US09441598B2
A fuel supply system includes a fuel supply line, a fuel filter, a filter bypass line, a first differential pressure sensor, a second differential pressure sensor, and a filter bypass valve. The fuel filter is disposed in series in the fuel supply line to remove particulate from the fuel. The filter bypass line has a fuel inlet upstream of the fuel filter, and an outlet that is downstream of the fuel filter. The first differential pressure sensor continuously senses differential pressure across the fuel filter, and the second differential pressure sensor selectively senses differential pressure across the fuel filter. The filter bypass valve is movable between a first non-bypassing position and a second bypassing position and controls whether only the first differential pressure sensor or both the first and second differential pressure sensors sense the differential pressure across the fuel filter.
US09441593B2
In a fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine, having a combustion chamber with at least one intake valve at an intake side and with at least one exhaust valve at an exhaust side of the combustion chamber and a central injection nozzle for injecting fuel into the combustion chamber, the injection nozzle has injection orifices which are designed and oriented in such a way that a first quantity of fuel is injected into the intake side, a second quantity of fuel injected is into the exhaust side, and a third quantity of fuel which is about equal to the first quantity and greater than the second quantity is injected into a boundary area between the intake and the exhaust sides, providing for a low-emission operation of the internal combustion engine.
US09441581B2
Fuel efficiency in a combustion engine is increased by treating the fuel in a reaction chamber prior to delivering the fuel into the combustion chamber of the engine. The method includes the step of entraining a stream of exhaust gas to travel upstream through the reactor chamber in a first flow pattern. The method also includes the step of entraining a stream of fuel to travel downstream through the reactor chamber in a second flow pattern, where at least one of the first and second flow patterns comprises a structured turbulent flow.
US09441579B2
A first pressure sensor that detects pressure in a narrow pressure range with high accuracy is provided in a fuel tank, and a second pressure sensor that detects pressure in a wide pressure range with low accuracy with respect to the first pressure sensor is provided in vapor piping between the fuel tank and a tank blocking valve. Until internal pressure of the fuel tank becomes a second predetermined pressure, meter indication is performed on a display on the basis of a second tank internal pressure P2 calculated by the second pressure sensor and an atmospheric pressure sensor, and when internal pressure of the fuel tank becomes less than the second predetermined pressure, the meter indication is performed on the display on the basis of a first tank internal pressure P1 obtained by the first pressure sensor until internal pressure of the fuel tank becomes a fifth predetermined pressure.
US09441577B2
A pressure reducing system for fuel gas and a natural gas dewaxing vehicle are provided. The pressure reducing system includes fuel gas pipelines which consist of successively connected a high pressure pipeline, a medium pressure pipeline and a low pressure pipeline in the flow direction of fuel gas. The tail end of the low pressure pipeline connects with a combustion apparatus. A high pressure relief valve, a high pressure air feed valve, a heat exchanger and a primary pressure reducing valve subassembly are connected on the high pressure pipeline. The heat exchanger is provided with a hot fluid inlet and a hot fluid outlet, where the hot fluid inlet connects with a hot water apparatus, and the hot fluid outlet connects with a water storage apparatus. The medium pressure pipeline is equipped with a medium pressure relief valve and a secondary pressure reducing valve.
US09441574B2
A sealing assembly for establishing a gas and fluid tight seal in an internal combustion engine is provided. The sealing assembly includes a plate of metal which has a plurality of openings and at least one generally flat surface. The plate also has at least one shelf which circumferentially surrounds one of the openings and which opens to the generally flat surface and the opening. The sealing assembly further includes at least one sealing bead of an elastically compressible material which is engaged with the shelf and extends outwardly therefrom past the generally flat surface for sealing the plate with another component in the internal combustion engine.
US09441572B2
Proposed is a method for controlling and regulating an internal combustion engine (1), in which the rail pressure (pCR) is controlled via a suction throttle (4) on the low pressure side as a first pressure-adjusting element in a rail pressure control loop. The invention is characterized in that a rail pressure disturbance variable (VDRV) is generated in order to influence the rail pressure (pCR) via a pressure control valve (12) on the high pressure side as a second pressure-adjusting element, by means of which fuel is redirected in a controlled manner from the rail (6) into a fuel tank (2), the rail pressure disturbance variable (VDRV) being calculated using a corrected target volume flow (Vk(SL)) of the pressure control valve (12).
US09441567B2
To operate an internal combustion engine, a specified forced stimulation is applied to an air ratio as the basis for a target value of a lambda controller. In diagnostic operation, a diagnostic function is used to identify a probe error of the exhaust gas probe, and a value of the measurement signal is recorded as a start value in chronological correlation with an edge of the target value curve of the lambda controller and the current value of the measurement signal is recorded as an end value after a specified first time duration. The start and end values are used to determine whether a filter error or a dead time error of the exhaust gas probe exists. The first time duration is specified such that start value/end value difference for a filter error differs start value/end value difference for a dead time error by at least a specified difference value.
US09441556B2
A method includes: generating an indicator of present operating conditions of an engine; determining a first amount of noise based on vibration measured during a first plurality of combustion events of a cylinder; storing the first amount of noise and a first value of the indicator in a mapping based on a first engine speed and a first engine load; determining the first value of the indicator from the mapping based on a second engine speed and a second engine load; generating a trigger signal when the first value is different than a second value of the indicator; and, when the trigger signal is generated: determining a second amount of noise based on vibration measured during a second plurality of combustion events of the cylinder; and replacing the first amount of noise and the first value in the mapping with the second amount of noise and the second value.
US09441551B2
Various systems and methods are described for controlling engine operation. One method comprises, during a first variable displacement engine (VDE) mode in an engine having four cylinders, deactivating a first cylinder of the four cylinders and firing a second, third, and fourth cylinder of the four cylinders, each firing event separated by 240 degrees of crank angle (CA). The engine may be operated in a non-VDE mode by activating the first of the four cylinders and firing the first cylinder between the third and fourth cylinders.
US09441531B2
A diverter valve is disclosed for use with a charge air system. The diverter valve may have a plurality of first inlets configured to receive a flow of warmed air, a plurality of second inlets configured to receive a flow of cooled air, and a single outlet. The diverter valve may also have a single valve element movable to any position between a first position at which the plurality of first inlets are fluidly connected to the single outlet and the plurality of second inlets are blocked from the single outlet, and a second position at which the plurality of second inlets are fluidly connected to the single outlet and the plurality of first inlets are blocked from the single outlet.
US09441525B2
An internal combustion engine is fluidly coupled to an exhaust aftertreatment system including a particulate filter. A method for operating the internal combustion engine includes determining an expected boost pressure of an intake air compressor system in response to an output torque request, determining a deviation between an actual boost pressure and the expected boost pressure, determining a engine-out soot generation rate correction based upon the deviation between the actual boost pressure and the expected boost pressure, adjusting a steady-state engine-out soot generation rate using the engine-out soot generation rate correction, time-integrating the adjusted steady-state engine-out soot generation rate, and commanding regeneration of the particulate filter when the time-integrated adjusted engine-out soot generation rate exceeds a predetermined threshold.
US09441524B2
Various systems and methods are described for an engine system with an exhaust gas treatment system including a particulate filter. In one example method, accumulated hydrocarbons are removed from the exhaust gas treatment system by increasing an exhaust gas temperature to a first temperature responsive to a particulate filter regeneration request during extended cold idle operation. After a predetermined duration, the exhaust gas temperature is increased to a second, higher temperature to regenerate the particulate filter.
US09441522B2
A mounting assembly for an injector is located in a curved portion of an exhaust line having an exhaust flow from an upstream end to a downstream end. The mounting assembly includes an indent extending at least partially into the exhaust line curved portion and disposed in the exhaust flow. The downstream wall has an interior surface oriented to substantially face the exhaust line downstream end. A recess extends from the downstream wall in a direction away from the exhaust line downstream end, and a recess aperture is formed in the recess and configured to fluidly communicate with the injector. The recess reduces the amount of exhaust heat reaching the injector tip.
US09441520B2
A system and method includes an internal combustion engine capable of producing an exhaust stream and an aftertreatment system operationally coupled to the exhaust stream. The aftertreatment system includes an upstream selective reduction catalyst (SCR) component and a downstream SCR component that are positioned in substantially different thermal environments. The upstream and downstream SCR components are sized to fully treat the entire exhaust stream at a low temperature highest NOx conversion condition, and the downstream SCR component is sized to fully treat the entire exhaust stream at a high temperature highest NOx conversion condition.
US09441511B2
Disclosed are an apparatus for adjusting temperature of oil for a vehicle, and a method for controlling the apparatus. The apparatus includes an EGR valve installed on a fluid channel branching off from an exhaust pipe, a complex heat exchanger structured to transfer exhaust gas having passed through the EGR valve to an engine intake pipe via an EGR cooling path in which the exhaust gas having passed through the EGR valve performs heat exchange with coolant, an oil heating path in which the exhaust gas having passed through the EGR valve performs heat exchange with oil, and a bypass path in which the exhaust gas having passed through the EGR valve does not perform heat exchange, an NOx sensor installed in the exhaust pipe, and a controller that controls the complex heat exchanger in response to a signal from the NOx sensor.
US09441507B2
A valve timing control apparatus is provided with at least one of: an advance-angle control starting device configured to start to control a relative rotational phase of a camshaft with respect to a crankshaft to an advance side when an internal combustion engine starts and when a valve lift amount associated with an intake valve or an exhaust valve increases; and a delay-angle control starting device configured to start to control the relative rotational phase to a delay side when the internal combustion engine starts and when the valve lift amount associated with the intake valve or the exhaust valve decreases. It is possible to appropriately release engagement by a locking mechanism between a first rotating body configured to rotate synchronously with the camshaft and a second rotating body configured to rotate synchronously with the crankshaft.
US09441494B2
A rotor of a turbomachine, such as a multi-flow turbojet engine fan, has a disc including, on the rim thereof, substantially axial slots with a dovetailed cross-section, and blades mounted individually in the slots, an axial wedge positioned between the root of the blades and the bottom of the slots, and a transverse lock providing upstream axial immobilization of the blades in the slot thereof. The lock is guided in radial notches formed in the flanks of the slots and radially supported against the wedge. The axial wedge is immobilised in the upstream direction, butting up against a transverse annular component secured to the disc.
US09441487B2
The invention relates to a method for welding rotors for power generation having a plurality of rotor discs arranged along a rotor axis. The method includes providing forged and NDT tested rotor discs and machining the discs for weld seam preparation. The weld seam preparation has an inner narrow TIG welding gap and an adjoining outer SAW welding gap. The method further includes stapling the discs on top of each other; and checking the run-out of the stapled discs relative to each other and as a whole and, if necessary, adjusting the staple. In addition the method includes melting the root of the weld without weld filler using TIG welding; increasing the weld height by narrow gap TIG welding with parent metal weld filler to allow tilting of the rotor in horizontal position; tilting the rotor in horizontal position; finalizing the welding by filling the outer SAW welding gap using SAW welding; and checking the welds of the rotor by NDT using ultrasonic testing. A weld seam preparation machining step that includes preparing an optimized transition geometry of TIG welding gap to SAW welding gap transition with a first opening having a first opening angle and a second opening having a second opening angle greater than said first opening angle.
US09441485B2
A piston assembly is disclosed. In one aspect, the piston assembly includes a rotary piston, wherein the rotary piston comprises a first axis of rotation, a central bore having bore axis and at least two curved first constraint surfaces, and wherein the bore axis substantially corresponds to the first axis of rotation. The piston assembly also includes a substantially hollow-cylindrical bearing ring configured to be at least partially inserted in the central bore. The piston assembly further includes at least one fuse body configured to connect the rotary piston and the bearing ring, and to transmit, at least temporarily, a force in the two opposite axial directions relating to the first axis of rotation between the rotary piston and bearing ring.
US09441478B2
A well tool includes a housing, an electronic controller, and a drag assembly. The electronic controller is at least partially enclosed within the housing and adapted to determine a status of a downhole wellbore operation. The drag assembly is coupled to the electronic controller and, based on the determination of the electronic controller, adapted to engage with a downhole tubular to generate a drag force on the well tool during movement of the well tool through the tubular. The electronic controller is operable to selectively control the drag assembly to engage with the downhole tubular to generate a plurality of unique drag forces based on a status of the wellbore operation. The plurality of unique drag forces are generated in a substantially repeating pattern.
US09441465B2
Mechanical connector for the connection and assembly of guns used in the perforation of petroleum producing wells. Each gun has a hollow cylindrically shaped housing whose ends have threaded joints. Explosive shipped-charges are radially set in respective peripheral slots of the gun. Guns are coaxially joined in vertical position within the casing of the well, forming an assembly that includes the firing head and a bottom sub. The joints between consecutive guns and between the bottom sub and the lowermost gun, include tubular adaptor pieces and intermediaries that have respectively a threaded joint end and an opposing end constituted by a bayonet-type locking joint formed by a single reinforced latching bayonet locking tab.
US09441462B2
A downhole filter comprising includes an open cell foam; and nanoparticles disposed in the open cell foam and exposed within pores of the open cell foam. A method of preparing the downhole filter includes combining a polyisocyanate and polyol to form a polymer composition; introducing nanoparticles into the polymer composition; and foaming the polymer composition to produce the downhole filter comprising an open cell foam having nanoparticles exposed within pores of the open cell foam. The nanoparticles can be derivatized with functional groups.
US09441460B2
A liquid mixture reduces the friction between two surfaces, at least one of which is moving with respect to the other such as tubing moving within the casing of an oil or gas well. The mixture includes an oil, a suspending agent, polymer particles and a surfactant.
US09441457B2
A flow tool has a sensor that detects plugs (darts, balls, etc.) passing through the tool. An actuator moves an insert in the tool once a preset number of plugs have passed through the tool. Movement of this insert reveals a catch on a sleeve in the tool. Once the next plug is deployed, the catch engages the plug on the sleeve so that fluid pressure applied against the seated plug through the tubing string can move the sleeve. Once moved, the sleeve reveals ports in the tool communicating the tool's bore with the surrounding annulus so an adjacent wellbore interval can be stimulated. The actuator can use a sensor detecting passage of the plugs through the tool. A spring disposed in the tool can flex near the sensor when a plug passes through the tool, and a counter can count the number of plugs that have passed.
US09441454B2
A device and method allows a bore valve in the washpipe and in certain instances a port valve or sliding sleeve to open or close upon command from the surface so that gravel slurry may be placed in a wellbore.
US09441449B1
A swellable packer enabling wellbore isolation in both open hole and cased hole wells. Longitudinal embodiments and radial embodiments have a plurality of channels that penetrate the elastomeric member and through which hydrocarbon and aqueous fluid flow. The plurality of channels enable extensive distribution of this activating fluid and facilitate maximum swelling of the elastomeric member.
US09441446B2
Methods and apparatus are presented for removing a degradable barrier plug positioned in a downhole axial passageway. The degradable plug is initially isolated from fluid by at least one solid, non-degradable cover. A first electronic rupture disc assembly is actuated to open a passageway to the degradable plug. A second electronic rupture disc assembly is actuated to allow a fluid, such as water from a supply chamber, to flow into contact with the plug. The plug is substantially degraded, although the cover remains. A third electronic rupture disc assembly is actuated to bend and then cover the remaining solid cover, thereby opening the axial passageway and protecting later-introduced tools.
US09441444B2
A stripper packer for sealing a tubular of a wellsite is provided. The stripper packer includes an extendable housing, a packer, and a sliding window. The extendable housing has a passage therethrough to receive the tubular, and includes a piston operatively connectable between an upper and a lower portion of the extendable housing for selective movement therebetween. The packer is positionable within the extendable housing and sealingly engageable with the tubular. The sliding window is slidably positionable in the passage of the extendable housing and engageable with the packer. The sliding window is movable with the piston in response to pressure whereby the packer is sealable with the tubing.
US09441443B2
The disclosure relates to a seal assembly for a ram of a blowout preventer for sealing a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation. The wellbore has a tubular to pass fluid therefrom. The rams are positionable about the tubular. The seal assembly includes a compound seal carried by the ram. The compound seal includes a face seal having a sealing surface sealingly engageable about the tubular and a support seal positionable adjacent to the face seal a distance from the sealing surface. The sealing surface extends along a front face thereof engageable with at least one of the tubular and the face seal of another ram. The support seal is non-engageable with the tubular during sealing and is more deformable than the face seal whereby the compound seal is supported during sealing.
US09441442B2
An apparatus for engaging and moving a ram block. In some embodiments, the apparatus, or ram block changer, includes a support bracket coupled to a blowout preventer and an articulated arm releasably coupled to the ram block. The ram block changer may further include a pivot coupling assembly having a first axis of rotation. The pivot coupling assembly extends through the support bracket and the articulated arm, wherein the articulated arm is rotatable about the first axis of rotation relative to the support bracket. The articulated arm may include a first member receiving the pivot coupling assembly therethrough, a second member coupled to the ram block, and a second pivot coupling assembly having a second axis of rotation spaced apart from the first axis of rotation and extending through the first and second members. The second member is rotatable about the second axis of rotation relative to the first member.
US09441441B1
A wellsite connector apparatus and related method. In an exemplary embodiment, the method includes connecting a base plate to a first member via a first weld-less connection, the first member defining a first fluid passageway and being adapted to be connected to a first wellsite component; connecting a flange to a second member via a second weld-less connection, the second member defining a second fluid passageway and being adapted to be connected to a second wellsite component; and connecting the flange to the base plate via a third weld-less connection; wherein the first, second, and third weld-less connections are configured so that: the first and second fluid passageways are co-axial; and the first and second wellsite components are in fluid communication with each other, via at least the first and second fluid passageways, when the first and second members are connected to the first and second wellsite components, respectively.
US09441435B2
A downhole apparatus comprising a body (12) configured to be coupled to a production tubular and an upper opening and a lower opening. First (28a) and second (28b) flow paths are provided between the upper opening (22) and the lower opening (24) in the body, and a flow diverter (34) is arranged to direct downward flow through the body towards the second flow path and away from the first flow path. A filter device (31) in the second flow path filters or collects solid particles in the second flow path from passing out of the lower opening of the apparatus. The apparatus has particular application to artificial lift hydrocarbon production systems, and may be installed above a down-hole pump in a production tubing to prevent solids from settling on the pump during pump shutdown. Embodiments for use with ESPs and PCPs are described.
US09441418B2
A rotary drill stem for a well including a central tubular element, and first and second connectors each including a threaded portion that can connect the element to another element. At least one of the connectors includes a chamber in communication with a pressure outside the chamber. The connector includes an annular signal transmission coupler. The annular coupler includes a ring having an annular coupling surface. The coupler includes an insulating support that leaves the annular coupling surface free. The coupler includes a piston surface axially opposite to the annular coupling surface. The annular coupler forms a piston.
US09441415B2
A window includes a vacuum insulating glass (VIG) window unit in a window frame. The window frame includes at least one vacuum insulated structure (VIS) for improving the insulating functionality of the frame, so that the frame can adequately insulate the periphery of the VIG unit. Such windows may be used in residential and/or commercial window applications for buildings. The use of a window frame having at least one VIS is advantageous in that allows for improved window frame thermal performance and a narrow frame design if desired for improved aesthetics.
US09441399B2
A lock comprises a lock casing, a shackle, an indicating device and a button component. The shackle is movably disposed on the lock casing. The indicating device is disposed in the lock casing, and moves from one original position to an indicating position with respect to the lock casing. The button component connects to the indicating device for restricting the movement of the shackle, the button component moves from a first position to a second position, for enabling the indicating device to move from the indicating position back to the original position.
US09441389B2
A method of constructing a cylindrical tank that has an inner tank made of metal and an outer tank made of concrete has a step of building a PC wall (3) by erecting lateral liners (4) sequentially from the bottommost layer to the topmost layer on an outer circumferential edge portion of a base plate, and pouring concrete (5) so as to follow the erecting of the lateral liners (4) with the lateral liners (4) being used as an inner side forming frame.
US09441383B2
The present invention disclosed a construction apparatus and method for lifting structure integrally over the obstacles in vertical direction to a position with different horizontal projection. The apparatus comprises two platform beams placed each other in parallel, two lifting beams laterally relative to the platform beams and a lifter equipped with the lifting beams. Push instrument kits are installed on the platform beams and the lifting beams respectively, and a plurality of sets of baffles installed on both sides of the platform beams to provide the push instrument kits with a counter-force when the push instrument kits work. When the structure encounters obstacles during the process of lifting the structure by two lifters, the posture of the structure can be altered by operating the push instrument kits and the lifters, such that the horizontal projection of the structure will be reduced and the structure can therefore be lifted over the obstacle in vertical direction.
US09441382B2
An apparatus and method are disclosed for servicing a vehicle, such as an airplane. The apparatus includes a mobile maintenance platform configured to position in proximity to the airplane and airplane components such as the engine and the fuselage. A cantilever deck provides a slip resistant surface to work on. A gap on the edge of the deck enables the deck to position near the airplane component. Clamps on either side of the gap apply sufficient force to stabilize the component and also serve to close the gap completely, forming a flat surface across. A railing acts as a barrier on the edge of the deck. A frame supports the deck. Adjustable legs support the frame. A jack raises and lowers the legs to regulate elevation of the deck. A tow hitch enables the apparatus to be moved. An adjustable ladder provides access to the deck.
US09441377B2
This invention provides upper diverters which are used on support structures on roofs. Such upper diverter has a lower flange which interfaces with the respective roof panel, and an upstanding wall which extends up from the lower flange. The upper diverter diverts water, flowing down the roof, laterally away from the respective roof panel.
US09441372B2
Elongated and thin-walled structural member (10) with several views (101, 102, 103, 104) extending along a longitudinal axis so that the member exhibits multiple rotational symmetry around the longitudinal axis (9). Each rotationally symmetric view includes a support surface (11) as support and fastening point for a wall facing and a connection surface (12, 12′) for fastening of the member to other structural members. It is characteristic that the connection surface (12, 12′) is disposed recessed with respect to the support surface (11) and at a spacing so that, when the member is fastened with ordinary fastening means via the connection surface, the fastening means do not protrude from the support surface. The connection surfaces (12, 12′) are provided with a regular pattern of holes (13) to serve as passages for the fastening means. An assembly of such structural members is also described.
US09441369B2
There is provided a rail for supporting one or more ceiling panels in a suspended ceiling. The rail comprises an elongate member for supporting the one or more ceiling panels. The elongate member has an upper and a lower surface and has formed therein an opening extending between the upper and lower surfaces for accommodating a fixture or device to be mounted to or within the suspended ceiling.
US09441368B2
A construction system for releasing moisture from a building is provided. The system is especially suitable for use in buildings having a hip, valley or gable roof. More specifically, the device gives the hip, valley or gable roof adequate ventilation and moisture vapor release portals so as to allow air and water vapor to properly rise through the interior of the hip, valley or gable roof and out through ridge vents without becoming trapped by rafters of the hip, valley or gable roof. The system has a first unit and a second unit, wherein the first unit allows air and water vapor to pass through passageways of the first unit up through the underside of the hip, valley or gable roof up and out through the ridge vent(s) and the second unit allows air from the exterior to pass into the roof cavity to circulate through the roof cavity and into the first unit.
US09441365B2
A formwork apparatus for forming a concrete structure comprises a plurality of elongated panels comprising connector components at their transverse edges for connecting to one another in edge-adjacent relationship. Each one of the elongated panels comprises an outer surface that extends between its transverse edges and an inner surface that extends between its transverse edges at a location inwardly spaced apart from the outer surface. The inner surface comprises one or more inwardly projecting convexities that extend between the transverse edges. The inwardly projecting convexities may comprise arcuate-shaped surfaces. The inwardly projecting convexities may comprise a plurality of transversely adjacent convexities. There may be brace elements that extend part way between or all the way between the outer and inner surfaces.
US09441363B2
A prefabricated wall module may include framing members and one or more insulations members. The insulation member may have pre-incisions, as made by a hot-wire, defining service fitting accommodations. The service fitting accommodations are accessible on the inside face of the insulation. The service fitting accommodations may be either or both of vertically or laterally extending, and are located in the same places in each module, the vertical locations being next to the studs, to which service fittings may typically be mounted, the lateral accommodations being at heights typical of switches and wall outlets. The insulation members may be supplied with tabs filling the accommodations. The tabs may be snapped out as required. The insulation members may have stud channels that are shallower than the studs, such that an air gap is established between the insulation and the internal gypsum board covering.
US09441352B2
A ground engaging wear member is telescoped onto and releasably retained on a support member by a connector pin assembly extending through aligned openings in the wear and support members. A pin portion of the assembly is rotatable relative to the wear and support members between locking and unlocking positions in which opposite end tabs of the pin respectively block and unblock removal of the wear member from the support member. A drive bolt is threaded into an end or the pin and is connected to locking structure within the pin. Rotation of the bolt in one direction rotates the pin to and statically locks it in its locking position, while rotation of the bolt in the opposite direction rotates the pin to and statically locks it in its unlocking position.
US09441349B2
A ground engaging tip having a ground engaging portion and a coupling portion in opposing relationship to the ground engaging portion. The coupling portion includes a side wall and an interlock tab. The side wall at least partially defines a coupler pocket. The interlock tab has a base end and a proximal end. The base end of is contiguous with the side wall, and the interlock tab extends from the base end to the proximal end in a direction substantially away from the ground engaging portion. The proximal end includes a perimeter with a curved terminal edge.
US09441345B2
A hybrid excavator includes a control unit that is arranged at an upper turning body and is configured to supply a drive signal to at least one of a motor generator control part and a charge/discharge control part. During a regeneration operation performed by a motor, the control unit sets an electrical energy storage target value for a second electrical energy storage device to a higher value than an electrical energy storage target value for a first electrical energy storage.
US09441344B2
A controller assembly includes a base plate, a bracket, and a first controller main body. The base plate includes a through hole and a frame having an upper surface and a lower surface and surrounding the through hole. The bracket has first and second flange portions supported on the upper surface of the frame at positions opposite to each other over the through hole, first and second side portions coupled respectively to the first and second flange portions and passing through the though hole; and a bottom portion coupled to both of the first and second side portions on the side of the lower surface of the frame. The first controller main body is mounted on a bottom portion of the bracket. Accordingly, a controller assembly which can be readily assembled, a cab of a work implement, and a work machine can be obtained.
US09441341B1
A coupling unites two short segments of trench shield spreader tubing into a single spreader tube of desired length. The coupling comprises a cylindrical insert adapted to fit snugly within and to extend a short distance into the interiors of two spreader tube segments abutted end-to-end, the total length of which becomes the spreader. Each coupling includes transverse retainer pin holes which align with like holes through the abutted ends of the spreader tube segments to admit a retainer pin. The coupling may include stiffener and spacer straps disposed on either side of the retainer pin holes that extend substantially the length of the coupling.
US09441338B2
A snowplow blade removably attachable to a vehicle for contacting and plowing associated snow over a road guard rail as the vehicle moves. The snowplow blade includes a snowplow surface defining a trajectory for displacement of the snow between a lower substantially front-facing road-contact edge and an upper substantially side-facing outlet edge. An interface member provides removable attachment of the snowplow surface to the vehicle. The upper side-facing outlet edge is sized and positioned to project snow above a top surface of the road guard rail, thus reducing the accumulation of snow at the base of the guard rail.
US09441336B2
A signpost connector for use in coupling a sign support to an anchor includes at least one bolt having a plurality of bolt heads, wherein at least one of the plurality of bolt heads is configured to break away from the bolt when a pre-determined torque load is induced to the one bolt head.
US09441335B2
A protective coating system for a railway structure having a waterproof membrane and a ballast mat. The waterproof membrane is disposed on the railway structure. The ballast mat further has a ballast protection coating and a sealing layer. The ballast protection coating is a rubber compound and is disposed on the waterproof membrane. The sealing layer is disposed on the ballast protection layer.
US09441326B2
This invention pertains to a layered sheet comprising a flame resistant wet-laid nonwoven paper having a first and second surface and an inorganic refractory layer adjacent to at least one surface of the paper wherein the refractory layer has a dry areal weight of from 15 to 50 gsm and the bond strength between the refractory layer and the surface of the paper is from 0.25 lb/in to 0.8 lb/in, wherein the carrier comprises from 40 to 70 weight percent of aramid fibers and from 30 to 60 weight percent of polymeric binder, is hydrophilic, has a smoothness on at least one surface of no greater than 150 Sheffield units, a thickness of from 0.025 to 0.175 mm and a density of from 0.60 to 1.1 g/cc.
US09441325B2
The present invention is directed to a method of making a cord-reinforced rubber article, comprising the steps of (A) atomizing a mixture of a halogenated hydrocarbon, a carrier gas, and at least one member of the group consisting of hydrocarbon sulfides and polymerizable monomers, to form an atomized mixture; (B) generating an atmospheric pressure plasma from the atomized mixture; (C) exposing a reinforcement cord to the atmospheric pressure plasma to produce a treated reinforcement cord; and (D) contacting the treated reinforcement cord with a rubber composition comprising a diene based elastomer and at least one member of the group consisting of methylene donors and methylene acceptors.
US09441321B2
A bubble generating device and a washing machine equipped with the bubble generating device. The washing machine includes a water tub into which water is introduced, a bubble generating device to generate bubbles and supply the bubbles into the water tub, a pump to suck water from the water tub and supply the water into the bubble generating device, and a connecting pipe having an end connected to the bubble generating device and the other end connected to the water tub. The other end of the connecting pipe is located above a water level in the water tub. The bubble generating device selectively performs a bubble generating process in which bubbles are generated and supplied into the water tub, or a water circulating process in which water from the water tub circulates through the connecting pipe and flows back to the water tub.
US09441316B2
A combination feeder may be utilized to inlay a strand within a knitted component. As an example, the combination feeder may include a feeder arm that reciprocates between a retracted position and an extended position. In manufacturing the knitted component, the feeder inlays the strand when the feeder arm is in the extended position, and the strand is absent from the knitted component when the feeder arm is in the retracted position. A dispensing tip disposed at the end of the feeder arm supplies the strand for inlaying in a location disposed below the intersection of the planes of the needle beds and for one or more of knitting, tucking, and floating in a location disposed above the intersection of the planes of the needle beds.
