ar Apparatus for setting price for multi-vending machine and method thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed are an apparatus for setting a price for a multi-vending machine and a method thereof. The apparatus includes a price setting unit for inputting a price setting function, selecting a price setting column and inputting price information about the selected column; a control unit for controlling a price display of the selected column when the column is selected and the price information is input through the price setting unit; and a price display unit for displaying prices of products exhibited in a column according to a price display control of the control unit. Full Article
ar Apparatus and method for sorting coins By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT The invention relates to a device for sorting coins, the diameter and thickness of which are within predefined size ranges. Full Article
ar Cash handling system, cash handling method, management unit and cash accounting apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT There is provided a cash handling system capable of reliably storing sales proceeds and the like stored in a cash settlement apparatus into a cash accounting apparatus. A cash management system 1 includes a cash settlement apparatus 11, a cash accounting apparatus 21 and the cash transport cassette 30. The cash settlement apparatus 11 and the cash accounting apparatus 21 have reading units 157, 257, respectively, which are configured to read out cassette ID information from a memory unit 35 of the cash transport cassette 30. In addition, the cash management system 1 further includes: a management unit 26 having a depositing judgment unit 26A configured to judge whether cash in the cash settlement apparatus 11 to be received by the cash transport cassette 30 can be deposited into the cash accounting apparatus 21 or not; a guide apparatus configured to guide information from the management unit 26; and a comparison unit 27 configured to compare the cassette ID information read out by the reading unit 257 of the cash accounting apparatus 21 and the information from the management unit 26. Full Article
ar Molded gap seal apparatus with inward pointing fibrillations By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A cover for the gap in an automobile automatic gear shift assembly is presented. The gap cover is formed from a single molded housing with inward pointing fibrillations. These fibrillations act as fingers to cover the hole created when the multi position mechanism is moved from one position to another. The fibrillations are assisted back to their original position through (1) physical properties of the advanced polymeric substance used to mold the housing and (2) through the interactions of assisting tabs formed on the back side of the fibrillations, which act as springs. Full Article
ar Top cover having a patterned gasket fixing region, disk drive apparatus, and method of manufacturing top cover By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A top cover for use in a disk drive apparatus includes a plate made of a metal and a gasket fixed to the plate. The gasket is made of an elastomer. A surface of the plate includes a fixing region to which the gasket is closely adhered. The fixing region includes a plurality of ridges and in plan view a plurality of filamentous projections extending from each of the plurality of ridges. The plurality of ridges are arranged in the fixing region to increase a surface area of the fixing region. The plurality of ridges and the plurality of filamentous projections extending from each ridge are distributed over the fixing region. Full Article
ar Regulating flap arrangement By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A regulating flap arrangement (1) in a flange connection (2) between a turbine housing of a two-stage exhaust-gas turbocharger and an exhaust manifold of an engine, having a regulating flap plate (5) which is pivotable between an open position and a closed position for opening and closing a connecting opening (6) arranged in the flange connection (2); having an insert ring (7) which is arranged in the connecting opening (6); and having a sealing arrangement (8), wherein the sealing arrangement (8) has two V-rings (8A, 8B), of which a first V-ring (8A) is arranged in a first groove (9) provided adjacent to the connecting opening (6), and the second V-ring (8B) is arranged in a second groove (10) which is arranged, spaced apart radially outward from the first groove (9), in the flange connection (2). Full Article
ar Redundant seal apparatus and method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus includes a rotatable shaft having a shaft surface and a first seal disposed in a sealing engagement with the shaft surface. At least a second seal is disposed in a first position relative to the rotatable shaft where the second seal is not in sealing engagement with the shaft surface and is movable to a second position relative to the rotatable shaft where the second seal is in sealing engagement with the shaft surface. Full Article
ar Apparatus and methods for temporarily sealing a pipe By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Apparatus and methods for temporarily sealing a pipe including apparatus and methods for creating a temporary airtight seal at the open end of a pipe in a plumbing or refrigeration system. One such apparatus includes a body, grommet, washer, and a nut. Multiple airtight seals are created including a first primary seal between an exterior of the pipe and the grommet and a secondary seal between the open end of the pipe and the washer. The grommet does not require teeth and the apparatus does not require adhesive, sealant, or any other type of similar materials. Use of the apparatus and methods greatly minimizes and/or eliminates the potential for marring or otherwise distorting the open end of the pipe, thereby facilitating reuse of same. Full Article
