US09267729B2

Provided is a home appliance that outputs an operating sound, if a predetermined operating sound output condition is satisfied, the home appliance including: a storage unit that stores at least one sound; a manipulation unit through which a sound to be set as the operating sound is selected from among the at least one sound from a user; a sound output unit that outputs the operating sound; and a controller that controls the sound output unit to output the sound selected by the user to the operating sound, if the operating sound output condition is satisfied. The user directly inputs sounds to the home appliance and selects an operating sound from among the sounds so that the home appliance capable of providing various operating sounds according to a user's taste can be provided.
US09267717B2

A heat exchanger has an upper region, a lower region disposed vertically lower than the upper region, and a passive charge management device. The passive charge management device has an internal volume, an upper tube connecting the internal volume to at least one of the upper region and the lower region at a first vertical height, and a lower tube connecting the internal volume to at least one of the upper region and the lower region at a second vertical height that is vertically lower than the first vertical height.
US09267715B2

An icing protection system comprises a fuel cell, an evaporative cooling system, a thermal deicing device, a control unit and a device for measuring the pressure in the evaporative cooling system. The evaporative cooling system is in thermal contact with the fuel cell and with the thermal deicing device in order to conduct heat from the fuel cell to the thermal deicing device. The control unit controls the electrical power demanded from the evaporatively cooled fuel cell in dependence on a deviation of the pressure measured by the pressure measuring device from a predetermined NOMINAL pressure. In this way, an energetically very efficient and very well controllable icing protection system is made available that can be operated without bleed air supplied by engines or electrical energy provided by engine generators.
US09267713B2

A temperature control system, including a closed refrigerant circuit having an evaporator unit for absorbing heat via the refrigerant, thereby evaporating it, a compressor unit with a mechanical compressor for increasing the pressure of the refrigerant and a thermal collector for using an external heat source to increase the temperature of refrigerant within the circuit, and a condenser unit for rejecting heat from the refrigerant, liquefying it.
US09267700B2

A device for detecting and/or measuring air flow in a cooling air flow passageway of an appliance using solid-state flow detectors. Heat generating components of the appliance are controlled in response to detected air flow. More specifically, the disclosure provides a device for detecting the presence of airflow and/or the approximate rate of airflow in a cooling channel of an appliance chassis. Based on this information, the appliance can perform safety-related tasks, such as de-energizing associated heating elements if there is too-low (or no) airflow detected. The solid-state flow detectors are easily fabricated, installed, and calibrated and avoids the calibration, fabrication and/or installation difficulties associated with sail switches and other such approaches such as thermal limit switches.
US09267698B2

A mister fan includes a base, a motor supported by the base, a blade assembly supported by the base and driven by the motor, a first conduit extending from the base and configured to receive liquid from a first fluid source, and a second conduit extending from the base and configured to receive liquid from a second fluid source that is different than the first fluid source. The mister fan also includes a spray nozzle unit supported by the base adjacent the blade assembly. The spray nozzle unit is in fluid communication with the first conduit and the second conduit to selectively receive liquid from the first and second conduits.
US09267696B2

An air temperature and humidity control device is provided including a first heat pump having a compressor, an expansion valve, a condenser, and an evaporator. The first heat pump has a refrigerant circulating there through. A humidity controller includes a first contactor fluidly coupled to the evaporator and condenser. The first contact includes at least one contact module having a porous sidewall that defines an internal space through which a hygroscopic material flows. A first air flow is in communication with the porous sidewall of the first contactor. The device also has a second heat pump including a first polishing coil. The first polishing coil is substantially aligned with and arranged generally downstream from the first contactor relative to the first air flow.
US09267691B2

A clamp assembly for facilitating attachment and removal of a first component to or from a second component includes plural clamp bodies, each having at least two mutually perpendicular surfaces arranged about the first component. A substantially rigid ring is located between one surface of the clamp body and a surface of the first component. At least one fastener is provided for each of the plural clamp bodies, adapted to extend through a respective one of the plural clamp bodies and into the second component. Tooling is provided to allow for simultaneous tightening or loosening of all bolts on a single combustor.
US09267677B2

The present invention relates to a hand held device for producing large volumes of smoke from a smoke producing solution. The design allows for repeated, fast, and lengthy heating of the heating chamber, and thus is an improvement over prior devices which can only be utilized in short bursts.
US09267666B2

An illuminating apparatus includes a light source and an optical member that controls light distribution of light emitted from the light source in a forward direction. A plurality of prisms extending in one direction are provided on one principal surface of the optical member in regions on both sides when divided at a virtual plane that includes a reference axis. The plurality of prisms include reflecting prisms that reflect light from a light source that is disposed virtually on the reference axis and emit this light from the optical member. The light source is disposed such that its optical axis is shifted in one direction relative to the reference axis.
US09267664B2

A patterned color conversion film and a display device using the same are disclosed. The patterned color conversion film of the present invention comprises: a separator with plural openings; and plural pixel units disposed in the openings respectively, each pixel unit respectively comprising: a medium and scattering particles dispersed therein. Herein, at least one of the plural pixel units comprises quantum dots having the scattering particles sized of between 0.05 and 1 μm when a volume concentration of the quantum dots is in a range more than or equal to 5% and less than or equal to 80%, or having the scattering particles sized of between 0.2 and 2 μm when the volume concentration of the quantum dots is in a range less than 5% and more than or equal to 0%.
US09267655B2

A vehicle lamp includes: an LED mount on which an LED is placed; an attachment that fixes the LED to the LED mount; a power supply that supplies power to the LED; a first optical member that controls light emitted from the LED; and a second optical member that controls light emitted from the first optical member. The power supply and the first optical member are provided at the attachment.
US09267654B1

An electric candle assembly is disclosed comprising a body, a light, a power source conductively attached to a control element, control circuitry to control the conductivity between the power source and the light, the control circuitry comprises a threshold circuit to switch the light from an on mode to an off mode and the threshold circuit is configured to receive a force on the light from a gas whereby the force moves the light and moves the second threshold switch contact from an unflexed position to a flexed position and switches the light from the on mode to the off mode. In some embodiments the control element is an integrated circuit such as a 555 integrated circuit. Embodiments of methods to use the candle assembly are also disclosed.
US09267652B2

The present invention relates to a lighting module (20a, 20b, 20c), a modular lighting system (2) and a method of manufacturing such a lighting module. The lighting module comprises a board (21) having a central portion (24) and a peripheral edge (22) adapted to be coupled to the peripheral edge of the board of another lighting module, and a plurality of light sources (23) arranged at the board such that the pitch in proximity to the peripheral edge is larger than the pitch in proximity to the central portion. The present invention is advantageous in that it enables the realization of a modular lighting system whose luminance distribution is perceived as more homogenous. The pitch between the light sources of the board can be reduced while reducing the perception of any dark areas between neighboring lighting modules as illuminance interruptions (or discontinuities).
US09267644B2

A sensing mechanism (12) for detecting user contact with an active portion (26) of the power tool (10) is provided. In addition, a safety mechanism (14) for preventing prolonged user contact with the active portion (26) of a power tool (10) is provided. The safety mechanism (14) is configured to actuate upon receipt of a signal from the sensing mechanism (12). According to a first aspect, the safety mechanism (14) is arranged to rapidly displace the active portion (26) away from a user extremity. Alternatively, according to a second aspect, the safety mechanism (14) is arranged to rapidly urge an extremity of the user away from the active portion (26) of the power tool (10).
US09267632B1

Apparatus and methods for joining similar pieces of plastic pipe includes using the shape memory of the pipe pieces to slightly deform a “female” end to permit insertion therein of a non-deformed male end. The deformation is sufficient to permit the insertion but not so large as to preclude the substantially complete “recovery” of the female end's shape and size, using the “shape memory” of the pipe material. Embodiments include, without limitation, single-walled (or mono-walled) pipe, pipe formed from multiple material layers, corrugated pipe, flat-walled pipe, and others. Preferred tools and apparatus are disclosed for stretching the female end and maintaining the desired stretch during transportation and storage, for sealing the joint (via adhesive/sealant, flange gasket, O-ring, or the like), and for further protecting the resulting joint.
US09267620B2

The present disclosure presents a laying machine for laying at least one flexible casing or tube, cable, or wire. The laying machine includes a blade arrangement for making a trench in the ground. The laying machine can also include a consolidation and laying means being arranged behind the blade arrangement for clearing and safeguarding the trench from collapsing while laying at least one flexible casing or tube, cable or wire into the trench. Additionally, a blade assembly including compartments for cooling fluid and air is presented herein.
US09267613B2

A valve lockout device includes a body having a mount portion that defines a passageway. A cover positioned adjacent to the body defines a cover portion adjacent the mount portion thereby inhibiting access to the passageway in the mount portion. A position control arm extends through at least one of the body and cover, the position control arm defines a valve engagement portion and an adjustment portion. A lock aperture is formed in at least the other of the body and cover through which the position control arm extends. An adjustment member is positioned adjacent at least one of the body and the cover, the adjustment member defines an adjustment member aperture aligned with the lock aperture and is configured to engage the adjustment portion of the position control arm. Coupling the lock aperture and the adjustment member aperture inhibits relative movement of the body, cover, and adjustment member.
US09267607B2

An actuator for an adjustable damping valve device includes an armature which has an axial valve stem. At least one spring loads the armature in a direction opposite to the magnetic armature force generated by a magnetic coil. The position of the valve stem is adjustable with respect to a defined valve position of the damping valve device. The spring loading the armature is supported at a spring bearing which is accessible via a housing wall of the actuator and which can be adjusted with respect to its axial position.
US09267605B2

A pressure control valve assembly of a plasma processing chamber in which semiconductor substrates are processed includes a housing having an inlet, an outlet and a conduit extending between the inlet and the outlet, the inlet adapted to be connected to an interior of the plasma processing chamber and the outlet adapted to be connected to a vacuum pump which maintains the plasma processing chamber at desired pressure set points during rapid alternating phases of processing a semiconductor substrate in the chamber. A fixed slotted valve plate having a first set of parallel slots therein is fixed in the conduit such that gasses withdrawn from the chamber into the conduit pass through the first set of parallel slots. A movable slotted valve plate having a second set of parallel slots therein is movable with respect to the fixed slotted valve plate so as to adjust pressure in the chamber.
US09267604B2

A valve seat apparatus for use with fluid valves is described herein. An example valve seat apparatus includes a seat ring having a central passage therethrough and an outer wall. The outer wall comprises a threaded portion, having a first diameter, to engage a cage of a fluid valve. The outer wall also includes a sealing portion to capture a seal assembly between the sealing portion and a surface of a body of the fluid valve. The sealing portion has a second diameter greater than the first diameter. The outer wall of the example valve seat apparatus further includes a flange portion to capture the seal assembly between the cage and the flange portion. The flange portion extends toward the surface of the body and the sealing portion is to be positioned between the flange portion and the threaded portion. The flange portion has a third diameter greater than the second diameter.
US09267595B2

A drive device for a motor vehicle includes at least one electric machine having at least one rotor element which is configured to delimit an installation area in a radial direction. At least one transmission device is disposed, at least partly, in the installation area and configured to be driven by the electric machine via the rotor element. A fluid supply device having at least one fluid channel is provided for supply of fluid to at least one cooling or lubrication point of the drive device. The fluid channel has a first part area running in a stationary first component, and a second part area which adjoins the first part area in a flow direction of the fluid through the fluid channel and runs in a second component of the drive device. The second component is supported for rotation about an axis of rotation in relation to the first component.
US09267590B2

A hydraulic additional drive includes a hydraulic or having working ports configured to be connected to a pump via a high pressure branch and a low pressure branch. The hydraulic motor further includes a purging port to which a feed pressure is configured to be applied to set a “free-wheel mode” while the working ports are connected to a tank. The pressure at the purging port is limited to a comparatively low value between the feed pressure and the tank pressure by a pre-charging valve integrated into the hydraulic motor. The pre-charging valve is arranged in a free-wheel duct which hydraulically connects the purging port to one of the working ports.
US09267587B2

A roller screw mechanism provided with a screw having an external thread, a nut surrounding and coaxial with the screw, the nut including an internal thread, two gear wheels mounted in a non-threaded part of the nut, each gear wheel providing a first set of teeth having a plurality of internal teeth, and a plurality of rollers radially located between the screw and the nut, each roller having an external thread designed to engage the external and internal threads of the screw and the nut, and axially at each end a first set of teeth having a plurality of gear teeth designed to engage with the internal gear teeth of the gear wheels. The outer diameter of the gear teeth of each roller is less or equal to the diameter of the thread root of the external thread of the roller.
US09267573B2

This manual transmission includes a connection changeover mechanism which changes the state of connection between the output shafts of the motor generator and the transmission in accordance with a gear stage established by a driver's shift lever operation. When a gear stage for low speed travel is established, a power transmission system is established between the output shafts of the motor generator and the transmission, and the motor speed reduction ratio is set to a first speed reduction ratio. When a gear stage for intermediate speed travel is established, a power transmission system is established between the output shafts of the motor generator and the transmission, and the motor speed reduction ratio is set to a second speed reduction ratio. When a gear stage for high speed travel is established, no power transmission system is established between the output shafts.
US09267566B2

A reinforced rubber article containing a rubber article and a fibrous layer embedded into the rubber article. The fibrous layer contains monoaxially drawn tape elements having at least a first layer, an upper surface and a lower surface. The first layer comprises a blend of polyester and nylon 6. Methods of forming the reinforced rubber article are also disclosed.
US09267561B2

According to one embodiment, a rotor brake control system includes a temperature sensor operable to measure an operating temperature of a rotor brake and a rotor brake control unit operable to instruct a caliper to adjust, based on the measured operating temperature, an amount of friction generated between a brake pad and the rotor brake.
US09267552B2

A driven accessory (10) is provided that includes a first rotary clutch portion (50), a second rotary clutch portion (52), a wrap spring (56) and an actuator (60). The wrap spring (56) is configured to transmit rotary power between the first and second rotary clutch portions (50, 52). The actuator (60) is selectively operable for generating a drag force that is applied to the wrap spring (56) to control torque transmission through the wrap spring (56). The actuator (60) includes an actuator input member (140), a brake shoe (144) and a motor (142) that is configured to translate the brake shoe (144) axially along the rotary axis (70). The drag force is generated when the motor (142) is operated in a first mode so that transmission of rotary power between the first rotary clutch portion (50) and the second rotary clutch portion (52) is interrupted.
US09267551B2

The present invention comprises a safety mechanism (2, 3, 3a, 3b), which is related to and/or integrally formed with a safety coupling (1), wherein the safety coupling, with a related safety mechanism (3a) actuatable toward and into an initial active retaining position or toward and into a final inactive releasing position, is adapted, upon rotary motion, to allow for the transmission of torque between a first, driving coupling member (10) and a second, driven coupling member (20) and wherein said actuatable safety mechanism is adapted to be actuatable in a displacement from an initial active position, via a number of intermediate positions, to a final inactive position. The invention provides for the existence of a guided safety mechanism allocated to the safety coupling with means (40, 45), adapted, during a final operating cycle of the safety coupling, to allow the safety mechanism to be displaced in a direction toward and into the initial active position, and from there to again allow a limiting relative movement between the first and the second coupling members, during each subsequent operative cycle.
US09267549B2

An inner race and boot sleeve combination is provided. The inner race has an inner surface with a groove formed therein. The boot sleeve has a groove in an outer surface. A ring is located in both grooves to axially secure the inner race and boot sleeve together. Devices to prevent relatively rotation between the inner race and the boot sleeve are also provided.
US09267548B2

An inner race and boot sleeve combination is provided. The inner race has an inner surface with a groove formed therein. The boot sleeve has a groove in an outer surface. A ring is located in both grooves to axially secure the inner race and boot sleeve together. Devices to prevent relatively rotation between the inner race and the boot sleeve are also provided.
US09267540B2

A linear guide includes an elongated spacer, a plurality of rollers, and two sliding blocks. The spacer has a plurality of thru-holes arranged in a row along a longitudinal direction thereof. The spacer has two engaging portions respectively arranged at two opposite sides of the row of thru-holes. The rollers are respectively arranged in the thru-holes. Each sliding block has a rolling groove and an engaging groove formed on a bottom portion of the rolling groove, and each rolling groove has two track surfaces spaced apart from each other. The engaging portions are respectively inserted into the engaging grooves such that each sliding block slides with respect to another sliding block only. The track surfaces of each sliding block are respectively arranged at two opposite sides of the spacer, and the rollers are rollably clamped between the track surfaces of the sliding blocks.
US09267536B2

The integrated control device (1) for driving the control cable (20) of the derailleur and the brake cable (16) of a bicycle is provided. The device having a support body (4) connectable to the handlebar (2) and that can be gripped by the cyclist's hand, a cable-winding bush (19) about which the control cable (20) of the derailleur is wound/unwound and a first lever (9) rotatable with respect to the support body (4) about a first axis (X1) for actuating the brake cable (16) and rotatable about a second axis (X2) to drive the cable-winding bush (19) into rotation in a first direction of rotation (R2). An indexing mechanism (12) connected to the first lever (9) cooperates with the cable-winding bush (19) to define predetermined angular positions therefor. The support body (4) having a recess (25) for the passage of the control cable (20) of the derailleur.
US09267533B2

The present disclosure provides a multiple use threaded fastener having a plurality of redundant locking features. The fastener includes a threaded hollow lock bolt having a tapered internal wall constructed to threadingly engage a threaded aperture in a housing. A threaded lock stud having a tapered external wall is constructed to fit at least partially within the hollow lock bolt and threadingly engage the threaded aperture of the housing and engage the tapered wall of the hollow lock bolt.
US09267530B2

The cap structure includes a nut engaged with a bolt end portion formed in an end of a rotating shaft of a vehicle-use electric rotating machine to fix a pulley. The nut has a polygonal outer periphery including a step portion projecting radially outward at an axial position closer to a seating surface of the nut than an axial center of the nut. The cap structure further includes a cap for covering the nut and the bolt end portion engaged with the nut and protruding from the nut. The cap is made of casting resin so as to have a polygonal inner periphery and an annular claw portion, the number of sides of the polygonal inner periphery being equal to a natural number-multiple of the number of sides of the outer periphery of the nut.
US09267525B2

A quarter turn fastener employed to affix a component to a structural base plate includes bar code indicia to verify installation and locking of the fastener. The fastener is positionable in an insertion position relative to the base plate for insertion through a receptacle, and rotatable one quarter turn to releasably secure it, and the component to the base plate. It includes resilient arms to urge an attachment portion of the fastener against the rear surface of the base plate which are configured to obscure at least a portion of the bar code indicia in any position other than the locked position. When rotated to the locked position, the attachment portion is urged against the rear surface of the base plate the resilient arms do not obscure the bar code indicia. Anti-rotation lugs releasably engage the receptacle to releasably latch the fastener in the locked position.
US09267518B2

A holder mechanism for holding a handheld device is provided which includes a holder base and a gripping assembly. The gripping assembly is movably mounted on the holder base. The gripping assembly includes an elastic element, a first gripping module, and a second gripping module. The elastic element has a first end fixed to the first gripping module and a second end fixed to the second gripping module. Whereby, the second gripping module can move relative to the first gripping module to grip the handheld device when the elastic element is elastically deformed to apply a resilient force to the second gripping module.
US09267516B2

A clamping device includes a base body defining at least a portion of at least one pressure chamber, which has at least one opening oriented in a direction of action. A membrane is connected with the base body in a pressure-tight manner and seals the at least one opening in the direction of action. The membrane defines a first side wall section of the pressure chamber. A movable second side wall section partially delimits the pressure chamber and a constant amount of pressure fluid is sealed in the pressure chamber. At least one mechanical actuator displaces or deforms the second side wall section in order to cause the membrane to outwardly bulge.
US09267513B2

According to one aspect of the invention, a method for temperature control of a turbine engine compressor includes directing a fluid from a first region proximate a main flow path in a downstream portion of a structure in a compressor to an upstream portion of the structure, wherein the fluid is cooled as the fluid flows through the upstream portion of the structure. The method further includes directing the fluid from the upstream portion of the structure downstream to a second region of the compressor to cool the second region, wherein the fluid is directed through passages in the upstream and downstream portions of the structure thereby substantially conserving an energy of the fluid within the structure and wherein a pressure of the second region is less than a pressure of the first region.
US09267510B2

A centrifugal fan includes a main plate that is driven to rotate around a rotational axis, a shroud that is disposed so as to be opposed to the main plate, including an intake port for taking in air, and plural blades that are disposed upright between the main plate and the shroud. An adjacent distance between trailing edges of two adjacent blades is gradually decreased in the direction from the shroud to the main plate, at least from a certain point in the direction from the shroud to the main plate, and further, in each blade, an inclination of a negative pressure surface of the blade that extends from the main plate toward the shroud is smaller at least in the vicinity of the trailing edge than an inclination of a pressure surface of the blade that extends from the main plate toward the shroud.
US09267504B2

A positive displacement rotary compressor is designed for near isothermal compression, high pressure ratios, high revolutions per minute, high efficiency, mixed gas/liquid compression, a low temperature increase, a low outlet temperature, and/or a high outlet pressure. Liquid injectors provide cooling liquid that cools the working fluid and improves the efficiency of the compressor. A gate moves within the compression chamber to either make contact with or be proximate to the rotor as it turns.
US09267500B2

The present invention relates to a method for detecting a permeability or patency of a section of an extracorporeal tube which is inserted in a tube pump, a detection device for executing a method according to the present invention, a medical treatment apparatus which comprises at least one detection device and/or is in signal transmission with it or is connected for signal transmission with it, a digital storage medium, a computer program product as well as a computer program.
US09267491B2

A rotor blade for a wind turbine is disclosed. The rotor blade may generally include a shell having a pressure side and a suction side. The shell may define an outer surface along the pressure and suction sides over which an airflow travels. The rotor blade may also include a spoiler having a fixed end and a free end. The fixed end is connected to the outer surface so as to enable a hinge action, such as a living hinge. The free end includes a top flange and a bottom flange configured to engage opposite sides of the shell and is pivotal relative to the fixed end between a recessed position and an elevated position. The free end has a range of motion limited by contact of the top flange and the bottom flange with the shell. Further, the spoiler is configured to separate the airflow from the outer surface when the spoiler is in the elevated position.
US09267490B1

Various technologies described herein pertain to a vertical axis wind turbine blade configured to rotate about a rotation axis. The vertical axis wind turbine blade includes at least an attachment segment, a rear swept segment, and optionally, a forward swept segment. The attachment segment is contiguous with the forward swept segment, and the forward swept segment is contiguous with the rear swept segment. The attachment segment includes a first portion of a centroid axis, the forward swept segment includes a second portion of the centroid axis, and the rear swept segment includes a third portion of the centroid axis. The second portion of the centroid axis is angularly displaced ahead of the first portion of the centroid axis and the third portion of the centroid axis is angularly displaced behind the first portion of the centroid axis in the direction of rotation about the rotation axis.
US09267483B2

The disclosure relates to a method for operating a spark ignition gas engine, with fuel gas in the form of biogas by setting an ignition time (ZZP) of the spark ignition gas engine. The method comprises to following steps: mixing of air and fuel gas to form a combustible gas mixture in a mixing arrangement, feeding in and igniting the combustible gas mixture in the combustion chamber while setting an ignition time (ZZP) and burning the combustible gas mixture while discharging exhaust gas from the combustion chamber. The method further comprises the steps of: detection of an exhaust gas temperature (T_AG) of the exhaust gas, predefining at least one reactor position (LRV) of a component of the mixing arrangement, setting the ignition time (ZZP) of the spark ignition gas engine as a function of the exhaust gas temperature (T_AG) and the reactor position (LRV). The reactor position (LRV) is predefined as a manipulated variable by a mixture controller.
US09267478B2

An engine starter including a motor, an electromagnetic switch, an auxiliary switch, a housing, and a mounting member for the auxiliary switch. The mounting member is disposed at the housing between the housing and the motor and electromagnetic switch. The mounting member includes a flange including a tab to mount the auxiliary switch.
US09267477B2

A fuel system comprises a fuel pump operable to deliver fuel through a supply line to a pressure raising valve, the pressure raising valve including a control chamber, the fuel pressure within the control chamber controlling a minimum pump pressure differential, and an actuator control servo-valve operable to control the supply of fuel from the supply line to an actuator control line, wherein the actuator control servo-valve further controls the pressure of fuel applied to the control chamber of the pressure raising valve.
US09267471B2

In an intake air flow control valve device a flange formed in a housing of the intake air flow control valve device is bolted to a cylinder head via a first gasket and a second gasket along opening outer peripheries of a first intake air passage and a second intake air passage, which are opened to a mount surface of the flange between the flange and a mount surface of the cylinder head.
US09267467B2

A system for a vehicle, comprising: a tank pressure control valve coupled in a first conduit between a fuel tank and a fuel vapor canister; a refueling valve coupled in a second, different, conduit between the fuel tank and the fuel vapor canister, the second conduit in parallel to the first conduit. In this way, two smaller, less complex valves may be utilized to control fuel tank vapor purging and fuel tank depressurization during refueling. This in turn may lower system cost and increase system functionality.
US09267463B2

A flexible panel assembly for a gas turbine engine selectively exhibits a range of positions to regulate exhaust of the engine.
US09267448B2

A running control device of a vehicle includes an engine with a plurality of cylinders, a clutch connecting/disconnecting a power transmission path between the engine and wheels, a fuel pump transferring fuel toward an injector, and a fuel pressure control device controlling a fuel pressure in a transfer path of the fuel. The running control device of a vehicle performs a neutral inertia running mode performed with the power transmission path between the engine and the wheels disconnected, and a cylinder resting inertia running mode performed by resting at least a part of the cylinders of the engine with the power transmission path between the engine and the wheels connected, the fuel pressure during the neutral inertia running mode being made higher than the fuel pressure during the cylinder resting inertia running mode.
US09267436B2

A fuel distribution manifold for a combustor of a gas turbine includes an annular flange having an outer surface that extends circumferentially around the flange. A primary fuel plenum extends circumferentially within the flange. A first orifice and a second orifice extend radially through the outer surface of the flange to provide for fluid communication into the primary fuel plenum. The first orifice includes an inlet that is adjacent to the outer surface. The second orifice includes an inlet that is adjacent to the outer surface. A fuel distribution cap extends partially across the outer surface of the flange. The fuel distribution cap includes an inlet port. A fuel distribution plenum is at least partially defined within the fuel distribution cap. The fuel distribution plenum is in fluid communication with the inlet port and with the first orifice inlet and the second orifice inlet.
US09267433B2

A system includes a turbine fuel supply system. The turbine fuel supply system includes a first turbine fuel mixer configured to mix a first liquid fuel and a first deaerated water to generate a first fuel mixture. The first fuel mixture is configured to combust in a combustor of a gas turbine engine. The turbine fuel supply system also includes a deaerated water flow path configured to route the first deaerated water to the first turbine fuel mixer and a liquid fuel flow path configured to route the first liquid fuel to the first turbine fuel mixer.
US09267431B2

A position regulating apparatus has a generator body made of an engine and a generator driven by the engine, and a frame surrounding the periphery of the generator body. The frame is provided with a bump stopper as a rod member. The bump stopper is attached to a housing of the engine and disposed horizontally. The bump stopper regulates the position in the horizontal direction of the generator body within a preset range. Receiving plates disposed so as to face both end faces of the stopper body are provided. The round bar as the body of the bump stopper has a crank shape which reduces an impact by generating bending moment.
US09267424B2

A system and methods for routing condensate collected in a heat exchanger reservoir to either an air intake system or a position in the engine exhaust based on the type of contaminate in the condensate and operating parameters of the engine or the catalyst are described. In one particular example, condensate is routed to a first position along the engine air intake system in a first mode of operation, and a second position upstream of the catalyst along the engine exhaust in a second mode of operation, and a third position downstream of the catalyst along the engine exhaust in a third mode of operation. When substantially no contaminates are detected, the condensate may be routed into the engine exhaust upstream of the catalyst in order to cool the catalyst.
US09267419B2

A convex fan shroud for use with an automotive engine cooling system having a fan and a fan-cooled, liquid-to-air radiator is disclosed. The convex fan shroud has an optimized shape that leads to high air flow rates through the radiator. The convex fan shroud includes a front frame that defines an air-intake opening, a convex top wall connected to the frame, a convex bottom wall connected to the frame, and a pair of opposed convex side walls connected to the frame and to the top and bottom walls. The interior surfaces of the walls are smooth. The convex walls define a barrel-shaped shroud body that includes a round engine-facing opening to accommodate the fan. In addition to generating a higher flow rate, the disclosed inventive concept for a smooth convex fan shroud is relatively low cost to produce and has a relatively high degree of rigidity.
US09267410B2

A cooling system for an injector tip for a diesel emission fluid (DEF) injection system is disclosed. The system uses a heat sink, such as a head for a regeneration system, to vaporize cooling fluid, in combination with a phase separation tank, to force cooling fluid backward through a cooling loop thereby allowing cooling of an injector tip following engine shutdown in a “hot” shutdown situation.
US09267407B2

An engine exhaust system attachment is provided that includes a housing a fan, a filter, and a conduit. The housing is configured to enclose an exhaust turbine, an exhaust manifold, and at least a portion of an exhaust pipe. The exhaust turbine, the exhaust manifold, and the exhaust pipe are connected to receive exhaust gas from an engine and are mounted to an engine frame of a device. The fan is configured for mounting to the device to move air. The filter is configured for mounting to the fan to receive the moved air and to provide filtered air. The conduit is configured for connecting the filter to the housing to provide the filtered air to the housing.
US09267405B2

A control housing cover for an internal combustion engine includes an engine block cover portion having a plurality of apertures, an oil separator for blow-by gases integrated into the control housing cover, an engine support plate operable for securing supporting the internal combustion engine in place and wherein the oil separator is arranged neighboring the engine support plate.
US09267404B2

A blow-by gas recirculating system for an internal combustion chamber, may include a cylinder including the combustion chamber, a ventilation passage that recirculates blow-by gas, which leaks from the combustion chamber, to the combustion chamber, a compressor that takes in and compresses outdoor air and supplies compressed air, and a supply passage that connects the compressor and the cylinder to mix the compressed air with the blow-by gas.
US09267397B2

The invention proposes a subassembly of a hydraulic variable valve train of an internal combustion engine, having a guide bushing (4) that can be installed in a hydraulic housing (3), and having a piston (5) supported therein so as to be axially movable for actuating a gas exchange valve (1), and having a valve element (7) that, together with the end face (10) of the piston distant from the gas exchange valve, defines a hydraulic pressure chamber (11) in the guide bushing, wherein the valve element is a throttle check valve that allows hydraulic medium to flow out of the pressure chamber throttled by a continuously open throttle opening (16) and allows hydraulic medium to flow into the pressure chamber with little throttling by a ball check valve (17). The subassembly is intended to be implemented as a modular unit assembled outside of the hydraulic housing, wherein the guide bushing and the valve element are fastened to one another, and the piston is secured in a captive manner in the guide bushing.
US09267396B2

A method of precision manufacture of an outer arm of a rocker arm assembly is performed by determining structures of a rough outer arm that would require precision processing and locations to support the structures as they are processed. Starting with at least one structure requiring precision processing, locations on the outer arm close to the structure to hold the outer arm during processing are determined that would cause minimal distortion of the outer arm during processing. The outer arm is then provided with clamping lobes at these locations. The clamping lobes of the outer arm are clamping into a fixture for manufacturing. The slider pad may now be precision ground while the outer arm is clamped in the fixture with minimal risk of distortion of the outer arm.
US09267392B2

