is provided is not flush with the exterior-side face of the non-bearing wall in which the bearing wall panel is not provided, and so there is a step. Accordingly, processing of the base during attachment of an exterior building material has been necessary. Furthermore, there has been a problem that in the case where the condition of the framework is to be inspected after building, the inspection cannot be performed unless the bearing wall panel is removed.Receiving members are fixed to inner side faces enclosed by structural members including pillars, studs, and horizontal members, of a building so as to allow a face of a bearing wall panel on the exterior side to be flush with faces of the structural members on the exterior side and a face of an adjacent non-bearing wall on the exterior side.
US08640404B2
A stair tread overlay and a riser overlay made from solid wood for fitting over a conventional, exposed wooden stair having a generally rounded nose like those found in most residential general construction staircases and prefabricated staircases. The tread overlay and riser overlay cover the exterior surface of a conventional wooden stair from stringer to stringer to hide a construction grade stair tread and riser below that are made from a composite material or unsalvageable hardwood to present an attractive, solid wood surface that is finishable.
US08640403B2
A modular plastic floor tile has a body of a first polymer compound and features overmolded onto the body from a second polymer compound. The compounds may be different from each other in hardness and/or color. The features may include skins on support member cores disposed below the tile lower surface. The skins adhere to the bottom and at least a portion of the sidewall of the support member core.
US08640397B2
An adjustable bird slope has a face that can be extended or contracted so that the bird slope can effectively fit almost any perching area.
US08640392B2
Overhead truss assemblies for use with retail displays are provided. The assemblies include multiple trusses that are parallel to and spaced from each other, spanning overhead or otherwise elevated and connecting merchandise display racks on opposing sides of an aisle or aligned with and atop a single merchandise display rack. The trusses have horizontal truss segments and define variable mounting widths. The variable mounting widths are established with one or more connector assemblies that cooperate with and move longitudinally along the horizontal truss segments. Each connector assembly includes a captured plate that is slidingly housed inside of the horizontal truss segment, and an insert connected to and moving in unison with the captured plate. Moving the connector assembly inwardly toward a middle portion of the truss defines a relatively narrower mounting width, while moving the connector assembly outwardly toward an end of the truss defines a relatively wider mounting width.
US08640385B2
A trim attachment structure includes a door frame, trim and a clip. The door frame has an attachment part, which is formed by a single plate, and a fitting hole. The fitting hole has a square shape in which the diagonals thereof are aligned with specific directions. The trim has a pair of ribs respectively facing a pair of end parts of the fitting hole. The clip is installed in the fitting hole. The clip includes a head part, a tube part and a latching hook. The tube part has a tip end part which projects from the fitting hole to the outer side of the attachment part. Angled parts of the tip end part are held between the ribs. The latching hook is latched at the peripheral edge of the fitting hole on the outer side of the attachment part.
US08640383B1
A counterbalance system for a tilt-in window that utilizes a brake shoe assembly. The brake shoe assembly is comprised of a brake shoe housing and a cam element. The brake shoe housing has a first arm element, a second arm element, and a flexible bottom section. A cam opening is disposed within the brake shoe housing. A gap space exists above the cam opening. The cam element is disposed within the cam opening. The cam element contains a tilt post receiving slot that received the tilt post from a window sash. A catch finger extends from the first arm element into the gap space. The catch finger at least partially obstructs the tilt post receiving slot. This prevents the tilt post of the window sash from being inadvertently lifted out of the brake shoe assembly.
US08640375B2
A disassembly tool 60 is provided for a handgun 10. The disassembly tool 60 includes spaced aligned upstanding side wall members 74 having a longitudinally extending slot 64 formed therebetween. A diagonally descending wall member 76 is formed on each one of the upstanding side wall members 74 to facilitate positioning of the slot 64 on a guide rod 20 so that a spring assembly 18 is compressed to allow disassembly of the handgun 10. The method of making the tool 60 includes machining a bar 62 to a predetermined length. A longitudinally extending slot 64 is then formed in the bar 62 creating upstanding side wall members 74. The upstanding side wall members 74 are then machined to a predetermined angle so that diagonally descending wall members 76 are formed.
US08640374B1
Several examples of a cartridge magazine system are shown each arranged to hold a plurality of cartridge magazines adjacent to a magazine well of a weapon. The system including several interoperating components, for example: a rigid cylindrical shaft having a center axis aligned with an insert axis of the magazine well, a cartridge magazine holder assembly, and a stop cap at a lower end of the shaft to maintain position of the cartridge magazine holder assembly upon the shaft. One example of the magazine holder assembly including: a collar in contact with the shaft so as to freely reposition along the shaft wherein the collar is rotatable about the shaft. At least one fork extends radially from the collar. Wherein each fork includes a surface for retention of a cartridge magazine in position to be inserted into and removed from the magazine well without removing the magazine from the fork.
US08640361B2
An item of footwear, in particular for sport, includes a sole, a double-crossbow shaped elastic structure, having an upper wall and a lower wall which define an empty space inside them. The elastic structure is placed in the sole so as to elastically react under the weight of a foot. An element extends from one of the walls and is suitable for going into abutment against the opposite wall when the crossbow structure is not compressed.
US08640351B2
A multifunction measuring device includes: an orientation compass and an inclinometer mounted in a mounting seat and disposed in a housing so that the orientation compass and the inclinometer are respectively exposed through front and rear openings in the housing; a first magnification member disposed in the housing, connected movably to a connecting seat fixed in the housing, and including a first magnifying lens aligned with a first viewing hole in the housing; and a second magnification member connected movably to the housing, and including a second magnifying lens aligned with a second viewing hole in the housing.
