US08686285B2
The present invention refers to using the principal of a room temperature molten ionic liquid, to an electrolyte, to devices comprising the ionic liquid co-melting, and to the preparation of a room temperature ionic liquid via various physical and chemical methods. The room temperature molten ionic liquid comprises at least two component salts, at least one of which is not molten at room temperature, but, if combined with another salt, is in the molten state at room temperature.
US08686279B2
A concentrating solar energy collector comprises a linearly extending receiver comprising solar cells, a plurality of linearly extending reflective elements arranged in side-by-side rows, oriented parallel to a long axis of the receiver, and fixed in position with respect to each other and with respect to the receiver to form a linearly extending reflector, and a linearly extending support structure supporting the receiver and the reflector and pivotally mounted to accommodate rotation of the support structure, the reflector, and the receiver about a rotation axis parallel to the long axis of the receiver.
US08686272B2
An artificial intelligence song/music recommendation system and method is provided that allows music shoppers to discover new music. The system and method accomplish these tasks by analyzing a database of music in order to identify key similarities between different pieces of music, and then recommends pieces of music to a user depending upon their music preferences. Once the song files have been analyzed and mapped, this system uses four layers, metaphorically equivalent to the human immune system, to provide music recommendation.
US08686269B2
A simulated musical instrument may be used to alter the audio of a video game, the video aspects of video game, or both. Use of a controller simulating a musical instrument allows a rhythm-action game can be enjoyed in a manner closer to a realistic state of playing an instrument.
US08686265B2
Described is a drum foot pedal with a tension adjuster for adjusting the tension of the spring and corresponding return action of a beater. The device includes a foot pedal and a beater bracket operably connected with the foot pedal such that the beater bracket is actuated in response to force applied to the foot pedal. A rocker component is attached with the beater bracket such that rotational motion of the beater bracket causes a rotational motion of the rocker component. A swivel component is connected with the rocker component. Further, a spring is attached with the swivel component for biasing the beater bracket to force a return action of a beater when force is removed from the foot pedal. Finally, a spring tension adjuster connected with and between the swivel component and spring, the spring tension adjuster operable for allowing a user to selectively adjust tension of the spring.
US08686261B1
A novel maize variety designated PH1MC9 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH1MC9 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH1MC9 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH1MC9 or a locus conversion of PH1MC9 with another maize variety.
US08686254B1
A novel maize variety designated PH1M3S and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH1M3S with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH1M3S through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH1M3S or a locus conversion of PH1M3S with another maize variety.
US08686253B1
A novel maize variety designated X08C909 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X08C909 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X08C909 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X08C909, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X08C909. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X08C909.
US08686251B1
A novel maize variety designated PH1K8C and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH1K8C with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH1K8C through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH1K8C or a locus conversion of PH1K8C with another maize variety.
US08686239B2
A novel soybean variety, designated XR29A12 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XR29A12, cells from soybean variety XR29A12, plants of soybean XR29A12, and plant parts of soybean variety XR29A12. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XR29A12 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic trait, a mutant trait, and/or a native trait into soybean variety XR29A12, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XR29A12, and methods of characterizing soybean variety XR29A12. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XR29A12 are further provided.
US08686234B1
A novel soybean variety, designated XB45J12 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XB45J12, cells from soybean variety XB45J12, plants of soybean XB45J12, and plant parts of soybean variety XB45J12. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XB45J12 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic trait, a mutant trait, and/or a native trait into soybean variety XB45J12, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XB45J12, and methods of characterizing soybean variety XB45J12. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XB45J12 are further provided.
US08686224B2
A 23 amino acid peptide, AtPep1, plays an important role as a signaling component of the innate immune system of Arabidopsis. The peptide precursor gene is transcribed in response to elicitors generated by pathogens, and AtPep1 is produced to amplify the signaling pathways. Seven paralogs of the AtproPep1 gene have been identified in the Arabidopsis genome, and orthologs have been identified in species of several agriculturally important families. AtPep1 and its paralogs and orthologs play important roles as endogenous signals to amplify innate immunity. The sequences of two AtPep1 receptors from Arabidopsis are also provided.
US08686219B2
The present invention is in the field of plant breeding and disease resistance. More specifically, the invention includes methods for assaying a location to determine the amount of pest infestation, or assaying a plant for its ability to resist infection, and using this information to make agronomic treatment and/or breeding decisions. The invention also provides methods for breeding cotton plants containing one or more quantitative trait loci that are associated with resistance to reniform nematode infection. The invention further includes germplasm and the use of germplasm containing quantitative trait loci (QTL) conferring reniform resistance as a source of reniform resistant alleles for introgression into elite germplasm in a breeding program, thus producing novel elite germplasm comprising one or more reniform resistance loci.
US08686216B2
The present invention relates to a water-absorbing particulate composition comprising water-absorbing polymer particulate structure comprising partly neutralized, crosslinked polyacrylate, a surface crosslinking agent and a compound of the structure I in which R1, R2, R3 and R4 can be identical or different and in each case represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a C1- to C4-hydrocarbon group or a hydroxyl group, R5 represents a hydrogen atom, a C1- to C4-hydrocarbon group or an acetyl group, n represents an integer chosen from the group consisting of 1, 2 or 3 and Mn+ represents an n-valent metal cation or an H+ cation. In addition, the present invention also relates to a process for the preparation of a water-absorbing composition, the water-absorbing composition obtainable by this process, a composite, a process for the production of a composite, the composite obtainable by this process, and products, such as hygiene articles.
US08686215B2
An absorbent article comprising an odor control material comprising at least one inclusion complex of cyclodextrin with an organic compound which is dispersed in a matrix comprising a polysiloxane oil.
US08686214B2
An improved post-operative dressing for providing both breast and, notably, nipple reconstruction and which in particular establishes custom lateral supporting of the nipple annulus. A body is constructed of a medical grade silicone and exhibits a three dimensional shape adapted for placement over the reconstructed breast and an aperture defined by an inner rim configured within the body is adapted to seat therethrough an associated nipple graft in a laterally supporting and non-pressure applied fashion. A number of secondary advantages incorporated into the body include each of apertures for breathability, suction/adherence properties, and impregnation or entrainment within the body inner surface of any form of anti-infection medicine.
US08686204B2
Methods for co-processing a biorenewable feedstock and a petroleum distillate feedstock are provided. The petroleum distillate feedstock containing sulfur is reacted with hydrogen gas in the presence of a hydrotreating catalyst thereby forming an effluent mixture comprising hydrogen sulfide. A combined feed comprising the effluent mixture, optionally a recycle liquid, and the biorenewable feedstock is contacted with hydrogen gas in a reaction zone with a deoxygenation catalyst under reaction conditions to provide a reaction product comprising a hydrocarbon fraction. The combined feed comprises greater than 50 weight percent biorenewable feedstock.
US08686203B2
A process for preparing fuels, such as diesel fuels or jet fuels, by hydrotreating vegetable oils or fatty acid derivatives that may be applied to existing equipment for treating fossil fuels. The process comprises feeding hydrotreating a combined oxygenate feed stream, such as FAME, and a hydrocarbon feed stream until not more than 86 wt % of the esters in the oxygenate feed stream are converted to hydrocarbons, and optionally further hydrotreating the product stream within at least a second hydrotreatment reaction zone until at least 90 wt % of the esters in the oxygenate feed stream are converted to hydrocarbons, before removing and separating a hydrocarbon stream suitable for use as fuel.
US08686196B2
A liquid crystal medium, which has a liquid crystal phase over a wide temperature range, a large refractive index anisotropy, and a large dielectric anisotropy, and exhibits an optically isotropic liquid crystal phase, is provided. The liquid crystal medium is characterized by containing a liquid crystal compound having four benzene rings and a difluoromethyleneoxy group, and a chiral reagent, and exhibiting an optically isotropic liquid crystal phase.
US08686193B2
The invention relates to a process for the preparation of m-substituted phenylalkanols of the formula (I) in which R1 is C1-C5-alkyl and R2, R3, R4 and R5, independently of one another, are hydrogen or methyl, wherein a p-substituted phenylalkanol of the formula (II) in which R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 having the meanings given under formula (I), is isomerized in the presence of a Friedel-Crafts catalyst to give an m-substituted phenylalkanol of the formula (I). From the m-substituted phenylalkanols of the formula (I) it is possible to form, by oxidation or dehydrogenation, as products of value, the corresponding aldehydes, which are known as fragrances and aroma chemicals.
US08686183B2
The invention provides a method for the hydroxycarbonylation, alkoxycarbonylation, aryloxycarbonylation or thiocarbonylation of an unsaturated molecule. The method includes a hydroxycarbonylation, alkoxycarbonylation, aryloxycarbonylationor thiocarbonylation reaction on the unsaturated molecule in which a complex including a ligand comprising a [n,n′] cyclophane comprising two non-fused monocyclic aromatic rings bridged by two linear and aliphatic linkages, in which each of the non-fused monocyclic aromatic rings is substituted with a phosphorus atom-containing substituent, is used to catalyse the reaction.
US08686182B2
The invention relates to a process for preparing isocyanates and/or polyisocyanates by reacting the corresponding amines with phosgene, optionally in the presence of an inert medium, in a reactor (1), a first reactant stream comprising the amine being supplied to the reactor (1) in liquid form, and a second reactant stream comprising the phosgene being supplied to the reactor in gaseous form. The reactor is a centrifugal reactor (1) having a packing (9) which rotates about a central axis (7) in a housing (13), the first reactant stream and the second reactant stream being supplied to the rotating packing (9) such that the reactant streams are mixed due to the centrifugal force in the rotating packing (9) and are transported outward, the mixing in the rotating packing (9) resulting in reaction of the phosgene with the amine to give the corresponding isocyanate or polyisocyanate.
US08686181B2
The present invention relates to a process for preparing ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, which comprises transesterification of ethylene glycol with an ester of methacrylic acid in the presence of catalysts, wherein a combination comprising lithium amide (LiNH2) and lithium chloride (LiCl) is used as catalyst. The process of the invention makes it possible to prepare ethylene glycol dimethacrylate particularly inexpensively and in a very high purity.
US08686176B2
The present invention discloses a method for synthesizing a reversibly protected organometallic compound which comprises (1) reacting an organometallic compound with a hydroxyl group containing compound to produce a solution containing the reversibly protected organometallic compound and hydrogen chloride; (2) reacting the solution containing the reversibly protected organometallic compound and the hydrogen chloride with a trialkyl amine to precipitate the hydrogen chloride from the solution; and (3) recovering the reversibly protected organometallic compound from the solution of the reversibly protected organometallic compound.
US08686173B2
A process for preparing 1,3,5-triethyl-2,4,6-trihydrido-2,4,6-triethylamino-1,3,5-triaza-2,4,6-trisilacyclohexane, wherein trichlorosilane is reacted with ethylamine in a solvent.
US08686164B2
4′-epidaunorubicin hydrochloride is provided in a crystalline form which is stable and readily soluble. A process of producing the crystalline form includes crystallizing 4′-epidaunorubicin hydrochloride in a solvent system including (a) solvent A selected from C1 and C2 halogenated solvents and mixtures thereof, (b) solvent B selected from C1-C5 straight and branched alcohols and mixtures thereof, and (c) solvent C selected from C1-C5 straight and branched alcohols and mixtures thereof, wherein solvent C is selected to provide lower solubility to 4′-epidaunorubicin hydrochloride than solvent B.
US08686163B2
A process for forming amorphous atorvastatin comprising the steps of dissolving atorvastatin in a non-hydroxylic solvent and removing the solvent by freeze-drying, as well as processes of dissolving atorvastatin in a hydroxylic solvent with a solubilizing agent or an alkalizing agent or an antioxidant and removing the solvent by freeze-drying to afford amorphous atorvastatin.
US08686159B2
An oxadiazole derivative represented by the following general formula (G1) is synthesized and applied to the light emitting element, Am; wherein Am is a substituent represented by a general formula (Am1), (Am2), or (Am3); each of α, β1, and β2 represents an arylene group having 6 to 25 carbon atoms; each of Ar1 to Ar6 represents an aryl group having 6 to 25 carbon atoms; each of R1 to R3 represents hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or an aryl group having 6 to 25 carbon atoms; and R4 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or an aryl group having 6 to 25 carbon atoms.
US08686157B2
The present invention relates to processes for the facile synthesis of diaryl amines and analogues thereof. The processes of the present invention produce diaryl amines in high yield and purity. The present invention also relates to intermediates useful in the process of the present invention.
US08686151B2
Disclosed are a novel montelukast 4-halobenzylamine salt, and a method for preparing a montelukast sodium salt by using the same. In the disclosed method, a montelukast 4-halobenzylamine salt represented by Formula 2 or a montelukast sodium salt represented by Formula 1 is prepared by obtaining a compound represented by Formula 3 from a compound represented by Formula 5, in the same reactor, without an additional obtaining process. In Formula 2, X represents F, Cl, Br or I.
US08686149B2
The present invention relates to compounds defined by formula I wherein the variables R1, R2, R3, R4, and m are defined as in claim 1, possessing valuable pharmacological activity. Particularly, the compounds are inhibitors of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD) 1 and thus are suitable for treatment and prevention of diseases which can be influenced by inhibition of this enzyme, such as metabolic diseases, in particular diabetes type 2, obesity, and dyslipidemia.
US08686139B2
The present invention relates to organic electronic devices that include an organic semiconducting material. The organic electronic devices may include organic light-emitting diodes, field-effect transistors, sensors, photodetectors, organic solar cells, organic thin-film transistors, organic integrated circuits, organic field-quench devices, organic light-emitting transistors, light-emitting electrochemical cells, or organic laser diodes.
US08686134B2
The invention relates to an ionic liquid composition and a method for preparing the ionic liquid. The ionic liquid comprises a cation containing the Formula I, as herein disclosed, and wherein: n is 2, R1 is selected from the group consisting of: H, C1-C12 alkyl, aryl or together with R2 may form a heterocyclic ring, and R2 is selected from the group consisting of: H, C1-C12 alkyl, aryl or together with R1 may form a heterocyclic ring, and R3 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C1-C12 alkyl, and wherein R1 and R2 are not simultaneously selected from hydrogen.
US08686132B2
The present invention relates to a process for preparing a chemically modified polysaccharide, preferably starch, by using a microdevice. It further relates to the use of a microdevice for the chemical reactions of polysaccharides in heterogeneous mixtures. Examples of chemical modifications are acetylation, oxidation, hydroxypropylation and the like.
US08686128B2
The present invention provides a method of preventing or reducing restenosis, neointima formation, graft failure, atherosclerosis, angiogenesis and/or solid tumor growth in a subject. The method comprises administering to the subject a prophylactically effective dose of a nucleic acid which decreases the level of c-Jun mRNA, c-Jun mRNA translation or nuclear accumulation or activity of c-Jun. It is preferred that the nucleic acid is a DNAzyme that targets c-Jun mRNA.
US08686124B2
Compositions and methods for conferring pesticidal activity, including against lepidopteran pests, to bacteria, plants, plant cells, tissues and seeds are provided. Compositions comprising a coding sequence for a toxin polypeptide are provided. The coding sequences can be used in DNA constructs or expression cassettes for transformation and expression in plants and bacteria. Compositions also comprise transformed bacteria, plants, plant cells, tissues, and seeds. In particular, isolated toxin nucleic acid molecules are provided. Additionally, amino acid sequences corresponding to the polynucleotides are encompassed, and antibodies specifically binding to those amino acid sequences. In particular, the present invention provides for isolated nucleic acid molecules comprising nucleotide sequences encoding the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:27 and 28, or the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:3, 8, 13, and 18, as well as variants and fragments thereof.
US08686122B2
A method is disclosed for making a conjugate of two molecules using a hydrazide thiol linker. In a particular working embodiment, an Fc-specific antibody-enzyme conjugate is made using the method and demonstrated to provide exceptional staining sensitivity and specificity in immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization assays.
US08686117B2
A platelet aggregation inducing substance containing as an active ingredient a polypeptide having a peptide fragment represented by formula (1) (component A): -(Pro-X-Gly)n- (1) wherein X represents Pro or Hyp; and n represents an integer of from 20 to 5,000.
US08686112B2
A molecular probe for use in detection of cancer cells expressing an Ig superfamily cell adhesion molecule that binds in a homophilic fashion in a subject includes a targeting agent that specifically binds to and/or complexes with a proteolytically cleaved extracellular fragment of the Ig superfamily cell adhesion molecule.
US08686110B2
The present invention relates generally to therapeutic molecules which are useful for modulating apoptosis in a target cell or cell population. More particularly, the present invention provides therapeutic agents which inhibit pro-survival molecules and which are capable of inducing or facilitating apoptosis of a target cell or cell population such as cancer cells. The present invention further provides methods for generating or selecting the therapeutic molecules and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the therapeutic molecules.
US08686104B2
A polymer of formula (I): where: n is an integer from 10 to 5,000; m is an integer from 10 to 5,000; Ar1 and Ar3 are the same or different and are residues derived from a tetra-hydroxy aromatic monomer, the tetra-hydroxy aromatic monomer being wherein R is the same or different and is H or a C1-C8 alkyl, C2-C8 alkenyl or C3-C8 cycloalkyl group; and, Ar2 and Ar4 are the same or different and are residues derived from a tetra-halogenated aromatic monomer, the tetra-halogenated aromatic monomer being wherein X is F, Cl or Br, and R1 and R2 are the same or different and are wherein y is an integer from 1 to 8; with the proviso that when Ar1 is the same as Ar3 and Ar2 is the same as Ar4, R1 and R2 are not both —CN is useful as a material for gas separation, vapor separation, adsorbents or catalysis.
US08686099B2
There is provided a mono-(meth)acrylate functionalized hydrophilic silicone monomers containing a polyether with branched linking group, useful in making water absorbing silicone-hydrogel films for contact lens applications. This invention also provides homo-polymers and copolymers made from the mono-(meth)acrylate functionalized hydrophilic silicone monomers described herein. Also provided is a process for producing the monomers and polymers described herein and contact lenses produced from the same.
US08686098B2
A fluorine-containing polymer of the present invention contains a repeating unit (a) of the general formula (2) and has a mass-average molecular weight of 1,000 to 1,000,000. This polymer is suitably used in a resist composition for pattern formation by high energy ray radiation of 300 nm or less wavelength or electron beam radiation or a top coat composition for liquid immersion lithography and is characterized as having high water repellency, notably high receding contact angle. In the formula, R1 represents a polymerizable double bond-containing group; R2 represents a fluorine atom or a fluorine-containing alkyl group; R8 represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group or the like; and W1 represents a single bond, a substituted or unsubstituted methylene group or the like.
US08686095B2
An epoxy resin with amine functionality is manufactured continuously through a first reaction zone in which an epoxide-functional resin is made by ring-opening addition, a second reaction zone in which the resin is reacted with amine to make an epoxide-functional product, and a third reaction zone in which the epoxide functional product is reacted with amine to make the epoxy resin with amine functionality. In other embodiments, some amine may be added in the first reaction zone to produce an epoxide functional product, with elimination of the second reaction zone, or all of the amine reactant may be added in the first reaction zone to produce an amine functional product, with elimination of both the second and third reaction zones. Optionally, solvent may be removed in an evaporation zone and recycled into the continuous process and further zones may be included to incorporate crosslinker, additives, and to emulsify the resin.
US08686093B2
Heterophasic polypropylene resin having a MFR (2.16 kg, 230° C.) of at least 1.0 g/10 min, determined according to ISO 1133, comprising a propylene random copolymer matrix phase (A), and an ethylene-propylene copolymer rubber phase (B) dispersed within the matrix phase, wherein the heterophasic polypropylene resin has a fraction soluble in p-xylene at 25° C. (XCS fraction) being present in the resin in an amount of 15 to 45 wt % whereby the XCS fraction has an ethylene content of 25 wt % or lower, and a fraction insoluble in p-xylene at 25° C. (XCU fraction), said heterophasic polypropylene resin being characterized by a strain hardening factor (SHF) of 1.7 to 4.0 when measured at a strain rate of 3.0 s−1 and a Hencky strain of 3.0.
US08686089B2
The present disclosure provides an aqueous dispersion comprising a solid particle and a polymeric dispersant, wherein the polymeric dispersant is a block copolymer comprising an A block and a B block, wherein the A block is a segment having a block size of about 5 to about 18 units, and comprises at least 50% by weight of a monomer having the following structure: CH2═CRC(O)O(CHR1CH2O)nR2; wherein R and R1 are H, or methyl; R2 is alkyl of 1-4 carbon atoms or phenyl; and n is about 1 about 20; and the B block is a segment comprising an ionic monomer and at least one hydrophobic monomer; and wherein the dispersant comprises a crosslinkable moiety; wherein the crosslinkable moiety is crosslinked with a crosslinking agent selected from the group consisting of epoxide, carbodiimide, oxazoline, isocyanate, and silane; and wherein the aqueous dispersion has a pH of at least about 8.0. These dispersions when used in aqueous ink jet inks provide images with the requisite optical density and chroma needed for emerging ink jet applications.
US08686086B2
A process for the preparation of a rubber composition for the manufacture of tires is presented. The composition is based on one or more diene elastomers, one or more reinforcing fillers, and a crosslinking system. The composition includes particles of one or more thermoplastic materials chosen from amorphous thermoplastic materials and semicrystalline thermoplastic materials, with the glass transition temperature of the amorphous thermoplastic material or materials and the melting point of the semicrystalline thermoplastic material or materials varying from 80° C. to 300° C. The particles exhibit a volume-average diameter of less than or equal to 200 μm.
US08686081B2
An aqueous coating composition containing a polymer which contains calcium or magnesium and polymerized residues of three monomers. The first monomer is a complexing monomer having a log stability constant for calcium or magnesium from 0.3 to 4. The second monomer is methacrylic acid. The third monomer is a crosslinker.
US08686080B2
The present invention relates to a biodegradable polyester film comprising: i) from 75 to 100% by weight, based on the total weight of components i to ii, of a biodegradable polyester based on aliphatic and/or aromatic dicarboxylic acids and on an aliphatic dihydroxy compound; ii) from 0 to 25% by weight, based on the total weight of components i to ii, of polylactic acid; iii) from 10 to 25% by weight, based on the total weight of components i to v, of calcium carbonate; iv) from 3 to 15% by weight, based on the total weight of components i to v, of talc; v) from 0 to 1% by weight, based on the total weight of components i to v, of a copolymer which contains epoxy groups and is based on styrene, acrylic ester, and/or methacrylic ester; vi) from 0 to 2% by weight, based on the total weight of components i to v, of 2-(4,6-bisbiphenyl-4-yl-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)-5-(2-ethyl-(n)-hexyloxy)phenol.
US08686077B2
This invention relates to a composition and method of modifying the surface of a polymeric to produce a film or article with a reduced coefficient of friction (COF) and improved release properties. The reduced coefficient of friction improves both the slip and anti-blocking properties of the material as well aiding in processing of the polymeric material. Additionally, the invention improves demolding and release of the polymeric material from other polymeric surfaces or adhesives as well as metal molding surfaces.
US08686064B2
The invention provides a method for the preparation of bone-polymer composites wherein the mineral portion of the bone is treated with a coupling agent before being incorporated into a biocompatible polymeric matrix. The resulting composites may be used as such or be further processed to form an osteoimplant.
US08686054B2
A new class of membranes for use in protective clothing. More specifically, the present invention relates to a polymer-polymer membrane with an ionic polymer located within the nanopores of a porous polymer host membrane. A method for making the polymer-polymer membranes involves filling porous polymers with ionic polymers. The porous polymers may be fabricated by a template synthesis which involves sorption. The ionic polymers may be filled in the nanopores of the porous polymer by plasma-induced graft copolymerization of the ionic polymer with the porous polymeric host membrane.
US08686043B2
The invention is directed to a class of compounds, including the pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds, having the structure of formula I: as defined in the specification. The invention is also directed to compositions containing and uses of the compounds of formula I.
US08686042B2
The invention relates to urea derivatives of formula (I) as inhibitors of glycogen synthase kinase 3β, GSK-3, to processes of preparation of such compounds, to pharmaceutical compositions comprising them, and to their use for the treatment and or prophylaxis of a disease in which GSK-3 is involved, such as Alzheimer's disease or non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus.
US08686034B2
A crystalline form of a γ-aminobutyric acid analog, and methods of preparing same, are provided.
US08686029B2
Antioxidant compositions for the stabilization of fat sources against oxidation, stabilized fat source compositions, and methods of stabilizing fat sources against oxidation are described. In particular, an antioxidant emulsion that includes quercetin in addition to at least one other ingredient and a lipid carrier is described.
US08686022B2
The present invention provides compounds according to general formula (I) which are proposed for the treatment of respiratory complaints, particularly asthma and COPD.
US08686020B2
The present invention relates to a novel class of substituted spirocyclic compounds. These compounds can inhibit histone deacetylase and are suitable for use in selectively inducing terminal differentiation, and arresting cell growth and/or apoptosis of neoplastic cells, thereby inhibiting proliferation of such cells. Thus, the compounds of the present invention are useful in treating a patient having a tumor characterized by proliferation of neoplastic cells. The compounds of the invention may also be useful in the prevention and treatment of TRX-mediated diseases, such as autoimmune, allergic and inflammatory diseases, and in the prevention and/or treatment of diseases of the central nervous system (CNS), such as neurodegenerative diseases. The present invention further provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds of the instant invention and safe dosing regimens of these pharmaceutical compositions, which are easy to follow, and which result in a therapeutically effective amount of these compounds in vivo.
US08686017B2
Methods and therapeutic strategies utilizing proteinacious channels in lipid membranes of mammalian cells. The methods entail administering a pharmaceutical to a lipid membrane of a mammalian cell, and then determining the effect of the pharmaceutical on the electrophysiology of at least one proteinacious channel of the lipid membrane, wherein the proteinacious channel is a Kv7 potassium channel and/or a L-type calcium channel of an airway smooth muscle cell (ASMC). The method can be used to identify pharmaceuticals that may be used to treat asthmatic and other bronchospastic conditions that can lead to airway obstruction, or to perform drug screening to assess potential risk of pharmaceuticals.
US08686009B2
The invention provides a method of sustained delivery of a lactam, imide, amide, sulfonamide, carbamate or urea containing parent drug by administering to a patient an effective amount of a prodrug compound of the invention wherein upon administration to the patient, release of the parent drug from the prodrug is sustained release. Prodrug compounds suitable for use in the methods of the invention are labile conjugates of parent drugs that are derivatized through carbonyl linked prodrug moieties. The prodrug compounds of the invention can be used to treat any condition for which the lactam, imide, amide, sulfonamide, carbamate or urea containing parent drug is useful as a treatment.
US08686006B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a pharmaceutical composition that improves intestinal absorption of a compound having a structure represented by the general formula [1]. The composition containing a compound represented by the general formula [1] or a salt thereof and (b) a lipophilic substance improves intestinal absorption of the compound. In the formula, A represents —(NR4)—, —(CR5R6)— or the like; B represents an alkylene group or an alkenylene group; R1 represents an alkyl group, an alkenyl group or the like; R2 represents an adamantylalkyl group or the like; R3 represents an unsaturated heterocyclic ring; R4, R5 and R6 each represent a hydrogen atom or the like; and X represents an oxygen atom or the like.
US08686001B2
The invention relates to an ophthalmic medicament for treating glaucoma which comprises a clathrate compound prepared by dissolving cilostazol or a salt thereof in a cyclodextrin.
US08685994B2
Disclosed is a pharmaceutical composition, comprising two analgesic compounds and/or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof consisting of celecoxib and/or at least one pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and oxycodone and/or at least one pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, said two analgesic compounds in an amount sufficient to provide an analgesic effect in a human patient. Also disclosed is a method of effectively treating pain in humans or other mammals, comprising orally administering to the patient an oral dosage form comprising two analgesic compounds consisting of celecoxib and/or at least one pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and oxycodone and/or at least one pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, said two analgesic compounds in an amount sufficient to provide an analgesic effect in a human patient.
US08685991B2
This invention relates to: (a) compounds and salts thereof that, inter alia, inhibit HCV; (b) intermediates useful for the preparation of such compounds and salts; (c) compositions comprising such compounds and salts; (d) methods for preparing such intermediates, compounds, salts, and compositions; (e) methods of use of such compounds, salts, and compositions; and (f) kits comprising such compounds, salts, and compositions.
US08685978B2
Novel 3′-deoxy-3′-acylaminospectinomycin compounds are described. Also described are methods of using the 3′-deoxy-3-acylaminospectinomycin compounds and other spectinomycin analogs in treating tuberculosis and in treating microbial infections.
US08685975B2
Compounds that inhibit PDE10 are disclosed that have utility in the treatment of a variety of conditions, including (but not limited to) psychotic, anxiety, movement disorders and/or neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, Alzheimer's disease, encephalitis, phobias, epilepsy, aphasia, Bell's palsy, cerebral palsy, sleep disorders, pain, Tourette's syndrome, schizophrenia, delusional disorders, drug-induced psychosis and panic and obsessive-compulsive disorders. Pharmaceutically acceptable salts, stereoisomers, solvates and prodrugs of the compounds are also provided. Also disclosed are compositions containing a compound in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, as well as methods relating to the use thereof for inhibiting PDE10 in a warm-blooded animal in need of the same.
US08685973B2
The present invention provides a class of pyrimidinedione cyclohexyl compounds and methods of using these compounds as glucocorticoid receptor modulators.
US08685969B2
Compounds having formula (I), and enantiomers, and diastereomers, stereoisomers, pharmaceutically-acceptable salts thereof, formula (I) are useful as kinase modulators, including Btk modulation.
US08685951B2
The present invention provides compositions and methods for cytoprotection. In particular, it provides zinc chelate compositions comprising at least one zinc ion and at least one aminothiol ligand.
US08685946B2
The present invention relates to the discovery of a method for inhibiting RNA silencing in a target sequence-specific manner. RNA silencing requires a set of conserved cellular factors to suppress expression of gene-encoded polypeptide. The invention provides compositions for sequence-specific inactivation of the RISC component of the RNA silencing pathway, and methods of use thereof. The RISC inactivators of the present invention enable a variety of methods for identifying and characterizing miRNAs and siRNAs, RISC-associated factors, and agents capable of modulating RNA silencing. Therapeutic methods and compositions incorporating RISC inactivators and therapeutic agents identified through use of RISC inactivators are also featured.
US08685942B2
A composition of matter comprising sophorolipids as antimicrobial agents, antifungal agents, biopesticides, for uses as drugs to treat HIV, septic shock, cancer, asthma, dermatological conditions, as spermicidal agents, as anti-inflammatory drugs, as ingredients in cosmetics and building blocks for monomers and polymers and self-assembled templates for further chemical elaboration.
US08685940B2
Connexin modulation for the treatment of wounds that do not heal at expected rates, including delayed healing wounds, incompletely healing wounds, and chronic wounds, and associated methods, compositions and articles.
US08685938B2
The present invention provides methods for restoring or enhancing T cell mediated immune response in individuals of middle and advanced age.
US08685933B2
The invention relates to peptides and, in particular, heptapeptides derived from milk casein αs1 and having anxiolytic activity. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical and food compositions containing said peptides and to the preparation methods thereof.
