v Gas turbine exhaust nozzle divergent flap seal By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A seal assembly for a nozzle in a gas turbine engine includes a connector having a first hinge portion for attaching to the nozzle, a flat portion for sealing against a wall of the engine; and a first hinge for attaching the connector to the flat portion wherein the connector is adapted to rotate relative to the nozzle and the flat portion is adapted to rotate relative to the connector. Full Article
v Air seal for server rack By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An air seal for a server rack installed in a data center which delivers cool air to the fronts of racks and removes warm air at the back, where one or more of the racks are elevated by wheels or legs. A seal support member of rigid plastic and of right angle cross section has a horizontal portion and a vertical portion. The horizontal portion is adhesively secured to a downwardly facing surface at the bottom front and/or back of the rack. The horizontal portion is recessed at opposite ends to accommodate wheels or legs at opposite sides of the rack. The vertical portion extends across the full width of the rack and projects downward. A sealing strip of EPDM foam is adhesively secured to the vertical portion and is held flexed against the floor, forming a seal against the flow of by-pass air underneath the rack. Full Article
v Pumping seal having projections for axially positioning a biasing member By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A seal assembly is for sealing between a housing and a rotary shaft includes an annular sealing member coupled with the housing and having inner and outer circumferential surfaces and a plurality of projections extending radially from the outer surface and spaced circumferentially about a central axis. Each projection has first and second axial ends and the plurality of projections define first and second projections. An annular biasing member is disposed about the sealing member outer surface and exerts an inwardly directed force on the sealing member. The biasing member has first and second ends and is arranged on the sealing member with the biasing member first end contacting the second end of each first projection and the biasing member second end contacting the first end of each second projection. As such, the biasing member extends axially and circumferentially between the first and second projections. Full Article
v Propeller shaft assembly with grease retention and vent cap By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A cap acting as a grease retention feature and venting system allows crash optimization of a propeller shaft with a plunging constant velocity joint. The cap is located between a constant velocity joint and a tube of the propeller shaft system. The cap includes: a rim sealed against the inner diameter of the constant velocity joint, an interior vent chamber, a vent hole facing the interior components of the constant velocity joint and leading to the vent chamber, and an annular radial groove along the entire circumference connected to the vent chamber. The outer race has a hole perpendicular to the joint axis to complete venting to the atmosphere. In the event of a vehicle crash, the constant velocity internal joint components contact the device, causing the device to dislodge from its fixed position, contact the friction weld curls and fracture at a determined load. Full Article
v 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
v Gasket for vehicle By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A gasket for a vehicle is configured to improve performance of a turbocharger according to enhanced sealing performance. The gasket is disposed at a coupling portion of a cylinder head of an engine and an exhaust manifold adapted to supply exhaust gas from the cylinder head to a turbocharger. Full Article
v Air baffles in railroad tunnels for decreased airflow therein and improved ventilation and cooling of locomotives By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed is a system and method for decreasing airflow and improving ventilation within a tunnel, such as a railroad tunnel, including a path for movement of a vehicle (e.g., train) therethrough. The system has a plurality of air baffles mounted within the tunnel, each device comprising a body and a mounting device. Each mounting device positions each body inside and along the length of the tunnel between the entrance and the exit. The air baffles are configured to restrict airflow at least in part in a longitudinal direction of the tunnel, thereby increasing a relative difference between a vehicle speed and air speed in a tunnel annulus when the vehicle passes through the tunnel. The restriction (e.g., decrease) of airflow in the tunnel reduces the piston effect resulting from the vehicle or train passing through, thus reducing emissions and heat generated by the locomotives in the tunnel. Full Article
v 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
v Speaker diaphragm, speaker, and electronic equipment and mobile device using the speaker By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A speaker diaphragm of the present invention is formed by mixing polylactic acid as a plant-derived resin, bamboo fibers and a natural binder. It is thereby possible to realize a speaker diaphragm capable of obtaining sufficient sound velocity, while having low environmental load and high sound quality. Full Article
