US09267661B1

LED illumination systems and techniques for apportioning optical projection paths in an LED lamp are disclosed.
US09267657B2

A vehicular lighting assembly is provided that includes a chamber defined by isotropically luminant back and side surfaces, a depth, and a front surface having a lens aperture. The lighting assembly also includes LED sources on the back surface. In addition, each source has a beam angle≧a light exit angle, and is spaced from the other sources≦the depth divided by a predetermined factor between approximately 1.0 and 2.5. In certain aspects, the front surface also includes a diffuser. In other aspects, each source is spaced from the other sources≦the depth divided by a predetermined factor of approximately 2.5 or less.
US09267649B2

An LED lamp that can take the place of incandescent lamps. An elevated light source is positioned above a screw-type base. A first plurality of LEDs is connected in a series on one side of a flat substrate and a second plurality of LEDs, equal in number to the first, is connected in series on an opposite side of the substrate. Each LED of the first and second plurality of LEDs is mounted proximate a heat sink and a drive circuit is provided for the LEDs, with the drive circuit being located proximate and electrically connected to the screw base.
US09267646B2

An ink-based digital printing system includes a dampening fluid delivery system that forms a dampening fluid layer on a reimageable surface of an imaging plate using vapor condensation. The system includes a delivery nozzle having a chamber that receives atomized dampening fluid, mixes the fluid with hot air or nitrogen gas for rapid vaporization, and directs the vapor onto an imaging member surface for condensation and dampening fluid layer formation.
US09267643B2

A wheel lubricating device for lubricating at least a portion of a wheel, including: a lubrication applicator, a rotary drive mechanism at least indirectly coupled to said lubrication applicator, a lubrication supply conduit in fluid communication with said lubrication applicator, a transfer pump for transferring a lubricating medium through said lubrication supply conduit to said lubrication applicator.
US09267640B2

Apparatus and methods for extending a retractable mast include engaging at least three flexible bands such that each band forms a side of a mast. Each band includes a right edge side and a left edge side, each edge having disposed thereon a set of spaced teeth, each tooth having a slot disposed therein and a tab disposed between adjacent teeth, the tab configured to engage the slot of an opposing tooth.
US09267637B2

An assembly of two coaxial pipes of the PiP type, having at least two coaxial pipe unit elements each with an inner pipe and an outer pipe, defining an annular space, filled with an insulating material, and assembled end to end by welding, including a sleeve with a hollow tubular wall made of rigid or semirigid material, preferably of plastics material or composite material, surrounding the pipe in register with the welded junction zone between the two coaxial pipe unit elements, the hollow tubular wall of the sleeve having an outer casing and an inner casing connected together at their longitudinal ends in leaktight manner, thereby defining an internal volume that is completely filled with a quasi-incompressible thermally insulating material.
US09267631B2

The disclosure provides a connector for connecting to an end of a tube. The connector may include a hollow connector body having an opening for receiving the end of the tube. The connector may further include a gripping mechanism for gripping the tube to hold it against retraction and a sealing mechanism for forming a seal between the tube and the connector body. The connector body may be formed from an opaque material and include a window therein. The window may be formed from a transparent material through which an end of the tube can be seen when the tube is correctly located within the connector.
US09267629B2

An open hose clamp with a tightening mechanism in the form of a so-called Oetiker ear. The tightened condition is locked by toothed portions which mutually engage outside the area of the ear on the side of the ear remote from the outer clamping band end. In the locked tightened condition, the ear is free of forces so that the hose clamp retains its clamping function even if the outward projecting ear is damaged.
US09267628B2

A tamper resistant pipe coupling is formed of segments connected end to end using fasteners. The segments have bearing pads at each end, each bearing pad surrounded by a shield wall. The shield walls and the bearing pads form a well that receives the fasteners and provides defense against tampering. The well is filled with a potting material, such as refractory cement, to cover the fasteners and provide additional protection. Formations are provided on the bearing pad and shield wall to ensure positive mechanical engagement between the coupling and the potting layer. The shield wall and bearing pad may be integrally formed with the coupling segments or a separate component.
US09267619B2

A micro fluid chip includes a first chip and a second chip. The first chip includes a first substrate having a fluid channel and a partition wall, and a first film made of resin. The second chip includes a second substrate having a recess, and a second film made of elastomer. The second film has an elastic modulus higher than that of the first film. The first chip and the second chip are stacked in such a manner that the partition wall and the recess face each other with the first film and the second film therebetween. By setting the inner side of the recess to a negative pressure, a gap is formed between the first film and the partition wall, and thus a fluid channel is opened.
US09267610B2

A hydraulic pressure control device includes: a hydraulic pressure unit, in which a solenoid valve for hydraulic pressure control is assembled with a hydraulic pressure block; and an electronic control unit, which includes a circuit board having a drive control circuit of the solenoid valve and stored inside a resin case, wherein a solenoid coil is fit onto the main body of the solenoid valve fixed to the hydraulic pressure block of hydraulic pressure unit, and wherein the solenoid coil is elastically pressed against and fixed to the hydraulic pressure block by a coil pressing arm integrally formed with the resin case.
US09267598B2

A control method for an automatic transmission in which a starting gear shift stage is attained by fastening a predetermined brake element and a predetermined clutch element includes a step of supplying, when a command, which is for fastening the predetermined brake element and the predetermined clutch element that is to be fastened to input output rotation on an engine side to a transmission mechanism, and which is also for attaining the starting gear shift stage is detected, hydraulic pressure to the clutch element and then fastening the clutch element, and a step of supplying, after the step, the hydraulic pressure to the brake element to start the fastening of the brake element and controlling rotation, which is input to the transmission mechanism, to a target number of rotations. It is possible to satisfactorily attain the starting gear shift stage without a shock while dispensing with a one-way clutch.
US09267597B2

The present disclosure provides a method for increasing a volume of hydraulic fluid in a reservoir of a transmission. The method includes providing a retarder mounted to the transmission, an accumulator including an internal cavity, a piston disposed in the internal cavity of the accumulator, a solenoid, a valve, and a controller. The method also includes enabling the solenoid from an off state to an on state, transferring fluid pressure from the valve to the piston, and moving the piston from a first position to a second position in the internal cavity. The method further includes discharging an amount of hydraulic fluid from the internal cavity of the accumulator to the reservoir and increasing the volume of hydraulic fluid in the reservoir.
US09267586B2

A transmission element according to the invention for an actuating system integrated into an internal combustion engine provides a cam follower including a roller articulated on a shaft mounted on a piston suitable for sliding in a bore formed in a body of the transmission element is provided. The shaft having a body extending around a longitudinal axis, and includes at least one sacrificial tip attached on one of the ends of the body of the shaft. The sacrificial tip is made from a material having a hardness below the hardness of the material of the body defining the bore.
US09267584B2

A stacking machine is provided, which comprises a body and a translational mechanism for driving the body to make a translational motion. The synchronous belt used in the translational mechanism can effectively resolve the problem of slipping caused by wheel rolling, and thus enables the movement of the stacking machine to be more accurate, with the highest speed of the movement also increased significantly. Besides that, the synchronous belt mechanism is more accurate in positioning, which reduces the number of times of repeated adjustments and maintenance caused by bigger positioning errors.
US09267579B2

A tensioner comprising a piston slidably received within a piston bore of the housing having a plurality of grooves formed on an outer circumference, the piston forming a first pressure chamber with the piston bore. The tensioner uses a mechanism to remove a sliding pawl or expandable clip from engaging the grooves on the piston, such that the piston can move towards the housing and reduce chain load when fluid pressure is reduced in the first pressure chamber during engine shutdown, but not so much as to leave the chain uncontrolled during engine restart. The mechanism may for example be a fluid biased spool piston which engages the expandable clip or a pawl piston that engages a sliding pawl.
US09267575B2

A drive train is used at least including an input shaft and an output shaft. A clutch member is rotatable by a clutch shaft about an axis of rotation. The clutch shaft is supported for lateral movement along the axis of rotation to move the clutch member to cooperate with the drive train at a first lateral position to cause the output shaft to turn and to move the clutch member to a second lateral position to disengage the output shaft from rotation of the input shaft. A permanent magnet is supported by one end of the clutch shaft and arranged for receiving an external magnetic biasing force along the axis of rotation to selectively move the clutch member between the first and second lateral positions. A traveling shaft can be used to support a selected gear for movement by the permanent magnet to implement transmission and reversing configurations.
US09267571B2

A cable connector assembly comprises a first stop, a second stop, and a connector. The first stop is configured and arranged to receive a first end of a cable, and the second stop is configured and arranged to receive a second end of the cable. The connector is configured and arranged to pivotally interconnect the first stop and the second stop.
US09267559B2

A dampening clip comprising: a body portion and a connecting portion extending from the body portion, the connecting portion being configured to connect the dampening clip to an adjacent component, and wherein the dampening clip includes a portion made of a supporting material and a portion made of a dampening material.
US09267554B2

A torque transmission device for the drive train of a passenger car. The drive train includes two engines, wherein one of said engines is an electromechanical energy converter. The torque transmission device is inserted into a rotor recess, which is arranged in a rotor assembly of the electromechanical energy converter.
US09267543B2

Provided is a cage unit including a cage having a small diameter side annular portion, a large diameter side annular portion arranged so as to be spaced apart in an axial direction from the small diameter side annular portion, and a plurality of cage bar portions that connect the small diameter side annular portion and the large diameter side annular portion; and a tapered roller accommodated in a pocket, which is a space surrounded by the small diameter side annular portion, the large diameter side annular portion, and the cage bar portions. A lubrication groove lying along a circumferential direction is formed on an inner end face of the large diameter side annular portion that faces a roller large end face of the tapered roller, and a circumferential length of the lubrication groove is designed such that the lubrication groove overlaps the roller large end face in the circumferential direction.
US09267532B2

The invention provides for a retainer for stabilizing a threaded member. The retainer may include a base portion having an opening and an outer perimeter lying in a first plane, the opening having a plurality of elongated sections each extending toward the outer perimeter so as to define in the base portion one or more arms. Each of the aims may have a head section having at least one groove, the head sections being located in a second plane which is parallel to and spaced apart from the first plane. The elongated sections may be symmetrically arranged about an axis. The grooves may be arranged to define at least a portion of a helix. The outer perimeter of the retainer may be circular.
US09267528B2

A tapping screw provides sufficient tightening force even if used with a thin screwed member and tightening target member. The tapping screw (100) includes a first ridge (11) and a second ridge (12) configured to have incomplete threads that are 180° out of phase. The tapping screw (100) includes a first tightening force improvement ridge (13) and a second tightening force improvement ridge (14) that are set so as to be smaller than the outside diameters of complete thread sections of parallel threaded portions of the first ridge (11) and the second ridge (12) but larger than the inside diameter of the prepared hole are provided in each of areas which are 90° out of phase with the first ridge (11) and the second ridge (12), respectively, such that the tightening force improvement ridges bite into the prepared hole when the screw is fully screwed in.
US09267527B2

A building structure including a first building member and a second building member may be connected by a plurality of fasteners, each fastener having a head, a threaded portion having a through hardness of between HRB 70 and HRC 40, a thread-forming portion of at least HRC 50 hardness enabling the fastener to form threads in at least the second steel building member, and a fluted lead portion of at least HRC 50 hardness with a nominal diameter between 70 and 95% of major diameter, such that the fastener is capable of providing a ratio of strip torque to thread-forming torque of at least 3.0 and a ratio of strip torque to drive torque greater than 6.0 when the second steel building member having a thickness of 0.25 inch and the fluted lead portion having at least one diameter within nominal diameter between 80 and 98% of major diameter.
US09267526B2

A spring latching connector includes a housing having a bore therethrough, a piston slidably received in said bore, a circular groove formed in one of said bore and piston and a circular coil spring disposed in said groove for latching said piston and housing together. The groove is sized and shaped for controlling, in combination with a spring configuration, disconnect and connect forces of the spring latching connection.
US09267523B2

An improved sensor assembly is provided that allows for close proximity detection of one or more objects by isolating a first sensor from a second sensor within the sensor assembly using isolation boots and a unique mounting structure. Each sensor has at least a portion positioned within an isolation boot, and the isolation boots are supported between a base plate and a support plate by one or more base plate ribs and one or more support plate ribs. The sensor is therefore prevented from otherwise contacting the base plate or the support plate.
US09267521B2

A batten joint for an internal floating roof of a fluid tank. The floating roof has at least a first panel having a first panel edge and a second panel having a second panel edge. The batten joint comprises a first panel retainer or retaining means adapted for retaining the first panel edge, a second panel retainer or retaining means adapted for retaining the second panel edge, and at least one batten engaging the first and second panel retainer or retaining means in a spaced apart configuration.
US09267520B2

An apparatus and method for mounting a trailer/dolly air brake system module onto a mounting surface of a trailer/dolly using a mounting element. More particularly, a trailer/dolly air brake system module is mounted to an I-beam or C-channel of the trailer/dolly via welding methods, fasteners, or clamps. This allows the trailer/dolly air brake system module to be easily removable and replaceable, minimizing trailer/dolly down time as well as diagnostic troubleshooting/repair time. More particularly, the system module is for a trailer/dolly air brake system module. The method allows for continued use of a trailer/dolly vehicle.
US09267515B2

Examples of a jet control device are described. The jet control device can comprise a jet deflecting member that is configured to intercept and/or collide with a high speed jet emerging from a jet formation location. The interaction of the jet deflecting member and the jet can cause the high speed jet to be dispersed into a plurality of jets with a number of flow directions which may be sideways to an initial direction of the high speed jet. In one embodiment the deflecting member can include a liquid guide formed by injecting a fluid out of an outlet nozzle so that the liquid guide extends longitudinally away from the outlet nozzle. In another embodiment the deflecting member can include an array of solid pellets injected through an outlet in a direction of the emerging high speed jet and configured to collide with the emerging jet thereby deflecting its initial direction.
US09267505B2

Provided here is a counter-rotating axial flow fan with improved air flow-static pressure characteristics and reduced power consumption and noise compared to the related art. A plurality of struts are disposed to be stationary between a front impeller and a rear impeller in an air channel. A plurality of front blades are each formed of a swept-back blade, and a plurality of rear blades are each formed of a forward-swept blade.
US09267496B2

To reduce collision noise created by the operation of an electromagnetic suction valve provided on a high pressure fuel supply pump. In the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, the mass of a member which collides by magnetic attractive force is reduced to reduce the noise to be generated. The thus configured present invention provides the following advantageous effects. The noise generated when a core and an anchor collide with each other by magnetic attractive force depends on the magnitude of the kinetic energy of a moving element. The kinetic energy to be consumed in the collision is only the kinetic energy of the anchor. The kinetic energy of a rod, being absorbed by a spring, does not contribute to the noise; thus, the energy when the anchor and the core collide with each other can be reduced, whereby the noise to be created can be reduced.
US09267494B2

A linear motion device includes a rod extending along a longitudinal axis, and a plurality of actuator units. Each of the plurality of actuator units includes at least one Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) element that is attached to a coupling mechanism. The at least one SMA element of each if the plurality of actuator units moves the coupling mechanism along the longitudinal axis, and into grasping engagement with the rod. Each actuator unit moves the rod a unit movement distance along the longitudinal axis in response to a control signal. The plurality of actuator units are actuated repeatedly in a cyclic order to move the rod in a continuous linear motion a distance greater than the unit movement distance of each of the plurality of actuator units.
US09267488B2

A wave power generator device having hypoid racks includes a buoyant tank, a roller mechanism, guide posts, a power generation platform, a hydraulic energy conversion mechanism and a cross lifting lever. The power generation platform is mounted on guide posts extended into the seabed. The cross lifting lever is provided in the throughhole in the middle of the platform. The lower part of the cross lifting lever is fixed with the buoyant tank by a movable connection rod. The roller mechanism is mounted at both sides of the buoyant tank and appressed to the guide posts. The hydraulic energy conversion mechanism includes a housing, one-way hydraulic cylinders, rolling wheels and is mounted on the power generation platform in cooperation with the cross lifting lever to achieve energy conversion motion to solve the control and adaption problem for a water level difference during the wave power generation.
US09267484B2

Methods and systems are provided for pre-ignition control. A pre-ignition mitigating enrichment is deactivated in response to a tip-out but reactivated in response to a subsequent tip-in. By preemptively enriching the engine, repeated pre-ignition due at subsequent tip-ins is reduced.
US09267479B2

Provided is an engine starting device, including: starter control means for causing, when the restart condition is established during a period in which a meshing inhibition condition for a ring gear and a pinion gear is established, the pinion gear and the ring gear to mesh with each other after the meshing inhibition condition is released, thereby restarting the engine. The starter control means determines the meshing permission condition and the meshing inhibition condition based on at least an engine rotation speed, and determines the release of the meshing inhibition condition before the engine completely stops based on at least one of the engine rotation speed and an elapsed time after the establishment of the meshing inhibition condition.
US09267475B2

In a nozzle plate for a fuel injection device which can inject fuel flowed out from a fuel injection port of the fuel injection device in a sufficiently atomized state, a portion of fuel which flows in the inside of a nozzle hole impinges on an interference element, is sharply bent so as to flow backward by an impinging surface of the interference element which is formed of an annular recessed surface, is made to impinge on fuel which intends to advance straightly and pass through the nozzle hole and the orifice, and forms the flow of the fuel which intends to advance straightly and pass through the nozzle hole and the orifice into a turbulent flow. As a result, the nozzle plate for a fuel injection device further enhances the level of the atomization of fuel.
US09267472B2

A valve device for an intake system of an internal combustion engine may include a housing and a flap arrangement. The housing may have one inlet duct per cylinder of the internal combustion engine. The flap arrangement may have a flap for each inlet duct for varying the cross-section of the respective inlet duct through which a flow can pass. The respective flap may be a trough-shaped flap having a curved stirrup region. The respective flap may be arranged between the stirrup ends eccentrically with respect to a flap pivot axis. The flap arrangement may have a common actuating shaft for the common pivoting of the flaps about the flap pivot axis. The actuating shaft may be coupled with an adjusting drive via a lever element having a metallic insert and a plastic body injected onto the insert.
US09267465B2

The invention relates to a device for dispensing a liquid additive into a fuel circulation circuit for an internal combustion engine, comprising a reservoir (12) of liquid additive allowing an additive to be distributed into the fuel circulation circuit by means of a distribution line (16), characterized in that it comprises an additive chamber (22) in communication with the fuel circulation circuit and at least one wall (32) that is mobile and fluidtight between said additive chamber and the additive reservoir which, on the one hand, provides a fluidtight division and, on the other hand, maintains equal pressure between the additive in the additive reservoir and the fuel in the additive chamber.
US09267456B2

One embodiment is a method including determining whether an ammonia storage device has a stored quantity of ammonia, predicting an impending ammonia release from the ammonia storage device, determining a NOx increase amount in response to the impending ammonia release, and increasing an amount of NOx provided by an engine based on the NOx increase amount. In certain embodiments, determining the NOx increase amount in response to the impending ammonia release comprises determining a NOx increase schedule based on the stored quantity of ammonia. In certain embodiments, the NOx increase schedule comprises a specified NOx increase time period, and in certain further embodiments, the method further includes decrementing the specified NOx increase time period based on an estimated catalyst degradation value.
US09267453B2

Methods and systems are provided for improving accuracy of delta pressure over valve (DPOV) based EGR flow measurement during low valve lift conditions by learning errors in EGR valve lift and/or EGR valve flow transfer function.
US09267452B2

The present invention provides for a method and apparatus for measuring and controlling the EGR rate in a combustion engine system, comprising an EGR cooler, an EGR valve and a turbine, and determining the EGR mass flow (dmEGR) from the difference between the total exhaust gas mass flow (dmTot) across the engine cylinders, and the turbine mass flow (dmTurb) across the turbine.
US09267451B2

An internal combustion engine operates in a homogeneous-charge compression-ignition combustion mode. A method for controlling the internal combustion engine in response to a fast transient event from a low-load state to a high-load state includes operating the engine with a negative valve overlap between an intake valve and an exhaust valve, and determining a preferred combustion phasing responsive to the high-load state. A preferred EGR mass and a preferred intake valve timing corresponding to the preferred combustion phasing are determined. A first intake valve timing is determined in response to a difference between the preferred EGR mass and an actual EGR mass. The intake valve timing is controlled in response to a difference between the preferred intake valve timing and the first intake valve timing.
US09267445B2

A method for adjusting a fuel composition to increase liquid fuel heat tolerance is described that includes directly injecting a first fuel (such as liquid propane) to the engine via a fuel rail when a fuel temperature falls below a threshold; and in response to a fuel temperature greater than a threshold, directly injecting a liquid mixture of the first fuel and a second fuel (such as gasoline) via the fuel rail. For example, gasoline may be added in sufficient amounts to the liquid propane to ensure the mixture remains a liquid during engine operations. In this way, the amount of gasoline introduced into the propane may be based on an extent of the fuel temperature above the threshold which further acts to extend the operating range of the first fuel.
US09267443B2

The present disclosure provides a tuning system for tuning the operation of a gas turbine. The system comprises operational turbine controls for controlling operational control elements of the turbine, including at least one of turbine fuel distribution or the fuel temperature. The system also has a tuning controller communicating with the turbine controls. The tuning controller is configured to tune the operation of the turbine in accordance with the following steps: receiving operational data about the turbine, providing a hierarchy of tuning issues, determining whether sensed operational data is within predetermined operational limits and producing one or more indicators. If the operational data is not within predetermined operational limits, the tuning controller will rank the one or more indicators to determine dominant tuning concern, and tune the operation of the turbine based on dominant tuning concern. Also provided herein are a method and computer readable medium for tuning.
US09267442B2

A method of operating a generator arrangement includes selecting an operating mode as a function of at least one of: a speed of an engine, a temperature of at least a portion of the engine, a property of an exhaust fluid of the engine, and whether an engine braking command signal is received by the controller; controlling the flow of fluid from a first engine outlet to a first turbine by setting, based on the selected operating mode, an operating condition of a first flow control mechanism, the first turbine being part of a turbocharger having a compressor in fluid flow communication with an engine inlet; and controlling the flow of fluid from a second engine outlet to a second turbine by setting, based on the selected operating mode, an operating condition of a second flow control mechanism, the second turbine being parallel to the first turbine and being part of an electrical generator.
US09267440B2

A hydrogen fueled powerplant including an internal combustion engine that drives a motor-generator, and has a two-stage turbocharger, for an aircraft. A control system controls the operation of the motor-generator to maintain the engine at a speed selected based on controlling the engine equivalence ratio. The control system controls an afterburner, an intercooler and an aftercooler to maximize powerplant efficiency. The afterburner also adds power to the turbochargers during high-altitude restarts. The turbochargers also include motor-generators that extract excess power from the exhaust.
US09267428B2

Systems and methods for improving the efficiency and/or reducing emissions of an internal combustion engine are disclosed. The system may comprise a tank configured to store an aqueous solution consisting essentially of water and a predetermined quantity of electrolyte. The system may further comprise a cell configured for aiding in the electrolysis of the aqueous solution, the cell may comprise a plurality of plates arranged substantially parallel to one another and the plurality of plates may be spaced substantially equidistant from an adjacent one of the plurality of plates. In exemplary embodiments, at least one seal may be located between the plurality of plates to create a substantially air tight and substantially water tight seal between adjacent ones of the plurality of plates to aid in preventing the aqueous solution located between adjacent ones of the plurality of plates from leaking out of the cell. The systems and methods may provide an improved oxygen-hydrogen gas mixture for use with an internal combustion engine.
US09267425B2

An air supply device of a gas engine having a turbocharger includes a first intake passage configured to guide the mixture of outdoor air and unpurified gas into the turbocharger, a second intake passage configured to guide indoor air into the turbocharger, a filter configured to remove a solid impurity in the unpurified gas which is disposed in the first intake passage, a first damper capable of opening and closing the first intake passage disposed on the downstream side of the filter in the first intake passage, a heating unit for heating the indoor air disposed in the second intake passage, a second damper capable of opening and closing the second intake passage disposed on the downstream side of the heating unit in the second intake passage, and a damper control device configured to control the opening degree of each of the first and second dampers.
US09267423B2

Methods and systems are provided for increasing airflow through a charge air cooler (CAC) in order to purge condensate from the CAC. In one example, a method includes increasing airflow through the CAC while maintaining torque by selectively deactivating one or more engine cylinders and increasing boost. The number of deactivated cylinders may be based on an amount of condensate within the CAC.
US09267417B2

A diffuser plate for a vehicle exhaust system comprises a body having a primary opening and a plurality of secondary openings circumferentially spaced apart from each other about the primary opening. In one example, the diffuser plate is positioned between an exhaust manifold and a catalytic converter. Exhaust gas from the exhaust manifold flows through the primary and secondary openings in the diffuser plate to provide a thorough mixed flow that is evenly distributed across an inlet to a catalyst substrate, and also enable an oxygen sensor to accurately measure engine cylinder exhaust gas chemistry.
US09267416B2

The invention relates to an exhaust-gas treatment device (10), comprising a) an outer tube (14) through which an exhaust-gas stream (12) can flow, b) an inner tube (20) that is arranged in a first section (16) of the outer tube (14) and that divides the interior of the first section (16) into a central flow path (22) and a peripheral flow path (24), whereby a first exhaust-gas treatment means (26) is arranged in the central flow path (22) and/or in the peripheral flow path (24), c) means (30, 32) to selectively convey an exhaust-gas stream via the central flow path (22) and/or via the peripheral flow path (24), and d) a second exhaust-gas treatment means arranged in a second section (18) of the outer tube (14) downstream from the first section (16). Flow means (36, 38, 40) are provided that are designed to equalize a flow impinging upon the second exhaust-gas treatment means (28) when the exhaust gas is conveyed via the central flow path (28) as well as when the exhaust gas is conveyed via the peripheral flow path (24).
US09267412B2

A system includes a controller. The controller is configured to monitor a catalytic activity within an ASC assembly that converts ammonia (NH3) within a fluid received from a three-way catalyst (TWC) assembly into nitrogen (N2) to determine whether the catalytic activity in the ASC assembly has aged. The controller is configured to adjust a temperature of the fluid flowing into an inlet of the ASC assembly by controlling an amount of oxidant injected via an oxidant injection system into the fluid upstream of the inlet of the ASC assembly based on a determination that the catalytic activity in the ASC assembly has aged.
US09267408B2

A method for an exhaust-gas aftertreatment system which is operated on an internal combustion engine operated with an excess of air, in which exhaust-gas aftertreatment system soot particles are separated out of exhaust gas by a particle filter and the particle filter is regenerated with the aid of NO2 formed on an NO oxidation catalytic converter mounted upstream of the particle filter. A reduction of the nitrogen oxides is realized by a reducing agent which splits to form ammonia being metered into the exhaust-gas flow upstream of the particle filter and the particle filter is laden with a catalytically active material for the selective catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides. The NH3 to NOx ratio (feed ratio α) is varied in phases by changing the nitrogen oxide untreated emissions and/or the supplied amount of reducing agent, in such a way that the feed ratio α alternates in phases between values of greater than one and values of less than one.
US09267406B2

A muffler for a motor vehicle has a muffler housing with a packing void into which an envelope containing a loose fill material is installed during assembly. The envelope contains elongated strands of continuous strand fiberglass, woven as a fiberglass mesh fabric, and having a thin organic polymer coating to reduce sliding and/or being formed with a Leno or gauze weave structure. The envelope is joined at one or more stitched seams, preferably with cotton thread, to enclose a volume. The volume is packed with uncoated continuous strand fiberglass roving, filling the volume to complement the packing void. The cotton thread and the thin polymer coating are consumable by hot gas in the exhaust path, but produce minimal smoke and odor due to their compositions and the small proportion of the packing volume and surface area that the consumable portions occupy.
US09267402B2

A multistage variable valve lift apparatus includes: a camshaft; a plurality of cams slidably provided on the camshaft and each including a cam base with a guide projection and a cam lobe; a solenoid unit that includes an operating rod with a guide slot into which the guide projection is selectively inserted; and a valve opening/closing portion that comes into selective contact any one of the plurality of cams.
US09267401B2

A valve timing controller includes a driving-side rotary member, a driven-side rotary member, an advancing chamber and a retarding chamber formed as a fluid pressure chamber is partitioned by a partitioning portion provided on an outer circumferential side of the driven-side rotary member, and a phase controlling section. The driven-side rotary member includes an advancing passage communicated to the advancing chamber and a retarding passage communicated to the retarding chamber. The driving-side rotary member is formed of an aluminum-based material. The driven-side rotary member integrally includes an outer circumferential member having the partitioning portion and formed of an aluminum-based material, and an inner circumferential member constituting an inner circumferential side of the outer circumferential member and formed of an iron-based material.
US09267400B2

A device includes a timing sprocket configured to receive a rotational force from a crankshaft and includes an annular internal-teeth constituting portion having an inner circumferential portion formed with internal teeth; an eccentric shaft portion provided on a motor output shaft of an electric motor and formed in a cylindrical shape such that an outer circumferential surface of the eccentric shaft portion is eccentric relative to a rotational center of the eccentric shaft portion; and a plurality of rollers provided between the internal teeth and the eccentric shaft portion and having total number smaller than total number of the internal teeth. A laser hardening is performed from a tooth top and both tooth surfaces of each internal tooth to attain a high degree of hardness. On the other hand, a tooth bottom surface of each internal tooth is not treated with the laser hardening.
US09267391B2

A diffuser assembly is provided herein. In certain embodiments, the diffuser assembly may include an outer boundary member and an inner boundary member, with the inner boundary member being positioned radially inward of the outer boundary member. The diffuser assembly also may include an exhaust flow path defined between the outer boundary member and the inner boundary member. Further, the diffuser assembly may include at least one flow deflecting member operatively attached to the outer boundary member. The flow deflecting member may be adjustable about the outer boundary member to produce a substantially uniform velocity distribution within the exhaust flow path.
US09267390B2

A system for selectively supplying air between separate plena of a gas turbine engine includes a gas turbine engine, a door, and a bi-metallic door actuator. The gas turbine engine comprises at least a first plenum and a second plenum, and has an opening between the first plenum and the second plenum. The is door mounted in the gas turbine engine and is movable between a closed position, in which air is prevented from flowing through the opening, and an open position, in which air may flow though the opening. The bi-metallic door actuator is coupled to the door and is configured to selectively move the door between the closed position and the open position.
US09267388B2

Disclosed herein is a production method of a shroud segment that includes a forming process of molding a cylindrical fiber fabric (10) into a shroud segment shape by pressing a cylindrical surface of the fiber fabric, and a matrix forming process of impregnating the fiber fabric molded into the shroud segment shape with a matrix.
US09267387B2

