Document	Document Title
US08163755B2	Hexahydrooxazinopterine compounds The present invention provides mTOR inhibitors of the formula wherein the variables are as defined herein. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions, kits and articles of manufacture comprising such compounds; methods of making the compounds and intermediates thereof; and methods of using the compounds.
US08163751B2	Acylated indanyl amines and their use as pharmaceuticals The present invention relates to acylated indanyl amines according to the general formula (I) wherein R1-R4 have the meanings given in the description, A is CH2, CHOH or CH—(C1-C3-alkyl), B is CH2 or CH—(C1-C3-alkyl), and R5 is an aryl or heteroaryl group, possibly substituted by the substituents listed in the description. These compounds are useful in the upregulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), and may therefore be useful for the manufacture of medicaments for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, stable or unstable angina pectoris, coronary heart disease, Prinzmetal angina, acute coronary syndrome, heart failure, myocardial infarction, stroke, thrombosis, peripheral artery occlusive disease, endothelial dysfunction, atherosclerosis, restenosis, endothelial damage after PTCA, hypertension, essential hypertension, pulmonary hypertension, secondary hypertension, renovascular hypertension, chronic glomerulonephritis, erectile dysfunction, ventricular arrhythmia, diabetes or diabetes complications, nephropathy or retinopathy, angiogenesis, asthma bronchiale, chronic renal failure, cirrhosis of the liver, osteoporosis, restricted memory performance, a restricted ability to learn, or for the lowering of cardiovascular risk of postmenopausal women or after intake of contraceptives.
US08163741B2	Use of aryl-substituted polycyclic amines as medicaments The invention relates to therapeutic use of aryl-substituted polycyclic amines of the formula I, especially bicyclic amines, and to the physiologically tolerated salts and physiologically functional derivatives thereof; where the symbols and radicals are explained in the description.
US08163740B2	6-substituted benzoxazines The present invention is concerned with 6-substituted benzoxazine derivatives of formula (I) wherein X, Y, R1 and R2 are as described herein, their manufacture, and pharmaceutical compositions containing them. The active compounds of the present invention are 5-HT5A receptor antagonists, useful in the prevention and/or treatment of depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, panic disorders, agoraphobia, social phobia, obsessive compulsive disorders, post-traumatic stress disorders, pain, memory disorders, dementia, disorders of eating behaviors, sexual dysfunction, sleep disorders, abuse of drugs, motor disorders, Parkinson's disease, psychiatric disorders or gastrointestinal disorders.
US08163731B2	Method and dosage regimens for eliminating a chemical substance in blood A method of reducing the concentration of a chemical or drug substance in the blood plasma that targets the same or similar receptors as the normal neurotransmitters in the central or peripheral nervous system includes titrating an initial peak concentration of the chemical or drug substance in the blood for a predefined dosing period, titrating a lowest concentration level of the chemical or drug substance in the blood immediately before the end of the dosing period, and providing a plurality of subsequent dosing periods where each subsequent dosing period requires administration of a dosing amount of the chemical or drug substance and titrating of the peak concentration and the lowest concentration level to ensure that the lowest concentration level of the chemical or drug substance in the blood plasma for the subsequent dosing period is decreased by not more than five percent of the lowest concentration level of the previous dosing period and where the plurality of dosing periods added together extends the method for seventy days or more.
US08163727B2	Biphenyloxyacetic acid derivatives for the treatment of respiratory disease The invention relates to substituted phenoxyacetic acids of formula (I), where the variables are as defined in claim 1, as useful pharmaceutical compounds for treating respiratory disorders, pharmaceutical compositions containing them, and processes for their preparation.
US08163721B2	Management of breakthrough bleeding in extended hormonal contraceptive regimens The present invention relates to a flexible extended use regimen for a hormonal contraceptive useful to manage bleeding problems associated with fixed extended use of hormonal contraceptives and to a pharmaceutical package containing the respective hormonal contraceptive.
US08163719B2	Regulators of the hedgehog pathway, compositions and uses related thereto The present invention makes available, inter alia, methods and reagents for modulating smoothened-dependent pathway activation. In certain embodiments, the subject methods can be used to counteract the phenotypic effects of unwanted activation of a hedgehog pathway, such as resulting from hedgehog gain-of-function, ptc loss-of-function or smoothened gain-of-function mutations.
US08163717B2	Dual chain synthetic heparin-binding growth factor analogs The invention provides synthetic heparin-binding growth factor analogs having two peptide chains each branched from a branch moiety, such as trifunctional amino acid residues, the branch moieties separated by a first linker of from 3 to about 20 backbone atoms, which peptide chains bind a heparin-binding growth factor receptor and are covalently bound to a non-signaling peptide that includes a heparin-binding domain, preferably by a second linker, which may be a hydrophobic second linker. The synthetic heparin-binding growth factor analogs are useful as pharmaceutical agents, soluble biologics or as surface coatings for medical devices.
US08163711B2	Compositions and methods for inhibiting expression of the HAMP gene The invention relates to a double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) for inhibiting the expression of the HAMP gene (HAMP gene), comprising an antisense strand having a nucleotide sequence which is less that 30 nucleotides in length, generally 19-25 nucleotides in length, and which is substantially complementary to at least a part of the HAMP gene. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising the dsRNA together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier; methods for treating diseases caused by HAMP gene expression and the expression of the HAMP gene using the pharmaceutical composition.
US08163710B2	Reduction of graft-versus-host disease by modulation of SHIP activity Inhibition of dendritic cell function in solid organ grafts or allogeneic bone marrow transplants prior to or during engraftment by blocking SH2-containing inositol phosphatase (SHIP) expression or function is taught as a method of abrogating immune rejection and thereby increasing the efficacy of engraftment of an allogeneic bone marrow transplant or solid organ allograft or xenograft. Also disclosed is a transgenic mouse having the genotype SHIP−/− which exhibits enhanced survival following mismatched allogeneic marrow grafts.
US08163709B2	TAK1-D mediated induction of cell death in human cancer cells by specific sequence short double-stranded RNAS The splicing variant D of the TAK1 gene is activated by short double-stranded RNAs in a sequence specific manner. Activation of TAK1-D leads to the downstream activation of the p38 MAPK and of SAPK/JNK but not the NFκB pathway. The current invention therefore provides a method of inducing apoptosis and/or cell cycle arrest in a cancer cell comprising contacting said cell with an agonist of Tak1-D function. The invention further provides a method of modulating inflammation and the treatment of cancer by the administration of an agonist of Tak1-D function or expression. In yet another aspect, the invention provides a method of inducing p38 MAPK and SAPK/JNK signaling in a cell comprising contacting said cell with an agonist of Tak1-D function or expression.
US08163708B2	Pharmaceutical composition comprising anti-mirna antisense oligonucleotide The invention provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising short single stranded oligonucleotides, of length of between 8 and 26 nucleobases which are complementary to human microRNAs selected from the group consisting of miR19b, miR21, miR122a, miR155 and miR375. The short oligonucleotides are particularly effective at alleviating miRNA repression in vivo. It is found that the incorporation of high affinity nucleotide analogues into the oligonucleotides results in highly effective anti-microRNA molecules which appear to function via the formation of almost irreversible duplexes with the miRNA target, rather than RNA cleavage based mechanisms, such as mechanisms associated with RNaseH or RISC.
US08163706B2	Method for preparing a centella asiatica extract rich in madecassoside and in terminoloside The invention concerns an extract of Centella asiatica comprising more than 75 wt. % of a mixture of madecassoside, terminoloside and asiaticoside, relative to the extract total weight, an extract of Centella asiatica comprising more than 95 wt. % of a mixture of madecassoside and terminoloside relative to the extract total weight and their use for regulating inflammatory mechanisms.
US08163689B2	Azeotrope-like compositions of difluoromethane and trifluoroiodomethane Provided are azeotrope-like compositions comprising difluoromethane and trifluoroiodomethane and uses thereof, including use in refrigerant compositions, refrigeration systems, blowing agent compositions, and aerosol propellants.
US08163686B2	Delivery cartridge A dishwasher detergent delivery cartridge comprises a plurality of unit dose elements of a dishwasher detergent composition, the composition being a substantially coherent mass and comprising at least 20 wt % of methyl glycine diacetic acid and/or a salt thereof and/or of glutamic diacetic acid and/or a salt thereof. Such compositions have been found to have excellent stability and/or performance in multi-dose applications.
US08163685B2	Soy skin care Skin care preparation materials comprising substantial amounts of food grade soy flour in soap bars in separate soap bars suitable for detoxification and makeup removal, exfoliation and moisturization. The food grade soy flours are of differing types and fat content as well as particle size and lecithin content suitable for each of the skin care purposes. A seriatim regimen of skin care with the soap bars is used for maximum skin care effect.
US08163681B2	Lubricant for hydrogen-fueled engines A lubricant composition of a synthetic oil of lubricating viscosity, 3 to 6 percent by weight of a nitrogen-containing dispersant, 1 to 2.5 weight percent of an overbased magnesium detergent, 1 to 5 weight percent of an antioxidant; and 0.25 to 1.5 weight percent of a friction modifier is useful for lubricating a hydrogen-fueled engine. The composition will typically contain less than 0.01 weight percent Ca, less than 0.01 weight percent Zn, less than 0.06 weight percent P, and will have a sulfated ash level of less than 1.2%.
US08163676B2	Emulsifier blend An oil-in-water emulsion that includes a brine continuous phase; and an oleaginous discontinuous phase stabilized by an emulsifier blend, the emulsifier blend comprising: an emulsifier having an HLB greater than 11; and an amphoteric chemotrope is disclosed. Emulsifier blends comprising an emulsifier having an HLB greater than 11 and an amphoteric chemotrope and methods of using emulsifier blends are also disclosed.
US08163672B2	Multiple effect plant growth promoting composition mixture A multiple effect plant growth promoting mixture is provided that includes a first plurality of fertilizer granules, each containing a quantity of a bioavailable source of nitrogen, phosphorus, or potassium. A second plurality of granules, each containing an active agent effective in inhibiting an organism interfering with plant growth are intermixed with the fertilizer granules. The fertilizer granules are substantially devoid of the active agent adhering to the fertilizer granule and the active agent granules are substantially devoid of fertilizer. The potential for cross contamination being associated with granule breakage associated with intermixing and transport.
US08163670B2	Thermal recording medium, and apparatus and method for image formation To provide a thermal recording medium, which can realize easy maintenance, does not produce wastes such as cartridges, and can realize easy control of recording sheets, and an apparatus and method for image formation. [MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS]A high-temperature color development capsule (23), a low-temperature color development capsule (27), and a low-temperature color development suppression capsule (28) are incorporated in a recording sheet (10). In a printer, the low-temperature color development capsule (27) is subjected to low-temperature color development and is then pressed to break the low-temperature color development suppression capsule (28), whereby low-temperature color development is fixed. Thereafter, the high-temperature color development capsule (23) is subjected to high-temperature color development.
US08163655B2	Method for forming a sacrificial sandwich structure The present disclosure provides a method for making a semiconductor device. The method includes forming a first material layer on a substrate; forming a second material layer on the first material layer; forming a sacrificial layer on the second material layer; forming a patterned resist layer on the sacrificial layer; applying a first wet etching process using a first etch solution to the substrate to pattern the sacrificial layer using the patterned resist layer as a mask, resulting in a patterned sacrificial layer; applying an ammonia hydroxide-hydrogen peroxide-water mixture (APM) solution to the substrate to pattern the second material layer, resulting in a patterned second material layer; applying a second wet etching process using a second etch solution to the substrate to pattern the first material layer; and applying a third wet etching process using a third etch solution to remove the patterned sacrificial layer.
US08163652B2	Plasma processing method and plasma processing device A plasma processing method using plasma includes steps of applying current to a coil and introducing gas into a processing chamber, applying a bias power that does not generate plasma, applying a source power to generate plasma so that a plasma density distribution is high above an outer circumference of a semiconductor wafer and low above a center of the semiconductor wafer, and forming a shape of a sheath layer having a positive ion space charge directly above the semiconductor wafer so as to be convex in an upper direction from the semiconductor wafer, thereby eliminating foreign particles trapped in a boundary of the sheath layer having a positive ion space charge directly above the semiconductor wafer, generating plasma for processing the semiconductor wafer under a condition different from the conditions of the previous steps.
US08163651B2	Method of fabricating semiconductor substrate by use of heterogeneous substrate and recycling heterogeneous substrate during fabrication thereof The invention discloses a method of fabricating a first substrate and a method of recycling a second substrate during fabrication of the first substrate. The second substrate is heterogeneous for the first substrate. First, the fabricating method according to the invention is to prepare the second substrate. Subsequently, the fabricating method is to deposit a buffer layer on the second substrate. Then, the fabricating method is to deposit a semiconductor material layer on the buffer layer. The buffer layer assists the epitaxial growth of the semiconductor material layer, and serves as a lift-off layer. Finally, with an etching solution, the fabricating method is to only etch the lift-off layer to debond the second substrate away from the semiconductor material layer, where the semiconductor material layer serves as the first substrate.
US08163650B2	Adjuvant for controlling polishing selectivity and chemical mechanical polishing slurry comprising the same Disclosed is an adjuvant for use in simultaneous polishing of a cationically charged material and an anionically charged material, which forms an adsorption layer on the cationically charged material in order to increase polishing selectivity of the anionically charged material, wherein the adjuvant comprises a polyelectrolyte salt containing: (a) a mixture of a linear polyelectrolyte having a weight average molecular weight of 2,000˜50,000 with a graft type polyelectrolyte that has a weight average molecular weight of 1,000˜20,000 and comprises a backbone and a side chain; and (b) a basic material. CMP (chemical mechanical polishing) slurry comprising the above adjuvant and abrasive particles is also disclosed. The adjuvant comprising a mixture of a linear polyelectrolyte with a graft type polyelectrolyte makes it possible to increase polishing selectivity as compared to CMP slurry using the linear polyelectrolyte alone, and to obtain a desired range of polishing selectivity by controlling the ratio of the linear polyelectrolyte to the graft type polyelectrolyte.
US08163648B2	Atomic layer deposition methods An atomic layer deposition method includes providing a semiconductor substrate within a deposition chamber. A first metal halide-comprising precursor gas is flowed to the substrate within the chamber effective to form a first monolayer on the substrate. The first monolayer comprises metal and halogen of the metal halide. While flowing the first metal halide-comprising precursor gas to the substrate, H2 is flowed to the substrate within the chamber. A second precursor gas is flowed to the first monolayer effective to react with the first monolayer and form a second monolayer on the substrate. The second monolayer comprises the metal. At least some of the flowing of the first metal halide-comprising precursor gas, at least some of the flowing of the H2, and at least some of the flowing of the second precursor gas are repeated effective to form a layer of material comprising the metal on the substrate.
US08163638B2	Back side contact solar cell structures and fabrication processes In one embodiment, active diffusion junctions of a solar cell are formed by diffusing dopants from dopant sources selectively deposited on the back side of a wafer. The dopant sources may be selectively deposited using a printing method, for example. Multiple dopant sources may be employed to form active diffusion regions of varying doping levels. For example, three or four active diffusion regions may be fabricated to optimize the silicon/dielectric, silicon/metal, or both interfaces of a solar cell. The front side of the wafer may be textured prior to forming the dopant sources using a texturing process that minimizes removal of wafer material. Openings to allow metal gridlines to be connected to the active diffusion junctions may be formed using a self-aligned contact opening etch process to minimize the effects of misalignments.
US08163636B2	Method of preparing P-type doped ZnO or ZnMgO Method of preparing p-type doped ZnO or p-type doped ZnMgO, in which the following successive steps are carried out: a) implantation of O+ oxygen ions in an n-type doped ZnO or an n-type doped ZnMgO; b) first annealing at a temperature less than or equal to 1200° C. under oxygen for a time greater than or equal to 5 minutes; c) implantation of at least one ion of an element chosen among the elements of group I or the elements of group V of the periodic table; d) second annealing. The p-type doped ZnO or ZnMgO obtained by this method may be used in an optoelectronic device such as a light emitting diode.
US08163633B2	Light-emitting nanoparticles and method of making same A method for the production of a robust, chemically stable, crystalline, passivated nanoparticle and composition containing the same, that emit light with high efficiencies and size-tunable and excitation energy tunable color. The methods include the thermal degradation of a precursor molecule in the presence of a capping agent at high temperature and elevated pressure. A particular composition prepared by the methods is a passivated silicon nanoparticle composition displaying discrete optical transitions.
US08163628B2	Method for manufacturing semiconductor substrate A method for manufacturing a semiconductor substrate is provided, which includes a step of forming a buffer layer over a first semiconductor substrate, a step of forming a damaged region in the first semiconductor substrate by irradiating the first semiconductor substrate with ions, a step of bonding the first semiconductor substrate and a second semiconductor substrate with the buffer layer interposed between, a step of separating the first semiconductor substrate with a single crystal semiconductor layer left over the second semiconductor substrate by heating the first semiconductor substrate and the second semiconductor substrate, and a step of irradiating the single crystal semiconductor layer with a laser beam and heating the single crystal semiconductor layer.
US08163620B2	Method for etching Mo-based metal gate stack with aluminium nitride barrier The present application discloses a method for etching a Mo-based metal gate stack with an aluminum nitride barrier, comprising the steps of forming a SiO2 interface layer, a high K dielectric layer, a Mo-based metal gate layer, an AlN barrier layer, a silicon gate layer and a hard mask in sequence on a semiconductor substrate; performing lithography on the semiconductor substrate with the SiO2 interface layer, the high K dielectric layer, the Mo-based metal gate layer, the AlN barrier layer, the silicon gate layer and the hard mask using a photoresist, and etching the hard mask; removing the photoresist, and performing an anisotropic etching for silicon gate with high selectivity to the underlying AlN barrier layer and metal gate by dry etching using the hard mask; performing an anisotropic etching for the AlN barrier layer, the Mo-based metal gate layer, and the high K dielectric layer by a dry etching. With the present method for etching a Mo-based metal gate stack with an aluminum nitride barrier, a vertical etching profile will be obtained and a silicon substrate has little loss, which facilities a high K dielectric/metal gate stack integration.
US08163617B2	Vertical channel type non-volatile memory device and method for fabricating the same A method for fabricating a vertical channel type non-volatile memory device including forming a source region, alternately forming a plurality of interlayer dielectric layers and a plurality of conductive layers for a gate electrode over a substrate with the source region formed therein, forming a trench exposing the source region by etching the plurality of interlayer dielectric layers and the plurality of conductive layers for a gate electrode, and siliciding the conductive layers for a gate electrode and the source region that are exposed through the trench.
US08163613B2	Methods of forming a plurality of capacitors A method of forming a plurality of capacitors includes forming a plurality of individual capacitor electrodes using two masking steps. An earlier of the two masking steps is used to form an array of first openings over a plurality of storage node contacts. A later of the two masking steps is used to form an array of second openings received partially over and partially offset from the array of first openings. Overlapping portions of the first and second openings are received over the storage node contacts. After both of the two masking steps, conductive material of the individual capacitor electrodes is deposited into the overlapping portions of each of the first and second openings. The individual capacitor electrodes are incorporated into a plurality of capacitors. Other aspects and implementations are contemplated.
US08163608B2	Methods of fabricating nonvolatile memory devices Methods of fabricating a nonvolatile memory device include forming a trench mask pattern on a semiconductor substrate including a first region and a second region. Substrate trenches defining active regions are formed in the semiconductor substrate in the first region and the second region using the trench mask pattern as a mask. Device isolation layer patterns are formed on the semiconductor substrate including the trench mask pattern and substrate trenches. The device isolation patterns fill the substrate trenches in the first region and in the second region. First and second openings are formed exposing top surfaces of the corresponding active regions in the first and second regions by removing the trench mask pattern. The second opening has a greater width than the first opening. A first lower conductive pattern is formed in the first opening and has a bottom portion in a lower region of the first opening and an extended portion extending from the bottom portion to an upper region of the first opening. The extended portion has a smaller width than the bottom portion. A second lower conductive pattern is formed filling the second opening.
US08163604B2	Integrated circuit package system using etched leadframe An integrated circuit package system includes a conductive substrate. A heat sink and a plurality of leads are etched in the substrate to define a conductive film connecting the heat sink and the plurality of leads to maintain their spatial relationship. A die is attached to the heat sink and wire bonded to the plurality of leads. An encapsulant is formed over the die, the heat sink, and the plurality of leads. The conductive film is etched away to expose the encapsulant and the bottom surfaces of the heat sink and the plurality of leads. Wave soldering is used to form solder on at least the plurality of leads. Multiple heat sinks and hanging leads are provided.
US08163603B2	Method of making a semiconductor chip assembly with a post/base heat spreader and a substrate using grinding A method of making a semiconductor chip assembly includes providing a post and a base, mounting an adhesive on the base including inserting the post through an opening in the adhesive, mounting a substrate on the adhesive including inserting the post into an aperture in the substrate, then flowing the adhesive between the post and the substrate in the aperture, solidifying the adhesive, then grinding the post and the adhesive, then mounting a semiconductor device on a heat spreader that includes the post and the base, electrically connecting the semiconductor device to the substrate and thermally connecting the semiconductor device to the heat spreader.
US08163593B2	Method of making a nonvolatile phase change memory cell having a reduced contact area A method is described to form a nonvolatile memory cell having a contact area between a phase-change material such as a chalcogenide and a heat source which is smaller than photolithographic limits. A conductive or semiconductor pillar is exposed at a dielectric surface and recessed by selective etch. A thin, conformal layer of a spacer material is deposited on the dielectric top surface, the pillar top surface, and the sidewalls of the recess, then removed from horizontal surfaces by anistropic etch, leaving a spacer on the sidewalls defining a reduced volume within the recess. The phase change material is deposited within the spacer, having a reduced contact area to the underlying conductive or semiconductor pillar.
US08163592B2	Method of manufacturing thin film transistor, thin film transistor, and display unit A method of manufacturing a thin film transistor capable of simplifying the steps is provided. The method of manufacturing a thin film transistor includes the steps of: forming a gate electrode and a gate insulating film sequentially on a substrate; forming an oxide semiconductor film in a shape including a planned channel formation region, a planned source electrode formation region, and a planned drain electrode formation region on the gate insulating film so that the whole oxide semiconductor film has the same carrier density as a carrier density of the planned channel formation region; forming a mask inhibiting heat transmission on the planned channel formation region; and heating the oxide semiconductor film in the air and thereby obtaining a higher carrier density of a region of the oxide semiconductor film not covered with the mask than the carrier density of the planned channel formation region.
US08163584B2	Method of minimizing beam bending of MEMS device by reducing the interfacial bonding strength between sacrificial layer and MEMS structure The beam bending of a MEMS device is minimized by reducing interfacial strength between a sacrificial layer and a MEMS structure.
US08163583B2	Manufacturing method of micro electronic mechanical system structure A micro electronic mechanical system structure and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. A substrate has a plurality of conductive regions is provided. A dielectric layer is formed on the substrate. A plurality of openings and recesses are formed in the dielectric layer, wherein the openings expose the conductive regions. The recesses are located between the openings. A conductive layer is formed on the dielectric layer and the openings and the recesses are filled with the conductive layer. The conductive layer is patterned to form a plurality of strips of the first conductive patterns on the dielectric layer and a second conductive pattern on the sidewall and the bottom of each recess, wherein the first conductive patterns are connected with each other through the second conductive patterns. The dielectric layer is removed. The second conductive patterns between the first conductive patterns are removed.
US08163582B2	Method for fabricating a light emitting diode chip including etching by a laser beam A method for fabricating substrate-free LED chips has a multilayer semiconductor structure at least 10 microns thick provided on a growth substrate. One or more arrays of parallel streets are etched into the multilayer semiconductor structure using a first pulsed laser beam. By scanning a second pulsed laser beam through the growth substrate to the multilayer semiconductor structure, the LED chips are detached from the growth substrate while simultaneously forming surface features on the chips.
US08163581B1	Semiconductor and optoelectronic devices Techniques to utilize layer transfer schemes such as ion-cut to form novel light emitting diodes (LEDs), CMOS image sensors, displays, microdisplays and solar cells are disclosed.
US08163573B2	Method for manufacturing nitride semiconductor element InyGa1-yN (0
US08163571B2	Multi-step deposition control For providing control of two-step or a multi-step deposition process, a method and a corresponding deposition system is provided comprising providing a deposition process having at least two sub-processes employing different sets of process parameters, wherein each set of process parameters comprises at least one process parameter. The method comprises controllably generating an actual value for at least one first process parameter by taking into account at least one previous value of the respective first process parameter, wherein each first process parameter is a process parameter of said at least two sets of process parameters.
US08163563B2	Devices and methods for removing target agents from a sample The invention provides devices, test kits and methods for removing target agents from a sample. The device contains one or more porous matrices having pore sizes larger than 10 μm, and a plurality of particles impregnated therein. The target agents attach the device and are removed from the sample.
US08163561B2	Method for depth resolved sensing of biological entities based on surface plasmon resonance sensors A surface plasmon resonance sensor system including a high refractive index prism, a sensor chip, a light source having multiple wavelengths over a broad range of wavelengths, optical lenses, a photodetector, a data acquisition unit, and as defined herein. The sensor chip can include, for example, a thin layer of silicon and gold on one face of a transparent substrate and the prism adjacent to the opposite face of the transparent substrate. Such an arrangement provides variable penetration depths up to about 1.5 micrometers with a dynamic range for sensing index of refraction changes in a sample that are several times greater than that of a conventional SPR sensor. The disclosure provides methods for using the surface plasmon resonance sensor system for cell assay or chemical assay related applications.
US08163558B2	Plasmids for transforming bacteria of the acidithiobacillus spp. genus, and transformation method The present invention discloses functional plasmids in bacteria of the Acidithiobacillus genus, such as the Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans and Acidithiobacillus caldus species. And a method to successfully transform bacteria of the Acidithiobacillus genus, such as the Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans and Acidithiobacillus caldus species, with these plasmids.
US08163553B2	Human trophoblast stem cells and use thereof Existence of human trophoblast stem (hTS) cells has been suspected but unproved. The isolation of hTS cells is reported in the early stage of chorionic villi by expressions of FGF4, FGFR-2, Oct4, Thy-1, and stage-specific embryonic antigens distributed in different compartments of the cell. hTS cells are able to derive into specific cell phenotypes of the three primitive embryonic layers, produce chimeric reactions in mice, and retain a normal karyotype and telomere length. In hTS cells, Oct4 and fgfr-2 expressions can be knockdown by bFGF. These facts suggest that differentiation of the hTS cells play an important role in implantation and placentation. hTS cells could be apply to human cell differentiation and for gene and cell-based therapies.
US08163550B2	Enhancement of immune responses by 4-1BB-binding agents This invention features methods of enhancing immune responses in mammalian subjects and in vitro methods of enhancing the response of a T cell. Also embodied by the invention are methods of receiving and preventing the induction of energy in T cells.
US08163547B2	Hepatitis C virus codon optimized non-structural NS3/4A fusion gene Aspects of the present invention relate to the discovery of a novel hepatitis C virus (HCV) isolate. Embodiments include HCV peptides, nucleic acids encoding said HCV peptides, antibodies directed to said peptides, compositions containing said nucleic acids and peptides, as well as methods of making and using the aforementioned compositions including, but not limited to, diagnostics and medicaments for the treatment and prevention of HCV infection.
US08163545B2	Vaccine against pandemic strains of influenza viruses The present disclosure provides compositions and methods for eliciting an immune response against avian or pandemic influenza. The compositions include adenovirus vectors comprising avian influenza antigens, recombinant adenovirus and immunogenic compositions comprising such recombinant vectors and adenovirus. Methods for eliciting an immune response against avian or pandemic influenza involving administering such adenovirus vectors or recombinant adenovirus are also provided.
US08163542B2	Potent combinations of mRNA transport elements This invention provides expression vectors that comprise a combination of RNA transport elements that improve expression.
US08163537B2	Nested permeable support device and method for using the nested permeable support device A nested permeable support device is described herein that can be used to perform various experiments to test new therapeutic compounds (new chemical entities). In one application, the nested permeable support device is used to perform a first pass assay to determine the bioavailability of a new chemical entity following absorption through the digestive tract and metabolism by the liver.
US08163536B2	Device for preparing an undifferentiated cell from a more committed cell A device for preparing an undifferentiated cell, the device comprises means for contacting a more committed cell with an agent that causes the more committed cell to retrodifferentiate into an undifferentiated cell.
US08163533B2	Methods and compositions for combinatorial-based production of multivalent recombinant antigens The present invention provides methods and compositions for rapidly producing multivalent recombinant vaccines using filamentous fungal heterokaryons. The present invention relies on the use of filamentous fungal heterokaryons that are generated from combinations of two or more parent strains into which recombinant DNA molecules encoding variants of antigens derived from pathogenic organisms have been introduced. The resulting vaccines are multivalent.
US08163532B2	Microorganisms with a reactivation system for cob(I)alamin-dependent methionine synthase The present invention relates to microorganisms and methods for producing methionine by reactivation of the MetH enzyme.
US08163531B2	Purification of vaccinia viruses using hydrophobic interaction chromatography The present invention relates to methods for purification of Vaccinia viruses (VV) and/or Vaccinia virus (VV) particles, which can lead to highly pure and stable virus preparations of predominantly biologically active viruses. The invention encompasses purifying a virus preparation in a sterilized way with high efficiency and desirable yield in terms of purity, biological activity and stability, aspects advantageous for industrial production.
US08163527B2	Subsystems and methods for use in patch clamp systems Subsystems and methods for use in patch clamp systems are provided. For example, in certain embodiments, compensation circuitry is used to compensate for non-idealities present in the patch clamp system. The accuracy of this compensation may be verified by employing, for example, circuitry that models the patch clamp system.
US08163523B2	Cell-based systems for producing influenza vaccines The present invention relates to a cell-based method for producing influenza virus vaccines by enriching the population of surface-bound α2,6-sialic acid receptors on a cell surface, such as on a Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cell surface. The host cell therefore presents numerous binding sites to which an influenza virus can bind via its hemagglutinin spike protein and infect the host cell. In contrast to wild-type CHO cells, the surface of the mutated CHO cells of the present invention contains an enriched population of α2,6-sialic acid receptors which makes the inventive CHO cells highly susceptible to viral infection, and therefore safe, effective, and highly efficient cells for rapidly producing influenza vaccines.
US08163520B2	Nucleic acids encoding a chimeric polypeptide comprising IL-7 and HGF-beta chain and methods of use The present invention relates to a single-chain or chimeric polypeptide comprising a cytokine and a growth factor linked by at least one amino acid residue, and wherein the chimeric polypeptide enhances the proliferation and/or differentiation of hematopoietic precursor cells. In particular the invention relates to, a chimeric polypeptide comprising the beta-chain of hepatocyte growth factor, and IL-7 linked by at least one amino acid, and wherein the chimeric polypeptide demonstrates pre-pro-B proliferation and growth stimulating activity.
US08163519B2	Fungal immunomodulatory protein (FIP) prepared by microorganisms and uses thereof The invention relates to an improved nucleic acid molecule encoding fungal immunomodulatory protein (FIP) that is better expressed in fungi, to vectors comprising the nucleic acid molecule, to hosts transformed with said vectors, to processes of expressing the protein of the invention in said transformed hosts, to the protein of the invention produced by said processes, to uses of said hosts comprising the protein of the invention and to a process of purifying FIP. The protein of the invention has wide immunomodulatory activity. Thus, the present invention further relates to uses of the protein of the invention in cosmetic or pharmaceutical compositions and to food or feed additives comprising the protein of the invention. Finally, the invention relates to the method of modulating immunological activities by orally administering FIP or proteins fused with FIP to a subject.
US08163516B2	Selection of ADH in genetically modified cyanobacteria for the production of ethanol The present invention discloses genetically-modified cyanobacteria with ethanol-production capabilities enhanced over the currently-reported art, and methods of making such cyanobacteria. The invention provides a genetically modified photoautotrophic, ethanol producing host cell comprising an overexpressed pyruvate decarboxylase enzyme converting pyruvate to acetaldehyde and an overexpressed Zn2+ dependent alcohol dehydrogenase enzyme converting acetaldehyde to ethanol.
US08163511B2	Methods for the identification of LRRK2 interacting molecules The invention features methods for the identification of leucine-rich kinase 2 (LRRK2) inhibitors using indol ligand 91. Generally, these methods include identifying compounds that compete with indol ligand 91 for binding to LRRK2.
US08163510B2	Quantitative ZAP-70 assay An quantitative ZAP-70 assay is provided, with ZAP-70+ and ZAP-70− controls, normal human blood controls, an improved antibody with better signal to noise ratio, and using the median MEFL that is calibrated using a standard curve.
US08163505B2	Methods using PBK1 for identifying agents that treat metabolic disorders The invention relates to compositions comprising, and methods utilizing PBK1 protein and DNA, including a method of detecting type 1 diabetes; a mammalian pancreas-derived cell comprising a recombinant nucleic acid encoding a PBK1 protein; a method of identifying a PBK1 modulator; a pharmaceutical composition for treatment of type 2 diabetes in a subject; a method of screening for an agent that treats a metabolic disease; delivery of PBK-1 DNA to a subject to stimulate pancreatic beta cell differentiation and/or regeneration; a method for stimulating cell differentiation and/or regeneration in a pancreatic beta cell; usage of transgenic mice with targeted deletion or overexpression of the PBK-1 gene to test efficacy and specificity of PBK-1 modulator compounds.