US09441315B2
There is provided a knitted fabric in which a spacing of an open portion can be adjusted as necessary, and a method for knitting the same. An inlay knitting of interweaving a first line (Y1) supplied from a far side line feeder (F1) into a first knitted fabric portion (11) is carried out (process α). An inlay knitting of interweaving a second line (Y2) supplied from a near side line feeder (F2) into a second knitted fabric portion (12) is carried out, and the second line (Y2) is made intersect the first line (Y1) on the open portion (50) side (process β). An inlay knitting of interweaving the first line (Y1) into the first knitted fabric portion (11) is carried out, and a state in which the first line (Y1) is entwined around the second line (Y2) and turned back is obtained (process γ). An inlay knitting of interweaving the second line (Y2) into the second knitted fabric portion (12) is carried out, and a turn-back end of the first line (Y1) and a turn-back end of the second line (Y2) are entwined (process δ).
US09441311B2
The present invention in one preferred embodiment discloses a new design of HVPE reactor, which can grow gallium nitride for more than one day without interruption. To avoid clogging in the exhaust system, a second reactor chamber is added after a main reactor where GaN is produced. The second reactor chamber may be configured to enhance ammonium chloride formation, and the powder may be collected efficiently in it. To avoid ammonium chloride formation in the main reactor, the connection between the main reactor and the second reaction chamber can be maintained at elevated temperature. In addition, the second reactor chamber may have two or more exhaust lines. If one exhaust line becomes clogged with powder, the valve for an alternative exhaust line may open and the valve for the clogged line may be closed to avoid overpressuring the system. The quartz-made main reactor may have e.g. a pyrolytic boron nitride liner to collect polycrystalline gallium nitride efficiently. The new HVPE reactor which can grow gallium nitride crystals for more than 1 day may produce enough source material for ammonothermal growth. Single crystalline gallium nitride and polycrystalline gallium nitride from the HVPE reactor may be used as seed crystals and a nutrient for ammonothermal group III-nitride growth.
US09441302B2
Provided is a method for manufacturing a Zn—Mg alloy-coated steel sheet having high blackening resistance and coating adhesion. In one implementation, the method may include forming a Zn—Mg coating layer on a base steel sheet and performing a combustion chemical vapor deposition (CCVD) process to form an oxide film. The oxide film may include a metal oxide and the metal oxide may include silicon oxide (SiO2) and magnesium oxide (MgO). The base steel sheet may be maintained within a temperature range of 330° C. to 450° C. during the performing of the CCVD process.
US09441295B2
One embodiment of the present invention provides a gas-delivery system for delivering reaction gas to a reactor chamber. The gas-delivery system includes a main gas-inlet port for receiving reaction gases and a gas-delivery plate that includes a plurality of gas channels. A gas channel includes a plurality of gas holes for allowing the reaction gases to enter the reactor chamber from the gas channel. The gas-delivery system further includes a plurality of sub-gas lines coupling together the main gas-inlet port and the gas-delivery plate, and a respective sub-gas line is configured to deliver a portion of the received reaction gases to a corresponding gas channel.
US09441281B2
The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a ductile, high strength austenitic stainless steel object from an austenitic stainless, steel strip, in which method the strip is cold worked in order to promote the formation of martensite into the microstructure of the strip, and the strip having a dual-phase microstructure is further processed. The strip is then shaped to a desired object having at least one curved or arcuate area and during the shaping of the object the different areas of the strip are deformed in different degrees. The desired object is further reversion annealed in order to reverse martensite back to the austenite form and a hardening effect is achieved in order to have an essentially fine grain microstructure for at least the curved or arcuate area of the object.
US09441277B2
The present invention encompasses compositions and methods for detecting cancer metastasis.
US09441276B2
The present invention provides a method and a reagent for detecting a digestive organ cancer, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer, or biliary tract cancer patient based on expression profiles. The method comprises obtaining the expression profile of at least one gene selected from the group consisting of probes corresponding to genes with expression levels (in peripheral blood) that vary in digestive organ cancer, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer, and biliary tract cancer cases, compared with normal healthy subjects. The reagent for detecting digestive organ cancer, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer, or biliary tract cancer contains nucleotides or partial sequences thereof consisting of the nucleotide sequence of at least one gene selected from the group consisting of probes with expression levels that vary in digestive organ cancer, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer, or biliary tract cancer, or nucleotides containing sequences complementary thereto.
US09441273B2
The present methods are exemplified by a process in which maternal blood containing fetal DNA is diluted to a nominal value of approximately 0.5 genome equivalent of DNA per reaction sample. Digital PCR is then be used to detect aneuploidy, such as the trisomy that causes Down Syndrome. Since aneuploidies do not present a mutational change in sequence, and are merely a change in the number of chromosomes, it has not been possible to detect them in a fetus without resorting to invasive techniques such as amniocentesis or chorionic villi sampling. Digital amplification allows the detection of aneuploidy using massively parallel amplification and detection methods, examining, e.g., 10,000 genome equivalents.
US09441272B2
Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for sequencing nucleic acids.
US09441271B2
This disclosure provides methods and compositions for amplification and sequencing of DNA templates, comprising at least two of: 2′-deoxyinosine-5′ triphosphate, 5-propynyl-2′-deoxycytidine-5′-triphosphate, and 8-oxo-2′-deoxyguanosine-5′-triphosphate. Incorporation of these promoting nucleotides into amplification and sequencing reactions improves the amplification and sequencing of difficult-to-sequence DNA regions such as a GC rich regions or GT rich regions; repetitive sequences, including dinucleotide, trinucleotide, direct, inverted, Alu, poly A or poly T repeats; and hairpin or other secondary structures.
US09441256B2
Termites have specialized digestive systems that overcome the lignin barrier in wood to release fermentable simple sugars. Using the termite Reticulitermes flavipes and its gut symbionts, high-throughput titanium pyrosequencing and proteomics approaches experimentally compared the effects of lignin-containing diets on host-symbiont digestome composition. Proteomic investigations and functional digestive studies with recombinant lignocellulases conducted in parallel provided strong evidence of congruence at the transcription and translational levels and provide enzymatic strategies for overcoming recalcitrant lignin barriers in biofuel feedstocks. Briefly described, therefore, the disclosure provides a system for generating a fermentable product from a lignified plant material, the system comprising a cooperating series of at least two catalytically active polypeptides, where said catalytically active polypeptides are selected from the group consisting of: cellulase Cell-1, β-glu cellulase, an aldo-keto-reductase, a catalase, a laccase, and an endo-xylanase.
US09441253B2
The disclosure relates to a metabolic transistor in bacteria where a competitive pathway is introduced to compete with a product pathway for available carbon so as to control the carbon flux in the bacteria.
US09441250B2
Provided herein are glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPD) enzymes with increased KM for NADH and GPD enzymes with substantially the same affinity for NADH and NADPH and/or are feedback inhibited by glycerol-3-phosphate. Also provided herein are recombinant microorganisms comprising a heterologous gene encoding GPD and a deletion or disruption in an endogenous gene encoding GPD. Also provided are recombinant microorganisms comprising a heterologous gene encoding GPD and a butanol biosynthetic pathway. Further provided are methods of producing butanol comprising providing the recombinant microorganisms described herein and contacting the recombinant microorganism with at least one fermentable carbon substrate under conditions wherein butanol is produced.
US09441249B2
Provided is a method for efficiently producing ethanol by ethanol fermentation from xylose using a saccharified biomass, which contains various fermentation inhibitors. A method for producing ethanol from biomass of the present invention includes the step of culturing a xylose-utilizing yeast transformed so as to overexpress a gene for an acetic acid-responsive transcription factor in combination with a saccharified biomass.
US09441246B2
Described is a chimerical adenovirus-parvovirus vector characterized in that it comprises the entire parvovirus genome inserted into a adenovirus genome, wherein: (a) the adenovirus genome is characterized by deletion of E1 and E3, and (b) the biological activity of the parvoviral protein NS, preferably NS1, is reduced or eliminated.
US09441243B2
The present invention relates to a polyribonucleotide including a hammerhead trans-ribozyme directed against a plant mitochondrial RNA and a structure in the form of tRNA that can be aminoacylated by valine, and to the use thereof in plants in particular for inducing cytoplasmic male sterility.
US09441241B2
Methods and compositions for transgenic plants with enhanced resistance to biotic and abiotic stress
The present invention provides methods and compositions for producing transgenic plants having increased resistance to biotic and/or abiotic stress and comprising an exogenous nucleotide sequence encoding a cysteine protease inhibitor.
US09441240B2
The invention provides corn event MON 87411, and plants, plant cells, seeds, plant parts, and commodity products comprising event MON 87411. The invention also provides polynucleotides specific for event MON 87411 and plants, plant cells, seeds, plant parts, and commodity products comprising polynucleotides specific for event MON 87411. The invention also provides methods related to event MON 87411.
US09441238B2
Methods and materials useful for modulating the sensitivity of cells to an inhibitor of acetohydroxyacid synthase (AHAS) are disclosed. For example, nucleic acid molecules encoding AHAS large subunits are disclosed as well as methods for using such nucleic acid molecules to transform microbial cells and plant cells, and to confer modulated sensitivity to AHAS-inhibiting compounds onto such cells. Further provided are materials and methods useful for modulating growth, development, activity, and characteristics of host cells and organisms.
US09441236B2
Transgenic plants, and a method for making the same, wherein genes encoding the enzyme luciferase and its corresponding substrate luciferin are incorporated into a native plant genome. Once transformed into plant cells, these genes may be regulated such that under certain endogenous or exogenous conditions, their expression in the mature plant results in bioluminescence. Different luciferin/luciferase complexes and/or mechanisms of regulation may be utilized for these transgenic plants, depending on a variety of factors such as plant species and the circumstances under which a biolmuniescent reaction is desired. Phototransformation may be utilized to vary the wavelength of light emitted from the mature plant.
US09441229B2
An antisense molecule capable of binding to a selected target site to induce exon skipping in the dystrophin gene, as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 to 202.
US09441227B2
The invention is directed to compositions and methods for selectively reducing the expression of a gene product from a desired target gene in a cell, as well as for treating diseases caused by the expression of the gene. More particularly, the invention is directed to compositions that contain double stranded RNA (“dsRNA”), and methods for preparing them, that are capable of reducing the expression of target genes in eukaryotic cells. The dsRNA has a first oligonucleotide sequence that is between 25 and about 30 nucleotides in length and a second oligonucleotide sequence that anneals to the first sequence under biological conditions. In addition, a region of one of the sequences of the dsRNA having a sequence length of at least 19 nucleotides is sufficiently complementary to a nucleotide sequence of the RNA produced from the target gene to trigger the destruction of the target RNA by the RNAi machinery.
US09441221B2
Compositions and methods for modulating the expression of a protein of interest are provided.
US09441219B2
A system and method for processing and detecting nucleic acids from a set of biological samples, comprising: a capture plate and a capture plate module configured to facilitate binding of nucleic acids within the set of biological samples to magnetic beads; a molecular diagnostic module configured to receive nucleic acids bound to magnetic beads, isolate nucleic acids, and analyze nucleic acids, comprising a cartridge receiving module, a heating/cooling subsystem and a magnet configured to facilitate isolation of nucleic acids, a valve actuation subsystem configured to control fluid flow through a microfluidic cartridge for processing nucleic acids, and an optical subsystem for analysis of nucleic acids; a fluid handling system configured to deliver samples and reagents to components of the system to facilitate molecular diagnostic protocols; and an assay strip configured to combine nucleic acid samples with molecular diagnostic reagents for analysis of nucleic acids.
US09441218B2
A salt tolerant Medicago sativa plant designated as “Silverosa” representative seed of which having been deposited under NCIMB Accession No. 41909, NCIMB Accession No. 41910 and NCIMB Accession No. 41911.
US09441216B2
The present invention provides culture mediums that are useful for the expression of ADAMTS proteins, such as ADAMTS13. Methods for the expression and purification of ADAMTS proteins are also provided. In some embodiments, the mediums and methods of the invention are useful for the expression of ADAMTS proteins having high specific activities. Also provided are ADAMTS, e.g., ADAMTS13, protein compositions with high specific activities, which are expressed and purified according to the methods provided herein.
US09441196B2
An apparatus (100) capable of viral inactivation of liquid media includes at least one coaxial cylinder (110) constructed of an outer cylinder (120) and an inner cylinder (130), a liquid media inlet (140), at least one emitter of type C ultraviolet radiation (145), and a liquid media outlet (150). The inner cylinder has an outer diameter adapted to form a gap (160) between the outer diameter of the inner cylinder and the inner diameter of the outer cylinder. The media flows in a substantially cyclonic flow path along the gap. The at least one emitter of type C ultraviolet radiation is placed inside the inner cylinder. The outlet is connected to the outer cylinder at, or proximal to, an end of the outer cylinder opposite the inlet.
US09441191B2
A solid-state fermentation method is provided. The method is provided for edible and medicinal microorganisms. A commensurate device is used for processing sterilization, inoculation, cultivation, drying, and collection. Cultivation substrates are filled in cultivation plates and placed on trays of a movable layer rack in a reaction fermenter for fermentation. Inner pipes provide inoculation, fluid nutrient, and air for fermentation of microorganisms. The reaction fermenter is accompanied with a dry circulation unit and a production collection unit for drying and collection. The solid-state fermentation processes are thus effectively integrated without the need of transferring fermented products between stations, which largely reduces contamination rate. Even more, there is no need to purchase automatic production equipments of high mechanical technologies. Thus, the present invention reduces labor requirement, saves time and energy, deducts cost of automatic equipments, achieves low contamination rate, and processes automatic mass production even without automatic production equipments.
US09441189B2
A dishwasher detergent composition, preferably pH neutral, and comprising a strong biodegradable builder and optionally a bleach, and optionally a sulfonated polymer.
US09441188B2
A fabric conditioning composition comprising an emulsion of particles in an aqueous vehicle, the particles comprising (a) fatty acid triglyceride, and (b) a water swellable cationic polymer.
US09441187B2
Reacting at least one tris-(2-hydroxyethyl)-amine fatty acid ester with dimethylsulfate at a molar ratio of dimethylsulfate to amine nitrogen of from 0.79 to 0.94 until the reaction mixture has a total amine number of from 7 to 20 mg KOH/g provides novel fabric softener active compositions with a low content of methanol, comprising from 65 to 98% by weight of tris-(2-hydroxyethyl)-methylammonium methylsulfate fatty acid esters and from 1 to 1500 ppm methanol.
US09441181B2
A friction modifying lubricant additive is provided comprising a base oil, colloidal nanocarbon particles, and a fluorine containing oligomeric dispersant. The fluorine containing oligomeric dispersant includes an anchoring group, a lipophilic hydrocarbon group, and a fluorinated oleophobic group. Further, a friction modifying lubricant additive is provided comprising a base oil, colloidal nanocarbon particles, a fluorine containing oligomeric dispersant, and at least one component selected from the group consisting of an antifriction component, an antiwear component, and an extreme pressure component. In another aspect, a method of manufacturing a lubricant additive is provided, the method comprising the step of mixing together a fluorine containing oligomeric dispersant, a dispersion of colloidal nanocarbon particles in a first base oil, and a second base oil.
US09441177B2
A polymer-brush-based, surface-modification strategy for friction and wear reduction in hard contact under boundary-lubrication conditions is proposed, specifically for a non-aqueous environment. Surface-initiated Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (SI-ATRP) was employed for the synthesis of three different oil-compatible, hydrophobic polymer brushes based on alkyl methacrylates. This study presents polymerization kinetics, chemical characterization by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and surface morphologies observed in atomic force microscopy (AFM). The lubrication properties of the anchored polymers were evaluated macroscopically by means of ball-on-disk methods and on the nanonewton scale by lateral force microscopy (AFM/LFM) and showed significant reduction in friction up to contact pressures as high as 460 MPa. The frictional response of surface-grafted polymers is shown to depend strongly on the compatibility of the polymer with the chosen lubricating fluid. Their good tribological performances have also been proven with watchmaking lubricants. These results do make the prevent invention a suitable candidate for a watchmaking application (such as at the balance pivot or the escapement) in order to increase the efficiency and reliability of the movements.
US09441172B2
The mercury in crude oils is managed during the refining process to reduce its occurrence in refined petroleum products as well as in refinery emissions and wastes by converting the mercury, which may typically be present in the crude in elemental, ionic or combined organic (organomercury) forms, by operating the refinery on a blend of crudes comprising a mercury-containing crude of low sulfur content and a high sulfur crude. For optimal mercury control, the refinery should be operated in a high conversion regime, preferably with hydroprocessing (severe hydrotreating, hydrocracking) suitable for converting refractory, non-reactive sulfur compounds in the high sulfur crudes to more reactive forms including, for example, hydrogen sulfide, which will combine with the mercury present from the mercury-containing crude to form solid mercury sulfides which may be removed as solid waste by-products and disposed of in an environmentally acceptable manner.
US09441166B2
In one aspect, the invention includes a reactor apparatus for pyrolyzing a hydrocarbon feedstock, the apparatus including: a reactor component comprising a refractory material in oxide form, the refractory material having a melting point of at least 2060° C. and which remains in oxide form when exposed to a gas having an oxygen partial pressure of 10−15 bar, a carbon partial pressure above the carbon partial pressure of the zirconium carbide and zirconium oxide phase transition at the same temperature, and at temperatures below the temperature of the zirconium triple point at the oxygen partial pressure of 10−15 bar; and ii) when exposed to a gas having an oxygen partial pressure of 10−15 bar and at temperatures above the zirconium triple point at the oxygen partial pressure of 10−15 bar. In some embodiments, the reactor comprises a regenerative pyrolysis reactor apparatus and in other embodiments it includes a reverse flow regenerative reactor apparatus. In other aspects, this invention includes a method for pyrolyzing a hydrocarbon feedstock using a pyrolysis reactor system comprising the step of providing in a heated region of a pyrolysis reactor system for pyrolyzing a hydrocarbon feedstock, apparatus comprising the above refractory material.
US09441165B2
The temperature control system is provided with a lower heat removing unit which is disposed at the bottom of a reactor inside which an exothermic reaction takes place and through which a liquid coolant is flowed, and an upper heat removing unit which is disposed in the reactor further above from the lower heat removing unit and through which the liquid coolant is flowed, recovering reaction heat inside the reactor and controlling a temperature inside the reactor. The lower heat removing unit is supplied with the liquid coolant which is adjusted for temperature by a first temperature adjustment unit, and the upper heat removing unit is supplied with the liquid coolant which is adjusted for temperature by a second temperature adjustment unit different from the first temperature adjustment unit.
US09441162B2
To provide a liquid crystal composition satisfying at least one or having a suitable balance regarding at least two of characteristics such as high maximum temperature of a nematic phase, low minimum temperature thereof, small viscosity, suitable optical anisotropy, large negative dielectric anisotropy, large specific resistance, high stability to ultraviolet light and heat; and an AM device having characteristics such as short response time, a large voltage holding ratio, low threshold voltage, a large contrast ratio and a long service life. A liquid crystal composition has negative dielectric anisotropy and a nematic phase, and contains a compound contributing to high stability to heat or ultraviolet light. The composition may contain a specific compound having large negative dielectric anisotropy as a first component, a specific compound having high maximum temperature or small viscosity as a second component, and a specific compound having a polymerizable group.
US09441150B2
Treatment fluids comprising an aqueous fluid and a low-leakoff particulate, wherein the low-leakoff particulate comprises a low molecular weight modified polysaccharide that has been crosslinked with a crosslinking agent wherein the low molecular weight modified polysaccharide contains one or more of the following monosaccharide units: galactose, mannose, glucoside glucose, xylose, arabinose, fructose, glucuronic acid, or pyranosyl sulfate.
US09441147B2
The present invention relates to methods and compositions useful for isolating a portion of a wellbore. In one embodiment, a method includes preparing a sealant composition containing two phases. The sealant composition is placed into the wellbore where one phase sets upon subjecting the sealant composition to a thermal source followed by the setting of the other phase.
US09441140B2
An asphaltic sheet comprising an asphaltic component including an asphalt binder and expandable graphite.
US09441139B2
Provided are silica-based fine particle dispersion sols, processes for producing the sols, coating compositions containing the dispersion sol, curable coating films obtained from the coating composition, and substrates having the coating film. The process including (1) mixing an aqueous aluminate solution to an alkaline silica sol which contains water-dispersible silica fine particles in a given ratio; (2) heating the mixture liquid obtained in step (1) to 60 to 200° C. and stirring the mixture liquid at the temperature for 0.5 to 20 hours; and (3) contacting the mixture liquid obtained in step (2) with a cation exchange resin to remove by ion exchange alkali metal ions contained in the mixture liquid and thereby controlling the pH of the mixture liquid to be in the range of 3.0 to 6.0.
US09441135B2
Coating compositions are described comprising a non-ionic surfactant and an additive wherein the additive comprises a low surface energy group and one or more hydroxyl groups. The cured coating can exhibit reduced fingerprint visibility and low cellulose surface attraction. Also described are copolymer compositions useful as additives.
US09441131B2
Exemplary embodiments provide nanotube-containing coating compositions and methods for making and using the coating compositions. In an exemplary embodiment, the coating composition can include a plurality of nanotubes (e.g., carbon nanotubes (CNTs)) dispersed stably and uniformly in a polymer matrix containing fluoropolymers. The coating composition can further include stabilizers to allow a stable and/or uniform dispersion of the plurality of nanotubes in the fluoropolymers. The nanotube coating composition can be coated on an article surface to improve mechanical robustness, and electrical and thermal conductivity of the coated article. The coated article can be used as, for example, a fuser member, a fixing member, a pressure roller, or a release agent donor member in an electrostatographic printing machine or process.
US09441130B2
Formulations of easily dispersible (ED) pigments comprising a combination of a carboxylic acid polymer and a non-ionic alkoxylated surfactant are disclosed. The combination is used in the formulation of a plurality of pigments. The formulations are suitable for mixing with a base medium at the point-of-sale (PoS) or by the end user.
US09441129B2
An ink for inkjet recording contains water, an organic solvent, a pigment, and a compound represented by the following Chemical formula 1: In Chemical formula 1, M+'s each, independently represent protons, cations of alkali metals, ammonium ions, or organic ammonium ions.
US09441127B2
A polymerizable composition includes: a polymer compound; a polymerization initiator; and a polymerizable compound. The polymer compound contains at least one of a repeating unit represented by the following Formula (1) or a repeating unit represented by the following Formula (2). An ink composition for ink-jet recording includes the polymerizable composition. A method of ink jet recording and a printed article use the ink composition.
US09441122B2
Pigment based inks are provided. The inks include a non-polar carrier fluid; and a surface-functionalized pigment particle including a nitrogen-inked moiety to the surface of the pigment particle through a nitrogen link at one end of the nitrogen-linked moiety and a segment copolymer having at least two blocks attached at another end, the pigment particle suspended in the non-polar carrier fluid. A combination of an electronic display and an electronic ink employing the pigment and a process for making the pigment-based inks are also provided.
US09441105B2
There are disclosed a biodegradable resin composition including a starch (a1), a biodegradable resin (a2) other than a polylactic acid-based polymer and a non-crystalline polylactic acid-based polymer (b), a mass ratio of the starch (a1) to the biodegradable resin (a2) other than a polylactic acid-based polymer (a1/a2) being from 20/80 to 50/50, and a mass ratio of a sum of the components other than the polymer (b) to the polymer (b) (sum of components other than polymer (b)/polymer (b)) being from 95/5 to 50/50, and a biodegradable film using the biodegradable resin composition.
US09441100B2
Disclosed are high frequency-active blends comprising (a) ethylene copolymers with polar comonomers such as ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymers, ethylene/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymers and ethylene/(meth)acrylate/carbon monoxide terpolymers; (b) copolymers of ethylene and maleic anhydride or its functional equivalents and (c) a short chain polymer containing one primary amine, the remainder comprising propylene oxide, ethylene oxide, or mixture thereof; and films, powders, multilayer structures, and articles prepared therefrom.
US09441099B2
An olefinic thermoplastic elastomer composition comprises ground tire rubber (GTR) sub-divided into crumbs; at least one polyolefin; at least one styrene block copolymer; at least one α-olefin-vinyl ester copolymer; at least one sulfur scavenger; at least one blocking agent; at least one disproportioning agent; at least one free-radical donor acceptor; and at least one deflocculant. The product produced from the olefinic thermoplastic clastomer composition comprises a continuous matrix wherein the sub-divided GTR crumbs are homogeneously dispersed within the polyolefin matrix and wherein the sub-divided GTR crumbs have a shell and core structure.
US09441097B2
A rubber composition containing 100 parts by mass of a rubber component (A) comprising at least one rubber of natural rubber and synthetic diene base rubbers and 5 to 120 parts by mass of a low molecular weight aromatic vinyl compound-diene compound copolymer (B) having a weight average molecular weight (measured by gel permeation chromatography and reduced to polystyrene) of 1,000 to 300,000 and, wherein the copolymer (B) comprises 0 to 80% by mass of an aromatic vinyl compound and has a vinyl bond content of 0 to 80% by mass in the part of the diene compound, and has a cross-linkable functional group at an end. Further, tires produced by using the rubber composition are provided.
US09441096B2
There is provided a resin composition which contains a cellulose ester resin, a polyether ester compound, and an additive if necessary, the resin composition being capable of providing a resin shaped product with excellent transparency, tensile fracture energy property, and the like, and of being suppressed from deterioration of flowability.
US09441078B2
Disclosed are self-assembling diblock copolymers of the formula (I): wherein R1-R4, n, and m are as described herein, which find use in preparing porous membranes. Embodiments of the membranes contain the diblock copolymer self-assembled into a cylindrical morphology. Also disclosed is a method of preparing such copolymers.
US09441076B2
A nanocomposite composition having a silicone elastomer matrix having therein a filler loading of greater than 0.05 wt %, based on total nanocomposite weight, wherein the filler is functional graphene sheets (FGS) having a surface area of from 300 m2/g to 2630 m2/g; and a method for producing the nanocomposite and uses thereof.
US09441074B2
The present invention relates to an arc-extinguishing insulation material molded product provided in the vicinity of a contact point between contactors in a gas circuit breaker. The arc-extinguishing insulation material molded product includes a polymer which contains a carbon-oxygen bond in the main chain, and in which a part of or all of terminal atoms are non-hydrogen atoms.
US09441073B2
The present invention relates to a drawn PET fiber that can provide a cap ply cord and the like showing more improved modulus and good dimensional stability, a PET tire cord, and a tire including the same. The drawn PET fiber may be a fiber including 90 mol % or more of PET, of which the crystallinity is 53% or more, the amorphous orientation factor (AOF) is 0.15 or less, and the birefringence index is 0.14 to 0.16, after heat-treating the same at 230° C. for 1 minute under the initial load of 20 g/1000 d.
US09441069B2
The present invention provides an epoxy resin having a low melting point, low melt viscosity, excellent solvent solubility, and excellent processability. Also, the present invention provides an epoxy resin composition and a cured product thereof having excellent fluidity, processability, flexibility, adhesion, and thermal conductivity. The epoxy resin is represented by general formula (I) below (Q: an alkylene chain having a C1-C9 linear part which may have a C1-C18 alkyl group in a side chain, or a linkage chain having an ether bond present between two continuous methylene groups in the alkylene chain; A: a phenylene unit in which 2 to 4 phenylene groups are bonded directly or through a linkage chain, or a naphthylene unit, n: 0 to 10). The epoxy resin composition contains the epoxy resin and a curing agent. The composition includes the epoxy resin.
US09441065B2
Provided is a curable composition for imprints having good patternability and dry etching resistance. Disclosed is a curable composition for imprints comprising a polymerizable monomer (Ax) having a substituent having an aromatic group and having a molecular weight of 100 or more, and a photopolymerization initiator.
US09441064B2
The present invention provides a curable composition, which contains a crosslinking aid (B) containing three or more allyl groups in the molecule in an amount of 1 to 50 parts by mass, polyfunctional (meth)acrylic compound (C) in an amount of 5 to 50 parts by mass, and photopolymerization initiator (D1) and/or thermal polymerization initiator (D2) in an amount of 0.1 to 10 parts by mass, respectively, as a polymerization initiator (D) to 100 parts by mass of allyl group-terminated allyl ester oligomer (A); wherein the crosslinking aid (B) containing allyl group is a compound containing three or more allyl groups in a molecule; wherein the content of impurities derived from the crosslinking aid (B) in the curable composition is less than 0.1 mass %; wherein the content of the (meth)acrylic compound containing a hydroxyl group in a molecule (C1) in the curable composition is 0.5 to 30 mass %.
US09441053B2
The present invention describes an analytical method for detecting and quantitating poly-sulfated oligosaccharides, including Fondaparinux sodium, using hydrophilic interaction ultra-performance liquid chromatography (HILIC-UPLC) coupled with a charged aerosol detector (CAD) or a mass spectrometer (MS). This analytical method provides in-process control in a total synthesis of highly sulfated oligosaccharides by separation, quantification and mass identification. Systems and conditions utilizing such methods are also provided.
US09441050B2
Peptide sequences that specifically bind infectious prion protein for the generation of antibodies and therapeutic agents are disclosed herein.
US09441047B2
Provided herein are methods of improving asthma symptoms, e.g., as measured by an asthma control questionnaire, comprising administering to the patient an effective amount of benralizumab or an antigen-binding fragment thereof.
US09441044B2
The present invention is based on the seminal discovery that targeted immunomodulatory antibodies and fusion proteins can counter act or reverse immune tolerance of cancer cells. Cancer cells are able to escape elimination by chemotherapeutic agents or tumor-targeted antibodies via specific immunosuppressive mechanisms in the tumor microenvironment and such ability of cancer cells is recognized as immune tolerance. Such immunosuppressive mechanisms include immunosuppressive cytokines (for example, Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β)) and regulatory T cells and/or immunosuppressive myeloid dendritic cells (DCs). By conteracting tumor-induced immune tolerance, the present invention provides effective compositions and methods for cancer treatment, optional in combination with another existing cancer treatment. The present invention provides strategies to counteract tumor-induced immune tolerance and enhance the antitumor efficacy of chemotherapy by activating and leveraging T cell-mediated adaptive antitumor immunity against resistant or disseminated cancer cells.
US09441039B2
The present disclosure provides compositions and methods relating to antibodies that specifically bind to human erythropoietin. The disclosure provides nucleic acids encoding such antibodies and methods of making and using such antibodies.
US09441036B2
The present invention relates to anti-IL-23p19 binding compounds, in particular new humanized anti-IL-23p19 antibodies and therapeutic and diagnostic methods and compositions for using the same.
US09441028B2
The present invention relates to methods for the purification of polypeptides using counter current chromatography. In particular the present invention relates to the use of counter current chromatography for the purification of recombinant GLP-1.