A partial seal platform for mounting a seal and securing seal to a rotor or a casing including a first arcuate securing segment with a first securing notch for receiving a first securing ridge of rotor or casing; a second arcuate securing segment with a second securing notch for receiving a second securing ridge of rotor or casing; an arcuate coupling segment with a first flat ridge forming a first and second lateral notch on each side of the first flat ridge for receiving the first arcuate securing segment and the second arcuate securing segment; and an arcuate mounting segment including a second flat ridge forming a lateral notch on each side of second flat ridge for receiving first arcuate securing segment and second arcuate securing segment.
US09267385B2

A strip seal and method of configuration thereof for sealing portions of components of a gas turbine exposed to pressure pulsations. The strip seal has a sealing face that is configured to follow the contours of first portions of the components. The strip seal further has a pressure face that has a sinusoidal curvilinear shape with respect to the sealing face. The pressure face is configured to prevent localized movement of strip seal by configuring pressure face on its first side to contact sealing face at a plurality of points, on its second side to contact second portions of the components at a plurality of points.
US09267379B2

A ceiling fan with an oscillating mechanism includes a clutch member for adjusting the angle of oscillation according to a user's need. When the motor is actuated, the rotating torque induced by the motor and the transmission mechanism is less than the rotational resistance of the clutch member such that the motor may drive the fan to oscillate. Further, when the user applies an external rotational force greater than the rotational resistance of the clutch member, the user can swing the fan to any angle as desired without rotating or shifting other members except the fan and the fan suspension tube. In this manner, undesired damage of the mechanism or motor due to inappropriately applied external force can be avoided efficiently.
US09267377B2

A coupling apparatus has an input piston disposable on a braking input element and an output piston disposable on a brake master cylinder, to which a driver braking force is transferable via the input piston. In a first operating mode, the input piston displaced out of its initial position over a brake application distance less than a first minimum brake application distance, is spaced apart from the output piston. In a second operating mode, the input piston displaced out of its initial position over a brake application distance less than a second minimum brake application distance, is spaced apart from the output piston, and the driver braking force is transferable via the input piston to the output piston.
US09267371B2

Methods of tracing fracking liquid in oil or gas bearing formations using plural unique oligonucleotide markers. Method includes pumping the plural volumes of fracking liquid, each marked with a unique oligonucleotide, into the formation, thereby defining plural fracture zones in the formation, and, pumping fluids out of the formation while taking plural fluid samples. Then, analyzing the concentration of the unique oligonucleotides in each of the plural fluid samples, and, calculating the ratio of each of the plural volumes of fracking liquid recovered for each of the plural fluid samples according to the concentration of the unique oligonucleotides present in each of the plural samples. And, then, establishing the quantity of the plural volumes of fracking liquids removed from the plural fracture zones.
US09267366B2

An apparatus is for heating hydrocarbon resources in a subterranean formation having a wellbore therein. The apparatus includes an RF source, and a magnetic field radiator including a ferromagnetic body having an aboveground portion and a belowground portion coupled thereto. The magnetic field radiator includes a conductive wire coil surrounding the aboveground portion and coupled to the RF source so that an RF current through the conductive wire coil magnetizes the ferromagnetic body and generates a magnetic field from the belowground portion to heat the hydrocarbon resources.
US09267365B2

An apparatus is provided for heating a hydrocarbon resource in a subterranean formation having a wellbore extending therein. The apparatus includes a radio frequency (RF) source, an RE antenna configured to be positioned within the wellbore, and an RF transmission line configured to be positioned within the wellbore and couple the RE source to the RE antenna. The RE transmission line defines a liquid coolant circuit therethrough. The apparatus further includes a liquid coolant source configured to be coupled to the transmission line and to provide a liquid coolant through the liquid coolant circuit having an electrical parameter that is adjustable.
US09267360B2

Systems and methods for preventing particles from flowing into a base pipe are provided. A base pipe can have a plurality of perforations formed radially therethrough. A filtering strip can be wrapped helically around an outer surface of the base pipe to cover at least a portion of the perforations. The filtering strip can include a drainage layer, a filter layer, and a shroud layer. The drainage layer can include a plurality of ribs in contact with the outer surface of the base pipe. The filter layer can be coupled to the drainage layer and include at least one mesh screen. The shroud layer can be coupled to the filter layer and include a perforated metal sheet.
US09267357B2

A diffuser assembly has pairs of split rings rotationally locked to each other in an alternating array with other pairs of split rings where adjacent pairs are responsive to pressure differential to be biased toward a sliding sleeve or the surrounding housing in an alternating pattern. The split rings are made to have an interference initial fit to the sleeve or housing and the splits on adjacent rings are offset while a relation of a projection to a depression between adjacent rings prevents relative rotation to keep the desired circumferential offset in the splits between adjacent rings. End tapers can bias adjacent pairs in opposed directions responsive to applied differential pressure. The rings are preferably metallic and can have a coating to facilitate relative sliding and enhance durability.
US09267356B2

A downhole control system can include a pair of drive lines passing through a wellbore member such as a tubing hanger, and a plurality of hydraulic switches, each in communication with the drive lines. Each hydraulic switch can have a unique pressure band, wherein the switch only responds when the pressure in the drive lines is within the unique pressure band. Once the pressure in the drive lines is within the pressure band, the switch can open or close in response to a pressure differential in the drive lines.
US09267352B1

A swell packer configured to simultaneously cut and seal a wellbore or slide down and seal a wellbore. The swell packer has a swellable wellbore packer section and a pair of end rings. The end rings couple the substantially cylindrical body to the swellable wellbore packer section. Each end ring forms an annular abutment surface that cooperates with the swellable member to inhibit axial movement of the swellable member on the substantially cylindrical body. At least one diamond cutter insert, polyamide button, or tungsten carbide block can be installed circumferentially and spaced apart symmetrically or near-symmetrically on at least one of the end rings.
US09267347B2

A dissolvable tool includes a body having at least one stress riser configured to concentrate stress thereat to accelerate structural degradation of the body through chemical reaction under applied stress within a reactive environment.
US09267346B2

Systems and methods for monitoring a wellbore and actuating a downhole device include a body adapted for insertion into the wellbore that contains a processor, data storage, and sensors that detect a pressure, temperature, and acceleration associated with the body. Computer instructions are usable to receive and store preselected parameters, which include pressure, temperature, and acceleration ranges, and to compare measured values to these ranges for forming a determination usable to initiate actuation of a downhole tool. Additional parameters, such as temporal parameters, can be used to allow, cease, reset, or prevent actuation of the downhole tool.
US09267343B2

A power tong unit having a gear train in which one or more of the gears in the gear train have removable and replacement roller tooth elements, in lieu of conventional gear teeth. In one embodiment, the ring gear and pinion gears have roller tooth elements, and idler gears disposed between the ring gear and pinion gears, have a semi-circular tooth root profile to mesh with the roller element gear teeth. The ring gear of the power tong unit may also have a removable section. A means for removing the removable section from the ring gear, and moving it to a position in which a tubular can be inserted into a central opening in the ring gear, may include a hydraulic cylinder, a clamping mechanism, and a cam surface to generate rotation of the removable section once lifted out of engagement with the ring gear.
US09267336B2

The method according to the invention comprises providing a flexible line (18) and a bend limiter axially immobilized around the flexible line (18) by a releasable immobilizing mechanism (46). It includes partially inserting the flexible line (18) through a hollow rigid member (40), immobilizing the bend limiter on the hollow rigid member (40), and deactivating the releasable immobilizing mechanism (46). The releasable immobilizing mechanism (46) is deactivated independently of the movement of the flexible line (18) relative to the bend limiter.
US09267335B2

There is provided a breech lock coupling for coupling riser sections together. The breech lock coupling may be used non-pre-loaded or pre-loaded according to the user's preferences. In addition, the breech lock coupling may be disassembled for inspection and maintenance and reassembled. A locking ring secures two coupling components together. The coupling components may be attached to opposite ends of the riser sections, such as via welding. The locking ring may be pre-attached to the first coupling component for easy storage and fast assembly. Assembly of the riser may be accomplished by inserting the second coupling component into the locking ring and the first coupling component, then rotating the locking ring with respect to the second component. Furthermore, the coupling may be pre-loaded by tightening fasteners on the locking ring to provide a more stable coupling. Unlike with traditional riser couplings, the pre-load fasteners may be tightened via hand-held tools.
US09267334B2

An isolator sub is disclosed. The isolator sub can include a first rod having a first coupling feature disposed at a first end. The isolator sub can also include a second rod having a second coupling feature disposed at a first end, where the first rod is electrically conductive. The isolator sub can further include an isolator made of an electrically non-conductive material and having a first complementary coupling feature and a second complementary coupling feature, where the first coupling feature couples to the first complementary coupling feature, and where the second coupling feature couples to the second complementary coupling feature. The isolator sub can also include an outer housing coupled to the first rod, the second rod, and the isolator, where the outer housing is electrically conductive and has at least one third coupling feature configured to electrically couple to an electrical cable.
US09267325B2

A window shade handle system includes a handle section and a post configured on each end of the handle section. Each post has four sides that are restrained by a post channel in a track section. The post channel restrains each side of the post. The handle section is constructed of a front handle section affixed to a rear handle section. The front handle section and the rear handle section form a channel that accommodates a window shade wrapped about a rod. The channel may have a raised portion that physically contacts the window shade while the handle sections otherwise allow the shade to expand and contract.
US09267324B2

Disclosed is a roman shade assembly (100, 200) that utilizes lift bands (108, 208) rather than lift cords. The shade (110, 210) can be formed of textured materials or woven woods. The shade assembly includes lift bands (108,208) that attach to a rotatable member(s) (115, 215) and can be extended or retracted within an architectural opening by rotating the member(s). The lift bands can be slidingly connected to the shade at multiple points along the vertical length of the shade. Accordingly, as the wide lift bands are extended or retracted, the attached shade is likewise extended or retracted to cover or uncover an architectural opening.
US09267322B2

The present invention utilizes a vertically upward force of a water when a tsunami smashes into a building to close openings that exist in an elevated location such as air supply and exhaust ducts, powerlessly and without a manual operation. The present invention serves as a disaster prevention panel which closes an opening 2a disposed in a wall of a building 2. A door bumper 3 is disposed on an outer peripheral wall of the opening 2a, and side door bumpers 4 are disposed on both sides of the door bumper 3. A door body 1, which closes the opening 2a and which has a specific gravity lower than a seawater, is attached between the side door bumpers 4 on both sides so as to freely swing upwards, with a lower portion of the door bumper 3 serving as a fulcrum.
US09267319B2

A method for operating a door-opening mechanism of a household appliance includes: providing a first signal using a door-opening sensor; providing a second signal using the door-opening sensor; and providing a third signal using the door-opening sensor. A total signal is calculated based on the first, second and third signals so as to determine a spatial direction from which a signal source originates.
US09267309B2

There is disclosed herein a suicide prevention door handle and shower handle wherein each is designed to eliminate any area or structure that could be used to hold a belt, piece of clothing or the like as an aid in committing suicide by hanging. In each case, the safety knob comprises a tapered rose member or faceplate along with a cylinder wedge assembly or handle.
US09267307B2

A telescoping arm with securable pole-tilt assembly for manipulating a utility pole and comprising a pair of opposed jaws and a saddle, the arm comprising a boom and an elongate pin for selectively securing the pole tilt assembly in an operating position to the end of a telescoping boom section or in an out of operation position to an intermediate boom section wherein in the out of operation position the telescoping boom section can extend through the pole-tilt assembly and the elongate pin engages the jaws of the pole-tilt assembly preventing them from being articulated downwards towards the saddle, thereby preventing damage to the telescoping boom.
US09267303B1

A pool cleaning system, method of designing a pool cleaning system and method of making a pool cleaning system comprising origin cleaning heads, transition cleaning heads and debris capture zones. Transition heads comprising net water flow vectors may be positioned to establish net water flow in the direction of one or more debris capture zones. Transition heads may comprise incrementally rotating pool cleaning head assemblies or a recessed incrementally rotating nozzle assembly configured to establish the net water flow. Cleaning head structure may comprise a slidably rotatable reverser between upper and lower portions of a cam assembly, the slidably rotatable reverser adjustable between first and second positions such that an incrementally rotating stem slidably mounted to the cam assembly incrementally rotates clockwise when the reverser is in its first position and counter clockwise when the reverser is in its second position.
US09267302B2

Combinable and interchangeable water features used on a standard universal mounting system to create the desired color, style, jet, directional flow, filter, light, return fittings, or other water feature for a pool or spa. Some water features include removably attached and rotatable male receptor and female receiver connections to create a variety of water effects.
US09267296B2

A multi-tile system for attachment to a mounting surface is provided. Each of the tiles includes an upper edge configured to be oriented upward relative to the mounting surface and a lower edge configured to be oriented downward relative to the mounting surface. The tiles include a receiving member formed on an exterior side of the upper edge and a locking member formed on an interior side of the lower edge. The receiving member of the tile is configured to interlock with the locking member of an adjacent tile to limit movement of the lower edge of one tile away from the upper edge of the other tile. The receiving member and the locking member are configured to define a vertical range of continuous vertical adjustment between adjacent tiles.
US09267294B2

A bracket for a building module. The bracket has a platform bearing a substantially planar surface, first and second sides appending from the platform away from the planar surface, and a bottom panel extending from the first side to the second side. Each of the first and second sides defines a proximal portion and a distal portion therealong. The distal portion of the first side is inwardly directed toward the distal portion of the second side. There is also a building module, a method for making a building module, and a method for constructing a building.
US09267288B2

A rebar clip is provided for joining a larger diameter rebar to a smaller diameter rebar transverse to the larger diameter rebar. In a first embodiment the clip includes diameter reducing tabs extending into upper arches of the clip for engagement with smaller diameter bars crossed on top of larger diameter bars. In a second embodiment the clip includes diameter reducing tabs extending into lower arches of the clip so that the clip may hold larger diameter bars on top of smaller diameter bars. A guide track for a clip applying gun is provided which allows for use with either version of clips and with clips of the same nominal diameter for joining equal size bars.
US09267285B2

A reinforced water-resistant board includes a cover board with a reinforced water-resistant membrane applied to a surface of the cover board. The reinforced water-resistant membrane includes a primer layer, a reinforced membrane, a traffic coat, and a sealing layer. The primer layer is applied over the surface of the cover board. The reinforced membrane includes fleece soaked in a liquid resin and is applied over the primer layer. The traffic coat is boned to the reinforced member. The sealing layer is applied over the traffic coat.
US09267282B2

A block for construction of foundation systems retaining walls and gabions and to methods to build walls or gabions from said block. The block is comprised by at least two sides or faces of rectangular and flat configuration (1 and 2); at least one side or face (3) which has at least one of the ends in convex form; at least two sides or faces (4 and 5) which have at least one of its ends in convex form and that together with the convex end of the side or face (3) can provide said block with an apex (6) and respective geodynamic form. The present block is intended for the civil construction sector, more specifically for the construction of retaining walls by means of blocks or applying formwork with the form of the blocks.
US09267267B1

An engine room is disposed rearward of a cab. An engine is disposed inside the engine room. A first exhaust processing device and a second exhaust processing device are disposed over the engine. An air cleaner is disposed in the engine room in front of the first exhaust processing device and the second exhaust processing device. A tank is disposed between the cab and the air cleaner in the vehicle front-back direction. A rear surface of the tank has a lower rear surface part and an upper rear surface part. The upper rear surface part is disposed above the lower rear surface part and is positioned forward of the lower rear surface part. At least a portion of the air cleaner is disposed facing the upper rear surface part.
US09267260B2

A wall block comprises an upper surface and an opposed lower surface. A front face and an opposed back face, and a first side face and an opposed second side face, are disposed between the upper surface and the lower surface. The first side face and the second side face generally extend from the front face to the back face. The block includes one or more features that define a horizontal alignment direction. The front face extends from the first side face to the second side face generally along a direction that is slanted with respect to the horizontal alignment direction.
US09267250B2

The present invention is directed to differing embodiments of safety trailers, which have first and second platforms and a safety wall positioned therebetween. The platforms and safety wall define an area protected from vehicular incursions.
US09267249B2

The present invention relates to a work train, a device and a method for distance measurement between a transport device and a milling device. During the loading of a transport device with milled material from the milling device, the operator of the milling device normally transmits control commands to the transport device driver for coordination of the loading process. Through the automated distance measuring between the transport device and the milling device and control of a display device according to the present invention, this task is taken over from the operator of the milling device, who can concentrate on the actual milling process.
US09267247B2

An ergonomic non-motorized vibratory concrete screed is provided that is designed to be used in the fashion of a standing one-man wet screed having a double barred, floating strike plate oriented in a planar fashion with which to strike and consolidate a concrete slab surface. The vibratory concrete leveling device according to the invention includes a bracket assembly having an upper surface and a lower surface. The lower surface of the bracket assembly includes a plurality of spaced apart slots, each spaced apart slot extending across a width of the bracket assembly. A corresponding plurality of screed bars are removably positioned in the plurality of spaced apart slots. Each of the plurality of screed bars are loosely fitted into each corresponding slot to promote vibratory action during use. An elongated handle is provided having a first end attached to the bracket assembly and a second end for grasping by a user.
US09267239B2

Disclosed is a method of reducing adhesion to the surface of equipment used in paper manufacture or in paper converting processes, comprising applying to the surface the a composition. comprising (a) 50-98 parts of hydrocarbon oil, (b) 1-40 parts of emulsifier, and (c) 1-10 parts of a non-curing hydrocarbon polymer.
US09267225B2

Disclosed is a method of operating a laundry treating appliance having a tub, a rotatable drum within the tub, and a rotatable drive shaft supported in a bearing assembly and mounted to the drum, with the bending moment acting on the bearing assembly being determined and used as an input to control the operation of the appliance.
US09267222B2

A method and apparatus for stitching a workpiece, such as a quilt, is disclosed. The method comprises displaying a predetermined pattern on a display and manipulating the predetermined pattern on the display. The display includes an indicator corresponding to a position of a sewing head relative to the workpiece. The method further includes moving a control handle operably connected to the sewing head to move the indicator relative to the pattern on the display and move the sewing head relative to the workpiece. Devices to practice the method include sewing machines having a sewing head moveable relative to a workpiece and a control handle operably connected to the sewing head to move the sewing head relative to the workpiece, wherein the display showing a pattern to be sewn is mounted relative to the control handle for movement with the control handle.
US09267218B2

Described herein a bucket for use in the last stage of a steam turbine engine. The bucket includes a titanium-based alloy having a leading edge wherein the leading edge includes titania having a plurality of pores and a top sealing layer filling the plurality of pores, the sealing layer selected from the group consisting of: chromium, cobalt, nickel, polyimide, polytetrafluoroethylene and polyester.
US09267216B2

A method for producing an aluminum foil of the present invention is characterized in that an aluminum film is formed on a surface of a substrate by electrolysis using a plating solution containing at least (1) a dialkyl sulfone, (2) an aluminum halide, and (3) at least one nitrogen-containing compound selected from the group consisting of an ammonium halide, a hydrogen halide salt of a primary amine, a hydrogen halide salt of a secondary amine, a hydrogen halide salt of a tertiary amine, and a quaternary ammonium salt represented by the general formula: R1R2R3R4N.X (R1 to R4 independently represent an alkyl group and are the same as or different from one another, and X represents a counteranion for the quaternary ammonium cation), then the film is separated from the substrate to obtain an aluminum foil, and the obtained aluminum foil is subjected to a heat treatment.
US09267210B2

A pickle line assembly is provided having a roll tank, a pickle tank, and an expansion seal. The roll tank includes a front and rear face that are angled towards one another at the upper end. The pickle tank includes front and rear openings, which can be brought into registration with an opening in the front face and rear face of the roll tank. Expansion seals are configured to surround a perimeter of the pickle tank substantially near the front and rear openings, and are angled at approximately the same angle as the front and rear face of the roll tank. The expansion seal encloses the path between the pickle tank and roll tank, and the tilt angle of the front and rear face of the roll tank allow the pickle tank to be vertically raised and lowered into position without interference.
US09267202B2

A deposition apparatus includes a deposition chamber, a plurality of substrate holders comprising a first holder configured to maintain a substrate at a first substrate position in the deposition chamber and a second holder configured to maintain another substrate at a second substrate position in the deposition chamber, a deposition source disposed in the deposition chamber and configured to supply a deposition material to apply onto substrates placed at the first and second substrate positions, and a deposition source transfer mechanism configured to move the deposition source to be opposite to one of the first and second substrates in a first direction, a substrate transfer mechanism configured to transfer a substrate in a second direction to or from the first substrate position and further configured to transfer another substrate in the second direction to or from the second substrate position.
US09267188B2

Problem: To provide a material and a method for efficient and inexpensive extraction of rare metals that are included in urban minerals. Solution: A method for the extraction of lanthanoid elements and actinoid elements, said method comprising: an adsorption process wherein a metal-dissolved solution containing a target metal selected from lanthanoid elements and actinoid elements is made to come into contact with porous structures that carry metal-adsorbent compounds that are adsorbent to target metal ions so that the target metal ions in said solution are adsorbed by said metal-adsorbent compounds; and a target metal separation process wherein said porous structures are made to come into contact with a back-extraction solution so that the target metal ions that are adsorbed by said metal-absorbent compounds are transported to the back-extraction solution.
US09267186B2

In quenching, where a heated steel pipe (2) is immersed in a water bath (3) in parallel with water surface for cooling a pipe outer surface, and cooling water is injected from an axial center nozzle (8) into one end of pipe for cooling a pipe inner surface, thereby rapidly cooling the entire pipe surface, reduction of strength difference along a length of the quenched pipe becomes possible by moving the nozzle (8) following the motion of the pipe axis (2), and starting injecting the water from the nozzle (8) so as for the water to reach the other pipe end at the time of the immersion of the entire circumference of the pipe outer surface. An opening (3a) preferably faces the nozzle (8) to remove the water, and the flow velocity is preferably set to 23 m/sec or more for better water flow inside the pipe (2).
US09267185B2

A rotating vacuum heat treatment equipment, applicable for heat treatment of rare earth permanent magnetic devices, hydrogen pulverization of rare earth permanent magnetic alloy, and heat treatment of mechanical electronic components, mainly comprises: a vacuum unit, a gas cooling device, and a vacuum furnace, wherein an insulating layer is provided in the vacuum furnace, a heater is provided in the insulating layer, a rotating cylinder is provided in the heater, a nozzle, connected with pipelines of the gas cooling device, is provided on the insulating layer, and cooled gas is sprayed to the rotating cylinder via the nozzle.
US09267182B2

The present invention relates to a method for the processing of hides or skins into leather, comprising enzymatic treatment of the hide or skin with carbohydrase in the soaking step. The present invention can achieve optimal fiber opening results in a relatively short period of time and at the same time does not cause loose grain, and meanwhile the pollution or impact on the environment is reduced in a maximum way.
US09267181B2

The present invention provides a single step hydrolytic process for the conversion of lignocellulose, into value added chemicals wherein said process is catalyzed by at least one heterogeneous solid acid catalyst selected from a group comprising of zeolites, zeolites with Si/metal, mesoporous silica, oxides and phosphates, clays, ion-exchange resins, heteropolyacids, various sulfates, phosphates, selenates, crystalline materials and amorphous materials.
US09267174B2

The invention provides a non-invasive technique for the differential detection of multiple genotypes and/or mutations for a plurality of target genes in a biological sample containing genetic material from different genomic sources. Methods are conducted using multiplex amplification of a plurality of target sequences from the biological sample, and sequencing is used to detect and enumerate genetic mutations and chromosomal abnormalities at the single nucleotide level.
US09267162B2

The invention provides non-naturally occurring microbial organisms containing caprolactone pathways having at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding a butadiene pathway enzyme expressed in a sufficient amount to produce caprolactone. The invention additionally provides methods of using such microbial organisms to produce caprolactone by culturing a non-naturally occurring microbial organism containing caprolactone pathways as described herein under conditions and for a sufficient period of time to produce caprolactone.
US09267158B2

Multi-carbon compounds such as ethanol, n-butanol, sec-butanol, isobutanol, tert-butanol, fatty (or aliphatic long chain) alcohols, fatty acid methyl esters, 2,3-butanediol and the like, are important industrial commodity chemicals with a variety of applications. The present invention provides metabolically engineered host microorganisms which metabolize methane (CH4) as their sole carbon source to produce multi-carbon compounds for use in fuels (e.g., bio-fuel, bio-diesel) and bio-based chemicals. Furthermore, use of the metabolically engineered host microorganisms of the invention (which utilize methane as the sole carbon source) mitigate current industry practices and methods of producing multi-carbon compounds from petroleum or petroleum-derived feedstocks, and ameliorate much of the ongoing depletion of arable food source “farmland” currently being diverted to grow bio-fuel feedstocks, and as such, improve the environmental footprint of future bio-fuel, bio-diesel and bio-based chemical compositions.
US09267143B2

A process of expressing a sequence of interest in a plant, plant part, or plant cell culture, comprising: (a) providing a plant, plant part, or plant cell culture containing in cell nuclei a heterologous DNA having a sequence encoding an RNA replicon operably linked or linkable to a transcription promoter, wherein said sequence encoding an RNA replicon contains (i) sequences for replicon function of said RNA replicon, said sequences being derived from a sequence of a plant RNA virus, (ii) a sequence of interest, whereby said sequences for replicon function exhibit at selected localities of said sequences of said plant RNA virus function conservative differences from said sequence of said plant RNA virus, said differences causing an increased frequency of replicon formation compared to an RNA replicon not exhibiting said differences; and (b) causing expression of said sequence of interest.
US09267136B2

The present invention relates to antisense oligonucleotides that modulate the expression of and/or function of a Pancreatic Developmental gene, in particular, by targeting natural antisense polynucleotides of a Pancreatic Developmental gene. The invention also relates to the identification of these antisense oligonucleotides and their use in treating diseases and disorders associated with the expression of Pancreatic Developmental genes.
US09267129B2

The present invention provides a protein, specifically Parietochloris incisa acetohydroxyacid synthase, and methods for producing branched-chain amino acid in a cell. The present invention further provides polypeptides and polynucleotides useful for conferring herbicide resistance in a cell or an organism. In particular, the present invention discloses a mutated acetohydroxyacid synthase which is resistant to herbicides.
US09267122B2

The present invention relates to methods of treating neurodegenerative diseases comprising administering, to a subject in need of such treatment, one or more agent that inhibits or reduces the action, including the catalytic activity, of an enzyme of the phospholipase D family, such as phospholipase D1 and/or phospholipase D2. The present invention also relates to cell-based assays which may be used to identify agents that inhibit or reduce the activity of enzymes of the phospholipase D family and that may be used in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
US09267119B2

The present invention relates generally to the field of phosphatidylinositol based signaling pathways, and more specifically to the use of novel members of these pathways for disease prognosis and treatment. In some aspects, the present invention relates to the use of novel splice variants of type I phosphatidylinositol phosphate kinase γ, named PIPKIγ 700 and PIPKIγ 707, to determine breast cancer and breast cancer prognosis.
US09267113B2

Disclosed herein is an Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) based hybrid baculovirus and its uses thereof. The AcMNPV based hybrid baculovirus is capable of infecting different hosts, and comprises Maruca vitrata multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (MaviMNPV) genes of lef1, orf1629, pk1, CDS1, CDS2, and lef2; and AcMNPV/MaviMNPV-hybrid genes of egt and orf152. The AcMNPV based hybrid baculovirus is therefore useful as a bio-insecticide by its capability of delivering genes of toxic proteins to be expressed in at least two different insect hosts.
US09267112B2

Provided is a Titi Monkey Adenovirus (TMAdV) that can infect both human and non-human primates. Further provided are nucleic acid sequences, proteins, expression vectors and host cells, anti-TMAdV antibodies, vaccines, compositions, methods of detecting TMAdV, methods for assaying for anti-TMAdV compounds, and methods for treating or preventing a TMAdV infection.
US09267109B2

The present invention is related to a method for the production of cell sheets comprising at least two different cell types, said method comprising the steps of providing a continuous cell sheet which is disposed on a substrate comprising shape transition properties and/or alterable surface characteristics; exposing said continuous cell sheet to a releasing agent in a patterned fashion; washing the cell sheet after exposure to the releasing agent in order to remove cells which have been affected by the releasing agent, and repopulating the gaps remaining after the cells which have been affected by the releasing agent have been removed with a second cell type.
US09267093B2

An additive composition may comprise at least one phosphorus- and boron-containing dispersant, at least one boron-containing dispersant, and at least one detergent. Such composition may be useful in power transmissions to provide improved anti-shudder performance and/or improved friction durability.
US09267088B2

A fuel composition contains a liquid fuel and nano-sized zinc oxide particles. The nano-sized zinc oxide particles can be used to either improve cold start performance of internal combustion engines or lower a flash point temperature of a liquid fuel.
US09267080B2

Provided is a carbonization furnace in which disordering of fiber bundles does not occur and there is no lack of uniformity throughout the entire furnace interior, even in the supply of heated inert gas. A carbonization furnace for manufacturing carbon fiber bundles, the furnace being provided with a heat treatment chamber, an inlet sealed chamber and an outlet sealed chamber, a gas spray nozzle, and a conveyance path, wherein: the gas spray nozzle (4) has a double tube structure obtained from a hollow cylindrical inner tube (8) and a hollow cylindrical outer tube (7), and is disposed in a direction that is horizontal and is orthogonal to the fiber bundle conveyance direction; in the outer tube, multiple gas-spraying holes (7a) are disposed across the width of the conveyance path in the longitudinal direction of the outer tube, and the area of the gas-spraying holes of the outer tube is 0.5 mm2 to 20 mm2; in the inner tube, multiple gas-spraying holes (8a) are disposed across the width of the conveyance path in the longitudinal direction of the inner tube such that the gas-spraying directions of the gas-spraying holes are in two or more directions of the circumferential direction of the inner tube, and the interval of the gas-spraying holes of the inner tube in the longitudinal direction of the inner tube is 300 mm or less.
US09267074B2

Systems and methods for processing glycerol into one or more products and uses thereof are provided. In one or more embodiments, a method for treating soil can include applying a partially oxidized reaction product to a soil. The partially oxidized reaction product can be prepared by decreasing a pH of a mixture that includes glycerol and fatty acids to produce a mixture that includes a glycerol-rich portion and a fatty acids-rich portion. The glycerol-rich portion can be reacted with at least one of an oxidant and a catalyst at conditions sufficient to produce the partially oxidized reaction product.
US09267068B1