v Fluid line having a resonator By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A fluid line includes a resonator having an inner part and a blow-molded outer part defining an inner surface. The inner and outer parts are fixedly connected. The inner part is an injection-molded part having first and second radial collars spaced axially apart from each other. The inner part defines a radial circumference with a plurality of orifices formed therein. The inner and outer parts are axially one within the other so that there is no throughflow of secondary air between the first and second radial collars and the inner surface of the outer part. The inner and outer parts have a common end whereat they are airtightly connected to each other. The inner part, the radial collars and the inner surface of the outer part conjointly define two resonant chambers operatively connected to fluid in the fluid line via the orifices. Full Article
v 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
v Saddle-ride type vehicle By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A saddle-ride type vehicle which includes catalyst devices in left and right exhaust flow passages can suppress effect of the catalyst devices on the reach to the ground even if the sizes of catalysts are large. The vehicle includes: exhaust flow passages connected to a multi-cylinder engine and disposed independently on left and right sides of a vehicle body; a first catalyst device provided in a middle of the left exhaust flow passage; a second catalyst device provided in a middle of the right exhaust flow passage; a swing arm pivotally supporting a rear wheel such that the rear wheel is swingable, the saddle-ride type vehicle includes silencers connected to portions of the exhaust flow passages downstream of the first catalyst device and the second catalyst device, and the first catalyst device and the second catalyst device are arranged side by side below the swing arm. Full Article
v Bone conduction device having an integrated housing and vibrator mass By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A bone conduction hearing aid device comprising a vibrator configured to vibrate in response to sound signals received by the device. The device further comprises a housing mass forming a housing for one or more operational components of the device, wherein the housing mass is attached to the vibrator so as to move in response to the vibration. The device also comprises a coupling configured to attach the device to a recipient so as to deliver the generated mechanical to the recipient's skull. Full Article
v Muffler equipped with catalytic converter By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A muffler is capable of stably supporting the catalytic converter in a muffler box with a pair of partitions. The muffler box includes first and second box halves joined together with open surfaces thereof abutting each other, and first and second partition plates interposed between the first and second box halves and overlapping each other to separate inside of the muffler box into first and second silencing chambers and define a third silencing chamber between the first and second partition plates, one end opening of a cylindrical holding tube housing and holding the catalytic converter is connected to the exhaust inlet pipe, the pair of partition plates support the holding tube in such a way as to wrap an outer peripheral surface thereof, and another end opening of the holding tube is communicated with the exhaust outlet pipe through the first, second, and third silencing chambers in this order. Full Article
v 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
v 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
v Protective enclosure for enhancing sound from an electronic device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A protective enclosure for an electronic device can include a waveguide to direct and enhance sound waves emanating from a speaker of an electronic device when installed in the protective enclosure. The waveguide can include a first end and a second end. The first end of the waveguide can be located proximate the speaker of the electronic device. The waveguide can increase in cross-sectional area between the first end and the second end. Full Article
v 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
v Protective enclosure for enhancing sound from an electronic device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A protective enclosure for an electronic device can include a waveguide to direct and enhance sound waves emanating from a speaker of an electronic device when installed in the protective enclosure. The waveguide can include a first end and a second end. The first end of the waveguide can be located proximate the speaker of the electronic device. The waveguide can increase in cross-sectional area between the first end and the second end. The second end of the waveguide can be located proximate a front surface of the protective enclosure and can direct sound waves toward a user of the electronic device. Full Article
v Sound suppressor device for an air drying unit of a compressed-air supply system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A sound suppressor device for an air drying unit of a compressed-air supply system having a sound suppressor housing on which is arranged an inlet opening for the supply of condensate-laden compressed air to be discharged from the air drying unit and at least one outlet opening for the discharge of the condensate-laden compressed air to the outside, wherein the inlet opening issues into at least one pre-chamber of the sound suppressor housing, which pre-chamber issues into post-chambers which are connected in parallel and which are arranged around a heating rod arranged centrally in the sound suppressor housing. Full Article
