US09359870B2

A recovery method for recovering mineral resources from a hydrothermal fluid reservoir present beneath the ocean floor includes the steps of: (A) providing a hydrothermal fluid well by drilling a hole reaching a hydrothermal fluid reservoir from an ocean floor surface via a guide base on the ocean floor surface, and then installing a casing in the drilled hole via the guide base; (B) precipitating minerals on a mineral-culturing device by installing the mineral-culturing device on the base guide so as to cover a well head of the hydrothermal fluid well, and bringing hot water ejecting from the well head into contact with sea water on the mineral-culturing device; and (C) recovering minerals precipitated on the mineral-culturing device together with the mineral-culturing device.
US09359840B2

Systems and methods for separating fluids from drill cuttings, specifically, shakers that incorporate modifications including vacuum systems and/or partitions and methods of operating such shakers to affect a high degree of fluid separation. The systems and methods are effective across a variety of screen sizes, vacuum flows and vacuum designs. The systems are also particularly effective in assisting in the separation of gases from drilling fluids.
US09359839B2

A combination for making up and breaking out pipe at an oil rig site includes a torque module and at least one pipe clamp apparatus. The torque module includes a pair of hydraulic motors, a torque transmission driven by the motors, a herringbone gear segment driven by the transmission to rotate the torque module, and a pair of clamp cylinders actuated by the transmission. The at least one pipe clamp apparatus is actuated by at least one of the clamp cylinders to apply a uniform gripping load around a pipe that is pipe diameter independent.
US09359829B2

A riser assembly and method of producing a riser assembly for transporting fluids from a sub-sea location is disclosed. The assembly includes a riser comprising at least one segment of flexible pipe, the riser having a first end for connection to a floating facility and a further end; at least one buoyancy element for enabling a portion of the riser to form a hog bend configuration and an adjacent portion of the riser to form a sag bend configuration; and a weight element provided between the first end of the riser and the at least one buoyancy element, such that in an initial deployment position, the weight element is provided at least partially in the sag bend portion of the riser.
US09359828B2

Cutting elements for earth-boring tools comprise a substrate including at least one material selected from the group consisting of CoCr, CoCrMo, CoCrW, and Ti. A polycrystalline superabrasive material may be attached to the substrate. Earth-boring tools comprise a body. At least one cutting element is attached to the body. The at least one cutting element comprises a substrate including at least one material selected from the group consisting of CoCr, CoCrMo, CoCrW, and Ti. A polycrystalline superabrasive material may be attached to the substrate. Methods of forming cutting elements for earth-boring tools comprise disposing a substrate including at least one material selected from the group consisting of CoCr, CoCrMo, CoCrW, and Ti in a container. Particles of superabrasive material may be disposed in the container. The particles of superabrasive material may be sintered with the substrate in the container to form a polycrystalline superabrasive material attached to the substrate.
US09359826B2

An earth-boring tool includes a formation-engaging structure with a formation-engaging surface at a distal end and a side surface between a proximal end and the distal end along a central axis of the formation-engaging structure. A generally linear recess may be formed in the side surface along an axis oriented at a non-parallel angle relative to the central axis of the formation-engaging structure. A generally helical recess may be formed in the side surface, and the generally helical recess may intersect the generally linear recess. Earth-boring tools may include such formation-engaging structures. Methods may be used to form such formation-engaging structures.
US09359817B2

A dual-use ladder and bridge modular system preferably includes tubes, gussets, flanges, and/or joints. In a preferred embodiment, the tubes, gussets, flanges, and/or joints are made of carbon fiber. A method connects and disconnects modular carbon fiber ladder segments. Another method creates a lightweight carbon-fiber beam with exceptionally high stiffness and strength using a combination of carbon-fiber braid material, uni-directional cloth, and pultruded carbon-fiber strips. A carbon fiber ladder segment and tube connectors are also disclosed.
US09359816B2

The present invention relates to a roller shutter in which a slat connection structure is very flexible so as to reduce manufacturing and maintenance costs. The roller shutter of the present invention comprises: a plurality of slats continuously connected in the vertical direction; a winding unit for winding or unwinding the plurality of slats in the vertical direction; a shutter box arranged above a door frame of a building; and a guide frame for guiding the edges of the plurality of slats. The winding unit is arranged inside the shutter box. The plurality of slats are connected in the vertical direction such that the slats can be pivoted. One end of each slat has a hook, and the hook is curved with a predetermined radius of curvature. The other end of each slat has an accommodation groove curved at a predetermined radius of curvature. The hook of one slat is accommodated in the accommodation groove of another slat adjacent to said slat such that the hook is movable in the circumferential direction, thus enabling said slat and the other slat adjacent thereto in the vertical direction to pivot relative to one another. The hook has an inner surface and an outer surface. The accommodation groove has a first inner surface, a second inner surface, a closed surface, and an opening. The radius of the second inner surface of the accommodation groove is larger than that of the first inner surface. The first inner surface extends in the circumferential direction so as to form a cylinder. The inner surface of the hook and the first inner surface of the accommodation groove have the same radius, and the outer surface of the hook and the second inner surface of the accommodation groove have the same radius.
US09359809B2

A garage door and faux window façade assembly includes a door panel adapted to be mounted in a garage door opening partially defined by an overhead door structure, a triangularly-shaped clearance area defined by a first line segment substantially coplanar with a forwardly-facing surface of the door panel, and second and third line segments defined by a path of the overhead door structure relative to the door panel as the door panel moves between a closed position and an open position, wherein the second line segment is proximate the upper edge of the door panel and the third line segment is proximate the lower edge of the door panel, the clearance area is adapted to be free from abutment with the overhead door structure as the door panel moves between a closed position and an open position, and wherein the clearance area includes a forward portion area defined by the first and second line segments and a ⅜ inch line that extends perpendicularly from the first line segment and intersecting the second line segment, and a frame including at least a select one of a window aperture extending there through and a window recess formed thereon, wherein the frame extends into the forward portion area of the clearance area in at least one location along a length of the frame.
US09359808B2

An insulating unit includes a first spacer frame between first and second sheets, e.g. glass sheets, and a second spacer frame between the second sheet and a third sheet. A first surface of the first spacer frame is adhered to inner surface of the first sheet, and an opposite second surface of the first spacer frame is adhered to a first surface of the second sheet, by a moisture impervious adhesive layer. A first outer surface of the second spacer frame is adhered to a second surface of the second sheet, and an opposite second outer surface of the second spacer frame is adhered to an inner surface of the third sheet, by the adhesive layer. The first spacer frame and the second spacer frame have an offset of greater than zero.
US09359805B2

Disclosed are a security safe (1) and a self-service terminal provided with the security safe (1), wherein the security safe comprises a safe body (10) with a safe door (11) on at least one side thereof, the safe door (11) is provided with a safe door locking engagement system (12), and the safe door locking engagement system (12) comprises a movable latch (121) for achieving the locking engagement between the safe door (11) and the safe body (10). The locking engagement system (12) also comprises a brittle part fixedly provided on the inner side of the safe door (11), the brittle part controls at least one safe pin (123), and when the brittle part is broken the safe pin (123) keeps the movable latch (121) locked. The security safe (1) can solve the problem that there are weak areas in existing safes, and it has low cost and high reliability.
US09359803B1

A powered mechanism to open and close a door to a housing for a laser engraving device, with an arrangement that allows the powered mechanism to separate from the door so that the powered mechanism does not exert any force on any obstacle that the door may encounter when closing.
US09359793B2

A lock and key combination includes a cylinder rotatably disposed within a shell and a sidebar within the cylinder and movable between a locked position preventing rotation of the cylinder and an unlocked position allowing rotation of the cylinder. A slider is mounted within the cylinder for movement between a first position blocking movement of sidebar from the locked position and a second position not blocking movement of said sidebar. A key has a blade configured to be inserted into a keyway of the cylinder and includes a slider-actuating element mounted within the blade for movement with respect to the blade. As the blade is inserted into the keyway, a cam element within the keyway moves the slider-actuating element to a position engaging the slider so that further movement of the key moves the slider from the first position to the second position.
US09359792B1

A combination of a lock and a key includes a cylinder having a housing, multiple index rings and multiple cores. The housing has slot laterally defined through the wall thereof the housing. At least one first post and at least one second post respectively extend radially from the first end and the second end of the housing. The index rings are located in the housing and each have at least one column with a first mark. At least one cap restricts the index rings to the housing. Each index ring has one core received therein. The key has a handle, a shaft and multiple unlocking members mounted to the shaft. Each unlocking members has a second mark and a top portion. The index rings are removed and re-arranged by removing the cap via the slot so as to obtain different combinations by the first and second marks.
US09359789B2

A security assembly for use with a security console having a body and a door. The body of the security console has a plurality of walls defining an interior of the security console. The door of the security console is rotatably coupled to a first wall of the plurality of walls along a fixed edge of the door and movable between open and closed positions to provide and restrict, respectively, access to the interior of the security console. The security assembly comprises first and second cooperating members. The first cooperating member is configured to be mounted to the door near a free edge of the door. The second cooperating member is configured to be mounted to an inner surface of a second wall of the plurality of walls near an edge of the second wall, such that when the door is in the closed position, the first cooperating member is configured to securely engage the second cooperating member to restrict lateral deflection of the second wall relative to the free edge of the door. The edge of the second wall is adjacent to the free edge of the door when the door is in the closed position.
US09359774B2

Floor panels are provided with a mechanical locking system including a flexible locking element in a locking groove which during a horizontal motion is displaced vertically.
US09359759B2

The present invention relates to a ecological construction system for buildings with green walls. The system is based on the provision of an integral wall structure, one of the section of which comprises concrete and steel reinforced formwork as the main supporting structure, while the remaining part of the section comprises hollow cavities and arrangements of punched sections on the front or rear surface thereof, with drip-irrigation pipes and nozzles being provided therein. Plastic containers are housed in, and fixed to the punched arrangements distributed on the front or rear wall, which containers form a means for supporting natural or artificial substrates (soil, mineral fibers or wools) and also for the cultivation of plants, a channel being provided in the lower part of the wall structure for collecting, filtering and conveying water to a container for reincorporating said water into the irrigation system. The resulting system allows the growth of plants and vegetation on green walls for construction purposes and can be used on all types of new or existing buildings.
US09359758B2

Apparatus and methods for insulating a structure. A method for insulating a structure may include providing a frame that comprises a plurality of frame members coupled together. Sheathing panels may be coupled to the frame members such that adjacent sheathing panels abut and directly contact each other at an interface to form a wall having a front surface and a rear surface. A spray insulation material may be applied to the front surface of the wall such that the insulation material forms a substantially continuous insulation layer atop the front surface and such that the insulation material directly contacts the interface between adjacent sheathing panels to restrict passage of air between the adjacent panels to at or below 0.2 L/m2/s at a differential pressure across the wall of 75 Pa. The insulation layer may provide an R value of at least 5, or in some embodiments at least 10.
US09359754B2

A mounting assembly is used to fix a toilet on a toilet flange and contains two L-shaped brackets fixed on the toilet flange and each having a horizontal portion and a vertical portion. The horizontal portion has an internally raised portion, an externally raised portion, and a locating groove. The internally raised portion is retained in each arcuate slot of the toilet flange, and the locating groove is horizontally formed on the peripheral fence. The horizontal portion further has a recess for inserting an extension of the second bolt, so that the extension screws with a nut. The vertical portion has a plurality of openings defined thereon, so that the first bolt inserts into the through hole of each longitudinal fence to screw with one of the plurality of openings, such that the toilet is positioned on the toilet flange by ways of the mounting assembly.
US09359736B2

An auger snow-removing machine includes left and right forward rotation augers rotatable in a first direction during snow removal and left and right reverse rotation augers rotatable in a second direction opposite the first direction during the snow removal. The forward and reverse rotation augers are coaxially disposed in alignment in a width direction of an auger housing within the housing. Distal ends of the left forward rotation auger and the right reverse rotation auger have phases set to substantially simultaneously reach a lowermost location when the forward and reverse rotation augers rotate. Distal ends of the right forward rotation auger and the left reverse rotation auger have phases set to substantially simultaneously reach the lowermost location when the forward and reverse rotation augers rotate.
US09359735B2

In an auger snow plow, right and left forward rotating augers and right and left backward rotating augers are disposed on a same axis and aligned in a width direction of an auger housing. A blower housing is disposed at a rear portion of the auger housing and also positioned at a widthwise center of the auger housing. A blower is disposed inside the blower housing. The right and left forward rotating augers are positioned at least in an entire range of a width of the blower housing. The right and left backward rotating augers are separately positioned on both sides of the right and left forward rotating augers and positioned only at a more outer side than the width of the blower housing in the width direction.
US09359721B2

Woven, unfinished textiles or yarns may be made softer and more brightly-colored by a method which comprises treating a yarn to weave fabric by sizing the yarn to weave fabric; desizing the sized fabric; bleaching the desized fabric; reducing the number of electrolytes on the bleached fabric; pre-softening the fabric having fewer electrolytes; fabric printing the pre-softened fabric; and finishing the fabric printed fabric. A fabric printed textile comprising a self cross-linked low glass transition temperature acrylic binder film on fibers of a fabric printed textile, where the fibers are impregnated with a polysiloxane polymer.
US09359714B2

An Appliance for drying laundry (100) includes a drying-air moisture-condensing system (215,220, 225) comprising a heat pump system with a first heat exchanger (215) for cooling the drying air and a second heat exchanger (220) for re-heating said drying air, and a variable-output compressor (210). At least one Joule-effect heater (255) is located downstream of the heat pump heat exchangers for boosting the heating of the drying air. The appliance can perform at least one drying cycle in: at least a first drying mode, wherein the heater is kept de-energized and the compressor is driven to a first compressor mode having a compressor power consumption course and/or a compressor rotational speed course and/or a frequency course of the supply current/voltage of the compressor motor, and at least a second drying mode, wherein the heater is kept energized for at least an initial portion of the drying cycle and thereafter it is kept de-energized, and the compressor is driven to a second compressor mode comprising a compressor power consumption course and/or a compressor rotational speed course and/or a frequency course of the supply current/voltage of the compressor motor. For at least a portion of the drying cycle after the electric heater has been de-energized, a compressor power consumption and/or a compressor rotational speed and/or a frequency of the supply current/voltage the compressor of the second compressor mode is/are higher than the one/s of the first compressor mode.
US09359713B2

A drying apparatus that is capable of effectively removing foreign substances, such as dead mite bodies and dust adhered to bedding, a washing machine having the drying apparatus, and a method of controlling the drying apparatus. When bedding having a large volume, such as a blanket or a cover, is washed, a bedding-dusting operation using rotation of a drum and high-temperature hot air is performed before and after a bedding washing course is performed, so that foreign substances, such as dead mite bodies or dust, are dusted off bedding and the effects of washing bedding can be improved. In addition, a section in which the bedding-dusting operation is to be performed, is automatically or manually selected as before bedding washing or after bedding washing so that various operations can be performed and the effects of washing bedding can be improved.
US09359708B2

A fabric treating machine includes a spray nozzle for spraying water supplied from a water supply passage into an inner tub and a spray nozzle combining unit for combining the spray nozzle with a case. Fabric loaded in the inner tub can be effectively soaked through the spray nozzle. Furthermore, a spray direction of the spray nozzle can be accurately adjusted when the spray nozzle is fitted in the case, and thus the spray nozzle can be easily fitted in the case and water sprayed through the spray nozzle can be prevented from overflowing.
US09359707B2

An appliance control panel assembly is provided including an upper fascia part and an angled lower base part. The control panel assembly may attach to the top surface of an appliance, such as a laundry machine, and may be removable. The upper fascia part may be configured to be slidably engaged to the angled lower base part and releasably connected to the angled lower base part by one or more flexible hooks and hook seats. The flexible hooks may be located on either the upper fascia part or the angled lower base part. The control panel assembly may also include disassembly holes through which an instrument can be inserted to deform the hooks and disconnect the upper fascia part from the angled lower base part.
US09359706B2

A preferred embodiment of a fire containment system is implemented in a combination washer-dryer appliance equipped with air-vented exhaust. A fire suppression fluid conduit connected between a cold water valve outlet and a fire suppression fluid inlet positioned in a top portion of a tub of the appliance provides a path of cold water flow into an interior space of the tub. A valve control signal applied to a valve actuator associated with the cold water valve outlet actuates it upon a presumed occurrence of presence of fire in the interior space, as indicated by an electromechanical switch set in the top portion of the tub to measure an internal temperature of the interior space. The valve control signal thereby causes cold water flow through the fire suppression fluid conduit and into the interior space of the tub to contain and extinguish a fire burning within it.
US09359703B2

The sewing machine has: a base plate that has a guide slit for guiding a bobbin thread that is set on the bottom face side of the throat plate 1; and a bobbin thread guide member that has a guide groove for guiding the bobbin thread supplied from a bobbin and includes a cutting blade provide at the end position of the guide groove to cut the bobbin thread guided along the guide groove to an appropriate length. The bobbin thread guide member is secured to the base plate and has a holding member, which holds the end of the bobbin thread, in the guide groove, so as to maintain the state when the bobbin thread was cut.
US09359676B2

An tank such as an electroless copper plating tank 200, includes a liquid squirting part 4 having a squirt port 6 for squirting the processing solution Q from the squirt port 6 toward the treatment object obliquely upward to a horizontal plane, and hitting the processing solution Q on the upper area of the plate-like work 10 so that the processing solution Q runs down the plate-like work 10.
US09359674B2

The disclosed invention includes apparatus and methods that may be used for plasma-based deposition of thin layers of material on separate or continuous web substrates at very low temperatures with very low defect density. It achieves superior control of gas phase chemistry by controlling the sequence of introduction of gaseous components. It also has substantially independent control over the rate of chemical processes in the gas and of the amount of power and energy of ion bombardment. Such control enables high quality single and multi-layer films to be deposited cost effectively and uniformly over larger areas under very low temperature conditions.
US09359673B2

A proximity heads for dispensing reactants and purging gas to deposit a thin film by Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) includes a plurality of sides. Extending over a portion of the substrate region and being spaced apart from the portion of the substrate region when present, the proximity head is rotatable so as to place each side in a direction of the substrate region, and is disposed in a vacuum chamber coupled to a carrier gas source to sustain a pressure for the proximity head during operation. Each side of the proximity head includes a gas conduit through which the reactant gas and the purging gas are sequentially dispensed, and at least two separate vacuum conduits on each side of the gas conduit to pull excess reactant gas, purging gas, or deposition byproducts from a reaction volume between a surface of the proximity head facing the substrate and the substrate.
US09359672B2

An atomic deposition (ALD) thin film deposition apparatus includes a deposition chamber configured to deposit a thin film on a wafer mounted within a space defined therein. The deposition chamber comprises a gas inlet that is in communication with the space. A gas system is configured to deliver gas to the gas inlet of the deposition chamber. At least a portion of the gas system is positioned above the deposition chamber. The gas system includes a mixer configured to mix a plurality of gas streams. A transfer member is in fluid communication with the mixer and the gas inlet. The transfer member comprising a pair of horizontally divergent walls configured to spread the gas in a horizontal direction before entering the gas inlet.
US09359668B2

An improved feeder system and method for a vapor transport deposition system that includes a carrier gas bypass flow line to allow for continuous carrier gas flow to a vaporizer unit when a vibratory unit which supplies powdered material and carrier gas to the vaporizer unit is out of service. A process gas flow line to the vibratory unit may be included when the powdered material contains a powdered dopant in the material mix.
US09359666B2

A method of making a doped metal oxide comprises heating a first doped metal oxide with a laser, to form a crystallized doped metal oxide. The crystallized doped metal oxide has a different crystal structure than the first doped metal oxide.
US09359664B2

A family of iron-based, phosphor-containing bulk metallic glasses having excellent processibility and toughness, methods for forming such alloys, and processes for manufacturing articles therefrom are provided. The inventive iron-based alloy is based on the observation that by very tightly controlling the composition of the metalloid moiety of the Fe-based, P-containing bulk metallic glass alloys it is possible to obtain highly processable alloys with surprisingly low shear modulus and high toughness.
US09359644B1

In one aspect, the invention provides methods of identifying genetic mutations that are associated with peripheral neurological disease. The methods comprise identifying a difference between a nucleic acid sequence of a small integral protein of the lysosome/late endosome (“SIMPLE”) gene from a mammalian subject exhibiting peripheral neuropathy and a nucleic acid sequence of a SIMPLE gene from a subject which is not exhibiting peripheral neuropathy, wherein the difference is a genetic mutation associated with peripheral neurological disease. In another aspect, isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding SIMPLE missense mutations are provided. In another aspect, a method of screening a subject to determine if the subject has a genetic predisposition to develop Charcot-Marie-Tooth type 1C neuropathy is provided. In another aspect, the invention provides kits for determining susceptibility or presence of Charcot-Marie-Tooth type 1C neuropathy in a mammalian subject.
US09359636B2

The invention provides a method for fixing an RNA molecule in a biological sample. The method comprises contacting the biological sample with an aldehyde-containing fixative, and subsequently contacting the sample with a solution comprising a carbodiimide and a heterocyclic derivative selected from the group consisting of an imidazole, pyrazole, triazole or tetrazole or a combination thereof. A method for differentiating cells in a biological sample is also provided. A method for quantification of RNA retention in a biological sample is also provided. A kit for fixing RNA in a sample is provided as well.
US09359634B2

The present invention concerns a method for determining an analyte as well as a diagnostic element suitable therefore. In one particular form, a method for determining an analyte includes contacting a sample containing the analyte with a diagnostic element comprising a dry reagent layer. The dry reagent layer contains a mutated dehydrogenase which is specific for the analyte and an artificial coenzyme. The method also includes determining at least one of analyte presence and an amount of the analyte.
US09359633B2

A method of bioassay for the quantification of peptide fragments comprising a neo-epitope formed by cleavage of a protein of an atherosclerotic plaque such as lumican, versican, perlecan, decorin, biglycan, collagen type III, CRP, ApoE, or elastin, by a proteinase, said comprises contacting a sample such as urine or serum with an antibody reactive with the neo-epitope and determining the level of binding of said immunological binding partner to peptide fragments in said sample. The assay is predictive of risk of cardiovascular disease events.
US09359630B2

The present invention relates to isolated promoters and constructs, vectors, and fungal host cells comprising such promoters operably linked to polynucleotides encoding polypeptides. The present invention also relates to methods for producing such polypeptides.
US09359628B2

The present invention provides genetically engineered strains of Pichia capable of producing proteins with reduced glycosylation. In particular, the genetically engineered strains of the present invention are capable of expressing either or both of an α-1,2-mannosidase and glucosidase II. The genetically engineered strains of the present invention can be further modified such that the OCH1 gene is disrupted. Methods of producing glycoproteins with reduced glycosylation using such genetically engineered stains of Pichia are also provided.
US09359624B2

The invention relates to recombinant expression of a taxadiene synthase enzyme and a geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase (GGPPS) enzyme in cells and the production of terpenoids.
US09359621B2

The invention relates to a process of fermenting plant material in a fermentation medium into a fermentation product using a fermenting organism, wherein one or more carbonic anhydrases are present in the fermentation medium.
US09359618B2

A recombinant vector comprises simian adenovirus SAdV-39, -25.2, -26, -30, -37, and -38 sequences and a heterologous gene under the control of regulatory sequences. A cell line which expresses simian adenovirus SAdV-39, -25.2, -26, -30, -37, and -383 gene(s) is also disclosed. Methods of using the vectors and cell lines are provided.
US09359614B2

The present disclosure relates to a novel class of 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) enzymes, which enzymes are identifiable both by conserved amino acid sequence motifs (primary structure) and secondary and tertiary structural elements. Also disclosed are nucleic acids useful in encoding the novel EPSPS enzymes.
US09359613B2

The present invention relates to a yeast cell, in particular a recombinant yeast cell, the cell lacking enzymatic activity needed for the NADH-dependent glycerol synthesis or the cell having a reduced enzymatic activity with respect to the NADH-dependent glycerol synthesis compared to its corresponding wild-type yeast cell, the cell comprising one or more heterologous nucleic acid sequences encoding an NAD+-dependent acetylating acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.1.10) activity. The invention further relates to the use of a cell according to the invention in the preparation of ethanol.
US09359611B2

The invention relates, inter alia, to novel genetically modified microorganisms capable of using CO to produce 1-butanol and/or a precursor thereof, novel methyltransferases and nucleic acids encoding same, methods for producing genetically modified microorganisms using said novel methyltransferases, and methods of producing 1-butanol and/or a precursor thereof by microbial fermentation.
US09359603B2

The present invention encompasses a class of compounds known as splice modulating oligonucleotides (SMOs) that modulate pre-mRNA splicing, thereby affecting expression and functionality of a specific protein in a cell. The present invention further provides compositions and methods for modulating pre-mRNA splicing using a SMO of the invention to abrogate disease-causing mutations in a protein. Accordingly, the present invention provides compositions and methods of treating a subject at risk of, susceptible to, or having a disease, disorder, or condition associated with aberrant or unwanted target pre-mRNA expression or activity.
US09359599B2

Engineered transcriptional activator-like effectors (TALEs) are versatile tools for genome manipulation with applications in research and clinical contexts. One current drawback of TALEs is their tendency to bind and cleave off-target sequence, which hampers their clinical application and renders applications requiring high-fidelity binding unfeasible. This disclosure provides engineered TALE domains and TALEs comprising such engineered domains, e.g., TALE nucleases (TALENs), TALE transcriptional activators, TALE transcriptional repressors, and TALE epigenetic modification enzymes, with improved specificity and methods for generating and using such TALEs.
US09359598B2

MT-SP1 mutein proteases with altered specificity for the target molecules they cleave can be used to treat human diseases, such as cancer. Cleaving VEGF or VEGFR at certain substrate sequences with wild-type and mutein MT-SP1 proteases can be used to treat pathologies associated with angiogenesis.
US09359592B2

Disclosed is a method for inducing stem cells to differentiate into retinal cells at high yield within a short period of time, without gene implantation and co-culture with retinal tissues, by implementing a differentiation process similar to the in vivo embryonic development in chemically defined conditions. Also, retinal cells including the photoreceptor cells and their progenitor cells, and various types of other retinal cells, generated according to the method, are disclosed. A composition comprising the retinal cells and a method are provided for treating retinal degeneration-related diseases. The differentiated photoreceptor cells, when transplanted into degenerated or injured retinas, can be engrafted and fused within the retinas to prevent or cure retinal degeneration.
US09359589B2

The invention relates to the use of at least one chelating agent, including an iron chelating agent, in order to stimulate the growth of magnetotactic bacteria.
US09359584B2

Provided in part herein are compositions that include isolated microbial enzymes, such as amylases, lipases, and proteases that are useful as detergent additives. Also provided are methods of isolating amylases, lipases, and proteases from microbes, as well as methods of using these enzymes as detergent additives, and for stain removal.
US09359579B2

The present disclosure relates to conveyor lubricant compositions including an emulsion. The present disclosure also relates to methods of employing such lubricant compositions. In an embodiment, the methods include applying the present lubricant composition to a conveyor with a non-energized nozzle. In an embodiment, the methods include applying the present lubricant composition in a “semi-dry” mode.
US09359574B2

To provide is a lubricating oil composition capable of exerting an improved fuel-saving performance and having an improved shear stability.The lubricating oil composition comprises (A) a mineral base oil having kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of no more than 5 mm2/s and % CP of no less than 90; and (B) a polymer having weight average molecular weight of no more than 15000.
US09359569B2

A method for deactivating coal, in which coal is deactivated with a treatment gas containing oxygen, wherein a deactivation step for deactivating the coal in a temperature range 45-70° C. is carried out.
US09359565B2

Systems and methods are provided for using field enhanced separations to produce multiple fractions from a petroleum input. A liquid thermal diffusion and/or electric field separation is used to produce the fractions. The fractions can then be used to form multiple outputs that share a first feature while being different with regard to a second feature. For example, a first fraction from the plurality of fractions can have a desired value for a first property such as viscosity index. Two or more additional fractions from the plurality of fractions can then be blended together to make a blended fraction or output. The blended fraction can have a value for the first property that is substantially similar to the value for the first fraction. However, for a second property, the first fraction and the blended fraction can have distinct values. As a result, multiple output fractions can be formed that share a first feature but differ in a second feature.
US09359563B2

One exemplary embodiment can be a process for initializing hydroprocessing. Generally, the process can include providing a hydrocarbon feed to a hydrotreating zone within which the hydrotreating temperature is catalytically limited, passing an effluent from the hydrotreating zone to a hydrocracking zone, and adding a gas to the effluent that has a higher temperature than the effluent. Thus, the temperature of the effluent may be raised, facilitating hydrocracking reactions within the hydrocracking zone.
US09359561B2

Process for hydrotreating a heavy hydrocarbon fraction using a system of switchable fixed bed guard zones each containing at least one catalyst bed including at least one step during which the flow of feed supplied to the first guard zone brought into contact with the feed is partly displaced to the next guard zone downstream, preferably progressively.
US09359560B2

The present disclosure relates to a heat transfer tube and a cracking furnace using the heat transfer tube. The heat transfer tube comprises a twisted baffle arranged in an inner wall of the tube, said twisted baffle extending spirally along an axial direction of the heat transfer tube. The twisted baffle defines a closed circle viewed from an end of the heat transfer tube. Along the trajectory of the circle a casing is arranged, which is fixedly connected to a radial inner end of the twisted baffle. The twisted baffle is provided with a plurality of holes. The heat transfer tube according to the present disclosure has a good heat transfer effect and small pressure loss.
US09359555B2

A process for decoking of delayed coker feed heater pass is disclosed. A chemical mixture containing a metal hydroxide and a metal carbonate is combined with steam to decoke the delayed coker feed heater pass.
US09359553B2

A liquid crystal composition and an AM LCD device containing the liquid crystal composition are described. The liquid crystal composition has a negative dielectric anisotropy, includes a specific compound having a high maximum temperature and a large optical anisotropy as a first component, and may also include at least one of a specific compound having a large negative dielectric anisotropy as a second component, a specific compound having a high maximum temperature or a small viscosity as a third component, and a specific compound having a polymerizable group as an additive component.
US09359544B2

A composition and method for performing a treatment of a subterranean formation. The composition includes an emulsified acid and a sulfobetaine surfactant. The emulsified acid and the sulfobetaine surfactant may be mixed to form a treatment composition, which may be injected into a subterranean formation as part of an acid fracturing or hydraulic fracturing treatment.
US09359540B2