The present subject matter relates to a protecting agent composition for high/ultra-high permeability reservoirs, consisting of a protecting agent and a filler, wherein, the filler comprises calcium carbonate of 600-1,000 mesh, calcium carbonate of 300-590 mesh, and calcium carbonate of 50-200 mesh at 1:(1-30):(0-40) weight ratio, and the protecting agent comprises structural units denoted by the following formulae (1), (2), and (3). The present subject matter further provides a drilling fluid containing the above-mentioned composition. The present subject matter further provides a use of the drilling fluid for drilling in high/ultra-high permeability reservoirs. The drilling fluid provided in the present subject matter has advantages including easy use, high environmental friendliness, and outstanding reservoir protection, greatly reduces the damages of drilling fluid to high/ultra-high permeability reservoirs, and brings substantial economic benefits.
US09267061B2

Composition which can be used in structural adhesives, essentially comprising a polymer system suitable for being used in a methacrylate matrix, said polymer system comprising styrene-free block copolymers formed from at least two blocks and preferably from at least three blocks, and said polymer system being solubilized in a matrix of linear or branched acrylic and/or methacrylic monomers and/or of cyclic methacrylates and/or of aromatic methacrylates. Application by incorporation into an adhesive formulation of methacrylate type.
US09267053B2

The present invention relates to branched polymers which contain hydroxyl groups and acrylate groups, to processes for preparing them, and to their use.
US09267052B1

Disclosed herein are coating agents and methods of manufacturing coated products with such coating agents. The disclosed coating agents may include at least one resin, at least one filler selected from the group comprising natural mineral and synthetic mineral, and at least one chemical agent, wherein the at least one chemical agent is at least one pigment selected from the group comprising inorganic pigment and organic pigment.
US09267040B2

A coating composition for application to a subsea component or structure has cellulose acetate an amount of approximately 47% by weight of the total composition, diisooctyl phthalate in an amount of approximately 17% by weight of the total composition, a fatty acid ester in an amount of approximately 23% by weight of the total composition, a vegetable oil in an amount of approximately 8% by weight of the total composition, a stabilizer and a silica amorphous in which the stabilizer and the silica amorphous are in amount of approximately 5% by weight of the total composition. The stabilizer can be either titanium dioxide or aluminum dioxide. The vegetable oil is canola oil.
US09267039B2

A cost-effective process for loading particulate pigment into a polymer concentrate includes adding a basic pH aqueous solution having a water soluble organic salt to a milled particulate pigment to form an organic-coated particulate pigment. The pH of the basic aqueous solution is sufficiently basic that the water soluble organic salt remains in a salt form. Without a prior micronization step, the organic-coated particulate pigment is mixed with a polymer resin to form a polymer concentrate having from about 50% to about 87% by weight particulate pigment with dispersibility comparable to micronized organic-coated particulate pigment.
US09267036B2

What is described is the use of a polyamide molding composition for the production of a stain-resistant article, the staining tendency (ST) of the article being at most 15. Here, the composition contains 30-100% by weight of a polyamide mixture, consisting of more than 50 and up to 98% by weight of at least one semi-aromatic polyamide comprising 2 to up to 50% by weight of amorphous and/or microcrystalline polyamides having a glass transition temperature of at least 100° C., based on: 20-100 mol % of at least one cycloaliphatic diamine; and 0-80 mol % of at least one other aliphatic and/or aromatic diamine; and also aromatic and/or aliphatic dicarboxylic acids comprising at least 6 carbon atoms. In addition, 0-70% by weight of fibrous additives (B1) and/or particulate additives (B2), 0-30% by weight of impact toughness modifier and/or polymers different from (A), 0-25% by weight of a flame retardant, and 0-3% by weight of additives may also be contained.
US09267020B2

A rubber composition that can improve in good balance the fuel economy, wet-grip performance, and abrasion resistance, and a pneumatic tire that uses this rubber composition are provided. This rubber composition contains a rubber component, and carbon black and/or silica, wherein based on 100% by mass of the rubber component, the rubber component contains 5 to 50% by mass of natural rubber, 0.3 to 10% by mass of an epoxidized natural rubber, and at least 5% by mass of a conjugated diene polymer that has a constituent unit based on a conjugated diene and a constituent unit represented by formula (I) below, at least one terminal of the polymer being modified, and wherein a total content of the carbon black and the silica is 3 to 100 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of the rubber component.
US09267015B2

Compositions containing particular branched carboxylic acid diesters obtained from a mixture of branched dinitriles exhibit especially advantageous solvating properties and thus are useful substitutes for conventional solvents, in particular halogenated solvents.
US09267009B2

Graft polymerization is fullfiled on a functionalized substrate. The functionalized substrate is prepared from a disulfide bond-containing feedstock and has been prepared for polymerization through the introduction of one or more polyfunctional monomers containing a disulfide bond breaking material functional group.
US09267002B2

A method of making a hyperbranched amphiphilic polyester compound includes drying under vacuum a mixture of 2-(4-hydroxybutyl)-malonic acid and p-toluene sulphonic acid as catalyst. The vacuum is then released with a dry inert gas after drying. The dried mixture is heated under the inert gas at a temperature sufficient for polymerization. The inert gas is evacuated while continuing to heat the mixture. The formed polymer is then dissolved in dimethylformamide and precipitated out by adding methanol. Modifications of the method yield nanoparticles of polyesters having properties suited for coencapsulating fluorescent dyes together with therapeutic drugs, resulting in theranostic nanoparticles, that is, nanoparticles useful in both therapeutic treatments and diagnostic methods.
US09267000B2

There is provided a polyester resin including: moieties of dicarboxylic acid components including terephthalic acid; and moieties of diol components including 5 to 60 mole % of isosorbide, 10 to 80 mole % of a cyclohexanedimethanol, and the balance of other diol compounds, wherein the polyester resin has an intrinsic viscosity of 0.5 to 1.0 dl/g and oxygen permeability of less than 20 cc*mm/(m2*day*atm), as measured by ASTM D 3985, and There is also provided a method for preparing the polyester resin, including: esterifying diol components including 5 to 60 mole % of isosorbide, 10 to 80 mole % of a cyclohexanedimethanol, and the balance of other diol compounds, with dicarboxylic acid components including terephthalic acid in the presence of an esterification reaction catalyst including a zinc compound; adding a phosphorus-based stabilizer to the esterification reaction mixture at the time when the degree of esterification reaches at least 80%; and subjecting the esterification reaction product to polycondensation.
US09266996B2

The present invention discloses a structure comprising a plurality of three dimensional cells, wherein each cell comprises exterior walls defining an interior void wherein the walls comprise a plurality of struts and windows, the struts forming borders for the plurality of windows, wherein the struts have a plurality of pores. The present invention further discloses a viscoelastic foam having a ratio of elastic modulus (E′) at 20° C. to 25% compression force deflection (CFD) of 25 to 125.
US09266995B2

Binder mixture comprising a hydroxyl-containing compound (A), and at least 1.0% by weight, based on the nonvolatile constituents of the binder mixture, of a phosphorus- and nitrogen-containing catalyst (D) for the crosslinking of silane groups, wherein the hydroxyl-containing compound (A) comprises a hydroxyl-functional polyester having on average at least one hydroxyl function of the polyester esterified with a C8 to C9 monocarboxylic acid, and the catalyst (D) is blocked with at least one tertiary amine of the formula (I) where R1 is an acyclic aliphatic or araliphatic hydrocarbon radical having at least 3 C atoms, R2 is an acyclic aliphatic or araliphatic hydrocarbon radical which is the same or different from R1 and/or R3, and R3 is hydrogen or an acyclic aliphatic or araliphatic hydrocarbon radical which is the same or different from R1 and/or R2.
US09266988B2

A fumaric acid diester based resin containing a dipropyl fumarate residue unit and a fumaric acid diester residue unit having a C1 or C2 alkyl group, wherein in a retardation film composed of the resin, when a refractive index in the fast axis direction within the film plane is designated as nx, a refractive index in the film in-plane direction orthogonal thereto is designated as ny, and a refractive index in the thickness direction of the film is designated as nz, the respective refractive indices are satisfied with a relationship of (nx≦ny
US09266978B2

Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a copolymer of a conjugated diene compound and an olefin other than the conjugated diene compound, where a conjugated diene compound and an olefin other than the conjugated diene compound is copolymerized in the presence of a polymerization catalyst composition containing components: (A) a rare earth element compound or a reactant of the rare earth element compound and a Lewis base; and (B) at least one selected from a group consisting of an ionic compound (B-1) composed of a non-coordinating anion and a cation, an aluminoxane (B-2), and at least one kind of halogen compound (B-3) selected from among a Lewis acid, a complex compound of a metal halide and a Lewis base, and an organic compound containing active halogen (when containing at least one of (B-1) and (B-3), the polymerization catalyst composition further contains component (C): an organometallic compound).
US09266974B2

An olefin polymerization process and apparatus wherein a fluid slurry comprising monomer, diluent and catalyst is circulated in a continuous loop reactor by two or more pumps. The process and apparatus allow operating the reaction at significantly higher solids content in the circulating fluid slurry. In a preferred embodiment, the fluid slurry is circulated by two impellers arranged so that the downstream impeller benefits from the rotational energy imparted by the upstream impeller. An olefin polymerization process operating at higher reactor solids by virtue of more aggressive circulation has improved efficiencies, particularly in larger-volume reactors.
US09266967B2

The present invention relates to novel domain exchanged, bivalent, bispecific antibodies, their manufacture and use.
US09266955B2

The invention provides anti-FGFR4 antibodies and methods of using the same.
US09266949B2

The instant invention relates to low acidic species (AR) compositions comprising a protein, e.g., an antibody, or antigen-binding portion thereof, and methods, e.g., cell culture and/or protein purification methods, for producing such low AR compositions. Methods for using such compositions to treat a disorder, e.g., a disorder in which TNFα is detrimental, are also provided.
US09266946B2

The invention relates to methods for treating a subject by manipulating ABCB5 on a cell as well as related products. The methods include methods of treating cancer using ABCB5 binding molecules such as antibodies and fragments thereof.
US09266945B2

This invention provides antibodies that interact with or bind to human B7 related protein-1 (B7RP1) and antibodies that bind to and neutralize the function of B7RP1 thereby. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions of said antibodies and methods for neutralizing B7RP1 function, and particularly for treating immune disorders (e.g., inappropriate immune response) by administering a pharmaceutically effective amount of anti-B7RP1 antibodies. Methods of detecting the amount of B7RP1 in a sample using anti-B7RP1 antibodies are also provided.
US09266942B2

Chimeric fHbps that can elicit antibodies that are bactericidal for different fHbp variant strains of N. meningitidis, and methods of use, are provided.
US09266939B2

The present invention provides methods, compositions, and kits for the treatment of disorders associated with overactivation of FGFR3, such as achondroplasia; bone or cartilage disorders; or vascular smooth muscle disorders, or for the elongation of bone. In some embodiments, the present invention provides polypeptides having a natriuretic peptide fused to an Fc domain of an immunoglobulin. Such polypeptides can be administered to subjects, e.g., subcutaneously, to treat a disorder associated with overactivation of FGFR3, a bone or cartilage disorder, or a vascular smooth muscle disorder, or to elongate bone. The invention also features nucleic acid molecules encoding such polypeptides and the use of the nucleic acid molecules for treating disorders associated with overactivation of FGFR3, bone or cartilage disorders, or vascular smooth muscle disorders, or for elongating bone.
US09266936B2

The present invention relates to a compound which is a polysaccharide derivative of EPO, or of an EPO like protein, wherein the polysaccharide is anionic and comprises between 2 and 200 saccharide units. The present invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the novel compounds, and methods for making the novel compounds.
US09266935B2

The invention relates to the identification of fusion proteins comprising polypeptide and protein variants of fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) with improved pharmaceutical properties. Also disclosed are methods for treating FGF21-associated disorders, including metabolic conditions.
US09266934B2

The present invention relates to processes for the production of peptides, and the peptides produced accordingly. Peptides produced according to the invention may be produced more efficiently than peptides produced according to prior art processes. The production process of the invention may lead to advantages in yield, purity, and/or price. Methods of marketing peptides are also disclosed.
US09266931B2

The invention provides vitamin K-dependent polypeptides with enhanced membrane binding affinity. These polypeptides can be used to modulate clot formation in mammals. Methods of modulating clot formation in mammals are also described.
US09266919B2

Compounds having antibacterial activity are disclosed. The compounds have the following structure (I): including stereoisomers, pharmaceutically acceptable salts and prodrugs thereof, wherein Q1, Q2, Q3, R8 and R9 are as defined herein. Methods associated with preparation and use of such compounds, as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, are also disclosed.
US09266917B2

The method is for separation of lignin from original black liquor (BLIN) having the following phases in sequence; a first precipitation phase (PR1) for precipitation of lignin by a first acidification of the original black liquor by adding a first acid or mixture of acids (G1a); followed by a second precipitation phase (PR2) for precipitation of lignin by a further acidification of the original black liquor by adding a second acid or mixture of acids (G1b). The first phase is implemented to lower the pH while avoiding any larger amount of precipitation, i.e. less than 2-5%, while the second phase is implemented in order to obtain the larger part of the precipitation. In total is 40-70% of the total lignin content of the original black liquor precipitated while the residual black liquor after precipitation is still strongly alkaline.
US09266912B2

The present disclosure provides prodrugs of biologically active 2,4-pyrimidinediamine compounds, compositions comprising the prodrugs, intermediates and methods for synthesizing the prodrugs and methods of using the prodrugs in a variety of applications.
US09266910B2

This invention relates to unsymmetrical metallocenes, catalyst systems therefrom and their use to make highly isotactic polypropylene.
US09266904B2

The invention provides novel compounds having the general formula: wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 are as defined in the description and in the claims, as well as or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, or tautomerism isomers, or enantiomers, or diastereomers thereof. The invention also contains compositions including the compounds and methods of using the compounds.
US09266895B2

The present disclosure provides compounds of Formula (IA) and or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof that are tyrosine kinase inhibitors, in particular BTK, and are potentially useful for the treatment of diseases treatable by inhibition of tyrosine kinases such as cancer, inflammatory diseases such as arthritis, and the like. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds and/or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof and processes for preparing such compounds and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.
US09266888B2

The invention relates to polymorphous crystal modifications of a DPP-IV inhibitor, the preparation thereof and the use thereof for preparing a medicament.
US09266862B2

The present invention provides for compounds of Formula I and embodiments and salts thereof for the treatment of diseases (e.g., neurodegenerative diseases). R1, R2, R3, X1, X2, A and Cy variable in Formula all have the meaning as defined herein.
US09266859B2

The invention provides certain azetidinyloxyphenylpyrrolidine compounds, particularly compounds of formula I wherein R is hydrogen or methyl, and pharmaceutical compositions thereof. The invention further provides methods of using a compound of formula I to treat overactive bladder.
US09266851B2

A fluorene-containing aromatic compound represented by a formula (1) below. In the formula (1): Nr1 represents a substituted or unsubstituted monocyclic nitrogen-containing aromatic ring having 2 to 5 ring carbon atoms, or a bicyclic nitrogen-containing aromatic ring having 2 to 9 ring carbon atoms; Ar represents an aromatic ring and the like; Fl1 and Fl2 represent a fluorenyl group; and Cz1 and Cz2 represent a carbazolyl group. A compound represented by a formula (2) below is omitted from the fluorene-containing aromatic compound represented by the formula (1).
US09266849B2

A process for recovering a divinylarene dioxide from a crude feed stream comprising the steps of: (a) providing an effluent reaction stream containing at least one divinylarene dioxide product and other compounds; and (b) separating/recovering the divinylarene dioxide product from the other compounds of the reaction effluent from step (a); wherein the percent recovery of the divinylarene dioxide product recovered comprises greater than about 85 percent; and wherein the percent purity of the divinylarene dioxide product recovered comprises greater than about 85 percent.
US09266848B2

The present invention relates to novel benzene-carboxamide compounds having a structure that corresponds to the general formula (I) below: and also to their method of synthesis and to their use in pharmaceutical compositions intended for use in human or veterinary medicine or else to their use in cosmetic compositions.
US09266844B2

The present invention relates to compounds, compositions, and methods, for treating subjects suspected of needing treatment for a Nidovirales virus infection. In certain embodiments, the compounds comprise Nidovirales helicase inhibitors that do not significantly affect helicase ATPase enzymatic activity or nucleic acid binding activity of the helicase.
US09266841B2

Pyrimidone compounds of formula (I): are inhibitors of the enzyme Lp-PLA2 and are of use in treating atherosclerosis.
US09266837B2

This invention relates to novel morphinan compounds and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. This invention also provides compositions comprising a compound of this invention and the use of such compositions in methods of treating diseases and conditions that are beneficially treated by administering a σ1 receptor agonist that also has NMDA antagonist activity.
US09266832B2

This invention provides novel compounds and the novel compounds for use as a medicine, more in particular for the prevention or treatment of neurodegenerative disorders, more specifically certain neurological disorders, such as disorders collectively known as tauopathies, and disorders characterised by cytotoxic α-synuclein amyloidogenesis. The present invention also relates to the use of said novel compounds for the manufacture of medicaments useful for treating such neurodegenerative disorders. The present invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions including said novel compounds and to methods for the preparation of said novel compounds. The compounds have the formula (A1) wherein R1, R2, R4, R6, E, n, Y1, Y2, Y3, Y4, Y5, L, B, R8, and m are as defined in the claims.
US09266823B2

The invention relates to the compounds of formula I or its pharmaceutical acceptable salts, as well as polymorphs, solvates, enantiomers, stereoisomers and hydrates thereof. The pharmaceutical compositions comprising an effective amount of compounds of formula I, and methods for the treatment of Parkinson's disease may be formulated for oral, buccal, rectal, topical, transdermal, transmucosal, intravenous, parenteral administration, syrup, or injection. Such compositions may be also used for the treatment of Huntington's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Lateral Sclerosis, Neural Motor disorders.
US09266819B2

An anti-foam additive for a cement composition, including a fatty alcohol ester that is soluble in an aqueous medium at acidic pH, and hydrolysable in a basic medium, i.e. when the ester is incorporated into the cement composition, while releasing an active anti-foam molecule. This ester is preferably a fatty alcohol ester of a quaternary ammonium carboxylate, that is soluble in an aqueous solution of a superplasticizer, such as a polycarboxylate with poly(ethylene oxide) side chains. The additive can used for reducing the amount of air entrained during mixing or blending of mortars or concretes.
US09266815B2

Disclosed herein are novel motuporamine compounds that act as anti-metastatic agents with low toxicity and high anti-migration activity. The non-toxic, anti-metastatic agents may be given to patients with potential or actual metastatic cancers, such as pancreatic cancers, alone in combination with known and/or new therapies to help block the growth and spread of tumor(s).
US09266809B2

A solid terephthalic acid composition and a process for producing terephthalic acid from para-xylene. The process comprises forming a mixture comprising the para-xylene, a solvent, a bromine source, and a catalyst; and oxidizing the para-xylene by contacting the mixture with an oxidizing agent at oxidizing conditions to produce a solid oxidation product comprising terephthalic acid, para-toluic acid, 4-carboxybenzaldehyde. The solvent comprises a carboxylic acid having from 1 to 7 carbon atoms and an dialkyl imidazolium ionic liquid; and the catalyst comprises at least one of cobalt, titanium, manganese, chromium, copper, nickel, vanadium, iron, molybdenum, tin, cerium, and zirconium. The solid terephthalic acid composition comprises, less than about 4,000 ppm-wt 4-carboxybenzaldehyde content, and more than about 2,000 ppm-wt a para-toluic acid.
US09266805B2

A system or method for producing gasoline or dimethyl ether from natural gas via methanol includes: steam-reforming natural gas to generate reformed gas; synthesizing methanol from the reformed gas; synthesizing gasoline or dimethyl ether from the methanol; and at least one is selected from the group consisting of: pre-reforming natural gas prior to the steam-reforming; recovering carbon dioxide from flue gas generated in the steam-reforming; and preheating combustion air to be supplied to the steam-reforming by using synthesis heat generated in the synthesis of gasoline or dimethyl ether. In addition, an overall energy balance of the system is constructed by using heat recovery from flue gas generated in the steam-reforming, heat recovery from the reformed gas, synthesis heat generated in the synthesis of methanol, synthesis heat generated in the synthesis of gasoline or DME, and heat recovered in the pre-reforming, carbon dioxide recovering, or air preheating, respectively if selected.
US09266804B2

A dual-bed catalytic distillation tower has a catalytic column having an upper catalytic bed filled with low temperature dehydration catalysts and a lower catalytic bed filled with high temperature dehydration catalysts. When using the dual-bed catalytic distillation tower, the feeding may be fed to the tower at the top of the upper catalytic bed, between the upper and lower catalytic beds, or at the bottom of the lower catalytic bed for dehydration to obtain DME. The dual-bed catalytic distillation tower has the advantage of flexible set-up depending on various feedings such as anhydrous or crude methanol and on different grades of DME to be obtained.
US09266796B2

Methods and systems are provided for producing a desired xylene isomer. The method includes adsorbing the desired xylene isomer from a mixed xylene stream in an adsorbent chamber. The desired xylene isomer is desorbed with a desorbent to produce an extract stream with the desired xylene isomer and the desorbent, where the desorbent has a lower boiling point than the desired xylene isomer. The extract stream is fractionated in an extract fractionator to produce a low pressure extract overhead stream with gaseous desorbent. The low pressure extract overhead stream is pressurized to produce a high pressure extract overhead stream with a temperature greater than an extract reboiler temperature. The high pressure extract overhead stream is condensed in an extract process reboiler, and produces a liquid extract overhead stream.
US09266787B2

A controlled release fertilizer including a fertilizer granule, having an outer surface, a coating of biopolymer composition on the outer surface of the fertilizer granule, wherein the biopolymer composition includes at least one biopolymer, and a process of making the controlled release fertilizer including the steps of screening fertilizer granules to a preselected granule size, heating a biopolymer to become substantially fluid, and applying the biopolymer onto the surface of the fertilizer granule to produce a coating on the granule of a predetermined amount.
US09266784B2

A granular cohered MOP fertilizer having one or more micronutrients, and one or more binding ingredients. The fertilizer is prepared by compacting MOP feed material with one or more micronutrients and one or more optional binders to form a cohered MOP composition. The cohered MOP composition is then further processed, such as by crushing and sizing, to form a cohered granular MOP product containing micronutrients. The process yields a fertilizer product containing micronutrients with superior elemental and granule size distribution without comprising handling or storage qualities.
US09266782B2

A ceramic block consisting essentially of substantially homogeneous (Y2O3)χ P2O5, where 0.95≦x≦1.05, having length LL, a width WW and a height HH, and a volume W of at least 8×10−3 m3 essentially free of cracks throughout the volume, a density of at least 85% of the theoretical maximal density of Y203.P2O5 under standard conditions, and a creep rate CR at 1250° C. and 6.89 MPa; where CR≦8.0×10−6 hour−1 and method for making the same. The method utilizes a dry process where the starting YP04-based ceramic material is synthesized by reacting anhydrous P2O5 with dry Y2O3 powder.
US09266778B2

An acoustical plaster system features a base layer mixture and a finish layer mixture. The base layer mixture includes a first binder, a first thickener and a plurality of first particles, with the first particles being porous, lightweight, non-close packing particles having a first mean diameter. The finish layer mixture includes a powder latex binder, a second thickener and a plurality of second particles, with the second particles being porous, lightweight particles having a second diameter. The first mean diameter is larger than said second mean diameter.
US09266775B2

A binder for construction materials containing a ground granulated blast furnace slag and at least one mono-, di- or trivalent metal salt chosen from bismuth, copper, silver or tin salts. The salt is capable of forming, during mixing with said slag, a metal sulfide for which the solubility product KSP, measured at 25° C., is less than 10−10.
US09266774B2

According to the invention, the method for burning fragmented material is carried out in at least one shaft which comprises a preheating zone, a combustion zone and a cooling zone, coal having a swelling index > 1 being supplied via combustion lances, and the temperature of the coal in the combustion lances being maintained below a temperature value at which melting phases of the coal used are formed.
US09266765B2

A process for manufacturing an object made of a constituent material obtained from a sol-gel solution, the process including, successively: a) introducing the sol-gel solution into a mold of the object to be manufactured; b) gelling the sol-gel solution; c) drying the gel obtained in b) in the mold, by which the gel is converted into the constituent material of the object, wherein the mold includes a closed chamber and includes a material configured to allow evacuation of gases formed during b) and/or c).
US09266760B2

An ozone faucet contains a body and a mixer. The body includes an outlet end and an ozone tube, and the outlet end has inner threads for screwing with a casing, between the casing and the outlet end is defined an accommodating space. The mixer includes a water guiding member, a resilient element, and a check tube. The water guiding member has a groove and a plurality of increasingly conical orifices, the resilient element is accommodated in the groove and has a stopping plug pushed by the resilient element. The check tube has a disc covering the water guiding member, the disc has a plurality of decreasingly conical apertures matching with the plurality of increasingly conical orifices The check tube also has a channel passing therethrough and contacting with the stopping plug, the mixer is secured in the accommodating space, and the check tube connects with the ozone tube.
US09266758B2

A process for treating halide contaminated waste includes bringing the contaminated waste into contact with a reductone in an aqueous solution to obtain a mixture having a pH value, and adjusting the pH value to permit dissociation of two hydrogen ions from an enediol group of the reductone and to permit subsequent reaction of the reductone with an electrophilic site of halide contained in the contaminated waste. Halide can thus be removed.
US09266755B2

Methods and apparatus relate to treating fluid to at least reduce selenium content within the fluid. The treating includes conditioning stages to alter a composition of the fluid prior to removal of the selenium content from the fluid. The composition of the fluid after the conditioning stages facilitates the removal of the selenium content or at least limits detrimental impact to selenium removal efficiency.
US09266748B1

Systems and methods related to desalination systems are described herein. According to some embodiments, the desalination systems are transiently operated and/or configured to facilitate transient operation. In some embodiments, a liquid stream comprising water and at least one dissolved salt is circulated through a fluidic circuit comprising a desalination system. In some embodiments, a portion of the desalination system (e.g., a humidifier) is configured to remove at least a portion of the water from the liquid stream to produce a concentrated brine stream enriched in the dissolved salt. In certain cases, the concentrated brine stream is recirculated through the fluidic circuit until the concentrated brine stream reaches a relatively high density (e.g., at least about 10 pounds per gallon) and/or a relatively high salinity (e.g., a total dissolved salt concentration of at least about 25 wt %). In certain embodiments, additional salt is added to the concentrated brine stream to produce an ultra-high-density brine stream (e.g., a brine stream having a density of at least about 11.7 pounds per gallon). Some aspects relate to a system that is configured to promote energy efficiency by recovering heat from the recirculated concentrated brine stream upon discharge from the fluidic circuit.
US09266745B2

The present invention relates to a method for contemporaneously recovering ammonia and carbon dioxide from an aqueous solution thereof, possibly comprising their condensates, in a synthesis process of urea, characterized in that it comprises a hydrophobic microporous membrane distillation phase of an aqueous solution comprising ammonia, carbon dioxide and their saline compounds or condensates, said distillation being carried out at a temperature ranging from 50 to 250° C. and a pressure ranging from 50 KPa to 20 MPa absolute, with the formation of a residual aqueous solution, possibly comprising urea, and a gaseous permeate stream, comprising ammonia, carbon dioxide and water. The present invention also relates to an apparatus for effecting the above method and a production process of urea which comprises the above method.
US09266736B2

Provided is a long and large-area graphite film having improved thermal diffusivity and flex resistance, and accompanied by ameliorated ruffling. According to a method for producing a graphite film, in which graphitization of a heat-treated film consisting of a carbonized polymer film is carried out in a state being wrapped around an internal core, the method being characterized in that a heat treatment is executed by controlling distance(s) between the internal core and the film, and/or between the layers of the film, a graphite film accompanied by significantly ameliorated ruffling can be obtained.
US09266734B2

Described herein are chlorite formulations having a pH between about 7 and about 8.5, wherein the chlorite formulations are substantially free of deleterious non-chlorite components. Described herein are chlorite formulations, including pharmaceutical formulations, which are formulated for systemic, parenteral, or intravenous administration. Described herein are methods of preparing and methods of using the chlorite formulations described herein.
US09266731B2

Process for the production of synthesis gas (3), in which methane and carbon dioxide (2) are introduced into a reaction space (R) and reacted in the presence of a solid (W) at elevated temperatures to give hydrogen and carbon monoxide. Methane and carbon dioxide are passed through a carbon-containing granular material (W) and reacted in a high-temperature zone (H).
US09266730B2

A bitumen and heavy oil upgrading process and system is disclosed for the synthesis of hydrocarbons, an example of which is synthetic crude oil (SCO). The process integrates Fischer-Tropsch technology with gasification and hydrogen rich gas stream generation. The hydrogen rich gas generation is conveniently effected using singly or in combination a hydrogen source, a hydrogen rich vapor from hydroprocessing and the Fischer-Tropsch process, a steam methane reformer (SMR) and autothermal reformer (ATR) or a combination of SMR/ATR. The feedstock for upgrading is distilled and the bottoms fraction is gasified and converted in a Fischer-Tropsch reactor. A resultant hydrogen lean syngas is then exposed to the hydrogen rich gas stream to optimize the formation of, for example, the synthetic crude oil. Partial upgrading and the commensurate benefits is detailed as well. A system for effecting the processes is also characterized in the specification.
US09266728B2

In aspects of the disclosure, a fuel cartridge wherein the fuel is in a powdered form is admixed with inert materials such as alumina or other ceramics to improve thermal conductivity. Said cartridge having fuel zones, heating zones, and controllers to selectively heat fuel zones and thereby generate hydrogen via decomposition of fuel is disclosed.
US09266718B2

An out-of-plane microneedle manufacturing process comprises the simultaneous creation of a network of microneedles and the creation of a polygonal shaped hat above each microneedle under formation. The process comprises the following steps: providing bridges between the hats, maintaining the bridges during the remaining microneedle manufacturing steps, removing the bridges, together with the hats, when the microneedles are formed.
US09266717B2

An integrated circuit having an indirect sensor and a direct sensor formed on a common semiconductor substrate is disclosed. The direct sensor requires the parameter being measured to be directly applied to the direct sensor. Conversely, the indirect sensor can have the parameter being measured to be indirectly applied to the indirect sensor. The parameter being measured by the direct sensor is different than the parameter being measured by the indirect sensor. In other words, the direct sensor and indirect sensor are of different types. An example of a direct sensor is a pressure sensor. The pressure being measured by the pressure sensor must be applied to the pressure sensor. An example of an indirect sensor is an accelerometer. The rate of change of velocity does not have to be applied directly to the accelerometer. In one embodiment, the direct and indirect sensors are formed using photolithographic techniques.
US09266713B2

