US08987176B2
The invention relates to compositions in the form of silicone oil emulsions which are intended to be applied to curing bladders as a mold-release agent during tire production.
US08987175B2
A process for producing a purified synthesis gas stream from a feed synthesis gas stream comprising besides the main constituents carbon monoxide and hydrogen also hydrogen sulphide, HCN and/or COS, the process comprising the steps of: (a) removing HCN and/or COS by contacting the feed synthesis gas stream with a catalyst in a HCN/COS reactor in the presence of steam/water, to obtain a synthesis gas stream depleted in HCN and/or in COS; (b) converting hydrogen sulphide in the synthesis gas stream depleted in HCN and/or in COS to elemental sulphur, by contacting the synthesis gas stream with an aqueous reactant solution containing solubilized Fe(III) chelate of an organic acid, at a temperature below the melting point of sulphur, and at a sufficient solution to gas ratio and conditions effective to convert H2S to sulphur and inhibit sulphur deposition, to obtain a synthesis gas stream depleted in hydrogen sulphide; (c) removing carbon dioxide from the synthesis gas stream depleted in hydrogen sulphide, to obtain the purified synthesis gas stream and a gas stream enriched in CO2.
US08987166B2
The preparation of bimetallic gold-silver cerium dioxide-supported catalysts and the process of oxidation of carbon monoxide (CO) in air to remove CO using the gold-silver cerium dioxide-supported catalysts are disclosed. The gold loading is between 0.5 and 5 wt. %. Gold and silver particle sizes are between 1 and 3 nm, and Au/Ag weight ratio is between 1 and 10. Oxidation of CO in air over these catalysts is carried out in a fixed bed reactor to remove CO.
US08987156B2
A gettered polycrystalline group III metal nitride is formed by heating a group III metal with an added getter in a nitrogen-containing gas. Most of the residual oxygen in the gettered polycrystalline nitride is chemically bound by the getter. The gettered polycrystalline group III metal nitride is useful as a raw material for ammonothermal growth of bulk group III nitride crystals.
US08987150B2
A fabric for use in chemical and biological (CB) protective garments includes at least one felt layer having from 25% to 100% carbon nanotube (CNT) fibers as a breathable physical barrier against toxic chemical droplets and/or pathogens. The felt layers are cleaned and consolidated into a mechanically competent sheet which can form adhesive seams having lapshear greater than the sheet itself. An additional supporting layer can be included. The supporting layer can be a wicking layer which is permeable with a chlorinated or otherwise chemically active solution to establish a reactive chemical barrier, the solution being dispensed on demand from a portable container. Embodiments include a second layer of CNT or of another backing fabric, sandwiching the wicking layer therebetween. Impermeable fluoropolymer seams can divide the fabric into a plurality of CNT/wicking cells. A layer of activated charcoal and/or halamine-forming hydantoin can be included for persistent reactive chemical protection.
US08987144B2
In sophisticated semiconductor devices, high-k metal gate electrode structures may be formed in an early manufacturing stage with superior integrity of sensitive gate materials by providing an additional liner material after the selective deposition of a strain-inducing semiconductor material in selected active regions. Moreover, the dielectric cap materials of the gate electrode structures may be removed on the basis of a process flow that significantly reduces the degree of material erosion in isolation regions and active regions by avoiding the patterning and removal of any sacrificial oxide spacers.
US08987130B2
An array of bonding pads including a set of reactive materials is provided on a first substrate. The set of reactive materials is selected to be capable of ignition by magnetic heating induced by time-dependent magnetic field. The magnetic heating can be eddy current heating, hysteresis heating, and/or heating by magnetic relaxation processes. An array of solder balls on a second substrate is brought to contact with the array of bonding pads. A reaction is initiated in the set of magnetic materials by an applied magnetic field. Rapid release of heat during a resulting reaction of the set of reactive materials to form a reacted material melts the solder balls and provides boding between the first substrate and the second substrate. Since the magnetic heating can be localized, the heating and warpage of the substrate can be minimized during the bonding process.
US08987125B2
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a heterojunction semiconductor device including an AlGaN layer, the method including the steps of (a) forming a dummy electrode in a region where a gate electrode is arranged on the AlGaN layer, (b) depositing a dielectric film on the AlGaN layer by exposing side surfaces of the dummy electrode, using a device having anisotropy, (c) forming an opening in the dielectric film by removing the dummy electrode, and (d) forming the gate electrode that extends from inside the opening onto the dielectric film in a vicinity of the opening.
US08987116B2
A technique of producing one or more electronic switching devices, each switching device comprising a semiconductor channel between two electrodes, and a dielectric element separating said semiconductor channel from a switching electrode, the method comprising: depositing onto a substrate a layer of material for at least partly forming said semiconductor channel or said dielectric element of said one or more switching devices by transferring said material onto said substrate from a rotating first roller.
US08987114B2
Methods of forming semiconductor structures include transferring a portion (116a) of a donor structure to a processed semiconductor structure (102) that includes at least one non-planar surface. An amorphous film (144) may be formed over at least one non-planar surface of the bonded semiconductor structure, and the amorphous film may be planarized to form one or more planarized surfaces. Semiconductor structures include a bonded semiconductor structure having at least one non-planar surface, and an amorphous film disposed over the at least one non-planar surface. The bonded semiconductor structure may include a processed semiconductor structure and a portion of a single crystal donor structure attached to a non-planar surface of the processed semiconductor structure.
US08987112B2
A semiconductor device includes: a first well and a second well formed in a substrate and having a different impurity doping concentration; a first isolation layer and a second isolation layer formed in the first well and the second well, respectively, and having a different depth; and a third isolation layer formed in a boundary region in which the first well and the second well are in contact with each other, and having a combination type of the first isolation layer and the second isolation layer.
US08987111B2
According to a method of fabricating a semiconductor device, a first mask pattern is used to etch first device isolation layers and active lines or form grooves, in which word lines will be provided. Thereafter, the active lines are etched in a self-alignment manner by using the first mask pattern as an etch mask. As a result, it is possible to suppress mask misalignment from occurring.
US08987109B2
A method for manufacturing a bonded wafer includes: an ion implantation step of using a batch type ion implanter; a bonding step of bonding an ion implanted surface of a bond wafer to a surface of a base wafer directly or through an insulator film; and a delamination step of delaminating the bond wafer at an ion implanted layer, thereby manufacturing a bonded wafer having a thin film on the base wafer, wherein the ion implantation into the bond wafer carried out at the ion implantation step is divided into a plurality of processes, the bond wafer is rotated on its own axis a predetermined rotation angle after each ion implantation, and the next ion implantation is carried out at an arrangement position obtained by the rotation.
US08987105B2
A method of manufacturing an SiC semiconductor device according to the present invention includes the steps of (a) by using a single mask, etching regions of an SiC semiconductor layer which serve as an impurities implantation region and a mark region, to form recesses, (b) by using the same mask as in the step (a), performing ion-implantation in the recesses of the regions which serve as the impurities implantation region and the mark region, at least from an oblique direction relative to a surface of the SiC semiconductor layer and (c) positioning another mask based on the recess of the region which serves as the impurities implantation region or the mark region, and performing well implantation in a region containing the impurities implantation region.
US08987094B2
A fin field effect transistor integrated circuit (FinFET IC) has a plurality of fins extending from a semiconductor substrate, where a trough is defined between adjacent fins. A second dielectric is positioned within the trough, and a protruding portion of the fins extends above the second dielectric. A first dielectric is positioned between the fin sidewalls and the second dielectric.
US08987092B2
Methods for fabricating a FIN structure with a semicircular top surface and rounded top surface corners and edges are disclosed. As a part of a disclosed method, a FIN structure is formed in a semiconductor substrate. The FIN structure includes a top surface having corners and edges. The FIN structure is annealed where the annealing causes the top surface to have a semicircular shape and the top surface corners and edges to be rounded.
US08987088B2
According to one embodiment, a method includes forming a gate insulating layer structure covering first and second stacked layer structures, forming a first conductive layer on the gate insulating layer structure, forming a sacrifice layer on the first conductive layer, patterning the first conductive layer and the sacrifice layer with a line & space pattern, filling an insulating layer in spaces of the line & space pattern, the insulating layer having an etching characteristic different from the sacrifice layer, forming trenches in lines of the line & space pattern by removing the sacrifice layer selectively, the trenches exposing the first conductive layer between the first and second stacked layer structures, and forming a second conductive layer on the first conductive layer in the trenches.
US08987086B2
The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device that includes a semiconductor substrate, an isolation structure formed in the semiconductor substrate, a conductive layer formed over the isolation structure, and a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor formed over the isolation structure. The MIM capacitor has a crown shape that includes a top electrode, a first bottom electrode, and a dielectric disposed between the top electrode and the first bottom electrode, the first bottom electrode extending at least to a top surface of the conductive layer.
US08987084B2
A memory cell device includes a semiconductor nanowire extending, at a first end thereof, from a substrate; the nanowire having a doping profile so as to define a field effect transistor (FET) adjacent the first end, the FET further including a gate electrode at least partially surrounding the nanowire, the doping profile further defining a p-n junction in series with the FET, the p-n junction adjacent a second end of the nanowire; and a phase change material at least partially surrounding the nanowire, at a location corresponding to the p-n junction.
US08987079B2
A method for developing a custom device, the method including: programming a programmable device, where the programmable device includes a layer of monocrystalline first transistors and alignment marks, the first layer of monocrystalline first transistors is overlaid by interconnection layers, the interconnection layers are overlaid by a second layer of monocrystalline second transistors, where the interconnection layers include copper or aluminum, where the programming includes use of the second transistors, where the programming includes use of N type transistors and P type transistors, and where the programmable device includes at least one programmable connection; and then a step of producing a volume device according to a specific programmed design of the programmable device, where the volume device includes the at least one programmable connection replaced with a lithography defined connection, and where the volume device does not have the second layer.
US08987077B2
A method for producing a semiconductor device, includes forming a first carrier transport layer including a Group III nitride semiconductor, forming a mask on a region of the first carrier transport layer, selectively re-growing a second carrier transport layer on an unmasked region of the first carrier transport layer, the second carrier transport layer including a Group III nitride semiconductor, and selectively growing a carrier supply layer on the second carrier transport layer, the carrier supply layer including a Group III nitride semiconductor having a bandgap different from that of the Group III nitride semiconductor of the second carrier transport layer.
US08987074B2
An oxide semiconductor thin film transistor, a manufacturing method and a display device thereof are disclosed. An oxide semiconductor thin film transistor comprises a gate insulating layer (22), an oxide semiconductor layer (24) and a blocking layer (25), wherein a first transition layer (23) is formed between the gate insulating layer (22) and the oxide semiconductor layer (24), the oxygen content of the first transition layer (23) is higher than the oxygen content of the oxide semiconductor layer (24). The oxide semiconductor thin film transistor enhances the interface characteristic and the lattice matching between the oxide semiconductor layer (24) and the blocking layer (25) to improve the stability of the thin film transistor better.
US08987068B2
At least one or more of a conductive layer which forms a wiring or an electrode and a pattern necessary for manufacturing a display panel such as a mask for forming a predetermined pattern is formed by a method capable of selectively forming a pattern to manufacture a liquid crystal display device. A droplet discharge method capable of forming a predetermined pattern by selectively discharging a droplet of a composition in accordance with a particular object is used as a method capable of selectively forming a pattern in forming a conductive layer, an insulating layer, or the like.
US08987067B2
Disclosed are guard ring structures with an electrically insulated gap in a substrate to reduce or eliminate device coupling of integrated circuit chips, methods of manufacture and design structures. The method includes forming a guard ring structure comprising a plurality of metal layers within dielectric layers. The method further includes forming diffusion regions to electrically insulate a gap in a substrate formed by segmented portions of the guard ring structure.
US08987059B2
A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device may include a MEMS structure over a first substrate. The MEMS structure comprises a movable element. Depositing a first conductive material over the first substrate and etching trenches in a second substrate. Filling the trenches with a second conductive material and depositing a third conductive material over the second conductive material and the second substrate. Bonding the first substrate and the second substrate and thinning a backside of the second substrate which exposes the second conductive material in the trenches.
US08987058B2
A plurality of macro and micro alignment marks may be formed on a wafer. The macro alignment marks may be formed in pairs at opposite edges of the wafer. The micro alignment marks may be formed to align to streets on the wafer along a first and second direction. A molding compound may be formed on the wafer. The macro alignment marks may be exposed from the molding compound. A pair of the micro alignment marks may be exposed from the molding compound at opposite ends of the streets along the first and the second direction. The wafer may be aligned to a dicing tool using pairs of the macro alignment marks. The dicing tool may be aligned to the streets using pairs of the micro alignment marks. The wafer may be diced using successive pairs of micro alignment marks along the first and second direction.
US08987054B2
In one embodiment, methods for making semiconductor devices are disclosed.
US08987052B2
Sub-micron precision alignment between two microelectronic components can be achieved by applying energy to incite an exothermic reaction in alternating thin film reactive layers between the two microelectronic components. Such a reaction rapidly distributes localized heat to melt a solder layer and form a joint without significant shifting of components.
US08987043B2
A method of manufacturing an OLED display includes: forming an organic light emitting element on a first substrate; forming, on the organic light emitting element, a thin film encapsulation layer that seals the organic light emitting element with the first substrate; providing a second substrate; forming a flexible protection layer on the second substrate; attaching the first substrate and the second substrate to each other; and separating the second substrate from the flexible protection layer.
US08987030B2
A method is provided for manufacturing a plurality of packages. The method comprises the steps of: applying a means for adhering two or more covers to a substrate; positioning the two or more covers onto the substrate to create one or more channels bounded by the two or more covers and the substrate; coupling the covers to the substrate; depositing a material into the one or more channels; performing a process on the material to affix the material; and singulating along the channels to create the plurality of packages.
US08987029B2
A method of protecting a substrate during fabrication of semiconductor, MEMS devices. The method includes application of a protective thin film which typically has a thickness ranging from 3 angstroms to about 1,000 angstroms, wherein precursor materials used to deposit the protective thin film are organic-based precursors which include at least one fluorine-comprising functional group at one end of a carbon back bone and at least one functional bonding group at the opposite end of a carbon backbone, and wherein the carbon backbone ranges in length from 4 carbons through about 12 carbons. In many applications at least a portion of the protective thin film is removed during fabrication of the devices.
US08987016B2
The invention relates to light-emitting devices, and related components, systems and methods. In one aspect, the present invention is related to light emitting diode (LED) light extraction efficiency. A non-limiting example, the application teaches a method for improving light emitting diode (LED) extraction efficiency, by providing a nano-rod light emitting diode; providing quantum wells; and reducing the size of said nano-rod LED laterally in the quantum-well plane (x and y), thereby improving LED extraction efficiency.
US08987014B2
A semiconductor wafer contains a plurality of semiconductor die. A plurality of interconnect bump pads is formed over the semiconductor die. A plurality of sacrificial bump pads is formed in proximity to and diagonally offset with respect to the interconnect bump pads. The sacrificial bump pads have a different diameter than the interconnect bump pads. A conductive link is formed between each interconnect bump pad and proximate sacrificial bump pad. The sacrificial bump pads, interconnect bump pads, and conductive link are formed concurrently or during bump formation. The wafer is electrically tested by contacting the sacrificial bump pads. The electrical test identifies known good die and defective die. The sacrificial bump pads and a portion of the conductive link are removed after wafer probing. Bumps are formed over the interconnect bump pads. The semiconductor wafer can be sold or transferred to a third party after wafer probing without bumps.
US08987012B2
A method of testing a semiconductor package is provided, including: disposing at least an interposer on a top surface of an adhesive layer, the interposer having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, a plurality of conductive elements disposed between the second surface of the interposer and the adhesive layer; disposing at least a semiconductor chip on the first surface of the interposer, and performing an electrical test on the semiconductor chip via the conductive elements, wherein if there are a plurality of semiconductor chips that are disposed on the first surface of the interposer, the step of disposing the semiconductor chip and performing the electrical test on the semiconductor chip is iterated; and removing the adhesive layer. By using the method, the fabrication cost and equipment cost of the semiconductor package are reduced, and product yield is increased.
US08986998B2
Disclosed herein is a method for identifying the compounds contributing to a pungent odor from an air conditioner, a method for artificially reproducing the pungent odor, and preparing a corresponding pungent odor composition. Through the analysis method of the present invention, the compounds contributing to the pungent odor from an air conditioner may be identified and quantified. The pungent odor may be reproduced from a combination of the compounds identified by the analysis method of the present invention. The reproduced pungent odor may provide significant data required for development of an apparatus and a method for removing specific odors.
US08986996B2
The present invention relates to a large-scale propagation and maintenance method of embryoid bodies generated from stem cells. More particularly, the present invention relates to a large-scale propagation and maintenance method of embryoid bodies retaining their intrinsic characteristics for a long period of time, comprising the step of continuously subculturing embryoid bodies that are primarily produced from embryonic stem cells or from induced pluripotent stem cells. According to the method of the present invention, after preparation of embryoid bodies from a limited number of stem cells, large-scale production and maintenance of embryoid bodies can be realized by a simple mechanical subculturing method without the continuous supply of stem cells.
US08986977B2
Presented herein are methods of using cell wall degrading enzymes for recovery of internal lipid bodies from biomass sources such as algae. Also provided are algal cells that express at least one exogenous gene encoding a cell wall degrading enzyme and methods for recovering lipids from the cells.
US08986976B2
The present disclosure provides a method to isolate natural & artificial nucleic acids like deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), ribonucleic acid (RNA) and peptide nucleic acid (PNA) from a solid or liquid sample using cotton. The cotton packed is such that, a solution containing nucleic acids passes through it and the nucleic acids in solution are bound to the cotton in a medium optimal for binding. The nucleic acids are bound to cotton in such a way that, the bound nucleic acids can withstand multiple washes with liquid comprising water and gets eluted in an aqueous buffer, with which eluted nucleic acids can be directly used for amplification using PCR or for any other biochemical or molecular biology needs.
US08986968B2
There is provided a polypeptide having thermostable DNA polymerase activity and comprising or consisting of an amino acid sequence with at least 55% identity to Thermodesulfatator indicus DNA polymerase I Large fragment shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 or in SEQ ID NO:32.
US08986967B2
Methods of marking paper products and marked paper products are provided. Some methods include irradiating the paper product to alter the functionalization of the paper.
US08986966B2
The invention features methods for separating cells from a sample (e.g., separating fetal red blood cells from maternal blood). The method begins with the introduction of a sample including cells into one or more microfluidic channels. In one embodiment, the device includes at least two processing steps. For example, a mixture of cells is introduced into a microfluidic channel that selectively allows the passage of a desired type of cell, and the population of cells enriched in the desired type is then introduced into a second microfluidic channel that allows the passage of the desired cell to produce a population of cells further enriched in the desired type. The selection of cells is based on a property of the cells in the mixture, for example, size, shape, deformability, surface characteristics (e.g., cell surface receptors or antigens and membrane permeability), or intracellular properties (e.g., expression of a particular enzyme).
US08986950B2
A method of producing a low molecular weight organic compound (e.g. a plant or bacteria secondary metabolite) in increased yields involving use of a microorganism cell, which comprises a gene involved in the biosynthesis pathway leading to a low molecular weight organic aglycon compound and a glycosyltransferase gene capable of glycosylating the produced aglycon.
US08986945B2
Provided are methods and compositions for isolating and detecting rare cells from a biological sample containing other types of cells, particularly including debulking that uses a microfabricated filter for filtering samples. The enriched rare cells can be used in a downstream process such as identification, characterization or growth in culture, or in other ways. Also included is a method of determining tumor aggressiveness or the number or proportion of cancer cells in the enriched sample by detecting telomerase activity, nucleic acid or expression after enrichment of rare cells. Also provided is an efficient, rapid method to specifically remove red and white blood cells from a biological sample containing at least one of the cell types, leading to enrichment of rare target cells including circulating tumor (CTC), stromal, mesenchymal, endothelial, fetal, stem, or non-hematopoietic cells et cetera from a blood sample.
US08986939B1
Methods for assessing the condition of keratinized structures, including hair, in particular methods to determine the condition of keratinized structures in relation to suitability for analysis of analytes of interest in a test sample, are presented. The methods comprise contacting the keratinized structure with a non-proteolytic reducing agent and an optional proteolytic agent. The methods further include inspection of the hair sample, or measurement of free protein eluted from the keratinized structure, after reduction and optional proteolysis to determine condition prior to analyte identification and quantitation by known techniques such as immunoassays.
US08986937B2
The invention provides compositions and methods for detecting thyroid hormone blocking immunoglobulin (TBI). The invention's methods are sensitive and specific for TBI, and may be used for the dual detection of both TBI and TSI. The invention's compositions and methods are useful for the diagnosis of diseases that are associated with the presence of TBI and/or TSI, for monitoring the progress of disease and/or treatment regimens, therapeutics, vaccines, etc., and for assisting clinicians in making treatment decisions.
US08986934B2
The present invention relates to a device for thermally regulating a rotationally symmetrical container having a lateral surface and/or a base surface, said device comprising at least one thermal-regulation block which is suitable for accommodating the container and has at least two thermal-regulation elements, wherein the thermal-regulation elements in the at least one thermal-regulation block exchange heat with the lateral surface and/or with the base surface of the container to be thermally regulated.
US08986928B2
The invention relates to devices and methods for nanopore sequencing. The invention includes arrays of nanopores having incorporated electronic circuits, for example, in CMOS. In some cases, the arrays of nanopores comprise resistive openings for isolating the electronic signals for improved sequencing. Methods for controlling translocation of through the nanopore are disclosed.
US08986922B1
An optical thin film can have a refractive index variation along a dimension that is perpendicular to its thickness. Two areas that have equal physical thicknesses can have different optical thicknesses. Including the thin film as a layer in a thin film optical filter can provide a corresponding variation in the filter's spectral properties. Dosing an optical thin film with ultraviolet light can cause the refractive index variation. Subjecting the film to hydrogen can increase the refractive index's response to the dose of light. Dosing a region of a thin film optical filter with ultraviolet light can change the spectral properties of the region, for example shifting an out-of-specification optical filter into specification thereby increasing manufacturing yield. An agent can promote the film's response to the dose.
US08986921B2
A lithographic material stack including a metal-compound hard mask layer is provided. The lithographic material stack includes a lower organic planarizing layer (OPL), a dielectric hard mask layer, and the metal-compound hard mask layer, an upper OPL, an optional anti-reflective coating (ARC) layer, and a photoresist layer. The metal-compound hard mask layer does not attenuate optical signals from lithographic alignment marks in underlying material layers, and can facilitate alignment between different levels in semiconductor manufacturing.
US08986916B2
A yellow toner including: a non-crystalline resin; C.I. Pigment Yellow 185; and a releasing agent, wherein the yellow toner has a glass transition temperature of more than 18° C. but less than 40° C.
US08986898B2
The disclosure is directed at a method and apparatus for controlling fuel cell operating conditions. The apparatus includes a set of sensors for monitoring the fuel cell operating conditions and a processing unit, in communication with the set of sensors for determining when the fuel cell operating conditions are outside of an acceptable range. When it is determined that the fuel cell operating conditions are outside of the acceptable range, an electrolyzer is activated to electrolyze waste liquid water or water vapor to assist in controlling the fuel cell operating conditions.
US08986886B2
A positive active material, a method of preparing the same, and a lithium battery including the same.
US08986884B2
A lithium-ion secondary battery comprising a positive electrode and a negative electrode is provided. The positive electrode comprises as a positive electrode active material a lithium transition metal composite oxide having a layered structure. The composite oxide contains as its metal components at least one species of Ni, Co and Mn as well as W and Ca. The composite oxide contains 0.26 mol % or more, but 5 mol % or less of W and Ca combined when all the metal elements contained in the oxide excluding lithium account for a total of 100 mol %, with the ratio (mW/mCa) of the number of moles of W contained, mW, to the number of moles of Ca contained, mCa, being 2.0 or larger, but 50 or smaller.
US08986883B2
A negative electrode for a lithium secondary battery, in which α-Fe2O3 that is low in cost, has little environmental impact and has high theoretical capacity is used as an active material, maintains high adhesiveness between a current collector and an electrode layer, and can simultaneously achieve both of an improvement in the cycle characteristics and high capacity. In a negative electrode for a lithium secondary battery, which is configured of a current collector, and an electrode layer that is formed on the current collector and contains at least a negative electrode active material, a conductive assistant and a binder component, the negative electrode active material is composed of α-Fe2O3 particles that generate a conversion electrode reaction, the binder component is a mixture of polyamide acid and partially imidized polyamide acid. The electrode layer is configured so that a concentration of the binder component decreases as distanced from the current collector.
US08986873B2
A battery pack includes at least two or more bare cells, a lead tab and an insulating member. Each of the bare cells has a first terminal portion. The lead tab is provided to the first terminal portion of the bare cell. The insulating member is interposed between the bare cell and the lead tab and is provided with an opening so that the bare cell and the lead tab are electrically connected to each other. In the battery pack, the insulating member includes two or more bare cell facing portions respectively corresponding to the bare cells, an extending portion that connects neighboring bare cell facing portions to each other, and guide portions respectively provided to the bare cell facing portions so as not to be arranged in one straight line.
US08986872B2
A battery cell assembly includes a ganged plurality of battery cells. The battery cells are electrically connected in series. At least one hinge is disposed between an adjacent pair of the battery cells. The battery cells are configured to be stacked upon a folding of the battery cell assembly at the at least one hinge. A cooling plate assembly for use with the battery cell assembly, and a battery power system having the battery cell assembly interlaced with the cooling plate assembly, is also provided.
US08986871B2
An electrode assembly and a secondary battery having the same improve efficiency and stability of the secondary battery. The electrode assembly includes: a positive electrode plate having a positive electrode collector on which a positive electrode coating portion and a positive electrode non-coating portion are formed; a negative electrode plate having a negative electrode collector on which a negative electrode coating portion and a negative electrode non-coating portion are formed; a separator disposed between the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate; and an insulating member disposed on one side of the positive or negative electrode non-coating portion, and formed adjacent to at least one of the ends of the positive electrode coating portion and/or at least one of the end of the negative electrode coating portion. The electrode assembly at least prevents damage to a separator generated due to non-uniformity of the ends of the electrode coating portion.
US08986863B2
Disclosed is a battery cooling system having a main frame for defining a structure of a battery rack; a space dividing frame for dividing the inside of the main frame into a plurality of levels; a battery module located inside the main frame and supported by the space dividing frame; a pair of refrigerant guide plates respectively installed at the upper and lower ends of the battery module and installed to be inclined in the same direction with predetermined angles with respect to the upper and lower surfaces thereof; and side panels coupled to the sides of the main frame and having a channel slit formed in at least a part thereof.
US08986852B2
The present invention relates to the compounds of the formula (1) and to organic electroluminescent devices, in particular blue-emitting devices, in which these compounds are used as host material or dopant in the emitting layer and/or as hole-transport material and/or as electron-transport material.
US08986849B2
A hot stamped high strength part which is excellent in post painting anticorrosion property, which hot stamped high strength part has an alloy plating layer including an Al—Fe intermetallic compound phase on the surface of the steel sheet. The alloy plating layer is comprised from phases of a plurality of intermetallic compounds, a mean linear intercept length of crystal grains of a phase containing Al: 40 to 65 mass % among the phases of the plurality of intermetallic compounds is 3 to 20 μm, an average value of thickness of the Al—Fe alloy plating layer is 10 to 50 μm, and a ratio of the average value of thickness to the standard deviation of thickness of the Al—Fe alloy plating layer satisfies the following relationship: 0
US08986846B2
A thermosetting oligomer or thermosetting polymer is provided. The thermosetting oligomer or thermosetting polymer contains repeating units, each of which has at least one thermosetting functional group in the side chain and is represented by Formula 1: where repeating units include X1, A1, and Y1 subunits, sidechain units include linking unit L and thermosetting functional group Z, and n is an integer from 1 to 4. The thermosetting oligomer or thermosetting polymer has a low coefficient of thermal expansion and high or no glass transition temperature, stiffness, processability, heat resistance and mechanical properties. The thermosetting oligomer or thermosetting polymer is highly soluble, wettable and dimensionally stable and is suitable for use in films, prepregs and printed circuit boards. Further provided are a thermosetting resin composition including the thermosetting oligomer or thermosetting polymer and a printed circuit board using the composition.
US08986842B2
The present invention concerns a color conversion film comprising at least one active layer, said layer comprising an organic fluorescent dye containing a fluorescent core, wherein said dye is substituted with at least one polymer segment. It also concerns its method of preparation.
US08986821B2
The invention relates to a sliding element for an internal combustion engine, especially a piston ring having a DLC coating of ta-C, which has at least one residual stress gradient, a negative residual stress gradient being present in the center region of the coating, when seen from the outside to the inside, said gradient being preferably smaller that the inner region, and the inner region having smaller thickness that the center region.
US08986820B2
Thermoformed articles include cycloolefin/ethylene copolymer and LLDPE. The articles are formed with an areal draw ratio of 1.5 and greater and exhibit unexpectedly elevated stiffness along with ductility suitable for forming deep-draw parts. Multilayer sheet is used for achieving a desired set of properties.
US08986811B2
A penetration-resistant article is provided comprising two or more layers of woven fabric. The layers of woven fabric each comprise a first series of fibers aligned in a first direction and a second series of fibers interwoven with the first series of fibers and aligned in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. Two or more layers of woven fabric are loosely stacked together so as to permit relative slippage therebetween and are rotationally offset by an offset angle selected so as to inhibit mechanical interference between opposing adjacent surfaces of the woven fabric layers during slippage therebetween. Also provided are methods for assembling penetration-resistant articles.
US08986807B2
An artificial turf system that includes a plurality of pellets in an infill disposed on a backing material and between individual synthetic fibers extending away from the backing material, wherein the pellets are a fire retardant material, for example, a salt, and more particularly an inorganic salt, encapsulated in a water insoluble material.
US08986805B2
A vacuum insulation panel includes a core material having a bending groove at at least one surface thereof, and an envelope material to cover an outer surface of the core material and an inner surface of the bending groove. Also, a refrigerator with the vacuum insulation panel and a manufacturing method for the vacuum insulation panel are provided.
US08986794B2
A vapor deposition apparatus efficiently performs a deposition process to form a thin film with improved characteristics on a substrate, and a method manufactures an organic light-emitting display apparatus by using such vapor deposition apparatus. The vapor deposition apparatus includes a body including an upper member and a lateral member coupled to the upper member; a receiving portion disposed to face one side of the lateral member; a stage disposed in the receiving portion and supporting the substrate; a plurality of first injection portions disposed in the lateral member and injecting at least one gas into a space between the lateral member and the upper member; a second injection portion disposed in the upper member and injecting at least one gas into the space between the lateral member and the upper member; and a plasma generating portion including a coil and a power source connected to the coil.
US08986792B2
To apply a thermal barrier coating (10), a plasma jet (5) is generated by a plasma torch in a work chamber (2) and is directed to the surface of a substrate (3) introduced into the work chamber, and a ceramic coating material is applied to the substrate surface by means of PS-PVD, wherein the coating material is injected into the plasma jet as a powder and is partly or completely vaporized there. On applying the thermal barrier coating, in a first workstep the feed rate of the injected powder is set so that a large part of the injected powder vaporizes, wherein the coating material condenses from the vapor phase on the substrate surface and forms mixed phases with the material of the substrate surface. In a second workstep, the feed rate of the injected powder it increased by at least a factor of 5, whereby the portion of the powder which vaporizes is reduced and the coating material is deposited in the form of elongate columns which form an anisotropic microstructure and which are aligned substantially perpendicular to the substrate surface.