A vacuum pump having substrates which can be wired together easily and cooled easily. A substrate unit structure is formed by covering the opening of the casing of the pump main unit with a plate functioning also as the casing of the control unit. Pins of a terminal fixed while penetrating the plate are soldered directly to an active magnetic bearing (AMB) control substrate and an aerial connection substrate in order to integrate these components. The casing and sealing structures can be of simple construction. A drip-proof structure can be made with the terminal at low cost without using expensive drip-proof connectors. Further, by cooling the plate, electronic components mounted respectively on the AMB control substrate in a vacuum atmosphere and the aerial connection substrate in an air atmosphere can be cooled simultaneously.
US09267383B2

A turbine airfoil includes an airfoil body with a leading edge, trailing edge, and an exterior surface including a suction side and a pressure side located opposite to the suction side. The exterior surface shows away from the interior of the airfoil body. A thermal barrier coating system is present on the exterior surface of the airfoil body in a coated surface region. The airfoil also includes an uncoated surface region where a thermal barrier coating system is not present. The uncoated region extends on the suction side of the exterior surface from the trailing edge towards the leading edge to a boundary line between the coated surface region and the uncoated surface region, wherein the boundary line is located on the suction side between the leading edge and the trailing edge. The airfoil body also includes a step in the exterior surface extending along the boundary line.
US09267381B2

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, disclosed is an air-cooled turbine blade having an airfoil shape, including a convex suction side wall, a concave pressure side wall, the walls including an interior surface that defines an interior with the blade, a suction side flow circuit formed within the blade interior, a pressure side flow circuit formed within the blade interior; and a trailing edge pin bank positioned aft of the suction side and pressure side flow circuits. The turbine blade includes a wishbone-shaped architecture at a transition point between the suction side flow circuit and the pressure side flow circuit and the trailing edge pin bank.
US09267375B2

The present invention provides a device useful for supporting underground mine/tunnels. The device continuously monitors the roof load coming over the canopy and correspondingly yielding/convergence indicated by the pointer on graduate scale. The roof load coming on the canopy (9) is transmitted to the prop via a set of steel disc springs (5) to increase the yielding and longevity of the present device. The present invention has mechanism for preloading upto the desired load. It is a simple, easily transportable and user friendly device having quick release mechanism from a safe distance.
US09267374B2

An armored face conveyor includes a plurality of line pans positioned adjacent to one another, a plurality of flight bars, and a connecting member. Each line pan includes a race having an outer race face and an inner race face. The plurality of flight bars extend laterally across the line pans and are received by the race. Each flight bar includes an end having an upper guide surface and a lower guide surface. The connecting member extends through the plurality of flight-bars and couples the flight-bars to one another. Lateral movement of any one of the flight-bars that causes the upper guide surface to contact the outer race face substantially simultaneously causes the lower guide surface to contact the inner race face.
US09267368B2

One or more inflatables are used to initiate fractures in a formation. The onset of fractures after inflation to a predetermined pressure also results in damage to the inflatable and the ability to follow up the stress that initiated the fracture with high flow at high pressure to further propagate the initiated fractures at a location close to their origin. In another variation the inflatable can have openings that are small enough to allow inflation to initiate the fractures and yet continue to allow fluid flow through the openings to propagate the fractures. In yet another variation sliding sleeves with ball seats can be sequentially operated to inflate to fracture followed by opening an adjacent port to propagate.
US09267337B2

Electric connector, including first and second connector parts (10, 20) which can be coupled together and which comprise respectively first and second contact elements (11, 21) and first and second supports (1a, 3a) which support respectively the first and second connector parts and can be assembled together by means of screwing engagement. The first and second connector parts comprise, respectively, first and second support ring structures (13, 23) which carry the first and second contact elements respectively. Pins and corresponding locating and drive means (31, 32) are designed to make the first and second support rings structures rotationally integral during relative engagement of first and second supports and cause first and second contact elements to align with one another. The first connector part also comprises a base structure (15) on which the first support ring structure is movably mounted. Cam members (18) are arranged between base structure and support ring structure.
US09267333B2

A rotary drag bit for drilling subterranean formations includes a bit body having a face extending from a centerline to a gage. A plurality of blades may be disposed on the face, and may generally extend radially outwardly toward the gage. The bit may further include a plurality of discrete impregnated cutting posts, each of which may extend outwardly from an associated blade. Each discrete impregnated cutting post angles generally toward a front edge of the associated blade and generally toward the intended direction of rotation of the bit. The rotary drag bit may further include a plurality of matrix pockets disposed on the blades. The discrete impregnated cutting posts may be housed within corresponding matrix pockets.
US09267332B2

Impregnated drilling tools include elongated structures that provide enhanced properties. The drilling tools contain a diamond-impregnated cutting section that contains elongated structures made from carbon, glass, ceramic, and the like. The elongated structures can comprise tubes, fibers, or rods. In one or more implementations the elongated structures are nano-sized. The elongated structures can control the tensile strength and/or the erosion rate of the drilling tools to optimize the cutting performance of the tools. Additionally, the elongated structures may also weaken the cutting section in one or more implementations; thereby, allowing higher strength binders to be used. Such higher modulus binders can cost less and allow for tailoring of the cutting section to retain the diamonds for the desired amount of time. As the cutting section erodes, the elongated structures may also increase the lubricity at the face of the cutting section.
US09267330B2

A monitoring and detection system for use on high power laser systems, long distance high power laser systems and tools for performing high power laser operations. In particular, the monitoring and detection systems provide break detection and continuity protection for performing high power laser operations on, and in, remote and difficult to access locations.
US09267323B2

A decorative covering for covering a passageway gate, the covering including a sleeve bounding a gate-receiving area. The sleeve has a front, a back, and a perimeter between the front and back. The gate-receiving area is sized and shaped to receive and cover a gate between the front, back, and perimeter of the sleeve. The perimeter includes a bottom which is releasably coupled to the front of the sleeve to move between a closed position secured to the front of the sleeve and an open position away from the front of the sleeve, defining an entrance to the gate-receiving area sized to receive the passageway gate for application therethrough. Openings are formed in the perimeter in communication with the gate-receiving area.
US09267299B2

Disclosed is a pool jet fitting configured to direct flow of water in a closed loop pool pumping filtration system. The pool jet fitting may include a housing, and a valve positioned in the housing. The housing may include a housing body that defines a bore that extends through the housing body. The housing body may include a coupler that is configured to mate with a coupler of a wall mount so as to releasably couple the housing to the wall mount. The valve may be positioned in the bore of the housing and may be configured to receive water flow from a water pump. The valve may define an adjustable opening having a dimension capable of automatically adjusting between a first dimension and a second dimension to facilitate a predetermined outflow velocity of the water received from the pump.
US09267298B2

A tile alignment and leveling device for aligning and leveling tiles as they are being secured to a substrate. The device includes a flexible member, a bottom plate, and an intermediate member. The intermediate member spaces the flexible member and bottom plate a predetermined vertical distance. The flexible member has a first end and a second end. The first end is pivotally combined with the intermediate member thereby allowing the flexible member to pivot between a first position and a second (downward) position. In use and in its second position, the flexible member second end exerts force against the top of the tiles to help align and level the tiles as they are secured to the substrate.
US09267291B1

A portable air blower is selectively removably secured to the upper end of a length adjustable extension pole to blow twigs, leaves or other debris from a rain gutter or other elevated structures or surfaces.
US09267286B2

A hollow-core structure including: an inner mold that has a hollow cylindrical shell shape; an outer mold that has a hollow cylindrical shell shape to correspond to the inner mold, and in which the inner mold is disposed to be separated; and a filling member that is filled in a separation space between the inner mold and the outer mold.
US09267281B2

A false wall (7) is backlit by a plurality of light sources (6) positioned behind same and including at least one taut translucent flexible sheet (8) anchored via the borders thereof, which are provided with elements (9) for anchoring to a frame (10), the frame (10) including a wall rail (13) having headed profiles and including receiving members (14) capable of engaging with the anchoring elements (9) in order to hold the taut translucent flexible sheet (8). The wall rail (13) includes lighting elements (15) which are invisible when the light sources (6) are operating, and which provide an afterglow when the light sources (6) are no longer operating.
US09267279B2

A sheet (1), preferably for use in the building sector, and in particular, for sealing the shell of a building, comprising a planar sheet body (2) that has at least one elastic layer as a sealing layer (17) made of a material of such elasticity and such restoring force that, when the sealing layer (17) is penetrated by a fastener (4), the material of the sealing layer (17) surrounding the fastening means (4) encloses the fastener (4) and provides sealing in the region of the fastener (4). Alternatively, the sheet body contains a sealing material which, upon perforation of the sheet body, is able to automatically emerge or swell to an extent sufficient to close or seal the perforation.
US09267277B2

A urinal with a sanitation device capable of preventing the generation of a smell and urine scale with reliability without reducing a water conservation effect. In the urinal US, a liquid agent is ejected in different modes by predetermined timing according to areas on the urinal US.
US09267276B2

A water discharge device generates a large air bubble having a cross sectional area larger than a channel sectional area of a jetting port when the inside of a water storage chamber is viewed from the jetting port. The water discharge device intermittently forms the large air bubble to change a flow speed of a jet flow.
US09267275B2

Disclosed are various embodiments for a dual flush handle system. A first handle lever is configured to rotate in a direction by a first predetermined angle of rotation to initiate a first flush of a toilet. A second handle lever is configured to rotate in the direction about a second predetermined angle of rotation to initiate a second flush of a toilet.
US09267271B2

A universal faucet extender having an attachment member and a trough member to detachably attach to faucet spigots or aerators of various designs. The universal faucet extender extends the flow of water within arms' reach to allow children and other individuals who would have difficulty to reach and access the flowing water. The attachment member comprises at least two receiving openings, a first receiving opening on a rear end of the attachment member and a second receiving opening on a top surface of the attachment member, both of which are adapted to interchangeably receive a circumference of a faucet spigot.
US09267269B2

A target-input-torque determination unit determines the target input torque on the basis of the transmission required horsepower. The target input torque is a target value for the torque to be inputted to a power-transmission device. A target-output-torque determination unit determines the target output torque, which is a target value for the torque to be outputted by the power-transmission device. A command-torque determination unit uses torque-balance information to determine command torque for the motor from the target input torque and the target output torque. The target-input-torque determination unit determines the upper limit of the target input torque on the basis of an upper-limit-target-input-torque line and the engine rotation speed. The upper-limit-target-input-torque line sets a value smaller than the target output torque of the engine determined using the engine required horsepower and the engine rotation speed for the upper-limit value of the target input torque.
US09267268B2

A motor grader includes a fuel tank, a vehicle body frame, a left-side mount part, a right-side mount part, a rear-side mount part and a reducing agent tank. The left-side mount part and the right-side mount part are respectively disposed on a left lateral frame and a right lateral frame while being disposed on the both sides of the fuel tank in a vehicle width direction, and fix the fuel tank to the vehicle body frame. The rear-side mount part is disposed on the left lateral frame in the vehicle width direction while being disposed rearward of the fuel tank, and fixes the fuel tank to the vehicle body frame. The reducing agent tank is disposed rearward of and adjacently to the fuel tank while being disposed on the right lateral frame side, and accumulates a reducing agent for processing an exhaust gas from an engine.
US09267266B2

The present disclosure relates to an air cleaning system for an off-road excavation apparatus. The off-road excavation apparatus includes an excavating component and a shroud assembly that at least partially covers the excavating component. The shroud assembly includes a first shroud component and a second shroud component. The first shroud component is moveable relative to the second shroud component to allow access to the excavating component. The air cleaning system draws air from inside the shroud assembly and includes an air cleaner, an air conduit and an air moving device that are all carried by the first shroud component as the first shroud component is moved relative to the second shroud component.
US09267253B2

A land-mounted flap gate formed by arranging and connecting a plurality of door bodies alongside one another is disclosed. The front side of each of the plurality of door bodies is raised and lowered using the back end side of each door body as a support point. One end of a rope is attached to the back end surface of the door body and the other end of the rope is attached to a counter weight. At least one fixed pulley for guiding the rope is disposed below the back end side of the door body such that the counter weight assists the raising or lowering when starting the raising or lowering and acts as a resistance against the raising or lowering before completing the raising or lowering. The waterproof film that seals a space between neighboring door bodies in a waterproof manner is formed in a substantially trapezoidal shape.
US09267248B2

A hydraulic control arrangement for activating a double-acting actuating cylinder, which is connected on the piston side to a road finisher and on the piston-rod side to a screed of the road finisher, is provided. The hydraulic control arrangement includes a supply connection, a tank connection and two consumer connections, in which a loading pressure or a relief pressure is applied to the piston of the actuating cylinder via the consumer connections. The loading pressure or relief pressure is controlled as a function of a defined operating state, and, in a controlling-the-screed-load operating state, the relief pressure supplied to the actuating cylinder on the piston-rod side is controlled via a proportional pressure control valve.
US09267246B2

A screed assembly is disclosed for use with a paving machine having a machine frame. The screed assembly may have a main frame operatively connected to the machine frame, and a sub-frame with a body and a screed plate. The screed assembly may also have a vibration isolator disposed between the main frame and the sub-frame, and at least one adjustment mechanism disposed between the body and the screed plate. The at least one adjustment mechanism may be configured to adjust a flatness of the screed plate. The screed assembly may further have a vibration device connected to the body of the sub-frame and configured to vibrate the sub-frame.
US09267241B2

A method of manufacturing an absorbent sanitary paper product having a machine direction, a cross-machine direction orthogonal and co-planar thereto, and a Z-direction orthogonal to both the machine- and cross-machine directions is disclosed. The method provides the steps of: providing a first and second network of fibers each having opposing first and second sides where each fiber of the first network of fibers has a longitudinal axis generally disposed within the plane comprising the machine- and cross-machine-directions; applying a first bonding layer to one of the first and second sides of the first network of fibers; applying a first and second second network of fibers to the first bonding layer; and, placing the first and second network of fibers into face-to-face contacting engagement.
US09267238B2

Embodiments of the invention provide fiber mat facers, ceiling panels, and method of manufacturing the same. A fiber mat facer may include a non-woven web of fibers having a first group of fibers with an average fiber diameter from about 6 μm to about 20 μm and a second group of fibers with an average fiber diameter from about 0.5 μm to about 5 μm. The fiber mat facer may also include a binder to bond together the non-woven web of fibers into the fiber mat. The binder may include a water repellant additive. The binder and/or fiber mat facer may further include an additive that enhances the opacity of the fiber mat facer. The fiber mat facer may also include a paint applied to an outer surface of the facer. The paint may include an additive that enhances the visual appeal of the facer and/or ceiling panel.
US09267227B2

A system and method are disclosed for an odor removal treatment system that includes a liquid oxidizing agent that includes a peroxide and water, a liquid buffering agent that includes a carbonate salt and water, and a cleaning device, wherein the liquid oxidizing agent is stored separately from the liquid buffering agent in a pre-application mode, and combinable with the liquid buffering agent to form a solution in an application mode just prior to applying the solution to a textile. The cleaning device may be a portable vacuum cleaning mechanism onboard a vehicle. The peroxide may be hydrogen peroxide and the solution may have a hydrogen peroxide weight percent of about 1.5%.
US09267217B2

An object of the present invention is to provide a production method for an R—Fe—B based sintered magnet having a plating film excellent in adhesiveness on the surface thereof, by conducting a series of processes of acid cleaning and smut removal as pretreatments of an R—Fe—B based sintered magnet, and the subsequent plating treatment effectively without causing trouble. The production method of the present invention includes a series of processes of acid cleaning and smut removal of a magnet as pretreatments, and the subsequent plating treatment is conducted consistently with a state, in which the magnet is placed in a barrel made of synthetic resin. The smut removal is conducted by ultrasonic cleaning of the magnet with rotating the barrel in water in which the dissolved oxygen amount is set to 0.1 ppm to 6 ppm by degassing.
US09267205B1

A fastener system and method for supporting and retaining modular insulating quartz liners with gas apertures in close proximity to corresponding apertures in diffusers of gas showerheads. Tubular fasteners have a head, a tubular shank and a foot that extend through a liner plate nozzle into a diffuser plate. A keyway in the gas diffuser, aligned and coaxial with a diffuser nozzle, allows the foot to reach an arcuate concourse through a keyway where it can be locked by bayonet turning. The keyway is machined into the diffuser by EDM and is an inversion of the fastener tip geometry rotated about the axis of the tubular shank. Each fastener and nozzle set form a coaxial path for distributing processing gas to substrates through liner and diffuser plates from a plenum in showerheads of a MOCVD reactor.
US09267201B2

The invention is upon anti-static wrapper; specifically upon a new technology to manufacture anti-static wrapper using new materials which is different from those manufacture by spreading a surfactant or metallic materials. The aim of this invention is to manufacture a new and semi-permanent anti-static wrapper with excellent electric dissipation and adhesion to polymer film by depositing DLC film on polymer film. This invention also supplies the magnetic enhancing ion gun (MEIG) depositing device and high productive Roll-to-Roll device in which DLC film can be deposited on polymer film.
US09267198B2

Vapor phase coating techniques with improved control over the co-transfer and co-deposition of aluminum and reactive element(s) from sources to the article being coated. One method includes providing a reactive element source, wherein at least a portion of the reactive element source comprises a non-halide compound of a reactive element, providing an aluminum source, providing a halide activator, and heating an article having a metallic surface, the reactive element source, the aluminum source, and the halide activator under conditions effective to cause species comprising aluminum and the reactive element to be co-deposited onto said surface to form a coating.
US09267196B2

In a hot-rolled sheet, an average value of pole densities of an orientation group {100}<011> to {223}<110>, which is represented by an arithmetic mean of pole densities of orientations {100}<011>, {116}<110>, {114}<110>, {112}<110>, and {223}<110> in a thickness center portion of a thickness range of ⅝ to ⅜ from a surface of the steel sheet, is 1.0 to 6.5 and a pole density of a crystal orientation {332}<113> is 1.0 to 5.0; and a Lankford value rC in a direction perpendicular to a rolling direction is 0.70 to 1.10 and a Lankford value r30 in a direction that forms 30° with respect to the rolling direction is 0.70 to 1.10.
US09267192B2

A corrosion resistant, neutron absorbing, austenitic alloy powder is disclosed having the following composition in weight percent. C0.08 max. Mnup to 3 Siup to 2 P0.05 max. S0.03 max. Cr17-27 Ni11-20 Mo + (W/1.92)  up to 5.2 BEq0.78-13.0 O 0.1 max. N  up to 0.2 Yless than 0.005 The alloy contains at least about 0.25% B, at least about 0.05% Gd, and the balance of the alloy composition is iron and usual impurities. BEq is defined as % B+4.35×(% Gd). An article of manufacture made from consolidated alloy powder is also disclosed which is characterized by a plurality of boride and gadolinide particles dispersed within a matrix. The boride and gadolinide particles are predominantly M2B, M3B2, M3X, and M5X in form, where X is gadolinium or a combination of gadolinium and boron and M is one or more of the elements silicon, chromium, nickel, molybdenum, iron.
US09267190B2

Disclosed herein are a method and an apparatus for preparing a metal composite powder by using gas spraying. The method of preparing a metal composite powder by using gas spraying includes introducing a matrix phase in a chamber, including a reinforcing phase in the chamber, melting the introduced matrix phase to form a melt, adding the reinforcing phase in the melt, stirring the melt with the added reinforcing phase to form a melt mixture, atomizing the melt mixture together with a gas to form a metal composite powder containing the reinforcing phase, and collecting the metal composite powder formed.
US09267183B2

A hot-rolled wire rod excelling in wire drawability is provided, in which breakage can be suppressed even in heavy work from a large diameter. A hot-rolled wire rod contains C: 0.35 to 0.65% (percent by mass, hereinafter expressed as well), Si: 1.4 to 3.0%, Mn: 0.10 to 1.0%, Cr: 0.1 to 2.0%, P: 0.025% or less (exclusive of 0%), S: 0.025% or less (exclusive of 0%), N: 0.006% or less (exclusive of 0%), Al: 0.1% or less (exclusive of 0%), and O: 0.0030% or less (exclusive of 0%), with the remnant consisting of Fe and inevitable impurities; wherein the content of hydrogen in steel is 2.50 ppm (ppm by mass, hereinafter expressed as well) or less, and hardness (HV) is 460×C00.1 or less (C0 indicates the content of C (percent by mass) in a position of depth of D/4 (D: diameter of the wire rod)).
US09267178B2

Methods of detecting D. gatoi or D. cati, are disclosed. A sample suspected of containing a nucleic acid of D. gatoi or D. cati is screened for the presence or absence of that nucleic acid. The presence of the D. gatoi or D. cati nucleic acid indicates the presence of D. gatoi or D. cati. Determining whether the D. gatoi or D. cati nucleic acid is present in the sample can be accomplished by detecting hybridization between a D. gatoi or D. cati probe. Probes and primers for the detection of D. gatoi or D. cati are also disclosed. Disclosed are isolated nucleic acids that encode a D. gatoi or D. cati rRNA gene sequence. Kits and arrays that contain the disclosed probes and/or primers also are disclosed.
US09267176B2

[Problem] An object of the present invention is to elucidate a novel genetic mutation which is a cause of cancer, and thereby, to provide a method for detecting the genetic mutation, or a protein which has the mutation, a method for detecting the presence of cancer in a subject, a method for diagnosing cancer in a subject, and a primer set, a probe and a detecting kit for the methods.[Means for Solution] A method for detecting a fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4) mutant in a subject, which comprises a step of detecting the presence of the mutation of glycine at position 183 in a FGFR4 tyrosine kinase domain to cysteine in a sample obtained from the subject.
US09267172B2

The present invention is directed to compositions and methods for nucleic acid identification and detection. Compositions and methods of the present invention include extracting and fragmenting target nucleic acids from a sample, using the fragmented target nucleic acids to produce target nucleic acid templates and subjecting those target nucleic acid templates to amplification methods to form nucleic acid nanoballs. The invention also includes methods of detecting and identifying sequences using various sequencing applications, including sequencing by ligation methods.
US09267166B2

The invention provides methods of treating α-galactosidase A deficiency. Dosage forms, methods of administration, and methods of analyzing human α-galactosidase A are also included.
US09267165B2

The invention provides methods for determining the interactions between phage-displayed proteins and test molecules. The phage-displayed proteins are contacted with a reference moiety in the presence and absence of a test molecule; the behavior of the phage-displayed proteins as a function of concentration of the test molecule permits calculation of the binding affinity of the phage-displayed protein for the test molecule.
US09267164B2

A method for recombinantly expressing a macromolecule in a host cell is disclosed which involves culturing a host cell which contains two nucleic acid sequences, i.e., a first nucleic acid sequence encoding a membrane-permeabilizing agent and a second nucleic acid sequence encoding a desired macromolecule under the operative control of an inducible promoter, to a selected cell density that permits accumulation of the agent. Thereafter the host cell is exposed to an environmental condition that induces the agent to disrupt the integrity of the cell membrane without complete lysis of the cell membrane. The host cell thereby allows transport through the membrane of small molecular weight compounds. These resulting host cells are cultured in the presence of a nutrient cocktail that contains components that can transport through the disrupted cell membrane, e.g., an inducing agent that induces the tightly regulated promoter and metabolic requirements that permit expression of the macromolecule.
US09267153B2

Disclosed are methods of transforming dendritic cells with a chimeric adenovirus-5 (Ad5). A chimeric adenovirus includes a fiber comprising a tail, a shaft and a knob, wherein the knob is a porcine knob, and a nucleic acid comprising a promoter operably linked to a heterologous sequence encoding an antigen peptide.
US09267151B2

A non-human transgenic animal having a polynucleotide encoding an STXBP1 polypeptide, which polynucleotide is operably linked to a promoter, wherein said transgenic animal has greater than wild-type expression of the STXBP1 polypeptide in at least one brain region, as well as related vectors, methods of producing transgenic animals, in vitro and in vivo screening methods for potential therapeutic agents, and methods for treating and diagnosing neuropsychiatric illness are disclosed.
US09267144B2

A method is provided for transforming maize plants to express DNA sequences of interest from plant cell plastids. The method allows the transformation of maize plant tissue with heterologous DNA constructs by microprojectile bombardment of green light grown cultures and dark grown embryogenic cultures. The invention also provides for maize cells in which the plastids contain heterologous DNA constructs.
US09267142B2

Isolated polynucleotides are disclosed which increase the efficiency of gene expression in a heterologous cell. The polynucleotide sequences which encode polypeptides are adapted such that the average rate of translation of the first at least about 30 amino acids is slower by at least two fold than the average rate of translation of the remaining amino acids of the polypeptide.
US09267141B2

Compositions and methods are provided for converting chitin into N-acetylglucosamine, glucosamine and ethanol. The chitin may be used directly from the environment, for example, as occurs in invertebrate cuticles, fungal cells and/or algae. Mutant bacteria were created by knocking out or inactivating one or more genes preferably resulting in the chitin catabolic sensor maintaining an activated state. Methods are further provided for converting the N-acetylglucosamine into ethanol by means of a genetically engineered yeast strain which can be optionally co-cultivated with the Vibrionaceae to produce significant yields of ethanol.
US09267134B2

The present invention provides a method of treating or preventing pulmonary arterial hypertension in a subject in need thereof by administering to the subject an inhibitor of miR-145 expression or activity. Pharmaceutical compositions and kits comprising miR-145 inhibitors for treating pulmonary arterial hypertension are also disclosed.
US09267133B2

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for cancer diagnostics, including but not limited to, cancer markers. In particular, the present invention provides methods and compositions for phage microarray profiling of cancer (e.g., prostate, lung, or breast cancer). The present invention further provides novel markers useful for the diagnosis, characterization, and treatment of cancers.
US09267130B2

Polypeptides having nucleic acid binding activity are provided. Methods of using polypeptides having nucleic acid binding activity are provided. Fusion proteins and methods of using fusion proteins are provided. Fusion proteins comprising a polymerase and a nucleic acid binding polypeptide are provided. Fusion proteins comprising a reverse transcriptase and a nucleic acid binding polypeptide are provided. Methods are provided for amplifying a nucleic acid sequence using a fusion protein comprising a nucleic acid binding polypeptide and a polymerase. Methods are provided for amplifying a nucleic acid sequence using a fusion protein comprising a nucleic acid binding polypeptide and a reverse transcriptase.
US09267128B2

Gluten-degrading proteases derived from insects, including flour beetles, are isolated, and the purified, and recombinant forms can be used to make gluten-containing food safe for patients suffering from gluten intolerance.
US09267120B2

Disclosed are mutant DNA polymerases having increased 3′-mismatch discrimination relative to a corresponding, unmodified polymerase. The mutant polymerases are useful in a variety of disclosed primer extension methods. Also disclosed are related compositions, including recombinant nucleic acids, vectors, and host cells, which are useful, e.g., for production of the mutant DNA polymerases.
US09267116B2

The present invention relates to a novel amino acid dehydrogenase, DNA encoding the enzyme, and a transformant having the DNA introduced therein. The present invention also relates to a process for producing an L-amino acid, 2-oxo acid or D-amino acid, which includes allowing the amino acid dehydrogenase or a microorganism or transformant capable of producing the enzyme to act on a substrate compound. The amino acid dehydrogenase has good reactivity even with an amino acid or a 2-oxo acid each having a bulky side chain such as an aromatic-ring-containing group, which acids are poorly reactive with conventional amino acid dehydrogenases. The amino acid dehydrogenase enables the inexpensive and highly efficient production of a useful optically active amino acid.
US09267104B2

Provided herein are methods, devices and systems comprising a reactor that is operatively connected to: (a) a biogas production unit for converting waste to a biogas stream; and (b) an engine that utilizes the biogas stream from the biogas producing unit to produce energy and an engine exhaust.
US09267103B2

Multi-well plate (1) comprising a plurality of wells (4), a frame (5) for holding the plurality of wells (4) in a defined arrangement, a support element (50) for contacting a surface when the multi-well plate (1) is placed on the surface, wherein at least one well (4) of the plurality of wells is elastically displaceable relative to said support element (50).
US09267092B2

A motorcycle having an engine and a clutch may be lubricated by supplying to the engine, but not to the clutch a lubricant of an oil of lubricating viscosity, an overbased detergent, a dispersant, a metal salt of a phosphorus acid, and a hydroxyalkyl-substituted imidazoline having a hydrocarbyl substituent of at least about 8 carbon atoms and a hydroxyalkyl substituent having 2 to 8 carbon atoms.
US09267090B2

The present invention is generally directed to diester-based lubricant compositions comprising one or more isomeric mixtures of diester species. The present invention is also directed to methods of making these and other similar lubricant compositions. In some embodiments, the methods for making such diester-based lubricants utilize a biomass precursor material from which mono-unsaturated free lipid species can be provided or otherwise generated, wherein such mono-unsaturated free lipid species are converted to isomeric diol species en route to the synthesis of diester species for use as/in the diester-based lubricant compositions.
US09267087B2

The invention provides methods of operating thermal equipment, for example, gas turbines and methods for protecting hot parts of thermal equipment from, for example, corrosion by ash from an alkali metal or from lead; fouling by ash of an alkaline-earth metal, lead or a transition metal; and the combined effects of an alkali metal, lead, an alkaline-earth metal or a transition metal.
US09267078B2

The present invention relates to a liquid-crystalline medium based on a mixture of polar compounds having negative dielectric anisotropy (Δ∈), which is distinguished by the fact that it has a value for the ratio γ1/Δn2 in the range 6-45 with a clearing point of >60° C. and a Δ∈ of ≦−2.3. Media of this type are particularly suitable for electro-optical displays having active-matrix addressing based on the ECB, PA LCD, FFS or IPS effect.
US09267070B2

A method for breaking the viscosity of an aqueous fluid gelled with a viscoelastic surfactant (VES) includes: providing an aqueous fluid; adding to the aqueous fluid, in any order, components comprising: a VES comprising a non-ionic surfactant, cationic surfactant, amphoteric surfactant or zwitterionic surfactant, or a combination thereof, in an amount sufficient to form a gelled aqueous fluid comprising a plurality of elongated micelles, an unsaturated fatty acid comprising a monoenoic acid or a polyenoic acid; or a combination thereof; and a plurality of metallic particles to produce a mixture comprising dispersed metallic particles in the gelled aqueous fluid. The method also includes dissolving the metallic particles in the gelled aqueous fluid to provide a source of metal ions and heating the gelled aqueous fluid to a temperature sufficient to cause the unsaturated fatty acid to auto-oxidize to products present in an amount effective to reduce the viscosity.
US09267067B2

Disclosed herein is a heat transfer fluid, comprising a hydroxylated carboxylic acid of formula (OH)x(R1)(COOH)y, wherein x is 2 to 10, y is 3 to 10, and R1 is a C2-50 aliphatic group, a C6-50 aromatic group, or a combination thereof; and wherein the hydroxylated carboxylic acid comprises the hydroxylated carboxylic acid, an ester thereof, a salt thereof, an anhydride thereof, or a combination thereof. A heat transfer system comprises an aluminum component, a magnesium component, or an aluminum component and a magnesium component; and the foregoing heat transfer fluid.
US09267065B2

The present invention relates to azeotrope and azeotrope-like compositions comprised of 1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene (HCFO-1233zd) and 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropane (HFC-245eb), and uses thereof.
US09267063B2

A method of treating a plurality of fines of a dusting material to prevent emanation of dust from the dusting material is described. An aqueous solution comprising a mixture of soluble non-ionic cellulose ether, a plasticizer, and a surfactant is provided. The aqueous solution is applied to a dusting material comprising a plurality of fines. The dusting material is transferred during the applying step from a first location to a second location as the aqueous solution is applied to the plurality of fines. The dusting material is mixed with the aqueous solution to coat the plurality of fines with the aqueous solution. The treated dusting material is accumulated into a mass of the material subsequent to the applying step wherein the aqueous solution is substantially evenly distributed throughout an interior portion of the mass of the treated dusting material.
US09267055B2