US08685930B2
Methods of treating an eye of a human or animal include administering to an eye of a human or animal a composition in the form of an emulsion including water, a hydrophobic component and a cyclosporin component in a therapeutically effective amount of less than 0.1% by weight of the composition. The weight ratio of the cyclosporin component to the hydrophobic component is less than 0.8.
US08685928B2
The present invention is directed to improved compositions for cellular delivery of peptides. Using segments of only 3-5 positively-charged residues, one can effectively transfer peptides, including therapeutic peptides, into cells. Also provided are modified peptides such as those include stapled and cyclized peptide technology, as well as peptoids/peptidomimetics.
US08685924B2
An agent for the prophylaxis or treatment of stress urinary incontinence, which contains a substance that activates a serotonin 5-HT2C receptor, an agent for the prophylaxis or treatment of stress urinary incontinence, which contains a substance that stimulates an androgen binding site, and a method of screening for a drug for the prophylaxis or treatment of abdominal pressure incontinence, which includes electrostimulating the abdominal muscles or a nerve controlling them of an animal to increase the abdominal pressure, and measuring the leak point pressure at that time.
US08685921B2
Provided herein are compounds that inhibit a binding interaction between a β integrin and a G protein subunit, as well as compositions, e.g., pharmaceutical compositions, comprising the same, and related kits. In some embodiments, the compound is an antibody or antibody analog, and, in other embodiments, the compound is a peptide or peptide analog. Also provided are methods of using the compounds, including methods of treating or preventing a medical condition, such as stroke, heart attack, cancer, or inflammation.
US08685920B2
The present invention discloses a method for targeting maytansinoids to a selected cell population, the method comprising contacting a cell population or tissue suspected of containing the selected cell population with a cell-binding agent maytansinoid conjugate, wherein one or more maytansinoids is covalently linked to the cell-binding agent via a non-cleavable linker and the cell-binding agent binds to cells of the selected cell population.
US08685898B2
Methods are provided for producing monoclonal antibody candidates using adaptive immunity profiling. In some aspects, the method provides for the use of massively parallel signature sequencing.
US08685896B2
The present disclosure enables methods of identifying the VH and VL class pairs in the human immune repertoire, determining the VH and VL class pairs that are most prevalent and those having favorable biophysical properties. More specifically, the collections of the present disclosure comprise the most prevalent and/or preferred VH and VL class pairings with highly diversified CDRs.
US08685891B2
Methods and immunoassays for the determination of fatty acid synthase (FAS) expression in patients having or suspected of having a proliferative disorder, especially prostate cancer, are disclosed. The sensitive method and assay detect the level of expression of FAS in a biological sample using antibodies that are highly specific for FAS. The method and assay can be used to monitor the progression of cancer, and/or to predict the efficacy of certain treatments or the likelihood of recurrence of the cancer.
US08685886B2
The invention is directed to a seed coating composition, to a seed coating cocktail, to a method for preparing a coated seed, to a coated seed, and to the use of specific inorganic particles. The seed coating composition for a seed comprises water and at least 35 wt. % by weight of the coating composition of inorganic particles, wherein the mean particle size (D50) of said inorganic particles as measured by laser obscuration time technology is 250 μm or less.
US08685883B2
The present invention provides porous body precursors and shaped porous bodies. Also included are catalysts and other end-use products based upon the shaped porous bodies and thus the porous body precursors. Finally, processes for making these are provided. The porous body precursors comprise a precursor alumina blend capable of enhancing one or more properties of a shaped porous body based thereupon. The need to employ modifiers to achieve a similar result may thus be substantially reduced, or even avoided, and cost savings are thus provided, as well as savings in time and equipment costs.
US08685869B2
A knitted textile fabric for use in safety apparel, comprising a first yarn containing modacrylic fibers and a second yarn containing apparel, preferably cellulosic, fibers. The first and second yarns are interknitted with one another, e.g., in plated or bi-ply, relationship with the modacrylic yarn disposed predominantly at an outer face of the fabric for imparting flame resistant properties and an affinity for high visibility dyes and with the cellulosic yarn disposed predominantly at the opposite face of the fabric for imparting a hand suitable for comfortable body contact with a user's skin.
US08685865B2
A method of forming patterns of a semiconductor device may include forming a photoresist layer that includes a photo acid generator (PAG) and a photo base generator (PBG), generating an acid from the PAG in a first exposed portion of the photoresist layer by first-exposing the photoresist layer, and generating a base from the PBG in a second exposed portion of the photoresist layer by second-exposing a part of the first exposed portion and neutralizing the acid. The method may also include baking the photoresist layer after the first and second-exposing and deblocking the photoresist layer of the first exposed portion in which the acid is generated to form a deblocked photoresist layer, and forming a photoresist pattern by removing the deblocked photoresist layer by using a developer.
US08685856B2
A fabrication method of an anti-reflection structure includes the steps of: forming a resin film having micro-particles dispersed therein on a surface of a substrate; forming a protrusion dummy pattern on the resin film by etching the resin film using the micro-particles in the resin film as a mask while gradually etching the micro-particles; and forming a protrusion pattern on the surface of the substrate by etching back the surface of the substrate together with the resin film having the protrusion dummy pattern formed thereon, and transferring a surface shape of the protrusion dummy pattern formed on a surface of the resin film to the surface of the substrate.
US08685854B2
A process for burying a tungsten member into a blind hole formed in a wafer, in which blind hole a through via is to be made. Film-formation (for forming the tungsten member) is carried out to position, at the periphery of the wafer, the outer circumference of the tungsten member inside the outer circumference of a barrier metal beneath the tungsten film. This process makes it possible to bury the tungsten member, which may be relatively thin, into the blind hole, which may be relatively large, so as to decrease a warp of the wafer and further prevent an underlying layer beneath the tungsten member from being peeled at the periphery of the wafer.
US08685833B2
A method is provided for bonding a semiconductor chip to a packaging substrate while minimizing the variation in the solder ball heights and controlling the stress in the solder balls and the stress in the packaging substrate. During the solder reflow, the warp of the packaging substrate, including the absolute warp, thermal warp, and substrate to substrate variations of the warp, is constrained at a minimal level by providing a clamping constraint to the packaging substrate. During cool down of the solder balls, the stresses and strains of the solder joints are maintained at levels that do not cause tear of the solder joints or breakage of the packaging substrate by removing the clamping constraint. Thus, the bonding process provides both uniform solder height with minimized solder non-wets and stress minimization of the solder balls and the packaging substrate.
US08685828B2
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device and a semiconductor device are disclosed. The method comprises forming a trench in a substrate, partially filling the trench with a first semiconductive material, forming an interface along a surface of the first semiconductive material, and filling the trench with a second semiconductive material. The semiconductor device includes a first electrode arranged along sidewalls of a trench and a dielectric arranged over the first electrode. The semiconductor device further includes a second electrode at least partially filling the trench, wherein the second electrode comprises an interface within the second electrode.
US08685827B2
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, comprising forming a first gate stack portion on a substrate, the first gate stack portion including a first gate oxide layer and a first polysilicon layer on the first gate oxide layer, forming a second gate stack portion on the substrate, the second gate stack portion including a second gate oxide layer and a second polysilicon layer on the second gate oxide layer, forming a resistor portion on the substrate, the resistor portion including a third gate oxide layer and a third polysilicon layer on the third gate oxide layer, covering the resistor portion with a photoresist, removing respective first portions of the first and second polysilicon layers from the first and second gate stack portions, removing the photoresist from the resistor portion, and after removing the photoresist from the resistor portion, removing respective remaining portions of the first and second polysilicon layers from the first and second gate stack portions.
US08685809B2
Self-assembled polymer technology is used to form at least one ordered nanosized pattern within material that is present in a conductive contact region of a semiconductor structure. The material having the ordered, nanosized pattern is a conductive material of an interconnect structure or semiconductor source and drain diffusion regions of a field effect transistor. The presence of the ordered, nanosized pattern material within the contact region increases the overall area (i.e., interface area) for subsequent contact formation which, in turn, reduces the contact resistance of the structure. The reduction in contact resistance in turn improves the flow of current through the structure. In addition to the above, the inventive methods and structures do not affect the junction capacitance of the structure since the junction area remains unchanged.
US08685806B2
A method of forming a SOI substrate, diodes in the SOI substrate and electronic devices in the SOI substrate and an electronic device formed using the SOI substrate. The method of forming the SOI substrate includes forming an oxide layer on a silicon first substrate; ion-implanting hydrogen through the oxide layer into the first substrate, to form a fracture zone in the substrate; forming a doped dielectric bonding layer on a silicon second substrate; bonding a top surface of the bonding layer to a top surface of the oxide layer; thinning the first substrate by thermal cleaving of the first substrate along the fracture zone to form a silicon layer on the oxide layer to formed a bonded substrate; and heating the bonded substrate to drive dopant from the bonding layer into the second substrate to form a doped layer in the second substrate adjacent to the bonding layer.
US08685803B2
A semiconductor device includes: a thin film transistor having a gate line (3a), a first insulating film (5), an island-shaped oxide semiconductor layer (7a), a second insulating film (9), a source line (13as), a drain electrode (13ad), and a passivation film; and a terminal portion having a first connecting portion (3c) made of the same conductive film as the gate line, a second connecting portion (13c) made of the same conductive film as the source line and the drain electrode, and a third connecting portion (19c) formed on the second connecting portion. The second connecting portion is in contact with the first connecting portion within a first opening (11c) provided in the first and second insulating films; the third connecting portion (19c) is in contact with the second connecting portion within a second opening (17c) provided in the passivation film; and the second connecting portion (13c) covers end faces of the first and second insulating films within the first opening (11c), but does not cover an end face of the passivation film (15) within the second opening (17c). As a result, the taper shape of a contact hole of the terminal portion can be controlled with a high precision.
US08685802B2
Methods of forming a graphene-based device are provided. According to an embodiment, a graphene-based device can be formed by subjecting a substrate having a dielectric formed thereon to a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process using a cracked hydrocarbon or a physical vapor deposition (PVD) process using a graphite source; and performing an annealing process. The annealing process can be performed to temperatures of 1000 K or more. The cracked hydrocarbon of the CVD process can be cracked ethylene. In accordance with one embodiment, the application of the cracked ethylene to a MgO(111) surface followed by an annealing under ultra high vacuum conditions can result in a structure on the MgO(111) surface of an ordered graphene film with an oxidized carbon-containing interfacial layer therebetween. In another embodiment, the PVD process can be used to form single or multiple monolayers of graphene.
US08685798B2
Methods for forming through vias in an integrated circuit package are disclosed. A substrate having a first surface is covered with an encapsulation layer of uncured material; the method includes inserting an upper mold tool having a first plurality of pillars into the encapsulation layer to imprint through vias extending to the first surface of the substrate; curing the encapsulation layer and the through vias; removing the upper mold tool from the encapsulation layer; and disposing conductor material within the through vias to make electrical connectors within the through vias. In additional methods, a method for forming an encapsulation layer using an upper and lower mold tool to form through vias and a mold cavity is disclosed.
US08685788B2
The present invention belongs to the technical field of semiconductor devices and specifically relates to a method for manufacturing a nanowire tunneling field effect transistor (TFET). In the method, the ZnO nanowire required is developed in a water bath without the need for high temperatures and high pressure, featuring a simple solution preparation, convenient development and low cost, as well as constituting MOS devices of vertical structure with nanowire directly, thus omitting the nanowire treatment in the subsequent stage. The present invention has the advantages of simple structure, convenient manufacturing, and low cost, and control of the nanowire channel developed and the MOSFET array with vertical structure made of it though the gate, so as to facilitate the manufacturing of large-scale MOSFET array directly.
US08685759B2
The present disclosure describes a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus. The apparatus includes a processing chamber designed to perform a process to a wafer; an electrostatic chuck (E-chuck) configured in the processing chamber and designed to secure the wafer, wherein the E-chuck includes an electrode and a dielectric feature formed on the electrode; a tuning structure designed to hold the E-chuck to the processing chamber by clamping forces, wherein the tuning structure is operable to dynamically adjust the clamping forces; a sensor integrated with the E-chuck and sensitive to the clamping forces; and a process control module for controlling the tuning structure to adjust the clamping forces based on pre-measurement data from the wafer and sensor data from the sensor.
US08685756B2
A dual tunnel barrier magnetic element has a free magnetic layer positioned between first and second tunnel barriers and an electrode over the second tunnel barrier. A two step etch process allows for forming an encapsulation material on a side wall of the electrode and the second tunnel barrier subsequent to the first etch for preventing damage to the first tunnel barrier when performing the second etch to remove a portion of the free layer.
US08685754B2
Droplet actuator devices and methods for immunoassays and washing are provided. According to one embodiment, a method of providing a droplet in contact with a surface of a super paramagnetic bead with a reduced concentration of a substance is provided and includes: (a) providing a super paramagnetic bead in contact with a droplet comprising a starting concentration and starting quantity of the substance and having a starting volume; (b) conducting one or more droplet operations to merge a wash droplet with the droplet provided in step (a) to yield a combined droplet; and (c) conducting one or more droplet operations to divide the combined droplet to yield a set of droplets. The set of droplets includes: (i) a droplet in contact with the super paramagnetic bead having a decreased concentration of the substance relative to the starting concentration; and (ii) a droplet which is separated from the super paramagnetic bead.
US08685750B2
High throughput screening is performed by directing an array tape (60) provided with a plurality of wells arranged in rows and columns into a dispensing well plate device (25) having various row and column actuators (40, 50). With the wells containing samples to be tested, activating select ones of row and column actuators (40, 50) of the dispensing well plate device (25), as well causing relative shifting between the actuators (40, 50) and the array tape (60), enables fluid to be dispensed from one or more nozzles of the dispensing well plate device (25) into predetermined ones of the plurality of wells in a wide range of patterns.
US08685749B2
Methods and systems for processing samples fixed to a porous substrate generally comprising, a compressor defining one or more fluid isolation areas, a support, for the porous substrate, having an opening corresponding to one or more of the fluid isolation areas of the compressor, an actuator that causes at least a portion of the compressor to press against the porous substrate, a fluid inlet having access to the fluid isolation area at least when the compressor is pressed against the porous substrate, and a fluid outlet to receive fluid, through the opening in the support corresponding to the fluid isolation area of the compressor, at least when the compressor is pressed against the porous substrate.
US08685746B2
A system and method for preparing and analyzing samples. The system can include a sample preparation system and a sample detection system coupled to the sample preparation system. The sample preparation system can include a deformable self-supporting receptacle comprising a reservoir adapted to contain a liquid composition comprising a source and a diluent. The sample detection system can be positioned in fluid communication with the reservoir, and can be adapted to analyze a sample of the liquid composition for an analyte of interest. The system can further include a fluid path defined at least partially by the reservoir and the sample detection system. The method can include applying pressure to the deformable self-supporting receptacle to move a sample of the liquid composition in the fluid path to the sample detection system, and analyzing the sample for the analyte of interest with the sample detection system.
US08685745B2
A multilayered optical sensing patch, for the measurement of conditions, such as pH, oxygen level, etc, within containers, is provided. The multilayered optical sensing patch of the present invention is comprised of a heat sealable polymer substrate layer, and a polymeric sensing membrane later attached thereto. The polymer sensing membrane layer is formed of a porous polymer support membrane, and an optical sensing composition (comprising a reactive indicator) covalently bonded thereto. The heat sealable polymer substrate layer is capable of being securely bonded to the inner layer of bioreactor bags, as well as the porous polymer support substrate layer. Further, the porous polymer support membrane layer provides a firm supporting structure for the polymeric sensing layer, thereby protecting the optical sensing composition disposed therein from degradation/damage.
US08685737B2
Provided herein are methods of integrating one or more exogenous nucleic acids into one or more selected target sites of a host cell genome. In certain embodiments, the methods comprise contacting the host cell genome with one or more integration polynucleotides comprising an exogenous nucleic acid to be integrated into a genomic target site, and a nuclease capable of causing a double-strand break near or within the genomic target site.
US08685728B2
The present invention relates to a composition and methods of treatment for inflammation comprising of adult stem cells and inflammatory cytokines. The invention further relates to the treatment of inflammation associated with autoimmune disorders, allergies, sepsis, cancer as well as to preventing, reducing or treating transplant rejection and/or graft-versus-host disease (GvHD).
US08685724B2
A method is provided for use with extracted blood, including (a) applying blood to a first gradient suitable for selecting first-pass cells having a density less than 1.077 g/ml; (b) applying the first-pass cells to a second gradient suitable for selecting second-pass cells having a density between 1.055 and 1.074 g/ml; (c) increasing the number of cells having a density between 1.055 and 1.074 g/ml, by culturing the second-pass cells for a period lasting between 3 and 30 days; and (d) identifying endothelial progenitor cells in the cultured cells. Other embodiments are also described.
US08685718B2
Vaccines against prion disease eliciting a humoral immune response when administered mucosally are described. The vaccines comprise a prion protein, a prion protein fragment, or a non-amyloidogenic prion protein homolog and an adjuvant suitable for inducing a humoral immune response after mucosal administration. Suitable adjuvants include cholera toxin subunit B, heat-labile enterotoxin and aluminum hydroxide. Alternatively, the vaccine comprises a vector encoding a prion protein, fragment, or homolog in an attenuated Salmonella host. The vaccines can be used to prevent or treat prion disease in humans and other mammals.
US08685704B2
The invention relates to an isolated genetically modified microorganism in which the gene IDH1 and at least one of the genes SDH2 and DIC1 are under the control of a first promoter that is repressed to a growth culture medium by means of a cultivation additive and is active in the absence of the cultivation additive. The genes that are part of the group comprising “PYC1, ACS1, CIT1, ACO1, ICL1, MSL1, and CIT2, optionally also MDH3” are constitutively active. The invention further relates to uses of such a microorganism, especially for producing succinic acid.
US08685701B2
Provided are a recombinant Ralstonia eutropha capable of producing polylactate or a hydroxyalkanoate-lactate copolymer, and a method of preparing polylactate or a hydroxyalkanoate-lactate copolymer using the same. The recombinant Ralstonia eutropha, which is prepared by introducing a gene of an enzyme converting lactate into lactyl-CoA and a gene of a polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) synthase using lactyl-CoA as a substrate thereto, may be cultured, thereby efficiently preparing a lactate polymer and a lactate copolymer.
US08685699B2
An oil generation system is provided. The oil generation system includes a saccharide; and a working microorganism reacting with the saccharide to produce an oil, wherein the working microorganism has a genus being a Cystofilobasidium.
US08685691B2
Disclosed is an efficient method for production of aminopeptidase. The method comprises either transforming host bacteria with an aminopeptidase gene and with a neutral protease gene, or transforming some part of host bacteria with an aminopeptidase gene while transforming the other part of the host bacteria with a neutral protease gene, culturing in a medium the hose bacteria transformed with the aminopeptidase gene and with the neutral protease gene, or culturing a mixture of the host bacteria transformed with the aminopeptidase gene and the host bacteria transformed with the neutral protease gene, to let both the aminopeptidase and the neutral protease be expressed, and collecting the aminopeptidase thus produced from the culture mixture.
US08685686B2
In the present invention, integrated processes for producing a biofuel are disclosed. Specifically, processes integrating photobioreactors with anaerobic digestion are disclosed. Anaerobic digestion can convert biomass into a biofuel. However, anaerobic digestion also produces carbon dioxide (CO2). Because it is a greenhouse gas, the production of carbon dioxide is not desirable. Algae can be grown in a photobioreactor as long as light, carbon dioxide, and water are provided. In the present invention, the anaerobic digestion process is integrated with the photobioreactor process thereby providing a useful solution for the carbon dioxide that is generated and providing a source of carbon dioxide for the photobioreactor.
US08685685B2
This invention provides processes and apparatus to convert biomass, including wood and agricultural residues, into low-ash biomass pellets for combustion, alone or in combination with another solid fuel. Some embodiments provide processes for producing hemicellulosic sugars and low-ash biomass from cellulosic biomass, comprising providing an aqueous extraction solution with acetic acid; extracting the feedstock to produce an extract liquor containing soluble ash, hemicellulosic oligomers, acetic acid, dissolved lignin, and cellulose-rich solids; dewatering and drying the cellulose-rich, lignin-rich solids to produce a low-ash biomass; hydrolyzing the hemicellulosic oligomers to produce fermentable hemicellulosic sugars, wherein additional acetic acid is generated; removing a vapor stream comprising vaporized acetic acid from the extract; recycling the vapor or its condensate to provide some starting acetic acid for the extraction solution; and recovering fermentable hemicellulosic sugars. The disclosed processes can produce clean power from biomass. Co-products include fermentation products such as ethanol, fertilizers, and lignin.
US08685681B2
Acyltransferases are provided, suitable for use in the manufacture of microbial oils enriched in omega fatty acids in oleaginous yeast (e.g., Yarrowia lipolytica). Specifically, genes encoding diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT1) have been isolated from Y. lipolytica and Mortierella alpina. These genes encode enzymes that participate in the terminal step in oil biosynthesis in yeast. Each is expected to play a key role in altering the quantity of polyunsaturated fatty acids produced in oils of oleaginous yeasts.
US08685679B2
Methods to increase the percent of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) within the total lipids and oils of PUFA-producing oleaginous organisms are provided herein, by regulating the activity of specific acyltransferases. Specifically, since oil biosynthesis is expected to compete with polyunsaturation during oleaginy, it is possible to reduce or inactivate the activity of an organism's DAG ATs (e.g., phospholipid:diacylglycerol acyltransferase (PDAT) and/or diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1) and/or diacylglycerol acyltransferase 2 (DGAT2)) to thereby reduce the overall rate of oil biosynthesis while concomitantly increasing the percent of PUFAs that are incorporated into the lipid and oil fractions. The teachings herein will thereby enable one to engineer a wide variety of oleaginous organisms to produce oils with very specific fatty acid compositions.
US08685676B2
The present invention provides compositions and improved methods for multi-site directed mutagenesis and DNA shuffling. The present compositions and methods provide increased mutation frequency and increased number of transformants which allow one to sequence only a few clones in order to identify the correct mutants and to obtain the desired mutant by screening large number of transformants in a short time. Moreover, the inclusion of FEN-1, PEF and optimized buffer and cycling conditions provided in the present invention should also facilitate random mutagenized library construction and the mutagenesis of large or difficult templates.
US08685659B2
The present invention is based on the discovery that three proteins, Cystatin B, Chaperonin 10, and Profilin are present in the urine of patients with bladder cancer, a cancer of epithelial origin. Accordingly, the present invention is directed to methods for prognostic evaluation of cancers of epithelial origin and to methods for facilitating diagnosis of cancers of epithelial origin by monitoring the presence of these markers in biological samples. The invention is also directed to markers for therapeutic efficacy.
US08685658B2
Compositions and methods are provided for identifying agents which have efficacy for the treatment of disorders related to aberrant cilial structure and function, including polycystic kidney disease.
US08685645B2
According to one embodiment, a method of screening an enhancer and/or a promoter, includes culturing a host cell into which an amplifiable vector is introduced, extracting the vector from the host cell and obtaining the DNA fragment from the extracted vector, wherein the vector includes a DNA fragment to be determined, a gene that is functionally linked downstream of the DNA fragment and encodes a protein to initiate self-replication, and a gene that encodes a replication origin sequence.
US08685642B2
Methods and systems for allelic detection and allele-specific copy number are provided herein. The described methods use identification of single nucleotide polymorphism using restriction enzymes and CGH analysis. Microarrays comprising probes designed by the described methods are provided. Also included are methods for identifying SNP sites and copy number in samples obtained from patient populations.
US08685630B2
Methods of forming a pattern in a material and methods of forming openings in a material to be patterned are disclosed, such as a method that includes exposing first portions of a first material to radiation through at least two apertures of a mask arranged over the first material, shifting the mask so that the at least two apertures overlap a portion of the first portions of the first material, and exposing second portions of the first material to radiation through the at least two apertures. The first portions and the second portions will overlap in such a way that non-exposed portions of the first material are arranged between the first portions and second portions. The non-exposed or exposed portions of the first material may then be removed. The remaining first material may be used as a photoresist mask to form vias in an integrated circuit. The pattern of vias produced have the capability to exceed the current imaging resolution of a single exposure treatment.
US08685616B2
The present invention provides photoacid generators for use in chemically amplified resists and lithographic processes using the same.
US08685613B2
A method of producing an electrostatic latent image developing toner that includes the steps of producing a resin particle dispersion by polymerizing, in a water-based solvent, a polymerizable monomer that includes a polymerizable monomer having a vinyl-based double bond, and washing the resin particle dispersion through contact with an organic solvent, wherein the washed resin particle dispersion, a colorant particle dispersion produced by dispersing a colorant, and a release agent particle dispersion produced by dispersing a release agent are mixed together, and following formation of aggregate particles by aggregation of the resin particles, the colorant particles and the release agent particles, heating is conducted to fuse the aggregate particles and produce the electrostatic latent image developing toner.
US08685612B2
A continuous emulsion aggregation process for the production of particles is presented including a plurality of continuous stirred-tank reactors (CSTR). The plurality of continuous stirred-tank reactors includes a first reactor and a second reactor for facilitating an aggregation process; a third reactor for facilitating a shell addition process; a fourth reactor for facilitating a freeze process; a fifth reactor for facilitating a chelating process; a sixth reactor for facilitating a ramp-up process; and a seventh reactor for facilitating a coalescence process. The reactors are sequentially assembled in a series configuration, each of the reactors cooperating with an overhead stirrer. In other embodiments, a CSTR system of the present disclosure possesses five reactors sequentially assembled in a series configuration to form toner particles.
US08685610B2
A printing method comprising: forming a first image utilizing a liquid toner comprising carrier liquid and pigmented polymer particles having a first color; transferring the first image to an intermediate transfer member; forming at least one additional image utilizing a liquid toner comprising at least one carrier liquid and pigmented polymer particles having a second color, different from the first color; transferring the at least one additional image to the intermediate transfer member overlaid on the first image, to form a composite image on the intermediate transfer member; and further transferring the composite image to a further substrate, wherein said polymer particles in said first liquid toner and in at least one of said additional liquid toners have different compositions, aside from colorants, the differences in composition including at least one of different polymers or blends of polymers, different amounts or types of placticizers, different amounts of solvated liquid and different compositions of solvated liquid.
US08685608B2
A two-component developer includes: a toner; a carrier having a surface energy of from about 23 dyne/cm to about 37 dyne/cm; and an external additive having a shape factor SF1 of from about 130 to about 150 and a number-average particle diameter of from about 80 nm to about 1 μm; and an existence ratio A of the external additive on a surface of the toner and an existence ratio B of the external additive on a surface of the carrier satisfying the relationship of the following Expression 1: 0.04≦B/A≦0.4.
US08685598B2
Disclosed is a pellicle having a mask adhesive layer having appropriate softness, having a small adhesive residue after being peeled off from a mask, and having good handling characteristics; and a pellicle for preventing position deviation of patterns, in particular in double patterning. The pellicle of the present invention includes a pellicle frame, a pellicle membrane disposed on one end surface of the pellicle frame, and a mask adhesive layer disposed on other end surface of the pellicle frame; wherein the mask adhesive layer includes 35 to 170 weight parts of a hardness adjuster (B) containing a polypropylene (b1) and a propylene based elastomer (b2) per 100 weight parts of a styrene resin (A); and in an electron microscopic photograph of the mask adhesive layer, a phase-separated structure of a continuous phase of the styrene resin (A) and a discontinuous phase of the hardness adjuster (B) is observed.
US08685594B2
A cathode catalyst for a fuel cell includes a carrier, and an active material including M selected from the group consisting of Ru, Pt, Rh, and combinations thereof, and Ch selected from the group consisting of S, Se, Te, and combinations thereof, with the proviso that the active material is not RuSe when the carrier is C.
US08685589B2
A fuel cell and method for manufacturing the fuel cell are described herein. Basically, the fuel cell is formed from an electrode/electrolyte structure including an array of anode electrodes and cathode electrodes disposed on opposing sides of an electrolyte sheet, the anode and cathode electrodes being electrically connected in series, parallel, or a combination thereof by electrical conductors that traverse via holes in the electrolyte sheet. Several different embodiments of electrical conductors which have a specific composition and/or a specific geometry are described herein.
US08685585B2
In a planar-array cell structure, an area required by interconnectors is reduced and a fuel cell is made further compact. A connection part which connects adjacent cells in series is provided within a sealing member provided in a peripheral edge part of an electrolyte membrane where multiple cells are formed in a planar arrangement. For each cell, an anode terminal of a current collector is disposed counter to a cathode terminal of the current collector via the electrolyte membrane. The connection part penetrates the electrolyte membrane and connects the anode terminal of one of the adjacent cells to the cathode terminal of the other of the adjacent cells.
US08685574B2
A component for use in assembling a membrane electrode assembly comprises a microporous layer supported on a transfer substrate, wherein the microporous layer comprises carbon particles and a hydrophobic polymer, and a polymer layer is present on the microporous layer. A process for preparing a component for use in assembling a membrane electrode assembly includes forming the microporous layer on the transfer substrate and applying a polymer layer on the microporous layer. The microporous layer may also be deposited onto a gas diffusion substrate for use in the membrane electrode assembly.
US08685573B2
Provided is a lithium ion rechargeable battery less suffering from swelling even when stored at high temperatures. Disclosed are a cathode active material, a cathode for a lithium ion rechargeable battery using the cathode active material, and a lithium ion rechargeable battery using the cathode. The cathode active material includes particles, each of the particles including a cathode material capable of intercalating and deintercalating lithium ions, and a film formed on at least part of surfaces of the particles. The film includes a compound represented by Chemical Formula (1). Examples of the compound represented by Chemical Formula (1) include lithium squarate and dilithium squarate. Preferably, the lithium ion rechargeable battery is a prismatic battery.
US08685571B2
A separator of a molten salt battery made of a porous resin sheet. The separator is improved in wettability to a molten salt by giving hydrophilicity to the resin sheet. In the case of a fluororesin sheet, the sheet is impregnated with water, and irradiated with ultraviolet rays so that C—F bonds in the fluororesin are cleaved and the resultant reacts with water to generate hydrophilic groups, such as OH groups, in each surface layer thereof. The separator gains hydrophilicity through the hydrophilic groups. The separator made of the resin can be made into a bag form. In a molten salt battery having the bag-form separator, the growth of a dendrite is prevented.
US08685556B2
An electricity storage module according to the present invention includes: a battery case that includes a cooling medium intake port, a cooling medium outlet port, and a cooling flow passage through which a plurality of battery cells housed therein in a parallel array pattern are cooled; and a duct detachably mounted at the cooling medium intake port of the battery case.
US08685544B2
A coating and associated method for coating is disclosed. The coating provides a hard, transparent, UV blocking coating for a substrate. A UV blocking layer is first deposited upon the substrate, and a hard coating is deposited above the UV blocking layer. A soft coating layer may be deposited between the UV blocking layer and the hard coating. The soft and hard coating layers may both have the general composition SiOxCy. the soft and hard coating layers may be deposited by a plasma vapor deposition process.
