US08129617B2
An electric distribution box includes a resin exterior cover which houses an interior component and has an opening for resin-molding the exterior cover on a bottom wall of the exterior cover, and a resin cap which is fit into the opening to close the opening. A flange formed on an outer periphery of the resin cap is kept in intimate contact with the bottom wall of the exterior cover. A molding hole for forming a locking piece by resin molding is provided on the flange. The locking piece locks the resin cap to the opening of the exterior cover. A swell is formed at an entire peripheral edge of the molding hole of the resin cap. An outer face of the interior component is kept in intimate contact with the swell so that the molding hole of the resin cap is closed by the outer face of the interior component and the flange is kept in intimate contact with the bottom wall of the exterior cover.
US08129611B2
A light scattering film having the structure which guides electrical signal to a desired position and scatters incident light and the surface of which is substantially flat, and a photoelectric device using the same. The light scattering film includes a medium made of transparent conductive material and a light scatterer embedded in the medium. The light scattering film realizes conductivity and the light-scattering characteristic by single component. It is not necessary to make the texture of a surface with concavity and convexity deliberately to achieve the light-scattering characteristic. Desirably, the surface is substantially flat. When a semiconductor layer is formed on the surface, the defects are suppressed because of the flatness of the surface. The photoelectric device having the light scattering film and the semiconductor device on the surface of the film can achieve high photoelectric conversion efficiency.
US08129607B2
An electromagnetic field pickup (10) for a musical instrument including an electromagnetic signal generator (12), an electromagnetic field transducer (18), a mixer (28), the electromagnetic signal generator (12), the electromagnetic field transducer (18) and the mixer (28) are respectively connected in series, the electromagnetic signal generator (12) is also connected directly to the mixer (28), so constructed and arranged that when power is supplied to the electromagnetic field pickup (10) an audio electrical signal of substantially same pitch, intonation and sustain as a vibrating element (22) of the instrument is generated.
US08129606B2
A musical tone signal processing apparatus configured to freely expand or contract an acoustic image. A setting means may set a second reference localization, a first function that stipulates expansion of the boundary of one end of a direction range, and a second function that stipulates expansion of the boundary of an other end of said direction range. In addition, an output direction indicated by localization information of an extraction signal that exists in the direction range in which the conditions have been set in this manner is shifted by an acoustic image scaling means. The acoustic image in said direction range is expanded or contracted accordingly. In other words, the acoustic image formed by the extraction signal is expanded or contracted by shifting the output direction for each extraction signal extracted from within the direction range.
US08129605B1
A key mechanism is specifically for a Saxophone which replaces the current Front F key (5) with a new key called Front F, altissimo G key (8, 8a). This key retains the functions of the standard Front F key (5) that allows a player to perform the altissimo F and E notes. The Altissimo G key (8a) is incorporated into the new Front F key (8) which allows the player to rapidly perform the difficult altissimo G note.
US08129598B2
This invention provides methods for obtaining specific and stable integration of nucleic acids into eukaryotic cells. The invention makes use of site-specific recombination systems that use prokaryotic recombinase polypeptides, such as the ΦC31 integrase, that can mediate recombination between the recombination sites, but not between hybrid recombination sites that are formed upon the recombination. Thus, the recombination is irreversible in the absence of additional factors. Eukaryotic cells that contain the recombinase polypeptides, or genes that encode the recombinases, are also provided.
US08129588B2
Expression cassettes causing specific regulatory control of transgene expression in plants, wherein the expression cassettes include regulatory sequences from the MADS gene family for expression of recombinant gene products in the reproductive tissue of plants for the purpose of generating abiotic stress tolerant plants.
US08129587B2
The enzymes of the ACC synthase family are used in producing ethylene. Nucleotide and polypeptide sequences of ACC synthases, namely ACS2, ACS6, and ACS7 from Zea mays, are provided. Knockout plant cells having inhibition in expression and/or activity in an ACC synthase such as ACS2, ACS6, or ACS7 and knockout plants displaying a staygreen phenotype, a male sterility phenotype, or an inhibition in ethylene production are also provided, as are seeds obtained from such plants. Methods for modulating staygreen potential in plants, methods for modulating sterility in plants, and methods for inhibiting ethylene production in plants are also provided.
US08129578B2
The present invention provides an apparatus useful for the separation of hazardous and non-hazardous organic and inorganic constituents from various matrices. A method of separating such constituents is also provided.
US08129576B2
The invention provides a method to avoid catalyst damage and achieve longer catalyst life by selecting appropriate materials for reactor spacers, liners, catalyst binders, and supports, in particular, by not using crystalline silica-containing and high phosphorus-containing materials, if the presence of even small amount of steam is anticipated. In addition, alkali metals and alkaline earth metals are avoided due to potential damage to the catalyst.
US08129575B2
A process is disclosed for fluid catalytic cracking of oxygenated hydrocarbon compounds such as glycerol and bio-oil.In the process the oxygenated hydrocarbon compounds are contacted with a fluid cracking catalyst material for a period of less than 3 seconds.In a preferred process a crude-oil derived material, such as VGO, is also contacted with the catalyst.
US08129570B2
The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of compounds of a 1,4-dialkyl-2,3-diol-1,4-butanedione by a acidic aldol condensation between an alkyl glyoxal and an α-hydroxy ketone.
US08129569B2
Photolabile fragrance storage substances capable of the photo-induced release of cyclic compounds having semi-cyclic double bonds are described. Further described is a method for sustained scenting of surfaces and a method for production of said fragrance storage substances.
US08129565B2
A process and a related plant layout for producing urea are disclosed, wherein the high-pressure loop (1) comprises a synthesis reactor (2), a thermal stripper (3), a condenser (4), and an adiabatic CO2 stripper (10) disposed upstream said thermal stripper, separating a vapour phase (13) containing ammonia from the urea solution (9) discharged from the reactor, and recycling said vapour phase to the reactor. The adiabatic stripper (10) can be incorporated in a reactor (200) having a top reaction zone and a bottom adiabatic stripping zone. A revamping method for a conventional urea plant in accordance with the inventive process is also disclosed.
US08129564B2
This invention relates generally to improved methods and herbicidal glyphosate compositions for use in controlling the growth of weeds and unwanted vegetation, and particularly for use in controlling weeds in a crop of transgenic glyphosate-tolerant cotton plants by over-the-top, foliar application of a herbicidal glyphosate formulation.
US08129560B2
A process for the preparation of a compound of formula (I), the process comprising: (i) the reaction of a compound of formula (III), with a compound of formula (IV) to give a compound of formula (II), and (ii) the reaction of the compound of formula (II) with a leaving group, to give the compound of formula (I).
US08129559B2
The invention relates to a process for preparing acetone cyanohydrin and to a process for preparing alkyl methacrylates, in which an acetone cyanohydrin as can be prepared in accordance with the present invention is used.
US08129546B2
Sulfonamide derivatives act as ion channel antagonists. The compositions are useful for treating or relieving pain-related conditions.
US08129542B2
A copper catalyzed click chemistry ligation process is employed to bind azides and terminal acetylenes to provide 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazole triazoles. The process comprises contacting an organic azide and a terminal alkyne with a source of reactive Cu(I) ion for a time sufficient to form by cycloaddition a 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazole. The source of reactive Cu(I) ion can be, for example, a Cu(I) salt or copper metal. The process is preferably carried out in a solvent, such as an aqueous alcohol. Optionally, the process can be performed in a solvent that comprises a ligand for Cu(I) and an amine.
US08129541B2
Compounds of formula I in free or salt form, wherein R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 have the meanings as indicated in the specification, are useful for treating diseases mediated by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. Pharmaceutical compositions that contain the compounds and processes for preparing the compounds are also described.
US08129538B1
The invention relates to compounds having the formula: wherein the variables are as defined herein. The invention further relates to methods of making and using these compounds, and pharmaceutical compositions, kits and articles of manufacture comprise the compounds.
US08129535B2
An alkyl ether derivative represented by the general formula: wherein each of R1 and R2 represents one or more groups selected from a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, an aralkyl group, an alkoxy group, an aryloxy group, an alkylthio group, an arylthio group, an alkenyl group, an alkenyloxy group, an amino group, an alkylsulfonyl group, an arylsulfonyl group, a carbamoyl group, a heterocyclic group, a hydroxyl group, a carboxyl group, a nitro group, an oxo group and the like; R3 is an alkylamino group, an amino group, a hydroxyl group or the like; the ring A is a 5-membered or 6-membered heteroaromatic ring or a benzene ring; each of m and n is an integer of 1 to 6; and p is an integer of 1 to 3, or its salt has activity to protect neurons, activity to accelerate nerve regeneration and activity to accelerate neurite extension and hence is useful as a therapeutic agent for diseases in central and peripheral nerves.
US08129533B2
The present invention is directed to a lyophilized preparation which contains a synthetic quinolone antibacterial compound and, as a solo additive, a pH-adjusting agent, and which exhibits an excellent reconstituting property. The invention provides a method for producing a lyophilized preparation containing a synthetic quinolone antibacterial compound as an active ingredient, characterized by including, sequentially, cooling an aqueous solution containing a synthetic quinolone antibacterial compound and a pH-adjusting agent to yield a frozen product, elevating the temperature of the frozen product, and re-cooling the resultant to prepare the lyophilized preparation.
US08129532B2
Amino(oligo)thiophene dyes useful for studying the electrophysiology of organelles, cells, and tissues are described. Compared to previously known dyes, the amino(oligo)thiophene dyes exhibit improved (faster) response to membrane potential changes, as well as the ability to be excited by 1064 nanometer femtosecond pulses. Methods of preparing the amino( oligo )thiophene dyes are also described.
US08129525B2
Reactive fluorescent dyes compositions and methods of using same are disclosed. Nile Red nucleus dyes are disclosed having thiol-reactive groups. Nile Red nucleus dyes are disclosed that exhibit a fluorescence emission of at least about 575 nm. The Nile Red nucleus dyes are of the following formulae:
US08129524B2
Methods for preparing cyclic carbamates and thiocarbamates containing cyanopyrrole moieties and of the formula are provided: Z are the same or different and are H, optionally substituted C1 to C6 alkyl, or CORA; RA is H, optionally substituted C1 to C6 alkyl, optionally substituted C1 to C6 alkoxy, or optionally substituted C1 to C6 aminoalkyl; Q are the same or different and are H, OH, NH2, CN, halogen, optionally substituted C1 to C6 alkyl, optionally substituted C2 to C6 alkenyl, optionally substituted C1 to C6 alkynyl, optionally substituted C1 to C6 alkoxy, optionally substituted C1 to C6 aminoalkyl, or CORB; and RB is H, optionally substituted C1 to C6 alkyl, optionally substituted C1 to C6 alkoxy, or optionally substituted C1 to C6 aminoalkyl. Compounds including 2-amino-5-(5-cyano-1-methyl-1H-pyrrol-2-yl) benzoicacid methyl ester, 5-[4-amino-3-(1-hydroxy-1-methyl-ethyl)-phenyl]-1-methyl-1H-pyrrole-2-carbonitrile, and 2-amino-5-(5-cyano-1-methyl-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)-phenyl-ethanone, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and the uses thereof are also provided.
US08129513B2
This invention provides a plant senescence-inducible promoter and its relevant recombinant plasmid and transgenic plant.
US08129503B2
Disclosed is the use of an agent (e.g., antibody fragment, antagonist, ligand, dAb monomer) that binds a target in pulmonary tissue for the manufacture of a long action or long therapeutic window formulation for local delivery to pulmonary tissue, and methods for administering an agent that binds a target in pulmonary tissue to a subject to produce a long therapeutic window in pulmonary tissue. The formulation is for, and the method comprises, administering locally to pulmonary tissue. Also disclosed is the use of antagonists of TNFR1 for the manufacture of a formulation or medicament for treating, preventing or suppressing lung inflammation or a respiratory disease, and methods of treating such diseases. Also disclosed are the use of agents a for the manufacture of a delivery device (e.g., inhaler, intranasal delivery device) for the treatment or prevention of lung inflammation or a respiratory disease, and a delivery device for the treatment or prevention of lung inflammation or a respiratory disease that contains an agent as described herein.
US08129502B2
The present invention relates to a method for producing cancerous disease modifying antibodies using a novel paradigm of screening. By segregating the anti-cancer antibodies using cancer cell cytotoxicity as an end point, the process makes possible the production of anti-cancer antibodies for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes. The antibodies can be used in aid of staging and diagnosis of a cancer, and can be used to treat primary tumors and tumor metastases. The anti-cancer antibodies can be conjugated to toxins, enzymes, radioactive compounds, and hematogenous cells.
US08129494B2
Disclosed is a polymer having excellent solvent resistance which can be produced by using a polycarbonate diol having a repeating unit represented by the formula (1) and/or (2), having a hydroxyl group at both termini, and having a number average molecular weight of from 300 to 50,000: wherein R1 represents a linear or branched hydrocarbon group having 2 to 50 carbon atoms; and n represents an integer of 2 to 50, wherein R2 represents a linear or branched hydrocarbon group having 10 to 50 carbon atoms.
US08129484B2
Disclosed herein are various processes, including continuous fluidized-bed gas-phase polymerization processes for making a high strength, high density polyethylene copolymer, comprising (including): contacting monomers that include ethylene and optionally at least one non-ethylene monomer with fluidized catalyst particles in a gas phase in the presence of hydrogen gas at an ethylene partial pressure of 100 psi or more and a polymerization temperature of 120° C. or less to produce a polyethylene copolymer having a density of 0.945 g/cc or more and an ESCR Index of 1.0 or more wherein the catalyst particles are prepared at an activation temperature of 700° C. or less, and include silica, chromium, and titanium.
US08129480B2
Provided is a curable polyorganosiloxane composition which advantageously forms a cured product suitable for LED or optical lens, wherein the cured product has excellent light transmission properties in a short wavelength region, i.e., in the blue to ultraviolet region and is unlikely to suffer yellowing due to exposure to heat.A curable polyorganosiloxane composition comprising: (A) alkenyl group-containing polyorganosiloxane which comprises (A1) branched polyorganosiloxane comprising an SiO4/2 unit and an R3SiO1/2 unit, and optionally an R2SiO unit and/or an RSiO3/2 unit (wherein each R independently represents an unsubstituted or substituted monovalent hydrocarbon group), wherein at least three R per molecule are alkenyl groups, and optionally (A2) linear polyorganosiloxane having R bonded to a silicon atom (wherein R is as defined above), wherein at least two R per molecule are alkenyl groups, wherein 90 mol % or more of the R present in components (A1) and (A2), excluding alkenyl groups, are methyl groups; (B) polyalkylhydrogensiloxane comprising an SiO4/2 unit and an R3(CH3)2SiO1/2 unit (wherein each R3 independently represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group), wherein at least three R3 per molecule are hydrogen atoms; and (C) a platinum group metal compound.
US08129453B2
Provided is a thermoplastic elastomer composition, which includes a halogenated isoolefin/para-alkylstyrene copolymer rubber dispersed in a polyamide resin in order to improve the fatigue durability of a polyamide resin, while maintaining high flowability of the polyamide. A thermoplastic elastomer composition comprising a continuous phase composed of a modified polyamide resin (A) and a dispersed phase composed of a halogenated isoolefin/para-alkylstyrene copolymer rubber (B) is provided. The modified polyamide resin (A) is a resin obtained by melt-kneading 100 parts by weight of a polyamide resin (C) with not less than 0.05 part by weight and less than 3 parts by weight a compound (D), such as a monofunctional epoxy compound, capable of binding to a terminal amino group of the polyamide resin at a temperature not lower than the melting point of the polyamide resin (C). The composition can be used as an inner liner of a pneumatic tire.
US08129452B2
This invention is directed to stabilizing additives that contain at least one platinum complex, with the complex including a carbene group. The stabilizing additives make it possible to improve the resistance to decomposition of silicone elastomers under high temperatures. The additive can be used in a polyorganosiloxane composition intended for the production of a silicone elastomer with either crosslinks at high temperature under the action of organic peroxides or crosslinks at ambient temperature or with heat by polyaddition reactions in the presence of a metal catalyst.
US08129439B2
A method for producing an aqueous absorptive polymer-containing resin composition in which a resin composition is doped with an aqueous absorptive polymer includes causing the aqueous absorptive polymer to absorb and be swollen by water beforehand, and milling and microparticulating the water-absorbed and -swollen absorptive polymer at an ultrasonic flow pressure of not less than 50 MPa.
US08129437B2
A process for the extraction of hydrogen from a gas mixture including hydrogen and carbon monoxide and optionally nitrogen, carbon dioxide, lower hydrocarbons and/or water, by contacting the gas mixture with a non-porous polyimide-based membrane, especially with the selective side of an asymmetric membrane, to obtain a hydrogen rich permeate and a hydrogen lean retenate, the polyimide-based membrane being a specific mixture of two polyimids. This specific membrane shows a very high hydrogen/carbon monoxide selectivity. The process is especially suitable for the upgrading of synthesis gas obtained by partial oxidation and/or reforming of hydrocarbonaceous feedstream for use in hydrocarbon synthesis reaction as the Fischer-Tropsch reaction.
US08129429B2
The present invention concerns methods for treating and preventing renal/kidney disease, insulin resistance/diabetes, fatty liver disease, and/or endothelial dysfunction/cardiovascular disease using synthetic triterpenoids, optionally in combination with a second treatment or prophylaxis.
US08129427B2
2-Phenylethylamino substituted carboxamide derivatives and their use as sodium and/or calcium channel modulators useful in preventing, alleviating and curing a wide range of pathologies are presented.
US08129426B2
Water-soluble artemisinin derivatives, their preparation methods, the pharmaceutical compositions containing the same derivatives and the use thereof are disclosed. The artemisinin derivatives have following formula I. It has been proved by pharmacological tests that these compounds and compositions have evident immuno-suppressive activities, and may be used in the preparation of novel immuno-suppressants for treating the diseases caused by hyperfunction of human immunity (e.g. the auto-immune diseases such as lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and the like), and for inhibiting the graft rejection after cell or organ transplantation.
US08129424B2
This invention relates to compounds having pharmacological activity, to compositions containing these compounds, and to a method of treatment employing the compounds and compositions. More particularly, this invention concerns certain indole derivatives and their salts and solvates. These compounds have H3 histamine receptor antagonist activity. This invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds and to a method of treating disorders in which histamine H3 receptor blockade is beneficial.
US08129410B2
The invention includes benzisoxazole piperidine compositions and methods of using them for modulating sleep.
US08129407B2
The present invention provides compounds having formula (I): and additionally provides methods for the synthesis thereof and methods for the use thereof in the treatment of cancer, wherein R1-R7, X1, X2, R, Q, and n are as defined herein.
US08129399B2
The present invention relates to compounds useful as inhibitors of protein kinases. The invention also provides pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising those compounds and methods of using the compounds and compositions in the treatment of various disease, conditions, and disorders. The invention also provides processes for preparing compounds of the invention.
US08129393B2
Compounds of general formula: as well as salts, enantiomers thereof and pharmaceutical compositions including the compounds are prepared. They are useful in therapy, in particular in the management of pain, depression and anxiety.
US08129383B2
There is disclosed dosage forms and methods for treating a patient with an inflammatory disorder with a therapeutically effective amount of aminopterin, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, that achieve efficacy without concomitant toxicity. Specifically, there is disclosed a method for treating an inflammatory disorder in a patient with uninterrupted doses of aminopterin.
US08129382B2
The present invention provides compounds which inhibit poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (“PARP”), compositions containing these compounds and methods for using these PARP inhibitors to treat, prevent and/or ameliorate the effects of the conditions described herein.
US08129373B2
Novel compounds of the formula (I), in which D, E, G, W, X, Y, T, R1 and R2 are as defined in Patent Claim 1, are inhibitors of coagulation factor Xa and can be employed for the prophylaxis and/or therapy of thromboembolic diseases and for the treatment of tumors.
US08129372B2
This invention provides a compound of the formula (I): a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, wherein R1 is substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or the like, R2 is hydrogen or substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, Ring A is monocyclic or bicyclic aromatic heterocycle, R3 is substituted or unsubstituted aryl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl or substituted or unsubstituted heterocycle, R4 is halogen, cyano, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl or the like, m is an integer between 0 and 2, n is an integer between 0 and 5, R is halogen, oxo, cyano, nitro, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or the like, and p is an integer between 0 and 2 as novel compounds having NPY Y5 antagonistic activity.
US08129371B2
The invention relates to thienopyrimidine and pyrazolopyrimidine compounds of the Formulas (Ia) and (IIa), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein the constituent variables are as defined herein compositions comprising the compounds, and methods for making and using the compounds.
US08129364B2
The invention involves methods and formulations for treating or preventing rhinosinusitis, including fungus-induced rhinosinusitis in mammals. In one embodiment, the formulation of the present invention comprises a steroidal anti-inflammatory agent having a specific particle size distribution profile. The formulation may also comprise an antifungal agent, antibiotic or antiviral agent.
US08129356B2
Provided are methods for modulating the proliferation of cells and tissues. In some embodiments, the methods include administering to a subject an effective amount of a modulator of a biological activity of a bone marrow X kinase (Bmx) gene product. Also provided are methods for increasing the radiosensitivity of a target cell or tissue, methods for suppressing tumor growth, methods for inhibiting tumor blood vessel growth, and compositions that include modulators of a biological activity of a bone marrow X kinase (Bmx) gene product.
US08129355B2
This invention relates to a method to modulate exogenous gene expression in which an ecdysone receptor complex comprising: a DNA binding domain; a ligand binding domain; a transactivation domain; and a ligand is contacted with a DNA construct comprising: the exogenous gene and a response element; wherein the exogenous gene is under the control of the response element and binding of the DNA binding domain to the response element in the presence of the ligand results in activation or suppression of the gene. The ligands comprise a class of ketones.
US08129353B2
The present invention provides nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of an ATP binding cassette transporter and mutated sequences thereof associated with macular degeneration. Methods of detecting agents that modify ATP-binding cassette transporter comprising combining purified ATP binding cassette transporter and at least one agent suspected of modifying the ATP binding cassette transporter an observing a change in at least one characteristic associated with ATP binding cassette transporter. Methods of detecting macular degeneration is also embodied by the present invention.
US08129346B2
Peptide-based compounds including heteroatom-containing, three-membered rings efficiently and selectively inhibit specific activities of N-terminal nucleophile (Ntn) hydrolases. The activities of those Ntn having multiple activities can be differentially inhibited by the compounds described. For example, the chymotrypsin-like activity of the 20S proteasome may be selectively inhibited with the inventive compounds. The peptide-based compounds include at least three peptide units, an epoxide or aziridine, and functionalization at the N-terminus. Among other therapeutic utilities, the peptide-based compounds are expected to display anti-inflammatory properties and inhibition of cell proliferation.
US08129344B2
A purified paracrine factor of a mesenchymal stem cell, such as a Secreted frizzled related protein (Sfrp) is useful to reduce cell death an/or tissue injury associated with ischemic condtions.
US08129342B2
The invention discloses highly purified daptomycin and to pharmaceutical compositions comprising this compound. The invention discloses a method of purifying daptomycin comprising the sequential steps of anion exchange chromatography, hydrophobic interaction chromatography and anion exchange chromatography. The invention also discloses a method of purifying daptomycin by modified buffer enhanced anion exchange chromatography. The invention also discloses an improved method for producing daptomycin by fermentation of Streptomyces roseosporus. The invention also discloses high pressure liquid chromatography methods for analysis of daptomycin purity. The invention also discloses lipopeptide micelles and methods of making the micelles. The invention also discloses methods of using lipopeptide micelles for purifying lipopeptide antibiotics, such as daptomycin. The invention also discloses using lipopeptide micelles therapeutically.
US08129335B2
Disclosed here is a method for measuring the kinetics (i.e., the molecular flux rates—synthesis and breakdown or removal rates) of a plurality of proteins or organic metabolites inn living systems. The methods may be accomplished in a high-throughput, large-scale automated manner, by using existing mass spectrometric profiling techniques and art well known in the fields of static proteomics and static organeomics, without the need for additional biochemical preparative steps or analytic/instrumental devices.
US08129328B2
Compositions comprising sulfo-estolides and alkyl ester sulfonates are described. Detergent formulations, such as laundry detergents, softeners, and other materials, containing any of these materials are disclosed, as well as personal care formulations, hard surface cleaner formulations, and automatic dishwasher detergent formulations. Laundry methods employing these formulations are also disclosed. These formulations are useful as laundry detergents and can be biodegradable, heavy duty liquids, 2× or 3× and up to 6× concentrates, low foaming, and/or effective in a high efficiency washing machine. Methods for laundering fabrics with the compositions are also disclosed.
US08129325B2
Certain substituted phenolic compounds when used with or without 1,2-epoxides as the sole stabilizer components are very effective in stabilizing n-propyl bromide (NPB). In a standard commercially important 60° C. stability test, representative substituted phenolic compounds used pursuant to this invention, can enable NPB to pass the test even though present at levels of about 50 ppm (wt/wt) or less in NPB containing no other stabilizer additive component. In fact, amounts as low as 1 ppm have been found effective with various substituted phenolic compounds. In addition, it has been found that one of the preferred stabilizers of this invention—2,6-di-tert-butyl-p-cresol—even though higher boiling than NPB, left inconsequential amounts of residue at least throughout the range of 1 to 30 ppm (wt/wt). Also, it has been found that certain other preferred stabilizers of this invention can provide synergistically improved stability in passing the 60° C. stability test when used with at least one 1,2-epoxide, notably butylene oxide.
US08129323B2
A solid laundry detergent composition in particulate form comprising a plurality of particulate components, the composition comprises: alkyl benzene sulphonate anionic detersive surfactant; carboxylate polymer; carbonate salt; from 0% to less than 5%, by weight of the composition, of zeolite builder; from 0% to less than 5%, by weight of the composition, of phosphate builder; and essentially free silicate salt; wherein any particulate component that comprises at least 5%, by weight of the particulate component, of alkyl benzene sulphonate anionic detersive surfactant comprises a specific amount of carbonate salt to carboxylate polymer; and wherein the composition has a specific weight ratio of carbonate salt to carboxylate polymer.
US08129318B2
Disclosed herein is a method comprising disposing in a formation fracture, a proppant and/or a fracturing fluid that comprises a radiation susceptible material that comprises indium and/or vanadium; irradiating the radiation susceptible material with neutrons; measuring gamma-radiation emitted from the radiation susceptible material in a single pass; wherein the single pass does not involve measuring of background radiation from previous or subsequent logging passes; and determining formation fracture height from the measured gamma-radiation.
US08129315B2
The present invention relates to methods and reagents for detecting analytes, e.g. nucleic acids. The new methods and reagents allow a simple and sensitive detection even in complex biological samples.
US08129308B2
A thermal transfer image-receiving sheet comprising a heat-insulating layer and an image-receiving layer on a support, wherein the receiving layer contains polymer latex, the heat-insulating layer contains hollow polymer, and at least two layers are formed by simultaneous multilayer coating, and wherein at least one layer on the side of the receiving layer on the support contains at least two compounds of the following formulae [I] to [IV]: wherein R1, R2, R13-R15, R18, R19 represent hydrogen etc.; R20 represents lower alkylene; X represents hydrogen etc.; l is 2-6; m is 1-4; p is 0 or 1; and q is 0-5.
US08129307B2
The present invention provides a thermosensitive recording medium, which is excellent in stamping ability, anti-scratching ability, and water and plasticizer resistance of image area as well as in recording sensitivity, image quality and storage stability. The present invention is a thermosensitive recording medium having a thermosensitive recording layer containing at least a colorless or pale colored basic leuco dye and an electron accepting developing agent as a coating layer on a substrate, wherein at least an outermost layer among the thermosensitive recording layer and other optionally prepared coated layers contains powdered cellulose, wherein the powdered cellulose is prepared by a dry grinding process at ambient temperature. The thermosensitive recording medium preferably contains a condensate composition comprising 2,2′-methylenebis(4-t-butylphenol) as an electron accepting developing agent, and a cross-linked diphenylsulfone compound such as 2,2′-bis[4-(4-hydroxyphenylsulfone) phenoxy]diphenylether as a stabilizer.
US08129305B2
A catalyst composition and process facilitates the oxidative reforming of low molecular weight hydrocarbons, such as methane, to other hydrocarbons having 2 or more carbon atoms (“C2+ compounds”). Compositions having a formula comprising a metal, tungsten, manganese and oxygen effectively catalyze the oxidative reforming of methane with a high rate of conversion and selectivity. Controlling feed gas flow and catalyst bed temperature controls the exothermic OCM reaction, avoiding runaway reactions or coking. A single or multiple reactor system can be utilized for the oxidative reforming reactions. Using two reactors in series, catalyst embodiments produced favorable yields of C2+ compounds, in the presence or absence of a distributed oxygen feed, and with or without interstage effluent cooling. Removal of desirable end products from the reactor effluent, followed by recycling of the residual effluent, increases the conversion to, and ultimate yield of desirable end product.
US08129297B2
A process for drying/heat-treating nonwoven webs in which the web is partially dried under tension in a first drying zone and further heat treated under low tension or in a substantially tensionless state a second drying zone. The process significantly reduces the occurrence of stretch-type defects in the nonwoven webs.
US08129296B2
A velour fabric article consists of a fabric body having a technical face formed by a filament stitch yarn and a technical back formed by a filament loop yarn. The filament stitch yarn includes a heat sensitive material, e.g. a hot melt material or a heat shrinkable material, and/or an elastomeric material, such as spandex. The fabric body has a velour surface formed at at least the technical back. The fabric body has permeability of about 80 ft3/ft2/min, or less, under a pressure difference of ½ inch of water across the fabric body.
US08129294B2
Novel woven materials, producible by a new weaving method, are described that comprise single or doubled warps and wefts in the form of tapes that are preferably partially stabilized type of fibrous tape. These fibres are caused to occur in a non-linear arrangement during the weaving process. The non-linear fibres can be subsequently straightened by pulling the tape longitudinally. The doubled warps and wefts comprise disconnected tapes. Such separateness of constituent tapes of doubled warp and weft tapes enables them to be slid/slipped relative to each other by pulling longitudinally and laterally without causing any alteration in the woven structure. These novel fabrics solve the problem of uneven fibre distribution and orientation arising from crumples/wrinkles due to compression and stretches due to extension, at the inner and outer sides respectively, when tape-woven fabrics are curved into shapes. Further, by using doubled warps and wefts fabrics with relatively flat/planar sections and thicker/raised wide rib sections can be also created that resemble a bit like a profiled material in its cross-section. Other fabrics like those comprising slant/oblique weft tapes, shaped warp and weft tapes, formed shape within its body are also producible.
US08129287B2
A first oxide film and a second oxide film 16 are formed in a first region 13a and a second region 13b, respectively, on the surface of the semiconductor substrate 10, via thermal oxidization method, and the first oxide film is removed while the second oxide film 16 is covered with the resist layer 18 formed thereon, and then the resist layer 18 is removed with a chemical solution containing an organic solvent such as isopropyl alcohol as a main component. Subsequently, a third oxide film 22 having different thickness than the second oxide film 16 is formed in the first region 13a.
US08129278B2
A copper/barrier CMP process includes (a) providing a substrate having a bulk metal layer and a barrier layer; (b) polishing the substrate with a first hard polishing pad on a first platen to substantially remove an upper portion of the bulk metal layer, wherein the first hard polishing pad has a hardness of above 50 (Shore D); (c) polishing the substrate with a second hard polishing pad on a second platen to remove residual copper, thereby exposing the barrier layer, wherein the second hard polishing pad has a hardness of above 50 (Shore D); and (d) polishing the substrate with a third hard polishing pad on a third platen to remove the barrier layer, wherein the third hard polishing pad has a hardness ranging between 40-50 (Shore D).
US08129276B2
In sophisticated semiconductor devices, a contact structure may be formed on the basis of a void positioned between closely spaced transistor elements wherein disadvantageous metal migration along the void may be suppressed by sealing the voids after etching a contact opening and prior to filling in the contact metal. Consequently, significant yield losses may be avoided in well-established dual stress liner approaches while, at the same time, superior device performance may be achieved.
US08129273B2
In a semiconductor device which has through holes in an end face, in which a semiconductor element is fixedly mounted on a face of a substrate which has a wiring pattern, which is conductive to the wiring portion formed in the through hole, in at least one face, in which electrodes of the semiconductor element are electrically connected to the wiring pattern, and in which the face of the substrate which has the semiconductor element is coated with a resin, the through hole has a through hole land with a width of 0.02 mm or more, which is conductive to the wiring portion, in a substrate face, and the wiring portion and the through hole land are exposed.
