US08101244B2
An apparatus and method are provided for producing a plurality of products or processing a plurality of samples via dispensing. The apparatus and method provide real-time monitoring of the products/samples and can provide real-time control. The apparatus and method can monitor the liquid both before and after it has been added to a carrier substrate. The apparatus and method can provide monitoring of each product/sample that is processed.
US08101237B2
Methods and compositions for depositing a tellurium containing film on a substrate are disclosed. A reactor and at least one substrate disposed in the reactor are provided. A tellurium containing precursor is provided and introduced into the reactor, which is maintained at a temperature of at least 100° C. Tellurium is deposited on to the substrate through a deposition process to form a thin film on the substrate.
US08101228B2
Preparation method for meat-based products with the direct incorporation of olive oil and the addition of the feta type cheese, which involves the following stages: (a) mixing of fat-free meat with water, salt, preservatives and auxiliary salts (b) addition of olive oil and mixing (c) addition of feta pieces and mixing (d). storage of the mixture with simultaneous vacuum application and pasteurization (e) deep-freezing of the product. The meat-based products with olive oil and feta prepared in line with the aforementioned method have exceptional solidness, as far as structure is concerned, and retain the physical-chemical characteristics of the olive oil and the organoleptic characteristics of the feta contained in the products. Using the aforementioned method, preparation of such products can be assured even without the incorporation of olive oil, with the addition of feta type cheese only.
US08101222B2
A drinking container for decanting, filtering, mixing and/or aerating a beverage. The drinking container comprises a bowl having an upper opening and an aerating cell having a wall, an upper opening along the top of the cell and a plurality of openings or perforations through the wall. The cup-shaped cell has an upwardly facing hollow or concave configuration, optionally with a central upwardly extending protrusion, and is attached to and within the bowl, to decant, filter, mix and/or aerate a beverage that is poured through the bowl upper opening and into the cell upper opening, and subsequently flows through the at least one perforation into the bowl. Preferably, the drinking container is a wine glass having a base and stem supporting the bowl and the beverage is wine.
US08101221B2
Methods of preserving fresh produce with a produce preservative which extends the shelf life of fresh produce, particularly cut fresh produce, and preserves the texture, flavor, appearance, crispness, and color of the fresh produce, particularly the exposed surface of the fresh produce, are provided. The method comprises: providing a solution of produce preservative comprising: water; a preservative cation which is selected from the group consisting of a strontium ion, lithium ion, barium ion, aluminum ion, copper ion, ammonium ion, iron ion, manganese ion, potassium ion, or mixtures thereof; and ascorbate ions, or erythorbate ions; wherein the ascorbate ions or erythorbate ions and the preservative cation are present in an ion ratio of preferably from 0.2:1 to 8:1, more preferably 0.75:1 to 8:1, even more preferably from 1:1 to 4:1, yet more preferably 1.5:1 to 3:1; most preferably 1.1:1 to 2.5:1; and, applying said produce preservative to the produce. The invention also relates to fresh produce preserved with the produce preservatives.
US08101219B2
An apparatus and method is provided for preparing liquid egg products, for example pure egg whites, whole eggs and egg products either alone or mixed with spices, vegetables or other ingredients, in a microwave oven. The container for preparing the liquid egg products is relatively inexpensive and disposable. In another embodiment of the present invention, a method is provided for preparing liquid egg products in a disposable, microwavable container in which the liquid egg product expands while cooking and partially removes the lid of the container to create a delicious meal of properly cooked, fresh egg product, that are ready for consumption.
US08101205B2
The invention relates to the field of pharmacology. More specific, the invention relates to a controlled release composition.This invention is related to a controlled release composition comprising a cross-linked gelatin and at least one therapeutic protein wherein the ratio of the average mesh size (ξ) of the gelatin matrix and the average hydrodynamic radius (RH) of the therapeutic protein is smaller than 2, preferably smaller than 1.5.
US08101204B2
A method for making clear hard vegetarian gelatin free two piece capsules by creating the first phase of the biphasic system using seaweed extract, gellan gum, metallic element, maltol extract, seaweed extract and water. A filler is created for the first phase of the biphasic network by blending water, galactomannan extract, and cellulose. The filler is then mixed into the system forming a biphasic system, a first pin is then dripped into the blend and then a second pin is then dripped into the blend. Blowing hot air on the dipped pins, which then blows away water on the outer surface of the dipped pins to bond and lock moisture to the cellulose. A large diameter capsule piece is removed from the first pin and a small diameter capsule piece is removed from the second pin, wherein each capsule piece has an outer surface which is mechanically and dimensionally stable.
US08101197B2
Coils, such as embolic coils, can include a substrate; and a porous material supported by the substrate. Related methods, devices, and compositions, can include: injecting a material into a container containing the coil; and forming the material into a coating that is supported by the coil and/or contacting the coil with a composition comprising a first polymer and a gelling precursor; and forming the composition into a coating that is supported by the coil.
US08101193B2
The invention is related to an immunogenic composition, vaccine or pharmaceutical composition for preventing, boosting or treating infection caused by a species of the tuberculosis complex (M. tuberculosis, M. Bovis, M. africanum, M. microti). The immunogenic composition, vaccine or pharmaceutical composition comprise a fusion polypeptide, which comprises one or more starvation antigens from M. tuberculosis, the units of the fusion polypeptide being M. tuberculosis antigens. Further, the invention is related to the use of a vaccine comprising a fusion polypeptide sequence or nucleic acid sequence of the invention given at the same time as BCG, either mixed with BCG or administered separately at different sites or routes for preparing said immunogenic composition, vaccine, or pharmaceutical composition.
US08101191B2
Provided are mycobacteria comprising (a) a mutation that is not in a SecA2 gene that attenuates the virulence of the mycobacteria in a mammalian host, and (b) a mutation in a SecA2 gene that eliminates SecA2 activity. Also provided are mycobacteria that comprise a mutation in a SecA2 gene that eliminates SecA2 activity, where the mycobacteria are not Mycobacterium tuberculosis or Mycobacterium smegmatis. Additionally provided are methods of inducing an immune response in a mammal and methods of inducing an immune response to a pathogenic mycobacterium in a human using the above mycobacterial mutants.
US08101184B2
The present invention provides antibodies and immunologically functional fragments thereof that specifically bind Dkk-1 polypeptides. The subject antibodies and fragments bind with high affinity to a conformational epitope located in the carboxy region of the Dkk-1 protein. Methods for preparing such antibodies or fragments thereof as well as physiologically acceptable compositions containing the antibodies or fragments are also provided. Use of the antibodies and fragments to treat various diseases including bone disorders, inflammatory diseases, neurological diseases, ocular diseases, renal diseases, pulmonary diseases and skin diseases are also disclosed.
US08101182B2
Disclosed in the present invention are antibodies that specifically recognize and antagonize human TSLP receptor, and methods of employing these antibodies to treat or ameliorate diseases or disorder mediated by TSLP signaling.
US08101178B2
Antibodies directed to the antigen TNFα and uses of such antibodies. In particular, fully human monoclonal antibodies directed to the antigen TNFα. Nucleotide sequences encoding, and amino acid sequences comprising, heavy and light chain immunoglobulin molecules, particularly sequences corresponding to contiguous heavy and light chain sequences spanning the framework regions and/or complementarity determining regions (CDR's), specifically from FR1 through FR4 or CDR1 through CDR3. Hybridomas or other cell lines expressing such immunoglobulin molecules and monoclonal antibodies.
US08101170B2
The invention relates to a probiotic health or fitness promoting human or animal foodstuff and/or drinking water additive, comprising a mixture of microorganisms, selected from the group Enterococcus faecium, DSM 16211, Lactobacillus reuteri, DSM 16350, Lactobacillus salivarius ssp. salivarius, DSM 16351, Pediococcus acidilactici, DSM 16210, Bifidobacterium animalis and DSM 16284. The invention further relates to a use of the human or animal foodstuff and/or drinking water additive, in particular for prevention of the harmful effect of a number of undesirable germs in the digestive system of animals and/or domestic birds.
US08101167B2
The invention relates to compositions containing an agent that has an irritant side effect and a conditioned cell culture medium and/or of an extract thereof, for use, e.g., in the treatment of signs of inflammation and/or of immune disorders, the medium being obtainable by contact with at least one culture of digestive tract cells and at least one probiotic microorganisms. Methods of use.
US08101163B2
The present invention is directed to transdermal compositions and the uses thereof. These compositions include at least one of the following components: a C1-C6 dialkyl, C12-C30 dialkyl quaternary ammonium salt, a C12-C30 fatty acid, a nitrogenous organic base, C12-30 fatty alcohol, monoglyceride or the reaction products thereof.
US08101151B2
A process for the production of a valve metal oxide powder, in particular an Nb2O5 or Ta2O5 powder by continuous reaction of a fluoride-containing valve metal compound with a base in the presence of water and calcination of the resultant product, wherein the reaction is performed in just one reaction vessel and at a temperature of at least 45° C. Valve metal oxide powders obtainable in said manner which exhibit a spherical morphology, a D50 value of 10 to 80 μm and an elevated BET surface area.
US08101136B2
The present invention relates to a rapid method for estimation of Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) of water, COD is an important parameter for determining the extent of pollution in water bodies, the basic principle of COD estimation is not much different from prior art but the time taken is reduced considerably and the results are equally sensitive and reproducible as other methods and the method used to generate data on the performance of effluent treatment plants in remote areas or rural areas, it also provide regular and sequential information on the quality of effluent generated by food processing industries.
US08101133B2
A radial flow reactor is disclosed for use in gas purification, separation or reaction processes and most suitably used in prepurification processes. The reactor has two concentric internal baskets which are rigidly supported at both the top and bottom ends of the reactor. The reactor has a removable section in the inner basket to accommodate rotating arms to dense load one or more layers of active materials between the concentric baskets.
US08101129B2
In a nano filter structure for breathing and a manufacturing method of the nano filter structure, a semiconductor process technology is used for manufacturing a nano filter structure comprising a top gate, a bottom gate, a plurality of sidewall gates and a plurality of supports. The sidewall gates include a plurality of filterable gratings, and the filterable gratings are controlled precisely to a nanoscale by a semiconductor process technology. Therefore, the nano filterable gratings can be manufactured easily and quickly, and the multilayer design of the filterable gratings enhances the aperture ratio of a filter material, such that users can inhale or exhale easily through the filter material.
US08101122B2
The invention includes a turbine cover bucket of an alloy including carbon at less than approximately 0.04 weight percent, manganese at approximately 0.0-0.2 weight percent, silicon at approximately 0.0-0.25 weight percent, phosphorus at approximately 0.0-0.015 weight percent, sulfur at approximately 0.0-0.015 weight percent, chromium from approximately 20.0-23.0 weight percent, molybdenum from approximately 8.5-9.5 weight percent, niobium from approximately 3.25-4 weight percent, tantalum at approximately 0.0-0.05 weight percent, titanium from approximately 0.2-0.4 weight percent, aluminum from approximately 0.15-0.3 weight percent, iron from approximately 3.0-4.5 weight percent, and the remainder being nickel. The alloy is heat treated at 538° C. to 760° C. for up to 100 hours. A method of manufacturing the turbine bucket cover is also provided.
US08101112B2
A process for producing a molded article includes the mixing step of mixing a plant material, water and a thermoplastic resin to obtain a molding material, and the injecting and molding step of injecting the molding material in a molding die and molding the molding material with the molding die to obtain the molded article. In the mixing step, a material containing lignin in an amount of 10% by mass or more when the total amount of the plant material is taken as 100% by mass is used as the plant material, the thermoplastic resin is mixed in an amount of 5 to 50% by mass and the plant material is mixed in an amount of 50 to 95% by mass when the total amount of the thermoplastic resin and the plant material is taken as 100% by mass, water is mixed in an amount of 5 to 200% by mass based on 100% by mass of the plant material, and the plant material, water and the thermoplastic resin are nixed while thernofusing the thermoplastic resin.
US08101106B2
Molding material that includes a layer of fibrous reinforcing material having one surface on which a first layer of a resin partially impregnates the fibrous material and a further resin layer located on the opposite surface which retains in position surface fibers of the fibrous material. The further resin layer is of lower weight than the first layer and is formed as an openwork structure with a solid part and spaces through which the fibrous material is exposed.
US08101104B2
According to an aspect of the present invention, a stent is provided, which contains at least one filament that has a longitudinal axis and comprises a bioabsorbable polymeric material. Polymer molecules within the bioabsorbable polymeric material are provided with a helical orientation which is aligned with respect to the longitudinal axis of the filament. The stent is at least partially bioabsorbed by a patient upon implantation or insertion of the stent into the patient.
US08101099B2
A voltage is applied on an interdigitated electrode provided on one main face of a single-domain ferroelectric single crystal substrate to form a periodic domain inversion structure, the interdigitated electrode is removed and the one main face of the substrate is machined to remove the surface region of the substrate to form a machined surface. The optical waveguide is then formed in the substrate.
US08101088B2
The present invention relates to a process for decontaminating aqueous media comprising organic contaminants.The process is targeted at reducing the COD and/or the TOC of an aqueous medium comprising organic molecules. It consists in subjecting the aqueous medium to an electron beam generated by an electron accelerator in the presence of a catalyst and in then removing the precipitates formed from the treated solution, said catalyst comprising a metal ion persulfate and optionally an Fe(II) salt or an Fe(III) salt.
US08101084B2
The invention provides a heterocycle-substituted aromatic compound represented by the following Formula (I). In Formula (I), one of R2, R3, and R4 is Ry at a meta- or para-position with respect to Rx, R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 not including Ry each independently representing a hydrogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms, or a sulfonate group, where R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 not including Ry are not hydrogen atoms all together; Rx and Ry each independently represent the following heterocyclic substituent, R6 and R7 in the heterocyclic substituents each independently representing a hydrogen atom or methyl group, and A representing a five-membered or six-membered heterocyclic group containing at least one nitrogen atom.
US08101081B2
Disclosed is a method of denitrifying a solution including introducing into the solution an amount of a carbon source within a duration and at a frequency so that indigenous heterotrophic bacteria deplete dissolved oxygen in the solution and obtain oxygen from nitrate in the solution. Related apparatuses and compounds also are disclosed.
US08101066B2
An improved fluidized coking process wherein an effective amount of a basic material, preferably an alkali or alkaline-earth metal-containing compound, is added to the coking zone to mitigate agglomeration of the coke during the coking of a heavy hydrocarbonaceous feedstock to produce lower boiling products.
US08101065B2
Methods for determining a concentration of an analyte in a sample, and the devices and systems used in conjunction with the same, are provided herein. In one exemplary embodiment of a method for determining a concentration of an analyte in a sample, a sample including an analyte is provided in a sample analyzing device having a working and a counter electrode. An electric potential is applied between the electrodes and a fill time of the sample into the device is calculated. A concentration of the analyte in view of fill time can then be determined. Systems and devices that take advantage of the fill time to make analyte concentration determinations are also provided.
US08101062B2
A method for determining a concentration of an analyte is disclosed. The method includes applying a potential excitation to a fluid sample containing an analyte and determining if a current decay curve associated with the fluid sample has entered an analyte depletion stage. The method also includes measuring a plurality of current values associated with the fluid sample during the analyte depletion stage and calculating an analyte concentration based on at least one of the plurality of current values.
US08101056B2
A hollow electrochemical cell is provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a hollow electrochemical cell includes two sets of electrodes and an opening for admitting an analyte to the cell. At least one of the two sets of electrodes can be in fluid communication with the opening. Further, a first set of electrodes can include a working electrode spaced from a counter or counter/reference electrode by less than 500 μm one embodiment the working and counter or counter/reference electrodes are not co-planer. In another embodiment the working and counter or counter/reference electrodes are of substantially corresponding area. In yet another embodiment the working and counter or counter/reference electrodes are spaced from 100 to 200 μm apart. The first set of electrodes and the second set of electrodes can be spaced apart by greater than about 500 μm. Other embodiments of a hollow electrochemical cell are also provided, as are several embodiments of a glucose sensor.
US08101053B2
An axial flow electrolytic cell includes an outer layer made of a polyolefin material and formed as a tube. An outer layer liner lines an inside surface of the outer layer. The outer layer liner is formed as a metal tube. A middle layer is mounted inside the outer layer. The middle layer further includes a middle flow inlet and a middle flow outlet. The middle layer is formed as a metal tube. An inside layer is mounted inside the middle layer. The inside layer has an inside flow inlet and an inside flow outlet. The inside layer is formed as a middle tube. The first electrical connector is mounted to the middle layer at a middle layer connection. The first electrical connector passes through the outer layer and outer layer liner at an outer layer opening. A second electrical connector mounts to the outer layer liner and the inside layer.
US08101051B2
A large amount of a gas mixture of hydrogen and oxygen can be effectively generated over a long time. A positive electrode and a negative electrode are immersed in an electrolytic cell filled with an electrolytic solution, and a DC or AC voltage is applied across the two electrodes. A plurality of intermediate electrodes are arranged between the two electrodes. The electrolytic cell is sealed by a sealing cover. The gas mixture of hydrogen and oxygen generated by electrolysis is taken out through a discharge opening provided in the sealing cover.
US08101046B2
The present invention provides methods for producing a base paper for coated printing paper and a coated paper by neutral papermaking using a roll and blade gap former type paper machine including a drainage mechanism based on a drainage blade immediately downstream of initial drainage via a forming roll, comprising adding a cationic polyacrylamide-based material having a weight-average molecular weight of 10,000,000 or more determined by intrinsic viscosity measurement as a retention aid to a stock to convert it into paper. According to the present invention, the retention, formation and internal bond strength of the stock can be improved. In the present invention, an anionic microparticle and/or a coagulant can also be used.
US08101043B2
A method for bonding a substantially transparent substrate within an opening of a structure, including steps of applying to a substantially transparent substrate a primer composition that includes a colorant; applying an adhesive to the structure defining the opening; and installing the substantially transparent substrate within the opening, wherein the resulting installed substrate is substantially free of any ceramic enamel. Also disclosed are assemblies that include a primer composition that includes a colorant and is substantially free of any ceramic enamel.