US08640350B2
An improved laser line generating device is provided for use in construction layout tasks. The laser line generating device is comprised of a first laser light generator operable to emit from a housing a first plane of light having a fan angle greater than 180° and arranged in the housing to project the first plane of light perpendicular to a horizontal plane; and a second laser light generator operable to emit from the housing a second plane of light having a fan angle greater than 180° and arranged in the housing to project the second plane of light perpendicular to the first plane of light and perpendicular to the horizontal plane, such that the first plane of light intersects with the second plane of light at two points.
US08640341B2
A method of producing a rolling sliding member, wherein, after a work for a rolling sliding member, which is made of a bearing steel and formed in a predetermined shape, is quenched, a heating start temperature is set to be 10 to 100° C., a heating finish temperature is set to be 220 to 350° C., a time between the heating finish time and the heating start time is set to be a heating time, the quenched work for the rolling sliding member is heated so that a rate of temperature increase indicated by the following formula becomes 7 to 35° C./s rate of temperature increase=(heating finish temperature−heating start temperature)/heating time, the work is tempered by being cooled without being maintained at a heating finish temperature from the heating finish time.
US08640335B2
A broaching apparatus (200, 400) includes; a broach (300, 600) having a cross-section corresponding to a geometry of slot (115) between adjacent steeples (110) of a turbine rotor (100), and a mechanism (210, 220, 230, 410, 420, 430) which moves the broach (300,600) through the slot (115) in a direction substantially parallel to a direction of extension of the slot (115).
US08640333B2
An electrical contact assembly has a plurality of formed elongate closed seam tubular elements attached to a carrier with each of the elongate tubular elements attached to the carrier via a tab. Scored creases are formed in the tabs for separating the elongate tubular elements from the assembly and scored creases are formed in the carrier for defining carrier strips. The carrier strip had a plurality of grouped elongate tubular elements. The electrical contact assembly is placed in a crimping die where at least one or more wires are inserting into selected elongate tubular elements. Pressure is applied to least one or more of the selected elongate tubular elements to produce bulk material deformation along a substantial portion of the elongate tubular elements to crimp the elongate tubular elements to the wires as electrical contacts.
US08640331B2
A system and method for affixing barbs on a suture are provided. In one embodiment, the system includes a suture supply mechanism for selectively retaining a length of suture and a barb supply mechanism for operably engaging a barb supply assembly including at least one barb. At least one of the suture supply mechanism and the barb supply mechanism are configured to approximate towards the other of the barb supply mechanism and suture supply mechanism to engage the at least one barb of the barb supply assembly with the suture of the suture supply assembly. Also provided are a barb for use in forming a barbed suture and a suture including at least one barb.
US08640327B2
A pressure-loss adjusting-member installation tool having pressure-loss adjusting-member grippers that are configured to freely grip or release a pressure-loss adjusting member which is arranged at a position between a lower nozzle arranged at one end of a fuel assembly having a relatively small pressure-loss when a primary coolant flows and a lower core support plate, and which can cause the primary coolant to pass therethrough in a state with a pressure-loss being increased more than that of when the primary coolant passes through only core support plate flow holes formed on the lower core support plate; and a holding unit that holds the pressure-loss adjusting-member grippers in a same positional relationship as a relative positional relationship between the fuel assemblies arranged in plural on the lower core support plate.
US08640326B2
An electric wire testing apparatus tests the condition of an end portion of an electric wire including a plurality of core wires and a sheath for covering the core wires. The electric wire testing apparatus includes an imaging device arranged to photograph an end surface of the core wires that have been exposed by stripping off the sheath, a counting unit arranged to count the number of the core wires from an image photographed by the imaging device, and a determining unit arranged to determine pass/fail of the condition of the end portion of the electric wire based on whether or not the number of the core wires counted by the counting unit matches a predetermined number.
US08640321B2
A replaceable deformable insert is disposed in a clinching die cavity having an annular recess adjacent the insert. A first layer is established on a second layer and secured between a retractable punch and the clinching die. The punch is pressed into the first layer to form a depression in the first and second layers. The first and second layers are compressed together between the punch and the clinching die, creating hydrostatic pressure in the first and second layers and the insert. A portion of the insert is extruded to fill the annular recess with insert extrudate, while a portion of the second layer is simultaneously radially extruded into an annular space previously occupied by the insert. A portion of the first layer is simultaneously radially extruded into an annular volume previously occupied by the second layer, thereby forming an interlocking assembly of the first and second layers and insert.
US08640314B2
A piston assembly transportation and assembly apparatus and methods of transporting and installing a piston assembly therewith are provided. The apparatus maintains a piston assembly in its assembled state during transportation without allowing damage and contamination to the piston assembly. The apparatus also facilitates storage and installation of the piston assembly into a cylinder bore. The apparatus includes a housing having a bore bounded by an inner cylindrical surface extending from a first end of the housing toward a second end of the housing. A chamfered surface diverges radially outwardly from the first end to mate with an upper surface of a stuffing cone during assembly. The second end has a wall extending radially inwardly from the inner cylindrical surface to axially confront an upper crown of the piston assembly to both prevent the piston assembly from passing though the apparatus and to prevent contamination from entering the apparatus.
US08640308B2
A pair of transition escutcheons are provided to unobtrusively cover old mounting holes and provide a method of actually locating the placement of new mounting hole for cabinetry hardware. Each transition escutcheon is comprised of a generally flat body, having a projection extending from a bottom, a platform separated from a border by an annular indention, and a hole passing through the escutcheon located a set distance from the projection. The escutcheons are inserted into the old mounting holes and rotated until the holes are horizontally agreed. New mounting holes are drilled or locations further marked through the holes in the escutcheons. Once the new holes are drilled, the new hardware is mounted on the escutcheons with the and covering the old mounting holes.