US08129262B1
Fabrication of an insulated-gate field-effect transistor (110) entails separately introducing three body-material dopants, typically through an opening in a mask, into body material (50) of a semiconductor body so as to reach respective maximum dopant concentrations at three different vertical locations in the body material. A gate electrode (74) is subsequently defined after which a pair of source/drain zones (60 and 62), each having a main portion (60M or 80M) and a more lightly doped lateral extension (60E or 62E), are formed in the semiconductor body. An anneal is performed during or subsequent to introduction of semiconductor dopant that defines the source/drain zones. The body material is typically provided with at least one more heavily doped halo pocket portion (100 and 102) along the source/drain zones. The vertical dopant profile resulting from the body-material dopants alleviates punchthrough and reduces current leakage.
US08129257B2
InP epitaxial material is directly bonded onto a Silicon-On-Insulator (SOI) wafer having Vertical Outgassing Channels (VOCs) between the bonding surface and the insulator (buried oxide, or BOX) layer. H2O and other molecules near the bonding surface migrate to the closest VOC and are quenched in the buried oxide (BOX) layer quickly by combining with bridging oxygen ions and forming pairs of stable nonbridging hydroxyl groups (Si—OH). Various sizes and spacings of channels are envisioned for various devices.
US08129255B2
The invention relates to a process for and an arrangement of the connection of processed semiconductor wafers (1, 2) wherein, in addition to the firm connection, there is an electric connection (5) between the semiconductor wafers and/or the electronic structures (3) supporting them. For this purpose, low-melting structured intermediate glass layers (6; 6a) are used as insulating layers and as an electric connection in the form of electrically conductive solder (5) on a glass basis in order to achieve a firm connection.
US08129248B2
In the method of producing bipolar transistor structures in a semiconductor process, an advanced epitaxial trisilane process can be used without the risk of poly stringers being formed. A base window is structured in a polycrystalline silicon layer covered with an oxide layer, and a further step is epitaxial growing of a silicon layer in the base window from trisilane. The window structuring is performed in a sequence of anisotropic etch and isotropic ash steps, thereby creating stepped and inwardly sloping window edges. Due to the inwardly sloping side walls of the window, the epitaxially grown silicon layer is formed without inwardly overhanging structures, and the cause of poly stringers forming is thus eliminated.
US08129243B2
Methods of forming non-volatile memory cell structures are described that facilitate the use of band-gap engineered gate stacks with asymmetric tunnel barriers in reverse and normal mode floating node memory cells that allow for direct tunnel programming and erase, while maintaining high charge blocking barriers and deep carrier trapping sites for good charge retention. The low voltage direct tunneling program and erase capability reduces damage to the gate stack and the crystal lattice from high energy carriers, reducing write fatigue and enhancing device lifespan. The low voltage direct tunnel program and erase capability also enables size reduction through low voltage design and further device feature scaling. Such memory cells also allow multiple bit storage. These characteristics allow such memory cells to operate within the definition of a universal memory, capable of replacing both DRAM and ROM in a system.
US08129241B2
A method for forming a shielded gate field effect transistor (FET) includes forming a plurality of trenches in a semiconductor region and forming a shield electrode in a bottom portion of each trench. The method also includes forming a dielectric layer comprising a first oxide layer and a nitride layer both laterally extending over the shield electrode. The method also includes forming a gate electrode over the dielectric layer.
US08129234B2
A high-k gate dielectric layer and a metal gate layer are formed and patterned to expose semiconductor surfaces in a bipolar junction transistor region, while covering a CMOS region. A disposable material portion is formed on a portion of the exposed semiconductor surfaces in the bipolar junction transistor area. A semiconductor layer and a dielectric layer are deposited and patterned to form gate stacks including a semiconductor portion and a dielectric gate cap in the CMOS region and a cavity containing mesa over the disposable material portion in the bipolar junction transistor region. The disposable material portion is selectively removed and a base layer including an epitaxial portion and a polycrystalline portion fills the cavity formed by removal of the disposable material portion. The emitter formed by selective epitaxy fills the cavity in the mesa.
US08129231B2
A semiconductor package can comprise a die stack attached to a substrate, with bond wires electrically connecting the two. Often multiple die stacks are adhered to a single substrate so that several semiconductor packages can be manufactured at once. A molding compound flow controller is optimally associated with the substrate or semiconductor package at one or more various locations. Flow controllers can control or direct the flow of the molding compound during the encapsulation process. Flow controllers can be sized, shaped, and positioned in order to smooth out the flow of the molding compound, such that the speed of the flow is substantially equivalent over areas of the substrate containing dies and over areas of the substrate without dies. In this manner, defects such as voids in the encapsulation, wire sweeping, and wire shorts can be substantially avoided during encapsulation.
US08129229B1
A metal leadframe to be used in manufacturing a “flip-chip” type semiconductor package is treated to form a metal plated layer in an area to be contacted by a solder ball or bump on the chip. The leadframe is then process further to form an oxide or organometallic layer around the metal plated layer. Pretreating the leadframe in this manner prevents the solder from spreading out during reflow and maintains a good standoff distance between the chip and leadframe. During the molding process, the standoff between the chip and leadframe allows the molding compound to flow freely, preventing voids in the finished package.
US08129222B2
An integrated circuit package having a die pad with a first face and a second face, a plurality of inner leads, and a plurality of sides between the first face and the second face. The plurality of inner leads is disposed substantially co-planer with and substantially around the die pad. The package also comprises a plurality of outer leads disposed substantially co-planar with and substantially around the plurality of inner leads and the die pad, so that the sides of each of the plurality of outer leads are offset from the sides of each of the plurality of inner leads. A first adhesive layer disposed on the first face of the die pad and a second adhesive layer disposed on the first faces of each of the plurality of inner leads. An IC chip is coupled to the first face of the die pad through the first adhesive layer and to the plurality of inner leads through the second adhesive layer. The package further comprises wires linking the inner leads and outer leads to the IC chip.
US08129214B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate and a lower interlayer insulating layer disposed on the substrate. An opening passing through the lower interlayer insulating layer and exposing the substrate is included. A buried insulating pattern is disposed in the opening. First and second conductive layer patterns are sequentially stacked to surround the sidewall and bottom of the buried insulating pattern. A phase change material pattern is included, which is disposed on the lower interlayer insulating layer in contact with a top surface of the second conductive layer pattern, and spaced apart from the first conductive layer pattern. An upper interlayer insulating layer covering the lower interlayer insulating layer and the phase change material pattern is included. A conductive plug is included, which passes through the upper interlayer insulating layer and is electrically connected to the phase change material pattern. A method of fabricating the semiconductor device is also provided.
US08129207B2
Disclosed are a light emitting diode having a thermal conductive substrate and a method of fabricating the same. The light emitting diode includes a thermal conductive insulating substrate. A plurality of metal patterns are spaced apart from one another on the insulating substrate, and light emitting cells are located in regions on the respective metal patterns. Each of the light emitting cells includes a P-type semiconductor layer, an active layer and an N-type semiconductor layer. Meanwhile, metal wires electrically connect upper surfaces of the light emitting cells to adjacent metal patterns. Accordingly, since the light emitting cells are operated on the thermal conductive substrate, a heat dissipation property of the light emitting diode can be improved.
US08129205B2
Solid state lighting devices and associated methods of manufacturing are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a solid state light device includes a light emitting diode with an N-type gallium nitride (GaN) material, a P-type GaN material spaced apart from the N-type GaN material, and an indium gallium nitride (InGaN) material directly between the N-type GaN material and the P-type GaN material. At least one of the N-type GaN, InGaN, and P-type GaN materials has a non-planar surface.
US08129202B2
It is intended to provide a plasma doping method and apparatus which are superior in the controllability of the concentration of an impurity that is introduced into a surface layer of a sample.A prescribed gas is introduced into a vacuum container 1 from a gas supply apparatus 2 while being exhausted by a turbomolecular pump 3 as an exhaust apparatus. The pressure in the vacuum container 1 is kept at a prescribed value by a pressure regulating valve 4. High-frequency electric power of 13.56 MHz is supplied from a high-frequency power source 5 to a coil 8 disposed close to a dielectric window 7 which is opposed to a sample electrode 6, whereby induction-coupled plasma is generated in the vacuum container 1. A high-frequency power source 10 for supplying high-frequency electric power to the sample electrode 6 is provided. Every time a prescribed number of samples have been processed, a dummy sample is subjected to plasma doping and then to heating. The conditions for processing of a sample are controlled so that the measurement value of the surface sheet resistance becomes equal to a prescribed value, whereby the controllability of the impurity concentration can be increased.
US08129199B2
In one aspect, the invention relates to methods for enhancing a Raman signal comprising the steps of providing a sample comprising a metal surface, an analyte adhered to the surface, and a metallic nanoparticle coupled to the surface, wherein the nanoparticle has a plasmon resonance band; exposing the sample to incident energy of an excitation wavelength; and detecting the Raman signal of the analyte. In a further aspect, the invention relates to a compositiion comprising a metal surface, a functionalized self-assembled monolayer adhered to the surface, wherin the self-assembled monolayer comprises an analyte, and a cetyltrimethylammonium halide-capped metallic nanoparticle coupled to the surface. In a further aspect, the invention relates to a cetyltrimethylammonium bromide-capped gold nanoparticle and a method for preparing same. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.
US08129196B2
The present inventions provides an apparatus and method for the parallel loading of multiple samples in a microarray containing a plurality of sub-arrays. The method makes use of a microarray containing multiple sub-arrays, a loading channel array, and a fluid handling robot or an assembly robot or machine.
US08129193B2
The present invention is generally directed to thiol quantitation assays, methods of performing the assays, and compounds used in the assays. It is more specifically directed to assays that include one or more disulfides and related molecules and methods. The disulfides contain a FRET pair.
US08129192B2
A method for analyzing a dithiocarbamate pesticide is provided. The method includes the steps of: adding a crude drug, a preparation containing the same, or a treated product thereof, an aqueous acid catalyst solution, L-cysteine or a salt thereof, and an organic solvent for extraction to a reaction vessel, sealing the vessel, carrying out microwave irradiation, digesting a dithiocarbamate pesticide existing in the crude drug or the preparation containing the same into carbon disulfide, carrying out fractional extraction using the above organic solvent, and then analyzing the extract.
US08129190B2
Tagged products (including tagged petroleum products) and methods of detecting the same are disclosed. The tagged petroleum products are tagged with a violanthrone, e.g., a substituted violanthrone and/or an isoviolanthrone, e.g., a substituted isoviolanthrone.
US08129182B2
Disclosed herein are cell cultures and enriched cell populations of endocrine precursor cells, immature pancreatic hormone-expressing cells and mature pancreatic hormone-expressing cells. Also disclosed herein are methods of producing such cell cultures and cell populations.
US08129179B2
A bioreactor (200) for cultivating living cells in a liquid medium. In one embodiment, the bioreactor (200) has a substrate (230) having a first surface and an opposite second surface, defining a channel (202) therein, and a plurality of chambers (204) formed in the substrate, wherein each of the plurality of chambers (204) is adapted for receiving cells in a liquid medium and formed with an open end (262), an opposite closed end (264) and side walls, the open end (262) and the closed end (264) defining a depth, d, therebetween for the corresponding chamber (206), the sidewalls defining a width, w, therebetween for the corresponding chamber (206). As such formed, each chamber (206) is in fluid communication with the channel (202) through the open end of the chamber (206), and at least two of the plurality of chambers (206) have depths or widths the same or different form each other.
US08129176B2
The invention relates to a microfabricated device for the rapid detection of DNA, proteins or other molecules associated with a particular disease. The devices and methods of the invention can be used for the simultaneous diagnosis of multiple diseases by detecting molecules (e.g. amounts of molecules), such as polynucleotides (e.g., DNA) or proteins (e.g., antibodies), by measuring the signal of a detectable reporter associated with hybridized polynucleotides or antigen/antibody complex. In the microfabricated device according to the invention, detection of the presence of molecules (i.e., polynucleotides, proteins, or antigen/antibody complexes) are correlated to a hybridization signal from an optically-detectable (e.g. fluorescent) reporter associated with the bound molecules. These hybridization signals can be detected by any suitable means, for example optical, and can be stored for example in a computer as a representation of the presence of a particular gene. Hybridization probes can be immobilized on a substrate that forms part of or is exposed to a channel or channels of the device that form a closed loop, for circulation of sample to actively contact complementary probes. Universal chips according to the invention can be fabricated not only with DNA but also with other molecules such as RNA, proteins, peptide nucleic acid (PNA) and polyamide molecules.
US08129172B2
Disclosed is a process for growing the microflora Thraustochytrium, Schizochytrium, and mixtures thereof, which includes the growing of the microflora in fermentation medium containing non-chloride containing sodium salts, in particular sodium sulfate. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the process produces microflora having a cell aggregate size useful for the production of food products for use in aquaculture. Further disclosed is a food product which includes Thraustochytrium, Schizochytrium, and mixtures thereof, and a component selected from flaxseed, rapeseed, soybean and avocado meal. Such a food product includes a balance of long chain and short chain omega-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids.
US08129169B2
The invention provides non-naturally occurring microbial organisms comprising a 1,4-butanediol (BDO) pathway comprising at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding a BDO pathway enzyme expressed in a sufficient amount to produce BDO and further optimized for expression of BDO. The invention additionally provides methods of using such microbial organisms to produce BDO.
US08129168B2
A heat labile alkaline phosphatase enzyme and methods of using the same and kits including the same are disclosed. Specifically, a nucleotide sequence of, peptide sequence of, methods of using, and kits comprising, a heat labile alkaline phosphatase isolated from Colwellia psychrerythraea are provided. Methods of over-expression and purification of the recombinant alkaline phosphatase and mutants thereof are also disclosed. Methods of over-expressing and purifying commercially useful quantities of active recombinant heat labile alkaline phosphatase fusion enzymes from C. psychrerythraea, wherein the fusion enzymes comprise one or more heterologous leader sequences are disclosed. The disclosed C. psychrerythraea heat labile alkaline phosphatase has properties similar to shrimp alkaline phosphatase and can be substituted for shrimp alkaline phosphatase in assays involving the same.
US08129165B2
The present invention relates to isolated nucleic acid molecules which encode a protein, isolated nucleic acid molecules which encode a hyperimmune serum reactive antigen, a vector which comprises such nucleic acid molecule, a host cell comprising such vector, a hyperimmune reactive antigen from Borrelia species, proteins which are preferably hyperimmune serum reactive antigens, hyperimmune serum reactive antigens, antigens, a process for producing such proteins, hyperimmune serum reactive antigens or antigens, a process for producing a cell which expresses such protein, hyperimmune serum reactive antigen or antigen, an antibody binding to such protein, hyperimmune serum reactive antigen or antigen, a hybridoma cell producing such antibody, methods for producing such antibody, a pharmaceutical composition comprising such nucleic acid molecule, protein, hyperimmune serum reactive antigen, antigen or antibody, the use of such nucleic acid molecule, protein, hyperimmune serum reactive antigen, antigen or antibody for the manufacture of a medicament, methods for identifying an antagonist capable of reducing or inhibiting the interaction activity of such protein, hyperimmune serum reactive antigen or antigen, methods for diagnosing an infection and methods for the treatment of an infection. More specifically such proteins, hyperimmune serum reactive antigens or antigens are produced by or associated with bacterial pathogens causing Lyme disease or bacterial infections caused by Borrelia burgdorferi s.l.
US08129164B2
The present invention relates to crystalline Mnk-1 and Mnk-2 kinases and, in particular, to the crystal structure of Mnk-1 and Mnk-2 kinase domain.
US08129160B2
Novel glutaminyl-peptide cyclotransferase-like proteins (QPCTLs), which are isoenzymes of glutaminyl cyclase (QC, EC 2.3.2.5), and to isolated nucleic acids coding for these isoenzymes, all of which are useful for the discovery of new therapeutic agents, for measuring cyclase activity, and for determining the inhibitory activity of compounds against these glutaminyl cyclase isoenzymes.
US08129145B2
An improved system for large scale production of glycoproteins in cell culture is provided. In accordance with the present invention, cells expressing a glycoprotein are grown in media that contain manganese at a concentration of between approximately 10 and 600 nM. The use of such a system allows production of a glycoprotein with an increased glycosylation pattern and/or a glycosylation pattern that more accurately reflects the glycosylation pattern of the naturally occurring glycoprotein. A glycoprotein expressed in accordance with the present invention may be advantageously used in the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions.
US08129143B2
The present invention relates to a eukaryotic cell containing peroxisomes that are capable to fuse with a membrane-structure of the cell involved in the secretory pathway of the cell. In this way, the eukaryotic cell is able to release the peroxisomal content outside the cell. The invention also relates to a method for production of a compound of interest in said eukaryotic cell wherein said compound of interest is present in the peroxisome of the cell. Said compound of interest will accumulate in the peroxisome by a signal promoting peroxisome localization. Preferred host cells are filamentous fungal cells.
US08129138B2
A method for the determination of an analyte in a liquid sample, especially a body liquid sample, with the aid of an analytical apparatus. The apparatus receives a first measuring signal si (i=0, 1, . . . ) and a second measuring signal sj (j=1, 2, . . . ; j>i) for a test system with several successively arranged measuring areas through which a liquid sample with an analyte can flow after being applied on the test system are received by an evaluation apparatus comprised by the analytical apparatus, wherein the first measuring signal si indicates a part of the analyte bound in a first measuring area and the second measuring signal sj indicates a part of the analyte bound in a second measuring area that is arranged downstream the first measuring area on the test system after the application of the liquid sample on the test system, a concentration measure N correlating with the concentration of the analyte in the liquid sample is determined by the evaluation apparatus in accordance with the following linkage of measuring signals: N = ( s j ) i + 2 [ s i - ( ( s i ) j - i - 1 · s j ) 1 j - i ] · ( ( s i ) j - i - 1 · s j ) i j - 1 , and the concentration measurement is outputted by the evaluation apparatus after a selective further processing. Furthermore, the invention relates to an analytical apparatus for the determination of an analyte in a liquid sample as well as to a computer readable medium for performing function to determine an analyte in a liquid sample.
US08129134B2
Rationally-designed LAGLIDADG meganucleases and methods of making such meganucleases are provided. In addition, methods are provided for using the meganucleases to generate recombinant cells and organisms having a desired DNA sequence inserted into a limited number of loci within the genome, as well as methods of gene therapy, for treatment of pathogenic infections, and for in vitro applications in diagnostics and research.
US08129133B2
A device and associated analytical method to use for the sensitive detection and accurate, rapid determination of acrylamide in food substances is presented. Also described is the use of a kit device and associated analytical method in which a user can quickly and easily ascertain the amount of acrylamide in food substances with ease and in any location, including a non-laboratory environment. Such detection device and method may be comprised of a sample collection area on which a sample of food, after being mixed in a solution, is placed for example on the substrate of a biochip that includes an enzyme that along with a co-enzyme or catalyst, facilitates the conversion of either acrylamide to acrylonitrile or the conversion of acrylamide to ammonia.
US08129130B2
Compositions and methods are disclosed for inhibiting the release of a proinflammatory cytokine from a vertebrate cell, and for inhibiting an inflammatory cytokine cascade in a patient. The compositions comprise, for example, high affinity antibodies that specifically bind HMG1 and antigenic fragments thereof. The high affinity antibodies of the present invention and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same are useful for many purposes, for example, as therapeutics against a wide range of inflammatory diseases and disorders such as sepsis, rheumatoid arthritis, peritonitis, Crohn's disease, reperfusion injury, septicemia, endotoxic shock, cystic fibrosis, endocarditis, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, arthritis, anaphylactic shock, organ ischemia, reperfusion injury, and allograft rejection. In addition, the high affinity antibodies of the present inventions are useful as diagnostic antibodies.
US08129127B2
The invention provides immunoassays for immunosuppressant drugs, wherein the assay is carried out under high salt conditions to achieve improved sensitivity. The invention also provides kits that are useful for performing the methods of the invention.
US08129116B2
A method for replicating and amplifying a target nucleic acid sequence is described. A method of the invention involves the formation of a recombination intermediate without the prior denaturing of a nucleic acid duplex through the use of a recombination factor. The recombination intermediate is treated with a high fidelity polymerase to permit the replication and amplification of the target nucleic acid sequence. In preferred embodiments, the polymerase comprises a polymerase holoenzyme. In further preferred embodiments, the recombination factor is bacteriophage T4 UvsX protein or homologs from other species, and the polymerase holoenzyme comprises a polymerase enzyme, a clamp protein and a clamp loader protein, derived from viral, bacteriophage, prokaryotic, archaebacterial, or eukaryotic systems.
US08129113B2
Analysis chip of at least one analyte, said chip comprising at least one analysis spot for recognition and immobilization specific to the analyte; and a reference range (G) comprising several reference spots each arranged on said chip in a defined manner and independently of one another, each reference spot of this range comprising, immobilized on its surface and in a defined proportion P that is different and known for each spot relative to the other reference spots of said range: a probe reference molecule (PRM) permitting recognition and hybridization specifically to a defined target reference molecule (TRM), and/or an inert oligonucleotide molecule (IM) incapable of recognition and hybridization with said PRM, these molecules both being unable to immobilize said analyte or analytes. The method of the invention comprises the use of said chip with its reference range for analysis of said, at least one, analyte.
US08129112B2
Provided are polynucleotides of molecular variant promoters of the CYP2D6 gene which, for example, are associated with abnormal drug response or individual predisposition to several common diseases and disorders caused by drug under- or over-metabolization, and vectors comprising such polynucleotides. Furthermore, methods of diagnosing the status of disorders related to intermediate metabolization of drugs are described. In addition, kits comprising oligonucleotides hybridizing to the CYP2D6 promoter and/or being capable of being extended into this region useful for diagnosing subjects that are ultrarapid or intermediate metabolizer of drugs are provided.
US08129099B2
Double patterns are formed by coating a first chemically amplified positive resist composition comprising an acid labile group-bearing resin and a photoacid generator and prebaking to form a resist film on a processable substrate, exposing the resist film to high-energy radiation, PEB, and developing with an alkaline developer to form a first positive resist pattern, treating the first resist pattern to be alkali soluble and solvent resistant, coating a second resist composition and prebaking to form a reversal film, and exposing the reversal film to high-energy radiation, PEB, and developing with an alkaline developer to form a second positive resist pattern. The last development step includes dissolving away the reversed first resist pattern and achieving reversal transfer.
US08129097B2
A method of obtaining information related to a defect present in the irradiation of a substrate coated with a layer of radiation sensitive material using immersion lithography is disclosed. The method includes irradiating an area of the radiation sensitive material with a non-patterned radiation beam, the area being irradiated with a dose which is sufficient for the radiation sensitive material to be substantially removed during subsequent development of the radiation sensitive material if the radiation sensitive material is a positive radiation sensitive material, or with a dose which is sufficient for the radiation sensitive material to be substantially insoluble during subsequent development of the radiation sensitive material if the radiation sensitive material is a negative radiation sensitive material. The method further includes developing the radiation sensitive material and obtaining information at least indicative of the topography of radiation sensitive material remaining on the substrate after the radiation sensitive material has been developed in order to obtain information related to the defect.
US08129095B2
A method of improving damascene wire uniformity without reducing performance. The method includes simultaneously forming a multiplicity of damascene wires and a multiplicity of metal dummy shapes in a dielectric layer of a wiring level of an integrated circuit chip, the metal dummy shapes being dispersed between damascene wires of the multiplicity of damascene wires; and removing or modifying those metal dummy shapes of the multiplicity of metal dummy shapes within exclusion regions around selected damascene wires of the multiplicity of damascene wires. Also a method of fabricating a photomask and a photomask for use in improving damascene wire uniformity without reducing performance.
US08129090B2
A method of processing an on-press developable lithographic printing plate with ink and/or fountain solution is described. The plate comprises on a substrate a photosensitive layer which is either capable of hardening (negative-working) or solubilization (positive-working) upon exposure to a laser, the non-hardened or solubilized areas of the photosensitive layer being soluble or dispersible in ink and/or fountain solution. The plate is exposed with a laser, heated to an elevated temperature, and then developed with ink and/or fountain solution on a lithographic press. The laser exposed plate is preferably heated by passing through a heating device or while mounted on a lithographic press before on-press development.
US08129088B2
A low-resistance, fine electrode is formed by baking in air a photosensitive paste which has an inorganic component containing copper powder, boron powder, and glass frit, and an organic component containing a photopolymerization initiator, monomer, and organic vehicle, and in which the average particle size of the copper powder is 2.5 μm or less, and the content of boron powder based on the total amount of copper powder and boron powder is 8 to 25 wt %.
US08129083B2
An electrophotographic photoreceptor is disclosed, comprising on or over an electrically conductive support a photosensitive layer containing a charge generation material and a charge transfer material, wherein the charge generation material is comprised of two or more compounds represented by the following formula wherein X and Y are each an alkyl group or a halogen atom, n is an integer of 1 to 6 and m is an integer of 0 to 6, and wherein the compounds differ in at least one of m and n of the formula.
US08129081B2
Exemplary embodiments provide charge generating layers and electrographic imaging members containing the charge generating layers. In various embodiments, an imaging member can be a multilayered photoconductive imaging member with a charge generating layer including, for example, a photogenerating pigment, such as a metal phthalocyanine; a dopant material, such as a multiple halide compound dopant and/or an ether dopant; and a binder or polymer. The imaging members can exhibit high photosensitivity, low residual potential (Verase), and excellent cyclic/environmental stability and can be used as photoreceptors, photosensitive members, and the like, in a machine of copy, printer, fax, scan, multifunction machines, and the like.
US08129074B2
A crosslinked nano-inorganic particle/polymer electrolyte membrane composed of a polymer film substrate, graft molecular chains bound to the backbone skeleton of the polymer film substrate and comprising a vinyl monomer graft-polymerized, sulfonic groups bound to the graft molecular chains, and an inorganic material as nano-scale particles uniformly dispersed within a crosslinked structure ascribed to the backbone skeleton of the polymer film substrate and the graft molecular chains, wherein the backbone skeleton of the polymer film substrate, the graft molecular chains, and the nano-inorganic particles mutually construct a crosslinked structure.
US08129070B2
The present invention provides a fuel cell having obstructed passages, which is capable of inhibiting the occurrence of flooding. The fuel cell comprises: a stacked body comprising at least a membrane electrode assembly; and a pair of separators sandwiching the stacked body. A face of the stacked body side of the separator is provided with inlet passage(s) through which reaction gas to be supplied to the stacked body passes and outlet passage(s) through which reaction gas having passed the stacked body passes. The inlet passage is obstructed at a downstream end of the reaction gas to be supplied to the stacked body and the outlet passage is obstructed at an upstream end of the reaction gas having passed through the stacked body. The inlet passage and the outlet passage is arranged separately from each other, and the inlet passage is arranged on both ends of the face of the stacked body side of the separator in the passage width direction of the inlet passage and the outlet passage.
US08129059B2
The invention relates to a fuel processor that produces hydrogen from a fuel and includes a low pressure drop burner. The low pressure drop burner permits the use of a low pressure air supply such as a fan to move products and reactants through the burner.
US08129058B2
The present invention is a fuel cell system comprising: a hydrogen generator including a reformer which has a reforming catalyst and carries out a reforming reaction using the reforming catalyst to generate a hydrogen-containing gas from a raw material, a shift converter which has a shift catalyst and carries out a shift reaction using the shift catalyst to decrease carbon monoxide in the hydrogen-containing gas, and a first temperature detector which detects a temperature of the shift converter; a fuel cell which uses the hydrogen-containing gas delivered from the hydrogen generator, to generate electric power; and a control unit, wherein: the control unit does not start delivering the hydrogen-containing gas from the hydrogen generator to the fuel cell when at least the temperature of the shift converter detected by the first temperature detector is not a stable determination temperature or higher; and the stable determination temperature is lower than a control temperature of the shift converter at the time of a normal operation.
US08129057B2
A technique includes operating a fuel cell, which produces an effluent flow. The technique includes routing the effluent flow through an electrochemical pump to extract fuel from the effluent flow and providing the extracted fuel to the fuel cell.
US08129049B2
Disclosed herein is a jelly-roll type electrode assembly (“jelly-roll”) of a cathode/separator/anode structure, wherein the jelly-roll is constructed in a structure in which each electrode has active material layers formed on opposite major surfaces of a sheet-type current collector, the loading amount of an active material for the inner active material layer, constituting the inner surface of each sheet when each sheet is wound, is less than that of an active material for the outer active material layer, constituting the outer surface of each sheet when each sheet is wound, and the loading amount of the active material for the inner active material layer gradually increases from the central region of each wound sheet to the outermost region of each wound sheet.
US08129048B2
A positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate are spirally wound with a separator interposed therebetween to form an electrode group 3 having a circular shape or an oval shape. Next, a center core member 2 for applying a pressure to the electrode group 3 is inserted in a winding core hole 6 of the electrode group 3. Thereafter, the electrode group 3 is deformed into a flat shape. Then, the flat electrode group 3 is accommodated in a rectangular flat armoring can 4 with a base and an opening portion of the armoring can 4 is sealed, thereby producing a rectangular flat secondary battery.
US08129036B2
A heat transfer apparatus includes a first protective layer of a first metallic material, a second protective layer of a second metallic material, and a heat transfer layer bonded between the first protective layer and the second protective layer. The heat transfer layer is made of a metal matrix composite, such as aluminum oxide reinforcement dispersed within a copper matrix.
US08129033B2
The present invention relates to improvement in printability of coated paper by adding composition comprising granular starch onto the paper, said composition being essentially free of mineral or synthetic pigment.
US08129029B2
An article which is resistant to corrosion or erosion by chemically active plasmas and a method of making the article are described. The article is comprised of a metal or metal alloy substrate having on its surface a coating which is an oxide of the metal or metal alloy. The structure of the oxide coating is columnar in nature. The grain size of the crystals which make up the oxide is larger at the surface of the oxide coating than at the interface between the oxide coating and the metal or metal alloy substrate, and wherein the oxide coating is in compression at the interface between the oxide coating and the metal or metal alloy substrate. Typically the metal is selected from the group consisting of yttrium, neodymium, samarium, terbium, dysprosium, erbium, ytterbium, scandium, hafnium, niobium or combinations thereof.
US08129024B2
This invention discloses a multilayer article prepared by rotational molding that comprises: a) a layer A comprising a functionalized fluoropolymer; b) a layer B comprising a non-fluoropolymer containing functional groups; and c) optionally a layer C prepared from a polymer that is dissimilar from that of layer A and that is similar to or dissimilar from that of layer B and is adjacent to layer A and/or layer B and, if present, is characterized in that it has good adhesion to layer A and/or to layer B and is not a blend of layer A and layer B.
US08129023B2
Disclosed herein are anisotropic conductive particles contained in anisotropic conductive adhesive films which can be used in circuit board mounting applications. The conductive particles have a uniform shape, a narrow particle diameter distribution, and appropriate compressive de-formability and recoverability from deformation. In addition, the conductive particles exhibit enhanced conducting properties without being ruptured when interposed and compressed between connection substrates, thereby achieving a sufficient contact area between the particles and the connection substrates. Further disclosed are polymer-based particles used in the conductive particles.
US08129021B2
Effect pigments with a platelet-shaped substrate provided on at least one side with at least one coating of semitransparent metal and/or at least one high-index coating having a refractive index ≧2.0. The platelet-shaped substrate includes at least one mixed inorganic/organic phase. Also, a method of producing effect pigments including the following steps: a) combining at least one organic network former, at least one reactive organic component, at least one inorganic network former and/or nanoscale inorganic particles and a liquid phase to form a reaction composition, b) applying the reaction composition to a sheetlike base, c) forming a solidified mixed inorganic/organic phase, d) converting the mixed inorganic/organic phase into platelet-shaped substrates, and e) coating the platelet-shaped substrates with at least one coating of semitransparent metal and/or at least one high-index coating having a refractive index ≧2.0.