The present invention provides: a coating composition comprising a UV curable resin containing an acryloyl functional group, an isocyanate-based compound, an antioxidant, and a solvent, wherein the UV curable resin is prepared by copolymerization of an acrylate monomer containing an epoxy functional group and a silicone macromonomer and then performing addition reaction of an acrylic acid monomer; and a preparation method thereof. The present invention provides a transfer sheet comprising: a base film; and a coating layer formed on one surface of the base film, wherein the coating layer comprises a coating composition comprising a UV curable resin containing an acryloyl functional group, an isocyanate-based compound, an antioxidant, and a solvent, and the UV curable resin containing an acryloyl functional group is prepared by copolymerization of an acrylate monomer containing an epoxy functional group and a silicone macromonomer and then performing addition reaction of an acrylic acid monomer.
US09267054B2

Described is a solvent-containing clearcoat coating composition comprising (A) an OH-functional (meth)acrylate (co)polymer component composed of (A1) at least one OH-functional (meth)acrylate (co)polymer having an OH number of 60-200 mg KOH/g and a glass transition temperature Tg of 15° C. to 100° C., and (A2) at least one OH-functional (meth)acrylate (co)polymer having an OH number of 60-200 mg KOH/g and a glass transition temperature Tg of −100° C. to −20° C.; (B) a crosslinker component comprising at least one crosslinking agent having functional groups that are reactive toward OH groups; and also (C) at least one polyamide; and (D) at least one urea compound, which is an adduct of a polyisocyanate and methoxypropylamine.Also described is a process for preparing the solvent-containing clearcoat coating composition, to the use of the solvent-containing clearcoat coating composition and a clearcoat which has been produced using the clearcoat coating composition.
US09267037B2

Silicone composite particles are provided in which silicone elastomer spherical particles having a volume average particle size of 0.1-100 μm are coated with an organosilsesquioxane-based silicone resin containing inorganic nano-particles having a volume average particle size of up to 100 nm. The silicone composite particles are compounded in a cosmetic composition to exert a UV screening effect or bactericidal property inherent to inorganic nano-particles and to impart a pleasant feel on use. A preparing method and a cosmetic composition are also provided.
US09267033B2

The invention relates to a blend of one or more biodegradable polymers with one or more acrylic copolymers, for the purpose of improving the properties of the biodegradable polymer(s). The biodegradable polymer contains at least 10 weight percent of a biopolymer that is in less than ideal condition for processing. The “compromised” biopolymer may be undried biopolymer, may have a heat history (be “reprocessed”, “regrind” or “recycled”), or both. The acrylic copolymer(s) are present in the blend at a level of 0.1 to 15 weight percent, based on the weight of the total blend.
US09267032B1

A process for making a crystalline latex emulsion suitable for use in toner using phase invention emulsification (PIE) where solvent is reused is presented.
US09267029B2

There is provided a method of making a nano-composite having individual nano-sized silica particles dispersed in a polymer matrix, the method comprises the step of curing a substantially homogeneous mixture of surface-functionalized nano-sized silica particles, a polymerizable resin and a curing agent, wherein said substantially homogeneous mixture is substantially free of alcoholic solvent to form the nano-composite.
US09267028B2

The invention relates to a crosslinker composition comprising a reaction product of a cyclic urea U and a multifunctional aliphatic aldehyde A, and at least one crosslinker selected from the group consisting of reaction products of an aminotriazine and at least one aldehyde selected from the group consisting of aliphatic monoaldehydes and multifunctional aliphatic aldehydes having the structure Y(CHO)n, where Y is an n-functional aliphatic residue, and n is greater than 1; reaction products of urea and/or cyclic ureas and formaldehyde; alkoxycarbonyl-aminotriazines; multifunctional isocyanates which may be partially or completely blocked; reaction products of phenols and aliphatic monoaldehydes; multifunctional epoxides; multifunctional aziridines; and multifunctional carbodiimides, wherein any of the crosslinkers which have hydroxyl groups may be etherified with one or more linear, branched, or cyclic aliphatic alcohols.
US09267023B2

A method of using metallized and nonmetallized nanostructured chemicals as surface and volume modification agents within polymers and on the surfaces of nano and macroscopic particulates and fillers. Because of their 0.5 nm-3.0 nm size, nanostructured chemicals can be utilized to greatly increase surface area, improve compatibility, and promote lubricity between surfaces at a length scale not previously attainable.
US09267022B2

Rubber in its uncured state is very tacky and rubber forms such as pellets, sheets, etc., tend to be hard to process due to the agglomeration and sticking of these rubber forms. Aspects of the invention use cured rubber powder as an anti-tack agent in a molding rubber mixture. In one aspect, the cured rubber powder has a particle size between 50 and 250 μm in the uncured rubber forms, a diameter of between 1 and 10 mm, and a length of between 1 and 15 mm.
US09267016B2

Provided is a vinylidene fluoride polymer powder exhibiting excellent solubility in aprotic polar solvents, and a vinylidene fluoride polymer solution obtained from the powder and an aprotic polar solvent. The vinylidene fluoride polymer powder has an NMP penetration rate of 12 to 100% as measured by an NMP penetration test.
US09267014B2

A tire comprising a rubber composition based on at least one diene elastomer, a reinforcing filler predominantly comprising silica, a crosslinking system, and an alkali metal hydroxide or alkaline earth metal hydroxide. The rubber composition is essentially devoid of guanidine derivative.
US09267007B2

A method for adding an additive into a polymer melt, preferably a polyester polymer melt such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), comprising: a. discharging a polymer melt from a reactor to form a discharged polymer melt stream, and b. solidifying said discharged polymer melt stream, and c. prior to solidification, feeding a portion of the discharged polymer melt stream to a slipstream to form a slipstream polymer melt, and d. feeding an additive into said slipstream polymer melt to form an additive containing slipstream, and e. feeding the additive containing slipstream to a location upstream from the feed location forming said slipstream.
US09267006B2

Provided according to some embodiments of the invention are methods of making co-condensed macromolecules that include forming a reaction mixture by combining at least one reactant and at least one reagent at a first temperature at which the at least one reactant is substantially unreactive in the presence of the at least one reagent; raising the temperature of the reaction mixture to a second temperature at which the at least one reactant is reactive in the presence of the at least one reagent, wherein the reaction of the at least one reactant in the presence of the at least one reagent produces co-condensed macromolecules such as co-condensed silica macromolecules.
US09267001B2

A telechelic macromer is disclosed having (meth)acrylic end-groups and a core. The macromer defined by Formula 1 comprises a core Y (Formulas 2 to 9) that is linked to (meth)acrylic groups by urethane, ester or anhydride bonds and has iodine value ranging from 5 to 75. The method involves a chemical reaction carried out in solvent, ranging 6-24 hours, wherein the precursor of a core (Formulas 2 and 3) reacts in two stages with compounds forming urethane bonds, or wherein the precursor of a core (Formulas 4 to 8) reacts in one stage with compounds forming ester bonds, or wherein the precursor of a core defined by Formula 9 reacts in one stage with compounds forming anhydride bonds. The urethane, ester and anhydride moieties comprise groups capable of free radical polymerization isolating the final product by evaporation. The composition disclosed provides the macromer, a photoinitiator and possibly a reactive diluent.
US09266991B2

A formulation for preparing a low density, full water blown polyurethane rigid foam includes an isocyanate component; an isocyanate-reactive component comprising from 30-50 wt % of a first polyether polyol having a functionality greater than 5 and an OH value from 350-550 mgKOH/g; from 5 to 25 wt % of a diol having an OH value from 100-300 mgKOH/g; and from 15 to 35 weight percent of a second polyether polyol having a functionality from 3 to 5; further including from 1.5 to 5 wt % of a catalyst selected from dimethylbenzylamine and/or 1,2-dimethyl-imidazole; from greater than 0 to 1 wt % of a trimerization catalyst selected from a glycine salt and/or tris(dimethyl aminomethyl) phenol; greater than 4.1 wt % water as a blowing agent; and any additional constituents selected such that the formulation, excluding the isocyanate component, totals 100 wt % and, the formulation absent the isocyanate component, has a dynamic viscosity from 540 to 864 mPa*s at 20° C. Processing under one-shot conditions can yield a rigid form having a molecular weight per crosslink ratio from 380 to 420. The formulation offers good processability, while the foam shows desirable dimensional stability and mechanical properties at unexpectedly low applied density.
US09266990B2

A method for producing polyoxymethylene dimethyl ethers using fluidized bed reactor is provided. The fluidized bed reactor gives high conversion of feedstock during synthesis of polyoxymethylene dimethyl ethers. The product separation process includes pre-rectification, extractive rectification and vacuum rectification in series. In the pre-rectification process, the side-draw fraction PODE2 is recycled into the fluidized bed reactor, thus product distribution and selectivity to target components in the reactor can be improved. The extractive rectification process realizes coupling of neutralization, extraction, recovery of unconverted feedstock and products separation, thus significantly simplifies the process. The method for preparation of polyoxymethylene dimethyl ethers in this invention is simple, and has high conversion of feedstock, low energy cost and high selectivity to products.
US09266982B2

Provided are a process for preparing an N ortho acyl substituted nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compound and an aminal iron (II) complex thereof, and the use of the complexes obtained by the process in an olefin oligomerization catalyst. The N ortho acyl substituted nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compound in the present invention is for example 2-acyl-1,10-phenanthroline or 2,6-diacetyl pyridine as shown in formula b, and the N ortho acyl substituted nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compound in the present invention is produced by a reaction of a precursor thereof in a substituted or unsubstituted nitrobenzene. Preferably the precursor shown in formula I in the present invention is produced by 1,10-phenanthroline reacting with trialkyl aluminum, or a halogenoalkyl aluminum RnAIXm, or a substituted or unsubstituted benzyl lithium Ph′CH2Li, followed by hydrolysis. The preparation method provided in the present invention has a few synthetic steps, an easy process, a low toxic effect, and reduces the preparation costs of the catalyst, and has a promising outlook in the industrial application.
US09266975B2

The present invention provides a novel continuous polymerization apparatus which is able to efficiently produce a polymer composition suitable for obtaining a resin composition with high quality. In a continuous polymerization apparatus, at least, a first reactor of a complete mixing type and a second reactor of a complete mixing type (10, 20) are used. Each of the reactors (10, 20) is provided with a supply port (11a, 21a), an effluent port (11b, 21b), and a temperature detecting means (T) for detecting a temperature in the reactor, wherein the supply port (11a) of the first reactor (10) is connected to the supply sources (1, 3) of a raw material monomer and a polymerization initiator, and the effluent port (11b) of the first reactor is connected through a connection line (15) provided with a cooling means (16) to the supply port (21a) of the second reactor (20). The cooling means (16) is controlled to make the temperature in the connection line adjacent to the supply port (21a) of the second reactor lower than the temperature in the first reactor (10).
US09266973B2

Systems and methods for processing biological material utilizing chitosan are provided herein. Methods may include the steps of reducing the pH of an amount of culture to about 5 to 7, incorporating an amount of a chitosan solution into the culture to form a mixture, wherein chitosan in the chitosan solution binds to the biological material; increasing the pH of the culture to about 7 to 10, to flocculate biological material in the culture, concentrating the flocculates, reducing the pH of the concentrated flocculates to about 3 to 5, and separating the recovered chitosan solution from the concentrated biological material.
US09266972B2

The present invention aims to provide a polyrotaxane composition having excellent storage stability. The present invention relates to a polyrotaxane composition comprising: a polyrotaxane containing a cyclodextrin, a polyethylene glycol which is included in the cavities of the cyclodextrin molecules in a skewered manner, and a capping group that is placed at each end of the polyethylene glycol and prevents dissociation of the cyclodextrin molecules from the polyethylene glycol; and a polyphenol antioxidant.
US09266971B2

Novel nonionic cellulose ethers exhibit a reduced degree of thermal thinning and are efficient thickeners at elevated temperatures. The nonionic cellulose ether has hydroxyethyl groups and is further substituted with one or more hydrophobic substituents. The cellulose ether further has at least one of the properties a), b) or c): a) a retained dynamic viscosity, % η80/25, of at least 30 percent, wherein % η80/25=[dynamic solution viscosity at 80° C./dynamic solution viscosity at 25° C.] 100, the dynamic solution viscosity at 25° C. and 80° C. being measured as 1% aqueous solution; b) a storage modulus of at least 15 Pascals at 25° C. and a retained storage modulus, % G′80/25, of at least 12 percent, wherein % G′80/25=[storage modulus at 80° C./storage modulus at 25° C.] 100, the storage modulus at 25° C. and 80° C. being measured as a 1% aqueous solution; c) a critical association concentration of less than 15 ppm as measured by light-scattering.
US09266964B2

Plasma kallikrein binding proteins and methods of using such proteins are described.
US09266962B2

Herein is reported a fusion polypeptide according to formula (I): NH2—S2—X1—S1—COOH, wherein X1 comprises either a random amino acid sequence or an amino acid sequence derived from a first polypeptide, S2 and S1 are non-overlapping amino acid sequences derived from a second polypeptide, and denotes a peptide bond, wherein the second polypeptide is a polypeptide with peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans-isomerase activity (PPIase activity) or is derived from the FKBP-fold domain family, wherein X1 is inserted in place of the insert-in-flap-domain of the second polypeptide.
US09266957B2

This document provides methods and materials related to treating renal cell carcinoma. For example, methods and materials for assessing a cancer patient (e.g., a renal cell carcinoma patient) for tumor or peritumoral tissue containing CD14+ cells and proceeding with a cancer treatment option (e.g., a renal cell carcinoma treatment option) based on the presence, absence, or level of CD14+ cells present within the tumor or peritumoral tissue are provided.
US09266947B2

Compositions and methods are provided for alleviating cancer in a mammal by administering a therapeutic dose of a pharmaceutical composition that inhibits activity of AXL protein activity, for example by competitive or non-competitive inhibition of the binding interaction between AXL and its ligand GAS6.
US09266944B2

The present invention provides isolated polypeptides isolatable from a Staphylococcus spp. Also provided by the present invention are compositions that include one or more of the polypeptides, and methods for making and methods for using the polypeptides.
US09266940B2

The invention relates to a derivative of a GLP-1 analog, which analog comprises a first K residue at a position corresponding to position 27 of GLP-1(7-37) (SEQ ID NO: 1); a second K residue at a position corresponding to position T of GLP-1(7-37), where T is an integer in the range of 7-37 except 18 and 27; and a maximum of ten amino acid changes as compared to GLP-1(7-37); wherein the first K residue is designated K27, and the second K residue is designated KT; which derivative comprises two albumin binding moieties attached to K27 and KT, respectively, via a linker, wherein the albumin binding moiety comprises a protracting moiety selected from HOOC—(CH2)x—CO— and HOOC—C6H4—O—(CH2)y—CO—; in which x is an integer in the range of 6-16, and y is an integer in the range of 3-17; wherein the linker comprises an element of the formula —NH—(CH2)2—(O—(CH2)2)k—O—(CH2)n—CO—, wherein k is an integer in the range of 1-5, and n is an integer in the range of 1-5; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, amide, or ester thereof. The invention also relates to the pharmaceutical use thereof, for example in the treatment and/or prevention of all forms of diabetes and related diseases, as well as to corresponding novel GLP-1 analogs. The derivatives are suitable for oral administration.
US09266938B2

The present invention generally relates to mutant interleukin-2 polypeptides that exhibit reduced affinity to the α-subunit of the IL-2 receptor, for use as immunotherapeutic agents. In addition, the invention relates to immunoconjugates comprising said mutant IL-2 polypeptides, polynucleotide molecules encoding the mutant IL-2 polypeptides or immunoconjugates, and vectors and host cells comprising such polynucleotide molecules. The invention further relates to methods for producing the mutant IL-2 polypeptides or immunoconjugates, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same, and uses thereof.
US09266930B1

This invention uses our knowledge of the mechanisms by which antigen is recognized by T cells to identify and prepare Plasmodium falciparum epitopes, and to develop epitope-based vaccines directed towards malaria. More specifically, this application communicates our discovery of pharmaceutical compositions and methods of use in the prevention and treatment of malaria. In particular, this application discloses isolated peptides comprising oligopeptides, for example the oligopeptide GVSENIFLK, or isolated peptides conjugated with T helper peptides that are used as antigens in epitope-based vaccines to prevent and/or treat malaria.
US09266929B2

The invention provides proteins from Neisseria meningitidis, including the amino acid sequences and the corresponding nucleotide sequences. The proteins are predicted to be useful antigens for vaccines and/or diagnostics.
US09266928B2

Disclosed herein are isolated immunogens including variant gp120 polypeptides. In an example, a variant gp120 polypeptide includes a deletion of at least 8 consecutive residues of the fourth conserved loop (C4) between residues 419 and 434 of gp120 according to HXB2 numbering. Also provided are isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding the disclosed isolated immunogens. In an example, an isolated nucleic acid molecule further includes a nucleic acid molecule encoding a hepatitis B surface antigen or a variant thereof. Compositions including the isolated immunogens including variant gp120 polypeptides are also disclosed. In some examples, a composition further includes a carrier protein, such as a hepatitis B surface antigen or a variant thereof (natural or recombinant). Viral-like particles are also provided including any of the disclosed isolated immunogens or compositions. Also disclosed are uses of these variant gp120 polypeptides and nucleic acids encoding variant polypeptides, such as to induce an immune response to HIV-1.
US09266925B2

The invention provides a cyclic polypeptide of Formula I (SEQ ID NO: 1): X1-R-X3-X4-L-S-X7-X8-X9-X10-X11-X12-X13  I or an amide, an ester or a salt thereof, or a bioconjugate thereof, wherein X1, X3, X4, X7, X8, X9, X10, X11, X12 and X13 are defined herein. The polypeptides are agonist of the APJ receptor. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing the polypeptides of the invention or bioconjugates thereof, and their therapeutic uses such as treatment or prevention of acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF), chronic heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, atrial fibrillation, Brugada syndrome, ventricular tachycardia, atherosclerosis, hypertension, restenosis, ischemic cardiovascular diseases, cardiomyopathy, cardiac fibrosis, arrhythmia, water retention, diabetes (including gestational diabetes), obesity, peripheral arterial disease, cerebrovascular accidents, transient ischemic attacks, traumatic brain injuries, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, burn injuries (including sunburn) and preeclampsia. The present invention further provides a combination of pharmacologically active agents and a pharmaceutical composition.
US09266922B2

The invention relates to antigen peptide derived from the Nectin4 and its use for preventing and treating cancer.
US09266911B2

The present invention relates to a camptothecin derivative having a structure as represented by Formula (II), in which Xn+ is selected from H+, K+, Na+, Li+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Zn2+, Fe3+, and ammonium ion, while R1, R2, R3, and R4 independently represent a hydrogen, a hydroxyl group, a nitro group, a cyano group, a halogen, a carboxyl group, an optionally substituted amino group, a silicon-containing group, a monocyclic aryloxy group, an optionally substituted C1-C6 alkoxy group, an optionally substituted C1-C6 alkylcarbonyl group, an optionally substituted C1-C6 alkyl group, or an optionally substituted C3-C6 cycloalkyl group; alternatively, R1 and R2 are connected via one to three other atoms to form a heterocyclic ring; and in another embodiment, R3 and R4 are oxygen atoms and connected via —O—(CH2)n—O—, forming a ring, in which n=I or 2. The compound has great water-solubility, chemical stability, and great efficacy in treatment on cancer.
US09266906B2

Copper(I) complexes for the emission of light with a structure according to formula A: wherein: M is Cu(I); L-B-L: a neutral, bidentate ligand, Z4-Z7: includes N or the fragment CR, with R=organic group, selected from the group consisting of: hydrogen, halogen or deuterium or groups which are bound via oxygen (—OR′″), nitrogen (—NR′″2), or phosphorous atoms (PR′″2) as well as alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, alkenyl, alkinyl, trialkylsilyl and triarylsilyl groups or substituted alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl and alkenyl groups with substituents such as halogens or deuterium or lower alkyl groups; X is either CR′″2 or NR′″; Y is either O, S or NR′″; Z8 includes the fragment CR′, with R′=O*R′″, N*R′″2 or P*R′″2, wherein the bond to the Cu atom is carried out via these groups; R″ is a sterically demanding substituent, which inhibits a change in geometry in direction to planarization of the complex in excited state, R′″=organic group which is selected from the group consisting of: hydrogen, halogen or deuterium, as well as alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, alkenyl, alkinyl groups or substituted alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl and alkenyl groups with substituents such as halogens or deuterium, alkyl groups, and further generally known donor and acceptor groups * indicates the atom which receives the complex bond; and # indicates the atom which mediates the bond with the second chemical unit.
US09266905B2

Color materials represented by the following general formula (I): having excellent heat resistance.
US09266900B2

Reduced color and improved color stability isohexide products are enabled through adding one or more antioxidants to a crude dehydration product mixture from an acid-catalyzed dehydration of a corresponding hexitol.
US09266899B2

In order to produce an epoxy compound with a less chlorine content at a higher reaction rate and yield, the present invention provides a method for producing an epoxy compound by reacting a compound having a carbon-carbon double bond with hydrogen peroxide in the coexistence of the compound having a carbon-carbon double bond, the hydrogen peroxide solution, a powdered solid catalyst support and a powdered solid catalyst all together, the solid catalyst comprising isopolyacids produced from (a) tungstic acid or a salt thereof and (b) a quaternary ammonium salt compound and/or a pyridinium salt, selected from halogen-free compounds.
US09266898B2

A reaction product of the co-dehydration of a sugar alcohol and a reactant polyol having a number average hydroxyl functionality less than 4.0 is disclosed. In some aspects the sugar alcohol comprises mannitol, sorbitol, xylitol, erythritol, or mixtures thereof. In some preferred aspects the sugar alcohol comprises sorbitol. In some aspects the reactant polyol has an average molecular weight of from 40 to 500 Daltons. In some aspects, the reaction product may be suitable for the manufacture of polyisocyanurate foam. In some aspects the reaction product may be mixed with diluent polyols, such as diols, glycols, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol and mixtures thereof.
US09266886B2

Provided are novel compounds of Formula (I): pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and pharmaceutical compositions thereof, which are useful in the treatment of diseases and disorders mediated by RORγ. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions comprising the novel compounds of Formula (I) and methods for their use in treating one or more inflammatory, metabolic, autoimmune and other diseases or disorders.
US09266883B2

The present invention provides a compound of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; a method for manufacturing said compound, and its therapeutic uses. The present invention further provides a combination of pharmacologically active agents and a pharmaceutical composition comprising said compound.
US09266880B2

Disclosed are azaindazole compounds of Formula (I): or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein: Q is: (i) 5-membered heteroaryl comprising at least one nitrogen heteroatom and substituted with zero to 2 Rg; or (ii) 9- to 10-membered bicyclic heteroaryl selected from Formula (II) and; wherein Ring A is a 5- to 6-membered aryl or heteroaryl fused ring substituted with zero to 2 Rg; and R1, R2, R3, and Rg are defined herein. Also disclosed are methods of using such compounds in the treatment of at least one CYP17 associated condition, such as, for example, cancer, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds.
US09266871B2

The present application relates to novel trifluoromethyl-substituted fused pyrimidines, to processes for their preparation, to their use alone or in combinations for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases, and to their use for producing medicaments for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases, in particular for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of cardiovascular disorders.
US09266868B2

Provided are a crystalline dihydrate of Rivaroxaban, processes for the preparation thereof, pharmaceutical compositions containing the crystalline dihydrate and processes for preparing and storing the pharmaceutical compositions. Also provided are a crystalline formic acid solvate of Rivaroxaban, processes for the preparation of crystalline Rivaroxaban formic acid solvate and the use of the Rivaroxaban formic acid solvate in the manufacture of the crystalline dihydrate of Rivaroxaban.
US09266866B2

The invention is directed to compounds of Formula I: wherein Z, X, J, R2 and W are set forth in the specification, as well as solvates, hydrates, tautomers and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, that inhibit protein tyrosine kinases, especially c-fms kinase. Methods of treating autoimmune diseases; and diseases with an inflammatory component; treating metastasis from ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, colon cancer, stomach cancer, hairy cell leukemia; and treating pain, including skeletal pain caused by tumor metastasis or osteoarthritis, or visceral, inflammatory, and neurogenic pain; as well as osteoporosis, Paget's disease, and other diseases in which bone resorption mediates morbidity including rheumatoid arthritis, and other forms of inflammatory arthritis, osteoarthritis, prosthesis failure, osteolytic sarcoma, myeloma, and tumor metastasis to bone with the compounds of Formula I, are also provided.
US09266863B2

Described herein is a process for the synthesis of azacitidine or decitabine, comprising the silylation of azacytosine in the presence of N,O-bis-trimethylsilyl-trifluoroacetamide. Such reaction is performed in an organic solvent, preferably aprotic, even more preferably selected from among dichloromethane, dichloroethane and/or acetonitrile. According to a further aspect of the process, 2 to 3 moles of N,O-bis-trimethylsilyl-trifluoroacetamide are used per mole of azacytosine, preferably from 2.2 to 2.5.
US09266854B2

This invention discloses one step transition metal free process for synthesis of cyclic carbonates from aldehydes and carbon dioxide. More particularly, the invention relates to single step procedure involving Corey-Chaykovsky reaction and in-situ C02 insertion.
US09266846B2

The present disclosure is directed to compounds, diagnostic agents, and related methods. In some cases, methods for treating patients are provided. More specifically, the disclosure provides compounds, diagnostic agents, and kits for detecting and/or imaging and/or monitoring elastin rich tissues. In addition, the disclosure provides methods of detecting and/or imaging and/or monitoring the presence of coronary plaque, carotid plaque, iliac/femoral plaque, aortic plaque, renal artery plaque, plaque of any arterial vessel, aneurism, vasculitis, other diseases of the arterial wall, and/or damage or structural changes in ligaments, uterus, lungs or skin, as indicated by changes in total vessel wall area, internal lumen size, and exterior arterial perimeter.
US09266845B2

The invention relates to (among other things) methods for treatment comprising administering oligomer-containing substituted aromatic triazine compounds. A compound of the invention, when administered by any of a number of administration routes, exhibits one or more advantages over corresponding compounds lacking the oligomer.
US09266843B2

The present invention relates to compounds of formula I: and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds of formula I, and methods of using the compounds, salts and compositions in the treatment of various disorders associated with CRM1 activity.
US09266842B2

The present invention is related to a use of aminopyrazine derivatives in the manufacture of a medicament for preventing or treating malaria. Specifically, the present invention is related to aminopyrazine derivatives useful for the preparation of a pharmaceutical formulation for the inhibition of malaria parasite proliferation. In one embodiment, the invention provides aminopyrazine derivatives having the following formula:
US09266833B2

The present invention provides a carrier transport material formed by completing a reaction process of at least one aromatic compound and at least one polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), wherein a cross linking reaction can be activated in the molecular compound through heating or ultraviolet irradiation because the molecular compound has at least one cross-linkable functional group. Therefore, when the carrier transport material is applied in an OLED, the carrier transport material would not be dissolved by the solvent included in the next coated material because the carrier transport material has been cured after the cross linking reaction is carried out. Moreover, because the carrier transport material would simultaneously perform an electron confining functionality when being used as a hole transport layer, the device efficiency of the OLED having the carrier transport material is obviously enhanced during the high-brightness operation especially.
US09266825B2

The present invention relates to a copolymer of the formula where A, B, and D are independently of one another an aliphatic (cyclo)alkylene radical, R is a C1-C10 alkyl radical, and 3≦x≦10. The present invention also relates to a process for preparing the copolymer, to its use and also to a coating composition and a coating formulation containing the copolymer.
US09266822B2

Novel solid forms of tacedinaline (4-(acetylamino)-N-(2-aminophenyl)benzamide), including crystalline tacedinaline Form B, a novel crystalline tacedinaline TFA salt, and amorphous tacedinaline, are disclosed. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising crystalline tacedinaline Form B, the novel crystalline tacedinaline TFA salt, and/or amorphous tacedinaline, and methods of treating various conditions by administering those novel solid forms, are also disclosed.
US09266817B2

Novel compounds, compositions, and methods related to the activation of the TrkB receptor are provided. The methods include administering in vivo or in vitro a therapeutically effective amount of a compound containing a catecholamine backbone and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, prodrugs, and derivatives thereof. Specifically, methods, compositions, and compounds for the treatment of disorders including neurological disorders, neuropsychiatric disorders, and metabolic disorders are provided. For example, a first method is provided of treating or reducing the risk of depression, anxiety, or obesity in a subject, which includes administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of the described compounds. A further method of promoting neuroprotection in a subject also is provided, which includes administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of the described compounds.
US09266810B2

Provided is a simple filtering operation method capable of conducting a filtering operation without clogging in a ceramic filter for a long period of time, in the operation of filtering fine crystals of an aromatic carboxylic acid in an oxidation reaction mother liquor obtained in a process of an aromatic carboxylic acid production by a cross-flow filtration using the ceramic filter. The present invention can be accomplished by conducting an operation for filtering the fine crystals and a back washing operation with a filtrate while maintaining a flowing circulation operation of the oxidation reaction mother liquor under predetermined conditions.
US09266807B1

Processes are provided for contacting at least one Cn alcohol equivalent having n carbon atoms and at least one Cn+1 alcohol equivalent having (n+1) carbon atoms with a Guerbet catalyst to form a product composition comprising a product compound having the structure: wherein: C is a carbon atom; H is a hydrogen atom; Q is an alcohol or aldehyde group having one carbon; R is a linear alkyl group having n carbon atoms; and T is an alkyl group having (n−1) carbon atoms, except that when n=1, T is methyl.
US09266797B2

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for monitoring and controlling a nitroxide-based polymerization inhibitor in vinyl-based monomers. A dosage of the nitroxide-based polymerization inhibitor is provided in the vinyl-based monomers. A residual concentration of the nitroxide-based polymerization inhibitor is measured substantially in real time, and an optimized dosage of the nitroxide-based polymerization inhibitor is provided in response to the measured residual concentration.
US09266795B2

A process is presented for the purification of 1,3 butadiene. The process is for treating a butadiene stream from an oxidative dehydrogenation unit, where a butane stream is dehydrogenated, generating a butadiene rich stream. The butadiene rich stream is fractionated and passed through a butadiene recovery unit. Additional C4 compounds recovered from the fractionation bottoms stream are further processed for increasing yields of butadiene.
US09266791B2

The invention relates to methods and equipment for converting C3+ olefin to, e.g., one or more of di-C3+ olefin, oligomers and polymers of C3+ olefin, branched C4+-aldehydes, C4+-carboxylic acids, and C4+ oxygenates. The invention encompasses producing methyl tert-butyl ether and diisobutylene, and converting methyl tert-butyl ether to isobutylene.
US09266759B2

A system for treatment of suspended solids in a liquid medium having a one pond, an apparatus for controlled ventilation and aeration of a liquid medium, the apparatus having a dome supported by a flotation device, a blower, a lower housing supported by the flotation device, the lower housing connected to the dome, an aeration apparatus positioned within the sealed space and partially submerged in the flotation liquid, and having one or more parallel shafts, at least one first disc positioned axially on one of the shafts, at least one second disc positioned axially on another of the shafts, wherein the second disc is interleaved relative to the first disc, and wherein a surface of the first disc rotates in a direction opposite a surface of the second disc relative to each other resulting in a mixing area therebetween, and wherein the apparatus is positioned within the pond.
US09266752B2