US08986783B2
A method of depositing a material on a substrate is provided for use in manufacturing electronic and display devices such as semiconductors, liquid crystal displays, and organic light emitting diode displays. A deposition material stored in a first deposition source section is heated to evaporate the deposition material. A second deposition source section, which is separate from the first deposition source section, is cooled. The first deposition source section is cooled, and deposition material stored in a second deposition source section is heated so as to alternately supply evaporated deposition material from the first and second deposition source sections to a feed section. The evaporated deposition material from the feed section is supplied to a nozzle section. A substrate can be provided to receive the evaporated deposition material from the nozzle section. A thin film of deposition material can then be formed on the substrate.
US08986780B2
The disclosure relates to a method for depositing an organic film layer on a substrate. In one implementation a method to deposit organic film by generating vaporized organic particles; streaming a carrier fluid proximal to a source to carry the vaporized organic particles and solid organic particles from the source towards the substrate; transporting the vaporized and solid organic particles through a discharge nozzle with a plurality of micro-pore openings, placed between the source and the substrate, that permits the passage of at least a portion of the vaporized or solid organic particles through the micro-pores; depositing the vaporized organic particles and the solid organic particles that are transported through the discharge nozzle onto the substrate.
US08986779B2
Methods for improving surface roughness of an environmental barrier coating. The methods include providing a component having a plasma sprayed environmental barrier coating, applying an outer layer repair slurry to the environmental barrier coating of the component, drying the environmental barrier coating having the applied outer layer repair slurry, and sintering the component to produce a component having an improved surface roughness. The outer layer repair slurry includes water, a primary outer material of BSAS, and a slurry sintering aid selected from rare earth nitrate, rare earth acetate, rare earth chloride, rare earth oxide, ammonium phosphate, phosphoric acid, polyvinyl phosphonic acid, and combinations thereof.
US08986777B2
The present disclosure provides a device for preventing the fouling of a liquid dispensing nozzle. The end of the dispensing nozzle is placed in a hollow interior of a band carrying the same solvents that are dispensed by the nozzle. The solvent on the band evaporates into a gap between the ring and dispensing nozzle, thus providing a vapor sheath or environment that helps to prevent the fouling of the dispensing nozzle.
US08986772B2
Confectionery compositions, suitable for fillings, comprise one or more confectionery additives selected from sugar, cocoa powder, milk powder, yoghurt powder, flavoring and emulsifier, together with a fat blend comprising: (i) polyunsaturated fatty acid residues in an amount of greater than 40% by weight based on total fatty acid residues in the fat blend; (ii) S2U triglycerides in an amount of between 10 and 50% by weight based on the weight of the fat blend, wherein S is a saturated fatty acid residue having 12-24 carbon atoms and U is an unsaturated fatty acid residue having 12-24 carbon atoms; and (iii) H2M+M2H triglycerides in an amount of less than 5% by weight based on the weight of the fat blend, wherein H is a saturated fatty acid residue having at least 16 carbon atoms and M is a saturated fatty acid residue having 8 to 14 carbon atoms; and wherein the fat blend has a content of trans fatty acid residues of less than 3% by weight based on total fatty acid residues in the fat blend, a content of diglycerides of less than 3% by weight of the fat blend and a C12 fatty acid residue content of less than 5% by weight based on total fatty acid residues in the fat blend. The composition is particularly useful as a confectionery or bakery filling.
US08986758B2
Disclosed are: a method for extracting a traditional herbal medicine component comprising a process in which a traditional oriental medicine component is steamed together with polished rice; and a composition for an external application to skin comprising an extract which has been extracted by means of the method. The component extracted by means of the extraction method reduces the cytotoxicity of the traditional oriental medicine, is recognized as being effective in alleviating skin irritation, and exhibits an outstanding skin-whitening effect.
US08986757B2
Methods of treating wood lumber to inhibit growth of mold fungi by surface treating the wood lumber with an essential oil, diluted or undiluted, being geranium Egyptian, thyme, dill weed or rosemary. Various surface treatments include dipping, spraying, brushing and vapor exposure.
US08986755B1
An organic skin moisturizer, which extends and improves the skin cells life cycle, comprised of Sea Buckthorn seed oil, Camellia seed oil, Argan seed oil, Pomegranate seed oil, Meadowfoam seed oil, d-alpha tocopherol, Lecithin oil, Rosemary essential oil, Tea Tree oil, Helichrysum oil, and Coffee Arabica oil. The oils are blended together resulting in a compound that is easily applied to the skin for superior results to keep the skin cells healthier longer. This compound was created to address the Hayflick limit, which is that all skin cells can only divide a specific number of times before the skin cell dies.
US08986752B1
An organic skin moisturizer, which extends and improves the skin cells life cycle, comprised of Sea Buckthorn seed oil, Tamanu oil, Meadowfoam seed oil, Behenyl alcohol, Vetiver oil, Vitamin E or d-alpha tocopherol, Lecithin oil, Tea tree oil, Helichrysum oil, Melissa oil, and the titanium dioxide. The oils are blended together resulting in a compound that is easily applied to the skin for superior results to keep the skin cells healthier longer. This compound was created to address the Hayflick limit, which is that all skin cells can only divide a specific number of times before the skin cell dies.
US08986751B2
Pharmaceutical extracts from Egyptian broomrape have proven efficacy against HCV and NAFLD. Compositions and method of making and using same are provided.
US08986748B2
The present invention comprises mixtures of herb extracts which exert synergistic antioxidant effect and comprise the herb sophora and at least one other herb selected from the group consisting of honeysuckle, kudzu, and licorice. Skin care preparations incorporating such herb extract mixtures, and their methods of preparation and use, are also claimed.
US08986746B2
The present document describes methods of use of photo activated compositions for oral disinfection and/or treatments which comprise at least one oxidant, at least one photoactivator capable of activating the oxidant, and at least one healing factor chosen from hyaluronic acid, glucosamine and allantoin, in association with a pharmacologically acceptable carrier.
US08986742B2
A Rutile-type titanium dioxide having a rectangular particulate form configured such that major axial planes of rod-shaped particles having a minor axis diameter of 3 to 10 nm are oriented and aggregated in the minor axial direction, and a rod-shaped rutile-type titanium dioxide obtained by treating the rectangular rutile-type titanium dioxide with heat, wherein an apparent average major axial length of the oriented and aggregated particles is 100 to 400 nm, an apparent average minor axial length thereof is 30 to 150 nm, an apparent average axial ratio represented by apparent average major axial length/apparent average minor axial length is 2 to 5 and a specific surface area thereof is 10 to 100 m2/g.
US08986726B2
A composition comprising a structural component comprising linear acrylic homopolymers or linear acrylic copolymers and a biobeneficial component comprising copolymers having an acrylate moiety and a biobeneficial moiety is disclosed. A medical article comprising the composition in the coating thereof and a method of fabricating the medical article are also disclosed.
US08986724B2
Medical devices having a catalyst capable of catalyzing the generation of nitric oxide in vivo and methods of treating a vascular condition using the devices are provided.
US08986717B2
An antiperspirant or deodorant composition comprising i) an antiperspirant or deodorant active, ii) a liquid carrier for the antiperspirant or deodorant active, and iii) fragrance in which the fragrance comprises a mixture of first and second fragrances, respectively (iiia) and (iiib), the first fragrance (iiia) being free from encapsulation and comprising fragrance components having a boiling point of higher than 250° C. at 1 bar pressure in a weight proportion of greater than 65% and the second fragrance (iiib) being encapsulated in a water-insoluble shear-sensitive encapsulating material and comprising fragrance components having a boiling point of greater than 250° C. at 1 bar pressure in a weight proportion of less than 65%.
US08986711B2
The present invention is generally related to the prevention of leishmaniasis in animals, particularly infection caused by Leishmania sp., based on the use of Leishmania infantum P36 protein or an immunogenic fragment of the latter, or involving an expression system for the mentioned protein or fragment—optionally in combination with a compound stimulating the production of a Th1-type cellular immune response—and comprising various vaccination protocols in application to Leishmania sp. based on the mentioned vaccine.
US08986698B2
The present invention concerns a family of nucleic acids, polypeptides and cloning vectors which direct expression of fusion proteins that can mimic aggregated IgG (AIG) and immune complex function with respect to their interactions with FcγR and which allow for the inclusion and targeting of a second protein domain to cells expressing FcγR. This was accomplished by expressing multiple linear copies of the hinge and CH2 domains (HCH2) of human IgG1 fused to the framework region of human IgG1. Convenient restriction sites allow for the facile introduction of additional amino-terminal domains. Methods for treating patients using fusion proteins are also disclosed. The HCH2 polymers described here represent a new strategy in the design of recombinant proteins for the therapeutic targeting of FcγR in autoimmune disorders.
US08986697B2
Provided herein are reagents, compositions, and therapies with which to treat Clostridium difficile infection and related disease conditions and pathologies, such as Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea, resulting from infection by Clostridium difficile bacteria and the enterotoxins produced by these bacteria. In particular, antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof that bind specifically to toxin A and/or toxin B of C difficile and neutralize the activities of these toxins; compositions comprising such antibodies; and methods of using the antibodies and the compositions are provided.
US08986692B2
The present invention provides an anti-VEGF monoclonal antibody, which has the variable region of heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2 and SEQ ID NO:3, and/or the variable region of light chain comprising the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5 and SEQ ID NO:6. The antibody can be produced by the cell line with the preservation number of CGMCC NO. 3233. The invention also provides the use of said antibody for the manufacture of medicaments for the treatment of a disease that is relevant to VEGF, wherein further provided are pharmaceutical composition, agents, kits and chips comprising said antibody, as well as the cell line with the preservation number of CGMCC NO. 3233.
US08986689B2
The present invention relates to non-invasive brain delivery technology for centrally-acting analgesic peptides. Specifically, the invention is directed to compounds comprising an antibody or fragment thereof capable of transmigrating across the blood brain barrier (BBB) and an analgesic peptide. Compositions and methods of using the compounds or compositions are also provided.
US08986671B2
The present invention provides muscle-derived progenitor cells that show long-term survival following transplantation into body tissues and which can augment soft tissue following introduction (e.g. via injection, transplantation, or implantation) into a site of soft tissue. Also provided are methods of isolating muscle-derived progenitor cells, and methods of genetically modifying the cells for gene transfer therapy. The invention further provides methods of using compositions comprising muscle-derived progenitor cells for the augmentation and bulking of mammalian, including human, soft tissues in the treatment of various cosmetic or functional conditions, including malformation, injury, weakness, disease, or dysfunction. In particular, the present invention provides treatments and amelioration for dermatological conditions, gastroesophageal reflux, vesico-ureteral reflux, urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, heart failure, and myocardial infarction.
US08986667B2
The present invention relates to a mixture, having a skin-tightening effect, which is made up of: 10 to 80% by weight of a polysaccharide, preferably of an alginate, having a molecular weight of less than 600,000 Daltons, preferably less than 400,000 Daltons and more preferably less than 200,000 Daltons, 15 to 75% by weight of a polyhydroxylated agent selected from sugars and their derivatives, particularly sugar esters and sugar, ethers, preferably sorbitol, 3 to 15% by weight of poly(vinyl alcohol) or polyvinylpyrrolidone, and 0 to 25% by weight of cellulose or of a derivative of cellulose, such as carboxymethylcellulose or hydroxymethylcellulose. The present invention also relates to cosmetic compositions which contain this mixture.These cosmetic compositions enable a mechanical smoothing of the surface of the skin to be obtained progressively with great comfort of use and enables a good fixing of make-up products.
US08986640B1
An ammonia recovery system and method for removing ammonia from a gas stream is provided. The system includes an ammonia recovery vessel for contacting a solution, having a dissolved acidic salt, with the gas stream, having ammonia. The dissolved acidic salt solution absorbs the ammonia in the gas stream to provide an ammonia-lean gas stream and an ammonia-rich solution. The ammonia-rich solution is heated within an ammonia stripper to release the ammonia from the ammonia-rich solution to thereby generate an ammonia-rich gas stream and the solution having dissolved acidic salt. A heat exchanger heats the dissolved acidic salt from the ammonia stripper prior to the solution being provided to the ammonia recovery system. The acidic salt has a low thermal decomposition.
US08986638B2
The present invention relates to a process for the catalytic oxidation of sulphide, mono- and/or dihydrogen sulphide, comprising the step of contacting the sulphide, mono- and/or dihydrogen sulphide in the presence of oxygen with a chelate complex comprising (i) a metal cation selected from the group consisting of Fez+, Mnz+, Niz+ and Coz+, where z=2 or 3, and (ii) a chelate ligand containing a porphyrin, a phthalocyanine or a porphyrazine ring coordinated to the metal cation, and at least one cationic substituent covalently attached to the ring in the chelate ligand.
US08986637B2
An emission control catalyst composition comprising a supported bimetallic catalyst consisting of gold and a metal selected from the group consisting of platinum, rhodium, ruthenium, copper and nickel is disclosed. Also disclosed is a catalytic convertor comprising a substrate monolith coated with the emission control catalyst composition and a lean burn internal combustion engine exhaust gas emission treatment system comprising the catalytic convertor. A variety of processes for preparing the catalyst composition are claimed.
US08986619B2
Disclosed is an exhaust air purification device, which enables heating a carrier uniformly and heating a catalyst supported on the carrier above an active temperature thereof even when an engine is run on a cold-start mode. Specifically disclosed is an exhaust air purification device, which includes a hollow case as an exterior, a cylindrical carrier housed in the case and having a catalyst supported thereon, and a pair of electrodes arranged on the outer circumferential surface of the carrier. In the device, the carrier is electrically heated through the pair of electrodes so that the catalyst is heated to an active temperature thereof. In the device, each of the pair of electrodes is placed on an arc-shaped outer circumferential segment of the carrier that has a central angle of 20 to 40 degrees, and the electrodes are opposed to each other with the phase difference of 180 degrees.
US08986618B2
A gas-phase polyolefin reactor system for rapidly transitioning from one polyolefin product to another is disclosed. The reactor system comprises a steady-state control valve, a high-flow valve, a polyolefin reactor, a flow meter, a totalizer, an online analyzer and an empirical model. During a transition, the on-line analyzer measures an initial concentration of a reaction component, the empirical model predicts a required amount based upon the measured initial concentration and a selected ending concentration, the flow meter measures a flow rate, the totalizer determines a totalized amount when the flow rate of the first stream reaches the required amount based upon the measured flow rate and outputs the totalized amount to the empirical model, and the empirical model compares the required amount to the totalized amount and determines a transition endpoint. A method of rapidly transitioning the reactor system from one polyolefin product to another is also disclosed.
US08986586B2
Electrical power cable having a reduced surface coefficient of friction and required installation pulling force, and the method of manufacture thereof, in which the central conductor core, with or without a separate insulating layer, is surrounded by a sheath of crosslinked polyethylene. A high viscosity, high molecular weight silicone based pulling lubricant or fatty acid amide pulling lubricant is incorporated by alternate methods with the polyethylene to form a composition from which the outer sheath is extruded, and is effective to reduce the required pulling force on the cable during installation.
US08986578B2
The high impact strength conductive adhesive is a mixture formed from a bisphenol A-based epoxy resin, a curing agent, and silver flakes. In one embodiment, the bisphenol A-based epoxy resin forms about 10.5 wt % of the mixture and the curing agent forms about 14.5 wt % of the mixture, the balance being silver flakes. In this embodiment, the curing agent is preferably an oligomeric polyamine curing agent, such as amidoamine-polyoxypropylenediamine t-butyl phenol. Each silver flake preferably has a tap density of between about 4.0 g/cm3 and about 5.8 g/cm3, and a surface area of between about 0.8 m2/g and about 0.3 m2/g. In an alternative embodiment, the bisphenol A-based epoxy resin forms about 11.7 wt % of the mixture and the curing agent forms about 16.3 wt % of the mixture, the balance being silver flakes.
US08986573B2
Terbium doped phosphate-based green luminescent material and preparation method thereof are provided. The chemical formula of the material is M3RE1-xTbx(PO4)3, wherein, M is alkaline-earth metals, RE is rare-earth elements, x is in a range of 0.001 to 1. The preparation method of the material includes the following steps; providing the compound used as the source of alkaline earth metal, the compound used as the source of phosphate, the compound used as the source of rare-earth, and the compound used as the source of Tb3+ according to the molar ratio of the elements in M3RE1-xTbx(PO4)3, wherein, the compound used as the source of phosphate is added at excess molar ratio in a range of 10% to 30%; mixing and grinding the compound to get mixture; sintering the mixture as pre-treatment, and then cooling the mixture to get a sintered matter; grinding; calcining in reducing atmosphere, and then cooling them.
US08986559B2
Compositions and methods for chemical texturing a surface of a polycrystalline silicon wafer to be used in the manufacture of solar cells provide increased efficiency in the manufacture and operation of solar cells. The compositions and methods disclosed herein include first and second components, wherein the first component is a UKON etch composition, including a hydrofluoric acid/nitric acid mixture and water, while the second component includes a silicon wafer texturing enhancer (SWTE).
US08986558B2
A plasma etching method capable of oblique etching with a high aspect ratio and high uniformity is provided. In the plasma etching method, a base body is etched with a high aspect ratio by the following process: An electric-field control device having an ion-introducing orifice penetrating therethrough in a direction inclined from the normal to the surface of a base body is placed on or above the surface of this base body. Plasma is generated on the surface of the base body on or above which the electric-field control is placed. A potential difference is formed between the plasma and the base body so as to attract ions in the plasma toward the base body.
US08986556B2
A TAMR (Thermally Assisted Magnetic Recording) write head is formed with a narrow pole tip, a trailing edge magnetic shield and, optionally, a plasmon shield. The narrow pole tipped write head uses the energy of laser generated edge plasmons, formed in a plasmon generating layer, to locally heat a PMR magnetic recording medium slightly below its Curie temperature, Tc. When combined with the effects of the narrow tip, this local heating to a temperature below Tc is sufficient to create good transitions and narrow track widths in the magnetic medium. The write head is capable of writing effectively on state-of-the-art PMR recording media having Hk of 20 kOe or more.
US08986552B2
Cross-flow filtration with turbulence and back-flushing action for use with online chemical monitors
A filtration and monitoring system. An inlet pipe provides fluid to a filter block chamber and has an inlet valve located therein configured to shut off the flow of the fluid through the inlet pipe. A filtered fluid conduit fluidically connects the filter block with the monitoring device. The outlet axis of the outlet pipe in the filter chamber is offset from the inlet axis of the inlet pipe such that the fluid undergoes a change of direction while passing through the filter block chamber thereby causing turbulent flow within the filter block chamber to reduce the buildup of filter cake on the filter element. Closing the inlet valve block, results in a back-flushing flow of fluid through the filter element from a pressure accumulator located in the filtered fluid conduit.
US08986549B2
The present invention relates to an apparatus for the treatment of liquids, comprising a filter module with a filter, an inlet for liquid, a first outlet for liquid and a second outlet for filtered liquid, wherein the inlet and the first outlet are positioned on a first side of the filter, and the second outlet is positioned on the second side of the filter, a first UV-treatment module with a first UV-light source, wherein the first UV-treatment module is connected with the first outlet of the filter module and adapted to receive liquid from the filter module, and to expose said liquid to UV-light from the first UV-light source, and a second UV-treatment module with a second UV-light source, wherein the second UV-treatment module is connected with the second outlet of the filter module adapted to receive filtered liquid from the filter module, and to expose said liquid to UV-light from the second UV-light source.
US08986548B2
An oil containment recovery dome including an upper containment portion and at least one bladder. The upper containment portion has an enclosure defined therein that is adapted to receive equipment used in conjunction with a well and to retain therein oil or gas that escapes from the well. The at least one bladder is attached to the upper containment portion.
US08986546B2
To promote mixture of fluids on a plurality of stages, flow channels include a plurality of merging portions which penetrate from a top surface to a back surface of a substrate. An end of each of the sub channels is disposed so as to overlap the main channel at each of positions separated along the direction in which the main channel extends, and each of the merging portions communicates the main channels and the ends of the sub channels with each other, thereby changing a flow direction of the second fluid flowing through the sub channels to the thickness direction of the substrate, and merges the second fluid with the first fluid flowing through the main channels.
US08986536B2
The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for recovery of spent lubricating oil. The evaporation of hydrocarbon fractions from spent lubricating oil is carried out in three steps. The first step is at approximately 150-1030 mbar and between 70-240° C. in which is greater than 99% water, greater than 99% of ethylene glycol and greater than 50% of hydrocarbon molecules with normal boiling point up to 310° C. are evaporated from spent oil. The second step is operated at 6-30 mbar and 200-2900 C in which predominantly gasoil and light vacuum gasoil fractions are evaporated. The third step is operated at 250-320° C. and 0.5-15 mbar in which mainly heavy vacuum gasoil (boiling range of 425 to 570° C. on ASTM D-1160 test) is evaporated from spent oil.
US08986531B2
A system includes an ionic exchange conduit through which a flow of photosynthetic biomass is drawn capturing an electrical charge which is used to alternately power a photonic activated reservoir housing a living photosynthetic biomass suspended in a flowing liquid medium which self generates an electrical charge as it migrates towards and through a cathode separated from an anode by a membrane. Upon electrical transfer through the circuit an electrolysis process begins and releases hydrogen and oxygen into enclosed atmosphere chambers where these separated gases can be captured for use in a fuel cell.
US08986528B2
The invention relates to a method for characterizing a target polynucleic acid by providing a surface containing a channel of a dimension sufficient to allow sequential monomer-by-monomer passage of a single-stranded polynucleic acid, but not of a double-stranded polynucleic acid; providing a source of hybridized target polynucleic acid at the surface; inducing passage of the target polynucleic acid through the channel, whereby the target polynucleic acid undergoes base pair separation (melts) prior to its passage; and making one or more measurements over time as the target polynucleic acid moves relative to the channel yielding data suitable to determine a monomer-dependent characteristic of the target polynucleic acid.
US08986520B2
An apparatus for administering a therapeutic is provided. In various embodiments, the apparatus includes an ozone generator for producing therapeutic oxygen-ozone mixture. The generator includes an electrochemical cell configured to communicate with an accumulator having an anode, a cathode and a power supply in electrical communication with the anode and the cathode. The power supply is configured to create an electric current between the anode and the cathode such that water in the electrochemical cell electrolyzes to produce ozone and oxygen at the anode.
US08986516B2
A method to release hydrogen from a material comprising hydrogen fixed fullerenes involves irradiating the hydrogen fixed fullerenes with electromagnetic radiation of sufficient intensity to release hydrogen rapidly upon irradiation. The intensity of the irradiation and/or the area of irradiation can be adjusted to control the rate and extent of hydrogen release. The hydrogen depleted material comprising hydrogen fixed fullerene can be hydrogenated to regenerate the material.
US08986513B1
A process for producing boron nitride nanotubes and/or boron-carbon-nitrogen nanotubes of the general formula BxCyNz. The process utilizes a combination of laser light and nitrogen gas flow to support a boron ball target during heating of the boron ball target and production of a boron vapor plume which reacts with nitrogen or nitrogen and carbon to produce boron nitride nanotubes and/or boron-carbon-nitrogen nanotubes of the general formula BxCyNz.
US08986509B2
An accelerated vapor recompression apparatus 10 converts incoming flow 35a to a concentrate 35c by developing a concentration profile 146 within a tank 30 holding a liquid 23 containing dissolved solids. The resulting curve 160 of saturation temperature of the stratified liquid 23 (such as a brine 23 or other material 23) moves away from the curve 162 corresponding to fully mixed conditions. The shift 174, 180 in saturation temperature results in increased boiling without increased energy from a heater 70 or compressor 50. A method 90, 200 of control of the system provides interventions 203, 204, 205, 206 at different levels 92, 94, 96, 98 of control, ranging from mass flows 35 to work of a compressor 50, heat from a heater 70, and a predictive processing 215 of feedback 217 for controlling commands 216 algorithmically.
US08986504B1
A digester apparatus is provided for delignifying wood chips to form wood pulp comprising: a vessel, a first downcomer, an outer fluid supply downcomer and structure defining an insulating region between the first and outer downcomers. The first downcomer extends into the vessel for delivering a first fluid into the vessel. The first fluid is generally at a first temperature when passing into the first downcomer. The outer fluid supply downcomer extends into the vessel and may be located about the first downcomer for supplying a second fluid into the vessel. The second fluid may be generally at a second temperature different from the first temperature when passing into the outer downcomer. The structure defining an insulating region between the first and outer downcomers functions to reduce heat transfer between the first and outer downcomers.
US08986503B2
Whitewater recovery processes, and associated systems and components, are generally described. Certain embodiments relate to whitewater recovery processes in which ion exchange is used to remove dissolved ions from the whitewater, which can reduce the degree to which chemical additives are used in the process. In certain embodiments, flocculation and/or filter components can be employed to aid in the removal of suspended solids from the whitewater.
US08986496B2
Device for stripping a product substrate from a carrier substrate connected to the product substrate by an interconnect layer by means of a flexible film that is mounted on a film frame and that comprises an adhesive layer for holding the product substrate in a bonding surface section of the film, the film being mounted on the film frame in an attachment section of the film that surrounds the bonding surface section, and the film comprising a stripping section that is located between the bonding surface section and the attachment section, the device having stripping means for effecting a stripping of the product substrate from the carrier substrate from a periphery of the product substrate.
US08986495B2
A plasma processing apparatus includes an upper electrode that is installed within a processing chamber so as to face a lower electrode, supplies a gas through a plurality of gas supply holes provided in a facing surface and is vertically movable; a cover body installed above the upper electrode so as to airtightly seal a top opening of the processing chamber; a multiple number of gas exhaust holes provided in the facing surface; a ring-shaped member that is arranged along a circumference of the upper electrode, is vertically movable along with the upper electrode, and forms, at a lowered position, a processing space surrounded by the lower electrode, the upper electrode and the ring-shaped member; a multiplicity of gas supply holes opened in an inner wall of the ring-shaped member; and a plurality of gas exhaust holes opened in an inner wall of the ring-shaped member.
US08986491B2
Provided is a method of forming a thru-hole through a composite structure having a plurality of internal compartments. An insert ring is connected to the composite structure to create a protective layer around the periphery of a penetration formed within the composite structure. An adhesive is disposed between the composite structure and the insert ring to create a fluid-tight seal between the insert ring and the internal compartments. In this regard, the fluid-tight seal mitigates fluid flow between the internal compartments.
US08986490B2
A method of manufacturing a component having first and second layers, the first and/or second layers including one or more depressions provided on a surface of the respective layer. The method including: arranging the first and second layers so that they face one another and with the depressions on inner facing surfaces of the layers; diffusion bonding the first and second layers together about their edges; applying a first differential pressure across each of the first and second layers to evacuate an inner space defined by the layers, thereby forming one or more depressions on an outer facing surface of the first or second layer; and applying a second differential pressure across each of the first and second layers to expand the inner space defined by the layers.
US08986489B2
A method for attaching a label to a surface of an item. The label includes a carrier layer and a bonding layer. The method includes heating the bonding layer using infrared light such that the infrared light has a maximum spectral irradiance at a peak wavelength. The bonding layer has an absorbing spectral region that spectrally matches with the peak wavelength.
US08986487B2
The present invention relates to a consolidated composite pre-form for reinforcing a composite structure, said pre-form comprising fibers and a binding agent, said pre-form having a sheet-like structure with an upper major surface and a lower major surface, and said pre-form being provided with recesses on at least a portion of at least one of said major surfaces.
US08986479B2
An in-situ double vacuum debulk (DVD) composite repair system designed to produce partially or fully cured autoclave-quality hot-bond composite repairs on contoured structures. The system provides vacuum pressure for hot bond repairs to be performed on flat and contoured structures using one set-up capable of debulking (partially curing) and then fully curing composite repairs on composite and metallic aircraft structures. The use of in-situ DVD also eliminates handling of the patch/adhesive when transferring from an off-aircraft DVD chamber to the repair site on the aircraft. This can increase the probability of successful repairs because the possibility of contaminating and misaligning the adhesive and repair patch are eliminated.
US08986467B2
A method for passivating metallic surfaces, wherein the surface is contacted with an aqueous composition comprising at least one water-soluble polymer (X) comprising acidic groups and with at least one surfactant (T) based on alkoxylated alcohols, the pH of the composition being in the range from 0.5 to 5, enables durable protection of the surface.
US08986458B2
The present invention provides a plasma processing apparatus capable of bringing plasma close to a processing target and separating the plasma from the processing target. The plasma processing apparatus 1 according to the present invention has a chamber internally having a holding space 2a in which a processing target object 5 is held, and a plasma space 2b in which plasma is to be formed, a plasma gun 3 for emitting electrons into the plasma space 2b to form the plasma, and at least one pair of position-adjustable opposed magnets 4 for forming a magnetic flux passing across the chamber 2, between the holding space 2a and the plasma space 2b.
US08986437B2
Delignification of biomass consisting of plants containing lignin is done by utilizing an amino compound in an aqueous solution or emulsion to produce water soluble amino lignin and non-soluble amino lignin cellulose which are utilized to produce adhesives and resins for use to produce wood composites and carbohydrate production.
US08986427B2
Apparatus for transforming the air exchange load of a higher air exchange rate space into the air exchange load of a lower air exchange rate space, including: a housing; an air inlet and at least one air outlet formed in the housing; a passageway extending through the housing and connecting the air inlet to the at least one air outlet; a circulation fan disposed in the passageway so as to draw the air of the higher air exchange rate space into the air inlet, through the passageway, and return that air to the higher air exchange rate space through the at least one air outlet; and a filter disposed in the passageway for purging noxious substances from the air passing through the passageway, whereby to transform the air exchange load of a higher air exchange rate space into the air exchange load of a lower air exchange rate space.
US08986420B2
A powder material, a method for manufacturing a communication device, and a communication device are disclosed. The powder material according to an embodiment of the present invention includes quartz glass powder, tungsten powder, and an auxiliary material, where a weight proportion of the quartz glass powder is 5% to 90%, a weight proportion of the tungsten powder is 5% to 90%, and a weight proportion of the auxiliary material is 0 to 20%. The powder material according to another embodiment of the present invention includes titanium powder, tungsten powder, and iron powder, where a weight proportion of the titanium powder is 4% to 80%, a weight proportion of the tungsten powder is 5% to 90%, and a weight proportion of the iron powder is 4% to 80%.
US08986419B2
The invention relates to an aqueous solution of a mixture for treating urea-based fertilizers/fertilizers containing ammonium that contains 1,2,4-triazole and 3-methylpyrazole in the weight ratio 2/1 and at least one polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylpyrrolidone and a tenside.
US08986414B2
A method of manufacturing a selected spacing folded, pleated media by preparing a pre-pleated sheet of filter media having pleats with peaks and troughs throughout its length applying an at least one adhesive element along the pre-pleated sheet of filter media; advancing and cutting the pre-pleated sheet of material; compressing the cut length of pre-pleated sheet of filter material, resulting in folding of the pleats and adherence of the pleats into a folded, pleated filter media stack that is selectively separable; selectively separating the media stack and selecting a pleat spacing for a selected pleat spacing section application of an at least one spacing support element at the peaks of each pleat and refolding and recompressing into a selected spacing folded, pleated media stack wherein the media stack is adhered and can be selectively removed to extend from a compacted state to a deployed state with the selected pleat spacing.