US08129015B2
The present invention relates to a slush moldable polymeric composition for forming a skin useable in interior trim components and methods of making the same. In at least one embodiment, the composition comprises a) from 50 to 99 wt. percent urethane elastomer, b) from 0.1 to 15 wt. percent propylene copolymer, c) from 0.1 to 25 wt. percent olefin modified thermoplastic, such as SEBS, and d) from 0.1 to 30 weight percent olefinic block copolymer, wherein the polymeric composition is slush moldable and vacuum formable. The modifiers include an olefin block copolymer (OBC) having a variable distribution of block lengths. The OBC is present in an amount from 0.1% to 30% of the total composition. The haptics of the polymeric composition is tunable by adjusting the amounts of the modifiers.
US08129011B2
The present invention is a method for seaming a polymeric material. The method involves forming an interface between a plurality of separate polymeric sheets of materials. Next, heat and pressure are applied to facilitate the diffusion of the polymer molecules at the interface. A diffusion weld is made when the polymer molecules diffuse across the interface.
US08129000B2
A method for generating oxidic nanoparticles from a material forming oxide particles, comprising the steps of: preparation of an aqueous solution containing ions of the material forming the oxide particles, film evaporation of the solution at a temperature above 200° C., and skimming off the nanoparticles floating on the surface of the aqueous solution generated in the vicinity of the vapor film on film evaporation. A device for performing the method is also provided.
US08128999B2
A sprayable granite-like coating composition useful for forming simulated stone surfaces, such as polished granite, which have improved fire resistance. The coating composition comprises gel resin matrix based on unsaturated crosslinkable polyester or acrylic resins, a free radical initiator for such resin, a hydrated inorganic salt, granules comprising thermoset resins or mixtures of thermoplastic and thermoset resins containing an inorganic filler and as a binding agent comprising the acrylate phosphate.
US08128995B2
An apparatus for fabricating a liquid crystal display panel includes a slit nozzle for applying a photo-resist liquid on a substrate, a nozzle driver for driving the slit nozzle, an air intake for inhaling air and/or impurities on the substrate through the slit nozzle before photo-resist is deposited on the substrate, and a gas supplier for supplying a gas through one or more channels in the slit nozzle to the substrate after the photo-resist is deposited on the substrate.
US08128994B1
A method of applying decorative layers to a steel golf club shaft is disclosed. The method may be performed on any type of steel shaft and comprises buffing the steel shaft, applying a primer or sealer coat, curing the sealer coat, buffing the sealer coat, applying a decal or decorative layer, applying clear coat over the shaft and decal, and curing the clear coat layer. Some embodiments comprise applying a layer of base coat color before applying a decal. Disclosed methods can, for example, improve adhesion between chrome-plated steel golf club shafts and paint, for golf club branding with increased resistance to wear.
US08128988B2
A dense interconnector film is formed over a fuel electrode, while preventing calcium included in material for the interconnector from solid phase reaction with zirconia included in material for the fuel electrode. When forming the interconnector film 5 made of lanthanum chromite-based perovskite type oxide which includes calcium in its composition includes calcium to the fuel electrode 2 of which composition includes zirconia, a intermediate layer 6 is formed on the fuel electrode 2, by using (Sr0.9La0.1)(Ti0.9Nb0.1)O3, and then onto the intermediate layer 6, the interconnector film 5 is formed.
US08128987B2
A method for electroless deposition from a deposition solution in a working chamber, where the process can include heating the deposition solution to its boiling point and subsequently reducing the temperature of the deposition solution to a working temperature range that is between approximately 1% and approximately 25% below the boiling point of said solution under a predetermined pressure; and the process also can include heating the deposition solution while filling an enclosed area of the chamber such that the deposition solution reaches its boiling point immediately after the enclosed area is filled.
US08128976B2
The present invention relates to methods for reducing microbial contamination on poultry, or on surfaces used in processing poultry, employing compositions including medium chain peroxycarboxylic acid, and to the compositions. The methods include applying a medium chain peroxycarboxylic acid composition to poultry or to the surfaces.
US08128972B2
The present invention relates to compositions, articles of manufacture, methods of preparation thereof, methods of use thereof, etc., for enhancement of sexual pleasure, conditions, disorders, and diseases related to reproductive physiology and systems, especially of mammalian females. For instance, the present invention relates to all aspects of modulating the female sexual response, including female sexual dysfunction, such as female sexual arousal disorders (FSAD), orgasmic disorders, and sexual pain disorders, and enhancing female sexual pleasure and satisfaction of the female sexual experience. Accordingly, the present invention relates to compositions comprising botanical extracts, active agents, etc., which are useful to treat or affect any of the aforementioned conditions. For example, the present invention relates to a composition, preferably for topical or local use, which comprises one or more of the following ingredients, including, but not limited to, borage seed oil, Angelica pubescens root and other angelica species, Coleus forskohlii extract, vinpocetine, ferulic acid, magnesium, ascorbyl palmitate, capric/caprylic triglyceride, silica, and equivalents thereof.
US08128967B2
Contemplated compositions and methods utilize a combination of a polyphenol and a non-polyphenol cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor. Preferably, the compositions are pharmaceutical and/or nutraceutical compositions and formulated in a dosage form and amount such that the polyphenol and the non-polyphenol cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor are effective to reduce tumor incidence and/or multiplicity. In preferred aspects, the polyphenol is epigallocatechin gallate, epigallocatechin, epicatechin gallate, epicatechin, and/or a mixture of polyphenols isolated from a plant (e.g., polyphenon E), and the cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor is rofecoxib, celecoxib, and/or valdecoxib.
US08128955B2
Disclosed is a solid or semi-solid foodstuff for human consumption, the foodstuff comprising creatine suspended in solid form in an edible supporting matrix; the foodstuff being in the form of a bar.
US08128946B2
A medical tape preparation which comprises a support and, superposed on one side thereof in the following order, a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer and a release liner. The pressure-sensitive adhesive layer can contain a large amount of an oleophilic oily matter. The tape preparation is excellent in adhesion, cohesiveness, and stability even when no crosslinking agent is used. The pressure-sensitive adhesive layer in the medical tape preparation comprises a blend of two tacky polymers, which are a tacky polymer (A) comprising a copolymer obtained from 2-acetoacetoxyethyl methacrylate and other vinyl monomer(s) as constituent ingredients and a tacky polymer (B) comprising a copolymer which is obtained from a C4-10-alkyl(meth)acrylate and other vinyl monomer(s) as constituent ingredients and is different from the tacky polymer (A).
US08128940B2
The specification discloses modified Clostridial toxins comprising a Clostridial toxin enzymatic domain, a Clostridial toxin translocation domain and an enhanced Clostridial toxin binding domain; polynucleotide molecules encoding such modified Clostridial toxins; and method of producing such modified Clostridial toxins.
US08128935B2
The present invention relates to the provision of the genetic sequence of the major grass pollen allergen Phl p 4. The invention also covers fragments, new combinations of partial sequences and point mutants having a hypoallergenic action. The recombinant DNA molecules and the derived polypeptides, fragments, new combinations of partial sequences and variants can be utilised for the therapy of pollen-allergic diseases. The proteins prepared by recombinant methods can be employed for the in vitro and in vivo diagnosis of pollen allergies.
US08128932B2
The subject invention is directed to a VEGFR2 (vascular endothelial growth factor receptor II) monoclonal antibody (mAb), and the amino acid sequence of the heavy chain and the light chain of the mAb. The invention is also directed to methods for making the VEGFR2 mAb, and methods of using the mAb to inhibit angiogenesis and treat various conditions such as tumor and retinal diseases.
US08128927B2
TGF-beta 1 binding compositions and reagents related thereto are provided. Methods of using such compositions for therapeutic purpose are also provided.
US08128903B2
The invention relates to a method of controlling the solubility of granular material by treating a precipitate comprising iron(II)sulphate monohydrate originating from titanium dioxide production, in which method the reaction temperature is allowed to increase at the most to a temperature of 120° C., to a plant for treating a precipitate comprising iron(II)sulphate monohydrate, to a product and its uses. A typical method according to the invention comprises the steps of mixing water to the reaction mixture in the said mixing apparatus, and keeping the amount of neutralizing agent sufficient to give a pH value from 1.5 to 4, preferably from 1.5 to 3, to the end product in order to obtain a granular material having a high soluble iron(II) content or keeping the amount of neutralizing agent sufficient to give a pH value ≧9 to the end product in order to obtain a granular material having a low solubility.
US08128899B2
A process is described for converting and utilizing oxygen-containing polymers to form hydrogen and alkali metal carbonates, in which the polymers are brought into intimate contact with a melt mixture of alkali metal hydroxide and alkali metal carbonate to form hydrogen and alkali metal carbonate, and the alkali metal carbonate formed is removed from the reaction mixture during the reaction and alkali metal hydroxide is optionally metered in. The reaction is preferably carried out under conditions which lie on a point on the Liquidus line of the system. It is possible in accordance with the invention to process natural or synthetic polymers, for example polyester, polyether, wood, etc. It is particularly suitable for processing fiber-reinforced composite materials. Also described is an apparatus for performing the process according to the invention.
US08128892B2
A hand-held, multi-channel pipettor has an electronically controlled motor to reposition pipette tips for different center to center spacing. Each repositionable tip fitting assembly has a cam following pin that is driven by cam tracks in a motor driven roller drum. Stationary ports for the multiple aspiration cylinders are strategically placed to simplify management of flexible tubes leading to the repositionable pipette tip fitting assemblies. The pipettor has a user interface that can be operated conveniently by one hand to reposition pipette tips. It has a pipette tip ejection mechanism with a sinusoidal stripper bar.
US08128891B2
An automated analyzer includes pipetting means for discharging a sample and reagent into an empty reaction vessel without causing contact to occur between the leading end of a sample probe and the bottom of the reaction vessel. The sample probe is inserted into the reaction vessel and then stopped when a bottom end of an outer pipe of the sample probe comes in contact with the top edge of the reaction vessel to maintain a fixed gap between the leading end of an inner pipe of the sample probe and the bottom of the reaction vessel. Further, an insulating material is disposed between the inner and outer pipes of the sample probe.
US08128887B2
A coating applied to at least a portion of the surfaces of reactors, reactor internals, other reactor components, and/or heater tubes is provided in order to minimize the formation of metal catalyzed coke in hydrocarbon conversion processes operating at temperatures at about 350° C. (662° F.) or greater and in reducing environments. These coatings may comprise Nickel coatings or complexes thereof, such as Ni—Al, Ni—Cr/Cr carbide, as well as aluminum painted coatings that are applied in a reduction cure process (e.g., application temperatures of about 600° C. (1112° F.)). Additionally, where H2S is necessary for the process, such as to minimize thermal cracking, the coatings also reduce corrosion of base metal due to sulfidation attack and eliminate the requirement of continuous replacement of reactor internals and other components.
US08128876B2
An apparatus for providing pollution free air to an individual includes an enclosed or semi-enclosed space or compartment for surround or partially surrounding an individual's head or upper body to separate the individual from polluted air. A filter assembly and fan forcing polluted air through the filter assembly and into the enclosure. The filter assembly includes a first filter for removing relatively large particles such as sand or dust from the polluted air while a second HAPA filter removes airborne allergens before forcing non-polluted air into the enclosed or semi-enclosed space.
US08128872B2
Freeze indicators can include an indicator dispersion, a liquid medium, indicator particles dispersed in the liquid medium and a particulate inorganic nucleating agent to inhibit supercooling of the liquid medium. The inorganic nucleating agent can have an ionic surface coating which can help provide a sharp end point. Optionally, freeze indicators can include indicator particles comprising an organic material and a softener to soften the indicator particles and provide the freeze indication with an enhanced visual appearance. Another option is to provide a temperature-sensitive stabilizer to inhibit coagulation of the indicator dispersion at temperatures above the liquid medium frozen state melting point while permitting coagulation of the indicator dispersion at the liquid medium frozen state melting point.
US08128870B2
A drug discovery screening apparatus improves a testing operation efficiency. The drug discovery screening apparatus comprises an image measurement unit, an incubator unit integrally connected to the image measurement unit, a fixed stage disposed at the incubator unit, first conveyance for taking out one of plates stored in a carousel of the incubator unit and conveying the plate onto the fixed stage, second conveyance for taking out the plate conveyed onto the fixed stage and conveying the plate onto an XY stage disposed at the image measurement unit, and a control unit. The second conveyance comprises first and second conveyance arms, respectively supported horizontally by a conveyance unit support section, which convey the plates onto the fixed stage and XY stage so as to allow the respective plates to cross each other.
US08128867B2
A method for producing a cemented carbide material includes producing an M3C type double carbide (wherein M comprises M1 and M2; M1 represents one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, and W; and M2 represents one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co and Ni) as a main component of the surface portion; reducing heat treating the compact at a vacuum atmosphere; carburizing the resulting WC—Co compact at a temperature of 800 to 1100° C.; subjecting the carburized compact to liquid phase sintering at a temperature of more than 1350° C. to form a sintered body; and coating a surface layer of the sintered body with a compound containing boron and/or silicon and subjecting the coated sintered body to a diffusion heat treatment at a temperature within a range from 1200 to 1350° C.
US08128864B2
The invention relates to a water-containing slip for producing a BN-containing coating on a substrate, which comprises, based on the solids content of the slip, a) 45-90% by weight of BN, b) 3-25% by weight of boehmite nanoparticles, c) 0.5-5% by weight of at least one borate, d) 2-30% by weight of at least one water-insoluble boron compound which is different from the components a) and c), e) 2-30% by weight of an organic compound, where the solids content of the slip is 15-60% by weight.
US08128863B2
An iron core annealing furnace that is used in annealing of an amorphous iron core requiring strict control of annealing temperature. There is provided an iron core annealing furnace comprising a furnace body fitted at its superior area with a heat source and a fan, wherein the furnace body has a double layer structure consisting of a furnace interior defined by the inside division wall of the furnace body and an interspace defined by the division wall and the outside wall of the furnace body, and wherein the fan is disposed in the center of a superior area of the furnace body, and wherein the fan is adapted to introduce hot air from the furnace interior of the double layer structure, feed the hot air to the outside of the double layer structure, allow the hot air to enter the furnace interior from an inferior area of the furnace body and heat the iron core, and circulate the hot air.
US08128855B2
Method for producing a condenser, which is provided with a plurality of pipes extending parallel to each other and disposed in a specified grid, the ends of the pipes being held by a base plate, characterized by the following sequential method steps: providing a pan, the base surface of which has a plurality of bores disposed in a defined grid and pipe sockets aligned with the bores, introducing filling pins into the pipe sockets, introducing thermoplastic granules into the pan, melting the granules in the pan, introducing centering pins into the pipe sockets while pushing out the filling pins, sliding the pan comprising the molten granules onto the free ends of the pipes, cooling the molten granules while forming a base plate receiving the free ends of the pipes in a gas-tight manner, the base plate being made of thermoplastic material, and subsequently pulling the pan and the centering pins off the connection of the base plate and pipes.
US08128854B2
A method for preparing a more reliable connection between two members is provided. The method involves the use of a gas-removal layer which allows for gas transport in a number of overall directions in a plane of the gas-removal layer. The gas-removal layer comprises a resin and during consolidation the gas-removal layer is deformed to form a collection substantially free from entrapped gas voids. In addition, a gas-removal layer is provided as well as a mould for casting of gas-removal layers and a method for preparing such a mould. The method and the gas-removal layer provided are particularly useful for manufacturing of wind turbine blades and spars for such blades.
US08128850B2
The method of producing an islands-in-sea type composite spun fiber having an island component diameter of 1 μm or less according to the present invention comprises drawing (superdrawing) with a total draw ratio of from 5 to 100 an undrawn islands-in-sea type composite spun fiber having been prepared by spinning at a spinning speed of from 100 to 1,000 m/min, at temperatures higher than the glass transition points of both the polymer forming the sea component and the polymer forming the island components of the composite spun fiber.
US08128848B2
The invention relates to a pigment composition that is composed of compounds of formulas (I), (II) and (III), is characterized by a average particle size d50 ranging from 10 to 60 nm, less than 5% by volume of the particles being greater than 70 nm, and can be obtained by reacting of 1 mol of a succinic acid diester with 2 mol of a mixture of nitriles A-CN and B-CN nitriles, the molar ratio of A-CN and B-CN in the nitrile mixture being in the range from 99.5:0.5 to 85.0:15.
US08128845B2
Polyacetal compositions comprising polyacetal, electroconductive carbon black, and substituted urea provide a combination of good static dissipation properties, good thermal stability during processing, and good stability to contact with fuel.
US08128842B2
The invention relates to the preparation of an antistatic composition comprising adding a liquid or a dissolved ionic substance to a porous polymer and processing the porous polymer together with further additives and further thermoplastic polymers in the melt. The invention relates also to the antistatic composition itself and to its use for rendering polymers antistatic.
US08128839B2
The present invention provide a high-luminosity stress-stimulated luminescent material which emits visible light even in daylight, a manufacturing method thereof, and a typical example of the use thereof. The stress-stimulated luminescent material of the present invention satisfies conditions for light emission by at least one of: a luminescence mechanism using static electricity caused by friction; a luminescence mechanism using micro plasma caused by friction; a luminescence mechanism using a piezoelectric effect caused by strain; a luminescence mechanism using lattice defect; and a luminescence mechanism using thermal generation. For example, in case where a base material made of at least one type of aluminate is includes as the stress-stimulated luminescent material, the base material includes a crystal structure with spontaneous polarization, e.g. α-SrAl2O4, in order to realize the luminescence mechanism using the piezoelectric effect caused by strain.
US08128834B2
A (Li, Na, K)(Nb, Ta)O3 based piezoelectric/electrostrictive porcelain composition obtained by adding a slight amount of a Mn compound to a perovskite type oxide containing Li, Na and K as A-site elements and contains at least Nb out of Nb and Ta as B-site elements, where a ratio of a total number of atoms of the A-site elements to a total number of atoms of the B-site elements is not smaller than 1. A composition of the perovskite type oxide as a principal component is represented by a general formula: {Liy(Na1-xKx)1-y}a(Nb1-zTaz)O3. The A/B ratio “a” preferably satisfies 1
US08128829B2
Cross flow filter device comprising a longitudinal first filter element (1) having a first width (w1) and a longitudinal central axis (8), a longitudinal second filter element (2) having a second width (w2) and being longitudinally installed substantially concentrically inside said first filter element (1), a housing (3) surrounding said first filter element (1), said cross flow filter device having respectively a raw material inlet (4), a concentrate outlet (5), and a first filtrate outlet (6) connected to said first filter element (1). The ratio between the second width (w2) and the first width (w1) is 65%, preferably at least 70% and more preferably about 75%.
US08128827B2
A method of recovering oil from oil-based sludge including the steps of homogenizing an oil-rich phase, a water-rich phase, and a solids-rich phase of an oil-based sludge, removing particulates from the oil-based sludge as the sludge traverses a shaker screen, heating the sludge, injecting a chemical into the heated sludge and mixing the chemical with the heated sludge, separating the phases of the chemically-treated sludge into a solids component stream, a water component stream, a first oil component stream, and a gas component stream, removing solids from the first oil component stream with a decanting centrifuge to form a second oil component stream, and removing water and solids from the second oil component stream with a disk stack centrifuge.
US08128825B2
A fiber reaction process whereby reactive components contained in immiscible streams are brought into contact to effect chemical reactions and separations. The conduit reactor utilized contains wettable fibers onto which one stream is substantially constrained and a second stream is flowed over to continuously create a new interface there between to efficiently bring about contact of the reactive species and thus promote reactions thereof or extractions thereby. Co-solvents and phase transfer catalysts may be employed to facilitate the process.
US08128808B2
Herein disclosed is a method for hydrodesulfurization, hydrodenitrogenation, hydrofinishing, amine production or a combination thereof. The method comprises forming a dispersion comprising hydrogen-containing gas bubbles dispersed in a liquid feedstock, wherein the bubbles have a mean diameter of less than about 5 μm and wherein the feedstock comprises a mixture of petroleum-derived hydrocarbons and a naturally derived renewable oil. The feedstock comprises hydrocarbons selected from the group consisting of liquid natural gas, crude oil, crude oil fractions, gasoline, diesel, naphtha, kerosene, jet fuel, fuel oils, and combinations thereof. The method further comprises contacting the dispersion with a catalyst that is active for hydrodesulfurization, hydrodenitrogenation, hydrofinishing, amine production, or a combination thereof. The catalyst comprises homogeneous catalysts and heterogeneous catalysts. The catalyst may be utilized in fixed-bed or slurry applications.
US08128799B2
A slab gel cassette is formed from generally flat plates welded together along their borders with a gel space between the plates that is open at the top and bottom edges of the plates to expose the opposing ends of a gel in the gel space to buffer solutions in which electrodes are immersed. The plates are shaped such that the weld line does not intersect with the bottom opening of the gel space. Sealing of the bottom of the gel space, which is necessary for gel casting, is achieved by placing a sealing strip over the bottom opening with no danger of leakage of the gel solution along a weld line.
US08128795B2
The present invention is directed to a biosensor being provided with a suction cavity which sucks a certain amount of sample by means of capillary phenomenon, the biosensor including a flow channel to connect the suction cavity and an analytical cavity furnished with a reagent, wherein, the flow channel has a narrowed section provided with a gap formed by narrowing a flow passage area. The narrowed section has a function to retain the sample in the suction cavity when the sample is sucked therein, and a function to circulate the sample retained in the suction cavity into the analytical cavity through the gap, when a centrifugal force is applied from the outside. The two functions held by the narrowed section enables a simple collection of blood sample, and further enables a simple transfer of the blood sample to the analytical area by applying the centrifugal force to the blood sample, as well as facilitating a component extraction.
US08128793B2
To provide a vertical substrate transfer apparatus and a film-forming apparatus capable of, regardless of a carrying position of a substrate, subjecting either surface thereof to film-formation, and capable of supporting and carrying the substrate without interfering with a non-film-forming surface.A film-forming apparatus (1) according to the present invention includes a carrier (15) giving support so that either surface of a substrate (W) is processable, a first position changing section (3) changing a carrying position of the carrier (15), and a carrying chamber (9) housing the carrier, whose position is changed therein and which carries the carrier to a film-forming chamber (10). With the above construction, it becomes possible to subject either surface to film-forming processing regardless of the carrying position of the substrate (W). Further, it becomes possible to change a film-forming surface (Wa) in the course of carrying the substrate (W). Furthermore, it becomes possible to support the substrate (W) without causing the carrier (15) to interfere with a non-film-forming surface of the substrate (W).
US08128788B2
A method and apparatus are described that couples a plurality of electromagnetic sources to a material for the purpose of either processing the material or promoting a chemical reaction. The apparatus couples various electromagnetic sources of various frequencies, including provision for static magnetic fields, radio frequency fields, and microwave fields, with the possibility of applying them all simultaneously or in any combination.
US08128783B2
A plasma generator is provided which includes: a microwave generation portion which generates a microwave; a wave guide for propagating the microwave; a plurality of plasma generation nozzles which are attached to the wave guide so as to be apart from each other in the direction where the microwave is propagated, receive the microwave, and generate and emit a plasmatic gas based on the energy of this microwave; and a plurality of stabs which correspond to a part or the whole part of the plasma generation nozzles and are each disposed in the wave guide so as to lie in a rear position a predetermined distance apart from each other in the direction where the microwave is propagated.
US08128776B2
A container lid is formed as a flexible laminate of an upper layer and a lower layer and having a built-in opening feature. A pair of radially spaced concentric lines of weakness are formed in the laminate, an outer one of the lines of weakness being formed in the upper layer and an inner one of the lines of weakness being formed in the lower layer. The upper and lower layers in an annular region between the lines of weakness are readily peeled apart. The upper and lower layers outside the annular region are laminated together with an adhesive providing a bond with a greater peel strength than that required to separate the layers in the annular region.
US08128769B1
A system and a method for continuously manufacturing a liquid crystal display device, which can suppress the occurrence of stripe defects, are provided, and the system includes carrier film feeding means; peeling means for peeling off a sheet piece of a polarizing film and a pressure-sensitive adhesive from a carrier film; take-up means for taking up the carrier film; bonding means for bonding the sheet piece to a liquid crystal panel with the pressure-sensitive adhesive interposed therebetween to form a liquid crystal display device; and speed control means for controlling the take-up means and the bonding means so that the carrier film can be folded back while it is allowed to protrude from the front end of the peeling means toward the bonding means at least at a peeling-off end time when peeling off the sheet piece from the carrier film is completed.
US08128768B2
The present invention provide an apparatus for manufacturing a bonded substrate that suppresses a defect in the bonded substrate. When the pressure in a vacuum chamber is at the atmospheric level, upper and lower chuck units respectively attract substrates through vacuum. When the vacuum chamber is depressurized, each chuck unit electrostatically attracts the associated substrate. During the depressurization of the vacuum chamber, the pressure for attracting each substrate to the associated chuck unit is controlled to be equal to the pressure in the vacuum chamber. This prevents each substrate from falling from or moving relative to the associated chuck unit. The first and second substrates are thus bonded together as accurately aligned.
US08128759B2
By causing at least one of Dy and Tb to be adhered to the surface of an iron-boron-rare earth based sintered magnet of a predetermined shape, and is then to be diffused into grain boundary phase, a permanent magnet can be manufactured at high workability and low cost. An iron-boron-rare earth based sintered magnet is disposed in a processing chamber and is heated to a predetermined temperature. Also, an evaporating material made up of a fluoride containing at least one of Dy and Tb disposed in the same or another processing chamber is evaporated, and the evaporated evaporating material is caused to be adhered to the surface of the sintered magnet. The Dy and/or Tb metal atoms of the adhered evaporating material are diffused into the grain particle phase of the sintered magnet before a thin film made of the evaporated material is formed on the surface of the sintered magnet.
US08128757B2
There is provided a method of manufacturing a permanent magnet having extremely high orientation by arranging such that the crystal fractures of alloy raw meal powder having more equal crystal orientational relationship are combined in magnetic field. In this invention, alloy raw meal powder is filled into a cavity and, while agitating the alloy raw meal powder inside the cavity, is oriented in the magnetic field. This oriented body is then compression molded in the magnetic field into a predetermined shape.
US08128751B2
A film-forming apparatus of the invention is a film-forming apparatus that includes: a processing container that defines a chamber, a pedestal arranged in the chamber, on which a substrate to be processed can be placed, a showerhead provided opposite to the pedestal, which has a large number of gas-discharging holes, a gas-supplying mechanism that supplies a process gas into the chamber through the showerhead, and a showerhead-temperature controlling unit that controls a temperature of the showerhead.
US08128740B2
The invention is targeted at the process of separating gas, such as air, from a liquid path. Specifically, the invention provides a means to remove gas from a dynamic liquid path, manage the removed gas and liquid path. The invention provides a means to remove gas from a dynamic liquid path using the buoyant property of gas in a less buoyant liquid, having ingress and egress ports for liquid and gas flow, and separate points of egress for liquid and trapped gas and integral liquid channels.
US08128738B2
In a method of drying an object, a first drying fluid and a second dry fluid may be first heated to form a gas mixture. The gas mixture may be second heated to prevent the mixed gas from condensing. The second heated gas mixture may be filtered to remove impurities from the second heated mixed gas. The filtered mixed gas may be then applied to the object so as to dry the object.
US08128737B2
A system, method and apparatus for treating a waste gas stream containing on or more hydrocarbon contaminants such polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). The system, method and apparatus may include a heat treatment chamber having a recycling apparatus that includes a supply of a food oil solvent; a mixing device to mix the solvent with the waste gas stream. The system, method and apparatus dissolve the hydrocarbon contaminants from the gas stream into a solvent containing the food oil.
US08128733B2
A membrane-based gas separation process for treating gas streams that contain methane in low concentrations. The invention involves flowing the stream to be treated across the feed side of a membrane and flowing a sweep gas stream, usually air, across the permeate side. Carbon dioxide permeates the membrane preferentially and is picked up in the sweep air stream on the permeate side; oxygen permeates in the other direction and is picked up in the methane-containing stream. The resulting residue stream is enriched in methane as well as oxygen and has an EMC value enabling it to be either flared or combusted by mixing with ordinary air.
US08128722B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a honeycomb filter for purifying exhaust gases which makes it possible to alleviate a thermal stress generated due to occurrence of a local temperature change and which is less likely to generate cracks and superior in strength and durability, an adhesive that has a low thermal capacity and is capable of alleviating the thermal stress, a coating material that has a low thermal capacity with a superior heat insulating property and is capable of alleviating the thermal stress, and a manufacturing method of the honeycomb filter for purifying exhaust gases that can improve precision in the outside dimension, and reduce damages in the manufacturing processes.The present invention relates to a honeycomb filter for purifying exhaust gases, having a structure in that a plurality of column-shaped porous ceramic members, each having a number of through holes that are placed side by side in the length direction with partition wall interposed therebetween, are combined with one another through adhesive layers so that the partition wall that separate the through holes are allowed to function as a filter for collecting particulates, and in this structure, the thermal expansion coefficient αL of the adhesive layer and the thermal expansion coefficient αF of the porous ceramic member are designed to have the following relationship: 0.01<|αL−αF|/αF<1.0.
US08128721B2
A filter device has a filter element made from a filter hose that has a filter wall separating an unfiltered side from a clean side of the filter device in a radial direction. In preferred embodiments the filter wall of the filter hose is provided with a very fine particle filtration layer including nanofibers. The diameter of the nanofibers is less than one micrometer. The nanofiber layer can be applied to a green filter material and the filter element can be produced subsequently from the filter material with applied nanofiber layer. Alternatively, the nanofiber layer can be applied to a finished filter element.
US08128719B1
A filter element has a reinforcement band or ring along at least a portion of the perimeter thereof and performing a support function thereat preventing or minimizing damage upon attempted percussive cleaning of the filter element by service personnel striking the perimeter against an impact surface. Alternatively, a failure band or ring is provided along at least a portion of the perimeter and performs a designated failure function to a failure condition thereat upon attempted percussive cleaning, with the failure condition providing at least one of: a) an indication to service personnel that the filter element has been damaged and should not be re-installed; and b) a deformed condition preventing re-installation.
US08128712B2
The invention concerns a composition for cotton textile care in particular, comprising an anionic polysaccharide (in particular anionic polygalactomannan) having a mole weight higher than 250000. The composition can be a solid or liquid detergent formulation, a liquid rinsing and/or softening formulation, a drying additive contacted with wet textile in a dry textile, an aqueous ironing formulation, a prespotting washing additive deposited on the textile before a washing operation.
US08128711B2
A polymer having at least one carbamate linkage prepared by: (i) reacting (a) at least one diisocyanate, polyisocyanate, or mixture thereof, and (b) at least one fluorinated compound selected from the formula (I): Rf(CH2)x[(CF2CF2)y(CH2CH2)z]m(R1)r—xH (I) wherein Rf is a perfluoroalkyl group having 1 to about 6 carbon atoms; the total number of carbons in said formula (I) excluding (R1)r—XH ranges from about 8 to about 22; and (ii) optionally reacting with (c) water, a linking agent, or a mixture thereof.
US08128709B2
A cover for a foot prosthesis comprises an opening at a top end of the cover, which extends into a cavity formed within the cover, wherein the cavity is configured to receive a prosthesis therein. A wall surrounds the cavity and has the shape of a natural human foot. The wall has an inner surface and an outer surface. The wall also has a top section, a bottom section and a rear section. The bottom section defines a sole area having a toe section, a heel section, and a metatarsal region, wherein the sole area is provided with varying levels of stiffness configured to induce a desired rollover from heel-to-toe in a lateral-to-medial direction.
US08128708B2
Described are methods for treating a topical wound in a patient. The methods involve applying to the wound a wound dressing including a collagenous biomaterial isolated as a sheet of tissue from urinary tract tissue of a mammal.
US08128706B2
Embodiments described herein are related to pellets that are placed within an extraction site that is in need of bone augmentation and preservation. The pellets are typically cylindrical in shape and comprise a material and a polymer coating. The goal of the pellets are to encourage sufficient new bone growth that jaw bone deterioration is prevented. The pellets create, arrange, and assemble an ideal growth environment for new bone growth to rapidly grow and preserve the original contours of an individual's jaw bone.
US08128705B2
An assembly for use in a procedure for implantation of an orthopedic joint component, comprises a head part of the joint component which has a tapered bore within it, and a connector part which is tapered inwardly along its length so that it can be received snugly in the tapered bore in the head part, the connector part having a bore within it. A tool includes a spigot which fits snugly into the bore in the connector part. Each of the tool and the connector part has a face which contact one another when the spigot on the tool is fully received in the bore in the connector part, and in which each of the said faces extends generally transverse relative to the aligned axes of the spigot and the bore.