A MEMS backplate enables MEMS microphones with reduced parasitic capacitance. The MEMS backplate includes a central area and a perforation in the central area. A suspension area surrounds the central area at least partially. An aperture is disposed in the suspension area.
US09266710B2

The invention provides a dispensing valve or fuel nozzle having an earth (ground) cable and/or a safety cap for covering the discharge opening, the safety cap connected by a cord to the dispensing valve, wherein the dispensing valve has an automatic retraction system for the earth cable and/or the cord of said safety cap.
US09266701B2

An enhanced stability crane (100) is described. Embodiments include a telescoping main support mast (114) upon which a crane base (106) resides. A boom (140) projects upwardly from the crane base and a jib (148) typically projects upwardly from the boom. A clamping assembly (108) resides on the main support mast and is configured to attach to an existing structure adjacent to the crane, in order to enhance stability. Multiple clamping assemblies can be distributed along the telescoping main support mast when it is extended. The existing structure is generally a tower structure (180) that is columnar and vertical in shape and orientation, and frequently has an elliptical horizontal cross-section. Tower structures are typically, but not necessarily, wind turbine towers. In some embodiments, the crane is mobile capable of lifting objects weighing about 110 tons to a height of about 400 feet. The crane typically adjusts to a collapsed configuration, enabling facile transport.
US09266698B2

A package for storing a roll of monofilament line with a cutting tool embedded in the package and a related method. The package is formed from two opposing clamshell portions made from sheets of film and pivotally connected together. A chamber is formed when the two clamshell portions are sealed together to store the roll of monofilament line. An aperture in one of the clamshell portions allows a length of monofilament line to be dispensed from within the chamber. A cutting tool is at least partially disposed between the two clamshell portions or inserted into a pocket in one of the clamshell portions when sealed together to attach the cutting tool to the package. At least a portion of the cutting tool is accessible from outside the package for cutting a length of monofilament line being dispensed from the package.
US09266697B2

A communications cable payout bag includes: a main compartment configured to hold a communications cable package; a shoulder strap attached to the exterior of the bag; a pair of handle straps attached to the exterior of the bag, wherein each handle strap is shorter than the shoulder strap; a cable payout passageway between the main compartment and the exterior of the bag; and a closure mechanism configured to close the main compartment.
US09266695B2

A system is provided for shifting, according to an amount of stacked sheets that has been stacked in a sheet stacking device, a state of a power to be supplied to the sheet stacking device from a first power state to a second power state where power consumption is less than that in the second power state.
US09266691B2

A paper feed apparatus includes a paper feeding portion that sends-out a paper placed in a paper placing tray, and is used in an image forming apparatus such as a multifunction machine. The paper feed apparatus comprises a first regulating portion and a second regulating portion that are arranged in the vicinity of a downstream side of a paper feeding position by the paper feeding portion. The first regulating portion is arranged outside a second width paper passage area to regulate a movement of a first width paper such as A4 paper placed in the paper placing tray toward a feeding direction. On the other hand, the second regulating portion is arranged inside the second width paper passage area to regulate a movement of a second width paper such as a name card placed in the paper placing tray toward a feeding direction. Since there are provided with the first regulating portion and the second regulating portion that are arranged outside and inside the second width paper passage area, the second width paper such as a name card can be adequately fed in addition to the first width paper such as A4 paper.
US09266690B2

A light positioning system for use in transferring a container to a buffer is disclosed. The system includes a light signal that is disposed adjacent the buffer for guiding an operator to position a chassis into the buffer and a program logic controller. The system also includes a thru beam sensor. The thru beam sensor senses movement of the container into the buffer and outputs data to the program logic controller. The system further includes a distance sensor. The distance sensor determines a distance from the distance sensor to the container and outputs data to the program logic controller. The program logic controller determines a length of the container based on the data received from the thru beam sensor and the distance sensor and provides an output signal to the light signal based on the length of the container and the data received from the distance sensor.
US09266688B2

A feed vessel for pneumatically conveying solid particles includes a cylindrical portion, a first conical portion and a second conical portion. The first conical portion extends downward from the cylindrical portion and is configured to be in fluid communication with the cylindrical portion. The second conical portion extends downward from the first conical portion and is configured to be in fluid communication with the first conical portion. The second conical portion is configured to form a mass flow of solid particles therein and defines at least one outlet thereon for discharging the solid particles. A method for pneumatically conveying solid particles is also presented.
US09266682B1

System and method for controlling a moving floor having multiple sliding slats, to produce a practically continuous load-moving force on a load carried on the apparatus. The slats are reciprocated back and forth by hydraulic cylinders, each of which controls a group of slats that are moved together. At any given time, a majority of the slats are moving together in the desired direction, and carry a load in this direction at a nearly uniform velocity. The remainder of the slats are moved in a reverse direction at the same time. The movement of the slats is controlled by an infinite piston positioning feedback system.
US09266678B2

A roller track comprising a base, a tray, and a plurality of rollers. The tray is configured to slide into the base, and comprises a first end, a center portion comprising a plurality of notches, and a second end. The first end is removably engaged to a first end of center portion. The second end is removably engaged to a second end of center portion. The first end and the second end comprise a plurality of slots. The plurality of rollers is configured to engage the plurality of notches.
US09266674B2

A vertical storage system for efficiently storing large items in a vertical manner thereby conserving floor space. The vertical storage system includes a frame, a plurality of connecting members slidably connected between the platforms and a winch device connected between the platforms and a winch device connected to the uppermost platform. Lifting the uppermost platform results in the raising of the next platform beneath the uppermost platform and so forth. Lowering the uppermost platform lowers all of the platforms until the lowest platform is at the bottom with the remaining platforms lowered until stacked upon one another.
US09266673B2

Elongated metal risers are oriented perpendicular to the front end of a shelf, and extend from proximate the front edge of the shelf to at least the rear edge of the shelf. A package stored on the shelf is advantageously supported by left and right side risers and a center riser disposed beneath therebetween, thereby forming left and right insertion channels adjacent the center riser. In storing and retrieving objects from the shelf, a forklift machine advances with its left and right forks aligned with the left and right insertion channels, until the forks are securely under the object. By this configuration, a package lacking apertures for receiving the blades of a forklift machine does not need to be secured to a wooden pallet in order to safely maneuver the package on or off of a storage shelf by a forklift machine or similar device.
US09266672B2

A support rack for a side loading arm of a refuse vehicle has a frame to secure with the refuse vehicle. A rack is pivotally coupled with the frame. A biasing member is coupled between the rack and frame. The biasing member enables pivotal movement of the rack between a first and second position. The biasing member returns the rack to the first position after movement into the second position.
US09266669B2

A frame delimits an inside space and includes a peripherally closed side wall and two transverse openings or one transverse opening and a transverse end wall. It is capable of allowing the airtight engagement of the open free edge of a side wall in film form of a receptacle that is at least partially deformable. It is specially designed for the creation of a 3D container. The frame is also able to act as a support for at least one functional port or attachment port of a functional element. Its axial size is adequate for delimiting a space of a size that is at least equal to the axial dimension of the functional element, so that the latter can be completely housed within the inside space.
US09266665B2

A container for receiving frangible items comprises a sheet of polymer formed into a base portion having a plurality of item-receiving cavities for supporting frangible items. A cover portion has an item-covering concavity for covering the frangible items. A first hinge portion is positioned between a first longitudinal edge of the base portion and the cover portion for rotating the cover portion onto the base portion to hold the frangible items captive in the item-receiving cavities. The first hinge portion comprises a pair of longitudinal grooves formed into the first hinge portion and extending parallel to the first longitudinal edge of the base portion, with a web defined between the longitudinal grooves, and a hinge-reinforcement wall at at least one end of the longitudinal grooves. A fold line is formed in the web and in the hinge-reinforcement wall when the cover portion is rotated onto the base portion.
US09266660B2

Insulating cup includes an inner body and an outer body. The inner body has an inner sidewall defining a top opening and an inner bottom portion, and the inner sidewall includes a first circumferential rib and a second circumferential rib. The outer body has an outer sidewall surrounding at least a substantial portion of the inner sidewall and engaging the first circumferential rib and the second circumferential rib to define an insulating space therebetween, and the outer body has an outer bottom portion disposed below the inner bottom portion to define a surface-engaging edge.
US09266657B2

The container includes a lower wall and an erect side wall limiting an upper opening of a housing for accommodating a flexible pouch containing a fluid; containment elements including a containment wall, the gap between its peripheral edge and the side wall being limited; the containment wall adapted to be applied against the pouch and held fixed in this position by holding elements arranged in the container and borne by the containment elements by a structural and functional combination, and being movable between an inactive retracted state and an active expanded state, in which a distal end part is either moved away from the side wall or applied there against without any chance of sliding; and adapted to be applied at any desired location of a zone of the side wall such that the containment wall can be applied and held against the pouch regardless of how full the latter is.
US09266650B2

A lid-opening/closing device includes a device body on which a pod including a container body, a lid portion defining a bottom portion openable and closable relative to the container body, and a locking mechanism performing unlocking and locking of the lid portion with respect to the container body is placed; a plurality of moving units that perform unlocking to cause the locking mechanism to perform unlocking and locking to cause the locking mechanism to perform locking by moving engaging pins configured to engage with the locking mechanism; a linkage unit that causes the moving units to perform unlocking by moving the moving units in conjunction with each other when causing the locking mechanism to perform unlocking, and causes the moving units to perform locking by moving the moving units in conjunction with each other when causing the locking mechanism to perform the locking; and an air cylinder that simultaneously drives the moving units and the linkage unit.
US09266634B2

A crimp control apparatus includes a threaded connection between a dipper and a punch to adjust the distance between the die and the bottom of the cylinder. In one aspect, the apparatus includes a cylinder, a connector, and a cylinder mount bracket, the cylinder mount bracket bore having threads engagable to threads of the connector, and a lock in the cylinder mount bracket to restrict movement of the connector through the cylinder mount bracket bore. In another aspect, the apparatus includes a cylinder, a piston within the cylinder and having a piston shaft, a stud extending from the piston shaft and having threads, a punch holder having threads engagable to the threads of the stud, a lock to lock the position of the stud and the punch holder, and an adjustment device in the piston shaft.
US09266633B2

Implementations of the present invention extend to sanitary systems, methods, and devices configured to package food items with an even coating of an accurate amount of sanitizing agent, such as an antimicrobial agent. In one implementation, an exemplary system comprises a combination of air nozzles, anti-bacterial spray nozzles or spray headers, metering valves, and timers to achieve uniform distribution of an antimicrobial solution into a product package, and subsequently provide a uniform distribution of the antimicrobial solution to the food item.
US09266601B2

In a method for emergency ventilation of an aircraft cabin, a leak is detected in the area of an air mixer of an aircraft air conditioning system. An emergency air flap, which in a closed position prevents an air exchange between an aircraft area adjacent to the air mixer and the aircraft cabin, is controlled into an open position. Air from the aircraft area adjacent to the air mixer is conveyed through the open emergency air flap into the aircraft cabin.
US09266593B2

A hull mounted, steerable marine drive system having trim actuation is both steerable through 360 degrees and is trimmable in a range of from approximately +3 degrees to approximately −15 degrees. The marine drive system includes a watertight enclosure assembly for sealing the hull, which is adapted for keeping much of the marine drive system from being exposed to water. The enclosure includes a gasket flange plate, a retention plate and a folded gasket. The gasket flange plate closely follows the contour of the hull and enhances the hydrodynamic and wake performance of the present marine drive system. Further, marine drive system includes a forward-neutral-reverse (FNR) transmission assembly, a drive unit assembly having a trimmable upper unit and a steerable lower unit, a steering actuator assembly, a trim actuator assembly, and, preferably, trim foils for enhancing lift to assist in getting the boat up on plane.
US09266580B2

Various embodiments of reduced-size vehicles such as all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and utility vehicles (UVs) are disclosed herein. In at least some embodiments, the vehicles include frames that are wider near the front and rear sections of the vehicles than within the mid-sections of the vehicles. This, in combination with the use of shock-absorbers that are substantially vertically oriented, allows for the opening-up of large interior cavities within the front and rear sections of the vehicles within which can be positioned large front and rear internal compartments that can provide storage/carrying capacity as well as added buoyancy for the vehicle, among other things. Also, in at least some embodiments, the vehicles can include special cooling and/or exhaust systems having components that are positioned substantially within the mid-sections of the vehicles, thus further increasing the amounts of space available for the cavities/compartments within the front and rear sections of the vehicles.
US09266579B2

A bicycle is configured for conversion between expanded and folded arrangements and includes a main frame assembly comprising a main frame member coupled with the front assembly, rear wheel carriers extending from the main frame member along a first orientation and a bottom bracket protruding from the main frame member along a second orientation. A front assembly of the vehicle includes a quick release, a head tube configured to receive a fork and a seat tube configured to receive a saddle. The main frame assembly further includes elongate seat stays coupled with the rear wheel carrier and each seat stay includes a latch configured for locking with a quick release provided to the front assembly. With seat stays latches released the head tube and seat tube pivot together relative to the main frame member on a single hinge during conversions between the expanded and folded arrangements.
US09266577B2

A riding toy, free from maintenance work like battery replacement and able to urge a rider to take exercise while preventing the rider from getting tired thereof, has one front wheel and two rear wheels that are provided rotatably on a body, a generating motor linked with the rear wheels via a power transmission mechanism, a rectifier bridge circuit rectifying an output current from the generating motor, a storage unit storing a direct current from the rectifier bridge circuit, button switches of a button group on the body or a handlebar, an output unit on the handlebar including a sound emitting device or a light emitting device and a control unit causing the light emitting device or the sound emitting device of the output unit to perform a predetermined operation in response to operation of the button switches based on a current supplied from the storage unit.
US09266566B2

A front body member which transfers collision energy to a front side member, or allows collision energy to be absorbed by the front side member at a time of a vehicle collision, may include an upper portion and a lower portion with respect to a height direction of the vehicle body, in which the upper portion and the lower portion of the front body member further include an upper flange and a lower flange, respectively, which are formed along perimeters of the upper portion and the lower portion to be in surface-to-surface contact with each other, and an empty space is formed in each of the upper portion and the lower portion of the front body member for a target internal space to be formed in the front body member when the upper flange and the lower flange are in surface-to-surface contact with each other.
US09266558B2

Methods and systems are provided for suppression of steering wheel vibrations generated by periodic disturbances in a vehicle steering system. An exemplary method reducing steering wheel vibrations caused by periodic disturbances involves determining a gross torque attributable to the periodic disturbances in the steering system, identifying a desired amount of suppression of the vibrations at the steering wheel, determining an offset torque based on the gross torque and the desired amount of suppression, and generating a motor command signal in a manner that is influenced by the offset torque. The motor drive command signal is provided to an electric motor coupled the steering wheel and/or the vehicle tires, and the motor drive command signal influences the torque applied by the motor to assist steering of the vehicle tires by the steering wheel in a manner that attenuates the vibrations communicated to the steering wheel by the desired amount.
US09266554B2

A motor vehicle steering column includes an inner jacket pipe that receives a steering spindle, which is received in a longitudinally adjustable manner in an outer jacket pipe held on a steering console and having a hollow cross-section. The steering column also includes a clamping device, by means of which the inner jacket pipe can be releasably secured in its adjusted longitudinal position relative to the outer jacket pipe. The outer jacket pipe has a recess at least over a longitudinal region, whereby its hollow cross-section can be altered by the clamping device.
US09266550B1

A handle for a foldable stroller having a pair of stroller handles includes a foldable bar with lateral ends. A clamp for engaging one stroller handle is located at each lateral end. A pair of outer members is included in the foldable bar, and each outer member is pivotally coupled to one clamp. A pair of inner members is included in the foldable bar, and each inner member is pivotally engaged to the other inner member and pivotally engaged with one outer member. A lock is disposed at the pivotal coupling between the inner members. When the lock is disengaged, the stroller may be freely moved between a collapsed position and an open position; but when the lock is engaged, the stroller is fixed in the open position.
US09266547B2

A utility cart has four corner posts arranged in rectangular pattern and at least one lower shelf including a recess in the push side edge and a top shelf that, instead of the recess, includes a handle. The other three sides of each of the shelves are substantially the same size and extend beyond the corner posts. The bottom of each of the shelves may include a wagon wheel structure in each corner which secures and supports the corner posts of the cart.
US09266545B2

A dolly for the transportation of snow sports equipment is an apparatus that facilitates the transportation of snow equipment. The apparatus includes a storage assembly which is used secure items in need of transport. The storage assembly includes a pan, an open adjustable brace and a restraint which are all used to secure items to the apparatus. The storage assembly also includes a locking mechanism which is used to set the position of open adjustable brace. The storage assembly is connected along a support structure which is used to support leverage items held by the storage assembly during transportation. The support structure includes a spine, and a wheel assembly. The spine is used as the main supporting member for the apparatus. The wheel assembly is connected to the spine and facilitates the transportation of equipment. The handle is used to maneuver the entire apparatus during transportation.
US09266530B2

A control device of a hybrid vehicle including an electric motor and an engine as drive force sources, the hybrid vehicle being configured to execute engine running using the engine as the drive force source for running and motor running using the electric motor as the drive force source for running with the engine stopped, the control device having a predefined running performance oriented running mode such as a sport running mode and a predefined large drive force running mode with a lower requirement degree of start acceleration performance as compared to the running performance oriented running mode, in the predefined running performance oriented running mode, the motor running being inhibited, the engine running being performed in an operation range in which the motor running is normally performed, and the engine being retained in an operating state at the time of vehicle stop, and in the predefined large drive force running mode, the motor running being inhibited, the engine running being performed in the operation range in which the motor running is normally performed, and the engine being stopped at the time of vehicle stop.
US09266529B2

A system and method for optimizing a fuel efficiency of a hybrid vehicle by learning from a route history. The system may be a hybrid vehicle including an engine, a motor-generator, a battery, a battery module, a GPS unit, a memory, and a processor. The method may include detecting a current route of the hybrid vehicle, calculating a confidence value corresponding to a probability that the current route has a match in the route history, detecting a battery state of charge (SOC), determining a target SOC based on the confidence value and the route history, and adjusting an engine start/stop threshold and/or an engine power request to achieve the target SOC. They system may learn and improve fuel efficiency over successive trips along the route.
US09266515B2

A method and controller for controlling the purge cycling of an air dryer assembly is disclosed. The controller includes a control output for transmitting a control signal for controlling the air dryer. The controller is capable of initiating an enhanced purge cycle for the air dryer based on a regeneration volume value. The regeneration volume value is based on the accumulated volume of air delivered to the air dryer for a first time or since a prior standard purge cycle.
US09266509B1

A vehicle braking system bias adjuster which includes a brake bias adjustment knob assembly which enables the driver of the vehicle to quickly and easily set, adjust, and visually and quickly determine the relative front to rear (or right front to left front) brake bias or brake bias setting of the vehicle before and while driving the vehicle. The brake bias adjustment knob assembly visually indicates the exact amount of brake bias, or if there is no bias at all. The ratio is expressed in numbers to enable the driver to reset the brake bias to a known value of ratio as needed for track conditions and vehicle weight changes. The value in numbers is reproducible. The present disclosure also provides a method and apparatus for retrofitting an existing vehicle with a brake bias adjustment knob assembly which enables the driver of the vehicle to quickly and easily set, adjust, and visually determine the relative brake bias or brake bias setting (i.e., the ratio of front to rear brake biasing or the ratio of side to side brake biasing) of the vehicle before and while driving the vehicle.
US09266505B2

A flat-blade type wiper apparatus includes: a wiper lip; a spoiler-integrated lever that prevents the wiper lip from floating on the windshield of a vehicle; a vertebra that elastically supports the wiper lip; and an end cap that prevents the wiper lip from slipping in a direction of a length of the vertebra, wherein a cap fixing hole is disposed at one end of the vertebra and passes through an upper surface and a lower surface of the vertebra; a first stopper protrudes from a ceiling surface of the end cap in a downward direction and couples to the cap fixing hole; and a second stopper protrudes from a sidewall of the end cap toward the wiper lip, and prevents the wiper lip from slipping by being accommodated in a coupling groove that is formed in the wiper lip.
US09266498B2

A seatbelt restraint system includes a seatbelt buckle housing having a printed circuit board, a slider, and an ejector. The printed circuit board includes a circuit where the output signal can be altered in response to translation of the ejector and the slider. A predetermined voltage can be applied to the circuit and the output signal can be detected in the circuit to determine the position of the ejector and the slider based on the detected altered output signal. In the event of a fault in the system, the resultant output signal of the circuit will be different than the expected output signal of the buckled and unbuckled states.
US09266496B2

A flexible electro-resistive impact detection sensor is mounted on an outboard portion of the front bumper for signaling an offset rigid barrier impact event to a forward corner of a motor vehicle and deployment of a small offset rigid barrier airbag mounted on the front rail. The airbag, is attached proximate a distal end of a front rail. The flexible electro-resistive impact detection sensor, attached to a rear surface of an outboard portion of the front bumper, generates a signal upon a corner impact event, whereby a controller processes the signal generated by the impact detection sensor and electrically actuates an inflator upon a predetermined impact severity. The airbag in the inflated condition acts against the offset rigid barrier to generate a lateral force against the offset rigid barrier to push the motor vehicle away from the barrier and thereby redirect impact energy by lateral movement of the motor vehicle.
US09266483B2

An in-vehicle charger includes a charging coil mounted to a vehicle including a communication device, and a control unit connected to the charging coil. The control unit is configured to detect a vehicle driving state based on a detection of an engine operation state of the vehicle or a parking brake release output of the vehicle.
US09266482B2

An onboard power supply system for a motor vehicle includes a voltage converter and a voltage source which is electrically coupled with the voltage converter and is constructed for providing a predefined source voltage. The onboard power supply system further has a base energy accumulator which is electrically coupled with the voltage converter and is constructed for providing a predefined base voltage. With respect to the amount, the source voltage is greater than the base voltage. The onboard power supply system also has at least one first selection circuit of at least one first electric consuming device which can be electrically coupled parallel to the voltage converter. Furthermore, the onboard power supply system has at least one second selection circuit of at least one second electric consuming device which can be electrically coupled parallel to the base energy accumulator.
US09266479B2

A clip device to secure a container to a mounting location. In an example, the clip device has a base having a first and second side. The clip device also has an arm connected to the first side of the base. The clip device also has an attachment connected to the arm, the attachment configured to removably receive the container. The clip device also has a plurality of legs connected to the second side of the base, the legs configured for securement to the mounting location.
US09266476B2

An extendable step with a receiver assembly and a step assembly for a pickup truck is provided. The receiver assembly includes a receiver tube with an internal channel. The receiver tube is configured to attach to a hitch of a vehicle, such as a pick-up truck. The step assembly may include an elongated step tube that slidably engages with the receiver tube. A step plate is attached to the elongated step tube and a foot pedal is attached beneath the step plate and protrudes downward and away from the step plate. A user may place there foot onto the foot pedal and pull the step plate from a retracted position to an extended position In which the step plate extends from the receiver tube.
US09266471B2

Systems and methods which provide for an alarm or notification that a child is in a car seat. The systems generally determine if a child is in the seat and that the seat, and therefore the vehicle, is not in motion. Upon detecting both situations, the notification or alarm is activated.
US09266470B2

A vehicle approach informing device includes: an informing sound output unit to output informing sound for informing to a pedestrian outside a vehicle that the vehicle is approaching when a predetermined condition is satisfied; a sound volume control unit to control the volume of the informing sound outputted by the informing sound output unit; and a shield detection unit to detect a shield present on any side ahead in a running direction of the vehicle. When a shield is detected by the shield detection unit, the sound volume control unit reduces the volume of the informing sound which is outputted by the informing sound output unit.
US09266468B2

The present invention provides a linear lighting device which includes an elongated light guide, a light source disposed at an end in a longitudinal direction of the light guide, and a case accommodating the light guide and the light source. In the linear lighting device, the light guide has a plurality of grooves arranged in the longitudinal direction of the light guide, and has a stepped cutout at the other end on an opposite side from the end, and a protruding portion protruding into the cutout is formed on an inner surface of the case which faces the cutout.
US09266467B2

A stop lamp lighting control device for an electric vehicle having an electric regenerative braking system includes a calculation unit that converts a first deceleration threshold value for turning on a stop lamp or a second deceleration threshold value for turning off the stop lamp to a first regenerative torque threshold value for turning-on the stop lamp or a second regenerative torque threshold value for turning-off the stop lamp by calculation assumed that a weight of the vehicle is a curb weight or a gross vehicle weight, and a determination unit that performs a comparison between a regenerative torque value generated by the electric regenerative braking system and the first regenerative torque threshold value or the second regenerative torque threshold value and controls the stop lamp to be turned on or turned off based on the comparison result.
US09266466B2

A stop lamp lighting control device for an electric vehicle having an electric regenerative braking system, includes, a first calculation unit that converts a first deceleration threshold value to a first regenerative torque threshold value with a curb weight, a second calculation unit that converting a second deceleration threshold value to a second regenerative torque threshold value with a gross vehicle weight, a third calculation unit that calculates a third regenerative torque threshold value, and a determination unit that controls the stop lamp to be turned on when a regenerative torque value exceeds the first regenerative torque threshold value, the stop lamp to be turned off when the regenerative torque value is equal to or smaller than the second regenerative torque threshold value, and the stop lamp to be turned off when a given state continues.
US09266460B2

A vehicle for performances comprises a roof, a floor, and a roof lifting member that is disposed in an orthogonal direction between the floor and the roof. Also, roof extension panels are pivotably coupled to both sides of the upper end of the roof, and floor extension panels are pivotably disposed at both sides of the floor. In this case, the roof extension panels are spread, and then the roof is lifted up. Thereafter, the floor extension panels are spread, and then folding-type auxiliary panels are spread to both sides and fixed by supports. Next, flying speaker supporting trusses are pivoted to the outside by a certain angle to install flying speakers. Next, the visual equipment supporting trusses are spread to both sides, and then visual equipment is spread. Thereafter, an installation into a performance state is completed by shortening the length of a fixing cable.
US09266429B2

A method and system provides a human machine interface configured to provide a vehicle driver with an appropriate easy to understand information to perform driving maneuvers safely. The human machine interface provides the driver with safety information for performing a driving maneuver. The human machine interface is further configured to provide a visualization of an environment of the vehicle and a color scheme configured to convey a criticality of an execution of a vehicle maneuver.
US09266426B2

The invention concerns a component enclosure for an agricultural work vehicle having a combustion engine, an exhaust gas aftertreatment device for discharging and aftertreatment of the exhaust gas, a driver's cabin, and an access facility to access the driver's cabin. The access facility forms an enclosure for a component of the exhaust gas aftertreatment device.
US09266424B2

A drive assembly, in particular for a construction machine, comprising a drive unit having a plurality of first fastening regions for the attachment to a machine frame and at least one functional unit that interacts with the drive unit, and a functional unit carrier assigned to said drive unit, is characterized in that the functional unit carrier can be swiveled around at least one swivel axis with respect to the drive unit in a swivel connection region.
US09266422B2

A supporting structure for a cooling water reserve tank for a vehicle in which a powertrain including an engine is supported on a vehicle body by a mounting bracket and a cooling water reserve tank is attached to the mounting bracket via a reserve tank bracket. The cooling water reserve tank and cooling water stored therein is formed as a weight with the reserve tank bracket being formed as an elastic body to thereby constitute a dynamic damper, and a resonant frequency of the dynamic damper substantially coincides with a frequency of vibration occurring at a time of idling operation of the engine.
US09266421B2

In a cooling system structure for a vehicular water-cooled internal combustion engine with a cylinder section and a cylinder body and a cylinder head. The cooling system structure having water jackets formed in the cylinder body and the cylinder head, respectively, with a radiator disposed forwardly of the engine main unit. A water pump performs forced circulation of coolant through the radiator and the water jackets, to permit routing of pipes with enhanced appearance. Water jackets are formed, respectively, in a cylinder body and a cylinder head such that coolant flows through the cylinder body and the cylinder head independently of each other. A thermostat is mounted on a front wall surface of a cylinder section and is capable of selecting a condition in which the water jackets directly communicate with each other or a condition in which the water jackets communicate with each other via a radiator.
US09266417B2

Multi-passenger recreational utility vehicle comprising: a frame; two front wheels suspended from the frame via a front suspension assembly; two rear wheels suspended from the frame via a rear suspension assembly; an open-air seating area; a front driver seat; a front passenger seat; two rear passenger seats; each seat having a seat base and a backrest; a roll cage; a steering device; an engine; a transmission; a center console extending within the seating area intermediate the seats, a first portion of the center console forming a storage compartment within the console; a storage compartment cover covering the storage compartment, the storage compartment cover forming a rear passenger armrest when covering the storage compartment; and an inner accessory inside the center console, the inner accessory being removeable from the center console, the inner accessory being selectively openable.
US09266415B1

A roof assembly for a vehicle includes a stationary part to be attached to the vehicle roof and at least one closure element movably supported by said stationary part. The element is movable between a closed position closing a roof opening, and an open, rearward position above a roof area behind the roof opening. At least one front guide track extends at least along the roof opening, whereas a rear guide track is mounted at least substantially rearward of the opening. A guiding device engages said rear guide track upon rearward movement of the closure element. The guiding device includes a lever which supports the element at least in the open position, the lever being rotatable around a pivoting axis and being provided with a loading member to load the lever at a distance from the pivoting axis at least when the element is in its closed position.
US09266411B2

A door frame is provided with a first fixed portion and a second fixed portion to which one end and the other end of a beltline reinforcement, with respect to the lengthwise direction thereof, are fixed, respectively; the first fixed portion is provided with a lengthwise-direction position limit portion which is positioned on an extension of the beltline reinforcement in the lengthwise direction thereof and faces against the one end of the beltline reinforcement, the second fixed portion is provided with a thickness directional position limit portion which overlaps the other end of the beltline reinforcement in the door thickness direction, and the lengthwise-direction position limit portion and the thickness directional position limit portion are fixed to the corresponding ends of the beltline reinforcement by welding.
US09266409B2