A ternary composition including: from 5 to 50% of difluoromethane; from 2 to 20% of pentafluoroethane; and from 30 to 90% of tetrafluoropropene. The tetrafluoropropene may be 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene or 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene. This composition can be used as a heat-transfer fluid in vapor compression circuit. A process for heating or cooling a fluid or a body using a vapor compression circuit containing a heat transfer fluid, said process successively including evaporation of the heat transfer fluid, compression of the heat transfer fluid, condensation of the heat fluid and depressurization of the heat transfer fluid, in which the heat transfer fluid is a composition as described.
US09359535B2

A multi-modal polymer blend for use in an adhesive composition comprising at least two compositionally different propylene-based polymers. The multi-modal polymer blend has a Mw of about 10,000 g/mol to about 150,000 g/mol. When subjected to Temperature Rising Elution Fractionation, the multi-modal polymer blend exhibits a first fraction that is soluble at −15° C. in a hydrocarbon solvent, such as xylene or ortho-dichlorobenzene, the first fraction having an isotactic (mm) triad tacticity of about 70 mol % to about 90 mol %; and a second fraction that is insoluble or less soluble than the first fraction at −15° C. in the hydrocarbon solvent, the second fraction having an isotactic (mm) triad tacticity of about 85 mol % to about 98 mol %.
US09359525B2

Water-free composition comprising at least one saturated or unsaturated, epoxy-modified polyester as binder, at least one acrylate polymer or polyurethane polymer as further binder, polymer microparticles, at least one polymer which comprises functional groups consisting of blocked isocyanates and amino resins, as crosslinking agent, at least one pigment, at least one organic solvent, and at least one auxiliary or additive, the solids of the composition being at least 50% by weight.
US09359520B2

This invention relates to coating compositions that include water; a latex polymer and a silane coupling agent. The latex polymer preferably comprises acetoacetoxy functionality, or is a multistage latex, or is an acetoacetoxy functional multistage latex. The silane coupling agent is preferably a functionalized silane coupling agent (more preferably an epoxy-functional silane coupling agent). The compositions may be used to coat a variety of substrates, including wood, cement and fiber cement. Articles having the coating applied thereto are also provided.
US09359517B2

A non-aqueous composition contains dispersed carbon-coated metal particles in an organic diluent in an amount of at least 10 weight %. The dispersed carbon-coated metal particles have a median diameter equal to or less than 0.6 μm, and are dispersed using a particle dispersing agent that has a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of at least 2,000 and up to and including 100,000 and comprises nitrogen-containing units. The median diameter of the dispersed particles is determined using a dynamic light scattering method. Moreover, when the non-aqueous composition contains up to and including 25 weight % of the dispersed carbon-coated metal particles, it exhibits no visual settling when subjected to a settling test of at least 24 hours at 20° C. Such non-aqueous compositions can include photocurable components and are useful to prepare photocurable and photocured electrically-conductive patterns and layers in various articles, including touch screen devices having touch screen displays.
US09359515B2

There is provided a water-based ink for ink-jet recording, including: a pigment; water; and alkyl glucoside which has alkyl group having 6 or more carbon atoms.
US09359510B2

A custom color paint or stain tinting system employs a dark-colored non-infrared-absorptive liquid base paint or stain and a point-of-sale array of concentrated liquid colorants which when dispensed into the base paint or stain provide custom-tinted non-infrared-absorptive paints or stains in lightened shades and a variety of tints. Dark custom-tinted paints or stains are tinted lighter from a dark-colored base, not darker from a white or light colored base as is done in conventional point-of-sale systems.
US09359503B2

An azo pigment or a tautomer thereof represented by the following Formula (1), and having characteristic X-ray diffraction peaks at Bragg angles (2θ±0.2°) of 6.5°, 7.1° and 21.8° in the CuKα characteristic X-ray diffraction.
US09359498B2

The present invention relates to an airbag housing cover containing a thermoplastic elastomer composition which contains the following components (A) and (B) and contains from 10 to 300 parts by weight of the component (B) per 100 parts by weight of the component (A) and in which the melt flow rate at a measurement temperature of 230° C. and a measurement load of 21.18 N is from 5 to 50 g/10 min: Component (A): a polypropylene-based resin Component (B): an olefin-based block copolymer containing a polymer block composed of ethylene and an ethylene α-olefin copolymer block.
US09359493B2

A high-density polyethylene (HDPE) can be adapted for the manufacture of caps and closures. The caps and closures can be used as screw-on caps for carbonated or still drinks. The high-density polyethylene can have a density of at least 940 kg/m3 and of at most 970 kg/m3, and a high load melt index HLMI of at least 35 dg/min and of at most 180 dg/min. The high-density polyethylene can include a first polyethylene fraction and a second polyethylene fraction. The first polyethylene fraction can have a density of at least 920 kg/m3 and of at most 945 kg/m3, and a melt index HL275 of at least 3 dg/min and of at most 12 dg/min. The second polyethylene fraction can have a density of at least 960 kg/m3 and of at most 980 kg/m3.
US09359489B2

The present invention relates to a polymer composition containing polycarbonate with a weight-average molecular weight Mw of from 24,000 to 33,000 and 5.0 wt. % to 20.0 wt. % (based on the total amount of the composition) of glass hollow spheres with an alkalinity of less than 1.0 meq/g. The present invention furthermore provides coextruded sheets in which the coextruded layer contains this polymer composition, and shaped articles produced therefrom, in particular containers and pieces of luggage, very particularly suitcases. Sheets which are obtainable with the polymer composition according to the invention have a high mechanical stability, a high scratch resistance, pleasant haptic properties and an excellent homogeneous external visual impression. The present invention furthermore relates to a process for the preparation of these polymer compositions and a process for production of the sheets according to the invention.
US09359488B2

A container comprising a polyester composition with enhanced mechanical properties is provided. The polyester composition comprises a polyester and a creep control agent. In particular embodiments, the polyester composition comprises a polyester, a creep control agent, and a gas barrier enhancing additive. In particular embodiments, the creep control agents are molecules or polymers comprising dianhydrides, bis-lactams, bis-oxazoles, and epoxides.
US09359487B2

The present invention relates to plasticizers for use in a thermoplastic polymer. The plasticizers according to the invention comprise a succinate mixed ester of benzyl on the one part and branched nonyl or decyl on the other part. According to a preferred embodiment the molar amount of mixed ester in the plasticizer amounts to at least 30%. The invention also relates to plastisoles comprising such plasticizers.
US09359477B2

The present invention is directed to a process for producing a polyamide, which process includes directly melt-polymerizing a diamine component including 70 mol % or more of p-xylylenediamine and a dicarboxylic acid component including 70 mol % or more of a C6 to C18 aliphatic dicarboxylic acid, in the absence of solvent in a batch-type reactor equipped with a stirring blade, the process including: (1) reacting the diamine component with the dicarboxylic acid component under a pressure condition of 0.2 to 0.5 MPa (Abs); (2) maintaining a vapor phase section of a reaction tank of the reactor at 200° C. or higher during reaction; (3) stirring the contents of the reaction tank, from the start of adding the diamine component until after completion of the addition and before the start of pressure falling, such that the stirring-related Froude number represented by a specific formula is adjusted to 0.0002 to 0.15; and (4) employing a stirring blade having no structural body in the horizontal direction or having a structural body in the horizontal direction, which body does not come into contact with the interface between the reaction mixture and the vapor phase section during stirring. In the polyamide production process, deposition of solid matter in the reaction tank vapor section and in a vapor pipe is suppressed, and incorporation into the product of unmelted solid matter originating from the deposits is reduced.
US09359471B2

Foam compositions are provided. The compositions are prepared from multi-functional acetoacetate esters and multi-functional amines or acrylates. The foam compositions can include one or more additives. The foam compositions can be used for home and commercial insulation, air sealing, sound proofing, structural improvement, and exterior roofing, among other applications. The foam compositions provide advantages of being isocyanate free and offer reduced exposure to isocyanate.
US09359470B2

The present invention relates to polymers comprising a repeating unit of the formula (I), and compounds of formula (VIII), or (IX), wherein Y, Y15, Y16 and Y17 are independently of each other a group of formula (I), and their use as organic semiconductor in organic electronic devices, especially in organic photovoltaics and photodiodes, or in a device containing a diode and/or an organic field effect transistor. The polymers and compounds according to the invention can have excellent solubility in organic solvents and excellent film-forming properties. In addition, high efficiency of energy conversion, excellent field-effect mobility, good on/off current ratios and/or excellent stability can be observed, when the polymers and compounds according to the invention are used in organic field effect transistors, organic photovoltaics (solar cells) and photodiodes.
US09359462B2

A modified high cis butadiene-isoprene copolymer, a method for producing the same, and a tire having the aforementioned polymer are provided. The method includes performing a polymerization step for forming a high cis butadiene-isoprene copolymer having an organometallic active site and reacting which copolymer with a modifier mixture via the organometallic active site for forming the modified high cis butadiene-isoprene copolymer. The modifier mixture comprises a first modifier and a second modifier. The first modifier has a chemical formula of X—R1-Si(R2)3, wherein X is an glycidoxy functional group, an isocyanate functional group, or a 2-(3,4-epoxycyclohexyl group), R1 is an alkylene group, and R2 is an alkyl group or an alkoxy group. The second modifier has a chemical formula of R3-Si(R4)3, wherein R3 is an alkoxy group or an aryloxy group, and R4 is an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, an aryloxy group or a cycloalkyl group.
US09359459B2

Process for the preparation of a hydrocarbon polymer comprising two end groups having 2-oxo-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl final parts by ring opening metathesis in the presence of a metathesis catalyst, of a chain transfer agent comprising a carbonate ring and of a compound of formula comprising at least one C6-C16 ring having a carbon-carbon double bond.Hydrocarbon polymer capable of being obtained by this process.Process for the preparation of polyurethanes by reaction of this polymer and of a compound comprising at least one amine group, and polyurethanes thus obtained.
US09359457B2

The present disclosure provides protein-containing compositions, methods and uses thereof. A conjugate comprises a globular protein conjugated with a polymer that preserves the folded and functional structure of a protein. In some embodiments, a fusion protein comprises a globular protein conjugated with an elastin-mimic polymer (EMP). Also disclosed is an assembled solid-state or gel-state nanostructure comprising a plurality of conjugates, wherein each comprises a globular protein conjugated with a polymer that preserving the folded and functional structure of a protein. In certain embodiments, provided compositions and methods further comprise an additive.
US09359453B2

An intermediate compound for forming a RAFT agent is provided that can have the formula: where n is an integer from 1 to 20; m is an integer from 0 to 20; R1 is H, an alkyl group, or a cyano group; R2 is H, an alkyl group, or a cyano group; Y is OH, COOH, or NH2; and X is OH, COOH, NH2, a nitrobenzyl, benzyl, or para-methyl benzyl group. A RAFT agent is also provided that comprises a thiocarbonylthio-containing organic compound having a phosphonic end group. A method is also provided for forming a polymer chain on a surface of a nanoparticle utilizing the RAFT agent, along with nanoparticles and nanocomposites formed therefrom.
US09359442B2

The present invention relates to antibodies that bind CD33. More particularly, the invention relates to anti-CD33 antibodies, fragments and homologues of these antibodies, humanized and resurfaced versions of these antibodies, functional equivalents and improved versions of these antibodies, immunoconjugates and compositions comprising these antibodies, and the uses of same in diagnostic, research and therapeutic applications. The invention also relates to a polynucleotide encoding these antibodies, vectors comprising the polynucleotides, host cells transformed with polynucleotides and methods of producing these antibodies.
US09359435B2

The present invention relates to methods of modulating (e.g., reducing) the mannose content, particularly high-mannose content of recombinant glycoproteins.
US09359433B2

The invention provides methods for increasing or decreasing antibody production in vivo by inhibiting or promoting the activity of fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF2) respectively.
US09359403B2

Provided are activated collagen scaffold materials as well as their special fused active restoration factors useful for promoting tissue repair, such as bone damage repair or nerve injury repair. The special fused active restoration factors are fusion proteins comprising a collagen-binding domain (CBD) at N-/C-terminus of cytokines, wherein the collagen-binding domain is a polypeptide consisting of 7-27 amino acid residues with a conservative sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:12 at N-terminus.
US09359402B2

EphA2 T-cell epitope are provided herein. The epitopes include peptides corresponding to specific fragments of human EphA2 protein containing one or more T-cell epitopes, and conservative derivatives thereof. The EphA2 T-cell epitopes are useful in an assay, such as an ELISPOT assay, that may be used to determine and/or quantify a patient's immune responsiveness to EphA2. The epitopes also are useful in methods of modulating a patient's immune reactivity to EphA2, which has substantial utility as a treatment for cancers that overexpress EphA2, such as renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The EphA2 epitopes also can be used to vaccinate a patient against EphA2, by in vivo or ex vivo methods.
US09359392B2

This invention relates to certain dendrimer compounds. In particular, this invention relates to novel dendrimer compounds that can be elaborated to give increasingly large and complex compounds. These elaborated compounds can be attached to, or can encapsulate within, active agent(s) so as to beneficially modify the characteristics of that active agent. Alternatively, the elaborated compounds can themselves be beneficially modified into therapeutic agents by the attachment of inactive agents.
US09359391B2

A method to cleave C—C and C—O bonds in β-O-4 linkages in lignin or lignin sub-units is described. The method includes oxidizing at least a portion of secondary benzylic alcohol groups in β-O-4 linkages in the lignin or lignin sub-unit to corresponding ketones and then leaving C—O or C—C bonds in the oxidized lignin or lignin sub-unit by reacting it with an organic carboxylic acid, a salt of an organic carboxylic acids, and/or an ester of an organic carboxylic acids. The method may utilize a metal or metal-containing reagent or proceed without the metal or metal-containing reagent.
US09359386B1

The invention relates to silicon compounds having formula (I): (RfCH2CH2)2-n[R(OCH2CHR′)mOR″]nSiX2  (I). In formula (I), Rf is a linear or branched perfluorinated hydrocarbon having 4 or more carbon atoms, R is a methyl or ethyl group, R′ is H or CH3, m is an integer of 1 to about 24, R″ is a hydrocarbon bridge having 1 to about 11 carbon atoms, n is an integer from 0 to 2, and X is H, Cl or an alkoxy group. The inventive materials may be used to produce siloxanes or silicones by hydrolytic condensation and have utility in surface modification.
US09359377B2

The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I) or salts, racemates, isomers and/or prodrugs thereof useful in the treatment of viral infections, in particular respiratory syncytial viral (RSV) infections. The present invention also relates to processes for preparing the compounds and intermediates used in their preparation.
US09359365B2

Compounds and pharmaceutical compositions that modulate kinase activity, including PI3 kinase activity, and compounds, pharmaceutical compositions, and methods of treatment of diseases and conditions associated with kinase activity, including PI3 kinase activity, are described herein.
US09359363B2

Herein, methods of modulating inclusion formation and stress granules in cells are described. The methods comprise contacting a cell with an inclusion inhibitor. Methods for screening for modulators of TDP-43 aggregation are also described.
US09359360B2

The present invention provides for TLR agonist conjugates (compounds) and compositions, as well as methods of using them. The compounds of the invention are broad-spectrum, long-lasting, and non-toxic combination of synthetic immunostimulatory agents, which are useful for activating the immune system of a mammal, preferably a human and can help direct the pharmacophore to the receptor within the endosomes of target cells and enhance the signal transduction induced by the pharmacophore.
US09359359B2

Compounds, compositions and methods are described for inhibiting the TRPC5 ion channel and disorders related to TRPC5.
US09359350B2

The present invention relates to a compound that has URAT1 inhibitory action, and a URAT1 inhibitor, a blood uric acid level-reducing agent and a pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound. More specifically, the present invention relates to a compound represented by Formula (I) below. [in the formula, R1 is -Q1-A1 and the like; is a double bond or a single bond; when is a double bond, W1 is a nitrogen atom or a group represented by the general formula: ═C(Ra)—, and W2 is a nitrogen atom or a group represented by the general formula: ═C(Rb)—; when is a single bond, W1 is a group represented by the general formula: —C(Raa)(Rab)— or a group represented by the general formula: —(C═O)—, and W2 is a group represented by the general formula: —C(Rba)(Rbb)—, a group represented by the general formula: —(C═O)— or a group represented by the general formula: —N(Rbc)—; W3, W4 and W5 are each independently a nitrogen atom or a methine group and the like that may have a substituent; X is a single bond, an oxygen atom and the like; Y is a single bond or (CRYiRYi′)n; and Z is a hydroxyl group or COOR2 and the like.
US09359337B2

The invention is concerned with a compound of formula (I) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof wherein R1 to R3, X and Y are as defined as in the description and in the claims. The compound of formula (I) can be used as a medicament.
US09359334B2

The present invention provides new bi- and polypyridine ligands of ruthenium dyes. The invention also provides solar cells, in particular dye-sensitized solar cells comprising the dyes. Formula(I):
US09359327B2

The present invention is directed to processes for the preparation of substituted pyrimidine derivatives, useful as intermediates in the synthesis of histamine H4 receptor modulators, and to intermediates in H4 modulator synthesis.
US09359325B2

The present invention relates, in various embodiments, to a compound represented by Structural Formula (I), pharmaceutically acceptable salts or prodrugs thereof, and compositions comprising said compounds, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or prodrugs thereof. Methods of using compounds of Structural Formulas (I) and (Ia) or compositions comprising compounds of Structural Formulas (I) and (Ia), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or prodrugs thereof, to treat ischemia or ischemia-reperfusion injury are also disclosed.
US09359324B2

Provided is a method for producing an episulfide compound, the method including a step of thiating epoxy groups of (B) an epoxy compound by a reaction with (C) a thiating agent in the presence of (A) a polyhydric hydroxyl compound having two or more hydroxyl groups.
US09359322B2

Compounds of the formula: are described, along with pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds, and methods of using the compounds to prevent and to treat cancer in mammals, including humans.
US09359312B2

The present invention relates to a process for manufacturing a benzoxazinone of formula (I), by reacting a nitro compound of formula (II) with a reducing agent to obtain an amino compound of formula (III), and then reacting the amino compound of formula (III) with an acid; wherein the variables are defined according to the description, and benzoxazinone of formula (I).
US09359308B2

Provided are pyrazine compounds of Formula (I) for inhibiting of Syk kinase, intermediates used in making such compounds, methods for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, methods for inhibition Syk kinase activity, and methods for treating conditions mediated at least in part by Syk kinase activity.
US09359304B2

The present invention provides a process for the preparation of a compound of formula (I) wherein R1 is C1-C4 haloalkyl; R2 is optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted heteroaryl; and R3 is methyl or ethyl; comprising reacting a compound of formula (IV) wherein R1, R2 and R3 are as defined for the compound of formula I; with an alkylating agent in the presence of an amide.
US09359302B2

The present invention provides low hygroscopic forms of aripiprazole and processes for the preparation thereof which will not convert to a hydrate or lose their original solubility even when a medicinal preparation containing the anhydrous aripiprazole crystals is stored for an extended period.
US09359278B2

The subject matter of the present invention is a plurality of products and the use thereof as a catalytically active composition in a method for producing aldehydes.
US09359274B2

Provided is a method for causing a dehydrofluorination reaction of 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane in the gas phase and in the presence of a catalyst thereby producing 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene. In this method, the reaction is carried out at a pressure inside the reaction system of from 0.001 to 90 kPa (absolute pressure) at a reaction temperature ranging from 250 to 600° C.
US09359272B2

A process and a plant for producing C2-C4 olefins, in particular propylene, from an educt mixture containing steam as well as methanol vapor and/or dimethyl ether vapor. The educt mixture is reacted in at least one first reactor on a granular, form-selective zeolite catalyst to obtain a reaction mixture including low-molecular olefins and gasoline hydrocarbons, which in a first separating device is separated into a mixture rich in C2-C4 olefins, a mixture rich in C5+ gasoline hydrocarbons, and an aqueous phase, wherein the mixture rich in gasoline hydrocarbons is mixed with an inert medium, the mixture thus obtained is reacted in at least one second reactor on a granular zeolite catalyst to obtain a product mixture including C2-C4 olefins, and this product mixture is recirculated to the first separating device, and wherein the mixture rich in C5+ gasoline hydrocarbons is separated in a second separating device into a product stream containing C5-C6 hydrocarbons and a product stream containing C7+ hydrocarbons, before being supplied to the second reactor, and only the product stream containing C7+ hydrocarbons is supplied to the second reactor, whereas the product stream containing C5-C6 hydrocarbons together with the educt mixture is supplied to the at least one first reactor.
US09359271B2

The disclosed invention relates to a process for conducting a Fischer-Tropsch reaction, comprising flowing a reactant mixture comprising fresh synthesis gas and tail gas in a microchannel reactor in contact with a catalyst to form at least one hydrocarbon product, the catalyst being derived from a catalyst precursor comprising cobalt and a surface modified catalyst support.
US09359269B2

A process for the removal of acids from reaction mixtures, comprising at least one product of value which is sparingly soluble in water, by at least one unpolar amine as an auxiliary base, which includes: a) reacting the auxiliary base with the acid with formation of a salt; b) reacting the salt formed in step a) with a further base which accepts the acid with liberation of the auxiliary base and combines with the acid to be accepted from the auxiliary base to form a salt which is very readily soluble in water; c) extraction of the mixture obtained in step b) with water or an aqueous medium, wherein the salt of the further base dissolves in the aqueous phase and the product of value, or the solution of the product of value, in a suitable solvent and the auxiliary base form at least one separate nonaqueous phase; and d) removal by distillation of at least part of any solvent present from the at least one nonaqueous phase obtained in step c), to form two nonmiscible liquid phases.
US09359263B2

Disclosed herein are fluid ionized compositions, such as fluid calcium cyanamide fertilizer compositions, methods of preparation and uses thereof. In some examples, a fluid composition includes a mixture of about 40 to 20 parts of dissolved acid or acid-formed approximately neutral pH nitrogen plant nutrient compounds (such as urea ammonium nitrate and H2O) and about 1 to about 5 parts of a mixture of insoluble or weakly soluble high pH calcium-formed plant nutrient compounds (such as calcium cyanamide and H2O). The disclosed compositions and methods stabilize the compositions' contained active nutrient ions and digested carbon. The disclosed compositions and methods facilitate controllable site-directed delivery of the contents of the compositions. The compositions and methods are effective for microbes nourishment plant fertilizing, soil amending, heavy metals leaching inhibition and, digesting organic proteinaceous excreta. The compositions are stable, easily calibrated, and non-clogging for soil injection, spray and irrigation water delivery to target sites.
US09359239B2

A hybrid method and system of treating wastewater with reduced energy usage is disclosed. The treatment system has a sorption system, an anaerobic digester that digests or converts at least a portion of the solids or sludge from the sorption system, and an aerobic treatment tank that partially reduces oxygen demand of a portion of the sludge from the sorption tank.
US09359236B2

Systems and methods for treating wastewater including a dissolved air flotation operation performed upon a portion of a mixed liquor output from a contact tank prior to the mixed liquor entering a biological treatment tank.
US09359231B2

An electrolytic bath for manufacturing acid water capable of securing sufficient conductivity even in pure water or deionized water without separately using a catalyst or an ion exchange resin, electrolyzing the pure water or deionized water as well as tap water, and particularly minimizing a reaction between ions and a gas through a deaeration effect and an electrolytic effect in one electrolytic process, increasing conductivity of acid water, and enhancing reduction potential and maintenance time of dissolving power, to obtain acid water (hydrogen water) as stable acid reduced water.
US09359230B2

The present invention generally related to a nanofabricated membrane including polymerized proteoliposomes. The nanofabricated membrane is a bio-nano fused selective membrane using protein-incorporated uv-crosslinkable liposomes with a chemical reactive biocompatible interstitial matrix. In the present invention, internally UV-crosslinked protein-incorporated proteolipsomes are used because the proteoliposomes made by natural lipids have a short life time and a weak resistance to the circumstantial stresses such as a high and low temperature, pressure, ionic strength etc. Furthermore, the proteo-vesicles made by amphiphilic block copolymers provide less consistency in accomplishing proper functionality batch to batch because of the inevitable polydiversity of the polymer.
US09359228B2

A biodegradable iron-crosslinked alginate is useful as a remediation agent for environmental contaminants such as phosphate. When charged with phosphate, or other nutrients, the iron-functionalized alginate can be used as an agricultural fertilizer.
US09359226B2

A filter unit may include an electrode structure, a fluid-purifying flow path, and a pH adjusting chamber. The electrode structure may include a cathode, a cation exchange membrane, an anion exchange membrane, and an anode in that order. The fluid-purifying flow path may be at least one of a path in the cathode, between the cathode and the cation exchange membrane, between the anion exchange membrane and the anode, and in the anode. The fluid-purifying flow path may include an adsorption function. The pH adjusting chamber may be between the cation exchange membrane and the anion exchange membrane. The pH adjusting chamber may be configured to control the pH of the fluid in the fluid-purifying flow path.
US09359223B2

The invention provides for A method for producing pure phase strontium ruthenium oxide films, the method comprising solubilizing ruthenium-containing and strontium-containing compounds to create a mixture; subjecting the mixture to a first temperature above that necessary for forming RuO2 while simultaneously preventing formation of RuO2; maintaining the first temperature for a time to remove organic compounds from the mixture, thereby forming a substantially dry film; and subjecting the film to a second temperature for time sufficient to crystallize the film. Also provided is pure phase material comprising strontium ruthenium oxide wherein the material contains no RuO2.
US09359222B2

Materials and methods for preparing Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) layers for use in thin film photovoltaic (PV) cells are disclosed herein. The CZTS materials are nanoparticles prepared by a colloidal synthesis in the presence of a labile organothiol. The organothiol serves as both a sulphur source and as a capping ligand for the nanoparticles.
US09359216B2

The present invention relates to a method for preparing MWW type zeolite; said method comprising i) intimately mixing together, in the absence of any organic structure directing agent or crystalline MWW type zeolite seeds, a predetermined quantity of a source of silicon dioxide, a source of metal oxide, water and a pH modifier to obtain an aqueous amorphous metallosilicate gel; and ii) hydrothermally treating said gel in the presence of an organic templating agent to provide a crystalline MWW type zeolite.
US09359209B2

A re-forming process is carried out in which a material graphite film is heat-treated to not less than 2000° C. while the material graphite film is being pressured. Through the re-forming process, sag of a graphite film is controlled. By using, during the re-forming process, a plurality of inner cores having respective different surface states, it is possible to produce a graphite film having two or more sag forms which have respective effects.
US09359203B2

A method for producing nitrogen gas from a raw material gas using a PSA system, the method including using a second adsorbent, which is packed in an auxiliary adsorption tank provided in a line connecting two main adsorption tanks packed with a first adsorbent, to reduce the oxygen concentration within a recovered gas discharged from the main adsorption tank performing a depressurization equalization step, and then introducing the gas into the main adsorption tank performing a pressurization equalization step.
US09359196B2

Antiproliferative compositions that include CLEFMA, as well as liposomal compositions containing said antiproliferative compositions, are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of making and using the antiproliferative compositions and liposomal compositions.
US09359179B2

An apparatus with a wheel engagement mechanism for operation with a jack assembly for engaging and elevating two wheels of a multi-wheeled vehicle relative to the ground is provided. The apparatus includes a base, a support member connected to the base, and a wheel support assembly. The wheel support assembly includes wheel supports connected at the ends of the wheel support assembly that extend outward from the wheel support assembly for supporting two wheels of the vehicle. The apparatus also includes an actuation mechanism for selectively raising and selectively lowering the wheel support assembly to raise and lower the vehicle.
US09359176B2

A movement device is configured for moving a payload. The movement device includes a first support, a second support, and an intermediate support. The intermediate support is operatively disposed between the first support and the second support. The intermediate support is jointed to the first support at two first joints and jointed to the second support at two second joints. The second support is configured for supporting the payload. The intermediate support is jointed to the second support at two second joints. The first joints are pivotable about a respective first axis of rotation such that the intermediate support moves relative to the first support. The second joints are pivotable about a respective first axis of rotation such that the second support moves relative to the intermediate support. Each of the first axes of rotation are in spaced and generally parallel relationship to one another.
US09359169B2

There is provided an elevator group control system, in which even after an assigned car has been determined, the assigned car can be changed as necessary, and therefore comfortable service can be offered to a user. This group control system includes a call registration device by the use of which a user registers a hall destination call before getting into a car, a car position detection part for detecting the car position of each elevator, and a call registration storage part for storing, for each elevator, a hall destination call having been registered. When a hall destination call having the same contents as those of an already registered hall destination call stored in the call registration storage part is registered newly from the call registration device, if a non-assigned car has already arrived at the floor on which the call registration device is installed, the newly registered hall destination call is assigned to the non-assigned car.
US09359168B1

A storage apparatus for one or more cleaning lances is provided. The storage apparatus can be utilized in connection with a driving apparatus that controls the cleaning movements of a cleaning lance with respect to certain industrial equipment such as a heat exchanger. The driving apparatus can be utilized to feed an additional length of the cleaning lance to the tubes of exchanger or to retract the cleaning lance from the tubes of the exchanger. The storing apparatus can be utilized to store the cleaning lance, regulate the distribution and movement of the cleaning lance, and prevent tangling or snagging of the cleaning lance during the cleaning process.
US09359162B2

A conveyance mechanism by which a recording medium can be conveyed intermittently; a recording mechanism for recording by reciprocatingly scanning a recording head in a direction that intersects with a direction of conveyance of the recording medium by the conveyance mechanism; a turret to which a plurality of take-up spindles for taking up the recording medium are provided; rotational mechanisms of the take-up spindles; a rotational mechanism of the turret; and a control unit for controlling the rotational mechanisms of the take-up spindles and the rotational mechanism of the turret so as to cause the take-up spindles and/or the turret to be rotated intermittently so as to correspond to the intermittent conveyance by the conveyance mechanism.
US09359160B2

A printing device executes processes (a)-(c). In the process (a), first and second rollers convey a sheet a first amount, and a print head executes a printing operation while the sheet is in a state where the sheet is supported by the first and second rollers and a supporting unit disposed between the first and second rollers. In the process (b), the second roller conveys the sheet a second amount that is no larger than the first amount, and the print head executes a printing operation while the sheet is in a state where the sheet is supported by the supporting unit and the second roller. In the process (c), the second roller conveys the sheet a third amount that is larger than the first amount, and the print head executes a printing operation while the sheet is in a state where the sheet is supported by the second roller.
US09359152B2