US08163503B2	Methods of identifying compounds that bind TANGO509 The invention provides isolated TANGO 239, TANGO 219, TANGO 232, TANGO 281, A236 (INTERCEPT 236), TANGO 300, TANGO 353, TANGO 393, TANGO 402, TANGO 351 and TANGO 509 nucleic acid molecules and polypeptide molecules. The invention also provides antisense nucleic acid molecules, expression vectors containing the nucleic acid molecules of the invention, host cells into which the expression vectors have been introduced, and non-human transgenic animals in which a nucleic acid molecule of the invention has been introduced or disrupted. The invention still further provides isolated polypeptides, fusion polypeptides, antigenic peptides and antibodies. Diagnostic, screening and therapeutic methods utilizing compositions of the invention are also provided.
US08163489B2	Method for a continuous rapid thermal cycle system Disclosed herein is an efficient, high speed production scale synthesis method for high molecular weight organic substances, such as DNA. The invention includes a method of conducting a polymerase chain reaction which comprises transporting a liquid through polymeric tubing disposed through a first reaction cycle region and at least a second reaction cycle region, each of which regions comprises at least a first and a second temperature zone, the temperature in each zone of said at least second region being substantially identical to the corresponding first and second zones in said first region, wherein said liquid is an aqueous solution comprising polymerase chain reaction reactants and a surface absorbing polymer.
US08163486B2	Probe, probe set, probe carrier, and testing method A probe, a set of probes, and a probe carrier on which the probe or the set of probes is immobilized, are provided for classification of fungus species. The probe or the set of probes is capable of collectively detecting fungus of the same species and distinguishingly detecting those fungus from fungus of other species. The probe is an oligonucleotide probe for detecting a pathogenic fungus DNA and includes at least one of base sequences of SEQ ID NOS. 1 to 3 and mutated sequences thereof.
US08163485B2	Differential enzymatic fragmentation The present invention provides methods for detecting the presence of methylation at a locus within a population of nucleic acids.
US08163483B2	Compositions and methods for spinocerebellar ataxia Mutations in the KCNC3 (Kv3.3) voltage-gated potassium channel gene result in spinocerebellar ataxia.
US08163482B2	BBS10 related diagnostic methods for Bardet-Biedl syndrome The present invention relates to the identification of a gene, designated BBS1O, that is involved in the genetic disease Bardet Biedl Syndrome (BBS), which is characterized by such diverse symptoms as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, mental retardation, renal cancer and other abnormalities, retinopathy and hypogonadism. Methods of use for the gene, for example in diagnosis and therapy of BBS, also are described.
US08163462B2	Photosensitive composition, method for forming pattern, and method for manufacturing semiconductor device The present invention relates to a photosensitive composition, which is capable of being irradiated with high energy beam having a wave length of 1 to 300 nm band. The photosensitive composition includes a binder resin; and a photoelectron absorbent, capable of being excited with photoelectron emitted from the binder resin that absorbs the high energy beam, when the binder resin is irradiated with the high energy beam.
US08163456B2	Image forming method and image forming apparatus An image forming method and image forming apparatus based on the application thereof wherein comet-like deposits do not appear on the surface of the photoreceptor even after prolonged use of small-diameter toner, and there is no dropout or damage on the photoreceptor surface in the image forming process using an intermediate transfer member. This image forming method contains a process wherein the toner developed on an electrophotographic photoreceptor is transferred onto an intermediate transfer member, and the toner contains at least a metallic oxide and metallic soap added as external additive agents, and the protective layer contains a resin component obtained by reaction of at least a curable compound, and alumina particles.
US08163454B2	Resin composition for toner, and toner using the resin composition Disclosed is a resin composition for toners, which contains a resin (D) obtained by reacting a styrene polymer (A) containing an active hydrogen group and having a peak molecular weight (Mp) of not less than 30,000 but not more than 2,000,000, a styrene polymer (B) containing a carboxyl group and having a peak molecular weight (Mp) of not less than 2,000 but not more than 20,000, and a crosslinkable compound (C) having an isocyanate group.
US08163451B2	Electrostatic latent image developing toner and method of image forming An electrostatic latent image developing toner comprising at least a resin, a wax and a colorant, wherein the wax comprises 40 to 98% by mass of a first release agent comprising an ester wax and 2 to 60% by mass of a second release agent comprising a hydrocarbon having at least one of a branched chain structure and a cyclic structure; and the colorant comprises a silicon phthalocyanine represented by Formula (I):
US08163449B2	Anti-static and slippery anti-curl back coating The presently disclosed embodiments relate generally to the formulation of an anticurl back coating layer that renders imaging apparatus flexible members and components their desirable flatness, for use in electrostatographic, including digital apparatuses. More particularly, the embodiments pertain to an imaging member comprising an anticurl back coating layer formulated to comprise a polymer blend of an anti-static polymer and a low surface energy A-B diblock copolymer polymer and an adhesion promoter. The embodiments provide an imaging member belt with the anticurl back coating that is electrically conductive and also substantially reduces its surface contact friction to help suppress/eliminate tribo-electrical charge build-up at the backside of the imaging member belt under normal machine imaging member belt operational conditions in the field.
US08163447B2	Colored photocurable composition for solid state image pick-up device, color filter and method for production thereof, and solid state image pick-up device A colored photocurable composition for a solid state image pick-up device, the composition including at least (A) a dispersion resin having an unsaturation equivalent of less than 600, (B) a pigment, (C) a photopolymerization initiator, and (D) a polyfunctional photopolymerizable compound having an acidic functional group and/or an alkyleneoxy chain.
US08163430B2	Synthesis of metal compounds under carbothermal conditions Active materials of the invention contain at least one alkali metal and at least one other metal capable of being oxidized to a higher oxidation state. Preferred other metals are accordingly selected from the group consisting of transition metals (defined as Groups 4-11 of the periodic table), as well as certain other non-transition metals such as tin, bismuth, and lead. The active materials may be synthesized in single step reactions or in multi-step reactions. In at least one of the steps of the synthesis reaction, reducing carbon is used as a starting material. In one aspect, the reducing carbon is provided by elemental carbon, preferably in particulate form such as graphites, amorphous carbon, carbon blacks and the like. In another aspect, reducing carbon may also be provided by an organic precursor material, or by a mixture of elemental carbon and organic precursor material.
US08163425B2	Secondary battery A secondary battery includes: a positive electrode; a negative electrode; a porous electron-insulating layer adhered to a surface of at least one selected from the group consisting of the positive electrode and the negative electrode; and an electrolyte. The porous electron-insulating layer comprises a particulate filler and a resin binder, and the particulate filler comprises an indefinite-shape particle comprising a plurality of primary particles that are joined to one another. A neck is preferably formed between the primary particles. Since the porous electron-insulating layer has high porosity, it is possible to obtain a secondary battery that exhibits excellent low-temperature characteristics, which are particularly important in actual use, and that is capable of discharging at a large current.
US08163418B1	Method of controlled delivery for use in electrochemical power sources A system and method for improving electrochemical power sources through the dispensing, encapsulation and dispersion into galvanic chambers of an electrochemical cell. Features of the method include the optimization of the concentration levels of chemicals involved in desired energy producing reactions.
US08163415B2	Electronic device An electronic device includes two batteries and a main body. The main body defines a sliding groove passing through two parallel surfaces of the main body. The sliding groove includes an upper surface, a lower surface parallel to the upper surface, a positive contact plate and a negative contact plate. The positive contact plate is positioned on the upper surface. The negative contact plate is positioned on the lower surface. During replacement of the battery, each positive power supply plate of the two batteries remaining in contact with the positive contact plate, and each negative power supply plate of the two batteries remaining in contact with the negative contact plate.
US08163413B2	Electronic apparatus An electronic apparatus has a battery pack and a main unit. The battery pack has a groove formed in an outer surface of the battery pack, the groove being recessed from the outer surface and extending in a predetermined direction. The main unit comprises a container portion containing the battery pack in a removable manner and having a projection engaged to the groove of the battery pack loaded in the container portion, and a cable disposed in an internal space of the projection.
US08163411B2	Abnormality detection apparatus for battery pack The abnormality detection apparatus for a battery pack includes a first determining function of making a first determination that abnormality is present when a voltage across a unit battery of interest is higher than a first threshold, a second determining function of making a second determination that abnormality is present when the voltage is lower than a second threshold lower than the first threshold, a short-circuit function of making a short-circuit between a detection line of interest connected to one electrode of a unit battery of interest and an adjacent detection line connected to the other electrode of the unit battery, and a third determining function of making a third determination that there is faulty electrical continuity in the detection line of interest if the first determining function makes the first determination and the second determining function makes the second determination when the short circuit function makes the short-circuit.
US08163398B2	Leather production method and products suited thereof Process for the production of leather using products obtainable by reacting (A) at least one cyclic organic carbonate with (B) at least one compound having at least two nucleophilic groups per molecule, selected from sulfonic acid, hydroxyl, primary or secondary amino or mercapto groups.
US08163396B2	Ceramic powder, ceramic layer and layer system with pyrochlore phase and oxides A layer system is disclosed. The layer system includes a substrate and a ceramic outer layer. The ceramic outer ceramic layer is produced from a ceramic powder. The ceramic powder include a phrochlore phase according to the empirical formula AxByOz with x, y≈2, z≈7 and a secondary oxide CrOs with r, s>0.
US08163387B2	Organic friction modifier comprising laminar graphite and aramid resin An organic friction modifier is provided with a composite material particle in which laminar graphite particles are dispersed in an aramid resin. In addition, a friction material is provided with an organic friction modifier including a composite material particle in which laminar graphite particles are dispersed in an aramid resin.
US08163378B2	Scratch-resistant moulded article made from a filled polypropylene composition The invention relates to a moulded article made from a polypropylene composition comprising 48-94.9 mass % of a polypropylene; 5-30 mass % of glass fibers having average length of 1-50 mm; 0.1-2 mass % of oleamide and/or erucamide; and 0-20 mass % of other additives; the article showing a color change of dL<2 in the PSA/Renault scratch tests and a color change of dL<1.5 in the Erichsen scratch test.This article shows an excellent combination of properties, especially a good balance between stiffness and impact resistance, which have excellent surface appearance, and high resistance to surface scratching and abrasion.
US08163375B2	Customizable articles and method of customization Customizable articles and a method of customization are disclosed. The method produces customizable articles having a graphic or pigment arrangement sandwiched between a film transfer layer and an exterior surface of the customizable articles. The process involves aligning a customizable article and a graphical transfer assembly on a press assembly, heating the press assembly, and applying pressure to the customizable article using the press. After removing the customizable article from the press assembly, the process comprises removal of the carrier layer and inspection of the resulting customizable article.
US08163372B2	Anti-dazzling optical laminate Disclosed is an anti-dazzling laminate which has anti-dazzling properties and can realize excellent glare preventive properties and black color reproducibility (gradation rendering of black color at low brightness). The anti-dazzling laminate is an optical laminate comprises a light transparent base material and an anti-dazzling layer provided on the light transparent base material, wherein the outermost surface of the anti-dazzling layer has a concavoconvex shape, and the optical laminate satisfies the following requirements: Ha is more than 0% and less than 90%, Hi is more than 0% and less than 90%, and Hi/Ha is not less than 0.8 and less than 1.0, wherein Ha represents the whole haze value of the optical laminate; and Hi represents the internal haze value of the optical laminate.
US08163369B2	Vehicle floor tray A vehicle floor tray has a base, upstanding side walls, a forward panel, and an aft wall that define a basin for confining liquid such as water, mud, and slush. An array of spaced apart chevron-shaped treads project upwardly from the base. The chevron-shaped treads are arranged in adjacent rows and the treads in each row are oriented in a direction opposite from the direction of orientation of the treads in adjacent rows. Further, each row of treads is shifted or staggered with respect to adjacent rows by a distance substantially equal to half the length of a tread plus half the distance between adjacent treads in a row. This configuration forms a convolutedly shaped network contiguous channels within which liquid may collect and spread out. The shape of the channel network and the shapes and orientations of the chevron-shaped treads inhibits the mass flow of liquid to the front, back, or sides of the floor tray during acceleration, deceleration, and up or down hill traverses. This, in turn, inhibits puddeling of liquid during off-road operation of a vehicle and the problems attendant thereto.
US08163368B2	Composite leg for landing gear assembly A composite leg for a landing gear assembly includes a composite compression cap including reinforcing fibers that provide strength in compression, and a tension cap including reinforcing fibers that provide strength in tension. The composite leg further includes a torque box including carbon reinforcing fibers for providing torsional rigidity of the leg and carrying shear flow between the caps. The carbon fibers in the torque box are oriented at +θ and −θ with respect to a longitudinal axis of the leg, where θ is between 35 and 55 degrees.
US08163355B2	Formation of carbon-containing material A method includes forming ionic clusters of carbon-containing molecules, which molecules have carbon-carbon sp2 bonds, and accelerating the clusters. A surface of a substrate is irradiated with the clusters. A material is formed on the surface using the carbon from the molecules. The material includes carbon and may optionally include hydrogen. The material may include graphene. The material may form a monolayer. The molecules may include one or more material selected from the group consisting of graphene, carbon allotropes, ethylene, and hydrocarbon molecules containing ethylenic moieties. A fused region may be formed in the substrate as an interface between the substrate and the material. The clusters may have diameters of at least 20 nanometers and may be accelerated to an energy of at least 0.5 keV.
US08163345B2	Methods utilizing scanning probe microscope tips and products therefor or produced thereby The invention provides a lithographic method referred to as “dip pen” nanolithography (DPN). Capillary transport of molecules from the SPM tip to the solid substrate is used in DPN to directly write patterns consisting of a relatively small collection of molecules in submicrometer dimensions, making DPN useful in the fabrication of a variety of microscale and nanoscale devices. The invention also provides substrates patterned by DPN and kits for performing DPN. The invention further provides a method of performing AFM imaging in air. The method comprises coating an AFM tip with a hydrophobic compound, the hydrophobic compound being selected so that AFM imaging performed using the coated AFM tip is improved compared to AFM imaging performed using an uncoated AFM tip. Finally, the invention provides AFM tips coated with the hydrophobic compounds.
US08163338B2	Precursor selection method for chemical vapor deposition techniques A method of precursor selection for thin film deposition is provided, that includes a group of precursors, using a rule-set for selecting one or more candidate precursors for thermal stability, high growth rate, and low contamination. Candidate geometries and constituent geometries are simulated and optimized, and bond strengths of the candidates and constituents are determined. The rule-set is based on bond strength that compares molecule and constituent energies between a set of bond strengths within a candidate ligand or between a metal atom and one ligand. The rule-set requires metal atom-ligand bonds are between 0.2 and 3 eV, metal atom-ligand bond strengths are less than metal atom-ligand bond strengths of other candidates. The metal atom-ligand bond strength is >TΔS, where T is a reaction temperature and ΔS is the reaction entropy change and the bond within a ligand, where (ligand bond)>(metal atom and ligand bond).
US08163335B2	Particle cluster, composite structure formation method, and formation system A particle cluster for an aerosol deposition method, the particle cluster includes: an assembly packed with a plurality of fine particles including brittle material fine particles, the particle clusters having a spatula angle of 46.2° or less.
US08163333B2	Optical member, optical system using the optical member, and method of manufacturing an optical member Provided is an optical member capable of keeping a high performance antireflection effect over a long period of time with respect to an arbitrary substrate. The optical member has plural layers on a substrate, and includes at least one metal oxide layer having a void, and at least one layer containing an organic resin as a main component formed between the substrate and the metal oxide layer. The metal oxide layer is a plate crystal layer formed of a plate crystal containing aluminum oxide as a main component and a surface of the plate crystal layer has an uneven profile. The organic resin has an aromatic ring and/or a hetero ring in at least a part thereof.
US08163315B2	Foodstuff There is provided use of a conversion agent to prepare from a food material a foodstuff comprising at least one functional ingredient, wherein the at least one functional ingredient has been generated from at least one constituent of the food material by the conversion agent.
US08163314B2	Flavor-retention agent and method for using same The invention provides a flavor-retention agent which is harmless to the environment and the human body and exhibits excellent ability to prevent deterioration of flavors. The flavor-retention agent contains an active ingredient which is obtained by subjecting a raw material such as leaves and/or tubers of a potato plant to extraction and Method for Using Same.
US08163310B2	Plant invigorator A plant invigorator which may contain the following ingredients per litre: 10%-33% anion surfactants; 5%-18% non-ionic surfactants; 2%-20% ethanol or methylated spirits or cider vinegar; 25%-60% de-mineralised aqueous solution; 0.01 ml-4 ml natural extract such as vanilla, almond or strawberry; 0.01-5 grams food grade coloring; 0.01-5 grams lanolin or 0.5 ml-15 ml glycerine or 0.5 ml to 5 ml paraffin oil.
US08163309B2	Starch foam microparticles The present invention relates to starch foam microparticles having a porous structure, and which typically have a diameter of less than or equal to about 50 microns. The present invention also relates to novel uses for the starch foam microparticles in beekeeping and in the pharmaceutical, plastics and fragrance industries.
US08163307B2	Controlled release compositions for interferon based PEGT/PBT block copolymers and method for preparation thereof The invention discloses a pharmaceutical composition for the controlled release of relatively toxic active compounds, in particular for bioactive proteins from the class of interferons. The composition comprises a biodegradable block copolymer constructed from poly(ethylene glycol) terephthalate (PEGT) and poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT). The composition is provided in the form of injectable microparticles, of an injectable liquid which may have self-gelling properties, or of a solid implant. The invention further provides a pharmaceutical kit comprising the composition, methods for preparing the composition, and the pharmaceutical uses relating thereto.
US08163287B2	Combination therapy of her expressing tumors The invention relates to tumors expressing HER2 and EGFR, using HER2-dimerization inhibitors (HDIs) and EGFR inhibitors.
US08163286B2	Anti-IL-22RA antibodies and binding partners and methods of using in inflammation The present invention relates to blocking, inhibiting, reducing, antagonizing or neutralizing the activity of IL-22, IL-20, or both IL-20 and IL-22 polypeptide molecules. IL-20 and IL-22 are cytokines that are involved in inflammatory processes and human disease. IL-22RA (zcytor11) is a common receptor for IL-20 and IL-22. The present invention includes anti-IL-22RA antibodies and binding partners, as well as methods for antagonizing IL-22 or both IL-20 and IL-22 using such antibodies and binding partners.
US08163283B2	Monoclonal antibodies against gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor Monoclonal antibodies against gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) receptor induce cellular apoptosis of various cancer cells expressing this surface receptor. The monoclonal antibodies and their humanized forms, or fragments thereof, can serve as anti-cancer agents for the treatment of cancer in humans, and can function as analogs of GnRH to affect regulation of reproductive functions or fertility in humans.
US08163280B2	Antibodies to c-Met The present invention relates to antibodies including human antibodies and antigen-binding portions thereof that specifically bind to c-Met, preferably human c-Met, and that function to inhibit c-Met. The invention also relates to human anti-c-Met antibodies and antigen-binding portions thereof. The invention also relates to antibodies that are chimeric, bispecific, derivatized, single chain antibodies or portions of fusion proteins. The invention also relates to isolated heavy and light chain immunoglobulins derived from human anti-c-Met antibodies and nucleic acid molecules encoding such immunoglobulins. The present invention also relates to methods of making human anti-c-Met antibodies, compositions comprising these antibodies and methods of using the antibodies and compositions for diagnosis and treatment. The invention also provides gene therapy methods using nucleic acid molecules encoding the heavy and/or light immunoglobulin molecules that comprise the human anti-c-Met antibodies. The invention also relates to transgenic animals or plants comprising nucleic acid molecules of the present invention.
US08163279B2	IL3Rα antibody conjugates and uses thereof The present invention provides antibodies that bind to the IL-3 receptor alpha subunit alpha (Il3Rα) chain, and compositions comprising such antibodies. The present invention provides methods for inhibiting or reducing an IL3Rα-expressing cell population, the methods comprising contacting a population of IL3Rα-expressing cells (e.g., cancer cells and/or cancer stem cells) with an antibody that binds to IL3Rα. The present invention also provides antibody conjugates comprising an antibody that binds to an IL3Rα chain linked to a cytotoxic agent or anticellular agent and compositions comprising such conjugates. The present invention also provides methods for preventing, treating and/or managing a disorder associated with IL3Rα-expressing cells (e.g., a hematological cancer), the methods comprising administering to a subject in need thereof an antibody that binds to IL3Rα.
US08163265B2	Mechanically stable catalyst based on alpha-alumina An oxidation process employing a mechanically stable catalyst of an active metal or combination of active metals supported on aluminum oxide, which is predominantly alpha-aluminum oxide, is provided. The active metal or metals is optionally one or a mixture of ruthenium, copper, gold, an alkaline earth metal, an alkali metal, palladium, platinum, osmium, iridium, silver, and rhenium. The process is applicable to the oxidation of hydrogen chloride to chlorine in a Deacon process.
US08163253B1	Method for collecting, storing, transporting and assaying a specimen A tamper-proof, point-of-collection specimen assay apparatus including three selectively connectable and sealable chambers, including a first chamber for receiving a specimen, a second chamber housing a specimen testing device and a specimen transfer site positioned between the first chamber and the second chamber for selectively depositing a portion of the specimen from the first chamber into the second chamber and a third chamber having inlets for depositing another portion of the specimen from the first chamber into the third chamber.
US08163236B1	Transportable decontamination unit and decontamination process The disclosed invention relates to a portable decontamination unit. The invention also relates to a decontamination process. The decontamination unit may be ruggedized for use in hostile environments such as those that may be anticipated for military applications.
US08163234B2	Method for characterizing biological indicators in sterilization processes and apparatus for the implementation thereof The invention relates to a method for characterizing the bioindicators in sterilization processes using an autoclave and the like, in which a bioindicator is kept in the same conditions as the sterilization chamber (2) and extracted after a predetermined time interval. For this purpose the chamber (2) has, passing through it, a tube (5) on the ends of which valves (8-9, 10-11) are mounted, said valves allowing the insertion, from above, of a bioindicator sample and its extraction from below, when required, without a significant loss of sterilizing agent. Alternatively, the duct (5) may also be arranged outside the sterilization chamber (2) and kept in communication therewith by a bypass connection.
US08163221B2	Process for producing reinforcing fiber molding A method of forming, on a strip-shaped laminate of multiple reinforcing fiber sheets superimposed one upon another, two flexures with respect to the cross-section configuration thereof, wherein in the forming of the two flexures with the use of two flexure forming dies independent from each other, respectively, the two flexure forming dies are arranged so that the relative distance of the two flexure forming dies is changeable in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the strip-shaped laminate. This method can be effectively utilized in the production of a reinforcing fiber molding with changing of the distance between the two flexures namely, width of web portion or gauge between two flange portions from the strip-shaped laminate, or the production of fiber reinforced resin (FRP) molding therefrom.
US08163220B2	Method of packaging integrated circuits The bottom mold portion for a transfer molding system is covered with a deformable material. During mold clamping, the deformable material contacts the bottom surface of the packaging substrate on which the integrated circuit die is mounted. Deformation of this relatively soft covering on the bottom mold portion accommodates thickness variations in the packaging substrate, as well as non-planarity of the adhesive layer between the integrated circuit die and packaging substrate in exposed active area integrated circuits.
US08163210B2	Method of vulcanising pneumatic tyres and apparatus therefor A tire enclosed in a vulcanization mold is supplied with heat to cause vulcanization of same. By thermal-detection probes introduced into the tire monitoring of the cross-linking degree reached in at least one first detection region and one second detection region disposed within the tire is carried out. Head supply is stopped on occurrence of the following conditions: (i) the crosslinking degree measured in at least one of the detection regions reaches a first reference value higher than 90% of the whole cross-linking; and (ii) the cross-linking degree measured in each detection region has overcome a second pre-established reference value not exceeding about 50% of the whole cross-linking.
US08163207B2	Microcapsules The invention described herein relates to a method of preparing microcapsules comprising a capsule core, a polymeric capsule wall and also, disposed on the outer surface of the capsule wall, a polyelectrolyte having an average molecular weight in the range from 500 g/mol to 10 million g/mol, the polymeric capsule wall being formed from specified monomers, where the microcapsules have an average particle size of 1.5-2.5 μm and 90% of the particles have a particle size ≦4 μm, by microencapsulating a capsule core with a polymeric capsule wall and then contacting the polymeric capsule wall with one or more polyelectrolytes in water or an aqueous medium.
US08163206B2	Method for making silicone hydrogel contact lenses The invention provide a method for making silicone hydrogel based on the Lightstream Technology from a monomer mixture with a curing time of less than about 100 seconds. The present invention is also related to silicone hydrogel contact lenses made according to methods of the invention.
US08163205B2	Durable transparent conductors on polymeric substrates A method of preparing a transparent conductor for application on a polymeric substrate is described. The method includes introducing a functional group onto a surface of the conductor to form a modified conductor, and mixing the modified conductor with a dispersant at slightly elevated temperatures to form a conductive material composition. The dispersant is at least bifunctional. The conductive material composition may then be applied to the polymeric substrate. The dispersant acts as a linker, bonding the transparent conductor and polymeric substrate such that they are fully integrated.
US08163203B2	Yellow emitting phosphors based on Ce3+-doped aluminate and via solid solution for solid-state lighting applications A Ce3+ based aluminate phosphor or Ce3+ based phosphor in a solid solution can be used for white light generation when combined with a blue or ultraviolet light emitting diode.
US08163197B2	Azeotropic compositions comprising fluorinated olefins for cleaning applications The present invention relates to azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions comprising a fluorinated olefin having the formula E- or Z—C3F7CH═CHC3F7, and at least one alcohol, halocarbon, hydrofluorocarbon, fluoroether, or alkanes and combinations thereof. In one embodiment, the one compound selected from the group consisting of alcohols, halocarbons, fluoroalkyl ethers, hydrofluorocarbons, alkanes is either methanol, ethanol, iso-propanol, n-propanol, trans-1,2-dichloroethylene, cis-1,2-dichloroethylene, n-propyl bromide, C4F9OCH3, C4F9OC2H5, HFC-43-10mee, HFC-365mfc, heptane, or combinations thereof. In another embodiment, these compositions are useful in cleaning applications as a degreasing agent or defluxing agent for removing oils and/or other residues from a surface.
US08163190B2	Method for fabricating a fine pattern In a method for fabricating a fine pattern, a target layer to be patterned is formed on a semiconductor substrate. A sacrificial pattern is formed on the target layer. The sacrificial pattern includes first sacrificial patterns arranged at a first spacing, and second and third sacrificial patterns arranged in pairs at a second spacing less than the first spacing. A spacer having a first portion and a second portion is formed. The first portion is attached to sidewalls of the first sacrificial patterns, and the second portion is attached on both facing sides of the second and third sacrificial patterns to fill a gap defined by the second spacing. The second portion has a critical dimension greater than the first portion. The sacrificial pattern is selectively removed. A fine pattern is formed with partially different critical dimensions by transferring the critical dimensions of the first and second portions of the spacer by performing a selective etch process on the target layer using the spacer as an etch mask.
US08163187B2	Process of producing liquid discharge head Provided is a process of producing a liquid discharge head having a substrate, a passage-forming member, and a patterned layer. The process includes providing a resin layer on a substrate; providing a resist pattern on the resin layer for patterning the resin layer; forming a patterned layer by patterning the resin layer using the resist pattern as a mask; providing a layer for forming a passage pattern having a shape of passage on the resist pattern lying on the patterned layer; forming a passage pattern by patterning the layer for forming a passage pattern; removing the resist pattern; providing a passage-forming member so as to cover the passage pattern and the patterned layer; and removing the passage pattern to give the passage.
US08163182B2	Compartmentalized field flow fractionation A field flow fractionator to separate particles contained within an injected sample aliquot is described. As required, said fractionator may be used to capture, for subsequent removal, specific predefined classes of such particles. Based upon the cross flow or asymmetric flow field flow fractionators, the fractionator disclosed contains means to vary the applied transverse flows at a plurality of locations along the length of its separating channel. A plurality of separated compartments, each lying below a distinct and corresponding membrane supporting permeable frit segment, are provided individual means to control the localized flow through the membrane section thereabove. A corresponding concentric compartment implementation achieves the same type of compartmentalized cross flow when integrated with a hollow fiber fractionator.
US08163178B2	Filter A filter has a filter housing having an interior. A drainage device is provided that has a collecting cup, a fastening screw for the collecting cup, and a threaded part secured in the filter housing and provided with an inner thread for receiving the fastening screw. The threaded part has an outer surface with at least one drainage passage connecting the interior of the filter housing to the collecting cup. The filter housing has a cup-shaped receptacle for the threaded part and the cup-shaped receptacle has a securing wall that at least partially extends about a circumference of the cup-shaped receptacle. The threaded part is a press-fit bushing pressed into the receptacle. The press-fit bushing has a circumferential wall provided with a circumferential contact surface secured by the securing wall and extending at least partially about a circumference of the press-fit bushing.
US08163169B2	Hydroconversion processes employing multi-metallic catalysts and method for making thereof A catalyst precursor composition and methods for making such a catalyst precursor are disclosed. The catalyst precursor comprises at least a promoter metal selected from Group VIII, Group IIB, Group IIA, Group IVA and combinations thereof, having an oxidation state of +2 or +4, at least one Group VIB metal, at least one organic, oxygen-containing ligand, and a cellulose-containing material. In one embodiment, the catalyst precursor is of the formula Av[(MP) (OH)x (L)ny]z (MVIBO4), wherein A is one or more monovalent cationic species, MP is selected from Group VIII, Group IIB, Group IIA, Group IVA and combinations thereof, L is one or more oxygen-containing ligands, MVIB is at least a Group VIB metal, MP:MVIB has an atomic ratio between 100:1 and 1:100. In one embodiment, catalysts prepared from the sulfidation of such catalyst precursors are used in the hydroprocessing of hydrocarbon feeds. In a hydroconversion process at a hydrogen partial pressure of ˜450 psig, the catalyst a 700° F.+ conversion rate of at least 50% of the 700° F.+ conversion results gives obtained under comparable conditions and with a hydrogen partial pressure of 600 psig.
US08163164B2	Small volume in vitro analyte sensor and methods of making A sensor utilizing a non-leachable or diffusible redox mediator is described. The sensor includes a sample chamber to hold a sample in electrolytic contact with a working electrode, and in at least some instances, the sensor also contains a non-leachable or a diffusible second electron transfer agent. The sensor and/or the methods used produce a sensor signal in response to the analyte that can be distinguished from a background signal caused by the mediator. The invention can be used to determine the concentration of a biomolecule, such as glucose or lactate, in a biological fluid, such as blood or serum, using techniques such as coulometry, amperometry; and potentiometry. An enzyme capable of catalyzing the electrooxidation or electroreduction of the biomolecule is typically provided as a second electron transfer agent.
US08163163B2	Method of electrochemical analysis of an analyte A method of electrochemical analysis using a sensor electrode specific for an analyte under test. The method comprises immersing the sensor electrode in a sample solution suspected of containing the analyte; forming an electrochemically active complex by exposure to solutions containing secondary receptors or competing molecules labelled with a charged or enzyme label; and subsequently exposing the sensor to an electrochemically active solution. The measurement step comprises driving the sensor electrode potential to a predetermined fixed potential by applying a current or activation waveform then monitoring the potential difference between the sensor electrode and a reference electrode following removal of the holding current. Current, rate and potential can all be measured and used to determine analyte concentration or sensor state.
US08163162B2	Methods and apparatus for analyzing a sample in the presence of interferents Disclosed herein are methods and apparatus for determining analyte concentration in a rapid and accurate manner. The methods include depositing a physiological sample in an electrochemical cell and finding a first and second current transient. Peak current values are obtained from the first and second peak current values and used to reduce the influence of interferents in a current value. Based on this “corrected” current value, an accurate analyte concentration can be determined.
US08163159B2	Enclosing manufacture with a magnesium sacrificial anode for corrosion protection Techniques generally describe articles of enclosing manufacture and methods related to containers including a magnesium sacrificial anode for corrosion protection. Example articles of enclosing manufacture may include a liner or a rod that is configured as a sacrificial anode to protect a metallic side or end wall of the enclosing manufacture from corrosion. Other embodiments may be disclosed and claimed.
US08163146B2	Mediator stabilized reagent compositions for use in biosensor electrodes The claimed subject matter relates to the stabilization of 1,2-quinone mediators, especially those containing 1,10-phenanthroline quinone (PQ) and more especially transition metal complexes of PQ, in the presence of enzymes when contained in dry reagent layers for biosensor electrodes, through the use of various metal salts, particularly those of lithium.
US08163140B2	Reactive sputtering method and device The present invention provides a method for reactive sputtering in which a reactive sputtering apparatus including a sputtering vaporization source 2 provided with a metal target disposed in a vacuum chamber 1, a sputtering power source 4 to drive the sputtering vaporization source 2, and an introduction mechanism 5 to introduce an inert gas for sputtering and a reaction gas for forming a compound with sputtered metal into the vacuum chamber 1 is used, and reactive sputtering film formation is performed on a substrate 3 disposed in the above-described vacuum chamber, wherein the method includes the steps of performing constant-voltage control to control the voltage of the above-described sputtering power source 4 at a target voltage Vs and, in addition, performing target voltage control at a control speed lower than the speed of the above-described constant-voltage control, the target voltage control operating the above-described target voltage Vs in order that the spectrum of plasma emission generated forward of the above-described sputtering vaporization source 2 becomes a target value.
