i CERAMIC ELECTRONIC COMPONENT By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A ceramic electronic component includes a laminated body including ceramic layers and conductor layers stacked alternately; and first and second external electrodes provided on portions of the laminated body. Each of the first and second external electrodes includes a sintered metal layer provided on the laminated body, a conductive resin layer covering the sintered metal layer, and a plated layer covering the conductive resin layer. The maximum length of the sintered metal layer provided on the second principal surface is shorter than the maximum length of the sintered metal layer provided on each of the first and second side surfaces. Full Article
i SYSTEM AND FABRICATION METHOD OF PIEZOELECTRIC STACK THAT REDUCES DRIVING VOLTAGE AND CLAMPING EFFECT By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A system and method provides a piezoelectric stack arrangement for reduced driving voltage while maintaining a driving level for active piezoelectric materials. A stack arrangement of d36 shear mode single crystals of both air X-cut and Y-cut ±1:45° (±20°) arrangement are bonded with discrete conductive pillars to form a shear crystal stack. The bonding area between the neighboring crystal parts is minimized. The bonding pillars are positioned at less than a total surface are of the single crystal forming the stack. The stack fabrication is facilitated with a precision assembly system, where crystal parts are placed to desired locations on an assembly fixture for alignment following the preset operation steps. With the reduced clamping effect from bonding due to lower surface coverage of the discrete conductive pillars, such a piezoelectric d36 shear crystal stack exhibits a reduced driving voltage while maintaining a driving level and substantial and surprisingly improved performance. Full Article
i ZINC OXIDE-BASED PIEZOELECTRIC DEVICE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT The present invention relates to a zinc oxide-based piezoelectric device, utilisable both as a sensor and as an actuator. More in particular, the present invention relates to a piezoelectric device (1, 101) comprising at least two carbon fibre crossed yarns (2a, 2b; 102a, 102b), at the intersection of which a zinc oxide layer (3, 103) in nanorod form is arranged, wherein an end (4a, 4b) of each of said yarns (2a, 2b; 102a, 102b) is connected to an operative unit (5). Full Article
i DISPLACEMENT SENSOR, DISPLACEMENT DETECTING DEVICE, AND OPERATION DEVICE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A displacement sensor having a rectangular shaped elastic member. A piezoelectric element is attached to a first main face of the elastic member. The piezoelectric element has a rectangular-shaped piezoelectric sheet and electrodes on both main faces of the piezoelectric sheet. The piezoelectric sheet is made of poly-L-lactic acid and is at least uniaxially-stretched. The piezoelectric element is attached so that the uniaxial-stretching direction of the piezoelectric sheet is 45° relative to a long-side direction of the elastic member. When the elastic member is bent along the long-side direction, the piezoelectric sheet is stretched along the long-side direction, and the piezoelectric element generates voltage of predetermined level. Full Article
i MEMS PIEZOELECTRIC DEVICE AND CORRESPONDING MANUFACTURING PROCESS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A MEMS piezoelectric device includes a monolithic semiconductor body having first and second main surfaces extending parallel to a horizontal plane formed by first and second horizontal axes. A housing cavity is arranged within the monolithic semiconductor body. A membrane is suspended above the housing cavity at the first main surface. A piezoelectric material layer is arranged above a first surface of the membrane with a proof mass coupled to a second surface, opposite to the first surface, along the vertical axis. An electrode arrangement is provided in contact with the piezoelectric material layer. The proof mass causes deformation of the piezoelectric material layer in response to environmental mechanical vibrations. The proof mass is coupled to the membrane by a connection element arranged, in a central position, between the membrane and the proof mass in the direction of the vertical axis. Full Article
i Electric Motor Assembly By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT An electric motor assembly includes an axle having a first end and a second end. A plurality of rotor stages is attached to the axle. The rotor stages each include a set of rotor magnets. Each set has a greater potential magnetic field as the sets are located further from the first end. A plurality of stators is positioned around the rotor stages so that each of the rotor stages is adjacent to and covered by one of the stators to define a plurality of mated pairs. The stators each include a plurality of stator magnets. A stator control, for controlling individual ones of the pairs, is electrically coupled to each of the stators and magnetizes the stator magnets in a controlled fashion with respect to the rotor magnets to urge the rotor magnets in a same direction and rotate the axle. Full Article