A method and apparatus is provided which will provide over-pressure protection for an underground storage cavern by reducing the pressure of a pressurized gas stream originating from the an underground storage cavern to form a lower pressure gas stream, monitoring the pressure of a lower pressure gas stream and stopping the flow of the lower pressure gas stream to the pipeline should the pressure of the lower pressure gas stream exceed a threshold value.
US09359151B2

A fluid-based radial distribution system includes an internal passageway and a plurality of openings radially spaced around the internal passageway. A plurality of gate members are associated with at least some of the plurality of openings, with the gate members are configured to move between an open position that allows product to move through the opening associated with that gate member and a closed position that restricts product from moving through the opening associated with that gate member.
US09359148B2

In some implementations, a banded discharge removes or rejects comestibles from a production line when the comestibles have a diameter less than a minimum value. The banded discharge may include two or more support members and each pair of adjacent support members may be spaced apart a distance W. When a comestible with a diameter about the same as or less than the distance W moves onto the banded discharge, the banded discharge may remove the comestible from the production line. For example, the comestible may fall between two adjacent support members.
US09359146B2

Monitoring system for a conveyor of articles (100). The conveyor of articles comprises at least one transport chain (105) adapted to be moved along a movement direction, and a guide structure (132) of the transport chain comprising a lower guide element (135) adapted to support the chain from below and a higher guide element (140) adapted to insist on the chain from above and facing toward the lower guide element. The system comprises at least one first magnetic field generator element (155) located in a first guide element, at least one magnetic field sensor (160) located in a second selected guide element for sensing the magnitude of a measure magnetic field, and processing means (165) for quantifying a reduction of the overall thickness of the chain based on a time variation of the measure magnetic field.
US09359134B1

A garbage can retaining device adapted to retain garbage cans and to mount to any substantially planar surface such as natural ground or man-made materials. The device including includes: a mount member adapted to mount the garbage can retaining device to any substantially planar surface, wherein the mount member is adapted to receive a shaft and base assembly within an interior region and to fixedly secure the shaft and base assembly to the mount member, the shaft and base assembly including a shaft having a plurality of attachments attached thereto; a garbage can contacting portion secured to the shaft; and a base securely formed with the shaft adapted to be slidably received within the interior region of the mounting member.
US09359133B2

There is provided a method of constructing a tank which provides an improvement in the strength of the tank. Therefore, tanks can be constructed from thinner materials providing lighter tanks which are more capable of withstanding explosions or other trauma.In addition, the tank is more suited for use in vehicles as it effectively controls unwanted movement of fluid within the tank.
US09359120B2

In selected embodiments, a product packaging container includes a rectangular blister card including an aperture that is positioned in a widthwise direction and near an end in the lengthwise direction. A blister can be arranged in a diagonal lengthwise direction of the blister card and is sealed to the blister card. The blister further includes a blister shell that secures a product therein and a flange that extends from the perimeter of the blister shell out. An edge of the flange on a first end of the blister can include an indentation to avoid a hang hole on the blister card. A second end of the blister is shaped the same as the first end whereby the blister has point symmetry about a center point of the blister.
US09359116B2

A fluid dispenser member, including a chamber and an outlet valve having an actuator rod that is axially movable down and up, and on which a sleeve slides, under the effect of a pre-compression spring and the pressure of the fluid, over a maximum axial stroke. The effective axial stroke of the sleeve is dependent on the force of the spring and the pressure of the fluid in the chamber. The actuator rod includes side outlet mechanism that is suitable for being closed and uncovered selectively by the sleeve, the side outlet mechanism extending over an axial height that is greater than their radial width.
US09359113B2

A tamper-proof and easy-open sealing type food container includes a container body and a lid. A peripheral wall of the container body has at least one recessed wall portion disposed in one corner thereof and formed a retracted external space area and concave camber between the recessed wall portion and a hem. A pull tab extends from outside of a sealing rib that can be inserted into the concave camber. Moreover, there are two tamper-proof structures disposed on the lid. The first is that the first score line has to be poked through, and the second is the second score line needs to be torn off when opening the lid. When either structure is tampered, it could be easily distinguished, which ensures the integrity, safety, and qualities of the food inside the container. With these features plus its sealing effect, the present invention has dual function of tamper-proofing and easy-opening.
US09359112B2

Provided is a fastening assembly and a container system containing the same. The fastening assembly includes a cylindrical neck member, including a series of convolutions axially extending around at least a portion of the external surface of the neck member and forming an interrupted helical thread of incomplete formation; a collar member configured for screw fastening with the neck member, including at least one rib configured for thread-engagement with the helical thread, the at least one rib forming a portion of an internal thread.
US09359109B1

A pallet support block is constructed of recycled plastic material that is also recyclable. The use of the pallet support block in pallet construction reduces the amount of wood used in the pallet construction and thereby makes the pallet lighter and reduces the cost of manufacturing the pallet.
US09359106B2

A product dispensing frame having a front end and a rear end, and including an upper support deck extending between the front end and the rear end, a lower support deck positioned below the upper support deck, the lower support deck extending between the front end and the rear end and defining a first product display area, and an intermediate support deck positioned between the upper support deck and the lower support deck, the intermediate support deck extending between the front end and the rear end and defining a second product display area.
US09359104B2

Shipping containers for porous masses may include a bottom lid having a rectangular lid bottom and four bottom rims that are each continuous with the lid bottom; a tray comprising a tray bottom and four tray sidewalls that are each continuous with the tray bottom defining an interior with an open top; and a top lid having a rectangular lid top and four top rims that are each continuous with the lid top, wherein the tray is configured to be placed on a bottom lid with the bottom rims surrounding a portion of the tray with a top lid placed over the top of the tray with the top rims surrounding a portion of the tray.
US09359099B2

A plastic material container, e.g. a beverage bottle, having a neck which requires the use of a smaller amount of plastic than the bottle necks of the prior art, and which is able to ensure a complete functionality for coupling the cap, ensuring at the same time the possibility of implementing the traditional supporting; sealing and handling operations of the bottle carried out during the various steps of manufacturing the same.
US09359098B2

An opener mechanism in which a label folded in a sheet shape is opened and fitted to a target body is provided with first suction rods which suck one side of a label, second suction rods which are arranged to oppose the first suction rods and suck the other side of the label, and a drive mechanism which induces movement of the first and second suction rods toward or away from each other. Suction hole arrays in which a plurality of suction holes which suck the label are aligned in a line are formed on the surfaces facing one another of the first suction rods and the second suction rods. The suction holes are arranged in such a manner that the suction hole arrays of the first suction rods and the suction hole arrays formed in the second suction rods opposing the first suction rods are at least partially nonparallel.
US09359094B2

A gripping mechanism for securing an end of a wire during tying with a wire tying system is provided. The gripping mechanism may secure a first end of a wire strap around a bale of recycled material during knotting of the wire strap. As such, the gripping mechanism includes a gripping lever having a contact region adjacent the first end of the wire strap. In embodiments, the contact region includes at least one surface feature configured to secure the first end of the wire based on pivoting of the gripping lever. In further embodiments, the contact region of the gripping lever disengages the wire based on rotation of the gripping lever in a first direction. Further, the contact region of the gripping lever may engage against the first end of the wire based on rotation of the griping lever in a second direction, during actuation of the gripping mechanism.
US09359090B2

Disclosed is a method for the manufacture of an aircraft fuselage with at least two fuselage barrels wherein connecting segments are firstly prepared for the formation of a transverse joint region for a later transverse joint, and the fuselage barrels are then constructed around the connecting segments; also disclosed is an aircraft fuselage with ring-type connecting segments for the formation of such a transverse joint.
US09359083B2

A rotorcraft fitted with means for mounting at least one front avionics rack (3, 3′) and man-machine interface instruments (2) on board a fuselage structure (4). A mounting structure (1) comprises a slotted body forming compartments for receiving interface instruments (2), the avionics rack (3, 3′), and a unitary cabling assembly (12) suitable for incorporating as a block with the mounting structure (1). The mounting structure (1) is installed as a block on the fuselage structure (4) after its functioning has been verified. The unitary cabling assembly (12) may also include separation connectors (14) segregating communications of the front avionics rack (3, 3′) respectively with remote computers (5) by means of a primary communications bus of the multiplexed, unidirectional, or bidirectional type, and with ancillary equipment (6) and/or with on-board instruments (7) by means of a secondary fieldbus.
US09359075B1

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a helicopter-mediated system and method for launching and retrieving an aircraft capable of long-distance efficient cruising flight from a small space without the use of a long runway.
US09359054B2

An auxiliary appendage attachable to the steerable nozzle of an existing water craft. A first and second rudder blade attach to steerable nozzle. The first rudder blade includes a torsion spring providing a downward torsion force. A detent attached to steerable nozzle prevents rudder blades from hyper-extending in the direction of the downward torsion force. Rudder blades are connected by a deflection bar. Deflection bar is angled towards rudder blades. Rudder blades pivot between a downward position to an upward position based on the forces created thereon from both the torsion spring and the movement of the water over the appendage.
US09359053B2

A cover for a propeller, such as a boat propeller, including a face having a topside and an underside, and a sidewall having a first edge and a second edge. The first edge is affixed to the face on substantially all edges of the face, and the second edge forms a channel for enclosing a cord. A stretchable and flexible mesh forms at least a portion of said sidewall that facilitates air flow in the cover. The second edge of the sidewall defines an opening into an interior cavity formed by the sidewall and the underside of the face, and the cord functions as a drawstring that enables a user to adjust a size of the opening during application and removal of the cover from the propeller.
US09359050B2

Disclosed is an underwater craft having an electrochemical battery activated by an electrolyte, including: an electrochemical cell; a tank (13) intended to contain the electrolyte; a seawater flow rate regulator (37) arranged upstream of the tank (13). The flow rate regulator includes: a fixed housing (60) including first ports (64); a slide (62) including second ports (66); the slide (62) being movable, in relation to the fixed housing (60), under the effect of the pressure of the seawater entering the regulator (37), to a balanced position in which the first and second ports (64, 66) define outlet openings (70) for seawater to flow to the tank (13), the slide (62) being movable between a maximum opening position, in which the area of the openings is at a maximum, and a maximum restriction position, in which the area of the openings (70) is at a minimum.
US09359048B2

A ship whereby the hull and the mechanical propulsion device are designed such that the Froude number is larger than 0.5. In the aft ship the hull has a bottom with V-shaped bottom surfaces with a deadrise angle that is less than 40 degrees and the hull has substantially vertical sides. In the hull are a passenger compartment and a trim tank. The trim tank volume is such that the weight of a filled trim tank is more than 30% of the weight of displacement of the hull with an empty trim tank, filling the trim tank with water increases the amidships immersed width with at least 10%, and the bottom surfaces have bilge keels fully immersed when the trim tank is filled with water and the bilge keels are at least in part above the water level when the trim tank is empty.
US09359046B2

A submersible towed body deployment and recovery device is disclosed. The device can include a support structure supportable by a surface watercraft, and configured for rotational and translational movement relative to the watercraft. Additionally, the device can include a towed body interface structure supported by the support structure and configured to interface with and support a wing and a forward end of a towed body. The support structure can be movable between a deploy/recovery position in which at least a portion of the towed body interface structure extends into water about the watercraft and a stowed position in which the towed body interface structure positions the towed body out of the water. Coordinated rotational and translational movement of the support structure can utilize buoyancy of the towed body in the water to minimize loading on the deployment and recovery device when moving between the deploy/recovery position and the stowed position.
US09359045B2

The present invention relates to a marine vessel winch equipped with hermetically sealed clutches including: a support plate on which a plurality of support frames is disposed; a rotary shaft rotatably coupled to the support frames; a rope drum having a first fixing clutch mounted on one side thereof; a chain drum having a second fixing clutch mounted on one side thereof; a first moving clutch and a second moving clutch coupled slidably movably to the rotary shaft and selectively engaged with the first fixing clutch and the second fixing clutch; and sealing members having one side surfaces coupled in circumferential directions to predetermined positions of the outer peripheral surfaces of the rope drum and the chain drum and having the lower portions of the other side surfaces brought into contact with the outer peripheral surfaces of the first moving clutch and the second moving clutch.
US09359044B2

A passively stable personal hydrofoil watercraft that has a flotation device, wherein a user can ride in a prone, kneeling, or standing position. The watercraft includes a strut having an upper end interconnected with the flotation device and lower end connected with a hydrofoil. The hydrofoil greatly reduces the power required to travel at higher speed. The watercraft also includes a propulsion system connected to the hydrofoil. Both longitudinal and directional control of the watercraft is via weight shift, eliminating the need of any movable surfaces. The flotation device, strut, and hydrofoil may be permanently interconnected or may be detachable.
US09359040B2

An apparatus and method for an electric bike retrofit for a disc brakes vehicle include an electric motor coupled with a rotor brake. The apparatus and method provide advantages in that the drive gear for the electric motor may be integrated with the brake rotor decreasing weight and minimizing necessary parts. The electric motor may mount to the existing brake caliper mounts and drive the brake rotor without the use of a chain, belt, or the like. Multiple gear ratios may be incorporated into the brake rotor allowing for shifting and increased efficiency of the electric drive system.
US09359033B2

In a fuel tank for a vehicle in which a lower opening part of a fuel supply guide tube is covered with a flame arrester, to enable a fuel to be extracted via a fuel supply port. In the fuel tank for a vehicle provided with a fuel supply port device, the fuel supply port device includes an insertion hole through which the inside of the fuel supply port device and the inside of a tank body communicate with each other and through which a tool for extracting the fuel is inserted, and an open-close lid for opening and closing the insertion hole.
US09359029B2

My weight transferring tow dolly is releasably attachable to a receiver hitch of a towing vehicle such as a pickup truck and generally provides a dolly frame formed of plural structurally interconnected box beams having a height adjustable suspension carrying an axle with wheels and tires at opposing end portions, and a support frame to partially support the weight of a carried load and to move the center of gravity of a loaded towing vehicle forwardly to increase the stability of the towing vehicle.
US09359028B2

Disclosed is a hexapod walking robot having a robot arm combined with a leg and a plurality of joints. The hexapod walking robot having a robot arm combined with a leg and a plurality of joints includes a robot body; a plurality of legs installed to the robot body such that the legs have various degrees of freedom; and at least one grip unit installed to at least one of the legs such that at least one grip unit is foldable.
US09359026B2

A rubber crawler includes a rubber belt, a main cord layer that is incorporated within the rubber belt and includes a main cord configured from plural twisted strands covered with rubber, the main cord extending around the crawler circumferential direction, and a bias cord layer incorporated within the rubber belt at the crawler circumferential outside of the main cord layer configured by at least one bias ply and configured from at least one bias ply that is formed from a plurality of bias cords extending at an angle with respect to the crawler circumferential direction, disposed side-by-side around the crawler circumferential direction and covered in rubber such that bias cords of the bias ply at the circumferential outermost side of the crawler are, as viewed from the crawler circumferential outside, angled toward an opposite side, with respect to the crawler circumferential direction, from the angled side of the strands.
US09359017B2

A system for controlling the aerodynamic drag of a motor vehicle includes a porous wall that closes externally a chamber obtained within a component of the structure of the motor vehicle in such a way that, when the motor vehicle is travelling, a first part of the pores situated in an area of the aerodynamic field of the vehicle with higher relative pressure enables part of the flow of air that laps the vehicle to enter the chamber. A part of the pores situated in an area of the aerodynamic field of the vehicle with lower relative pressure functions as an outlet for the flow of air from the chamber towards the outside of the vehicle in such a way as to generate jets of air that cause detachment of the boundary layer.
US09359014B1

The present disclosure relates, in some embodiments, to thermoplastic-olefin-based roofing membrane comprising a polymer blend. The polymer blend may comprise a thermoplastic olefin elastomer at about 30% to about 75% by weight of the polymer blend and a thermoplastic vulcanizate at about 10% to about 40% by weight of the polymer blend. The polymer blend may further comprise a thermoplastic polyolefin copolymer at about 5% to about 10% by weight of the polymer blend. In some embodiments, the thermoplastic olefin-based roofing membrane may be a single ply membrane configured to remain substantially free of swelling when exposed to an elastomer polymer compound. The thermoplastic olefin-based roofing membrane may be about 20 mils to about 40 mils thick. The thermoplastic-olefin-based roofing membrane may comprise a stretchability of about 14 lbf to about 30 lbf.
US09359013B2

A resin part for a vehicle provided with: a panel body having a design surface; and stepped reinforcing ribs, which are vertically arranged on the inside surface of the panel body, in which the wall thickness of the base end portion is formed to be thinner than the wall thickness of the leading end portion, and in which the side ends at the end in the direction in which the ribs extend (arrow (X) direction) are open. Resin supply ports, to which molten resin is supplied prior to the base end portion, are formed in the leading end portion.
US09359012B2

A tolerance compensator for a vehicle frame includes a base member having an upper portion in keyed engagement with a roof structure. The tolerance compensator also has an extension member that is threadably coupled with a lower portion of the base member. A fastener extends up from a body-side structure to threadably engage and move the extension member down into contact with the body-side structure before threadably engaging the base member.
US09359008B2

A stability control device is provided that is capable of reducing an unpleasant sensation imparted to a driver in a steer-by-wire vehicle. The stability control device includes a steer-by-wire controller that controls a turning amount of the turning part based on a steer-by-wire turning amount that corresponds to a steering amount of the steering unit, a turning amount for suppressing the yaw angle, which is an angle formed by a white line and a traveling direction of a host vehicle, and a turning amount for returning the host vehicle to the center of a lane when the host vehicle has departed from the center of the lane. The controller controls a steering reaction force based on the steering amount without the yaw angle-suppressing turning amount and the lane-center-returning turning amount being reflected in the steering reaction force imparted to the steering unit.
US09358994B1

A hand truck is provided with upper and lower frames; two hinges connecting the upper and lower frames; wheel assemblies connected to the lower frame; and a load support assembly connected to both the lower frame and the wheel assemblies to have an operative position extending forwardly of the lower frame. Each of the upper and lower frames includes two side rails each having two parallel frame members and a guide groove defined by the frame members. There are further provided an arcuate bar interconnected the hinges; and a lock assembly between the guide grooves of the side rails, the lock assembly including two opposite sliding members. The sliding member includes an insert section in the guide groove and having a first wing, a second wing opposite to the first wing, an extension extending out of the second wing, and a cavity.
US09358989B2

A railcar bogie includes: a cross beam supporting a carbody; a pair of front and rear axles sandwiching and arranged in front of and behind the cross beam in a railcar longitudinal direction to extend in a railcar width direction; bearings provided at both railcar width direction sides of each and rotatably supporting the axles; axle boxes accommodating the bearings; side members extending in the railcar longitudinal direction supporting both railcar width direction end portions of the cross beam and each including both railcar longitudinal direction end portions supported by the axle boxes; contact members provided at both railcar width direction end portions and disposed on railcar longitudinal direction middle portions of the side members so as not to be fixed to the side members in an upper-lower direction; and supporting members provided at the axle boxes and supporting the railcar longitudinal direction end portions of the side members.
US09358984B2

A driver intention estimation arrangement is provided to estimate a level of overtaking intention of a driver of a vehicle hosting the arrangement. The arrangement includes a driver eye monitoring unit configured to monitor a gaze direction (g) of at least one eye of the driver, and a processing unit configured to analyze the gaze direction (g). The processing unit is configured to estimate the level of overtaking intention on the basis of the gaze direction (g). A forward collision warning system, an autonomous brake system, a vehicle, and a method of estimating a level of overtaking intention of a host vehicle driver are also provided.
US09358982B2

A method for processing data recorded during a data acquisition, the data defining a correspondence between values representing torque transmitted by a clutch and values representing a position of a clutch control member. The processing method includes modifying the recorded data to define a modified correspondence between the values representing the torque transmitted by the clutch and the values representing the position of the clutch control member, the modified correspondence to be used in a hill start assist device of a motor vehicle including a power train connected to drive wheels by a transmission system including the clutch and a braking system, whereby the release of the braking system is automatically controlled by the assist device.
US09358978B2

A vehicle speed control apparatus is provided. In particular, a storage configured to store a table (hereinafter, referred to an area table) recording an area corresponding to a speed of a vehicle and a condition of a road; an imaging device configured to take a front image of the vehicle; an image processor configured to calculate an area of a shape made by a driving lane of the vehicle and a preceding vehicle in the driving lane from the front image of the vehicle taken by the imaging device; a road information collector configured to collect condition information of the road; and a controller configured to set a speed corresponding to the condition information collected by the road information collector and the area calculated by the image processor as a driving speed of the vehicle, based on the area table.
US09358977B2

A vehicle control apparatus includes one or more approach sensors, one or more collision detection sensors, an approach determination portion, a collision determination portion, and a braking determination portion. The approach determination portion determines whether a vehicle and an object are approached based on an output signal of one of the approach sensors, and generates a first information. The collision determination portion determines whether the vehicle collides with the object based on an output signal of at least one of the collision detection sensors, and generates a second information. The braking determination portion determines whether the vehicle is braked based on the first information and the second information.
US09358966B2

A system and method for detecting a pre-charge pressure of a hydraulic braking system are disclosed. A controller receives pressure readings from a pressure sensor indicative of the pressure of a hydraulic brake accumulator or the lower pressure of more than one accumulator. In response to fluid being provided to the hydraulic accumulator, the controller determines a first rate of pressure change, a second rate of pressure change different than the first rate, and a transition pressure between the first and second rates. The controller determines an approximate pre-charge pressure of the hydraulic brake accumulator based on the transition pressure. A warning can be provided to the operator or another when the determined pre-charge pressure is lower than a reference pressure.
US09358963B2

A safety arrangement and method are described for controlling automatic travel of a fully automated vehicle. One or more forward-looking detection systems are provided for detecting objects in a future path of the vehicle. A control unit is configured to determine a detection confidence for the detected objects. The control unit is further operable to, upon low confidence for existence of a detected object, control a brake system of the vehicle to apply a predetermined limited amount of braking until high confidence is obtained for existence or non-existence of the previously detected object. Thereafter the control unit is further operable to apply full braking if high confidence is obtained for existence of the previously detected object and to discontinue braking if high confidence is obtained for non-existence of the previously detected object.
US09358959B2

A bicycle wheel cleaning system is used to clear dirt and debris from one or more of the wheels of a bicycle. The system includes at least one wheel cleaning assembly which is attached to a bicycle. The at least one wheel assembly is used to easily clean the wheel of a bicycle and includes a brush, a pushrod, a housing sleeve, and a spring-loaded control mechanism. The brush may be pressed against the wheel of the bicycle to clear debris. The push rod is used to move the brush towards or away from the wheel depending on if the wheel needs to be cleaned. The spring-loaded control mechanism interacts with the pushrod to either push the brush towards or away from the wheel. The housing sleeve is used to protect the spring-loaded control mechanism and to limit how far the pushrod may be moved.
US09358956B2

A vehicle wiper assembly includes a wiper blade having a length, and an active material disposed along the length of the wiper blade and coupled thereto. The active material includes a shape memory alloy material with a crystallographic phase that is changeable between austenite and martensite, and is elastically deformable and operatively applies a spring force against a portion of the wiper blade when the crystallographic phase is martensite.
US09358952B2

In a pretensioner mechanism, movement of a piston is anchored by an anchoring pin. The anchoring pin is crushed and the piston is allowed to move. Hence, a pinion is turned by a rack of the piston. A facilitating cavity is formed in the anchoring pin. Crushing and deformation of the anchoring pin in a diametric direction thereof due to a movement of the rack is facilitated by the facilitating cavity. Therefore, the anchoring pin may be easily crushed and deformed in the diametric direction by the movement of the rack, and the action of the anchoring pin caused by the movement of the rack may be effectively made consistent.
US09358946B2

A seat belt lift member in cooperation with seat belts in an automotive vehicle including a vehicle seat having a seat belt well formed therein, a seat belt including two pieces of strap with a buckle attached to one end of one piece, and the buckle positioned in the seat belt well, and a seat belt lift member positioned in the seat belt well in contact with the buckle so as to raise the buckle at least partially out of the seat belt well and into an accessible orientation. The seat belt lift member is one of a pliable body positioned in and conforming to the shape of the seatbelt well and a housing positioned in the seat belt well and mounting the buckle and a release button so as to be accessible from one surface of the housing.
US09358940B2

In response to detecting the entry condition, a determination is made as to when multiple mobile computing devices are present within the vehicle. An occupancy zone is determined for each multiple mobile computing device that is determined as being present within the vehicle. Profile information is determined for each mobile computing device. At least one of an operational or usage facet of the vehicle can be configured at each occupancy zone in which one of the mobile computing devices is determined to be present. The operational or usage facet of the vehicle at a location of each occupancy zone can be based at least in part on the profile information determined from the mobile computing device that is deemed to be present at that occupancy zone.
US09358936B2

A wiring harness can include a plurality of high-voltage electrical conduction paths, a motor connector provided at one ends of the high-voltage electrical conduction paths, and an inverter connector provided at the other ends of the high-voltage electrical conduction paths. An extra-length portion can be provided at an intermediate portion of the conductor. The extra-length portion can be configured to absorb displacement caused by a force acting upon the wiring harness and forcing it to be extended. The extra-length portion can take a folded shape obtained by folding the conductor.
US09358934B2

A retractable speaker structure for use in a vehicle is provided. The retractable speaker structure includes: a case formed with a chamber; a driving member installed in the chamber and including a stepping motor and a transmission shaft connected to the stepping motor; a retracting mechanism disposed in the chamber and including a screw rod and a retractable rod fitted with the screw rod. The screw rod is driven by the transmission shaft to rotate, thereby enabling the retractable rod to perform a protruding/retracting movement relative to the screw rod; and a speaker secured at an end section of the retractable rod and moved with the retractable rod. Accordingly, the retractable speaker structure is able to be adjusted for being protruded or retracted according to the actual needs, thereby effectively simplifying components and lowering production cost.
US09358920B2

A vehicular lighting apparatus includes a front detection sensor, a driving support ECU, a headlight ECU, a leveling motor and a headlight. When a subject vehicle is determined as being in an automatic following state with respect to a forward vehicle or a vehicle-to-vehicle distance between the subject vehicle and the forward vehicle is determined by a vehicle-to-vehicle distance determining portion as being short, the vehicular lighting apparatus changes. If a high-beam lamp or a low-beam lamp is illuminating, the illumination state changes such that the low-beam lamp illuminates more downward than normal. Consequently, it becomes possible to lower the degree of dazzling an occupant of the forward vehicle. Moreover, if a daytime running lamp is illuminating, the vehicular lighting apparatus turns the daytime running lamp off. Consequently, it becomes possible to lower a battery load of the subject vehicle.
US09358919B2

A photodetection device has a light passing part in an upper portion, a light guiding member, and a photodetection element in a lower portion. Light passing through the light passing part is guided by the light guiding member to be detected by the photodetection element. The light guiding member has an incident curved surface provided annularly around a central axis on a side of the light passing part, and a reflective curved surface provided around the central axis inside the incident curved surface so as to be opposed to the incident curved surface. The light guiding member reflects light at the reflective curved surface to guide the light to a light receiving surface of the photodetection element, the light passing through the light passing part and entering the incident curved surface at a predetermined inclination angle.
US09358917B2

A refrigeration system for trailer includes an engine, a generator driven by the engine to generate electric power, an inverter substrate, a temperature sensor that senses a temperature of the inverter circuit, and a heat carrying mechanism that heats the inverter substrate with waste heat of the engine when a sensed temperature by the temperature sensor is an operational temperature or lower.
US09358908B2

Arrangements for safety and comfort in vehicles.
US09358907B2

An apparatus for back-folding a standup seat of a vehicle may include a standup associated back-folding unit that is installed between a hook mounted to a lower frame of a seat cushion to be locked to or unlocked from a striker of a floor panel, and a recliner mounted to a side frame of a seatback such that a forward folding operation of the seatback and a forward folding operation of a headrest that is automatically performed by operating the recliner during a standup operation.
US09358894B2

Methods and systems for reconciling a charging event are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method establishes an identity tag at a grid connection point that uniquely identifies the point and receives tag information to uniquely identify the point at a mobile charging device. The method monitors charge event information indicating attributes of the charging event, associates event information with the identity tag information, and sends the information for reconciliation of billing accounts associated with the point and the mobile device. In another embodiment, a method receives an energy storage device for powering a mobile asset, couples the storage device to an electric grid during a connection event, realizes energy services from the connected storage device to the grid, determines a quantity of energy services realized by the storage device during the connection event, and reports the quantity of energy services realized and a unique identifier of the energy storage device.
US09358893B2

A charging apparatus and an electric vehicle including the same are disclosed. The charging apparatus includes a converter for, in a charging mode, converting an input alternating current (AC) voltage into a direct current (DC) voltage and a controller for controlling the converter. The converter includes a motor and a switching unit that is connected to an additional coil wound on a stator of one phase of the motor, and that supplies the input AC voltage to the motor by performing a switching operation. The converter also includes an inverter that, in a motor operation mode, converts a DC voltage from a battery into an AC voltage by a switching operation and drives the motor. In the charging mode, the inverter converts the input AC voltage into the DC voltage using the additional coil of the motor and the switching unit and supplies the DC voltage to the battery.
US09358892B1

A method/system is provided for improving reverse hill climb performance of a hybrid vehicle. An electronic control unit (ECU) determines whether pre-charging is needed based on vehicle state and environmental conditions. This determination can be based on a grade value of a hill upon which the vehicle is positioned, a state of charge (SOC) of the battery, and/or the expected distance that the vehicle will travel uphill. The ECU sets a charging rate and a target charge value based on the foregoing data. The battery may be charged to have an SOC that exceeds an actual needed target charge value by a hysteresis margin. A message may be displayed requesting the driver to wait until pre-charging is complete. The engine charges the battery at the charging rate until the SOC reaches the target charge value. The driver is prompted that he or she can start reverse driving.
US09358890B2

A vehicle includes a powertrain having an electric machine, and friction brakes configured to resist rotation of a vehicle wheel. The further includes at least one controller programmed to (i) issue a command for the electric machine to apply a regenerative torque to decelerate the vehicle in response to driver braking demand, and (ii) cause both a decay in the regenerative torque and a countervailing increase in the resistance of the friction brakes when vehicle speed is reduced to less than a first threshold such that braking demand is substantially satisfied by only the friction brakes when the vehicle speed is less than a second threshold.
US09358887B2