US08128700B2
The present invention is directed to an allograft intervertebral implant sized and configured for insertion between adjacent vertebral bodies in a spinal fusion surgery. The implant is preferably manufactured from two or more pieces of allograft bone joined together by a joint, more preferably a dovetail joint. The dovetail joint being sized and configured to substantially follow the exterior shape or surface (e.g. perimeter) of the intervertebral implant. The intervertebral implant may also include one or more bone pins for joining the allograft pieces, the pins being inserted into the implant at an angle substantially perpendicular with respect to the dovetail joint. The intervertebral implant may also include one or more through-bores for receiving ostegenic or bone graft material. The intervertebral implant is preferably sized and configured for insertion during a T-PLIF or PLIF procedure.
US08128699B2
A spinal implant is provided that includes a first component for engaging a first vertebra, a second component for engaging a second vertebrae, and a damping member is positioned therebetween. The damping member has at least two chambers connected by an opening. A fluid is disposed within the chambers such that compression of the first and second components towards one another causes the fluid to be displaced from one of the chambers to another chamber through an opening. The opening has a reduced size relative to the chambers to restrict the flow of the fluid between the chambers and provide a dampening effect. In some instances, the rheologic properties of the fluid positioned within the chambers are dependent upon the strength a magnetic field passing through the fluid. In other aspects of the present disclosure, prosthetic devices, intervertebral implants, spinal systems, implantation methods, and treatment methods are provided.
US08128693B2
A two part lens system. The first part is a ring-like supporting component that is implanted in the capsular bag following cataract surgery. The first component is a non-optical component and contains a pair of haptics for fixating the first component within the capsular bag. The second component is an optical component that contains all of the corrective optical power of the lens system. The second component has a pair of tabs for locking the second component within the first component.
US08128689B2
Medical devices such as endoprostheses (e.g., stents) containing one or more biostable layers (e.g., biostable inorganic layers) and a biodegradable underlying structure are disclosed.
US08128688B2
A carbon coating on a stent having a bioactive agent covalently attached thereto and methods of making the same are described. The covalent attachment may be achieved via a photo-reactive chemical or a thermo-reactive chemical. In some embodiments, the carbon coating includes a diamond-like material. The bioactive agent may be heparin or superoxide dismutase enzyme or a mimetic thereof.
US08128687B2
An intravascular stent having a prefabricated, patterned polymeric sleeve for controlled release of therapeutic drugs and for delivery of the therapeutic drugs in localized drug therapy in a blood vessel is disclosed. The polymeric sleeve is attached to at least a portion of an outside surface area of the stent structure. Alternatively, a plurality of individual microfilament strands are longitudinally attached to an outer surface of a stent structure in a spaced apart orientation and loaded with at least one therapeutic drug for the release thereof at a treatment site. The stent has a high degree of flexibility in the longitudinal direction, yet has adequate vessel wall coverage and radial strength sufficient to hold open an artery or other body lumen. Methods for making the same are also disclosed.
US08128668B2
Bone treatment plate assemblies, methods of fabrication, and methods of use. Such assemblies comprise spring structures assembled to bone treatment plates. The spring structure comprises elongate bands, and springs between the bands, urging the bands against structure of the plate. Spring width is less than spring height and/or one or more protuberances extending from the band or bands cooperate with one or more detents in the plate thereby to arrest longitudinal movement of the spring structure with respect to the plate.
US08128665B2
Apparatuses are disclosed for use in orthopedic surgery, for example for procedures in which a support member is connected to the spine. A connector member for connecting to an orthopedic implant and a support member is provided. A sleeve fits around the implant, and a locking member or mechanism connects to the sleeve. Locking causes a part of the sleeve to press the support against the connector, and causes a part of the sleeve to compress around the implant, so that the implant and support are substantially inhibited or prevented from moving with respect to each other.
US08128660B2
Systems and method in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention can include an implant for positioning within a cervical facet joint for distracting the cervical spine, thereby increasing the area of the canals and openings through which the spinal cord and nerves must pass, and decreasing pressure on the spinal cord and/or nerve roots. The implant can be inserted laterally or posteriorly.
US08128657B2
A suture instrument according to the present invention includes a suture tool having an anchor anchored to a biological tissue, a suture thread drawn out of the anchor, and a stopper disposed on the suture thread; a hollow puncture needle, which can house the anchor thereinside, having a hard needle portion formed with an opening at the distal end thereof; a pusher which is disposed to advance and retreat in the puncture needle and a proximal side of which extends to a proximal side with its distal end being in contact with the anchor; and an outer sheath which houses the puncture needle so as to advance and retreat, in which an engaging portion, which is detachably engaged with the suture thread which is drawn in a state where the anchor is housed in the puncture needle, is disposed in the puncture needle or in the pusher.
US08128655B2
A hypobaric wound space is provided for prophylactic and diagnostic purposes in surgical wounds of the abdomen deliberately left open. The hypobaric wound space provided is established by a combination of an impermeable folio sheet or thin flexible membrane, tissue fluid absorbing gauze or sponge, a drain tube, and a suction device to create hypobaric conditions and prevent wound contamination and infection, and to collect wound fluid to diagnose protein, fluid and other substrate losses on a quantity and quality basis. More specifically the invention provided relates to postoperatively applying negative pressure to the wound space of any surgical wound that was deliberately left open by filling the wound space with medical gauze or any material that is capable of absorbing tissue fluid, sealing the wound space with an impermeable folio or flexible membrane by engaging the folio to the skin of surrounding wound edges, and evacuating air and tissue fluid from the wound space by continuous suction through a drain tube to protect the wound from contamination and infection, and to diagnose fluid and losses substrate losses on a quantity and quality basis.
US08128650B2
A medical instrument has a handle arranged at the proximal end, a shank extending distally proceeding from the handle, and a movable jaw part arranged at the distal end of the shank. The shank is designed to be rigid and includes at least one proximal bend region and at least one distal bend region, in which the extension direction of the shank changes. A section of the shank in which the distal bend region is situated may be rotated about the longitudinal axis relative to a section of the shank in which the proximal bend region is situated. The jaw part is rotatable relative to the shank about its distal longitudinal axis at the distal end.
US08128648B2
An apparatus for the introduction of a drainage tube into a patient's chest cavity, comprising a housing having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis; a scalpel operable in a protruding position between a closed position in which the cutting portions are adjacent one another and adapted to make an incision in the dermis of the patient, and an open position in which the cutting portions are spaced from one another forming a scalpel passage along the longitudinal axis between the cutting portions. The apparatus further comprising a trocar comprising first and second trocar portions, each extending along the length of the trocar; the trocar being operable between an closed position wherein the first and second trocar portions are substantially adjacent one another, and a closed position in which the first and second trocar portions are spaced from one another and adapted for the introduction of the drainage tube therethrough.
US08128644B2
A clip for engaging tissue includes a generally annular-shaped body defining a plane and disposed about a central axis extending normal to the plane. The body includes alternating inner and outer curved regions, defining a zigzag pattern about a periphery of the clip. The body is biased towards a planar configuration lying in the plane and deflectable towards a transverse configuration extending out of the plane. Tines extend from the inner curved regions, the tines being oriented towards the central axis in the planar configuration, and parallel to the central axis in the transverse configuration. The tines may include primary tines and secondary tines that are shorter than the primary tines. The primary tines may be disposed on opposing inner curved regions and oriented towards one another such that they overlap in the planar configuration.
US08128633B2
A curable material delivery cannula device is disclosed. The device includes a cannula and a hub. The cannula includes an open proximal end, a deflectable segment forming a pre-set curve, a lumen, and side orifice(s) adjacent, and proximally spaced from, the distal end and fluidly connected to the lumen. When inserted within a guide cannula, the deflectable segment straightens. When distally extended from the guide cannula, the deflectable segment reverts to the curved shape. The distal end has a blunt tip for non-traumatic interface with bodily material. During use, curable material, such as bone cement, is delivered from the side orifice(s) in a radial direction relative to the lumen. The device may be used to create voids for receiving curable material, and may include spacers configured to control location and/or orientation of the voids.
US08128630B2
A guide for use in making tibial augmentation cuts is disclosed. The guide is preferably for use subsequent to an initial cut being made. A method of utilizing the guide, as well as making the initial cut is also disclosed.
US08128628B2
A spinal plate system that maintains intervertebral spacing and spinal stability is provided. In an embodiment, a spinal compression plate may include two or more plates coupled together form an adjustable-length plate. Compression of a spinal compression plate movement may mimic natural settling of bones in a spine and/or distribute at least a portion of a vertebral load to an implant positioned between two vertebrae. Maintaining at least a portion of the vertebral load on an insert may increase bone growth and increase fusion between an implant and surrounding vertebrae.
US08128627B2
An implantable segmented intramedullary structure adapted to be received in the intramedullary canal of a bone configurable between a relatively flexible, bent configuration for implantation or extraction and a relatively rigid, straightened configuration for bone treatment. The segmented intramedullary structure comprises a plurality of interconnected segments with a first interface and a complementarily-shaped second interface such that the first interface of a segment cooperatively engages the second interface of an adjacent segment. The segments define a channel for a tensioning member to lock the structure in a compressed configuration.
US08128626B2
A bone fixation system and method for stabilizing a fractured bone by implantation into the intramedullary canal of an implant that is expanded by an implant deformation apparatus, or deformer. The deformer can use mechanical, pneumatic, or hydraulic expansion. Some deformers apply or remove heat. Some implants may include a support structure and a thermo-chemically activated matrix. The support structure may be radially expandable and contractible, and sufficiently flexible to be inserted into the intramedullary canal through an opening which is not parallel to the intramedullary canal. The matrix may attain a first thermo-chemical state via the addition of energy, and a second thermo-chemical state via the dissipation of energy.
US08128624B2
An electrode sealing assembly is designed for use with an electrosurgical instrument for sealing tissue and includes first and second jaw members each having an insulative housing and being movable from a first position in spaced relation relative to one another to at least one second position for grasping tissue therebetween. Each of the jaw members includes an electrically conductive sealing member disposed within the respective insulative housing. At least one of the insulative housings includes at least one tissue engaging surface configured to extend beyond the electrically conductive sealing member of one of the jaw members. The tissue engaging surface of the insulative housing cooperates with the opposing insulative housing of the opposing jaw member to both pinch and spread tissue when the jaw members are moved to the second position to decrease extraneous energy transmittance to tissue surrounding the jaw members.
US08128623B2
A portable, thermal cauterizing forceps device for use in surgery. The device incorporates a pair of ceramic heater elements mounted within the tips of the tines of a forceps. The forceps is used to grasp tissue or blood vessels and apply heat to effect cauterization. In the case of the first embodiment of the invention, the forceps instrument incorporates a battery and control electronics. The thermal-forceps is of a self-contained wireless, handheld disposable design. In a second embodiment of the invention, the forceps handpiece is connected to an external power source. Both embodiments of the forceps incorporate set of rapidly heating ceramic heater elements that may be composed of silicon nitride. An LED provides the operator feedback as to the operating level of the heaters and/or battery reserve. Enhancements to the second embodiment include a rechargeable power supply, variable control of the heater temperature, as well as a, digital display of the tip temperature.
US08128619B2
A method of treating an intervertebral disc includes inserting an introducer into an intervertebral disc, inserting a catheter through the introducer and into the intervertebral disc, advancing a distal region of the catheter through a nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc to an annular wall of an annulus fibrosus, delivering energy to material of the intervertebral disc using an electrode disposed at the distal region of the catheter, and removing the material with the delivered energy, wherein removing material with the delivered energy reduces pressure in the intervertebral disc.
US08128615B2
An apparatus for cleansing and applying therapy or prophylaxis to wounds, in which irrigant fluid containing a physiologically active material from a reservoir connected to a conformable wound dressing and wound exudate from the dressing are recirculated by a device for moving fluid through a flow path which passes through the dressing and a means for fluid cleansing and back to the dressing. A biodegradable scaffold underlies the dressing on the wound bed to promote tissue growth. The cleansing means (which may be a single-phase, e.g. micro-filtration, system or a two-phase, e.g. dialytic system) removes materials deleterious to wound healing, and the cleansed fluid, still containing materials that are beneficial in promoting wound healing, is returned to the wound bed. The dressing, an assembly comprising the dressing and scaffold, and a method of treatment using the apparatus.
US08128611B2
A pre-assembled medical fluid flow system and method of making same are disclosed. The system includes a first sterilized fluid flow system component, a second sterilized fluid flow system component and a flow path for providing fluid communication therebetween. The flow path includes an isolated portion. An openable closure isolates the isolated portion from the first sterilized fluid system component, and a microorganism filter is disposed between and isolates the isolated portion of the flow path and the second sterilized fluid flow system component. Therefore, fluid from the isolated portion of the flow path must flow through the microorganism filter to reach the second sterilized fluid flow system component.
US08128603B2
An injection device of the kind having a main housing (4) is disclosed and includes a drive mechanism (42) to expel selectively a dose of medicament from a medicament cartridge (40) through a needle unit (22) and an electronic control unit to control the drive mechanism (42). The injection device further comprises a prime button (26) which causes a prime signal to be sent to the electronic control unit, the electronic control unit actuating the drive mechanism (42) to expel a predetermined small dose of medicament on receipt of the prime signal. In this way removal of entrapped air from the medicament cartridge (40) is obtained.
US08128599B2
The present disclosure provides substrates having a lubricious coating thereon. The substrate may be flexible and include, in embodiments, a medical device. The lubricious coating, in embodiments, is applied in a pattern so that the coating avoids delamination and/or fracturing which might otherwise occur as the substrate flexes and/or stretches.
US08128596B2
A disposable infusion device comprises a reservoir that holds a liquid medicament, a pump that displaces the liquid medicament from the reservoir to the patient, at least one valve that conducts the displaced medicament from the reservoir, and a fluid conduit that conducts the medicament from the reservoir, to the pump, and to the patient. The device includes a layered structure that defines the reservoir, pump, valve, and fluid conduit.
US08128591B2
A multiple component cartridge includes a barrel defining a chamber and a longitudinal axis. A first plunger is disposed within the chamber and in sealing engagement with the barrel. The first plunger includes at least one member and is movable relative to the barrel such that the at least one member is configured for movement relative to the first plunger to facilitate passage of at least a first component through the first plunger. A second plunger is disposed within the chamber and in sealing engagement with the barrel. The second plunger includes at least one member and is movable relative to the barrel such that the at least one member of the second plunger is configured for movement relative to the second plunger to facilitate passage of at least a second component through the second plunger.
US08128590B2
An insufflating surgical instrument adapted for movement across an abdominal wall to insufflate an abdominal region of a patient is disclosed comprising a shaft having an insufflation channel adapted for connection to a source of fluid under pressure at the proximal end, a tip at the distal end of the shaft, and at least one vent hole formed at the tip or the shaft being in connection with the insufflation channel and being adapted to expel the fluid under pressure to insufflate the abdominal region. At least one of the tip and the shaft is translucent or transparent to facilitate visualization of the abdominal region. The shaft includes a lumen extending along the axis between the proximal end and the distal end to enable insertion of a laparoscope. The lumen and insufflation channel may be formed as separate channels or as one shared channel.
US08128587B2
An orthopedic bracing system for providing support to a joint of an individual is provided. The bracing system includes a frame configured to conform to the individual's body and configured to contact the individual such that it can provide support to the joint. The frame has at least two portions configured to connect at least a first part of the individual's body to a second part of the individual's body. The bracing system further includes a cable interconnected to the frame, and an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the tightness level of the cable.
US08128583B2
A stimulator pad includes a layer of support material and at least one stimulator node secured to and supported by the support layer, the stimulator node comprising a housing having one end region secured relative to the support layer and the other end defining an aperture which in use confronts a body surface and in which at least one pressure member includes a plurality of pressure member components is resiliently located, resilient biasing device provided within the housing to act between the support layer or a base portion of the housing and at least some of the pressure member components to urge the at least some of the pressure member components to protrude through the housing aperture, and a layer of flexible cover material which extends over at least one of the pressure members.
US08128582B1
A back massaging device includes two eccentric rotation members each having an eccentric hole and a resting face, and two swing arms each provided with a mounting hole which has a sliding face. Thus, when each of the swing arms is pressed by the user's body, the sliding face of each of the swing arms is slidable on the resting face of the respective eccentric rotation member to freely adjust the angle of each of the swing arms, so that the first massaging member and the second massaging member of each of the swing arms touch the user's body evenly and exactly, and the pressing force applied by the first massaging member and the second massaging member are distributed evenly and smoothly on the user's body.
US08128579B2
A medical device, such as a medical guidewire, having a portion including an inner zone of material and an outer peripheral zone of material surrounding the inner zone of material. The inner zone of material has a first coefficient of thermal expansion and the outer peripheral zone of material has a second coefficient of thermal expansion less than the first coefficient of thermal expansion, wherein at an operating temperature the outer peripheral zone of material opposes expansion of the inner zone of material such that the outer peripheral zone of material exerts a compressive stress on the inner zone of material.
US08128577B2
A biopsy system for retrieving biopsy tissue samples from different regions of the body is disclosed. The biopsy system includes a single use loading unit having a trocar assembly and a knife assembly. A trocar driver is operably connected to the trocar assembly and is actuable to move a trocar between retracted and advanced positions. The trocar driver is disengaged from the trocar assembly prior to firing the trocar into a target tissue mass to reduce drag on the trocar during firing. A knife driver is operably connected to the knife assembly such that when actuated, a knife is both rotatably and axially advanced about the trocar.
US08128569B1
A method and system for detection of respiratory variation in pulse oximetry are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes detecting a pattern consistent with a respiratory cycle of a waveform representing cardiac oscillations and identifying an abnormality based on the pattern. The method further includes triggering an alarm in response to identifying an abnormality. A system is further provided including a database and a module. The database to store data representing a physiological condition of a patient over a period of time, wherein the data comprises data corresponding to respiratory activity and data corresponding to cardiac oscillations, wherein the data corresponding to respiratory activity comprises a first waveform and the data corresponding to the cardiac oscillations comprises a second waveform; and a module for detecting a pattern of the second waveform consistent with a cycle of a first waveform and detecting an abnormality in the pattern, wherein when an abnormality is detected an alarm is triggered to alert a health care provider of the abnormality.
US08128568B2
An apparatus and related methods for ultrasonically scanning a tissue volume are described, the apparatus being particularly advantageous in the context of freehand ultrasound assisted biopsy of the breast although readily applied to non-biopsy contexts and other body parts. The apparatus comprises a casing configured and dimensioned for single-handed manipulation relative to a surface of the tissue, and a texturably couplant-porous material sheet extending across an opening of the casing. The texturably couplant-porous material sheet has an outer side and an inner side relative to the casing, the outer side for compressively contacting the tissue surface. The apparatus further comprises an ultrasound transducer positioned against the inner side of the texturably couplant-porous material sheet and being mechanically translatable thereacross for volumetrically scanning the tissue volume therethrough.
US08128566B2
An enhanced intraluminal flow measurement system and method is conducive for a low-power ultrasonic system that can use continuous-wave (CW) Doppler sensing and wireless RF telemetry. Applications include measurement of blood flow in situ in living organisms. Implementations include an extraluminal component located outside of a body, such as a human or animal body, containing a lumen. The extraluminal component can be wirelessly coupled via an RF magnetic field or other RF field to an implantable intraluminal component. The intraluminal component (i.e. implant) is implanted inside of the lumen of the body such as a heart or elsewhere in a vasculature (such as in a dialysis shunt). The intraluminal component can telemeter, via RF electromagnetic signals, flow data directly out of the body housing the intraluminal component to be received by the extraluminal component.
US08128565B2
An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus having a continuous wave Doppler mode. A line switching section is provided between an array transducer and a unit which has a CW transmission section and a CW reception section, for changing a transmitting and receiving aperture pattern. When a first transmitting and receiving aperture pattern is set on the array transducer, a first aperture functions as a transmitting aperture and a second aperture functions as a receiving aperture. When a second transmitting and receiving aperture pattern is set on the array transducer, the second aperture functions as a transmitting aperture and a first aperture functions as a receiving aperture. The patterns are switched whenever predetermined amount of time has elapsed after a prescribed event such as a pattern change, resumption of continuous wave reception, and so on. As such, localized heat generation or deterioration on the array transducer can be prevented.
US08128549B2
The inventive technique includes methods, devices and computer-readable media for monitoring a magnetic device. One such device includes a magnetic core for generating a magnetic field, a power supply and a capacitor bank that is charged by the power supply and is for pulsing the magnetic core. The device also includes a processor that measures a charging response of the capacitor bank during charging and determines whether the measured charging response is within a predetermined tolerance of a predetermined charging response.
US08128544B2
A roll for a rotary printing press having a first web disposed along a helical path and a plurality of first tabs disposed one after the other on the first web and extending from the first web at an angle relative to a surface of the first web. The first web forms one of a cylindrical inner wall and a cylindrical outer wall.
US08128536B2
A vertical exercise apparatus having a set of waist high support rails capable of supporting the users body weight for use in conditioning upper body and lower body muscle groups of person using the device.
US08128526B2
The invention relates to a limited slip differential, more particularly for being used in the driveline of a motor vehicle. The limited slip differential 2 comprises a carrier element 3 which is rotatingly drivable around an axis of rotation A; a plurality of planetary gears 4 which rotate around the axis of rotation A together with the carrier element 3; a hollow gear 5 which is supported so as to be rotatable around the axis of rotation A and which engages at least some of the planetary gears 4; an adapter gear 7 which engages either the hollow gear 5 or the sun gear 6 via a toothed coupling 12 for the purpose of transmitting torque, and wherein the toothed coupling 12 comprises a first face toothing 14 at an end face of the adapter gear 7 and a second face toothing 13 at an end face of the gear engaging the adapter gear.
US08128522B1
An arrow fletching system having a continuous roll or individual lengths of base material to which is applied a series of fins or vane segments. The benefit of this fletching system is that an arrow can be fletched with an equal number of vane segments in each fletching area without measuring and/or weighing each of the sections. This results in a balanced arrow which can be easily modified to add or reduce the number of segments. Fins or vane segments may by slitted for greater flexibility along their top edges.
US08128504B2
An inner joint component and a shaft of a constant velocity universal joint are connected in a configuration it difficult for backlash to occur. An axis hole inner diameter of an inner member of the constant velocity universal joint is unhardened, and a spline serving as a recess and projection section running along a circumferential direction is formed on an axial end outer diameter of the shaft. A hardened layer n is formed on the axial end outer diameter of the shaft. The shaft and the inner member are joined by an axial end of the shaft being pressed into the axis hole inner diameter of the inner member to incuse a shape of said recess and projection section onto the axis hole inner diameter of the inner member 20.
US08128493B2
A method for approving data wherein a request for approval of advertising content for being impressed upon video game players within a known advertising spot within a known video game is provided. Based on the advertising spot and the video game a system determines at least a party for approving of the advertising content. Then, the system automatically transmits a message to the at least a party requesting their approval of the advertising content for being impressed upon video game players within the known advertising spot within the known video game.
US08128492B2
A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines. The central server includes a plurality of progressive modules. Each progressive module maintains one or more progressive awards and is associated with zero, one or more of the gaming machines in the gaming system. Upon a determination that a designated one of the progressive awards will be provided, one of the gaming machines associated with the progressive module which maintains the designated progressive award provides the designated progressive award to the player of such gaming machine.
US08128491B2
A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines. The central server includes a plurality of progressive modules. Each progressive module maintains one or more progressive awards and is associated with zero, one or more of the gaming machines in the gaming system. Upon a determination that a designated one of the progressive awards will be provided, one of the gaming machines associated with the progressive module which maintains the designated progressive award provides the designated progressive award to the player of such gaming machine.
US08128487B2
Methods, systems, and computer program products for compensating participants of events or activities of virtual environments, such as on-line games, digital or virtual worlds, and virtual universes are disclosed. One or more embodiments may comprise conducting an event, measuring event participation by the participant, and compensating the participant based upon the measured participation. Various embodiments may compensate the participant based upon the amount of time the participant spends at the event, while other embodiments may compensate the participant based upon amounts or types of activity of the participant while attending the event. Some embodiments may compensate the participant based upon such activity as chat activity, keyboard activity, and mouse activity. Some embodiments may compensate the participant based upon one or more referrals that the participant makes other participants.
US08128484B2
A game system for playing a basic game, includes: slot machines which, when a combination of “BONUS” symbols stop in a winning line, transmit a signal for switching to a roulette game; a second game device, separate from the slot machines, which executes a second game; and a display for displaying an image corresponding to game status of the second game device. In cases in which the switching signal has been transmitted from any one of the slot machines, other slot machines enter a mode that allows the players at the other slot machines to participate in the second game. Furthermore, the game system includes a central controller which can communicate with the slot machines, the second game device, and the display, and which, upon reception of the switching signal from the slot machine, transmits a roulette game start signal to start the roulette game in the second game device.
US08128480B2
A gaming device including a plurality of symbol generators with a plurality of symbols on or associated with each symbol generator. At least one and preferably a plurality of the symbols are reflector symbols. A reflector symbol is a symbol that, when generated on one of the reels, causes any payline which runs through such symbol to be reflected back across one or more of the reels. In operation, after providing the player any award based on the symbols generated on any wagered on paylines, the gaming device determines if at least one reflector symbol is generated on at least one of the wagered on paylines. If at least one reflector symbol is generated on at least one of the wagered on paylines, the generated reflector symbol causes the activated payline which runs through the generated reflector symbol to reflect back across one, more or each of the reels to form a supplemental payline. The gaming device determines if an award is associated with any of the symbols or symbol combinations generated on the supplemental payline and provides any determined award to the player.
US08128464B2
A chemical mechanical polishing pad used for chemical mechanical polishing comprises a polishing surface, a non-polishing surface that is provided opposite to the polishing surface, a side surface that connects an outer edge of the polishing surface and an outer edge of the non-polishing surface, and a plurality of grooves formed in the polishing surface. The side surface has a slope surface that is connected to the polishing surface, and a depth of the grooves is equal to or smaller than a height of the slope surface.
US08128458B2
A polishing apparatus detects the escape of a substrate from a top ring during polishing. The polishing apparatus includes a polishing table having a polishing pad, a top ring, and a substrate escape detection section for detecting escape of the substrate from the top ring. The detection section includes a light irradiation member for irradiating an area of the upper surface of the polishing pad with light, a controller for controlling the light irradiation of the light irradiation member, an image-taking member for taking an image of the area irradiated with the light, and an information processing member for processing information outputted from the image-taking member. The controller controls the light irradiation member in such a manner that it performs light irradiation at least for a period of time during which the substrate is regarded as being in contact with the polishing pad.
US08128457B2
A seamless athletic bra includes different regions with different levels of support. The bra is formed from layers of material adhered together. Altering the types of materials comprising the layers in a region changes the level of support in that region as compared with other regions of the bra. A first region having the lowest level of support is found in a back panel and in the molded cups. A second region having a medium level of support is found in the front portion of the strap. A third region having a high level of support is found in a framework that follows the contours of the molded cups and in a back portion of the strap.
US08128444B2
An emergency floatation system for an aircraft includes an actuator box assembly that activates the floatation system either electrically or manually. The actuator box assembly is separated from a valve assembly of an inflation reservoir and provides an interface between an electromechanical trigger system and a redundant mechanical trigger system. The actuator box includes a pivot member that provides an interface for the redundant trigger systems and an output actuator. For normal operation a button in the cockpit is pressed which sends an electrical signal to an electromechanical actuator in the actuator box assembly. The electromechanical actuator rotates the pivot member, which operates the output actuator and opens the valve assembly. Alternatively, should the electrical system of the aircraft fail, the pilot or other occupant may activate the mechanical trigger system, thereby rotating the pivot member and activating the output actuator to open the valve assembly.
US08128443B2
Single lever control for combined control of the throttle in a marine engine and of a reversing gear
A single lever control for combined control of the throttle in a marine engine and of a reversing gear includes a rocking lever mounted onto a supporting arm, which is connected to an actuator causing a reversing gear to transmit engine motion to a shaft driving a propeller or the like either in the same direction of rotation as the drive shaft or opposite thereto. The supporting arm is also dynamically connected to position sensors sensing the angular position of the lever and generating a signal uniquely related thereto. The signal is transmitted to a controller of a motorized actuator of the engine throttle. The angular displacement of the lever is transmitted to a transducer converting rotary motion into an electric signal uniquely related thereto via a gear drive having an input gear controlled by the supporting arm and an output gear connected to a transducer control shaft.
US08128441B2
A connecting structure has a male terminal (10) including a tab (13) and a female terminal (20) including a rectangular connecting tube (23) that receives the tab (13). A louver spring (30) is housed in the connecting tube (23) and has two spaced apart contact piece rows (31) each including juxtaposed resilient contact pieces (35) with contact portions (36) facing each other. The tab (13) resiliently contacts the contact portions (36) by being inserted between the contact portions (36) while resiliently displacing the contact piece rows (31) at the opposite sides. Inclined surfaces (15, 16) are formed adjacent a tip of the tab (13) of the male terminal (10) to gradually thin the tab (13) toward the tip. The inclined surfaces (15, 16) are formed so that the positions of base end edges (15A, 16A) connected to flat surfaces 14A differ in forward and backward directions.
US08128438B2
A device for connecting a servomotor to at least one electrical cable includes an external housing with at least one cable input, blocked by the cable in operation, and an opening closed by an electrical connection element and forming an interface with the servomotor. The electrical connection element includes a wall of an insulating material and elongate electrical contacts that extend through the wall in a direction substantially orthogonal to the wall, each electrical contact including an inner end inside the device for connection to an electrical cable, and outer end outside the device for being connecting to a corresponding electrical contact of the servomotor. The external housing includes an opening for draining fluid from inside the device in the operational configuration device, and the wall of the electrical connection element extends along a portion of the inner end of the electrical contacts.
US08128435B2
An electrical interface module including a connector configured for a data cable and a plurality of electrical contact elements configured to directly establish at least one of an electrical and an electronic connection with a plurality of corresponding mating contact elements of a terminal block. Each of the plurality of corresponding mating contacts includes a screw clamp terminal having a terminal compartment with a pressure element configured to clamp the respective contact element. Each of the plurality of electrical contact elements is configured to allow the at least one of the electrical and the electronic connection to be established via a connection with the respective pressure element when the respective screw clamp terminal is in an open position.
US08128434B1
An electrical adapter is disclosed for providing overload protection between a conventional electrical receptacle and an external electrical plug comprising a housing comprising a plug housing portion and a receptacle housing portion. Electrical blades are supported to protrude from the plug housing portion for insertion within the conventional electrical receptacle. Electrical receptacles are supported within the receptacle housing portion for receiving an external conventional electrical plug. An over current fuse provides over current protection between the conventional electrical receptacle and the external electrical plug. The electrical adapter may include a thermal fuse to provide over heating protection between the conventional electrical receptacle and the external electrical plug.
US08128432B2
The insert includes at least three contacts having essentially linear parts and at least one three-pole capacitance between three of the contacts. One of the contacts of each three-pole capacitance is connected to a central armature. A first dimension of the central armature, in the direction perpendicular to the substantially linear parts, is greater than a second dimension, in a direction parallel to the substantially linear parts, the second dimension defining the widths of the zones of the central armature. The mean width of the central armature, between the zones where it faces other armatures, connected to the other contacts of the three-pole capacitance, is greater than one third of the mean length of the central armature in these regions. Preferably, in at least one three-pole capacitance, the mean width of the central armature between the regions where it faces the lateral armatures is greater than one third of the distance between the lateral armatures.
US08128428B2
An intelligent network patch field management system and specialized cross-connect cable are provided to help guide, monitor, and report on the process of connecting and disconnecting patch cords plugs in a cross-connect patching environment. The system is also capable of monitoring patch cord connections to detect insertions or removals of patch cords or plugs. The cross-connect cable is provided with LED's in both of the cable plugs. When only one plug of the cross-connect cable is plugged into a port, the LED associated with that plug is switched out of the circuit, while the LED in the unplugged plug remains in the circuit and can still be illuminated by the system.
US08128427B2
An illumination unit comprising: a wire; a light emitting element including a terminal; a crimp terminal including an attachment portion to which the terminal of the light emitting element is directly attached, a fastening portion which electrically connects to the wire, and a crimp portion which clips the wire.