US08640306B2
A hinge device 100 includes: a one-piece hinge base 20 such that connecting hinge bases 21a, 21b in which rotational shaft portions 23a, 23b are protrusively provided in the same direction by a burring process are connected together through a hinge base connecting part 22; and a one-piece holder 10 such that connecting holders 11a, 11b having click washers 30a, 30b attached thereto are connected together through a holder connecting part 12, wherein the one-piece holder 10 is assembled to the one-piece hinge base 20 from one direction.
US08640302B2
A filter bag of a vacuum cleaner has a filter mounting plate that includes a generally strap-shaped securing element with pivot members on an end thereof. A housing of the vacuum cleaner defines a filter bag compartment therein and has pivot receivers into which the pivot members can be substantially vertically inserted. Then the filter mounting plate can be pivoted into a substantially horizontal installed position as the filter bag is inserted into the filter bag compartment. In the installed position, a first stop member of the filter mounting plate contacts and is stopped by a second stop member of the housing so as to prevent further pivoting and so as to properly position and hold the filter mounting plate.
US08640297B2
Devices for removing thatch buildup from the underside of a mower deck, and methods therefore. The device includes a head having a straight edge and at least one curved edge, a neck, and a conical handle.
US08640292B1
A deviator apparatus for use in segmental concrete construction has a duct and a pipe extending through an interior of the duct. The duct has a first end and a second end and a central portion. The first end has a diameter substantially greater than a diameter of the central portion. The pipe has a diameter substantially less than a diameter of a duct at the first end. The pipe has a length substantially greater than a length of the duct. A plurality of tendons extend through the pipe. The duct increases constantly in diameter from the central portion to the first end. The duct has ribs formed on an exterior surface thereof.
US08640291B2
A vulc style and cupsole style footwear and a method for manufacturing the footwear are disclosed. The footwear includes a midsole that is directly attached to the upper. The midsole may be attached to the outsole by adhesive. In the method of manufacturing the footwear, the upper and an outsole are disposed a set distance apart. Polyurethane or other material for providing cushioning to the footwear is either injected between the upper and outsole or poured onto the outsole and the upper is traversed over the outsole so as to define the mold for defining the midsole. The polyurethane is directly attached to the upper and adhered to the outsole/cupsole.
US08640290B1
An adjustable breast support apparatus and method of use having a base, an upright support, and one or more breast supporter assemblies having breast supports for supporting the breasts and easing the weight and strain placed upon a user's back and torso. The base rests or attaches with a table, a chair, or another structure or the base may be mounted with the user's belt. The breast supports are shaped to comfortably conform to the underside of the users breasts. A retaining strap holder and retaining strap allow for a third point of support whereby the apparatus is further secured with the user.
US08640288B2
The present disclosure is a disposable transporter that is absorbent, portable, and lightweight, and having sufficient strength to carry an injured soldier or medical patient. The transporter has a backing substrate, absorbent body, and gripping device. The gripping device permits manual carrying or insertion of poles to form a litter or portable cot. The absorbent body may have active agents that kill microorganisms to reduce the risk of contamination, infection, and odors from blood or other body fluids. The disclosure provides a process for producing base materials for the transporter. Also disclosed is a transporter kit having a transporter and a water-resistant case.
US08640279B2
A patient transfer sled having a support structure including at least one air cushion partially disposed within at least one pocket, and a fluid passageway extending through the support structure into the air cushion. Systems for patient transfer that may include a support surface, such as a table, a patient transfer sled having at least one air cushion, and a source of pressurized air. Methods for moving a patient relative to a support surface include positioning a patient on a patient transfer sled having at least one air cushion, and inflating the air cushion with air to form a sheet of flowing air between the patient transfer sled and the support surface. The methods may be used, for example, to move a patient on an air film over a surface within a system.
US08640277B1
A body scrubber includes a housing having two opposing sides, a top, a bottom and an open front face. Positioned within the open front face are a plurality of tiered, motorized cleansing rollers each formed of a hollow, perforated tube encapsulated by an absorbent cleansing sleeve. Either soap or water can be delivered to the interior of each tube using a control panel. A bather first delivers soap to the rollers and places a desired portion of the body against the motorized cleansing sleeves; when the soap has been thoroughly applied, the bather delivers water to rinse the applied soap. Accordingly, a bather may easily cleanse certain bodily areas that would otherwise be inaccessible with conventional cleaning implements.
US08640276B2
A molded tub and surround which is formed of a multiple of portions. Wall portions meet a tub portion at a joint with a retaining ledge which extends inward toward a tub bowl from a flange. A ledge interface within the bottom of the wall portions engages the ledge. An angled interface surface is located directly in front of the ledge and slopes downward toward the bowl. A shallow interface within the bottom of the wall portions engages the angled interface surface.
US08640264B2
By adding a second smaller bill under the main bill of a cap and creating a gap from the front to the back between the two bills, the two bills create a curved shape that acts like an airfoil and allows the free flow of air over a wearer's forehead, inducing a cooling effect. Besides the benefit of a cooling effect, the appearance of the hat is such that an observer looking at someone wearing it would not be able to tell there was anything overtly different about the design.
US08646111B2
A novel way for constructing and operating scanning probe microscopes to dynamically measure material properties of samples, mainly their surface hardness, by separating the functions of actuation, indentation and sensing into separate dynamic components. The amplitude and phase shift of higher modes occurring at periodic indentations with the sample are characteristic values for different sample materials. A separate sensor cantilever, connected to the indentation probe tip, has the advantage of a high mechanical amplification of a desired higher mode while suppressing the actuation signal itself. The operational range of the sensor can be extended just by switching the actuation signal to another submultiple of the sensor cantilever's resonance frequency and/or by using more than one sensor cantilever for each indentation tip.