The treatment apparatus is pressurized and operates on a continuous flow of fluids which are subjected to hydrodynamic waves, acoustic ultrasonic waves in combination with injected ozone and electro chemical treatment. The treatment system provides a cost efficient and environmentally friendly process and apparatus for cleaning and recycling fluids as contaminated as frac water, used to stimulate gas production from shale formations, as well as other types of fluids having various levels of contaminants such as aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and suspended solids. The calcium carbonate scaling tendency is reduced to an acceptable level without the use of acids, ion exchange materials, or anti scaling chemicals which is of economical and environmental significance and benefit. The treatment apparatus is modular in construction and compact in overall configuration. The treatment apparatus and associated equipment and electrical power generator is sized and configured to be mounted within a truck trailer body.
US09266742B2

A mixture containing methyldichlorosilane, tetrachlorosilane, and trichlorosilane is distilled to fractionate a fraction with a higher content of methyldichlorosilane than the mixture before distillation. Subsequently, the fraction thus fractionated is heated to disproportionate chlorine between methyldichlorosilane and tetrachlorosilane to disproportionate methyldichlorosilane into methyltrichlorosilane. Subsequently, the fraction after disproportionation containing methyltrichlorosilane is purified by distillation to separate high-purity trichlorosilane. Having a close boiling point to that of trichlorosilane (32° C.), which is a target product to be purified by distillation, removal of methyldichlorosilane (boiling point of 41° C.) has been difficult. The present invention removes methyldichlorosilane more easily by converting it into methyltrichlorosilane (boiling point of 66° C.) through disproportionation of chlorine between methyldichlorosilane and tetrachlorosilane.
US09266741B2

The present invention relates to polycrystalline silicon chunks which are cubic and have a metal content of less than 200 pptw and a dopant content of less than 50 ppta. Methods for producing polycrystalline silicon chunks, include the steps of providing a polycrystalline silicon rod, comminuting the polycrystalline silicon rod into cubic chunks, and cleaning the polycrystalline silicon chunks, wherein comminution takes place using a spiked-roll crusher having at least one spiked roll, the spiked roll including W2C phases or WC phases with 0.1-10% of a metal carbide selected from the group consisting of titanium carbide, chromium carbide, molybdenum carbide, vanadium carbide, and nickel carbide or consisting of steel with 1-25% W.
US09266732B2

The present invention relates to an apparatus for reforming a hydrocarbon using a micro-channel heater, which can utilize the combustion heat of a fuel as an energy source needed for reforming a hydrocarbon. A plurality of thin metal plates having micro-channels may be laminated in a multilayered structure so as to manufacture a small to medium compact hydrogen-producing apparatus. In particular, a reforming unit may be designed to have a multilayered structure so as to improve the capacity of a reformer up to a level desired by a user.
US09266721B2

A method for producing a semiconductor component (166) is proposed. The method comprises the following steps: a) a semiconductor chip (110) is produced on a starting substrate (112), wherein the semiconductor chip (110) is connected to the starting substrate (112) in at least one supporting location (116), wherein the semiconductor chip (110) has a front side (130) facing away from the starting substrate (112) and a rear side (132) facing the starting substrate (112), b) in at least one through-plating step, at least one through-contact filling material (142) is applied to the semiconductor chip (110), wherein at least one partial region (140) of the rear side (132) is coated with the through-contact filling material (142), c) the semiconductor chip (110) is separated from the starting substrate (112), and d) the semiconductor chip (110) is applied to at least one carrier substrate (150), wherein that partial region (140) of the rear side (132) of the semiconductor chip (110) which is coated with the through-contact filling material (142) is connected to at least one bonding pad (152) on the carrier substrate (150).
US09266720B2

A component has at least one MEMS element and at least one cap made of a semiconductor material. The cap, in addition to its mechanical function as a terminus of a cavity and protection of the micromechanical structure, is provided with an electrical functionality. The micromechanical structure of the MEMS element of the component is situated in a cavity between a carrier and the cap, and includes at least one structural element which is deflectable out of the component plane within the cavity. The cap includes at least one section extending over the entire thickness of the cap, which is electrically insulated from the adjoining semiconductor material in such a way that it may be electrically contacted independently from the remaining sections of the cap.
US09266716B2

A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) microphone has a substrate including a backside trench, and a flexible membrane deposited on the substrate extending over the backside trench. The flexible membrane includes a first electrode. A silicon spacer layer is deposited on a perimeter portion of the flexible membrane. The spacer layer defines an acoustic chamber above the membrane and the backside trench. A silicon rich silicon nitride (SiN) backplate layer is deposited on top of the silicon spacer layer extending over the acoustic chamber. The backplate defines a plurality of opening into the acoustic chamber and includes a metallization that serves as a second electrode.
US09266715B2

In order to obtain a SOI wafer having an excellent ability of gettering metal impurities, an efficient method of manufacturing a SOI wafer, and a highly reliable MEMS device using such a SOI wafer, provided is a SOI wafer including: a support wafer (1) and an active layer wafer (6) which are bonded together with an oxide film (3) therebetween, each of the support wafer (1) and the active layer wafer (6) being a silicon wafer; a cavity (1b) formed in a bonding surface of at least one of the silicon wafers; and a gettering material (2) formed on a surface on a side opposite to the bonding surface.
US09266709B2

Systems and methods for mixing and dispensing an aqueous urea solution at the point of delivery to diesel powered vehicles. A stand alone terminal or modular unit that mixes and dispenses the dilute solution on an as-needed batch basis. Each delivery terminal includes a dry or concentrated liquid urea reservoir, and a metering urea dispenser, along with a parallel demineralized water reservoir and a metering water dispenser. The demineralized water may be provided directly from an external source or the system may include a demineralizing component. The metered dispensing of the urea and the water into a mixing tank to produce the aqueous urea solution (AUS) is controlled through an electronic control system. From the mixing tank the system directs the solution through a sediment filtration system before retaining the mixed and filtered solution in a terminal holding and dispensing tank.
US09266706B2

The present invention refers no a plant for filling bottles or containers with continuous calibration and to a continuous calibration method of such a plant. The calibration method (100) is characterized in that it comprises the steps consisting of collecting (110) at least one set of data relating to filling and/or closing parameters of containers or bottles (16) treated through the same tap or filling valve (15) of the filling plant (10) and/or through the same closing and/or capping head (14) of the filling plant (10); based on the data collected, calculating (120) statistical data associated with the tap or filling valve (15) and/or with the closing and/or capping head (14); updating (130) the statistical data based on new data collected and monitoring the progression thereof; in the case of a variation of the statistical data over time, adjusting the tap or filling valve (15) and/or the closing and/or capping head (14) associated with the statistical data so as to compensate for the variation.
US09266705B2

A battery forklift includes a battery and a motor that includes a rotation shaft and is driven using the battery as a power source. A reduction device reduces the speed of rotation of the rotation shaft and transmits the rotation to an axle. A case accommodates the reduction device. A drive wheel is driven by rotation of the axle. The reduction device includes a helical gear rotated integrally with the rotation shaft and a drive shaft formed integrally with the helical gear and extended in a vertical direction. The reduction device further includes an upper bearing located above the helical gear to support the drive shaft rotatably relative to the case and a lower bearing located below the helical gear to support the drive shaft rotatably relative to the case. The case includes a communication portion that communicates a lower void located below the upper bearing and an upper void located above the upper bearing.
US09266700B2

The present disclosure shows a crane controller for a crane which includes a hoisting gear for lifting a load hanging on a cable, with an active heave compensation which by actuating the hoisting gear at least partly compensates the movement of the cable suspension point and/or a load deposition point due to the heave, wherein the heave compensation takes account of at least one constraint of the hoisting gear when calculating the actuation of the hoisting gear.
US09266699B2

An elevator system has an elevator car suspended on at least one synchronous belt driven by a drive driving a drive pulley in a non-slip manner, a distance measurement device measuring a travel distance of the belt at the drive pulley for determining a car position, a controller actuating the drive based on-stored stop location position values and a determined car position to stop the car at two or more stop locations, at least one position sensor disposed from the drive pulley and signaling the controller when the car passes a reference position, and a compensation device making a correction of the stored stop location position values with a correction factor based on the difference between the car position determined by the distance measurement device and the reference position as the car passes the reference position. Methods for operating the elevator system and initializing the controller are provided.
US09266693B2

First retention member 40 and second retention member 42 are disposed so as to be separately arrayed along a direction orthogonal to a drawing direction, in which the first retention member 40 and the second retention member 42 are drawn from paper sheet storing unit. Upper opening of paper sheet storing bag 50 is sealed when the first retention member 40 moves toward and abuts on the second retention member 42. The first retention member 40 and the second retention member 42 is drawable to outside from the paper sheet storing unit only when the first retention member 40 and the second retention member 42 abut each other.
US09266686B2

A vacuum gripper for gripping a work-piece includes a flat or curved gripper plate having at least one suction port. A work-piece suction throttling zone is formed around the suction port. The gripper plate has at least one recess provided at a side facing the work-piece and arranged beyond the work-piece suction throttling zone (6) formed around the suction port. At least one vent hole is formed within each of the recesses.
US09266680B2

Conveyor system (1) for forage bales (2) comprising driving means (3) for said forage bales (2) and dragging means (4) for said driving means (3) for moving said bales (2) along a conveying direction, and it is characterized in that said driving means (3) are rotatably mounted about a longitudinal axis (“Y”) of said dragging means, said driving means (3) being susceptible to freely rotate about said axis (“Y”) to permit the relative movement of the bales (2) with respect to said dragging means (4). The system prevents the breakage of tie threads, permits to auto-align the bales and permits the bales to trace curved paths with a very little rotation radius.
US09266679B2

A moving conveying device is provided which extends in a planar manner, such as a conveyor belt or a mat top conveyor, for conveying piece goods or bulk goods and which lies in a conveying apparatus. A rolling element including a plurality of rollers is arranged between the conveying device and a support element. The conveying device moves relative to the rolling element, wherein the rollers roll on the conveying means and on the support element, and the rollers are interconnected at a distance from each other by way of a flexible connecting element.
US09266677B2

A transport conveyer includes an upstream side conveyer portion and a downstream side conveyer portion. The upstream side conveyer portion is provided such that an upstream side imaginary path line which is circular-arc-shaped is connected to a downstream side imaginary path line such that the tangent line at the downstream side end of the upstream side imaginary path line and the tangent line at the upstream side end of the downstream side imaginary path line are at the same angle. Provided on the upstream side end portion of the downstream side conveyer portion is a rotating operation transport device for supporting and transporting the article such that the amount of rotation of the article by the downstream side conveyer portion is greater than or equal to the amount of rotation caused by the downstream side conveyer portion.
US09266671B2

A trash container that allows the user to compress trash when the user manually pushes the top cover down. When an indoor trash container seems full, people would normally press the garbage down into the container using their hands in order to create more room inside the container. That is unsanitary. Our invention is a trash container that allows the user to compress trash when the user manually pushes the top cover down. A user's hands don't touch the trash.
US09266670B2

A lifting device is for a container. The lifting device is attached at one end of the container. The lifting device includes an undercarriage provided with one or more wheels; and an actuator arranged to move the undercarriage of the lifting device between a first position, not engaging the supporting surface, and a second position, engaging the supporting surface, so that, in the position of the undercarriage engaging the supporting surface, one end of the container is lifted up from the supporting surface. The undercarriage of the lifting device is connected to the actuator via at least one connecting body, the connecting body being connected to the actuator and movable therewith.
US09266663B1

A coffee filter roll is disclosed herein. The coffee filter roll includes a plurality of coffee filters successively arranged in a roll configuration, each of the plurality of coffee filters being detachably coupled to one another and including a plurality of fold lines configured to facilitate an insertion of each of the plurality of coffee filters into a coffee filter basket of a coffee maker; and a plurality of lines of weakness, each of the plurality of lines of weakness being disposed between adjacent coffee filters in the coffee filter roll. Each coffee filter is configured to be separated from the coffee filter roll by tearing the coffee filter being removed from the adjacent coffee filter in the coffee filter roll along at least one of the plurality of lines of weakness. A coffee filter dispensing system and a method of dispensing rolled coffee filters is also disclosed herein.
US09266655B1

A high strength disposable debris bundling device including a sheet-like main body having a plurality of drawstrings running generally parallel and in spaced relation through separate channels associated with the wrap. The drawstrings preferably comprise elongate flexible thin rope or cord-like structures that run through hem channels formed in the wrap and function to compact and secure the debris in bundle with the wrap disposed in surrounding relation therewith. Providing at least two drawstrings allows the wrap to be pulled tightly around the debris and secured in contoured surrounding relation therewith. The wrap preferably has a width of between approximately 3.0 feet and 5.0 feet. Handles are provided to assist in handling the wrapped debris bundle.
US09266653B1

A flush cut tie device facilitates flush trimming of excess after securing a tie device. The device includes a tie and a channel coupled to a first end of the tie. A projection is positioned in an interior of the channel. A plurality of ridges is positioned in spaced relationship along a length of the tie wherein one of the ridges is engaged by the projection when a second end of the tie is extended through the channel. A pair of grooves extends into opposite exterior faces of the channel wherein the grooves are positioned for facilitating engagement of clippers to the channel and cutting an end portion of the channel and the tie from a main portion of the channel. Thus, a cut end of the tie is flush with the main portion of the channel when the end portion of the channel is clipped.
US09266651B2

The present invention relates to a sealing device for a container having an opening and an outer projection, including: a septum for closing said opening, a cap having a retainer capable of switching from a first position, in which the retainer does not limit the axial movement of said cap with respect to said container, to a second position, in which the retainer limits the axial movement of the cap, and a sleeve receiving said cap and movable axially with respect to said cap between a distal position, in which said sleeve does not exert a radial inward force on said retainer, and a proximal position, in which said sleeve exerts a radial inward force on said retainer. The sleeve includes a guiding element capable of cooperating directly or indirectly with said outer projection, so as to limit rotation of said sleeve.
US09266647B2

The invention disclosed herein provides a shopping bag that has multiple alternative uses. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).
US09266636B2

The invention relates to a horizontal transverse sealing unit, in particular for a horizontal tubular bag machine for sealing at least one tubular film around at least one object to be packaged, having a first and a second rotational axis (18a, 20a) which are parallel to each other and at least two sealing jaw pairs (26a, 28a and 30a, 32a) which are each formed by at least one sealing jaw (26a, 30a) rotating around the first rotation axis (18a) and at least one sealing jaw (28a, 32a) rotating around the second rotation axis (20a), such that, during a sealing process, the sealing jaws (26a, 28a) of a sealing jaw pair (26a, 28a) approach each other and material layers can be sealed between the sealing jaws (26a, 28a) under exertion of pressure. According to the invention, at least two independently drivable sealing drives of the horizontal transverse sealing unit are provided to drive at least two sealing jaw pairs (pair 26a, 28a and pair 30a, 32a) independently of each other.
US09266627B1

A method of prospecting asteroids for mining includes (a) launching at least one spacecraft, the spacecraft including a space telescope; (b) examining a plurality of asteroids using the space telescope to gather scientific data on the asteroids for characterization and cataloging; and (c) selecting one or more asteroids to mine from the plurality of asteroids examined by the space telescope and contained within the catalog. A system for prospecting asteroids for mining is also described.
US09266626B2

Aided analysis of the failure tolerance of an aircraft system, comprising a plurality of subsystems at least one of which comprises a monitoring unit and notification of a detected event, using critical event charts. After selecting at least one receivable notification message represented by a node of the critical event chart, elements of the minimal diagnostic set capable of resulting in the generation of the at least one selected notification message are identified, the identified elements forming part of the failure tolerance report.
US09266621B2

A method for providing a display to a flight crew of an aircraft includes receiving a required time of arrival (RTA) control instruction for arriving at a particular waypoint at a particular time, calculating an initial required aircraft speed at which the aircraft is required to fly in order to arrive at the particular waypoint at the particular time, and providing a flight display comprising a speed tape. The method further includes receiving an input accepting the RTA control instruction and calculating an updated required aircraft speed at which the aircraft is required to fly in order to arrive at the particular waypoint at the particular time. Still further, the method includes updating the flight display comprising displaying the updated RTA target speed on the speed tape using a second symbology that is different from the first symbology and discontinuing the display of the first symbology.
US09266598B1

The present disclosure provides a balloon. The balloon may include an envelope comprising a fixed component. The balloon may include a stabilizing platform positioned beneath the envelope and operatively connected to the fixed component. The stabilizing platform may be configured to rotate around an axis vertically aligned with gravity. The envelope may comprise a heavier mass than the stabilizing platform. The balloon may also include a motor configured to exert a first force on the stabilizing platform in a manner such that the stabilizing platform rotates (i) more than a rotation of the balloon and (ii) around the axis, thereby counteracting the rotation of the balloon by causing the stabilizing platform to exert a second force on the envelope of the balloon.
US09266596B2

In one example, a free-flying tethered airship system includes an upper airship adapted to tailor its lift and drag, a lower airship adapted to tailor its lift and drag, and a tether connecting the upper airship to the lower airship such that the upper airship is at least one kilometer above the lower airship. The upper airship is configured to be equiliberally buoyant, while carrying the tether, in a first altitude range. The lower airship is configured to be equiliberally buoyant in a second altitude range, the first altitude range being higher than the second altitude range. A method for stationkeeping of a free-flying tethered airship system is also provided.
US09266591B2

An aquatic toy that is a biomimetic fish with a watertight body portion. The body portion contains a battery electrically connected via a controller to at least one coil. The coil is positioned relative to a magnet and the coil can be caused to oscillate by virtue of a controller defined alternating current passing through the coil. The oscillation of the coil causes movement of a tail fin that is engaged to said watertight body to cause the fish to move forward through a body of water.
US09266583B2

A drive device for an electric bicycle, contains a drive housing in which a hollow shaft is mounted, which is connected to a chain wheel of a chain transmission of an electric bicycle, a pedal crank shaft which is arranged coaxially with respect to the hollow shaft and is connected at both ends to pedal cranks, a first clutch which is shifted depending on the rotation direction and which is arranged between the hollow shaft and the pedal crank shaft, and an electric motor whose output is connected to the hollow shaft via a second clutch which is shifted depending on the rotation direction. The hollow shaft can be coupled to the pedal crank shaft in both rotation directions of the pedal crank shaft.
US09266581B2

The disclosed device controls a cable associated with a bicycle gearshift and is particularity configured for securing the body of the device on the forward-facing end of racing bicycle handlebars. A cable winding bobbin, having an internally toothed crown, is provided in the device's body and a drive mechanism rotates the bobbin in the chosen direction to achieve predetermined angular positions. A ratchet mechanism, located between the lever and the toothed crown, includes opposite rocker arms with cam profiles curved away from each other, and a toothed sector for engaging the toothed crown. A pointer is located to be selectively engaged with at least one of the rocker arms so that engagement results in the rocker arm's toothed section being away from the toothed crown, and disengagement results in the rocker arm's toothed section being engaged with the toothed crown.
US09266568B2

A vehicle body lower section structure has a rocker that extends in a vehicle body front-rear direction at an outside in a vehicle width direction of a floor panel; and a dashboard cross member that extends in the vehicle width direction at a lower side of a dashboard panel, and an outside end portion of the dashboard cross member in the vehicle width direction is superimposed on and connected to an upper face of the rocker.
US09266562B2

A parking assist device assists entry or exit of a vehicle with respect to a parking space through an automatic control of a steering device. The parking assist device includes: a calculator that obtains, to perform the automatic control of the steering device, a path for allowing the vehicle to enter or exit the parking space based on the parking space, calculates an amount of temperature rise of the steering device at the execution of the automatic control for allowing the vehicle to move along the obtained path, and calculates a predicted temperature of the steering device at the execution of the automatic control by adding the calculated amount of temperature rise to a current value of the temperature of the steering device; and a controller that inhibits the execution of the automatic control when the predicted temperature is equal to or higher than a determination value.
US09266552B2

A wheeled vehicle is steered by a yoke or other operator control the movement of which is limited so that the operator's hands need not change position on the control. The steering is under the control of a microprocessor responsive to an input from the control, the vehicle's speedometer, and to accelerometers responsive to forces acting on the vehicle laterally and perpendicular to the roadway. The relationship between the position of the steerable wheels and the displacement of, or force applied to, the operator control is a function that depends on the magnitude of the displacement or force, speed, and one or more time derivatives of the displacement of, or force on, the operator control. The relationship between the position of the steerable wheels and the displacement of, or force on, the control is overridden when the lateral force is such that the vehicle is in danger of rolling over.
US09266551B2

The present invention provides a system which integrates motor vehicle component operation into actuators located in the rim of a motor vehicle steering wheel. The two actuators of the system of the present invention are located in an arc segment of the steering wheel defined by the three o'clock and 12 o'clock positions for the right-hand actuator and the nine o'clock and 12 o'clock positions for the left-hand actuator. The actuators may operate in parallel with a conventional stalk switch or controls associated with an on board computer and only operate a motor vehicle component when activated and subsequently depressed. The integrated vehicle control system and apparatus of the present invention further provides for vehicle component operation which does not require a driver to remove his or her hands from the steering wheel.
US09266548B1

A unique attachment mechanism whereby a base platform of a janitorial cart can be affixed to the underside of a mop bucket by an interconnection mechanism by a simple rolling motion so that it is not necessary to lift a heavy mop bucket filled with water to interconnect the mop bucket and the base platform of a janitorial cart.
US09266546B2

A wheeled container for a memory foam mattress includes a plastic container having an upper end and a lower end with a bottom surface that extends to a lower edge of the container, a pair of wheels rotatably mounted to the plastic container at the lower edge of the container, and a handle mounted to the plastic container, whereby the handle is mounted on the same side of the plastic container as the pair of wheels. A compressed memory foam mattress is disposed inside a flexible storage bag, which, in turn, is disposed inside the plastic container. The plastic container has a storage configuration in which a bottom face of the container is parallel to the ground, and a moving configuration in which the container is tilted onto the pair of wheels for rolling the container over the ground.
US09266538B2

The invention relates to a platform door system comprising cover elements and sliding doors arranged along a platform for opening and closing passages between the cover elements, wherein the sliding doors when in a closed state are displaceable into different door positions along the platform, and wherein a given sliding door can then be opened and closed starting from a given door position into which the given sliding door has been displaced.
US09266534B2

A vehicle control apparatus for implementing inter-vehicle distance control of a subject vehicle carrying the apparatus behind a preceding vehicle based on reflected waves from a target of the preceding vehicle. A target-pair distance is a distance between the target and a non-target reflection point that is closer to the subject vehicle than the target. A corrected distance calculator is configured to, in the presence of the target-pair distance being recognized, calculate a first corrected distance by subtracting the target-pair distance from a detected distance between the target and the subject vehicle, and in the absence of the target-pair distance being recognized, calculate a second corrected distance by subtracting an offset that is the previously set target-pair distance from the detected distance. A controller is configured to implement the inter-vehicle distance control based on the first or second corrected distance depending on the presence or absence of the target-pair distance being recognized.
US09266527B2

A method and system for setting motor torque for a hybrid vehicle that converts charge or discharge limiting power of a battery into maximum charge or discharge torque of a motor to set motor torque and to protect a battery system of the hybrid vehicle may include obtaining maximum discharge power of a battery of the hybrid vehicle, power consumption of a low voltage DC-DC converter (LDC), and power consumption of electrical loads; calculating electrical discharge power that may be output by a motor with electric power based on the maximum discharge power, the power consumption of the LDC, and the power consumption of the electrical loads; calculating mechanical discharge power that may be output from the motor based on the electrical discharge power of the motor and discharge efficiency of the motor; and calculating maximum discharge torque of the motor at a determined speed based on the mechanical discharge power.
US09266522B2

A driving force transmission controller includes: a normal turning control unit that computes command values such that driving force transmitted to an outer wheel in a turning direction is larger than that transmitted to an inner wheel during normal turning; a counter-steering control unit that computes the command values such that the driving force transmitted to the outer wheel is larger than that transmitted to the inner wheel during counter-steering; a counter-steering return control unit that corrects the command values such that a rate of change in each of the driving forces transmitted to the right and left rear wheels is lower than a rate of change in a steered angle of front wheels when a steering velocity is equal to or higher than a prescribed value during the counter-steering; and a driving force transmission control unit that controls a driving force transmission device based on the command values.
US09266520B2

The criteria used to determine whether to initiate an auto stop of an engine may be altered based on a number of previous auto stops of the engine, a total auto stop off time of the engine, or a total throughput of a battery. Altering the criteria may influence a frequency with which the engine is auto stopped.
US09266508B2

The system includes a high-pressure accumulator connected to the primary chamber of the master cylinder and to the inlet of the ESP module by a solenoid valve. The connection between the primary chamber and the brake fluid reservoir is equipped with a solenoid valve. A control circuit controls the solenoid valve of the reservoir and the solenoid valve of the accumulator, depending on the braking method selected or imposed. The dynamic braking phase is broken down into two tasks, one with energy recovery that involves isolating the master cylinder from the wheel brakes until deceleration to a threshold speed, followed by another step until full stop that involves connecting the primary chamber alone to the high-pressure accumulator and to the ESP module to provide the latter with pressurized brake fluid from the accumulator and supply the wheel brakes for mechanical braking.
US09266507B2

A brake pedal assembly for a vehicle having a brake pedal arm having an initial position and an adjustment subassembly configured to adjust the initial position. The brake pedal assembly is further provided with a preload spring configured to provide a preload force to the brake pedal arm and a preload adjustment cam in cooperation with the brake pedal arm. The adjustment subassembly and the preload spring are configured to change the preload force in response to a change in the initial position.
US09266497B2

A method is provided for sealing locking components of a retractor, wherein the locking components cooperate with a spool shaft extending from, and rotatable with, a rotatable spool of the retractor to selectively lock rotation of the spool. The method includes mounting a base of an open-ended housing to the retractor with the spool shaft accessible via an opening in the base when so mounted, positioning a sealing member to extend about and engage a periphery of the opening and to also extend about and engage a periphery of the spool shaft, operatively arranging the locking components within the interior of the housing, and hermetically sealing a cover to the open end of the housing after the housing is mounted to the retractor. The sealing member engages the peripheries of the first opening and the spool shaft and blocks ingress of moisture and particles to the locking components.
US09266494B2

An airbag assembly may include an inflatable curtain airbag with a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration. The inflatable curtain may have a first protection zone and a second protection zone that inflates forward of the first protection zone to provide enhanced protection. The second protection zone may be folded against the first protection zone so that, during deployment, the second protection zone pivots to unfold relative to the first protection zone. The airbag assembly may have a forward tether that provides longitudinal tension on the inflatable curtain airbag. The forward tether may be secured to the A-pillar of the vehicle and to a divider between the first and second protection zones so that deformation of the A-pillar may relieve the tension to allow the second protection zone to pivot inboard to provide protection from injuries that may be sustained in a small overlap or oblique collision.
US09266492B2

Disclosed is a curtain airbag module including a curtain airbag cushion, an inflator of supplying and inflating gas into the curtain airbag cushion, and a lamp bracket fixed on a vehicle panel to support the curtain airbag cushion which is integrally provided with a lamp pattern to deploy the curtain airbag cushion into a vehicle without deploying the curtain airbag cushion into a pillar trim of a vehicle in the deployment of the curtain airbag cushion by driving the inflator. The lamp pattern wraps up at least a portion of the folded curtain airbag cushion. The lamp pattern initially wrapping up the folded curtain airbag cushion guides the curtain airbag cushion to the interior of the vehicle when the curtain airbag cushion is deployed, thereby preventing the curtain airbag cushion from being inserted into the pillar trim, so that the curtain airbag cushion is stably deployed.
US09266489B2

An energy absorption (EA) pad mountable on a vehicle door interior trim panel provides controlled collapse under side impact collision forces to minimize contact between the door and a vehicle passenger. The EA pad is in the form of a hollow body having an endwall, a sidewall, and an open end. A flange extends laterally from the open end. One or more slots and one or more ribs can be formed in the sidewall or the endwall of varying height, numbers, spacing, thickness, and shapes to provide the controlled collapse of the EA pad. A restraining rib structure is formed on the door trim panel adjacent to a least one side of the EA pad. In another aspect, a door trim panel includes the EA pad.
US09266486B2

An energy absorbing member is fixed to a vehicle body. A joint has in a state where the longitudinal direction thereof extends along the front-back direction of the vehicle. Proximal and distal ends of the joint are respectively connected to the member and a bumper beam. The joint causes a collision load from the hamper beam to the vehicle body to act upon the member while collapsing in the longitudinal direction. A distal end has an inclined shape such that a distance from the member deceases gradually from the center toward the outside in the width direction of the vehicle. The distal end has a gradual increase region where a width in the height direction of the vehicle increases gradually and a gradual decrease region where the width in the height direction of the vehicle decreases gradually, from the center toward the outside in the width direction of the vehicle.
US09266475B2

A running board assembly may include a motor which supplies power, a transmission which transmits the motor's power, a rack gear which is disposed lengthily in a transverse direction of a vehicle body such that one side thereof is connected to a body of a running board, and a motion control unit which transmits the power from the transmission to the rack gear such that a motion of the rack gear is controlled to allow a sliding motion and a pivot motion of the rack gear.
US09266474B2

An accessory system for a vehicle includes a mounting element attached at an inner surface of a windshield and configured for mounting of an accessory module thereto and demounting of the accessory module therefrom. The accessory module is configured for mounting to the mounting element via snap attachment. The accessory module accommodates a camera comprising a CMOS photosensor array and a lens. The accessory module is configured so that, when mounted to the mounting element at the windshield, the lens has a field of view through the windshield. The camera is operable to capture image data for use by a driver assistance system of the vehicle. The accessory module includes an electrical connector for electrically connecting with circuitry disposed in the accessory module. The electrical connector is configured for electrical connection to at least a power source of the vehicle and a communication bus of the vehicle.
US09266463B2

An immobilizing device for limiting movement of a cargo container in a cargo area may include a tubular member configured to be inserted into an aperture of a cargo deck. The immobilizing device may further include a stop member extending at least partially across a hollow interior of the tubular member, wherein the stop member is configured such that extension of the tubular member into the aperture is limited by contact between the stop member and the portion of the cargo deck located in the aperture. The immobilizing device may also include an extension associated with the tubular member and configured to engage a lower edge of the cargo container, such that movement of the cargo container is limited upon receipt of the tubular member in the aperture and engagement between the extension and the lower edge of the cargo container.
US09266457B2

Disclosed is a body structure for a dump truck (1) having a body frame (3). The body structure is provided with hinge pins (5) to be located toward a rear of the body frame, a body (2A) to be tiltably disposed on the body frame via the hinge pins and to be adapted to load payload (9), and stiffening members arranged on outer surfaces of the body. The body is constructed at least of a floor board (62a), a front board (62b), side boards (62c), and a canopy (62d). The stiffening members include side-board stiffeners (61) connecting upper portions of elongated joints between the side boards and the front board to portions of elongated joints between the side boards and the floor board. The latter portions are located rearward of positions laterally corresponding to a barycentric position (G) of the payload (9) in a longitudinal direction of the body.
US09266454B2

A combination heater and sensor comprising: (a) a heating layer, a sensing layer, or both; (b) one or more power application portions, one or more sensing application portions, or both; wherein the heating layer and the sensing layer are located within the same plane; and wherein the heating layer is a nonwoven layer that is comprised of a plurality of metallized fibers that are randomly oriented forming the heating layer so that upon application of power the heating layer provides heat.
US09266453B2

To refine known vehicle vibration devices, the invention proposes a vehicle vibration device with a horizontal vibration means and with a means to stabilise a horizontal middle position of the horizontal vibration means, in which the horizontal vibration means is arranged horizontally vibratable in the vehicle longitudinal direction and/or in the vehicle width direction, in which the stabilisation means comprises a spring element and in which the stabilisation means is integrated in or on a damper means of a vehicle vibration device.
US09266445B2