US08101041B2
A method of attaching a gasket to a plastic surface includes providing a plastic material having a surface; applying sufficient heat to the surface to melt the surface while other portions of the plastic material remain solid; providing a liquid gasket material on the heated surface while the heated surface is melted; and allowing the liquid gasket material and the surface to cool so the gasket is welded to the plastic material.
US08101040B2
A fusion-bonded body which includes a fusion-bonded part obtained by fusion-bonding to each other a first part to be fusion-bonded which comprises a first thermoplastic resin and first carbon fibers and a second part to be fusion-bonded which comprises a second thermoplastic resin and second carbon fibers. Also provided is a method for producing the fusion-bonded body which comprises a fusion-bonding step in which the first part to be fusion-bonded is brought into close contact with the second part to be fusion-bonded, an electric current is caused to flow through the two parts to generate heat and melt the first thermoplastic resin and second thermoplastic resin, and the molten resins are solidified to form a fusion-bonded part.
US08101036B2
In an illustrative embodiment, two panels of different materials may be bonded with a structural adhesive composition comprising microcapsules containing corrosion inhibiting materials for protecting the panels from corrosion. For example, a steel vehicle door outer panel may be bonded to an aluminum alloy or magnesium alloy inner panel using an epoxy adhesive. Dispersed within the uncured adhesive are an abundance of microcapsules filled with a fluid or mobile material for reacting with the iron and/or aluminum or magnesium to inhibit corrosion arising from the facing surfaces of the mixed metal panels. The protective material is released from the microcapsules for diffusion through the cured or uncured interfacial adhesive to react with one or both panel surfaces and form a protective coating on the surfaces.
US08101035B2
A mandrel and method of making a mandrel for use as a substrate in the manufacture of woven or braided articles. The mandrel may have an inner core of foam; at least a first layer of carbon fiber-reinforced resin, and an outer layer of glass fiber-reinforced resin. The foam core may be a high density, closed cell polyurethane foam that is formed of a desired size and shape. The fibers in the first layer and outer layer may be, for example, chopped fibers, continuous longitudinally aligned fibers, circumferentially wound fibers, obliquely aligned fibers, or the fibers may have a woven or braided pattern. Multiple mandrels may be joined together to form complex mandrel shapes such as curves, ovals, and circles.
US08101033B2
Alkali metal perchlorate-containing gas generant compositions which, upon combustion, produce or result in an improved effluent and related methods for generating an inflation gas for use in an inflatable restraint system are provided. Such alkali metal perchlorate-containing gas generant compositions include at least one alkali metal perchlorate present with a mean particle size in excess of 100 microns. Such alkali metal perchlorate-containing gas generant compositions also include or contain a suitable non-azide, organic, nitrogen-containing fuel and at least one copper-containing compound selected from the group consisting of basic copper nitrate, cupric oxide, copper diammine dinitrate-ammonium nitrate mixture wherein ammonium nitrate is present in the mixture in a range of about 3 to about 90 weight percent, copper diammine bitetrazole, a copper-nitrate complex resulting from reaction of 5-aminotetrazole with basic copper nitrate and combinations thereof.
US08101032B1
A cost-effective, renewable ethanol-based solid fuel compound, and method of making the fuel for hybrid rocket engines. Gelling agents, preferably methylcellulose can be used in conjunction with calcium acetate or calcium acetate alone make a stiff plastic out of ethanol to improve its properties for hybrid rocket engine. The increased stiffness of an ethanol-based fuel gel, increases yield stress that allows rapid acceleration of rockets. The low cost bio-fuel based on solidified ethanol rather than expensive petroleum derived substances lowers the cost of volume rocket launches, lowers the cost of access to orbit and provides safer sounding rocket flights into space. The resulting raw gel can further be mixed with a cross linking compound and water to form a stiffer material. Alternatively, the resulting raw gel can be frozen by liquid nitrogen.
US08101030B2
A manufacturing method for a composite alloy bonding wire is provided. A primary material of Au and Ag is melted in a vacuum melting furnace, and then a secondary metal material of Pd is added into the vacuum melting furnace and is co-melted with the primary material to obtain a Au—Ag—Pd alloy solution. The obtained Au—Ag—Pd alloy solution is drawn to obtain a Au—Ag—Pd alloy wire. The Au—Ag—Pd alloy wire is then drawn to obtain a Au—Ag—Pd alloy bonding wire with a predetermined diameter.
US08101025B2
A method for controlling corrosion of a substrate is provided herein. In one embodiment, a method for controlling corrosion of a substrate includes the steps of providing a substrate having a patterned photoresist layer with a metallic residue disposed thereon; exposing the substrate to a hydrogen-based plasma to remove the metallic residue; and removing the photoresist. The metallic residue may comprise residue from etching at least one of aluminum or copper. The metallic residue may further comprise a halogen compound from etching a metal-containing layer with a halogen-based process gas. The hydrogen-based plasma may comprise hydrogen (H2) and may further comprise at least one of nitrogen (N2) and water (H2O) vapor. The hydrogen-based plasma may further comprise an inert gas, such as argon (Ar).
US08101018B2
In a method for fabricating a semiconductor device and an apparatus for inspecting a semiconductor, laser processing is performed at different laser powers at different positions on a monitor substrate from a plurality of substrates having undergone an SPC step, to form polycrystalline silicon film over the entire area of the substrate. Thereafter, in an optimum power inspection/extraction step, the polycrystalline silicon film formed with varying film quality on the monitor substrate is inspected on inspection equipment to determine the optimum laser power. Then, in a laser processing step, the surface of the subsequent substrates having undergone the SPC step is irradiated with laser at the optimum laser power. Thus, high-quality polycrystalline silicon film is formed over the entire area of the substrate.
US08101015B2
A coating material is described herein that includes at least one inorganic compound, and at least one densifying agent, wherein the densifying agent increases the density of the coating material as compared to the density of the at least one inorganic compound. A method of producing a coating material is described herein that includes: providing at least one inorganic compound, providing at least one densifying agent, combining the at least one inorganic compound with the at least one densifying agent to form the coating material, wherein the densifying agent increases the density of the coating material as compared to the density of the at least one inorganic compound.
US08101009B2
This abstract discusses membranes needed to separate fluids for the production of oxygen-enriched air, nitrogen-enriched-air, for the separation of carbon dioxide from hydrocarbons, and the separation of hydrogen from various petrochemical and oil refining streams. Membranes are needed that provide a resistance to interaction with process components or contaminants, provide the mechanical strength required to withstand high membrane differential pressures and high process temperatures, and exhibit sufficient maximum strain such that membranes are not brittle and can easily be formed into desirable membrane forms. Membranes of polyimide polymers, particularly polyimide polymers sold under the trade name P-84, are annealed in a controlled annealing step to improve the mechanical properties of the polymers used to make separation membranes. The resulting annealed polyimide polymer is used to produce various forms of high strength, chemically resistant membranes, including hollow-fiber membranes that are suitable for high pressure, high temperature applications.
US08101001B2
A cyclone separating device of a cleaner includes an upstream cyclone separating device and a downstream cyclone separating device. The upstream separating device communicates with the downstream cyclone separating device through a gas passage. The upstream cyclone separating device has a first cyclone barrel, while the downstream cyclone separating device has at least one second cyclone barrel. The downstream cyclone separating device is lying and set above the upstream separating device. The size of the cyclone separating device of the present invention is small in radial direction. The height of the cyclone separating device which is the sum of the height of the upstream cyclone separating device plus the height of the lying downstream cyclone separating device lying down is low.
US08100999B2
A separating apparatus for a cleaning appliance, such as a vacuum cleaner, includes a separator for separating dirt and dust from a fluid flow and a collecting chamber arranged to collect dirt and dust separated by the separator. A first catch for opening a closure member on the collecting chamber is provided, with first releasing means for releasing this catch. There is also provided a second catch for releasing the collecting chamber from the separator and second releasing means for releasing the second catch. The second releasing means is inaccessible when the first catch is engaged. A cover associated with the first releasing means obscures the second releasing means until the first catch has been released. The invention prevents the user from accidentally releasing the collecting chamber from the separator when it was the user's intention simply to empty dirt and dust from the collecting chamber.
US08100976B2
An interbody device for the fixation and support of adjacent bone bodies includes a body for implantation at a location between the two vertebrae and one or more protrusions extending from the body. The protrusion(s) are configured for engagement with one of the vertebrae upon implantation and for progressive penetration into the vertebra over a period of time subsequent to the implantation.
US08100968B2
A jamming retainer for fixing a ligament in a bone tunnel without excessive sideways pressure on the ligament that may result in tissue necrosis, the jamming retainer including a substantially rigid body with a bore or loop for receiving a ligament or tendon and a bore or ring for receiving a suture for towing the jamming retainer and ligament or tendon through a bone tunnel. Once positioned, the jamming retainer is fixed in the bone tunnel with an interference screw.
US08100945B2
A prosthetic device for insertion in a spinal column includes a first, second, and third members. The first member includes an inferiorly extending tab and is of a relatively flexible material. The second member includes a superiorly extending tab and is of a relatively flexible material. The third member defines a superior opening for receiving the inferiorly extending tab and an inferior opening for receiving the superiorly extending tab and is of a relatively stiff material. The device also includes a means for providing a rigid connection of the third member to a vertebra.
US08100941B2
A barbed suture includes a flexible thread having a leading end and a trailing end, and a plurality of barbs projecting from the flexible thread. The flexible thread has a plurality of web-like openings formed therein, whereby each of the openings is disposed adjacent one of the barbs. The openings enhance the flexibility of the barbs and provide space for the barbs to collapse inwardly as the leading end of the flexible thread is pulled through a medium such as tissue. When the barbs are collapsed, the diameter of the barbed sections is preferably no greater than the diameter of the non-barbed sections. In one embodiment, a support element interconnects at least one of the barbs and the flexible thread for reinforcing the at least one barb and resisting flexure of the at least one barb toward the leading end of the flexible thread.
US08100940B2
A barbed suture for connecting tissue, and a combination surgical needle with a barbed suture. The suture includes an elongated body and a plurality of barbs projecting from the body. Each barb causes the suture to resist movement in an opposite direction from which the barb faces. The disposition of the barbs on the body may be staggered, twist cut multiple spiral, overlapping, or random. Also, the configuration of the barbs may be a certain spirality angle α, barb cut angle Θ, barb cut depth, barb cut length, barb cut distance, corrugated barb underside, arcuate barb base, or varying barb size.
US08100933B2
A method of treating a patient's paranasal sinus, such as the frontal sinus, having an obstructed or narrowed naturally occurring ostium or nasofrontal duct which does not have scar tissue or granulation tissue. A balloon of a balloon catheter is inflated in the obstructed or narrowed naturally occurring ostium or nasofrontal duct to enlarge the ostium or nasofrontal duct. The ostium or nasofrontal duct remains enlarged after the balloon catheter is removed.
US08100924B2
A surgical implant suitable for treatment of hernias is provided. The implant comprises a mesh having a residual maximum mass density of 50 g/m2. The mesh comprises strands forming spaces and the strands comprise filaments forming pores. The spaces and pores are sized to minimise foreign body mass for implantation and to encourage integration of the implant. The mesh may be delivered using Dual Phase Technology™ for ease of handling, cutting and placement. The Dual Phase Technology™ may include encapsulation or coating with hydrogel.
US08100920B2
The present invention relates to an improved endoscopic tissue apposition device having multiple suction ports. The invention permits multiple folds of tissue to be captured in the suction ports with a single positioning of the device and attached together by a tissue securement mechanism such as a suture, staple or other form of tissue bonding. The improvement reduces the number of intubations required during an endoscopic procedure to suture tissue or join areas of tissue together. The suction ports may be arranged in a variety of configurations on the apposition device to best suit the desired resulting tissue orientation. The inventive tissue apposition device may also incorporate tissue abrasion means to activate the healing process on surfaces of tissue areas that are to be joined by operation of the device to promote a more secure attachment by permanent tissue bonding.
US08100917B2
Methods and instrumentation for surgical procedures relating to preparation of vertebral bodies and a disc space for insertion of spinal implants is disclosed. One instrument is a shim having a blade and a shaft having a first end connected with the blade. The blade is inserted into a distracted disc space to maintain distraction during subsequent procedures. Another instrument is a driver for driving the blade of the shim into the distracted disc space. Various methods contemplate the use of these instruments to maintain disc space distraction during disc space preparation for receiving an implant.
US08100916B2
An instrument for inserting, adjusting and engaging an implant, such as a polyaxial screw of a spinal fixation system, includes at least one retractable tab for engaging a corresponding recess on the implant and a shaft that moves relative to the retractable tab. The movable shaft selectively moves the tab between an expanded position for engaging the recess and a retracted position out of engagement with the recess. The shaft selectively engages a portion of the implant to rigidify the implant after the retractable tab engages the recess. The axially extending shaft may be disposed within an axially extending passageway of a body assembly. A rotatable collar surrounding the body assembly is coupled to the shaft for moving the shaft relative to the retractable tab.
US08100900B2
The system of the preferred embodiments includes a first rotational element, a second rotational element, and a therapeutic source coupled to the rotational elements. The system permits simultaneous attachment to and movement around a surface of tissue, preferably during an ablation procedure (either during lesion creation or between lesion creation events), or during any other suitable procedure. The therapeutic source functions to translate along the path of tissue and deliver therapy as the first and second rotational elements rotate and roll along the path of tissue. The therapeutic source preferably delivers contiguous doses of therapy along the path of tissue. The system is preferably designed for delivering therapy to tissue and, more specifically, for delivering therapy to cardiac tissue. The system, however, may be alternatively used in any suitable environment and for any suitable reason.
US08100898B2
A system for determining probability of tissue damage is disclosed. The system includes an electrosurgical generator adapted to generate an electrosurgical current and a plurality of return electrodes adhered to a patient and adapted to couple to the electrosurgical generator. Each of the return electrodes includes an impedance sensor attached thereto. The system also includes a current monitor connected in series with each of the plurality of the return electrodes to measure the electrosurgical current passing therethrough and a processor coupled to each of the current monitors. The processor is configured to calculate a cooling factor and a heating factor for each of the plurality of the return electrodes. The processor further configured to determine probability of tissue damage for each of the plurality of the return electrodes as a function of the cooling factor and the heating factor.
US08100897B2
An electrical leakage detection method and system for use with laparoscopic electrosurgical instruments are provided. The present disclosure provides for an electrosurgical unit for providing electrosurgical energy at an active output thereof and for controlling the flow of the energy through the active output; an active electrode coupled to the active output for transmitting electrosurgical energy to a patient in an electrosurgical procedure; a first sensor disposed at a distal end of the active electrode and for outputting a first signal indicative of current measured at the distal end; a second sensor disposed at a proximal end of the active electrode and for outputting a second signal indicative of current measured at the proximal end; and a comparison circuit coupled to the first and second sensors for receiving the first and second signals and determining a difference value, the difference value being indicative of leakage current.
US08100893B2
A catheter assembly is disclosed according to one embodiment of the invention. The assembly includes a catheter body, a housing and a detector. The catheter includes a distal tip, a proximal end, and a fiber optic extending between the proximal end and the distal tip. The housing may include a channel adapted to support at least a portion of the distal tip of the catheter. The may be detector disposed within the housing so as to be spaced a fixed distance from the distal tip of the catheter. Methods for providing and calibrating a catheter supported within housing are also disclosed according to other embodiments of the invention.
US08100892B2
A medical device for fragmenting objects and aspirating remaining debris enables a physician or other medical personnel quickly and easily remove objects, such as kidney stones, from a patient. The medical device can include a dual-lumen elongated member and a handle coupled to the elongated member. A first one of the lumens provides a suction passageway, and a second one of the lumens receives a laser fiber for delivering laser energy to an object, such as a kidney stone, within the patient. The handle can include a positioning mechanism to enable the physician by manual manipulation to move and hold in place the laser fiber longitudinally within the second lumen.
US08100890B2
A compact, nonelectric fluid dispenser for use in controllably dispensing beneficial agents such as propofol and dexmedetomidine hydrochloride to patients. The dispenser includes a fluid flow control assembly that precisely controls the flow of the medicament solution to the patient and embodies a collapsible, pre-filled drug container that contains the beneficial agents to be delivered to the patient. The unit-dose fluid dispenser of the invention is presented in a sterile and aseptic manner, where the drug has been pre-filled in the system, so that the practitioner cannot mistakenly give the wrong drug to the patient. The dispenser uniquely provides a more efficient medicament delivery system for procedure rooms, such as the endoscopy center, so that a greater number of patients can be treated per day at a higher standard of care with increased profits for the healthcare provider.
US08100887B2
A reduced pressure treatment appliance is provided for enclosing and providing reduced pressure treatment to a portion of a body of a patient. The reduced pressure treatment appliance may be used to treat wounds and other conditions, such as lymphedema, varicose veins, venous insufficiency and stasis, and other infirmities. In some embodiments, the appliance includes an enclosure that encloses the portion of the body to be treated for purposes of applying a reduced pressure to the enclosed portion of the body. In other embodiments, the wound treatment appliance also includes a vacuum system to supply reduced pressure to the portion of the body to be treated in the volume under the enclosure. Finally, methods are provided for using various embodiments of the treatment appliance.
US08100882B2
A first guidewire structure includes a medical guidewire extendable beyond a distal end of a medical instrument and having first and second segments, wherein the bending moment of inertia of the first segment is less than the bending moment of inertia of the second segment. A second guidewire structure includes a medical guidewire extendable beyond a distal end of a medical instrument having a mechanized guidewire drive assembly. The medical guidewire has an exterior surface including a repetitive series of spaced-apart surface elevation features. One example of surface elevation features is external threads. The spaced-apart surface elevation features are adapted for operable engagement with the mechanized guidewire drive assembly.
US08100880B2
An automated therapy system having an infusion catheter; a sensor adapted to sense a patient parameter; and a controller communicating with the sensor and programmed to control flow output from the infusion catheter into a patient based on the patient parameter without removing fluid from the patient. The invention also includes a method of controlling infusion of a fluid to a patient. The method includes the following steps: monitoring a patient parameter with a sensor to generate a sensor signal; providing the sensor signal to a controller; and adjusting fluid flow to the patient based on the sensor signal without removing fluid from the patient.