US09441020B2
The disclosure generally relates to methods and materials for modulating cell productivity. In particular, the present disclosure provides polynucleotides and polypeptides that when overexpressed in microorganisms result in increased in productivity, such as increased biomass productivity. Also disclosed are methods of using the polynucleotides and polypeptides to modulate or increase productivity of host cells such as, for example, algal or heterokont cells. Genetically engineered host cells, such as algal and heterokont cells having increased biomass productivity and bioproducts derived from such host cells are also disclosed.
US09441017B2
The present invention relates to a soluble polypeptide comprised of repeat modules. More particularly, the present invention relates to a soluble fusion polypeptide of the N-terminal domain of internalin and LRR (Leucine rich repeat) family protein, a method for preparing the polypeptide, a vector comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding the polypeptide, a host cell comprising the vector, a method for producing a solubility and folding-improved fusion polypeptide by expressing the vector in the host cell, and a method for improving the solubility and folding of the fusion polypeptide. Further, the present invention relates to a method for preparing the polypeptide bound with a specific target and analyzing the efficacy of the soluble polypeptide.
US09441015B2
The present invention is directed to a recombinant fusion antigen gene, a recombinant fusion antigen protein and a subunit vaccine composition having the same against infection of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). A recombinant fusion antigen gene, which encodes glycoprotein GP5 with truncated N′-terminal decoy epitope, a linker sequence and membrane protein M, followed by codon optimization, is expressed by a baculovirus expression system in vitro, thereby enhancing a yield of the recombinant fusion antigen protein. The recombinant fusion antigen protein can be applied in a subunit vaccine composition, for providing vaccinated animals with better protection ability without the risks of virulent spread and virulent recovery.
US09441009B2
A co-modified organopolysiloxane having a group having a siloxane dendron structure and a group containing a saccharide component (e.g. a sugar lactone amide alkyl group) is disclosed. The present invention also provides a method for producing the co-modified organopolysiloxane, as well as a surface treatment agent, a powder treatment agent, a powder composition, a powder-in-oil dispersion, a preparation for external use, and the like containing the co-modified organopolysiloxane.
US09440998B2
The invention relates to a process for preparing urea-containing mercaptosilanes of the general formula I wherein a chlorosilane of the general formula II is reacted with NaSH in C2-C8 alcohol.
US09440997B2
This invention relates to hydrolysable silanes useful in the modification of elastomers, and as coupling agents for diene elastomer compositions containing a filler. In particular the invention relates to novel hydrolysable silanes containing a tertiary amine group and an ether or thioether linkage.
US09440996B2
The present invention relates to an alpha-alkoxysilane-terminated prepolymer preparable by reaction of at least one polyether polyol, of a polyisocyanate and of an alpha-alkoxysilane having at least one isocyanate-reactive group, said polyether polyol having a weight average of 500 to 7000 g/mol and having ethylene oxide and propylene oxide units, the proportion of ethylene oxide units being up to 50% by weight based on the polyether polyol. The invention further provides a process for preparing an inventive alpha-alkoxysilane-terminated prepolymer, a composition, a multicomponent system and a spray can comprising an inventive alpha-alkoxysilane-terminated prepolymer, and also a moulding obtainable by polymerization from an inventive alpha-alkoxysilane-terminated prepolymer.
US09440993B2
The present invention relates to the use of compounds which are capable of attenuating skin irritation when they are applied to the skin. Skin irritation can be caused, inter alia, by ingredients of cosmetic or pharmaceutical compositions and/or environmental irritants. In particular, the present invention relates to compounds having the property of antagonizing the activation of the transient receptor potential (TRP) ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) ion channel and the use of said compounds as soothing agents. Such compounds can be used in many fields, particularly in personal-care products, cosmetics, textile and packaging products, pharmaceutical compositions, medical devices, and foodstuffs. The present invention further relates to products and/or pharmaceutical compositions containing said compounds. The present invention also relates to the use of the compounds described herein for the modulation of the taste of a food product.
US09440991B2
The present disclosure provides processes for the preparation of a compound of formula I: which is useful as an antiviral agent. The disclosure also provides compounds and processes for the preparation of the compounds that are synthetic intermediates to the compound of formula I.
US09440967B2
The present disclosure provides biologically active compounds of formula (I): and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, compositions comprising these compounds, and methods of using these compounds in a variety of applications, such as treatment or suppression of diseases associated with decreased mitochondrial function resulting in diminished ATP production and/or oxidative stress and/or lipid peroxidation.
US09440965B2
The invention relates to a significantly improved process for the preparation of benzothiadxazole compounds which can be used in the production of Luminescent Solar Concentrators, (LSC). In particular, the synthesis process of the present invention is oriented towards the preparation of 4,-di-2-thienyl-2,1,3-benzo-thiadiazole.
US09440957B2
The invention provides compounds and pharmaceutical compositions thereof, which are useful for modulating EGFR activity, as well as methods for using such compounds to treat, ameliorate or prevent a condition associated with abnormal or deregulated EGFR activity.
US09440954B2
Derivatives of 1-phenyl-2-pyridinyl alkyl alcohols according to formula (I) are useful as inhibitors of the phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) enzyme.
US09440952B2
The present invention is directed to indazole compounds which are potent inhibitors of LRRK2 kinase and useful in the treatment or prevention of diseases in which the LRRK2 kinase is involved, such as Parkinson's Disease. The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and the use of these compounds and compositions in the prevention or treatment of such diseases in which LRRK-2 kinase is involved.
US09440949B2
Compounds of Formula I that inhibit the activity of the diacylglycerol acyltransferase 2 (DGAT2) and their uses in the treatment of diseases linked thereto in animals are described herein.
US09440948B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide for compounds such as those shown in FIG. 1.1 (compounds A, B, C, and D), 2′substituted nicotine compounds, azetidine compounds, ether linked nicotine compounds (FIG. 1.2, compounds E, F, G, and H), methods of synthesis of the compounds, methods of treatment of a condition using compounds A, B, C, D, 2′substituted nicotine compounds, azetidine compounds, or ether linked nicotine compounds, methods of selectively stimulating alpha7 nAChR and/or alpha4beta2 receptors, and the like.
US09440943B2
The invention provides tricyclic sulfone compounds and their use in treating medical disorders, such as obesity. Pharmaceutical compositions and methods of making various tricyclic compounds are provided. The compounds are contemplated to have activity against methionyl aminopeptidase 2.
US09440940B2
Methods for the synthesis of psoralen derivatives are provided. In one embodiment, the method may include acetylating a compound of formula (II) to form a compound of formula (III), subjecting the compound of formula (III) to a Fries rearrangement to form a compound of formula (IV), and subjecting the compound of formula (IV) to cyclization, reduction and aromatization, to form a compound having the following formula (I):
US09440939B2
A novel compound useful as a raw material for a resist material is described. A norbornene derivative having epoxy and a methylene-mediated reactive group in a norbornane skeleton is represented by the following formula. In the formula, R1 represents a hydrogen atom, acryloyl, methacryloyl or hydroxymethylacryloyl, and R2 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms.
US09440936B1
A novel method for preparing 3-chlorocarbohydroxymoyl-4-nitro-1,2,5-oxadiazole by reacting 4-amino-3-chlorocarbohydroxymoyl-1,2,5-oxadiazole with H2O2 and a tungsten based catalyst and use of the prepared 3-chlorocarbohydroxymoyl-4-nitro-1,2,5-oxadiazole for synthesizing 3,4-Bis(4-nitro-1,2,5-oxadizaol-3-yl)-1,2,5-oxadiazole-N-oxide (DNTF).
US09440932B2
A new process for making agrochemically important N-[2,4-dichloro-5-[4-(difluoro methyl)-4,5-dihydro-3-methyl-5-oxo-1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl] phenyl]methanesulfonamide by reacting 1-(5-amino-2,4-dichlorophenyl)-4,5-dihydro-4-difluoromethyl-3-methyl-1,2,4-triazol-5(1H)-one and methanesulfonyl chloride in water using an inorganic base to dynamically control the reaction pH and in the presence of a phase transfer catalyst suspended in an 1:1 aromatic solution.
US09440929B2
The present invention discloses compounds according to Formula I: wherein Cy, R1, L1, R3, R4, R5, La, and Ra are as defined herein. Novel benzimidazoles according to Formula I, able to inhibit JAK are disclosed, these compounds may be prepared as a pharmaceutical composition, and may be used for the prevention and treatment of a variety of conditions in mammals including humans, including by way of non-limiting example, allergic diseases, inflammatory diseases, autoimmune diseases, proliferative diseases, transplantation rejection, diseases involving impairment of cartilage turnover, congenital cartilage malformations, and/or diseases associated with hypersecretion of IL6 or hypersecretion of interferons.
US09440925B2
The present disclosure is directed to a reactive ester agent for conjugating a click-reactive group to a carrier molecule or solid support. The reactive ester agent has the general formula IA, wherein the variables R1, R2, R3, Ra and L are described throughout the application.
US09440923B2
4,5,6-Trichloropicolinic acid is prepared by selectively dechlorinating 3,4,5,6-tetrachloropicolinic acid with zinc and a catalyst prepared from a nickel compound and a bidentate ligand in a polar solvent.
US09440920B2
Described herein are antimicrobial compounds identified via a high-throughput screen to identify compounds that produce anucleate cells in E. coli after cell division occurs. Compound 1 (5-nonyloxytryptamine) and its analogs are small molecule inhibitors of the nucleoid occlusion system and/or proteins that are responsible for maintaining the structure of the chromosome. The antimicrobial compounds are useful to treat bacterial infections as well as to inhibit bacterial growth.
US09440918B2
A method for purifying (S)-oxiracetam is disclosed. Crude (S)-oxiracetam with the purity of 89% is dissolved in water; the solution is allowed to stand for 1 to 3 days at 0° C. to 18° C.; a colorless transparent crystal is precipitated; the solution is filtered and top-washed with cold water to 0° C. to 5° C.; and the product is dried in vacuum to obtain high-purity (S)-oxiracetam.
US09440916B2
The present invention is directed to a method of treating an inflammatory skin disease or disorder, such as dermatitis, psoriasis, acne, or rosacea. The method comprises administering to the subject 3, 4-bis-benzylsulfonylbutyronitrile in an amount effective to reduce or eliminate the symptoms of the inflammatory skin disease or disorder. Topical administration and oral administration are preferred route of administration.
US09440914B2
Methods of treating an astrocytoma with agents effective to inhibit microglia function are provided, as well as methods of enhancing the efficacy of brain tumor radiation therapy on an astrocytoma in a subject. Also provided are methods of treating other solid tumor types, and tumor cell invasion, with guanylhydrazone compounds.
US09440912B2
Disclosed is a process for isomerizing cis-2-pentenenitrile to 3-pentenenitrile in the presence of a non-aluminum metal oxide catalyst, wherein: (a) the metal in the catalyst has an oxidation state in the range from +1 to +4; (b) the metal has a cation radius in the range from 0.35 to 1.0 Å; (c) the metal of the catalyst has a polarizing power, C/r, is in the range from 2 to >8, wherein C is the charge of the metal and r is the ionic radius in Å; (d) the bond network of the catalyst has a % ionicity of >20; (e) the metal oxide has an acidity strength in the range from strong to very weak; and (f) the metal oxide has a basicity (nucleophilicity) strength of weak to strong.
US09440908B2
The present invention relates to a process for preparing N-(5-chloro-2-isopropylbenzyl)cyclopropanamine by hydrogenation of N-[(5-chloro-2-isopropylphenyl)methylene]cyclopropanamine over specific platinum catalysts.
US09440901B2
Provided is a production method of Form I crystal of reduced coenzyme Q10 or a crystalline solid thereof, which is substantially free of Form II crystal, including a step of holding a solution containing reduced coenzyme Q10 at a temperature exceeding 47° C. for at least 60 minutes, and a step of crystallization thereafter.
US09440899B2
A method of separating a secondary alcohol compound from a primary alcohol compound using selective acylation is provided.
US09440896B2
Disclosed is a process for producing hexafluoro-2-butyne comprising, reacting HCFC-336 with an aqueous solution of an alkali metal hydroxide in the presence of a quaternary alkylammonium salt which comprises at least one alkyl group of at least 8 carbons, and recovering the hexafluoro-2-butyne, wherein the conversion of dichloro-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluorobutane is at least 50% per hour. Also disclosed is a process for producing hexafluoro-2-butyne comprising, reacting HCFC-336 with an aqueous solution of an alkali metal hydroxide in the presence of a quaternary alkylammonium salt having alkyl groups of from four to ten carbon atoms, and mixtures thereof, and a non-ionic surfactant, and recovering the hexafluoro-2-butyne, and wherein the conversion of dichloro-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluorobutane to hexafluoro-2-butyne is at least 20% per hour.
US09440888B2
Fabricating a composite material part comprises the steps of making a consolidated fiber preform, the fibers of the preform being carbon or ceramic fibers that are coated in an interphase formed by at least one layer of pyrolytic carbon (PyC) or of boron-doped carbon (BC). Obtaining a partially densified consolidated fiber preform, where partial densification comprises forming a first matrix phase on the interphase, the first matrix phase comprising a plurality of layers of self-healing material alternating with one or more layers of PyC or of BC. Continuing densification by dispersing carbon and/or ceramic powder within the partially densified consolidated preform and by infiltrating molten silicon or a liquid composition formed for the most part of silicon.
US09440882B1
A lightweight concrete containing polyethylene terephthalate in an amount of 20% by total volume. The concrete is enriched with hydrogen and is therefore highly effective at thermalizing neutrons. The concrete can be used independently or as a component of an advanced neutron radiation shielding system.
US09440880B2
A method of manufacturing a sealed structure with excellent hermeticity and a method of manufacturing a light-emitting device sealed with the sealed structure. In the methods of manufacturing a sealed structure and a light-emitting device using a glass frit layer, a first step of forming a buffer layer for preventing a crack generated in a substrate and the glass frit layer by laser light irradiation, a second step of forming the glass frit layer to overlap with the buffer layer over the substrate, and a third step of welding the substrates by irradiating the glass frit layer or the buffer layer with laser light are performed, whereby a sealed structure with high hermeticity and a reliable light-emitting device sealed with the sealed structure can be manufactured. By applying the method of manufacturing a light-emitting device especially to an organic EL element, a highly reliable light-emitting device can be obtained.
US09440875B2
Described herein are alkali-free, boroalumino silicate glasses exhibiting desirable physical and chemical properties for use as substrates in flat panel display devices, such as, active matrix liquid crystal displays (AMLCDs) and active matrix organic light emitting diode displays (AMOLEDs). In accordance with certain of its aspects, the glasses possess good dimensional stability as a function of temperature.
US09440868B2
Compositions and methods for the removal of phosphates and other contaminants from aqueous solutions
Compositions and methods for removing phosphates, nitrates and heavy metals from aqueous solutions.
US09440864B2
Disclosed is a dissolved air floatation (DAF)-type pretreatment apparatus. The dissolved air floatation (DAF)-type pretreatment apparatus includes: a floatation tank for removing foreign objects of floating matter, turbid matter, or alga contained in raw water of seawater, sewage, or wastewater; a filtering compartment part provided in the floatation tank and having one surface and the other surface which are partially opened to allow treatment water obtained by primarily removing floating matter from raw water to pass therethrough; and a plurality of filtering balls confined in the filtering compartment part and including a fibrous or spongy material to filter turbid matter or floating or suspended solids remaining in the treatment water introduced to the interior of the filtering compartment part.
US09440861B2
The present invention discloses a method for modification of a lithium ion battery positive electrode material. The method comprises the following steps: (1) mixing organic acid and alcohol to obtain an organic solution; (2) adding positive electrode material into the organic solution to obtain a suspension; (3) washing with alcohol solvent after centrifugal separation; (4) drying treatment; the positive electrode material is a nickel-based metal oxide positive electrode material LiNixM1-xO2, wherein 0.5≦x<1 and M is one or two selected from the group consisting of Co, Mn, Al, Cr, Mg, Cu, Ti, Mg, Zn, Zr and V. Compared with the prior art, the method of the present invention utilizes the mixed solution of alcohol and organic acid to wash the positive electrode material thereby soluble Li salt impurities on the surface of the positive electrode material are removed and pH value of the material are significantly decreased; meanwhile, low-temperature drying treatment makes the washed material to be coated with alcohol molecules which can block air molecules, thereby the binding of water molecules and the positive electrode material are avoided and pole piece gumming are prevented, obviously improving high-temperature storage performance and cycling stability of battery. Further, the mixed solution of the alcohol and the organic acid after washing can be recycled, therefore cost is low and pollution on environment is avoided.
US09440860B2
To provide trimanganese tetraoxide from which a lithium manganese oxide with less fusion of particles by firing, i.e. necking phenomenon, is obtained. Trimanganese tetraoxide characterized in that the pore volume of pores having 5 pore diameters of from 0.3 to 2 μm is at least 0.1 mL/g. The pore volume of pores having pore diameters of from 0.5 to 1 μm is preferably at least 0.03 mL/g.
US09440850B2
The present invention relates to carbon based materials that are employed for hydrogen storage applications. The material may be described as the pyrolysis product of a molecular precursor such as a cyclic quinone compound. The pyrolysis product may then be combined with selected transition metal atoms which may be in nanoparticulate form, where the metals may be dispersed on the material surface. Such product may then provide for the reversible storage of hydrogen. The metallic nanoparticles may also be combined with a second metal as an alloy to further improve hydrogen storage performance.
US09440848B2
This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus including devices that include layers of passivation material covering at least a portion of an exterior surface of a thin film component within a microelectromechanical device. The thin film component may include an electrically conductive layer that connects via an anchor to a conductive surface on a substrate. The disclosure further provides processes for providing a first layer of passivation material on an exterior surface of a thin film component and for electrically connecting that thin film component to a conductive surface on a substrate. The disclosure further provides processes for providing a second layer of passivation material on any exposed surfaces of the thin film component after release of the microelectromechanical device.
US09440831B2
A transportable tool and accessory carrier for use on aerial lifts is disclosed. The system comprises a carrier configured to mount on an upper railing member of an aerial lift, and moveable support members to permit the carrier to be secured to a lower railing member as well. In some cases the support members are telescoping in order to more easily move between a stowed and operating configuration, and to easily fit a range of aerial lift railing member configurations.
US09440824B2
A vehicle crane includes a carbody, a turntable rotatably mounted on the carbody, a jib mounted on the turntable that can be tilted about a horizontal axis, and a counterweight assembly mounted on the turntable and can be moved relative to the turntable. A coupler mechanically couples the position of the counterweight assembly to the tilt angle of the jib. The coupler is embodied such that it can be decoupled.
US09440822B2
A wheel transporting assembly includes a cradle. The cradle comprises a central section, a top section and a bottom section each coupled to and extending away from the central section. The cradle may engage a wheel while the wheel is mounted on a vehicle. The cradle avoids contact with a body of the vehicle while the wheel is removed from the vehicle. A mount is coupled to the cradle. The mount may be engaged to a lift to facilitate the wheel to be transported away from the vehicle. A loop is coupled to the cradle. The loop may have a cord coupled between the loop and the wheel to facilitate the wheel to be retained on the cradle.
US09440818B2
An elevator swing operation system for use in a building includes a plurality of floors with landings that are grouped into zones. The elevator cars are allocated to service the zones with a default allocation setup or configuration. The allocation of elevator cars to zones can be modified by moving an elevator car from one zone to another in response to a maximum estimated time to arrival being exceeded and a maximum number of elevator cars allowed to change zones not being exceeded. Furthermore, the default configuration or allocation can be restored when the system is in swing operation, an elevator car is parked, and a minimum time for receiving no calls has been exceeded.
US09440809B2
A sheet stacking apparatus includes a main body, a first storage unit configured to be drawn out of/inserted into the main body and storing a sheet, and a second storage unit configured to be drawn out of/inserted into the main body, provided above the first storage unit, and storing a sheet. The first storage unit includes a guide portion, and the second storage unit includes an abutment portion guided by the guide portion when the second storage unit is drawn out of the main body in a state in which the first storage unit is being precedingly drawn out of the main body.
US09440807B2
A hopper apparatus (100) provides a conveyance passage (150) equipped with a nitrogen purge system. In operation, the hopper apparatus (100) is installed over an opening of a process vessel (200). Chemical matter may be conveyed through the conveyance passage (150) to land within the process vessel (200). The hopper apparatus may have a flap valve (141) that serves to isolate the interior space of a process vessel (200) from the ambient environment outside the process vessel (200). The hopper apparatus (100) may also inject nitrogen at various rates into the falling stream of chemical matter as it is conveyed into a process vessel (200). The hopper apparatus (100) may also provide a ventilation sleeve (180) providing ventilation and extraction of dust and vapors emitted from the falling stream of chemical matter.
US09440806B2
A device for covering a portion of a dock leveler deck and a gap between the deck and a surrounding dock floor surface lying inward relative to a loading dock door is provided. The device may include a rigid frame and a barrier secured to the rigid frame and configured to cover the portion of the dock leveler deck and the gap inward of the loading dock door when the rigid frame is attached to the loading dock door and the loading dock door is fully lowered.
US09440804B2
The present invention pertains to a system of unloading bulk material that comprises at least a silo for receiving a bulk load discharged from a load transport means; and at least a feeder to feed the load from the silo to a conveyor belt. The system comprises a flow control means that regulates the operating parameters of the feeder to make sure that an estimated calibrated flow rate corresponds to a desired flow rate, where the estimated calibrated flow rate is obtained based on a calibration factor calculated by comparing an estimated flow based on an operating parameter of the feeder with a real flow measured downstream of the silo.
US09440801B1
Bottle caps are properly oriented and deposited into a bottle capping machine by an apparatus having a rotating disk which carries caps from a cap receptacle through a sorting zone to a discharge zone. In the sorting zone, improperly oriented caps fall from the disk back into the cap receptacle. Only properly oriented caps are moved by the rotating disk to the discharge zone where such caps are discharged by a discharge plate into the bottle capping machine.
US09440796B2
A belt band conveyor has an endless conveyor belt band guided over deflection and/or drive friction rollers, for deflecting and/or driving the conveyor belt band. Each roller includes an axially-extending shaft. At least three roller segments are releasably mounted on the shaft, axially apart from one another, so as to rotate about a rotational axis extending axially in the longitudinal direction, Each roller segment has an inside circumference contour and a friction surface on its radial outside circumference engaging on the lower belt with friction fit. The inside circumference contour of each roller segment and the outside circumference contour of the shaft are structured so that each roller segment is connected with the shaft with shape fit to prevent twisting about the rotational axis. When the shaft turns about the rotational axis, in a rotational direction, the roller segments also turn about the rotational axis, in this rotational direction.
US09440792B2
A component mounting apparatus includes a plurality of transport conveyor units that are arranged in parallel and transports boards, each transport conveyer unit including a pair of transport rails of a fixed rail and a movable rail, a fixed side transport motor that drives a fixed side transport belt provide on the fixed rail, and a movable side transport motor that drives a movable side transport belt provide on the movable rail. The fixed side transport motor is provided on a side surface of the fixed rail that faces the movable rail, and the movable side transport motor is provided on a side surface of the movable rail that faces the fixed rail. The fixed side transport motor and the movable side transport motor are arranged so as not to interfere with each other when the distance between the pair of transport rails is changed.
US09440787B1
A platform for supporting and moving a bulk seed container or the like including a horizontally disposed worker support platform frame having at least one worker support platform positioned thereon. The platform frame has a supporting structure for supporting a bulk seed container thereon. The platform frame may have a discharge chute thereon.
US09440781B2
An example of droplet discharge device includes a discharge path (12) having an end that constitutes a discharge opening (11), a plunger (30), a liquid chamber (50) into which the plunger (30) is inserted, a plunger driving mechanism that moves the plunger (30) forward and backward, and a plunger position determining mechanism that specifies a position of a tip portion of the plunger (30). The liquid material is discharged in a droplet state by applying inertial force to the liquid material with forward movement of the plunger (30) in a state where the tip portion of the plunger (30) and an inner wall of the liquid chamber (50) are not contacted with each other. A minute droplet is formed by moving the plunger (30) forward to push the liquid material out of the discharge opening (11) in an amount necessary to form a droplet of a desired size.
US09440780B2
A container includes a sleeve, a first end closure, and a second end closure. The first end closure closes off a first end of the sleeve and the second end closes off an opposite second end of the sleeve. The sleeve and end closures cooperate to define an interior region therebetween that receives products therein.
US09440777B2
A bicycle wheel anchor for securing differently sized bicycle wheels onto a load carrier is disclosed. A bicycle wheel anchor can include a bicycle wheel receiver configured to accept bicycle wheels of different sizes. The anchor can include an elongate wheel securement strap having a tongue portion which is spaced apart from a tail portion located on an opposite side of an intermediate extension portion of the strap. The tail portion of the strap can comprise a catch to be anchored at different locations on the anchor in a plurality of variously located catch-trap. The anchor can include a first catch-trap positioned a distance away from a second catch-trap, such that a different length of the strap is available for extension about the wheel receiver in a first installed configuration than in a second installed configuration.
US09440775B2
A prefilter cover for a bidirectional-airflow respirator cartridge, the prefilter cover including front and rear clamshell portions that are flexibly connected by a flexible connecting member.
US09440772B2
A lightweight manually transportable unit, effective in supporting a heavyweight tubular member including a spaced pair of beams each formed of a set of plies of corrugated cardboard and having a recess with a curved cross-sectional configuration, aligned with the recess of the other of such beams, and an enclosure formed of planar and curved panel formed of corrugated cardboard encompassing such spaced beams, wherein the plies of such beams and the enclosure encompassing such beams are secured together by a biodegradable adhesive.
US09440771B2
A member formed of a set of elongated corrugated cardboard plies secured together with a biodegradable adhesive along the lengths thereof and coated with a biodegradable coating which may be stacked to form a support for a portion of an elongated weighty member.
US09440768B2
A pull-tab sealing member for a container containing an upper laminate defining a circular segment and forming a pull-tab bonded to a lower laminate capable of being heat sealed to a container's mouth or opening. The upper laminate defines the pull tab wholly within a perimeter or circumference of the seal, but the upper laminate does not extend the full width of the sealing member in order to define the gripping tab.
US09440765B2
A pull-tab sealing member for a container containing an upper laminate forming a pull-tab bonded to a lower laminate capable of being heat sealed to a container's mouth or opening. The upper laminate defines the pull tab wholly within a perimeter or circumference of the seal. The sealing member further includes a sub tab layer or member under the gripping tab for structural support.
US09440756B2
An apparatus for wrapping a stack of objects with a film has a film supply holding the film and a support including only two vertical masts adjacent the film supply and juxtaposed with the stack to be wrapped. A pull-down device is shiftable vertically along the two masts next to the stack. A film-feed head is also shiftable vertically along the two masts. The film extends from the supply through the film-feed head to the pull-down device. A film-storing means or looper is provided in the film-feed head for storing a variable length of the film in the head.
US09440749B1
A system for rapid separation of a flight data recorder from an aircraft comprises a flight data recorder; an emergency detection system comprising a plurality of sensors for detecting flight parameters and at least one computer processor for analyzing the flight parameters and determining, based on the analysis, that an emergency event is occurring; a rapid ejection system comprising a pneumatic system configured to eject the flight data recorder out of an opening in a housing and through the skin of the aircraft when the emergency detection system determines that the emergency event is occurring; and a soft landing system, said soft landing system being attached to the flight data recorder and configured to reduce force of impact upon landing and increase buoyancy of the flight data recorder.
US09440725B2
The present invention relates to a stringer, particularly to a stiffening and structural longitudinal element for skin of aircraft airfoil surfaces, characterized in that it incorporates two separate and independent reinforcement areas, one in the foot and the other at the end of the web (head) of the stringer, where the reinforcement areas are obtained by a widening of the section of the stringer, the widening being formed by a localized stack of reinforcing plies of composite material which are embedded within the stringer. The invention also relates to the method of manufacture and is particularly applicable to stringers having an L-shaped or T-shaped section.
US09440719B2
Various embodiments provide a Magnus rotor having a carrier arranged in the interior of the Magnus rotor, a rotor which rotates about the carrier in operation of the Magnus rotor, a plate which horizontally closes off the rotor, and a bearing which carries the rotor on the carrier. The rotor has at least one opening in the plate. The carrier has at least one fixing point for lifting the Magnus rotor by means of at least one fixing means and a lifting apparatus.
US09440717B2
A hull cleaning robot includes at least one cleaning apparatus for cleaning the hull of a vessel, at least one drive track holding the robot on the hull as the robot maneuvers about the hull, and at least one turbine actuatable by water flowing past the hull for operating the at least one drive track and, optionally, the cleaning apparatus.
US09440710B2
A rope stopper system for a fiber rope (30) is described, where a rope stopper (10) is placed on a deck of an anchor handling vessel (50) or the like, and is arranged to grip and secure the fiber rope (30), that runs through the rope stopper (10). The rope stopper (10) comprises a frame (12) equipped with at several rotary stopper elements (14), where the stopper elements (14) are arranged in an opening (16) in the frame (12), said opening (16) being a through-running opening to receive the fiber rope (30), and where the stopper elements (14) are placed radially in the opening, and about the through-running fiber rope (30), arranged to lock the fiber rope (30), and the rope stopper (10) is equipped with a back support (22), in where the back support (22) is designed with an arched back side.
US09440708B2
A closing cover for closing an opening in a hull of a marine vessel, includes a first part and a second part. The second part has a cylindrical periphery wall and a water tight inner section bordered by the periphery wall and the first part has a flange plate portion extending radially over the periphery wall of the second part, in which the first part and the second part are removably attached to each other. The second part is provided with a sealing system and attaching pins at its outer cylindrical surface.
US09440705B2
A brake caliper includes: a caliper body which slidably houses a mechanically operated piston which presses a brake disc; a rotation cylinder member which is arranged alongside the mechanically operated piston, coaxially with the mechanically operated piston, and which is rotatably supported on the caliper body; a rotation arm which is fixed to the rotation cylinder member, and which rotates the rotation cylinder member by means of an operation of an operating element; a conversion mechanism which is provided between the rotation cylinder member and the mechanically operated piston, and which converts rotary motion of the rotation cylinder member into axial linear motion of the mechanically operated piston to thereby press and move the mechanically operated piston toward the brake disc side; and a return spring which biases the mechanically operated piston in a direction of moving away from the brake disc.
US09440703B2
A clamp assembly is provided for fixing a handlebar grip to a handlebar. The clamp assembly has a fixing member that is configured to be mounted on the handlebar. The fixing member has at least one mating grip locking structure and a component attachment structure.