US08685530B2
Provided is a surface-coated cutting tool combining superior heat resistance, superior wear resistance, and superior lubricity. A surface-coated cutting tool of the present invention includes a substrate and a coating formed on the substrate, and the coating is characterized in that the coating is formed by physical vapor deposition and includes one or more layers, that at least one of the one or more layers is a first coating layer, and that the first coating layer contains aluminum and nitrogen, has a thermal effusivity of 2,000 to 5,000 J·sec−1/2·m−2·K−1, has a thickness of 0.2 to 5 μm, and has a crystal structure including a hexagonal structure.
US08685519B2
Processes for the production of high strength polyethylene tape articles from high strength ultra-high molecular weight multi-filament yarns, and to the tape articles, fabrics, laminates and impact resistant materials made therefrom.
US08685516B2
A cut-to-fit universal vehicle floor mat has arrays of peripheral cells separated from each other and from a central area of the mat body by indented trim lines. The arrays of cells can include an array for a transmission tunnel bulge.
US08685508B2
A plastics pipe which comprises an inner core and an outer removable skin layer bonded thereto, the outer removable skin layer comprising a polymeric material, chosen for its physical and mechanical properties, and an adhesion-modifying additive, the adhesion-modifying additive being present in the skin layer in an amount such that the adhesion of the skin layer to the inner core is sufficient to prevent substantial undesired relative movement between the skin layer and the core during installation, but insufficient to prevent the outer skin layer from being cleanly removed by peeling, at least at the ends of the pipe, and insufficient to cause a substantial reduction in the impact strength of the inner core.
US08685499B2
Coating of flexible materials with liquid compositions is disclosed. The compositions advantageously comprise one or more polyorganosiloxanes crosslinkable by polyaddition, by dehydrocondensation, by polycondensation, cationically or free-radically to form a protective coating or film having, in particular, release and/or water-repellency properties.
US08685488B2
The present invention relates to a method for producing a micropattern on a substrate (22), in which a substrate (22) is provided with a relief pattern (26, 28) that exhibits elevations (26) and depressions (28), and in which the elevations (26) and/or depressions (26) are arranged in the form of the desired micropattern, and with a printing tool, an imprint material (30; 34) is transferred to the relief pattern (26, 28), the viscosity of the imprint material (30; 34) being chosen such that the imprint material (30; 34) is selectively transferred either substantially only onto the elevations (26) or substantially only into the depressions (28) of the relief pattern.
US08685480B2
An apparatus for making food chips, comprises a source of heat, and a conveyer belt arranged such that, when in use, food chips are held between the belt and the heat source at least a part of the path of the belt, and wherein the belt is steam permeable. Also, a method for making food chips comprising feeding sliced mono layered food between a steam permeable conveyer belt and a heat source and guiding steam from the food through the steam permeable belt.
US08685473B2
There is provided a process for making a composition suitable for topical application comprising the steps of a) heating at least one fruit and/or vegetable pulp to up to a temperature in the range of about 40° C. to 100° C.; b) mixing between 1 and 40% w/w of a mild base with the heated fruit and/or vegetable pulp. There is also provided a fruit and/or vegetable derived composition suitable for topical application prepared by the above process. There is further provided a fruit and/or vegetable derived composition comprising at least one fruit and/or vegetable derived pulp and a mild base, said composition having a pH in the range of about 7.5 to about 9.5.
US08685468B2
Disclosed herein are surgical adjuvant compositions for ameliorating tissue and cellular necrosis and/or apoptosis. In addition, surgical methods are described which include the use of the adjuvant of the composition to reduce tissue and cellular necrosis and/or apoptosis.
US08685463B2
The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for preparing, storing, shipping and using skin equivalents made by organotypic culture. In particular, the present invention relates to systems and methods for producing, transporting, storing and using skin equivalents produced by organotypic culture at reduced temperatures, preferably from 2-8 degrees Celsius to ambient temperature. The methods include sterile packaging of the grafts so that the sterility and integrity of the package is maintained until the time of use for grafting purposes.
US08685459B2
The present invention, inter alia, relates to a closed sterilized container comprising at least one carrier which is a stabilizer; and at least one biomolecule reversibly attached to the carrier, wherein said carrier partially or completely covers the attached biomolecules and wherein said at least one carrier is selected from the group consisting of (poly)peptides such as dipeptides or tripeptides, amino acids, polyalcohols, polyethyleneglycols, ionic liquids, compatible solutes, saponins and a mixture thereof. The invention also relates to methods for producing sterilized containers according to the invention and uses thereof.
US08685438B2
Disclosed here are methods, compositions, and kits which are useful for weight management benefits in the mammal. Each of the methods, compositions, and kits utilize an added boron source.
US08685435B2
Biodegradable implants sized and suitable for implantation in an ocular region or site and methods for treating ocular conditions. The implants provide an extended release of an active agent at a therapeutically effective amount for a period of time between 50 days and one year, or longer.
US08685431B2
Coatings for an implantable medical device and a method of fabricating thereof are disclosed, and the coatings comprise biologically absorbable poly(ester amides).
US08685430B1
A aliphatic polyester polymer for stent coating is described.
US08685423B2
The invention disclosed in this document concerns controlling mealybugs.
US08685418B2
The present application provides novel compounds and methods for preparing and using these compounds. These compounds are useful in treating pain, itch, overactive bladder and/or interstitial cystitis in patients by administering one or more of the compounds to a patient. The methods include administering a compound of formula (I) and a TRPV1 receptor activator. In one embodiment, the TRPV1 receptor activator is lidocaine.
US08685417B2
Encapsulation of and binding to pegylated bioactive molecules via functionalized comb, block, branched type polymers formed by nitroxide mediated controlled radical polymerization is disclosed.
US08685411B2
The present invention relates to novel recombinant polypeptide antigens that may comprise subunit vaccines against rotavirus infection. Further, the present invention relates to methods for use of said antigens in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of rotavirus infection.
US08685409B2
There is provided a T cell-based universal influenza vaccine including internal genes capable of preparing against infection by broad hetero-subtypic influenza viruses, and thereby preparing for unpredictable epidemic influenza. The present invention selected internal genes of the consensus sequence obtained from bird, pig, and human influenza isolates in order to develop the T cell-based universal flu vaccine. The T cell-based universal flu vaccine according to the present invention is characterized by including at least one CTL epitope, by containing a plurality of internal genes and using the entire sequence of the internal gene itself. The T cell-based universal flu vaccine can achieve broad defense in infection with hetero-subtypic influenza viruses.
US08685408B2
The present invention relates to a composition comprising a) a B subunit of Shiga toxin or a functional equivalent thereof which is able to bind the Gb3 receptor, complexed with an antigen and b) at least one ligand of CDI capable of stimulating NK T cells; and to a pharmaceutical composition and a medicament comprising said composition.
US08685390B2
The invention is directed to substantially purified amnion-derived cell populations, compositions comprising the substantially purified amnion-derived cell populations, and to methods of creating such substantially purified amnion-derived cell populations, as well as methods of use. The invention is further directed to antibodies, in particular, monoclonal antibodies, that bind to amnion-derived cells or, alternatively, to one or more amnion-derived cell surface protein markers. The invention is further directed to methods for producing the antibodies, methods for using the antibodies, and kits comprising the antibodies.
US08685386B2
Aspects of the present invention include methods and compositions related to the production, identification and use of embryonic progenitor cell lines that are capable of undergoing chondrogenesis. A number of exemplary chondrogenic cell lines derived from primordial stem cells are disclosed. The chondrogenic cell lines described herein are robust, can expand for >40 passages, and have site-specific purity, thus providing for compositions and methods of producing diverse cartilage types with unique molecular compositions for use in research and therapy.
US08685384B2
The present invention relates to methods for purifying immunogenic, prophylactically and therapeutically effective complexes of modified heat shock proteins noncovalently associated with antigenic peptides of cancer or infected cells. The claimed methods comprise the constructing of a nucleotide sequence encoding a secretable modified heat shock protein, expressing the sequence in an appropriate host cell, recovering the immunogenic complexes from the cell culture and the cells, and purifying the immunogenic complexes by affinity chromatography. Large amounts of such immunogenic complexes can be obtained by large-scale culturing of host cells containing the genetic sequence. The complexes can be used as a vaccine to elicit specific immune responses against cancer or infected cells, and to treat or prevent cancer or infectious diseases.
US08685383B2
A drug conjugate is provided herein. The conjugate comprises a protein based recognition-molecule (PBRM) and a polymeric carrier substituted with one or more -LD-D, the protein based recognition-molecule being connected to the polymeric carrier by LP. Each occurrence of D is independently a therapeutic agent having a molecular weight ≦5 kDa. LD and LP are linkers connecting the therapeutic agent and PBRM to the polymeric carrier respectively. Also disclosed are polymeric scaffolds useful for conjugating with a PBRM to form a polymer-drug-PBRM conjugate described herein, compositions comprising the conjugates, methods of their preparation, and methods of treating various disorders with the conjugates or their compositions.
US08685382B2
The present invention relates to compositions comprising polymers whose solubility characteristics can be changed by incubation and particularly poly (hydroxyalkyl(meth) acrylamide mono/di-lactate_interpolymers. Another aspect of this invention is the application of such temperature sensitive polymers as release systems of biologically active compounds. The polymers of the present invention comprise monomers, which have modifiable functionality. The functionality of the monomers can for example be modified by the presence of hydrolysable groups. The modification is effected by the incubation, leading to a change of the water solubility characteristics of the polymer. The polymers used in the present invention contain hydrolysable chemical groups. As a result the polymer's solution characteristics, specifically its lower critical solution temperature (LCST), change upon incubation.
US08685380B2
A deodorant comprises triethyl citrate, zinc glycinate, and water. The deodorant has a pH of 5.5 to 6.5.
US08685378B2
The present invention relates to the use of a composition comprising 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol for tissue preservation and more particularly for the preservation of bodies and anatomical parts or for carrying out embalming procedures.
US08685376B2
The invention relates to emulsifiers comprising glycerin-modified organopolysiloxanes and to their use for the preparation of extraordinarily stable emulsions and dispersions.
US08685373B2
A mucosal or cutaneous medicinal or hygiene system, comprising (a) a gas-driven foam dispenser; and (b) a fluid composition comprising (i) as the only foaming agent one or more polysaccharides, gelatins, synthetic polymers selected from the group consisting of ethylene oxide homo- and copolymers having a weight average molecular weight of at least 10,000, and homo and copolymers comprising in polymerized form acrylic acid, an acrylic acid salt, acrylamide, vinylalcohol, vinylacetate, vinylpyrrolidone or vinylpyridine, or a combination thereof; (ii) a liquid diluent, and (iii) an active ingredient for mucosal or cutaneous medicinal treatment or hygiene.
US08685371B2
This invention relates to molecular imaging agents comprising an S78C mutant synaptotagmin I C2A domain. These agents may be useful in detecting or assessing cell death in vitro and in vivo, for example in tumors following cancer treatment.
US08685370B2
The invention provides a family of agents that target integrins, which can be used as imaging agents and/or therapeutic agents. The agents can be used to image angiogenesis, inflammation or other physiological processes in a subject.
US08685360B2
This invention is to provide a method for the production of diamond at a high rate and in a high efficiency using in-liquid plasma. The present invention is a method for the production of diamond using electromagnetic waves irradiated to a liquid containing carbon, hydrogen and oxygen in which the ratio of hydrogen atoms to the sum of carbon atoms and hydrogen atoms is from 0.75 to 0.82 and the ratio of carbon atoms to the sum of carbon atoms and oxygen atoms is from 0.47 to 0.58 so as to generate plasma in the liquid.
US08685357B2
The invention relates to a firing support for ceramics formed from a carbon substrate at least partially covered by a coating based on silicon carbide (SiC), said coating additionally adhering to said substrate. The invention also relates to a process for obtaining such a support.
US08685356B2
Provided herein are methods of synthesizing large-pore periodic mesoporous quartz. Using the methods herein, large-pore periodic mesoporous quartz has been synthesized at a lower pressure and a temperature than in any previous mesoporous crystalline method, yielding a unique mesoporous article having crystalline pore walls. For example, the methods involve modified nanocasting methods using a mesoporous starting material comprising silica, carbon as a an infiltrating pore filler, followed by application of pressure and heat sufficient to crystallize silica in the infiltrated starting material to form a mesoporous crystalline article having crystalline pore walls therein, and useful in many applications, including as a catalyst.
US08685351B2
Sorbents for removal of mercury and other pollutants from gas streams, such as a flue gas stream from coal-fired utility plants, and methods for their manufacture and use are disclosed. Embodiments include brominated sorbent substrate particles having a carbon content of less than about 10%. Other embodiments include one or more oxidatively active halides of a nonoxidative metal dispersed on sorbent substrate particles mixed with activated carbon in an amount up to 30% by weight. Further embodiments include physical blending of a flow modifier into the sorbent composition.
US08685344B2
The present invention relates to surface assisted fluid loading and droplet dispensing on a droplet micro actuator. A droplet actuator is provided and includes one or more electrodes configured for conducting one or more droplet operations on a droplet operations surface of the substrate. The droplet actuator further includes a wettable surface defining a path from a fluid reservoir into a locus which is sufficiently near to one or more of the electrodes that activation of the one or more electrodes results in a droplet operation. Methods and systems are also provided.
US08685342B2
A device for receiving and dispensing liquids has a plurality of piston-cylinder units (1, 1′, 1″) which are respectively arranged on a piston plate (2) and a cylinder plate (3). The liquid is received and dispensed by displacing the pistons (1′) in the cylinders (1″) by changing the distance between the plates (2, 3), perpendicularly to the plate planes, by means of a drive mechanism (6) and a plate guiding system. The volume can be determined by an upper abutment (4) and a lower abutment (5), at least one of said abutments being regulatable by a regulating means (8). The device is suitable for handling precise volumes of a larger number of piston-cylinder units (1, 1′, 1″) in a technically simple manner. To this end, the same receiving and dispensing volumes of the piston-cylinder units (1, 1′, 1″) are ensured with low requirements in terms of the surface parallelism of the plate planes during the movement in the plate guiding device, by structuring and arranging the abutments (4, 5) in such a way that the parallelism of the plates (2, 3) is obtained in the upper (9) and lower (10) abutment positions.
US08685337B2
The invention relates to a device for sterilizing caps or the like closures for closing bottles or the like containers. Said device comprises a conveyor system conveying the caps in a direction of conveyance through a treatment section having a plurality of successive treatment stations in the direction of conveyance.
US08685329B2
The present invention relates to methods and devices for providing microbial control and/or disinfection/remediation of an environment. The methods generally comprise: generating a Purified Hydrogen Peroxide Gas (PHPG) that is substantially free of, e.g., hydration, ozone, plasma species, and/or organic species; and directing the gas comprising primarily PHPG into the environment such that the PHPG acts to provide microbial control and/or disinfection/remediation in the environment, preferably both on surfaces and in the air.
US08685326B2
An apparatus for imaging one or more selected fluorescence indications from a microfluidic device. The apparatus includes an imaging path coupled to least one chamber in at least one microfluidic device. The imaging path provides for transmission of one or more fluorescent emission signals derived from one or more samples in the at least one chamber of the at least one microfluidic device. The chamber has a chamber size, the chamber size being characterized by an actual spatial dimension normal to the imaging path. The apparatus also includes an optical lens system coupled to the imaging path. The optical lens system is adapted to transmit the one or more fluorescent signals associated with the chamber.
US08685321B2
The present disclosure provides systems and methods for analyzing a plurality of samples of small objects. In various other embodiments, the system includes a staging console for supporting a plurality of sample trays. The system additionally includes a plurality of workstations that each includes a robotic container transfer subsystem for sequentially removing and replacing each of a plurality of sample containers arrayed in the sample trays, each sample container containing a sample of small objects. Each workstation additionally includes an automated analysis subsystem for sequentially receiving each container from the transfer subsystem, removing each sample from the respective container, acquiring data of each sample and returning each sample to the respective container. The system further includes a tray shuttle robot that distributes and retrieves the sample trays to and from the workstations.
US08685320B2
An oxygenator which helps avoid bubbles in the blood from being discharged through the blood outlet port of the oxygenator includes a housing, a hollow fiber membrane bundle in the housing and formed by a multiplicity of hollow fiber membranes serving for gas exchange, gas-inlet and gas-outlet ports communicating with gas passages of the hollow fiber membranes, and a blood-inlet and blood-outlet ports. A filter member is provided on a side closer to the blood outlet port of the hollow fiber membrane bundle and serves to catch bubbles in blood. The blood outlet port projects from the housing and a passage enlargement is provided in a vicinity of the end of the blood outlet port closer to the housing and having an increased passage cross-sectional area. The blood passed the filter member is allowed to reach the blood outlet port by being decelerated in the passage enlargement.
US08685307B2
A method for producing a multilayer article is provided. The method comprises: a step of applying a first dispersion liquid comprising a first liquid medium and a first polymer component, a first alkali metal ion and a first inorganic laminar compound each dispersed in the first liquid medium to a surface of a support having a layer composed of a first thermoplastic resin to form a first dispersion liquid film on the support, wherein the first polymer component contains hydroxyl groups and carboxyl groups at a molar ratio, hydroxyl groups:carboxyl groups, of from 30:70 to 95:5; a step of removing the first liquid medium from the first dispersion liquid film to form a first coating film, thereby producing a layered article comprising the support and the first coating film; a step of heating the layered article at or above a temperature at which a condensation reaction between a hydroxyl group and a carboxyl group in the first coating film can occur, thereby hardening the coating film; and a step of supplying a second thermoplastic resin having been plasticized onto the layer of the first thermoplastic layer of the substrate of the layered article and shaping it into a specified shape, thereby producing a multilayer article having the layered article and a layer of the second thermoplastic resin.
US08685293B1
Our invention allows for control of particle formation at the nanoscale, providing a means to control nanoparticle and nanostructure formation using feedback on the fly from nanoparticle characteristic analysis and optimization/knowledge extraction control algorithms. A closed loop feedback controller causes the interaction of a shaped flaser pulse with a substrate. The substrate can be one or more solid, liquid or gas or any combination thereof. Nanoparticles are produced and their characteristics are measured. The measured characteristics are compared with the desired nanoparticle characteristics. If the measured and desired characteristics are not equivalent, the closed loop feedback controller modifies the shape of the laser pulse and the next cycle begins. With successive loop of the control process the difference between the desired and measured characteristics converges until they are equivalent. At the end of the process a relationship is developed between the desired nanoparticle characteristics and the laser pulse shape. A catalog of all pulse shapes generated and the resulting nanoparticle characteristics is generated each time the processor is cycled whether or not the nanoparticle characteristics are those desired.
US08685290B2
Disclosed is a plurality of glass-crystalline particles, wherein at least a portion of the glass-crystalline particles comprise a glass component and a crystalline component, and wherein the crystalline component comprises one or more metal oxides wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of: Zn, Ca, Sr, Mg, Ba, and mixtures thereof.
US08685286B2
The present disclosure provides an electrode including an electrically conductive ink deposited thereon comprising: a nano-scale conducting material; a binding agent; and an enzyme; wherein said ink is essentially solvent free. In one embodiment, the ink includes at least one of a mediator, a cross-linking agent and a substrate as well. In one further embodiment, the electrode provided herein is used in a battery, fuel cell or sensor.
US08685275B2
The invention relates to a liquid-crystalline medium based on a mixture of polar compounds having negative dielectric anisotropy, which contains at least one compound of the formula I and at least one compound of the formula II in which R1, R2, R3, R4, ring A, Z1, Z2 and m are as defined in claim 1, and to the use thereof for an active-matrix display based on the ECB, VA, PS-VA, FFS, PALC or IPS effect.
US08685272B2
A composition for etching a silicon oxide layer, a method of etching a semiconductor device, and a composition for etching a semiconductor device including a silicon oxide layer and a nitride layer including hydrogen fluoride, an anionic polymer, and deionized water, wherein the anionic polymer is included in an amount of about 0.001 to about 2 wt % based on the total weight of the composition for etching a silicon oxide layer, and an etch selectivity of the silicon oxide layer with respect to a nitride layer is about 80 or greater.
US08685268B1
Disclosed herein is a textured substrate comprising a base comprising silicon, the base having a plurality of needle like structures depending away from the base, wherein at least one of the needle like structures has a depth of greater than or equal to about 50 micrometers determined perpendicular to the base, and wherein at least one of the needle like structures has a width of less than or equal to about 50 micrometers determined parallel to the base. An anode and a lithium ion battery comprising the textured substrate, and a method of producing the textured substrate are also disclosed.
US08685265B2
An etching apparatus includes a process unit and a control unit. Emission intensity of plasma inside the process unit is obtained by an OES detector, a nonlinear regression analysis is performed by an etching control device to determine a regression formula. The nonlinear regression analysis is performed by using the emission intensity of the plasma obtained until a first time when the emission intensity of the plasma passes a peak, and a second time to be an etching end point is calculated by using the regression formula. The etching end point is calculated as a time when the emission intensity decreases for a predetermined value from the first time. The etching apparatus finishes an etching when the process reaches the etching end point. It is thereby possible to control the etching end point with high-accuracy.
US08685255B2
A method of operating a capacitive deionization cell using a regeneration cycle to increase pure flow rate and efficiency of the cell.
US08685252B2
Water treatment systems and methods are provided to minimize membrane fouling and the required maintenance that results therefrom. A water treatment system includes a pressure vessel with a plurality of spaced-apart membranes disposed therein, and an impeller or other means for circulating feed water through the interior of the vessel and past the membranes. Antifouling particles (such as diatomaceous earth or activated carbon) and/or pellets can be added to the feed water inhibit membrane fouling and extend the useful life of the membranes.
US08685243B2
A fluid filter such as an oil filter for a vehicle is provided. The fluid filter includes a body. A plate is coupled to one end of the body, the plate having a first surface and a threaded portion having a thread pitch. A seal is disposed adjacent the plate, the plate having a second surface opposite the plate. A stop member is disposed adjacent the plate, the stop member having a third surface offset from the second surface.
US08685240B2
A capillary column (10) includes a tube structure having inner walls (14) and a sol-gel substrate (16) coated on a portion of inner walls (14) to form a stationary phase coating (18) on inner walls (14). The sol solution used to prepare the sol-gel substrate (16) has at least one baseline stabilizing reagent and at least one surface deactivation reagent resulting in the sol-gel substrate (16) having at least one baseline stabilizing reagent residual and at least one surface deactivating reagent residual. A method of making the sol-gel solution is by mixing suitable sol-gel precursors to form the solution, stabilizing the solution by adding at least one baseline stabilization reagent, deactivating the solution by adding at least one surface deactivation reagent to the solution, and reacting the solution in the presence of at least one catalyst.
US08685232B2
Manufacture of propylene and ethylene in a FCC unit. Each FCC riser comprises an acceleration zone, a lift stream feed nozzle, a main hydrocarbon stock feed nozzle, and an olefinic naphtha feed nozzle. Mixed FCC catalyst comprising at least 2 percent by weight pentasil zeolite and at least 10 percent by weight Y-zeolite is injected at the bottom of each FCC riser. Olefinic naptha is injected through the olefinic feed nozzle, main hydrocarbon stock is injected through the main hydrocarbon stock feed nozzle and lift stream is injected through the lift stream feed nozzle. Lift stream comprises olefinic C4 hydrocarbon stream and optionally steam and/or a fuel gas. Olefinic C4 hydrocarbon steam is cracked in the acceleration zone at 600 to 800° C., 0.8 to 5 kg/cm2 (gauge) pressure, WHSV 0.2 to 100 hr up 1 and vapour residence time 0.2 to 5 seconds.
US08685225B2
Proposed is a method of recovering valuable metal from scrap containing conductive oxide including the steps of using scrap containing conductive oxide and performing electrolysis while periodically inverting the polarity, and recovering the scrap as hydroxide. With the foregoing method of recovering valuable metal from scrap containing conductive oxide, oxide system scrap is conductive oxide and a substance that can be reduced to metal or suboxide with hydrogen. This method enables to efficiently recover valuable metal from sputtering target scrap containing conductive oxide or scrap such as mill ends of conductive oxide that arise during the production of such a sputtering target.
US08685221B1
One embodiment is a method for void-free metallic electrofilling inside openings, said method includes: providing a substrate with at least one opening, the substrate includes an electrically conductive surface, including inside the at least one opening; immersing the substrate in an electrolyte contained in an ECD cell, the ECD cell includes at least one anode and a cathode, the cathode includes at least a portion of the conductive surface, the electrolyte includes plating metallic ions and at least one inhibitor additive, said metallic ions and at least one inhibitor additive having concentrations; providing electrolyte agitation across the substrate surface; and applying electroplating current density to the substrate; wherein the agitation, the concentrations, and the electroplating current density are such to produce void-free metallic electrofilling of the at least one opening, and wherein a height of electrodeposited surface bumps, or transition steps or humps, or transition spikes, is less than 140 nm.
US08685217B2
Disclosed herein is a method for separation of a sample of particle that includes at least first and second particles. The method can include generating a force field characterized by at least one point of stable equilibrium for the first and second particles. The method can further include moving the at least one point of stable equilibrium in a space and for at least one time interval with a speed substantially comparable to a speed of movement of the first particles, and substantially different from a speed of movement of the second particles.
US08685216B2
An apparatus for merging and mixing two droplets using electrostatic forces includes a substrate on which are disposed a first originating electrode, a center electrode, and a second originating electrode. The electrodes are disposed such that a first gap is formed between the first originating electrode and the center electrode and a second gap is formed between the second originating electrode and the center electrode. A dielectric material surrounds the electrodes on the substrate. A first droplet is deposited asymmetrically across the first gap, and a second droplet is deposited asymmetrically across the second gap. Voltage potentials are placed across the first gap and second gap, respectively, whereby each droplet is moved toward the other such that they collide together, causing the droplets to merge and mix, and causing oscillations within the collided droplet.
US08685214B1
Magnetic flux shunting pads for optimizing target erosion in sputtering processes are provided. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a sputtering system for countering uneven wear of a sputter target, the system including a sputter target having an emitting surface and a rear surface opposite to the emitting surface, a moving magnet assembly positioned proximate the rear surface and including a planar base and a magnet fixed to the planar base at a preselected point, the moving magnet assembly configured to be moved such that a position of the magnet relative to the rear surface is varied, and a magnetic shunting pad having a planar shape and positioned between the moving magnet assembly and the target, wherein the shunting pad includes uneven magnetic shunting characteristics.
US08685211B2
Oil sands ore containing bitumen is treated in a reactor chamber by ultrasonic oscillations impact such that cavitation of ore molecules occurs. The disintegration of the pulsating bubbles in the cavitation results in the separation of the oil, water, sand and air fractions of the oil sands. The oil fraction may be continuously extracted for subsequent refining processes.
US08685210B2
An inline bitumen froth steam heater system including steam injection and static mixing devices is provided. The system heats and de-aerates input bitumen froth without creating downstream processing problems with the bitumen froth such as emulsification or live steam entrainment. The system is a multistage unit that injects and thoroughly mixes steam with bitumen resulting in output bitumen material having temperature of about 190° F. The system conditions a superheated steam supply to obtain saturated steam at about 300° F. The saturated steam is contacted with bitumen froth flow and mixed in a static mixer stage. The static mixers provide surface area and rotating action that allows the injected steam to condense and transfer its heat to the bitumen froth. The mixing action and increase in temperature of the bitumen froth results in reduction in bitumen viscosity and allows the release of entrapped air from the bitumen froth.
US08685197B2
An adhesive is applied in such a curved trajectory that an angle formed by a tangent line and an axis falls within a range of ±90° in a plan view of a web obtained by the overlapping a first web and a second web. The tangent line is drawn at any point on the trajectory of the adhesive. The axis is orthogonal to a trailing side of a pressing region, in which the web is pressed by an upper roller, in a conveyance direction.
US08685189B2
A continuous process for making a multi-panel sterilization assembly, the process including the steps of: providing a moving, continuous base web; providing a plurality of subassemblies; applying the subassemblies in position on the moving, continuous base web to define repeating portions that incorporate the subassemblies and alternating portions that lack such subassemblies; providing side tabs; applying the side tabs in position on the moving, continuous base web with respect to at least one edge of the portions that incorporate the subassemblies; attaching the subassemblies and the side tabs to the moving, continuous base web to form a continuous work-piece; and separating the continuous work-piece into individual multi-panel sterilization assemblies, each multi-panel sterilization assembly comprising a barrier panel, a fold protection panel and at least one side tab.
US08685171B2
A method of cleaning dishware with a liquid detergent composition having a hydrophobic emollient and a crystalline structurant to provide improved hand skin care benefits and superior grease cleaning and/or suds mileage.
US08685163B2
A method for growing a silicon carbide single crystal on a single crystal substrate comprising the steps of heating silicon in a graphite crucible to form a melt, bringing a silicon carbide single crystal substrate into contact with the melt, and depositing and growing a silicon carbide single crystal from the melt, wherein the melt comprises 30 to 70 percent by atom, based on the total atoms of the melt, of chromium and 1 to 25 percent by atom, based on the total atoms of the melt, of X, where X is at least one selected from the group consisting of nickel and cobalt, and carbon. It is possible to improve morphology of a surface of the crystal growth layer obtained by a solution method.
US08685161B2
Various single crystals are disclosed including sapphire. The single crystals have desirable geometric properties, including a width not less than about 15 cm and the thickness is not less than about 0.5 cm. The single crystal may also have other features, such as a maximum thickness variation, and as-formed crystals may have a generally symmetrical neck portion, particularly related to the transition from the neck to the main body of the crystal. Methods and for forming such crystals and an apparatus for carrying out the methods are disclosed as well.
US08685160B2
Provided is a fullerene thin wires-attached substrate in which fullerene thin wires are vertically aligned relative to the surface of the substrate and which is applicable to catalysts, column materials, chemical synthesis templates, field emission devices, field effect transistors, photonic crystals, etc.
US08685158B2
A water retention agent for a cementitious composition, characterized in that it takes the form of a liquid aqueous suspension of at least one polysaccharide at a mass concentration of between 15 and 30% in an aqueous solution of a strong base salt, excluding ammonium salts, with an anionic strength of between 1.25 mol/L and 15 mol/L, having a pH greater than 9 and containing an attapulgite in micronized form and at least one non-phyllitic mineral powder, referred to hereafter as filler, which is chemically inert in the aqueous suspension and which has a grain size of between 0.1 and 100 micrometers, the aqueous suspension being stable at least in a temperature range of between 5° C. and 30° C. The water retention agent is suitable for increasing both the viscosity and the water retention capacity of cementitious compositions without affecting the spreading ability thereof.
US08685157B2
A composition for binding environmentally-harmful substances in solid or semi-liquid state contains caustic magnesium oxide, non-ferrous metal salts as a hardener, non-ferrous metal oxides catalyzing formation of radial crystalline structures, and optionally water and other additives. A method of stabilization of environmentally-harmful substances binds these substances in the solid state or semi-liquid state in the composition containing caustic magnesium oxide, wherein the environmentally-harmful substances are supplemented by the composition containing caustic magnesium oxide, non-ferrous metal salts as hardener, non-ferrous metal oxides catalyzing formation of radial crystalline structures, and optionally water and other additives. A form of paste is obtained, followed by leaving the mixture for solidification and stabilization of the product. Use of non-ferrous metal salts in connection with non-ferrous metal oxides catalyzing formation of radial crystalline structures stabilizes the environmentally-harmful substance with the use of caustic magnesium oxide.