US08128422B2
A communication system includes a voice-directed portable terminal with a voice user interface that is configured for being able to communicate with a computer system. The communication system includes a peripheral device having a cord coupled with the portable terminal and a connector adapted to disconnect from the portable terminal when a sufficient force is applied to the cord. This disengages the peripheral device from the portable terminal. The ability of the cord to break-away from the portable terminal prevents damage not only to the connector, but also to the cord, peripheral, and terminal.
US08128419B2
The invention relates to a distributor device for use in communication and data systems technology, comprising at least one distributor connection module. Said distributor connection module comprises a housing which houses input and output contacts, accessible from the exterior, for connecting lines, cables or wires. The distributor device comprises at least one additional connection module which comprises at least one SDH/SONET transport interface and outputs for electrical signals. The outputs of the connection module are connected to inputs of the distributor connection module. The connection module comprises at least one converter for converting SDH/SONET transport signals to E1 signals and vice versa. The invention also relates to a corresponding connection module and a corresponding distributor connection module.
US08128407B2
A method and device for teaching mathematics comprises a plurality of elongated members used to teach mathematics concepts. Each of the plurality of elongated members represent an associated numerical value. At least some of the plurality of elongated members are of different lengths, wherein the length of each of the plurality of elongated members is proportional to the numerical value represented by the elongated member. A plurality of retention members configured to receive the elongated members. Each of the plurality of retention members is configured to receive at least two of the plurality of elongated members. The device also comprises a numberline associated with the plurality of retention members. When the elongated members are placed on the retention member, various mathematical concepts may be shown.
US08128400B2
An instrument for debonding an orthodontic bracket from a tooth surface includes first and second plier portions coupled for relative pivotal movement. A lever arm pivotally movable relative to the first and second plier portions has a tooth engaging member on a first end. The tooth engaging member may be positioned on the lever arm for movement between a jaw of the plier portions and the tooth surface when a second end of the lever arm is pivotally manipulated in a direction toward a handle of the plier portions. At least part of at least one plier portion may be flexible relative to the lever arm such that the lever arm moves the tooth engaging member relative to a jaw of the plier portions after the bracket engaging portions are engaged with the orthodontic bracket and the handles and lever arm pivotally manipulated toward one another.
US08128398B2
A burner for a heat generator comprises a swirl generator (1) for a combustion-air flow and means for injecting fuel for producing a main flow (6). A combustion chamber (2) is arranged downstream of the burner.A cavity (3) is arranged between the swirl generator (1) and the combustion chamber (2), in which cavity (3) a secondary flow (10) can be produced, and this secondary flow (10) encloses the main flow (6).
US08128396B2
A sealing device for forming an airtight seal between a first body, such as a cure tool, and a second body, such as a vacuum bag, without the use of adhesives. The sealing device may comprise an outer surface attached to the second body, an inner surface configured to face the first body, and two cusps located at opposite edges of the inner and outer surfaces. The sealing device may form a continuous boundary around an area of any shape or size. The sealing device may have a substantially crescent-shaped cross-section, allowing the sealing device to suction to the first body when compressed against the first body. The sealing device may also comprise a tab portion protruding from the inner surface between the first and second cusp for providing a more secure seal between the sealing device and the first body.
US08128394B2
Tooling assemblies for interfacing with interchangeable molds are provided, each with a tooling body for mounting to a platen of a press of an injection molding machine and for receiving an interchangeable mold block. Interchangeable mold blocks are also provided for forming articles. A series of fasteners fasten each mold block to one of the tooling bodies. Alignment systems are oriented within a perimeter of the mold block to permit expansion of the mold block relative to the tooling body to accommodate varying rates of thermal expansion of the tooling body and the mold block. Methods for assembling a mold, molding an article and interchanging a mold with interchangeable mold blocks are also provided.
US08128390B2
A portable concrete molding machine can extrude concrete moldings of a range of widths by the provision of one or more tunnel plates within the mold, the machine being provided with respective pusher plates that have pusher faces of widths complementary to the effective widths of the mold. A pair of links connect a gearbox to the pendulum arms of the pusher means to ensure even driving force applied to the pusher plates as they undergo reciprocating movement to allow concrete to flow from a hopper through a mouth of the mold and to extrude the concrete from the mold, the machine being advanced in an extrusion direction by the extrusion of the concrete from the mold.
US08128385B2
A valve structure includes a partition wall, a communicating bore, a valve body and a restraining portion. The partition wall is provided in a fluid container for dividing the fluid container into a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber. The communicating bore is provided at the partition wall for establishing a fluid communication between the first and second fluid chambers. The valve body is provided at the partition wall for establishing and interrupting the fluid communication between the first and second fluid chambers. Further, the valve body includes an umbrella shaped valve portion being flexibly deformable for opening and closing the communicating bore. The restraining portion is provided for restraining a deforming amount of the valve portion when the valve portion is deformed in a direction to be separated from the partition wall.
US08128378B2
A system and method is provided for controlling a variable displacement piston pump that supplies fluid to one or more loads. If fluid is being supplied through a metering valve to a load, then the variable displacement piston pump is controlled to operate in accordance with a variable flow/variable discharge pressure scheme. However, if fluid is not being supplied through the metering valve to the load, then the variable displacement piston pump is controlled to operate in accordance with a variable flow/constant discharge pressure scheme.
US08128377B2
A split-pressure, dual-pump system for supplying hydraulic fluid to a multi-speed transmission is provided. The system includes a low-pressure work circuit operatively connected to a fixed displacement pump, and a high-pressure work circuit operatively connected to a variable displacement pump. The system also includes a regulator valve fluidly coupled to the variable displacement pump via a decrease circuit and an overage circuit for regulating the flow of fluid to the high-pressure work circuit. The invention consists of separating the high-pressure needs of the system into a separate work circuit from the low-pressure needs of the system, and optimizing pump design separately for each work circuit to maximize transmission efficiency and reduce parasitic losses. A method of supplying hydraulic fluid to a multi-speed transmission at variable flow and pressure is also provided.
US08128376B2
Blades for rotorcraft are designed and/or implemented with rotor blades having a swept portion that occupies at least 20-40% of a length of the blade. Forward and aft sweeps are contemplated, with up to 20° or more of sweep. The swept portion preferably has a thickness ration of at least 10-20% at R80, and can have a tapered planform with a relatively outboard section having a smaller chord than a relatively inboard section. Contemplated design methods include optimizing or otherwise designing the rotor blade planform and lift distribution along the blade for efficiency in various flight conditions without taking into account the detrimental effects of high Mach numbers, and then using sweep angle, airfoil thickness and transonic airfoil shaping to maintain the lift distribution, low drag and low noise level at real Mach numbers at the various blade stations at the various flight conditions.
US08128369B2
According to embodiments of the invention, an impeller includes a hub, and a plurality of radial blades for drawing the air inflow axially through the hub and delivering the drawn air radially towards the outside. A ring is attached to one or more tips of the plurality of radial blades to block a portion of the tip toward the inlet side of the impeller. The preferred blockage factor, which is the ratio of a height of the ring to a height of the tip, is approximately in a range between 30% and 40%. By blocking a portion of the tip toward the inlet side of the impeller, the low-momentum flow zone toward the inlet side of impeller is blocked, while the high-momentum flow zone toward the back side of impeller is enhanced. As such, the performance of the impeller is enhanced.
US08128363B2
A brake assembly for use with a wind turbine. The brake assembly comprises a movable wind flap for attachment to a tail assembly of the wind turbine, the wind flap being configured to assume a first closed position during normal operation, and a second open position when incoming winds exceed a predetermined velocity threshold. Provided on the wind flap is a trip rudder assembly for cooperating with incoming wind to urge the wind flap into the open position. A counterbalance assembly is also provided for biasing the wind flap into the closed position. The wind flap in the open position effects a redirection of a portion of the incoming wind, urging the wind turbine to assume an oblique position relative to the incoming wind, effecting a reduction in rotational velocity of the wind turbine.
US08128357B2
The invention relates to a guide blade segment of a thermal turbomachine, in particular a gas turbine, comprising a number of profiled blades which are arranged on a platform. A plurality of securing elements for securing the guide blade segment to an associated guide blade support are arranged on the side of the platform which is oriented away from the blade. The aim of the invention is to provide a guide blade segment which can be produced in a simple and economical manner avoiding casting problem areas enabling the guide blade segment to be attached in a particularly reliable and secure manner to the associated guide blade support. According to the invention, at least one section of at least one of the securing elements is a separately produced component which is rigidly connected to the platform or to an additional section of the securing element.
US08128350B2
A gas turbine ring segment (10) for use in gas turbine engines made from a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) material is disclosed. The ring segment includes a stacked multiplicity of CMC thin-sheet lamellae (25a, 25b) each comprising a peripheral surface collectively defining a cross-section profile of the ring segment. The lamellae collectively define a channel (11) formed in the center thereof for receiving a bow-tie member (27). The bow-tie member is disposed in the channel for holding together the stacked lamellae in a through thickness direction, and the in-plane strength of the bow-tie member is perpendicular to the in-plane strength of the lamellae. A stem portion (33) of the assembly may be further secured with a wrap (38) of CMC ribbon.
US08128340B2
A stacked pump arrangement for mixed-media flow includes a first, self-priming, centrifugal pump with a volute having an inlet and an outlet and a second straight centrifugal pump mounted to an upper portion of the first centrifugal pump, the second straight centrifugal pump also having a volute with an inlet and an outlet. A transition chamber is connected, at one end, to the first centrifugal pump volute outlet and is connected, at another end, to the second straight centrifugal pump volute inlet.
US08128339B2
To provide a bearing support structure and a gas turbine that prevent damage of device induced by a rotor shaft when the rotor shaft is unbalanced, the bearing support structure and the gas turbine includes: a casing (7) formed in a cylindrical shape; a bearing unit (8) formed in a cylindrical shape and housed in the casing (7); a rotation shaft (5) rotatably supported by the bearing unit (8); and a reaction-force decreasing unit (13) that connects the casing and the bearing unit, and is configured to decrease a radial reaction force on the bearing unit side.
US08128326B2
Apparatus and methods for removably securing payloads are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes coupling the payload to a body of a locking assembly, engaging an insertion portion of the body into a channel of a track, translating the insertion portion to a second position until at least one self-alignment feature of the locking assembly abuts an abutment portion of the track, the body being substantially constrained from movement away from the track in the second position, and actuating at least one engagement member to a secured position, the body being substantially constrained from movement along the track in the secured position. In an alternate embodiment, in the unsecured position the at least one engagement member is withdrawn from the channel, and in the secured position the at least one engagement member projects into the channel.
US08128323B2
A driven tool assembly that uses the cutting tool coolant to also lubricate and cool the driven tool. The driven tool housing has at least one coolant intake port, at least one coolant discharge port, and a shank for mounting the driven tool assembly to a machine tool. An input shaft and an output shaft are rotatably mounted in the driven tool housing, and a transmission transmits power from the input shaft to the output shaft. A seal is disposed between the housing and the input shaft. Typically, at least one passageway fluidly communicates the coolant intake port with the input shaft, the output shaft, the transmission, the bearings, and the coolant outlet port.
US08128322B2
Apparatus, methods, and other embodiments associated with a key duplication machine are described. In one embodiment, an assembly for duplicating a master key includes an optical imaging device, a logic, a clamping assembly, and a cutting member. The optical imaging device is capable of capturing an optical image of at least a portion of the master key. The logic is capable of determining a key pattern of the master key from the optical image of the master key. The clamping assembly is capable of clamping a key blank and the cutting member is capable of cutting a key pattern into said key blank.
US08128321B2
A drilling template for use in jointing workpieces, the template consisting of a substantially rectilinear bar with through holes through which holes can be drilled in the workpieces to effect said jointing, a locating device for locating the template relative to the workpieces when the though holes are being drilled, and spacers for spacing the locating device from the bar to enable the position of the through holes to be adjusted relative to the workpiece.
US08128318B1
Tide change apparatus and methodology for converting tidal energy into usable mechanical and electrical energy using wedge-hinge assemblies. Electricity is generated by transfer of mechanical energy from both incoming and outgoing tidewaters to an electrical generator. A pair of wedge-hinge assemblies mounted atop semi-submersible barges to enable water to alternately flow into and out of a retention pond relative to a corresponding main body of water in accordance with natural tidal flow.
US08128317B2
A method of increasing the storage capacity of a natural gas storage cavern involves the step of adding liquefied natural gas to gaseous natural gas in the natural gas storage cavern. The addition of liquefied natural gas serves to reduce the temperature and associated pressure of gaseous natural gas in the natural gas storage cavern, thereby increasing the capacity of the natural gas storage cavern.
US08128315B2
A fitting comprising at least one inlet and at least one outlet, a body disposed between said at least one inlet and at least one outlet wherein the body defines at least one flowpath through the fitting, the body further comprising one or more apertures located intermediate said at least one inlet and said at least one outlet, and two or more flanges extending outwardly from the body and spaced apart from one another, and wherein the one or more apertures are located intermediate the two or more flanges.
US08128314B2
A paving screed comprises a base screed and extension screeds each of which is support via an extension guiding structure at a guidance fixed in the base screed such that each extension screed can be extended and retracted. A multiple point suspension is provided between the extension guiding structure and the guidance. A frame carrying the sole plate of the extension screed A is arranged below the extension guiding structure. Substantially vertical adjustment assemblies make it possible to adjust the height position of the frame via drives. A lateral inclination adjustment assembly is provided structurally separated from the adjustment assemblies either for the frame or within the frame for the sole plate of the extension screed.
US08128306B2
A regulating device for gymnastic machines and the like, includes at least a lever (2) for manual selective lock and release, associated with a first member (3), at least a toothed rod (4), associated with a second member (5) slidable relative to said first member (3), and a pawl (6) mechanically interlocked with the lever (2) and selectively engageable in one of the teeth (7) of the toothed rod (4) to block rigidly the second member (5) with respect to the first member (3) in any position by a user the lever (2) being selectively movable from at least a first position of sliding of the second member (5) relative to the first member (3), wherein said pawl (6) can be released from said toothed rod (4), to at least a second position of blocking said second member (5) relative to said first member (3), wherein the pawl (6) is rigidly engaged in one of the teeth (7) of the toothed rod (4), to at least a third position of substantial clearing of the mechanical backlashes between the second member (5) and the first member (3).
US08128304B2
A direct-fluid-supply writing implement has a pentip, an ink occlusion body connected to a rear end of the pentip, an ink tank that directly stores ink and is arranged at a rear of the ink occlusion body, a plurality of communication tubes that connects the ink tank to the ink occlusion body and a partition wall provided between the ink occlusion body and the ink tank. Forward end portions of the communication tubes are protruded forward from a front face of the partition wall, and are located inside the ink occlusion body. At least one of the communication tubes is provided such that a rear end of the communication tube is protruded backward from a rear face of the partition wall and is located inside the ink tank.
US08128296B2
A shutter assembly includes a plurality of shutter blades movable between an open position and a closed position, a drive ring having first and second oppositely-facing sides, at least one of the shutter blades being movably coupled to the first side, and a first permanent magnet coupled to the second side of the drive ring. The shutter assembly also includes a first solenoid selectively energizable to alternately attract and repel the first permanent magnet along an arcuate path beneath the first solenoid, thereby transitioning the plurality of shutter blades between the open and closed positions. The shutter assembly also includes a sensor assembly configured to detect a location of the first permanent magnet along the path.
US08128294B2
An interface converter is provided for mechanically and optically coupling a fiber optic connector with an adapter port. In a preferred embodiment, the interface converter attaches to an SC fiber optic connector and together form a converted fiber optic connector compatible with the adapter port. In certain embodiments, a retractable release sleeve may be removed from the SC fiber optic connector prior to attaching the interface converter. In certain embodiments, the interface converter may be inserted into the adapter port prior to being attached to the SC fiber optic connector.
US08128287B2
The present invention provides a reclosable storage bag for packaging/containing and transporting objects, such as food. The reclosable storage bag may include a flexible inner liner contoured to the shape of a user's hand and have one or more closure members for sealing the ends of the bag. The user may store food in an interior storage area of the bag and may use the flexible inner liner to grab or hold onto the food so that the user will not have to directly touch the food while eating.
US08128280B2
A non-invasive method of measuring the temperature of a subject through a portable infrared thermometer includes measuring a temperature related to room temperature and detecting an infrared radiation coming from a region of interest of the subject. The region of interest can be a forehead or an auricle area of the subject. The portable infrared thermometer detecting the infrared radiation determines a surface temperature of the region of interest. A corrective parameter is determined based on the temperature related to the room temperature, and the surface temperature measured by the portable infrared thermometer on the surface portion of the forehead or of the auricle area is corrected using the corrective parameter. The real inner temperature of the subject is determined based upon the correcting.
US08128276B2
A bone cement mixer (1) includes at least one mixing space (5) for mixing powder and liquid components (2, 4) to make bone cement. The powder component (2) is placed in the mixing space (5) and the liquid component (4) in a liquid container (3). The liquid component (4) is sucked out from the liquid container (3) to the mixing space (5) by means of a vacuum generated in the mixing space. The liquid container (3) is a tube (15) that has a connecting element (16) for connecting it to the bone cement mixer (1). The connecting element (16) is adapted to be opened when it is connected to a corresponding connecting element (17) on the bone cement mixer (1). The metal material of the tube has a thickness such that the volume of its liquid containing space (18) is brought to decrease when the vacuum in the mixing space (5) is brought to prevail therein.
US08128267B2
A light source comprising a light engine (10), especially with at least one LED and/or at least one laser light emitting element, and further comprising a light guide (11) and an out-coupling structure (12) is proposed. By this, a flexible scheme to tailor the source size and radiation characteristic of an LED- or laser based system is provided. The size and the position of the out-coupling structure (12) can be chosen to be comparable to the size and position of the filament or arc of a conventional light source like an incandescent-, halogen- or gas discharge burner. The disclosed LED/laser light source is retrofit from an optical point of view so that it can replace a conventional light source like an incandescent-, halogen- or gas discharge bulb or burner in an illumination device.
US08128265B2
A device for illuminating a target surface of a vehicle. The device includes a base and a top cover coupled to the base. The top cover includes a perimeter wall portion and an actuator portion coupled to the perimeter wall portion. The actuator portion extends generally downward between walls of the perimeter wall portion toward the base and is movable toward the base for changing the state of a switch upon application of an external force to the actuator portion. A light source is coupled to the base and positioned for illuminating the target surface through the actuator portion.
US08128261B2
An LED package housing member that includes a light emitting chip has a missing portion in its side walls.
US08128260B2
A spread lens including a first lens surface through which the emitted light from the light emitting device is inputted; a second lens surface spreading the inputted light to an outside; refraction parts which extend between both side ends of each of the first and second lens surfaces, are formed in a concave-convex shape, and refract the emitted light from the light emitting device; and support parts which extend at both side ends of the second lens surface and separate the refraction parts and the light emitting device from each other.
US08128258B2
A Light-Emitting Diode (“LED”) light including a housing with two ends, a base coupled to the housing at one of the two ends for connecting to an electrical fixture, the housing including vertical plates with a majority of higher-power LEDs mounted on the vertical plates at an angle of less than 75 degrees relative to the vertical plates. In one aspect, the LEDs are mounted in a column and row grid pattern. In one aspect, the housing includes a horizontal plate with lower-power LEDs mounted thereon. In one aspect, the LED light includes a temperature regulation device housed within its housing for heat dissipation.
US08128257B2
An LCD can include a Compact Collimating Reflector (CCR), is configured to be located downstream in a light path from an LCD light source, where the CCR is configured to reflect light from the LCD light source to provide collimated light downstream from the CCR. A light diffusion film is located downstream from the CCR and is configured to receive the collimated light from the CCR. An LCD panel is located downstream from the CCR.
US08128256B2
Disclosed is a lighting device. The lighting device includes: a housing; a coupling member; at least one reflector; and a light source unit, including a second connection terminal being electrically connected to a first connection terminal, wherein the first connection terminal includes at least one pair of female blocks, wherein at least one pair of terminals are formed within each female block, wherein the pair of terminals in one female block is symmetric to the pair of terminals in the other female block, wherein the second connection terminal includes at least one pair of male blocks, and wherein at least one pair of sockets are formed respectively on the pair of the male blocks.
US08128255B2
A structure for securing a conductive strip of a flashlight includes a flashlight main body formed therein with a receiving space for receiving batteries. The receiving space has a lateral surface formed with a groove whose cross-section tapers toward the center of the receiving space and is configured for receiving the conductive strip coupled to a switch assembly, along with an insulating element corresponding in width to the conductive strip and having a predetermined length. Once installed in the flashlight main body, the conductive strip is separated from the batteries in the receiving space, thereby preventing the batteries from overheating, which might otherwise result from direct contact with the conductive strip. The main body further has a rear end coupled with a pressing portion formed of a pliable material such that a switch of the switch assembly is switched on or off by pressing the pressing portion.
US08128253B2
The invention relates to a light emitting system (1) for surfaces (2) of floor bottoms, walls or similar surfaces (2) of buildings for indoor or outdoor applications, in particular walkable or drivable surfaces (2), whereas the system comprises a laminar and plane base floor material (3) for flooring the surface (2), featuring a top surface (4) characterized in that on said top surface (4) of said base floor material (3) is layered a light guiding structure (5) for propagating light, which is coupled into said structure (5), whereas said structure (5) features an emission surface (6), arranged coplanar to the top surface (4) of said base floor material (3) for emitting the light.
US08128250B2
The present invention is an articulating hand power tool which in one embodiment includes a head portion including a head housing configured to articulate with a main housing, a bit holder rotatably positioned within the head housing, and a lighting assembly configured to emit a first elongated beam pattern from the head portion.
US08128247B2
The invention relates to an illumination device for flashlight photography comprising at least one reflector chamber which, in use, can be arranged in the direction of an object being photographed, having at least one reflector and at least one flash element arranged in the reflector chamber as first light source, as well as at least one UV filter element which, in use, covers the reflector chamber on a radially extending outer face in the direction of the object being photographed, the filter element having at least one ventilation opening. By means of the arrangement, an illumination device suitable for all fields of application is to be provided, a particular objective being to generate flash series of any desired length and at the same time to provide optimum UV protection on the illumination device. Uses of such an illumination device are also defined.
US08128243B2
An exterior sideview mirror assembly includes a single mirror backing plate element within a mirror housing. A main plano mirror element and an auxiliary non-plano curved mirror element are supported by the backing plate element. The backing plate element has a generally flat portion for supporting the main plano mirror element and a curved portion for supporting the auxiliary non-plano curved mirror element. The curved portion may be angled relative to the generally flat portion in a manner such that, when a driver of the vehicle aligns the rearward field of view of the main plano mirror element, the rearward field of view of the main plano mirror element may be aligned downwardly relative to the vehicle body side. The main plano mirror element includes a generally flat reflector-coated glass substrate or a generally flat polymeric substrate having a thin glass element applied to a surface thereof.
US08128241B2
A short-throw projector and Interactive White Board (IWB) mounting system is presented. The mounting system includes a pair of board mounting brackets, such that a section of the board mounting bracket is positionable a predetermined distance from a mounting surface. The mounting system further includes projector mount bracket wherein a portion of the projector mount bracket is also positionable a predetermined distance from a mounting surface such that a desired distance is maintained between the projector and the IWB when the system is installed over an existing structure.
US08128234B2
A position adjustment device for an integration rod includes a fixed plate, two resilient members, and two adjusting screws. The first resilient member is positioned between the fixed plate and the rod for exerting an elastic force on the rod in a first direction, and the second resilient member is positioned between the fixed plate and the rod for exerting an elastic force on the rod in a second direction different from the first direction. The first adjusting screw is inserted through the part of the housing and has a first end surface that presses against one side surface of the rod opposite the first resilient member. The second adjusting screw is inserted through the part of the housing and has a second end surface that presses against one side surface of the rod opposite the second resilient member. The first and the second end surface are arc surfaces.
US08128230B2
A system and operational method that supplies visual stimuli to each subject in the form of a virtual environment in which at least the objects of interest have a three dimensional wire frame or mesh frame of a number of polygons that is surrounded with at least one skin or surface; wherein the visual stimuli is presented in a test session to the subject on a display device including an eye tracking sub-system that can effectively track the subject's gaze direction and focus on the display device throughout the test session; wherein unique colors are assigned to the mesh frame and/or an eye tracking skin of each object of interest whereby the system can evaluate the obtained eye tracking data and assign attention data to specific objects of interest resulting in object specific attention data.
US08128227B2
Disclosed is a method for identifying transmissible spongiform encephalopathy in livestock via an electroretinogram, the method comprises producing a biphasic electroretinogram waveform having an a-wave and b-wave from livestock retina in response to photic stimulus, measuring the amplitude of the b-wave, wherein the amplitude is measured from the trough of the a-wave to the peak of the b-wave, measuring the implicit time of the b-wave, wherein the implicit time is measured from onset of photic stimulus to b-wave peak; and comparing said produced waveform to a comparative waveform of livestock known not to have transmissible spongiform encephalopathy, wherein the produced waveform having a decrease b-wave amplitude and increased b-wave implicit time being indicative of livestock having transmissible spongiform encephalopathy.
US08128225B2
A process for producing an optical article having an antireflection layer formed directly or via another layer on an optical base material, includes: forming a primary layer contained in the antireflection layer; and forming a light transmissive conductive layer containing a metal containing germanium as a main component and/or a compound of germanium and a transition metal on a surface of the primary layer.
US08128216B2
A printing device has an image receptor adapted to have an image formed thereon. The printing device also includes a transfer roller and a motor. A transfer roller load mechanism moves the transfer roller into contact with the image receptor in response to the motor output. A controller manipulates the motor in conjunction with a feedback signal from a load detector and regulates the load of the transfer roller.
US08128215B2
The present invention provides an ink jet printer having an ink-contacting member which is in contact with an ink until the ink is injected from a print head and which contains an antioxidant, wherein the ink-contacting member has a concentration of a compound represented by the following formula (1) of 100 ppm or less: Further, an ink jet recording method using the ink jet printer and recorded matter recorded by the ink jet recording method are also disclosed. According to the invention, there is provided an ink jet printer using an ink-contacting member which inhibits the formation of a crystalline molecular complex.
US08128212B2
An inkjet recording apparatus has: a pressure control device which controls a liquid movement device in accordance with determination results of a first pressure determination device and a second pressure determination device in such a manner that interiors of a first liquid chamber and a second liquid chamber respectively assume prescribed pressures, wherein the pressure control device controls the liquid movement device so as to adjust the internal pressures of the first liquid chamber and the second liquid chamber in such a manner that a prescribed pressure differential between the internal pressures of the first liquid chamber and the second liquid chamber is produced and a prescribed back pressure is applied to the liquid inside a plurality of nozzles of a recording head.
US08128209B2
An ink cartridge includes a main body and a cover. A liquid storing chamber and an air introducing post for communicating the liquid storing chamber with the outside atmosphere are disposed in the main body. A liquid filling port is disposed on the cover. A balancing chamber, a detecting chamber, and a floater are disposed in the main body. The balancing chamber and the detecting chamber are in communication with each other via a through hole. The detecting chamber and the liquid storing chamber are in communication with each other via a liquid guiding port. The floater, whose density is lower than that of the ink liquid, is located in the detecting chamber. The lower portion of the air introducing post communicates with the outside atmosphere via a waterproof sponge. The ink cartridge may conveniently monitor usage of ink liquid in the main body and reduce residual ink.
US08128208B2
A liquid ejecting head includes a flow passage forming substrate that includes a plurality of pressure generating chambers juxtaposed to each other and each in communication with a nozzle for ejecting droplets, and piezoelectric elements disposed on the flow passage forming substrate with a diaphragm interposed therebetween. The piezoelectric elements include a lower electrode, a piezoelectric layer, and an upper electrode. The piezoelectric layer tapers downward at its ends. The lower electrode has a width smaller than the width of each of the pressure generating chambers. The piezoelectric layer has a larger width than the lower electrode to cover end faces of the lower electrode. The diaphragm has a top layer formed of a titanium oxide (TiOx) insulator film. The lower electrode has a top layer formed of a lanthanum nickel oxide (LaNiyOx) orientation control layer. The orientation control layer and at least part of the piezoelectric layer disposed on the orientation control layer are formed of perovskite crystals having a (111) preferred orientation.
US08128201B2
A fluid ejector having a first surface, a second surface, and an orifice that allows fluid in contact with the second surface to be ejected. The fluid ejector has a non-wetting layer exposed on at least a first surface of the fluid ejector, and a overcoat layer exposed on a second surface, the overcoat layer being more wetting than the non-wetting layer. Fabrication of this apparatus can include depositing a non-wetting layer on the first and second surfaces, masking the first surface, optionally removing the non-wetting layer from the second surface, and depositing an overcoat layer on the second surface.
US08128200B2
The first head includes first nozzle rows each having a nozzle for ejecting a fluid of a first color and a nozzle for ejecting a fluid of a second color lined up in a color order in a cross direction. The second head includes second nozzle rows each having the two nozzles lined up in a color order in the cross direction. The controller controls a nozzle to dispose a plurality of color-overlapped dots to form a raster line, such that a ratio of A1 to “A1+A2” is larger than a ratio of B1 to “B1+B2” to form the raster line, where A1 and A2 donate amounts of a fluid of the first color from the first and second nozzle rows, respectively, and B1 and B2 donate amounts of a fluid of the second color from the first and second nozzle rows, respectively.
US08128190B2
An ink circulation type inkjet printer includes a maintenance controller configured to: (1) allow a maintenance mechanism to execute maintenance processing for a plurality of inkjet heads before a present printing job under three conditions that: (c1) an elapsed time from a last printing job to a present printing job is less than a first reference time; (c2) the present printing job requests for ejecting ink from unused nozzles of multiple nozzles of the plurality of inkjet heads in the last printing job; (c3) the elapsed time is more than a second reference time; (2) allow the ink circulation type inkjet printer to perform the present printing job without the maintenance processing for the plurality of inkjet heads when the elapsed time is less than the predetermined second reference time.
US08128184B2
A door assembly for an appliance includes a door having an interior side and an exterior side. A frame defines an aperture extending through the door from the interior side to the exterior side. A module is disposed in the aperture. The module includes a first component and a second component. The second component disengageably connects with the first component. A pivot member is operably coupled with the module and with the frame. The module is rotatable about the pivot member thereby allowing access to both the first component and the second component from the exterior side of the door body.
US08128180B2
The invention relates to a hydraulic braking system having a device for controlling brake slip, drive slip, and/or the driving stability of a vehicle. Among other things, such devices use pumps, valves, and reservoirs to control brake pressure in the wheel brakes in accordance with wheel slip occurring at the particular wheels. These components are in contact with each via a hydraulic circuit. The hydraulic circuit is built into a hydraulic block that has spaces for installing the components and channels for hydraulic contact. The invention makes possible a particularly compact and reduced-weight design of the hydraulic block and at the same time low manufacturing costs. For this purpose an advantageous layout and sealing of channels relative to each other and to the surrounding area is provided.
US08128179B2
According to a method for operating an actuating unit for motor vehicle brakes, an electromagnet that actuates a sealing seat of its control valve is controlled by a minimum current during a pressure-maintaining phase which is carried out independently of the vehicle operator's will, in order to avoid damaging of the coil of the electromagnet. To this end, a current controlling the electromagnet is slowly reduced until a previously fixed pressure decrease compared to the original value occurs. A previously fixed value is added to this current value, and the electromagnet is actuated by a current value corresponding to the result of the addition.
US08128174B2
A framework and method of forming a framework is provided for a backrest of a vehicle seat. The framework includes a support member having a first wall portion and a second wall portion. The second wall section is spaced from the first wall portion at a plurality of locations to form a plurality of hollow pocketed sections. An expandable plastic material is disposed in and substantially fills the plurality of pocketed sections. The support member in cooperation with the expandable plastic material provides rigidity to the support member.
US08128171B2
An armrest assembly for a chair includes an armrest support, a mounting sleeve movably mounted on the armrest support, an armrest mounted on the mounting sleeve to move in concert with the mounting sleeve, and a lifting device mounted between the armrest support and the mounting sleeve and operable between a first position where the lifting device is locked to lock the mounting sleeve onto the armrest support and a second position where the lifting device is unlocked to unlock the mounting sleeve from the armrest support so that the mounting sleeve is movable relative to the armrest support freely. Thus, the mounting sleeve is movable relative to the armrest support so as to adjust the height of the armrest so that the height of the armrest is adjusted freely to support a user's arm comfortably.