US09440702B2
A vehicle body front structure of a saddle-type vehicle includes a headlight and a front cowl with rearview mirrors being attached on the left and right sides of the upper part thereof. A lens surface of the headlight and the upper part of the front cowl each have a surface that is inclined so as to extend upwardly and rearwardly to form a front cowl surface continuously covering the vehicle body front surface. A step part protruding more in a forward direction than the lens surface is made at the connection part between the front cowl and an upper edge of the lens surface of the headlight. This step part extends outwardly in the vehicle width direction to the base parts of the rearview mirrors along the upper edge of the lens surface with mirror-side overhang surfaces continuously leading to the step part.
US09440700B2
Disclosed herein is a body frame for a bicycle which is able to provide higher strength in such a way to use a carbon material even when the outer diameters of a top tube, a bottom tube, a seat tube, a chain tube, etc. have the thickness of a body frame of a classical bicycle, while relatively reducing the weight of the body frame. For this, the body frame for a bicycle according to the present invention is configured in such a way that each of the top tube, the bottom tube and the seat tube is made in a circular shape wherein the outer diameters are same from one end to the other end of each tube, and the flesh thickness of each tube is relatively thicker at the other end portion than one end portion, and each tube is made of a carbon material.
US09440695B2
A seat for a vehicle, such as a bicycle, includes a stem for coupling to the bicycle. The seat includes a saddle supported by the stem and an inflatable bladder supported by the saddle. An electrically powered air compressor is supported by the stem and is in fluid communication with the bladder for inflating the bladder.
US09440685B2
A seat section protecting structure, having a seat at the center thereof, is supported on a chassis frame so that it can swivel horizontally. While running, the lateral side of the seat is covered by the seat section protecting structure so as to protect the passenger from the risk of a collision from the side of the vehicle or a rollover, and while the passenger gets on/off, the seat section protecting structure swivels so that the opening, which allows the passenger to get on/off therethrough, is located on the lateral side of the vehicle. The vehicle has its seat and batteries arranged at optimal positions so as to increase the space efficiency and safety within a limited volume space. Moreover, a steering handle is provided, which is made while taking passenger accessibility into consideration, and an airbag unique to this vehicle is provided in order to increase safety.
US09440684B2
A lid lock structure for a saddle type vehicle that can achieve a reduction in the weight of a vehicle body cover while a lock member is attached to a vehicle body cover side. The lid lock structure for a saddle type vehicle includes a lock member capable of locking a lid in a closed state that is fixed to an upper inner cover and placed on upper frames below the upper inner cover.
US09440682B2
A product comprising a mixed material longitudinal rail system for a vehicle and a method of making the same.
US09440679B2
A roof for a vehicle is provided that includes a roof frame and a reinforcement frame that is disposed on an upper part of the roof frame, shaped to correspond to an upper surface of the roof frame, and provided with a bush unit formed integrally with a bolting mechanism, respectively, to be connected to the roof frame. In addition, a reinforcement fiber tow is processed to correspond to a shape of the roof frame through the bush unit. A roof panel that is formed as a plate shape to cover the roof frame is disposed at an upper end of the reinforcement frame to be connected thereto.
US09440676B1
Disclosed is a tie rod having a threaded shaft at a proximal end and a body at a distal end. The body has a spherically expanded, substantially empty interior and having a truncated top and a truncated bottom. Each truncated top and bottom having a hole wherein the holes are in alignment transverse to the longitudinal extent of the tie rod. A tie rod pin has a distal end that extends through the truncated bottom body hole and terminated with a threaded distal end, an intermediate spherical section movably nested within the spherically expanded truncated tie rod body, and a distal end that extends from the spherical section through the truncated top body hole and being terminated with a plate being larger in diameter than the hole that penetrates the upper truncated body so that the tie rod pin is restrained from pulling through the tie rod body.
US09440675B2
An electric power steering apparatus that is capable of performing the automatic steering control without using any particular parts in a vehicle having functions of the automatic steering control and the manual steering control, and improves accuracy of the automatic steering by comprising a damping control function and correcting the target steering angle by the calculated actual steering angle.
US09440671B2
A utility vehicle with ergonomic, safety, and maintenance features is disclosed. A vehicle is also disclosed with improved cooling, suspension and drive systems. These features enhance the utility of the vehicle.
US09440670B2
A bracket is used in a support structure for a steering column. The support structure includes an instrument panel reinforcement, a steering support bracket, and a floor brace. In one aspect, the bracket includes a first portion and a second portion, which are configured to be arranged spanning between the steering support bracket and the floor brace. The first portion is arranged between the steering support bracket and the floor brace at a first angle with respect to horizontality. The second portion is arranged between the steering support bracket and the floor brace at a second angle, which is different from the first angle.
US09440669B2
A stroller assembly is provided that includes a frame. The stroller assembly may also include a plurality of wheel assemblies that are operable to mount to the frame. In addition, the stroller assembly may include a front seat module and a back seat module comprised of a plastic material. The front seat module and the back seat module may include integral fastener members that are operative to engage with each other when the front seat module and the back seat module are mounted to the frame.
US09440667B1
A modular food service equipment system includes an equipment docking station configured for receiving and docking a piece of food service equipment. The docking station further includes a work table having a work surface on an upper face of it. The docking station also includes a docking unit configured for receiving a piece of food service equipment inside of it. The modular food service equipment system may likewise include that the docking unit is provided adjacent to the work surface.
US09440664B2
A compact buffer having overload protection, comprising a buffer connected to a coupling, a mount (1) connected to a vehicle body, and a rotating shaft (2) connecting the buffer to the mount (1); the buffer comprises an elastic element (4), a buffer housing (3) accommodating the elastic element (4), and a protective cover (5) for bearing impact force located at the tail end of the buffer housing (3); the buffer housing (3) and the protective cover (5) are connected by means of an overload protection device (6). Use of the method which involves breaking the connection between a buffer housing and an elastic element enables the integration of an overload protection device and a coupling buffer.
US09440651B2
A method for monitoring a setpoint trajectory of a vehicle, including the following: recording the surroundings of the vehicle, ascertaining a clearance based on the recorded surroundings and checking the setpoint trajectory for freedom from collision, based on the clearance, in order to ascertain whether traveling on the setpoint trajectory would result in a collision or not. Also described is a device for monitoring a setpoint trajectory of a vehicle and a related computer program.
US09440642B2
A drive system for a hybrid vehicle includes a planetary gear unit, a first rotating machine connected to a sun gear of the planetary gear unit, an engine connected to a carrier of the planetary gear unit, a second rotating machine and drive wheels connected to a ring gear of the planetary gear unit, a regulating mechanism that regulates rotation of the carrier, a first running mode in which the vehicle runs using the second rotating machine as a power source, and a second running mode in which the vehicle runs using the first rotating machine and the second rotating machine as power sources while the regulating mechanism regulates rotation of the carrier. The carrier is rotated by the first rotating machine when the vehicle shifts from the first running mode to the second running mode.
US09440632B2
Various embodiments of an apparatus and method for monitoring a brake operation are disclosed. In accordance with one aspect, the brake operation monitoring system comprises a plurality of wheel speed sensors, a brake demand sensor; a plurality of stability sensors and a controller. The controller comprises wheel speed ports; a brake demand port; stability sensor ports; a communication port for receiving a plurality of messages; and a processing unit comprising control logic. The control logic receives a brake demand signal, at least one stability signal indicative of the cornering of the vehicle, and individual wheel speeds. The control logic calculates a master value to compare to individual wheel speed signals if the brake demand signal indicates no braking.
US09440629B2
An electric brake device, in which the rotational drive force of an electric motor (72) drives a first slave piston and a second slave piston housed in a cylinder body and thereby generates brake fluid pressure, an actuator housing (172) is coupled to the cylinder body, and the mechanism housing part (173a) and a brake fluid encapsulating part in the cylinder body are partitioned by a sealing member, the actuator housing having a mechanism housing part (173a) for housing an actuator mechanism (74) for converting the rotational drive force of the electric motor (72) into the linear drive force for the first slave piston and the second slave piston; wherein the electric brake device is characterized in being provided with an interconnecting hole (179) for interconnecting the mechanism housing part (173a) and the atmosphere.
US09440615B2
An initiator assembly for placement in an associated opening in an initiator-containing device includes an initiator device having at least one igniter element and an elastomeric overmoulding. The initiator device includes at least one of a thermoplastic initiator base and a thermoplastic adapter integrally joined to a base of the initiator-containing device. The elastomeric overmoulding is integral with at least one structural component such as the initiator base, the adapter and the base of the initiator-containing device. The elastomeric overmoulding serves to sealingly mate the initiator assembly in an initiator-accepting opening in the initiator-containing device. Also provided are corresponding methods of making an initiator assembly.
US09440612B2
An airbag includes an outer shell defining an interior, at least one vent opening structured to enable fluid communication between the interior and an exterior of the airbag, and a divider dividing the airbag interior into an upper chamber and a lower chamber. The divider is deflectable in a first direction toward the lower chamber and in a second direction toward the upper chamber. A vent cover is coupled to the at least one vent opening and to the divider so as to close over and restrict a flow of gas through the at least one vent opening when the divider is deflected in the first direction, and so as to permit the vent cover to open so as to enable an unobstructed flow of gas through the at least one vent opening when the divider is deflected in the second direction.
US09440609B2
A housing for an airbag module includes an extrusion incorporating a body portion and a cover extruded integrally with the body portion so as to form a single monolithic unit.
US09440606B2
A method for obtaining rule sets for a motor vehicle to be automated includes receiving with a stationary central server arrangement from each respective one of a plurality of other motor vehicles at least one item of activation information regarding a vehicle function activated in the respective motor vehicle in an actual situation encountered by the respective motor vehicle, and a respective data set including vehicle data determined by the respective motor vehicle in the respective actual situation; generating with the centralized server rule sets on the basis of the respective data set and the at least one item of activation information, wherein each rule set defines an activation condition and a vehicle function to be activated when the activation condition is satisfied; and transmitting the rule sets to the motor vehicle to be automated. The motor vehicle to be automated is configured to detect whether a situation-specific data set generated by the motor vehicle to be automated satisfies the activation condition, and to autonomously activate the vehicle function when the data set satisfies the activation condition.
US09440604B2
A vehicle control system is provided that is able to (i) identify a particular driver from other potential drivers and (ii) monitor various vehicle functions in order to determine if the identified driver repeatedly performs the same behavior at approximately the same time of day on the same day of the week. When the control system determines that the identified driver repeats the same behavior in response to the same temporal conditions, the controller learns that behavior and associates it with the identified driver so that it can be automatically performed, without driver interaction, under the same temporal conditions in the future.
US09440596B2
A retention clip for an interior vehicle component may include a base and a pair of frame members extending from the base. Each of the frame members may include a primary wing arranged with the base to secure the clip to a sheet metal portion and may have a body including a flared portion partially cutout from the body. The flared portion may define a secondary wing extending from the primary wing and may be configured to contact the metal when the primary wing is dislodged from an installed position. The secondary wings may define distal ends spaced apart from one another at a distance greater than a width of a slot defined by the sheet metal.
US09440591B2
An enhanced visibility system for utility vehicles is disclosed. The visibility system may enhance an operator's view from the utility vehicle by making an obstruction appear transparent to the operator.
US09440588B2
A system is configured to reduce glare form a trailing vehicle. The system may include a forward facing light sensor, partially enclosed in an interior mirror housing. This forward facing light sensor is configured to detect ambient light, such that the system can determine a day time condition or a nighttime condition. The system may also include rear facing light sensors, each included in separate mirror assemblies. Based upon an ambient light detected and a glare of a trailing vehicle, the system may be configured to change the reflectance of an electro-optic element in order to reduce glare independently in the separate mirror assemblies.
US09440581B2
Devices, methods and systems describe a turn signal activation system. As the navigation system determines that the vehicle is approaching a turn or other operation, the turn signal may be automatically activated in the appropriate direction (e.g., right-turn signal for a right turn, and a left-turn signal for a left turn). Once the navigation system determines that it is appropriate to deactivate the turn signal, the turn signal may be automatically deactivated. In this fashion, other drivers on the road may be able to anticipate the actions of the vehicle based on the activation and deactivation of the turn signals, and thereby prevent accidents from occurring.
US09440580B2
An optic assembly has a reflector with a reflective surface, one or more light sources, and a mask with one or more apertures. Facets on the reflective surface direct light rays so that a substantial portion of the light rays within the optic assembly can be managed as if they were emitted from a focal point located outside the optic assembly.
US09440574B2
A trailer for transporting bulk material has a container mounted on a chassis and wheeled suspension. The container has opposing sidewalls, a floor, a front wall, and a rear opening. The trailer further has an unloading system comprising a plow and a plow motor system. The plow is disposed in the container and shaped and sized to span substantially a transverse cross-section of the container. The plow motor system is operable to move the plow longitudinally in the container to urge or push the bulk material in the container toward and out of the rear opening of the container. At least one of the sidewalls comprises a removable panel installed longitudinally along a bottom of the sidewall, wherein an inward-facing surface of the removable panel and an inward-facing surface of the sidewall are substantially coplanar.
US09440572B2
A seat may comprise a contact surface that may contact a person sitting in the seat. One or more elongated depressions may be disposed in the contact surface and, together with the person, form at least one duct wherein fluid may flow. The seat may be connected to a heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) system which may cause fluid to flow into the at least one duct to regulate the temperature of the person. Such fluid may then dispense into a passenger compartment and change a temperature thereof.
US09440569B2
There is provided a method of manufacturing a vehicle seat configured by covering a seat cover on a sitting surface side of a seat frame via a seat pad and by covering a non-sitting surface side of the seat frame with a carpet, the vehicle seat including an end fixing part having a groove into which both ends of the seat cover and the carpet are to be inserted and fixed. The method includes fixing, to the end of the seat cover, an insertion member having stiffness, which can be inserted and fixed in the groove integrally with the seat cover, arranging the carpet such that the end thereof covers an entrance of the groove, and inserting the insertion member into the groove to thus push and fix the end of the carpet in the groove while the end of the carpet abuts on the insertion member.
US09440567B2
An insert comprising: (i) a forward layer for facing a passenger; (ii) a rearward layer opposite the forward layer; and (iii) a spacer material located between the forward layer and the rearward layer creating an open space within the insert; (iv) an edge sealed substantially around a periphery of the insert; (v) a heater comprising; (a) polymer film having one or more openings for allowing air flow therethrough, (b) a resistive layer, (c) two or more buss bars that are spaced apart and electrically in communication with each other through the resistive layer; and (d) a protective layer; (vi) one or more air movers in fluid communication with the open space within the insert; (vii) a housing having a flange that attaches the one or more air movers to the insert, by the flange being fitted between the spacer material and the rearward layer; wherein the heater layer is attached to one or a combination of the forward layer, the rearward layer, or the spacer material; wherein the forward layer, the rearward layer, or both include one or more openings in fluid communication with the open space within the insert.
US09440566B2
The technology described in this document can be embodied in an acoustic enclosure for a speaker system disposed in a portion of a vehicle seat. The acoustic enclosure includes a rigid plate configured to be attached to a frame, a first section, and a second section. The rigid plate configured to support a speaker disposed in part within the acoustic enclosure. The first section is constructed from expanded resin, and disposed in contact with the rigid plate. The second section is disposed in contact with the first section, between the second section and the rigid plate. The first and second section together define a housing of the acoustic enclosure that includes at least one cavity configured to accommodate a portion of the speaker.
US09440562B2
A child restraint includes an adjustable base for installation on a passenger seat of a vehicle. The child restraint also includes an infant carrier associated with the adjustable base. The adjustable base is configured to be adjusted to tilt the infant carrier relative to the passenger seat.
US09440560B2
A lounge assembly includes a movable backrest to be positioned at multiple locations on its seating surface. The backrest is supported by plate supports extending into the seat below its seating surface to connect to a slidable carriage assembly used to move the backrest. The backrest can be locked into selected positions on the lounge assembly seating surface. The lounge assembly is especially adapted for a boat.
US09440545B2
Systems and methods are provided for swapping the battery on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The UAV may be able to identify and land on an energy provision station autonomously. The UAV may take off and/or land on the energy provision station. The UAV may communicate with the energy provision station. The energy provision station may store and charge batteries for use on a UAV.
US09440542B2
A reactor includes a coil formed by connecting a pair of coil elements configured by a wound wire, and magnetic core. The reactor for an on-vehicle converter converts an input voltage. Electricity applying conditions include a maximum DC current of 100 A or higher and 1000 A or lower, an average voltage of 100 V or higher and 1000 V or smaller, and a usable frequency of 5 kHz or higher and 100 kHz or smaller. The magnetic core is obtained by combining a plurality of divided core pieces without a gap provided. All the divided core pieces are made of hardened compact obtained by hardening resin of composite material containing magnetic powder and the resin. A distance between an inner peripheral surface of the coil element and an outer peripheral surface of the magnetic core opposite to the inner peripheral surface is 0.1 mm or more and 2 mm or less.
US09440541B2
An in-vehicle control system is mounted in a vehicle, which is connectable with a charging station through a charging cable and provided with a battery chargeable from the charging station through the charging cable. The vehicle includes a double-wire type communication line provided with a charger-side terminal circuit. The in-vehicle control system includes a first communication line and a second communication line, which are connectable to the communication line of the charging cable and provided with three terminal circuits. The in-vehicle control system further includes a first ECU and a second ECU, which are connected to the first communication line and the second communication line. When a charging plug is connected to a charging port, the first ECU and the second ECU validate the first terminal circuit and invalidate the second terminal circuit and the third terminal circuit.
US09440540B2
An electric vehicle includes an electric motor outputting regenerative torque to a drive shaft connected to an axle shaft, a hydraulic brake providing braking force for the vehicle, and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to execute a regeneration coordination switch in which at least part of the regenerative torque from the electric motor is gradually switched to the braking force from the hydraulic brake. The electronic control unit is configured to execute a vibration suppression control that restrains vibration of the vehicle. The electronic control unit is configured to increase frequency of execution of the vibration suppression control when the regeneration coordination switch is performed, as compared to frequency of execution of the vibration suppression control when the regeneration coordination switch is not being performed.
US09440535B2
A vision system for a vehicle includes a camera having a field of view in a forward direction of travel of the vehicle. The camera has a two-dimensional array of photosensing elements that includes photosensing elements arranged in a matrix array of rows and columns. A control includes an image processor that processes image data captured by the camera to detect objects of interest located within the field of view of the camera. The image processor processes captured image data to detect lane markers on the road being driven by the vehicle and located within the field of view of the camera. The vision system, responsive to processing of captured image data, automatically recognizes whether the vehicle is being driven on a road of a left hand drive road system or on a road of a right hand drive road system.
US09440525B1
A solar powered assisted trailer cooling system includes a trailer that has a bottom wall, a top wall and a perimeter wall attached to and extending between the top and bottom walls. The trailer is configured to be pulled by a vehicle to define a tractor trailer. A cooling assembly is mounted on the perimeter wall and is configured to cool an interior of the trailer. The cooling assembly includes a compressor powered by an electric motor. A plurality of solar panels converts sunlight into electricity. Each of the solar panels is mounted on an upper surface of the top wall. The plurality of solar panels is electrically coupled to a plurality of batteries. The solar panels recharge the batteries when the solar panels are producing electricity. The batteries are electrically coupled to the electric motor to power the compressor.
US09440521B2
A vehicular deflector device includes an upper frame and a lower frame, a mesh member, two holding projections, and a pivot stopper. The upper and lower frames extend in a vehicle widthwise direction. The mesh member includes two short-side direction terminal portions respectively held by the upper frame and the lower frame. The mesh member is protruded from a plane of the roof together with the upper frame when the upper frame is lifted relative to the lower frame, and the mesh member is stored below an upper surface of the roof together with the upper frame when the upper frame is lowered relative to the lower frame. The two holding projections arranged on two extending direction end portions of the lower frame are respectively inserted into two holding holes formed in a roof member. The pivot stopper restricts pivoting of the lower frame about the holding projections.
US09440508B2
A vehicle drive energy management and active suspension control system and operative methodology in which ground/pathway anomalies are sensed and the relationship thereof to the vehicle chassis is used to enable or automatically effect adjustment of chassis supporting actuators to reduce resisting effects and/or increase assisting effects of the encountered ground/pathway anomalies and thus reduce the vehicle drive energy that would otherwise be required to efficiently move the vehicle in the intended direction, yet maintain the stability of the vehicle.
US09440503B2
An inflation work station for inflating a tire-wheel assembly including a tire mounted to a wheel is disclosed. The inflation work station includes at least one inflation probe including a female portion and a male portion. The male portion is arrangeable with respect to the female portion in one of a non-mated orientation such that the at least one inflation probe is arranged in an offline orientation and a mated orientation such that the at least one inflation probe is arranged in an online orientation. The inflation work station further includes a working device including a controller, at least one movement actuator connected to the controller and the at least one inflation probe. The at least one movement actuator imparts movement to the male portion to result in the online/offline orientation of the at least one inflation probe. The inflation work station includes at least one valve connected to the controller and the at least one inflation probe. The inflation workstation includes at least one pressurized fluid source connected to the at least one inflation probe by way of the at least one valve to permit or deny communication of a pressurized fluid of the at least one pressurized fluid source to a cavity formed by the tire-wheel assembly for inflating the tire-wheel assembly. A method is also disclosed.
US09440494B2
An airless tire has a wheel portion and a webbing extending from the wheel portion towards an axis of rotation of the airless tire. The diameter of an annular outer surface of the wheel portion varies along an axial direction of the airless tire.
US09440491B1
This tire lift caddy has a rectangular frame supported on casters, and a pair of rollers mounted therein across the frame. The rollers are guided along a respective pair of inclined slots in the side of the frame. A threaded rod extends along a length of the frame. A pair of push bar assemblies are mounted to the threaded rod and to the axles of said rollers for moving the rollers in unison along the slots upon a rotation of the threaded rod. The threaded rod has a left-hand thread thereon and a cylindrical handle on a working end thereof. The cylindrical handle can be worked with the palm of the hand, or finely adjusted with the fingers to raise the rollers to a desired level. The rollers have a central groove in surfaces thereof for nesting the threaded rod therein when the rollers are in their lowermost positions.
US09440483B2
The invention relates to a method for laminating a substrate with a decoration (104), wherein the substrate comprises a first portion (114) and a second portion (116), wherein the method simultaneously comprises membrane lamination and press lamination, wherein the press lamination is carried out in a first region (118) of the decoration (104), and the membrane lamination is carried out in a second region (122) of the decoration (104), wherein the first region (118) directly borders the second region (122), wherein the first region (118) comprises the first portion fully and the second portion partially, and wherein the second region comprises the part of the second portion that is not contained in the first region (118).
US09440481B1
A transaction card has a substructure consisting at least in part of a layer of fibrous material, such as carbon fiber strands or filaments, arranged in a pre-selected pattern, such as a weave pattern, that is at least partially enclosed by a transparent plastic film. A sheet is laminated on each of two opposing faces of the substructure to form a transaction card core. One or both of the sheets laminated on the opposing faces of the substructure is also made of a transparent material, and one or both of the two opposing faces of the transaction card core can be printed. An over-laminate film, such as a transparent polyvinyl chloride plastic film, can be laminated on each of two opposing faces of the transaction card core.
US09440469B2
The paper discharge mechanism comprises: a first side passage plate and a second side passage plate between which an S-shaped paper conveying passage is formed, wherein the second side passage plate comprises a paper jam detection plate and a paper pullout detection plate both pivotally connected on a frame; a first elastic element biasing the paper jam detection plate and a second elastic element biasing the paper pullout detection plate; and a first sensor and a second sensor. A surface of the paper jam detection plate facing paper is concave and is held against the paper and rotates in the direction away from the first side passage plate during paper jam; a surface of the paper pullout detection plate facing the paper is convex and is held against the paper and rotates in the direction away from the first side passage plate during paper pullout.
US09440468B2
A method of measuring a wetting property of a nozzle plate in a droplet expelling device having a number of nozzles formed in the nozzle plate, and an actuator system for expelling a droplet of a liquid from each of the nozzles includes applying an amount of liquid onto a surface of the nozzle plate, capturing a digital image of the nozzle plate with the liquid applied thereon, and analyzing the digital image for determining the wetting property from a distribution of the liquid on the nozzle plate. The amount of liquid is applied onto the nozzle plate by expelling liquid through the nozzle.
US09440463B2
An embodiment of the present invention is directed to reducing problems in double-sided printing using roll paper. An apparatus in the embodiment includes a unit configured to cause a print unit to print on a roll-shaped print medium based on a received job for roll paper, a unit configured to control drive upon printing on the roll-shaped print medium, and a unit configured to cause a cutting unit to cut the roll-shaped print medium after printing the first surface of the roll-shaped print medium. The apparatus controls drive based on a first drive parameter for suppressing a first sheet-floating upon printing on the first surface of the roll-shaped print medium, and controls drive based on a second drive parameter for suppressing a second sheet-floating upon printing on the second surface of a cut print medium.
US09440460B2
An image recording device is provided, having a recording unit configured to record an image on a sheet, and a tray disposed below the recording unit. The tray includes a sheet holding surface configured to hold the sheet. Additionally, the image recording device includes a sheet feeder disposed between the recording unit and the tray. The sheet feeder includes a roller for feeding the sheet from the tray. The roller is configured to move between a first roller position in which the roller contacts the sheet holding surface of the tray and a second roller position in which the roller is separated from the sheet holding surface. A return guide, disposed between the recording unit and the sheet feeder, defines a second conveying path to guide the sheet having an image recorded on one side thereof back to the feed guide. The return guide has a first opening configured to accommodate the roller of the sheet feeder when the roller is in the second roller position.
US09440457B2
Media treatment apparatus to apply liquid treatment to media, the media treatment apparatus including a roller to receive liquid treatment and to transfer the liquid treatment, and a drop ejector to apply liquid treatment to the roller to transfer liquid treatment to an object.
US09440454B2
The disclosure discloses a printer including a storage part, a feeding roller, a printing head, a core driving device, and a controller. The controller is configured to execute a feeding process, a printing process, a taking-up process, and a torque correction process. In the feeding process, the feeding roller is driven to feed the print-receiving tape fed out from the print-receiving tape roll. In the printing process the printing head is controlled to form a desired print, thereby a printed tape is formed. In the taking-up process, the core driving device is driven to sequentially take up the printed tape around an outer circumferential portion of a second core. In the torque correction process, a drive torque of the core driving device is corrected from a first drive torque to a second drive torque corresponding to a tape width of the print-receiving tape.
US09440450B2
A thermal head which is capable of reducing heat concentration on heat generation portions, and a thermal printer provided with the thermal head are provided. A thermal head includes a substrate; a plurality of heat generation portions which are disposed aligned on the substrate; electrodes which are electrically connected to the heat generation portions; and a protection layer which coats the heat generation portions and a part of the respective electrodes. The protection layer includes a first protection layer which is disposed on the heat generation portions and a second protection layer which is disposed on the first protection layer and has a higher thermal conductivity than that of the first protection layer. A width of the second protection layer is larger than that of the first protection layer when seen in an arrangement direction of the heat generation portions.
US09440447B1
An ink container includes an ink pack filled with an ink and a container case housing the ink pack. The container case includes an upper plate and a lower plate respectively covering the ink pack, one side plate provided between side parts of the upper plate and the lower plate, and two hinges coupling the upper plate and the lower plate with the side plate. The upper plate, the lower plate, the side plate and the hinges are integrally molded. The upper plate, the lower plate and the side plate are bent by the hinges so as to be thereby assembled as the container case including a housing configured to house the ink pack at a center. One ends of the upper plate and the lower plate constitute a grip and other ends of the upper plate and the lower plate constitutes an aperture.
US09440444B2
A liquid management system for supplying or receiving liquid at a controlled pressure, comprising: a closed reservoir having an inlet for receiving liquid from a first remote location and an outlet for supplying liquid to a second remote location; and a pumped outlet disposed in the reservoir and arranged to remove liquid and gas contained within the reservoir, the pumped outlet being disposed such that the level of liquid in the reservoir can be maintained at a constant height.
US09440436B2
An apparatus for generating data used to apply a plurality of inks similar in color and different in color material density, including a first ink and a second ink higher in color material density than the first ink, onto a pixel area on a recording medium with a recording head includes a generation unit configured to generate the data in such a way that out of a plurality of pixels constituting the pixel area, a number of pixels onto which dots of the first ink are applied in an overlapped manner is greater than a number of pixels onto which dots of the second ink are applied in the overlapped manner.
US09440435B2
A liquid discharge control apparatus includes a discharge control unit that controls the discharge of the liquid through the nozzle. In the case that the discharge control unit allocates, to a first nozzle, the pixel of a first ratio in a pixel column that represents one raster line, and allocates, to a second nozzle, the pixel of a second ratio in the pixel column, and in the case that one nozzle of the first nozzle and the second nozzle is an abnormal nozzle, and the ratio of the pixel in the pixel column allocated to the one nozzle is more than or equal to a predetermined ratio with respect to a total of the first ratio and the second ratio, the discharge control unit increases the ratio of the pixel in the pixel column allocated to the other nozzle of the first nozzle and the second nozzle.
US09440433B2
Provided is a liquid discharging apparatus which includes a modulation circuit which generates a modulation signal which is obtained by pulse-modulating a source signal, a transistor which generates an amplified modulation signal by amplifying the modulation signal, a low pass filter which generates a drive signal by smoothening the amplified modulation signal, a piezoelectric element which is displaced by receiving the drive signal, and a circuit substrate on which the transistor is mounted. The transistor includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a third electrode, and a clip which has conductivity, is electrically connected to the first electrode. Furthermore, the circuit substrate has a first land corresponding to the first electrode, a second land corresponding to the second electrode, and a third land corresponding to the third electrode. In addition, a part of the clip is connected to the third land.
US09440431B2
An inkjet recording apparatus includes a plurality of line heads disposed along a conveyance direction of a recording sheet and including a plurality of nozzles to discharge ink droplets, the plurality of nozzles disposed in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the recording sheet; a plurality of edge sensors corresponding to respective line heads, to detect a lateral edge of the recording sheet; a plurality of actuators corresponding to the respective line heads, to move to the respective line heads laterally in a sheet width direction; a head position adjustor to determine movement amounts of the respective line heads in accordance with outputs of the plurality of edge sensors; and a failure determiner to obtain outputs of the plurality of edge sensors simultaneously and identify a failure of the plurality of edge sensors based on a combination of the outputs from the plurality of edge sensors.