ar Rolling bearing By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A rolling bearing which can be large-sized, has corrosion resistance, and is allowed to prevent mounting accuracy from deteriorating, a fixing force from decreasing, vibration from occurring at a portion of the rolling bearing to be fixed to a bearing box or the like, and can be used for a long term even in a highly corrosive environment. A rolling bearing (1) has an inner ring (2), an outer ring (3), and rolling elements (4) as bearing members thereof. Of regions of the bearing members which are exposed to a corrosive environment, a film having a sacrificial anode action for a base material of the bearing members is formed in a region including at least a surface (c, d) of the rolling bearing (1) to be fixed. The film formed on the surface (c, d) thereof to be fixed is porous. Full Article
ar Apparatus and method for providing wellbore isolation By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An actuatable wellbore isolation assembly comprising a housing generally defining an axial flowbore and comprising a mandrel portion, a first end portion, and a second end portion, a radially expandable isolating member positioned circumferentially about a portion of the housing, a sliding sleeve circumferentially positioned about a portion of the mandrel of the cylindrical housing, the sliding sleeve being movable from, a first position in which the sliding sleeve retains the expandable isolating member in a narrower non-expanded conformation to a second position in which the sliding sleeve does not retain the expandable isolating member in the narrower non-expanded conformation, and an actuator assemblage configured to selectively allow movement of the sliding sleeve from the first position to the second position. Full Article
ar Fiber reinforced elastomer anisotropic annular blowout preventer By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A packer unit for an annular blowout preventer including an annular elastomer body including an elastomer having a unidirectional grain and a quantity of fiber longitudinally aligned with the grain of the elastomer. A method of forming a packing unit for a blowout preventer including forming a fiber reinforced elastomer by aligning fibers with a grain of an elastomer; cutting a portion from the fiber reinforced elastomer in the direction of the grain; loading the cut portion in a packing unit mold such that the grain of the fiber reinforced elastomer of the cut portion is parallel to a packing unit axis; and heating the loaded packing unit mold. Full Article
ar Spherical annular seal member and method of manufacturing the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A spherical annular seal member 40 includes: a spherical annular base member 38 which is defined by a cylindrical inner surface 34 defining a through hole 33 in a central portion, a partially convex spherical surface 35, and annular end faces 36 and 37 on large- and small-diameter sides of the partially convex spherical surface 35; and an outer layer 39 formed integrally on the partially convex spherical surface 35 of the spherical annular base member 38. Full Article
ar Seal and associated sealing arrangement By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A seal including a tubular carrier body (1) and two annular sealing elements (2, 3), wherein the carrier body (1) on both sides of its front face is respectively enclosed by one of the sealing elements (2, 3) on the side of its outer perimeter forming a seal. At least one of the sealing elements (2, 3) is made of a non-elastomeric high-temperature resistant sealing material. Full Article
ar Annular seal By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An annular seal positionable in a gap is disclosed herein. The annular seal includes a plurality of leaves positioned about a center axis. Each leaf extends to a distal end that is elastically deflectable relative to the center axis to accommodate changes in a size of the gap. The annular seal also includes a ring encircling the center axis and at least partially interconnecting the plurality of leaves together for concurrent installation and removal. The annular seal also includes a plurality of tabs projecting from the ring along the center axis. Each of the tabs is directly connected to at least one of the plurality of leaves such that elastic deformation of one of the plurality of leaves induces bending in the corresponding tab before inducing bending in the ring. Full Article
ar Apparatus and system for sealing submersible pump assemblies By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus, system and method for sealing an electrical submersible pump assembly are described. An electric submersible pump (ESP) system for pumping solid-laden fluid comprises a thrust chamber of an ESP seal section, the thrust chamber sealed from well fluid on a downstream side by a stationary sand barrier and on an upstream side by a mechanical seal, the thrust chamber further comprising, a rotatable shaft extending axially through the thrust chamber, a head tubularly encasing the thrust chamber and threadedly coupled to a centrifugal pump intake, and a diamond-coated hydrodynamic bearing set inside the thrust chamber, wherein well fluid enters and exits the chamber through cross-drilled apertures in the head of the chamber, and wherein the well fluid forms a hydrodynamic film between the bearing set. Full Article