US08646108B2
Disclosed is a hardware based secure multi-level security computing system system. The system comprises a chassis enclosing multiple separate, secure computer devices or domains, each within an electromagnetic shielding Faraday cage. The chassis structure includes internal electromagnetic shields and other features to prevent cross domain electromagnetic interference or compromising emanations. The chassis may be the size of a standard computer tower. The computer devices or domains may be configured for handling information of different classification levels. Optionally, each of the computer devices may operate on significantly less power than a standard computer. Preferably, each computer operates on no more than 50 Watts of power, more preferably on less than 35 Watts of power.
US08646100B2
A user is presented with one or more user-level permissions in a human understandable language, where the one or more user-level permissions represent one or more application-level permissions requested from an application for accessing one or more resources. A security profile is generated having one or more operating system (OS)-level permissions based on at least one of the user-level permissions authorized by the user. The security profile is enforced to restrict the application to accessing the one or more resources based on the OS-level permissions.
US08646088B2
A method is disclosed that includes tracking untrusted inputs through an executing program into a sink, the tracking including maintaining context of the sink as strings based on the untrusted inputs flow into the sink. The method also includes, while tracking, in response to a string based on an untrusted input being about to flow into the sink and a determination the string could lead to an attack if the string flows into a current context of the sink, endorsing the string using an endorser selected based at least on the current context of the sink, and providing the endorsed string to the sink. Computer program products and apparatus are also disclosed.
US08646083B2
Circuits and methods for detecting, identifying and/or removing undesired content are provided. According to one embodiment, a method for virus processing is provided. A general purpose processor receives and stores a data segment to a first memory at a virtual address. The first memory contains paging data structures for translating virtual addresses to physical addresses. The general purpose processor directs a virus processing hardware accelerator to scan the data segment based on virus signatures compiled for the virus processing hardware accelerator and stored in a second memory. The first memory includes a first virus signature compiled for the general purpose processor. The virus processing hardware accelerator retrieves the data segment by accessing the first memory based on the virtual address and cached information, stored within one or more translation lookaside buffers local to the virus processing hardware accelerator, relating to most recently used entries of the paging data structures.
US08646075B2
An analysis system for unknown application layer protocols, which could automatically discover unknown applications existing in a network, and then obtain keywords, attribute values, status codes or type codes representing semantic meaning of each field in each type of unknown application as well as message formats, dialogue rules and status transfer relations of application layer protocols by using cluster analysis and optimal partitioning method based on hidden semi-Markov model. Unknown application analysis result could be used for flow management and safety protection of a network. The system has the following advantages: it avoids difficulties arising from manual discovery and analysis of unknown applications, and improves network management efficiency and responding speed against new types of network attacks.
US08646066B2
A security protocol control apparatus includes a communication unit configured to perform a communication with a communication partner via a network, and a setting information generation unit configured to, based on setting information for a first security protocol previously established, generate, within the security protocol control apparatus, setting information for a second security protocol that has not yet been established.
US08646055B2
A method and system for pre-shared-key-based network access control are disclosed. The method includes the following steps: 1) security policy negotiation is implemented between a REQuester (REQ) and Authentication Access Controller (AAC); 2) identity authentication and uni-cast key negotiation are implemented between REQ and AAC; 3) a group-cast key is notified between REQ and AAC. Applying the method and system, rapid bidirectional authentication can be implemented between a user and network.
US08646052B2
In some embodiments, the invention involves securing sensitive data from mal-ware on a computing platform and, more specifically, to utilizing virtualization technology and protected audio video path technologies to prohibit a user environment from directly accessing unencrypted sensitive data. In an embodiment a service operating system (SOS) accesses sensitive data requested by an application running in a user environment virtual machine, or a capability operating system (COS). The SOS application encrypts the sensitive data before passing the data to the COS. The COS makes requests directly to a graphics engine which decrypts the data before displaying the sensitive data on a display monitor. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08646050B2
Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for processing just-in-time code at a device that enforces a code signing requirement. The disclosure includes receiving computer code, where a portion of the code includes executable just-in-time code, at a device that enforces a code signing requirement; identifying the unsigned just-in-time executable portion of code; allocating a randomly selected memory region on the device for at least some of the unsigned just-in-time executable portion; and executing the unsigned just-in-time executable portion of code in the randomly selected memory region as if the unsigned just-in-time executable portion of code was signed computer code.
US08646046B2
A digital rights management system includes an authentication module and a decryption module. If desired, the modules can be implemented in separate integrated circuits. The authentication module retrieves authentication information for protected content and powers down after the authentication information is retrieved. The decryption module decrypts the protected content based on the authentication information while the authentication module is powered down.
US08646043B2
A system for eliminating unauthorized email sent to a user on a network employs an email-receiving server connected between the network and the user's email client for receiving email addressed to the user and rejecting those in which the sender address does not match any of sender addresses maintained on an “authorized senders” list (ASL list). The ASL lists are maintained by an ASL manager in an ASL database operable with a spam processor module. A redirector module rejects the email if, upon sending a request for validation to the spam processor module, the sender's address does not match any authorized sender address on the ASL list. Email rejected by the redirector module is redirected to a web-based messaging (WBM) module which sends a message to the sender to confirm that the sender is a legitimate sender of email to the intended recipient.
US08646017B2
A method and apparatus for providing collaborative viewing of a media stream are disclosed. For example, the method establishes a viewing group having a plurality of members, and provides at least one media stream that is accessible by the plurality of members of the viewing group. The method then receives one or more annotations from at least one of the plurality of members of the viewing group relating to the at least one media stream, and saves each of the one or more annotations with a temporal marker. The method then provides the one or more annotations to at least one of the plurality of members of the viewing group.