US08685155B2
The invention relates to a metallic functional component, which is subject to thermal or thermal and erosive stress and to which on at least one surface a coating is applied, whereby the coating consists of a binder phase, which consists at least largely of a phosphate, and a material embedded in the binder phase. In addition, the invention relates to a separating agent for preparing a layer of this type, and to a method for applying the coating to a functional component.
US08685147B2
It is intended to provide methods of producing a chlorine gas having a small bromine content, an aqueous sodium hypochlorite solution having a small bromic acid content, and liquid chlorine having a small bromine content. More specifically, a chlorine gas is produced by a method comprising the steps of: (A) washing a chlorine gas that contains bromine, in a gas washing unit composed of a packed column or a tray tower, wherein the chlorine gas introduced via a lower part of the gas washing unit is brought into counterflow gas/liquid contact with a liquid chlorine introduced via an upper part of the gas washing unit; and (B) taking out a purified chlorine gas thus washed, via the upper part of the gas washing unit, wherein a weight ratio of the chlorine gas and the liquid chlorine introduced in the step (A) is 1/1.0 to 1/0.3.
US08685144B2
The present invention relates to systems and methods for dehumidifying air by establishing a humidity gradient across a water selective permeable membrane in a dehumidification unit. Water vapor from relatively humid atmospheric air entering the dehumidification unit is extracted by the dehumidification unit without substantial condensation into a low pressure water vapor chamber operating at a partial pressure of water vapor lower than the partial pressure of water vapor in the relatively humid atmospheric air. For example, water vapor is extracted through a water permeable membrane of the dehumidification unit into the low pressure water vapor chamber. As such, the air exiting the dehumidification unit is less humid than the air entering the dehumidification unit. The low pressure water vapor extracted from the air is subsequently condensed and removed from the system at ambient conditions.
US08685142B2
The present invention relates to systems and methods for dehumidifying air by establishing humidity gradients in one or more dehumidification units. Water vapor from relatively humid atmospheric air entering the dehumidification units is extracted by the dehumidification units without substantial condensation into low pressure water vapor vacuum volumes. The water vapor is extracted through water vapor permeable membranes of the dehumidification units into the low pressure water vapor vacuum volumes. The air exiting the dehumidification units is less humid than the air entering the dehumidification units. The low pressure water vapor extracted from the air is compressed to a slightly higher pressure, condensed, and removed from the system at ambient conditions. In addition, each of the dehumidification units may be associated with one or more evaporative cooling units through which the air will be directed, with the evaporative cooling units being upstream and/or downstream of the dehumidification units.
US08685137B2
The invention relates to a process for producing an iron-and/or tungsten containing powder or powder agglomerate including the steps of: a) mixing at least a first powder fraction comprising a tungsten carbide containing powder, and at least a second powder fraction comprising an iron oxide powder and/or a tungsten oxide containing powder and optionally an iron powder, the weight of the first fraction being in the range of 50-90% by weight of the mix and the weight of the second fraction being in the range of 10-50% by weight of the mix, b) heating the mix of step a) to a temperature in the range of 400-1300° C., preferably 1000-1200° C. The invention also relates to an iron-and/or tungsten containing powder or powder agglomerate.
US08685136B2
A process for reducing iron oxide to metallic iron using coke oven gas (COG), including: a direct reduction shaft furnace for providing off gas; a COG source for injecting COG into a reducing gas stream including at least a portion of the off gas; and the direct reduction shaft furnace reducing iron oxide to metallic iron using the reducing gas stream and injected COG. The COG has a temperature of about 1,200 degrees C. or greater upon injection. The COG has a CH4 content of between about 2% and about 13%. Preferably, the COG is reformed COG. Optionally, the COG is fresh hot COG. The COG source includes a partial oxidation system. Optionally, the COG source includes a hot oxygen burner.
US08685132B2
Structurally modified lignite with or without extraction of functionality enhanced organic molecules
A structurally modified lignite composition with or without having functionally enhanced organic molecules extracted there-from, said functionally enhanced organic molecules having enhanced or reduced number of one or more of functional groups selected from a group comprising of carbonyl, carboxyl, amidic, ester, phenolic, alcoholic, ketone and aldehyde groups and having molecular weight selected from a group comprising of (i) below 500, (ii) between 500 and 1000, (iii) between 1000 and 5000, (iv) equal to or greater than 5000 and (v) a combination of utmost of any of the three of (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) thereof.
US08685130B2
A media pack for including in a filter cartridge of an air filter arrangement, is provided. The media is a non-rectangular perimeter configuration, an example shown being trapezoidal. Filter cartridges including such media packs, air cleaner assemblies and equipment systems are described. Also methods of use assembly are described.
US08685127B2
A compact filter has a compact filter element for exchangeable use in a filter housing and the compact filter element has a filter body of a web-shaped filter medium. The web-shaped filter medium has at least one flat filter medium web and one corrugated filter medium web that are placed onto each other and at least partially connected to each other by ultrasonic welding. At least one of the flat and corrugated filter medium webs is a composite filter medium web of at least two components, wherein at least one component is a synthetic material and one component is a non-synthetic material. The non-synthetic material is a plant-derived material and forms a support of the composite filter medium web and the synthetic material is a synthetic layer applied on the support.
US08685126B2
A device for filtering intake air of an internal combustion engine, including at least one filtering element including an inlet for air being treated, a first clean air outlet toward the engine, and a second air outlet toward the outside, and a ventilation mechanism driving the air from the second air outlet. The ventilation mechanism includes a fan wheel driven by a turbine set into motion by a gas flow taken from the engine.
US08685121B2
An optimized gasification/vitrification processing system having a gasification unit which converts organic materials to a hydrogen rich gas and ash in communication with a joule heated vitrification unit which converts the ash formed in the gasification unit into glass, and a plasma which converts elemental carbon and products of incomplete combustion formed in the gasification unit into a hydrogen rich gas.
US08685112B1
Treated peroxycarboxylic acid bleaching compositions and methods of using the same are provided to enhancing bleaching performance of various peroxycarboxylic acids. Peroxycarboxylic acid peroxycarboxylic acid compositions are combined with non-metal bleach activators, preferably polyethyleneimines. The invention further relates to methods employing the enhanced bleaching compositions.
US08685110B2
A secured computer system includes a communication interface and an intrusion detection module. The computer system may be portable and configured for wireless communication with a user of the system. The user may activate and configure an alarm monitor, which may be triggered by motion of the computer system. If the triggered alarm is not deactivated, an alarm sequence is activated. If the alarm sequence is not cancelled, then security measures for protecting sensitive data on the computer system from unauthorized access may be executed. The security measures may include removing data or rendering a storage device inaccessible.
US08685108B2
A modular prosthetic foot includes an ankle component; a forefoot component having a circular part with a rounded top surface and at least one flat side surface, the circular part being connected to a rear part of the forefoot component; a forefoot cushion bumper positioned around the circular part; and a heel component.
US08685106B2
Methods and apparatus of providing a joint replacement parts with a pharmaceutical delivery system is provided. The pharmaceutical delivery system is placed within the joint replacement parts to provide, over a period of time, sustained release of a controlled concentration of pharmaceuticals within the joint space of the joint replacement and to produce a local or systemic physiological of pharmacological effect.
US08685101B2
An intervertebral spacer having an upper layer, a lower layer and at least one non-planer compliant layer. The non-planer compliant layer is disposed between the lower layer and the upper layer and includes a portion that extends outside a lateral plane in which the compliant layer resides. The non-planar compliant layer made of a material that is more yielding than the upper layer and the lower layers, and may have a cross-section that is z-shaped, u-shaped, sinusoidal-shaped, zigzag shaped, etc.
US08685097B2
Multiple, small, staple-like supports are inserted through a small tube into the disc space then rotated into position on the edge of the vertebral bodies. The tooth-like geometry of the proximal and distal faces of these staples mates with the outer edge of the vertebral body, extending past the front of the endplate anteriorly. The staples have teeth that dig into the endplate on the inside of the rim as well.
US08685092B2
A biomaterial for osteoplasty has a preserved native spatial organization of collagen matrix and mineral component of bone fabrics of natural origin, for example, containing 25% collagen and 75% mineral substances. The biomaterial is demineralized (compared to original concentration) to contain from 0 to 95% of the original mineral concentration, preferably from 5 to 80%, more preferably from 10 to 60%. The proteins are composed of 99% of collagen and 1% of other proteins. The biomaterial contains bone sulfated glycosaminoglycans (sGAG), whose concentration varies from 0.3 to 3 mg per 1 cm3 of the material. The sGAG is affinity-bound to the bone matrix. The biomaterial may also include bisphosphonates, whose concentration varies from 0.2 to 10 micrograms per 1 gram of material. The biomaterial may also include bone the morphogenetic proteins (BMP), whose concentration varies from 0.001 to 1 micrograms per 1 gram of material.
US08685090B2
An auditory ossicle prosthesis (10) with a sound transmitting prosthesis body (13) has first and second coupling elements (11, 12) provided at opposite ends. A stabilizer element (14) fixes the prosthesis on a level with the plane of the tympanic membrane and stabilizes the position of the prosthesis in the middle ear. A fixation part (14.2) anchors the Y-shaped stabilizer element at one or more places of the ear canal wall. The fixation part includes two hooked anchoring elements (16) that secure the fixation part in artificially drilled holes in the ear canal wall. The auditory ossicle prosthesis has a particularly simple and compact design and stays spatially fixed within very small variations in its initial position after implantation inside the middle ear cavity, providing effective protection against post-operative dislocation, tilting or tipping and without deteriorating sound transmission properties of the prosthesis.
US08685071B2
A method of manufacture and medical apparatus that provides an apparatus useful in illuminating at least a portion of a lumen of a body. The apparatus includes an elongated flexible member and a polymer encasement portion encasing a plurality of light emitters. The light emitters may be electrically coupled to one another without the use of wire bonds, and in some embodiments may be coupled without intervening electrical paths or traces. A maximum cross-sectional dimension of the polymer encasement portion may be less than twice a dimension of one of the light emitters. In some embodiments the maximum cross-sectional dimension is less than or equal to the sum of the dimension of one of the light emitters and a marginal dimension by which an outer portion of the polymer encasement portion extends beyond the light emitter. Light emitters may be arranged linearly, helically or in partially overlapping back-to-back relation.
US08685062B2
A dynamic fixation device is provided that allows the vertebrae to which it is attached to move in flexion within the normal physiological limits of motion, while also providing structural support that limits the amount of translation motion beyond normal physiological limits. The present invention includes a flexible portion and two ends that are adapted for connection to pedicle screws. In at least one embodiment of the present invention, the normal axis of rotation of the vertebrae is substantially duplicated by the dynamic fixation device. The flexible portion of the dynamic fixation device can include a geometric shape and/or a hinge portion.
US08685059B2
A closure device for sealing a percutaneous puncture in a wall of a body passageway of a living being. In an exemplary embodiment, the closure device includes an anchor configured to be brought into engagement with an interior of the body passageway, a plug including a proximal portion and a distal portion, a filament coupled to the anchor and the plug. The filament may include a first extending section. The closure device further includes a lock attached to the first extending section, wherein the collar is positioned between the lock and the anchor, wherein the lock frictionally engages the first extending section of the filament so that the lock is movable along the filament only in response to application of a force on the lock that overcomes the frictional engagement.
US08685055B2
Apparatus for permanent placement across an ostium of a left atrial appendage in a patient, which includes a filtering membrane configured to extend across the ostium of the left atrial appendage. The filtering membrane has a permeable structure which allows blood to flow through but substantially inhibits thrombus from passing therethrough. The apparatus also includes a support structure attached to the filtering membrane which retains the filtering membrane in position across the ostium of the left atrial appendage by permanently engaging a portion of the interior wall of the left atrial appendage. The support structure may be radially expandable from a first configuration to a second configuration which engages the ostium or the interior wall of the left atrial appendage. The filtering membrane may define an opening therethrough that is configured to expand from a first size which inhibits the passage of thrombus therethrough to a second size which allows an interventional device, e.g., an expansion balloon, to pass therethrough, and wherein the opening is resiliently biased towards the first size.
US08685044B2
Systems and methods introduce and deploy prosthesis into a blood vessel or hollow body organ by intra-vascular access. The prosthesis is secured in place by fasteners which are implanted by an applier that is also deployed by intra-vascular access. The applier is configured to permit controlled, selective release of the fastener in a step that is independent of the step of implantation.
US08685043B2
A system and method for delivering a surgical clip to a surgical site within a patient's body to compress body tissue is disclosed. In one embodiment for the system of the present invention, the system includes an endoscopic device that has an endoscope cap disposed on a distal end of the endoscopic device. A surgical clip is removably disposed on an outside surface of the endoscope cap. A deployment device is associated with the surgical clip for deploying the surgical clip from the endoscope cap to the body tissue that is to be compressed. The surgical clip can be a deformable clip that is deployed in a non deformed configuration, and is then deformed so as to apply compression on selected tissue. The surgical clip can be a multi-legged clip, having a plurality of legs that can be locked in a closed position to apply compression to body tissue.
US08685026B2
The present application is directed to devices and methods for releasing tension on a surgical tether. In one embodiment, the release mechanism is constructed to be positioned between a locked position and a release position. In the locked position, the release mechanism is attached to the tether to prevent the tether from moving through the release mechanism. In the release position, the release mechanism allows the tether to move through the body. The release mechanism may be constructed to move between the release and locked positions after being implanted within a patient. In one embodiment, the release mechanism returns to the locked position after the tension on the tether has been reduced below a predetermined amount.
US08685021B2
An end effector assembly for use with an electrosurgical instrument is provided. The end effector assembly has a first jaw member and a second jaw member. The second jaw member includes a channel defined therein and coupled to a cooling agent source and at least one venting port defined therein and fluidly coupled to the channel. During active cooling of the second jaw member, the cooling agent source is configured to supply a cooling agent to the channel.
US08685017B2
These and other objects of the present invention are achieved in a method for creating a desired tissue effect. An RF electrode is provided that includes a conductive portion. The RF electrode is coupled to a fluid delivery member that delivers a cooling fluidic medium to a back surface of the RF electrode. A dielectric is positioned on a skin surface. The RF electrode is coupled with the dielectric. RF energy is delivered from the RF electrode and the dielectric to the skin surface.
US08685003B2
A surgical system is adapted and configured for use in a minimally invasive surgical procedure. The surgical system includes a surgical instrument that is operatively coupled to a seal anchor member for accessing an underlying body cavity and manipulating a target tissue within the body cavity. The surgical instrument includes a plurality of arms that are triangulatable with respect to each other and the target tissue.
US08685002B2
A pump system can include a pump device and a controller device removably attachable to the pump device. The controller device can be reusable, and one or more pump devices can be disconnected and reconnected to the controller device. As such, some pump usage data can be conveniently stored in the pump device itself. In such circumstances, the controller device can receive data related to the pump's history or other usage when the pump device is attached to the controller.
US08684999B2
A method of manufacturing a catheter assembly generally includes providing a catheter shaft having an outer layer and an inner reinforcing layer; removing at least a portion of the outer layer from a length of the distal end of the catheter shaft in order to expose a distal segment thereof; providing an inner jacket segment; axially engaging the inner jacket segment with an interior surface of the distal segment of the catheter shaft; providing an outer jacket segment around at least the exposed exterior region of the distal segment of the catheter shaft; and bonding the distal segment of the catheter shaft to the inner jacket segment and the outer jacket segment.
US08684998B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for thermally-induced renal neuromodulation. Thermally-induced renal neuromodulation may be achieved via direct and/or via indirect application of thermal energy to heat or cool neural fibers that contribute to renal function, or of vascular structures that feed or perfuse the neural fibers. In some embodiments, parameters of the neural fibers, of non-target tissue, or of the thermal energy delivery element, may be monitored via one or more sensors for controlling the thermally-induced neuromodulation. In some embodiments, protective elements may be provided to reduce a degree of thermal damage induced in the non-target tissues.
US08684995B2
A treatment method on tissues in a body cavity includes: a first step of forming a hole for communicating first body tissue with second body tissue while both are in close contact with each other; and a second step of endoscopically inserting a treatment device into the second body tissue through the hole.
US08684992B2
A vial adapter suitable for use in transferring fluid from a vial to a needleless syringe, the vial having a top end sealed with a septum. According to one embodiment, the vial adapter comprises (a) a body, the body having a top end, a bottom end and an inner cavity, the inner cavity being dimensioned to receive the vial, with the bottom end of the body extending below the bottom end of the vial; (b) a needle-bearing member mounted within the body, the needle-bearing member comprising a hollow needle extending downwardly into the inner cavity of the body for puncturing the septum of a vial disposed in the inner cavity; (c) a luer-lock-bearing member mounted on the top end of the body, the luer-lock-bearing member comprising a top portion and a bottom portion separated by a radial wall, the top portion being a female luer-lock, the bottom portion including a tubular structure in fluid communication with the hollow needle; and (d) a valve disposed within the luer-lock-bearing member for controlling fluid flow from the bottom portion to the top portion, the valve being opened by attachment of the needleless syringe to the vial adapter.
US08684990B2
A simple disposable pant-like garment includes an absorbent assembly attached to a chassis. The absorbent assembly includes an absorbent core that may contain superabsorbent particles, which may be contained inside pockets. The absorbent assembly is folded laterally inward at both of its side edges to form laterally opposing side flaps. Each side flap is attached to an interior surface of the absorbent assembly adjacent to its end edges. A longitudinally extending elastic gathering member is attached to each side flap adjacent to its proximal edge. When the article is worn, the elastic gathering members contract and raise the side flaps to form breathable side barriers. The chassis includes a water-impermeable sheet and may be extensible. The absorbent assembly may be attached in a cruciform pattern such that portions of the chassis that lie outside the attachment pattern are not restrained by attachment to the absorbent assembly and therefore remain extensible.
US08684987B2
A tampon having an improved aspect ratio is provided. The tampon includes a self-sustaining, fluid-expanding, compressed absorbent pledget having one or more absorbent materials. The tampon has a width, a thickness, and a length. The width can be greater than the thickness and an aspect ratio of the width to the thickness can be from greater than about 1.4:1 to less than about 2.0:1. Also provided is a method of positioning a tampon within a vagina of a woman.
US08684985B2
Provided is a sanitary napkin having wings that can be easily attached by being properly folded back at correct positions without causing problems in the wing-like flaps, such as adhesion of adhesive surfaces to each other and wrong adhesion. In a sanitary napkin including wing-like flaps disposed on both sides of a main body to be fixed to an undergarment so as to wrap around a crotch portion of the undergarment when it is worn, each wing-like flap has a front outline extending outward from the main body and a back outline extending outward from the main body and is designed such that the angle β formed by the width-direction line of the sanitary napkin and the back outline is larger than the angle θ formed by the width-direction line of the sanitary napkin and the front outline and that the gravity center of the wing-like flap is located more toward the front of the sanitary napkin than the center point of the boundary line of the root of the wing-like flap W and the main body.
US08684984B2
A packaged incontinence treatment device includes a catheter and a package. The catheter has a distal tubular portion that is connected to a sheath with a portion of the sheath rolled to provide a proximal collar. The package encloses the catheter and includes a lower portion coupled to an upper portion by a hinge plate. The hinge plate is adapted to allow the upper portion to pivot away from the lower portion to provide an opened package configuration and to allow the upper portion to pivot toward the lower portion to provide a closed package configuration. The package has a retainer protrusion extending from an interior surface of the package that is engaged with the proximal collar of the catheter and retains the proximal collar in the lower portion of the package.
US08684981B2
A urinary bag system comprising: a substantially tubular leg portion having at least one support opening along a top portion; a substantially rectangular urine bag pouch affixed to the substantially tubular leg portion, having a top side, left side, right side, bottom side, outside side portion, inside side portion, and a substantially rectangular cutout opening along the outside side portion and corresponding inside side portion of the substantially rectangular urine bag pouch, a valve opening along the bottom side and a top opening along the top side; a support garment; at least one strap having at least one attachment device, a first end and a second end, the first end removably attached to the support garment by at least one attachment device and the second end removably attached to at least one support opening along a top portion of the substantially tubular leg portion by at least one attachment device.
US08684977B2
A combined container-syringe includes a body that has an outer tube to be filled with a drug solution. A cylindrical tip is attached to a front end portion of the outer tube and to a front end portion of which an injection needle is attached. A cylindrical safety device is attached on an outer circumferential surface of the outer tube in a freely sliding manner. A first retaining member fixes the safety device in a disengageable manner at a first position where the safety device is separated from the injection needle. A second retaining member fixes the safety device at a second position where the safety device covers the injection needle. A biasing member biases the safety device in the direction from the first position to the second position. A latch releasing member releases the engagement by the first retaining member.
US08684966B2
A syringe includes a hollow barrel, a hollow plunger movable within the barrel and a needle assembly secured within and at a distal end of the barrel. The needle assembly includes a needle holder, a resilient member that biases the needle holder toward the proximal end opening of the barrel, and a retaining member releasably secured to the needle holder via a reduced material section. The retaining member maintains the needle holder at the distal end of the barrel against the bias of the resilient member. When the plunger is fully depressed within the barrel, the plunger engages the needle holder such that the retaining member is forced to break away and separate from the needle holder along the reduced material section to facilitate retraction of the needle holder and a needle secured to the needle holder into the retraction cavity disposed within the plunger.
US08684958B1
A cervical traction device is provided that is made of high density foam that cradles the users head and neck while providing adjustable traction to the user. The innovation lies in the air pump adjustable “lift” bladder that creates the adjustable incline traction.
US08684952B2
An apparatus for performing medical procedures on an anatomical body includes an extension with an element near its distal end to be extended into the body, and a driver that moves the extension axially into the body, and that causes flexure of the distal end of the extension. The movement and flexure of the extension is driven by the driver from the proximal end of the extension, and an electronic controller directs the operation of the driver.
US08684950B2
Apparatus for eliciting a blood sample comprises: a housing; a shaft mounted within the housing; an aperture in the housing, the aperture being configured to receive a part of a user; a member rotatably mounted on the shaft; a lancet protruding from one position at an edge of the member, and a blood collection part located at a second, different position at the edge of the member. The apparatus is configured such that: when the member is in a first rotational position the lancet is shielded by the housing, when the member is in a second rotational position the lancet is operable to lance the part of the user received at the aperture, and when the member is in a third rotational position the blood collection part is presented such as to receive blood from the part of the user received at the aperture.
US08684946B1
The present disclosure describes a psychophysical test to assess the cone photoreceptor pathway by determining the sensitivity of the cone photoreceptors. The test may be used to determine of a subject is suffering from, or is likely to suffer from, a disease state involving the fovea, parafovea, macula, neurological pathways used by these area to communicate with the visual processing centers in the brain and cone photoreceptors and/or ganglion cells. The present disclosure also describes an apparatus for such testing purposes. Using the novel cone photoreceptor sensitivity test and apparatus, the present disclosure shows that cone photoreceptor sensitivity in subjects with primary open angle glaucoma was decreased as compared to a control group (p=0.04). This cone photoreceptor sensitivity test is shown to have excellent repeatability, can be administered in a short time, does not require extensive subject instruction and meets other limitations required for application in a clinical setting.
US08684936B2
A combination of an ultrasonic scanner and an omnidirectional receive transducer for producing a two-dimensional image from received echoes is described. Two-dimensional images with different noise components can be constructed from the echoes received by additional transducers. These can be combined to produce images with better signal to noise ratios and lateral resolution. Also disclosed is a method based on information content to compensate for the different delays for different paths through intervening tissue is described. The disclosed techniques have broad application in medical imaging but are ideally suited to multi-aperture cardiac imaging using two or more intercostal spaces. Since lateral resolution is determined primarily by the aperture defined by the end elements, it is not necessary to fill the entire aperture with equally spaced elements. Multiple slices using these methods can be combined to form three-dimensional images.
US08684935B2
Systems and methods are disclosed providing for the use of ultrasound energy to measure blood flow within blood vessels by Doppler velocity measurement. Directional high-frequency pulsed-wave Doppler measurements can be made with a suitable ultrasonic needle transducers for in vivo measuring of blood flow. A needle probe can include a ultrasonic material such as PMN-PT. Such blood flow measurements can be made in any part of the body, e.g., in the central retinal vein and branch retinal veins.
US08684931B2
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes a physical quantity calculator for setting correlation windows to two echo signals obtained by transmission/reception of ultrasound to and from a biological tissue and different in time on the same sound rays and performing a correlation arithmetic operation between the correlation windows to thereby calculate physical quantities related to elasticity of respective regions in the biological tissue, an elastic image data generator for generating elastic image data of the biological tissue with respect to an elastic image forming region of a transmission/reception surface of the ultrasound, based on the physical quantities, a physical quantity average unit for calculating an average of the physical quantities in the elastic image forming region for every frame, a comparator for comparing a value calculated by the physical quantity average unit and a preset average value of the physical quantities, and a notification unit for notifying a result of comparison by the comparator.
US08684919B2
Various embodiments of mouthpieces for use during endoscopic procedures are disclosed herein. According to various embodiments, a mouthpiece may include a shield, a primary instrument channel, a bite block, an oxygen administration channel and a tongue depressor. The shield, bite block, oxygen administration channel and tongue depressor may be integrally formed.
US08684916B2
Disclosed is apparatus (110) comprising a first device (120) adapted to be releasably operatively coupled to a second device (130). The second device comprises a detection coil (136) associated with a coupling arrangement (133) of the second device. The first device comprises a sensing coil (2206) arranged at a coupling region (123) of the first device, the coupling region being operatively associable with the coupling arrangement of the second device. The apparatus also has a circuit (125) connected to the sensing coil and configured to detect at least coupling of the first device to the second device through interaction of the detection coil with an electrical signal imparted upon the sensing coil.
US08684913B2
An apparatus for accessing a bodily passageway includes: an endoscope including an insertion portion configured to inserted into the bodily passageway; a drive tube including a lumen configured to receive the endoscope; a helically-wound thread disposed on an outer wall of the drive tube and configured such that rotation of the drive tube causes the drive tube with the endoscope to move along the passageway; a flexible drive shaft configured to transfer rotary motion generated by a power supply; and a rotatable drive collar disposed on the endoscope and configured to rotate the drive tube relative to the endoscope, the rotatable drive collar including a stator, a rotor rotatable over the stator and detachably coupled to the drive tube, a rotary gear configured to transfer the rotary motion from the flexible drive shaft to the rotor to rotate the drive tube, and a watertight seal disposed between the stator and the rotor.
US08684911B2
An endoscopic device for autonomous locomotion through a selected body cavity in a predetermined direction, the device comprising a hollowed, cylindrical body that extends between two, preferably, the front and rear, end portions, respectively. The body is made of a relatively elastic material and includes an anchor for temporarily and alternately attaching the end portions to a wall portion of the body cavity in synch with corresponding axial extensions and contractions of the body. The body incorporates a reinforcement structure distributed along its length that is substantially rigid in a radial direction and yields in an axial direction, the structure specifically comprising either a plurality of relatively rigid rings or at least one helical spring.
US08684908B2
A surgical implant and method for its use. The surgical implant includes a biocompatible mesh having first and second ends, a length greater than a width, and a centering device including a solid, button-like element having opposing first and second surfaces and a peripheral outer edge extending therebetween. The centering device further includes a filamentary element having first and second ends fixedly secured to the peripheral edge of the button-like element so as to form a loop therebetween. The filamentary element is woven through the mesh at its longitudinal center in a direction perpendicular to the length of the mesh.
US08684903B2
The present disclosure relates to a therapeutic method for improving the hemodynamics, the overall microcirculation in organs, and the restoration and preservation of deficient endothelial function in a patient, the method includes maintaining blood circulation in the patient's veins and arteries and temporarily relieving the heart of its pumping function. Relief may be accomplished by increasing the preload of the right ventricle so as to improve oxygenation of the myocardium and its contractility, reducing and diffusing regular pulsations in the proximity of the aortic root so as to improve the hemodynamics of the left ventricle of the heart, and/or mechanically stimulating the endothelium by shear forces so as to reduce systemic and pulmonary afterload.
US08684900B2
A heart monitoring system for a person includes one or more wireless nodes forming a wireless network; a wearable body sensor having a wireless transceiver adapted to communicate with the one or more wireless nodes.
US08684898B2
A method composition and system respond to ionizing, radiation to adjust biological activity. In some approaches the ionizing radiation is X-ray or extreme ultraviolet radiation that produces luminescent responses that induce biologically active responses.
US08684893B2
A dumbbell with adjustable weight essentially includes a handle, two first weight blocks, two second weight blocks, and two position-limiting elements. The handle has a gripping portion and two arms protruding outward from the gripping portion. The first weight blocks are removably disposed around the arms of the handle, respectively. The second weight blocks are removably disposed around the first weight blocks, respectively. The position-limiting elements abut against the second weight blocks ends, respectively. Hence, a user can adjust the total weight of the dumbbell by changing or removing the second weight blocks.
US08684890B2
A robotic rehabilitation apparatus and method provide subjects with lower limb gait impairment, gait therapy before subjects are able to walk independently, or are able to control their legs or stand unaided. The apparatus is constructed and arranged to take advantage of natural gravitational force and musculo-skeletal dynamics of therapy subjects, and to replicate gait in subjects without manual or mechanical intervention to lift subjects' legs and feet. The apparatus and method provide the appropriate dynamic and sensory inputs to muscle groups occurring during normal gait that are critical to gait rehabilitation.
US08684889B1
A handle for removable attachment to a dumbbell handle including a grip portion and a base portion is provided herein. The grip portion including side grips and top grip resembling a traditional kettlebell handle. An attachment device associated with the handle for attachment of the handle to a dumbbell handle.
US08684887B2
A continuously variable transmission (CVT) is provided for use on a recreational or utility vehicle. The CVT is electronically controlled by at least one control unit of the vehicle. The CVT includes a primary clutch having a first sheave and a second sheave moveable relative to the first sheave. An actuator controls movement of the second sheave.
US08684884B2
A plurality of energy efficiencies of an electric motor which are determined by characteristics of the electric motor are set according to the revolution speed and the driving force of the electric motor, and among the plurality of energy efficiencies, a plurality of energy efficiency groups having the equivalent energy efficiency are prepared. The energy efficiency for each transmission gear of a first input shaft is determined on the basis of a travelling speed and a required driving force of a vehicle. To which group among the plurality of energy efficiency groups that each determined energy efficiency is pertained is determined, and a transmission gear corresponding to the energy efficiency group having the highest energy efficiency among the determined energy efficiency groups is selected.
US08684880B2
A simply structured rattling noise reduction device for a vehicle capable of preventing rattling certainly under neutral position. The rattling noise reduction device is applied to a vehicle having a transmission mechanism configured to transmit a torque of a prime mover to an output member through a mating transmission mechanism, and a shifting means capable of selecting a drive position in which the torque of the prime mover is transmitted to the output member and a neutral position in which the torque of the prime mover is not transmitted to the output member, and in which the transmission mechanism is configured to idle any one of rotary members thereof to prevent the torque from being applied to the output member in case the neutral position is selected. The rattling noise reduction device comprises a slidable contact means, which is contacted frictionally with the output member, or with a rotary member and transmitting the torque to the output member, or with a member integrated with the rotary member and, in case the neutral position is selected by operating the shifting means.