US08986413B2
The invention relates to a filter module (1) for removing air-polluting materials from machine exhaust, comprising a filter housing (2) with an intake opening (5) and an outlet opening (6) for channeling machine exhaust through, at least one mounting element (24) for mounting the filter module (1) on a machine, and a filter assembly (7), arranged in the filter housing (2) and comprised of at least two filter groups (8), arranged in tandem in the direction of flow (3) and comprised of rod-shaped filter elements (10) with a filter medium (20), said elements being arranged parallel to one another at a constant center-to-center distance (9) and with their longitudinal axis largely crosswise to the direction of flow (3), wherein the filter elements (10) of two adjacent filter groups (8) are parallel to one another, and are arranged offset in relation to one another, crosswise to their longitudinal axes and to the direction of flow (3). The filter elements (10) are connected with at least one filter bracket (11) to form at least one filter insert (12), and the filter insert (12) is detachably connected to the filter housing (2).
US08986410B2
A method of forming an abrasive article includes providing a green body having abrasive particles including microcrystalline alumina, and heating the green body via microwave radiation to form a bonded abrasive body including the abrasive particles and a bond material comprising a vitreous phase.
US08986398B2
A range of motion (ROM) prosthetic foot and passive dampening ankle joint have limited dorsiflexion-plantarflexion (up and down) pivoting to accommodate different environments, and a spring to provide resilient resistance to plantarflexion (or lowering of the toe), and to bias the foot in dorsiflexion (or raising the toe). The ankle joint has a rear pivot rearward of a hydraulic link for a smooth feel. The ankle joint has an internal bumper in a hydraulic cylinder for a smooth feel. The ankle joint has an internal hydraulic compensator disposed in the cylinder and carried by the piston to equalize volume.
US08986392B2
A femoral implant includes a main shaft with a proximal end and a smooth distal end. A porous circumferential collar is provided between the proximal end and distal end, and a porous distally-extending portion extends distally from the collar to provide for additional bone ingrowth.
US08986381B2
A structural/biological implant and method of use. The implant being utilized as a single or multiple staged system that is designed to encourage new alveolar bone growth with or without the need to obtain autologous bone. The implant has an apical portion that is fastened into existing bone, with the remainder of the implant left outside of existing bone. The exposed portion of the implant may have an external shape or configuration with a variety of attached and/or integrally formed mechanical retention and stability elements. Osteotropic/angiotropic material may be associated with the implant to induce and or conduct new bone growth and possible vascularization, thus, rather than fitting the implant into the bone, the bone is grown integratively with the implant.
US08986379B2
An instrument for placing a graft into a bone tunnel comprises an elongated shaft having a forked distal end comprising a pair of tines. A suture spans a space defined between the tines whereby the graft may be positioned between the tines and against the suture so as to be manipulated into the bone tunnel. The tendon folds about the suture, the suture having a releasable tension such that the instrument can be removed from the bone, leaving the tendon behind without the tendon hanging up on the suture.
US08986373B2
Embodiments of a method for implanting a prosthetic valve at the native mitral valve region of the heart, the prosthetic valve including a main body that is radially compressible to a radially compressed state and self-expandable from the compressed state to a radially expanded state. The prosthetic apparatus also comprises at least one ventricular anchor coupled to the main body and disposed outside of the main body with a leaflet-receiving space between the anchor and an outer surface of the main body to receive a native valve leaflet. Apparatus for delivering and implanting the prosthetic valve are also described.
US08986370B2
In a surgical method for improving cardiac function, an implantable scaffold or valve support device is inserted inside a patient's heart and attached to the heart in a region about a natural mitral valve. The scaffold or valve support device defines an orifice and, after the attaching of the scaffold or valve support device to the heart, a prosthetic or bio-prosthetic valve is seated in the orifice. The scaffold or valve support device is at least indirectly secured to cordae tendenae of the heart.
US08986369B2
A bioabsorbable implant including an elongated metallic element having an alloy including more than about 70% by weight magnesium and about 2-20% by weight lithium, and being substantially free of rare earth metals, the elongated metallic element defining at least a portion of the bioabsorbable implant, wherein the alloy defines a columnar microstructure including grains having an average grain length of at least about 1 mm, and an average grain diameter of less than about 3 mm.
US08986368B2
A stent comprised of a valve and a scaffolding structure having components configured to allow at least a portion of the stent to decrease in diameter in response to an axial force applied to the stent. Further, the components and elements of the stent may be configured to balance transverse forces applied to the stent, thus reducing the incidence of infolding.
US08986360B2
A delivery device for positioning and deploying an implantable device within a lumen is provided. The device includes a longitudinal outer tube having proximal and distal ends, wherein the implantable device is positioned proximate to the distal end of the outer tube. The device also includes a longitudinal inner tube slidably disposed within the outer tube and having proximal and distal ends, wherein at least a portion of the distal end of the inner tube is configured to underlie at least a portion of a proximal end of the implantable device. The distal end of the inner tube is located proximally of the distal end of the outer tube to define a gap for accommodating at least a portion of the implantable device. A mechanism is coupled to the inner and/or outer tubes and is operable to deploy the implantable device within the lumen.
US08986353B2
An orthopedic plate is specifically configured for use in osteotomies, in which part of the plate extends into a portion of a first bone segment and part is external to the cortical surface of an adjacent bone segment to fix the segments to allow them to fuse. The plate has a first end and a second end where the end which is inserted into the bone has a chamfer and a through hole having a hole axis optionally at an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis of the plate, and which can receive a screw, peg or pin. The second end of the plate includes a locking screw hole and optionally including a compression slot extending in a direction toward a screw hole in the opposing end. Optionally, the non-locking hole has a shroud that forms an arc or portion of a cylinder over the hole. A plate driver having a recess that holds the plate is used to insert the plate into the bone.
US08986350B2
An osteosynthesis plate includes at least two drilled holes arranged adjacent to one another. A notch is arranged on the convex side of the osteosynthesis plate, between the at least two drilled holes arranged adjacent to one another.
US08986342B2
Methods for ischemic conditioning treatments of a chronic medical condition are provided. Baseline disease-related parameters of a patient with a chronic medical condition are measured. Ischemia is induced in the patient by occluding and releasing arterial flow in one or more extremities of the patient. Post-ischemia parameters in the patient are measured. The baseline and post-ischemia parameters are compared to provide an assessment of an ischemic conditioning treatment of a chronic medical condition. The repeated, scheduled delivery of ischemic conditioning provides a beneficial, therapeutic effect on the chronic medical condition. Also provided is a device for pulse oximetry during periods of absent or low pulsatile blood flow including an artificial pulse generator as well as the use of said device in assessment of ischemic conditioning.
US08986340B2
A balloon dilation catheter includes a substantially rigid inner guide member and a movable shaft coupled to a balloon that is slidably mounted on the substantially rigid inner guide member. To treat a sinus cavity of a subject using the balloon dilation the substantially rigid inner guide member is advanced into a drainage pathway of the sinus (e.g., frontal recess) of the subject via a nasal passageway. The shaft and balloon are advanced in a distal direction over the substantially rigid inner guide member to place the balloon in the drainage pathway. The balloon is inflated to expand or otherwise remodel the drainage pathway.
US08986338B2
Certain aspects of the present invention provide devices for occluding vascular vessels. In some preferred forms, these devices are able to move from a first condition to a less compact, second condition in a vascular vessel so as to fully or partially prevent fluid from passing through the vessel. One such device includes a frame and a flexible sheet material. The device also includes an occluding material that is located in an interior region of the frame. The flexible sheet material and frame are associated with one another such that when the device is in the second condition in the vascular vessel, the sheet material is positioned in the vessel lumen so as to block fluid flow through the lumen.
US08986331B2
A treatment instrument comprises an end effector and a plunger. The end effector comprises a plurality of cutting features and an interior cavity. At least a portion of the plunger is slidably positioned within the interior cavity of the end effector. The plunger comprises a distal head attached to the distal end of a central shaft. The plunger is configured to rotate within the end effector, and comprises a cutting member that is operable to mince tissue specimens captured by the cutting features of the end effector. An alternative treatment system comprises an end effector, a plunger, and a plug. The central shaft of the plunger and the plug are slidably located within an inner tube of the end effector, with the plug being positioned distal to the central shaft.
US08986327B2
An assembly includes a flexible fixation member, a suture, and a delivery device. The flexible fixation member includes a body with two terminal ends. A suture passes through the flexible fixation member at various points along a length of the body such that portions of the fixation member are slidable relative to the suture and configurable to form a cluster within a surgical site. The delivery device includes a tubular member, an elongated inserter, and a trigger. The elongated inserter is slidably disposed within the tubular member. The inserter has a forked distal end configured to receive a portion of the flexible fixation member and the suture. The trigger is finger-engagable and fixedly coupled to the proximal end of the inserter. It is configured to advance and retract the inserter relative to the tubular member. The trigger includes a retention member for retaining a proximal end portion of the suture.
US08986320B2
A device for crimping a radially expandable and collapsible prosthetic valve comprises a coiled wire frame having a longitudinal opening extending from a proximal end to a distal end thereof. The opening has a first state and a second state, the opening in the first state having a first diameter dimensioned to receive the prosthetic valve in an expanded or partially crimped configuration therein, and the opening in the second state having a second diameter dimensioned to receive the prosthetic valve in a crimped configuration. The coiled wire frame has a first end coupled to a first member and a second end coupled to a second member. The first member is movable relative to the second member to convert the coiled wire frame from the first state to the second state.
US08986317B2
A process for producing the actuating part of an instrument for endoscopic applications, which instrument comprises a tubular member having a handling end portion with a flexible portion and an actuating device located at another end portion, which actuating device comprises a cylindrical part connected to the handling end portion, a cylindrical part connected to the actuating device and a number of longitudinal elements for transferring the movement of the actuating device to the handling end portion, the actuating device being made beginning with a full cylindrical tube which is provided with a number of longitudinal slits thereby forming the longitudinal elements.
US08986316B1
A multi-positional dual drill guide for use in orthopedic surgical procedures provides two independent drill guides which are independently, pivotally and removably secured along a pivotal drill guide plate comprising two separate and independent guide plate sections, selectively aligning each of the two drill guides for drilling an intersecting bone channel into a common bone from different locations for the passage of a suture and associated tissue during an orthopedic repair of a joint. The drill guide provide for three dimensional movement of the drill guides to provide a range of drilling angles from nearly zero degrees up to 180-degrees apart and in a three dimensional array, the drill.
US08986313B2
A cartridge system for mixing and applying a mixing ware. The cartridges are arranged parallel and they are connected to a mixing space and an outlet opening. The cartridges each comprise a feed plunger for expelling starting components of the mixing ware from the cartridges through the openings, and each cartridge has at least one closure allocated to it that is shiftable in longitudinal direction of the cartridges, whereby the closures close the openings of the cartridges in a starting position, and the openings are open, at least in part, in an end position of the shiftable closures. In open position, the closure is shifted into a hollow space. The closures are cylindrical in shape and in their end position are capable of being lowered into cylindrical hollow spaces of the cartridges in order to uncover the openings.
US08986301B2
A method is described for modifying at least one property of a tissue of or near a nasal valve of a nose, without using a surgical incision or an implant, to decrease airflow resistance or perceived airflow resistance in a nasal airway. The method may involve contacting a treatment element of a treatment device with the at least one tissue inside the nasal airway, with sufficient force to at least temporarily deform the at least one tissue, applying energy to, or removing energy from, the at least one tissue, using the treatment element, and removing the treatment element from the nostril.
US08986295B2
Herein is disclosed a planar electrode which includes two equally sized electrode surfaces. The equally sized electrode surfaces are electrically separated along a linear insulation zone and adjoin directly along an inner edge portion. The two equally sized electrode surfaces include, respectively, a band-shaped extension section, which encloses the other electrode surface along its outer edge portion and thereby is separated by the extended insulation zone from the respectively enclosed electrode surface.
US08986291B2
A stone capture device comprises a shaft with a deployable sweeping structure at its distal end. The shaft is adapted to be removably placed over and connected to a conventional ureteroscope. The combination of the stone capture device and ureteroscope can be introduced into the urinary tract to capture, fragment, and remove stones from the bladder and kidney.
US08986289B2
A method for marking coagulation sites on a retina by application of a light source including: projecting a serial spot sequence from a sequential, one-dimensional series of spots on the retina, wherein the individual spots indicate the coagulation sites; waiting for confirmation of the sequence of individual spots; after confirming, recalculating an automated sequence of steps having a further serial spot sequence and projecting them on the retina according to the first step; and subsequent repeating of the second and third steps. Also, a system for coagulating the retina, having an imaging diagnostic unit, a therapy beam for coagulating coagulation sites, a pilot beam for marking the coagulation sites by a spot sequence, a beam deflecting unit for generating the spot sequence and for positioning the therapy beam, an electronic control unit for controlling the above devices, a software interface, and an interactive interface.
US08986286B2
A kit for preparing a medical catheter from catheter sections comprises a tubular protective member surrounding a first, proximal one of the catheter sections. The kit further comprises a joint for interconnecting the catheter sections, the joint defining a substantially liquid tight seal at one end of a substantially annular and longitudinally extending cavity provided between the proximal end portion of the first catheter section and an inner wall of the tubular protective member. Following removal of the tubular protective member, one of the catheter sections is exposed and ready for insertion into the urethra.
US08986285B2
A suction device is disclosed that includes a suction tube having a first longitudinal axis, and proximal and distal openings; a guide tube that is substantially coextensive with and parallel to the suction tube, and has a second longitudinal axis, and proximal and distal openings; a stylet having proximal and distal ends; and a junction conduit having proximal and distal openings; wherein the stylet is disposed along the second longitudinal axis and encircled by the guide tube, and the proximal opening of the junction conduit contacts the distal opening of the suction tube and the distal opening of the guide tube such that the distal opening of the junction conduit is in fluid communication with the suction tube, and urging the stylet through the guide tube translates the stylet to the distal opening of the junction conduit.
US08986284B2
A body of a catheter includes an inner layer, a braid, and an outer layer. The braid includes first and second wires. The first and second wires can be joined together such that the distal end portion of the first wire winds itself around a side surface of the second wire. A joint includes a first joint portion positioned at the intersection point, a second joint portion positioned beyond the first wire in a width direction of the first wire, and a third joint portion positioned beyond the second wire in a width direction of the second wire. Thus, even when the first and second wires have small thicknesses for size reduction of the braid, the first and second wires can be joined together with high joint strength by increasing the area of the second joint portion or the thickness of the third joint portion.
US08986274B2
The present invention provides an absorbent article in which a joining strength between sheet-shaped members is improved. A joint portion which joins a front trunk-surrounding region and a rear trunk-surrounding region of the absorbent article to each other has a first joint region arranged continuously along an outer edge and the second joint portion arranged continuously in a region closer to the outer edge than the first joint region, substantially parallel to the first joint region. The sum of the areas of the plurality of first joint portions in the first joint region is less than the sum of the areas of the second joint portions in the second joint region.
US08986272B2
A package includes a tampon and applicator assembly and a wrapper for enclosing the tampon and applicator assembly. The wrapper is selectively configurable between a sealed configuration wherein the tampon and applicator assembly are sealingly enclosed in the wrapper and an opened configuration for allowing the tampon and applicator assembly to be removed from the wrapper. The wrapper has a front panel, a back panel, two side edges, two end edges, an interior space, a longitudinal axis, and a transverse axis. The front panel has, in the opened configuration of the wrapper, a pair of spaced-apart longitudinal components extending generally parallel to each other and longitudinally of the wrapper to define an opening in the wrapper. Each of the longitudinal components is spaced inward from the respective side edge.
US08986267B2
A reduced pressure apparatus includes a first casing portion and a second casing portion slidably coupled to the first casing portion such that the first casing portion is compressible into a plurality of positions relative to the second casing portion. The plurality of positions includes a fully compressed position and a fully uncompressed position. An indicator is disposed on at least one of the first casing portion and the second casing portion, the indicator being exposed when the first casing portion is in the fully uncompressed position.
US08986266B2
A device for dispensing liquid including a liquid reservoir which can be deformed so as to dispense liquid by pressing on the reservoir, a liquid-dispensing end piece fitted on the reservoir, a channel for the passage of liquid, a channel for the passage of air from the outside to the inside of the reservoir, the channel for the passage of air being closed off by a member made of an air-permeable polymeric material, this material being non-porous, the member being called the air-permeable member.
US08986253B2
Two chamber pumps and related methods provide a platform for measuring flow rate in about real time without contacting the material being pumped. Pressure and optional temperature sensors disposed in a pressurized chamber allow for flow material delivery calculations after being calibrated or by knowing the initial volume of the flow material to be delivered.
US08986240B2
An IOP control valve is disclosed. The IOP control valve comprises a corrugated membrane and a housing including a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The corrugated membrane is anchored within the housing to form a reference chamber on a first side of the corrugated membrane and a fluid flow channel on a second opposing side of the membrane. The reference chamber has a reference chamber pressure representative of atmospheric pressure. The fluid flow channel can selectively increase and decrease in size to permit fluid to flow from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet. The corrugated membrane is configured to affect flow through the fluid flow channel from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet by deflecting in response to pressure differentials of the reference chamber pressure and the fluid flow channel pressure acting on the opposing sides of the corrugated membrane.
US08986238B2
Systems and methods for salvaging blood cells from an absorbent material are disclosed. In one exemplary aspect, such as system includes a rotatable basin having perforations to allow rinse solution from a stationary basin to reversibly flow therethrough to wash the blood cells from the absorbent material, thereby forming an effluent solution. The system further includes a hemoconcentrator in fluid communication with the stationary basin having first and second fluid outputs for discharging a diluent solution and a blood cell discharge solution from the effluent solution respectively. The blood cells can be salvaged from the blood cell discharge solution. The second fluid output is in fluid communication with the stationary basin for recycling the diluent solution as the rinse solution.
US08986236B2
A disposable sterile breakable vial includes a handle section and a vial section which are completely separable in response to a manually applied separation force. The vial section includes a sterile void dimensioned to contain a unit dose of a sterile therapeutic topical agent. An elongated member comprises a proximal portion supported by the handle section and a distal portion provided with a sterile applicator element, such as a brush. At least the applicator element is completely enclosed within the vial section with the applicator element immersed within the therapeutic topical agent. A hermetic seal between the handle and vial sections maintains sterility of at least the vial section prior to handle and vial section separation. Complete separation of the handle section and the vial section exposes the elongated member and the applicator element for topical application of the therapeutic agent saturating the applicator element.
US08986231B2
A system for treatment of an autonomic nervous system of a patient includes a focused ultrasound energy source for placement outside the patient, wherein the focused ultrasound energy source is configured to deliver ultrasound energy towards a blood vessel with a surrounding nerve that is a part of the autonomic nervous system inside the patient, and wherein the focused ultrasound energy source is configured to deliver the ultrasound energy based on a position of an indwelling vascular catheter.
US08986228B2
Apparatus is described for measuring and displaying the magnitude of traction forces applied to a patient's lower limbs during surgery, and for measuring the direction and magnitude of counter-traction forces applied to the patient's body by the perineal post located at the patient's groin to oppose traction forces applied to the patient's lower limbs.
US08986225B2
A guidewire for use in a medical procedure includes an elongate guide member dimensioned for insertion within a body vessel of a subject. The guide member includes an elongate body segment and a leading tip segment. The elongate body segment defines a longitudinal opening, and the leading tip segment is adapted and dimensioned to articulate relative to the elongate body segment about a single axis. A control element extends through the longitudinal opening of the elongate body segment and is longitudinally movable through manual manipulation of a clinician to cause corresponding articulating movement of the leading tip segment.
US08986222B2
A disposable tissue removal device comprises a “tube within a tube” cutting element mounted to a handpiece. The inner cannula of the cutting element defines an inner lumen and terminates in an inwardly beveled, razor-sharp cutting edge. The inner cannula is driven by both a rotary motor and a reciprocating motor. At the end of its stroke, the inner cannula makes contact with the cutting board to completely sever the tissue. An aspiration vacuum is applied to the inner lumen to aspirate excised tissue through the inner cannula and into a collection trap that is removably mounted to the handpiece. The rotary and reciprocating motors are hydraulically powered through a foot pedal operated hydraulic circuit. The entire biopsy device is configured to be disposable. In one embodiment, the cutting element includes a cannula hub that can be connected to a fluid source, such as a valve-controlled saline bag.
US08986214B2
The invention relates to a method for using tissue contact technology to optimize automated cardiac chamber mapping algorithms to both speed up the mapping process and guarantee the definition of the actual chamber limits. The invention further comprises a method for conveying tissue type information to such automatic mapping algorithms so as to allow them to adapt their point collection density within areas of particular interest. The method is enhanced by the use of a magnetic chamber that employs electromagnetic coils configured as a waveguide that radiate magnetic fields by shaping the necessary flux density axis on and around the catheter distal tip so as to push, pull and rotate the tip on demand and as defined by such automatic mapping algorithms.
US08986201B2
A surgical sheath for use in endoscopic trans-nasal or intra-ocular surgery has an angle section joined to a conical section, with the conical section having a central axis not parallel to a central axis of the angle section. A body section is joined to the angle section, with the body section having a length at least twice the length of the angle section. The conical section, the angle section and the body section may be a flexible or compliant material. The sheath reduces collateral trauma to the tissues in the surgical pathway.
US08986193B1
A penile implant having a body with a circular and linear elongated wall having an outer and an inner exterior surfaces. The body tapered from a larger to a small diameter between opposing longitudinal ends. The elongated wall tapered diametrically from a thicker to a thinner wall thickness between a top position and two opposing longitudinally extensive edges. Net fabric sheets imbedded below surfaces of the outer and the inner exterior walls wherein the net fabric sheets prevent the body from creasing.
US08986190B2
The invention relates to an implant (1) or prosthesis for treating a genital prolapse, characterized in that it comprises a support portion (41, 51), which has been preformed with a hollow shape in order to match the shape of an organ that is to be supported, and one or more bearing portions (42, 52), which extend away from the support portion (41, 51) so as to bear on bone or ligament structures in order to stabilize the implant.
US08986189B2
Apparatus and methods to reduce ventricular volume are disclosed. The device takes the form of a transventricular anchor, which presses a portion of the ventricular wall inward, thereby reducing the available volume of the ventricle. The anchor is deployed using a curved introducer that may be inserted into one ventricle, through the septum and into the opposite ventricle. Barbs or protrusions along the anchor body combined with a mechanical stop and a sealing member hold the device in place once deployed.
US08986185B2
A hand-cranked centrifuge is adapted for use in isolating autologous fat in injectible from. A number of syringes are hingeably coupled to a flywheel of the centrifuge. As the centrifuge turns, the syringe(s), which are supported at one end, move into a horizontal orientation and are centrifuged until the fats get separated from other liquids present in the syringes. A number of syringes, syringe holders and related devices are disclosed to accommodate centrifugation.
US08986177B2
Disclosed is a muscle specific exercise device. The device may provide passive or active resistance training throughout an angular range of motion. The device may be low profile, and worn by a wearer, such as beneath conventional clothing. Exercise of selective joints or motion of the body may thereby be accomplished throughout the wearer's normal daily activities, without the need for access to conventional exercise equipment. Alternatively, the device may be worn as a supplemental training tool during conventional training techniques.
US08986176B2
Disclosed herein is an exercise device comprising a plurality of belt members attached to, and arranged in parallel on a base frame, the exercise device further comprising at least one frictional member disposed in frictional contact with, and forcibly biased against a surface of at least roller in communication with the belt such that an external force applied to at least one of the belts is opposed by a frictional force provided by the frictional contact between the frictional member and the roller. A method of exercising using the exercise device is also disclosed.
US08986174B2
A barbell includes a bar assembly that includes a sleeve rotatably fitted over a rotating-locking mechanism at an end of a shaft; and an end cap attached to an open end of the sleeve to enclose the rotating-locking mechanism and the end of the shaft inside the sleeve, in which the rotating-locking mechanism includes a supporting ring rotatably fitted over the shaft and a joining ring attached to the end of the shaft, in which the supporting ring abuts, on one side, a shoulder on an inner surface of the sleeve and, on the other side, the joining ring.
US08986173B1
Dumbbells with resistance bands suitable for performing a variety of exercises are described. The dumbbells with resistance bands include a pair of resistance bands that are affixed to opposing ends of dumbbell weights. Each dumbbell weight includes a means to adjust the length of a band as well as a locking mechanism. The length of each band may be adjusted and locked to provide varying levels of resistance.
US08986170B2
A swim training aid apparatus is provided for use on a limb of a swimmer, during a swimming motion. The training aid includes a flexible band member configured to extend circumferentially around the limb, and a lock device cooperating with the band member to releasably retain the same around the swimmer's limb. The training aid further includes a substantially non-absorbent, flexible material sheath having one end thereof mounted to the band member, and an opposite end thereof extending distally past and terminating beyond the limb.
US08986161B2
After an engine starts, a rotation speed of the engine is fed back to a target rotation speed that is defined in response to requested power for the engine. In addition, by operating a gear ratio of a CVT, a rotation speed of an output side of a one-way bearing is fed back to the target rotation speed.
US08986160B2
In an epicyclic gear system, each planet gear is connected by a respective connecting pin to an asymmetric planet carrier having two plate portions connected to each other, and only one of which is connectable to a reaction member; and at least one end portion of each connecting pin and the plate portion connected to the reaction member are connected by a radially undulated annular wall flexible angularly and radially.
US08986140B1
A device and method pertaining to a basketball shooting aiming aid, which is positioned at a rear side of a transparent basketball goal apparatus and provides a rear target at which a shooter may aim when shooting a bank shot, which target is independent of the shooter's position on the court at the moment of shooting. A minimum impingement height line is also provided so that when a basketball impinges the backboard above this line and along a line toward the rear target, the basketball will reflect downwardly at an angle of at least 32 degrees, increasing the chance of moving through the rim.
US08986137B2
A ball includes a core, a cover, and cracking element or cracking layer. The cracking layer may be deformed or actuated to create discontinuities in the cover. The creation of discontinuities allows for easier recycling of the ball parts. The cracking layer may include one of a bladder or a hydrophilic material that expand upon the introduction of a fluid, a shape memory polymer that deforms upon application of a stimulus, or two materials that react chemically to form a gas.
US08986129B2
The invention relates to a portable device and a method for monitoring the performance a sportsman performing a plurality of motor acts, such as golf swings. The device comprises at least one sensor providing an output signal, the sensor being responsive to body movements of the sportsman. A signal processing unit is used for extracting data on the course of each of the plurality of motor acts from the sensor output signal, and a computing unit is used for determining, based on the data on the course of the plurality of motor acts, at least one characteristic number describing the repeatability of the motor act. By the means of the invention, the handicap number of the golfer can be predicted with good accuracy by monitoring several his or her subsequent swings.
US08986128B2
A golf swing practice apparatus which includes a rotating drum having an optical sensor mounted inside the drum that is capable of swiveling in a direction perpendicular to the rotational direction of the drum and capable of detecting a change in swivel position or swivel angle; an elongated cord including a proximal end secured to the drum and a distal end secured to a golf ball; a base member having an impact area over which a user may swing a golf club; and a frame structure secured to the base member and to the rotating drum whereby the frame structure holds the rotating drum in an elevated position above the impact area.
US08986126B2
Structure of a cross universal joint is achieved in which the fact that an excessive torque was applied to a universal joint due to a collision accident or mishandling can be easily determined afterwards. Protrusions 20, which are straight lines as seen from the outside surface sides of linking arm sections 15c of a yoke 12c, are formed on the outside surfaces of the linking arm sections 15c. When an excessive torque acts and the linking arm sections 15c are plastically deformed, the protrusions 20 change from a straight line to a non-straight line. From this change it is possible to easily confirm that an excessive torque has been applied to a cross universal joint that includes this yoke 12c. Moreover, when the space between the inside surfaces of the linking arm sections 15c is taken to be D, and the length in the axial direction of the linking arm sections 15c is taken to be L, the dimensions of the parts of the yoke 12c are regulated so that the relation 3
US08986122B2
A system, method and apparatus for a gaming system is provided. The gaming system includes a rewards server and a separate gaming or slot accounting server. The system may further include a separate player tracking server. The system further includes one or more game machines. The game machines may include a base game, rewards tracking module, and a game management module. Further details will be apparent from the description, drawings and claims.
US08986120B2
An entertainment system includes an object tracking camera, a logic subsystem operatively connected to the object tracking camera, and a data holding subsystem holding instructions executable by the logic subsystem. The instructions are executable to receive one or more images of a scene from the object tracking camera, the scene including a human and a companion object. The instructions are further executable to recognize a gesture of the human based on the received one or more images, and to wirelessly send a control command to the companion object responsive to the recognized gesture.
US08986117B2
Systems and methods that regulate a hybrid game to detect and/or defeat unauthorized use of the hybrid game. One embodiment includes a method of detecting unauthorized operation of a hybrid gaming system that includes a gambling game and an entertainment game. In addition, the method can include collecting first game operating performance data (GOPD) from the entertainment game while the hybrid game is being played by a first player, generating a reference profile using the first GOPD, collecting second GOPD from the entertainment game while the hybrid game is being played by a second player, comparing the second GOPD to the reference profile to determine whether the second player is operating the hybrid game in an unauthorized manner, and generating a notification to an operator upon determination that the second player is operating the hybrid game in an unauthorized manner.
US08986106B2
A gaming table, gaming system, gaming device, and gaming method that provide a roulette game having a plurality of different roulette wheels. For each play of the roulette game, one of the different roulette wheels is selected and employed in or for that play of the roulette game. When the player or players place their wagers, they do not know which of the different roulette wheels will be employed for that play of the roulette game. After the player or players place their wagers for the play of the roulette game, the selected roulette wheel for that play of the roulette game is indicated to the player or players, and the play of the roulette game commences using that indicated roulette wheel. Wagers placed on the play of the roulette game are settled or resolved based on the outcome on that indicated roulette wheel for that play of the game.
US08986094B2
Systems and operations for a distributed bonus game feature for wagering game systems are disclosed. In one example, a wagering game may award a bonus game to a player. A delay period is set for the bonus game. The delay period and other details regarding the bonus game are persistently stored on a paper ticket or in a database on a wagering game server. The bonus game may be initiated (after the delay period) on a different wagering game machine than the machine that awarded the bonus game. In a second example, funding for a bonus game for a player may be determined in accordance with a random number generator on a wagering game machine currently occupied by a player. If the player moves to a different machine, output from a random number generator on the new machine may be used to determine continued funding for the bonus game.
US08986086B2
An insert (10) for an opening in a base (20) includes a housing (12) having a peripheral side wall (18) defining an interior space (24). The peripheral side wall (18) includes at least one latch member (90) having a latching position. The latch member (90) engages the base (20) to secure the housing (12) in the opening when the latch member (90) is in the latching position. The housing (12) is inserted into the opening in a first direction (A) to engage the latch member (90) with the base (20). At least one indicator (100) shows when the at least one latch member (90) is in the latching position. The indicator (100) is visible in the first direction (A) when the insert (10) is in the opening in the base (20).
