US08742024B2
A mixture of superabsorbents having differing surface postcrosslinking, more particularly a mixture of differingly surface-postcrosslinked sieve cuts of a base polymer, exhibits improved absorption and retention over a unitarily surface-postcrosslinked superabsorbent.
US08742023B2
There is provided an absorbent resin particle having an absorption rate pattern where the rate is slow in the initial stage, moderate in the middle stage, and fast in the late stage, and there is also provided an absorbent article free from problems such as skin irritation by using the absorbent resin particle.The present invention relates to an absorbent resin particle comprising a crosslinked polymer (A1) including, as an essential constituent unit, a water-soluble vinyl monomer (a1) and/or a hydrolyzable vinyl monomer (a2), and a crosslinking agent (b), wherein, in a measurement method of swelled volume per 1 g of the absorbent resin particle against physiological saline, a ratio (t2/t1) of the time (t2) until swelled volume reaches 40 ml to the time (t1) until the swelled volume reaches 5 ml is 5 to 20.
US08742018B2
A thermoset resin, including the reaction product of: an epoxy resin mixture including at least one cycloaliphatic epoxy resins; a cycloaliphatic anhydride hardener; and a catalyst; wherein the reaction product has a glass transition temperature greater than or equal to 210° C. Also disclosed is a process for forming a thermoset resin, including: admixing two or more epoxy resins and a cycloaliphatic anhydride hardener to form a curable composition, wherein the epoxy resins include at least one cycloaliphatic epoxy resin; thermally curing the curable composition at a temperature of at least 150° C. to result in a thermoset resin having a glass transition temperature of at least 210° C. Such curable compositions may include: 35 to 65 weight percent of an epoxy resin mixture having at least one cycloaliphatic epoxy resins; 35 to 65 weight percent of a cycloaliphatic anhydride hardener; and from greater than 0 to 10 weight percent of a catalyst.
US08742012B2
The invention includes a thermosetting film-forming composition comprising a polytrialkanolamine reacted with a crosslinking agent composition. The composition forms a three-dimensional crosslinked network having atrane-containing linkages.
US08742011B2
Disclosed is a vehicle member that includes a molded body and a protective film disposed on a surface of the molded body and formed by curing of an active energy ray-curing composition. The active energy ray-curing composition contains an active energy ray-curing prepolymer (A) obtainable by a reaction of an acrylic-based prepolymer having a hydroxyl group and an acrylic monomer (a4) having an isocyanate group, an active energy ray-curing compound (B) having a benzotriazole group, another active energy ray-curing compound (C) differing from the (A) component and the (B) component, and inorganic oxide particles (D). The acrylic-based prepolymer having the hydroxyl group is a copolymer that includes an acrylic monomer (a1) having a piperidinyl group, an acrylic monomer (a2) having a hydroxyl group, etc., as monomer units.
US08742001B2
The invention relates to a nanocomposite material that contains a polymer binder, a filler and a fraction of nanoparticles, characterized in that the fraction of nanoparticles comprises multi-layered carbon particles having a toroid-like shape with a size of 15 to 150 nm, wherein the ratio between the outer diameter and the thickness of the toroid body is in a range of (10-3):1. This nano-modification makes it possible to obtain an efficient compaction and hardening of the nanocomposite material close to the filler/binder inter-phase barrier, and accordingly to increase the average density, elasticity, hardness and resistance of the material. The invention can be used for making various parts and articles for use in mechanical engineering and transport, including instrument holders for the precise surface treatment of parts.
US08741995B2
A calcium carbonate having a surface treated with a surface treating agent containing a sodium salt or a potassium salt of a fatty acid, the surface treating agent containing a sodium salt or a potassium salt of palmitic acid in an amount of PW in terms of acid, the surface treating agent containing a sodium salt or a potassium salt of stearic acid in an amount of SW in terms of acid, a total amount of PW and SW being PW+SW≧90, a ratio of PW to SW being 0.30≦PW/SW≦1.1, the surface-treated calcium carbonate having a BET specific surface area of SA2 of 15≦SA2≦48, and the sodium salt or the potassium salt of the fatty acid being used for the treatment in an amount of FA and a ratio (FA/SA2) being 0.095≦FA/SA2≦0.135.
US08741985B2
A resin composition for sealers as well as a resin composition for sealers and a paint composition for sealers that contains the resin composition for sealers are useful for sealers to be used with such inorganic building materials as ceramic-based building materials. The resin emulsion for sealers is a resin emulsion which contains emulsion particles having an inner layer and an outer layer. The inner layer is formed with a polymer which is formulated by means of emulsion polymerization of a monomer component containing styrene and a monomer other than the styrene, and the outer layer is formed with a polymer which is formulated by means of emulsion polymerization of a monomer component containing a carboxyl-group-containing monomer and a monomer other than the carboxyl-group-containing monomer.
US08741979B2
Readily emulsifyable silicone copolymers containing urethanesulfonamido linking groups are prepared by reacting a hydroxyl-functional organic polymer with a halo- or pseudohalo-sulfonyl isocyanate, and then reacting the halo- or pseudohalo-sulfonyl product with an organopolysiloxane bearing aminoalkyl groups, preferably in stoichiometric excess.
US08741967B2
The present invention is directed to unsaturated sphingosine compounds which are useful as therapeutic agents for the treatment of cancer and for the treatment of other diseases including diabetes and infection with intracellular bacteria. This invention is also directed to methods of using the compounds and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds in treating these diseases.
US08741965B2
A device or collar having a matrix into which an interomone is incorporated in an amount from between about 0.001% and about 5% by weight of the device is described for the modification of undesirable or harmful stress-related behaviors or other behaviors of physiology in a variety of vertebrate species over an extended period of time, as well as methods of using the device to modify behaviors of a variety of vertebrate species over an extended period of time.
US08741960B2
The invention relates to compounds of structural formula (I): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, clathrate, or prodrug thereof, wherein Y, L, A, W1, W2, and R′1 are defined herein. These compounds are useful as immunosuppressive agents and for treating and preventing inflammatory conditions, allergic disorders, and immune disorders.
US08741958B2
The present application provides a synthetic spilanthol flavor composition that includes (2E,6Z,8E)-N-(2-methylpropyl)-2,6,8-decatrienamide. The synthetic spilanthol composition can also contain, and at least one of (2E,6E,8E)-N-(2-methylpropyl)-2,6,8-decatrienamide and (2E,6Z,8Z)-N-(2-methylpropyl)-2,6,8-decatrienamide, the (N-(2-methylpropyl)-2,6,8-decatrienamide being present in amounts effective to impart a salivating or tingle effect while reducing the perception of off notes, as compared to the off-notes perceived upon consumption of natural spilanthol (e.g. spilanthol obtained from jambu oleoresin). Methods of increasing salivation and/or providing a tingling sensation upon consuming an orally consumable product that include adding to the product a synthetic spilanthol flavor composition are also provided. Synthetic spilanthol flavor compositions can be added to orally consumed products, such as, but not limited to, foods, beverages, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, or therapeutic compositions, oral personal care products, gums (e.g. chewing gum or bubble gum), candy or lozenges.
US08741950B2
The present invention relates to the use of compounds of the invention for treatment and/or prevention of fatigue, including fatigue associated with diseases or treatments.
US08741947B2
The present invention provides a compound of the formula (I) or (II, wherein R1 is H, alkyl, alkenyl or aryl, R2 is H, alkyl or aryl, R3 is H, a alkyl, alkenyl or aryl, R4 and R4-R8 are independently R10, C(O)R10 or SO2R10, wherein R10 is H, alkyl, alkenyl or aryl, and R9 is R9a, C(O)R9a or SO2R9a, wherein R9a is H, alkyl, alkenyl or aryl. R9a can be unsubstituted or substituted with one or more oxo(═O), OR9b, OC(O)R9b, OSO2R9b, NHR9b, NHC(O)R9b and NHSO2R9b groups. R9b is H, alkyl, alkenyl, or aryl. R9b can be unsubstituted or substituted with one or more groups such as oxo(═O), OR9c, CO2R9c, CO2R9c and OC(O)R9c. R9c is H, or a unsubstituted or substituted alkyl, alkenyl or aryl. The present invention further provides a composition comprising at least one compound of the present invention and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, alone or in combination with at least one additional active agent. The present invention further provides a method of treating a condition treatable by the inhibition of vacuolar-type (H+)-ATPase and a method of treating cancer.
US08741943B2
The present invention provides a new cyclic compound having a CCR antagonist activity, especially a CCR5 antagonist activity, and the use thereof. The compound of the present invention is represented by the formula: wherein, R1 is a 5- to 6-membered ring group which may be substituted; X1 is a bond or the like; ring A is a 5- to 6-membered ring group which may be substituted; ring B is a 8- to 10-membered ring group which may be substituted; X2 is a bivalent group of 1 to 4 atoms; Z1 is a bivalent cyclic ring group or the like; Z2 is a bond or the like; and R2 is an amino group, a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic group which may be substituted or the like, or a salt thereof.
US08741938B2
Novel compounds of formula 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof inhibit cytochrome P450 monooxygenase.
US08741937B2
Compositions and methods for inhibiting human gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) in vivo or in vitro and for inhibiting and killing neoplastic cancer cells, for example for the treatment, inhibition or prevention of tumors or malignant growths or other neoplasias in mammals, or sensitizing tumor to other therapies including radiation therapy. The GGT inhibitor compounds comprise a class of benzylthiadiazol benzenesulfoniamides. The compounds may also be used to treat a reversible airways obstruction in a mammal or a disease associated with reverse airways obstruction such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), allergic reaction, respiratory tract infection or upper respiratory tract disease. Other diseases or conditions which may be treated include, for example, degenerative diseases, renal diseases, liver diseases, cardiovascular disease and inner ear conditions or diseases.
US08741932B2
The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I), wherein Ra, Rb, Rc, Rd, Re and Rf are as defined in the specification, processes for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use in the treatment of diseases mediated by phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT 3), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) or a combination thereof particularly in the treatment of cancer and inflammation.
US08741930B2
Methods of using a cycloheptathiophene compound for the treatment of xerophthalmia are described, as are formulations and compositions for such treatment.
US08741924B2
Small molecule compounds are provided for treating lupus as are methods of treating lupus using these compounds.
US08741915B2
The present invention is directed to novel dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-one compounds useful as S-nitrosoglutathione reductase (GSNOR) inhibitors, pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, and methods of making and using the same.
US08741911B2
The present invention provides a pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine compound, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, that inhibits Raf and, therefore, may be useful in treating cancer.
US08741903B2
The present invention relates to the method of treating hepatocellular cancer (HCC) with 4-amino-5-fluoro-3-[6-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl]-1H-quinolin-2-one or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or a tautomer thereof, or a hydrate or a solvate.
US08741895B2
Pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridin-4-yl-amines and pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyrimidin-5-yl-amines as Janus kinase inhibitors
The present invention provides pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine-4-yl amines pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyrimidin-4-yl amines that modulate the activity of Janus kinases and are useful in the treatment of diseases related to activity of Janus kinases including, for example, immune-related diseases and cancer.
US08741894B2
Provided herein are arylsulfonamides that are useful for modulating CCR3 activity, and pharmaceutical compositions thereof. Also provided herein are methods of their use for treating, preventing, or ameliorating one or more symptoms of a CCR3-mediated disorder, disease, or condition.
US08741891B1
This invention relates generally to prodrugs of noribogaine. This invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the prodrugs of noribogaine as well as method of treating pain, addiction and/or stress using such compounds and/or pharmaceutical compositions.
US08741885B1
The present disclosure provides extended release pharmaceutical compositions comprising an opioid and an additional active pharmaceutical ingredient, wherein the composition exhibits gastric retentive properties which are achieved by a combination of a physical property of the composition and release of the opioid, wherein upon administration to a subject, the composition has at least one pharmacokinetic parameter that differs by less than about 30% when the subject is in a fasted state as compared to a fed state.
US08741878B2
Novel compositions in petroleum jelly-free unguent form, in particular for topical application, contain a vitamin D compound and optionally an active agent of the family of steroidal anti-inflammatory agents.
US08741877B2
The present invention provides compositions and methods relating to polylactides which may be used for drug delivery (e.g., parenteral delivery), wherein an organic solvent is not required.
US08741876B2
A method for treating a patient having ulcerative colitis, by administering a drug which containing an effective amount of tetracyclines is provided. The drug may also contain penicillins and/or metronidazoles.
US08741875B2
The present invention relates to novel amine derivatives, processes for preparing them, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use as pharmaceuticals as modulators of sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors.
US08741868B2
The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition for preventing or treating arthritis, including, as an active ingredient, a material which inhibits the expression of the hypoxia-inducible factor-2α (HIF-2α) gene or the activity of the HIF-2α protein. According to the present invention, the HIF-2α of the present invention increases the expression thereof in chondrocytes or tissue in which osteoarthritis is induced, and triggers the expression of various cartilage degeneration factors and the activation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase. In addition, when HIF-2α is inhibited, the expression level of cartilage degeneration factors and the phosphorylation of MAP kinase are significantly reduced by the inhibited degree of HIF-2α. Thus, the composition of the present invention may be applied to the prevention or treatment of arthritis, and may be used for the development of therapeutics for arthritis.
US08741862B2
A key function of blood vessels, to supply oxygen, is impaired in tumors because of abnormalities in their endothelial lining. PHD proteins serve as oxygen sensors and may regulate oxygen delivery. Therefore the role of endothelial PHD2 in vessel shaping by implanting tumors in PHD2+/− mice was studied. Haplodeficiency of PHD2 did not affect tumor vessel density or lumen size, but normalized the endothelial lining and vessel maturation. This resulted in improved tumor perfusion and oxygenation, and inhibited tumor cell invasion, intravasation and metastasis. Haplodeficiency of PHD2 redirected the specification of endothelial tip cells to a more quiescent phenotype of a filopodia-lacking “phalanx” cell type. Without being bound to a particular mechanism, this transition could at least in part be explained by upregulation of (soluble) VEGFR-1 and VE-cadherin. Thus, decreased activity of an oxygen sensor in hypoxic conditions prompts endothelial cells to readjust their shape and phenotype to restore oxygen supply. Inhibiting PHD2 may offer alternative therapeutic opportunities for anti-cancer therapy, or other therapies where vascular normalization is beneficial.
US08741861B2
The present invention discloses multiple treatment regimens for vascular-related diseases and disorders. The present invention provides for methods of treating vascular-related disorders based on gene expression studies from samples collected from individuals having symptoms of vascular-related disorders. Additionally, methods are disclosed involving diagnostic techniques to focus treatment regimens. Finally, methods of treating vascular-related disorder involving targeting microRNAs are also disclosed.
US08741859B2
The present invention provides a composition in which a fungicidal effect against a cultivated crop infected by a plant disease is stable and highly active. An excellent agricultural or horticultural fungicide composition for controlling a plant disease is provided by using (a) at least one imidazole compound represented by formula (I): wherein R represents a C1-6 alkyl group or a C1-6 alkoxy group; and n represents an integer of 1 to 5 and (b) polyoxins as active ingredients; by combination as compared to a single use of each compound, and a plant disease is thereby controlled.
US08741858B2
The invention provides small molecule drugs that are chemically modified by covalent attachment of a water soluble, non-peptidic oligomer. The conjugates of the invention, when administered by any of a number of administration routes, exhibits advantages over previously administered compounds.
US08741844B2
Use of a mutated antithrombin having substantially no activity, in particular no anticoagulant activity, possibly in association with an anticoagulant, for the preparation of a drug intended for the prevention or treatment of pathologies linked to or associated with coagulation disorders.
US08741837B2
The present invention provides compounds, pharmaceutically acceptable compositions thereof, and methods of using the same.
US08741826B2
Use of at least one diol and/or of at least one triol as a dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) additive for lowering the crystallization point thereof. The DMSO formulation is used in combination with the abovementioned additive as a paint-stripping composition, a surface-cleaning composition, a graffiti-cleaning composition, a surface-cleaning composition in the microelectronics field, such as a photoresist stripper, a DMSO-based agrochemical composition, or as a constituent of an abovementioned composition, as a polymer-dissolving solvent, or as a constituent of a composition that is useful in the field of cosmetology or pharmacy.
US08741815B2
The present invention relates to methods and devices for amplifying nucleic acid, and, in particular, amplifying so as to generate products on a surface without the use of emulsions. In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of groups of amplified product are generated on the surface, each group positioned in different (typically predetermined) locations on said surface so as to create an array.
US08741813B2
A composition includes a first probe capable of binding to a first analyte and a first initiator bonded to the first probe. The composition further includes a second probe capable of binding to a second analyte and a second initiator bonded to the second probe. At least one of the first initiator or the second initiator is capable of initiating a controlled polymerization reaction. An associated kit, device, and method are provided.
US08741806B2
Compounds of formula (I) wherein the substituents are as defined in claim 1, are suitable for use as herbicides.
US08741805B2
The present invention relates to an improved nitrification inhibitor composition and its use in agricultural applications.
US08741803B2
To provide a pesticidal composition which controls a pest undesirable for cultivation of a useful crop plant or a useful plant. A pesticidal composition comprising the following (component A) and the following (component B) as active ingredients:(component A): one or more compounds selected from 3-arylphenyl sulfide derivatives represented by the formula [I]:(component A): wherein R is a C2-C6 alkyl group which may be substituted, or the like, each of B0, B1, B2 and B3 which are independent of one another, is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or a haloalkyl group, n is an integer of from 0 to 2, and Ar is a phenyl group, a pyrazolyl group or a triazolyl group, (component B): one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of triazamate, butocarboxim, butoxycarboxim, chromafenozide, halofenozide, cyflumetofen, prallethrin, acetoprole, ethiprole, methamidophos, flonicamid, pyridalyl, flufenerim, flubendiamide, tebufenozide, fenazaquin and cyenopyrafen.
US08741795B2
An optical glass having high-refractivity and low-dispersion properties and containing, by mol %, 0.1 to 40% of SiO2, 10 to 50% of B2O3, wherein the mass ratio of the content of SiO2 to the content of B2O3, SiO2/B2O3, is 1 or less, 0.5 to 22% of ZnO, 5 to 50% of La2O3, and optionally other ingredients. The optical glass has a refractive index nd of 1.86 to 1.95 and an Abbe's number νd of (2.36−nd)/0.014 or more but less than 38, and a glass transition temperature of equal to or greater than 640° C.
US08741793B2
The present invention relates to a vitreous material possessing visual effects, particularly of fluorescence, when it is lit by ultraviolet light in the visible spectrum. These glasses are particularly applicable to the manufacture of decorative objects.
US08741788B2
A method of forming a silicon oxide layer is described. The method may include the steps of mixing a carbon-free silicon-and-nitrogen containing precursor with a radical precursor, and depositing a silicon-and-nitrogen containing layer on a substrate. The silicon-and-nitrogen containing layer is then converted to the silicon oxide layer.
US08741787B2
A silicon-based low-k dielectric material is formed on the basis of a single precursor material, such as OMTCS, without incorporating a porogen species. To this end, the initial deposition of the low-k dielectric material may be formed on the basis of a reduced process temperature, while a subsequent treatment, such as a UV treatment, may allow the adjustment of the final material characteristics without causing undue out-gassing of volatile organic components.
US08741780B2
A structural alternative to retro doping to reduce transistor leakage is provided by providing a liner in a trench, undercutting a conduction channel region in an active semiconductor layer, etching a side, corner and/or bottom of the conduction channel where the undercut exposes semiconductor material in the active layer and replacing the removed portion of the conduction channel with insulator. This shaping of the conduction channel increases the distance to adjacent circuit elements which, if charged, could otherwise induce a voltage and cause a change in back-channel threshold in regions of the conduction channel and narrows and reduces cross-sectional area of the channel where the conduction in the channel is not well-controlled; both of which effects significantly reduce leakage of the transistor.
US08741779B2
A plasma processing apparatus for processing an object to be processed using a plasma. The apparatus includes a processing chamber defining a processing cavity for containing an object to be processed and a process gas therein, a microwave radiating antenna having a microwave radiating surface for radiating a microwave in order to excite a plasma in the processing cavity, and a dielectric body provided so as to be opposed to the microwave radiating surface, in which the distance D between the microwave radiating surface and a surface of the dielectric body facing away from the microwave radiating surface, which is represented with the wavelength of the microwave being a distance unit, is determined to be in the range satisfying the inequality 0.7×n/4≦D≦1.3×n/4 (n being a natural number).
US08741778B2
A method of etching silicon oxide from a multiple trenches is described which allows more homogeneous etch rates among trenches. The surfaces of the etched silicon oxide within the trench following the etch may also be smoother. The method includes two dry etch stages followed by a sublimation step. The first dry etch stage removes silicon oxide quickly and produces large solid residue granules. The second dry etch stage remove silicon oxide slowly and produces small solid residue granules in amongst the large solid residue granules. Both the small and large solid residue are removed in the ensuing sublimation step. There is no sublimation step between the two dry etch stages.
US08741777B2
A substrate processing method for forming a space extending along a predetermined line in a silicon substrate includes a first step of converging a laser light which is an elliptically-polarized light having an ellipticity other than 1 at the substrate so as to form a plurality of modified spots within the substrate along the line and construct a modified region including the modified spots, and a second step of anisotropically etching the substrate so as to advance an etching selectively along the modified region and form the space in the substrate. In the first step, the light is converged at the substrate such that a moving direction of the light with respect to the substrate and a direction of polarization of the light form an angle of less than 45° therebetween, and the modified spots are made align in a plurality of rows along the line.
US08741773B2
Embodiments of the invention provide a method of forming nickel-silicide. The method may include depositing first and second metal layers over at least one of a gate, a source, and a drain region of a field-effect-transistor (FET) through a physical vapor deposition (PVD) process, wherein the first metal layer is deposited using a first nickel target material containing platinum (Pt), and the second metal layer is deposited on top of the first metal layer using a second nickel target material containing no or less platinum than that in the first nickel target material; and annealing the first and second metal layers covering the FET to form a platinum-containing nickel-silicide layer at a top surface of the gate, source, and drain regions.
US08741769B2
Disclosed is a process of making a semiconductor device wherein an insulation layer has a copper plug in contact with the last wiring layer of the device. There may also be a barrier layer separating the copper plug from the insulation layer. There may also be a cap layer over the copper plug to protect it from oxidation. There may also be a dielectric layer over the cap layer.
US08741763B2
An approach for providing layout designs with via routing structures is disclosed. Embodiments include: providing a gate structure and a diffusion contact on a substrate; providing a gate contact on the gate structure; providing a metal routing structure that does not overlie a portion of the gate contact, the diffusion contact, or a combination thereof; and providing a via routing structure over the portion and under a part of the metal routing structure to couple the gate contact, the diffusion contact, or a combination thereof to the metal routing structure.
US08741761B2
Methods of manufacturing three-dimensional semiconductor devices that may include forming a first spacer on a sidewall inside a first opening formed in a first stack structure, forming a sacrificial filling pattern on the spacer to fill the first opening, forming a second stack structure including a second opening exposing the sacrificial filling pattern on the first stack structure, forming a second spacer on a sidewall inside the second opening, removing the sacrificial filling pattern and removing the first spacer and the second spacer.
US08741757B2
Gate electrodes having different work functions can be provided by providing conductive metallic nitride layers having different thicknesses in a replacement gate scheme. Upon removal of disposable gate structures and formation of a gate dielectric layer, at least one incremental thickness conductive metallic nitride layer is added within some gate cavities, while not being added in some other gate cavities. A minimum thickness conductive metallic nitride layer is subsequently added as a contiguous layer. Conductive metallic nitride layers thus formed have different thicknesses across different gate cavities. A gate fill conductive material layer is deposited, and planarization is performed to provide multiple gate electrode having different conductive metallic nitride layer thicknesses. The different thicknesses of the conductive metallic nitride layers can provide different work functions having a range of about 400 mV.
US08741755B2
Disclosed herein is a semiconductor device that includes a trench formed across active regions and the element isolation regions. A conductive film is formed at a lower portion of the trench, and a cap insulating film is formed at an upper portion of the trench. The cap insulating film has substantially the same planer shape as that of the conductive film.
US08741754B2
A fabricating method of a non-volatile memory is provided. A tunneling dielectric layer and a first conductive layer are sequentially formed on a substrate. Isolation structures are formed in the first conductive layer, the tunneling dielectric layer and the substrate. The first conductive layer is patterned to form protruding portions. A portion of the isolation structures is removed, so that a top surface of each isolation structure is disposed between a top surface of the first conductive layer and a surface of the substrate. An inter-gate dielectric layer is formed on the substrate. A second conductive layer is formed on the inter-gate dielectric layer. The second conductive layer is patterned to form control gates, and the first conductive layer is patterned to form floating gates. The protruding portion of each floating gate is fully covered and surrounded by the control gate in any direction.
US08741748B1
Group III-nitride epilayers can be grown directly on copper substrates using intermediate passivation layers. For example, single crystalline c-plane GaN can be grown on Cu (110) substrates with MOCVD. The growth relies on a low temperature AlN passivation layer to isolate any alloying reaction between Ga and Cu.
US08741744B2
This disclosure is directed to a method of forming a gate pattern and a semiconductor device. The method comprises: providing a plurality of stacked structures which are parallel to each other and extend continuously in a first direction, and which are composed of a gate material bar and an etching barrier bar thereon; leaving second resist regions between gaps to be formed adjacent to each other across gate bars by a second photolithography process; selectively removing the etching barrier bars by a second etching process; forming a third resist layer having a plurality of openings parallel to each other and extending continuously in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction by a third photolithography process; and forming the gate pattern by a third etching process. The method is capable of having a larger photolithography process window and better controlling the shape and size of a gate pattern.
US08741733B2
Embodiments relate to an improved tri-gate device having gate metal fills, providing compressive or tensile stress upon at least a portion of the tri-gate transistor, thereby increasing the carrier mobility and operating frequency. Embodiments also contemplate method for use of the improved tri-gate device.
US08741728B2
Circuit, biasing scheme and fabrication method for diode accessed cross-point resistive memory array
Methods, systems, structures and arrays are disclosed, such as a resistive memory array which includes access devices, for example, back-to-back Zener diodes, that only allow current to pass through a coupled resistive memory cell when a voltage drop applied to the access device is greater than a critical voltage. The array may be biased to reduce standby currents and improve delay times between programming and read operations.
US08741722B2
A method includes defining active regions on a substrate, forming a dummy gate stack material over exposed portions of the active regions of the substrate and non-active regions of the substrate, removing portions of the dummy gate stack material to expose portions of the active regions and non-active regions of the substrate and define dummy gate stacks, forming a gap-fill dielectric material over the exposed portions of the substrate and the source and drain regions, removing portions of the gap-fill dielectric material to expose the dummy gate stacks, removing the dummy gate stacks to form dummy gate trenches, forming dividers within the dummy gate trenches, depositing gate stack material inside the dummy gate trenches, over the dividers, and the gap-fill dielectric material, and removing portions of the gate stack material to define gate stacks.
US08741715B2
A transistor device having a tiered gate electrode fabricated with methods using a triple layer resist structure. The triple layer resist stack is deposited on a semiconductor structure. An exposure pattern is written onto the resist stack using an e-beam writer, for example. The exposure dose is non-uniform across the device. Portions of the three resist layers are removed with a sequential development process, resulting in tiered resist structure. A conductive material is deposited to form the gate electrode. The resulting “Air-T” gate also has a three-tiered structure. The fabrication process is well-suited for the production of gates small enough for use in millimeter wave devices.
US08741713B2
The present disclosure relates to a secure device having a physical unclonable function and methods of manufacturing such a secure device. The device includes a substrate and at least one high-k/metal gate device formed on the substrate. The at least one high-k/metal gate device represents the physical unclonable function. In some cases, the at least one high-k/metal gate device may be subjected a variability enhancement. In some cases, the secure device may include a measurement circuit for measuring a property of the at least one high-k/metal gate device.
US08741709B2
A process for fabrication of a power semiconductor device is disclosed in which a single photomask is used to define each of p-conductivity well regions and n-conductivity type source regions. In the process a single photomask is deposited on a layer of polysilicon on a wafer, the polysilicon layer is removed from first regions of the power semiconductor device where the p-conductivity well regions and the n-conductivity type source regions are to be formed, and both p-conductivity type and n-conductivity type dopants are introduced into the wafer through the first regions.
US08741708B2
A transistor and a method for forming the transistor are provided. The transistor can be formed over a substrate including a first region and second regions on opposite sides of the first region. On the substrate, a first SiGe layer can be formed, followed by forming a first silicon layer on the first SiGe layer and forming a second SiGe layer on the first silicon layer. The second SiGe layer and the first silicon layer within the second regions are removed. The first silicon layer within the first region is removed to form a cavity such that the second SiGe layer is floated. An isolating layer is formed in the cavity. Second silicon layers are formed in the second regions. A gate structure is formed on the second SiGe layer within the first region and the second silicon layers are doped to form a source and a drain.
US08741706B2
A high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) includes a substrate, an HEMT stack spaced apart from the substrate, and a pseudo-insulation layer (PIL) disposed between the substrate and the HEMT stack. The PIL layer includes at least two materials having different phases. The PIL layer defines an empty space that is wider at an intermediate portion than at an entrance of the empty space.
US08741704B2
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device including providing a gate structure on a channel portion of a semiconductor substrate, wherein the gate structure includes at least one gate dielectric on the channel portion of the semiconductor substrate and at least one gate conductor on the at least one gate dielectric. An edge portion of the at least one gate dielectric is removed on each side of the gate structure, wherein the removing of the edge portion of the gate dielectric provides an exposed base edge of the at least one gate conductor and an exposed channel surface of the semiconductor substrate underlying the gate structure. The sidewall of the gate structure is oxidized, which also oxidizes at least one of the exposed base edge of the at least one gate conductor and the exposed channel surface of the semiconductor substrate that is underlying the gate structure.
US08741702B2
An object is to manufacture a semiconductor device including an oxide semiconductor at low cost with high productivity in such a manner that a photolithography process is simplified by reducing the number of light-exposure masks. In a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device including a channel-etched inverted-staggered thin film transistor, an oxide semiconductor film and a conductive film are etched using a mask layer formed with the use of a multi-tone mask which is a light-exposure mask through which light is transmitted so as to have a plurality of intensities. In etching steps, a first etching step is performed by dry etching in which an etching gas is used, and a second etching step is performed by wet etching in which an etchant is used.