ar Arrangement of a bellow on a guide bar of a disc brake By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A bellows arrangement on a guide bar of a disc brake, particularly of a commercial vehicle, has an end of the bellows comprising a sealing ring, particularly a quad ring, lying in a circumferential groove of the guide bar. The bellows is pressed into the groove by a retaining ring placed thereon, and is designed so that an air passage can form in the contact area of the sealing ring at the base of the groove, reducing the volume enclosed by the bellows and the guide bar. To this end, the contact shoulder formed on the retaining ring is circumferentially interrupted in segments. Full Article
ar Side seal for linear guide apparatus and linear guide apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A side seal for a linear guide apparatus including a guide rail, a slider, and a plurality of rolling elements includes seal members formed of different materials, a holder plate and covers. Both seal members have recesses formed in a first face of a base and fitted with a protrusion of the holder plate. Both seal members have respective lips directed in opposite directions separated from each other. A tip of the lip of the first seal member is formed to have a shape in plane contact with the face of the guide rail. A tip of the lip of the second seal member is formed to have a shape in line contact with the face of the guide rail. Full Article
ar Rolling bearing By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A rolling bearing used in a power transmission device for transmitting power such as turning force, characterized in that a magnet for holding in a lubrication portion of the rolling bearing a lubricating magnetic fluid for lubricating the lubrication portion is provided on at least one side of an outer race of the rolling bearing, and an annular yoke made of a magnetic material loosely fitted to a rotating shaft is provided on the opposite side of said magnet relative to said outer race, and a cross-sectional profile of the yoke has an I-shape. Full Article
ar Oil-lubricated anti-friction bearing By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An oil-lubricated anti-friction bearing is provided for a horizontal arrangement of a rotational axis with a shaft seal that separates a bearing inner chamber, which accommodates rolling bodies, from a bearing outer side, and has a clamping arrangement which acts on the shaft seal from a bearing outer side in order to fix the shaft seal axially. The clamping arrangement has an outlet for oil. Full Article
ar Sealing arrangement for sealing a piston rod of a reciprocating compressor By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Due to increasingly strict requirements and regulations, it is becoming more and more important for piston compressors to reduce the amount of leakage of operating medium through the seal of the piston rod. Conventional seals comprising packing rings and/or packing ring combinations always have a certain amount of leakage, both during operation and when at standstill, which is why they are not usable for certain applications, or the complexity involved in such a seal increases considerably. A further problem involving the seals of piston rods relates to transverse movements by piston rods during which the sealing action of the seal must be maintained. Proposed is, therefore, a sealing arrangement according to the principle of a sealing medium barrier providing that the sealing elements 8, 9 are arranged in radial direction at a distance relative to the radial end of the recess 10 that receives the sealing elements 8, 9. Full Article
ar Ceramic collars for active brazing in sodium-based thermal batteries By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present application provides for ceramic collars and metal rings for active brazing in sodium-based thermal batteries. The ceramic collar may be an alpha-alumina collar configured for active brazing, and thereby sealing, to outer and inner Ni rings for use in NaMx cells. The portions of the alpha-alumina collar active brazed to the outer and inner Ni rings may be outwardly facing and include inwardly extending recesses. The portions of the outer and inner Ni rings active brazed to the outwardly facing portions of the collar may be inwardly facing. The alpha-alumina collar may include a greater coefficient of thermal expansion than each of the outer and inner Ni rings, and the alpha-alumina collar and outer and inner Ni rings may be configured such that a portion of the outer and inner Ni rings is deformed into the inwardly extending recesses of the alpha-alumina collar after active brazing thereof. Full Article
ar Radial shaft seal for separating two media By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A radial shaft seal for separating two media includes two radial shaft sealing rings each including an axial surface and a sealing lip. The sealing rings are disposed with the axial surfaces facing one another and the sealing lips axially opposed to one another with a space between the sealing lips including a vent. At least one of the sealing rings includes clamping cams configured to grip an inner rim of the other sealing ring so as to join the sealing rings in a form-locking, rear-engaging position relative to each other. Full Article