US08986078B2
A method for processing poultry suspended by the feet from a conveyor hook is provided. The method and apparatus allow the quality of the poultry to be classified and graded in a simpler and more effective manner to realize higher yields or an extra added value. In one exemplary embodiment, a processing apparatus for a foot of the poultry is provided that includes a foot pad inspection apparatus.
US08986074B2
Wet abrasive systems typically have a combination of equipment, controls, and piping systems that allow various fluid flows to be controlled in order to provide the various operations. A fluid control circuit is used to provide fluid to the correct locations for each operation. A fluid control circuit has a multiport selector valve. The selector valve allows selective fluid communication between the fluid inlet and either a first fluid outlet or a second fluid outlet. A first piping system is in fluid communication with the first fluid outlet and a second piping system is in fluid communication with the second fluid outlet. The fluid control circuit may also have jumper piping system between the first piping system and the second piping system. The combination of a multiport selector and the piping systems provide a convenient blast system to operate.
US08986073B2
A method for preparing a polymer insulated cable including a semiconductive layer surrounding a polymeric insulation layer includes: cutting the semiconductive layer by grinding a circumferential dividing groove in the semiconductive layer using a rotating grinding surface, wherein the dividing groove defines first and second semiconductive sections of the semiconductive layer on opposed sides of the dividing groove; and thereafter removing the second semiconductive section from the polymeric insulation layer while retaining the first semiconductive section on the polymeric insulation layer.
US08986067B1
Various embodiments of the present invention describe an expression mechanism that can be used to display facial expressions for a doll. This facial expression mechanism can be used with a wide array of toys, including dolls and other items that include a face. The facial expression mechanism includes a flexible cord that can be adjusted to form various shapes that represent different emotions of a doll.
US08986058B2
An outboard motor includes a cooling water passage that guides cooling water to cool an exhaust passage and a cylinder unit. A cooling water intake port draws external cooling water into the cooling water passage. A water pump draws cooling water into the cooling water intake port and supplies the cooling water to the cooling water passage. A thermostat is arranged in the cooling water passage downstream of the catalytic converter and the cylinder unit. A first bypass passage is connected to a first connecting section provided on the cooling water passage. The first connecting section is provided along the cooling water passage at a position farther downstream than the catalytic converter and farther upstream than the thermostat.
US08986053B2
A slip ring brush includes a holding device made of two U-shaped holding plates inserted into each other. A holding plate includes clamping fingers which, disposed opposite of one another in pairs, form cavities that accommodate brush wires. The brush wires are tightly clamped inside these cavities by clamping fingers and are secured by additional clamping sleeves.
US08986049B2
An electrical connector includes an insulator body, a number of terminals arranged on the insulator body, and a shell surrounding the insulator body. The insulator body comprises a main body and a mating portion extending forward from the main body, the front end of the mating portion has a mating aperture, and the top and bottom sides of the mating aperture have a number of terminal grooves. Each terminal includes an elastic portion, a contact portion extending from the elastic portion, and an abutting portion located at the end of the contact portion. The terminals can be configured as to become gradually thinner toward the abutting portion.
US08986043B2
With a simple configuration, plastic deformation of contacts can be prevented while avoiding increase in size, and occurrence of failure in electrical connection due to dust can be well prevented. In an elastic beam-like member of a first-side contact extending like a cantilever in an insulating housing, a bent extending part which substantially increases the span length of the elastic beam-like member is formed to be bent to have a curved shape at a root part serving as a part coupled to a fixing base part. A through hole is formed in a region including at least part of the bent extending part to ensure flexibility while enhancing elasticity of the contact, thereby preventing permanent deformation of the contact. Meanwhile, dust which has entered the equipment is caused to fall through the through hole, thereby ensuring electrical conductivity well.
US08986040B2
A child safety plug lock for releasably securing a plug within a power outlet. The plug lock comprises a body portion including a through-hole and left and right sides. The plug lock also includes left and right arm portions which extend from the left and right sides, respectively, of the body portion. Each arm portion includes an inwardly facing flange. The plug lock is designed to be secured to an outlet via the through-hole in the body portion. The flanges are sized and positioned to engage and retain a plug in the power outlet when the plug lock is attached to the power outlet via the through-hole. The left and right arm portions are flexible, and are sized and positioned such that pressure applied to an arm portion causes that arm portion to flex laterally away from the plug.
US08986034B2
A connector includes a first member having a first bore, a second member having a second bore configured to align with the first bore, and a fastener for securing the first member to the second member through the first and second bores. The connector includes a tubular extension affixed to the first member and configured to encircle at least a portion of the first member and the second member. The tubular extension includes an access hole to permit insertion of the fastener through the first and second bores and an exit hole to permit extension of the fastener through the first bore or the second bore. The connector further includes a receptacle configured to slide over the tubular extension to form a weather-resistant barrier for the connector. The tubular extension is configured to support the receptacle.
US08986031B2
The present invention provides a connector in which insertion of a substrate up to a proper position enables achievement of an electrical connection between the substrate and a contact point member. The connector includes a housing with an insertion recessed portion into which a substrate is to be inserted, a contact point member that includes a contact point portion which is installed in the housing, protrudes into an insertion recessed portion, and is electrically connected to a conductive portion of the substrate to be inserted, and position determining member which moves the contact point member, when the substrate is inserted into the insertion recessed portion of the housing, in such a manner that the contact point member is retracted from the insertion recessed portion and then protrudes into the insertion recessed portion to make an electrical connection to a conductive portion of the substrate.
US08986028B2
A wired pipe segment includes a body extending from a box end to a pin end and a coupler located in one of the box and pin ends, the coupler including a communication element and a coupler connector in electrical communication therewith and extending away from the communication element. The segment also includes a transmission line extending away from the coupler towards the other of the box and pin end, the transmission line including an inner conductor surrounded by a dielectric material, the inner conductor extending beyond an end of the dielectric material. The segment also includes a connector that electrically connects the coupler to the transmission line, the connector including an inner conductive connection having first and second ends that are, respectively, in contact with the inner conductor and the coupler connector.
US08986025B2
A plug device, for engaging a first connector with a second connector or disengaging the first connector from the second connector, includes a base, an operation platform, a sliding member, and an operation assembly. The operation platform is secured to the base. The operation platform is used for securing the second connector and support the first connector. The sliding member is used for grasping the first connector. The operation assembly includes a handle. The handle is rotatable relative to the base to slide the sliding member relative to the operation platform, so that the first connector is engaged with the second connector or disengaged from the second connector.
US08986022B2
A pivoting face receptacle may include a receptacle module. The receptacle module may include a hinge and a receptacle attached to the hinge. The receptacle is configured to pivot, about the hinge, from a retracted position in which a face of the receptacle is parallel to a front of the receptacle module, to an extended position in which the face of the receptacle is substantially perpendicular to the front the receptacle module and protrudes from the face of the receptacle module. The pivoting face receptacle may also include a receptacle housing. The receptacle housing, having a front affixed to a rear of the receptacle module, may include a plurality of contacts on exterior faces of the receptacle housing. The receptacle housing may be configured to receive the receptacle into a space enclosed by the receptacle housing when the receptacle is in the retracted position.
US08986011B1
A method and apparatus for generating visible objects not blocked by other objects in a simulation during training with aircraft. A position for each aircraft in a number of aircraft is identified for which objects that block the fields of view for each aircraft are to be identified to form a number of positions for the number of aircraft. Any object in the simulation that blocks a portion of a field of view for each aircraft at the position for each aircraft is identified to form a number of objects. Simulation data is created for a number of visible objects not blocked by the number of objects in the simulation that has been identified as blocking the portion of the field of view for each aircraft in the number of aircraft. The simulation data is sent to each aircraft in the number of aircraft.
US08986009B2
A process for determining 3-D data of at least one prepared jaw area, such as a prepared tooth stump, by mechanically scanning the jaw area and digitizing the measured values determined during the scanning. The jaw area is prepared with a dental instrument having positions which are optically measured during the preparation, and the 3-D data is determined from the positions of the dental instrument that are associated with the prepared jaw area.
US08986000B2
A system having a flame rod assembly for operation in a high temperature pilot burner. The assembly is designed for operation in temperatures from about −40 to 1100 degrees C. The system may operate in inclement weather involving high speed winds and significant amounts of moisture and rain to hurricane storm force levels and rates. The system incorporates an electrical apparatus which may provide flame sensing and ignition via the flame rod assembly incorporating a quick drying insulator around a rod of the assembly to ensure proper operation of the electrical apparatus.
US08985989B2
A three-dimensional printing apparatus is provided, including a container, a display, a control unit and an optical film. The container contains a photosensitive material. The display has a plurality of display units. Each of the display units is capable of emitting a light beam. The control unit is capable of controlling the display units. The optical film is capable of projecting the light beams emitted from the display units onto the photosensitive material, forming a plurality of projected patterns. An arranging sequence and an arranging direction of the projected patterns are substantially the same as an arranging sequence and an arranging direction of the display units.
US08985985B2
A rotary compressor (102) has a shaft (4), a cylinder (5), a piston (8), a first vane (32), and a second vane (33). The first vane (32) divides a space between the cylinder (5) and the piston (8) along a circumferential direction of the piston (8). The second vane (33) further divides the space divided by the first vane (32) along the circumferential direction of the piston (8) so that a first compression chamber (25) and a second compression chamber (26) having a smaller volume than the first compression chamber (25) are formed within the cylinder (5). The piston (8) and the second vane (33) are integrated together, or the piston (8) and the second vane (33) are coupled together.
US08985979B2
A hinged joint is formed on a volumetric rotary machine with a spherical working cavity formed between a spherical rotor part and the spherical surface of the body, between a piston, which is mounted in such a way as to enable rotary oscillations relative to the rotor in the plane passing along the axis of rotation of the rotor, and a rotor, which is mounted in such a way as to enable rotation about the spherical rotor part. This solution has made it possible to increase the reliability, service life and thermal stability of machines of this type. In addition, helical channels for communication between symmetrical working chambers and channels within the rotor for connecting the working chambers to the working-medium inlet and outlet openings are formed inside the spherical rotor part. This solution has made it possible to increase the specific power of the machine.
US08985977B2
An apparatus for use in a wellbore may include a stator having a bore and a rotor disposed in the bore. Either or both of the rotor and the stator may include a layer that has an asymmetrical material property profile along at least a portion of a circumference of that layer.
US08985976B2
An expander-integrated compressor (100) includes: a compression mechanism (2) for compressing a working fluid; an expansion mechanism (3) for expanding a working fluid; and a shaft (5) that couples the compression mechanism (2) and the expansion mechanism (3). The expansion mechanism (3) includes a variable vane mechanism (60). The variable vane mechanism (60) controls the movement of a first vane (48) so that the ratio of a period P2 to a period P1 (P2/P1) can be adjusted, where P1 denotes the period during which the first vane (48) is in contact with a first piston (46) in the course of one rotation of the shaft (5), and P2 denotes the period during which the first vane (48) is spaced from the first piston (46) in the course of one rotation of the shaft (5).
US08985974B2
Disclosed is a vane compressor in which cylinders concentrically formed at the side of a rotor are eccentrically inserted in ring-shaped spaces between cylindrical parts concentrically formed at the side of a stator. A pair of radially extending vane attachment grooves is formed in the rotor, and vanes are slidably attached in the vane attachment grooves. Compression chambers the volumes of which repeatedly increase and decrease with each rotation of the rotor are concentrically formed in multiple stages by the cylindrical parts of the stator, the cylinders of the rotor, and comb-tooth parts of the vanes. It is possible to realize a vane compressor in which compression chambers can be concentrically arranged in multiple stages in a simple structure by suppressing increase in the number of components to the minimum level.
US08985972B2
An electric motor of an electric submersible pump is electrically isolated from a power conduit for diagnostic testing of the power conduit and wet connection components in place within a wellbore. The electric motor is electrically connected to the power conduit through a wet connection assembly having motor leads in electrical connection with a transfer contact and a receptacle assembly disposed on a tubing string having a supply contact electrically connected to the power conduit. Electric power flows through the power conduit, through the supply contact, through the transfer contact, and through the motor leads to the motor. The supply contact and the transfer contact are separated by a sliding sleeve that hydraulically inserts between the contacts, insulating the transfer contact and grounding the supply contact for testing. The contacts may also be separated by a relative rotation of the assemblies that grounds the supply contact for testing.
US08985968B2
A cylinder is configured into a bottomed tubular form and includes an inner peripheral wall, an inner bottom wall, an outer peripheral wall and an intake hole and a discharge hole. The inner peripheral wall slidably guides the plunger. The intake hole and the discharge hole communicate between the inner peripheral wall and the outer peripheral wall. A pump housing includes a cylinder receiving hole that includes an inner peripheral wall, into which the cylinder is inserted. A pressurizing chamber is formed by the inner peripheral wall and the inner bottom wall of the cylinder and a distal end outer wall of the plunger.
US08985964B2
A float switch apparatus for controlling the energization of multiple electric circuits in response to the level of a liquid in a vessel, and a pump system incorporating same, are provided. The apparatus has a guide structure adapted to be mounted in a fixed position relative to the vessel. A first micro-switch with a normal and an engaged position is mounted to the guide structure and is adapted to be connected into a first electric circuit to control the energization thereof. A second microswitch with a normal and an engaged position is mounted to the guide structure at a location above the first micro-switch and is adapted to be connected into a second electric circuit to control the energization thereof. A float rod is slideably mounted to the guide structure for reciprocating movement in a generally vertical direction in a zone above a resting position. The float rod has upper and lower float stops and a lower cam surface for releasing the first micro-switch from an engaged position to its normal position during upward movement of the float rod above the resting position. The float rod also has an upper cam surface for moving the second micro-switch from its normal position to its engaged position during upward movement of the float rod. The float, adapted to float with the level of liquid in the vessel, is slideably mounted to the float rod between the upper and lower float stops.
US08985959B1
Devices, systems and methods of using a single turning knob and blade holder posts to align and lock a ceiling fan blade to a blade holder. An assembler can fit a blade with a matched pattern of openings over the upwardly protruding locating features on the blade holder until the blade bottoms on the holder. The knob is turned clockwise to lock in place against the stop feature on the pedestal, and counter-clockwise to unlock. Spring loaded detents can lock the turning knob in place in a counter-clockwise direction.
US08985956B2
The present application provides a compressive stress system for a gas turbine engine. The compressive stress system may include a first bucket attached to a rotor, a second bucket attached to the rotor, the first and the second buckets defining a shank pocket therebetween, and a compressive stress spring positioned within the shank pocket.
US08985948B2
A fluid turbine comprises a rotor rotatable in use about an axis transverse to the direction of fluid flow, the rotor having a first part carrying a plurality of arcuate blades that may be arranged selectably in compact straight shapes or in arcuate shapes and a second part journalled in a base structure by two or more bearings. Another aspect of the invention discloses an installation frame, devised to support the turbine or other elongated structures in a folded arrangement for transportation on a trailer, and to support assembly and erection thereof.
US08985946B2
A mounting system for mounting a blade to a rotor body includes a pitch control mechanism including an anchor and a pitch change rod extending radially outwardly from the anchor to join to a base of the blade. The anchor and the rod are rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the rod to vary the blade pitch. The pitch control mechanism further includes a torque-transmitting formation between the blade and the anchor such that pitch-varying torque can be transmitted to the blade through the torque-transmitting formation while allowing relative radial movement between the blade and the anchor. The system includes a primary bearing formation, which transmits blade centrifugal loads to the rotor body while accommodating variation of the blade pitch, and secondary bearing formation, which transmits pitch change mechanism centrifugal loads to the rotor body while accommodating rotation of the anchor and the rod during variation of the blade pitch.
US08985943B2
A variable-nozzle turbocharger includes a turbine housing and a center housing, and a generally annular nozzle ring and an array of vanes rotatably mounted to the nozzle ring such that the vanes can be pivoted about their axes for regulating exhaust gas flow to the turbine wheel. The vanes extend between the nozzle ring and an opposite wall formed by an insert in the turbine housing. A vane sealing member is supported on the insert, and has a portion disposed between distal ends of the vanes and the insert. This portion of the vane sealing member is configured to be contacted by the distal ends of the vanes when the vanes are in the closed position, while a clearance exists between the portion of the vane sealing member and the distal ends of the vanes when the vanes are in the open position.
US08985939B2
A serial fan frame assembly structure includes a first fan frame and a second fan frame. The first fan frame has a first and a second retainer, as well as a first and a second receiving slot; and the second fan frame has a first and a second receiving recess, as well as a first and a second post. The first and second retainer are configured for correspondingly engaging with the first and second recesses, while the first and second posts are configured for correspondingly engaging with the first and second receiving slots, so that the first and the second fan frame can be quickly assembled together in a manner capable of reducing vibration during the operation of a serial fan.
US08985931B2
A rotating drum with elevated discharge chute to lower the height requirement of a stacked seed treatment system. The height requirement of stacked seed treatment systems can be lowered by elevated the discharge point of the treated seed without requiring additional expense transfer components. The elevated discharge drum incorporates a series of lifting flights at the discharge end of the drum. These flights elevate the seed onto a discharge chute, which facilitates transfer to the discharge conveyor.
US08985929B2
A substrate processing apparatus includes: a carrier block including first and second carrier placement units spaced apart in a right and left direction; a processing block having a layered structure in which a plurality of layered parts are vertically arranged, the layered parts each including a substrate transport mechanism for transporting a substrate and a processing module for processing a substrate; a tower unit including plural substrate placement units located at height positions where a substrate is transferred by the substrate transport mechanism of the layered part corresponding to the substrate placement unit; a first substrate transfer mechanism configured to transfer a substrate between the carrier on the first carrier placement unit and the substrate placement unit of the tower unit; and a second substrate transfer mechanism configured to transfer a substrate between the carrier on the second substrate placement unit and the substrate placement unit of the tower unit.
US08985927B2
Hanger strips for securing insulation material to a surface of a structure formed of sheet metal material including a plurality of bases which are connected by one or more breakable tabs integrally formed between each pair of adjacent bases and wherein first open slots extend from each of the breakable tabs toward opposite side edges of the bases and wherein a shank extends from each of the bases in a common direction and wherein pluralities of strips are oriented in first and second assemblies of rows of strips having their shanks opposing one another and their bases overlapping one another such that tips of the shanks are safely enclosed between the bases of the opposing assemblies and seated within the first open slots.
US08985926B2
Disclosed herein is a tapping screw (1) exerting an excellent anti-loosening effect with regard to a workpiece made of a soft material such as resin and an aluminum alloy. The tapping screw (1) includes a shaft part (3), and a normal thread (10) which is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the shaft part. A clearance groove (20) is formed by cutting out a portion of a ridge of the normal thread, and an engaging protrusion (30) is provided on a bottom of the clearance groove along a portion or an entirety of an edge of the bottom that continuously extends from a flank surface of the normal thread. The tapping screw (1) exerts an excellent anti-loosening effect even when a workpiece expands, contracts or oscillates because the engaging protrusions (30) are embedded into portions of the workpiece which have been embedded into the clearance grooves (20).
US08985919B2
A vehicle wheel chock for a vehicle restraint system for an auto-rack railroad car which secures a vehicle in the auto-rack railroad car. The vehicle wheel chock is configured to be positioned on a grating adjacent to a tire of the vehicle.
US08985917B2
A cutting machine for gear shaping or the like is provided. The cutting machine includes a gear shaping head. The gear shaping head has a ram that is guided by and reciprocates along a linear guide mounted between a saddle of the gear shaping head and the ram. At least one linear motor reciprocates the ram along a stroke axis relative to the saddle. The ram also carries a rotary drive and a spindle that reciprocate in unison with the ram. The rotary drive directly drives the spindle to journal the spindle through incremental angular positions during gear shaping.
US08985908B2
Forcing equipment meant for forcing piles, steel profiles and other elongated objects into the ground which forcing equipment comprises a body (1) which can be attached to a working machine, a vibration device (6) attached to the body (1) with the help of damper cushions (9) and moveable grip jaws (10) adjusted to the mentioned vibration device (6) in order to grip the object to be forced at least with a side grip. The body (1) comprises an upper part (2) including an attachment arrangement (4), (5) for attaching it to the working machine and side parts directed from the upper part (2) downwards between which side parts the vibration device (6) and grip jaws (10); (17, 18) can be attached through cassette (7) comprising damping rubbers (9) in which case the attachments comprise pin/hole attachments (11, 23, 14); (20, 8) or (21, 8) which can be opened by detaching the mentioned pins (11, 20, 21).
US08985904B1
A system and method of operating a sonar system is provided. The sonar system comprises a towed body, such as a depressor body, with a towed line array attached thereto configured to be towed behind a host vessel. A line feed mechanism is operative to recover and/or deploy the towed line array from the vessel while the towed line array remains attached to the towed body.
US08985899B2
A method of removing water from a water body, such as a stream or river, upstream from an existing authorized stream diversion, while simultaneously, adding water (not native to the watershed), downstream of the new authorized diversion location, in a manner to not change or influence, the flow quantity or availability, historically passing a point downstream of the new location of non-tributary water introduced into the stream or river.
US08985897B2
A precast concrete storm water assembly comprised of a plurality of modular precast concrete components is provided. More specifically, a fluid collection and containment system is provided that comprises a plurality of underground modules and permeable devices, such as ground level pavers, to allow the ingress of fluid at a predetermined rate. Various permeable and non-permeable conduits are also contemplated for conveying fluid within the system.
US08985890B2
A vehicle barrier system comprises a housing, substantially vertical members, a barrier member, and an actuation assembly. The barrier member is coupled with the substantially vertical members. The barrier member is configured to stop a moving vehicle when the substantially vertical members are in a raised position relative to the housing. The actuation assembly is operable to selectively raise and lower the substantially vertical members relative to the housing to selectively deploy and retract the barrier member relative to the housing. The actuation assembly comprises a powered rotary actuator mounted to the barrier member. The actuation assembly is operable to convert rotary motion from the rotary actuator into linear movement of the barrier member. A counterweight provides opposing mass and vertical motion relative to the barrier member.
US08985889B2
A shrink disk for the frictional connection of rotating machine parts comprises at least an outer ring and an inner ring, which are connected together at at least one substantially axially extending conical contact surface. In this case, at least the outer ring or the inner ring comprises two axially spaced-apart ring elements. Furthermore, there is provided at least one intermediate ring which is arranged between the two ring elements, is connected to the ring elements in each case at a substantially radially extending conical contact surface and has a plurality of radially extending through-passage bores and/or threaded bores along its circumference. Furthermore, a plurality of adjusting screws is inserted through openings on the outer ring into the through-passage bores and/or threaded bores. The intermediate ring is radially displaceable and the two ring elements are axially displaceable by rotation of the adjusting screws.
US08985886B1
A hand-held shower head with an integral deployable brush for cleaning one's back and other hard-to-reach body areas is mounted to the shower head handle upon a sliding mechanism. In a lowered position, the brush is out of the way of the water stream enabling operation similar to a conventional hand-held shower. When in a raised position, the water stream flows through openings in the brush body.
US08985877B1
A quick attachment and release device and base may attach to a tri-pod or be carried on a harness worn by a user and includes a quick release allowing easy attachment of accessories. The device and base includes a shaft which enters a passage in the base and is retained by a toggle at a toggle end of the shaft. The toggle end of the shaft is passed through the passage and the toggle is rotated into a locked position preventing removal of the shaft. A spring on a spring end of the shaft, opposite to the toggle end, retains the toggle in the locked position. The quick release may be used to attach the accessories to the accessory harness which includes a connector supported by a bi-pod carried by suspender straps, and optionally a third leg. The same accessories may be attached to tri-pods using the shoe mount.
US08985874B2
Disclosed are optical connectors having lenses along with methods for making the same. In one embodiment, the optical connector includes a fiber body having a front portion with a plurality of fiber guides, and a connector body having a plurality of connector body fiber guides that lead to a plurality of lenses at a front portion of the connector body. The fiber body attaches to the connector body and may align a plurality of optical fibers to the lenses at the front portion of the connector body. One embodiment has the fiber body configured as a crimp body with a barrel at a rear portion for attaching a fiber optic cable.
US08985860B2
A prong type resin cage includes: an annular portion; and multiple cage bars. Each cage bar has a roller guide face formed in each opposed face thereof, the opposed face being opposed to an outer peripheral face of a corresponding one of rollers. The roller guide face is used for roller guide by the outer peripheral face at a rotational speed equal to or lower than a prescribed rotational speed. A cage outer face including an outer peripheral face of the annular portion and radially outer faces of the cage bars has outer ring guide faces of which diameter is increased radially outward by a centrifugal force to decrease a radial clearance between the outer ring guide faces and an inner peripheral face of the outer ring, so that outer ring guide by the inner peripheral face is carried out, at a rotational speed higher than the prescribed rotational speed.
US08985846B2
A laser power meter incorporating an absorber disc with a peripheral thermopile ring, either continuous or segmented, and an additional temperature detection element in the central portion, that enables measurement of beam size. This detection element can be a thermopile element, generally a ring of smaller diameter than the peripheral thermopile used, and located closer to the center of the absorber disc. With this arrangement the beam size can be measured, in addition to measurements of the power and the position of the beam. Alternatively, this centralized detection element can be a single thermocouple junction located at the center of the disc, which acts as the hot junction of a thermocouple pair. The second or cold junction is effectively located on the disc close to the peripheral thermopile. Alternatively, two temperature measuring elements can be used, one at the disc center and one at the periphery.
US08985845B2
A timepiece movement including a tourbillon that has a rotating carriage bearing a sprung balance and an escapement. The carriage includes a top pivot and a bottom pivot, respectively carried by a top bridge and a bottom bridge of the carriage. The carriage pivots between a bottom plate of the timepiece movement and a bridge of the movement in the timepiece movement includes a stop member, arranged for limiting the axial shake of the carriage.
US08985843B2
The present invention describes a system and method for easy, affordable, efficient, and convenient preparation and storage of fresh, high-quality homemade baby food. The system generally comprises a blender for processing fresh produce into baby food and multiple devices to store multiple portions of freshly produced baby food resulting from one use of the system. For example, one component of the system includes a storage cup having a freshness indicator and lid to immediately store the freshly made food in an organized and convenient manner. The method comprises steps of producing the baby food, transferring the food to an appropriate storage receptacle, adjusting an indicator on the storage receptacle to indicate the freshness level of the food, and immediately serving and covering the remaining receptacles to store the unused food.
US08985840B2
Mixing apparatus and methods for the continuous production of monomer emulsions that may be used in the production of polymer dispersions by radical aqueous emulsion polymerization. The mixing apparatus can include a pipe-in-pipe injector (100) and a suitable rotor-stator mixer (102). Liquids are delivered to the rotor-stator mixer via an inner (110) and an outer (108) pipe in such a way as to substantially prevent feed inconsistencies in a feed ratio of the liquids prior to entering a mixing zone of the rotor-stator mixer for emulsion formation.
US08985836B2
A liquid supply device according to the invention includes a container which is filled with a liquid from a liquid storage portion, and the container includes a bottom surface portion, an upper surface portion, and a stirrer which moves in the bottom surface portion and stirs the liquid. The relationship between a height Ht in the vertical direction of a central portion in the container and a height Hb in the vertical direction of the stirrer satisfy the Expression: 0.40×Ht≦Hb≦0.90×Ht.
US08985827B2
A backlight module includes a light source, a reflector, an optical fiber group, and a light guide unit. The light source emits light rays. The reflector defines a number of through holes. The optical fiber group includes a number of optical fibers corresponding to the through holes. Each of the optical fibers includes a first end and a second end opposite to the first end. The first ends of the optical fibers receive the light rays from the light source. The second ends of the optical fibers are inserted into the corresponding through holes. The light guide unit is positioned close to the second ends, receives the light rays from the second ends, and makes the received light rays distribute uniformly. The reflector reflects a portion of the light rays reflected by the light guide unit to the light guide unit again.
US08985816B2
An illustrative light fixture includes a cylindrical lighting package housing surrounded peripherally by a cooling housing providing airflow cooling channels. The airflow cooling channels are defined in the space between the circumference of the cylindrical lighting package housing and a rim around the periphery of the light fixture. The cooling housing provides wide and long openings for air to rise vertically from below and through the airflow channels defined in part by cooling fins, and radial exit channels with vertical space for radially outward flow below a ceiling the fixture is mounted on, while also eliminating or minimizing the view through the airflow channels and to the ceiling.
US08985807B2
The invention provides an electrical connector and a backlight module using that electrical connector. The electrical connector includes a body and two conducting lines. The body is provided with first and second connecting portions, the former of which has a first connecting surface and the latter has a second connecting surface. An invariable relative angle is defined between the first and second connecting surfaces. The conducting lines are coated on the first and second connecting surfaces without crossing each other. The backlight module includes a light guide plate, two LED light bars mounted to two respective light receiving edges of the light guide plate, and an aforesaid electrical connector connecting the LED light bars. The electrical connector is electrically connected with the LED light bars and fixes their relative positions. Besides, it is easy to install the electrical connector to connect the LED light bars firmly.
US08985804B2
In some embodiments, a flashlight may include a tubular body and a finger rotation feature disposed on the tubular body. In other embodiments, a flashlight accessory may include a flashlight connector to removably attach to a flashlight, a finger rotation feature, and a finger trigger to activate the flashlight.
US08985793B2
An illumination device with a toning function in which possibility of moisture and dust intruding into the case is reduced with a simple mechanism is realized. The illumination device includes a light emitting element light source (17) mounted on a substrate inside the case unit (21), an external gear-shaped fluorescent-substance plate (41) having a configuration in which a light emitting color of an applied fluorescent substance differs according to position and being arranged above the light emitting element light source (17) inside the case unit (21), and an internal gear-shaped adjustment ring (43) arranged so as to mesh with the external teeth of the fluorescent-substance plate (41), wherein the adjustment ring (43) is arranged to be positioned on the outer periphery of the main body under a lens dome (11), and when the adjustment ring (43) is rotated, a relative positional relationship between a color distribution applied on the fluorescent-substance plate (41) and the light emitting element light source (17) is changed.
US08985789B2
An imaging lens includes a lens barrel, an imaging unit and a light shielding unit. The lens barrel includes a base wall formed with a light incident hole at an optical axis of the imaging lens and a surrounding wall that extends from and cooperates with the base wall to define a receiving space. The imaging unit includes a plurality of imaging components each having an annular front contact surface and an annular back contact surface. The light shielding unit includes an annular retaining portion clamped between an adjacent pair of the imaging components, an object-side protruding portion with a first edge, and an image-side protruding portion with a second edge.
US08985781B2
A corrector corrects a main image acquired by an image acquirer based on correction setting acquired by a correction setting acquirer, and stores corrected main image in a buffer. An unused area detector detects the area that has not stored the corrected main image in the buffer, and transmits the result to a sub-image selector. The sub-image selector selects, among sub-image candidates registered in a sub-image information memory, a candidate that can be displayed on the unused area and has the highest priority as a sub-image. The sub-image controller executes a program stored in the sub-image displaying program memory, and displays the selected sub-image on the unused area.
US08985777B2
Wallpaper serving as a screen and display content such as an image to be projected onto the wallpaper are created while maintaining their correlation. The created display content is projected on the wallpaper. The content display system creates a background image, which is a first image serving as a screen, and a second image for a predetermined area on the first image while maintaining their visual relationship, and forms a composite image of the second image on the first image by projecting the second image from a projector onto the predetermined area of the first image.