US08684879B2
An eccentric oscillating gear device comprises a crankshaft having an eccentric portion, an externally toothed gear having external teeth and a through-hole in which the eccentric portion is inserted, an outer cylinder, and a carrier. The carrier rotatably supports the crankshaft. The outer cylinder has internal teeth meshed with the external teeth of the externally toothed gear. The eccentric oscillating gear device is provided with rotational phase adjusting section for setting an orientation of the crankshaft about an axis thereof, on the basis of orientations of the outer cylinder and the carrier about an axis thereof.
US08684876B2
A power transmitting component includes a housing having an interior cavity with a sump, a lubricant disposed in the sump, and a component mounted in the housing assembly for rotation about a first axis. The component rotates through the lubricant in the sump to generate a stream of lubricant that is slung from the component as it rotates at a speed in excess of a predetermined speed. The housing includes a deflector that extends into the interior cavity and has a first face having an impingement portion and a first edge adjacent the impingement portion. The impingement portion extends into the stream and deflects a portion of the stream towards the first edge. The first edge disperses the portion of the stream toward selected areas in the interior cavity.
US08684874B2
A transmission for transferring torque from a prime mover includes a first input shaft adapted to be driven by the prime mover, a second input shaft, an output shaft and an epicyclic gearset. The gearset includes a ring gear being driven by the first input shaft, pinion gears being driven by the ring gear, a sun gear driven by the second input shaft and driving the pinion gears, and a carrier driving the output shaft. A reaction motor drives the second input shaft. A controller controls the reaction motor to vary the speed of the second input shaft and define a gear ratio between the first input shaft and the output shaft based on the second input shaft speed.
US08684867B2
Rewindable golf tee. This includes a small rewinding device encased in a smooth edged multifarious holder with dampened press control element or pull to stop, pull to rewind system to safely rewind a golf tee via a strong flexible quality link. The aid can have two tees of varied lengths to suit golf club selection, two rewinding devices and two flexible connections. It can be cheap or expensive. The invention can support other golf gadgets such as pitch-mark repairer, ball marker, groove cleaner and/or score keeper. The invention can hold personal ID or corporate logo or advertisement. The invention is environmentally friendly. The tees can be made of more durable materials, with new special integrated finishes such as soft grip patterns. They can be easily replaced via connecting links. The rewindable tee device will sensibly save time on the tee box and avoid clutter in bags, pockets and/or greens.
US08684862B2
Golf club heads include: (a) a body having a ball-striking face and a rear face, the body defining a cavity; (b) a bridge member extending across the cavity, wherein the bridge member is provided to affect, at least in part, a position of a center of gravity of the club head; and (c) a feel altering element provided between the bridge member and the rear face. The feel altering element may affect a wide variety of parameters that relate to the “feel” of the golf club head when it strikes a golf ball, such as the sound produced by the club head during the strike, the vibrational response of the club head during the strike, the swing characteristics of the club head (e.g., weight, center of gravity position, etc.), and the like.
US08684855B2
Present embodiments are directed to systems and methods for providing an articulated waterslide. An articulate waterslide is capable of being maneuvered during operation to change flow paths of the waterslide. Specifically, an embodiment includes a waterslide with a chute configured to facilitate water flow along the chute and configured to transport a patron, an adjustable joint positioned along the chute, and an actuator configured to manipulate the adjustable joint such that a flow path of the chute is changeable.
US08684854B2
A flying rig system includes a load guidance apparatus and at least two first positioning devices operatively connected to the load guidance apparatus to control the areal position of the load guidance apparatus within an upper portion of a working space. A second positioning device is operatively connected to the load guidance apparatus to permit selective vertical positioning of a load suspended from the load guidance apparatus substantially beneath the upper portion of the working space.
US08684853B2
An apparatus includes a substantially vertical elongated mast and a substantially horizontal elongated boom which is supported by the mast proximate an upper end thereof. The boom can pivot independently about a substantially vertical first axis and a substantially horizontal second axis. The boom has a first end proximate the mast and a distal opposite second end. A gripping element, for gripping by a user of the apparatus while the user is supported thereby, depends from the boom proximate the second end thereof. An elastic biasing member operatively attached to the mast and the boom provides a biasing force to bias the boom toward a rest position and against downward movement of the second end of the mast. The biasing member allows a temporary downward movement of the second end of the boom due to sudden application of weight of a user's body when the user grasps the gripping element.
US08684851B2
An axially-floating sub tool for axial load compensation in conjunction with a top drive comprises cylindrical upper and lower members, with the upper member being coaxially disposed within a cylindrical housing. The upper member has an upper section slidably disposed within an opening in the upper end of the housing, plus a middle section that slidably and sealingly engages the housing bore. The lower-member bore has a splined upper interval, and a coaxial stinger extending upward from an annular shoulder medially located in the lower-member bore. The lower member is connected to the lower end of the housing with the stinger slidingly and sealingly disposed within the upper-member bore, and with the lower-member splines slidingly engaging the upper-member splines, thus defining upper, middle, and lower annular chambers, with the middle and lower chambers in fluid communication, and with a regulator/check valve regulating pressure in the middle and lower chambers.
US08684839B2
Various techniques are described for controlling a wager-based game played at a gaming system. In one embodiment the gaming system may include a gesture input interface device operable to detect movements gestures associated with one or more persons, and a gesture interpretation component operable to identify selected movements or gestures detected by the gesture input interface device. In at least one embodiment, the gesture interpretation component may also be operable to generate gesture interpretation information relating to interpretation of the selected movements or gestures. In at least one embodiment, the gaming system may be operable to automatically detect a gesture by a player participating in a game session at the gaming system; interpret the gesture with respect to a set of criteria; generate gesture interpretation information relating to the interpretation of the gesture; and advance a state of the game session using at least a portion of the gesture interpretation information. In at least one embodiment, the system may include a handheld device which is operable to perform one or more of the functions relating to gesture recognition and/or interpretation.
US08684829B2
Methods and systems for making a side bet in a hybrid game having a gambling game portion and an entertainment game portion are provided. The side bet is made in regards to the play of the entertainment portion of the hybrid game and can be made using a real world credit, a game world credit or a game world element. If the side bet is made using a real world credit, the real world credits used by the gambling game portion of the hybrid game and credited to a player are incremented or decremented. If the side bet is made using a game world element, the entertainment game portion of the hybrid game is updated based on the outcome of the side bet.
US08684828B1
A method and system for awarding game features includes a first game device and a second game device. An achievement game including an achievement outcome is conducted on the first game device. In an optional embodiment, the achievement game is a non-wagering game and the first game device is a personal device. A game including a base game and at least one optional feature is conducted at a second game device. The second game device receives any achievement outcomes earned in the achievement game and determines, optionally with input from the user, which optional features to apply to the base game. In an optional embodiment, the game is a wagering game and the second game device is a gaming machine.
US08684824B2
A gaming device including an interface unit configured to accept game play data from a player, and a controller coupled to the interface unit. The controller includes a processor and a memory, wherein the memory stores player tracking data and wherein the processor is configured to receive, via the interface unit, game play data for the player playing a primary game, initiate a play of a secondary game if a triggering event occurs, enable a player to select at least one of a plurality of different loyalty awards associated with the secondary game, determine an outcome of the secondary game, and issue a loyalty award based on the determined outcome of the secondary game.
US08684820B2
Virtual competitive group management systems and methods are provided herein. Exemplary systems may execute methods via one or more processors, which are programmed to compare one or more skill levels of a player to skill levels of a plurality of competitors, wherein a skill level is associated with player competitiveness within the interactive game, determine at least one of the plurality of competitors who have at least one skill level that is greater than the skill level of the player, and place the player and the at least one of the plurality of competitors into a competitive group such that the player is at a competitive disadvantage to at least one of the plurality of competitors.
US08684814B2
System and methods related to wagering, such as slot machines and/or other electronic games. Some wagering may relate to market indicators, market lines, and/or stop commands.
US08684812B2
A detection device is used in a gaming machine that detects numbers of dots on a plurality of dice having wireless tags. The detection device reads the wireless tags which are embedded on each face of the dice by a reader having an antenna. The antenna of the reader includes a first antenna portion disposed substantially in a central portion of a field that supports the dice, and formed in a substantially circular shape, and a plurality of second antenna portions disposed so as to superimpose a detection area of the first antenna portion, and having a detection area larger than the first antenna portion. The first antenna portion and the plurality of the second antenna portions are disposed so as to have a portion of detection areas mutually superimposed on a playing board.
US08684805B2
In a game apparatus, a game control method and a game control program, if a baseball game proceeds without all the pitches in one at-bat being made, a virtual pitch sequence history is presented, and the sizes of a pitching mark and a batting mark of pitcher and batter sides are changed in relation to this pitch sequence history upon designating a pitching position and a batting position. Since the sizes of the pitching mark and the batting mark are changed based on the pitch sequence history in this way, a more interesting game with more importance attached to the strategic characteristic thereof can be provided.
US08684802B1
A system that balances thermal variations within a set of computer systems in a datacenter. During operation, the system obtains a thermal flux map for the set of computer systems. The system then analyzes the thermal flux map to determine whether imbalances exist in the thermal flux across the set of computer systems. If so, the system can adjust: (1) the scheduling of loads across the set of computer systems, and/or (2) air conditioning within the datacenter, so that the thermal flux is more balanced across the set of computer systems.
US08684801B2
A grain bin assembly wherein the grain bin has a corrugated cylindrical wall and a roof structure having a plurality of triangular roof panels. The plurality of roof panels have rib junctions which form a gap. A vent assembly is positioned between the corrugated cylindrical wall and the roof structure. The vent assembly has a plurality of louvers positioned within the vent assembly. The vent assembly provides improved venting of the grain bin assembly.
US08684797B2
Composition, apparatus, and methods of composition and apparatus manufacture, for sharpening a paper shredder blade. Composition includes grinding powder, thickening agent, and additive. The thickening agent may be a white oil, an animal oil, an vegetable oil, or a stearine wax. The additive may be an antirust powder, an antiwear powder, an antistatic powder, or an antioxidation powder. The grinding composition is dispensed into a polyethylene film, and sealed to form the grinding apparatus, as a grinding sheet or a grinding packet. A method for forming a grinding sheet includes selecting the constituent materials for a grinding composition; stirring the constituent grinding composition materials; heating the constituent materials to melting; mixing the constituent materials, while melting and intermixing; cooling and packaging the grinding composition to form a grinding sheet or packet.
US08684794B2
A polishing pad and a method of producing a polishing pad. The method includes providing a mold, having a first cavity and a second cavity, wherein the first cavity defines a recess, providing a polymer matrix material including void forming elements in the recess, forming a polishing pad and removing at least a portion of the elements from the polishing pad forming void spaces within the polishing pad by one of a chemical method or mechanical method, prior to use in chemical/mechanical planarization procedures.
US08684792B2
A sanding system suitable for drywall sanding has a foam sanding block that fits into a hollow housing such that a gap is left around most of the perimeter of the sanding block and the housing near the plane of sanding. Some regions of the perimeter are dimensioned relative to the sanding block such as to not leave a gap but instead are such as to provide a friction fit between the housing and the sanding block.
US08684790B2
The invention relates to a method and an arrangement for re-creation of an optimized contour of the leading edges of gas-turbine blades, in which a gas-turbine blade (2) is passed by one or more grinding machine or machines (71, 71′) with the aid of a computer-controlled robot (10). The desired contour is achieved by following a movement procedure which is stored in a data memory (21). The stored movement procedure is designed to convert a blade from a previously determined statistical mean wear state to a likewise previously determined or calculated design contour. The contact pressure of the gas-turbine blade on the grinding disk or disks (71, 71′) is measured and is taken into account in the movement procedure of the robot (10) such that the desired design contour is achieved irrespective of the initial contour and wear of the grinding disks.
US08684787B1
A rattle call for use in luring an antler-bearing game animal to a desired location includes a rib bearing sound member and a knob bearing sound member. The rib bearing sound member includes a rib plate with an upper side and a lower side, a receiving handle or sound chamber connected to the lower side of the plate, and a plurality of ribs extending from the upper side of the first plate. The knob bearing member includes a knob plate with an upper side and a lower side, an engaging handle connected to the first side of the knob plate, and a plurality of knobs extending from the upper side of the knob plate in a position complementary to the plurality of ribs on the first plate for generating a rattle sound when the ribs contact the knobs.
US08684785B2
An infant gym includes a first support member having opposite ends engageable with a support surface, a hub located between the ends of the first support member, and a second support member having a first end pivotally coupled to a rear portion of the hub and a second end engageable with the support surface. The second end of the second support member is movable toward and away from the ends of the first support member, thereby changing the orientation of the hub relative to the support surface.
US08684784B2
In one embodiment of the invention, photo-chromic and phosphorescent toys are disclosed. A photo-chromic and phosphorescent toy includes both photo-chromic and phosphorescent materials applied to the toy such as through an ink, paint, plastic, or dye. The photo-chromic and phosphorescent materials may be supplied within a material of the toy or applied-to a surface of the toy at the factory. The photo-chromic and phosphorescent materials may be activated in various ways with various light activating devices that can generate an activating light with appropriate wavelengths.
US08684777B2
A propulsion device and a watercraft including the propulsion device. The propulsion device comprises a flexible fluke that is pivotable about a horizontal axis, for propelling a floating watercraft. The propulsion device is adapted for connection to an output drive shaft that transmits rotary motion. The propulsion device comprises a fluke oscillation drive having gear reduction of the rotary motion transmitted by the shaft and a mechanism for converting the rotary motion transmitted by the shaft to oscillatory motion of the fluke.
US08684764B2
A field installable backshell connector for a shielded cable provides an EMI shield around control signal conductors and a plastic connector of the cable and also provides a mechanical terminal of the cable. The backshell connector provides a low impedance ground path from the cable shield to a connector socket. The connector socket includes a plastic connector header that is shielded by a grounded metal shroud. When connected to the socket, the backshell is abutted with the connector socket shroud to complete the low impedance ground path from the cable shield in order to shunt electrical noise introduced on the cable shield, connector backshell and shroud to ground to resist electrical interference.
US08684759B2
A terminal connection structure which is downsized and easily connects terminal fixtures together without producing variation in electric resistance therebetween. The terminal connection structure connects a bus bar connected to an inverter and a second terminal fixture connected to a motor coil. The terminal connection structure includes a first housing receiving a thin-walled portion of the bus bar, a second housing receiving an electric-contact portion of the second terminal fixture and having an insert portion, a clip terminal arranged to make the thin-walled portion closely contact with the electric-contact portion, and a permitting/restricting portion, which permits the clip terminal to be attached to one of the first housing and the second housing when the insert portion is at a predetermined position and restricts the clip terminal from being attached to one of the first housing and the second housing when the insert portion is not at the predetermined position.
US08684756B2
A lever-type connector includes a connector housing, a cover attached to the connector housing, a lever rotatably mounted on the connector housing. The lever is rotated in a situation that a mating connector is fitted to the connector housing in a half-fitted condition, thereby moving the mating connector with respect to the connector housing from the half-fitting condition to a completely fitting condition. A retaining portion is provided on the lever. A lock portion provided on the cover is engaged with the retaining portion when the lever has been rotated. A lever claw portion is provided on the retaining portion. The lock portion is provided on a distal end portion of the lock arm. A lock protection portion is provided on the retaining portion so as to be positioned away from a rotation center of the lever than the lever claw portion so that the lock protection portion covers the lock portion.
US08684755B2
An electrical pop out device has a shroud and an outlet housing. The outlet housing is sized to be placed inside the shroud. A guidance mechanism connects the outlet housing with the shroud. The guidance mechanism includes multiple rack gears and multiple pinion gears. The outlet housing is moveable with respect to the shroud along a direction defined by the rack gear. A spring connector electrically couples the shroud to the outlet housing.
US08684753B2
The present invention relates to electronic technologies, and in particular, to a plug and an electronic device with the plug. The present invention solves the following problem: In the conventional art, an electronic device with a plug occupies too large space in the direction vertical to the surface of an external device when the electronic device is inserted in a slot of the external device. A plug of the present invention takes on the following features: when a head end of the plug is inserted in a slot of an external device, the plug is electrically connected to the slot; a back end of the plug is electrically connected to a main circuit board of an electronic device equipped with the plug; a sliding structure is set on the plug and integrated with the electronic device equipped with the plug; and the plug can slide relative to a shell of the electronic device through the sliding structure, and a head end of the plug can slide out of an edge of the shell in a direction that intersects a maximum extension direction of the shell through the sliding structure. The electronic device with the plug includes the shell, the main circuit board located in the shell, and the plug disclosed herein. A pair of slidable plugs may be used to enable selective mounting of the device.
US08684752B2
An electrical connector and electronic apparatus using the same are provided. The electrical connector includes a first set of terminals, a second set of terminals and an insulating body. The insulating body has a first mating portion and a second mating portion. First mating portion includes an inward wall surface. First contacts of the first set of terminals and first contacts of the second set of terminals are disposed in the inward wall surface of first mating portion. Second mating portion has an outward wall surface. Second contacts of the first set of terminals and second contacts of the second set of terminals are arranged on the outward wall surface of the second mating portion. The first contacts of the first set of terminals and the first contacts of the second set of terminals elastically contact to the corresponding pads of the PCB board without bonding.
US08684749B2
A light emitting device and method for making the same is disclosed. The light-emitting device includes an active layer sandwiched between a p-type semiconductor layer and an n-type semiconductor layer. The active layer emits light when holes from the p-type semiconductor layer combine with electrons from the n-type semiconductor layer therein. The active layer includes a number of sub-layers and has a plurality of pits in which the side surfaces of a plurality of the sub-layers are in contact with the p-type semiconductor material such that holes from the p-type semiconductor material are injected into those sub-layers through the exposed side surfaces without passing through another sub-layer. The pits can be formed by utilizing dislocations in the n-type semiconductor layer and etching the active layer using an etching atmosphere in the same chamber used to deposit the semiconductor layers without removing the partially fabricated device.
US08684743B2
A model human eye that is structurally suited for practicing surgical techniques, including extraocular muscle resection and recession, is presented. The model eye comprises a hemispherical-shaped, bottom assembly having multiple retinal layers and a hemispherical-shaped, integrally molded top assembly having a visually transparent cornea portion surrounding a visually opaque sclera portion. The model eye further comprises an annular iris, a lenticular bag, an anterior chamber having a first fluid disposed therein, and a posterior chamber having a second fluid disposed therein. The model human eye further comprises a cylindrical member extending outwardly from the sclera portion, where the cylindrical member mimics an optic nerve, and a cone-shaped elastomeric assembly attached to a distal end of the cylindrical member and having four elastomeric members extending outwardly, where a distal end of each elastomeric member is attached to the sclera portion, and where each of the elastomeric members mimics a rectus muscle.
US08684740B2
System and method for developing cognitive skills in a student, utilizing a computing device to present stimuli and to record responses. A stimulus may be graphically presented to the student via the computing device, and the student may be required to respond to the stimulus. A determination may then be made as to the correctness of the student's response. The graphically presenting, requiring, and determining may be performed for each of a plurality of stimuli. Additionally, the graphically presenting, requiring, determining, and performing may be performed in an iterative manner to improve the cognitive skills of the student. Various exercises directed to different cognitive skills and learning approaches may utilize this basic framework, and may be performed in an iterative manner to build cognitive skills in the student.
US08684736B2
The invention enables to arrange teeth at appropriate positions depending on the oral cavity environment of each patient without requiring advanced techniques or experiments. In artificial molar teeth to be arranged on bases which are mounted in an oral cavity as a dental prosthetic appliance, an occlusal surfaces of the teeth are provided with side grooves extending toward a buccal side or lingual side, and intersecting portions (tops) of the side grooves with the outer circumference of the occlusal surface, and a contact point are formed on a plane parallel to the mesial distal direction. Or the teeth are configured such that the bottom ends of fossae on the occlusal surface and the contact point are formed on a plane parallel to the mesial distal direction. Alternatively, mutually parallel flat frictional contact portions are provided around cusps mutually contacting with the maxillary molar teeth and the mandibular molar teeth, respectively.
US08684735B2
An inlay for connection to a dental implant, including implant connection geometry, for connecting the inlay to the implant and, coronal of the implant connection geometry, a post portion extending along a longitudinal axis, the post portion having a circular symmetric external surface and including at least one protrusion extending radially beyond said external surface, wherein the post portion further includes longitudinally extending grooves which extend radially inward of said external surface and are located directly adjacent to and on either side of the at least one protrusion such that the proximal end of said at least one protrusion is located radially inward of said external surface. The inlay is used in combination with an overlay including an accommodation cavity for housing the post portion of the inlay, the accommodation cavity having a circular symmetric cavity wall and at least one groove dimensioned such that the one or more protrusion of the inlay can be housed in the one or more groove of the overlay in order to inhibit relative rotation between the components.
US08684734B1
A dental implant has a coronal body that connects to a bone fixation body. The bone fixation body has a porous structure that includes a location at which the porous structure extends throughout the bone fixation body and through a center of the bone fixation body in a cross-sectional view of the bone fixation body. The bone fixation body also includes an internal cavity with a substance to stimulate bone growth.
US08684724B2
A plant for blow-molding plastic containers (2), particularly bottles, from respective parisons (3) is equipped with a plurality of molding units (15), each having at least two respective cavities (19) for blow-molding respective containers (2), and with a transfer device (39) for transferring the parisons (3) from a flexible feed conveyor (41) to the respective molding cavities (19). The transfer device (39) is connected to the flexible feed conveyor (41) at a transfer station (40), where the spacing (P1) of the parisons (3) is equal to the distance (D2) between the longitudinal axes (19a) of the molding cavities (19) of one molding unit (15).
US08684722B1
A thermoplastic pultrusion die system for pultruding a thermoplastic composite includes a first pultrusion die member; a second pultrusion die member; a die cavity gap formed between the first pultrusion die member and the second pultrusion die member; and a die cavity gap adjustment mechanism that imparts movement to at least one of the first pultrusion die member and the second pultrusion die member to vary the die cavity gap within a very tight die cavity gap tolerance.
US08684719B2
Die tooling is formed by forming a series of passages extending in the length of the tooling where each passage has a circumference defined within a body member of the tooling. Preferably the passages are primarily formed using a drilling procedure. The passages define a predetermined pattern of outlets adjacent the extrusion outlet or outlets. The passages between the inlets and outlets can be formed in a series of connected body members with each passage extending through each body member. Die tooling of this design is more robust and cost effective to manufacture.
US08684712B2
A plurality of convex portions that protrude radially outward from a plurality of positions separated in the circumferential direction are provided on the outer peripheral surface of a driven gear. Each convex portion has, in the circumferential direction of the driven gear, a rising surface that rises from a minimum diameter position to a maximum diameter position in the direction opposite the rotational direction of the driven gear, and a falling surface that falls from that maximum diameter position to a minimum diameter position that is adjacent to and in back of that maximum diameter position with respect to the rotational direction of the driven gear. The circumferential length of the falling surface is greater than the circumferential length of the rising surface.
US08684711B2
A scroll component including a spiral scroll wrap, a baseplate having a first major surface coupled to the scroll wrap and a second opposing major surface comprising a protruding pilot extending a distance from the baseplate, and a hub fastened to the baseplate adjacent to the protruding pilot. A method of forming a scroll compressor element is also provided.
US08684710B2
A distributor assembly (12) includes a distributor housing (102) and a valve selector plate (104). The distributor housing (102) includes an axial bore (106) extending in an axial direction through the distributor housing. The valve selector plate (104) is disposed in the axial bore (106) and is rotatable around a rotational axis (130) parallel to the axial direction between a first orientation and a second orientation. The valve selector plate (104) includes a first substantially planar face (132), a second substantially planar face (134), axial passages (136) radially offset from the rotational axis (130) and extending through the valve selector plate (104) from the first face (132) to the second face (134), and at least one fluid blocking section (138) configured to block axial flow through the distributor assembly. Each fluid blocking section (138) is interposed between and radially aligned with the axial passages (136) with respect to the rotational axis (130). A two-speed gerotor motor is also disclosed.
US08684706B2
A linear compressor has a hollow piston with crown and sidewall. The piston reciprocates in a cylinder. A piston rod connects the piston to a spring. A connection between the piston rod and the piston transmits axial forces directly to the piston crown. The connection transmits lateral forces to the piston at an axial location away from the piston crown. The connection allows rotational flexibility between the piston and the piston rod transverse to and uniformly around the piston reciprocation axis.Other improvements in or relating to linear compressors are disclosed and claimed.
US08684698B2
An airfoil for a compressor is described. The airfoil has a root, an airfoil tip, a leading edge, a trailing edge, airfoil pressure and suction sides extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge. The airfoil has an inner span region and an outer span region and the trailing edge has a dihedral profile such that the trailing edge dihedral angle decreases in at least a portion of the inner span region and the outer span region.
US08684694B2
The invention relates to a wheel (R) of the Francis type that comprises a ring (1) with revolution symmetry about the rotation axis (Z) of the wheel (R), and curved blades (21, 22) connected to the ring (1) and each having an outer peripheral edge (212, 222) and an inner central edge (211, 221). The connection points (B21, B22) between the ring (1) and the inner central edges (211, 221) of the blades (21, 22) are located on a same circle (C20) centered on the axis (Z). The connection points (A21, A22) between the ring (1) and the outer peripheral edges (212, 222) of the blades (21, 22) are located on at least two distinct circles (C21, C22) (D21, D22) centered on the axis (Z).
US08684686B2
An improved automotive pump assembly includes a volute pumping chamber configured to operably contain a rotatable impeller which, when driven, draws fluid into a fluid inlet and pumps the fluid to and through a fluid outlet. The volute chamber has an exterior sidewall with a constant internal first radius over a first sidewall portion and transitions to a second sidewall portion of increasing radius. The chamber's second sidewall portion defines a first end at a sidewall transition point tangent to the constant radius sidewall segment to define a second end which is tangent to the volute chamber's fluid outlet with a second radius that is greater than the first radius.
US08684685B2
A system includes a rotary machine including, a stator, a rotor configured to rotate relative to the stator, a plurality of axial grooves disposed along a circumference of the stator or the rotor, a plurality of blade segments disposed along the circumference, wherein each blade segment of the plurality of blade segments comprises a blade coupled to a mounting base supported in a respective axial groove of the plurality of axial grooves, and the plurality of blades has a non-uniform blade spacing about the circumference.
US08684673B2
A seal structure for a gas turbine engine, the seal structure including first and second components located adjacent to each other and forming a barrier between high and low pressure zones. A seal cavity is defined in the first and second components, the seal cavity extending to either side of an elongated gap extending generally in a first direction between the first and second components. A seal member is positioned within the seal cavity and spans across the elongated gap. The seal member includes first and second side edges extending into each of the components in a second direction transverse to the first direction, and opposing longitudinal edges extending between the side edges generally parallel to the first direction. The side edges include a groove formed therein for effecting a reduction of gas flow around the seal member at the side edges.
US08684664B2
A platform cooling configuration in a turbine rotor blade that includes platform slot formed through at least one of the pressure side slashface and the suction side slashface; a removably-engaged impingement insert that separates the platform into two radially stacked plenums, a first plenum that resides inboard of a second plenum; a high-pressure connector that connects the first plenum to the high-pressure coolant region of the interior cooling passage; a low-pressure connector that connects the second plenum to the low-pressure coolant region of the interior cooling passage.
US08684662B2
A ring segment for a gas turbine engine includes an outer panel defining a structural body for the ring segment. An outer side of an inner panel is attached to an inner side of the outer panel at an interface, and an inner side of the inner panel defines a portion of a hot gas path through the gas turbine engine. An outer side of the outer panel, opposite from the interface, is in communication with a source of cooling air. A plurality of impingement holes extend through the outer panel from the outer side to the inner side of the outer panel for directing impingement air to the outer side of the inner panel. The outer and inner panels define a plurality of flow channels at the interface for effecting convective cooling of the outer panel along the flow channels between the outer and inner panels.
US08684661B2
A fan module includes a housing and an impeller. The housing has an axial air inlet, a radial air inlet and at least one radial air outlet. The impeller is rotatably disposed in the housing and has a first air-guiding blade, a second air-guiding blade and a partitioning member. The partitioning member separates an interior space of the housing into a first air channel and a second air channel. The first air-guiding blade is located in the first air channel, and the second air-guiding blade is located in the second air channel.
US08684658B2
The invention relates to an apparatus for aligning an item that can be deformed easily, at least in the region of the outer lower edge. The apparatus has at least one aligning device that can be displaced in the direction of the item, and the transport substrate upon which the item is resting, in order to align the item on the transport substrate. For damage-free alignment of the item projecting laterally from the transport substrate contour, the subregion of the aligning device which comes into contact with the lower region of the item projecting laterally includes a stabilizing device. The stabilizing device prevents the item from being deflected, during the alignment process, in the direction of the transport substrate or, respectively, in a downward direction from the lower region of the item projecting laterally beyond the outer contour of the transport substrate.
US08684653B2
A swing-away lift is provided. The swing-away lift may allow for mechanized dumping of the contents of a refuse receptacle into a refuse container. Further, the swing-away lift may allow unobstructed access to the refuse container for a refuse-gathering vehicle. The swing-away lift may include a pivot leg, a swing arm, and a lift unit, and may be utilized in conjunction with a refuse container and a refuse receptacle. The swing arm may be pivotably connected to the pivot leg, and may pivot between a first closed position and a second open position. The lift unit may provide mechanized lifting and dumping of a refuse receptacle into a refuse container.
US08684649B2
A grain cart includes front wheels steerable about respective upright and rearwardly inclined steering axes arranged in a trailing self-steering configuration and rear wheel assemblies which are fixed in a forward working direction. The front wheel assemblies are fixed to the main frame of the cart except for the pivotal movement about the steering axes. The rear wheel assemblies are supported on a rear axle support member coupled by a rear suspension to the main frame so as to be arranged for rocking movement about a forward longitudinal axis. The grain cart optionally incorporates a load scale integrally into the main frame, as well as a hitch arm actuator to transfer of some of the load from the grain cart wheels to the towing vehicle by actuating the hitch arm to pivot the hitch arm downward relative to the main frame.
US08684648B2
A fastening system for attaching cladding panels to a carrier panel and allowing for differential thermal expansion. The system fastens the two panels together at points in the direction perpendicular to the panel planes. A combination of different carrier panel hole sizes and slots fix the panels together at one point and allow the panels to expand and contract relative to each other while maintaining rectangular alignment. Wall panels and buildings constructed using the fastener are disclosed.
US08684647B2
An operating member mounting structure includes a mounting plate having an inner edge defining a mounting hole, and an operating member includes a keytop and a flange which are coupled to each other by a shaft, and the flange is formed with a slit. The diameter of the flange is larger than that of the mounting hole. When the operating member is rotated and pressed down in a state that the slit receives the inner edge of the mounting hole, the flange passes over the inner edge of the mounting hole to be fully brought beneath the mounting plate. An operating shaft of an operated device is inserted into an insertion hole opened on the surface of the flange. By operating the keytop exposed from the top surface of the mounting plate, the operated device can be operated through the operating shaft.