ar Bearing isolator assembly By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 09 Jun 2015 08:00:00 EDT A bearing isolator assembly comprises an inner support member, an outer support member, a resilient member, an elastomeric ring, and a support cap disposed over a bearing surface defined by the inner support member or the outer support member. A path of travel is defined between the inner support member and the outer support member. The resilient member is disposed between the inner support member and the outer support member and is configured to resist compression between the inner support member and the outer support member within a first portion of the path of travel. The outer support member defines a ring envelope, in which the elastomeric ring is disposed. The inner support member defines a ring compression surface, and the elastomeric ring is configured to resist compression between the ring compression surface of the inner support member and the ring compression surface of the outer support member within a second portion of the path of travel. Full Article
ar Airflow control apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An adjustable blocking arrangement for electronic hardware or computer racks, for preventing the undesired leakage of air through rack spaces not filled with hardware. An airflow control device is provided comprising a flexible web and a magazine adapted to receive the part of the flexible web that is not deployed. The device is adapted such that a length of the web may be deployed to sealingly block a space in the rack that is not filled with hardware modules, to prevent the flow of air through the space. The device may comprising a detection system adapted to detect the space in the rack that is not filled with hardware modules, and a processing system adapted to receive a signal from the detection system, and as a function of the signal to automatically deploy or retract the flexible web so as to sealingly block the space. Full Article
ar Annular diaphragm compression driver By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An annular diaphragm compression driver for electro-acoustic conversion has an annular diaphragm, which bears a moving coil, and a compression driver housing with a closed housing base. Opposite the housing base is a sound wave routing element having a sound discharge channel. The compression driver also has an annular magnet system unit, which has an annular magnet gap (M) and a compression chamber, adjoining the magnet gap (M), for the annular diaphragm. The open exit end of the sound discharge channel is in slot form and its entry start is annular. The sound path between the compression chamber and the entry start contains an annular collecting space. The collecting space and the sound discharge channel contain a central sound guidance body having a portion which merges to match the slot-like exit end. The sound discharge channel is formed between the sound guidance body and the sound wave routing element. Full Article
ar Positioning an input transducer for an earpiece based upon dynamic data By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT The attenuation and other optical properties of a medium are exploited to measure a thickness of the medium between a sensor and a target surface. Disclosed herein are various mediums, arrangements of hardware, and processing techniques that can be used to capture these thickness measurements and obtain dynamic three-dimensional images of the target surface in a variety of imaging contexts. This includes general techniques for imaging interior/concave surfaces as well as exterior/convex surfaces, as well as specific adaptations of these techniques to imaging ear canals, human dentition, and so forth. Full Article
ar Earphone device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An earphone device includes a housing having a driver unit, and a sound guide tube mounted on a front surface of the housing to protrude from the front surface, in which the sound guide tube is disposed at a position deviated from a center position of the housing. Full Article
ar Image forming apparatus having a member for forming an image By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An image forming apparatus includes a drive source configured to drive a member for forming an image on a recording material, a frame of the image forming apparatus including a planar portion on which the drive source is mounted, wherein a plurality of through holes is formed on the entire planar portion of the frame, and a sheet member configured to cover at least a portion of the plurality of through holes. Full Article
ar Electro-pneumatic sound alarm By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Herein described is an electro-pneumatic sound alarm, to be fitted on a two or four wheeled vehicle, constituted by an electro-compressor (2), having the function of drawing atmospheric air, compressing it and conveying it to an acoustic group (3). Such sound alarm (1) is characterized in that the electro-compressor (2) and the acoustic group (3) are mutually held by means of removable fit-coupling; furthermore, the coupling elements are rigid and integral with the aforementioned two components (FIG. 1). Full Article
ar Systems and methods for optimizing low frequency output from airgun source arrays By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Systems and methods for optimizing low frequency output of marine sources are described. The marine source arrangements and associated methods disclosed herein seek to fully frequency lock bubbles emitted by airguns in close proximity to one another. In this manner, larger effective bubble volumes can be achieved, thus increasing low frequency output. Full Article