US08741701B2
A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming a mandrel on top of a substrate; forming a first spacer adjacent to the mandrel on top of the substrate; forming a cut mask over the first spacer and the mandrel, such that the first spacer is partially exposed by the cut mask; partially removing the partially exposed first spacer; and etching the substrate to form a fin structure corresponding to the partially removed first spacer in the substrate.
US08741698B2
Atomic layer deposition (ALD) can be used to form a dielectric layer of zirconium oxide for use in a variety of electronic devices. Forming the dielectric layer includes depositing zirconium oxide using atomic layer deposition. A method of atomic layer deposition to produce a metal-rich metal oxide comprises the steps of providing a silicon substrate in a reaction chamber, pulsing a zirconium precursor for a predetermined time to deposit a first layer, and oxidizing the first layer with water vapor to produce the metal-rich metal oxide. The metal-rich metal oxide has superior properties for non-volatile resistive-switching memories.
US08741686B2
A semiconductor device has an active layer, a first semiconductor layer of first conductive type, an overflow prevention layer disposed between the active layer and the first semiconductor layer, which is doped with impurities of first conductive type and which prevents overflow of electrons or holes, a second semiconductor layer of first conductive type disposed at least one of between the active layer and the overflow prevention layer and between the overflow prevention layer and the first semiconductor layer, and an impurity diffusion prevention layer disposed between the first semiconductor layer and the active layer, which has a band gap smaller than those of the overflow prevention layer, the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer and which prevents diffusion of impurities of first conductive type.
US08741683B2
An embodiment of the invention provides a chip package, which includes: a semiconductor substrate having a device region; a package layer disposed on the semiconductor substrate; a spacing layer disposed between the semiconductor substrate and the package layer and surrounding the device region; and an auxiliary pattern having a hollow pattern formed in the spacing layer, a material pattern located between the spacing layer and the device region, or combinations thereof.
US08741676B2
A method of manufacturing an Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED). A substrate (101) is provided, and a plurality of pixel electrodes (102) is formed on the substrate resulting in at least one gap (105) between two adjacent pixel electrodes. A dielectric material (103) is deposited in the gap. The resulting structure is subjected to a process which ensures that at least a portion of the surface of the pixel electrodes is not covered by the dielectric material. At least the portion of the surface of the pixel electrodes is covered with a layer of an organic compound so as to form the OLED.
US08741673B2
The present invention relates to a polarized light emitting diode (LED) device and the method for manufacturing the same, in which the LED device comprises: a base, a light emitting diode (LED) chip, a polarizing waveguide and a packaging material. In an exemplary embodiment, the LED chip is disposed on the base and is configured with a first light-emitting surface for outputting light therefrom; and the waveguide, being comprised of a polarization layer, a reflection layer, a conversion layer and a light transmitting layer, is disposed at the optical path of the light emitted from the LED chip; and the packaging material is used for packaging the waveguide, the LED chip and the base into a package.
US08741669B2
In a method for producing an organic light emitting illuminant, a base electrode layer is formed over a substrate, an organic light emitting layer is formed over at least one portion of the base electrode layer, and a top electrode layer is formed over at least one portion of the organic light emitting layer, the layers being formed in the shape of strips. The strip-shaped formation of the layers is carried out in a coating process in an in-line vacuum coating system having stationary shadowing masks on the advancing substrate such that at least one area of the base electrode layer remains uncoated once the layers have been formed.
US08741667B2
A method for fabricating a through wire interconnect for a semiconductor substrate having a substrate contact includes the steps of: forming a via through the semiconductor substrate from a first side to a second side thereof; placing a wire in the via having a first end with a bonded connection to the substrate contact and a second end proximate to the second side; forming a first contact on the wire proximate to the first side; forming a second contact on the second end of the wire; and forming a polymer layer on the first side at least partially encapsulating the wire while leaving the first contact exposed.
US08741654B2
The present invention relates to the identification of novel nucleic acid sequences, designated herein as 7p, 8k, 7E, 9G, 8Q and 203, in a host cell which effect protein production. The present invention also provides host cells having a mutation or deletion of part or all of the gene encoding 7p, 8k, 7E, 9G, 8Q and 203, which are presented in FIG. 1, and are SEQ ID NOS.: 1-6, respectively. The present invention also provides host cells further comprising a nucleic acid encoding a desired heterologous protein such as an enzyme.
US08741653B2
The present invention is directed to a modified poxvirus vector that allows for the generation of recombinant poxviruses by a single recombination event. A modified poxvirus vector comprising at least one reporter gene located between two flanking sequences for homologous recombination is disclosed. Furthermore, a host cell comprising said vector and a method for the generation of recombinant poxviruses using said vector are provided.
US08741651B2
Provided is a chimeric isoprenoid synthase polypeptide including a first domain from a first isoprenoid synthase joined to a second domain from a second, heterologous, isoprenoid synthase, whereby the chimeric isoprenoid synthase is capable of catalyzing the production of isoprenoid reaction products that are not produced in the absence of the second domain of the second, heterologous, isoprenoid synthase. Also provided is a chimeric isoprenoid synthase polypeptide including an asymmetrically positioned heterologous domain, whereby the chimeric isoprenoid synthase is capable of catalyzing the production of isoprenoid reaction products that are not produced when the domain is positioned at its naturally-occurring site in the isoprenoid synthase polypeptide.
US08741650B2
The present invention provides methods for producing a minus-strand RNA viral vector, which comprise using a promoter comprising a cytomegalovirus enhancer and a chicken β-actin promoter, to induce the transcription of the genome RNA of a minus-strand RNA viral vector and the expression of minus-strand RNA viral proteins that form a ribonucleoprotein with the genome RNA. The methods of the present invention enable high efficiency production of highly safe minus-strand RNA viral vectors. The methods of the present invention are particularly useful for producing minus-strand RNA viral vectors that are deficient in envelope-constituting protein genes.
US08741648B2
Methods and compositions relating to the production of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) are disclosed. For example, induced pluripotent stem cells may be generated from CD34+ hematopoietic cells, such as human CD34+ blood progenitor cells, or T cells. Various iPS cell lines are also provided. In certain embodiments, the invention provides novel induced pluripotent stem cells with a genome comprising genetic rearrangement of T cell receptors.
US08741646B2
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.
US08741645B2
The present invention provides a method for performing a biological test under conditions in which an artificially prepared cell pattern with initial position coordinates that can be determined is three-dimensionally cultured within a gelled matrix. The present invention relates to a biological test method that comprises testing a biological indicator with reference to at least one selected from the group consisting of cell proliferation, cell movement, and cell differentiation in a cell pattern substantially embedded in gel. The present invention also relates to a kit for the biological test method.
US08741631B2
A device for biological purposes such as cell culturing, enzymatic reactions or filtering of fluid has a body with first and second surfaces. The body is delimited by a rim and an aperture in the center of the body. The aperture is covered at the first and second surface by first and second plates. The first and/or second plate has an inlet orifice allowing liquid medium into the aperture. Rotating means are arranged in the aperture between the first and second plate. At least one recessed portion is a cavity in the rim of the body having a first outlet orifice allowing the liquid medium to flow out of the body. At least one outlet channel connects the circular aperture with the recessed portion. Liquid is pumped into the aperture of the device and pumped through at least one outlet channel.
US08741628B2
An energy efficient process for the preparation of marine microalgae Chlorella fatty acid methyl ester (CME) from hydrolysate of deoiled cake of Jatropha (JOCH) and crude glycerol co-product stream (GL7 and GL8) along with seawater diluted with tap water (1:2). A small part of the crude glycerol layer in case of JME is processed to recover glycerol for glycerol washing and the otherwise problematic still bottom is utilized for microbial synthesis of PHAs and the rest is utilized for Microalgal conversion of JME byproducts into CME. The remaining part of the methanol-depleted glycerol layer is utilized, along with hydrolysate of the Jatropha deoiled cake (JOCH), for single-stage Microalgal production of lipids by a marine Microalgal isolate (Chlorella sp.) without the need for any other nutrients. Waste streams from the microalgal processes can be discharged directly into agricultural fields as biofertilizer or recycled back in the mass cultivation.
US08741622B2
The present invention relates in general to the field of Bifidobacteria. In particular, the present invention relates to the field of Bifidobacteria with a modulated stress resistance. One embodiment of the present invention is a Bifidobacterium with a constitutively modulated DnaK, GrpE and/or CIpB expression.
US08741621B2
Recombinant P. pastoris producing natural sweet proteins and methods for engineering these recombinant yeast are described. Methods for enhancing foreign protein production in yeast fermentation and improved methods for purification of foreign proteins produced in yeast fermentation are presented.
US08741614B2
A crystal comprising human isoglutaminyl cyclase having a characterized space group of P1211 and unit cell dimensions of +/−5% of a=126.51 Å, b=109.68 Å, c=159.53 Å, α=90.0°, β=104.9° and γ=90.0°.
US08741608B2
A process for the fermentative preparation of L-ornithine using microorganisms characterized by an increased export of the amino acid.
US08741599B2
A process for the fermentative production of at least one organic compound having at least 3 C atoms or having at least 2 C atoms and at least one 1 N atom, comprising the following steps: a1) milling a starch feedstock, thus obtaining a millbase which comprises at least part of the nonstarchy solid constituents of the starch feedstock; a2) suspending the millbase in an aqueous liquid and hydrolysis of the starch portion in the millbase by enzymatic liquefaction and, if appropriate, subsequent saccharification, whereby a first liquid (1) which comprises mono- or oligosaccharides is obtained; and b) addition of the liquid (1) which comprises mono- or oligosaccharides together with metabolizable mono-, di- or oligosaccharides or together with a composition which comprises metabolizable mono-, di- or oligosaccharide in a concentration of at least 50% by weight and which is essentially free from solids which are insoluble in water to a fermentation medium comprising a microorganism which is capable of overproducing the organic compound under fermentation conditions.
US08741594B2
The present invention relates to mitochondrial protein that can be used as a marker for diagnosing stomach cancer. According to the present invention, the marker for diagnosing stomach cancer comprises mitochondrial enoyl coenzyme A hydratase 1.
US08741593B2
This invention has as its object a method for releasing a product by subjecting a compound of Formula (II′): R′7R′8(HX)C1-C2(YH)R′9R′10 to a chemical oxidation that cleaves the bond C1-C2 to obtain the product. In the compound of Formula (II′): R′7 to R′10, which are identical or different, correspond to a hydrogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted functional group; X and Y, which are identical or different, are an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, or an amine of Formula —NR11R12, wherein R11 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, and R12 is not a hydrogen atom. The invention also has as its object a method for releasing a product that comprises, before the chemical oxidation stage, a first step for preparing the compound of Formula (II′). The released product can be a volatile molecule or an active substance or else a specific product. The invention also relates to a method for detecting the released product as well as its applications, in particular for detecting catalytic or enzymatic activities.
US08741587B2
Disclosed is a method aiding in the assessment of cancer. More specifically disclosed is the use of the arginine-rich metastasized in early tumors protein (=ARMET) as a universal marker of different cancer types. ARMET aids in the assessment of pulmonary or lung cancer (LC) or of colon cancer, e.g., of non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) or colorectal cancer (CRC), but also likely of other specific types of cancer. Such specific cancer types are, e.g., breast, ovary, cervix, head and neck, endometrium, melanoma, bladder, kidney, pancreas, prostate, esophagus, stomach or bile duct cancer. Further disclosed is a method for assessing cancer from a liquid sample, derived from an individual by measuring ARMET in the sample. Measurement of ARMET can, e.g., be used in the early detection of cancer or in the surveillance of patients who undergo surgery.
US08741582B2
The present invention is directed to a method of detecting a DEK protein isoform 2 in a human urine sample using ELISA. Methods and compositions for detection of DEK isoform 2 in human urine are provided herein. The presence of DEK isoform 2 in urine is shown to correlate with bladder cancer in humans.
US08741581B2
The present invention relates to methods for detecting, prognosing and staging cancers, in particular cancers of the gastrointestinal tract. The methods of the invention comprise detecting specific protein markers in a tissue of interest, wherein the detected levels thereof may be indicative of pre-cancerous or cancerous tissue, or the stage or prognosis of a cancer. Further provided are methods of treating cancer, and cancer detection kits.
US08741579B2
The present invention provides methods and compositions which modulate beta 1 integrin activity by functioning as allosteric antagonists. In particular, the present invention provides methods for mediating tissue repair where insult or injury has occurred by antagonising the allosteric function of beta 1 integrin.
US08741575B2
The present invention relates to biomarkers for neoplasias such as high grade gliomas. The inventors have discovered that the overexpression of senescence associated genes (SAG) is associated with a poor prognosis in subjects with high grade gliomas. The present invention provides SAG biomarkers for predicting response to therapy for subjects having high grade glioma based on dividing the samples into high and low risk groups; diagnosing high grade glioma; monitoring progression of high grade glioma from one biological state to another; and determining efficacy of treatment for high grade gliomas.
US08741573B2
Analysis of 13,023 genes in 11 breast and 11 colorectal cancers revealed that individual tumors accumulate an average of ˜90 mutant genes but that only a subset of these contribute to the neoplastic process. Using stringent criteria to delineate this subset, we identified 189 genes (average of 11 per tumor) that were mutated at significant frequency. The vast majority of these genes were not known to be genetically altered in tumors and are predicted to affect a wide range of cellular functions, including transcription, adhesion, and invasion. These data define the genetic landscape of two human cancer types, provide new targets for diagnostic and therapeutic intervention and monitoring.
US08741567B2
The present invention relates generally to the field of molecular biology. More particularly, it concerns methods and compositions for detecting, evaluating, and/or mapping 5-hydroxymethyl-modified cytosine bases within a nucleic acid molecule.
US08741562B2
A method of analyzing ethylated thymidine DNA adducts is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: providing leukocyte DNA; adding at least one isotope-labeled internal standard and a plurality of enzymes to the leukocyte DNA, and hydrolyzing the leukocyte DNA into a plurality of nucleosides; using a solid-phase extraction column to extract the plurality of nucleosides; and using a stable isotope dilution nanoflow liquid chromatography-nanospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry to detect and quantify at least one ethylated thymidine DNA adduct in the plurality of extracted nucleosides.
US08741557B2
Prognostic methods useful in assessing patients who have received a transplant and reagents that can be used to carry out those methods are provided. The inventions are based, in part, on our analysis of gene expression in renal allografts and clinical parameters, i.e., variables associated with the donor, the recipient and/or the graft. The genes that can be assessed include those encoding agents that mediate inflammation, immune activation, and cell death (we may refer to these genes as “inflammatory”, “immune” or “cytoprotective”). Surprisingly, the levels of gene expression could predict the occurrence of DGF, AR, and the quality of later graft function even when analyzed shortly after (e.g., after vascular anastomosis and tissue reperfusion). We also found that clinical parameters available at the time of transplantation correlate with decreased graft health and can be considered in combination with gene expression to evaluate a patient's risk for an adverse outcome.
US08741554B2
A pattern is formed by coating a first positive resist composition comprising a base resin, a photoacid generator, and a base generator onto a substrate to form a first resist film, patternwise exposure, PEB, and development to form a first resist pattern, heating the first resist pattern for causing the base generator to generate a base for inactivating the pattern to acid, coating a second positive resist composition comprising a C3-C8 alcohol and an optional C6-C12 ether onto the first resist pattern-bearing substrate to form a second resist film, patternwise exposure, PEB, and development to form a second resist pattern.
US08741552B2
A method of lithography patterning includes forming a first resist pattern on a substrate, wherein the first resist pattern including a plurality of openings. A second resist pattern is formed on the substrate and within the plurality of openings of the first resist pattern, wherein the second resist pattern includes at least one opening therein on the substrate. The first resist pattern is removed to uncover the substrate underlying the first resist pattern.
US08741532B2
The disclosure describes a toner process in which portion-wise addition of colorant(s) during particle formation is used to control the distribution of colorant within the toner particle, thereby enhancing A zone charge.
US08741524B2
A toner containing at least a binder resin and a colorant, wherein the toner has a core-shell structure composed of a core, and a shell having a thickness of 0.01 μm to 2 μm on a surface of the core, and wherein the toner satisfies the following relation: 1.1≦ST/CT≦2.0 where ST is a softening temperature of the shell, and CT is a softening temperature of the core, both measured by a SPM probe with an integrated heater.
US08741523B2
A toner for developing electrostatic image comprising a toner particle containing a binding resin is disclosed. which, and In the toner the binding resin has a domain-matrix structure composed of a high elastic resin composing a domain and a low elastic resin composing a matrix, an arithmetic mean value of ratio (L/W) of the Length L to Width W of the domains is 1.5 to 5.0, domains having Length L in the range of 60 to 500 nm exist 80 number % or more, and domains having Width Win the range of 45 to 100 nm exist 80 number % or more, in a viscoelastic image of a cross section of the toner particle observed via an atomic force microscope.
US08741515B2
Provided is an image holding member for an image forming apparatus including a support; and a photosensitive layer disposed on the support and containing a compound represented by the following formula (I): wherein in the formula (I), R1's each independently represent a substituted or unsubstituted, linear or branched alkyl group having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms; Ar's each independently represent a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted monovalent polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon group having two aromatic rings, a substituted or unsubstituted monovalent condensed aromatic hydrocarbon group having two or three aromatic rings, or a substituted or unsubstituted monovalent aromatic heterocyclic group; and n's each independently represent a number of from 0 to 7.
US08741500B2
A fuel cell stack formed by stacking two or more fuel cell layers each constituted of one or more unit cell and a fuel cell system including the same are provided. Any two fuel cell layers adjacent to each other each have one or more gap region. At least a part of the gap region in one fuel cell layer of any two fuel cell layers adjacent to each other is in contact with a unit cell constituting the other fuel cell layer. The gap region in one fuel cell layer and the gap region in the other fuel cell layer communicate with each other. The fuel cell stack is excellent in fuel or oxidizing agent supply performance and it realizes high power density.
US08741498B2
In a fuel cell, one of separators that are opposed to each other and an intermediate body interposed between the separators are sandwiched by a cell monitor. An end portion of the intermediate body extends to an edge portion of a cell monitor mounting portion of the above-indicated one separator. The intermediate body includes at least one of a member that functions to hold an electrolyte body, a spacer (as in the case where the intermediate body is a resin frame), and a seal member or members. A major surface of the separator in the cell monitor mounting portion on which the cell monitor is mounted is in surface contact with a terminal of the cell monitor for conduction therebetween.
US08741496B2
The object of the present invention is to provide a fuel cell system enabling an improvement in fuel consumption and a method for controlling thereof. A fuel cell system 1 includes a fuel cell 10, an air pump 21, an air supply channel, a hydrogen supply channel, a hydrogen tank, a hydrogen discharge channel, a hydrogen reflux channel, an air discharge channel, a purge valve 441, and a control device 30. The control device 30 includes a dilution judgment portion 31 judging whether dilution of hydrogen gas has been completed; an air increase portion 33 for increasing an air mass in the air discharge channel; a power production calculation portion 34 calculating an amount of power production based on the air mass increased; and a fuel cell drive portion 35 driving the fuel cell 10 to produce electric power to obtain the amount of power production calculated.
US08741480B2
The non-aqueous secondary battery of the present invention comprises a positive electrode containing a lithium-containing composite oxide as an active material, a negative electrode, a separator, and a non-aqueous electrolyte. The non-aqueous electrolyte contains polyvalent organic lithium salt, and the content of the polyvalent organic lithium salt is 0.001 parts by mass or more and 1 part by mass or less with respect to 100 parts by mass of all of the components of the non-aqueous electrolyte other than the polyvalent organic lithium salt.
US08741479B2
An electrolyte for a lithium secondary battery including a lithium salt, a nonaqueous organic solvent, and an additive, in which the additive is composed of one or more compounds including a purinone or a purinone derivative. The lithium secondary battery with improved life and high-temperature storage may be provided by using the electrolyte for a lithium secondary battery according to an embodiment of the present invention.
US08741475B2
A secondary battery includes an electrode assembly, a collector plate electrically connected to the electrode assembly and having a bottom surface support portion facing a bottom surface of the electrode assembly, and a case surrounding the electrode assembly and the collector plate.
US08741466B2
An energy storage system comprising at least one energy storage module adapted to supply electrical energy to a hybrid vehicle. The energy storage module comprises an enclosure having at least one battery array located within the enclosure. The energy storage module includes a thermal pad disposed between the battery array and an interior surface of the primary enclosure. A heat sink is disposed on an exterior surface of the primary enclosure. The heat sink comprises a plurality of fins which may be disposed angularly with respect to a longitudinal axis of the primary enclosure. The height or length of the fins may be varied relative to a fan location to provide uniform cooling across the battery cells in the battery array. An enclosing plate is mounted exterior to the heat sink and defining an airflow cavity, wherein the enclosing plate directs air from the fan across the heat sink.
US08741452B2
A secondary battery is disclosed. The secondary battery includes a bare cell, a protection circuit module located on a lateral side of the bare cell, and first and second holders disposed between the bare cell and the protection circuit module. The first holder and the second holder are coupled with the protection circuit module.
US08741450B2
A material for organic electroluminescence devices comprising a compound in which a heterocyclic group having nitrogen is bonded to an arylcarbazolyl group or a carbazolylalkylene group and an organic electroluminescence device comprising an anode, a cathode and an organic thin film layer comprising at least one layer and disposed between the anode and the cathode, wherein at least one layer in the organic thin film layer comprises the material for organic electroluminescence devices described above. The material can provide an organic electroluminescence device emitting bluish light with a high purity of color. The organic electroluminescence device uses the material.
US08741448B2
Disclosed is a fullerene derivative having a formula of F-Cy, wherein F is an open-cage fullerene, and Cy is a chalcogenyl group. The fullerene derivative can be applied to hydrogen storage material and an optoelectronic device such as an organic light emitting diode (OLED), a solar cell, or an organic thin film transistor (TFT).
US08741437B2
Substrate with Antimicrobial Properties An antimicrobial substrate (glass, ceramic or metallic) coated on at least one of its surface with at least one mixed layer deposited by a sputtering under vacuum magnetically enhanced process is described. The layer comprising at least one antimicrobial agent mixed to binder material chosen amongst the metal oxides, oxynitrides, oxycarbides or nitrides. This substrate present antimicrobial properties, in particular bactericidal activity even when no thermal treatment has been applied. If a tempered and antimicrobial glass is required, the same co-sputtering process can be used, optionally an underlayer can be added. Antimicrobial properties are maintained even after a tempering process.
US08741436B2
A window glass with a conductive ceramic fired body includes at least one glass plate having main surfaces, and the conductive ceramic fired body including a feeding point and a linear portion which is disposed on either one of the main surfaces of the glass plate, at least a part of the linear portion being placed in a visible region of the window glass and formed by successively laminating a first colored layer, a conductor layer and a second colored layer on the main surface, wherein the first colored layer and the second colored layer each include a pigment and a glass component, and the conductor layer includes silver and the glass component.
US08741433B2
Compositions and packaging films are provided having a blend of an amorphous nylon copolymer, a low temperature polyamide, and a high temperature polyamide. The compositions can be used in making heat shrinkable films and food packages having desirable levels of free shrink.
US08741428B2
A surface-coated cutting tool according to the present invention includes a base material and a coating film formed on the base material. The coating film includes at least one TiCN layer. The TiCN layer has a columnar crystal region. The columnar crystal region is characterized by having a composition of TiCxNy(in which 0.65≦x/(x+y)≦0.90), having a (422) plane having a plane spacing of 0.8765 Å to 0.8790 Å and having TC (220) showing a maximum value in an orientation index TC (hkl).
US08741427B2
A microcavity-containing, resilient foam comprising a thermoplastic polymer; composite structures comprising such a microcavity-containing foam and a multiplicity of particles contained in such microcavities, preferably aqueous fluid absorbent particles; methods for preparation of such foam and structures; and disposable consumer articles incorporating such foams and composites. The aqueous fluid absorbent characteristics of the foam and composite structures render them useful in the fabrication of disposable consumer articles, in particular hygiene articles designed to rapidly absorb “insults” of bodily fluid thereby conducting such fluids away from contact with the skin of the wearer of the hygiene article. The useful articles include infant and children diapers, adult incontinence pants, feminine hygiene pads, pet urine-absorbent pads and mats, household cleaning pads, surgical drapery, and the like.
US08741414B2
A sheet for producing a multilayer optical recording medium having a repeated structure in which a plurality of optical recording layers are laminated, wherein the sheet has a structure such that a unit comprising at least a release assisting layer, an optical recording layer having a thickness of 1 to 1,000 nm and a pressure sensitive adhesive layer are disposed on a process film, the release assisting layer is disposed on the surface of the process film, and a pressure sensitive adhesive layer is disposed as the outermost layer, and an absolute value of difference between refractive indices of the release assisting layer and the pressure sensitive adhesive layer at a wavelength of 660 nm is 0.11 or smaller; and a multilayer optical recording medium obtained by using the sheet. The sheet enables to release the process film and transfer the optical recording layer while the condition of the surface of the optical recording layer is kept excellent. The multilayer optical recording medium has a great recording density and exhibits excellent property for recording.
US08741410B2
A roll includes a succession of sheets of single-use absorbent paper, the succession of sheets includes a first sheet partially defined by a first line of perforations and a first cut arrangement partially defined by a first cut, a second cut, and a connecting region arranged between the first cut and the second cut and a second sheet partially defined by the first cut arrangement, and a second line of perforations.
US08741408B2
The disclosure relates to a flexible underwater pipe intended for transporting fluids, notably hydrocarbons, comprising at least one layer comprising a polymeric resin comprising at least one polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane chemically bound to the polymer.
US08741407B2
The present invention relates to a hose system, in particular for vehicle tires, having a hose (12) formed into a ring, comprising polyurethane and having an at least substantially constant wall thickness along the extent thereof, wherein the substantially constant value of the wall thickness is in the range between 0.1 mm and 0.4 mm.
US08741406B2
A threaded joint for steel pipes for use in an oil well which has improved galling resistance and which is protected from rusting comprises a pin and a box each having a contact surface including a threaded portion and an unthreaded metal contact portion. The contact surface of at least one of the pin and the box has a lower layer of a viscous liquid or semisolid lubricating coating comprising at least wax and a fatty acid alkaline earth metal salt and not containing a harmful heavy metal such as lead and an upper layer of a dry solid coating formed from an aqueous resin coating composition, an organic solvent type coating composition, or an ultraviolet curing coating composition.
US08741397B2
Disclosed is a liquid crystal display element which is composed of a pair of substrates (1) at least one of which is transparent. The liquid crystal display element comprises, between the pair of substrates, a transparent electrode (2), an aligning agent (3) that contains at least reactive monomers and/or oligomers (5), and a liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal display element is characterized in that an alignment layer is obtained by polymerizing the reactive monomers or oligomers contained in the aligning agent, and the liquid crystal layer is composed of a liquid crystal composition that contains a compound (4) having at least one benzene ring in each molecule, said benzene ring containing at least one fluorine atom and being disubstituted by halogen atoms.
US08741396B2
An amorphous carbon film, which has excellent etching resistance and is capable of reducing reflectance when a resist film is exposed to light, is form. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming an object film to be etched on a wafer, supplying a process gas containing a CO gas and an N2 gas into a processing container, forming an amorphous carbon nitride film from the supplied CO gas and N2 gas, forming a silicon oxide film on the amorphous carbon nitride film, forming an ArF resist film on the silicon oxide film, patterning the ArF resist film, etching the silicon oxide film by using the ArF resist film as a mask, etching the amorphous carbon nitride film by using the silicon oxide film as a mask, and etching the object film to be etched by using the amorphous carbon nitride film as a mask.
US08741395B2
An apparatus and method for enhancing the surface energy and/or surface chemistry of carbon fibers involves exposing the fibers to direct or indirect contact with atmospheric pressure plasma generated using a background gas containing at least some oxygen or other reactive species. The fiber may be exposed directly to the plasma, provided that the plasma is nonfilamentary, or the fiber may be exposed indirectly through contact with gases exhausting from a plasma discharge maintained in a separate volume. In either case, the process is carried out at or near atmospheric pressure, thereby eliminating the need for vacuum equipment. The process may be further modified by moistening the fibers with selected oxygen-containing liquids before exposure to the plasma.
US08741394B2
Methods for depositing film stacks by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition are described. In one example, a method for depositing a film stack on a substrate, wherein the film stack includes films of different compositions and the deposition is performed in a process station in-situ, is provided. The method includes, in a first plasma-activated film deposition phase, depositing a first layer of film having a first film composition on the substrate; in a second plasma-activated deposition phase, depositing a second layer of film having a second film composition on the first layer of film; and sustaining the plasma while transitioning a composition of the plasma from the first plasma-activated film deposition phase to the second plasma-activated film deposition phase.
US08741391B2
A dip-coating process includes immersing a member to be coated in a coating solution in a coating vessel and lifting the member to be coated while covering a side surface of the member to be coated with a telescopic sliding hood to form a coating film on a surface of the member to be coated. The telescopic sliding hood includes a plurality of tubular members connected so that their diameters successively decrease upward in a dip-coating direction, and can cover the side surface of the member to be coated by extending in association with the movement of the member to be coated during the lift of the member to be coated. While the member to be coated is being lifted, a downward airflow in the dip-coating direction is generated in a gap between an inner surface of the telescopic sliding hood and the member to be coated to discharge solvent vapor to outside the telescopic sliding hood.
US08741385B2
The present invention relates to the field of semiconductor processing and provides methods that improve chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of semiconductor materials by promoting more efficient thermalization of precursor gases prior to their reaction. In preferred embodiments, the method provides heat transfer structures and their arrangement within a CVD reactor so as to promote heat transfer to flowing process gases. In certain preferred embodiments applicable to CVD reactors transparent to radiation from heat lamps, the invention provides radiation-absorbent surfaces placed to intercept radiation from the heat lamps and to transfer it to flowing process gases.
US08741384B2
A method of synthesizing branched gold nanoparticles is described, starting from an aqueous solution of gold nanoparticle spherical seeds, which is subjected to a growth treatment with an aqueous solution comprising hydroxylamine or a salt thereof as a reducing agent and 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid (HEPES) as an agent that directs the shape of the nanostructure, and by subsequent addition of an aqueous solution of chloroauric acid (HAuCl4). The structural features and the properties of the branched gold nanoparticles obtained by the method of the invention are also described.
