US09863323B2

The present application and the resultant patent provide improved gas turbine component sealing. In one example embodiment, a gas turbine segment seal assembly may include a first tapered segment seal with a first tapered portion having a first tapered surface and a first taper angle. The gas turbine segment seal assembly may include a second tapered segment seal with a second tapered portion having a second tapered surface and a second taper angle. The gas turbine segment seal assembly may include a seal pin positioned in between the first tapered segment seal and the second segment seal and adjacent to the first tapered surface and the second tapered surface.
US09863322B2

A gas turbine engine includes a multi-stage fuel injection system including at least a first fuel injection stage and a second fuel injection stage, a first fuel reservoir fluidly connected to the first fuel injection stage and fluidly connected to a selective valve, and a second fuel reservoir fluidly connected to the selective valve. The selective valve connects one of the first fuel reservoir and the second fuel reservoir to the second fuel injection stage.
US09863319B2

A gas turbine engine includes a core engine that has a compressor section, a combustor section and a turbine section. A thermal management system is configured to receive a cooling stream. The thermal management system includes a metering device that is located near an outer diameter of the core engine. The metering device is configured to divide the cooling stream into multiple segregated passages. The metering device can be configured to divide the cooling stream between a first passage and a second passage that is concentric with the first passage.
US09863317B2

A filtering chamber for a gas turbine having a combustor, compressor and air inlet duct, and a corresponding maintenance method is described. The filtering chamber includes a first chamber in an inlet plenum; a second chamber in the inlet plenum; and an air bypass mechanism configured to reduce a pressure difference across a final filter that separates the first chamber from the second chamber.
US09863312B2

In an internal combustion engine in which an anodic oxide film (10) is formed on part or all of a wall surface facing a combustion chamber, the anodic oxide film (10) has a thickness of 30 μm to 170 μm, the anodic oxide film (10) has first micropores (1a) having a micro-size diameter, nanopores having a nano-size diameter and second micropores (1b) having a micro-size diameter, the first micropores (1a) and the nanopores extending from a surface of the anodic oxide film (10) toward an inside of the anodic oxide film (10) in a thickness direction of the anodic oxide film (10) or substantially the thickness direction, the second micropores (1b) being provided inside the anodic oxide film (10), at least part of the first micropores (1a) and the nanopores are sealed with a seal (2) converted from a sealant (2), and at least part of the second micropores (1b) are not sealed.
US09863311B2

A variable compression ratio internal combustion engine includes: a variable compression ratio mechanism arranged to vary an engine compression ratio in accordance with a rotation position of a first control shaft; an actuator arranged to vary and hold the rotation position of the first control shaft; and a link mechanism arranged to connect the actuator and the first control shaft, the link mechanism including; a second control shaft, a lever, a first arm portion, a first link pin, a second arm portion, and a second link pin, the first link pin having a diameter larger than a diameter of the second link pin.
US09863304B2

An exhaust heat recovery device of the present invention has: a first pipe through which exhaust from an engine flows; a second pipe that branches-off from the first pipe, and at which is disposed a heat recovery apparatus that carries out heat exchange with the exhaust and recovers exhaust heat; a valve member that adjusts an amount of flow of the exhaust that flows-in from the first pipe to the second pipe; and plural driving members that drive the valve member.
US09863298B2

An engine system includes an electronically controlled compression ignition engine configured to burn diesel fuel and a high ash oil to produce an exhaust with a temperature and NOx to soot ratio as well as a controlled level of ash deposits on the particulate filter of the system. An aftertreatment system is fluidly connected to the engine and includes a diesel oxidation catalyst, a reductant supply, and a diesel particulate filter coated with a NOx reduction catalyst. The soot load density on the diesel particulate filter can be stabilized by oxidizing soot at about a same rate as the compression ignition engine is supplying soot to the aftertreatment system.
US09863297B2

An emission treatment system and method for remediating the nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter, and gaseous hydrocarbons present in diesel engine exhaust streams are described. The emission treatment system has an oxidation catalyst upstream of a soot filter upstream from a NOx reducing catalyst.
US09863287B2

Aspects of the invention disclosed herein generally provide heat engine systems and methods for generating electricity. In one configuration, a heat engine system contains a working fluid circuit having high and low pressure sides and containing a working fluid (e.g., sc-CO2). The system further contains a power turbine configured to convert thermal energy to mechanical energy, a motor-generator configured to convert the mechanical energy into electricity, and a pump configured to circulate the working fluid within the working fluid circuit. The system further contains a heat exchanger configured to transfer thermal energy from a heat source stream to the working fluid, a recuperator configured to transfer thermal energy from the low pressure side to the high pressure side of the working fluid circuit, and a condenser (e.g., air- or fluid-cooled) configured to remove thermal energy from the working fluid within the low pressure side of the working fluid circuit.
US09863284B2

A power generation system includes: a first gas turbine system including a first turbine component, a first integral compressor and a first combustor to which air from the first integral compressor and fuel are supplied, the first combustor arranged to supply hot combustion gases to the first turbine component, and the first integral compressor having a flow capacity greater than an intake capacity of the first combustor and/or the first turbine component, creating an excess air flow. A second gas turbine system may include similar components to the first except but without excess capacity in its compressor. A control valve system controls flow of the excess air flow from the first gas turbine system to the second gas turbine system. A cooling fluid injector may be coupled to the excess air flow path for injecting a cooling fluid such as water or steam into the excess air flow.
US09863282B2

Embodiments of the invention generally provide a heat engine system, a mass management system (MMS), and a method for regulating pressure in the heat engine system while generating electricity. In one embodiment, the MMS contains a tank fluidly coupled to a pump, a turbine, a heat exchanger, an offload terminal, and a working fluid contained in the tank at a storage pressure. The working fluid may be at a system pressure proximal an outlet of the heat exchanger, at a low-side pressure proximal a pump inlet, and at a high-side pressure proximal a pump outlet. The MMS contains a controller communicably coupled to a valve between the tank and the heat exchanger outlet, a valve between the tank and the pump inlet, a valve between the tank and the pump outlet, and a valve between the tank and the offload terminal.
US09863277B2

A turbine engine fan rotor having a disk carrying blades, a substantially frustoconical cover mounted on the disk, and axial retention device for retaining the blades and including a ring mounted in an annular groove in the disk and forming a bearing surface for roots of the blades. The ring is festooned or crenellated and co-operates with a festooned radial annular lip of the disk. The rotor also has at least one axial tooth inserted in hollow portions of the ring and of the lip of the disk. Two coaxial parts arranged radially inside the disk have respective first and second fastener flanges for fastening to the disk, said flanges being axially interposed between the cover and the disk, being circumferentially offset relative to one another, and being fastened independently of one another to the disk.
US09863275B2

A turbocharger turbine having a blade-gap zone between the blades and the shroud wall. The blade-gap zone is larger at and near the exducer than at an upstream location where the shroud wall is at its minimum radius. Also disclosed is a method of customizing and manufacturing a turbine by establishing an optimized blade-gap zone at the exducer, and machining it into a turbine housing.
US09863274B2

Described is a shaft support system for a gas turbine engine comprising: a rotatable fan shaft; first and second support structures extending in parallel from the shaft to a load bearing structure to provide radial location of the shaft within an engine casing, wherein the first support and second support structures include first and second respective mechanical fusible joints; wherein the first fusible joint is a two-stage fuse which partially fails within a first predetermined load range, the second fusible joint fails within a second predetermined load range which is different to the first load range, and the first fusible joint fully fails only when the second fusible joint has failed.
US09863263B2

A turbine wheel for a turbine engine is provided. The turbine wheel includes a disk carrying blades including internal channels for passing a flow of cooling air, each blade having a platform carrying an airfoil and connected by a tang to a root. The blade roots are engaged in grooves in the periphery of the disk and their tangs define between them spaces for housing sealing and damping members, which cooperate with the inside faces of the platforms to define air flow cavities. The tangs of at least some of the blades include cooling air outlet orifices that open out both into internal channels in the blades and into the cavities.
US09863261B2

A gas turbine engine includes a casing, a probe, and a fairing. The probe extends through the casing and the fairing is disposed within the casing. The fairing is engaged by the probe to prevent circumferential movement of the fairing relative to the casing.
US09863259B2

An airfoil for a gas turbine engine includes a first airfoil. A first chordal seal is located adjacent a first end of the airfoil. A second chordal seal is located adjacent a second end of the airfoil. The first chordal seal includes a first edge parallel to a first edge on the second chordal seal.
US09863256B2

An airfoil (10) for a gas turbine engine in which the airfoil (10) includes an internal cooling system (14) with one or more internal cavities having an insert (18) contained within an aft cooling cavity (76) to form nearwall cooling channels having enhanced flow patterns is disclosed. The flow of cooling fluids in the nearwall cooling channels may be controlled via a plurality of cooling fluid flow controllers (22) extending from the outer wall (24) forming the generally hollow elongated airfoil (26). The cooling fluid flow controllers (22) may be collected into spanwise extending rows. In at least one embodiment, the cooling fluid flow controllers (22) may be positioned within a pressure side nearwall cooling channel (48) and a suction side nearwall cooling channel (50) that are both in fluid communication with a trailing edge channel (30). The trailing edge channel (30) may also include cooling fluid flow controllers (22) extending between the outer walls (12, 13) forming the pressure and suction sides.
US09863255B2

A turbine assembly having a hollow aerofoil and impingement device, the aerofoil having a first side wall from leading to trailing edge and a cavity arranged a distance to an inner surface of the cavity for impingement cooling and a flow channel for cooling medium from the leading to trailing edge, the impingement device has first and second pieces arranged side by side, the second piece downstream of the first forming a first flow passage providing passage from one side of the aerofoil towards an opposite side. A blocking element is arranged in the flow channel between the second piece and first side wall at a suction side for blocking flow of cooling medium from leading to trailing edge denying access to a section of the flow channel downstream of the blocking element while directing cooling medium in the first flow passage away from the suction side towards pressure side.
US09863252B2

The invention relates to a single-piece fan blisk (14) for a turbojet, this blisk (14) comprising a hub (16) with a general shape of revolution about a rotation axis (AX) and comprising an external peripheral face (18) of revolution extending radially towards the rotation axis at an upstream face (19) and a downstream face both of which are in the form of rings. This hub (16) supports radially oriented blades (17) at its external peripheral face (18), each comprising a base through which it is connected to this external peripheral face (18), each blade (17) having a leading edge (22) and a trailing edge (23) that are radially oriented. The spacing between the upstream face (19) and the downstream face of the hub (16) along the rotation axis (AX) is less than the distance separating the leading edge (22) from the trailing edge (23) of each blade.
US09863239B2

A method and apparatus for downhole data transmission. The method comprising monitoring electrical impedance properties of a downhole formation by applying an electrical signal between a first portion and a second portion of a drill string that are electrically insulated from each other by an insulating portion, selecting a frequency for transmitting data by electromagnetic telemetry based at least in part on the monitored electrical impedance and transmitting the data by encoding the data in a waveform having the selected frequency and applying the waveform between the first portion and the second portion of the drill string.
US09863236B2

An apparatus, method and computer-readable medium for locating a joint of a casing disposed in a borehole are disclosed. The apparatus includes a sensor oriented in a plane orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the casing. The sensor measures a magnetic field induced in the casing by the earth's magnetic field. A tool conveys the sensor through the casing along a path that is radially offset from a longitudinal axis of the casing. Transverse magnetic field measurements are obtained by the sensor at a plurality of depths along the casing. A change in the transverse measurements is identified and used to determine the location of the casing joint.
US09863226B2

A reaction apparatus for providing reactants from a surface to a wellbore to create a generated gas when the reactants undergo a reaction in situ to affect the density of a fluid in the wellbore, the reaction apparatus comprises a reaction housing, the reaction housing comprises a first reactant cell configured to contain a first reactant, a second reactant cell configured to contain a second reactant, a mixing chamber, configured to allow the first reactant and the second reactant to mix, a first passage configured to allow the first reactant to pass from the first reactant cell to the mixing chamber, a second passage configured to allow the second reactant to pass from the second reactant cell to the mixing chamber, an outlet configured to allow the generated gas from the reaction to escape the mixing chamber, a line comprising a plurality of electric cables, and a reel.
US09863223B2

The present application includes and assembly having a dual dart assembly operable between an upper cage and a lower cage. The dual dart assembly is configured to connect an upper dart and a lower dart via a connecting rod. Therefore movement of one dart causes equal movement in the other dart. Movement of the dart is dampened upon impact at the top and bottom of the well by restriction of the working fluid as the dart assembly seats and unseats. A series of expandable seals are independently operated around the outer body and configured to expand and contact the outer wall in response to pressure increases within the outer body.
US09863221B2

Components of a downhole integrated well management system, and its method of use, can be deployed through tubing, a liner, or casing in existing wells without the need to deploy new pipe or remove and re-install pipe in the well. The system can seal the flow of hydrocarbon fluid and re-direct it into the claimed internal flow control module which, in embodiments, comprises a mandrel comprising one or more ports providing fluid communication between the interior of the mandrel and the outside of the mandrel and corresponding controllable port covers and/or seals that are adapted to open, partially open, or fully close a corresponding port; a flow controller; one or more sensor modules adapted to monitor a predetermined set of activities in a well; one or more communications module; and one or more power electronic modules. A surface module may be present and adapted to generate and transmit commands to the flow control modules and receive information from them.
US09863219B2

A tool for suspending in a well retrieves various metal debris from the well, and includes an elongated tool body with a plurality of magnets included in a plurality longitudinal ridges which are circumferentially spaced. In the method a plurality of magnets can be positioned within openings, recesses, or pockets in each ridge, and held in place by one or more retaining plates, the tool being connected to a drill string and lowered into a well.
US09863216B2

Generally, a system for hydraulic fracturing of a geologic formation. Specifically, a transportable heating apparatus and method for the production of heated water for use in hydraulic fracturing of a geologic formation.
US09863210B2

A packer for use in a wellbore includes a packer mandrel. First and second pistons are slidably disposed about the packer mandrel defining first and second chambers therewith. An activation assembly initially prevents movement of the first piston. A release assembly initially prevents movement of the second piston. First and second seal assemblies are disposed about the packer mandrel such that actuation of the activation assembly allows a force generated by a pressure difference between the wellbore and the first chamber to shift the first piston in a first direction toward the first seal assembly to radially expand the first seal assembly and to actuate the release assembly and, actuation of the release assembly allows a force generated by a pressure difference between the wellbore and the second chamber to shift the second piston in the first direction toward the second seal assembly to radially expand the second seal assembly.
US09863197B2

A downhole valve is described. The downhole valve has a pilot valve section and a tool section. The pilot valve section has a first tube. The tool section has a second tube slidably coupled to the first tube of the pilot valve section so as to provide fluid communication between the pilot valve section and the tool section. The tool section can be in the form of a signal valve section of a mud pulse telemetry valve, a reamer, a vertical steerable tool, a rotary steerable tool, a by-pass valve, a packer, a whipstock, or stabilizer.
US09863189B2

An earth-boring tool includes a cutting element having a first volume of polycrystalline material including catalyst material and a second volume free of catalyst material. A boundary between the first volume and the second volume is nonlinear in a cross-sectional plane that includes a centerline of the cutting element and an anticipated point of contact of the cutting element with the surface of the formation to be cut. Each line tangent the boundary in the cross-sectional plane forms an angle with the centerline of the cutting element greater than the contact back rake angle of the cutting element. In some cutting elements, some portions of the boundary may have another selected shape. Some cutting elements have a boundary wherein tangent lines form angles of greater than 20° with the centerline of the cutting element. Methods of forming wellbores are also disclosed.
US09863186B2

A medical device has a base having an internally tapered wall mounted to a neck of a tube holder that has a reverse taper, so that rotation of the base relative to the neck may be effected with a controlled drag to provide a smooth and secure relative rotation. The base may be rotated relative to the holder by rotationally moving a needle protection housing hingedly attached to the base. The housing may be rotated to any orientation relative to the tube holder so long as a torsional force greater than the predetermined friction between the tapered surfaces is applied thereto. The base is designed to have a ring at its base that biases against the base of the neck in a self-adjustable manner. Other devices may also be fitted with reverse tapered complementary connection fittings to securely couple to each other.
US09863184B1

Security screens for windows and other openings may include a screen pattern generally conforming to a two-dimensional foam topology, such that solid segments outline a plurality of openings or cells. The solid segments may include circular arcs of varying length and radius, intersecting at 120-degree angles, in threes, at a plurality of vertices. Manufacturing methods may include simulation of a two-dimensional foam subject to certain constraints, such as a target range for the areas of cell openings.
US09863176B2

A carrier for a window sash has a balance connecting portion configured to be connected to a window balance. A vertical rail system is configured to slidingly engage a bracket of the window sash.
US09863175B2

An automotive hinge assembly adapted to facilitate motion of a closure panel relative to a fixed body structure comprises a door component constructed from two press formed angle brackets structurally connected via a pivot pin and adapted to be mounted to a vehicle closure panel, a body component constructed from two press formed angle brackets structurally connected via a simple formed feature and the pivot pin and adapted to be mounted to a vehicle body structure, such that the pivot pin structurally assembles the two hinge components, facilitates relative rotary motion between them and structurally connects the multiple press formed angle brackets so that the resulting assembly achieves a much higher material efficiency than the prior art with an associated significant cost reduction.
US09863171B1

A compartment for a vehicle is provided herein. The compartment includes a housing defining an interior volume. A lid is pivotably coupled to the housing and is configured to move between a closed position in which the interior volume is inaccessible and an open position in which the interior volume is accessible. A latch is configured to maintain the lid in a locked and an unlocked state when the lid is disposed in the closed position. A compartment sensing system is operably coupled with the latch. The latch is placed in the locked state when the sensing system detects the presence of an item within the interior volume.
US09863166B2

A lock is provided, the lock having: a lock mechanism having a first member and a second member, the first member and the second member each being slidably mounted to a housing of the combination lock, wherein the first member is capable of movement between a first position and a second position and the second member is capable of movement between a first position and a second position and wherein movement of the first member from the first position to the second position causes the second member to move from the first position to the second position; a bolt configured for movement between a locking position and an unlocking position, the bolt preventing the second member from moving from the second position to the first position when the bolt is in the locking position.
US09863165B1

A post including a cylindrical weighted base having at least three spring-loaded retractable legs. When the post is to be stored, the legs are pulled together and pushed inside the post via slotted openings at the base of the post. An adjustable position locking tab is used to secure the legs inside for storage and adjusted open for when the legs are to be deployed. In an alternative post, a threaded stake is included for anchoring the post into ground for outdoor applications such as construction sites.
US09863164B2

An awning support arm for a camper trailer including: an outer member formed with an elongated opening; an intermediate member slidable relative to the outer member; an inner member slidable relative to the intermediate member; an outer fastening assembly arranged to hold the outer member fast with the intermediate member; and an inner fastening assembly arranged to hold the intermediate member fast with the inner member the inner fastening assembly including a user operation portion that extends through the elongated opening of the outer member; wherein the members may be slid relative to each other to assume an extended configuration or a retracted configuration and maintained in either configuration by means of said fastening assemblies.
US09863155B2

A modular floor tile is disclosed having a top surface. A plurality of edge surfaces defines a perimeter about the top surface and a support system is disposed at least partially beneath the top surface. A locking system allows for flexible displacement of a laterally extending protrusion having a flexible wall while placing a downward facing protrusion therein and/or allows for flexible displacement of the flexible walls of a downward facing protrusion while placing said downward facing protrusion into the laterally extending protrusion.
US09863150B2

An extendable, debris and leaf precluding gutter cover with a gutter lip end and an opposing roof-side end, has a fixed, non-adjustable width, wherein the roof-side end is shaped with a mating feature to a corresponding end. A weather resistant, debris and leaf precluding, low-profile gutter cover extension is matched to the gutter cover, having a roof end and the corresponding end with a complementary shape to the gutter cover's shaped end's mating feature. This permits joining the ends to maintain a debris and leaf precluding barrier between the gutter cover and extension. When the gutter cover and extension are mated, they form an extendable gutter cover that entirely covers and is self-supporting over the roof's gutter top and a junction of the gutter cover and extension is low-profile, to permit debris flow across a top of the junction.
US09863148B2

Various embodiments provide rollable and deployable composite booms that may be used in a wide range of applications both for space and terrestrial structural solutions. Various embodiment composite booms may be bistable, i.e. having a stable strain energy minimum in the coiled configuration as well as the in the deployed configuration. In various embodiments, a boom may be fabricated by aligning two independent tape-springs front-to-front encircled by a durable seamless polymer sleeve. The durable seamless polymer sleeve may allow the two tape-springs to slide past each other during the coiling/deployment process so as to reduce, e.g., minimize, shear and its derived problems.
US09863143B2

A panel fastener (20) is disclosed having a hook and cam assembly (21). The fastener has a metallic casing 23 comprised of two sidewalls (24) formed with a boss (27′) inwardly indented from the main sidewall portion through which a cam shaft (28) is journaled. The boss (27′) is formed as a circular or annular recess or depression having an inwardly extending boss sidewall 51 extending inwardly from the sidewalls (24) and extending to an end portion or end wall (52) having a cylindrical terminal end or bearing surface (53). The bearing surface is located along a cylinder substantially coaxially aligned with the cam shaft and substantially normal to the plane (55) of the outer surface of the adjacent portion of the casing sidewall.
US09863135B2

A motion-transmitting unit including a reciprocating engine having at least one piston operable for reciprocating motion during operation of the reciprocating engine, and a crankshaft interconnected with the at least one piston to rotate in response to the reciprocating motion of the at least one piston, the crankshaft having a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The motion-transmitting unit further includes a first drive shaft interconnected with the first end of the crankshaft to rotate in response to rotation of the crankshaft and a second drive shaft interconnected with the second end of the crankshaft to rotate in response to rotation of the crankshaft.
US09863131B2

Fragrance control is provided by articles of manufacture including various solid state fragrancing objects, methods of using such objects, and systems that employ one or more such objects. The fragrancing object can be easy to manufacture, long lasting, provide fragrance that is consistently released over time, provide an indication to the user that the object needs to be replaced, and can hold a desired ratio of fragrance. The fragrancing object can include a first material comprising a polyether block amide, a second material comprising a polyolefin elastomer (POE), and a fragrance component such as a fragrance oil.
US09863128B2

An adjustable jet valve includes a valve body containing a cold water opening, a hot water opening and a mixed water opening for outputting mixed water; a spray nozzle arranged in the valve body includes a cold water inlet and a cold water outlet connected to a cold water channel of a valve by means of the cold water opening; a spray needle assembled inside the spray nozzle forms a cold water inflow space with an inner chamber of the spray nozzle, and forms a cold water spray outlet with the cold water outlet of the spray nozzle; and a throat pipe connected to the mixed water opening of the valve body for guiding the mixed water to flow into a device using mixed water.
US09863121B2

Disclosed is a mobile apparatus, including a frame, and operating arm connected to the frame, a cab with one or more cab seats, drive means configured to drive the mobile apparatus and/or the operating arm, and at least one tank, wherein the at least one tank is positioned under the one or more cab seats.
US09863115B2

A manhole cover assembly includes a manhole cover and a latch assembly. The manhole cover is movable between a seated position in which the manhole cover is supported on a seat of a manhole frame, and an unseated position in which the manhole cover is displaced relative to the seat of the manhole frame. A shock absorber includes a housing fixedly coupled to the manhole cover. The housing defines a cylinder. A piston is slidably coupled to the cylinder. A rod is fixedly coupled to the piston. A spring is positioned within the cylinder adjacent the piston. A latch is fixedly coupled to the rod. In response to a pressure applied to the manhole cover, the latch assembly is configured to permit limited displacement of the manhole cover relative to the seat of the manhole frame, and to controllably dissipate energy relating to the pressure.
US09863110B2

A subsea system for installing, suspending and removing underwater equipment below the surface of the sea is provided. The subsea system includes a landing base module for landing and positioning underwater equipment thereupon, the landing base module comprising a base member and a first buoyancy system; and a second buoyancy system for affixing to the underwater equipment, the second buoyancy system having sufficient buoyancy to float the underwater equipment toward the surface of the sea when detached from the landing base module, wherein the underwater equipment includes a ballast system structured and arranged to permit the underwater equipment to be lowered onto the landing base module. A method for installing, suspending and removing underwater equipment below the surface of the sea and a kit of parts are also provided.
US09863089B2

A golf ball of a first color is dyed to a second color with an anionic or nonionic disperse dye. Either or both of a pigmented coating layer or an optional clear coating layer on the pigmented coating layer comprises a member selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, polyureas, polyamides, and combinations thereof, which can be dyed by the anionic or nonionic disperse dye.
US09863087B2

A washing machine including an inner tub for receiving clothes, an outer tub accommodating the inner tub, a motor for supplying rotational force to rotate the inner tub, and a hanger unit detachably coupled to an upper end of the outer tub and from which clothes are hung, whereby wrinkles of the clothes hung from the hanger unit are reduced by virtue of vibration generated during rotation of the motor. A method of controlling a washing machine including hanging clothes on a hanger unit coupled to the inner tub, rotating the inner tub at a first lower rotational speed, and rotating the inner tub at a second rotational speed higher than the first lower rotational speed.
US09863082B1

A washing machine includes a cabinet defining a housing with internal components of a conventional automated clothes washer, a door mounted to the cabinet to selectively open/close the opening to the cabinet, and a dispenser in the form of a fill cup assembly in which single or bulk doses of treating chemistry can be received. The fill cup assembly includes a base cup with at least first and second fluid conduits supplying corresponding destinations, and a selector cup defining a pour zone. The selector cup includes an outlet and rotatable relative to the base cup to selectively fluid couple the outlet to the at least first and second fluid conduits.
US09863068B2

A blade for moving hooks of a Jacquard mechanism for forming a shed on a Jacquard loom wherein the blade includes at least one profile made from a composite material, having a body made of unidirectional fibers that extend in a longitudinal direction (X12) of the at least one profile and are embedded in a resin.
US09863063B2

A system for growing a crystal ingot includes a crucible and a weir. The crucible has a base and a sidewall for the containment of a silicon melt therein. The weir is located along the base of the crucible inward from the sidewall of the crucible. The weir has a body connected with at least a pair of legs disposed to inhibit movement of the silicon melt therebetween.
US09863058B2

A gallium nitride crystal having a hexagonal crystal structure includes a first region located on an inner side of a cross section intersecting c-axis of the hexagonal crystal structure, and a second region surrounding at least a part of the outer periphery of the first region in the cross section. An emission spectrum of each of the first region and the second region with electron beam or ultraviolet light excitation has a first peak including a band edge emission of gallium nitride and a second peak located in a longer wavelength area than the first peak. A peak intensity of the first peak is smaller than a peak intensity of the second peak in the first region, and a peak intensity of the first peak is greater than a peak intensity of the second peak in the second region.
US09863055B2

An apparatus for forming a vacuum in a sealed enclosure through an electrochemical reaction includes an electrochemical cell comprising a cathode and an anode supported on a solid electrolyte. The solid electrolyte is a Li-ion non-volatile electrolyte containing a dissolved metal salt. The cathode is constructed of a material with which lithium is known to form alloys. The anode is constructed of a lithium-ion containing material. The cell is operable to expose lithium metal on the cathode.
US09863051B2

Disclosed are an electrodeposition system and method with an anode assembly comprising a capacitor comprising a first conductive plate (i.e., an anode) with a frontside having a surface exposed to a plating solution, a second conductive plate on a backside of the first conductive plate, and a dielectric layer between the two conductive plates. During a non-plating mode, a power source, having positive and negative terminals connected to the first and second conductive plates, respectively, is turned on, thereby polarizing the first conductive plate (i.e., the anode) relative to the second conductive plate to prevent degradation of the anode and/or plating solution. During an active plating mode, another power source, having positive and negative terminals connected to the first conductive plate (i.e., the anode) and a cathode, respectively, is turned on, thereby polarizing the anode relative to the cathode in order to deposit a plated layer on a workpiece.
US09863041B2

A heated filter assembly for heating gas supplied to a substrate processing system includes a housing defining a cavity, an inner surface and an outer surface. A filter element is arranged inside the cavity of the housing with an outer surface thereof in a spaced relationship relative to the inner surface of the housing. A heat transfer element is arranged inside of the filter element and includes an outer surface and an inner cavity. A plurality of projections is arranged on the outer surface of the heat transfer element in direct physical contact with an inner surface of the filter element. A plurality of portions is arranged on the outer surface of the heat transfer element, is spaced from the inner surface of the filter element and is located between the plurality of projections.
US09863035B2

Provided are a metal nitride material for a thermistor, which has a high reliability and a high heat resistance and can be directly deposited on a film or the like without firing, a method for producing the same, and a film type thermistor sensor. The metal nitride material for a thermistor consists of a metal nitride represented by the general formula: (Ti1-vCrv)xAly (N1-wOw)z (where 0.0
US09863024B2

A Ni-based bulk metallic glass forming alloy is provided. The alloy includes Ni(100-a-b-c-d)CraNbbPcBd, where an atomic percent of chromium (Cr) a ranges from 3 to 13, an atomic percent of niobium (Nb) b is determined by x−y*a, where x ranges from 3.8 to 4.2 and y ranges from 0.11 to 0.14, an atomic percent of phosphorus (P) c ranges from 16.25 to 17, an atomic percent of boron (B) d ranges from 2.75 to 3.5, and the balance is nickel (Ni), and where the alloy is capable of forming a metallic glass object having a lateral dimension of at least 6 mm, where the metallic glass has a stress intensity factor at crack initiation when measured on a 3 mm diameter rod containing a notch with length between 1 and 2 mm and root radius between 0.1 and 0.15 mm, the stress intensity factor being at least 70 MPa m1/2.
US09863023B2