i Axial Air Gap Rotating Electric Machine and Rotating Electric Machine Bobbin By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT The present invention ensures reliability while reducing the size of an axial air gap rotating electric machine. An axial air gap rotating electric machine has: a stator comprising a plurality of core members arranged in a ring shape, said core members each having an iron core, a coil wound in an iron core outer periphery direction, and a bobbin disposed between the iron core and the coil; and a rotor plane-facing an end surface of the iron core via an air gap in a rotating shaft radial direction. The bobbin has: a tubular portion facing the outer peripheral side surface of the iron core and shorter than the length of the iron core; flange portions extending in the vicinity of both ends of the tubular portion from the outer periphery of the tubular portion toward the vertical direction outside by a predetermined length; and a projection portion being on the outside surface of at least one of the flange portions and near the inner edge of the tubular portion, having an inner peripheral surface facing the end outer peripheral side surface of the inserted iron core, and further projecting in an extending direction of the tubular portion. Full Article
i Activity accessory with energy harvesting By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Apparatus and methods are provided for activity accessory including an energy harvester or generator. In an example, an activity accessory can include a first enclosure and an energy generator enclosed within the first enclosure. The energy generator can include a second enclosure. The energy generator can include a spherical magnet housed within the second enclosure and windings surrounding the second enclosure. Movement of the spherical magnet within the second enclosure can induce charge movement in the windings. Full Article
i Electric Machine By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT An electric machine comprising a first carrier having an array of electromagnetic elements and a second carrier having electromagnetic elements defining magnetic poles, the second carrier being arranged to move relative to the first carrier. An airgap is provided between the first carrier and the second carrier. The electromagnetic elements of the first carrier include posts, with slots between the posts, one or more electric conductors in each slot, the posts of the first carrier having a post height in mm. The first carrier and the second carrier together define a size of the electric machine. The magnetic poles having a pole pitch in mm. The size of the motor, pole pitch and post height are selected to fall within a region in a space defined by size, pole pitch and post height that provides a benefit in terms of force or torque per weight per excitation level. Full Article
i Interior Permanent Magnet Rotor Unit By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT An object is to provide an interior permanent magnet rotor unit that allows possible demagnetization to be suppressed regardless of a material for a portion of a permanent magnet, which is positioned on an outward side in a radial direction of a core. A core is a laminate of first thin-plate-like members and second thin-plate-like members. The first thin-plate-like members and the second thin-plate-like members have first insertion slots and second insertion slots each of which is filled with a permanent magnet. In the first thin-plate-like members, a separating portion is formed at an end of each of the first insertion slots or the second insertion slots, which end is located on an outward side of the insertion slot in a radial direction, to form a slit in the corresponding permanent magnet. Full Article
i ELECTRIC MACHINE, METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE ELECTRIC MACHINE, ROTOR AND ADJUSTMENT DEVICE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT An electric machine of a motor vehicle, in particular of an adjustment drive or of a radiator fan, has a rotor which is mounted so as to be rotatable about a machine axis. The rotor has a number of permanent magnets which are arranged in the radial direction. Each permanent magnet has one side with a strong magnetic flux and one side with a weak magnetic flux in the tangential direction. When the permanent magnets are adjacent in the tangential direction, different sides are directed towards one another. Full Article
i PERMANENT MAGNET, PERMANENT MAGNET MANUFACTURING METHOD, ROTATING ELECTRIC MACHINE, AND ROTATING ELECTRIC MACHINE MANUFACTURING METHOD By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Raw material magnet is milled to magnet powder, and the magnet powder thus milled is mixed with a binder to form a compound 12. Then, the compound 12 thus formed is molded to a green sheet 14 having a sheet shape. Thereafter, a magnetic field orientation is carried out by applying a magnetic field to the green sheet 14 thus molded, and then, the green sheet 14 having been subjected to the magnetic field orientation is shaped to a product shape by deforming thereof. Thereafter, the permanent magnet 1 is produced by sintering thereof. The permanent magnet 1 has a ring shape, and is constituted such that an axis of easy magnetization may be orientated at a slant so as to converge in a direction along a converging axis P which is set to a radius direction as well as to a center direction of the ring shape. Full Article
i COOLING ARRANGEMENT FOR AN ELECTRIC MOTOR By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT An electric motor includes a stator operable to produce a magnetic field and defining an opening, and a rotor at least partially disposed within the opening. The rotor includes a shaft extending along a rotational axis, a first rotor magnetic core portion including a plurality of laminations stacked contiguously on the shaft, and a second rotor magnetic core portion coupled to the plurality of laminations. The first rotor magnetic core portion and the second rotor magnetic core portion cooperate to define the rotor magnetic core. A plurality of windings is coupled to the rotor magnetic core and an air flow path is formed as part of the second rotor magnetic core portion. The air flow path includes an axial portion that passes through the shaft axially along the rotational axis and a radial portion that extends radially outward through the second rotor magnetic core portion. Full Article