US08985774B2
A floating image interaction device includes an imaging optical system projecting a floating real image of an object and an user object detecting means for obtaining information about the user accessing the floating real image; means to realize interactive response by the real image or by haptic feedback to actions by the user; and related computer programs.
US08985766B2
A plurality of to-be-evaluated lenses that differ in lens surface design from one another is prepared in an evaluation-value calculating step. Thereafter, a subject's predetermined biological information, e.g., brain waves, is measured for each of the to-be-evaluated lenses by allowing the subject to wear each of the lenses, and an evaluation value for each of the lenses is calculated relative to a predetermined index in the brain waves, for example, relative to a “state of being under stress.” Thereafter, a correlation between the calculated evaluation value and a lens surface shape is calculated as an index characteristic in a lens-surface-shape determining step. Thereafter, a lens surface shape of a suitable spectacle lens in the index is determined based on the index characteristic, and the lens surface shape is fed back as a shape of a to-be-evaluated lens of the evaluation-value calculating step.
US08985763B1
Contact lenses and methods of manufacturing contact lenses are provided. In one aspect, a method includes: forming a substrate having an uneven surface; providing a sensor at a first region of the substrate; providing a chip at a second region of the substrate; and encapsulating the substrate, sensor and chip in a polymer. The method also includes: patterning interconnections from the first region of the substrate to the second region of the substrate; and patterning metal pads proximate to the second region of the substrate. The chip can be provided on a metal pad. The uneven surface can be a sloped surface or one or more sloped channels in the substrate, and the channels can be wide enough to receive interconnections for the chip and to receive the chip. Further, the substrate can be ring-shaped and curved prior to encapsulation.
US08985758B2
Described herein is a transfer member for use in aqueous ink jet printer. The transfer member includes an elastomeric material. The surface layer of the transfer member has been subjected to an energy treatment selected from the group including corona discharge, oxygen plasma discharge and electron beam discharge such that the surface layer possesses an aqueous ink contact angle of from about 25° to about 40°. The transfer member has a Shore A durometer of from about 20 to about 70. The ink jet printer is also described.
US08985756B2
Embodiments described herein provide variable heat control for a printer. One system includes a dryer operable to dry ink applied to a print medium. The system also includes a controller communicatively coupled to the dryer and operable to filter a bitmap to provide variable heat control from the dryer to the applied ink according to the bitmap to attach the ink to the print medium. The print medium may be a continuous form print medium. In this regard, the controller maybe operable to determine a speed at which the continuous form print medium is moving, to generate a heat control signal operable to provide the variable heat control, and to delay transmission of the heat control signal based on the determined speed of the continuous form print medium until the ink applied to the continuous form print medium is within range of the dryer.
US08985752B2
A method of refilling ink in an ink cartridge includes refilling the ink in the ink cartridge from a position at which a translucent part is provided in the ink cartridge, with the translucent part being used to optically detect an amount of the ink held in the ink cartridge.
US08985746B2
A liquid jet head has an actuator substrate, a cover plate and a nozzle plate. The actuator substrate includes a groove array formed by alternately arraying an ejection groove and a dummy groove, and a common chamber communicating with one end of the ejection groove but not communicating with the dummy groove. The cover plate is provided on a top surface of the actuator substrate so as to cover the groove array, and includes one chamber communicating with the common chamber and another chamber communicating with another end of the ejection groove. The nozzle plate is provided on a bottom surface of the actuator substrate so as to cover the groove array, and includes a nozzle communicating with the ejection groove.
US08985744B2
A recording head includes a substrate whose first surface has an element that generates energy used for ejecting liquid; a first portion that supports a second surface of the substrate; a wiring member having multiple electrode leads connected to multiple electrode pads provided in the substrate; a second portion that supports the wiring member; and a sealant that seals a section including a connection section between the electrode pads and the electrode leads. A region surrounded by the substrate, the second portion, and the electrode leads is provided with an ascending portion that increases in height in a direction extending from the second surface toward the first surface, the ascending portion increasing in height from a first end to a second end of the region in an arrayed direction of the electrode leads.
US08985739B2
A cap for capping an ink discharge opening of a nozzle head includes a cap main body and an atmosphere communication unit. The cap main body is configured to cap the ink discharge opening. The atmosphere communication unit is configured to couple an internal space of the cap main body to atmosphere in a state where the cap main body caps the ink discharge opening. The cap main body is configured to couple the internal space to the ink discharge opening in a state where the ink discharge opening is capped. The atmosphere communication unit includes a venthole integrally formed to the cap main body, and a tube coupled to the venthole so as to couple the internal space to atmosphere. The tube includes one end coupled to the venthole using press fitting.
US08985738B2
A multipurpose printer and techniques for operating the printer are presented. A printer includes first and second print elements. During a first mode of operation for the printer, both the first and second print elements are configured to image both first and second sides of print media passing through the printer. During a second mode of operation, the first print element is prevented from interfacing with at least portions of the first side of the media that include adhesive materials affixed thereto.
US08985737B2
There is provided an adhesive belt which is configured to support and transport a recording medium, a recording head which is configured to record by discharging ink onto the recording medium which is supported by the adhesive belt, and a cleaning mechanism which is configured to clean the adhesive belt. The cleaning mechanism has a cleaning liquid tank which is configured to have a cleaning liquid, a contact section which is configured to come into contact with the adhesive belt to apply the cleaning liquid and clean off ink which is attached to the adhesive belt, and an anti-foaming agent supply section which is configured to supply an anti-foaming agent for ink to the adhesive belt directly or via another member, and the anti-foaming agent remains on the adhesive belt.
US08985734B2
A liquid jetting apparatus includes a channel unit in which a liquid channel including a nozzle for jetting a liquid is formed, and a piezoelectric actuator provided on the channel unit and configured to apply jetting energy to the liquid inside the liquid channel. The piezoelectric actuator has a piezoelectric element and a wiring substrate in which a first electrode and a wire electrically connected to the first electrode are formed and which is joined to one surface of the piezoelectric element. The first electrode is configured to make contact with the piezoelectric element.
US08985723B2
A method of compensating for a defective inkjet in an inkjet printer has been developed. A controller identifies pixels in binary image data corresponding to the defective inkjet. The controller identifies alternative pixel locations for non-defective inkjets to print ink drops proximate to the locations of the defective pixels. When an overlap parameter value identified between ink drops in alternative pixel locations and other ink drops around the alternative pixel locations exceeds a predetermined value, the controller changes the alternative pixel location for at least one ink drop to reduce overlap and improve image quality.
US08985719B2
An image forming apparatus using a roll includes a power shutdown operation detector to detect an operation of shutting down power supply to the apparatus; a power supply switching unit to switch power supply condition to the apparatus; and an apparatus controller to control the apparatus. The apparatus controller controls a roll setting operation to set the roll ready for an image outputting operation, and controls the power supply switching unit based on detection of an operation that shuts down the power supply. The apparatus controller confirms whether the power shutdown operation detector detects the power shutdown operation when the roll setting operation is being conducted. When an operation that shuts down the power supply is detected, the apparatus controller aborts the roll setting operation and shuts down power supply to the apparatus.
US08985714B2
Disclosed is a brake actuating unit for actuating a motor vehicle brake system of the ‘brake-by-wire’ type. The system includes a brake booster which is operable in response to the driver's wish both by a brake pedal and by an electronic control unit. A device is provided to decouple a force-transmitting connection between the brake pedal and the brake booster in the ‘brake-by-wire’ operating mode. A master brake cylinder connected downstream of the brake booster, a device to detect a deceleration request of the driver, and a pedal travel simulator which interacts with the brake pedal and due to which a resetting force acting on the brake pedal can be simulated in the ‘brake-by-wire’ operating mode independently of an actuation of the brake booster, and which can be enabled in the ‘brake-by-wire’ operating mode when the force-transmitting connection between the brake pedal and the brake booster is decoupled and can be disabled outside the ‘brake-by-wire’ operating mode. The pedal travel simulator (2) is enabled and disabled by electromechanical means (22, 25), electrohydraulic means (40, 47) or pneumatically operable means (96 to 98).
US08985706B2
A wheel rim protector comprising a base comprising an external face and an internal face, the external face comprising a curved profile and a side-wall extending from a first side of the base is disclosed. Also disclosed is a wheel rim protector comprising a base comprising one or more kink and/or curve along a base length, an external face and an internal face and a side-wall extending from a first side of the base. Methods of making the wheel rim protectors are also disclosed.
US08985705B2
A mining machine including a frame, a motor, a drive shaft having a first end and a distal end, a driven component coupled to the drive shaft at the distal end, and a connector assembly between the motor and the drive shaft. The connector assembly including a connection mechanism operable to drivingly connect the motor and the drive shaft, and an adjustment mechanism operable to adjust the connection mechanism between a connected condition, in which the connection mechanism drivingly connects the motor and the drive shaft, and a disconnected condition, in which the driving connection between the motor and the drive shaft is disengaged, the adjustment mechanism including an actuator pivotable about an axis between a connected position corresponding to the connected condition of the adjustment mechanism and a disconnected position corresponding to the disconnected condition of the adjustment mechanism, the actuator being axially fixed relative to the frame.
US08985682B2
A support for one or more elements intended to be fastened to a front pillar of a motor vehicle so that the one or more elements can be supported along the structure. The support includes: at least one mechanism guiding and retaining cables, at least one mechanism fastening a trim of the structure, at least one mechanism indexing a carpet, and at least one mechanism fastening an electrical connector.
US08985680B2
An underbody for a motor vehicle is provided. The underbody has a ladder frame with side members and cross members. The side members and the cross members bound at least one opening, and each comprises an upper shell and a lower shell. The upper shells are interconnected into an upper ladder and the lower shells into a lower ladder.
US08985672B2
Inflatable cover apparatus is disclosed in which a double-layer shroud is configured for encompassing a vehicle or other relatively large object. An inflatable chamber is defined by an inner layer and an outer layer of the shroud connected at their peripheries. A drawstring assembly encircles the periphery of the shroud and may be secured in a constricted state or released to an extended state. A blower adapted to inflate the inflatable chamber is capable of maintaining the shroud in an active inflated state in order to shield the covered object from being impacted by falling objects such as hail. A control module controls the blower and provides a communication circuit for enhancing control.
US08985667B2
A rear structure 1 of a vehicle has a high mounted stop lamp 5 provided at the rear end of a vehicle body. The rear structure is configured such that regions bilaterally outward of a region, where the high mounted stop lamp is installed, on the upper surface of the rear end are inclined more steeply than a reference plane comprising an inclined surface of a roof panel 2, and that the lower surface of the high mounted stop lamp is located above a rearward field of view from the vehicle.
US08985664B2
Stake pocket formations are secured to a cargo bed frame of a land vehicle such as trailers and flatbed trucks for removably supporting sidewall supporting members. The formations include sidewalls secured to and projecting from the frame and an end wall extending between the sidewalls. An opening extends through the end wall and is adapted to receive the terminal end of a J-hook therethrough. The J-hook is secured to the formation by inserting the terminal end thereof into the pocket placing an upper edge of the end wall into the J-hook gap and rolling/rotating the J-hook thereby inserting the terminal end into the opening. The J-hook cannot be removed from the pocket unless it is rolled/rotated in the opposite direction. While within the stake pocket and without strap tension, the J-hook abuts the trailer frame and formation end wall and is, thereby, maintained within the pocket.
US08985660B1
An apparatus for accessing the bed of a pickup truck having a rear bumper and a tailgate includes a step assembly having a lower linkage assembly with first and second ends and being pivotally mounted at the first end to the rear truck bumper; an upper linkage assembly having third and fourth ends and being pivotally mounted at the third end to and proximal the distal edge of the truck tailgate and being pivotally mounted at the fourth end to the second end of the lower linkage assembly; and a step connected to the lower linkage assembly; and includes a handrail assembly including a handrail, a storage locking bracket assembly securing the handrail to the step assembly in an up, closed position, and an erected support assembly for securing the handrail in an upright, user assist position when the step assembly is in a lowered, open position.
US08985656B2
A self-centering clamp having three jaws, for the industrial automation field is provided and is adapted to equip robotic arms. One of the jaws is controlled by a cursor directly activated by the clamp actuator, which can be electric, pneumatic, oleopneumatic, etc. The other two jaws are controlled by corresponding transfer levers kinematically coupled to the cursor. The levers rotate in a lying plane parallel to the handling plane of the jaws and the cursor.
US08985651B2
A panel member having a U-shaped cross section includes step portions at an upper face portion and a lower face portion, and a distance, in a vehicle longitudinal direction, of the step potions from a panel member formed substantially in a flat-plate shape, is configured such that the distance at a central portion, in the vehicle width direction, of a bumper reinforcement is the maximum and the distance decreases gradually toward an outward direction of the vehicle. Accordingly, the vehicle-body structure which can properly ensure the bending strength and also attain the light weight of the bumper reinforcement, improving the load transmission from the bumper reinforcement to crash cans, can be provided.
US08985648B2
A handle device for a lock unit of a vehicle includes a handle part which is movably mounted relative to a door of the vehicle and which can be displaced between a rest position and an operating position. The handle part is flush with the exterior of the door in the rest position and projects from the exterior of the door in the operating position. The handle part can be manually actuated to open the door when in the operating position. The handle device further includes an actuating unit which can be used to transfer the handle part at least from the rest position to the operating position when the actuating unit is activated. The actuating unit includes a cover which can be detached from the actuating unit and a lock cylinder arranged in the handle device, such that the lock cylinder can be released by detaching the cover.
US08985635B2
An air conditioner condensate drain line evacuation adapter formed from a housing member having an end wall constructed and arranged for securement to various sized suction hoses used on conventional wet vacuums. A second end of the housing member is securable to the discharge end of a condensate drain located on the exterior of a building. Portions of the housing member can include transparent sections to permit a visual of the fluid evacuation.
US08985634B2
This invention relates to an anti-counterfeit printed matter such as a banknote or a passport which requires anti-counterfeit or anti-copy, a method of manufacturing the same, and a recording medium storing halftone dot data creation software.Units are arranged at a predetermined pitch in a matrix on a base material in a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, each unit including a first object and a second object which are arranged along the first direction on both sides of a center so as to oppose each other and a third object arranged in a region without the first object and the second object, the first object and the second object of each of the units have an on/off relationship and the same area, the first objects form one of a positive image and a negative image of a first invisible image, and the second objects form the other of the negative image and the positive image of the first invisible image, and the third objects form a visible image having a continuous tone.
US08985631B2
A trailer frame including an axle section having two spaced longitudinal frame members connected by at least one cross member, the longitudinal frame members each having a first end and a second end; a rear section attachable to the axle section; and a dimple assemble joining the axle section to the rear section, the dimple assembly including a dimple pattern formed on each frame member of the axle assembly, the dimple pattern on the axle assembly defining a first dimple axis, and a dimple pattern formed on one end of the rear section and nestable within the dimple pattern formed on the axle section, the dimple pattern on the rear section defining a second dimple axis offset relative to the first dimple axis to create a camber between the axle section and the rear section when the first dimple is nested within the second dimple pattern.
US08985628B2
An adjusting device for a steering column of a motor vehicle for axial and/or vertical positioning of a steering wheel connected to the steering column is provided. The adjusting device comprises a locking device and an electric switch configured to actuate the locking device.
US08985624B2
Apparatus for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device includes a primary housing, a primary inflation fluid source, a secondary housing, and a secondary inflation fluid source. The primary and secondary housings are constructed from sheet metal by stamping. The primary inflation fluid source is located in the primary housing. The primary inflation fluid source is actuatable to effect a primary flow of inflation fluid out of the primary housing to inflate the inflatable device. The secondary housing is disposed within the primary housing. The secondary inflation fluid source is located in the secondary housing. The secondary inflation fluid source is actuatable to affect a secondary flow of inflation fluid to supplement the primary flow of inflation fluid. The secondary housing has a first portion that moves at least partially out of engagement with a second portion of the secondary housing when the secondary inflation fluid source is actuated.
US08985616B1
The utility model provides a baby stroller capable of be folded with one hand, which comprises a comprise a joint seat, an upper joint, a lower joint, an annular pressing block, a lock device being used in the lower joint and the upper joint to avoid rotating among the lower joint, a folding device being used to control the lock device for locking or releasing the upper joint and the lower joint, wherein the folding device comprises a connecting seat, a lever, a wire and a lifting belt; the connecting seat is provided with first release components to control and lock the lever in case of movement. The present invention can fold the baby stroller by one hand, and the operation is very convenient, flexible, and effortless.
US08985615B2
The present disclosure relates to a single piece base portion (10) for a locking mechanism (30) for a ski binding (1), in particular a cross country or touring ski binding. The base portion (10) comprising: a planar resting portion (11); one or more, preferably two, support sections (12) extending out of the plane of the planar resting portion (11). In particular, each of the support sections (12) comprises an axle pin hole (13) for receiving an axle (21) of a part associated with the locking mechanism (30). Further, the lowest section (14) of the axle pin hole (13) is aligned with the upper surface (15) of the planar resting portion (11).
US08985611B1
An inverted bent bar weight distributing trailer hitch including a mono trunnion with a shank rotatably mounted therein. The mono trunnion is positioned on a base that contains a resistance member that engages the bottom portion of the trunnion. A biasing member is adjustably attached to the exterior of the base. By engaging the biasing member, the resistance member restricts the rotation of the mono trunnion about the shank.
US08985610B2
A suspension structure utilized in a driving assembly of a vehicle with a first suspension arm, a second suspension arm, a third suspension arm and a shock absorber component is provided. The first suspension arm has a first fixed end and a first swing end opposite to the first fixed end. The second suspension arm has a second fixed end and a second swing end opposite to the second fixed end. The third suspension arm has a front swing end and a rear swing end opposite to the front swing end. The shock absorber component is disposed between the first suspension arm and the second suspension arm, and has two ends pivotally connected to the first suspension arm and the second suspension arm respectively. The shock absorber component is adapted to absorb an impact force by deforming while the impact force generated.
US08985601B1
A dolly includes a flat, horizontally disposed base supported at its corners by wheels. First and second vertical support walls are mounted to opposite ends of the base in transversely disposed relation to a longitudinal axis of the base. Both support walls have a vertical back edge that extends a first predetermined height and a vertical front edge, parallel to the vertical back edge, that extends to a second predetermined height less than the first predetermined height. Each support wall includes a horizontal step extending a predetermined distance from an uppermost end of the vertical front edge towards the vertical back edge. Each support wall includes a slab-supporting inclined edge that extends from an inboard end of its horizontal step to an uppermost end of its vertical back edge. A single individual rotates a slab from the dolly onto a countertop without lifting the slab from the dolly.
US08985591B2
Provided is a sealing apparatus which can reduce the torque of a rotary portion while always exhibiting a stable and high sealing performance even when a high fluid pressure is being applied. A seal ring (4) inclines when subjected to a hydraulic pressure (P) and a pressing force by a D-ring (3), and stabilizes in a state where an entire opposite pressure-side taper surface (4c) is in contact with an opposite pressure-side side surface (5b) of an annular groove for sealing (5). With the hydraulic pressure (P) being applied to a portion (4b1) of the inner peripheral surface (4b) of the seal ring (4) where an operating oil comes into contact, a space between the portion (4b1) and a shaft (2) is enlarged, and an area of contact between the seal ring (4) and the shaft (2) is reduced. Thus, the torque can be reduced. Furthermore, since the outer peripheral surface (3a) of the D-ring (3) is a surface having a cylindrical shape, the operating oil is not allowed to enter between the D-ring (3) and a bottom surface (5a) of the annular groove for sealing (5) even when the hydraulic pressure (P) is being applied, and the entirety of the outer peripheral surface (3a) of the D-ring (3) always remains in contact with the bottom surface (5a) of the annular groove for sealing (5). Thus, the sealing device always exhibits a stable sealing performance.
US08985589B1
A seal assembly for sealing a space between a shaft and a housing includes a seal having a central axis, an inner annular sealing lip sealingly engageable with the shaft and an outer annular rim with an outer circumferential surfaces engageable with the housing inner surface. At least one and preferably two support members are disposed within the annular rim and at least one and preferably a plurality of adjustment devices are coupled with the support members. Each adjustment device is configured to displace at least a portion of each support member radially outwardly with respect to the central axis, to displace at least a portion of the rim generally toward the housing inner surface, and/or to displace at least a portion of each support member radially inwardly toward the central axis to permit displacement of at least a portion of the rim generally away from the housing inner surface.
US08985585B2
A thermal signal generating device, including at least two parallel buss bars operable for carrying a current and a heating element having at least a first region and a second region. The heating element includes a plurality of horizontal traces and a plurality of vertical traces. Widths of each of the plurality of horizontal and vertical traces may be greater in a first region of the heating element than in a second region of the heating element, allowing for a gradient heat differential to be emitted by the heating element.
US08985584B2
In a board- or computer-implemented game, each of two opposing players is associated with a set of markers distinguishable from the markers associated with the other player. The markers are initially set up in an array of mutually perpendicular rows and columns of allowable marker positions, with the markers of each player being in two adjacent rows and a V-shaped pattern composed of two oblique rows extending from an apex toward end markers in a second of the two rows. Players take turns, moving markers to unoccupied allowable positions, optionally jumping their own markers, and optional jumping and capturing an opponent's marker or markers.
US08985581B2
When the presence or absence of a malfunction is respectively determined in a decoloring section or a separation device, and it is determined that either the decoloring section or the separation device is malfunctioning, only the other is executable.
US08985579B1
A paper feeding device includes a lower housing, an upper housing, a pickup assembly, a separation assembly, a relay assembly, a paper friction mechanism, an elastic element, a paper speed detector, a first paper feeding assembly, a second paper feeding assembly, a transmission assembly, a motor and a control unit. The control unit controls the paper speed detector to detect paper feeding speeds and the paper speed detector sends signals to the control unit for determining paper feeding conditions. The control unit controls the motor to rotate, and the motor drives the pickup assembly, the relay assembly and the first paper feeding assembly to rotate by virtue of the transmission assembly, and the first paper feeding assembly drives the second paper feeding assembly to rotate, the control unit is capable of adjusting rotating speeds of the motor, so that the paper feeding speeds are stabilized.
US08985578B2
A sheet aligning device may include a sheet conveyance path; a detecting unit configured to detect a side edge of a sheet being conveyed in the sheet conveyance path; a stopper on an upstream side of the detecting unit and configured to open/close so as to allow/prevent passage of the sheet and to position a leading edge of the sheet; a first conveying unit on an upstream side of the stopper, the first conveying unit including a pair of first rollers configured to come in contact with/separate from each other; a second conveying unit on an upstream side of the first conveying unit, the second conveying unit including a pair of second rollers configured to come in contact with/separate from each other; and a horizontal movement unit configured to move the pair of first rollers in an axial direction based on a detection result output by the detecting unit.
US08985577B2
A sheet conveyor device includes a registration roller, an intermediate roller, a first sheet detection section, a first drive controller, a second drive controller, and a third drive controller. The registration roller conveys a sheet toward an image forming section for image formation. The intermediate roller conveys the sheet toward the registration roller. The first sheet detection section is used for optically detecting the sheet between the registration roller and the intermediate roller. The first drive controller drives the intermediate roller, while suspending driving of the registration roller. The second drive controller drives the registration roller when a predetermined conveyance wait period elapses from detection of a sheet by the first sheet detection section. The third drive controller drives the registration roller when a predetermined forced conveyance period elapses from a start of conveyance of the sheet loaded on a sheet loading section.
US08985575B2
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium, an output unit that outputs the recording medium on which the image has been formed while providing the recording medium with a wave-like shape in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to a transport direction of the recording medium, and a member having an opening through which the recording medium is output. The opening has a shape corresponding to the wave-like shape of the recording medium provided by the output unit.
US08985574B2
An image forming apparatus includes a housing, an image forming unit disposed inside the housing, a discharging portion, a stacking unit and a pressing member. The discharging portion is configured to discharge a sheet medium on which an image is formed by the image forming unit. The stacking unit is configured to stack the sheet medium discharged from the discharging portion. The stacking unit includes a stacking surface portion on which the sheet medium is stacked. The stacking surface portion includes a planar portion formed flat and a protruding portion configured to protrude upwardly from the planar portion. The pressing member is disposed in contact with an upper surface of the sheet medium stacked on the stacking surface portion.
US08985570B1
A paper feeding mechanism includes a mechanical frame, a gear assembly, a paper supply tray, a pickup assembly, a paper pressing assembly and a stopper assembly. The gear assembly includes a drive gear and a transmission gear. The paper pressing assembly includes a paper pressing frame, a paper pressing tray, a gear shaft, at least one swing arm and an elastic element. The stopper assembly includes a blocking element and a connecting element. The drive gear drives the transmission gear and the gear shaft to rotate, the connecting element drives the blocking element to move downward to make the blocking element realize a paper blocking function, and the drive gear breaks away from the drive gear, the elastic element pushes against the paper pressing tray to move downward, the blocking element breaks away from the paper supply tray to raise up for making the paper blocking function disappeared.
US08985569B2
A document conveyance device includes: a reader reading a document-sheet passing on a contact glass; a white plate being placed opposite to the contact glass; a first conveyance roller and a first driven roller placed upstream of the reader in a sheet conveying direction; a second conveyance roller and a second driven roller placed downstream of the reader in the sheet conveying direction; a holding member configured to hold rotatably the first and second driven roller; a spacer configured to support the holding member and include one or more of support planes different in height; wherein a support plane selected from the one or more support planes in accordance with a thickness of the document-sheet is moved manually to support the holding member, and the white plate is configured to lift upward from the contact glass plate by a forehead of the sheet passing through the contact glass plate.
US08985568B2
According to one embodiment, a paper discharge device includes a discharged-sheet receiving part that can be opened and closed on a side surface of an apparatus body, is closed on the side surface and receives a recording medium dropped from above along the side surface after image formation.
US08985565B2
A pipe fitting system to fit a selected one of one or more pipes, one or more flanges and one or more fittings that includes one or more fitting cradles, a fitting rest with a pair of apertures, the fitting rest is removably secured to the bottom fitting bed and a plurality of cinch chains each with a first end, the cinch chains are used to secure one or more fitting cradles to a fitting beam. The system also includes a high tensile steel racquet wrench to loosen and to tighten the bolts of the pipe fitting system.
US08985564B2
A workpiece holding fixture including a base plate having an engagement surface including a travel slot. A first static riser includes a position control member configured to removably couple a workpiece to the first static riser. A second static riser includes a rotation control member and is configured to removably couple the workpiece to the second static riser. A dynamic riser is configured to abut the workpiece by automatic, semi-automatic, or manual movement into secure engagement with the workpiece. The dynamic riser is slidably coupled with the travel slot and is operable between a plurality of positions associated with workpiece variants having different locating features and geometries.
US08985562B2
The invention relates to a diameter-variable cylindrical air pressure spring. The current air pressure spring has the shortcomings of complex structure, insufficient deformation stroke and poor ventilation effect. The diameter-variable cylindrical air pressure spring comprises a spring body, the spring body is formed by at least one hollow cavity body, the sidewall of the cavity body is of a multilayered structure, a closed cavity containing pressure air is formed between every two layers of the sidewall, the cavity body is in a diameter-variable cylindrical shape with two thicker ends and a thinner middle part, and a vent hole is arranged on each cavity, the spring is hollow and therefore good in top-to-bottom air penetrability, the inflation amount of the cavity is adjusted in real-time by means of inflation or deflation via the vent hole in order to adjust the hardness (elasticity) of the air pressure spring and to enhance the comfortable level and applicable scope; after the pressure air in the cavities is eliminated and the diameter-variable cylindrical air pressure spring is compressed, the spring takes up a small space and can be coiled to facilitate package, storage and transportation; and cavity columns may be independent, or may be formed in rows or in lines, and the cavities of the cavity columns may be either independent of or communicated with each other.
US08985555B2
An assembly includes a motor; a second motor; a planetary transmission coupled to the motor and the second motor, and a spool coupled to the transmission. The spool has an interior volume for receiving the motor, the second motor and the transmission, and the motor and the second motor are disposed or disposable entirely within the spool. The motor and the second motor are capable of being operated such that one of the motors is speed controlled, and the other motor is torque controlled.
US08985551B2
A solenoid includes: a movable core configured to move in a first space of a main body case in an axial direction to apply a biasing force to a spool; a fixed magnetic pole portion configured to attract the movable core in the axial direction; an adjusting spring configured to apply the biasing force to the movable core; a biasing force adjusting member provided at an opening end portion of a rear case and configured to adjust an axial position thereof to adjust the biasing force; and a degassing plug provided at an opening end portion of the adjusting member and including a degassing passage that allows a second space to communicate with an outside by changing relative positions of the adjusting member and the degassing plug. A sealing portion configured to open or close communication between degassing passages is provided between the adjusting member and the degassing plug.
US08985541B2
A cable roller, a system and/or a method extend and/or retract a coiled cable. The cable roller, the system and/or the method secure an article to a fixture while allowing manipulation, testing and/or maneuvering of the article with respect to the fixture. A drum attaches to the fixture. The drum has a sleeve that rotates freely with respect to the central axis of the drum. A spring action of the coiled cable rotates the sleeve to extend and/or to retract the coiled cable from an underside of the fixture.
US08985538B2
The present invention provides an elongated segmented binding cord (SBC) for reversibly housing and securing goods to their predetermined location; said SBC is characterized by a main longitudinal axis (MLA), comprising: a. a plurality of N interlockable segments; b. abutments provided at least one first end, and at least one second opposite end of the SBC; each of said abutments is adapted to at least reversibly attach said predetermined location; wherein by attaching said at least two abutments to their location, said SBC is reversibly transformed from at least two opposite states: LOOSE (non-arched) configuration and a TIGHTENED (arched) configuration, such that said goods are at least partially housed in a secured manner within the arched SBC.
US08985530B2
A cable support apparatus includes a flexible spine formed from a single piece of wire stock and a plurality of support members extending along a length of the flexible spine. Each of the support members is formed from a single piece of wire stock. The plurality of support members cooperate with one another to define a longitudinal passageway extending along a length of the flexible spine for retaining one or more cables therein. Each support member includes a body segment extending along and engaged to the flexible spine to define at least two attachment apertures therebetween.
US08985525B2
A railcar has an on-board system for detecting conditions of the railcar. The on-board system includes a plurality of condition sensors positioned on the railcar. A transceiver is in communication with each of the plurality of condition sensors so as to receive condition data from the plurality of condition sensors. The transceiver transmits the condition data to a receiving station remote from the railcar for review and analysis.
US08985515B2
A structural joint includes a first member having a first base portion and a first leg portion. The structural joint further includes a second member having a second base portion and a second base portion. The first base portion and the second base portion are coupled together at an overlapping portion. The first leg portion and the second leg portion form a cavity for structurally coupling to a structural member.
US08985498B2
The present invention is realized by apparatus and methods for placing a large utility scale photovoltaic array in the low stratosphere of earth's atmosphere at an altitude of about 20 km, above clouds, moisture, dust, and wind. This is accomplished using a large light-weight, rigid, buoyant structure to support the large photovoltaic array. Long, strong and light tethers connect the buoyant structure to the ground and hold it in position against wind forces. The electricity output from the photovoltaic array is then coupled to high voltage transmission lines which connect from the platform to the earth's surface. The electricity is then transmitted through the high voltage transmission lines to the earth's surface where it is connected to the electrical supply grid and provides lower cost, more reliable electricity.