US08741382B1
The invention is a method of painting using a Differential Adhesion Composition (DAC) paint comprising a resin, a hygroscopic agent, a non-silicone surfactant, solvents, thickeners and pigments of titanium dioxide of 14 or more percent by weight. The paint sticks to the frame of a window after drying or setting and peels from the glass panes of the window in large pieces. The method of painting comprises applying the DAC paint to the non-glass surface and the glass surface, allowing the DAC paint to dry and then removing the DAC paint in large pieces from glass surface.
US08741376B2
The present invention provides nutritional compositions, more particularly food supplements and processed food products, enriched with arabinoxylan-oligosaccharides and further comprising either or both water-unextractable arabinoxylans or water-soluble arabinoxylans. Preferably said nutritional compositions comprises both arabinoxylan-oligosaccharides and water-unextractable arabinoxylans.
US08741371B2
Provided are tea leaves for green tea beverage extraction. A green tea beverage that can be stored without sediments precipitating and without turning brown, and also tastes good chilled, can be extracted from said leaves. Said leaves are characterized in that the relationship between X and Y fulfills condition (1), where X is the weight fraction of theanine content with respect to the total weight of dried tea leaves, and Y is the weight fraction of monosaccharide content with respect to caffeine content. −0.136X+0.35≦Y≦−0.136X+0.46. (1)
US08741362B2
The invention relates a phytocomplex obtained from the bergamot fruit albedo (Citrus Bergamia Risso & Poiteau), the production thereof and the use thereof, in particular under the form of dry extract, to be used as normalizer of the metabolic unbalances of lypemic and glycemic type, in the treatment of the cutaneous diseases with inflammatory or degenerative character, as painkilling/anti-inflammatory agent, as antineoplastic agent and dietary supplement.
US08741360B2
Disclosed herein is a topical therapeutic composition and method for the palliative treatment of irritated or inflamed perianal tissue. The therapeutic composition comprises olive oil and tea tree oil. The palliative treatment of the invention involves application of the composition to irritated or inflamed perianal tissue. The composition and method of the invention can be employed in the palliative treatment of such human maladies as hemorrhoids, fissures and pruritis ani.
US08741359B2
A method of testing a substance potentially active in the field of lipolysis comprising: preparing a substrate containing at least one triacylglycerol; placing this substrate in contact with a substance potentially active in the field of lipolysis, and with a lipoprotein lipase, in the presence of a cofactor of lipoprotein lipase, for a period of time sufficient to release at least in part one fatty acid of the triacylglycerol; and determining the capacity of inhibition of the release of the fatty acid resulting from the activity of the lipoprotein lipase, under the action of said potentially active substance, and evaluating the result of the inhibition which is either compared to the result obtained in the absence of the potentially active substance tested or compared with the result obtained in the presence of a known inhibitor acting as reference. Cosmetic and pharmaceutical uses are described.
US08741354B2
Described in certain aspects are composite extracellular matrix material products including expanded collagenous materials in combination with non-expanded collagenous materials. Methods for their preparation and use are also disclosed. Certain expanded collagenous materials can be prepared by treating a first collagenous material with an alkaline substance under conditions effective to expand the first collagenous material, and recovering the expanded material. Expanded materials can exhibit beneficial persistence and tissue generation characteristics when implanted, and can be used in the formation of highly porous medical implant bodies which can be compressed to fractions of their original volume and will thereafter substantially recover their original volume.
US08741345B2
Modified release oral pharmaceutical compositions of dexlansoprazole or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or hydrated forms thereof in the form of a bilayer tablet and processes for the manufacture of the tablet composition and its use in the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders.
US08741337B2
An encapsulated material containing an oxidation-sensitive core is covered by at least a dried phospholipid layer, and contains at least one phytosterol in the core, the phospholipid layer or in a further layer or layers. By using microencapsulation, oxidatively unstable materials may be provided with a synthetic protective barrier and rendered less susceptible to oxidative degradation.
US08741330B2
Transluminal drug delivery method and device embodiments can include a urethral suppository formulated to prevent or treat diseases of the urethra and surrounding organs, such as interstitial cystitis or urethritis, by enhancing the absorption of a therapeutic agent of the suppository into body tissues without adversely affecting the natural defense mechanisms of these tissues. Adverse effects on the glycosaminoglycan (GAG) barrier can be mitigated or eliminated by the presence of a suitable polysaccharide in the suppository.
US08741326B2
A bioscaffolding can be formed from a mixture of gel components of different gelation systems. For example, a bioscaffolding can be formed by mixing at least two different components of at least two different two-component gelation systems to form a first mixture and by mixing at least two different components (other than the components that make up the first mixture) of the at least two different two-component gelation systems to form a second mixture. A treatment agent, such as a cell type or a growth factor, can be added to either the first mixture or the second mixture. In some embodiments, the treatment agent is not added to either mixture. The first mixture can be co-injected with the second mixture to form a bioscaffolding in an infarct region for treatment thereof.
US08741317B2
The invention provides polymers and methods for their use. Specifically, certain embodiments of the present invention provide a polymer that comprises a plurality of salicylic acid-adipic (SA-Adipic) units of the following formula and a plurality of salicylic acid-diethylmalonic (SA-DEM) units of the following formula Certain embodiments of the invention also provide slow degrading microspheres comprising polymers described herein for undelayed and sustained drug delivery. Certain embodiments of the present invention provide methods for treating a chronic eye disease or arthritis in a patient, comprising administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of a polymer or microsphere as described herein.
US08741315B2
A method of treating cancer in an immune-privileged site of a subject in need thereof is provided. The method comprises systemically administering to an area outside the immune-privileged site of the subject, a therapeutically effective amount of naive, viable cells of a tumor of the subject, the tumor being in the immune-privileged site so as to generate an immune response in the subject, thereby treating the cancer in the immune-privileged site of the subject.
US08741310B2
Isolated, antigenic polypeptides including a prehairpin intermediate conformation of gp41 and vectors encoding such polypeptides are provided. Antibodies that bind to a prehairpin intermediate conformation of gp41 and methods of making antibodies a that bind to prehairpin intermediate conformation of gp41 are also provided. Vaccines against a prehairpin intermediate conformation of gp41, as well as methods of treating subjects infected with HIV, preventing HIV infection, and inhibiting HIV-mediated activities are also provided. Methods of screening compounds that bind to an isolated, prehairpin intermediate conformation of gp41 are further provided.
US08741307B2
The present invention embraces hybrid Prosthecobacter-eukaryotic tubulin proteins and use thereof for identifying agents that modulate the activity of tubulin.
US08741290B2
Antibodies capable of binding to the human c-Met receptor and/or capable of inhibiting the tyrosine kinase activity of said receptor, with an improved antagonistic activity, the antibodies comprising a modified hinge region. A composition comprising one or more of such antibodies antagonist to c-Met and its use as a medicament for treating cancer.
US08741288B2
The present invention relates to the diagnosis of liver cancer. It discloses the use of protein ERBB3 and protein IGFBP2 in the diagnosis of liver cancer. It relates to a method for diagnosis of liver cancer from a liquid sample, derived from an individual by measuring ERBB3 protein and IGFBP2 protein in the sample. Measurement of ERBB3 protein and IGFBP2 protein can, e.g., be used in the early detection or diagnosis of liver cancer.
US08741282B2
Methods are disclosed to promote vascularization of tissue in mammals using an autologous platelet-rich plasma composition. In particular, a method of treating a cardiac tissue lesion is disclosed.
US08741280B2
A bacillus composition characterized by fast germination and outgrowth in bile salts (simulated gut environment) and by high-level secretion of essential amino acid. The bacillus composition may be used as supplement in animal feed where it has a probiotic (health promoting) effect and increases the digestion and availability of nutrients from animal feeds.
US08741276B2
The present invention is directed to a composition containing: (a) at least one tackifier component having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of greater than about 20° C.; (b) at least one film former chosen from a propylphenylsilsesquioxane resin having a molecular weight of from about 2,000 to about 30,000 and comprising at least about 70 mole % propyl siloxy units and at most about 30 mole % phenyl siloxy units, and a propylsilsesquioxane wax substituted with alkyl units having at least 30 carbons; (c) a liquid fatty phase comprising at least one volatile hydrocarbon compound; (d) at least one colorant; (e) optionally, water; and (f) optionally, at least one emulsifier. Also disclosed is a method of making up keratinous substrates involving applying the above composition onto the keratinous substrates.
US08741269B2
The invention encompasses non-aqueous dentifrice compositions containing a bioacceptable and bioactive glass with improved mouth-feel, foam, and product stability. More particularly, the invention encompasses non-aqueous compositions including combinations including carrageenan and/or carboxymethylcellulose gums, glycerin, ethylene oxide/propylene oxide copolymers, and a bioactive glass and methods of use the compositions in an oral care product, for example, a whitening tooth-paste, for hypersensitive teeth.
US08741268B2
A dental prophylactic paste having excellent flowability during the manufacturing process, minimal to no splattering during use, and remineralization characteristics is provided. The prophylactic paste includes at least one water soluble calcium salt; a water soluble phosphate salt, a water soluble silicate; and a moisture retention agent. The paste has a splatter rating of less than 3. The splatter rating of the paste refers to the tendency of the paste to splatter during a dental cleaning procedure. The lower the splatter rating, the less the paste has a tendency to splatter. A paste having a splatter rating of less than 3 is considered to have good handability.
US08741264B2
Self-sterilising products, and in particular novel products comprising phthalocyanine derivatives bound to polymers, a process for the preparation of said products and their use for preparing self-sterilising industrial and medical articles or devices, are described.
US08741263B2
A method and apparatus for determining physiological data related to an animal, such as kidney diagnostics data, is provided. The method includes injecting a mixture of a first and a second molecule into an animal (e.g., a human patient), determining a molecular ratio of the molecules, and determining the physiological data based on the molecular ratio. The apparatus includes a number of finger receiving apertures, a light generation circuit, a light detection circuit, a pulse counting circuit, and a user interface.
US08741253B2
Process for preparing higher hydridosilanes of the general formula H—(SiH2)n—H where n≧2, in which—one or more lower hydridosilanes—hydrogen, and—one or more transition metal compounds comprising elements of transition group VIII of the Periodic Table and the lanthanides are reacted at a pressure of more than 5 bar absolute, subsequently depressurized and the higher hydridosilanes are separated off from the reaction mixture obtained.
US08741252B2
Disclosed is a process for producing porous materials by replacing a first solvent in a wet material containing the first solvent with a second solvent in a high pressure condition and drying the resulting wet material which process comprises a mixed solvent feeding step for feeding a mixed solvent composed of a solvent identical to or of the same kind as the first solvent and the second solvent to the wet material.
US08741250B2
The present invention relates to a synthetic method for producing a per-hydroxylated icosahedral boron compound via catalytic hydroxylation of icosahedral boron compound using a soft electrophile.
US08741248B2
The present method describes the absorbing and desorbing of a gaseous reactant on a solid reactant. The solid reactant is an ammonia salt selected from the group consisting of alkali ammonium salts, alkali ammonium earth salts or a combination thereof.
US08741246B2
Systems containing imidazoles or blends of imidazoles and amines are described herein. Methods of their preparation and use are also described herein. The methods of using the systems include the reduction of volatile compounds from gas streams and liquid streams.
US08741241B2
Systems and methods are provided for a layered emission control device coupled to an exhaust manifold. Various formulations may be incorporated in a plurality of layers of the device to enable various emission control functions to be grouped within spatial constraints. For example, a first layer may include a first, oxidizing catalyst, a second layer may include a HC trap, and a third layer may include a second, different oxidizing catalyst, the second layer positioned between the first and third layers. The layers may be organized to reduce functional interference and improve functional synergy between the various emission control functions.
US08741224B2
Electricity is suppressed from flowing through a case of an electrically heated catalyst. For this purpose, the case for accommodating a heat generating element includes a tubular portion which is formed in parallel to a central axis, an inlet portion which is provided on the upstream side from the tubular portion and which has an inner diameter smaller than that of the tubular portion , an inclined portion which connects the tubular portion and the inlet portion, and an introducing portion which extends from a connected portion between the inlet portion and the inclined portion toward inside of the case and which is curved so that a center of curvature is positioned at the outside; and an inner tube interposed by a mat for supporting the heat generating element includes a tubular portion which is formed in parallel to a central axis, and an inclined portion which is provided on the upstream side from the tubular portion, which has inner diameters that are decreased on the more upstream side, and which is curved.
US08741220B2
The present invention provides a breathing assistance apparatus that has a convenient and effective method of cleaning internal conduits inside the apparatus. The breathing assistance apparatus is preferably a gases supply and humidification device. The cleaning method is a method of disinfection that is automated so minimal training is required to disinfect in particular an internal elbow conduit within the device. It is therefore not necessary to dismantle the gases supply and humidification device, therefore, inadvertent damage to the internal parts of the device is avoided. The present invention also provides a method of disinfecting a heated breathing conduit and a patient interface.
US08741212B2
Composite bodies made by a silicon metal infiltration process that feature a silicon intermetallic, e.g., a metal silicide. Not only does this give the composite material engineer greater flexibility in designing or tailoring the physical properties of the resulting composite material, but the infiltrant also can be engineered compositionally to have much diminished amounts of expansion upon solidification, thereby enhancing net-shape-making capabilities. These and other consequences of engineering the metal component of composite bodies made by silicon infiltration permit the fabrication of large structures of complex shape.
US08741202B2
Processes for improving melt flow properties of molten compositions with polyoxymethylene polymers and polymer/polyol additives having a certain core-link-arm structure, which include: obtaining melt viscosity stability while improving notched Izod, decreasing relative apparent capillary melt viscosity, and increasing elongation at break relative to molten compositions of polyoxymethylene polymers without the polymer/polyol additives.
US08741196B2
A body may be provided having first and second ends having threaded outer surfaces. A bore may extend between the first and second ends. A tool may be provided having a first outer mold-line surface, a second opposing surface, and a hole extending between the first and second opposing surfaces. The first end may be threadedly attached and sealed, at the second opposing surface, to an inner surface of the hole. A cap may be threadedly attached and sealed to the second end of the body. A composite may be consolidated against the first outer mold-line surface of the tool. The cap may be unthreadedly removed from the second end. A drill bit may be inserted into the bore, through the tool hole, and against the composite to drill a composite hole.
US08741191B2
A method of making an explosive charge liner comprises introducing powdered material into a basin defined by a die block, where a punch is shaped to interact with the basin, excluding the powdered material from a central portion of the basin, pressing the punch into the powdered material in the basin to form the explosive charge liner, and removing the explosive charge liner from the die block. The explosive charge liner comprises an aperture in an apex area of the explosive charge liner corresponding to the central portion when removed from the die block.
US08741187B2
A dielectric high purity vegetable oil—free from antioxidants and/or external additives to be used in electric equipment such as transformers, as isolating element and as cooling means and a method for obtaining the same in which the dielectric high purity vegetable oil—is obtained by means of the optimization of the bleaching steps—and deodorizing—from the Refining process—known as Modified Caustic Refining Long-Mix (RBD).
US08741186B2
A dielectric high purity vegetable oil—free from antioxidants and/or external additives to be used in electric equipment such as transformers, as isolating element and as cooling means and a method for obtaining the same in which the dielectric high purity vegetable oil—is obtained by means of the optimization of the bleaching steps—and deodorizing—from the Refining process—known as Modified Caustic Refining Long-Mix (RBD).
US08741180B2
This invention relates to the production of synthesis gas by partial oxidation of liquid or gaseous, carbonaceous fuel in the presence of an oxygen-containing oxidant, wherein the fuel, the oxidant and a moderator are separately supplied to a burner and wherein the fuel and the moderator are mixed in a mixing chamber of the burner, before they are brought in contact with the oxidant. To reduce the load of the burner in particular during operation with transient conditions, the oxidant is centrally introduced through an outlet opening of the burner into a combustion chamber and the mixture of fuel and moderator is introduced through the outlet opening into the combustion chamber concentrically around the oxidant.
US08741179B2
Reforming of a gasification gas is performed by supplying both a tar-containing gasification gas and oxygen to a reforming furnace and burning a part of the gasification gas to heat an inside of the reforming furnace to a target reforming temperature required for reforming. Oxygen 9 and a first stage gasification gas 3a are supplied to a reforming furnace at an end of the furnace in amounts so as to attain the target reforming temperature required for reforming by combustion of the gasification gas with the oxygen to form a heating zone A in the reforming furnace 1. The remaining gasification gas is supplied as second stage gasification gas 3b to a vicinity downstream of the heating zone A in the reforming furnace 1 to form a reforming zone B.
US08741175B2
A desiccant composition containing a polymeric binder and a dispersion of powders of desiccant materials is described. The desiccant composition has desiccant powders that are dispersed at least in part in form of micro-aggregates of desiccant particles surrounded by a polymeric encapsulating material having a different composition with respect to the polymeric binder.
US08741168B2
According to one embodiment, an etching method includes: supplying an etching-resistant material; and etching the silicon nitride film. The supplying includes supplying the etching-resistant material to a processing surface including a surface of a silicon nitride film and a surface of a non-etching film, the non-etching film including a material different from the silicon nitride film. The etching includes etching the silicon nitride film using an etchant in a state of the etching-resistant material being formed relatively more densely on the surface of the non-etching film than on the surface of the silicon nitride film.
US08741165B2
An apparatus for etching a dielectric layer contained by a substrate is provided. An etch reactor comprises a top electrode and a bottom electrode. An etch gas source supplies an etch gas into the etch reactor. A first Radio Frequency (RF) source generates a first RF power with a first frequency and supplies the first RF power into the etch reactor, whereas the first frequency is between 100 kilo Hertz (kHz) and 600 kHz. A second RF source generates a second RF power with a second frequency and supplies the second RF power into the etch reactor, whereas the second frequency is at least 10 mega Hertz (MHz).
US08741158B2
An article having a nanostructured surface and a method of making the same are described. The article can include a substrate and a nanostructured layer bonded to the substrate. The nanostructured layer can include a plurality of spaced apart nanostructured features comprising a contiguous, protrusive material and the nanostructured features can be sufficiently small that the nanostructured layer is optically transparent. A surface of the nanostructured features can be coated with a continuous hydrophobic coating. The method can include providing a substrate; depositing a film on the substrate; decomposing the film to form a decomposed film; and etching the decomposed film to form the nanostructured layer.
US08741153B2
Use of a non-sacrificial electrode made of synthetic graphite for applications utilizing conductive immersed treatment of wastewater is disclosed. The synthetic graphite is manufactured from a petroleum based extruded or molded composite material in any of plate, bar or coil forms. The electrodes are especially useful in the primary reaction chamber of an electrocoagulation apparatus.
US08741152B2
A method for fabricating a flexible free-standing ultrathin (nano) or thin protein membrane that includes (1) keeping a dilute metal (Cd, Cu or Zn) nitrate or chloride solution under neutral or weak basic pH to spontaneously form metal (Cd, Cu or Zn) hydroxide nanostrands; (2) mixing the metal (Cd, Cu or Zn) hydroxide nanostrands and protein solution to obtain composite nanofibers made of protein and the metal (Cd, Cu or Zn) hydroxide nanostrands; (3) filtering the obtained dispersion of composite nanofibers on a filter; (4) cross-linking the proteins contained in the composite nanofibers by a bifunctional cross-linker; and (5) removing the metal (Cd, Cu or Zn) hydroxide nanostrands.
US08741146B2
A method for the recovery of acids and other materials from hydrometallurgic process solutions comprising processing said solutions utilizing a simulated moving bed chromatographic method to produce at least two product streams.
US08741139B2
The present device is a detachable core for use with a cylindrical filter cartridge. The core includes a wire frame including at least two vertical struts oriented along a longitudinal direction. The wire frame includes an upper ring and a lower ring mounted to the distal ends of the vertical struts and further includes an upper flange and a lower flange mounted to the upper and lower rings respectively, wherein the lower flange is detachably mounted to the lower ring. Preferably the lower ring includes a gap in the lower ring to enable resilient compression of the ring by squeezing the lower ring in a radial inward direction prior to engagement with the lower flange. Preferably the cartridge filter includes elastomeric end caps and the cooperating rings and flanges are non-circular such that the elastomeric end caps conforms to the non-circular shape of the upper and lower flanges.
US08741136B2
The invention relates to a device and a method for cleaning sample material, in particular nucleic acids. The cleaning process takes place by means of centrifugal microfluidics and the invention provides a simple compact construction and a simple procedure. If necessary, the sample material is easily mixed with a solvent buffer and proteases in the device. The cleaned sample material is in particular transferred directly to a container. Separate containers for the removal of excess liquid are not required.
US08741135B2
A preparative chromatography column is equipped with one or more valves that can each be used to both inject a column packing into the column or withdraw used packing from the column, in addition to cleaning the supply and discharge lines associated with the valve itself, all by moving a movable plug within the valve body and all without protruding into the column interior. Each valve is mounted on the lateral wall of the column just above the filter plate at the column floor, and the plug is movable between a closed position in which the end surface of the plug is flush with the inner wall of the column and an open position in which the plug is recessed within the bore. Each valve has two additional ports in its valve body, positioned such that when the plug is closed, both ports are open to the valve bore, and when the plug is open, at least one of the ports is open to the bore. The position of the plug within the valve bore determines the valve function.
US08741131B2
A method for operating a medical fluid machine, the method comprising: (i) if alternating current (“AC”) power is available, charging a battery, if needed, and powering the medical fluid machine with the AC power; and (ii) if AC power is not available (a) if fuel cell power is available, charging the battery, if needed, and powering the medical fluid machine with the fuel cell power; and (b) if fuel cell power is not available, powering the medical fluid machine using battery power until the AC power or fuel cell power is available.
US08741123B2
A water electrolysis system includes a water electrolysis apparatus including an electrolyte membrane. The electrolyte membrane is provided between an anode and a cathode. The water electrolysis apparatus is configured to generate oxygen on a side of the anode and hydrogen on a side of the cathode at a pressure higher than a pressure of the oxygen through electrolysis of water. A gas-liquid separation apparatus separates unreacted water and produced gas discharged from a water outlet of the water electrolysis apparatus. A water circulation apparatus circulates the water between the water electrolysis apparatus and the gas-liquid separation apparatus. The water circulation apparatus includes a return pipe having an on-off valve and connecting the water outlet and the gas-liquid separation apparatus. A hydrogen exhaust pipe is connected to the return pipe between the water outlet and the on-off value and extends upward from the water electrolysis apparatus.
US08741120B2
Devices and methods are disclosed that can adjust a hydration level in an electrochemical sensor or an instrument which includes such a sensor. The device can include a chamber which can, at least in part, surround an inflow port of the sensor. An adjacent reservoir of water can provide a source of water vapor which can be infused into the sensor.
US08741116B2
A sputtering apparatus includes a susceptor for receiving a substrate, and a first target device disposed to be opposite to a center region of a substrate and at least second and third target devices disposed to be opposite to peripheral regions of the substrate, wherein the second and third target devices are rotatable.
US08741115B2
The invention provides devices and methods for depositing uniform coatings using cylindrical magnetron sputtering. The devices and methods of the invention are useful in depositing coatings on non-cylindrical workpiece surfaces. An assembly of electromagnets located within the bore of a hollow cylindrical emitter is used to form a magnetic field exterior to and near the exterior surface of the emitter. The magnet assembly configuration is selected to provide a magnetic field configuration compatible with the workpiece surface contour. The electromagnet assembly may be a plurality of magnet units, each unit having at least one electromagnet. The magnetic field strength from each magnet unit is separately and electrically adjustable. Each electromagnet in the assembly has a coil of electrically conducting material surrounding a specially shaped core of magnetic material.
US08741104B2
Fibrous cellulosic products incorporating both conventional cellulosic fibers and laterally expanded cellulose fibers exhibit exceptional porosity, bulk, absorbency and resiliency properties. Typical products include absorbent tissue products, absorbent fluff products and flat papers. The laterally expanded cellulose fibers exhibit: (i) a broadened X-Ray diffraction peak for the most prominent reflection having a width at half-height, (W1/2h)A, of at least about 3.0° 2Θ, (ii) broad overlapping maxima in their Raman spectrum between 285 and 500 cm−1, the height of the two tallest of said maxima in said spectrum between 285 and 500 cm−1 being between 35 and 50% of the height of the peak near 1098 cm−1 and (iii) a blue stain when treated with Graff C-stain, the stain exhibiting less red than the stains exhibited with bleached hardwood kraft fibers and bleached softwood kraft fibers.
US08741094B2
A handling layer and adhesive parts having the handling layer are formed according to the present invention along with used therefore.
US08741092B2
Method and apparatus for the production, forming bonding, joining and repair systems composite and metal components utilizing at least one pressure chamber having a displaceable abutment face, wherein fluid is circulated at an elevated temperature and pressure through the pressure chamber.
US08741090B2
Disclosed are methods for firmly joining fiber-reinforced, plastic-based adherends, wherein depressions are introduced into opposing lateral surfaces of the adherends, and have injected into them a fiber-reinforced plastic material that serves as an adhesive, a device for implementing such a method, as well as a component joined in this way.
US08741089B2
A method for fabricating a display device 1 includes a first step of attaching a display panel and a first substrate member to each other with a first adhesive sandwiched between the display panel and the first substrate member, and a second step of attaching a second substrate member to the first substrate member on a surface of the first substrate member opposite to the display panel with a second adhesive sandwiched between the first and second substrate members, where the second step is carried out subsequently to the first step. The second adhesive used in the second step has a glass transition point higher than a glass transition point of the first adhesive.
US08741084B2
A tape laminating machine having a compaction roller lays up composite tape over a substrate having a convex radius. The compaction roller folds the tape as it moves over the convex radius, while simultaneously pivoting about a trailing edge of the tape to prevent the compaction roller from lifting off the tape laid just before the convex radius.
US08741080B2
A method is provided for producing an inner cladding part for vehicles by lamination of a first, preferably flexible material layer, having an upper side and an underside, onto a preferably dimensionally stable carrier, having a preferably three-dimensional surface contour of the carrier, with a thermally activatable adhesive applied to the underside of the material layer and/or the surface contour of the carrier. Carbon nanotubes, forming a heating device, are in contact with the adhesive at least in one sub-region. The method includes heating the adhesive in the sub-region by applying a voltage to the carbon nanotubes, as a result of which the adhesive is activated, and compressing the material layer and the carrier.
US08741078B2
The present invention relates to a hot dip galvanized steel sheet and a manufacturing method thereof. The hot dip galvanize steel sheet includes a steel sheet including a martensitic structure as a matrix, and a hot dip galvanized layer formed on the steel sheet. The steel sheet includes C of 0.05 wt % to 0.30 wt %, Mn of 0.5 wt % to 3.5 wt %, Si of 0.1 wt % to 0.8 wt %, Al of 0.01 wt % to 1.5 wt %, Cr of 0.01 wt % to 1.5 wt %, Mo of 0.01 wt % to 1.5 wt %, Ti of 0.001 wt % to 0.10 wt %, N of 5 ppm to 120 ppm, B of 3 ppm to 80 ppm, an impurity, and the remainder of Fe.
US08741077B2
Titanium-tungsten alloys are described comprising tungsten ranging from about 9% to about 20% by weight, and titanium ranging from about 91% to about 80% by weight, exhibiting a yield strength of at least 120,000 psi, and a ductility of at least 20% elongation. Methods of making the alloy, and products made with the alloys are also disclosed herein.
US08741076B2
A device and method for controlling a phase transformation temperature of a shape memory alloy is provided. The device includes a primary wire composed of the shape memory alloy. The primary wire defines first and second ends, the first end being attached to a fixed structure and the second end being able to displace. An activation source is thermally coupled to the wire and is operable to selectively cause the primary wire to reversibly transform from a Martensitic phase to an Austenitic phase during a cycle. A loading element is operatively connected to the primary wire and configured to selectively increase a tensile load on the primary wire when an ambient temperature is at or above a threshold temperature, thereby increasing the phase transformation temperature of the primary wire.
US08741066B2
A process/method for cleaning wafers that eliminates and/or reduces pitting caused by standard clean 1 by performing a pre-etch and then passivating the wafer surface prior to the application of the standard clean 1. The process/method may be especially useful for advanced front end of line post-CPM cleaning. In one embodiment, the invention is a method of processing a substrate comprising: a) providing at least one substrate; b) etching a surface of the substrate by applying an etching solution; c) passivating the etched surface of the substrate by applying ozone; and d) cleaning the passivated surface of the substrate by applying an aqueous solution comprising ammonium hydroxide and hydrogen peroxide.
US08741065B2
A substrate processing apparatus includes a substrate stage for mounting two or more substrates thereon. The substrate stage includes substrate stage units. Each of the substrate stage units includes a central temperature control flow path for controlling the temperature of a central portion of each of the substrates and a peripheral temperature control flow path for controlling the temperature of a peripheral portion of each of the substrates. The central temperature control flow path and the peripheral temperature control flow path are formed independently of each other. The substrate stage includes one temperature control medium inlet port for introducing therethrough a temperature control medium into the peripheral temperature control flow path and temperature control medium outlet ports for discharging therethrough the temperature control medium from the peripheral temperature control flow path. The number of the temperature control medium outlet ports corresponds to the number of substrates.
US08741061B2
A method between a diffusion and a quenching process including normalizing by step cooling including alternating temperature lowering and temperature keeping treatment for a temperature history that satisfies a predetermined condition; after normalizing, maintaining the temperature of the whole workpiece so that the whole workpiece becomes the predetermined temperature, thereby producing fine crystal grains in the workpiece; then reheating the workpiece to raise its temperature to the second temperature. There is uniformity in temperature between the surface and the inside of a workpiece, and crystal grains are prevented from being coarse.
US08741054B2
The present invention provides combustion products of hydrocarbon fuels and controlled amounts of metal oxide strength enhancing materials. The combustion products are useful as additives to cementitious materials. A hydrocarbon fuel such as coal is introduced into a combustion chamber and selected amounts of materials comprising CaO, SiO2 and Al2O3 are also introduced into and/or downstream from the chamber. The hydrocarbon fuel undergoes combustion while the metal oxide strength enhancing materials react with each other and/or the ash or other reaction products of the hydrocarbon fuel. The combustion products have been found to significantly increase compressive strengths of cements such as Portland cement. A reduction in SO2 emission levels also results from the introduction of the metal oxide strength enhancing materials into the combustion process.