US09440430B2
An image recording method includes recording an intermediate image by applying an ink to an intermediate transfer body and transferring the intermediate image onto a recording medium while heating the intermediate image. The ink contains a coloring material and polymer fine particles which are a mixture of a crystalline polymer and an amorphous polymer. In transferring the intermediate image, the intermediate image is heated to a temperature equal to or higher than a melting point of the crystalline polymer and equal to or higher than a glass transition point of the amorphous polymer.
US09440429B2
A drying light source (1), in which the light of a number of single light sources (3) is applied heterodyned and bundled to an object level (5) with the help of optical elements (6, 4, 7, 8).
US09440428B2
A printable blank sheet includes a sheet with defined separation lines, a first layer with cuts running through the first layer along the defined separation lines, and a second layer attached to a bottom side of the first layer, with perforations running through the second layer along the defined separation lines. A method for creating custom print cards includes running a printable blank sheet through a printer to print on defined print areas, wherein the sheet includes slit-over-perforation lines defining a periphery of an object in the sheet, bending the sheet along the slit-over-perforation lines to weaken and separate the slit-over-perforation lines, and detaching the object from the sheet.
US09440423B2
A vacuum lamination machine suitable for all generations is disclosed. The vacuum lamination machine includes a stage on which a transfer device, a positioning device, an adhesive application device, a turn-over device, and at least one vacuum lamination device are arranged. The stage has a size that is sufficiently large for all sizes of substrate. The transfer device includes a fork that is adjustable for spacing distance to suit for substrate sizes. The turn-over device includes sufficiently densely arranged vacuum suction pins to suit for substrate sizes. The positioning device includes a size identification system that identifies a rough location of a substrate on the stage and a mark position identification system that carries out precise alignment of the substrate.
US09440420B2
The present invention relates to polyurethane polymers, a process for their preparation and their use as binders for adhesives, coatings or foams.
US09440407B2
A tire includes a ring shaped tire case formed from a resin material, a reinforcement cord having a higher rigidity that that of the resin material, wound in a spiral shape on the outer peripheral section of the tire case and having at least a portion of the reinforcement cord embedded in and making close contact with the outer peripheral section of the tire case when viewed in a cross-section along the axial direction of the tire case and a tread provided on the radial direction outside of a reinforcement cord layer formed by the reinforcement cord.
US09440401B1
Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for forming a three-dimensional object on a lamination mandrel having preselected areas comprising raised surface features, and forming a laminate with raised or lowered areas in preselected locations on the laminate such that the part comprises a wrinkle-free surface. The object is preferably a non-ruled part comprising a substantially wrinkle-free surface, and, according to preferred variations, the object is selected from the group including, for example, a joggled blade stringer, a joggled hat stringer, a curved spar, a joggled skin, etc.
US09440400B2
A method for making a plural-component, composite-material, highway dowel-bar including (1) preparing an elongate core train possessing endo-abutting, longitudinally alternating, (a) elongate, high-shear-strength, cylindrical cores having a common cross section, and (b) elongate, but shorter, cylindrical, fiber-reinforced plastic-resin end-plug blanks having opposite ends, and each having a cross section matching the cross section of the cores, (2) using the core train as a longitudinally moving mandrel, pultrusion-forming a fiber-reinforced plastic-resin sleeve continuously and bondedly around the core train so as to produce a pultrusion-result, intermediate, dowel-bar product, and (3) following pultrusion-forming, cross-cutting the intermediate, dowel-bar product at each longitudinal location therein which is intermediate the opposite ends of the end-plug blanks, thereby to form completed dowel bars.
US09440398B2
An automatic liquid supply apparatus for supplying liquid material during 3D printing is provided. The automatic liquid supply apparatus includes: a container including an accommodating space for containing the liquid material, the accommodating space including a recess and a trench communicating with each other, the trench having an inner bottom face, the recess being recessed to a depth below the inner bottom face; a liquid level sensor including a floater, the floater being disposed corresponding to the recess and floating to rise and fall along with a liquid level, the liquid level sensor sensing the liquid level in the accommodating space; and a liquid dispenser electrically connected to the liquid level sensor, the liquid dispenser selectively supplying or stopping supplying the liquid material into the accommodating space according to the sensed liquid level.
US09440397B1
Example 3D printing methods involve rapid liquid filling of one or more cavities within a hollow and/or porous 3D printed object. In some examples, a conventional applicator computer-controllably dispenses significantly viscous solidifiable fluid in layers to build up a side wall of the object, and that same applicator or another applicator discharges a second solidifiable fluid at relatively low viscosity to rapidly fill the cavity(s), voids and/or porosity defined by the accurately printed side wall. In some examples, the liquid fill solidifies to permanently embed an internal object (e.g., wire or fiberglass mesh, Kevlar fabric, acrylic, bullet resistant armor, structural reinforcing material, etc.). In some examples, the liquid fill material permanently bonds to the accurately printed side wall. In some examples, the liquid fill material shrinks upon solidifying to create beneficial residual compressive stress within the 3D printed side wall and/or within the solidified material itself. In some examples, the liquid fill material does not solidify and is non-Newtonian to improve impact resistance.
US09440395B1
A method for reshaping a tube end using a reshaping tool incorporating a tool head and clamp for reshaping the cross section of a tube constructed from one or more polymer materials. The clamp holds the tube in place while the head portion of the tool, which is moveable with respect to the clamp, engages the tube for reshaping its profile cross section. The tube may be crosslinked polyethylene tube.
US09440392B2
A blow mold unit in which, when clamping first and second blow cavity split molds which are fixed to first and second fixing plates and bottom molds which are fixed to a bottom mold fixing plate, pressure receiving members fixed to the first and second fixing plates are brought into engagement with the bottom plate fixing plate. Guide plates are fixed to the bottom mold fixing plate, and guided members capable of being brought into abutment with the guide plates are supported by first and second pressure receiving plates. The bottom mold fixing plate includes a first connecting portion to be connected to a bottom mold opening/closing unit and a second connecting portion to be connected to a moving and biasing member.
US09440385B2
A resin molded article for, for instance, vehicles formed thereon a stitch pattern, including a first member (32) having a plurality of thread stitch portions (34, 36) protruding towards a design surface (31) and formed on a front side in alignment and a second member (44) formed such that the front side of the first member (32) is covered thereby and the protruding ends of the thread stitch portions (34, 36) are exposed from the second member (44). The surface of the second member (44) constituting the design surface (31) and the protruding ends of the thread stitch portions (34, 36) exposed from the second member (44) are in colors different from each other, and stitches in a stitch pattern are configured on the design surface (31) of the resin molded article by the plurality of thread stitch portions (34, 36).
US09440380B2
A method for producing an intake module may include providing a housing and at least one intercooler arranged therein; forming at least two housing parts via injection molding from plastic; inserting at least one intercooler into at least one of the housing parts; wherein the housing parts, with at least one intercooler inserted therein, are welded together to form the housing; and wherein the intercooler has contact points to at least two of the housing parts.
US09440367B2
A razor suitable for providing a wet shave razor includes: a spring-action razor handle, the razor handle having a U-shaped spring section; two transition arms, each transition arm extending from a respective end of the U-shaped spring section; two blade retention clamps, each blade retention clamp extending from a respective one of the transition arms; and at least one razor blade configured for retention by the blade retention clamps, the spring action razor handle functioning to maintain at least one razor blade in a state of tension.
US09440364B2
The invention provides an articulating mechanism useful, for example, for remote manipulation of various surgical instruments and diagnostic tools within, or to, regions of the body. Movement of segments at the proximal end of the mechanism results in a corresponding, relative movement of segments at the distal end of the mechanism. The proximal and distal segments are connected by a set of cables in such a fashion that each proximal segment forms a discrete pair with a distal segment. This configuration allows each segment pair to move independently of one another and also permits the articulating mechanism to undergo complex movements and adopt complex configurations. The articulating mechanisms may also be combined in such a way to remotely mimic finger movements for manipulation of an object or body tissue.
US09440360B2
A change-over coupling (1) for robot-guided vehicles (3) has a plurality of media couplings (11, 12) and has coupling parts (4, 5) having basic supports (6, 7), media coupling supports (13, 14) and a coupling mechanism (8), and also peripherally arranged interfaces (16) having a fitting element for the media couplings (11, 12). The interfaces (16) have a plurality of fitting elements (19, 19′, 20, 20′), which act in a plurality of different directions or axes and which are arranged preferably at a periphery, in particular on a circumference of a disc-like or annular basic support (6, 7).
US09440357B2
A system comprises a platform being configured for locomotion in a plurality of directions over a surface. A robotic unit is configured for dexterous manipulation comprising at least lifting of objects. The robotic unit is joined to the platform. At least one extender unit is joined to the platform and is configured for controlled extension beyond the platform to contact the surface to stabilize the system at least during the manipulation by the robotic unit. At least one controlling unit is configured to be operable for at least determining a center of gravity and a zero moment point for the system and for at least controlling an extension of the extender unit.
US09440355B2
Disclosed is a mobile robot including a main body and a pattern irradiation unit emitting a cross-shaped optical pattern including a horizontal line optical pattern and a vertical line optical pattern intersecting the horizontal line optical pattern. The pattern irradiation unit includes a light source and a lens converting light emitted from the light source into the cross-shaped optical pattern, the lens includes convex cells on an incidence surface upon which the emitted light is incident, the incidence surface is divided into a first area converting the light emitted from the light source into the horizontal line optical pattern and a second area converting the light emitted from the light source into the vertical line optical pattern, vertical convex cells extended in parallel in the vertical direction are formed in the first area, and horizontal convex cells extended in parallel in the horizontal direction are formed in the second area.
US09440350B2
An automatic moving device and a control method therefor. The automatic moving device comprises a battery pack providing power. The automatic moving device can work within a working area and automatically return to a charging station for charging. The control method comprises the following steps: monitoring the power level of the battery pack; if the power level of the battery pack is less than or equal to a preset power level, initiating an action of returning the automatic moving device to the charging station; and after a preset time period, stopping the travel. By setting a preset time period simultaneously with initiating a return action, and executing a return action within the preset time period, the control method prevents damage to the battery pack from over-discharging caused by the automatic moving device continually returning, thus achieving the effects of protecting the battery pack and extending the life thereof.
US09440343B2
The pole comprises a securing end, with device securing means and the device actuating means, a gripping end to be gripped by an operator and telecontrolling means for telecontrolling the actuating means. The actuating means are arranged in the device securing means and are directly controlled by the securing end of the pole and thus telecontrolled by the pole and its gripping end under the action of a thrust of the pole towards the support material. The device actuating means comprise safety means arranged to avoid by gravity the control of the actuating means by the securing end of the pole when the spatial position of the pole is inappropriate. The invention also relates to an anchoring device provided with the same safety means.
US09440339B2
An electric screwdriver includes a motor having a motor shaft, a handle housing for accommodating the motor, an output shaft at least partly protruding from the handle housing, a transmission device for enabling the motor shaft to drive the output shaft to rotate around a first axis, an exploring antenna for detecting whether an object is charged, and an operating switch coupled to the handle housing for controlling the motor. The exploring antenna has a front end portion extending beyond the handle housing. The output shaft has an inserting groove, and a ratio of the maximum size of the handle housing to the maximum size of the inserting groove in a radial direction of the output shaft is greater than or equal to 3.9 and less than or equal to 8.
US09440331B2
A polishing sheet comprising a plurality of convex portions which protrudes from a sheet surface and includes an upper surface which is in parallel to the sheet surface is disclosed. A plurality of abrasive grains made by a granular porous body in which a number of primary particles are partially bonded to each other and include a void in between is arranged at least on the upper surface of the convex portion.
US09440327B2
The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for polishing a substrate having a film formed thereon. The method includes: rotating a polishing table supporting a polishing pad by a table motor; pressing the substrate against the polishing pad by a top ring; obtaining a signal containing a thickness information of the film; producing from the signal a polishing index value that varies in accordance with a thickness of the film; monitoring a torque current value of the table motor and the polishing index value; and determining a polishing end point based on a point of time when the torque current value has reached a predetermined threshold value or a point of time when a predetermined distinctive point of the polishing index value has appeared, whichever comes first.
US09440325B2
An electric sharpener having a pair of abrasive wheel assemblies including energy absorbing hubs mounted a powered drive shaft and further integral flexible radially extending arms affixed to respective outer abrasive rings. A pair of disk abrasives assemblies are also affixed to the powered rotatable shaft and include a pair of flexible metal disks operatively connected to a hub attached to the rotatable shaft.
US09440323B2
A machine tool includes a saddle supported by a guide member installed on a bed and configured to move relative to the bed in a first direction and a table supported by a guide member installed on the saddle and configured to move relative to the saddle in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The machine tool further includes a protective cover installed on a side face of the table or the saddle which is parallel to a travel direction of the table or the saddle and adapted to protect the guide member from chips and a scraper installed on the protective cover and adapted to scrape out chips built up in a neighborhood of the guide member.
US09440322B2
In an object positioning and fixing device that positions and fixes a work pallet on a base member: a reference seating surface is formed on the base member; a contacting surface is formed on the work pallet; fitting cylindrical portions of a plurality of reference members are fixed in a plurality of fitting holes in the base member; a plurality of annular engagement members are installed in the work pallet; each of the reference members has an engagement projection; a base end contacting surface of the base end of the engagement projection is brought into contact with the reference seating surface so as to set the height position of the engagement projection; and the annular engagement member engaged over the outside of the engagement projection is elastically deformed in the radially outward direction so that it tightly contacts against the tapered engagement surface.
US09440316B2
A drain strainer assembly includes a housing having a circular cross-section, with an inlet port, an outlet port, and a plurality of first engagement tabs. The drain strainer assembly also includes a strainer member assembly having a circular cross-section. The strainer member assembly includes a strainer member with a solid front surface having a handle and a plurality of second engagement tabs interlocked with the first engagement tabs on the housing. The strainer member also includes cylindrical strainer sidewalls defining a circular opening at the back of the strainer member, and has an upper conduit aligned with the inlet port of the housing. The strainer member assembly also includes a circular strainer disk coupled to the strainer member with a fastener and covering the circular opening at the back of the strainer member.
US09440315B2
An aluminum alloy heat exchanger is produced by applying a coating material that is prepared by adding a binder to a mixture of an Si powder and a Zn-containing compound flux powder to a surface of an aluminum alloy refrigerant tube, assembling a bare fin that is formed of an Al—Mn—Zn alloy with the refrigerant tube, and brazing the refrigerant tube and the bare fin by heating in an atmosphere-controlled furnace, the refrigerant tube being an extruded product of an aluminum alloy that comprises 0.5 to 1.7% (mass %, hereinafter the same) of Mn, less than 0.10% of Cu, and less than 0.10% of Si, with the balance being Al and unavoidable impurities, a mixing ratio of the Si powder to the Zn-containing compound flux powder being 10:90 to 40:60, the binder being added in an amount of 5 to 40% based on the total amount of the coating material, the coating material being applied to an outer surface of the refrigerant tube so that the total amount of the Si powder and the Zn-containing compound flux powder is 5 to 30 g/m2, the surface of the refrigerant tube subjected to brazing having a potential lower than that of an area of the refrigerant tube that is deeper than a diffusion depth of Si and Zn by 20 to 200 mV, and a potential of the fin being lower than that of a deep area of the refrigerant tube.
US09440312B2
A method for manufacturing submounts for laser diodes includes the steps of providing a base configured with a ceramic carrier and a metal layer deposited upon the substrate. The method further includes using a pulsed laser operative to generate a plurality of pulses which are selectively trained at predetermined pattern on the metal layer's surface so as to ablate the desired regions of the metal layer to the desired depth. Thereafter the base is divided into a plurality of submounts each supporting a laser diode. The metal layer includes a silver sub-layer deposited upon the ceramic and having a thickness sufficient to effectively facilitate heat dissipation.
US09440311B2
This invention relates to slicing a thin semiconductor substrate from side wall into two substrates of half thickness. The substrate slicing process involves a laser irradiation step. The substrate slicing process can also involve a mechanical cleaving process after the laser irradiation step. The apparatus for substrate slicing comprises two opposite-facing substrate chucks, with a gap in between for the substrate to pass through. One portion of the two substrate chucks are in parallel to each other to center the substrate sidewall. The gap can increase between the second portion of the two substrate chucks after the location for substrate separation, to spread out the resulting two substrates after the slicing and to facilitate the continuous substrate separation process. The present invention is further directed to methods and apparatus of separating a continuous thin layer of materials from side wall of a rotating ingot. It can be accomplished by a laser irradiation on the ingot side wall from a tangential direction for materials ablation. In an alternative method, a high-intensity short-pulse laser irradiates on the ingot side wall from a radial direction and converges under the ingot sidewall surface to form a plane of modified region inside the substrate, and a thin layer of materials is separated from the ingot side wall along the plane of modified region in a subsequent mechanical cleaving step. A film can be deposited/bonded to the ingot side wall prior to the separation of the thin film layers. The resulting thin layer of materials can be pulled away from the ingot by a substrate chuck.
US09440292B1
In one embodiment, a disposable surgical rode deburrer has a shank configured to be rotated by a drive device and a housing assembly coupled to the shank. The housing assembly includes a rod guide having an opening sized to receive and stabilize a surgical rod when inserted therethrough into an inner cavity. The housing assembly also includes a cutting bit disposed within the inner cavity that is rotated to deburr an end of the surgical rod. A membrane wiper is disposed between the rod guide and the cutting bit. The membrane wiper has a seal that opens to allow the surgical rod to be inserted therethrough, and substantially closes when the surgical rod is removed. The housing assembly also includes a drive body. The membrane wiper retains within the inner cavity chips, particles or dust created by the cutting bit.
US09440289B1
Methods and apparatus for a stand-off interrogation system having an ultra-fast X-ray source (incoherent and/or X-ray laser) with an ultra-short pulse emission to irradiate a target material behind a barrier. In one embodiment, the target material is an explosive material in a container. The composition of the target material is directly determined from the detected elemental differential back-scattering signatures.
US09440267B2
A vessel washer comprises: a washing tub; a cover element; and a pedal, wherein the washing tub comprises a rotating member, an outer brush, and an inner brush; the rotating member comprises a center branch and a side branch; the center branch and the side branch are rotated and revolved, respectively; the outer brush is disposed at the side branch, and the inner brush is disposed at the center branch; the cover element comprises a pressure part made of resin for pressing a vessel disposed on the center branch in an upside-down manner; and the pedal is pressed or treaded on by a hand or foot of a user to rotate and revolve the center branch and the side branch.
US09440264B2
A method and system is described for determining the physical weights of flat articles being sorted without actually weighing the articles. Such a method includes the steps of; receiving volume information for individual flat articles from sensors, comparing that resultant data to classifiers stored in computer memory, and assigning a weight value associated to the physical flat article.
US09440259B2
The present invention provides an electroacoustic conversion film comprising: a polymeric composite piezoelectric body in which piezoelectric body particles are dispersed in a viscoelastic matrix formed of a polymer material exhibiting viscoelasticity at normal temperature; and two or more electrode pairs, wherein one electrode and the other electrode of each of the electrode pairs are arranged on two opposite main surfaces of the polymeric composite piezoelectric body, respectively, to interpose the polymeric composite piezoelectric body therebetween, and thereby each of the electrode pairs forms an active region.
US09440257B2
The invention relates to a method for producing a glue-coated element, to the glue-coated element, to an adhesive compound and to a method for producing glue-coated derived timber panels, as well as to panels produced according to the method. The method for producing a glue-coated element that can be glued with other similarly glue-coated elements, comprises the steps of applying a one-component adhesive to at least one surface section of the element and drying the applied one-component adhesive. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, draw-out resistance elements are provided on the glue-covered element.
US09440256B2
A laminate is provided that includes a metallic ink layer having excellent glossiness. A method for producing a laminate includes forming a metallic ink layer by irradiating ultraviolet light to a metallic ink applied onto a medium, forming a smoothing ink layer by applying a smoothing ink onto the metallic ink layer after forming the metallic ink layer, and forming a color ink layer by applying a color ink onto the smoothing ink layer.
US09440255B2
Porous organic polymeric films having multiple discrete cavities can be prepared by applying a water-in-oil emulsion that includes a cavity stabilizing hydrocolloid on the inner walls of the multiple discrete cavities to a substrate. The multiple discrete cavities can also include organic catalytic materials for various catalytic reactions, markers materials for security applications, or the multiple discrete cavities can be used to increase opacity, hydrophobicity, or other desirable properties compared to nonporous organic polymeric films composed of the composition and dry thickness. Water and oil from the applied water-in-oil emulsion can be removed by evaporation in a suitable process, and the applied porous organic polymeric film can be provided as a uniform material or in a patternwise fashion.
US09440253B2
A process for fabricating an electromagnetic flow meter by encapsulating an electrode with a liquefied plastic. The electrode is fabricated out of an electrically conducting material and with at least a first circumferential indentation that runs orthogonal to the longitudinal expansion of the electrode. The electrode is positioned in a tool and encapsulated with a liquefied plastic, at least in sections, wherein the first indentation is encapsulated, at least in sections, with liquefied plastic. Also, an electromagnetic flow meter for measuring the volumetric flow or mass flow of a medium in a pipe, with a measurement tube, through which the medium flows in the direction of the longitudinal axis, and with a magnetic system that is so embodied as to produce a magnetic field that passes through the measurement tube and runs essentially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the measurement tube, and with at least one measurement electrode that couples to the medium, which is arranged essentially orthogonal to the region of the magnetic field in a bore hole in the wall of the measurement tube.
US09440251B2
The present invention is directed to an apparatus for producing a water maze from walls of falling water that can be reconfigured to change the maze. In one embodiment, the apparatus is comprised of a plurality of spray bars that are each capable of producing a separate wall of falling water droplets and a plurality of water valves that are each associated with only one spray bar. The water valves can be used to define at least two different paths between the entrance and exit of the maze. The apparatus is also capable of being used to create interesting visual effects by projecting light/images on to multiple screens created by walls of falling water droplets.
US09440246B2
A hose nut for coupling a fluid delivery device to a fluid conduit is provided. In one embodiment, the hose nut includes a pawl configured to rotate about a hinge between a locked position and an unlocked position. The hose nut is configured to rotate in a first tightening direction relative to the fluid delivery device and a second loosening direction opposite the first tightening direction when the pawl is in the unlocked position, and the pawl is configured to radially engage the fluid delivery device to move the pawl to the unlocked position during rotation in the first tightening direction and the pawl is configured to engage the fluid delivery device to resist rotating in the second loosening direction when the pawl is in the locked position.
US09440244B2
The present invention relates to a centrifuge rotor, in particular a laboratory centrifuge rotor, including a rotor body, wherein the rotor body at least partially includes a porous metal or a porous metal alloy and an armoring located radially outside with respect to the rotation axis of the rotor body is provided.
US09440235B2
A genetic testing method and an apparatus therefor are provided, in which temperatures of a plurality of reaction tubes are independently controlled using a thermostat, a temperature detecting device, and a heating and cooling device provided on each of the reaction tubes, the reaction tubes each accommodate an amplification liquid and a component necessary for amplification, temperature is controlled at individual positions to hold the reaction tubes and at a predetermined temperature set at the individual positions according to an analysis and testing protocol predetermined at individual positions of the reaction tubes, a controlled temperature value is monitored in a reaction tube unit and a corrected value of controlled temperature is computed and stored on a reaction tube unit, a temperature of the reaction tube is controlled based on the computed value, and light emission of the amplification liquid accommodated in the reaction tube is measured.
US09440232B2
Microfluidic structures and methods for manipulating fluids and reactions are provided. Such structures and methods may involve positioning fluid samples, e.g., in the form of droplets, in a carrier fluid (e.g., an oil, which may be immiscible with the fluid sample) in predetermined regions in a microfluidic network. In some embodiments, positioning of the droplets can take place in the order in which they are introduced into the microfluidic network (e.g., sequentially) without significant physical contact between the droplets. Because of the little or no contact between the droplets, there may be little or no coalescence between the droplets. Accordingly, in some such embodiments, surfactants are not required in either the fluid sample or the carrier fluid to prevent coalescence of the droplets. Structures and methods described herein also enable droplets to be removed sequentially from the predetermined regions.
US09440225B2
A silicon carbide porous body according to the present invention contains silicon carbide particles, metallic silicon, and an oxide phase, in which the silicon carbide particles are bonded together via at least one of the metallic silicon and the oxide phase. The primary component of the oxide phase is cordierite, and the open porosity is 10% to 40%. Preferably, the silicon carbide porous body contains 50% to 80% by weight of silicon carbide, 15% to 40% by weight of metallic silicon, and 1% to 25% by weight of cordierite. Preferably, the volume resistivity is 1 to 80 Ωcm, and the thermal conductivity is 30 to 70 W/m·K.
US09440223B2
An exhaust gas purification catalyst is provided with a substrate and a catalyst coating layer formed on the surface of the substrate. The catalyst coating layer is formed into a layered structure having upper and lower layers, with a lower layer being closer to the surface of the substrate and an upper layer being relatively farther therefrom. The catalyst coating layer is provided with Rh and Pd as precious metal catalysts and is provided with an OSC material having an oxygen storage capacity as a support. The Rh is disposed in the upper layer of the catalyst coating layer, and the Pd is disposed in both the upper layer and the lower layer of the catalyst coating layer. At least a portion of the Pd in the upper layer and in the lower layer is supported on the OSC material. The mass ratio of the Pd disposed in the upper layer to the Pd disposed in the lower layer is not more than 0.4.
US09440222B2
Provided is a production method for a porous alumina material, comprising the steps of: mixing an alkoxysilane solution that comprises an alkoxysilane, a mixed solvent comprising water and an alcohol, and an inorganic acid, with an aluminum solution comprising an aluminum compound and water, to prepare a mixed solution in which the aluminum compound and the alkoxysilane are dissolved in the mixed solvent; co-precipitating aluminum hydroxide with a silicon compound in the mixed solution, to form a precipitate; and baking the precipitate to form a porous alumina material comprising aluminum oxide and silicon oxide.
US09440209B2
A device for performing chemical reactions, in which one starting substance is in the liquid phase and one product is in the gaseous phase, is proposed, comprising a reaction zone which includes two catalytic sections, each section having a feed channel and an overflow well which simultaneously acts as the feed channel for the next section, such that liquid from each section passes into the overflow well of this section and via it enters the lower part of the next section, the device being designed to permit removal of the gaseous products of each section, bypassing the remaining sections.
US09440207B2
Disclosed is a method and apparatus for manipulating fluids. The apparatus may include a microfluidic structure including inlet channels (1 and 2) and outlet channels (306, 307, 308, 309, 310, 311, 312, 313, and 314) oriented among bifurcated (5), trifurcated (6) and merging junctions (7 and 8). The apparatus splits and merges fluids flowing in the channels to produce successive dilutions of the fluids within the outlet channels. Multiple apparatus may be combined in serial, parallel, combined serial and parallel and/or stacked configurations. One or more apparatus may be used alone or to provide various devices or chambers with the diluted fluids.
US09440204B2
A mixer for mixing an exhaust flow in an exhaust pipe includes a housing having a first sidewall spaced apart from a second sidewall. The first and second sidewalls each include a free distal end spaced apart from one another. Portions of the first and second sidewalls are adapted to be fixed to the exhaust pipe. A first mixing element is coupled to the housing and includes a deflection element as well as a plurality of correction fins protruding at an angle from the deflection element. A second mixing element interconnects the first and second sidewalls and extends substantially parallel to the first mixing element. A second mixing element includes a mixing fin to change a direction of the exhaust flow.
US09440201B2
The invention relates to a device for dispersing gas into a liquid. The devise has a number n of successive zones Z1, Z2, . . . , Zn having static mixing elements, wherein each zone Zi has a length Li and an effective diameter Di. The mechanical energy input Et, which is standardized to the particular ratio Li/Di and acts on the gas/liquid mixture, increases from zone to zone in the flow direction. In this connection n is a whole number greater than or equal to 3 and i is an index which runs through the whole numbers from 1 to the number n of zones. The invention further relates to a method for dispersing gas into a liquid using the device according to the invention.
US09440181B2
A sulfuric acid production plant has a discontinuously operating back-up absorber to allow for sulfur emission control in situations where part of or even the entire sulfuric acid production plant is shut down, inoperable, or otherwise compromised. The back-up absorber receives lean solvent from a storage tank that is configured such that continuous operation of the back-up absorber is possible for several hours.
US09440179B2
Oxygen concentrator apparatus and method of use are described herein. The oxygen concentration may include at least one canister; gas separation adsorbent disposed in at least one canister, and a compression system. The compression system may include at least one compressor coupled to the at least one canister. The compressor may include a first rotor comprising at least two projections and a second rotor comprising at least two recesses. During rotation of the first and second rotors, gas moves through the compressor to at least one of the canisters. In the canisters, gas separation adsorbent may separate at least some nitrogen from air produce oxygen enriched gas.
US09440178B2
A filter element includes a center tube and a blank of a filter media. The center tube has a first end and a second end. The blank is folded into a plurality of triangles. Each triangle is disposed adjacent to another of the plurality of triangles to form a series of triangular pleats to form a pleated filter media. The pleated filter media is disposed about the center tube. A cross sectional area of the pleated filter media proximal to each of the first end and the second end is greater than a cross sectional area of the pleated filter media at a point between the first end and the second end.
US09440175B2
An interface air filter and assembly for use with an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The assembly has a housing having an air intake port and an opening. There is an air filter assembly comprising an air filter having a closed end and an open end and a reducing coupling. The reducing coupling has a first end with a first engaging member having an external circumference and outer surface, a second end with a second engaging member having an external circumference less than the first engaging member external circumference, and the second engaging member has an inner surface. The first end of the reducing coupling is attached to the open end of the air filter. The air filter assembly is in contact with the housing such that the air filter resides within the housing and the outer surface of the first engaging member engages the housing. The inner surface of the second engaging member is adapted to contact an air intake tube outer surface so that air can pass from the air intake port into the housing then through the air filter and into the air intake tube.
US09440160B1
The invention features an event wave simulating apparatus used at an event, concert or performance etc. by spectators, fans, etc. to show their enthusiasm and/or support for the event. Users may express their enthusiasm or support by simulating a wave when the apparatus is waved. The apparatus includes a first section which is connected with a second section which includes a closed enclosure. The apparatus also includes two sleeves within the first section, where each sleeve is configured to receive a user's arms and where the sleeves extend into the first section.
