Document	Document Title
US08042787B2	Dual flush activation A handle assembly for providing dual flush functionality to a flush valve. The handle assembly comprising a handle and a plunger engagable with each other. The plunger axially slidable in a bush disposed between the handle and the flush valve. The bushing having a passage for receiving the plunger. The plunger having a first and a second axis along which the plunger may travel through the passage. Movement of the handle moves the plunger from first axis to the second axis wherein actuation of the flush valve by the plunger along the first axis results in a different flush volume than actuation along the second axis.
US08042781B2	Attachable holder for items Provided herein is an item holder assembly that includes an attachment mechanism for attaching the assembly to an object such as a laptop computer, an item support or holder, and a member for connecting the attachment mechanism to the item holder or support.
US08042775B1	Head and neck support for a seated person A support for the head and neck of a person seated at a desk. The support is adjustable in three dimensions and includes a base, a joint removably attached to the base in a slidable engagement, a vertical arm configured with an offset vertical axis, a ball joint, a chin mount adapted to rotate on the ball joint, a hand-turnable bolt configured to prevent rotation of the chin mount on the spherical ball.
US08042773B2	Method and device for deactivating defective doors A method for deactivating a defective door of a train. The method steps include: providing a first door and a first controller; providing a second door and a second controller; providing a separate remote, central activation device configured to transmit an activation signal; determining that a fault has occurred at the second door; and deactivating the second door by an activation signal transmitted from the remote, central activation device via the first controller. A deactivation apparatus for deactivating a defective door of a train, the deactivating apparatus including: a first train door, a first controller, and a first locking device; a second train door, a second controller, and a second locking device, wherein the second train door is a defective train door; a separate, central control center connected to the first and second train doors and configured to provide and transmit an activation instruction, wherein the defective train door is deactivated by the activation instruction via the first locking device of the non-defective door.
US08042769B2	Modular aircraft window A modular aircraft window includes an outer pane and an inner pane each inserted in a substantially rectangular frame. A foldable shade is disposed on one of the frames and has a freely movable end that is coupled with an operating unit for opening and closing the shade. The assembly further includes at least one shade raising and lowering mechanism in one or both of the longitudinal parts of the frame and a drive mechanism mounted in the lower transverse part of the frame. The drive mechanism includes a threaded spindle which, in order to provide for a particularly stable and long-lasting construction of the drive mechanism, is movable solely translationally and is coupled with a transmission mechanism operating the at least one raising and lowering mechanism.
US08042767B2	Composite fabric with rigid member structure A composite structure is provided including a first fabric and a second fabric. A substantially elongate and substantially rigid first member is spaced apart from and coupled with the first fabric via the second fabric. A resin substantially is infused into the first fabric and the second fabric, and substantially encapsulates the first member to form a unitary structure.
US08042758B2	Cylinder in pretensioner for seat belt retractor and pretensioner for seat belt retractor employing the same Provided is a pretensioner for a seat belt retractor. The pretensioner for a seat belt retractor of a vehicle includes a torsion bar on which a webbing is wound; a gear member connected to the torsion bar; a base member with which the gear member is meshed and through which the torsion bar passes; a cylinder having a movement guide hole formed therein to supply a gas upon rapid deceleration of the vehicle; a piston having a rack formed at a side surface thereof in a longitudinal direction to be meshed with the gear member and moved along the movement guide hole upon supply of a gas, and; a cylindrical sealing operation part integrally formed with a bottom of the piston and projecting therefrom; and a sealing part coupled to an outer periphery of the sealing operation part to seal between the piston and an inner wall of the cylinder, wherein the base member has a hooking means for hooking the piston to a rack. Since the rack of the piston is hooked by the hooking means and assembled thereto, it is possible to form an appropriate gap (or a marginal space) between the sealing part and the straight movement guide hole.
US08042749B2	Washer device for headlamp for vehicle Disclosed is an economical washer device of a headlamp for a vehicle includes a nozzle unit integrally mounted onto a nozzle cover, the nozzle unit including a washer discharging opening and a washer introducing opening, wherein a washer liquid is fed through the washer introducing opening and selectively discharged through the discharging opening, and a slide drive unit integrated with the nozzle unit and configured and dimensioned to rotatably support the nozzle unit when the nozzle unit is rotated by an ejection pressure of the washer liquid discharged.
US08042748B2	Surface disruptor for laminar jet fountain A fluid handling device, for example, a laminar jet fountain, includes a jet emanating a first stream of substantially laminar fluid. The jet fountain also includes a surface disrupter that includes a body, a water inlet, a valve, a fluid outlet, and a trajectory adjuster emanating a second stream of fluid from the fluid outlet. The second stream of fluid may be positioned to intersect the first stream of fluid and perturb its laminarity. By adjusting a valve controlling the force and volume of flow of the second stream and/or by adjusting the trajectory adjuster, the intersection of the first and second streams may be modified and, therefore, the laminarity of the first stream may be modified. By disrupting the laminar surface of the first stream, light introduced into the first stream may be caused to refract outward from the first stream and thus enhance illumination of the first stream.
US08042747B2	Notched tie plate insulator A notched tie plate insulator adapted to be received within a recessed area of a tie plate of a railroad rail system. The insulator includes a bottom plate having a first side and a second side and a pair of side plates attached to the bottom plate. Each side of the bottom plate defines a notch therein. The side plate includes a longitudinal extending body having an upper surface and a lower surface and defining a recess on the upper surface and a protrusion on the lower surface, wherein the protrusion of each of the side plates is received within the notches of the bottom plate.
US08042745B2	Thermally responsive valve for regulating engine coolant flow A thermally responsive valve is installed in a coolant circuit of an engine 1, and is provided with an operating member 7 containing a thermal expansion element 15 which expands and contracts according to a temperature change of coolant to change a longitudinal length of the operating member 7 due to thermal expansion and contraction thereof so as to open and close a valve in the coolant circuit. The thermal expansion element 15 includes a first thermal expansion element 15a with lower thermal expansion start temperature and a lower thermal expansion response speed, and a second thermal expansion element 15b with a higher thermal expansion start temperature and a higher expansion response speed.
US08042742B2	Noncontact IC label and method and apparatus for manufacturing the same A non-contact IC label comprising an electrically insulating first substrate; an electrically connected antenna coil and IC chip provided on one surface of said substrate; a magnetic layer provided on said one surface of said substrate so as to cover said antenna coil and said IC chip, a first adhesive layer provided on said magnetic layer, an electrically insulating second substrate provided on said first adhesive layer, a second adhesive layer provided on said second substrate, a release paper provided on said second adhesive layer, and an overlay material provided on a third adhesive layer on the other surface of said first substrate.
US08042735B2	Desktop card processor A desktop card processor having increased card processing capabilities without increasing the horizontal footprint of the card processor. The card processor utilizes multiple card processing levels stacked in vertically separated levels to minimize the horizontal footprint of the card processor.
US08042729B2	Mailbox tray A mailbox tray mountable to a standard mailbox, the mailbox tray having a bracket arm and a substantially thin generally rectangular slideable tray. The tray has a mail-facing surface disposed substantially parallel to the top surface of the bottom panel of the mailbox. The slideable tray portion has a depression to facilitate mail gripping and removal. A mail-facing surface has one or more drain holes and at least one ridge. The first end of the bracket arm is pivotably connected to the front door and the second end of the bracket arm is pivotably connected to the slideable tray such that when the front door is opened, at least a portion of the slideable tray is extended outside of the cavity and when said front door is closed, the slideable tray is returned in its entirety inside of the cavity. In a second embodiment, the slideable tray further comprises a first segment and a second segment which are pivotably connected. When the front door is opened, the rear end of the second segment is substantially raised such that the mail-facing surfaces of the front and rear segments collectively form a concave configuration. When the front door is closed, the rear segment returns to a plane substantially coplanar with the front segment.
US08042715B2	Dispensing closure comprising a safety system A dispensing closure for a container that includes closure walls, at least one dispensing aperture, at least one closing element that is movable between a position where the aperture is closed, and a position where the aperture is open. This closure includes at least one actionable member that surrounds the closure walls and the closing element, a spring element disposed between the closing element and the closure walls to force the closing element to close the aperture, a connection device that includes a flexible pouch containing a temperature dependent material, and a catch mechanism. When the temperature is below a predetermined safety temperature the temperature dependent material is rigid enough so that the pouch restrains the catch mechanism in a position where the consumer can open the dispensing aperture by moving the actionable member, but when the temperature of the container is above the safety temperature, the temperature dependent material is sufficiently fluid so that the pouch is compressible to allow movement of the actionable member independently of the closing element, thus preventing a consumer from opening the dispensing aperture.
US08042714B2	Reverse-flow prevention plug for container, the container, and pouring device A backflow preventing plug, a container, and a pouring device in which a container body and a plug member are provided separately in a simple shape, and tight-contact property between the plug member and a resilient member is enhanced to improve a backflow preventing function are provided.A backflow-preventing plug includes a resilient membrane formed of a thin film for defining a flow path having an inlet port and an outlet port, and a ball-shaped plug member retained in the flow path of the resilient membrane and formed with a spherical sealing surface for restricting fluid flow by coming into tight resilient contact with a middle portion of the resilient membrane. In a container, the backflow preventing plug is attached to a container opening of a container body accommodating contents. A pouring device includes, for example, a container holder accommodating and holding the container and allowing the container body to be pressurized from the container opening side to be contractingly deformed.