US08100877B2
An absorbent article including a chassis having a front body and a back body with a waist opening and leg openings, and an absorbent body of higher stiffness than that of the chassis. The front body and the back body consist of a composite sheet stretchable in the width direction WD. A line DL and a line CL2′ form an angle in the range of 0 to 50 degrees. DL is a line connecting a bottom-most point PI on the connection between the front body and back body edge portions, and point P2 where the back body meets a crotch portion. CL2′ is a line in the transverse direction of the article which passes through the end point P2.
US08100871B2
A drug pump including a housing, reservoir, access port, flow restrictor mechanism, and refill port. The housing defines a discharge outlet, and maintains the reservoir in fluid communication with the refill port. The access port is fluidly connected to the discharge outlet. The flow restrictor mechanism is fluidly connected between the discharge outlet and the access port, positioned to establish outflow and inflow directions. The flow restrictor mechanism has flow restriction characteristics in the outflow direction that differ from flow restriction characteristics in the inflow direction. The flow restrictor mechanism partially restricts fluid flow in the outflow direction such that a clinician can sense a difference between an available injection rate through the access port as compared to through the refill port. Further, the flow restrictor mechanism does not overtly impede fluid withdrawal procedures via the access port.
US08100870B2
Methods and devices are provided for adjusting the height of devices in a gastric restriction system. In general, the methods and devices allow one or more implantable housings coupled to an implantable restriction device to have an adjustable height. The housing can include, for example, a fill port housing, a sensor housing, and any other type of housing that can be used in an implantable restriction system and desired to have an adjustable height. The housing can lower in profile over time, e.g., as the patient loses weight, thereby maintaining the housing in a generally predictable location where it can be found and accessed.
US08100862B2
A securement device holds a medical article such as a catheter hub or a connector fitting in position upon the body of a patient and at least inhibits distal, longitudinal movement of the medical article. The securement device includes a retainer and at least one anchor pad. The retainer includes an abutment wall and a slot. The slot has a labyrinth shape leading to a cradle part of the slot. At least a portion of the medical article is inserted into the cradle part through the slot. The abutment wall includes at least one abutment that abuts against a contact point or surface on the medical article to inhibit distal, longitudinal movement of the medical article.
US08100856B2
The invention discloses a balloon catheter comprising a catheter shaft, at the distal end of which an inflatable balloon is arranged and at the proximal end of which a connecting piece is arranged, comprising a guiding wire which can be passed through a guiding wire lumen of the catheter shaft from the proximal end to the distal end and through the balloon and an inflation or deflation lumen extending from the proximal end of the catheter shaft to the balloon, wherein a portion of the catheter shaft having a selectable length and extending from the proximal end is provided with a metal reinforcing pipe.
US08100851B2
An apparatus suitable for cleaning a surgically prepared working surface comprises a body portion adapted to supply pressurized fluid (preferably carbon dioxide gas) to the surgically prepared working surface and aspirate surface debris dislodged from the surgically prepared working surface. The apparatus further comprises a head portion adapted to constrain the supplied pressurized fluid to flow substantially along the surgically prepared working surface to dislodge debris there from when the head portion is in contact with the surgically prepared working surface. The dislodged surface debris are aspirated by the body portion. A second embodiment includes a Venturi-assisted cleaning head and is operable with or without an external source of vacuum.
US08100849B2
To accomplish isolation and removal of a substance from a vasculature, a catheter is employed to occlude a vessel of the vasculature. The substance is thus isolated in the vasculature and can be removed. In this way, the substance is removed before entering other parts of the circulatory system. This method is applicable to removal of contrast from the coronary sinus shortly after injection of the coronary arteries with the contrast. The method substantially minimizes or avoids renal dysfunction caused by angiographic procedures in which contrast must be injected. Such angiographic procedures are often performed during intervention procedures. This method substantially prevents circulation of the contrast to the kidneys where it could otherwise cause renal dysfunction or failure. The apparatus for implementation of the method is also disclosed.
US08100843B2
A medical cast and methods of using the same are disclosed. The method of making includes providing a shape memory polymer (SMP) in a permanent shape which corresponds to a limb's general shape but has a diameter smaller than the limb's diameter. The SMP is converted from the permanent shape into a primary temporary shape, which has a diameter larger than both a diameter of the permanent shape and a diameter of the limb. The limb is at least partially surrounded with the SMP in its primary temporary shape. The SMP is then heated, which causes the primary temporary shape to i) attempt to revert to the permanent shape, and ii) conform to a secondary temporary shape having a diameter smaller than that of the primary temporary shape and larger than that of the permanent shape. The SMP in the secondary temporary shape conforms to the limb.
US08100837B1
A guidewire formed at least in part of a superelastic member with a section having one or more altered properties including physical and mechanical properties. Preferably, the section of altered property has reduced superelasticity with respect to the remainder of the superelastic member. The invention also comprises method of manufacturing such guidewires wherein a section of the superelastic member is isolated and treated to change one or more of the properties. The treatment may be alloying with a diffusable element or isolating one or more sections to work and heat treat to decrease superelasticity relative to the rest of the member. The section having one or more altered properties is preferably a distal portion of the member, for example about the most distal 3 cm.
US08100835B2
Determining physiological life signs, with a sensor that is in contact with the surface of a patient's skin at point proximate an artery, and measuring arterial blood vessel displacement and/or blood pressure changes. A data stream of measurements of is collected and a set of parameters from the collected data, a number of physiological life signs parameters, is extracted from the data. The physiological life signs that can be extracted include heart rate, breathing rate, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure.
US08100834B2
A method and system for continually monitoring oxygenation levels in real-time in compartments of an animal limb, such as in a human leg or a human thigh or a forearm, can be used to assist in the diagnosis of a compartment syndrome. The method and system can include one or more near infrared compartment sensors in which each sensor can be provided with a compartment alignment mechanism and a central scan depth marker so that each sensor may be precisely positioned over a compartment of a living organism. The method and system can include a device for displaying oxygenation levels corresponding to respective compartment sensors that are measuring oxygenation levels of a compartment of interest. The method and system can also monitor the relationship between blood pressure and oxygenation levels and activate alarms based on predetermined conditions relating to the oxygenation levels or blood pressure or both.
US08100829B2
A system and method for providing an indicator of a patient's health. The system may include a data module receiving data relating to a patient's health, the data including subjective data, a conversion module generating an output from the data, the output representing the patient's health, and a display module displaying the output and a standard output for a user to compare with the output. A method of providing a customizable system for generating an indicator of a patient's health, the method including providing a system including a data module, a conversion module generating an output via a first algorithm, and a display module displaying the output and a standard output generated by a second algorithm, and customizing at least one of the first and second algorithms according to preferences of a user.
US08100817B2
The invention provides a press roller, having a roller jacket made of plastic material, for treating a web of paper, board, tissue or another fibrous material in a machine for the manufacturing and/or finishing thereof. The aim of the invention is to enlarge the application fields of the press roller. Said aim is achieved, whereby the outer surface of the roller jacket is at least partially provided with a temperature-resistant protective layer and/or covering.
US08100816B2
A training device for an ambulatory user is disclosed. The training device includes a harness to attach to the ambulatory user, a pair of wheels extending from opposite sides of a crossbar, and a weight holder connected between the crossbar and the harness. The weight holder is adapted to hold one or more removable weights. The training device can further include an elongated shock absorber connected to the harness to absorb compressive and expansive forces exerted on the harness at least in part by the ambulatory user.
US08100812B2
The invention relates to a process for controlling an automated friction clutch with a wear adjustment device that adjusts extended clutch stroke by a discrete magnitude through the wear of friction lining at maximum transmittable torque of the friction clutch. To guarantee safe self-adjustment, also during a long operation period under the maximum clutch torque, under specified preconditions, for instance, during the start of the internal combustion engine and without gear engagement, the friction clutch is closed for maximum clutch torque.
US08100810B2
An internal hub transmission includes a hub axle, a driver rotatably supported by the hub axle, a hub shell rotatably supported by the hub axle, a power transmission mechanism and a shift mechanism. The power transmission mechanism is disposed between the driver and the hub shell for transmitting rotational power from the driver to the hub shell through a plurality of power transmission paths. The power transmission mechanism has at least one planetary gear mechanism that includes a sun gear, a planetary gear and a gear ring. The planetary gear is supported by a gear rack. The planetary gear has helical gear teeth and at least one of the sun gear and the gear ring is provided with helical gear teeth that mesh to helical gear teeth of the planetary gear.
US08100796B2
An elevator load bearing assembly (40) includes a plurality of synthetic or polymer cords (42) within a urethane jacket (44). The cords are prestretched and the jacket prevents the stretched cords from relaxing. The inventive arrangement provides a load bearing assembly (40) that has little or no elastic or construction stretch.
US08100794B2
When disposing pins of different shapes at random, pins of small involute base circle radius are made not to be arranged contiguously, pins of relatively small length are made not to be arranged contiguously, and pins of relatively outward offset are made not to be arranged contiguously.
US08100791B2
A continuously variable transmission in which a sliding member is prevented from inclining is provided. The continuously variable transmission has a first oil passage provided in a movable sheave, and a second oil passage provided in a primary shaft supporting the movable sheave and connected in series to the first oil passage. A working oil is discharged from a hydraulic chamber via the first and second oil passages. The working oil is more difficult to discharge from the second oil passage than the first oil passage.
US08100779B2
Embodiments of golf club heads with a three-dimensional alignment member and methods to manufacture golf club heads are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US08100778B2
The present invention relates to a golf training device and method of use thereof. Specifically, the training device seeks to correct faults in a golfer's swing. The device enables correct alignment and correct swing path to be practised simultaneously while practising both shots or drills requiring a “square” alignment or shots or drills requiring an “open” or “closed” alignment. Furthermore, the device, and method of use thereof, can be used by all sizes of golfer, using all types and sizes of clubs, practising all types of shot.
US08100775B2
A driving wheel bearing apparatus has an inner ring 5 secured to a wheel hub 1 by a caulked portion 13. An outer joint member 14 of a constant velocity universal joint 3 has a shoulder portion 19 and a cylindrical shaft portion. Face splines 19a and 13a are formed at the end faces of the shoulder portion 19 and the caulked portion 13. Face splines 19a and 13a are supported with pressure by a fastening bolt 21 that abuts the outer side end face of the wheel hub 1 and is threadedly connected to an internal thread 20a of the shaft portion 20. Compressive remaining stress is placed on the surfaces of the face splines 19a and 13a as a result of surface modification, by shot peening. The surface hardness is set at 300 Hv or more.
US08100774B2
A universal joint includes a tube having a hollow shape; a slip bush inserted into the tube; and a shaft assembled with the tube through the slip bush, wherein the slip bush includes power transmission parts, which are arranged along an circumferential surface of the slip bush in an axial direction and have pins positioned at centers of the power transmission parts and supports supporting both ends of each pin, and elastic parts, which are arranged along the circumferential surface of the slip bush while being spaced from the power transmission parts and have a section with a C-shape, which is formed in such a manner that a side portion is cut out in the axial direction. Therefore, strength and rigidity are improved, even when twist is generated in the universal joint, so that clearance and noise due to abrasion, pressing, etc. can be minimized.
US08100767B2
A slot machine 1 of the present invention makes a control so as to: sequentially store the number of game values consumed per unit game; sequentially store the number of game values given per unit game; calculating a difference between the total number of game values given and the total number of game values consumed, as a game value difference; voice-outputting, by the conversation controller 91, an answer 136 corresponding to the game value difference from the speaker 23 in response to a voice input through the microphone 90, when the game value difference reaches a predetermined value; and delete the stored numbers of game values given and consumed, under a predetermined condition.
US08100763B2
A method and system for facilitating the play of a wagering game with a bonus game. Examples include keeping track of a number, which is increased based on wagers and optionally decreased based on other criteria providing a measure dependent on a player's average wager during play sessions. Examples provide a regular or base wagering game, provide a bonus play trigger, and when triggered, provide a bonus round with bonus play prize. Examples further provide a bonus play prize enhancement based on the value of the number maintained by the invention.
US08100752B2
A method displays a number of symbol locations with a respective graphic symbol at each symbol location. Each symbol location may comprise an actual reel or simulated reel which is capable of displaying any one of a number of graphic symbols included in a group of presentation symbols. This group of presentation symbols includes a target symbol. In response to a first player input, each of the number of symbol locations is caused to conduct a respective symbol change process one or more times to change the graphic symbol included at each respective symbol location to a respective one of the graphic symbols included in the group of presentation symbols. The symbol locations all ultimately stop at the end of a game cycle to show a respective graphic symbol included in the group of presentation symbols, and an award may be presented to the player at the end of the game cycle depending upon the particular graphic symbols shown at the various symbol locations. According to the invention, at least some of the awards available in the game are based at least in part on the absence of the target symbol at one or more of the number of symbol locations.
US08100741B2
A vibration device for a super finishing apparatus for super finishing a mechanical object is disclosed. It comprises at least two sliding means (1, 3), each comprising a guide (5, 7) and an element (9, 11) provided with a through hole (13) for receiving the guide (5, 7), allowing a relative movement between the guide (5, 7) and the element (9, 11) provided with the through hole (13), and a movable structure (15) fixed to the at least two sliding means (1, 3). Further, each sliding means (1, 3) presents at least one liquid fluid inlet (19) allowing a liquid fluid to enter the through hole (13) and suspend the guide (5, 7) in relation to an inner surface of the through hole (13). An attachment tool comprising the vibration device is also disclosed.
US08100737B2
A camisole comprising a tubular garment intended to be worn over a bra having shoulder straps. The camisole includes left and right suspension members, e.g., hooks, for suspending the camisole from the bra straps.
US08100734B2
An organic light emitting device an a method of obtaining illumination from such a device is provided. The device has a plurality of regions, each region having an organic emissive layer adapted to emit a different spectrum of light. The regions in combination emit light suitable for illumination purposes. The area of each region may be selected such that the device is more efficient than an otherwise equivalent device having regions of equal size. The regions may have an aspect ratio of at least about four. All parts of any given region may be driven at the same current.
US08100730B2
A ground joint connector (JC) has a housing (20) with cavities (21) for receiving female terminals (11). The ground joint connector (JC) also has a joint terminal (50) including a male terminal portion (51) with male terminals (55) to be accommodated in the respective cavities (21). A bracket (52) is connected with the male terminal portion (51) and includes a mounting portion (65) to be mounted on a grounding portion. The bracket (52) extends in an extending direction of the cavities (21) from the rear edge of the male terminal portion (51) and then is bent twice to define a crank shape. Reinforcing flanges (73) and ribs (75) are formed on a flat portion at a base end side of the bracket (52). The housing (20) includes receiving portions (46, 47) for tightly holding back ends of the flanges (73) and the ribs (75).
US08100729B2
A cable connector includes a connecting head, a wiring assembly and a cable. The cable is assembled with the wiring assembly, and then the wiring assembly is assembled with the connecting head, thereby forming a cable connector. The wiring assembly has a rear-half portion and a front-half portion that are connected to each other. The distal end of the rear-half portion is recessed to form a plurality of wiring ports. The interior of each wiring port is provided with a plurality of cable troughs. The cable troughs extend toward the front-half portion to form a plurality of wiring slots on the front-half portion.
US08100727B2
Methods and systems for providing crosstalk compensation in a jack are disclosed. According to one method, the crosstalk compensation is adapted to compensate for undesired crosstalk generated at a capacitive coupling located at a plug inserted within the jack. The method includes positioning a first capacitive coupling a first time delay away from the capacitive coupling of the plug, the first capacitive coupling having a greater magnitude and an opposite polarity as compared to the capacitive coupling of the plug. The method also includes positioning a second capacitive coupling at a second time delay from the first capacitive coupling, the second time delay corresponding to an average time delay that optimizes near end crosstalk. The second capacitive coupling has generally the same overall magnitude but an opposite polarity as compared to the first capacitive coupling, and includes two capacitive elements spaced at different time delays from the first capacitive coupling.
US08100723B2
A battery contact spring with a spring body manufactured as a flexible wire part is disclosed. The battery contact spring has a first contact head section for contacting a first battery; a second contact head section for contacting a second battery, and at least one first spiral spring section that extends between a spring foot area and the first contact head section and which flexibly supports the first contact head section. The spring body is designed in such a way that a coil end of the first spiral spring section opposite the spring foot area crosses over into the first contact head section and attached to this first head section is a connection bridge that crosses over into the second contact head section.
US08100710B1
A mounting apparatus is used to fix a flash drive mounted on a circuit board. The mounting apparatus includes a base, a first fixed member, and a second fixed member. The base includes a main body, a first fixed portion, and a second fixed portion. The first fixed member includes an opening, and a first hook-and-loop fastener. The first fixed member passes through the first fixed portion, and the opening for fixing the first fixed member to the base. The second fixed member includes two second hook-and-loop fasteners. Two ends of the second fixed member pass through the second fixed portion for fixing the second fixed member to the base. The first fixed member passes over the flash drive and fixes to the second fixed member by the first hook-and-loop fastener attached to one of the two second hook-and-loop fasteners for engaging the flash drive with a connector.
US08100704B1
A coaxial cable connector assembly includes a bracket defining an upright locating plate and a horizontal holder plate, a coaxial cable connector fastened to the upright locating plate for the connection of a coaxial cable, and a grounding wire connector consisting of an externally threaded male connector member and an internally threaded female connector member and fastened to the horizontal holder plate to hold a grounding wire for discharging of magnetic waves, surge or shocks occurred during signal transmission through the coaxial cable to avoid system damage and to assure signal transmission stability.
US08100688B2
The invention relates to a device for blow molding containers. The temperature of parisons, which are made of a thermoplastic material, is adjusted and the parisons are then molded in a blow mold under the effect of a pressurized medium to give containers. The blow mold which is composed of at least two blow mold segments is held in place by mold supports of a blow molding station (3) that is arranged on a supporting structure (41). A bottom part (7) is used in addition to the blow mold segments. Both the mold supports and the bottom part are arranged in such a way that they can be mechanically positioned. The mold supports and the bottom part are mechanically coupled to each other. One of the mold supports (19) is immobile and the other mold support is swiveled to the supporting structure. The bottom part has a trajectory relative to the mold support which has a component that extends in the longitudinal direction of the blow molding station and a component that extends at a right angle to the longitudinal direction.