US08163139B2	Process for the distillative separation of mixtures comprising monoethylene glycol and diethylentriamine Processes comprising: providing a mixture comprising monoethylene glycol and diethylenetriamine; and subjecting the mixture to extractive distillation with a diethylenetriamine-selective solvent comprising triethylene glycol to provide a first stream comprising monoethylene glycol and a second stream comprising diethylenetriamine; wherein the first stream is substantially free of diethylenetriamine, and wherein the second stream is substantially free of monoethylene glycol.
US08163135B2	Apparatus and method for pivotal mounting of a doctor blade assembly in a paper machine A paper machine doctor assembly includes a doctor blade and a blade holder holding the same and a support member mounted on the paper machine frame. An essential feature of the assembly is that a separate pivot mount is provided between the blade holder and the support member, the separate pivot mount enabling the blade holder and the pivot mount to be disconnected from the support member by pulling the pivot mount outwardly and away from the support member.
US08163123B2	Bifurcation catheter dual balloon bond and methods A catheter assembly includes a main catheter branch having a catheter shaft and a distal end portion. A main balloon and a side balloon are positioned at the distal end portion of the catheter shaft. The main balloon includes a distal waist portion at a distal end thereof and a proximal waist portion at a proximal end thereof. The side balloon includes an inflatable portion, a proximal waist portion, and a distal waist portion, wherein the proximal and distal waist portions define a side inflation lumen. The proximal waist portion of the side balloon and the proximal waist portion of the main balloon are secured to the distal end portion of the catheter shaft at a single bond or connection point to create a proximal balloon joint, wherein the main inflation lumen is in fluid communication with the main balloon and the side inflation lumen.
US08163118B2	Thermoformable web splicer and method An apparatus and method are provided for splicing together old and new thermoformable sheets in order to supply a continuous thermoforming operation. The method for joining together thermoformable sheets includes: providing a first thermoformable sheet with a trailing edge and a second thermoformable sheet with a leading edge; forming a terminal edge portion with a hot element along the trailing edge and a complementary terminal edge portion along the leading edge by severing a scrap sheet from each portion; laterally retracting each scrap portion away from the trailing edge and the leading edge; and joining together the first thermoformable sheet and the second thermoformable sheet by interlocking together the terminal edge portion with the complementary terminal edge portion.
US08163110B2	Superfine copper alloy wire and method for manufacturing same A superfine copper alloy wire has a copper-silver alloy wherein the superfine copper alloy wire has a final wire diameter of 0.05 mm or less, and the copper-silver alloy has a copper-silver eutectic crystal phase whose volume ratio to a whole volume of the superfine copper alloy wire is 3% or more and 20% or less.
US08163106B2	R-Fe-B based sintered magnet having on the surface thereof vapor deposited film of aluminum or alloy thereof, and method for producing the same An R—Fe—B sinlered magnet having on the surface thereof a vapor deposited film of aluminum or an alloy thereof and a method for producing the same. The vapor deposited film of aluminum or an alloy thereof comprises a columnar crystalline structure grown broader from the surface of the R—Fe—B sintered magnet body outward to the outer surface, which has a part within a region defined in the thickness direction of the film as taken from the surface of the R—Fe—B sintered magnet to ⅓ of the film thickness, 5 to 30 intercrystalline gaps of 0.01 μm to 1 μm in width as counted per 10 μm length in the lateral direction of the film. The method comprises controlling the average film formation rate such that it is slower up to a predetermined point and then is speeded up later thereon.
US08163103B2	Dishwasher and rack assembly therefor A dishwasher is provided in which heights of basket(s) of a rack assembly may be easily changed. The dishwasher may include a frame configured to be inserted into and withdraw from a washing tub and plurality of basket positioning device configured to receive and support basket(s) at different heights.
US08163097B2	Method for controlling the horizontal brush of a vehicle washing system The method for controlling the movement of the horizontal brush of a vehicle washing system, provides for a first and a second vector velocity control mode of the brush and an alternating logic between the first and the second control mode, the first control mode being based on the control of the absorption current of the rotation motor of the brush, the second control mode being based on the geometric limitation of the plunge of the brush.
US08163088B2	Method of densifying thin porous substrates by chemical vapor infiltration, and a loading device for such substrates To densify thin porous substrates (1) by chemical vapor infiltration, the invention proposes using loading tooling (10) comprising a tubular duct (10) disposed between first and second plates (12, 13) and around which the thin substrates for densification are disposed radially. The tooling as loaded in this way is then placed inside a reaction chamber (20) in an infiltration oven having a reactive gas admission inlet (21) connected to the tubular duct (11) to enable a reactive gas to be admitted into the duct which distributes the gas along the main faces on the substrates (1) in a flow direction that is essentially radial. The reactive gas can also flow in the opposite direction, i.e. it can be admitted into the tooling (10) from its outer envelope (16) and can be removed via the duct (11).
US08163086B2	Halogen assisted physical vapor transport method for silicon carbide growth A physical vapor transport growth technique for silicon carbide is disclosed. The method includes the steps of introducing a silicon carbide powder and a silicon carbide seed crystal into a physical vapor transport growth system, separately introducing a heated silicon-halogen gas composition into the system in an amount that is less than the stoichiometric amount of the silicon carbide source powder so that the silicon carbide source powder remains the stoichiometric dominant source for crystal growth, and heating the source powder, the gas composition, and the seed crystal in a manner that encourages physical vapor transport of both the powder species and the introduced silicon-halogen species to the seed crystal to promote bulk growth on the seed crystal.
US08163078B2	Pigment spacing An improved pigment spacing composition and method of manufacture. A coating composition wherein the pigment particles are spaced more uniformly resulting in improved coating properties. In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a composition having nanoparticles interacting with pigmentary titanium dioxide to provide for more uniform spacing of the titanium dioxide.
US08163071B2	Hollow fiber, dope composition for forming hollow fiber, and method of preparing hollow fiber using the same Disclosed is a hollow fiber that includes a hollow positioned at the center of the hollow fiber, macropores positioned at adjacent to the hollow, and mesopores and picopores positioned at adjacent to macropores, and the picopores are three dimensionally connected to each other to form a three dimensional network structure. The hollow fiber includes a polymer derived from polyamic acid, and the polyamic acid includes a repeating unit obtained from aromatic diamine including at least one ortho-positioned functional group with respect to an amine group and dianhydride.
US08163066B2	Carbon dioxide capture/regeneration structures and techniques New and useful system and method concepts are provided, for removing carbon dioxide from a flow of carbon dioxide laden air. More specifically, a sorbent structure is used in new and useful structures and techniques to bind carbon dioxide in a carbon dioxide laden air stream, and process heat is used to separate carbon dioxide from the sorbent structure and regenerate the sorbent structure.
US08163064B2	Leak-proof membrane element and method of manufacturing such an element A leak-proof membrane element (1) for the selective separation or cleaning of gas, wherein a metal foil (membrane) (3) is deposited onto a supporting stock (substrate) (2, 20) having connection means (4, 21, 34) on the ends/edges of the substrate allowing the membrane element to be installed in a housing. A metal foil (3), having a thickness of less that 10 micrometers and being selectively permeable for specific gases, is arranged in flakes or wound with overlapping joints (8) on the outside of the substrate (2, 20), any joints being welded together by diffusion bonding so that the foil forms a continuous, leak-proof metal membrane layer. The substrate being made of a material (metal, ceram, polymer, or combinations thereof) exhibiting a very high gas flux for the gas(es) that the membrane is to let through.
US08163063B2	Method of leaching copper sulfide ore with the use of iodine An object of the present invention is to provide a method of efficiently leaching copper from a copper sulfide ore containing chalcopyrite or enargite as a main constituent under versatile conditions for actual operation.A method of leaching copper from a copper sulfide ore, characterized by comprising using, as a leaching solution, a sulfuric acid solution containing iodide ions and ferric (III) ions in an excessive amount relative to the iodide ions and leaching copper from a copper sulfide ore; or a method of leaching copper from a copper sulfide ore, characterized by comprising leaching copper from a copper sulfide ore with the use of a leaching solution further containing water-soluble ligands such as chloride ions that can stabilize ferric (III) ions in addition to the above components, is provided.
US08163058B2	Amino alcohol solutions of N-(n-butyl)thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT) and urea fertilizers using such solutions as urease inhibitors A method of producing reduced volatility of urea fertilizers comprising: dissolving N-(n-butyl)-thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT) in an amino alcohol having the formula 1—(H)x—N—((CH2)m—OH)n where m is 1-3, x is 0 or 1, and n is 2 when x is 1 and 3 when x is 0: or the formula 2—(H)y—N—((CH2)—CHOH—CH3)z such that the length of the carbon chain where the secondary hydroxyl group is located is 3, y is 0 or 1, and z is 2 when y is 1 and 3 when y is 0 to form an NBPT solution; and combining a urea fertilizer in granular or liquid form with the NBPT solution.
US08163053B2	Housing assembly with bagging ring Embodiments of the invention generally include a filter housing having a bagging ring coated to enhance a bag-to-bagging ring seal. In one embodiment, the housing assembly includes a housing having an inlet, an outlet and an access port. A bagging ring is disposed around the access port and includes a material having a property that enhances the bag-to-bagging ring seal. Examples of materials that have a property that enhance the bag-to-bagging ring seal include materials that are attracted to a plastic bag, materials that are tacky, materials that have a static attraction to a plastic bag.
US08163052B2	Safety cabinet A safety cabinet adaptable for a variation in body height of a worker using the safety cabinet, that is, a safety cabinet which prevents various bacteria from proceeding from the outside of the safety cabinet into a working space of the safety cabinet and prevents bacteria or virus from proceeding from the working space to the outside of the safety cabinet irrespective of a change in opening area of a front opening, is provided. A flow velocity of a clean air supplied into the working space and a flow velocity of the air flowing through the front opening are set at respective velocities predetermined to keep a physical isolation for preventing the contamination in accordance with a size of the front opening. Further, in the safety cabinet, the size of the front opening communicating with the working space under the front surface shutter is adjustable between 200 mm and 300 m.
US08163050B2	Comb for inlet barrier filter system An inlet barrier filter system for mounting on an aircraft to filter air prior to intake into an engine of the aircraft includes a frame having at least two curved frame members defining an opening. A filter element has a curved inward face and is received in the opening of the frame. The filter element includes filter media having pleats. A comb is attached to the frame and includes spaced-apart teeth that support the pleats. The comb is curved to generally conform to the curved inward face of the filter.
US08163040B2	Method for manufacturing cylindrical battery and groove-forming processing device of cylindrical battery A method for manufacturing a cylindrical battery includes allowing a cylindrical battery case (5) with a bottom to contain an electrode plate group, carrying out a groove-forming processing on an outside periphery of an opening of the battery case, disposing a sealing plate in the opening of the battery case through a gasket, and crimping and sealing the end of the opening of the battery case. In a groove-forming processing process in which the battery case is rotated and a rotatable groove-forming roller (15) comes into contact with and is gradually pushed into the outside periphery of the opening of the battery case in a state where a core (12) corresponding to the diameter of the opening of the battery case is fitted into the opening of the battery case to support the battery case from the inner peripheral side, a rotational speed is increased in accordance with increase in the diameter of the battery case so that the push-in amount of the groove-forming roller per unit rotation perimeter and per unit of time approximately becomes a certain value even if the size of the diameter of the battery case varies. Thus, a common groove-forming processing device can carry out the groove-forming processing on battery cases of different battery sizes to manufacture cylindrical batteries.
US08163038B2	Low volatile sublimation printing A low volatile sublimation printing process comprises transferring a sublimation ink solid in an unsublimed form in a desired design by means of, for example, lithographic printing machinery, onto a medium such as paper. The image then is transferred from the medium onto a desired material in which sublimation takes place at the time of transfer onto that desired material. The sublimation ink can have a total volatile content of less than 10%, and preferably may have a total volatile content of less than 5%.
US08163031B2	Composites and methods for treating bone A system and method for treating bone abnormalities including vertebral compression fractures and the like. In one method, an elastomeric composite implant body is inserted into bone. A rigid insert can be inserted into the elastomeric composite implant body. The elastomeric composite implant body can be deformed with the rigid insert to thereby form an interference fit between the bone and the implant.
US08163027B2	Tibial insert having a reinforced keel A tibial insert includes a platform defining an upper bearing surface and a bottom surface. A keel of the tibial insert is coupled to the bottom surface of the platform and a rod of the tibial insert extends through a portion of the keel. A surgical method for knee arthroplasty is also disclosed.
US08163024B2	Adjustable spinal prostheses Apparatus including a first spinal prosthetic member attachable to a first spinal structure, a second spinal prosthetic member attachable to a second spinal structure and articulating with the first spinal prosthetic member to form an articulating assembly, and pedicle screw mounting members extending outwards from the first and second spinal prosthetic members, at least one of the pedicle screw mounting members being movably attached to the first and second spinal prosthetic members such that the at least one pedicle screw mounting member has at least two different attachment orientations with respect to reference axes defined on one of the spinal prosthetic members.
US08163023B2	Multi-lobe artificial spine joint An artificial disc is provided which more closely matches the movement of the natural spine. The artificial disc uses one or more projections and corresponding recesses to provide a sliding articulation. The artificial joint is inherently stable in that compressive forces placed on the disc such as the weight placed upon the joint or the tension of surrounding tissues urges the joint towards a neutral position and not farther away from a neutral position.
US08163017B2	Facet arthroplasty devices and methods Devices and surgical methods treat various types of adult spinal pathologies, such as degenerative spondylolisthesis, spinal stenosis, degenerative lumbar scoliosis, and kypho-scoliosis. Various types of spinal joint replacement prostheses, surgical procedures for performing spinal joint replacements, and surgical instruments are used to perform the surgical procedures.
US08163015B2	“W” accommodating intraocular lens An accommodating intraocular lens comprising a flexible body, a flexible optic which is moveable anteriorly and posteriorly relative to the lens body, and hinged portions longitudinally connecting the optic to the body. The body may have extending centration and fixation loops on its distal ends.
US08163012B2	Multi-planar tricuspid annuloplasty ring A multi-planar annuloplasty ring for implantation adjacent to the tricuspid valve with a gap adjacent to the apex of the triangle of Koch. The anterior part of the ring body extending from the highest point at the anteroseptal commissure down to a lower plane at the anteroposterior commissure. During this course it is curved upwards. The posterior part of the ring body extends downward towards the lowest point at the posteroseptal commissure in a relatively straight course. The septal part of the ring body extending from the lowest point at the posteroseptal commissure upwards towards the highest point at the anteroseptal commissure. During this course it is curved upward.
US08163011B2	Intra-annular mounting frame for aortic valve repair An intra-annular mounting frame for an aortic valve having native aortic cusps is provided which includes a frame body with native leaflet reorienting curvatures and interconnecting points; the curvatures shaped to be received inside the valve below the native aortic cusps and to reorient the native aortic cusps within the aortic valve, where each of the curvatures extends concavely upward from a reference latitudinal plane tangential to each curvature's base.
US08163010B1	Staple-based heart valve treatment A medical device for treating a heart valve may include a master staple and a loop fixed to the master staple prior to deployment of the master staple. The heart valve may be treated with that master staple and loop, and a plurality of follower staples that are independent from the loop prior to deployment of the master staple, by closing the master staple into the valve annulus, such that the point of the loop that is fixed to the master staple is fixed relative to the valve annulus, and engaging the loop with a plurality of follower staples after that closing.
US08163009B2	Annuloplasty ring holder An annuloplasty ring holder including a head having an upper surface and an annuloplasty ring receiving surface facing opposite the upper surface. The annuloplasty ring holder also includes means for attaching an annuloplasty ring to the annuloplasty ring receiving surface. The means for attaching an annuloplasty ring to the annuloplasty ring receiving surface may include one or more suture guides operatively associated with the head and configured to position one or more sutures to removably associate an annuloplasty ring with the annuloplasty ring receiving surface. The head may include a central hub and more than one spoke radiating out from the central hub. If the head is thus configured, each spoke will include a portion of the annuloplasty ring receiving surface.
US08163008B2	Leaflet valve A device and method for improving flow through a native blood vessel valve, such as the aortic valve, are provided. The present invention allows a miniature valve to be implanted into affected leaflets percutaneously, obviating the need for coronary bypass surgery. The method includes the cutting of small holes, on the order of 4 mm, in the leaflets of a targeted valve, thereby allowing blood to flow through the newly formed holes. The holes are used as attachment sites for the miniature valves of the present invention.
US08163003B2	Active blood vessel sleeve methods and systems Methods, apparatuses, computer program products, devices and systems are described that include accepting one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions based on blood vessel data from an individual; and making a rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions.
US08162989B2	Orthopedic rod system A tulip-shaped rod-receiving member in a spinal rod system is provided with a transverse slot accessible from the top of the tulip member for placing the rod therein until the rod seats. A locking assembly includes a cap having inclined surfaces that cooperate with inclined surfaces on the rod-receiving member to lock and bias inwardly the rod-receiving member relative to the cap. A novel seating ring is provided for the bone screw to be supported in the tulip in a manner that maximizes support and optimizes axial alignment of forces.
US08162978B2	Non-metallic knotless suture anchor A knotless suture anchor for deployment in a preformed bone hole to secure soft tissue to bone. The suture anchor comprises a hollow outer member and a hollow inner member longitudinally movable within the outer member. Suture is directed along a tortuous path distally through the lumens of both the inner and outer members, transversely across an eyelet situated at the distal end of the inner member and proximally through the lumens of both the inner and outer members. A suture-locking mechanism engaged the suture-locking mechanism by moving the inner member proximally relative to the outer member is provided along the tortuous path to crimp the suture by placing the anchor in a suture locked configuration. The inner member is provided with radially outwardly extending prongs which pass through slots in the outer member in order to engage bone surrounding the bone hole.
US08162974B2	Occlusion apparatus, system, and method Methods, apparatus, and systems for occluding a defective occlusion. Methods, apparatus, and systems include the use of an occlusion device having occluder pads. The distance between the occluder pads can be adjusted so as to compress tissue between the occluder pads to anchor the occlusion device to the tissue and to block the defective occlusion.
US08162973B2	Method of transferring pressure in an articulating surgical instrument An end effector for a surgical instrument includes a fixed bearing member, having an end effector axis defined therethrough, with mounting surfaces for attachment to a distal end of the surgical instrument. An input shaft is configured for rotational motion relative to the fixed bearing member about the end effector axis and a force transfer member is coupled to the input shaft such that rotary motion of the input shaft generates longitudinal motion in the force transfer member. At least one jaw member couples to the force transfer member such that longitudinal motion of the force transfer member results in the jaw member moving between an open and a closed configuration relative to an opposing jaw member.
US08162971B2	Stretch resistant therapeutic device A vasoocclusive coil is reinforced with a stretch resistant member to improve safety during retraction of the coil. The stretch resistant member is fixedly attached at one end to the vasoocclusive coil, and the other end of the stretch resistant member is detachably mounted to an elongated pusher member to allow for placement and release of the vasoocclusive coil within the patient's vasculature.
US08162966B2	Surgical devices incorporating liquid jet assisted tissue manipulation and methods for their use Surgical instruments are disclosed that utilize high-pressure liquid jets to perform a variety of useful functions. In certain embodiments, surgical instruments are described incorporating one or more liquid jets utilized to contact tissue excised by a non-liquid jet tissue-cutting component of the surgical instrument. In certain embodiments, a liquid jet of a surgical instrument can be utilized for the purpose of excising tissue of a patient immobilized and/or manipulated by the surgical instrument. Also described are surgical devices of the type characterized by curettes, rongeurs, bone punches, bone cutting forceps, morcellators, surgical micrograspers, with functionality and performance supplemented by the integration of a liquid jet. Also disclosed are methods of using certain liquid jet-containing surgical instruments for performing surgical procedures, for example surgical procedures on the spinal column of a patient.
US08162959B2	Single stage hemostasis clipping device A tissue clipping apparatus comprises a clip including a proximal end received within a capsule. The clip includes a clip locking member biased to engage a first locking structure of the capsule to lock the clip in the capsule in a closed configuration. The apparatus also comprises a tension member releasably coupling the clip to a proximal end of the device which, during use, remains accessible to a user. The tension member is coupled to the clip by a joint designed to release when subject to a predetermined load to separate the clip from the device, release of the joint releasing the locking member to engage the first locking structure.
US08162958B2	Tissue fastening tool and applicator for indwelling the same within body, and tissue fastening method through natural orifice A tissue fastening apparatus related to the present invention includes; a tissue fastening tool formed of a wire wound into a coil shape provided with a first tissue fixing section which is hooked onto a first biological tissue and a second tissue fixing section which is hooked onto a second biological tissue; a tubular puncturing tool which extends a tissue fastening tool and accommodates the stretched tissue fastening tool inside of the puncturing tool; a fastening tool pusher in which the distal end thereof is inserted into the puncturing tool and dispenses the tissue fastening tool inserted into the puncturing tool from a distal end of the puncturing tool when the fastening tool pusher advances; and a rotating mechanism to rotate the puncturing tool when the fastening tool pusher advances.
US08162955B2	Registering intraoperative scans A device and method for registering a patient's hip, wherein the device includes markers and positioning elements which can be placed on characteristic points of the hip, and once placed on characteristic points of the hip, data for registering the hip can be ascertained from the position of the markers. The method includes detecting the position of the markers arranged on the device and ascertaining data for registering the hip.
US08162953B2	Insertion system for corneal implants Provided therein are apparatuses, systems and methods for storing and retrieving a corneal implant and for delivering the corneal implant in or on the cornea. In an embodiment, a insertion system comprises an inserter for delivering a corneal implant to a desired location in or on the cornea. The inserter has a holding space at its distal end for holding a corneal implant therein. A solution may substantially fill the holding space with the corneal implant to keep the implant hydrated and to hold the implant in the holding space by the surface tension of the solution. The corneal implant may be preloaded in the holding space of the inserter and stored in a storage container filled with storage fluid, e.g., saline, until use. To deliver the corneal implant, the inserter is positioned at the desired location, and the corneal implant released from the holding space of the inserter.
US08162947B2	Dome shaped implant and inserter An implant for resurfacing a joint and a driver for the implant. The inserter attaches to the head of the implant. The inserter is designed to facilitate the handling and insertion of an implant at a surgical site. The inserter is provided with a plurality of arms that securely engage a plurality of indents on the edge or periphery of the implant.
US08162943B2	Deformable implant systems and methods The present invention provides a deformable implant and a deformation apparatus. The implant has an elongated shape and may be inserted into the intramedullary canal of a fractured bone. The implant may have a support structure and thermo-chemically activated matrix material, deformable at a first state and hardened at a second state, surrounding the support structure. The deformation apparatus is shaped to be inserted co-axially into the implant, and includes a tube co-axially positioned inside a balloon, and a set of hoses connected to the tube and the balloon. A heat source, a cartridge and a pump may be connected to the apparatus to supply heat, and regulate temperature and pressure of a liquid or gas and circulate it through the balloon. Liquid or gas is introduced through the hoses into the balloon to inflate the balloon and cause the surrounding implant to expand radially, providing support to the fractured bone.
US08162940B2	Vessel sealing instrument with electrical cutting mechanism An end effector assembly for use with an instrument for sealing vessels and cutting vessels includes a pair of opposing first and second jaw members which are movable relative to one another from a first spaced apart position to a second position for grasping tissue therebetween. Each jaw member includes a pair of spaced apart electrically conductive tissue contacting surfaces which each have an insulator disposed therebetween, the conductive surfaces are connected to an electrosurgical energy source. The first jaw member includes an electrically conductive cutting element disposed within the insulator which extends towards the second tissue contacting surface to create a gap therebetween. The cutting element is inactive during the sealing process while the two pairs of electrically conductive surfaces are activated to seal tissue. During the cutting process, the cutting element is energized to a first potential and at least one electrically conductive tissue contacting surface is energized to a different potential to effect a tissue cut through the tissue held between the jaw members along the already formed tissue seal.
US08162939B2	Medical treatment device A medical treatment device inserted into a treatment instrument insertion channel of an ultrasonic endoscope inserted into a body cavity for treating an organ in the body cavity comprises a treatment probe having an electrode portion inserted and stuck into the organ in the body cavity through the treatment instrument insertion channel of the ultrasonic endoscope for radio-frequency cautery treatment of a tissue in the organ and an ultrasonic reflection portion formed on the surface of the electrode portion of the treatment probe for reflecting an ultrasonic signal from the ultrasonic endoscope.
US08162926B2	Robotic arm with five-bar spherical linkage A robotic arm with a parallel spherical five-bar linkage having a ground link, two inboard links, and two outboard links. Each inboard link is coupled to the ground link at an axis of rotation and has an intermediate axis spaced apart from the axis of rotation. Each outboard link is pivotally coupled to one of the inboard links at the intermediate axis. The two outboard links are pivotally coupled together at an outboard axis. A constraint limits the rotation of a first one of the outboard links about the intermediate axis of the coupled inboard link such that a maximum angle between the links is substantially less than 180°. A second one of the outboard links and the coupled inboard link are constructed and assembled such that the two intermediate axes are on the same side of a plane including the outboard axis and one of the axes of rotation.
US08162923B2	Disposable infusion device with automatic unlocking mechanism A wearable infusion device delivers a liquid medicant to a patient. The infusion device comprises a base that contacts a patient's skin and a reservoir arranged to be filled with a liquid medicant to be delivered beneath a patient's skin. The reservoir has an outlet through which the medicant flows. The infusion device further comprises a flexible conduit communicating with the outlet of the reservoir, a pump that causes the medicant to flow down the conduit, an actuator that performs a function related to the operation of the device, and an enable mechanism that enables the actuator in response to the filling of the reservoir with the liquid medicant.
US08162921B2	Method and device for nasal irrigation and drug delivery A method and device for nasal irrigation and drug delivery wherein fluid held in a canister is atomized via a compressed air supply to create particles sized for penetration and retention in the nasal cavity under pressure that is able to stent open the soft tissues of the nose to deliver the resultant mist into the whole of the nasal passages without the need for the patient to create an airstream through inhalation. The device consists of a main canister with a reservoir to hold the fluid, two air outlets and an insert that is placed over the air outlets, the insert having at least one outlet that is larger than the holes in the air outlet and allows the fluid to be atomized and injected directly into the nasal cavity.
US08162914B2	Cap adapters for medicament vial and associated methods Cap adapters for a medicament vial configured to facilitate the transfer of liquid medicament from the vial and into a syringe. In one embodiment the cap adapter comprises a wall portion with a first lumen passing through it. A vial-engaging portion secures the cap adapter to the vial. A spike extends from the wall portion and defines a second lumen passing through the wall portion. A cone-shaped shield extends from the first lumen. The shield is configured to guide a hypodermic needle toward the first lumen to thereby reduce a risk of needlestick to a user handling the vial. In certain embodiments, a light source cooperates with the cap adapter to illuminate at least a portion of the cap adapter to reduce a risk of needlestick to a user handling the vial in a darkened environment. In certain embodiments, a secondary sealing member abuts a first face of the wall portion and seals an end of the first lumen. In certain embodiments, a locking sleeve resists or prevents removal of the cap adapter from the medicament vial.
US08162913B2	Folded absorbent article An absorbent article includes an absorbent chassis, a first ear and a first fastening member. The absorbent article can also include a plurality of folds. The plurality of folds can arrange the fastening member in an overlaid relationship with said inner surface on said absorbent chassis.
US08162912B2	Personal wear absorbent article with disposal tab An absorbent article has first and second waist regions that define transversely opposite sides extending a length Lp from a waist opening to a leg opening. A disposal tab has an attachment region extending a greatest length La along at least a portion of the length Lp. The article includes a primary fastening system for releasably attaching the first and second waist regions. The article further includes a disposal tab having an attachment region in the second waist region that extends a greatest length La along at least a portion of the length Lp. The disposal tab includes a tab region that extends transversely outward from the attachment region and is attachable to the article in at least the disposal configuration. The disposal tab comprises a fastening component in the tab region and a base substrate that is releasably attachable to a hook material of the primary fastening system.
US08162909B2	Negative pressure wound treatment An apparatus for aspirating, irrigating and/or cleansing wounds (1) using cells or tissues to cleanse the circulating fluid to enhance wound healing by destroying or limiting the harmful substances in the circulating fluid from the wound (5) thus enhancing the beneficial substances.
US08162906B2	Medical device for delivery of liquids An apparatus and method for delivering liquid within an orifice of an animal is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus comprises a hollow syringe defining a vessel having an open end; a plunger, slidingly and sealingly disposed within the vessel; and a flexible delivery tube, having a first end sealingly coupled to the open end and a delivery end for dispensing the liquid proximate the orifice. A light source directing light to the delivery end of the flexible tube may also be included.
US08162903B2	System and method for proportional mixing and continuous delivery of fluids A system and method for mixing and delivering fluids such as contrast media and saline is disclosed including at least two fluid sources, a pump, a joining fluid path connecting the at least two fluid sources to an inlet to the pump, and a valve device in the fluid path upstream of the pump. The valve device includes an actuator adapted to restrict flow in at least one of respective fluid lines connecting the at least two fluid sources to the pump inlet. A patient interface device may be associated with an outlet of the pump. The valve device actuator is generally adapted to restrict the flow in at least one of the respective fluid lines such that a positional change in valve device actuator position provides a change in fluid mixture ratio of the fluids from the at least two fluid sources to the pump inlet.
US08162902B2	Systems and methods for providing an automatic occlusion device An auto-occlusion safety device is provided for use in preventing rupture of infusion components during rapid infusion procedures. An occlusion valve is disclosed having a threshold pressure that is less than a rupture tolerance of the infusion system components. As the fluid pressure of the infusion system increases beyond the threshold pressure of the occlusion valve, the occlusion valve is automatically activated thereby occluding fluid flow upstream from a vulnerable infusion component. An accumulator is further disclosed for use in combination with the safety device to compensate for time delays in full activation of the occlusion valve.
US08162892B2	Injector device for placing a subcutaneous infusion set An injector device assembly and a method for making an injector device assembly are provided. The injector assembly includes a sterile insertion set with a housing and a hollow cannula and a device housing. A plunger is slidably received within the device housing for movement between an advanced position and a retracted position wherein the cannula is transcutaneously placed upon movement of the plunger from the advanced position to the retracted position. The device housing has a forward end defining a surface of placement against the skin of a patient with the device housing in a predetermined orientation relative to the patient's skin. The injector device assembly includes a spring for urging the plunger toward the advanced position and a releasable cover member covering the forward end. The cover member and the device housing assure sterile conditions of the insertion set within the device housing prior to removal of the cover member.
US08162887B2	Automatic injection devices An injection device comprises a syringe extendible against a spring bias from a retracted position in a housing to a projecting injecting position. A spring biased plunger has collapsible elbows which, when the plunger is released, initially engage the end of the syringe to drive it to the projecting position, whereupon arresting of the syringe movement causes the elbows to collapse inside the syringe to allow the plunger to engage and drive the bung.
US08162883B2	Puncture needle assembly and medicinal liquid injector A puncture needle assembly has a needle tube, a protector capable of moving between a first position at which the protector covers the tip of the needle tube and a second position at which the tip is exposed, a body for movably supporting the protector and having an elastic deformable section, and an engagement preventing member removably mounted to the base end of a protector body. The protector has a rib. A portion on the head end side of the rib forms a contact section, and a portion on the base end side of the rib forms an engaging section engaging with the elastic deformable section. When the protector moves from the first position to the second position, the engagement preventing member moves together with the protector to prevent the engaging section from engaging with the elastic deformable section and elastically deforms the elastic deformable section.
US08162881B2	Needle guard mechanism with angled strut wall A needle guard includes a clip with a canting wall to grip the needle shaft and a distal wall to block the tip thereof, wherein the canting and distal walls may be interconnected by an angled strut so as to allow the canting wall to be tilted over center in a ready state, a spring member, such as a leaf spring, may have a portion extending past an edge of the strut to bias the clip to grip the needle shaft.
US08162866B2	Neck brace A neck brace (10) having a collar member (12) to be arranged around a wearer's neck, and a rear member (14) extending from, the collar member (12) and to be abutted on the wearer's back. The brace further comprises releasable fastening means (74, 75, 88a, 88b, 92) for fastening the collar member to the rear member, such that the collar member and the rear member may also be detached.
US08162862B2	Dressing material The invention relates to a dressing material comprising a thermoplastic, the thermoplastic being applied to a first textile web and the thermoplastic containing a first microencapsulated dye. Furthermore, the invention comprises a production method and a bandage, an orthopedic support dressing and an application.
US08162860B1	Massaging shoe device A massaging shoe device for providing comfort to a user's feet comprising a base, a hollow foot covering component, a ring-shaped first massaging component disposed inside the foot covering component that can wrap around a users foot, and a second massaging component disposed in the base near the back of the shoe device. The massaging components are for massaging a user's feet.
US08162853B2	Tissue penetration device A method is provided for controlling a lancet velocity profile. A velocity of a moving lancet is measured at a known position. The measured velocity of the lancet is compared with an appropriate velocity for the lancet at the known position. A force is applied to the lancet to adjust the velocity of the lancet.