A user interface is configured to control a vehicle control system. The user interface comprises a first touch pad on a back side of a steering wheel of a vehicle. The user interface further comprises a second touch pad arranged on the back side of the steering wheel. The user interface further comprises a processor which is configured to detect a first gesture on the first touch pad and a second gesture on the second touch pad in a correlated manner. The processor is further configured to generate at least one control message for the vehicle control system based on a first gesture and based on a second gesture.
US09358883B2

A method for notifying, indicating or otherwise alerting a driver when it may be desirable to switch to a different transfer case mode. According to an exemplary embodiment, the method uses one or more environmental and/or vehicle conditions to evaluate a current transfer case mode and to determine if it is the most preferable or optimal mode. If the current transfer case mode is not optimal, then the method may recommend that the driver manually switch transfer case modes by notifying or alerting them through a visual and/or audio message. In one example, the method recommends a transition from a four-wheel mode to a two-wheel mode, or vice-versa, with a visual message on an instrument panel gauge.
US09358871B2

A control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle drive system, which permits effective reduction of deterioration of the drivability of the hybrid vehicle. The control apparatus includes a drive mode switching portion 60 configured to switch the hybrid vehicle drive system from a hybrid drive mode to a first EV drive mode if an electric energy amount stored in a battery is smaller than a predetermined threshold value α or if a vehicle drive force required to be generated by the hybrid vehicle drive system is smaller than a predetermined threshold value β, and to a second EV drive mode if the electric energy amount stored in the battery is equal to or larger than the threshold value α and if the drive force required to drive the hybrid vehicle is equal to or larger than the threshold value β, when the drive mode switching portion has determined that the hybrid vehicle drive system should be switched from the hybrid drive mode to the first or second EV drive mode.
US09358865B1

A flywheel operated vehicle. The engine drives the flywheel using a differential axle, while also driving a pair of other differentials each of which is connected to a respective drive wheel. The rotation of half shafts of the pair of differentials are controlled to determine the extent of power transferred from the flywheel to the drive wheels during acceleration, and determines the power transferred from the drive wheels to the flywheel during deceleration of the vehicle. The flywheel can be tilted about a roll axis of the vehicle to counteract roll tendencies of the vehicle when turning a sharp corner.
US09358863B1

A protective cover for a vehicle front end is formed of a stretch-recovery fabric of mesh construction with mesh openings across the entire or substantially the entire fabric. The mesh openings are large enough such that vehicle front end components covered by the protective cover remain visible to view through the protective cover. For example, the mesh openings may have opening width or diameter of about 0.25 to about 1 mm when the protective cover is in an unstretched condition. The protective cover includes one or more fasteners to engage mating fastener stud(s) on the vehicle. A stretch-recovery reinforcing material is joined to at least portion of the outer periphery of the protective cover.
US09358854B1

An air suspension control system for a vehicle such as an ambulance, a bus or a semi-truck. The control system includes an air supply, such as a compressor, which is configured to pneumatically communicate with a lift mechanism for moving the lift mechanism between a ride height position and a kneeling position and vice versa. The controller is configured to return or recover the lift mechanism to its ride height position during the time the lift mechanism is moving from its ride height position to its kneeling position by only deactivating the kneel input. The controller is configured to return or recover the lift mechanism to its ride height position after the lift mechanism has reached kneeling position by both deactivating the kneel input and activating the recover trigger input by pressing the brake pedal. The control system also has a transmission park feature and an ignition timer feature.
US09358853B2

A vehicle height adjusting device includes a front fork and a rear suspension capable of changing a relative position between a vehicle body frame and wheels (front wheel, rear wheel) of a motorcycle, and a control device for controlling the front fork and the rear suspension. The control device includes a driving scene determination unit that determines a driving scene of the motorcycle on the basis of driving information, and a control unit that controls the front fork and the rear suspension in response to the determined driving scene.
US09358852B2

The invention relates to a wheel suspension for motor vehicles, with at least one upper transverse arm and two lower separated transverse arms per wheel, which are each arranged at a defined angle to one another and are articulated to the body of the vehicle and also to a wheel carrier, furthermore with a track rod which acts on the steering lever of the wheel carrier and with a McPherson strut unit which, aligned at a defined angle to the vertical, is coupled to the body of the vehicle and to the forward lower transverse arm via a rubber-metal sleeve bearing. To achieve improved driving comfort of the motor vehicle it is suggested that at least the forward lower transverse arm (12) is arranged such that the coupling point (12c) of the McPherson strut unit (20) on the transverse arm (12) when the wheel is deflected viewed in the transverse direction of the vehicle (30) runs parallel to the longitudinal axis (28) of the McPherson strut unit (20).
US09358849B2

A towing bar assembly that may convert from an articulated assembly extracting a vehicle in an inaccessible location to a rigid assembly for safely towing a vehicle on a road and having an automatic locking mechanism for locking the towing assembly in the articulated position.
US09358832B2

An axle assembly includes an axle member having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, a first axle hub assembly operably coupled to the first end of the axle member, and a second hub assembly operably coupled to the second end of the axle member and including an axle hubcap coupled to the second end of the axle member by a first coupling arrangement located at a first position. The axle assembly further includes a mounting bracket coupled to the second hub assembly by a second coupling arrangement located at a second position that is at least a select one of inwardly and outwardly radially spaced from the first position, and a hubometer attached to the mounting bracket.
US09358828B2

A mechanical pencil is provided which does not require operation of removing or re-fitting a cap but allows writing immediately after supplying a writing lead. A lead fixing chuck 4 which is moved back and forth in conjunction with knock operation of a knock bar 22 to release and grip the writing lead L, and a holder chuck 9 which is provided in front of the lead fixing chuck and holds the writing lead frictionally are arranged such that the writing lead can be gradually inched out by repeating the knock operation. An open/close mechanism having an open/close valve 27 is provided in which a writing lead feeding unit is opened in a situation where the grip of the lead fixing chuck 4 on the writing lead is released by the knock operation, and the holder chuck 9 is disposed proximate to a writing lead outlet.
US09358827B1

A note includes a note sheet having an opening and at least two slits and a binder clip. Both slits extend to touch the opening. One slit extends to touch an edge of the note. A binder clip is inserted into one of the slits and positioned to block the opening from a front view of the note.
US09358817B2

An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit and a conveyance unit. The image forming unit forms an image on a print medium. The conveyance unit has a belt member to convey the print medium in a state in which an end of the print medium in a width direction perpendicular to a conveyance direction of the print medium is placed outside an end of the belt member in the width direction.
US09358814B2

A label paper processing apparatus includes a paper supply unit for supplying and feeding label paper, a digital printing unit for printing the label paper, a laser processing unit, and a pair of loop forming unit disposed between the paper supply unit and the digital printing unit, and between the digital printing unit and the laser processing unit, respectively, each forming a loop of the label paper. The laser processing unit is designed to half-cut the printed label paper and to form cutouts of a shape along a printed cutting locus with a laser beam so as to scan and trace the printed cutting locus, thereby facilitating control in half-cutting of the label paper. The loop forming unit is designed to form a loop of the label paper and to hold a length of the loop substantially constant so as to control feeding of the label paper.
US09358806B2

An optical disk label writing method for writing a label on an optical disc uses a similar writing operation to that used to write data to the disc. The disc has a label side including a laser reactive material for forming the label image, and a tracking format that can be tracked by a writing laser in a similar way to a writing operation. A computer program is provided for converting a label image to a disk image file for writing to the label side.
US09358804B2

According to the present disclosure, a manufacturing method of a fine wiring pattern is disclosed. The manufacturing method includes preparing a support member, forming a first layer on the support member by thick-film printing, and forming a second layer including Ag on the first layer by the thick-film printing. The method also includes forming a predetermined fine wiring pattern by performing an etching process upon the first layer and the second layer.
US09358802B2

A flow passage member is used in a liquid ejecting head including an ejecting unit. The ejecting unit communicates with a self-sealing unit which is a negative pressure generation mechanism. The flow passage member includes a flow passage internal pressure adjustment mechanism that adjusts a pressure inside a flow passage between the self-sealing unit and the ejecting unit by changing a volume of the flow passage on a way of the flow passage and a flow passage opening and closing mechanism that opens and closes the flow passage on a way of a flow passage between the self-sealing unit and the flow passage internal pressure adjustment mechanism.
US09358797B2

A liquid ejecting apparatus informs a user when an ink tank is substantially mechanically attached so as to prevent an attaching operation from being stopped by a user before completion of attachment of the ink tank. A board is provided with a light emitter, and a control unit for controlling the light emitter according to a conductive state between an electrode and a counterpart electrode. The liquid tank is moved by force P, a second engaging portion is locked to a second locking portion, and then, the liquid tank is attached to a holder at an attachment completion position. The non-conductive state between the electrodes is changed to a conductive state before the second engaging portion engages with the second locking portion, and then, the liquid tank is fixed at the attachment completion position during movement in a reverse direction after the liquid tank passes the attachment completion position.
US09358793B2

The present invention suppresses the spread of a mist of a liquid ejected from a liquid ejection head. Air is blown out toward a printing medium from a blowing-out opening relatively moving together with a print head, as the liquid ejection head, with respect to the printing medium. Air on the printing medium is sucked into a suction opening relatively moving together with the print head with respect to the printing medium. An ink ejection opening of the print head, the blowing-out opening, and the suction opening are arranged in the order from an upstream side to a downstream side in a moving direction of the printing medium with respect to the print head.
US09358786B2

A recording head having a substrate and a channel forming member configured to form a flow channel, a supply port formed at the substrate so as to penetrate through the substrate, the flow channel communicates with the supply port, and a member formed of an organic material and configured to connect two surfaces forming the supply port and opposing each other with the supply port interposed therebetween.
US09358779B2

An apparatus that performs recording using a recording head provided with a plurality of ejection port arrays each including a plurality of ejection ports for ejecting a liquid and heaters each provided corresponding to each of the ejection ports, the ejection port arrays being disposed on a printing element board and arranged in a predetermined direction, the apparatus including a driving unit configured to drive the heaters corresponding to the ejection ports in the plurality of ejection port arrays to eject the liquid, the driving unit giving priority to the heater corresponding to other ejection port array except for a first ejection port array and a second ejection port array of both sides in the predetermined direction among the plurality of ejection port arrays disposed in the predetermined direction to drive for recording.
US09358778B2

Hard imaging methods and devices are described. In at least some examples, a method includes ejecting a plurality of droplets of a liquid marking agent corresponding to the image to be formed, wherein the droplets of the liquid marking agent individually comprise a plurality of ink particles. The droplets are received upon a transfer member, and after the receiving, at least the ink particles are transferred from the transfer member to media to form a hard version of the image using the media.
US09358772B2

A container is formed to include and interior region and a mouth opening into the interior region. The container includes a floor, a side wall coupled to the floor to define the interior region between the floor and the side wall, and artwork on the side wall.
US09358770B2

A method for initial separation of an adhered backing film from an uncured pre-impregnated composite lamina having an edge includes exposing and supporting the edge of the composite lamina, and applying an impact force to the exposed edge with an automated tool. The impact force is sufficient to cause delamination of the backing film from the composite lamina without damaging the lamina.
US09358769B2

A method and an arrangement for manufacturing a multi-layer composite (13) by laminating a sheet-like element (6) onto a backing (2) in a laminating unit (1), having steps, in this order, of conveying the element (6) in a longitudinal direction, detecting a position of the element (6), correcting the position of the element (6) on the basis of the detected position and on the basis of a reference position (15), and bonding said element (6) onto the backing (2). The detection step comprises the phases of measuring the lateral position, an angle of pivoting, and a longitudinal position of the element (6), and the correction step includes phases of lateral movement (T), pivoting (P), and longitudinal movement (L) of the element (6), apparatus elements perform the steps.
US09358767B2

A panel for use over a vehicle airbag includes a skin layer with a tear seam formed therein. The skin layer is made from a material that includes a polymer matrix and one or more transmissivity-reducers in the form of microflake fillers or fillers having a monomodal particle size distribution. The transmissivity-reducers are included in an amount that reduces the transmissivity of light through the material to reduce variation in laser scoring processes and also in an amount that does not substantially alter the mechanical properties of the polymer matrix. Skin layers made from these materials can be used in laser scoring processes of TPO coverings that are thinner than previously known.
US09358765B2

A method for coating of a first substrate with a first diffusion bond layer by deposition of a first material which forms the first diffusion bond layer on a first surface of the first substrate such that the first diffusion bond layer forms a grain surface with an average grain diameter H parallel to the first surface smaller than 1 μm. The invention further relates to a method for bonding of a first substrate which has been coated as described above to a second substrate which has a second diffusion bond layer, the method of the bonding comprising the following steps: bring a first diffusion bond layer of a first substrate into contact with a second diffusion bond layer of a second substrate, pressing the substrates together to form a permanent metal diffusion bond between the first and second substrates.
US09358763B2

Provided is a method of manufacturing a translucent rigid substrate laminate, which method can improve position precision while increasing production efficiency. Further provided is a translucent rigid substrate bonding apparatus that contributes to improvement of the position precision while increasing production efficiency of a plate-shaped product. In the method of manufacturing a translucent rigid substrate laminate and the translucent rigid substrate bonding apparatus according to the present invention, when translucent rigid substrates are bonded in a predetermined positional relationship by interposing a photo-curable fixing agent including (A) polyfunctional (meth)acrylate, (B) monofunctional (meth)acrylate and (C) a photopolymerization initiator therebetween, only the fixing agent present in outer peripheral portions of both translucent rigid substrates is cured for provisional fastening.
US09358749B2

Tubular, continuous, seamless, compressible, resilient mounting article comprising inorganic fibers, and having an inner curved surface, a central longitudinal axis, and a uniform internal cross-sectional area along the central longitudinal axis. The mounting articles are useful, for example, in mounting pollution control elements in pollution control devices.
US09358745B2

A compactor can include a first sidewall, a second sidewall, and a bottom wall, which define a receptacle. The compactor can further include a ram assembly positioned with the receptacle and coupled to a drive assembly. The compactor can further include a frame having a lower longitudinal support member extending between the first sidewall and the second sidewall and an upper longitudinal support member extending between the first sidewall and the second sidewall at the top of the receptacle. A continuous, unobstructed opening is defined between the upper longitudinal support member and the lower longitudinal support member, and a removable cover can be fastened to the frame to overlap the continuous, unobstructed opening.
US09358727B2

A dual roll fabric welding or seaming machine is configured to seam pieces of sheet material to one another as the pieces move downstream. The machine includes modular gantries and various actor devices which may be readily mounted on any of the gantries to interact with the moving sheet material to achieve various functions, such as seaming pieces of sheet material together, forming hems, applying grommets to the sheet material, printing on the sheet material, connecting reinforcement strips or ropes to the sheet material and cutting the sheet material.
US09358724B2

There is provided a method for producing a chamber frame for a dialyzer, which is readily produced, has a stable quality, is inexpensive and is excellent in sealing property and heat resistance.A cut frame 1 is set on an unshown table of an impulse welder 30, distributors 13 are fitted into communicating passage 9 and communicating passages 11, and a net 15 is positioned so as to cover a central opening 3. Welded portions A and B, and the welded portions C and D are subjected to impulse welding. Mounting of the net 15 as a spacer and mounting of the distributors 13 are carried out simultaneously by a single pressing operation. After that, the welded portions of the net are deburred, and correction work is performed on defects.
US09358721B2

A method for the manufacture of a hole in a component consisting of a composite material, such as a fiber reinforced plastic part or a fabric reinforced plastic part, which is characterized in that the component having first and second oppositely disposed sides is placed with its first side on a support having an iris diaphragm, in that a tip which diverges in the axial direction is pressed coming from the second side of the component through the component, which optionally has a pre-piercing, for the formation of the hole or for the enlargement of the pre-piercing and in that the iris diaphragm has a smaller starting opening which receives a narrower region of the tip and opens into a larger opening with increasing penetration of the component by the tip, whereby the component is supported during the hole formation over an as large as possible area from the first side. A piercing aid in the form of an iris diaphragm or a corresponding die button is likewise claimed.
US09358712B2

A device for operating a machine equipped with a handling device, particularly an injection molding machine, includes a first stationary operating device secured to the machine, and a second mobile operating device. The operating devices can be designed to be touch screen. The stationary operating device is designed for operating both the machine and the handling device and the mobile operating device is likewise designed for operating both the handling device and the machine. Each operating device is fully equipped for comprehensive configuration or programming and for operating the machine and the handling device. The screen of the mobile operating device is smaller than the screen of the stationary operating device, and predefinable regions of a screen page of the screen of the stationary operating device can be shown successively on the screen of the mobile operating device.
US09358706B2

A process for manufacturing a headlight lens for a vehicle headlight, wherein a blank is molded from transparent plastic material by means of an injection molding process, and wherein the blank is subsequently blank-molded by means of a final contour mold to form the headlight lens.
US09358704B2

A spoke casting device for integrally cast-molding a spoke of an airless tire includes a casting mold including upper and lower molds which relatively moves between mold closed and mold open states in tire axial direction, a positioning device which concentrically positions a hub and a tread ring with respect to the cast mold, and a demolding device which pushes out an airless tire from the lower mold in the open state. The cast mold concentrically holds the ring and hub between the upper and lower molds and forms a cavity for casting a spoke made of a polymer material between the ring and hub held in the closed state, and the positioning device includes a first positioning device including an outer peripheral surface contact portion such that the contact portion makes contact with outer peripheral surface of the ring and positions the ring with respect to the cast mold.
US09358703B2

An apparatus and method are presented. An apparatus comprises a composite structure, a plurality of cavities extending into the composite structure, and a plurality of mandrels located within the plurality of cavities. The composite structure comprises a thermoplastic material that is consolidated. The plurality of mandrels comprises a first material that is configured to generate heat in response to a magnetic field.
US09358701B2

A method is described here for the layerwise construction of models, wherein, in a building region, a particulate material is applied layerwise and selectively cured. These steps are repeated until a desired model is obtained. The material comprises in this case a particulate building material and a spray-dried alkali metal silicate solution. Selective activation of the curing proceeds using a water-comprising solution.
US09358700B2

A stock guide assembly for use with a work table to guide movement of stock along the work table in a feed direction includes a body. The body includes a portion lying in a plane parallel to the feed direction when used to guide movement of the stock. An adjustment mechanism is associated with the body for attaching the body to the work table and permitting the body to be adjusted on the table along an x-axis and a y-axis. A roller assembly is mounted on the body. The roller assembly includes a roller mounted for rotation relative to the body. The roller is positioned at a skew angle relative to the body portion plane and to the feed direction when used to guide movement of the stock. A second stock guide assembly substantially similar to the first stock guide assembly can be provided for use with the work table.
US09358696B2

A fluid proximity sensor for surface measurements having a measurement chamber (210) with a measurement nozzle (205), a reference chamber (220) with a reference nozzle (225), and a diaphragm (215) forming an interface between the reference chamber and the measurement chamber. A shroud (280) that encloses the measurement nozzle and reference nozzle provides a peripheral gap (295) between the shroud and a work surface (290) being measured. By connecting either a partial vacuum supply or a partial fluid supply to the shroud, the internal shroud pressure can be raised or lowered and thus the gain-frequency operating regime of the proximity sensor optimized. Movement of the diaphragm in response to differential pressure changes can be sensed by optical, capacitive or inductive means (275).
US09358691B2

A robot hand includes a finger unit that is in contact with an object. The finger unit includes: a first member in which a tip portion and a base portion connected to the tip portion are formed as a single member; and a second member that covers a surface of the first member.
US09358690B2

Provided is an excellent robot device capable of preferably detecting difference between dirt and a scratch on a lens of a camera and difference between dirt and a scratch on a hand.A robot device 100 detects a site in which there is the dirt or the scratch using an image of the hand taken by a camera 305 as a reference image. Further, this determines whether the detected dirt or scratch is due to the lens of the camera 305 or the hand by moving the hand. The robot device 100 performs cleaning work assuming that the dirt is detected, and then this detects the difference between the dirt and the scratch depending on whether the dirt is removed.
US09358689B2

Systems and methods for minimal haptic implementation are disclosed. For example, one disclosed system includes: an actuator; and a control-circuit in communication with the actuator, the control circuit configured to: receive a 2-bit signal including a first bit indicating a power state and a second bit indicating an actuation state; and transmit a power signal based on the two bit signal, the power signal configured to cause the actuator to operate at the actuation state at a fixed power.
US09358686B2

A robot system includes: a robot including a hand configured to hold a thin plate-shaped workpiece and an arm configured to move the hand; and a robot controller configured to control the robot. The robot controller controls the robot to perform a transfer of the workpiece at a predetermined workpiece transfer position in such a way that the hand is moved in a horizontal direction while being moved in a vertical direction after the hand has reached the workpiece transfer position.
US09358684B1

A wireless transmission device for use in a robot arm is disclosed to include a rotating unit including a first winding and a second winding relatively rotatably arranged in a coaxial manner, and two receiver-transmitter units respectively electrically connected to the first winding and the first winding for receiving a composite signal and then generating a power signal and a control signal. Thus, the receiver-transmitter units can transmit power and data in two ways by means of an electromagnetic coupling between the first winding and the second winding, having the advantages of simple structure and no need for wiring, and allowing the robot arm using the wireless transmission device to be freely rotated through 360 degrees.
US09358675B2

The invention relates to an automatic lubricating pump (1) for a machine having a hydraulically actuated striking tool (4), such as a hydraulic hammer for example. The lubricating pump (1) is designed such that it can be connected to a pressure line (P) of the hydraulic circuit (2). The lubricating pump (1) has a drive piston (8), designed such that it can be driven by the hydraulic circuit, and a feed piston, connected to the drive piston in a motion-transmitting manner, of a feed pump (9), by means of which lubricant is fed to a lubricating point. The service life of the lubricating pump can be prolonged compared with conventional pumps if the drive piston (8) is designed to be double-acting with two drive chambers (8c, 8d) and a hydraulically operable changeover member (16) is provided which can be engaged in the hydraulic circuit and by means of which the drive chambers (8c, 8d) can be alternately and automatically connected to the pressure line (8) during operation.
US09358666B2

Disclosed is a slurry supply device including a nozzle configured to eject slurry, a slurry supply unit configured to receive the slurry from the nozzle and to discharge the slurry through at least one slurry hole, a receiving unit configured to allow the slurry supply unit to be mounted, inserted, seated, coupled, supported, or placed therein so as to enable discharge of the slurry from the slurry supply unit, the receiving unit being configured to receive a flowing material around the slurry supply unit and a slurry protection unit configured to enclose a space for passage of the slurry from an exit of the nozzle to an entrance of the slurry supply unit in conjunction with the flowing material.
US09358663B2

A system for use in removing a multi-layer coating from a substrate is provided. The multi-layer coating includes a first coating applied to the substrate and a second coating applied over the first coating. The first coating is formed from a first material and the second coating is formed from a second material different from the first material. The system includes a grinding mechanism configured to remove the multi-layer coating from the substrate, and a controller coupled in communication with the grinding mechanism. The controller is configured to position the grinding mechanism against the multi-layer coating, initiate a first removal mode that directs the grinding mechanism to traverse across the substrate, monitor a variable operating parameter of the grinding mechanism during the first removal mode, and evaluate a value of the variable operating parameter against a predetermined threshold to determine whether the second coating has been removed from the substrate.
US09358655B2

[Object] An outer periphery polishing apparatus capable of polishing the edge of workpieces having different bevel angles is to be provided.[Solution] Edge polishing units 2A, 2B for polishing the front surface edge Ea and the rear surface edge Eb of the workpiece W each include a polishing member mounting structure 11 to which a polishing member 10 is attached, a mounting structure support unit 12 that tiltably supports the polishing member mounting structure 11, a mounting structure angle adjustment mechanism 13 that adjusts a tilt angle of the polishing member mounting structure 11, a reciprocation support base 15 that supports the mounting structure support unit 12 so as to move along a reciprocation line, a base support unit 17 that tiltably supports the reciprocation support base 15, a base angle adjustment mechanism 18 that adjusts the tilt angle of the reciprocation support base 15 so as to be parallel to the edge Eb of the workpiece W, and a pedestal 19 that supports the base support unit 17 so as to allow positional correction in a vertical direction and a horizontal direction.
US09358640B2

A laser cutting device for cutting an original product includes a laser device which is movable along a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and rotatable reflecting mirrors. The original product includes a stub bar, optical lenses, and connection portions corresponding to the optical lenses. The rotatable reflecting mirrors correspond to the connection portions and are positioned above the original product and aligned with the connection portions. At least two rotatable reflecting mirrors are arranged in a straight line. The laser device is located on the straight line and is configured for emitting laser beams. Each of the rotatable reflecting mirrors is configured for reflecting laser beams from the laser device toward the corresponding connection portion and is configured for rotating so as to allow the laser beams from the laser device to reach the next rotatable reflecting mirror on the straight line.
US09358639B2

This specification describes connectors for tubes, pipes and poles, such as can be used in laser marking systems. In one aspect, an apparatus includes a body having a hole formed to receive a tube to connect an interior of the tube with an interior of the body, the tube having a circular groove formed in an exterior surface of the tube; and a clamp including a tab sized to fit within the circular groove of the tube; wherein the clamp is configured and arranged to attach to the body in a first state and in a second state, the first state being where the tube is held to the body axially by the tab and is freely rotatable, and the second state being where the tube is held in a fixed position relative to the body.
US09358637B2

The spot shape of a laser beam is detected by moving a table holding a detection substrate having a luminescent substance in an X direction and a Y direction with a laser beam focused by a lens applied to an area of the detection substrate where the luminescent substance is located. The intensity of light emitted from the luminescent substance is detected during the movement of the table, and a light intensity map is prepared indicating the light intensities detected in the light intensity detecting step at all of the X and Y coordinates of the luminescent substance. Spot shape images of the laser beam are formed according to a plurality of light intensity maps obtained by positioning the focusing lens at a plurality of detection positions changed in a Z direction perpendicular to a holding surface of the table.
US09358634B2

A friction stir welding apparatus has a probe rotatable and vertically movable with respect to a processing target member, a welding tool having an interposed member that covers a part of an outer periphery of the probe and is rotatable relative to the probe, a mounting member on which the processing target member is mounted, a movement mechanism having an arm fitted with the welding tool that can move the welding tool with respect to the processing target member by moving the arm, and a correction mechanism having a correction member that can correct a moving direction of the welding tool so as to be matched with a predetermined processing direction, by bringing the interposed member into contact with the processing target member when the welding tool is moved with respect to the processing target member by moving the arm, and fixed to the mounting member.
US09358626B2

A process for producing a tool having a main body which extends in a longitudinal direction and at least one blade for machining a workpiece includes providing a base coating on the tool; grinding the at least one blade in a manner that removes the base coating in the region of the at least one blade; and providing a second, fine coating, to the at least one ground blade.
US09358622B2

A single-sided ramping milling insert for ramping operations has top and bottom surfaces and a peripheral surface which extends therebetween. The peripheral surface meets the top and bottom surfaces at respective top and bottom edges. The top edge includes two opposite side cutting edges, two opposite ramping cutting edges, two diagonally opposite raised corner cutting edges and two diagonally opposite associated lowered corner cutting edges. The lowered corner cutting edges are closer to the bottom surface than the raised corner cutting edges. The bottom edge has two diagonally opposite bottom corner edges. The lowered corner cutting edges and the bottom corner edges are convexly curved and a depression is recessed into the peripheral surface between each lowered corner cutting edge and its associated bottom corner edge, the depression configured for providing relief from a convex workpiece surface cut by the lowered corner cutting edge during ramping operations.
US09358621B2

A milling tool for the milling of a slot in a workpiece includes a plurality of cutting inserts, which comprise an under side; an opposite upper side, which forms a chip surface and extends parallel to an extension plane; and an edge side between the upper side and the underside. A cutting edge, which extends between the edge side and the chip surface, includes a primary main cutting edge; a front cutting edge, which extends along an edge line; and a primary corner cutting edge, which extends between and connects the primary main cutting edge and the front cutting edge. The primary corner cutting edge has a convex shape and extends, with respect to a rear portion of the cutting insert, forward from the front cutting edge to a position on the other side of an imaginary line, which forms an extension of the edge line and extends in a tangential direction to a point on the primary corner cutting edge.
US09358613B2

A composite includes a porous matrix that includes a molybdenum-silicon-boron (Mo—Si—B) alloy that has a plurality of pores with a lubricant in contact with the Mo—Si—B alloy, a hydrophobic compound in contact with the Mo—Si—B alloy, or a combination thereof. A method for preparing a porous composite includes disposing a porous matrix comprising a Mo—Si—B alloy on a substrate, the Mo—Si—B alloy comprising a plurality of pores; disposing a lubricant on a surface of the porous matrix; and disposing a hydrophobic compound on a surface of the porous matrix to form the porous composite.
US09358605B2

A method for completely machining at least unprocessed centric journals (10) and crankpin journals (11), and the respective flat shoulders (9, 10) thereof surrounding the journals, of flanged or cast blanks of a crankshaft first includes turning the flat shoulders (9) associated with the journals (10). Then, the centric journals (10) are roughly ground without the flat shoulders (9) thereof and the crankpin journals (11) are roughly ground together with the flat shoulders (12) thereof. After the journals (10, 11) have been roughly ground, an allowance remains that is smaller than an allowance required for common finish grinding of journals and flat shoulders. The rough grinding is followed by the finish grinding of the centric journals (10) and the crankpin journals (11) from the smaller allowance (23) remaining due to the rough grinding to the final dimension.
US09358595B2

A rolling mill roll neck is sealed by interposing a seal between a roll flinger having a first axial surface and an opposing second axial surface of a roll housing retaining plate. The seal is biased into contact against one of the axial surfaces with a pressurized fluid source, such as compressed air. As the seal wears during roll neck operation the pressurized fluid maintains biasing contact between the seal and the axial surface. The remainder of the intact seal is remains pressed into contact with the mating, opposing axial surface, for example that of a roll flinger or a retaining plate. Advantageously the seal is housed in a stationary retaining plate that is in opposed axial relationship with a rotating flinger.
US09358591B2

Disclosed herein is a method and a device for cleaning an open airway ended tube. The tube being designed for attachment to a continuous positive airway apparatus. The device includes a cleaning element for cleaning the inside of the open ended tube and a support member. The cleaning element attached to the support member. The support member including means for attaching the cleaning element to the support member and for retaining the cleaning element to the support member during cleaning. Additionally, one end of the support member capable of being secured during cleaning.
US09358588B2