US08100686B2
The invention relates to a curing tool (11) for curing a composite material part formed by bundles of fibers embedded in a resin matrix in an installation, such as an autoclave, allowing the curing of the part by means of applying high pressures and/or temperatures, comprising at least one mechanical vibrating actuator (1) acting on the curing tool (11) itself to facilitate resin distribution in the part during the curing process.
US08100684B2
An imprint lithography apparatus is disclosed that has a first array of template holders, a second array of template holders, and a substrate table arranged to support a substrate to be imprinted, wherein the first array of template holders is arranged to hold an array of imprint templates that can be used to imprint a first array of patterns onto the substrate, and the second array of template holders is arranged hold an array of imprint templates that can be used to imprint a second array of patterns onto the substrate, the patterns imprinted by the second array being interspersed between the patterns imprinted by the first array.
US08100673B2
A cooling fan (1) includes a fan housing (10), a stator (20), a rotor (30) and a bearing assembly (40). A tube (111) extends upwardly from a central portion of the fan housing. The stator is mounted around the tube. The bearing assembly includes a ball bearing (333) and a sleeve bearing (335) received in two ends of the tube, respectively. The rotor has a shaft (336) extending into and roratably supported by the bearing assembly. An elastic element (332) is arranged on the ball bearing to provide a pressing force on the ball bearing toward the sleeve bearing. An oil retaining element (339) is arranged around a bottom end of the shaft and spaced from the shaft. The oil retaining element is attached to the sleeve bearing to provide oil for the sleeve bearing.
US08100668B2
An apparatus and method for controlling an operation of a reciprocating compressor are disclosed in which a point of inflection with respect to an operation frequency of the reciprocating compressor is detected at a point of time when a phase difference between current and stroke is uniformly maintained, and an operation of the reciprocating compressor is controlled upon recognizing the detected point of inflection with respect to the operation frequency as a point TDC=O. The apparatus for controlling an operation of a reciprocating compressor includes: a control unit for detecting a phase difference between current and stroke and outputting a frequency inflection point detect signal or a frequency variable signal; and a stroke reference value control unit for determining whether a frequency inflection point has been detected or not according to the frequency inflection point detect signal and outputting a stroke reference value control signal based on the determining result.
US08100666B2
A rotor for a gas turbine engine having a stub shaft and an axis of rotation, the rotor including a turbine hub clamped to a coaxial tie shaft with a tie shaft nut, the stub shaft comprising: a hollow stub shaft body extending rearwardly axially of the turbine; a forward portion of the stub shaft body disposed radially outwardly of the tie shaft nut and removably mounted to a rearward portion of the turbine; and a rearward portion of the stub shaft body including an inner bearing race mounting surface.
US08100658B2
An axial-flow fluid machine blade which achieves reduction of the frictional loss of the blade and provision of a high surge-resistant property is provided. An axial-flow fluid machine blade 60 used for an axial-flow fluid machine includes a leading edge 61 projecting at the tip portion and the root portion thereof toward the upstream side and a trailing edge 62 projecting at the tip portion, the mid-span portion and the root portion thereof toward the downstream side.
US08100656B2
A fan apparatus for a cooking device is provided having a fan impeller that is held on a drive shaft of a rotary drive by its hub and is pressed against a stop of the drive shaft in an axial direction by a screw nut. In order to ensure that the fan impeller is securely held on the drive shaft, the screw nut exerts a pressing force on the fan impeller in a radial direction.
US08100653B2
A gas-turbine blade has a root 5 and an airfoil 2, with the airfoil 2 including an internal load carrier 6 as well as an airfoil element 8 enclosing the internal load carrier 6 by forming a cavity 7 extending along the longitudinal blade axis. The load carrier 6 is designed as a central element without cooling ducts and cooling air is introduced into the cavity 7 via the root 5.
US08100651B2
A stabilizing apparatus for a vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) includes at least two rolling units, at least two guiding units and at least an engaging unit engaged with the guiding units to fix the relative position among the guiding units. The guiding units are symmetrically extending from the center area of the apparatus to the outer edge of the circumference of the apparatus with a housing space formed inside each guiding unit. The rolling units are uniformly housed inside the housing space of the guiding units. The inner wall of the bottom of the housing space inside the guiding unit forms a guiding track extending from the center of the apparatus to the edge of the circumference of the apparatus. The straight line connecting the starting and the ending points of the guiding track forms an angle of 0-45° to the horizon surface.
US08100643B2
Diffusion in the vane island passages of a centrifugal compressor diffuser is in part controlled by contouring the diffuser passage wall with low profile surface variations. The surface variations can be provided in the form of flow boundary disrupting protrusions disposed within the downstream portion of the vane island passages to prevent flow separation.
US08100631B2
A fluid-type absorption dynamometer that includes a rotary impeller and one or more of a variety of features that enhance the shaft-horsepower range for which the dynamometer can be used. One of these features is a variable restriction intake that allows a user to adjust the flow of fluid to the impeller. Other features are a unique impeller shroud and shroud guide that are each movable relative to the impeller to allow a user to adjust flow characteristics at the exhaust and blade regions of the impeller. Yet another feature is a set of exhaust baffles that facilitate an increase in the range of shaft power ratings of the device and the reduction of deleterious vibration and noise. The dynamometer also includes impeller blades having a unique configuration.
US08100621B2
A discharge hopper for a tray discharge station for serially discharging shaft trays filled with rod-shaped products includes a conveying element for carrying away the products flowing from the shaft trays and a connecting device for coupling the shaft trays to be emptied to the conveying element. The connecting device is arranged substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the conveying element to form a channel for the product flow and includes an opening for passage of the products from the shaft tray into the channel. In the region of the connecting device there is provided a closure unit to open and close the opening. The closure device is coupled to a movable actuating element so that the closure device can be opened and closed shaft by shaft in relation to the shaft tray to be emptied.
US08100618B2
A full-round head nail having an offset head is configured with a gusset formed integrally between an undersurface of the offset head and a superior portion of a shank. The head of the nail is relatively thin, and the shank is positioned radially off center of the round head such that no heel is formed at a point tangential to both the head and the shank. The gusset has a lofted surface tapering radially from a roundness at the zero heel to a taper at the toe. The gusset reinforces the junction of the shank with the head, supports the toe of the head, and distributes the force of a load on the head through a longitudinal axis of the shank, preventing the toe from bending or yielding and prevents the shank from yielding to the stresses of the load applied.
US08100617B2
A fastener system having a threaded shaft and a threaded body assembly. The threaded body assembly includes first and second bodies each having a threaded bore. A frangible member couples the two bodies together in an initial configuration. The two bodies are threaded onto the shaft in their initial configuration and, after one of the bodies has reached its final position on the shaft, the other body can be rotated relative to the one body and the threaded shaft thereby severing the frangible member and bringing engagement surfaces on the two bodies into bearing contact to inhibit loosening. The two bodies include recesses in their respective engagement surfaces. At least one of these recesses provides a space in which a stub of the frangible member is received when the two bodies are engaged together. The fastener system can be employed with the locking mechanism of an adjustable steering column assembly.
US08100612B2
To provide a user-friendly core drill which, when forming a large-diameter cut hole by the core drill with respect to an object to be drilled, such as concrete, is able to easily form, for example, a chamfered portion or a countersunk portion with respect to an opening end portion of the cut hole. In a core drill comprising a base body including a shank and a drill core body including a drill cutting blade, a connection opening portion of the drill core body being attached to the base body, the connection opening portion of the drill core body is provided with a concave portion forming member including a large-diameter hole cutting blade, and the large-diameter hole cutting blade is provided outside the drill cutting blade in a radial direction of the connection opening portion.
US08100610B2
An indexable insert for a milling tool that includes at least one mounting surface having a through bore for fixing the insert to a rotatable tool, a rounded cutting edge defined by at least one cutting face and a lateral surface, and the at least one cutting face being arranged on a lateral side of the insert and extending from a base. The base is angled with respect to the at least one mounting surface. This abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.
US08100609B2
An apparatus and method for controlling water flow, soil erosion, and/or sediment flow in and around a construction site. The apparatus includes a three-dimensional, water-permeable polypropylene filled geotextile pocket that is secured to the ground with a supporting structure. The apparatus includes a tail portion that is placed flat against the ground, facing upstream against the direction of water flow. The tail portion can be secured with pins that provide protection against movement of the tail portion and reduce an amount of sediment passing under the apparatus.
US08100605B2
A composite material for environmental odor control is useful in controlling odors from waste, for example, as an alternative daily cover for landfills and in composting applications. The composite material includes a fiber web and a zeolite containing metals to promote absorption of odorous gas.
US08100592B2
The invention concerns A housing for a variable focus liquid lens (204) containing first and second immiscible liquids defining a liquid-liquid interface moveable by electrowetting by application of a voltage between first and second electrodes (206, 208) of the liquid lens, the housing comprising: a first portion (202) comprising a contact surface for contact with a circuit board (203); a second portion (211) for receiving the liquid lens, the second portion arranged to be moveable with respect to said first portion in a first direction parallel to an optical axis (Δ) of the liquid lens when said liquid lens is positioned in said housing; and first and second contacts (213, 216) for electrically coupling the circuit board to the first and second electrodes respectively of the liquid lens when said liquid lens is positioned in said housing, wherein each of the first and second contacts comprises a first conductive surface (215a, 218a) arranged to make contact with a second conductive surface (215b, 218b), said first and second conductive surfaces slidable with respect to each other in said first direction, so that the circuit board can be coupled to the first and second electrodes.
US08100578B2
The invention relates to a helical ribbon mixing gear with a mixing vessel (1), the inside of which is axially symmetrical, and a motor-driven central agitator axis (2) with laterally extending agitator anus (30, 31, 32) to which at least one sloping helical ribbon (4) with a circular inclination in a direction of rotation (D) is attached, an outer edge of the helical ribbon (40) being positioned near to a mixing vessel wall (10), an outer tooth profile (50-52) being formed at the wall-sided edge of the helical ribbon (40), with a radial profile depth (T) which is smaller than a radially adjacent ribbon width (B), and with a circular tooth spacing (W) of one to ten times the profile depth (T).
US08100577B2
An apparatus and method for blending a predetermined fluid with a main fluid wherein a source of a predetermined fluid is mixed with a main fluid. The predetermined fluid flows through an inlet of a positive displacement pump assembly and transferred to a mixing chamber through an outlet of the positive displacement pump assembly. A turbine blade assembly located within the mixing chamber is used to mix a main fluid flowing into the mixing chamber with the predetermined fluid for eventual dispensing through an outlet in the mixing chamber when desired.
US08100574B2
A light module includes a light guide plate, a light bar, and a first reflector. The light guide plate has a first edge surface, a second edge surface, and a top surface serving as a light-outgoing surface. The light bar is disposed on the first edge surface for providing an edge light source into the light guide plate. The light bar has a plurality of light-emitting devices. The first reflector is disposed on the second edge surface to reflect light back to a region above the light bar.
US08100568B2
A vehicular interior rearview mirror system includes an attachment element adhesively attached at an interior surface of a windshield of a vehicle and an interior rearview mirror assembly having a mirror head including a reflective mirror element. The interior rearview mirror assembly includes circuitry disposed in the mirror head, and at least two electrical accessories of the interior rearview mirror assembly share at least one component of the circuitry. The interior rearview mirror assembly includes a portion that does not adjust when the driver of the vehicle, with the interior rearview mirror assembly attached to the attachment element, pivotally adjusts the mirror head to set the rearward field of view of the reflective mirror element to the driver's desired setting. The portion includes a video camera that has a field of view through the windshield of the vehicle. One of the at least two electrical accessories comprises the video camera.
US08100552B2
A method and apparatus is provided for a multiple light-source illuminating device, the design and construction of which is derived from the lighting requirements of a specific lighting application. The resulting illuminating device (16) provides illumination according to the principles of lighting practice for the optimal performance of visual tasks. Coupling with sensors (21) and logical control (20) allows illumination intensity and spectrum to be varied according to changing user needs. The illuminating device includes multiple discrete light emitting components of different spatial intensity distribution and color spectrum mounted in specific orientations such that the application oriented combined lighting effect is created. The control is provided via a differentiated power supply (19) capable of affecting the current, voltage and duty cycle determining the relative contribution of each light source effecting a different spatial intensity distribution and color spectrum.
US08100545B2
A wireless convenience lighting system, comprises a base unit, the base unit connectable to an AC power supply, the base unit having a transmitter structure emitting at least one signal indicating one of an AC power loss or the AC power on, a remote lighting unit having a light source, and auxiliary power supply and a receiver structure, the receiver structure receiving the signal from the base unit, the base unit wirelessly activating the light source of the remote lighting unit when the AC power is lost.
US08100538B2
An electronic device includes: a housing which accommodates a device main body; and a leg which contacts an installation surface on which the housing is installed and changes the projection length projecting from the outside surface of the housing. The leg has a leg main body contacting the installation surface, and a support member which projects from the outside surface of the housing and supports the leg main body. The support member has a base provided on the outside surface of the housing and a projecting portion projecting from the base and having a screw groove on the outer circumferential surface of the base. The leg main body has an insertion hole into which the projecting portion is inserted at one end of the leg main body, and a screw thread engaging with the screw groove on the inner circumferential surface of the insertion hole.
US08100534B2
Methods and devices measure eye blinks and tear film lipid and aqueous layer thickness before and following ophthalmic formula application onto the ocular surface, especially wherein the ophthalmic formula is an artificial tear. The methods and devices are suitable for dry eye diagnosis. The methods and devices are suitable for use to evaluate ophthalmic formula effects on the tear film and to use such information to diagnose ophthalmic formula treatment of ocular disease conditions such as dry eye in the absence of contact lens wear or post-surgical eye drop treatment and diagnosis. The methods and devices are also suitable for use in the optimization of ophthalmic drug dosage forms and sustained drug release.
US08100525B2
Curved lenses configured to decode three dimensional content and method of fabricating the same. The lenses decode three-dimensional content displayed on televisions or computer monitors. Sheets from which the lenses are cut have either (i) a polarizing axis of 0 degrees relative to horizontal and one sheet has a retarder axis at −45 degrees relative to horizontal and the other sheet has a retarder axis of +45 degrees relative to horizontal; (ii) a polarizing axis of −45 degrees relative to horizontal and one sheet has a retarder axis at 0 degrees relative to horizontal and the other sheet has a retarder axis of 90 degrees relative to horizontal; or (iii) a polarizing axis of +45 degrees relative to horizontal and one sheet has a retarder axis at 0 degrees relative to horizontal and the other sheet has a retarder axis of 90 degrees relative to horizontal.
US08100523B2
Disclosed is a bidirectional media sheet transport apparatus. The transport apparatus includes one or more belt driven bidirectional nip assemblies aligned to transport one or more media sheets along a bidirectional path. In addition, disclosed are belt tensioning devices to apply multiple tension forces to a belt operatively engaging the one or more bidirectional nip assemblies. Also disclosed is a bidirectional baffle apparatus to enable bidirectional travel of a media sheet from one module to another module.
US08100522B2
A recording apparatus includes: a supporting member that has a supporting surface for supporting a target to which a liquid is ejected; a heating apparatus that heats the supporting member; a transport unit that transports the target from an upstream side of the supporting member to a downstream side while sliding the target on the supporting surface; and a recording unit that, when a direction in which the target supported on the supporting surface is transported is a main scanning direction, repeatedly performs a moving operation in the main scanning direction in which the liquid is ejected to a recording area of the target to perform recording and a moving operation in a sub-scanning direction in which no liquid is ejected, thereby performing recording on the recording area of the target.
US08100512B2
A printhead is provided having a plurality of bubble forming chambers, ejection nozzles defined in the chambers, and heaters disposed in the chambers for heating bubble forming liquid in the chambers. Each heater has a bubble nucleation section of a smaller cross section than the rest of that heater. The bubble nucleation section is heated faster that the rest of the heater to cause formation of a gas bubble in the liquid and ejection of the bubbled liquid through the corresponding nozzle. The bubble nucleation section is co-planar with the rest of that heater and remains co-planar when the heater is heated.
US08100509B2
Provided is printer assembly for a pagewidth printer, said assembly having a support frame for supporting a printhead arrangement. The support frame includes an outer wall portion and an inner wall portion separated by an internal cavity, as well as a lower arm portion and an upper wall fast with the outer and inner wall portions. The upper wall portion defines a channel for operatively receiving the printhead arrangement, said upper wall portion and arm portion having a clipping arrangement configured to complementarily receive a printed circuit board (PCB) support having electronic for controlling the printhead arrangement. The support frame is configured to minimize substantial dimensional changes due to environmental changes to retain a positional relationship between individual printhead tiles of the printhead arrangement.
US08100508B2
A printing head is provided in which a distance between an ejection port face of the printing head and a print medium is reduced to improve an ink ejection accuracy during a printing operation. The printing head of the present invention is a back shooting-type printing head. The heater and an electrode connected thereto are formed at the back face of the substrate. The electrode and an in-support-base wiring for supplying electricity to the heater via the electrode are connected to each other at the back face side of the substrate. The substrate and the support base have therebetween a liquid chamber wall member including therein a space. The substrate, the support base, and the liquid chamber wall member constitute a liquid chamber that communicates with the ejection port and that stores ink supplied to the ejection port.
US08100502B2
A desktop printer includes a printhead cartridge defining an ink reservoir and including a printhead integrated circuit having a plurality of micro-electromechanical nozzle arrangements, the ink reservoir and the printhead integrated circuit substantially spanning a width of a medium transfer path along which print medium is transported past the printhead cartridge; a cradle for removably receiving the printhead cartridge, the cradle supplying data and power to the printhead cartridge; and a capping mechanism attached to the cradle and actuatable between an open position where the nozzles are exposed, and a closed position where the nozzles are sealed, the capping mechanism substantially spanning a width of the medium transfer path.
US08100498B2
A reference image of an area of a print media is captured at approximately a first time by an image acquisition system. A first application of ink is applied onto the print media area by a printing assembly at the first time. A comparison image of the print media area is captured at a second time by the image acquisition system subsequent to the first application of ink onto the print media area. The reference image and the comparison image are processed to determine a relative displacement of a feature pattern on the print media between approximately the first time and the second time. A second application of ink from the printing assembly onto the print media is adjusted based on the determination.
