09th week of 2018 patent applcation highlights part 13 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20180056156 | CENTERBALL - Centerball is a method of playing a game on a playing field with a ball, allowing opposing teams to attempt to score a goal by putting the ball into the area defined by the playing surface, the two opposing vertical poles, and the crossbar. A score is tallied for each team as goals are made. By determining the highest tally over a predetermined period of time, a winner of the game is determined. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056157 | BACKYARD TAILGATING GOLF GAME - A tailgating game assembly including a first platform, a second platform, a projectile a first deformable target, a second deformable target, a third deformable target, and a club. In use, the club is used to hit the projectile off of the platform towards the three deformable targets. The game is meant to simulate the chipping aspect of golf. The club included in the assembly is capable of height adjustment, and is suitable for both right and left handed competitors. The projectile included may be a golf ball, a shuttlecock, or any projectile suitable to strike with a club. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056158 | Mr. Hitter, Interactive baseball batting/hitting training device - This invention is a device to improve the hand eye coordination of baseball and softball hitters. It is used to allow the hitter to practice their swinging techniques and develop good swing mechanics in a short period of time by providing multiple repetitious looks at the ball. The device consists of a short wooden bat with a predetermined length of rope attaching the bat to the ball. The coach uses the bat to swing the ball into the hitting zone in front of the hitter every few seconds allowing multiple swings at the ball in a repetitive manner. When hit the ball only travels a few feet for easy retrieval by the coach allowing for maximum hitting attempts in a short period of time. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056159 | BASEBALL BAT - A baseball bat may be provided as part of a baseball training kit and a method of training a baseball player. The bat may include an internal tube sized to accommodate a plurality of cylindrical weights. Similarly sized cylindrical spacers, having significantly less mass than the weights, may also be inserted into the internal tube. Players can select different weight resistances by selecting which of a plurality of spacers and weights should be inserted, and in which order. A cap may be provided proximate the handle in order to secure the weights and spacers within the internal tube. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056160 | ROBOTIC BATTING TEE SYSTEM - A batting tee system includes a housing, a ball holder for holding a ball, a neck coupled between the housing and the ball holder, an actuator, and a control system. The actuator may be positioned in the housing and operable to actuate the neck along the axis to extend and retract the neck from the housing thereby increasing and decreasing a distance between the ball holder and the housing. The control system may be operable to cause the actuator to actuate the neck to a first random position along the axis. The control system may be further operable to cause the actuator to actuate the neck to a second random position along the axis, different than the first, after a ball is hit from the ball holder when the neck is in the first position. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056161 | Interchangeable Sports Ball Kicking Training Apparatus - An interchangeable sports training apparatus for training user's how to kick sports balls. The apparatus includes a base including a mounting bracket for mounting the base onto a surface. A height-adjustable support arm affixed to the base includes a swivel rotatably coupled thereto, such that the swivel is configured to rotate 360 degrees about the support arm. A swing arm coupled to the swivel includes a quick-release mechanism configured to releasably engage a sports ball retaining bracket and a first fastener. A height-adjustable return arm includes a second fastener configured to releasably engage the first fastener of the swing arm, in order to hold the training apparatus in a ready position for kicking, and includes a return member configured to stop rotation of the swing arm and return the swing arm to the ready position. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056162 | ATHLETIC TRAINING SYSTEMS - The system is an athletic training station for individual and team sports. The station may be a ball-handling and passing station that includes a television with a virtual coach and training walls. The television may project a virtual trainer and the walls may allow a user to mimic passing and handling techniques by utilizing the walls of the station. The station may be stationary or portable. The station may include a front and a back portion that allow more than one user to utilize the station at a time. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056163 | ENHANCED GOLF SIMULATION SYSTEM - A green simulation apparatus having a configurable upper surface with a changeable contour may comprise a covering forming the upper surface and a covering support assembly configured to support the covering. The support assembly may comprise a plurality of movable positioning elements having the covering resting thereon and positioned in an array extending in a reference plane and movable along axes extending substantially perpendicular to the reference plane. The support assembly may comprise a movement actuator configured to move at least one of the positioning elements independently of other positioning elements in the array. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056164 | SLIDING T-SQUARE PRACTICE AID - A golf alignment aid comprising: a first bracket including a first portion, a second portion adjacent to the first portion, and a third portion adjacent to the second portion; the second portion including a first channel and a second channel oriented parallel with the first channel, and a third channel configured to receive a first alignment stick, and a second bracket including a first rail slidably received within the first channel, a second rail oriented parallel with the first rail and slidably received within the second channel, and a cradle positioned between the first rail and the second rail; the cradle configured to receive a second alignment stick oriented perpendicular to the first alignment stick. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056165 | GOLF CLUB HEAD - A golf club head is provided having a club body having a front portion, a rear portion, a toe portion, and a heel portion. The club head also having a central portion connected with the front portion. A frame is connected with the central portion configured to provide a lightweight crown portion being located above an offset plane. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056166 | APPARATUS FOR STORAGE AND TRANSPORT OF ATHLETIC MATS - An all in one system for storing, protecting and transporting athletic mats, includes at least one mat capsule, having a mat wrap defining a longitudinal axis and opposed first and second longitudinal ends, the mat wrap configured for accommodating an athletic mat in a rolled condition, a capsule base adjacent the first longitudinal end of the main capsule segment and a capsule cap releasably coupled to the second longitudinal end of the main capsule segment. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056167 | MOUTH GUARD - A mouth guard designed to minimize discomfort and speech interference associated with conventional mouthpieces is disclosed. The mouth guard has a substantially uniform thickness on the facial/buccal and biting surfaces of the anterior and posterior teeth, and along the lingual surface of the posterior teeth. The thickness of the mouth guard along the lingual surface of the anterior teeth is greater near the biting surface than near the gum line. This minimizes interference with the wearer's tongue, making it relatively easy to drink, speak, and breathe, while protecting the anterior and posterior teeth from impact from the front or underneath. The mouth guard can be a boil-and-bite or custom-made mouth guard, and can also include an impact shield, one or more power wedges or shock absorbers, a flavoring component, and/or an antibacterial component. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056168 | SAFER FOOTBALL HELMET - A football helmet comprises a rotatable outer shell, an inner shell and a fastener assembly. The inner shell comprises an upper portion and a lower portion. The rotatable outer shell is of a hollow hemisphere shape. The upper portion of the inner shell is of a hollow hemisphere shape. The rotatable outer shell has a cavity to receive the upper portion of the inner shell. An air gap is between the upper portion of the inner shell and the rotatable outer shell. A pre-determined torque is applied to a nut of the fastener assembly so that the nut is loosely tightened to a bolt of the fastener assembly. A ring of the rotatable outer shell is rotatable along a rim track of the inner shell. The rotatable outer shell is in a pogo stick motion when a force is applied to the rotatable outer shell so that the ring rotates along the rim track and an outer shell hole deflects toward an inner shell hole. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056169 | SELF-STABILIZING SKATEBOARD - An electric vehicle may comprise a board including first and second deck portions each configured to receive a left or right foot of a ride, a wheel assembly disposed between the deck portions and including a ground-contacting element, a motor assembly mounted to the board and configured to rotate the ground-contacting element around an axle to propel the electric vehicle, at least one sensor configured to measure orientation information of the board, and a motor controller configured to receive orientation information measured by the sensor and to cause the motor assembly to propel the electric vehicle based on the orientation information. The electric vehicle may include exactly one ground-contacting element, and the motor may be a hub motor. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056170 | TECHNOLOGIES FOR TRANSPORTATION - An apparatus comprising a platform; a plurality of trucks coupled to the platform; and a roller assembly coupled to the platform, wherein the roller assembly is configured for an omnidirectional rotation, wherein the roller assembly is configured for an elastic biasing, wherein the roller assembly is driven by a motor. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056171 | ANTI-STATIC PLAYING CARD - An anti-static playing card is a plastic playing card having a front surface and a back surface, wherein each of the surfaces has a first anti-static paint layer in which a surfactant and a coloring agent are added for displaying a suit and a number on the front surface and displaying a pattern on the back surface, and each of the surfaces has a transparent second anti-static paint layer that has a surfactant added therein and is coated over the first anti-static paint layer, so that the anti-static playing card is prevented from accumulation of static electricity. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056172 | CARD GAME SYSTEM AND METHOD OF A TABLE GAME - A table game system capable of providing a table game to provide a chance to bet more higher paid off odds and additional wagering opportunities during the play in a way that is not complicated is provided. The set of shuffled decks of playing cards | 2018-03-01 |
20180056173 | BASEBALL BOARD GAME - An example board game may include an infield game board and a fence. The fence may comprise one or more wall pieces that may be secured together and supported by stands such that the user may assemble and place the fence at any desired distance from the game board, such that the open space of the floor or other surface between the board and fence is the outfield. The game is played using user's existing baseball card collection placed around the field as players on defense and batters/runner on offense. A coin, disk, ball or other object may be the baseball, wherein players may “hit” and “throw” the ball by propelling it with their thumbs, e.g., the batter hits the ball into the field and the nearest to reach the ball before the runner reaches base may throw the ball to the base to record an out. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056174 | STRUCTURES AND KITS FOR DISPLAYING TWO-DIMENSIONAL IMAGES IN THREE DIMENSIONS - A three dimensional structures, which may be formed as a three-dimensional jigsaw puzzle, are described. The structure has one or more viewing directions along which different images are viewable. An image to be presented is divided into image portions that are applied to primary surfaces, where the structure has the primary surfaces arranged to present the image when viewed along an axis. The structure may also have secondary surfaces that are hidden from view along a viewing direction, and which become viewable when the structure is rotated relative the viewer. The structure may also be in a puzzle, which may be in the form of a kit. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056175 | MAHJONG TILE - A mahjong tile includes a main body, a cover, a magnet, an induction chip, and a transparent board. The main body has a chip trough at an inner side thereof, connecting poles protruding from a top surface thereof, and a tile face trough at a bottom thereof. The cover corresponds to the main body and has connecting holes and an accommodation trough at a bottom thereof. The magnet is accommodated in the accommodation trough. Upper and lower ends of the magnet are magnet poles of the magnet. The induction chip is for a sensor to read the suite and numeric of the mahjong tile. The magnet of the mahjong tile supplies magnetism, enabling the mahjong tile to be delivered for playing a computer game with the amusement of the real mahjong tile. This can prevent the players from touching the tiles and increase the fairness of the game. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056176 | GAME MACHINE OPERATING DEVICE AND GAME MACHINE - A game machine operating device mounted on a game machine with a game board and provided on a front side of the game board includes: an operation unit which receives an operation; and a projection unit which radiates light in a direction toward the game board to project a first image on an area in a field of view of a player viewing the game board. The projection unit includes: a first light source; and a light guide into which light emitted from the first light source is guided. The light guide has a light diffusion pattern formed on one or both of a front surface and a rear surface, wherein light is emitted through the light diffusion pattern to form the first image. A part on which the light diffusion pattern is formed is disposed to be directed in the direction toward the game board. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056177 | GAME MACHINE INPUT DEVICE AND GAME MACHINE - A game machine input device mounted on a game machine provided with a playfield; the game machine input device includes: an input unit provided toward the front of the playfield and configured to accept input; and a projection part configured to radiate light toward the playfield to project a first image in a region within the visual field of a player viewing the playfield. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056178 | SHUFFLE AND DEAL DEVICE FOR MAHJONG TILES - A shuffle and deal device for mahjong tiles includes mahjong tiles, a shuffle mechanism, and a deal mechanism. Each mahjong tile includes an inner magnet therein. The shuffle mechanism includes a cylinder formed with through holes each provided with a magnet assembly for attracting the inner magnet. The cylinder brings the mahjong tiles to be turned. The deal mechanism includes a tall side board and a short side board. A conveying belt is provided between the tall side board and the short side board. An outer side of the short side board is provided with a guide wheel. A front end of the deal mechanism is inserted in the cylinder. The mahjong tiles are brought by the cylinder to pass the short side board and be blocked by the tall side board to disengage from the magnet assembly and drop on the conveying belt to be delivered out. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056179 | DYNAMIC PAYMENT OPTIMIZATION APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS - The DYNAMIC PAYMENT OPTIMIZATION APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS (“DPO”) transform requests for on-demand and flexible monetization and related services via DPO components into currency transfers, purchase receipt notifications, social networking communications and transaction analytics reports. In some embodiments, the DPO obtains a user product purchase request for a user engaged in an online experience at a point of sale device. The DPO parses the user product purchase request, and thereby identifies at least one attribute of at least one of: the user; the online experience; and the point of sale device. The DPO customizes one or more properties of a user interface for initiating a purchase transaction related to the user product purchase request, according to the identified at least one attribute of the user, the online experience or the point of sale device; and providing the customized user interface. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056180 | CONTROLLER HAVING ACCESSORY CONNECTORS FOR EXTERNALIZING CONTROLS - An accessory apparatus includes a housing, an apparatus connector, a plurality of auxiliary accessory interfaces, and an internal microcontroller. The connection connector is configured to mate with a corresponding accessory connector of a physical controller to electrically connect the internal microcontroller to the physical controller. Each auxiliary accessory connector is configured to enable a separate auxiliary user input device to operatively connect to the accessory apparatus and electrically connect with the internal microcontroller. The internal microcontroller is configured to: (1) receive an input control signal from an auxiliary user input device operatively connected to an auxiliary accessory connector of the plurality of auxiliary accessory connectors, (2) map the input control signal to a mapped control signal corresponding to a physical control of the physical controller, and (3) send the mapped control signal to the physical controller via the apparatus connector. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056181 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DATA INTEGRATION FOR A VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT - A system for data integration for a virtual environment, the system including: a game backend; a plurality of game clients, wherein each of the game clients comprise a client engine which is connected to the game backend; a plurality of data sources; and a data engine connected with the game backend and with the plurality of data sources, wherein the data engine retrieves data from the data sources and provides it to the game backend for use by the game clients, via the client engine. A method for data integration for a virtual environment, the method including: receiving a data request from a game client; retrieving data from a data source that complies with the data request or, if data is not available from the data source, synthesizing data; transforming the retrieved data into a format usable by the game client; and transmitting the data to the game client. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056182 | PROGRAM AND SYSTEM - A non-transitory computer-readable medium including a program product for causing a server to realize functions to control progress of a video game is provided. The functions include: an obtaining function configured to obtain communication quality information regarding a communication quality of one of user terminals; a determining function configured to determine a display condition of a character on the basis of the communication quality information; and a displaying function configured to cause the one user terminal to display a game image based on the determined display condition. In this case, the determining function includes a function configured to determine a condition regarding the number of characters included in the game image as the display condition, and the displaying function includes a function configured to cause the one user terminal to display the game image that satisfies the condition regarding the number of characters. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056183 | COMPUTER-READABLE NON-TRANSITORY STORAGE MEDIUM HAVING GAME PROGRAM STORED THEREIN, GAME PROCESSING METHOD, GAME SYSTEM, AND GAME APPARATUS - In an action game in which a screen is scrolled in a predetermined direction, a player character is moved in the predetermined direction on a game screen even when a movement command input is not performed from a player. In response to a touch input being detected in a state in which a first predetermined condition is satisfied, the player character is caused to execute a first action and a first point is added. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056184 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ATHLETIC MOTION ANALYSIS AND INSTRUCTION - A system and method for analyzing and improving the performance of a body motion of an animal or human subject requires instrumenting a subject with inertial sensors, monitoring a body motion of interest, converting sensor data into motion data and animation, comparing the motion data with existing data for motion related performance parameters, providing a real-time, information rich, animation and data display of the results in color coded displays; and based on the results prescribing a training regime with exercises selected from a library of standardized exercises using standardized tools and training aids. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056185 | METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND PRODUCTS FOR CONTROL OF GAMING APPLICATIONS - Methods, systems, and products bookmark gaming applications. When a player wishes to pause a gaming application, a bookmark may be created. The bookmark identifies a location in the gaming application at which play is paused. Play may then be resumed from the bookmark, whether at a same device or at a different device. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056186 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DISPLAYING FRAMES OF A GAME - A method of displaying a game is performed at a computing device, the method including: receiving a first user input of pausing a game in progress; in response to receiving the first user input, causing the game to switch from a normal state to a pause state; detecting a second user input of resuming the game from the pause state to the normal state; in response to detecting the second user input: causing the game to switch from the pause state to a transition state, wherein the game progresses at a gradually increasing rate as a function of an elapsed time since a start of the transition state; and displaying the game at the gradually increasing rate until the game reaches a game progress rate associated with the normal state at or prior to the receipt of the first user input. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056187 | METHOD OF PROVIDING OBSERVING SERVICE USING EVENT PREDICTION IN GAME - Provided is a method of providing an observing service using event prediction in a game, in which a method of predicting various events that may occur in a game space during a game play so as to observe a situation where the events are occurring is provided. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056188 | COMPUTER-READABLE NON-TRANSITORY STORAGE MEDIUM HAVING GAME PROGRAM STORED THEREIN, AND GAME SYSTEM - Even when a movement command input is not performed from a player, a player character is moved in a predetermined direction in a virtual game space, and a game screen including the player character is scrolled so as to follow movement of the player character. In response to determination being made that a touch operation is detected in a state in which the positional relationship between a predetermined object and the player character satisfies a predetermined condition, the movement direction of the player character is temporarily changed to a direction containing a direction component opposite to the predetermined direction. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056189 | Method of Replaying Game Video Using Camera Information Calibration - Provided is a method of replaying a game video using camera information calibration, and more particularly, to a method of replaying a game video using camera information calibration, in which a game video is replayed by calibrating information related to operation of a camera in a virtual space so as to provide users with game videos that are convenient to view. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056190 | METHOD OF COLLECTING ADVERTISEMENT EXPOSURE DATA OF 360 VR GAME REPLAY VIDEO - Provided is a method of collecting advertisement exposure data of a 360 virtual reality (VR) game replay video, in which data on advertisements that are applied to a game replay video and actually exposed to a user when the game replay video is displayed on a 360 VR display device is collected. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056191 | NON-LINEAR INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCE CREATION AND EXECUTION METHODS AND SYSTEMS - Methods, apparatus, and system create and execute non-linear interactive programs comprising action stages. During creation of a non-linear interactive program, output devices do not need to be known in advance, but can be defined according to output device criteria. Based on output devices encountered during execution of a non-linear interactive program, input which may be received from the output devices is determined, as well as input-output criteria. When input is received and input-output criteria are satisfied, output may be produced. In this way, execution of the non-linear interactive program may unfold, adaptively, based on participating output devices and input provided by such devices. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056192 | INFORMATION PROCESSING SYSTEM, STORAGE MEDIUM HAVING STORED THEREIN INFORMATION PROCESSING PROGRAM, INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD - Transmission data including at least data regarding luminances of a plurality of small areas obtained by dividing the entirety of an at least partial area of a captured image captured by an image capturing unit is acquired. Then, using the acquired transmission data, and based on a luminance of the entirety of the at least partial area of the captured image and the luminance of any of the plurality of small areas, a shape of an image capturing target and/or a position of the image capturing target relative to a data transmission device are determined, and based on the result of the determination, predetermined information processing is performed. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056193 | METHOD FOR DETERMINING CHEATING IN DART GAME, DEVICE AND SERVER - According to one embodiment of the present invention for implementing the objective above, a method for determining cheating in a dart game is disclosed. The method for determining cheating in a dart game may include: collecting game data and multimedia information of a player from a dart game device; transmitting the collected game data and multimedia information to a client device; receiving, from the client device, feedback information related to legitimacy of play with respect to the multimedia information; and processing the game data of the player corresponding to the multimedia information, on the basis of the received feedback information related to legitimacy of play. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056194 | GUEST MANAGEMENT IN AN ONLINE MULTI-PLAYER VIRTUAL REALITY GAME - A guest management method and system for an online multi-player virtual reality environment or social networking site. A network interface receives guest access requests from guest clients and input data from a plurality of remotely-located clients. The input data is operative to control avatars associated with the clients in a modeled virtual reality environment. A memory holds program instructions for determining whether the guest access is associated with a member client. If the guest access request is associated with the member client, then the guest client is allowed to access the virtual reality environment via a guest avatar. The guest avatar's movements in the virtual reality environment are restricted based on a location of a member avatar controlled by the associated member client. For example, the guest avatar may only be permitted to move within an area that is bounded by a perimeter about the member avatar. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056195 | SCREEN BASEBALL METHOD USING A MOBILE DEVICE - Disclosed is a method for screen baseball using a mobile device. The method comprises (a) confirming whether a user of the mobile device is a member when the mobile device recognizes an identifier image shown on the display of the operator PC; (b) automatically logging in once the user is confirmed to be a member; and (c) controlling the screen baseball in real-time when the user's automatically logged-in mobile device is located in a Wi-Fi area. According to the present disclosure, the user is automatically logged in by recording and simply recognizing the Wi-Fi service set identifier image marked in the operator PC located in the screen baseball system, without installing an additional reader, thereby improving the user's convenience and simplicity as well as the operator's productivity. Additionally, by using the mobile device as a controller of the offense or defense of the screen baseball, the user can change a game plan, etc. in real-time without pause, thereby effectively inducing the user's participation and interest. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056196 | Game system, game processing method, computer-readable non-transitory storage medium having stored therein game program, and game apparatus - A game system includes: a versus game processing section configured to perform a versus game process against another player; an index data storage section configured to store index data that varies in accordance with a win/loss result in a versus game; an index update section configured to update the index data on the basis of a win/loss result of a player; a first parameter change section configured to change a first parameter associated with a first object included in a predetermined development target, when the index data has satisfied a predetermined condition; and a presentation section configured to present an image of the first object in which the changed parameter is reflected, to the player. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056197 | Multi-Device Gaming Interface - An electronic device may be configured to present a user interface via which a user can select from a plurality of commands associated with a particular video game. In response to a selection of one of the plurality of commands, the electronic device may transmit the selected one of the plurality of commands to a user interface device. The selected command may cause said user interface device to transmit a corresponding one or more simulated user inputs to a game console. The selection of the command may occur automatically in response to detection, by audio processing circuitry, of an occurrence of the particular audio clip in an audio signal output by the game console. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056198 | SPINNING AMUSEMENT DEVICE - A spinning amusement device is provided which may include a first arm coupled to an opposing second arm. A neck aperture may be disposed centrally between the first arm and the second arm. A first seat may be coupled to the first arm, and a second seat may be coupled to the second arm. Preferably, the device may be used by an adult user who may position their neck in the neck aperture, a first child user received in the first seat in a seated position, and a second child received in the second seat also in a seated position. The adult user may rotate the device, preferably by rotating their own body with the first arm and second arm, and the two children may therefore be spun or rotated while the majority of the centrifugal force of the children is borne by the device and by the children which are in a seated position. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056199 | THREE-DIMENSIONAL OBJECT - A three-dimensional object configured by a plurality of divided parts and having a surface, one portion of the surface is covered with a covering member. The three-dimensional object includes a first divided part as the divided part, which at least one portion of the first divided part is exposed from the covering member; and a second divided part as the divided part and is covered with the covering member. In the three-dimensional object, at least one portion of a joining surface of the first divided part and the second divided part is covered with the covering member. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056200 | SELF-SEALING BALLOONS AND RELATED COMPONENTS AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURING - Balloons and related components and manufacturing methods. Various embodiments provide balloons which define elastomeric balloon bodies and necks. The balloon bodies define body thicknesses and filled and unfilled internal volumes. Tension in the balloon bodies gives rise to internal pressures when the balloons are filled. The necks couple with the bodies and define neck thickness which differ from the body thicknesses. Various embodiments provide check valve for use with the balloons and/or various liquids. These check valves can comprise a ball that further comprises a generall) spherical substrate of fine particles of a biodegradable material and a coating on the substrate. The coating can be made of another biodegradable material. Combined, the coating and the generally spherical substrate form the check valve ball mid possess a density differing from the water density. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056201 | BALLOON TYING AID - A device and technique for knotting an inflated balloon or forming a knot in another material is provided. One approach includes: holding a knot tying aid by a handle portion, the handle portion being positioned opposite a distal portion, the distal portion including several prongs (in one nonlimiting example at least three) extending away from the handle and being spaced apart from one another in correspondence to vertices of a triangle; winding a tag end portion of the inflated balloon about the prongs to form a loop; and passing part of the tag end portion through the loop to form a knot. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056202 | Baby/Infant/Child Strengthening and Recreational Device - A device with three flat mirrored panels connected by two-way hinges with a contrasting color pattern located on each panel and the ability to customize lightening and music elements, provides an adult the ability to individualize sensory stimulation and use multiple positioning options of the device during tummy time with a child in order to promote the child's gross motor development. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056203 | TOY BAR - A toy bar for placement over or in front of a child to provide entertainment. The toy bar includes a tube component and first and second support members. The tube component generally includes a first end and a second end, and the first and second support members are generally removably attached to the tube component. Optionally, an LED light component fitted within the tube component. Optionally, at least one of the support members includes an electronic module, and wherein the electronic module can be programmed to activate one or more of a plurality of entertainment or soothing features including playing sounds, the LED light component, or a vibration unit. Optionally, one or more toys, loops or fasteners are coupled to the tube component. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056204 | Magnet Building Block Assembly - A magnetic building block assembly provides rotating self-aligning magnetic discs in a plurality of blocks to facilitate coupling blocks together. Each block comprises a container having a removable top wall providing an opening into an interior space. A center piece is positioned in the interior space. Each of a plurality of discs is positioned in the interior space adjacent to an exterior of the center piece and adjacent to a respective one of the planar faces to rotate freely within the interior space adjacent to the respective one of the planar faces. Each of a plurality of magnetic pole zones is arranged around each disc. Each disc is free to rotate whereby adjacently positioned blocks are magnetically coupled together by the discs. Each of a plurality of spacers extends along a respective interior edge of the container to center the discs relative to the respective one of the planar faces. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056205 | MAGNETIC POSITIONING LIGHT-EMITTING TOY BLOCK - A magnetic positioning light-emitting toy block includes a body, a light source mounted in the body, and an electrical conduction mechanism mounted in the body and including magnetic conducting columns extended out of one side of the body and electrically connected to the light sources and conducting plates extended out of an opposite side of the body and electrically connected to the light source. Thus, when inserting the magnetic conducting columns of one magnetic positioning light-emitting toy block into the body of another magnetic positioning light-emitting toy block, the magnetic conducting columns of one magnetic positioning light-emitting toy block are secured to the conducting plates of the other magnetic positioning light-emitting toy block by magnetic attraction and simultaneously electrically connected thereto. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056206 | MAGNETICALLY-JOINABLE PLAY TILES - A magnetically joinable play tile comprising a tile body having an edge; and a rotatable magnet carried by tile body adjacent to the edge. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056207 | CONSTRUCTION TOY SET OF CONNECTABLE AND POSITIONABLE ELEMENTS - A construction toy set with multiple construction elements, the construction elements having a generally wafer shaped element body with one or more internal receiver passages extending through the element body, the receiver passages having one or more receiver tracks extending laterally across the receiver passage, the element body having one or more element keys protruding laterally from the element body, element key dimensioning providing for insertion of an element key of a first construction element in a receiver track of a second construction element and for slidable mating of the element key of the first construction element with the receiver track of the second construction element. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056208 | ASSEMBLY TOY - In the present invention, a toy block for an assembly toy has a first flat surface and a second flat surface at both ends. Formed on the first flat surface are male parts that project vertically and female parts that are vertically indented. Formed on the second flat surface are a male part that vertically projects, and female parts that are vertically indented. When two toy blocks are linked together, the male parts of one block fit into the female parts of other toy block, and the male part of the other toy block fits into a female part of the other toy block. This allows the linking surfaces of the toy blocks having the male parts and female parts to link to each other at a variety of angles. The toy blocks rotate relative to each other when linked together. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056209 | MAZE MODULAR PARTITION SYSTEM - Described herein is a convenient set-up of a play structure, similar to a maze or multi-room play house without the use of tape or external connectors outside of the structure design. The panel component-based play area structure system will allow users to reduce the set-up time required for custom play structures as it is based on a simple individual partitions or panels designed to fit together to form a multiple room, or partitioned structure. The individual panel partitions allow the user to form customizable portals thereby customizing access to the individual partitioned sections. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056210 | SEPARATION OF (Z)-1-CHLORO-3,3,3-TRIFLUOROPROPENE (HCFO-1233zd(Z)) AND 1-CHLORO-1,3,3,3-TETRAFLUOROPROPANE (HCFC-244fa) BY ADDING A THIRD COMPONENT - A method for separating halocarbons and, in particular, a method for separating (Z)-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene (HCFO-1233zd(Z), or simply 1233zd(Z)) and 1-chloro-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropane (HCFC-244fa, or simply 244fa) via distillation by adding a third component, hydrogen fluoride (HF), forming a binary azeotrope of 1233zd(Z) and HF. The binary 1233zd(Z)/HF azeotrope may then be recovered from the distillation column as an overhead stream which includes only a relatively minor amount of 244fa, while the 244fa may be recovered from the distillation column as a bottoms stream which includes only relatively minor amounts of 1233zd(Z) and HF. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056211 | SUPERFLUID EXTRACTION APPARATUS - A cyclone separator for a superfluid extraction apparatus comprising a cyclone inlet weldment comprising a cyclone, a collector tube connected to the cyclone inlet weldment, and a needle support manifold extending from the cyclone inlet weldment comprising a fluid flow directing needle, the needle having a relief cut to control fluid flow into the separator. A supercritical fluid pump is described having a piston assembly with a hydraulic cylinder and a cylindrical integral check valve piston with at least two circumferential seals to seal the piston against the barrel insert and a check assembly extending axially through one end of the integral check valve piston and between the at least two circumferential seals to relieve excess pressure. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056212 | INTEGRATED COALESCING SYSTEM FOR SEPARATING DISPERSED IONIC LIQUID FROM LIQUID HYDROCARBON - An integrated coalescing system for separating ionic liquid from a liquid hydrocarbon is provided, comprising:
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20180056213 | INFILTRATION INTAKE SYSTEM FOR REVETMENT WALL - This infiltration intake system for a revetment wall includes a structural body, set on an outer wall surface of a revetment wall, including a filter storage portion, a filter stored in the filter storage portion of the structural body, and a water guide portion guiding treated water passing through the filter toward the side of an inner wall surface of the revetment wall. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056214 | SEPARATOR AND METHOD FOR SEPARATING A HETEROGENEOUS SUPPLY - A separator and method for separating a heterogeneous supply into a liquid and a solid material. The separator includes a casing in which the supply can collect, and which has an inlet for receiving the supply and an outlet for conveying the supply. The separator also includes a screen which rotates relative to the casing. The screen has perforated sections having a plurality of perforations which permit passage of the liquid. The screen allows for the accumulation of the supply within it, which rises to a level corresponding to a supply height. As this supply height, a screening pressure acts against the perforated sections so as to compact the solid material against the perforations while the liquid passes therethrough. A suction unit sucks the compacted solid material from the perforations, and is disposed higher than the supply height. A supply level regulator regulates the level of the supply within the screen. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056215 | FILTER CARTRIDGE - A filter cartridge includes a filter medium disposed within a housing. At least one lug is mounted to the housing at a port of the housing. The lug is sized, positioned and/or oriented such that the filter cartridge couples to a manifold in one orientation. As an example, a cross-sectional shape of a first lug mounted to the housing may be different than a cross-sectional shape of a second lug mounted to the housing. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056216 | FILTER CARTRIDGE - A filter cartridge includes a casing. A filter medium is disposed within the casing, and a sleeve is disposed within a port of the casing. The filter cartridge also includes features, such as an annular ring or a flow restriction body, for limiting spillage of water from the filter cartridge. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056217 | COOLING WATER STIRRER AND WATER PURIFIER HAVING THE SAME - A stirrer includes a stirring shaft; a plurality of mixing wings extending from the lower end of the stirring shaft and spaced from each other around the stirring shaft; and a conical hub connecting the lower ends of the mixing wings. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056218 | Filter Housing of an Exchangeable Filter, Filter, Connecting Device, and Filter Device - A filter housing has a housing pot accommodating a filter element. The filter housing has a connecting element connectable by a rotary and/or plug-in connection for connecting the filter with a connecting device. The filter housing has a securing ring forming a cup-shaped attachment section with a circumferential free rim. By rotary and/or plug-in movement, the attachment section is attached to an insertion section of the connecting device. The attachment section is provided with a sealing receptacle of a circumferential sealing device. The sealing receptacle is open in radial inward direction and has a radial sealing surface. The attachment section is connected at the free rim with the circumferential wall of the housing pot by crimping. The securing ring provides a first axial stop surface for an annular seal. A stop ring, inserted into the securing ring, provides a second axial stop surface for the annular seal. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056219 | FILTER MATERIAL FOR AIR FILTER - An object of the present invention is to provide an air filter medium which includes heat-expandable particles that, even when contained in a small amount, impart excellent flame retardancy to the air filter medium and which has excellent flame retardancy and a low pressure loss. The present invention provides an air filter medium including: a plurality of stacked fibrous sheets; and heat-expandable particles and a binder disposed in at least one of interlaminar spaces between adjacent layers of the fibrous sheets. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056220 | TAILORED MULTILAYERED NANO-FIBROUS FILTRATION MEDIA AND METHOD OF MAKING - A tailored multilayered nano-fibrous filtration media having at least two adjacent layers of nano-fibrous media and a method for making is presently disclosed. The method comprises selecting an overall mean flow pore size for tailoring the multilayered nano-fibrous filtration media, choosing a first layers of nano-fibrous media, calculating an overall mean flow pore size (OMFP) of the tailored multilayered nano-fibrous filtration media, determining if the calculated OMFP is approximately equal to the selected OMFP, if not approximately equal then choosing a different number of layers chosen or choosing at least one layer having a porosity or mean flow pore size different than the previously chosen layer of nano-fibrous media, and adjacently layering each finally chosen layer of nano-fibrous media. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056221 | FILTER DEVICE AND OXYGEN ENRICHING APPARATUS - In a filter device, a disc-shaped filter is disposed on a main flow channel through which a gas flows, and the filter is rotated by a motor. A branch flow channel branches off at the downstream of the filter in the main flow channel, and branched gas is passed through the filter in an opposite direction. Rotation of the filter moves dust collected in a dust gathering region where the filter and the main flow channel overlap with each other to a cleaning region where the filter and the branch flow channel overlap with each other so that the dust is disengaged from the filter. Thus, the filter of the filter device can be automatically cleaned. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056222 | AIR CLEANER - An air cleaner includes a first housing, a second housing, and a filter element. The first housing has an opening. The second housing has an opening that is opposed to the opening of the first housing. The filter element is arranged between the opening of the first housing and the opening of the second housing. At least one of the first housing and the second housing includes a corner portion, a sound reducing member, and an air chamber. The corner portion is constituted by at least two mutually intersecting inner surfaces of the housing. The sound reducing member includes a sound absorbing portion made of an air permeable material. The sound reducing member bridges the at least two inner surfaces and covers the corner portion. The air chamber is defined between the sound reducing member and the corner portion. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056223 | METHOD FOR DETERMINING A DEGREE OF LOADING OF A FILTER - A method for determining a degree of loading on a filter medium of a filter device on a vehicle through which a fluid flows includes determining an operating characteristic of the filter device based on at least one operating quantity of the vehicle and comparing a predefined reference characteristic of the filter device with the operating characteristic. The degree of loading is derived from a result of the comparing step. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056224 | Folding Air Filter Assembly and Apparatus - This document presents an apparatus for a flexible air filter media that can be configured for shipping and storage having one or more flexible inserts mounted to the filter media along one or more portions of the accordion folds of the air filter material. The current invention permits the air filter apparatus to fold along both X and Y axes, create a tri-fold, and bend in a manner that provides for a much smaller volume for shipping purposes. The invention also permits attaching the flexible material to the center of the filter media and also inserts which allow sections of the air filter media to be nested one into another to reduce both shipping and storage volume. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056225 | Method for Producing Filter Bellows - In a method for producing two or more filter bellows, a bellows with a filter medium with fold edges is provided, wherein the filter medium is running in a running direction. A cutting path is carried out in the bellows with the filter medium in a direction that, at least in some regions, is transverse relative to the fold edges such that the filter bellows are produced in parallel and the cutting path creates end edge faces and/or side faces of the filter bellows and the filter bellows are embodied lying adjacent to each other and symmetrical or point-symmetrical relative to each other in the running direction and/or transverse to the running direction. A filter element with such a filter bellows and a filter system with such a filter element and filter bellows arranged in a filter housing are provided. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056226 | FILTRATION MEDIA, FILTER PACKS, AND FILTER ELEMENTS WITH PROTRUSIONS - Pleated filtration media, filtration media packs, and filtration elements containing projections are disclosed. The pleated filtration media includes projections on at least one surface, the projections configured to engage adjacent media sheets so as to reduce masking of the media. The pleated media and media pleat packs contain protrusions on the surface of the media. These protrusions are three dimensional structures that are on the surface of the media and are provided by forming the protrusion directly in the filtration media or applying structures, such as adhesive beads, or onto one or both faces of the media. Elongation of the adhesive bead can facilitate greater separation of the adjacent faces of pleated media if desired. These protrusions, also referred to herein as projections or dimples, can either contact each other or contact flat media and keep adjacent media faces from becoming in intimate contact with each other. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056227 | FILTER MEDIA AND FILTER ELEMENT WITH ADHESIVE REINFORCING - A method of reinforcing a filter media pack as well as a reinforced media pack is provided. The method includes forming a media pack to have an inlet face and an outlet face. The method includes applying a reinforcing agent to the media pack. The reinforcing agent is applied in a flowable state. The method also includes hardening the reinforcing agent to form a reinforcing structure to reinforce the media pack. Filter element having such a reinforcing structure is also provided. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056228 | PROTECTING AN OPTICAL PARTICLE SENSOR FROM PARTICULATE DESPOSITS BY THERMOPHORESIS - The invention provides a sensor device which comprises an input flow channel ( | 2018-03-01 |