US08684644B2
A locking device (1) for locking a container (2) onto a loading surface, in particular for road vehicles or railway container wagons, with a first locking lever (11) which is arranged pivotably about an shaft (13) oriented perpendicularly to the loading and unloading direction (Z) and which is preloaded in the direction of a basic position of a spring (14), wherein the shaft of the first locking lever (11) is guided displaceably in the loading and unloading direction (Z), and a toggle lever (117) is provided, the toggle lever being coupled pivotably at one end to the first locking lever (11) and at the opposite end pivotably to a fixing point (102) in the housing (10) such that the shaft (13) of the first locking lever (11), in the loading position of said shaft, is displaced towards the corner fitting (20) and, in the basic position of said shaft, is displaced in the opposite direction.
US08684643B2
A shaft cooler (1) for a tool motor spindle (2), which has a rotating shaft (3), a static lance (4), and at least one coolant loop (7), which comprises a coolant inlet (5) and a coolant outlet (6), said shaft cooler being implemented such that the flow of the coolant from the static lance (4) into the rotating shaft (3) is performed via a flow path that includes radially-extending cooling holes (31) to cause the coolant to flow from a radially inside location to a radially outside location.
US08684633B2
One embodiment of a system of the present disclosure can be implemented as follows. A plurality of wall blocks are stacked to form at least a portion of a retaining wall, each wall block having an interior face, an exterior face; a top surface, and a bottom surface. The system further includes retaining means for securing at least one reinforcement member between stacked wall blocks, the retaining means including a pair of reinforcement member retaining bars that are positioned within a slot crossing the transverse length of the top surface of at least one wall block. A first of the retaining means secures the at least one reinforcement member against the bottom of the slot and a second of the retaining means secures the first retaining members against the side of the slot, such that the at least one reinforcement member is additionally secured between the pair of retaining means. Other systems and methods are also provided.
US08684630B2
Concrete silo for offshore drilling and production operations includes a reinforced concrete foundation secured at the seabed by steel piles and steel anchors embedded into the seabed. An exterior vertical reinforced concrete wall is supported by the foundation. An interior vertical reinforced concrete wall is supported by the foundation and houses a central cell. A series of radial shear walls extend between the exterior concrete wall and the interior concrete wall to form a series of perimeter cells. A roof and series of horizontally extending service platforms are supported off of the outer concrete wall and the interior concrete wall. A series of vertical well casings extend through the concrete foundation and down into the seabed for drilling operations.
US08684627B2
A decorative concrete product and method of making the same is provided. The concrete surface carries a unique textural and visual decorative pattern that is troweled over the uncured surface. The decorative pattern strategically conceals any imperfections in the concrete surface. A decorative finishing tool is utilized to create a unique and consistent pattern throughout the exposed surface of the concrete. Unique visual patterns may include any aesthetic design including wood grain, or lightly finished honed or cut stone. The decorative finishing tool may be configured so that varying textures and contours may consistently be imprinted throughout the concrete. Advantageously, the cured concrete retains the durability of a concrete surface while carrying a visually and texturally appealing appearance.
US08684625B2
The invention relates to a device for limiting the speed of moving traffic. The device comprises at least one protruding element positioned on the surface of a road that is open to traffic. The protruding element wherein the shape and dimensions thereof are such that it affects only vehicles of certain sizes, the speed of which is going to be controlled. Likewise, vehicles travelling at an acceptable speed and along an appropriate path are also not affected by the device of the invention.
US08684624B2
A tolerance ring includes a curved strip having first and second ends. Additionally, the tolerance ring includes a plurality of projections formed on the curved strip, and a physical connection between the first and second ends such that the curved strip forms a closed loop.
US08684620B2
A retractable bar using a positioning spring leaf and a control device to control positioning between an inner tube and an outer tube is disclosed. The control device includes a movable member, a push button, and a linking device connected between the movable member and the push button. When the push button is not pushed by an external force, the positioning spring leaf will be pushed by the movable member to force its positioning protrusions into engagement with locating notches of the inner tube to lock the outer and inner tubes. When the push button is pushed by an external force, the linking device will be forced to move the movable member away from the positioning spring leaf, causing the positioning spring leaf to disengage the positioning protrusions from the locating notches of the inner tube.
US08684618B2
The two-side writing fountain pen of the present invention comprises an ink output means and a holding means which is provided for fastening the ink output means, and said ink output means includes a pen nib member and a feed member. The pen nib member includes a pen nib flake and a pen tip granulation element formed at the tip of the pen nib flake, wherein the pen tip granulation element is formed with a pen tip front contact section, a pen tip back contact section and an ink output passage communicating with the pen tip front contact section and the pen tip back contact section, and then the pen nib flake is provided with an ink guiding passage communicating with the ink output passage. The feed member includes an ink input section and an ink output section, said ink input section is provided within the holding means, and the ink output section connects with the ink guiding passage of the pen nib flake.
US08684615B2
A fluid applicator device, comprising: a fluid reservoir (1) including a neck (11) defining an inside wall (12) defining an opening (10); a fastener collar (2) that is assembled in sealed manner on the neck (11) of the reservoir, the collar (2) defining an orifice (24); and a closure member (3) that is capable of closing the orifice (24) of the collar (2), the closure member including a fluid extractor and/or applicator element (31) that extends through the orifice of the collar and into the reservoir (1); the collar having wiper means (25) formed integrally therewith for wiping the extractor and/or applicator element (31) while it is being removed from the reservoir; the device being characterized in that the wiper means (25) are movable between an initial position prior to being assembled on the neck, and a final position after being assembled on the neck, the wiper means (25) being constrained in the final position by the neck (11) of the reservoir.
US08684604B2
A slide rail device includes a guide rail, a slider slidable along the guide rail, and a pair of cylindrical roller train sets disposed at two opposite sides of the guide rail. Each cylindrical roller train set is disposed between the guide rail and the slider, and has a plurality of cylindrical rollers. Each cylindrical roller has a first roller surface portion and a second roller surface portion that is recessed relative to the first roller surface portion. The first roller surface portions of the cylindrical rollers are in rolling contact with the guide rail and the slider, and the second roller surface portions of the cylindrical rollers are free of contact with the guide rail and the slider.
US08684603B2
The invention relates to a sliding plug and to a sliding element. The sliding plug, which is inserted into a carrier body of a sliding element, comprises a circumferential surface that has at least one rib extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the sliding plug. The sliding element, which is provided with such sliding plugs, preferably comprises a receiving hole having a small-diameter section and having a large-diameter section.
US08684601B2
Apparatus 10 has breachable flow conduit 12 for discharging stored fluid 12F contained in storage chamber 10C out to the ambient. Chamber access region 10R is positioned proximate perimeter 10P of the apparatus. The breachable flow conduit is within the access region, and has an inner end 12C proximate the storage chamber and an outer end 12P proximate the perimeter of the apparatus. The flow conduit has outer pressed seal 14P between the outer end of the flow conduit and the perimeter of the apparatus. The flow conduit also has inner pressed seal 14C between the inner end of the flow conduit and the edge of the storage chamber. The flow conduit expands towards the perimeter of the apparatus under external pressure, typically applied by the consumer. The pressure causes the flow conduit to breach at the perimeter of the apparatus. The flow conduit also expands towards the storage chamber. The pressure causes the flow conduit to breach at the edge of the storage chamber. Breached flow conduit 13B establishes fluid communication between the storage chamber and the ambient for discharge of the stored fluid.
US08684599B2
The invention relates to a medical x-ray imaging apparatus which includes a support construction (1) supporting a substantially ring-shaped structure (2), an O-arm (2), which in turn supports imaging means (21, 22) and which O-arm (2) is arranged with an examination opening (4). The imaging means (21, 22) are arranged movable within the O-arm (2). The cross-section of an outer cover (3) of the O-arm (2) in a direction perpendicular with respect to the central axis of the O-arm is arranged for its predominant portion substantially of the shape of an arch of a circle but to comprise a cut, within the sector covered by which cut the distance from the center of said arch of the circle to the edge of the outer cover (3) is shorter than within the portion of the outer cover (3) being substantially of the shape of an arch of a circle.
US08684593B2
The static mixer (1) includes at least one vane pair (2; 2a, 2b) for the generation of a flow swirl (300) in the direction (30) of a passage flow (3). Edges of the vanes at the front at the leading side are perpendicular to the passage flow and parallel to a height of the passage (10). Onflow surfaces following downstream are bent out in a concave manner and in opposite senses. Each vane (2a, 2b) is formed as an aerodynamically designed body which includes an end wall (20), a convex side wall (21) and a concave side wall (22). The end wall has a convex shape or a shape of a leading edge. The vane cross-sections perpendicular to the side walls in particular have similar shapes to cross-sections of aeroplane wings.
US08684592B2
The invention provides a mixing system comprising a magnetically coupled drive system and a foil for cultivating algae, or cyanobacteria, in an open or enclosed vessel. The invention provides effective mixing, low energy usage, low capital expenditure, and ease of drive system component maintenance while maintaining the integrity of a sealed mixing vessel.
US08684589B2
According to one embodiment, an LED lamp includes a housing, a base, an LED module, an LED lighting circuit board, and a globe. The base is attached to one end of the housing, and is supplied with electric power. The LED module is attached to the other end of the housing, and is equipped with LEDs. The LED lighting circuit board is accommodated in the housing, and the LED lighting circuit board is equipped with a lighting circuit. The globe covers the LEDs, and diffuses and radiates light emitted from the LEDs, and is attached to the housing. The housing is formed of resin having high thermal conductivity containing carbon-based filler. The light emitting module is attached to the housing through a heat transfer plate a part of which is exposed from the housing.
US08684586B2
A light guide plate includes a light incident surface to which light is incident as incident light, an opposite surface formed opposite to the light incident surface, a light emitting surface through which the incident light is emitted, a rear surface formed opposite to the light emitting surface and including a prism pattern which reflects the incident light to the light emitting surface, and lateral surfaces, wherein a diffuse reflection pattern is formed on at least any one of the light emitting surface and the lateral surfaces to diffuse-reflect light incident to the lateral surfaces, thus rendering a brightness at both the opposite surface and the light incident surface substantially uniform.
US08684584B2
A thin-profile, optically efficient lighting device for use with, among other things, flat information displays, includes a combination of two optically coupled light propagating structures. The first structure may be a compound hyperbolic-elliptic element, adapted to receive light from at least one light source, such as a light emitting diode, and inject it into the second structure, which generally is larger and has hyperbolic-elliptic shape and a plurality of flux extractors. The latter redirect the light flux so that it propagates out of the second structure with a desired luminance and/or intensity distribution in a direction that is essentially perpendicular to the surface of the second structure. The flux extractors may also be of the active, i.e. wavelength-converting, type.
US08684582B2
Xenon light emitted from a xenon light source heads for a wavelength-selecting mirror through a taper coupler and an air mass filter. The wavelength-selecting mirror reflects a short wavelength component of the xenon light and emits the short wavelength component to a taper member. Halogen light emitted from a halogen light source heads for a wavelength-selecting mirror through a taper coupler and a reflecting mirror. The wavelength-selecting mirror transmits a long wavelength component of the halogen light and emits the long wavelength component to the taper member. The taper member has width gradually decreasing from an entrance plane for light to an exit plane for the light. The light emitted from the taper member is changed so that a radiation directivity of a component originating from the xenon light becomes similar to a radiation directivity of a component originating from the halogen light. This makes it possible to provide a solar simulator performing irradiation of artificial sunlight having uniform illumination distribution onto an irradiation-target surface.
US08684577B2
A cavity illumination system according to the present disclosure may include one or more illumination elements composed of a transparent or semi-transparent, biocompatible sterilizable polymer and one or more illumination sources. The sterilizable polymer operates as a waveguide. An illumination element may incorporate micro structured optical components such as for example gratings, prisms and or diffusers to operate as precision optics for customized delivery of the light energy. The micro structured optical components may also be used to polarize and/or filter the light energy entering or exiting the illumination element.
US08684576B2
The present invention provides a solid electrolytic capacitor having a low ESR, excellent heat resistance, and reliability used under a high temperature condition. On the dielectric layer of the capacitor element, 2-alkyl-2,3-dihydro-thieno[3,4-b][1,4]dioxine monomer is subject to oxidation polymerization to provide a first conductive polymer layer. Then, 2,3-dihydro-thieno[3,4-b][1,4]dioxine or a monomer mixture of 2,3-dihydro-thieno[3,4-b][1,4]dioxine and 2-alkyl-2,3-dihydro-thieno[3,4-b][1,4]dioxine is subject to oxidation polymerization to provide a second conductive polymer layer. The formation of the first conductive polymer layer and the second conductive polymer layer is alternatively repeated. The first conductive polymer and the second conductive polymer serve as a solid electrolyte to provide a solid electrolytic.
US08684571B1
A lighted bollard system that has significantly enhanced internal structural strength while providing for the replacement of the outer bollard cover and allows users to select from a plurality of different lighting fixtures suited for different applications.
US08684564B2
The present invention relates to an LED illumination apparatus. The apparatus includes a body having a lower portion adapted for coupling to a power socket and an upper portion provided with a power source module accommodating chamber. A heat-dissipating module includes a funnel-shaped hollow case disposed at a top end of the upper portion and filled with a coolant fluid, wherein the hollow case has a small diameter open end adjacent to the body and a large diameter open end remote from the body. A light source module includes amounting substrate disposed at the small diameter open end, an LED mounted on the mounting substrate, and a power source module disposed within the power source module accommodating chamber in a manner electrically connected to and supplying working power to the LED.
US08684560B2
A semiconductor light source apparatus can adjust a color tone of white light. The semiconductor light source apparatus can include a phosphor wheel, a motor rotating the phosphor wheel, a light source and a moving module. The phosphor wheel can include at least one phosphor layer configured to emit excited light. The phosphor wheel can vary a mixing ration of white light that is created by light emitted from the light source and the light excited by the at least one phosphor layer in accordance with a position of the phosphor wheel emitted by the light source. The moving module that is connected to the motor can adjust the position of light emitted from the light source. Thus, the disclosed subject matter can provide a semiconductor light source apparatus that can adjust a color tone of white light and a lighting unit using the light source apparatus, which can be used for a projector, lamp, etc.
US08684553B2
A solar powered lighting fixture having a multi-paneled solar array that maximizes the generation of solar energy during the course of a day. The outdoor lighting fixture of the present invention includes a multi-paneled solar array housing positioned on an extension rod that includes a plurality of solar panels arranged in a slanted configuration about the periphery of the housing unit. The housing unit is positioned on the extension rod so as to be elevated above the ground but below the actual light fixture. Employing a housing unit separate from the light fixture permits a greater variety of shapes to be used for the light fixture. Moreover, it allows the individual solar panels to be positioned at an optimal angle for maximizing exposure to solar radiation. Each of the solar panels is independent of the others, charging the battery separately so as not interfere with the other solar panels.
US08684552B2
A lighted furniture apparatus and kit having a base, a plurality of side panels, a top, and a lighting element. At least a portion of the side panels are at least partially light transmitting. The side panels include vertical edges, each defining a partially-enclosed rod-receiving passage. An elongated connecting rod is configured to be slidably received within the rod-receiving passages of two adjacent panels to secure them together. The lighting element may be disposed within the interior space formed by the base, side panels, and top.
US08684550B2
A light source includes a heat-dissipating plate, a heat-dissipating pin protruding from the heat-dissipating plate, a light emitting chip for emitting light, and a housing surrounding the light emitting chip, the housing having a receiving space spanning from a top surface to a bottom surface of the housing, wherein the heat-dissipating plate is disposed on the bottom surface of the housing, wherein the light emitting chip is disposed on the heat-dissipating plate exposed by the receiving space.
US08684545B2
An optical device is disclosed including: a non-imaging secondary concentrator having an entry aperture and an exit aperture, and configured to receive light focused by a primary focusing element from a source onto the entry aperture. The non-imaging secondary concentrator includes: a first portion proximal the entry aperture which is rotationally symmetric about an optic axis; and a second portion proximal the exit aperture which is not rotationally symmetric about the optic axis.
US08684543B2
An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup unit, a shutter unit located at a front surface at a subject side of the image pickup unit, a first optical member disposed at a subject side of the shutter unit, and preventing dust particles from entering the shutter unit, a second optical member disposed at the image pickup unit side of the shutter unit, and preventing dust particles from entering the shutter unit, and a vibration applying vibration member disposed on at least one of the first optical member and the second optical member, and vibrating the first optical member or the second optical member at a position outside a region where a subject light transmits.
US08684539B2
There is provided a semiconductor light source device including a plurality of semiconductor light source elements connected in series, a drive circuit configured to drive the semiconductor light source elements, a plurality of resistors, each of which is connected in parallel with one of the semiconductor light source elements, respectively, and a determination unit configured to determine the number of elements short-circuited in the semiconductor light source elements based on voltages applied to the resistors when driving of each of the semiconductor light source elements is being stopped.
US08684535B2
A cooling unit is provided which cools effectively a plurality of heat sources which are accommodated within small-sized electronic equipment such as a projector. There is provided a cooling unit in which a plurality of base plates 81a, 130a are disposed adjacent closely to each other, each of the base plates 81a, 130a has flat plate-shaped radiating fin 81b, 130b which is erected on rear sides thereof, each of the radiating fin 81b, 130b erected on the base plates 81a, 130a has extending portions 81d, 130d which extends over the rear sides of the base plates 81a, 130a which are adjacent to each other, and one or a plurality of heat sources are heat connected to front sides of the base plates 81a, 130a.
US08684528B2
A fundus analyzing apparatus 1 performs OCT measurements of a fundus Ef and generates multiple tomographic images that each depict layer structures of the fundus Ef. Each formed tomographic image is stored in a storage 212. Based on the pixel values of the pixels of each tomographic image, the layer-region identifying part 233 identifies the layer region corresponding to the pigment layer of the retina. Based on the shape of the layer region, the curve calculator 234 obtains a convex standard curve in the direction of depth of the fundus Ef. Based on the layer region and the standard curve, a protrusion-region identifying part 235 identifies protrusion regions where the layer region protrudes in the opposite direction from the direction of depth of the fundus Ef. A morphological-information generating part 236 generates morphological information representing the morphology (number, size, distribution, etc.) of the protrusion regions.
US08684522B2
A progressive-power lens having an eyeball-side surface including a distance portion and a near portion having different values of dioptric power and an intermediate portion that connects the distance portion and the near portion to each other, and an object-side surface including a spherical first region having a first curvature and extending along a principal meridian, a spherical second region having a second curvature equal to the first curvature and facing the distance portion, and a third region located outside the first region and below the second region and having a third curvature smaller than the first curvature.
US08684517B2
The invention provides, as an aspect thereof, an inkjet printer that connects a vacuum fan on the printer case side and a vacuum platen on the cover side through a short vacuum path. The platen moves in conjunction with the cover of the roll paper compartment. The platen is a vacuum platen having vacuum regions, suction holes, and a platen-side air path on the platen side, and a vacuum fan and a vacuum duct that connects the vacuum fan to the suction unit of the platen on the printer case side. The vacuum duct is disconnected from the suction unit of the platen when the platen moves in conjunction with the cover, and the length of the vacuum duct can therefore be short, corresponding to the distance between the intake opening of the vacuum fan and the suction unit of the platen when the cover is closed.
US08684515B2
A radiation curable inkjet printing method for producing printed flexible foils and plastic bags wherein a web-like polymeric substrate having a maximum value for Tan δ between 40° C. and 110° C. and a surface energy Ssub is printed upon using a single pass inkjet printer with a non-aqueous radiation curable inkjet liquid having a surface tension SLiq, wherein SLiq is smaller than Ssub by at least 4 mN/m, and curing the radiation curable liquid on the substrate at a surface temperature equal or higher than the temperature of the maximum value for Tan δ and smaller than the melting point of the polymeric recording medium. A single pass inkjet printer is also disclosed.
US08684507B2
A liquid ejecting head comprising, a plurality of nozzle openings, a first flow passage, a circulation flow passage, a filter chamber, and a bypass flow passage, an inner diameter of the bypass flow passage is larger than a diameter of the hole of the filter, the inner diameter of the bypass flow passage is larger than a diameter of the nozzle opening, and a flow passage resistance of the bypass flow passage is larger than a flow passage resistance of the circulation flow passage from a branch point where the bypass flow passage branches from the supply passage to a junction point where the bypass flow passage merges into the collection passage.
US08684485B2
A printing device includes a nozzle row for chromatic ink comprising K nozzles and a nozzle row for achromatic ink comprising (n·K) nozzles. In a color region, an image-forming operation is performed m times in which the movement direction of the nozzle rows switches alternately between forward and reverse directions, whereby a region of the image having a predetermined width is formed. The image-forming operation performed m times includes the image-forming operation performed once in which both of the nozzle rows for chromatic ink and for achromatic ink are used, and the image-forming operation performed (m−1) times in which only the nozzle row for chromatic ink is used. In a monochrome region, the image-forming operation is performed once in which only the nozzle row for achromatic ink is used, whereby a region of the image having a predetermined width is formed.
US08684483B2
A liquid stream is caused to jet from a nozzle. A small or large drop waveform applied to a drop forming mechanism causes the liquid stream to break up into a small or large volume drop, respectively. The small drop waveform includes a pulse having a width wS, and a period x, where x≈1/fR, where fR is the Rayleigh frequency of the liquid. The large drop waveform includes a period Nx, with the large volume drop being N times the small volume drop. The large drop waveform includes a first pulse having a pulse width wL1, where wL1≧wS, and a second pulse occurring within a period of (fR/fC)x of an initial pulse of a subsequent small or large drop waveform, where fC is the cut off frequency of the liquid. The second pulse includes a pulse width wL2, where wL2
US08684481B2
This disclosure discloses a printer comprising a feeder, a thermal head, an energizing device configured to selectively energize heating elements of the thermal head, a driving device configured to control a driving of the feeder, a battery storage part, a voltage detecting device configured to detect an output voltage value of the battery, a display device, and a control device. The control device executes a dot count identification process where a dot count is identified at a first timing and a second timing, a dot voltage fluctuation value calculation process where a voltage fluctuation value per dot is calculated, a maximum load voltage estimation process where a voltage value of the battery is estimated at a time equivalent to maximum load, a consumption level determination process where a consumption level of the battery is determined, and a display process where a predetermined display is executed on the display device.
US08684478B2
A food container and a refrigerator including a food container capable of simultaneously separating fixing members of a cover according to sliding of a handle and of taking out of food kept therein by opening an auxiliary cover even with a main cover being closed. The food container includes a main body having an entrance formed on a topside thereof, a cover opening and closing the entrance, a plurality of fixing members including one end rotatably secured to a side surface of the main body and the other end detachably connected with an edge part of the cover, to secure the cover to the main body selectively, and a handle sliding-movable on a top surface of the cover and contactable with the plurality of the fixing members, to push the plurality of the fixing members according to the sliding to unlock the securing between the cover and the main body.
US08684474B2
A roller of a tracked vehicle includes a lubricating oil reservoir having an open end closed by a sealing body having an outer face and an opposed inner face facing the reservoir, and which is transparent to provide visual access into the reservoir through the open end for lubricating oil level and quality monitoring purposes. A depression with a raised rim is formed in the outer face of the sealing body, and a port is formed in the sealing body, which extends through the sealing body at the depression from the outer face to the inner face of the sealing body. A removable plug is applied to and closes the port, and is positioned in the depression and extends outwardly from the outer face of the sealing body no further than the raised rim isolating the plug from shearing forces across the outer face of the sealing body.
US08684470B2
The present disclosure relates to a tunneling apparatus including a drill head having a main body and a drive stem rotatably mounted within the main body. The main body defines a vacuum passage offset from the drive stem that extends through the main body from a proximal end to a distal end of the main body. The tunneling apparatus also includes an axial bearing structure for transferring axial load between the drive stem and the main body of the drill head. The axial bearing structure is proximally offset from the distal end of the main body of the drill head. The tunneling apparatus further includes a first radial bearing structure for transferring radial load between the drive stem and the main body of the drill head. The first radial bearing structure is positioned between the axial bearing structure and the distal end of the main body of the drill head and is distally offset from the axial bearing structure.
US08684468B2
A back support for use in combination with a chair is provided. The back support may be used to remove body weight of a person from lower regions of the body, including the spine and pelvic region. The back support generally comprises first and second harness supports positionable at an upper region of a backrest of the chair, first and second harness supports being spaced apart and extending generally upwardly from the backrest when positioned at the chair, first and second harness supports each having an upper portion, and first and second harnesses suspendable from the respective upper portions of first and second harness supports, each of first and second harnesses being engageable with the body of the person or being engageable with additional harness structure that engages the body for transferring at least a portion of the weight of the person to the first and second harness supports.
US08684447B2
In certain embodiments of the present invention, a vehicle trailer is described that further includes a shelf component. The shelf component is separate from the rain gutter component. The shelf component extends from the rear wall of the trailer and includes a sloped surface.
US08684444B2
The present invention provides a compact covering for automobiles. This device is configured to be located on a windshield of vehicles, where it is anchored to the necks of side mirrors by elastic straps. The device has four rolls of cover-sheets and a housing which is constructed of two halves inserted fitly into each other. It is easily placed onto its working position by way of a wheel and suction-cups. Cover-sheets will be pulled out via apertures on the housing and stretched over the vehicle. To help pulling easily, each of the cover-sheets will have a pipe-shaped stopper attached at its outer end. Each of the pipe-shaped stoppers will have hooks which hooks onto the edge of the chassis of the vehicle. The axes of cover-sheets rolls are mounted with the constant springs, so they can rewind after each use. Brushes above the apertures will swipe off dust, tree leaves, etc. from cover-sheets when they are rewound.
US08684443B2
The present invention provides a vehicular bezel mounting structure in which an annular bezel 114 is mounted to a hole 106 formed in a vehicle body, the edge of the hole includes: an arcuate part 108 provided along a base circle; a concave part 110 cut off to the outside in the radial direction with respect to the base circle; and a projecting part 112a formed with a projecting piece 112 projecting to the inside in the radial direction within the range of the concave part, the bezel 114 comprising: a body part 114b inserted into the hole; an annular flange part which covers the edge of the hole from the outside; and a plurality of claw parts (116, 112) which are projectingly provided on the outer peripheral surface of the body part, wherein one claw part 116 of the plurality of claw parts can hold the projecting piece 112 of the hole between the one claw part 116 and the back surface of the flange part 114a; and when the bezel 114 is mounted to the hole 106, the projecting piece 112 can be elastically deformed by being pushed by the tip end of the flange part 114 adjacent to the one claw part 116.
US08684442B2
Versions of the present invention comprise a hand-detachable, hand-adjustable, storable, portable windshield assembly for use with cycles and motorcycles adequate for highway use and that does not occlude the forward central viewing area of the rider.
US08684441B2
A vehicle includes sidewalls, a tailgate located proximate to rear ends of the sidewalls, and a tailgate energy management system. The tailgate energy management system includes a governor coupled to one of the sidewalls and to the tailgate. The governor selectively applies a governing force to the tailgate to reduce an opening speed of the tailgate. The tailgate energy management system also includes a speed sensor sensing an opening speed of the tailgate and an electronic control unit electronically coupled to the governor and the speed sensor. The electronic control unit includes a processor and memory storing an instruction set. The electronic control unit receives a speed signal indicative of the opening speed of the tailgate and the processor executes the instruction set to cause the electronic control unit to transmit a control signal to the governor to slow the opening speed of the tailgate based on the speed signal.
US08684436B2
Intermediate product combinations for internal trim parts of a vehicle are provided herein. In one example, an intermediate product combination comprises a base part having an installation point in which a through-opening is formed for receiving an installation means with which an attachment part can be clamped to the base part on a surface of the base part (30). The edge region of the through-opening in the base part is provided with a shoulder, which surrounds the through-opening and projects from the surface on which the base part can be installed at the edge region of the through-opening, so that the attachment part can be supported by the shoulder when the attachment part is installed on the base part.
US08684431B2
A duplex-type product bag unloading apparatus including two downwardly opening and closing chucks and a chuck-moving mechanism for reciprocating the chucks between positions for receiving and discharging product bags. The relative positions of the two chucks are changed as they are moved from the receiving position to the discharging position by the chuck-moving mechanism, so that in the receiving position, the chucks are arranged in a single row in the bag width direction of the grasped product bags, and in the discharging position, the chucks are in a single row in the thickness direction of the grasped product bags. The chuck-moving mechanism is comprised of a pivot arm and a chuck-supporting frame rotatably mounted to the pivot arm, and the two chucks are rotatably mounted on both sides of the chuck-supporting frame. The chuck-supporting frame and the chucks rotate in synchronism with the pivotal motion of the pivot arm.
US08684429B1
A portable waste disposal tool uses recycled plastic merchandise bags secured to a frame by an adjustable tensioning bag clamp and sliding lock assembly, including a sliding lock and a bag clamp, the frame holding the bag in an open position to contain debris from an indoor or outdoor hard surface, a yard or other ground surface, including dirt, dust, yard waste and pet waste. The frame is attached to the lower end of an elongated extension handle wherein the waste is maintained within the plastic bag until deposited in a trash receptacle by a simple single handed release of the bag clamp.
US08684428B2
When a retainer unit is fastened to a body, the rotation of a pin member around its longitudinal axis pushes out and widens the body mounting leg portion of the retainer unit, and the retainer unit is drawn into the body. As a result, the elastic flange of the leg is bent, the insertion hole in the body is sealed by the elastic flange of the leg, and infiltration of water from the outside is prevented. By drawing the retainer unit into the body, the pin member is also drawn into the body a slight distance (dimension α). As a result, the elastic flange of the pin member is bent, the pin insertion hole is sealed by the elastic flange of the pin member, and infiltration of water from the outside is prevented.
US08684423B2
The invention relates to a push catch (2) for a container (1) with a lower part (11) and a cover (12), the push catch including a push element (21) which corresponds to a locking bolt (4). The locking bolt (4) is at least partially surrounded by a spring (43) which acts on a bushing (44) when the cover is in the closed state. The bushing (44) can be moved along the longitudinal center line of the locking bolt (4) and is supported on the lower part (11).
US08684420B2
A Brunnian link is a link formed from a closed loop doubled over itself to capture another closed loop to form a chain. The example kit provides for the successful creation of unique wearable articles using Brunnian link assembly techniques and includes several pin bars that are supported in a desired special orientation by at least one base. The desired special orientation is dependent on the desired linked configuration of the completed article. The pins may be assembled in various combination and orientations to provide endless variation of completed link orientations.
US08684419B2
A tubular connector secures two coaxial tubulars using a box and pin connection. A pin end tubular member having an axis and a pin end inserts into a box end tubular member having a box end. A pin end flange formed on an outer diameter of the pin end tubular member receives an end of the box end of the box end tubular member. An inwardly depending flange is disposed on the inner diameter of the box end portion. The inwardly depending flange is spaced apart from the box end planar surface and has a box end shoulder formed at an angle to the axis facing a same direction as the box end planar surface of the box end tubular member. An end of the pin end of the pin end tubular member engages with the inwardly depending flange for compressive load transfer.