i Inner-Rotor Motor By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT An inner-rotor motor including: an armature assembly including a rotating shaft, an armature unit coupled to the rotating shaft and a pressing unit; a frame assembly including a frame housing the armature unit, a first bearing unit located on one side with respect to the armature unit in an axial direction, and a second bearing unit located on another side with respect to the armature unit in the axial direction; and an urging structure that urges the rotating shaft in a direction away from the second bearing unit and that presses the pressing unit toward the first bearing unit. Full Article
i VIBRATION MOTOR, VIBRATOR-ATTACHED BOARD, SILENT NOTIFICATION DEVICE, AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING VIBRATION MOTOR By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A vibration motor includes a base portion arranged to extend perpendicularly to a central axis extending in a vertical direction; a shaft having a lower end fixed to the base portion, and arranged to project upward along the central axis; a circuit board; a coil portion; a bearing portion; a rotor holder; a magnet portion; an eccentric weight; a cover portion; and a motor electrode portion electrically connected to the circuit board, and arranged to project downward below a lower surface of the base portion. The entire base portion and the entire circuit board are arranged inside of an outer circumferential edge of a lower end of the cover portion. Full Article
i MOTOR DRIVE DEVICE WHICH COOLS HEAT SINK BY OUTSIDE AIR By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A motor drive device is fixed to a wall part of a housing and comprises a duct having an inflow port and an outflow port of air. A main body part of the duct functions as a heat-sink unit which releases heat into the duct. The duct is arranged inside the housing. The inflow port and the outflow port are formed so that outside air can flow through openings formed in the wall part. Full Article
i Rotating Electrical Machine By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT The invention provides a rotating electrical machine system in which an air volume of a refrigerant is increased near the center of a rotating electrical machine in the axial direction is improved. The rotating electrical machine includes a rotor and a stator, in which the stator core, laminated electromagnetic steel sheets formed by laminating a plurality of electromagnetic steel sheets in the axial direction are divided into a plurality of sets of packet cores, and between one of the packet cores of the plurality of sets and another packet core adjacent to it, there is formed a duct providing a flow channel of the stator, and in a duct situated at the center side from both ends in the axial direction among the duct, there is a portion of two packet cores facing each other across the duct, a diameter direction length of the two packet cores becoming long. Full Article
i INTEGRAL ACTUATOR DESIGN By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT An integrated actuator drive unit (ADU) assembly for an electric motor actuator is disclosed. The integrated ADU assembly may comprise at least one of an integrally formed ring gear, an integrally formed thrust bearing and integrally formed load cell. The integrated ADU assembly may comprise a portion of an electromechanical actuator. The electromechanical actuator may be utilized for aircraft braking systems. Full Article
i ELECTRIC MACHINE WITH COMMUTATING BRUSHES By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT The invention relates to an electric machine (10) with commutating brushes (12) and an electric interference-suppression component (14). The brushes (12) are arranged in an annular brush support (18), and the brush support (18) sits on an axial end (22) of a housing part (24) of the electric machine (10), which is preferably a pole housing (240). The interference-suppression component (14) is arranged radially outside of the housing (24), and the brush support (18) has a protrusion (30) which extends in the radial direction (2). The protrusion (30) extends radially towards the outside so as to extend outside of the housing (24), the interference-suppression component (14) being arranged on the protrusion (30). Full Article
i DRIVE DEVICE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A drive device comprises an electric motor, a first receiving area and a second receiving area. The first receiving area may include converter power electronics. The second receiving area may include further electronics. The first and second receiving areas may be formed on the B-side of the electric motor. The first and second receiving areas may be thermally decoupled from one another by a thermal isolation, such that during the operation of the electric motor a first temperature zone can be formed in the first receiving area and a second temperature zone can be formed in the second receiving area. Full Article
i Single Phase Permanent Magnet Motor By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A single phase permanent magnet motor includes a stator and a rotor. The stator includes a stator core with windings. The stator core includes a yoke and claw-poles. Each claw-pole forms an arc pole face which is an involute curved face. All arc pole faces cooperatively define a space for receiving the rotor. A gradually changing uneven air gap is defined between the arc pole faces and the rotor. When the motor powers off and stops, the pole axis of the rotor is offset from the central axis of the claw-poles by a certain angle to avoid the rotor to stop at a dead point position, thus facilitating next startup of the motor. Full Article