US08741044B1
Disclosure herein are cycylhexyl-mannitol diketal derivatives as vehicle modifiers and gelators having a formula of: wherein each R1 and R2 is independently alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, alkaryl, or halogen; m is from 1 to 10; and n is from 1 to 10.
US08741037B2
A palladium first composition is disclosed, including a palladium salt and an unsaturated carboxylic acid, wherein the composition is substantially free of water, and wherein the first composition forms a second composition including stable palladium nanoparticles and a palladium unsaturated carboxylate. The composition permits the use of solution processing methods to form a palladium layer on a wide variety of substrates, including in a pattern to form circuitry or pathways for electronic devices.
US08741030B2
This invention provides a metal complex having a gas adsorption capability, a gas storing capability, and a gas separation capability. The present invention attained the above object by a metal complex comprising:a dicarboxylic acid compound (I) represented by the following General Formula (I), wherein R1, R2, R3, and R4 are as defined in the specification; at least one metal ion selected from ions of a metal belonging to Group 2 and Groups 7 to 12 of the periodic table; and an organic ligand capable of bidentate binding to the metal ion, the organic ligand belonging to the D∞h point group, having a longitudinal length of not less than 8.0 Å and less than 16.0 Å, and having 2 to 7 heteroatoms.
US08741025B2
Methods of preparing metal nanowire are disclosed that employ quaternary phosphonium salts. Such processes can produce long and thin nanowires. Compositions and articles comprising such nanowires are useful in electronics applications.
US08741010B2
A method for making PDC with excellent abrasion resistance at high pressure in a single HPHT step without introducing high residual internal stress. In one aspect of the method, the diamond mass is subjected to an initial high pressure to compact the mass. The initial pressure is then lowered to a second pressure prior to the application of heat to the reaction cell. In another aspect, the diamond mass is subjected to an initial pressure to compact the mass, followed by raising the temperature to melt the sintering aid. The initial pressure is then lowered to a second pressure prior to lowering the temperature below the melting point of the sintering aid.
US08741008B2
A chemical mechanical polishing aqueous dispersion includes (A) a graft polymer that includes an anionic functional group in a trunk polymer, and (B) abrasive grains.
US08741004B2
A reaction hydrogen production control mechanism is provided that includes, a solid sodium borohydride mixture, a liquid fuel reactant, at least one liquid delivery medium (LDM), a movable boundary interface (MBI) and a reaction zone, where the MBI is disposed to provide a constant contact between a reacting surface of the solid fuel mixture and the primary LDM to form the reaction zone. A reaction in the reaction zone includes a hydrolysis reaction. The MBI moves according to a spring, gas pressure, or an elastic membrane. Product paths are disposed to transfer reactants from the system. The product paths can include a channel on a surface of the solid fuel mixture, a channel disposed through the solid fuel mixture, a channel disposed about the solid fuel mixture, a contained region disposed about the solid fuel mixture, or a conduit abutting the solid fuel mixture.
US08740991B2
A prosthetic foot and ankle assembly includes a foot component and an ankle joint mounted thereto and having a fixed range of dorsi-plantar flexion. The ankle joint includes a joint mechanism in the form of a hydraulic linear piston and cylinder assembly having a pair of chambers on opposite sides of the piston to provide hydraulic damping continuously over the range of dorsi-plantar flexion. The joint mechanism further includes a valve arrangement controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid between the chambers. The valve arrangement includes first and second adjustable valves for independently controlling dorsi-flexion damping resistance and plantar-flexion damping resistance respectively. The joint mechanism includes a first flexion limiter that limits dorsi-flexion of the joint mechanism to a dorsi-flexion limit and a second flexion limiter that limits plantar-flexion of the joint mechanism to a plantar-flexion limit, thereby defining the fixed range of dorsi-plantar flexion.
US08740990B2
The invention relates to a device composed of a plurality of strips of randomly oriented nanofibers, wherein said strips are arranged along their longitudinal axes. In addition, the surface of the device's nanofibers are covalently modified with fibroblast growth factor-2. A method for using the instant device for facilitating axonal regeneration in spinal cord injury is also provided.
US08740985B1
Tibial inserts and tibial femoral systems are provided for improved knee reconstruction systems. External rotation of a knee joint implant is enhanced by modifications to the post, providing a recess that allows clearance of the post against the corners of a box wall within the femoral component. The rotation provides for a more natural knee joint motion of the implant. The depth, size, and location of the post relief may be modified for certain applications to provide both improved rotational motion and constraint against undesirable motion of the knee.
US08740983B1
The present invention relates generally to medical devices and methods for use in spinal surgery. In particular, the disclosed system relates to an intervertebral spinal implant assembly sized and dimensioned for the lumbar spine implantable via an anterior or anterolateral approach. The device includes an implant, bone screws, and instruments for delivering the implant and bone screws.
US08740980B2
An implant with an adjustable height for spacing apart skeletal structures. The implant includes a base with a hollow interior. Collars include threaded inner surfaces and are positioned within the hollow interior of the base and are rotatable relative to the base. Threaded posts extend outward from the base and are threaded into the collars. Rotation of the collars adjusts an amount that the threaded posts extend outward from the base. An overall height of the implant can be adjusted to accommodate the size of the space and for the posts to contact against and space apart the skeletal structures.
US08740978B2
An ophthalmic lens for providing enhanced or extended depth of focus includes an optic having an aperture disposed about an optical axis. The optic includes a first surface having a first shape and an opposing second surface having a second shape, the first and second surfaces providing, a base power and, in some embodiments an add power. The optic further includes an extended focus mask disposed upon at least one of the first shape and the second shape that is configured to provide the enhanced or extended depth of focus for one or more foci of the optic, as compared to a similar optic not having the extended focus mask.
US08740969B2
A fitting device (104) for fitting a stent-graft (100) into a lumen of a patient includes a catheter (110), a cannula (112) reciprocably carried in the catheter (110) and a pair of gripper claws (106) in the cannula (112). The gripper claws (106) grip onto a stent (102) at the proximal end (128) of the stent-graft (100) which a suture loop (108) is tied to a stent (102) at an intermediate position along the stent graft (100). The stent-graft (100) can be curved by pulling the end-most stent (102) backwards, that is by retracting the cannula (112) into the catheter (110) while the gripper claws (106) grip onto the stent (102). The proximal end of the stent-graft (100) can also be adjusted position-wise by moving the cannula (112) into and out of the catheter (110). Thus, precise positioning and curving of the stent-graft (100) can be achieved.
US08740968B2
Blood vessels and other body lumens are stented using stent structures comprising a plurality of radially expansible rings where at least some of the rings comprise axially extending elements which interleave with axially extending elements on adjacent unconnected rings. The ring structures may be open cell structures or closed cell structures, and the axially extending elements will typically be formed as part of the open cell or closed cell structure.
US08740959B2
A heat exchange fluid supply system for supplying a heat exchange fluid to an intravascular heat exchange catheter includes a disposable cassette having a bulkhead and an external heat exchanger, and which is configured to operate in combination with a reusable master control unit. The bulkhead includes a reservoir section and a pump section. The reservoir section is provided with a means to monitor the amount of heat exchange fluid that is in the system. The bulkhead provides the mechanism for priming the system with heat exchange fluid from an external source and for circulating fluid to the catheter in a closed circuit. The pump section is configured to allow for pumping of heat exchange fluid at a constant pressure.
US08740958B2
A platform Smart Scalpel system using rapid real-time feedback for effecting laser treatment. The platform system includes an imaging system for rapid real-time detection of tissue characteristics, a processing system for processing the detected characteristics, and a treatment system for effecting treatment in accordance with results of the processing. The platform system provides for preprogramming and real-time inputting conditions and parameters for diagnosis using the imaging system and/or treatment using the treatment system.
US08740947B2
An orthopedic bone anchor device is disclosed that includes, in one embodiment, a receiver member, an anchor member and a retaining member. The retaining member may retain the anchor member at least partially in the receiver member. In certain embodiments, the anchor member may have a groove in a head for accommodating part of the retaining member, and/or a multiple lead thread.
US08740942B2
Devices and methods for altering the spacing and motion at the facet joints of the vertebral column are provided. One embodiment of the invention comprises a prosthesis with surfaces configured to articulate with the facets of the facet joint. A retaining member for anchoring the prosthesis within the facet joint is optionally included. Methods for surgically and less invasively implanting the prosthesis and securing the prosthesis to the articular processes or surrounding soft tissue are also provided.
US08740939B2
A positioning member may be released to move an anchor member to a holding position. The positioning member being operable to be held in a selected orientation until the anchor member is in a selected position.
US08740937B2
Suture locks, as well as related systems and methods, are provided for fixing strands of one or more sutures relative to tissue. The suture locks, systems and methods are simple and reliable in use, facilitate complete perforation closure and adjustment of the suture strands, and are adaptable to a variety of suture fixation and perforation closure situations. The suture lock includes a locking pin and a retaining sleeve. The locking pin has a main body and a grip. The retaining sleeve has a tubular body with an internal wall defining an internal passageway sized to receive the locking pin therein. The suture lock is operable between a locked configuration and unlocked configuration. In the locked configuration, the suture strands are compressed between the grip and the internal wall of the tubular body.
US08740935B2
There is disclosed a threaded tissue tack for use in approximating and securing a pair of tissue sections together. The threaded tissue tack has a central body portion and first and second screws extending from opposite ends of the central body portion. The first screw includes a left-hand thread and the second includes a right-hand thread. Engagement structure is provided on the central body portion to rotate the threaded tissue tack about its longitudinal axis and into the pair of tissue sections. There is also disclosed a tack driver for rotating the threaded tissue tack into the tissue. Guards are provided intermediate first and second ends of the central body portion and the first and second screws to protect surrounding tissue from the tack driver.
US08740932B2
A surgical device includes a first jaw and a second jaw disposed in opposed correspondence with the first jaw. The second jaw is mechanically coupled to the first jaw at a proximal end opposite a distal end. A cutting element is disposed within the second jaw, and a first driver is configured to move the cutting element proximally from the distal end toward the proximal end of the second jaw to cut a section of tissue disposed between the first and second jaws. The device may also include a stapling element disposed within the second jaw. The cutting element and the stapling element may be contiguous so as to define a cutting and stapling element, such as a wedge having a blade disposed thereon.
US08740924B2
A safe simple disposable automatic blood lancet includes a casing, a lancet core, a spring and a protective bar. The ejection cavity is provided inside with a space that allows the push arm to move downwards; the protective bar is provided at the end inside the ejection cavity with a safety action portion; with the protective bar assembled, this safety action portion occupies the space in the X, Y or Z direction, so as to prevent the barb from being self-locked with the self-locking barb with the push arm moving downwards; with the protective bar disassembled, this safety action portion withdraws from the space, so as to allow the barb to be self-locked with the self-locking barb with the push arm moving downwards. The lancet core can be assembled into the locking state of ready for ejection; the blood lancet can be placed into the ejection state just by twisting off the protective bar during application, and into the locking state automatically after ejection so as to be unreusable.
US08740922B2
An ear pipe used as an alternative medicine practice to remove excess ear wax, debris, and other undesirable contaminants from the ear canal. The ear pipe includes a generally hollow body, wherein the hollow body includes a bowl, a midsection, and a proximal end. The ear pipe may be used by bringing a unit of ear pipe fuel to a smoldering state within the bowl, holding the ear pipe with a user's hand, and inserting the proximal end of the pipe into a user's ear to allow warm air/smoke to enter the ear canal and create temperatures high enough to cause the excess ear wax, debris, and other undesirable contaminants to drain from the ear canal.
US08740919B2
A device dispenses surgical fasteners inside a body and generates marks outside the body indicating where the surgical fasteners have been dispensed inside the body. The device includes a first member having a surgical fastener dispenser opening, and a second member coupled with the first member, the second member having a distal end that opposes the surgical fastener dispenser opening. The device includes a marking assembly secured to the distal end of the second member. The marking assembly is moveable away from and toward the surgical fastener dispenser opening. The marking assembly is adapted for generating marks on an external surface that mirror the location of each surgical fastener dispensed from the surgical fastener dispenser opening. The device may include a clamp for compressing tissue between the marking assembly and the surgical fastener dispenser.
US08740917B2
The apparatus includes at least two skin-contacting elements, the elements having narrow end faces and a mounting assembly for holding the elements closely adjacent to each other. A driving assembly reciprocally moves one element relative to the adjacent element(s) at a frequency that produces an action on the pores of the skin to loosen sebaceous plugs present in the pores, by permitting their ready removal from the skin.
US08740900B2
An embodiment of an open-irrigated catheter system comprises a tip section, a distal insert, and mapping electrodes. The tip section has an exterior wall that defines an open interior region within the tip section. The exterior wall includes mapping electrode openings and irrigation ports. The exterior wall is conductive for delivering radio frequency (RF) energy for an RF ablation procedure. The irrigation ports are in fluid communication with the open interior region to allow fluid to flow from the open interior region through the irrigation ports. The distal insert is positioned within the tip section to separate the open region into a distal fluid reservoir and a proximal fluid reservoir. The mapping electrodes are positioned in the mapping electrode openings in the tip section.
US08740885B2
A telemanipulatively controlled guide tube acts as a wrist mechanism for a surgical instrument that extends through the guide tube. The instrument may be removed and replaced with another instrument. In some aspects the instruments are commercial, off the shelf minimally invasive surgical instruments.
US08740881B2
The invention relates to a sterile barrier (S) for a surgical robot (1) comprising at least one joint (12 . . . 15) with two opposing joint members (40, 42) that rotate relative to one another about a common joint axis (16 . . . 19) and a torque sensor (29) comprising: at least two sterile barrier sections (24 . . . 28) each with an end section (38, 39) for sealed attachment to a respective joint end section (41, 43) of the joint member (40, 42); and a sealing arrangement (30) for producing a sterile and sealed rotating connection of the end sections (38, 39) of the at least two sterile barrier sections (24 . . . 28); and a surgical robot (1).
US08740879B2
Medical implants can comprise various instrumentation to impart desirable functionality to the implant. In some embodiments, the implants comprise functional structures, such as sensors, energy propagating transducers, drug delivery systems and the like. Additional instrumentation to facilitate the functionality of these devices can include, for example, microprocessors, communication systems, power sources or the like. Drug delivery systems can comprise, for example, an isolated reservoir with a control system to control the delivery of a biological agent from the reservoir. The implants can be orthopedic implants that are designed to interface with a patient's skeletal system wherein the orthopedic implant may itself embody sensors, processors, power supplies, memory and/or communication capability.
US08740873B2
The disclosure is directed to radiation catheter devices, methods for controlled application of irradiation to tissue at a body site, such as a cavity formed after removal of tissue, e.g. cancer, using such radiation catheter devices, solutions for forming a more lubricious luminal surface and method for lining lumens of such devices to improve the frictional characteristics thereof. The catheter device includes a flexible elongated shaft which is formed of low durometer polymeric material, which can be readily folded or coiled for securing the shaft to or under the skin of the patient and a radiation lumen lined with high durometer polymeric material to improve the frictional characteristics. The elongated shaft has at least one inner lumen for receiving a radiation source which has a layer of high durometer polymeric material that provides lower surface friction to facilitate advancement of a radiation source therein.
US08740872B2
The present disclosure describes a method for targeted delivery of permanently-acting or temporarily-acting neurotoxins, neurosuppressants, or other compounds having a neurologic effect to specific locations of the heart, including for example, but not limited to, nodes of the cardiac autonomic nervous system such as the atrial ganglionated plexi (GP). Chemical ablation of the atrial GP as described herein via magnetically-targeted magnetically-susceptible nanoparticles can effectively suppress GP activity and atrial fibrillation related, thereto without permanent damage to either myocardium or intrinsic CANS.
US08740870B2
Absorbent articles having a liquid permeable topsheet, a liquid impermeable backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between said topsheet and said backsheet are disclosed. The absorbent articles include a plasto-elastic material joined to or disposed on at least one of component of the absorbent article to impart sizing or shaping capabilities to the article. The plasto-elastic material has substantially plastic properties when said absorbent article is subjected to an initial strain cycle, for example, when the article is placed on a wearer, and has substantially elastic properties when subjected to a second strain cycle such as when the article is subsequently adjusted to conform to the size of the wearer. The absorbent article can be in the form of diapers, pull-on diapers, training pants, sanitary napkins, wipes, bibs, incontinence briefs or inserts.
US08740866B2
A waste collection and disposal system for use in health care facilities is provided. The system includes a mobile waste collection unit for moving between use areas in the health care facility to collect waste material generated during medical procedures including body fluids, body tissues, saline, etc. The waste collection unit includes stacked upper and lower waste containers for receiving the waste material. During use, the upper waste container can be emptied into the lower waste container for temporary storage. In addition, different vacuum levels can be provided in the waste containers during complex procedures. Once a user desires to empty the waste collection unit, the waste collection unit is wheeled to a docking station. At the docking station, the waste material is off-loaded to a waste drain and the waste collection unit is cleaned and rinsed for further use.
US08740860B2
An assembly for a drug delivery device comprises a housing having a proximal end and a distal end, a dose button configured to be moved with respect to the housing for setting and delivering a dose of a drug, and a resilient setting member. For a dose delivery movement, the dose button is arranged to be moveable in the distal direction with respect to the housing from a dose delivery position, thereby deforming the resilient setting member to store energy in the resilient setting member. The assembly is configured to use the energy stored in the resilient setting member for a dose setting movement to move the dose button in the proximal direction with respect to the housing into the dose delivery position. Furthermore, a drug delivery device is provided.
US08740851B2
The present invention generally relates to skin-mountable devices. A device in accordance with the invention comprises a skin-mountable unit having a mounting surface comprising adhesive for adhering the unit to the skin of a subject, and a handling unit releasably attached to the skin-mountable unit. The handling unit comprises an interior space at least partially accommodating the skin-mountable unit and has an opening through which the skin-mountable unit can be moved when detached from the handling unit, the handling unit having a portion surrounding the opening. A seal member is releasably attached to the circumferential portion, providing a closed space for the skin-mountable unit. The device allows for easy handling. The user can grip the handling unit and handle the combined device during operation. The handling unit can be designed and optimized for ease of use during manipulation of the skin-mountable unit.
US08740846B2
The invention comprises a method and apparatus for treatment of a body part. More particularly, a method and apparatus for heat treatment of tissue using a catheter inserted into a body part is described along with means for positioning the catheter and means for positioning a set of electrodes relative to a tissue sample for treatment. Still more particularly, radio frequency energy at about 400 to 500 kilohertz is used to provide heat for the tissue treatment.
US08740838B2
A method for injecting a substance through a biological body surface includes providing a needle-free transdermal transport device configured to inject the substance through the surface. The substance is injected into the biological body with the transport device while a parameter of the injection is sensed and a servo-controller is used to dynamically adjust at least one injection characteristic based on the sensed parameter. The substance is injected for (i) a first time period during which a first portion of a volume of the substance is injected at a first injection pressure, and (ii) a second time period during which a remainder of the volume of the substance is injected at a second injection pressure. A viscosity of the substance may be determined, and a pressure calculated for injecting the substance based on the viscosity. The substance may be injected with the transport device by using the calculated pressure.
US08740835B2
In one embodiment of the present invention, a method of treating a vascular occlusion located at a treatment site within a patient's vasculature comprises positioning an ultrasound catheter at the treatment site. The method further comprises delivering a microbubble-therapeutic compound from the ultrasound catheter to the vascular occlusion during a first treatment phase.
US08740827B2
A head massager comprises a helmet having a front shell and a rear shell moveable relative to the front shell, a massage device and an adjustment device having a positive rotatable knob, a fixing pole fixed on the rear shell, a winding ring, two pulling ropes and a reverse locking device. The rear shell has a cavity and the front shell has two ends plug-connected with two ends of the rear shell. The knob and the winding ring are loosely sleeved on the fixing pole via holes. The knob has first bulged teeth around a hole, the winding ring has a loop of second bulged teeth around another hole. The first bulged teeth are indented joined to the second bulged teeth. One end of each pulling rope is connected to the end of the front shell, another end of the pulling rope is connected to the winding ring to rotate the knob in positive direction for moving the front shell by the two pulling ropes.
US08740815B2
A guidewire has a coil with a side of the coil winds having solid physical connections between the coil winds to prevent the connected coil wind side from expanding resulting from the application of force by an actuating member. The application of longitudinal force to the coil causes the unconnected coil wind side to expand while the connected side does not expand, resulting in the guidewire assuming a different configuration.
US08740811B2
This invention relates to a biopsy device consisting of an inner cannula (4) and an outer hollow tube (1), a handle (7) which may be removably attached to the outer hollow tube, a locking system to secure the inner cannula and/or the attenuator in the outer hollow tube, and characterized in that the tip of the outer hollow tube is ellipse shaped and extends beyond the inner cannula, the latter ending in a blunt edge. The blunted tip of the outer hollow tube together with the sharpened ending of the inner cannula determines the cutting edge of the device. In combination the distal ends of inner cannula and outer hollow tube determine the biopsy depth size and shape of the biopsy sample in a reproducible way. In one embodiment of the present invention, the length of the inner cannula can be controlled, allowing varying the aforementioned sample parameters as desired.
US08740809B2
A biopsy device includes a coring cannula, a retract stylet, and a localization needle. The coring cannula has a longitudinal axis and a shaft centered on the axis. The stylet has a tip containing at least one blade and a central passage. The localization needle has a channel and is slidably disposed within the central passage. A drive mechanism rotates the cannula and moves the cannula in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cannula. A guide element has a first end and a second end and is slidably disposed within the channel of the localization needle. The guide element is movable from a first position to a second position within the localization needle.
US08740800B2
An ultrasonic transducer according to the invention includes a flexible sheet, a rigid body portion including a lower electrode made of at least a thin-film conductive material on a surface of the flexible sheet, a dividing portion which divides the rigid body portion into segments, and a plurality of transducer elements including the divided rigid body portion, has at least one transducer cell composed of one of the segments, an insulating partition portion bonded to the segment, an air gap portion surrounded by the partition portion, an upper electrode opposed to the lower electrode extending to the partition portion to sandwich the air gap portion therebetween, and an upper insulating layer formed on the upper electrode, and includes an upper protection film which continuously covers a surface portion of the transducer elements and the dividing portion.
US08740797B2
An ultrasonic therapeutic apparatus according to the present invention being provided with: an ultrasonic probe (102) provided with a group of ultrasonic transducers for diagnosis use and a group of ultrasonic transducers for therapeutic use of which at least apart of ultrasonic beam irradiation surfaces are arranged so as to overlap each other, a tomographic image producing means (8) that produces a tomographic image containing a diseased portion of a subject from reflection echoes received by the group of ultrasonic transducers for diagnosis use, a display means (10) that displays the tomographic image containing the diseased portion of the subject produced by the tomographic image producing means (8), a setting means (103) that sets an irradiation path of the therapeutic ultrasonic waves on the tomographic image containing the diseased portion of the subject displayed by the display means (10) and a control means (104) that produces irradiation path information corresponding to the irradiation path of the therapeutic ultrasonic waves set by the setting means (103) and causes to display the produced irradiation path information on the display means (10) while correlating with the tomographic image containing the diseased portion of the subject.
US08740791B2
A biological information detector includes a first sensor unit for detecting composite information including biological information of a test subject and first noise information originating in external light, having a first light-emitting part for emitting toward there, a first light-receiving part for receiving it including the biological information, reflected there, and the light including the first noise information obtained from the external light, transmitted through there, and a first reflecting and leading part for reflecting the light including the biological and the first noise information, leading it to the first light-receiving part, and a second sensor unit for detecting second noise information originating in the external light, having a second light-receiving part for receiving the light including the second noise information, obtained from the external light and transmitted through there, and a second reflecting, leading part for reflecting the external light and leading it to the second light-receiving part.
US08740787B2
A clamp is provided for attachment to the left atrial appendage (LAA). The clamp can be locked in a closed position so as to remain in place on the LAA. After being attached to the LAA, the clamp can be moved to a desired position such that the LAA can be retracted to a desired extent. The clamp can be held in any desired position, preferably by being connected to a thoracic retractor that is being used to retract the patient's sternum or ribs. A movable member is connected between the clamp and a stationary portion of the retractor. By locking the movable member in a fixed position relative to the stationary portion, the clamp can be maintained in a desired position and the LAA can be retracted as desired.
US08740785B2
A wound retractor system comprises a retractor having a distal ring 91 and a retracting sleeve 4 extending from the ring. An insertion tool 120 has a distal groove 122 to hold the ring for insertion of the ring through a small incision 90 in the abdominal wall 97. The retractor may be used for retracting an incision to receive an instrument therethrough. A seal or valve may be mounted to the retractor through which an instrument can pass.
US08740782B2
The invention relates to a laryngoscope (1) that has been adapted to improve comfort during use. The important adaptations are that the laryngoscope handle (4) is offset and in one embodiment the handle (4) is pivotably connected to a receiving portion (5).
US08740781B2
A composite anoscope for ano-rectal diagnostic and surgery, wherein the anoscope (2) also comprises an internal component (1), to be inserted therein, and a suitably shorter external component (3), ending with a conic frustum mantle (18), wherein the anoscope (2) is to be inserted. The three components (1, 2, 3) are all conic frustum shaped hollow bodies having circular cross-section. The internal component (1), when inserted in the anoscope (2), forms therewith a single body having a compact and smooth external surface and an ogival tip. The external component (3) is provided close to its mouth with slotted wings (19, 20), to be fixed to the perianal skin for securing the whole composite anoscope during the diagnostic and surgical operations.
US08740771B2
An implantable penile prosthetic includes a pump attachable between a body implantable reservoir and a cylinder that is implantable into a corpora cavernosum of a penis. The body implantable reservoir is substantially empty of liquid prior to implantation and includes a first end portion including a neck having an opening that is adapted to communicate with the pump and an end wall on an end of the reservoir that is opposite of the neck. The end wall extends between a first surface of the reservoir and a second surface of the reservoir. The reservoir includes a first substantially planar edge surrounding a periphery of the first surface of the reservoir and a second substantially planar edge surrounding a periphery of the second surface of the reservoir. The first surface is concave relative to the first edge and the second surface is concave relative to the second edge.
US08740770B1
An implant for helping a male patient achieve a penile erection, the implant comprising a pair of substantially straight and substantially rigid rods and an interconnecting structure. The rods are configured for being implanted subcutaneously in the patient and are selectively movable from a retracted mode of the implant to a deployed mode of the implant, where in the deployed mode a desired portion of each rod is within the penis shaft and in the retracted mode at least a majority of each rod is out of the penis shaft. Each rod comprises at least one flexible portion, the flexible portion being configured for being bent at a desired angle and for maintaining the desired angle. The interconnecting structure is implanted subcutaneously in the patient and joined to the rods, and is configured for stabilizing the rods within the penis shaft.
US08740763B2
The disclosure describes a device for asymmetrical irradiation of a body cavity or site, such as after removal of tissue, e.g. biopsy or lumpectomy. The device includes an elongated tubular shaft having an inner lumen and a tubular wall with a plurality of lumens extending within the wall which are configured for receiving a radiation source. The distal portion of the tubular shaft is cut into a plurality of longitudinally separated wall segments with a lumen extending within at least one of the wall segments. A support member is positioned within the separated wall segments to support and position the wall segments in a desired configuration for brachytherapy. An expandable member such as an inflatable balloon is mounted on the distal shaft portion about the separated wall segments wall which when inflated secures the distal shaft portion within a desired intracorporeal site for brachytherapy treatment.
US08740761B2
A tool chain magazine, in particular for program-controlled milling machines and machining centers, comprising a stationary supporting structure to which linear guiding devices, chain wheels, and a drive assembly as a rotary drive for at least one of the chain wheels are mounted. The tool chain comprises an endless magazine chain consisting of a series of chain links connected in an articulate manner to one another, wherein supporting and guiding elements are provided on each chain link, and each chain link has a respective socket as a holder for a tool taper. The base bodies of the chain links of the magazine chain are formed by the tool stations centrally disposed therein, and the front and rear connecting joints of the chain links are arranged in the longitudinal center axis of the magazine chain.
US08740757B1
An exercise attachment for a shoe includes a platform upon which the shoe rests. A shoe strap is removably connectable to the platform, and is used to hold the shoe in place on the platform. The platform has a rounded pivot member disposed on its bottom surface. The rounded pivot member contacts a support surface, and allows the exercise attachment to pitch, roll, and yaw about the rounded pivot member. The shoe strap is connected to the platform by an anchor member which has an elongated pocket which selectively receives a locking rod.
US08740751B2
Athletic performance monitoring systems include components for sensing performance data and/or displaying desired information to users. Electronic interface systems facilitate transfer of the data from the performance sensing system to a display device, e.g., to enable the display of athletic performance data on an electronic display device, including conventional electronic display devices that are known and commercially available (e.g., cellular telephones, PDAs, pagers, beepers, MP3 or other audio players, radios, portable televisions, portable DVD players, other video playing devices, watches, etc.). The sensing systems, as well as any data transfer systems associated therewith, may be included as part of an article of footwear, an article of clothing, a piece of athletic equipment, or the like, or even included as part of the interface device.
US08740746B2
The invention relates to a method for controlling the power transmission in a drive train, in particular of a motor vehicle, wherein the drive train comprises: an internal combustion engine which drives an output shaft at an engine speed and generates an exhaust gas stream; an exhaust gas turbine which is arranged in the exhaust gas stream and is engaged in or can be switched to a drive connection with the output shaft in order to transmit the drive power of the exhaust gas turbine to the output shaft; a compressor which is arranged in a fresh air stream supplied to the internal combustion engine and which is engaged in and driven by a drive connection with the exhaust gas turbine in order to charge the internal combustion engine at a predefined charging pressure; a power-controlled hydrodynamic clutch, which is arranged in the drive connection between the exhaust gas turbine and the output shaft and by means of which drive power of the exhaust gas turbine is transmitted to the output shaft depending on the power controller, and which has a primary wheel that is driven by the exhaust gas turbine and a secondary wheel that is driven hydrodynamically by the primary wheel and in turn drives the output shaft. The method according to the invention for controlling the power transmission in a drive train, in particular of a motor vehicle, controls the power transmission of the hydrodynamic clutch depending on certain input variables.