A method for dynamic control of an electric vehicle operable based on a throttle value received from a throttle and a default throttle map correlating default output values with throttle values, the method including: determining a user parameter; detecting a condition indicative of perturbation; in response to detecting the condition indicative of perturbation, determining a replacement output value for a first throttle value based on the user parameter; and controlling vehicle operation to meet the replacement output value in response to receipt of the first throttle value.
US09266437B2

A betavoltaic power source for transportation devices and applications is disclosed, wherein the device having a stacked configuration of isotope layers and energy conversion layers. The isotope layers have a half-life of between about 0.5 years and about 5 years and generate radiation with energy in the range from about 15 keV to about 200 keV. The betavoltaic power source is configured to provide sufficient power to operate the transportation device over its useful lifetime.
US09266436B2

An ice breaking pantograph is described, having a sliding element moveable between an operative position where it is engaged to an overhead train or tram power line and a non-operative position where it is separated from the overhead power line; at least one arm, having a first end which can be hinged to a train or tram vehicle and a second end connected to the sliding element; an active actuator on the arm to move it in order to move the sliding element between the operative position and the non-operative position; a vibrator operating on the sliding element and activatable in the operative position of the sliding element to remove ice and/or snow from the overhead power line.
US09266427B2

A fuel tank having two opposite wall portions and at least one reinforcing element connecting these two wall portions, such reinforcing element comprising at least two parts linked by at least one rotating link. A method for manufacturing such tank.
US09266425B2

The air guide plate includes a plate body formed of a resin material and deformable skirt portions which are formed of the same resin material as the plate body and integrally formed on an outer periphery of the plate body. The air guide plate is arranged such that the plate body is disposed at a front of an automobile without connecting to automobile parts, thereby forming a gap between the outer periphery of the plate body and the automobile parts arranged around the plate body. The deformable skirt portions are disposed so as to be in contact with the automobile parts under flexural deformation, thereby closing the gap by the deformable skirt portions to prevent the air from leaking through the gap.
US09266414B2

A door device of a small-sized vehicle, that enables easily interlocking a door lock and a lever is provided. An openable door 70 is provided to a side of a body, a lever 92 provided inside the door 70 for opening the door 70 is swingably provided, and a rotational central axis of a lever supporting shaft 120 turned by a swing of the lever 92 and a rotational central axis of a latch for a door lock (a lever member 144) driven by a turn of the supporting shaft 120 are made the same.
US09266402B2

A temporary wheel support for a snowmobile having at suspension and least one ski attached to the suspension via a bolt having a threaded portion. The temporary wheel support comprises a main body having a first and second opposed surfaces, the first surface having therein a threaded hole configured to be screwed onto the threaded portion of the bolt and a support member extending from the second surface, the support member having a top and a bottom recess support surfaces and an end wall. The support member is configured such that an associated wheel can be removably mounted thereon and held in place by the second opposed surface and the end wall, the wheel having ball bearings in contact with the top recess support surface in a non-weight-bearing configuration and in contact with the bottom recess support surface in a weight-bearing configuration.
US09266399B2

Tire comprising two beads comprising an annular reinforcing structure and a carcass reinforcement which is anchored in the two beads by being wrapped around the annular reinforcing structure so as to form, in each bead, a main portion and a wrapped-around portion, in which each bead comprises a bead filler situated between the main portion and the wrapped-around portion of the carcass reinforcement, and an outer strip positioned axially on the outside of the carcass reinforcement and of the bead filler in which the entity formed by the bead filler and the outer strip has a thickness E(r), the thickness E(r) changes as a function of the distance r such that, in the range of distances r comprised between 25 and 45% of the height H of the tire, the variation in thickness ∂ E ⁡ ( r ) ∂ r Is less than or equal to −0.25 mm/mm over at least 4% of the height H of the tire, and in which the annular reinforcing structure has a maximum axial width DE such that the ratio E ⁡ ( r ) max - DE E ⁡ ( r ) max , where E(r)max is the maximum value of the thickness E(r), is less than or equal to 10%.
US09266387B2

The present invention relates to a selectively attachable wheel cover for a motor vehicle. The invention comprises a base member and a display member. The base member is selectively secured to the vehicle rim and the display member is rotatably mounted relative to the base member such that it can rotate in relation to the base member and, thus, the vehicle rim. In one aspect, a portion of the display member is sufficiently weighted such that, when the rim rotates (when the vehicle is in motion) the display member remains substantially static.
US09266381B2

A palm-pressing text correction apparatus manufactured according to the shape of a user's hand includes a casing, an elastic container and a pressing element. The casing has a first opening and a second opening formed at both ends of the casing respectively, and the elastic container is mounted into the casing and provided for containing correction liquid, and a liquid output nozzle and a pressed end are disposed at both ends of the casing respectively. The liquid output nozzle is protruded out from the first opening, and the pressing element is coupled to the pressed end. The apparatus is held within the user's palm operating range, and an axial force acted onto the pressing element is produced by a pressing force while holding the apparatus to compress the elastic container to deform in an axial direction and output the correction liquid with an effort-saving effect.
US09266371B2

A display includes a substrate with a light-transmitting property, a relief structure-forming layer disposed on at least one surface of the substrate and including a relief-structured region on a surface thereof opposite to its surface in contact with the substrate, a light-reflecting layer disposed on the surface of the relief structure-forming layer including the relief-structured region, and a printed layer formed on a surface of the substrate opposite to the surface on which the relief structure-forming layer is disposed, or between the relief structure-forming layer and the light-reflecting layer, or on a side of the light-reflecting layer opposite to its surface in contact with the relief structure-forming layer. The relief-structured region is constituted by recessed or protruding portions arranged two-dimensionally, has low reflectivity and low diffusibility under a normal illumination condition, and exhibits a diffracted light-emitting property under a specific condition.
US09266367B2

This disclosure discloses a printer comprising a feeder, a printing head, a substantially cuboid-like shaped housing, a touch panel, and a cover. The printing head performs desired printing on a print-receiving medium fed by the feeder. The touch panel is capable of executing desired operation input. The cover is provided to the housing or the touch panel. The cover comprises a plurality of locking hooks. The plurality of locking hooks is provided to areas other than a center part of the cover along a longitudinal direction. The housing or the touch panel comprises a plurality of locked parts to which the plurality of locking hooks is respectively to be locked.
US09266364B2

In one example, a print job is received. The print job includes a first plot to be printed on a first side of a media, and a second plot to be printed on a second side of the media in registration with the first plot. The first plot and a fiducial mark are caused to print on the first side, the fiducial mark being a known distance from the first plot and including an identifier for the second plot. In response to detecting the identifier via a sensor and measuring a distance to the fiducial mark to discern a reference for printing the second plot, the second plot is caused to print on the second side in registration with the first plot.
US09266355B2

A duplex printer system includes a double-sided label web and a duplex printer operable to print both sides of the label web. The label includes exposed adhesive on a first side thereof. The duplex printer includes a printer frame and first and second print heads arranged to print respective sides of the label web. The first print head is shiftably mounted relative to the printer frame for movement into and out of a printing position, in which the first print head is operable to print within a printable region of the first side. The first print head is selectively shifted out of the printing position so as to avoid contact with exposed adhesive during label web advancement. The first print head includes a printer interface positioned in printing engagement with the label web when the first print head is shifted to the printing position. The printer interface is spaced from a first adhesive side area and is thereby prevented from engaging the exposed adhesive applied thereto when the first print head is shifted to the printing position.
US09266352B2

A method of forming a lenticle on a substrate includes operating a plurality of inkjets to eject a plurality of ink drops of an optically transparent ink onto a surface of a substrate between a first printed line of an optically opaque ink and a second printed line of the optically opaque ink to form a lenticle from the optically transparent ink, the first printed line being formed substantially parallel to the second printed line with a separation between the first printed line and the second printed line corresponding to a predetermined width of a lenticle to be formed on the substrate.
US09266339B2

A recessed portion is provided on a shorter side of a rectangular liquid supply passage. Thereby a flow pathway by the recessed portion can be ensured, and even in a case where the air bubble is trapped to be closer to and in contact with one end of the liquid supply passage, a difference in flow resistance to two ink flows generated in this state can be made small. In this way, the flow speeds of the inks flowing in the periphery of the air bubble can be made small as a whole, and as a result, it is possible to suppress an ejection failure due to transfer of the air bubble to the ejection opening side or the like.
US09266337B2

A cartridge includes a concave portion. The concave portion has an opening, first and second side walls, and a bottom wall, and the bottom wall has a tilted surface tilted. The tilted surface is provided with a cartridge side terminal group. The first side wall is provided with a first restriction portion which restricts movements in a +Z axis direction and a +X axis direction of an apparatus side terminal unit, and the second side wall is provided with a second restriction portion which restricts movements in the +Z axis direction and a −X axis direction of an apparatus side terminal unit.
US09266330B2

A process for producing a semiconductor chip having a substrate and a bump formed on the substrate including (1) forming, on a substrate, a conductor gold for plating to be a base of plating growth; (2) forming a mask for plating on the conductor gold for plating; (3) performing plating using the mask for plating to form the bump and a dummy pattern; (4) removing the mask for plating; (5) etching the conductor gold for plating; and (6) applying a shock to at least the dummy pattern. The amount of side etching of the conductor gold for plating is grasped from a state of separation of the dummy pattern due to the shock in the step (6).
US09266322B2

Disclosed is a liquid ejecting apparatus, and a method of controlling the liquid ejecting apparatus, whereby at a timing at which temperature detection and ejection pulse change are subsequently performed, a frequency of execution of temperature detection and driving pulse change differs according to whether temperature detected by the temperature sensor is in a first temperature range in which a degree of change in viscosity of ink for change in temperature is relatively high or in a second temperature range in which the degree of the change in viscosity for the change in temperature is relative stable. More specifically, in the first temperature range, the frequency of execution of temperature detection and driving pulse change is high compared to the second temperature range.
US09266318B2

A printing assembly includes a printing device and a retractable screen assembly that blocks UV light. As the printing device moves across a platform, the retractable screen assembly may fasten to support members, thereby causing a screen member to extend from the retractable screen assembly and prevent UV light from traveling along a range of viewing angles.
US09266317B1

An apparatus wherein a hot stamp transfer roller can be quickly removed from the metal core after the hot stamp transfer roller is used up and immediately replaced with another hot stamp transfer roller so that the process can continue without having to return the central hub and the remaining portion of the hot stamp transfer roller to a facility where the hot stamp transfer roller is ground away from the central hub.
US09266309B2

A method of producing a gas-barrier laminated member having a gas-barrier layer formed by crosslinking the carboxyl groups of a polycarboxylic acid polymer with multivalent metal ions. The method comprises forming a layer (A) containing an alkaline compound of a multivalent metal on at least one surface of a plastic base material, applying a solution (b) obtained by dissolving a polycarboxylic acid polymer in a solvent containing at least water onto the layer (A) that contains the alkaline compound of the multivalent metal, and removing the solvent by a heat treatment so that a metal-ionically crosslinked structure is formed with the multivalent metal ions among the carboxyl groups in the solution (b). The gas-barrier laminated member has excellent adhesion to the base material, gas-barrier property, retort resistance and flexibility, and is efficiently produced by only being heated at a low temperature for a short period of time through a decreased number of simplified steps.
US09266304B2

A grid type element (1) of fiber composite structure, comprising a plurality of open polygonal cells (5) made of at least three core segments (16), said open polygonal cells (5) being stringed together alongside said ribs (16) to form a grid structure, and an essentially planar skin sheet (4), said essentially planar skin sheet (4) being attached unilaterally to the grid structure. A multipartite core (6) is provided, said core segments (6a, 6b, 6c) with respectively rectangular cross sections being formed of said multipartite core (6). Said at least three core segments (6a, 6b, 6c) are pivotable interconnected with at least two reduced cross sections (9) between two of said at least three core segments (6a, 6b, 6c) and at least one fiber composite layer (8, 7) is provided with said multipartite core (6), said at least one fiber composite layer (8, 7) sheathing at least partly said multipartite core (6). The invention is as well related to a method of manufacturing such grid type elements.
US09266303B2

The invention is related to a grid type fiber composite structure (1) comprising a grid of polygon cell modules (5) comprising at least three substantially u-shaped ribs made of fiber composite layer (8, 13) and a foam core (9) provided inside each cell module (5) for support of said u-shaped ribs. Said foam core (9) is along a base essentially in line with one of said flat cap sections (11, 12). At least one layer of strip (2, 3) is provided outside said flat cap sections (11, 12) and a skin sheet (4) is unilaterally attached to said cell modules (5) essentially in line with one of said flat cap sections (11, 12). The invention is as well related to a method of manufacturing such a grid type fiber composite structure (1).
US09266297B1

Apparatuses and/or equipment that automatically form containers with a reinforced bottom panel (pleats), methods of forming a container with a reinforced bottom panel, and methods of manufacturing an apparatus and/or equipment for making a container with a reinforced bottom panel are disclosed. The pleat(s) provide extra strength to the bottom panel of the container, thereby reducing or eliminating bottom sag. The apparatus and/or equipment is advantageously capable of automatically forming a container with a bottom panel having one or more pleats, while avoiding (1) damage to the containers and/or container blanks being folded, and (2) obstructions or instability in the containers that may result from inadvertent folding of the parts, pleats, flaps, and/or panels in the wrong or an inconsistent direction during the manufacturing process.
US09266287B2

A method for fabricating custom surface reflectance and spatially-varying bi-directional reflectance distribution functions (BDRFs or svBRDFs). The 3D printing method optimizes micro-geometry to produce a normal distribution function (NDF) that can be printed on surfaces with a 3D printer. Particularly, the method involves optimizing the micro-geometry for a wide range of analytic NDFs and simulating the effective reflectance of the resulting surface. Using the results of the simulation, the appearance of an input svBRDF can be reproduced. To this end, the micro-geometry is optimized in a data-driven fashion and distributed on the surface of the printed object. The methods were demonstrated to allow 3D printing svBRDF on planar samples with current 3D printing technology even with a limited set of printing materials, and the described methods have been shown to be naturally extendable to printing svBRDF on arbitrary shapes or 3D objects.
US09266282B2

The core metal for resin welding improves bonding strength between an outer peripheral resin member and the core metal. The outer peripheral resin member 30 is welded to the peripheral surface 21 of the core metal 20 by fitting the core metal into a fitting hole 31 of the outer peripheral resin member 30, preparing the outer peripheral resin member 30 providing the fitting hole 31 with a smooth internal wall surface; preparing the core metal 20 wherein streaky protrusions 26 and smooth portions 25 are provided; allowing the top parts of the protrusions 26 to contact, and the smooth portions of the core metal 20 to face the smooth internal wall surface; and induction heating to weld the outer peripheral resin member 30 to the protrusions 26 and the smooth portions 25.
US09266281B2

Plastic bodies are formed of two polyamide parts welded together, wherein the two polyamide parts consist of a polyamide composition at least one which comprises an iron containing additive. The welding process for making the plastic body includes welding two polyamide parts, at least one of which consists of a polyamide composition comprising an iron containing additive.
US09266276B2

The invention relates to a shaping apparatus (1) for the shaping of plastics material pre-forms (10) into plastics material containers (10A) with a plurality of blow moulding stations (8) and with at least one control device (55; 55A; 55B; 55C) for the control of blow molding pressures and/or volume flows at the blow molding stations (8), in which the at least one control device (55; 55A; 55B; 55C) comprises at least one control valve (56) with a control piston part (58) which is guided in a cylinder part (57) and by means of which a cross-section (59) of a blow molding air duct (60) is capable of being closed, wherein the control device (55; 55A; 55B; 55C) has a drive unit (61) operating in an electromagnetic manner in order to effect a change in position of the control piston part (58) inside the cylinder part (57) and thus also to control the blow molding pressures and/or volume flows at the blow molding stations (8).
US09266273B2

A thermoplastic resin film manufacturing method and manufacturing device are disclosed wherein an air volume sprayed by the auxiliary cooling device onto the surface of the film on the opposite side thereof to the cooling drum side thereof is set to be larger than the suction amount by an exhaust mechanism between nozzles, to avoid the suction of the air containing the high concentration of oligomer around the extrusion die into the auxiliary cooling device, thereby preventing precipitation and deposition of the oligomer onto spraying nozzles within the auxiliary cooling device and the suction surface of the exhaust mechanism between nozzles.
US09266272B2

Disclosed is an apparatus for the processing of plastics, with a container with a rotatable mixing implement, wherein the imaginary continuation of the longitudinal axis of a conveyor in a direction opposite to the direction of conveying passes the axis of rotation, where, on the outflow side, there is an offset distance between the longitudinal axis and the radial parallel to the longitudinal axis, wherein in the wall section that is part of the housing and that immediately follows the intake aperture in the direction of conveying and that completely surrounds the screw, a pocket extends in the direction of conveying, starting at the downstream edge of the intake aperture over a length (L), where 0.8 d≦L≦9 d, where d is the external diameter or the diameter of the envelope curve of the screw in the wall section.
US09266266B2

There is provided a case of an electronic device having an antenna pattern embedded therein, the case including: a radiator frame injection molded so that a radiator including an antenna pattern part and formed on a film is formed on one surface thereof; a case frame injection molded upwardly of the radiator frame and provided with the radiator embedded between the radiator frame and the case frame; and a boundary part forming a boundary between the radiator frame and the case frame and having a groove formed inwardly of the case frame.
US09266261B2

Flexible nanocrystalline cellulose films (NCC) include a polymer while retaining the property of tunable color. Polymers, for example PVOH and SB-latex, are effective in increasing the flexibility of the NCC films. The NCC film made with PVOH retains the iridescence better than that made with SB-latex; however, the NCC film made with SB-latex has a better tensile strength. In addition, the NCC film made with PVOH was found to disperse easily in water while the NCC film made with SB latex does not disperse in water (it is strongly water resistant). The color of NCC film made with PVOH and SB-latex can still be tuned with techniques that provide for tuning.
US09266258B2

A system, method and apparatus for manufacturing high density magnetic media is disclosed. A flexible mold having a very low modulus of less than about 4 GPa is made on a rigid support. The mold nano-imprints a resist material on disks for hard disk drives. The flexible mold may comprise a perfluoropolyether with urethane acrylate end groups with a low surface adhesion from which the cured resist is easily released.
US09266257B2

A method for removing impurities from shredded plastic uses a device having a first and second cleaning disc with a first and second cleaning surface respectively. The cleaning surfaces lie opposite each other and border a cleaning gap between each other. The cleaning discs are rotated and liquid is fed into the cleaning gap. Shredded plastic is fed between the cleaning discs and conveyed through the cleaning gap, and the shredded plastic is processed abrasively by the cleaning surfaces. The temperature difference of the liquid guided through the cleaning gap during entry into the cleaning gap and the temperature of the liquid as it exits the cleaning gap and/or at least one parameter characterizing this temperature difference is measured. The distance between the cleaning surfaces is set such that the measured temperature difference and/or the at least one parameter characterizing this temperature difference achieve a setpoint value.
US09266247B1

A device for layering and cutting food, comprising a main body having an elongated bottom wall and two opposing parallel side walls extending upward from said bottom wall, the side walls and the bottom wall defining a rectangular food receiving receptacle. Each of the side walls include a plurality of vertically disposed wall slots. The body receptacle is configured to receive food and the wall slots are configured to receive a cutting implement to cut food into one or more portions. A removable food supporting plate is disposed in the body receptacle and on the bottom wall of the main body. The food is received on the removable plate and the removable plate is adapted to be removed with food from the receptacle of said main body after cutting the food into one or more portions. The removable plate includes grooves wherein the wall slots of the opposing side walls align and the plate grooves of the base align with the slots.
US09266244B2

An industrial robot including a contact panel having one or several contacts to allow connection to the industrial robot of one or several cables through which energy, signals or a substance may pass to and/or from the industrial robot. A cover forms part of an outer surface of the industrial robot. Each one of the one or several contacts of the contact panel protrudes through an opening in the cover so as to be accessible from the outside of the industrial robot. The contact panel is mounted to and supported by a holder that is secured in an internal cavity of the industrial robot so as to allow the contact panel to be held in place in the industrial robot when the cover is removed.
US09266239B2

A medical robotic system that includes a robotically controlled surgical instrument. The system includes a constraint controller that constrains the movement of the instrument based on a predetermined parameter. The parameter may be a surgical space, wherein the instrument cannot be moved into, or alternatively cannot be moved out of, the space. The surgically constrained spaced may be defined through a telestrator screen that allows a surgeon to point and click the boundaries of the space.
US09266237B2

A system comprises: a measurement unit adapted to measure a position/orientation of at least one target object based on an image obtained by capturing the at least one target object; a selection unit adapted to select at least one grippable target object based on the position/orientation; a determination unit adapted to determine, as an object to be gripped, a grippable target object in a state with a highest priority from the at least one grippable target object based on priorities set in advance for states including gripping positions/directions; a gripping unit adapted to grip the object to be gripped in the state with the highest priority; and a changing unit adapted to change the state of the gripped object, to a state in which the gripped object is assembled to the other object.
US09266236B2

Methods and apparatus for robotic induction in materials handling facilities with batch singulation inventory areas are disclosed. A control system directs the one or more robotic devices to transport a particular portable storage unit of a plurality of portable storage units to and from a particular induction station of one or more induction stations. The control system directs induction of one or more single units of items from one or more locations of the portable storage unit, while the particular portable storage unit is located at an induction station, into the conveyance mechanism at the particular induction station. The control system directs picks of batches of heterogeneous items from a separate inventory storage area. The control system directs induction of single units of items from the batches of heterogeneous items picked from the separate inventory storage area into the conveyance mechanism at a batch singulation station.
US09266231B1

A method and apparatus for transferring vibration of a motorized hand tool from a wrist to a forearm of a human operator is disclosed. The apparatus includes a connector that is coupled to the motorized hand tool and also includes a brace that is coupled to the forearm of the human operator and is also coupled to the connector.
US09266230B2

A power tool having first and second housing portions, a power train, a mounting hub, a lock bar and an actuator. The second housing portion is disposed about the first housing portion for pivoting motion about a pivot axis. The powertrain has an output member that extends from the second housing portion and which is movable relative to an output member axis. The mounting hub is coupled to one of the first and second housing portions. The lock bar is mounted to the other one of the first and second housing portions. The actuator is slidably received in the other one of the first and second housing portions and cooperates with the mounting hub to selectively permit the second housing portion to pivot about the pivot axis relative to the first housing portion.
US09266227B2

A tool for operating a vehicle tire chain tensioner and a method of using the same. The tool is a member having spaced apart first and second ends. The first end is configured to engage a first style of chain tensioner and the second end is configured to engage a second style of chain tensioner. The first end includes a leg extending outwardly at ninety degrees from the member in a first direction; and the second end includes spaced apart first and second arms that extend outwardly at ninety degrees from the member in a second direction. The member, leg, and first and second arms are all aligned in the same plane. The leg's free end is complementary to a recess defined in the first style of chain tensioner. A section of the second style of chain tensioner is received in a gap defined between the first and second arms.
US09266214B2

A method of polishing a substrate is disclosed. The method includes irradiating the substrate with light; measuring intensity of the reflected light; producing spectral waveform representing relationship between relative reflectance and wavelength of the light; performing a Fourier transform process on the spectral waveform to determine a thickness of the film and a corresponding strength of frequency component; determining whether the determined thickness of the film is reliable or not by comparing the strength of frequency component with a threshold value; calculating a defective data rate representing a proportion of the number of unreliable measured values to the total number of measured values; and changing the threshold value based on the defective data rate.
US09266212B2

The present disclosure describes a sanding device that has a motor coupled to a base plate for inducing vibration in the base plate. Further, the sanding device has a face plate that is coupled to the base plate, and the face plate has a plurality of sleeves for receiving a respective plurality of columns. The columns rotate and move longitudinally within the sleeves. Further, each column moves independent of the other columns and each column have an abrasive surface on a sanding end for contacting a sanding surface.
US09266203B2

A part to be centered during an assembly process includes an effective portion which performs a function and is shaped for insertion into a hole, a reference portion extended from the effective portion and formed substantially perpendicular to a center axis of the effective portion, and an aligning portion extended from the effective portion and formed around the effective portion. When the effective portion of the part is inserted into the hole, a center of the effective portion is automatically aligned with a centerline of the hole.
US09266200B2

A method of manufacturing a roller cage for mounting rollers around a circle in a bearing includes a) making a roller cage blank of cylindrical form, b) cutting the cage blank on opposite diagonal sides to form two generally semi-cylindrical halves, c) re-assembling the two semi-cylindrical halves of the cage blank by releasably clamping adjacent cut edges of each semi-cylindrical half together, and d) either before or after the cutting step, forming pockets for mounting a set of rollers in the cage on a circle about the axis of the reassembled cage. The last step d) allows one to provide pockets which mount the rollers in the correct position relative to the axis of the bearing even though the two semi-cylindrical halves when re-assembled no longer form a circle.
US09266197B2

In a tandem gas-shielded arc welding method, carbon dioxide is used as a shielding gas for a leading electrode formed by a solid wire, an argon-carbon dioxide gas mixture containing at least 60% by volume of argon gas is used as a shielding gas for a trailing electrode formed by a solid wire or a flux-cored wire, both the leading electrode and the trailing electrode have a reverse polarity, the leading electrode satisfies the relationships “5.00≦(I·V·10−8)/(Wf·πr2)≦10.00” and “(I2·10−3)/V≧4.50”, and the trailing electrode satisfies the relationships “4.00≦(I·V·10−8)/(Wf·πr2)≦7.00” and “(I2 10−3)/V≧8.00”.
US09266196B2

Providing an Ag ball having a low alpha dose and a high sphericity regardless of impurity elements having an amount equal to or more than a predetermined value except for Ag. In order to suppress a soft error and reduce an connection fault, a content of U is equal to or less than 5 ppb, a content of Th is equal to or less than 5 ppb, a purity is equal to or more than 99.9% but equal to or less than 99.9995%, an alpha dose is equal to or less than 0.0200 cph/cm2, a content of either Pb or Bi or a total content of both Pb and Bi is equal to or more than 1 ppm, and a sphericity is equal to or more than 0.90.
US09266190B2

A cartridge assembly is disclosed for a pulse welding a first tube supported on a mandrel to a second tube. An outer tool is assembled over the second tube and a stored charge is discharged in the cartridge assembly. The cartridge comprises an annular conductor and a solid casing enveloping the conductor. The stored charge is electrically connected to the conductor and discharged through the conductor to compress the second tube and pulse weld the second tube to the first tube.
US09266183B2

An engine-driven welder generator is controlled based upon power draw for welding and other applications. Once a welding arc is initiated, the power draw is monitored. The engine speed, and therefore the power output of the generator, may be increased or maintained based upon the power draw. The power draw may include both welding power draw and auxiliary power draw. The engine speed is increased in increments. The initial engine speed and subsequent increments may depend upon particular welding processes or regimes.
US09266180B2

An arc evaporation source having fast film-forming speed includes: at least one circumference magnet surrounding the circumference of a target, wherein the magnetization direction of the magnet runs orthogonal to the target surface; a non-ring shaped first permanent magnet on the target's rear surface side has a polarity in the same direction as the circumference magnet, and is arranged so that its magnetization direction runs orthogonal to the target's surface; a non-ring shaped second permanent magnet arranged either on the rear surface side of the first permanent magnet or between the first permanent magnet and the target, so as to leave a gap from the first permanent magnet, has a polarity in the same direction as the circumference magnet, and is arranged so that its magnetization direction runs orthogonal to the surface of the target; and a magnetic body between the first permanent magnet and the second permanent magnet.
US09266178B2

A power tool includes a housing, a motor, an output member driven by the motor, and a reaming attachment coupled to the output member. The reaming attachment has a front end portion selectively driven in rotation by the output member to drive a fastener into a workpiece, and a reaming portion selectively driven in rotation by the output member to remove material from an end surface of a conduit. A rotational motion sensor in the housing is operable to detect rotational motion of the housing about an axis. A controller receives a signal indicative of rotational motion from the sensor, determines a direction of the rotational motion of the housing, and drives the motor in a direction corresponding to the direction of rotational motion of the housing.
US09266175B2

A cutting insert for face milling and ramping includes an upper side defining an upper extension plane, a lower side defining a lower extension plane parallel with the upper extension plane, and an edge side extending around the cutting insert. A center axis extends perpendicularly through the upper and lower extension planes. An upper cutting edge forms four upper cutting edge portions having an identical length corresponding to a determined angle with respect to the center axis. A lower cutting edge forms four lower cutting edge portions (26), having an identical length corresponding to the determined angle with respect to the center axis. Each upper cutting edge portion is displaced angularly with respect to the center axis in relation to one of the lower cutting edge portions with a displacement angle being greater than zero and less than the determined angle.
US09266172B2

Embodiments disclosed herein relate to a method for synthesizing self-assembling nanoparticles with defined plasmon resonances. More particularly, certain embodiments disclosed herein relate to an improved method for synthesizing self-assembling gold/gold sulfide nanoparticles by dialyzing samples during the self-assembly process.
US09266164B2

A nose assembly for a fastener installation tool including an anvil, a collet, and a drawbar having a primary bearing. A secondary bearing is positioned within the collet and located intermediate the primary bearing and jaws of the collet. The secondary bearing is offset from the fastener centerline by a first distance and from a pulling tool centerline axis defined by a longitudinal axis of the drawbar by a second distance. In a pull position, the primary bearing remains engaged with the anvil during a loaded stroke and limits anvil deflection relative to the fastener centerline, while the secondary bearing remains engaged with the collet during the loaded stroke and limits deflection of the collet relative to the fastener centerline. In a return position, the primary bearing remains engaged with the anvil during a return stroke, while the secondary bearing remains engaged with the collet during the return stroke.
US09266163B2

A method for punching and straightening sheet metal in a punching machine includes the steps that a die is accommodated in a first tool holder of a punching machine, an upper tool part with a stamp is accommodated in a second tool holder, and a sheet metal is positioned between the stamp and the die at a location to be machined. The stamp comprises an end face at an end opposite to an accommodated end of the upper tool part, wherein a bevel has an angle and a height extending from a rim of the face to the end face. Then, a punching operation is performed by the stamp, wherein radial forces are simultaneously applied to the sheet metal during cutting so that an evenness of the sheet metal is maintained even at high grades of punching.
US09266162B2

A forming method that forms a press component with an L shape from a blank metal sheet, the press component having a top sheet section and a vertical wall section which is connected to the top sheet section via a bent section having a part curved in an arc shape and which has a flange section on an opposite side to the bent section, the top sheet section being arranged on an outside of the arc of the vertical wall section, the method including: disposing the blank metal sheet between a die and both of a pad and a bending die; and forming the vertical wall section and the flange section while at least a part of the blank metal sheet is caused to slide on a part of the die corresponding to the top sheet section.
US09266158B2

A laying head for the production of coils in hot rolling mills comprises a central body provided with a central cylinder and at least a shaped feed pipe, attached to the central body by means of clamping elements and bolts, and at least a circumferential guide disposed on the periphery of the cylindrical element. The circumferential guide consists of a plurality of elementary segments.
US09266142B2

A partition portion includes a proximal portion fixed to the outer periphery of the peripheral wall portion and a sealing member mounted to the proximal portion in a manner that the sealing member is allowed to move in inner and outer circumferential directions of the peripheral wall portion. When receiving a force toward an outer circumferential direction, the sealing member is moved in the outer circumferential direction, and a distal end portion thereof is held in press-contact with a sliding contact portion of a ventilation member with a force generated along with the above-mentioned force.
US09266141B2