A slider window assembly for a vehicle includes a frame portion having an upper rail and a lower rail and a pair of spaced apart generally vertical frame members, and at least one fixed window panel and a movable window panel. The upper rail includes an upper channel for movably receiving an upper region of the movable window and the lower rail includes a lower channel for movably receiving a lower region of the movable window. The upper rail has a depth dimension that is greater than a depth dimension of the lower rail. The generally vertical frame members are tapered so that the end regions have depth dimensions that are similar to the depth dimensions of the respective rail. The generally vertical frame members have upper attachment portions that are generally wedge-shaped and are configured for press fit attachment at correspondingly formed recesses established at the upper rail.
US09266398B2

A pneumatic tire 1 according to the present invention has turbulence generating protrusions on a tire surface, each of the turbulence generating protrusions having a sharp edge part. In the pneumatic tire, the following relationships are satisfied: 0.015≦H/√R≦0.64; 1.0≦p/H≦50.0; 0.1≦H/e≦3.0; 1.0≦L/H≦50.0; and 1.0≦(p−w)/w≦100.0, where “R” is a tire radius, “H” is a protrusion maximum height, “p” is a protrusion circumferential-direction interval, “e” is a protrusion radial-direction interval, “L” is a protrusion radial-direction length, and “w” is a protrusion circumferential-direction length.
US09266396B2

The pneumatic radial tire for passenger cars according to the present invention specifies the ratio W/L between the section width W and outside diameter L and includes a width direction groove located at an appropriate position on the tread surface.
US09266391B2

A hub assembly includes a retainer housing, a retaining member, a biasing element, and an occlusion. The retainer housing includes a wheel mounting sleeve and a pin sleeve. The wheel mounting sleeve includes an axle bore configured to receive an axle. The pin sleeve has a first end and a second end. The pin sleeve includes a conduit between the first end and the second end. The first end is in fluid communication with the axle bore. The retaining member and the biasing element are in the conduit. The retaining member is configured to engage a groove in an axle. The biasing element is configured to bias the retaining member towards the axle bore. The occlusion is proximate to the second end of the pin sleeve. The occlusion is configured to inhibit the retaining member from exiting the conduit at least prior to coupling the hub assembly to a wheel.
US09266389B2

A wheel assembly for use with a vehicle is provided. The wheel assembly includes a first inner wheel portion, a second inner wheel portion positioned adjacent to the first inner wheel portion, a first wheel bladder coupled to the first inner wheel portion, and a second wheel bladder coupled to the second inner wheel portion.
US09266384B2

A system and method for mounting a length of material such as a canvas or sheet delimited by edges substantially in one plane. A plurality of engagement members is attached on the back of the canvas or sheet adjacent corners of the canvas or sheet between two edges or along two opposite edges thereof. These engagement members are forced apart by fitting one or more mounting members in between.
US09266382B2

A method for manufacturing coated panels of the type including at least a substrate and a top layer with a motif, the top layer being provided on the substrate, the method may involve at least two steps. A first step may involve providing a synthetic material layer on the substrate. And a second subsequent step, may involve providing a relief on the surface of the synthetic material layer. The relief may include a pattern of recesses and/or projections. the pattern may be at least partially determined by one or more prints.
US09266377B2

A security element and a method of printing a security element using a rotary printing process, the security element including a plurality of image elements, the method including: providing a transparent or translucent substrate having a printing side; and printing an image layer onto at least a portion of the printing side of the substrate, wherein the image layer is contiguous and includes an extended edge region and an image region, wherein at least a portion of the extended edge region is printed before the image region, and wherein the image region includes unprinted and printed areas.
US09266376B1

A system and method for automatically turning the pages of an open book (80) without user intervention for the purposes of digital imaging or viewing. One embodiment of the system includes a rotating platform (15) for mounting the open book (80), a page lifter (51), a transparent stationary hood (62), and a camera (201). As the platform (15) rotates, the page lifter (51) is dropped onto the uppermost page on the leading side of the book (80). The uppermost page is held fast and lifted up by the page lifter (51). The platform (15) continues to rotate, peeling the uppermost page free from the page lifter (51) and eventually trapping the book completely under the hood (62) which holds the book (80) open and keeps the uppermost pages visible. The platform (15) rotation is paused momentarily to allow for image capture by a camera (201) viewing the open book (80) through the hood (62). Other embodiments are described and shown.
US09266373B2

Provided is a laser imageable media that forms both a vesicular bubble image and an infrared image upon exposure to laser radiation. The laser imageable media comprises (1) a substrate, preferably a transparent plastic substrate, (2) an infrared absorbing layer comprising an infrared absorbing compound, preferably an aminium radical cation compound, that exhibits a reduction in infrared absorption when exposed to the laser radiation, and (3) a polymeric layer comprising an organic polymer, preferably nitrocellulose, overlying the infrared absorbing layer. The vesicular image on a transparent plastic substrate is readable with a visible scanner without the use of any reflective background material behind the transparent plastic substrate.
US09266368B2

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for use in a printing device, comprising outputting a test chart comprising a plurality of printed regions at respective ink densities, receiving an indication of a selected ink density, and determining one or more resources of the printing device according to the selected ink density to control one or more ink limits and a color separation of the printing device.
US09266366B2

A printer including a roll supporting part, a feed roller, a printing head, and an urging device. The roll supporting part rotatably supports a print-receiving tape roll including a print-receiving tape in a rolled shape. The feed roller pulls out and feeds the print-receiving tape and the printing head prints on the print-receiving tape. The urging device slides to and contacts an outer peripheral surface of the print-receiving tape in the rolled shape and elastically presses the print-receiving tape roll supported by the roll supporting part while the print-receiving tape is fed.
US09266362B2

A pallet conveyor includes a conveyor track to guide pallets, and a service station deployed on the conveyor track, the service station to perform a service operation in the pallet conveyor.
US09266358B2

The disclosure provides a novel inkjet printing device advantageously equipped to prevent the occurrence of blocking. The inkjet printing device includes: an inkjet head for discharging an ink on a medium to carry out printing; a transferring roller for moving the medium and the inkjet head relative to each other; and a powdering applying unit for applying a powder on the medium, wherein the powdering applying unit is located on a downstream side relative to the inkjet head in a transferring direction by the transferring roller.
US09266357B1

An inkjet printer includes a thermally conductive endless belt configured to carry media past at least one printhead with a plurality of inkjets that are configured to eject ink onto a first surface of the media, a plurality of micro-heaters configured to direct heat to a second surface of the media, and a controller. The controller is operatively connected to the at least one printhead and the plurality of micro-heaters, and is configured to operate the inkjets in the at least one printhead to eject ink onto the first surface of the media and to operate the micro-heaters to direct heat into the thermally conductive endless belt to transmit heat to different positions on the second surface of the media selectively.
US09266351B2

Each light source has plural light emitting portions that are arranged at the different positions in at least a sub-scanning corresponding direction. A memory of a scanning control device stores correction data of the deviation of the beam pitch, correction data of the light amount difference, and correction data to decrease an influence of a reciprocity failure, for each combination of pixel forming light emitting portions. When a write signal is generated, a write control circuit of the scanning control device reads the correction data of the deviation of the beam pitch, the correction data of the light amount difference, and the correction data of the reciprocity failure according to the combination of the pixel forming light emitting portions from the memory, overlaps the read correction data to correction data of an APC, and outputs the overlapped data to a corresponding light source unit as light amount correction data.
US09266349B2

When a color development heat pulse set for each one dot of an intended image is applied to a coloring heat element associated with the one dot of the intended image in a thermal head, an auxiliary heat pulse set for development of the intended image at a thermosensitive medium is applied to a non-printing heat element that adjoins to the coloring heat element associated with the one dot of the intended image with reference to a scanning direction of the thermal head, the auxiliary heat pulse being not so hot for color development at the color thermo sensitive medium.
US09266347B2

A device for erasing an image on a sheet according to an embodiment includes a reading unit that reads an image formed on the sheet. An erasing unit erases the image formed on the sheet by heating the sheet. A conveyance path for the sheet between the reading unit and the erasing unit is formed guide plates arranged in an opposed manner. A cooling unit cools the sheet which passes through the conveyance path and includes at least one fan that supplies cooling air generally along a sheet conveying direction. A plurality of slits is formed in each of the guide plates such that cooling air from the at least one fan flows through the slits into the conveyance path.
US09266345B2

A liquid discharge head includes a nozzle that discharges liquid droplets, a common liquid chamber that supplies liquid to an individual liquid chamber that is in communication with the nozzle, and a filter plate that is arranged in a liquid flow path of the common liquid chamber. The filter plate includes a filter part that filters the liquid and a damper part that reduces a pressure variation in the common liquid chamber, and the filter part is arranged to be thicker than the damper part.
US09266338B2

A liquid supply apparatus and a liquid container that allow a liquid outlet portion and a liquid inlet portion to be readily connected to each other are provided. An ink supply apparatus for supplying ink to an inkjet printer includes: an ink container that has an ink bag, and an ink outlet portion in communication with the ink bag; a right recess portion and a left recess portion that support the ink container; an ink inlet needle that can be connected to the ink outlet portion; and a connection tube that connects the ink inlet needle and the inkjet printer. The ink container is detachably supported by the right recess portion and the left recess portion such that the ink outlet portion is positioned on the upper side in the gravity direction of the ink bag.
US09266335B2

A wiper device of a printer has four wiper units arranged in a line to wipe the nozzle faces of an inkjet head. Each wiper unit has a first intermittent gear and a second intermittent gear which sequentially mesh with first and second drive gears and sequentially transverse axis X a wiping operation and a cleaning operation. The wipers move vertically to the nozzle faces. A wiper cleaner lever-rocks between a closed position covering the wiper and an open position not touching the wiper, moves through a path not interfering with the wiper in an opening operation, and through a path wiping the wiper and removing ink and other accretions from the wiper in a closing operation.
US09266334B2

While a wiping operation for keeping a satisfactory ejection opening surface of an inkjet recording head is performed, a usage amount of a sheet-like member is to be reduced. An inkjet recording apparatus includes a recording head, a sheet-like member, a reeling roller that reels the sheet-like member 31, and a measurement unit that measures an ejection number of ink ejected from the recording head. A control is performs to cause the reeling roller 32 to reel the sheet-like member 31 in accordance with the ejection number of the ink which is measured by the measurement unit.
US09266321B2

In one example implementation, a replaceable printing component includes a fluid supply chamber, and a printhead on the fluid supply chamber. The printhead includes a memory storing a factory identification code that comprises a combination of digitized analog performance parameters. The printhead also includes electronic test components from which the analog performance parameters have been measured.
US09266314B2

A carrier member is configured to convey one or more webs and to receive a discrete absorbent article from a transfer assembly. The transfer assembly comprises a transfer member having a transfer surface. The transfer surface is configured to engage the discrete article. The carrier member comprises a body and a resilient member positioned on the body. The resilient member has a Shore A hardness of between about 20 and about 50.
US09266311B2

There is provided the manufacturing method of a laminated magnet film end product, including the steps of: a first step of preparing magnet films, each of the magnet films having a thickness of 40 μm to 300 μm, and having a nanocrystalline structure which is magnetically isotropic; a second step of applying a self-bonding resin composition with film formability on each of the magnet films so as to prepare a plurality of self-bonding magnet films, each being composed of a magnet film and a self-bonding layer; a third step of mechanically processing each of the plurality of the self-bonding magnet films so as to be solid or hollow disc; a fourth step of preparing a laminated magnet film by laminating the plurality of self-bonding magnetic films; a fifth step of melting each self-bonding layer of the laminated magnet film and then cooling and solidifying each self-bonding layer so as to integrally rigidify the laminated magnet film; and a sixth step of magnetizing the rigidified laminated magnet film.
US09266308B2

The invention is directed to lignocellulosic materials having a core and two outer layers, containing in the core A) lignocellulose particles; B) expanded plastics particles having a bulk density in the range from 10 to 150 kg/m3, C) one or more binders selected from the group consisting of aminoplast resin, phenoplast resin, and organic isocyanate having at least two isocyanate groups, and D) optionally additives and in the outer layers E) lignocellulose particles, F) one or more binders selected from the group consisting of aminoplast resin, phenol-formaldehyde resin, and organic isocyanate having at least two isocyanate groups, and where the lignocellulose particles of the outer layers E comprise at least 25% by weight of lignocellulosic chips and the expanded plastics particles B are present in nonuniform distribution in the core.
US09266307B2

The present invention provides interlayers that comprise a polymer film onto which micro lines have been formed from a conductive material. The interlayers comprising such films can be incorporated, for example, into a two glass pane multiple layer glazing. Such glazings can be used, for example, in automobile windscreens or rear window applications or other applications that require a heated glazing panel.
US09266301B2

This invention is method of creping a paper web comprising a) applying to a rotating creping cylinder an adhesive composition having a pH of about 6.5 to about 8 and comprising one or more vinylamine/N-vinyl formamide polymers composed of about 10 to about 99 mole percent vinylamine monomer and about 90 to about 1 mole percent N-vinylformamide monomer; b) pressing the paper web against the creping cylinder to effect adhesion of the paper web to the creping cylinder; and c) dislodging the paper web from the creping cylinder with a doctor blade.
US09266298B2

A letter producing system includes: a printing unit for performing printing on a paper sheet for enclosure and a paper sheet for envelope and outputting the paper sheet for enclosure before the paper sheet for envelope; an inserting and sealing unit for making an envelope from the paper sheet for envelope and inserting and sealing the paper sheet for enclosure in the envelope; an enclosure size obtaining section for obtaining size information of the enclosure; a paper output timing obtaining section for obtaining information of output timing of the first paper sheet for enclosure from the printing unit based on the size information of the enclosure; and a paper output control section for controlling timing of output of the first paper sheet for enclosure from the printing unit to the inserting and sealing unit based on the information of output timing.
US09266294B2

This invention discloses apparatus for generating an ophthalmic lens with at least a portion of one surface free-formed from a Reactive Mixture. In some embodiments, an ophthalmic lens is formed on a substrate with an arcuate optical quality surface via a source of actinic radiation controllable to cure a definable portion of a volume of Reactive Mixture.
US09266288B2

A three-dimensional printing apparatus includes a shaping head to discharge a resin material, a table to retain the discharged resin material, a carriage mechanism fitted to the shaping head and moving the shaping head relative to the table, a rotatable member disposed outward of the table, a first horizontal rotary shaft rotatably supporting the table, a first motor to rotate the first horizontal rotary shaft, a second horizontal rotary shaft fitted to the rotatable member and extending in a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the first horizontal rotary shaft, a second motor to rotate the second horizontal rotary shaft so as to rotate the table, the first horizontal rotary shaft, and the first motor, along with the rotatable member, around the second horizontal rotary shaft, and a microcomputer configured or programmed to control the shaping head, the first motor, and the second motor.
US09266280B2

A method for producing a microfluidic device includes the following method steps: a) arranging a thermoplastic elastomeric film between a base substrate and a cover substrate, at least one of the substrates has at least one depression configured to form a microfluidic chamber with a depression opening on the side of the substrate facing the elastomeric film, b) applying pressing power to the arrangement to compress the elastomeric film between the base substrate and the cover substrate, in which process the thickness of the elastomeric film is reduced, c) forming, by laser beam welding, at least one weld joining the thermoplastic elastomeric film, the base substrate and the cover substrate, and d) removing the pressing power to prevent capillaries from forming between the base substrate and the cover substrate.
US09266278B2

A method of manufacturing an obliquely stretched long film includes an oblique stretching step and a tension application step. In the oblique stretching step, a long film is stretched in an oblique direction with respect to a width direction into a stretched film (F). In the tension application step, while the stretched film (F) is being drawn along a longitudinal direction, a tension in a drawing direction is applied to the stretched film (F). Here, in the tension application step, the tension in the drawing direction of the stretched film (F) is changed in the width direction, and thus the stretched film (F) is drawn.
US09266268B2

An airway device for human or animal use comprising an airway tube having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end of which is surrounded by a laryngeal cuff, adapted to fit anatomically over the laryngeal structure of a patient, wherein the device optionally further comprises a buccal cavity stabilizer located on or around the airway tube between the laryngeal cuff and the proximal end of the tube, said buccal cavity stabilizer being adapted to nest with the anterior aspect of the patient's tongue, the size, shape and configuration of the buccal stabilizer being adapted to prevent rotational or side-to-side movement of the airway device in use.
US09266265B2

An in-mold shutter for embedding in an injection mold is described herein. The in-mold shutter includes a shutter actuator that is configured to selectively engage a first mold shoe of the injection mold with a platen of a mold clamping assembly to hold the first mold shoe in an extended position, along a mold-stroke axis, during a step of molding a first molded article in the injection mold. Also described herein is a molded article transfer device for use with the injection mold. The molded article transfer device includes a shuttle that is slidably arranged, in use, within the injection mold. The shuttle defines a first aperture, at least in part, that alternately accommodates: a first mold stack arranged therein; and (ii) a first molded article received therein with opening of the first mold stack.
US09266263B1

A method for fabricating the palm portion of a glove wherein the top surface of a leather material is treated with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). A layer of silicone is then applied to the leather surface, the silicone penetrating into the material to a predetermined depth, and the resultant assembly is then operated on in a manner to form raised portions and wells in the top and bottom surface of the assembly. The wells in the bottom surface of the assembly are then filled with silicone.
US09266260B2

Method for casting a continuous cylindrical polymer stamp. The method includes depositing a first layer of a fluid polymer on the inside of a rotatable drum and rotating the drum for a selected time and at a selected angular velocity. The polymer is cured to produce a uniform datum surface. A second layer of polymer is deposited on the first layer in the drum and the drum is rotated until solvent in the polymer has evaporated thereby forming a stable layer. The polymer is selectively exposed and developed to create a desired pattern. Thereafter, a polymer precursor is deposited on the patterned second layer and the polymer precursor is allowed to cure while the drum is rotating to produce a cured stamp. The cured stamp is removed from the drum.
US09266259B2

An object of the present invention is to provide a method of forming a hollow blow-molded foam and also provide such a hollow-molded foam, which are capable of improving a flow-rate efficiency of a fluid that flows through the inside of the hollow blow-molded foam. A foaming resin is sandwiched between molds so that a hollow blow-molded foam having a ventilation path is molded, and a fluid for use in cooling the hollow blow-molded foam is allowed to flow through the ventilation path so that the hollow blow-molded foam is cooled.
US09266255B2

Disclosed in an apparatus for the processing of plastics, with a container with a rotatable mixing implement, wherein a conveyor being provided, with a screw rotating in a housing, wherein the imaginary continuation of the longitudinal axis of the conveyor in a direction opposite to the direction of conveying passes the axis of rotation, there being, on the outflow side, an offset distance between the longitudinal axis and the radius that is parallel to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the smallest possible distance (ms) between the implement and screw is described by the following relationship: ms≦k*d+K, where d is the diameter of the screw in mm, K is a factor in the range from 20 to 100, more particularly 20 to 80, k is a factor in the range from 0.03 to 0.4, more particularly 0.04 to 0.25.
US09266254B2

A water/slurry containment device for core drilling can contain and allow water/slurry to be extracted while the coring is occurring rather than allowing a puddle to form with more extensive cleanup required afterward. The device contains the water/slurry mix so that none escapes the confines of the device, so that water can be used in the core drilling. Water is essential to the life of the diamond coated bit and it keeps dust and noise to a minimum. The device includes a base plate with a collector ring that can rest on a surface to be core drilled. A notch can be cut in the collector ring and/or base plate to allow water and slurry to be removed from the device while core drilling.
US09266252B1

A log holding plate having a base plate and a hook on a top side thereof that attaches the log holding plate to a rearward holder member of a hydraulically controlled log splitting device and also having with a bottom support rib member attached to a bottom end of the base plate that braces a log against a forward wedge of the log splitting device to position and secure the log in place for splitting.
US09266245B2

An electric hair trimmer generally includes a handle, a drive system, and a cutter head. The cutter head includes a stationary blade and a movable blade, and the cutter head is releasably connectable to the handle in operative connection with the drive system. The handle is configured for ejecting the cutter head.
US09266235B2

An industrial robot may include a main body section, a first arm, a second arm, a third arm, a first speed reducer which connects the main body section and the first arm, a second speed reducer which connects the first arm and the second arm, and a connecting mechanism which connects the input shaft of the first speed reducer and the input shaft of the second speed reducer, and a second drive motor which drives the third arm. The speed reduction ratio of the first and second speed reducer are set such that the movement loci of a third articulation section which connects the second and third arm are rectilinear. The connecting mechanism connects the input shafts at a predetermined speed ratio. The second drive motor is mounted on the second arm closer to the tip than where a third articulation section is located.
US09266229B2

An automatic gearshift device for a power tool includes a speed reduction mechanism that decelerates and transmits a rotary power of a motor, a ring gear that slides and moves to switch a speed reduction ratio, a cam member that moves the ring gear, a rotation body rotated in cooperation with the cam member, a position detector that detects the position of the ring gear, and a controller that controls the driving of the gearshift motor based on the value generated by the position detector. An adjustment gear forming the rotation body includes a slot used as a positioning mark at a predetermined location in the rotating direction. When the slot of the adjustment gear is aligned with a predetermined device side positioning reference, the rotation body is positioned in an initial position in a relative positional relationship with the ring gear.
US09266226B2

An impact tool includes a housing, a motor having an output shaft defining a first axis, a drive shaft rotatably supported by the housing about a second axis oriented substantially normal to the first axis, and an impact mechanism coupled between the motor and the drive shaft and operable to impart a striking rotational force to the drive shaft. The impact mechanism includes an anvil rotatably supported by the housing and coupled to the drive shaft, and a hammer coupled to the motor to receive torque from the motor and impart the striking rotational force to the anvil. The impact tool also includes a ratcheting mechanism operable to prevent rotation of the anvil and the drive shaft in a selected direction relative to the housing.
US09266222B2

The invention relates to a clamping/releasing flange that can be used to hold a plate panel on a machining stage, comprising a supporting body (1), a frame (2) that is position-adjustable in relation to the supporting body (1) in the clamping/releasing direction (SD), and a plurality of lugs (P1, P2) used for clamping and holding by being pressed into one of the lateral edges of the panel. The flange comprises, in a housing (20) formed in the frame (2), a mobile support (21) for supporting said clamping and holding lugs (P1, P2) at least partially emerging through a through-hole (22) of the frame, that ends in said housing (20), and means (3) for the continuous control of the movement, clamping, holding and release of the lugs in the clamping direction (SD). The invention is applicable to machine-tool equipment.
US09266221B2

An abrasive article includes a support, a first polymeric binder, a second polymeric binder, and abrasive particles. The support includes a plurality of nonwoven layers. A method of forming an abrasive article includes providing a support including, applying a first coating of the first polymeric binder to the support, applying superabrasive particles to the coated support, applying a layer of a second polymeric binder overlying the superabrasive particles. The method further includes compressing the support and applying heat to cure the first polymeric binder. A method of preparing a work piece includes applying a thermal spray coating to the work piece, and polishing the thermal spray coating with the abrasive article.
US09266217B2

A hand-held power tool is provided which includes a drive unit in a housing, a switch device, and elastomer elements. The drive unit is configured to be switched on and off with the switch device which comprises a switch accommodated inside the housing. The elastomer elements are molded onto the outside of the housing and onto the inside of the housing and are connected to each other via an opening in a wall of the housing. An elastomer element on the inside of the housing forms an elastomer bearing configured to support the switch.
US09266216B2

The present invention provides a polishing head including: an annular rigid ring; an elastic film bonded to the rigid ring; and an upward and downward movable mid-plate, the mid-plate defining a first sealed space together with the rigid ring and the elastic film; an incompressible fluid enclosed in a sealed space; and a mid-plate positioning device for adjusting vertical position of the mid-plate, to hold a back surface of a workpiece on a lower surface of the elastic film and polish a front surface by bringing the front surface into contact with a polishing pad attached to a turn table, wherein the mid-plate can adjust a shape of the lower surface of the elastic film by adjusting the vertical position of the mid-plate. The polishing head polishes a workpiece without generating surface defects on the workpiece surface and easy detachment of the workpiece from a polishing pad after polishing.
US09266213B2

A method of polishing one side of a wafer, which makes it possible to accurately realize the desired wafer edge shape without dependence on the period of use of a polishing cloth, is provided. In the method according to the present invention, a wafer fixed to a head is brought into contact with a polishing cloth provided on a surface of a surface plate, and the head and the surface plate are rotated, thereby polishing one side of the wafer, the method including the steps of measuring a contact angle of the polishing cloth (S1); determining a rotation speed of the head and the surface plate, based on the measured contact angle of the polishing cloth (S4); and polishing the one side of the wafer by rotating the head and the surface plate at the determined rotation speed (S5, S6).
US09266193B2

A laser material processing system comprises: a housing defining an engraving chamber, an xy laser beam steering system, and a non-telescoping sliding focus mechanism. The housing includes a removable bottom panel that allows processing of workpieces that exceed dimensions of the engraving chamber and allows stacking of the system on modular attachments for specialized functions. The focus mechanism includes a carriage mirror subassembly attached to the x-axis carriage, a sliding member moveably attached to the carriage mirror subassembly, and a focusing lens subassembly attached perpendicularly to the lower end of the sliding member. The carriage mirror subassembly and the focusing lens subassembly are configured to receive and focus a laser beam to a focal point. The focusing lens subassembly is adjusted along a z-axis by disengaging the locking component and vertically sliding the sliding member and is locked into a position by engaging the locking component with the sliding member.
US09266192B2

An apparatus for processing a workpiece can be exemplarily characterized as including a processing tool having a processing region within which a workpiece can be processed, and an illumination system configured to direct detection light into the processing region. In this embodiment, detection light directable by the illumination system has a wavelength to which the workpiece is at least partially opaque. The apparatus may further include an image sensor configured to detect a characteristic of the detection light transmitted through the processing region and a chuck configured to support a workpiece such that at least a portion of the workpiece is disposable within the processing region and is illuminatable by the detection light. Methods for processing a workpiece are also disclosed.
US09266187B2

A method of measuring weld thermal response as a function of time during the production of a resistance weld includes monitoring a first parameter responsive to a change in an electrode mechanical load on workpieces welded together with respect to the electrode mechanical load applied prior to application of the heat, monitoring a second parameter responsive to a change in position of linkage applying the electrode load with respect to linkage position prior to application of the heat, and processing a composite of the first parameter and the second parameter to produce a derived measurement representative of the thermal response of the weld. Electrode force and electrode current are also monitored via sensors and measurements calibrated to provide more accurate information during the welding process.
US09266171B2

A grinding roll includes a core comprising an external surface, and at least one wear resistant article adapted for use as a working surface that is removably attached to the external surface of the core. The at least one wear resistant article comprises a metal matrix composite comprising a plurality of inorganic particles dispersed in a metal matrix material comprising one of a metal and a metal alloy, and a plurality of hard elements interspersed in the metal matrix composite. The wear resistance of the metal matrix composite is less than the wear resistance of the hard elements.
US09266166B2

Plural saddle shape patches are formed on a blank material for forming a blade using a manufacturing apparatus provided with a punch support having punches each with a holder attached to be opposite with one another at a predetermined interval corresponding to a thickness of the blank material. The punch support is mounted to a second ram via a second rotational mechanism which is rotatable in a direction in which the ram moves. The die is attached to the first ram via the first rotational mechanism. The actuator controls the rotating angles of both the rotational mechanisms.
US09266165B2

A method for hot forging at least one end of a steel reinforcing bar (i.e., a rebar) to simultaneously form a wide head and threads funning around the head during a single step whereby to enable the bar to be coupled end-to-end an adjacent steel bar to be used, for example, to reinforce a precast concrete structure. The end of the bar is first preheated, and the heated end is surrounded by a closing die having a threaded geometry. The die is then nested within and closed around the heated end by an annulus ring of a hydraulic press, or the like. A hydraulic ram of the press is moved through the annulus ring and into engagement with the heated end of the rod so as to apply a compressive force thereto. The metal of the heated end flows into the die so as to be enlarged therein and assume the threaded geometry of the die.
US09266161B2

A production line of large diameter longitudinal welded pipe comprises a material storage table (1), a charging trolley (2), an uncoiler (3), a leveler (4), a shearing and butt welding machine (5), a movable sleeve (6), an edge milling machine (7), a steel plate flaw detector (8), a lifting table (9), a steel pipe forming machine (10), a welding device (11), a pulling device (12), a heat treatment device (13), a cooling device (14), a rigid rolling machine (15), a cut-to-length cutting machine (16) and a discharging rack (17). The production line in the present invention has the advantages including high production efficiency, stable product quality, low manufacturing cost, as well as reliable and convenient operation.
US09266160B2

A method for forming an undercut portion of a formed article formed by plastically deforming a plate-shaped workpiece and a method for manufacturing a formed article having an undercut portion are provided. In these methods, the undercut portion is formed by press working performed using a punch and a die. These methods make the forming work more economical and more efficient. An outer portion of a plate member 91 (plate-shaped workpiece) located outward of a portion where an inwardly inclined portion 94 (undercut portion) is to be formed is bent by an angle determined such that an undercut surface 94a which constitutes the inwardly inclined portion 94 becomes parallel to the pressing direction of a punch 110. In addition, a peripheral wall portion 93 inclined by an angle corresponding to the bending angle is formed on the outer portion. The bent portion of the plate member 91 having the inclined peripheral wall portion 93 is bent back in the opposite direction so as to cause the inwardly inclined portion 94 to rise up from the surface of the plate member 91.
US09266159B2

A tool for repairing a Venetian blind by reintroducing a curvature into the Venetian blind is disclosed. The tool has a cradling member and a receiving member. The cradling member has a base and a first stop wall. The first stop wall is joined with the base and extends upward from a base surface. The receiving member has a second stop wall. The second stop wall is located adjacent to the base. The second stop wall is opposite of the first stop wall. The cradling member or the receiving member is slidable relative to the other of the cradling member or the receiving member for compressing the Venetian blind between the first stop wall and the second stop wall by varying a distance between the first stop wall and the second stop wall.
US09266157B2

Feeding stock used to form a tapered structure into a curving device such that each point on the stock undergoes rotational motion about a peak location of the tapered structure; and the stock meets a predecessor portion of stock along one or more adjacent edges.
US09266152B1

An apparatus and method for cleaning coils and fins of outdoor condenser units and the like in locations without electrical service wherein the apparatus comprises containers for water and cleaning chemical, a plumbing system for preparing and delivering a cleaning mixture, an electrical system for power, and wherein the method provides for cleaning coils by directing cleaning mixture through the coils in counter-flow to cooling air drawn through the coils by a condenser unit fan.
US09266150B2