US08162847B2	MRI biopsy targeting cube with snap corners A biopsy system comprises a control module, a localization assembly, a biopsy device, and a targeting cube. The biopsy device and/or other associated components are configured to selectively couple with a targeting cube that selectively couples with a grid plate having apertures for receiving the cube. The targeting cube comprises a body defined by faces. The targeting cube further comprises guide holes that originate and terminate at the faces and pass through the body of the targeting cube to provide passageways through the cube. To securely and removably fit the targeting cube within a grid plate aperture, the targeting cube also comprises deflectable projections positioned at the corners of the cube or extending from the faces of the cube. The projections are resiliently biased to extend outwardly, and are inwardly deflectable by the walls of a grid plate aperture to secure the targeting cube in position within the aperture.
US08162844B2	Managing preload reserve by tracking the ventricular operating point with heart sounds A system and method for managing preload reserve and tracking the inotropic state of a patient's heart. The S1 heart sound is measured as a proxy for direct measurement of stroke volume. The S3 heart sound may be measured as a proxy for direct measurement of preload level. The S1-S3 pair yield a point on a Frank Starling type of curve, and reveal information regarding the patient's ventricular operating point and inotropic state. As an alternative, or in addition to, measurement of the S3 heart sound, the S4 heart sound may be measured or a direct pressure measurement may be made for the sake of determining the patient's preload level. The aforementioned measurements may be made by a cardiac rhythm management device, such as a pacemaker or implantable defibrillator.
US08162842B2	Detecting ischemia using an implantable cardiac device based on morphology of cardiac pressure signal Methods and systems are presented for using an ICD to detect myocardial ischemia. One such method includes sensing via an implantable cardiac-rhythm-management device (ICRMD) a signal indicative of cardiac pressure; determining via a processor associated with the ICRMD, a derivative signal that is a first derivative of the sensed signal; measuring via the processor, a maximum positive value of the derivative signal; measuring via the processor, a maximum negative value of the derivative signal; and indicating via the processor, an ischemia based on a comparison of a ratio of the maximum positive value to the maximum negative value with a predetermined value.
US08162840B2	High power ultrasound transducer Disclosed is a high power ultrasound transducer consisting of piezoelectric ceramic elements, an acoustic impedance matching plate, and an assembly of electric contacts arranged to provide voltage to each of said piezoelectric elements. One or more resilient electrically conductive elements enable electric contact between the piezoelectric elements, the impedance matching plate, and the assembly of electric contacts. Disclosed are also an apparatus and method of using the transducer.
US08162833B2	Thick-slice ultrasound images derived from ultrasonic scans of a chestwardly-compressed breast of a supine patient Displaying breast ultrasound information on an interactive user interface is described, the user interface being useful in adjunctive ultrasound mammography environments and/or ultrasound-only mammography environments. Bilateral comparison is facilitated by a pairwise display of thick-slice images corresponding to analogous slab-like subvolumes in the left and right breasts. Coronal thick-slice imaging and convenient navigation on and among coronal thick-slice images is described. In one preferred embodiment, a nipple marker is displayed the coronal thick-slice image representing a projection of a nipple location thereupon. A convenient breast icon is also displayed including a cursor position indicator variably disposed thereon in a manner that reflects a relative position between the cursor and the nipple marker. Preferably, the breast icon is configured to at least roughly resemble a clock face, the center of the clock face representing the nipple marker location. Bookmark-centric and CAD-marker-centric navigation within and among thick-slice images is also described.
US08162832B2	Minor axis motion type ultrasonic probe The invention relates to a minor axis motion type ultrasonic probe with high sensitivity that suppresses propagation loss. The minor axis motion type ultrasonic probe of the invention comprises: a piezoelectric element group in which a plurality of piezoelectric elements are arranged in a line in a major axis direction of the piezoelectric element group; an acoustic lens that is provided on an ultrasonic wave transmitting/receiving surface side of the piezoelectric element group and that has a predetermined curvature in a minor axis direction of the piezoelectric element group; and a sealed container that houses the piezoelectric element group with the acoustic lens provided thereon and that is filled with a liquid serving as an ultrasonic wave medium, and the piezoelectric element group is moved in the minor axis direction and ultrasonic waves are transmitted and received to and from a living body, wherein the configuration is such that the acoustic lens is a concave lens formed from a material that has less propagation loss than a silicone resin and that has a greater acoustic velocity than a living body, and a relationship between acoustic velocity c1 of the concave lens, acoustic velocity c2 of the liquid, and acoustic velocity c3 of the living body is expressed as c1>c3>c2.
US08162819B2	Method and device to provide penis enlargement A penis tensioning device effecting penis tissue modeling and penis enlargement, the device comprising an elongate tensioning, biasing member having a first portion (14) and a second portion; first retaining means connected to the first portion (14) and Cooperable in tight-fitting engagement with a portion of the penis adjacent the head; second retaining means connected to the second portion and cooperable with a distal member selected from the group consisting of an article of clothing, a body part and an inanimate object.
US08162810B2	Saddle for exercise equipment and exercise equipment using the same A saddle for an exercise equipment for allowing a user to perform an exercise in a sitting posture is provided, which has the capability of suppressing variations in sitting posture to achieve stable exercise effects. The exercise equipment has a base, the saddle for supporting the user's buttocks, and a coupling mechanism configured to movably couple the saddle to the base such that a load acted on a leg by the user's own weight varies according to a relative positional displacement between a foot position and a position of center of gravity of the user, and also configured to limit a movable direction of the saddle such that a direction of the relative positional displacement between the foot position and the position of center of gravity is limited to a direction of flexion and extension of knee joint. The saddle has a pair of curved recesses at its outer periphery, which are configured such that parts of the femoral regions of the user fit the recesses.
US08162805B2	Cross trainer exercise apparatus Apparatus and method for simulating a back and forth leg or foot movement, the apparatus comprising: a pair of pivotable support mechanisms supported on a frame, a pair of foot pedals mounted on the support mechanisms for back and forth movement along an arcuate path of translation movement, the foot pedals being adjustable to a selected segment of an overall arcuate path of translation movement. The apparatus includes handles or arms interconnected or interlinked to the foot pedals for upper body pushing or pulling energy input. The handles or arms pivot together with and in the same back or forth direction as the pedals to which they are interlinked.
US08162800B2	Method for controlling disengagement of an automated clutch in a vehicle A method is provided for controlling disengagement of an automated clutch in a vehicle. A decrease of a first engine rotational speed limit, at which the clutch is disengaged, is initiated upon sensing travel of the vehicle in a down slope, and zero displacement of the throttle control. The first engine rotational speed limit is decreased to a speed where an, in the vehicle arranged, engine idle speed regulator injects an amount of fuel corresponding to a positive engine torque which equals current retarding negative engine torque so that total output torque from the engine is approximately zero. The vehicle accelerating effect due to engine braking torque drop out when the clutch is disengaged will be eliminated.
US08162792B2	Transmission having at least eight speeds A transmission of the present invention has an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices may include clutches and brakes. The torque transmitting devices are selectively engageable in combinations of at least two to establish at least eight forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio.
US08162778B1	Combination tool for golf A combination turf repair tool and golf club adjustment tool is disclosed herein. One embodiment of the combination tool comprises a turf repair portion connected to a golf club adjustment portion, and a cover portion or cap that is sized to cover at least part of the golf club adjustment portion. The cap or cover portion may be a separate, removable piece, or may be pivotally attached to another part of the tool. Another embodiment of the combination tool comprises a turf repair portion and a golf club adjustment portion, wherein the golf club adjustment portion is pivotally attached to the turf repair portion.
US08162775B2	Golf club assembly and golf club with aerodynamic features A golf club head includes a body member having a ball striking face, a crown, a toe, a heel, a sole, and a skirt extending between the crown and the sole and between the toe and the heel. The club head includes a drag-reducing structure that may include one or both of a continuous groove extending from a front portion to a rear edge of the toe, and along an entire length of the skirt, and a substantially V-shaped recess formed in the sole and having a vertex positioned proximate the ball striking face and the heel and away from the skirt and the toe, and a pair of legs extending to a point proximate the toe and away from the ball striking face, and curving toward the skirt and away from the ball striking face.
US08162773B1	Golf putting accessory An invertible golf putting accessory having a body with an upper surface, a lower surface and a plurality of sides. Two of the sides converge towards each other to form an apex and one of the sides is removably connectable to a face of a putter by magnetic and/or adhesive material. The body includes an aperture that is configured to receive a golf ball positioned therein. The accessory is attached to the face of a putter so that a portion of the golf ball can extend above the upper surface and another portion can extend below the lower surface. In use, a golf ball is pulled back and automatically released in a desired direction as the user extends the foreswing beyond the constraints of the aperture. The body also includes indicia on one or more of the surfaces. The indicia may be used to assist in sighting the putter.
US08162770B2	Reaction component for linear induction motor A reaction component or plate for a linear induction motor incorporates a flexibility increasing feature and a wear resistant feature.
US08162767B2	Boot for a constant velocity joint A constant velocity joint assembly includes an outer joint member and an inner joint member. A first shaft is coupled to the inner joint member for articulated movement with the inner joint member relative to the outer joint member. A boot is coupled to the first shaft and the outer joint member to seal the constant velocity joint assembly. An insert is secured to and supported within the boot adjacent to and in abutting engagement with an axial end of the outer joint member. The insert limits movement of the first shaft to within a pre-determined range of articulation to prevent disengagement and/or disassembly of the inner joint member relative to the outer joint member.
US08162766B2	Fixed type constant velocity universal joint A fixed type constant velocity universal joint includes an outer joint member having an inner spherical surface in which a plurality of track grooves extending in an axial direction are formed; an inner joint member having an outer spherical surface in which a plurality of track grooves extending in the axial direction while paired with the track grooves of the outer joint member are formed. A plurality of balls are interposed between the track grooves of each of the outer joint member and the inner joint member, for transmitting a torque, and a cage is interposed between the inner spherical surface of the outer joint member and the outer spherical surface of the inner joint member, for holding the balls. The outer joint member and the inner joint member each have a center curvature of the track grooves being offset from each other in a direction opposite to the axial direction by an equal distance with respect to a joint center, in which: a PCD gap (2×m) in a ball track formed between the track grooves of each of the outer joint member and the inner joint member is set to equal to or larger than 25 μm.
US08162763B2	Sliding-type tripod constant velocity joint An intermediate member is rockably provided around an outer periphery of a corresponding one of tripod shaft portions. Shaft-like rolling elements are retained by corresponding retainers so that the shaft-like rolling elements are able to circulate around the corresponding intermediate members and are able to roll between side surfaces of a corresponding one of raceway grooves of an outer ring and a torque transmitting surface of a corresponding one of the intermediate members. Then, raceway recesses are formed on the side surfaces of each raceway groove so as to extend in a direction of a rotation axis of the outer ring. The shaft-like rolling elements are fitted in the corresponding raceway recesses and are able to roll along bottom surfaces of the respective raceway recesses. Thus, the retainers are arranged outside the raceway recesses.
US08162762B2	Generator flexible drive coupling A generator assembly (6) includes a crankshaft (10), an accessory pulley drive shaft (36) operatively coupled to the crankshaft (10), and a flexible drive coupling member (40) operatively coupling the accessory pulley drive shaft (36) and the crank shaft (10). The flexible drive coupling member (40) includes a plurality of flex drive rings (64-66) that are configured to transmit torque from the crankshaft (10) to the accessory pulley drive shaft (36) with substantially no torsional deflection while allowing the accessory pulley drive shaft (36) to deflect radially under radial load and deflect axially under axial load in order to accommodate misalignment of the accessory pulley drive shaft (36).
US08162760B1	Gaming system and method A method and apparatus for providing gaming services to remote game players. In one embodiment, a method of providing gaming services comprises providing one or more player game values to a first remote game player and a second remote game player, and receiving one or more mechanically-generated contingent game values by a processor, the one or more mechanically-generated contingent game values representing a number of game values needed to ensure game completion for each of the two or more remote game players. The method further comprises revealing one or more of the one or more mechanically-generated contingent game values to the first remote game player and the second remote game player over a communication network, and determining a final game result for the first and second remote game players based on at least the one or more mechanically-generated contingent game values revealed to the players and the player game values.
US08162758B1	Implementing video contests A video hosting site allows a contest owner to specify parameters to be used for a contest. Examples of parameters include contest name, description, how the contest will be judged, who may enter the contest, etc. Once the parameters are set, a contest manager initiates the contest on behalf of the contest owner. Contests have a submission phase, a voting phase, and a results phase. During the submission phase, contestants submit video entries to be judged in the contest. During the voting phase, visitors to the video hosting site cast votes on some or all of the entered videos. During the results phase, the votes are tabulated and a winning video is determined. Alternative embodiments allow variations on each phase.
US08162756B2	Time and location based gaming An activating and deactivating of a gaming device may be based at least in part on a duration of time in which the gaming device is permitted to be activated, a period of time during which the gaming device is permitted to be activated, and/or a location of a user of the gaming device.
US08162755B2	Open architecture communications in a gaming network Open architecture communication systems and methods are provided that allow flexible data transmission between gaming machines and other devices and nodes within a gaming machine network. The gaming machine and other devices employ a communication interface that sends and receives data via a common communication protocol and via common communication hardware. The communication interface and common communication protocol allow data transfer between gaming machines and other network nodes such as gaming service servers, despite the presence of different proprietary gaming machine functions and proprietary communication protocols and despite the presence of various proprietary hardware and proprietary communication protocols relied on by the servers.
US08162754B2	Game device, notification method, non-transitory information recording medium and program for informing displacement of game controller mat A process control unit (306) controls a music reproduction unit (309) to output a music sound, while controlling a request content creation unit (305) to present content of a motion requested to the player. At the same time, the process control unit (306) compares content of the motion acquired from a motion content acquiring unit (302) with the presented, requested motion (and the timing) to evaluate the stepping motion of the player. Further, during the game, the process control unit (306) sequentially measures the amount of displacement of the game mat in accordance with the position, etc. of the controller, the position being detected by a controller detection unit (303). Then, when the measured amount of displacement exceeds a reference value, an alarm message is synthesized to a game screen and displayed, and the game mat displacement is informed to call attention of the player.
US08162753B2	Video game providing simulated disc jockey experience Embodiments of the present invention include methods for providing a simulated disc jockey experience in a video game. Embodiments are provided for playing video games on portable electronic devices such as mobile phones and/or portable music players and on conventional video game clients, such as video game consoles, personal computers, and/or handheld video game devices.
US08162750B2	Gaming device multilateration location Apparatus, systems, and methods may operate to enable determining the location of a wagering game machine in relation to a plurality of transmission or reception apparatus using a multilateration process. In some embodiments, the orientation of the machine may also be determined.
US08162749B2	Gaming system and a method of gaming A gaming system is disclosed which comprises a symbol selector arranged to select a plurality of symbols for display at a plurality of display positions, each display position including at least two symbols, and an outcome evaluator arranged to determine whether symbol combinations defined by the displayed symbols correspond to one or more winning outcomes. Each symbol combination includes one symbol from each display position used to form the symbol combination. A corresponding method is also described.
US08162748B2	Gaming machine and system having secondary game A gaming system comprises a plurality of gaming machines (EGMs) and a secondary game control section. The secondary game control section is provided with a plurality of data sets having different target investment amount between two triggerings of the secondary game. The secondary game control section is adapted to receive a bet contribution from each of the EGMs and calculate an average bet amount from the received bet contributions. The secondary game control section selects one of the data sets depending on the calculated average bet amount, and determines whether the secondary game is triggered for each bet contribution from the EGMs using the target investment amount associated with the selected one of the data sets and a random number, and if it is determined that the secondary game is triggered, pays out a secondary game award to an EGM of which bet contribution triggered the secondary game.
US08162741B2	Gaming system, gaming device, and gaming method for transferring symbols between linked reels in multiple reel sets A gaming device including at least a first reel in a first reel set linked to at least a first reel in a second reel set and at least a second reel in the first reel set not linked to any reel in any second reel set. In a play of the game, symbols are independently generated for each reel set. After an award evaluation, the gaming device removes zero, one, or more symbols from the reels in the reel sets. If any empty symbol positions are formed on the first reel in the second reel set, the gaming device transfers one or more symbols from the first reel of the first reel set to the linked first reel of the second reel set to occupy the empty symbol positions. The gaming device generates symbols to fill the empty symbol positions and provides any awards for any winning symbol combinations.
US08162725B2	Abrasive, method of polishing target member and process for producing semiconductor device To polish polishing target surfaces of SiO2 insulating films or the like at a high rate without scratching the surface, the present invention provides an abrasive comprising a slurry comprising a medium and dispersed therein at least one of i) cerium oxide particles constituted of at least two crystallites and having crystal grain boundaries or having a bulk density of not higher than 6.5 g/cm3 and ii) abrasive grains having pores. Also provided are a method of polishing a target member and a process for producing a semiconductor device which make use of this abrasive.
US08162722B2	Grindstone contact sensing method and its device, and honing method and honing machine A grindstone contact sensing technology capable of sensing the contact position of the honing grindstone with the inner circumference of the work at high precision. A servo motor for driving the spindle rotation, and a servo motor for driving the depth of cut are provided and used respectively as spindle rotation drive source for rotating and driving the rotary spindle having the honing tool and depth-of-cut drive source for moving the honing grindstone at a specified depth of cut, and the contact position of the honing grindstone with the inner circumference of the work is sensed from various electrical information (rotating speed, torque, current value, stagnant pulses, etc.) obtained from the operations of both the servo motors.
US08162711B2	Field emission display The present invention relates to a method for the manufacturing of a field-emission display (300), comprising the steps of arranging an electron-emission receptor (302) in an evacuated chamber, arranging a wavelength converting material (304) in the vicinity of the electron-emission receptor, and arranging an electron-emission source (100) in the evacuated chamber, the electron-emission source adapted to emit electrons towards the electron-emission receptor, wherein the electron-emission source is formed by providing a substrate, forming a plurality of ZnO-nanostructures on the substrate, wherein the ZnO-nanostructures each have a first end and a second end, and the first end is connected to the substrate, arranging an electrical insulation to electrically insulate the ZnO-nanostructures from each other, connecting an electrical conductive member to the second end of a selection of the ZnO-nanostructures, arranging a support structure onto of the electrical conductive member, and removing the substrate, thereby exposing the first end of the ZnO-nano structures. Advantages with the invention include for example increased lifetime of the field-emission display as there will be a smaller sections of the nanostructures that will be non-height-aligned. Furthermore, by not having to height align the nanostructures using an expensive etching, grinding, or similar method step, it is possible to achieve a less expensive end product. The present invention also relates to a corresponding field-emission display.
US08162705B2	Water jet propulsion watercraft A water jet propulsion watercraft includes, a main engine body, a rotor chamber provided at a rear portion of the main engine body, a crankshaft arranged such that a rear end portion of the crankshaft is disposed in the rotor chamber, the rear end portion having a first connection portion, an output shaft having a second connection portion at a front end of the output shaft, the second connection portion arranged to be connected to the first connection portion of the crankshaft such that the output shaft rotates together with the crankshaft about a rotational center axis of the crankshaft, a rotor unit housed in the rotor chamber and fixed to the output shaft, a fastening member arranged to fasten the first connection portion and the second connection portion, a drive shaft connected to a rear end portion of the output shaft.
US08162702B2	Contact-making unit, attachment method and screwing tool for carrying out the method A contact-making unit including a holding unit and a screw with a head and a shank. The holding unit includes a connection part-holding section into which at least one connection part can be inserted, and a screw-holding section into which the screw is inserted in a longitudinal direction of the holding unit in such a way that the screw is held captively in the screw-holding section in the longitudinal direction but in a rotatable fashion, and in that a connection part which is inserted into the connection part-holding section can make electrical contact with the inserted screw. A radially protruding bearing section is formed on the head of the screw, and the screw-holding section has a shoulder section which axially supports the bearing section on the holding unit.
US08162692B2	Telecommunication connectors and apparatus for mounting the same A telecommunications assembly including: a connector housing; a bezel mounted on the connector housing, the bezel have a front face having an opening for receiving a plug, the opening having a recess for receiving a plug latch; a faceplate having a faceplate opening of a standard dimension; wherein the bezel is mountable in the faceplate opening in a flat orientation with the recess positioned downwards and the bezel is mountable in the faceplate opening in an angled orientation with the recess positioned upwards.
US08162689B2	Clamping device for connecting a conductor without stripping the insulation Disclosed is a clamping device for connecting a conductor without stripping the insulation. Said clamping device comprises a housing (14) and an actuating part (22 which is movably mounted therein and is provided with a duct (26) accommodating the conductor (50) that is to be clamped. A blade contact (18.1) is provided which encompasses a rear web (32) and two spring legs (36) that are placed at an angle therefrom. The spring legs (36) are fitted with contacting blades (48) on final edges that run into each other. Said contacting blades (48) penetrate the duct (26) and contact the conductor (50) accommodated therein while cutting the insulation thereof when the actuating part (22) is transferred into the contacting position thereof. A second contact piece (18.2) is provided which is electrically connected to the blade contact (18.1). The blade contact (18.1) and the second contact piece (18.2) are configured as a monolithic contact element (18) as a result of the fact that spring arms (34) whose ends are formed into a contact tube or a tulip contact (40) are placed at an angle from the rear web (32) of the blade contact (18.1) in addition to the spring legs (36).
US08162677B2	Junction box and conductor strip connection device thereof A conductor strip connection device for a junction box of a solar module is disclosed and comprises a contact member having a contact segment for connecting to a conductor strip, a suppressing member having a suppressing part configured to cooperate with the contact segment of the contact member for securing a conductor strip, and a fastening member configured to assemble the suppressing member and the contact member together or disassemble the suppressing member from the contact member for allowing the suppressing member to cooperate with the contact segment of the contact member so as to secure or release the conductor strip.
US08162668B2	Medical training simulator including contact-less sensors A medical training simulator includes contact-less sensors and corresponding detection objects, configured to enable sensor data collected during a training exercise to be used to evaluate the performance of the training exercise. The simulator includes a simulated anatomical structure, at least one contact-less sensor, and at least one detection object. During a training exercise, a spatial relationship between the contact-less sensor and the detection object produces data for evaluating performance of the training exercise. Either the contact-less sensor or the detection object is embedded in the simulated physiological structure, while the other is included in either a support for the simulated physiological structure, or as part of a tool used during the training exercise. Many types of contact-less sensors can be employed, including capacitance sensors, impedance sensors, inductive sensors, and magnetic sensors.
US08162663B2	Dental implant A method of fixing a dental implant assembly is described. The assembly includes an implant, a driver/abutment device, and a spacer. The bottom portion of the device has a protrusion with an inferior aspect and a superior aspect. The spacer prevents the oversized, superior aspect of the device from engaging an interior cavity of the implant so that the driver is easily removable after insertion of the implant in the jaw of a patient. Removing the spacer permits the superior aspect to engage the interior cavity, thereby permanently fixing the driver to the implant.
US08162660B2	Rotating clip orthodontic bracket The present invention is directed to a locking orthodontic bracket that contains a mechanism that rotationally locks an orthodontic archwire fully or partially within the bracket archwire slot. The orthodontic bracket has a body containing a slot to receive an orthodontic archwire, wings for tying ligature wires, a base that is attachable to an orthodontic band or directly to a tooth surface and a central recess in the front surface of the body that contains the rotating clip device. The rotating clip device is rotated to enclose an orthodontic archwire within the slot.
US08162646B2	Apparatus for the production of a detergent bar In an apparatus and process for manufacturing a detergent bar, the bar comprises a first distinct zone comprising a first component and at least a second distinct zone comprising a second component. In an injection step, the first and second components are injected into the mould cavity via nozzle means having a first orifice through which the first component is injected. The second component is injected through a second orifice of the nozzle means. The first and second components solidify in the cavity to form the bar. The interface between the zones may be non-planar and/or such that the zones cannot be separated by a unidirectional cut. The first and second zones may respectively comprise detergent and a benefit agent. The first and second zones may differ in texture.
US08162644B2	Die for extrusion forming head The invention is made to accelerate extrusion forming by reducing a friction between a forming rubber formed to cover a cord or formed to extrude and an inner wall face of a path at inside of a die as the die used for an extrusion forming head, a portion of an upstream portion of a rubber forming path (2) reaching a front end outlet (4) from a rubber storing portion (3) at inside of a die main body 1 is provided with a fluid sending inlet (8) for sending a fluid between an outer peripheral face of a forming rubber (R1) at inside of the rubber forming path (2) and an inner wall face of the path and a resistance of passing the forming rubber (R1) on a downstream side is reduced by the fluid.
US08162639B2	Reduction of wear on control cams An apparatus for treating containers such as, for example, liquid containers, may include at least one treatment unit, which treats the containers in a predetermined manner. The treatment unit may be moved along a specified path of travel. The apparatus may include a guiding cam, which is designed in such a way that it causes at least once along the path of travel a movement of the treatment unit in a direction extending vertically relative to the path of travel. The treatment unit may include a guiding element, which is at least at times in contact with the guiding cam, and wherein a force acting between the guiding element and the guiding cam varies at least at times along a specified area of the path of travel. In various aspects, the apparatus may include a force reduction device, which causes the force acting at a certain point of the area between the guiding cam and the guiding element to be reduced at least on average.
US08162634B2	Pulsatile rotary ventricular pump A roller pump conduit defining a pump chamber is provided. The roller pump conduit includes a roller contact portion having a fill region and a delivery region. The fill region has a first taper configured to determine volume delivery per revolution of a roller head. The delivery region has a pressure region having a second taper and a discharge region having a third taper. The third taper has a lesser degree of taper than the second taper. The delivery region is configured to produce a pulsatile flow out of the conduit. Furthermore, a roller pump having a roller pump conduit is provided. The roller pump conduit of the roller pump has a fill region and a delivery region, the fill region having a first taper, and the delivery region having a second and third taper, wherein the third taper has a lesser degree of taper than the second taper.
US08162630B2	Rotary pump with coaxial magnetic coupling The invention relates to a magnetic coupling pump, with the motor-driven part of the magnetic coupling lying radially inward and the radially outward part of the coupling, together with the pump rotor, having a floating fit in the pumped fluid such that the rotating part of the floating bearing is also radially arranged over the outer magnets. The wall of the pump housing can itself be embodied as the stationary part of the floating bearing with the possibility of direct external access (lubrication, sensor mechanism) and an effective convectional cooling. Dry running on operational faults can be avoided by means of the floating bearing arranged far to the outside, as the damaging gas fraction collects in the radial interior of the pump and remaining traces of liquid are continuously driven outwards and thus contribute to bearing lubrication. By means of an additional annular barrier, the loss of residual fluid can be prevented. The disclosed novel floating bearing permits a large volume separating case which itself permits components of the roller bearings of the motor-driven magnetic coupling section so much installation space that the axial installation length of the complete pump can be significantly shortened.
US08162628B2	Wiring structure for use in micro piezoelectric pump An electrical connection structure for use in a micro piezoelectric pump is disclosed. The electrical connection structure includes a driving circuit board and a multilayered wiring structure. The electrical connection structure includes the driving circuit board, the wiring structure, and a piezoelectric element arranged from top to bottom. The driving circuit board is provided with a driving circuit for driving the piezoelectric element and at least an electrical contact, wherein the electrical contacts are electrically connected to the driving circuit. A first electrode contact region and a second electrode contact region electrically insulated from each other are defined on the same surface of the piezoelectric element. The wiring structure sends a signal from the electrical contacts to the first electrode contact region and the second electrode contact region.
US08162627B2	Integrated-inverter electric compressor An integrated-inverter electric compressor is provided, in which a change of the combination of weld plating layers provided on weld surfaces of an electrical connection terminal of an inverter can be allowed for easily. In an integrated-inverter electric compressor in which an inverter is integrally fitted to a compressor housing and an electrical connection terminal that electrically connects the inverter to an electric motor and/or an external power source is provided, one end of the electrical connection terminal has a wire-bonding weld surface for the inverter, the wire-bonding weld surface being provided with a weld plating layer for welding a bonding wire thereto, whereas the other end of the electrical connection terminal has weld surfaces for the electric motor and/or the external power source, the weld surfaces of two sides being respectively provided with different weld plating layers for connecting lead wires, bus bars, or terminals thereto.
US08162626B2	Motor-driven compressor A motor-driven compressor has a compression mechanism, a rotary shaft, an electric motor, a motor drive circuit, a connecting terminal and a housing assembly. The compression mechanism, the electric motor, and the motor drive circuit are disposed along the axial direction of the rotary shaft in the housing assembly having first through third housings. The first housing is used for mounting the electric motor and the compression mechanism. The second housing has a terminal mounting portion for fixing the connecting terminal. The first and second housings have fastening portions at the radially peripheral portion thereof. The third housing is joined to the second housing to form an accommodation space for accommodating the motor drive circuit. The closed casing is formed by fastening the fastening portions of the first and second housings by means of a first bolt and connecting the second housing to the open end of the first housing.
US08162621B2	Hydraulic machine arrangement A hydraulic machine has a plurality of pistons reciprocating within corresponding cylinders. Embodiments may operate as a pump, a motor, or both. The hydraulic machine can be configured to selectively disengage certain pistons from the cam to operate at less than full displacement. This provides a discrete variable displacement machine. The hydraulic machine can also be configured to provide a type of continuously variable displacement by changing the high and low pressure port connections to the cylinders at different positions of the pistons' stroke—i.e., positions other than TDC and BDC. To inhibit hydraulic lock when continuously variable displacement is used, the closing and opening of the high and low pressure ports are allowed to overlap; however, a barrier is used to inhibit short circuiting the fluid between the ports. Individual cylinders can be provided with relief valves to further inhibit hydraulic lock.
US08162620B2	Method for control of a pressurised air supply system for a motor vehicle A method for control of a pressurized air supply system for a motor vehicle. In a supply condition, the air compressor is driven by the drive motor and connected to a compressed air system of the motor vehicle such that compressed air is supplied to the compressed air system. In a non-supply condition, the compressor is not driven and/or connected to the compressed air system. The switching of the supply or non-supply condition results from a comparison of at least one switch pressure value with a pressure in the compressed air system and the topography of the stretch of road on which the vehicle is travelling, which includes the profile of the path which the vehicle must cover within a period of time and/or path distance to a given destination.
US08162618B2	Method and device for controlling pump torque for hydraulic construction machine A current load rate of an engine 10 is computed and a maximum absorption torque of at least one hydraulic pump 1, 2 is controlled so that the load rate is held at a target value. Engine stalling can be prevented by decreasing the maximum absorption torque of the hydraulic pump under a high-load condition. When an engine output lowers due to environmental changes, the use of poor fuel or other reasons, the maximum absorption torque of the hydraulic pump can be decreased without a lowering of the engine revolution speed. Further, the present invention is adaptable for any kinds of factors causing a lowering of the engine output, such as those factors that cannot be predicted in advance or are difficult to detect by sensors. In addition, because of no necessity of sensors, such as environment sensors, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.
US08162610B1	Active directional control of airflows over wind turbine blades using plasma actuating cascade arrays Methods of utilizing plasma actuating cascade arrays for actively controlling airflow over wind turbine blades are described herein. These methods may include providing plasma actuating cascade arrays that include dielectrics and electrodes. The electrodes and dielectrics are electrically operated to generate plasma clusters, and to induce directional airflows in response to the plasma clusters. The methods may also include configuring the plasma actuating cascade arrays based, at least in part, on characteristics of the wind turbine blades and characteristics of energy generation regimes and scenarios.
US08162606B2	Helicopter hub mounted vibration control and circular force generation systems for canceling vibrations A rotary wing aircraft including a vehicle vibration control system. The vehicle vibration control system includes a rotating hub mounted vibration control system, the rotating hub mounted vibration control system mounted to the rotating rotary wing hub with the rotating hub mounted vibration control system rotating with the rotating rotary wing hub. The vehicle vibration control system includes a rotary wing aircraft member sensor for outputting rotary wing aircraft member data correlating to the relative rotation of the rotating rotary wing hub member rotating relative to the nonrotating body, at least a first nonrotating body vibration sensor, the at least first nonrotating body vibration sensor outputting at least first nonrotating body vibration sensor data correlating to vibrations, at least a first nonrotating body circular force generator, the at least a first nonrotating body circular force generator fixedly coupled with the nonrotating body, and a distributed force generation data communications network link.
US08162590B2	Wind turbine blade and a pitch controlled wind turbine The invention relates to a wind turbine blade comprising one or more turbulence generating strips, where the strips are placed on a surface of the blade. The blade is characterized in that at least one joint area of the turbulence generating strips and the surface of the blade are completely or partially covered by sealing means. The invention further relates to a pitch controlled wind turbine comprising at least two pitch controlled wind turbine blades and pitch controlling means for pitching the blades. The pitch controlled wind turbine is characterized in that the blades comprises one or more turbulence generating strips, wherein at least one joint area of the turbulence generating strips and a surface of the blades are completely or partially covered by sealing means.