US08100495B2
Disclosed is a thermal inkjet printhead including at least one volume-changing body that can be used to maintain a flow resistance of ink that flows into an ink chamber substantially constant over an operating temperature range for the thermal inkjet printhead. The volume-changing body can be disposed in the ink flow path through which ink flows into the ink chamber and can be configured to adjust its volume to change the cross-sectional area of the ink flow path when the operating temperature of the thermal inkjet printhead, and thus the viscosity of the ink, changes.
US08100484B2
A computer enclosure includes a base and a mounting bracket. The base includes a mounting pole. The mounting bracket includes a mounting mechanism. The mounting mechanism includes a mounting member. The mounting member is movable perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the mounting pole, and the mounting member is capable of removeably retaining the mounting pole thereto to thereby releasably connect the base to the mounting bracket.
US08100483B2
A track assembly for a machine includes a track having inner track seals, a rotatable track engaging element such as an idler or drive sprocket and a contact interface for protecting the seals during guiding the track about the rotatable element. The contact interface may include sacrificial wear material on the rotatable element and sacrificial wear material on corresponding track links. The contact interface may have a configuration based on a location of the seals, and is adapted to inhibit wear of the track links in regions adjacent the seals. In another aspect, the contact interface is a guide interface.
US08100481B2
The invention relates to a self-propelled machine for cutting or milling, which has a chassis (1), which is carried by track-laying units or wheels and which has a cutting or milling arrangement (2) and an arrangement (8) for adjusting the height of the chassis to set the depth of cutting or milling. The driver's station is decoupled from the shaking movements or vibrations from the arrangement (2) for cutting or milling which are transmitted to the chassis, and from the vibrations from the internal combustion engine for driving the machine. This decoupling is accomplished by having the height-adjusting arrangement (8) form a system which connects the track-laying units or wheels to the chassis not rigidly but in such a way that they are able to move.
US08100470B1
A child chair includes a seat and a frame. The seat is detachably mounted on the frame by using an engaging assembly. The engaging assembly includes an engaging device and a coupling device. The engaging device is movably mounted on the seat. The coupling device is mounted on the frame and coupled with the engaging device on the seat. The engaging device is cooperated with the coupling device between a locking position and a release position relative to the seat.
US08100469B2
This invention is a backrest for collapsible or foldable chairs that provides ample and comfortable back support for a seated person. The backrest consists of a Collapsible Back Support Curve that, when incorporated properly into a collapsible chair, is easy to set-up, collapse, store and transport, and it is visually appealing and durable. The invention is incorporated into collapsible chairs by shaping the chair back-rest support members in parallel gradual curves that force a membrane taught between them, evenly along their length, when in an open (non-collapsed) position. The invention, although a stationary part of a chair without complicated moveable parts, is designed to fit people of different heights and different back-arch preferences.
US08100451B2
A multi-fingered robot hand has a minimum required number of joints in finger mechanisms and is capable of stably grasping a variety of articles. The multi-fingered robot hand includes: a first palm portion provided with three finger mechanisms each connected by a root joint; a second palm portion provided with one finger mechanism connected by a root joint; and a palm joint connecting the first palm portion and the second palm portion. The palm joint permits a variation in the connection angle of the second palm portion to the first palm portion. The palm joint, bending joints, bending joints of the root joints and the root joint have rotation axes parallel to each other, and the finger mechanisms bend while turning around the rotation axes.
US08100444B2
A bumper system for a motor vehicle includes, but is not limited to, a bumper cross member, which is fixed to a stiff frame of the motor vehicle, a pliable bumper shell, a compressible structure which is formed between an upper area of the shell and the cross member and one support section which supports the lower area of the shell, which, together with a crash box holding the cross member is anchored to the flange plates of the frame.
US08100437B2
A marine riser assembly having a first tubular member having an external surface with a plurality of first axially spaced formations, a second tubular member having an external surface with a plurality of second axially spaced formations thereon, a segmented ring in surrounding relationship to the first and second tubular members, the segmented ring having an inner surface with a plurality of formations engageable with the formations on the first and second tubular members, the engageable formations serving to urge the first and second tubular members toward each other when the segmented ring is subjected to radially inwardly directed compressive forces, a sleeve in surrounding relationship to force the engageable formations together and a seal assembly for sealing against external and internal pressure.
US08100436B2
The invention relates to a security element with an optically variable structure, which has an embossed structure and a coating, wherein the embossed structure and the coating are combined such that at least parts of the coating are completely visible upon perpendicular viewing, but are concealed upon oblique viewing. This embossed structure has nonlinear embossed elements, which are combined with the coating such that when changing the viewing direction different pieces of information become visible.
US08100425B2
A wheeled vehicle, which may be a bicycle, having independent front and rear wheel steering, and rear wheel propulsion from a pedal assembly. The rear wheel is pivotally mounted to enable steering. The rear sprocket transmits torque to a jointed drive shaft which drives the rear wheel at any degree of steering. Rear steering is actuated by a frame mounted control lever, which draws a flexible cable which extends through the hollow frame. Indicia indicates the degree of rear steering. The control lever has a locking feature to prevent inadvertent steering. The rear wheel is pivotally mounted to the frame to enable clearing obstacles in the road.
US08100417B2
The invention relates to a handcart composed of a main frame, four wheel sets properly assembled under the main frame, a grip, two positioning sleeves, and two joint assemblies installed between the main frame and the grip for changeably connecting the main frame with the grip. The grip can be aligned flat or become 90° to the main frame by means of the joint assemblies. Then the handcart can be transformed as a two-wheel handcart or a four-wheel one by handling the grip through movement of the pivotal connecting bases of the joint assemblies and combining the grip with the positioning sleeves movably fitted in positioning holes of the grip.
US08100414B2
A piston is displaced by a pressure fluid supplied to a chuck body, whereupon a pair of first and second fingers that constitute a gripping member are operated to open and close along a base body. Further, a shaft-shaped bobbin is inserted through the interior of the first and second fingers, and a coil is wound around a small diameter portion of the bobbin. Accompanying opening/closing operations of the first and second fingers, an opening/closing amount thereof is detected based on a change in impedance of the coil.
US08100412B2
A sealing device (1) for providing a seal between a steering gear casing and a front wall sheet of a body of a motor vehicle around a steering shaft feed through lumen 21, the sealing device comprises a base body (2) to be connected to the steering gear casing and a foamed ring-shaped sealing body (3) which extends from a front area of the base body (2) and which comprises a far end designed and arranged to rest against the front wall sheet. The foamed sealing body (3) is directly foam-molded to the base body (2), to securely bond it to the base body (2) in a desired relative position.
US08100406B2
A gap 6 between a stationary component 2 and a rotating component 4 is sealed by means of a leaf seal comprising an array of leaves 8, 9. The leaves 8, 9 are disposed in pairs, comprising a higher curvature leaf 8 and a lower curvature leaf 9 which contact each other resiliently at their tips 12. The contact at the tips 12 provides a damping effect. As a result, the tips 12 of the leaves 8, 9 are relatively stable when subjected to an air flow F, enabling damaging flutter to be suppressed.
US08100403B2
A seal and seal assembly for providing a seal between an outer shaft and an inner shaft. The assembly includes a seal subassembly disposed between the shafts. The subassembly includes a split carbon ring, a solid outer ring, and a spring mechanism provided between the split carbon ring and the solid outer ring. The carbon ring is radially split into a plurality of segments having splits between ends of adjacent segments. The segments include a circumferential inner radius and a sealing dam on the circumferential inner radius. The solid outer ring includes a sealing face and a plurality of hydrodynamic grooves provided on a radial face. The spring mechanism may be configured to engage a portion of an outer diameter of the split carbon ring and a portion of an inner diameter of the solid outer ring and to urge the split carbon ring radially towards the inner shaft.
US08100398B2
A printer media transport system includes a pick roller and a cleaner roller. The pick roller has a pick surface configured to rotate and frictionally direct printable media along a feed path, and the cleaner roller is configured to contact the pick roller, rotate as the pick roller rotates, and translate rotation of the cleaner roller to lateral movement of the cleaner roller against the pick surface of the pick roller.
US08100397B2
A timed feeder for feeding corrugated boards to nip rolls of a box finishing machine. An indexing drive mechanism, driven by a computer-controlled servo motor, activates a feed member and has a feed phase when it drives the board to the nip rolls, and a dwell phase when the feed member is away from the feed path and the output shaft of the indexing mechanism is at zero velocity. During the feed phase, the output shaft of the indexing mechanism accelerates the feed member and the board beyond the nip roll velocity and then decelerates them to the nip roll velocity at the point where the board enters the nip rolls. During the dwell phase the input shaft is either accelerated or decelerated to change the duration of the cycle.
US08100395B2
The invention relates to an apparatus for accumulating and dispensing bank notes of various length, width and condition without appreciable deformation of current note and displacement of previously stacked notes, preferably having a device connected in series to verify genuineness of bank notes inserted. Apparatus comprises a lockable removable box with a note transfer, stacker and dispensing mechanism. A note transfer mechanism comprises a belt drive with at least one spring claw for gripping note leading edge. Stacker mechanism comprises two reversible frames with longitudinal revolving panels on their side segments. Dispensing mechanism comprises spring loaded roll pallet with outlet gate. A note is pulled into apparatus by means of gripper under the belt translation. The notes stack or bundle is formed due to reversible motion of frames with corresponding side panels revolving. At the dispenser embodiment the bundle of notes slides out due to cooperative motion of driving belt and roll pallet. Belt and frames drivers are operated by microcontroller. Proposed apparatus is characterized by a simple and therefore economical compact flat construction, multi-purposing using, low energy consumption and high rapidity of action.
US08100393B2
A method of positioning copy or subsets for the easy insertion of tabs thereinto that includes creating a shingled boundary between subsets, with the top sheets of all subsets in the same position, but with the rest of each subset progressively offset so that the last page of the upper subset is significantly offset from the top sheet of the next subset in sawtooth fashion. As a result, the subsets can then be separated from one side more easily and tabs or other pages can be manually inserted with minimal difficulty.
US08100390B2
A clamp device for clamping a panel regardless of the panel's shape may include an air conduit, an air supplying unit that is communicated with the air conduit for selectively supplying air thereto and a tube that is connected with the air conduit to communicate therewith and expanded outwardly.
US08100388B2
An electromagnetic active engine mount apparatus includes a sub-channel through which working fluid flows is formed in the central portion of an electromagnetic drive so as to be able to cool heat generated from the coil of a solenoid section of the electromagnetic drive by repetitive operation of a vibrating member. Thus, the electromagnetic active engine mount apparatus can inhibit the heat generated from the coil to thus prevent thermal damage to various components formed of rubber, and provide improvement of its durability, reduction of its size, and simplification of its structure.
US08100382B2
A flow control valve includes an inlet and an outlet through which fluid enters and exits the valve. A valve plunger has a guide spring attached thereto, such that the guide spring is situated between the plunger and a valve orifice. The plunger, and thus the guide spring, is movable relative to the orifice to control fluid flow through the valve. The guide spring and the orifice surface adjacent the guide spring define coplanar surfaces that seal against each other when the valve is closed.
US08100381B2
The invention relates to an integrated gas regulating and safety valve for burners of a modulatable gas heating device. According to the invention, the gas regulating and safety valve comprises a housing (1) with two controllable closing elements, the axes of which are spaced apart from each other and extend one behind the other in series in the direction of gas flow between an inlet channel (2) and an outlet channel (4) of the housing. In the de-energized state, the two closing elements abruptly close the gas regulating and safety valve independently of each other, in each case by means of an associated spring element (7, 12). The first closing element, additionally serving for the modulation of the gas stream, has a drive spindle (15.1), which is formed as a spindle of a stepping motor (15), is surrounded by an excitation winding (16) and has placed on its end a restrictor component (8) and, at a distance from that, the first spring element (7). The second closing element, on the other hand, has a closure component (8) connected to an armature (9), wherein the armature (9) is arranged in a cylindrical cavity (18) and operates against the force of the second spring element (12) acting on the armature (9). This cavity (18) is surrounded by an excitation winding (17) of the armature (9) that is formed as part of an electromagnet.
US08100377B1
There is provided in one embodiment a polymer pin assembly for an optical mount. The assembly comprises two cap members, each cap member having a through opening. The assembly further comprises two cup members, each cup member being coupled to each respective cap member. The assembly further comprises two ball bearing members, each ball bearing member being disposed within each respective cup member. The assembly further comprises a rod member inserted through each cap member and coupled to each ball bearing member. The assembly further comprises a polymer material applied to interior portions of the cap members and applied to interior portions of the cup members after the polymer pin assembly is mounted to the optical mount.
US08100376B2
A supporting bracket includes a fixed member having a stopping tab thereon, a moveable member pivotally connected to the fixed member, a back plate having a first end pivotally connected to the fixed member and an opposite second end, and a locking unit connected to the moveable member. A plurality of slots is defined in the second end. When the supporting bracket is applied to an object thereon, the back plate is rotated up relative to the fixed member, the moveable member is rotated up relative to the fixed member, the locking unit is inserted into a slot of the back plate, and the object is supported on the back plate in a tilted manner with a bottom of the object sandwiched between the stopping tab and the back plate.
US08100368B2
A seismic sway brace includes a clamp for engaging a circular object, a sway brace member, and a pair of connecting mechanisms for coupling the circular object to the sway brace member, and for coupling the sway brace member to building structure. The sway brace member may be a sway brace pipe or rod. Each of the connecting mechanisms may include a pair of strap clamps, held together by a retainer. The strap clamps and/or the circular object clamp may include one or more longitudinal slots. The longitudinal slots enhance wrapping of the clamps that engage the sway brace member or circular object, allowing the clamps to better engage the sway brace member or circular object.
US08100364B2
A standoff structure for an anti-icing piccolo tube wherein a flexible structure is formed from support ribs, a support bar and a diverter bar for supporting the piccolo tube within the slat or other aircraft leading edge, and for diverting hot gas from the piccolo tube across the inner surface of the slat or other aircraft leading edge.
US08100361B2
A hull structure is provided, for use in particular in an aircraft or spacecraft, the hull structure including an outer skin and structural components which are connected to said skin, as well as an inner lining which forms a supporting structure together with the outer skin and the structural components.
US08100360B2
A device for securing installed equipment in an airplane, with one or more oblong attachment rails, one or more attachment means for securing the attachment rails to an airframe structure, and one or more bracket units that can be attached to or in the attachment rails, wherein the bracket units can be attached to the built-in apparatuses to be secured.
US08100349B2
A piston can reciprocate in a piston guide cylinder in an axial direction and has a cavity on a piezo driver side thereof. If the piezo driver is energized, a tip of a projecting section of a pushing member pushes a bottom wall of the piston defining the cavity. If fuel pressure of a pressure control chamber increases via a pressurization chamber and a communication passage due to pressurization by the piston, a needle moves in a valve-opening direction against a first compression coil spring. Since the piston has the cavity, a movable mass of the piston is reduced while securing axial length of a sliding section. Thus, fuel leak from the sliding section between the piston and the piston guide cylinder can be suppressed, and an inertial resistance caused in the piston can be reduced.
US08100348B2
A device for generating microspheres from a fluid includes an injection plate with at least one defined injection channel having on an inlet side an inflow opening for receiving the fluid and on an outlet side an outflow opening for delivering microspheres formed from the fluid. The device includes feed elements for carrying fluid through the injection channel and is in open communication, on a side wall thereof, with at least one secondary channel at least at the position of a break-up point where at least during operation a flow of fluid in the injection channel breaks up into separate parts. The secondary channel includes in use an auxiliary fluid at least at the position of a break-up point.
US08100347B2
A paint feeding device is equipped with a paint feeding passage, which has a discharge port at one end, to which a rinsing liquid feeding device for feeding a rinsing liquid to the inside, and an air feeding device for feeding air to the inside, are connected to the end portion on the opposite side of the discharge port. A plurality of paint feeding devices for feeding the paint to the inside are connected between the discharge port and the opposite side end portion. The rinsing liquid feeding device and the air feeding device are connected to the paint feeding passage through a rinsing liquid feeding passage disposed separately of the paint feeding passage. The rinsing liquid feeding passage has a passage content volume set according to the feeding capacity of the rinsing liquid per a unit time by the rinsing liquid feeding device.
US08100346B2
A piezoelectrically actuated device includes a body, a valve disposed within the body and an actuator for the valve, the actuator including a casing coupled with the body and a piezoelectric element disposed within the casing The actuator further includes a multi-function spring applying a preloading force to the piezoelectric element. The multi-function spring includes a first segment having a piston configured to translate a motion of the piezoelectric element during operation of the actuator, a second segment having at least one flexural element and a third segment having a first set of threads. The first set of threads is engaged with a second set of threads of the actuator and maintains the second segment in a tension state which corresponds with the preloading force.
US08100340B2
A process for decoding machine readable coded data is provided. The coded data has a plurality of layouts which each have order n (at least two) rotational symmetry and encode a codeword of a sequence of n symbols distributed at n locations about a center of rotational symmetry of the respective layout such that decoding the symbols at each of the n orientations of the layout produces n representations of the codeword. Each representation is a different cyclic shift of the codeword and is indicative of the degree of rotation of the layout. The process includes acquiring an image which includes the coded data with an image sensor, transmitting the acquired image to a computer system, and at the computer system, identifying a layout from the acquired image, decoding the identified layout to determine a codeword representation, and determining a degree of rotation of the layout from the determined representation.
US08100334B2
A flat security member having a relatively small format, such as a thin board, including at least one through-hole and a method for producing a flat security member. A sheet material having a flat security member and a security document or an item to be authenticated having the sheet material.
US08100332B2
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for payments using pre-paid accounts. Embodiments of the invention provide a single, universal payment method that cannot be physically stolen, that minimizes the risk of information theft, and which can be used to make both small and large payments. The universal payment method is more convenient, more efficient, and less expensive to use because it requires no exchange mechanism from one payment form to another. In addition, to the extent that prior-to-payment funds are controlled by the businesses to whom payment is to be made, the buying power is increased.