Provided are a ferritic stainless steel having a corrosion resistance at a certain level or more and a temper-color removal performance at a certain level or more and a method for manufacturing the ferritic stainless steel. A ferritic stainless steel has a composition containing, by mass %, C: 0.001% to 0.030%, Si: 0.03% to 0.30%, P: 0.05% or less, S: 0.01% or less, Cr: more than 22.0% to 28.0%, Mo: 0.2% to 3.0%, Al: 0.01% to 0.15%, Ti: more than 0.30% to 0.80%, V: 0.001% to 0.080%, and N: 0.001% to 0.050%; Mn: 0.05% to 0.30% and Ni: 0.01% to 5.00%, or Mn: 0.05% to 2.00% and Ni: 0.01% to 0.30%; Nb: 0.05% or less as an optional component; and the balance being Fe and inevitable impurities, and the steel has a surface where TiN having a grain diameter of 1 μm or more is distributed at a density of 30 particles/mm2 or more.
US09863018B2

Provided is a system for efficiently recovering trace metal from a large amount of a raw material, such as when trace metal is recovered from nickel oxide ore. This ion exchange resin has, on a carrier, an amide derivative represented by the following general formula. In the formula, R1 and R2 represent the same or different alkyl groups, R3 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, and R4 represents a hydrogen atom or an arbitrary group, other than an amino group, bonded to α carbon as an amino acid. The amide derivative is preferably a glycinamide derivative. The carrier preferably includes a primary amine and/or a secondary amine.
US09863010B2

The disclosed invention is related to methods, compositions, kits and isolated nucleic acid sequences for targeting Adenovirus nucleic acid. Compositions include amplification oligomers and/or detection probe oligomers. Kits and methods comprise at least one of these oligomers.
US09863008B2

Soybean Event pDAB9582.816.15.1 comprises gene expression cassettes which contain genes encoding Cry1F, Cry1Ac (synpro), and PAT, affording insect resistance and herbicide tolerance to soybean crops containing the event, and enabling methods for crop protection and protection of stored products. The disclosure provides polynucleotide related event detection methods. The present disclosure relates to a method for detecting a new insect resistant and herbicide tolerant transgenic soybean transformation event, designated Soybean Event pDAB9582.816.15,1. The DNA of soybean plants containing this event includes the junction/flanking sequences described herein that characterize the location of the inserted DNA within the soybean genome. SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID N0:2 are diagnostic for Soybean Event pDAB9582.816.15.1.
US09863003B2

A polynucleotide comprising at least the final six nucleotides of one of the following primer sequences, or a sequence complementary thereto: SEQ. ID NOS. 3 to 16, 18, 20 to 33, 35 or 37 to 39. A method of detecting the presence or absence of a mutation in the PIK3CA gene, wherein the mutation is one of H1047R, H1047L, E542K and E545K, and preferably ARMS primers are combined with Scorpion primers.
US09862991B2

Provided is a chip process of gene synthesis, and the process comprises incorporating the whole procedure, which comprises amplifying oligonucleotides and assembling the oligonucleotides into a gene in parallel, onto a single chip. A specific mismatch endonuclease is also used in the process to establish an error repair system in gene synthesis, and the error rate is decreased to about 0.19 mismatched bases/kb. The high-throughput, high-fidelity and low-cost chip process of gene synthesis provided in the present invention can meet the requirements of gene synthesis and the optimization and screening of protein expression on a large scale at the frontier of life sciences such as synthetic biology, genomics, and systems biology.
US09862978B2

The present invention relates to a method for easily preparing (2RS)-amino-(3S)-hydroxy-butyric acid, which is a chiral amino acid, in a high yield and a high purity using a chemical synthesis and enzymatic reduction reaction; an intermediate therefor; and a method for preparing the intermediate.
US09862976B2

Methods for the fermentative production of four carbon alcohols is provided. Specifically, butanol, preferably isobutanol is produced by the fermentative growth of a recombinant bacterium expressing an isobutanol biosynthetic pathway.
US09862971B2

The invention relates to the pseudotyping of retroviral vectors with heterologous envelope proteins derived from the Paramyxoviridae family, genus Morbillivirus, and various uses of the resulting vector particles. The present invention is based on the unexpected and surprising finding that the incorporation of morbillivirus F and H proteins having truncated cytoplasmic tails into lentiviral vector particles, and the complex interaction of these two proteins during cellular fusion, allows for a superior and more effective transduction of cells. Moreover, these pseudotyped vector particles allow the targeted gene transfer into a given cell type of interest by modifying a mutated and truncated H protein with a single-chain antibody or ligand directed against a cell surface marker of the target cell.
US09862967B2

Compositions and methods for conferring pesticidal activity to bacteria, plants, plant cells, tissues and seeds are provided. Compositions comprising a coding sequence for a toxin polypeptide are provided. The coding sequences can be used in DNA constructs or expression cassettes for transformation and expression in plants and bacteria. Compositions also comprise transformed bacteria, plants, plant cells, tissues, and seeds. In particular, isolated toxin nucleic acid molecules are provided. Additionally, amino acid sequences corresponding to the polynucleotides are encompassed, and antibodies specifically binding to those amino acid sequences. In particular, the present invention provides for isolated nucleic acid molecules comprising nucleotide sequences encoding the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:2-5, or the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, as well as variants and fragments thereof.
US09862962B2

The present invention provides the identification and use of EGTom1 and/or EGTom2, homologs of EGTom1 and/or EGTom2, orthologs of EGTom1 and/or EGTom2, paralogs of EGTom1 and/or EGTom2, and fragments and variations thereof for altering salt tolerance, drought tolerance and/or sugar content of fruit (sweetness) in plants. The invention relates to the identification and use of nucleic acid sequences for salt/drought tolerance and fruit sweetness in plants.
US09862960B2

Compositions and methods for transiently expressing proteins in a plant are provided. The compositions comprise plants, seeds, plant tissues, and plant parts expressing a protein, wherein the protein is expressed transiently and the transient expression of the protein can be used as a predictive model of how said protein will be expressed in stable transgenic plants in regards to qualitative and quantitative data. The predictive model may be used but is not limited to: promoter evaluation, evaluation of expression cassette construction for best performance (e.g. addition of enhancers or gene silencing suppressors), evaluation of best ways to express heterologous genes (e.g. point mutations, targeting), fast evaluation of endogenous gene knockout, evaluation of protein expression levels, cellular targeting, tissue targeting, transcriptional enhancers, translational enhancer protein toxicity and metabolic profiling. Further provided are methods of use.
US09862949B2

The invention relates to a method for influencing the miR-92 expression in a cell, comprising the following steps: (a) providing a cell; and (b1) reducing the miR-92 expression in the cell in order to promote the vascularization or vessel repair by introducing an antisense molecule against miR-92 into the cell, or (b2) increasing the miR-92 expression in the cell for an inhibition of the tumor angiogenesis by introducing a construct into the cell, wherein said construct includes an expressible miR-92 sequence. Furthermore, the invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition, comprising an agent for reducing the miR-92 activity or expression in a cell in the form of an antisense molecule against miR-92, or an agent for increasing the miR-92 expression in a cell in the form of a construct for expressing miR-92.
US09862946B2

Oligonucleotide analogs conjugated to carrier peptides are provided. The disclosed compounds are useful for the treatment of various diseases, for example diseases where inhibition of protein expression or correction of aberrant mRNA splice products produces beneficial therapeutic effects.
US09862943B1

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are identified that enhance pluripotency reprogramming of somatic cells as well as differentiation of pluripotent cells. Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell generation from somatic cells leads to the upregulation and downregulation of identified lncRNAs. The modulation of these lncRNAs are capable of enhancing pluripotency of somatic cells as well as enhancing differentiation of a pluripotent cell.
US09862939B2

The current invention involves the use of protein lectins produced by plants including the non-toxic carbohydrate binding subunits (B subunits) of plant “AB toxins” (PTB lectins) as delivery vehicles for mobilizing associated drug substances for delivery to animal and human cells. The resulting protein fusions or conjugates retain lectin carbohydrate specificity for binding to cells and cellular trafficking activity so as to deliver an associated drug compound to the site of disease manifestation. One embodiment of this invention concerns the ability of ricin toxin B subunit, as a model PTB lectin, to deliver enzyme replacement therapeutic drugs to cells of several organs of the body including the brain and central nervous system, eyes, ears, lungs, bone, heart, kidney, liver, and spleen for treating lysosomal diseases.
US09862935B2

Provided is a novel bacteriophage ΦCJ20 (KCCM11362P). In addition, the present invention relates to an antibacterial composition including the bacteriophage ΦCJ20 (KCCM11362P) as an active ingredient. Further, the present invention is a method of preventing and/or treating infectious diseases by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli in animals except for humans using the bacteriophage ΦCJ20 (KCCM11362P) or the antibacterial composition containing the bacteriophage ΦCJ20 (KCCM11362P) as an active ingredient.
US09862934B2

The present invention relates to methods for the production of biopharmaceuticals implementing a baculovirus-based system. These methods advantageously allow the production of biopharmaceuticals with a reduced number of or without contaminating baculoviral virions.
US09862932B2

Disclosed herein is a recombinant oncolytic virus comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL). One such oncolytic virus is oHSV. One form of TRAIL contained within the oncolytic virus is a secreted form of TRAIL. Examples of various forms of oHSV and secreted TRAIL are disclosed therein. Also disclosed are host cells and therapeutic formulations comprising the recombinant oncolytic virus. Also disclosed are methods of treating cancer in a subject by administering a therapeutic formulation comprising the recombinant oncolytic virus to the subject.
US09862929B2

The present invention provides a method of producing a skeletal muscle cell from a pluripotent stem cell, which includes a step of expressing one or more exogenous factors selected from MyoD, Myf5 and nucleic acids encoding them on a pluripotent stem cell.
US09862927B2

Compositions and methods for the prophylaxis and treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections are disclosed herein. More specifically the present invention discloses describes an autologous dendritic cell (DC) vaccine product derived by culturing a patient's monocytes with granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interferon alpha 2b (IFN-α), loading the DC with a mixture of five lipopeptides of Gag, Nef and Pol HIV antigens, and, optionally activating the DC with lipopolysaccharide (LPS).
US09862920B2

The present invention relates to a system for conducting the identification and quantification of micro-organisms, e.g., bacteria, in biological samples. More particularly, the invention relates to a system comprising a disposable cartridge and an optics cup or cuvette having a tapered surface; wherein the walls are angled to allow for better coating and better striations of the light. The system may utilize the disposable cartridge in the sample processor and the optics cup or cuvette in the optical analyzer, wherein the optics cup also has a floor in the shape of an inverted arch.
US09862918B2

A well plate is formed with a well for holding a subject to be sucked by a suction nozzle on an inner bottom part and storing liquid and, a clearance forming member for forming a clearance to allow the liquid to flow in a state where a tip part of the suction nozzle is inserted into and held in contact with the well is provided in the well. According to the present invention, the clearance enabling the liquid to flow is formed even in the state where the tip part of the suction nozzle is inserted into and held in contact with the well in sucking the subject held in the well by the suction nozzle. The suction nozzle can suck the liquid around through the clearance and the subject held in the well is efficiently sucked through the suction port along the flow of the sucked liquid.
US09862916B2

This invention relates to an external structuring agent for application in liquid detergent and personal care products. It has been found that cellulose based particles, which comprise cell wall material and their networks of cellulose based fibers and nanofibrils can advantageously be used to structure liquid detergent and personal care products, providing certain benefits that are much sought after in the design of such products. It is assumed that the organization of the cellulose fibrils, as it exists in the parenchymal cell walls, is at least partly retained in the cellulose based particles of the invention, even though part of the pectin and hemicellulose is removed there from. The process of making the structuring agent involves processing under relatively mild conditions, of a biological material that is currently considered a by-product.
US09862909B2

A polymer comprises a polymeric backbone, at least one piperidine ester moiety extending from the polymeric back-bone, and generally at least one C8 to C22 ester moiety extending from the polymeric backbone. The polymer is useful for adjusting the total base number and viscosity index of a lubricant composition. The lubricant composition generally comprises a base oil in addition to the polymer. A method of forming the polymer comprises the steps of providing a first component and providing a second component. The first component comprises at least one of A1) a piperidine methacrylate, or A2) a methacrylate. The second component comprises at least one of B) a C8 to C22 methacrylate. Optionally, the method further comprises the step of providing a third component, which comprises at least one of C) a piperidine-ol. The method further comprises at least one reaction step involving the aforementioned components to form the polymer.
US09862908B2

A seal swell agent for a lubricating fluid is described. The invention relates to a seal swell agent for use in lubricating oils, such as engine oils, turbine oils, automatic and manual transmission, or gear, fluids, drivetrain and gear oils and hydraulic fluids. The seal swell agent comprises a diester of sorbitol or a derivative thereof and at least one carboxylic acid. The invention extends to the use of a diester of sorbitol or a derivative thereof and at least one carboxylic acid as a seal swell agent, and a method of maintaining seal integrity.
US09862888B2

The present technology is generally directed to systems and methods for improving quenched coke recovery. More specifically, some embodiments are directed to systems and methods utilizing one or more of a screen, barrier, or reflector panel to contain or redirect coke during or after quenching. In a particular embodiment, a quench car system for containing coke includes a quench car having a base, a plurality of sidewalls, and a top portion. The system can further include a permeable barrier covering at least a portion of the top of the quench car, wherein the permeable barrier has a plurality of apertures therethrough.
US09862885B2

A hybrid nanophosphor includes red silicon nanoparticles in a homogenous mixture blue and green phosphors. A preferred hybrid nanophosphor uses ZnS: Ag, and ZnS: Cu, Au, Al for blue and green conversion, respectively, and mono dispersed 3 nm Si nano particles as a red phosphor. Wide emission profiles are provided by all components, and predetermined color characteristics in terms of CCT and CRI can be achieved simultaneously for excitation. A preferred lighting device includes a nanophosphor thin film of the invention on a UV or near UV-LED.
US09862882B2

A composition comprising an alcohol ether sulfonate is provided for use in methods of removing a fluid from a subterranean hydrocarbon-containing formation.
US09862881B2

Compositions and methods for coated or uncoated particulates, such as proppants, are provided that can, among other things, provide a hydrophobic surface that can enhance well productivity and other compositions and methods are disclosed.
US09862870B2

The present invention relates to a thermally conductive polycarbonate resin composition comprising (A) a polycarbonate resin, (B) a thermally conductive filler, (C) a modified polyolefin-based copolymer and (D) a low-molecular-weight polyolefin-based resin, thereby simultaneously exhibiting high impact strength, improving thermal conductivity and mechanical properties such as tensile strength and elongation, and having an excellent extrusion molding property.
US09862868B2

A working fluid for heat cycle, a composition for a heat cycle system containing the working fluid, and a heat cycle system employing the composition are provided. The working fluid contains trifluoroethylene, 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, and difluoromethane. A proportion of the total amount of trifluoroethylene, 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, and difluoromethane based on the entire amount of the working fluid is higher than 90 mass % and at most 100 mass %. Based on the total amount of trifluoroethylene, 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, and difluoromethane, the proportion of trifluoroethylene is at least 10 mass % and less than 70 mass %, the proportion of 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene is at most 50 mass %, and the proportion of difluoromethane is higher than 30 mass % and at most 75 mass %. The working fluid can replace R410A and has a low global warming potential and high durability.
US09862859B2

Porous air permeable expanded PTFE composite with enhanced mechanical and thermal properties are described. The node and fibril microstructure of expanded PTFE is coated on and within the node and fibril microstructure with a suitably chosen polymer to impart property enhancement while maintaining porosity. The coating polymer content of the composite is maintained between 3 and 25 weight percent of the composite and the areal mass of the composite is less than 75 gm/m2. Exemplary enhancement to properties may include, among others, Average Tensile Strength (ATS) (in MPa)×Z strength (in MPa) of 50 MPa2 or greater, preferably 100 MPa2 or greater, with air flow less than 500 Gurley seconds. Coating polymers with appropriate temperature resistance provides composites which further exhibit shrinkage of less than 10% at temperatures up to 300° C. with air flow of less than 500 Gurley seconds.
US09862856B2

A wood coating formulation with improved water repellency while maintaining coating performance such as clarity and hardness, the process of making thereof.
US09862845B2

An ink including a self-dispersible pigment, acrylic resin particles, a water-soluble organic solvent, and water. The self-dispersible pigment includes a phosphonic-acid-based self-dispersible pigment having a phosphonic acid group bonded directly or via another atomic group to a surface of particles of the pigment. The acrylic resin particles are formed of an acrylic resin containing a constituent unit derived from an ester-bond-containing monomer. The content of the constituent unit derived from the ester-bond-containing monomer in the acrylic resin is 60 mol % or more based on the total of the acrylic resin.
US09862843B2

Provided is a metal-oxide nanofiller including at least two graft chains, at least one of the chains being hydrophilic and the other being a hydrophobic chain compatible with fluorinated polymers. The hydrophobic chain is an oligomer, the weight-average molar mass Mw of which is between 300 and 20,000 g/mol−1. Also provided is a non-stick coating comprising such a filler, as well as to a culinary article provided with such a coating.
US09862841B2

Methods are described that include reacting a starting nanocrystal that includes a starting nanocrystal core and a covalently bound surface species to create an ion-exchangeable (IE) nanocrystal that includes a surface charge and a first ion-exchangeable (IE) surface ligand ionically bound to the surface charge, where the starting nanocrystal core includes a group IV element.
US09862838B2

A method for preparing an organic-inorganic hybrid porous insulation coating composition includes steps of: adding sepiolite nanoparticles that have been surface-treated with silane or dimethyl ammonium chloride to a thermal-resistant resin solution; and stirring the thermal-resistant resolution solution containing the sepiolite nanoparticles at 3600 rpm or more for 30 minutes or more. The thermal-resistant resin solution includes at least one thermal-resistant resin selected from the group consisting of polyamide-imide, polyester, polyester-imide and polyamic acid.
US09862832B2

Colored polymeric sand that is made by mixing a pigment onto sand to form colored sand, applying an acrylate-based polymeric coating on the colored sand, drying the acrylate-based polymeric coating, and applying a second polymeric material on the dried acrylate-based polymeric coating. The second polymeric material can have an ingredient (e.g., coating) that is water soluble. The resulting colored sand product can be used, for example, between pavers.
US09862831B2

A method of assembling superparamagnetic colloids into ordered structures with magnetically tunable photonic properties in nonpolar solvents by establishing long-range electrostatic repulsive forces using charge control agents. Reverse micelles resulted from the introduction of charge control agents such as AOT molecules can enhance the charge separation on the surfaces of n-octadecyltrimethoxysilane modified Fe3O4@SiO2 particles. The significantly improved long-range electrostatic repulsion can counterbalance the magnetically induced attraction and therefore allow ordering of superparamagnetic colloids in nonpolar solvents. This system possesses fast and fully reversible optical response to the external magnetic fields, long-term stability in performance, and good diffraction intensity.
US09862830B2

The present invention concerns the technical sector of mineral pigments containing a product formed in situ by the double and/or multiple reaction between a calcium carbonate and the reaction product or products of the said carbonate with one or more moderately strong to strong H3O+ion donors and the reaction product or products of the said carbonate with gaseous CO2 formed in situ and/or coming from an external supply, and at least one aluminium silicate and/or at least one synthetic silica and/or at least one calcium silicate and/or at least one silicate of a monovalent salt such as sodium silicate and/or potassium silicate and/or lithium silicate, and/or at least one aluminium hydroxide and/or at least one sodium and/or potassium aluminate, containing less than 0.1% by weight silicate of a monovalent salt such as sodium, potassium or lithium silicate or mixtures thereof, relative to the dry weight of calcium carbonate, having a pH greater than 7.5 measured at 20° C., and their uses in papermaking applications such as mass filling and/or the coating of paper and more particularly of printing paper, in particular for offset printing, or digital printing such as inkjet and/or laser printing.
US09862826B2

The invention concerns a halogen-free polymeric blend capable of ionic conductivity comprising either one or more polyether-based polymers or copolymers that have favorable structures to facilitate polymer chain segmental motion and ion hopping environment, selected from the group of polyether-block-polymers and polyether-based polyurethanes, or said polyether based polymers or copolymers together with one or more ionomers formed by neutralization of ethylene acid co-polymers, as well as one or more specific halogen-free ionic complexes or salts comprising a weakly coordinating anion and a cation of an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal. Further, the invention concerns the use of said blend and a plastic material containing said blend as an additive.
US09862821B2

Polyester compositions comprising: a) at least one semi-aromatic polyester resin; b) at least one reinforcing agent; c) hydroxyapatite; d) at least one epoxy component having two or more epoxy functional groups per molecule of the epoxy component; and optionally, at least one toughener, wherein the compositions exhibit the combined property of a desirable melt viscosity stability and a desirable hydrolysis resistance to articles molded from the compositions. Articles molded or extruded from these compositions especially, electric and electronic components. Methods of maintaining melt viscosity stability of a melt-mixed composition while simultaneously retaining tensile strength in the article prepared from the melt-mixed composition.
US09862818B2

The present invention provides a resin composition containing: (A) an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer having an ethylene content of 20 mol % or more and 50 mol % or less; (B) an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer having an ethylene content of 30 mol % or more and 60 mol % or less; and (C) an unsaturated aldehyde, a value obtained by subtracting the ethylene content of the ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (A) from the ethylene content of the ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (B) being 8 mol % or more, a mass ratio (A/B) of the ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (A) to the ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (B) being 60/40 or more and 95/5 or less, and the content of the unsaturated aldehyde (C) with respect to a resin content being 0.01 ppm or more and less than 100 ppm.
US09862812B2

A composition consisting essentially of 90-99 parts by weight of a nitrogen-containing organoxysilane compound and 1-10 parts by weight of an isomer affords an appropriate cure behavior and is useful as paint additive, adhesive, silane coupling agent, textile treating agent, and surface treating agent.
US09862808B2

The invention relates to polyamide composition comprising at least one polyamide featuring a melting temperature (Tm), at least one metal oxide selected from magnesium oxide, zinc oxide and calcium oxide, and titanium dioxide, said composition featuring an intrinsic melt viscosity of below 800 Pa·s as measured according to ASTM D3835-08 at a moisture content as measured according to ASTM D6869-03 in the range of 150-500 ppm at a shear rate of 400 s−1 and at a temperature ranging from [(Tm max)+10° C.] to [(Tm max)+20° C.] where (Tm max) is the highest of all melting temperatures (Tm). Invented compositions feature high reflectivity in the molded part with high retention of whiteness and reflectivity after heat aging. This unique combination of properties makes the compositions according to the invention most suitable for LED applications.
US09862806B2

A plastic article is provided wherein a plastic substrate is coated with multiple resin layers including a primer layer comprising a polymer having a UV-absorptive functional group incorporated therein and a weather resistant hardcoat layer comprising a reaction product of alkoxysilyl-containing benzophenone and/or a hydrolyzate thereof.
US09862802B2

Methods and materials for patterning a substrate are disclosed herein. A poly(thioaminal) material may be utilized as a thermal resist material for patterning substrates in a thermal scanning probe lithography process. The poly(thioaminal) material may be functionalized with an electron withdrawing group and various monomers may be volatilized upon exposure to a thermal scanning probe.
US09862801B2

A method for the manufacture of a polymer is provided, the method comprising: Providing a first monomer, the first monomer comprising a bicyclic diamine moiety, a first nucleophilic group provided on a carbon atom of an aromatic moiety, and a second nucleophilic group provided on a carbon atom of an aromatic moiety; Providing a bridging compound comprising at least two sites vulnerable to nucleophilic attack; and Contacting the first monomer with the bridging compound. Polymers made by said method and uses of such polymers are also disclosed.
US09862795B2

Disclosed herein is a composition for use in the preparation of a Lacrosse sport ball, the composition comprising a prepolymer, the prepolymer comprising a multifunctional polyisocyanate and one or more polyols having a molecular weight of from about 1000 Daltons to about 5000 Daltons, and a curative comprising an amine or an additional polyol or a combination thereof. A Lacrosse ball formed from the composition exhibits a ball compression of from about 180 pounds to about 210 pounds or from about 90 pounds to about 210 pounds when tested in accordance with ND 049-12m12 Section 5.3 Ball Compression, and wherein the molded spherical ball exhibits a ball coefficient of restitution COR of from about 0.60 to about 0.70 or from about 0.50 to about 0.75 when tested in accordance with ND 049-12m12 Section 5.4 Ball Coefficient of Restitution COR.
US09862791B2

Disclosed is an impact strength modifier (α) for a chlorine-containing resin, comprising a powder of a graft copolymer (A) obtained by graft polymerizing one or more kinds of vinyl monomers (b1) onto a polyorganosiloxane rubber (A1) or a composite rubber (A2) containing a polyorganosiloxane rubber and a polyalkyl(meth)acrylate rubber, wherein the specific surface area of the powder of the graft copolymer (A) measured by a nitrogen gas adsorption method is from 0.6 to 30 m2/g, and the pH of water used for extraction under conditions, in which (1) in an oven at 180° C., 5.0 g of the powder of the graft copolymer (A) is left to stand still and heated for 15 minutes, and (2) after the heating, the powder is dispersed in 100 ml of heated pure water and extracted for 1 hour at 70° C. while stirring, is from 4 to 11.
US09862786B2

By controlling the ratio of catalyst components or the type of activator the homogeneity of a polymer produced using a single site catalyst may be improved.
US09862783B2

A compound represented by the following general formula (1):
US09862780B1

A process for preparing a soluble high molecular-weight chitosan which comprises treating chitosan, water, alcohol, acid mixture with supercritical fluid to prepare a modified chitosan with high aqueous solubility.
US09862777B2

The present application relates to the field of single-domain antibodies (also called nanobodies), more particularly single-domain antibodies against SOD1 protein isoforms. It also relates to the use of these nanobodies in medicine. Accordingly, methods to treat a disease using these nanobodies are provided herein. The single-domain antibodies are particularly envisaged for treatment of ALS.
US09862771B2

Antigen binding proteins that bind to human CGRP receptor (CGRP R) are provided. Nucleic acids encoding the antigen binding protein, vectors, and cells encoding the same are also provided. The antigen binding proteins can inhibit binding of CGRP R to CGRP, and are useful in a number of CGRP R related disorders, including the treatment and/or prevention of migraine headaches.
US09862765B2

Provided is an antibody capable of specially recognizing IL-17A and binding to IL-17A. The antibody can be used for treating inflammation and autoimmune diseases caused by elevated expression of interleukin-17A, such as psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, multiple sclerosis, and inflammatory arthritis.
US09862755B2

The present invention is directed to a high affinity T cell receptor (TCR) against a tumor-associated antigen, an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding same, a T cell expressing said TCR, and a pharmaceutical composition for use in the treatment of diseases involving malignant cells expressing said tumor-associated antigen.
US09862750B2

The invention provides a chaperone/usher family polymer comprising at least one chaperone/usher family polypeptide monomer, wherein said at least one chaperone/usher family polypeptide monomer comprises an exogenous bioactive sequence.
US09862748B2

Peptide compounds based on the CAP37 (cationic antimicrobial protein of Mr 37 kDa) protein are disclosed, along with methods for treating various infections, wounds, and conditions, and methods of promoting healing and acceptance of grafts, using compositions containing these peptides.
US09862743B2

Disclosed herein are nucleosides, nucleotides and nucleotide analogs, methods of synthesizing the same and methods of treating diseases and/or conditions such as a Picornavirus and/or Flaviviridae infection with one or more nucleosides, nucleotides and nucleotide analogs.
US09862737B2

In part, the present invention is directed to antibacterial compounds and salts thereof.
US09862733B2

Provided are methods for purifying N-methyliminodiacetic acid (MIDA) boronates from solution. Also provided are methods for deprotection of boronic acids from their MIDA ligands. The purification and deprotection methods can be used in conjunction with methods for coupling or otherwise reacting boronic acids. Iterative cycles of deprotection, coupling, and purification can be performed to synthesize chemical compounds of interest. The methods are suitable for use in an automated chemical synthesis process. Also provided is an automated small molecule synthesizer apparatus for performing automated synthesis of small molecules using iterative cycles of deprotection, coupling, and purification in accordance with methods of the invention. Coupling and other reactions embraced by the invention include, without limitation, Suzuki-Miyaura coupling, oxidation, Swern oxidation, “Jones reagents” oxidation, reduction, Evans' aldol reaction, HWE olefination, Takai olefination, alcohol silylation, desilylation, p-methoxybenzylation, iodination, Negishi cross-coupling, Heck coupling, Miyaura borylation, Stille coupling, and Sonogashira coupling.
US09862727B2

The invention describes a method for degrading off-odors by employing a special 1-aza-3,7-dioxabicyclo[3.3.0]octane compound. Degradation of off-odors to the point of extinction of the off-odor, on hard and/or soft surfaces, in particular on textiles, and in room air, is made possible.
US09862726B2

The application is directed to compounds of Formula (I) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and solvates thereof, wherein R1, R2, Y, Z, and G are defined as set forth in the specification. The invention is also directed to use of compounds of Formula (I), and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and solvates thereof, to treat disorders responsive to the modulation of one or more opioid receptors, or as synthetic intermediates. Certain compounds of the present invention are especially useful for treating pain.
US09862717B2

The invention provides novel substituted indazole compounds according to Formula (I), their manufacture and use for the treatment of hyperproliferative diseases such as cancer, inflammatory or degenerative diseases.
US09862715B2

Compounds having the following formula: or an enantiomer, diastereomer or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof, wherein X is N or C—R7, are useful as kinase modulators, including IRAK-4 modulation.
US09862701B2

Compounds having activity as inhibitors of G12C mutant KRAS protein are provided. The compounds have the following structure (I): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, tautomer, stereoisomer or prodrug thereof, wherein R1, R2, R3a, R3b, R4a, R4b, G1, G2, L, m1, m2 and E are as defined herein. Methods associated with preparation and use of such compounds, pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds and methods to modulate the activity of G12C mutant KRAS protein for treatment of disorders, such as cancer, are also provided.
US09862698B2

Disclosed are compounds, for example, compounds of formula I, wherein R, R0, R1-R8, n, X, Y, Y′, and E are as described herein, pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds, and methods of treating or preventing a disease or condition, for example, cancer.
US09862693B2

Presented herein inter alia are novel compounds and methods of using the same for the treatment of cancers.
US09862692B2

Described herein are analogs of 2-methyl-3-(2-ethynylthiazol-4-yl)cyclopent-2-enol and the corresponding ketone 3-(2-ethynylthiazol-4-yl)-2-methylcyclopent-2-enone, the analogs having terminal alkyne groups at the 2-position of the thiazole ring. These drug-like molecules, referred to as CETZOLE compounds, are useful to treat non-small cell lung cancer and other forms of cancer. Methods of making and using the compounds, methods of treating various diseases, pharmaceutical compositions, and kits are also disclosed.
US09862685B2