The present invention provides a substrate cleaning method capable of removing particles from the entire surface of a substrate to be processed at a high removing efficiency. In the substrate cleaning method according to the present invention, a substrate to be processed W is immersed in a cleaning liquid in a cleaning tank 12. Then, ultrasonic waves are generated in the cleaning liquid contained in the cleaning tank 12, so that the substrate to be processed W is subjected to an ultrasonic cleaning process. While the substrate to be processed is being cleaned, a dissolved gas concentration of a gas dissolved in the cleaning liquid contained in the cleaning tank is changed.
US09358586B2

An apparatus and method is presented for separating healthy plants from agricultural material, such as harvested plants. The apparatus includes a conveyor to present the agricultural material to a mesh, which may be, for example bristles. A rotating drum with a plurality of protruding tines moves through the mesh and pulls individual plants from the agricultural material. A machine vision system may then sort the healthy, individual plants. The method includes presenting the agricultural material to the mesh, and then pulling individual plants through the mesh.
US09358585B2

An agricultural article sizer with a frame assembly and a plurality of elongate rollers on the frame assembly with substantially parallel lengthwise axes and through which agricultural articles are advanced and separated by size. First and second of the rollers have first and second axes and first and second peripheral surfaces. A third roller has a third peripheral surface and a third axis between the first and second axes along a conveying direction. The third roller is movable selectively relative to the first roller to change a spacing between the third axis and a plane containing the first and second axes to thereby change a dimension of a gap between the first and third peripheral surfaces to thereby allow passage through the gap of different selected ranges of agricultural article size.
US09358576B2

An article in the form of a packaging material having a water vapor transportation rate of about 500 g/m2/day or less. The packaging material has a paper substrate and a print-receptive layer which is positioned over the outer surface of the paper substrate. The packaging material also has a moisture barrier layer positioned over the print-receptive layer. The moisture barrier layer is formed from one or more energy-cured polymers. Also, methods for preparing these packaging materials, including printed packaging materials.
US09358567B2

The present disclosure is directed to a microfluidic die that includes a plurality of heaters above a substrate, a plurality of chambers and nozzles above the heaters, a plurality of first contacts coupled to the heaters, and a plurality of second contacts coupled to the heaters. The plurality of second contacts are coupled to each other and coupled to ground. The die includes a plurality of contact pads, a first signal line coupled to the plurality of second contacts and to a first one of the plurality of contact pads, and a plurality of second signal lines, each second signal line being coupled to one of the plurality of first contacts, groups of the second signal lines being coupled together to drive a group of the plurality of heaters with a single signal, each group of the second signal lines being coupled to a remaining one of the plurality of contact pads.
US09358565B1

A marking device incorporates a pair of legs secured at one end to each other for pivotal movement with respect to each other and wherein one of the legs includes a pivot member for positioning at a pivot point located on a surface to be marked. A weight is secured to the other of said legs for contacting the surface and wherein a paint can retainer is positioned at that end of the leg for receiving a spray paint can. A hinge is secured between the paint can retainer and the leg to permit pivotal movement between the paint can retainer, the spray paint can contained therein, and a marking cane secured to said paint can retainer and paint can. A pivoting support rod is attached to the marking cane and one of the legs of the marking device and a spacer bar is pivotally secured between the two legs of the device wherein the two legs may be pivoted towards each other and the marking cane may be pivoted toward the legs to provide a collapsed marking device for convenient transportation and storage.
US09358562B2

A pump device is provided including: a unitary pump frame; an electromagnet arrangement that includes a winding wrapped around a portion of the unitary pump frame; a diaphragm assembly coupled to the unitary pump frame, which includes a movable diaphragm and a manifold; and a pump arm having a proximal end coupled to the unitary pump frame and a distal end supporting a permanent magnet to interact with the electromagnet arrangement to cause the pump arm to swing back and forth during operation to displace the diaphragm and discharge an air stream from the pump device. Related methods of manufacture are also provided.
US09358561B2

Integrated air cap/nozzles (40), spray head assemblies (20) including the integrated air cap/nozzles (40) and liquid spray guns that include the integrated air cap/nozzles (40) are described herein. The integrated air cap/nozzles (40) provide and define both the liquid nozzle openings (52) and the center air outlets (54) for the center air of the liquid spray guns and the spray head assemblies (20). The integrated air cap/nozzles (40) can be removably attached over a liquid nozzle port (32) formed in the spray head assembly (20) and/or on the spray gun platform (10) or body using any suitable attachment mechanism.
US09358559B2

A spray gun including: a body having a gun barrel; a coating material nozzle disposed on a tip end side of the gun barrel, and an air cap disposed on the tip end side of the gun barrel to surround a tip end portion of the coating material nozzle, wherein the tip end portion of the coating material nozzle has on the tip end surface thereof a guide wall spreading, and also has on the outer peripheral surface thereof a plurality of V-shaped grooves channeled in a longitudinal direction, and wherein the V-shaped groove has, in a triangle shaped cross section defined by contours crossing the guide wall, a height in the range of 0.5 mm to 2.5 mm and an opening angle of a bottom vertex in the range of 20 degrees to 100 degrees.
US09358554B2

A hermetic centrifugal separator includes a centrifuge rotor, which is arranged to rotate around a center axis and includes a casing which defines an inner separation space, a set of separation discs in the inner separation space, two or more channels which connect to the separation space and include one or more inlet channels for supply of a liquid mixture of components to be separated to the separation space and one or more outlet channels for discharge of a component. The separator includes a torque transmitting part around the center axis and fixedly connected to the centrifuge rotor and an outlet seal between the outlet channel and the rotating centrifuge rotor preventing entrainment of unwanted substances. The separator includes a pump arranged to provide pressure to feed the separated liquid through the outlet channel.
US09358550B2

A primary ore separation device used to remove magnetic particles from non-magnetic particles in a mixture utilizes a spinning magnet within a non-conductive cylindrical tube attaching the magnetic particles to the tube while the magnet is spinning and, by using centrifugal force, or the force caused by inertia, separates and spins away the non-magnetic particles, the device generally used upon mixed ore materials containing gold and other precious metals contained within the non-magnetic particles.
US09358549B2

Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a carbide for reinforcing rubber articles that is capable of effectively utilizing polymer waste. The method includes the steps of mixing a carbide, obtained by thermal decomposition or incomplete combustion of polymer waste and pulverized by grinding, with carbon black to obtain a mixture of the carbide and the carbon black, and granulating the mixture using a granulating machine at a rotation speed of 70 rpm to 130 rpm.
US09358546B1

The various embodiments disclosed and pictured illustrate a multi-connector hammer for comminuting various materials. The illustrative embodiments pictured and described herein are primarily for use with a rotatable hammermill assembly. The multi-connector hammer includes a connection portion having a rod hole therein, a contact portion for delivery of energy to the material to be comminuted, and a multi-connector neck portion affixing the connection portion to the contact portion. In other embodiments, a shoulder is positioned around the periphery of the rod hole for added strength. In still other embodiments, a neck reinforcement is positioned along a portion of the neck for increased strength. A weld or plurality of welds may be affixed to various surfaces of the contact portion to aide in comminuting and/or longevity of the multi-connector hammer.
US09358543B2

A vessel holder assembly is provided. A vessel holder, for receiving one or more vessels, includes a first set of attachment features. A cap assembly, for covering the vessel(s) includes a second set of attachment features. Respective attachment features of the vessel holder and the cap assembly may be complementary, such that engagement between complementary attachment members results in an attachment between the cap assembly and the vessel holder. Such an attachment may be manually removable, or may be locked so as to require a tool, or other suitable method, for detaching the cap assembly from the vessel holder.
US09358538B2

A pipette includes a movable piston and a diaphragm that at least partly defines a fluid chamber enclosing a volume of working fluid. The piston displaces a volumetric amount of the working fluid in the chamber when moved. In response, the diaphragm displaces a smaller volumetric amount of fluid outside the chamber. A deamplification ratio is defined by the ratio of the volume displaced by the diaphragm to the volume displaced by the piston. The deamplification ratio is adjustable by adjusting or changing the diaphragm and/or by adjusting the size of the fluid chamber. The deamplifying pipette enables measuring and dispensing of very small volumes of liquid and is easily adapted to commercially available pipette components. Pipette components such as a pipette tip or adaptor may include a diaphragm to enable deamplification of the nominal volume capacity of a given pipette device.
US09358528B2

A catalytic composition useful for the conversion of an olefin selected from the group consisting of propylene, isobutylene or mixtures thereof, to acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, and mixtures thereof. The catalytic composition comprises a complex of metal oxides comprising bismuth, molybdenum, iron, cerium and other promoters, wherein the ratio of bismuth to cerium ratio in the composition is greater than or equal to 0.45 and less than or equal to 1.5.
US09358508B2

Apparatuses and systems for removing water vapor from a gas stream and for providing water purification, recovery and/or concentration. The apparatuses and systems employ a graphene oxide or a perforated graphene monolayer membrane to separate liquid water molecules and/or water vapor molecules from gasses, liquids, and other substances such as a wet muck or an aqueous sample. In one embodiment, an apparatus for removing water from a gas or liquid stream includes a first lumen, a second lumen, and a graphene oxide membrane separating the first lumen from the second lumen. Water molecules within a humid gas or liquid stream introduced into the first lumen pass through the graphene oxide membrane into a dry gas stream introduced into the second lumen.
US09358499B2

A dispensing device is improved through the inclusion of modular components, for example, mechanical interfaces to couple to a container and a base. The modular dispensing device may also include communication systems related to the container and the base. Specifically, the modular dispensing device may receive information such as the contents of the container (e.g., quantity, identity, etc.) and a schedule for dispensing the contents. Using this information, the modular dispensing device may control the dispensing of the contents of the container.
US09358496B2

An adsorbent bed structure and process is disclosed for use in an adsorption based gas separation process. A conventional adsorbent bed in a gas separation process is replaced with a one or more modular compact adsorbent bed units which are connected to make an adsorbent bed structure. The modular design requires lower fabrication and maintenance costs; is easier to transport; and is easier to load with adsorbent material.
US09358484B2

A separator for separating solids from a slurry has a vibrating rotating container, rotatably connected to a support. The rotating container is provided with at least a first inlet and at least a first outlet and has at least one opening. A screw press is at least partly provided inside said rotating container. The screw press is arranged through said first outlet. The screw press has at least one hole. The at least one hole and a feed screw are provided inside said rotating container in continuation of said screw press. At least one lift paddle is provided inside said rotating container. A first part of the lift paddle is arranged along an inner surface of a side wall of said rotating container. A second part of said lift paddle is in contact with a part of the feed screw. A new method for separating slurry uses a separator.
US09358482B2

A filtration apparatus which has a filtration chamber, and the filtration chamber has a fluid inlet, a filtered fluid outlet, a residue outlet, and a filtering element. The filtering element is situated between the fluid inlet and the filtered fluid outlet. The apparatus also includes a wiping member which is situated within, or about, the filtering element and which is adapted to wipe the surface of the filtering element. The wiping member also wipes any residue toward the residue outlet when the apparatus is in use. The filtration apparatus includes a first pumping configured to create a flow toward the filtering chamber, and a second pumping situated within the filtering chamber and configured to induce a counter-flow back toward the first pumping.
US09358468B2

Techniques are described for detecting script-controlled avatars in a virtual environment engaging in certain pattern formation behaviors. In particular, a virtual environment server may select a group of avatars and determine a pattern formed by the selected group. The virtual environment system may further search for a match of the pattern from a library of prohibited words or symbols. In the event the pattern formed by the selected avatars matches one of the prohibited patterns, some form of remedial action may be performed to disrupt the pattern.
US09358462B2

The fantasy sports contest application of the present invention alerts the user of necessary roster changes before an upcoming fantasy sports competition. The fantasy sports contest application may evaluate the user's team roster before an upcoming fantasy sports competition to ensure that all roster spots on the team roster are filled with athletes available for real-life competitions. The fantasy sports contest application may also identify roster changes and roster transactions that may be beneficial to a user's fantasy sports contest team roster.
US09358455B2

A method in a video gaming system including a processor, a memory and a sensor system for capturing body motion is described. In one embodiment, the body motion can be associated with a person pretending to hit or launch an object, such as an object used in a sporting activity. In general, body motion can be associated with any activity involving similar body motions that are repeated during the activity. In a video game generated by the video gaming system, a consistency with which the repeated body motions are made over time can be used to determine an outcome for a single instance of the body motion. In a particular embodiment, a probability of a more desirable outcome resulting from the single instance of the body motion can increase as the consistency with which the repeated body motions are made increases.
US09358454B2

According to one embodiment of the technology described herein, a audio headset system is provided, comprising: a speaker; a signal processor configured to process source audio received from an audio source, to produce processed audio from the source audio, and to output the processed audio to the speaker; and a control unit configured to control operation of the signal processor according to an audio profile, wherein the audio profile causes the signal processor to selectively mix, delay, phase shift, and equalize the source audio, thereby producing processed audio.
US09358448B1

A playing surface for a pool or billiards style game that includes variable margins. The playing surface includes a first end and second end. The second end includes a scoring hole. A first ball is struck by a second ball in order to roll the first ball along the playing surface, in between the variable margins, in order to sink the first ball in the scoring hole.
US09358441B2

A portable exercise apparatus retention mechanism with a base platform, an exercise apparatus retainer, and at least one extendible and retractable retaining structure fixed to the base platform with first and second end portions for engaging first and second opposed surfaces when at least one of the end portions is extended. A sub-panel can be secured to the base structure with a central portion of the retaining structure disposed therebetween. The retention mechanism can retain an exercise apparatus, such as a speed bag. The end portions can have contoured flanges. A supplementary engaging mechanism with extended and retracted positions can project laterally from the base platform. The supplementary engaging mechanism could comprise first and second members pivotally coupled to the base platform.
US09358434B2

Golf clubs having improved features and a golf swing training device are disclosed. In one embodiment, the golf club has a club head made of at least one material having a first specific gravity, and at least one weighting portion that has a higher specific gravity than the first specific gravity of the material forming the main body of the club head. In another embodiment, the golf club has a club head of the “iron” type, and the club head has a sole that is provided with “bounce” thereon. In another embodiment, the golf club has a club head of the “iron” type that has a configuration that provides it with improved ability to cut through the “rough” on the golf course. In another embodiment, the golf club has a club head having a club face with at least one portion thereof that has a thickness that is modified to account for a groove in the striking surface of the club face. In another embodiment, correlated golf clubs are provided in which the club face is opened or closed relative to at least one other club within a set of golf clubs. The golf swing training device has a structure that is attached to the golf club and extends outward from the front of the golf club that makes the rotation of the golf club shaft and/or club face more visible to the golfer.
US09358429B2

An adjustable assembly includes a golf club shaft, a golf club head having a hosel portion with a hosel opening, a hosel insert, a shaft adapter, and a fastener. The hosel insert is secured to the hosel portion and includes at least one inwardly extending pawl. The adapter extends about a longitudinal axis, and defines a shaft opening. The adapter includes outwardly projecting teeth aligned with the hosel insert. Each tooth includes leading and trailing surfaces. The leading surface is shaped to enable rotational movement of the adapter about the axis with respect to the hosel insert in a first rotational direction. The trailing surface is shaped to selectively engage the pawl to inhibit rotational movement of the adapter with respect to the hosel insert in a second rotation direction that is opposite the first direction. The fastener is releasably coupled to the head and the adapter.
US09358423B2

An exercise machine applicable for strengthening a user's abdominal muscles is described. The exercise machine can include a base frame, a backrest assembly and a seat assembly. The base frame can have side members and a crossbar member to provide floor support. The backrest assembly may be rotablely coupled with the base frame to swivel with simultaneous rotational movements around two or more axes of rotations. The backrest assembly can include two or more pairs of pivot joints. Each pair of pivot joints may define one of the axes of rotation. Handle bars may be mounted substantially transverse to the axes of rotation. The seat assembly may be affixed to the base frame to allow a user sitting on a seat pad of the seat assembly to cause the swiveling of the backrest assembly via hand pushes on the handle bars.
US09358418B2

An indoor cycling device including a unique frame arrangement with fore and aft adjustable seat and handlebar assemblies. The assemblies support a seat and handlebars for fore and aft movement. The assemblies may include a receiver with an elongate aperture with a slider positioned therein. The slider defines a first channel receiving a moveable member. A handle is operably coupled with the member to move the member within the channel in a first direction or a second direction such that a frictionally coupling is caused between the slider and the receiver when the slider is moved in the first direction and releases the coupling when the slider is moved in the second direction.
US09358413B2

Apparatuses and methods for motion and muscle training are disclosed. An apparatus includes a first retractor device, a second retractor device and a body gear unit for engaging a human. The body gear unit is attached to the first retractor device and the second retractor device. The first retractor device and the second retractor device each provide a constant non-variable load and constant resistance in opposite directions. A method includes attaching a body gear unit to a body, attaching first and second retractor devices to the body gear unit, and performing at least one movement using the body gear unit. The at least one movement is performed in a direction that is opposite to a direction of resistance of the first retractor device. A direction of resistance of the second retractor device is opposite to the direction of resistance of the first retractor device.
US09358411B2

A fire sprinkler head (12) has a valve (42) with an X-brace latch (54), and includes a flexible conduit (14). A sprinkler nozzle (16) is secured to a first end of the flexible conduit (14). The sprinkler nozzle (16) includes a first fitting (28), a sprinkler orifice (20) and fusible element (22). A second fitting (40) is secured to the second end of the flexible conduit (14) and includes the valve (42). The valve (42) has a valve element (44) which is moveable from a latched position to an unlatched position. A flexible link (56) extends from the sprinkler nozzle (16) to the X-brace valve latch (54). Breaking of the fusible element (22) releases the flexible link (56) to move from the latched position to the unlatched position, releasing the valve (42) for flow there-through.
US09358408B2

The invention is a portable powered rope climbing device, which can carry persons and objects to ascend or descend along a climbing rope, and ensure controllable speed. The invention comprises a battery pack, an electromagnetic brake direct current motor, and an output shaft of the motor connected with an input shaft of a reducer. An output shaft of the reducer and the input shaft of the reducer are arranged in a 90-degree manner. A driving rope pulley is fixed to the output shaft of the reducer. A climbing rope is wound inside the driving rope pulley. A warping brake rope-pressing pulley block and rope-pressing pulleys tightly press the climbing rope. The climbing rope is wound between the driving rope pulley and a reversing rope pulley and is led out of the driving rope pulley. A speed control module is connected with the motor.
US09358407B2

An ultrasonic actuated unit includes an intermediary portion continuous with an ultrasonic transmitting portion or connected to the ultrasonic transmitting portion at a node position of a longitudinal vibration, and a noncontact vibrating portion extending in directions parallel to a longitudinal axis without contacting the ultrasonic transmitting portion, an imprecise vibration being transmitted to the noncontact vibrating portion from the ultrasonic transmitting portion via the intermediary portion. The ultrasonic actuated unit includes a vibration absorbing portion absorbing the imprecise vibration transmitted to the noncontact vibrating portion.
US09358403B2

There is provided a phototherapy apparatus, in which the therapeutic light is delivered through one or more massage components. The massage component provides mechanical massage to the subject biological tissue and modifies the properties of the subject tissue in thickness, density, etc. to facilitate the absorption of the therapeutic light and enhance the effect of the phototherapy procedure. The light source of the phototherapy apparatus is actively cooled by a synthetic jet cooler.
US09358400B2

In a cardiac pacing system, a leadless cardiac pacemaker is configured for implantation in electrical contact with a cardiac chamber and configured for leadless pacing.
US09358398B2

A method of treating a patient and an external programmer for use with a neurostimulator. Electrical stimulation energy is serially conveyed into tissue of the patient via different combinations of electrodes implanted within the patient, thereby creating one or more clinical effects for each of the different electrode combinations. An influence of each of the different electrode combinations on the clinical effect(s) is determined. A graphical indication of the one or more clinical effects is generated based on the determined electrode combination influences. A graphical representation of the electrodes is displayed. The graphical indication of the clinical effect(s) is displayed adjacent the graphical electrode representation, such that a user can view an extent to which each of the different electrode combinations influences the clinical effect(s).
US09358394B2

An electrical stimulation system for use with a plurality of electrodes implanted within a tissue region comprises a neurostimulator configured for delivering electrical stimulation energy to the plurality of electrodes in accordance with a set of stimulation parameters, thereby injecting a charge into the tissue region, a control device configured for receiving user input to modify the set of stimulation parameters, and controller/processor circuitry configured for, in response to the user input computing a charge injection metric value as a function of a physical electrode parameter and an electrical source parameter for a first set of the electrodes, wherein the electrode set comprises at least two electrodes, comparing the computed charge injection metric value to a safety threshold value, and performing a corrective action based on the comparison.
US09358387B2

Leadless pacemaker, including a hermetic housing, a pacing electrode on a distal portion of the housing, an electronics package in the housing and configured to generate/deliver pacing pulses to the electrode, and a fixation mechanism on the housing distal portion. The fixation mechanism includes at least one deformable hook-shaped thin fixation wire having an attachment portion fixedly attached at the distal portion of the housing and a free end portion which is angled or bent with respect to the attachment portion such that it extends essentially in conformity, but with a small spacing, to a neighbored surface portion of the housing such that the free end portion engages with heart tissue onto which the distal portion is pressed upon rotation of the pacemaker in the direction in which the free end portion extends from the attachment portion, and disengages upon rotation of the pacemaker in the opposite direction.
US09358384B2

A neurostimulation system is disclosed herein. The neurostimulation system includes an implantable pulse generator and an implantable therapy lead configured to be electrically coupled to the implantable pulse generator. The implantable therapy lead includes a flexible paddle electrode array with flexible electrodes. Each flexible electrode has a segmented configuration having first and second electrode segments and a flexible bridge or living hinge joining together the first and second electrode segments.
US09358381B2

Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for treating a variety of diseases and disorders that are primarily or at least partially driven by an imbalance in neurotransmitters in the brain, such as asthma, COPD, depression, anxiety, epilepsy, fibromyalgia, and the like. The invention involves the use of an energy source comprising magnetic and/or electrical energy that is transmitted non-invasively to, or in close proximity to, a selected nerve to temporarily stimulate, block and/or modulate the signals in the selected nerve such that neural pathways are activated to release inhibitory neurotransmitters in the patient's brain.
US09358374B2

Methods and related systems for modulating neural activity by cyclical blocking of conduction in peripheral neural structures are disclosed. Neural activity may blocked cyclically by blocking stimuli delivered via various types of blocking stimulus sources. In an aspect, a conduction block is produced in a sensory nerve. Neural modulation may be used, for example, to modulate an undesired sensation, such as pain, or an immune or inflammatory response or process. Delivery of blocking stimuli may be controlled in part in response to an input from a user input device.
US09358369B1

A delivery catheter for delivery, then photo-activation of photo sensitive material has a photo-sensitive substance-delivery part and an activation part. The catheter delivers substances such as biomaterials to a target site, followed by illumination of the target using optics located at the distal tip of the catheter which are optically coupled to an extracorporeal light source. The light may be delivered by a single or multi-lumen needle, or a separate light guide passed over the catheter.
US09358361B2

Methods, computer program products, and systems are described that include accepting an indication of a schedule for administration of a bioactive agent to an individual and presenting an indication of an artificial sensory experience at least partly based on the accepting an indication of the schedule for administration of the bioactive agent to the individual.
US09358358B2

Systems and methods are provided for humidifying ventilation gas. Systems and methods may include a nasal interface apparatus for receiving ventilation gas from gas delivery tubing and for humidifying ventilation gas. The nasal interface apparatus may have one or more channels within the nasal interface to deliver gas from a gas delivery circuit to a patient's nose; one or more structures in fluid communication with the one or more channels to direct ventilation gas to the patient's nose; and a hygroscopic material within the nasal interface in the flow path of the ventilation gas.
US09358352B2

A pulmonary drug delivery system is disclosed, including a breath-powered, dry powder inhaler, and a cartridge for delivering a dry powder formulation. The inhaler and cartridge can be provided with a drug delivery formulation comprising, for example, a diketopiperazine and an active ingredient, including, small organic molecules, peptides and proteins, including, insulin and glucagon-like peptide 1 for the treatment of disease and disorders, for example, endocrine disease such as diabetes and/or obesity.
US09358349B2

Described is a guiding assembly for an injection device comprising a mount adapted to receive an injection device, a first gripping member rotatably coupled to the mount, a first lateral stop member coupled to the first gripping member, and a spring biasing the first gripping member in a first angular position.
US09358348B2

A safety needle apparatus is provided. The safety needle apparatus includes a needle assembly including a needle mount and a needle cannula. The needle cannula defines a lumen and has a sharpened distal tip. The needle mount supports the proximal end of the needle cannula and is adapted to engage an intravenous line. The safety apparatus includes a shield positioned about the needle cannula. The needle cannula is movable in relation to the shield. The apparatus also includes a lock insert supported on the needle cannula and a locking member extending from an internal surface of the shield, wherein the locking insert and the locking member are configured to prevent movement of the needle cannula. A platform including a base member, which is configured to support the needle cannula at a substantially orthogonal orientation to the plane of a top surface of the platform and supports the shield, is included.
US09358345B2

The invention refers to a shuttering mechanism for controlling translation of a longitudinally moveable component within a housing, the shuttering mechanism comprising at least one fixed shutter attached to or integrated with the housing and at least one moving shutter arm moveable between at least one locking position and at least one unlocking position, wherein at least one resilient arm is associated with the longitudinally moveable component, the resilient arm having a dog resiliently biased towards the fixed shutter, wherein the moving shutter arm is arranged alongside the fixed shutter, wherein at least one fixed protrusion is arranged on the fixed shutter at least one of them arranged for engaging the dog so as to prevent translation of the longitudinally moveable component in a proximal direction, wherein at least one moving protrusion is arranged on the moving shutter arm, at least one of them ramped in a manner to disengage the dog from the at least one of the fixed protrusions and/or to prevent engagement of the dog to the fixed protrusion when the moving shutter arm is in the unlocking position, wherein the moving shutter arm is arranged to allow engagement of the dog with the fixed protrusion in the locking position.
US09358342B2

A reservoir (31) with at least one flexible section for use in a medicated module (4) for an injection system to co-deliver at least two medicaments is disclosed where a primary delivery device (7) containing a first medicament accepts a medicated module (4) containing a single dose of a second medicament (2) and where both medicaments are delivered through a single hollow needle (3). The reservoir (31) comprises one or more slit valves (44, 45) to allow for delivery of the first and second medicaments. The medicated module (4) also contains a needle guard (22) that engages a housing (43) of the reservoir (31) to open the slit valves (44, 45).
US09358339B2

Described here are devices and methods for the delivery of molecules, including biologically active molecules, into tissues. The devices and methods are generally particle based, and devised to deploy the molecules into a target tissue in a controlled manner to minimize tissue damage. The devices and methods may further be devised to tailor molecule delivery parameters to a variety of tissue types. Kits including various device components are also described.
US09358336B2

Drug delivery device with electronically controlled and axially displaceable piston drive member (10) adapted to engage a loaded cartridge piston. The piston drive member is moveable between a proximal loading position in which a cartridge can be received and a distal loaded position in engagement with the piston. A proximity sensor (11,12) provides a varying output indicative of a varying distance between the piston drive member and the piston. A controller (30) coupled to the proximity sensor is configured to control movement of the piston drive member from the loading position to the loaded position and stop movement when the controller based on input from the proximity sensor system determines that the loaded position has just been reached. By this arrangement it is prevented that a drug-filled cartridge is pressurized during the loading and initializing procedure.
US09358328B2

A suction device includes an outer tube having an inlet at a first end and an inner suction tube located within the outer tube, the inner suction tube having an inlet at a first end corresponding to the first end of the outer tube. The inlet of the inner suction tube is offset by a distance from the inlet of the outer suction tube, such that the inlet of the inner suction tube is located within the outer suction tube.
US09358327B1

A tissue separating device and a method of separating pure fat from a fatty liposuction aspirate are provided. The tissue separating device includes a canister device including canister body having a sidewall defining a volume. A tissue retrieval port can be arranged on the canister device and is capable of being arranged in fluid communication with a harvesting device for directing a fatty liposuction aspirate into the volume of the canister device. An adjustable height filtration mesh assembly can be arranged within the canister body and can include a filtering mesh separating the volume into an upper vacuum chamber and a lower vacuum chamber. A tissue harvesting port can be arranged in the sidewall of the canister body and can be capable of being arranged in communication with a collection device to allow the tissue harvesting port to atraumatically receive a filtered pure fat collected on the filtering mesh within the upper vacuum chamber. The filtration mesh assembly can be movably arranged within the canister body such that the filtering mesh is adjustable with respect to the tissue harvesting port.
US09358325B2

Various embodiments of stents with radiopaque markers arranged in patterns are described herein.
US09358319B2

Disclosed are cement products, methods of forming cement using the cement product, and methods of using the cement product in orthopedic and dental applications. Generally, the disclosed cement product includes a first component and a second component. The first component comprises a polymerizable resin comprising ethylenic unsaturated double bond, a suitable glycidyl group and/or a suitable isocyanate group. The second component includes a compound comprising more than one type of amine selected from the group consisting of primary amine, secondary amines, tertiary amines and quaternary amines. Alternatively, the second component includes a compound comprising a suitable mercapto (SH—) group, a hindered amine or a dimethylthiotoluenediamine (DMTDA). Optionally, the cement product includes a filler and/or a bioactive component to promote bone formation.
US09358313B2

An ultraviolet area sterilizer or disinfector is incorporated into a building structure where concern exists regarding the presence of pathogenic bacteria on environmental surfaces. Ultraviolet C (UV-C) generators generate UV-C that is directed to architectural partitions of an enclosed area. The architectural partitions reflect UV-C to kill pathogens in the enclosed area. The device transmits a calculated dose of UV-C from a fixture mounted to an architectural partition in the enclosed area. Once an effective cumulative dose of UV-C has been reflected to radiation sensors, as measured by the sensors, the device shuts down. The device may allocate power to specific UV-C emitters so as to direct UV-C radiation more uniformly throughout the area, as measured by the sensors.
US09358303B2

The present invention relates to compounds, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, comprising a vascular disrupting agent (VDA) associated and a MMP proteolytic cleavage site. The compounds are useful in the treatment of cancer.
US09358302B2