An applicator head for a vacuum coating system includes a manifold shell having opposing shell plates, each including a conduit attachment coupled to a shell aperture. An applicator manifold is affixed to each shell plate. Each applicator manifold includes two coupled manifold plates, with one including a manifold aperture, and each is affixed to the respective shell plate so that each manifold aperture aligns with the respective shell aperture. An applicator channel is formed between the manifold plates of each applicator manifold, and the applicator channel is fluidically coupled to the manifold aperture of each respective applicator manifold. Each applicator channel forms an applicator port at a leading edge of each respective applicator manifold, and each leading edge is configured to be complementary in shape to an edge of a workpiece to be coated. First and second face plates are disposed over the leading edges of the applicator manifolds.
US09266140B2

Application of uncured adhesive material in bead ring on a surface using a device that includes a nozzle comprising a nozzle intake port, a nozzle outlet port, and a nozzle cavity connecting and providing fluid communication between the inlet and outlet ports. The nozzle intake port receives uncured adhesive material into the nozzle cavity from a source of uncured adhesive material. The outlet port has an annular shape that forms an annular bead of adhesive material on a surface onto which the nozzle is dispensing adhesive material. The nozzle cavity comprises an annular flow path leading to the annular outlet port and shaped to dispense adhesive material through the outlet port axially. The nozzle comprises inner and outer concentric walls defining the annular flow path therebetween.
US09266139B2

A paint/stain stick pad, for use with a paint/stain reservoir handle and dispensing plunger for coating deck boards with opposing side edges having joints therebetween, has a platform having a top and a bottom. The top has a pivotal connection to the handle and a paint/stain inlet in flow communication with the paint/stain in the reservoir handle. The bottom has a paint/stain dispensing and spreading surface in flow communication with the paint/stain inlet for evenly dispensing the paint/stain along the dispensing surface onto the boards. A central cut out is provided in the platform into which a stain/paint applicator is mounted in a floating arrangement within the cut out and biased downwardly as to dispense paint/stain onto the opposing board edges in the joints.
US09266138B1

A free-standing stand that holds a hose and that automatically erects upon contact with a supporting surface and automatically collapses when removed from contact with the supporting surface. The free-standing stand includes a spine and a tripod. The spine has the hose be replaceably held thereto. The tripod is operatively connected to the spine in such a matter that when the tripod contacts the supporting surface the tripod automatically erects and when the tripod is removed from contact with the supporting surface the tripod automatically collapses.
US09266137B2

Purge method and apparatus for a manual spray gun or coating material application device, in which purge air is introduced into the device through a handgrip portion that is manually held during a coating operation. Purge air first enters the coating material flow path after the purge air enters the handgrip portion.
US09266135B2

Dispenser (1) for the dosed dispensing of liquid media, with a container (3) for holding a liquid medium (4), a manually actuated pump (5), which is arranged on the container (3) and comprises a flood chamber (6) into which liquid medium (4) flows when the container (3) is turned over, for which purpose the flood chamber (6) is fluidically connected at the inlet end to an outlet opening (7) of the container (3), and a dosing piston (8), which is displaceable by an actuating stroke, is arranged in the flood chamber (6) and expels dosed medium (4), and a media channel (9) extending through the dosing piston (8) is widened at the inlet end as a volumetrically defined cylinder portion (10) into which a plunger piston (11) protruding into the flood chamber (6) engages as a pressure piston in order to expel medium (4) introduced by gravity into the cylinder portion (10) of the dosing piston (8).
US09266133B2

A vessel defining a variable interior volume has a wall with a first and second wall portion, and a flexure zone parallel to a longitudinal axis. In a volumetrically reduced configuration, the wall portions are brought together by flexing of the flexure zone. A fixing element attached to the wall releasably maintains the wall in the reduced configuration by maintaining proximity of the wall portions. A spray bottle system includes a housing forming a receptacle for receiving a soft refill liquid container and having at least one opening representing a reduction in material of the housing. A spray head includes an operable trigger for causing dispensation of liquid from the container. A pivoting junction connects the housing to the spray head permitting flexing of the spray head.
US09266121B2

A rotor for flotation machines or flotation cells of flotation machines includes blades that are configured to provide improved bubble flow and bubble generation performance while also reducing the power requirements for rotating the rotor to generate bubble flow within a tank of a flotation cell used to generate froth. Embodiments of the rotor may also be configured to be smaller than conventional rotor designs, which may help reduce the costs of manufacturing the rotor or flotation machines using such embodiments of the rotor.
US09266120B2

The invention provides methods and compositions for improving a froth flotation type separation. The method uses a microemulsion to improve the effectiveness of a collector. The improvement allows for low dosages of collector to work as well as much greater amounts of non-microemulsified collector.
US09266118B2

Provided is an air purifier capable of increased air purification properties due to charged particles being blown out. A first air-blower blasts air, thus drawing air in from the outside to a first air-flow path, and an air-purification unit purifies the air and blows out same. A second air blower blasts air, thus drawing air in from the outside to a second air-flow path, and the air is blown out together with charged particles generated by a charged particle generator. A control unit controls the amount of air blasted by the second air-blower, according to the amount of air blasted by the first air-blower. Alternatively, the control unit controls the angle to be adjusted by the regulator, according to the amount of air blasted by the first air-blower.
US09266115B2

An ultra-fine powder formed from a naturally occurring mineral or rock material and having a controlled or “engineered” particle size distribution (PSD) to match the infrared spectra with a maximum particle size in the range of 14-17 microns measured as either D99, or preferably D95, and a minimum particle size D5 in the range of 4-7 microns. Preferably the maximum particle size is about 15 microns, the minimum particle size is about 5 microns and the D50 particle size is about 8-10 microns with the moisture content of the particle size “engineered” powder being less than about 0.20 percent by weight and preferably about 0.05 to 0.08 percent by weight of the powder. This specially “engineered” ultra-fine powder is used to reduce the thermicity of thermal film to a value less than about 20%.
US09266113B2

Micrometric separator (1) for biomasses (100) in particles, of the type including a first crushing stage (2) wherein particles are introduced dispersed in a conveying fluid bed, and a first conveyor for conveying the particles in the fluid bed. The first crushing stage (2) has a first crushing chamber (5) for reciprocal collisions of particles, that has a first revolving disc (7) provided with first members (9) for generating a turbulent flow in the fluid bed, and a first contrast body (8), in front of the first revolving disc (7), as well as one or more outlets (22) of the fluid bed, the first contrast body (8) being provided with an inlet (6) having an inflow section with the axis substantially incident to the first revolving disc (7).
US09266112B2

The present invention relates generally to the reclaiming of carpet waste material. More particularly, the invention relates to a method and system for reclaiming carpet components such as yarn, tufting primary, binder, and secondary backing from post industrial and post consumer carpet waste in a substantially continuous flow process.
US09266107B2

A system for monodispersed microdroplet generation and trapping including providing a flow channel in a microchip; producing microdroplets in the flow channel, the microdroplets movable in the flow channel; providing carrier fluid in the flow channel using a pump or pressure source; controlling movement of the microdroplets in the flow channel and trapping the microdroplets in a desired location in the flow channel. The system includes a microchip; a flow channel in the microchip; a droplet maker that generates microdroplets, the droplet maker connected to the flow channel; a carrier fluid in the flow channel, the carrier fluid introduced to the flow channel by a source of carrier fluid, the source of carrier fluid including a pump or pressure source; a valve connected to the carrier fluid that controls flow of the carrier fluid and enables trapping of the microdroplets.
US09266092B2

Provided are catalyst composites whose catalytic material is effective to substantially simultaneously oxidize carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons and reduce nitrogen oxides. The catalyst composites have a two-metal layer on a carrier, the two-metal layer comprising a rhodium component supported by a first support comprising a refractory metal oxide component or a first ceria-zirconia composite; a palladium component supported by a second support comprising a second ceria-zirconia composite; one or more of a promoter, stabilizer, or binder; wherein the amount of the total of the first and second ceria-zirconia composites in the two-metal layer is equal to or greater than the amount of the refractory metal oxide component. Methods of making and using the same are also provided.
US09266091B2

One exemplary embodiment can be a catalyst for catalytic reforming of naphtha. The catalyst can have a noble metal including one or more of platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, osmium, and iridium, at least two alkali metals or at least two alkaline earth metals, or mixtures of alkali metals and alkaline earth metals and a support.
US09266090B2

A litter and litter making method producing cat litter from a carbohydrate starch-containing cereal grain, e.g., corn, based admixture extruded from a single screw or twin screw extruder forming pellets having a clumping agent formed during extrusion composed at least in part of carbohydrate polymer binder. Each pellet is extruded under conditions that cause formation of carbohydrate polymer binder clumping agent at least some of which is water soluble. One preferred method of extruding cat litter causes starch dextrinization to occur such that at least some of the carbohydrate polymer binder clumping agent in each pellet is formed of dextrin. Each pellet can be coated such as with a smectite that preferably is bentonite. During use, pellet extrusion formed clumping agent in a pellet wetted with urine dissolves and flows in between and along adjacent pellets causing them to clump together without the presence of any clumping agent additive.
US09266063B2

A holding material for gas treatment device, gas treatment device, and methods for those achieve proper control of a frictional resistance between the holding material and a casing. A method of treating a gas with a gas treatment device including a treatment structure, a casing made of a metal for housing the treatment structure and a holding material made of inorganic fibers placed between the treatment structure and the casing, the method including: placing an organic polymer between the holding material and the casing so that the organic polymer is brought into contact with an outer surface of the holding material and an inner surface of the casing during treatment of the gas; and treating the gas under a condition that a temperature of the casing is equal to or higher than a softening temperature of the organic polymer and lower than a decomposition temperature of the organic polymer.
US09266062B2

The present invention discloses a method of removing sulfur oxides and/or nitrogen oxides in a regeneration flue gas emitted from a regenerator of a catalytic cracking plant and recovering the elemental sulfur and an apparatus therefor.
US09266060B2

An air quality control system (AQCS) useful for processing a gas stream, such as a flue gas stream emitted from a fossil fuel fired boiler, for at least partial removal of acidic and like pollutants therefrom. The air quality control system includes a CDS reactor useful using a reducing agent slurry.
US09266056B2

One exemplary embodiment can be a process for initiating operations of a separation apparatus. The process may include passing a hydrocarbon carrier having a sulfiding agent through an exchanger for heating the hydrocarbon carrier prior to entering a stripper.
US09266048B2

A microbicidal filter for treating air, includes, in the allocated direction of flow of the air stream capable of passing therethrough, a filtration layer and a HEPA filter. The filtration layer contains a bactericidal and/or fungicidal agent, and the HEPA filter is pleated while being applied against a second pleated filtration layer that is arranged downstream, so as to prevent the mutual contacting of its pleats. The combination of the action of the impregnated layer and of the HEPA filter inhibits or kills by contact all the living particles that penetrate into the microbicidal filter. The HEPA filter is held in stable application in the pleated shape thereof against the second filtration layer, so that filtering performance deteriorates only gradually.
US09266038B2

A cryopump has a simple-to-manufacture frontal baffle plate with improved gas distribution and has a large-area second-stage array plate to capture Type II gases. The cryopump has a first-stage frontal baffle plate having orifices and flaps bent from and attached to the orifices. The cryopump has a second-stage top plate that is larger in area than cooling baffles of the second stage array.
US09266021B2

Embodiments of a token configured to interact are disclosed.
US09266018B2

An in-vehicle gaming system may be played by a driver alone, or simultaneously or individually by a driver and/or one or more other users. The in-vehicle gaming system may be activated or controlled by, for example, touch, voice, or gesture. Gameplay is dynamically adjusted based at least in part on environmental factors such that the driver is not distracted from driving the vehicle. Game content is generated based at least in part on environmental factors and user data.
US09266016B2

A game machine has a game machine main body, a plurality of light sources arranged on the game machine main body, a light source control device that controls the plurality of light sources, and a rendition control unit that controls a rendition depending on a state of a game. Each of the plurality of light sources has an anode connected to any one of a plurality of first signal lines, a cathode connected to any one of a plurality of second signal lines, and a different combination of the connected first signal lines and the connected second signal lines.
US09266009B2

The invention relates to running bases with improved speed and gliding characteristics when they run over water, snow or ice surfaces or artificial materials that mimic these surfaces. In particular the invention relates to a method comprising sequentially treating at least a portion of the running base with one or more abrasive materials having a progressively smaller particle size.
US09266005B2

A net includes lower fixed and upper vertically adjustable parts. The net parts extend across a playing area. Ends of the net parts are fastened to posts at sides of the playing area. The lower net part is fixedly mounted at a lower post part. The upper net part is doubly folded along a line along a longitudinal direction, forming a fold along the line. The upper net part exhibits a downwardly-hanging portion on each side of the fold. The ends of the upper net part are fastened to a vertically adjustable upper post part. The fold of the upper net part is arranged across the lower net part in a longitudinal direction with a portion hanging down on each side of the lower net part, so that the upper net part at least between a lower part of the hanging portions encloses an upper part of the lower net part.
US09266004B2

An apparatus comprising a weight system. The weight system is configured to be attached to a frame of a bicycle to increase the weight of the bicycle. The weight system is configured to be located in an area within a perimeter defined by a portion of the frame of the bicycle when attached to the frame.
US09266001B1

A device for training a pitcher to complete his/her delivery with a full follow-through consists of a pliable, sheet-like tail member attached to an official-size baseball with conventional seams. Multiple apertures provided for the attachment of the tail member to the ball enable the tail member to be positioned relative to the seams so as not to obstruct various pitching grips. The ball is free to rotate independently of the tail member, so that the trainee pitcher can practice various pitches in which spin is applied to the ball. Upon completion of the pitcher's delivery, a full follow-through is indicated by an audible snapping of the distal end of the tail member.
US09265995B2

An iron-type golf club head is disclosed having a heel portion, a sole portion, a toe portion, a top-line portion, a front portion, a rear portion, and a striking face. A back wall is also disclosed in the rear portion enclosing a portion of the rear portion to create an enclosed cavity. The cavity is defined by at least a rear surface of the striking face, an inner back wall surface, and the sole portion. A plug and a filler material is located within the enclosed cavity. The filler material surrounds the plug and is configured to hold the plug in place. The plug is lighter than the filler material.
US09265987B2

The present invention relates to an improved fitness device; specifically, the present invention relates to a stationary fitness machine designed to strengthen multiple muscle groups including the abdominal, chest, intercoastal, latissimus dorsi, rhomboid, deltoid, bicep, forearm, oblique and gluteus maximus muscles using a unique, advanced, combined pull-up, fly movement.
US09265976B1

A multipurpose automobile device comprising a shaft, where attached to that shaft is a hammer means for use in breaking out the window of an automobile in an emergency, a seatbelt cutting means for cutting the seatbelt of an automobile when the seatbelt buckle cannot be released or reached, and a seatbelt threading means for threading the seatbelt of an automobile through a child safety seat. The multipurpose automobile device may also comprise an ice scraping means, a brush means, or both additional tools.
US09265971B2

A radiation dose received by a patient from a radiation therapy system can be verified by acquiring a cine stream of image frames from an electronic portal imaging device (EPID) that is arranged to detect radiation exiting the patient during irradiation. The cine stream of EPID image frames can be processed in real-time to form exit images providing absolute dose measurements at the EPID (dose-to-water values), which is representative of the characteristics of the radiation received by the patient. Compliance with predetermined characteristics for the field can be determined during treatment by periodically comparing the absolute dose measurements with the predetermined characteristics, which can include a predicted total dose in the field after full treatment and/or a complete irradiation area outline (CIAO). The system operator can be alerted or the irradiation automatically stopped when non-compliance is detected.
US09265968B2

A lighting apparatus including a plurality of luminaires, each including a controller configured to operate the luminaire and positioned in communication with a computerized device. Each luminaire is selectively operable to emit source light, characterized by a dominant source light wavelength within a range from 390 nanometers to 750 nanometers. The luminaires are arrangeable so as to form an array. Some luminaires of the plurality of luminaires are operable such that at least two of the luminaires emit source lights with different dominant source light wavelengths and the source lights emitted by the luminaires combine to form a combined light at a distance from the luminaires defined as a combining distance. The dominant source light wavelength of some of the luminaires varies with time. The luminaires are configured to be operated to selectively emit light having a spectral power distribution that reduces melatonin suppression.
US09265964B2

Methods, systems and devices described herein can be used for automatically adjusting one or more cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) pacing parameters (and more generally stimulation parameters), to achieve a long term reduction in left ventricular (LV) diastolic pressure (and more generally, preload) of a heart failure (HF) patient. A reduction in LV diastolic pressure is indicative of a reduction in preload (the force of blood the fills the left ventricle), which is typically indicative of an improvement in a patient's HF condition. In accordance with certain embodiments, when a set of stimulation parameters is tested, the set is tested for a period that is sufficiently long enough to allow the patient's compensatory mechanisms to react to the set of stimulation parameters and achieve a substantially steady-state LV diastolic pressure corresponding to the using the set of stimulation parameters. Such techniques are believed to provide better results than achieved using acute hemodynamic optimization techniques.
US09265954B2

A method and system of cardiac pacing is disclosed. A baseline rhythm is determined. The baseline rhythm includes a baseline atrial event and a baseline right ventricular RV event from an implanted cardiac lead or a leadless device, a pre-excitation interval determined from the baseline atrial event and the baseline RV event, and a plurality of activation times determined from a plurality of body-surface electrodes. A determination is made as to whether a time interval measured from an atrial event to a RV event is disparate from another time interval measured from the atrial event to an earliest RV activation time of the plurality of activation times. A correction factor is applied to the pre-excitation interval to obtain a corrected pre-excitation interval in response to determining the RV event is disparate from the earliest RV activation time. The processor is configured to signal the pulse generator to deliver electrical stimuli to a left ventricle (LV) using the corrected pre-excitation interval before RV sensing time.
US09265950B2

A cardiac rhythm management system detects edema. In response to an episode of detected edema, it initiates or adjusts a cardiac resynchronization therapy and/or a cardiac contractility modulation (CCM) therapy.
US09265940B2

A medical lead is configured to be implanted into a patient's body and comprises a lead body, and an electrode coupled to the lead body. The electrode comprises a first section configured to contact the patient's body, and a second section electrically coupled to the first section and configured to be capacitively coupled to the patient's body.
US09265937B2

An implantable electrode device designed for heart stimulation and/or cardioversion/defibrillation in connection with a pacemaker or a defibrillator. The electrode device comprises a large-surface area indifferent reference electrode pole permanently implanted in the atrial septum and in electrical communication with a pacemaker or defibrillator. The electrode pole is made from biocompatible metal braiding and has a tube like opening. The electrical communication is positioned from the pacemaker/defibrillator via the right atrium of the heart through the indifferent electrode pole into the left atrium via the opening. Thus allowing electrical pulses to be delivered to the electrode pole and stimulating the heart.
US09265936B2

Defibrillator lead designs and methods for manufacturing a lead having a fibrosis-limiting material covering, a shocking coil electrode, and an implantable lead body are disclosed herein. The shocking coil electrode includes at least one laser welded portion.
US09265933B2

The present invention features devices for treating hearing loss, methods of making the devices, and methods for treating hearing loss. The devices include cochlear implants with biological cells placed at least on one or more of the electrodes of the implant. The cochlear implants then bypass dead or damaged hair cells in the cochlea by directly stimulating the auditory nerve fibers leading to the perceptions of sound. The biological cells can extend processes from the implant to the brainstem, creating a bridge that transmits electric signals from the electrode to the brainstem more efficiently than traditional cochlear implants. Methods of making the implants include applying a composition containing biological cells to an electrode of a cochlear implant, and treatment methods include implanting a cochlear implant that carries biological cells on one or more electrodes into a human who has experienced profound hearing loss (e.g., sensorineural hearing loss).
US09265930B2

A method of promoting the healing of a lesion in a smooth muscle (200), comprises selecting a smooth muscle portion having a lesion, and applying a non-excitory electric field (210) to the portion, which reduces the mechanical activity of the portion.
US09265928B2

The implantable electrode system of the preferred embodiments includes a conductor, an interconnect coupled to the conductor, an insulator that insulates the interconnect, and an anchor that is connected to both the conductor and the insulating element. The anchor is mechanically interlocked with at least one of the conductor and the insulator.
US09265918B2

An expandable medical balloon including an inner layer formed of a poly(ether-block-amide) copolymer and an outer layer formed of a polyamide, the expandable medical balloon having a burst strength of greater than 50,000 psi, and to methods of making and using the same.
US09265907B2

A self-centering tube for providing an air passageway through an opening in a tracheal wall of a patient includes a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, and a curve along a length of the shaft. At least the distal end and the curve are sized for passage through the opening into an interior space of the trachea of the patient. The proximal end of the shaft has a greater rigidity than the distal end. The tube includes an inflatable cuff at the distal end. Upon inflation, the cuff forms a seal between the shaft and an interior wall of the trachea, thereby permitting at least the low rigidity distal end of the shaft to self-center within the trachea.
US09265906B2

A tracheal tube assembly includes an outer cannula configured to be positioned in a patient airway and an inner cannula configured to be disposed inside the outer cannula. The tracheal tube assembly further includes a flange member secured about the outer cannula, and an outer cannula connector coupled to a proximal end of the outer cannula. The outer cannula connector includes a compressible portion may be compressed while inserting or removing the inner cannula.
US09265904B2

An artificial airway including: an airway tube including at least one airway conduit; an inflatable cuff mounted on a distal end of the tube; a support member extending into the cuff, the cuff having inner side walls, anterior walls and a posterior wall, the inner side walls being joined to the support member to define a recess which communicates with the airway conduit, the anterior walls and posterior wall, sealingly engaging, in use, about the glottic opening and posterior pharyngeal wall respectively of a patient.
US09265903B2

A system and method for displaying the status of a patient on ventilation is disclosed including a ventilator system configured to provide mechanical ventilation to a patient and a display device operatively associated with the ventilator system. The display device is configured to display a user interface including a pictogram having patient status information related to the ventilator system. The pictogram includes a central section configured to display patient status information relating to an overall status of the patient and at least one group section configured to display patient status information relating to a particular category of ventilatory status parameters.
US09265897B2

Apparatus for administering certain nerve blocks includes a sheath constructed from a flexible ultrasound echogenic material, a more rigid introducer/dilator for introducing the sheath into the patient, and an ultrasound echogenic catheter for inserting through the sheath once the distal end of the sheath is in place adjacent the nerve(s) to be blocked and the introducer/dilator has been withdrawn. The catheter has provisions at its proximal end for connecting to a source of local anesthetic. Methods for use of this apparatus are also described.
US09265895B2

The invention relates to a protection device for a needle of an assembly or of an injection device having a hub portion provided with a needle, the said protection device comprising: an outer casing formed of a first material; and an inner casing formed of a second material different from the said first material and defining a cavity for receiving in a sealing way at least the hub portion, said cavity having an inner wall; attachment means defined in the said cavity to removably engage and secure said protection device at least along a sealing line to the injection device; the protection device being characterized in that it further comprises aspiration limiting means for limiting the deformation of said cavity when said protection device is separated from the assembly or the injection device.
US09265891B2

An assembly of a drug delivery device with a longitudinal axis (L) is given, comprising a body (1) with a proximal end (2) and a distal end (3). The drug delivery device further comprises a drive assembly and a first button member (4). The drive assembly is at least partially arranged within the body (1) and is adapted to facilitate dispense of a medicinal product. The first button member (4) acts on the drive assembly to prepare the drug delivery device for dispensing the medicinal product. The first button member (4) is adapted to be detachable from the body (1) after the preparation of the drug delivery device is completed.
US09265884B2

An on-body injector and method of use including an on-body injector for use with an injection device. The on-body injector includes a bolus reservoir; a bolus injection needle in fluid communication with the bolus reservoir, the bolus injection needle having a bolus injection needle tip aligned with the injection port, the bolus injection needle being slideably biased away from the injection port to define a gap between the bolus injection needle tip and the injection port; and a button operably connected to the bolus injection needle to slide the bolus injection needle along the injection axis. The button is operable to advance the bolus injection needle tip to close the gap and advance the bolus injection needle tip into the injection port. The button is further operable to advance a plunger through the bolus reservoir to deliver a predetermined bolus volume to the patient through the injection flow path.
US09265868B2

The present invention relates to a fat removal device, which comprises: a navigation system having a first connection end and a first terminal; a hollow suction tube having a second connection end and a second terminal, wherein the navigation system is disposed inside the hollow suction tube; a connection unit connected to the first connection end and the second connection end; a robotic arm connected to the connection unit to rotate and move the connection unit multidirectionally; a suction unit connected to the connection unit by a pipeline between the connection unit and the suction unit; and a microprocessor connected to the connection unit, the robotic arm, and the suction unit, to transmit signals from one to another.
US09265859B2

The present invention provides a process for the preparation of a silicate and carbonate co-substituted calcium phosphate material. The process comprises the steps of: forming a silicon and optionally carbon-containing calcium phosphate precipitate by an aqueous precipitation method involving preparing an aqueous solution comprising phosphate ions, silicate ions, calcium ions and optionally carbonate ions, wherein the ratio of Ca/P and of Ca/(P+Si) in the solution is maintained above approximately 1.67; and heating the precipitate in an atmosphere comprising carbon and oxygen to form a silicate and carbonate co-substituted calcium phosphate material.The present invention also provides a synthetic carbonate and silicate co-substituted hydroxyapatite material, as well as a biomedical material.
US09265858B2

Disclosed is a dry composition, which upon addition of an aqueous medium forms a substantially homogenous paste suitable for use in haemostasis procedures. The paste forms spontaneously upon addition of the liquid, hence no mechanical mixing is required for said paste to form. Further disclosed are methods of preparing said dry composition, a paste made from said dry composition and use of said paste for medical and surgical purposes.
US09265853B2

A fragrance dispensing device includes a housing, a fragrance assembly, a cover panel, a fan, and a drive assembly. The housing includes a first portion and a second portion, which moves relative to the first portion. The housing includes an intake opening and an exhaust opening. The fragrance assembly rotates within the housing's interior cavity and defines a plurality of receptacles for receiving fragrance inserts. The cover panel substantially seals one or more receptacles and defines an opening. The fan is coupled to the housing's second portion. The drive assembly rotates the fragrance assembly such that at least a portion of a user-selected fragrance insert is aligned with the cover panel's opening. The fan moves air from the housing's intake opening, across the cover panel's opening, and out the housing's exhaust opening, thereby releasing a fragrance into an environment. The drive assembly may include a shaft with helical threads.
US09265846B2

An air removal test system for verifying adequate air removal during a sterilization cycle of a pre-vacuum type sterilizer includes specimen holder and a test strip. The test strip includes a solid indicator chemical, which liquefies and travels along a wicking element during the sterilization cycle. The test strip is configured to verify adequate removal of air during the sterilization cycle by displaying a color change through a window.
US09265842B2

Recombinant cells and methods are provided that relate to the use of isolated, engineered recombinant cells to directly or indirectly treat diseases or disorders in a mammalian host such as endocrine, gastrointestinal or autoimmune disorders. A recombinant cell is provided that comprises a signal sequence and a promoter, wherein: the signal sequence is capable of regulating signal-dependent expression of a target nucleic acid in a host or is capable of regulating signal-dependent expression of a target nucleic acid in response to an environmental stimulus, the cell is derived from an enteric or a commensal bacterium, and the target nucleic acid encodes a mammalian factor that promotes normal functioning of a physiological process in the host or is effective in preventing onset, establishment, or spread of a non-infectious disease in the host. The recombinant cell is administered to the host to treat the disease or disorder.
US09265836B2

An improved drug delivery composition and method of use is disclosed. The composition comprises one or more biodegradable block copolymer drug carriers; and a reconstitution enhancing and enabling agent comprising polyethylene glycol (PEG), a PEG derivative or a mixture of PEG and a PEG derivative. The composition can be administered as is or after being be dissolved or rapidly reconstituted in an aqueous vehicle to afford a homogeneous solution or uniform colloidal systems.
US09265833B2

A gelator that includes a lipid peptide of Formula (1) wherein R1 is a C9-23 aliphatic group, R2 is a hydrogen atom or a C1-4 alkyl group optionally having a C1-2 branched chain, R3 is a —(CH2)n—X group, n is a number from 1 to 4, and X is an amino group, a guanidino group, a —CONH2 group, or a 5-membered ring optionally having 1 to 3 nitrogen atoms, a 6-membered ring optionally having 1 to 3 nitrogen atoms, or a fused heterocycle including a 5-membered ring and a 6-membered ring that optionally has 1 to 3 nitrogen atoms; or a pharmaceutically usable salt of the lipid peptide.
US09265830B2

Methods for forming implantable compositions are provided. In some embodiments, the methods include (i) providing a gel base, (ii) adding water and a hydrating agent to the gel base to form a mixture, (iii) reducing the water content of the mixture; and (iv) adding a delivered material before, during, and/or after step (ii) or (iii). The water content is reduced to about 5% or less by weight of the implantable composition.
US09265825B2

The present invention is directed to therapeutic methods using IL-6 antagonists such as antibodies and fragments thereof having binding specificity for IL-6 to improve survivability or quality of life of a patient in need thereof. In preferred embodiments, the anti-IL-6 antibodies will be humanized and/or will be aglycosylated. Also, in preferred embodiments these patients will comprise those exhibiting (or at risk of developing) an elevated serum C-reactive protein level or a reduced serum albumin level prior to treatment. In another preferred embodiment, the patient's Glasgow Prognostic Score will be increased and survivability will preferably be improved.
US09265824B2

The invention relates to a pharmaceutical product comprising an allergen extract or an allergoid thereof for the treatment and/or prevention of allergy and allergic asthma caused by house dust mites, which extract comprises at least one extract of mite bodies selected from the following groups a)-b): a) An extract of Der p mite bodies, and b) An extract of Der f mite bodies, and at least one extract of mite cultures selected from the following groups c)-g): c) An extract of Der p faecal particles, d) An extract of Der f faecal particles, e) An extract of Der f whole mite culture, f) An extract of an Der p whole mite culture, and g) a combination of extracts c) to f).
US09265816B2

This invention provides mutated WT1 peptides SGQAYMFPNAPYLPSCLES (SEQ ID No:41) and QAYMFPNAPYLPSCL (SEQ ID No:42), immunogenic compositions and vaccines comprising same, and methods of treating, reducing the incidence of, and inducing immune responses to a WT1-expressing cancer, comprising same.
US09265815B2

This invention relates, at least in part, to compositions comprising synthetic nanocarriers and immunosuppressants that result in immune suppressive effects. Such compositions can further comprise antigen and provide antigen-specific tolerogenic immune responses.
US09265802B2

Methods are provided for isolating and using a whole-saliva leech extract. The methods can include feeding a phagostimulatory agent to a leech; inducing a regurgitation in the leech, the inducing including placing the leech in an environment having a temperature of less than about 0° C.; and, collecting an unrefined, whole saliva in the regurgitation of the cooled leech. The methods can include revitalizing the leech by warming it at a temperature ranging from about 5° C. to about 40° C. Stable, lyophilized, whole-saliva extracts of a leech are also provided, the extract having a stable activity when stored for use at a temperature below about −20° C., the extract maintaining at least 70% of the activity for at least 6 months. The extracts can be used to treat solid tumors, treat liquid tumors, treat diabetes, treat a viral disease, treat a parasitic disease, treat an antibacterial disease, or serve as an anti-oxidant.
US09265801B2