US08042690B2	Wiper blade package A beam-type wiper blade reclosable package that includes a pair of package halves joined by an elongate compliant joint that preferably enables one of the package halves to function as a cover that can be closed over a base that includes a curved beam-type wiper blade compartment formed therein. The compartment includes a wiper blade beam or backbone seat and a wiping blade element land, an adapter clearance recess defining a lip that facilitates package opening and closing and wiper blade removal facilitating pockets. The compliant joint preferably is a living hinge of double fold construction that serves to strengthen the package when closed.
US08042679B2	Belt cleaner A belt cleaner is provided in which a scraping portion of a scraper becomes in contact with the belt surface over the full width thereof even when the trough-shape of the belt surface is different from the shape as expected, thereby the leavings on the belt surface will be scraped off in an optimum manner. The scraper is formed by a resiliently deformable blade which is curved and held in a holding groove of a holder so that the scraper (5) keeps an arcuate shape having a distance (L) between the central portion and the both side portions thereof with respect to the lengthwise direction of the belt. Shape shifting means (20) is provided in the holding groove (13) for transforming the scraper (5) into a desired curved configuration selected from among plural curved configurations changing the distance (L) thereby the scraper (5) is held in the selected curved configuration.
US08042675B2	Self-supporting guiding system for moving walkways The invention relates to a system having: a first longitudinal member and a second longitudinal member arranged symmetrical to the first longitudinal member in relation to a longitudinal mid-plane of the conveyor system, to define a forward movement track and a return track of the rollers (4); a connecting crossbeam (6) for connecting the longitudinal members. The longitudinal members have: an upper surface defining the forward movement track (2) on which the rollers (4) roll; a lower surface defining the return track (3) on which the rollers (4) roll; an inner surface provided with means for fixing the longitudinal members; an outer surface. The first longitudinal member is connected to the second longitudinal member by means of a connecting crossbeam (6) to ensure a necessary tolerance between longitudinal members.
US08042671B2	One-way clutch of roller type A one-way clutch of roller type comprising an outer race having pockets provided at an inner surface thereof with cam surfaces, an inner race spaced inwardly from the outer race, a plurality of rollers disposed in the pockets and adapted to transmit torque between the outer race and the inner race, a cage having a cylindrical portion, a flange portion and windows to hold the plurality of rollers and each having a circumferential width smaller than a diameter of the roller, and springs each having one end locked to the outer race to bias the roller toward, and wherein the cage is rotatable relative to the outer race and includes staking portions formed on an end face of the cylindrical portion opposite to the flange portion and adapted to prevent the cage from being dislodged in an axial direction.
US08042668B2	Three-mode overrunning bi-directional clutch The three mode overrunning bi-directional clutch has a first mode where the slipper race and fixed race are coupled and power is not transmitted between the inner input shaft and the outer shaft. A second mode where the slipper race is uncoupled from the fixed race and the slipper race engages the outer shaft to provide power transmission between the inner shaft and the outer shaft. The third mode couples the slipper race to the fixed race but uses a brake to provide radial force against the slipper race to allow for partial engagement between the slipper race and the outer shaft. This third mode allows for a smooth transition between the first mode and the second mode.
US08042666B2	Hydrodynamic clutch device A hydrodynamic clutch includes a hydrodynamic circuit formed by at least a pump wheel and a turbine wheel in a clutch housing with a drive-side housing wall extending to the axis of rotation, and a bridging clutch with a piston capable of shifting axially relative to the drive-side housing wall. The turbine wheel is connected to a hub, which is connected for rotation in common to a takeoff, and is axially supported between the hydrodynamic circuit and the clutch housing, and has first and second flow passages which are axially offset from each other. The hub has a drive-side end with an axial bearing area which can be moved into axial contact with an axial bearing, which is either an axial contact surface on the drive-side housing wall or is assigned to the drive-side housing wall.
US08042658B2	Suspension device A suspension device (A) comprising a damper (S) and a gas spring (C), the damper (S) comprising a motion transforming mechanism (H) for transforming a relative motion between a vehicle body-side member and an axle-side member into a rotational motion and a motor (M) having a rotor (8) to which the rotational motion is transmitted, the gas spring (C) being interposed between the vehicle body-side member and the axle-side member, in which the motor (M) comprises a hollow casing (9), a partition wall member (16) which forms a rotor chamber (r) within the casing (9), with the rotor (8) being received within the rotor chamber (r), a cylindrical stator (17) disposed between an outer periphery of the partition wall member (16) and an inner periphery of the casing (9), and the rotor (8) held rotatably by the casing (9) within the rotor chamber (r), and the interior of the rotor chamber (6) is brought into communication with the interior of a gas chamber (R) of the gas spring (C). According to this construction, it is possible to avoid an increase in size of a suspension device utilizing a motor and with a gas spring applied thereto.
US08042654B2	Device for securing and lubricating bushings Disclosed is a device for securing and lubricating a bushing. The device comprises: a first member having a first body portion, a first engaging portion extending outwardly from the first body portion, and at least one channel drilled through a lateral outer surface of the first engaging portion and extending along a complete length of the body portion; and a second member having a second body portion and a second engaging portion disposed internally and along a longitudinal axis of the second body portion. The first engaging portion mounts a bushing covering at least a portion of an opening of the channel on the lateral outer surface and engages with the second engaging portion, thereby sandwiching the bushing between the first member and the second member. Pressurizing a lubricant through the channel transmits the lubricant to an inner surface of the bushing through the opening of the channel on the first engaging portion.
US08042650B1	Portable tree climbing device A removable step used to climb a vertical surface. The step has first and second structural members and at least two brace members spacing the structural members. A coupler is rigid with one of the structural members and is operable to secure the structural member to the vertical surface.
US08042648B2	Material for processing and molded member using the same A material for processing includes an elastically deformable single thin plate comprising a plurality of through-holes. The plate has a first wave-like shape, which is formed in a first direction and, in which troughs and ridges are alternately connected in repetition, and a second wave-like shape which is formed in a second direction crossing the first direction and in which troughs and ridges are alternately connected in repetition. The first wave-like shape has a corrugated shape in which the ridges each include a pair of side parts rising from the corresponding troughs and an apex part connected between the pair of side parts. An apex length of the apex part along the first direction is defined as being longer than an opening length, along the first direction, between base parts of the pair of side parts.
US08042644B2	Self-propelled forage harvester The present invention relates to a self-propelled forage harvester (1) that is equipped with a front attachment (3) and includes a rigid axle (5), a transmission (10) and two wheel gears (9), which are installed upstream of the drive wheels (7) and are coupled with the transmission (10) in a driving manner, the drive axle (5) being composed of a center part (31) and axle carrier units (28) rigidly flange-connected on the right and left sides of the center part (31), each axle carrier unit (28) including wheel gears (9) that extend forward, in the direction toward the front attachment (3).
US08042639B2	Motorcycle axle assembly An axle assembly for a motorcycle having a plurality of drive wheels. The axle assembly is configured to permit a user to replace an endless power-transmitting element without substantially disassembling the axle housing assembly. A method for forming the axle assembly and a method for replacing an endless power-transmitting element are also provided.
US08042631B2	Electric vehicle having multiple-use APU system During periods of vehicle inactivity, a vehicle-based APU electric generating system may be coupled into a regional electric grid to send electricity into the grid. A currently-preferred APU is a solid oxide fuel cell system. When a large number of vehicles are thus equipped and connected, substantial electric buffering can be effected to the grid load. A vehicle-based APU can also function as a back-up generator to a docking facility in the event of power failure of the grid. Gaseous hydrocarbon is readily supplied by pipe in many locations as a commercial and residential heating fuel source, and a hydrocarbon reformer on the vehicle can be attached to the fuel source, enabling an APU to operate as a stationary power source indefinitely. An optional storage tank on the vehicle may be refueled with gaseous fuel, for example, while the battery is being electrically recharged by the grid.
US08042626B2	Gripping tool A gripping tool includes a body assembly and gripping assembly with a grip surface adapted to move from a retracted position to an engaged position to radially engage a work piece in response to relative axial displacement. A linkage is provided to act between the body assembly and the gripping assembly which, upon relative rotation in at least one direction, of the body relative to the grip surface results in relative axial displacement of the grip surface to activate the gripping elements. This tool was developed for use on drilling and service rigs having top drives, and supports rapid engagement and release, hoisting, pushing, and rotating.
US08042625B2	Drilling tool A drilling tool has a body with a main drilling region and a pilot drilling region, eccentric to the main drilling region. The main drilling region has main blades and the pilot drilling region has pilot blades. The main drilling region has a main pass-through diameter, centered upon a first axis, one of the main blades extending to the main pass-through diameter, the pilot region having a pilot gauge diameter, centered upon a second axis of rotation at least one of the pilot blades extending to the pilot gauge diameter, wherein part of a circle of diameter equal to the pilot gauge diameter and centered upon the second axis of rotation extends outside of a circle of diameter equal to the main pass-through diameter and centered upon the first axis.
US08042623B2	Distributed sensors-controller for active vibration damping from surface An apparatus for controlling a vibration of a drill string, the apparatus including: a plurality of sensors in operable communication with the drill string; and a controller in operable communication with the plurality of sensors, the controller connectable to a drill string motivator and capable of outputting a signal to the drill string motivator to control the vibration of the drill string.