The present invention is a compound of the formula or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The compounds are useful as HDAC inhibitors.
US09862683B2

Disclosed are methods for the preparation of Tecovirimat for the treatment or prophylaxis of viral infections and diseases associated therewith, particularly those viral infections and associated diseases caused by the orthopoxvirus.
US09862681B2

The present invention provides novel indoline compounds, derivatives of Formula 1 and salts thereof; which can be effectively used for the preparation of a 1-adrenoceptor antagonists, Silodosin and its pharmaceutically acceptable salts.
US09862679B2

Disclosed herein are bisarylmethylthioacetamides and bisarylmethylthioethylamines useful as inhibitors of monoamine transporters. The compounds are potent and/or selective inhibitors of dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT), and/or norepinephrine (NE) reuptake via their respective transporters, DAT, SERT and NET. Also disclosed are methods for eliciting a wake-promoting or cognitive or attention enhancing effect and for treating substance use disorders, attention deficit (hyperactivity) disorder, depressive disorders, bipolar disorder or other neuropsychiatric disorders sleep disorders or cognitive impairment using the compounds.
US09862673B2

A diamine 2-(3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexyl)propane-1,3-diamine of formula 1 and a process for producing 2-(3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexyl)propane-1,3-diamine by A) reacting isophorone (IP) and malononitrile to afford the intermediate 2-(3,5,5-trimethylcyclohex-2-en-1-ylidene)malononitrile, and B) hydrogenating 2-(3,5,5-trimethylcyclohex-2-en-1-ylidene)malononitrile in the presence of at least one catalyst. In another embodiment, the hydrogenation in step B) of the process is performed at 20-120° C. and at 20-300 bar.
US09862671B2

This invention relates to a process for obtaining highly pure aliphatic dialkyl esters of saturated dicarboxylic acids from vegetable oils, which can advantageously be used in polymerization. The process comprises the steps of reacting with an aliphatic alcohol a triglycerides mixture containing at least one triglyceride of at least one saturated dicarboxylic acid in the presence of one or more catalysts capable of catalyzing the esterification and transesterification reactions, and separating the dialkyl esters of saturated dicarboxylic acids from the reaction mixture thus obtained.
US09862665B2

Membranes are provided for energy efficient purification of alcohol by pervaporation. Such membranes include a nanofibrous scaffold in combination with a barrier layer. The membranes also include zeolites in the barrier layer. The membranes may, in embodiments, also include a substrate.
US09862661B2

Disclosed is a process for the preparation of 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, comprising the following two reaction steps: a. a compound having the formula CF3-xClxCF2-yClyCH2Cl undergoes gas-phase fluorination with hydrogen fluoride through n serially-connected reaction vessels in the presence of a compound catalyst, producing 2,3-dichloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoropropane, 1,2,3-trichloro-1,1,2-trifluoropropane, and 1,3-dichloro-1,1,2,2-tetrafluoropropane; in said formula, x=1, 2, 3, y=1, 2, and 3≦x+y≦5; b. the 2,3-dichloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoropropane, 1,2,3-trichloro-1,1,2-trifluoropropane, and 1,3-dichloro-1,1,2,2-tetrafluoropropane undergo gas-phase dehalogenation with hydrogen in the presence of a dehalogenation catalyst, producing 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene and 3-chloro-2,3,3-trifluoropropene, then separation and refining are performed, producing 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene. The present invention is primarily used to produce 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene.
US09862652B2

The present invention relates to an improved nitrification inhibitor composition and its use in agricultural applications.
US09862646B2

A dielectric composition containing a complex oxide represented by the formula of AαBβC2γOα+β+5γ as the main component, wherein A represents Ba, B represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ca and Sr, C represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ta and Nb, and α, β and γ meet the following conditions, i.e., α+β+γ=1.000, 0.000<α≦0.375, 0.625≦β<1.000, 0.000≦γ≦0.375.
US09862645B2

A molded, fireproof product, which contains graphite, in particular natural graphite, and is based on fireproof granular materials. The granular-material grains of the product are consolidated to form a molded body by means of a binder known per se and/or ceramic bonding. The product has a homogeneous mixture of at least two graphite types, which each have a different coefficient of thermal expansion. One graphite type is predominant by amount and the other graphite type acts as an auxiliary graphite type. The invention further relates to a method for producing a product and to the use of the product.
US09862642B2

Artificial stone which exhibits minimal visual change when exposed to weathering, UV light, and heat, is prepared by shaping and curing a crosslinkable composition based on crosslinkable organopolysiloxanes as a binder, at least 85% by weight of a filler component, the filler component containing at least 20% by weight of coarse grain mineral filler having grain sizes of 0.2 mm to 10 mm.
US09862641B2

Disclosed herein is a fiber reinforced cementitious composition comprising a cementitious binder and at least one synthetic inorganic reinforcing fiber type, wherein the synthetic inorganic reinforcing fiber type comprises at least one of a man-made mineral fiber type such as basalt fibers, an aluminosilicate wool fiber type or an alkaline earth silicate wool fiber type.
US09862635B2

A glass base material elongating method of sequentially feeding rod-like glass base materials hung by a glass base material feeding mechanism into a heating furnace, and pulling a glass rod with a smaller diameter by a pulling chuck at a lower part of the heating furnace, includes: aligning, by an alignment guiding device that guides the glass rod, a guiding center of the alignment guiding device with an axis of the glass rod, the alignment guiding device guiding the glass rod between the heating furnace and the pulling chuck.
US09862634B2

Process for removing peripheral portions such as bead regions of a glass sheet including a step of pushing the glass sheet in the peripheral portion using a pushing mechanism such as a pushing bar, and corresponding apparatus. As a result of the use of the pushing mechanism, the engagement completion time for suction cups, if used, are reduced significantly. A process without using suction cups is enabled with enhanced yield. The increased process stability and enlarged process window are particularly advantageous for processing glass sheets having high flexibility.
US09862622B2

A filter structure capable of efficiently separating water and oil using wettability is provided. The filter structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a first filter layer including a plurality of openings, a second filter layer including a plurality of openings and positioned so as to be overlapped with the first filter layer at a distance from each other, and a hydrophobic polymer layer formed on surfaces of the first filter layer and the second filter layer. The first filter layer and the second filter layer include surfaces each having a dual-scale protrusion and depression structure as a combination of a micro-scale structure and a nano-scale structure, and the hydrophobic polymer layer is formed along curves of the protrusion and depression structure.
US09862621B2

A desalination apparatus that includes: a water-repellent particle layer that is located below a water tank, contains water-repellent particles, and allows passage of water vapor generated by evaporation of the liquid stored in the water tank, the water tank being a space for storing the liquid; and a liquefying layer that is located below the water-repellent particle layer, and liquefies the water vapor that has passed through the water-repellent particle layer to obtain the fresh water. The water-repellent particle layer includes: a first layer that contains first water-repellent particles among the water-repellent particles, and faces the water tank; and a second layer that contains second water-repellent particles among the water-repellent particles, and is provided below the first layer. The second water-repellent particles have a larger average particle size than the first water-repellent particles.
US09862615B2

The invention relates to the preparation of hydrated alkaline silicate compositions for making intumescent layers for fireproof glazing, said compositions being such that, when applied between glass sheets, they form a solid gel without drying, wherein the compositions are obtained from a stable and fluid solution subjected to partial dehydration at a limited temperature and under a reduced pressure for a duration shorter than that required for the mass curing of the final composition.
US09862614B2

Provided is a method for preparing a hydrophobic silica aerogel by using a Soxhlet extraction, and a hydrophobic silica aerogel prepared by using the method. Since the preparation method according to the present invention may simultaneously perform washing and drying of a hydrophobic silica wet gel as well as solvent substitution and may remove an extraction solvent without an additional separation process, a hydrophobic silica aerogel having low tap density and high specific surface area may be easily prepared.
US09862608B1

A patterned graphene or graphitic body is produced by providing a three-dimensionally patterned carbonaceous body; coating the body with a catalytic metal whereby is formed a coating having an inner surface proximal the body and an outer surface distal the body; and annealing the coated body under time and temperature conditions effective to form a graphene or graphitic layer on the outer surface of the catalytic metal coating.
US09862607B2

Fabricating a nanofiber sheet, ribbon, or yarn by a continuous process that includes synthesizing a nanofiber forest in a forest growth region on a substrate, wherein the nanofiber forest comprises a parallel array of nanofibers, and further includes drawing said nanofibers from the nanofiber forest to form a primary assembly that is a sheet, ribbon or yarn. The substrate continuously moves from the furnace growth region into a region where the nanofibers in the forest are drawn.
US09862606B1

A nanoparticle or agglomerate which contains connected multi-walled spherical fullerenes coated in layers of graphite. In different embodiments, the nanoparticles and agglomerates have different combinations of: a high mass fraction compared to other carbon allotropes present, a low concentration of defects, a low concentration of elemental impurities, a high Brunauer, Emmett and Teller (BET) specific surface area, and/or a high electrical conductivity. Methods are provided to produce the nanoparticles and agglomerates at a high production rate without using catalysts.
US09862605B2

A problem to be solved by the invention is to provide a production method of a nitrogen-containing carbon alloy that has sufficiently high redox activity or has a large number of reaction electrons of redox reaction. A method for producing a nitrogen-containing carbon alloy comprising baking a precursor containing a nitrogen-containing organic compound and an inorganic metal salt containing one or more kinds of Fe, Co, Ni, Mn and Cr, wherein: the precursor satisfies one of the requirements (a) and (b) below, and, the nitrogen-containing organic compound is one of a compound represented by the formula (1) below, a tautomer of the compound, and a salt and hydrate thereof: (a) the precursor contains the inorganic metal salt in an amount exceeding 45% by mass based on the total amount of the nitrogen-containing organic compound and the inorganic metal salt of the precursor, in which the total amount includes the mass of hydrated water in the nitrogen-containing organic compound and the inorganic metal salt, and the amount of the inorganic metal salt includes the mass of hydrated water in the inorganic metal, (b) the precursor further contains a β-diketone metal complex:
US09862593B2

A MEMS device is disclosed. The MEMS device includes a first substrate. At least one structure is formed within the first substrate. The first substrate includes at least one first conductive pad thereon. The MEMS device also includes a second substrate. The second substrate includes a passivation layer. The passivation layer includes a plurality of layers. A top layer of the plurality of layers comprises an outgassing barrier layer. At least one second conductive pad and at least one electrode are coupled to the top layer. At least one first conductive pad is coupled to the at least one second conductive pad.
US09862588B2

This invention relates to a fitment assembly used for dispensing liquids from flexible bags. The connector engages a valved fitment for a container for holding and dispensing fluid. The fitment includes a spout connected to the container and a sliding internal valve body and an external valve body securely positioned within the spout. The connector has a fitment end mateable with the fitment so as to compress the top edge of the external valve body so as to form a seal between the external valve body and the dispensing connector. The external valve body through circumferentially placed apertures allows for substantially complete drainage of the flexible bag.
US09862585B2

A conveyor and carriage assembly are synchronized to increase the speed of operation and eliminate any dwell periods to improve the rate at which a linear container filler is able to fill containers with a material. The fill rate approaches or exceeds that of prior art linear and rotary filling machines.
US09862580B2

An industrial lift truck with a tilt measuring accessory, which provides an operator with a visual indication of the mast assembly tilt angle by means of a flexible cable operated sliding weight indicator mounted on the mast assembly. The flexible cable is fixedly mounted by a mounting device to a roll-cage and extends parallel, or substantially so, to the surface on which the lift truck is operating, before passing over a pulley mounted on the mast assembly to extend downwardly and parallel, or substantially so, to the mast assembly. The sliding weight is received for sliding engagement within a guide, wherein, when the mast assembly is tilted, movement of the flexible cable causes a corresponding movement of the weight relative to the guide thereby giving the visual indication of the angle of tilt of the mast assembly.
US09862579B2

The present invention concerns a remotely operated vehicle or robot for picking up storage bins from a storage system. The inventive vehicle or robot comprises a vehicle body, which vehicle body further comprises a first section for storing vehicle driving means and a second section for receiving any storage bin stored in a storage column within the storage system, a vehicle lifting device which is at least indirectly connected to the vehicle body in order to lift the storage bin into the second section, a first set of vehicle rolling means connected to the vehicle body in order to allow movement of the vehicle along a first direction (X) within the storage system during use and a second set of vehicle rolling means connected to the vehicle body in order to allow movement of the vehicle along a second direction (Y) in the storage system during use. The second direction (Y) is oriented perpendicular to the first direction (X). The inventive vehicle is characterized in that the second section comprises a cavity arranged centrally within the vehicle body. This cavity has at least one bin receiving opening facing towards the underlying storage columns during use. In addition, at least one of the two sets of vehicle rolling means is arranged fully within the vehicle body.
US09862576B2

A carrying device for large panels, such as drywall, plywood and the like. The carrying device includes a rigid one-piece panel receiving bracket with a dual flexible strap and adjustable handle extending therefrom. The panel is received on a platform portion of the bracket which has multiple impact surfaces for positioning, engaging and releasing the bracket from the panel so positioned thereon and a panel positioning strap handle attachment extending therefrom.
US09862571B2

A method of fault detection of a belt or rope includes interconnecting a plurality of cords of the belt or rope, the cords including a plurality of wires, to form a bridge circuit. A fault detection bridge circuit is subjected to a voltage excitation and outputs a voltage which is indicative of the belt or rope damage but remaining insensitive to other environmental noises.
US09862564B2

An assembly and method for automated cutting of undesired stretched yarn in a yarn system. Stretched yarn can hang away from the yarn system differently than desired yarn. A cutter head is positioned a predetermined distance relative to yarn traveling through the yarn system so that the stretched yarn is cut by the cutter head and the desired yarn passes the cutter head without being cut. A plurality of cutter heads can be used to cut stretched yarn hanging away from the yarn system in different locations.
US09862559B2

A sheet detection unit includes a photo-interrupter, a shutter holder, and shutter members held to be movable relative to the shutter holder. The shutter members include a sheet rear end detection portion capable of switching an optical axis between a light-interrupted state and a light-transmitted state and each are supported to be movable to an abutment position where the shutter member causes an abutment surface to protrude, and also movable to a retracted position where the shutter member is retracted from a sheet conveyance path. Based on a detection signal output from the photo-interrupter by the sheet front end detection portion and the sheet rear end detection portion moving relative to the optical axis, a control unit determines the presence or absence of a sheet.
US09862558B2

A sheet feeding device includes a feed roller, a feed holder, a supporting frame and a driving shaft. The feed roller is configured to rotate around a rotating shaft. The feed holder is configured to support the feed roller. The supporting frame has a storage recessed part in which the feed holder is attachable and detachable along a direction crossing an axial direction of the rotating shaft. The driving shaft is supported to the supporting frame on one side of the storage recessed part in the axial direction. The storage recessed part has a guide part and a positioning part. The guide part is configured to guide the feed holder. The rotating shaft is coupled to the driving shaft by sliding the feed holder positioned at the aligning position by the positioning part in the axial direction.
US09862552B2

A method and apparatus for horizontally shifting an article group or article layer, composed of a plurality of articles, from a first position and/or from a conveying movement into a second rest position while largely maintaining the relative positions of the articles in the article layer or group to each other, said transfer being effected by at least one first pusher bar engaging with the articles located at the back of the article group or article layer, as considered in relation to the conveying or feed direction. A support bar, which is at least temporarily allocated to the articles located at the front of the article group or layer, as considered in relation to the conveying direction, moves ahead at a slight distance from or abuts on the foremost articles of the article group or layer at least immediately before or on reaching the rest position.
US09862548B2

A drive unit for driving a carriage which can be displaced along a transporting path comprises a barrel cam, which can be driven to rotate and has a drive groove for engagement of a driver arranged on the carriage, and also comprises a control device for controlling the drive of the carriage. The barrel cam has a first barrel portion and a second barrel portion, which is separate from the first, wherein the barrel portions can be driven independently of one another, and wherein the control device is designed so that, once the carriage has been received from a separate drive unit, it can accelerate the carriage with the first barrel portion and can supply the accelerated carriage to the second barrel portion.
US09862545B2

We disclose a roller guard with discharge for friction-driven sweep conveyors. This disclosure limits the introduction of particulate matter into the interface between a driven roller and an inner surface of a continuous conveyor belt. The roller guard assembly is mounted between an upper belt portion and a lower belt portion near the drive roller and has a retaining wall member oriented at an angle that is neither parallel with nor at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the belt and at such an angle that particulates carried on the inner surface of the lower belt portion are directed toward the discharge aperture in the first sidewall.
US09862544B2

A braking device for a roller conveyor has at least one brake pad (40) for engagement with an outer circumference of at least one conveyor roller (60) of the roller conveyor. The braking device also has an eccentric shaft (20) with a first eccentric (24) for moving the brake pad (40) toward the conveyor roller (60) and away therefrom; and a stepping motor (10) for rotating the eccentric shaft (20). A roller conveyor and to a method for producing a braking device also are provided.
US09862538B2

A mobile support structure (MSS) includes a frame structure for receiving modular silos, a base moveable between transportation and support configurations, and connectors coupling with the silos. A mobile erecting assembly includes a chassis, a lift structure rotatable between transportation and mounting orientations while engaged with a silo, an engagement structure movable between first and second positions while engaged with the silo, and an actuator to move the engagement structure and silo between the first and second positions. The silo is connected to the mobile erector assembly in the transportation orientation, and the mobile erector assembly is then aligned relative to the MSS, such as by engaging an alignment member of the mobile erector assembly with a chassis alignment post of the MSS. The mobile erector assembly is then operated to move the silo to the mounting orientation, and the silo is then coupled to the MSS.
US09862517B2

A blow molded container including (A) a layer containing an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer as a principal component, in which the layer (A) contains an unsaturated aldehyde, and the content of the unsaturated aldehyde in the layer (A) is 0.01 ppm or more and 100 ppm or less. The unsaturated aldehyde (II) is preferably an unsaturated aliphatic aldehyde. The unsaturated aldehyde (II) is preferably at least one selected from the group consisting of crotonaldehyde, 2,4-hexadienal and 2,4,6-octatrienal. The layer (A) preferably contains a conjugated polyene compound, and the content of the conjugated polyene compound in the layer (A) is preferably 0.01 ppm or more and 1,000 ppm or less.
US09862508B2

A packaging and filling device, a paper container, and a blank is disclosed. The blank comprises a sixth panel in a readily foldable state prior to a step for forming a bottom part, and provides sufficient length in a folded portion to protect the end surface of a packaging material. The blank for the paper container is formed by the packaging and filling device and comprises a top part, a bottom part, and a cylindrical body having four side walls and a square cross-section. The packaging and filling device comprises a loading unit for retrieving the blank and loading a cylindrical blank, a bottom-part-molding unit for molding the bottom part of the cylindrical blank to obtain a container, a filling unit for filling the container with liquid food from an upper opening, and an upper-part-sealing unit for heat-sealing the upper opening.
US09862506B2

The present disclosure relates to a launch system, a launch vehicle for use with the launch system, and methods of launching a payload utilizing the launch vehicle and/or the launch system. The disclosure can provide for delivery of the payload at a terrestrial location, an Earth orbital location, or an extraorbital location. The launch vehicle can comprise a payload, a propellant tank, an electrical heater wherein propellant, such as a light gas (e.g., hydrogen) is electrically heated to significantly high temperatures, an exhaust nozzle from which the heated propellant expands to provide an exhaust velocity of, for example, 7-16 km/sec, and sliding electrical contacts in electrical connection with the electrical heater. The launch vehicle can be utilized with the launch system, which can further comprise a launch tube formed of concentric electrically conductive tubes, as well as an electrical energy source, such as a battery bank and associated inductor.
US09862504B1

The present invention extends to methods, systems, devices, apparatus, and computer program products for aligning a target with and/or over and/or into a specific position and orientation. Embodiments include one or more capture components, such as, engagement lines, spars, or struts, that can be actuated together or independently to position a vehicle in a capture area defined by a ring or other geometry. A vehicle can include a sloped surface feature configured to engage with the capture components. When actuated, the capture components draw the sloped surface feature towards and down into the center of the defined capture area. Variations allow a vehicle to be rotated in place, repositioned in place, or clamped securely in place. Positioning and rotation allows alignment with replenishment devices for resupplying and refueling. In this way, a vehicle is relieved from having to have precision terminal guidance for landing and recharging.
US09862503B2

A retrieval device for an unmanned aircraft. The retrieval device may include a frame that supports a flexible material. The flexible material may form a receptacle portion shaped to receive the unmanned aircraft. The flexible material may absorb at least a portion of the energy exerted by the aircraft landing within the receptacle portion. Wheels may be connected to the frame to further control and absorb energy from the landing.
US09862502B2

As a component of an aerial vehicle, a power management system having an active power control device is provided. The system includes a solar cell converting solar energy into electric energy; a fuel cell provided in the aerial vehicle and converting fuel energy into electric energy by electrochemical reaction; a battery compensating for a lack of electric power supplied from the solar cell and the fuel cell to the aerial vehicle and storing surplus electric power; and an active power control device connecting with all the solar cell, the fuel cell and the battery and combining and distributing electric power generated in the solar cell, the fuel cell and the battery to loads. The system efficiently distributes the power from the respective power sources through the controllable output of the fuel cell in accordance with power required by the aerial vehicle and the solar cell's performance depending on weather.
US09862495B2

An aircraft system includes a fan, a differential pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, and a system controller. The fan provides airflow for at least one heat exchanger. The differential pressure sensor senses a pressure difference between an inlet of the fan and a diffuser exit of the fan. The temperature sensor senses a temperature at the inlet of the fan. The system controller is configured to receive the sensed pressure difference, the sensed temperature, and a speed of the fan, and determines an operating point of the fan based upon the sensed pressure difference, the speed of the fan, and the sensed temperature. The operating point is indicative of contamination of the at least one heat exchanger.
US09862493B2

A cabin air compressor assembly that include a cabin air compressor disposed at a compressor inlet and a cabin air compressor motor operably connected to the cabin air compressor. At least one cooling flow inlet is configured to direct a cooling flow through various pathways in the cabin air compressor assembly, including across the cabin air compressor motor. A blower is configured to boost the cooling flow across the cabin air compressor motor, thereby increasing cooling flow provided to the air compressor motor. A static seal plate is downstream of the blower and guides the boosted cooling flow toward a cooling flow exit. In addition, the static seal plate isolates boosted cooling flow from a moving rotor of the cabin air compressor, and also forms part of a containment structure that contains fragments and breakage that may come from the cabin air compressor rotor.
US09862490B2

A toilet module for a vehicle is provided. The toilet module comprises a housing having a front wall, a first functional wall and at least one second functional wall, which enclose a floor surface on the underside of the housing, and a toilet unit. The front wall comprises an access opening. The first functional wall is arranged opposite the front wall and accommodates the toilet unit. The at least one second functional wall extends between the first functional wall and the front wall and is perpendicular to the front wall. The toilet unit has a longitudinal extension axis which forms an angle which is greater than 0° with the at least one second functional wall. In this way, a particularly narrow and compact toilet module can be provided.
US09862469B1

A buoyancy compensating structure including a plurality of tubes forming at least a portion of the payload structure, and a payload section provided within the payload structure. The payload section is configured to house a removable payload. The buoyancy compensating structure further includes a controller configured to regulate a flow of fluid into the plurality of tubes. The controller is configured to neutralize a buoyancy of the payload structure in response to a change in condition of the removable payload in the payload section.
US09862464B2

According to embodiments disclosed herein, there is provided a modular boat that includes a first pontoon, a second pontoon, an arched coupling member, a deck frame, a deck surface and at least one inflatable seat. The first pontoon has a first longitudinal axis and the second pontoon has a second longitudinal axis. The arched coupling member is removably coupleable to the first pontoon and the second pontoon so that the arched coupling member is perpendicular to the first and second longitudinal axis. The deck frame is removably coupleable to the arched coupling member. The deck surface is removably coupleable to the deck frame and extends in a first plane that is parallel to a second plane that contains the first and second longitudinal axis. The inflatable seat is removably coupleable to the deck surface.
US09862460B2

Disclosed are a propulsion system for a ship, a method of assembling the same, and a method of disassembling the same. The propulsion system for the ship includes: a rear propeller fixed to a rotary shaft; a front propeller that is rotatably supported on the rotary shaft in front of the rear propeller; a contra-rotating device that is mounted in an installation space at a rear end of a hull so as to reverse the rotation of the rotary shaft and transmit the reversed rotation to the front propeller; a propeller connecting member that connects the contra-rotating device and the front propeller to transmit a rotational force; and a thrust supporting device that is provided between the contra-rotating device and the propeller connection member to support thrust of the front propeller.
US09862458B2

The invention relates to a vessel for operating on a body of water comprising: a non-planing hull having a waterline and a longitudinal direction with a forward portion, an aft portion, and a central portion, the hull being configured to have the aft portion with a smaller water displacement relative to a water displacement at the central portion; and an aft foil affixed to the aft hull portion with one or more connecting members, and below the surface of the water, and spaced from the hull, the aft foil having a span, a chord, and a leading edge and a trailing edge relative to a forward direction, wherein the leading edge of the aft foil is tilted at a downward angle relative to the horizontal, wherein the aft foil has a chord and profile in longitudinal cross section, with a configuration to provide a lifting force, the tilt angle of the chord of the aft foil being measured with respect to the horizontal, and wherein the aft foil is oriented to provide a continuous, upward, forwardly directed component of the lifting force.
US09862449B2

A positioning device for a foldable scooter, the positioning device comprising a frame component; a inclined tube component, coupled to the frame component; a front fork component, coupled to the inclined tube component; a handlebar, coupled to the front fork component; and two purfles, coupled to the frame component; wherein each purfle further comprises a limit groove, wherein a locating pin is connected to the limit groove and connected to a button, wherein the button is removably connected to the inclined tube component through a spring, wherein the inclined tube component is removably connected to the purfles through a fast unloaded component.
US09862448B2

In a vehicle, a left shock absorber is disposed such that a left telescopic axis is positioned on the left of a left steering axis in a left-right direction of a body frame when a vehicle in which the body frame is standing upright is viewed from a front in a front-rear direction of the body frame. A right shock absorber is disposed such that a right telescopic axis is positioned on the right of a right steering axis in the left-right direction of the body frame when the vehicle in which the body frame is standing upright is viewed from the front in the front-rear direction of the body frame.
US09862446B2

An electrical component mounting structure for a motorcycle includes a vehicle body frame. The vehicle body frame includes: main frames extending downwardly toward rear from a head pipe, the main frames for suspending a power unit; and pivot frames extending downward from rear ends of the main frames to be disposed at left and right in a vehicle width direction. An electrical component including a first ECU is supported in this electrical component mounting structure. In this electrical component mounting structure, the power unit includes a crankcase and a cylinder portion that protrudes from the crankcase, and the first ECU is disposed, in a side view, anterior to the left and right pivot frames, posterior to the cylinder portion, and above the crankcase.
US09862444B2

A rack for a bicycle or a bicycle with a rack comprises a rack body configured to be supported above a rear wheel of the bicycle. The rack body can be supported by side portions that extend along and straddle the rear wheel and are coupled to the bicycle. The rack can comprise a deck portion that extends in a longitudinal direction of the bicycle above the rear wheel. One or more carrier arms can be coupled to the rack at forward and/or rearward ends. In some configurations, a carrier arm can be provided on each side of the front and rear of the rack. The carrier arms can be rotatable or otherwise adjustable with respect to the rack body.
US09862442B2

A bicycle control device that includes a control member with at least one transparent portion, and a luminous indicator. The luminous indicator includes a light source and a light guide that guides the light, through the phenomenon of total internal reflection, from the light source to the at least one transparent portion of the control member.
US09862431B1

A truck box assembly includes a truck box and a tailgate. The truck box is mounted to a vehicle body. The tailgate is mounted to a rear portion of the truck box for rotation between at least closed and open positions and includes an inner face and an upper face. The upper face defines a first clamp pocket sized to receive an external clamp to secure an item to the inner face when the tailgate is in the open position. The tailgate may further define a latch receiver pocket sized to receive a latch of the truck box to secure the tailgate in the closed position. The first clamp pocket may be located proximate the latch receiver pocket. The latch receiver pocket may be located adjacent a rear pillar of the truck box when the tailgate is in the closed position.
US09862426B2

The present invention is, in a first aspect, a two-piece vehicular splash guard assembly including a splash guard body, having at least one slit, and a cover, having at least one tab corresponding to and registerable with the at least one slit. Removably securing the cover about an interior surface of the splash guard body, either before or after painting the splash guard body, ensures that no paint bleeds onto the inside surface of the splash guard body during the manufacturing process. In a second aspect, a method of painting said splash guard assembly is provided in order to create fine paint lines along the edges of the splash guard body. The cover may be attached either prior to or after painting and, thereafter, the combined cover and splash guard body may be attached to a vehicle or, alternatively, the splash guard body alone may be attached to the vehicle.
US09862422B2

A rocker panel assembly for a vehicle includes an upper rocker panel, a lower rocker panel, and a fastener. The fastener connects the upper and lower rocker panels. The fastener has a frustoconical tip to locate the fastener on the lower rocker panel, a body with a plurality of fins to stabilize the fastener between the upper and lower rocker panels, and a shoulder including an arrow-head configured to clamp the lower rocker panel to the upper rocker panel between the shoulder and a head of the fastener.
US09862421B2

A vehicle includes a bumper, a floor and a subframe. The subframe is attached to the floor at a plurality of attachment points and below the bumper. The subframe has a base member extending across the subframe, parallel to the bumper and including a bracket. The bracket has first and second tabs connected by a platform extending from the first and second tabs. The bracket is fixedly attached at the second tab and angled relative to the base member such that the second tab is defined closer to the bumper. Upon loading, the first tab moves in a direction substantially parallel to the base member and the platform is deformed substantially perpendicular to the base member.
US09862415B2