US08740742B2
A dump truck has a flange on an inner peripheral wall of a spindle. The flange arranges a support bearing for supporting a shaft. The spindle is formed of a chassis-side member and a reduction gear unit-side member joined together by welding. The chassis-side member is fixed on a chassis of the dump truck, and the reduction gear unit-side member is located closer to a side of the reduction gear unit than the chassis-side member. The reduction gear unit-side member is located on a side of an outer periphery of the shaft portion, where a distance to a coupling between the motor and shaft and a distance to a first sun gear between the reduction gear unit and shaft are equal to each other. On an inner peripheral wall of the reduction gear unit-side member, the flange is cast together with the reduction gear unit-side member.
US08740739B2
A powertrain includes a gearset including a sun gear, a carrier, a ring gear connected to a countershaft, pinions supported on the carrier and meshing with the sun gear and ring gear; a second gearset connectable to an engine, for overdriving a generator; a clutch for releasably connecting the engine and carrier; a second clutch for releasably connecting the sun gear and the generator; and a motor connected to a countershaft. Operation of the powertrain can be readily switched between powersplit mode and series mode.
US08740736B2
In a ring-type tensioner, an expansible elastic ring disposed in a groove formed in the wall of a plunger-accommodating hole cooperates with teeth formed on the plunger to restrict axial movement of the plunger. The ring and the groove in the wall of the plunger-accommodating hole have flat radial surfaces for mutual engagement. However the ring also has oblique plunger-tooth engaging surfaces. The ring has manipulable end parts that can be locked in fixed relation to each other by a tool to secure the plunger against axial movement. The tool can also be inserted into a gap between the manipulable end parts to expand the ring and thereby release the plunger.
US08740733B2
A projection in operative connection with a tip of a racquet is provided, such that at least a portion of the projection extends outwardly from a frame of the racquet. The frame has a shape of a loop and a plurality of transversely orientated sets of strings that span the loop and are connected to the frame. The projection includes a substantially flat surface orientated parallel to the at least one face of the strings. The projection is in rigid connection with the racquet and extends from the tip of the frame opposite a handle connected to the frame for a distance operative to serve as a putting surface for putting a ball along the ground.
US08740732B2
A training device for use with a regulation discus includes a glove body sized and shaped for receiving at least a portion of a hand of a discus thrower therein and an attachment for securing the regulation discus to the glove body at a front of the glove body such that the discus thrower can grasp the regulation discus and practice throwing the discus without releasing the regulation discus from the glove body. The glove body has a wrist opening, at least one thumb opening, and at least one finger opening. Thus, even if the discus thrower inadvertently lets go of the regulation discus, the regulation discus is not thrown because it is secured to the glove body worn by the discus thrower. The attachment can be straps that are secured about the regulation discus.
US08740720B2
A device designed for extending a golf club shaft. The device is a three-piece mechanism with a bottom piece bonded into the top end of a tubular golf club shaft, and a plurality of top piece sizes that are connected to the bottom piece and provide a plurality of club lengths. A special golf grip having an accordion like plurality of rings can expand or contract in accordance with the amount of club length adjustment.
US08740713B2
A folding bellows arrangement, e.g., for a tripod joint unit, may comprise a joint outer part with a groove, a folding bellows with a joint collar region for attachment to said joint outer part, and an adapter ring. The joint collar region may comprise a joint binder seat region. The adapter ring may have an inner surface that is matching in a cross section to an outer contour of the joint outer part. On an inner area of the joint collar region and within the joint binder seat region of the folding bellows, at least one bead may be arranged. The bead matching a groove may be arranged on an outer area of the adapter ring. The groove of the adapter ring may correspond to at least one first sealing lip arranged on an inner area of the adapter ring, and at least one second sealing lip may be arranged on the inner area of the adapter ring. The first and second sealing lips may be arranged within the groove of the joint outer part.
US08740705B2
A game controller includes at least four load sensors for detecting a load applied on a support board on which player's legs are ridden, and the game controller transmits a load value detected as manipulation data by the four load sensors to a game machine. The game machine determines a necessary quantity of load values, and the game machine computes the necessary quantity of load values based on the detected load value from the game controller. Then, game processing is performed based on the necessary quantity of computed load values.
US08740704B2
Provided is a game device which executes a game configured such that a position of a body part of a player is detected, including: a first determination unit for determining whether or not a reference position and a player position information acquired at a first determination time point, which is earlier than a reference time point, satisfy a first criterion; a second determination unit for determining whether or not the reference position and the player position information acquired at a second determination time point, which is later than the first determination time point, satisfy a second criterion; a first processing execution unit for performing processing relating to effects on the game based on a determination result from the first determination unit; and a second processing execution unit for performing processing relating to evaluation of the player based on a determination result from the second determination unit.
US08740691B2
A gaming device provides a free spins game wherein a plurality of modifiers are each associated with one of a plurality of paylines. During the free spins game, each modifier modifies awards won on the particular payline with which it is associated. In one embodiment, the payline multipliers increase in each of the free spins depending on whether a given payline scores a win or not in the free spin.
US08740690B2
Methods and apparatus for a gaming system are provided. The gaming system receives a request for a wager for a player of an entertainment game, the request being triggered by a player action taken by the player while playing the entertainment game. The gaming system establishes a result for the wager and generates, based on the result of the wager, a controlled sequence of a portion of the entertainment game, the controlled sequence changing the state of the entertainment game as the entertainment game is being played by the player.
US08740681B2
A game machine is provided that displays an attack direction in a 3D virtual game space when a player character is attacked, such that the human player can readily recognize the attack direction. In the game machine that activates the player character and an enemy character that attacks the player character in a 3D virtual game space, the direction of the attack received by the player character from the enemy character is acquired based on player position information indicating the position of the player character and enemy position information indicating the position of the enemy character in the game space. Damage marks which are objects that indicate the attack direction are generated at positions corresponding to the attack direction in a player region set around the player character, and at least a part of the game space, including the player character and the damage marks, is displayed.
US08740679B2
A combine harvester unloading system is provided in which an unloading auger (20) is swingable between a stowed position and an unloading position around an upright pivot axis disposed at one end of the auger. A pivotally mounted auger support cradle (26) is moveable between a reception position to engage the underside of the auger when transitioning into the stowed position and a supporting position under the auger when in the stowed position.
US08740665B1
A cockpit yoke assembly adapted for mounting on top of a RC transmitter for controlling the operation of a model airplane. The yoke assembly includes a first control arm with a throttle knob. The first control arm is attached to a first ball and socket linkage adapted for attachment a first joystick on the transmitter. A rudder control lever is attached to the first control arm. The yoke assembly includes a second control arm with an elevator knob. The second control arm is attached to a second ball and socket linkage adapted for attachment to a second joystick on the transmitter. An aileron control lever is attached to the second control arm. The first and second ball and socket linkage are used for moving the first and second joysticks fore or aft and left or right during the operation of the model airplane.
US08740664B2
The present invention provides an organic light-emitting element where a lower electrode, an organic compound layer and an upper electrode are laminated on a substrate, wherein the upper electrode of the organic EL element is formed by a laminate of at least a conductive first inorganic film, a conductive organic film and a conductive second inorganic film, in order to suppress the occurrence of dark spot, so that the occurrence of pinholes in the upper electrode leading to dark spots is suppressed. Here, pinholes refer to holes in the upper electrode that penetrate upper electrode from the organic compound layer underneath to the atmosphere above.
US08740657B2
An electrical system includes an electrical device mounted within an electrical enclosure. A electrical cable is coupled to an electrical junction of the electrical device via a cable lug, the cable lug having at least two lug holes. A lug pad attaches the cable lug to the electrical device and has at least two pad holes. Each of the pad holes is aligned with a respective one of the lug holes, and at least one of the lug holes and the pad holes is a slotted hole for permitting angular adjustable positioning of the cable lug relative to the lug pad.
US08740641B2
Embodiments of a system, topology, and architecture for providing power and transceiving data to electronic devices having an interface are described generally herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US08740636B2
The invention includes an electrified framework system having a plurality of grid members which form a grid framework. A conductive material is disposed on a surface of at least one of the plurality of grid members as shown throughout the drawings. The system includes connectors which provide low voltage power connections. For example, the connectors bring power from a power supply to the conductive material disposed on the grid framework and/or the connectors provide electrical connections between the conductive material on the grid framework and various devices.
US08740626B2
A spacer arranged in an annular space between a rotor and a stator for supporting a roller reversing a winding direction of a flat cable is made of plastic having high lubricating properties. First guide portions on an annular plate portion are spaced by equal intervals from each other. The first guide portion includes an inner guide rib having a semicircle cross section projecting inward, an outer guide rib having a semicircle cross section projecting outward, and a tension wall connecting the inner guide rib and the outer guide rib. A second guide portion is provided between the first guide portions, and includes three parallel plate ribs extending from an inner peripheral side to an outer peripheral side of the annular plate portion, and circumferential connecting walls connecting the three parallel plate ribs.
US08740611B2
A fuel-fired high capacity liquid heating appliance, representatively a boiler or a water heater, has a fluid heat exchanger extending around a combustion chamber into which first and second fuel burners extend, the first and second burners respectively having associated blowers for supplying combustion air thereto. Illustratively, the combustion chamber is oval-shaped, with the burners extending into opposite ends the combustion chamber If one of the burners is not firing while the other burner is firing, a control system starts the non-firing burner's blower, to protect it from overheating by the firing burner, if the control system senses an excess temperature in the non-firing burner. The heat exchanger comprises a series of fluid receiving tubes extending between baffle-free header structures iteratively sized to equalize fluid flow rates through the heat exchanger tubes over a wide flow rate range.
US08740607B2
A transfer system for manufacturing molded parts of plastic by means of a plastic injection device is provided. The transfer system includes, a mold which can be opened via a mold separating surface; first and second injection stations formed in the mold; and a plurality of mold bars which are compatible with first and second injection stations. The pre-molded parts are manufactured in the first injection station and initially remain on the corresponding mold bar before being brought into the second injection station for molding a second workpiece section onto the pre-molded parts.
US08740605B2
Disclosed therein is a spring tube melting machine of an air suspension system. The spring tube melting machine includes an inner molding part (100) and an outer molding part (200), which can mold an integrated spring tube by compressing half-finished spring tube materials at high temperature in order prevent bad molding due to the remaining air and overlap of spring tube materials and simplify maintenance due to repeated use.
US08740599B2
An apparatus for casting a patterned surface on both sides of an opaque web. The apparatus includes a first patterned roll, a second pattered roll, and a means for rotating the first and second patterned rolls such that their patterns are transferred to opposite sides of the opaque web while it is in continuous motion. During this process, their patterns are maintained in continuous registration to within at least 100 micrometers.
US08740596B2
A tire vulcanization mold includes an elongated exhaust groove open to a tire molding surface, a plate-like blade inserted in the exhaust groove leaving a small gap between the blade and groove defining surfaces, and an exhaust hole connecting the exhaust groove and mold exterior. The exhaust groove has a length reduced partway in a mold depth direction, and includes upper and shorter lower groove portions positioned on mold surface and back surface sides, respectively, of the mold. The upper groove portion thickness is greater than the blade thickness, and the lower groove portion thickness is less than or equal to the blade thickness. The blade includes a communicating portion connecting the upper and lower groove portions, and abuts against portions of the mold defining a bottom surface of the upper groove portion and edge surfaces of both sides in a thickness direction of the lower groove portion.
US08740590B2
A method and system for reducing pulsation in a gas compressor system. A side branch absorber, which may be installed on the lateral piping of either the suction or discharge side of the cylinders, has a hyperbolic horn at the input end. The hyperbolic horn in series with an inlet reducer substantially increases the mass reactance of the resonator and substantially reduces the resonator frequency or the required cavity volume for a target resonator frequency. The horn is hyperbolic in the sense that it has a large diameter at the first end and tapers to a smaller diameter near the second end.
US08740588B2
First and second pump stages provide a flow-path from an inlet to the outlet (30), the flow-path being arranged so that molecules entering the first inlet (26) pass to the outlet through the first (120) and second (122) pump stage, and so that molecules entering the second inlet (28) pass to the outlet through an inter-stage volume (121) and second pump stage (122); wherein the first (120) and second (122) pump stages each comprise a turbo-molecular sub-stage (120a, 122a) and a molecular drag sub-stage (120b, 122b).
US08740585B2
A hermetic compressor is provided that is capable of supplying oil even in a low-speed operation. The hermetic compressor includes a hermetic container filled with oil in a base thereof, a rotatably crank shaft having a screw-shaped oil groove in an outer portion thereof, and an oil feeder having an upper portion in which a lower portion of the crank shaft is inserted, the oil feeder having a lower portion immersed in the oil of the hermetic container.
US08740583B2
A system wherein cold water from near the sea floor is pumped through a primarily vertical pipe (12) to a body (14) floating at the sea surface so energy can be obtained from water temperature differences. A pump (50) located at the bottom of the pipe, is part of a pump module (46) that can be inserted and removed horizontally through a slot (44) in a bottom structure (22) lying at the bottom of the pipe. The top of the pipe is sealed to a movable pipe connector, by a U-shaped elastomeric seal (110). The pipe can include a short top pipe section (126) and a long bottom pipe section (127) of smaller diameter (D), whose upper portion can be pulled up through the top pipe section when the top pipe section is damaged.
US08740581B2
A method of reducing pulsations in a reciprocating compressor system, the system having nozzles between cylinders and filter bottles of the compressor system, the nozzles attaching at ports of the cylinders and filter bottles. A special insert is designed to be placed in one or more of the nozzle. The insert is generally cylindrical, but has a narrowed throat, a flared inlet end, and a flared outlet end. The insert dimensions, such as the inner diameter of the throat and the distance from the throat to the outlet end are calculated to reduce pulsations as well as provide pressure recovery.
US08740579B2
A high-pressure fuel supply pump includes a discharge valve, which is a non-return valve between a pressurizing chamber and a discharge port. The discharge valve includes a valve body housing, a discharge valve spring, a valve body and a seat member. The discharge valve is a flat valve. When the valve is opened, a flow of fuel moving from the pressurizing chamber and axially colliding with the valve body is radially distributed in the radial direction of the valve body to become a flow directly moving the discharge ports and a flow colliding with an inner wall of the valve body housing before moving toward the discharge ports and then in a circumferential direction of the valve body.
US08740578B2
A vacuum pump, in particular a pump of the type with rolling bodies, includes rotary bodies (12) arranged in a suction chamber (10). The pressure side (30) of the pump is connected to the suction side (20) by a connecting channel (22). In the connecting channel (22), a valve (24) is arranged which closes a through opening (32). On exceeding a set pressure difference between the pressure side (30) and the suction side (20), the valve opens automatically. In order to reduce the necessary space and to reduce the switching noise from the valve, the valve body is embodied as a valve flap (28).
US08740568B2
A turbomachine fan rotor including a disk carrying blades with roots that are engaged in axial grooves of the disk, a spacer being interposed between the bottom of each groove and the corresponding blade root, the spacer including at its upstream end a nib for retaining the blade root, the nib including a downstream abutment face against which the upstream end of the blade root bears in event of a violent force being applied thereto, the abutment face being oblique relative to the axis of rotation of the rotor.
US08740551B2
A blade outer air seal (BOAS) segment has a plurality of cooling passages axially extending through a platform of the BOAS segment. The passages each have an inlet defined in a radially outer surface and an exit defined on a leading edge of the platform. At least one of the passages positioned close to respective circumferential sides of the platform extends linearly from one of the inlets and is skewed away from the axial direction to cool a corner area of the platform.
US08740548B2
A compressor variable stator vane arrangement comprises at least one stage of variable stator vanes. A speed sensor measures the rotational speed of the compressor rotor. A pressure sensor measures the outlet pressure of the compressor. A second pressure sensor, a temperature sensor and a third pressure sensor measure the total inlet pressure, the temperature and the ambient pressure at the inlet of the gas turbine engine. A processor determines a target operating line as a function of ambient pressure and total inlet pressure. The target operating line is defined to ensure the gas turbine engine operates simultaneously at both the minimum required compressor speed and the minimum required compressor outlet pressure when commanded to idle to minimize idle thrust and fuel burn. The processor determines if the operating point of the compressor, defined in terms of corrected outlet pressure and corrected rotational speed of the compressor rotor is above or below the target operating line of the compressor. The processor adjusts the angle of the variable stator vanes to make the operating point operate on the target operating line.
US08740544B2
A wind turbine assembly including an elongate generally cylindrical rotor operable to rotate about an axis, an elongate rotor housing that houses the rotor and which is adapted to be secured to a roof, and a flow regulator adapted to regulate wind flow to the rotor, wherein the flow regulator is orientatable in an open orientation, a closed orientation and a partially open orientation.
US08740541B2
A card dispensing system for dispensing cards along a conveying surface which conveys sliced products downstream of a slicer for packaging the sliced products. A hopper contains a stack of cards which are withdrawn from the hopper by a suction force provided via at least one suction cup. The suction cup is moveable vertically to retrieve and remove the card from the hopper. The suction cup is moveable laterally to move the card into a receiving position where a card clamp on a damp carriage arrives to receive the card. Suction force on the card is released when the card damp damps down on the card. The clamp carriage moves the card from the receiving position to the staging position where a nip engages with the card to feed the card through a junction in the conveyor line just as a food product passes over the junction.
US08740540B2
A fork apparatus includes a body adapted to be operatively connected to an associated loader machine. First and second forks include respective first and second fork mounting portions connected to the body and respective first and second fork working portions that project outwardly away from the body. A first powered roller device is connected to the first fork and includes a first roller that rotates about a first working portion axis. A first roller actuator selectively rotates the first roller about the first working portion axis. A second powered roller device is connected to the second fork and includes a second roller that rotates about the second working portion axis that is parallel to the first working portion axis. A second roller actuator selectively rotates the second roller about the second working portion axis.
US08740539B2
A lifting system includes a vertically extending parallel pair of fixedly spaced apart guide surfaces, a linear actuator suspended vertically between said pair of guide surfaces, a vertically elongate runner member having a pivotal connection to a lower end of said linear actuator to be vertically reciprocated by said actuator, a load bearing member at a lower end of said runner member at a location spaced downwardly from said pivotal connection and a vertically spaced apart pair of sliding contact members on said runner member for relatively slidable contact with said pair of guide surfaces during vertical reciprocation of said runner member by said actuator. Each of said contact members comprises a projecting contact pad having a concave surface for slidable contact with one of said guide surfaces.
US08740535B2
In a vacuum transfer chamber, a position detecting mechanism for detecting the positions of semiconductor wafers is arranged. The semiconductor wafers disposed at predetermined positions in a load lock chamber and vacuum processing chambers are transferred to the position detecting mechanism by a vacuum transfer mechanism and the positions of the wafers are detected. Then, based on the detection results, aligning between the load lock chamber and the vacuum processing chambers is performed.
US08740531B2
A screw includes a positioning member defined on inclined cutting planes of a drilling portion of the screw for stably allowing a cutting edge constructed at a convergence of the cutting planes to cut efficiently. A threaded section formed on a shank of the screw is extended toward the cutting edge and connected with one end of the cutting edge. The positioning member helps the screw fixedly stand on an object. The cutting edge and the cutting planes allow cutting debris to be swiftly and smoothly extruded therefrom into the threaded section for avoiding the piling of the considerable cutting debris. Thereby, the screwing torque is reduced and the drilling speed is promoted. Preferably, the fastened screw is sunken in the object, and the fastening operation is completed successfully.
US08740522B2
A shaping machine system including a shaping device and a computer is provided. The shaping device includes at least one jig mount body configured for mounting a jig; a shaping tool support body configured for supporting a shaping tool; a first drive device configured for rotating the shaping tool; and a second drive device configured for driving the shaping tool support body or the at least one jig mount body or changing a posture of the shaping tool relative to the workpiece. The computer is configured for controlling the first and second drive devices according to predetermined shaping data. The computer includes a jig position measuring unit configured for measuring a position of the jig; a position error detecting unit configured for detecting a position error of the jig, and a shaping data correcting unit configured for correcting the predetermined shaping data according to a jig position error.
US08740519B2
A tool holder assembly including a cutting tool and a tool holder. The cutting tool includes at least one fluid passage. The tool holder includes a conduit and a bore adapted to receive the cutting tool. An adapter or adapter portion may be provided that provides a fluid to one or more fluid passages in the cutting tool.
US08740513B2
A dust collector is disclosed for use with a drill bit or a depth stop that is coupled to a drill bit. The dust collector includes a rear attachment portion configured to be axially fixed to a drill bit or to a drill bit depth stop that is axially fixed to a drill bit. An intermediate non-collapsible portion is attached to a front end of the rear attachment portion. The intermediate non-collapsible portion defines a dust-collecting pocket and is structured to inhibit collapse as the drill bit is inserted into a workpiece. A front collapsible portion is attached to a front end of the intermediate non-collapsible portion and at least partially collapses as the drill bit is inserted into a workpiece.
US08740501B2
An apparatus and method for ground improvement includes a device having a plurality of tines extending downwardly from a top plate in a manner to achieve displacement of ground material downward and radially outward. The device is mechanically driven into the ground to achieve predetermined depths of penetration by the tines. The device is retracted and driven repeatedly to achieve densification. Optionally, voids made by the device can be filled with a flowable media.
US08740500B2
A dual pumping system for use on a movable flood control barrier structure to allow the structure to be swung into the opening of a waterway and sunk to prevent flooding during storms and then floated and swung out of the waterway after the storm is disclosed. A buoyant generally rectangular barge may be employed as the movable flood control barrier. A centrifugal pumping system pumps water into compartments within the barrier structure so it sinks to the bottom of the waterway while the same pumping system pumps water back to the waterway to float the structure. A hydraulic pumping system operates hydraulic winches to move the structure into and out of the channel using cables. The two pumping systems are capable of operating both the water pumping system and hydraulic winch system simultaneously or independently with a single engine.
US08740498B2
A method for forming and applying retroreflective pavement markings comprising the steps of a) spraying the area with a hot epoxy binder, b) depositing particles of a microcrystalline ceramic element having a high refractive index onto the fresh epoxy binder, c) depositing relatively large spherical glass beads onto the fresh epoxy binder, and d) depositing relatively small spherical glass beads onto the fresh epoxy binder. The small beads provide high reflectivity in daytime and at night on dry pavement. The large beads provide superior reflectivity at night on damp pavement. The ceramic element particles provide high reflectivity when wet and during heavy rain. Where the pavement is subject to snowplowing, the marking may be inlaid in a recessed area in the pavement, the recess being about 100 mils deep, and the wet epoxy layer being about 20 mils thick.
US08740497B2
A roadway arrangement comprises a first road segment; an upper bridge mounted for rotational movement about a pivot axis relative to the first road segment; a lower bridge, including one or more upwardly extending segments; and a second road segment. As a vehicle travels from the first road segment and starts moving across the upper bridge, the upper bridge will rotate downward about the pivot axis and will continue to rotate until the one or more upwardly extending segments of the lower bridge extend through respective openings defined by the upper bridge, at which time the vehicle will transition from driving on the road surface as defined by the upper bridge to driving on the road surface as defined by the upwardly extending segments of the lower bridge. The movement of the upper bridge produces work, which can then be used for power generation.
US08740496B2
A conduit for the formation of pervious pavement includes a first connector and a second connector joinable to the first connector. The first connector includes a pair of first receiving notches. The second connector includes a pair of second receiving notches oriented perpendicular to the first receiving notches. When the first and second connector are joined to one another, the pair of first receiving notches cooperates with the second connector to define a pair of first attachment openings for receiving a first structural member of a reinforcing mesh, and the pair of second receiving notches cooperates with the first connector to define a pair of second attachment openings for receiving a second structural member of the reinforcing mesh. First and second tubes are inserted into the first and second connectors to complete the conduit assembly.
US08740489B2
There is provided a liquid applicator allowing a liquid to be easily replenished and replaced, as well as capable of containing a large amount of liquid. The liquid applicator includes a main body provided with a tank inside thereof, a tip shaft that is coupled to the tip end side of the main body, and a brush that is fixed in the tip shaft and projecting from the tip end of the tip shaft. A liquid may be sucked into a tank by releasing the coupling of the main body and the tip shaft, sinking a tip end opening of the main body in the liquid, and sliding a sliding cylinder attached to the rear portion of the main body.
US08740481B2
A coating and developing apparatus includes a processing block having at least one coating film-forming unit block stack and a vertically stacked developing unit block stack. Each unit block stack includes vertically stacked unit blocks, and each unit block includes processing modules containing liquid processing modules and heating modules. Each unit block includes a transport mechanism moveable along a transport passage from a carrier block side to an interface block side, to transport a substrate between the processing modules belonging to the unit block. Transfer units are provided on the carrier block sides of the coating film-forming unit blocks and the developing unit blocks respectively, for transferring a substrate to and from the transport mechanism of the associated coating film-forming or developing unit blocks. A first transfer mechanism transfers a substrate removed from a carrier to one of the transfer units associated with the coating film-forming unit blocks.
US08740466B2
A roller bearing for a shaft that has a cylindrical peripheral surface, the bearing including a race (12) to be fitted onto the shaft, and roller bodies (16) arranged to roll on the race (12), the race (12) having a polygonal internal cross-section, so that it engages the peripheral surface of the shaft only in the vicinity of the center of each side (28) of the polygon.
US08740463B2
A bearing assembly and a method of forming a bearing assembly is provided including a housing having a bore. The bore has a generally concave inner surface. The bearing assembly also includes a bearing having an inner member. The inner member is movable about a central axis and is dimensioned to fit within the bore. The inner member has a generally convex outer surface complementary to the concave inner surface of the bore. The housing functions as an outer member of the bearing.
US08740461B2
A fluid bearing assembly well-suited for use as high performance, web handling roller includes a stationary inner component that extends coaxially within a rotatable outer component. The inner component includes a single conical member from which extends a narrow stem. The delivery of fluid into a nominal gap between the inner and outer components creates a tapered bearing, with the outer component capable of frictionless rotation relative to the inner component. A thrust plate is axially mounted onto the stem and is retained thereon by a threaded nut. By delivering fluid into a nominal gap between the thrust plate and the outer component, a thrust bearing is created which counterbalances the net axial force produced from the tapered bearing. Furthermore, precise adjustment of the tapered bearing air gap can be achieved through rotation of the threaded nut, thereby enabling certain performance characteristics of the fluid bearing assembly to be modified.
US08740458B2
An easy open bag and method for making the same. A film is fed into a jaw assembly comprising a first seal jaw comprising a blade gap and a second seal jaw comprising a removable insert. The removable insert comprises a blade pin. When the first and second seal jaws are mated, a notch is formed. The film also comprises a score line in the outer layer. Upon tearing the notch the tear propagates along the score line. Thus, the package can be easily opened by initiating a tear at a tear notch.
US08740456B2
Adjusting current based on temperature. A change in temperature of a connection between a first device and a second device may be measured. The change in temperature may be performed while the first device provides current to the second device over the connection. If the change in temperature is above a threshold, the current being provided from the first device to the second device may be reduced. The change in temperature may be performed by the first device and/or the second device, e.g., by measuring the temperature of a connector of the connection.
US08740447B2
In a flat panel display having integral frame structure, features of a metal frame and a plastic support, which support, position, and fix each component, are incorporated as an integral frame structure, such that no additional structure component is needed for the flat panel display to assemble the backlight module and the panel module. The frame structure is assembled to the bottom cover via screw that can reduce defectiveness of repetitive processing. A concave section at the bottom of the frame structure can contain a control circuit board for the panel cell such that the control circuit board can be rerouted downward to the bottom of the frame structure. The space required at the light source side of the flat panel display can be reduced, hence leading to the flat panel display with thin frame at the light source side.
US08740437B2
A lighting module includes a case having a main base, a first and a second extension parts extending from both sides of the main base in perpendicular direction to the surface of the main base, and a first and a second auxiliary bases extending from the first and the second extension parts respectively toward the center of the main base, a substrate seated in a cavity formed by structurally connecting the main base, the first and the second extension parts and the first and the second auxiliary bases, a plurality of light emitting devices disposed on one side of the substrate in the longitudinal direction of the substrate, and a driving driver disposed on the other side of the substrate. At least one of the first and the second extension parts has an opening such that the driving driver is inserted into the first and the second extension parts.
US08740427B2
The invention relates to a device for optimal coupling of light into a light conductor in an illuminating element in a vehicle rear view device, which comprises a light conductor with a coupling surface. The light conductor is placed at a distance from a TIR lens and a light source of at least one LED. The LED protrudes into a recess of the TIR lens, which includes the LED.
US08740419B2
The present invention relates to an electrical circuit arrangement, in particular an electrical signal circuit arrangement and preferably a signal lamp which is used in hazardous areas. The circuit arrangement is equipped with at least one electrical component (1) which is arranged on a printed circuit board (2) produced from a heat-conducting material. The electrical component (1) is, in particular, a luminous means (1). A cooling device (6, 7) which is in thermal contact with the printed circuit board (2) is also realized. According to the invention, the cooling device (6, 7) is in at least two parts, with a heat sink (7) and at least one heat pipe (6). In this case, the heat pipe (6) thermally connects the printed circuit board (2) to the heat sink (7).
US08740415B2
A light emitting diode (LED) bulb has a shell. An LED is within the shell. The LED is electrically connected to a driver circuit, which is electrically connected to a base of the LED bulb. The LED bulb also has a heatsink between the shell and base. A thermal break partitions the heatsink into an upper partition adjacent the shell and a lower partition adjacent the base.
US08740411B2
A Plastic Leaded Chip Carrier (PLCC) package is disclosed. The PLCC package is configured to support a plurality of light sources. The light sources may be mounted on a mounting section of the PLCC package's lead frame and the mounting section of the lead frame may extend diagonally with respect to the housing of the lead frame.
US08740403B2
A light emitting diode (LED) lighting fixture having an elongated casing, an array of LEDs mounted on a printed circuit board and a holographic film element providing a near lossless optical element for redistributing the light emission patterns from adjacent ones of the LEDs into an array light emission pattern wherein the emitted light in a region of the array light emission pattern is comprised of a sum of overlapping light emission patterns of a plurality of the LEDs. The casing is divided into a lighting element compartment containing the LED printed circuit board and holographic film element and a power supply compartment containing at least one power supply, each being thermally isolated from the other.