US08042616B2	Apparatus and methods for drilling a wellbore using casing Apparatus and methods for drilling with casing. In an embodiment, methods and apparatus for deflecting casing using a diverter apparatus are disclosed. In another embodiment, the apparatus comprises a motor operating system disposed in a motor system housing, a shaft operatively connected to the motor operating system, the shaft having a passageway, and a divert assembly disposed to direct fluid flow selectively to the motor operating system and the passageway in the shaft. In another aspect, methods and apparatus for directionally drilling a casing into the formation are disclosed. Methods and apparatus for measuring the trajectory of a wellbore while directionally drilling a casing into the formation are also described.
US08042606B2	Minimal-temperature-differential, omni-directional-reflux, heat exchanger A substrate formed of a suitable conductive-heat-transfer material is formed with small channels of a size selected to provide surface tension forces dominating a motion of a liquid-phase working fluid. A space above the channels of the substrate provides comparatively unobstructed space for the transport motion of a vapor phase of the working fluid effecting a heat-pipe effect in a multi-dimensional device. Channels may typically be formed in an orthogonal grid providing capillary return of liquids from a comparatively cooler condensation region to a comparatively warmer evaporation region, without any wicks other that the adhesion of the liquid phase working fluid to the vertices of the channels. Interference between the boundary layers of the liquid phase and the vapor phase of the working fluid are minimized by the depth of the channels, and the pedestals formed by the channel walls. Extremely small temperature differentials are thereby achieved between an outer surface of the substrate and an inner surface of the substrate when the liquid phase floods the substrate.
US08042598B2	Reduced visibility insect screen An insect screen of increased invisibility can be created by using small wire diameter elements and/or increasing the mesh density of the screen. The combination of small wire diameter and increased mesh density provide a screen with a higher Dalquist Rating that becomes invisible at closer distances. A “sweet spot” exists at which a screen with a combination high mesh density and small wire diameter is less visible, while still providing the strength, durability, and quality desired. Further, screens with properties in proximity to this sweet spot also provide a marked increase in invisibility.
US08042597B2	Roller shade system having hembar for pleating a shade fabric A pleated roller shade system allows a thin flexible shade fabric, such as, for example, silk, to be wrapped around a roller tube. The system comprises a pleating hembar contained within a hembar pocket of the shade fabric. The hembar is characterized by a non-linear shape, such as a serpentine shape, for causing the shade fabric to hang with a plurality of pleats. The hembar may comprise a plurality of C-shaped hembar sections flexibly coupled to each other. The system may also comprise an elongated pleating assembly mounted parallel to the roller tube and having a fabric-receiving opening that defines a non-linear (e.g., serpentine) path. The shade fabric may be received through the fabric-receiving opening and folded by the pleating assembly, such that the shade fabric is wrapped around the roller tube in folds as the roller tube rotates.
US08042596B2	Articulation device for an awning elbow joint An articulation device applicable to an awning arm elbow includes a fork and a core which are joined to respective first and second semi-arms and are connected to one another by an articulation shaft. The core has an anchor in an outer surface for hooking an enlarged end of a flexible, elastically loaded tie rod which is accommodated in the first semi-arm. A seat with conical radial and axial support surfaces is formed in the core, and a circumferential channel is formed in the axial support surface. A bearing unit includes an annular element with a cylindrical outer radial rest surface to be fitted, by pressurized insertion with interference, into the conical radial support surface of the seat, and an axial rest surface to rest against the axial support surface of the seat.
US08042592B2	Tape dispenser A tape dispenser including a cutting mechanism is disclosed that allows for improved access to the mandrel during reloading. The tape dispenser comprises a base, a cover, and a mandrel disposed within the base and cover. The cover is capable of securely engaging with the base. The base, the cover, and the mandrel are connected along a pivot point. The cover actuates the mandrel to an open, loading position.
US08042583B2	Pneumatic tire for off-road traveling with tread including blocks having recess portions A pneumatic tire having an improved off-road traveling performance, which has a block pattern that a plurality of blocks 7 are provided in a tread portion, in which each of the blocks 7 includes a tread surface 9 facing radially outward and a wall surface 10 extending radially inwardly from the edge “e” of the tread surface 9, and at least one of the blocks 7 is provided with at least one recess portion 11 which extends on the wall surface 10 in the radial direction, and whose radially outer end opens at the tread surface 9 and whose length L along the wall surface 10 is from 10 to 70% of the height BL of the blocks 7.
US08042581B2	Valve assembly for powder dispenser A powder dispenser comprising a powder container having an opening in a lower end thereof, a powder receptacle having a flange, and a flow control assembly having pivotable flow control arms biased against each other, pivotable activation arms biased towards each other, and connecting members for connecting the flow control arms to the activation arms for concomitant movement, wherein the receptacle flange is operable to engage the activation arms to pivot the activation arms away from each other and thereby pivot the flow control arms away from each other so that powder is allowed to flow through the flow control assembly into the receptacle. The dispenser may further comprise an agitator that is operable to agitate the powder in the container when the flow control arms are pivoting towards or away from each other.
US08042579B2	Paint replenishing system for cartridge A quantitation setup mechanism (58) is composed of a piston (62) which is incorporated into a quantitation tank (61) to define therein a metering chamber (63), a quantitation setup portion (65) for presetting a quantity of paint replenishment, and a sensor (66) adapted to detect a displacement of the piston (62) preset by the quantitation setup portion (65). In this instance, paint is replenished into a paint chamber (19) of a cartridge (16) by means of a paint feed mechanism (32). In the course of the paint replenishment, an equivalent amount of an extruding liquid is displaced and discharged from an extruding liquid chamber (20). The displaced extruding liquid is introduced into the metering chamber (63) of the quantitation setup mechanism (58), detecting a quantity of displacement of the extruding liquid by replenished paint by the sensor (66) through the piston (62) to exactly quantitate the paint replenishment.
US08042577B2	Seam press fabric A press fabric includes a substantially flat inner sleeve having first and second ends; and an outer sleeve around the inner sleeve and comprising at least one machine direction yarn wound around the inner sleeve and defining first and second seam loops at the first and second ends of the inner sleeve. A method for making the fabric is also disclosed.
US08042574B2	Plug with expandable packer element The present invention relates to an arrangement for use with a plug (1) for sealing against an inner wall of a pipeline (30), comprising a main body and sealing means, which sealing means comprises an annular packer element (7), arranged between two relative movable body elements (5,6) of the main body actuated by actuation means, where the movable elements form surfaces (500,600) in abutment against the packer element (7). The packer element (7) comprises a radially inner section (705) which is mainly incompressible in a direction transverse to a circumferential direction and where sections of the two surfaces (500,600) in abutment against the inner section (705) of the packer element (7) in a retracted position, forms different angles in relation to an axis in radial direction in relation to a longitudinal axis of the plug.
US08042573B2	Fluid control device A fluid control device that can be miniaturized without reducing a bolt diameter and a path diameter is provided.A fluid controller 31 having an inlet port 31a and an outlet port 31b aligned in a line direction and a line-to-line connection port 31c positioned in the middle of the above ports in the line direction is supported by a pair of joint members 7, a stepped part 7a is formed at each upper surface of opposed parts of the joint members 7, and line-to-line connection path forming members 9 and 10 having line-to-line paths 13 and 18 each communicating with the line-to-line connection port 31c of the fluid controller 31, respectively and constituting line-to-line connecting means 8 are supported by the stepped parts 7a of the joint members 7.
US08042563B2	Cassette system integrated apparatus A cassette integrated system. The cassette integrated system includes a mixing cassette, a balancing cassette, a middle cassette fluidly connected to the mixing cassette and the balancing cassette and at least one pod. The mixing cassette is fluidly connected to the middle cassette by at least one fluid line and the middle cassette is fluidly connected to the balancing cassette by at least one fluid line. The at least one pod is connected to at least two of the cassettes wherein the pod is located in an area between the cassettes.
US08042561B2	Auxiliary curtain A curtain suitable for attachment to the perimeter of an umbrella has a flexible sheet with an upper edge, a lower edge, a first side edge and a second side edge. The flexible sheet also has a front surface and a rear surface, each surface defining an area between about 8 square feet and about 120 square feet. Still further, the flexible sheet has one or more upper edge fastener portions disposed proximate to the upper edge for attaching the upper edge to a foreign surface, and has reversible retaining means for retaining the lower edge at a plurality of locations on the flexible sheet above the lower edge. The reversible retaining means are adapted such that, when the upper edge is attached to an umbrella, the vertical distance between the upper edge and the lowermost portion of the flexible sheet is adjustable by the user without the use of tools.
US08042559B2	Dishwasher having rack with shelf holder A dishwasher is disclosed which includes a rack arranged inside of a washing cabinet, a plurality of shelves arranged on the rack, and a shelf holder installed on the rack. The shelf holder may include a plurality of shelf fixing parts that fix the shelves together. The dishwasher so configured is capable of minimizing the number of shelf holders needed to fix a plurality of shelves to a rack and, therefore, simplifies the assembly process.
US08042554B2	Applicator especially for mascara In an applicator, especially for mascara, hair dye, or similar cosmetics, including an oblong main body connectable to a rod. The main body is made of a comparatively hard synthetic material. A tubular bristle body having bristle-like, radially outwardly projecting extensions made of a relatively soft synthetic material, is also included. In order to attain an advantageous producibility and sturdy handling properties, the bristle body is axially fixed relative to the main body.