A lane keeping assist apparatus is disclosed which includes a lane detecting part that detects a lane in which a vehicle travels; an actuator that generates a force for changing an orientation of the vehicle; and a controller that operates the actuator such that the vehicle travels within the lane under a situation where a lane keeping assist function is in its ON state, wherein under a situation where the controller is operating the actuator, the controller determines whether an operation amount of the actuator is less than a predetermined first threshold, and prevents an output of operation information if it determines that the operation amount of the actuator is less than the predetermined first threshold, the operation information representing an operated state of the actuator.
US09862404B2

A steering column assembly includes a plunger assembly received within an opening defined by a mounting bracket. The plunger assembly includes a sleeve, a plunger, and a biasing member. The sleeve disposed within the opening. The plunger slidably disposed within the sleeve. The biasing member that engages the plunger to bias the plunger towards a deployed position.
US09862403B1

A manually retractable steering column assembly includes a retractable portion translatable upon exertion of a manual force applied by a driver, the retractable portion restricted to a first translation range during a standard driving mode and translatable within a second translation range during an autonomous driving mode, the second translation range greater than the first translation range.
US09862393B2

A railroad open top hopper car comprises a pair of spaced trucks a railcar body, the body comprising a pair of side structures railcar, wherein each including (i) a top chord extending the side structure length, (ii) a plurality of upper side stakes extending from the top chord, (iii) an intermediate side chord extending the side structure length and below the top chord and coupled to the upper side stakes, (iv) a plurality of lower side stakes extending from the intermediate side chord, and (v) a side sill extending the length and below the intermediate side chord and coupled to the lower side stakes. The body forms discharge chutes forming pockets for the body with a plurality of intermediate doors and end doors, wherein the end doors are larger than the intermediate doors. Each door may include a biased door seal.
US09862392B2

A communication system and method receive, at an energy management system disposed onboard a vehicle system formed from a lead vehicle and one or more remote vehicles, trip data that represents one or more characteristics of an upcoming trip of the vehicle system along a route. A selected portion of the trip data is communicated from the energy management system to a distributed power system also disposed onboard the vehicle system. The selected portion includes identifying information and one or more orientations of the one or more remote vehicles. Using the distributed power system, communication links between the lead vehicle and the one or more remote vehicles are established using the identifying information and the one or more orientations.
US09862391B2

A bidirectional overhead urban transport (TUEP) for a large transportation capacity, which is suspended over a series of poles, without interfering with the traffic of vehicles and pedestrians surface, which is characterized by having a continuum of autonomous cabins circulating about a tubular track suspended by static wires hanging from the poles. The system has overhead stations for passengers, by which access is given to the suspended cabins, moved by autonomous and independent electric motors which rotate a drive pulley rolling on the upper back of a horizontal tubular track raised or inclined according to the topography of the ground. The peculiarity of this transport system is that each of the cabins that are only for two passengers, travels directly to a destination station, where is diverted from the main flow to a station, so it is not necessary to stop the main flow of cabins, which results in that although circulating at low to moderate speed, the time required to travel is reduced.
US09862384B2

A method of controlling a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) simulates a step-ratio transmission upshift. To simulate a step-ratio torque phase, the input torque is gradually reduced before beginning to change the variator ratio. Then, as the variator ratio is changed, the input torque is gradually increased to compensate for the decreasing torque ratio, simulating the relatively constant output torque of an inertia phase of a step-ratio upshift.
US09862380B2

A method for automatically controlling a vehicle includes giving a reference local path and a potential speed of the vehicle. The method also includes calculating a stirring angle automatic setpoint that makes it possible to calculate a lateral acceleration proportional to the square of the potential speed of the vehicle, making the vehicle describe an arc of a circle including a point of intersection with the reference local path at a distance from the vehicle. A speed setpoint is generated and set to a value equal to that of the potential speed when the lateral acceleration has a value lower than a maximum permissible lateral acceleration value and the value of the potential speed is decreased when the lateral acceleration has a value higher than or equal to the maximum permissible lateral acceleration value so as to calculate a reduced lateral acceleration by repeating the calculating.
US09862378B2

A control device for a hybrid vehicle includes a traction motor that is for driving a vehicle and transmits power to the wheels of the vehicle, an engine that is connected to a power transmission route to the vehicle wheels, through a clutch, a generator that is connected to the engine, a breakdown detecting unit that detects a breakdown of the traction motor, and a retreat traveling control unit that stops firing of the engine and operates the generator as a motor while switching the clutch to a connection state to make the vehicle travel using the generator, in a case where a breakdown of the traction motor is detected by the breakdown detecting unit.
US09862376B2

A control unit of a hybrid vehicle derives maximum assisting electric power and maximum chargeable electric power of a battery, and permits a shift to an engine direct coupled drive in the event that an imaginary operation point of an internal combustion engine where the maximum assisting electric power is supplied to a motor and an imaginary operation point of the internal combustion engine where the maximum chargeable electric power is stored in the battery, at a rotational speed of the internal combustion engine which corresponds to a required driving force required on the hybrid vehicle when the hybrid vehicle executes the engine direct coupled drive, are positioned inside an area where energy efficiency of the hybrid vehicle becomes higher when the hybrid vehicle executes the engine direct coupled drive than when the hybrid vehicle executes a series drive.
US09862375B2

Methods and systems are described for conserving fuel used by an engine. In some embodiments a control module processes a user-provided input, as a first function, into a second function. The second function can be used to direct the engine with a directive output power. The directive output power may have regions equal to, greater than, and/or less than what the power output would be if the engine were controlled using the user-provided input.
US09862365B2

Systems and methods for reducing disturbances that may result from using gain scheduling in brake controls. This method may include the steps of detecting a control signal, comparing the control signal to a threshold value, and gradually increasing or decreasing a controller gain in response to amplitude of the control signal being above or below the threshold value.
US09862363B2

In a method for setting a parking brake that has an electromechanical brake device having an electrical brake motor, the release time duration for displacing the electrical brake motor in the release direction is determined from the closing time duration in which the brake motor was previously displaced in the closing direction.
US09862359B2

A vehicle wash system includes a wash package selection zone where a vehicle operator is presented with a plurality of different vehicle wash packages. Each of the vehicle wash packages has an associated unique color identifier. The system includes a controller configured to receive a selection from the vehicle operator of one of the plurality of different vehicle wash packages. The system includes a vehicle treatment zone, including at least one illumination element associated therewith. The at least one illumination element is in communication with the controller. The controller is configured to emit light from the at least one illumination element in a color that corresponds to the color identifier of the vehicle package selected by the vehicle operator.
US09862358B2

The invention relates to a wiper device, comprising a nozzle unit (10a-10c), which is provided for arrangement on a wiper arm (12a; 12c) and for applying washing water on a vehicle window (14a-14c). It is proposed that the nozzle unit (10a-10c) is designed to apply in one operating state washing water on both sides of a wiper blade (16a-16c) fixed to the wiper arm (12a-12c) on the vehicle window (14a-14c).
US09862346B2

An airbag system for a vehicle is provided that prevents a passenger seated in each seat from being struck and injured by a roof airbag when the roof airbag is deployed in the event of vehicle collision. In addition, the airbag system for a vehicle secures safety by effectively protecting the passenger using the roof airbag.
US09862324B2

A driver lift device lifts a driver to enter an elevated cab on farm equipment or the like. The device includes an elongated post vertically mounted to a vehicle proximate an entry into a cab of the vehicle. Each of a top end and a bottom end of a pole is coupled to the post such that the pole is positioned in parallel spaced relationship to the post. Each of a plurality of rollers is coupled to a housing defining a vertical path through the housing. The pole extends through the vertical path. A foot support is coupled to the housing. A winch is coupled to the top end of the pole. A strap couples the housing to the winch whereby operation of the winch elevates and lowers the foot support on the pole.
US09862323B2

An accessory system for a vehicle includes an attachment member attached at an interior surface of a vehicle windshield and an accessory module configured to detachably mount to the attachment member. The accessory module and attachment member are configured so that when the accessory module mounts to the attachment member, an electrical element of the accessory module is biased toward and against the inner surface of the windshield. The electrical element includes a camera and, with the accessory module mounted to the attachment member, the camera has a forward field of view through the windshield. The camera may be associated with at least one of (i) a headlamp control system, (ii) a lane departure warning system, (iii) an adaptive cruise control system, (iv) a sign recognition system, (v) a night vision system, (vi) a pedestrian detection system and (vii) a pre-crash avoidance system.
US09862320B2

A three-dimensional object detection device has a camera, a three-dimensional object detection unit, a lens cleaning device, a lens state assessment unit and a controller. The camera has a lens for forming an image of an area rearward of a vehicle. The three-dimensional object detection unit detects a three-dimensional object rearward of the vehicle based on the captured images. The lens cleaning device sprays cleaning fluid to clean the lens of the camera. The lens state assessment unit accesses whether the lens is in a predetermined state subject to control based on a timing at which cleaning fluid is sprayed on the lens. The controller suppresses detection of the three-dimensional object by retaining detection or assessment results for a predetermined length of time that were obtained immediately before the lens was assessed to be in the state subject to control, upon assessment that the lens state is subject to control.
US09862317B2

A system for evaluating performance of a vehicle window defrosting/defogging apparatus includes at least one computing device having at least a processor and a memory, and one or more imagers configured for obtaining images of one or more windows of a vehicle. The processor is configured to execute instructions for analyzing the images to determine a defrosted/defogged portion of the one or more windows at predetermined time intervals, including controlling illumination to optimize the system's ability to distinguish cleared window areas. A graphical user interface is configured for displaying and/or manipulating at least one of the one or more images, digital data of the one or more images, and a predetermined template for determining the defrosted/defogged portion of the one or more windows. The system includes instructions for aligning the one or more images with the predetermined template, including processing the images to correct for window taper, curvature, and size.
US09862316B2

A method for visualizing the surroundings of a vehicle, including the following steps: determining and storing an instantaneous distance between the vehicle and present obstacles in the surroundings of the vehicle with the aid of at least one sensor; determining and storing a present position of the vehicle; calculating an at least two-dimensional model of the surroundings from the stored data; calculating a virtual view of the model of the surroundings from a selected virtual observer position; recording a video depiction of at least a portion of the surroundings with the aid of at least one video camera and integrating the video depiction into the virtual view; and outputting the virtual view together with the integrated video depiction to a driver of the vehicle.
US09862311B2

A visual communication apparatus affixed to a vehicle. The visual communication apparatus includes a smart key system that detects a key fob of a user within a keyless detection zone, a projector projecting visual indications on a projecting zone lying on a ground surface of the vehicle, a sensor optically capturing gestures of the user of the vehicle, and an electrical control unit capable of actuated key elements of the vehicle. The visual indications include passive visual indications requiring no activation from the user and active visual indications requiring activations from the user. The activations are performed by gestures of the user on the active visual indications.
US09862310B2

An apparatus for controlling a vehicle lamp includes a turn signal lamp, a turn signal lamp switch configured to operate the turn signal lamp, a lane change detector configured to detect lane change, and a controller configured to release the operation of the turn signal lamp when the lane change detector determines that the lane change has been completed after the operation of the turn signal lamp switch.
US09862305B2

A vehicle headlight device includes a variable light distribution mechanism that is able to change an illuminating area of light emitted ahead of a vehicle equipped with the vehicle headlight device from at least one light source, and is able to illuminate part of the illuminating area at a higher intensity than other parts, a direct field of vision estimator that estimates a direct field of vision on which a vehicle operator is assumed to keep his/her eyes within an area ahead of the vehicle; and a light distribution controller that sets the illuminating area so as to contain the direct field of vision estimated by the direct field of vision estimator, and controls the variable light distribution mechanism to illuminate an area corresponding to the direct field of vision at a higher intensity than a periphery of the area.
US09862298B2

A trailer comprising a main portion and a dovetail connected to a rear end of the main portion. The dovetail being configured to actuate between a travel position and a load position. The trailer additionally comprises a sled secured to the main portion and configured to actuate between a retracted position and an extended position. The trailer further comprises an actuator for extending and retracting the sled. With the sled in the extended position, the actuator and the sled is configured to maintain the dovetail in the travel position without the use of secondary locking mechanisms.
US09862295B2

A seat support suspension improving an absorption characteristic of low-cycle vibrations resulting from rolling. A seat support member supporting a seat is provided via a rolling absorption mechanism for absorbing rolling on brackets as a vehicle body side attachment member attached to the vehicle body side. Thus, rolling, low-cycle vibrations, generated by a phase shift or the like of a hydraulic suspension of the vehicle can be absorbed by the rolling absorption mechanism, a lateral displacement of the body of the seated person can be prevented, stability of a seated posture can be increased, and moreover occurrence of motion sickness can be suppressed.
US09862293B2

A seat for a vehicle, including a seating part pivoting about a pivot connection, a pivot connection allowing the seating part to be lowered into a substantially horizontal position or lifted against a back rest, the lowering of the seating part being limited in the course thereof by at least one first abutment that can release the lowering following an impact, the being characterized in that the seating part includes at least two adjacent panels that can carry out a fold-back movement in relation to each other about an axis parallel to the pivot connection between the seating part and the back rest in such a way as to be able to bring the upper faces of the panels towards each other.
US09862291B2

A seat slide device includes lower rails and upper rails both formed substantially symmetrical bilaterally across a center in a width direction, and lock mechanisms on both sides of the upper rails to be engaged with the lower rails to lock them. An entire structure combining the lower rails, the upper rails and the lock mechanisms is substantially symmetrical forward, backward, and bilaterally, and a force applied to the lower rails and the upper rails can be absorbed substantially evenly forward, backward, and left and right. Since the lock mechanisms have an elastic lock member in a substantially center part in a longitudinal direction, the lower rails and the upper rails are elastically deformable for reduction of a biased load at a time of locking, improvement in vibration absorption characteristic, and the like, and a plate thickness of each material can be made thinner than conventional for weight reduction.
US09862289B1

A limited slip electric drive system for a motor vehicle is disclosed. The system uses an induction motor having a stator, and first and second rotors disposed for independent rotation within the stator. The rotors are each independently associated with one wheel of the vehicle and are able to slip when the vehicle goes around a turn. A traction inverter and control system monitors angular speeds of the rotors and determines which of the rotors is turning slower than the other, and controls the induction motor in accordance with the rotor having a lower speed so that a torque signal is generated in accordance with the rotor having the lower speed.
US09862288B2

Electromechanical systems using magnetic fields to induce eddy currents and generate lift are described. Magnet configurations which can be employed in the systems are illustrated. The magnet configuration can be used to generate lift and/or thrust. Arrangements of hover engines, which can employ the magnet configurations, are described. Further, vehicles, which employ the hover engines and associated hover engines are described.
US09862279B2

A vehicle consumes electric power of a battery when traveling in a first mode and sustains a storage power amount of the battery when traveling in a second mode. The travel planning unit forms a travel plan that assigns one of the first mode and the second mode to each zone included in a route. A control unit sets a travel mode of the vehicle to the first mode when the vehicle deviates from the route that is in accordance with the formed travel plan.
US09862278B2

A method and device for controlling a hybrid starter generator (HSG) of a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) can distinguish a section in which tension influencing durability of a belt connected between an internal combustion engine and the HSG increases, and another section in which the tension decreases, in order to restrict a change in torque of the HSG connected to the belt.
US09862276B2

A vehicle power system includes a controller configured to issue commands to open a selected set of switches of an inverter and then to operate the selected set of switches according to a pulse width modulation signal having an increasing duty cycle such that input current to a battery is driven towards zero and a magnitude of d-axis current of the drive system is reduced in response to a fault with an electric drive system.
US09862274B2

A vehicle display device 10 includes a combiner 4, provided between a windshield 1 and a driver's seat, and including a transparent region portion 4a and a display styling portion 40 having a light diffusion function, and an illuminating unit 3, which is capable of selectively illuminating the display styling portion 40 and the transparent region portion 4a at the periphery of the display styling portion 40.
US09862273B2

A work vehicle including an internal combustion engine that generates power and an exhaust gas treatment device that treats exhaust gas emitted from the internal combustion engine, the work vehicle includes: a detection unit that detects an abnormality of the exhaust gas treatment device; an output restriction unit that restricts output of an output generation device included in the work vehicle when the detection unit detects the abnormality of the exhaust gas treatment device; a display control unit that causes a display unit to display information that the restriction on the output is allowed to be temporarily released; and a releasing unit that releases the restriction on the output in response to an instruction to temporarily release the restriction on the output.
US09862271B2

The present invention discloses a mm-wave radar sensor to be deployed in the vehicles for sensing driver fatigue. The key system relevant components are utilization of mm-wave integrated radar, with specific planar high gain antenna radiation pattern, by analyzing at least two major biometric parameters of the drives simultaneously: heartbeat and respiratory dynamics. The method of operation calculates probability of the fatigue event. In case that probability is above a predefined threshold, the interaction with vehicle control system is initiated, using typical arbitrary automotive interfaces. Corresponding predefined actions are taken in that case. The predefined actions could be one or combination of the following: driver safety belt pulling, audio signal alerts to driver, vibration alert to driver, inside cabin light condition changes, engine operation condition change, corresponding communication using arbitrary wireless means to outside vehicle environment. Optionally, the system is utilizing additional driver imposed parameters like acceleration sensor information. Preferably, the system is using 60 GHz or 77-79 GHz integrated radar front end working in Doppler operation mode, with 4×4 Tx and Rx planar radiation elements, with physical size typically in the range 4×2×1 cm, or smaller.
US09862266B2

A fuel door assembly for a motor vehicle is provided. The fuel door assembly includes a housing, a fuel door and a door seal. The fuel door is hingedly supported by the housing for rotation between an open position and a closed position. The door seal includes a proximal edge supported by the housing and a distal edge separated from the housing. The door seal has an arcuate shape extending from the proximal edge to the distal edge when the fuel door is in the open position.
US09862259B2

A vehicle windshield protection device. The device may comprise: a cover portion and side mirror straps. The cover portion may comprise support members configured to prevent the vehicle windshield protection device from being blown off a vehicle. The cover portion may substantially cover an outer surface of a windshield of the vehicle. The side mirror straps may engage with one or more side mirrors of the vehicle. The wind strap may engage with a top portion of a vehicle and may prevent the device from being blown off the vehicle. The cover portion is generally configured to prevent frost, ice, and snow from adhering to the windshield.
US09862250B2

A method and device for influencing a climate in the interior of a motor vehicle, the influence occurring at least as a function of one operating state and/or operating behavior of the motor vehicle ascertained before the influence.
US09862247B2

A heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system has a steerable outlet for directing a stream of treated air into a passenger compartment of a vehicle. A thermographic imager is configured to capture thermographic images covering a fixed region within the passenger compartment in which an occupant is potentially located. The HVAC control circuit is configured to a) compress a thermographic image to a temperature map representing pixels of the thermographic image falling within a predetermined temperature range corresponding to the occupant, b) filter the temperature map according to a sliding window to coalesce continuous regions of pixels on average falling within the predetermined temperature range, c) quantify an area for each continuous region, d) locate a centroid of a continuous region having a largest area, and e) aim the steerable outlet toward the centroid.
US09862238B2

A tire of a vehicle is disclosed having at least one sensor, a control module and one or more indicators. The at least one sensor is located at a re-threading level of the tire to sense contact with ground surface. Upon contact with the ground surface, the at least one sensor generates data. The control module receives the data from the at least one sensor. Upon receiving the data, the control module determines a predefined condition. The control module transmits the data to a dashboard upon determining the predefined condition. The transmitted data is displayed on the dashboard which is communicatively connected to the control module for indicating wearing of the tire. In an embodiment, the dashboard provides signal relating to the displayed data. The one or more indicators is communicatively connected to the dashboard to receive signal relating to the data for indicating wearing of the tire.
US09862237B2

A regroovable tread profile of a pneumatic vehicle tire includes a regrooving indicator formed with an additional indent in the base of the depression in the form of a blind hole lying transversely in relation to the main direction of extent (U) of the groove and having a length of extent (A2) and an indent depth (B), where (B) is formed such that BT1, which is measured starting from the groove base inward in the radial direction (R) to the base bounding the indent radially inwardly. The depth of extent (T1) forms the measure for the minimum regrooving depth and the depth of extent (T2) forms the measure for the maximum regrooving depth.
US09862236B2

Provided is a pneumatic tire which can fundamentally prevent the phenomenon in which cracks are generated in the bottoms of grooves and the areas where the side walls of blocks meet the bottoms of grooves, can suppress irregular abrasion of the tread, can enhance the overall rigidity of the tread, and can also enhance the drainage performance. The pneumatic tire of the invention includes a tread, side walls and bead sections, with a large number of blocks compartmentalized by grooves being formed on the surface of the tread, and also includes reinforcing ribs that are positioned inside a groove and have their lower parts joined with the bottom of the groove, with one lateral surface of a reinforcing rib and one side wall of the groove being in contact.
US09862231B2

A bogie axle system having an axle housing, a planetary gear set, a chain housing, and a slew bearing assembly. The axle housing may at least partially receive planetary gear set. The chain housing may receive a drive sprocket unit. The slew bearing assembly may pivotally couple the chain housing to the axle housing.
US09862229B2

The invention relates to a roller (1), preferably comprising two wheels (2) and a locking device, an activating part (10) acting on the locking device for releasing or locking, and the activating part (10) being movable by a drive, a movement of a transmission part (7) that is generated by the drive being transmitted via spring force to the activating part (10) for moving same, and a spring (8) being supported on the transmission part. In order to provide a roller that allows an advantageous constructional design, it is proposed that a support region is formed for the spring (8) and/or the spring (9) and/or the compression spring (44) on the activating part (10), through which region the transmission part (7) can pass.
US09862228B1

A caster structure has a screw hole formed at the middle of a carrying plate and provided for passing, screwing, and pressing a screw, and then screwing and pressing tightly with a nut, so that the installed screw has a smaller thickness to lower the center of gravity of an installed wheel in addition to giving a dual nut fixing effect. The caster has bearings which are mainly thrust bearings for bearing a relatively larger axial gravity to prevent the bearing from being damaged by gravity and the balls from falling out. The bearings are limited and positioned securely to prevent installation gaps and dusts, to maintain a flexible rotation of the caster.
US09862220B2

A donor substrate, a method of laser induced thermal imaging, and a method of manufacturing an organic light emitting display device are disclosed. In the method of laser induced thermal imaging, a donor substrate is provided to include a base substrate, a light to heat conversion layer, a transfer layer and a functional layer. The functional layer includes a material radiating an infrared light. The donor substrate is laminated to an acceptor substrate. A laser beam is radiated into the donor substrate, thereby forming an organic layer pattern on the acceptor substrate from the transfer layer. A position of the organic layer pattern is observed using an infrared microscope. A laser beam position is adjusted and the donor substrate is separated from the acceptor substrate.
US09862214B2

Recording is performs that suppresses ink discharge position deviation between scans while suppressing graininess in a case of using multiple types of ink.
US09862213B2

An inkjet printing apparatus includes an inkjet print head arranged to be moveable in a direction of movement along a guiding assembly. The guiding assembly includes a support structure; a strip mounted on the support structure, the strip being rigidly straight in a first direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement and mounted in such way that a straightness in the direction of movement is provided; and an air bearing system operatively coupled to the strip. The strip extends in a vertical plane, the vertical plane being substantially parallel to the direction of movement and being substantially parallel to the first direction. The air bearing system is configured to control a position of the inkjet print head in a horizontal plane relative to the strip during movement of the print head in the direction of movement, the horizontal plane being substantially perpendicular to the vertical plane. Employing such a strip and a suitable mounting method for mounting the strip on the support structure, it is enabled to select a cost-effective and/or light-weight support structure.
US09862211B2

A control device of a printing execution mechanism executing: first control processing including: conveying a sheet to a first position at which the sheet is held by an upstream holding member of the conveyance mechanism, is not held by a downstream holding member of the conveyance mechanism, and a downstream end of the sheet is located between the upstream and downstream holding members; and printing on a first surface of the sheet; and second control processing including: conveying the sheet to a second position at which the sheet is held by the upstream holding member, is not held by the downstream holding member, and the downstream end of the sheet is located at a more upstream side than the downstream end of the sheet located at the first position; and printing on a second surface of the sheet.
US09862204B2

An image processor 53 processing taken images includes an image inspection means 54 for inspecting whether printing is performed properly as compared with a master image by using the image of the entire can taken by a first camera, a density measurement means 55 for measuring densities in designated positions for respective colors also by using the image of the entire can taken by the first camera, and a printing misalignment value measurement means 56 for measuring misalignment values with respect to set positions of printing misalignment inspection marks printed on an opening-side end portion of a can for respective colors by using the image of the opening-side end portion of the can taken by the second camera.
US09862200B2

A liquid cartridge includes a first surface, a second surface spaced apart from the first surface, and a third surface extending between the first surface and the second surface, with a liquid outlet through the first surface. A circuit board is mounted on the third surface. A locking mechanism includes a locking surface that extends above the third surface, and a liquid detection mechanism includes a light access portion. The light access portion is disposed between the circuit board and the locking surface, and the circuit board is disposed between the first surface and the light access portion.
US09862194B2

In one example, a method for wiping the face of a printhead includes wiping across the face of the printhead and then wiping along the face of the printhead with a web of cleaning material. In another example, a wiper for wiping a face of a printhead includes a rotatable shaft having an axis of rotation and a helical blade affixed to the shaft. The helical blade is simultaneously rotatable on the shaft against the face of the printhead and translatable along the face of the printhead in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation.
US09862180B2

A removable flexible jacket for use in a printing press having a transfer cylinder for transferring a freshly printed substrate comprises a sheet of woven fabric, a beaded film sheet coupled to the sheet of woven fabric, and an image disposed between the sheet of woven fabric and the beaded film sheet. The image is visible through the beaded film sheet, and wherein the image divides at least a portion of a surface of the beaded film sheet into a plurality of zones.
US09862173B2

A method for fabricating window member may include preparing a transparent polymer film, disposing a light curable adhesive layer on a surface of the transparent polymer film, disposing a transparent substrate on the light curable adhesive layer, the transparent substrate including a transmitting region and a non-transmitting region, and curing the light curable adhesive layer by light irradiation. The light curable adhesive layer may include a transparent adhesive. A storage modulus of the transparent adhesive may be greater than or equal to about 103 Pa to less than about 106 Pa at room temperature before curing, and greater than or equal to about 106 Pa at room temperature after curing.
US09862169B2

A rotomolded article having one or more layers includes a layer A. The layer A includes from 50 to 99.4 wt % of a polyolefin; from 0.5 to 50 wt % of a polyester; from 0.1 to 20 wt % of a co- or ter-polymer; and from 0.1 to 20 wt % of an ionomer.
US09862165B2

An at least two layer rotomolded article can include a layer A and a layer B. Layer A can include an aliphatic polyester selected from polyhydroxyalkanoate, poly(lactic acid), polycaprolactone, copolyesters and polyesteramides. Layer A can include a polyolefin. Layer A can include a co- or ter-polymer that includes ethylene or styrene monomer, an unsaturated anhydride-containing monomer, epoxide-containing monomer, or carboxylic acid-containing monomer, and a (meth)acrylic ester monomer. Layer B can include a polyolefin and a polyester. Layer B can include a co- or ter-polymer that includes an ethylene or a styrene monomer, an unsaturated anhydride-containing monomer, epoxide-containing monomer, or carboxylic acid-containing monomer, and a (meth)acrylic ester monomer.
US09862161B2

Blank for display packages containing a cartomizer blister pack include a top panel and a bottom panel connected to a back panel, a front panel connected to the bottom panel, a first glue panel connected to the back panel, a second glue panel connected to the back panel front, a first side panel connected to the front panel, a second side panel connected to the front panel, a first bottom side panel connected to the first glue panel, a second bottom side panel connect to the second glue panel, and a plurality of first cut lines separating the first and second bottom side panels from the bottom panel and the first and second side panels.
US09862160B2

A flexible manufacturing system can be used to fuse different layers of material together for forming an article of footwear. The system includes a base portion, an intermediate member and an upper member. The intermediate member includes a flexible membrane. The intermediate member can be sealed with the base portion and a vacuum can be provided to pull the flexible membrane over layers of material placed on the base portion. The upper member can be sealed against the intermediate member so that external pressure can be applied to the flexible membrane. The intermediate member and the upper member can be moved independently.
US09862145B2

The invention relates to a 2D printing method on a 3D printing support, consisting of forming a printing support comprised of a plurality of colored fibers that follow a printing pattern, which once joined and shaped into a block, can be transversally cut, thereby obtaining printed sheets according to said printing pattern. The invention further relates to the printing support, comprised of a block (1), wherein in one embodiment same is composed of a plurality of hollow tubes (2) having a cavity that can be filled with a coloring means and in another embodiment same is composed of solid tubes. After the coloring means hardens and the block (1) solidifies, the latter can be transversally cut parallel to the printing face (4) into a plurality of strips (5) that will depend on the required volume of advertising signs, posters or banners, among others.
US09862144B2

Porosity causing gas-based defects are detected, located, identified, and/or characterized by the use of defect information generated from gas flow data corresponding to gas flow characteristics measured by one or more sensors on a composite part processing piece such as a mold or membrane used during a composite manufacturing process. The defect information is generated using techniques including one or more of profiling the gas flow data, fingerprinting, line leak detection, analytical triangulation.
US09862142B2

Devices and methods for fusing materials using a heating element, where the overall mass to be sealed varies along the length of the seal. According to the invention, the heating element has a different profile in different areas. According to some aspects, the thickness and/or cross section of the heating element is different in different areas so that when a current is passed through the heating element, each area heats to a different degree. In some aspects, the heating element is shaped to conform to the shape of the parts to be fused together. The transition between areas of different thickness or cross-sectional area, or between areas of different shape may be sharply defined. This abrupt transition may be created by machining the heating element to a finished shape rather than bending flat stock to shape.
US09862141B2

Electronic components are often assembled using robotic equipment, such as pick-and-place machines, that is not optimized for components such as ultra-thin semiconductor bare dice. Selective laser-assisted die transfer is described based on the unique blistering behavior of a multilayer dynamic release layer when irradiated by low energy focused laser pulse(s) in which the blister creates translation of the article being placed. Accurate placement results are provided with negligible lateral and angular displacement.
US09862139B2