US08162576B1	Cargo bar with quick release The cargo bar includes a toothed rod and a ratchet actuator. The ratchet actuator is composed of a carriage, a wrench bar with a handle, a main pawl, an auxiliary pawl and an elastic member. When the handle is reciprocated, the wrench bar drives the pawls to push teeth on the toothed rod, and then the toothed rod is elongated outwards. The carriage is disposed with a rotatable release key. When the release key is rotated in a specific direction, the auxiliary pawl and the main pawl will be pushed directly and indirectly by the release key, respectively, and then the two pawls withdraw from the toothed rod to make the toothed rod bidirectionally slidable.
US08162574B2	Vehicular cargo retention system with sliding engagement A system including apparatus and methods for compressively retaining cargo to a vehicular or other surface may, after an initial “rough” adjustment, allow for the operation of a compression force enhancement element to enhance a compression force through relative sliding movement and so that cargo may be retained as intended. Aspects of the inventive technology may relate to the allowance for one-handed manipulation of the compression force enhancement element (e.g., a rotatable lever) through perhaps less than one-quarter of a rotation in order to enhance the compression force.
US08162573B2	Self-reversing tapping system This invention generally pertains to a self-reversing tapping apparatus system, and more particularly, embodiments of this system include an improved coolant system, a reduction of the components which reverse rotational direction, and provides a modular tapping apparatus system.
US08162572B2	Cutting insert for high feed face milling A cutting insert for milling operations, such as, face milling, slot milling, plunge milling, and ramping operations. The cutting insert exhibits a combination of favorable cutting edge strength, and unique cutting edge geometry, thus, allowing milling operations at relatively high feed rates. The cutting insert includes at least four cutting edges, wherein at least one of the cutting edges is a convex cutting edge. Certain embodiments of square cutting inserts will have four convex cutting edges which may be connected by nose corners. The convex cutting edge may comprise at least one of a circular arc, a portion of an ellipse, a portion of a parabola, a multi-segment spline curve, a straight line, or combinations of these. Wherein the convex cutting edge comprises a circular arc, the circular arc may have a radius greater than or equal to two times a radius of the largest circle that may be inscribed on the top surface.
US08162567B2	Water retention cell structures An assembly of hollow frustum-shaped bodies arranged and supported on a horizontal support structure is used to form a core structure for water retention cells. The assemblies are arranged in alternately inverted layers with the ends of the frustum-shaped bodies interconnected to form vertical support columns which are horizontally stabilized by horizontal support structure.
US08162561B2	Integrated joiner improvements An adjustable joining assembly having a particular application in knock down furniture, the joiner having a channel position on its lower surface that allows the joining to locate itself on to a screw thread and direct the screw thread towards an internal threaded gear section which upon rotation of the gear section provides a tightening of the joiner.
US08162558B2	Multi-sectional nut and adjustable length pole incorporating such nut A nut assembly for quick adjustment of axial position relative to a threaded shaft. The nut is formed in two, physically separate sections, each having a surface portion with threads for mating engagement with the shaft. Each nut section is pivotally mounted to a bushing which surrounds the threaded shaft for movement of the nut threads into and out of engagement with the shaft threads. The sections are moved about their pivotal mountings by movement of a second bushing axially with respect to the first bushing through cooperative conical surfaces on the second bushing and on each of the nut sections.
US08162549B2	Optical assembly and photographing apparatus including the same An optical assembly and/or a photographing apparatus including a lens mounting member on which at least one lens is mounted; a transfer portion for moving the lens mounting member; a guide member for guiding a movement of the lens mounting member; a base member on which the transfer portion and the guide member are arranged; and a lens cap apparatus having at least one barrier for opening and closing an optical path passing through the at least one lens, wherein the lens cap apparatus is configured to open and close the barrier by contact with the guide member when the lens cap apparatus is moved closer to or farther from the base member.
US08162548B2	Image pick-up apparatus An image pick-up apparatus that enables to be taken out from a pocket and the like quickly, to be held certainly, and to be operated easily by a user. An image pick-up unit takes a picture of a subject. An operation unit is operated to instruct about an image-pickup operation by the image pick-up unit. A strap mount is tightly connected to a strap, which is provided with a strap body that is an elastic string and a rigid fitting part fixed to at least one end of the strap body, and arranged at one or more positions of the image pick-up apparatus. The connected strap serves as a gripping part when operating the operation unit.
US08162546B1	Fiber optic cable configured for indoor and outdoor deployment A connectorized fiber optic communications cable can comprise a section rated for indoor service and a section rated for outdoor service. A continuous optical fiber can extend through the indoor-rated section and the outdoor-rated section, for example from an outdoor-rated connector on the outdoor-rated section to an indoor-rated connector on the indoor-rated section. The cable can be installed via feeding the section rated for indoor service through a hole in a building, such as a home, to a communication or computing device within the building. The section rated for outdoor service can be buried underground and extended to another communication or computing device located outside the building.
US08162544B2	Gas bearing spindle A gas bearing spindle includes a rotation shaft, a sleeve, and a housing. The sleeve includes a bearing portion formed of a nonmetallic sintered body; and a retaining ring formed of a metal. Further, the retaining ring and the bearing portion are in contact with each other at a first fit surface that is a boundary surface between the outer circumferential surface of the bearing portion and the inner circumferential surface of the retaining ring, as well as at a second fit surface that is a boundary surface between the outer circumferential surface of the bearing portion and the inner circumferential surface of the retaining ring, is distant further away from the sleeve through hole relative to the first fit surface, and is formed adjacent to a center of the sleeve through hole in a direction in which the sleeve through hole extends, when viewed from the first fit surface.
US08162542B2	Environment controlled cargo container A cargo container includes a cargo box affixed atop a hollow base, with the base including forklift tunnels extending therethrough with elongate bays disposed parallel thereto. Each bay includes a removable tray for receiving electrical batteries. And, a temperature control system is disposed on a sidewall adjoining the base.
US08162540B2	DRAM temperature measurement system A converter comprising a comparator having a first input operable to receive a first signal, a second input operable to receive a second signal, and an output, a switch for sinking a portion of the first signal, wherein the switch is responsive to the output, and an integrator connected to the first input, wherein the first signal is a voltage developed by the integrator when a current proportional to the absolute temperature is applied thereto. A method for measuring temperature of a device using a comparator and converting the bitstream of the comparator to a digital output is also given. Because of the rules governing abstracts, this abstract should not be used to construe the claims.
US08162539B2	Sensor arrangement for temperature measurement In a sensor arrangement (1) for measuring the temperature of a surface, in particular of a pane (2), comprising a temperature sensor (3) that is disposed on a circuit board (4) and positioned at a front end of the circuit board (4) in the direct vicinity of the surface, a flexible heat conducting element (7) is provided between the surface and the circuit board (4).
US08162537B2	Thermometer quick linkage apparatus and method A thermometer quick linkage apparatus comprises an elastic member, a button, a probe, and a chamber having one end provided with an opening for receiving the end portion of the probe, and the other end also provided with an opening for receiving the button. Within the chamber, one end of the elastic member connects with the button, and the other end thereof connects with the probe. The elastic member is configured such that, when the button is pressed to compress the elastic member to a certain degree, the end portion of the button comes into contact with the end portion of the probe, and when the button is pressed further down, the probe is pushed away from the chamber. The apparatus is simplified in structure, and allows quick replacement of the probe jacket, and therefore is cost-efficient.
US08162531B2	Mixing system for increased height tanks A system for mixing the solid and liquid contents of a tank having an increased height using at least one flow generating device positioned proximate an outer wall of the tank and directed in a direction to discharge a flow having a rotational component and a generally upward component. A plurality of such flow generating devices may be positioned in one or more rings at various elevations within the tank. The flow generating devices are positioned such that resultant fluid flows within the tank contents include a flow in a generally rotational direction and a flow having components generally upward in the outer portion of the tank, inward in the upper portion of the tank, downward in the center portion of the tank, and outward in the lower portion of the tank.
US08162530B2	Handheld electric mixer A handheld electric mixer has a variable speed motor and a two-speed gearbox for transmitting driving torque of the motor to a pair of work pieces that mix, blend, beat or otherwise act upon a food item or recipe constituents. The gear box has a first gear ratio for providing a first range of output speeds and a second gear ratio for providing a second range of output speeds. The first ratio transmits at least twice as much torque to the rotational work pieces as does the second ratio. There is an electronic speed controller for controlling rotational speed the motor and a separate ratio selector for selecting between the first and second ratios of the gearbox.
US08162529B2	Mixing drum A rotary concrete mixing drum (16) includes an interior surface (74) at least partially provided by a polymer (90) impregnated with a slip agent.
US08162525B2	Light guide plate and display apparatus A light guide plate and a display apparatus are disclosed. The light guide plate comprises a first portion and a second portion. The first portion includes a light output surface. The second portion is formed on one end of the first portion to guide light into the first portion, wherein the second portion includes a light input surface adjacent to at least one light source, a first reflection surface and a second reflection surface adjacent to the first reflection surface, and the light input surface and the light output surface are substantially in the form of an L-shape. The light guide plate is applicable to the display apparatus.
US08162520B2	Vehicle console assemblies with cup holder and storage bin lighting assembly A lighting assembly for illuminating a console assembly of a vehicle includes a cup holder assembly in the console assembly having a cup-receiving volume. A storage bin in the console assembly has a storage volume. A light source assembly is mounted within the console assembly. The light source assembly illuminates the cup-receiving volume directly and illuminates the storage bin indirectly.
US08162512B2	Optical sheet, manufacturing method thereof, and backlight assembly using the same An optical sheet receiving an incident light from a light source is provided. The optical sheet includes a body, a plurality of reflective structures, and a plurality of Fresnel lens units. The body includes an incident surface and an emergent surface. The incident surface receives the incident light with an incident angle. The refractive index of the body is ni and i is a positive integer. The reflective structures are placed on the body. There is a spacing W between two neighboring reflective structures. In the direction of the incident light, the thickness of the reflective structure is t. The Fresnel lens units, having a width P, are disposed on the emergent surface. Each Fresnel lens is corresponded to the spacing. When the equation, tan - 1 ⁡ [ P 2 6 ⁢ t ] > sin - 1 ⁢ ∑ i = 1 j ⁢ 1 n i , j ≥ 1 , is satisfied, the incident light passes through the spacing, the incident angle is adjusted by the thickness t and converged by the Fresnel lens units.
US08162511B1	Full or near-full cut-off visor for light fixture A wide area lighting fixture including a relatively large visor extending from a bowl shaped fixture reflector. The distal portion of the visor extends relatively far outwardly and downwardly and around the fixture opening. In operating position, the visor blocks most or all off-field direct view of the light source in the fixture. Optionally a light absorbing surface or insert can be placed at the very bottom of the bowl shaped reflector to absorb or otherwise stop light that otherwise might go off field to further control spill light, glare, and sky glow or uplight.
US08162504B2	Reflector and system An illumination system includes a light source and a reflector. The reflector includes a first optical interface adjacent the light source which redirects light emitted from the light source and incident on the first optical interface via Fresnel reflection. In addition, the reflector includes a second optical interface adjacent the first optical interface on a side opposite the light source, which reflects light passing through the first optical interface via total internal reflection back towards the first optical interface. Also, a light collection system includes such a reflector.
US08162500B2	Backlight unit and liquid crystal display device having the same Disclosed are a backlight unit and a liquid crystal display device having the same. A supporting section is formed with a reflector, which is used for a direct type backlight unit, to support optical sheets and guide light, so that the assembling process is simplified and the manufacturing cost is reduced.
US08162497B2	Control of emitted light from luminaire Method and apparatus for attenuating unwanted aspects of lighting from a luminaire which is disposed to illuminate an object or objects being photographed. A light attenuating mask is disposed between the luminaire and the object or objects. The light attenuating mask may diffuse, obstruct, or otherwise modify projected light such that light intensity is diminished, unwanted reflections of the luminaire are suppressed, or other aspects of the light are altered. The mask may attach to the luminaire or may be free standing and separate therefrom.
US08162496B2	Apparatus for photodynamic diagnosis of skin diseases with improved uniformity of illumination The present invention provides an apparatus for white light observation and fluorescence diagnosis of skin diseases. More particularly, the present invention provides an apparatus for photodynamic diagnosis in which a plurality of excitation light emitting diodes (LEDs) is provided in an image pick-up head, the excitation LEDs being arranged to illuminate the entire examination region in the form of a mosaic by setting respective illumination light axes of the excitation LEDs to illuminate preassigned individual areas of the examination region, thus uniformly illuminating the examination region in a wide field of view with excitation light. In the apparatus for photodynamic diagnosis, the respective excitation LEDs are provided at the same or different angles based on the light axis of the object lens, and thereby it is possible that the beams of the light sources composed of the LEDs illuminate the field of view of the examination region uniformly, thus improving the uniformity of illumination. Moreover, the present invention provides an apparatus for photodynamic diagnosis in which warm white LEDs and cold white LEDs as white light sources are appropriately arranged so as to deliver natural colors and thereby to reproduce natural color images.
US08162492B2	Foldable delineator A foldable delineator comprises: a fixing plate (100) installed at a guardrail or a protective wall and having one or more first hinge coupling portions (110) formed by bending corners thereof; a pivotal plate (200) at which a reflective panel fixing frame (30) to which a reflective panel (10) is coupled by means of a bolt is installed, the pivotal plate (200) having one or more hinge coupling portions (210) coupled to the first hinge coupling portions (110) by means of a hinge (20) and formed by bending corners of the pivotal plate (200), one or more bending preventing bosses (220) protruding along a lengthwise direction of the pivotal plate (200) on one surface of the pivotal plate (200), and one or more bending preventing portions (230) formed by bending lengthwise edges of the pivotal plate (200) toward the protrusion direction of the bending preventing bosses (220); a stopper (120) for limiting the pivoting movement of the pivotal plate (200) to a range of 90 degrees with the pivotal plate (200) being coupled to the fixing plate (100) by means of the hinge (20); a coil spring (300) installed around the hinge (20) to support the fixing plate (100) and the pivotal plate (200) resiliently; and a coupling recess (400) formed in the fixing plate (100) or the pivotal plate (200) such that one end of the coil spring (300) is inserted and fixed thereinto.
US08162486B2	Remote set-up and calibration of an interactive system Techniques for remotely calibrating an interactive system are provided. In one aspect, a three-dimensional model of the target environment is obtained, image and parameter data of the target environment are obtained, the image and parameter data are mapped onto the three-dimensional model, and calibration data of the target environment is developed based on the mapping. In another aspect, image and parameter data of the target environment is obtained, the image and parameter data is configured for transmission to a remote environment, calibration data is obtained from the remote environment, and display and sensor operation of the interactive system are updated based on the calibration data.
US08162484B2	Adjustable convergence mechanism for projection displays A light engine for use in a projector, comprising an adjustable convergence mechanism for fine adjusting the relative positions of red, green and blue channel sub-assemblies. In one embodiment, motors are mounted on fixed elements of the sub-assemblies for driving movable elements thereof, including imaging devices thereof such as digital micromirror devices. In another embodiment, manual adjustment screws are provided in place of the motors, and wedge locking mechanisms are provided for driving and locking the position of the movable elements imaging devices mounted thereon.
US08162482B2	Dynamic projector refresh rate adjustment via PWM control An apparatus and method for stereoscopic 3D image projection and viewing using a single projection source, alternating polarization, and passive eyewear. This approach is applicable to frame sequential video created using existing 3D graphics APIs, as well as other video signal formats, and is compatible with existing digital light processor (DLP) technology for both front and rear projection systems. A alternating polarizer filter actuator in the form of a closed feedback loop with pulse width modulated control is used to modulate the projected image. A preferred embodiment enables an existing DLP projection system to be enhanced with 3D capability.
US08162480B2	Systems and software for wavefront data processing, vision correction, and other applications A system for providing vision contains an aberrometer, a wavefront sensor, and a transfer optical system. The aberrometer is configured to measure a received wavefront. The aberrometer includes a wavefront sensor and a transfer optical system for transferring an input wavefront so as to the provide the received wavefront at or near the wavefront sensor. The system also includes a processor in communication with the aberrometer, a readable memory, and instructions located within the memory. The readable memory contains one or more system error parameters and instructions for calculating the input wavefront based on the received wavefront and the one or more system error parameters.
US08162477B2	Progressive ophthalmic lens for myopia correction and method for making such a lens A progressive ophthalmic lens for the correction of myopia, that comprises an upper area in which the correction is adapted for peripheral vision of the wearer. Such a lens reduces the risk of long term worsening of myopia for the lens wearer by reducing the defocalisation of an image formed on the retina outside the foveolar area. Also disclosed is a method for making such a lens. According to one improvement, the correction of myopia for the peripheral vision in the upper area of the lens is further adjusted based on a tendency of the wearer to turn the eyes or the head for watching an eccentric object.
US08162475B2	Inkjet recording apparatus An inkjet recording apparatus includes: a feeder which contains a recording medium and feeds the recording medium to a conveyer; the conveyer which conveys in a first direction the recording medium fed by the feeder; an inkjet head having an ejection face on which an ejection region is formed, the ejection region having a plurality of ink ejection openings arranged along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; a detection unit which detects one end of the recording medium in the second direction; and a mover which moves the inkjet head in the second direction in accordance with the position of the one end of the recording medium detected by the detection unit.
US08162474B2	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus includes a circulating transfer path for transferring a sheet. The image forming apparatus is capable of forming images on both surfaces of the sheet by: transferring the sheet having an image formed on a first surface thereof along the circulating transfer path; and forming another image on a second surface of the sheet after the transfer. The circulating transfer path is utilized for securing time taken for the sheet having an image formed thereon to dry.
US08162469B2	Method for achieving uniform media temperature and size throughout the pre-heat zone An imaging device includes a source of a substantially continuous web of media, and a web transport system configured to transport the continuous web from the source along a web path having a print zone. At least one printhead arranged along the web path in the print zone and configured to deposit ink onto the web to form images. A preheating system is positioned along the web path between the source and the print zone. The preheating system includes a first heating stage and a second heating stage. The first heating stage has at least one heater configured to heat the web to an initial preheat temperature prior to reaching the second stage. The second stage includes at least one heater configured to reduce a temperature of the web from the initial preheat temperature to a target temperature for the preheating system.
US08162466B2	Printhead having impedance features Ink jet printheads and printhead components having a body that include a flow path, a piezoelectric actuator having a piezoelectric layer fixed to the body and an impedance feature in the flow path are described. The impedance feature includes a plurality of posts arranged in a first row, at least one post in the first row of posts having a downstream surface that is concave.
US08162463B2	Solid ink stick delivery system with static constraints, strategic barriers and breakage control An ink delivery system of a phase change ink imaging device more effectively guides properly configured solid ink sticks from a first end of a feed chute to a melting device at a second end of the feed chute. The feed chute may include a sensor to detect coded sensor features on the properly configured solid ink sticks traveling along the feed chute and an obstructor configured to block improperly configured solid ink sticks inserted into the first end of the feed chute.
US08162459B2	Ink cartridge and residual amount display method An ink cartridge has an ink bag which changes in thickness in accordance with a change in an amount of ink. The bag is accommodated in a housing having a guide groove and a window portion. A plate is mounted on the bag for movement therewith and has a pin undergoing movement in the guide groove during movement of the plate. A reflecting plate with a first reflectivity is displayed by the window when bag contains ink. A slide member has a reflecting portion with a second reflectivity different from the first reflectivity and engages the plate pin for sliding movement relative to the housing during movement of plate pin. In a first position relative to the housing, the slide member does not cover the window portion and the reflecting plate is displayed from the window portion which corresponds to a state in which the bag contains ink. In a second position relative to the housing, the slide member covers the window portion and the reflecting portion of the slide member is displayed from the window portion which corresponds to a state in which the bag does not contain ink.
US08162458B2	Inkjet printing system with at least one ink cartridge and an associated ink cartridge receptacle Inkjet printing system with at least one ink cartridge and an associated ink cartridge receptacle in which a special ink cartridge exchange device can be omitted, wherein the ink cartridge is modified by a guide pin that is fastened on the convexity of the ink cartridge, or between convexity and top of said ink cartridge, and projects only to one side beyond the flat side wall for the purpose of guiding the ink cartridge, and slides along in a wall of the ink cartridge receptacle; wherein, given an inserted ink cartridge, a leaf spring is pre-tensioned in each cavity of the cartridge receptacle of the ink cartridge receptacle that is provided for an ink cartridge; and via elastic force the exchange of the ink cartridge is assisted when the locking nose and the locking element of the ink cartridge receptacle disengage via manual pressure; and the ink cartridge is pivoted on an axis running near and parallel to the guide pin in order to release the ink cartridge; wherein the separation of the lower rear edge of the ink cartridge to the contact panel of the cartridge carrier is precisely defined by the curve of the guide link.
US08162451B2	Pressure buffer, ink-jet head, and ink-jet recording apparatus A pressure buffer is disposed in an ink supply path that connects an ink supply source to an ink-jet head to suppress pressure fluctuations due to vibrations created by movement of a carriage. The pressure buffer includes a chamber having an ink flow inlet through which ink flows from the ink supply source into the chamber and an ink flow outlet through which the ink flows from the chamber to the ink-jet head. A partition wall disposed within the chamber extends at least partly along a side wall of the chamber to define an ink flow path that communicates at its upper end with the chamber and at its lower end with the ink flow outlet. A through-opening is provided in the partition wall in the vicinity of the ink flow outlet and through which the ink flows between the ink flow path and the chamber to suppress pressure fluctuations in the ink flow path. Alternatively, an air pocket may be provided in the partition wall in the vicinity of the ink flow outlet to reduce presure fluctuations in the ink flow path.
US08162447B2	Liquid ejection apparatus A liquid ejection apparatus includes liquid cartridges, each of which includes a liquid container and a pressure chamber, the liquid container having a flexible portion and storing liquid therein, and the pressure chamber applying pressure to the flexible portion of the liquid container; a liquid ejection head, which ejects the liquid; liquid flow paths, which communicate the liquid containers with the liquid ejection head; and an air supply member, which supplies pressurized air to the pressure chambers for compressing the flexible portions so as to supply the liquid from the liquid containers to the liquid flow paths. The air supply member includes: a distribution member, which has an air intake portion for introducing the pressurized air, and air outlet portions for distributing the pressurized air to the liquid cartridges, and branch flow paths, which respectively communicate the air outlet portions with the pressure chambers of the liquid cartridges.
US08162436B2	Fluid discharging apparatus A fluid discharging apparatus including a head that has a nozzle which discharges fluid from the nozzle and a sheet shaped wiping member for wiping a nozzle surface of the head. The wiping member is moved relative to the nozzle surface so that portions of the wiping member are sequentially in contact with the nozzle surface in order to wipe the nozzle surface.
US08162435B2	Liquid droplet jetting apparatus A printer comprises a first head which has first nozzles, a second head which has second nozzles each having a nozzle diameter larger than that of the first nozzle, and an ink cartridge which stores an ink to be supplied to the first and second heads. The first head is directly connected to the ink cartridge by means of a tube. The second head is connected to the first head by means of a tube, and thus the second head is connected to the ink cartridge via the first head. Accordingly, it is possible to shorten the tubes by connecting the ink cartridge and the two heads in series. Further, it is possible to decrease the frequency of the recovery operation by arranging, on the downstream side in the liquid supply direction, the head in which the jetting failure is hardly caused.
US08162430B2	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus including a formation unit that forms an image on a first surface of a recording medium; a suction conveyance unit that conveys the recording medium to the formation unit while suctioning the recording medium onto a guide surface; a switchback conveyance unit that inverts the recording medium on whose first surface an image has been formed to allow a second surface of the recording medium to be used as an image formation surface, and conveys the recording medium to the suction conveyance unit; and a conditioning unit that conditions the first surface of the recording medium, wherein the conditioning unit controls a rate of moisture absorption of a surface of the recording medium and causes the recording medium that is fed to the suction conveyance unit via the switchback conveyance unit to bend such that the center portion thereof separates from the guide surface.
US08162428B2	System and method for compensating runout errors in a moving web printing system A method compensates for runout errors in a web printing system. The method includes identifying runout error at a first roller driving a web of printable media, generating a runout compensation value corresponding to the identified runout error, identifying a velocity of the moving web with reference to encoder output corresponding to an angular velocity of the first roller and the generated runout compensation value, and delivering a firing signal to a print head proximate the first roller to energize the inkjet nozzles in the print head and eject ink onto the web at a position corresponding to the computed web velocity.
US08162421B2	Refrigerator A refrigerator includes a body having a storage compartment, and a pair of pivotally rotatable doors provided at opposite sides of the body to open or close the storage compartment. Provided on an upper surface of the body are hinge covers to cover upper hinges of the respective doors and a top cover to prevent the swollen upper surface of the body from being exposed from the front side of the body. The hinge cover and the top cover are integrally formed with each other. In the refrigerator, a display to show the temperature of a storage compartment, the strength of cool air, and a door switch to detect whether the door is opened away from or closed towards the body are provided at a front plate of the top panel.
US08162419B2	Basket lifting arrangement for a dishwasher A dishwasher includes a wash cabinet having a bottom, two opposite side walls, an upper and a rear wall and an opening that normally is covered by a front door. The dishwasher is provided with at least one lower basket for the dish being cleaned, said basket being movable between a first position inside the cabinet and a second position mainly outside the cabinet. The dishwasher is at each side of the opening provided with a support arranged to move mainly vertically in or close to the side walls for raising the lower basket from a lower to an upper position and vice versa. The supports are articulated by a lifting mechanism arranged to move the supports from an inactive position out of engagement with the lower basket to an active position in which they are in engagement with the lower basket.
US08162416B2	Anti-tip system for adjacent drawers An anti-tip system for a piece of furniture having adjacent drawers, including a center panel having an aperture extending therethrough, a left drawer, and a right drawer, wherein the drawers each have a control member attached thereto. The invention includes a shuttle pin extending through the aperture, wherein the shuttle pin has a left end extending from the left side of the center panel and a right end extending from the right side of the center panel. The invention also includes a left wedge and a right wedge associated, whereby the wedge associated with one drawer is adapted, when the drawer is opened, to move the shuttle pin within the aperture and into the path of the control member of the adjacent drawer, thereby blocking the travel of the adjacent drawer. The invention is also directed to a method of utilizing such an arrangement.
US08162405B2	Using tunnels for treating subsurface hydrocarbon containing formations A system for treating a subsurface hydrocarbon containing formation includes one or more tunnels having an average diameter of at least 1 m. At least one tunnel is connected to the surface. Two or more wellbores extend from at least one of the tunnels into at least a portion of the subsurface hydrocarbon containing formation. At least two of the wellbores contain elongated heat sources configured to heat at least a portion of the subsurface hydrocarbon containing formation such that at least some hydrocarbons are mobilized.
US08162404B2	Seat A seat operation device having improved operability of both a height adjustment mechanism and an angle adjustment mechanism, and a seat. The vehicle seat (10) has a seat lifter (22) that is provided at a seat body for seating and is adjusted by operation force transmitted, a reclining mechanism (20) that is provided at the seat body and is adjusted by operation force transmitted, and an operation lever (30) that adjusts the seat lifter (22) and the reclining mechanism (20). The operation lever (30) can take both a first predetermined position and a second predetermined position. At the first predetermined position, operation force by operation of a person seated can be transmitted to an operation load input section (28) of the seat lifter (22). At the second predetermined position, operation force by operation of the person seated can be transmitted to a reclining release plate (38) of the reclining mechanism (20).
US08162403B2	Seat having a web stacked in a widthwise direction of the seat A seat which can obtain a favorable sitting feeling using a fibrous structure is provided. A seat 1 is provided with a cushion body 11 comprising fibrous structures 4a to 4d and a seat frame 15 supporting the cushion body 11, in which the fibrous structures 4a to 4d are formed by stacking a web 2 so that the web 2 extends along a thickness direction T of the fibrous structures, the cushion body 11 is formed so that the thickness direction T of the fibrous structure 4a is along a load direction applied on the cushion body 11 at sitting, and a stacking direction of the web 2 constituting the fibrous structure 4a is along a widthwise direction W of the cushion body 11. Since the web 2 easily falls down along the widthwise direction W of the cushion body due to a load of a seat occupant, the cushion body as a whole is in a shape curved along the widthwise direction W around a region where the load is applied, and the body of the seat occupant is supported as if being surrounded from both sides in the widthwise direction W. Thus, the seat occupant can obtain a soft touch feeling.
US08162402B2	Vehicular seats A vehicular seat has a pad including a foamed elastic material and a skin member covering a surface of the pad. A groove is formed at the surface of the pad, and the groove is inclined to a line orthogonal to the surface of the pad.
US08162401B2	Bracket system adapted for use in a raising and lowering mechanism of an adjustable headrest of a vehicle seat The present invention relates to a bracket system (1) adapted for use in a raising and lowering mechanism of an adjustable headrest (4) of a vehicle seat. The inventive bracket system (1) adapted for use in a raising and lowering mechanism of an adjustable headrest (4) of a vehicle seat comprises a spring element (8) an actuation arm (7) a longitudinal carrier bar (2) carrying the head rest (4) and having on its surface at least one notch of a first kind (9) and at least one notch of a second kind (10).
US08162385B2	Load transmission body for vehicle A load transmission body for a vehicle, which transmits an impact load to a floor of the vehicle body, includes: a pair of side walls fixed to the floor of the vehicle body and extending in a vehicle front-back direction; a front reinforcing wall having a closed cross-sectional structure, extending in a vehicle width direction, and reciprocally coupling with the pair of side walls; a rear reinforcing wall disposed at a vehicle rear side of the front reinforcing wall, having a closed cross-sectional structure, extending in the vehicle width direction, and reciprocally coupling with the pair of side walls; and a side reinforcing member provided at each of the side walls, having reinforcing beads extending in the vehicle front-back direction, and a front end portion and a rear end portion that are coupled to the front wall and the rear wall, respectively.
US08162382B2	Tractor cabin comprising at least one fairing with an air deflector and air deflector for a tractor cabin A tractor cabin includes a frame with an upper cabin portion, a front cabin portion, a rear cabin portion and side cabin portions and at least one fairing connected to the frame. The at least one fairing includes at least one air deflector. The deflector is adjustable in its tilt angle with respect to the frame. The deflector includes a deflector body with a variable deflection along a longitudinal elongation of the deflector body. An air deflector is also provided.
US08162372B2	Seat for armoured vehicle The invention relates to a seat (1) for an armored vehicle, incorporating a back rest (2) integral with a wall or the roof (4) of the vehicle and a sitting part (3) mounted able to pivot with respect to the back rest (2) between a folded position in which it is substantially parallel to the back rest (2) and an unfolded position where it is held by a limit stop and is substantially perpendicular to the back rest (2).This seat is characterized in that the sitting part (3) is connected to the back rest (2) by linking means (6, 8) ensuring, in the event of a predetermined load, the release of the limit stop (8) of the sitting part (3) and its pivoting beyond the unfolded position.
US08162371B2	Contractor vehicle A vehicle having a chassis, a cab mounted on the chassis, and a body. The body includes a bottom, a top and sides. The sides partially enclose an interior space and define an opening for accessing the interior space. The vehicle also includes a closure moveable between an open position and a closed position and a ladder compartment positioned in the interior space adapted for receiving a ladder having a length of at least about 12 feet. The ladder compartment has a lower surface positioned at a level no more than about 42 inches above ground level. The ladder compartment has an open end facing generally toward the opening. The storage compartment is configured so a ladder can slide longitudinally into and out of the ladder compartment through the open end of the ladder compartment.
US08162365B2	Emergency rescue device A device and method for moving a person who is in distress or incapacitated are disclosed. The device comprises a receptacle in which a long rescue strap is contained. A short segment of one end of the strap exits the receptacle through an aperture in the receptacle where it is attached to a spring hook. Blocking members inside and outside the receptacle prevent sliding of the rescue strap inside and outside the receptacle. The other end of the strap is sewn into an adjustable loop that a rescuer may tightly strap onto his/her wrist. The method comprises tossing the receptacle toward the victim as the rescuer grips the adjustable loop, unwinding the strap from the bag, attaching the spring hook to the victim and pulling the victim to safety.
US08162363B2	Tool with quick pop-up tool head A tool with quick pop-up tool head includes a body. The body has a handle, a telescopic portion telescopically mounted in the handle, and an operational portion mounted on the telescopic portion such that the operational portion is able to telescopically move relative to the handle. The operational portion has a shoulder disposed on an interior thereof. The telescopic portion has a tool head set mounted therein. The tool head set is selectively engaged with the shoulder and is extendable from the telescopic portion.
US08162362B2	Gripper system for stacked unit loads There is provided a gripper system for stacked packaged goods. An exemplary gripper system comprises a first gripper unit for gripping a package by a front surface of the package. The exemplary gripper system further comprises a second gripper unit for gripping the package by a second surface that is at a right angle to the front surface, the second gripper unit having a drive device associated therewith, the second gripper unit being adapted to be moved out of a starting position in which the second gripper unit and the drive device as seen from the gripping side of the first gripper unit, are arranged behind the first gripper unit, into a gripping position in which the first gripper unit is positioned for gripping the package by its front surface and the second gripper unit is positioned for gripping the package by its second surface. In a gripper system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, outer dimensions of the gripper system, as seen from the gripping side of the first gripper unit, do not exceed dimensions of a front surface of a smallest package to be gripped.
US08162357B2	Microfluid system connection A microfluid system includes at least one flow-through volume, and at least one connector connected to the flow-through volume. The microfluid system includes a structured surface having at least one elevation. Each elevation is a tapered elevation. Each connector is formed in a respective elevation and is configured as a tapered recess.