v Neutrally-buoyant borehole investigation tools and methods By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Neutrally-buoyant tools for seismic data collection are provided that may range from several hundred meters to several kilometers in length and have integrated sensors which move along with the borehole fluid in response to a passing seismic wave. The disclosure also provides methods of deploying neutrally-buoyant tools, which includes using a tractor, adding a weight or both to the tool in order to overcome the difficulty of lowering a neutrally buoyant tool into a borehole, and optionally occasionally clamping the tool to the borehole to alleviate tension in the tool. This disclosure also provides methods of acquiring seismic data, which involves positioning a neutrally-buoyant tool in a borehole such that the tool is able to move relatively freely along with the borehole fluid in response to a seismic wave passing through the fluid, firing a seismic source, and using the sensors to collect seismic data generated thereby. Full Article
v Sound absorbing body and printing device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A sound absorbing body includes a fibrillated part fibrillated into fiber form, and an unfibrillated part that is not fibrillated into fiber form. The unfibrillated part is dispersed inside the single sound absorbing body. Full Article
v Sound absorbing body and printing device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A printing device includes a case, a printing unit arranged inside the case, and a sound absorbing body arranged inside the case. The sound absorbing body has parts with different densities including a dense part with a higher density and a non-dense part with a lower density. The non-dense part includes a fibrillated part that is fibrillated into fiber form, and an unfibrillated part that is not fibrillated into fiber form. Full Article
v Sound absorbing body and electronic device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A sound absorbing body includes parts of different densities including a plurality of non-dense parts of lower density and a plurality of dense parts of higher density. The non-dense parts and the dense parts are alternately laminated obliquely. Full Article
v Acoustic cover assembly By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An acoustic protective cover assembly comprising a porous membrane and an acoustic gasket is disclosed. The porous membrane is bonded to the acoustic gasket at a peripheral region, the membrane is left unhanded at a central region. The acoustic gasket comprises a composite of a porous polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) polymer matrix of polymeric nodes interconnected by fibrils, resilient expandable microspheres embedded within the matrix. Full Article
v Coaxial passive radiation monomer By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A coaxial passive radiation monomer apparatus is disclosed. In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, there is disclosed a dynamic speaker monomer combined with a passive radiator in a single unitary structure located in spatial proximity with respect to one another to thereby and further comprising an elastic material at the base of the speaker assembly for enhanced and optimized resonance frequencies for the active and passive components of the overall device. Full Article
v Dog vest with integrated flexible bumper By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A vest can be worn by a visually impaired pet, such as a dog, to help the pet navigate without hurting themselves by bumping into walls or objects. The vest includes plastic tubing with wire woven therein. The tubing is shaped like a halo that surrounds the front and sides of the pet's head. Should the visually impaired pet run into an object or wall, the halo will hit before their head hits and the pet will turn away before injuring themselves. The vest can be worn about their torso with their front legs fitting in leg holes of the vest. The vest can be adjustable to fit a range of pet sizes. The halo can also be adjustable to provide safe navigation of the pet. Typically, the vest is designed for dogs, but other visually impaired pets or animals may benefit by using the vest. Full Article
v 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
v Vacuum brush By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A brush having a tubular housing and a comb rotationally mounted within a nozzle inlet of the housing, the comb having a plurality of channels there through with bristles secured to the comb between pairs of the channels, and a pivotal lever engaged with the comb for rotation between obverse and inverse positions. Full Article
v Method and system for enhancing growth and survivability of aquatic organisms By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method for enhancing the production of aquatic organisms under cultivation, including the steps of exposing the aquatic organisms to a submerged illumination source inside water of a rearing unit; and maintaining illumination in the rearing unit for a rearing period. Full Article
v 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
v Animal watering system with improved electrical isolation By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A system and method for monitoring and mitigating leakage currents is disclosed. The data acquisition system records data from multiple monitoring locations over extended periods of time to identify stray voltage and/or leakage currents present at the monitoring location. The data is processed to identify trends in the stray voltage and/or leakage currents and to suggest methods for mitigating the same. Full Article