ar Hearing assistance device and method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A device and attendant method to assist the hearing of a user by being removably connected to and disposing a user's ear in an enhanced hearing orientation. The device includes an elongated base, which may be disposable, and has a sufficient length to be disposed in an operative position behind the user's ear. Opposite ends of the base include an adhesive material secured to a common side thereof, wherein different ones of said opposite ends are respectively disposed and maintained in confronting engagement with a rear surface of the ear and adjacently disposed portion of the user's head. The base further includes biasing capabilities disposed and structured to exert a sufficient, forwardly and outwardly directed force on the user's ear to dispose and maintain it in the enhanced hearing orientation, when the base is in the operative position. Full Article
ar Enhanced, lightweight acoustic scrim barrier By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An enhanced, lightweight acoustic absorber is provided. The acoustic absorber is bounded by the at least one scrim layer without need for additional layers, such as melt-blown or nonwoven layers. The at least one scrim layer includes at least one non-planar, folded scrim layer bonded to itself or another scrim layer to form a plurality of air spaces between folded portions of the at least one scrim layer. The at least one scrim layer establishes a thickness of the acoustic absorber extending across opposite exposed sides of the acoustic absorber. Full Article
ar Vertical line array loudspeaker mounting and adjustment system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The invention relates to a loudspeaker mounting and adjustment system and method for installing and operating a professional audio system used in a stadium, concert hall or the like. The system comprises a vertical array of loudspeaker cabinets that can be suspended from a ceiling and that enables the horizontal and vertical angle of the sound dispersion field to be adjusted remotely and/or automatically while the system is suspended. Each loudspeaker cabinet is connected to a vertically adjacent loudspeaker cabinet via a pair of levers located on either side of the cabinet that control the angle between adjacent loudspeaker cabinets. A linear actuator is connected to each lever for controlling the lever position. Each loudspeaker cabinet also comprises a waveguide with at least one actuator for modifying the waveguide angle and thus the horizontal angle of the sound dispersion field. Full Article
ar Garnish double ring for speaker seal By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An adaptive speaker panel is provided. The speaker panel can have a speaker opening and a pair of concentric sealing ribs proximate to the speaker opening, the pair of sealing ribs having a first sealing rib and a second sealing rib towards a center of the speaker opening from the first sealing rib. The first sealing rib is first sealing rib dimensioned to seal against a first speaker basket and the second sealing rib dimensioned to seal against a second speaker basket that is smaller than the first speaker basket. Also, the first sealing rib and the second sealing rib are operatively arranged such that without modification to the speaker panel the first speaker basket or the second speaker basket can be attached to and sealed against the panel. Full Article
ar Firearm suppressor By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Embodiments of a firearm suppressor are disclosed herein. According to various embodiments, the firearm suppressor can include a housing. The housing can include an outer surface, an inner cavity, and an attachment mechanism that attaches the housing to a barrel of a firearm. The inner cavity can accommodate a baffle. The firearm suppressor also can include a lighting attachment. The lighting attachment can include a power source and a lighting mechanism. Full Article
ar Firearm silencer By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A firearm silencer for suppressing sound intensity generated by the discharge of a firearm, the discharge generating propellant gases, is disclosed. The firearm silencer includes an outer tube. The outer tube is generally hollow and generally cylindrical. The firearm silencer also includes a monolithic baffle stack inserted within the outer tube, and the monolithic baffle stack positions and constrains the outer tube coaxially and axially at a first and second end of the outer tube relative to a first and second end of the monolithic baffle stack using seals and retention seals, with such seals also providing an atmospheric sealing function. The monolithic baffle stack includes a first end that includes a first hole. The monolithic baffle stack also includes a second end that includes a second hole. The second end is located opposite the first end of the monolithic baffle stack. The monolithic baffle stack further includes a plurality of chambers in fluid communication with each other via a plurality of holes and annular void. The monolithic baffle stack also includes a plurality of recesses in fluid communication with the plurality of chambers via a plurality of through holes and annular void. The monolithic baffle stack also further includes plurality of protrusions and plurality of lands within the plurality of chambers where said lands and plurality of holes in chambers form an equivalent cylindrical bore dimension. Moreover, the firearm silencer includes a path extending from the first hole adjacent the first end of the monolithic baffle stack through the first hole adjacent the second end of the monolithic baffle stack. The plurality of chambers, the plurality of recesses, the plurality of through holes, the plurality of protrusions, the plurality of lands, the annular void, and the path are configured to allow propellant gases to travel there through. Full Article