US08042551B2	Double wrapper cigarette, machine and method for manufacturing the same A double wrapper cigarette produced by a manufacturing machine and method according to the invention includes an inner wrapper (6) wrapped around a rod-like filler including a tobacco material, an outer wrapper (8) surrounding the inner wrapper (6), and a perfume emitting layer (10) provided between the inner wrapper (6) and the outer wrapper (8). The perfume emitting layer (10) includes a perfume material for weakening odor of sidestream smoke of the cigarette.
US08042549B2	Sterile radiological drape A collapsible sterile drape designed to encase the non-sterile portion of a radiological unit is provided. The sterile radiological drape is designed to expand to encompass the radiological unit as it rotates into and is move through the sterile field for imaging during surgery, and then to collapse to protect the sterile portion of the drape when the radiological unit is removed from the surgical field.
US08042547B2	Respiratory shield In an embodiment, a respiratory shield is disclosed. The respiratory shield is sized to be coupled with a respiratory device having a nasal air intake member so as to be positioned along an oral airflow axis.
US08042532B2	Heat-cooking apparatus A heat-cooking apparatus includes blowing means (100) that blows cooling air to an opening (20a) of a heating chamber (20) when a door (11) is opened after steam is supplied to the heating chamber (20) for preparatory operation before heat-cooking or for heat-cooking itself. More specifically, after steam is supplied to the heating chamber (20), when the door (11) is opened, the blowing means (100) drives a conventionally existing cooling fan (101) to suck in cooling air from outside the apparatus, and deflects the cooling air toward the opening (20a) of the heating chamber (20) with a decoration box (102) so that the cooling air is blown to the opening (20a) so as to pass sideways substantially across it. Thus, the cooling air mixes with high-temperature steam that tends to overflow frontward as soon as the door (11) is opened, and thereby lowers the temperature of the steam. This surely prevents the user from being hurt, as by being burnt, with the overflowing steam. Thus, without use of special exhausting means, it is possible to open the door (11) while ensuring the safety of the user even immediately after a heating medium (for example, steam) is supplied to the heating chamber (20).
US08042530B2	Crossbow with removable prod A crossbow (1) comprises α stock (2) having a detachable, pre-struπg prod (10), with the stock (2) including a recess (20) for receiving the pre-strung prod (10), a latch (24) pivotally attached to the stock (2) adjacent the recess (20) for capturing the pre-strung prod (10) within the recess (20), and a fastener (22) for securing the pre-strung prod (10) to the stock (2).
US08042527B2	Coordination of HP and LP EGR A method for charging an intake manifold of an engine comprises adjusting an LP EGR flow rate and an uncooled HP EGR flow rate within first limits to maintain a target dilution level in the intake manifold at steady-state. The method further comprises adjusting the LP EGR and uncooled HP EGR rates within second limits, different from the first, to maintain the target dilution level in the intake manifold during transient conditions.
US08042515B2	Throttle device A compact throttle device with a short air intake pipe length. A throttle device includes: throttle bodies that define air intake paths; throttle valves that are disposed in the air intake paths and adjust the air flow rate in the air intake paths; a throttle shaft that rotatably supports the throttle valves; a motor that rotates the throttle shaft; and a gear that connects the throttle shaft to the motor. A pin is provided as a protrusion on the peripheral surface of the throttle shaft. The gear externally fitted and fixed to the throttle shaft has, on a fixing ring that is externally fitted to the throttle shaft, a housing groove for housing the pin, the housing groove being impelled against the pin by a spring.
US08042510B2	Efficiency enhancement to a laser ignition system A method for a laser ignition system to operate in at least two modes based on a four-stroke combustion cycle, wherein laser light energy is generated to ignite an air/fuel mixture for combustion and may be additionally used for heating cylinder walls, such as during a cold start, at times other than when the laser ignites an air/fuel mixture for combustion.
US08042509B2	Cam cap A cam cap has a wall portion that extends between two cam cap portions integrally formed and having connection portions respectively, and therefore the rigidity of the cam cap is high and thus the relative positional accuracies of oil passage connection faces of the connection portions are high even after the cam cap is mounted on an internal combustion engine.
US08042507B2	Non-circular rotary component A rotary component with a rotor having a plurality of teeth arranged around the perimeter of the rotor. Each tooth has a crown and each pair of adjacent teeth has a valley therebetween. The crowns of the teeth lie on a curved envelope forming the perimeter of the rotor. The perimeter of the rotor has a non-circular profile with at least two protruding portions alternating with receding portions, in which the distance between the midpoints of the crowns of each pair of adjacent teeth is substantially the same, the profile of the valley between each pair of adjacent teeth is substantially the same, and the distance between the midpoint of each crown and the axis of the rotor varies around the perimeter to produce the said non-circular profile.
US08042504B2	Adjusting valve timing to deactivate engine cylinders for variable displacement operation An internal combustion engine having two cylinder banks and adjustable camshaft timing is disclosed in which the camshafts in one cylinder bank are adjusted so that there is no net flow from the cylinders to effectively disable the cylinder bank. In particular, exhaust valve timing is advanced so that the maximum valve lift occurs approximately at bottom center between expansion and exhaust strokes and intake valve timing is advanced so that maximum valve lift occurs approximately at bottom center between intake and compression strokes. Also disclosed is an engine in which an intake and an exhaust camshaft on a single bank are coaxial with valve timings adjusted by rotating the inner of the two camshafts with respect to the outer of the two camshafts.
US08042502B2	Valve drive for an internal combustion engine, in particular with a decompression brake A valve drive with a decompression brake for an internal combustion engine, which has a camshaft with a cam, a rocker arm for transmitting the cam stroke to a gas exchange valve, a pivot bearing supporting the rocker arm, and a hydraulic valve play compensating element arranged in force flow between the cam and gas exchange valve. The valve play compensating element is fixed in the engine and valve drive also has a secondary lever with a first and second lever section. The secondary lever is angularly connected, between the lever sections, to a lever support formed on the rocker arm, is supported with the first lever section on the valve play compensating element and actuates the gas exchange valve by the second lever section. The effective lever arm of the first lever section is considerably greater than the effective lever arm of the second lever section.
US08042498B2	Superheated steam generator A superheated steam generator includes an introduction section for introducing saturated steam into hollow pipe members arranged as steam flow passages and acting as inductively heated elements, and a discharge section for discharging superheated steam from the flow passages, wherein a turbulence generator is disposed in each of the steam flow passages to accelerate heat transfer to the steam in the pipe members, wherein the turbulence generator is a zigzag bent member disposed in the steam flow passage, and a zigzag bending pitch of the bent member changes from rough to minute from the introduction section to the discharge section.
US08042496B2	Hot-water supply system having supplementary heat exchanger Disclosed is a hot water supplying apparatus having an auxiliary heat exchanger. The hot water supplying apparatus comprises: a heat exchanger including an inlet pipe for introducing heating water into the heat exchanger, and first, second, and third heat exchanging pipes connected to the inlet pipe and sequentially arranged; and an auxiliary heat exchanging device installed at an inlet port of the heat exchanger through which the heating water is introduced, the auxiliary heat exchanging device including a first auxiliary heat exchanging pipe connecting the inlet pipe to the first heat exchanging pipe, a second auxiliary heat exchanging pipe connecting the second heat exchanging pipe to the third heat exchanging pipe, and heat transfer fins for transferring heat energy from the second auxiliary heat exchanging pipe to the first auxiliary heat exchanging pipe.
US08042493B2	Containment vessel for teething and eating A containment vessel for teething and feeding includes an elongate object having axially opposed end portions and a central portion extending between the end portions, and a mesh pouch attached to the central portion. The pouch has an opening, which can be closed when the pouch is attached to the elongate object. The pouch can have a flap which is wrapped around the central portion and attached to the pouch prior to placing an object in the bag and closing the opening. In an alternative, the opening of the pouch is captured between inside surfaces of a two-part object. The elongate object preferably resembles a bone, the vessel being especially suitable for dogs.
US08042492B2	Pet grooming comb capable of adjusting combing angle A pet grooming comb includes a grip having a plurality of first coupling portions circularly arranged around a longitudinal axis thereof and a comb head having a plurality of teeth and a second coupling portion selectively coupled to one of the first coupling portions. Thus, a user can adjust a setting angle of the comb head relative to the grip by means of the engagement of one of the first coupling portions of the grip with the second coupling portion of the comb head, thereby enhancing convenience of use.
US08042482B2	Steering device for a towed personal watercraft A steering device includes a main body that attaches to a tow rope, inline between a towing vessel and a personal watercraft. The main body, which is positioned just forward of the personal watercraft, accommodates an extendable rudder that moves between a normally retracted position within the main body, and a lowered, operable position to exert a steering force on the main body and the personal watercraft. An elongate tiller extends between the rudder and a handle that is optimally positioned for grasping by the rider of the personal watercraft. In accordance with several embodiments, movement of the rudder from the relaxed, retracted position to the lowered, operable position is achieved by exerting a particular directional force on the handle (e.g., pulling, pushing forward, or lifting). Moving the handle to the left or the right achieves the desired steering action. Upon release of the handle by the rider, the rudder returns to the normally retracted position, thereby removing the steering influence.