Glycoconjugate vaccines and methods of preparing and using the same are described.
US09358296B2

Disclosed are preparations and formulations of high thermodynamic activity lipophilic associations (LA), in which there is pairing between an ionizable pharmaceutical agent and a lipophilic species having ionic characteristics opposite to that of the pharmaceutical agent. Such lipophilic associations manifest high thermodynamic activity, as evidenced by their being predominantly in a liquid phase at room temperature or solvated in a lower-than-water dielectric solvent. Further the pharmaceutical agent being solubilized means that dissolution is not rate limiting to transmucosal absorption. This LA or LA-solvate is formulated into a low dielectric dosage form, from whence, upon the dosage form's hydration, the pharmaceutical agent is driven through the mucosal tissue and into systemic circulation. The invention therefore provides an enhanced transmucosal drug delivery system for ionizable pharmaceutical agents at or near physiological pH.
US09358292B2

Methods for the treatment of a cell proliferation disorder in a subject, involving: (1) administering to the subject at least one activatable pharmaceutical agent that is capable of effecting a predetermined cellular change when activated, either alone or in combination with at least one energy modulation agent; and (2) applying an initiation energy from an initiation energy source to the subject, wherein the applying activates the activatable agent in situ, thus causing the predetermined cellular change to occur, wherein the predetermined cellular change treats the cell proliferation disorder, preferably by causing an increase or decrease in rate of cell proliferation, and a kit for performing the method, a computer implemented system for performing the method, a pharmaceutical composition useful in the method and a method for causing an autovaccine effect in a subject using the method.
US09358290B2

The invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising (a) a compound of the formula (1), wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 are substituents, at least one of which contains a carborane cluster; and M is selected from two hydrogen ions and one or two metal ions, wherein any metal ions present are charge-balanced by one or more counter ions; and (b) a vehicle comprising: (i) dimethylacetamide as solvent; and (ii) a co-solvent comprising one or more of tetraglycol; propylene glycol; polyethylene glycol; and a non-ionic surfactant. The pharmaceutical compositions are useful as radiation sensitizers in radiation treatment of cancers.
US09358284B2

The invention provides a process for the reductive amination of a carbonyl group at the reducing terminus of a polysaccharide, wherein the reductive amination is carried out at a pH between 4 and 5. The invention also provides a process for preparing a conjugate of a polysaccharide and a carrier molecule, comprising the steps of: (a) coupling the polysaccharide to a linker, to form a polysaccharide-linker compound in which the free terminus of the linker is an ester group; and (b) reacting the ester group with a primary amine group in the carrier molecule, to form a polysaccharide-linker-carrier molecule conjugate in which the linker is coupled to the carrier molecule via an amide linkage. The invention also provides a process for reducing contamination of a polysaccharide-linker compound with unreacted linker, comprising a step of precipitating unreacted linker under aqueous conditions at a pH of less than 5.
US09358272B2

Multicomponent compositions and methods of use thereof are disclosed herein. Some embodiments of the present invention include multicomponent compositions comprising a first component and a second component, where the first component comprises a notch influencing molecule and the second component comprises a GPCR targeted molecule. Kits comprising the multicomponent composition are also disclosed. Methods for providing the multicomponent composition to one or more cells are additionally provided. Further embodiments include methods of using the multicomponent composition such as, for example, methods of administering the multicomponent composition and method of treating organisms (such as mammals) using the multicomponent composition.
US09358271B2

The present invention relates to the use of a natriurectic peptide, such as urodilatin, for treating a patient suffering from heart failure, such as acute decompensated heart failure. Preferably, a composition comprising an effective amount of urodilatin is intravenously administered to the patient continuously through a time period of at least 24 hours and up to 120 hours, preferably at least 48 hours.
US09358265B2

The invention relates to a plant based formulation for the prevention and management of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) comprising of effective amount of a hydro-alcoholic extract of Acacia arabica, Aegle marmelos and Nardostachys jatamansi.
US09358264B2

A method of controlling body weight in humans by administering an amount of decaffeinated green coffee extract effective to treat a subject. A preferred green coffee extract contains a ratio of 4-caffeoylquinic acid (4-CQA) to total chlorogenic acids (tCGA) (5-CQA/tCGA) of from about 0.1 to about 0.2. More preferably, the green coffee extract comprises from about 6% to about 8% of 4-caffeoylquinic acid and has a total chlorogenic acid concentration that exceeds about 45%. A preferred method of administration consists of administering the green coffee extracts is a dosage of about 200 mg twice a day prior to meals on an empty stomach.
US09358260B2

The present invention relates to a process for obtaining a Labisia pumila water extract comprising the steps of: obtaining an extract from dried Labisia pumila plant material using water extraction, filtering the extract to obtain filtrate and Labisia pumila plant material residue, re-extracting the Labisia pumila residue using water extraction, centrifuging the Labisia pumila extracts to obtain a supernatant, characterized in that, the Labisia pumila plant material includes leaves and roots in a ratio of 3:2 by weight and ratio of the dried plant material to water used in the water extraction process is 1:10 by weight, wherein the yield obtained from initial extraction is 7% to 8% and the extra yield obtained from re-extraction is 33% to 38% and the total yield obtained from the extraction is 10% to 12%.
US09358259B2

A process and apparatus for extracting cannabinoids from cannabis plant material plant material and for transporting low concentrations of cannabinoids in a solution of solvent includes at least a solvent tank, a hopper, and one or more pumps. A plurality of valves may also be incorporated into the invention. Plant material may be soaked, washed, and/or rinsed with a solvent that extracts essential elements from cannabis plant matter. The process minimally includes filling a hopper with plant mater, moving solvent from a solvent tank to the hopper, and moving solvent back to the solvent tank after an extraction. Repeating this process a plurality of times with new plant material increases the concentration cannabinoids in the solvent tank after each time the process is performed.
US09358254B2

A method of treating or preventing Helicobacter pylori infection in a subject, includes the step of orally administering to the subject a composition including a carbonaceous material that has a pore defined therein which has a radius of more than 0 nm but less than 2.5 nm; and from 0.001-15% by weight, based on weight of the carbonaceous material, of an active particle coated that is on the carbonaceous material and that is made of a material selected from the group consisting of silver, gold, aluminum, zinc, copper, and titanium dioxide.
US09358246B2

A readthrough inducing agent for inducing readthrough of a premature stop codon generated by nonsense mutations, the readthrough inducing agent comprising a compound having a structure expressed by the following Structural Formula (A), and a drug for treating a genetic disease caused by nonsense mutations, the drug comprising the readthrough inducing agent.
US09358236B2

The present invention relates to a combination of an allosteric mTOR inhibitor and a catalytic mTOR inhibitor for use in the prevention or treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, for example Huntington's Disease, and products and pharmaceutical compositions comprising such a combination for use in the prevention or treatment of such neurodegenerative diseases.
US09358227B2

Pharmaceutical uses of 6-amino quinazoline or 3-cyano quinoline derivatives are disclosed. Specifically, the 6-amino quinazoline or 3-cyano quinoline derivatives presented by general formula (I), or tautomers, enantiomers, diastereomers, racemates or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, or metabolites, metabolic precursors or prodrugs thereof, are protein kinase inhibitors, in which each substitutent group of general formula (I) is as defined in the specification.
US09358222B2

A compound of formula (I) or a compound of formula (II) or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein R1-R7 and X are as defined in the description, and the use of these compounds in therapy, in particular in treating cancer or as an inhibitor of the interaction of the MDM2 protein with p53.
US09358198B2

The problem is to provide a means for effectively dyeing keratin fibers while retaining high safety. Provided are a dyeing method and a dyeing agent, which include a combination of an oxidation dyeing agent consisting of an indole analog and a bilirubin oxidase derived from Myrothecium verrucaria or Bacillus Subtilis.
US09358195B2

Disclosed are stabilized body care products, household products, textiles and fabrics which comprise certain hindered nitroxyl, hydroxylamine and hydroxylamine salt compounds. Dyed products and articles are effectively stabilized against color degradation. The products are for example skin-care products, hair-care products, dentifrices, cosmetics, laundry detergents and fabric softeners, non-detergent based fabric care products, household cleaners and textile-care products.
US09358184B2

The present invention relates to a composition comprising: (i) at least 20% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition, of at least one C2-C4 monoalcohol; (ii) at least one polycondensate of ethylene oxide and of propylene oxide; and (iii) at least one nonionic surfactant other than the polycondensates (ii). The invention also relates to the use of this composition for cleansing the hair, and to a process for cleansing the hair using this composition.
US09358181B2

A reconstitution assembly includes a housing including a lower sleeve and an upper sleeve, including a first container and a second container disposed vertically opposite the first container. A transfer set assembly is disposed within the housing between the first container and the second container. The transfer set assembly includes an upper spike housing and a lower spike housing, with a flow path defined through the upper spike housing and the lower spike housing. The transfer set assembly is configured to access contents of the first container and then upon the activation of a triggering mechanism, create a fluid pathway between the first container and the second container. The triggering mechanism ensures the transfer set assembly sequentially accesses the contents of the first container before accessing the contents of the second container. The disposition of the first container activates the triggering mechanism.
US09358180B2

In a stimulus method, a stimulus applying apparatus is attached to an area selected from a group of specific parts of a body surface by an acupuncture needle(s) or heating etc. thereby releasing the stress, and a stress-free medical treatment method based on the stimulus method.
US09358176B1

The invention relates to improvements in walking crutches that have an underarm support mounted on one end of a longitudinally extending leg. The improvements include providing the underarm support with symmetrical side portions having symmetrical concave, curved, smooth surfaces, and an upper concave, curved, smooth surface to provide less discomfort when contacting the user's side, more comfortable support of the user's underarm and greater ease of use of the crutch by compression of the underarm support between the user's side, arm and underarm.
US09358170B2

A surgery table utilizing first and second sections which are hingedly attached to one another. First and second sections are also connected to supports apart from the hinged portion. An elevator moves one of the sections upwardly and downwardly at the support. The resultant position of the frame formed by the first and second sections may take the configuration of a flat surface or an upwardly or downwardly oriented “vee”.
US09358165B2

A front suspension system for an electric wheelchair includes front pivot shaft, a front wheel retainer, an elasticity resistance member, and a front shock absorber. The front shock absorber is disposed on a horizontal first section of the front wheel retainer so as to improve climbing capability of the wheelchair. The elasticity resistance member is disposed between the frame and the front wheel retainer and has two ends connected to the front wheel retainer and the abutting member of the frame, respectively. When the front wheels encounters bumpy road and makes the front wheel retainer pivot, the elasticity resistance member will be compressed to produce a reaction force toward the front wheel retainer and the abutting member of the frame, respectively, so that the front wheel retainer is pressed down to keep pressing against the flat bearing surface, and the frame is also pressed downward to prevent tipping backward.
US09358162B2

A wearing article having a waist-opening that can be easily folded back along a fold line extending in a transverse direction without increasing the stiffness in the vicinity of the waist-opening. A diaper includes front and rear waist members and a crotch member. A liquid-absorbent structure of the crotch member is formed outboard of in a longitudinal direction of a core with front and rear flaps exclusively composed of an absorption surface wrapping sheet, a leakage-barrier sheet and a bottom surface wrapping sheet. The front and rear waist members include first regions overlapping the front and rear flaps, respectively, second regions lying adjacent to the associated first regions and third regions lying adjacent to the associated second regions. The front and rear waist members are provided with the first, second and third waist elastics attached between respective inner and outer sheets in the first, second and third regions, respectively. A tensile stress of the first regions and the third regions is adjusted to be lower than that of the second regions.
US09358159B2

The displacement mechanism includes: an urging mechanism that urges an anvil roller toward an ultrasonic horn in such a manner that output surfaces and a welding surface move closer in the normal direction thereof; and a pressed member that has guide surfaces against which the outer surface of the anvil roller, positioned within non-welding areas, are pressed by an urging force of the urging mechanism, the pressed member being fixed to a sheet holding roller in a state where a pressed surface is disposed within the width-direction range of a slit. In response to the movement of the anvil roller from a welding area to the non-welding areas, the guide surfaces of the pressed member guide the anvil roller in a direction in which the output surfaces and the welding surface move away from each other.
US09358155B2

A dual blade device comprising an elongate probe having first and lateral second cutting edges and a blunt protruding distal tip, useable for performing an ab interno procedure to remove a strip of trabecular meshwork tissue from a human eye.
US09358153B2

A method for treating acute coronary syndromes (i.e., unstable angina or non-Q-wave MI) or transient ischemic attacks in a human or animal patient by placing a heat exchange apparatus in the patient's vasculature and using that heat exchange apparatus to cool the patient to a temperature (e.g. 30-36 degrees C.) at which platelet inhibition (i.e., inhibition of platelet activation and/or aggregation and/or adhesion) occurs. Anti-shivering drugs or anesthesia may be administered to patients whose body temperature is cooled below that patient's shivering threshold (typically approximately 35.5 degrees C.). If it is determined that platelet inhibition is no longer desirable, such as when the patient is about to undergo a surgical or interventional procedure wherein bleeding could be problematic, the hypothermia-induced platelet inhibition may be rapidly reversed by using the intravascular heat exchange apparatus to re-warm the patient's body to normothermia or near normothermia.
US09358148B2

Finger splints for use in connection with distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint fractures are disclosed. The splints include a ring element at least partially positioned around a finger at a location proximal to the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint and include an extension member that extends over the DIP joint and attaches to the fingernail.
US09358138B2

Prosthetic liners, prosthetic sockets and prosthetic suspension sleeves, as well as orthotic components, having enhanced thermally conductivity and/or enhanced heat absorption capabilities. Such components may be used in various combinations to create assemblies and systems that are operative to better transfer heat away from and/or absorb heat produced by residual or intact limbs of a user.
US09358128B2

The present invention provides an expandable fusion device capable of being installed inside an intervertebral disc space to maintain normal disc spacing and restore spinal stability, thereby facilitating an intervertebral fusion. In one embodiment, the fusion device includes a body portion, a first endplate, and a second endplate, the first and second endplates capable of being moved in a direction away from the body portion into an expanded configuration or capable of being moved towards the body portion into an unexpanded configuration. The fusion device is capable of being deployed and installed in both configurations.
US09358125B2

An improved mechanism for expanding or lifting a device in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention is a coaxial screw gear sleeve mechanism. In various embodiments, coaxial screw gear sleeve mechanisms includes a post with a threaded exterior surface and a corresponding sleeve configured to surround the post, the corresponding sleeve having a threaded interior surface configured to interface with the threaded exterior surface of the post and a geared exterior surface. A drive mechanism can be configured to interface with the geared exterior surface of the sleeve, causing a device utilizing such a mechanism to expand or lift between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration.
US09358108B2

A system for implanting a heart valve includes a radially self-expandable tubular body having a preformed groove disposed at an outer surface of the tubular body, and a valve disposed within the tubular body. The preformed groove extends at least partially around the tubular body, and has a circumferential opening facing radially outward. A trapping member is configured to be disposed within the preformed groove on the outer surface of the tubular body and form at least a partial loop around the tubular body. The circumferential opening of the preformed groove is relatively larger when an outflow end of the tubular body has been deployed from a catheter and an inflow end of the tubular body is disposed within the catheter, and the circumferential opening of the preformed groove is relatively smaller when both the outflow end and the inflow end are fully deployed from the catheter.
US09358105B2

A support device for implanting a stentless heart valve prosthesis having three leaflets adapted for coapting and defining three corresponding commissures is disclosed. The support device includes a shaft defining a manipulation axis, the shaft having a proximal portion and a distal portion, and three support formations integrally formed and extending from the proximal end of the shaft, the support formations angularly distributed about the manipulation axis of the shaft, such that each of the support formations correspond to locations of each of the commissures of the stentless heart valve prosthesis. The shaft includes a connection portion flexibly connecting the shaft and the support formations to permit a displacement of the manipulation axis with respect to the support formations. The shaft, the plurality of support formations and the connection portion are integrally formed from a single tubular element.
US09358099B2

A stent graft provides for a fenestration to be created by a side branch fenestration creation device. A kit comprises a side branch fenestration creation device and a stent graft in which a fenestration may be created thereby.
US09358094B2

The devices and methods described herein relate to improved structures for removing obstructions from body lumens. Such devices have applicability in through-out the body, including clearing of blockages within the vasculature, by addressing the frictional resistance on the obstruction prior to attempting to translate and/or mobilize the obstruction within the body lumen.
US09358089B2

The present invention relates generally to a system and method for measuring the structural characteristics of an object. The object is subjected to an energy application processes and provides an objective, quantitative measurement of structural characteristics of an object. The system may include a device, for example, a percussion instrument, capable of being reproducibly placed against the object undergoing such measurement for reproducible positioning. The structural characteristics as defined herein may include vibration damping capacities, acoustic damping capacities, structural integrity or structural stability.
US09358086B2

An intraoral device includes a flexible body having an upper front flap including evacuation holes and a upper edge; an upper rear flap forming an upper pocket with the upper front flap and including internal channels and a upper edge separated from the upper edge of the upper front flap to form an upper pocket opening, the internal channels terminating in grooves along the upper edge; a lower front flap including evacuation holes and a lower edge; a lower rear flap forming a lower pocket with the lower front flap and including internal channels and a lower edge separated from the lower edge of the lower front flap to form an lower pocket opening, the internal channels terminating in grooves along the lower edge.
US09358083B2

Disclosed is a computer-implemented method of designing a number of dental restorations for a patient, wherein the method includes: selecting a composed set of teeth including a number of teeth, where the number of teeth are arranged spatially relative to each other forming a high aesthetic composition; applying the composed set of teeth to a virtual three dimensional representation of the patient's present oral situation to obtain an initial set of teeth; optionally modifying one or more parameters of one or more of the teeth in the initial set of teeth to obtain a finalized set of teeth.
US09358073B2

Provided herein are expandable devices, rail systems, and motorized devices. In one embodiment, an expandable device comprises an expandable sac having a tool housed therein. The expandable device is optionally configured for operation while inside a body cavity. The expandable device optionally comprises at least one rail in the sac, and at least one railed device coupled to the rail for movement there on. Movement of the railed device on the rail is provided by, for example, a motor such as an electromagnetic motor or an inch-worm type motor. Expandable devices can be used, for example, to perform minimally invasive medical procedures requiring access to a body cavity. Expandable devices can also be used, for example, to provide safe and stable transport of instruments to the body cavity.
US09358072B2

Systems and methods for minimally invasive surgical tools with haptic feedback are disclosed. One disclosed embodiment of a system includes an insertion sheath configured to be partially inserted within a patient's body, the insertion sheath configured to receive a surgical tool; a roller disposed at least partially within the insertion sheath, the roller configured to contact a surgical tool inserted within the insertion sheath; and an actuator coupled to the roller, the actuator configured to receive an actuator signal and to output a haptic effect based on the actuator signal.
US09358069B2

A forceps includes an end effector assembly having first and second jaw members movable relative to one another between a spaced-apart position, a first approximated position, and a second approximated position. One or both of the jaw members including a first stop member coupled thereto and disposed between the jaw members. The first stop member is longitudinally translatable along a surface of the at least one jaw member from a first position, wherein the first stop member inhibits approximation of the jaw members beyond the first approximated position, and a second position, wherein the first stop member inhibits approximation of the jaw members beyond the second approximated position.
US09358065B2

An electrosurgical instrument is provided and includes a housing configured to connect to a source of bipolar electrosurgical energy and an electrode body coupled to the elongated housing. The electrode body includes an electrode face, first and second bipolar electrodes and a blade. The electrode face is formed on the distal end of the electrode body and includes a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis therethrough. The first and second electrodes have a leading edge and a trailing edge, are formed on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis and connect to opposed electrical potentials. The blade is positioned between the electrodes with at least a portion of the blade extending beyond the electrode face.
US09358061B2

A catheter for use with a suction source for removing excess fluid from a tissue treatment site has a catheter body, a distal section and a fluid evacuation path, where the distal section includes a multi-lumened member and at least one evacuation port, and the fluid evacuation path extends through a lumen in the multi-lumened member to provide suction communication between the suction source and the at least one evacuation port. The fluid evacuation path may also be configured for two-way flow, including distally and proximally along the catheter.
US09358054B2

A closure system may secure a first bone portion to a second bone portion. The closure system may include a bracket, a band and a tensioning device. The bracket may include a first portion adapted to engage the first bone portion and a second portion adapted to engage the second bone portion. The band may engage the bracket and may be adapted to be looped around the first and second bone portions. The tensioning device may include a body and a threaded member. The threaded member may be received in the body and may engage the band such that rotation of the threaded member relative to the body moves a first end of the band relative to a second end of the band.
US09358051B2

This system includes a retaining housing formed by a hole intended to receive the anchoring member and a retaining portion arranged on the anchoring member; said retaining housing is arranged in a part having a degree of elastic flexibility and is delimited by a continuous wall of this part; the retaining housing, on the side of a first axial end, forms a first collar forming a continuous circular projection capable of being elastically deformed by the retaining portion arranged on the anchoring member; the wall of said part delimiting the retaining housing also forms, on a second axial end, a second collar not able to be elastically deformed by said retaining portion.
US09358045B2

Devices, methods and systems for stabilizing at least a portion of the spinal column are provided. Devices include anchors and coupling members for engaging an elongate member. Systems include an elongate member sized to span a distance between at least two vertebral bodies and being at least partially formed of a flexible material. A number of anchors and coupling members are used to secure the elongate member to each of the vertebral bodies. The anchors can be compressed towards one another and the elongate member secured thereto and/or the elongate member can be tensioned to provide corrective forces to the spine.
US09358044B2

Systems, devices, and associated methods for correcting spinal column deformities that help minimize a number of attachment anchors utilized for correction, facilitate use of straight or contoured rods, and/or help promote a more natural, physiologic motion of the spinal column.
US09358038B2

Methods and devices for detecting positioning of a probe in a tissue of a patient. A method can include providing a detection device; advancing a device coupled probe through the tissue of the patient and toward the patient's spinal canal; detecting a change in pressure about the distal portion of the coupled probe during advancing, where the detected pressure change indicates probe positioning in the patient's spinal canal; outputting the detected pressure change or indication of probe positioning to a visual display.
US09358037B2

The invention is directed to methods and apparatus for centering a microcatheter within a vasculature. In one aspect, the methods and apparatus can be used to support centering and to facilitate a guidewire to cross through a chronic total occlusion. In one embodiment, the catheter apparatus includes: a microcatheter having a lumen, a distal opening and a distal end; one or more guidewires for passing through the lumen of the microcatheter; an inner shaft having a lumen, a distal opening and a distal end for passing the inner shaft over the microcatheter; an outer shaft having a lumen, a distal opening and a distal end for passing the outer shaft over the inner shaft; and a self-expandable scaffold structure disposed towards the distal end of the inner shaft. The self-expandable scaffold structure is preferably non-occluding thereby allowing blood to flow through the scaffold. Preferably, the inner shaft and microcatheter are capable of being independently operable.
US09358031B2

In one embodiment of the invention, a replaceable electrosurgical end effector cartridge is provided to couple to a mechanical wrist of a surgical instrument for a robotic surgical system. The replaceable electrosurgical end effector cartridge includes two end effectors, a fastener to rotatably couple the two end effectors together, and a cam mechanism. At least one of the two end effectors is a moveable end effector having a jaw portion, an off-center portion, and a base portion. The cam mechanism is coupled to the base portion of the at least one moveable end effector to pivot it about the fastener to open and close the jaw portion of the at least one moveable end effector with respect to the other.
US09358027B2

Various embodiments relate to a surgical instrument. The surgical instrument includes a first handle member having a first handle portion and a first shaft portion; a first end member connected to the first handle member having a first instrument portion and a tab; a second end member connected to the tab of the first end member having a second instrument portion and a shaft portion; a second handle member connected to the shaft portion of the second end member; and a lock that releasably connects the second handle member to the shaft portion of the first handle member.
US09358024B2

This relates to treating an asthmatic lung and more particularly, relates to advancing a treatment device into the lung and treating the lung with the device. This also includes additional steps of treating the airway wall, applying energy or heat to the airway wall in an asthmatic lung.
US09358023B2

Systems and methods for opening a tissue to a target value using microbubbles are disclosed herein. In an embodiment of a method for opening a tissue to a target value using microbubbles, a region of the tissue is targeted for opening, an acoustic parameter corresponding to the target value is determined, and an ultrasound beam is applied to the target region at the acoustic parameter such that the tissue at the target region is opened to the target value with the microbubbles. The acoustic parameter can be selected to control an acoustic cavitation event and, in some embodiments, controlling an acoustic cavitation event can include controlling a location, number and/or magnitude of acoustic cavitation events.
US09358016B2

A measurement system and method for determining a depth of penetration of a working portion of a surgical instrument (e.g., a rotating drill bit in a bore). A first sensor outputs a first signal representative of a displacement of the leading edge of the drill bit in the bore. A second sensor outputs a second signal representative of a force applied to the leading edge of the drill bit. A processor outputs a third signal representative of the depth of penetration of the leading edge of the drill bit when the leading edge of the drill bit passes from a first medium having a first density to a second medium having a second density. The third signal is based on the first and second signals.
US09358015B2

An apparatus for application of surgical clips to body tissue is provided and includes a handle assembly; a shaft assembly including a housing extending distally from the handle assembly and defining a longitudinal axis; a plurality of surgical clips disposed within the shaft assembly; a jaw mounted adjacent a distal end portion of the shaft assembly, the jaw being movable between an open spaced-apart condition and a closed approximated condition; and a pusher bar reciprocally disposed within the housing of the shaft assembly and being detachably connectable to the housing of the shaft assembly, the pusher bar being configured to load a distal-most surgical clip into the jaws during distal movement and remain connected to the housing of the shaft assembly and in a distally advanced position during an approximation of the jaws.
US09358003B2

A surgical instrument configured to relay a low-power signal from an end effector to a remote device is disclosed. The surgical instrument may comprise a handle, a shaft extending distally from the handle, and an end effector attached to the distal end of the shaft. A sensor may be disposed in the end effector. The sensor may generate a signal indicative of a condition at the end effector. A transmitter may be located in the end effector. The transmitter may transmit the signal from the sensor at a first power level. The signal may be received by a relay station located proximally to the shaft. The relay station is configured to retransmit the signal at a second power level, wherein the second power level is higher than the first power level.
US09358002B2

An anchoring device includes an elongate body having a proximal portion and a distal portion. The proximal portion of the elongate body terminates in a free end and the distal portion forms a loop. The loop includes a proximal portion and a distal portion. and further includes a plurality of anchors disposed along a surface thereof. The plurality of anchors are oriented toward the proximal portion of the elongate body to limit movement of the loop through tissue. A pledget is disposed adjacent the proximal portion of the loop. Methods for securing anchoring devices of the present disclosure are also disclosed.
US09358000B2

A method for making a curved tungsten alloy suture needle comprising the step of heating tungsten alloy needle blanks or a tungsten alloy suture needle to a temperature below the recrystallization temperature of the alloy. The tungsten alloy suture needles described herein have a desirable combination of stiffness, strength, ductility, and surface color.
US09357999B2

An automatic suturing apparatus comprises triggers that activate suturing and securing of the tissue of a patient. An automatic suturing apparatus also comprises triggers that activate suturing and securing of a valve to tissue of a patient. The automatic suturing apparatus can be used in systems and kits. An automatic suturing apparatus can be used in methods of suturing a tissue or a valve to tissue.
US09357993B2

An innovative bone anchor and methods for securing soft tissue, such as tendons, to bone, which permit a suture attachment that lies entirely beneath the cortical bone surface. The suturing material between the soft tissue and the bone anchor may be secured without the need for tying a knot. The suture attachment to the bone anchor involves the looping of a length of suture around a suture return member or path within the bone anchor, tightening the suture and attached soft tissue, and compressing the suture against the bone anchor. The bone anchor may be a tubular body having a lumen with a locking plug that compresses the suture therein. One of the components of the locking structure may include a deformable or flexible section, member, or surface. The locking plug may include a shaft and an enlarged head that interferes with the tubular body to provide a positive stop. An actuation rod attached at a frangible section to the shaft may be manipulated by an external handle during locking of the suture within the bone anchor. The bone anchor further may include locking structure for securing itself within a bone cavity.
US09357987B2

A surgical retractor includes a first component and second component. The first component includes a first top structure and outer wall. The first top structure has a first opening and first peripheral opening disposed about the first opening, wherein the first peripheral opening in communication with the first opening. The outer wall forms a second opening in communication with the first opening. The second component includes a second top structure and inner wall. The second top structure has a third opening. The inner wall forms a fourth opening in communication with the third opening, wherein the inner wall has a second peripheral opening in communication with the fourth opening. The second component is adjustable with respect to the first component such that second and fourth openings define a combined opening in communication with the third opening and the combined opening is in communication with the first and second peripheral openings.
US09357980B2

An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus which detects a target blood vessel of a subject based on reflected ultrasound waves obtained, using an ultrasound probe, from the subject, the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus including: a B-mode image generation unit which generates a tomographic image of the subject, based on the reflected ultrasound waves; a blood flow image generation unit which generates blood flow information indicating a blood flow region of the subject in the tomographic image, based on the reflected ultrasound waves; and a blood flow region determination unit which determines whether or not the blood flow region corresponds to the target blood vessel, by analyzing the blood flow information generated by the blood flow image generation unit.
US09357973B2

An imaging system (300) includes a radiation source (308) that emits radiation from a focal spot (312) in a direction of an examination region. The imaging system further includes a beam shaper (314), located between the focal spot and the examination region, that shapes an x-ray transmission profile of the radiation emitted from the source and incident on the beam shaper such that the radiation leaving the beam shaper has a pre-determined transmission profile.
US09357970B2

In one embodiment, a neurological status evaluation apparatus includes a signal generator configured to generate an electromagnetic signal at one or more frequencies, a transmitting antenna coupled to the signal generator and configure to transmit the electromagnetic signal, and a receiving antenna positioned proximate to the transmitting antenna such that an evaluation space is defined between the transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna. The biological tissue under evaluation does not contact the transmitting antenna or the receiving antenna. The receiving antenna receives a modulated electromagnetic signal after propagating through the biological tissue under evaluation. The neurological status evaluation apparatus further includes a spectrum analyzer coupled to the receiving antenna, wherein the spectrum analyzer receives and samples the modulated electromagnetic signal. A computing device is coupled to the spectrum analyzer, calculates an evaluation, and provides a neurological status indicator of the biological tissue under evaluation based on the evaluation parameter.
US09357963B1