A three dimensional printing apparatus including a tank filled with liquid forming material, a platform disposed in the tank and immersed in the liquid forming material, and a curing tool disposed next to the tank is provided. The tank has at least two forming areas in step manner. The tank and the platform are controlled to generate a relative planer motion, wherein the platform moves from a forming area in higher step towards another forming area in lower step. When the platform moves to one of the forming areas, the curing tool cures the liquid forming material between the platform and the forming area to form a solidification layer on the platform. As the platform moves by at least two forming areas to form at least two solidification layers, the solidification layers are stacked to form a three dimensional object.
US09862137B2

An expanding tool comprising: an actuator comprising a cylindrical housing that defines an actuator housing cavity; a primary ram disposed within the actuator housing cavity, the primary ram defining an internal primary ram cavity; a secondary ram disposed within the internal primary ram cavity; a cam roller carrier coupled to a distal end of the secondary ram; a drive collar positioned within a distal end of the actuator housing cavity; a roller clutch disposed within an internal cavity defined by an inner surface of the drive collar; a shuttle cam positioned between the roller clutch and a distal end of the primary ram; an expander cone coupled to the primary ram; and an expander head operably coupled to the drive collar. When triggered, the actuator first rotates the expander head and then the actuator expands the expander head.
US09862115B2

Methods and apparatus relating to provision and/or utilization of a hidden feature for accessing and/or repairing mobile devices are described. An embodiment includes a wire physically adjacent to an adhesive. The adhesive bonds a first portion of a computing device and a second portion of the computing device. The wire is capable of being heated in response to application of electrical voltage or current. In turn, the heated wire causes cutting of the adhesive to allow for physical separation of the first portion of the computing device and the second portion of the computing device. Another embodiment utilizes a hidden end of an opening in a computing device to hide a fastener. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed.
US09862114B2

A slicing apparatus for a continuous slicing of products comprises a slicing unit having a movable cutting blade, a supply apparatus for a multi-track supply of the products to the slicing unit to cut off slices from the products and a removal apparatus for removing portions of cut-off slices along a transport direction. The removal apparatus has a first removal conveyor and a second removal conveyor arranged downstream of the first removal conveyor with respect to the transport direction. The slicing apparatus comprises a slicing apparatus provided between the first removal conveyor and the second removal conveyor for cut-off product parts to be discarded and a track combiner which is configured to take over portions not to be discarded in each case from a number of different conveyor tracks of the first removal conveyor consecutively in time and to combine them in a smaller number of tracks on the second removal conveyor.
US09862112B2

Systems and methods utilizing stationary and/or moveable cutting components provide limited interference with web processing operations, such as pad spin and pitch alteration. Heat, laser, fluid, or mechanical cutting operations may be used, including respectively, a heated element (e.g., wire, ribbon, bar, or embossing or perforating element) that may be triggered inductively, water or steam jets, or improved knife/anvil cooperation.
US09862111B2

A hand anti-cutting structure for a curtain cutting machine contains a base, a cutting mechanism, and a security mechanism. The cutting mechanism includes a through orifice, an insertion segment, an extension segment, an inserting direction, and a cutter. The security mechanism includes a rail assembly, a sliding seat, a touch switch, and a stop member. The rail assembly has at least slidable rail parallel to the inserting direction, and the sliding seat has a movable actuation member and an operation member. The touch switch is secured on a moving path of the actuation member, and when the actuation member moves to abut against the touch switch, the touch switch is turned on by the actuation member. The stop member is connected with and driven by the actuation member, wherein the stop member is located on the insertion segment and is perpendicular to the inserting direction of the cutting mechanism.
US09862109B2

A method and apparatus for cutting a polymeric tubular member is provided. The method includes moving the polymeric tubular member along a central longitudinal axis into a position to be cut and providing a cutting blade operably connected to an actuator. The method further includes actuating the actuator to move the cutting blade conjointly along a straight linear axis. Then, bringing a cutting region of the cutting blade into cutting engagement with the polymeric tubular member, with the cutting region engaging the polymeric tubular member extending over a length of the cutting blade that is greater than a diameter of the polymeric tubular member.
US09862108B2

An integrally formed rigid razor blade having a body with a cutting edge portion extending about a cutting edge portion plane, and having a cutting edge at one end, a base portion extending along a base portion plane, a bent portion intermediate the cutting edge portion and the base portion. The body is made of martensitic stainless steel that includes mainly iron and between 0.62% and 0.75% of carbon in weight.
US09862095B2

The present invention provides a control device for a mobile robot. While a mobile robot 1 is in a predetermined motion state, if a load evaluation amount, which is either the magnitude of a load detected on a particular joint or an estimated temperature value of a joint actuator for driving the joint, exceeds a predetermined threshold value, then a desired displacement amount of each joint of the mobile robot 1 is determined with a requirement that the load evaluation amount remains to be the threshold value or less, and the joint actuator is controlled on the basis of the determined desired displacement amount.
US09862086B2

A method of manufacturing a multi-colored hand tool grip includes a step of forming a grip, a step of forming a lid and a step of completing a finished product. In the step of forming a lid, replaceable submodules are employed to form the lid, able to lower cost of mold making. In the step of completing a finished product, after the grip and the lid are combined together and received in the mold cavity of a third mold set, raw material of a holding portion is poured into the mold cavity to form a different-colored holding portion. By so designing, the lid and the holding portion of different colors can be formed on the grip to let patterns presented more clearly, thus forming a multi-colored hand tool grip.
US09862079B2

An electronic torque wrench with early-warning function includes a main body, a setting unit, a detecting unit, an operation unit, a warning unit and an early-warning program. A working head is disposed at one end of the main body for wrenching a work piece. The early-warning program is set with multiple early-warning times with different warning ranges. The value of the early-warning time is in direct proportion to the set torque value of the wrench. When the operation torque of the wrench reaches the early-warning time, the operation unit urges the warning unit to give a warning.
US09862077B2

A system is provided that includes a laser projection apparatus and a fastener installation apparatus. The laser projection apparatus is configured to project an identifier of an instruction set including one or more instructions for installing a fastener or fastener collar on a structure, with the laser projection apparatus being configured to project the identifier onto the structure about a location at which the respective fastener or fastener collar is to be installed. The fastener installation apparatus is configured to capture an image of the projected identifier from the structure, determine the identifier from the captured image, and retrieve the instruction set based on the determined identifier. The fastener installation apparatus includes a tool for installing the respective fastener or fastener collar, and the fastener installation apparatus is configured to program the tool according to the retrieved instruction set.
US09862075B2

A multi-fastener wrench for simultaneously or concurrently holding a plurality of fasteners, wherein the wrench comprises a handle having a distal end and a proximal end, and two sets of jaws at or new the distal end. The jaws may be movably coupled to the handle, allowing the user to vary the distance between the jaws.
US09862074B2

A wrench with translational wrench jaw comprises a first wrench jaw, a first handle and a connection portion; a second handle and a second wrench jaw; a first connecting rod, connected with the first handle, a first end of the first connecting rod being arranged with an elastic component; a second connecting rod, connected with the second handle, a first end of the second connecting rod being arranged with an elastic component, the second end of the first connecting rod being connected with the second end of the second connecting rod. The wrench with translational wrench jaw provided by the present invention is suitable for gripping various workpieces; adopting two-stage transmission can provide greater gripping force, being more efficient and avoiding structural damage, thus prolonging the service life; By adopting locking mechanism can release operator's hands and be more convenient.
US09862072B2

The invention provides a double-side polishing method including first polishing at a high polishing rate, second polishing at a low polishing rate, dividing a straight line extending between the outermost circumferences of the wafer through the center into prescribed sections, and optically measuring a cross-sectional shape of the sections; applying a weight predetermined for each section to the cross-sectional shape to quantify flatness of each section; and determining polishing conditions of the first and second polishing in subsequent polishing on a basis of the quantified flatness, wherein a beam diameter of a measurement apparatus used to measure the cross-sectional shape of outermost sections is smaller than that used to measure the cross-sectional shape of the other section. The method can measure the shape of the wafer up to its outermost circumference with high precision without reducing productivity, and improve the flatness of the entire wafer including its outermost circumference.
US09862056B2

The invention relates to a single- or multi-wire welding torch (6), more specifically to a laser-hybrid single- or multi-wire welding head provided with the welding torch (6) which can be connected to a welding device via a hose pack and consists of several parts such as a torch handle, a tubular welding torch housing, a contact housing, a contact tube for each welding wire (21a, 21b), a gas nozzle (2) etc., wherein an internal insert (28) for receiving the contact tube(s) (20a, 20b) and the gas nozzle (2) is mounted in an end area of the welding torch housing. A fixing element (30) made at least partially of a flexible material is placed on the internal insert (28) or on the housing (2) for producing as required an, in particular, gas-tight connection between said internal insert (28) and the gas nozzle (2) pushed thereon. This connection can be established by the spatial extension of the fixing element. A method for the process control of a robot welding system, a gas nozzle cap and a gas nozzle (2) for a welding torch (6) are also disclosed.
US09862053B2

A welding system includes a power supply coupled to a power source and configured to receive a power signal. The power supply includes power conversion circuitry having one or more silicon-controlled rectifiers (SCRs) and configured to rectify the power signal to generate a DC signal for use in providing welding power. The welding system also includes an SCR detection system configured to receive a signal indicative of an inductor current of the DC signal and a signal indicative of a voltage of the DC signal. The SCR detection system is further configured detect a non-firing, open, or shorted SCR in the one or more SCRs based on the inductor current and the welding voltage of the DC signal.
US09862049B2

A welding system including a processor configured to receive a first set of welding data of a live welding session corresponding to welding parameters, arc parameters, or any combination thereof, a memory configured to store the received first set of welding data, and an operator identification system coupled to the processor and to the memory. The operator identification system includes an input device configured to receive a first identifier input from a first operator that performs the welding session and a second identifier input from a second operator. The operator identification system is configured to determine an identity of the first operator based at least in part on the first identifier input, to verify the identity of the first operator based at least in part on the second identifier input, and to associate the received first set of welding data with the first identifier input.
US09862046B2

A hybrid article is disclosed including a coating disposed on and circumscribing the lateral surface of a core having a core material. The coating includes about 35% to about 95% of a first metallic material having a first melting point, and about 5% to about 65% of a second metallic material having a second melting point lower than the first melting point. A method for forming the hybrid article is disclosed including disposing the core in a die, forming a gap between the lateral surface and the die, introducing a slurry having the metallic materials into the gap, and sintering the slurry, forming the coating. A method for closing an aperture of an article is disclosed including inserting the hybrid article into the aperture. Closing the aperture includes brazing the hybrid article to the article, welding the aperture with the hybrid article serving as weld filler, or a combination thereof.
US09862028B2

A method of supporting a part with particulate shape retaining media, the method including placing the part on a bed of the particulate shape retaining media, fluidizing the particulate shape retaining media until the part penetrates therein, and vibrating the bed of particulate shape retaining media to compact the particulate shape retaining media around the part. The part may be a green part to be debound in a powder injection molding process. Fluidization may be performed through vibrations at a different frequency than the compaction.
US09862012B2

An apparatus for forging a hollow body from a pre-perforated hollow block includes forging tools that can be driven radially in relation to a forging axis, a clamping head which is displaceable on a guide bed in the direction of the forging axis and includes collet chucks for the hollow block, and a mandrel carriage which is arranged on the side of the clamping head facing away from forging tools, which is displaceable independently of the clamping head along the guide bed, and whose mandrel bar provided with the forging mandrel penetrates the clamping head coaxially to the forging axis. In order to provide advantageous constructional conditions the mandrel carriage includes an axial actuating drive for the mandrel bar and can be coupled in a tension-proof manner to the clamping head.
US09862006B2

A system for processing solar cells is disclosed which includes a separation module for separating a processing frame from solar cells that are fed along a conveyance line. The processing frame can be separated without requiring manual lifting of the processing frame by feeding the processing frame and solar cells into a magnetic roller system. The magnetic roller system can gradually lift the processing frame away from the solar cells and divert the processing frame to a separate roller system. The solar cells can remain on the main conveyance line for further processing.
US09862004B1

A method and system for removing foreign grains from oat grains to establish gluten-free oats, i.e., oat grains having gluten levels below 20 ppm and, more preferably, below 10 ppm, relies upon performing a series of mechanical differentiation operations on a combination of grains, including oats and foreign, or gluten containing, grains. The various operations include aspiration, width grading and length grading steps, as well as a late stage density separating step. The resulting oats can be used to make a wide range of gluten-free oat food products, including cereal and granola products.
US09862001B2

A dispensing device includes a drive unit, a detector and a controller. The drive unit is configured to operate a material dispenser. The detector is configured to detect a velocity of the material sensor. The controller is programmed to maintain the material dispenser at a constant velocity based on the velocity detected by the detector.
US09861996B2

A deposition apparatus includes a deposition source; a rotatable dome provided with an opening which covers the source; a first lever provided outside of the dome; and a tray holder including a frame including a first rotating member and a rotating part including a second rotating member and being attached to the frame such that the rotating part rotates with the second rotating member around an axis supported by the frame. The rotating part includes work-holding trays arranged around the axis, the tray holder is installed on the dome such that a side of one of the trays covers the opening, the first rotating member is rotated by the first lever during rotation of the dome, and the second rotating member is rotated with the rotating part by the first rotating member so as to change the tray a side of which covers the opening to another one.
US09861993B2

A gyrating nozzle head spray gun includes grip including air inlet, valve seat, gas-delivery tube connected to valve seat and terminating in mating connection screw rod and trigger operable for letting external compressed air go into air inlet and gas-delivery tube, attachment tube connected to mating connection screw rod of the gas-delivery tube, gyrating nozzle head assembly including gas-supply tube connected to mating connection screw rod and suspended in attachment tube, bearing, cap, linking module and gyrating nozzle head mounted on one end of the gas-supply tube, and water-delivery tube having one end extended bottom of coupling hole of gas-delivery tube and connected to water tank for sucking in water and opposite end thereof inserted through gyrating nozzle head for ejecting fluid for creating mist of fine droplets upon ejection of compressed air through the gas-supply tube and oblique jet hole and central axle hole of the gyrating nozzle head.
US09861991B2

A torque sensing device capable of measuring the force exerted by a torque arm on a lever is positioned between the torque arm and the lever. The torque arm is connected to the pinion of a planetary gearbox for rotating the bowl and screw conveyer of a decanter centrifuge at different speeds. The torque sensing device measures the torque between the pinion gear and the planetary gearbox. The sensor can be connected to a controller which can reduce the flow of the liquid/solid mixture to the decanter centrifuge thereby/reducing the torque and avoiding substantial damage to the planetary gearbox.
US09861990B2

A filter assembly for an active field polarized media air cleaner includes a conductive screen that conducts a high voltage therethrough, a probe that delivers voltage to the conductive screen, and a conductive patch adhered to the conductive screen. The probe delivers the high voltage to the conductive screen through the conductive patch.
US09861977B2

A multi-acid monomer disclosed herein has the formula wherein R is one or more units of a non-SO2F or non-SO2Cl portion of a polymer precursor in sulfonyl fluoride or sulfonyl chloride form, X is a non-sulfonyl halide group of a multi-sulfonyl halide compound having a minimum of two acid giving groups, and Y is remaining sulfonyl halide groups of the multi-sulfonyl halide compound.
US09861956B2

Provided by the present invention is a photocatalytic coating composition which can express excellent visibility during application work and further can, owing to its excellent physical properties, form a homogeneous photocatalyst coated film having uniform thickness on a surface of a substrate. The photocatalytic coating composition which is basic and comprises photocatalyst particles, a basic dye, a layered silicate, and a dispersion medium. The basic dye enhances visibility of the part where the photocatalytic coating composition is applied so that the applied part can be easily distinguished from the unapplied part by the difference in appearance. After application work, color of the basic dye disappears by photolysis with a solar light or by decomposition with a photocatalyst. The layered silicate suppresses color change of the basic dye over time and stably keep color tone of the same.
US09861948B2

The present disclosure relates to a single shell open interstage reactor (“SSOI”). The SSOI comprises a first reaction stage, an interstage heat exchanger, an open interstage region, and a second reaction stage. The SSOI may be configured for upflow or downflow operation. Further, the open interstage region of the SSOI may comprise a supplemental oxidant feed. When the open interstage region comprises a supplemental oxidant feed, the SSOI may further comprise a supplemental oxidant mixing assembly. Processes for producing acrylic acid through the oxidation of propylene are also disclosed.
US09861947B2

The invention relates to distributing feed vapor more evenly across the interior space of a reactor vessel utilizing a distributor pipe at the inlet end that initially directs the flow of reactants through a flange plate and a series of ring plates. The ring plates are physical spaced such that vapor along the wall of the inlet is mildly obstructed by the flange plate and the ring plates cause the vapor to alter course temper down any diverse velocities that may create hot spots within the catalyst bed. At the end of the distributor pipe is a deflector which directs the feed vapor upwardly and outwardly in the head space of the reactor vessel.
US09861936B2

Device for producing pure water, where the water to be purified is caused to be membrane distilled using one or more units (1), wherein each of the units comprises a space which on its one side comprises a first disc-shaped wall (4,4′) and on its other side a membrane (3,3′) through which gaseous water can pass but not liquid water, and a second disc-shaped wall (5,10), which walls are disposed on different sides of and at a distance from the membrane, wherein water is led in between the first wall (4,4′) and the membrane (3,3′), and wherein the second wall (5,10) is caused to be colder than the water. The invention is characterized in that the first disc-shaped wall (4,4′) is also a membrane through which gaseous water can pass but not liquid water, in that two adjacent membranes (3, 4; 3′ 4′) are supported by a common frame (6), in that the space between the membranes is provided with an inlet opening (7,7′) for water to be purified and an outlet opening (8,8′), in that the second wall (5,10) is a part of a chamber (9) formed by two parallel walls, in that the chamber is provided with an inlet opening (11,11′) for water which is colder than the water to be purified and provided with an outlet opening (12,12′), and in that chambers (9,9′) are arranged in parallel with the membranes at both sides of the frame (6).
US09861935B2

The invention relates to a membrane distillation device, comprising at least one condensation/evaporation stage, which comprises at least one condensation unit and at least one evaporation unit and to which vapor is fed and through which a liquid to be concentrated flows, wherein each condensation unit comprises a first vapor chamber that is bounded at least partially by a condensation wall and to which the fed vapor is supplied and each evaporation unit comprises a second vapor chamber that is bounded at least partially by a vapor-permeable, liquid-tight membrane wall, and in each condensation/evaporation stage at least one flow channel is provided, which is formed between such a condensation unit and such an evaporator unit adjacent to said condensation unit and which conducts the liquid to be concentrated, and thus the liquid to be concentrated is heated by means of the condensation wall, and vapor arising from the liquid to be concentrated enters the second vapor chamber through the membrane wall. At least one condensation/evaporation stage is expanded by an integrated apparatus for preheating the liquid to be concentrated, which apparatus comprises at least one additional vapor chamber, to which the vapor fed to the condensation/evaporation stage is supplied and in which the vapor is condensed, whereby the liquid to be concentrated is preheated.
US09861934B2

A system for vaporizing and optionally decomposing a reagent, such as aqueous ammonia or urea, which is useful for NOx reduction, includes a cyclonic decomposition duct, wherein the duct at its inlet end is connected to an air inlet port and a reagent injection lance. The air inlet port is in a tangential orientation to the central axis of the duct. The system further includes a metering valve for controlling the reagent injection rate. A method for vaporizing and optionally decomposing a reagent includes providing a cyclonic decomposition duct which is connected to an air inlet port and an injection lance, introducing hot gas through the air inlet port in a tangential orientation to the central axis of the duct, injecting the reagent axially through the injection lance into the duct; and adjusting the reagent injection rate through a metering valve.
US09861933B2

A method and apparatus for extracting CO2 from air comprising an anion exchange material formed in a matrix exposed to a flow of the air, and for delivering that extracted CO2 to controlled environments. The present invention contemplates the extraction of CO2 from air using conventional extraction methods or by using one of the extraction methods disclosed; e.g., humidity swing or electro dialysis. The present invention also provides delivery of the CO2 to greenhouses where increased levels of CO2 will improve conditions for growth. Alternatively, the CO2 is fed to an algae culture.
US09861930B2

An apparatus for evaporating waste water and reducing gas emissions includes an evaporator device configured to receiving a portion of flue gas emitted from a boiler unit and waste water to directly contact the flue gas with the waste water to cool and humidify the flue gas and to dry solid particulates within the waste water. In some embodiments, the waste water may be a component of a mixture formed by a mixer device prior to being contacted with the flue gas to humidify and cool the flue gas and dry solids within the waste water. An alkaline reagent as well as activated carbon can be mixed with the waste water prior to the waste water contacting the flue gas. Solid particulates that are dried within the cooled and humidified flue gas can be separated from the flue gas via a particulate collector.
US09861927B2

Improvements introduced in adsorption filter for inhaled halogenated anesthetics for cardiopulmonary bypass. It relates to an adsorption filter (10) of the type pertaining to the field of medical devices, more specifically, used to adsorb inhaled halogenated anesthetics that are eliminated through the output of the membrane oxygenators (20) of the cardiopulmonary bypass circuit (CPB); said filter (10) contains a hollow reservoir (11) for preservation of adsorber elements (ED) of the activated charcoal type (30), said reservoir (11) being of tubular cylindrical form, and it receives on one of the free extremities (11a) a cover (12) whose internal diameter (d1) is greater than the external diameter (d2) of the cylindrical reservoir (11), so as to produce an access chamber (C1) for the input of the inhaled anesthetic (AI) that, in turn, penetrates through a tubular member (12a) in the central portion of the cover (12), where a tube (Tb1) for connection with the oxygenator device (20) is installed.
US09861926B2

A canister including a canister body containing a bottom wall and at least one sidewall with inner and outer sidewall surfaces and an upper rim, and a closing element containing a top wall with an outer surface and an inner surface, and a fixing portion surrounding the top wall. The top wall or the bottom wall or at least one sidewall include a membrane region with a predetermined permeability. The fixing portion includes an elevated or recessed snap portion around its outer periphery shaped to correspond to the inner sidewall surface of the sidewall of the cylindrical canister body and form a snap connection with the canister body. The closing element is fixed to the canister body such that the outer surface of the top wall does not extend beyond the upper rim of the sidewall of the canister body.
US09861922B1

Mating interfaces between an air intake housing and an air filter are disclosed. According to one embodiment, an air filter assembly having a mating interface for coupling an air intake housing to the air filter may include an air filter having an exterior, an interior, and outlet; and a mating interface coupled to a circumference of the outlet of the air filter. The mating interface may include an opening for receiving an end of an air tube that is in communication with the interior of the air filter; and a groove in a surface of the mating interface for press-fit receiving a first opening an air filter housing that surrounds the air filter.
US09861918B2

The invention relates to a filter medium having a filter fabric on an upper side and a support fabric on a lower side, wherein the filter fabric and the support fabric have different yams and together take the form of a double weave, wherein the filter fabric has a pore count of 4000/cm2 or greater, preferably 5000/cm2.
US09861917B2

A filter assembly that includes a filter body defining a mouth, a filter element disposed in the filter body, and a seal disposed on the mouth. The seal has a seal body defining a center axis. The seal body has an axial surface perpendicular to the center axis and an outer annular surface revolved about the center axis. A portion of the outer annular surface defines at least one of an arcuate and a substantially frustoconical shape.
US09861916B2

A liquid recovery filter assembly for recovering filtered liquid trapped within a core or downstream side of a filter element. Multiple embodiments each include a recovery port and a recovery filter in fluid communication with the core or downstream side of the filter element. The recovery port is opened following filtration operations to permit and to facilitate filtered liquid to flow from a downstream or outlet port, thus allowing recovery of liquid remaining in the filter core or downstream side following filtering operations. The recovery filter permits the introduction of pressurized gas to force the filtered liquids from the filter assembly without compromising the sterility and/or non-contaminant condition of the liquid. Additional aspects include exchangeable filter cartridges or filter elements in single and multi-round configurations, embodiments with aspiration tubes and dip tubes and still others with hydrophilic/hydrophobic recovery filters that function as filters and as valves for the recovery port.
US09861914B1

A method of discharge and a debris catching device for connection to a discharge pipe of a tank of a septic truck where the device includes a fitting to connect to the pipe and an exposed catcher connected to the fitting such that the catcher has fingers in a spaced relation from an output port of the fitting. The fingers span in spaced relation to each other and allow septage expelled from the fitting to pass through the catcher and onto a field where the truck is moving forward.
US09861911B2

One or more dilution tubes for increasing the dilution of pulp as it enters a thickener are provided. One or more pipes, referred to here as dilution tubes, can be added to sides of a feed pipe of a thickener. One end of a dilution tube can open to a tank of the thickener, and the other end can open into the feed pipe. As pulp flows through the feed pipe, low pressure suction can be created that pulls water from the tank, through the dilution tube, and into the feed pipe. The water pulled in through the dilution tube can increase the dilution of the pulp. A highly diluted pulp can contact a flocculent efficiently and lead to a high settling rate in a thickener. Accordingly, the use of dilution tubes can increase the efficiency of a thickener.
US09861908B2

This disclosure relates to a method of continuous recovery of (meth)acrylic acid and an apparatus used for the recovery method. The method of continuous recovery of (meth)acrylic acid according to the present invention may effectively remove scum, thus enabling stable operation of the continuous process.
US09861904B2

A motorized toy system includes a toy implement that may be manipulated. The toy implement has a bin and an auger chute. The auger chute is hingedly coupled to the toy implement. The auger chute is positionable between a deployed position and a stored position. The bin may contain particles. A dispensing unit is coupled to the toy implement. The dispensing unit is operationally coupled between the bin and the auger chute. Thus, the dispensing unit may selectively urge the particles outwardly from the auger chute.
US09861894B2

According to one exemplary embodiment, a method for personalizing a game executed by an electronic device is provided. The method may include collecting a plurality of user data. The method may also include determining at least one input/output option. The method may then include selecting a game template from a plurality of available game templates based on the collected plurality of user data and the determined at least one input/output option. The method may further include configuring the electronic game based on the selected game template, the collected plurality of user data, and the determined plurality of input/output options. The method may also include executing, by the electronic device, the configured electronic game.
US09861892B2

A game recording medium allows a player to enjoy a game without damaging a feeling as if the player played a musical instrument or conducted an orchestra even when the player cannot perform an operation input matched with an indication sign. Time is counted with a start of playing a piece of music and an indication sign is displayed on a time axis. When the indication sign reaches a criterion line, a sensed input operation is analyzed. The analysis result is determined on the basis of a criterion value corresponding to the indication sign. When it is determined a proper operation is not performed, music change information is specified on the basis of the analysis result and the criterion value, and a pitch, a tempo, and the like of the music data are controlled on the basis of the specified change information.
US09861887B1

A multi-media interactive play system has a number of play elements situated in a variety of play environments or play media. The play elements are linked to a common record of participant performance, progress, character attributes, etc. The participant's performance in the play elements determines the play elements to which the participant may proceed as well as the play parameters of the play element in which the participant is currently involved. The play elements are thus interlinked to define a sequence or path network along which the participant advances. By advancing through the play elements the participant carries out a plot, story, theme, etc. that attaches a significance to the successful completion of a given play element or elements. Also disclosed in a variety of play elements suitable for use in the system, an example of a plot or theme that may be carried out by the system, and a send/receive radio frequency network that may be used to track play participants in a play center.
US09861868B2

An adaptable putter head that can be easily configured by a golfer for use in training or competitive play is described. The adaptable putter head comprises a center piece and two wings rotatably attached to the center piece. The center piece and wings include a central face and wing faces, respectively. In an extended position, the central face and wing faces form a continuous surface for striking a ball in competitive play. In a retracted position, the central face provides a striking surface with less surface area and the putter head has a lower moment of inertia for skill training and practice.
US09861859B2

Golf ball dimples having a cross-sectional profile shape defined by the product of a base profile and one or more weighting functions are disclosed.
US09861858B2

A monofin, mermaid tail, and method of applying the tail and monofin to increase swimming efficiency and/or aesthetics.
US09861856B1

A training, rehabilitation, and recovery system comprises an exercise apparatus including a user interface member coupled to a plurality of links and joints, brakes capable of resisting movement of at least a subset of the links or joints, and sensors capable of sensing movement at the joints or the user interface member. The system also includes a processor configured to receive from the sensors positional data of the links or joints over an initial movement of the apparatus by a user, from which positional coordinates of the user interface member are calculated and a reference trajectory is established. An end space is defined based on the reference trajectory. Over a subsequent movement of the apparatus by the user, the processor receives additional positional data and determines a completion of a repetition based on the positional coordinates of the subsequent movement and the defined end space.
US09861841B1

A fall protection device adapted to be connected to a safety belt is provided, including a frame forming a containing space, a shaft lever provided on the frame, a retard member, and a rotary drum. The retard member is pivotally provided on the shaft lever rotatably, which is received in the containing space, and has a friction surface. The rotary drum is fitted around the retard member, and has an outer surface and an inner surface; the outer surface is adapted to be winded by the safety belt, and the inner surface faces to the friction surface. In a first operating state, the retard member and the rotary drum rotate coaxially. In a second operating state, the rotary drum rotates relative to the fixed retard member. A rotational friction is generated between the friction surface and the inner surface, which slows down the rotational speed of the rotary drum.
US09861838B2

A one-way valve for use in the inhalation and/or exhalation flowpath of respiratory protection equipment comprises a housing 1 defining a conduit and a circumferential array of three flexible flaps 2 each extending inwards from the conduit wall and in the direction away from the inlet end I of the valve. Under a pressure differential in the opening direction of the valve each flap is adapted to flex outwards towards the conduit wall and under a reverse pressure differential the free edge 5,5 of each flap is adapted to press in sealing contact with respective portions of the free edges of the neighboring flaps.
US09861837B2

Systems and methods for providing lifting workers up cell towers are disclosed. The system is useful on “stealth” cellular towers that do not have external ladders or climbing pegs for aesthetic reasons. The system can include a cable, a system of pulleys, and an internal or external winch. The cable can include a counterweight to enable the cable to be paid out from a storage position at the top of the tower down to the ground under its own weight. Workers can attach a harness or a basket to the cable. The winch can then pull the cable, worker, and/or basket to the top of the tower. The winch can be installed on site or can be provided by an on-site service vehicle. The system can also include a fall arrest system to prevent falls in the event of a component failure.
US09861829B2