i ROTOR, MANUFACTURING METHOD OF THE ROTOR, AND DC MOTOR By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Provided are a rotor, a manufacturing method of the rotor, and a DC motor including the rotor, the rotor including: a core around which a winding is wound, the core being rotatable integrally with a shaft; a commutator being fixed to the shaft and having a terminal to be connected to one end of the winding; and a conduction plate being externally fitted onto the shaft via an insulator part between the terminal of the commutator and the core, the conduction plate having a connection part to be connected to the other end of the winding, wherein an axial direction position of the connection part is set in an intermediate portion that is between a winding projection of the winding and the terminal. Full Article
i SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR COLLECTING, STORING, AND USING ELECTRICAL ENERGY FROM THE EARTH MAGNETIC FIELD By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Methods and systems for using the Earth's magnetic field to power a machine having a motor, the system including a computer, a plurality of wires, a plurality of energy storing devices, all in controlled electrical communication with each other, wherein the plurality of wires can collect electrical energy from the Earth's magnetic field while the machine is put in motion by a power source powering the motor, wherein the collected electrical energy is stored in the plurality of energy storing devices or used to power the motor. Full Article
i Triboelectric Energy Harvesting Device and Method for Manufacturing Same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT The present invention relates to a triboelectric energy harvesting device and a method for manufacturing the same. The triboelectric energy harvesting device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first frictional layer provided with a first surface having first electron affinity, and a second frictional layer facing the first surface and having second electron affinity, wherein at least one of the first and second frictional layers is formed of an elastic material and is provided in an elastic structure. Full Article
i Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Powering Portable Electronics By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A triboelectric generator includes a first contact charging member and a second contact charging member. The first contact charging member includes a first contact layer and a conductive electrode layer. The first contact layer includes a material that has a triboelectric series rating indicating a propensity to gain electrons due to a contacting event. The conductive electrode layer is disposed along the back side of the contact layer. The second contact charging member is spaced apart from and disposed oppositely from the first contact charging member. It includes an electrically conductive material layer that has a triboelectric series rating indicating a propensity to lose electrons when contacted by the first contact layer during the contacting event. The electrically conductive material acts as an electrode. A mechanism maintains a space between the first contact charging member and the second contact charging member except when a force is applied thereto. Full Article
i BUCKLING WAVE DISK By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A power conversion device has a buckled wave disk that has an axis and is radially compressed between a hub and a wave ring. The buckled wave disk is buckled in the radial direction to form circumferential waves which are displaced in the axial direction and extending around the buckled wave disk with lines formed of inflection points of the circumferential waves extending between the hub and wave ring. The wave ring is outwardly radially displaced at nodes corresponding to lines formed of inflection points of the circumferential waves. A wave propagation actuator cooperates with the buckled wave disk for driving a wave and the lines formed of inflection points of the circumferential waves around the buckled wave disk. An outer ring surrounds the wave ring, the outer ring being driven by or driving the wave ring at the nodes. A method of making a wave disk is provided. Full Article
i Piezoelectric MEMS Resonator with Integrated Phase Change Material Switches By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A monolithic integration of phase change material (PCM) switches with a MEMS resonator is provided to implement switching and reconfiguration functionalities. MEMS resonator includes a piezoelectric material to control terminal connections to the electrodes. The PCM is operable between an ON state and an OFF state by application of heat, which causes the phase change material to change from an amorphous state to a crystalline state or from a crystalline state to an amorphous state, the amorphous state and the crystalline state each associated with one of the ON state and the OFF state. A method of fabricating the MEMS resonator with phase change material is provided. A reconfigurable filter system using the MEMS resonators is also provided. Full Article
i PIEZOELECTRIC VIBRATING PIECE AND PIEZOELECTRIC DEVICE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A piezoelectric vibrating piece includes a vibrating piece body including a vibrator and at least one pair of excitation electrodes formed on a front surface and a back surface of the vibrator. The vibrating piece body is a twice rotated quartz-crystal vibrating piece. The pair of excitation electrodes are arranged in a Z'″-axis direction determined by an X'″-axis and obliquely disposed with respect to the Y″-axis direction. The X'″-axis is rotated by 260° to 300° counterclockwise about a Y″-axis using a +X″-axis direction as a reference. The pair of excitation electrodes are formed to have respective semicircle shapes including straight line portions extending in the X'″-axis direction and to be disposed in a state where the straight line portions overlapping with one another. The straight line portion of the excitation electrode includes an inclined portion that gradually decreases in thickness toward an end portion of the excitation electrode. Full Article