US08042480B2	Roll stabilizer A roll stabilizer (10) is disclosed which comprises a fixed fin portion (12) connected during use to a hull of a vessel so as to extend outwardly of the hull in a substantially non-vertical direction, a flap portion (14) rotatable relative to the fixed fin portion (12), the orientation of the flap portion (14) relative to the fixed fin portion defining the degree of roll stabilizing force generated by the roll stabilizer (10), a shaft (16) connected to the flap portion (14) and extending during use through a vessel hull, a seal assembly (41) arranged to facilitate rotation of the shaft (16) while maintaining water tight integrity, and a first split bearing (18) disposed during use in a vessel hull on the shaft (16). The first split bearing (18) facilitates rotation of the flap portion (14) and comprises a first bearing portion (56), a second bearing portion (58) and operative bearing components (59), wherein access to the operative bearing components (59) and the seal assembly (41) is obtainable by separating the first and second bearing portions from each other.
US08042479B2	Sewing machine A sewing machine includes a detection device that detects whether a feed distance by which the piece of work cloth is shifted by a feed dog in the back-and-forth or right-and-left direction has reached a predetermined distance, a counting device that counts a number of forward feed stitches and a number of backward feed stitches which are sewn when the piece of work cloth is shifted backward and forward, respectively, by the predetermined feed distance detected by the detection device or a number of leftward feed stitches and a number of rightward feed stitches which are sewn when the piece of work cloth is shifted leftward and rightward, respectively, by the predetermined feed distance, and a correction value setting device that sets a correction value to correct the feed distance based on a result of the counting of the number of stitches by the counting device.
US08042478B2	Automatic panel cutting and seaming system An automatic panel cutting and edge seaming system includes a series of side edge cutting and seaming assemblies that receive a fabric material and trim and sew seams along the side edges of the fabric material to form a desired width panel. Puller rolls pull the material through the side edge cutting and seaming assemblies and feed the trimmed and seamed fabric material to a cross-cut sewing assembly. After a sufficient length of fabric material has been fed to form a desired size panel, the cross-cut sewing assembly is engaged to cut and seam the end of the panel.
US08042477B2	Shelving system with stabilizing brackets and method of assembly A shelving system includes one or more shelving units. Each shelving unit has posts each post having one or more indents, connectors with slots for mounting the post and one or more shelves. Each shelf has protrusions on a periphery to insert into one of the connector slots. Each shelving unit and shelving system can be assembled, disassembled, and adjusted without the use of tools or other components. The shelving units can be assembled together to create a multiple shelving unit system without the use of tools or other components.
US08042476B2	Table with molded plastic table top A pivotable folding utility table includes a table top having a pair of support pedestals pivotally attached thereto. A first pivotal support brace including a distal end and a proximal end attached to the first support pedestal. A second pivotal support brace including a distal end and a proximal end attached to the second support pedestal. The distal ends of the first and second pivotal support braces pivotally attached to a retaining assembly preferably mounted in relation to the table top. Specifically, the retaining assembly includes a cross-brace member operably disposed through openings formed in the distal ends of the first and second pivotal support braces, thus providing a pivotal engagement in relation to the table top. Alternatively, a second retaining assembly including a cross-brace member may be mounted in relation to the table top, wherein the distal end of the first pivotal support brace pivotally engages the first retaining member and the distal end of the second pivotal support brace pivotally engages the second retaining member. In addition, the first and second support pedestals may comprise at least one support leg, wherein each support leg of the first and second support pedestals are laterally offset from each other so as to permit an offset displacement of the support legs when the support pedestals are disposed in a collapsed position.
US08042470B2	Remote setting for electronic systems in a projectile for chambered ammunition A fuze setting circuit in an artillery or tank shell having a case with a press-fitted head assembly is provided with an electromechanical fuze-wiring link that is completed electrically by mechanical assembly of a tracer-carrying projectile on the shell casing, and by the rotational attachment of a programmable fuze onto the projectile.
US08042469B2	Electrically initiated inertial igniters for thermal batteries and the like A method for electrically initiating an inertial igniter for a munition is provided. The method including: generating electrical power upon a firing acceleration of the munition: powering circuitry on board the munition with the generated electrical power; and electrically determining, at the circuitry, whether an acceleration profile experienced by the munition is an all-fire condition.
US08042462B2	Sliding T-shirts printing pallet A sliding T-shirts printing pallet comprises a main body, two sliding arm plates, and two stretching bump portions. Each of two sliding arm plates is connected to a shoulder blade side of the main body and to slide along the shoulder blade side. The two stretching bump portions are for flattening an armpit portion of the T-shirts. The front surfaces of the two sliding arm plates are aligned with the front surfaces of the parallelogram top portion and the rectangular bottom portion of the main body so as to form a single plane. Each of the two sliding arm plates defines first and second latch position when the sliding arm plate is slid upward or downward respectively. The sleeve side is roughly aligned with the flank sides of the rectangular bottom portion of the main body when the sliding arm plates are at the first latch position.
US08042459B2	Grill A grill with a removable smoker unit comprises a pan, a body, a pan cover, a smoker unit and a socket unit, wherein the smoker unit comprises a smoker box and a heating tube member with two plug terminals. The smoker unit is removably mounted on one side of the body, wherein there is a hole in the pan where the smoker unit inserts into the body, and a removable insulation lid mounted on the hole. The socket unit is mounted in the body, and provides electrical connection. The socket unit has holes for receiving the plug terminals. The grill with these structures not only has the conventional functions, but also provides an optional smoking function.
US08042457B2	Grill with anti-scald structure A grill with anti-scald structure is disclosed. The grill has a lower base, an upper bakelite shell and a lower grill pan embedded in the upside of the lower base, an upper grill pan embedded in the underside of the upper bakelite shell, both upper grill pan and lower grill pan having heating devices, and the upper grill pan and the lower grill pan form a reversible connection between them. The upper bakelite shell is covered by an anti-scald decorative panel on the top, and the anti-scald decorative panel and the upper bakelite shell form a heat insulation interstice between them. The heat insulation interstice between the upper bakelite shell and anti-scald decorative panel can insulate the heat effectively, thus the surface temperature of the anti-scald decorative panel is close to normal temperature to avoid the scald, and the anti-scald decorative panel can decorate the grill.
US08042455B2	Automatic coffeemaker provided with an automatic grounds dispenser An automatic dispenser of ground coffee having: a reservoir having a flow outlet opening and adapted to contain a quantity of ground coffee; at least one paddle mounted to rotate in the bottom of the reservoir to transfer a predetermined quantity of ground coffee from the reservoir through the flow outlet opening; and a motor assembly connected for driving the paddle in rotation. The motor assembly is composed of: a motor having two input terminals via which operating current is supplied to the motor; and a control circuit having at least one component connected to establish a short circuit between the two terminals after the supply of operating current to the motor has been cut off.
US08042443B2	Disk-shaped tool with vibration reduction A disc-shaped tool includes a plurality of virtual regions formed such that it is surrounded by two radius lines extending from a rotation center of a disc-shaped base metal and two concentric circles on the base metal disposed around the rotation center. A central angle formed by the two radius lines is equal to or less than 90°, and the number of the virtual regions is 4 to 24. The concentric circle located in a center of an interval of the two concentric circles forming the virtual region is in a range of 0.6 r to 0.8 r with respect to the rotation center of the base metal when a maximum gullet bottom radius of the base metal is r. An overlapping of the virtual regions continuously adjoining each other is in a range of 0° to 12°. A minimum neighborhood distance between the adjoining slits is equal to or more than 0.05 r. A ratio of a length of an arc of the central concentric circle in each virtual region with respect to the interval of the two concentric circles in the virtual region is 3 to 6.
US08042442B2	Cutting tool A cutting tool, particularly for steel sheet billets, having a cutting blade fastened to a blade holder and a pressure cushion which is arranged on sides of the blade holder and, when the cutting blade penetrates into the material to be punched, is pressed onto the latter in the area of the useful punched part. During the passage of the cutting blade, a high-quality edge of the useful punched part is largely kept free of an interfering burr and elevation formation by the pressure cushion material being displaced radially outward during the punching stroke, such that the cutting blade is acted upon by pressure in the lateral direction under an increasing elastic deflection of the cutting blade edge.
US08042439B2	Method and apparatus to remove cast from an individual A method for installing a fiberglass cast on and removing the cast from an individual includes a guide track and cutting tool designed to control carefully the vertical displacement and lateral displacement of the tool when the tool is used to cut the cast, and, accordingly, to prevent, while a cast is being removed, injury to the individual.
US08042437B2	Tool structure A tool structure contains a first part having an oval end section with regard to an axis of symmetry in a direction of a maximum height and an axis of symmetry in the direction of a maximum width, and a second part having a recess accommodating the end section via mutual contact surfaces. The tool structure has a clamping element for the mutual clamping of the parts and mutual contact surfaces that are restricted to in each case four spaced-apart surface sections. These surface sections are disposed symmetrically with respect to a circumference of the end section such that a center point of a straight connecting line of the starting and end points of the respective surface section is at a normal distance b1 from the axis of symmetry and at a normal distance h1 from the axis of symmetry, h1 being greater than b1.
US08042436B2	Method for preparing NC machining program and apparatus for preparing NC machining program A preparing apparatus of an NC machining program prepares an NC machining program including a position instruction of a cutting portion of a rotary tool on the basis of a two-dimensional workpiece coordinate system having a Z-axis and an X-axis as coordinate axes. An operator inputs a lead clearance α and a radial clearance β to the preparing apparatus via an input operation section. A processing section converts the NC machining program prepared on the basis of the two-dimensional workpiece coordinate system into an NC machining program including a position instruction of a three-dimensional workpiece coordinate system having the X-axis, a Y-axis and the Z-axis as the coordinate axes, on the basis of the lead clearance α and the radial clearance β.