20180056229 | Apparatus and System for Swing Adsorption Processes Related Thereto - Provided are apparatus and systems for performing a swing adsorption process. This swing adsorption process may involve passing an input feed stream through two swing adsorption systems as a purge stream to remove contaminants, such as water, from the respective adsorbent bed units. The wet purge product stream is passed to a solvent based gas treating system, which forms a wet hydrocarbon rich stream and a wet acid gas stream. Then, the wet hydrocarbon rich stream and the wet acid gas stream are passed through one of the respective swing adsorption systems to remove some of the moisture from the respective wet streams. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056230 | PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR EFFECTIVE STRIPPING OF PARTLY LADEN SCRUBBING MEDIUM IN PHYSICAL GAS SCRUBBING OPERATIONS - A process and an apparatus for conducting a gas scrubbing operation are disclosed, in which at least substances of a first type are separated from a gas mixture wherein two or more types of substance by scrubbing with a physical scrubbing medium and a scrubbing medium laden with separated substances of the first type is treated by stripping in order, through the removal of a portion of the substances separated, to obtain a partly regenerated scrubbing medium which is subsequently used again for extractive scrubbing of substances of the first type out of the gas mixture. The characteristic feature is that heat is supplied to the laden scrubbing medium after the commencement and prior to the end of the stripping operation. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056231 | VARIABLE SIDE COOLING FOR ACID GAS REMOVAL - Embodiments include systems and methods for processing a feed gas and acid gas removal. A method may comprise receiving a feed gas to an absorber; contacting the feed gas counter-currently with a lean solvent stream to remove acid gas from the feed gas; producing a treated feed gas stream from the absorber; producing a rich solvent stream from the absorber comprising H | 2018-03-01 |
20180056232 | ACIDIC GAS RECOVERY APPARATUS AND ACIDIC GAS RECOVERY METHOD - The present embodiments provide an acidic gas recovery apparatus or method capable of efficiently reducing emission of amine to the environment. In the embodiment, an acidic gas recovery apparatus | 2018-03-01 |
20180056233 | IONIC LIQUID CO2 SCRUBBER FOR SPACECRAFT - An environmental control system includes an air conditioning subsystem; a mix manifold downstream of the air conditioning subsystem and upstream of an environment to be conditioned; and a contaminant removal subsystem downstream of the environment to be conditioned. The contaminant removal subsystem includes a first gas-liquid contactor-separator. The first gas-liquid contactor-separator includes a first packed, stationary bed that provides a heat/mass transfer surface for contact between a contaminated air from the environment and a liquid absorbent. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056234 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR ENHANCING GAS-LIQUID CONTACT/SEPARATION - An environmental control system includes an air conditioning subsystem; a mix manifold downstream of the air conditioning subsystem and upstream of an environment to be conditioned; and a contaminant removal subsystem downstream of the environment to be conditioned. The contaminant removal subsystem includes a first gas-liquid contactor-separator. The first gas-liquid contactor-separator includes a first rotating porous bed that provides a heat/mass transfer surface for contact between a contaminated air from the environment and a liquid absorbent. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056235 | Swing Adsorption Processes Using Zeolite Structures - The present disclosure describes the use of a specific adsorbent material in a rapid cycle swing adsorption to perform dehydration of a gaseous feed stream. The adsorbent material includes a zeolite 3A that is utilized in the dehydration process to enhance recovery of hydrocarbons. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056236 | Process to Decouple Regeneration Gas Compressor from Regeneration Gas Treating - A method for continuously treating a regeneration gas stream used to regenerate a molecular sieve adsorption vessel is disclosed. The regeneration gas stream is cooled in a cooler to a temperature suitable to condense liquids therein. A separator removes liquids condensed in the regeneration gas stream. The regeneration gas stream is compressed in a compressor. The regeneration gas stream is flowed through the cooler, the separator, and the compressor when the compressor is operational. The regeneration gas stream is flowed through the second cooler and the second separator but not the compressor when the compressor is not operational, thereby enabling continuous treatment of the regeneration gas stream. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056237 | AIR CLEANER FOR FUEL CELL SYSTEM - An air cleaner for a fuel cell system includes a housing, a first filter, and a second filter. The first filter is arranged inside the housing and collects dust contained in air. The second filter is arranged side by side with the first filter in an air flowing direction inside the housing and adsorbs impure gas contained in air. The first filter includes a filtering member, which has nonwoven fabric and filter paper adhered to the nonwoven fabric. The filter paper is located on a downstream side in the air flowing direction of the nonwoven fabric and has a higher packing density than the nonwoven fabric. The second filter includes a base member having a honeycomb structure with through-holes and adsorbent, which is provided on inner surfaces of the through-holes and adsorbs the impure gas. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056238 | Simplified Air Quality Control System For Fluid Catalytic Cracking Units - The present application provides an air quality control system for cleaning a flue gas from a fluid catalytic cracking unit. The air quality control system may include a selective catalytic reduction system in communication with the flue gas to remove nitrogen oxides and a wet scrubber positioned downstream of the selective catalytic reduction system and in communication with the flue gas to remove sulfur oxides and particulates. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056239 | OXIDATION CATALYST FOR A DIESEL ENGINE EXHAUST - An oxidation catalyst is described for treating an exhaust gas produced by a diesel engine comprising a catalytic region and a substrate, wherein the catalytic region comprises a catalytic material comprising: antimony (Sb) or an oxide thereof; a platinum group metal (PGM) selected from the group consisting of (i) platinum (Pt), (ii) palladium (Pd) and (iii) platinum (Pt) and palladium (Pd); and a support material, which is a refractory oxide; wherein the platinum group metal (PGM) and the antimony (Sb) or an oxide thereof is each supported on the support material. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056240 | ISOTOPE SEPARATION METHODS AND SYSTEMS - Methods and systems for the separation of isotopes from an aqueous stream are described as can be utilized in one embodiment to remove and recover tritium from contaminated water. Methods include counter-current flow of an aqueous stream on either side of a separation membrane. The separation membrane includes an isotope selective layer (e.g., graphene) and an ion conductive supporting layer (e.g., Nafion®). An electronic driving force encourages passage of isotopes selectively across the membrane to enrich the flow in the isotopes. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056241 | IONIC LIQUID FOR FORWARD OSMOSIS PROCESS AND FORWARD OSMOSIS PROCESS - A forward osmosis process is provided, which includes separating a feed part and a draw solution part by a semi-permeable film. An ionic liquid is introduced into the draw solution part, and brine is introduced into the feed part. The brine has an osmotic pressure lower than that of the ionic liquid, so that pure water of the brine permeates through the semi-permeable film, enters the draw solution part, and mixes with the ionic liquid to form a draw solution. The draw solution was obtained out of the draw solution part to be left to stand at room temperature, so that the draw solution separated into a water layer and an ionic liquid layer. The ionic liquid includes | 2018-03-01 |
20180056242 | COMBINED ELECTRODIALYSIS AND PRESSURE MEMBRANE SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROCESSING WATER SAMPLES - The present invention provides combined electrodialysis and pressure membrane systems and methods for processing and treating water samples. These improved systems and methods use electrodialysis in combination with a pressure membrane process to remove organic matter from water sources while retaining ion concentrations appropriate for drinking water. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056243 | Plasma Extractor - A filtration cell ( | 2018-03-01 |