US08100316B2
The invention relates to a method for joining at least two aircraft fuselage segments (2, 3) by friction stir welding with a tool (8) generating friction heat for the partial plasticisation of an edge region (6, 7) of at least one of the two aircraft fuselage segments and a counter bearing (10) for absorbing the force exerted by the tool (8) on at least one of the two aircraft fuselage segments, wherein at least one of the two aircraft fuselage segments comprises at least one rib (17) and/or one stringer (16).In order to minimise the necessary expense incurred in association with the production aids for the FSW process, it is proposed that the at least one rib (17) and/or the at least one stringer (16) of the at least one aircraft fuselage segment (2, 3) should be used as a counter bearing (10).
US08100313B2
A method for producing a stainless steel three-ply clad sheet for a fuel cell separator comprises heating a source blank and then performing rough rolling, hot rolling and cold rolling thereto, whereby the clad steel sheet for the fuel cell separator or a solid polymer type fuel cell separator thereby is obtained. The source blank for the clad steel sheet is composed of a stainless steel utilizing 0 to 0.3% B as a core component and a stainless steel containing 0.3 to 2.5% B as face component. The source blank is made using face components, a core component, tabs and protectors and performing steps including bonding of the tabs and protectors to the face components, removing portions of the tabs and protectors, piling of the face components to the core component, and further bonding of the face and core components together to form the source blank.
US08100310B2
A surgical fastener applying apparatus comprising a fastener supporting portion and a retainer supporting portion. The fastener supporting portion includes a first row of first surgical fasteners and a second row of second surgical fasteners. The retainer supporting portion includes a first row of first retainers and a second row of second retainers, the first fasteners engagable with the first retainers and the second fasteners engagable with the second retainers. The fasteners and retainers are configured so when engaged a first distance between at least one of the first fastener backspans and respective first retainer backspan is different than a second distance between at least one of the second fastener backspans and respective second retainer backspan.
US08100305B2
The present disclosure is directed to an automobile hanger. The hanger may comprise a hanger frame, a connecting member, a supporting member, a fastening member and a hook. The hanger may be configured as a supporting hanger and to be attached to the headrest column of an automobile seat. Alternatively, the hanger may also be configured as a hook hanger which may be utilized in an automobile or elsewhere.
US08100301B2
A sandbag filling apparatus has an auger within a steel pipe mounted to a wheeled frame for easy positioning. The pipe has a sand receiving end positionable beneath a sand pile, and an elevated end with a sand chute for filling sandbags. The auger flights are substantially spaced from the pipe ID and driven by a motor mounted to the pipe. The pipe has an opening which, when positioned beneath a sandpile, allows sand to enter the pipe and to be delivered by the auger to the sand chute. A vibrator is mounted to the pipe between the opening and the elevated end which vibrates a pair of fins arranged on either side of the opening so that sand cannot form a bridge across the opening. Smaller openings may be positioned beneath the fins on either side of the primary sand opening to ease starting the auger with sand present.
US08100296B2
A system and method for providing custom colored sealant are generally provided with a dispensing container, containing a quantity of sealant base solution. A nozzle, is shaped and sized to be removably secured with an open end portion of the dispensing container. A supplemental container is provided that contains a quantity of sealant thickener. A transfer pipette may be provided for selectively transferring a coloring agent to the dispensing container. The coloring agent may be mixed with the sealant base solution by agitating the dispensing container, until a desired color is attained. The sealant thickener may then added and mixed by similar agitation of the dispensing container. The nozzle is then coupled with the dispensing container and the custom-colored sealant is ready to be dispensed.
US08100294B2
A container assembly has a first container that operably houses a second container. The first container is configured to hold a first flowable substance, and the second container is configured to hold a second flowable substance. The second container is rupturable, preferably by manipulation through the first container, wherein the second flowable substance can mix with the first flowable substance to form a mixture. The first container is also rupturable to dispense the mixture therefrom.
US08100273B2
A rack for securing containers includes a plurality of bays into which one or more containers are received. An expandable, inflatable chamber is disposed adjacent each bay and selectively expands into the chamber to secure the containers within the bay. When installed on a vehicle, a pump may be activated automatically based upon a vehicle operating state or whenever the door is closed. Activation of the pump inflates the expandable chambers, thereby locking containers in place in the bays. This prevents movement and vibration and reduces damage to the bottles during transportation.
US08100272B1
A painting tool cleaning mount assembly includes a central member and a plurality of legs attached to and extending downwardly from the central member to support the central member on a support surface. Each of the legs includes a vertically orientated paint roll receiving stanchion for receiving a paint roller. A plurality of hooks is attached to the central member. The hooks are extendable through apertures in handles of paintbrushes to removably hang the paint brushes from the central member. The central member is positionable in a dishwasher to clean the paint rollers and the paint brushes.
US08100270B2
The set parts of the information stand has pieces like solid box-shaped assembly modules, among them at least one square module (1), at least one right-angled module (2), at least one isosceles triangular module (3), at least one sectored convex module (4), and at least one sectored concave module (5), meanwhile sectored modules (4, 5) being right-angled with the angular stretch making up one fourth of the circumference. Each module has flat bottom (7) and at least two mutually perpendicular rectilinear walls (8) to mate adjacent modules. Sectored convex module (4) has arcuate wall (9), while sectored concave module (5) has arcuate wall (10). Polygonal module (6) has rectilinear walls (8) arranged along the legs of the right-angled triangle, while wall (11) arranges along the conditional hypotenuse of the triangle and it being a broken star-shaped line. Walls (8, 9, 10, 11) have the height at least 0.075 of the length of walls (8) of module 1. Module 2 has a holder made like overlay frame (12) of flat information carrier (13) of the A4 format, while module (14) has a holder like container (15) of the 3D information carrier. The length of walls (8) of all modules (1-6, 14) are made multiple of the least one of these lengths.
US08100265B2
A dispenser box that includes a tilted or inclined top surface that defines a plurality of object wells that are configured to receive objects and secure them for shipping as well as display. The object wells are configured to secure each object on display as the objects are removed from the dispenser box, such that the last remaining object may continue to stand secure and in place.
US08100262B2
A blank (10) for forming a secondary package without a heat-seal process is disclosed. The secondary package can be an inner slide card configured to receive one or more blister packs (51). A pocket opening (30) can be formed in one panel (14) of the blank (10). Receiving portions (44) can be formed on one or more panels. A blister pack (51) can be inserted into the secondary package through the pocket opening (30). The receiving portions (44) can mechanically interact with edges (56) of a blister pack (51) to retain the blister pack (51) in a desired position. The exit regions of an inserted blister pack (51) can be aligned with gates (40) formed in a panel (12) of the secondary package. When the blister pack (51) is in the proper orientation relative to the secondary package, the blister pack (51) can be locked in place mechanically, glued in place, or both.
US08100261B2
A dental floss package includes a box-shaped body, wherein the dental floss can be housed in the form of a spool, a cutting blade and a closing body, as well as an additional body (3, 23) provided with an aperture (3c) for the fastening thereof to a display. The additional body is obtained integrally with the box-shaped body or the closing body but is detachable along a weakening line (6). The box-shaped body (1, 11, 21, 110) and the closing body (2, 12, 22, 120) are also obtained integrally and joined along a thin folding line (5), and the box-shaped body (1, 11, 21, 110) is interference-coupled with the closing body (2, 12, 22, 120) by way of a wall encircling the spool (4).
US08100259B2
A carrier apparatus for carrying at least one fastener includes a back plate, at least one inserting hole defined on the base plate, a restricting hole defined on the base plate communicating with the at least one inserting hole, at least two elastic flanges, and a fixing flange adjacent to the restricting hole. The at least one inserting hole is configured for inserting a body of the at least one fastener therein. The restricting hole is configured for receiving the body of the at least one fastener therein. The body of the at least one fastener inserts in the at least one inserting hole and is moved in to the restricting hole. The body presses the at least two elastic flanges when entering the restricting hole. The fixing flange abuts a head portion of at least one fastener to fix the at least one fastener on the base plate.
US08100258B2
This invention provides a portable or fixed device for organizing and transporting items utilized by fisherman, hobbyists, tradesmen and the like. It comprises a main compartment containing a plurality of trays in which the items are organized and stored, and side and top compartments for organizing and storing items that are less suitable for storage in trays, such as elongated items and tools. The trays are held in the main compartment by a plurality of removable elastic cords which span the open front of the main compartment at such heights as to engage each tray at a point along its height. Trays can be removed by displacing the cords. Elastic cords also are provided to hold items in the side compartments. A cutting or work board can be is mounted on the back of the device, and slip-resistant surfaces can be installed on the top and the bottom. Handles can be provided for carrying the device, or the device can be built into the structure of a boat, a vehicle, or a fixed structure.
US08100250B2
The present invention relates to methods and systems for receiving and distributing currency. In particular, the present invention provides a novel apparatus for the inflow and outflow of a variety of currency. The systems of the present invention are capable of recycling a variety of currency from multiple countries and multiple denominations. The systems of the present invention have the added advantage of compact size.
US08100246B2
A cyclic transporting unit is provided. The transporting unit transports coins one by one in reverse directions in depositing and dispensing. A plurality of accommodating and dispensing portions are arranged along the transporting unit. Since coins enter and exit the transporting unit through a single coin inlet/outlet of the accommodating and dispensing portion, a depositing and transporting route and a dispensing and transporting route of the transporting unit can be made common to each other. The accommodating and dispensing portion accommodates coins with the coins not aligned, and dispenses accommodated coins one by one to the transporting unit by a rotary disc and a delivering disc.
US08100236B2
A shock absorber, in which external gas is sucked by movement of a piston rod to obtain compressed gas, which is used for inhibiting the “lag” phenomenon. A piston valve is connected to one end of a piston rod received in an inner shell and moved between rebound and compression strokes, an inner space of the inner shell being divided into a rebound chamber and a compression chamber by the piston valve. A reservoir chamber is provided in an outer shell outside of the inner shell to supply oil to the compression chamber in the rebound stroke and to recover oil in the compression stroke. The shock absorber has a high pressure tank with a high pressure chamber installed outside of the outer shell, and a self pumping unit for sucking gas and pumping it into the high pressure chamber using energy generated by movement of the piston rod.
US08100229B2
First and second oil flow passages are defined in a wall portion of a transmission casing. The first oil flow passage has an open end exposed to an interior of the casing. The second oil passage is connected to the first oil passage through a connection opening defined by the first oil passage. A separate pipe member has a predetermined end portion that is inserted into the first oil passage from the open end of the same. The predetermined end portion comprises a cylindrical portion having a fixed length; an end opening defined by an end of the cylindrical portion and exposed to the first oil passage; and an orifice opening defined by a side wall of the cylindrical portion. The orifice opening is blocked by an inner wall of the first oil passage when the connection opening takes a first position relative to the open end of the first oil passage, and exposed to the second oil passage when the connection opening takes a second position relative to the open end of the first oil passage. The second position is closer to the open end of the first oil passage than the first position is.
US08100228B2
A portable anchorage assembly comprises an extension member interconnecting a counterweight assembly and a base. The counterweight assembly has a cavity configured and arranged to receive at least one weight. The extension member has a first end and a second end. The first end is pivotally connected to the counterweight assembly. The base is connected to the second end of the extension member and includes a wheel and at least one anchorage point. The base is pivotable about the counterweight assembly on the wheel to position the at least one anchorage point in a desired location.
US08100211B2
An electrochemical accumulator includes a plurality of electrochemical cells, each of which has a casing. The accumulator also includes a cover, a housing which is closed by the cover, an electrolyte in the housing, and at least one connecting pole for making electrical contact with the accumulator, where the connecting pole is electrically connected to a group of the electrochemical cells. The accumulator also includes a cooling air area for holding cooling air for cooling the cells and a degassing area for holding a gas which emerges from the cells in the event of a defect. The cooling air area and the degassing area are separated from one another in a gas-tight manner and the cooling air area and the degassing area are passed out of the housing independently of one another. The cooling air area has channels which are guided on the casings of the cells outside the cells.
US08100210B2
An electrically driven industrial vehicle comprising a revolving body (11) attached to a undercarriage (7) so as to be able to turn horizontally; a power shovel device (20) for receiving a hydraulic drive force and operating, the power shovel device being mounted on the revolving body (11); and a hydraulic drive force generating unit provided to the revolving body (11), for generating hydraulic drive force for operating the power shovel device (20). The hydraulic drive force generating unit has a hydraulic fluid tank (73) for storing hydraulic fluid; a hydraulic pump (14) for feeding the hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic fluid tank to the power shovel device (20); an electric motor (13) for driving the hydraulic pump; and a lithium ion battery (50) for feeding electrical drive power to the electric motor.
US08100208B2
A drive system driving a vehicle wheel at various speeds. The drive system generally includes a transmission assembly configured to drive the vehicle wheel in a forward direction and a motor rotatable in a first direction and a second direction and configured to drive the transmission assembly. The transmission assembly is configured to operate in a first operating mode when the motor is rotating in the first direction to provide at least one first wheel speed in the forward direction. The transmission assembly is configured to operate in a second operating mode when the motor is rotating in the second direction to provide at least one second wheel speed in the forward direction.
US08100205B2
A robotic system that can have a body and four flippers is described. Any or all of the flippers can be rotated. The flippers can have self-cleaning tracks. The tracks can be driven or passive. The robotic system can be controlled by, and send audio and/or video to and/or from, a remote operator control module. The methods of using and making the robotic system are also described.
US08100191B2
A method and apparatus is disclosed for ejecting material. The ejected material is ejected as liquid and liquid vapour via an explosive process which can provide a very fast ejection as well as an ejection which has a large throw.
US08100189B2
A system and a method are described for a dynamic seal around a drill stem that moves into or out of water carrying, drilling fluid carrying or hydrocarbon carrying wells. The sealing arrangement (10) comprises an elongated sealing unit (30) that is arranged to envelop the drill stem (16), and a receiver unit (40) that is mounted to said existing equipment on the well and which is arranged to receive the elongated sealing unit (30), and that internal pressure support is provided in the sealing arrangement, at least corresponding to the surrounding pressure, to provide a dynamic seal around the drill stem (16).
US08100187B2
A tubular running tool includes a mandrel assembly having an upper mandrel, a lower mandrel and a mid-mandrel, wherein the upper mandrel, the lower mandrel and the mid-mandrel rotate in unison; the lower mandrel having a tubular gripping portion; a slip disposed with the tubular gripping portion; the mid-mandrel forming a bore between a top end and a bottom end, the top end forming a slip-joint with the upper mandrel; and an actuator mechanism disposed with the mid-mandrel, the actuator mechanism comprising a compensation actuator and a slip actuator; wherein the compensation actuator functionally connects the upper mandrel and the lower mandrel to affect axial movement of the lower mandrel relative to the upper mandrel and the slip actuator moves the slip into gripping engagement with a tubular.
US08100184B2
A system for a gas-producing wellbore comprises a collection module disposed about a gas-production conduit in the wellbore, the collection module comprising a collection chamber disposed about the gas-production conduit. The system further comprises one or more lift modules for applying a differential between pressure of gas in the gas-production conduit and pressure of the wellbore.
US08100176B2
A device for liquid removal from a drilled hole equipped for gas production from an underground accumulation, under the conditions in which a downward liquid film flow on the tubing string wall occurs, the device comprising a long lower inner liner (4) whose upper end (b) is beveled, surrounded by an “M”-shaped short-circuiting pipe (7), provided with short vertical portions (j and k), which, at the lower side, are secured to elbows (l and m) of an “M”-shaped discharge path (8) which partially surrounds the lower inner liner, the elbows continuing to the lower side with long vertical portions (n and o) and short vertical portions (p and q) which communicate between them through a lower horizontal portion (r), one long vertical portion having a curved lower end (s) mounted in a window (t) cut into the lower inner liner and the other long vertical portion having an open end (u) located in an accumulation chamber (a).
US08100174B2
A drill fluid collecting device, in which a space between a power tong (2) and a backup tong (4) is provided with collecting means, and in which, on their respective sides facing the space, the power tong (2) and the backup tong (4) are provided with a seal (56, 62) which is sealingly movable against a pipe (20, 22) located in the tongs and sealingly connected to its respective tong (2, 4).
US08100172B2
A temperature equalization system comprised of heat equalizer and fluid transmission duct disposed in a heat carrier existing in solid or liquid state in the nature where presents comparatively larger and more reliable heat carrying capacity; the fluid passes through the installation to regulate for temperature equalization, and flows back to the installation disposed in the natural carrier of heat for the installation providing good heat conduction with the natural heat carrier to provide the function of temperature equalization regulating on the backflow.
US08100170B2
An evaporator suitable for absorbing heat from a heat source is provided. The evaporator includes a top board, a bottom board, a side frame, and at least one porous member. The side frame connects the top board and the bottom board. The porous member is disposed between the top board and the bottom board and within the side frame. The part of the top board covering the porous member is a heat conducting portion near the heat source. The evaporator has at least one first channel, at least one second channel, a fluid inlet, and a fluid outlet. The first channel is adjacent to the bottom board and the porous member for containing a working fluid. The second channel is adjacent to the top board and the porous member for containing the working fluid. The fluid inlet communicates with the first channel. The fluid outlet communicates with the second channel.
US08100166B2
A continuous casting installation, which has a vertically oriented strand guide arranged below a mold, wherein a drive for driving the cast strand and bending it into the horizontal direction are arranged below the strand guide. A drive that serves exclusively for driving the cast strand is installed below the lower end of the strand guide, and a drive that serves exclusively for bending the cast strand is installed below the drive for driving the cast strand. The drive that serves exclusively for driving the cast strand is installed at least partially in a cassette, which is detachably mounted in the continuous casting installation. The continuous casting installation also has a cooling chamber, and the cassette with the drive that serves exclusively for driving the cast strand is installed in the cooling chamber.
US08100158B2
An off-road tire (1) comprises a tread portion (2) provided with blocks (10, 11) forming a sea area (8) therearound. The sea area (8) is provided in the bottom (14) thereof with recesses (13), wherein the recesses (13) are arranged circumferentially of the tire and each extend axially of the tire, and the depth (d) of each of the recesses (13) is gradually increased towards its center (13a), whereby the enveloping power is improved.