A parts cleaning device has at least one rotor assembly with an axis of rotation, and a plurality of microfiber cloths arranged at spaced locations along a length of each rotor assembly. The microfiber cloths each have an opening through a center portion thereof, and a shaft of the rotor assembly extends through the opening. A plurality of spacers are arranged so that each microfiber cloth is squeezed between two spacers. The rotor assembly is rotated together with the microfiber cloths so that centrifugal forces cause the microfiber cloths to extend radially outwardly from the rotor assembly and wipe surfaces of parts that pass within a path of movement of the microfiber cloths. A vacuum chamber has an inlet positioned in the path of movement of the cloths for removing fine particles from the cloths as the cloths rotate past the inlet.
US09266149B2

Vacuum system for collecting food products, the food products moving on one conveyor element, and the collection system executed by vacuum suction of at least one suction duct which transversely intercepts the conveyor element and bears a plurality of holes directed towards the conveyor belt, and elements for controlling the opening or closing of the holes. The suction duct acts as a shutter-valve, i.e. as a suction element, the stems of the cylinders are adapted to directly interfere, that is close or open, the corresponding passage hole on the suction duct. The stems of the cylinders pass inside the suction duct.
US09266146B2

A film forming method performs a film forming process on a target object having on a surface thereof an insulating layer. The film forming method includes a first thin film forming step of forming a first thin film containing a first metal, an oxidation step of forming an oxide film by oxidizing the first thin film, and a second thin film forming step of forming a second thin film containing a second metal on the oxide film.
US09266136B2

The present invention is a display apparatus for affixation to shower head, bath or sink faucet water supply piping or incorporated within a shower, or bath or faucet head. The display apparatus includes a power generation, CPU or microprocessor, temperature sensor and/or water flow sensors, timing circuits, and audio or verbal communication means and a display means. The present invention can position some components remotely from other components that communicate by wired or wireless means. The communication means is designed 1) to detect and respond to audio signals or verbal instructions or commands and/or 2) annunciate audio signals or verbal messages.
US09266131B2

A pump-equipped container and a dispensing pump used therefor are provided, such that a thin container body can be implemented, while deformation of the container body associated with an operation portion being pushed down can effectively be prevented. A pump-equipped container 1 includes: a container body 2 having a mouth portion 15; and a dispensing pump 20 removably attached to the mouth portion 15. The dispensing pump 20 includes: a pump body 22 removably attached to the mouth portion 15 of the container body 2; a support member 31 having its bottom end portion abutted on a bottom portion 5 of the container body 2 to thereby receive a downward load acting on the mouth portion 15 of the container body 2; a leg member 32 provided at the support member 31.
US09266128B2

A device and method for electrostatic powder coating include: obtaining continuously a working fluid constituted by air deprived of undesirable substances; supplying the working fluid, between 0.5 bar and 10 bar, in a container containing an amount of coating powder; extracting from the container; a first flow made up of working fluid and powder; atomizing the first flow with working fluid at a pressure of between 0.5 bar and 10 bar; supplying working fluid at a pressure of between 0.5 bar and 10 bar to create a second transport flow made up of working fluid and atomized powder; charging the second flow electrostatically under pressure; and sending the second electrostatically charged flow of working fluid and atomized powder onto a substrate, at a temperature of between −15° C. and +45° C., and a device and method for electrostatic painting including heating/cooling temperature adjustment of the painting mixture.
US09266125B2

A firefighting nozzle is provided with a relief valve assembly that opens to discharge a fine spray or “curtain” of liquid extending 360° around the nozzle, thus cooling off the nozzle operator and the surrounding area, while at the same preventing dangerous pressure build-up in the nozzle. In a preferred embodiment, the relief valve assembly comprises a housing having a substantially cylindrical side wall defining a bore. A tubular sleeve divides the bore into two parts: a cylindrical inner passage defining the primary flow path for liquid traveling through the nozzle; and an annular space defining a valve chamber. A plurality of relief ports is formed in a 360° degree pattern around the side wall of housing, each relief port defining a secondary flow path extending substantially perpendicularly to the primary flow path. An annular plug is mounted for sliding movement on the inner sleeve, from a first position blocking the relief ports to a second position allowing flow therethrough. A compression spring or other biasing element is provided for normally urging the plug toward the first position. When liquid entering the nozzle exerts enough pressure on the inlet end of the annular plug to overcome the force of the biasing element, the annular plug moves away from the relief plugs, thereby allowing liquid to escape through the relief ports, simultaneously reducing the pressure inside the nozzle as well as the air temperature outside the nozzle.
US09266110B2

A reaction tube for performing isothermal polymerase chain reaction therein is provided and includes an upper section, a lower capillary section, a linkage connecting the upper section and the lower capillary section, and a thermal conductor. The lower capillary section has an annealing portion, an annular heating groove, and a close end. The annealing portion is connected with the linkage, and the annular heating groove is connected with the annealing portion. The close end is connected with the annular heating groove. The thermal conductor tightly embraces the annular heating groove of the lower capillary section for conducting heat. Accordingly, a heat generated from the heating source will conduct to the annular heating groove of the lower capillary section of the reaction tube, a temperature gradient along the reaction tube is then provided in order to perform a thermal convection, thereby performing the isothermal polymerase chain reaction in the reaction tube.
US09266102B2

A novel transition metal trimer compound/catalyst is disclosed. A method of increasing the overall mass transfer rate of acid gas scrubbing solvents utilizing that catalyst is also provided.
US09266098B2

The invention relates to a self-supported mixed metal sulfide (MMS) catalyst for hydrotreating hydrocarbon feedstock and to a method for preparing the catalyst. The MMS catalyst is characterized as having a multi-phased structure comprising five phases: a molybdenum sulfide phase, a tungsten sulfide phase, a molybdenum tungsten sulfide phase, an active nickel phase, and a nickel sulfide phase.
US09266093B2

An exhaust gas purification catalyst includes a Rh-containing catalyst layer provided on a base material. The Rh-containing catalyst layer includes Rh-supporting Zr-based composite oxide in which Rh6 is supported on Zr-based composite oxide containing Zr and a rare earth metal except Ce. The Rh-supporting Zr-based composite oxide has been previously subjected to a reduction treatment.
US09266088B2

A litter and litter making method producing cat litter from a carbohydrate starch-containing cereal grain, e.g., corn, based admixture extruded from a single screw or twin screw extruder forming pellets having a clumping agent formed during extrusion composed at least in part of carbohydrate polymer binder. Each pellet is extruded under conditions that cause formation of carbohydrate polymer binder clumping agent at least some of which is water soluble. One preferred method of extruding cat litter causes starch dextrinization to occur such that at least some of the carbohydrate polymer binder clumping agent in each pellet is formed of dextrin. Each pellet can be coated such as with a smectite that preferably is bentonite. During use, pellet extrusion formed clumping agent in a pellet wetted with urine dissolves and flows in between and along adjacent pellets causing them to clump together without the presence of any clumping agent additive.
US09266086B2

Coated particles according to the present invention are comprised of particles each having a surface. At least the vicinity of the surface of the particle is constituted of a calcium phosphate-based compound. The particles are coated with a polyamine-based compound, and an average particle size of the particles is 1 μm or more. Furthermore, such coated particles are produced by preparing a preparation liquid containing a liquid containing at least one of water and an alcohol, the coated particles and the polyamine-based compound and then heating the preparation liquid to coat the particles with the polyamine-based compound. Furthermore, it is preferred that the liquid used in preparing the preparation liquid contains methanol as a main component thereto.
US09266080B2

Disclosed is a reaction device for producing hydrocarbons from synthesis gas, in which hydrocarbons, olefins, oxygenates, etc., are produced over a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst by using synthesis gas, so that the catalyst particles can easily be from a slurry which is discharged to the outside. That is, the present invention provides a reaction device for producing hydrocarbons from synthesis gas, in which an internal filter system for separating particles enlarged due to agglomeration phenomenon of a catalyst is installed inside the reactor, and a separating device is separately disposed outside, such that it is possible to recirculate only particles having a size appropriate for performing F-T synthesis in the slurry phase, and additionally, it is possible to effectively discharge and process a catalyst aggregated due to a combination of fine catalyst particles, the catalyst chipped off during the operation, etc., liquid hydrocarbon, resulting water, etc., in the slurry phase reactor.
US09266079B2

An apparatus for use in radial flow reactors is presented. The apparatus includes a first partition and a second partition with support members coupled therebetween. The first partition include a first opening and a second opening to allow the passage of fluid therethrough. A baffle extends into a flow channel formed by adjacent support members to obstruct an upper or lower portion of the first opening to interrupt a portion of the fluid flow therethrough.
US09266076B2

A device for generating droplets includes a substrate comprising a reservoir site configured to hold a liquid and including a first electrode, a droplet creation site including a second electrode, and droplet separation site disposed between the reservoir site and the droplet creation site and containing an electrode. The device includes control circuitry operatively coupled to the first, second, and third electrodes. The control circuitry is configured to measure the fluid volume on the electrodes and independently adjust an applied voltage to increase/decrease the quantity of fluid. The device can move fluid onto the creation site or back onto to the reservoir site. When the fluid volume is at the desired value or range, a driving voltage is delivered to the first and second electrodes to form a new droplet. The device may generate droplets having a uniform or user-defined size smaller than the electrode.
US09266073B2

A method and apparatus for hydrocarbon recovery and/or treatment of frac water includes introducing a volume of water into a formation, recovering the introduced water, with the recovered introduced water further comprising suspended hydrocarbon product. The recovered liquid is treated to remove substantial amounts of the suspended hydrocarbon product, provide the treated recovered liquid with a ORP in a range of 150 mv to 1000 mv, and partially desalinated, and is either re-introduced as treated recovered liquid with the ORP into a formation to assist in recovery of additional hydrocarbon deposits in the formation, or is stored to reduce the ORP and then subsequently discharged into surface waters.
US09266072B2

An emanation device is described which comprises: a replaceable refill of liquid containing one or more active materials wherein the active material comprises at least one of: a fragrance; an insecticide; a fungicide; a pesticide; a sanitizing material; and/or a pharmaceutical; wherein the refill comprises a sealed reservoir containing said volatile liquid and a porous wick which extends from the interior of the reservoir to the exterior thereof; and wherein the device comprises: an air pump; a fluid conduit in fluid communication with the air pump such that, in use, air pumped by the pump will flow through the fluid conduit; a nozzle located at the end of the fluid conduit remote from the air pump; a ejector constriction provided in the fluid conduit adjacent or substantially adjacent the nozzle; a liquid conduit provided adjacent the ejector constriction and in fluid communication with the fluid conduit at one end thereof, and open at the other end to receive liquid therein; characterized in that the liquid conduit is located within the porous wick.
US09266064B2

A CO slip catalyst, for treating an exhaust gas from a lean burn internal combustion engine, is disclosed. The CO slip catalyst comprises palladium and a ceria-containing material. The invention also includes a method for oxidizing excess CO in an exhaust gas, wherein the excess CO results from the periodic contact of an upstream catalyst under rich exhaust conditions. The method comprises contacting the excess CO in the exhaust gas with a CO slip catalyst at a temperature in the range of 100 to 700° C.
US09266059B2

A contaminant gas is removed from a feed gas in two absorption and stripping circuits operated in tandem. The gas is first passed through a rich gas absorber producing a rich absorption liquor from which contaminant gas is stripped in a rich liquor stripper. A lean gas exiting the rich gas absorber is passed through a lean gas absorber, producing a lean absorption liquor from which contaminant gas is stripper in a lean liquor stripper. Regenerated absorption media exiting the respective strippers are recirculated to the respective absorbers.
US09266055B2

Exhaust gas cleaning equipment including a gas scrubber and a scrubber fluid cleaning equipment for cleaning polluted scrubber fluid. The scrubber fluid cleaning equipment includes a centrifugal separator for separating at least a pollutant phase and a cleaned scrubber fluid from said polluted scrubber fluid. The centrifugal separator has a rotor enclosing a separation space with a stack of separating discs, a separator inlet for polluted scrubber fluid extending into said separation space, a first separator outlet for cleaned scrubber fluid extending from said separation space, and a second separator outlet for the pollutant phase extending from said separation space.
US09266049B2

Provided are an air-conditioner and a controlling method thereof. The air-conditioner includes a blower fan forcibly generating a flow of air, a filter disposed on a flow path of the air that forcibly flows by the blower fan, and a vibration actuator disposed on a side of the filter. The method for controlling an air-conditioner includes disposing a collection part under a filter of an air-conditioner, vibrating a vibration actuator disposed on a side of the filter, and separating the collection part from a lower side of the filter.
US09266045B2

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a strainer system comprising a plurality of strainer modules, each of which comprises multiple cassettes or cartridges assembled together in a prescribed arrangement. In the strainer system constructed in accordance with the present invention, the “clean” sides of the strainer modules are fluidly connected to each other by a plenum duct which also has a suction pump fluidly coupled thereto. Integrated into the plenum duct is a pressure released membrane (PRM) which is positioned so as to effectively isolate one of the strainer modules from the remaining active strainer modules included in the strainer system. The pressure released membrane is uniquely configured so as to facilitate the activation of the isolated strainer module when pressure across the plenum duct increases beyond a prescribed threshold.
US09266032B2

Toy blocks with internally disposed magnets, and methods of making same. Pockets for the magnets are machined into a non-extrudable material such as wood. Strong permanent magnets are disposed in the pockets to cause the faces of the block to exhibit a desired polarity magnetic field. The pockets are then sealed to permanently retain the magnets. The exterior shape of the block may be formed either prior to or subsequent to machining and sealing of the pockets.
US09266031B2

Disclosed is a block toy for music education which recognizes combined melody blocks so as to replay sounds in order having the same pitch as the melody blocks, thereby playing a melody. The corresponding melody block is lit up to display a playing melody block while playing a melody. It is possible to differentiate each melody block by detecting, with a mechanical switch, uneven patterns formed at the lower sides of melody blocks. Since music can be visually understood, the block toy can help the emotion and music education of children.
US09266025B2

Geographic gaming via a scalable, wireless geographic broadcast protocol enables multiplayer gaming between communication devices without relying on traditional network elements. Games can be fully distributed over an ad hoc network of mobile communications devices. The scalable nature of the wireless geographic broadcast protocol enables multiplayer games to function equally well in both remote areas with no or little network service and in crowded areas containing both game players and other users of mobile communications devices. Wireless geographic broadcast messages distributed among multiplayer game participants can be used to control gameplay features and/or game elements of multiplayer games. Embodiments include simulated artillery battles, simulated throw and catch games, and simulated reconnaissance elements.
US09266019B2

Technologies are generally described for providing a notification to a player playing a gesture-based game of a potentially dangerous condition. In some examples, a safety component of a gesture-based game system includes a gesture range determination unit configured to determine a gesture range associated with a gesture-based game; a detection unit configured to detect a movement of an object; and an alarm unit configured to generate an alarm in response to a determination based on the movement of the object which is within the gesture range.
US09266015B1

A magnetic dominos game set with pieces that magnetically connect end to end, side to side and side to end, and methods for manufacturing and playing magnetic dominos.
US09266011B2

A card-handling device reads a suit and value of individual cards that are moved through the card-handling device. Reading of the cards is effected after the cards have been received into a card holding area and before the cards have been delivered into a card collection area from which cards are removed from the card-handling device for use. The read suit and rank are then sent to a processor, wherein the processor identifies whether any card is a card that should be rejected from the card-handling device and the card-handling device then rejecting that card from the card-handling device.
US09266007B2

The inventive skate consists of an upper that is designed to accept the foot of the user. Other portions of the upper are preferably constructed using a semi-rigid material, such as fiberglass, nylon, plastic, etc. These semi-rigid portions of the upper decrease the flexibility of the upper in certain sections, thus increasing performance. The inventive skate also includes a blade chassis. The chassis includes a lower portion that is adapted to hold the skate's blade and an upper portion that is adapted to cover a portion of the upper. The inventive skate is configured so that the center of gravity of the skater is disposed generally centrally along the length of the skate chassis. This skate configuration is generally referred to as neutral pitch.
US09266002B2

A training apparatus for improving the skills of a sports player includes arranging targets around a player-occupied central location, associating at least one visual display with each target, generating a first detectable signal and simultaneously illuminating all but one of the visual displays with a common color or pattern of lights. The visual display that is not illuminated with the common color or pattern is uniquely illuminated so that the player may identify it. A second detectable signal is generated after a predetermined lapse of time from the first detectable signal. A ball is delivered to the central location from a ball-feeding location when the second detectable signal is generated. A passing box is secured to each of the targets and a sensor is secured to each passing box. The sensor generates a signal upon detection of a ball entering into the passing box and the time of detection is recorded.
US09265998B1

A golf club includes a tubular shaft, a golf club head affixed to a first end of the shaft, and a grip disposed about a second end of the shaft. The golf club head is a putter head having a loft angle of from about 0 degrees to about 6 degrees and a mass of from about 360 grams to about 400 grams. A movable weight is disposed within a hollow recess of the shaft and within a grip portion of the club. The movable weight is configured to be selectively repositionable within the grip portion by a user, and has a mass of from about 60 grams to about 80 grams.
US09265990B2

A housing assembly includes a plurality of hollow pipes forming a base section horizontally disposed and a support section vertically disposed with a top pipe. An operational assembly includes a plurality of block and tackle subassemblies. Each block and tackle sub assembly includes a fixed block with a plurality of upper pulleys depending from the top pipe. Each block and tackle sub assembly includes a movable tackle with a plurality of lower pulleys. Each movable tackle includes a cord with a fixed end, a movable end, and an intermediate section. The intermediate section winds back and forth between the lower pulleys and the upper pulleys. A belt has a clip attached to the movable end of each cord.
US09265977B2

Valves having an inner assembly comprising: a base plate spaced apart from a top plate to define therebetween an open side, the base plate defining an outlet; an outer assembly comprising solid side walls and being movable relative to the inner assembly between open and closed positions, an upper portion of the solid side walls seal with the top plate only when the outer assembly is in the closed position, a lower portion of the solid side walls seal with the base plate only when the outer assembly is in the closed position, wherein the open position allows flow through the valve via the open side portion and the outlet of the outer assembly; and an actuator mounted to the inner assembly and connected to the outer assembly to move the outer assembly between the open and closed positions in response to electrical control signals.
US09265972B2

An ultrasonic treatment system includes a probe which transmits ultrasonic vibration. In the system, a first energy generator generates treatment energy suitable for treating a living tissue in accordance with an instruction from a first instruction part. The probe is made ultrasonically vibrate with the first amplitude. A second energy generator generates destruction energy suitable for destroying the probe in accordance with an instruction from a second instruction part. The probe is made ultrasonically vibrate with the second amplitude.
US09265970B2

A particle beam irradiation system comprises deflection electromagnets which scan by deflecting the particle beam in two dimensions in the lateral direction which is perpendicular to an irradiation direction of the particle beam, and an energy width expanding device through which the particle beam passes so as to expand an energy width of the particle beam and form a SOBP in a depth direction of the irradiation target, that is, in an irradiation direction of the particle beam, wherein the energy width expanding device is configured to form the SOBP in the depth direction along whole irradiation area in the depth direction of the irradiation target, and the deflection electromagnets are controlled so as for an irradiation spot which is formed in the irradiation target by the particle beam to move stepwise along whole irradiation area in the lateral direction of the irradiation target.
US09265952B2

An electronic medical monitoring and treatment apparatus allows a victim of a medical emergency person access to a medical professional (MP) who can monitor, diagnose and treat the person from a remote site. The apparatus includes a cardiac medical monitoring and treatment device (MMTD) coupled to an electronic adapter designed to communicate with a local, first transmitting/receiving (T/R) device which, in turn, is adapted to electronically communicate with a remote, second transmitting/receiving (T/R) device used by the MP. The MMTD may comprise a cardiac treatment circuit for effecting cardiac pacing and/or defibrillation and a cardiac signal circuit for receiving cardiac signals. The cardiac signals are (1) transmitted from the signal circuit to the second T/R device for evaluation by the MP, (2) the MP may transmit a control signal to the treatment circuit, and (3), in response thereto, the treatment circuit may generate one or more electrical pulses for treatment of the person.
US09265951B2

A system and method for cardiac resynchronization therapy in which pacing control parameters are automatically adjusted by comparison of local electrograms acquired by a cardiac implantable electrical device with a model of cardiac electrical activity derived from surface-lead electrocardiograph measurements under baseline and paced conditions is provided. The adjusted pacing control parameters guarantee substantially maximum evidence of ventricular activation wavefront fusion while reducing the risk of compromising diastolic function. Atrioventricular intervals (AVIs] are measured and utilized to constrain the adjustment of pacing control parameters such that diastolic dysfunctions are not induced in the patient's heart.
US09265939B2

A medical lead is provided for use in a pulse stimulation system of the type which includes a pulse generator for producing electrical stimulation therapy. The lead comprises an elongate insulating body and at least one electrical conductor within the insulating body. The conductor has a proximal end configured to be electrically coupled to the pulse generator and has a DC resistance in the range of 375-2000 ohms. At least one distal electrode is coupled to the conductor.
US09265938B2

A transcoronary sinus pacing system comprising a sheath having a lumen, a pacing catheter having a pacing needle, wherein the catheter can be advanced within the lumen and placed in the LV summit, and a right ventricular pacing device. A LV summit pacing device. An early mitral valve closure pacing device configured to operate with a right ventricular apex pacing device. A method for implanting a pacing device at a target coronary sinus tissue location, wherein the target can be the posterior LV summit. A method for achieving early closure of a mitral valve. A method for using visualization devices such as fluoroscopy or ultrasound and/or catheter features such as a radiopaque marker to locate a target location for LV pacing and to avoid piercing an artery or the pericardium when anchoring the LV pacing electrode.
US09265935B2

A spinal cord lead anchor comprising a longitudinally extending sleeve having an aperture sized and positioned to receive a spinal cord lead. A retainer is disposed around the sleeve and is operative to compress at least a portion of the sleeve against a spinal cord lead extending through the sleeve. A cover extends around the retainer and includes at least one opening formed through the cover to facilitate engaging the retainer with a tool.
US09265931B2

Methods of treating language, behavioral and social disorders are described, including methods of treating language disorders associated with electrographic abnormalities in the primary or associative language cortex of persons with autism spectrum disorders, pervasive developmental delay or acquired epileptic aphasia. A language, behavioral and social disorder may be treated by detecting epileptiform activity or an electrographic seizure for a subject's brain and applying neurostimulation to a language cortical region of the subject's brain (e.g., a primary or associative language cortical region). Detection of epileptiform activity or an electrographic seizure and stimulation of language cortex may be performed by a sensing and/or stimulation electrode that is inserted into a subject's brain and connected to one or more neurostimulation devices for monitoring and/or stimulating the language cortex.
US09265926B2

In one embodiment, a surgical instrument comprises a handle assembly. The handle assembly comprises a closure trigger defining an energy button hole, an energy button located within the energy button hole, and a firing trigger. A shaft assembly is coupled to the handle assembly and comprises an outer tube, a closure actuator coupled to the closure trigger, and a firing actuator operatively coupled to the firing trigger. An end effector is coupled to a distal end of the shaft assembly. The end effector comprises a jaw assembly having a proximal end and a distal end. The jaw assembly comprises a first and a second jaw member. The first and second jaw members define a longitudinal slot. The closure actuator is coupled to the first jaw member to pivotally move the first jaw member from an open position to a closed position. A cutting member is deployable within the longitudinal slot.
US09265921B2

Tissue expansion system includes a pump, a controller, and inflatable bladder, and a pressure sensor. The pump is adapted for substantially continuous operation in response to a pressure within a subcutaneously implanted inflatable bladder. The pump is thus able to deliver inflation medium to the bladder when the pressure within the bladder is below a predetermined lower threshold while stopping delivery of the fluid when the pressure rises above a higher threshold or reaches a predetermined maximum volume.
US09265920B2

Balloon catheter and methods for making and using balloon catheters are disclosed. An example balloon catheter may include a proximal shaft. A midshaft may be attached to the proximal shaft. The midshaft may have an outer wall. A distal shaft may be attached to the midshaft. A balloon may be coupled to the distal shaft. An inflation lumen may be defined that extends from the proximal shaft, through the midshaft, and into the distal shaft. The inflation lumen may be in fluid communication with the balloon. A core wire may be disposed within the inflation lumen and may be attached to the midshaft.
US09265917B2

An introducer is configured to distinguish an introducer provided with a sheath tube whose wall thickness is reduced, from an introducer provided with a sheath tube whose wall thickness is not reduced, and to recognize the relationship between the inner diameter and the outer diameter for the sheath tube in which the wall thickness is reduced. The introducer includes an introducer sheath and a three-way stopcock portion. The introducer further includes a first information piece on at least one of the introducer sheath and the three-way stopcock portion and has an inner diameter dimension of the sheath tube as an index. Furthermore, a second information piece having an outer diameter dimension of the sheath tube as an index is on at least one of the introducer sheath and the three-way stopcock portion.
US09265916B2

A Retrograde Entry Antegrade Placement (REAP™) method and apparatus facilitate the antegrade (i.e., in the direction of blood flow) placement of endovascular devices for treatment of lower extremity arterial disease. Initially, a retrograde entry is made into the arterial system of a patient at an entry point with a curved needle, which then exits at an exit point proximal to the entry point, with a first wire then passed through the lumen of the curved needle. From the skin exit point, a Dual-Lumen Access Director (DAD) device is advanced in the antegrade direction down the first wire in a first lumen and enters the CFA lumen. A second wire is passed down a second lumen in the DAD device and follows the SFA lumen in the antegrade direction. The DAD device is removed, and a standard dilator sheath is inserted over the second wire and the endovascular treatment begins.
US09265914B2

An example of recovery catheter assembly comprises an actuator element and a mechanically radially expandable and contractible recovery device operably connected to the actuator element. The recovery device has proximal and distal blocking portions and a central portion therebetween. The recovery device is at least partially placeable in a first, radially collapsed configuration and in a second, radially expanded configuration by manipulation of the actuator element. When in the second, radially expanded configuration, the proximal and distal blocking portions have radial dimensions greater than the radial dimension of the central portion thereby at least partially defining a collection chamber at the central portion.
US09265912B2

A system by which resource information relating to an insertable medical device, such as an intravascular catheter, can be identified by its source so as to be accessed by a practitioner, caregiver, or patient, is disclosed. In particular, a resource information key is included at a predetermined key location on or proximate to the medical device, wherein the key indicates the source of the resource information. In one example embodiment, therefore, an insertable medical device for establishing intravascular access to a patient, such as a peripherally inserted central catheter (“PICC”), is disclosed and comprises: an internal portion, and a portion external to the patient that includes a resource information key indicating a website where a user can acquire resource information relating to the medical device. In other embodiments indicia are provided as quick response (“QR”) codes, and as various markings to indicate compatibility of the medical device with ethanol.
US09265910B2

An adapter includes: a first connection connected to a mouthpiece, a second connection in communication with the first connection, receiving an aerosol, and delivering the aerosol to a patient, a third connection receiving breathable air from a source, a connector located between the first and second connection such that the connector is in fluidic association with an expulsion nozzle of a nebulizer when the first connection is connected to the nebulizer, the connector receiving the aerosol dispensed from the expulsion nozzle and conveying the aerosol to the second connection, where the first connection is connectible in a leak-tight manner to at least one of the expulsion nozzle and a projection that surrounds the expulsion nozzle, so that no supply air or breathable air can flow past the expulsion nozzle through or into the first connection, thereby closing off air supply openings of the nebulizer.
US09265894B2

A syringe for dispensing anesthetic from a cartridge having an interior wall defining a hollow interior sized and shaped for receiving a dose of anesthetic, and a piston. The syringe includes a tubular plunger slidably received in the hollow interior of the tubular cartridge. The plunger has a hollow interior extending between a distal end shaped for engaging the piston and an open proximal end. The syringe includes a plunger rod slidably received in the hollow interior of the tubular plunger. The rod has a sharp distal end adapted to penetrate the piston, a proximal end, and a length extending between the distal end and the proximal end sized so a delivery portion of the rod extends through the piston into the cartridge when the rod is driven through the piston. The delivery portion includes a recess for receiving a buffering agent to reduce acidity of the dose of anesthetic.
US09265885B2

A dual one-way check valve arrangement (300) that may be used for assessing an operating condition of at least one of first and second check valves (304, 308) situated in series along/within a section of a patient-specific section of tubing (244). A pressure sensor (332) may be associated with at least part of the flow path between the first and second check valves (304, 308) and may be operable to provide an indication of a failed condition of at least one of the first and second check valves (304, 308). In one embodiment, the pressure sensor (332) may change from a first state to a second state upon fluid pressure within the flow path between the first and second check valves (304, 308) falling below a predetermined level. For instance, the predetermined level may be a cracking pressure of at least one of the first and second check valves (304, 308). The change in state may be visually discernible on an exterior of the pressure sensor (332).
US09265879B2

A patch-sized fluid delivery device may include a reusable portion and a disposable portion. The disposable portion may include components that come into contact with the fluid, while the reusable portion may include only components that do not come into contact with the fluid. Redundant systems, such as redundant controllers, power sources, motor actuators, and alarms, may be provided. Alternatively or additionally, certain components can be multi-functional, such a microphones and loudspeakers that may be used for both acoustic volume sensing and for other functions and a coil that may be used as both an inductive coupler for a battery recharger and an antenna for a wireless transceiver. Various types of network interfaces may be provided in order to allow for remote control and monitoring of the device.
US09265878B2

Embodiments of a needle stand are disclosed that include a base, an arching boom, and a tube, wherein the needle stand supports a biopsy needle. The base defines a plane and the base is configured to attach to a patient. The boom is attached to the base and has a length and a convex curvature and defines a plurality of holes along all or a portion of the length. The tube is sized to retain a needle handle of the biopsy needle. Each of the plurality of holes is sized to retain the tube and each of the plurality of holes defines an axis. The plane and each of the axes form a unique point of entry angle for the biopsy needle. In one embodiment, each of the plurality of holes is spaced at an interval along the boom that corresponds to about 10° increment in the angle.
US09265872B2

The invention relates to a device and a method for measuring a blood constituent in blood for an extracorporeal blood treatment device, comprising a dialyzer or a filter, and a hose line system comprising hose lines that are pervious to electromagnetic radiation. The kinetics of a liquid flowing at a measuring site in one of the hose lines of the hose line system is varied by varying the flow properties of the liquid in the hose line at the measuring site, particularly by stopping a blood pump arranged in the hose line and/or by closing a shut-off member in the hose line. The invention analyzes the intensity of the light entering the hose line at the measuring site and the light exiting the hose line at the measuring site.
US09265871B2