US08646013B2
Systems and methods are provided for identifying instances of media programming available within a media distribution system. An exemplary method involves searching a listing of media programming available from a first content source using search criteria indicative of a desired media program to identify an instance of the desired media program available from the first content source, obtaining a target program identifier associated with the desired media program from that instance, identifying another instance of the desired media program in a second listing of media programming available from another content source using the target program identifier, and providing a combined search result that indicates availability of the desired media program from the content sources.
US08646007B2
A digital television (DTV) signal for use in a DTV receiver includes an extended text table (ETT) which includes a header and a message body. The header includes a table identification extension field which serves to establish uniqueness of the ETT, and the message includes an extended text message (ETM). If the ETT is an event ETT, the table ID extension field includes an event identification which specifies an identification number of an event associated with the ETT. On the other hand, if the ETT is a channel ETT, the table identification extension field includes a source identification which specifies a programming source of a virtual channel associated with the ETT. A section-filtering unit included in the DTV receiver is able to use table identification extension fields of a plurality of ETTs for section-filtering a pertinent event or channel ETT from the ETTs.
US08646005B2
A system and method for displaying an electronic program schedule guide is provided. The system has areas for displaying program schedule information. In addition, the system also has areas that may be used for advertising programs, products or services. In another embodiment, the system has areas for displaying messages to the user.
US08645997B2
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a computing device having a controller to transmit a client program having a GUI to a media device, where the client program presents an overlay that superimposes onto media content received by the media device and enables the media device to associate a user-generated comment with the media content received at the media device. The controller can receive user-generated comments and media content in a temporal vicinity of the user-generated comments via the client program, and can receive a request for the user-generated comments. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08645996B2
A digital broadcast receiver may display virtual keys on a screen, the virtual keys may be provided in a plurality of regions, each region having an identifier and characters that are unique from other regions. The digital broadcasting receiver may receive at least one input corresponding to selection of the identifier for selection of a desired character, wherein the desired character and at least one other character in a different region are displayed differently on the screen.
US08645995B2
A remote control device for consumer broadcast receivers, particularly television and radio receivers, is disclosed. In addition to the remote control features normally found on such a device, the device also contains a display on which advertisements, product and service offers, and other information (collectively, “display data”) may be shown to the user. The device receives such display data via a radio link from one of a plurality of central processing stations. The user of the device may interact with such display data (for example, to purchase an advertised good), and the device may send back details of such interactions to a central processing station, which in turn may initiate a transaction with the appropriate sponsoring party.
US08645994B2
This document describes techniques and apparatuses enabling brand detection in audiovisual media. The techniques detect a brand exposed within audiovisual media, such as a name or logo for a product or service, and based on this brand, present a brand advertisement or enable selection of an interactive experience that is associated with the brand. By so doing, marketers enable viewers to quickly and easily learn more about the product or service.
US08645992B2
A system and method for delivering content over a network is provided. Content may be primary content (e.g., music or a movie) or ancillary content (e.g., an advertisement). The ancillary content may further be classified as universal ancillary content that all users of the present system will receive; targeted ancillary content that particular users of the present system will receive; and context-specific ancillary content that users of the present system and viewing particular primary content will receive. The type of primary and/or ancillary content delivered to the user will depend, in part, on indicia of the user of a device receiving the content. The present invention seeks to ensure that a user has relevant and up-to-date ancillary content notwithstanding the nature or date of the primary content. Feedback data concerning the viewing of the ancillary content may also be generated such that a provider of the advertisement and/or product may provide targeted advertisements and improved products and services.
US08645990B2
Subscribers request programs from a network based content server and view the requested programs via their customer equipment. The content server receives various programs and breaks the program content for each program into a sequence of program segments, which are logically linked by program association indicia. The content server also receives advertisements and stores the advertisements as advertising segments, which generally contain at least one complete advertisement, but the invention is not limited thereto. Upon receiving a program request from a subscriber, the content server will identify advertising segments to provide along with the program segments for the requested program, and where to place the advertising segments among the program segments. Next, the content server will generate composite association indicia identifying the sequence of program and advertising segments, and effect delivery of the program and advertising segments to the subscriber in the sequence defined by the composite association indicia.
US08645988B2
A method of providing personalized content to a user is disclosed. In particular, the method relates to receiving incoming content that includes primary content being content originally intended for use in a program and personalized replacement content being content for replacing the primary content in the program. If the personalized replacement content is determined to be more appropriate than the primary content, based upon personalization parameters, then the primary content is substituted with the personalized replacement content.
US08645987B2
The system provides an Internet-based site accessible by customers and broadcasters for tracking the airing of their advertisements. The system includes a software package for creating a database of all events occurring on a broadcast station, which may comprise, for example, a radio or television station, although these are not intended as limitations. The software package receives a recording of a station's output, which contains metadata on each broadcast element that includes time, date, and content information. As the broadcast proceeds, the start and stop time of each element are stored in a table in the database. This database can then be subsequently queried via the website by a customer or media personnel to ascertain that the spot has aired as intended.
US08645984B1
A system for determining the authenticity of a received channel via an Internet port of a smart TV having (a) a first streamer for receiving a channel A via said Internet port, and forwarding a respective video stream of the channel to a synchronizer; (b) a second streamer for receiving a same channel A via a traditional port, and forwarding a respective video stream of the channel to said synchronizer; (c) said synchronizer synchronizing between the two streams, and outputting the two synchronized streams respectively to a correlator; and (d) said correlator correlating between corresponding frames of the stream, and when a similarity above a predefined threshold is determined, declaring channel A as received via the Internet port as authentic; otherwise, if a similarity below a predefined threshold is determined, declaring by the correlator that channel A as received via the Internet port is non-authentic.