US08740400B2
A white light illumination system may comprise: a phosphor package; a first radiation source for providing co-excitation radiation to the phosphor package, the source emitting in wavelengths ranging from about 250 nm to about 410 nm; and a second radiation source for providing co-excitation radiation to the phosphor package, the source emitting in wavelengths ranging from about 410 nm to about 540 nm; wherein the phosphor package is configured to emit photoluminescence in wavelengths ranging from about 440 nm to about 700 nm upon co-excitation from the first and second radiation sources, and wherein the phosphor package comprises at least one narrow band green phosphor with a photoluminescence peak with a full width at half maximum of less than 60 nm, and wherein the narrow band green phosphor is configured to emit photoluminescence in wavelengths ranging from about 500 nm to about 550 nm.
US08740396B2
A target includes a cube corner retroreflector including three planar reflectors, each planar reflector capable of reflecting light, each planar reflector perpendicular to the other two planar reflectors, each planar reflector intersecting the other two planar reflectors in a common vertex, and each planar reflector having two intersection junctions, each intersection junction shared with an adjacent planar reflector for a total of three intersection junctions within the cube corner retroreflector. The target further includes a non-reflecting portion of each intersection junction, wherein, for at least one intersection junction, the non-reflecting portion is wider in a first region than in a second region.
US08740387B2
An autostereoscopic display apparatus is provided and includes a first lenticular lens array, a second lenticular lens array, an optical diffuser layer, an image projector module and a switch unit. The optical diffuser layer is disposed between the first lenticular lens array and the second lenticular lens array. Multiple image beams generated by the image projector module are projected to a plurality of observing regions on an observing plane through the first lenticular lens array, the optical diffuser layer and the second lenticular lens array. The switch unit rotates the second lenticular lens array in accordance with the autostereoscopic display apparatus operates situated at a three-dimensional (3D) display mode or a two-dimensional (2D) display mode.
US08740382B1
A system and method for automated determination of position and movement of a contact lens with respect to a subject wearer's eye based upon a complimentary pair of images, acquired in rapid succession, in which one image of the pair is acquired using light that allows viewing of the pupil and/or limbus through the lens and the other image is acquired using light that is absorbed by the lens to generate an opaque image with a defined edge relative to the surrounding sclera. The images of the pair are acquired in close enough temporal proximity to ensure that eye movement in the interval therebetween is insignificant and both images are in the same approximate reference frame. Thus, the location of the pupil and limbus in one image can be accurately compared with the location of the contact lens edge in the other image.
US08740381B2
A method and an apparatus for extrapolating diagnostic data relating to one pupil diameter to another pupil diameter. Embodiments according to the invention are more particularly directed to extrapolating wavefront aberration data, for example, in the form of Zernike polynomial data, obtained from a smaller pupil diameter, d1, to a larger pupil diameter, d2. Data relating to the first pupil diameter d1 may be obtained in a diagnostic procedure. In the extrapolation, a conversion matrix M is utilized. The conversion matrix M can be generated from a static matrix and a dynamic matrix, the latter taking the pupil diameter d1 into consideration. Data relating the first pupil diameter d1 and wavefront aberration data can be ordered via a permutation matrix P. If necessary, Extrapolated data can be re-ordered via a transposed permutation matrix PT. The extrapolated data relating to the pupil diameter d2 can be processed to obtain an ablation profile, a shot file, or other data for a refractive vision correction treatment.
US08740380B2
An article for use in an OCT method, the article comprising a solid substrate and nanoparticles dispersed in or on the substrate in at least one light transmissive portion of the article such that the nanoparticles result in an increased extinction of the light transmissive portion along a transmission direction of the light transmissive portion compared to the substrate being free of nanoparticles. The extinction of the light transmissive portion along the transmission direction is less than 6, wherein the extinction is defined as a negative decadic logarithm of a ratio of an intensity of light which is transmitted through the light transmissive portion to an intensity of light which is incident on the light transmissive portion, wherein the light is in at least one of a visible and a near infrared wavelength range.
US08740374B2
An ink jet recording method including: applying at least two energy beam curable liquids different from each other in surface tension on a recording medium to form an energy beam curable liquid layer having a distribution pattern of different surface tensions; ejecting an energy beam curable ink on the energy beam curable liquid layer formed on the recording medium; and irradiating the energy beam curable liquid layer and the energy beam curable ink with energy beams to cure the energy beam curable liquid layer and the energy beam curable ink to form an image.
US08740372B2
A process for preparing a dispersion of encapsulated solid particles in a predominantly organic liquid vehicle, comprising the following steps: i) providing a dispersion comprising a particulate solid, a liquid medium and a polymeric dispersant having at least 3.0 mmoles of reactive groups per g of dispersant; ii) cross-linking the polymeric dispersant via at least some, but not all, of the reactive groups, said cross-linking being performed in the presence of the particulate solid and the liquid medium and resulting in the encapsulation of each solid particle with a cross-linked polymeric dispersant shell; iii) covalently bonding an end-capping agent to the polymeric dispersant via the reactive groups; said process being such that the final organic liquid vehicle comprises one or more organic liquids and optionally water, provided that water is present at no more than 30% by weight based on the dispersion.
US08740369B2
The invention provides an ink composition including water, a colorant, a water-soluble organic solvent, a surfactant and a water-soluble silicate, the water-soluble silicate being comprised in an amount of from 0.0001% by mass to 0.5% by mass with respect to a total mass of the ink composition, and the water-soluble organic solvent including a water-soluble organic solvent having a value of solubility parameter (SP) of 27.5 or less in an amount of 40% by mass or more with respect to a total mass of the water-soluble organic solvent; an ink composition including a water-soluble alkali metal silicate and a pigment coated with a water-insoluble resin, the water-insoluble resin including a structural unit having an acidic group; and an ink composition including a water-soluble alkali metal silicate, self-dispersing polymer particles, and a pigment.
US08740366B1
A printhead includes a jetting module, deflection mechanism, and catcher. The jetting module includes a nozzle array extending along a length of the jetting module. The jetting module forms drops travelling along a first path from liquid jets emitted from the nozzles. The deflection mechanism causes selected liquid drops formed by the jetting module to deviate from the first path to a second path. The catcher, positioned to intercept liquid drops travelling along one of the paths, includes a drop contact surface and a liquid removal conduit connected in fluid communication by a Coanda surface including a radial surface including an array of grooves. The liquid removal conduit includes a surface that is positioned opposite and spaced apart from the radial surface such that the opposite surface of the liquid removal conduit does not contact the radial surface that includes the array of grooves.
US08740360B2
A fluid container for a printing system is provided having a body defining a fluid reservoir, a first fluid port for connecting the fluid reservoir to a first fluid path of a printhead of the printing system, a second fluid port for connecting the fluid reservoir to a second fluid path of the printhead, and a third fluid port for connecting the fluid reservoir to a third fluid path to a gas vent.
US08740358B2
In order to provide a liquid ejection head which enables ejection of a droplet at a higher frequency, according to the invention, a piezoelectric vibrator has a multilayer structure. In the multilayer structure, an upper piezoelectric layer and a lower piezoelectric layer are laminated one on another. A drive electrode is formed at a boundary between the upper piezoelectric layer and the lower piezoelectric layer and is electrically connected to a source for supplying a drive signal. An upper common electrode is formed on the surface of the upper piezoelectric layer. A lower common electrode is formed on the surface of the lower piezoelectric layer. An inertance of a nozzle orifice and an inertance of an ink supply port are set so as to become greater than an inertance of a pressure generating portion.
US08740355B2
A liquid ejecting head includes a pressure generating chamber communicating with a nozzle aperture, and a piezoelectric element including a piezoelectric layer and electrodes that apply a voltage to the piezoelectric layer. The piezoelectric layer is made of a complex oxide having a perovskite structure. The piezoelectric layer contains bismuth, barium, iron and titanium. The piezoelectric layer has an intensity ratio of a (111) orientation intensity to a (100) orientation intensity of 3 or more.
US08740349B2
An image forming apparatus is disclosed, including a carriage which moves and scans, the carriage being provided with a recording head which ejects liquid droplets; and a sheet-shaped receiving face member which forms a receiving face which receives non-contributing liquid droplets which do not contribute to image forming, the non-contributing liquid droplets being ejected from the recording head. The receiving face member is movably arranged, and the image forming apparatus further includes a drive unit which moves the receiving face member in conjunction with movement of the carriage.
US08740348B2
A waste ink tank capable of collecting discharged ink includes: an ink absorption member having a receiving area that receives the discharged ink and causes the ink to be absorbed; a recess that causes a suction force to act within the ink absorption member; and a recess, disposed in a position that is closer to the receiving area than the aforementioned recess, that causes a pressurizing force to act within the ink absorption member.
US08740347B2
There is provided a liquid discharge apparatus including a head including a nozzle surface having a plurality of liquid discharge holes formed thereon, the nozzle surface being directed downward, a liquid receiving part including a liquid receiving surface directed downward to oppose the nozzle surface and configured to receive liquid discharged from the liquid discharge holes, a base, a first blade attached to the base with a tip end thereof being directed upward to wipe the nozzle surface, a second blade attached to the base with a tip end thereof being directed downward to wipe the liquid receiving surface, and a moving mechanism configured to move the base in a predetermined advancing direction between the head and the liquid receiving part. The base is provided with a prevention structure configured to prevent the liquid wiped off by the first blade flowing to the second blade.
US08740346B2
When an ink film between an outer cap and a nozzle face is broken, an ink film formed between an inner cap and the nozzle face is not broken for the following reason. That is, when the ink film between the outer cap and the nozzle face is broken, a negative pressure is not generated on a space formed by the inner cap because the ink film between the inner cap and the nozzle face is formed to be thick and the space communicates with the outside environment by cutouts. Therefore, the ink film formed on the inner cap is not broken at a time when the ink film formed on the outer cap is broken to the inner side with a negative pressure. This makes it possible to suppress splashing droplets from traveling to nozzle rows.
US08740337B2
A solid inkjet web printer for reducing wrinkles on a web including a solid ink jet engine for jetting a patterned layer of solid jettable ink and a system having a processor, and a spreader, the spreader having a pressure roller and a spreader roller forming a nip and means for adjusting the force applied at the nip. The processor controls the adjustment of the force applied by the pressure and spreader rollers to the printed portion on the web causing the spreader to reduce the force when the non-image portion is in the nip. A sensor for providing a signal to the processor indicates the location of the image and non-image portions of the web.
US08740331B2
A printhead and a method of ejecting liquid droplets are provided. The method includes providing a printhead operable to eject liquid drops having a plurality of drop volumes Vi, for i equal to 1 through n, where n≧2, with Vj>Vi when j>i. One of the plurality of drop volumes is a minimum drop volume Vmin, and a difference in drop volumes between successively larger drops equals (Vk+1−Vk) which is less than Vmin, for k equal to 1 through n−1. The method also includes ejecting liquid drops through the printhead.
US08740329B2
An inkjet printing apparatus that prints each raster in a multi-pass printing mode by causing a printhead having a plurality of nozzles forming a nozzle array to scan in a direction intersecting with the nozzle array is provided, in which the nozzles are divided into groups, each including adjacent nozzles, one nozzle selected from each group is united into one block, drive of nozzles is controlled such that drive timings of nozzles differ among a plurality of blocks in each group, and a sequence in which nozzles are driven is determined for each scan in the multi-pass printing mode such that printed dots are most equally printed in the raster.
US08740323B2
A continuous liquid ejector includes a structure including a wall. A portion of the wall defines a nozzle having a first fluidic resistance R1. A first liquid feed channel is in fluid communication with the nozzle. The first liquid feed channel has a second fluidic resistance R2. A first drop forming mechanism is associated with the first liquid feed channel. A second liquid feed channel is in fluid communication with the nozzle. The second liquid feed channel has a third fluidic resistance R3. The first fluidic resistance R1 is less than the second fluidic resistance R2 plus the third fluid resistance R3 (R1<(R2+R3)). A second drop forming mechanism associated with the second liquid feed channel.
US08740320B2
A dishwasher comprises a compartment to hold items to be washed and/or dried, the compartment including a front opening; a closure device to sealingly close the opening, the closure device being movable between open and closed positions; and an insert having a front side with a portion that is flush or substantially flush with a front surface of the closure device. The insert includes a recessed handle that is inwardly recessed into the front face of the closure device. The handle is elongated in a horizontal sense and to such an extent that the handle is accessible by a user when standing at a position laterally adjacent the dishwasher, (e.g., in front of a sink) to better avoid the need for the user to lean over to access the center of the dishwasher.
US08740318B2
A folding portable bar with interchangeable canopies is provided, the bar comprises: at least one umbrella comprising at least one post and a plurality of canopies, each of the canopies comprises a design and at least a portion of each of the canopies is constructed of a material that allows light to pass through the canopy and project image of the design.
US08740297B1
A reversible seat comprising a backrest, a seat bottom, two guide bars, and two corresponding backrest support assemblies. The guide bars are attached to and disposed on either side of said seat bottom and are disposed on the outside of a base assembly of the seat bottom. The backrest is attached to and disposed between the backrest support assemblies. The backrest support assemblies include a plurality of spindles and a spindle carrier. The spindles of each assembly are in rotational communication with their respective guide bar, providing a sliding engagement. The backrest is pivotably engaged with the backrest assemblies so that it can be adjusted depending on the seating position. The backrest assemblies translate longitudinally across guide bars to provide a plurality of seating positions. The backrest assemblies may also include locking members that engage the base assembly of the seat bottom for securing the backrest in place during use.
US08740296B2
To provide a sunroof apparatus including a front panel and a rear panel closing a roof opening formed in a roof of a vehicle, capable of keeping a large distance in a back-and-forth direction between the supporting portions supporting the front and rear portions of the rear panel in a fully closed state of closing the roof opening by the front panel and the rear panel.In a fully closed state of panels, a rear forward supporting portion supporting the front portion of the rear panel is provided in a rear portion of a front slider and a rear backward supporting portion supporting the rear portion of the rear panel is provided in a rear slider.
US08740290B2
A vehicle body side part structure having high strength against a load in a frontal collision and a load in a side collision. A side panel outer member (14) is provided with a front pillar lower section (31) which is formed from a high-tensile steel sheet, a front pillar upper section (37a) which is formed from a normal steel sheet, and a reinforcement member (38) which is disposed along the front pillar upper section. The upper end (31a) of the front pillar lower section (31) is joined to the inner surface of the lower end (37c) of the front pillar upper section. The front end (38a) of the reinforcement member (38) is joined to the inner surface of the upper end (31a) of the front pillar lower section.
US08740289B2
A motor vehicle has a U-shaped bow which can be simply fastened to a sheet metal component. The U-shaped bow is developed at each free end as a blind rivet. The U-shaped bow itself forms the pull mandrel for the blind rivets. Such a U-shaped bow can be used, for example, for fastening a child seat in the motor vehicle according to the Isofix standard, for a locking bow for a lock of a door or lid of the motor vehicle and/or for serving cargo in a vehicle trunk.
US08740286B2
A reinforcement system for a vehicle comprising side walls and a floor extending therebetween and meeting with each side wall along an intersection line dividing the side wall into an upper and a lower side wall section. The vehicle further comprises a belly attached to the lower side wall section at a location thereof spaced from the intersection line. The reinforcement system comprises a central reinforcement assembly configured for reducing deformation of the floor due to torque generated along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The reinforcement system further comprises a peripheral reinforcement assembly configured for localizing bending of the side wall at the lower side wall portion due to movement of the belly towards the floor.
US08740284B2
A motor vehicle has a side door opening that can be closed off by way of a front side door. For opening the front side door from the vehicle interior, the front side door has an actuator on the side facing the vehicle interior for the opening of the front side door. In addition, a second actuator is arranged in the vehicle interior rearwardly of the first actuator, by which second actuator the closed front side door can also be opened. This provides a motor vehicle that permits comfortable entering and exiting of all vehicle occupants.
US08740279B1
A tailgate can include first and second frames, doors and sets of touchpads. The frames can be coupled to the vehicle to selectively pivot about a first axis, and can be selectively coupled to the vehicle via respective frame latches. The doors can be coupled to the respective frames to selectively pivot about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis and relative to the frames, and can be selectively coupled to the frames via respective door latches. The sets of touchpads can be operably connected with the respective doors and frame and door latches. Actuation of one or both sets of touchpads in different configurations can facilitate opening one or both of the doors independent of or with each other in a first configuration pivoting about the first axis with the respective frames, or in a second configuration pivoting about the second axis relative to the respective frames.
US08740278B1
Disclosed herein are embodiments of a storage structure for a passenger vehicle defining a passenger compartment. In one aspect, the storage structure comprises: a storage compartment configured for providing a storage space apart from the passenger compartment and defined at least in part by an overhead surface; a storage element positionable in the storage compartment; and a suspension assembly for suspending the storage element from the overhead surface, the assembly including a first portion on the overhead surface and a second portion connectable to the storage element and configured for selective mateable engagement with the first portion.
US08740268B2
A bumper structure includes a bumper beam that extends in a vehicle width direction and a bumper absorber that is provided along a front surface of the bumper beam and that has an opening in a top center portion of the bumper absorber in the vehicle width direction. The bumper beam includes a center portion that extends parallel to the vehicle width direction and a pair of oblique portions that obliquely extend backward and outward in the vehicle width direction from respective ends of the center portion. The bumper absorber includes a pair of load receiving portions outside the opening in the vehicle width direction, and the load receiving portions are arranged at positions corresponding to a pair of bent portions that are formed at boundaries between the center portion and the respective oblique portions.
US08740267B1
A safety barrier for a fuel truck is disclosed. The barrier consists of a pair of side rails hingedly attached to the truck where they may be deployed perpendicularly from its side. The rails include support legs and further include front rails that are deployed generally parallel to the sides of the fuel truck to provide a physical and visual barrier when the fuel truck is dispensing its load. Additionally, the barrier may include a plurality of LED devices connected to the power supply in the truck to enhance the visibility of the barrier.
US08740264B2
A vehicle door lock device includes an active lever configured to bring an open link into a locked or unlocked state, and a child safety lock mechanism configured to enable pushing force transfer from an inside open lever to the open link in an unset state. Under a condition where the door is in an opened state, the active lever is situated at an unlocked position, and an intermediate member of the child safety lock mechanism is situated at an unset position, when a door opening operation of an inside door handle and an operation of a child safety protector lever for the intermediate member to move from the unset position to a set position are sequentially performed, a pushing portion of the intermediate member is engaged with an engagement portion of the active lever so that the active lever moves from the unlocked position to a locked position.
US08740260B1
An assembly for clamping a flanged tubular components, the assembly including a segmented clamp having a recess configured to accept the flanges of the tubular components, and a hole oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the tubular components. The assembly also includes a housing surrounding an outer portion of the segmented clamp and configured for attachment to at least one of the tubular components, and a drive screw that passes through the housing and is threadedly engaged with the hole of the segmented clamp. As the drive screw rotates, it drives the segmented clamp perpendicularly relative to the tubular components between a locked position, in which the circumferential recess engages the flanges of the tubular components, and an unlocked position, in which the circumferential recess is positioned laterally out of engagement with the flanges of the tubular components.
US08740259B2
A threaded connection includes a first pipe having an internal liner and a first pin end on a distal end thereof, the first pin end comprising a first annular seal permanently affixed therein, a second pipe having an internal liner and a second pin end on a distal end thereof, the second pin end comprising a second annular seal permanently affixed therein, a coupling having a first and second box end. The first pin end and the first box end, and the second pin end and the second box end are threadedly are threadedly engaged and a mating surface of the first annular seal is configured to contact a mating surface of the second annular seal and provide a continuous internal seal along an axial length of the threaded connection.
US08740256B2
A quick connector assembly that provides fluid communication between a first conduit and a second conduit. The quick connector assembly includes a housing and a retainer. The housing has a first end that connects with the first conduit, has a second end that connects with the second conduit, and has a fluid passage that extends between the first and second ends. The retainer is carried by the housing and has a portion located in the fluid passage of the housing.
US08740255B1
The air tool hook is comprised of a pair of connection fittings for compressed fluids with a first connection on one end of the fitting for connecting a compressed air line and a second connection on the other end of the fitting for attaching a pneumatic tool to the compressed air line, a manifold, wherein one end of the manifold is attached to a side of the fitting and a hole is bored through the other end of the manifold, a hook with one end shaped for hanging the hook and the other end, a straight shaft, sized and shaped to be placed through the hole of the manifold, grooves cut into the shaft, retaining clips attaching the shaft to the manifold, whereby the clips are placed into the grooves of the shaft on either side of the hole, the first and second connections are rotatable, and the hook and shaft are rotatable with respect to the manifold, whereby the air line, the pneumatic tool and the hook are able to rotate independently.
US08740254B2
An apparatus and method for protecting Storz fire fighting fittings from damage associated with being dropped, or dragged, or from colliding with other equipment or the like during deployment and operation, and including a bumper.
US08740253B2
A security document and a method of manufacturing a security document are provided in which a radiation curable ink is applied to at least one side of a substrate including at least one region of transparent plastics material forming a window or half-window area. The ink is embossed while soft and cured with radiation to form an embossed security device within the window or half-window area including one or more of a diffractive structure, a lens structure or other security element having a relief structure.
US08740252B2
Labels that may selectively provide signaling are shown. In one example, a fluorescent signaling section of a label may be perforated and may be mechanically removed from the main portion of the label to selectively provide a label that does not emit a fluorescent signal. In another example, a thermal printer is used to quench a fluorescent section of a label so that it does not emit a fluorescent signal.
US08740243B2
A foldable stroller frame includes: two opposite foldable side frame units; and a foldable middle support interconnecting the side frame units. Each of the side frame units includes a handle rod, a first leg pivoted to the handle rod and adapted to be connected to a first stroller wheel, a second leg pivoted to the first leg and adapted to be connected to a second stroller wheel, and a connecting slider mounted slidably on the second leg. The handle rod has a lower end portion pivoted to the connecting slider so as to be co-slidable with the connecting slider on the second leg.
US08740242B2
A posterior walker has an anteriorly open, wheeled frame having a transverse posterior structural member, a left and right forearm support member attached to the frame, and adapted to be aligned with the forearms of a user at an angle wherein the user's wrist is lower than the elbow, and left and right hand grips associated with the left and right forearm support member.
US08740239B2
A bicycle sliding dropout comprising a splitting body and a slider slidably engaging the splitting body. The splitting body comprises an inner body and an outer body, the inner and outer bodies being configured to abut each other vertically and matingly engage via a mechanical interface.
US08740215B2
A sheet conveying apparatus, including: a first conveying portion; a second conveying portion arranged downstream of the first conveying portion; a shutter member rotated by the pressure of the sheet and including a plurality of abutment surfaces against which a leading edge of the sheet conveyed by the first conveying portion abuts to correct a skew feed of the sheet; and an urging portion which provides the shutter member with an urging force for positioning one abutment surface at an abutment position at which the leading edge of the sheet abuts against the one abutment surface, the urging portion providing the shutter member with an urging force for rotating the shutter member to position another abutment surface at the abutment position after the leading edge of the sheet is nipped by the second conveying portion.
US08740208B2
A clamping device has a removable handle to move a clamp between an opened and clamped position. A receiving member is on the clamp to receive the handle. The handle has a latching member to couple with the receiving member. An actuating member is coupled with the handle to move the clamp from an opened to clamped position. A release mechanism is coupled with the clamp or handle to move the clamp from a clamped to an opened position.
US08740206B2
The present invention generally relates to a ring assembly that may be used in an etching or other plasma processing chamber. The ring assembly generally includes an inner ring and an outer ring disposed radially outward of the inner ring. The inner ring will correspond to the location where the majority of erosion occurs during use. This inner ring can be flipped and reused until both sides have eroded beyond their service life. Collectively, the two rings generally have the shape of a single piece ring, but the service life of the ring assembly is longer than a conventional single piece ring.
US08740204B2
A pin for the production and positioning of parts made of composite material and glued together in an aircraft, the pin including an elongated body (1), which is inserted in the holes purposely provided on parts of the aircraft or of the assembly jig. The pin also includes a head (2) that limits insertion of the pin in the holes, the body and the head being integrated in a single body made of a thermoplastic material. The process of production of the pin is a molding process.
US08740200B2
A fluid-elastomeric damper assembly operable for damping relative motion between a first structure and a second structure including a housing structure grounded to the first structure and a plurality of elastomer seals coupled to the housing structure, the housing structure and the plurality of elastomer seals defining a fluid-elastomeric chamber operable for containing a fluid. The fluid-elastomeric damper assembly also including one or more piston structures disposed within the housing structure and the fluid-elastomeric chamber, the one or more piston structures grounded to the first structure and driven by the second structure, and the one or more piston structures each including a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber in communication via an orifice, the first substantially fluid-filled chamber and the second substantially fluid-filled chamber also in communication with the fluid-elastomeric chamber through a fluid backfiller. The relative motion is operable for pumping the fluid through the orifice.
US08740198B2
A spring guide is provided between a coil spring and a cylindrical outer shaft member. The coil spring coaxially houses therein a shaft portion of a damper set in which an inner shaft member is fitted in the outer shaft member slidably in an axial direction of the spring guide. The spring guide includes a barrel, at least one first projecting portion, and at least one second projecting portion. The barrel has a substantially cylindrical shape and includes a first end portion and a second end portion opposite to the first end portion in the axial direction. The at least one first projecting portion is provided at the first end portion of the barrel to project toward an axis of the barrel. The at least one second projecting portion is provided at the second end portion of the barrel to project toward the axis of the barrel.
US08740179B2
Two-piece trim apparatus for use with fluid regulators are described. In one described example, a fluid regulator has a regulator body and a first seat ring to provide a first flow characteristic disposed within the body and defining a fluid orifice. The first seat ring is interchangeable with a second seat ring that is to provide a second flow characteristic different from the first flow characteristic. The fluid regulator also includes a first cage to provide a third fluid characteristic and removably coupled to the first seat ring. The first cage is interchangeable with a second cage that is to provide a fourth fluid flow characteristic different from the third flow characteristic. The first cage can be selectively coupled to the first seat ring or the second seat ring and the first seat ring can be selectively coupled to the first cage or the second cage.
US08740174B2
A ram-type blowout preventer and method of actuating thereof. The ram-type blowout preventer includes a seal carrier disposed about a vertical bore between the body and adjacent to the horizontal bore. The seal carrier is configured to be thrust into sealing engagement with at least one of a pair of ram blocks of the ram-type blowout preventer by fluid pressure above the ram blocks and a sealing device forms a seal between the body and the seal carrier.
US08740171B2
A hanging system having a panel with a front and back surface, wherein an adhesive component is on the front surface, and a pin on the back surface, the pin extends outwardly from the back surface at an angle with respect to the back surface, the angle being between about 50 to 80 degrees, the pin has an outer end, wherein the outer end is pointed so as to allow for a puncturing effect when pressed into a wall material.
US08740168B2
A focal plane assembly facilitates a molybdenum base plate being mounted to another plate made from aluminum. The molybdenum pin is an interference fit (press fit) in the aluminum base plate. An annular cut out area in the base plate forms two annular flexures.
US08740167B1
A container holder system for attachment to a lawnmower handle assembly. In operation, the container holder system receives a beverage container and pivots with respect to the ground to prevent spilling from the beverage container. Optionally, the container holder system rotates with respect to itself to provide ease of use. The container holder system includes a cage assembly and a mounting device for securing the cage assembly to the lawnmower handle assembly. The cage assembly includes cage arms and a flange interface defined by the cage arms. The mounting device includes a gripping sleeve positioned between the cage arms and the lawnmower handle assembly and includes a clamp for drawing the cage arms and the gripping sleeve against the lawnmower handle assembly.
US08740163B1
An arrangement for attaching PV panels together and to a roofing clamp includes an electrical insulating provision between the attaching arrangement and the roofing clamp while providing electrical grounded connection between the PV panels, per se.
US08740162B1
A diaper tree comprises a vertical stalk mechanically coupled to a spring loaded clamp and a bracket. The bracket is mechanically coupled to a platform left arm and the platform left arm is connected to a platform right arm.
US08740153B2
The invention relates to an aerodynamic wind propulsion device, particularly for watercrafts, comprising an aerodynamic wing being connected to a steering unit located below the aerodynamic wing via a plurality of tractive lines, a tractive cable, a first end of the tractive cable being connected to the steering unit and a second end of the tractive cable being connected to a base platform, the aerodynamic wing having an aerodynamic profile which generates an uplift force in the direction of the tractive cable when the airflow direction is about perpendicular to the tractive cable. According to the invention, an aerodynamic wing is provided being coupled to a steering unit located close below the wing via a plurality of tractive lines of different elasticity.
US08740147B2
The invention relates to a pressure relief latch for aircraft, able to absorb vibrations and shocks without inopportune opening, as well as to adapt to dimensional stresses during its assembly. The latch includes: a console, a lever mounted on the console, and an opening effort exerted on a fulcrum of the lever causing an angular displacement of the fulcrum between a closing position and an opening position. The latch also includes a roller able to roll against a profile of the lever and connected to an elastic return device. The latch further being provided with means able to vary the angular displacement of the fulcrum of the lever according to the opening effort, with two different slopes according to an opening effort E1.
US08740142B2
Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide an apparatus configured to automatically retrieve, service, and launch an aircraft. For retrieval, the aircraft drops a weighted cable, and pulls it at low relative speed into a broad aperture of the apparatus. In certain instances, the cable is dragged along guiding surfaces of the apparatus into and through a slot until its free end is captured. The aircraft becomes anchored to the apparatus, and is pulled downward by the cable into a receptacle. Guiding surfaces of the receptacle adjust the position and orientation of a probe on the aircraft, directing the probe to mate with a docking fixture of the apparatus. Once mated, the aircraft is automatically shut down and serviced. When desired, the aircraft is automatically started and tested in preparation for launch, and then released into free flight. A full ground-handling cycle is thus accomplished with a simple, economical apparatus.
US08740132B2
An end plug to be inserted axially into the center of an end of a roll of paper, includes a holding element adapted to hold and/or guide the end of the roll of paper in correct position in a dispenser. The end plug includes an outer sleeve having an outer end and an inner end and the holding element is connected to the sleeve by elements allowing the holding element to be axially moved from a first position to a second position, in which the holding element protrude outwardly from the outer end of the sleeve, the holding element being releasably held in the first position when moved thereto. A roll of tissue paper including such an end plug and a dispenser provided with such a roll are also disclosed.