US08985492B2
A dual-bearing reel spool brake device configured to brake a spool being rotatably mounted to a reel unit by centrifugal force is provided. The dual-bearing reel spool break device includes a rotary member, a brake shoe, and a brake drum. The rotary member is configured to be rotated in conjunction with at least rotation of the spool in a fishing-line releasing direction. The brake shoe is elastically engaged with the rotary member, wherein the brake shoe is pivotable and detachable with the rotary member. The brake drum is disposed radially inwards or radially outwards of the brake shoe, wherein the brake drum has a peripheral surface contactable with the brake shoe.
US08985491B2
A nut chopper includes an upper hopper, a lower container, and a grate positioned between the hopper and container. A series of parallel blades supported on an axle and coupled to a crank is positioned so that the blades may be rotated through the grate. As the blades pass through the grate, they chop the nuts that are in the path of the blades. Once individual nuts are chopped into sizes that are smaller than the width of the openings formed in the grate, the chopped portions will fall through the grate and into the container.
US08985485B2
A melt blown system for adding a fine fiber layer to a substrates includes a die assembly, a first channel in the die assembly for carrying a first fluid, a first cavity fluidically coupled to the first channel that is configured to collect the first fluid, a first orifice for carrying a second fluid through the die assembly which is fluidically coupled to a second orifice in the die assembly by at least one channel, a plurality of first nozzles in the die assembly that are fluidically coupled to the first orifice, a plurality of second nozzles in the die assembly that are fluidically coupled to the second orifices, and a plurality of third nozzles in the die assembly that are fluidically coupled to the first cavity.
US08985474B2
Systems and methods utilizing water-vapor-partial-pressure-differential across a chemically-selective membrane to remove water vapor from a habitable spacecraft environment(s). The system preferably utilizes heat from an exothermic CO2 removal process to prevent condensation at the chemically-selective membrane.
US08985473B2
A regulating valve has a dome, a discharge sheet and a flow deflector. The dome has a base and a circumferential wall. The discharge sheet and the flow deflector are set in the dome in sequence. A discharge portion, a cold water portion, a hot water portion and a warm water portion are set on the base. A discharge slot, a cold water slot, a hot water slot and a warm water slot are set on the discharge sheet correspondingly. A guide slot is extended outwards from the center of the circle on the surface of the flow deflector. The end point of the center of the guide slot is set correspondingly to the discharge slot. When the flow deflector is rotated, there may occur either of a water shutdown state, or a hot, lukewarm, warm, chilly or cold water discharge state, enabling to switch water discharge efficiently.
US08985469B2
The glove suitable for use at crime scenes comprises a unitary disposable glove with an outer surface having thereon machine readable indication enabling a glove bearing such an indication to be distinguished from a glove not bearing such an indication, such indication being provided on at least a palm portion and grip portions of the tips of four fingers and a thumb of the glove. The gloves are useful in a method of investigating a crime scene, wherein crime scene operatives don the gloves for handling items at the crime scene, and items at the crime scene are then machine read to identify prints thereon made by gloves of the crime scene operatives.
US08985467B2
A permanently deactivatable security tag and method to create a permanently deactivatable security tag to eliminate tag pollution caused by reactivated tags reentering a store premises and setting off false alarms. The security tag includes a frangible conductive portion that fractures due to stress applied on the frangible conductive portion from a hardened substrate located on the tag. The hardened substrate induces stress to the frangible conductive portion located adjacent to the edge of the hardened substrate as the tag is flexed and bent. The fracture of the frangible conductive portion of the tag results in a shifting and/or disabling of the predetermined frequency of the security tag.
US08985458B2
A system and method for converting fingerprint cards into electronic files is provided having a computer system for inputting biographical information from each of the cards into memory of, or accessible by, the computer, and encoding the biographical information into a barcode which is printed by a printer on a label for affixing to the card. A scanner is operated for scanning each of the cards having the affixed label associated with the card. For each scanned image of a card, the computer system or another computer system decodes the biographical information from the barcode in the scanned image, segments fingerprint images of the fingerprints of different types of fingers at locations in the scanned image, and stores at least the decoded biographical information and the fingerprint images in an electronic fingerprint file for the card and/or a record in a database.
US08985445B2
A system and method of providing receipt data for a payment transaction through a transaction receipt portal system are described, in which receipt data is stored for a completed payment transaction received from a remote merchant system, the receipt data being associated with a customer and a merchant registered with the system, and stored receipt data is provided to the associated registered customer or merchant. A card payment transaction involves receiving, by a computing device, an electronic receipt from the merchant system, the electronic receipt including data for retrieving stored receipt data from the transaction receipt portal system.
US08985443B1
A method and system for self-service access to a card key locked room of a facility is disclosed herein. A magnetic card key with a QRC is utilized with a mobile application resident on a mobile communication device to activate the card and allow for self-service access to check into a hotel.
US08985435B2
A ballot processing device flashes one or more lights of the ballot processing device in a first color when the ballot processing device is ready to receive a ballot. The ballot processing device lights a portion of the one or more lights of the ballot processing device in a second color when the ballot processing device is not ready to receive a ballot.
US08985432B2
A foldable container comprises a body having an interior chamber with a top opening and a closed bottom. The body includes two opposing short sidewalls and two opposing longer sidewalls that form a perimeter around the interior chamber. The short sidewalls are foldable along respective vertically extending fold lines. The container also includes a bottom panel positionable within the interior chamber to be laid against the closed bottom, and a lid hingedly coupled to the body for selectively closing the top opening. The bottom panel is hingedly coupled to the body and is foldable along a first horizontal fold line. Furthermore, the lid is foldable along a second horizontal fold line. The foldable sidewalls, bottom panel, and lid allow the container to be folded between an expanded position and a collapsed position.
US08985431B2
A blank for forming a reinforced container is provided. The blank includes a bottom panel comprising opposing end edges, opposing side edges, and at least one miter edge connecting one of the end edges to an adjacent side edge of the opposing side edges. The blank further includes a pair of opposing end panels coupled to the bottom panel, a pair of opposing side panels coupled to the bottom panel, and a reinforcing panel assembly coupled to at least one of one of the end panels and one of the side panels for reinforcing a corner of the container.
US08985428B2
A surgical stapler for visually indicating to a user the stage of operation of the stapler. The surgical stapler includes a body, a stapling assembly positioned on a distal end of the body including a cartridge assembly and an anvil assembly, and a thrust bar slidably disposed within the body. The thrust bar is configured to advance distally from a retracted position to a first advanced position during approximation of the cartridge assembly towards the anvil assembly and advance further to a second advanced position to cause the release of staples from the cartridge assembly. An indicator member is connected to the thrust bar and configured to provide visual indication to a user upon complete approximation of the cartridge assembly and upon release of staples from the cartridge assembly.
US08985411B2
One example of the invention describes a belt that is to be used by uniformed professional field personnel (e.g. law enforcement, fire, park department, search and rescue, private security, utilities personnel, military, etc.). Some examples of the invention introduce many new features which allow for improved access, comfort, reliability, ruggedness and cosmetics. In one embodiment, the description describes a metal rail on a belt, to which accessories attach. The other items of the inventions are the details of the buckle and its various designs. Other attachments and accessories, plus various setups and arrangements for the belts and buckles, are also presented here. For example, the elastomeric belt variation helps the user, when sitting, with the belt on.
US08985406B2
The plug includes: a resilient member that is provided on the valve body and serves to bias the valve body in a closing direction; a valve body cover attached to the valve body in order to prevent the resilient member from coming of a rotation member rotatably provided on the valve body cover; at least two engagement claw portions that are provided on the rotation member and serve to allow the valve body cover to be engaged with an upper portion of the valve body; and claw guiding grooves and the recessed grooves serving as steps that are provided on an upper portion of the valve body, the number of the claw guiding grooves being equal to the number of or the integral multiple of the engagement claw portions, the recessed grooves allowing the rotation member to rotate.
US08985402B2
A nozzle assembly for dispensing viscous material is disclosed. The nozzle assembly is convertible from use with a device for dispensing bulk viscous material to use with a device for dispensing viscous material from a cartridge. Alternatively, the nozzle assembly is convertible from use with a device for dispensing viscous material from a sausage package to use with a device for dispensing from a cartridge. When dispensing viscous material from a cartridge, the base portion is arranged for receiving the cartridge conical tip and the flange is arranged for placement between an end plate of the dispenser and the cartridge to retain said nozzle within said dispenser for dispensing viscous material from the cartridge. When dispensing viscous material in bulk form or from a sausage package, a locking plate is provided for tightly retaining the nozzle to the end cap of the dispensing device.
US08985395B2
A device for dispensing individual servings of a cold beverage, either having a refrigeration unit to chill the beverage or a removable pitcher that may be put in a refrigerator. A special disposable beverage cartridge or beverage pouch fits into the holder. This cartridge or pouch may have pressure rupturable seals or diaphragms and contain beverage concentrate. A dispensing mechanism puts pressure on the cartridge or the pouch to break the pressure rupturable seal or diaphragm to discharge the concentrate into a mixing structure. The mixing structure also receives chilled liquid from the refrigeration unit or the pitcher, and ensures that the concentrate mixes with the liquid without contacting the walls of the mixing structure.
US08985392B2
A method of dispensing sprayable material in a desired spray pattern using an actuator member, a resilient outlet member, and a movable member. The actuator member has a plurality of resilient finger projections. The resilient outlet member is arranged at least partly between the finger projections. The movable member is supported on the actuator member to form a dispensing path extending from the interior of the aerosol chamber to the exterior of the aerosol chamber through a valve assembly, the actuator member, and the outlet member. The movable member acts on the outlet member to deform the plurality of finger projections towards each other to alter an effective cross-sectional area of at least a portion of a dispensing path to control fluid flow along the dispensing path and thereby cause the sprayable material to be dispensed in the desired spray pattern.
US08985385B2
A protective case which includes two mating case components and a liner extending between a peripheral area for mating engagement to ensure a relatively sealed relationship when the case components are closed. A latch face is a single elongated element on the front and has two spaced interlocking components to cooperate with hooks in the opposite case component.
US08985383B2
A plastic container with a rim and a lid, the rim and lid each having channels which, upon installation, produce a liquid-tight fit by means of three complementary pairs of projections from the walls of the channels.
US08985381B2
A tank for storing fluid, especially hydrocarbons including low temperature liquefied natural gas. The tank comprises tank walls defining an interior tank space, wherein at least one beam is provided in the interior tank space having at least one beam end connected to the tank wall. The at least one recess is provided in the tank wall for receiving the beam end for anchoring to the tank wall.
US08985377B2
A basket assembly for removably coupling to a lid of a beverage bottle includes a basket body defining a chamber. One or more first openings are defined through the basket body and one or more second openings are defined through the basket body to provide fluid communication between the chamber and an interior volume of the beverage bottle body with the lid coupled to the beverage bottle body. A basket lid is coupled to the basket body. One or more third openings are defined through the basket lid and aligned with the one or more second openings to provide fluid communication between the interior volume of the beverage bottle body and a passage formed through the beverage bottle lid. A lid assembly including the basket assembly and a bottle including the lid assembly is also disclosed.
US08985374B2
An object carrying device includes a first net body, a frame, a front baffle panel, and a rear baffle panel. The first net body has a bottom portion and two lateral portions. The bottom portion has a front side, a rear side, and two opposing lateral sides. The two lateral portions extend from the two opposing lateral sides of the bottom portion, respectively, and face each other. The frame is clipped to the first net body and disposed at the outer periphery of the first net body. The front baffle panel is fixed to the frame and disposed between the front side of the bottom portion and the two lateral portions of the first net body. The rear baffle panel is fixed to the frame and disposed between the rear side of the bottom portion and the two lateral portions of the first net body.
US08985373B2
The invention relates to a method for producing a plastic container having a container wall provided with a barrier foil, comprising the following steps: forming a foil body from a barrier foil, the shape of which corresponds to at least part of the container wall of the plastic container to be produced, arranging the foil body in an injection mold, applying a first plastic layer onto a first side of the foil body that corresponds to an inner side or outer side of the plastic container, and applying a second plastic layer onto a second side of the foil body that corresponds to an outside or inside of the plastic container, and to a plastic container comprising a container wall having a barrier foil, wherein the barrier foil is arranged centrally between an inner side and an outer side of the plastic layer.
US08985362B2
A plastic container includes a shoulder portion having an annular rib defined therein and a generally cylindrical main body portion having a longitudinal axis. At least one gripping recess is defined in the main body portion that has an oblong shape when viewed in front elevation and that is defined in part by a curved concave inner surface when viewed in side elevation. The gripping recess includes a plurality of horizontal indentations, each of which is sized to receive a finger of a consumer when the plastic container is being gripped by the consumer.
US08985361B2
An integrated canning jar lid configured to cover a mouth of a canning jar includes a closure portion, a top portion, and a skirt. The closure portion, top portion, and skirt may be integrated into a single device. The size and shape of the skirt may enhance the aesthetic appeal of the integrated lid as well as the convenience and ease of use. Embodiments of the integrated canning jar lid have a decorative element on the top thereof to further increase the aesthetic value of the lid and/or increase the convenience and ease of use.
US08985358B2
A closure having a child resistant mode and a non-child resistant mode includes a circumferential side wall and a divider wall for forming a first section cavity and a second section cavity. The divider is disposed between the first section and the second section for closing an opening of the container when the closure is installed on the container in the non-child resistant mode and the child resistant mode. In certain embodiments, a first liner is disposed in the first section such that the first liner is visible when the closure is installed on the container in the child resistant mode and a second liner is disposed in the second section such that the second liner is visible when the closure is installed on the container in the non-child resistant mode.
US08985356B2
An electric coupling for railways contains a first and a second coupling part each comprising a support in which a plurality of linking parts are arranged for establishing an electric, pneumatic and/or hydraulic link from one coupling part to another coupling part. In addition, at least one high-frequency link is provided which is formed by an enclosed antenna in one coupling part and by an enclosed antenna in the other coupling part.
US08985342B2
Provided is a color sorting machine in which decreases in yield resulting from the erroneous inclusion of good granules can be prevented by using different selection algorithms and operation ejector nozzle operations resulting therefrom in a first sorting part and a second sorting part. The machine is provided with: a binarization means for binarizing images of granular objects, a flaw-detecting means for extracting flawed parts of granular objects, a reducing means for reducing images of the external contour parts of granular objects, an enlarging means for enlarging images of the flawed parts of granular objects, and a synthesis means for synthesizing the reduced images of the external contours and the enlarged images of the flawed parts; wherein on the basis of an image obtained by this synthesis means, different air-jetting operations are established for the ejection means of a first sorting part and the ejection means of a second sorting part.
US08985327B2
A packaging case (1) for oblong objects such as high-quality precision tools (5), having a body (4) with a longitudinal receiving and removal opening (34), that can be closed by a protective element 2). The body (4) has a base (6) to which a clamping part (8) with at least one flexibly deformable U-shaped clamping jaw (9) is attached. The base part (6) is divided into a lower part (12) that is securely connected to the clamping part (8) and an upper part (11) that is attached to the lower part (12) such that when the upper part (11) is in an open position, the space (23) around the free end of the tool 5) is accessible, but when the upper part 11) is in the closed position the space around the free end of the tool is blocked.
US08985320B2
A case for eyeglasses provided with at least one integrated electrical or electronic device supplied by at least one rechargeable battery. The case incorporates a battery charger configured for charging the rechargeable battery when the eyeglasses are inserted in the case.
US08985317B2
A bay for a belt conveyor structure, the bay includes a transverse support stand having a first part that is positionable adjacent one longitudinal edge of the belt. The transverse support stand also includes a second part that is positionable adjacent the other longitudinal edge of the belt. A third part of the transverse support stand spans between the first part and the second part. The bay also includes a stringer having a proximal end removeably attachable to the stand and a distal end which is for engagement with a subsequent bay. The proximal end of the stringer is attachable to the first part of the stand at at least two spaced apart locations. The proximal end of the stringer is also attachable to the third part of the stand.
US08985312B2
A conveyor has a belt arranged to be urged around conveyor rollers, and a belt cover formed of an endless loop of fabric material which is in frictional communication over the belt. The belt cover is formed of a polyester carcass that has a monofilament weft that is transverse to the direction of travel, and maintains alignment with the belt. The belt cover is installed to a tensile force of between 1 and 1.5 pounds/inch, corresponding to an overall elongation of approximately 0.1%, which allows frictional communication between cover and belt for load transmission without binding. The communication between the belt cover and the belt has a coefficient of friction of ˜0.50. A message is printed on the belt cover. In addition, an antimicrobial material is disposed on the belt cover, and is formed of silver nanoparticles embedded in a polyurethane film having a thickness of ˜0.5 mil.
US08985308B2
An apparatus for sorting piece goods may include a receiving surface which can rotate about a predefined rotation axis and is designed to receive the piece goods. The apparatus may include a first guide rail for guiding the piece goods, wherein this guide rail has a gap through which one region of the piece goods passes and by means of which another region of the piece goods is held. The apparatus may include a turning device which pivots the piece goods with respect to a longitudinal direction of the piece goods. The apparatus may include a separating device which separates out some of the sorted piece goods which are not guided in a predefined manner by the first guide rail or by the turning device. The turning device may be arranged upstream of the separating device in the movement direction of the piece goods.
US08985301B2
A reload conveyor with an articulating conveyor frame is provided. The reload conveyor includes a main conveyor frame and a placement conveyor frame positioned at a discharge end of the main conveyor frame. The placement conveyor frames articulates to assume a transport configuration and a material transfer configuration. The overall length of the placement conveyor frame in the transport configuration is substantially shorter than in the material transfer configuration. A pair of material receiving mechanisms are provided and arranged to assume a material transfer configuration and a transport configuration.
US08985300B2
A control system is provided for a conveyor bridge with a plurality of segments and equipped with individual traveling gears for the cyclic traveling (moving) on a surface in travel straight ahead and in a curve. The control system follows a process including the steps of: detecting positions of both ends of the segments of a conveyor bridge on terrain; calculating target coordinates for the control of the conveyor bridge; simultaneous switching on of the drives of all traveling gears; synchronously controlling the drives of all traveling gears; during the travel movement, constantly measuring the distance covered by each traveling gear; constantly measuring angular deviations from the straight line between two adjacent segments during the travel movement; providing a lateral slope compensation between the traveling gear and the support frame of each segment; and providing a fine alignment of all segments after reaching the target coordinates.
US08985299B2
A paper-type detection device comprises a sensor unit, a storage unit and a control unit. The sensor unit is used for detecting a transmission state of a paper according to a fixed clock period, and carrying out binaryzation on detected signals to indicate the presence-absence state of the paper. The storage unit is used for acquiring the signals detected by the sensor unit, acquiring paper information in the signals, and storing the paper information in sequence. The control unit comprises a first state counter and a second state counter. The control unit controls the two state counters for carrying out zero clearing and starting operations for counting in conjunction with the sensor unit.
US08985294B2
In a hydraulic control arrangement for an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle having a parking lock activation system wherein operating fluid is supplied via a parking lock slide valve to a first parking lock pressure chamber for moving a parking lock-up piston in one direction into a locking position or moving the parking lock piston in an opposite direction, whereby operating fluid is released from the first parking lock pressure chamber via a discharge slide valve by way of which the first parking brake pressure chamber is connected to a tank for releasing the parking lock-up.
US08985293B2
In one aspect, the invention is directed to a decoupler assembly for between an endless drive element and a shaft. The endless drive element may be, for example, an accessory drive belt from a vehicular engine. The shaft may be, for example, the input shaft of a belt-driven accessory, such as an alternator or a compressor. The decoupler assembly includes a hub that mounts to the shaft, a pulley that is rotatable with respect to the hub, a dampening spring and a clutch member. A part of the pulley is supported on a pulley support surface on the hub. There is a gap between the pulley and the pulley support surface. The gap has lubricant therein to facilitate sliding between the pulley and the pulley support surface. By eliminating the use of a polymeric bushing between pulley and the hub, there are several advantages that are provided.
US08985283B2
A vehicle brake apparatus capable of preventing abnormal vibration due to thickness variations in a disc rotor includes a motor drive unit configured to control the motor which presses the brake pad against the disc rotor, a brake pressure detection unit for detecting a braking pressure for pressing the brake pad, and a wheel speed sensor for detecting a rotation speed of the disc rotor. If an amount of variation in the detection values detected by the brake pressure detection unit during one rotation of the disc rotor exceeds a variation amount determination threshold value and a detection value variation frequency has a correlation with the rotation speed of the disc rotor and the detection value variation frequency exceeds a variation frequency determination threshold value, the motor drive unit controls the motor in inverted phase to the variation in the detection values.
US08985282B2
A wheel braking apparatus includes components that inhibit the rotation of a wheel when a ball bearing is placed in a braking position between a bearing wall of a non-rotating component and a bearing barrier of a hub interface component that is at least resistively connected to a hub of the wheel. In response to a wireless signal, the ball bearing is moved from a non-braking position and allowed to travel to a braking position between a bearing barrier of one side of a bearing groove and the bearing wall of the non-rotating component.
US08985273B2
A portable folding support structure for safely tethering an individual comprises a portable cart sized to fit through a residential doorway, having wheels and a motor that actuates at least one of the wheels. A hand-operated throttle and steering device control the cart. The cart comprises an extendable anchoring plate to prevent rolling. A substantially horizontal jib with the cart comprises a harness point for receiving a safety cable to which an individual is attached to allow safe cleaning practices and to minimize fall risk. A foldable outrigger provides stability to the cart and an anchoring pad attaches to a distal region of the outrigger to promote stability. A textile liquid-absorbing surface is positionable about an outer surface of a glass balcony to inhibit cleaning liquids from spilling below the level of the liquid-absorbing surface.
US08985263B2
A mining shuttle car that trams on underground roadways includes a conveyor system and an operator's compartment adjacent to the conveyor system. The operator's compartment includes a rotatable seat and a control station. The operator's seat module is coupled to one or more joysticks that control the car, and the operator's seat module and the control station are mounted on a rotatable platform so as to be rotatable as a unit between a plurality of secured positions for operating the mining shuttle car. Forward movement of the joystick control relative to the seat steers the shuttle car about a point in front of the seat, and rearward movement of the joystick control relative to the seat steers the shuttle car about a point behind the seat. Forward and rearward movement of one of the joysticks steers the mining shuttle car in the same manner regardless of the rotational position of the rotational position of the seat.
US08985254B2
A pedal driven apparatus for a hybrid bicycle can be manually propelled, but also includes a motor unit for forward propulsion of the bicycle. The apparatus comprises manually operable pedals fixed for rotation with a pedal spindle for receiving a manually provided driving force, and a motor having a shaft for receiving a motor provided driving force. A first torque transmission path transfers the manually provided driving force to a sprocket of the pedal driven apparatus, and a second torque transmission path transfers the motor provided driving force to the sprocket of the pedal driven apparatus. A first one way drive means is provided in the first torque transmission path and second one way drive means is provided in the second torque transmission path. The manual driving force and motor driving force may be used separately or combined.
US08985236B2
A handheld power tool is disclosed. The handheld power tool has a drive oscillating along a working axis and a vibration damper. The vibration damper has a mass element suspended in a spring mechanism. The spring mechanism acts with a first spring stiffness and acts with a second spring stiffness. The first spring stiffness is different from the second spring stiffness.
US08985232B2
An agricultural system includes an agricultural row unit movable on a field between a first soil condition and a second soil condition, the first soil condition having a different soil hardness than the second soil condition. A down-pressure actuator applies an initial first pressure associated with the first soil condition. A soil-hardness sensing device is positioned at a distance D forward of the row unit and outputs a soil-hardness change signal when detecting a change from the first soil condition to the second soil condition. At least one memory device stores instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the down-pressure actuator to change, in response to receiving the soil-hardness change signal, the initial first pressure to a different second pressure when the row unit encounters the second soil condition.
US08985228B2
A treatment plug includes, an anchor runnable and settable within a structure having, at least two slips movably engaged with one another to cause the at least two slips to move radially into engagement with the structure in response to longitudinal movement between the at least two slips. The treatment plug also has at least one seal having a deformable metal member configured to radially deform into sealing engagement with the structure in response to longitudinal compression of the deformable metal member, and a seat that is sealingly receptive to a plug.
US08985225B2
Present embodiments are directed to a device for a top drive drilling system. The device includes a movable sleeve configured to be disposed around at least a portion of a sub. The movable sleeve is configured to be selectively disposed around a tubular by sliding axially along the sub. The device also includes a plurality of engagement features extending inwardly from an inner circumference of the movable sleeve. When the movable sleeve is disposed around the tubular, the plurality of engagement features are configured to engage the tubular when the movable sleeve is rotated in a first direction and to not engage the tubular when the movable sleeve is rotated in a second direction.
US08985199B2
A temperature equalization system, including an installation, a heat equalizer disposed in a natural heat carrier and being made of a material of heat conduction to exchange heat with the natural heat carrier, a fluid transmission duct disposed between the heat equalizer and the installation and having a fluid contained therein for heat transmission, a pump connected in series with the fluid transmission duct for pumping the fluid, and a control means controlling an operation of temperature equalization system. The control means controls the pump to pump the fluid through the fluid transmission duct and an interior of the installation with a periodical change of flowing direction.
US08985195B2
A condensing device and a thermal module using same are disclosed. The condensing device includes a hollow main body having a first inlet, a first outlet, and a flow-guiding zone. In the flow-guiding zone, there is provided a plurality of spaced flow-guiding members to define at least one flow passage therebetween. The at least one flow passage is communicable at two opposite ends with the first inlet and the first outlet. The thermal module is formed by connecting the first inlet and the first outlet of the condensing device to a second outlet and a second inlet of a heat-absorption unit, respectively, via two separate heat-transfer units. With the flow-guiding zone provided in the condensing device, it is able to accelerate the vapor-liquid circulation in the condensing device to thereby provide upgraded heat transfer efficiency.
US08985191B2
The present invention is a method for manufacturing a titanium ingot (30), the method being characterized by comprising: a step of melting a titanium alloy for a predetermined time by cold crucible induction melting (CCIM); a step of supplying molten titanium (6) to a cold hearth (10), and separating high density inclusions (HDIs) (8) by precipitation in the cold hearth (10) while spraying a plasma jet or an electron beam onto the bath surface of the molten titanium (6); and a step of supplying a molten titanium starting material from which the HDIs (8) are separated by precipitation to a mold (20) to obtain the titanium ingot.
US08985190B2
The invention relates to a method for the vertical semi-continuous direct chill casting of composite billets or plates comprising at least two layers of aluminum alloys, using a separator which is in contact with the solidification front and which provides a seal between the two alloys during casting, said separator being vibrated while it is in contact with the solidification front, so that the separator is not frozen in and entrained by the solid metal. The invention also relates to a device that can be used to carry out said method.
US08985187B2
A positioning station supports a sand mold half while centering using two sets of moveable arms. A gripping structure having two inwardly facing pads are each mounted for rotation about a common axis on separate axles. The pads remain in a fixed angular relationship to one another throughout rotational movement. Each pad has plural individual compressible fingers and a fixed fulcrum structure pointing inwardly towards the opposite pad and adapted to grip a sand mold half by engaging the surface of the sand mold half. The gripping structure is lifted away from the platform sufficient to allow a second sand mold half to be placed on the platform and then the gripping structure is lowered to accurately mate the two mold halves.
US08985178B1
Automated tire changer machines, control systems and methods therefor utilize positive contact and contact force generation between wheel rims and bead breaker devices to break tire bead seals. The bead breaker devices may accordingly follow different geometries of wheel rims without prior knowledge or identification of the specific rim configuration by the machine.
US08985171B2
A connector system and tire assembly includes an elongate integral air passageway contained within a flexible tire component of a tire carcass, the air passageway extending between an air inlet cavity and an air outlet cavity in the flexible tire component, and the air passageway extending at least a partial circumferential path around the tire carcass. A hollow dome-shaped inlet nut seats within the inlet cavity and a hollow dome-shaped outlet nut seats within the outlet cavity. The inlet nut couples to an air inlet device for conducting air external to the tire carcass into the inlet nut central chamber; and the outlet nut outward body side couples to a valve device positioned within the tire cavity.
US08985166B2
Bare can be prevented from occurring in a wear indicator. A pneumatic tire has a wear indicator 5 at the groove bottom of a main groove 2 formed in a tread surface 1 and extending in the circumferential direction. The wear indicator 5 is formed in the surface thereof with at least one recess 6.
US08985160B2
A metal pipe of single piece includes a wall formed of a single corrugated metal sheet. The sheet has opposing first and second edges extending longitudinally along the sheet. The wall includes a seam formed by abutting portions of the first and second edges. The seam extends helically about and along a length of the wall. The wall has an interior wall side and an opposing exterior wall side. The metal sheet has an interior wall side and an opposing exterior wall side. The interior wall side defines an inner wall surface of the wall, and the exterior wall side defines an outer wall surface of the wall. The sheet has a sinusoidal cross-sectional profile defining 5 corrugation peaks at the inner wall surface and 5 corrugation peaks at the outer wall surface. The sheet has a flattened sheet width of approximately 27¼ inches and a finished sheet width of approximately 23 inches.
US08985149B2
A valve device is formed with a through-channel and a field generating device. A fluid which can be influenced by a field is provided in the through-channel and the field generating device is configured to act on the field-influenced fluid in the through-channel by way of a field. At least one adjustment device is provided with which the field that is active in the through-channel can be adjusted. A portion of the cross-sectional area of the through-channel can be adjusted, the portion being exposed to a field of a specific intensity so that the through-channel can also only partly be exposed to a field of a specific intensity. Thus, the through-channel, as seen in the direction of the flow, can be divided into regions of different flow resistance, whereby characteristic curves, which were previously attained only with difficulty, are easily obtained when using the valve device in a damper, for example.
US08985144B2
A plurality of suctioning flow paths for suctioning mobile phases meet each other at a meeting portion. The meeting portion is connected to an inlet flow path communicating with an inlet of a reciprocating pump. The suctioning flow paths are respectively provided with solenoid valves for opening and closing the respective flow paths. The suctioning flow paths are respectively provided with orifices between the solenoid valves and the meeting portion. The orifices are sections of the respective suctioning flow paths having smaller diameters.
US08985143B2
A valve includes a valve stem assembly including at least one wall and at least one passage at least partially defined within the valve stem assembly. The at least one passage defines a first opening. At least one portion of the at least one wall defines an erosion site that is configured to undergo contact with solid particles such that a second opening of the passage is defined. The valve also includes at least one sensing device coupled in flow communication with the at least one passage through the first opening. The at least one sensing device is configured to transmit a signal representative of an increased fluid flow through the at least one passage.
US08985139B2
The carbon dioxide supply system includes: a reservoir reserving carbon dioxide; a pump arranged on a downstream side of the reservoir in a supply direction for the carbon dioxide for feeding the carbon dioxide with pressure while suppressing pulsation; a first pipe connecting the reservoir and the pump with each other; a second pipe connected to the downstream side of the pump in the supply direction and having no pulsation buffering device buffering pulsation of the pump; and a cooling apparatus interposed at least in an intermediate portion of the first pipe.