ar Hybrid silencer with gas-liquid separating function in fuel cell system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A hybrid silencer in a fuel cell system includes an expansion chamber connected to a predetermined apparatus of the fuel cell system, where the expansion chamber reduces acoustic noise of a fluid discharged from the predetermined apparatus, a water-absorber disposed inside the expansion chamber, where the water-absorber absorbs a liquid component of a fluid which flows into the expansion chamber; and a perforated silencer which discharges the fluid from which the liquid component is removed by the water-absorber while reducing acoustic noise of the fluid discharged therefrom. Full Article
ar Method for optimizing performance of a multi-transducer earpiece and a multi-transducer earpiece By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT There is provided a method for optimizing performance of a multi-transducer earpiece, where the multi-transducer earpiece includes a perpendicular flange that partitions the cross sectional area of the acoustic delivery channel in a manner where mixing of signals from both the high frequency transducer and the mid/low frequency transducer is carried out in the ear canal of a user during reproduction of audio signals. Full Article
ar Modular fire prevention flooring By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A modular fire prevention flooring system includes a plurality of fire prevention flooring planks. Each plank is generally tubular and forms a drain channel. Fluids spilled onto the upper surface of the flooring system may drain through a plurality of drain holes formed in the upper surface of the planks. The planks may further include a metal filler positioned within the drain channels to stop combustion of burning fluids spilled into the drain channels. The metal filler may break up burning liquids and remove heat therefrom. In some embodiments, a purging fluid may be flowed through the planks to purge any spilled fluids therefrom. Full Article
ar Method for using a rat guard By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A rat guard and method utilizing a flexible shield affixed to a plastic sheath positioned on a mooring line to prevent entry onto or exit from the ship by vermin. An electric grid is positioned on an insulated pad on the sheath which is electrically connected to the shield for receiving power from an acoustical generator also connected to the shield and spaced therefrom. The acoustical generator directs ultrasonic acoustic signals in a variable frequency range toward the shield to frighten rats or other vermin therefrom. Should the acoustical signals not deter the vermin, the electric grid will shock any vermin making contact therewith to cause harm and frighten. The shield provides another obstacle to prevent advancement and is affixed to the sheath on the mooring line. The shield is flexible and remains in place during high winds and other adverse weather conditions. Full Article
ar Apparatus for preventing entanglement of a pair of lines fed from separate reels By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A multi-reel, line-handling apparatus can include a housing, a shaft located within the housing, the shaft defining a shaft axis, a first reel located within the housing, the first reel rotatably mounted to the shaft about a first reel axis angled with respect to the shaft axis, and a second reel located within the housing, the second reel rotatably mounted to the shaft about a second reel axis angled with respect to the shaft axis. The first reel and the second reel can be rotatable with respect to the housing about the shaft axis. Full Article
ar Aquarium with a self-contained cleaning apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention relates to an aquarium cleaning apparatus, systems and methods for removing debris from the aquarium, and in particular, a self-contained cleaning apparatus that utilizes a siphon effect created by pouring water in an aquarium tank and/or pulling water out of an aquarium tank, such as via a vacuum. In a preferred embodiment, the siphon operation occurs because of the difference between the water level of the aquarium tank and the vertical height of a spout attached to the top of a vertical tube. Therefore, it is not necessary for the user to immerse their hands in the aquarium water to operate the cleaning device. Full Article
ar Milking parlour and method for operating the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus for milking an animal and provides a milking parlor includes first and second robotic manipulation devices and a plurality of milking stalls provided on a platform moveable relative to the robotic manipulation devices. The robotic manipulation devices are positioned so that each of the robotic manipulation devices is able to simultaneously service two neighboring milking stalls on the platform. Full Article