US08128169B2
A seat reclining apparatus for a vehicle includes a first arm arranged at a seat cushion, a second arm arranged at a seat back, an internal gear formed at the first arm, an external gear formed at the second arm and engaging with the internal gear, a first circumferential portion formed coaxially with the internal gear, a second circumferential portion formed coaxially with the external gear, first and second wedge members accommodated in an accommodating space formed between the first and second circumferential portions, a spring arranged between the first and second wedge members and biasing the first and second wedge members, a drive shaft rotating around a rotation axis of either one of the first and second arms, and a retention groove retaining a lubricant, formed on the circumferential contact surface of each of the first and second wedge members, and extending along a direction of the rotation axis.
US08128162B2
An armrest assembly for a vehicle seat 5 comprises an armrest portion 11a, 11b, 11c, a shingle head restraint portion 12 moveably attached to one end of the armrest portion 11a, 11b, 11c, to permit the shingle head restraint 12 to be moved towards and away from the one end of the armrest portion 11a, 11b, 11c, and a height adjuster to selectively secure the head restraint 12 in one of a number of predetermined displaced positions relative to the armrest portion 11a, the armrest portion being moveable from a folded up position 11a to a folded down position 11c. The head restraint portion 12 is pivotably mounted for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis 14 and includes a head restraint rotation latching mechanism comprising a latching member biased into engagement with part of the head restraint 12 to hold the head restraint 12 in a preferred rotational position, and a means to automatically disengage the latching member only when the head restraint 12 is brought into close proximity to the armrest portion 11a to permit rotation of the head restraint portion 12 about the horizontal axis.
US08128158B1
A bumper for a front end of a vehicle includes a body having an opening defining an air flow inlet. The opening is elongated in the transverse direction of the body and is defined by spaced apart transverse walls and spaced apart side walls. A grille is disposed in the opening. The grille includes at least one generally horizontal member having at least one sound attenuating member attached thereto and configured to at least partially alter the air flow passing through the grille to mitigate resonance associated with the flow of air through the grill.
US08128156B2
A motor vehicle includes, but is not limited to a bulkhead for separating a vehicle interior space from an engine bay. The entire bulkhead in its upper area at a first bending point bends toward the front side of the vehicle (=forward), to then extend upwardly from there in a forward-arched area, where it forms a window support for a windshield. The bulkhead has an air inlet opening in a forwardly arched area that is connected with the vehicle interior space to supply air to the latter.
US08128154B2
A vehicle floor structure including: a floor tunnel frame arranged along a center in a vehicle width direction and extending in a vehicle length direction; side sills arranged on the right and left sides of a vehicle body and extending in the length direction; lateral frame members connecting the tunnel frame with the side sills; floor panels bridged between the tunnel frame and the side sills; obliquely extending portions provided on at least one of the lateral frame members and extending so as to be inclined to the length direction in a planar view, connecting respectively with the side sills; and concentric arc-shaped beads provided in the respective panels, with centers respectively at intersections of the side sills and the obliquely extending portions, wherein at least one of the beads has one end extending orthogonal to the side sill and the other end extending orthogonal to the width direction.
US08128153B2
A front section of a motor vehicle body encompasses a bumper and bumper bracket that are designed to retreat during a collision while absorbing energy and momentum, a fresh air passage and a sealing element situated behind the bumper for modulating the throughput of the fresh air passage, which can be dragged along by the retreating bumper or bumper bracket. The sealing element has situated upstream from it a gap that allows the bumper and bumper bracket to retreat without simultaneously taking the sealing element with it.
US08128151B2
A method and system for disengaging a drive rod in a door after an impact to the door. An automobile having a door with a door handle, a drive rod, a latching system, a striker, and a drive rod striking member. The drive rod striking member can be positioned adjacent the drive rod. Upon impact to the door, the drive rod is disengaged from the door handle and/or the latching system through inertia, the drive rod striking member impacting the drive rod, or any other disengagement mechanisms. The drive rod striking member prevents the drive rod from re-engaging with the latching system. The disengagement of the drive rod prevents the drive rod from controlling the latching system to disengage from the striker, either through deformation of the door, or through actuations by the door handle.
US08128145B2
A tether fastening device includes a tether clip and a strap to couple a first engagement structure, such as a vehicle chassis, and a second engagement structure, such as a body panel. The strap is coupled to the tether clip and couples the first engagement structure with the second engagement structure to allow for controlled detachment. When attached, the tether clip fastens the first engagement structure with the second engagement structure. For example, the tether clip and first engagement structure may detach from the second engagement structure; however, the strap controls the acceleration, speed and distance displaced between the first engagement structure and the second engagement structure. According to one embodiment, the tether clip may further include a tether cap integrated with the strap and a fastener clip operative to couple to the tether cap.
US08128144B2
A pick-up style utility vehicle has a front seat, a rear seat, and a cargo bed in this order from the front, a cabin frame surrounding a riding space, and a screen shield partitioning the cargo bed and a rear riding space in front of the cargo bed. The cargo bed can be changed between an expanded state in which the cargo bed is expanded in a front direction to the rear riding space and a non-expanded state not occupying the rear riding space. The upper portion of the screen shield is swingably supported by the upper portion of the cabin frame so that the screen shield can be shifted between a position in the expanded state and a position in the non-expanded state. The screen shield has a foldable folding portion, is swung in the expanded state, and is supported by a vehicle body component while being in a folded state by the folding portion.
US08128127B2
A piping elbow capable of facilitating a fluid flow direction change in a smaller space than conventional piping elbows, without causing the larger pressure losses found when using conventional elbows in the equivalent space. Piping elbows of the present invention comprise a substantially-cylindrical body having a first end, a second end, and a substantially-constant inside diameter; a tangential inlet attached to the body near the first end of the body and having an inside diameter smaller than the inside diameter of the body; and a tangential outlet attached to the body near the second end of the body and having an inside diameter smaller than the inside diameter of the body. Fluid flows linearly through the tangential inlet and enters the body. Inside the body, linear motion of the fluid is converted into a rotational or spiral motion. The fluid in the body continues its spiral motion as it also moves axially through the body toward the tangential outlet. The fluid exits the body through the tangential outlet. Upon exiting through the tangential outlet, rotational or spiral motion of the fluid in the body is converted back into linear motion. The piping elbows can comprise two substantially-identical components attached to each other. The two substantially-identical components can be removably attached to each other and oriented at a selected degree relative to each other to effect a desired change in the direction of fluid flow.
US08128126B2
A coupling device formed of two identical sides is disclosed. Each of the two sides have a snap fitting mechanism which engage each other to releasably secure the sides together thereby forming the coupling device. The coupling device as formed has a main body communicating with at least two openings. Each opening is sized to engage an end of a corresponding conduit. Generally, the conduits are corrugated such that the openings engage one corrugation to form the friction fit. The openings may be conically shaped with pre-scored cut lines that can be cut at different diameters to engage conduits of different diameters. The openings of the coupling device have pre-score cut lines that may be cut in order to create the friction fit with corrugated conduits having different diameters.
US08128122B2
A knee airbag device and a drive motor for an electric power steering device are mounted to a steering column so as to achieve improved mass balance about an instrument panel reinforcement member. A drive motor for an electric power steering device is mounted at a position at the vehicle front direction side with respect to an instrument panel reinforcement member, the opposite side to the side of a knee airbag device. Namely, the knee airbag device is mounted at the vehicle rear direction side with respect to the instrument panel reinforcement member, and the electric power steering device is mounted at the vehicle front direction side of the instrument panel reinforcement member.
US08128114B2
A vehicle assembly includes a two-wheeled vehicle including a frame having opposed sides, opposed front and rear ends, and a front wheel mounted for rotation to the frame proximate to the front end of the frame positioned in front of an opposed rear wheel mounted for rotation to the frame proximate to the rear end of the frame and that is substantially in-line with respect to the front wheel. A member is carried by the frame of the vehicle between the front and rear wheels and has end portions disposed adjacent to the respective sides of the frame. A wheeled stabilizer assembly is carried by each of the end portions of the member to wheelingly interact with the ground over which the vehicle is driven along the sides of the frame proximate to the front and rear wheels of the vehicle.
US08128110B2
A combination of existing suspension designs is provided to suspend moving vehicles such as cars, trucks, planes, and snowmobiles and provide two degrees of freedom in the wheels or skis. The design combines a dive suspension with a roll suspension, including a locking linkage. The locking linkage locks out the roll suspension during dive, jounce, flight or two-wheel bump motion. Both the dive and roll suspensions are responsive during roll motion and one-wheel bump motion.
US08128104B2
A golf bag cart front wheel foldable device includes a fixed mount, a movable mount and a front wheel frame. The fixed mount has one end connected to the bottom tube of the cart frame and the other end provided with a fitted end. The fitted end is in pinned connection with a buckle at its one side. The movable mount is capable of being seized by the buckle and is joined fixedly to the fixed mount by a hinge. The movable mount has one end provided with a fitted end which is physically in harmony with the fixed mount. The front wheel frame has a top end connected fixedly to the movable mount, while its bottom end is joined to the front wheel. Through loosening of the buckle, the movable mount is not seized, which enables the movable mount and the front wheel frame to rotate with respect to the hinge, and the front wheel is then leveled for folding purposes, to achieve great handiness in maneuvering.
US08128089B2
Embodiments of the disclosed technology provide a method of integrating radio frequency identification (RFID) and near field communication (NFC) to add excitement, features, automation or semi-automation, and digital connectivity to a traditional Bingo or lottery game. Any game of chance may be played using embodiments of the disclosed technology. Balls used for purposes of randomization comprise freely movable RFID tags situated therein. When a ball is chosen, such as when it is the first or only ball to pass through an exit tube of a mixing apparatus, its RFID tag (with data corresponding to indicia on the ball) is read, and appropriate action can be taken, such as to update a video screen accordingly, check Bingos, check lottery winning tickets, and so forth.
US08128088B2
Disclosed is a sheet buffering and inverting device having a sheet transport path and multiple sheet inverter paths extending upward and/or downward there from. Sheets being transported through the sheet transport path are selectively diverted into the sheet inverter paths, held, and subsequently fed back into the sheet transport path such that they are inverted. Optionally, an additional sheet transport path can branch off the sheet transport path upstream of the sheet inverter paths and can connect to the distal end of each of the sheet inverter paths to allow sheets to be buffered without being inverted. This device can be incorporated into a discrete module of a modular printing system to ensure sheets are properly merged and oriented after processing by multiple printing engines. Alternatively, it can be incorporated into a standalone printing system to ensure sheets are properly buffered and/or inverted prior to processing by a single printing engine.
US08128087B2
A power transmitter for an image forming apparatus transmitting power to a plurality of feeding rollers, including a plurality of feeding roller rotation shafts rotatably mounted at certain distances from one another and forming a feeding path of a printing medium by a plurality of feeding rollers which are coaxially mounted therewith; a driving unit rotating one of the plurality of feeding roller rotation shafts; and a feeding gear train mounted on the feeding path of the printing medium to transmit a rotational force of one of the plurality of feeding roller rotation shafts being rotated by the driving unit to the other feeding roller rotation shafts.
US08128070B1
An intake pipe is positionable adjacent to the bottom of a body of water. The intake pipe has at least one perforate section adapted to receive stagnating un-aerated water. A discharge pipe is positionable between a waterline of the body of water and the discharge pipe. The discharge pipe has at least one orifice for injecting aerated water into the body of water. An intermediate pipe section has an input end coupled to the discharge pipe. The intermediate pipe section has an output end coupled to the discharge pipe. A pump moves water from the perforate section of the intake pipe to the orifice of the discharge pipe. A venturi assembly injects air into water flowing to and through and out of the discharge pipe into the body of water.
US08128063B2
A power generation system valve stem comprising a nickel-based substrate and a WC-based coating thereon, wherein the WC based coating comprises WC particles in a matrix of Ni and/or Co wherein the average interfacial spacing between the WC particles is between 5 microns and about 20 microns on average.
US08128060B2
A non-sliding solenoid valve has an armature supported by a spring for movement with no sliding contact with other valve surfaces. An inner perimeter of the spring is snapped into position adjacent to an inner perimeter reference surface on the armature. An outer perimeter of the spring engages a reference surface on a shell of the valve, and another reference surface spaced, from the spring reference surface, receives an outer perimeter of a seat for the valve. When the seat is positioned against its reference surface, this urges the inner and outer perimeters of the spring against respective reference surfaces and completes the assembly with assured accuracy.
US08128058B2
A flow control device in which a flapper is continuously biased to the closed position by a leaf spring that may have a plurality of fingers. The same valve includes a shutoff mechanism allowing the user to adjust forward flow through the valve or shut it off entirely. The leaf spring is made to include polyoxymethylene.
US08128056B2
Provided is a flow control valve including: a valve body including a flow passage; a first poppet being fixed within the valve body, and including an inlet port through which a fluid flows in and an outflow hole through which the fluid flows out to the flow passage; a second poppet being fixed within the valve body, and including an outlet port through which the fluid flows out and an inflow hole through which the fluid flows in from the flow passage; a sleeve sliding along the first poppet to close the outflow hole and regulate an area thereof; and a spool being disposed between the first and second poppets to be slidable along the first and second poppets, being elastically supported by the second poppet, and sliding due to a pressure of the fluid flowing in the first poppet to close the inflow hole and regulate an area thereof.
US08128053B2
A vertically adjustable item of furniture with a vertical pipe, a supporting base arranged at a first end of the vertical pipe, a guide bush fastened to a second end of the vertical pipe opposite to the supporting base, a cylinder which is arranged coaxially in the vertical pipe a piston which divides the cylinder into a first work chamber and a second work chamber, a piston rod fastened by its first end to the piston extends through the second work chamber and a connection between the first work chamber and the second work chamber which can be blocked by a valve actuatable by an actuating device. The valve is controllable electromagnetically. The furniture item comprises a sensor or switch which generates a signal causing the valve to close when the piston reaches a position in the cylinder near the valve.
US08128047B1
A mounting base mechanism for releasably securing an accessory device to a mechanical structure having opposed oppositely angulated clamp surfaces. The mounting base mechanism defines a first clamp surface having clamping engagement with one of the angulated clamp surfaces. A clamp support structure projects laterally from the mounting base mechanism and provides support for a clamp actuating mechanism having a clamping plate. A retainer device supported by the clamp support structure is operative to move the clamping plate substantially linearly for clamping engagement of the clamp plate with the other of the oppositely angulated clamp surfaces. A keeper member prevents inadvertent separation of the retainer and clamping plate from the clamp support structure.
US08128044B2
A system for removably and adjustably mounting a device on an object is provided. The system for removably and adjustably mounting a device on an object, according to the present invention, includes an apparatus and method useful for removably and adjustably mounting one or more photovoltaic modules on an object such as a pole or roof, and includes one or more triple track rails. Also included are one or more connector brackets that are demountably attachable to the one or more triple track rails and to the object.
US08128041B2
An electronic display and lighting arrangement for viewing by, and illumination for, a person in a resting position includes: an electronic display assembly including a first carriage movable along a translation axis, a first pivot arm coupled to the first carriage with the first pivot arm pivotable about a first pivot axis, and an electronic display coupled to the first pivot arm; and a lighting assembly including a second carriage movable in a direction parallel to the translation axis, and a light coupled to the second carriage and adjustably positionable by movement of the second carriage. The electronic display is adjustably positionable both along the translation axis by movement of the first carriage, and about the first pivot axis by movement of the first pivot arm about the first pivot axis.
US08128038B2
An aircraft comprises a wing (2) defining an aerofoil surface, the wing (2) comprising a drooped leading edge flap (1) being moveable between a stowed position and a deployed position. The wing (2) is so arranged that during flight when the high-lift device is in the deployed position, air may flow through an opening (7) in the wing (2) and over the aerofoil surface. During flight, air preferably flows into the boundary layer (13) on the upper surface of the wing (2). This energises the boundary layer (13), aft of the trailing edge of the drooped leading edge flap increasing its stability allowing the maximum achievable lift coefficient to be increased and hence reducing aircraft take-off and approach speeds.
US08128036B2
Methods and apparatus for controlling the attitude of a mobile platform with a resolution suitable for vernier attitude control. In one embodiment a method includes flowing fluid through an orifice of an aerodynamic surface. The method also includes modifying a boundary layer of the aerodynamic surface with the flowing fluid. Another embodiment provides an aerodynamic member of a mobile platform. The aerodynamic member includes an aerodynamic surface, an orifice, an actuator, and a fluid moving member. The orifice is in the aerodynamic surface and the actuator is subject to friction and backlash. The fluid moving member communicates with the orifice and causes the fluid to flow through the orifice to modify the boundary layer of aerodynamic surface.
US08128032B2
The invention relates to an aircraft wing including two members removably connected end to end by a coupling including: a male coupling part with spaced opposed upper and lower faces, a first face being planar while the second face has a longitudinal relief (9) with a V-shaped section, the first and second faces being mutually included towards each other at their free ends; a female coupling part with spaced upper and lower faces facing each other, a first face being planar while the second face has a longitudinal relief with a V-shaped section complementary to that of the relief, and the first and second faces being mutually inclined away from each other at their free ends; and a fastener for retaining the two parts coupled with their respective interacting faces in a mutual bearing relation.
US08128019B2
A propulsion system for a vertical take-off and landing ducted fan aerial vehicle is provided, the propulsion system comprising an internal combustion engine, an electric motor that comprises a motor generator, a motor drive and a battery. The motor drive and battery are integrated into the aerial vehicle and provide power to the ducted fan aerial vehicle. The electric motor may comprise a ring motor generator. In operation, this dual propulsion system serves as a weight-efficient option to allow for two sources of power on a ducted fan unmanned aerial vehicle.
US08128016B2
Provided is a torsion bar support structure of a seat belt retractor capable of smoothly rotating a rotary torsion bar and preventing deformation of the torsion bar due to moment applied to the torsion bar by coupling support members to both ends of the torsion bar. The torsion bar support structure of a seat belt retractor includes a housing constituting a main body of the seat belt retractor, a guide drum rotatably coupled to the housing, a torsion bar inserted into the guide drum, a base member fixed to one side of the housing, a locking member fixed to the other side of the housing, and a cylinder accommodating a piston therein to rotate a gear member fixed to the base member, the structure including: a bearing member coupled to the gear member, and a cap surrounding a cover fixing shaft projecting from the locking member, wherein the bearing member and the cap rotatably support the torsion bar when rotation moment is applied in a circumferential direction and an axial direction of the torsion bar.Since a torsion bar is rotatably supported by a bearing member and a cap, the torsion bar can be smoothly rotated by moment applied in an axial direction thereof. In addition, even though axial moment is applied, it is possible to prevent position variation and deformation of the torsion bar. Further, contact resistance between a connector and a projection can be reduced when the torsion bar is rotated, and thus the torsion bar can be smoothly rotated.
US08128015B2
A cutter assembly for a rotary, shear-type shredder including a cutting-tool carrier having a body possessing a rotational axis, a shear cutting tool, and a generally radial, sliding-friction-type, heat-cycle, binding interface removably anchoring the tool to the carrier body. This assembly is made by (a) forming a projection on one of the tool and the carrier, (b) forming a generally complementary, projection-receiving void space in the other of the tool and the carrier, whereby the projection and the void space nominally have an interference-fit relationship relative to one another, (c) creating a temperature differential between the tool and the carrier to an extent producing a clearance-fit relationship therebetween, (d) following that creating, fitting the projection snugly inside the void space, (e) reducing the created temperature differential toward zero, and (f) thereby establishing a robust, linear-sliding-friction anchoring interface between the tool and the carrier.
US08128009B2
The objective of the present invention is to realize the structure, of a fuel injection valve, in which bouncing of the needle can be suppressed and the armature position can be fixed while the valve is closed, without increasing the number of components and the number of processes. In a fuel injection valve including an armature that is repelled or attracted by a core, by de-energizing or energizing a coil; a needle that opens or closes a valve seat in accordance with a reciprocal travel of the armature; and a valve-closing spring that biases the needle so as to close the valve, when the coil is de-energized, the needle and the armature are fixed in such a way that the armature can travel in an axis direction by a predetermined amount with respect to the needle, and the coil is preliminarily energized while the fuel injection valve is closed by the needle.
US08127992B2
An apparatus comprising: a sensor array having rows of pixels which are exposed to symbol indicia, wherein the sensor array generates a sync signal; an aiming pattern generator for producing an aiming pattern superimposed on the symbol indicia; a processor which utilizes the sync signal to control the aiming pattern generator to: turn on the aiming pattern during exposure of a first predetermined row of pixels; turn off the aiming pattern during exposure of a second predetermined row of pixels; turn on the aiming pattern during exposure of a third predetermined row of pixels; and, a housing for housing the sensor array, aiming pattern generator and processor for hand held operation.
US08127975B2
A staple drive assembly includes an actuation sled and at least one staple pusher. The staple drive assembly is adapted to fit within a staple cartridge having a plurality of staples and a corresponding number of retention slots. The at least one staple pusher includes at least one pusher plate for releasably engaging a backspan of a staple. The staple pusher may include a plurality of pusher plates that may be laterally and longitudinally spaced apart. An actuation member has at least one angled camming surface for engaging a complimentary angled surface of the at least one staple pusher. Camming engagement between the actuation member and the at least one staple pusher causes vertical movement of the at least one staple pusher. Lateral and longitudinal offset of the actuation member camming surfaces and the corresponding staple pusher following surfaces improves stability and control of the staple pusher during firing.
US08127967B1
The present invention provides an apparatus for dispensing fluid in preselected volumetric quantities. The apparatus comprises a valve positioned inline with a conduit holding fluid under pressure, a flow meter positioned inline with the conduit, a control unit communicatively coupled to the valve and flow meter, the control unit adapted to open and close the valve and detect data from the flow meter associated with the volume of fluid passing through the conduit, a units select switch having a plurality of preselected settings associated with a plurality of volumetric units, the units select switch communicatively coupled to the control unit, and an incrementing switch communicatively coupled to the control unit, whereby the control unit opens the valve responsive to activation of the incrementing switch thereby permitting fluid flow through the conduit until the control unit closes the valve responsive to the flow meter indicating a volume of fluid passed through the conduit substantially equal to a volumetric unit selected on the units select switch.
US08127963B2
A liquid container system for a spray gun. The container system includes an outer cup, a collapsible liner for holding a liquid to be sprayed, and a lid for closing the liner. A mounting ring may be used in the cup to make locking engagement with the lid. A lip at the open end of the liner is supported by the mounting ring. A removable lid with a liquid outlet is inserted into the mounting ring, clamping the liner lip to the mounting ring and providing for leak-free operation of the system. Alternatively, the lid may include a cylindrical portion for making sealing engagement with the open end of the liner and projection threads for locking the cup. An adapter connects the liquid outlet of the lid to the spray gun. A collar may facilitate locking engagement of the adapter with the lid.
US08127959B2
The invention relates to a closing device for a filler neck situated on a container, in particular for a container situated on a rail or road vehicle, which may be supplied to a loading station for loading with powdered or granular bulk goods. At least one filler neck (3), which is provided with a through opening and connected to the container interior (6), and a pivot device (30), which comprises two pivot arms (31, 61) mounted thereon, are situated on the container (5), using which two closure elements (35, 60) situated thereon are pivotable in relation thereto around a shared axis (Z) for the exterior and interior closing or opening of the through opening. At least one seal, which is provided with a pressure chamber oriented around the circumference, for example, and which may be impinged with pressure in the closed position and relieved of pressure to pivot the closure elements, is situated on the closure elements (35, 60) and/or on the filler neck (3).
US08127957B2
A suspended receptacle for at least one piece of dough has a base comprising two lateral retaining pins with which the base can be connected, so as to pivot about a pivot axis, to a conveyor element conveying a plurality of suspended receptacles of this type. A dough support element of the suspended receptacle has a support for the piece of dough. The dough support element is configured as an exchangeable insert which is detachably connected to the base.
US08127952B2
A model train coupler which can be opened using a remote signal. The coupler design includes an upper arm and a lower arm, both of which pivot around a common axis. The two arms are mounted in a coupler box which is attached to a piece of rolling stock. One of the arms includes a knuckle located outside the coupler box. The other arm includes a latch positioned to open and close against the knuckle. A linear actuator links the two arms together. When an electrical current is applied to the linear actuator, the latch is rotated away from the knuckle, thereby opening the coupler.
US08127946B2
The present invention provides a lockable eyewear display system. One embodiment of the system includes a support frame on which the eyewear is placed, a lock that secures the eyewear to the frame, and a key that removes the lock from the frame. The device may further include an anchor connected to the frame that anchors the frame to a fixture or display object such as a rack or furniture. In another embodiment, the eyewear display device includes an articulating joint allowing at least a portion of the support frame to be swiveled.
US08127936B2
In the present invention high performance cross-linked polybenzoxazole and polybenzothiazole polymer membranes and methods for making and using these membranes have been developed. The cross-linked polybenzoxazole and polybenzothiazole polymer membranes are prepared by: 1) first synthesizing polyimide polymers comprising pendent functional groups (e.g., —OH or —SH) ortho to the heterocyclic imide nitrogen and cross-linkable functional groups in the polymer backbone; 2) fabricating polyimide membranes from these polymers; 3) converting the polyimide membranes to polybenzoxazole or polybenzothiazole membranes by heating under inert atmosphere such as nitrogen or vacuum; and 4) finally converting the membranes to high performance cross-linked polybenzoxazole or polybenzothiazole membranes by a crosslinking treatment, preferably UV radiation. The membranes can be fabricated into any convenient geometry. The high performance cross-linked polybenzoxazole and polybenzothiazole polymer membranes of the present invention are suitable for a variety of liquid, gas, and vapor separations.
US08127929B1
A paper pallet for packaging comprising: a load bearing base and a packaging protective frame, wherein the load bearing base is composed of a plurality of vertical supporting components and a plurality of horizontal supporting components. The load bearing base is composed of the vertical supporting components and the horizontal supporting components intersecting and subsequently interlocking with each other, and the packaging protective frame is composed of a plurality of side boards. Therefore, the side boards intersect and subsequently interlock with each other to form a packaging protective frame, which is inlaid at a set distance from the edge around the load bearing base to form a paper pallet for packaging. Thus, the paper pallet for packaging is formed by combining the packaging protective frame with the load bearing base to become the packaging box for delivering goods.
US08127926B2
A patch package structure which includes: a package including a first sheet material which is planar and a second sheet material which has been molded, a peripheral area of the first sheet material having been sealed to a peripheral area of the second sheet material to constitute the package, and a patch disposed in the package; in which the patch includes a backing, a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer formed on at least one side of the backing, and a release liner which protects the pressure-sensitive adhesive surface of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, the release liner having a weakening line for assisting a removal of the release liner; and in which the second sheet material has specific first protrudent part, second protrudent part, third protrudent part and elevated part in a central area thereof except the peripheral area thereof.
US08127924B2
The carton of this invention is capable of carrying the plurality of containers stacked upon their ends in two tiers with a unique dispenser that permits the dispensing of containers on their sides. The dispenser is formed in a top side wall and extends into the end wall with most of the end wall being torn open but leaving a portion near the bottom side wall to prevent the bottom layer of containers from rolling out. Angled projections in the dispensing end of the carton near the top panel and bottom panel prevent the top layer of containers from rolling out. A divider may be inserted between the two tiers of containers to facilitate loading the carton and preventing the containers from accidentally rolling out when the dispenser is open.
US08127911B2
An actuation system for a double clutch. The actuation system has a guide sleeve disposed around transmission input shafts of a double-clutch transmission which is connected downstream and two cylindrical elements which are disposed on the sleeve axially displaceably by an actuator unit, each for actuating the clutches. The cylindrical elements can be displaced independently from each other, are locked into position, and overlap each other.
US08127910B2
A frictional engagement assembly for an automotive device, including: at least one frictionally engageable plate; a first piston plate displaceable in a first axial direction to urge the at least one frictionally engageable plate into frictional contact; a first resilient element engaged with the first piston plate and urging the first piston plate in a second axial direction substantially opposite the first axial direction; a check valve controlling fluid flow to displace the first piston plate; and an accumulator. As fluid from a chamber, at least partially formed by the first piston plate, discharges through the check valve, the accumulator controls fluid volume in the chamber to maintain a distal portion of the first piston plate, urging the at least one frictionally engageable plate into frictional contact, in a furthest position in the first axial direction.
US08127904B2
The invention is a system and method for automatically adjusting the resonance frequency of an energy absorbing device in response to a disruptive force. By configuring an energy absorbing device for automatic response tuning, utilizing a controller coupled to one or more sensors for processing a determination primarily based on sensing data, the natural period of an overall structure may be adjusted (i.e. increased or decreased) so that the acceleration response of the structure is decreased upon being subjected to a disruptive force, for example, high winds, a blast from an explosion, or a seismic force caused by an earthquake.
US08127899B2
An aircraft brake system (42) includes a torque tube (44), a plurality of spaced stators (48) mounted on the torque tube (44), a wheel (40) surrounding the torque tube (44) and a plurality of rotors (50) connected to the wheel (40) and projecting into the spaces between adjacent ones of the stators (48). A backing plate (52) mounted on the torque tube (44) has a first side (54) facing the rotors (50) and a second side (56) facing away from the rotors (50), and the second side (56) includes a plurality of keyways (58). A plurality of torque pads (10, 70, 100, 120) are connected to the torque tube (44), each having a body (12, 72, 102, 122) with a first surface (14, 74, 104, 124) contacting the second side (56) of the backing plate (52) and at least one key (22, 82, 112, 114, 130, 132) projecting from the first surface (14, 74, 104, 124) into one of the plurality of keyways (58). Also a torque pad (10, 70, 100, 120) and a method of connecting a backing plate to a torque tube.
US08127897B2
A caliper brake system includes a housing, a bore within the housing, and a piston slidably positioned within the bore. The brake system also includes a spring assembly, a fluid chamber defined by the bore and the piston, and a hydraulic fluid supply network. The spring assembly provides a biasing force to maintain the piston in an actuated position engaging a stator which engages the rotor of a vehicle. The hydraulic fluid supply network provides pressurized fluid to the fluid chamber to selectively overcome the biasing force of the spring assembly and move the piston to an unactuated position to release the rotor. Thus, the caliper brake is spring actuated and hydraulically released.
US08127888B1
A sound distribution apparatus provides a driver with an audible impression of the operating speed, load and performance of a vehicle engine. The sound distribution apparatus includes an assembly of one or more sound transmission ducts interconnected to conduct or transmit engine sounds from the air intake tract into the passenger compartment and to distribute the sound in a uniform fashion from behind the dashboard at the front to the passenger compartment. The sound distribution duct includes a plurality of sound diffusion apertures arranged on the outer wall, each configured to diffuse a portion of the transmitted sound into the passenger compartment. A sound permeable airflow blockage device seals the sound transmission duct interior in a gas-tight way preventing airflow.
US08127887B2
A vehicle, such as a motorcycle, can include an engine, an exhaust pipe, and a silencer. The silencer can include a main body and first and second pipes. An upstream end of the first pipe can be connected to the exhaust pipe, and be provided in the main body. The second pipe can be provided apart from the first pipe on the downstream side of the first pipe, coaxially with the first pipe, and extending through a downstream lid of an outer tube of the main body. The downstream portion of the first pipe can have an inner diameter that gradually decreases from the upstream side toward the downstream end. The upstream end of the second pipe can be provided in the main body and have a larger inner diameter than the inner diameter of the downstream end of the first pipe.
US08127886B2
A noise suppression characteristics adjustment method includes adjusting noise suppression characteristics of a noise suppressor, which includes a muffler having a reflection plate for reflecting sound from the cooling fan, the reflection plate being provided at a position in the cooling duct confronting an intake plane of the cooling fan and formed substantially parallel to the intake plane. A sound-absorbing part of the muffler is provided on the reflection plate. A distance d between the reflection plate and the intake plane is set such that d
US08127876B2
A cooling enclosure is mounted to the frame of a grass mowing machine adjacent the engine cooling fan of an internal combustion engine. The engine cooling fan draws ambient air across the controllers and batteries in the cooling enclosure. The cooling enclosure includes a one piece molded plastic structure that holds and supports batteries and electronic controllers at positions spaced from its bottom surfaces. One or more removable or hinged panels cover the top of the structure.