US08645973B2
Providing a framework for developing, deploying and managing sophisticated mobile solutions, with a simple Web-like programming model that integrates with existing enterprise components. Mobile applications may consist of a data model definition, user interface templates, a client side controller, which includes scripts that define actions, and, on the server side, a collection of conduits, which describe how to mediate between the data model and the enterprise. In one embodiment, the occasionally-connected application server assumes that data used by mobile applications is persistently stored and managed by external systems. The occasionally-connected data model can be a METAdata description of the mobile application's anticipated usage of this data, and be optimized to enable the efficient traversal and synchronization of this data between occasionally connected devices and external systems.
US08645954B2
Briefly, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a portable communication device includes multiple processors having a monitor. The monitors of the processors may consult to determine which processor is best suited to execute a set of instructions.
US08645951B2
Machine-readable media, methods, apparatus and system are described. In some embodiments, a virtual machine monitor of a computer platform may comprise a service virtual machine created by the virtual machine monitor partitioning an underlying hardware machine to support execution of a plurality of overlying guest operating systems, wherein the plurality of guest operating systems comprise a guest operating system complying with a non-native guest system architecture different from a host system architecture with which the hardware machine complies. The service virtual machine may further comprise a translation layer to translate instructions from the guest operating system complying with the non-native guest system architecture into instructions complying with the host system architecture.
US08645945B2
In one embodiment, the present invention is a method and apparatus for dynamic middleware assembly. One embodiment of the inventive method for dynamically assembling middleware at a client involves selecting a middleware component from a group of middleware components, where the selection is based at least in part on a first profile defining characteristics of the client and a second profile defining characteristics the selected middleware component. The selected middleware component is then dynamically assembled (installed and configured) at the client.
US08645944B2
Technologies are described herein for deploying a solution artifact to a client-side application. In one method, an instruction to deploy the solution artifact to the client-side application program is received. Upon receiving the instruction, a determination is made whether a package associated with the solution artifact and the client-side application program was generated. Upon determining that the package was generated, a determination is made whether the package is current. Upon determining that the package is not current or that the package was not generated, the package is generated based on the solution artifact and the client-side application program. Upon determining that the package is current or upon generating the package, the package is deployed to the client-side application program.
US08645942B2
Methods, systems, and machine-readable media are disclosed for distributing software packages to one or more clients. Providing software to one or more clients can comprise generating a software package and publishing the package to a media accessible by the one or more clients. A description of the software package can also be generated and published. The description can identify the software package, contents of the software package, and uses of the software package. A client can obtain software packages from one or more servers by reading the description of software packages available on the one or more servers. A determination can be made as to whether the description indicates at least one of the software packages is available for the client. In response to determining at least one of the software packages is available for the client, the software package can be downloaded and installed on the client.
US08645940B2
Provided are a method, system, and program for installing and executing shared applications in shared folders. A program is installed by a base computer, having a local storage, to a shared folder accessible to multiple client computers over a network. Installing the program adds files for the program to the shared folder and modifies the local device used by the base computer and enables the base computer to run the program by accessing the program files in the shared folder. An image is created of the local device of the base computer including the installed program. The image is provided to the client computers to apply to local devices of the client computers. Applying the image to the local devices of the client computers enables the client computers to access the program files in the shared folder to run the program.
US08645930B2
Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for obfuscating by a common function. A system configured to practice the method identifies a set of functions in source code, generates a transformed set of functions by transforming each function of the set of functions to accept a uniform set of arguments and return a uniform type, and merges the transformed set of functions into a single recursive function. The single recursive function can allocate memory in the heap. The stack can contain a pointer to the allocated memory in the heap. The single recursive function can include instructions for creating and explicitly managing a virtual stack in the heap. The virtual stack can emulate what would happen to the real stack if one of the set of functions was called. The system can further compile the source code including the single recursive function.
US08645929B2
A method and apparatus for producer graph oriented programming and execution. According to one aspect of the invention, a runtime is provided that interprets producer dependency declarations for methods. The producer dependency declarations identify at run time a set of zero or more producers, where a producer is a runtime instantiatable construct that includes at least an instance and a method associated with that instance. The runtime automatically generates and executes, responsive to receiving a designation of a producer of interest whose method has a producer dependency declaration, a producer graph. The producer graph initially includes the producer of interest and is generated, from the producer of interest to source producers, through instantiation of producers based on the producer dependency declarations of the methods of the producers already in the producer graph. The runtime sequences the execution of the producers in the producer graph as indicated by the producer graph.
US08645928B2
A method, computer system and computer program product localize a source language user interface of software application to a target language user interface. While the software application is executing using the source language user interface, source language GUI component text of a GUI component is extracted from bytecode of the software application. The extracted source language GUI component text is formed into a localization pack file. The source language GUI component text of the localization pack file is translated to the target language. In response to the software application executing again, the translated GUI component text is loaded from the translated localization pack file. The GUI component is displayed with the translated GUI component text.
US08645924B2
In one embodiment, symbolically executing a software module having a number of execution paths; and losslessly reducing the number of execution paths during the symbolic execution of the software module.
US08645915B2
A data restructuring method and system. The method includes receiving by a computing system from a first user content data arranged in a first specified order and a command for tagging portions of the content data according to various parameters. The computing system assigns identification tags to the portions of the content data. The computing system presents the identification tags to the first user. The computing system receives from the first user, a selection of at least one of the identification tags. The computing system restructures the content data into a second specified order in response to the selection. The computing system receives a request for viewing the content data from a second user. The computing system presents to the second user, the content data in the second specified order.