US09440149B2
Provided is an incentive granting device, comprising: a second game notifying unit 16 which notifies an existing user of the existence of a second game during the execution by the existing user of a first game app; an introduction code issuing unit 18 which issues an introduction code during the execution of the second game app by the existing user who has received the notification; and an incentive granting unit 20 which grants a prescribed incentive for the existing user's first game, with respect to a new user receiving an introduction from the existing user and downloading the second game app. By allowing an existing user to be aware of the existence of a second game during the execution of a first game, and to obtain an incentive for the first game by executing the second game and introducing a new user thereto, the existing user is given a motivation to proactively spread the word about the second game.
US09440146B1
In a method of managing a location-based meta game, a presence of a device is detected at a location. The device is configured to execute a computer-implemented game. Based on the detecting of the presence of the device, the device is instructed to present a user of the computer-implemented game with an option to participate in a computer-implemented meta game associated with the location.
US09440143B2
A virtual space is provided to users via client computing devices. Device information related to a client computing platform used by a user to interact with the virtual space may be obtained. Customized in-game capabilities available for the user may be determined based on the device information, which may include a description of or otherwise identify the client computing platform. The device information may include or otherwise by used to obtain device capabilities such as hardware, software, network, and/or other specifications. Different users using different client computing platforms may be provided with different in-game capabilities such as user roles, content items, levels, and/or other content or actions available for the user in the virtual space based on the client computing platform used by the users to interact with the virtual space.
US09440140B1
The war game using cards and dice includes a plurality of game cards having a distinct first subset of game cards including a plurality of Soldier game cards, a plurality of Base game cards, and a plurality of Supply game cards, a distinct second subset of game cards including a plurality of Area game cards, a distinct third subset of game cards including a plurality of Action game cards, and at least one dice. The goal of the game is to acquire two sets of “Area” cards. Each Area card is identified by an Area name, a corresponding Area flag, a numerical value, and a group area designation as discussed further below. A “set” of Area cards includes three Area cards having the same area name and/or flag. The game can further require that the two sets be in the same group area.
US09440138B1
A pool rack assembly for arranging a plurality of pool balls into an operative orientation upon a pool table comprises a containment assembly. The containment assembly includes a first containment member disposed in pivotal relation with a second containment member via a pivoting interconnection. The pool rack assembly is pivoted into a closed disposition to facilitate arrangement of the plurality of pool balls into the operative orientation therein, and pivoted into an open disposition for removing the pool rack assembly from the operatively oriented pool balls. An alignment module may be removably connected to the containment module, and includes at least one light source which projects one or more light indicators. The light indicators are used to align the pool rack assembly, and more importantly, the plurality of operatively oriented pool balls therein, upon a pool table with reference to the rail markers.
US09440137B2
A toe-piece for ski-touring bindings includes a base plate coupled to two jaws. The base plate provided with holes for fixing by screws to the surface of a ski extending in the longitudinal direction from a front tip to a rear tail-end. The two jaws situated opposite each other and symmetrically with respect to a longitudinal axis. Each of the two jaws having a transverse arm and a vertical arm provided with a respective transverse conical pin, which arms are configured to rotate about an axis substantially parallel to the base plate and to the longitudinal direction between a closed and/or open position for retaining and/or inserting and releasing the toe of a ski-boot and an open and/or closed position for releasing and inserting and/or retaining the toe.
US09440134B2
Described herein are methods and apparatuses for simulating golf. For example, described herein is a system for simulating a golf game. The system includes a simulator with a golf ball launch area and a display and an exercise device. The exercise device and simulator are connected to a computer.
US09440132B2
A rung wall ascender including a support frame and a rung ladder transport mechanism positioned at a variable angle relative to the support frame. The rung ladder transport mechanism includes a chain arranged as a loop with rung ladders attached to the chain so as to maintain a ladder-like configuration that rotates downward as the user climbs so as to achieve a continuous climbing experience. A hydraulic cylinder is positioned between the rung ladder transport mechanism and the support frame that adjusts an angle of the rung ladder transport mechanism with respect to the ground. A control for the hydraulic cylinder is positioned proximate to the user. A braking system regulates the speed of the rung ladder transport mechanism while the user is climbing.
US09440128B2
The disclosure herein includes a grip for a golf club with a flexible tube and a layered sheet. The tube includes a tubular body and raised portions extending from the tubular body. The outer surface of the raised portions cooperates with the layered sheet to form a gripping surface. The grip reduces impact shock and provides a feeling of tackiness while providing increased variation in the physical characteristics of the gripping surface. The disclosure further provides a golf club grip that includes a resilient strip spirally wrapped about an underlisting sleeve having a cap and a nipple. The underside of the cap is formed a downwardly facing circumferential slot that receives the upper edge of the strip. The nipple is formed with an upwardly facing groove that receives the lower portion of the strip. The disclosure further provides for a panel style grip.
US09440127B2
Golf clubs according to at least some example aspects of this disclosure may include a golf club head and a shaft configured to engage with the golf club head which includes a grip engaged with the shaft. Further, the golf club may include a monitoring device, which includes a sensor and a transmitter. Additionally, the monitoring device may be configured to determine data related to the characteristics of a golf swing. Further, the monitoring device may be configured to transmit the data related to the characteristics of a golf swing to a remote computer.
US09440126B2
Golf clubs and golf club heads having a weight member that is configurable in multiple positions to alter the performance characteristics of the golf club head are presented. In some examples, the weight member may be arranged in a sole of the golf club head and may include ends having different weighting characteristics. For instance, one end may be heavier or denser than another end of the weight member. The difference in weight characteristics may be due to different materials used to form the different ends, different construction of the ends, and the like. The position of the weight member may be adjusted to alter the performance characteristics of the golf club head. For instance, the weight member may be removed and rotated to position a heavier end where a lighter end was previously positioned.
US09440123B2
The invention provides a golf club head having a port for providing a view into the interior cavity of the club head. The club head further includes at least one rib positioned along an internal surface of the club head and adjacent to the port. The at least one rib is configured to provide sound tuning characteristics, increasing the frequency of the port, thereby improving acoustic properties of the club head, particularly the sound produced by the golf club head during ball impact.
US09440122B2
Golf club and golf club head structures include an inner wall or backstop arranged behind a ball striking surface of the golf club head and defining a gap between the inner wall and a rear surface of the ball striking surface. In some arrangements, the size of the gap may vary along a heel-to-toe length of the inner wall or backstop. For instance, the size of the gap may gradually increase from a first end of the inner wall toward a central region of the inner wall, and may gradually decrease from the central region toward a second end of the inner wall. In some examples, the inner wall or backstop may be connected to the golf club head, for instance, at a first end and/or a second end.
US09440114B2
In one illustrative embodiment, there is provided a boot sole system for guiding a fin, the system comprising: at least one toe sole body connectable to the fin and comprising first and second stop surfaces; a posterior sole body comprising third and fourth stop surfaces; and a transverse hinge for hingedly connecting the at least one toe sole body to the posterior sole body to permit longitudinal deflection of the at least one toe sole body relative to the posterior sole body in a first deflection direction and in a second deflection direction opposite the first deflection direction. The first, second, third, and fourth stop surfaces are positioned to restrict longitudinal deflection of the at least one toe sole body relative to the posterior sole body in the first deflection direction and in the second deflection direction. Fins are also disclosed.
US09440110B2
A pair of identical exercise devices that provides for a pair of hand grips that slide reciprocally in independent axial alignment about their individual devices configured to provide a user with muscular exercise when the user applies force to the hand grips. Each individual exercise device includes a resistance member configured to be engaged by the hand grips for providing the user with resistive exercise.
US09440108B2
A multipurpose exercise stool for enabling aerobic and anaerobic exercise for a user seated thereon comprises a base member for providing a lower level having four wheels, a main body disposed over the base and a cushion member disposed over the main body. These parts are connected through a vertical swivel pole which is connected to the bottom of the cushion member, passes through the main body, and connects to the top of the base member. An internal base axle passes through the main body horizontally. A rod assembly may be attached to the base axle on either end as it exits the main body and two pedal assemblies can be attached to the base axle on the inside of the main body at one end and extend from the main body at the other end.
US09440104B2
A dry sprinkler for a fire protection system having a configuration with one or more coupling arrangements for connection to a fluid supply piping of the system. The dry sprinkler structure further includes an inner surface and inner assembly to provide a preferred discharge performance. The dry sprinkler provides for a flow rate from the outlet of the sprinkler in accordance with the start pressure at the inlet of the sprinkler and the rated discharge coefficient, K factor, ranging between 16.8 GPM/PSI½ and 33.6 GPM/PSI½.
US09440103B2
In various embodiments, a fire suppression system includes a high rate discharge system and a low rate discharge system. The low rate discharge system may comprise components that are capable of varying mass flow of a fire suppression agent in term of the ambient conditions of the aircraft structure. In this regard, the low rate discharge system may comprise a valve that is configured to sense at least one of the ambient pressure and ambient temperature of an aircraft structure.
US09440101B2
A fire extinguisher apparatus and related system is described for automatically suppressing stovetop fires. The fire extinguisher apparatus includes a canister restrained in a first location where the canister is operable to suppress fires on a rear burner of a stovetop. The canister is biased and movable to a second location where the canister is operable to suppress fires on a front burner of the stovetop. A trigger mechanism is provided for automatically moving the canister to the second location in response to a fire on the front burner. The fire extinguisher system includes an arrangement of fire extinguisher apparatuses wherein canisters are movable between the apparatuses to prevent collisions with external obstacles.
US09440097B2
The invention relates to organic compounds having the ability to reduce or suppress the onset of skin irritation induced by extraneous cause selected from the group of 2-heptylcyclopentanone, 2-ethoxynaphthalene; 2-methoxynaphthalene; 1-methoxy-4-(prop-1-enyl)benzene; 1-(cyclopropylmethyl)-4-methoxybenzene; wherein X, Y, and R1 to R11 have the same meaning as given in the description. Furthermore the invention refers to compositions for topical application to the skin comprising them. It further relates to a method of reducing or suppressing the formation of skin irritation.
US09440054B2
Disclosed is an expandable transluminal sheath, for introduction into the body while in a first, small cross-sectional area configuration, and subsequent expansion of at least a part of the distal end of the sheath to a second, enlarged cross-sectional configuration. The sheath is configured for use in the vascular system and has utility in the introduction and removal of implant delivery catheters. The access route is through the ventricular myocardium, more specifically at the left ventricular apex, into the aortic root. The distal end of the sheath is maintained in the first, low cross-sectional configuration during advancement to the arteries into the aorta. The distal end of the sheath is subsequently expanded using a radial dilatation device, which is removed prior to the introduction of implant delivery catheters. In an exemplary application, the sheath includes a supported proximal end, a supported distal end, and a collapsible center section. Certain configurations of the sheath are capable of being inserted in a first, small cross-sectional configuration, being expanded diametrically to a second, larger cross-sectional configuration, and then being reduced to a diametrically small size for removal.
US09440051B2
A holding device and an inserter are provided. The holding device includes a casing providing a cavity including walls, the was encompass a subcutaneous unit. The cavity includes a first side having an outlet opening, the outlet opening before use is covered with a penetrable or removable cover, and a second side comprising a layer having an outer surface and being penetrable, removable or flexible to transfer an impact from outside the layer to the subcutaneous unit. The casing includes a releasable attachment member corresponding to a member on the subcutaneous unit and a needle secured to the casing. An impact towards the outer surface of the layer pushes the subcutaneous unit at least partly out of the casing into a subcutaneous position, when the unit is in the subcutaneous position the releasable attachment member of the casing is released allowing detachment of the unit from the casing.
US09440048B2
A catheter assembly includes a catheter having an elongate tubular body defining a lumen extending from an open proximal end to an open distal end. A cuff deployment device is concentrically supported on the elongate tubular body and is movable along a longitudinal axis of the elongate tubular body. The cuff deployment device includes a deployment mechanism having an actuated position and a non-actuated position. A cuff has a hollow cylindrical body defining an internal catheter engagement surface. The catheter assembly has a first configuration in which the deployment mechanism is in the non-actuated position and the cuff is supported by and movable with the cuff deployment device, and a second configuration in which the deployment mechanism is in the actuated position and the cuff is concentrically mounted at a fixed axial location of the elongate tubular body and is free of contact with the cuff deployment device.
US09440046B2
The method of treating varicose veins and other vascular diseases provides sclerosant fluid through a catheter into the body vessel to be treated. The catheter has a lumen and a plurality of sidewall exits. The sclerosant fluid is provided under sufficient pressure so that it comes out of each exit as a jet of fluid with sufficient velocity to impinge on the vessel wall substantially orthogonal to the wall and thus minimize dilution of the sclerosant fluid and optimize coverage. A movable sheath on the catheter permits selecting a portion of the exits to be uncovered and thus create an infusion zone for the jets of sclerosant fluid which approximately match a desired treatment zone.
US09440044B2
A heat shrink tubing, which can be readily peeled in the longitudinal direction after use (e.g., to remove the heat shrink tubing from an underlying material) is provided herein. The heat shrink tubing can be of various compositions, and generally is produced from at least one fluorinated, copolymeric resin. The tubing can exhibit desirable physical properties such as good optical clarity (e.g., translucency or transparency) and/or peelability, exhibiting one or more of complete, straight, and even peeling along a given length of tubing.
US09440041B1
A medicinal healing booth system for treating a user with medicated steam features a booth. A side panel of the booth features a transparent or translucent top panel section from a panel midpoint to a roof panel. A base panel of the booth features raised grating. The system features a door located in the side panel of the booth. The system features a control system and a steam generation system having a water tank with a heating element, a medicine tank, and a steam distribution nozzle. The medicine tank is fluidly connected to steam piping having the steam distribution nozzle located on a terminating end. The system features a temperature regulation system having an infrared light, a vent, and an automated vent valve. The system features a sterilization system having an ultraviolet light. A seat is located on the booth base panel.
US09440040B2
A flexible tape heater (110) in a patient conduit (112) may be used to heat the flow of gas in the patient conduit (112) that is delivered to the patient mask (116). The thin, flat and extended nature of the flexible tape heater (110) may enhance heat transfer with the gas flow while also providing low impedance to the gas flow. Heating of the gas may facilitate the desired temperature and humidity to be reached for the gas delivered to the patient by the respiratory apparatus. The flexible tape heater (110) may be placed in the patient conduit (112) such that the flexible tape heater (110) is twisted or bent about one or more of the flexible tape heater's (110) three axes. Additionally these configurations may be used to enhance the turbulent mixing of the water vapor produced in the humidification chamber (114) with the gas flow.
US09440035B2
A vapor inhaler includes a handle with a battery. A heater is connected to the handle and the heater has heater air intake openings for receiving air. The heater has heater air conduits for exhausting air. A cartridge housing is connected to the heater. The cartridge housing has a cartridge housing lid and a cartridge housing lid grille mounted to the cartridge housing lid. The cartridge housing produces vapor. A main body is connected to the cartridge housing, and the main body further includes a mouthpiece. A regulator valve is mounted to the main body. The regulator valve has a regulator valve secondary opening that provides a supplemental ambient air supply when the regulator valve is in an open position. The regulator valve does not provide a supplemental ambient air supply when the regulator valve is in closed position.
US09440034B2
The present invention provides novel condensation aerosols for the treatment of disease and/or intermittent or acute conditions. These condensation aerosols have little or no pyrolysis degradation products and are characterized by having an MMAD of between 1-3 microns. These aerosols are made by rapidly heating a substrate coated with a thin film of drug having a thickness of between 0.05 and 20 μm, while passing a gas over the film, to form particles of a desirable particle size for inhalation. Kits comprising a drug and a device for producing a condensation aerosol are also provided. The device contained in the kit typically, has an element for heating the drug which is coated as a film on the substrate and contains a therapeutically effective dose of a drug when the drug is administered in aerosol form, and an element allowing the vapor to cool to form an aerosol. Also disclosed, are methods for using these aerosols and kits.
US09440032B2
A safety device for a pre-filled syringe comprises a hollow support body to retain the pre-filled syringe, a retaining collar and a rotating collar arranged within the support body. The retaining collar is releasably mounted to the support body. The rotating collar is slidable along an axial length of the support body and rotatable around a central axis of the safety device. The retaining collar is movable with respect to the support body in a proximal direction when the retaining collar is released from being mounted to the support body by the rotating collar.
US09440028B2
The present invention relates to a drug delivery device for setting and dispensing of a dose of a medicament is presented comprising a housing to accommodate a cartridge filled with the medicament, an electrically operated drive mechanism to be operably engaged with the cartridge to expel a predefined dose of the medicament from the cartridge, and at least one dose element displaceably arranged relative to the housing to set and/or to dispense the dose of the medicament, wherein the dose element and the drive mechanism are mechanically decoupled from each other.
US09440026B2
An autoinjection device includes a main body in the front end of which is slideably mounted a drawer or front body portion. The drawer can be opened to remove or insert a syringe. Closing the drawer while pressing a multifunction button primes the drive mechanism by latching it against trigger latch. Pressing the button gain while urging the front end causes the drawer to release the trigger latch. After the injection the drawer shrouds the used needle and can be released only by pressing the button.
US09440022B2
Flow control devices and methods of using the flow control devices are provided. In a general embodiment, the present disclosure provides a cassette (30) comprising a housing (32) having a constrictor (34), a tube (36) attached to the housing and positioned through the constrictor, and a ball positioned inside the tube. The constrictor can be constructed and arranged to prevent the ball (38) from moving through the tube at the location proximate the constrictor. The ball can prevent fluid flow in one position and be dislodged to allow fluid flow when the cassette is positioned inside a pumping device. As a result, the cassette is designed to prevent free flow of fluid when an enteral feeding tube set is not installed in a pumping device.
US09440017B2
System and method for performing alternative and sequential blood and peritoneal dialysis modalities
A dialysis system includes: a dialysis fluid pump receptacle actuated by a dialysis fluid pump actuator; a dialysis fluid line; a blood filter in fluid communication with the dialysis fluid pump receptacle via the dialysis fluid line; an extracorporeal circuit; a blood pump receptacle actuated by a blood pump actuator and in fluid communication with the blood filter via the extracorporeal circuit; and a control unit that (i) in a first treatment pumps peritoneal dialysis fluid through the dialysis fluid pump receptacle, the dialysis fluid line, the blood filter, the extracorporeal circuit and the blood pump receptacle to the patient's peritoneum operating the dialysis fluid pump actuator and the blood pump actuator at a first pressure, and (ii) in a second treatment pumps blood through the extracorporeal circuit, the blood pump receptacle and the blood filter operating the blood pump actuator at a second, different pressure.
US09440014B2
The present invention relates to an implantable device for improving the pump function of the heart of a human patient by applying an external force on the heart muscle, said device comprising at least one pump device comprising: a first part having a first surface, and a second part having a second surface. The first part is displaceable in relation to the second part and said first and second surfaces abut each other, at least partially. The second part exerts, directly or indirectly, force on an external part of said heart muscle.
US09440013B2
A blood flow conduit includes a first conduit portion defining a first portion of a lumen; and a second conduit portion defining a second portion of a lumen. At least one of the first or second conduit portions may include a tip portion and the other of the first or second conduit portions may include an enlarged area.
US09439999B2
The present invention discloses a composite collagen sponge and the preparation method thereof. The composite collagen sponge comprises collagen, cell growth factors, and a protecting agent, and has a water absorption capacity of more than 52 times. The preparation method includes a cation chromatographic purification step and a two-stage inactivation step consisting of organic solvent/detergent virus inactivation and dry heat virus inactivation. The composite collagen sponge obtained by the method of the present invention not only improves the safety and performance of the product in clinical applications, but also ensures the stability and the bioactivity throughout the effective life of the product.
US09439997B2
The present invention is directed to a reinforced absorbable multilayered hemostatic wound dressing comprising a first absorbable nonwoven fabric, a second absorbable woven or knitted fabric, thrombin and/or fibrinogen.
US09439990B2
A container for disinfecting and storing a contact lens comprising a container having a nonporous but oxygen-permeable, water-impermeable liner that forms a continuous barrier layer to allow oxygen to escape but prevent water from escaping when the container becomes pressurized, such as when an oxidative disinfectant is neutralized catalytically to generate free oxygen (O2). A rigid shell against which the liner is disposed is porous to oxygen and includes a main body and a cap removably attachable to an upper rim of the main body. The container also may have a lens holder for supporting a contact lens. The liner may be on the inside of the shell, or vice versa. The liner may be on the inside of the cap which has openings through which the liner expands when the container becomes pressurized as an indicator that the disinfecting process is underway. The liner may be constructed of a nonporous silicone and the shell of polyethylene or other rigid plastic that can be constructed as a highly gas-porous enclosure.
US09439983B1
A nanosensor-containing polymer composition for the monitoring of physiological parameters and a method for making the composition are disclosed. The composition includes a nanosensor disposed in a crosslinked, hydrophilic polymer for transdermal application into an intradermal environment. The method involves forming a mixture including nanosensors and a crosslinked polymer precursor, and subjecting the mixture to conditions suitable for crosslinking the polymer precursor to provide a nanosensor-containing crosslinked polymer.
US09439981B2
The present invention concerns a method for inducing an increase in the intraocular pressure in an animal, said method comprising ocular administration of a solution comprising benzalkonium chloride (BAK). The present invention further relates to an animal having ocular hypertension, said animal being obtained by the method according to the invention. Said animal provides a convenient animal model for better understanding of the patho-physiological mechanisms involved in ocular hypertension and glaucoma. The present invention also relates to the use of said animal for screening a compound for therapeutic use against ocular hypertension or glaucoma, and/or for assessing potential side-effects of treatment of ocular hypertension and glaucoma.
US09439978B2
Provided herein are compositions comprising a micelle having a hydrophobic superparmagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle (SPION) core, a first coating comprising a cationic polymer, and a second coating comprising a polynucleotide. Also provided are methods of using the compositions for transfection and/or transformation of a cell with the polynucleotide. Further provided are methods of detecting transfection of a cell with the polynucleotide.
US09439976B2
Provided herein are compositions and kits comprising a therapeutic agent linked to a cleavable substrate, wherein the cleavable substrate is capable of being cleaved by cathepsin E. Also provided are methods of treating one or more symptoms of a disease or disorder characterized by expression of cathepsin E in a subject and methods of eliminating a cancer cell characterized by expression of cathepsin E using the provided compositions and kits. Further provided herein are methods of detecting the presence of a cancer cell or detecting a cathepsin E expressing cell using a photosensitizer linked to a cleavable substrate, wherein the cleavable substrate is capable of being cleaved by cathepsin E.
US09439973B2
Aptamers targeted to a human transferrin receptor which do not compete with transferrin for binding are provided. Compositions and methods for aptamer-targeted liposomal drug delivery are also provided.
US09439972B2
The subject invention is based upon the discovery that an antifungal agent can be delivered through the fingernail or the toenail of an infected human to treat onychomycosis by dissolving or dispersing the antifungal agent in a solvent system which is comprised of a combination of an alkyl lactate and Simmondsia chinesis seed oil. In accordance with this invention the antifungal agent is absorbed by and incorporated into the nail matrix by diffusing through the epithelium of the nail bed to reach the nail bed hyperkeratosis. The antifungal agent additionally penetrates into the ventral surface of the nail plate. The subject invention more specifically discloses an antifungal serum which is comprised of (1) an alkyl lactate, such as isoamyl lactate, (2) Simmondsia chinesis seed oil, and (3) an antifungal agent, such as tolnaftate or undecylenic acid.
US09439963B2
The invention relates to human targets of interest (TOI), anti-TOI ligands, kits compositions and method.
US09439962B2
Compositions for cancer or infection treatment via immunopotentiation caused by inhibition of immunosuppressive signal induced by PD-1, PD-L1, or PD-L2 and therapies using them, immunopotentiative substrates included as the active ingredient, screening methods of the substrates for cancer or infection treatment, cell lines used for the screening methods, evaluation methods that selects the substrates for cancer treatment, and carcinoma cell transplanted mammals used for the evaluation methods.The compositions of the present invention that inhibits the function of PD-1, PD-L1, PD-L2 are useful for cancer or infection treatment.
US09439958B2
A method of producing an immune response in a subject including the step of administering to the subject a dry powder vaccine composition having a dry powder containing a subunit antigen with virus-like particles, where the subunit antigen is stabilized by a polysaccharide-containing plant extract, and where mucosal vaccination results in an immune response which is not further enhanced by co-inclusion of adjuvants.
US09439957B2
Factor H binding proteins that can elicit antibodies that are bactericidal for at least one strain of N. meningitidis, and methods of use of such proteins, are provided.
US09439955B2
Glucans having exclusively or mainly β-1,3 linkages are used as immunogens. These comprise β-1,3-linked glucose residues. Optionally, they may include β-1,6-linked glucose residues, provided that the ratio of β-1,3-linked residues to β-1,6-linked residues is at least 8:1 and/or there are one or more sequences of at least five adjacent non-terminal residues linked to other residues only by β-1,3 linkages. The glucans will usually be used in conjugated form. A preferred glucan source is curdlan, which may be hydrolyzed to a suitable form prior to conjugation.
US09439954B2
Glucans having exclusively or mainly β-1,3 linkages are used as immunogens. These comprise β-1,3-linked glucose residues. Optionally, they may include β-1,6-linked glucose residues, provided that the ratio of β-1,3-linked residues to β-1,6-linked residues is at least 8:1 and/or there are one or more sequences of at least five adjacent non-terminal residues linked to other residues only by β-1,3 linkages. The glucans will usually be used in conjugated form. A preferred glucan source is curdlan, which may be hydrolyzed to a suitable form prior to conjugation.
US09439944B2
The present invention relates to a novel function of Msx1 protein for inhibiting tumor angiogenesis and metastasis by targeting mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) signaling pathway, and for treating a cancer in a subject. Particularly, Msx1 suppresses mTOR through a direct interaction with mTOR, resulting in the inhibition of angiogenesis. The Msx1 significantly suppresses tumor angiogenesis that is necessary for the growth, invasion, and metastasis of solid tumors. Ad-Msx1 can be used to effectively inhibit tumor metastasis by suppressing angiogenesis, tumor cell invasion, and migration.
US09439939B2
A dietary supplement comprising powdered ingredients: a) dehydrated seaweed: 40-60 wt. %, b) seawater extract: 20-40 wt. %, c) grape seed powder: 10-20 wt. %, d) Chlorella: 5-10 wt. %, e) Spirulina: 5-10 wt %, methods of making and using the composition.
US09439936B2
The invention relates to Boswellia frereana and particularly an extract of same for treating a range of inflammatory disorder or conditions selected from the group comprising: articular cartilage degradation or arthritides, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), all forms of muscular dystrophy especially Duchenne muscular dystrophy, sepsis, sepsis syndrome, osteoporosis, ischemic injury, graft vs. host disease, reperfusion injury, asthma, diabetes, cancer, myelogenous and other leukemias, psoriasis and cachexia, Alzheimer's Disease, demyelinating neurological disorders including multiple sclerosis, Acetylcholinesterase mediated disorders, retinal disorders, neurological, retinal, and muscular disorders.
US09439934B1
The current invention discloses an attenuated Salmonella typhimurium, a genetically engineered bacterium and applications thereof in preparing drugs for the treatment of prostate cancer. The attenuated Salmonella typhimurium has tumor targeting and significant inhibitory effects on prostate cancer cells. A genetically engineered bacterium bearing a L-methioninase gene plasmid also has tumor targeting ability. The attenuated Salmonella typhimurium with the plasmid can constitutively express L-methioninase in the tumor tissues, consume a significant amount of methionine and other nutrients, which in turn causes lack of nutrition and slow growth of tumor cells. Therefore, it can be used as drugs for treating prostate cancer.
US09439932B2
Pluripotent cells that are immunopositive for both the neural progenitor marker nestin and a pluripotent cell marker are provided. The cells exhibit rapid doubling times and can be maintained in vitro for extended periods. Also provided are cell cultures containing the pluripotent cells, a method of transplanting human pluripotent cells to a host, and a method of reducing seizure activity in a subject. These pluripotent cells, when transplanted into the ventricle of a host animal, migrate to the site of damage and adopt a suitably corrective phenotype, resulting in both structural and functional restoration.
US09439930B2
The present invention relates to a method and composition for the aspiration, processing, testing and infusion of bone marrow derived stem cells, as an adjuvant treatment in cardiovascular disorders. More specifically, the invention provides for the methods and compositions for the aspiration, analysis, processing, infusate preparation and infusion of bone-marrow derived stem cells, particularly in a rapid point-of-care environment, wherein a centrifugal fractionation and optically monitored separation of the bone marrow yield desired cellular product in the desired concentration and viscosity.
US09439927B2
The invention relates to the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, also termed IBD, including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. To this end, the invention proposes clinoptilolite having a particle size between 0.2 and 1 μm for use in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, also termed IBD, in mammals and humans. In the case of such use, the clinoptilolite is preferably freed of heavy metals. In one variant, it is administered orally, optionally with pharmaceutically harmless carrier materials and/or diluents.
US09439922B2
The present invention relates to non toxic, immunogenic viral Tat DNA sequences comprising wherein the Tat Sequence is rendered non toxic and immunogenic by insertion of T-Helper Epitope into the Cysteine-rich domain, or Basic domain or Core domain of said Tat DNA sequence, optionally along with insertion of a synthetic Intron between C-terminal region and Exon II region of the Tat DNA Sequence. The present invention also relates to elongation factor promoter constructs and process thereof. Also the present invention relates to a process of obtaining the non toxic and immunogenic Tat DNA sequence and vaccine and a method thereof.
US09439920B2
A pharmaceutical dosage system comprising (a) an effective amount of one or more of Doxylamine, an analog thereof, a derivative thereof, a prodrug thereof, a metabolite thereof and/or a salt thereof; (b) an effective amount of one or more of (i) Pyridoxine, (ii) an analog thereof, (iii) a derivative thereof, (iv) a prodrug thereof, (v) a metabolite thereof and (vi) a salt of any of (i)-(v); and (c) an effective amount of one or more compounds of formula (I) wherein R is H, PO3- or The system exhibits an improved pharmacokinetic profile relative to the current Diclectin®/Diclegis® formulation and is useful for example for the alleviation of the symptoms of nausea and vomiting, for example in the case of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP).
US09439906B2
The present invention provides a method of treating patients in need of treatment with long acting injectable paliperidone palmitate formulations.
US09439892B2
The disclosure provides macrolide particulates including a macrolide therapeutic agent such as rapamycin at high concentration in the particulate. In one method the particulates are made by adding a composition containing an polyoxyethylene sorbitan n-acyl ester, poly(ethyleneimine), or alkylated quaternary ammonium salt to a composition including macrolide dissolved in an alcohol such as ethanol. In another method the particulates are made by adding a non-solvent composition to a composition including macrolide and an alkyl-substituted chromanol dissolved in an alcohol such as ethanol. The formed macrolide particulates have one or more desirable properties including sizes in the range of 0.1 μm to 10 μm, spherical or near spherical shapes, low polydispersity, and/or stability. The macrolide particulates can be used for therapeutic compositions, or in association with an implantable or insertable medical device, such as associated with a polymeric coating on a device.