US08162356B2	Taper fitted conduits for molten polymer A system for conveying fluids, particularly molten polymer in an extrusion melt train. The system has a first element having a first fluid passage. The first element also has a first interface surface thereon, such that the first interface surface is non-orthogonal to the axis of the first fluid passage. The first element also has a first interlocking feature. The system also has a second element having a second fluid passage. The second element also has a second interface surface thereon, such that the second interface surface is non-orthogonal to the axis of the second fluid passage. The second element also has a second interlocking feature. In use, the first element and the second element are placed in a linking position adjacent each other such that the first fluid passage is in fluid communication with the second fluid passage.
US08162347B2	Adjustable height fifth wheel hitch An adjustable height fifth wheel hitch is provided. The fifth wheel hitch comprises a pedestal and a fifth wheel hitch assembly. The fifth wheel hitch assembly includes journal bearings which pivotally connect with risers of the pedestal. The risers of the pedestal include a plurality of openings located at different levels. The height of the fifth wheel assembly in relation to the tractor may be adjusted by aligning openings in the journal bearings with co-level openings in the risers and inserting a mounting pin through such openings.
US08162342B2	Shock-absorbing suspension device for a wheeled vehicle A shock-absorbing suspension device includes a mounting rod adapted to be mounted on a frame of a wheeled vehicle, a wheel rod adapted to be mounted on a wheel axle to transmit a shock force generated as a result of movement of the vehicle over an uneven road surface, a counteracting member pivotally mounted on the wheel rod, upper and lower linking bars connected to the mounting rod and the counteracting member to form a four-bar linkage mechanism so as to dampen the shock force, and first and second arms pivotally connected to each other and respectively connected to the wheel rod and the mounting rod so as to stabilize movement of the mounting rod in an upright direction.
US08162339B2	Multi-person tricycle Various embodiments of a multi-person tricycle are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the multi-person tricycle includes two front drive wheel assemblies, each having an independent drive train assembly, and includes a rear wheel assembly operably connected to a steering mechanism which may be simultaneously or independently operated by one or more riders. In at least one embodiment, the multi-person tricycle may be configured or designed to enable two front riders to sit side-by-side, and further may be configured or designed to enable each rider to independently exert and/or vary his or her own pedaling force and/or pedaling cadence without substantially affecting steering of the vehicle.
US08162334B2	Reinforcement device for vehicle A reinforcement device for a vehicle is formed in a slender shape and comprises a medial region with a hydraulic damper. The damper generates a damping force against deformation in the longitudinal direction. The longitudinal direction is defined as a lateral direction of the associated vehicle body. The reinforcement device is removably mounted at both ends to a frame of the vehicle.
US08162318B1	Article tossing game assembly An article tossing game assembly includes a frame with a first elongated member and a second elongated member. A plurality of bracing members is attached to and extends between the first and second elongated members. A mount is attached to one of the bracing members. A light emitting apparatus is attached to the mount. A panel is positioned on an upper side of the frame and covers the frame. The panel has a top side and a bottom side and has an aperture therein extending into the top side and outwardly of the bottom side. The aperture is positioned adjacent to the light emitter. The panel is comprised of a translucent material. The light emitter is visible through the panel to direct a person where to aim when attempting to throw articles through the aperture.
US08162317B2	Game machine including variable pattern display units A game machines has a back side display unit composed of reels for displaying back patterns, and a front side display unit composed of transparent EL panels for displaying overlapping patterns overlapping with the back patterns. The back side display unit and the front side display unit are disposed not to produce blind spot regions of the back patterns. The game machine can provide various overlapping patterns with good visibility and a high game selection capability to a player.
US08162310B2	Medium feeding device and image forming device A medium feeding device includes: a sheet holding unit, which holds a sheet and is pivotally attached to a device main unit so that the sheet holding unit is pivotal between open and closed positions; a sheet feeding roller that is located close to the sheet holding unit and that feeds the sheet to the inside of the device main unit; and a driving shaft that is located on an axis that is different from a rotation shaft for the sheet feeding roller and that drives the rotation shaft.
US08162305B2	Sheet processing system, sheet-supply control method, and computer program product A sheet processing system includes a sheet processing device that includes a post-processing unit that performs a predetermined post-processing on a sheet member and a sheet supplying device that supplies the sheet member to the sheet processing device. The post-processing unit has two waiting positions including a first position that is a normal waiting position and a second position that is a position filling items to be used in the post-processing in the post-processing unit. When the post-processing unit moves from the second position to a post-processing position to perform the post-processing in response to a post-processing request, the sheet supplying device sets a supply time for supplying the sheet member to the sheet processing device longer than a time that is required for the sheet processing device to move from the first position to the post-processing position by a predetermined time.
US08162296B2	Splashguard for high flow vacuum bubbler vessel The present invention is a container having a diptube inlet, at least one baffle disc positioned between the outlet of the diptube and the outlet of the container to provide a narrow annular space between the baffle disc and the sidewall of the container to prevent liquid droplets from entering the outlet to the container and the inner surface of the container sidewall and an annular, radially inward projecting deflector ledge on the sidewall, proximate the baffle disc. The present invention is also a process of delivering a chemical precursor from a container having the above structure. Liquid and vapor delivery are both contemplated.
US08162291B2	Winch A winch for elevating at a plant, in particular for cranes, cable-operated excavators, and similar construction machinery, has a hoisting drum, an electric motor for the drive of the hoisting drum which is received in the interior of the hoisting drum, and power electronics and/or control electronics for the electric motor including at least one frequency inverter and/or frequency converter. The power electronics and/or control electronics for the electric motor are received at least partly in the interior of the hoisting drum. With the compact construction of the winch, short cabling distances are achieved, interference emissions having negative effects on electromagnetic compatibility are avoided, and voltage overshoots impairing the service life of the inverter and the motor are reduced.
US08162289B2	Modular jack apparatus for lifting floors and other structures An apparatus which is positionable between a structure to be lifted and an underlying support surface for lifting the structure utilizes a bottom plate and a cap between which a spacer member, such as a piece of tubing, is positionable and a threaded rod which is threadably received by an internally-threaded opening in the cap. By rotating the threaded rod within the cap, the threaded rod moves lengthwise relative to the cap. Therefore, by positioning the apparatus between a structure to be lifted and an underlying support surface and then rotating the threaded rod within the cap, the bottom plate and the threaded rod act between the structure to be lifted and the underlying support surface to lift the structure.
US08162283B1	Stand for supporting a portable electronic device The present invention is a stand for supporting a portable device at an inclined angle relative to a flat surface. The stand includes a frame that is securable to the device and a support secured to the frame. The support is movable in an aperture in the frame between a collapsed position and an erected position. A first portion of the support extends outwardly beyond an exterior surface of the frame, when in the erected position, and engages the flat surface. A second portion of the support remains parallel to the interior surface of the frame when in both the collapsed and erected positions. A tether is connectable to the frame to suspend the device from a vertical flat surface.
US08162282B2	Electronic device with support An electronic device, comprising: a back cover, a first support, and a second support; wherein, the back cover forms a receiving groove; the first support comprises a support portion and a connection portion rotationally connected to the back cover; the second support comprises a support portion, at least one hook portion, and a connection portion rotationally connected to the back cover; when in a folded position, the first support and the second support are received in the receiving groove of the back cover; and when in an unfolded position, the support portion of the first support is engaged with the at least one hook portion of the second support; the second support cooperates with an edge of the electronic device to form a stable structure to support the electronic device.
US08162276B2	Rotary joint assembly and combination clip-hook and jewelry piece employing the same A combination clip and hook (clip) for use generally in suspending articles, which is rotatably movable about a rotary joint between a first position in which two opposing, rotatably joined portions of the overall clip structure are oriented together to form a continuous, enclosed shape that can be secured around another, and a second position in which the two portions of the structure are rotated out of the enclosed shape, and into, for example, a S shaped hook where one portion of the structure supports the item and the other portion can be applied to another supporting member. The joint between the two portions can define a spring-loaded rotating pivot assembly with at least two indexing positions opposed by 180 degrees. The rotary joint can be constructed with a pair of confronting male and female wedge and detent inserts that are biased toward each other by an embedded spring assembly.
US08162274B2	Systems and methods for attaching barrier sheet material to extensible pole assemblies A foot assembly is adapted to be detachably attached to a pole comprising a shaft portion and a ball portion. The foot assembly comprises a foot member defining a first body cavity and a clip member adapted to be detachably attached to the shaft portion of the pole assembly. With the clip member attached to the shaft portion of the pole assembly adjacent to the ball portion, the first body cavity of the foot member receives the ball portion, at least a portion of the shaft portion, and at least a portion of the clip member to detachably attach the foot member to the pole.
US08162273B2	Adjustable support structure An adjustable support device (10) for a structure, including an arcuate support bar (26) terminating in feet (28) for engagement with a ground surface. Two spaced apart locking mechanisms (30) are pivotally connected to the structure. The arcuate support bar (26) extends between engagement rods (36a, 36b) of the locking mechanisms (30). The locking mechanisms (30) are pivotally moveable between a first position, in which a stop member (38) prevents further pivotal movement in one direction such that the engagement rods (36a, 36b) are positioned to allow the arcuate support bar (26) to slide freely over the engagement rods (36a, 36b), and a second position, when weight is applied to the locking mechanisms (30). In the second position, the engagement rods (36a, 36b) lock against the arcuate support bar (26) to prevent sliding movement there through for supporting the structure in a required orientation.
US08162270B2	Telescopic tube locking structure A telescopic tube locking structure includes a telescopic tube including at least a upper tubular part and a lower tubular part; an eccentric camshaft having a lower portion fixed in the lower tubular part and a upper portion being inserted into the upper tubular part, and, an opening cam having a larger diameter than the upper portion of the eccentric camshaft is rotationally mounted on the eccentric shaft and is inserted in and engaged with the upper tubular part in a rotationally fixed manner such that the opening cam is axially movable along with the an eccentric camshaft in the upper tubular part and is rotationally fixed with the upper tubular part; wherein a central line of the opening cam is offset from a central line of the upper portion of the eccentric camshaft.
US08162268B1	Monitor support device A monitor support device includes a base, an upright rod that projects upwardly from the base, a first support arm that is pivotable about and movable along the upright rod and that is adapted for supporting a monitor thereon, and a second support arm that is pivotable about the upright rod, that is movable relative to the first support arm along the upright rod, and that is adapted for supporting another monitor thereon.
US08162259B2	Aircraft ejection seat with passive limb retention An aircraft ejection seat includes a passive limb retention system. The limb retention system comprises a primary lanyard that forms a loop around the crewmember's footwell and a secondary lanyard that is releasably attached to a medial portion of the loop in the primary lanyard. Upon initiation, as the ejection seat is propelled out of the aircraft, the primary and secondary lanyards simultaneously close the lanyard loop around the crewmember's leg from both ends until the lanyard loop contacts the crewmember's leg. Once the lanyard loop is closed around the crewmember's leg, the secondary lanyard releases, allowing the primary lanyard to continue to tighten around the crewmember's leg until the shear fastener shears and the ejection seat exits the aircraft.
US08162257B2	Nacelle for double flow engine A nacelle for double-flow engine with a cowling and at least one thrust reverser, the thrust reverser having an internal door and an external door arranged in the cowling, and means for simultaneously shifting these doors between a stable retracted position in which the doors are integrated in the cowling and a stable deployed position in which the internal and external doors are positioned at least partially inside and outside of the nacelle, respectively, to deflect the secondary flow and to generate a thrust reversal. The means for simultaneously shifting the doors comprise an actuator, one extremity of which is linked to one of the doors to shift this door between the extreme positions, and at least one linkage element linked to the doors to pivot by its extremities, so that the shifting of the door entails the shifting of the other door between these extreme positions.
US08162250B2	Endless belt with slits for belt-type band sheet coiling tension applying apparatus A number of closely notched slits 35 of a predetermined depth which have fine convex portions of the surface of each band sheet bitten thereinto and which are pulled to the convex portions and deformed to form cavities to generate negative pressure are provided at predetermined intervals over the entire peripheral length of the endless belt, over the entire width of the belt in a width direction to a longitudinal direction of the endless belt, on the outer surface 31a of the endless belt 3, touching each band sheet 4, which is constructed by laminating an outer surface layer 31 and an inner surface layer 33 using at least two-layer different materials.
US08162248B2	Document shredder device A document shredder is provided with a transport system that holds and transports paper, and a shredding system that shreds the paper while rotating at a circumferential speed higher than a transporting speed of the transport system, wherein, a part of elements constituting the transport system is in common with a part of elements constituting the shredding system and a point of action of the transport system is placed substantially at the same position as a point of action of the shredding system, with respect to a paper transporting direction, and alternatively, the shredding system is arranged successively from the transport system. Since this shredder is assembled in such a manner that a part of elements constituting the transport system to hold and transport the paper is in common with a part of elements constituting the shredding system, it is possible to be downsized. Furthermore, since the points of action are provided independently from the transport system, it is possible to enlarge the speed ratio between the paper transporting speed and the rotating speed of the shredding blade, whereby the paper entirely up to the end can be shredded with reliability, by only onetime passing of the paper.
US08162240B2	Actor device for an injector and injector An actor device (14) for an injector has a solid-state actuator (17) and a first and a second end plate (18, 16) which are coupled to the solid-state actuator (17) at first and, respectively, at second axial end of the solid-state actuator (17). Further, the actor device (14) has a sliding body (24) which is rigidly coupled to the first end plate (18) and which extends to the second end plate (16). The sliding body (24) radially surrounds the solid-state actuator (17) and has a clearance to the solid-state actuator (17) and to the second end plate (16).
US08162233B2	Vehicle supplemental heating system including pressure relief diaphragm Disclosed herein is an exemplary liquid heat generator including a housing and a rotor disposed within the housing. A flexible pressure relief diaphragm is attached to the rotor. The pressure relief diaphragm includes a seal ring that engages a seal seat attached to the housing.
US08162232B2	Water storage device having a powered anode A dry-fire protection system and method. The dry-fire protection system includes a tank, a heating element, a powered electrode, a sensor, and a microcircuit. The heating element and the powered electrode are positioned in the tank, the powered electrode being positioned above the heating element. The powered electrode includes an electrode wire and a connector having an electrical connector coupled to the electrode wire, but electrically isolated from the tank, and a fastener for coupling the powered electrode to the tank. The sensor detects an electrical characteristic of a circuit formed by the tank, the powered electrode, and water in the tank. The microcircuit determines if a possible dry-fire condition exists based on a signal received from the sensor.
US08162231B2	Noncontact IC tag label and method of manufacturing the same This invention provides a thin type of noncontact IC tag label that allows materials costs to be reduced without using an antenna-supporting base film. The noncontact IC tag label includes an electroconductive layer of a required antenna pattern shape, an IC chip mounted on one face of the electroconductive layer, and a surface protection sheet supporting the electroconductive layer and the IC chip from a side of the one face of the electroconductive layer via a first pressure-sensitive adhesive layer. An adhesive resin layer having the same shape as the antenna pattern shape of the electroconductive layer is provided on the other face of the electroconductive layer. The adhesive resin layer is temporarily bonded in separable manner onto a release paper formed from paper or a plastic base material.
US08162223B2	Method and apparatus for creating pixel tokens from machine-readable symbols to improve decoding accuracy in low resolution images The present invention is directed towards systems and methods for decoding a bar code. Decoding the bar code includes segmenting the bar code into black tokens, white tokens and gray boundary pixels. Decoding the bar code also includes calculating a boundary position of each token with sub-pixel positional accuracy using intensity values of pixels in a boundary region.
US08162221B2	Computer operation control and item selection and vending methods and systems A signal is transmitted into a computer in response to an image on a display screen of the computer such that the computer operates in response to the signal; this includes moving a scanner in optical communication with the display screen such that the scanner detects an image (for example, a bar code) displayed on the screen and generates the signal in response. One or more computers may be used, and this may be used for vending a product or other purposes. With or without such scanning, a portion of a store environment may be displayed on a screen of a computer, including showing images of actual products for sale at the store, in which images of actual products are accessed via the computer from a database containing in-store images recorded in the store during a period of non-existent or minimal customer presence in the store. A vending system is also disclosed.
US08162216B2	Card and host device A host device is configured to read and write information from and into a card and to supply a supply voltage that belongs to a first voltage range or a second voltage range which is lower than the first voltage range, and issues a voltage identification command to the card. The voltage identification command includes a voltage range identification section, an error detection section, and a check pattern section. The voltage range identification section includes information indicating which one of the first voltage range and the second voltage range the supply voltage belongs. The error detection section has a pattern configured to enable the card which has received the voltage identification command to detect errors in the voltage identification command. The check pattern section has a preset pattern.
US08162214B1	Ballot processing method and apparatus An automated system and method for processing vote-by-mail ballots. The method comprises electronically evaluating the ballots for validity and sorting them according to sort parameters and sort plan. Included in the invention is an apparatus, computer readable medium, and computer system for carrying out the ballot processing method.
US08162206B2	Paperboard carton with two new types of dispensers A carton for holding a plurality of containers. The carton comprises a bottom panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, a plurality of flaps at a first end of said carton, a first side end flap at a second end of said carton, and a second side end flap at said second end of said carton. A panel dispenser flap is defined in said first side panel, said bottom panel, and in said second side panel by a first at least one tear line. A first portion of an end dispenser flap is defined in said first side panel and in said first side end flap by a second at least one tear line. A second portion of said end dispenser flap is defined in said second side panel and in said second side end flap by a third at least one tear line.
US08162192B1	Attachment device for waste receptacles An attachment device for attaching a waste receptacle to a vehicle hitch. The device comprises of an elongated base that attaches to the hitch of the vehicle such that the base is perpendicular to the ground; an elongated sliding bar that is slidably disposed in the base near the bottom end such that it is parallel to the ground; and an elongated vertical component that is slidably disposed inside the base at the top end. The vertical component can slide up and down within the base. There is a T-shaped wing extending from the top end of the vertical component, and this wing is oriented generally parallel to the ground In addition, there is a gripping component pivotally attached to the wing, which grips the waste receptacle and an arc-shaped stabilizing arm that is pivotally attached to the sliding bar. This latter component helps stabilize the waste receptacle.
US08162189B2	Automobile accessory and method Multiple embodiments of an automobile accessory comprising an envelope that fits between the center console of an automobile and either the front driver's seat, or the front passenger's seat, for catching items that would otherwise end up between an automobile seat and the center console or under the seat. In addition, the accessory may act as a convenient storage location for items intentionally placed inside it. Also included are methods of using embodiments of the automobile accessory.
US08162179B2	Package with a bag and a head part A package (11) has at least one bag (12, 13) and a head part (16) having a bottom part (17, 37) including a recess (19; 39), an outlet opening (20, 40) and an elevation (22, 42) which at least partially encloses a rim area of the recess (19; 39) and which projects over the bottom part (17, 37) axially toward the bag (12, 13), and a piercing device (21, 41) for the bag (12, 13).
US08162177B2	Dispensing nozzle assembly A dispensing nozzle assembly for dispensing a number of micro-ingredients into a fluid stream. The dispensing nozzle assembly may include a micro-ingredient mixing chamber, a number of micro-ingredient lines in communication with the micro-ingredient mixing chamber such that the micro-ingredients mix therein, and a mixed micro-ingredient exit such the mixed micro-ingredients are dispensed into the fluid stream.
US08162168B1	Motorcycle gas tank protecting system A motorcycle gas tank protecting system includes a fuel tank that has a fill opening surrounded by an outer wall. A flexible panel has a top side, a bottom side and a perimeter edge. The panel has an aperture extending therethrough that has a size corresponding to a size of the fill opening. The panel is removably positioned on the outer wall and the aperture and aligned with the fill opening to protect the outer wall from fuel when a fuel nozzle is extended through the aperture and into the fill opening.
US08162161B2	Bottle container A bottle container in which sealing of the opening of a container body filled with a chemical liquid etc. and installation of a shoulder part, an unsealing member, and a cap can be made at the same time and that has a shoulder part fall-off prevention mechanism. A bottle container (1) has a container body (2) having a hollow cylindrical neck (21) whose upper part is open and having a step formed on a container body shoulder; a shoulder part (3) screwed on the outer peripheral surface of the neck (21) and having on its upper surface a hollow cylindrical body (32) that has a spout at its head; a cap (4) screwed on the outer peripheral surface of the hollow cylindrical body (32) and having a spout sealing means; and an unsealing prevention member (5) installed between the shoulder par (3) and the cap (4). A projection-like reversing prevention member (38) is formed on the lower surface of the shoulder part (3), and the reversing prevention member (38) and the step of the container shoulder are in contact with each other in the direction in which reversing is impossible, forming a reversing prevention means.
US08162155B2	Device and method for securing a billiards cue A billiards cue holder includes a body that defines at least one receiving groove sized to receive a billiards cue. In some aspects, each receiving groove includes a portion positioned toward the body at a receiving angle, which may increase a contact area with a cue leaned into the receiving groove. In some aspects, the body includes a mounting face that includes a concave portion. The concave portion is elastically deformable relative to a mounting surface to provide a holding force between the holder and the mounting surface. In some aspects, the holder comprises an elastomer material have a Shore A durometer between about 15 and about 55. Additionally, a method for securing a billiards cue in the holder includes positioning the holder on a mounting surface, applying pressure to deform a concave portion of a mounting face, and leaning a cue into the receiving groove.
US08162151B2	Flow-through device and cartridge applied thereby Flow-through device for fluids, consisting of: a housing (2) which is built of a head (3) with an inlet channel (5) and an outlet channel (8); and a pot (4) which can be provided on the head (3) and in which is provided a cartridge which consists of an active flow-through element (20) and a cap (21) defining a flow-through channel (22) with an inlet opening (23) and an outlet opening (24), whereby the inlet opening (23) of the flow-through channel (22) is eccentric in relation to the axis (B-B′) of the flow-through element (20), whereas the outlet opening (24) is centrally positioned; and whereby the flow-through section of the flow-through channel (22) as of the inlet opening (23) to the outlet opening (24) first decreases and then increases again.
US08162145B1	Emergency shelter kit A kit comprising the items needed to build an emergency shelter in the flexible-form rammed earth style, and a method of packing the items for shipment. The kit, designed for easy shipment to persons requiring emergency shelter, also includes the items needed to add a waterproof exterior layer to the outside of the shelter, along with items to construct a canvas awning, a water catchment system, lockable doors and lockable window shutters, and a composting toilet. The kit also includes mosquito netting to cover the doorway and windows of the shelter.
US08162143B2	United Nations certified 4G fiberboard box A 4G fiberboard box certified for shipping hazardous materials in accordance with United Nations regulations. In some embodiments, the 4G fiberboard box includes an outer shell, a three-piece partition assembly, a top insert and a bottom insert. The outer shell has a width and a length, each no greater than ⅓ of 46 inches. Thus, the 4G fiberboard box is shippable in a 3×3 configuration on a standard 46″×46″ pallet. The three-piece partition assembly is disposed within the shell and has four compartments, each compartment configured to receive a container storing hazardous material. The top insert and bottom insert are also disposed with the shell, with the partition assembly positioned therebetween.
US08162141B2	Mail flat assembly for automated processing and method of distributing promotional items using same A flexible, uniform mail package for use with automated mailing procedures and a method of distributing advertising and promotional items. A mail package includes a plastic tray with at least one well for containing and securing an article, such as a pen or a key tag, within the mail package. The mail package meets current and proposed USPS uniformity and flexibility standards for automated handling of the mail packages, and is capable of being processed, without issue, using automatic equipment thereby reducing postage costs compared to non-flat machinable mail pieces.
US08162137B2	Uncontaminated garment packaging A packaged garment includes a garment and a sealed bag. The garment has a torso portion, a sleeve portion connected to the torso portion, and a leg portion connected to the torso portion. The garment has an outer surface and an inner surface opposite the outer surface. The sealed bag contains the garment with the sleeve portion folded onto the torso portion, a portion of the sleeve portion folded at least once underneath the sleeve portion between the sleeve portion and the torso portion, and the leg portion folded onto the torso portion. The garment is manipulated so that the inner surface of the torso portion faces outward and the torso portion forms an inner space containing the sleeve portion and the leg portion.
US08162129B2	Conveyance means A conveying means (1) is described having running rollers (7) which can be supported on a guide (2). At least one running roller (7) is mounted on a roller lever (12a) which can be pivoted between a first and a second position with the aid of a pivoting mechanism (13, 33) and can be locked in a position. In order to make a conveying means of this type simpler in structural terms and less susceptible to wear, it is proposed to equip the pivoting mechanism (13, 33) with a toggle lever (14) which is connected to an actuating element (21), wherein the toggle lever comprises a first and a second lever element (14a, 14b) which are connected to one another via a joint (15).
US08162126B2	Inductive measuring arrangement for free-fall coin-operated devices Inductive measuring arrangement for coin validation in free-fall coin-operated devices, in which at least one elongate coil arrangement on one side of the drop path of the coins extends transversely to the drop path, two coaxial elongate coils being arranged adjacent to one another, a shell core which is E-shaped in cross section being provided, which receives the coils between its outer arms, and a central arm extending, either not at all or only partially, into the outer coil.
US08162121B2	Hydraulic clutch device actuated by electric motor and clutch lever A clutch actuator device of a saddle-ride-type vehicle includes: a first master cylinder which is generating an oil pressure; a first release cylinder which is performing an engagement/disengagement operation of a clutch upon reception of the oil pressure transmitted from the first master cylinder by way of a first hydraulic pipe; and an actuator which is driving the first master cylinder in automatically performing the engagement/disengagement operation of the clutch. The clutch actuator device includes a seesaw member which constitutes a power transmission member for transmitting an operational force of a clutch lever or a drive force of the actuator to the first master cylinder, and a seesaw member rotational angle sensor which is detecting an operation quantity of the seesaw member.
US08162118B2	Lash control in a transmission coupler A releasable drive connection includes a ring including teeth angularly spaced about an axis, and grooves, each groove formed in an axial end of the ring and aligned angularly with a space between consecutive ring teeth; and a sleeve supported for axial movement, including first teeth angularly spaced about the axis, engageable with the ring teeth, each first tooth having a first length; and second teeth, each second tooth aligned with one of the first teeth, having an axial length shorter than the first length, and including a pointed end for engaging one of the grooves and permitting the first tooth to extend between and engage consecutive gear teeth.
US08162116B2	Double clutch system A twin clutch assembly for a drive train including a twin clutch transmission, and a drive unit coupled to the twin clutch transmission through a wet running twin multi disk clutch. A drive side output hub is non-rotatably connected with a transmission input shaft that is rotatably disposed within a hollow transmission input shaft that includes a free end facing the drive unit and is non-rotatably connected to a transmission side output hub. A clutch cover is axially disposed between the twin clutch and the drive unit, and a drive element is axially supported and is non-rotatably connected to the drive unit. The transmission side output hub is axially supported toward the transmission by an axial support device at the free end of the hollow transmission input shaft.
US08162110B2	Rope tension equalizer and load monitor An apparatus for automatically equalizing the uneven tension between ropes of an elevator in combination with a load cell to determine elevator load. The load of an elevator car having multiple tension members is automatically balanced while load is measured using a single load cell. The incorporation of a load cell with an autobalancing system allows for an accurate measure of an elevator load to be taken while providing the benefits of having uniform rope lengths in the elevator system. The apparatus may have various arrangements, including an in-line configuration and a grouped configuration. The apparatus may also dampen the vibration energy that is usually imparted to an elevator car.
US08162104B2	Device for reducing noise pollution and equipment including such device A device for reducing noise pollution includes an acoustic panel (1) and at least one member (3) for elastically holding the panel (1). This holding member (3) includes: first and second mounting elements (8) for installing the same between a support (2) and panel (1), a spring portion (6) provided between the first and second mounting elements, a tab (7) having one end connected to the second mounting element (5) and bearing, at a distance from the end, the first mounting element (8) so that movement (D) of the acoustic panel (1) perpendicularly to the main faces (14A, 14B) thereof is permitted by an elastic deformation of the spring portion (6) in the tilting direction of the tab (7) relative to the second mounting element (5).
US08162102B2	Vacuum waste-water system sound-absorber A vacuum waste-water system sound-absorber includes a connection stub for a vacuum waste-water system and an aspiration air duct, wherein the aspiration air duct is radially delimited by a pipe, wherein the pipe is delimited at an interior of the aspiration air duct by an internal wall and is delimited at an exterior of the aspiration air duct by an external wall, wherein the internal wall comprises openings in a radial direction, wherein the external wall comprises openings in radial direction, wherein a sound-absorbent material is arranged between the internal wall and the external wall.
US08162097B2	Sound wave generator and method for producing the same, and method for generating sound waves using the sound wave generator A sound wave generator that exhibits more excellent output properties than conventional ones, based on the combination of a base layer and a heat-insulating layer that cannot be expected from conventional techniques is provided. The sound wave generator includes a base layer; a heat-insulating layer disposed on the base layer; and a heat pulse source that applies heat pulses to the heat-insulating layer. The base layer is composed of graphite or sapphire, and the heat-insulating layer is composed of crystalline fine particles containing silicon or germanium. The heat pulse source, for example, is a heat pulse-generating layer that is disposed on the surface of the heat-insulating layer opposite to the base layer and applies heat pulses to the heat-insulating layer.
US08162090B2	Powered foldable scooter A scooter has a platform on which a rider can stand, a front wheel attached to a steering system including an upstanding handle bar and rear wheel which is driven. The scooter can be folded at a hinge line across the platform so to allow it to collapse. A case for the scooter includes a front part and a rear part covering the front and rear wheels with the parts brought together by the collapsing of the platform. This folding action also uses a pivot link to move the front and rear wheels pivoted within the respective case parts to a folded position. The steering includes a headstock with the steering bar connected to the front fork by a drive coupling which converts the rotation of the steering bar about the generally vertical axis to the rotation of the fork about an inclined axis.
US08162085B2	Hydro-mechanical clutch for a hybrid transmission and method for operating the same A clutch assembly and method of operating the clutch assembly to start an engine of a hybrid vehicle includes a first clutch and a first clutch actuator for selectively engaging the first clutch. The first actuator has a first at-rest position engaging the clutch and a hydraulically charged position disengaged from the first clutch. The clutch assembly further includes a second clutch actuator having a second at-rest position away disengaged from the first clutch and a second hydraulically charged position engaged with the first clutch.
US08162082B1	Superabrasive compact including multiple superabrasive cutting portions, methods of making same, and applications therefor Embodiments of the invention relate to superabrasive compacts including multiple superabrasive cutting portions and methods of fabricating such superabrasive compacts. In an embodiment, a superabrasive compact comprises a cemented carbide substrate including a first interfacial surface and a second interfacial surface longitudinally spaced from the first interfacial surface. A first superabrasive cutting portion may be bonded to the first interfacial surface of the cemented carbide substrate. The first superabrasive cutting portion includes a first working surface. A second superabrasive cutting portion may be bonded to the second interfacial surface of the cemented carbide substrate and spaced from the first superabrasive cutting portion. The second superabrasive cutting portion includes a second working surface that generally opposes the first working surface of the first superabrasive cutting portion.
US08162075B2	Vibration dampening mechanism for power tool A powered hammer includes a body in which is disposed a motor and a hammer mechanism driven by the motor when the motor is activated. A tool holder is coupled to a front portion of the body and which is capable of holding a cutting tool. The hammer mechanism, when driven by the motor, is capable of imparting impacts to a cutting tool, when held by the tool holder. A handle is moveably coupled to a rear portion of the body for movement toward and away from the body along a tool axis of the tool holder. The handle includes a grip portion and first and second end connection sections coupled to opposite end portions of the grip portion. The first and second end connection sections are slideably mounted on first and second arms that project rearward from the body. A movement control mechanism is mounted inside the handle and coupled to the first and second arms and the handle. The movement control mechanism is configured to ensure that the two end connection sections move toward and away from the body in unison to inhibit angular movement of the grip portion relative to the body. A damping element disposed between the handle and the body to reduce vibration transferred from the body to the rear handle.
US08162071B2	Soil aerator An implement that conditions the ground surface as it is moved there over aerating the soil and distributing fertilizer and/or seeds thereon. The implement has a pair of aerator rollers mounted on a frame that can be towed by a tractor or constructed so as to be self-propelled if so desired. The aerator rollers project below the frame for rolling engagement with the ground and are located one behind the other in tandem relation relative to the direction of travel of the implement during use thereof. Each aerator roller has a plurality of formations defining teeth that penetrate the ground surface. The formations on each aerator roller are spaced apart from one another circumferentially around and longitudinally along the roller associated therewith and such formations on one aerator roller are offset from those on the other roller permitting overlap of the same. The aerator rollers are interconnected in drive and driven relation to rotate in a predetermined ratio. A hopper mounted on the frame dispenses seeds, fertilizer or the like if so desired. A rear depth control roller assembly using one or more rollers or wheels is pivotally mounted on the frame and can be brought into rolling engagement with the ground to control the depth of penetration of the formations of the aerator rollers into the ground.