US08985132B2
A balance valve is provided with an asymmetric structure. When the dual-temperature ceramic valve is switched to cold water supply modes, and the hot water line is blocked to make a moveable spool abutted towards a first lateral end wall of a holding space, a cold water channel can thus be formed between the cold water opening of a fixed valve pipe and a second end of the moveable spool with the setting of the asymmetric structure. Hence, cold water supply can maintained. When the hot water line is blocked, the cold water supply function of the balance valve of the present invention could still be maintained for improved convenience and applicability.
US08985129B2
The present invention discloses a sunshade umbrella capable of adjusting umbrella surface angle, including an upright rod and an upright rod handle which moves up and down along the upright rod, wherein one end of the upright rod is connected with umbrella base, the other end of the upright rod is hinged with the connecting rod, the other end of the connecting rod is hinged with a circumferential fixed hanger rod, the hanger rod is hinged with the upright rod handle, an umbrella surface angle adjusting device is mounted on one end of the hanger rod, an executing device that takes the circumferential movement around the hanger rod is mounted on the other end of the hanger rod, and the executing device is connected with an upper umbrella plate. This umbrella has the following advantages: increased overall firmness of the sunshade umbrella, simple structure, and is convenient to operate.
US08985118B2
This application presents retention devices that afford the user quick and easy placement. These retention devices may accommodate objects of various shapes and sizes. The device provides sturdy means for retaining and securing an object to a surface without the need to handle and position flaps of tape. The device allows easy removal from the retained object without adhesives directly contacting or damaging it sensitive surfaces. The retention described here may be used to quickly secure anatomic structures during operations, such as securing the penis against the abdomen during vasectomy, without causing discomfort or damage to sensitive skin during application or removal.
US08985110B2
A diaphragm for a lung demand valve, including a chemical, biological, radiological and/or nuclear (CBRN) layer which is sufficiently resistant to the permeation of at least some CBRN agents and a resilient layer which is resiliently deformable. The CRBN layer is arranged to restrict the permeation of at least some CBRN agents through the diaphragm, and the resilient layer is arranged to allow the diaphragm to be resiliently deformed.
US08985102B2
Dry powder inhalers and dry powder inhaler storage cassettes including a compartment housing an elongate carrier preloaded with a plurality of doses of finely divided powder.
US08985089B2
To reduce emissions at higher engine loads and speeds, methanol fuel is port-injected with charge-air into a diesel engine, and diesel fuel is then direct-injected to initiate combustion. The charge-air has a reduced oxygen concentration sufficient to prevent pre-ignition of the methanol prior to injection of the diesel fuel, and to reduce NOx formation. At low engine speeds and loads, the engine may run on diesel fuel alone.
US08985080B2
An engine start system which may be employed in automotive idle stop systems. To start an engine, the system brings a pinion gear into engagement with a ring gear coupled to the engine and turns on an electric motor to rotate the ring gear through the pinion gear to crank the engine. When it is requested to start the engine during deceleration of the engine before stop thereof, the system thrusts the pinion into engagement with the ring gear and then turns on the motor to rotate the pinion gear, in other words, delays the activation of the motor until after the pinion gear has engaged the ring gear. This minimizes mechanical impact or noise arising from the engagement of the pinion gear with the ring gear and improves the reliability in engagement with the ring gear during the deceleration of the engine and durability of the system.
US08985079B2
A system for controlling a starter for starting a power source includes an air starter relay valve fluidly connected between an air tank and the starter. The air starter relay valve is configured to control an amount of air supplied to the starter from the air tank. The system also includes a control device connected to the air starter relay valve and configured to control the air starter relay valve. The system further includes a fuel valve interlock fluidly connected to a source of fuel via a fuel line. The fuel valve interlock is configured to open based on a pressure in the fuel line and configured to send a signal to the control device for controlling the air starter relay valve when the fuel valve interlock is opened.
US08985072B2
A piston structure for a four-stroke internal combustion engine is provided, enabling an increase in the intake efficiency and a favorable ignitability to improve the performance of the internal combustion engine. In a piston structure for a four-valve four-stroke internal combustion engine, a piston crown includes: an intake-side inclined flat surface formed in a single plane by bottom surfaces of a pair of intake valve recesses and an intake-side common flat surface; and an exhaust-side inclined flat surface formed in a single plane by bottom surfaces of a pair of exhaust valve recesses and an exhaust-side common flat surface. The intake-side inclined flat surface and the exhaust-side inclined flat surface are formed into a pent-roof shape with a ridge line at an intersection therebetween. The exhaust-side inclined flat surface extends into the intake valve recesses, and the ridge line is located on a side of the intake valve recesses.
US08985071B2
The converting of linear motion into rotational energy when using the cylinders and pistons of an internal combustion engine without the use of a crankshaft.The replacement with dual high lead cam-screws and dual cam-followers allows for the efficient use of a complete combustion stroke without the resistance from the crankshaft at top dead center, and a greatly reduced resistance for the return stroke as there is no crankshaft turning resistance at the outer limit of the piston stroke.
US08985067B2
An engine lubrication system is provided. The engine lubrication system includes an oil pan housing a lubricant, an oil pump having a pick-up tube including an inlet submerged in the lubricant, and a heat pipe assembly including a fluidly sealed heat pipe coupled to the oil pan adjacent to the inlet of the pick-up tube.
US08985055B2
A shrimp aquaculture structure including a set of at least two raceways each having a length, width, and at least one depth to give an average depth, and including two ends, two side walls having a top, a sloped bottom joining each side wall at two side wall junctions. Some of five raceways may be stacked at least partially on top of another of the five raceways. According to another embodiment, the disclosure relates to a process of shrimp aquaculture by using the set of five raceways and sequentially transferring shrimp form one raceway to another once the shrimp reach a given average size.
US08985054B2
A pet fountain assembly that includes a cover with a drinking bowl formed therein that straddles a sidewall of a basin that can be user-provided enclosing a pump within a pumping chamber defined therebetween. The cover has a downwardly extending sidewall divided by openings that can be generally U-shaped or V-shaped into a plurality of supports on which the cover. In a preferred embodiment, one of the supports is disposed outboard the basin sidewall resting on the ground and another one of the supports is disposed inboard the basin sidewall resting on a bottom of the basin providing a water passage enabling water from the basin to reach the pump. The inboard support can provide an overflow spillway as well as define a shroud disposed between the pump and water in a lower drinking bowl of the basin. The basin can include an outwardly offset seat that locates the pump.
US08985050B2
Method of ablating the surface of a substrate including providing a dry substrate and an electrolyte source, ablating the surface of the dry substrate to at least partially remove a native oxide layer, and immersing the ablated dry substrate in the electrolyte source, in which the dry substrate is ablated prior to being introduced into the electrolyte source. Also provided is a method of ablating the surface of a substrate that includes providing a dry substrate and an electrolyte, depositing a portion of the electrolyte on the substrate at a thickness of less than 10 microns and ablating the surface of the substrate with the electrolyte applied thereon. System for use in the ablation of the surface of a substrate are also provided.
US08985048B2
There is disclosed an apparatus and method for visual identification of valves in multi valve distribution and transmission systems, and particularly for municipal utility infrastructures such as mainline, connection, drain, pressure district, pressure regulating and pressure sustaining valves. In an embodiment, color coded valve box inserts are made to specifications, inserted and secured into place at the opening of multiple valve boxes to easily and accurately identify the different types or sizes of valves. Each color represents a different type or size of valve, as established by the municipality. A color coding chart identifying the different types or sizes of valves may be placed at each point of access to the valves to assist in identification of the different types of valves.
US08985041B2
An air lubrication system of an outer installation type has good efficiency. An air recovering device includes a recovery side chamber provided on a bottom of a ship on a stern side from an air ejecting device which supplies air bubbles to the ship bottom. The recovery side chamber includes air intake holes formed in a portion of the recovery side chamber opposite to the ship bottom through a gap. The air recovering device also includes a recovering section recovering air inside a recovery side chamber. The air bubbles acquired from the air intake holes are accumulated inside the recovery side chamber to generate pushing pressure so that air can be smoothly recovered from the recovering section.
US08985032B1
An adjustable desk apparatus includes an auxiliary work surface that is movable between a sitting configuration and a standing configuration. When in the sitting configuration, the auxiliary work surface is located adjacent to a primary work surface of an existing desk so as to accommodate working while sitting. When in the standing configuration, the auxiliary work surface is upwardly displaced from the primary work surface of the existing desk so as to accommodate working while standing. The adjustable desk apparatus also includes a base member that interfaces with the existing desk. An adjustment assembly includes at least one counterweight and corresponding counterweight sprockets configured to selectively urge the auxiliary work surface toward the standing configuration when actuated by a user. A pin couples the auxiliary work surface to the base member so as to hold the auxiliary work surface at a desired location.
US08985030B2
Inductrack III configurations are suited for use in transporting heavy freight loads. Inductrack III addresses a problem associated with the cantilevered track of the Inductrack II configuration. The use of a cantilevered track could present mechanical design problems in attempting to achieve a strong enough track system such that it would be capable of supporting very heavy loads. In Inductrack III, the levitating portion of the track can be supported uniformly from below, as the levitating Halbach array used on the moving vehicle is a single-sided one, thus does not require the cantilevered track as employed in Inductrack II.
US08985020B2
A heating step is performed in a printing operation where a gas jet emitting from a nozzle assembly impinges the exterior surface of a printing plate. The gas impingement provides rapid and specific convective heat flux to the exterior surface of the printing plate.
US08985015B2
A screen-printing squeegee, as well as an apparatus for screen printing, includes an elastic application element and a holding apparatus for the application element. The holding apparatus is divided, as viewed over the width of the application element, into a plurality of holding sections which can move with respect to one another, in which a leaf spring element is provided. The leaf spring element interconnects the holding sections which can move with respect to one another.
US08985008B2
A piston connected with a piston rod is fitted in an outer tube having a hydraulic fluid sealed therein, with the piston rod projecting out of the outer tube. A seal part for the piston rod includes a rod guide, a seal case, an oil seal, a dust seal and a securing member, which are inserted into an end portion of the outer tube and secured by first and second staked portions. The sliding part of the piston rod is sealed with the rod seal and a seal lip of the oil seal. The area between the seal case and the outer tube is sealed with an O-ring and a seal member. The pressure resistance of the seal part can be increased to a considerable extent by two-point staking by the first and second staked portions and two-stage sealing by the rod seal and the oil seal.
US08985007B2
A firearm having a gas piston system includes a bolt carrier, an adjustable gas piston block located forward on the firearm and an over-the-barrel spring and guide rod arrangement, all of which is housed and contained in a top rail that runs the length of the firearm and that maintains the alignment of these firearm components. The firearm further includes components that provide full auto firing capability. These components include a specially designed auto bracket that cooperates with a modified bolt carrier and a modified upper receiver.
US08985001B2
An armor includes a core that, in turn, includes a first layer of prismatic elements arranged in a tessellated fashion and a second layer of prismatic elements arranged in a tessellated fashion. The first layer of prismatic elements is nested into the second layer of prismatic elements. An armor includes a strike face sheet, a rear face sheet, and a core disposed between the strike face sheet and the rear face sheet. The core includes a first layer of prismatic elements arranged in a tessellated fashion, a second layer of prismatic elements arranged in a tessellated fashion, and a strain isolation layer. The first layer of prismatic elements is nested into the second layer of prismatic elements with the strain isolation layer disposed between the first layer of prismatic elements and the second layer of prismatic elements. The armor is at least one of curved in at least one direction, configured to include a corner, and configured to include a prismatic element of the first layer of prismatic elements or the second layer of prismatic element having a metallic layer disposed thereon.
US08984992B2
A socket is provided for removing or installing a fastener having a hexagonally shaped portion. The socket includes a body having a longitudinal axis and opposing first and second ends. First surfaces define a tool-receiving portion at the first end. The tool-receiving portion is constructed and arranged to receive a portion of a tool. Second surfaces define a socket portion at the second end. The socket portion is constructed and arranged to receive and engage the portion of the fastener therein. Holding structure is associated with the socket portion and is constructed and arranged to non-magnetically hold the portion of the fastener in the socket portion so as to not fall out of the socket portion, either due to friction or vacuum, without providing torque to the fastener when the socket is rotated during installation or removal of the fastener.
US08984989B2
Clutch arrangement for a motor vehicle drive train. The clutch arrangement has a first and a second clutch which are embodied as normally open clutches. The first clutch can be activated from an open position into a closed position by means of a first actuator arrangement. The second clutch can be activated from an open position into a closed position by means of a second actuator arrangement. The clutch arrangement has a locking device for locking a clutch in the closed position. Only the second clutch can be locked in the closed position by means of the locking device, while the first clutch cannot be locked in the closed position. Thus, the first actuator arrangement has to be supplied with energy in order to secure the first clutch in the closed position.
US08984986B2
A pedal boss, to which an accelerator pedal is fixed, has a projection-receiving space, which circumferentially extends on a circumferential side of a closing-side end wall in an accelerator-opening direction and receives a projection. When the pedal boss is rotated in an accelerator-closing direction, the pedal boss is rotatable to an accelerator-full-closing position of the pedal boss without being stopped by the projection through engagement with the projection regardless of a rotational position of the projection.
US08984982B2
A parallel kinematic structure comprises at least two kinematic chains being functionally arranged in parallel. Each of the two kinematic chains has, at a moveable end thereof, at least one degree of freedom, and comprising a passive anti-planar joint arrangement having a translational degree of freedom and two rotational degrees of freedom. Each anti-planar joint arrangement has an input section and an output section. At least one of the kinematic chains comprises a planar joint arrangement having at least one of at least one translational degree of freedom and a rotational degree of freedom, the planar joint arrangement having an output section. Further, the planar joint arrangement is adapted for active movements in at least one of its degrees of freedom. The input section of the anti-planar joint arrangement and the output section of the respective planar joint arrangement are coupled. The parallel kinematic structure further comprises a moveable end-effector section coupled with the output sections of the anti-planar joint arrangements.
US08984981B2
A sintered gearwheel is described having teeth (1) which, in the flank and root region (2, 3), comprise a compacted surface layer (7, 8, 9) which is continuous in the transition portion (4) between the flank and root region (2, 3) and has a residual porosity of less than 10%. In order to increase the load-bearing capacity it is proposed that the compacted surface layer (9) is formed with a lower thickness in the transitional portion (4) between the flank and root region (2, 3) than in the adjacent flank and root regions (2, 3).
US08984978B2
Elastic support module and rack bar supporting device for vehicle steering apparatus having the same
The present invention relates to an elastic support module and a rack bar supporting device for a vehicle steering apparatus, which includes the elastic support module. By the present invention, it is possible to prevent a noise from being produced due to the increase of a clearance caused when a vehicle loses the driving durability thereof to a certain degree and hence a support yoke of the vehicle is worn, or due to an impact reversely input from a road surface, and hence to provide a pleasant steering feeling for a driver when steering the vehicle.
US08984976B2
The transmission comprises: a primary shaft; a secondary shaft; a gearing of first speed comprising a first driving gearwheel carried by the primary shaft and a first driven gearwheel carried by the secondary shaft and permanently meshing with the first driving gearwheel; a gearing of second speed comprising a second driving gearwheel carried by the primary shaft and a second driven gearwheel carried by the secondary shaft and permanently meshing with the second driving gearwheel; an overrunning clutch associated to one of the first driving gearwheel and first driven gearwheel to allow the transmission of the torque via the gearing of first speed only in the direction from the primary shaft to the secondary shaft; a first coupling device arranged to connect either of the first driving gearwheel and first driven gearwheel, namely the gearwheel to which the overrunning clutch is associated, for rotation directly with the respective shaft, so as to allow the transmission of the torque via the gearing of first speed also in the direction from the secondary shaft to the primary shaft; and a second coupling device arranged to connect either of the second driving gearwheel and second driven gearwheel for rotation with the respective shaft. The first and second coupling devices are both shiftable between an open condition and a closed condition independently of each other. The first coupling device is normally open, whereas the second coupling device is normally closed.
US08984971B2
In a parallel slider device with a pneumatic linear guide, the stiffness of the mechanical coupling and the air bearing stiffness are prevented from interfering each other such that the parallelism between the two sliders can be maintained at a high precision in a highly reproducible manner. A difference in the slider support stiffness (air bearing stiffness) between a first pneumatic linear guide and a second pneumatic linear guide by varying the sizes of the air gaps and the supply air pressures so that any error in the linearity is accommodated by the changes in the air gap on the side of the linear guide having a lower slider support stiffness in a stable manner.
US08984966B2
Most mechanical tests (compression testing, tensile testing, flexure testing, shear testing) of samples in the sub-mm size scale are performed under the observation with an optical microscope or a scanning electron microscope. However, the following problems exist with prior art force sensors as e.g they cannot be used for in-plane mechanical testing (a- and b-direction) of a sample; they cannot be used for vertical testing (c-direction) of a sample. In order to overcome the before mentioned drawbacks the invention comprises the following basic working principle: A force is applied to the probe (2) at the probe tip (1) of the sensor. The force is transmitted by the sensor probe (2) to the movable body (3) of the sensor. The movable body is elastically suspended by four folded flexures (4), which transduce the force into a deflection dx. This deflection is measured by an array of capacitor electrodes, called capacitive comb drive (6).
US08984958B1
An apparatus and method for determining the adhesive strength of a biofilm formed on an underwater optical surface and for determining the pressure, velocity and configuration of a water jet directed at the biofilm to wash away the biofilm and restore hydrophobicity to the optical surface, with a view to providing removal of such biofilms by underwater travel of a submarine without a need to surface for biofilm removal.
US08984943B2
The present invention provides an inspection method for a lithium ion secondary battery in which an electrolyte and an electrode group are disposed in one container, the electrode group including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator, wherein a sensor for detecting acoustic emission is attached to the outside of the container and acoustic emission generated in the battery container is detected upon provision of charge or discharge current and stopping of provision thereof between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. Specifically, the amplitude intensity of the acoustic emission is measured that is generated upon provision of charge-discharge currents having different values, linear approximation is conducted for the charge-discharge current value and the amplitude intensity of the acoustic emission, and the number of times of charge-discharge cycles that has been provided so far to the battery is estimated.
US08984941B2
A multi-axis force-balance accelerometer has a proof mass included within an enclosure. An electrically conductive tether, flexible in 6 degrees of freedom, provides a compliant electrically conductive link between the proof mass and the enclosure. Mechanical stops limit a range of motion of the proof mass. The enclosure includes captive plates and force balancing control loops for positioning the proof mass in a null position within the enclosure for each of the 3 rectilinear reference axes, and in a null position within the enclosure for each of 3 angular reference axes. The electrically conductive tether is sufficiently mechanically compliant that, on deactivation of the force balancing control loops for the rectilinear axes, the proof mass falls so as to rest on the mechanical stops.
US08984933B2
A method for control of an internal combustion engine includes generating, with a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) accelerometer, an acceleration signal representing vibrations of the internal combustion engine. An engine crank angle signal is generated based on the acceleration signal. The engine crank angle signal is compared with a target value. The internal combustion engine is adjusted based upon the comparing.
US08984932B2
Devices and methods are described for measuring formed blood component sedimentation rate. Some of the methods may use (1) centrifugal techniques for separating red blood cells from plasma and (2) video and/or still imaging capability. Both may be used alone or in combination to accelerate formed blood component sedimentation and to measure its rate. In one example, the method may advantageously enable rapid measurement of sedimentation rate using small blood sample volumes. Automated image analysis can be used to determine both sedimentation rate and hematocrit. Automated techniques may be used to compensate for effects of hematocrit on uncorrected sedimentation rate data.
US08984926B2
A machine is disclosed for the expansion of pipes for heat exchangers, including a machine frame equipped with a drive unit for pressing or pulling an expansion mandrel through a pipe as well as an expansion mandrel. In at least one embodiment, the machine includes at least one drive unit with at least one motor-driven drum as well as a band or wire guide which extends horizontally from an outlet of the drum and forwardly to the pipe, the drive unit including a set of lateral plates. In at least one embodiment, the drum is disposed between the lateral plates of the drive unit and is equipped with a band or a wire and is additionally adapted to press or pull a band or a wire with an expansion mandrel through a pipe, wherein the expansion mandrel is expandable. In at least one embodiment, the drum includes two lateral plates, a hub and a circular guideway, the hub including a driving gearwheel and at least two idling gearwheels arranged internally in and in engagement with a toothed rim in the hub, and wherein the circular guideway of the drum is formed by bearings disposed in a circle between the sides of the drum and along the outermost rim of the sides.
US08984924B2
A metal member manufacturing method is achieved by pressing a second region of a metal material without pressing a first region of the metal material, and pressing the first region without pressing the second region. The metal material has a hole formation region in which one through-hole is to be formed. The first region and the second region are contained in the hole formation region.
US08984918B2
Disclosed herein is a washing machine in which a balancer is directly mounted on a body of an inner tub without a front surface part of the inner tub. The washing machine includes an outer tub to store water, a body formed in a cylindrical shape provided with an opening at one surface thereof and provided in the outer tub, and a balancer connected to an inner diameter part at the opening of the body to reduce unbalance of the body generated during rotation of the body and to reinforce the body.
US08984912B1
An apparatus for removably securing resilient cushioning and gripping support to a crochet hook to facilitate its manipulation. Handgrip sleeve for use with a crochet hook is a lightweight, resilient gripping sleeve having an interior cavity for the accommodation of a crochet hook. Complete with gripping members and an elastomeric composition, handgrip sleeve for use with a crochet hook provides increased comfort and decreased fatigue for a user during the completion of a handicraft project.
US08984909B2
A method for sealing the pump-out hole of vacuum glass comprises: first preparing metal layer which is bonded with the glass plate at the outside surface of the glass plate around the pump-out hole; and air-tightly welding the sealing element and the metal layer around the pump-out hole by metal brazing technology after pumping. A structure and a device for sealing the pump-out hole of vacuum glass are also provided. The method can seal the pump-out hole reliably and firmly; the sealing structure is stable and has long service life; the welding between the sealing element and the metal layer can be completed instantly and the properties of the glass materials will not be affected.
US08984904B2
A refrigerating device is provided which can improve COP when a required load is 50% of a maximum load or below. When the load required of a common evaporator is 50% or less, a control unit stops a second compressor and controls the volume of a first compressor. Accordingly, it becomes possible to improve COP when the required load is equal to or below 50% as compared to the case of controlling the first and second compressors simultaneously to a low volume.
US08984901B2
A heat pump system includes: a heat-source-side refrigerant circuit having a heat-source-side compressor, a first usage-side heat exchanger operable as a radiator of heat-source-side refrigerant, and a heat-source-side heat exchanger operable as a radiator of heat-source-side refrigerant; and a usage-side refrigerant circuit having a usage-side compressor, a refrigerant/water heat exchanger operable as a radiator of usage-side refrigerant to heat an aqueous medium, and the first usage-side heat exchanger operable as an evaporator of usage-side refrigerant by radiation of heat-source-side refrigerant. The capacity of the heat-source-side compressor is controlled so that a saturation temperature corresponding to the pressure of the heat-source-side refrigerant in the discharge of the heat-source-side compressor becomes a target temperature; and the capacity of the usage-side compressor is controlled so that a saturation temperature corresponding to the pressure of the usage-side refrigerant in the discharge of the usage-side compressor becomes a target temperature.
US08984900B2
A decorative member of a refrigerator and a method for fabricating the same are disclosed. A refrigerator includes a storage container provided in a storage chamber; and a decorative member provided in the storage container, the decorative configured to generate light refraction and guide a movement of condensate condensed in the storage container, and configured to be capable of displaying humidity inside the storage container according to the movement degree of condensate.
US08984895B2
A method and apparatus are disclosed for a gas turbine spool design combining metallic and ceramic components in a way that controls clearances between critical components over a range of engine operating temperatures and pressures. In a first embodiment, a ceramic turbine rotor rotates just inside a ceramic shroud and separated by a small clearance gap. The ceramic rotor is connected to a metallic volute. In order to accommodate the differential rates of thermal expansion between the ceramic rotor and metallic volute, an active clearance control system is used to maintain the desired axial clearance between ceramic rotor and the ceramic shroud over the range of engine operating temperatures. In a second embodiment, a ceramic turbine rotor rotates just inside a ceramic shroud which is part of a single piece ceramic volute/shroud assembly. As temperature increases, the ceramic volute expands at approximately the same rate as ceramic shroud and tends to increase the axial clearance gap between the ceramic rotor and ceramic shroud, but only by a small amount compared to a metallic volute attached to the shroud in the same way.
US08984892B2
A combined cycle power plant includes a gas turbomachine, a steam turbomachine operatively coupled to the gas turbomachine, and a heat recovery steam generator operatively coupled to the gas turbomachine and the steam turbomachine. The heat recovery steam generator includes a high pressure reheat section provided with at least one high pressure superheater and at least one reheater. The combined cycle power plant further includes a controller operatively connected to the gas turbomachine, the steam turbomachine and the heat recovery steam generator. The controller is selectively activated to initiate a flow of steam through the heat recovery steam generator following shutdown of the gas turbomachine to lower a temperature of at least one of the high pressure superheater and the at least one reheater and reduce development of condensate quench effects during HRSG purge of a combined cycle power plant shutdown.
US08984891B2
An aircraft gas turbine engine has a row of FLADE fan blades disposed radially outwardly of and drivingly connected to a fan in the engine's fan section. The FLADE fan blades extend across a FLADE duct circumscribing the fan section. A two dimensional air discharge passage is in fluid flow communication with the FLADE duct and with FLADE air upstream and downstream discharge slots in a divergent flap of a two dimensional exhaust nozzle. A valve fully closes the upstream slot when the downstream slot is fully opened and fully opens the upstream slot when the downstream slot is fully closed. The upstream and downstream slots may be located upstream and downstream respectfully of a nozzle discharge area in the nozzle. A sliding deck slides aft or down to open upstream slot and close downstream slot and slides forward or up to close upstream slot and open downstream slot.
US08984886B2
A method for operating a catalytic reforming assembly. The method includes injecting a quantity of oxidizer gas and a quantity of combustion gas into a reformer to form a mixture. The mixture is channeled across a catalyst bed to form a reformate gas stream. A temperature of the catalyst bed is measured using at least one temperature sensor. A level of the oxidizer gas in the reformate stream is measured using at least one oxidizer gas sensor. A health of the catalyst bed is determined based on at least one of a catalyst bed temperature measurement and an oxidizer gas level.
US08984884B2
In one embodiment, a waste heat recovery system includes multiple organic Rankine cycle (ORC) systems arranged in a cascade configuration. Each ORC system includes a heat exchanger that transfers heat to the working fluid to vaporize the working fluid. Each ORC system also includes an integrated power module that expands the working fluid to generate electricity.
US08984880B2
An assembly can include a turbine housing that includes a bore, a wastegate seat and two wastegate passages that extend to the wastegate seat; a rotatable wastegate shaft configured for receipt by the bore; a wastegate arm extending from the wastegate shaft; and a wastegate plug extending from the wastegate arm where the wastegate plug comprises a profile defined in part by a portion of a torus, for contacting the wastegate seat in a closed state, and defined in part by two plug portions, for defining clearances with respect to the wastegate seat in an open state. Various other examples of devices, assemblies, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.
US08984877B2
A heat exchanger for a stirling engine 10A of a twin-cylinder α type includes a heat transfer tube group 70A formed with heat transfer tubes 71A causing a working fluid of the stirling engine 10A to flow between a high-temperature cylinder 20 and a low-temperature cylinder 30 arranged linearly and parallel to each other in the stirling engine. The heat transfer tube group 70A includes a rising section G1 extending upward, a falling section G2 extending downward, and a connecting section G3 connecting the rising section G1 and the falling section G2 in a turn-back manner, where the heat transfer tube group 70A is regarded as extending from one end or the other end thereof.
US08984873B2
A hydraulic system includes a variable-displacement first pump, an over-center variable-displacement first travel motor selectively connected to receive fluid pressurized by the first pump in a closed loop manner, and an over-center variable-displacement second travel motor selectively connected to receive fluid pressurized by the first pump in parallel with the first travel motor in a closed loop manner. The hydraulic system also includes a linear actuator selectively connected to receive fluid pressurized by the first pump in parallel with the first and second travel motors in a closed loop manner.
US08984872B2
A method for estimating a fluid charge of a hydraulic accumulator includes determining a first accumulator pressure at a first time with a pressure sensor, the first time during accumulator charging; determining a second accumulator pressure at a second time with the pressure sensor, the second time during accumulator charging; determining a first fan speed at the first time; determining a second fan speed at the second time; and estimating the fluid charge of the hydraulic accumulator as a function of the first accumulator pressure, the second accumulator pressure, the first fan speed, and the second fan speed.
US08984871B1
A hydraulic drive device having a pump and motor is disclosed, where the pump swash plate includes a pair of structural ribs and the housing has a pair of thrust ribs on an inner surface. Only one thrust rib is in contact with one of the structural ribs at a time, to permit arcuate rotation of the swash plate while limiting axial movement of the swash plate. The axes of rotation of the swash plate trunnion, input shaft and output shaft are in a common plane. A rotary bypass shaft for engaging transmission check plugs includes an external bypass arm. A pair of detents are externally formed on the housing, and the bypass arm includes separate pairs of openings to engage the pair of detents when the bypass arm is in different positions.
US08984870B2
Following a cold start of a hydrocarbon-fueled engine operated in a lean-burn-combustion mode, several seconds and minutes may be required for the exhaust gas stream to heat exhaust treatment devices in the exhaust system and conduit to their effective operating temperatures. The warm-up period may be particularly long for a NOx reduction catalyst (SCR) located downstream in the exhaust flow system. Accordingly, a bed of absorbent material, such as a suitably sized bed of alumina particles, located upstream of the SCR, is used to temporarily absorb water and NOx from a relatively cold exhaust until the exhaust has suitably heated the SCR to its operating temperature. Then, the warmed exhaust will remove the water and NOx from their temporary storage material and carry them to the reduction catalyst.
US08984866B2
An exhaust gas post treatment system for an internal combustion engine, including an intake device for taking hydrocarbons into an exhaust gas pipe carrying the exhaust process gas from the internal combustion engine and a treatment device through which exhaust process gas flows downstream of the intake location and which increases the exhaust process gas temperature by oxidation of the hydrocarbons taken in. An exhaust gas post treatment system and a method for operating the same, in that the treatment device has catalytically coated components, the hydrocarbons are at least partly evaporated in the intake device and are modified chemically by cracking reactions and/or by partial oxidation, and the proportion of platinum, at least in a subregion of the catalytic coating of the components, is less than 50% of the overall mass of all the catalytically active substances in this sub region of the coating.
US08984861B2
A catalyst deterioration diagnosis method for diagnosing deterioration of a catalyst for purification of exhaust gas by using a test catalyst disposed in an exhaust gas flow path through which the exhaust gas flows, the method including an exhaust gas control step of inverting an air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas in the flow path from a lean side to a rich side or from a rich side to a lean side; a measurement step of measuring a change over time in electrical resistance of the test catalyst at the inversion of the air-fuel ratio and finding a resistance change ratio of the test catalyst; and a determination step of determining catalytic deterioration of the test catalyst based on the resistance change ratio.