A skin interface device (“SID”) for a cardiac assist device, including a SID cap having a first housing, an annular sleeve, and a first annular winding disposed over said annular sleeve. The SID further includes a SID base having a second housing formed to include a tubular portion, a cylindrical member disposed in said tubular portion, and a second annular winding disposed around said cylindrical member. The SID cap is configured to be rotationally attached to said SID base. When the SID cap is attached to the SID base, the second annular winding is disposed within the first annular winding, and the relative positions of the first annular winding and the second annular winding are fixed both laterally and vertically.
US09265870B2

A blood pump includes a rotor having a flared portion downstream proximate a downstream bearing that supports the rotor. The flared portion of the rotor includes a width greater than a width of an upstream portion of the rotor. A blood pump also includes a housing having an internal wall with a flared portion downstream of a motor stator and proximate a transverse outlet.
US09265852B2

The invention relates to novel deodorant compositions containing at least one compound of the family of acetylenic ketones and the deodorant products containing them. A particularly preferred composition according to the invention comprises at least one compound of the family of the α-acetylenic ketones and a mixture of aldehydes chosen from two different families.
US09265850B2

An ultraviolet sanitizer with flexible wand. A flexible wand is connected to a generator of ultraviolet radiation. The generator is mounted within a housing and connectable to a source of electrical energy. The distal wand end includes a switch for controlling the emission of the ultraviolet radiation from the wand with a distal tip directing the radiation toward the surface to be sanitized.
US09265843B2

Described herein is a system which uses a gene therapy particle that includes at least one gene, cDNA, fragment or analogue of at least one neurotropin that binds to the trkB receptor or the trkB receptor itself. The gene therapy particle is capable of being delivered to a subject in need thereof for therapy of a metabolic disorder. In a particular aspect, this invention is directed to an inventive method that demonstrates a remarkable efficacy on lowering body weight.
US09265840B2

Process for conjugation of bacterial saccharides including Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae saccharides by reductive amination are provided herein.
US09265838B2

Conjugates which comprise a drug and a ligand which includes a first saccharide; wherein the conjugate is characterized in that, when the conjugate is administered to a mammal, at least one pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic property of the conjugate is sensitive to serum concentration of a second saccharide. Exemplary conjugates and sustained release formulations are provided in addition to methods of use and preparation.
US09265831B2

Long term storage stable bendamustine-containing compositions are disclosed. The compositions can include bendamustine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable fluid which can include in some embodiments PEG, PG or mixtures thereof and an antioxidant or chloride ion source. The bendamustine-containing compositions have less than about 5% total impurities, on a normalized peak area response (“PAR”) basis as determined by high performance liquid chromatography (“HPLC”) at a wavelength of 223 nm, after at least about 15 months of storage at a temperature of from about 5° C. to about 25° C.
US09265828B2

The present disclosure relates to a hydrogel composition and methods of using the same. The hydrogel composition may include precursors that react with each other upon contact as well as precursors that react upon contact with an initiator. In embodiments, the resulting hydrogels may have varying levels of crosslinking with both denser and less dense regions.
US09265823B2

The present invention relates to the rapid induction of a protective immune response against infectious agents using a poxvirus. An immune response can be induced by administering the poxvirus 7 to 2 days prior to infection with the infections agents.
US09265814B2

The invention provides micronized encapsulated cell therapy devices that are capable of delivering a biologically active molecule to the eye. Also provided are methods of using the same to deliver biologically active molecules to the eye and to treat ophthalmic disorders in patients suffering there from.
US09265812B2

The pharmaceutical compositions described herein include a suspension which comprises an admixture in solid form of a therapeutically effective amount of a therapeutic agent and at least one salt of a medium chain fatty acid and a hydrophobic medium, e.g. castor oil or glyceryl tricaprylate or a mixture thereof. The pharmaceutical compositions described herein contain medium chain fatty acid salts and are substantially free of alcohols. The pharmaceutical compositions may be encapsulated in a capsule. Methods of treating or preventing diseases by administering such compositions to affected subjects are also disclosed.
US09265811B2

Enteric compositions comprising one or more tight junction agonists and/or one or more tight junction antagonists are provided. Compositions of the invention may comprise a delayed-release coating disposed over a tight junction agonist and/or tight junction antagonist layer which may be disposed over an inert core. Delayed-release coatings may be substantially stable in gastric fluid and substantially unstable in intestinal fluid, thus providing for substantial release of the tight junction agonist and/or antagonist from the composition in the duodenum or jejunum of the small intestine.
US09265808B2

An antioxidant-promoting composition that increases antioxidant defense potential in a subject is disclosed. The composition contains Bacopa monnieri extract comprising a Bacopa monnieri active ingredient; a Silybum marianum (milk thistle) extract comprising a Silybum marianum active ingredient; a Withania somnifera (ashwagandha) extract comprising a Withania somnifera active ingredient; a Camellia sinensis (green tea) extract comprising a Camellia sinensis active ingredient; a Curcuma longa (turmeric) extract comprising at least one Curcuma longa active ingredient, and optionally a Centella asiatica (Gotu kola) extract; a Ginko biloba extract; an Aloe vera extract; and N-acetyl cysteine. The process for quantifying Nrf2 transcription factor activating potential of the botanical extracts comprising the botanical active ingredients is described.
US09265806B2

A pharmaceutical composition and a food composition including extracts of Monsonia sp. for treating dementia, which compositions inhibit the formation of β-amyloid, and a method of preparing the extracts.
US09265803B2

Methods are also provided for isolating and using a whole-saliva leech extract in the treatment of a melanoma. The methods can include feeding a phagostimulatory agent to a leech; inducing a regurgitation in the leech, the inducing including placing the leech in an environment having a temperature of less than about 0° C.; and, collecting an unrefined, whole saliva in the regurgitation of the cooled leech. The methods can include revitalizing the leech by warming it at a temperature ranging from about 5° C. to about 40° C. Stable, lyophilized, whole-saliva extracts of a leech are also provided, the extract having a stable activity when stored for use at a temperature below about −20° C., the extract maintaining at least 70% of the activity for at least 6 months. The extracts can be used to treat solid tumors, treat liquid tumors, treat diabetes, treat a viral disease, treat a parasitic disease, treat an antibacterial disease, or serve as an anti-oxidant.
US09265794B2

Methods of promoting bone healing or regeneration by locally administering insulin mimetic agents to patients in need thereof and new uses of insulin-mimetic compounds for accelerating bone-healing processes are disclosed. Bone injury treatment and void filler devices, products and kit suitable for local administration of insulin-mimetic agents or compositions thereof to patients in need of such treatment are also disclosed.
US09265793B2

The present invention relates to compositions based on silver and hyaluronic acid and their use in the management of cutaneous lesions of various origin (acute and chronic wounds, ulcerations, burns, etc.) mainly when characterized by the presence of exudate and hence at high risk of infection.
US09265783B2

This application relates to combination therapies including triciribine compounds and epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor compounds, particularly erlotinib-like compounds and compositions with reduced toxicity for the treatment and prevention of tumors, cancer, and other disorders associated with abnormal cell proliferation.
US09265781B2

The invention provides a process for enabling the production of a particulate composition containing anhydrous crystalline ascorbic acid 2-glucoside that does not significantly cake even when the production yield of ascorbic acid 2-glucoside does not reach 35% by weight. The process for producing a particulate composition containing anhydrous crystalline ascorbic acid 2-glucoside, which comprises allowing a CGTase to act on a solution containing either liquefied starch or dextrin and L-ascorbic acid and then allowing a glucoamylase to act on the resulting solution to obtain a solution with an ascorbic acid 2-glucoside production yield of at least 27%, purifying the obtained solution to increase the ascorbic acid 2-glucoside content to a level of over 86% by weight, precipitating anhydrous crystalline ascorbic acid 2-glucoside by a controlled cooling method or pseudo-controlled cooling method, collecting the precipitated anhydrous crystalline ascorbic acid 2-glucoside, and ageing and drying the collected anhydrous crystalline ascorbic acid 2-glucoside.
US09265778B2

Oral dosage forms of bisphosphonate compounds, such as zoledronic acid, can be used to treat or alleviate pain or related conditions. The oral bioavailability of zoledronic acid can be enhanced by administering the zoledronic acid in the disodium salt form.
US09265756B2

The present disclosure provides a crystalline form of grapiprant selected from the group consisting of Form X, Form X2, Form X3, Form F, Form K, Form L, Form M, and Form N. Also provided is a pharmaceutical composition, the composition comprising at least one crystalline form of grapiprant, and at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, wherein the crystalline form of grapiprant is selected from the group consisting of Form X, Form X2, Form X3, Form F, Form K, Form L, Form M, and Form N. Other aspects of the disclosure provide a process for preparing a substantially pure crystalline Form A of grapiprant. The process comprises contacting grapiprant at ambient temperature with a solvent comprising dichloromethane and acetone to form a saturated or a near saturated solution. Crystals of the substantially pure crystalline Form A of grapiprant are formed.
US09265747B2

The present invention provides compositions, preparations, formulations, kits, and methods useful for treating subjects in need of therapeutic protocol, including subjects having cancer or at risk of developing cancer. Some embodiments of the invention may comprise a composition comprising a first component comprising a precursor to a therapeutically active platinum agent and a precursor to a second therapeutically active agent. The therapeutically active platinum agent and the second therapeutically active agent may dissociate from each other, thereby forming a first therapeutically active platinum agent and a second therapeutically active agent. The second therapeutically active gent may affect a cellular pathway of a cancer cell and may be substantially inactive towards non-cancerous cells.
US09265744B2

Fulvic acid as the active ingredient is used in the treatment or inhibition of multi-drug resistant bacteria, in particular NDM-1 bacteria producing carbapenemase or extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ES8L) resistant bacteria. The multi-drug resistant bacteria may be gram negative bacteria including, but not limited to, Klebsiella pneumoniae or Escherichia coli. The fulvic acid can be provided in combination with one or more antibiotics from the class of carbapenems or polymyxin antibiotics.
US09265743B2

An agent induces heat shock protein in human and animal cells. The agent includes at least one phenol compound that is a cinnamic acid derivative and at least one nonionic surfactant. The agent is useful in cosmetic preparations, food supplements and foodstuffs.
US09265740B2

Methods and compositions for using a tetracycline compound to treat bacterial infections are described. In one embodiment, for example, the invention provides a method of treating a subject for an infection, comprising administering to said subject an effective amount of 9-[(2,2-dimethyl-propyl amino)-methyl]-minocycline or a salt thereof, such that said subject is treated, wherein said infection is selected from the group consisting of MSSA, MRSA, B-streptococci, Viridans Streptococci, Enterococcus, or combinations thereof.
US09265735B2

Methods for treating Alzheimer's Disease (AD) using modulators of lysosomal activity are described herein. More particularly, methods described herein relate to the use and application of compounds or agents that enhance lysosomal activity for the treatment of AD. In a particular aspect, the method relates to the use and application of compounds or agents that increase the pH of the lysosome and/or increase the overall activity of lysosomal proteases for the treatment of AD. Also described herein are methods and assays for screening to identify compounds or agents that increase the pH of the lysosome and/or increase the overall activity of lysosomal proteases for the treatment of AD.
US09265720B2

There is provided a formulation suitable for transmucosal administration comprising a short acting hypnotic drug, which formulation provides a measurable plasma concentration of drug within 10 minutes of administration. The formulation is capable of providing sleep on demand, and preferably comprises particles of drug, for example zolpidem or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof and a mucoadhesion promoting agent, such as sodium carboxymethylcellulose, which particles of drug and mucoadhesive are presented upon the surface of larger carrier particles.
US09265719B2

The present invention relates to a use of an effective amount of at least one probiotic microorganism and/or a fraction thereof and/or a metabolite thereof for preventing and/or treating dandruff disorders of the scalp, as well as a cosmetic process for preventing and/or treating a dandruff condition including the administration a first cosmetic active agent and of at least a second cosmetic active agent, topically, the said first and second cosmetic active agents being formulated in separate compositions, the first cosmetic active agent being chosen from probiotic microorganisms, and mixtures thereof, and the second cosmetic active agent being chosen from antidandruff active agents.
US09265714B2

An aqueous cleansing composition comprising a cationic surfactant, a nonionic surfactant, and a thickener comprising an alkoxylated methyl glucose ether, wherein a weight ratio of cationic surfactant to nonionic surfactant is greater than 0.9:1. The combination of the cationic:nonionic surfactant ratio with the alkoxylated methyl glucose ether thickener provides the composition with cold weather stability. Cold weather stability is observed when the composition remains transparent after cold storage.
US09265713B2

The present invention is directed to a cosmetic composition containing: a) a block copolymer; b) a primary tackifier; c) a high viscosity ester; d) an alkoxylated mixed polyester; e) a wax; f) a solvent; and g) optionally, a colorant. The invention is also directed to a method of making up keratinous substrates involving applying onto the keratinous substrates said composition.
US09265710B2

Oral care compositions containing a stannous salt and sodium tripolyphosphate are provided where stannous tripolyphosphate ionic intermediates comprise less than about 1 of the compositions. Tetrasodium pyrophosphate, a methylvinyl ether-maleic anhydride copolymer and/or a silica oral polishing agent may be added for further efficacy. In a single phase blend, the oral care composition may be effectively limited to comprise less than about 10% water. In a dual-phase blend, a mixture having the stannous salt in a first phase and the sodium tripolyphosphate in a second phase may be generated from a dual chamber storage tube (with each phase provided from a separate chamber) prior to dental care usage.
US09265700B2

The present invention relates to a new method for the production of coloured cosmetic powders having a solid and creamy consistency for use on the skin of the eyes, face and body, to the powders of a solid and creamy consistency obtained with said production method and to their use as a cosmetic.
US09265699B2

A gravity fed infant feeding device is disclosed. The gravity feeding device may have a cover with a through hole that allows liquid nutrients within the infant feeding device to be fed to an infant by way of gravity. If the infant feeding device clogs up, then either an integrated pump or a separate pump may be applied to the infant feeding device to increase pressure and push out the clog from the system. the through hole may be covered with a hydrophobic filter to allow air to pass there through and allow the feeding of the infant by way of gravity yet liquid nutrients within the infant feeding device cannot escape or be contaminated during use.
US09265694B2

The present invention application provides a bathtub. On the bathtub wall are fixed ultrasonic transmitters, and an ultrasonic transducer drive circuit is electrically connected to ultrasonic transducers. The ultrasonic transmitters further include an ultrasonic divergent structure which, after reflecting and scattering the ultrasonic waves emitted by the ultrasonic transducers, transmits the same into the bathtub (e.g., into the water of the tub).
US09265693B2

The proposed method and devices provide for an effective improvement of the blood flow in the vessels of a human's extremities due to generation of an ante-grade pressure wave of blood synchronized with phases of the cardiac cycle with the help of compression impulses. The devices provide an improved accuracy of the time and amplitude characteristics of the compression impulses and functioning in modes of generation both the ante-grade wave and external counter-pulsation.
US09265690B2

A therapeutic apparatus includes an electrical stimulation delivery device, and at least one secondary modality delivery device, wherein the secondary modality delivery device is in an active state during at least a portion of a refractory period of the electrical stimulation delivery device.
US09265684B2

The invention features a desk and recovery system that affords the user the ability to avoid stress and strain on the user's back, head and neck. The system features an upper body support featuring a torso or chest support which receives the stomach of the user for face-down support or face-down recovery. Adjustable arms are provided for an entertainment system, such as keyboard and monitor. The torso or chest, knee and buttocks supports can tilt, rotate and are height adjustable.
US09265683B2

Caskets, cap panel assemblies for a casket, and methods for manufacturing cap panel assemblies are described. A casket may include a casket shell, at least one casket cap pivotally mounted on the casket shell, and a cap panel assembly mounted in the at least one casket cap. The cap panel assembly may include a cap panel, a puffing member attached to each edge of the cap panel, a cap panel insert positioned in-line with the cap panel, and a plurality of resilient members positioned on a front face of the cap panel insert. The plurality of resilient members may be tensioned, for example, to hold keepsakes, memorabilia, or other types of objects on or in the cap panel insert. The cap panel insert can include a mounting bracket or a screw and wire assembly for mounting the cap panel insert on a wall.
US09265682B2

Caskets, cap panel assemblies for a casket, and methods for manufacturing cap panel assemblies are described. A casket may include a casket shell, at least one casket cap pivotally mounted on the casket shell, and a cap panel assembly mounted in the at least one casket cap. The cap panel assembly may include a cap panel, a puffing member attached to each edge of the cap panel, and a cap panel insert. The cap panel insert is fastened to the cap panel using pins. The cap panel insert can include a frame, fabric, filler, and a backing board. The cap panel insert can include elastic or ribbon-shaped straps positioned on a front face of the cap panel insert. The elastic or ribbon-shaped straps can be positioned in a lattice or grid-like arrangement. The cap panel insert can include a mounting bracket or a screw and wire assembly for mounting the cap panel insert on a wall.
US09265677B2

Embodiments of the invention are directed to hospital beds that are convertible to side egress chair beds and include a pair of spaced stand-assist supports pivotally attached to the base frame so that when the patient support surface is in the side-egress chair configuration, the stand-assist supports are configured to reside upwardly above and on opposing sides of the scat panel with a respective upper portion thereof providing a handle for a patient.
US09265673B2

A folded absorbent article is provided. The folded absorbent article includes an absorbent assembly having a liquid permeable inner layer, an outer layer, and an absorbent body between the inner and outer layers. The folded absorbent article further includes a pair of ears extending outward from absorbent assembly in the back waist region, with each ear including a loop fastening component, and a pair of spaced-apart hook fastening components on the outer layer in the front waist region. A pair of longitudinally extending foldlines are also provided in the front waist region. An outboard-most longitudinal edge of each of the hook fastening components is spaced apart from a respective side of the absorbent assembly, and an inboard-most longitudinal edge is spaced apart from a respective longitudinally extending foldline at least a distance equal to a predetermined process range.
US09265669B2

An absorbent article having a body-facing side and a garment-facing side generally comprises a chassis, a liquid permeable bodyside liner, an absorbent structure, a front bodyside waist elastic member, a rear bodyside waist elastic member, a front garment-side waist elastic member, and a rear garment-side waist elastic member. The chassis has a front waist region, a back waist region, and a crotch region extending between the front waist region and the back waist region. The front and rear bodyside waist elastic members are disposed on the body-facing side of the absorbent article, and the front and rear garment-side waist elastic members are disposed on the garment-facing side of the absorbent article. At least one of the garment-side waist elastic members and the bodyside waist elastic members are configured to fully extend around a waist opening of the absorbent article when the absorbent article is in the wear configuration.
US09265666B2

A device for treatment of nosebleeds having an elongated body configured to be positioned between the upper gum and the portion of the face below the nose and above the top lip of a human. When so positioned intra-orally, the device exerts pressure on an area of nasal vascularization of the human. Also, a nosebleed package having a sterile inside environment and a nosebleed device packaged therein, and a box containing a plurality of nosebleed packages.
US09265649B2

Apparatus and methods are provided for treating sleep apnea, snoring, and the like using an implant within an oropharyngeal region adjacent an anterior longitudinal ligament. The implant may include a relatively narrow central region between first and second relatively wide outer regions. In one embodiment, one of the outer regions is compressible to allow the outer region to be directed through or behind the ligament such that the central region is disposed within or behind the ligament, the outer region being resiliently expandable after passing through or behind the ligament. In another embodiment, the implant may include one or more tines or other features that may be directed into adjacent tissue to secure the implant within the oropharyngeal region.
US09265648B2

A multilayer film for ostomy and bowel management applications includes a barrier layer comprising at least about 90% wt. nylon 6/69. The multilayer film provides excellent mechanical and odor barrier properties, and softness and quietness desired in ostomy and bowel management applications.
US09265645B2

An orthotic device includes a frame having a first shell defining front and rear surfaces, and extending longitudinally into the anterior and posterior sides of the brace. A tightening mechanism is mounted onto the first shell, and has a ratchet strap located along the rear surface of the first shell and a ratchet device mounted on the front surface of the first shell. An elongate tensioning device having a first end portion is connected to the ratchet strap.
US09265644B2

A wearable device includes a unitary first frame assembly which is integrally formed from first and second polymeric materials. The first frame assembly has a first frame portion formed by the first polymeric material and extends around part of a second frame portion formed by the second polymeric material. The first frame member includes a flexible first shell and a first connecting portion which depends from the first shell. The second frame portion forms part of the first shell and continuously extends to the first connecting portion without interruption. The second polymeric material has greater rigidity than the first polymeric material. The device also includes a second frame assembly having a second connecting portion which links to the first connecting portion.
US09265641B2

An orthotic apparatus includes a garment, first and second switches, a power source, an indicator and a series of electrical conductors. When a patient wearing the garment assumes an undesirable position, the switches are activated and the indicator produces an audible, visual or other prompt to remind the patient to change position.
US09265640B2

An apparatus comprises a sleeve, a seal, and an anchor assembly. The sleeve is flexible and non-permeable and is configured to fit in a duodenum. The seal is positioned at the proximal end of the sleeve and is configured to seal the proximal end of the sleeve against the stomach mucosa, the pylorus, or the duodenum mucosa. The anchor assembly comprises a pair of atraumatic anchor ends and a resilient member positioned between the anchor ends. At least a portion of the resilient member extends along at least a portion of the length of the sleeve. The resilient member is configured to bias the anchor ends generally toward each other, to thereby substantially anchor the sleeve in the duodenum. The sleeve is configured to prevent chyme from contacting the mucosa of the duodenum; and to prevent enzymes excreted in the duodenum from mixing with chyme in the duodenum.
US09265638B2

The invention discloses a one-piece stent implanter, including a front handle and a rear handle; the front end of the front handle is provided with an outer pipe whose top is flexibly connected with a cautery tip, the outer pipe is internally provided with a middle pipe and a stent; the rear handle includes a stainless steel pipe for supporting and an inner pipe positioned in the stainless steel pipe, the top of the inner pipe is fixedly connected to the cautery tip; one end of the middle pipe is mutually touched and connected with one end of the stent, while the other end of the middle pipe is mutually connected with the stainless steel pipe; one end of the stent is close to the cautery tip, with a certain gap kept; when the front handle is retreated along the stainless steel pipe, the outer pipe simultaneously retreats and separates from the cautery tip, positions of the middle pipe and the rear handle remain unchanged, and the stent is automatically released. The invention wherein the stent can be directly implanted into a nidus organ incised and an access from the outside to the nidus organ is established, so that other medical apparatuses and instruments can be continuingly used for removal (including other surgeries) of infectious agents or necrotic tissues, thus increasing comprehensiveness of surgeries and avoiding patients from suffering from repeated operations.
US09265634B2

A braided stent having an integral retrieval and/or repositioning loop includes a plurality of wires having first and second ends interbraided in a braided pattern to form a tubular stent having opposed atraumatic first and second open ends with each open end having a circumference. The first and second wires ends are disposed at the second stent open end and the wires are looped at the second stent open end so that none of the first or second wires ends are exposed at the circumference of second stent open end. The at least of two of said wires are formed into a repositioning and/or retrieval loop having an elongated portion circumferentially disposed at the first opposed open end. The reposition and/or retrieval loop also includes two sections which run adjacent to each other prior to crossing to permit grabbing of both sections simultaneously by a practitioner.
US09265632B2

Methods of supporting a vein, featuring deforming a vein support while being mounted on the vein. Such deformation may be sufficient to impose thereupon a plastic deformation that alters a length of the vein support, from a pre-deformation relaxed length to a post-deformation relaxed length different than the pre-deformation relaxed length. Following the plastic deformation, the vein support may maintain a new shape relative to a longitudinal axis thereof.
US09265631B2

The present invention relates to a stet for the positioning and anchoring of a valvular prosthesis in an implantation site in the heart of a patient. Specifically, the present invention relates to an expandable stent for an endoprosthesis used in the treatment of a narrowing of a cardiac valve and/or a cardiac valve insufficiency. So as to ensure that no longitudinal displacement of a valvular prosthesis fastened to a stent will occur relative the stent in the implanted state of the stent, even given the peristaltic motion of the heart, the stent according to the invention comprises at least one fastening portion via which the valvular prosthesis is connectable to the stent. The stent further comprises positioning arches and retaining arches, whereby at least one positioning arch is connected to at least one retaining arch via a first connecting web. The stent moreover comprises at least one auxiliary retaining arch which connects the respective arms of the at least one retaining arch connected to the at least one positioning arch.
US09265622B2

A method and system for percutaneous fusion to correct disc compression is presented. The method has several steps, for instance, inserting a percutaneous lumbar interbody implant; positioning guide wires for each facet screw to be implanted; performing facet arthrodesis in preparation for the facet screws; fixating the plurality of facet screws; and optionally performing foramen nerve root or central decompression. The system includes an implant, an elongate cannulated insertion tool, and an elongate lockshaft positioned within the insertion tool.
US09265621B2

An intervertebral fusion cage that is adapted to contain an inserter within its inner volume during insertion of the cage.
US09265619B2

The present invention relates to an intervertebral disk prosthesis comprising at least three parts including a first plate, referred to as the upper plate (1), a second plate, referred to as the lower plate (2), and a core (3), the upper surface of the core (3) being in contact with at least part (10) of the lower surface of the upper plate (1) and the lower surface of the core (3) being in contact with at least part of the upper surface of the lower plate (2), and the lower plate (1) being movable at least with respect to the core (3), characterized in that there are cooperation means between the lower to plate (2) and the core (3), so as to limit or eliminate translation movements of the core (3) with respect to the lower plate (2) along an axis substantially parallel to the lower plate (2), and to limit or eliminate rotation movements of the core (3) with respect to the lower plate (2), around an axis substantially perpendicular to the lower plate (2), the planes passing through the upper (1) is and lower (2) plates forming a substantially constant angle.
US09265612B1

A hip implant having two distinct bodies, a neck body and a bone fixation body. The neck body is formed from a solid metal and has an interface for connecting to a femoral ball. The bone fixation body has an elongated shape and is formed as a porous structure that is inserted into an intramedullary canal of a patient.
US09265610B2

An implantable medical device for lubrication of a synovial joint having a joint cavity is provided. The implantable device comprises a solid lubricant and a feeding device, wherein said feeding device is adapted to feed said solid lubricant into the joint cavity for lubricating the synovial joint.
US09265607B2

A crimping tool for use with a collapsible prosthetic valve having a stent frame with a plurality of cell openings, and a valve structure assembled in the stent frame. The crimping tool includes a plurality of resilient tines defining an array around a longitudinal axis of the crimping tool. The array has a first cross-section in an expanded state and a second cross-section less than the first cross-section in a collapsed state. The plurality of tines are adapted to intersect the plurality of cell openings in an assembled position of the crimping tool on the prosthetic valve to prevent pinching of the valve structure by the stent frame as the prosthetic valve is collapsed.
US09265590B2

A multimodal fiducial marker (10) for registration of data is disclosed. The multimodal fiducial marker (10) generally comprises a first portion (12) made from at least one radiopaque material and a second portion (14) made from a porous material capable of absorbing at least one radioactive material. The second portion (14) at least partially surrounds the first portion (12).
US09265587B2

A method for determining an insertion trajectory of a tool for reaching a moving target object prior to its insertion into a tissular matrix. The method comprises acquiring images of the tissular matrix, constructing a three-dimensional representation of the tissular matrix, determining coordinates of the initial position of the target object and any obstacles, and determining at least one potential trajectory of the tool from the coordinates of any obstacles and the initial position of the target object. The method further comprises simulating insertion of the tool in the tissular matrix to determine displacement of the target object during insertion of the tool up to the initial position of the target object along a potential trajectory, determining a new position of the target object based on the determined displacement, and determining the insertion trajectory for the new position of the target object.
US09265581B2

Medical apparatus, including a local medical tool and a remote medical tool, located remotely from the local medical tool. The apparatus includes a lockable joint, physically connected to the local medical tool, that is operable in a locked state or in an unlocked state. A handle is physically connected to the lockable joint, so that in the locked state of the joint, movements of the handle are directly transferred to corresponding movements of the local medical tool. The apparatus includes sensors that are configured, in the unlocked state of the joint, to measure motions of the handle with respect to the lockable joint. The apparatus also includes a controller, which in the unlocked state of the joint receives indications of the motions of the handle with respect to the lockable joint, and which is configured to apply the indications to generate corresponding motions for the remote medical tool.
US09265578B2

A package for a medical device includes a tray having elements that receive a medical device. The tray has proximal retainer posts for limiting proximal movement of the medical device relative to the tray. The package includes a retainer lid secured to the tray for covering the top surface of the tray at the distal end of the tray, and a retainer sleeve that is wrapped around the top and bottom surfaces of the tray and secured to the tray by the retainer lid. The proximal end of the retainer sleeve includes a top panel that covers the top surface of the tray at the proximal end of the tray. The top panel of the retainer sleeve has a free edge that is adapted to flex away from the top surface of said tray so that the medical device can be grasped.
US09265577B2

Methods and systems for providing planning and dispensation of research and/or treatment for brain disease. Radiological information is generated in a region of interest in an area of the a brain of an individual using a radiological imaging system. A physiological states model is constructed which assesses physiological states of the region of interest. Locations of sources of interstitial fluid flow, fluid conductivities of paths, and anatomical information in the region of interest are obtained using the radiological imaging information. Velocities of the interstitial fluid flow in the region of interest are computed using the physiological states model, the locations of sources of interstitial flow, the fluid conductivities, and the anatomic information. A model of the area of the brain is created, the model including the region of interest.
US09265575B2

According to some embodiments, a method of treating a subject having diabetes or symptoms associated with diabetes is provided. The method includes delivering a neuromodulation catheter within a vessel (e.g., hepatic artery) having surrounding nerves that innervate the liver (e.g., sympathetic nerves of the hepatic plexus). The method may also include modulating (e.g., disrupting, ablating, stimulating) the nerves by mechanical compression, energy delivery, or fluid delivery.
US09265570B2

A surgical instrument comprises an end effector including a pair of jaw members configured to move with respect to one another between an open configuration and a closed configuration for clamping tissue. At least one jaw member includes an elongate cam slot extending in a longitudinal direction over a substantial a length a tissue clamping surface of the at least one jaw member. A plurality of electrically isolated, and longitudinally spaced electrodes is supported by the tissue clamping surface and is configured to deliver electrosurgical energy to tissue. A reciprocating member engages the elongate cam slot and is extendable to a sealing position with respect to each of the electrodes to define a predetermined gap distance between a particular electrode and an opposing tissue clamping surface.
US09265567B2

A vessel sealer has a stepped jaw that allows the jaw to have an overall shape and a width that provides desired strength, shape, and functionality while permitting a smaller raised portion to apply the sealing pressure. The smaller area applying the sealing pressure allows an actuating mechanism to apply a clinically desired sealing pressure without exceeding the force or torque limitations of the actuating mechanism and can limit thermal spread during a sealing procedure.
US09265561B2