i AT-CUT CRYSTAL ELEMENT, CRYSTAL RESONATOR AND CRYSTAL UNIT By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT An AT-cut crystal element includes a crystal element having two side surfaces (namely, a Z'-surface) intersecting with a Z-axis of a crystallographic axis thereof. At least one of the two side surfaces is constituted of three of first to third surfaces. The first to the third surfaces meeting following conditions: the first to the third surfaces intersect with one another in this order and formed by rotating a principal surface of the crystal element by predetermined angles; and expressing the angle of the first surface as θ1, a length of the first surface as D, a thickness of a part of the crystal element having the principal surface as t, and M=D/t, and a conversion percentage as fn (M, (θ1)), the θ1 and the M are set such that the conversion percentage fn (M, (θ1)) becomes a predetermined value Th or less. Full Article
i RESONANCE DEVICE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A resonance device is provided with a reduced size and also suppresses the occurrence of deformation and breakage during operation. The resonance device includes a lower substrate, an upper substrate that defines a vibration space between the lower substrate and the upper substrate, a protruding portion that is formed on an inner surface of the lower or upper substrates. Moreover, a resonator is disposed in the vibration space and includes a base portion and vibration arms that extend in parallel to one another from the base portion along the inner surface of the lower substrate or the inner surface of the upper substrate and that vibrate in a vertical direction toward the inner surface of the lower substrate or the inner surface of the upper substrate. Full Article
i ELASTIC WAVE DEVICE AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREFOR By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT In an elastic wave device, a piezoelectric substrate is stacked on a support substrate and an IDT electrode is provided on the piezoelectric substrate. Wiring line portions are provided on the piezoelectric substrate. A first hollow portion is provided in the support substrate at least below at least one of the wiring line portions and or below a region between the wiring line portions. Full Article
i Athletic jersey By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An athletic jersey has at least three selectable exterior appearances. In one example, the athletic jersey is sleeveless and formed of at least three panels having substantially the same shape and size that are fastened together at edges. The athletic jersey can be turned inside-out in several different ways to select between three or more different exterior appearances. Full Article
i Integrated garment system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A modular garment system includes an attachment system for attaching multiple garments together. In one embodiment, the garment system includes an upper body garment that is attachable to a lower body garment. The upper body garment includes a plurality of connectors that are aligned with a plurality of retaining members on the lower body garment. The retaining members on the lower body garment, for instance, may be placed on top of existing belt loops. The retaining members may include a flap, while the connectors may have a loop-like structure. In order to connect the upper body garment to the lower body garment, the flap may be inserted into the loop-like structure and secured to the lower body garment. The upper body garment can also include a draw cord that can be used to further secure the upper body garment against the lower body garment. Full Article
i Notched collar with snaps By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A pair of notches or slits in a collar can prevent the formation of bulky crests or wrinkling when the collar is arranged in an outer open ‘continental style’ under a jacket, however there is also a propensity for such a collar to curl up at the notches. The invention herein discloses the use of a fastening means to prevent the slit borders, forming the edge surfaces of each back section of the collar, from curling up from the shirt surface. The fastener means are located on each side of the collar, such that one member is located on the inner surface of the back collar where the outside edge meets the base of the slit edge and the other member is located on the outer surface of the collar band. Full Article
i Convertible golf garment with integrated belt loops By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A multi-layered garment may comprise components that are affixed using integrated belt loops. In particular, shorts belt loops of a shorts component may pass through an opening created when single-layer skirt belt loops of a skirt component are oriented outwards. Both the skirt belt loops and the shorts belt loops may be fully functional and aesthetically pleasing belt loops. Additionally, the shorts belt loops may be combined with the skirt belt loops to form integrated belt loops, thereby allowing a belt to pass beneath both sets of belt loops simultaneously to affix the shorts component to the skirt component. Full Article