US08984860B2
In a diesel engine and exhaust aftertreatment system, a controller is arranged to control operation of the engine to obtain a first set of exhaust characteristics and to control a fuel injector to inject fuel upstream of a DPF at a first rate of injection until at least one condition is attained, and, after the at least one condition is attained, to control the fuel injector so that a rate of fuel injection is reduced and to contra! operation of the engine to obtain a second set of exhaust characteristics so that regeneration of the DPF occurs. At least one characteristic of the first and second sets of characteristics beina, different. A method for treating, diesei engine exhaust is also disclosed.
US08984854B2
Apparatus and methods are disclosed for rapidly counteracting a transient low-pressure condition, that can occur intermittently in the exhaust section of a power plant or other such industrial facility upstream of exhaust fans as a result of an event that interrupts the generation and/or flow of exhaust gases, using jet nozzles disposed in the exhaust section and connected to a source of pressurized air or other suitable momentum material. By orienting the jet nozzles in a direction generally opposite to the flow of exhaust gas and actuating the system to release a burst of compressed air, for example in the event of a power plant interruption, the low-pressure condition can be ameliorated preventing damage to the exhaust section.
US08984853B2
An example method of accessing a valve assembly of a turbomachine includes accessing a check valve of the valve assembly from a first position that is radially outside a flow path through the turbomachine. The method accessing a shut off valve of the valve assembly from a second position that is radially outside the flow path. The check valve and the shut off valve are configured to influence communication of lubricant along a lubricant communication path that extends between a location radially outboard the flow path and a location radially inboard the flow path. The first position is the same as the second position in some examples.
US08984851B2
A harvesting header includes a cutter bed having a plurality of cutting elements arranged transverse to the header and a crop chopping and conditioning region having a crop chopping device and a crop conditioning device. The crop chopping device is configured to chop crop cut by the cutter bed into smaller lengths and the crop conditioning device is configured to crimp the crop to aid in drying. The first chopping roller has a tubular, cylindrically-shaped body and a plurality of parallel knife-mounting lugs extending radially outward along substantially the full length of the body. A plurality of chopping knives are attached to the knife-mounting lugs and arranged around the body, each chopping knife having a length that is shorter than the length of the knife-mounting lug to which it is attached such that each chopping knife covers only a portion of the lateral length of the first chopping roller.
US08984847B1
A liner sealing garbage container for sealing garbage in a container liner prior to removing the garbage from the container includes a housing having a bottom and a perimeter wall extending upwardly from the bottom. The perimeter wall has an upper edge forming a top opening in the housing. A shelf is coupled to the perimeter wall and extends inwardly from the perimeter wall. The shelf has a central aperture. An annular liner cartridge is positioned on the shelf and a liner extends from the liner cartridge through the central aperture of the shelf. A sealing assembly having opposed sealing members is positioned in the housing. The liner extends between the sealing members and the sealing members are movable to compress and seal the liner between the sealing members.
US08984846B2
A hand-held closure tool for closing a container. Based on the design of the inventive closure tool, a pair of wheels provides two points of contact between the closure tool and the container peripheral flange. This design feature stabilizes the closure tool as the container is moved in a circular fashion. The stability of the closure tool against the peripheral flange of the container enables the closure tool movement to be accomplished in a single, continuous motion.
US08984836B2
A synthetic thatch member for use as a roofing material product, along with associated methods for manufacturing and installing the same are provided. The synthetic thatch member comprises: a plurality of frond members defining a first three-dimensional surface of the thatch member and a second three-dimensional surface of the thatch member, the first and second surfaces comprising opposing sides of the plurality of frond members; a fused portion comprising a first portion of each of the plurality of frond members, wherein each of the first portions is connected relative to one another, such that the fused portion defines a substantially impermeable surface; and a serrated portion comprising a second portion of each of the plurality of frond members, each of the second portions being separated relative to one another, such that a plurality of gaps are defined between each of the plurality of frond members.
US08984831B1
A framework and method of forming a single pour concrete form for walls and ceiling of a safe room. The walls secure to a concrete slab with concrete anchors. C-channel ceiling joists attach on top of vertical metal wall studs to which plywood is secured on each side to define walls forms. A metal web blocking piece attaches between adjacent ceiling joists and is spaced apart from the ends of the ceiling joist to form concrete flow channels between the ceiling and walls. A plywood strip seals between the metal web blocking pieces and the plywood on the interior walls to funnels concrete into the wall forms. Corrugated metal decking is secured to the top of the ceiling joists creating a ceiling form that does not extend to the plywood on the exterior walls, thus providing access openings for cement to flow from the ceiling form into the wall forms.
US08984826B2
The invention comprises a method of forming a concrete structure. The method comprises placing plastic concrete in a form of a desired shape, encasing the concrete in insulating material having insulating properties equivalent to at least 1 inch of expanded polystyrene and allowing the plastic concrete to at least partially cure inside the insulating material. An insulated concrete form and a method of using the insulated concrete form are also disclosed.
US08984823B2
A wall corner strip (1) comprises a longer board and a shorter board (18, 17) forming an inner angle (15). The lengths of two boards are unequal, and the inner angle (15) is less than 90°. A solid protruding edge (13) is provided at the inner angle (15), and two inflexed hooks (11) are provided on the second ends (182, 172) of the longer board and the shorter board (18, 17), respectively.
US08984799B2
A fishing jig with a flexible shank allows a minnow on the fishing jig to swim free. This natural movement of the minnow entices a predator to feed while foraging. Predators not foraging are enticed into a reaction strike with the use of various types of terminal tackle, such as colored beads, blade spinners, turbo spinners and the like. The fish hooks and the jig head can be matched to meet the fishing conditions and type of fish being targeted. For example, a heavier jig head can be used with a smaller fishing hook for fishing smaller fish in deep water.
US08984797B2
An articulating targeting device comprises a mounting base, a swing arm and a sighting component carrying body. The swing arm is pivotably attached to the mounting base for allowing the swing arm to pivot about a first pivot axis between a first swing arm position and a second swing arm position. The sighting component carrying body pivotably attached to the swing arm for allowing the sighting component carrying body to pivot about a second pivot axis between a first carrying body position and a second carrying body position.
US08984790B2
A locking adjustable cheek rest comprising an upper U-shaped portion and a lower portion located on the stock of a rifle or other firearm. The U-shaped portion is biased against the lower portion, such that the walls of the U-shaped upper portion press against the lower portion, thereby locking the upper portion in position. A first release and a second release are depressed to release the bias and enable the upper portion to be raised and lowered relative to the lower portion. Interlocking mechanisms located on the upper and lower portions facilitate locking of the cheek rest in a position determined by the user.
US08984788B2
A firearm includes a frame having at least one interior receptacle defined by opposed interior walls and having opposed guide rails extending from the opposed interior walls, and at least one modular housing disposed in the receptacle and accommodating at least one operational component of the firearm. The modular housing is defined by opposed sidewalls having opposed guide channels formed therein, the guide channels being configured to selectively engage the guide rails to facilitate the aligning of the modular housing with respect to the interior receptacle. The at least one operational component and the modular housing are pre-assembled together as an integrated unit for drop-in insertion into the receptacle during assembly of the firearm.
US08984785B2
A display device includes a display panel for irradiating light, a transparent substrate comprising an active portion for passing through the image light and a decoration portion surrounding the active portion, and a decoration layer filling a groove at the decoration portion.
US08984783B2
A method of increasing the stability of a corrugated display apparatus defining a plurality of lower openings and having a plurality of walls at least partially defining a plurality of channels, each with a channel width, spanning from one of the plurality of lower openings toward an upper end of the display apparatus, the method including providing a cutting device with a handle length and a blade member coupled along the handle length, cutting a portion of at least one of the plurality of walls with the blade member to combine two of the plurality of channels adjacent to the cut portion of the at least one of the plurality of walls to create an enlarged channel, and inserting a post-like member into the enlarged channel, the post-like member securely retained within the enlarged channel.
US08984781B2
A configurable large-depth panel display uses a number of frame members and a number of corner brackets coupled to one another to create an flexible and easily customized display device. The frame members relatively uniform, having a substantially constant cross-sectional configuration which is easily coupled to the frame members. The corner brackets can be configured in a number of different ways to produce a display product with a desired configuration. More specifically, the corner brackets can be configured to attach to frame members in a manner which produce an overall framework having multiple shapes and orientations, depending upon the desired design of the overall display. To complete the display panel, a removable face panel is attached to the frame using an interference fit caused by a ridged tab inserted into a channel that has a supporting recess. Various face panels, can be easily attached to the frame members using integral portions of the constant cross-sectional configuration.
US08984776B2
A footwear assembly having an upper that comprises a neoprene sock with a foot portion integrally connected to a leg portion. The foot portion has heel, vamp and under-foot portions. The leg portion has front shin, side wall, and rear calf-side portions. The upper has a unitary, outer, injection molded layer molded directly onto the foot and shin portions of the neoprene sock, while the sidewall and rear calf-side portions remain substantially uncovered by the injection molded layer. The injection molded layer encases the foot portion of the neoprene sock. The injection molded layer on the shin portion defines a shin guard portion having a necked down area integrally connected to the injection molded layer at the vamp portion, wherein the shin guard extends upwardly from the necked-down portion in an outwardly diverging shape away from the vamp.
US08984775B2
In at least one embodiment, an article of footwear includes a sole defining a lateral side and a medial side, an upper attached to the sole, and a resilient member positioned within the sole. The resilient member includes a plurality of arms including a medial arm extending along the medial side of the sole and a lateral arm extending along the lateral side of the sole, wherein an end of the medial arm is connected to an end of the lateral arm.
US08984764B2
An ink curing apparatus (11) comprising a UV light source (13); at least one moveable shutter means (17, 17a), which is moveable about the longitudinal axis of the UV light source (13); and at least one reflector (15); wherein at least one air passage (19a) is defined along substantially the entire surface area of the or each reflector (15).
US08984758B2
A gauge for measuring the headspace dimension of a firearm chamber. The gauge includes a first member coupled to a second member in a telescopic fashion. The first and second members may be positioned in an open firearm chamber. With the firearm chamber subsequently closed, the first and second members are moved into a position that gives the actual headspace dimension and locked in that position. The gauge may then be removed from the chamber and measured to give the user the actual headspace dimension.
US08984752B2
A method for forming a printhead including one or more channels. The method can include depositing and selectively sintering a first layer of powder into a sintered layer that forms a first discrete cross-sectional region of a printhead structure for the printhead. A plurality of layers of powder can be sequentially deposited and selectively sintered into a plurality of sintered layers that form discrete cross-sectional regions of the printhead structure and form at least a portion of at least one or more channels. Each of the plurality of layers of powder is deposited directly onto at least one sintered layer. Each of the plurality of sintered layers is integrally bonded to at least one other sintered layer.
US08984745B2
In a method for attaching a connector to a coaxial cable a solder preform is placed upon an end of an outer conductor of the cable. A connector body of the connector is seated upon an interface pedestal and the end of the outer conductor is inserted into a bore of the connector body against the interface pedestal. The outer conductor, the connector body and the interface pedestal contribute sidewalls to form a solder cavity, and the solder preform is heated. A seat may be applied to the interface pedestal to provide a thermal barrier and/or enhanced seal characteristics that are cost efficiently replaceable upon degradation.
US08984740B1
A method for providing a magnetic recording transducer is provided. The method includes providing a substrate, and a magnetic shield having a top surface above the substrate. The top surface is treated by a first plasma treatment performed at a first power. An amorphous ferromagnetic (FM) layer is deposited on and in contact with the top surface to a thickness of at least 5 Angstroms and not more than 50 Angstroms. A second plasma treatment is performed at a second power. A magnetic seed layer is provided on and contact with the amorphous FM layer. The magnetic seed layer may comprise a bilayer. A nonmagnetic spacer layer is provided above the magnetic seed layer, an antiferromagnetic (AFM) layer provided above the spacer layer, and a read sensor provided above the AFM layer.
US08984732B2
A method of assembling a structure of timber lengths, e.g. roof trusses, includes a number of upper and lower structure lengths or pieces, as well as a number of diagonals or braces etc., in which the timber lengths are laid out and fixed to one another. The structure formed from the timber lengths fixed to one another is observed by a first camera for positional determination of the structure and comparison of observation data with structure data and for controlling at least a second camera. The structure is fed into a unit for pressing in place of jointing pieces, e.g. corrugated fasteners, over the joints between the timber lengths by at least one positionable press unit, and the second camera observes the infed structure and positions the press unit at the correct position over a joint for pressing in place of a jointing piece.
US08984731B2
The application provides methods for providing a surgical guide for placement on an anatomical part wherein the guide is provided with one or more dedicated push features that can be used as pressure points for applying force onto the surgical guide. The application further provides guides comprising one or more push features which can be used as a pressure point for applying force onto said guide.
US08984728B2
A drawing device of the present invention includes a first driving element, a bolt, a plurality of second driving elements, and a plurality of clipping rods. The first driving element drives the second driving elements to rotate simultaneously, so that the clipping rods are able to be rotated and operated. Also, a hook portion of each clipping rod is able to hook to a bottom of objects to be drawn out, and the bolt is disposed on a threaded hole of the first driving element and abuts against the objects to be drawn out. At the same time, the clipping rods are moved outward.
US08984721B2
A system with a shock absorbing device shaped to fit onto straps of any size, introducing low amplitude shock absorption into the strap fixation system without compromising the fixation. The present device essentially takes up a small amount of slack in the strap and stores it within a serpentine course through a body made of a deformable material. In the event that increased and potentially damaging loads are experienced, the Strap Shock-Absorber deforms, but the fixation never exceeds the length of the strap itself. With potential applications ranging from chin straps to industrial straps, working in one or two dimensions, this device can reduce damaging force transmission to protect valuable but vulnerable structures. The deformation of the device may be either elastic or plastic, or may be a combination of both.
US08984711B2
An electric power tool comprises a main body supporting a tool and an electric motor housed in the main body for driving the tool. A plurality of first battery interfaces is configured to removably receive or attach a plurality of first battery packs and to electrically connect the plurality of attached first battery packs in series with the electric motor. A plurality of indicators is configured to communicate information concerning the respective conditions of the plurality of attached first battery packs. The plurality of indicators is arranged such that all of the indicators are simultaneously viewable by a user of the electric power tool.
US08984709B1
A tank cleaning system used for cleaning oil storage tanks. The system includes a rail vacuum pipe, an air line and a steam line connected to an air/steam mixing box. The mixing box includes an air nozzle, a steam nozzle and a mixing box vacuum tube connected to a vacuum pipe. The vacuum pipe includes a steering, guide rail for receiving a swivel wheel. The swivel wheel is attached to a door opening bracket. The bracket is attached to sides of a tank door opening. The steering, guide rail pivots on the swivel wheel and allows an operator, standing outside the tank, to move the mixing box back and forth for engaging and vacuuming up sediment in the tank.
US08984697B2
A device for quickly cleaning a variety of surfaces is provided that preferably utilizes a positive capture roller and three-dimensional capture matrix. In particular, the roller is tacky and is in close relationship with a three-dimensional capture media. The roller may be refreshed by a washing mechanism and the media may be replaceable.
US08984683B2
A bed top covering, includes a top portion; a second portion; and a bottom portion. The second portion includes a back-folded, electrically heated, foot canopy therein configured to allow the feet of a user to be extended in an upward direction therewithin and providing room and maneuverability and warmth for the feet of the user. The third portion is tucked under the mattress for snugness.
US08984680B2
A convertible sofa and sofa frame deployable between a sofa orientation and a bed orientation. The frame has a base frame with a seat extension frame comprising a seat frame and a mid-frame pivotally secured to the base frame. Cushioning is on one side of the base frame. A seat back frame is pivotally secured to the base frame, the second cushioning on what is a back side when in the sofa orientation. Removable seat back cushions engage the front side of the seat back frame in the sofa orientation. In the bed orientation, the seat frame is extended, the seat back portion is pivoted horizontally, and the removable seat back cushions are located on the mid-frame between the seat frame and the seat back frame.
US08984678B2
An air injection system for a hydro-massaging bath is described. An air convecting conduit is in communication with a plurality of injecting orifices formed in a peripheral wall of the bath. An air blower injects air under pressure in an entry opening of the air convecting conduit. A water spray injector is located downstream of the entry opening and upstream of the air injecting orifices to inject a spray of a predetermined volume of water in the injected air under pressure. A water supply conduit is connected to the water spray injector and has a flow regulating valve to regulate the volume of water spray injected in the heated air to saturate the air with water. A shut-off valve is provided in the water supply conduit, and a heater is disposed in the air convecting conduit downstream of the water spray injector and upstream of the air injecting orifices wherein heated, humidified air injected in the water contained within the bathtub does not produce a cool sensation on the body of a user person.
US08984675B2
An adapter includes an interface module that receives signals from a first sensor that indicate a first fill status of a holding tank. A control module of the adapter generates a control signal based on the first fill status. The toilet is at least partially controlled by a toilet control module that restricts a flush capability of the toilet based on the control signal. An isolation module of the adapter isolates the interface module and the control module from at least one of voltage and current fluctuations that are external to the adapter.
US08984673B2
Equalizing valve (1) comprising a duct (6) having an inlet section (7) and an outlet section (8), a seat (10) and a valve element (12) able to move between a closed position and an open position, characterized in that said duct is able to admit a flow in which, for any flow line (13) between said inlet section and said outlet section, the velocity vector (15) at a given point makes an angle with the velocity vector (14) in the inlet section which increases with the distance away from the inlet section, the angle between the velocity vector (16) in the outlet section and the velocity vector in the inlet section ranging between 80° and 150°, and in which the valve element, in the closed position, makes an angle of between 0° and 70° with the normal to the outlet section.
US08984672B2
There is disclosed a visor comprising at least one transparent plate, in which or on which a light-sensitive material is provided, which material has the property of transmitting less light as more light is incident thereon. In particular UV light-intensity-activated, UV light-blocking pigments, photochromatic pigments are used in the light-sensitive material. The light-sensitive material, which may be fixedly or detachably provided on the transparent plate, is transparent in the deactivated condition thereof.
US08984669B2
A hosiery device having gel pads disposed along the bottom. The device has at least one leg portion with a footed portion disposed at the bottom. It may be a pair of leggings such as pantyhose or may be a single leg stocking. Gel pads are integrated into the bottom of the footed portions in key areas that correspond to load-bearing portions of a user's foot. The gel pads are formed around the underlying hosiery fabric, creating an integrated pad that is not easily removable. Pads may be positioned along the ball, heel, toes, or entire sole of the foot. The device provides therapeutic relief of muscle tension and stress by cushioning the parts of the foot that bear a person's weight.
US08990961B2
Determination of non-linearity of a positioning scanner of a measurement tool is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method may include providing a probe of a measurement tool coupled to a positioning scanner; scanning a surface of a first sample with the surface at a first angle relative to the probe to attain a first profile; scanning the surface of the first sample with the surface at a second angle relative to the probe that is different than the first angle to attain a second profile; repeating the scannings to attain a plurality of first profiles and a plurality of second profiles; and determining a non-linearity of the positioning scanner using the different scanning angles to cancel out measurements corresponding to imperfections due to the surface of the sample. The non-linearity may be used to calibrate the positioning scanner.
US08990957B2
An approach receives a request from a user, typically a change implementer, on a computer system. The request includes a user identifier and a requested action. A current timestamp corresponding to a computer system clock is retrieved. Scheduled changes are retrieved from a data store accessible by the processor. The current timestamp is compared to the scheduled change periods. The requested action is allowed if the comparison reveals that the current timestamp is within one of the retrieved scheduled changes, and the requested action is denied if the comparison reveals that the current timestamp is outside of the retrieved scheduled change periods.
US08990956B2
Systems and methods for exchanging information for access to a computing resource are provided herein. Methods may include receiving a request to access a computing resource, the computing resource being selectively unavailable to the information provider, responsive to receiving the request, providing the information provider a problem that is to be solved by the information provider prior to making the computing resource selectively available to the information provider, wherein solving the problem elicits desired information from the information provider, and responsive to receiving the desired information, selectively making the computing resource available to the information provider.
US08990955B2
A shared data store may be accessible to a plurality of electronic devices and used to share files in a collaboration setting. A shared file is shared by a first electronic device with a second device via a connection between the first electronic device and the shared data store. A coordinating electronic device associated with the shared data store monitors the connection with the first electronic device. If a loss in the connection is detected, the coordinating electronic device may cause access to the shared file to become restricted to the second electronic device responsive to the loss of the connection.
US08990950B2
Enabling discretionary data access control in a cloud computing environment can begin with the obtainment of a data request and response message by an access manager service. The response message can be generated by a data storage service in response to the data request. The access manager service can identify owner-specified access rules and/or access exceptions applicable to the data request. An access response can be determined using the applicable owner-specified access rules and/or access exceptions. Both the response message and the access response can indicate the allowance or denial of access to the requested data artifact. The access response can be compared to the response message. If the access response does not match the response message, the response message can be overridden to express the access response. If the access response matches the response message, the response message can be conveyed to the originating entity of the data request.
US08990942B2
This disclosure generally relates to computer security, and more particularly to methods and systems for application programming interface (API)-level intrusion detection. In some embodiments, a computer-readable medium is disclosed, storing instructions for: receiving an API call for a service at an API sandbox module; parsing the API call to extract at least one of: an API call name; and or one or more API call parameters; generating a copy of the at least one of: the API call name and or the one or more API call parameters; determining, via an intrusion detection rules execution engine, whether the API call violates one or more security rules obtained from a security rules object, using the copy of the at least one of: the API call name and or the one or more API call parameters; and providing an indication of whether the API call violates the one or more security rules.
US08990939B2
A system is described for scheduling the processing of items of suspicious network content to determine whether these items contain malicious network content. The system features a memory and an analyzer that may comprise a processor-based digital device in which at least one virtual machine (VM) and a scheduler operates. The scheduler is configured to generate an order of processing of a plurality of items of network content by the processor based on a plurality of probability scores, each corresponding to an item of network content. The analyzer is configured to process the items of network content in at least the virtual machine by replaying these items in accordance with the order of processing. The virtual machine is configured with a software profile corresponding to each of the processed items and being adapted to monitor behavior of each of the items during processing, thereby to detect malicious network content.
US08990937B2
A recommendation engine coupled to a server computer in communication with a plurality of hosts is described. The recommendation engine includes computer readable intrusion-protection instructions stored in a memory device, which cause a processor of said server computer to determine a current host-protection configuration for a target host; detect discrepancy between said current host-protection configuration and a prior host-protection configuration; install said current host-protection configuration in said target host upon detecting said discrepancy; record successive host-reconfiguration periods, a host reconfiguration period being a difference between successive instants of time at which a current host-protection configuration differs from a prior host-protection configuration; determine a monitoring period according to a value of at least one of said successive host-reconfiguration periods; and a scheduler for activating said intrusion-protection instructions according to said monitoring period.
US08990920B2
An Internet-enabled device, such as a smartphone, tablet, PC, wearable sensor, or household appliance, executes an application (or “app”) has its own VPN connection with a VPN gateway device. The app does not use the device-level or system VPN to connect with the gateway. The app, which may be security wrapped, is made more secure by having its own VPN tunnel with the gateway, wherein the VPN tunnel is not used by other apps running on the device. The conventional (or device-level) VPN connection is not used by the app(s). The app has its own IP stack, an HTTP proxy layer, an IPsec module, and a virtual data link layer which it uses to build IP packets, encapsulate them, and transmit them to a transport module in the device operating system, for example, a UDP module.
US08990910B2
Systems and methods are described for creating a globally unique identity for a user or user-container by performing an iterative join where each participating back-end data source. The systems and methods include an ID-Unify (IDU) that performs identity virtualization and creates or generates a globally unique identifier for a user in operational environments in which there is a pre-existing conflict caused by the existence of different identities for a user in different authentication data sources.
US08990896B2
An extensible mechanism for providing access control for logical objects in a network environment. A security broker is able to dynamically register one or more claims providers, each of which can assert one or more claims about logical objects. The claims providers may be purpose built or may be third party applications which expose data or business rules for use. Claims may be augmented by additional claims providers after the original claim is asserted. The applicability of claims may be scope limited either at the time the claims provider is registered or when the user requests that a security token be issued.
US08990891B1
In general, techniques are described for provisioning layer two access in computer networks. A network device located in a public network comprising an interface and a control unit may implement the techniques. The interface establishes a session with a mobile device. The control unit requests security state data identifying a security state of the mobile device via the established session. The interface receives a mobile device identifier and the security state data from the mobile device via the session. The mobile device identifier identifies the mobile device. The control unit publishes the security state information to a database such that the security state information is associated with the mobile device identifier.
US08990888B2
In a method for providing a one-time password for a user device belonging to a user, which password is intended to register the user device with a server, the server generates the one-time password using a cryptographic operation on the basis of a unique use identifier and transmits the password to the user device. The method provides a service provider with the possibility of tying additional conditions for registration to the one-time password and thus increases the flexibility of the service provider when configuring the services offered by the latter and increases security against manipulation.
US08990887B2
A method of arming or disarming a building security system includes transferring an electronic security credential file from an authorizing environment to a mobile computing device. The electronic security credential file is read by the mobile computing device to extract authentication data. The authentication data is transmitted from the mobile computing device and received at the building security system. Within the building security system, the authentication data is used to verify that a user of the mobile computing device is authorized to communicate with the building security system. The mobile computing device is enabled to communicate with the building security system only if the electronic security credential file has been used to verify that a user of the mobile computing device is authorized to communicate with the building security system.
US08990886B2
In an information management system, policies are deployed to targets and targets can evaluate the policies whether they are connected or disconnected to the system. The policies may be transferred to the target, which may be a device or user. Relevant policies may be transferred while not relevant policies are not. The policies may have policy abstractions.
US08990883B2
A method, process, and associated systems for policy-based development and runtime control of mobile applications. Security objects that describe or enforce security policies are embedded into the source code of an enhanced application while the application is being developed. When a user attempts to launch the enhanced application on a mobile device, the security objects are updated to match a latest valid version of the objects stored on an enterprise server. The security objects may be further updated at other times. Global security policies, which affect the entire enterprise and which may deny the application permission to launch, are enforced by a global security policy stored within one of the updated security objects. If the application does run, application-specific security policies contained in the updated security objects modify application behavior at runtime in order to enforce application-specific security policies.
US08990879B2
A method for providing a data application of a digital broadcasting is disclosed. In accordance with the present subject matter, a time necessary for receiving and executing the data application and a limit in a number of or a size of the data application are minimized and a personalized data application can be provided based on a receiver identification information or a viewer identification information.
US08990860B2
According to an aspect, there is provided a digital television (DTV) data stream including program and system information protocol (PSIP) data associated with content of the DTV data stream, the PSIP data including a virtual channel table (VCT) and an event information table (EIT), the EIT comprising: a source identification field identifying a source of an associated event in a DTV data stream; an event identification field indicating an identification of the event; a start time field indicating a star time of the event; a title field indicating a title of the event; and a descriptor comprising: a descriptor tag identifying the descriptor as a genre descriptor; a descriptor length indicating a total length of the descriptor; and at least one category code for an associated event in a DTV data stream, each category code specifying genre, program type, or category information of the associated event, wherein the at least one category code specifies at least one of a set of basic categories.
US08990853B1
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for determining a time period remaining until a live production system changes states. An example method involves accessing a stored television-broadcasting traffic log; making a first determination that a log-entry A in the traffic log does not correspond to a live-production source; making a second determination that a log-entry B in the traffic log is the next log entry after the log-entry A to correspond to a live-production source; making a third determination that the log-entry B includes a start-time B; responsive to making the first, second, and third determinations, proximate a current time that is on or after a start-time A corresponding to the log-entry A and that is before the start-time B, determining a time period as a difference between the current time and the start-time B; and providing the determined time-period to an output device for presentation proximate the current time.
US08990849B2
Methods and systems for advertisement insertion into streaming media content are described. In one method, an advertisement insertion tool receives a first indication of a start time of an advertisement break to be inserted into a stream of slices of media content. The advertisement insertion tool identifies a first slice of the slices that encompasses the start time of the advertisement break. The first slice comprises video frames. The advertisement insertion tool truncates the first slice to contain the video frames up to the start time of the advertisement break. An advertisement can be inserted after the truncated first slice and before a next second slice in the stream.
US08990846B1
The invention discloses a method for controlling digital film play-count and a system thereof, wherein a play-count parameter is added into a KDM file where a key delivery message used for controlling film play is embedded, detecting the play-count parameter for a playing film, setting RSA key abstracts of an FDM packager of all authorized contracting film producers, safely importing the KDM and play-count into a security module, detecting the play-count parameter for a playing film. The film is not permitted to play unless existing play-count is less than the authorized play-count in the FDM. The invention fulfills the requirements and demands for controlling the distribution and playback of digital films in the second-tier market using technologies such as the authorized play-count and a method to charge on the basis of play-count.
US08990834B2
A system and method for managing healthcare information is disclosed. The data servers each include a data manager that comprises a controller, a grid engine, applications, an application manager and a user interface engine. The controller manages the core functions and the transmission of data between data manager components. The grid engine manages information sent between data servers. The applications are applications that are created by the user or downloaded as third-party applications. The application manager manages the creation and communication between applications. The user interface engine generates user interfaces for displaying the applications and collecting clinical trial data.
US08990833B2
A circuit arrangement, method, and program product for communicating data between hardware threads of a network on a chip processing unit utilizes shared inboxes to communicate data to pools of hardware threads. The associated hardware in the pools threads receive data packets from the shared inboxes in response to issuing work requests to an associated shared inbox. Data packets include a source identifier corresponding to a hardware thread from which the data packet was generated, and the shared inboxes may manage data packet distribution to associated hardware threads based on the source identifier of each data packet. A shared inbox may also manage workload distribution and uneven workload lengths by communicating data packets to hardware threads associated with the shared inbox in response to receiving work requests from associated hardware threads.
US08990830B2
A method and system are provided for thread management in parallel processes in a multi-core or multi-node system. The method includes receiving monitored hardware metrics information from the multiple cores or multiple nodes on which processes are executed, receiving monitored process and thread information; and globally monitoring the processing across the multiple cores or multiple nodes. The method further includes analyzing the monitored information to minimize imbalances between the multiple cores and/or to improve core or node exploitation and dynamically adjusting the number of threads per process based on the analysis.
US08990824B2
A method of automatically configuring a data network, the data network including a controller and a virtualization host with a hypervisor installed thereon, the method including creating a virtual switch in the hypervisor and communicatively coupling the virtual switch to a first physical network interface in the virtualization host. Further, the method includes receiving a request to boot an operating system image in a virtual machine in the hypervisor, the operating system image having network connectivity requirements. The method also includes creating a first virtual port in the virtual switch based upon the network connectivity requirements of the operating system image and creating a first virtual network adapter in the virtual machine in the hypervisor. Further, the method includes communicatively coupling the first virtual network adapter to the first virtual port in the virtual switch and configuring networking attributes of the first virtual network adapter in the virtual machine.
US08990817B1
Various systems and methods for automated error recovery in workflows. For example, one method involves receiving an operation indication. The operation indication indicates an operation that is to be performed using a multi-tier application system that includes first and second applications. The first and second applications are implemented using different tiers of the multi-tier application system. The method involves accessing dependency information that indicates first data dependencies between the first and the second applications. The method further involves determining outcome of execution of the operation, where the determining is based on the dependency information but does not include executing the operation.