US08042434B2	Safety torque intensifying tool A safety torque intensifying tool has a housing, a torque intensifying unit providing at least two modes of operation including a first mode in which the tool operates with a high speed and a low torque and a second mode in which the tool operates with a low speed and a high torque, a grip to be held by a tool operator, an additional element acting as a handle for better gripping in the first mode in which the tool operates with the high speed and low torque and also as a reaction arm to abut against a stationary object to stop the housing from turning in the second mode when the tool operates with the low speed and the high torque, and a switching unit for switching the tool between the first and second modes and configured so that when the operator does not act on the switching unit the tool is in the second mode of operation with the low speed and the high torque, and when the switching unit is switched by the operator while the additional element acts as a handle, the tool is switched to the first mode of operation with the high speed and the low torque, until the operator stops acting on the switching unit and the tool is switched itself back to the second mode of operation.
US08042432B2	Oilfield tubular torque wrench An oilfield tubular torque wrench and a tong therefore is described. In one aspect, a torque wrench is described including an upper tong including a recess for accepting an oilfield tubular positioned along an axis passing through the recess; a lower tong including a recess positioned below the recess of the upper tong so that the axis passes therethrough; pipe gripping dies in the recesses of the upper tong and the lower tong drivable toward and away from the axis; a swivel bearing between the upper tong and the lower tong permitting the upper tong and the lower tong to swivel relative thereto while the recesses remain positioned with the axis passing therethrough, the swivel bearing including a first partial ring mounted to one of the upper tong and the lower tong and a second partial ring mounted on the other of the upper tong and lower tong, the second partial ring being interengaged at a bearing surface to ride along a length of a bearing surface of the first partial ring; and a retainer ring positioned adjacent one of the first partial ring and the second partial ring to act against lateral disengagement of the second partial ring from the first partial ring. In another aspect, dissimilar materials are selected for the first ring and the second ring to avoid galling. In another aspect a tong with adjustable dies is described.
US08042418B2	Double-clutch transmission In a double-clutch transmission, a clutch of an input shaft which is not synchronously rotated with a output shaft is connected to synchronize the speed of rotation of the input shaft with that of the engine, and the rotational speed of the input shaft is measured to thereby detect a engine rotational speed.
US08042407B2	Tension monitoring arrangement and method Tension monitoring is described using a sensor which may exhibit an offset for which compensation may be provided to produce a zero voltage amplified output or to increase dynamic range. An arrangement determines whether a power reset is responsive to a battery bounce such that an initially-measured system start-up parameter can be retained. The start-up parameter is automatically saved at start-up if the power reset is responsive to a start-up from a shut-down condition. The start-up parameter may be a zero tension amplified output responsive to the sensor offset at zero tension. Protection of a tension data set is provided such that no opportunity for altering the data set is presented prior to transfer of the data set. A housing configuration forms part of an electrical power circuit for providing electrical power to an electronics package from a battery.
US08042405B2	Method and apparatus for characterizing microscale formability of thin sheet materials A method of predicting sheet formability at a microscale level includes the steps of providing a grid pattern on a test sheet, bulging the test sheet to a hemispherical shape until a crack is initiated on the surface of the test sheet, detecting the initiation of the crack, acquiring two images of the surface adjacent to the crack and calculating surface strains on the test sheet.
US08042401B2	Isolation system for process pressure measurement A process fluid pressure transmitter includes a pressure sensor, transmitter electronics, and an isolation system. The pressure sensor has an electrical characteristic that changes with pressure. The transmitter electronics are coupled to the pressure sensor to sense the electrical characteristic and calculate a pressure output. The isolation system includes a base member, and isolation diaphragm, and a fill-fluid. The isolation diaphragm is mounted to the base member and interposed between the pressure sensor and a process fluid. The fill-fluid is disposed between the isolation diaphragm and the pressure sensor. The base member and the isolation diaphragm are constructed from different materials such that the coefficient of thermal expansion of the isolation diaphragm is larger than the coefficient of thermal expansion of the base member.
US08042399B2	Method and a device for inspecting a pipe connection weld by an ultrasound probe A method of inspecting a substantially circular circumferential weld for connecting together an inner pipe and a coaxial outer pipe, either directly or via a junction forging, by using an ultrasound probe having a plurality of robotic multibeam piezoelectric emitter-receivers. The method is performed by: a) positioning at least one ultrasound probe inside said inner pipe; b) scanning the various ultrasound beams from the various emitters of said probe while the probe is positioned at a given position; and c) moving said probe in rotation about the axis of said pipe through a given angle corresponding to an arc length less than or equal to the size of the weld defects that are to be detected; and then d) repeating steps b) and c) until the entire circumference of the weld has been inspected. The present invention also provides a device for inspecting a circumferential weld that is suitable for use in a method of the invention.
US08042397B2	Damage volume and depth estimation In one embodiment, a system to characterize an anomaly in a laminate structure comprises a plurality of actuators to generate a wave signal into a structure being evaluated, a plurality of sensors to collect scattered wave data caused by energy of the wave signal being at least partially reflected or scattered by an anomaly, and a structural health monitoring unit. In some embodiments the structural health monitoring unit executes a scatter imaging algorithm to generate three dimensional image data for the anomaly from the scattered wave data, extracts a scatter volume from the from the scattered wave data, and generates a damage volume estimate and a damage depth estimate from the scattered wave data. Other embodiments may be described.
US08042387B2	Methods and apparatus to control a formation testing operation based on a mudcake leakage Methods and apparatus to control a formation testing operation based on a mudcake leakage are disclosed. A disclosed example method for use with a downhole tool disposed in a wellbore comprises measuring a property of a mudcake layer at a first location in a wellbore, determining a value representative of an estimated leakage through the mudcake layer based on the property, and determining, based on the value, whether to continue a formation testing operation.
US08042383B2	Digital Q control for enhanced measurement capability in cantilever-based instruments A digital system for controlling the quality factor in a resonant device. The resonant device can be any mechanically driven resonant device, but more particularly can be a device that includes a cantilever within its system, such as an atomic force microscope. The quality factor can be digitally controlled to avoid noise effect in the analog components. One of the controls can use a direct digital synthesizer implemented in a way that provides access to the output of the phase accumulator. That output is a number which usually drives eight lookup table to produce a cosine or sign output wave. The output wave is created, but the number is also adjusted to form a second number of the drives a second lookup table to create an adjustment factor. The adjustment factor is used to adjusts the output from the cosine table, to create an adjusted digital signal. The adjusted digital signal than drives a DA converter which produces an output drive for the cantilever.
US08042378B2	Gas amount measurement device A gas amount measuring device including a vacuum container, a first pipe, an air release valve being attached to the first pipe, a second pipe, a calibration gas generator being attached to the first pipe, a third pipe, a vacuum gauge, a first valve, a leak valve, a second valve, a turbomolecular pump, a third valve, and a roughing pump being attached to the third pipe in order from a vacuum container side, a first bypass pipe connecting the third pipe between the vacuum container and the first valve to the third pipe between the leak valve and the second valve, a fourth valve being attached to the first bypass pipe, and a second bypass pipe connecting the third pipe between the leak valve and the second valve to the third pipe between the third valve and the roughing pump, a fifth valve being attached to the second bypass pipe.
US08042377B2	System and method for testing of transducers A transducer test system for testing accelerometers or velocity transducers includes a signal conditioner and a shaker that can be used in a field environment, for example by an avionics technician at an aircraft. A test transducer and a reference transducer, which is a known-good version of the test transducer, are mounted onto the shaker and electrically connected to the signal conditioner. The technician shakes the two transducers simultaneously by manually shaking the shaker. The signal conditioner receives and compares the signals output from the test and reference transducer in order to determine the operating condition of the test transducer.
US08042366B2	Security apparatus including attachment device A security apparatus is disclosed. The security apparatus comprises an attachment device comprising a base. A locking head can be configured to secure to the base. The attachment device can be small and strong. The locking head can have a securing element and a locking component, associated with a housing. The locking head may be in a secured configuration upon a single motion or movement of the locking head. The locking head may contain one or more gate structures for securing to the attachment device.
US08042358B2	Lithium silicate materials Lithium silicate materials are described which can be easily processed by machining to dental products without undue wear of the tools and which subsequently can be converted into lithium silicate products showing high strength.
US08042357B2	Hydrogen liquefaction method and liquefier The present invention provides a method of liquefying a hydrogen feed stream and a liquefier for carrying out such a method in which ortho-species of hydrogen contained in a hydrogen feed stream is converted to the para-species in higher and lower temperature catalytic converters. An adsorption unit, located between the higher and lower temperature catalytic converters, adsorbs a portion of the ortho content of the feed stream. The adsorbed portion is desorbed during regeneration of an adsorbent bed of the adsorption unit and is recirculated back for treatment in the higher temperature catalytic converter to reduce the degree to which the ortho-species are converted to the para-species in the lower temperature catalytic converter and at lower temperatures.