A method and device to apply a cold plasma to a substance at a treatment surface of a patient to cause electroporation of the substance into cells of the patient. The substance can be previously applied to the treatment surface. Alternatively, the substance can be placed in a foam-like material within a tip that passes the cold plasma from the cold plasma device to the treatment area. The tip can be a cannula device with an aperture at the distal end. The cannula device can also have apertures along a portion of the length of the cannula device.
US09861827B2

An implantable medical device includes a low-power circuit and a multi-cell power source. The cells of the power source are coupled in a parallel configuration. The implantable medical device includes both a low power circuit that is selectively coupled between the first and second cells and a high power output circuit that is directly coupled to the first and second cells in a parallel configuration. An isolation circuit is coupled to the first cell, the second cell and the low power circuit to maintain a current isolation between the first cell and the second cell at least during delivery of current having a large magnitude to the high power output circuit.
US09861821B2

A therapeutic window for at least one electrode of a medical system may be determined based on a volume of tissue expected to be activated (“VTA”) by electrical stimulation delivered by the at least one electrode. In some examples, a processor determines the therapeutic window for a particular electrode by at least determining an efficacy threshold based on the VTA expected to result from the delivery of electrical stimulation according to a set of electrical stimulation parameter values including the stimulation parameter at the efficacy threshold, and determining an adverse-effects threshold based on the VTA expected to result from the delivery of electrical stimulation according to a set of electrical stimulation parameter values including the stimulation parameter at the adverse-effects threshold.
US09861815B2

A tether subassembly, which may be employed by a tool that deploys an implantable medical device, includes a test segment for verification of adequate fixation of the device at an implant site. When the device is located in proximity to a distal opening of the tube, a tether first length extends through an attachment structure of the device and within an elongate tube of the tool, a tether second length extends alongside the tether first length within the tube, and the test segment is located in proximity to the distal opening. The test segment is configured so that only a tug force, applied to the tether first length, and greater than or equal to a predetermined force, can pull the test segment through an aperture, either of the delivery tool or of the device. The predetermined force corresponds to a minimum adequate fixation force for the device.
US09861814B2

An implantable electrical lead suitable for left sided cardiac placement, the implantable medical electrical lead having an external blood contacting surface having an external coating including a monolayer of at least one biological agent that promotes endothelialization covalently attached to a polymeric lead surface.
US09861802B2

A percutaneous catheter system for use within the human body and an ablation catheter for ablating a selected tissue region within the body of a subject. The percutaneous catheter system can include two catheters thai are operatively coupled to one another by magnetic coupling through a tissue structure. The ablation catheter can include electrodes positioned within a central portion. The ablation catheter is positioned such that the central portion of a flexible shaft at least partially surrounds the selected tissue region. Each electrode of the ablation catheter can be activated independently to apply ablative energy to the selected tissue region. The ablation catheter can employ high impedance structures to change the current density at specific points. Methods of puncturing through a tissue structure using the percutaneous catheter system are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for ablating a selected tissue region using the ablation catheter.
US09861798B2

A balloon catheter may include a multi-lumen tube having an inflation lumen and a guide wire lumen. The multi-lumen tube may include a proximal end and a distal end and may terminate at a distal tip. The catheter may include an extension tube extending distally from the distal tip of the multi-lumen tube and a dilatation balloon disposed about the multi-lumen tube and the extension tube. The distal tip of the multi-lumen tube may be under the balloon.
US09861792B2

An insertion device for use in assisting with the placement of a medical device within the body of a patient is disclosed. For example, the insertion device can be employed to assist with the placement of an introducer, which provides a conduit for insertion of a catheter into the body. In one embodiment, the insertion device comprises a needle that is removably disposed within a bore defined by the medical device, and a needle retraction assembly. The needle retraction assembly can position the needle in any one of a first position wherein a distal tip of the needle is disposed a predetermined distance distal to a distal end of the medical device, a second position wherein the needle distal tip is disposed distal but proximate to the distal end of the medical device, and a third position wherein the needle distal tip is retracted within the medical device bore.
US09861791B2

An intravenous catheter device and system includes: (a) a medical tubing connector at a first end of the intravenous catheter device; (b) a length of flexible, non-kinking, supported medical tubing, a first end of the non-kinking tubing being connected to a first end of the medical tubing connector; (c) an intravenous catheter portion having a first end attached to a second end of the non-kinking tubing, the non-kinking tubing extending between the intravenous catheter portion and the tubing connector; and (d) a cylindrical-shaped cuff attached to a fast outside end portion of the intravenous catheter portion, and a second outside end portion of the non-kinking tubing; wherein a central channel of the intravenous catheter portion is in fluid communication with a channel of the non-kinking, flexible tubing when the intravenous catheter device is in use. This simplified abstract is not intended to limit, and should not be interpreted as limiting, the scope of the claims.
US09861783B2

An interventional catheter for treating an artery includes an elongated body sized and shaped to be transcervically introduced into a common carotid artery at an access location in the neck. The elongated body has an overall length such that the distal most section can be positioned in an intracranial artery and at least a portion of the proximal most section is positioned in the common carotid artery during use.
US09861773B2

A personal vapor inhaling unit is disclosed. An electronic flameless vapor inhaler unit that may simulate a cigarette has a cavity that receives a cartridge in the distal end of the inhaler unit. The cartridge brings a substance to be vaporized in contact with a wick. When the unit is activated, and the user provides suction, the substance to be vaporized is drawn out of the cartridge, through the wick, and is atomized by the wick into a cavity containing a heating element. The heating element vaporizes the atomized substance. The vapors then continue to be pulled by the user through a mouthpiece and mouthpiece cover where they may be inhaled.
US09861767B2

A syringe includes a syringe outer tube including a tubular-shaped outer tube main body configured to be filled with a liquid, a reduced diameter section located at a distal end of the outer tube main body in a projecting manner, and configured to allow the liquid to pass therethrough, the reduced diameter section having an outside diameter that is smaller than a diameter of the outer tube main body, and a ring-shaped lock adapter concentrically disposed at an outer circumferential portion of the reduced diameter section and configured to fix a mating member connected to the reduced diameter section; and a cap including a cap main body mounted on the syringe outer tube and configured to seal the reduced diameter section in a liquid-tight manner when the cap main body is in a mounted state, a ring-shaped mounting section disposed at a proximal end side of the cap main body and mounted on an outer circumferential portion of the lock adapter, and a breaking section that forms a link between the cap main body and the mounting section and that is configured to release the link by breakage.
US09861763B2

One embodiment is directed to a pre-filled safety syringe system, comprising a syringe body; a plunger tip positioned within the syringe body; a needle assembly removably coupleable to the distal end of the syringe body such that a medicinal fluid may be transferred through a retractable needle coupled to a needle housing comprising the needle assembly upon insertion of the plunger tip relative to the syringe body; and a plunger control assembly coupled to the plunger tip and configured to facilitate manual insertion of the plunger tip relative to the syringe body; wherein upon insertion and release of the plunger tip, a retraction load coupled between the syringe body and the plunger tip causes the plunger tip to be proximally withdrawn, pulling the retractable needle proximally relative to the needle housing to a safe locked and retracted state.
US09861762B2

One embodiment is directed to a safety syringe system, comprising a syringe body; a plunger tip positioned within the syringe body; a needle assembly removably coupleable to the distal end of the syringe body such that a medicinal fluid may be transferred through a retractable needle coupled to a needle housing comprising the needle assembly upon insertion of the plunger tip relative to the syringe body; and a plunger control assembly coupled to the plunger tip and configured to facilitate manual insertion of the plunger tip relative to the syringe body; wherein the needle assembly comprises a needle housing member removably coupled to the retractable needle and also removably coupled to a needle cover, the needle cover providing a relatively large geometric guiding surface for aligning a proximal end of the retractable needle as it is guided into fluidic contact with the fluid reservoir of the syringe body.
US09861757B2

An injection device with a dose delivering mechanism being adapted to provide a non-visual, e.g. audible and/or tactile, feedback signal when a set dose has been at least substantially injected. A first and a second part of the injection device are adapted to perform a relative rotational movement with respect to each other. The relative rotational movement causes at least two parts of the injection device to abut or engage, and this abutment or engagement causes the non-visual feedback signal to be generated. A very distinct and precise feedback is provided as compared to prior art axial solutions because the generation of the feedback signal is initiated by the relative rotational movement.Feedback signal may be generated by a change in a rotational velocity of at least one part, e.g. by changing the pitch of a threaded portion or by engaging a non-rotating part and a rotating part, thereby causing the non-rotating part to start rotating. May alternatively be generated by building up and releasing a tension.The injection device is suitable for injecting insulin.
US09861755B2

The present invention relates to a torsion spring driven injection device for delivering multiple set doses of a liquid drug from a cartridge by moving a plunger forward inside the cartridge. The torsion spring (134) applies a rotational torque onto a drive member (120) engaging a piston rod (115) which is then driven forward by this rotation. The piston rod driver can be coupled and de-coupled from the torsion spring mechanism. In the de-coupled position, the piston rod driver is freely rotatable and can thus rotate if the piston rod is moved axially. A further torsion arrangement (124) is preferably provided such that a torque is build up between the piston rod driver and the housing whenever the piston rod is moved backwards. This torsion arrangement urges the piston rod driver to rotate in a direction bringing the piston rod forward into abutment with the plunger.
US09861741B2

A tubeless fluid delivery device, comprising a controller (11) and a pump (12) combined with the controller (11). The controller (11) comprises a first housing having a first built-in circuit. The first housing is provided with a first engagement portion and a first insertion portion electrically connected to the first built-in circuit. The pump (12) comprises a second housing having a second built-in circuit, a drug storage cylinder, a piston, a push rod, a driving means and a battery. The second housing is provided with a second engagement portion correspondingly engaged with the first engagement portion and a second insertion portion electrically connected to the second built-in circuit. The second insertion portion is correspondingly inserted in the first insertion portion to realize electrical connection. The present disclosure solves the problem that a drug fluid infusion device in the prior art has complex operation, large size and high cost.
US09861721B2

A system for disinfecting a fluid, including: a flow cell including one or more inlet ports and one or more outlet ports, wherein the flow cell is configured to communicate a fluid containing a biological contaminant from the one or more inlet ports to the one or more outlet portions through an interior portion thereof; and one or more point radiation sources disposed about the flow cell, wherein the one or more point radiation sources are operable for delivering radiation to the biological contaminant; wherein an interior surface of the flow cell is operable for reflecting the radiation delivered to the biological contaminant by the one or more point radiation sources; and wherein the interior surface of the flow cell is operable for reflecting the radiation delivered to the biological contaminant by the one or more point radiation sources such that a radiation intensity is uniform throughout the interior portion of the flow cell. In one exemplary embodiment, the flow cell is an integrating sphere. Optionally, the system also includes a photocatalyzing material disposed on at least a portion of the interior surface of the flow cell.
US09861700B2

The present invention concerns a natural biocomposite powder prepared from the biomass of yeast Pichia pastoris, comprising chitin-glucan complex (CGC) and mannose-containing polysaccharides. In a second aspect, the invention concerns the method of preparation of the natural biocomposite powder. The invention also concerns the method to obtain Pichia pastoris biomass with increased CGC content, as well as increased chitin to glucan content in the CGC. Finally, the invention concerns the use of the natural biocomposite powder, prepared from the cell wall of yeast Pichia pastoris by the method according to the invention, as excipient in the pharmaceutical, cosmetics or food industries.
US09861689B2

Provided herein are vaccine compositions containing at least one retrievable biocompatible macrocapsule containing immuno-isolated allogeneic cells that secrete an immunomodulator such as GM-CSF (granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor) and an antigenic component such as autologous tumor cells or infectious agents. Also provided are kits and pharmaceutical compositions containing the vaccine compositions as well as methods of use thereof for therapeutic or preventative vaccination against tumors or infectious agents.
US09861684B2

Formulation comprising, or derived from, an initial blood composition, wherein the formulation is rich in platelets and/or growth factors and proteins originating from the initial blood composition, and wherein the proteins are in a gelled state. The invention also refers to method for preparing the formulation, comprising the steps of heating and then cooling the initial blood composition at certain temperatures and times. Among other advantages, the formulation in accordance with the invention is biocompatible and biodegradable, presents the desirable biological or medical properties provided by the presence of platelets or growth factors, and also presents high dimensional stability over time.
US09861683B2

Embodiments of the invention provide swallowable devices, preparations and methods for delivering drugs and other therapeutic agents within the GI tract. Many embodiments provide a swallowable device for delivering the agents. Particular embodiments provide a swallowable device such as a capsule for delivering drugs into the intestinal wall or other GI lumen. Embodiments also provide various drug preparations that are configured to be contained within the capsule, advanced from the capsule into the intestinal wall and degrade to release the drug into the bloodstream to produce a therapeutic effect. The preparation can be operably coupled to delivery means having a first configuration where the preparation is contained in the capsule and a second configuration where the preparation is advanced out of the capsule into the intestinal wall. Embodiments of the invention are particularly useful for the delivery of drugs which are poorly absorbed, tolerated and/or degraded within the GI tract.
US09861680B2

The present disclosure provides novel macrocyclic peptides which inhibit the PD-1/PD-L1 and PD-L1/CD80 protein/protein interaction, and thus are useful for the amelioration of various diseases, including cancer and infectious diseases.
US09861679B2

The present invention provides a method of treating cancer in a subject wherein the method comprising administering to the subject an IAP antagonist and a p38 and/or a MK2 inhibitor.
US09861670B2

Provided herein are cream formulations comprising sandalwood oil, an antioxidant and a phosphate buffer. Also provided are methods of making and using the formulations. Further provided herein is a method of treating a skin disorder in a subject by administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a cream formulation comprising sandalwood oil, an antioxidant and a phosphate buffer, wherein the subject has a skin disorder or is at risk of developing a skin disorder.
US09861665B2

The present invention relates to the use of F4+ non-pathogenic Escherichia coli strains to promote growth in an animal. The present invention also relates to the use of such strains to homogenize growth among a herd of animals. More specifically, the animal(s) of interest in the present invention are those wherein growth promotion or growth homogenization are desired goals, such as animals reared for meat production. The present invention further relates to a method for promoting growth of an animal as well as a method for homogenizing growth among a herd of animals.
US09861649B2

The invention generally relates to methods to inhibit inflammation or pathogen infection by administering at least one anionic lipid or compositions comprising at least one anionic lipid to an individual. The invention also relates to methods to prevent or inhibit respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection by administering at least one anionic lipid or compositions comprising at least one anionic lipid to an individual. The invention further relates to compositions comprising randomly mixed surfactant lipids and methods to produce the compositions.
US09861648B2

Oral dosage forms of osteoclast inhibitors, such as zoledronic acid, in an acid or a salt form can be used to treat or alleviate pain or related conditions, such as knee pain.
US09861643B2

This invention relates the use of cortisol blockers (glucocorticoid receptor [GR] antagonists) for the treating or preventing treatment resistant prostate cancer, treating or preventing neoplasia, and treating or preventing infection related to acute or chronic injury or disease.
US09861632B2

Improved methods and compositions for safe and effective treatment of erythema or a symptom associated with erythema in a subject are described. The methods involve topically applying to an affected skin area a topical composition comprising about 0.3% to about 10% by weight of brimonidine and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
US09861631B2

Improved methods and compositions for safe and effective treatment of erythema or a symptom associated with erythema in a subject are described. The methods involve topically applying to an affected skin area a topical composition comprising about 0.3% to about 10% by weight of brimonidine and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
US09861629B1

Described herein are oral abuse deterrent pharmaceutical compositions, methods for making the same, and methods for treating pain by administering the pharmaceutical composition to a subject in need thereof. In particular, an oral abuse deterrent pharmaceutical composition comprising a soft capsule and a controlled release matrix comprising oxycodone are described.
US09861628B2

The present invention relates to oral pharmaceutical dosage forms comprising buprenorphine with the dosage form releasing buprenorphine instantly upon oral, preferably sublingual, application of the dosage form. The present invention also relates to the use of such dosage forms for treating pain in a human or animal or for drug substitution therapy in drug-dependent human subjects.
US09861626B2

The present invention aims to prevent and/or treat malaria using an antimalarial drug comprising, as an active ingredient, a metal chelator represented by the following formula (I), (III), (IV), (V), (VI), or (VII), such as tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine.
US09861625B2

Provided herein are methods for treating cancer relating to inhibition of PI3K, as pharmaceutical compositions comprising a PI3K inhibitor and a PAK1 inhibitor.
US09861618B2

The present invention comprises compounds of Formula I wherein: R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R7, R8, and are defined in the specification. The invention also comprises a method of treating or ameliorating a syndrome, disorder or disease, wherein the syndrome, disorder or disease is rheumatoid arthritis or psoriasis. The invention also comprises a method of modulating RORγt activity in a mammal by administration of a therapeutically effective amount of at least one compound of Formula I.
US09861617B2

Novel 1,2,4-oxadiazole benzoic acid compounds, methods of using and pharmaceutical compositions comprising an 1,2,4-oxadiazole benzoic acid derivative are disclosed. The methods include methods of treating or preventing a disease ameliorated by modulation of premature translation termination or nonsense-mediated mRNA decay, or ameliorating one or more symptoms associated therewith.
US09861611B2

Provided herein are compositions that contain water-soluble vitamin E derivative mixtures (compositions), such as tocopheryl polyethylene glycol succinate (TPGS), TPGS analogs, TPGS homologs and TPGS derivatives. The water-soluble vitamin E mixtures contain mixtures of dimers and monomers of the vitamin E derivative. Provided are products containing the water-soluble vitamin E derivative mixtures, including capsules, soft gel compositions, pre-gel compositions, emulsions and powders.
US09861609B2

The present invention provides methods for producing cannabinoids and cannabinoid analogs as well as a system for producing these compounds. The inventive method is directed to contacting a compound according to Formula I or Formula II with a cannabinoid synthase. Also described is a system for producing cannabinoids and cannabinoid analogs by contacting a THCA synthase with a cannabinoid precursor and modifying at least one property of the reaction mixture to influence the quantity formed of a first cannabinoid relative to the quantity formed of a second cannabinoid.
US09861608B2

Methods of delivering cromolyn to a patient in need thereof, methods of treating amyloid-associated conditions and inflammatory or allergic lung diseases, and blister packs and kits comprising cromolyn are described.
US09861605B2

A composition including a triglyceride containing glycerol which is esterified with three fatty acids, wherein the three fatty acids include at least one fatty acid selected from caprylic acid, capric acid, α-linolenic acid, linoleic acid, oleic acid, arachidonic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid and docosapentaenoic acid. The total amount of caprylic acid, capric acid, a-linolenic acid, linoleic acid, oleic acid, arachidonic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid and docosapentaenoic acid is greater than 60%, based on the total weight of the fatty acids in a base or starting emulsion. The various physical mixtures of triglycerides containing the primary therapeutic fatty acid can be blended to form pre-defined amounts for the treatment of various acute pathological conditions.
US09861604B2

The subject invention provides efficient and convenient methods of isolating 9-oxo-10E, 12E-octadecadienoic acid methyl ester (9-KODE methyl ester) from C. versicolor. In addition, the subject invention provides therapeutic uses of Coriolus versicolor extracts, biologically-active chemical substituents isolated from C. versicolor, as well as 9-KODE methyl ester and related compounds. In a preferred embodiment, the subject invention can be used to inhibit the metastatic spread of cancer cells.
US09861600B2

The present invention provides methods for treating or limiting development of age-related macular degeneration, as well as methods for identifying compound suitable for such use.
US09861597B2

The present invention is drawn to the treatment of neonatal patients exhibiting convulsion comprising administering a composition comprising a gluconate complex, wherein said gluconate complex lacks a divalent cation such as sodium gluconate.
US09861594B2

The present invention provides a method of treating or preventing an attention and/or cognitive disorder in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to the subject a compound useful within the invention. The present invention further provides a method of treating or preventing dementia associated with a neurodegenerative disorder in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to the subject a compound useful within the invention.
US09861585B2

The present invention relates to an osmotic floating tablet comprising: (i) an inner core comprising a drug, one or more low density polymers, and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients; and (ii) an outer osmotic coating surrounding the inner core that is substantially permeable to surrounding fluids and substantially impermeable to the drug. The present invention also relates to processes for the preparation of said tablets.
US09861584B2

In certain embodiments, the present invention is directed to a solid controlled release dosage form comprising: a core comprising a first portion of an opioid analgesic dispersed in a first matrix material; and a shell encasing the core and comprising a second portion of the opioid analgesic dispersed in a second matrix material; wherein the amount of opioid analgesic released from the dosage form is proportional within 20% to elapsed time from 8 to 24 hours, as measured by an in-vitro dissolution in a USP Apparatus 1 (basket) at 100 rpm in 900 ml simulated gastric fluid without enzymes (SGF) at 37 C.
US09861582B2

Disclosed in certain embodiments is a controlled release oral dosage form comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a drug susceptible to abuse together with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients; the dosage form further including a gelling agent in an effective amount to impart a viscosity unsuitable for administration selected from the group consisting of parenteral and nasal administration to a solubilized mixture formed when the dosage form is crushed and mixed with from about 0.5 to about 10 ml of an aqueous liquid; the dosage form providing a therapeutic effect for at least about 12 hours when orally administered to a human patient.
US09861581B2

This invention relates to a granulate comprising mannitol and sorbitol in a weight ratio of between 70:30 and 97:3. This invention also relates to the use of a granulate in the preparation of orodispersible tablets, to the orodispersible tablets obtained with a granulate and to a process of for producing a granulate.
US09861580B2

A method of making active pharmaceutical ingredient particles with surface-modified nanoparticles deposited on the particles' surfaces, the method comprising: providing a plurality of media particles having surfaces with the surface-modified nanoparticles deposited on the surfaces; mixing the plurality of media particles with the active ingredient particles, both of which are in dry form, to provide active ingredient particles having surfaces with the surface-modified nanoparticles deposited on the surfaces; and separating the plurality of media particles from the active ingredient particles having surfaces with the surface-modified nanoparticles deposited on the surfaces is disclosed.
US09861579B2

The present invention provides DMSO-containing foamable formulations, methods for preparation, and methods of treatment. The formulations can provide good permeability and bioavailability at the target site. Preferably, the formulations are useful for treating osteoarthritis. In one embodiment, the invention provides a foamable formulation for topical use, said formulation comprising DMSO, polyalkylene glycol alkyl ether, an active agent, a monohydric lower alcohol, a diol, and water. Preferably, the active agent is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, such as diclofenac sodium or ibuprofen.
US09861577B2

It is an object of the present invention to provide an orally disintegrating tablet that has desirable oral disintegrability and excellent tablet hardness, a process for producing the same, and the like.The present invention provides an orally disintegrating tablet comprising: at least one diluent selected from D-mannitol, lactose, trehalose, xylitol, maltitol, and erythritol; a drug; a disintegrant; and at least one binder selected form methacrylic acid copolymer S, methacrylic acid copolymer L, methacrylic acid-ethyl acrylate copolymer, ethyl acrylate-methyl methacrylate copolymer, and methyl methacrylate-butyl methacrylate-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate copolymer.
US09861574B2

Methods of inhibiting the growth of cells or inducing cell death by contacting the cells with or introducing into the cells a composition including a 5′ triphosphate, 2′ fluoro-modified pyrimidine non-linear single stranded RNA at least 17 nucleotides long with a least 3 base pairings or a 5′ triphosphate, 2′ fluoro-modified double stranded RNA at least 17 base pairs long in an amount effective to inhibit cell growth, induce cell death or induce cytokine production by the cells. The methods also include administration of the compositions to a subject. The subject may have a proliferative disorder or infectious disease and administration of the compositions provided herein may treat the disorder or disease.
US09861573B2

Disclosed is a composition and methods of its use for whitening skin or evening out skin tone, wherein the composition includes dried navy (haricot)-bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) powder or an aqueous extract thereof.
US09861571B2

The invention relates to bars which provide specific combinations and amounts of nonionic polymer, polyol, short chain fatty acid and solid particles. These specific combinations provide both improved sensory and improved fragrance delivery.
US09861562B2

Described herein, are compositions comprising a soluble quaternary ammonium polymer/polyphosphate complex made by combining ingredients comprising a quaternary ammonium polymer and polyphosphates having 2 or more phosphate units. Methods of making and using these compositions are also described.
US09861549B2

A mobility assistance apparatus includes first and second frames positioned on left and right sides of a user; a hinge arm mechanism coupled to the first and second frames; and a harness or a walking seat coupled to the frames to transfer at least a portion of the user's body weight from the legs and to transfer weight through the user's hip or pelvis to the first and second frame enabling the user to stand or walk for an extended period without requiring the user's arms to hold the frame.
US09861548B2

Disclosed herein is a method of converting and reconstructing a signal, including: at a data generator, acquiring signal-analyzed data from an original signal, wherein the signal-analyzed data includes at least one feature point acquired from the original signal; transmitting and receiving the signal-analyzed data and at least one reference data corresponding to the signal-analyzed data; and reconstructing the original signal based on the signal-analyzed data and the at least one reference data to acquire a reconstructed signal.
US09861543B2

A communication system for exchanging data between an actuator system and an external device, e.g. an operation where the communication system under the form of a gateway and a transcoder interprets the information in a bidirectional stream of data and distributes the information to both ends. The communication system is furthermore provided with a logger function, where the signals that are sent out to both sides of the gateway, are stored in a memory, so that the actions and signals that lead to an alteration on the actuator can later be reconstructed.
US09861540B2

The present disclosure may relate to a computer readable medium containing instructions that include obtaining a first signal corresponding to an idler roller guide speed, obtaining a second signal corresponding to a tire speed, and obtaining a third signal corresponding to a motor speed. The instructions may also include comparing the idler roller guide speed to an idler threshold based on a relationship between the idler roller guide speed, the tire speed, and the motor speed and comparing the motor speed to a motor threshold based on the relationship. The instructions may additionally include, based on one or both of the idler roller guide speed exceeding the idler threshold and the motor speed exceeding the motor threshold, determining that a slippage has occurred, and in response to the slippage, initiating a corrective action.
US09861538B2

A mechanical lift features the low profile of a traditional wood and cloth cot stretcher allowing patients to be easily rolled or moved upon a flat surface. An integrated mechanical lift system then lifts a patient to a raised position without need for manual lifting. The lift allows patients to be moved and transported without back strain to health care workers or first responders. The lift may be raised by the mechanical movement or expansion of a piston.
US09861527B2

A method and apparatus for performing ophthalmic laser surgery using a pulsed laser beam is provided. The method includes establishing an initial cutting pattern comprising a plurality of original photodisruption points, establishing an enhanced cutting pattern comprising a plurality of enhanced photodisruption points selected to decrease potential adverse effects due to patient movement and having increased density over a fixed area as compared with the plurality of original photodisruption points, and performing an ocular surgical procedure according to the enhanced cutting pattern. Enhanced cutting patterns may include circular cuts around the periphery of a capsule, vertical side cuts for lens fragmentation, raster lamellar cuts, and grid lamellar cuts. Each photodisruption point in the initial cutting pattern and the enhanced cutting pattern comprises a laser target point.
US09861525B2

Embodiments of method of manufacturing an implantable pump, including providing an upper layer comprising a dome structure for housing a drug chamber and a cannula in fluid communication with the drug chamber, providing a middle deflection layer adjacent the drug chamber, providing a bottom layer comprising electrolysis electrodes, and bonding the upper layer, middle deflection layer, and bottom layer to form the pump.
US09861523B2

A surgical device and procedure are provided for smoothly and easily accessing tissue to perform microsurgery, including a capsulotomy of a lens capsule of an eye. The device includes a handpiece with a tip for insertion into an incision in the cornea of the eye. A sliding element is disposed within the handpiece and a suction cup is mounted to the sliding element. The sliding element can be translated to move the suction cup into and out of the handpiece. A compression mechanism associated with the suction cup and the handpiece compresses the suction cup for deployment through the tip of the handpiece. The suction cup can expand inside the anterior chamber into a cutting position on the lens capsule. A cutting element mounted to the suction cup is used to cut a portion of the lens capsule and to remove the portion from the eye.
US09861520B2

Devices, systems and methods for removing heat from subcutaneously disposed lipid-rich cells are disclosed. In selected embodiments, suction and/or heat removal sources are coupled to an applicator. The applicator includes a flexible portion and a rigid portion. The rigid portion includes a thermally conductive plate and a frame coupling the thermally conductive plate and the flexible portion. An interior cavity of the applicator is in fluid communication with the suction source, and the frame maintains contiguous engagement between the heat removal source and the thermally conductive plate.
US09861519B2

A device for delivering caloric vestibular stimulation to an individual, includes: (a) an earpiece configured to be at least partially insertable into the ear canal of the individual for delivering a first thermal stimulus; (b) an input unit for receiving a user input indicating efficacy of said first thermal stimulus, and (c) a controller operatively associated with said earpiece and said input unit for: (i) controlling said earpiece to provide said first thermal stimulus, and (ii) receiving a signal corresponding to the user input and generating a control signal to control the earpiece and delivering a subsequent thermal stimulus different from said first thermal stimulus. In some embodiments, each thermal stimulus is an actively controlled time varying waveform stimulus.
US09861514B2

As apparatus for storing and dispensing condoms is provided. The apparatus comprises a body includes a base for receiving a stack of condom wrappers, and an opening for accessing a condom wrapper, the opening including a guide for adjacent a side of the opening. The apparatus also includes a cutting assembly having a blade configurable in an extended position for cutting an edge of the condom wrapper as the condom wrapper is pulled through the opening. The guide configured to deform and/or displace a condom within the condom wrapper laterally away from the blade so that the blade does not cut the condom as the condom wrapper is pulled through the opening, wherein the guide has a gap with a gap height less than a thickness of a rolled condom and wherein at least a portion of the gap is closer to a center of the opening than the blade.
US09861508B2

A method of laser machining a polymer construct to form a stent that includes a bioresorbable polymer and an absorber that increases absorption of laser energy during laser machining. The laser cuts the tubing at least in part by a multiphoton absorption mechanism and the polymer and absorber have a very low absorbance or are transparent to light at the laser wavelength.
US09861506B2