Through the measurement and interpretation of the pixels of grayscale digital thermographic images of abnormalities of the skin and its subcutaneous tissue, early intervention and treatment of abnormalities of the skin and its subcutaneous tissue are possible, thereby assisting clinicians in making significant impacts on prevention and treatment.
US09357956B2

A spectroscopic sensor has plural angle limiting filters that limit incident angles of incident lights, plural light band-pass filters that transmit specific wavelengths, and plural photodiodes to which corresponding transmitted lights are input. The spectroscopic sensor is a semiconductor device in which the angle limiting filters, the light band-pass filters, and the photodiodes are integrated, and, assuming that the surface on which impurity regions for the photodiodes are formed is a front surface of a semiconductor substrate, holes for receiving lights are formed in the impurity regions from the rear surface side.
US09357954B2

Methods and systems are provided that allow for the simultaneous calculation of pulse and regional blood oxygen saturation. An oximeter system that includes a sensor with a plurality of emitters and detectors may be used to calculate a pulse and/or regional blood oxygen saturation. A plurality of light signals may be emitted from light emitters. A first light signal may be received at a first light detector and a second light signal may be received at a second light detector. A pulse and/or regional blood oxygen saturation value may be calculated based on the received first and/or second light signals. The pulse and regional blood oxygen saturation values may be calculated substantially simultaneously. The calculated pulse and regional blood oxygen saturation values as well as other blood oxygen saturation values may be displayed simultaneously in a preconfigured portion of a display.
US09357950B2

An in-line sampling system that includes a sampling valve and a syringe for selectively introducing a fluid to and aspirating a fluid from a downstream fluid conduit connected to a catheterized patient. The syringe has a fluid chamber into which fluid is aspirated, a volume regulator for adjusting the volume, a fluid line through which fluid flows through the syringe to a downstream fluid conduit. The syringe also has a valve mechanism for selectively controlling fluid flow along the fluid line and selectively shifting the volume regulator to adjust the volume of the fluid chamber. A housing provides for the fluid chamber and mounts the fluid line, valve mechanism and volume regulator.
US09357949B2

The disclosure relates to a system that displays posture state information, physiological conditions of a patient on an avatar or other graphical representation of a human body, and therapy parameter information to facilitate the programming of therapy that is delivered to a patient. In some examples, the system may include an implantable medical device (IMD) that delivers therapy to a patient and incorporates a posture state module that detects a posture state engaged by the patient to determine the therapy delivered to the patient. An external programming device may communicate with the IMD, e.g., in real-time, to display the posture state of the patient as well as therapy parameters and physiological conditions associated with the posture state of the patient. The external programming device may receive adjustment input from the clinician to adjust one or more therapy parameters for therapy delivered to a patient in a specific posture state. In some examples, the external programming device may retrieve therapy information from the IMD to allow the clinician to review and play back previously stored therapy information on a temporal basis.
US09357947B2

A system for measuring the force of the feet of a user upon the support surface of an item of footwear for each foot at multiple locations has a plurality of sensors each predictably varying in resistance upon application of a force thereto. The sensors send signals reflective of the force to an A-D converter. The digitalized signals reflective of the resistance and in some cases deflection are sent to a receiver for storage in a memory and for further transmission to a computing device to compute and display the force at each of the multiple points. An accelerometer may also be combined proximate to or attached to the insert to supply signals reflective of the acceleration and which can be used to calculate and display other information including acceleration, speed and distance.
US09357946B2

The present invention provides a direct sampler and detector for analytes found in exhaled breath condensate. Analytes in the breath condensate are detected instantaneously as they condense prior to reaching the sensor surface or condense directly on the sensor surface. Because the analysis or assay is performed immediately after patient exhalation, analyte stability is significantly improved providing accurate, reliable, consistent, and clinically applicable results. In certain embodiments, combined breath condensate/breath samplers and detectors are provided, enabling multiplexed analysis of condensed and vapor-phase analytes provided in a single sampling session. Breath is collected and directed to one or more subsystems. Within each subsystem, the breath portion is either condensed or prevented from condensing. The technique also allows real-time continuous monitoring, thus allowing immediate feedback to both medical professionals and additional hardware such as ventilators, anesthesia machines, drug infusion systems and cardiac pacemakers.
US09357935B2

The current technology is relevant to a system having an implantable medical device, where the system is configured to identify a patient condition comprising cardiac dysynchrony, configured to notify a clinical user of the identified condition and configured to identify a therapy appropriate for the identified condition.
US09357924B2

The present invention provides a method of optical electrophysiological probing, including: providing a fluorescing chemical probe; contacting a thick portion of tissue with the fluorescing chemical probe to create a thick portion of treated tissue; applying a first range of wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation to the treated portion of tissue; and detecting a plurality of depth-specific emission wavelengths emitted from the thick portion of treated tissue.
US09357919B2

An optical imaging system is to be aligned with its optical axis in relation to a given alignment axis. For this, a radiation beam is emitted from one side of the imaging system along the alignment axis. In the direction of beam propagation, there is located behind the imaging system a pair of diaphragm elements, whose apertures are each covered by a piece of material transparent to the radiation, carrying a plurality of sensor elements arranged in a matrix. The sensor elements furnish information about the measured radiation intensity to a signal processing unit, which can graphically illustrate the current alignment status of the imaging system on a monitor and/or produce an automatic adjustment of the imaging system.
US09357912B2

The present invention relates generally to apparatus and methods for evaluating the condition and properties of eye tissue. More particularly, the present invention is directed to apparatus and methods for non-invasively characterizing the biomechanical properties of eye tissue by utilizing an internal perturbation component.
US09357911B2

Systems and methods for improving the reliability of glaucoma diagnosis and progression analysis are described. The measurements made from one type of diagnostic device are adjusted based on another measurement using a priori knowledge of the relationship between the two measurements including the relationship between structure and function, knowledge of disease progression, and knowledge of instrument performance at specific locations in the eye. The adjusted or fused measurement values can be displayed to the clinician, compared to normative data, or used as input in a machine learning classifier to enhance the diagnostic and progression analysis of the disease.
US09357898B2

The present disclosure relates to a dishmachine that includes at least two tanks and methods of using the tanks to isolate, substantially isolate, or incrementally isolate different chemistries from each other during a cycle. The disclosed dishmachine design and method allows for the use of two different, and potentially incompatible, reactive, or offsetting chemistries to be used in the same dishmachine cycle.
US09357893B2

A mobile device moving in a specific area including a driving unit, an environment sensing unit, a control unit and a transmittal unit is disclosed. The driving unit moves according to a first driving signal. The environment sensing unit detects an outline of the specific area to generate detection information. The control unit processes the detection information to generate first map information and position information. The transmittal unit transmits the first map information to an electronic device. The electronic device generates second map information according to the first map information, and the control unit generates the first driving signal according to the first map information, the second map information and the position information.
US09357886B2

A shroud cover for a dispenser is a flexible sheet disposed about an open framework. Preferably, the flexible sheet is resiliently stretchable and stretched over the framework.
US09357877B2

A methodology and product or system configurations are provided which allow food to be directly irradiated for cooking applications which involve the impingement of direct radiant energy on food or comestible items. Cooking vessels or cook-packs are used that are optically transmissive in visible or infrared narrow wavelength bands emitted in suitable narrowband cooking or heating systems.
US09357876B2

A small batch canning system, comprising of a jar holder sized to receive and hold a plurality of canning jars and a lifting device having a pair of handles and an engagement surface integral with the pair of handles. The lifting device is vertically moveable about the jar holder from a lower position spaced apart from the jar holder to a raised position engaged with the jar holder.
US09357874B2

A beverage maker to selectively brew hot or cold beverages employs both a heating unit and a cooling unit. The heating unit heats a liquid, typically water, and uses the heated liquid to hot brew a beverage. Using any of a number of touch sensitive buttons, a coolant can enter a cold brewing unit which subjects the hot brewed beverage to cooling via a helical structure. Further, there may be a resting plate for the container to receive the beverage that can be selectively cooled or heated. The end result is a quick and efficient way to brew either a hot or cold beverage.
US09357873B2

A combination unit comprising a beverage preparation machine (62) and a separate milk chilling device (10) for storing a volume (16) of milk in a chilled state. The beverage preparation machine (62) comprises a control electronics system (63) and a milk dispensing apparatus (64) for dispensing milk and/or milk froth. The milk chilling device (10) comprises a housing (11), a milk container (14), which is arranged in the housing (11), for accommodating the volume (16) of milk, a chilling unit (18) for chilling the volume (16) of milk, and a milk lance for removing milk from the milk container (14). A monitoring device for monitoring a filling state of the milk container (14) comprises a filling state sensor (34) for detecting a filling level of the milk in the milk container (14) and a filling state measurement electronics system (36), which is connected to the filling state sensor (34), for generating a filling state information signal, wherein dispensing of the milk and/or of the milk froth from the milk dispensing apparatus (64) can be controlled by means of the control electronics system (63) of the beverage preparation machine (62) depending on the filling state information signal which is generated by the filling state measurement electronics system (36). The filling state measurement electronics system (36) is arranged in or on the housing of the milk chilling device (10). The milk chilling device (10) comprises a transmitter (38) for transmitting the filling state information signal to the beverage preparation machine (62) by means of a radio signal, and the beverage preparation machine (62) comprises a transceiver (66) which receives the radio signal which is generated by the transmitter (38) of the milk chilling device (10) and provides the transmitted filling state information signal to the control electronics system (63) of the beverage preparation machine (62).
US09357867B2

A remotely controlled adjustable mailbox support uses a stepping motor, controlled by a microprocessor/CPU, to raise a mailbox platform above a level where the mailbox can be damaged by a passing snow plow. Based on remote command signals received by a internal communications module, the time and duration when the mailbox is raised can be controlled, as well as the height to which it is raised. An optional temporary rf-signal over-ride capability for mail carriers and/or snow plow operators is also provided, as well as control application software for wireless mobile devices.
US09357866B2

A closet hanger especially for neckties. The hanger features a novel plastic clip, which allows easy one-handed insertion and removal of ties. Each clip supports the tie with lateral elastic tension. A plurality of clips is arranged to allow ties to be hung face-to-face, saving space over hangers that support ties side-by-side. An adjustable hook screw secures the hanger fixedly in place on the rod.
US09357864B2

A pillow includes a torso cushion tapering from a top end to a bottom end. A torso support surface extends from the top end to the bottom end of the torso cushion. A back surface joins to the bottom end of the torso cushion at a first elevation angle between the back surface and the support surface. A head cushion attaches to the top end of the torso cushion. The head cushion includes a back surface joined to the back surface of the torso cushion, a first angled surface joined to the back surface of the head cushion at a second elevation angle, and a second angled surface joined to the back surface of the head cushion at a third elevation angle. The first angled surface and the second angled surface join to one another along a crest extending from the top end of said torso cushion.
US09357859B2

A bracket for supporting and displaying a planar object comprises an elongated body member including a planar web and a front wall and a rear wall extending from the longitudinal edges of the web. An end wall extends transversely with respect to and engages the distal ends of the web, the front wall and the rear wall such that the web and the front and rear walls and the end wall define a longitudinal channel open at the proximal end and closed at the distal end for supporting the objects. A pair of arms extend rearwardly from the body member. At least one of the arms is resiliently deflectable for engagement and retention of the lugs in an aperture of a mounting substrate. During connection, lugs on the arms are adapted to engage the portion of the mounting substrate defining the aperture for moving the arms inwardly so that the lugs pass through the aperture for permitting the arms to move outwardly and the lugs to engage the mounting substrate. The channels of adjacent brackets face each other for receiving and supporting at least a portion of the planar objects extending between the facing channels for visual observation and ease of removal of the objects for inspection.
US09357857B2

The collapsible display of the present disclosure and related inventions includes a plurality of pre-assembled parts which can be configured, without the use of tools, to form a reusable, merchandising display fixture. The display is quickly and easily constructed and quickly and easily deconstructed and stored. The entire display, with merchandise thereon, may be placed upon or integral with a standard shipping pallet for maximum mobility around the retail floor space. The collapsible display provides an inexpensive, collapsible, reusable display requiring minimum storage space when not in use.
US09357849B2

A dynamic lumbar support located within the back of an office or home chair to enable a user to be seated close to a work surface (e.g., a desk or a table). The chair back rocks back and forth when the user shifts his weight backwards and forwards. The dynamic lumbar support includes a cushion back support manufactured from a resilient material that is responsive to a compressive force applied thereto when the user reclines and shifts his weight against the chair back. In particular, the cushion back support is adapted to change its shape from a relaxed convex shape at which to support the user's lower back and maintain a proper posture when the user sits erect and the chair back stands upright to a compressed flattened shape at which to support the user's back when he reclines and the chair back tilts backwards.
US09357848B2

A stacking ring for a chair base may be disposable between a first and second chair base such that the stacking ring generally prevents lateral movement of the first chair base relative to the second chair base. The stacking ring may be integrally formed to the chair base, or separate and disposable between at least two chair bases. The stacking ring may substantially prevent rotation of a first chair base relative to a second chair base.
US09357843B2

A pull-out guide for furniture parts which can move relative to one another includes at least two pull-out rails, between which at least one first roller body and at least one second roller body are disposed, which are held in a rotatable manner in at least one roller body cage, the at least one first roller body having a greater nominal diameter and a lower modulus of elasticity than the at least one second roller body of the roller body cage. The pull-out guide is characterized in that a difference in diameter (Δd) between a first nominal diameter of the first roller body and a second nominal diameter of the second roller body is greater than a lower limit which is at least as great as a manufacturing tolerance (Δd1) in the diameter of the first roller body.
US09357839B1

A folding and unfolding structure for a hanging table which includes a support rack, a table panel and a suspension fastening structure with the a loading rib located on a back side of the table panel, pivotally bridged the loading rib and the support rack, comprising a first swivel rack hinged on the loading rib and a second swivel rack hinged on a lower edge of the support rack. The first swivel rack has an anchor and loading fork latchable on the second swivel rack and a movable coupling pin pivotally coupled on the second swivel rack. The second swivel rack has a housing space to accommodate swivel movement of folding or unfolding of the first swivel rack and a guide slot for sliding of the movable coupling pin). Through the folding and unfolding structure the table panel can be quickly unfolded and folded to improve usability.
US09357838B2

A portable collapsible table, having a foldable supporting frame that supports a table top, the frame including a plurality of legs that are positionable in a first position that positions the table top in a first relatively low position and that are positionable in a second position that positions the table top in a second relatively raised position, the table top including a plurality of wells disposed therein, the wells, the frame and the table top being collapsible so that the table may be folded for ease in storage or transport thereof.
US09357837B2

A toothbrush featuring a graspable elongated handle defining a longitudinal axis, the handle comprising a neck region adjacent an end of the handle and a head disposed at the end of the handle. The head is carrying flexible bristles that extend outward from an outer surface of the head. The outer surface of the head is axisymmetric. The bristles are distributed about the head such that bristles extend in each of several radial directions, including from opposite sides of the head. At least some of the bristles are extending so as to overlay the longitudinal axis in opposite directions.
US09357833B2

A brush for cleaning a grill or other surface having a bristle assembly of twisted-in-wire material that is removable and replaceable.
US09357828B2

An apparatus includes a bag to carry one or more objects on the back of a person, and a cushion for connection to a surface of the bag. The cushion is used for making substantially continuous contact with the back when the bag is carried on the back. The apparatus may be a backpack or any other type of bag.
US09357824B2

The present invention provides methods and systems for a bag that has a first compartment and a second compartment. The first compartment has a bottom wall that extends to an outer edge and a first pair and second pair of opposed sidewalls that extend generally perpendicularly from the outer edge of the bottom wall forming a cavity therein. A first top wall selectively secured to the first pair and second pair of opposed sidewalls of the first compartment, and a second compartment has a bottom wall that extends to an outer edge and a first pair and second pair of opposed sidewalls that extend generally perpendicularly from the outer edge of the bottom wall forming a cavity therein. A second top wall is selectively secured to the first pair and second pair of opposed sidewalls of the second compartment, and an inflatable device is contained within the second compartment.
US09357822B2

A protecting case for protecting an electronic device includes a hollow main body. The electronic device is received in the main body. The main body is filled with gas having a density less than a density of air, to make the main body and the electronic device suspend in air while received in the main body.
US09357819B2

A surface anchor for body jewelry is provided, which typically includes a base formed of an elongated plate. The base may have a proximate end to which a post is coupled. The post may include a fastening structure for securing the body jewelry to the post. The base may further include a distal end, and the distal end may include a slot extending from an opening at an edge of the base inward into an internal region of the base. The slot may be bounded on opposite sides by a pair of elongated structures, and may be longer than it is wide. Body jewelry may be attached to the post to form a slotted body jewelry assembly.
US09357810B2

A bicycle helmet comprises a helmet body including a shock absorbing insert and an external shell overlying at least partially the shock absorbing insert. The shock absorbing insert and the external shell have a plurality of structural bridges interconnected with each other with ventilation openings extending therebetween, a majority of the structural bridges having elongated ridges protruding from a base section. The elongated ridges and the base sections of the external shell overlie a respective one of the elongated ridges and the base sections of the shock absorbing insert.
US09357804B2

The present invention is directed to topical ankle gear for enhancing performance and reducing the risk of injury. The topical ankle gear and kits preferably comprise a flexible sleeve and a lateral foot-ankle buttress, Achilles buttresses, and/or an extendable strap. The topical ankle gear of the present invention is designed to be worn during periods of physical activity to reduce injury and to train and strengthen the athletes muscles against injury, advantageously increasing proprioception by stimulating critical sensory and tactile receptors in the foot and ankle.
US09357799B2

Apparatus for the separation of agricultural or vegetable product, with a fixed structure having two parallel horizontal side members, a plurality of cutting modules equipped with a common rotating shaft having a plurality of rotating blades in fixed position along its length, the shafts being parallel to each other and mounted above conveying elements suitable to carry the products placed thereon toward the rotating blades, a plurality of positioning ramps mounted in a position corresponding to a respective rotating blade and having a shape elongated in the direction of movement of the conveying elements and almost flattened and oriented vertically, the elongate upper edge of which is oriented downward toward the conveying elements with an inclination such that the height of the edges increases in the feeding direction of the conveying elements, so that the clusters of products placed on the conveying elements are carried toward the ramps. The respective upper edge determines the point of intersection of the respective blade with the stems of each cluster carried under the blade, so that the conveying elements include a table formed by a plurality of parallel grooves substantially orthogonal to the rotating shafts and reciprocally separated by respective raised portions. The table moves in a direction parallel to the grooves; and the ramps are arranged in positions corresponding to the respective grooves. The projection of each of the ramps with respect to one of the groove is aligned with the same groove.
US09357795B2

Disclosed herein is a method for producing a flavoring containing L-glutamic acid derived from natural foods by adjusting the content of ammonia remaining in a final fermentation broth after completion of culture to be in the range of 0 to 10 g/L in cultivation of L-glutamic acid producing microorganisms, thereby facilitating drying of the fermentation liquor containing L-glutamic acid. A flavoring produced by the method is also disclosed.
US09357792B2

The present invention refers to a non-antibiotic therapeutic strategy for inhibiting oro-gastro-intestinal infections and pathogens in general and particularly Heliobacter pylori adherence and colonization in the gastrointestinal channel and preventing or relieving associated oro-gastro-intestinal disease. The invention relates to methods and products based on an active cereal product or ferric quinate. The invention is also applicable to other oro-gastro-intestinal pathogens in both humans and animals.
US09357782B2

The invention relates to compounds of the general formula (I), wherein the variable have the meanings as indicated in the claims, or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof. The active ingredients have advantageous pesticidal properties. They are especially suitable for controlling endoparasites in warm-blooded animals.
US09357780B2

This document discloses molecules having the following formula (“Formula I”):
US09357774B2

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel sterilization method capable of killing not only microorganisms in water, but also microorganisms in a gas. Specifically, the present invention provide a method for sterilizing a gas or liquid, comprising contacting a microorganism in a gas or liquid with a material containing an amorphous carbon having a sulfo group introduced therein.
US09357767B2

A perfusion apparatus includes a coolant container having a basin-receiving recess that is at least partly surrounded by an inner chamber; a basin that is shaped to fit within the basin-receiving recess of the coolant container; and a cradle that is shaped to accept an organ and fit within the basin. The basin-receiving recess of the coolant container, the basin and the cradle each have positioning elements that are oriented such that the cradle is keyed to fit within the basin and the basin is keyed to fit within the coolant container, each in a single predetermined orientation. The plurality of positioning elements on the basin may include a plurality of protrusions on an outer surface of the basin.
US09357760B2

The illustrative embodiments provide a chemical dispersion system comprising a number of chemical dispersion nodes, a chemical dispersion manager, and a processor unit. The processor unit executes the chemical dispersion manager to identify a pest problem and generate a chemical dispersion plan for execution by the number of chemical dispersion nodes.
US09357756B2

A pedestal mountable bait holding device holds bait, such as crickets, in an elevated position to be easily accessed while fishing. The device includes a rod having a top end and a bottom end. A collar is coupled to the bottom end of the rod wherein the rod is configured for being coupled to and extending upwardly and away from a pedestal extending through the collar. A bucket is coupled to the top end of the rod.
US09357740B2

The present invention relates to a Spinacia oleracea seed designated 51-333 RZ, which exhibits medium bolting, an erect plant habit, ovate first foliage leaves, semi-savoy mature leaves and resistance to downy mildew (Peronospora farinosa f. sp. spinaciae) races Pfs1 to Pfs13 and strain UA4410. The present invention also relates to a Spinacia oleracea plant produced by growing the 51-333 RZ seed. The invention further relates to methods for producing the spinach cultivar, represented by spinach variety 51-333 RZ.
US09357729B1

A wheat variety designated 25R25, the plants and seeds of wheat variety 25R25, methods for producing a wheat plant produced by crossing the variety 25R25 with another wheat plant, and hybrid wheat seeds and plants produced by crossing the variety 25R25 with another wheat line or plant, and the creation of variants by mutagenesis or transformation of variety 25R25. This invention also relates to methods for producing other wheat varieties or breeding lines derived from wheat variety 25R25 and to wheat varieties or breeding lines produced by those methods.
US09357728B1

A wheat variety designated 25R50, the plants and seeds of wheat variety 25R50, methods for producing a wheat plant produced by crossing the variety 25R50 with another wheat plant, and hybrid wheat seeds and plants produced by crossing the variety 25R50 with another wheat line or plant, and the creation of variants by mutagenesis or transformation of variety 25R50. This invention also relates to methods for producing other wheat varieties or breeding lines derived from wheat variety 25R50 and to wheat varieties or breeding lines produced by those methods.
US09357726B2

The invention provides seed and plants of the pea line designated SV1036QF. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of pea line SV1036QF, and to methods for producing a pea plant produced by crossing a plant of pea line SV1036QF with itself or with another pea plant, such as a plant of another line. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of a plant of pea line SV1036QF, including the seed, pod, and gametes of such plants.
US09357722B2

Wheat grain (Triticum aestivum) comprising an embryo and starch, wherein the embryo comprises two identical alleles of an SBEIIa-A gene, two identical alleles of an SBEIIa-B gene and two identical alleles of an SBEIIa-D gene, wherein each of the SBEIIa genes gives rise to an amount of protein (w/w) or a protein having SBEIIa activity which is lower than the corresponding wild-type gene, and at least one of said genes comprises a point mutation, wherein the starch comprises amylose such that the grain has an amylose content of at least 50% (w/w) as a proportion of the extractable starch of the grain.
US09357721B2

The invention provides seed and plants of squash hybrid SV0109YL and the parent lines thereof. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of squash hybrid SV0109YL and the parent lines thereof, and to methods for producing a squash plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves or with another squash plant, such as a plant of another genotype. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of such plants, including the fruit and gametes of such plants.
US09357716B1

The primocane management apparatus enables an operator to manipulate primocane-fruiting blackberries so that the primocanes are periodically bent into a horizontal configuration. The primocanes of the primocane-fruiting blackberries are managed so that the horizontally-grown primocanes produce an increased amount of fruit relative to conventionally-grown vertical primocanes.
US09357712B2

Embodiments of a pole-attached power tool system, and related methods, are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a pole-attached power tool system may include a pole having a first end, a second end, and an interior region; a handle disposed proximate to the first end of the pole; an electric motor disposed proximate to the first end of the pole; a power tool disposed proximate to the second end of the pole; and a drive member disposed within the interior region, the drive member mechanically coupled with the electric motor and the power tool to transfer power generated by the electric motor to the power tool.
US09357710B2

In various embodiments, a method for removing selected ellepots from a plurality of germination ellepot trays and remapping the selected ellepots to a planting ellepot tray is provided. The method can include placing one of a plurality of germination ellepot trays onto an ellepot ejection dock of an ellepot workstation. Each germination ellepot tray comprises an array of ellepot receptacles having an ellepot disposed in each receptacle, wherein each ellepot is populated with a plant germinating therein. The method can additionally include, acquiring tray information identifying the respective germination ellepot tray, and automatically dislodging one or more selected populated ellepots from the respective germination ellepot tray utilizing the acquired germination ellepot tray information. Subsequently, each dislodged populated ellepot is sequentially transferred from the respective germination ellepot tray to one of a plurality of receptacles of a planting ellepot tray.
US09357705B2

The present application relates to selective harvesting of agricultural objects, such as asparagus spears. One described example relates to a harvester that includes at least one set of independently controllable cutter arm assemblies that rotate about a common axis to harvest individual asparagus spears.
US09357704B2

The present application relates to selective harvesting of agricultural objects, such as asparagus spears. One described example relates to a harvester that includes at least one set of independently controllable cutter arm assemblies that rotate about a common axis to harvest individual asparagus spears.
US09357701B1

An edging system includes a mounting bracket adapted to be mounted to a portion of a vehicle, the mounting bracket having a control arm receiving member, a control arm rotatably connected to the control arm receiving member so that the control arm is rotatably connected to the mounting bracket, a control arm moving device connected to the mounting bracket, the control arm moving device having an end portion adapted to engage a portion of the control arm, and an edger assembly connected to an end portion of the control arm. The edger assembly can include a frame assembly connected to the end portion of the control arm, and a cutting member carded by the frame assembly. The activated position of the edger assembly may be defined as the edger assembly being positioned so that the cutting member engages a portion of the ground adjacent to the edger.
US09357698B2

A cutting machine with a chassis including a frame and a coupling support configured to be mounted on a three-point hitch of a tractor, and with an arm connected directly to the frame by a first articulation and extending, at least during work, laterally relative to the frame, the arm carrying a work element and configured, by a displacement device, to be pivoted relative to the frame between a work position, a maneuver position, and a transport position. The displacement device includes a connecting-rod and at least a first jack articulated between the frame and the connecting-rod and a second jack articulated to the arm and connected to the connecting-rod by a pin. The connecting-rod is directly connected to the arm by a second articulation, and the second articulation is separate from the first articulation.
US09357697B2

An agricultural cutting device has knife bar sections with section knife blades. A drive with phase offset drives the knife bar sections at least temporarily in opposite directions. The section knife blades interact scissor-like with counter knives. The knife bar sections have adjacently positioned bar ends. When the knife bar sections move, a gap of varying size is formed between the bar ends. A mowing finger is arranged at the gap. A stationary knife blade with first cutting edges is arranged at the mowing finger. The first cutting edges are arranged adjacent to the mowing finger and extend at a slant relative to a forward travel direction of the cutting device so that the cutting edges have a V-shaped arrangement broadening in travel direction. The knife bar sections have an outer knife blade attached to the bar ends whose cutting edges extend parallel to the travel direction.
US09357696B2

A drive coupler (102, 104) for coupling a reciprocating knife (106) to a drive member (112, 114) is provided, wherein the reciprocating knife (106) includes at least one elongate bar (120, 122, 180, 182) having a longitudinal extent and fixed to a plurality of blades (138), wherein the at least one elongate bar (120, 122, 180, 182) is supported on support members (140) that constrain the at least one elongate bar (120, 122, 180, 182) to reciprocate in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal extent of the at least one elongate bar (120, 122, 180, 182), the drive coupler (102, 104) comprising: a first elongate strap (146, 162) configured to be attached to the at least one elongate bar (120, 122, 180, 182); a second elongate strap (146, 162) configured to be attached to the at least one elongate bar (120, 122, 180, 182); and an arrangement (152, 164, 187, 189, 193, 200) for (i) flexing the first elongate strap (146, 162) with respect to the second elongate strap (146, 162), (ii) for flexing the first elongate strap (146, 162) with respect to the drive member (112, 114), and (iii) for flexing the second elongate strap (146, 162) with respect to the drive member (112, 114).
US09357694B2

The invention relates to a separation system for a potato harvesting machine or a preparation machine for separating potatoes, or similar crops, from a mixture of clods, stones, and similar solid bodies. A conveying assembly is thereby utilized to feed the essentially compact mixture as a delivery flow, from where the mixture displaced into the area of at least one drop stage, and thereby influenced by way of a conveying means in the form of an air stream, can be separated. Thereafter, at least the harvested material and the solid bodies, respectively, can be moved on as individual separated goods, and can be moved out of the separation system. The system according to the invention is characterized in that subsequently to the drop stage bringing about a loosening of the mixture, at least one retaining element located opposite the falling separated goods and interacting with the at least one air stream is provided. It is thus achieved in a surprisingly simple way that from there, at least the harvested material and the solid bodies, respectively, can be moved on separately in an essentially opposite conveying direction as sorted individual lots.
US09363931B2

A carrier for a display module, in particular for an LED display module, having an arrangement for accommodating and/or fastening a display module, and having an air inlet opening and at least one air outlet opening, connected to one another by air ducts through which cooling air can flow to cool the display module, the carrier having a central air inlet opening that is connected via air ducts to at least two air outlet openings situated at different locations of the carrier, and the air ducts being fashioned between ribs provided on the carrier. Also described is a display device having such a carrier, and a display module carried thereby.
US09363928B2

A module-type data center includes: a casing including a first intake opening, a second intake opening, and an exhaust opening; an air conditioner provided in the casing and configured to generate a first airflow by taking in outside air through the first intake opening and bringing the outside air into direct contact with a refrigerant; a fan unit provided in the casing and configured to generate a second airflow by taking in the outside air through the second intake opening; and an electronic device provided in the casing and configured to be air-cooled by a mixed airflow of the first airflow and the second airflow and release an exhaust airflow after the air-cooling to the exhaust opening. The first intake opening and the second intake opening are provided on different surfaces of the casing.
US09363924B2