v Vertically integrated aquaculture system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A Vertically Integrated Aquaculture System for producing high quality consumer seafood products at a significantly reduced cost. The Vertically Integrated Aquaculture System includes at least one aquaculture grow-out module for containing an aquaculture species, a feed handling system for distributing feed to the aquaculture species located in the aquaculture grow-out module(s), an aquaculture species moving system for routing the aquaculture species at least out of the aquaculture grow-out module(s), and a processing system for processing the aquaculture species after harvesting from the aquaculture grow-out module(s). Full Article
v Multi-level aquaculture device for benthic organisms such as bivalves, aquaculture method, and biofilter using same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An elongate rectangular cultivation box having an open top, is configured so as to allow an outer tank, which serves as a cultivating water storage part, and an inner tank, which serves as a receptacle for bivalves (benthic organisms) S that are to be cultivated, to be both combined and separated. A gap that serves as a water supply opening and a gap that serves as a space in which sediments can accumulate on the bottom of the outer tank are defined when the inner tank is accommodated in the outer tank. Water passage holes are provided in the bottom of the shellfish receptacle (inner tank) and a mesh filter such as netting is stretched across the top face of the bottom. The cultivation boxes are arranged in a vertically stacked manner, with the front portions and rear portions thereof staggered so that cultivation water W that overflows over a front ledge of a shellfish receptacle flows downward into the supply water storage part of a lower cultivation box. Full Article
v Green-light device for driving mice away By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A green-light device for driving mice away includes a casing and a control circuit in the casing, wherein the control circuit comprises a power conversion circuit, a voltage regulating integrated circuit (IC), an amplifying circuit, a control knob, an ultrasonic frequency oscillator circuit, a logical-determination circuit and multiple green-light emitting diodes (LED) coupled to and controlled by the logical-determination circuit. The control knob is configured to be switched to lead the control circuit to create an ultrasonic wave or a special light wave such that mice can be cheated or driven away. Full Article
v 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
v 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
v Method and device for milking a dairy animal By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The invention relates to a device for and method of milking dairy animals, in particular cows. The device and method have been improved in order to enhance the efficiency of use. In one embodiment, for the milking, teat cups are connected by means of a robot arm to respective teats of the dairy animal. This makes it possible to start the milking of the teats of the dairy animal. A milk flow from the respective teat can be measured. The milking can be ended by means of a control unit in dependence on a comparison value which is calculated on the basis of a milking parameter representative of a milk flow from the respective teat and in dependence on a deactivation threshold. According to the invention, the milking of the last teat is ended in dependence on a last-teat period to be calculated. Full Article
v 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
v 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
v Individual gear dryer system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 30 Sep 2014 08:00:00 EDT A dryer system for a firefighting ensemble comprising a housing having an air intake port and an air outlet port, a forced air assembly including a heater and a blower accommodated within the housing, a plurality of flexible porous hose segments coupled to the air outlet port operable to receive and conduct forced air therefrom, and the plurality of flexible porous hose segments are operable to conduct forced heated air into elements of the firefighting ensemble to speed drying. Full Article
v Apparatus and method for transferring gloves By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Oct 2014 08:00:00 EDT The present invention relates to an apparatus for transferring a glove (100) from a conveyor (200) characterized by: a camera (10); a pick-up assembly (20) comprising a pair of inner grippers (21) and two pairs of outer grippers (22); a pair of sensors (30); a robotic arm (40) mounted with the pick-up assembly (20); a processor. The present invention also relates to a method for transferring a glove (100) from a conveyor (200), characterized by the steps of: locating a cuff (101) of the glove (100) on the conveyor (200) by capturing an image on the conveyor with a camera (10) and analyzing the image with a processor; using a robotic arm (40) to move a pick-up assembly (20) to the located cuff (101); gripping the cuff (101) with a pair of inner grippers (21) of the pick-up assembly (20) and lifting the glove (100) by retracting the pair of inner grippers (21); detecting the glove (100) position by using a pair of sensors (30); opening the glove (100) by grabbing and sliding apart the two pairs of outer grippers (22); shifting the glove (100) towards a workstation (300) by using the robotic arm (40); transferring the glove (100) to the workstation (300) by engaging the glove (100) to the workstation (300). Full Article
v Hat insert device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Oct 2014 08:00:00 EDT A hat insert device for maintaining a hat in a desired condition is provided. The hat has an inner flap along an opening of the hat. The hat insert device comprises a flat, planar insert having a first side, a second side substantially opposite the first side, a top edge, a bottom edge substantially opposite the top edge, a first edge between the top edge and the bottom edge, and a second edge substantially opposite the first edge. A retaining mechanism is formed in either the top edge of the insert or the bottom edge of the insert for maintaining the insert in a desired position. Upon positioning the insert inside the inner flap at the front of the hat, the insert provides support, stiffness, and structure in the hat. Full Article