A method for preparing placenta membrane tissue grafts for medical use, includes obtaining a placenta from a subject, cleaning the placenta, separating the chorion tissue from the amniotic membrane, mounting a selected layer of either the chorion tissue or the amniotic membrane onto a drying fixture, dehydrating the selected layer on the drying fixture, and cutting the selected layer into a plurality of tissue grafts. Preferably, the drying fixture includes grooves or raised edges that define the outer contours of each desired tissue graft, after they are cut, and further includes raised or indented logos that emboss the middle area of the tissue grafts during dehydration and that enables an end user to distinguish the top from the bottom side of the graft. The grafts are comprised of single layers of amnion or chorion, multiple layers of amnion or chorion, or multiple layers of a combination of amnion and chorion.
US09265798B2

Methods for treating a cardiovascular disorder comprising administration of one or more extracellular matrix (ECM) based compositions directly to damaged or diseased cardiovascular tissue associated with the cardiovascular disorder, and provision of ventricular assistance.
US09265792B2

The invention relates to a composition-of-matter and method of using a topical composition having 10-99.999% by weight of a topical base formulation and other active ingredients including stem cell or growth factors and/or antioxidants, as well as others for the purpose of regenerating integument cells.
US09265790B2

Methods and products for treating and protecting against asthma and allergic conditions are provided. The methods and products are related to certain naturally occurring and synthetic zwitterionic polymers which are found to induce certain T regulatory (Treg) cells and to exert immunosuppressive effects in vitro and in vivo.
US09265789B2

Provided herein are compositions for reducing CLPTM1L expression in a cell as well as methods for using such compositions to treat or prevent cancer in a subject. In particular, compositions comprising RNAi-inducing constructs targeted to CLPTM1L and methods of administering such compositions to a subject to treat or prevent a disease or condition associated with CLPTM1L over-expression (e.g., lung cancer) are provided herein.
US09265788B2

Methods and compositions are provided for the treatment of a mitochondrial disease in an individual with the mitochondrial disease. Aspects of the methods include administering an inhibitor of a mitochondrial transport protein to a subject having a mitochondrial disease. Also provided are reagents and kits for practicing the subject methods.
US09265787B2

Methods for treating tumors comprising cells expressing the vitamin D receptor are provided, and comprise inhibiting the expression or the biologic activity of the vitamin D receptor in the tumor cells, and/or inhibiting the expression or the biologic activity of a constituent of the vitamin D receptor signaling pathway in the tumor cells, and administering to the tumor cells an effective amount of gemcitabine.
US09265785B2

Embodiments of compositions and methods for the treatment of blood disorders and malignancies in a subject are described herein. In one embodiment, a composition for the treatment of a blood disorder or a malignancy in a subject comprises decitabine, tetrahydrouridine, and an excipient. In another embodiment, a method for the treatment of a blood disorder or a malignancy in a subject comprises the oral administration of a composition comprising decitabine and tetrahydrouridine. In some examples, the composition may be administered 1-3 times weekly.
US09265777B2

A method of controlling proliferation of fish parasites comprising the administration of 1 to 50 mg/kg fish body weight/day of an inhibitor of folate synthesis and/or an inhibitor of folate activation to fish continuously for 1 to 2 weeks. Using a combination preparation composed of an inhibitor of folate synthesis and an inhibitor of folate activation is preferable, and a sulfonamide is preferable for the inhibitor of folate synthesis. A dihydrofolate reductase inhibitor, a folate antagonist, etc., can be used as the inhibitor of folate activation. The antiparasitic agent is able to exterminate fish parasites via oral administration. It is particularly effective against parasites belonging to the ciliate group among fish parasites.
US09265775B2

Compositions, and methods of using such compositions, useful for injection into the posterior segments of human or animal eyes are provided. Such compositions include corticosteroid component-containing particles present in a therapeutically effective amount, a viscosity inducing component, and an aqueous carrier component. The compositions have viscosities of at least about 10 cps or about 100 cps at a shear rate of 0.1/second. In a preferred embodiment, the viscosity is in the range of from about 140,000 cps to about 300,000 cps. The compositions advantageously suspend the particles for prolonged periods of time.
US09265767B2

1,2-disubstituted heterocyclic compounds which are inhibitors of phosphodiesterase 10 are described. Also described are processes, pharmaceutical compositions, pharmaceutical preparations and pharmaceutical use of the compounds in the treatment of mammals, including human(s) for central nervous system (CNS) disorders and other disorders which may affect CNS function. Among the disorders which may be treated are neurological, neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders including, but not to, those associated with cognitive deficits or schizophrenic symptoms.
US09265765B2

This disclosure relates, at least in part, to a method of treatment. In one embodiment, the method of treatment comprises administering to a subject in need of such treatment a first therapeutic agent including compound (1): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in combination with a second therapeutic agent, wherein the first therapeutic agent and the second therapeutic agent are administered either simultaneously or sequentially.
US09265762B2

The invention relates to stable pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compound of the below formula, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, hydrates or morphological forms thereof.
US09265757B2

Methods of using combinations of antihistamines by administering an attenuated dosage amount of a first generation antihistamine for a quick onset concomitantly with a maintenance dosage amount of a second or third generation antihistamine are disclosed.
US09265755B2

A method for treating an autism spectrum condition includes administering an effective dose of a TNF-α inhibiting agent to a person having an autism spectrum condition or pervasive development disorder and at least one of elevated TNF-α in the cerebrospinal fluid or elevated TNF-α in the serum, as compared to normal conditions; and lowering at least one of the elevated TNF-α in the cerebrospinal fluid or elevated TNF-α in the serum. A TNF-α inhibiting agent includes at least one of Lenalinomide; Thalidomide; L-Carnosine; Infliximab; Etanercept; a stem cell preparation; derivatives thereof, isomers thereof, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.
US09265745B2

The present invention relates to the use of an acid enriched in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) or eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) or DHA-derived EPA for manufacturing a drug for the treatment of processes that involve associated oxidative damage. In particular, it is for the treatment of processes associated with neurodegenerative, ocular, ischaemic and inflammatory pathology, atherosclerosis, with oxidative damage to DNA and with physical exercise.
US09265742B2

The present specification discloses pharmaceutical compositions, methods of preparing such pharmaceutical compositions, and methods and uses of treating a chronic inflammation and/or an inflammatory disease in an individual using such pharmaceutical compositions.
US09265738B2

Compounds and methods are provided for decreasing demyelinating inflammatory disease in a subject by inhibiting the activity of chemokine-like receptor 1 (CMKLR1). In some embodiments such methods include treating demyelinating inflammatory disease in a subject by administering an agent that antagonizes the activity of chemokine-like receptor 1 (CMKLR1) and/or a CMKLR1 ligand (e.g., chemerin or other endogenous CMKLR1 ligands). Candidate compounds include, without limitation, analogs and variants of 2-(alpha-naphthoyl)ethyltrimethylammonium iodide.
US09265729B2

Provided are nanofunctional silica particles having excellent functionality and quality, and capable of being mass-produced at low costs. According to the present invention, there are provided nanofunctional silica particles including a coating layer containing one or more silica compounds selected from the group consisting of mercaptopropyl trimethoxysilane (MPS), mercaptopropyl triethoxysilane (MPES), mercaptopropyl methyldimethoxysilane (MPDMS), trimethoxy[2-(7-oxabicyclo[4.1.0]-hept-3-yl)ethyl]silane (EpoPS), thiocyanatopropyl triethoxysilane (TCPS), acryloxypropyl trimethoxysilane (ACPS), and aminopropyl trimethoxysilane (APS); and functional particles in the coating layer, and being used in imaging, assay, diagnosis, treatment or the like, medicine or bioresearch.
US09265725B2

The present invention teaches a foamable pharmaceutical carrier comprising a benefit agent, selected from the group consisting of a dicarboxylic acid and a dicarboxylic acid ester; a stabilizer selected from the group consisting of at least one surface-active agent; at least one polymeric agent and mixtures thereof; a solvent selected from the group consisting of water, a hydrophilic solvent, a hydrophobic solvent, a potent solvent, a polar solvent, a silicone, an emollient, and mixtures thereof, wherein the benefit agent, stabilizer and solvent are selected to provide a composition that is substantially resistant to aging and to phase separation and or can substantially stabilize other active ingredients. The invention further relates to a foamable composition further containing a liquefied hydrocarbon gas propellant.
US09265721B2

A composition for topical application to a part of the body comprises a local anaesthetic and optionally a vasodilator as active ingredient dissolved in a blend of volatile and non-volatile solvents of different solvating capacities for the active ingredient. The vasodilator may comprise glyceryl trinitrate and the local anaesthetic may comprises an anaesthetic of the aminoamide or aminoester type. The volatile solvent may comprise a mixture of water with a C1-C5 alcohol and the non-volatile solvent may comprise a polyhydric alcohol and optionally a glycol. A low-concentration vasodilator-containing composition is also described. The compositions allow a “virtual injection” of the active ingredient to be delivered transdermally without general systemic uptake.
US09265716B2

Methods of using extracts of Hoya carnosa to impart anti-aging benefits to skin and/or improve skin conditions resulting from aging or damaged skin.
US09265715B2

Compositions comprising an organic sunscreen in combination with (i) nylon particles, (ii) silica particles, and (iii) barium sulfate particles provide an improvement in SPF as compared to an otherwise identical composition lacking any one of the three ingredients (i)-(iii). The compositions advantageously provide high diffuse transmittance, giving a natural look to the skin.
US09265707B2

The present invention relates to a cosmetic composition for skin care, comprising coumestrol or a bean extract containing coumestrol.
US09265705B2

The invention relates to a process for dyeing and/or lightening keratin fibres such as the hair, using i) at least one direct dye bearing a disulfide, thiol or protected-thiol function and ii) at least one nonionic surfactant, iii) at least one amphoteric surfactant, iv) at least one alkaline agent, and v) at least one reducing agent. The invention also relates to a composition comprising the ingredients i) to v), to the use of the combination of i), ii), iii), iv) and v) for the dyeing and/or lightening of keratin fibres, and to a multi-compartment kit comprising the ingredients i) to v). The dyeing process and the composition according to the invention especially afford a long-lasting coloration on keratin fibres, which is strong, chromatic and/or homogeneous, with or without the use of an oxidizing agent.
US09265702B2

What is claimed is: a loose cosmetic powder, comprising: a base component including particles that include one or more of talc, mica, zinc stearate, boron nitride, and one or more pigments; and color bits, wherein the loose cosmetic powder displays a color change when subjected to an application of pressure.
US09265701B2

A silver-colored pigment is provided having a nonmetallic platelet-shaped substrate and at least one ilmenite-containing coating, wherein the nonmetallic platelet-shaped substrate is a nonmetallic platelet-shaped synthetic substrate and the amount of iron compounds, calculated as elemental iron, in the pigment is less than 5.0 % by weight, based on the total weight of the pigment. Processes for preparing the pigment also are provided.
US09265695B1

Described is a medication recording device for optically enhancing the view of markings on the device. The device includes a bottle cap for connection with a prescription container. Markings indicative of at least one of a time and date are connected with the bottle cap. A prescription recording magnifier (such as a lens) is connected with the bottle cap and positioned over the markings such that the markings can be viewed through the prescription recording magnifier to optically enlarge the markings. This allows a larger portion the population with visual impairment to take advantage of new advances in home medication monitoring. Additionally, the medication recording device can be thrilled to include two lenses, where both lenses that are thrilled or shaped such that the viewing focal point of both lenses converge to a single focal point.
US09265686B1

A system for exercising muscles that move the thigh according to various aspects of the present invention provides a source of resistance, suitably positioned, for the user to use when forcing the thigh to return to its original standing position, for instance, returning the foot to the floor. Such a system may include a base, an exerciser, and an upward motion limiter. The exerciser may include a position adjuster and a compliant surface. The compliant surface may include an elastic support and a foot receiver. The upward motion limiter may be mechanically coupled to any part of the exerciser to protect the user from unintended, perhaps sudden, release of energy, for example, from the elastic support.
US09265668B2

A sanitary product 1 for use by women for the absorption of menstrual fluid has a plug 2 and a pad 3 joined by a sheath 4. The plug 2 is substantially cylindrical so that it fits comfortably in a vaginal cavity. The pad 3 remains outside the vaginal cavity, but has an absorbent layer on an inward side 9 proximal to the plug 2 and a liquid impermeable layer on an outward side 10. The sheath 4 includes a tube of absorbent material for drawing excess menstrual fluid from the plug 2 to the pad 3 and has a layer of liquid impermeable material on its inside surface. It extends from an outward end 6 of the plug 2, proximal to the pad 3, both to and through the pad 3. In use, a wearer can insert a finger into the sheath 4 from the outward side 10 of the pad 3 assist with insertion of the plug 2 into the vaginal cavity.
US09265667B2

A substantially biodegradable and water soluble tampon applicator comprising: a plunger and a barrel, said plunger being of a predetermined length, and having a first end and a second end, said second end being a predetermined distance from said first end, said plunger being substantially cylindrical in shape and having a first diameter at said first end and a second diameter at said second end, wherein said first diameter tapers downwards to said second diameter, proximate said first end, said plunger further comprises a first mating portion, said barrel having a first end and a second end, said second end being a predetermined distance from said first end, said barrel being substantially cylindrical in shape and having a diameter greater than the first diameter of said plunger, proximate said first end of said barrel, there is provided a second mating portion to matingly engage said first mating portion of said plunger to maintain said plunger in relation to said barrel in a first position, proximate said first end of said barrel, adjacent said second mating portion, said barrel further comprises a fingergrip.
US09265662B2

A method of treating tinnitus comprising measuring a patient's hearing, determining the patient's hearing loss and the patient's tinnitus frequency using the measurements of the patient's hearing, programming a clinical controller with the measurements of the patient's hearing, selecting a plurality of therapeutic tones, where the therapeutic tones are selected to be at least a half-octave above or below of the patient's tinnitus frequency, setting an appropriate volume for each of the plurality of tones, repetitively playing each of the plurality of therapeutic tones, and pairing a vagus nerve stimulation pulse train with each playing of a therapeutic tone, thereby reducing the patient's perception of tinnitus.
US09265654B2

A cooling article of clothing and method for use of the same are disclosed for providing temporary cooling comfort to a human wearer. In one embodiment, sealed elongated envelopes are formed on the inside of a layer of the fabric, which may be fashioned into a vest or shirt. Each of the sealed elongated envelopes defines a volume for containing a pre-determined amount of polyacrylamide material. Offset spacings are interleaved between the sealed elongated envelopes. A diffusion gradient is formed from the polyacrylamide material to the sealed elongated envelopes to the layer of fabric. A diffusion gradient provides for the transfer of water from the polyacrylamide material to the layer of fabric. Water within the layer of fabric is evaporated by way of airflow through the layer of fabric, thereby providing temporary cooling comfort to the human wearer.
US09265653B2

A thermal therapy device includes a substrate and at least one heating unit arranged on the substrate. The at least one heating unit includes a heating element, a first electrode, and a second electrode. The heating element includes a carbon nanotube film structure and a polymer matrix. The carbon nanotube film structure is substantially parallel to and offset from a central plane of the polymer matrix. The first electrode and the second electrode are electrically connected to the carbon nanotube film structure, and control the amount of heat and deformation produced by the carbon nanotube film structure.
US09265636B2

A stent is disclosed and can include a stent body having a longitudinal axis. The stent body can also have a network of struts that can define a plurality of cells defined between interconnected struts. Each of the plurality of cells includes a major axis that is angled with respect to the longitudinal axis to form a cell angle, β.
US09265635B2

A stent comprising a radially expandable elongate tubular support structure, the elongate tubular support structure comprising an inner surface and an outer surface and an anchoring element disposed on at least a portion of the outer surface of the tubular support structure, the anchoring element is separate and removable from the elongate tubular support structure.
US09265630B2

A post-operative residual limb support assembly includes an upper frame configured to extend about at least a portion of a residual limb; and a lower frame coupled to the upper frame and configured to receive an end of the residual limb. The upper frame and the lower frame are adjustable relative to one another in at least one of a linear and rotational manner.
US09265629B2

A prosthetic cushion liner and cushion locking liner for use as a standalone interface between an amputee's residual limb and the interior of a prosthetic socket. The liners include a fabric covering having an open end for introduction of a residual limb and a closed end opposite said open end, and a cushioning block copolymer and plasticizing oil gel composition residing on only an interior surface of the fabric covering. The gel composition includes some amount of a Septon J-Series thermoplastic elastomer material, and/or some amount of a Septon V-Series thermoplastic elastomer material, and/or some amount of a Septon Q-Series thermoplastic elastomer material. The cushion locking liner further includes a distally-located connecting element for coupling the liner to the socket of a prosthesis.
US09265627B2

A prosthetic foot includes a heel member having a heel member shaft extending upwardly from a heel end thereof and a forefoot member having a forefoot member shaft extending upwardly from a toe end thereof. An ankle member receives the heel member shaft and forefoot member shaft so as to allow the heel member shaft and forefoot member shaft to translate in a direction of a wearer's leg in response to an upward force thereon. At least one compressible member is coupled to the ankle member and is in compressible contact with the heel member shaft and/or forefoot member shaft so as to compress in response to the translation thereof.
US09265625B2

A jointed mechanical device is provided. The device includes at least one element (204) having a fixed end and a deflectable end. The device also includes at least one actuating structure (206) having a first end coupled to at least the deflectable end of the element, where the actuating structure includes at least one elastic element (214) in series with at least one non-elastic element. The device further includes at least one force actuator (202) configured to apply an actuator force to a second end of the actuating structure. Additionally, the device includes a control system (315) for adjusting an operation of the force actuator based at least one actuation input, an amount of the actuator force, and an amount of displacement generated by the force actuator.
US09265624B2

Systems and methods for providing deeper knee flexion capabilities. In some instances, such systems and methods include a tibial component that has an asymmetrical articular plateau that includes a medial tibial condylar surface and a lateral tibial condylar surface. In some cases, at least one of the medial condylar surface and the lateral condylar surface includes a concave articulation surface having a lowest point that disposed from a posterior edge of the tibial component by between about 18% and less than about 35% of a total anteroposterior dimension of the tibial component. Other implementations are also discussed.
US09265618B2

The present invention relates to an intervertebral disc prosthesis and insertion instrumentation, the prosthesis comprising at least first and second osseous anchoring means, the first osseous anchoring means disposed proximal to the periphery of the plate on which it is situated and the second osseous anchoring means being offset along the antero-posterior axis, the second osseous anchoring means comprising a basal portion and a sharp-edged portion of width narrower than the basal portion. The instrumentation comprises a rod fitted with at least two feet forming a clip and sliding in a tube, sliding the rod in the tube, in the direction of the manipulation end, causing closing of the clip by contact between the exterior of the feet and a truncated portion of the tube and sliding the rod in the tube, in the direction of the prehension end, causing opening of the clip by contact between an axis and the interior of the feet of the rod.
US09265617B2

The present invention relates to an intervertebral disc prosthesis for the total replacement of an intervertebral disc of the cervical or lumbar spine. The prosthesis provided by the invention is intended for coupled physiological motion within the disc space. The design of the disclosed prosthesis is based on an inlay positioned within the articulation area of two adjacent sliding partners and provides the advantage of comprising a ball and socket shaped articulation area, which enables limitation of rotation around the sagittal, frontal and longitudinal axis. The inlay is protected against luxation due to its position within a recess of one of the adjacent sliding partners. An additional protuberance going through the inlay is protecting against luxation of the adjacent sliding.
US09265609B2

Bone implant compositions are provided that include a body made of cortical bone extending along an axis between a first end and a second end. The body includes an outer surface configured to engage host bone of a patient and at least one recess extending transverse to the axis into the outer surface of the body configured for disposal of an insert. At least one insert made of demineralized bone is disposed in the at least one recess.
US09265603B2

An intraocular lens in which deterioration in contrast is suppressed even when the optical axis of the intraocular lens is decentered from the optical axis of the eyeball when the intraocular lens is inserted into the eye while the advantage of a conventional aberration reduction type intraocular lens that the image is seen clearly is sustained by employing such a power distribution as respectively having at least one positive power deviation region (E1) having a power larger than that represented by the reference power distribution and at least one negative power deviation region (E2) having a power smaller than that represented by the reference power distribution in the central region of the intraocular lens assuming that a power distribution being set to cancel the spherical aberration of cornea when the intraocular lens is inserted into the eye is the reference power distribution.
US09265599B2

A delivery system for an endoluminal device including an introducer, the introducer having a distal end intended to remain outside a patient in use and a proximal end. A stent graft having a first and second end is retained upon the introducer, the stent graft defining a fenestration disposed through a wall of the stent graft between the first and second end. A valve arrangement is disposed within an interior lumen of the stent graft about the fenestration. A retention system including a trigger wire engages and retains the valve arrangement away from the fenestration. The fenestration is in fluid communication with the interior lumen of the stent graft.
US09265593B2

A flossing system including a cradle and a housing. The flossing system includes an array of floss cartridges having a length of floss. The array of floss cartridges include a pair of coupling members each coupled to opposite ends of the length of floss. Each floss cartridge includes a coupling structure. The flossing system includes a pair of floss handles disposed on the cradle and selectably coupleable to the coupling members. The pair of floss handles include a cylindrical body. The pair of floss handles include a release mechanism configured to selectably disengage the floss handle from the coupling member. The release mechanism includes an actuation member disposed through a back end of the cylindrical body of each of the pair of floss handles. The pair of floss handles each include a top aperture configured to receive the coupling structure of the pair of coupling members.
US09265589B2

A system for tracking a navigated instrument. The system can include a first elongated instrument and a second elongated instrument. The first elongated instrument can have a first proximal end and a first distal end. The first elongated instrument can be adapted to be positioned relative to an anatomy. The second elongated instrument can move adjacent to the first elongated instrument. The second elongated instrument can have a second proximal end and a second distal end. The system can also include at least one tracking device coupled to the second elongated instrument. When the second elongated instrument is in a first position, the at least one tracking device tracks the first distal end of the first elongated instrument, and when the second elongated instrument is in a second position, the at least one tracking device tracks the second distal end of the second elongated instrument.
US09265586B2

A device for managing heating energy from a probe comprises a sleeve including a lumen sized to receive the probe therein, the sleeve defining a first window which, when the sleeve is in a desired position, faces target tissue to which the probe is to deliver energy and a shield element protecting non-target tissue from energy emanating from the surgical probe, the shield element being formed of one of a material reflecting energy delivered by the probe and a material absorbing energy delivered by the probe in combination with a positioning element which, when the sleeve is in the desired position, contacts an anatomical structure to position the sleeve relative to the target tissue.
US09265585B2

A surgical instrument is disclosed, the instrument including: a handle assembly; a jaw assembly including a staple cartridge containing a plurality of staples and an anvil to form the plurality of staples upon firing; a lockout mechanism configured to prevent reuse of the jaw assembly; a drive assembly at least partially located within the handle and connected to the jaw assembly; a motor operatively coupled to the drive assembly; and a controller operatively coupled to the motor, the controller configured to control supply of electrical current to the motor and to monitor a current draw of the motor, wherein the controller is further configured to terminate the supply of electrical current to the motor in response to a drop in the current draw.
US09265580B2

The devices and methods taught in this disclosure are directed to facilitate the observation, collection, transportation, storage, and preservation of specimens possibly containing DNA, said specimens potentially constituting evidence of sexual assault. The devices and methods described further allow for a means of minimizing the possibility of specimen contamination, dilution, or degradation during the collection and storage processes. The disclosed devices may contain electrical components that provide for the generation and recordation of information (specifically, times, dates, and locations) related to circumstances surrounding the collection of such specimens. This information may serve as evidence corroborating the circumstance of specimen collection, it may help to maintain a known and identifiable Chain of Custody (CoC), and it may additionally be used for unique device identification (UDI), inventory control, and current procedural terminology (CPT) coding purposes.
US09265579B2

A package (1) for an object such as a preferably-sterile medical component, includes: a support element (2) provided with elements (21) for coupling the object (5); a stopper (3) that can be coupled to the support element (2) in such a manner as to define a first chamber (7) for containing the object (5), and such that a grip portion (20) of the support element (2) projects from the stopper (3); and a cover (4) that can be coupled to the stopper (3) in such a manner as to define a second chamber (8) inside which the grip portion (20) of the support element (2) extends, and such that a portion (30) of the stopper (3) coupled to the support element (2) projects from the cover (4).
US09265576B2

A laser generator for laser therapy in the treatment of pain conditions by selective destruction of nociceptive or pain nerves, where a laser generator that generates a continuous and pulsed wavelength that is transmitted fiber-optically through a laser fiber within a spinal needle to contact areas within a body where pain nerves require destruction through optical absorption of laser energy by pain nerves without affecting other types of nerves or surrounding tissues. The laser generator can be used for treatment in humans, small animals and also large animals, which can receive pain relief without adverse effects.
US09265574B2

Apparatus, consisting of a probe, configured to be inserted into a body cavity, and an electrode having an outer surface and an inner surface connected to the probe. The apparatus also includes a temperature sensor, protruding from the outer surface of the electrode, which is configured to measure a temperature of the body cavity.
US09265572B2

The subject matter described herein includes methods, systems, and computer readable media for image guided ablation. One system for image guided ablation includes an ultrasound transducer for producing a real-time ultrasound image of a target volume and of surrounding tissue. The system further includes an ablation probe for ablating the target volume. The system further includes a display for displaying an image to guide positioning of the ablation probe during ablation of the target volume. The system further includes at least one tracker for tracking position and orientation of the ablation probe during the ablation of the target volume. The system further includes a rendering and display module for receiving a pre-ablation image of the target volume and for displaying a combined image on the display, where the combined image includes a motion tracked, rendered image of the ablation probe and an equally motion tracked real-time ultrasound image registered with the pre-ablation image.
US09265564B1

A surgical device is disclosed, and includes a pair of finger-mountable annular members, each having an electrode disposed thereon. An optical member is disposed on at least one of the pair of finger-mountable annular members and has a first set of light transmitting properties corresponding to a first set of physical parameters of at least one of the finger-mountable annular members. At least one finger-mountable annular member is configured to transition to a second set of physical parameters being different from the first set of physical parameters. The optical member is configured to transition from a first set of light transmitting properties to a second set of light transmitting properties, the second set of light transmitting properties corresponding to the second set of physical parameters, the second set of light transmitting properties being different from the first set of light transmitting properties.
US09265548B2

A method of stabilizing a first vertebra and a second vertebra includes implanting a first bone anchor into the first vertebra, implanting a second bone anchor into the second vertebra, connecting a first anchor connection instrument to the first anchor, connecting a second anchor connection instrument the second anchor, positioning a cement delivery tube into a passage provided through the first anchor, delivering bone cement from a bone cement delivery system coupled to the bone cement delivery tube through the passage in the first anchor to the first vertebra, removing the cement delivery tube from the first anchor connection instrument and the first anchor, connecting the cement delivery tube to second anchor connecting instrument connected to the second anchor, delivering bone cement through a passage in the second anchor to the second vertebra, connecting a spinal connection element to the first anchor and the second anchor.
US09265532B2

The present invention provides spinous process implant and associated methods. In one aspect of the invention the implant limits the maximum spacing between the spinous processes. In another aspect of the invention, a spacer has at least one transverse opening to facilitate tissue in-growth. In another aspect of the invention, an implant includes a spacer and separate extensions engageable with the spacer. The spacer is provided in a variety of lengths and superior to inferior surface spacings. In another aspect of the invention, an implant includes a spacer and a cerclage element offset from the midline of the spacer in use so that the spacer defines a fulcrum and the cerclage element is operative to impart a moment to the vertebrae about the spacer. In another aspect of the invention, instrumentation for inserting the implant is provided. In other aspects of the invention, methods for treating spine disease are provided.
US09265529B2

Collapsible orthopedic fixation assemblies and related methods are disclosed. A collapsible fixation assembly includes end frames that are coupled with one or more cross beams. The fixation assembly is reconfigurable between a collapsed configuration in which the end frames are substantially aligned with the one or more cross beams and a deployed configuration in which the end frames are oriented transverse to the one or more cross beams and in which relative movement between the end frames and the one or more cross beams can be inhibited. The fixation assembly is configured to support at least one bone-interface component, which is configured to constrain a bone of a patient. In the collapsed configuration, the fixation assemblies is more compact than in the deployed configuration, thereby making it more easy to store and transport as compared to a comparable non-collapsible fixation assembly.
US09265523B2

A surgical access assembly and method of use is disclosed. The surgical access assembly comprises an outer sheath and an obturator. The outer sheath and obturator are configured to be delivered to an area of interest within the brain. Either the outer sheath or the obturator may be configured to operate with a navigational system to track the location of either device within the brain.
US09265518B2

The invention includes systems and methods for controlling devices including surgical instruments using a wireless footswitch. The systems of the invention include a wireless footswitch, a footswitch adapter, and an electric console for powering and controlling surgical instruments. The systems of the invention further include a wireless footswitch for controlling battery powered surgical instruments. The methods of the invention include syncing a wireless footswitch with a controlled device or a wireless footswitch adapter using a lower power wireless mode, then signaling the controlled device or wireless footswitch adapter using a higher power wireless mode. The systems and methods of the invention include using a wireless device or wireless footswitch adapter to monitor transmissions from other wireless devices to prevent syncing with the wireless footswitch adapter using the same channel or network identification as other wireless devices or wireless footswitch adapters.
US09265516B2

A surgical apparatus which includes a handpiece having a passage. The retention assembly includes a pair of radially movable buttons, aligned in axially extending passages in communication with the passage and can engage with and cause rotational movement of a collet member assembly rotatably supported in the passage. The collet assembly includes rolling lock members which can be moved by the collet member from a lock position, in which the lock members are forced by the wall of the passage to extend inwardly of the collet member and an unlocked position, in which the lock members are aligned with a recess in the wall of the passage and are not forced to extend inwardly of the collet member. The surgical apparatus may find particular use with irrigation fluid, suction, and powering of a surgical tool. The passage may include a cutting blade retention assembly integrated in the passage.
US09265515B2

A surgical instrument includes a housing and an elongated shaft extending distally therefrom. The elongated shaft includes a proximal portion, a distal portion and a flexible portion supported therebetween. The flexible portion permits pivotal movement of the distal portion of the elongated shaft and an end effector supported thereon. A locking mechanism is operatively associated with the flexible portion of the elongated shaft to selectively impede pivotal motion of the distal portion. The locking mechanism includes a locking coil disposed about an axis defined by the flexible portion of the elongated shaft. A distal end of the locking coil is coupled to the distal portion of the elongated shaft, and a proximal end of the locking coil is rotatable about the longitudinal axis to laterally approximate the locking coil to flexible portion, and thus frictionally engage the flexible portion of the elongated shaft to selectively impede articulating motion thereof.
US09265511B2

A surgical template system for use in working on a bone comprises: a tool guide block comprising at least one guide aperture for receiving and guiding a tool to work on a bone; locating means comprising a plurality of locating members, each member having a respective end surface for positioning against a surface of the bone; and attachment means for non-adjustably attaching the tool guide block to the locating means such that, when attached, the member end surfaces are secured in fixed position with, respect to each other, for engaging different respective portions of the surface of the bone, and the at least one guide aperture is secured in a fixed position with respect to the end surfaces. Corresponding methods of manufacturing a surgical template system, methods of manufacturing locating means for a surgical template system, methods of fitting a prosthesis to a bone, surgical methods, and surgical apparatus are described.
US09265510B2

An apparatus includes a cut guide including a locking area, an alignment guide, and a connect mechanism to connect the cut guide to the alignment guide, wherein the connect mechanism includes a cone lock connect mechanism configured to engage with the cut guide locking area.
US09265506B2

In order to further develop a surgical instrument with an energy-driven operating device, an energy storage device as well as a control device for driving the operating device as required and supplying it with energy from the energy storage device such that an optimum utilization of the capacity of the energy storage device is achieved without any risk for the surgeon or the patient, in particular in view of the different energy requirements of the individual operating processes, it is suggested that when a predetermined state of residual charge of the energy storage device is reached and/or it is fallen below for the first time the control device make its residual charge available for returning the tool into a rest position.
US09265493B2