US08684407B2
An apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant (20) of a vehicle (12) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) having a deflated condition and an inflated condition. The protection device (14) includes a panel (74) having a portion presented toward the occupant (20) when the protection device is in the inflated condition. A tether (60) has a first connection (78) to a first portion (80) of the panel (74) and a second connection (72) to a second portion (76) of the panel. The tether (60) is operative to limit deployment of the second portion (76) of the panel (74) in response to unrestricted deployment of the first portion (80) of the panel. The tether (60) is also operative to permit further deployment of the second portion (76) of the panel (74) in response to occupant penetration into the first portion (80) of the panel.
US08684398B1
A motorized vehicle assembly having a frame, a seat supported by the frame, and one or more wheels in communication with the frame, where the frame may have a plane extending therethrough and the seat may have a plane extending therethrough. The seat may be adjustable with respect to frame. The seat may be adjusted laterally in a first direction and/or a second direction, where the seat faces a third direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction. The seat may be rotated or tilted toward the first direction, the second direction, the third direction, or a fourth direction, where the fourth direction may be substantially opposite the third direction. In some cases, the seat may be tilted in the same direction in which the seat has been laterally adjusted.
US08684391B2
A hook coupling with a hook body (12), which has a hook-in opening (14), and with a closure latch (16) which can be adjusted between an open position and a closed position furthermore comprises: a blocking lever (26) which is displaceable between a blocking position, in which it blocks an adjustment of the closure latch (16) from the closed position towards the open position, and a release position in which it permits an adjustment of the closure latch (16) from the closed position towards the open position, and a triggering device (36) which, in its basic position, whenever blocking lever (26) is in the blocking position, prevents displacement of the blocking lever (26) into the release position, and which, when actuated out of its basic position, permits displacement of the blocking lever (26) into the release position. The triggering device (36) furthermore comprises a triggering component (38) which is mounted moveably on the closure latch (16) or preferably on the hook body (12) or on a component connected rigidly to the hook body (12) or the closure latch (16) and which is moveable between the basic position and a triggering position in which it permits the displacement of the blocking lever (26) into the release position.
US08684388B1
A bicycle having a first tube with a first tube portion and a first weld portion. The first tube portion has a first tube portion thickness and the first weld portion has a first weld portion thickness. The first weld portion has a first mating surface. A second tube having a second tube portion and a second weld portion. The second tube portion has a second tube portion thickness and the second weld portion has a second weld portion thickness. The second weld portion has a second mating surface. The first mating surface is positioned adjacent to the second mating surface, forming a weld interface between the first tube and the second tube. A weld bead formed along the weld interface coupling the first weld portion and the second weld portion.
US08684382B2
The invention relates to an axle support for motor vehicles, for receiving components of the chassis of the motor vehicle. The axle support comprises frame side members (2, 3) running substantially in the driving direction, each having at least one cast connection point (5, 6), and a pipe section (7) that adjoins the cast connection point. The pipe section has an at least half-shell form in the region of the connection to the cast connection point.
US08684380B2
The invention concerns a wheel suspension system for the non-steered wheels (16) of a motor vehicle, with a twist beam axle (2) which comprises two wheel-supporting trailing arms (3, 13) pivotably mounted on a motor vehicle body (15) and a cross member (6) connecting the trailing arms (3, 13) together, and a Watt linkage (8) also connecting the trailing arms (3, 13) together, at least one articulated holder (10) being integrated in each trailing arm (3, 13) itself for articulated coupling of the Watt linkage (8).
US08684379B2
A cast steering knuckle for a vehicle such as a truck includes a knuckle body. One or more pipes, each including a pipe body, are molded into the knuckle body providing a duct for a fluid and/or one or more electrical harnesses.
US08684377B2
An articulated steerable self-propelled vehicle has a support platform mounting a motive power source and sites at opposite sides of motive power source where an operator's feet can be placed to enable the operator to stand on platform and straddle motive power source. First suspension assembly on vehicle is pivotally mounted to platform in order to dispose and couple first ground surface contacting member spaced in first direction from platform, movable to follow the ground surface, vertically movable relative to platform to accommodate impact generated by uneven ground surface, and steerable horizontally relative to platform and the ground surface. Second support assembly on the vehicle is pivotally mounted to platform in order to dispose and couple second ground surface contacting member spaced in second direction from of platform, movable to follow the ground surface, and vertically movable relative to platform to accommodate impact generated by uneven ground surface.
US08684376B2
Skateboard devices, and methods of riding and steering an elongated foldable skateboard with two large front wheels pivotally attached to the front of the skateboard and a single large rear centered wheel with depressible brake. The skateboard allows for the rider with one foot on the skateboard to propel the skateboard by pushing off the ground with another foot. A stabilizing assembly with angled bolt/pin/rod that inserts into an oblong eyelet opening with pliable bushing on the front axle can allow for the rider to tilt the board with their weight to turn the skateboard to the left or to the right.
US08684373B2
A cart moving machine including a body portion, a movement assembly positioned on the body and including a power source coupled to a drive mechanism, the movement assembly being adapted to translate the machine relative to a surface, a hitch positioned on the body and adapted to engage a cart, a mast extending from the body and including a beacon positioned thereon, and a mast positioning mechanism, the mechanism adapted to allow the mast to be selectively positionable relative to the body between a protected position and an exposed position.
US08684371B2
The present invention includes a shopping cart frame with mounting bracket units connecting caster wheels and having a plate secured underneath the base with a caster pin receiving hole and spaced-apart flanges flanking the hole and abutting on the base; a shopping cart with a support bar between side uprights for forwardly propping up a primary basket and rearwardly hanging a secondary basket; a cart with a plastic basket having rear structural tubes sheathing the frame's side uprights and being secured thereto; a modular method of making different cart models by providing multiple sets of components with cooperating mounting surfaces for interconnection; a modular plastic basket with a hooked-on suspended tray and a channel-shaped overlay detachably snapped over the edge and tray; a one-piece molded plastic basket with independent branching tubular sections with different thicknesses; and an independent gas-assisted injection method for molding a one-piece plastic basket.
US08684363B2
A comb-like two-sided overlain gasket for sealing of dismountable flanged joints includes two sealing contact surfaces. Each contact surface defines a plurality of V shaped concentric grooves. Each of the V shaped grooves has an opening angle of 90 degrees. Each of the contact surfaces includes concentric surfaces that are disposed between each of the grooves. The concentric surfaces are created in a single plane and include a constant width that ranges from 0.2 mm to 0.6 mm. A bottom portion of the concentric grooves are rounded and have a radius that ranges from 0.3 mm to 0.5 mm. The comb-like two-sided overlain gasket also includes one of a sealing foil or a sealing plate that overlays the sealing contact surfaces and that extend beyond the concentric grooves. When compressed, the concentric grooves define a smaller volume than the volume of the sealing foil or the sealing plate.
US08684358B2
A reel assembly for a gaming system is disclosed. The reel assembly comprises a spinnable reel drum having a ring member, at least one support strut extending from the ring member and serving to mount the ring member such that the ring member is spinnable during use, and a reel strip. The ring member and the reel strip are arranged such that at least part of the reel strip is engageable with the ring member so as to retain the reel strip relative to the ring member during spinning of the reel drum.
US08684353B2
A skew feeding correction portion includes a first pair of skew-feed rollers that has rollers, a second pair of skew-feed rollers, a third pair of skew-feed rollers, as skewing at the downstream side of the second pair of skew-feed rollers, and a reference member that is arranged along a sheet conveying direction and that corrects the skew feeding of the sheet in such a manner that a side end of the sheet, which is conveyed as being skewed by the respective pairs of skew-feed rollers, is brought into contact with the reference member, wherein the first pair of skew-feed rollers releases the nip of the sheet by separating the rollers from each other before the sheet is nipped by the third pair of skew-feed rollers after the sheet is nipped by the second pair of skew-feed rollers.
US08684346B2
Provided is a sheet feeding apparatus capable of reliably feeding thin sheets in a separated state and an image forming apparatus including the same.A floating preventing member which regulates an upward movement of an uppermost sheet floated by air is provided so as to be lifted and lowered between a tail end regulating plate regulating the position of the sheet above a tray and an adsorbing and conveying portion which conveys the uppermost sheet floated by the air blowing from a downstream air blowing portion. The adsorbing and conveying portion is moved to a predetermined regulating position higher than the height position of the uppermost sheet and lower than the feeding surface of the adsorbing and conveying portion before the sheet is floated, which suppresses the movement of the sheet toward the tail end side caused by the curling of the sheet due to the air.
US08684345B2
In a paper-sheet post-processing device, a paper-sheet aligning unit has: a main unit; a paper-sheet holding part which holds paper-sheets supported on a paper-sheet supporting unit; a cam mechanism which places the paper-sheet pressing part close to and separate from the paper-sheet supporting unit; and an aligning mechanism which aligns the paper-sheets supported on the paper-sheet supporting unit with a standard position by rotation of the aligning member; and the main unit has a rotation shaft rotatably supported axially by a first support part and a second support part and the cam member and aligning member are arranged to be fixed to the rotation shaft.
US08684341B2
A torque rod having an arm portion, a ring portion formed on each end of the arm portion in a longitudinal direction of the arm portion, and a rubber bushing that is integrally provided with the ring portion. The arm portion is formed from a material that is lower in specific gravity than iron. A weight is provided in a portion of the rubber bushing other than a principal spring portion. The principal spring portion, which absorbs principal vibration to be isolated, is formed by an elastic arm portion that extends radially outwardly from an inner cylinder located substantially in a center of the rubber bushing and is connected to the ring portion. An aperture, which is a separation space, is provided between the elastic arm portion and the ring portion.
US08684337B2
Improvements in tubes, which increase the heat exchange capacity of tubular heat exchangers using the tubes, are described. These improvements involve the use of one or more external surface enhancements, optionally combined with an internal enhancement and/or differing tube geometries. These improvements apply, for example, to internal condensers, including those in which the tube bundles are oriented vertically, in vapor-liquid contacting apparatuses such as distillation columns.
US08684335B2
A portable hoist adapted for attachment to a hand truck nose plate is disclosed. The hoist comprises an adapter that sandwiches the nose plate and a hole or holes may be fabricated in the nose plate for securing hardware to be installed, such as a bolt, bolts, strap, etc. Receivers on the hoist hold removable, load supportive legs securely in place. Casters may be attached to legs to improve mobility. A jib assembly capable of several height settings remains reasonably level at all times when in use, making it ideal for tight spaces. The pivot point of the arm is at the end of the mast opposite the adapter assembly, the other end attaching to the handle of the hand truck and securing with a latch. A winch attached to the arm provides a cable extending to and about a sheave or sheaves, terminating beyond the sheave carried at the free end of the jib boom. A brace on the mast allows the arm latch to secure when the arm is collapsed. The jib assembly folds downward with a brake to hold the boom reasonably parallel to the mast. A cable securing hook is attached to the mast, and with slight tension on the cable, the latch brace and cable hook enable the hoist to be carried about easily, utilizing the boom as a handle.
US08684329B2
A solenoid valve for a liquid propane injection system can prevent bubbles from flowing into a fuel pump due to heat from a solenoid coil, when a vehicle that travels at low speed is instantaneously and rapidly accelerated, using a sealing member and a sealing-reinforcing member, and accordingly keep the vehicle stably traveling by maintaining the fuel-sending performance of the fuel pump and smoothly supplying fuel to injectors.
US08684321B2
A stud retainer is configured to securely retain a fastening stud. The stud retainer includes a base integrally connected to beams that are in turn integrally connected to a wall opposite the base. A stud retainer chamber is defined between the base, the beams, and the wall. A vibration-damping interface extends outwardly from the beams. The vibration-damping interface may include a plurality of fingers. The stud retainer may also include at least one flexible brace extending from said wall toward said base.
US08684319B2
The present invention is directed to a wall mount bracket that supports a cable tray in a cable routing system. The wall mount bracket includes a back wall and a sidewall. The back wall has a top, a bottom, sides and mounting holes positioned therebetween. The sidewall extends outwardly from one side of the back wall. The longitudinal wires of the cable tray are positioned on the sidewall of the wall mount bracket. The sidewall also has a distal end with an engaging member that receives a bottom longitudinal wire of the sidewall of the cable tray.
US08684317B2
A railroad switch point roller mechanism utilized with a rail, a moveable point and a ground supported tie. The mechanism includes a roller or wheel which turns relative to a wheel axis. A wheel support is also employed and holds the wheel relative to the ground supported tie. The support connects to the moveable point, such that the lateral movement of the wheel relative to the ground supported tie takes place when the moveable point travels laterally relative to the rail. An adjustor is also included for finely determining the up or down position of the wheel relative to the tie and the wheel support.
US08684314B2
For emergency piloting of a manual flight control system (7) of an aircraft (1), in the event of flexible connection means (26) breaking, an upstream control device (8) takes authority over the electronic control unit (29) of series actuator (21). An output pivoting quadrant (25) is subjected by a centering rod (22) to a blocking and centering action. In the event of the system breaking, the output pivoting quadrant (25) forms a bearing point for the series actuator (21), so that an emergency control actuate a airfoil surface (11).
US08684312B2
The invention relates to a method for checking the formation of ice on an aircraft in flight, characterized in that the method comprises: the estimation (S4) in real time of a quantity of ice (SWC) forming on at least one zone of the aircraft according to flight conditions and the comparison (S5) between the estimated quantity of ice (SWC) and a predetermined quantity of ice (SWCmax; SWCTHR).
US08684309B2
An integrated bracket assembly for attachment to a convex outer corner surface of a torsion box of an aerofoil structure, the bracket assembly comprising a bracket strip having a plurality of brackets arranged spaced side by side, and connected by an infill rail integrally formed with the bracket strip, wherein the infill rail has a concave surface for mating with the convex surface of the torsion box. The torsion box may be of a “U-box” construction where a front spar and a rear spar are integrally formed with either an upper or lower torsion box cover to form an omega-shaped unitary component, and the other cover is attached to the omega-shaped component to provide an enclosed volume. The bracket strip may be used for attaching a leading/trailing edge structure of the aerofoil to the torsion box.
US08684307B2
There is provided a space-saving and compact swing type door structure of an aircraft restroom, in which a door is automatically closed and which is easy to use for a passenger using the restroom. The swing type door (40) is slidably hung at its upper end edge (44) from a rail disposed at an upper portion of a door frame by a guide structure including a slide pin (46) and is turnably connected in a predetermined position different from the hung position to the door frame by a linkage (60). Swinging operation in opening the door (40) deforms a spring provided in an automatic closing device (50). When a hand is released from the door (40), the door (40) is constantly biased in a closing direction by spring resilience through the linkage (60) and automatically returns to a closed position. Therefore, the restroom becomes easy to use, an aisle in front of the restroom can be used in an emergency, and it is possible to avoid contingencies caused by false recognition of an escape hatch.
US08684302B2
An airplane provided with dual-flow turbojet engines having nacelles at least partially encased in the fuselage, wherein the air intake of each engine is connected to the fuselage by two boundary layer guiding walls, the walls extending towards the upstream side of the air intake and being spaced apart towards the upstream side.
US08684298B2
A turn-bar for adjusting orientation of a web includes a plurality of roll bars. Positions of at least two bars of the plurality of roll bars are movable with respect to a direction of travel of the web. An orientation of the web passing through the bars may be changed by adjusting a position of the at least two bars without removal of the web from the turn-bar. A method of selectively inverting or not inverting a web includes changing a position of at least two roll bars of a turn-bar apparatus with respect to a direction of travel of the web, where the web is not inverted by the turn-bar apparatus when the at least two roll bars are in a first position, and the web is inverted by the turn-bar apparatus when the at least two roll bars are in a second position.
US08684285B2
A movable core includes a through-hole, which receives a main body of a needle therethrough, and a receiving recess, which is axially recessed in a stationary core side end surface of the movable core. The receiving recess is configured into an annular form and radially outwardly extends from the through-hole to receive a flange of the needle. A movable plate is placed on an axial side of the movable core, which is opposite from the nozzle. An axial length of the flange is smaller than an axial distance between a contact surface of the movable plate, which is contactable with the needle, and a bottom wall of the receiving recess in a contact state where the movable core and the movable plate contact with each other.
US08684284B2
Methods, processes, and apparatuses for the large scale synthesis of carbon nanostructures are provided. The apparatus for continuous large scale production of SWNTs includes a chamber. Positioned in one end of the chamber is a piston and at the other end is a tangential vortex created by gases forced into the chamber from opposite sides of the chamber walls. The chamber can be heated to reduce or eliminate agglomeration of small particles. The piston is used to push the catalyst towards the vortex, and the injection rate is controlled by the speed of the piston and the gas flow rate to create the vortex that also act as the transport gas. Thus, greater than 1 kg/h of an aerosolized, deagglomerated dry powder catalyst can be delivered to the reactor at a constant flow rate.
US08684280B2
A concrete railway rail foundation wherein an uppermost face of the foundation comprises a rail seat area for supporting a railway rail extending in a first direction across the rail seat area, two anchoring device seating regions located on either side of the rail seat area for accommodating respective anchoring devices, and, on each side of an anchoring device seating region, an upstanding portion having a height substantially the same as or higher than that of an anchoring device and a depth, in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, which is substantially the same as or deeper than that of the anchoring device is disclosed.
US08684278B2
A vehicle traction jack that functions as a traction mat platform, ramp, and vehicle jack to assist a vehicle's tire when a tire is stuck in a rut, hole, or some sort of terrain or weather condition such as sand, gravel, dirt, mud, or snow is disclosed. The traction jack comprises a first plate and second plate, a hinge assembly, and a jack. The first and second plates can extend to a partially-opened or fully-opened position, forming a ramp and traction mat platform. The extended traction jack can be placed in front of or behind a vehicle's tire to provide addition traction. A jack extends from at least one plate of the vehicle traction jack to raise a vehicle for repairs to the vehicle's tire. Easily stored in a vehicle at all times, a single user can use the traction jack to help move any type of vehicle's tire.
US08684276B2
Provided is a portable heating device comprising a combustion-powered heater, a regulator, and an oxygen depletion sensor. The combustion-powered heater may be supplied by an associated fuel source and may comprise a combustion region comprising a catalytic surface. The regulator may be adapted for fluid communication with the associated fuel source. The oxygen depletion sensor may comprise a burner and a temperature detector. The burner may be in fluid communication with the regulator and may be adapted to combust fuel form the regulator with air to produce a flame. The temperature detector may be adapted to detect the temperature of the flame and may be adapted to selectively render the combustion-powered heater non-functional.
US08684266B2
An online sales/automatic rebate and coupon redemption system provides online customers automatic retrieval and redemption of all applicable rebates and coupons during purchase. Purchase orders from customers are selectively fulfilled and products are shipped to the customers either by the system for online sales with automatic rebate and coupon redemption or by other merchant or manufacturer environments. The system purchases from merchants using applicable coupons and rebates and then sells the products to the customers, passing the savings to them. The system makes it possible to automatically retrieve coupons and rebates for items in a shopping cart during the activity of an online purchase at an electronic mall or an online merchant site. The system provides coupons to potential customers via email, based on customer profile, geographical information, etc. Manufacturers and merchants can update coupon value and content based on ongoing sales and volume of customer activity.
US08684263B1
A system and method for dispensing documents of value from an automated transaction machine that operates responsive to data read from data bearing records. The machine includes a card reader, cash dispenser, and display device. The machine can display data representative of selectable documents of value, such as a ticket that provides access to an entertainment event. After appropriate user selection and payment, the machine produces an electronic document corresponding to user selection. The machine can wirelessly dispense the electronic document to a mobile phone of the machine user. Information in the document corresponds to a description of value associated with the document. Unique information in the document enables the document to be authenticated with a validating device at a location where the document is to be redeemed.
US08684258B2
A process for reducing aluminum pick-up and adherence during the ultrasonic welding of aluminum braids which are welded in a vertically and/or horizontally adjustable compression chamber of an ultrasonic welding device. The static tool parts which delimit the compression chamber have working surfaces made from polycrystalline diamond (PCD).
US08684256B2
A method for the joining of ceramic pieces with a hermetically sealed joint comprising brazing a continuous layer of joining material between the two pieces. The wetting and flow of the joining material is controlled by the selection of the joining material, the joining temperature, the time at temperature, the joining atmosphere, and other factors. The ceramic pieces may be aluminum nitride and the pieces may be brazed with an aluminum alloy under controlled atmosphere. The joint material is adapted to later withstand both the environments within a process chamber during substrate processing, and the oxygenated atmosphere which may be seen within the shaft of a heater or electrostatic chuck.
US08684248B2
A surgical instrument including a handle assembly, a safety mechanism, an elongated body portion and a head portion is disclosed. The handle assembly includes a stationary handle, an approximation mechanism, and a firing trigger. A lever of the safety mechanism is movable between a first position where the firing trigger is prevented from being actuated, and a second position where the firing trigger is able to be actuated. A first jaw member of the head portion is movable in relation to a second jaw member of the head portion between spaced and approximated positions. Movement of the first jaw member in relation to the second jaw member from the approximated position towards the spaced position causes the lever of the safety mechanism to move from its second position to its first position.
US08684246B2
A driving device for resetting a hitting nail bar of the pneumatic nail gun, which is mounted in a gun body including a main air chamber, a trigger valve, a hitting nail bar and a bottom cylinder chamber disposed therein is provided. The driving device includes a main gas channel and a sensing valve component slidably disposed in the main gas channel. The main gas channel communicates with the main air chamber and the bottom cylinder chamber via the trigger valve. The sensing valve component is controlled by the position of the hitting nail bar to be either opened or closed. The sensing valve component is opened on the condition that a reset state of the hitting nail bar is excluded, and the high-pressure air is introduced from the main air chamber into the bottom cylinder chamber to drive the hitting nail bar to move upwardly to reset rapidly.
US08684245B2
A fastener driving device includes a nose assembly having a drive channel, a magazine for carrying a supply of fasteners through a feed channel along a feed channel direction toward the nose assembly, and one or more mechanisms for preventing undesirable movement of fasteners. The mechanisms may include a first stop pawl and a second stop pawl for preventing the supply of fasteners from moving along a direction opposite to the feed channel direction. The stop pawls may extend from a common side of the feed channel and pivot on a common axis. The mechanisms may also include a first nail stop, a second nail stop and/or a movable nail stop.
US08684241B2
A squeezing device capable of squeezing a viscous liquid in a packaging bag includes a pair of bag body support parts for stretching and supporting the bag bodies by fixing the front end and the rear end of a bag body and performing fixing of the rear end by applying a tension thereto rearwards; a squeezing mechanism part which is so provided as to be capable of sliding in the direction towards the front end in such a state the rear end of the bag supported by the bag body support parts is held from the upper and lower sides; and a drive mechanism part for slidingly driving the squeezing mechanism part in the direction towards the front end. The squeezing mechanism part is installed at the tip end of the device, and the drive mechanism part includes a slide bar disposed parallel to the sliding direction of the squeezing mechanism part.
US08684229B2
The present invention is preferably directed to a dispenser of the type sold by 3M ESPE under the trade name Pentamix and as also described above. Such a dispenser preferably comprises at least a first and a second compartment for a first reservoir and a second reservoir, respectively, the first and the second reservoirs containing a first and a second component for the dental material, respectively. It further preferably comprises a first and a second plunger driven by a first drive for advancing the first and the second components from the first and the second reservoirs, respectively. Moreover, a dynamic mixer driven by a second drive for automatically mixing the first and second components to form the dental material from the first and second components is provided. Such a dispenser further preferably has a dispensing portion or mixing tip for dispensing the mixed dental material. The present invention is more particularly directed to a dispenser or method adapted for advancing and mixing at least one dental material, comprising at least one drive which is operated on a predetermined, non-uniform drive speed profile. Preferably an advancing speed profile is provided for advancing the components and/or a mixing speed profile is provided for mixing the components, and either profile may be a “drive speed profile” as that term is used herein. More preferably both profiles are provided.
US08684215B2
The pressure control valve comprises a negative pressure valve and a positive pressure valve. The negative pressure valve comprises a negative pressure valve body, a valve retaining member and an engagement mechanism. The engagement mechanism comprises a support concave portion formed on the negative pressure valve body and a support protrusion formed on the valve retaining member and inserted into the support concave portion, which is formed to reduce the elastic deformation transferred to a second seating portion, when a first seating portion is pressed by a first seal portion to undergo elastic deformation.
US08684207B2
A stopper head (1) to be secured to a stopper body (2) to form a stopper for a container, includes a base (3) on which a lug (4) is positioned such that it protrudes, the lug (4) being designed to cooperate with the body during the assembly of the body and the lug (4), the lug (4) including at least one recess (5) opening laterally, at both of its ends, such that the lug (4) is crossed through to anchor the body with the head (1).
US08684206B2
A rubber plug for a vial container includes a leg portion press molded independently, and having a base end side portion, and a plate-shape cap portion bonded to the base end side portion press-molded with the leg portion. The leg portion and the plate-shape cap portion have bonding areas formed as concentric concavo-convex areas. The base end side portion of the leg portion including the area bonded with the plate-shape cap portion is formed of a material same as that of the plate-shape cap portion. A remaining portion of the leg portion except for the base end side is formed by a material different from the plate-shape cap portion.
US08684202B2
A bottle of one-piece construction includes a body having a shoulder, a neck finish and a neck extending from the shoulder to the neck finish. The shoulder and neck finish each have circular cross sections around respective axes, which preferably are coincident with a central axis of the bottle. A major portion of the neck has an oval cross section around a third axis, which preferably is coincident with the central axis, smoothly blending into the circular cross sections of the shoulder and neck finish. The oval cross section preferably is generally elliptical, having outwardly convex end portions and outwardly convex side portions extending between the end portions. The neck preferably has a substantially uniform wall thickness.
US08684200B2
A bottle assembly is presented including a body portion having a dividing wall extending therein; a first chamber for holding a first liquid, the first chamber configured to connect to a first orifice; a second chamber for holding a second liquid, the second chamber configured to connect to a second orifice; and a weight distribution mechanism configured to be placed entirely within the body portion of the bottle assembly for counterbalancing the first liquid against the second liquid, the weight distribution mechanism having a plurality of spheres therein.
US08684198B2
A working machine includes a base machine and a working attachment. The working attachment has a base-end boom, a lead-end boom, and an arm. The working machine is collapsible into a triple-folded state, with the base-end boom being located on the upper side and the arm being located on the lower side with respect to the lead-end boom, as a posture of the working machine for transport. The working machine further includes a lead-end boom cylinder for moving the lead-end boom, and an arm cylinder for moving the arm. The lead-end boom has a first lead-end boom cylinder attachment portion for mounting the lead-end boom cylinder, and a first arm cylinder attachment portion for mounting the arm cylinder. The first lead-end boom cylinder attachment portion is disposed at a position different from the first arm cylinder attachment portion in a widthwise direction of the working attachment, and lower than the first arm cylinder attachment portion in the transport posture.
US08684197B2
A lift crane includes a carbody; ground engaging members elevating the carbody off the ground; a rotating bed rotatably connected to the carbody; a boom pivotally mounted at a first end to the rotating bed with a load hoist line extending adjacent a second end of the boom; a boom hoist mechanism that can be used to change the angle of the boom relative to the rotating bed during crane operation; and a boom raising assist structure connected to the boom. The boom raising assist structure preferably includes at least one ground engaging member in contact with the ground; and a boom elevating member extending between the assist structure ground engaging member and the boom. The boom elevating member supports at least a part of the weight of the boom.
US08684193B1
A foldable container or holder that is foldable from a first flat planar shipping and storing configuration to a second erected generally rectangular configuration having an open top end for storing or holding items. The container or holder is formed from a flat planar blank of stiff material which is die cut, scored and slotted in a pattern which, when folded, forms a generally rectangular container or holder with a suspending tab for hanging or suspending the container r holder on a horizontal support track.
US08684187B2
A polyamide membrane including reaction product of an anhydrous solution comprising an anhydrous solvent, at least one polyfunctional secondary amine and a pre-polymer deposition catalyst, and an anhydrous, organic solvent solution comprising a polyfunctional aromatic amine-reactive reactant having one ring. A composite semipermeable membrane including the polyamide membrane on a porous support.
US08684177B2
In a hard material made stopper housing case to house a plurality of cylindrical stoppers for defining a drill blade entering depth of a dental implant fixture embedding hole at a jawbone when performing a dental implant treatment, the stopper has a spring-like locking part to be locked with a flange part projected from a shank part of a drill, the stopper housing case 1 has concave parts 2 provided in parallel and capable of respectively housing the stopper Y, and each of the concave parts 2 includes, at one side, a flange part insertion path 3 having a size preventing the spring-like locking part from falling out and being capable of inserting the flange part, and further includes, at another side opposite to the one side, a drill blade part insertion path 4 capable of inserting the blade part of the drill X.
US08684173B2
The present invention provides a before-use mixing container in which it is possible to easily perform a mixing operation for two types of medicinal solutions and it is not until a mixing operation is performed that a medicinal solution is extracted for use from inside a container.
US08684171B1
A modular conveyor apparatus includes a plurality of substantially identical conveyor segments. Each conveyor segment has a pair of laterally spaced protrusions or hooks extending from one end thereof. Each conveyor segment has a plurality of spaced openings or slots along at least one of its side walls, so that two like conveyor segments can be connected together perpendicularly with the hooks of a first segment received in the side wall slots of a second segment. Thus the perpendicular connection between two conveyor segments may be made at any selected one of a plurality of locations along the length of each conveyor. Provision may also be made for end to end connection of the conveyor segments.
US08684164B2
A device (1) for forming rolled bar (3) bundles which allows to obtain perfectly tidy and super compact bundles, in which the bars (3) are perfectly aligned with one another without twisting, tangling or overlapping, both inside and outside the bundle, conferring an excellent shape and regular appearance to the same. A process for forming rolled bar bundles by using the aforesaid device is also described.
US08684160B2
A self-service currency processing machine includes a user control panel, a coin hopper configured to receive input bulk coins, and a coin processing module configured to sort the input bulk coins by denomination and output the coins, via operation of at least one controller-controlled diverter, along a specified path to a coin receptacle station comprising at least one plastic coin bag. The machine also includes a controller configured to selectively distribute coins of one or more denominations to a selected plastic coin bag in the coin receptacle station responsive to an instruction received from one of the user control panel or a host system communicatively coupled to the machine via a communication interface and a bag sealing device configured to seal the selected plastic coin bag following receipt of the predetermined number of coins of one or more denominations in the selected plastic coin bag.
US08684148B2
Provided is a disc brake capable of preventing large positional shift of a position of abutment of a return spring against a mounting member, which occurs with wear of a friction pad and the like. The return spring for biasing the friction pad in a direction away from a disc includes a fixed portion on one side, which is fixedly mounted to the friction pad, an extending portion extending from the fixed portion in an axial direction of the disc and in a direction away from the friction pad, a turned-back portion formed by turning back a distal end side of the extending portion toward the mounting member, and an abutting portion provided on a distal end side of the turned-back portion so as to be elastically brought into abutment against a side of the mounting member. A portion (bent portion) of the turned-back portion, which is formed by bending the turned-back portion at the middle thereof, is located at a position separated farther away from the fixed portion than the abutting portion in a disc rotating direction.