v Hanger for supporting garment and device for enhancing use of hanger By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Oct 2014 08:00:00 EDT A hanger may be used for supporting a garment. The hanger may include a hook, a medium connected to the hook, a first branch, a second branch, a third branch, and a fourth branch. The first branch may be connected through the medium to the hook and oriented according to a first direction. The second branch may be connected through the medium to the hook and oriented according to a second direction. The third branch may be coplanar with both the first branch and the hook, disposed between the first branch and the hook, connected to the medium, and oriented according to a third direction different from the first direction. The fourth branch may be connected to the medium and oriented according to a fourth direction different from the second direction, wherein the medium may be disposed between the third branch and the fourth branch. Full Article
v Web assembly for making and maintaining a contour of a baseball or a softball glove By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Oct 2014 08:00:00 EDT A web assembly can be used for making and maintaining a contour of a baseball or softball glove. The web assembly comprises a plurality of horizontal straps comprising a top strap and a bottom strap mechanically coupled to a plurality of vertical straps comprising a left strap and a right strap. A right durable strap and left durable strap are mechanically coupled to at least one horizontal strap where the at least one horizontal strap is further mechanically coupled to the right strap and the left strap. In this manner, a user can wrap the web assembly around the glove and affix the right durable strap to the left durable strap with a hook and loop fastener, and allowing for the straps to deform slightly to make and maintain the contour of the glove. Full Article
v Boot saver system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 11 Nov 2014 08:00:00 EST A base assembly includes two vertical lower segments, one vertical upper segment, and an intermediate segment there between. A cover has linear leg sections covering the lower segments, a head section covering the upper segment, and a shoulder section covering the intermediate segment. Stuffing within the cover is in full contact with the cover and the base assembly. Full Article
v Hanger with foldable/removable hook By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 02 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST Disclosed herein is a hanger with a foldable/removable hook, of the type that is made up of an arched body and a projecting crook-shaped hook, provided with a base, which allows the removably hooking of said hook on said body, as well as a rotation thereof, with reference to the position of normal use thereof, from vertical to horizontal and vice versa, i.e. from perpendicular to parallel with respect to the arched body. In addition, when said hook is raised, so as to allow the hanger to assume a normal configuration, it has the same mechanical resistance of a common hanger with fixed hook. Full Article
v Utility items made with rods of oval construction By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 23 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST An implement for use in a bathroom or a kitchen which is composed of at least one rod which is oval in cross section, the rod being aesthetic in appearance and providing an advantageous force distribution over rods with circular cross sections. The implement can be a hanging device, such as a hanger, a hanger for ties and belts, and many other variations having a hook portion for engaging a cylindrical support, an over-the-door/vertical wall device also including the rods with the oval cross section, the latter devices being, for example, clothes supporting hooks, hooks for articles made from fabric; wire metal baskets having a rim and/or transition device made from a rod with an oval cross section; paper or magazine holders comprising parallel racks separated by upstanding walls; bag dispenser and handles for implements. Full Article
v Surgical finger, hand and arm barrier coating and covering, method and system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 13 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST A protective coating solution, liquid, gel, or film and a method of using such a material to provide a sterile covering for fingers, hands, arms or other selected skin surface for use as a glove substitute. Full Article
v Device for conditioning a glove and methods of forming and using the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 27 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST A device to aid in conditioning a baseball glove, namely in the formation and/or maintenance of a baseball pocket, typically includes one or more balls, two or more looped straps, and a means for coupling the two or more looped straps to the one or more balls. The one or more balls are placed in a baseball glove proximate a desired location for the baseball pocket, and the two or more looped straps are fed through a slot of the glove interposing an interior of the glove and an exterior of the glove and wrapped around the exterior of the glove to force the ball deeper into the desired location for the baseball pocket and secure the glove around the ball. Full Article