A surgical access system including a tissue distraction assembly and a tissue refraction assembly, both of which may be equipped with one or more electrodes for use in detecting the existence of (and optionally the distance and/or direction to) neural structures before, during, and after the establishment of an operative corridor to a surgical target site.
US09265490B2

A tissue retraction system includes a dilator and a first retractor member and a retraction assembly. The dilator is configured to be inserted into a tissue body and also includes at least one engagement member. The first retractor member includes a body and at least one engagement member that is configured to attach to the at least one engagement member of the dilator so as to removably attach the retractor member to the dilator body. The retraction assembly includes a retractor body and at least a second retractor member that is movably supported by the retractor body. The retractor body is configured to be attached to the first retractor member. The tissue protection system may also include a neuromonitoring member configured to determine a characteristics of the tissue.
US09265482B2

A reversible transducer connector allows the connector to be inserted within the receptacle in more than one orientation. The electrical connections between the receptacle and connector are reprogrammed based on the orientation. The connector is inserted in two or more stages, such as using zero-insertion or magnetic retention in a first stage to identify the connector and using an automated engagement to engage remaining channel connections in a second stage for use. Doors for protecting the connector and/or receptacle may be opened and/or closed magnetically.
US09265476B2

A radiation imaging system that can continuously use sections of a radiation imaging device that has not been damaged and a radiation imaging device are provided. The radiation imaging system comprises: a radiation device that applies radiation; and the radiation imaging device with an imaging panel that captures images of the applied radiation. The radiation imaging device comprises: a failure cause detection unit that detects environmental noise or falls that cause failures in the radiation imaging device; a malfunction diagnostic unit that, in a case where a detected environmental noise value reaches a threshold value or in a case where a fall has been detected, diagnoses a malfunction in the radiation imaging device; and a function limiting unit that applies limits to the radiation imaging device functions that are used continuously, in accordance with the diagnosis results of the malfunction diagnostic unit.
US09265469B2

An extraoral dental radiographic apparatus which performs panoramic radiographies, cone beam volumetric radiographies of the facial skeleton and cranial teleradiographies. An alternating mechanism brings x-ray sensors toward the x-ray radiation source, such that the sensor axes intersect at an angle.
US09265468B2

A method for assisting a physician track a surgical device in a body organ of a subject during a procedure includes fluoroscopic based registration, and tracking. An initial registration step includes receiving a 3D image data of a subject in a first body position, receiving a real time fluoroscopy image data, and estimating a deformation model or field to match points in the real time fluoro image with a corresponding point in the 3D model. A tracking step includes computing the 3D location of the surgical device based on a reference mark present on the surgical device, and displaying the surgical device and the 3D model of the body organ in a fused arrangement.
US09265466B2

Provided is an X-ray radiographic apparatus that can take a lateral cephalometric radiograph, a posteroanterior cephalometric radiograph, etc. under the same state of the tilt in the front-rear direction of the head of a subject easily and with high reproducibility, and is free of risks associated with the use of an infraorbital point pointing bar. The X-ray radiographic apparatus includes: a pair of arms provided facing each other with a reference line therebetween; ear rods provided to mutually facing inside surfaces of the pair of arms; a head tilt setting device for setting the tilt in the front-rear direction of the head of the subject provided on one arm, and a horizontal plane verification mechanism provided on the head tilt setting device or outside of the head tilt setting device.
US09265460B2

An exemplary apparatus can be provided to determine information regarding a sample(s), which can include, for example an arrangement(s) composed of, at least partially, a particular material in a predetermined area thereof, and including a light facilitating device that can be configured to provide or receive a light radiation(s) to or from the sample(s). The particular material can have a characteristic which can facilitate a sufficient amount of X-ray radiation to pass therethrough so as to generate an X-ray image(s). An X-ray absorption of the material can be at most about 10 times that of a ¼″ acrylic plate. The light facilitating device can include a light transmitting configuration which can provide the light radiation(s) to the sample.
US09265459B2

The invention relates generally to systems and methods for detecting and/or treating lower urinary tract conditions. One embodiment of the invention is directed to a medical device. The medical device includes an elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end and an end effector assembly that extends distally from the distal end of the elongate member. The end effector assembly includes a plurality of end effector units. Each end effector unit has a sensing element for detecting a location of abnormal organ function and a treatment element for treating the location of abnormal organ function.
US09265457B2

A tissue analyte measuring device (2) includes a light source (4) structured to emit unpolarized light toward the skin surface of a subject, and a detector assembly (8) configured to receive light reflected from the skin surface of the subject and the transcutaneous tissues of the subject, the detector assembly including a polarizing filter (12) and a number of light detector subassemblies (14). The polarizing filter is structured to filter out s-polarized light and pass only p-polarized light to light detector subassemblies. The light source is structured and positioned to emit the unpolarized light in a manner wherein the unpolarized light will exit the measuring device at a predetermined angle with respect to a normal to a light emitting plane of the measuring device, wherein the predetermined angle is an angle (the Brewster's angle) at which only s-polarized light will be reflected by the skin surface when the unpolarized light is incident thereon.
US09265455B2

A method is provided for initializing an analyte sensor, such as a glucose sensor. Where a sensor has been disconnected and reconnected, a disconnection time is determined and a sensor initialization protocol is selected based upon the disconnection time. The sensor initialization protocol may include applying a first series of voltage pulses to the sensor. A method for detecting hydration of a sensor is also provided.
US09265452B2

A method includes obtaining a signal that includes a plurality of cycles and generating a map that maps motion phases to the signal based on both an amplitude and a slope of the signal. A system includes a processor that identifies a set of motion signal timestamps, for a plurality of motion cycles in a motion signal indicative of cyclic motion of a moving object, based on a predetermined motion phase of interest and a phase-to-amplitude/slope mapping, wherein the set of motion signal timestamps correspond to a common signal amplitude. A method include identifying a peak of a plurality of peaks in a motion cycle of a noisy cyclic signal having irregular periodicity, wherein the peak corresponds to a point lying between two points with amplitudes below a predetermined threshold, comparing points before and after the peak with the peak, and identifying the peak as a local maximum when the peak is greater than the points.
US09265448B2

A system for detecting the walk of a person has a housing (BT) with at least a biaxial movement sensor (CM). The housing is attached to the upper portion of the body of the person, so that a first measurement axis of the sensor (CM) coincides with the anteroposterior axis (AP) or the vertical axis (VT) of the body and so a second measurement axis of said sensor (CM) coincides with the mediolateral axis (ML) of the body. An analysis means (MA) analyzes the measurements delivered by the sensor (CM). The analysis means includes a processing means (MT) for processing over a time window the measurement signals delivered by the sensor (CM), which includes means for searching for a dominant frequency (MRFD) in said signals. The analysis means also includes a detection means (MD) for detecting the walk of the person when a ratio between the dominant frequency of the signal of the first measurement axis and the dominant frequency of the second measurement axis, or between the dominant frequency of a Euclidian norm of the vector of measurements transmitted by the sensor (CM) and the dominant frequency of the signal of the second measurement axis, is substantially equal to two.
US09265447B2

A graphical user interface having a portion of an orthopedic system displayed on an electronic display. Where the graphical user interface displays: a parameter of the orthopedic system; a portion of an orthopedic insert; and a parameter of the orthopedic insert. Where in response to detecting movement of the orthopedic system the displayed portion of the orthopedic system is moved, a change of the parameter of the orthopedic system is displayed, and a change in parameter of the orthopedic insert is displayed.
US09265446B1

A breath tester and method for sampling the odor of an user's saliva. The tester includes an elongated testing surface having a closed end and an open end to collect the saliva. The user collects and traps the saliva on the elongated testing surface and smells the surface to self determine the presence of halitosis. In one embodiment, the tester has a handle mounted to one end of the elongated testing surface. The breath tester can be disposed in a hollow housing. The sampling of the saliva can be allowed to dry upon the elongated testing surface before smelling.
US09265445B2

Apparatus for monitoring a subject is described. A sensor detects monitors the subject and generates a signal in response thereto. A control unit analyzes the signal, and in response to the analyzing, identifies a clinical parameter of the subject. The control unit received an indication of a menstrual cycle of the subject. Taking into account the subject's menstrual cycle, the control unit identifies a baseline value of the clinical parameter, compares the identified clinical parameter to the baseline value, and, in response to the comparing, the control unit (a) determines whether a clinical episode is predicted, (b) determines whether a clinical episode is currently occurring, and/or (c) monitors an occurring clinical episode. The control unit generates an output in response thereto. Other applications are also described.
US09265443B2

Methods of locating a tip of a central venous catheter (“CVC”) relative to the superior vena cava, sino-atrial node, right atrium, and/or right ventricle using electrocardiogram data. The CVC includes at least one electrode. In particular embodiments, the CVC includes two or three pairs of electrodes. Further, depending upon the embodiment implemented, one or more electrodes may be attached to the patient's skin. The voltage across the electrodes is used to generate a P wave. A reference deflection value is determined for the P wave detected when the tip is within the proximal superior vena cava. Then, the tip is advanced and a new deflection value determined. A ratio of the new and reference deflection values is used to determine a tip location. The ratio may be used to instruct a user to advance or withdraw the tip.
US09265442B2

A method of calibrating field location tracking to magnetic resonance tracking is provided. The method of calibration field location tracking includes moving a medical device throughout a plurality of points within a patient volume; tracking the medical device with a field location tracking system and a magnetic resonance tracking system; calculating a plurality of magnetic resonance tracking locations; determining a plurality of field location parameters that correspond to the plurality of magnetic resonance tracking locations; and creating a transfer function that maps the field location parameters to the magnetic resonance tracking locations, wherein the transfer function registers a field location coordinate system to a magnetic resonance coordinate system.
US09265439B2

Featured are methods for non-invasive assessment of a vascular physiological parameter including but not limited to central arterial stiffness, vascular reactivity and/or local arterial stiffness. The methods of the invention use any one of a number of magnetic resonance imaging techniques known in the art to acquire image data so as to arrive at these vascular physiological parameters. Also such methods include locating the detector or imaging coil proximal to a single artery and external to the body/specimen. According to one aspect, the methodology determines the central arterial stiffness from image data acquired at the single arterial location. In another aspect, image data is acquired so that one or more of central arterial stiffness, vascular reactivity and/or local arterial stiffness can be determined from the acquired image data alone or in combination with other acquired data/information. The disclosed methods of the invention allow for reproducible, non-invasive diagnosis of early stage indicators of atherosclerosis.
US09265432B2

Methods, systems, and devices for signal analysis in an implanted cardiac monitoring and treatment device such as an implantable cardioverter defibrillator. In some examples, captured data including detected events is analyzed to identify likely overdetection of cardiac events. In some illustrative examples, when overdetection is identified, data may be modified to correct for overdetection, to reduce the impact of overdetection, or to ignore overdetected data. Several examples emphasize the use of morphology analysis using correlation to static templates and/or inter-event correlation analysis.
US09265429B2

A device obtains a series of measurements of a physiological parameter of a monitored patient when the device is operating within a monitoring workflow. The device displays a monitoring workflow home screen when the device is operating within the monitoring workflow. The monitoring workflow home screen contains a representation of the physiological parameter of the monitored patient. In addition, the device obtains a measurement of the physiological parameter of each patient in a series of patients when the device is operating within a non-monitoring workflow. The device displays a non-monitoring workflow home screen when the device is operating within the non-monitoring workflow. The non-monitoring workflow home screen contains a representation of the physiological parameter of a given patient in the series of patients. The monitoring workflow home screen is different than the non-monitoring workflow home screen.
US09265425B2

According to a measuring method or a control method of life activity, a life object is illuminated with an electromagnetic wave including a wavelength in a designated waveband, and a characteristic in a local area of the life object is detected, or a life activity thereof is controlled. This “local area” is an area constituted by one or more cells. The “designated waveband” is defined based on any one of the following phenomena: [1] transition energy between a ground state of a vibration mode newly occurring between atoms in a constituent molecule of a cell membrane and a plurality of excited states; [2] transition energy between vibration modes occurring between specific atoms in a molecule corresponding to the activity of the life object or the change thereof; and [3] a specific chemical shift value in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance.
US09265421B2

A medical monitoring system includes: a plurality of biological information displaying devices connected to a network; and a portable terminal which can wirelessly communicate with the biological information displaying devices. The plurality of biological information displaying devices includes a first device and a second device. When a value of biological information is larger or smaller than a preset threshold, the first device transmits alarm information. In case where the first device transmits the alarm information, a receiving unit of the portable terminal receives the alarm information, and a transmitting unit of the portable terminal wirelessly transmits the received alarm information to the second device, and the second device receives the biological information through the network and the biological information is displayed on the second device.
US09265414B2

The proposed innovation provides methods and systems for measuring the interpupillary distance. The proposed innovation provides a fitting pad (102) having two detection points (104 and 106). The fitting pad is placed on the forehead of the user and an image is captured. The image is uploaded and pupil distance calculator software locates the fitting detection points and calculates the distance in pixels of the left and right X, Y coordinates. The software creates an image scale by dividing the pixel counts between the detection points. The software automatically locates the X, Y coordinates between the center of the left and right pupils and calculates the distance in pixels. The resulting pixel distance divided by the image scale provides the interpupillary distance in millimeter. In embodiments, segment height is calculated based upon an image imported by the user and the combined scaled images of the user and the frame.
US09265408B2

In one embodiment, an apparatus may include an imager configured to generate a plurality of frames at a frame frequency greater than an electromagnetic energy emission pulse frequency of a medical device, wherein each frame of the plurality of frames may include a first plurality of rows. The apparatus may also include an electronic shutter module configured to offset a start time of each row of the first plurality of rows in each frame from the plurality of frames from a start time of an adjacent row in that same frame. The apparatus may further include an image processing module configured to generate a plurality of valid frames based on at least a portion of the plurality of frames, wherein the plurality of valid frames may include a frame frequency lower than the frame frequency of the plurality of frames.
US09265391B2

An apparatus for collection of garden waste wherein the apparatus has a vacuuming mode of operation and a dirty fan operation in the vacuuming mode of operation thereof, the apparatus comprising: a hand-holdable unit comprising a motor with an output shaft coupled to an impeller for generation of air flow; a volute enclosing the impeller for direction of air flow from an axial air inlet of the volute past the impeller to a tangential air outlet of the volute; a vacuum tube for conducting dirty air flow to the air inlet of the volute in the vacuuming mode of operation; and a cyclonic separation arrangement for receiving dirty air flow from the air outlet of the volute and separating garden waste from said dirty air flow in the vacuuming mode of operation. A blowervac comprising the apparatus for collection of garden waste.
US09265381B2

A food processor includes a base and a bowl with a removable lid. Food items are advanced into the bowl through a feed tube formed in the lid where they are cut by a cutting assembly driven by a motor. The cutting assembly is adjustable to vary the thickness of the cut food items. An adjustment assembly positioned in the base is operable to adjust the cutting thickness of the cutting assembly while the cutting assembly is driven by the motor.
US09265379B2

A steam unit, e.g., for a machine for espresso beverages, includes a supporting island with external fastening, which connects removably to the machine; a tank for frothing milk, a base of which connects removably to the supporting island. A circuit delivers steam from the machine to the tank via the connection at the base of the tank. The tank includes an upper part for heating and emulsifying the beverages.
US09265375B2

An apparatus, system, and method for use with beverages and beverage making and dispensing equipment. The apparatus, system, and method of use monitors characteristics of the beverage, reports characteristics, or both and selectively affects the beverage and beverage making and dispensing equipment, a server containing the beverage, or both. The apparatus, system, and method of use employs an information vehicle device associated with each beverage server or dispenser and a reader which reads the information device. The reader communicates the information from the information device to a controller for use to individually or collectively display information, collect information, and/or selectively affect the condition of the beverage in response to the information.
US09265360B2

The present application provides a refrigerated display case. The refrigerated display case may include an aft wall, a number of shelf standards positioned about the aft wall, and a number of shelves positioned on the shelf standards. The shelf standards may include an integrated center shelf standard.
US09265358B2

A merchandise display system can include a pusher extender that increases the pushing surface of the pusher. The pusher extender may define an elongated pusher body having a cavity. The pusher extender may be configured to slide over the pusher wall via the cavity like a sleeve. The pusher extender with an enlarged, substantially planar surface thereby creates an enlarged pushing surface for pushing larger products toward the front of the display system. The pusher extender can also be provided with an angled pusher surface to accommodate larger products. The display system can be mounted to a rear hang bar located towards the back of the shelf. A hanger may be positioned within a cavity formed in the divider and extend the length of the divider. The hook end of the hanger may then be positioned on the hang bar and the entire system may cantilever out from the hang bar.
US09265356B2

An apparatus for caring for infants, having, an infant body support structure, an air nozzles mounted on infant body support structure, and located at the end or sides of infant body support structure, above the space designated to the head of the infant, to provide an air flow of disinfected air parallel to a part of the bottom designated to support the back and the head of the infant, to protect the infant from airborne infections.
US09265355B1

An inflatable furniture cover support including an inflatable shell disposed atop an outdoor furniture item in order to support a furniture cover in a position covering the outdoor furniture item without touching the outdoor furniture item to prevent mildew and water stains on the furniture cover. An air intake-exhaust tube has a proximal end in fluid communication with an air chamber disposed within the shell and further has a distal end with an air intake-exhaust valve disposed thereon which is in operational communication with an air supply source to inflate and deflate the shell.
US09265349B1

A multi-directional glider chair allowing for rotation of a seat in relation to a path of gliding action. In some embodiments, the multi-directional glider comprises a glider base including a glider mechanism supporting a gliding top, the glider mechanism providing for generally linear motion of the gliding top along at least a segment of a first axis, and a seat including at least a bottom element, the bottom element being rotatably coupled to the gliding top of the glider base by a rotatable coupler providing for rotation of the seat about a second axis, wherein an orientation of the seat in relation to the first axis may be selectively modified by rotation of the seat about the second axis. Thus, the multi-directional glider as described in this embodiment enables a user to modify an orientation of the seat in relation to a back-and-forth glide path allowed by the glider mechanism.
US09265344B2

An adjusting device includes a fixed member; first and second plates, both connected to the fixed member; a first adjusting member; and a first locking member. The fixed member has a first hole and a window. The second plate has first and second contact portions. The first adjusting member has an adjusting portion contacting against the second contact portion and has an eccentric portion extending through the window and movably connected to the first plate. The first locking member partially extends through the first contact portion and the first hole to connect with the first plate. The second plate can be displaced relative to the fixed member in response to displacement of the first adjusting member.
US09265338B1

The electric toothbrush is constructed of a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is able to pivot with respect to the second portion via a hinge. The first portion houses componentry associated with the toothbrush. The second portion includes a floss dispenser on a distal end, and is used as a handle for the electric toothbrush. The first portion includes at least one rotating head that includes bristles adapted to brush teeth. The at least one rotating head is in mechanical connection with a bevel gear. The bevel gear is in mechanical connection with a motor via a drive shaft. The motor is in wired connection with a switch and at least one battery.
US09265330B1

A stadium-styled universal seat cover that converts to a backpack or tote. More specifically, a convertible seat cover having a front wall with first and second lateral edges, and first and second edges. The front wall also has first stitching adjacent to the first edge. The front wall further has a first channel. A rear wall extends from the second edge. The rear wall has third and fourth lateral edges, and a third edge. The rear wall further has second stitching adjacent to the third edge. An engaging wall extends from the third edge. The engaging wall has first and second lateral walls, and a fourth edge. The engaging wall further has third stitching adjacent to the fourth edge; and a cord assembly.
US09265327B2

A container is configured for selectively dispensing a personal care product. The container includes a body, a drive apparatus, and an elevator. The body at least partially defines a product chamber and a distal opening. The elevator is disposed within the product chamber. Rotation of the drive apparatus results in axial movement of the elevator within the product chamber.
US09265318B1

Insulated bags having at least three unitary layers of durable material are provided. In one embodiment, a first set of unitary layers of durable material forms a front wall, a bottom wall, and a rear wall. Two additional sets of unitary layers of durable material form side-walls. Edges of the two additional sets are joined to side and bottom edges of the first set by adding webbing and stitching together the joined edges and webbing. Disposed within the two inner most layers of the first set and the two additional sets is at least one layer of insulation. The first set and the second set are sealed at their top edge to secure the insulation. Horizontal webbing is attached to the bag via stitching through the horizontal webbing, each of the layers of the first set and the second set, and the at least one layer of insulation. Vertical straps are integrated into the bag between the horizontal webbing and the outer most layer of durable material of the first set. On the top of the bag is a mini-flap. Hook/loop fasteners are strategically positioned on the bag to secure access points on the bag. Optional features can be incorporated into the bag (e.g., side handles, a top handle, a durable bottom, a grommet, and a liner). Other embodiments of insulated bags are described herein (e.g., a bag that has the outer layer of the first set and the second set sandwiched between two layers of horizontal webbing).
US09265314B2

A full automatic opening and closing straight bone umbrella includes a middle bar set and an opening and closing umbrella drive mechanism in the middle bar set, an umbrella frame, an umbrella cloth, an upper nest, a middle nest, an umbrella handle, and a power source in the umbrella handle. The opening and closing umbrella drive mechanism includes a lead screw connected to the power source and an ejector sleeve driven by the lead screw. The middle bar set includes a middle pipe and an outer pipe. The ejector sleeve passes through the middle pipe and is connected to the outer pipe. When the power source is operated to drive the lead screw to turn clockwise or counterclockwise, the ejector sleeve brings the outer pipe to move up or down relative to the middle pipe to provide a full automatic opening and closing function to the umbrella.
US09265313B1

An upper nest and a lower nest of an umbrella framework each comprise a nest body and a plurality of pins around the nest body. Each pin is integrally connected with the nest body via a connecting section. Each middle disk comprises a pin, which is disposed on an outer wall of a sleeve and integrally connected with the sleeve. Each long bone has an upper end thereof coupled with a pin of the upper nest, and the sleeve of each middle disk is fitted over a middle part of the long bone. Each short bone has an upper end thereof coupled with the pin of the middle disk, and a lower end thereof coupled with a pin of the lower nest. Thereby, an improved member structure for an umbrella framework is formed.
US09265312B2

The present invention discloses an outdoor umbrella with remote touch-controlled LED lights comprising an umbrella assembly which includes an upper support pole, a lower support pole, a plurality of umbrella support bars and a plurality of support rails, wherein a plurality of LED lights is respectively provided on the upper portion of the upper support pole, the support rails and the support bars. In view of the above structure, the outdoor umbrella may have a simple structure, and can be easily operated. And the outdoor umbrella is very safe and reliable since providing any electric wire on the umbrella is avoided. In addition, the outdoor umbrella is energy-saving and environmental friendly.
US09265310B2

A wearable communication device including a bracelet including an integrated first power source, and a telecommunications device including a transceiver configured to allow wireless communication, wherein the telecommunications device is configured to couple and decouple with the bracelet, and wherein the telecommunications device is configured receive power from the first power source when coupled with the bracelet.
US09265296B2

A balancing system for the head of a passenger of a vehicle, in particular a helicopter, comprising a helmet (4) fixed on the head of the passenger and suspension means (100) for the helmet (4) adapted to be connected to a stationary part of the vehicle and to the helmet (4) so as to balance an imbalance of weights on the musculoskeletal system of the neck of the passenger wearing said helmet (4). The system allows maximum freedom without hindering any type of movement to the head of the passenger.
US09265295B2

A helmet mounted lighting apparatus including an identification or decorative shield that may be removably coupled with the helmet. The apparatus may include one or more of at least one light, at least one power source, a microcontroller, a switch and a heat dissipater. In at least one embodiment, the at least one power source does not protrude in front of a main surface area of the identification or decorative shield. The at least one light may be focused to point forward from the identification or decorative shield, such that the at least one light illuminates an area forward of the helmet focusing on a working area of a user. The at least one light may also point downward at an adjustable angle. The apparatus may include at least one location proximal to the identification or decorative shield to place the at least one light respectively.
US09265292B2

A protective garment configured to facilitate easy donning of the garment is described. The sleeves and legs are shorted and held in a donning configuration by releaseably affixing at least a portion of upper and lower segments of the interior surface of each limb. This allows the garment to be handled and donned by the wearer, without the wearer touching an exterior surface of the garment. A method of preparing a protective garment for donning and a method of donning such a garment is also disclosed.
US09265288B2

A functional garment comprises a first breast cup and a first cross strap, two opposite ends of which are attached to the inner and outer edges of the first breast cup, respectively. The functional garment can be used to simultaneously provide both orthopedic and breast augmentation benefits. A plurality of countervailing forces simultaneously provide force on the shoulders, to bring them back and/or the shoulder blades closer together, and the breasts, to bring them closer together and/or lift them.
US09265267B2

Open top liquid/gas cyclone separator tube with a dual purpose single separator tube with both liquid and gas separation zones, an open top discharge vent to provide a for humid air to be discharged into the atmosphere, a means to prevent splashing out the open top of the separator tube, a means of the separation section to prevent turbulence while allowing the accumulation of used water in the bottom of the tube, a to provide gravity feeding of the water back to the scrubbing mechanism to be recycled for water preservation, a means of regulating the rate of water feed to the scrubbing mechanism, an open port means of the scrubbing mechanism to be used to add chemicals, gases or other elements to the gas stream that is discharged to the environment, and a for vertical discharge on the scrubbing mechanism to enhance entrainment of water droplets containing particles, bacteria and mold spores.
US09265266B2

Compositions and methods for lowering counts of pathogenic microorganisms in food products such as ready to eat meat and poultry products are disclosed. In various embodiments, the compositions and methods comprise antimicrobial compositions with one or more essential oils added.
US09265264B2

A clipping machine for producing sausage-shaped products (S), like sausages, by filing a flowable filling material into a tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing (M) and closing said packaging casing (M) by a closure means, like a closure clip (C). The clipping machine (1) comprises a feeding device (50) for suspension elements configured to feed suspension elements (E) attached to a carrier strip (B) to a delivery position and to place a first section of a suspension element (E) within the closure means (C) positioned on the die (25) of the second closing tool (24). The feeding device (50) further comprises a guiding device (51) configured to hold down the suspension element (E) close to the carrier strip (B) while the suspension element (E) is pulled off and detached from the carrier strip (B) by a relative movement between the second clipping tool (24) and the feeding device (50). A holding device (60) attached to the second clipping tool (24) is configured to releasably receive and hold a second section of the suspension element (E) when detached from the carrier strip (B).
US09265262B1

A tool having a first and second handle, pivotally coupled between a tool open position and a tool closed position, each handle having a working end and a gripping end. A jaw is positioned on each working end, and each handle has a cutout positioned between the working end and the jaw, where the cutouts are aligned to create an opening in the tool when closed. The tool has a first cutting blade having a first cutting surface, where the first cutting blade is removably attached to one of the handles. One of said handles also has a rearward fixed projecting finger, positioned intermediary the jaws and the pivot point of the tool handle.
US09265261B2

A method and an apparatus are provided for transporting shaped bodies such as, for example, substantially non-rigid, biscuit dough shaped bodies, from a receiving region into a transfer region, and for transferring the shaped bodies onto a transport surface such as, for example, a heated baking belt of a baking machine. The apparatus for transporting the shaped bodies includes a revolving driven conveyor belt which is guided over at least one deflecting roller, over a drive roller and around a transfer body in the region of the transport surface. The conveyor belt is laterally displaceable by a positioning apparatus at least over a section of its longitudinal extension.
US09265254B2

A granular pesticidal composition which comprises a pyrazolinone compound given by the formula (1): wherein R1 represents a chlorine atom etc.; R2 represents a chlorine atom etc.; R3 represents a 1-methylethyl group etc.; and R4 represents a C1-C4 alkoxy group etc. and a salt of ligninsulfonic acid, and the amount of the salt of ligninsulfonic acid in the granular pesticidal composition is 10-60% by weight has good disintegrability in water when it is diluted with water.
US09265252B2

The invention provides combinations of insecticides/acaricides and herbicides comprising an effective amount of components (A) and (B), where component (A) is one or more of the tetramic acid derivatives listed in the description, and (B) one or more herbicides from the group of the herbicides likewise listed in the description, where the combinations may optionally additionally comprise crop plant compatibility-increasing substances (safeners).The invention also relates to the use of the combinations for controlling animal pests and unwanted vegetation and to the corresponding methods.
US09265242B2

A system to apply mainly phytosanitary products that use the principle of electrostatic attraction. A high static charge is imprinted on the microdrops in the nozzle with high flows of water using a simple industrial design and very low probabilities of failure. The system is very stable and reliable. An active water provider capillary tube is optionally used in the nozzles (as opposed to a fixed one), which results in a more efficient use of the air to micronize drops. The nozzles can be fixed or dirigible nozzles. A chemical product doser system is optionally used with injection in the nozzle itself.
US09265235B2

An accidental ingestion detecting apparatus according to the present disclosure includes: a swallowing sensing unit which senses swallowing by an animal; a swallowing detecting unit which detects swallowing based on sensing data outputted by the swallowing sensing unit and which outputs swallowing information that is information related to the swallowing; a feeding information inputting unit which accepts input of information related to feeding of the animal and which outputs the information as feeding information; and an accidental ingestion determining unit which determines accidental ingestion by the animal, wherein the accidental ingestion determining unit determines accidental ingestion by the animal based on date/time information included in the swallowing information and date/time information included in the feeding information.
US09265232B2

A plurality of ear tags is provided and may include a panel portion and a relatively narrow neck portion extending from the panel portion. The plurality of ear tags may be arranged so that the panel portions of adjacent ear tags are at least partially overlapped and edges of the neck portions of adjacent ear tags are juxtaposed and attached to one another at an attachment location at the edges of the neck portions of the adjacent ear tags.
US09265228B2

The present invention relates to organic lawnmowers, and in particular an organic lawnmower including a kennel for a rabbit. The lawnmower includes a wooden frame, a screen spanning the frame, an animal kennel resting on the frame above the screen, and a rabbit occupying the kennel. The lawnmower is pushed to a desired location in a grass lawn, and the rabbit grazes the grass at his or her leisure, through the screen. The lawnmower is periodically moved to a fresh patch of grass, and the grazing continues. This improved lawnmower is economical, enjoyable, and environmentally friendly.
US09265214B2

A soybean cultivar designated S120104 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar S120104, to the plants of soybean cultivar S120104, to the plant parts of soybean cultivar S120104, and to methods for producing progeny of soybean cultivar S120104. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. The invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S120104. The invention also relates to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines, or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S120104, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing cultivar S120104 with another soybean cultivar.
US09265209B2

The invention provides seed and plants of pepper hybrid SV7017HJ and the parent lines thereof. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of pepper hybrid SV7017HJ and the parent lines thereof, and to methods for producing a pepper plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves or with another pepper plant, such as a plant of another genotype. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of such plants, including the fruit and gametes of such plants.
US09265205B2

A multifunctional planting system includes a supporter and a spraying device. The supporter includes a base and a plurality of lateral walls. The lateral walls are bent from the base to form a sunken structure for storing nutrient solution. The spraying device is disposed on the supporter. The spraying device includes an accommodating structure, a buckling component and a piezoelectric component. The nutrient solution is accommodated inside the accommodating structure. The buckling component passes through the accommodating structure. The piezoelectric component is disposed on a hollow portion of the buckling component. A plurality of tiny apertures are formed on the piezoelectric component. The piezoelectric component receives an electronic signal to generate oscillation. The oscillation transforms the liquid nutrient solution inside the accommodating structure into the gaseous nutrient solution. The gaseous nutrient solution is sprayed via the plurality of tiny apertures, and is condensed to flow into the sunken structure.