20180056244 | METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR REDUCING MEMBRANE FOULING, SCALING, AND CONCENTRATION POLARIZATION USING ULTRASOUND WAVE ENERGY (USWE) - The present disclosure provides systems, devices, and methods for reducing membrane fouling, scaling, and concentration polarization in order to reduce system energy consumption, reduce operational system maintenance and plant downtime, reduce environmental impact and waste, and/or increase membrane flux and/or recovery. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056245 | PROCESSES FOR REDUCING THE FOULING OF SURFACES - Process for reducing the fouling of a surface O, wherein an aqueous solution S of at least one polymer P comprising styrene and at least one ester E of (meth)acrylic acid and polyethylene oxide in a molar ratio of 0.05:1 to 50:1 is applied to said surface O. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056246 | SYSTEMS, DEVICES AND METHODS FOR MOLECULAR SEPARATION - Systems, devices and methods for molecular separation including a molecular separation device comprising at least a polycrystalline metal-organic framework (MOF) and a nanocrystalline, zeolite MFI, wherein the MOF forms a polycrystalline membrane with zeolite MFI nanoparticles dispersed therein, and the MOF membrane matrix contacting and surrounding the zeolite MFI nanoparticles form a permselective nanoporous structure. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056247 | PVDF POWDER FOR LIQUID SLURRIES - The invention relates to polymer powders, preferably fluoropolymer powders such as polyvinylidene fluoride (such as Kynar® resins from Arkema Inc.), polyvinyl fluoride, and poly-ethylene-co-chlorotrifluoroethylene, useful for a high-solids liquid slurry. The PVDF has a narrow average particle size of from 20 to 100 microns, with less than 20 weight percent of particles outside this range. This powder can be used to form slurries having from 30 to 60 weight percent solids, the liquid slurries formed being free-flowing. The free-flowing slurries are useful in forming membranes in a thermally induced phase separation (TIPS) process. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056248 | MEMBRANE SURFACE ACTIVATION TO ELIMINATE FOULING AND CONCENTRATION POLARIZATION IN WATER PURIFICATION SYSTEMS - Disclosed herein is a membrane comprising a bonding layer; and an activation layer disposed on the bonding layer and in contact with it; where the activation layer comprises catalyst nanoparticles that are operative to decompose impurities contained in an aqueous solution to generate gas bubbles that remove a sludge disposed on the membrane. Disclosed herein too is a method of purifying an aqueous solution comprising disposing in the aqueous solution, a membrane that comprises a bonding layer and an activation layer; where the activation layer comprises catalyst nanoparticles; partitioning the aqueous solution into a concentrate portion and a filtrate portion; where the activation layer contacts the concentrate portion; and decomposing impurities contained in the aqueous solution to generate gas bubbles that remove a sludge disposed on the membrane. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056249 | SIEVE-LIKE FILTER UNIT FOR CARTRIDGE-SHAPED RECEPTACLE - A sieve-like filter unit, especially for a cartridge-shaped receptacle, which is arranged on a connecting port/connector of the receptacle and is designed to withhold undissolved powder and/or solid particles present in the receptacle, comprising at least two openings each being composed of at least two connected part recesses, wherein each individual opening in its entirety is formed to be extending in a non-linear manner. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056250 | EQUIPMENT AND PROCESS FOR LIQUID/GAS REACTION OR MIX - The object of the invention is to achieve a more efficient and complete mix between a liquid and gas by means of a system comprising 4 components in order to carry out a reaction or mixing process that improves the contact, and as a result, the reaction or mixing between a liquid and a gas, followed by a recovery stage of the gas that does not react during the reaction or formation of said mixture. This gas is recycled to the reaction or mixing zone, permitting the improvement of the efficiency and the cost of the reaction or mixing process between the liquid and the gas. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056251 | STACKABLE STATIC MIXING ELEMENTS - A static mixer is provided. The static mixer includes a plurality of static mixer elements. Each static mixer element includes a core extending axially along a longitudinal axis between a first end and a second end. Each static mixer element includes at least one blade around an outside of the core. At least a first one of the plurality of static mixer elements includes a first keying feature. At least a second one of the plurality of static mixer elements including a second keying feature configured to engage the first keying feature to prevent relative rotation between the first one of the plurality of static mixer elements and the second one of the plurality of static mixer elements about the longitudinal axes of the first one and the second one of the plurality of static mixer elements. Methods of forming the static mixer are also provided. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056252 | HIGH PERFORMANCE STATIC MIXER - A static mixer device comprising a housing having a proximal end, a distal end, and an opening extending between the proximal and distal ends. In certain embodiments, a plurality of metal frits is positioned within the opening of the housing, each of the metal frits extending across a cross-sectional dimension of the opening and having interconnected porosity. In other embodiments, one or more mixer elements fabricated using laser additive manufacturing technology and having novel configurations are positioned within the opening of the housing. In yet other embodiments, the housing comprises multiple openings having different diameters from each other, with each opening either extending through the housing with a constant diameter or with one or more of the openings having a varying diameter. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056253 | High Shear Thin Film Machine For Dispersion and Simultaneous Orientation-Distribution Of Nanoparticles Within Polymer Matrix - An improved a device and method for dispersion and simultaneous orientation of nanoparticles within a matrix is provided. A mixer having a shaft and a stator is provided. The shaft may have a rupture region and erosion region. Further, an orienter having an angled stationary plate and a moving plate are provided. The nanoparticles and the matrix are fed into the mixer. A rotational force is applied to the shaft to produce shearing forces. The shearing forces disperse and exfoliate the nanoparticles within the matrix. The dispersed mixture is outputted onto the moving plate. The moving plate is forced across the angled stationary plate to produce fully developed laminar shear flow. The fully developed laminar shear flow or the two-dimensional extensional drag flow orients the dispersed nanoparticles-matrix mixture. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056254 | BI-DIRECTIONAL BLENDER - Disclosed a bi-directional blender, comprising a cup and a cap holder rotatably connected with the cup by a threaded flange, wherein the interior of the cup is a cavity in which a first blending blade and a second blending blade are fixedly mounted. In the bi-directional blender of the invention, the cup is internally provided with the first blending blade and the second blending blade, the two sets of blending blades may rotate in opposite directions to form a forward and a reverse crushing structure capable of better crushing all kinds of ingredients, and thus the blender can be used in a juicer and a food processor. | 2018-03-01 |
20180056255 | STIRRER - The problem of providing a stirrer capable of more effectively shearing a fluid to be treated is addressed, by using the action of an intermittent jet stream. A stirrer is provided with a rotor having a blade and a screen, which are relatively rotated such that the fluid to be treated is discharged from the inside of the screen to the outside as an intermittent jet stream through a slit in the screen, the stirrer satisfying condition 1 and condition 2. (Condition 1) the relationship among the width b in the rotating direction of a tip part of the blade, the width s in the circumferential direction of the slit, and the width t in the circumferential direction of the screen member is b≧2s+t. (Condition 2) the relationship between the width b in the rotating direction of the tip part of the blade and the maximum inner diameter c of the screen is b≧0.1c. | 2018-03-01 |