US08162069B2	Automatic fire protection sprinkler with extended body An upright fire protection sprinkler having an input orifice at an input end of the sprinkler for receiving fluid and an output orifice at an output end of the sprinkler for outputting fluid. The sprinkler has a connection portion at the input end of the sprinkler and a body extending between the connection portion and the output end. A pair of frame arms extends from the output end and meets at a hub positioned in axial alignment with the output orifice. A deflector is positioned on the hub and is configured to direct fluid output from the output orifice substantially in a direction back toward the output end.
US08162067B2	System and method to expand tubulars below restrictions A method and apparatus for expanding a tubular below a restriction in a wellbore. An expandable tubular may comprise a first end having a first wall thickness, a second end having a second wall thickness, and a middle section disposed between the first and second ends and having a third wall thickness that is less than the first and second wall thicknesses. The first and second ends may include one or more grooves disposed along a length of the ends. A method for expanding a tubular below a restriction in a wellbore may comprise running the tubular past the restriction, wherein the tubular comprises a first end and a second end, each end having a wall thickness greater than a wall thickness of a middle section disposed between the ends. The method may include expanding the tubular, wherein the first and second ends of the expanded tubular have outer diameters greater than the outer diameter of the middle section.
US08162060B2	Gas-lift valve and method of use A gas-lift valve comprising an elongated vertically orientated tubular body with inlet ports positioned for communication with the inlet ports of a gas-lift valve mandrel, a valve seat and valve port at the upper end of the valve body, a movable gas charged dome positioned within the body below the valve seat, a valve ball assembly attached to the dome, and a collapsible bellows positioned to move the dome and manipulate the valve ball assembly downward onto and off of the valve seat in response to pressure from said inlet ports of the valve body and pressure on the seat and thereby allow injection gas to flow upward through the valve port to exit at the upper end of the valve body. A tubular latch is provided with a removable plug to provide for pressure testing and completion of the well with only one wireline trip.
US08162046B2	Blowout preventer with shearing blades The disclosure provides a blowout preventer (BOP) system with a ram having a shear blade with a shear blade profile to shear a tubular member disposed in the BOP. The shear blade profile can include a stress concentrator and centering shaped surface. The stress concentrator and the centering shaped surface can be laterally offset from a centerline of ram travel and on opposite sides of the centerline. An opposing second shear blade can have a mirror image of the shear blade profile with the stress concentrator and centering shaped surface reversed to the orientation of the first shear blade. Further, the ram can include a mandrel with a mandrel profile for the tubular member to deform around during the shearing process and to reduce an overall lateral width of the sheared tubular member in the BOP through-bore to allow retrieval of the deformed sheared tubular member from the BOP.
US08162042B2	Energy recovery ventilator with condensate feedback Condensate accumulating in the incoming outside air flow passages of a heat exchanger is fed back into the exhaust flow passages of the heat exchanger to provide improved heat transfer in the heat exchanger, and to avoid the necessity for drainage of the condensate from the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger includes a plastic multi-tube panel core and a solid plastic housing, with opposed-flow heat exchange and inlet-outlet extensions from only one side of the core.
US08162037B2	Device for generating a pulsed magnetic field A pulsed magnetic field is generated by a device having a magnet to be operated in pulse operation which contains at least one superconductive refrigerant-free winding that is disk-shaped or saddle-shaped. Also included is a refrigerating unit which has at least one cold head. A line system, having a refrigerant circulating in it according to a thermosiphon effect, thermally couples the winding to the cold head. The line system has a plurality of separate pipes lying next to one another. The pipes, open onto a common refrigerant distributor and closed at the other end, are thermally coupled to the surface of the disk-shaped or saddle-shaped winding.
US08162033B2	Strand guiding device and method of operating it A strand guide for a cast strand has a first roller bridge to one wide side of the cast strand and having ends defining two first section corners, a first fixed support adjacent the first roller bridge, a second roller bridge to the opposite wide side of the cast strand and having ends defining two second section corners, and a second fixed support adjacent the second roller bridge. Respective rows of rollers are rotatably mounted on each of the first and second roller bridges for engaging the respective wide sides and thereby supporting and guiding the cast strand. Respective first and second hydraulic positioners connect the first and second corners of the first and second roller bridges to the first and second fixed supports for individual positioning the rollers of the first and second roller bridges symmetrically or asymmetrically relative to the neutral phase of the cast strand.
US08162031B2	High efficiency plant for making steel A method of making steel comprising assembling a steelmaking furnace, a thin strip caster, and a mold caster, inputting to a computer data on demand for production output, raw materials, furnace availability and capacity, sequence schedules and through-put, capacities and variability, forecasting by processing by computer from the inputted data a production schedule for the steelmaking furnace, and sequence schedules for the thin strip and the mold casters as a function of molten metal availability, the thin strip and mold caster sequence schedules and through-put, and demand for production output, directing production of molten metal alternatively to the delivery systems of the thin strip caster and mold caster responsive to said forecasting, and varying during casting the rate of metal delivery through the delivery system of the thin strip caster responsive to molten metal availability and the mold caster through-put.
US08162028B2	High load operation of an industrial roll door A high load operation industrial roll door, including a flexible door curtain windable about a top roll positioned above a door opening and provided with a drive system. The roll door includes a bottom beam fastened to the door curtain, and a biasing spring, for resisting movement of the door upon application of a load thereon, and a positive stop preventing movement of the biasing means beyond a predetermined point.
US08162027B2	Multi-fold door The present invention provides a combination of a door and door frame defining a door opening. The door frame comprises a horizontal header beam. The door opening has a horizontal top side and a horizontal bottom side, with the horizontal header beam defining the horizontal top side. The door comprises a top panel, a middle panel, a bottom panel, a first horizontal hinge member, a second horizontal hinge member and a third horizontal hinge member, each panel having a horizontal upper edge and a horizontal lower edge. The door is in the closed position when the top panel, the middle panel and the bottom panel are vertically aligned with one another and hanging downwardly from the horizontal header beam in a vertical plane of the door opening, with the horizontal upper edge of each panel above the horizontal lower edge of each respective panel, and the horizontal lower edge of the bottom panel is located in the lowermost position proximate to the horizontal bottom side of the door opening. The door is in the open position when the horizontal lower edge of the bottom panel is located in the uppermost position proximate to the horizontal header beam, with both the top panel and the bottom panel disposed above the middle panel.
US08162019B2	Method and device for attaching a supplementary product that is at least approximately flat to a side of a printed product For attaching at least one flat supplementary product to a printed product, one leaf of the printed product is brought from a folded configuration into an essentially horizontal orientation. A supplementary product is attached, especially by an adhesive, to this horizontal leaf, preferably from above. Supplementary products can be attached to the front side and to the rear side of the printed product. The supplementary product is, for example, a commercial sample or a card.
US08162018B2	Pneumatic tire The present invention provides a pneumatic tire that inhibits any fatigue rupture at an edge portion of a circumferential-direction reinforcing belt layer and also inhibits any separation at an edge portion of crossed belt layers. In the pneumatic tire, at least two crossed belt layers are disposed on the outer circumferential side of a carcass layer in a tread portion. At least one circumferential-direction reinforcing belt layer with a width smaller than those of the crossed belt layers is disposed between the crossed belt layers. Moreover, a stress relaxation layer of a rubber composition having a fixed thickness is disposed between the crossed belt layers while lying adjacent to an edge portion of and outside, in the width directions of, the circumferential-direction reinforcing belt layer.
US08162015B2	Pneumatic tire having asymmetrical tread pattern Provided is a pneumatic tire capable of improving the drainage performance while favorably maintaining the uneven wear resistance. The pneumatic tire of the present invention is a pneumatic tire having a tread portion provided with at least three main grooves extending in a tire circumferential direction, these main grooves defining a plurality of land portions, the pneumatic tire characterized in that, when specified are a pair of the land portions positioned respectively at both sides of any one of the main grooves excluding the main grooves on outermost sides in a tire width direction, a plurality of first inclined grooves inclined to the tire circumferential direction are provided in one land portion of the pair of the land portions, and a plurality of second inclined grooves inclined in a same direction as that of the first inclined grooves are provided in the other land portion of the pair of the land portions, each of the first inclined grooves is opened at one end to the main groove positioned between the pair of the land portions, and is terminated at the other end in the one land portion, and each of the second inclined grooves is opened at one end to the main groove positioned between the pair of the land portions, and is terminated at the other end in the other land portion.
US08162012B2	Chute rim device The present invention relates to devices facilitating the addition of items into containers. In particular, the present invention relates to devices configured to assist in supplying food items into mixing containers.
US08162009B2	Method and apparatus for monitoring and controlling pressure in an inflatable device A method for a user to adjust a pressure in an inflatable device. The method includes acts of adjusting the pressure in the inflatable device with a control device to a pressure preferred by the user, where the pressure preferred by the user has a first value, and establishing a first setting corresponding to the pressure preferred by the user with the control device, and automatically establishing a second setting corresponding to a second pressure having a second value once the first setting is established, where the second value differs from the first value by a predetermined amount.
US08162004B2	Valve with operating means between two outlet passages A valve has a body, a fluid inlet duct delimited by the body, two fluid outlet ducts into which the fluid inlet duct opens, an intersection formed by the two fluid outlet ducts, a butterfly valve disposed in the intersection, and a motor, to which the butterfly valve is connected, for actuating the butterfly valve between a first extreme position in which the butterfly valve directs the fluid mainly toward the first outlet duct and a second extreme position in which the butterfly valve directs the fluid mainly toward the second outlet duct. The motor is placed between the outlet ducts in the vicinity of a connecting zone connecting the two outlet ducts to one another. The butterfly valve is mounted in front of the connecting zone so that the butterfly valve forms a screen against the fluid for the connecting zone.
US08162000B2	Adjustable pneumatic system for a surgical machine A pneumatic system for a surgical machine includes a reservoir, first and second proportional valves, and a controller. The reservoir holds pressurized gas. The first proportional valve is located on an input side of the reservoir and allows a variable amount of pressurized gas to enter the reservoir. The second proportional valve is located on an output side of the reservoir and allows a second variable amount of pressurized gas to exit the reservoir. The controller controls the operation of the first and second proportional valves. The controller adjusts the first and second proportional valves so that a constant gas pressure range is maintained at an output of the reservoir over a first range of input gas pressures and a second range of gas usage.
US08161996B2	Resilient seated butterfly valve with interchangeable off-center and on-center discs The resilient seated butterfly valve has a common spherical center for receiving either an on-center or off-center disc, both of which are rotatably mounted in the body. A seal has a seat spherical surface. The seal is affixed to the circumference of the valve chamber. It has an on-center seal region for engagement with the on-center spherical sealing edge of the on-center disc. The seal has an off-center seal region for engagement with the off-center spherical sealing edge of the off-center disc. The seal may include an outlet flange, an outlet ramp, an inlet ramp, and an inlet flange. The front face of the seal for the off-center disc extends beyond the position of the front face of the seal for the on-center disc.
US08161993B2	Subsea system and method for protecting equipment of a subsea system A subsea system comprises a wellbore within a reservoir, equipment downstream of the wellbore, and a barrier connected to the equipment. The equipment is rated for a maximum pressure that is less than a maximum reservoir pressure and equal to or greater than the maximum reservoir pressure less external hydrostatic pressure experienced by the equipment. The barrier is rated for a maximum pressure that is equal to or greater than the maximum reservoir pressure.
US08161987B2	Dishwasher with a system for recognition of filling level A dishwasher with a system for filling level recognition may be achieved which reliably determines the fluid level inside the dishwasher without the use of moving parts, whereby the dishwasher is provided with at least one capacitive filling level sensor for recognition of the fluid level of the rinsing fluid contained in the dishwasher, the electrical capacitance of which changes depending on the height of the fluid level. The fluid level in the dishwasher can thus be reliably determined without the need for moving parts and merely by the use of electronic components.
US08161986B2	Dish-washing machine Dish-washing machine comprising a chamber (2) for washing articles (3), an air inlet line and an air outlet line both communicating with the chamber, air circulating means for forcing an inlet airflow sucked from the atmosphere into the chamber (2) via said air inlet line and exhausting an outlet airflow saturated with moisture after passing over said articles (3) to the atmosphere via said air outlet line; heating means are provided for heating said outlet airflow before exhausting to the atmosphere in order to reduce the relative humidity of the discharged air.
US08161980B2	Frontal hairpiece A frontal hairpiece for providing a naturally-appearing augmented frontal hairline when applied to the wearer. A frontal foundation has a forward edge, a rearward edge, a first end and a second end. The frontal foundation is thin, flexible and made from a net-like construction which substantially blends with the skin color of the wearer. The forward edge traces a tortuous pathway from approximately the first end to approximately the second end. Embodiments may include an elastic band portion connected to the frontal foundation, with first and second rear strap portions disposed therebetween. Hair is attached to the frontal foundation in a first density pattern which mimics a natural transition of a wearer's forehead into a frontal hairline. The first density pattern of some embodiments may be characterized by a greater density of hair strands applied proximate the rearward edge of the frontal foundation compared to the density of hair strands applied proximate the forward edge.
US08161975B2	Dual mode impulse noise protecting earplug (D-182) A two piece dual mode earplug including an integrally molded elongated member having a nose end and an open rear end and a channel extending through. An integrally molded insert member is formed with a base portion and a rod portion and with the rod portion seated within the open rear end of the elongated member and includes an attenuation filter integrally molded as part of the rod portion and includes first and second openings located on each side of a chamber and with the size and length of the openings together with the chamber providing attenuation of impulse noise. The insert member also includes the base portion integrally molded to have a third opening larger than the first and second openings in the rod portion and with the first, second and third openings together forming a passageway through the insert member to the channel extending through the elongated member.
US08161973B2	Reversible vasectomy device and method A reversible vasectomy device includes a first and a second connector piece for attachment to the severed ends of the vas deferens. Each connector piece has an outer vas deferens attaching end, an opposite inner end, and a passage from the outer to the inner end. A midpiece has end portions that are connectable to the inner ends of the connector pieces, a passage in one end portion and a vent from the passage to an exterior surface. When the connector pieces are connected to the end portions, the passage in one of the connector pieces is in fluid communication with the vent, but is not in fluid communication with the passage in the other connector piece.
US08161969B2	Dry powder dispersing apparatus and methods for their use The invention provides various apparatus and methods for aerosolizing a powdered medicament. In one exemplary embodiment, an apparatus includes a pressurization cylinder, and a piston which is slidable within the cylinder to pressurize a gas. A handle is coupled to the piston and is movable between an extended position and a home position to pressurize the gas. An aerosolizing mechanism is included and is configured to aerosolize a powdered medicament that is held within a receptacle with pressurized gas from the cylinder. A carriage assembly is included to receive the receptacle and to couple the receptacle to the aerosolizing mechanism. A first and a second interlock are operably engageable with the carriage assembly to prevent coupling of the receptacle with the aerosolization mechanism. The first interlock is released to allow movement of the carriage upon movement of the handle to the extended position. The second interlock remains engaged if the receptacle is only partially inserted into the carriage assembly.
US08161967B2	Bougie device A bougie device for guiding insertion of an endotracheal tube into an airway of a person, comprises an elongate body of shape memory and self-lubricating material, for example Teflon™. Accordingly no lubrication is required for insertion into the airway for ease of cleaning and sterilizing for reuse. Also, the amount of curvature of the overall rod as well as an angle of the tip of the rod can be adjusted due to the shape memory characteristics of the body to accommodate a particular patent's airway. The body can also be suitably sized to have vibration transmission characteristics such that a contact with one end of the bougie device with tracheal rings of the patient can be felt by a user.
US08161963B2	Thin film solar collector A solar collector is provided that is formed from relatively thin polymer sheet(s). The sheet(s) are welded together to integrally define a storage tank, a plurality of fluid flow channel (e.g. risers), and other desired features within the collector. The storage tank is located at a first end of the panel and a heat exchanger is provided within the storage tank. The heat exchanger is arranged to transfer heat from the storage tank to a target fluid (such as water) that is to be heated or preheated by the collector. The collector is arranged so that when it is installed, the collector may be positioned with the storage tank located generally above the fluid flow channels. The storage tank and the fluid flow channels are arranged such that when the collector is installed and filled with a working fluid, a thermosiphon effect will cause the collection of hot water within the storage tank.
US08161962B2	Sun tracking system A sun tracking system includes a reduction device of a servo motor, multiple shafts, multiple couplers, and at least two rows of cylinders and each row having at least two cylinders, a solar panel, multiple pivotal connection units and multiple sliding units. The reduction device of a servo motor drives the cylinders of the first and second rows of cylinders which drive other cylinders. The cylinders of the first row of cylinders are pivotably connected to the solar panel and the cylinders of the second row of cylinders are movably connected to the solar panel. By the cylinders of the same row moving upward or downward while the cylinders of the other row moving downward or upward, the panel is controlled to aim the sun.
US08161960B2	Built-in cooking appliance A built-in cooking appliance includes a top plate, a body frame provided under the top plate and receiving a heat source, a cabinet supporting the body frame and spaced apart from at least one side of the top plate, a support having a first side connected to the cabinet and a second side supporting a top surface of the top plate, a top frame covering a space between the top plate and the cabinet, and an airflow openings formed on the support and the top frame.
US08161956B2	Crossbow support rod A weapon, such as a crossbow or firearm, may have a main beam, a trigger mechanism mounted to the main beam and, a support rod that can be positioned into a first use position and a second stowed position. The support rod may have a first end used to support the main beam and a second end used to contact a ground surface. In one embodiment, a contact member with a hemispherical contact surface is attached to the second end of the support rod. In another embodiment, the support rod has a handgrip portion that receives a user's hand in supporting the weapon when shooting the weapon when the support rod is in the second stowed position. In still another embodiment, a mounting bracket is used to provide at least two locations for attaching the support rod to the main beam.
US08161955B2	Ignition coil device for internal combustion engine An internal combustion engine ignition coil device has an annular seal rubber at its lower side coil. An annular projection is provided on a part of the seal rubber and is pressed against the inner diameter surface of a plug hole. An air path is formed in part of a coil case by mounting the seal rubber into a groove, enabling inside and outside portions of the plug hole to communicate. A gas-permeable thin film resin member is bonded to an inlet of the air path.
US08161952B2	Electronically controlled blow-by gas returning apparatus for internal combustion engine An electronically controlled blow-by gas returning apparatus for an internal combustion engine which corrects a fuel injection amount is disclosed. This blow-by gas returning apparatus is provided with an electronically controlled ventilation valve and a control unit. The ventilation valve regulates the flow rate of blow-by gas. The control unit controls the ventilation valve. The control unit controls the opening degree of the ventilation valve such that the actual value of the opening degree of the ventilation valve is maintained at a demand value of the opening degree of the ventilation valve. The control unit corrects the demand value based on the degree of enrichment of the actual air-fuel ratio in relation to a target air-fuel ratio and an intake air amount which is the amount of air fed into a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine.
US08161945B2	In-line noise filtering device for fuel system A fuel injection system includes a fuel supply rail having a supply opening. A fuel injector is coupled to the fuel supply rail and configured to control the delivery of fuel from the fuel supply rail through the supply opening. A noise filtering device engages an upstream end of the fuel injector. The noise filtering device has a projecting portion extending at least partially into the supply opening along an axis, and the noise filtering device defines a restriction passage for directing fuel from the supply rail into the fuel injector. A face seal is established at a transverse face adjacent the supply opening.
US08161936B2	Internal combustion engine having a motor brake assembly An internal combustion engine includes an exhaust valve for removing exhaust gas from a combustion chamber and an engine braking device with a hydraulic valve control unit by which the exhaust valve can be held in an intermediate open position when the engine braking device is actuated. A hydraulic valve lash compensation mechanism for the exhaust valve and a control channel formed between the hydraulic valve control unit and the valve lash compensation mechanism for feeding oil to the hydraulic valve control unit that can be closed by a closure element to compensate for the valve lash of the exhaust valve. A counter-holder is constructed as a piston-cylinder unit. The counter-holder forms a variable stop for a valve bridge cooperating with the valve lash compensation mechanism.
US08161935B2	Multi-part piston for an internal combustion engine and method for its production A method for producing a multi-part piston for an internal combustion engine and the piston itself, which has an upper piston part and a lower piston part, each having an inner and an outer support element, which elements delimit an outer circumferential cooling channel and an inner cooling chamber. The inner support element of the upper piston part and/or the inner support element of the lower piston part have at least one recess on their surface. The upper piston part and the lower piston part are connected with one another by pressure welding.
US08161929B2	Switchable tappet The invention proposes a switchable tappet (1) of a valve train of an internal combustion engine, said tappet comprising a hollow cylindrical housing (3) comprising a bottom (2), an inner element (5) being guided for relative axial displacement in a bore (4) of the housing (3), an at least indirect support for a gas exchange valve extending on a cam-distal front end (6) of the inner element (5), two diametrically opposing pistons as coupling elements (8) being arranged in a radial bore (7) of the inner element (5), which coupling elements (8), for effecting coupling [full valve lift], can be displaced partly beyond a parting surface (9) between the housing (3) and the inner element (5) into an entraining surface (12) of the housing (3) by the force of a compression spring (10a) clamped between inner front ends (10) of the coupling elements (8), wherein the entraining surface (12) is an direct constituent of a separate annular member (13) that is fixed in a cam-distal region of the bore (4) of the housing (3), wherein only one compression spring as a lost motion spring means (16) extends in a cylindrical hollow space (15) formed between an underside (14) of the bottom (2) of the housing (3) and a cam-side flat front end (14a) of the inner element (5), and wherein the inner element (5) is substantially disk-shaped and the parting surface (9) between the housing (3) and the inner element (5) does not comprise any vertical stop means.
US08161928B2	Cylinder head cover A cylinder head cover is formed by a synthetic resin outer shell, which is molded by inserting a metal valve case, which holds a oil control valve, in a mold. The valve case has a bolt fastening portion for fastening the valve case, together with the outer shell, to the cam cap. The valve fastening portion has a bolt insertion hole. The bolt fastening portion also has a flange that extends radially outward. The flange has through holes. The flange is embedded in the outer shell, and synthetic resin forming the outer shell fills the through holes.
US08161927B2	Valve system for overhead-camshaft-type internal combustion engine, and engine incorporating same A valve system of an overhead-camshaft-type internal combustion engine includes a cam holder fastened to a cylinder head having a combustion chamber formed therein. The cam holder supports a camshaft, and is disposed above the combustion chamber. The cam holder includes a bottom wall, a pair of oppositely-facing support walls having lower sides thereof joined with each other by the bottom wall, and a rib joining predetermined oppositely-facing portions of respective upper side portions of the support walls with each other. The support walls of the cam holder pivotally support the cam shaft. The rib may be integrated with the cam holder, or may be separately formed and fastened to the support walls of the cam holder.
US08161911B2	Method and system for providing preidentified pets selective access to a predetermined location or object A method and system is provided that controls pet access to various different locations and/or objects. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides an automated system whereby pets wearing an ID tag are allowed access to various locations and/or objects, such as food contained within a feeder dish for example, while a sensor system, responding to the presence of other animals or people, causes the device to close preventing unauthorized access thereto. The feeder further includes one or more sensors using ultrasonic, infrared technology or both in combination for the identification of both tagged and non-tagged animals or children. Further embodiments employ the system to control access to litter boxes, pet toys, pet watering systems, pet gate access, pet containment systems or pet doors.
US08161910B2	Integrated RFID tag in a card holder, cage, lid, and rack for use with inventorying and tracking of cage occupants and equipment The present invention relates to an integrated RFID card holder, cage, lid or rack and system for collecting census, inventorying, and tracking of animal cages, lids, card holders, racks, and other related equipment. Preferably, the card holder is comprised of an RF transparent material such as plastic. During operation, a RFID reader reads each integrated RFID card holder attached to an animal cage for virtually linking the cage to an animal rack in effect assigning a parking spot to each animal cage within an animal cage rack system. The integrated RFID card holder can be determined to be in a room when the Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) is the highest comparing multiple reads from one or many antennas.
US08161896B1	Hollow needle cutting apparatus A hollow needle tufting apparatus is provided with swivel mounted knives and an improved needle design directed to improve cutting efficiency and the life of the hollow needles and associated knives.
US08161894B1	Fertilizer applicator assembly An improved fertilizer knife assembly includes a shank member for attaching to the bracket piece of a fertilizer implement, a point member and a fertilizer tube. The point member is removably mounted to the shank member and includes a chisel like leading edge and opposite generally flat flank portions. The flank portion presents a pattern of crumbler ridges. The leading edge and the crumbler ridges break and crumble the soil into small clumps so that the fertilizer knife assembly leaves a narrow furrow filled with crumbled soil so that the fertilizer tube may deposit fertilizer which is trapped at the bottom of the furrow as the improved fertilizer knife assembly drafts through soil.
US08161893B2	Corrugated pallet, super core, and pallet locking method A corrugated pallet is provided. The pallet includes a top, a bottom, and first and second pairs of opposing side walls that extend from the top and bottom and, along with the top and bottom, define an interior space of the pallet. A core is provided in the interior space for providing strength to the pallet. Also provided is a novel core for use in a corrugated pallet.
US08161883B1	Flash-bang grenade with greater flash intensity A safer flash-bang grenade that yields the state of the art sound intensity, plus a brighter, more intense flash of the order of 13.5 million candela—which effect is due to a combination of a particularly efficacious pyrotechnic formulation and a particular reaction chamber design that momentarily retains or holds-back the reaction escape until the desired intensity is reached. The particular pyrotechnic formulation is based upon a strontium nitrate oxidizer in conjunction with an aluminum powder metallic fuel and a sulfur non-metallic fuel. The particular reaction chamber design includes a relatively rigid, non-fragmenting charge holder, with a slip-fit thin aluminum sleeve internal thereof and a shrink fit or other sealed sleeve external thereof.
US08161880B2	Deflagration to detonation transition device A detonator assembly is provided. The detonator assembly comprises a deflagration to detonation transition body, a first thermally stable secondary explosive contained by the body, and a bulkhead coupled to the deflagration to detonation transition body. The bulkhead contains pressure within the body associated with firing the detonator assembly at least until a transition from a deflagration operation mode of the detonator assembly to a detonation operation mode of the detonator assembly has occurred. A second thermally stable secondary explosive may alternatively be included in the deflagration to detonation transition body, either separated from the first thermally stable secondary explosive or mixed with the first thermally stable secondary explosive. The detonator assembly comprises effectively no primary explosive.
US08161876B2	Register mark to be detected by a register sensor An apparatus in a machine for processing printing material has a register sensor for register measurement between at least two color separations of a printed image printed above one another on a printing material. The register sensor registers optically deviations between the two color separations and forwards the deviations onto a computer. The register sensor contains at least one photodiode having at least two quadrants. The largely rectangular evaluation areas of the photodiode are aligned obliquely in relation to the edges of the conveyed printing material. A register mark to be detected by the register sensor has a plurality of wedge-shaped colored areas pointing in a peripheral direction of the printing material, one of the wedge-shaped colored areas being a reference color used as a reference variable and others of the wedge-shaped colored areas being register colors to be controlled. An alternative register mark has a first field for length calibration; a second field having a wedge of a reference color selected as a reference variable; and a third field containing a register color to be controlled. The may also be provided a measuring field formed as a point-symmetrical field exhibiting a color of a color separation as a full tone.
US08161856B2	Apparatus for cutting food product A cutting apparatus having an annular-shaped cutting head and an impeller assembly coaxially mounted for rotation within the cutting head to deliver food products radially outward toward the cutting head. The cutting head has at least one knife extending radially inward toward the impeller assembly. The knife has a cutting edge at a radially innermost extremity and a radially outer face that defines a trajectory plane for slices removed from the products by the cutting edge. The knife is clamped to the cutting head with a clamping feature that provides clearance for slices when traveling the trajectory plane of the knife.
US08161855B2	Cutting machine and method for controlling head moving device of same A cutting machine secures safety of a worker during movement of a head without lowering production efficiency. When moving a cutting head without cutting material to be cut upon a table, a moving truck and the cutting head are moved at a higher speed as compared with when cutting the material to be cut. If, when the moving truck and the cutting head are moving at high speed, a worker who is present upon the table intercepts either of light beams which are located in front of and behind a horizontal beam, then this movement speed is decelerated to a safe low speed, but the task of cutting the material is not interrupted. Subsequently, when the worker approaches the horizontal beam closer, and contacts a wire or a bar in the vicinity of the horizontal beam, movement of the moving truck and the cutting head is forcibly stopped.
US08161853B2	Centering bushing for centering material bars The invention relates to a centering bushing for centering a material bar which is supplied to a chuck of a lathe. An outer construction and an inner construction arranged therein are rotatably arranged about the longitudinal axis of a material bar. The inner construction is arranged to be rotatable with respect to the outer construction. The outer construction has means to fix the inner construction with respect to the chuck. The outer construction has a centrifugal force device which produces a force corresponding to the rotational speed. The inner construction has a centering device which leads to a centering of the material bar due to a force exerted on the centering device. A force transmission unit is arranged between the outer construction and the inner construction and ensures that the inner construction can rotate, with respect to the outer construction, and transfers the force produced by the centrifugal force device to the centering device.
US08161847B1	Socket wrench apparatus A socket wrench device having multiple adjustable fastener engagement tool ends. A pair of ratchet engagement heads are pivotally secured in respective rotational and supportive orientation with extending handles pivoted together at their free ends to afford multiple socket engagement orientation by compound pivot and socket rotation within a single hand tool configuration.
US08161845B2	Tool for assembling and disassembling a resilient collar According to the invention, a tool for assembling and disassembling an elastic collar includes first and second jaws mobile relative to each other. The first and second jaws respectively include first gripping profiles, the first gripping profiles being adapted to interact with the elastic collar and being provided opposite each other along a first predetermined and general collar-gripping orientation relative to the jaws. The first and second jaws respectively include at least second gripping profiles, the second gripping profiles being provided opposite each other and being adapted to interact with the elastic collar along a second predetermined general gripping orientation relative to the jaws, the second orientation being different from the first orientation.
US08161838B2	Method and apparatus for reducing at least one friction force opposing an axial force exerted through an actuator element Actuator elements such as cables or push rods in an instrument are used for manipulating an end effector or distal end of the instrument. Each actuator element extends within a tubular housing and either the tubular housing is axially rotated about the actuator element or the actuator element is axially rotated within the tubular housing to reduce at least one force opposing an axial force exerted through or movement of the actuator element.
US08161830B2	Method, apparatus, and system for integrated vapor and particulate sampling A detection system for identifying an unknown substance includes a detector assembly configured to receive a particulate or vapor and determine a substance contained within the collected vapor or particulate sample, and at least one heater element operatively coupled in flow communication with the detector assembly. The heater element is configured to attract an airborne vapor when the detection system is in a vapor mode, and desorb at least a portion of the attracted particulate when the detection system is in a particulate mode.
US08161820B2	Pressure sensor A pressure sensor according to the present invention comprises: a differential pressure diaphragm; a static pressure diaphragm, which is provided to an outer perimeter part of the differential pressure diaphragm; a first static pressure gauge pair that is formed in the end part of the static pressure diaphragm and comprises two static pressure gauges, which are disposed such that they sandwich the differential pressure diaphragm; and a second static pressure gauge pair that is formed in the center part of the static pressure diaphragm and comprises two static pressure gauges which are disposed such that they sandwich the differential pressure diaphragm.
US08161819B2	Laser deflection vibration test of door mirror Disclosed herein is a method for measuring the vibration of a mirror in a vehicle. The method includes attaching a source of electromagnetic radiation to the vehicle, attaching a detector of electromagnetic radiation to the vehicle, positioning the source so that radiation emitted thereby strikes the mirror and reflects therefrom to strike the detector, driving the vehicle while emitting radiation from the source, recording the positions on the detector where the radiation strikes, and determining a vibration index based on the spatial distribution of the positions on the detector where the radiation strikes.
US08161818B2	Device for detecting a flaw in a component The invention relates to a device for detecting a flaw in a fibre-reinforced component, in particular delamination in a bearing region of a hole, by means of at least one probe, wherein an ultrasound field is emittable and detectable by means of the at least one probe. The ultrasound field is coupled according to the invention to the component at an angle of incidence α of greater than 0° from a normal of an upper side of a component. The oblique radiation enables a higher degree of resolution to be achieved when detecting delamination in the bearing region of holes. Further variants of the device operate using at least one linear probe received in a self-positioning holder. The rotating linear probe is composed of a plurality of individual vibrator elements which are arranged at regular intervals behind one another.
US08161813B2	Fill level measuring in mobile containers or transport silos A fill level in a mobile container or in a transport silo is determined using a position sensor that measures the angle of inclination of the container. The fill level data is acquired using a fill level sensor. On the basis of the measured data of the position sensor it is possible to detect whether or not the fill level measuring is valid. In this way incorrect readings may be rejected.
US08161812B1	High pressure fluid meter A high pressure rotary gas meter is described herein with an exchangeable cartridge which has a meter body surrounded by an open bracket. The meter body can have a chamber in fluid communication with an inlet and an outlet. An impeller can be located in the chamber and can include a plurality of rotors connected to a gear box and a meter index to display flow information. A counter can be coupled to the meter index, for counting revolutions of the rotors and for translating the revolutions into a measurement of fluid volume. A removable first sleeve insert and second sleeve insert can permit fluid to flow into the inlet port and out of the outlet port while simultaneously securing the bracket to the meter body.