US08645914B2
Methods and systems for providing rich semantic feedback to programmers by executing programs, or parts of programs, in data contexts relevant to the programmer are provided. According to one embodiment, a method is provided for communicating semantic information to a programmer. A conversational programming agent of a programming environment receives (i) information regarding multiple programming building blocks and (ii) information indicative of a current situation relating to the programming building blocks. The conversational programming agent evaluates the programming building blocks based on the current situation. Then, the conversational programming agent provides semantic feedback regarding the programming building blocks to the programmer based on results of the evaluation.
US08645907B2
Techniques are provided for capturing the ID of a work item, and the corresponding effort level information, as a part of the actual check-in process of the artifacts into the underlying change management system. This effort information can then be propagated to an external system for subsequent reporting and analysis. In one embodiment, tasks (or similar items such as issues or bugs) are entered into a common task or issue tracking system. As part of this process each task is assigned a unique identifier. A “call-out” is added to the source control management system which captures the effort level and task ID associated with the proposed change. The data entered is validated to ensure that the task ID is valid and that the effort entered is within a valid range. If the data entered is valid, the change to the underlying artifact is allowed to proceed and the effort and task information is stored for later analysis. If the data is not valid, the proposed change is rejected and an appropriate error message is returned to the user.
US08645901B2
Graphical viewing of shapes and descriptive information in displayed graphical images. In one aspect, shape information is displayed in a graphical interface using a computer system and includes causing a display of an image and one or more shapes in the image, and causing a display of a cursor. Labels are also displayed, each of the labels associated with a different one of the displayed shapes. The plurality of labels are displayed within a predetermined zone relative to a displayed cursor, and wherein no labels are displayed outside of the zone.
US08645900B2
The invention relates to a method for influencing the selection of a type and form of a circuit implementation in at least one layer in a given integration task for at least one integrated circuit in a wafer composite, a module on a 2-dimensional carrier substrate, or a compact module. In one embodiment, a plurality of electric or electronic components are spatially arranged and to be electrically connected. Completed solutions x are stored in a database, and each of the completed solutions includes properties for the given integration task. The completed solutions define a destination space from which a solution is selectable by operating elements and determines a type and form of circuit implementation as a result of the given integration task, and aggregates the plurality of electric and electronic components in one of a plurality of integration technologies.
US08645895B2
A system and a method for testing the ESD behavior, wherein a circuit (7) is automatically tested at circuit diagram level in that technology-specific ESD data is provided in database (2) for each circuit component present in the circuit, without requiring complex circuit simulations, for example based on front end or back end data, by taking into account the layout.
US08645886B2
A method for verifying power management of an integrated circuit design includes estimating a current load requirement of clocked modules in the circuit design based on the clock frequency and a predefined current load model. The voltage supplied to the circuit design is monitored. A first voltage regulator provides additional current drive to the circuit design when the supplied voltage drops below a threshold value of a full throttle run mode of the circuit design. A second voltage regulator is enabled to boost a response time of the first voltage regulator when the voltage drops below the threshold value.
US08645884B2
A method and system for modeling distortion of a non-linear electronic device are disclosed. According to one aspect, the invention provides a layered memory structure that includes a plurality of memory structure layers. Each memory structure layer has an input to receive an input signal and has a memory function. Each memory function has at least one delay element that provides a pre-determined delay of the input signal of the memory structure layer. The pre-determined delay is different for each of at least two memory structure layers and is based at least in part on an evaluation period corresponding to the memory structure layer.
US08645880B2
A method for determining kernels in a sum of coherent systems (SOCS) approximation is provided. Information for an object to be simulated in a manufacturing process is determined. For example, information based on geometries that are included in a layout or mask is determined. A set of kernels from a transmission cross coefficient (TCC) matrix are also determined. The set of kernels may be weighted by importance values in an order of importance. The kernels may then be re-ordered based on the information for the object. These kernels are then re-ordered in the SOCS series to reflect their order of importance. The SOCS series of kernels is then truncated at the number of kernels desired. Accordingly, by re-ordering the kernels that may be more relevant to the object to include higher weights, when the truncation occurs, the kernels that are most relevant may be included in the SOCS approximation.
US08645879B2
The present invention disclosed an algorithm of Cu interconnect dummy inserting, including: divide the surface of semiconductor chip into several square windows with an area of A, each of which is non-overlap; perform a logic operation on each square window; and divide the window into two parts: {circle around (1)} the area to-be-inserted; {circle around (2)} the non-inserting area; determine the metal density of the dummy pattern that should be inserted to each square window and the line width; determine the dummy pattern that should be inserted to the windows according to the metal density, line width, the pre-set dummy pattern and the layouting rules. The beneficial effects of the present invention is: avoided the shortcomings of fill density maximization in the rule-based filling method by using reasonable metal density and line width. And with a combination of the influence of line width and density to the copper plating process and chemical mechanical polishing morphology in model-based filling method, it can achieve a better planarization effect.
US08645873B2
Exemplary methods and systems for managing an e-reader interface are disclosed herein. An exemplary method includes an e-reader interface management system directing an e-reader device to display a plurality of graphical objects representative of a plurality of segments of an e-publication and arranged in a plurality of overlapping rows, detecting that a user has accessed a particular segment within the plurality of segments and represented by a particular graphical object within the plurality of graphical objects, and dynamically altering at least one display attribute associated with the particular graphical object to indicate that the particular segment has been accessed by the user. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.
US08645870B2
Methods and systems, including computer program products, implementing a preview cursor for image editing. One method includes displaying an image, receiving user input moving a cursor representing an editing tool to a position on the image, and in response, displaying a cursor icon representing the cursor at the position. The editing tool is operable to have an effect when applied. The cursor icon shows the effect of applying the editing tool at the position while and only while the cursor is at the position.