US08042352B2	Control method and device for an air conditioning economizer system In an air conditioning economizer system outdoor air intake is reduced automatically by a control device based on a shut-off control setting for a measured outdoor air quality. A geographical location associated with the air conditioning economizer system is received (S2) in the control device. The control device defines automatically (S3) the shut-off control setting based on the geographical location. Thus, the air conditioning economizer system is adapted specifically for a geographic location and its climate zone, without the requirement for installing or operating personnel to determine a shut-off control setting for a specific climate zone and/or select a corresponding operating range.
US08042349B2	Device to control the ventilation and air conditioning of aircraft on the ground New ecological operating mode that limits ventilation and air conditioning in the cabin (3) of the aircraft when the ecological operating mode has been selected, the aircraft is stationed on the ground, the engines are off, the engines' start up system has not been activated, the pneumatic or electrical energy supply system that typically controls ventilation and air conditioning in the aircraft has been activated and is supplying air, to provide a new method of operating at an established minimum limit independent of the difference between the selected temperature and the temperature measured, saving energy, and reducing pollutant emissions and noise.
US08042343B2	Cooling of avionics using a fuel tank and refrigerant source An avionics cooling system including an avionics cooling circuit operating with a liquid coolant; a fuel circuit; and a vapor cooling cycle operating with a refrigerant. The avionics cooling circuit transfers heat withdrawn from avionics to the fuel circuit, whereby the heat is dumped into fuel, and the vapor cooling cycle transfers heat that cannot be dumped into the fuel from the fuel circuit to ram air.
US08042340B2	Method and system for modulating the modified wobbe index of a fuel A method and system for modulating the Modified Wobbe Index (MWI) of a fuel is provided. A variety of industrial components, which may require a gas fuel, such as but not limiting of, a heavy-duty gas turbine; an aero-derivative gas turbine; or a boiler may utilize the method and system. The method and system may provide an industrial component comprising at least one steam injection system, wherein the at least one steam injection system injects steam into at least one fuel supply line upstream of a combustion system to modulate the MWI of at least one fuel. The method and system may also determine whether the MWI of the at least one fuel is outside of a predetermined range; and utilize the at least one steam injection system to automatically inject the steam at a flowrate for adjusting the MWI of the at least one fuel.
US08042336B2	Device for the storage of heat energy for subsequent conversion into electrical energy The invention relates to a device for the conversion of heat energy into another energy form provided with at least one heat input and pressure reservoir module, each comprising a heat-input transmitting device and a pressure reservoir, whereby said device and pressure reservoir are connected to each other for the exchange of fluid and an energy conversion device, connected to the pressure reservoir of the heat input and pressure reservoir module for the exchange of fluid, by means of which the energy built up in the form of fluid pressure in the heat input and pressure reservoir module may be converted into said other energy form.
US08042332B1	Transaxle An axle driving device includes a hydrostatic transmission (HST) having a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor which are in fluid communication with one another through a closed circuit within a center section of the HST, an axle capable of being driven by driving power of various speeds from the HST, a common housing which houses the HST and the axle, wherein the center section is provided with an oil hole for supplying a working fluid to the closed circuit, the oil hole is connected to an oil filter placed in an oil reservoir within the housing, and a magnet provided near the oil filter, wherein a magnet holding portion for holding the magnet is formed integrally with the center section.
US08042330B2	Torque converter having weld free blades A torque converter structure having a plurality of high efficiency secure weld free connections between blades and the shells of the pump and turbine that reduces flow between the blades and the shells. At least one blade within the torque converter is securely mechanically attached to the shell of the pump or turbine in the absence of welding by providing a tab on the blade that is bent on a portion that passes through a slit in the shell to secure the blade to the shell and by inserting a major part (greater than 50%) of a portion of an edge of the blade, that runs coextensively with a surface of the shell into a depression in that shell until the edge of the blade diverges from the shell. The invention also includes the unique blade and shell and a method for using them to make a torque converter of the invention.
US08042329B2	Exhaust dispersing device for a truck An engine exhaust dispersing device includes a tubular member having a first portion formed as a generally cylindrical wall and adapted to be mounted in fluid communication with an exhaust outlet and a second portion formed as a longitudinally-sectioned cylindrical wall defining a longitudinally extending opening, and, a wedge surface formed on said second portion and protruding into the longitudinally extending opening, the wedge surface having an apex adjacent or in the first portion and a base at an end of the second portion, the base having a width substantially equal to a width of the second portion.
US08042317B2	Double auger system and method for filling bags with slurry A slurry product is packaged into a plastic bag using a modified form-fill-seal apparatus and method of using it. The apparatus has preferably been modified to select the appropriate amount of product slurry by weight. Bags are filled using a dual auger system that includes a bulk auger and a precision auger that fill a bag simultaneously. The augers work together for a first period to rapidly load slurry into a large part of the bag. During a second period, the bulk auger shuts down, allowing the precision auger alone to top-off the bags. The periods are determined either by time or by the volume or weight of the product that has entered the bag.
US08042308B2	Wall panel system A system for releasably attaching a panel to a wall. The panel is provided with a front surface intended to be visible to an observer once the panel has been installed upon the wall at a rear surface opposite the front surface supporting a plurality of magnets. A corresponding plurality of brackets are attached to the wall and positioned such that when the panel is properly positioned upon the wall, the panel is releasably secured thereto by causing the plurality of magnets to be secured to the plurality of brackets. The panels can abut one another to create a variety of useful surfaces such as pegboard, corkboard, chalkboard, fabric and magnetic bulletin boards. The brackets can be oriented to obscure them from a viewer and can also be reoriented to provide a releasable attachment means for a frame to surround the panels for a more finished, aesthetic appearance.
US08042305B2	Deployable structural assemblies, systems for deploying such structural assemblies A deployable structural assembly is provided along with associated deployment mechanisms and associated methods of forming and deploying the structural assembly. In one exemplary embodiment, the structural assembly includes a plurality of structural side elements formed from furlable truss structures. The truss structures may include spaced apart longitudinal members, members extending substantially transversely between the longitudinal members, and diagonal members extending between the longitudinal members at an acute angle relative thereto. A plurality of interlocking elements are located along the edges of the longitudinal members and are configured to engage interlocking elements of an adjacent structural side element. In one embodiment the truss structures may be formed to include at least one material layer having the longitudinal members, the cross-members and the diagonals formed as an integral structure. In another exemplary embodiment one or more of the structural side elements may include electronic components integrated therewith.
US08042304B2	Gutter insert A gutter insert formed of a flexible open cell porous foam has five or more sides and forms an inverted “V” or check-mark shape. Four gutter inserts may be cut from one column of foam material, thereby reducing foam waste. The four gutter inserts may be shipped nested together in columnar form, and separated at the jobsite just before installation.
US08042293B1	Article encircling band with removable coupon or ticket A combination article encircling band and coupon or ticket wherein the band is formed by overlapping and contacting spaced adhesive areas formed on opposite surfaces of a strip of material and the coupon or ticket is severable along a line of weakness in the strip material from the band. The combination may be use for advertising and promoting purposes such that information indicia on the band may be related to information indicia on the coupon or ticket.
US08042292B2	Cable tensioning apparatus and method for securing a sheet to a frame A cable tensioning system for mounting a vinyl sheet to a billboard frame, comprising a cable secured on a frame at one end and secured to a spring-loaded cable tensioning device at the other end. A plurality of cable guides are mounted at intervals around the frame, each of the cable guides having a channel adapted to receive the cable. Portions of the edges of a sheet are secured within a plurality of locking clips around the perimeter, each clip also having a channel to receive the cable. The sheet with the clips affixed is secured to the frame whereby cable travels through the channels in the locking clips and is guided around the perimeter of the frame by the channel guides and secured to the spring-loaded cable tensioning device. The spring-loaded cable tensioning device is deployed to tighten the cable around the frame and secure the sheet to the frame.
US08042289B2	Article of footwear with gripping system An article of footwear with a gripping system is disclosed. The gripping system helps to enhance the wearer's ability to contact an athletic ball during kicking. The gripping system can be centered about a region where the wearer tends to kick the ball, and the gripping system can be distributed in a pattern that provides an even or symmetric contact area with the ball.
US08042288B2	Article of footwear having a textile upper An article of footwear and a method of manufacturing the article of footwear are disclosed. The footwear may include an upper and a sole structure. The upper incorporates a textile element with edges that are joined together to define at least a portion of a void for receiving a foot. The textile element may also have a first area and a second area with a unitary construction. The first area is formed of a first stitch configuration, and the second area is formed of a second stitch configuration that is different from the first stitch configuration to impart varying textures to a surface of the textile element. Various warp knitting or weft knitting processes may be utilized to form the textile element.
US08042281B1	Hyperbaric centrifuge system A centrifugal bowl separator, including a bowl, a source of pressurized gas in selective flow communication with the bowl and operable to selectively supply pressurized gas to an interior portion of the bowl, and first and second pressure seals selectively established to provide a zone within a portion of the bowl such that when the pressurized gas is introduced, pressure within the portion of the bowl increases for enhanced removal of moisture and drying of solids within the portion of the bowl.
US08042280B2	Lens shape measurement device An arithmetic control circuit (52) is configured to bring the measuring element (38) for a lens into contact with at least two points (measurement points P1, P2) of one of two refracting surfaces of the lens Lm held in the lens holder by controlling the measuring element shifter (driving motor 6), obtain the coordinates of the two points according to the detection signal from the position detector (linear scales 24, 40), and obtain a curve value Cv of one refracting surface of the lens from the difference of the coordinates of the two points.