US08127874B2
When a time average of square values of charge-discharge current exceeds a predetermined reference value and when a state of charge of a battery is higher than a preset reference level, the procedure corrects a basic input limit set according to a battery temperature and the state of charge and sets the corrected basic input limit to an effective input limit. When the state of charge is lower than a preset reference level, the procedure of the invention corrects a basic output limit set according to the battery temperature and the state of charge and sets the corrected basic output limit to an effective output limit. This arrangement more adequately sets the effective input limit and the effective output limit, compared with a technique of simultaneously correcting the effective input limit and the effective output limit based on the temperature of the battery.
US08127870B2
An improved lifting and transportation device including an attachment means adapted to engage a wheeled device to be transported; and one or more driving wheels adapted to engage the ground to propel said lifting and a transportation device, whereby, said lifting and transportation device is steerable by the independent engagement of said driving wheels; and a controller adapted to control the motion of said driving wheels and control the operation of said attachment means. The attachment means may be an attachment assembly with laterally opposed attachment brackets adapted to engage said wheeled device, whereby, a vertical actuator is used to adjust the vertical height of said attachment assembly and a horizontal actuator is used to adjust the horizontal separation of said laterally opposed attachment brackets
US08127869B2
Earth-boring tools comprise a body having a face at a leading end. A plurality of cutting elements are disposed over the face and configured as a plurality of kerfing pairs comprising two or more cutting elements disposed at substantially the same radial position relative to a bit axis, wherein each of the at least two cutting elements follows substantially the same cutting path when the bit is rotated about its axis. Earth-boring tools are further configured so that a summation of a lateral force generated during drilling by each cutting element of the plurality of cutting elements is directed toward a side of the body.
US08127866B2
The present invention is an air injection collar for use in the drilling industry that is used to reduce the weight of the column of returning drilling mud and debris without causing unnecessary frictional wear on the drill pipe. The invention is a unique sleeve that is coupled to a drill casing that includes an input port for receiving the pressurized air or other fluid from the surface, an annular plenum extending around the drill casing, and a series of openings in the plenum leading to the inside of the drill casing. These openings disperse the pressurized air or other fluid into the upflowing mud around the central drill pipe so that it is not concentrated in one place, especially the center of the casing, where it could cause frictional damage to the drill pipe.
US08127863B2
A drill bit for drilling a borehole in earthen formations comprising a bit body having a bit axis and a bit face. In addition, the drill bit comprises a primary blade extending radially along the bit face, the primary blade including a cutter-supporting surface that defines a blade profile in rotated profile view extending from the bit axis to an outer radius of the bit body. The blade profile is continuously contoured and includes a plurality of concave regions. Further, the drill bit comprises a plurality of cutter elements mounted to the cutter-supporting surface of the primary blade. Each cutter element on the primary blade has a forward-facing cutting face with a cutting edge adapted to penetrate and shear the earthen formation.
US08127851B2
A system used to remove multiple isolation plugs from a wellbore. The system is efficient in fluidizing and circulating proppant located below an upper plug resting on top of proppant settled above a lower plug. The system uses a central port of the mill that is in communication with coiled tubing to fluidize and circulate the proppant around the perimeter of the upper plug. Once the proppant has been circulated from underneath the upper plug, the upper plug may mate and rotationally lock with a lower plug set within the wellbore. Upon locking, the system is able to rapidly mill out the upper plug and the lower plug until the lower plug is no longer set within the wellbore. The system provides for the rapid removal of multiple plugs positioned within a wellbore where an amount of proppant is present between the plugs.
US08127850B2
An increase in effective propped lengths is evidenced in hydraulic fracturing treatments by the use of ultra lightweight (ULW) proppants. The ULW proppants have a density less than or equal to 2.45 g/cc and may be used as a mixture in a first proppant stage wherein at least one of the proppants is a ULW proppant. Alternatively, sequential proppant stages may be introduced into the formation wherein at least one of the proppant stages contain a ULW proppant and where at least one of the following conditions prevails: (i.) the density differential between the first proppant stage and the second proppant stage is greater than or equal to 0.2 g/cc; (ii.) both the first proppant stage and the second proppant stage contain a ULW proppant; (iii.) the rate of injection of the second proppant stage into the fracture is different from the rate of injection of the first proppant stage; or (iv.) the particle size of the second proppant stage is different from the particle size of the first proppant stage.
US08127847B2
A completion tubular is placed in position adjacent the zone or zones to be fractured and produced. It features preferably sliding sleeve valves one series of which can be put in the wide open position after run in for gravel packing and fracturing zones one at a time or in any desired order. These valves are then closed and another series of valves can be opened wide but with a screen material juxtaposed in the flow passage to selectively produce from one or more fractured zones. An annular path behind the gravel is provided by an offset screen to promote flow to the screened production port. The path can be a closed annulus that comes short of the production port or goes over it. For short runs an exterior screen or shroud is eliminated for a sliding sleeve with multiple screened ports that can be opened in tandem.
US08127845B2
Methods and systems for completing multi-zone formations. The method can include placing a gravel pack assembly within a borehole. The gravel pack assembly can include a first sand control extension. A first sand control screen can be disposed adjacent the first sand control extension. The first sand control extension can have a flowpath that is selectively opened and closed. A first isolation packer can be disposed adjacent the first sand control screen. A second isolation packer can be disposed adjacent the first isolation packer. A second sand control extension can be disposed adjacent the second isolation packer. The second sand control extension can include at least a second flowpath that is selectively opened and closed. A second sand control screen can be disposed adjacent the second sand control extension. A lower seal can be disposed adjacent the second sand control screen.
US08127838B2
An apparatus for containing leaks from a stuffing box on a wellhead production assembly is provided. The apparatus comprises a containment vessel consisting of two half shells that are joined below the stuffing box. The apparatus further comprises a seal subassembly. The components of the seal subassembly are positioned one the nipple and pumping tee below the stuffing box. The half shells are positioned about and joined to the seal subassembly in a manner that provides a liquid tight seal. Additionally, the apparatus comprises a transparent topper having an upper opening to receive a polished rod extending from the stuffing box. The topper is secured to the containment vessel in a liquid tight manner such that the stuffing box is substantially isolated from the environment. As such, any leaks originating from the stuffing box will be contained in the apparatus.
US08127836B1
A top drive for engagement with a travelling block with a hook can include an airlift thread compensator connected to a bail. An enclosure can be connected to the bail with an airbag disposed therein. A bail pin can be engaged through the enclosure, and can be connected to the airbag. The airbag can support weight of the top drive. Upper links can be connected to the enclosure and to a top drive housing. The top drive housing can support a stem connected to a motor, and a bearing can be disposed about the stem. Lower links can be connected to the top drive housing and to an elevator for moving tubulars. An inside blow out preventer can be connected to the stem and to a saver sub. A torque wrench assembly can be connected to the top drive housing for gripping tubulars.
US08127833B2
Methods and apparatus for harvesting energy while moving a tool through a well are shown and described. The harvested energy can be used by the tool to perform work once it reaches an intended location in the well, or along the way. A considerable amount of potential energy is typically lost by oilfield tools as they move down through a borehole. Methods and apparatus described herein recover and/or store some of the energy during the downward movement of the tool.
US08127820B1
Techniques for producing optical medium that can be read at substantially high speeds with greater stability and accuracy are disclosed. According to one aspect of the techniques, a molding station includes an optimized stampler which does not have an exact inverse image of a replica. To account for an inherent distortion in a substrate after being stamped, a stampler is pre-distorted so that the pit geometry in the stamped substrate becomes nearly perfect after the inherent distortion. In one embodiment, the injection of a molten material, the mold position and compression are respectively controlled to account for possible non-uniform density distribution of the material. To provide an effective bonding process, a bonding station is employed with what is referred to as index bonding technique and/or pulse bonding technique. The index bonding is provided to ensure that non-flatness of substrates is compensated when two substrates are bonded together so as to minimize possible dynamic imbalance of a disc. The pulse bonding is provided to eliminate bubbles from a type of glue used to bond two substrates, wherein a high voltage used to generate a pulse of electromagnetic field is programmable in accordance with the substrates and the characteristics of the glue.
US08127819B2
A lay-up head receives a prepreg bonded to a support tape, and the prepreg is separated from its support tape by peeling, by means of a separator just upstream of a depositing member for depositing the prepreg tape on a deposition tool; the head includes, downstream of the separator, a retractable device for moving the prepreg away from the support tape, allowing the prepreg to be moved away just upstream of the separator, by means of which the prepreg can be separated earlier when the retractable device is activated.
US08127818B2
A method of jointing a cord fabric when the cord fabric for topping is alternately drawn from two supply positions for continuous supply. During drawing to supply of the cord fabric on one side, a start end portion of the cord fabric on other side is locked to hold by a locking pin of a jointing holder, and is set to a jointing mounting portion in a state where an unvulcanized jointing rubber member is pasted thereto. When a final end of the cord fabric on the one side comes closer, a finish end portion thereof is pasted to the start end portion of the cord fabric held by the holder by interposing the rubber member therebetween. The finish end portion and the start end portion are squeezed for joint from upper and lower sides by press members, thereafter, the holder is removed, and the cord fabric on the other side is drawn to supply continuously to the cord fabric on the one side.
US08127811B2
A sipe blade for forming a sipe with one end opened and the other end closed in a land portion on a tread surface of a tire includes a front-end portion that forms the closed end of the sipe and a connection-end portion that forms the open end of the sipe being connected to a rib that forms a groove. A first thickness of the front-end portion is larger than a second thickness of a thinnest portion. A third thickness of the connection-end portion is 3 mm or less and is the largest thickness in a portion between the front-end portion and the connection-end portion, and the ratio of the third thickness with respect to the second thickness; i.e., the third thickness/the second thickness is 1.2 to 3.0.
US08127801B2
A cryogenic material transfer system incorporates a pipe-in-pipe configuration with a nanoporous or microporous insulating layer filling the annulus between the inner and outer pipe. The insulating layer is of sufficient flexibility to absorb and expansion or contraction of the inner pipe due to the flow of cryogenic material therethrough. For longer transfer systems a bulkhead is provided between adjacent pipe joints. Intermediately of the pipe joints an additional bulkhead may be employed to provide additional sealing or water stops and for providing provide additional load transfer. A fiber optic sensor system is installed in the annuals between the inner and outer pipe.
US08127794B2
A dispenser arrangement for fluidic dispensing control into a microfluidic component comprising an enclosed fluid holding area having a base portion and a top portion and a valve adapted to be movable between an open position and a closed position and positioned at least partially in the fluid holding area. The valve comprises an elongated hollow portion having a body and two ends adapted for fluid flow from the fluid holding area to the microfluidic component in the open position, a first opening on the body of the hollow portion positioned within the fluid holding area allowing fluid communication from the fluid holding area to the microfluidic component in the open position, a sealing portion connected to a first end of the hollow portion positioned within the fluid holding area adapted for sealing connection with the top portion of the fluid holding area in the closed position and a slant second opening at a second end of the hollow portion positioned outside of the fluid holding area. The slant second opening is adapted to pierce through a sealing layer covering the microfluidic component in the open position and to insert into a first substrate housing the microfluidic component in the closed position. A dispenser unit comprising a dispenser arrangement and an actuator, wherein the actuator is a piston is also disclosed.
US08127791B2
Solenoid operated fluid control valve for controlling the pressure of a fluid in a fluid control system comprises a solenoid housing having therein a solenoid coil, an armature movable in response to electrical current applied to the solenoid coil, a valve member for controlling fluid flow to a fluid passage, an actuator pin disposed between the armature and the valve member for moving the valve member in response to armature movement, and one or more features including an armature damping member, tubular actuator pin support body, flow diverter, coil bobbin support sleeve, and/or internal particle gettering magnet to improve valve operation.
US08127783B2
A method of preventing a mass flow controller from participating in crosstalk in an array of mass flow controllers is described. The method includes sensing and providing a signal indicative of a fluid pressure inside of a mass flow controller with a pressure sensor contained within the mass flow controller, determining a response of a control valve to a rapid pressure perturbation at the inlet of the mass flow controller using the signal indicative of the fluid pressure to avoid overcompensation for the rapid pressure perturbation, and adjusting a control valve contained within the mass flow controller downstream of the pressure sensor, based on the determined response, so that the mass flow controller avoids overcompensating for the rapid pressure perturbation. The pressure sensor is positioned such that the pressure sensor is sensitive to rapid pressure perturbations at the inlet of the mass flow controller.
US08127781B2
An automatic collapsible umbrella (100) comprises an idle-popup resistant device (5) to avoid the telescopic stick (3) popping up unexpectedly while folding the umbrella and hurting the person close by. Said idle-popup resistant device (5) consists essentially of a tow rope (51), a ratchet wheel (52), a spiral spring (54) and a pawl (55). The ratchet wheel (52) and the pawl (55) are controlled by a locking head (45). The tow rope (51) passes through the telescopic stick (3) and an end thereof winds the ratchet wheel (52). By the installation of the ratchet and spiral spring (54), the telescopic stick (3) is allowed to move in unidirectional fashion and to be retracted gradually, improving the safety of the umbrella.
US08127772B2
An artificial cigarette, inhaler or other nebulizer device may include a housing, an air passage into the housing, a fog generator chamber within the housing connected to the air passage, a liquid source connected to the fog generating chamber, and a fog generator within the fog generating chamber for receiving liquid from the liquid source and creating an aerosol. The fog generator may be an ultrasonic nebulizer and/or a pneumatic nebulizer.
US08127769B2
An integrated oral appliance treats breathing obstruction and restriction in the upper airway during sleep with a cantilevered tongue restraint coupled through spring-force to a rigid bracket that is attached to a tray shaped to engage dentition.
US08127766B2
A tracheostomy tube has an inserting portion and a connecting portion. The inserting portion has an air way tube, an inflatable cuff and an inflating tube. The connecting portion is connected to the air way tube and has a resilient connector and a connecting sleeve. The resilient connector has a connecting ring connected to the air way tube. The connecting sleeve is mounted around the resilient connector and has a tubular body, a pressing flange formed on the tubular body and at least one slit defined longitudinally in the tubular body and extends through the pressing flange. Movement and vibrations of a patient circuit connected to the tracheostomy tube are not translated into a patient trachea thereby greatly improving patient comfort, safety and quality of life.
US08127765B2
A patient interface assembly that includes a patient interface device, a headgear, and pivoting coupling member joining the interface device to a headgear assembly. In one embodiment, a spring biases the patient interface device against the patient's face when in use. In a further embodiment, the patient interface device is a nasal cushion that includes a formable support mounted to the nasal cushion for providing support and adjustment of the nasal cushion to improve fit and comfort. The headgear assembly in one embodiment is a semi-rigid, minimal contact harness assembly and includes an adjustment assembly that allows for a simultaneous adjustment of multiple straps. In a further embodiment, a pair of rigid connecting members couple the patient interface device to the headgear.
US08127761B2
A device for detecting the relative humidity in a respiratory circuit is provided which includes a housing closed towards the outside by a transparent element, and towards the inside by a membrane permeable to the humidified gas passing through the equipment to which the device is applied and wherein the housing includes a humidity indicator element.
US08127758B2
An aerospace platform includes a structure having a cavity and a light-transmissive portion that exposes the cavity to sunlight. The aerospace platform further includes a fluid heating system. The fluid heating system includes a fluid-carrying, thermally absorptive structure within the cavity, and a solar collector for collecting light transmitted through the light-transmissive portion and focusing the collected light onto the absorptive structure. The thermally absorptive structure has a high surface absorptivity that retains thermal energy when exposed to solar irradiance and heats fluid contained therein.
US08127753B1
A toy projectile launcher for launching a projectile from a housing having a trigger mounted to the housing which can be depressed to actuate a motor. A mechanical linkage operatively interconnects the motor with an actuator which generates a source of pressurized air upon movement of the actuator from its cocked to its un-cocked position to effect automatic repeated movement of the actuator to its cocked position and release from its cocked position. Repeated intermittent sources of pressurized air are generated for sequential launching of projectiles. Disclosed embodiments also include a toy projectile launcher having an air passageway through which compressed air is passable to a plurality of sequential projectile holders holding respective projectiles to be launched. The projectile holders are advanced into operative launching engagement with the air passageway sequentially by an advancing mechanism.
US08127744B2
An engine control module includes a spark control module, an engine speed module, a residual determination module, and a metric determination module. The spark control module actuates spark plugs based on a commanded spark timing. The engine speed module determines a desired engine speed based on an engine temperature and a period of time an engine is in operation after a cold start. The residual determination module determines a desired spark timing based on the desired engine speed, and determines a residual spark timing based on a difference between the commanded spark timing and the desired spark timing. The metric determination module detects a spark timing fault based on the residual spark timing and a predetermined spark timing range.
US08127740B2
In a blowby gas treatment system for a multiple cylinder engine, in which: a first cylinder and a second cylinder are provided to the engine; a first fuel supply device that always operates during operation of the engine is connected to the first cylinder; and a second fuel supply device that is capable of stopping an operation thereof during the operation of the engine is connected to the second cylinder, first and second branch pipes of an intake manifold are connected to the first and second cylinders, and a blowby gas outlet of a breather chamber and a blowby gas inlet opening into the first branch pipe communicate with each other via a breather pipe, the breather chamber collecting a blowby gas of the engine. Accordingly, when any of the cylinders is stopped, it is possible to easily prevent a blowby gas from flowing toward the stopped cylinder.
US08127738B2
A multi-part piston for an internal combustion engine has an upper piston part with a piston crown, and a lower piston part, each of the piston parts having an inner and an outer support element that delimit an outer circumferential cooling channel and an inner cooling chamber. The cooling chamber bottom has an opening. A holding element is disposed in the inner cooling chamber and extends from the underside of the piston crown vertically toward the opening. The holding element carries a closure element that closes the opening and has at least one cooling oil opening.
US08127732B2
A laser beam ignition system for an internal combustion engine is provided. The laser beam ignition system comprises a laser configured to generate a laser beam, and a beam steering unit comprising a lens and a prism both configured to cooperatively transmit the laser beam to focus on an oxygenated fuel mixture supplied into a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine. A beam steering unit and a method for igniting a fuel mixture in an internal combustion engine are also presented.
US08127726B2
A variable valve lift apparatus includes a camshaft with a first cam lobe and a second cam lobe, a cam follower with a first follower contacting the first cam lobe and a second follower contacting the second cam lobe, a connection rotatably connecting the first follower to the second follower, a main body supporting the first follower and the second follower, a connector selectively connecting the first follower and the second follower to the main body, a lost motion elastic member provided on the main body for supplying restoring force to the first follower and the second follower, and a valve configured to be opened and closed by the cam follower.
US08127705B2
A water entry system increases the drag of an underwater vehicle by disrupting the cavity that forms during high-speed transit of the vehicle through the water. A series of inlet ports are positioned in regions of the vehicle where pressure stagnation occurs during transit. Flow passages connect these inlets to outlet ports at regions of lower pressure. Pressure differences cause jets to flow in the respective passages. The jets produce a high flow rate normal to the original cavity boundary. The jets serve to increase drag in at least two manners. In one case, a flow jet normal to the cavity interface broadens the cavity to increase drag and slow the vehicle. In a second case, a jet can cause waves on the cavity interface to break down the stable cavity. As a result, the vehicle surface is wetted, producing skin friction drag and slowing vehicle.
US08127702B2
There is a grasping device for a mast buoy comprising a body, at least one loop coupled to the body, and at least one locking element for locking the body to a shaft of a mast buoy. The grasping device can also optionally be coupled to a light such as a remote controlled light which can be turned on remotely using a switch and wireless communication. The grasping device can also include a telescoping body, adjustable loops, an annunciator, and a locating system as well. There can also be an optional solar panel coupled to the grasping device which can be used to charge a battery to provide power to a light.
US08127691B2
A pallet made of sheet molding compound (SMC) preferably includes a lower deck having unidirectional fibers therein and an upper deck having randomly oriented fibers therein. The upper and lower decks are assembled by heat staking the decks together with thermoplastic blocks.
US08127684B2
The following invention relates to a mount for holding a charge in a breech. The mount attaches, or is integral to, a charge and is provided with a dilation means which rests within a breech of a gun to prevent the charge from sliding back out of the breech when the gun is held at a high angle. The dilation means is fabricated from a material which, when the gun is fired, combusts to leave negligible debris in the breech.
US08127675B2
A lithographic printing plate precursor comprising a support and an image recording layer capable of drawing an image by exposure with an infrared laser, wherein the image recording layer contains (A) an infrared absorbent and (B) an iodonium salt represented by the following formula (1): wherein Ar1 and Ar2 each represents a benzene ring which may have a substituent, provided that two benzene rings are differing in the substituent from each other and a total of Hammett's σ values of substituents on at least one of the benzene rings is a negative value, and Z represents a counter anion.
US08127673B2
The invention relates to a device for turning over sheet material, in a printing machine, such as verso-printing in an electrophotographic printing machine. The device includes driven web-shaped segments extending essentially parallel to each other over at least one section, such that the web-shaped segments clamp the individual sheets between the segments and turns over each sheet as it is transported along a transport path.
US08127672B2
At least one rotating component of at least one printing unit is regulated to a target value for a temperature, representing the component temperature, by a temperature controller. At least one drive of an assembly of the printing machine is regulated or controlled, on the basis of a target value for a rotational speed prescribed by a command level, with respect to a rotational speed to be maintained. For at least an operating phase transient, relative to the rotational speed, a target value prescribed by the command level, is modified. This is done by considering at least one member of a route and/or a control model characterizing the temperature controller and/or by using a rule (F2(θ)) for a dependence of a rotational speed on a temperature. The modified target rotational speed serves as a prescribed value for the rotational speed of the drives.
US08127669B2
A strapping system includes a strap exchanger that is capable of delivering one or more straps to a component of the strapping system. The strap exchanger feeds a strap to a downstream component of the strapping system. A track assembly receives the strap and uses that strap to bundle product. The strap exchanger is capable of repeatedly delivering straps to the strapping system to reduce, limit, or substantially eliminate downtime associated with manually loading straps into the strapping system.
US08127661B2
The present invention relates to a hydraulic system that includes a compression chamber capable of being subjected to the pressure of a hydraulic fluid; a piston movable inside the compression chamber along an axis; and at least one sealing gasket disposed between the piston and a wall of the compression chamber, the gasket occupying an axial position that varies circumferentially around the axis in such a manner as to compensate for non-axially symmetrical stresses induced by the pressure of the fluid.
US08127653B2
The invention relates to a device for braiding fibers into a braided structure, the device comprising a braiding machine, comprising a continuous track plate, a forming device, comprising a forming ring, a braiding mandrel about which the braiding machine braids at least one layer of the braided structure, and positioning means to effectuate relative movement of the mandrel and the braiding machine during braiding. The continuous track plate and/or the forming ring are build up of at least two parts that may be separated and reattached to each other, the parts being arranged such as to allow the track plate and/or the forming ring to enclose the mandrel. The invention further relates to a method for braiding fibers into a braided structure.
US08127646B2
A base having a substantially planar surface, a plurality of upright fingers, and a blade guide that can be adjustably positioned along the planar surface. The blade guide can be biased toward the upright fingers to secure a section of donor bone between the blade guide and the upright fingers. Aligned openings in the blade guide and planar surface, as well as the gaps between the upright fingers, permit precision cutting of a donor bone section to prepare a graft having a desired size and/or configuration.
US08127642B2
A fuse barrel component handling device is configured to engage and support both load break and non-load break fuse barrel components. The fuse barrel component handling device includes a hollow cavity capable of receiving a portion of a fuse barrel. In addition, the handling device has a projection bar, which may be integral with or attached to the device, and at least two slots and a notch within the wall of the device. The projection bar, at least two slots, and notch receive and support a fuse barrel component, e.g. a pull ring of a non-load break component or a hook member of a load-break component. The fuse barrel component handling device may be used with a hot stick to remove and/or install a fuse barrel.
US08127639B2
A telescopically collapsible vehicular steering column assembly includes inner and outer shaft tubes which are joined in a sliding fit by a bushing. The bushing includes a pair of spaced journal bearings formed of steel-backed PTFE held in a plastic carrier body. The bushing is located in a receiving chamber in the outer shaft tube. A clearance compensator reacts against the receiving chamber to exert a radial compressive force through the carrier body and the journal bearings to improve the sliding fit with the inner shaft tube and remove lash. The clearance compensator can take any form, such as a hollow annular rib, a skirt with a flexible free end, or an array of nubs carried in thinned sections of the carrier body. The clearance compensator in all of these variations operates within a clearance space and has dimensional attributes which can be changed during the design and manufacturing phases of the bushing to optimize a characteristic of the steering column assembly. The optimized characteristic may be the sliding friction between the inner and outer shaft tubes, or the stiffness of the assembled column which affects its vibrational frequency, or other value.
US08127638B2
A shift lever apparatus includes a shift lever including a pivot portion and a stick portion formed so as to extend in a vertical direction from the pivot portion, a base member including a shift lever supporting portion and a shift direction and a positioning member for applying a biasing force to the shift lever, and the positioning member having a first elastic member for pressing the shift lever, a second elastic member whose spring constant is smaller than that of the first elastic member and a second elastic member compressed amount regulating member for regulating the second elastic member to be compressed by a predetermined compressed amount so that a length of the second elastic member is a predetermined length.
US08127629B2
A circular shaft having a platform formed on it by machining a circular flat into the surface of the shaft. A channel extends around the periphery of the circular flat with a depth in the range of 10 to 15% of the diameter of the shaft and in the range of 30 to 50% of the width/diameter of the platform. The width of the platform is 4 to 7% of the diameter of the shaft. A sensor is mounted on the platform, whereby the formation of the platform and surrounding channel reduces the strain arising in the device which is transferred to the sensor.
US08127626B2
A method and apparatus for in-situ measurement of soluble contaminant flux rates from sediments in which an inverted desorption chamber containing a sorbent system is filled with water and placed over an area of sediment, whereby the interior of the chamber is isolated from the exterior of the chamber above the sediment. Soluble contaminants released from the sediment are sorbed onto the surface of a sorbent material disposed within a plurality of semipermeable membrane bags disposed within the chamber. Each semipermeable membrane bag is removed from the chamber in a pre-defined sequence over a period of time and the sorbent material in each bag is analyzed to determine an amount of the soluble contaminant sorbed by the sorbent material. From the results of the analyses, the mass of the soluble contaminant removed from the sediment over time can be calculated.
US08127625B2
A liquid separator with at least one flow passageway is used to detect and remove the presence of entrained liquids from natural gas during spot sampling procedures prior to analysis of the sample by a gas chromatograph. In one embodiment, the at least one flow passageway directs at least a portion of the gas flow to impinge upon the inside surface of a sight glass and swirl around in a chamber which may cause droplets of liquid to coalesce on the inside of the sight glass and may cause a fog to form inside the chamber, all of which make it easier to see the existence of liquids in the natural gas. The at least one flow passageway is less expensive to fabricate than some prior art flow directing elements.
US08127615B2
A method for embossing a separating membrane of a pressure transfer means including a membrane carrier having a membrane bed. With the method, an optimal forming of the separating membrane matched to the form of the membrane bed is achievable. The method includes steps of: welding a planar, separating membrane blank onto the membrane carrier; filling with a lubricant a pressure receiving chamber enclosed by the welded, separating membrane blank and the membrane carrier; producing the separating membrane from the separating membrane blank by embossing the separating membrane blank by pressing it against the membrane bed while lubricant is present in the pressure receiving chamber.
US08127613B2
An ultrasonic transducer for installation in an instrument housing, the ultrasonic transducer having a transducer housing and a housing fixture, the transducer housing being put under pressure by a medium in its installed state on its emitting and/or receiving side. To provide an ultrasonic transducer for installation in an instrument housing, which implements a measure for avoiding crosstalk of ultrasonic signals and avoids the disadvantages known from the prior art—at least partially, the ultrasonic transducer is wherein the transducer housing indirectly forms at least one contact area in its installed state with the housing fixture, the transducer housing and the housing fixture being at least indirectly pressed against one another in a first contact area with existing, but as slight as possible, surface pressure by a pre-loading mechanism.
US08127609B2
An angular velocity sensing element is provided, which is able to prevent breakage of an oscillation arm even when an excessively large shock is given. An angular velocity sensing element 2 according to the present embodiment includes oscillation arms 22, 23 and 24 formed of a semiconductor material, and a stopper member provided to limit the oscillation range of the oscillation arms. As such a stopper member, a first stopper member 25 is provided, for example, which limits the oscillation range of the oscillation arms at least within a single plane of the arms. Fixing portions 21, the oscillation arms 22, 23 and 24 and the first stopper member 25 are integrally formed by processing a semiconductor material, such as silicon.
US08127604B2
The liquid level sensing device includes rotating electrically conductive probes and uses a self-cleaning rotary electrical connection system with a contact stylus on a rotating conductive barrel, for sensing a liquid level in a dispensing container of an aircraft galley insert. The probes, pivot arms of the probes, rotating drum and stylus may have an exterior surface formed of an electrically conductive, corrosion resistant material.
US08127601B2
A method for testing the break-through strength of a tissue product is disclosed. The method entails the steps of: a) observing a first condition of the tissue product; b) disposing the tissue product between a lower platen and an upper platen; c) disposing at least a portion of the tissue product within an aperture disposed within the lower platen and an aperture disposed within the upper platen; d) providing a simulated mucous composition; e) directing the simulated mucous composition toward the tissue product disposed within the aperture disposed within the lower platen and the aperture disposed within the upper platen; f) after step d), observing a second condition of the tissue product; and, g) comparing the first and the second conditions of the tissue product.
US08127591B2
Calibration for an ultrasonic nondestructive materials testing system is specified, the system having an array of ultrasonic transducers which can be linearly moved and pivoted. In order to compensate for the offset between the beam direction of the ultrasonic transducers and the rotation point of the pivoting system or another desired point of the transducers, this offset is determined using a calibrating body which is, for example, spherical.
US08127582B2
Methods and devices provide for high velocity forming of medical device casings. The high velocity forming may be produced by creating a pressure wave within a liquid contained by an enclosure. A die and a workpiece adjacent to the die are in the path of the pressure wave within the enclosure and the pressure wave forces the workpiece to conform to the contours of the die. Objects may be adhered to the die to provide for customized contours. Trimming features may be included within the enclosure to trim excess material from a formed workpiece as an integral part of the forming process. Various other features may also be provided within the enclosure including a diffuser to disperse the pressure wave. The workpiece may be of various forms including flat sheet stock.
US08127559B2
A refrigeration unit is provided without impairing freshness, as before freezing, after thawing frozen subjects, and, with providing excellent color of dark colored flesh of fish/meat, especially in the case of using perishable food, such as meat or fish, for subjects to be frozen. A core unit for a refrigerator, between a substantially-rectangular first plate member and a substantially-rectangular second plate member spaced apart and arranged in parallel toward each other, where an electric wave is propagated to the sides of the first plate member and the second plate member by an electric wave transmission antenna, and that can form a unidirectional and substantially-uniform static magnetic field in substantially-normal directions of a principal surface of the first plate member and a principal surface of the second plate member, is used.
US08127554B2
An outer liner of a combustor of a gas turbine engine includes a plurality of liner regions arranged adjacent one another and separated by boundary lines; and a plurality of air admission holes formed in the liner regions. The air admission holes within each liner region form a V-pattern.
US08127540B2
An exhauster for a motorcycle with a reduced number of components and reduced cost in a structure containing a variable passage area valve. An exhaust chamber has a box-shaped chamber main body, a plurality of expansion chambers a through c formed by sectioning the interior of the chamber main body with partitioning walls, and communication passages for connecting the expansion chambers a through c with one another. A variable passage area valve that controls passage area is contained in the communication passage.
US08127538B2
A system for injecting from an injector into a duct of an engine system is provided. The system may include a first flange on a duct connection side, a second flange on an injector connection side, a stand-off separating the first flange from the second flange to form an air gap therebetween, and a seal offset from at least one of the first and the second flanges and located within the airgap and between the first flange and the second flange.