US09439888B2
The present disclosure provides compounds that include a tetrazolone derivative of a carboxyl group of an active agent. This disclosure also relates to pharmaceutical compositions that include these compounds, methods of using these compounds in the treatment of various diseases and disorders, and processes for preparing these compounds.
US09439884B2
The invention features methods of treating an immune disorder characterized by elevated Pin1 marker levels in a subject by administering a retinoic acid compound. Additionally, the invention features methods of treating immune disorders (e.g., immune disorders characterized by elevated Pin1 marker levels) by administering a retinoic acid compound in combination with an anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, or anti-microbial compound.
US09439882B2
New uses for phenylketone carboxylate compounds and substituted aromatic compounds of Formula I, Formula I.1, Formula I.2, Formula IA, Formula IB, Formula IC and Formula II and their pharmaceutical acceptable salts for the treatment of cancer. The use of a combination of two of these compounds is described and the use of the combination of one of these compounds with an anticancer agent such as decarbazine, doxorubicin, daunorubicin, cyclophosphamide, busulfex, busulfan, vinblastine, vincristine, bleomycin, etoposide, topotecan, irinotecan, taxotere, taxol, 5-fluorouracil, methotrexate, gemcitabine, cisplatin, carboplatin and chlorambucil.
US09439871B2
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing nano-scale particles of an active material. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method which uniformly mixes a surfactant having an HLB value of 8 or more and a melting point or glass transition temperature of 80° C. or lower and an active material, and mills the mixture using a roller mill, to thereby prepare nanoparticle powder from the active material.
US09439860B2
Various fenofibrate dosage forms contain a plurality of beads or particles, where the beads or particles include a pharmaceutical composition comprising fenofibrate; from 0.3% to 10% by weight of the beads or particles of a surfactant; and from about 5% to about 15% by weight of the beads or particles of a water soluble or water dispersible cellulosic binder. The mass ratio of the drug to the binder in the dosage form is between about 3.5:1 and 4.5:1; and the dosage form produces a first Cmax in vivo that is between about 10% and about 50% higher than a comparative Cmax produced by a comparative dosage form. The comparative dosage form comprises the drug and the binder in a ratio of between about 5:1 and 15:1.
US09439859B2
The present invention provides compositions and systems for delivery of nanocarriers to cells of the immune system. The invention provides nanocarriers capable of stimulating an immune response in T cells and/or in B cells. The invention provides nanocarriers that comprise an immunofeature surface and an immunostimulatory moiety. In some embodiments, the immunostimulatory moiety is adjuvant. The invention provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising inventive nanocarriers. The present invention provides methods of designing, manufacturing, and using inventive nanocarriers and pharmaceutical compositions thereof.
US09439855B2
A pharmaceutical composition comprising an amphiphilic emulsifier, a polar liquid carrier and, optionally, a lipid component. The amphiphilic emulsifier form free-moving, optionally lipid-carrying, micelles (LMs) in the polar liquid carrier. The pharmaceutical composition is free of hemoglobin and fluorocarbon and can be used for treating conditions related to lack of blood supply and to raise the blood pressure and correct hypovolemia.
US09439853B2
The present invention relates to a new formulation of an enkephalinase inhibitor, such as racecadotril or dexecadotril, the process for the preparation thereof, and the use thereof in the treatment of diarrhea.
US09439848B2
The present invention relates to aqueous personal care, household care, and/or fabric care compositions comprising the instant copolymers. Also disclosed are methods for the rheological modification of aqueous personal care, household care, and/or fabric care compositions comprising the instant copolymers.
US09439844B2
The present invention relates to azomethine-type direct dyes with a tri-aromatic unit having the following formula (I): and their use for coloring keratin fibers, particularly human keratin fibers such as the hair. The invention also relates to a composition for dyeing keratin fibers comprising, in a suitable medium for dyeing, such direct dyes. Another subject of the present invention is a method for dyeing keratin fibers using said dyeing composition. Finally the present invention also relates to precursors for these direct dyes.
US09439832B2
A child-resistant blister package. The package has a top face, a bottom face, and a periphery. The package also has a protection layer with a top face, a bottom face and a periphery; a blister layer with one or more cavities; and an access layer with a top face, a bottom face, and a periphery. The bottom face of the access layer has a line of weakness that allows the unit dose to be removed from the cavity in one-step by applying a force to the top of the cavity and pressing the unit dose through the line of weakness. The bottom face of the protection layer and the top face of the access layer are permanently joined along substantially the entire periphery of the package. The blister package can also contain a tear resistant layer.
US09439818B2
A fastening tape 100 of a disposable diaper 10 has a base sheet 120 configured by a nonwoven fabric, and a hook sheet 110 in which a plurality of engagement hooks are provided. The KES flexural rigidity value of the entire fastening tape existent region SALL in which the fastening tape 100 is provided, in a longitudinal direction DL of the absorbent main body, is 11.755 gf.cm2 or less.
US09439811B2
An absorbent article includes a chassis having a substantially rectangular shape a first portion, a second portion and a crotch portion extending between the first and second portion, a portion of the chassis being configured to absorb fluids. The absorbent article includes a first securement portion operatively coupled to the first portion of the chassis. The absorbent article includes a second securement portion operatively coupled to the second portion of the chassis and configured to releasably attach to the first securement portion. The chassis is configured to include one of a first chassis length or a second chassis length. When the chassis includes the first length, the chassis includes a first width and the first securement portion includes a second width, and when the chassis includes the second length, the chassis includes the first width and the first securement portion includes a third width, greater than the second width.
US09439810B2
A barefoot orthotic is a foot support that adheres to the underside of a user's foot and is placed so that it extends longitudinally between the metatarsal head region and the calcaneal plantar tuberosity, and laterally between the lateral midfoot and the medial arch. By using a silicone polymer or other similar material, a barefoot orthotic can self-adhere to the skin of a user's foot. A barefoot orthotic can have a midfoot strike zone surrounding the forward portion of the calcaneal plantar tuberosity, a navicular support, a medial arch support, a forefoot propulsion pad, a lateral forefoot support, a lateral midfoot support, a cuboid support flange, a lateral heel support, and a balance rail extending longitudinally from the midfoot strike zone to the forefoot propulsion pad. Together, these components work to support and align the foot and thereby alleviate symptoms of various foot and leg conditions.
US09439804B2
Method for treatment of a body of a mammal in cardiac arrest, comprising the step of performing a therapeutic hypothermia of the body after the cardiac arrest has occurred, said therapeutic hypothermia comprising: cooling the body to a target temperature during a cooling time period, said cooling being performed by total liquid ventilation which comprises alternately filling lungs of the body with a cooling liquid and removing from the lungs said cooling liquid, maintaining the body at the target temperature for a hypothermia duration.
US09439803B2
A patient warming device with patient access for maintaining normothermia and/or treating hypothermia is provided. The device includes a first compliant layer and a second compliant layer sealed together around an outer border to contain a liquid between the two layers and to form a wrap that surrounds and conforms to a body portion of a patient. A plurality of flaps extends from opposite sides of a generally longitudinal central portion of the wrap, such that one or more flaps from the opposite sides fasten to each other to surround the body portion. The flaps are openable during functional use to provide access to an underlying patient body surface. A continuous fluid flow path extends between the first compliant layer and the second compliant layer between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet to carry liquid and deliver heat through the wrap.
US09439802B2
Apparatus for reducing obstructive sleep apnea, snoring and/or nasal drainage. One apparatus includes an upper member fitting the interior and exterior surfaces of a user's upper dentition, and a lower member fitting similarly adjacent a user's lower dentition. The lower member includes molar extensions projecting away from the lower member. The upper member includes upper molar extensions projecting away from the upper member and toward the lower molar extensions so that when the user bites or clenches, the upper right and lower right extensions impinge on one another in substantially overlapping fashion, as do the molar upper left and lower left extensions. The upper and lower members have an anterior shape to form a gap sufficient for the user's tongue to extend into the gap, and each molar extension may include a magnet. Methods of using the apparatus and kits to reduce sleep apnea, snoring, and/or nasal drainage.
US09439790B2
An intraluminal prosthesis includes an outer three-dimensional (3D) anti-migration structure that is attached to the outer wall of a fully covered or partially covered stent to prevent migration and still allow stent removal at a later period of time. A method of manufacturing the intraluminal prosthesis includes attaching the anti-migration structure by usage of a polymer such as polyurethane.
US09439784B2
A method for assembling a prosthesis system for replacement of a head portion of a proximal radius is provided and may include coupling an articulation component to a head component via a first locking portion of the articulation component and a second locking portion of the head component. The method may additionally include inserting a connection portion of the articulation component into a bore of the head component, aligning a first locking channel of the articulation component with a second locking channel of the head component, and coupling a stem to the articulation component and the head component by inserting a third locking portion of the stem into the first locking channel and the second locking channel.
US09439783B2
An elongate inserter has a distal end releasably connected to an expandable device for expanding body tissue and a proximal end including a trigger actuator. The expandable device comprises a superior endplate and an inferior endplate that are movable in an expansion direction relative to each other between opposing tissue surfaces of a body. The inserter includes a lifting platform comprising ramp surfaces that upon operation of the trigger actuator cooperatively engage complementary surfaces of expansion structure within the device to cause the superior and inferior endplates to move relatively away from each other. A driver is supported by the inserter for pushing an insert between the superior and inferior endplates after expansion of the device.
US09439777B2
An orthopedic device for implanting between adjacent vertebrae comprising: an arcuate balloon and a hardenable material within said balloon. In some embodiments, the balloon has a footprint that substantially corresponds to a perimeter of a vertebral endplate. An inflatable device is inserted through a cannula into an intervertebral space and oriented so that, upon expansion, a natural angle between vertebrae will be at least partially restored. At least one component selected from the group consisting of a load-bearing component and an osteobiologic component is directed into the inflatable device through a fluid communication means.
US09439775B2
An intervertebral disc is provided having an upper plate, a lower plate, and a core. The upper and lower plates include outer vertebral body contacting surfaces which are provided with attachment enhancing features to ensure bone integration. The attachment enhancing features shown include one or more fins, serrations and teeth. An opposite surface of the plates from the vertebral body contacting surfaces is formed with a recess which serves as a bearing surface for the core. In order to form an intervertebral disc with a lower disc height, at least one of the recesses is provided opposite a corresponding dome shaped portion on the vertebral body contacting surfaces. This allows the plates to be formed with a thinner profile for a smaller overall disc height. In addition to providing a lower overall height to the artificial disc, the dome shaped portion of the plates also provides a more anatomically shaped outer vertebral body contacting surface.
US09439767B2
Methods and devices are disclosed relating improved articular models, implant components, and related guide tools and procedures. In addition, methods and devices are disclosed relating articular models, implant components, and/or related guide tools and procedures that include one or more features derived from patient-data, for example, images of the patient's joint. The data can be used to create a model for analyzing a patient's joint and to devise and evaluate a course of corrective action. The data also can be used to create patient-adapted implant components and related tools and procedures.
US09439766B2
Multi-layered prosthetic constructs, kits, and methods are disclosed. A prosthetic construct can include a first ceramic component having a first surface, the first ceramic component comprising a first ceramic material, and a second ceramic component having a second surface disposed on the first surface of the first ceramic component, the second ceramic component comprising a second ceramic material. The second ceramic material of the second ceramic component can exert a compressive force on the first ceramic material. A ceramic material of the second ceramic component can include a different coefficient of thermal expansion than a ceramic material of the first ceramic component. Optionally, a ceramic construct can include a ceramic component and a membrane disposed onto and bonded to at least a portion of the ceramic component, the membrane configured to provide fracture reinforcement to the ceramic component.
US09439758B2
A prosthesis for locating at a branch region of a blood vessel. The prosthesis comprises a main conduit (10) having a tubular portion (11) with first and second ends (12,13), and at least one projecting portion (14,15,16) projecting from the first end of the tubular portion. One or more branch conduits (17,18) are connected to, and extend from the projecting portions or the tubular portion at a position adjacent the projecting portions. Portions of the prosthesis to which the branch conduits are attached may be more flexible and/or elastic than other portions of the prosthesis.
US09439746B2
This invention relates to a surgical implant system for repairing abdominal hernias and is particularly useful for repairing ventral hernias. In particular, the present invention relates to an implant, a delivery device and a method for implanting the implant. The implant is implanted in a substantially slackened condition relative to the ventral wall.
US09439741B2
A replacement head for an electric toothbrush has a simplified drive construction and desired bristle carrier retention. The replacement head includes a tubular neck with a head at one end and a brush shaft disposed within the neck. An eccentric extension extends from the brush shaft parallel with the longitudinal axis and an axial extension extends parallel to the eccentric extension. The eccentric extension engages the bristle carrier to drive the bristle carrier. The brush shaft, including the eccentric extension and the axial extension, may be formed together as a single unitary piece. A pin may extend through pin retention openings in the head and a pin slot in the bristle carrier in a direction transverse to both the longitudinal axis and the carrier rotation axis to retain the bristle carrier on the head.
US09439739B2
The invention relates to a method of producing a dental restoration (40), the method comprising the steps of providing a metallic frame (21) having an inner and an outer surface, applying one or more opaque layer(s) (23) or composition on the outer surface of the metallic frame, providing a facing precursor (31) having a volume A, mating the facing precursor on the outer surface of the metallic frame coated with the opaque layer using a mating composition to obtain a dental restoration intermediate, firing the dental restoration intermediate to a temperature where the facing precursor sinters to obtain a sintered facing having the volume B, and optionally applying a stain and/or glacing layer on the outer surface of the sintered facing. The invention also relates to a dental restoration obtainable by such a process.
US09439732B2
An instrument interface of a robotic manipulator and a surgical system including the instrument interface are provided. In one embodiment, the instrument interface includes a spring-loaded input for providing axial load and torque to a sterile adaptor capable of operably coupling an instrument. In another embodiment, a robotic surgical manipulator system includes a manipulator assembly, including a base link operably coupled to a distal end of a manipulator arm, and a carriage link movably coupled to the base link along a lengthwise axis, the carriage link including an integrated instrument interface. The system further includes an instrument operably coupled to the carriage link via the instrument interface, and a processor operably coupled to the manipulator assembly for sensing presence of the instrument.
US09439731B2
Described are methods and systems for reshaping a cartilage structure. Such methods comprise treating the cartilage structure with electromagnetic energy and fitting a device to the cartilage structure to retain it in the desired place, form, and/or orientation. Systems comprise an emitter of electromagnetic energy and a device to the cartilage structure to retain it in the desired place, form, and/or orientation.
US09439718B2
A surgical instrument comprises: an elongated sheath, an energy probe, an elongated energy conductor, and an elongated cooling member. The energy probe is connected to the distal end portion of the sheath. The elongated energy conductor is contained within the sheath and arranged to transmit distally to the energy probe energy from an energy source. The elongated cooling member is reciprocally movable within the sheath and thermally coupled at its proximal portion to a cooler. The cooling member is movable between a proximal, non-cooling position and a distal, cooling position. In the non-cooling position, a distal end of the cooling member is displaced proximally from the energy probe so as to impede thermal conduction therebetween; in the cooling position, the distal end of the cooling member thermally contacts the energy probe so as to facilitate thermal conduction therebetween.
US09439710B2
A device for creating an arteriovenous (AV) fistula includes a proximal base having a distal tapered end surface and a distal tip connected to the proximal base and movable relative to the proximal base. The distal tip has a proximal tapered end surface. A first heating assembly, including an energized heating element, is disposed on at least one of the distal tapered end surface and the proximal tapered end surface. A second heating assembly, comprising a passive non-energized heat spreader, is disposed on the other one of the distal tapered end surface and the proximal tapered end surface. The distal tapered end surface and the proximal tapered end surface are adapted to contact opposing sides of a tissue portion to create the fistula. The taper of the proximal tapered end surface matches the taper of the distal tapered end surface, so that the two surfaces match one another.
US09439709B2
A cryoablation system has a catheter that receives working cryogen, the catheter having a catheter body that has a distal section having a freezing element which delivers the working cryogen to a treatment location, and a balloon enclosing the freezing element. The catheter body includes an outer tube that has two delivery tubes and a guide wire tube positioned inside the outer tube.
US09439706B2
A method of treating tissue is provided, including positioning a portion of a catheter in proximity to cardiac tissue; measuring an impedance value with the catheter; determining a respiratory rate based at least in part on the measured impedance value; and thermally treating the cardiac tissue with the catheter.
US09439702B2
A method of treating a fracture includes creating an access path to a fracture site in a bone and inserting a guidewire through the access path into the fracture site is provided. The method includes the steps of positioning a cannulated drill bit having a distal end including helical flutes configured for drilling through bone over the guidewire into the fracture site, and advancing the drill bit to create a passageway in the bone configured to receive a screw. Positioning a cannulated inflatable bone tamp over the guidewire and inflating the inflatable bone tamp to compress at least a portion of the bone in or near the fracture site so as to create a void. Delivering a bone void filler into the void through the access path to fill the void. Systems and kits are disclosed.
US09439699B2
A bone anchor assembly includes a bone anchor having a distal bone engaging portion and a receiving member having a recess for receiving a spinal fixation element. The proximal end of the receiving member may have a groove formed on an exterior surface thereof to facilitate connection of an instrument to the receiving member.
US09439688B2
Facet joint replacement implants may be designed for use on multiple adjacent vertebral levels. Each superior implant may have a substantially semispherical concave surface, and each inferior implant may have a cooperating semispherical convex surface that is deformable to enable it to be pressed into the superior implant concave surface to fix the relative orientations of the superior and inferior implants. Thus, the inferior implant may be attached to the same pedicle as the superior implant, but may also be oriented independently of the superior implant and then fixed in position. Similar mounting structures may be used to attach one or more fusion implants to a level adjacent to that of a facet joint replacement implant.
US09439687B2
A system and associated method are provided for mechanically fixating a region of a skull to a portion of a spine. A plate is provided to contact a region of a skull and be secured thereto. A spinal rod is configured to extend from a location adjacent the plate to a location adjacent at least one vertebra. An adjustable housing is provided to secure the rod to the plate, and has a first position wherein the relative position of the rod to the plate can be adjusted and a second position wherein the relative position of the rod to the plate is secured.
US09439670B2
The present invention relates to ultrasonic surgical clamping instruments and, more particularly, to a curved clamp arm for use with ultrasonic surgical instruments that have an ultrasonically actuated blade that, in one case, is ultrasonically actuated to have motion in substantially a single plane. The curved clamp arm opens and closes with respect to the blade and also has a plane of curvature that is parallel to the plane of motion of the blade when the clamp arm is in the closed position, and not parallel to the plane of motion of the blade when the clamp arm is in the open position.
US09439658B2
A kit system for use in surgery that includes a disposable drill bit, a disposable battery, a reusable adjustable drill guide, and at least one of a battery powered driver and a manual driver that are reusable.
US09439652B2
An instrument for deploying an implantable medical device into a body lumen is disclosed. The instrument comprises a base member having a base handle and a deployment extension, a first tubular member having a first tubular body and a first handle, and a second tubular member having a second tubular body and a second handle. The first tubular member fits over the deployment extension and is longitudinally slidable over the deployment extension, and the second tubular member fits over the first tubular member and is longitudinally slidable over the first tubular member. The distal ends of the deployment extension, the first tubular body, and the second tubular body are adapted to hold and deploy the implantable medical device.
US09439646B2
A medical fastening device is provided. The fastening device may include a first arcuate needle adapted to rotate about a first axis in a first direction, entering through a first section of one of a tissue and a prosthetic material, and exiting through a second section of one of the tissue and the prosthetic material; a second arcuate needle adapted to rotate about a second axis in a second direction, entering through the second section of one of the tissue and the prosthetic material, and exiting through the first section of one of the tissue and the prosthetic material; and a drive mechanism operatively coupled to each of the first and second arcuate needles and configured to engage each of the first and second arcuate needles between a retracted position and an extended position.
US09439643B2
An instrument for delivering a suture transfascially may include a handle, a shaft extending from the handle, and a pair of needles that are moveable to an extended position beyond the end of the shaft. One or more sutures are carried by the instrument and may be delivered transfascially. A transfascial suture assembly includes a suture having a first segment, a second segment, and an intermediate segment therebetween. A force distributing member is locatable at the intermediate segment. Suture retainers may be provided at the end of each suture segment, and may be moveable relative to the suture segment connected therewith. A method of delivering transfascial sutures includes inserting a twin-needle instrument loaded with one or more sutures into an abdominal cavity and deploying, from within the abdominal cavity, the suture carrying needles through a soft tissue repair patch and then through at least part of the abdominal wall.
US09439632B2
A method of operating a biopsy device includes inserting a sampling probe having a first component and a second component into a biological tissue mass, the first component having a sample chamber and a side port that opens to the sample chamber, and the second component having a side opening; generating a vacuum in the sample chamber during a first drive interval; rotating at least one of the first component and the second component of the sampling probe during a second drive interval until the side port of the first component and the side opening of the second component are in radial alignment; and rotating at least one of the first component and the second component of the sampling probe during a third drive interval to sever tissue drawn by vacuum into the sample chamber to deposit a tissue sample in the sample chamber.
US09439629B2
There is provided a system having a sputum trap or container that is used to transfer a portion of a sample to a sample slide. The container has a body with a top and bottom. The bottom is adapted to accept the sample slide. The bottom also has a one way valve to allow transfer of a portion of the sample to the sample slide upon manipulation of the body by a user. In certain embodiments, the body may be manipulated by squeezing it or by pushing down on the top. The bottom of the container is adapted to receive the sample slide so that the sample can be transferred to it.
US09439626B2
An attachment for an ultrasonic probe is adapted to be mounted onto an ultrasonic probe body of the ultrasonic probe. The attachment for an ultrasonic probe includes a cover member and a protective member. The cover member is configured and arranged to cover an ultrasonic wave emission surface of a head section of the ultrasonic probe body when the attachment is mounted onto the ultrasonic probe body. The protective member is provided to a surface of the cover member facing the ultrasonic wave emission surface, and configured and arranged to be in contact with the ultrasonic wave emission surface when the attachment is mounted onto the ultrasonic probe body.
US09439618B2
A method is disclosed for generating a PET or SPECT image dataset. In an embodiment, the method includes acquiring a plurality of PET or SPECT measurement signals from an examination region; acquiring a plurality of anatomy image datasets that show the examination region using a second imaging modality at the same time as acquiring the PET or SPECT measurement signals; determining the similarity of a reference anatomy image dataset acquired at a time point t′ using the second imaging modality to at least one anatomy image dataset acquired at a different time point and/or predetermining a temporal weighting function; and generating a PET or SPECT image dataset taking into account the similarity of the anatomy image datasets and/or weighting the PET measurement signals temporally. A hybrid imaging modality is also disclosed.
US09439617B2
A recording unit is rotatable about an axis of rotation, and includes an X-ray emitter and detector to detect X-rays from a fan-shaped region. The fan-shaped region is asymmetrical in relation to a vertical to the axis of rotation, running through the X-ray detector wherein the two edges of the fan-shaped region, on rotation, in each case tangentially delimit a first projection region and a second projection region. The second projection region abuts the first projection region. A method includes recording projections of the two projection regions during a full rotation of the recording unit for the reconstruction of a first image of the first projection region in such a way that the projection angle intervals in each case exhibit the same start angle. It further includes reconstructing a second image of the second projection region to merge the two reconstructed projection regions to form one unitary image.
US09439614B2
Disclosed is an X-ray imaging apparatus, which includes a plurality of X-ray generation modules configured to emit X-rays to a subject, the X-ray generation modules being configured to move independently of one another, an X-ray detector configured to detect a plurality of X-rays emitted from the plurality of X-ray generation modules and which have passed through the subject, and an image processor configured to acquire a plurality of X-ray images from the plurality of detected X-rays.
US09439607B2
A detector arm assembly is provided that includes a stator, a detector head, a radial motion motor, and a detector head belt. The stator is configured to be fixedly coupled to a gantry having a bore. The detector head includes a carrier section that is slidably coupled to the stator and configured to be movable in a radial direction in the bore relative to the stator. The radial motion motor is operably coupled to at least one of the detector head or the stator. The detector head belt is operably coupled to the radial motion motor and the carrier section. Rotation of the radial motion motor causes movement of the detector head in the radial direction.
US09439599B2
A body associated device comprises a housing, an adhesive layer configured to be applied to a body of a living subject, and at least one standoff located between the housing and the adhesive layer. An electronic module may be located within the housing of the body associated device. A personal communication system comprises a body associated device including an electronic module and further comprises a feedback portion coupled to the housing and to the electronic module. The feedback portion is configured to communicate information between the living subject and the body associated device. An external local node is operative to provide at least one of transmit communications to and receive communications from the body associated device.
US09439598B2
Method and systems for ablating nerves including measurement of physiological parameters and/or electrical conduction. The method may include ablating nerves within an artery of a patient such as the renal artery and may include advancing a catheter into the artery, measuring a physiological parameter, emitting an electrical pulse into a wall of the artery, measuring the physiological parameter during or after the step of emitting the electrical pulse, ablating the artery wall, then repeating the steps of measuring the physiological parameter, emitting an electrical pulse, and measuring the physiological parameter during or after the step of emitting the electrical pulse. The change in the physiological parameter caused by the electrical pulse before ablation may be compared to the change in the physiological parameter caused by the electrical pulse after ablation to determine the degree of nerve ablation achieved and whether or not to perform further ablation.
US09439596B2
A method and apparatus for detecting seizures with motor manifestations including detecting EMG signals, isolating from the EMG signals spectral data for a plurality of frequency bands, and calculating a T-squared value there from. The T-squared values may be detected in real time, such as in a patient's home environment, and the T-squared data may be compared to a threshold T-squared value to determine whether an alarm is sent.
US09439594B2
A portable work capacities testing apparatus comprising a portable computer, a hub releaseably interconnected with the portable computer, a dynamic strength and lifting device releaseably interconnected with the hub, a hand grip strength device releaseably interconnected with the hub, a finger pinch strength device releaseably interconnected with the hub, a forearm/wrist strength device releaseably interconnected with the hub, a handling/proprioception device releaseably interconnected with the hub, a finger flexion device releaseably interconnected with the hub, a whole body coordination device releaseably interconnected with the hub, and a strength push/pull/lift device releaseably interconnected with the hub.
US09439591B2
A system for determining an analyte in a body fluid includes a magazine comprising two partial magazines, one including chambers containing analysis elements having a sample contact zone and a reagent system containing a reagent, whose reaction with the body fluid results in a change of a variable, and another including chambers containing puncturing elements having a tip having a capillary channel, which forms a fluid connection between the tip and a sample transfer zone of the puncturing element. The system may also include an analysis instrument having a puncturing drive for driving a puncturing element on a movement path, a mounting for receiving the magazine such that one chamber of the magazine at a time is located in a functional position, in which a puncturing element in the chamber can be moved by the puncturing drive, and a measuring and evaluation apparatus for measuring the change of the variable.
US09439585B2
An analyte sensor is provided that comprises a substrate which includes a semiconductor material. Embodiments may include a core of a conductive material, and a cladding of a semiconductor material, in which the cladding may form at least a portion of a conducting path for a working electrode of the analyte sensor. Method of manufacturing and using the analyte sensor are described, as are numerous other aspects.
US09439584B1
Devices and methods are disclosed for use and processing of patient geolocation data in order to objectively determine a patient's territory as an artificially created digital biomarker while maintaining locational privacy. The objective determination of a patient's territory, defined as the area traversed in a specific time interval, can be used as a measurement of quality of life, as well as socio-economic contribution and benefit. Devices and methods are also disclosed for creating an artificial Overall Territory Activity Digital Biomarker based on Patient Activity Factors in addition to the Patient Territory Digital Biomarker, and which Overall Territory Activity Digital Biomarker also maintains locational data privacy. Furthermore, devices and methods are disclosed for capturing and transmitting digital biospecimens, the transformed geolocation data used to determine the Patient Territory Digital Biomarker. The digital biospecimen data can be subsequently used to create alternative, data privacy-preserving determinations of Patient Territory Digital Biomarkers, Patient Activity Factors, and/or Overall Territory Activity Digital Biomarkers.
US09439582B2
The system of the present invention includes a conductive element, an electronic component, and a partial power source in the form of dissimilar materials. Upon contact with a conducting fluid, a voltage potential is created and the power source is completed, which activates the system. The electronic component controls the conductance between the dissimilar materials to produce a unique current signature. The system can also measure the conditions of the environment surrounding the system.
US09439578B2
A method for mapping a cardiac chamber includes sensing activation signals of intrinsic physiological activity with a plurality of electrodes disposed in or near the cardiac chamber, the activation signals including a near-field activation signal component and a far-field activation signal component, isolating R-wave events in the activation signals, generating a far-field activation template representative of the far-field activation signal component based on the R-wave events, and filtering the far-field activation template from the activation signals to identify the near-field activation signal components in the activation signals.
US09439571B2
A system for imaging a biological sample including a tubular body having a side wall defining an interior shaped and sized for receiving the biological sample, an electromagnetic source positioned at one end of the tubular body interior for directing electromagnetic energy into the biological sample in the body interior, and an ultrasonic transducer positioned along said side wall of the body for receiving ultrasonic energy induced by the electromagnetic energy and transmitted through the biological sample.
US09439568B2
An apparatus is described for determining surface topography of a three-dimensional structure. The apparatus can include a probe and an illumination unit configured to output a plurality of light beams. In many embodiments, the apparatus includes a light focusing assembly. The light focusing assembly can receive and focus each of a plurality of light beams to a respective external focal point. The light focusing assembly can be configured to overlap the plurality of light beams within a focus changing assembly in order to move the external focal points along a direction of propagation of the light beams. The apparatus can include a detector having an array of sensing elements configured to measure a characteristic of each of a plurality of light beams returning from the illuminated spots and a processor coupled to the detector and configured to generate data representative of topography of the structure based on the measured characteristic.
US09439564B2
A navigation system for use in a luminal network of a patient, such as the airways, that is able to analyze a three-dimensional model of the luminal network and automatically determine a pathway from an entry point to a designated target. The system further automatically assigns waypoints along the determined pathway in order to assist a physician in navigating a probe to the designated target.