US08740130B2
A method is disclosed for reducing feed rate variations when unwinding a web material to transport the web material away from the parent roll at a web takeoff point where the feed rate variations are induced by parent roll geometry variations. The method utilizes both calculated and measured data to make suitable adjustments in the driving speed for an out-of-round parent roll to maintain a relative constant feed rate. By dividing the parent roll into 1, 2, . . . n sectors, the data can be refined to a relatively high degree taking into account high speed data processing capabilities as well as operating system response times to make appropriate driving speed adjustments.
US08740127B2
A cable retractor is provided. In accordance with at least one embodiment, the cable retractor is articulate, comprising an articulate housing which comprises a cable stop housing pivotably coupled to a pulley housing. In accordance with at least one embodiment, the cable retractor also comprises a first pulley assembly coupled to the pulley housing, an end cap coupled to the pulley housing, a spring coupled to the end cap, and a second pulley assembly coupled to the spring. In accordance with at least one embodiment, the first pulley assembly and the second pulley assembly are disposed within the pulley housing. In accordance with at least one embodiment, a cable stop assembly is coupled to the cable stop housing. In accordance with at least one embodiment, several of the parts are separable to facilitate installation or replacement of a cable.
US08740126B2
A webbing take-up device comprising a spool and a locking unit having a locking unit main body having a rotational acceleration detecting unit, wherein the rotational acceleration detecting unit comprises a second rotating body; a rotation transmission member provided at the second rotating body; an inertial mass body having a pressing portion and provided at the second rotating body; a biasing means provided at the second rotating body; and a retaining portion provided at the second rotating body to pinch the rotation transmission member together with the inertial mass body biased by the biasing means, thereby retaining the rotation transmission member in a state in which the rotation transmission member does not engage with the first rotating body, and to release retention of the rotation transmission member when relative rotation is produced between the second rotating body and the inertial mass body.
US08740122B2
A grinding roller for the high-pressure comminution of granular milling material, having a reinforcement with hard bodies which protrude from the surface of the main part of the grinding roller. At least some of the hard bodies have a continuous recess, wherein the recess extends in the radial direction of the grinding roller. Refurbishing the surface of the grinding roller is substantially simplified by the continuous recess.
US08740121B1
A cutting tool for a bolt-in toolholder assembly in a shredding device including a rotor and a bolt-in toolholder, comprises an upper surface and a lower surface, a first side and a second side extending between ends of the upper and lower surfaces, the upper, lower and first and second side surfaces defining a polygon shaped cutting tool, the cutting tool having a forward side and a rearward side, a cutting surface having by an upper portion and opposed side portions, the cutting surface disposed on at least one of the forward side and the rearward side, the cutting surface being offset from a well, the well having a flat inner surface for seating the cutting tool in a first dimension, the well being polygonal in shape, the well size determining a width of the cutting surface, a bolt-in aperture disposed in the well.
US08740117B1
An apparatus mounted on a tractor processes caked and compacted poultry litter while still located in the poultry house to initiate a composting process. The apparatus engages the caked poultry litter with a primary beater assembly formed with toothed beater paddles to aggressively disintegrate the poultry litter into small pieces. The primary beater assembly rotates in an undershot manner to convey disintegrated poultry litter upward and rearwardly from behind the primary beater assembly into a processing chamber housing an auger mechanism formed with cutting blades along the periphery of the auger fighting to further disintegrate the litter. The auger mechanism conveys the collected poultry litter laterally for discharge from the apparatus into a windrow where composting activity can initiate. The auger mechanism includes single auger flighting at a remote end of the auger and a double auger fighting at the discharge end of the mechanism.
US08740113B2
A reagent injector with a cartridge design has a body with a reagent inlet, outlet, and a swirl chamber, which has an exit orifice that may be covered and uncovered by a solid, movable pintle. Reagent flows through the injector when the exit orifice is covered and uncovered to cool the injector. An insulator may be disposed between the injector body and a mounting flange connectable to an exhaust system. A flow path ensures cooling of an electromagnetic actuator. Reagent may bypass an orifice swirl chamber when the pintle blocks the exit orifice. Fluid may flow between an outside diameter of a pole piece and an inside diameter of an electromagnetic actuator, through an orifice chamber and return through a central bore housing a solid pintle, around which fluid may flow. Different inner injector body passages may direct fluid into an orifice distribution chamber and out to the solid pintle.
US08740111B2
A sprayer for spraying a fluid can include a sprayer body, a trigger assembly, a flow adjustment mechanism and a fluid reservoir. The sprayer body can include a handle portion and a nozzle portion, the nozzle portion defining a fluid outlet and including a fluid conduit in communication with the fluid outlet. The trigger assembly can be coupled to the nozzle portion and be configured to open the fluid outlet. The flow adjustment mechanism can be coupled to the trigger assembly and be configured to adjust a flow rate of the sprayer. The fluid reservoir can be coupled to the sprayer body and be in communication with the fluid outlet and fluid conduit. The fluid reservoir can include a cap and first and second necks, the first neck being coupled to the sprayer body and the cap being removably coupled to the second neck.
US08740109B2
Apparatus producing superheated water and/or steam for weed (36) killing, etc. has diesel fired boiler (30), which, via pump (32), generates hot water at a pressure of 40-52 bar and temperature of 90-115° C. This passes down tube (12) and encounters the constriction provided by nozzle (14). Passing through nozzle (14) into depressurization chamber (16), which is at atmospheric pressure, the water boils. When the super heated water exits ports (20) of distribution pipe (18) it encounters ambient temperature and is transformed into high temperature water vapor and/or water droplets. The apparatus controls or kill weeds (36) using a smaller volume of water and less energy.
US08740105B2
The invention relates to a control device (12) for an engine-independent heater (3) that heats a liquid heat transfer medium of a heat transfer medium circuit (1) especially for motor vehicles. Said control device (12) reduces a heater (3) capacity when an actual temperature gradient ((dT/dtIst) of the heat transfer medium is equal to or exceeds a temperature gradient threshold value ((dT/dt)Schwell). The control device (12) determines the temperature gradient threshold value ((dT/dt)Schwell) dynamically in accordance with a difference in temperature (Δφ) between a target temperature (φSoll) of the heat transfer medium and an actual temperature (φIst) of the heat transfer medium. The invention further relates to a heater (3), a heating system (1), and a method for controlling the inventive heater (3).
US08740104B2
A heating and ventilation system for a passenger compartment of a vehicle. The system having a heater core supplied with engine cooling fluid via a variable flow pump for heating an air flow supplied to the passenger compartment. The system additionally having a controller for controlling the pump to increase engine cooling fluid mass flow-rate in response to a detected temperature decrease of the engine cooling fluid when the engine is off.
US08740102B2
A gas turbine engine valve is disclosed. In one form the valve includes two inlets in fluid communication with an outlet. The valve can include a spool having two lands capable of selectively closing either of the two inlets. The valve can include energy storage devices that initially position the spool within a valve housing. A temperature motor is provided to position the spool based upon a temperature of a mixture of working fluid from the two inlets. A working fluid flowing into the first inlet can be in fluid communication with a second end of the valve; and a working fluid flowing into the second inlet can be in fluid communication with a first end of the valve. A relatively high pressure condition at one or the other of the inlets can be used to alter a position of the valve.
US08740101B2
An equipment interface module that can operate one or more pieces of HVAC equipment in accordance with instructions received from a properly operating thermostat, yet can also operate the HVAC equipment when communications between the thermostat and the HVAC controller are lost due to, for example, low battery power at the thermostat, malfunctioning thermostat sensor(s), malfunctioning communication and/or thermostat circuitry, electrical interference, and the like. In some instances, the equipment interface module may regulate the HVAC equipment in accordance with a signal from a remote sensor when communication with the thermostat is lost.
US08740084B2
A method and apparatus for projecting illumination patterns from barcode readers. The apparatus includes a housing, an invisible illumination light source, and a visible illumination light source. The housing comprises a first window located in a generally horizontal plane and a second window located in a generally upright plane that intersects the generally horizontal plane. The invisible illumination light source is operative to project an invisible illumination pattern that is at least partially incident upon the first window or the second window after the invisible illumination pattern is projected out of the housing. The visible illumination light source operative to project a visible illumination pattern out of the housing, and the visible illumination pattern has a visible center ray propagating in a direction different from the invisible center ray of the invisible illumination pattern.
US08740083B2
A focus adjustment apparatus (10) for a code reader (100) is provided which has an objective (12) having at least one lens and a drive (18) with a cam plate (16) for the positional adjustment of the objective (12). The objective (12) is supported in a parallel guide (14) having a coupling unit (32, 34) for the coupling of the cam plate (16) so that a rotational movement of the cam plate (16) adjusts the position of the objective (12) in the parallel guide (14) with a parallel shift of the objective plane. The coupling unit (32, 34) has a press-on element (32) for the play-free coupling of the parallel guide (14) to the cam plate (16) and a counter-bearing element (34) between the press-on element (32) and the drive (18) for relieving the drive (18) from the press-on element (34).
US08740082B2
Method of and system for reading bar code symbols a laser scanning bar code symbol reading system having the capacity to intelligently control the scan sweep angle of a laser scanning beam in a user-transparent and intuitive manner. In the event that two or more bar code symbol indications are represented in a buffered line of scan data, then the scan sweep angle of the laser scanning beam is automatically reduced so that the resulting laser scanning beam will be shortened and only a single bar code symbol will be scanned, most likely with the center portion of the laser scanning beam.
US08740078B2
Systems and methods are provided for selectively controlling the illumination, and particularly dark field illumination, applied to a symbol to be decoded, and for determining a suitable or optimized level of lighting for decoding the symbol. A method includes providing a light source comprising a plurality of individually-controllable lighting elements for providing low angle dark field illumination; activating an image sensor for detecting image data reflected from an encoded data symbol when the encoded data symbol is illuminated by the light source; and providing a controller connected to each of the individually-controllable lighting elements, the controller being programmed for: selectively activating the individually-controllable lighting elements to vary the direction of the low angle dark field illumination provided by the light source; and processing the image data detected by the image.
US08740073B2
Methods, systems, and computer readable media for storing and redeeming an electronic certificate on a wireless smart card are disclosed. According to one aspect, the method includes storing tag data on a wireless smart card that is inductively powered when brought into the proximity of an electromagnetic field and is unpowered when outside of the proximity of the field. Tag data is received from a wireless smart card at a wireless smart device reader during an electronic transaction, wherein the card is powered by an electromagnetic field generated by the device reader. The method also includes sending, from the wireless smart device reader, transaction data, which includes at least the tag data and a vendor identifier, to a back-end server. At the wireless smart device reader, an electronic certificate is received from the server, the electronic certificate being obtained by the server using the tag data and the vendor identifier.
US08740069B2
A simple, non-intrusive, fraud free payment method for customers to make Internet purchases without using credit cards or revealing personal information. Customers can purchase any specific dollar amount of pay codes via on-line purchase by logging into their financial institution and purchasing the codes, via phone banking (using mobile phone or fixed telephone line) or via Automated Teller Machine (ATM). There is no need for the customer to first open an account with the payment service. The easy and fast set-up of a secure payment gateway for website merchants to receive payments for their goods purchased at their websites, eliminates the need of setting up a merchant account, chargeback and being penalized by banks for chargeback on sales. The amount due to the web merchant from the Internet transaction is credited directly into the merchant's bank account when the transaction and payment is approved by the customer's bank.
US08740064B2
A payment processing system includes a transaction terminal having a merchant account associated therewith and including a first wireless device. The payment processing system also includes a payment server, and a mobile wireless communications device having a purchaser account associated therewith and including a second wireless device and a processor coupled thereto and configured to send transaction information to the payment server. The payment server is configured to cause a transfer of funds from the purchaser account to the merchant account based upon the transaction information, and to send payment confirmation to the mobile wireless communications device based upon the transfer of funds. The processor is configured to send the payment confirmation to the transaction terminal via the first and second wireless devices.
US08740060B2
Mobile product advising includes creating, via a computer processor, vectors for each of a number of subjects corresponding to a product and assigning attributes of the subjects to corresponding fields of the vector. The mobile product advising also includes assigning values in the fields of the vectors reflecting a status of the attributes relative to the subjects. The mobile product advising further includes creating a product label for the product and encoding the vector including the attributes and values on the product label.
US08740057B2
Provided is a device for interfacing between a POS system having a first connection requirement, such as a serial connection requirement, and a cash drawer having a second connection requirement different from the first connection requirement. The device includes a circuit adapted to receive a signal from the POS system and open the cash drawer, or else generate a signal to the cash drawer that is recognized by the cash drawer as the signal to open.
US08740056B2
A parcel box for receiving and keeping parcels in a theftproof manner has a box having a drawer that can be pulled out and pushed in, and a theft prevention mechanism that prevents unauthorized removal of parcel. The theft prevention mechanism has a platform configured to have parcel disposed thereon, a blocking mechanism that blocks pulling out of the drawer from the box when the parcel is placed on the platform, and an unblocking mechanism for unblocking the drawer. The drawer is swingable about a pivot axle fixed in the box. The drawer has a left side wall, a right side wall, an outer wall, and an inner wall. The platform has a first end and a second end situated opposite each other. The platform is swingable about a cross pivot axle fixed in the drawer.
US08740055B2
A cup made of a paper material and having a fillable interior formed by a conical tubular wall and a bottom wall is provided. The bottom wall is joined at a bottom end of the interior to a peripheral edge frame of the tubular wall in a substantially liquid-tight manner. The tubular wall has a peripheral deforming entity around at least part of a perimeter, which peripheral deforming entity is reinforced in order to avoid deformation of the paper cup.
US08740051B2
A carton for containing a plurality of articles. The carton can comprise a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton. The plurality of panels can comprise an inner top panel and an outer top panel that at least partially overlaps the inner top panel. An outer end flap can be foldably connected to the outer top panel at an upper corner of the carton, and the outer end flap can at least partially close an end of the carton. A handle can comprise a handle panel defined in at least the inner top panel and a handle flap defined in the outer end flap. The handle panel can be mounted to the handle flap so that a portion of the handle panel is covered by the upper corner.
US08740048B2
Thermally stable polycrystalline constructions comprise a body having a polycrystalline ultra-hard phase and a plurality of empty voids. A population of the voids can be filled with a reaction product. The body is substantially free of a catalyst material. The construction comprises a first support member attached to the body by a first braze material. A second support member is attached to the body and the first support member by a second braze material. The construction may include a third support member attached to the body that is integral or separate from one of the other support members. The braze materials used to attached the support members can be the same or different, as can be the materials used to form the different support members.
US08740045B2
Microvalves are composed in a stacked design of a plurality of components comprising at least two housing parts, a membrane clamped between the two housing parts, and an actuator. A plurality of identical components are respectively arranged on a common, individual support plate and positioned next to each other in one plane. The manufacturing method for the microvalves comprises the steps of: providing the support plates with respectively identical components positioned in a grid pattern each having with the same grid dimension, inserting the support plates on top of one another in a retaining device, connecting at least some of the stacked components arranged on the support plates on an outer edge delimiting the components by a joining method, separating the microvalves by punching, and punching the membrane from a membrane support plate during connection of the components.
US08740023B2
The invention relates to a one-way valve (1; 1′) for discharge regulation of a tube, the one-way valve (1; 1′) comprising a sealing means (9) and a ring support (8), with the sealing means (9) being at least partially inserted in the ring support (8), wherein the sealing means (9) comprises a sealing element (11) and a support element (12) that has at least one opening (10), wherein the sealing element (11) is connected to the support element (12) by anchoring means (13) and rests on the ring support (12) in a closed state of the one-way valve (1; 1′) thereby covering the at least one opening (10), and wherein the sealing element (11) is of lower bending stiffness than the support element (12) and the ring support (8). The invention furthermore relates to a tube with a tube head (2; 2′) and a container (6), wherein such a one-way valve (1; 1′) is inserted in the neck (4) of the tube head (2; 2′). Moreover the invention relates to a method for manufacturing such a one-way valve (1; 1′).
US08740022B2
A metering device meters and dispenses of a known volume of a liquid product. The metering device includes a receptacle and a moveable slug sized to fit within the receptacle, leaving a remaining volume within the receptacle equivalent to a desired amount of a liquid product to be dispensed. Application of a vacuum at the outlet end draws the known volume of liquid product out of the receptacle and causes the moveable slug to move from a first position at the inlet end of the receptacle to a second position at the outlet end of the receptacle. At the same time, additional liquid product is drawn in via the inlet aperture. When the vacuum is removed, the slug returns through the additionally drawn-in liquid product back to the first position.
US08740013B2
A system for controlling the operation of pneumatic tools includes a controller for controlling the delivery of compressed air to the tool. The controller includes a first flow path that is associated with operation of the pneumatic tool at a first flow rate and a second flow path that is associated with operation of the pneumatic tool at a second flow rate. The controller is configured to automatically configure the system for operation of the pneumatic tool via a flow of air from one of the first flow path or the second flow path. In painting environments, such a system enhances control of the operation of the pump in accommodating a generally stable pump reciprocation rate as fluid viscosities change.
US08740003B2
A dual-purpose seal is provided that forms part of a container for storing and dispensing consumer products. The container can be used in place of conventional blister packs for the packaging of pills, tablets, or capsules or in place of conventional multi-cavity containers for organizing and storing mixed medication for subsequent dispensing according to a predefined dosage regimen. The container includes a tray having a generally planar top surface into which has been formed one or more discrete cavities. The seal includes a cover film having pre-formed lines of separation defining a removable portion, and a barrier film that is secured to the cover film by a layer of peelable adhesive. The barrier film has pre-formed lines of separation defining a barrier patch. The barrier film also includes a heat-sealing adhesive such that the dual-purpose seal can be adhered to the tray in two different ways.
US08739999B2
A container has a body defining a compartment and a discharge opening. A material is provided within the compartment. A sealing assembly in a sealed state blocks communication of the material from the compartment to and through the discharge opening. A first assembly is provided for reconfiguring the sealing assembly to an operative state to establish a communication path from the compartment to and through the discharge opening. The first assembly has at least a first component that is movable guidingly relative to the body between: a) a storage position; and b) an operative position. The sealing assembly is changeable from the sealed state into the operative state as an incident of the at least first component moving from the storage position into the operative position without the at least first component fully separating from the body.
US08739995B2
A technical problem of this invention especially in the case of large-size bottles is to form a grip, without changing the bottle shape to a large extent, so that the body can be firmly held. The object of this invention is to provide a synthetic resin square bottle that can be used reliably because the bottle can be held firmly with a hand. A major means of solving the problem is a synthetic resin square bottle comprising a body having a rectangular shape in a plane cross-section and a groove-like waist portion disposed at a middle height of the bottle, wherein a pair of recessed portions for use as finger stops are formed in respective long side walls of said rectangular body over a predetermined area ranging from said waist portion downward to ensure that a plural number of fingers can be placed in at least one recessed portion for a finger stop purpose, and wherein a grip for holding the bottle is formed from both the pair of recessed portions and the waist portion.
US08739990B2
An upright support assembly for a gantry includes a base with primary ground engaging means, such as wheels and a stabilizing member which is pivotally connected to the support assembly so as to be moveable between a stowed position folded against the support assembly and a deployed position in which it engages the ground to hold the support assembly upright. The stabilizing member includes a ground engaging fitting at its outer end which is adapted to engage the ground in the deployed position to stabilize the support assembly in the upright position, and to engage and roll over the ground in the stowed position when the support assembly is lowered to the ground so that the base and primary ground engaging means can be lifted off the ground and the support assembly moved on the ground engaging fitting.
US08739984B2
A product management display system for merchandising product on a shelf includes using a trackless pusher mechanism that travels along a surface on which product is placed and one or more dividers for separating product into rows. The one or more dividers may be engaged to a front rail in two different conditions, locked and unlocked. In a locked condition, the relationship between the divider and the front rail resists alteration in any direction with respect to each other. In the unlocked condition, the dividers may be freely slid laterally along the front rail, while remaining perpendicular to the front rail. The one or more dividers may lock to the front rail through the use of corresponding teeth, resilient surfaces, a locking tab, a locking bar and/or a cam.
US08739983B2
The mounting system may be used to support a display on a support surface. The mounting system may include a top rail secured to the support surface. The mounting system may also include a mounting arm hung from the top rail and a support rail attached to the mounting arm that supports the whiteboard. The mounting system may provide permanent or removable attachment to the support surface that may interchangeably accommodate a variety of displays.
US08739978B2
Disclosed is a porous membrane with high tensile strength, good elongation at break, and good water permeability, and a method for manufacturing the same. The porous membrane comprises a bead structure including plural spherical crystallites, wherein macro voids isolated from one another with the plural spherical crystallites are formed in an outer surface side of the porous membrane.
US08739975B2
An integrated drying and dry-separating apparatus for upgrading raw coal includes a coal supply system, a hot air system, a drying system, a dedusting and exhausting system, and a dry-separating system. The coal supply system conveys raw coal to the hot air system and the drying system by a raw coal conveyer respectively. The hot air system is a heat source of the drying system. The drying system is used for drying and dewatering the raw coal. The dedusting and exhausting system is consisted of a deduster and an exhaust fan, and establishes a connection between the drying system and the dry-separating system. The dry-separating system includes a dry separator, a circulating fan, and a cyclone deduster, which is used for separating dried raw coal into fancy coal, middling coal and coal gangue. A method for dry-separating and drying raw coal using the apparatus is also provided.
US08739974B2
A mattress package having a barrier layer which encapsulates the entire mattress, two skid pads which cover and protect the top and bottom portion of the mattress, and two side trays which cover and protect the left and right sides of the mattress. The side trays cover a portion of the skid pads and the entire assembly is banded by two or more securing bands. Two or more handles are positioned on the front and back surfaces of the side trays on both the left and right sides. The handles provide grips for the mattress package to facilitate handling. The mattress package provides sufficient strength and protection to the mattress while utilizing a minimal amount of packaging materials.
US08739971B2
A stopper storage case has openings and drill blade insertion paths. The openings are large enough to allow a spring-like engagement portion of the stopper to pass. Each drill blade insertion path is large enough to allow a drill blade to pass. Concave parts extend from the respective openings to the drill blade insertion paths and can store stoppers of different lengths. Each of the concave parts has a protrusion to be engaged in a groove in the outer peripheral surface of the stopper. Stopper holding overhangs formed at the top of each concave part are elastic enough not to interfere with insertion of the stopper from above into the concave part and removal of the stopper from inside the concave part.
US08739966B2
The flat wire conveyor belt comprises multiple part connecting rods used to incrementally extend the length of the flat wire conveyor belt and provide ease of repair and installation. The flat wire conveyor belt comprises U-shaped connecting rods. The multiple part connecting rods can be connected in a series of two or more to span the width of the flat conveyor belt. The flat wire connecting rods can connect to the picket, to each other, or via and intermediate connecting rod. The flat wire conveyor belt provides strengthened edges.
US08739949B2
A brake master cylinder of the invention is to dispose a main oil cylinder and an oil storing space on a handlebar base. In addition, a sleeve engaged with the main oil cylinder is disposed in the oil storing space. The one end of the oil storing space has a fastening seat passed by a draw bar linked to the brake handlebar, and a positioning sheath of the fastening seat is utilized to engage with the sleeve. A leakage prevention component is disposed between the fastening seat and the handlebar base. A bushing integrally extended from the leakage prevention component is utilized to encapsulate the positioning sheath of the fastening seat and the sleeve. Accordingly, the brake master cylinder having convenient assembly and better sealing effect for hydraulic oil is obtained.
US08739947B2
An improved drum brake assembly for reducing braking vibrations and noise. The improved assembly includes a pair of shoes, each extending through an arc and presenting an outer shoe surface. A pair of brake linings of a friction material are coupled to the outer shoe surface. Each of the brake linings has an upper surface and a pair of oppositely facing chamfered edges. Each chamfered edge has an arc length of no less than one inch and is disposed at an angle of between ten and twenty-five degrees from the tangent of the upper surface where it meets the chamfered edge.
US08739941B2
Disclosed is a trailer leveling support, comprising a plurality of wedge shaped pads for supporting a trailer parked on an angled surface. The upper portion of the wedge is provided in a flat configuration to allow placement of any trailer accessory, while the base surface is provided at an angle with respect to the upper surface, allowing the base to rest against an angled support surface while the upper surface is positioned in a level configuration. The pads may be stacked to achieve the desired angle based on the trailer support surface. The device also includes a strap for securing the pads together, or to the trailer for added stability. The footprint of the device occupies a sufficient surface area to distribute the weight of the trailer over a larger area to prevent the trailer tongue from sinking into a soft surface.
US08739940B2
An interface member is provided for a bicycle brake having a brake arm and another brake arm, wherein the brake arm pivots around a pivot axis, and wherein the other brake arm pivots around another pivot axis. The interface member comprises a mounting portion, a first operating portion and a second operating portion. The mounting portion is structured to be mounted in close proximity to the pivot axis. The first operating portion extends from the mounting portion for interfacing with the brake arm, and the second operating portion extends from the mounting portion and is structured to extend towards the other brake arm. The second operating portion is axially thick.
US08739938B2
A brake component for retarding a rotor includes a wearable friction segment having a thickness, wherein the friction segment is configured to be pressed into contact with the rotor. The brake component also includes a first resistive sensor having an electric resistance and a feature determinative of the electric resistance. The first resistive sensor is mounted on the friction segment and includes an electric connection for communication with an external device. The feature is configured to wear along with the friction segment thereby increasing the electric resistance of the first resistive sensor. A braking system employing the friction brake component to retard rotation of a wheel and for decelerating a motor vehicle is also disclosed.
US08739937B2
A fixing point arranged at a guide rail consists substantially of a slide, which is movable along the guide rail and which is guided by guide shoes at the free limb of the guide rail and carries a yoke. A bracket, at which a damping element is supported, is arranged at the guide rail. The end of a belt is held by a connecting element, which in turn is suspended by a tie rod and nuts at the yoke. In the case of an emergency stop situation in which the brake of the drive unit retards the elevator car to standstill, the retardation forces arising in that case are transmitted by belt, connecting element and tie rod to the yoke, wherein the retardation forces produce a displacement of the slide downwardly into the spring-stressed position against the damping capability of the damping element.
US08739918B2
An exhaust system for an agricultural and/or industrial tractor (10) having an internal combustion engine (11) located in an engine compartment covered by an engine hood (11a). The system includes an exhaust gas treatment unit (16) located inside the engine compartment hood and having a main chamber (18) fed by an inlet pipe (15) which receives exhaust gases from the engine and an outlet pipe (17) which passes treated gases into a final portion (14a,14b) of the exhaust system. The inlet and outlet pipes (15,17) are non-aligned and extending alongside the main chamber (18) in opposite directions to reduce the overall length of the treatment unit. The treatment unit (16) may be installed above the engine (11) with the exhaust gases passing through the unit either generally normal or parallel to the direction of driving (D) of the tractor.
US08739916B2
A scent delivery device includes two substrate units and a drive voltage power supply unit. A gap is provided between the two substrate units. The substrate units are placed so that the principal surfaces of their respective substrates face the gap. Each of the substrate units includes a plurality of linear electrodes. The linear electrodes are formed and arranged in the width direction on the principal surface of each of the substrates, and are electrically connected every predetermined period in their arrangement order. The drive voltage power supply unit applies drive voltages having the same repeating pattern to each set of electrically connected linear electrodes, with a predetermined phase difference. This configuration causes the frequencies of drive voltages applied to the respective substrate units to differ from each other, thereby setting the blowing direction to an arbitrary direction.
US08739913B2
Quick-release skis couple to the front wheels of an ATV or other wheeled vehicle, to permit the ATV to travel over snow. The rear ATV wheels may be left unaltered, or more commonly, tracks may be substituted for the rear wheels. The ski coupling includes a drive-on runner and coupling having in one embodiment width-adjustable side walls, an over-center clamp, and a lock for securing the over-center clamp. In a second embodiment, a pivotal tire cage allows the ATV tire to be driven onto the ski, but simply by forward travel of the tire pivots to constrain the tire thereon. A strap then binds the tire and cage to ensure the tire stays in place on the ski. In a third embodiment, an ATV track is converted to a runner by the application and tensioning of a ski.
US08739911B2
A structure for mounting a power supply device in a vehicle includes: a rear bulkhead that separates a cabin and a rear trunk; and a power supply device that is disposed in the rear trunk while opposing the rear bulkhead and that has upper, right, left and rear surfaces covered by a metal cover.
US08739909B2
A battery frame includes an outer frame (1) which has a generally rectangular shape in planar view and a lower plate (2) which is joined to the lower surface of the outer frame and made from an aluminum alloy. The outer frame (1) has a pair of frame members (3, 4) which have an identical shape and are respectively made of aluminum alloy hollow extruded material bent at 90° at two portions in the longitudinal direction and joined to each other so that the ends (3a) of one frame member (3) face the ends (4a) of the other frame member (4).
US08739907B2
In an aspect, the invention is directed to a vehicle chassis for a vehicle that is at least partly driven by an electric motor, wherein the vehicle chassis incorporates a battery pack that acts as a structural member of the chassis.
US08739902B2
A drilling system for boring into ground includes a bottom hole assembly having a rotatable casing shoe, an independently rotatable driveshaft disposed within the casing shoe, and a bearing housing interdisposed between the driveshaft and the casing shoe to control a distance between a centerline of the driveshaft and a centerline of the casing shoe. The driveshaft includes a bit disposed at a distal end thereof, extending beyond the casing shoe distal end. The driveshaft centerline and the casing shoe centerline are substantially parallel and radially offset.
US08739889B2
Downhole tools comprise a housing chamber with an expandable member disposed therein. An interior of the expandable member is in fluid communication with an outside environment so that hydrostatic pressure can act on an inner wall surface of the expandable member. The outer wall surface of the expandable member partially defines a sealed chamber within the housing chamber such that expansion of the expandable member due to an increase in hydrostatic pressure causes the volume within the sealed chamber to decrease, thereby energizing the sealed chamber. Thus, an increase in hydrostatic pressure within an outside environment is compensated. Further, when the hydrostatic pressure within the outside environment decreases, the energized sealed chamber causes contraction of the expandable member, thereby compensating for the decrease in hydrostatic pressure.
US08739886B2
A downhole fluid flow control system includes a fluidic module (150) having a bridge network. The bridge network has first and second branch fluid pathways (163, 164) each including at least one fluid flow resistors (174, 180) and a pressure output terminal (178, 184). In operation, the pressure difference between the pressure output terminals (178, 184) of the first and second branch fluid pathways (163, 164) is operable to control fluid flow through the fluidic module (150).