Methods and apparatuses of stents with likely reduced rates of tissue perforation are provided. Some embodiments include reducing the profile of a portion of the stent using a wire profile reduction electropolishing bath and/or other wire profile reduction means.
US09861499B2

A gripping device that comprises a first moveable jaw and a second fixed jaw is disclosed. The gripping device has a handle operatively engaged to the first moveable jaw and a connecting link operatively engaged to the first moveable jaw. The connecting link is positioned in at least one of a first position or a second position. The change in the position of the connecting link allows the gripping device to have either a default closed position or a default open position, which can be defined by voluntarily-open or voluntary-close modes of operation, respectively. The first moveable jaw moves in either of the modes of operation. The change in the mode of operation is accomplished through use of a connecting link that is passed through a singularity during the switching process to achieve the different output positions and directions.
US09861498B2

A surgical instrument and method are provided for removal of a spinal implant from the intervertebral disc space. The instrument includes a carriage body for interfacing with the implant, a housing for interfacing with the vertebrae, and a handle portion having a first portion rotatably coupled with a proximal end of the housing and a second portion rotatably engageable with a proximal attachment portion of the carriage body. A central passage of the housing extends between the proximal end and a distal engagement surface of the housing. The central passage is dimensioned to mate with the carriage body. Rotation of the handle portion about an axis causes translational movement of the carriage body along the axis. A modular inserter/distractor apparatus and method and an anchor remover and method are also provided.
US09861495B2

According to some embodiments, a method of inserting a lateral implant within an intervertebral space defined between an upper vertebral member and a lower vertebral member includes creating a lateral passage through a subject in order to provide minimally invasive access to the intervertebral space, at least partially clearing out native tissue of the subject within and/or near the intervertebral space, positioning a base plate within the intervertebral space, wherein the base plate comprise an upper base plate and a lower base plate and advancing an implant between the upper base plate and the lower base plate so that the implant is urged into the intervertebral space and the upper vertebral member is distracted relative to the lower vertebral member.
US09861486B2

An instrument for locating a femoral mechanical axis and identifying the locations of at least three points in space in relation to the center of a femoral head, the instrument including a base member, an extension arm clamp translationally and pivotally attached to the base member, an extension arm translationally and pivotally attached to the extension arm clamp, a swiveling arm pivotally attached to a distal end of the extension arm, the swiveling arm including a lateral locator member at a proximal end and a medial locator member at a distal end, a bracket pivotally attached to the swiveling arm, and a locating arm removably attached to the bracket, the locating arm including a middle locator member.
US09861484B2

The present disclosure provides knee prostheses that replicate at least a portion of the function of an individual patient's anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). An exemplary knee prosthesis includes a femoral component configured to be implanted on the distal end of the patient's femur and a tibial component configured to be implanted on the proximal end of the patient's tibia. In extension, the femoral component and the tibial component may cooperate to limit anterior movement of the tibial component relative to the femoral component. In flexion, the femoral component may be free to rotate relative to the tibial component.
US09861482B2

A dental bone implant constituted of: a superstructure sized and shaped to fit tightly to a periodontal alveolar bone, the superstructure constituted of: a first face arranged to face a surface of the periodontal alveolar bone; a second face, opposing the first face; and a plurality of perforations extending from the first face to the second face, and non-solidified bone augmentation material deposited within the plurality of perforations, wherein the perforations are of a size sufficient to secure the non-solidified bone augmentation material deposited within the plurality of perforations.
US09861479B2

A prosthetic heart valve can include a valve frame having a wireform portion and a stent portion. The wireform and stent portions can be undetachably coupled together via a plurality of upright struts so as to form a one-piece prosthetic heart valve frame. Alternatively, a self-expanding wireform portion and a balloon-expandable stent portion can be coupled together via one or more leaflets and a subassembly having a flexible leaflet support stent and a sealing ring. The wireform portion can include cusps and commissures configured to support a plurality of leaflets. The prosthetic valve can be radially collapsible for minimally invasive and/or transcatheter delivery techniques. Disclosed embodiments can also provide flexion of the wireform portion (e.g., of the commissures) in response to physiologic pulsatile loading when the valve is implanted in a patient's native valve annulus. Methods of making and using prosthetic heart valves are also disclosed.
US09861477B2

A prosthetic heart valve provided herein can include at least two leaflets being secured together along aligned edges thereof by a stitch of a single thread. The stitch includes at least one loop extending through a first aperture, around the aligned edges, and back through the first aperture.
US09861465B2

The present invention relates to a method for forming a tissue construct having a composite structure. The method includes providing a biodegradable substrate, wherein the substrate is adapted to allow deposition or growth of a plurality of cells; providing a vascularized layer comprising a plurality of blood vessels therein; and adhering the vascularized layer to the substrate.
US09861463B2

In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a support member and a suture. The support member is configured to provide support to a portion of a body of a patient. The support member has a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion of the support member is configured to be disposed within a body of a patient. The suture is removably coupled to the first end portion of the support member and is configured to extend through an incision in the body of the patient from a location within the body of the patient to a location outside of the body of the patient.
US09861461B2

A sling for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) may be placed and stabilized using a midurethral sling stabilizer. First, a sling may be placed beneath the urethra in a position to support the urethra, without tension. The midurethral sling stabilizer may then be inserted in a manner where the distal end partially encompasses and stabilizes the sling through a partial aperture and stabilizes the sling in a desired position, without tension. Once the sling is stabilized in the desired position, the sheath may be removed from the sling.
US09861457B2

A method for planning, visualizing, and/or optimizing dental restoration on the pre-prepared teeth of a patient. The method includes obtaining 3D digital models of the pre-prepared teeth and the prepared teeth, and aligning these 3D models. A CAD model of a dental restoration for the prepared teeth is designed based on the 3D digital model of the pre-prepared teeth.
US09861454B2

The invention relates to an apparatus for temporomandibular joint-related corrections of tooth position, taking into account a variant of the registration or construction of the bite predetermined by the user.The invention is characterized in that a base module extending at least on the occlusion-bearing part of one side of the jaw is supported in an intermaxillary manner and has cavities formed by a setup technique to accommodate teeth, by means of which the tension forces necessary for tooth movements can act on the teeth, in that the base module has a three-dimensionally defined jaw support designed in accordance with specifications of the user, and in that the jaw support is formed by bite blocks and/or interceptors which have cavities filled with a filling material of predeterminable elasticity.
US09861449B2

This disclosure provides marking implements for making radiopaque markings, and methods of using the same.
US09861441B2

An ablation instrument having an ergonomic handle that includes an actuator adapted to selectively extend and retract a blade that is pivotably mounted within an aperture assembly coupled to the housing by a shaft. The shaft extends distally from the handle and includes a coaxial feedline, a wire conduit disposed along a longitudinal axis of the shaft, and a pull wire disposed within the wire conduit and having a proximal and a distal end, wherein a proximal end of the pull wire is operably coupled to the actuator. The aperture assembly is coupled to a distal end of the shaft and includes a reflector having a closed upper portion, and an open lower portion from which the blade may be extended for use. Also disclosed is an ablation system that includes the above-described ablation instrument, a source of ablation energy, and optionally, a source of coolant for cooling the shaft and aperture assembly.
US09861439B2

A microwave antenna assembly is disclosed. The antenna assembly includes a feedline having an inner conductor, an outer conductor and an inner insulator disposed therebetween. A radiating portion is also included having an unbalanced dipole antenna including a proximal portion and a distal portion that are of different lengths. The proximal portion includes at least a portion of the inner conductor and the inner insulator and the distal portion includes a conductive member.
US09861436B2

The present disclosure provides an improved ablation catheter. In particular, the present disclosure provides an improved renal denervation ablation catheter and system including a catheter handle and a means for tracking, monitoring, and/or recording the circumferential angular history of the renal denervation ablation catheter handle. The renal denervation ablation catheters in accordance with the present disclosure are well-suited for use with a renal denervation ablation system that can record the circumferential angular history of the renal denervation catheter handle, and hence the circumferential angular ablation history of the catheter electrode within a vessel, and use this data in combination with other known information to estimate the percent circumferential denervation of the vessel.
US09861434B2

An operation device for performing a procedure on a lumen in a body comprises: a single protection tube formed of a flexible material; first and second tube members provided in the protection tube; and first and second clamp-type effectors respectively provided at respective front ends of the first and second tube members, wherein operational wires, respectively, are inserted into the first and second tube members to connect the clamp-type effectors positioned at the front ends thereof with first and second manipulation handles positioned at rear ends thereof, wherein the first and second clamp-type effectors are manipulated by moving the operational wires using the first and second manipulation handles in front or rear directions, and wherein electric lines are connected with the first and second clamp-type effectors to electrothermally treat a lesion portion in the body.
US09861433B2

The present disclosure provides ablation catheters that are constructed such that they may be inserted into the body and into a target blood vessel in a linear conformation and subsequently changed into a helical conformation using a pull wire secured to the ablation catheter prior to an ablation procedure to allow electrodes present on the ablation catheter to contact the wall of the blood vessel. After the ablation is complete, the helical-shaped ablation catheter may be returned to its linear conformation by reversing the tensioned pull wire for extraction from the body.
US09861430B2

An endoscopic bipolar forceps includes an elongated shaft having opposing jaw members at a distal end thereof. The jaw members are movable relative to one another from a first position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween. The forceps also includes a source of electrical energy connected to each jaw member such that the jaw members are capable of conducting energy through tissue held therebetween to effect a seal. A generally tube-like cutter is included which is slidably engaged about the elongated shaft and which is selectively movable about the elongated shaft to engage and cut tissue on at least one side of the jaw members while the tissue is engaged between jaw members.
US09861428B2

A medical device includes an end effector configured to apply bipolar energy to target tissue along a working portion thereof and a fluid control system to control the flow of a fluid produced when the end effector applies the bipolar energy to heat the target tissue. The fluid control system includes a fluid path element defining a fluid path, a distal fluid port configured to intake the fluid adjacent to the working portion of an end effector for transport through the fluid path, and a proximal fluid port configured to intake the fluid transported through the fluid path and to exhaust the transported fluid.
US09861427B2

An electro-surgical system (100) with an optical feedback functionality for performing electro-surgery on tissue (200) of patient. An electro-surgical device (105) has an electrode portion (110) with an optical guide (114) integrated therein. An optical unit (160) performs optical characterization of tissue type and/or condition, and is arranged for performing an analysis of the tissue type and/or condition. A control unit (170) generates a feedback control signal (FEEDCON) based on the analysis of the tissue type and/or condition, optical guide allows inspecting the tissue that is e.g. just a few millimeters ahead of the electrode portion (110) performing e.g. the cutting. As a result of the fast and reliable analysis performed by the spectrometer in the optical unit according to the present invention, the system can proactively react to what kind of tissue is in front of the electro-surgical portion i.e. the ‘blade’ of the electro-surgical device or the electro-surgical ‘knife’.
US09861425B2

A return electrode monitoring (REM) system for an electrosurgical system is disclosed. The REM system includes circuit components or circuitry for monitoring the magnitude of an interrogation or drive signal, and one or more electrode pads including one or more pairs of split electrode pads. The REM system, while sweeping an interrogation signal over or across a frequency range, monitors the magnitude of the interrogation signal. The REM system determines if there is a frequency shift in the interrogation signal. If there is a frequency shift, the REM system determines the frequency shift and uses it to calculate a reactance value of the impedance. The complex impedance can then be determined. The complex impedance, or at least the reactance value, can be used to determine the capacitive coupling between the patient and pad interface.
US09861413B2

A compression screw system, said compression screw system comprising: a compression screw comprising a shaft, a screw thread formed on said shaft at a distal location, and a bone-engaging feature formed on said shaft at a proximal location, wherein at least a portion of said shaft disposed between said screw thread and said bone-engaging feature is capable of being stretched; and a holding element connectable to said compression screw for releasably holding said at least a portion of said shaft in a stretched condition.
US09861412B2

A bone anchoring element comprising a shaft (2) for anchoring in a bone, with a plurality of barb elements (7) arranged in at least one helical line around the shaft axis (M) is described, wherein said barb elements are elastically movable relative to the shaft. The bone anchoring element (1) is easy to press into a core hole bore in a bone. The barb elements (7) act in a similar manner as do the threads on a conventional bone screw and thus provide for depth positioning. Moreover, the barb elements at the same time secure the bone anchoring element and prevent it from sliding-out.
US09861411B2

A bone screw for pelvic bone fixation, the bone screw comprising an elongate body having a first end which is threaded for engaging at least one bone in the pelvic region, a second end comprising a screw head, and at least one opening across the length of the elongate body for adjustably receiving a fastening means to limit movement of the bone screw away from the engaged bone in use, wherein the at least one opening is shaped such that the position of the fastening means relative to the elongate body of the bone screw can be adjusted. A system for bone fixation in the pelvic region includes the bone screw and the fastening means.
US09861409B1

An apparatus for treating a fracture of the distal radius of a patient, having a pivot pin configured to engage the radius at an attachment point distal to the fracture, and a handle assembly configured to engage the pivot pin dorsal to the patient's hand is presented. The pivot pin is configured to insert through and fixedly engage at least a portion of the distal fracture bone fragment associated with the radius. The handle assembly, once coupled to the pivot pin, provides adjustment of the position of the distal fracture bone fragment.
US09861406B2

A bone fixation system has a bone implant with an implant body. The implant body defines an upper surface, a bone-facing surface spaced from the upper surface along a transverse direction, and at least one aperture defined by an inner wall. A bone fixation element is configured for insertion at least partially through the aperture. The bone fixation element defines a proximal end and a distal end spaced from the proximal end along a central axis. The bone fixation element has a head and a shaft that extends relative to the head toward the distal end. The head defines a first ridge, a second ridge spaced from the first ridge, and a groove disposed between the first and second ridges. The groove can receive at least a portion of the inner wall to couple the bone fixation element to the bone implant.
US09861404B2

A bone re-angling device may be used in performing an osteotomy. The re-angling device may be a generally wedge-shaped body. The re-angling device maybe coupled to the bone using a fixation member.
US09861403B2

An intramedullary rod for use with a fastener to repair a femur includes an elongate nail extending along a longitudinal axis and having a stem and a head. The head is provided with an aperture extending along an axis at an angle to the longitudinal axis for receiving the fastener. A mechanism is carried by the head for pivoting the axis of the aperture from a first angled position relative to the head to a second angled position relative to the head. A method for using the rod and fastener is provided.
US09861397B2

A vertebral attachment system and method for retaining a spinal vertebra (25) on a rod (2) employ a device (1) including a body (3) for attachment to the rod, a flexible strip (4) for linking the vertebra to the attachment body and a means (5) for adjustably locking the flexible strip on the attachment body. The attachment body (3) is made of a single part having a U-shaped cross-section, for passing the rod between the bottom wall (10) of the U and the adjustable locking means. The adjustable locking means (5) consists of a linking part (18) connecting the opposite ends of the two arms (6, 7) of the U, arranged such as to compress the rod against the wall. The arms (6, 7) each include a recess (14) opposite thereof, located on the bottom side of the U, for passing the two ends of the strip between the bottom and the rod in order to form a loop for attachment to a vertebra.
US09861392B2

Spinal fixation systems including a member, a first attachment portion, a second attachment portion, and an intermediate portion. The first attachment portion is attached at a superior end of the member and includes a first opening. The second attachment portion is attached at an inferior end of the member and includes a second opening. The intermediate portion connects the first and second attachment portions. The spinal fixation systems may also include a relief in at least one of the first opening and the second opening. The systems may also include a third attachment portion with a third opening and an intermediate portion with a first and a second elastic mechanism. The first elastic mechanism connects the first and third attachment portions and the second elastic mechanism connects the third and second attachment portions. Surgical methods for inserting the spinal fixation systems in a patient are also disclosed.
US09861390B2

A growing rod for mounting between attachment mechanisms that are secured to anatomical structures of a patient having scoliosis. The growing rod includes an outer housing and an inner housing disposed within the outer housing. The inner housing includes a magnet assembly including a magnet having a first pole and a second pole and a gear reduction mechanism coupled to the magnet. A first rod is secured to the inner housing and a second rod is secured to the outer housing. The gear reduction mechanism reduces an output rotation of the magnet to rotate a driver that operates to move the inner housing along a longitudinal axis with respect to the outer housing.
US09861388B2

A receiving part for coupling a bone anchor to a rod is provided, where the bone anchor includes a shank for anchoring to a bone or a vertebra. The receiving part includes a first end and a second end, the second end being connected to the shank, a bore extending from the first end into the receiving part for receiving a fixation device, the bore having a bore axis, and a recess for receiving a rod, the recess being open at the first end of the receiving part for allowing insertion of the rod and having opposing sidewalls on at least one side of the bore. When a rod is inserted into the recess, a longitudinal axis of the rod extends substantially perpendicular to the bore axis. A resilient retention element is provided on at least one of the opposing sidewalls, where the resilient retention element is deflectable toward the at least one sidewall when the rod is inserted.
US09861386B2

A surgical apparatus for hair removal surgery includes an extraction module, a visualization component and a bridging component. The extraction module includes independently controllable coring and clipping devices. The visualization component acts to align a target hair follicle with the extraction module. The extraction module also includes at least one independently controllable suction port. The instrument also includes a dissection module having a tissue separating device.
US09861377B2

Electrohydraulic lithotripters comprising a plurality of electrohydraulic probes are disclosed. Each probe of the plurality of probes comprise a first electrode and a second electrode positioned at a distal end of the probe such that when the probe is discharged, an electric arc between the first electrode and the second electrode produces a shockwave that radiates from the distal end of the probe. A first probe and a second probe of the plurality of probes may be configured to discharge simultaneously or sequentially.
US09861371B2

A medical instrument comprising: (a) a first joint comprising a first member and a second member, the first member configured to be repositionable with respect to the second member in a first degree of freedom; (b) a second joint operatively coupled to the first joint, the second joint comprising a third member and a fourth member, the third member configured to be repositionable with respect to the fourth member in a second degree of freedom; (c) a pair of repositionable jaws operatively coupled to the first joint and the second joint; (d) an occlusion clip detachably mounted to the pair of repositionable jaws; and, (e) a controller operatively coupled to the first joint, the second joint, and the pair of repositionable jaws, the controller including a first control configured to direct repositioning of at least one of the first member and the second member, and a second control configured to direct repositioning of at least one of the third member and the fourth member, and a third control configured to direct repositioning of the pair of repositionable jaws.
US09861367B2

An anvil assembly suitable for trans-oral delivery includes an anvil head configured to receive a retrieval suture that is separable from the anvil head following delivery of the anvil assembly. An anvil delivery assembly includes the anvil assembly, a delivery assembly secured to the anvil assembly, and a retrieval suture selectively secured to the anvil assembly for retrieving the anvil assembly.
US09861366B2

An end effector includes first and second jaws, a drive screw, a lead screw nut, and a drive beam. The drive screw is disposed within the first jaw. The lead screw nut defines a threaded bore that receives the drive screw. The lead screw nut is advanced along the drive screw as the drive screw is rotated in a first direction and is retracted along the drive screw as the drive screw rotates in a second direction. The drive beam is releasably coupled to the lead screw nut when the lead screw nut is in a retracted position. As the lead screw nut is advanced the drive beam is pulled by the lead screw nut. The drive beam is decoupled from the lead screw nut as the lead screw nut is advanced such that the lead screw nut is advanced relative to the drive beam.
US09861353B2

A suture anchoring device for fixing a soft tissue to a bone tissue is disclosed that enables the exchange of sutures between anchors after implantation. The suture anchoring device may include a body that is inserted into the bone tissue, a suture exchange fitting situation within a passage formed within the body, and one or more pre-loaded sutures looped through the suture exchange fitting and projecting proximally from a proximal opening formed in the body. Surgical kits and surgical methods for performing various repair procedures using one or more suture anchoring device are also disclosed.
US09861348B2

A sealant is provided for sealing a puncture through tissue that comprises an elongate first section including a proximal end, a distal end, and a cross-section sized for delivery into a puncture through tissue, and a second section extending from the distal end of the first section. The first section may be formed from a freeze-dried hydrogel that expands when exposed to physiological fluid within a puncture. The first section comprises chitosan and at least one additional polymer. The second section may be formed from a solid mass of non-freeze-dried, non-cross-linked hydrogel precursors. The precursors are in an unreactive state until exposed to an aqueous physiological environment, whereupon the precursors undergo in-situ crosslinking with one another to provide an adhesive layer bonded to the first section. The second section may further comprise chitosan. Apparatus and methods for delivering the sealant into a puncture through tissue are also provided.
US09861344B2

According to an embodiment, a server detects temperature increase in basal body temperature measured later relative to basal body temperature measured earlier between chronologically adjacent pieces of basal body temperature data, among basal body temperature data between a menstruation starting day and a next menstruation starting day; and estimates an ovulation day on the basis of the detected temperature increase.
US09861340B2

An optical fiber guides light output from a light source to an ultrasound probe. The ultrasound probe includes a light guiding section that guides the light from a light input end, which is optically coupled with the optical fiber to a light output end provided in the vicinity of ultrasonic transducers. The light guiding section has a first light guiding portion that includes the light input end, and a second light guiding portion that includes the light output end. The first light guiding portion is formed by glass, and magnifies input light. The second light guiding portion is formed by resin, and emits the light toward a subject from the light output end.
US09861339B2

Disclosed is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus including a main body, at least one input/output unit coupled to one side of the main body to input data to the main body or to output data transmitted from the main body, and a connection unit to connect the input/output unit and the main body to each other. The connection unit includes plural first connection members, each of which is connected at one end thereof to the main body and at the other end thereof to at least a portion of the input/output unit and has a variable length to move the input/output unit relative to the main body, and at least one second connection member coupled to the first connection members and at least one of the main body or the input/output unit so as to come into contact with the same at a point to support load of the input/output unit.
US09861332B2

An image obtaining unit obtains a plurality of projection images by imaging a subject with different radiation source positions. A pixel value projecting unit projects pixel values of the projection images on coordinate positions on a desired slice plane of the subject based on the positional relationship between the radiation source position with which each projection image is taken and the radiation detector, while preserving pixel values of the projection images, to obtain a plurality of slice plane projection images. A positional misalignment correcting unit corrects positional misalignment between the slice plane projection images. A pixel value calculating unit generates a tomographic image from the slice plane projection images having been subjected to the correction of the positional misalignment.
US09861329B2

An X-ray apparatus includes: a source configured to emit X-rays to an object; a detector configured to detect the X-rays that have penetrated the object; an arm configured to connect the source to the detector and move centering on a stand fixed to a bottom; a controller configured to control a movement of the arm so that the controller changes a direction of the X-rays, which are radiated to the object, and the arm rotates on the stand to move the detector in a first direction, to obtain images for a plurality of parts of the object; and an image processor configured to obtain the images for the plurality of parts of the object based on the X-rays detected by the detector.
US09861325B2

A method for restoring CT scan data is disclosed. The method may comprise: building a data collecting model with respect to a specific direction of a detector based a response curve of the detector. In some examples, the specific direction can indicate a channel direction and a slice direction of the detector. During a CT scanning, based on the data collecting model, X-ray intensity values detected by the detectors in the specific direction can be acquired. A function can be determined such that it satisfies the data collecting model, a continuity condition and a boundary condition, An X-ray intensity value can be obtained by substituting the coordinate value of a point in the specific direction into the function.
US09861320B2

Provided is a method and apparatus for evaluating an exercise capability, the method including monitoring a heart rate of a user, setting a detection area to measure an exercise capability of the user based on the monitoring and body information of the user, and detecting a feature point for evaluating the exercise capability from the detection area.
US09861319B2

The present invention provides for three-dimensional reflectance diffuse optical imaging of deep tissue blood flow distribution that removes the need for probe-tissue contact, thereby allowing for such technology to be applied to sensitive, vulnerable, damaged, or reconstructive tissue. The systems utilize noncontact application and detection of near-infrared light through optical lens and detection through a linear array or two-dimensional array of avalanche photodiodes or a two-dimensional array of detectors provided by charge-coupled-device (CCD). Both further feature a finite-element-method (FEM) based facilitation to provide for three-dimensional flow image reconstruction in deep tissues with arbitrary geometries.
US09861313B1

A method includes forming one or more trenches in a first substrate, forming one or more vias in a second substrate, aligning at least a first trench in the first substrate with at least a first via in the second substrate, and sealing the first substrate to the second substrate by filling the first via and the first trench with solder material using injection molded soldering.
US09861306B2

The present invention is directed to the parenteral procurement of bodily-fluid samples. The present invention is also directed to systems and methods for parenterally procuring bodily-fluid samples with reduced contamination from dermally-residing microbes. In some embodiments, a bodily-fluid withdrawing system is used to withdraw bodily fluid from a patient for incubation in culture media in one or more sample vessels. Prior to withdrawing bodily fluid into the one or more sample vessels for incubation, an initial volume of withdrawn bodily fluid is placed in one or more pre-sample reservoirs and is not used for the incubation in culture media.
US09861296B2

An improved device which is introduced into the intestinal tract of a living organism and which operates autonomously therein, adapted to deliver one or more therapeutic agents. In one embodiment, the probe communicates wirelessly with a portable electronic device outside the organism in order to receive commands to deliver the therapeutic agent, or perform other functions while the probe is within the intestinal tract.
US09861294B2

A marker delivery device includes an elongated delivery cannula which has a distal end section, an inner lumen and a discharge opening in the distal end section in communication with the inner lumen. A plunger is slidably disposed within the inner lumen of the elongated delivery cannula. The plunger has a distal end. At least one elongated fibrous marker body is pre-formed prior to being inserted into the inner lumen of the elongated delivery cannula. The at least one elongated fibrous marker body is slidably disposed within the inner lumen of the elongated delivery cannula at a location distal to the distal end of the plunger. The pre-formed at least one elongated fibrous marker body includes a fibrous material compressed and impregnated with a binding agent and freeze dried in the compressed condition. A releasable plug is disposed within a distal portion of the inner lumen and distal to the at least one elongated fibrous marker body.
US09861290B1

A wireless biometric lead set in which one or more biometric sensors are hermetically sealed in a package. The lead set may contain multiple such sensors and packages, with other components to operate the lead set, such as a power source, a transmitter, and a charging device. Such a lead set may be sterilized for reuse and may be configured to easily fit into existing medical facility work flows. The lead set may automatically, associate with a specific monitoring device. That monitoring device may selectively process data transmitted from the associated lead set. Further, low power operation may be achieve via multiple operating modes, such as modes in which no actions are performed, samples are taken and accumulated, or accumulated samples are transmitted. An interface device may allow the lead set to be used with a conventional monitoring device.
US09861280B2

A physiologic sensor pod comprises a housing including first and second electrodes on a bottom surface thereof, and a third electrode on a top surface thereof. Within the housing is a battery, a battery charging circuit, an ECG sensor circuit, switch circuitry, and a controller adapted to control at least a portion of the switch circuitry. When the switch circuitry is in a first configuration the first and second electrodes are connected to the battery charging circuit. When the switch circuitry is in a second configuration, the first and second electrodes are connected, respectively, to first and second inputs of the ECG sensor circuit. When the switch circuitry is in a third configuration, one or both of the first and second electrodes is/are coupled to a first input of an ECG sensor circuit and the third electrode is coupled to a second input of the ECG sensor circuit.
US09861274B2

A method of assisting visual exploration for individuals suffering from a retinal condition resulting in a scotoma and, more particularly, a method S for assisting visual exploration by such an individual of a digital image on a display device, the method including: —recognizing, using shape recognition software, at least one object contained in an object area of the digital image, —determining a blind area in the image, corresponding to a position of the scotoma in the field of vision of the user looking at the image, —if the blind area and the object area are detected to be in close proximity to each other, applying image processing to the image consisting in highlighting the object area for the user.
US09861272B2

Apparatus, systems, and methods for laparoscopic abdominal surgery are disclosed. For example, a system or kit is provided for performing a procedure within a surgical space within a patient's body that includes a plurality of tool heads, and a tool head carrier including features for removably receiving one or more tool heads, the tool head carrier sized for introduction through a trocar or other port into a surgical space. The system or kit may also include a surgical tool including a tool shaft introduceable into the surgical space and including features for securing a tool head to the tool. Optionally, the tool head carrier may include a clip for securing the tool head carrier to an endoscope.
US09861265B2

A pneumoperitoneum apparatus includes: an insufflation conduit for pneumoperitoneum; an endoscope connection tube connecting the insufflation conduit for pneumoperitoneum; an insufflation flow rate measuring section that measures an insufflation flow rate as a measured flow rate; a set flow rate setting section that sets the measured insufflation flow rate to a target set flow rate; an insufflation flow rate adjusting section; an adjustment value storing section that if the measured flow rate is equal to the target set flow rate, stores the adjustment value for the insufflation flow rate adjusting section; and a control section that if the measured flow rate varies to a value that is equal to or below a threshold value after the measured flow rate reaches the target set flow rate, performs control to set the adjustment value read from the adjustment value storing section for the insufflation flow rate adjusting section.
US09861264B2

A rigid endoscope includes a first insertion section extending along longitudinal directions, a first needle defining an outer edge of a first opening, and a first functional section provided in a vicinity of the first opening of a first lumen, and configured to perform some part of functions. The rigid endoscope includes a second insertion section extending along the longitudinal directions, and located apart from the first insertion section in directions perpendicular to the longitudinal directions, a second needle defining an outer edge of a second opening, and a second functional section provided in a vicinity of the second opening of a second lumen, and configured to perform some part of the functions different from the functions performed by the first functional section.
US09861262B2

The present invention relates to a catheter using an optical fiber and a camera, into which the camera for lighting and the optical fiber for lighting are built so that the camera can be used during an internal examination and treatment amid irradiation of light by the optical fiber. According to the present invention, the diameter of a shaft can be minimized while forming a hole in the shaft for the camera, the optical fiber, a wire, and medicine to be inserted, and the camera, the optical fiber, and a distal end of a medicine injection tube are driven at the same time and in the same manner following the driving of the wire so that internal imaging, light irradiation, and medicine injection can be performed with accuracy.
US09861259B2