Cooling methods are provided which include providing a heat sink having a housing with a compartment, a coolant inlet, and a coolant outlet. The housing is configured for a coolant to flow from the coolant inlet through the compartment to the coolant outlet, wherein the coolant is transferring heat extracted from one or more electronic components. The heat sink further includes one or more heat pipes having a first portion disposed within the compartment of the housing and a second portion disposed outside the housing. The heat pipe(s) is configured to extract heat from the coolant flowing through the compartment, and to transfer the extracted heat to the second portion disposed outside the housing. The second portion outside the housing is disposed to facilitate conducting the extracted heat into the ground.
US09363922B2

A filler panel/horizontal manager for a rack includes two latching regions that mirror each other. The latching regions include a pair of guide posts configured to enter both round-shaped and square-shaped holes and guide the filler panel into a rack. The latching region further includes a pair of locator walls configured to enter square shaped holes along with the guide posts to guide the filler panel into a rack. Each latching region includes one or more latching members having surfaces for engaging a railing of a rack. At least one pair of latching members includes an angled stepped surface configured to engage railings of different thicknesses. One or more outwardly extending cable management elements may be associated with a front face of the filler panel/horizontal manager to facilitate wire/cable management functionalities.
US09363920B1

A server includes bracket and tray. The bracket is detachably installed on guiding rails of a case. The bracket includes two side frames and two synchronous plates. The two side frames is installed on the two guiding rails of the case which are facing each other, respectively. The synchronous plates having a limiting surface are slidably installed on the front parts of the two side frames, respectively. Each of the synchronous plates has a fixing position and a free position. The tray includes a body and two limiting bars which are installed on two sides of the body which are opposite to each other, respectively. The limiting bars face the synchronous plates, respectively. When the tray is pulled out of the case, the fixing bars are stopped by the limiting surfaces, respectively, so that the tray and the bracket are pulled out of the case together.
US09363915B1

A system and method for building an electronic system with line-replaceable units (LRUs) is presented. The system includes a first LRU electronic module with a first connector on a side of the first LRU electronic module and a second LRU electronic module with a second connector on a side of the second LRU electronic module. To build the electronic system, the first connector on the first LRU electronic module is connected to the connector on the second LRU electronic module to form a first LRU electronic module and a second LRU electronic module combination with the first connector and the second connector interior to the module combination formed by the first LRU electronic module and the second LRU electronic module. The first connector and the second connector cannot be seen from outside the module combination formed by the first LRU electronic module and the second LRU electronic module.
US09363909B2

The present invention provides a positioning and adjusting device of the monitor, comprising a supporting frame, the main body of the monitor is installed on a supporting frame in an inclined way, the rear seat is hinged to the upper end of the supporting frame, the display panel is in sliding connection with the rear seat; a convex part is disposed on the backside and extended into the inner cavity of the rear seat, a convex pin is disposed next to the side of the convex part, and a hook is set on the inner cavity of the rear seat that makes the display panel in a downward positioning status, when the convex pin is moving upward along the display panel. The device can adjust the vertical position of the display panel and adjust the tilt angle of the display panel to meet the watching needs of consumers.
US09363905B2

This is directed to providing a cosmetic finish on a component constructed by connecting several elements. A single manufacturing process, such as machining or grinding, can be applied to the connected elements to remove material from some or all of the elements and to form a smooth and continuous surface across interfaces between the individual elements of the component. In some cases, settings of the material removal process can be adjusted based on the material of the component elements. For example, the settings can be adjusted based on the manufacturing or mechanical properties of each element material.
US09363891B2

A printed wiring board includes a resin insulation layer having a first surface and a second surface on an opposite side of the first surface, the resin insulation layer having an opening for a via conductor, a pad formed on the first surface of the resin insulation layer and provided to mount an electronic component, a conductive circuit formed on the second surface of the resin insulation layer, and a via conductor formed in the opening and connecting the pad and the conductive circuit. The pad has an embedded portion embedded in the resin insulation layer and a protruding portion protruding from the resin insulation layer, and the embedded portion has an external shape which is greater than an external shape the protruding portion.
US09363884B2

A composite material and an electronic device are disclosed in embodiments of the present invention, relating to the field of electronic assembly technologies. The technical problem of the existing electronic device with an excessively complicated internal structure is solved. The composite material includes an electrically and thermally conductive layer, a viscose glue layer, and an insulating layer, where the electrically and thermally conductive layer and the insulating layer are pasted at two sides of the viscose glue layer; the viscose glue layer is electrically conductive. The electronic device includes a circuit board and the composite material. Gaps are formed at the insulating layer in positions corresponding to electronic components and/or shielding frames, with the viscose glue layer exposed, the composite material is pasted onto the electronic components and/or the shielding frames via the viscose glue layer. The present invention is applied to simplify the structure of an electronic device.
US09363881B2

A plasma device includes a dielectric barrier, a first electrode structure, a second electrode structure, and a third electrode structure. The dielectric barrier has an upstream terminal and a downstream terminal and defines a space, in which the first electrode structure is disposed. A gap with multiple widths is formed between the first electrode structure and the dielectric barrier. The dielectric barrier is located between the first electrode structure and the second electrode structure. The second electrode structure includes electrode blocks sequentially arranged from the upstream terminal to the downstream terminal. The dielectric barrier, the first electrode structure, and the second electrode structure are located on the same side of the third electrode structure located at the downstream terminal. A minimum distance between the electrode blocks and the third electrode structure is not less than a distance between the first electrode structure and the third electrode structure.
US09363869B2

A method of eliminating interference at an optical sensor of a mobile device that receives light from multiple light sources. The mobile device includes an optical navigation module having a cover and an illumination device disposed around the periphery of the cover. The optical navigation module includes an optical sensor that detects light reflected from an object contacting the cover. A processor receives electrical signals from the optical sensor and interprets movement of the object. The method reduces interference between the light source of the optical navigation module and the light source of the illumination device by controlling emission of light rays from each light source. The emission of light rays may be controlled based on timing, frequency and/or coding domains.
US09363868B1

A lighting control console for controlling a lighting system has at least one dual encoder for entering input values. The dual encoder includes a first shaft rotatably mounted in a housing and a first locking mechanism, for locking different rotational positions of the first shaft, and at least one first rotation signal generator for generating a data signal showing a switchover between two locking positions. A second shaft is mounted in the housing and is coaxially rotatable with respect to the first shaft. The second shaft is provided at the dual encoder, and a second locking mechanism for locking different rotational positions of the second shaft and at least one second rotation signal generator for generating a data signal showing a switchover between two locking positions. A method for entering data, more precisely input values, at the lighting control console is also disclosed.
US09363849B2

A wireless device includes: a first radio and first transceiver configured to transmit and receive according to a first radio access technology; a second radio and second transceiver configured to transmit and receive according to a second radio access technology; a first antenna and a second antenna connected to the first radio and the second radio; a switch; and a control unit configured to control the switch to configure connections of the first and second antennas to the first and second radios. The control unit is configured to control the switch to disconnect the second radio from the second antenna in response to a receiving, by the second radio through the second antenna, a signal that is below a predetermined threshold, and to connect the second radio to the first antenna during a wakeup period of the second radio.
US09363845B1

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for carrier aggregation and fast network-switching with a single-baseband modem, carrier-aggregation-capable wireless-communication device (WCD). One embodiment takes the form of a system that includes a first RF integrated circuit (RFIC), a second RFIC, a baseband processor coupled to the first and second RFICs, a first carrier-aggregation circuit, a fast-network-switching connection manager coupled to the baseband processor, and a mode controller coupled to the baseband processor and to the fast-network-switching connection manager. The mode controller is configured to selectively place the wireless-communication device in a carrier-aggregation mode or in a fast-network-switching mode. In the carrier-aggregation mode, the WCD is operable to conduct carrier aggregation using at least the first carrier-aggregation circuit. In the fast-network-switching mode, the WCD is operable to conduct fast network switching using the fast-network-switching manager.
US09363843B2

A radio communication method including: transmitting first information from a first radio station to a second radio station before determining an activation of a second logical processing entity that is to be activated in a first processing layer of the second radio station in association with a first logical processing entity that has been activated in the first processing layer of the second radio station, the first information relating to the activation of the second logical processing entity, the first information being transmitted using a first control signal in a higher layer of the first processing layer, transmitting, when determining the activation of the second logical processing entity, second information for instructing the activation from the first radio station to the second radio station, the second information being transmitted using a second control signal in the first processing layer.
US09363838B2

Disclosed is an operating method of a serving base station in wireless communication system. The method comprises obtaining delay-tolerance information with respect to user equipment, and operating based on the delay-tolerance information. The delay-tolerance information indicates whether the user equipment is a delay-tolerant user equipment (UE), which allows a service delay. Provided is a delay-tolerance information-based operating method of user equipment in a wireless communication system. The method comprises generating delay-tolerance information and transmitting delay-tolerance information to a network. The delay-tolerance information indicates whether the user equipment is a delay-tolerant user equipment (UE), which allows a service delay. The network is operated based on the delay-tolerance information.
US09363837B2

A method for operating an IP Multimedia Subsystem Application Server to facilitate a communication session between a first user and a second user at a required Quality of Service (QoS) is provided. The method calls for receiving a notification that a Policy and Charging Rules function (PCRF) associated with the first user has not authorized the required QoS. The notification includes an indication of additional QoS required by the first user in order to achieve the required QoS. Authorization for the additional QoS for the first user is then requested from a PCRF associated with the second user. The method then calls for receiving a notification that the PCRF associated with the second user has authorized the additional QoS, and notifying the PCRF associated with the first user that the additional QoS has been authorized for the first user.
US09363828B2

According to one embodiment, a method of requesting a random access connection between a mobile terminal and a base station includes: receiving, by the mobile terminal, information comprising at least one signature root sequence index, a cyclic shift parameter, and a number of signatures used for representing a boundary between a first signature set and a second signature set; preparing, by the mobile terminal, random access signatures according to the at least one signature root sequence index and the cyclic shift parameter, wherein at least one of the random access signatures is associated with the first signature set and the remaining of the random access signatures are associated with the second signature set; and selecting, by the mobile terminal, a random access preamble from the first signature set or the second signature set based on a message size and a radio condition.
US09363827B2

The present invention addresses a method, apparatus and computer program product for vehicle gateway access in cellular network for vehicle communications. A dedicated Vehicle gateway random preamble is defined to serve the vehicle gateway access to the network in order to resolve the contention during the initial access and thus decrease access latency. In addition to that, a new cause value Vehicle gateway originated data/signaling for the RRC connection establishment request is defined to inform the network that the coming data traffic is from the vehicle communication.
US09363825B2

An indication map delivery method, an indication operation method, a device, and a system are provided. In the embodiments of the present invention, a compressed Indication Map (IM) generated by a wireless access device includes at least one of a tiny partial bitmap sub-element, a skipped indication bits sub-element, and an indication bit offset sub-element, and consecutive indication bits with the same value at positions in an original IM can be compressed into a skipped indication bits sub-element, an indication bit offset sub-element, or the like. The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention facilitate improvement of compression efficiency of an IM, and further reduce radio air interface resources occupied for sending the IM and improve IM sending efficiency.
US09363823B2

The present invention discloses a system and method for managing resources in a heterogeneous network, which includes a primary system and a secondary system and a communication coverage range of which is divided into a plurality of regions, the system including: a heterogeneous network resource management module configured to collect and manage resource usage status within a managed region; and a secondary system resource management module configured to acquire the resource usage status of each region from the heterogeneous network resource management module and to allocate resources to the secondary system by utilizing the acquired resource usage status of each region in accordance with a priority determined based on an efficiency of resource multiplexing between each region and the secondary system. According to the technical solution of the invention, the resource usage efficiency can be improved greatly.
US09363801B2

Hybrid Automatic Retransmit ReQuest-Acknowledgment (HARQ-ACK) index mapping and uplink resource allocation is performed and controlled for channel selection transmission. A method for transmitting HARQ-ACK information to an eNode-B (eNB) by a User Equipment (UE) includes identifying KPCell as a number of downlink subframe(s) of a Pcell associated with an uplink subframe and identifying KSCell as a number of downlink subframe(s) of an Scell associated with the uplink subframe; generating Discontinuous Transmission (DTX) response information for a cell having a smaller number of downlink subframes between the Pcell and the Scell; generating HARQ-ACK information including the generated DTX response information and response information on data received by the UE from the eNB; and transmitting the generated HARQ-ACK information to the eNB through the uplink subframe.
US09363800B2

The present invention discloses a method for determining a Physical Uplink Control Channel PUCCH resource for a user equipment and a corresponding user equipment, and a method for facilitating the determination of a PUCCH resource for a user equipment and a corresponding base station, wherein the PUCCH resource is used to transmit a Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request HARQ feed back (ACK or NACK) of the user equipment with respect to its corresponding Physical Downlink Shared Channel PDSCH. In the present invention, an index value for a Control Channel Element CCE scheduled for the user equipment in an Enhanced Physical Downlink Control Channel E-PDCCH is firstly acquired, and then based on the index value and a first parameter, the PUCCH resource used to transmit the HARQ feedback of the user equipment with respect to its corresponding PDSCH is determined, the first parameter representing a reference value that should be used when determining the PUCCH resource used to transmit the HARQ feedback of the user equipment with respect to its corresponding PDSCH, if scheduling the CCE for the user equipment in the E-PDCCH.
US09363799B2

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for determining whether or not to transmit an uplink control signal in a first subframe according to whether or not a subframe (the first frame) corresponding to a transmission time of the uplink control signal is within an active time, or whether or not the first subframe is one of a constant number of subframes after the last subframe of the active time, and the active time is a time for the reception of resource allocation information for data retransmission.
US09363782B2

The described aspects include methods and apparatus for performing positioning for a user equipment (UE). The UE can communicate with a plurality of serving cells in a multicarrier configuration, and can indicate a plurality of serving cell identifiers corresponding to the plurality of serving cells in a message to a positioning server. The positioning server can obtain location information corresponding to at least a portion of a plurality of cells, or related eNBs, related to the plurality of serving cell identifiers, and can communicate the location information to the UE. The UE can perform positioning based at least in part on the location information.
US09363780B2

An apparatus may include a transceiver operable to receive a downlink message from a base station for a serving cell, the downlink message allocating a set of control parameters. The apparatus may also include a processor circuit communicatively coupled to the transceiver and an uplink power control module operable on the processor circuit to read the set of control parameters, and apply a signal-to-noise-and-interference (SINR) parameter based on the received set of control parameters to determine physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) power to be applied for a PUSCH transmission. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.
US09363769B2

Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to techniques for scaling transmission power. According to certain aspects, a technique for scaling transmission power may include scaling transmission power of one or more uplink channel symbols to be transmitted in a subframe, utilizing a first set of one or more scaling coefficients, scaling transmission power of one or more sounding reference signal (SRS) symbols to be transmitted in the same subframe, utilizing a second set of one or more scaling coefficients, wherein the first set of scaling coefficients is different from the second set of scaling coefficients, and transmitting the scaled one or more uplink channel symbols and the scaled one or more SRS symbols utilizing the scaled transmission power values.
US09363764B2

Devices and methods are provided for providing wireless coverage redundancy in case, for example, the backhaul of an access point (AP) base station is not available. In one embodiment, the method involves monitoring the backhaul, and in response to the backhaul being available, facilitating communication between an access terminal (AT) and the macro network via the backhaul. In addition, or in the alternative (e.g., when the backhaul is not available), a communication signal between the AT and a macro base station (or another AP base station) may be boosted.
US09363762B2

The present invention provides methods and devices for determining a transmission power and relates to the field of communication technologies. A method includes receiving, by a power determining device, capacity information of a first cell sent by a serving base station of the first cell and determining a transmission power used by a serving base station of the second cell on the specific resource of the second cell according to the capacity information of the first cell. The aforementioned method allows the capacity of the first cell to be guaranteed.
US09363755B2

Various aspects of apparatus for accessing a network through a wireless access point and methods of power savings for such apparatus include autonomously alternating between a listen state and the sleep state during a time period in which no data is detected from the remote apparatus, and progressively increase the sleep state interval during the time period for at least a portion of the time period.
US09363752B2

Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatus for generating a frame with timing information for a target wake time (TWT) and an identification of the TWT. An example method generally includes generating a frame generating a frame comprising timing information for a target wake time (TWT) and an identification of the TWT to which the timing information applies, and outputting the frame for transmission.
US09363747B2

A connection management resource receives performance information indicating bandwidth availability associated with multiple wireless access points in a wireless network. The connection management resource analyzes the performance information to identify an ability of each of the multiple wireless access points in the wireless network to provide a prospective new user access to a remote network. Based on the analysis of the performance information, the connection management resource produces a notification indicating the ability of each of the multiple access points to provide wireless bandwidth to the prospective new user to access the remote network. Via the notification, the prospective new user of a wireless access point is able to determine what to expect for bandwidth after establishing a respective link with the wireless access point.
US09363745B2

Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate device-side access point list management. Blacklists of access points unsuitable for providing network access to a related mobile device can be maintained as well as whitelists of suitable access points. The lists can be managed using an interface provided at the mobile device. In addition, lists can be modified according to provisioned network updates. Also, the lists can be of maximum size such that older entries can be purged upon insertion of newer entries based on a number of factors; timed entry deletion is provided as well. Access points in the lists can be stored and presented according to various identifiers related to the access points.
US09363735B2

Disclosed are a device and a method for providing simultaneous data transmission service based on heterogeneous networks. A transmission device of system for simultaneous data transmission service system is configured to (i) divide data into two or more partial data, (ii) insert virtual network access information into each of the divided two or more partial data, and (iii) then transmit the divided two or more partial data to a reception device over two or more networks in a heterogeneous network. When a problem occurrence is identified in a first network of the two or more networks, the transmission device is configured to switch the first network to another second network of the two or more networks to transmit the divided two or more partial data intended to be transmitted over the first network.
US09363733B2

In embodiments of mesh network commissioning, a commissioning device establishes a secure commissioning communication session between the commissioning device and a border router of a mesh network to securely establish network communication sessions for joining one or more joining devices to the mesh network. The commissioning device can activate joining for the mesh network, and receive a request from a joining device to join the mesh network. The commissioning device can establish a secure joiner communication session between the commissioning device and the joining device, authenticate the joining device using an encrypted device identifier, and join the joining device to the mesh network.
US09363730B2

A method and apparatus for improving a mobile problem caused by a narrow handover region in a boundary region between virtual cells constructed by a plurality of small base stations are provided. A plurality of Virtual Cells (VCs) include a plurality of Distributed Base Stations (DBSs) whose VCs cooperatively communicate with each other. An Intermediate Distributed Base Station (I-DBS) is located in a region where adjacent at least two VCs among the plurality of VCs are superimposed, and belongs to a different VC according to a time division scheme.
US09363721B2

An in-device coexistence interference report control method of a network for terminal to inform the network of interference among heterogeneous radio communication modules coexisting in the terminal is provided. The method includes determining, at a terminal when a terminal capability enquiry message is received from a base station, whether the base station supports an In-Device Coexistence (IDC) interference report, transmitting, when the IDC interference report is supported, a terminal capacity information message to the base station, receiving a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection reconfiguration message including information on whether terminal's IDC interference indicator transmission is permitted from the base station; and transmitting an RRC connection reconfiguration complete message to the base station in response to the RRC connection reconfiguration message. The in-device coexistence interference indication control method is advantageous in preventing the UE from transmitting useless in-device coexistence interference indication messages, resulting in reduction of unnecessary signaling.
US09363717B2

Embodiments herein relates to a radio network node (12) for controlling a handover process of a user equipment (10) from a first cell (11) to a second cell (14). The user equipment (10) is served in the first cell configured to be controlled by the radio network node. The radio network node comprises an operating circuit configured to operate according to a handover process, which handover process is triggered by a first trigger parameter when a connection to the user equipment is active, and by a second trigger parameter when the connection to the user equipment is inactive.
US09363714B2

An architecture that can redirect communications upon detection of a handover failure in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network is described. The architecture can obtain information indicative of a handover failure that is available in a first portion of the LTE network (e.g., a serving gateway) that has no control over the communication path. The architecture can utilize the information to instruct a second portion of the LTE network (e.g., a mobility management entity), one that can control the communication path but conventionally has no access to the handover information, to reroute the communication path to avoid unresponsive or failing network entities.
US09363709B2

A system, method, device, and computer program product for configuring a communications network for a user, including assigning a network identifier to a communications network of a user, the network identifier being unique to an instantiation of the communications network; and automatically generating a plurality of unique network configuration settings for one or more network devices of the communications network based on the network identifier.
US09363707B2

Systems, methods, and devices for communicating short control frames are described herein. In some aspects, a method of wireless communication includes generating a control frame comprising a physical layer preamble having a signal field, the signal field including an indicator indicating the control frame is a control frame type of frame. The method further includes transmitting the control frame.
US09363691B1

A wireless communication device is capable of communication with a media server over a first communication network and capable of communication with a media device over a second communication network. The wireless communication device comprises a wireless communication interface and a processing system. The processing system is configured to monitor for an application request, wherein the application request indicates an application provided by the media server for display on the media device. The processing system is further configured to determine a first bandwidth available on the first communication network and a second bandwidth available on the second communication network, and determine if the first bandwidth and the second bandwidth support the application based on the application. The wireless communication interface is configured to, if the first bandwidth and the second bandwidth support the application, receive the application from the media server and transfer the application to the media device, wherein the media device displays the application.
US09363689B2

A communications network comprises performance determination circuitry and link control circuitry. The performance determination circuitry is operable to determine performance of a microwave backhaul link between a first microwave backhaul transceiver and a second microwave backhaul transceiver. The microwave backhaul link backhauls traffic of a mobile access link. The link control circuitry is operable to, in response to an indication from the performance determination circuitry that the performance of the microwave backhaul link has degraded, adjust one or more signaling parameters used for the mobile access link. The link control circuitry is operable to, in response to the indication that the performance of the microwave backhaul link has degraded, adjust one or more signaling parameters used for the backhaul link in combination with the adjustment of the parameter(s) of the access link.
US09363688B2

Embodiments of the present invention provide a repair method for missing detection of a control channel and relate to the field of communications. The method includes detecting whether a user equipment misses detecting a physical downlink control channel. After it is detected that the user equipment misses detecting the physical downlink control channel, a repair is performed using a repair policy.
US09363687B2

According to one embodiment, a method for transmitting acknowledgement/not-acknowledgement (ACK/NACK) of a user equipment in a wireless communication system. Includes: receiving uplink-downlink (UL-DL) configuration 5 information on a plurality of subframes; receiving data in at least one subframe among the plurality of subframes; configuring ACK/NACK for the received data; and transmitting the ACK/NACK through a UL subframe.
US09363681B2

The embodiments of the present invention disclose a method for establishing a cell reselection list is provided. A network and a terminal establish frequency indexes for the cell reselection list, so that when a network side delivers an RAT and frequency priority information, the priority information may be delivered according to frequency indexes in a frequency list, thus implementing cell reselection that is based on the priority for the terminal.
US09363680B2

In order to transmit data packets in multi-RAT networks, a method and system of network controllers are provided including simultaneous establishment of radio connections over multiple different Radio Access Technologies or RATs, with User Equipment or UE 13, being one radio connection firstly established over one primary RAT under a single PDP context and one or more radio connections established over at least one secondary RAT, different from the primary RAT, and under the same single PDP context; simultaneous transmission of data packets over the different RATs towards the UE 13 and combination of the transmitted data by higher layer protocols at the UE 13. In the present method/system, a connection is established for user plane transmission on the same PDP context between a primary network controller 11 of the primary RAT and the secondary network controller 12 of a secondary RAT. More than one secondary RAT may be involved.
US09363669B2

Methods and systems for enabling activation of a wireless communication device to operate with a server on a wireless communication network. An activation request is pushed from the server to the device, the activation request being authenticated with a signature signed with a server certificate. After the device verifies the activation request using server certificate and signature, a mutually authenticated communication session is established between the device and the server for activation of the device on the server.
US09363667B2

Methods and systems for monitoring, analyzing and acting upon voice calls in communication networks. An identification system receives monitored voice calls that are conducted in a communication network. Some of the monitored voice calls may be conducted by target individuals who are predefined as suspects. In order to maintain user privacy, the system selects and retains only voice calls that are suspected of being conducted by predefined targets. The techniques disclosed herein are particularly advantageous in scenarios where the network identifiers of the terminal used by the target are not known, or where the target uses public communication devices. In accordance with the disclosure, content-based identifiers such as speaker recognition or keyword matching are used.
US09363663B2

A method, non-transitory computer readable medium and apparatus for providing a cellular communication service for any device via a communications network are disclosed. For example, the method receives a log-in request of a user from a device, if the log-in request is authenticated, synchronizes the device with a configuration associated with the user and provides the cellular communication service via a subscription plan subscribed to by the user.
US09363652B2

A method and system for reporting short message (SM) capability over an IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) using a session initiation protocol (SIP) are disclosed. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) registers with a core network and sends a message indicating its SM capability via the IMS to the core network. The core network then updates the WTRU capabilities based on the message and routes an SM to the WTRU via the IMS.
US09363641B2

Disclosed are a system and a service method for providing a digital content based on a moving path of a user. A service method may include storing and managing data in which coordinates of a map are converted to Geo-Hash coordinates according to a Geo-Hash algorithm, receiving location information from a terminal of a user, converting the location information to the Geo-Hash coordinates, and providing, to the terminal, information about digital content allocated to a Geo-Hash area including adjacent Geo-Hash coordinates based on the Geo-Hash coordinates. The terminal may be configured to determine the digital content to be provided to the terminal based on information about the digital content allocated to the Geo-Hash area and new location information of the terminal.
US09363638B1

Systems and methods for creating a database of geofences and registering geofences, with each geofence in the database being associated with an IP address, preferably an IPV6 address. Each geofence is defined using at least one geographic designator, preferably real property boundaries. Entitlements can be associated with geofences relating to permissive and prohibitive activities within the geofences.
US09363629B2

A method of obtaining a location of a user includes obtaining first location information of the user; searching a pre-stored first map for a plurality of candidate areas corresponding to the first location information; selecting at least one search area from the plurality of candidate areas corresponding to the first location information based on second location information of the user; and determining the location of the user using at least one search area.
US09363615B2

In this system, a terminal A retrieves terminal's input delay time Tia from input of an audio signal to start of transmission of the audio signal, transmission delay time Tn from the start of transmission of the audio signal to reception of the audio signal by a partner terminal B, partner's reception buffering delay time Tbfb from reception of the audio signal to output of the audio signal by a reception buffer portion BFb of the partner terminal B, and partner's output delay time Tob from input of the audio signal to output of the audio signal by an audio reproduction portion DRob of the partner terminal B. The terminal A then sums up these delay times to determine input/output delay time Ttab from the input of the audio signal by the terminal A to the output of the audio signal by the audio reproduction portion DRob of the partner terminal B.
US09363613B2

Disclosed herein, among other things, are methods and apparatus for providing an environmentally sealed hearing assistance device that is easy to manufacture. One aspect of the present subject matter includes a method of manufacturing a hearing assistance device. A hearing assistance device electrical component is placed into a mold and a liquid polymer resin is inserted into the mold. The polymer resin is cured into a solid state to encase the electrical component. In various embodiments, the hearing assistance device is assembled using the encased electrical component. The polymer resin is adapted to resist moisture ingress and to protect the electrical component from corrosion, shock and vibration, in various embodiments.
US09363611B2

A rotary sound transducer having an improved output at higher frequencies. The invention includes stiff vanes that are preferably rigidly attached to a hub. A torsional actuator is provided in each vane. The torsional actuator selectively twists the tip portion of each vane. The torsional actuator for each vane is activated by an input energy source corresponding to the sound waves that are desired. The input force may also be electromechanical energy, purely mechanical energy, or some other form of energy.
US09363609B2

Embodiments show a method for fabricating a cavity structure, a semiconductor structure, a cavity structure for a semiconductor device and a semiconductor microphone fabricated by the same. In some embodiments the method for fabricating a cavity structure comprises providing a first layer, depositing a carbon layer on the first layer, covering at least partially the carbon layer with a second layer to define the cavity structure, removing by means of dry etching the carbon layer between the first and second layer so that the cavity structure is formed.
US09363604B2

A speaker box includes a case includes an upper side and a lower side opposite to the upper side, an electroacoustic transducer received in the case and including a first pole plate with a plurality of first gaps for communicating with the magnetic gap, a second pole plate attached on a lower surface of the first pole plate. The second pole plate defines a second main member, a plurality of second auxiliary members extending from a periphery of the first main member, and a plurality of second gaps corresponding to the first gaps. Each of the second auxiliary members defines a longer auxiliary member and a shorter auxiliary member respectively.
US09363602B2

Embodiments of the subject invention relate to a method and apparatus for providing virtualized audio files. Specific embodiments relate to a method and apparatus for providing virtualized audio files to a user via in-ear speakers or headphones. A specified embodiment can provide Surround Sound virtualization with DTS Surround Sensations software. Embodiments can utilize the 2-channel audio transmitted to the headphones. In order to accommodate for the user moving the headphones in one or more directions, and/or rotating the headphones, while still allowing the user to perceive the origin of the audio remains is a fixed location, heading data regarding the position of the headphones, the angular direction of the headphones, the movement of the headphones, and/or the rotation of the headphones can be returned from the headphones to a PC or other processing device. Additional processing of the audio files can be performed utilizing all or a portion of the received data to take into account the movement of the headphones.
US09363598B1

An audio-based system may perform audio beamforming and/or sound source localization based on multiple input microphone signals. Each input microphone signal can be calibrated to a reference based on the energy of the microphone signal in comparison to an energy indicated by the reference. Specifically, respective gains may be applied to each input microphone signal, wherein each gain is calculated as a ratio of a energy reference to the energy of the input microphone signal.
US09363584B1

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium may include instructions stored thereon that. When executed by at least one processor, the instructions may be configured to cause a computing system to at least determine which links connecting old super blocks to old spine blocks via a plurality of Optical Circuit Switches (OCSs) in a network to disconnect to accommodate at least one new super block and at least one new spine block being added to a switching network, the determining including determining a maximum of m links per OCS to disconnect, connect the old super blocks to the at least one new spine block via the OCSs associated with the links to be disconnected, and connect the at least one new super block to the old spine blocks via the OCSs associated with the links to be disconnected.
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