US08739885B2
A hydraulic connection mechanism for use in a wellbore comprises an upper connection running tool, a lower connection tool configured to engage the upper connection running tool and form a fluid communication pathway through the hydraulic connection mechanism, and a debris barrier disposed in the fluid communication pathway. The debris barrier comprises a body element, and a spring element configured to maintain the body element in a closed position when the upper connection running tool is disengaged from the lower connection tool.
US08739882B2
The present invention regards a subsea cooling unit having an inlet for a hot fluid and an outlet for cooled fluid, the cooling unit comprising a number of coils exposed to seawater, and means for generating a flow of seawater past the coils, where the means for generating the flow of seawater comprises a propeller and a rotatable actuator and that the cooler is enclosed in a duct.
US08739871B2
A particulate suspending agent may be useful for mitigating particulate settling in wellbore applications with high-temperature and/or at near-neutral and higher pH values. Methods of treating a wellbore may include providing a treatment fluid comprising an aqueous liquid, a plurality of particulates, and a particulate suspending agent, wherein the particulate suspending agent comprises a crosslinked polymer particulate formed by a reaction comprising a first monofunctional monomer and an orthoester crosslinker, the orthoester crosslinker comprising an orthoester linkage and at least two crosslinking moieties; and placing the treatment fluid in a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation.
US08739868B2
A technique physically amplifies strain to facilitate measurement of strain/displacement. A strain amplifying mechanism is mounted to a component being monitored for strain and comprises an input port and an output port. The strain amplifying mechanism is attached to the component such that the input port moves when the component undergoes strain. Movement of the input port causes movement of the output port over a distance greater than the physical movement of the input port. A strain sensor is coupled to the output port to detect its movement over the greater distance.
US08739863B2
An RCD can include a housing assembly containing a bearing assembly and a rotating seal which seals an annulus between a tubular string and a body of the RCD, and a remotely operable clamp device which selectively permits and prevents displacement of the housing assembly relative to the body. A method of remotely operating a clamp device can include rotating a threaded member which is secured relative to an RCD body, and displacing a clamp section in response to the threaded member rotation, thereby selectively securing and releasing a bearing assembly and an annular seal relative to the body. Another RCD can include a rotating seal which seals an annulus between a tubular string and a body of the RCD, and a remotely operable clamp device which selectively permits and prevents access to an interior of the body, the clamp device including a motor which rotates a threaded member.
US08739849B2
Provided is a pneumatic tire including at least a turbulent flow generation projection configured to generate a turbulent flow, the turbulent flow generation projection being arranged in a range from a maximum tire width position to an outside bead position, the maximum tire width position being a position on a tire surface with maximum tire width, and the outside bead position being a position on an outside of a bead portion in a tire radial direction, the bead portion configured to be in contact with a rim flange. The turbulent flow generation projection includes a radial projection extending along the tire radial direction, and a circumferential projection extending in an approximately circular arc shape along a tire circumferential direction.
US08739840B2
A method for managing orders and dispensing products into a container. The method may include the steps of prompting a user selection of a product type at an order entry station, printing indicia on the container indicating at least the product type selected, reading the indicia at a product dispensing station, and dispensing the product type selected into the container.
US08739830B2
An irrigation system includes a control arrangement which receives field information relating to an area to be irrigated and source information relating to one or more water sources which supply water to the irrigation system. The control arrangement optimizes an irrigation plan based on the field information and source information and then controls one or more irrigators in accordance with the plan. The control arrangement may pulse valves positioned on the irrigator on and off in order to control the amount of water applied to the land by individual outlets on the irrigator. Latching valves may be used.
US08739818B1
A flow control valve having a body with an inlet port, an outlet port and an access opening. The body has a cavity connecting with the access opening and communicating between the inlet and outlet ports. A single pair of discs with orifices is located within the cavity. One disc is secured to the bonnet which extends into the cavity and the other is attached to a rotatable turning fork which rotates to change the alignment of the disc orifices thereby controlling flow to the outlet port. The bonnet and the turning fork have openings which allow fluid to flow from the inlet port to the discs. The bonnet attaches over the access opening and secures the turning fork, the discs, a wear insert and a lower seat within the cavity. An o-ring holds the valve assembly together as it is installed and removed from the valve body.
US08739816B2
A fire hydrant box accommodates a hand held firefighting spray gun, a water inlet pipe with a rotary connector and a connection unit. A positioning member capable of bearing gravity is installed on the sidewall inside the box. A rotary member is movably connected with the positioning member, from which two supporting members extend to engage and support a rotary base of a firefighting hose assembly. The rotary base includes a rolling mechanism used to roll the fire hose thereon. Two rolling disks are provided to two sides of the rolling mechanism. One rolling disk is provided with a handle to roll and release the fire hose, and the other rolling disk is connected to the water inlet pipe. The connection unit can be easily rotated out of the accommodating space in order for the fireman to easily access the fire hose and the firefighting spray gun.
US08739808B2
An apparatus and a method for removing condensate and unwanted gas from vapor/liquid systems while preventing steam loss are provided. The steam trap apparatus replaces the automatic valve type steam trap with an efficient, controllable, and programmable steam trap. In addition, the improved steam trap apparatus allows for real-time data collection during sterilization and other operations.
US08739800B2
This invention pertains to a non-contact Qi emission and amplification electronic device. Qi is a Chinese word for the life energy that circulates in human beings. The device is a passive electronic device, that is, it is not powered by any battery or electrical supply. It does not come into contact with the user. The user places the device a few feet away. As such the device is totally safe in terms of dangerous electrical shocks or electromagnetic emissions. The device has a switch to turn it on or off. The switch connects together electronic components, including a piezo-crystal, inside the device. Ambient fluctuations in the voltage of the piezo-crystal may produce an influence field that is broadcasted to an approximately six foot radius surrounding the device. The influence field feels like a cool breeze and affects the user in similar ways to the emitted Qi from Qi Gong practitioners.
US08739798B2
In a hearing protection earplug made of foamed material, provision is made in order to attain a defined attenuation and avoid annoyances caused by self-generated sounds, that the surface of the hearing protection earplug has hollows in the area of the inner end face. The hearing protection earplug includes a main body having a central center longitudinal axis and in the direction of this central center longitudinal axis an axially inner end face and an axially outer end face. In the area of the inner end face, surface area enlarging inner hollows are provided, one of which, in the form of an inner central longitudinal hollow, extends inward longitudinally relative to the center longitudinal axis, starting from the inner end face. Also provided is an outer central longitudinal hollow that extends inward longitudinally relative to the center longitudinal axis, starting from the outer end face. The inner and the outer central longitudinal hollow are separated from each other by a continuous transverse wall extending perpendicular to the central center longitudinal axis.
US08739796B2
Various embodiments of flange members and tracheostomy tube assemblies including such flange members are provided. An embodiment of a flange member includes a base portion adapted to receive a proximal end of a cannula, a first flange disposed on a first side of the base portion, and a second flange member disposed on a second side of the base portion opposite the first side. The first flange and the second flange are adapted to rest against a patient's neck to maintain the flange member outside of a patient's airway. The flange member also includes a biocompatible pad reversibly integrated with at least one of the base portion, the first flange, and the second flange.
US08739788B2
A method of regulating a temperature within a vaporizer heating assembly includes providing a vaporizer heating assembly that includes a vapor inhalation device shaped to contain a vapor and deliver the vapor to a user's mouth without expelling the vapor into the atmosphere, an airflow chamber mechanically coupled to the vapor inhalation device, a heating chamber disposed within the airflow chamber, a fan in fluid communication with an air passageway defined by an interior surface of the airflow chamber and an exterior surface of the heating chamber, a temperature probe disposed proximate, but not in direct physical contact with the airflow chamber, and a temperature controller thermally coupled to the temperature probe and communicatively coupled to the heating chamber, the temperature controller operable to control a temperature output of the heating chamber in response to temperature information received from the temperature probe. The method further includes the steps of sensing a temperature of an area surrounding a portion of the airflow chamber with the temperature probe, communicating the sensed temperature of the area surrounding a portion of the airflow chamber to the temperature controller, operating the fan to direct air into a proximal end of the airflow chamber, sensing with the temperature probe a change in the temperature of the area surrounding the portion of the airflow chamber, and communicating the sensed temperature change to the temperature controller.
US08739787B2
A vaporizer heating assembly includes an airflow chamber having a proximal end, a distal end opposite the proximal end, and a glass body connecting the proximal end to the distal end. A heating chamber is located within the airflow chamber and includes an elongated glass body and a heating element located within the elongated glass body of the heating chamber. A fan is in fluid communication with the proximal end of the airflow chamber and an attachment adapter is mechanically coupled to the distal end of the airflow chamber in a sealing arrangement, where the attachment adapter forms an attachment port for a vapor receiving element.
US08739786B2
A portable hand-held vaporizer assembly that has a body shaped to fit substantially within a standard-sized clothing pocket with the body including an airflow chamber defining an airflow passage and having a proximal end and a distal end, opposite to the proximal end, defining a distal opening that places the airflow passage in fluid communication with an outside environment, the airflow chamber being at least partially encapsulated within the body. The body further having a convection-based heating element assembly with a heating element having a portion thermally coupled to the airflow passage, a herb placement zone in fluid communication with the airflow passage, and a conductive conduit that places the airflow passage in fluid communication with the outside environment, with a first position where a distal end of the conduit is substantially recessed within the body and second position where the distal end extends a length away from the body.
US08739783B2
A fluid dispenser device comprising: at least one predosed reservoir (10) that is hermetically sealed and that contains a single dose of powder; an expulsion channel (20) that is terminated by a mouthpiece; and a reservoir opening system (30), each reservoir (10) including a closure layer (12) that is suitable for being pierced and/or torn by said opening system (30) so as to enable the powder that is contained in said reservoir (10) to be expelled through said expulsion channel (20), said reservoir opening system (30) comprising at least two piercer elements (31) that are actuated so as to create at least two distinct openings (25, 26) in said closure layer (12), forming at least one inlet passage (25) for the flow of gas, in particular air, and at least one outlet passage (26) for the powder entrained by said flow of gas, and said device including an inhalation trigger system (50) that creates a flow of gas in said expulsion channel (20) only when a user inhales at or above a predetermined inhalation threshold.
US08739777B2
The invention relates to an inhalation therapy device with a nozzle nebuliser, in particular with a nozzle nebuliser having a nozzle element which is easy to clean and is thereby simple and reliable to handle so that the nozzle is not damaged and the geometry of the nozzle is not affected during cleaning. The aerosol generator comprises a nozzle element, said nozzle consisting of at least a first part and a second part, said first part of the nozzle element being made of a more resilient material than said second part of the nozzle element, and said first part of the nozzle element being attached to said second part of the nozzle element. Owing to the resilient material, the nozzle can deform during cleaning and can return to the original shape without altering its initial geometry.
US08739776B2
Problem to be Solved The present invention is made in view of the above-described circumstances. An object of the present invention is to provide a sunlight collecting system achieving suppression of power generation cost with the receiver which enables suppressing the manufacturing, transportation and construction costs, facilitating recovery work in the case of occurrence of a failure, and promptly recovering a heating medium circulating inside the receiver in an emergency.Means for Solving the Problem A sunlight collecting system in which sunlight is reflected by a plurality of heliostats onto a heat receiving portion having a heating medium circulated therein and then energy is drawn from the heating medium, characterized in that the sunlight collecting system is configured such that: the heat receiving portion is formed by assembling a plurality of modules, each of the modules includes an upper header, a lower header, and a plurality of heat receiving tubes connecting the two headers, and the heating medium circulates in the modules.
US08739774B2
Solar energy generates steam in a “once-through” configuration without recirculation, with closely managed steam quality, to produce wet steam from high-contaminant feed water without scaling or fouling. Feed water is pressurized, preheated, and evaporated in a series of pipes exposed to concentrated soar energy to produce a water-steam mixture for direct distribution to an industrial process such as enhanced oil recovery or desalination. Water flow rates are managed based on measurements of solar energy and steam production to manage variations in the solar energy. Steam generator piping system uses continuous receiver pipe that is illuminated by segmented parabolic mirrors enabled to track the sun. Provisions for steam generator piping recurring maintenance are provided. Thermal energy from hot condensate and/or from low quality steam is recaptured and warms inlet water.
US08739771B2
A portable cooking apparatus which is designed for sport fishermen. The apparatus enables sport fishermen to cook food anywhere along a shoreline instead of in a predesignated area. The portable cooking apparatus comprises: a fire ring; a wind screen which is operationally attached to the top of the fire ring; a charcoal pan which is operationally attached to the bottom of the fire ring; a grill which is operationally attached to the fire ring above the charcoal pan; means to use gas; and a plurality of support legs operationally attached to the bottom of the fire ring. A separate embodiment further comprises a case for carrying the portable cooking apparatus.
US08739767B2
A vapor processing apparatus includes a tank-inner-pressure detector, an atmospheric-pressure detector, a canister, a control valve and a controller. The tank-inner-pressure detector is configured to detect tank inner pressure of a fuel tank retaining fuel to be supplied to an engine. The atmospheric-pressure detector is configured to detect atmospheric pressure. The canister is configured to adsorb and collect vapor generated in the fuel tank. The control valve is disposed in a vapor channel connected to the fuel tank. The controller is configured to control opening and closing of the control valve based on a value detected by the tank-inner-pressure detector, a value detected by the atmospheric-pressure detector, and a correction value learned in advance, when in a predetermined state.
US08739762B2
An engine controlling apparatus includes an idle speed setting unit that sets a target idle speed upon idling of an engine mounted on a vehicle, and a target torque setting unit that sets a target torque in response to the target idle speed. The apparatus further includes an ignition timing controlling unit that controls an ignition timing and an intake air amount controlling unit that controls an intake air amount, and a steering angle detection unit that detects a steering angle. The apparatus further includes a torque value setting unit that sets a torque value in response to the steering angle. The intake air amount controlling unit controls the intake air amount in response to both the target torque and the torque value. The ignition timing controlling unit controls the ignition timing so that the engine outputs the target torque.
US08739748B2
A valve timing adjuster adjusts timing of opening and closing an intake valve or an exhaust valve by changing a phase between a drive shaft and a driven shaft. The valve timing adjuster includes a housing, a vane rotor, an urging member, a regulating member, and a control unit. The control unit controls rotation of an electric motor that rotates the drive shaft. When an internal combustion engine stops in a state, where the regulating member is positioned out of a bore, the control unit restarts the engine by controlling the electric motor in the following manner. Firstly, the motor is controlled to rotate at a first rotational speed, which is a relatively high speed and subsequently, the motor is quickly changed to rotate at a second rotational speed, which is a relatively low speed.
US08739745B2
A cooling system for an engine. The cooling system includes a flow control element including an inlet in fluidic communication with an outlet of a cylinder head water jacket, a first outlet port in fluidic communication with a heat exchanger, and a second outlet port in fluidic communication with an inlet of an engine block water jacket.
US08739738B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a pet toy designed compatibly both to allow cleaning inside the toy as well as introducing and removing the food into/from the pet toy to be performed by a user in a significantly easy manner and to make the animal to be continuously engaged by the toy for a long time.A pet toy 1 has a flexible and axially flat body formed with a cavity disposed inside thereof that can accommodate an amount of food for an animal. The body comprises: a lateral band portion 3 defining an outer perimeter of an axially central part of the body; a first and a second coverings 4 and 5, each extending in the axial direction from the lateral band portion; and a slit 2 formed in the lateral band portion 3 so as to communicate with the cavity.
US08739735B2
The invention provides a composition suitable for use as an animal litter comprising a first component having a density less than that of liquid and a second component having a density of at least 5 lb/ft3 (80 mg/cm3) greater than the first component. The invention is based upon the discovery that adding liquid such as urine to a composition having two components with significant differences in density, one of which is less than the density of the liquid, will result in the component with the lesser density floating to the top of the liquid while the component with the greater density will segregate below the component with the lesser density.
US08739733B2
A top-fill hummingbird feeder is provided having a liquid container with a liquid flow opening at a lower end and a removable cap at an upper end, a feeding basin positioned below the liquid container, and a valve or sealing mechanism associated with the liquid flow opening and the feeding basin. The feeding basin includes an upwardly extending cylindrical well that receives the lower end of the liquid container, and the valve or sealing mechanism includes a float valve associated with the well. The feeding basin is filled by gravity feed of the liquid in the container through the liquid flow opening when the sealing mechanism is open. When the feeding basin reaches a full position, the liquid nectar raises the float valve which, in turn, acts to close the liquid flow opening.
US08739726B2
A dock system including a collapsible frame, and method for assembling the dock system including collapsible frame are provided. A collapsible dock system includes a collapsible frame. The collapsible frame includes a first beam, a second beam, a cross-member, and a hinged bracket system. The cross-member system secures the first beam to the second beam. The hinged bracket system is selectively coupled to the first beam and the second beam in either a compact transport state in which the first beam is movable relative to the second beam or a fixed installation state in which the first beam is fixed relative to the second beam.
US08739724B2
The apparatus and method described herein provides a waterproof, barrier between the hull of the watercraft while the watercraft is still in the water and at a dock. In addition, the apparatus provides a resilient inflated perimeter to which further protects the hull of the vessel from accidental contact with and damage from the dock and other rigid elements which it may contact.
US08739716B2
An automated quilting and tufting system for application of tufts at selected locations along a web of material, including a sewing head receiving a series of tufts or rosettes from a supply. The tufts are removed from their supply and are placed at selected locations on the web of material for attachment to the web of material by the sewing head. Thereafter, the web of material can be cut to form a panel of a desired size.
US08739715B2
A colored embroidered pattern is formed on a fabric by positioning a stabilizer prior to the embroidery process on the top surface of the fabric. The stabilizer extends beyond at least a portion of the embroidered pattern such that it blocks sublimating dyes from binding to the fabric during the sublimation process. Excess stabilizer is then removed.
US08739707B2
A folding utility table includes a table top having a pair of support pedestals pivotally attached. A first pivotal support brace includes a distal end and a proximal end attached to the first support pedestal. A second pivotal support brace includes a distal end and a proximal end attached to the second support pedestal. In addition, the support pedestals may comprise at least one support leg, and each support leg of the first and second support pedestals may be laterally offset from each other so as to permit an offset displacement of the support legs when the support pedestals are disposed in a collapsed position.
US08739703B1
A shotgun cartridge system includes a shotgun shell and a detachable cap. The cap fits within the casing atop the open end so as to close the casing and prevent the projectiles from falling out. An edge recess on the cap enables finger-nail removal of the cap. An injection port enables injection of a coating substance onto the projectiles. The inside wall of the casing may have a projection to snap connect the cap in the casing. The cap then has a mating projection recessed into the cap-wall and structured to snap in place below the projection on the casing when the cap-wall is slid into the casing. Alternatively, the projection is placed so as to form a thread around the inside wall and the cap's mating projection engages the thread when the cap-wall is slid, rotated and tightened against the thread.
US08739699B2
A combination stencil printer and dispenser includes a frame, a movable stencil coupled to the frame, a substrate support coupled to the frame to support a substrate in a print position, and a print head coupled to the frame to deposit and print viscous material over the stencil. The combination stencil printer and dispenser further includes a dispenser mounted on the movable stencil to dispense viscous material on the substrate when the substrate is in the print position. In other embodiments, the dispenser can be mounted on a stencil wiper or on an independent gantry provided within the combination stencil printer and dispenser.
US08739690B2
Provided is a sealing gasket for a cooking utensil for cooking food under pressure, the utensil includes a vessel and a lid that define a cooking enclosure. The gasket having a heel from which at least a first lip projects that is provided with at least one escape window notch that passes through its thickness, and in that the first lip forms a differential movement member enabling the escape window notch to effect a relative movement relative to the heel when the pressure prevailing inside the cooking enclosure exceeds a predetermined threshold, which relative movement enables said escape window notch to open up a leakage orifice via which the cooking enclosure is put into communication with the outside of the utensil. Cooking utensils for cooking food under pressure such as a pressure cooker are provided.
US08739688B2
A device for supplying milk from a storage tank to a dispensing element, having a supply line with an inlet end which is detachably connected to the storage tank, to improve the cleaning of such a device. A cleaning device is provided for the supply line, the cleaning device containing a hot water and/or water vapor outlet having a connection device for the detachable connection of the inlet end of the supply line.
US08739676B2
A vehicle occupant blast isolation system uses small explosive charges and small rocket motors to isolate vehicle occupants from blast loads. The system initiates the explosive charges to remove all mechanical linkages between the occupants and the initial shock so that no shock effects are transferred. The system counteracts the effects of the impulse by igniting the rocket motors to provide a restoring force to counter the effects of the impulse load. This combination of mechanical isolation and impulse negation addresses both the high-frequency initial shock and low-frequency impulse effects from explosive devices.
US08739672B1
Systems and methods for coordinating fields of view are provided. Sensor data may be generated regarding movement in one or more planes and used as boundaries for the field of view. A geographic location may also be associated with the field of view. Fields of view from two or more geographic locations may be aggregated to determine a collective field of view. The collective field of view may be provided to an electronic display. In some cases, the field of view may be a field of fire associated with a ballistic weapon.
US08739669B2
A vegetable and fruit slicer for slicing vegetables and fruit comprising a knife part (1) and a cooperating anvil part (2). The knife part (1) comprises at least two sets of knives (3), where a set of knives (3) comprises at least two knives (4) arranged at predetermined lateral distances and predetermined level distances from each other forming a stair or a fan (3). Only one knife (4) of each set (3) is positioned at each level and the lateral distances between the knives (4) positioned at the same level are the same and constant for each level of knives (4). A method, wherein a first level of at least two knives (4) starts cutting the vegetable or fruit to be cut, followed by at least a second level of a preferably corresponding number of knives (4) and having the same internal distance in between the knives in every level.
US08739667B2
Rotary cutting apparatus has a frame, a first rotary device and a second rotary device. Each of the first and second rotary devices has a shaft concentrically arranged about a rotational axis and a drum and are arranged in the frame in such a way that said first and second axes are substantially horizontal and substantially in the same vertical plane. A pair of bearing housings is arranged on either side of each of the drums. A first pair of bearing housings is movable relative to the frame in a transverse direction to the first rotational axis by means of a force means. Means is provided for passive vibration attenuation of at least the first shaft, the means being able to reduce vibrations due to impacts of the first drum in relation to the second drum.
US08739665B2
A blade assembly is provided for use in a wire stripping system, where the blade assembly includes a first blade including a first cutting opening therein, the first opening including a first guide surface on one side of the first opening and a first cutting surface on the opposite side of the first opening, and a second blade including a second cutting opening therein, the second opening including a second guide surface on one side of the second opening and a second cutting surface on the opposite side of the second opening. The blades impart a rotation force on the wire to cause the cutting surfaces to make a depth-controlled circumferential cut in the sheath around the entire wire.
US08739638B1
A fluid flow tool's plate-like structure has a ring portion defining a flow hole, a support portion extending radially away from the ring portion and adapted to be coupled to conduit wall, and extensions extending radially away from the ring portion such that a periphery of the plate-like structure is defined by the extensions and trough regions between adjacent extensions. One or more ports formed in the ring portion are in fluid communication with the flow hole. A first manifold in the plate-like structure is in fluid communication with each port communicating with the flow hole. One or more ports are formed in the periphery of the plate-like structure. A second manifold in the plate-like structure is in fluid communication with each port formed in the periphery. The first and second manifolds extend through the plate-like structure to terminate and be accessible at the conduit wall.
US08739619B2
An air flow measuring device includes a fitted part, a housing, a flow sensor, and a temperature sensor component. A projection shape of the fitted part onto an imaginary plane is a first circle. On the imaginary plane, a first point and a second point are located on the first circle or inward of the first circle, and a third point is located inward of the first circle. A diameter of an imaginary circle passing through the first, second, and third points is larger than a diameter of the first circle. The first, second, and third points have such a positional relationship that, when at least one of the first and second points comes into contact with an inner peripheral surface of an attachment hole at time of insertion of the housing into a duct, the third point is away from the inner peripheral surface of the attachment hole.
US08739618B2
A driving speed Vd that is a speed of a driving force input point at which a driving force from a driving element is transmitted to an elastic member is acquired. An approximate rate Ve of change of an amount of elastic deformation Pe is computed based upon a plurality of values of the amount of elastic deformation Pe acquired as a quantized value at different points in time, by smoothing out an abrupt change in the values of the amount of elastic deformation Pe caused to appear by quantization. A deformation speed V is computed based upon the driving speed Vd and the approximate Ve by: V=A·(−Vd)+B·Ve where A is a coefficient increasing with increase in frequency of fluctuations in a position of the driving force input point, and B is a coefficient increasing with decrease in the frequency of fluctuations in the position of the driving force input point.
US08739612B2
A wind turbine blade used in a wind power generator that receives wind and rotates a rotating shaft of a generator includes at least two layers on a surface of a blade body, one of the layers being colored with a coating material different in color from the blade body and the rest of the layers. The layers are provided at least on a tip, particularly at a front edge of the wind turbine blade. A wind turbine blade monitoring system that monitors the wind turbine blade includes: an imaging unit that images the wind turbine blade in a predetermined position over a predetermined period at timing when the wind turbine blade passes through the predetermined position; and an indication unit that chronologically indicates imaging results of the wind turbine blade imaged by the imaging means.
US08739610B2
A sample injection port 10 for injecting a sample into a chromatograph or other devices is composed of a body 13 made of an inelastic material, a first seal member 14 made of an elastic material and attached to one end of the body part 13, and a second seal member 15 made of an elastic material and attached to the other end of the body part 13. A first through hole formed in the first seal member 14 , a second through hole formed in the second seal member 15 and a third through hole formed in the body part 13 are coaxially connected to form an introduction hole for sample injection. With this construction, a sample injection port which has a small inner diameter, is easy to manufacture, and yet capable of achieving a high pressure resistance can be provided.
US08739608B2
An instrument for use with fluid which includes a mixing element, and a container to hold the fluid to be mixed, characterised in that the mixing element includes a sensor that assists to measure a parameter of fluid.
US08739607B2
A fixture for evaluating a metal-to-metal seal. A first metal seal surface and a second metal seal surface are brought into initial contact by engagement of a male connection of a first tubular component and a female connection of a second tubular component to form a metal-to-metal seal. A contact pressure regulator is provided to alter the contact load acting in the interfacial region between the first metal seal surface and the second metal seal surface in a predictable manner. An inlet passage is provided to communicate test fluid to an inlet side of the metal-to-metal seal. An outlet passage is provided on an outlet side of the metal-to-metal seal. In accordance with the method, a capacity of the metal-to-metal seal is expressed as the pressure differential required to just induce leakage given a measure of absolute contact load greater than zero.
US08739600B2
Intra-extra oral shock-sensing and indicating systems and other shock-sensing and indicating systems
A mouth guard comprises a base member configured to fit inside the mouth of a user, and at least one shock-sensing and indicating device coupled to the base member. In one exemplary embodiment, the shock-sensing and indicating device is a passive shock-sensing and indicating device that detects a shock substantially along a selected axis with respect to the base member. In another exemplary embodiment, the at least one shock-sensing and indicating device detects a shock substantially along a plurality of selected axes with respect to the base member, each selected axis being substantially orthogonal from another selected axis. The shock-sensing and indicating devices can be configured to detect different levels of shock. In one exemplary embodiment, the shock-sensing and indicating device comprises a multi-component chemical-reaction system, such as a chemi-luminescent reaction system.
US08739583B2
A lock includes a cylinder with a locking tab extending axially from a distal end, a rod movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. At least one protrusion on the rod, and a pair of blocking elements positioned adjacent to the locking tab. A marked wheel is rotatably mounted on the rod and cylinder, and includes an inner wheel including a ridge extending from an inner surface and a slot extending through the ridge. The rod slides relative to the cylinder when the slot is aligned with the protrusion on the rod.
US08739581B2
A washing machine includes a water tub, an electric motor, and a control device. The motor comprises a stator including a stator coil, a rotor magnet arranged circumferentially with respect to the rotor, and a control device. The rotor magnet includes a permanent magnet. When the control device applies a first voltage to the stator coil in a wash step of the washing operation, the rotor magnet is magnetized so that a magnetic flux of the rotor magnet acting on the stator is increased without reversal of a direction of magnetization. When the control device applies a second voltage to the stator soil in a dehydration step of the washing operation, the rotor magnet is magnetized so that a magnetic flux of the rotor magnet acting on the stator is reduced without reversal of a direction of magnetization as compared with the magnetic flux in the wash step.
US08739580B2
A pulley electric motor for a washing machine, comprising a stator, a rotor, electronic power circuitry for actuating the rotor, and electronic control circuitry for controlling both the electronic power circuitry to control movement of the rotor and a discharge electric pump of the washing machine. An actuation system for a washing machine is also described, comprising a pulley electric motor for the actuation of a washing drum and a discharge electric pump for discharging water, controlled by the electronic control circuitry, the pulley electric motor equipped with electronic control circuitry which also controls the discharge electric pump. Also described is a washing machine comprising a housing body for a rotary washing drum, a pulley electric motor connected to the drum through a kinematic belt/pulley coupling, a discharge electric pump, and electronic control circuitry for controlling the pulley electric motor. The electronic control circuitry also controls the discharge electric pump.
US08739574B2
Methods and systems for three dimensional large area welding and sealing of optically transparent materials are disclosed, including generating a beam of ultra-short pulses from an ultra-short pulsed laser; directing the beam to an acoustic-optic modulator to control the repetition rate of the beam; directing the beam to an attenuator after passing through the acoustic-optic modulator to control the energy of the beam; directing the beam to a focusing lens after passing through the attenuator to focus the beam between a top substrate and a bottom substrate in order to weld the top substrate to the bottom substrate, wherein the top substrate and the bottom substrate are in intimate contact; and controlling the position of the top substrate and the bottom substrate relative to the beam using a three-axis stage in order to weld the top substrate to the bottom substrate at different points. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08739572B2
A system and method for providing component based glass casting are disclosed. One embodiment comprises arranging at least one metal shape to define boundaries of a casting dam, lining the boundaries with ceramic fiber paper to create a containment including the at least one metal shape and the ceramic fiber paper, inserting glass in the containment, and firing the glass and the containment in a kiln to cast a glass shape corresponding to a portion of the containment.