Disclosed herein is a dishwasher. The dishwasher includes a main body, a tub placed within the main body to receive dishes therein, and an air brake mounted to one lateral surface of the tub. The air brake includes a communication hole communicating with the tub to allow air to be introduced into the tub or to be discharged from the tub, a guide rib configured to guide air, introduced through the communication hole, upward of the air brake, and a vent formed in a lateral surface of the air brake to allow air to be discharged outward from the air brake or to allow outside air to be introduced into the air brake, the vent being located below the guide rib to prevent hot air from being discharged from the air brake.
US09861256B2

The present invention relates to a system for supplying washing inputs comprised by at least one hydraulic circuit comprising at least one water inlet pipe (2), at least one reservoir (3) of inputs and at least one inputs outlet pipe (4). It is further provided at least one water spreader (5) associated with at least one water inlet pipe (2) and at least one containment structure (6) associated with at least one inputs outlet pipe (4). According to the present invention, at least one gap (V1) is arranged between the front wall (31) of at least one reservoir (3) of inputs and the front wall (61) of at least one containment structure (6), at least one spraying means (51) of at least one water spreader (5) is directed to at least one gap (V1) arranged between the front wall (31) of at least one reservoir (3) of inputs and the front wall (61) of at least one containment structure (6), and it is generated at least one flow of inputs between the front wall (31) of at least one reservoir (3) of inputs and the front wall (61) of at least one containment structure (6).
US09861249B2

A dishwasher is provided. The dishwasher may include a tub forming a washing space, a sump collecting washing water, a tank forming a storage space outside the tub, a motor generating a dynamic force to supply the washing water collected in the sump to the tank, and a controller incrementally increasing a water level of the tank by intermittently driving the motor.
US09861248B2

A sensor and a method of manufacture of a sensor includes a light interface portion comprising first and second walls, where a cavity is provided between the first and second walls, and where the first wall is configured such that at least a portion of light is totally reflected at the first wall when the sensor-external medium is water, and at least a portion of light is coupled out when the sensor-external medium is air, and a portion of light is coupled out and a further portion of light is totally reflected by the first wall when the sensor-external medium comprises foam. Light that is reflected by the first wall is directed toward a second wall, and reflected at the second wall to be directed to a light receiving element.
US09861246B2

A device for cleaning debris from a target surface. The device has a handle for gripping by a user, a hole in the handle which removably receives a replaceable container of cleaning solution and a flat surface which removably receives a cleaning pad. This device may be extruded from a monolithic piece of material, cut to length. The resulting device is unitary, inexpensive and durable. The pad/cleaning solution may be replaced when depleted and replaced with a new pad/cleaning solution or may simply be replaced with a new pad/cleaning solution as may be more suitable for a particular cleaning task. The device may be foam, which provides for an inexpensive construction material and convenient, ergonomic gripping.
US09861245B2

A nonwoven wipe having a reversible sanitizer indicator for multiple uses and recharges is provided. The nonwoven wipe includes a cloth-like nonwoven fabric coated with a reversible color-changing ink formulation. During use, the nonwoven wipe is impregnated with a quaternary ammonium compound-based sanitizer. When the level of free quaternary ammonium compound falls below a threshold level, the color-changing ink formulation changes from a first color to a second color, indicating the need to recharge the wipe. When the nonwoven wipe is recharged with sanitizer solution, the color-changing ink formulation changes back to the first color.
US09861240B2

A vacuum cleaner includes a vacuum component defining an aperture, and a hand vacuum including a removable battery. The hand vacuum is in removable engagement with the vacuum component, and the battery is removable from the hand vacuum through the aperture while the hand vacuum remains in engagement with the vacuum component.
US09861236B2

A retrofittable towel warmer for use with a hot tub preferably comprises a flexible conduit portion which is attachable to one of the jets of the hot tub together with a rigid thermally conductive portion which is detachably mountable on an exterior mast support. There is also preferably provided an exterior housing surrounding the thermally conductive portion designed to provide maximum thermal contact with the cloth material to be heated. The entire unit may be immersed in the hot tub or pool water when not in use. In an alternate embodiment a container having a thermally absorptive medium is provided in a structure which is easily mounted on the mast. In an alternate embodiment a container having a thermally absorptive medium is provided in a structure which is easily mounted on a supporting mast.
US09861228B1

A collapsible chafing dish stand includes a rim that holds the chafing dish pan; a first leg formed into a first geometric shape having two ends each pivotally coupled to the rim; a second leg similarly formed with two ends each pivotally coupled to the rim; a first cross bar and a second cross bar each formed into a select geometric shape, and pivotally coupled to the first leg and the second leg, respectively; and a hook to releasably couple the first cross bar to the second cross bar to secure the first and second legs in a support position. The improved configuration permits manufacture of a stand with fewer wire bends, simplified hinges and hook, simplified coupling of cross bars, and simplified geometric shapes, all of which combine to minimize material usage, and be more economically producible in a highly competitive marketplace, while retaining structural integrity.
US09861227B2

The present invention relates to an infusion unit forming a hollow inner space that receives inserted elements, characterized in that it consists of a reinforcement belt that defines the hollow inner space of the infusion unit, said belt including means for taking up the forces generated while infusing on at least one inserted element, the reinforcement belt further including receiving means for each of said elements. The invention also relates to a machine container as well as to a machine with one such infusion unit, and similarly to a method for assembling at least one element to be inserted into an infusion unit. The invention can be used in all types of infusion machines, in particular EXPRESSO coffee machines.
US09861219B2

A system and method for reducing manufacturing costs of patterned constructible utensils and improving their constructability. One constructible utensil includes a set of scores (e.g., a quad of scores including an outer pair and an inner pair, a single such pair, or other number of scores) that are shaped to converge when moving from a bowl-region towards the handle portion. The scores do not intersect but stop and produce various alterations in the converging score pattern. These alterations in the converging pattern help with propagation of a bowl-forming fold responsive to a constructing manipulation of the handle portion (e.g., folding, bending, and other operation on the handle portion and one or more scores on the handle portion).
US09861217B1

A clamp adapted to retain paintings which includes a female piece rotatably connected to a male piece. The proximal end of the female piece includes a sloped locking shoulder which engages a distally extending horizontal flange in the proximal end of the male piece in order to lock the clamp.
US09861207B2

Cushioning articles such as mattresses can include a three dimensional wave spring core. The wave spring includes a polymeric lattice spring structure including a plurality of alternating layers stackedly arranged to define a height of the wave spring, wherein each one of the alternating layers is defined by a single strand having one or more upward and downward undulations, wherein the alternating layers are arranged such that an upward undulation of one layer is connected to a downward undulation of the other layer to define a cell configured to receive a compressive force, wherein the lattice structure has a sinusoidal shape when viewed top down and is configured to have three dimensional structure.
US09861206B2

A mattress topper includes a pocket coil pad having a top surface and a bottom surface. The pocket coil pad includes a plurality of pockets, each pocket having a compressible coil that moves independently of the other compressible coils of the pad. The mattress topper includes a first foam pad overlying and connected with the top surface of the pocket coil pad, and a second foam pad overlying and connected with the bottom surface of the pocket coil pad. The compressible coils are joined together by a fabric covering that holds the compressible coils together as a unitary structure. The compressible coils have a height of about ¼ inch or greater. The pocket coil pad and the first and second foam pads cover an area that is the same size such as single, twin, queen, king, and California king sizes.
US09861205B2

An armrest for a chair includes a first slideable member moveably positioned within a support post and a second slideable member moveably positioned within the support post. The first slideable member is moveably positioned within a channel of the second slideable member such that the first slideable member is moveable relative to the second slideable member. An actuator is connected to the first and second slideable members. The actuator can optionally be included that is actuatable from a locked position to an unlocked position. The first and second slideable members are immovable within the post when the actuator is in the locked position and the first and second slideable members are moveable within the post when the actuator is in the unlocked position.
US09861192B2

A liftable table has a table frame, a fixing board, a lifting device, and a table board. The table frame has a main frame and a holding seat. The holding seat is deposited on the main frame. The fixing board is mounted on the main frame. The lifting device is deposited on the holding seat and has a driving set and at least one crossing set. The crossing set is extended from or folded in the receiving space of the holding seat, and is connected to and driven by the driving set. The table board is deposited on the crossing set to move upwardly or downwardly. A user views and operates a computer put on the table board with a sitting or a standing posture, and this prevents the user from using the computer with the sitting posture for a long time and avoids damages to the user's health.
US09861187B2

A self-righting toothbrush includes a medial section disposed between head and tail sections. The head section mounts a set of frontwardly extending bristles. The tail section has a rearwardly extending asymmetry. The medial section has a pivot surface whose center of rotation defines a pivot point on a longitudinal neutral pivot axis. The pivot surface allows the toothbrush to pivot about the neutral pivot axis when the toothbrush is placed on a support surface. The head and tail sections have respective centers of mass. In a non-bristles up position, the head and tail section centers of mass are spaced from the neutral pivot axis on opposite sides thereof. Due to a moment imbalance dominated by the tail section center of mass, there is a net rotational moment about the neutral pivot axis that induces the toothbrush to pivot about the neutral pivot axis to a bristles up position.
US09861181B2

A hanging chair that includes an upper frame member, a lower frame member, and a plurality of upright supports. The upper frame member is connectable to an external support structure and having a top plate and a bottom plate. The lower frame member has a top plate and a bottom plate. Each upright support having a first end and a second end. The first end of each upright support is connected to the upper frame member between the top plate and the bottom plate of the upper frame member. The second end of each upright support is connected to the lower frame member between the top plate and the bottom plate of the lower frame member. The plurality of upright supports are pivotally moveable between a collapsed position, where the plurality of upright supports are pivoted toward one another, and an expanded position.
US09861179B2

Revealed invention relates to a backpack for carrying portable chairs, and/or selected equipment comfortably on the back of a person. Shoulder harness support straps secure it to the back of an individual and the waist harness support transfer the weight to the hips. People attending sporting events, concerts, picnics, or camping many time have an uncomfortable job of carrying several portable chairs, and/or selected equipment, slung over their shoulders for a considerable distance. The bulk and weight of carrying more than one portable chair, and/or selected equipment becomes a frustrating task. Especially if one has to carry up to six chairs, and/or selected equipment, or other items. The Sport chair backpack has six designated locations for chairs, and/or selected equipment to be securely and comfortable, carried over a long distance. Shoulder harness support straps secure it to the back of an individual. Waist harness support transfers the weight to the hips.
US09861170B1

A suitcase includes a kit to convert the suitcase to a luggage cart. A typical rolling suitcase additionally includes at least three sockets provided in spaced relation in the major bottom wall of the suitcase base and open to an outside of the suitcase, and at least three stem casters, each stem caster having a wheel rotatable in a housing and a stem attached to the housing, the stem being configured to be removably secured in one of the at least three sockets. When the at least three stem casters are secured in the at least three sockets and the bottom wall of the suitcase base is arranged facing the ground with the wheels of the at least three stem casters touching the ground, the suitcase is useable as a luggage cart by piling at least one further suitcase over the suitcase lid.
US09861159B2

An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure with a sole member. The sole member can be manufactured using a cushioning sole system that provides different cushioning characteristics to a sole member using varying patterns of apertures. A user's foot morphology and/or preferences may be used to design the sole member. The sole member can include a set of apertures that are formed along various surfaces of the sole member.
US09861157B1

A shoe covering may include an interior member and an exterior member. The interior member may be configured to be positioned adjacent a shoe outsole during use. The exterior member may be configured to be positioned adjacent a ground surface during use. The shoe covering may be configured such that it may be relatively easily engaged with/disengaged from a shoe. An aspect of the shoe covering may be configured to provide the user with increased traction, comfort, cushioning, and/or protection of spikes on the shoe as compared to use of a shoe without the shoe covering engaged with the shoe.
US09861148B2

A process for creating transitory colored hair that is composed of two different colored hair groups having different length hairs in each hair group, and the hair groups are combined then the top one-third (⅓) combined hair is dyed or color processed. First, hair group 1 is obtained consisting of hair strands 12 inches to 24 inches in length and color processed to color A. Next, hair group 2 is obtained consisting of hair strands approximately two-thirds the length of hair group 1, which is color processed to color B. Hair group 1 and hair group 2 are combined into one hair piece. Then, the top one-third segment of combined hair is color processed to color B. Optionally, the top one-third segment of the combined hair groups can be color processed to color C.
US09861143B2

A blanket that may include a layer of material with trapezoidally shaped notches in two opposite sides of the material. An upper panel of the material may be configured to wrap around a user's upper legs with the user in a sitting position, and a lower panel of the material may be configured to wrap around the user's lower legs. Fasteners removably attach right and left edges of the lower panel together. A method of covering a portion of a user's body with a blanket may include placing the blanket on the user with an upper panel of the blanket over the user's upper legs, and a lower panel of the blanket over the user's lower legs, wrapping left and right edges of the lower panel around the user's lower legs, thereby surrounding the user's lower legs with the lower panel.
US09861132B2

An exemplary atomizer of an electronic cigarette includes an atomizing tube and an atomizing assembly arranged in the atomizing tube. The atomizing assembly includes a ceramic tube and a heating element. The heating element is in contact with an inner surface of the ceramic tube. The ceramic tube defines a plurality of liquid absorption hole.
US09861130B2

An exemplary atomizing assembly includes a heating component, a holder, an electrode, and a cover. The heating component includes a liquid conducting element and a heating element in contact with the liquid conducting element. The holder includes two arms extending from a first end thereof. The two arms and the cover cooperatively define a receiving space. The heating component is received in the receiving space. The electrode is arranged in the holder and is insulated from the holder. Two ends of the heating element are connected with the holder and the electrode respectively. The holder further includes a connection part arranged at an opposite second end, and the connection part is configured for detachably engaging with an external component.
US09861127B2

The present invention relates to an electronic cigarette and an electronic cigarette device, the electronic cigarette includes: a main rod with a nozzle configured at its one end, wherein, the main rod is further configured with a projection assembly at its another end away from the nozzle, the projection assembly includes a projection light source, a slide unit configured in front of the projection light source and a light source control unit connected with the projection light source to control operation of the projection light source; the slide unit includes a slide and a locking groove for insertion of the slide, and the locking groove is defined by two parallel and spaced glasses; the light source control unit includes a light source control circuit and a light source control switch connected with the light source control circuit. The electronic cigarette has a function of projecting various image light-shadows.
US09861123B2

A smoking article comprises a first filter section, and a second filter section located downstream of the first filter section. The first filter section comprises a material with a first pressure drop per unit length, the second filter section comprises a material with a second pressure drop per unit length, and the second pressure drop per unit length is greater than the first pressure drop per unit length. The smoking article comprises a ventilation system configured to selectively provide ingress of a variable level of ventilating air.
US09861122B2

A liquid beverage enhancer product including a shelf-stable highly concentrated liquid flavor and color solution including at least 10% non-water solvents with humectant properties including propylene glycol, glycerol, ethanol and other alcohols. The liquid beverage enhancer product in combination with beverages or non-beverage food products. A method of enhancing a beverage by adding a liquid beverage enhancer product including a shelf-stable highly concentrated liquid flavor and color solution having at least 10% non-water solvents with humectant properties to a beverage, and enhancing the flavor and color of the beverage. A method of enhancing milk, milk substitute beverages, and protein containing products, by adding the liquid beverage enhancer product having a pH of greater than 4.6 to milk, milk substitute beverages, or protein containing products, and enhancing the flavor and color of the milk, milk substitute beverages, or protein containing products without curdling.
US09861105B2

Transgenic plants expressing a Vip3 protein have been found to be efficacious against plant-infesting nematodes. Disclosed are methods of controlling nematode populations using transgenic plants expressing Vip3 protein.
US09861080B1

The present invention is generally directed to a pet tracking device that receives and transmits wireless signals indicative of the location of the pet tracking device. The pet tracking device has a body including a power source and electrical circuits located within a housing and at least one hoop antenna extending outwardly from a surface of the housing. The at least one hoop antenna also functions as a collar attaching location for affixing the pet tracking device to a pet worn collar.
US09861072B2

The object of invention is an animal cage litter composition, especially suitable for cats, in the form of compacted and/or ground down sunflower hulls, in the amount from 1% to 100%, preferably 100%, with addition of the known binder, in the amount from 0% to 50%, and/or the known filler, in the amount from 0% to 80%, in the total mass of compacted sunflower hulls.
US09861071B2

Composite particles and methods for making the same. An absorbent material is formed into a particle. An optional performance-enhancing active is coupled to the absorbent material before, during, or after the particle-forming process, homogeneously and/or in layers. Additionally, the composite absorbent particle may include a core material. Preferred methods for creating the absorbent particles include a pan agglomeration process, a high shear agglomeration process, a low shear agglomeration process, a high pressure agglomeration process, a low pressure agglomeration process, a rotary drum agglomeration process, a mix muller process, a roll press compaction process, a pin mixer process, a batch tumble blending mixer process, an extrusion process, and a fluid bed process.
US09861070B2

Self-propelled animal-shed vehicle for removing manure from a floor, and comprising a frame, a manure pick-up device, and a manure collecting bin, wherein the manure pick-up device comprises a rotating, continuous manure pick-up belt, at least two reversing parts, around which the belt can be rotatably moved, and a drive for moving the manure pick-up belt around the reversing parts, wherein the manure pick-up device during use keeps the manure pick-up belt in contact with the floor by means of a bottom reversing part, and wherein the drive is configured to move the manure pick-up belt at a peripheral speed, in such a manner that the manure pick-up belt moves from a bottom side of the bottom reversing part to a top side of the reversing part along the reversing part. Such a vehicle can keep an animal-shed floor clean in a very efficient manner. The invention also provides an assembly of such an animal-shed vehicle and an animal-shed floor which is configured to separate manure which lands thereon into solid droppings and urine.
US09861063B1

A novel maize variety designated X13H969 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof are produced by crossing inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant by crossing hybrid maize variety X13H969 with another maize plant are disclosed. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X13H969 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X13H969, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X13H969. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X13H969.
US09861058B1

A novel maize variety designated X08H734 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof are produced by crossing inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant by crossing hybrid maize variety X08H734 with another maize plant are disclosed. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X08H734 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X08H734, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X08H734. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X08H734.
US09861055B1

The invention relates to the soybean variety designated XR39U15X. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety XR39U15X. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety XR39U15X and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety XR39U15X with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US09861054B1

The invention relates to the soybean variety designated XR36Z15X. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety XR36Z15X. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety XR36Z15X and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety XR36Z15X with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US09861041B2

An agricultural baler system includes a bale chamber, a compressing device and at least one sensor. The compressing device is coupled to the bale chamber and periodically compresses gathered crop material in the bale chamber. The sensor is coupled to the bale chamber and it produces a signal. The signal contains information that includes the load on at least one of the compressing device and the density of the forming bale.
US09861032B2

Representative implementations of devices and techniques provide a tool bar comprising a structure having a plurality of sections arranged in geometric forms. The geometric forms may change shape to keep a tool that is attached to the structure in a desired position while the tool bar is being used on uneven terrain, such as on a hillside or while the tool bar is rotated or pivoted at an angle with respect to the direction of travel. Changing the shape of the geometric forms can also result in rotating the tool attached to the structure with respect to the tool bar.
US09861021B2

A walk behind power equipment device includes a frame (or housing), an engine supported at least in part by the frame or housing, a mobility assembly operably coupled to the frame and to the engine to provide mobility of the walk behind power equipment device responsive to operation of the engine, a working assembly and a handle assembly. The working assembly is operably coupled to the frame and to the engine to facilitate performance of a working function of the walk behind power equipment device responsive to operation of the engine. The handle assembly is operably coupled to the frame via a handle coupler to provide steering inputs responsive to which the mobility assembly moves the walk behind power equipment device via a handle apparatus of the handle assembly. The handle coupler is configured to provide at least vibration isolation and handle apparatus orientation adjustment.
US09867316B2

A cooling apparatus is provided for a switchgear. The switchgear has one or more primary contacts constructed and arranged to connect to a terminal of a circuit breaker. The cooling apparatus includes an evaporator constructed and arranged to be associated with each primary contact. A condenser is located at a higher elevation than the evaporator. Fluid conduit structure fluidly connects the evaporator with the condenser. A portion of the fluid conduit structure defines a busbar tube electrically connected with an associated primary contact and defining a busbar of the switchgear. Working fluid is in the evaporator so as to be heated to a vapor state, with the fluid conduit structure being constructed and arranged to transfer the vapor to the condenser and to passively return condensed working fluid back to the evaporator for cooling the at least one primary contact and the associated busbar tube.
US09867312B2

An electronic module includes a substrate, a metallic shielding cover, an electronic component and a piezoelectric element. The metallic shielding cover is disposed on the substrate and forms an accommodating chamber together with the substrate, wherein the metallic shielding cover has an opening, and the accommodating chamber is communicated with outside via the opening. The electronic component is disposed on the substrate and accommodated in the accommodating chamber. The piezoelectric element is adhered to the metallic shielding cover, wherein the piezoelectric element after being enabled is configured to bring a local portion of the metallic shielding cover for vibrating to change the volume of the accommodating chamber. In addition, a heat dissipation module is also disclosed.
US09867308B2

A slide rail assembly includes a first rail, a second rail, a bracket base, a supporting base, and a contact member. The second rail is movably connected to, and longitudinally displaceable relative to, the first rail. The bracket base is connected to the first rail. The supporting base is movably mounted to the bracket base. The contact member is fixedly attached to the second rail and has a contact portion. The supporting base has a first feature corresponding to the contact portion of the contact member. When the second rail is pulled out relative to the first rail, the supporting base is displaced by the contact member so as to support the second rail.
US09867298B2

A case frame used in various devices and a method of manufacturing the case frame are provided. The method includes forming the case frame in a shape corresponding to a product to which the case frame is applied, forming a first painting layer with a color of a material applied to a surface of the formed case frame, depositing a transparent oxide deposition layer having a refractive index on an upper portion of the first painting layer, and forming a second painting layer on an upper portion of the transparent oxide deposition layer. Accordingly, the case frame can have an excellent texture by reproducing a brightness and a color anisotropy on the basis of a viewing angle by adding only a simple manufacturing process, thereby being able to improve quality of an electronic device in general and to promote a user's desire for purchasing the device.
US09867295B2

Systems and methods for providing a ball grid array connection include providing a circuit board having a circuit board surface including a plurality of pads. A ball grid array component includes a plurality of solder balls. The ball grid array component is coupled to the circuit board to position each of the plurality of solder balls adjacent a respective one of the plurality of pads. A solder reflow process is then performed to produce a plurality of soldered connections from each of the plurality of solder balls and a respective one of the plurality of pads. At least one spacer member is provided between the ball grid array component and the circuit board during the solder reflow process to provide a mechanical stop between the ball grid array component and the circuit board and a minimum height for each of the plurality of soldered connections.
US09867293B1

A method of controlling alloy composition of deposited gold-tin alloy during electroplating of a large panel includes masking at least one planar surface of the panel with conductive material applied in a predetermined pattern. The masked panel is located at least partially within an electroplating solution including a gold-tin alloy in solution at a predetermined gold:tin ratio. Electrical current applied to the masked panel is conducted across the planar surface via the conductive material to induce a predetermined electrical current distribution across the planar surface and thereby pull gold ions and tin ions from the electroplating solution. The pulled ions are deposited upon a supermajority of an unmasked area of the masked panel. The predetermined pattern is selected to achieve deposition of the gold-tin alloy with substantially uniform alloy composition, directly corresponding to the predetermined gold:tin ratio, across the supermajority of the unmasked area of the masked panel.
US09867292B2

A printed wiring board includes a first outer surface, a second outer surface, and an electronic circuit. The second outer surface is opposite to the first outer surface. The electronic circuit includes at least one specific design circuit block and at least one common design circuit block. The at least one specific design circuit block is provided on the first outer surface and designed in accordance with a specification of a device to which the printed wiring board is applied. The at least one common design circuit block is for a common use regardless of the specification of the device. The at least one common design circuit block is provided on the second outer surface.
US09867286B2

A circuit board is described. The circuit board comprises an electrically insulating diamond material having a surface. The electrically insulating diamond material has at least one recess extending into only a portion of a thickness of the electrically insulating diamond material from the surface of the electrically insulating diamond material. The circuit board also comprises an electrically conductive material located at least partially within the recess.
US09867281B2

The inventive assembly comprises a hyperfrequency component of the surface-mounted component type including at least one first hyperfrequency transmission line, as well as a printed circuit board including at least one second hyperfrequency transmission line able to be put in contact with the first hyperfrequency transmission line. The component comprises an enclosure with a face in contact with the printed circuit board, which includes at least one cavity for confining a hyperfrequency signal, delimited by conductive surfaces of the enclosure, and by a conductive zone of the second hyperfrequency transmission line.
US09867275B2

A modular power supply and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed. The modular power supply comprises a printed circuit board, power components, and a heat sink. The power components are mounted on the printed circuit board and disposed at a side opposite to the heat sink, a lower surface of the printed circuit board is engaged with an upper surface of the heat sink which is planar, and an insulating layer is disposed between the upper surface of the heat sink and the lower surface of the printed circuit board. A method for manufacturing the modular power supply is also disclosed. The modular power supply has excellent heat dissipation effect, and the production and assembly process thereof is simplified, so that the production efficiency is improved and the quality is guaranteed.
US09867270B2

The purpose of the present invention is to provide an electromagnetic wave emission device in which the destination to which an electromagnetic wave is supplied can be switched among a plurality of emission antennas, wherein there are no problems such as breakage of a switching element even in a case where a large-power electromagnetic wave is emitted. The present invention is an electromagnetic wave emission device characterized by the following: an electromagnetic wave output from an electromagnetic wave generator is distributed to a plurality of emission antennas, and then from among the plurality of emission antennas, a target antenna having plasma nearby is supplied with an electromagnetic wave distributed to the target antenna and all or part of the electromagnetic waves reflected by the emission antennas other than the target antenna; and the all or part of the electromagnetic waves distributed to the target antenna and all or part of the electromagnetic waves supplied to the target antenna after reflection by the emission antennas other than the target antenna are emitted from the target antenna to the plasma.
US09867265B2

A discharge lamp driving device according to one aspect of the invention includes a discharge lamp driving section configured to supply a driving current to a discharge lamp including electrodes and a control section configured to control the discharge lamp driving section. The control section controls the discharge lamp driving section such that a mixed period is provided in which a first period in which an alternating current having a first frequency is supplied to the discharge lamp and a second period in which a direct current is supplied to the discharge lamp are alternately repeated. The first frequency includes a plurality of frequencies different from one another. The control section temporally changes the length of the first period.
US09867264B2

A wireless communication device includes: a wired communication circuit which receives, through a wired connection, an operation signal for controlling each of luminaires from a management device which controls an operation of each of the luminaires; a radio communication circuit which converts the operation signal received by the wired communication circuit and transmits the converted operation signal to each of the luminaires over a radio wave; an infrared ray receiver which receives an infrared ray signal transmitted from outside; and a controller. When the wired communication circuit receives a signal having a predetermined pattern from the management device, the controller transitions to a state for receiving the infrared ray signal, and, based on the infrared ray signal transmitted from outside, transmits a signal relating to communication setting between the radio communication circuit and each of the luminaires to each of the plurality of luminaires via the radio communication circuit.
US09867263B2

A method and apparatus for extracting power in a switch location, and in a load location for use in a pre-existing infrastructure of switching AC power to a lamp (or other load) via a two terminal switch device. The switch is replaced with a module including a first controlled switch (such as a triac or relay) and a first impedance (such as a capacitor) connected in parallel, and another module including a second controlled switch (such as a triac or relay) and a second impedance (such as a capacitor) connected in parallel, is installed at the load location. In an ‘off’ state where the two controlled switches are in ‘open’ state, current is flowing via the impedances, but not through the load, so that power extractor circuits in the modules, connected in series to the impedances, extract low power for DC powering logic and other loads in the modules.
US09867260B2

An automation system includes a lighting controller having a WiFi interface through which wireless communication may be established with one or more mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets and the like. Using a mobile device, an installer may rapidly and reliably configure the lighting controller including creating or modifying bindings and settings for keypads which are associated with the lighting controller. The lighting controller includes a dynamic snubber circuit which automatically adjusts itself to operate with different types of loads.
US09867259B2

A side looking occupancy sensor is incorporated in a conventional wall switch mounted into a switch box adjacent to a door. The side-looking proximity sensor preferably is mountable to either side of the doorjamb to make the side-looking proximity sensor face the door opening. During operation, the side-looking sensor monitors the door movement or senses the passage of a person for indication that a person is entering or leaving the space. Entry and exit determination is made based on activation of the side-looking sensor.
US09867250B1

A high intensity, ultra-short LED pulsing driver circuit is developed for use with a system designed to perform real-time time-resolved, transient recording of a fluorescence. Details of the timing circuitry used to pulse the LED and to provide synchronized PMT gating and ADC trigger pulses are also developed. The LED pulses are intended for fluorophores with lifetimes on the order of about 1.6 ns or longer and gating is used to maintain the detector off or partially off during excitation, thereby maximizing the available detector gain without saturation of the detector by the excitation light.
US09867238B2

In some embodiments an apparatus for treating an exhaust gas in a foreline of a substrate processing system may include a dielectric tube configured to be coupled to the foreline of the substrate processing system to allow a flow of exhaust gases from the foreline through the dielectric tube; an RF coil wound about an outer surface of the dielectric tube, the RF coil having a first end to provide an RF input to the RF coil, the first end of the RF coil disposed proximate a first end of the dielectric tube and a second end disposed proximate a second end of the dielectric tube; a tap coupled to the RF coil to provide an RF return path, the tap disposed between the first end of the dielectric tube and a central portion of the dielectric tube.
US09867235B2

In a method for operating a cooking zone of a cook top, wherein the cooking zone is formed by at least two cooking sub-zones and each cooking sub-zone can be heated by at least one heating unit, with the heating units arranged adjacent to each other without overlapping such that a cohesive heatable surface is formed during a joint operation of the cooking sub-zones, detection of an occupancy of a cooking sub-zone by at least one food preparation vessel is activated in a first operating mode and a same electrical power is supplied to all activated cooking sub-zones occupied by a food preparation vessel.
Patent Agency Ranking