US08042279B2	Horizontal-arm coordinate measuring machine A coordinate measuring machine (1) comprising a base (2) provided with guides (3) parallel to a first axis X, a first mobile carriage (4) on the guides (3) along the axis X and provided with an upright (17), a second carriage (6) carried by the upright (17) and mobile along a second vertical axis Z, and a horizontal arm (7) carried by the second carriage (6) and axially mobile along a third horizontal axis Y perpendicular to the axis X; the first carriage (4) comprises a base (16) provided with a first portion (19, 20) coupled to the guides (3) and a second portion (18) rigidly connected to the upright (17), releasable connection means (27) for reciprocally connecting the first portion (19, 20) and the second portion (18) of the base (16), and articulated connection means (28) between the first portion (19, 20) and the second portion (18) of the base to allow the upright (17) to be tipped when the releasable connection means (27) are released.
US08042278B2	Compasses writing implement A compass writing implement includes a compass body having two compass legs mutually pivotable between closed and splayed-out states. A writing lead is mounted in one of the compass legs. A protective cap is or can be fitted onto the free end of at least the compass leg holding the writing lead, to shield the free ends of the two compass legs in the closed state from the outside. The protective cap has a passage for the writing lead at a distal end remote from the compass body in the fitted state. The writing lead and the fitted protective cap are mutually displaceable between a release state and a retention state. In the release state, a lead tip of the writing lead protrudes through the passage of the protective cap to the outside and in the retention state, the writing lead is retracted in the interior of the protective cap.
US08042271B2	Roller for transferring labels and related method An aspirating roller (1) for transferring labels, comprising at least a pair of pads (20;21) projecting relative to a lateral surface (1a) of the roller (1). The roller (1) is characterised in that at least a portion of the lateral surface (1a) of the roller (1) present between the pads (20;21) is elastically deformable. A method for removing/mounting an elastically deformable plate-like element (6), of the type present between a pair of pads (20;21) and defining a lateral surface (1a) of a roller (1) for transferring labels.
US08042266B2	Mounting apparatus and method to control mounting apparatus A mounting apparatus to mount electronic components on a board includes at least one component feeder in which electronic components of different types are disposed in series, and a mounting information supplier which supplies mounting information. The component feeder is configured to mount the electronic components on the board based on the mounting information from the mounting information supplier.
US08042264B2	Method of fabricating an electroactive polymer transducer The invention describes rolled electroactive polymer devices. The invention also describes employment of these devices in a wide array of applications and methods for their fabrication. A rolled electroactive polymer device converts between electrical and mechanical energy; and includes a rolled electroactive polymer and at least two electrodes to provide the mechanical/electrical energy conversion. Prestrain is typically applied to the polymer. In one embodiment, a rolled electroactive polymer device employs a mechanism, such as a spring, that provides a force to prestrain the polymer. Since prestrain improves mechanical/electrical energy conversion for many electroactive polymers, the mechanism thus improves performance of the rolled electroactive polymer device.
US08042251B2	Systems and methods for heating and cooling during stent crimping Methods of heating and cooling during a crimping process are disclosed. One method includes providing a cooling source to cool the stent and/or drug eluting coating of the stent while crimping the stent onto the balloon, and providing a heating source to heat the balloon while crimping the stent onto the balloon. Another method includes introducing a cooling fluid through a passage in one or more of the plurality of crimping elements of the crimping apparatus to cool the crimping elements while crimping the stent onto the balloon, and introducing a heating fluid through the elongate shaft of the balloon catheter to heat the balloon while crimping the stent onto the balloon.
US08042248B2	Low cost window production for hermetically sealed optical packages Disclosed embodiments demonstrate batch processing methods for producing optical windows for micro-devices. The windows protect the active elements of the micro-device from contaminants, while allowing light to pass into and out of the hermetically sealed micro-device package. Windows may be batch produced, reducing the cost of production, by fusing multiple metal frames to a single sheet of glass. In order to allow windows to be welded atop packages, disclosed embodiments keep a lip of metal without any glass after the metal frames are fused to the sheet of glass. Several techniques may accomplish this goal, including grinding grooves in the glass to provide a gap that prevents fusion of the glass to the metal frames along the outside edges in order to form a lip. The disclosed batch processing techniques may allow for more efficient window production, taking advantage of the economy of scale.
US08042244B2	Bearing adjuster A bearing adjuster includes a grip. A rotatable wheel is mounted with the grip. The rotatable wheel has a through hole centrally defined therein. The rotatable wheel has multiple arc grooves spirally and concentrically defined in a bottom thereof. An adjusting member has spindle extending from a top thereof. The spindle is connected to grip via the through hole in the rotatable wheel. The adjusting member has multiple grooves radially defined therein for corresponding to the multiple arc grooves. Each groove has a movable member movably received therein. Each movable member has a stub extended form a top thereof to be received in a corresponding one arc groove in the rotatable wheel.
US08042236B2	Plug pin, a position pin, and a plug pin set of a zipper A plug pin of a zipper has a plug pin body. The plug pin body has a first long side and a second long side. The first long side and the second long side are located on two opposite sides of the plug pin body. In the plug pin body, there is a first joint trough. On the first long side, there is a first concave trough. By utilizing the first concave trough, the extruded and protruded effect when the plug pin is fastened onto the zipper belt can be cancelled so that the plug can be plugged and lifted smoothly. A position pin and a plug pin set of a zipper are also disclosed.
US08042232B2	Systems and methods for securing portions of a cord Systems and methods are operable to secure a coiled portion of an electrical cord, a cable, or a rope. An exemplary embodiment has a coil securing portion with an interior surface, a collapsing portion joined with the coil securing portion, and a means for securing the coil retainer in a collapsed position. The coil securing portion and the collapsing portion cooperatively define a substantially tubular interior region and an opening, wherein the interior region is configured to receive a coil portion inserted through the opening when the coil retainer is in an open position. The coiled portion is frictionally secured by the interior surface of the coil securing portion when the coil retainer is secured in the collapsed position.
US08042221B2	Board cleaning apparatus and board transporting apparatus The present invention provides a board cleaning apparatus excellent in foreign-matter removing efficiency. Fixed brushes are each made in contact with a circuit board over an entire width thereof, and attached to a case of a board cleaning apparatus respectively on the upstream side and the downstream side of the case in the board transporting direction with respect to a rotary brush for removing and ejecting foreign matters. This arrangement makes it possible to cover a gap between the circuit board and the case to prevent a board transporting rail to be moved so as to be shifted in accordance with circuit boards having various dimensions from intervening with the case.
US08042219B2	Wiper arm assembly having locking surfaces A wiper arm assembly and method of construction thereof includes a mounting head and a wiper arm configured for relative rotation during assembly from a disassembled position to a shipping position, wherein the wiper arm and mounting head are locked against rotation toward the disassembled position once in the shipping position. The mounting head and wiper arm have locking surfaces configured for locked engagement with one another while in the shipping position. The locking surfaces are brought into engagement with one another by a force imparted by a spring while rotating the mounting head relative to the wiper arm from the disassembled position toward the shipping position. When in the shipping position, the locking surfaces confront each other and prevent the mounting head and the wiper arm from rotating back toward the disassembled position from the shipping position.
US08042204B2	Equipping baby crib with snack box for overnight storage Kits, devices, and methods are provided for attaching a snack box to a crib. Attached is such that, while still in the crib, the infant can open the lid and retrieve a snack stored inside, such as a bottle of milk. In some embodiments the snack box can even accommodate cold storage, e.g. by having a thermally insulated enclosure. It can even be a small electric refrigerator. Before the parent goes to sleep for the night, they can prepare a snack, and store it overnight in the snack box. When the infant wakes up in the morning, they can retrieve the snack by themselves, after a few days' training, without crying. This will permit the parent to sleep longer, because they will not have to wake up prematurely for delivering the morning snack, and then wait until it is consumed.
US08042198B1	Headguard with independently adjustable upper and lower bands A protective headguard comprising a front pad, rear pad and left and right, upper and lower bands. The front pad protectively covers at least a portion of a human forehead. The left and right, upper and lower bands extend in opposite lateral directions from opposite sides of the front pad. The upper and lower bands form first and second tensioned circumferential lines of retention. The upper bands do not cooperatively interact with the lower pair of bands such that the upper and lower pairs of bands are independently adjustable so as to permit the first and second tensioned circumferential lines of retention to be separately and independently fitted to a human head.
US08042197B2	Cyclist trousers with protection pad Cyclist trousers (12, 112), made from elasticised material and equipped with a least two shaped protection pads (20, 120) for the area for resting on the saddle (14, 114), comprising a substantially unstretchable portion (30, 130), that connects said pads (20, 120) to keep them correctly positioned during use.
US08042194B2	Garment liner Special articles are fashioned as undergarments of a very brief nature. Brevity, with regard to undergarments, has advantages including: comfort and ease of use, improved cooperation with outerwear and protection against soiling. Thin sheets are prepared and arranged to be applied to the crotch area of the interior surface of pants or other similar garments via an adhesive bonding agent. So applied, the article provides underwear function and is intended to be an underwear substitute without bunching, chafing, or forming visible panty lines. The underwear substitute provides comfort to the user without forming visible panty lines while protecting the outer garment against soiling. These underwear substitutes may be formed of materials suitable for disposal after single use and they may be arranged as a kit suitable for retail sale.

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