i Fog-resistant structure and protective device for eyes By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A fog-resistant structure and a protective device for eyes is configured such that a transparent conductive film is formed on one surface of a lens or shield, a linear electrode is provided on upper and lower portions of the surface of the lens or shield so that each of a central region and opposite side regions of the lens or shield has substantially equal spacing between the upper and lower linear electrodes. Thus each region of the lens or shield has no difference in temperature without regulating power supplied to the transparent conductive film, thereby eliminating wasted power consumption and allowing even a structure using a battery as the power supply to have much longer available time. Full Article
i Surface treatment device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A device used to smooth a material's surface with abrasion. More specifically, the device is in the form of a glove or mitten with an abrasive layer that is placed over, and secured on, a user's hand to protect the user's hand and to provide an agile and flexible range of motion while sanding a material's surface. Full Article
i Asymmetric body armor By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Body armor includes a panel having a front, an opposed back, left and right sides, top and bottom, and a vertical axis extending through the panel at a location intermediate between the right and left sides. Opposed right and left shoulder cuts are formed in the panel between the right side and the top and between the left side and the top, and the right and left shoulder cuts are asymmetric to each other about the vertical axis. The right and left shoulder cuts are linear edges formed diagonally between the left and right sides and the top, and the right shoulder cut extends further inboard into the panel toward the vertical axis than the left shoulder cut. Full Article
i Leg protector for sports activities By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An embodiment of a leg protector of the present disclosure includes an upper thigh pad that is structurally attached to an upper bracing shell including lateral and medial uprights. The upper shell and thigh pad can be held to the player via a strap and/or garment. The uprights extend to uni- or polycentric hinges arranged on, and in one embodiment biased against, either side of the player's knee. A connecting member extends in a frontward direction from each hinge and attaches to a patella pad held in place over the player's knee. The patella pad may additionally be connected to the thigh pad via one or more connecting strip. Each hinge is also connected to a lower bracing shell, which includes lateral and medial uprights that extend down and around the player's lower leg, anteriorly or posteriorly. The lower shell can also be fitted via a strap or garment. Full Article
i Activewear with waistband pocket By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Provided is activewear with hidden pockets. More particularly, athletic garments such as pants comprising one or more waistband pocket, preferably concealable, are included. In embodiments, athletic garments with an interior concealed pocket in the fold-over portion of a fold down waistband are provided. The waistband pocket enables the wearer to store items such as car keys, hotel room keys and/or smart phones relatively inconspicuously and securely in the waistband of the garment. A purpose of the concealment includes minimizing attention from the items stored within the pocket and allowing the wearer to participate in a variety of athletic sports or events while carrying personal items in a secure manner. Preferred embodiments include athletic pants comprising (i) a fold down waistband, (ii) an annular storage pocket capable of retaining items without any additional material added to the pant, and (iii) one or more slits for the opening for the pocket. Full Article
i Protective gear By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Protective gear is provided, such as, for example, protective headgear that includes a rigid helmet structure, an engagement system configured to engage a user's head, and a plurality of tethering devices coupled between the engagement system and the rigid helmet structure to suspend the rigid helmet structure from the user's head when the protective headgear is worn. The protective headgear further includes at least one damper coupled to one or more of the plurality of tethering devices to resist motion of the rigid helmet structure relative to the engagement system when the rigid structure is impacted during an impact event. Full Article
i Protection device, system and/or method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A protection device, system and/or method including a protection body portion adapted to be one or both of connected to or disposed on the lower edge of a wearer's headgear. In some implementations, the protection body portion may be triangular and the connecting of the device to headgear may include a removable connective component is located at the apex of a second edge and a third edge of the protection body portion at the farthest point from the headgear. Full Article
i Air-cushioned shorts for cycling By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Cycling shorts for protecting a rider from harmful effects occasioned by the design of the substantially unpadded seat of a racing-type cycle. Fabric shorts of conventional or elongated design include a interior protective pad. The pad includes adjoined seat and crotch sections and is symmetrical with respect to an axis of symmetry. It includes an interior chamber for receiving pressurized air. A pump for delivering selectively pressurized air communicates with the interior chamber by means of a conduit. The chamber includes internally honeycombed sections for minimizing air flow so that the cushioning effect of the pad is preserved despite the force exerted by the weight of a wearer on the hard and relatively-inflexible seat. Full Article