A surgical system and associated method for fusing tissue are disclosed. The system has an electrosurgical generator capable of delivering electrosurgical power, a surgical instrument, and a power control circuit. The surgical instrument is electrically connected to the electrosurgical generator and adapted to transfer electrosurgical power from the electrosurgical generator to a distal end of the surgical instrument. The power control circuit controls the delivery of radio frequency energy to tissue in contact with the distal end of the surgical instrument. The surgical system is configured to deliver radio frequency energy at a non-pulsing power to the tissue for a period of time of 3 seconds or less. The non-pulsing power has no less than 7 Watts and no more than 35 Watts, and further causes the tissue to begin to desiccate and to fuse within the period of time.
US09265555B2

Thermal, electrosurgical and mechanical modalities may be combined in a surgical tool. Potentially damaging effects in a first modality may be minimized by using a secondary modality. In one example, thermal hemostasis may thus help electrosurgical applications avoid the adverse tissue effects associated with hemostatic monopolar electrosurgical waveforms while retaining the benefits of using monopolar incising waveforms.
US09265554B2

A power source delivers oscillating electrical energy to an electrical conductor, such as a wire or catheter, which is coated circumferentially with a ferromagnetic material in a selected region. With high frequency electrical energy, the ferromagnetic material has a quick response in heating and cooling adjustable by the controllable power delivery. The ferromagnetic material can be used for separating tissue, coagulation, tissue destruction or achieving other desired tissue effects in numerous surgical procedures.
US09265553B2

Thermal, Electrosurgical and Mechanical modalities may be combined in a surgical tool. Potentially damaging effects in a first modality may be minimized by using a secondary modality. In one example, thermal hemostasis may thus help electrosurgical applications avoid the adverse tissue effects associated with hemostatic monopolar electrosurgical waveforms while retaining the benefits of using incising waveforms.
US09265552B2

A system for the manufacture of an end effector assembly which is configured for use with an electrosurgical instrument configured for performing an electrosurgical procedure is provided. The system includes a photolithography module that is configured to etch one or more pockets on a seal surface of the seal plate. A vacuum module is configured to raise, transfer and lower a spacer from a location remote from the pocket(s) on the seal plate to the pocket on the seal plate(s). An adhesive dispensing module is configured to dispense an adhesive into the pocket on the seal plate. An optical module is configured to monitor a volume of the adhesive dispensed within the pocket and monitor placement of the spacer within the pocket.
US09265538B2

A spinal fixation element fixation reduction system is provided herein. In general, the system can include a cap element with a bore having a central axis extending therethrough wherein the cap element is configured to releasably engage any type of surgical device (e.g., an access sleeve, a vertebral body rotator, etc.). Further, the system can include a driver configured to be slidably and removably positioned through the cap element. The system can also include an actuator configured to apply a force to the driver substantially along the central axis of the cap element thereby moving the driver in a distal direction so as to effect reduction of a spinal fixation element into a bone anchor. Additionally, a method of reducing a spinal fixation element into a bone anchor is also provided wherein the method can be performed as a minimally invasive surgical procedure or as an open procedure.
US09265528B2

The invention provides an orthopedic external fixation system for treatment of lower and upper extremities fractures. The system comprises an elongate base rail supported by a stand structure and a plurality of open rings slidably and removably coupled to the base rail along the base rail length. The ring members are connected to struts that support flag members, which support wires and pins that interact with the fractured bones for fixation of their positions relative to the rings during treatment. The system has means for combining the rings into separate modules that can be moved relative to each other. Through the use of the struts the rings can be bound into an integral system that can be disconnected from the base and the stand structure, while remains in a working position on the injured limb of the patient.
US09265522B2

System and methods for channeling a path into bone include a trocar having a proximal end, distal end and a central channel disposed along a central axis of the trocar. The trocar includes a radial opening at or near the distal end of the trocar. The system includes a curveable cannula sized to be received in the central channel, the curveable cannula comprising a curveable distal end configured to be extended laterally outward from the radial opening in a curved path extending away from the trocar. The curveable cannula has a central passageway having a diameter configured to allow a probe to be delivered through the central passageway to a location beyond the curved path.
US09265512B2

An interventional catheter for treating an artery includes an elongated body sized and shaped to be transcervically introduced into a common carotid artery at an access location in the neck. The elongated body has an overall length such that the distal most section can be positioned in an intracranial artery and at least a portion of the proximal most section is positioned in the common carotid artery during use.
US09265504B2

An occlusive coil delivery device includes an occlusive coil having a plurality of open pitched windings at a proximal end thereof, and a delivery wire assembly having a proximal tubular portion, a distal coil portion and a lumen, and a delivery wire adapter having a proximal end and a distal end. The delivery wire assembly having a delivery wire forming a first conductive path and extending through the lumen from a proximal end of the delivery wire assembly to a location distal of the distal coil portion, and a second conductive path formed by the proximal tubular portion and distal coil portion. The distal end of the adapter comprising a plurality of fingers configured to interface between adjacent open pitched windings of the proximal end of the occlusive coil, with the proximal end of the delivery wire adapter secured to a distal portion of the delivery wire.
US09265502B2

A delivery assembly includes a ring sleeve that fits snugly over a main endoscope on the distal end of the endoscope. An extension tube projects distally away from the ring sleeve and may be made integrally with the sleeve. The extension tube is off-axis from the ring sleeve and endoscope. A tube-like inner carrier is reciprocatingly disposed inside the extension tube. One or more resilient tissue compression rings are placed in a stretched configuration on the inner carrier. To push the rings off the carrier, the carrier is pulled proximally within the extension tube and the compression ring is thus pulled into contact with the distal end of the extension tube. Continued pulling of the carrier causes the compression ring to be pushed off the assembly onto target tissue, at which point the ring is relaxed to assume a small configuration and clamp the target tissue.
US09265499B2

A suture system spool is configured to retain suture having a suture diameter and tension the suture between a distal and proximal end portions of a suturing tool. The spool includes a monolithically formed disc defining a central opening that provides the disc with an inside diameter. The disc includes a base and a flap joined with the base at the inside diameter, and the flap extends from the inside diameter to an outer periphery of the disc to define a cavity between the flap and the base. The flap is spaced away from the base at a location between the inside diameter and the outer periphery of the disc by a factor of at least two times the suture diameter, and the flap is spaced away from the base at the outer periphery of the disc by a distance that is approximately equal to the suture diameter.
US09265496B2

A suture anchor comprises a tubular body having an axial bore therethrough and having one or more purchase enhancements on an exterior surface of the body adapted to enhance purchase of the body within a bone hole, such as threads. A lateral port passes through the body from the bore to the exterior surface. A length of suture for attaching soft tissue to bone passes down along the exterior surface over the one or more purchase enhancements, over a distal end of the body, up into the bore through and then back out of the bore and up along the exterior surface over the one or more purchase enhancements.
US09265494B2

Methods and devices are provided for anchoring suture to bone. In one exemplary embodiment, a suture anchor is provided that includes one or more bone-engaging surfaces features and an external sidewall. The external sidewall can allow a suture coupled to the suture anchor and located between the anchor and bone to be movable relative to the suture anchor, even when the suture anchor is partially or fully disposed within a bone hole. Suture threaders and suture anchor drivers are also provided that can be used with the various methods and devices disclosed herein, or with other methods and devices known in the art.
US09265488B2

A suturing device includes a handle, an elongated body, at least one suture snag, at least one pair of needles, and at least one suture pair. The suture snag is moveable between a deployed position in which two distal arm portions thereof radially extend away from the elongated body and a retracted position in which the two distal arm portions are disposed within the elongated body. The suture pair is slidingly disposed through the needle pair. The suturing device deploys the suture snag within a vessel adjacent to an arteriotomy, extends the needle pair through a vessel wall around the arteriotomy and through the deployed suture snag, extends the suture pair beyond the distal ends of the needle pair, and then utilizes the suture snag to capture the extended suture pair by retracting the suture snag to pull first or distal ends of the sutures back into the suturing device. An inflatable balloon or an expandable suture capture component may be alternatives to the suture snag for capturing the suture ends.
US09265486B2

A medical instrument comprising: (A) a first joint comprising a first member and a second member, the first member configured to be repositionable with respect to the second member in an X-Y plane; (B) a second joint operatively coupled to the first joint, the second joint comprising a third member and a fourth member, the third member configured to be repositionable with respect to the fourth member in a Y-Z plane perpendicular to the X-Y plane; and, (C) a controller operatively coupled to the first joint and the second joint, the controller including a first control configured to direct repositioning of at least one of the first member and the second member, and a second control configured to direct repositioning of at least one of the third member and the fourth member.
US09265481B2

A system and method are disclosed for providing an equalized ultrasound echo signal for the rendering intravascular images. The system includes an ultrasound catheter including an ultrasound transducer probe. An intravascular ultrasound console receives an ultrasound echo signal corresponding to reflections of an ultrasound signal by backscatterers. An ultrasound echo signal time-gain compensation equalizer compensates the ultrasound echo signal according to sub-bands within a frequency response spectrum of the ultrasound echo signal. After applying selective amplifier gains on the sub-bands, the sub-band signals are combined to create an equalized ultrasound echo signal.
US09265480B2

The present invention relates to a cerebrovascular analysis system which enables early diagnosis of various incurable cerebrovascular diseases such as cerebral thrombosis by measuring an elastic coefficient, blood vessel compliance, blood flow resistance, and blood flow in each cerebrovascular branch. The measurement is achieved by biomechanically analyzing blood vessels in the brain using an electrocardiogram, phonocardiogram, electroencephalogram, pulse wave, and ultrasonic doppler signal as basic data in order to measure biomechanical properties and blood flow properties of blood vessels in the brain for the diagnosis of cerebrovascular diseases.
US09265479B2

According to one embodiment, a ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus comprises an ultrasonic scanning unit configured to scan a region including at least part of a liver of an object with an ultrasonic wave and acquire an echo signal associated with the liver, an image generating unit configured to generate an ultrasonic image of the liver based on an echo signal associated with the liver, and a calculation unit configured to calculate at least one of a first index indicating an irregularity degree of the liver and a second index indicating an irregularity feature of the liver by using the ultrasonic image of the liver.
US09265477B2

The present invention provides adaptive lightweight acoustic signal classification for physiological monitoring applications. In an exemplary implementation, the total energy of a segment of an acoustic signal recording body sounds is first determined. For each of a plurality of signal classes (e.g., good, noisy, weak), the probability that the segment belongs to the signal class is then calculated using the total energy and profile data for the signal class. The segment is then assigned to one of the plurality of signal classes by reference to the probabilities. Physiological data are then selectively generated and outputted using the segment, depending on the assigned signal class, and the segment is selectively applied as feedback to update profile data for the assigned signal class.
US09265474B2

A histogram of pixel values in a difference image between a post-injection X-ray image and composite image is generated. A histogram of pixel values in a difference image between a pre-injection X-ray image and the composite image is generated. From the difference between the histograms, information on pixel values in a region where a radiopaque dye is imaged in the difference image between the post-injection X-ray image and composite image is collected. Pixel values in the difference image between the post-injection X-ray image and composite image are converted by using the collected information, and the converted difference image is output.
US09265464B2

An optical sensor having a cover layer, an emitter disposed on a first side of the cover, a detector disposed on the first side of said cover, and a plurality of stacked independent adhesive layers disposed on the same first side of the cover, wherein the top most exposed adhesive layer is attached to a patient's skin. Thus, when the sensor is removed to perform a site check of the tissue location, one of the adhesive layers may also be removed and discarded, exposing a fresh adhesive surface below for re-attachment to a patient's skin. The independent pieces of the adhesive layers can be serially used to extend the useful life of the product.
US09265456B2

A device for determining a vital sign of a subject comprises an interface for receiving a data stream derived from detected electromagnetic radiation reflected from a region of interest including a skin area of the subject, said data stream comprising a data signal per skin pixel area of one or more skin pixels for a plurality of skin pixel areas of said region of interest, a data signal representing the detected electromagnetic radiation reflected from the respective skin pixel area over time. An analyzer is provided for analyzing spatial and/or optical properties of one or more data signals in one or more wavelength ranges. A processor is provided for determining a vital sign information signal of the subject based on the data signals of skin pixel areas within the skin area, and a post-processor is provided for determining the desired vital sign from said vital sign information signal. The determined spatial and/or optical properties are used by the processor for determining the vital sign information signal and/or by the post-processor for determining the desired vital sign.
US09265449B2

Techniques associated with a wearable device structure with enhanced motion detection by a motion sensor are described, including a band configured to be worn, a nodule coupled to the band, the nodule including a structure configured to enhance detection of movement of an adjacent skin surface, the structure having an articulator configured to rotate in a plurality of planes, and a sensor coupled to the structure and configured to detect rotational motion.
US09265444B2

The present invention discloses a method to determine the lung clearance index (LCI) or other indices of ventilation inhomogeneity of the lungs by combining two pulmonary gas exchange techniques; Inert gas rebreathing (IGR) is used for rapid wash-in of the inert tracer gas and for accurate determination of the functional residual capacity (FRC) by gas analysis alone. This is followed by multiple-breath wash-out (MBW) for determination of the cumulative expired volume (VCE) required to clear the inert tracer gas from the lungs, and calculation of the LCI as the ratio between VCE and FRC. The advantages of the method are i) significant reduction of required test time, ii) significant reduction of consumed gas mixture for wash-in of tracer gas, iii) potential for further reduction of the use of tracer gas, and iv) more accurate determination of the FRC by gas dilution alone. Furthermore the present invention relates to a corresponding system and computer-readable medium.
US09265440B2

A PET-MRI apparatus includes a patient support assembly having a cradle to accommodate a subject, a carriage assembly to attach to the cradle and cause the cradle to selectively travel, and a rear bridge to receive the cradle and carriage. The patient support assembly also includes a front bridge to receive the cradle and carriage assembly and provide for translation therealong, with the front bridge including a first section and a second section that is spaced apart from the first section to form a gap in the front bridge between the first section and the second section in an area adjacent a PET detector array of the PET-MRI apparatus. The front and rear bridges include an anti-tip rail assembly to interact with the cradle and the carriage assembly so as to prevent tipping thereof when traversing over the gap between the first and second sections of the front bridge.
US09265433B2

Methods, systems, and apparatus for detecting and/or validating a detection of a state change by matching the shape of one or more of an cardiac data series, a heart rate variability data series, or at least a portion of a heart beat complex, derived from cardiac data, to an appropriate template.
US09265418B2

Although a lamina cribrosa is deformed in glaucoma, in a method in a related art, a thickness of retinal layer or choroid is measured and a deformation of the lamina cribrosa is not detected. When glaucoma is diagnosed, it is desirable to analyze a shape of the lamina cribrosa and present its analysis result at a high visibility. An image processing apparatus is provided that comprises: an image obtaining unit that obtains a tomographic image of a subject's eye; an extracting unit that extracts a lamina cribrosa from the tomographic image; and a display control unit that controls a display means to display a display form showing a shape of the extracted lamina cribrosa.
US09265410B2

System and method directed towards providing full and even illumination of a patient's retina through lighting integrated into a handheld fundus lens. By integrating the lighting, the method and system reduces and even eliminate many lens artifacts and reflections. By increasing the accuracy, quality, and field of view afforded during clinical examination of the retina, the method and system will allow practitioners to make more accurate diagnoses and will increase safety during retinal surgical procedures.
US09265404B2

A washware carrier for the accommodation of washware to be washed in dishwasher includes a base portion, and a multiplicity of retainers for the washware. The retainers are arranged, in a row, with a first plurality of retainers being fixed and a second plurality of retainers configured for swing action. The first and second pluralities of retainers are arranged in a random sequence.
US09265399B2

A dishwasher method and apparatus providing an algorithm varying the speed of the recirculation pump that recirculates washing liquor present in the washing compartment so as to assure quiet pump operation is disclosed. The speed of the recirculation pump is varied by a control device that carries out the washing cycle. A true-running monitoring unit checks the operation of the recirculation pump. During a fill phase of the washing cycle, an inlet valve is opened, the recirculation pump is switched on and the algorithm provides stepped variation of the recirculation speed using a default value step, a test step in which a true running check is performed, and a modification step in which the default value is modified in response to the result of the test step, for use in the next iteration of the algorithm.
US09265398B2

A dishwasher includes a main sump that holds the main wash fluid supply, and a separate sump formed in the bottom wall of the tub away from the main sump. The separate sump holds a concentrated wash fluid supply. The separate sump supplies wash fluid for washing periods in which a highly concentrated chemistry mixture is desired.
US09265394B2

Nozzle arrangement (10) of a vacuum cleaning device (100) for cleaning a surface (20), comprising: —a nozzle housing (28); —a brush (12) rotatable about a brush axis (14), said brush (12) being provided with flexible microfiber brush elements (16) having tip portions (18) for contacting the surface to be cleaned (20) and picking up dirt and liquid particles (22, 24) from the surface to be cleaned (20) during the rotation of the brush (12); —a drive means for rotating the brush (12); —a single squeegee element (32) for wiping dirt and liquid particles (22, 24) across or off the surface to be cleaned (20) by contacting said surface (20) with its free end (33), wherein said squeegee element (32) extends along a longitudinal direction (48), which is arranged substantially parallel to the brush axis (14), and is attached with its fixed end (33) to the bottom side (30) of the nozzle housing (28) on a side of the brush (12) where the brush elements (16) enter the nozzle housing (28) during the rotation of the brush (12).
US09265392B2

Provided is a vacuum cleaner. The vacuum cleaner includes a main body including a cord reel around which a power cord is wound and a cord reel button for operating the cord reel.
US09265388B2

A combination toilet brush/plunger apparatus for providing both a plunger and a toilet cleaning brush in one unit. The combination toilet brush/plunger apparatus includes a brush assembly including a brush support member. The brush member is attached to the brush support member, and there is an elongate handle member being removably attached to the brush support member. A plunger assembly includes a housing/support member. The plunger member is attached to the housing/support member with the brush support member being removably fastened to the housing/support member. There is a plate with apertures disposed in the housing/support member.
US09265382B2

A shower door assembly is disclosed comprising a stationary frame, a movable frame with a through hole, an upper frame, a lower frame, and an adjusting assembly. The adjusting assembly further comprises a fixing block disposed between the stationary frame and the movable frame and received in the stationary frame, the fixing block having a passage with a first rectangular cross-section, and rotating blocks received in the upper frame and the lower frame respectively and having a rotating handle and an adjusting shaft perpendicular to the rotating handle. The end of the adjusting shaft remote from the rotating handle has a second rectangular cross-section with dimensions identical to the first rectangular cross-section, and an engaging element is disposed on at least one surface of the adjusting shaft.
US09265371B2

An apparatus for heating hot beverage containers includes a housing having an upper end, a lower end, and a sidewall extending between the upper and lower ends of the housing. The upper end of the sidewall has oppositely disposed, downwardly curving portions that define oppositely disposed openings at the upper end of said housing. The apparatus includes a heater assembly located at the lower end of the housing. The apparatus has a controller including an electrical circuit in communication with the heater assembly, and a switch located on the sidewall of the housing for activating the heater assembly. A hot beverage container with an insulating sleeve is inserted into the housing. A sidewall of the container engages the switch and a bottom wall of the container is in thermal communication with the heater assembly. The heater assembly heats liquid in the container through the bottom wall of the container.
US09265366B2

Composite boards are disclosed herein. An example of the composite board includes a first outer layer, a second outer layer, and a middle layer positioned between the first and second outer layers. The first and second outer layers each include chemical pulped cellulose fibers and low moisture absorbing fibers. The middle layer includes the cellulose fibers and a moisture repelling agent. Also disclosed herein are art frames that include the composite boards.
US09265350B2

Furniture having a structural frame with at least one pair of opposing u-shaped rails adapted to receive a replaceable section that is slid into the rails and supported by the rails and one or more slats. The replaceable section can, optionally, be locked in place once it has been inserted. Because a replaceable section easily slides into its u-shaped rails, it is quick and easy to replace such sections, which can be made of less expensive and less sturdy construction than the solid structural frame.
US09265348B2

The adjusting mechanism serves for the weight-dependent setting of a restoring force which acts on a backrest (4) of an office chair which is configured with a synchronous mechanism. The synchronous mechanism comprises a support (12), a seat support (10) and a backrest support (8) which are connected to one another via joint pins (A1-A4), the restoring force being exerted via a spring element (18). In order to achieve as flat a design as possible, the restoring force is transmitted with the aid of a pivotable lever (16) via a front bearing pin (L1) to a first front joint pin (A1), an active lever length (h) which can be varied with the aid of an adjusting element (20) being defined by the spacing between the bearing pin (L1) and the second front joint pin (A2). A weight setting is made possible by the variation of the active lever length (h).
US09265347B2

A mechanism and method for assembling a base to a piece of furniture is provided with at least two cams having complimentary interlock mechanisms constructed and arranged to interlock one to another.
US09265339B2

A brush and cleaning tool for removing hair accumulating in and between the bristles of the brush in a way that is non-strenuous for the user and non-damaging to the brush.
US09265332B2

A holder, in helix form, has an opening in communication with a helix interior. The helix may be capable conforming to the shape of an article to be carried at least partially within the interior. Applying a strain to the helix causes the helix to grip the article. The gripping by the helix may be reduced or eliminated by applying a compressive force to the helix.
US09265325B2

A compact for storing a plurality of cosmetics includes a tray for storing cosmetics in a first and a second side; a base having a pair of hinge pins received by the tray, the tray pivoting in the hinge from a first position making the first side accessible to a user to a second position making the second side accessible to the user.
US09265323B1

A decorative headband having modular detachable decorative ribbons or other attachments. The wearer may select such attachments to accessorize to selected outfits or for other aesthetic purposes. The attachments include fabric ribbons manufactured from natural or artificial fabric, including cotton, silk, polyester, blends thereof, and the like. Attachments may be removably attached to the headband by hook-and-loop type attachments, buttons, hooks, clasps, pins, hooks, or other known attachment mechanisms.
US09265322B2

A method, apparatus and system for storing and distributing hairpins for application to the hair of a subject, includes a support having a support surface, a plurality of hairpins releasably coupled to the support and an opener mounted to the support. The opener includes a base segment defining a longitudinal axis and having opposed generally diverging side segments. The base segment at least partially extends beyond the support surface of the support to orient the diverging side segments in position whereby legs of each hairpin may be advanced along the diverging side segments to displace the legs to cause opening thereof.
US09265320B2

A frame assembly for a customized carrying bag includes a frame that defines a periphery and an interior compartment. The frame has a top, a bottom, and a pair of opposite sides that extend between and interconnect the ends of the top and the bottom. The frame may also include an upper rear flange adjacent the top and a pair of lower rear flanges adjacent the bottom and each of the sides. A plurality of frame brackets is secured onto the top, the bottom, the sides, the upper rear flange and the lower rear flanges of the frame. One or more connector pieces are attached to certain ones of the frame brackets. An accessory component, such as a pair of straps, a strap, a handle and/or an extensible handle, is attached to the connector piece so as to create a customized carrying bag.
US09265315B1

An insert can be used to preserve a portable, flexible receptacle such as a handbag. The insert has a filler contained in a flexible enclosure. The filler has a volume and a shape-altering capability that can non-destructively accommodate and support the receptacle internally, without misshaping it. The desiccating pack is held by the enclosure and is positioned inside the receptacle to reduce moisture and the risk of damage to the receptacle.
US09265311B2

A gemstone including a substantially rectangular girdle with rounded corners, a crown extending in a first direction from the girdle, and a pavilion extending in a second direction from the girdle opposite the first direction. The gemstone has 69 uniquely arranged and angled facets, 41 of which are in the crown, and 28 of which are in the pavilion. The height of the crown is preferably between 12 to 19½% of the width of the stone, the total depth of the stone is preferably between 58-68% of the width of the stone, and the width of the table is preferably between 55-65% of the width of the stone.
US09265309B2

A bracelet having a channel groove. The bracelet has an outer side and an inner side. A channel groove is at least partially surrounding a circumference of the outer side. A hair band may fit within the channel groove.
US09265308B2

Provided is a slide fastener that has a flexible fastener tape, exhibits liquid-tightness, and can prevent a gap from being formed in a coupling portion, and a method of producing the slide fastener. An overlay material is formed on a front surface of a fastener tape so that the overlay material formed on a surface of a core member extends beyond a centerline in a front-rear thickness direction of a tape member. When a pair of fastener element rows engages with each other, a tip of an intermeshing head of a fastener element presses the overlay material formed on the opposite core members.
US09265299B2

The sole section of a shoe includes a midsole and an outsole which form a translucent sole section. The translucent midsole and translucent outsole are integrally molded with a translucent upper to create a fully translucent jelly footwear. An illumination system is located inside the translucent sole section, causing the jelly footwear to be internally illuminated when the illumination system is active. Due to the translucent nature of the midsole light from the illumination system reflects internally throughout the midsole, increasing illumination. The light will also illuminate the adjacent translucent outsole and translucent upper. Light from the illumination system can be blocked, such as by a colored mold injection, creating an illuminated design or logo. By blacking out or covering sections of the translucent outsole, shapes and letters of visible light can be created in the resulting negative space. This allows illuminated designs to easily be incorporated into footwear.
US09265298B2

A clamp fixture for supporting a baseball type cap of the type having a crown portion and a brim portion that extends outwardly from the crown on an embroidery machine includes a brim band having a curvilplanar configuration to resiliently urge the bill of a cap out of the path of a embroidery machine head, and allows embroidery on the lower portion of the crown portion, adjacent to the brim portion.
US09265287B2

A tobacco container having a plastic insert body and a method of attaching the insert body are disclosed. Some embodiments disclose an insert body that is configured to accommodate dimensional variations in the tobacco container. Some embodiments disclose an insert body that is configured to decrease weight in the tobacco container.
US09265285B2

A low ignition propensity cigarette paper includes a coating portion including a hydrophobic starch and a hydrophilic starch, and a plurality of pores including a micrometer-size pore and a nanometer-size pore, wherein the hydrophobic starch and the hydrophilic starch cover the micrometer-size pore and the nanometer-size pore.
US09265282B2

A solid oral sensorial product includes at least one botanical material and at least one phosphate containing stain inhibitor. The botanical material is selected from the group consisting of tobacco, tea, coffee, cocoa, and combinations thereof.
US09265280B2

Systems and methods of de-stemming produce are provided. An apparatus can process an item of produce having a first portion and a second portion attached to the first portion. The apparatus can include at least one first conveyor unit that can convey the first portion of the item of produce in a first direction. The apparatus can include at least one second conveyor unit that can convey the second portion of the item of produce in a second direction that differs from the first linear direction by between zero and 90 degrees to generate a separation force between the first portion of the item of produce and the second portion of the item of produce that separates the first portion from the second portion.
US09265279B2

A motorized conveyor has a plurality of rollers spaced longitudinally, the rollers being driven in rotation to move the flow of harvest on the rollers in a longitudinal direction between upstream and downstream transverse axes, each roller having a surface of revolution comprising grooves that extend transversely and continuously over its entire length, so as to enable transverse routing of the flow of harvest while it is being conveyed.
US09265276B2

The present invention in general relates to the field of taste. In particular it relates to the reduction of astringency. One embodiment of the present invention relates to the use of at least one phospholipid for the preparation of a phenol containing composition to reduce the astringency of the composition.
US09265275B2

Spinach, parts thereof, and the making and use thereof, including with respect to the inbred spinach line called SP6504 are disclosed.
US09265271B2

A method for decorating a cake: providing a solid edible figure contour having an open top face and an open bottom face, and at least one void; providing a solid edible frame; placing the contour and the frame on a pan; filling the at least one void of the solid edible figure contour and a void between the solid frame and the solid edible figure contour with a decorative layer of edible pourable substance comprising multiple colors of candies, and the like; pouring a solidifying binding edible substance onto the solid contour, frame and the decorative layer; turning the hardened solid coating upside down, such that the lid is under the hardened solid coating; and placing the hardened solid coating having the colorful figure on a cake by sliding the figure off of the lid and removing the pan, thereby providing a cake coating having an edible colorful figure.
US09265265B2

The invention relates to a biaxially drawn multilayer tubular film consisting of at least five layers, in which the external and two other layers contain aliphatic (co)-polyamide in a quantity equal to or greater than 50% by weight and are differently assembled. The inventive tubular film is produced by coextrusion and, thereby is seamless. Said tubular film can be used in the form of food product packagings, in particular as synthetic sausage casing.
US09265263B2

A driver assembly detachably coupled between a flexible shaft drive transmission having an outer casing and an elongated drive transmitting shaft rotatable within the outer casing and a handle assembly of a power operated toot to provide rotational power from a coupler fitting of the drive transmitting shaft and a drive train of the power operated rotary knife. The driver assembly includes: a tube assembly comprising a main tube defining a throughbore and first and second bushings disposed within the throughbore at respective first and second ends of the main tube and a casing coupler secured to and extending beyond the second end of the main tube, the casing coupler configured to releasably attach the driver assembly to the outer casing; and an elongated shaft supported for rotation by the first and second bushings of the tube assembly.
US09265258B2

This invention relates to a readied in situ glyphosate herbicide soluble powder composition of high efficiency and low toxicity useful for killing and/or controlling weeds. This invention is also related to a process to prepare the said composition. It is another object of this invention to provide a new composition that consists of a soluble powder herbicide formulation characterized by a very narrow range of specific ingredients of composition, which optimizes the formulation efficiency and minimizes the cost and toxicity to man, to the environment and to the crop being treated. The required amount of glyphosate that needs to be applied on the field is reduced by 30% when compared to the commercially standard liquid solution.
US09265255B2

The present invention relates to novel active compound combinations which include of the insecticidally active compounds of the formula (I) in combination with fungicidally active compounds (II) and are highly suitable for controlling unwanted animal pests, such as insects, and unwanted phytopathogenic fungi.
US09265251B2

An agrichemical composition comprising a compound represented by the formula (1) and at least one fungicidally active compound selected from Group (A).Group (A): metalaxyl, metalaxyl-M, benalaxyl, benalaxyl-M, pyraclostrobin, trifloxystrobin, azoxystrobin, dimoxystrobin, fluoxastrobin, kresoxim methyl, picoxystrobin, metconazole, ipconazole, tebuconazole, difenoconazole, epoxiconazole, fluquinconazole, triticonazole, triadimenol, prothioconazole, propioconazole, prochloraz, penconazole, flusilazole, diniconazole, bromuconazole, cyproconazole, triflumizole, tetraconazole, myclobutanil, bitertanol, imazalil and the like.
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