US08645866B2
A dynamic icon overlay system of a present invention embodiment dynamically generates icon overlays to be applied to a primary file icon of a target file. The icon overlays convey information regarding the target file and are relevant to an end user. The icon overlay system determines icon overlays to be applied to the primary file icon based on attributes associated with an end user of the target file that are correlated with attributes of the target file itself. The system applies the icon overlay to the primary icon and displays the primary icon with the applied icon overlay at an end user system. The applied icon overlay for the same target file may vary for different end users based on user attributes.
US08645864B1
Embodiments of the invention provide an interface for simultaneously inputting multiple data parameters for a software application. Generally, a single user input made using the input interface results in multiple data parameters being received by the application. In one embodiment, the input interface may be defined with a plurality of dimensional nodes, where each dimensional node corresponds to a dimension of input that may be specified for the software application using the input interface.
US08645860B2
Systems and methods for automatic display of scaled and/or resized images that fit within pre-defined areas in a web browser are disclosed. The method may be implemented using an image scaling JavaScript component embedded within a HTML document. Upon resizing the a client document browser in which the document is displayed, the component is resized and requests, receives and redisplays a resized image within the resized component from a server. By having the server perform the resizing, the resized image not only fits within the resized component but also maintains the quality of the image without the need for special client-side software.
US08645857B2
A system and method for controlling the display of multiple pieces of information in adjacent regions of a display area is presented. A user control for the interface between the regions is provided so that a single type of user input provided to the control can contextually alter various characteristics of the interface.
US08645849B2
Methods and devices enable displaying selected portions of one or more webpages in user defined view windows presented on a computing device display desktop. A selected webpage may be rendered into a full-sized render buffer in order for a rendering engine to render all the elements properly. One or more view windows are created on the display desktop that show user selected portions of the render buffer. In this manner users can select portions of one or more websites for presentation on their computing device desktop, position the selected portions at their preferred locations.
US08645835B2
Session initiation using successive inputs is described. In an implementation, a determination is made as to when a sufficient number of successive inputs have been collected to uniquely identify two or more clients from a plurality of clients. Each of the successive inputs is input via a respective user interface output by a respective client. Responsive to the determination, an interactive session is initiated involving the two or more clients that were uniquely identified.
US08645833B2
Techniques described herein may provide web pages to customers describing various accounts of the customers. In one implementation, a system receives a request for a web page from a client relating to an account of the client, and generates a document in response to the request. The document includes a reference to a script configured to display a context menu for the account in the web page. The script receives, asynchronously with the display of the context menu in the web page, a menu object representing actions for the context menu that are valid for the account. The system transmits the document and the script to the client.
US08645825B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for providing autocomplete suggestions. A computing device can receive an n-gram of characters. Cached autocomplete suggestions can be identified in a local cache of the computing device. Additional autocomplete suggestions can be requested at a first time. The computing device can prevent presentation of the cached autocomplete suggestions until a presentation event occurs. The presentation event can include (i) receiving the requested additional autocomplete suggestions by the computing device or (ii) the end of a predetermined period after the first time. The computing device can determine that that the presentation event has occurred, and in response, can display one or more autocomplete suggestions.
US08645821B2
A system and method for page frame detection for pages of a document are disclosed. The method includes receiving a set of document pages for a document, each page having at least one detected object. For each page in the set, the method includes determining dimensions of bounding box which encompasses the detected objects of the page and determining margin dimensions, based on a position of the bounding box on the page. A page frame is computed as a combination of bounding box dimensions and margin dimensions, based on frequencies of the bounding box dimensions and margin dimensions computed for the set of pages. The computed page frame is matched to pages of the document. Information based on the matching, such as content of text objects within the matched page frame, can be output.
US08645812B1
A redaction process obtains redaction data indicating content to be redacted in a document. In addition, the redaction process obtains non-redaction data indicating content not to be redacted in the document. Furthermore, the redaction process obtains proximity data indicating proximate expressions to be matched against the document. In this manner, the redaction process processes the redaction data, non-redaction data and proximity data against the document to produce a redact list and a potential list. Upon receiving user selections from both the redact and the potential lists, the redaction process applies a redaction function to the document to produce a redacted version of the document.
US08645791B2
An method of operating a data cache controller is provided. The method includes transmitting first data output from a data cache to a central processing unit (CPU) core with a first latency and transmitting second data to the CPU core with a second latency greater than the first latency. The first latency is a delay between a read request to the data cache and transmission of the first data according to execution of a first instruction fetched from an instruction cache, and the second latency is a delay between a read request to the data cache and transmission of the second data according to execution of a second instruction fetched from the instruction cache.
US08645786B2
A decoding method for decoding information content in at least one data packet, which is transmitted from a sender to a receiver via a data link. The information is represented by a bit sequence, which is transformed into a transmittable redundancy version. The information is initially transmitted for a first time in a first data packet from the sender to the receiver. The information is represented by a first redundancy version, which is self-decodable. An incorrect receipt is confirmed by sending a confirmation from the receiver to the sender. The information is retransmitted at least a second time in a second data packet from the sender to the receiver upon receipt of the confirmation, wherein, for representation of the information, a second redundancy version is used, the selection of which is performed in dependence on a coding parameter, describing whether the redundancy version is self-decodable or not.
US08645776B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for performing run-time tests on a non-volatile memory (“NVM”), such as flash memory. The run-time tests may be tests that are performed on the NVM while the NVM can be operated by an end user (as opposed to during a manufacturing phase). In some embodiments, a controller for the NVM may detect an error event that may be indicative of a systemic failure of a die of the NVM. The controller may then select one or more blocks in the die to test, which may be dies that are currently not being used to store user data. The controller may post process the results of the test to determine whether there is a systemic failure, such as a column failure, and may treat the systemic failure if there is one.