i Impact sensing device and helmet incorporating the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An impact sensing device including a plurality of accelerometers orthogonally oriented with respect to each other and attachable at a body location, each capable of producing a signal indicative of an impact. An integrated circuit is configured to determine the magnitude and direction of the impact based on the signals and operative to activate an indicator when the magnitude exceeds a selected threshold based on the direction of the impact. A head injury coefficient is determined based on the magnitude and a duration of the impact, and the threshold level of acceleration is expressed in terms of a head injury coefficient value. The head injury coefficient value is determined by empirically correlating a head injury coefficient measured at the body location and a head injury coefficient measured at the center of mass of a human head resulting from an impact. Full Article
i Therapeutic sock system and method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An interior sock is fabricated of a flexible elastic polymer. The interior sock has a cylindrical closed toe section, a cylindrical open ankle section and an intermediate heel section. The heel section is provided between the toe and ankle sections. An exterior sock is fabricated of a knitted blend of cotton and a minor portion of an elastic. The exterior sock has a cylindrical closed toe section, a cylindrical open ankle section and an intermediate heel section. The heel section is provided between the toe and ankle sections. A quantity of therapeutic fluid is located within the interior sock. The therapeutic fluid is in contact with a foot of a user. The interior sock provides support for the therapeutic fluid. The exterior sock provides pressure and warmth to the interior sock and the therapeutic fluid. Full Article
i Elasticized structure and method for making an elasticized structure By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present disclosure refers to an elasticized structure and a method for making such an elasticized structure. The elasticized structure, includes a first piece and at least one second piece. The first piece is superimposed and fixed onto the second piece in at least a first fixing zone and at least a second fixing zone. The second piece is at least partially made of an elastic material and has an internal zone comprised between the first fixing zone and the second fixing zone. The elasticized structure is able to assume a tensioned position and a rest position. In the rest position, the first piece has a hump comprised between the first fixing zone and the second fixing zone and flat parts alongside said first fixing zone and said second fixing zone, respectively. Full Article
i Urination opening in men's underwear By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A fabric assembly attachable to the front side of a men's underwear and a men's underwear having such a fabric assembly are described. The fabric assembly has layers of fabrics having linear slots perpendicular to each other so that the wearer can take his genital organ out through the intersection of the linear slots. The peripheries of the fabric layers are elastically stitched together to make a fabric assembly. The fabric layers have sufficient rigidity such that the linear slots do not open under the pressure of the genital organ, unless the wearer uses his hands to open the slots. The fabric assembly may also have a flap on the inside or outside of the fabric layers. One or two sides of the flap may be attached to the men's underwear and the other sides may not be attached to permit easy opening of the flap by hand. Full Article
i Apparel with reduced friction zones By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An article of apparel may include a base layer and a cover layer. The cover layer may be stitchlessly-secured to an exterior surface of the base layer and positioned to extend along a side area and from a pelvic region to a leg region of the base layer. A width of the cover layer may be greater in the pelvic region than the first leg region. In some configurations, a frictional resistance of the exterior surface of the base layer may be greater than a frictional resistance of a surface of the cover layer. Full Article
i Personal protection device and garment incorporating said device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A personal protection device for protecting a user is described. The personal protection device can have an inflatable member having an internal chamber that can be inflated or deflated according to predetermined conditions. Full Article
i Article of manufacture for stretchable night visibility bands for people and animals By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An article of manufacture for stretchable night visibility bands for people and animals with a inner band consisting of a primarily stretchable material, an outer band consisting of a night visibility material, a way to attach the inner band to the outer band, a means to interchange said inner bands and said outer bands and a way to close the inner band around an object. A preferred embodiment includes further an outer band made of a night visibility material fabricated of least one of the following: a reflective, a florescent or a glow in the dark material and backed with a material such as VELCRO that attaches to the inner band, A preferred embodiment includes the element of inner band consisting of a stretchable material with a looped surface such as Velstretch™. Full Article