ar Dog chew toy for canine dental care and method for making chew toy By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A chew toy for canine dental care formed of a plurality of elongated rawhide strands, each strand defining a width within the range of about 0.20 to 7.5 millimeters and a thickness within the range of about 0.20 to 3.0 millimeters. The strands are braided together so as to define at least one rawhide braid of a desired size. The rawhide braid is wound or twisted and tied to define a desired chew toy size and shape that, upon be chewed by a dog, provides a messaging of the dog's gums and a cleaning and flossing of the dog's teeth. The chew toy can be soaked in an aqueous solution containing one or more therapeutic agents and/or an animal attractant and baked dry to impregnate the agent(s) or attractant within the rawhide for release when chewed by a dog. Full Article
ar Slider device for a pet collar/harness By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A slider device includes a slider frame having a top rail and a bottom rail. A first parallel member connects the top and bottom rails and arranges generally perpendicular to the top and bottom rails, but lies in a common plane. A second parallel member disposes or arranges at an end of the frame opposite from the first parallel member. The second parallel member links or connects between the top and bottom rails. A third parallel member arranges intermediate to the first and second parallel member. A D-shaped ringlet couples to the frame adjacent to the first parallel member. The ringlet and frame lie in a common plane. Full Article
ar Soiled animal litter separating device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A device for separating clean litter from soiled litter comprising a receptacle with one inlet and two discharge outlets. Soiled animal litter enters the receptacle through the inlet and clean litter is separated out from the soiled litter. When the container is tilted in a first direction, feces exit the container through the first outlet and clean litter is retained in the receptacle. When the container is tilted in a second direction, clean litter exits the container through the second outlet and clean litter is retained in the receptacle. Full Article
ar Treatment apparatus and method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention provides treatment apparatus, a fluid application device and methods of removing and applying fluid and relates particularly but not exclusively to an apparatus and method suitable for applying fluid to an elongate object such as a bovine teat or the like and to removing excess fluid. The device includes a holder (28) having a first end (58) and a second end (62) and an interior edge (54) defining a first opening, the first end having a second opening (56); a lower portion (70); and a cassette (30) for insertion into the second opening (56) and including a wiping device (32) having a wiping material (82, 84, 86) extending radially inwardly and extending at least partially across the first opening. Full Article
ar Animal leash and harness By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A collar/harness and optionally leash system and method for assembling, using and manufacturing the same is provided. The system may include a single strap including means for connecting attached along the strap at positions predefined to be assembled to form a first loop adapted for use as a collar and a second loop adapted for use as a harness. The first and second loops of the assembled strap may form a figure-eight design. Full Article
ar Egg tray advancement system for an in ovo injection apparatus, and associated method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An advancement system for an in ovo injection apparatus is provided. Such an advancement system is configured to advance an egg carrier carrying a plurality of avian eggs to an injection assembly. The advancement system includes a guide assembly configured to receive the egg carrier and provide support thereto during advancement of the egg carrier. A manual advancement device slidingly engages the guide assembly such that the manual advancement device is movable along the guide assembly. The manual advancement device is capable of interacting with a trailing end of the egg carrier to advance the egg carrier to an injection position. At least one stop is positioned to interact with the manual advancement device during advancement of the egg carrier so as to prevent progression of the manual advancement device beneath the injection assembly, thereby locating the egg carrier at the injection position. An associated method is also provided. Full Article
ar Microcosm terrestrial and aquatic landscape habitat: a freestanding “miniature mountain” chain, topiary, upper pool, waterfall and pond-aquarium hybrid habitat with natural curves By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The “Microcosm Terrestrial and Aquatic Landscape Habitat” is a Main Basin Pond 4 surrounded on three sides by artificial rock, “Miniature Mountains” 3 a, 3 b, 3 c or Natural Looking Imitation Rocks. The fourth, front side has no “Miniature Mountains” or Natural Looking Imitation Rocks to enclose the Main Basin Pond. Instead, here I adhere on a Pane of Glass 2 a to the imitation rock surface using Silicon Sealant 2 b or other sealants 2 c: A pond-aquarium hybrid! The “Miniature Mountains” are higher than the water level in the Main Basin Pond. On the top or sides of the “Miniature Mountains” is an Upper Pool 5. Water in the Main Basin Pond is circulated up to the Upper Pool using a Submersible; Electric, Aquatic, Pump 8. From the Upper Pool, the Water then flows down a Water Course to the Waterfalls and back to the Main Basin Pond to oxygenate the water. Full Article