US08100157B2
A rubber composition for a tire, in which a specific tackifier is compounded, and tackiness and various physical properties are improved, compared with compounding a petroleum resin or a terpene resin, is provided. The rubber composition for a tire comprising an alkyd resin and a pneumatic tire using the same. It is preferable that a material derived from a resource other than petroleum, particularly, a material derived from animal and/or vegetable, and more particularly, a material derived from an animal oil and/or a vegetable oil is contained in the alkyd resin, and it is preferable that unsaturated polybasic acid is contained in the alkyd resin.
US08100156B2
A cylindrical cutter for machining wood, wooden materials and plastics, has at least one helical cutting edge, wherein a helix angle λs of the at least one cutting edge is in a range of 70° to close to 90°, a rake angle γr of the at least one cutting edge between a tool orthogonal plane Po and a rake face Aγ—measured in a tool reference plane Pr—is at least 5°, and a wedge angle βr between the rake face Aγ and a flank Aα—measured in the tool reference plane Pr—is 45° to 65°.
US08100150B2
A flexible duct with a frame made by winding a S-profiled metal strip into clamped turns, wherein the edges of two adjacent turns overlap each other in order to form between them a helical closed space having an essentially rectangular cross-section and at least partially filled by a helically-wound spacer separate from the metal strip and resting on at least two opposing walls of the lower surface and the upper surface, wherein the spacer has, in the winding radial direction, a crush resistance substantially equal to zero and, in the winding longitudinal direction along the pipe, a substantial crush resistance.
US08100147B2
The present invention provides a particle measuring system which is provided in a processing system 40 which generates an atmosphere obtained by exhausting air or a gas in a processing chamber 48 by a vacuum pump 98 and applies a process concerning semiconductor manufacture to a wafer W in the atmosphere, attached to an exhaust pipe 90 which connects an exhaust opening 86 of the processing chamber 48 with the vacuum pump 98, and measures the number of the particles in the exhaust gas, and a measuring method thereof, the system and method providing a processing system and a cleaning method which terminate etching process by determining an end point based on the number of the particles in the exhaust gas and perform cleaning of unnecessary films.
US08100141B2
A water supply control assembly is disclosed for cutting off the supply of water to a house or building in the event of excessive water consumption. In one embodiment, a valve is secured to a distribution conduit in fluid communication with a pressurized source of fluid. A water flow sensing unit is secured between the inlet port and the flow discharge port. A magnet is mounted therein to a displaceable member and moved into and out of magnetic field coupling proximity to a timing reed switch in response to the onset and termination of pressurized water flow through the water flow sensing unit. A controller is coupled to the timing reed switch in order to actuate the valve to a water shut-off condition in response to the continuous flow of pressurized water for an elapsed flow time in excess of a preset duty cycle limit.
US08100131B2
A “boil and bite” mouthguard including projections to improve moulding of the mouthguard to the user's teeth is described. The mouthguard also includes a base-wall configuration that acts to minimise thinning of the base during moulding and use of the mouthguard.
US08100128B2
A female condom and an improved method for manufacturing a female condom is disclosed. The invention provides a device that is effective in both acting as a contraceptive and inhibiting the transmission of disease during coitus. The invention employs synthetic latex in an efficient and cost effect manufacturing method that results in an improved product.
US08100125B2
Provided is a universal interface adapted for providing continuous positive airway pressure to a patient when the interface is used with a standard ventilator. The interface is configured to operate at a supply pressure no greater than about 120 centimeters of H2O in order to deliver pressure to the patient of up to about 15 cm of H2O at a flow rate of up to about 12 liters/minute. The universal interface may comprise an interface body having a space pair of breathing passageways intersecting a corresponding of supply passageways. Each one of the breathing passageways is comprised of a patient passageway and an exhalation passageway. Each one of the supply passageways includes a jet venturi having a taper portion. Each one of the exhalation passageways includes a taper portion which tapers outwardly along a direction from the patient passageway toward the exhalation passageway.
US08100124B2
A device with a respirator (1) and with a humidifier (11) for breathing gas. Breathing gas humidification is adapted to the different operating states of the respirator (1). A connection (13) is provided for bidirectional data transmission between the control and operating unit (8) of the respirator (1) and the control and operating unit (9) of the humidifier (11).
US08100122B2
A solar tracking system for mounting on a roof having one or more rooftop planar surfaces includes an array of solar tracking assemblies for at least one of the one or more rooftop planar surfaces, each array of solar tracking assemblies mountable at substantially the same orientation on the rooftop planar surface, each solar tracking assembly including a mounting structure, a steering mechanism, and one or more energy converting units that convert solar energy into electrical energy, the steering mechanism supported at least in part by the mounting structure and the one or more energy converting units steered by the steering mechanism; a drive mechanism that drives multiple steering mechanisms of the array of solar tracking assemblies; and a control processor that controls the drive mechanism so that the one or more energy converting units follow the sun.
US08100121B2
A gas cooking hob comprising a number of gas burners, each of which is connected to a main gas pipe via a gas pipe section, and a main switch. The main gas pipe or the gas pipe section is open to supply gas to the gas burners when the main switch is actuated while a gas supply to the gas burners is interrupted when the main switch is actuated once again. In order to be able to jointly interrupt gas supply to all gas burners even without the user acting directly upon the main switch, a timing member is assigned to the main switch in order to adjust an interval after which the main switch closes automatically.
US08100117B2
An engine having one of a plurality of exhaust valves in each cylinder that may be deactivated is disclosed. In one example, one exhaust valve of each cylinder is deactivated in response to engine speed. The engine may have improved engine torque at low engine speeds and reduced time to torque (e.g., turbo lag).
US08100116B2
A method for controlling combustion in a direct-injection diesel engine includes monitoring a crankshaft rotational position of a cylinder of the engine, monitoring an engine load, determining an intake stroke within the cylinder based upon the crankshaft rotational position, and when the engine load is less than a threshold engine load, opening an exhaust valve for the cylinder during a portion of the intake stroke.
US08100111B2
A fuel injection system of the common rail type for an internal combustion engine with two rows of cylinders is to be designed such that the deviations in the injection quantities of their injectors from one another are as slight as possible. The fuel injection system has a high-pressure pump, from which fuel flows to a first rail and a second rail which each have respective associated injectors for the two rows of cylinders. The first rail, in a structural unit with a throttle as a hydraulic connection, is preceded by a distributor block. From the distributor block, a connecting line leads to the second rail. The fuel injection system is preferably used in the automobile industry.
US08100107B2
Methods and systems are provided for controlling exhaust emissions by adjusting a fuel injection into an engine cylinder from a plurality of fuel injectors based on the fuel type of the injected fuel and further based on the soot load of the engine. Soot generated from direct fuel injection is reduced by decreasing an amount of direct injection into a cylinder as the engine soot load increases.
US08100100B2
A valve cover housing for internal combustion engines. In one embodiment, the valve cover housing includes a conduit for passing a coolant fluid near the valvetrain, and in another embodiment, the housing includes an internal protuberance or other structure that promotes the dripping of oil or another lubricant onto a selected region or component of the valvetrain, such as the valve springs.
US08100098B2
A multi-link engine has a piston coupled to a crankshaft to move inside an engine cylinder. A piston pin connects the piston to an upper link, which is connected to a lower link by an upper link pin. A crank pin of the crankshaft rotatably supports the lower link thereon. A control link pin connects the lower link to one end of a control link, which is connected at another end to the engine block body by a control shaft. The upper link has an upper link axis that forms an angle with the cylinder axis, as viewed along a crank axis direction of the crankshaft, such that the angle reaches a minimum when a crank angle of the engine is within a range where the bottom end of a piston skirt is positioned below a topmost part of the bottom end of the cylinder liner.
US08100097B2
A multi-link engine has a piston coupled to a crankshaft to move inside an engine cylinder. A piston pin connects the piston to an upper link, which is connected to a lower link by an upper link pin. A crank pin of the crankshaft rotatably supports the lower link thereon. A control link pin connects the lower link to one end of a control link, which is connected at another end to the engine block body by a control shaft. The crank pin has a center arranged on a straight line joining centers of the upper link pin and the control link pin such that an angle formed between the straight line and a horizontal axis that is perpendicular to a center axis of the cylinder and that passes through an axial center of a crank journal is the same for at top dead center and at bottom dead center.
US08100093B2
Improved alcohol reforming processes and reformed alcohol power systems utilizing those processes are disclosed. In preferred embodiments, the alcohol reforming processes utilize a thermally conductive reforming catalyst that allows efficient, low-temperature reforming of an alcohol fuel to produce a reformate gas mixture comprising hydrogen. The present invention makes possible the efficient utilization of alcohol fuels in an internal combustion engine to generate electrical or mechanical power such as in vehicular applications.
US08100092B2
A hydrogen supplementation fuel apparatus and method having a power source, a hydrogen generator and an accumulator for supplementing hydrogen gas to improve the fuel efficiency of internal combustion engines. The hydrogen generator uses electrodes that are helically wound about a separator to increase the hydrogen generation output.
US08100090B1
Apparatus and method for an animal harness and restraint system is provided. An animal restraint is created from a single continuous piece of cord in which a loop is fashioned in the rope approximately half way from each free end of the rope. Beginning with the loop placed over the rear neck area of an animal above its shoulders, each free end of the rope is brought around opposite sides of the animal neck, down the chest of the animal with several twists of the rope combining both free ends then separating. Each free end of the rope is then brought separately around the front leg of the animal to meet the loop with each end being pulled there through and to the rear of the animal to fashion a leash. The free ends may be wrapped twice through the looped portion to fashion a simple prusik-like friction means to secure the thus fashioned harness but allows slipping of the rope as may be desirable as the animal moves. The two free ends of the rope are then tied in a simple knot at the end of the rope to present a reigns or leash to control or restrain the animal.
US08100079B2
A high performance planing hull, designed in particular for boats with drives of fixed or non-steerable type. The hull comprises an additional volume, which is integrated in the immersed part of the stern of the hull. The additional volume extends substantially in longitudinal direction and is symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal plane of symmetry of the hull.
US08100076B1
A station and transport system for receiving, storing, and transporting liquefied natural gas is disclosed herein. The system can include a transport vessel, a floating liquefied natural gas processing station with a heat exchanger for receiving the dry gas from a pretreatment source and forming liquefied natural gas using a natural gas liquefaction train, a primary quick connect/disconnect device, a secondary emergency disconnect device, and a tertiary emergency disconnect device mounted to a station hull to allow quick connect/disconnect or emergency disconnect of the floating natural gas processing station from the transport vessel. The system can include a soft yoke with at least two telescoping soft yoke mooring arms, a boom, and a jib that form a gangway to safely hold the floating station to the transport vessel and to move personal and loads.
US08100073B2
The invention relates to a method for automatically coupling and decoupling the luff of a battened mainsail and stackable luff holders as the connecting link between the sail luff and mast guiding slides, thereby allowing the now free sail luff to be reefed up by means of an in-boom furling boom and allowing the battened mainsail to be hoisted and reefed by means of mast guiding slides.
US08100071B2
A method and device applicable to a sewing machine which has a needle and a gripper with a horizontally positioned lower bobbin for executing a seam with stitches in a sewing material being sewn, for compensating a deficiency in a longitudinal shift of the needle during a stitch being caused by an arcuate movement of the needle when it shifts sideways in a stitch, wherein the method includes the material being advanced by a feeder a length yn in the longitudinal direction of the seam on the basis of the seam setting, and wherein the sewing machine has a control including an algorithm causing the feed motor to set the feeder, so that at each stitch which includes sideways shifts of the needle it advances the sewing material a correction length en in the longitudinal direction of the seam, thereby compensating a corresponding deficiency in the needle's longitudinal shift relative to the material during the stitch being caused by the needle's arcuate sideways movement.
US08100070B2
A flat seam construction made up of a number of sequentially formed stitches and formed on a portion of one or more stitchable materials is disclosed. Each stitch has two outer threads, formed into first and second outer thread loops, and at least one inner thread, formed into at least one inner thread loop. Each of the inner and outer thread loops transversely penetrate the one or more stitchable materials. Each of the inner and outer thread loops have a bight portion engaging a bottom surface of the one or more stitchable materials. At least one looper thread is formed on the bottom surface, and arranged such that, the at least one looper thread passes between the bottom surface and at least one of the bight portions. At least one decorative thread is visible on a top surface of the seam construction. The at least one decorative thread loops around at least said first outer thread loop at a penetration point thereof.
US08100064B2
A tangential fired boiler includes a circumferential wall defining a combustion zone, the circumferential wall being generally rectangular when viewed along a generally horizontal cross-section. A fireball is disposed within the combustion zone, the fireball rotating about an imaginary axis when viewed along a generally horizontal cross-section. A corner member is disposed proximate to at least one corner of the combustion zone, with a plurality of fuel inlets disposed along the corner member. The plurality of fuel inlets inject fuel into the combustion zone, and at least some of the plurality of fuel inlets inject fuel in a direction which is angled with respect to a normal of the corner member and upstream relative to a direction of rotation of the fireball.
US08100055B2
A method of developing a laser sensitive lithographic printing plate is described. The plate comprises on a substrate a photosensitive layer soluble or dispersible in ink and/or fountain solution and capable of hardening upon exposure to a laser. The plate is exposed with a laser and deactivated under a safe light or in the dark, and then on-press developed with ink and/or fountain solution preferably under white light. Alternatively, the plate is developed off press with ink and/or fountain solution, or with an organic solvent-based or oil-based liquid or paste and/or an aqueous solution, and then mounted on press for lithographic printing.
US08100049B2
A method for controlling and managing the water flow to a coffee machine provided with an ion exchange water softener device, characterised by: determining, on the basis of the hardness of the mains water and the type of resins, the maximum volume of water treatable by said resins before saturated, feeding mains water to the coffee machine through said water softener device while measuring said water flow, the value of which is compared with the maximum treatable water volume, and on noting that the water volume which has passed through said water softener corresponds to the memorized maximum treatable water volume, directly feeding the mains water to the coffee machine while by-passing said water softener device, and in the meantime, regenerating the resins with brine and washing said resins on termination of said regeneration, and finally, again feeding water to the machine via said water softener device.
US08100042B2
An adhesive tape canister includes a reel to mount a roll of adhesive tape. When the adhesive tape needs to be cut, a handle portion of the adhesive tape canister is pressed, a first blade is moved towards the second blade. The adhesive tape can be cut by the first blade and the second blade in response to the first blade moving to the second blade.
US08100039B2
A miter saw is disclosed having a base, a blade supported by the base, a detection system adapted to detect a dangerous condition between a person and the blade, and a reaction system associated with the detection system to cause a predetermined action to take place upon detection of the dangerous condition. The blade is rotatable, and moves into a cutting zone to cut a workpiece. The predetermined action may be to retract the blade from the cutting zone.
US08100038B2
A printing press folder is provided. The printing press folder includes a cutting apparatus cutting a moving web to form successive signatures, a first acceleration cylinder and a second acceleration cylinder. The first acceleration cylinder includes a first contacting segment and a first relieved portion circumferentially adjacent to the first contacting segment. The second acceleration cylinder includes a second contacting segment and a second relieved portion circumferentially adjacent to the second contacting segment. The first acceleration cylinder and the second acceleration cylinder grip the web at a gripping location with the first contacting segment and the second contacting segment to create a tension in the web as the web is cut by the cutting apparatus. A method of varying tension in a web in a printing press folder is also provided.
US08100035B1
A tool (10) includes an elongated shaft (11) having a handle (12) mounted at one end, a working implement (14) mounted to an opposite end, and a sliding weight (16) journalled upon the shaft for movement between the handle and working implement. The working implement includes a handle (41) which is mounted to the end of the shaft and a head (42). The handle has a longitudinal axis LA. The handle head mounting end (44) having two spaced apart flanges (45). Each flange has a central pivot hole (46) and a pull pin hole (47). The head has a central mounting portion (49) and an impact head (51) with an impact surface (52). The central mounting portion includes a central pivot hole (53), which is alignable with the handle flange central pivot hole, and an arcuate series of set pin holes (54), which are alignable with the handle flange set pin holes. A pivot pin (56) extends through the handle flange central pivot holes and head central portion pivot hole. A removable set pin (57) removably extends through the handle flange set pin holes and any one of the set of head set pin holes, depending upon the desired positioning of the head. The head is moveable between a lateral position and a longitudinal position.
US08100033B2
A vehicle pedal displacement control structure, which is capable of causing a vehicle pedal to displace so as to turn aside from driver's lower extremities and of reducing load on a steering support member in the event of an external force being applied to the front of the vehicle, is provided. A protrusion and a slide member are provided between the steering support member and a pedal bracket for suspending the vehicle pedal. When the pedal bracket moves backward with a toe board due to the external force from the front of the vehicle, the vehicle pedal and the pedal bracket are guided to turn aside from driver's lower extremities in a width direction of vehicle.
US08100032B2
A cable adjustment device for a Bowden cable having a control cable displaceable within a cable casing for a bicycle component. The adjustment device includes a guide element axially and rotationally fixed to the bicycle component and has a control cable bore therethrough. An adjustment element is rotationally fixed and axially displaceable in the guide element. The adjustment element has an abutment for engaging the cable casing. The adjustment device also includes an actuation element. The adjustment element is threadably coupled relative to the actuation element for converting the rotational movement of the actuation element into the axial movement of the adjustment element.
US08100021B2
A tensile testing machine has a jaw which includes a unitary ‘H’ section member having a cross piece and two uprights. The cross piece is mounted to a cantilever beam which is supported on said test machine and has force measuring elements. A pneumatic actuator applies tensile forces to the first ends of the jaw via strands to urge the first ends apart. When first ends of the uprights are urged apart, their oppositely disposed second ends are urged together to grip a sample deposit to be pulled off a substrate in a tensile test. In use, the jaws can be moved at speed, in the order of 500 mm/s to pull the deposit off of the substrate. The force required to pull the deposit off the substrate in this tensile test is measured by the force measuring elements on the beam.
US08100020B2
A sensor is provided. The sensor includes a substrate having at least one intrinsically conductive polymer coated on at least a first surface thereof and at least a first and second conductive contact.