US09439547B2
A cyclonic separator assembly for use with a vacuum cleaner includes a body having an inlet, an outlet, and an inner surface. The cyclonic separator assembly also includes a cyclone unit positioned within the body between the inlet and the outlet. The cyclone unit has an outer perimeter that is spaced apart from the inner surface of the body to define an inlet space therebetween. The cyclone unit includes a plurality of first cyclones in communication with the inlet space and arranged along an outer circle adjacent the outer perimeter. The cyclone unit also includes a plurality of second cyclones in communication with the inlet space and arranged along an inner circle that is spaced apart from the outer circle such that each second cyclone is nested between two adjacent first cyclones. The plurality of first cyclones and the plurality of second cyclones are arranged in parallel.
US09439546B2
A cleaning head for a surface cleaning apparatus has a plurality of struts extending from a front chamber having a dirty air inlet to a rear chamber having a transition duct that is in communication with a filtration apparatus of a surface cleaning apparatus by a dirty fluid outlet. One or more of the struts comprises an airflow passage. In one embodiment, no outer casing is provided surrounding the struts.
US09439545B2
A window cleaning apparatus comprises: a first cleaning unit, which is positioned on one side of a window, having at least one built-in first magnetic module comprising a magnet; and a second cleaning unit, which is positioned on the opposite side of the window on which the first cleaning unit is positioned, having at least one built-in second magnetic module, which comprises a magnet having an opposite polarity to the magnetic module of the first cleaning unit so as to generate magnetic attraction with the first magnetic module. The second cleaning unit comprises an induction electricity generating module for generating electricity by inducing the change in the magnetic field emanating from the first magnetic module and/or the second magnetic module into voltage by means of electromagnetic induction.
US09439537B2
An apparatus and process of continuous, filtration of cooking oil during food processing to reduce and control free-fatty-acids and undesirable coloration in the cooking oil, including the movement of oil from a vessel to a flat-bed pressure chamber, where the oil is filtered through a stainless steel mesh screen under pressure. Differential pressure in the chamber causes the system to run the oil to a sister filter chamber which takes over the filter function while the first chamber cleans its filter. The filters are cleaned by inducing a high pressure inert gas into the filter chamber that dries the sediment, and then a mechanical sweep removes the sediment to a waste container. The resulting alternating process of filtering and filter cleaning between two chambers is fully automated and provides filtering that considerably extends oil life.
US09439535B1
Disclosures of roller tube grill temperature control assemblies and methods for human food have a sensing device to fit between a pair of tubes with sides that conform to the tube surface, and an associated temperature-sensing component for detecting the sensing device temperature. An electrical control arrangement in electrical connection with a heating element disposed within a tube can control electricity, with mechanisms to modify the set point. A biasing member biases the sensing device. Such device can also have on or more tube receiving inner openings located between the sides of the device. The sensing device can further be a bushing with one or more generally cylindrical openings to receive roller tube or tubes. The assembly moreover can have an infrared sensing device associated with a tube to sense radiation therefrom for detecting temperature.
US09439532B2
Various beverage preparation machines having a multi-chambered basket unit are shown. The basket unit can be configured to accept multiple cartridge configurations. For example, some embodiments are configured to receive a first cartridge configuration in a first chamber of the basket unit and a second configuration in a second chamber of the basket unit. In various embodiments, the basket unit can rotate to allow selective accessibility of the first and second chambers. This can facilitate loading the cartridges into the appropriate chamber, such as loading the first cartridge configuration into the first chamber and the second cartridge configuration into the second chamber.
US09439531B1
Shown is a portable beverage apparatus. Also shown is a portable single serve beverage brewing apparatus designed to be used in conjunction with various single serve brewing apparatus or by itself.
US09439530B2
Intelligent cooking apparatuses incorporate wireless communication technology to carryout cooking procedures. More specifically, stoves, ovens, and cookware may send and receive data wirelessly to carryout cooking procedures. An application may guide persons through recipes and automate many of the cooking procedures. Cookware may send batch information to an application for processing, display, and analysis. Cookware may use hardware for automated cooking actions, such as a magnetic stirrer and driver for stirring the contents in cookware, all monitored by various sensors located in the cookware.
US09439529B1
A bracket assembly is removably coupleable to a vertical frame member. The assembly includes a central component having interior and exterior sections. The interior section has an inside edge positioned in contact with the frame member. The interior section has first and second apertures. The exterior section has a leg formed as an extension of the interior section. The interior and exterior sections have planar first and second surfaces. The bracket assembly includes first and second side components. Each side component has a middle leg facing the frame member. Each side component has an inner leg in contact with the frame for coupling the assembly to the frame. Each side component has an outer leg in facing contact with the interior section. A coupling assembly includes apertures through the outer leg and fasteners through the apertures. In this manner the side components are coupled to the central components.
US09439521B2
A connector having a plurality of prongs at each end. The prongs can be inserted into portals, such as those of slat board. The connector can be locked in place by angling the prongs into the portals and connecting two parts of the connector to each other, such as by a male and female connector, which lock and affix in place, requiring a tool to remove. A connector arm can also be attached to the connector, extending outwards, such as at an acute angle, to the connector. On this arm, an extension arm can be further attached. Either the connecting arm or extension arm can have portals for a hook or an integrated hook from which merchandise can be hung. Each of the connecting arm, connector, and extension arm can be reversibly or removably attached one to the other by way of a depressible button on one device extending through a portal of another.
US09439506B2
Furniture articles have an integrally formed shell that generally has rounded features, the shell diminishing in circumference outwardly from a mounting surface, and a mounting portion configured to secure the shell to the mounting surface. A perimeter edge of the shell defines a mounting plane against which the mounting surface is to be secured. When the shell is secured to the mounting surface, the mounting portion is inaccessible and hidden from view. Furniture includes a shelving unit, a desk unit, a seating unit, and a bed.
US09439501B2
A backcarrying including a carrying portion having a top, a bottom, a front, a rear and two sides. A strap arrangement can also be included for carrying the carrying portion as a backcarrying. The strap arrangement can have a pair of carrying straps. Each carrying strap can be secured to the carrying portion at about the bottom and extend upwardly along respective sides of the carrying portion, and redirected at about the top of said respective sides to extend around to the rear of the carrying portion, and being redirected at about the top of the rear to extend downwardly for securement at about the bottom of the carrying portion at the rear. The strap arrangement can redirect forces to support a load in the carrying portion from the sides of the carrying portion.
US09439499B1
Disclosed herein are various embodiments of devices for retrieving and applying product from within a container. In one embodiment the device comprises a shaft having a proximal and distal end; a cap positioned at the proximal end of the shaft; a movable tip positioned at the distal end of the shaft; and a deployment mechanism coupled with the cap near the proximal end and with the tip near the distal end of the shaft. The tip may be rotatably coupled to the deployment mechanism near the distal end of the shaft and configured to move between a first and second position.
US09439498B1
A device for applying lip coating includes an applicator which has a handle which is connected to an application end by a shaft. The application end is smooth in order to facilitate cleaning. A housing removably receives the shaft and application end when the device is not being used. In an embodiment the application end includes a frustoconical section and a rounded tip. In another embodiment a cleaning device for cleaning the application end is contained with the handle.
US09439495B2
A compact having a protrusible and retractable puff includes a lower case having a spring seated therein, an upper case having a seating section and a guide section which extend downward through a central portion, a puff assembly fitted into the seating section, the puff assembly having a puff member fixed to a lower portion, a lift fitted into the guide section, and an inner dish positioned on top of the lift. The puff assembly has a switch and a battery. The puff member is coupled to a separate elastic moving body coupled to the puff assembly. A vibrator is accommodated inside the elastic moving body. The puff assembly is coupled to and separated from the upper case, protrudes upward from the upper case under repulsive force of the spring, such that the puff member vibrates when the vibrator is operated by the switch.
US09439487B2
The packages described by this invention all have reduced “head space,” that is, the distance from lid to lens. Packages contain dimples to achieve this reduced head space. Specifically, packages are designed with dimple sag equal to or less than 1.90-mm, or volume displaced equal to or less than 360 μl. Combined with the existing primary packaging, it has been found that such conditions provide for reduction in folded lens rate during shipping and handling. As well, lenses stored or having an extended time in low head space packages in a “foil down” orientation now have characteristics closer lenses stored in a “foil up orientation.”
US09439482B2
A jewelry ring configuration having interchangeable elements and especially jewelry rings which have a decorative feature mounted on a center ring. This new device/process may be simply described as a device for an interlocking ring system and device with interchangeable outer jackets and center rings comprised with a center ring, ornate and decorative or smooth and with or without gemstones, the center ring in various mounting styles such as prong, bezel, pave etc.; and a jacket as an outer band, held together by one or more straps, the jacket being ornate and with or without gemstones and made of the same, complimentary or contrasting materials as the center ring wherein the interchangeable outer jackets and center rings provide an interchangeable, stylish combination of interlocking jackets and center rings.
US09439480B1
A resilient wristband is provided with at least one cavity in which a medallion is removably mounted. The medallion has opposite faces, each having different designs or indicia. The medallion can be rotated in the cavity to selectively display one or the other of the faces.
US09439472B2
This application relates to a headgear that provides a moisture wicking mechanism. In various embodiments, a headgear may include a crown with a top, a bottom, a front, a rear, and two sides. In various embodiments, the top, front, rear and two sides may enclose an interior space, open at the bottom. In various embodiments, the bottom may include a perimeter, and the crown may include an outer surface and an inner surface, with the inner surface facing the interior space. In some embodiments, the crown may include multiple sections joined at seams, and the seams may form a convergence at the top of the crown. In some embodiments, a dome comprised of wicking material may at least partially cover the top of the crown, may have a wicking element comprised of wicking material, and may extend through the convergence of seams into the interior space of the crown.
US09439464B2
Disclosed are a fabric bonding structure and processed fabric goods having the same. The fabric bonding structure includes: a first fabric; a second fabric provided so as to be in contact with the first fabric; and a bonding member having a first surface and a second surface at the other side of a side of the first surface, and being folded so that two points of the first surface meet, and the second surface being bonded to each of the first fabric and the second fabric, and the fabric bonding structure is applicable to processed fabric goods, such as clothes and bedclothes. According to the fabric bonding structure and the processed fabric goods having the same, it is possible to isolate fillings filled inside a fabric from the outside even without forming a sewing line, and bonding force at a bonding portion is excellent compared to a method of forming a sewing line or a bonding method using an adhesive in the related art.
US09439456B2
The present invention relates to an electronic cigarette atomizing device. An atomizer includes an atomizing rod and an electric heating filament wrapped around the atomizing rod, wherein the atomizing rod has a hollow tubular structure made of a non-glass fiber material and a high temperature insulating material. A middle of the atomizing rod is equipped with a liquid guiding rope made of a non-glass fiber material. Multiple liquid guiding holes are radially formed on and penetrate side walls of the atomizing rod in such a manner that a cigarette liquid of the liquid guiding rope is capable of flowing through the liquid guiding holes to the electric heating filament for being atomized. A liquid guiding part of the atomizer is made of a non glass fiber material so as to prevent people from inhaling harmful glass fiber particles.
US09439448B2
A nutritional composition for improving the immunological function of a subject, including a lipid or fat; a protein source; about 5 to about 100 mg/100 kcal of a source of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids which comprises docosahexanoic acid; and about 0.1 to about 1 mg/100 kcal of a prebiotic composition, wherein the prebiotic composition comprises at least 20% of an oligosaccharide which has a fermentation rate which is demonstrably slower than that of galacto-oligosaccharide.
US09439447B2
The present invention provides compositions and methods of altering/improving Durum wheat phenotypes. Furthermore, methods of breeding Durum wheat and/or other closely related species to produce plants having altered or improved phenotypes are provided.
US09439432B2
Provided are an ortho-substituted phenylisoxazoline-based compound with 2,6-difluorobenzyloxymethyl represented by Formula 1, or a racemate or enantiomer thereof, a herbicide including the ortho-substituted phenylisoxazoline-based compound, or the racemate or enantiomer thereof as an active ingredient, and a method of selectively controlling grass weed comprising treating with the ortho-substituted phenylisoxazoline-based compound, or the racemate or enantiomer thereof before or after the grass weed emerges.
US09439430B2
A method for controlling harmful plants resistant to active compounds from the group of the inhibitors of acetolactate synthase, acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase, photosynthesis at photosystem II, microtubuli arrangement, cell division or 5-enolpyrovylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase, in particular acetolactate synthase, is described.
US09439428B2
The present invention relates to novel herbicidal compounds of Formula (I), or an agronomically acceptable salt of said compound wherein R1, R2, A1, Ra, Rb, Rc and Rd are as defined herein. The invention further relates to compositions which comprise the herbicidal compounds, and to their use for controlling weeds, in particular in crops of useful plants.
US09439426B2
The present invention relates to active compound combinations, in particular within a composition, which comprises (A)) a N-cyclopropyl-N-[substituted-benzyl]-3-(difluoromethyl)-5-fluoro-1-methyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamide or thiocarboxamide derivative and (B) a biological control agent. Moreover, the invention relates to a method for curatively or preventively controlling the phytopathogenic fungi of plants or crops, to the use of a combination according to the invention for the treatment of seed, to a method for protecting a seed and not at least to the treated seed.
US09439422B2
The invention relates to macrocyclic picolinamides of Formula I and their use as fungicides.
US09439414B2
A sperm diluent of the present invention contains a chelating agent such as EDTA and/or, EGTA, which forms a complex with a calcium ion, in a base diluent. Further, the sperm diluent contains an immunosuppressive factor such as a steroid hormone and/or, a cytokine, which suppresses migration of leukocytes. By diluting frozen sperm with this sperm diluent followed by performing artificial insemination, death of the sperm before fertilization and phagocytosis of the sperm and embryos by leukocytes in the uterus can be suppressed, allowing enhancement of the conception rate and the implantation rate.
US09439408B2
A dual-bearing reel includes a reel unit, a spool, a spool shaft, a handle, and an attachment-detachment operating part, a lock member. The reel unit includes a frame having a first side plate and a second side plate. The attachment-detachment operating part has a protruding portion protruding towards the first side plate from a position away from an axis of the spool shaft. The first side cover is attachable to and detachable from the first side plate when the attachment-detachment operating part is at a first position. The first side cover is non-attachable to and non-detachable from the first side plate when the attachment-detachment operating part is at a second position. The lock member has an engaging groove. The engaging groove is allowed to be engaged with the protruding portion.
US09439405B2
The present invention provides in a first aspect a mouse in which the λ (lambda) light chain locus has been functionally silenced. In one embodiment, the mouse λ light chain locus was functional silenced by deletion of acne segments coding for the λ light chain locus. In a further aspect, a mouse containing functionally silenced λ and κ (kappa) L chain loci was produced. The invention is useful for the production of antibodies, for example heterologous antibodies, including heavy chain only antibodies.
US09439387B2
A new and distinct Lepidium ruderale plant named ‘DLEPEMBEAD’ characterized by upright growth habit. Foliage is distinctively pinnatisect, crispate and durable; colored near RHS Green 137B. Plant height commonly averages 90 cm, and foliage produced is an average length of 8 cm long.
US09439385B2
The invention provides alfalfa plants having improved standability and/or fast recovery after spring green-up or after harvest and methods for producing such plants. Such alfalfa plants provide increased annual yield of high quality forage.
US09439372B2
A new and distinct Guzmania hybrid named ‘FUTURA’ characterized by solid growth habit; funnel-form rosette plant, measuring about 50 cm in height (above the pot when flowering); numerous, green color foliage (measuring about 50 cm length and about 4.5 cm in width) Superior floral bract production; bracts are red in color (closest to RHS 44A), compound inflorescence, measuring about 15 cm in height and about 25 cm in diameter; and long-lasting habit.
US09439369B2
A controlling and monitoring system for irrigating localized areas includes a first power and control unit supplying power to multiple power outlets; a first plurality of controllable valves connectable to a water pipeline and positioned at first specific areas, each connected by a first control line to a power outlet; a return line interconnecting all of the first plurality of valves and the first power and control unit; a second plurality of controllable valves connectable to the pipeline and positioned at second specific areas, each controlled by a valve control unit having first and second inputs; and a second power and control unit having a first power and control output connected to the return line with the first inputs of the valve control units, and a second power and control output connected to the second input of each of the valve control units via a second control line.
US09439345B1
An agricultural micro-fertigation water includes a phosphate fertilizer, a water-soluble organic acid and a water-soluble organophosphonate, and is prepared by a method wherein the phosphate fertilizer is added to the irrigation water as a chaser to (addition with or after components of) the combination of a water-soluble organic acid and water-soluble organophosphonate to fully prevent precipitation and thus prevent plugging of a micro-irrigation system despite the addition of phosphate fertilizer in water having a precipitation factor of from 125 to 1,000 ppm, wherein said precipitation factor is a combined level of total alkalinity (as CaCO3) in ppm and total hardness (as CaCO3) in ppm.
US09439342B2
Various strip tilling systems and methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, the strip tilling system includes: at least one strip tilling unit, said strip tilling unit including a support frame, at least one tilling member mounted to the support frame; at least one fertilizer delivery device mounted to the support frame; and a control system arranged to adjust the position of the fertilizer delivery device with respect to the support frame.
US09439341B2
A steering system and method is described for a vehicle having steerable front and rear wheels, and a steering input device for receiving manual steering input. Front and rear hydraulic steering devices may be coupled, respectively, to the front and rear wheels. Front and rear valve assemblies may be configured, respectively, to steer the front and rear wheels. In a manual steering mode, the front valve assembly may be disabled with respect to the front steering device, and the front hydraulic steering device may steer the front wheels based upon the manual steering input. In a rear steering assist mode, a rear steering command may be determined based upon the manual steering input, and the rear wheels steered based upon the rear steering command. In an automated steering mode, the front and rear wheels may be automatically steered based upon a target path of travel for the vehicle.
US09445523B2
The invention relates to an electronic assembly comprising a plurality of electronic component groups and a cooling device for cooling the electronic component groups. The cooling device provides a cooling-power distributor. A cooling power of the cooling device can be individually controlled by the cooling-power distributor for every component group. Furthermore, the assembly provides temperature-registering means for every component group for registering a temperature of every component group, and a load-determining device for determining a parameter for every component group which describes the load experienced by a component group on the basis of the temperature registered for this component group. A control unit controls the cooling-power distributor on the basis of the parameters determined for the component groups.
US09445514B2
A display device (10) includes a display (12) used to display an image, and a handle (14) attached to a recess (13) formed in a rear face (12a) of the display (12). The handle having a Z-shape in a side view connects between a first holder (17) and a second holder (18) via a connecting part (19). The second holder (18) is projected outside the display device so as to achieve an easy-to-hold ability when the first mounting face (17a) of the first holder (17) is fixed to the recess (13) of the display device (10). The first holder (17) is kept inside the thickness of the display device (10) when the second mounting face (18a) of the second holder (18) is fixed to the recess (13).
US09445511B2
There is provided a manufacturing method of a layered circuit board in which a first board and a second board are layered. The method includes arranging an adhesive resin sheet on the first board so that one face faces the first board, the adhesive resin sheet including a plurality of variant via holes, an opening area on the one face of each of the plurality of variant via holes being larger than an opening area on the other face, filling the variant via holes with conductive paste, arranging the second board on the other face of the adhesive resin sheet after the filling with the conductive paste, and performing heat press treatment to apply pressure to the adhesive resin sheet in a layering direction of the first board and the second board under heat.
US09445510B2
The present invention relates to a galvanic process for filling through-holes with metals. The process is particularly suitable for filling through-holes of printed circuit boards with copper. The process comprises the following steps: (i) formation of a narrow part in the center of a through-hole by electroplating; and (ii) filling the through-hole obtained in step (i) with metal by electroplating.
US09445505B2
Disclosed is a rotary conveying equipment for exposing a substrate. The rotary conveying equipment includes a carrying device and a rotary moving device. The carrying device carries the substrate by fastening the substrate thereon. The rotary moving device includes a rotating means, and the rotating means is connected to the carrying device and is moved together while rotated. And the efficiency of the exposure process is improved.
US09445502B2
A flexible circuit connecting device is disclosed, including a base layer having a first surface and a second surface, and conductive traces having a grid-like structure and formed on the first surface and/or the second surface. The conductive traces of the above flexible circuit connecting device are nearly aligned with the base layer, and thus the probability of damage under a stress is reduced. Designed to be a grid-like structure, the conductive traces become more transparent, while satisfying a function of a connector. Besides, the above flexible circuit connecting device has a high density circuit trace, so that the size of the connector can be reduced and the interior space of the electronic components can be saved. In a manufacture process of the above flexible circuit connecting device, the manufacture process can be simplified, manufacture efficiency and production yield can be improved, and manufacture cost can be efficiently reduced.
US09445490B2
The present invention relates to a composite assembly of plastic (1, 3) and metal films (2.1, 2.2) which can be used for the interconnection and connection of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) (5). For this purpose, a flexible printed circuit board is provided, to which at least one radiation source is applied and which consists of a film system. The flexible printed circuit board has a thermal connection (6) to a heat sink (4) and the film system is composed at least of an insulating carrier layer and a metal film. The insulating carrier layer is opened at the locations at which the thermal connection to the heat sink is produced, and the metal film is subdivided into different sections.
US09445484B2
In the case where luminance of light to be irradiated onto a multi-screen is not homogenized over the entire multi-screen, each of an image display apparatus and image display apparatuses carries out a homogenizing process of light to be irradiated onto a multi-screen over the entire multi-screen.
US09445482B2
An intelligent light bulb is provided as well as a method, devices and computer program product of configuring such an intelligent light bulb. The intelligent light bulb comprises an LED lighting element and a programmable controller. The programmable controller comprises firmware storing instructions for controlling operations of the LED lighting element, where the firmware includes a passive memory component having a near field communication memory (NFC memory). The firmware is responsive to a signal carrying firmware update information received over a wireless communication link from a device external to the intelligent light bulb for causing a firmware update process to be performed to modify the instructions of the firmware based on the update information carried by the signal. The programmable controller also includes a processing unit in communication with the firmware for operating the LED lighting element at least in part in accordance with the instructions of the firmware. Advantageously, the proposed intelligent light bulb can be configured using the signal carrying the firmware update information. In some embodiments, this may allow modifications of certain operating characteristic of the intelligent light bulb to be performed after manufacturing, including modifications pertaining to light color emitted and/or manner of operating the light bulb.
US09445481B2
Disclosed is a power supply device including a wired controller receiving AC power to generate a driving voltage, and outputting a lighting driving signal, a wireless controller wirelessly receiving a lighting control signal and outputting the lighting control signal to the wired controller, and a standby power supply unit receiving a reference standby voltage based on the driving voltage, storing the reference standby voltage, and supplying the reference standby voltage to the wireless controller as standby power. In the lighting control device based on wired/wireless communication, the power is always obtained from the super capacitor to turn on the wireless controller, so that the turn-on state of the power generator of the wired controller is not always required. The power consumption is reduced by reducing the standby power.
US09445475B1
A light emitting diode (LED) lighting system includes a first string of first LEDs emitting light having a first color. A second string of second LEDs emits light having a second color and connected in series with the first string of first LEDs; A first switch and a second switch are connected in series. A regulator module is configured to modulate the first switch and the second switch to provide a desired current ratio. The desired current ratio corresponds to a ratio of a first current through the first string of first LEDs to a second current through the second string of second LEDs.
US09445474B2
A two-level LED security light with a motion sensor. At night, the LED is turned on for a low level illumination. When the motion sensor detects any intrusion, the LED is switched from the low level illumination to a high level illumination for a short duration time. After the short duration time, the LED security light returns to the low level illumination for saving energy. The LED security light includes a power supply unit, a light sensing control unit, a motion sensing unit, a loading and power control unit, and a lighting-emitting unit. The lighting-emitting unit includes one or a plurality of LEDs which may be turned-on or turned-off according to the sensing results from the light sensing control unit. When the motion sensing unit detects an intrusion, the illumination of the LED security light can be immediately turned on to the high level to scare away the intruder.
US09445457B2
To provide a heater that can reduce fixing failure in a paper passing area while suppressing a temperature rise in a sheet non-passing area, and a fixing apparatus including the heater.Resistors are connected in parallel between two conductive patterns that are provided on a heater substrate along the longitudinal direction of the substrate, and resistors are arranged so that the shortest current path of each of the resistors can overlap the shortest current path of an adjacent resistor in the longitudinal direction of the substrate.
US09445455B2
A communication apparatus includes: a first communicator that communicates with another communication apparatus through a first communication path; a second communicator that communicates with the other communication apparatus through a second communication path; a communication-path monitor that monitors a condition of a communication through the first communicator; a switching-setup-packet generator that sequentially generates switching-setup packets to be transmitted through the first and second communicators, based on a determination indicating that the condition of the communication through the first communicator is bad; and a switching controller that switches between communications through the first and second communicators, based on a type of which response data for the switching-setup packets arrive from the other communication apparatus and an order in which response data for the switching setup packets arrive from the other communication apparatus.
US09445454B2
A method of transceiving data includes providing a wireless transceiver chip that supports multiple wireless standards for transceiving data packets, wherein a first wireless standard comprises a first modulation and demodulation scheme, and wherein a second wireless standard comprises a second modulation and demodulation scheme, and wherein the first modulation and demodulation scheme is incompatible with the second modulation and demodulation scheme; activating only one PHY layer of the wireless transceiver chip during the transceiving of the data packets; using a MAC layer of the wireless transceiver chip to specify whether the first or second wireless standard is to be used for a given transceiving of the data packets; and the PHY layer receiving instructions from the MAC layer regarding which wireless standard is to be used for the transceiving of the data packets using hardware that is shared by the PHY layer corresponding to both wireless standards.
US09445447B2
A system and a method for establishing short range wireless communication between two vehicle modules. The system determines the availability of a first vehicle module and a second vehicle module to establish a short range wireless communication connection. The determination may be based upon whether the first vehicle module is storing pairing data. The system validates the pairing data at the second vehicle module using a wired connection. If the pairing data is validated, the first and second vehicle modules may establish a wireless connection using at least a portion of the pairing data. When the wireless connection ends, the system may re-determine the availability and revalidate any pairing data via the wired connection before establishing a wireless connection.
US09445446B2
This disclosure proposes a method to achieve D2D (device to device) communication in LTE system. Traditional communication in LTE systems is based on eNB. UEs (User Equipment) need to connect to eNB to send uplink and downlink transmission. Device to device communication is different from the traditional LTE scheme. UEs may directly connect to other UEs, sending data to each other. The disclosure provides the signaling process, based on LTE network entry procedure, to establish D2D communication in LTE system. D2D UEs send Msg1 to another D2D UE, and the recipient respond with Msg2. After the negotiation between D2D UEs, Msg3 and Msg4 are exchanged between UEs and eNB. Several embodiments are provided for the signaling of Msg3 and Msg4. The D2D data transmission may be enabled after the Msg4 or explicit data session initialization.
US09445445B2
Systems and methods for processing, transmitting and displaying data received from an analyte sensor, such as a glucose sensor, are provided. In an embodiment, a method for transmitting data between a first communication device associated with an analyte sensor and a second communication device configured to provide user access to sensor-related information comprises: activating a transceiver of a first communication device associated with an analyte sensor at a first time; and establishing a two-way communication channel with the second communication device; wherein the activating comprises waking the transceiver from a low power sleep mode using a forced wakeup from the second communication device.
US09445441B2
A method and system for processing trigger message of a terminal, wherein, the method includes: after receiving trigger message which is transmitted from a machine type communication server to the terminal, a control network element in a core network storing the trigger message of the terminal, and removing the trigger message of the terminal before a validity timer for the trigger message of the terminal expires. The control network element in the present scheme removes the stored trigger message in time before the validity timer for the trigger message of the terminal expires, thus saving the storage resources of the network.
US09445440B2
The present invention discloses a method for controlling wireless network devices, which includes the following steps: a control device with a wireless network function is utilized to scan several access-point (AP) mode wireless network devices. One of the AP mode wireless network devices is selected as a master AP according to the scanning result. The at least one AP mode wireless network device other than the selected one is set to a client mode. The at least one wireless network device set to the client mode builds a connection to the control device with a wireless network function through the master AP. The present invention also discloses a control device with a wireless network function.
US09445425B2
A method of transmission in a communications network is provided in which data is transmitted using a first radio access technology and a second radio access technology. The method includes providing an anchor carrier associated only with the first radio access technology and another carrier shared between the first radio access technology and the second radio access technology. Transmission via the second radio access technology is muted in the shared carrier during at least one subframe of each data frame transmitted using the second radio access technology. Data is transmitted using the first radio access technology in the shared carrier only during the at least one subframe in which transmission using the second radio access technology is muted.
US09445420B2
Provided are a downlink data rate-matching method and device, the method including: a UE acquiring one of the following information: one or more sets of rate-matching resource indication information configured by a base station and used for instructing the UE to perform rate-matching, one or more sets of rate-matching resource indication information and combined rate-matching resource indication information, and rate-matching resource indication information of a serving cell of the UE acquired when the UE accesses a network; the UE determining a DCI Format corresponding to downlink grant indication information in a subframe of downlink control information transmitted by the base station; and the UE determining rate-matching resource information corresponding to the DCI Format and used for rate-matching according to the DCI Format and a preset corresponding relationship, and conducting downlink data rate-matching according to the rate-matching resource information. The solution improves rate-matching accuracy.
US09445410B2
A method of wireless communication is presented for an enhanced new carrier type cell. The method includes transmitting downlink common signals and channels at a low duty cycle while in a dormant state. The method also includes transmitting downlink common signals and channels at a high duty cycle while in an active state.
US09445399B2
An access network sends allocation information to an external service provider network (SPN), responsive to a wireless device establishing a data session with the access network for communicating with the SPN. The allocation information indicates the Internet Protocol (IP) address assigned to the wireless device by the access network for the data session and an external identifier to be used by the SPN in identifying the wireless device to the access network. Subsequently, the SPN receives a service provider network identifier and point of contact information in signaling sent from the wireless device, and binds the service provider network identifier to the external identifier that is associated with the IP address indicated in the point of contact information. This binding enables the SPN to trigger communications targeting the service provider network identifier of the wireless device, by sending triggering signaling to the access network that includes the bound external identifier.
US09445397B2
A method at a first device for enabling a device-to-device wireless link, the method detecting whether a presence signal of a second device is received over a first time period, the presence signal of the second device having a time-slot boundary; and if the presence signal of the second device is not detected, initiating a time-slot boundary by the first device including: transmitting a first presence signal of the first device in a selected time-slot; and checking for an acknowledgment to the first presence signal.