US08684147B2
A combined vehicle brake which has a hydraulically actuable service brake and an electromechanically actuable parking brake device, a hydraulic service pressure space being delimited in a brake housing by a brake piston which can be acted upon by hydraulic pressure medium in order to execute service braking operations, so that the brake piston can be actuated along a piston longitudinal axis in order to achieve a braking action, and the parking brake device acting on the brake piston by a gear, in that the gear converts the rotational movement of an electromechanical actuator into a translational movement and causes an actuation of the brake piston in order to execute parking braking operations and holds the said brake piston in the actuated position, the gear having a threaded spindle and a threaded nut which are in contact with one another via a plurality of rolling bodies.
US08684129B2
A controller applies slight rotational torque to a drive gear of a reduction mechanism also in a predetermined range in which a motor does not produce any steering operation assist force. That is, the motor is caused to produce slight rotational torque not enough to drive a driven gear, and the rotational torque direction is reversed under a given condition. Accordingly, a backlash between the drive gear and the driven gear is eliminated.
US08684121B2
A wearable mobility device comprising a base for the placement of a shoe, the base including a heel-support section, a battery pack, a tail reflector, and a wireless receiver. The device including a first wheel having a wheel hub motor embedded therein, the motor rotatably connected to a first partial axial shaft connected to the base. The device including a second wheel having a wheel hub motor controller embedded therein, the motor controller rotatably connected to a second partial axial shaft connected to the base and operative to control a speed of rotation of the first wheel and the second wheel. The device also including a remote control for controlling the speed of rotation of the first wheel and the second wheel, the remote control operative to transmit one or more control signals to the wireless receiver, the wireless receiver being electrically coupled to the motor controller.
US08684118B2
A cooling structure having a sufficient cooling efficiency in cooling an electricity storage device while securing a living space in a vehicle cabin when installed in a compact vehicle having a short distance from a rear seat to the rear end of the vehicle. A battery is contained in an IPU installed in the vehicle. The cooling structure for the battery has an air inlet opened into the vehicle cabin, an air intake duct extending from the air inlet to the IPU and a cover disposed to cover the air inlet and having a hole communicating the air intake duct with the inner side of the vehicle cabin. The air inlet has an opening inclined toward the inner side of the vehicle cabin in one side section of a rear portion of the vehicle cabin near a C-pillar located obliquely posterior to a rear seat.
US08684116B2
Disclosed is a construction machine comprising an engine room having first and second exhaust ports, preventing deterioration of air flows due to collision of exhaust airs through the first and the second exhaust ports, and reducing noise transmission on lateral sides of the construction machine. The construction machine comprises an engine guard surrounding an engine room; an engine, a heat exchanger, and a cooling fan, which are installed in the engine room; and an exhaust air guide. The engine guard is formed with exhaust ports including the first and second exhaust ports. The first is opened in parallel to an axial direction of an engine output shaft. The second is formed in proximity to the first exhaust port downstream of the first exhaust port with respect to a direction parallel to the axial direction of the engine output shaft and opened upward below the first exhaust port. The exhaust air guide has a shape to change a flow direction of the air discharged through the first exhaust port in parallel to the axial direction of the engine output shaft into an upward direction at a position upstream of the second exhaust port.
US08684105B2
A technique is provided which improves durability in a power tool having a torque transmission device. The representative power tool has a torque transmission device 151. The torque transmission device 151 includes a projection 171 formed on one of opposed surfaces of a first rotating member 153 and a second rotating member 155 and protruding in a direction of a rotational axis, a recess 161 for receiving the projection 171, which is formed in the other of the opposed surfaces and recessed in the direction of the rotational axis, a projection-side engagement surface 175a formed on the projection 171, and a recess-side engagement surface 165a formed on the recess 171. Torque is transmitted when the projection-side and recess-side engagement surfaces 175a, 165a are engaged with each other, while the torque transmission is interrupted when the projection-side and recess-side engagement surfaces 175a, 165a are disengaged from each other. The projection-side and recess-side engagement surfaces 175a, 165a are inclined at a predetermined angle β with respect to normals P of the first and second rotating members 153, 155.
US08684103B2
A universal sweep plow configured to mate securely and be attached to a seed boot. The universal sweep plow includes sweep plow attachment formed from a single unit of metal and an anchor. The attachment includes a central portion configured to mate with a seed boot and right and left central portion openings configured to align with an anchor hole in the seed boot. The right and left wing portions extend outward and rearward from the central portion. The anchor is configured to attach the sweep plow to the seed boot by passing through the right and left central portion openings and the anchor hole in the seed boot.
US08684099B2
A technique employs a formation isolation valve that utilizes a ball rotatably mounted within a valve housing. The valve is designed to enable rotation of the ball about a fixed axis without translation of the ball. Rotation of the ball is achieved by connecting an arm to the ball at a position offset from the axis of rotation. A movable mandrel also is connected to the arm to enable selective actuation of the ball.
US08684095B2
A pipe setting tool includes a tool shaft, a coupler mounted on a first end of the tool shaft, and a tool sleeve affixed to the tool shaft defining a space therebetween. An outside diameter of the tool sleeve ensures close conformity to a borehole to position a geothermal pipe mounted thereto in close proximity to the outside diameter of the borehole. A moveable seal cap may be mounted on the tool shaft, moveable between a first position spaced-apart from the tool sleeve during down-hole movement of the tool to permit fluid flow through the space and a second position against the tool sleeve during up-hole movement of the tool to establish a seal with the tool sleeve to prevent fluid flow through the space. A second end of the tool shaft may receive a pipe hook to attach a geothermal pipe to the pipe setting tool.
US08684087B1
A flow control assembly can be disposed in a wellbore and can include a membrane that can be perforated in response to a pressure, such as a setting pressure, from an inner area of a tubing. Subsequent to the membrane being perforated, fluid can be allowed to flow from an area external to the tubing to an area internal to the tubing. The membrane may remain closed during a packer setting operation and be perforated subsequent to the packer setting operation.
US08684081B2
A silicate gel composition that is useful for sealing the face of a fracture of a formation. A method of sealing a face of a fracture of a formation with the silicate gel composition and diverting an acid treatment fluid.
US08684077B2
An apparatus for estimating a parameter of interest includes a conduit and a reactive media in the conduit. The reactive media interacts with a selected fluid component to control a flow parameter of the conduit. The apparatus also includes at least one sensor responsive to the flow parameter. The apparatus may be used for estimating a water content of a fluid flowing from a subterranean formation. The apparatus may include a flow path configured to convey fluid from the formation. The at least one sensor may be responsive to a pressure change in the flow path caused by interaction of the reactive media with water.
US08684060B2
A tire-changing machine comprising support means (4) for a wheel, a tool-bearing arm (50) at an end of which a bead-breaking tool (6) is hinged according to a hinge axis (E) which is perpendicular to an axis (A) of the wheel, and first motorised means (32, 33) for causing a relative movement, in a parallel direction to the axis (A) of the wheel, between the support means (4) and the tool-bearing arm (50), such as to press the bead-breaking tool (6) against a flank of a tire on the wheel, characterized in that it comprises second motorised means (64), activatable independently from the first motorised means (32, 33), which second motorised means (64) are destined to rotate the bead-breaking tool (6) about the hinge axis (E) with the tool-bearing arm (50), in order to vary an inclination of the bead-breaking tool (6) with respect to the axis (A) of the wheel which is mounted on the support means (4).
US08684056B2
Systems and associated methods of printing using ink-jet technology and offset printing capabilities are provided. The method can comprise jetting an ink onto a printing blanket, where the ink comprises a carrier and a pigment colorant, and where the carrier substantially free of polymers. Additional steps include developing the ink to create a print image on the printing blanket; applying a layer of wetting fluid to a surface of a print medium, where the surface includes a coating comprising a polymer; heating the surface to a print-receptive temperature that is lower than the softening temperature of the polymer, causing softening of the polymer; and transferring the print image from the printing blanket to the surface.
US08684055B2
The present invention relates to an explosion-proof security tire for vehicles. The tire includes an outer tire, a split rim, a L-shaped sealing ring, a combined support loop and a valve core. The combined support loop includes a plurality layers of support rings they are sleeved by layer on layer and fixed with the rim. The size of the tire can increased by the combined support loop so as to furthest shorten the distance between the inner wall of the outer tire and the outer wall of the combined support loop at a normal pressure of tire. At the moment that the tire is burst, the combined support loop can support the outer tire quickly and effectively, and control the change of acting radius of the tire in a minimum range so as to ensure the basic performance of the tire and to prevent accidents caused by sudden control loss of running direction and avoid potential security risks. Moreover, the split rim is benefit for mounting the combined support loop by layering, and is easy to be assembled and disassembled so that the tire can be maintained and replaced by normal tools.
US08684050B2
Embodiments of the disclosed technology are directed towards a leak-proof drink dispensing system. The drink dispenser uses a container, a spigot that may be mated to a lid adapted to fit a corresponding cup. The spigot extends from an outside portion of the container, and has a lever, cylindrical nozzle, and threaded cylindrical locking collar. The lid has a threaded cylindrical spout that may be mated to the spigot, such that rotation of the lever causes the threads of the collar to engage the threads of the spot. This causes the lid to become releasably affixed to the spigot for purposes of leak-free dispensing of the liquid from the container. The drink dispenser may also employ a mixing rake, cooling tray, spill catching tray, and cup dispenser.
US08684044B2
A supply facility is configured to charge fluid to a tank of a movable object. A charging profile storage unit is provided to the movable object to store a charging profile specifying a charging pressure of fluid in each elapsed time point from a beginning of fluid charge. A charging profile transmission unit is provided to the movable object to transmit the charging profile to the supply facility. A charging profile reception unit is provided to the supply facility to receive a charging profile transmitted from the charging profile transmission unit. A charging pressure control unit is provided to the supply facility to control charging pressure of fluid according to the charging profile when fluid is charged to a movable object, which corresponds to the charging profile.
US08684033B2
A valve including a body that defines first and second ducts that open out into a third duct. The first duct is provided with a first shutter and the second duct is provided with a second shutter connected to drive means arranged to move the shutters in a normal mode of operation in which the second shutter is in the closed position and the first shutter is adjustable in position between an open position and a first closed position, a stop mode in which the second shutter is in its closed position and the first shutter is in its first closed position, and a secondary mode of operation in which the second shutter is in its open position and the first shutter is in a second closed position.
US08684021B2
A method of monitoring a fluid process control system having a control loop for controlling the flow of a material through a path in the fluid process control system. The control loop a control valve, a valve controller, and a fluid control line. The control valve is disposed in the path and is movable between an open position and a closed position. The valve controller is for controlling movement of the control valve. And, the fluid control line couples the valve controller to the control valve. The method detects a first pressure in the control loop with a first pressure sensor. Then, a second pressure can be detected at a location that is external to the control loop with a second pressure sensor. Finally, the method can include determining a characteristic of the control loop based on the first pressure.
US08684020B1
A modified A-frame tent or tarp shelter in which the fly or outer canopy is supported by two upright poles spaced apart on either side of a rectangular footprint. The poles are oppositely offset from the midpoint of the footprint on their respective sides, such that the canopy ridgeline between the poles crosses the footprint diagonally. Two corners of the canopy corresponding to corners of the footprint farthest from their respective (same-side) poles are raised and tensioned by short struts that, in cooperation with the offset poles, create a sidewall effect across the ends of the canopy over the head and foot ends of the footprint. The canopy may further include vestibule portions extending to the sides of the footprint, and the struts may also engage the vestibule portions at their respective corners.
US08684016B2
Disclosed herein is a dish washing machine including a sump unit capable of supplying, to an injection nozzle, wash water flowing in accordance with operation of an impeller, without using a separate channel member. The dish washing machine includes a body provided with a washing tub, a sump unit arranged in the washing tub, and at least one injection nozzle to inject wash water into the washing tub. The sump unit includes a sump housing, an impeller arranged in the sump housing, to pump wash water from the sump housing, and a guide member, to which the sump housing is mounted. The guide member guides the wash water pumped by the impeller directly to the injection nozzle.
US08684008B2
A method and device for use in stress female urinary incontinence. A small, flexible adhesive patch is applied to the clitoris of a person suffering from stress female urinary incontinence. The adhesive is of a type sufficient to stimulate the mechanoreceptors located in the clitoris whereby to inhibit discharge from the bladder. The patch is formed of a backing sheet of an impervious film material containing adhesive on one side. A release liner prevents the adhesive from drying out.
US08683997B2
A portable ventilator uses a ROOTS-type blower as a compressor to reduce both the size and power consumption of the ventilator. Various functional aspects of the ventilator are delegated to multiple subassemblies having dedicated controllers and software that interact with a ventilator processor to provide user interface functions, exhalation control and flow control servos, and monitoring of patient status. The ventilator overcomes noise problems through the use of noise reducing pressure compensating orifices on the ROOTS-type blower housing and multiple baffling chambers. The ventilator is configured with a highly portable form factor, and may be used as a stand-alone device or as a docked device having a docking cradle with enhanced interface and monitoring capabilities.
US08683996B2
The present invention of one embodiment includes a combined microclimate, thermal management, life-support system for care of patient and system for measurement of vital signs. The system of one embodiment, provides active external heating and simultaneously provides active internal heating.
US08683994B2
A solar heat collection element includes: a central tube (102) formed from glass-ceramic material; and an outer tube (104) formed from glass material disposed coaxially with respect to the central tube (102) to form a volume therebetween (106).
US08683984B2
A thermocompression motor includes a piston dividing a cylinder into a first and a second chamber and includes a heat exchanger having at least one air channel and at least one exhaust gas channel. In a first cycle, the first and second chamber are connected via the air channel, whereby air from the first chamber is pushed into the heat exchanger and heated air is conveyed from the heat exchanger into the second chamber. In a second cycle, fuel is burned in the second chamber. In a third cycle, only the connection of the second chamber to the exhaust gas channel is open during a subsequent volume increase of the first chamber. In a fourth cycle, fresh air is sucked into the first chamber during a further volume increase of the first chamber, while the connection between the first and second chamber via the air channel is interrupted.
US08683983B2
The invention relates to a method for regulating a stationary gas motor (1). In said method, a deviation of the regulated speed is calculated from a desired speed and an actual speed, a desired moment is determined as an adjustable variable from the deviation of the regulated speed by means of a speed governor, said desired moment being limited to an air ratio-limiting moment by limiting the moment, and a desired volume flow (VSL) is determined from the limited desired moment in order to define an angle (DKW1, DKW2) of the mixture throttle valve and an angle of the gas throttle valve.
US08683978B2
A fuel injection system is described, and which has an upstream portion and a downstream portion. The upstream portion includes a source of fuel, the fuel inlet of a fuel injection servo or flow regulator, and a first fuel flow line connected in fuel flowing relation relative to the source of fuel and to the fuel inlet of the fuel injection servo. The downstream portion includes a flow divider, at least one fuel outlet of the fuel injection servo, and a second fuel flow line connected in fuel flowing relation relative to the flow divider and the fuel outlet of the fuel injection servo. A fuel accumulator pressure damper is mounted in fuel flowing relation relative to the downstream portion of the fuel injection system so as to substantially reduce standing waves in the fuel injection system.
US08683975B2
A positive displacement rotary system may include a main rotor and a slotted rotor. The main rotor can include an interior cavity and a fixed vane (or blade) that is attached to the peripheral and side walls of that cavity. The slotted rotor is positioned within the main rotor interior and includes a slot for the main rotor blade. The main and slotted rotors rotate about parallel axes that are offset from one another. As the rotors turn, separate chambers are formed between the blade and an inter-rotor seal, with the inter-rotor seal located at or near a rolling contact between the outer surface of the slotted rotor and an inner perimeter wall of the main rotor cavity. The separate chambers contract and expand as the rotors rotate.
US08683968B2
Provided is a variable valve assembly for internal combustion engines which is capable of accurately determining whether an input rotational component and an output rotational component are fixed to each other. The variable valve assembly includes an intake camshaft for driving an intake valve and a crankshaft for driving the camshaft. The variable valve assembly has a function for changing the relative rotational phase of the intake camshaft with respect to the crankshaft and a function for fixing the intake camshaft to the crankshaft. The variable valve assembly determines whether the intake camshaft is fixed to the crankshaft, on the basis of a total amount of phase variation HCC or the amount of variation in the relative rotational phase of the intake camshaft with respect to the crankshaft.
US08683966B2
A camshaft adjustment device which has a pinion and a drive part that is disposed in a pivoting manner relative thereto. The pinion and the drive part are operatively connected to each other via a pressure chamber that can be pressurized using pressure means. At least one locking device can mechanically couple the pinion and the drive part. The locking device is actuated by of a pressure medium. The pressure chamber and the locking device are in a pressure medium connection to one another for regulating the pressure medium supply to the locking device and the pressure medium discharge therefrom by at least one regulating unit. The passage of the pressure medium can be blocked in a pressure-tight manner in the direction of the pressure chamber by at least one locking device disposed in the pressure medium connection.
US08683961B2
A fluid system for an intercooler has a fill level defining a maximum volume of liquid in the fluid system, a main fluid circuit and a secondary fluid volume. The main fluid circuit includes the intercooler, and one or more passages through which fluid is circulated with operation of the engine, and at least a portion of the main fluid circuit is located above the fill level. The secondary fluid volume has at least a portion located below the fill level that communicates with the main fluid circuit to receive liquid from the main fluid circuit at least when the engine is not operating to drain at least some of the liquid from the portion of the main fluid circuit that is located above the fill level. This reduces the volume of liquid that remains above the fill level when the engine is not operating.
US08683957B2
A movement analysis device for rodents capable of variably adjusting a space where a rodent is placed in order to stimulate the behavior of the rodent so that motor functions of the rodent can be analyzed more effectively. The movement analysis device for rodents includes a body including a pair of side plates distanced from each other with a predetermined gap and a connector plate connecting one ends of the side plates together, the connector plate having a slit extending from one to the other one of the side plates; and an adjustment unit including an adjustment plate configured insertable between the side plates of the body and into the slit of the connector plate of the body and a support plate extending to a height reaching from a bottom to the slit to support the adjustment plate at one portion thereof. The support plate is semi-cylindrically shaped to form a cylindrical space together with the connector plate.
US08683956B2
An aquarium cleaning system has an inner member adapted to be positioned adjacent an interior surface of a sidewall of the aquarium; an outer member adapted to be positioned adjacent an exterior surface of the sidewall such that the sidewall is interposed between the inner and outer members; an attachment mechanism that retains the inner member and the outer member in a fixed position relative to one another; a cleaning member mounted on the inner member and adapted to clean the interior surface of the sidewall; and a control system adapted to cause the inner and outer member to collectively move around the side wall of the aquarium such that the cleaning member cleans the interior surface of the side wall during such movement.
US08683954B2
A finfish aquaculture containment pen having a plurality of panels that when joined together form the majority of the exterior surface of the containment pen. The panels each comprise tension-bearing mesh material forming the exterior surface of the containment pen, a plurality of compression-bearing struts extending along the boundaries between panels, wherein the mesh material is attached to the struts along the lengths of the struts, and a plurality of hubs at which a plurality of struts and the corners of a plurality of panels abut each other. The panels can form a polyhedral structure. The mesh can comprise coated wire mesh. The struts can be curved members with convex curvature.
US08683951B2
A pet food bowl having an internal food dish surrounded by a reservoir adapted to hold a liquid therein and an overlying shroud extending over the reservoir and spaced from an outer wall of said reservoir, wherein said the shroud includes a face extending over a reservoir surface and outermost skirt extending around and spaced from an outermost reservoir wall.
US08683944B2
Provided is a method of collecting wild termites and rearing the termites indoors. The method can be used to observe physiological and ecological characteristics of termites that give serious damage to wooden cultural assets and buildings, and thus basic information can be obtained for controlling termites.
US08683942B2
Chemical bath deposition (CBD) apparatuses and fabrication methods for compound thin films are presented. A chemical bath deposition apparatus includes a chemical bath reaction container, a substrate chuck for fixing a substrate arranged face-down toward the bottom of the chemical bath reaction container, multiple solution containers connecting to a reaction solution mixer and further connection to the chemical bath reaction container, and a temperature control system including a first heater controlling the temperature of the chemical bath reaction container, a second heater controlling the temperature of the substrate chuck, and a third heater controlling the temperature of the multiple solution containers.
US08683936B1
A powerboat with a rooster tail depressor (RTD) includes a hull, a propulsion subassembly on the hull, and a rooster-tail-suppressing canopy on the stern that includes a downwardly facing surface no less than six inches above the dynamic water line of the stern where it functions to suppress the powerboat rooster tail for radar signature reduction and increased propulsion efficiency. Various embodiments include one or more of (i) a canopy having a downwardly facing surface that is arched (either curved or faceted), (ii) lift-to-drag ratio enhancing steps in the downwardly facing surface of the canopy, (iii) a rooster-tail-suppressing subassembly configured to enable articulation of the canopy in yaw and in trim, and (iv) operator-controlled port and starboard venting arrangements on the canopy that result in desired laterally directed thrust for enhanced maneuverability.
US08683930B2
An air seeder cart apparatus has a primary container assembly with a plurality of primary product containers, with primary fill hatches at tops thereof. An air distribution network comprises product conduits and primary metering devices that dispense agricultural products from each primary product container into one of the product conduits. A secondary product container is mounted on a side of the primary container assembly and has a secondary fill hatch much lower than the primary fill hatches, and a secondary metering mechanism dispenses product from the secondary product container into one of the product conduits. The secondary product container is convenient for receiving bagged agricultural products from a low truck bed. Unopened product bags may be stored on a grate inside the secondary product container so they will be available if required. Weighing of product in the container can be provided.
US08683929B2
A table may be sized and configured to nest with another table to reduce a height of a plurality of stacked tables in a nested configuration. The table may include a table top with a receiving portion disposed at least proximate an intersection of an upper surface and a sidewall. The table top may also include a lip and a lower portion of the lip may include a contact surface that is sized and configured to contact an upper surface of an adjacent, nested table. The lower portion of the lip may also include an engaging portion that is sized and configured to be disposed in a receiving portion of an adjacent, nested table. The contact surface and the engaging portion may be directly adjacent to each other in the lower portion of the lip.
US08683927B2
A wheel truck for a railroad car, including: a front wheel pair assembly and a rear wheel pair assembly; two side frame assemblies, each side frame assembly including a square box and journal-box guides; two spring suspension devices; and a bolster assembly including two ends disposed on the two spring suspension devices, respectively. The bolster assembly includes a pilot hole in the center and two mounting holes on the two ends, the pilot hole is rotationally matched with a cylindrical upper center plate of a car body for transmitting vertical and horizontal forces from the car body, and the two mounting holes are disposed above the two spring suspension devices, respectively. Each mounting hole receives a lower side bearing, and the lower side bearing is matched with a corresponding upper side bearing disposed on each side of the car body for transmitting the vertical load from the car body.
US08683915B2
A molding unit for forming and cooking meat, comprising a single recipient-shaped bottom die a concavity of which faces upwards and is destined to contain meat, and a single cover aligned with a mouth of the concavity of the bottom die, which cover is joined to the bottom die and positioned below the bottom die, such as to be destined to close a further mouth of a further concavity of a bottom die of a molding unit which is identical and positioned below the molding unit.
US08683901B2
To enable fabrication of a precise stamped product having an extremely low surface roughness. Ripples 24 having depths ranging from 10 to 100 nm are formed with periodicities ranging from 100 to 1000 nm on a stamping tool surface that comes into contact with a workpiece material. The ripples 24 have a stripe shape extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of sliding between the stamping tool (die 21) and the workpiece material (the direction of the arrow a). The ripples 24 serve as micro pools. For example, a product that is required to have a surface roughness of the order of several tens of nm or lower can be satisfactorily stamped.
US08683898B2
A high-speed shear for transversely cutting rolled strip with knife carriers which can be driven for rotation and are arranged in pairs opposite each other. The knife carriers are supported on shafts of gear wheels arranged at a fixed axial spacing in pairs opposite each other in a shear cassette. The shear cassette is mounted within an outer frame and the shear cassette is provided with a lifting device for raising or lowering the shear cassette within the outer frame. In a method for operating the shear, the two knife carriers are moved into a horizontal position for allowing the strip end to enter or travel through, and the shear cassette is moved within the outer frame into a raised transfer position.
US08683897B2
A turning machine for producing non rotationally symmetric surfaces of synthetic spectacle lenses, having a support plane E, a machine bed made of cast iron with a width b1 and a mass m1, a linear motor with an actuator comprising a turning tool holder and an oscillation axis Z, a workpiece spindle with a rotational axis C and a movement axis X, wherein the machine bed has at least two bearing surfaces arranged at a distance for the linear motor and for the workpiece spindle, and between the two bearing surfaces, a chip space is provided which is limited at least partially by the machine bed, wherein the linear motor is supported on the first bearing surface and the workpiece spindle is supported on the second bearing surface in relation to the chip space opposite the linear motor, wherein the mass of the machine bed has the maximum value m1, and the value m1 lies between 100 kg and 500 kg, between 150 kg and 300 kg, between 170 kg and 200 kg or 180 kg. A turning machine, in which the ratio of the mass m1 of the machine bed to a moved mass m2 of the linear motor 3 is greater than a quotient Q, wherein the quotient Q is between 1:500 and 1:20, between 1:60 and 1:30 or between 1:140 and 1:100, or 1:40 or 1:120.
US08683895B2
There is provided a device for the delivery of surgical fasteners. The device improves the penetration of the fasteners and reduces the effort required for a surgeon to hold opposing pressure in order to deploy the fastener. The device comprises a lever in mechanical cooperation with a resilient element for storing energy; a drive mechanism which cooperates with at least one surgical fastener; and a release mechanism for rapidly releasing stored energy from the resilient element to the drive mechanism. In certain embodiments, at least partial depression of the lever stores energy in the resilient element while release of the lever from the at least partial depressed position does not release the stored energy from the resilient element. Additionally, the drive mechanism converts stored energy from the resilient element upon activation of the release mechanism to deliver the at least one surgical fastener.
US08683893B2
A ratchet wrench includes a main body provided at an end portion thereof with an accommodation, a pawl installed in the accommodation, and a ratchet wheel rotatably installed in the accommodation and engaged with the pawl. The main body has a through hole into which a plug is detachably inserted. The through hole of the main body is provided through a surface of the main body and communicated with the accommodation. Removing the plug from the through hole of the main body enables lubricant or cleaner to be poured through the through hole into and out of the accommodation for lubricating or cleaning the internal parts of the ratchet wrench so as to make the ratchet wheel run more smoothly.
US08683886B2
A sliding auxiliary device includes an assembly of a rotating wheel, a gate linked to the rotating wheel, and a toggle mechanism. The toggle mechanism includes a first arm pivoted to the rotating wheel, a second arm pivoted to the first arm, and an elastic member disposed between the first arm and the second arm. The rotating wheel substantially drives the first arm and the second arm of the toggle mechanism to relatively move to store energy in the elastic member, and the elastic member releases the stored energy to generate an acting force to assist the rotation of the rotating wheel after the first arm of the toggle mechanism crosses over a reference axial line, to obtain an improved operation smoothness better than the conventional skills.
US08683881B2
An in vitro testing process for simulating conditions of a stomach, comprising, in combination: providing an intragastric device to an acetone bath; inducing swelling of the intragastric device; exacerbating weak spots in the intragastric device; observing the results; and estimating the results of an in vivo study. Improvements to an intragastric space filler to reduce failure at a balloon to shaft area including an adhesive fillet, washers, a balloon cuff and collar, a molded in balloon fillet, and a one-piece molded balloon assembly.
US08683877B2
The invention relates to different designs of a microelectronic device comprising an array of heating elements (HE) with local driving units (CU2) and optionally with an array of sensor elements (SE) adjacent to a sample chamber (SC). By applying appropriate currents to the heating elements (HE), the sample chamber can be heated according to a desired temperature profile. The local driving units comprise means for compensating variations of their individual characteristics.
US08683870B2
A sensor device includes at least one sensor device coupled to a substrate. A solder pad interface includes a plurality of steps, with at least a portion of the steps positioned at different planes, each of a step having a solder pad. A cable with a plurality of cable leads, is configured for each of a cable lead to be coupled to a solder pad.
US08683869B2
The health of a structural joint clamped by fasteners is monitored by directly measuring the preload of the fasteners. The preload is measured by a transducer on the fastener and electronically transmitted to a monitoring station where the preload values may be analyzed to assess the health of the joint.
US08683864B2
In order to provide a technology capable of suppressing degradation of measurement accuracy due to fluctuation of detection sensitivity of an MEMS by suppressing fluctuation in natural frequency of the MEMS caused by a stress, first, fixed portions 3a to 3d are displaced outward in a y-direction of a semiconductor substrate 2 by deformation of the semiconductor substrate 2. Since a movable body 5 is disposed in a state of floating above the semiconductor substrate 2, it is not affected and displaced by the deformation of the semiconductor substrate 2. Therefore, a tensile stress (+σ1) occurs in the beam 4a and a compressive stress (−σ2) occurs in the beam 4b. At this time, in terms of a spring system made by combining the beam 4a and the beam 4b, increase in spring constant due to the tensile stress acting on the beam 4a and decrease in spring constant due to the compressive stress acting on the beam 4b are offset against each other.
US08683863B2
In a yaw rate sensor with a substrate having a main extent plane and with a first and second partial structure disposed parallel to the main extent plane, the first partial structure includes a first driving structure and the second partial structure includes a second driving structure, the first and second partial structure being excitable by a driving device, via the first and second driving structure, into oscillation parallel to a first axis parallel to the main extent plane, the first partial structure having a first Coriolis element and the second partial structure having a second Coriolis element, the yaw rate sensor being characterized in that the first and second Coriolis elements are displaceable by a Coriolis force parallel to a second axis, which is perpendicular to the first axis, and parallel to a third axis, which is perpendicular to the first and second axis, the second axis extending parallel to the main extent plane, and the first Coriolis element being connected to the second Coriolis element via a coupling element.
US08683845B2
A gas sensor detects carbon dioxide, for example for use in air-conditioning systems. The gas sensor is based on a field effect transistor construction. It has a polymer-based material sensitive to carbon dioxide as gas-sensitive layer. The material has a cross-sensitivity with respect to air humidity. The influence of humidity is compensated for by using the signal of a humidity sensor.
US08683844B2
A method of monitoring a sensor of an exhaust system is provided. The method includes evaluating humidity of air entering the exhaust system; and monitoring operation of a sensor in the exhaust system based on the humidity.
US08683835B2
The invention describes an automatic stop device (1), that can be positioned by means of a control and regulating device of a bending press, in particular an edging press, for positioning a workpiece (6) to be shaped by bending deformation between bending tools (4, 5) arranged opposite one another in a table bar (2) and a bending bar (3) adjustable in relation to the latter. It comprises a stop support slide (13) and a stop support (14) on the latter projecting substantially in perpendicular direction to a bending plane (8) formed by the bending tools (4, 5) and a stop element (15) which forms a finger section and is adjustable in a guiding arrangement (16) running perpendicular to the bending plane (8) relative to the stop support (14) between a position of rest facing the bending plane (8) and a stop position spaced apart from the latter against the effect of a spring arrangement (21). A controllable, switchable retaining device (31) is provided in order to oppose an increased adjusting resistance in the case of a stop movement of the stop element (15).