US08127536B2
An exhaust gas cleaning apparatus is provided with an exhaust gas particulate filter, an oxidation catalytic converter and a regeneration control component. The exhaust gas particulate filter is arranged in an exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine for capturing particulate matter in exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine. The oxidation catalytic converter is arranged upstream of the exhaust gas particulate filter in the exhaust passage. The regeneration control component is configured to control an exhaust gas recirculation rate and a temperature of recirculated exhaust gas being recirculated to an air induction system of the internal combustion engine for controlling a temperature of the exhaust gas particulate filter and a concentration of nitrogen dioxide in the exhaust gas particulate filter such that nitrogen dioxide generated by the oxidation catalytic converter is used to burn the particulate matter captured in the exhaust gas particulate filter.
US08127535B2
The invention provides a method and system for purification of a carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, incompletely combusted hydrocarbons and soot containing exhaust gas from a combustion engine comprising the steps of catalytically oxidizing the carbon monoxide in the exhaust gas, retaining soot and remaining amounts of hydrocarbons in the oxidised exhaust gas in a filter, addition of a reducing agent to gas and catalytically reducing nitrogen oxides, and obtaining a purified exhaust gas. The invention further comprises the steps of controlling a temperature in the oxidising catalyst by passing at least a part of the gas from the engine through a first side of a heat exchanger, and passing at least a part of the purified exhaust gas through a second side of the heat exchanger, and leading the remaining amount of the gas from the engine through a by-pass across the first side of the heat exchanger and leading the remaining amount of the purified exhaust gas through a by-pass across the second side of the heat exchanger.
US08127531B2
A variable area nozzle system for a turbofan gas turbine engine comprises a fan duct inner wall, a fan duct outer wall and a fan nozzle. The fan duct outer wall is disposed in radially-spaced relation to the fan duct inner wall. The fan nozzle defines at least a portion of the fan duct outer wall and has a nozzle aft edge defining a fan duct throat area relative to the fan duct inner wall. The fan nozzle is configured to move outwardly relative to the longitudinal axis during axial aft translation thereof in order to vary the fan duct throat area.
US08127525B2
A device for, in a gas turbine engine, braking a turbine including a rotor, having at least one disk with a rim driving a shaft and capable of rotating with respect to a stator, is disclosed. The device is for the event of the shaft breaking and includes a first braking member, secured to the rim and provided with at least one cutting element, and a second braking member secured to the stator downstream of the rim and including a ring-shaped element made of a material that can be cut by the cutting element. The two braking members coming into contact with one another through axial displacement of the rotor once the shaft has broken. The cutting element of the first braking member cuts the ring-shaped element of the second braking member.
US08127521B2
An equine mask and sun visor combination that protects the face and eyes of the horse against several environmental insults simultaneously, including insects, water-born particulates and direct sunlight. A second layer of UV-opaque material is added to a first UV-retarding screen layer to form a sun visor disposed to protect the horse's eyes from direct sunlight and precipitation without blocking the horse's vision. The two distinct mask layers are joined in a manner that forms a single equine mask assembly which neither irritates nor discomforts the horse during long-term continuous wear.
US08127520B2
The invention relates to a device for the filling of bags in automatic machines for the formation, filling and closing in a continuous process of bags from a tubular mesh, of those comprising a tubular body outside which the storage of tubular mesh is assembled, the device comprising means for the conveyance of individual pieces of large fruit and vegetable products, such as melons, watermelons or the like, from a loading position to a delivery position, and means for the holding and transfer, one by one, of the individual pieces conveyed to the delivery position, which comprise a head for the holding and subsequent release of the pieces and a mechanism for transmitting to the head a movement the path of which comprises a vertical downward section, of a sufficient length to convey the held piece through the inside of the tubular body of the machine towards the mouth of a bag open at the upper part, and such that the piece is accompanied in its entire downward path.
US08127519B2
Support member for use in a waste disposal device includes a frame and a length of tubing having a closed or closeable front end and a rear end. The rear end of the tubing is fixed or otherwise attached to the frame. The tubing has a wider cross-sectional area at a portion proximate the front end than at a portion fixed to the frame. The frame and the tubing may be designed for a single use.
US08127516B2
A method and packaging machine for preparing rapidly disintegrating formulations for oral administration are disclosed. The present invention is characterized in that a powdery mixture including a pharmaceutically active ingredient and a sugar or a sugar alcohol powder is filled into a packaging material and, thereafter, the mixture, filled in the packaging material, is heated. The present invention can simply and economically prepare an oral formulation which undergoes rapid disintegration in the oral cavity and provides for high-quality administration to patients.
US08127513B2
A mounting system for mounting a plurality of panels to a roof structure includes a plurality of rows of panels wherein at least some of the rows are arranged in overlapping fashion. Spacer structure is provided between the rows of panels to maintain vertically adjacent panels out of contact with each other to create an open area for an air layer between the vertically adjacent panels.
US08127504B2
A sliding door assembly includes a fixed meeting stile sufficiently designed for maintaining a vertical weather strip gasket; a door jamb sufficiently designed for maintaining a vertical weather strip gasket; a first horizontal weather bar comprising an attaching means for engaging a sill of the sliding door assembly, and a horizontal member having a first end for engaging the fixed meeting stile, and a second end for engaging the door jamb, wherein the horizontal member is sufficiently designed for maintaining a horizontal weather strip gasket; and a second horizontal weather bar comprising an attaching means for engaging a head component of the sliding door assembly, and a horizontal member having a first end for engaging the fixed meeting stile, and a second end for engaging the door jamb, wherein the horizontal member is sufficiently designed for maintaining a horizontal weather strip gasket.
US08127500B2
Entry systems that minimize water infiltration due to a wind driven rain. In one embodiment, the entry system includes a corner pad that includes an upper portion that seals against the weather strip when the door is closed and a lower portion that is spaced apart from the weather strip to form a gap between the lower portion and the weather strip. The lower portion seals against the door when the door is closed.
US08127491B1
A watering device for deployment within soil for watering vegetation by releasing water into the soil in which the vegetation is growing. The device includes a container that is shaped for being deployed at least partially within soil. The container has an inlet for receiving a flow of water into the container and a plurality of apertures through which water can flow from the container. A flow-control assembly is coupled to the inlet of the container for regulating the flow of water into the container in accordance with a demand for water from the soil. The assembly includes a float disposed for rising and falling in accordance with the level at which water accumulates within the container; and a valve coupled to the float for regulating the flow of water into the container through the inlet in accordance with the level of the float. When the container is deployed at such a depth in soil that water can flow through the apertures of the container into the soil, and the soil becomes so saturated with water that the water flowing into the container accumulates within the container, the level of the float rises as the water accumulates and thereupon causes the float to rise until the valve shuts off the flow of water into the container through the inlet.
US08127488B2
A flyswatter (10) having an elastically deformable swatting member (16) with a plurality of protrusions (20) formed thereon. The protrusions (20) are spaced apart on the swatting member (16), and have a height somewhat less than the height of the insect. When the swatting member (16) is struck on an object upon which the insect rests, the protrusions (20) contact the object, and the swatting member (16) elastically deforms and bows outwardly and strikes the insect without flattening or squishing the insect.
US08127485B2
A sighting device is mountable to a gun. The device includes a light source (preferably a laser), a power source connectable to the light source and a mount attachable to the gun so that the laser is juxtaposed either the top surface of the gun or a side surface of the gun. In one embodiment, the sighting device includes a bottom rail mountable in a slot on the gun, wherein the slot is preferably positioned on the top surface of the gun. The sighting device may also include a mechanical sight that functions as the rear mechanical sight on the gun and/or a secondary light source.
US08127483B2
A firearm buttstock includes a buttstock body having first, second and third passages. A transfer member is received in the second passage and a retaining member is received in the third passage. A firearm is also disclosed that has a receiver extension. The firearm buttstock can be supported on the firearm such that the receiver extension is received within the first passage. A method of assembling a firearm buttstock assembly is also included.
US08127476B2
A connector for earth-moving equipment subjected to contact with earth, abrasive materials and the like has a nut with a body and a hole extending through the body. A bolt with a shank adapted to extend into the hole has an enlarged head at one end of the shank. Cooperating thread formations are defined on the shank and in the hole. The thread formations have cooperating matching cross-sections that decrease from a vicinity of the head of the screw towards the other end of the screw and that extend over a circumference of less than 360° and typically of no more than 270°. The connector is adapted to connect various components, including teeth and adapters, to each other and to lips at the front end of earth moving buckets and the like.
US08127474B2
In embodiments of the invention, a dredging head assembly uses vacuum only, or a combination of vacuum and flexible PVC tines, rather than the harsh digging and/or scraping features of conventional dredging equipment. Embodiments of the invention also provide a dredging head assembly that may be used in very shallow water. An embodiment of the invention includes a hose and wand to enable vacuuming around obstacles.
US08127472B2
A device that allows safe and complete clearing of snow or other material away from obstacles such as, buildings, doors, vehicles, machinery, etc. The device attaches to and guides material into a plow, bucket, blower, snow blower, or other equipment allowing the machine operator to physically contact an obstacle being cleared around without causing harm or damage to the obstacle. The soft moveable flex edge of the device can touch and slide along the obstacle allowing more complete snow or other material removal. The flex edge can deflect back and away from an obstacle preventing damage to the obstacle. The device comprises a rigid frame with a flex edge on the outward end of the frame. The flex edge can embody many designs including but not limited to, a spring resistance deflection mechanism, a pivot mechanism or a retracting mechanism.
US08127471B2
A snow plow is provided with an articulated wing blade. The snow plow includes a hitch frame nose assembly configured to couple to a vehicle by securing each of a chassis coupler to the vehicle chassis. A plow frame having a front portion and a rear portion is configured to coupled to a central plow blade and a lift bar assembly. The central plow blade includes a wing blade pivotally attached at each end of the central plow blade. Each wing blade is configured to selectively move independently of the central plow blade from a first position to a second position about a vertical axis parallel with each of the first and second ends of the central plow blade. The lift bar assembly is coupled to the rear portion of the plow frame and couples to the hitch frame nose assembly wherein the snow plow is pivotally coupled to the vehicle.
US08127468B2
A welted footwear construction with a direct-attach outsole and an internal tray containing a low density cushioning material. The welt may be secured to the upper and insole by one line of stitching and to the tray by a second line of stitching. The tray may include separate heel and forefoot cavities, each containing a low density cushioning material. The tray may be manufactured from thermoplastic urethane (“TPU”) and may contain low-density polyurethane (“PU”). The low-density PU may be molded in place within the cavities in the tray. The outsole may be directly attached to the undersurface of the tray, and may be manufactured from high-density PU.
US08127462B2
A dryer uses conduits to carry a heating medium, such as steam, to heat the outer surface of the dryer. The volume of steam is successfully reduced to non-explosive levels and the shell need not be designed to prevent an explosion. Conduits may be formed through the shell itself or grooves may be formed on the inner surface of the shell, with the conduits retained within the grooves. Also, the conduits can be placed against the inside surface of the dryer and a material, such as zinc, can be filled in about the conduits. The material serves to both retain the conduits in place and thermally couple the conduits to the dryer to assure efficient heat transfer between the conduits and dryer. These modifications relieve the dryer from the Unfired Pressure Vessel classification to the classification of a piping assembly under ASA code regulations. This results in savings in operation safety, installation cost and operating costs due to the absence of costly inspections. Transportation costs are lowered by manufacturing a plurality of holding plates which would be transported to the location of use at which point the Yankee dryer will be constructed. It is contemplated that the plurality of holding plates would not require a shell surrounding the exterior of these holding plates. Additionally, the thermal gradient on the exterior of the Yankee dryer will be controlled through the use of a plurality of auxiliary supply and exhaust conduits.
US08127461B1
A measuring and marking device used as an attachment to, or as an integral part of, a standard tape measure. The device comprises a specially configured stop member, indicator member, and scribe member, which operate together to provide for a precise take, read, transfer, recordation, and replication of a measurement.
US08127457B2
The present invention pertains generally to marking and/or measuring surfaces adjacent to the curved and/or off angle object's surface, positioned perpendicularly to the working surface or positioned on the same surface plane as the object's surface. Particularly, the present invention should and/or will be useful for the hardwood/laminate/parquet/engineering flooring installers and/or any kind of residential and/or commercial construction workers and/or for amateur performers. As the level of difficulty during the wood flooring installation around curved and/or off angle surfaces arises, and there are limited number of workers who can perform such trade, the TOOL, METHOD AND MARKING SYSTEM, will enable anyone who is familiar with the trade to perform the complicated assignment in a shorter period of time and without waste of material; moreover, it will allow performers to acquire the craftsmanship results.
US08127445B2
Disclosed is a method for integrating at least two heat transfer members to provide an integrated composite member, the method comprising: a) disposing the at least two heat transfer members in a mold cavity, such that said heat transfer members each have at least one exposed surface forming a surface of a resin injection cavity; and b) injecting a thermally conductive resin into the resin injection cavity to contact the exposed surfaces of the at least two heat transfer members, to form the integrated composite member; wherein the thermally conductive resin has a thermal conductivity of at least 0.7 W/mK or higher.
US08127436B2
A device for installing aerial electrical power conductors on utility poles. The device includes a frame having a plurality of anchors. The anchors are arranged to provide a place for securing a plurality of pull ropes during installation of the conductors. The device includes a post sized to be received in a hitch on a vehicle. In one embodiment, the device is sized to fit into an aerial platform, such as that used on utility bucket trucks. The device may be lifted to the point of connection on the utility pole.
US08127425B2
A gear production plant has, along a gear production path, a station for preparing a number of blanks; a cutting station, where respective teeth are cut on the blanks to obtain a number of semifinished parts; a heat treating station, where the toothed semifinished parts are carburized or nitrided; and a finish station for finish machining the heat treated semifinished parts; the plant also having a check station located along the production path, downstream from the heat treating station or the finish station, and which houses an optical measuring unit for non-destructively determining the effective carburized or nitrided case depth on the teeth.
US08127421B2
The specification and drawing disclose the steps and structure involved in making one of a wide variety of three-dimensional branching structures that can be individually formed into extremely complex spatial representations of natural or abstract shapes suitable for viewing from many perspectives. A branching structure in the form of a wall-mounted tree is comprehensively disclosed along with means for affixing leaves to the tree to further simulate the form of a tree and for the further (optional) purpose of physically memorializing persons or events. A second embodiment is also disclosed to suggest the wide range of variations possible through employment of the basic method steps and to illustrate a form of branching structure that can be viewed from any horizontal or vertical perspective.
US08127419B2
An environmentally responsible system and method of reusing discarded guardrail materials to provide affordable, high-strength barriers and fencing. Discarded guardrails, guardrail posts, and guardrail blockouts are resized and reconfigured to provide barriers for use in alternative applications, such as agrifencing, where the high-strength, durability, and low cost of these formerly DOT-approved guardrail materials provide superior performance to wood and thin metal barriers. The invention also greatly increases the return on investment of state DOTs by providing an aftermarket for used guardrail materials, thereby allowing state DOTs to recover much of the initial costs, which can then be used to offset future costs in order facilitate more highway improvement projects.
US08127415B2
A device for machining components, in particular of a vehicle body has a transport and positioning unit for the component and several machining stations, which are arranged around said unit and to which the component held by a component holder of the transport and positioning unit can be fed in a position ready for machining. To transport the component from one machining station to the other machining stations while taking up the smallest possible surface area, the transport and positioning unit includes a rotor and a pivoting arm that is mounted eccentrically on said rotor, driven in opposition to the latter and supports the component holder. The drives of the rotor and the pivoting arm are synchronized in such a way that the component holder is displaced along a closed curved path comprising spaces between the neighboring apexes of said path.
US08127413B2
A method for identifying vulnerable system call pairs is disclosed. The method is based on a model for identifying Time-Of-Check-To-Time-Of-Use (TOCTTOU) problem (called STEM), which enumerates the potential file system call pairs (called exploitable TOCTTOU pairs) that form the check/use steps. The system function calls are classified into a plurality of predefined classes and pairs of the function calls are formed according to predefined criteria, where the function calls within a pair are associated with the same file invariant.
US08127411B2
A device for preventing jamming of a fibrous material subject to a compressive treatment in a stuffing chamber defined by a feed roll and a retard roll. The device includes an impact blade and a stabilizing apparatus. The impact blade is rigid and interchangeable. The stabilizing apparatus stabilizes the impact blade against moving away from the feed roll to prevent the jamming of the fibrous material between the feed roll and the impact blade during the compressive treatment of the fibrous material.
US08127408B2
Magnetically connected socket joint components comprise one or more paired components so as to form socket joint structures which can form various different articles, such as, for example, articles of jewelry, toys, educational implements, games or amusement devices, instructional aids, eyeglass frames, robotic arms, prosthetic devices, human replacement joints, and the like. The socket joint structures comprise convexly configured male and concavely configured female socket components which may be fabricated from suitable magnetic materials, or alternatively, the convexly configured male socket components may be fabricated from suitable magnetic materials while the concavely configured female socket components may be fabricated from suitable ferromagnetic materials, or vice versa.
US08127404B2
The present invention provides a jewellery ornament device for decorating the upper torso region of a user, comprising a clip, and a support for a decoration, the support being detachable from the clip, the clip comprising: a first plate connected to a second plate, the plates being adapted to grip between them a portion of a garment worn by a user, such that when a portion of a garment worn by a user lies substantially flat against the user's body, and the portion of garment is gripped between the second and first plates, the plates limit the movement of the clip about the plane of the portion of the garment, thereby retaining the dip substantially in line with the portion of the garment.
US08127399B2
A self-propelled vacuum-cleaning device for cleaning smooth and textile floor coverings, particularly in the private home sector. The device has a housing, a vacuum blower, an electrically driven cleaning roller, an electrical drive mechanism, control electronics, and a power source. The maximal electric power of the self-propelled vacuum-cleaning tool lies between 150 watts and 300 watts during cleaning operation, whereby between 120 watts and 220 watts are allocated to the vacuum blower, between 10 watts and 40 watts are allocated to the electrical roller drive for the cleaning roller, and between 5 watts and 40 watts are allocated to the drive mechanism, and whereby the control electronics have a power demand of less than 5% of the maximal electric power.
US08127395B2
An apparatus, system and method for cleaning a substrate edge include a bristle brush unit that cleans bevel polymers deposited on substrate edges using frictional contact in the presence of cleaning chemistry. The bristle brush unit is made up of a plurality of outwardly extending vanes and is mounted on a rotating shaft. An abrasive material is distributed throughout and within the outwardly extending vanes of the bristle brush unit to provide the frictional contact. The bristle brush unit cleans the edge of the substrate by allowing frictional contact of the plurality of abrasive particles with the edge of the substrate in the presence of fluids, such as cleaning chemistry, to cut, rip and tear the bevel polymer from the edge of the substrate.
US08127386B2
In an air mattress (1) including a plurality of levels of air mattress layers (5, 7) which are vertically stacked, in each of the levels of air mattress layers (5, 7), flexible hollow air cells (43, 23) each extending along the width of the air mattress (1) are arranged in parallel with each other in the longitudinal direction of the air mattress (1), air cells (43, 23) in each of the upper air mattress layer (7) and the lower air mattress layer (5) are divided into a plurality of groups such that the air cells (43, 23) are expanded or contracted in units of the groups by supplying or discharging air to/from these air cells (43, 23).
US08127384B2
A device for lulling infants to sleep comprising a pillow with a receptacle and closure, wherein the middle portion of the sides of the pillow are curved inwards to form four corner sections, and wherein the corner sections of the pillow are puffed up compared to the rest of the pillow, so that the pillow can be easily used in conjunction with cradles, bassinets, strollers, and similar baby gear;. The device further comprises a battery-operated sound/vibration generating instrument received within the receptacle. The instrument can be operated to produce either sound or vibrations, or both. The sound comprises a simulated mother's heartbeat or a lullaby.
US08127372B2
This invention relates to the method for fabrication of polyisoprene aqueous emulsion, gloves and related products thereof, wherein the aqueous emulsion is polyisoprene or polynitrile aqueous emulsion obtained through free-radical emulsion polymerization initiated by initiating agent under normal pressure with isoprene as the monomer, or isoprene monomer, acrylonitrile monomer, and (methyl)acrylic acid as the monomer mixture, and emulsifying agent and dispersing agent as the emulsification system. After the isoprene or the mixture of isoprene monomer, acrylonitrile monomer, and (methyl)acrylic acid is mixed with the initiating agent, the oil phase obtained together with reducing agent is added dropwise in different time quantums. The polymerization conversion rate of polyisoprene aqueous emulsion or polynitrile aqueous emulsion according to this invention is increased from the original 78% to over 97.5%. Fabricated polyisoprene or polynitrile gloves and thin latex products thereof have high strength and good extensibility, provide good hand touch, and do not cause allergies of the human body. They can be used for various purposes.
US08127369B2
An air deflector is mounted to the area of the knee of a motorcyclist to prevent a stream of air from striking the motorcyclist's face. In one embodiment, the deflector is in the form of a cap visor.
US08132267B2
In some embodiments, a processor-based system may include a processor, the processor having a processor identification, one or more electronic components coupled to the processor, at least one of the electronic components having a component identification, and a hardware security component coupled to the processor and the electronic component. The hardware security component may include a secure non-volatile memory and a controller. The controller may be configured to receive the processor identification from the processor, receive the at least one component identification from the one or more electronic components, and determine if a boot of the processor-based system is a provisioning boot of the processor-based system. If the boot is determined to be the provisioning boot, the controller may be configured to store a security code in the secure non-volatile memory, wherein the security code is based on the processor identification and the at least one component identification. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.
US08132261B1
A method and system are disclosed for distributed dynamic security of a document. Portions of a document are associated with a plurality of member definitions. Each member definition contains an access right associated with a user. An access controller receives a request from a user and determines whether that user has sufficient access rights to access a portion of the document.
US08132259B2
A method for security planning with soft security constraints, include: receiving security-related requirements of a workflow to be developed using system inputs and processing components; and generating at least one proposed workflow according to the security-related requirements, wherein the at least one proposed workflow satisfies soft constraints.
US08132237B2
Provided are an electronic document repository system which guarantees authenticity of electronic document and issues certificates and methods of registering, reading, issuing, and transferring electronic documents in the system, and a method of issuing certificates in the system. The electronic document repository system includes an authentication module, a registration module, a reading module, an issuing module, and a certification module.
US08132234B2
There is provided an unauthorized terminal inferring device (100) device that is connected to a plurality of communications terminal devices (IDi) by a multi-hop network. The device (100) includes a communications terminal information control portion (120) that controls identification information and key information for the communications terminal devices (IDi), a transmission portion (160) that transmits challenge information to the devices (IDi), a receiving portion (170) that receives from the devices (IDi) response information that corresponds to the challenge information, a response information verification portion (130) that verifies whether or not an authenticator that is contained in the response information is correct, and an unauthorized terminal device inferring processing portion (140) that, in a case where the verification result indicates that the response information is not legitimate, requests that each of the devices (IDi) retransmit received and generated information, then infers which communications terminal device performed the unauthorized behavior.
US08132232B2
Various systems, methods, and programs executable on a computer readable medium are provided for providing secure communications in a wireless domain. In one embodiment, a method is provided in which access to a network is established a client in an originating subnet associated with an originating controller in a wireless domain. The access rights for the client are set based upon a first active control list. Access to the network for the client is established in a foreign subnet associated with a foreign controller in the wireless domain when the client roams from the originating subnet to the foreign subnet. A second active control list is tunneled from the foreign subnet to the originating subnet. The access rights to the network for the client in the originating controller are reset based upon the second active control list.
US08132231B2
A computer implemented method, data processing system, and computer program product for logical management and provisioning of business applications within the framework of an identity management system. The illustrative embodiments providing an interface layer to map respective attributes, permissions, and resource accounts in a data repository needed to represent access to business applications via a managed service in the identity management system. The illustrative embodiments define user entitlements on a user account associated with the managed service. The illustrative embodiments provision user access to the business applications via the managed service in the identity management system upon user request.
US08132229B2
Apparatus and articles of manufacture are provided for governing the transfer of data characterizing a user's behavior, physiological parameters and/or psychological parameters. One embodiment provides a computer readable storage medium containing a program which, when executed, performs an operation for handling a request, from a requesting application, for emotion data characterizing an emotional state of a user. A firewall ruleset defining rules governing the transfer of the emotion data to requesting applications is accessed to determine whether to provide the emotion data the requesting application. The request is denied if the firewall ruleset rules are not satisfied.
US08132222B2
Addressable tap units for a cable television network include a radio frequency input and a radio frequency output. These tap units may further include a radio frequency receiver that is configured to receive a radio frequency signal input at the radio frequency input. A filter circuit, which may be a plug-in filter circuit, is coupled between the radio frequency input and the radio frequency output. The filter circuit includes at least one filter that filters out signals in one or more frequency bands. The tap units also may include a plurality of switches that select one of a plurality of signal paths through the filter circuit. The plurality of switches may be controlled in response to data contained in the radio frequency signal. The tap unit may also include an alternate radio frequency path that bypasses the plug-in filter module so that signals incident at the radio frequency input traverse the alternate radio frequency path if the plug-in filter module is not installed in the addressable tap unit.
US08132221B2
Packaging live broadcast electronic content for delivery on a content delivery network is provided. A first live program broadcast on a first channel is scheduled for delivery on a livecast channel, and a second live program broadcast on a second channel is scheduled for delivery on the livecast channel. The first live program is associated with a first content identifier and the first channel in an electronic program guide, and the second live program is associated with a second content identifier and the second channel in the electronic program guide. Upon receiving a program selection of at least one of the first live program or the second live program from the electronic program guide, the program selection is delivered over the livecast channel.
US08132220B2
A TV-Internet Integration Box allows display of first data broadcast over a TV subscriber channel simultaneously together with second data broadcast over a digital data communications network has respective first and second inputs for receiving at a user premises the first data and the second data according to a user-profile associated with the second data. A combiner unit combines the first data and second data to form a combined video signal; and a video output coupled to the combiner unit conveys the combined video signal to a TV set in a user premises for displaying a first image corresponding to the first data and having superimposed thereon a second image corresponding to the second data. A user at the user premises may interact with the second image for redirecting to the digital data communications network and displaying a program broadcast thereby in at least a portion of the TV set.
US08132216B1
A method and system for controlling a terminal includes a receiving unit in communication with the plurality of terminals receiving a command signal and converting the command signal to a serial port control signal. The receiving unit formats the serial port control signal to form a formatted signal. A terminal device receives the formatted signal, recovers the serial port control signal from the formatted signal and controls a terminal device in response to the serial port control signal.
US08132213B2
The present invention relates to a digital broadcasting system and a processing data method thereof. The present invention includes acquiring a first ensemble providing service guide information for mobile service data from a broadcast signal in which the mobile service data and main service data are multiplexed, acquiring, from the first ensemble, first program table information including information which indicates that the first ensemble provides service guide information for a second ensemble, and decoding the first program table information and acquiring service guide information for mobile service data included in the second ensemble by using the decoded first program table information.
US08132208B2
Methods and computer-readable media are provided for presenting program guide information using a mosaic of video sources broadcast in a television services system. An application program executed on a television services set-top box generates a matrix of still images representing multiple video sources presently being broadcast in the television services system. The matrix of still images is presented as a video mosaic representing current program guide information in the television services system.
US08132204B2
Systems and methods for presenting video asset information to a viewer to assist the view in selecting a video asset for viewing is described. The video assets can be available from a plurality of different video asset sources, such as VOD (video on demand), PVR (personal video recorders) and broadcast (including over the air, cable, and satellite). Images from the video assets are displayed in a uniform manner, along with information about the video assets. The information includes data in a metadata category, wherein metadata can be received from the video asset, external sources, or manually input by a user. The view can select one of the video assets for viewing, but also can navigate using metadata categories such as genre, actors, director, and the like. This allows a much easier and natural navigating and selection process for viewers.
US08132202B2
A method and system for providing targeted advertisements over a networked media delivery system, especially interactive television networks, the system comprising tracking and storing viewer selections, analyzing the selections, and delivering targeted advertisements that appeal to the particular subscriber making the selections, the system including a merge processor, a file server, a profile processor, and a broadcast server contained in a head end in communication with a plurality of set-top boxes through a distribution network. Based on a subscriber's viewing habits and account information, the present invention delivers different, customized advertisements to different viewers watching the same program or channel. The present invention delivers the advertisements as either still frame bit maps or as video streams advertisement insertion in a playlist or a broadcast media program.
US08132196B2
A data storage system controller having a shock detection sensor and methods utilizing such a controller are provided. The data storage system controller receives information or signals regarding shock events from the associated shock sensor, enabling the data storage system controller to take remedial action. The particular remedial action taken may be dependent on the severity of the detected shock event. The data storage system controller may also receive information regarding shock events from shock sensors provided separately from the data storage system controller, allowing the data storage system controller to take remedial action that is tailored to the locale of a shock event.
US08132191B2
A method and apparatus for adapting and hosting legacy user interface controls is provided. Legacy user interface controls are exposed within a new window manager as native user interface objects. A bridge between a hosted legacy user interface control and the legacy window manager intercepts messages intended for the hosted user interface control. The messages are filtered to determine if they should be passed to the new window manager. If a message is to be forwarded, the message is forwarded to a root Visual Gadget in the new window manager. The message is processed and routed down the window tree to an adapter control for hosting the legacy user interface control. The adapter control processes the message and routes the message to any listener objects attached to the adapter. If the message has not been completely handled, the message is “bubbled” up the window tree for additional processing.
US08132181B2
A computer implemented method for managing an information handling system. The method may include one or more of: monitoring, with an object oriented model, the information handling system for an event; generating, with the object oriented model, an indication in response to the event; and/or allowing access to the indication to clients having a sufficient client level of access.
US08132179B1
Enabling a web service interface for a mobile agent, comprises receiving a tool including data, the data comprising an agent interface file, a URL identifying a name and an initial execution environment of the agent, a name of the web service, and a name of the web service WSDL file, and receiving a request to generate by the tool a web service interface based on the data.
US08132177B2
A system and method for receiving a server request, determining whether one of a plurality of servers scheduled to receive the server request is available, wherein the availability of the one of the servers scheduled to receive the request is based on a first stored value and a second stored value, incrementing the second stored value by a predetermined amount when the one of the servers is unavailable and directing the server request to another one of the plurality of servers based on the first and second stored values.
US08132175B2
A mobile telecommunication handset capable of implementing multitasking and a method for implementing multitasking in a mobile telecommunication are provided that makes it possible to implement multitasking even if sufficient memory and resources are not available. The mobile telecommunication handset includes a keypad having multitasking-specific function keys, a memory storing a task to run in a multitasking mode and task information related to the multitasking mode, a control unit controlling functions to implement a current task based on the task information, and a display unit displaying on-screen information related to multitasking in a multi tasking mode.
US08132165B2
A system for an in-service software upgrade is disclosed. The system consists of a processor, a first version of a software process, a second version of the software process, and a proxy software process. When executed by the processor, the proxy software process can intercept a message intended for the first version and direct the message to either the first version or the second version based on the status of a transaction associated with the message.
US08132160B2
A storage medium that, in an embodiment, determines whether to stop execution of a program at a breakpoint based on a previous value of a variable. In another embodiment, an attribute is applied to all breakpoints in a breakpoint group. The attribute includes data that is used to decide whether to halt the program upon encountering the breakpoints or allow the program to continue to execute. In another embodiment, breakpoints are excluded or included on the basis of the thread in which the breakpoint is encountered by the program.
US08132153B2
A quality management framework (hereinafter referred as “framework”) for a software project lifecycle is provided. The framework enables generation of at least one software program while ensuring compliances with at least one standard. The plurality of items of the library includes tool an organization chart depository, a policy depository, a procedure depository, a life cycle model depository, a guideline depository, a template depository, a process asset depository, a workflow diagram depository and a checklist depository. Each of the items of the library is configured to be updated and accessed. The life cycle model depository of the library is configured to include a modular interface that enables handling of multiple lifecycle (V-model, waterfall model, iterative model etc.) models. The framework is configured to allow access the library.
US08132148B2
The present invention relates to an XML application framework (XAF). XAF applications are data driven such that all operations with the computer system are data focused. In addition, the components used in the XAF application are instantiated and connected according to how the data is displayed and what type of data is used. Applications within XAF comprise a user interface (UI) connector, an action module, and a data connector. UI connectors receive UI events and connect the UI event to an action module. The action module generates a standard format action from the UI event and sends it to the data connector. The data connector translates the standard format action into a data-specific action that changes data in a data store. A data connector then sends a standard format data representation corresponding to the changed data back to the UI connector to provide the changed data to the UI.