US08100019B2
There is provided a fluid transducer. The transducer housing includes a nose section, a middle section, and a rear section, with the nose section defining a through bore. A sensor is disposed in the nose section and is in fluid communication with the through bore. An electronic module is disposed in the middle section and is in electrical communication with the sensor. A cap is coupled to the real section of the transducer housing, with the cap configured to seal the rear section of the transducer housing. A conductor-insulator assembly is coupled to an outer surface of the transducer housing and the conductor of the conductor-insulator assembly is coupled to the electronic module. In one embodiment the conductor-insulator assembly is annular in shape, with an inside diameter corresponding to the outer surface of the transducer housing.
US08100018B2
There is disclosed a transducer employing radiation hardened electronics. Essentially a sensor assembly is positioned in a front section of a housing where the sensor assembly is coupled to an electronic module via terminals which connect the sensor to the module. The electronic module assembly is surrounded by an internal tungsten housing which is formed from a first tungsten “U” shaped cross-sectional member coupled to a second tungsten “U” shaped cross-sectional enclosure. The two members are coupled together and totally surround the electronic assembly. The members as held together are positioned within the housing by outer shell members to form a complete housing assembly whereby the electronic assembly and its associated terminal pins are totally surrounded by the tungsten holder section and the tungsten enclosure section.
US08100017B1
A testing apparatus, for subjecting a device-under-test to oscillating acceleration, includes a stage having a mounting surface attachable to the device-under-test. An actuator is coupled to the stage, and also coupled to a reaction mass movable along a linear axis. A first flexure plate has a first flexure plate middle and a first flexure plate periphery, with the first flexure plate middle attached to the stage at a first stage end. A second flexure plate has a second flexure plate middle and a second flexure plate periphery, with the second flexure plate middle attached to the stage at a second stage end that opposes the first stage end. The first flexure plate periphery and the second flexure plate periphery are attached to the frame. The first and second flexure plates define major surfaces that are substantially perpendicular to the linear axis.
US08100010B2
Systems and methods for forming an electronic assembly are provided. A first inertial sensor having a first sense axis is attached to a bracket. A second inertial sensor having a second sense axis is attached to the bracket such that the second sense axis is substantially orthogonal to the first sense axis. The bracket is attached to a circuit board having at least one microelectronic device mounted thereto.
US08100008B2
A cap for a bottle that may be used as a means to measure liquid or flowable contents being poured from a bottle. The portion of the cap used for measuring is inclined upward to its rim for accurate measurement and reading of the numbers and/or other markers. The opposite side of the measuring portion has an upright surrounding wall that extends from the rim, to form a second fluid retaining volume or storage area when covered with an optional top.
US08099989B2
Articles are often formed from a tubular workpiece in a process which does not usefully shape the ends of the tube. In an embodiment of the invention, tube ends may be mechanically reduced in cross section and then expanded against a secondary forming surface(s) using an electromagnetic force to obtain desired shapes for the tube ends and minimize scrapping of workpiece material.
US08099986B2
A handlebars locking apparatus for locking and unlocking of the handlebars on the basis of a code collation is provided. A collation ECU releases a restriction of a rotor latched by a latch by driving a solenoid if an ignition switch is turned OFF while a lock pin is retracted. After releasing the restriction, rotation of the rotor is restricted by the latch and a code collation with a code stored in a portable key is carried out if a lock pin is in a protrusion state after the release of the restriction and the protrusion state is detected by a lock side switch. If the code collation is correctly carried out, the protrusion of the lock pin is maintained to lock the handlebars. If the code collation is not correctly completed, the restriction of the rotor is released so as to be returned into an unlocked state.
US08099975B2
An icemaker having a mold comprising at least one cavity and a cooling system. The cooling system has a first heat exchanger configured to have a medium flow there through. The first heat exchanger is in thermal communication with the mold to reduce the temperature of the mold below a predetermined temperature.
US08099967B2
A unique device for facilitating insertion and retrieval of biological specimens into and from a liquid nitrogen storage tank and a method of using the device is disclosed. The device basically has one U-shaped mainframe body, two handles, one semi-circular switch, four hooks, one rack rod locker, and one cross-shaped sample box holder.
US08099966B2
Disclosed is an air conditioning system for an aircraft which utilizes high pressure bleed air. The bleed air is pressure controlled and introduced into a vortex cooler which can be operated in two modes using a valve. In a first mode, the bleed air is divided into cold and hot streams. The cold stream is directed into the cabin for cooling purposes. The hot stream is released from the aircraft in a manner that it pulls ambient air across a heat exchanger. In a second mode, the bleed air is not divided, but passes through the vortex cooler as a common stream. The second mode is more commonly used in colder ambient air conditions.
US08099948B2
A first control valve is disposed downstream of a junction point of a first exhaust passage, and a second catalytic converter is disposed downstream of a junction point of the second exhaust passage. The first control valve and the second control valve are controlled so that the exhaust gas of all of the cylinders mainly passes one of the first catalytic converter disposed in the first exhaust passage and the second catalytic converter disposed in the second exhaust passage during a fuel-supply cutoff period.
US08099947B2
A system and method for engine control and diagnostics are described. In one example, a catalyst is modeled as a non-linear integrator. The method may improve engine air-fuel diagnostics.
US08099937B2
A cutting blade apparatus includes a blade and a replaceable cutting edge component that is removably engageable with the blade. The cutting blade apparatus may be used in a variety of cutting applications, and in some embodiments may be useful in rotary lawn mower applications. The replaceable cutting edge components may present a profile useful in vegetation mowing and mulching applications. The cutting blade apparatus of the present invention facilitates the maintenance of high-quality cutting edges without the need to disassemble the blade from its mounting.
US08099935B2
Method and apparatus for fixing the tail end of the film for wrapping palletized loads, supplied by a reel (B), envisages the following working steps: a) Positioning along the side of the load and parallel thereto a straight member (1) and transversely extending over it a section of a penultimate turn (S) of the wrapping film so as to form a vertically open pocket (Z) between this turn and the wrapped load; b) Moving an edge of the film portion of the said penultimate turn which touches the said straight member towards the other edge of the said turn so as to free space on the said straight member (1); c) Extending over the free space of said straight member (1) a section of a last turn (S1) of the wrapping film,—d) The part of the said last turn (S1) situated on the said straight member is moved away from the said penultimate turn (S), is made to pass over the said straight member (1) and is inserted and pulled into the said pocket (Z), remaining temporarily connected to the said distributor with the reel (B); e) The part of the said penultimate turn situated on the said straight member (1) is made to pass over this member, coming out from the same end from where the tail end came out, so as to close the said pocket.
US08099919B2
Laminated flooring panels include decorative motifs, mechanically embossed-in-registration surface textures, recessed perimeters, and locking mechanisms. The locking mechanisms facilitate the alignment of adjacent flooring panels. Adjacent flooring panels substantially aligned allow embossed-in-registration patterns to be substantially continuous across adjacent flooring panels. The recessed perimeter prevents the edges of the flooring panel from prematurely wearing. Individual flooring panels within the flooring system may comprise at least one partial sub-panel having a decorative motif and/or embossed surface texture that is complementary with a decorative motif and/or embossed surface texture of a neighboring partial sub-panel.
US08099918B2
An uniquely improved mortar less masonry structure comprising a plurality of concrete masonry units connected to each other by metal bars and metal threaded fasteners thereby forming a reinforcing skeletal system for the masonry to utilize a post tensioned structure. The unique system has been developed with full recessed channels in the masonry unit, anchor bars that fit into the channels and extend across a plurality of masonry units and bolts that act as the tendon for the post tensioning system. This is an improved, rapidly constructed building system that demountably couples each individual masonry unit by an extended bar and bolt system. This extended bar is more efficient and easier to build with as compared to other traditional masonry structures.
US08099916B2
A unidirectional valve for venting moisture from a window having at least two panes or lights, the panes or lights defining an air space therebetween, is provided. The valve includes: an elongated body having an interior passage formed lengthwise therein, wherein at least a portion of the elongated body is adapted to be inserted directly through a window pane and into the air space formed between the panes; at least one resilient plate pivotally connected to the elongated body; wherein the resilient plate moves in response to changes in fluid pressure within the air space formed between the panes of the window, and wherein the movement of the plate opens the interior passage for allowing moisture-laden air to pass therethrough and out of the air space or closes the interior passage for preventing air from flowing back into the air space between the panes.
US08099902B2
A sensor arrangement controls opening and closing of a door device. The sensor arrangement is arranged to be mounted in the vicinity of the door device. The sensor arrangement comprises an image-acquiring means, which monitors and acquires images of a field of view that encompasses at least an approach area located adjacent said door device, and a movement detector, which is arranged to process the acquired images in order to detect a movement, which is to result in an opening of the door device. The sensor arrangement also comprises an event generator, which is arranged to process information regarding the door device and said field of view in order to identify at least one event according to predetermined criteria, wherein the event generator in response to an identification of an event creates a recording of the event.
US08099892B1
The invention concerns a recoilless weapon (1) comprising a launch tube (3) for launching a projectile and a recoil dampener (2) for dampening recoil forces from the projectile, characterized in that the recoil dampener (2) comprises at least two recoil dampening mechanisms (8) comprising dampening means (11, 13, 14, 15) and that the recoil dampener (2) is adjustable in regard to a gunner and/or to projectile.
US08099887B2
One embodiment of an orbital sign assembly, allowing for attachment to and full pivot or orbit capability of the attached signage around a horizontal run of span wire or other support member. Any one traffic signage is supported from a horizontal run of a span wire or other support member by a orbital sign assembly comprising a sign bracket (10) with attachment points at opposing ends and center, a pivot attachment (2) allowing 360 degree pivoting of the sign, which adjoins the sign bracket (10) to the a cable saddle (1) which contains two pivot attachment rails (3) for limiting side to side movement of the pivot attachment on its track. Conventional U-bolts (5) are located within the cable saddle and are used to clamp down to the span wire while still allowing traffic signal cables to be inserted through a cable slot (4) within the cable saddle (1). A cant tilt slot (11) is located on the sign bracket for leveling signage.
US08099877B2
A coordinate measurement device comprises an articulated arm and a laser scanner assembly. The articulated arm can have a first end, a second end, and a plurality of jointed arm segments therebetween. Each arm segment can define at least one axis of rotation, and a last axis of rotation can be defined by bearings near a distal end of the arm. The laser scanner assembly can couple to the distal end of the arm. The arm can continuously generate trigger signals that are received by the laser scanner and indicate a time at which the arm's position is measured.
US08099864B2
The present invention provides a reinforcing bar tie the enables the connection intersecting reinforcing bars. The invention houses a tie made of an elastic member in a reception space, and extrudes it with an extruding member. At this time, the curved portions provided on both ends of the tie advance while guiding portions of a guiding member push them open, and are guided to an intersecting position of two reinforcing bars. Further, by extruding with the extruding member the tie detaches from the guiding member and winds around the intersection of the two reinforcing bars with a force sufficient to couple the two reinforcing bars together.
US08099862B2
An apparatus for detaching a head slider bonded onto a mounting plate of a suspension includes a platform on which a head gimbal assembly is mounted; a heating device for heating a joint section between the head slider and the suspension to decrease the bonding force; a latching part for latching the mounting plate at a position on a center line of the mounting plate in the lengthwise direction and/or at positions symmetric about the center line; and a clamp device for moving the head slider in a direction along the center line with the heating to detach the head slider from the mounting plate.
US08099854B2
A groove is formed on a handling member, on a face to be fixed to an element, the groove making up a portion of a channel that externally communicates in the state of being fixed to the element. In the fixing process of the substrate and then handling member, the handling member is fixed so that the edge direction of the vibrating membrane supporting portion and the edge direction of the groove of the handling member intersect. Thus, the probability that a membrane will break during handling or processing of the substrate is reduced, and the handling member can be quickly removed from the substrate.
US08099845B2
The invention relates to a device (11) for handling an article (13) such as a coil spring, and to an installation for handling an article. The device (11) comprises a body (10) having an internal housing (12) suitable for containing said article (13), said housing (12) presenting at least one open end (10A, 10B) and a constriction zone (14) that is suitable in a stable state, in which said constriction zone (14) presents a reduce dimensions (D14X) that is reduced in a first direction (X), for retaining said article (13) inside the body (10), and for being deformed to adopt a deformed configuration enabling said article (13) to be inserted into the housing (12) or enabling said article (13) to be extracted from the housing (12). The installation includes force-application means for acting on the device to change it between its stable state and its deformed configuration.
US08099839B2
Each clip 1 is fitted into a cutaway groove portion 6 of a pedestal portion 5 of each assembling portion 3 provided on a bottom surface portion of a console box 2. After that, a positioning boss 7 is fitted into a long hole 43 formed in an attachment receiving member 41, and at the same time, a fitting head portion 28 of each clip 1 is fitted into each long hole 42 formed in the attachment receiving member 41. As each fitting head portion 28 is fitted into each long hole 42 formed in the attachment receiving member 41 and a boss portion 22 slides in the cutaway groove portion 6. Each of a pair of elastic locking pieces 31 is elastically locked with the periphery of each longer side portion of each long hole 42.
US08099832B1
A hinge assembly including a first hinge leaf hingedly connected to a second hinge leaf by a hinge pin (14), the hinge pin (14) being rotatably mounted in one hinge leaf (12) non-rotatably mounted in the other hinge leaf (11), and a check mechanism (30) operably connected to the hinge pin (14) and said one hinge leaf (12) to releasably hold the first and second hinge leaves (11, 12) at at least one angular position about the hinge axis, the check mechanism (30) including check means (32) resiliently biased in a radial direction relative to the hinge axis and into contact with an annular cam track (34) formed on a reaction member (33), the check means (32) being driven along said annular cam (34) by relative rotation between said first an second hinge leafs (11, 12), the cam track (34) including at desired locations therealong one or more check formations (38) which cooperate with said check means (32) to releasably retain the first and second hinge leafs (11, 12) at a desired angular position relative to one another.
US08099830B2
A handle arrangement on a vacuum cleaner hose has an inner bushing non-rotatably attached to one end of the hose and is inserted in a handle tube and axially fixed therein such that it can rotate. Electrical leads are guided outwards from the hose and the inner bushing in a radial direction through a wall opening of the handle tube and into the cavity of a handle part. The handle part is firmly connected at both ends to the handle tube. The electrical leads are fixed so as to form a length reserve loop in the cavity. A receiving space is provided on the inner bushing, into which electrical leads from the length reserve loop are shifted when relative rotations take place between the hose and the handle tube. The possible rotation angle is delimited by stops according to the lead length available in the length reserve loop.
US08099826B2
A powdery material removal and recovery system comprises a distribution apparatus (1), a blower unit (2), a vacuum unit (3), a recovered powder receiving hopper (4), a powder sifter (5) and a conveyor (6). The vacuum unit (3) sucks material particles from the surface of boards passing along conveyor (6) below and transfers the material to receiving hopper (4). Air from the blower unit (2) is expelled through a pressure chamber of the distribution apparatus (1) onto the surface of the boards below so that any remaining remnants of particles are dried and dislodged and can then be removed via the outer duct compartments (108, 110). Recovered material deposited into the receiving hopper (4) may then be transferred to the powder sifter (5) for sifting and reuse.
US08099821B2
The present invention relates to a toothbrush. The invention relates in particular to a toothbrush filament having a filament body surrounding a matrix material in which grains are embedded, wherein the matrix material and the grains have a different resistance to etching so that by etching the matrix material and/or the grains a surface structure can be created on the filament body at least in the area of the tapering end section. According to one aspect of the present invention, grains having a shell structure with a grain shell, in which is encapsulated a grain core comprising a core material different from the shell material, have been embedded in the matrix material of the filament.
US08099817B2
In a first aspect, an apparatus for cleaning a thin disk is provided. The apparatus includes a support roller for supporting a rotating wafer within a wafer cleaner. The support roller comprises a guide portion, for receiving an edge of a wafer, having an inclined surface comprising a low-friction material and adapted to allow the wafer edge to slide thereagainst; and an edge-trap portion for retaining the edge of the wafer and having a transverse surface comprising a high-friction material and adapted, when in communication with the edge of the wafer, to resist sliding thereagainst. Numerous other aspects are provided.
US08099815B2
The present invention relates to a floor covering storage and dispensing rack including a frame equipped with extendable members having castors. Floor lock anchors are also provided on the frame. Upper frame members of the rack support rollers in spaced relation and a crank or motor is provided to rotate the rollers to wind floor covering onto the rollers for storage. Perforated end caps are provided on the rollers to limit access to moving parts. An elongated cleaning head consisting of a pair of brushes is provided on a frame member. Floor covering passes over at least one brush when the floor covering is retrieved or dispensed to remove dirt prior to storage or reuse.
US08099814B1
The disclosure details a device for cleaning and scrubbing that has a tub and a cylindrical brush rotatably mounted within its interior. The tub has a bottom, side walls, a front wall, back wall, and an open top. The device also includes a cover positioned within the tub; the cover has a shroud portion positioned over at least a portion of the brush as well as a generally planar portion that extends from the shroud to a location adjacent the bottom of the tub. The inventive device is well-suited for cleaning and scrubbing tools and implements that may be commonly used in the construction and/or remodeling industry.
US08099811B2
A spring assembly including a helical coil formed from a multi-strand cord.
US08099797B2
Composite foams or leather materials (synthetic or natural) have electrical components deposited thereon. More particularly, one or more electrical components are formed directly onto the surface of the composite foam or the leather material. A group of transistors and piezoelectric components forming an accelerometer may be formed onto a surface of a composite foam or a leather material and incorporated into an article of wear.
US08099796B2
Fibers, such as textile fibers, having electrical components deposited thereon. More particularly, one or more electrical components are formed directly onto the surface of at least one fiber. The fiber having the electrical component formed thereon may then be interlaced with other fibers to form a larger piece of fabric, which can be employed to produce an article of clothing. A group of transistors and piezoelectric components forming an accelerometer may be woven onto one or more natural or synthetic fibers. The fibers may then be employed as the warp, weft, or both, of a woven piece of fabric, or used to form a knitted piece of fabric. The fabric piece can then be cut and sewn to form a wearable item, such as a shirt, a pair of pants, a hat, or the upper piece of a shoe that includes the accelerometer.