US08161804B2	Apparatus and methods for maintaining proper test piece orientation during corrosion testing A support stand for supporting a test piece within a corrosion chamber comprises first and second side members interconnected by first and second support rods. The relative position of the support rods is adjustable so as to modify the orientation of the test piece. In some examples, each side member has a base, a first row of spaced-apart holes generally parallel to the base, and a second row of spaced apart holes generally perpendicular to the base. By selecting the holes with which the support rods engage, the orientation of the test piece can be set to a predetermined value.
US08161794B2	Sulfur component detecting device A metal or metal compound able to trap a sulfur component in exhaust gas is arranged in a flow passage of exhaust gas in an internal combustion engine. When the amount of sulfur component trapped in the metal or metal compound increases over the passage of time, a property of the metal or metal compound which changes along with the increase in the amount of trapped sulfur component is measured and the sulfur component in the gas is detected from the measured property.
US08161784B2	Ram for metal can shaper An apparatus for forming a two-piece can comprising: a cylindrical housing, the cylindrical housing having a first end and a second end; a first round bushing having a longitudinal rectangular bore and received in the first end; a second round bushing having a longitudinal rectangular bore and received in the second end; a substantially cornerless rectangular ram which slides in the longitudinal rectangular bore of the first round bushing and the longitudinal rectangular bore of the second round bushing; a spring interposed between the first round bushing and the second round bushing and surrounding the substantially rectangular ram.
US08161779B2	Lock for a sliding door A lock for a sliding door (14), with a lock case (24) for receiving a lock cylinder (30), the lock cylinder (30) being arranged in a recess (36) of the lock case (24) such that, in order to lock the lock (22), a bolt (28) of the lock case (24) is brought into engagement with a striking plate (26) of the lock (22) by a rotationally actuable driver (32) of the lock cylinder (30). The lock (22) has at least one support part (38, 40) which is arranged laterally on the lock case (24) in the region of the recess (36) to support the lock cylinder (30). A further characteristic relates to the securing of the lock against removal and for this purpose, the or each support part (38, 40) is fastened to the lock case (24) by retaining pins (60), a lock cylinder screw (58) for fastening the lock cylinder (30) to the lock case (24) being in engagement with the or each retaining pin (60) to prevent removal of the support parts (38, 40) and of the retaining pins (60).
US08161778B1	Card lock and key lock assembly A card lock and key lock assembly includes a housing, a lock latch movably disposed in the housing, a swivel member pivoted to the housing and having a block portion stoppable against the lock latch, a card key lock disposed in the housing and having a lifting plate, a rotating shaft, and a hook plate connected with the lifting plate and engagable with the rotating shaft for driving the rotating shaft to rotate when the lifting plate is moved downwards, such that the rotating shaft is stoppable against the swivel member for driving the block portion of the swivel member to move away from the lock latch, and a pin tumbler lock disposed in the housing and having a plug with an arm portion for driving the block portion of the swivel member to move away from the lock latch when the plug is rotated to an unlocked position.
US08161766B2	Refrigerator ice bin with thermal storage member The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a structure for allowing ice, which is received in an ice-storing device provided in a refrigerating chamber door, to be in a frozen state without being melted. The refrigerator of the present invention comprises a main body including at least a refrigerating chamber, a door for opening or closing the refrigerating chamber, a container provided in the door to store ice therein, and a cold heat storage member surrounding the container. According to the refrigerator of the present invention constructed as above, even though an ice bank for storing ice is provided in a refrigerating chamber door, it is possible to prevent a phenomenon by which ice is melted and stuck together.
US08161752B2	Combustors with inserts between dual wall liners A combustor includes a first liner; and a second liner forming a combustion chamber with the first liner. The combustion chamber is configured to receive an air-fuel mixture for combustion therein, and the first liner is a first dual wall liner having a first hot wall facing the combustion chamber and a first cold wall. The first cold wall has a first cold wall orifice and the first hot wall has a first hot wall orifice. A first insert is mounted in the first hot wall orifice and is configured to receive a first air jet of pressured air from the first cold wall orifice, and guide the first jet through the first hot wall orifice and into the combustion chamber.
US08161750B2	Fuel nozzle for a turbomachine A turbomachine includes a compressor, a turbine, and a combustor operatively connected to the turbine. The turbomachine further includes a cap member mounted to the combustor. The cap member includes a first surface and a second surface. A combustion chamber is defined within the combustor. An injection nozzle is supported at the second surface of the cap member. The injection nozzle includes a first end that extends through an inner flow path to a second end. The first end is configured to receive an amount of a first fluid and the second end is configured to receive an amount of a second fluid. A mixture of the first and second fluids is discharged from the second end of the injection nozzle.
US08161746B2	Method and system for providing air to an engine Systems and methods for supplying air to an engine are disclosed. In one example, an air inlet throttle is at least partially closed in response to a change in engine torque request. In another example, the air inlet throttle is adjusted in conjunction with adjusting an engine throttle. The approach can reduce compressor noise and may reduce the possibility of compressor surge.
US08161738B2	Systems and methods for estimating particulate load in a particulate filter A method for regenerating a particulate filter may comprise determining a temperature, a flow rate, and a total pressure drop of an exhaust gas flowing through a particulate filter, and determining a corrected soot layer permeability. The method may further comprise calculating an estimated soot load of the particulate filter based on the total pressure drop and the corrected soot layer permeability, and causing regeneration of the particulate filter when the estimated soot load is greater than or equal to a threshold value.
US08161737B2	Apparatus for and method of purifying exhaust gas An exhaust gas pressure P, exhaust gas temperatures TU and TD on upstream and downstream of a DPF, a rotation speed Ne, a load Q, and an intake flow rate F as various operating conditions are read, and an amount of PM generated for short time Δt is obtained to be added to a PM deposited amount m, and thus, to obtain an initial deposited amount. Exhaust gas properties and a space velocity SV are obtained based on various operating conditions, and the PM deposited amount m after a lapse of the short time Δt is estimated from a PM deposited amount estimation equation “m=m·exp(−B·Δt)” having been derived considering the exhaust gas properties and the space velocity SV. When the PM deposited amount m is equal to or more than a predetermined value, a forced regeneration processing in the DPF is executed, and thereafter, the PM deposited amount m is reset to 0.
US08161735B2	Clogging determining device for reducing agent passage and clogging determining method for reducing agent passage There are provided a clogging determining device for a reducing agent passage and a clogging determining method for a reducing agent passage, which can accurately detect clogging and estimate a clogged place when clogging occurs in any place of a supply line or a return line.The device includes pump driving control element for subjecting the pump to DUTY control so that a pressure value is kept to a predetermined value, driving DUTY determining element for determining whether the driving DUTY of the pump is less than a predetermined threshold value corresponding to the opening degree of the reducing agent injection valve, or not; pressure reduction amount calculating element for calculating a pressure reduction amount by which the pressure value detected by the pressure sensor is reduced within a predetermined time after the pump is stopped and the reducing agent injection valve is fully opened when it is determined that the driving DUTY of the pump is less than the threshold value, and clogging determining element for determining on the basis of the pressure reduction amount calculated by the pressure reduction amount: calculating element whether clogging occurs in the first reducing agent passage or the second reducing agent passage.
US08161732B2	System and method to improve engine emissions for a dual fuel engine A system and method for improving emissions of an engine capable of combusting a multi-component fuel comprised of two or more fuels is presented. According to the method, the passage exhaust gases are processed in said exhaust system is determined in part from the concentration of one component fuel.
US08161728B2	Gas turbines with multiple gas flow paths A representative gas turbine includes: a high pressure spool; a high pressure compressor; a high pressure turbine mechanically coupled to the high pressure spool; a lower pressure spool; a lower pressure turbine mechanically coupled to the lower pressure spool; a fan having a first set of fan blades and a second set of fan blades, the second set of fan blades being located downstream of the first set of fan blades and being operative to rotate at a rotational speed corresponding to a rotational speed of the lower pressure spool; and a gear assembly mechanically coupled to the lower pressure spool and engaging the first set of fan blades such that rotation of the lower pressure spool rotates the first set of fan blades at a lower rotational speed than the rotational speed of the second set of fan blades.
US08161726B2	Cooling exchanger duct A method for using a heat exchange system in operating equipment in which a working fluid is utilized in providing selected operations thereof, including for use in lubricating systems for aircraft turbofan engine equipment, the heat exchange system for providing air and working fluid heat exchanges to cool the working fluid at selectively variable rates in the operating equipment developed airstreams. A heat exchanger core is provided in a controlled air flow duct system opening at its entrance to those airstreams and having its outlet end opening downstream in those airstreams.
US08161725B2	Compact cyclone combustion torch igniter A torch igniter and method of cooling the torch igniter includes axially flowing a first stream of gaseous oxidizer through a torch throat and vortically flowing a second stream of the gaseous oxidizer within a combustion chamber.
US08161721B2	Cable stranding apparatus employing a hollow-shaft guide member driver A cable-stranding apparatus for performing SZ-stranding of strand elements about at least one core member is disclosed. A first stationary guide member individually guides the strand elements in a spaced apart configuration and centrally passes the at least one core member. At least one hollow-shaft motor is arranged downstream of the stationary guide member. A rotating guide member is disposed in the hollow shaft and rotates with the hollow shaft according to a rotation relationship. The rotation relationship controls the rotational speed and direction of the rotating guide member to SZ-strand the strand elements about the at least one core member to form an SZ-stranded assembly. Embodiments of cable-stranding apparatus having multiple hollow-shaft motors and respective multiple rotating guide members are also disclosed.
US08161715B2	Packaging device and method for packaging a foodstuff within a receptacle A packaging device for packaging a foodstuff within a receptacle includes an inerting unit having an empty zone, walls of the empty zone configured to receive an upper portion of the receptacle, and the walls being made of a porous material capable of passing an inert gas under pressure, and a closure means retractably disposed above the inerting unit, wherein the inerting unit is configured to pass the inert gas through the walls and into the receptacle, and the closure means is configured to retractably extend into the empty zone to seal the passed inert gas within a headspace volume of the upper portion of the receptacle disposed the foodstuff.
US08161710B2	Projectile-resistant wall structure with internal bag A wall structure and a method for constructing the wall of a building provide protection for inhabitants of the building against ballistic projectiles impacting the wall. The wall structure includes an outer panel and an inner panel. The inner panel is a composite structure that includes a metal sheet having a first face attached to a wallboard panel. Preferably, a sheet of self-healing material is attached to a second face of the metal sheet. A cavity formed between the outer and inner panels is filled with sand or another granular material. A flexible sheet suspended in the cavity provides additional protection. Preferably, a sheet of woven para-aramid fiber such as Kevlar® brand fiber is loosely attached to the flexible sheet to provide further protection.
US08161707B2	Building frame structure A family of beam cross-connections, including column/beam and beam/beam connections, between beams and columns in a building frame. Each connection within a cross-connection features (a) a pair of parallel-spaced, upright, planar plate components operatively associated with either a side of a column or a side of a beam, (b) an elongate, generally horizontal cross-connection beam including a generally upright, planar central web with an end which, with respect to a pair of such plate components, extends into the space that exists between those components, and (c) a structural relationship involving the plate components in a pair which accommodates (1) vertical-motion placement of a web end between the components, with (2) the automatic establishment thereby of correct relative, spatial, three-dimensional relationships and dispositions of the specific, associated column and/or beam elements so connected.
US08161706B2	Joining clip for modular panels The present document describes a clip for securing a tight connection between two modular panels. The connection has a male portion on a first one of the two modular panels, and a female portion on a second one of the two modular panels. The male portion is for being inserted into the female portion upon assembly of the two modular panels side by side. The clip comprises a first flat member having a first pressure edge, and a second flat member having a second pressure edge. The second flat member is fixedly joined to the first flat member. The panels are assembled in an assembly direction. Upon introduction of the first flat member into the male portion, and of the second flat member into the female portion perpendicularly to the assembly direction, the first pressure edge of the first flat member forces the male portion toward the female portion, while the second pressure edge of the second flat member forces the female portion toward the male portion. These forces secure the tight connection between the two modular panels.
US08161695B2	Shock supressor A shock suppressor has a first base, a second base and a connecting device. The second base is parallel to the first base. The connecting device is slidably mounted between the first base and second base to connect the first and second bases and has a universal connector. The first base abuts against the connecting device in a curved contact surface to provide a first sliding mechanism in multiple directions. The second base abuts against the connecting device to provide a second sliding mechanism in a unidirection.
US08161693B2	Method and arrangement to install a wind-turbine At least one blade of the wind-turbine is attached firm but detachable with the tower by a fixture. The tower and the attached blade are transported to a planned site. The tower and the attached blade are brought together into an upright position in a single lift-action. A hub and a nacelle of the wind-turbine are mounted on the top of the tower. A wire of a winch, which is located inside the nacelle or the hub, is connected with a root of the blade. The blade is detached from the tower by unlocking the fixture. The blade is lift up to the hub for its attachment there.
US08161689B1	Flashing end dam having angularly adjustable leg A flashing end dam having an angularly adjustable leg (adjustable end dam) includes a bottom leg, and adjustable rear leg, a side leg and a moveable web. The adjustable end dam is bent from a blank such that the bottom leg and the adjustable rear leg are formed, while bending a portion of the bottom leg and the adjustable rear leg to form the side leg and the moveable web. The adjustable end dam may be installed above a window opening in a masonry wall. The adjustable end dam is normally placed in a corner above and past the window opening. However, the adjustable end dam may be installed in any suitable application. If a nonparallel cavity variation exists between the structural wall and the exterior facing, the adjustable rear leg of the adjustable end dam may be bent back or forward to span the cavity.
US08161688B2	Outside corner patch for TPO roofing An outside corner patch for TPO roofing is formed from a circular piece of TPO membrane material being vacuum formed to define an array of flutes that extend from the center of the piece toward its edges. The flutes form ridges and valleys that generally are shaped as conical sections with the apex of the conical sections located at the center of the patch. The number and size of the flutes is optimized in such a way that, when the flutes are stretched flat, the patch conforms to and fits flat against the surfaces of an outside corner formed by the intersection of a roof deck with an upward protrusion from the roof. The TPO outside corner patch is applied over the corner and thermally welded to surrounding TPO membranes on the roof deck and the protrusion to form a watertight seal at the outside corner.
US08161678B1	Bare hook/lost bait alarm A bait and hook arrangement is coupled with a mechanism that alerts a fisherman when his or her bait article is no longer attached to the hook. When the bait is off the hook, (empty hook), the mechanism is triggered.
US08161676B1	Deep throw casting net A casting net is provided that allows for easy use. The casting net includes a tail portion and a mouth portion that are connected by a mesh lattice netting. The tail portion is of a smaller diameter than the mouth portion, and the tail portion is substantially closed allowing only a torque line assembly to pass through. The mouth portion is of a substantially larger diameter than the tail portion, so as to provide a larger area for capturing targeted species. A plurality of weights are affixed along the circumference of the mouth portion for providing weight so as to sink the casting net assembly. Along the circumference of the mesh lattice, and in close proximity to the mouth portion, a reinforcing means is affixed so as to provide structural support to the mouth portion and thereby maintaining an open position of the mouth portion as the casting net falls through the water.
US08161675B2	Aiming device and method for guns An aiming device for guns, which comprises a transparent plate that shows to the user a critical image when the plate has a predetermined orientation, and shows a deformed image when said plate has any other different orientation. The transparent plate is so mounted in the device and the device is so mounted on the gun, such that the critical image is seen by the user when and only when the axis of the gun barrel is parallel to the line of sight passing through the user's eye and the center of the transparent plate.
US08161673B1	Three-dimensional picture frame system and related methods A three dimensional picture frame comprising first and second vertical frame members, a bottom and top horizontal frame members coupled to opposite ends of the vertical frame members, front and rear transparent sheets located perpendicularly to the vertical and horizontal frame members to form a vessel, a backing sheet located perpendicularly to the first and second vertical frame members and the bottom and top horizontal frame members and outward from the rear transparent sheet such that when a material is placed in the vessel and a graphical sheet is placed between the backing sheet and rear transparent sheet, the graphical sheet is isolated from the material, and a plunger configured to slide downward in the vessel such that when a material is located in a portion of the vessel below the plunger, the material is prevented from entering a portion of the vessel above the plunger.
US08161672B2	Apparatus of generating messages A message generating apparatus is disclosed. A message generating apparatus, comprising: a message generating panel, the message generating panel comprising a first layer and a second layer, the first layer comprising a first base substance and a first see-through pattern. a light transparency of the first see-through pattern being higher than a light transparency of the first base substance, the second layer comprising a second base substance and a second see-through pattern, a light transparency of the second see-through pattern being higher than a light transparency of the second base substance is provided. The message generating panel can be configured to generate a message by a light having passed through the first see-through pattern and the second see-through pattern. The first see-through pattern and the second see-through pattern can be configured to generate a plurality of messages according to an angle of the light incident to the message generating panel.
US08161667B2	Elastic sole and its shoes having elastic reaction force and shock absorption Disclosed are an elastic sole member which optimizes between a shock absorbing function and repulsive elastic force, between which a tradeoff relationship exists, and a shoe with the elastic sole member. The elastic sole member includes a sole body which is upwardly inclined toward a back end thereof, and an elastic member comprised of a fixing piece inserted through and fixed in a space formed through an upwardly inclined back portion of the sole body, and an elastic plate extending from the fixing plate while it is downwardly inclined and having a first end exposed to the outside and a second end spaced apart from the sole body, in which the elastic sole member elastically contracts when external force is applied to a back portion of the sole body while the fixing piece serves as the elastic support axis and provides elastic recovery force when the external force is removed.
US08161665B2	Impact absorbing material An impact absorbing material for a footwear article includes a first sheet having a plurality of projections for dispersing the force of an impact and a second sheet, having a lower durometer than the first sheet, that is bonded to the first sheet for absorbing the force from the projections. The projections are arranged on the first sheet such that nonlinear gaps are formed between adjacent pairs of projections. The impact absorbing material may be positioned between an upper and an inner liner of the footwear article and may be selectively positioned on the footwear article to protect an area on the wearer that is vulnerable to impact, such as the wearer's feet, ankles, heels or calves.
US08161661B2	Continuous drying apparatus and method Provided are a continuous drying apparatus and method. The apparatus includes a combustion chamber, a heat exchange chamber, a filter, a mixing chamber, and a drying chamber. Biomass to be dried is loaded into an upper end of the drying chamber and falls on a rotating plate at a bottom of the drying chamber. Heated gas from the combustion chamber is mixed with recycled gas output from the drying chamber, and with recycled gas output from the heat exchange chamber, is filtered and is directed to the mixing chamber. Gas circulates within the mixing chamber and is directed into a lower end of the drying chamber at a drying temperature. The biomass loaded into the drying chamber is dried by the gas, and is extracted off the rotating plate.
US08161656B1	Archery scope An archery scope includes a housing open at both ends and having a longitudinal axis. The housing has a tapered inner surface defining a narrow portion intermediate the ends of the housing. The tapered narrow portion provides a Ventrui-like effect where the interior of the housing appears substantially circular when viewed from various angles relative to the housing axis. A sight assembly is adjustably connected with the narrow portion of the housing inner surface and includes a ring having a diameter corresponding with an inner diameter of the housing and a sight portion coaxial with the ring and housing.
US08161655B2	Motor-driven reciprocating saw, in particular a jigsaw A motor-driven, hand-guided reciprocating saw or jigsaw includes a saw blade which performs a working motion and a base plate which is connected to a housing of the reciprocating saw, where an underside of the base plate is used as a bearing surface which faces a workpiece to be worked, A guide element is intergrated in the base plate and extends past the bearing surface of the base plate. The guide element is provided for placement on a guide contour of a template which is connected to the workpiece. Saw teeth of saw blade are located at least approximately in the center of the guide element or are laterally offset from the center relative to the saw blade plane of the saw blade.
US08161651B2	Method for manufacturing a door-trim assembly and its assembly line A process and assembly line for assembling a door-trim assembly in which resin-made door-trim parts are automatically fixed to a resin-made door-trim main body. Resin-made door-trim parts and deformable members associated therewith are temporarily installed to a resin-made door-trim main body. In a deforming processing unit (3), an electrically operated cylinder (10) equipped with an ultrasonic oscillator (2) extends and contracts and is rotatable within a horizontal plane by a ball screw mechanism (12). To the deformable members of the resin-made door-trim parts temporarily installed on the resin-made door-trim main body, the ultrasonic oscillator (2) comes close in opposite relationship by driving of the electrically operated cylinder (10) and ball screw mechanism (12), and performs ultrasonic irradiation. Consequently, the deformable members are deformed and the resin-made door-trim parts corresponding thereto are fixed to the resin-made door-trim main body.
US08161632B2	Flip seal apparatus and system and method for inflating a tire using the same An inflator device is disclosed. The inflator device includes a seal assembly that maintains, while sealing from ambient pressure, an open air passageway between a tire bead and wheel bead seat during an inflation procedure. A seal for the inflator device is also disclosed. The seal includes a ring-shape having a flexible inner periphery that is adapted to maintain, while sealing from ambient pressure, an open air passageway between a tire bead and wheel bead seat during an inflation procedure.
US08161629B2	Backlight module assembling apparatus A backlight module assembling apparatus for attaching a reflector plate to a driving circuit board is disclosed. The backlight module assembling apparatus includes an assembling portion and a pressing movably connected to the assembling portion. The assembling portion defines a receiving space configured for receiving and positioning a driving circuit board therein. The assembling portion includes a top plate and a first opening defined in the top plate. The first opening communicates with the receiving space. The assembling portion includes a number of blades arranged around the first opening for cutting a reflector plate. The pressing portion includes a pressing plate. The pressing plate is movable toward and away from the blade and configured for pressing the reflector plate against the blades thus allowing the blades cutting the reflector plate to a shape conforming to the first opening and attaching the reflector plate to the driving circuit board.
US08161627B2	Method of making a write head lapping guide about aligned to a non-magnetic layer surrounding a write pole A method in one embodiment includes forming an electric lapping guide layer; forming a write pole; forming a first gap layer over the write pole; masking a portion of the first gap layer for defining a window over the write pole and at least a portion of the electric lapping guide layer; and forming a bump over the write pole in the window. Additional methods and systems are presented.
US08161626B2	Method for manufacturing a suspension A suspension for supporting a magnetic head is provided with a load beam formed of a thin-plate spring. A recess for accommodating a damper is formed in the load beam. The damper is affixed to a bottom surface of the recess.
US08161620B2	Annular composite workpieces and a cold-rolling method for producing said workpieces In a cold rolling method for producing annular composite workpieces, at least two hollow cylindrical workpieces made of different materials are inserted into one another. The at least two hollow cylindrical workpieces are roll formed by pressing the at least two hollow cylindrical workpieces against each other between two diametrically opposed external roll forming tools and an internal rolling arbor or between two diametrically opposed external roll forming tools and an internal roll forming tool to form a composite workpiece. The composite workpiece is a bearing ring or a gear ring. One of the hollow cylindrical workpieces can be a nonferrous material such as aluminum.
US08161619B2	Joint for hybrid composite items A torque tube includes a composite body and an end fitting. The composite tube includes a body having a body interior diameter, wall thickness, an end having an edge, and a set of grooves. Each groove of the set of grooves passes through the wall thickness. Each groove of the set of grooves begins at the edge and ends in the body. The end fitting includes a sleeve configured to mate with the body interior diameter and a set of ribs configured to mate with the set of grooves.
US08161616B2	Method of manufacture for a plastic-capped panel fastener A captive panel fastener is manufactured by first overmolding a plastic cap around the head of a screw, the cap having a cylindrical plastic skirt extending downwardly beyond the base of the screw head and formed with a circular opening at the bottom. After a compression spring is placed around the shank of the screw, the screw is pressed against a top surface of a ferrule to a point where the capped-skirt extends downwardly below a ferrule flange. At that point, heat and pressure are applied radially inwardly around the periphery of the plastic skirt along its bottom edge until it is permanently deformed to a point where the bottom of the skirt is smaller in diameter than the ferrule flange. The screw is thereby captivated to the ferrule between extended and retracted positions.
US08161614B2	Air disk brake caliper pre-stressing method and pre-stressed caliper apparatus A cast iron brake caliper with improved fatigue life, and a process and process equipment for pre-stressing a cast iron brake caliper to provide improved fatigue life, is provided. In the process, a load is applied to a cast iron caliper, where the load is high enough to locally yield and plastically deform the cast iron material, but not high enough to cause material failure, such as cracking. Upon load removal, residual compressive stresses in the cast iron caliper lower the mid-point of the stress range the plastically-deformed region of the caliper sees during in-service use, and thereby lowers the peak stress seen in this region, increasing fatigue life. The process permits a cast iron brake caliper to be designed to use less material and thus fit within constrained wheel rim envelopes, without the need to resort to high cost materials or other alternative design strategies.
US08161612B2	Broken tee extractor A broken tee extractor has a bulbous handle portion and a pair of tweezer arms extending downwardly from the bulbous handle portion. A narrow neck extends upwardly from the bulbous handle portion. A platform terminates the narrow neck and is supported by the narrow neck. A tee pulling member is mounted to the platform and a notch is formed between a pair of hook arms. The tee pulling member comprises the pair of hook arms and the notch. The broken tee extractor also has a pair of points disposed on the pair of tweezer arms. The pair of points are oriented inward.
US08161611B2	Tool for installation of tubing in flooring A tool for installing tubing in channels of floor panels comprises a handle attached to an upper portion of a front frame and a pair of wheels attached to a bottom portion of the front frame, a pneumatic drive, mounted between a front frame spacer and a bearing block, drives a hammer assembly for pushing the tubing into the channels, and a steering block is secured under the bearing block by a bearing assembly which enables the steering block to rotate about a bearing. An upper portion of a rear strut attaches to the bearing block and a pair of wheels attach to the lower portion of the rear strut. The tool quickly and efficiently installs the tubing into the flooring channels as the tool is rolled along the floor panels when an air source is attached to an air coupling on the pneumatic drive.
US08161607B2	Method for opening fabric, fabric, and composite material According to the present invention there is provided a method for opening a fabric, in which warp and weft yarns can be uniformly opened using a simple method without having to alter the fabric weaving procedure. The method is a method for opening a fabric (4) produced by weaving a warp yarn (2) and a weft yarn (3), each of which having a bundled plurality of fiber filaments (1). A contact body (6) is provided to a surface of the fabric (4) with a protective film (5) interposed therebetween, and the contact body (6) is caused to move over the fabric (4) obliquely, and in a relative manner, with respect to the longitudinal direction of the warp yarn (2) or the weft yarn (3), whereby the warp yarn (2) or the weft yarn (3) is spread.
US08161606B2	Fiber bundle arranging apparatus A cylinder 40 made of a magnetic material is fixed to an introduction pipe 34. An annular connection projection 401 is provided on the cylinder 40 and a disk 42 is connected to the connection projection 401 with an annular permanent magnet 43. The permanent magnet 43 is fixed to the disk 42 and connected to a distal end surface of the connection projection 401 by a magnetic force. A guide pipe 31 is fixed to the disk 42. The guide pipe 31 and the introduction pipe 34 are connected to each other in series by a connection portion 49 having the cylinder 40, the permanent magnet 43, and the disk 42. A fiber bundle F that is guided via a guide roller 33 is fed to an introduction hole 341 and a guide hole 311.
US08161604B2	360° Bi-directional rotary hinge A 360° bi-directional rotary hinge formed of a fixed bracket, a rotary bracket, a limiter plate, a stop plate, a positioning plate, a spring ring and a fastening member for use in a folding electronic device is disclosed. Subject to matching between bottom blocks of the limiter plate and arched sliding grooves of the stop plate, movement of the stop plate is constrained by the fixed bracket, and therefore rotation of the rotary bracket of the 360° bi-directional rotary hinge is limited to a forward and backward 360° angle. Further, the stop plate carries an index block corresponding to a −180° angle indication hole and a 180° angle indication hole on the base member of the folding electronic device for giving an indication when the rotary bracket is rotated to +180° or −180° angle relative to the fixed bracket.
US08161601B2	Hinge and latch mechanism The invention relates to a door hinge system which includes an integral exposed vertically oriented pin as a portion of a doorframe bracket, and a central latch bracket as engaged to a door. The pivotal manipulation of the door engages the latch of the central latch bracket to the pin, to secure the door to the doorframe. The central latch bracket includes a channel for receipt of the pin which is securely and releasably retained in the channel by the leading cam edge of the latch and safety slide. Disengagement of the latch from the pin enables a door to be easily separated from doorframe for re-hanging at a future time.
US08161600B2	Dust collecting pipe for vacuum cleaner A dust-collecting pipe for a vacuum cleaner can efficiently and easily clean an area such as the top surface of a wardrobe, an area under the wardrobe, or a heat radiator of a refrigerator, which are not easily reachable by the suction port of the dust-collecting pipe. The dust-collecting pipe includes a coupling part detachably coupled to a front end of a telescopic pipe or a front end of a control handle of the vacuum cleaner; an extension integrally extending from the coupling part; and a suction part having a bent portion angled in one direction from one end of the extension and a hollow dust-collecting port formed in a terminal end of the suction part.
US08161594B2	Plural sided cleaning implement A plural sided duster removably attachable to a handle. The duster may have two construction portions, each with an inwardly facing surface joined to the other to form a laminate construction. The construction portions may be longitudinally offset. The arrangement allows an attachment mechanism associated with the inwardly facing surface to be visible to the user, so the handle may be easily and removably attached to the duster at the attachment mechanism.
US08161590B2	Apparatus for cleaning and sanitizing shoes A shoe cleaning apparatus is formed with a series of rotary brushes operable to clean the bottom of a shoe placed thereon and spring-loaded linear side brushes to clean the sides of the shoe. A supply of cleaning or sanitizing fluid is retained in an elevated tank that feeds by gravity into the rotary brushes for application to the bottom of the shoe being cleaned. The flow of fluid is actuated by downward pressure on a hinged sub-frame that opens a valve. Each rotary brush is engaged by a comb that cleans the brushes upon rotation thereof. A removable debris tray is mounted within the frame to collect dirt and debris removed by the combs and to collect the cleaning fluid dispensed from the elevated tank. Resistance to the downward pressure is provided by springs to minimize accidental opening of the flow valve.
US08161589B1	Lift ramp An adjustable ramp apparatus installed as part of a flat surface, such as a deck, adapted for angular elevation to an inclined position for providing a ramp between the platform level and the entryway door sill level of a trailer-type home. The apparatus is elevated by means of an actuator-driven mechanical linkage located under the surface of the primary ramp platform adjacent to the trailer type home or structure. When the actuator is disengaged, the ramp returns to a lowered position so that the door to the home is not blocked. An alternative embodiment includes a secondary threshold ramp located beneath the surface of the primary ramp platform that moves into place as the apparatus is actuated to fill the gap between the door sill and the elevated primary ramp platform.
US08161588B1	Anti-aging pillow An anti-aging pillow provides, in the exemplary embodiment, a top surface providing a substantially central supine section flanked by an upwardly sloping left side section and a substantially symmetrical right side section, the left and right side sections elevated relatively higher than the supine section. The supine section is configured for accommodating a user when lying in a supine position, while each of the left and right side sections is configured for accommodating the user when lying in a respective side position. This configuration enables the pillow to both substantially prevent the user from unintentionally changing sleep positions as well as substantially assist in physically directing the user in selectively transitioning between each of the supine position and left and right side positions as desired, while substantially maintaining the user's head, neck, shoulders, and back in neutral alignment and substantially preventing facial contact with the pillow or underlying sleeping surface.
US08161586B2	Operating table In an operating table comprising a table column (10) with a column foot (14) and with a column head (16) and also a patient bed (12) which is connectable to the column head (16) and which is pivotable in relation to the table column (10) about at least one axis parallel to the bed plane, the column head (16) has provided on it a guide track (42) which is curved continuously about an axis of curvature and on which a saddle coupleable to the bed (12) is mounted such that it can be adjusted along the guide track (42) by means of a saddle drive.
US08161585B2	Patient support device and method of operation A patient support device of a radiation therapy treatment system includes an electromechanical motor and control system for moving the support device. The control system utilizes regenerative braking concepts, converting the motor into a generator as the support device is moved such that no matter the load, the support device will be moved at a constant speed. The control system also allows for moving of the support device in the powered off situation (i.e., when there is no power to the support device).
US08161578B1	Padding device for swimming/diving goggles A padding device includes a connecting portion for engaging with a body of a pair of swimming/diving goggles. The connecting portion includes a lateral wall extending between front and rear walls. An annular, outer wall extension extends rearward from the lateral wall. A front connecting wall extends from the outer wall extension. An annular, inner wall extension extends perpendicularly to and rearward from an inner edge of the rear wall. A bend extends outward from an inner end of the inner wall extension and has a rear connecting wall located behind the front connecting wall. A spacing portion is defined between the inner and outer wall extensions. The front and rear connecting walls are engaged with each other and seal the spacing.
US08161571B1	Inflatable nursing bib An inflatable nursing bib has an air tight bladder of a flexible, impermeable sheet material. The bladder has an upper and a lower mutually convergent panels peripherally joined by a side panel. An interior partition is joined with the upper and lower panels and is sized, shaped and positioned to secure a concave depression in the upper panel. A fabric jacket is fitted over the bladder. A strap is used to secure a baby bottle in place on top of the upper panel whereby the bottle is oriented in a nipple-down attitude. Opposing flaps extend from the jacket to secure the bib around a baby's neck.

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