inst Support devices for woodwind musical instrument, and methods of making the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 09 Sep 2003 08:00:00 EDT Support devices for a woodwind musical instrument, and methods for making such support devices. A support device includes a strap for hanging from the neck of the user. Attached to the strap is a brace shaped to receive the instrument. This way the instrument is suspended from the neck of the user. Preferably the brace is such that the strap is attached so that no portion of the strap contacts the instrument, when it is so supported. Full Article
inst Pedal assembly for musical instruments By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Apr 2007 08:00:00 EDT A pedal assembly for a bass drum or high hat cymbals. A flat base plate has a resilient pedal board clamped to it with the pedal board inclined to receive a foot. A beater stick is connected with the toe end of the pedal board by a linkage that drives the beater stick against a bass drum when the pedal is depressed. The resiliency of the pedal board returns it to its normal position when foot pressure is withdrawn. The material of which the pedal board is constructed has a modulus of elasticity between about one million and about six million. A striker pad limits the depression of the pedal board to limit the force that the beater stick can apply to the drum. Full Article
inst Portable electronic musical keyboard instrument By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 22 Apr 2008 08:00:00 EDT A portable electronic musical device has a keyboard disposed in a housing connected to a strap and a support plate connected thereto for suspension of housing by strap on shoulders of a person while housing is simultaneously supported on waist of person to allow person to easily move from one geographical position to another while playing instrument. Housing is pivotally connected to support plate by at least one member defining an axis around which housing is rotatable to playing of instrument and to facilitate viewing of hands of person and keys of keyboard while user is playing instrument. To further facilitate playing of instrument and visibility of hands and keys housing is curved with keyboard generally aligned therewith. Full Article
inst Percussion instrument clamping support By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Aug 2008 08:00:00 EDT For use with a percussion instrument, the combination comprises a clamp base to support the percussion instrument, a clamp jaw, adjustable connector structure connecting the jaw to the base for displacing the jaw toward and away from the base, and clamping structure carried on at least one of the jaw and the base to be clamped against a support member in response to relative clamping displacement of the jaw and base, whereby adjustment of the structure accommodates to clamping of different size support members by clamping structure. Full Article
inst Tuning device and method for musical instrument By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Oct 2008 08:00:00 EDT A tuning device includes a pitch extraction device with which the pitch of an input signal is extracted and a deviation detection device with which the deviation of the pitch that has been extracted by the pitch extraction device from a standard pitch is detected. The deviation that has been detected by the deviation detection device is displayed by an indicator of a mechanical meter. The tuning device also includes an ultrasonic motor that drives the indicator. A controller drives the ultrasonic motor in conformance with the deviation that has been detected by the deviation detection device. The controller, by driving the indicator using the ultrasonic motor, arranges the indicator in the standard position in those cases where the deviation that has been detected by the deviation detection device is zero, and moves the indicator up to a position in the positive direction that corresponds to the deviation in those cases where the deviation is a positive value and moves the indicator up to a position in the negative direction that corresponds to the deviation in those cases where the deviation is a negative value. Full Article
inst Electric wind instrument and key detection structure thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Mar 2009 08:00:00 EDT Wind instrument includes a tubular body having a plurality of tone holes, and a plurality of keys capable of opening and closing the tone holes. Via a retaining member, detector units are provided within the tubular body in corresponding relation to the keys, and each of the detector units is generally opposed to the back surface of the corresponding key. Each of the detector units detects a relative distance to the back surface and outputs an electrical signal, on the basis of which an opening/closing state of the key can be detected. The retaining member, accommodated in the tubular body, positions and retains each of the detector units in such a manner that the keys and tubular body and the individual detector units are kept in non-contacting relation to each other. Full Article
inst Rigid plectrum for stringed instruments By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 11 Feb 2014 08:00:00 EST A rigid plectrum (1) for stringed instruments, of the type having a spearhead shape with a pointed front part (2) and a broadened rear part (3) in which, at the lateral walls (4) and (5) forming the pointed part, a first facet (4a) and a second facet (5a) are made, covering the entire thickness of the respective lateral wall; the facets being set at an angle α to the thickness of the respective lateral wall, each facet starting on one face of the plectrum which is opposite the face from which the other facet starts, and finishing on the other face of the plectrum; the facets also being set at an angle β to the face of the plectrum, from the rear part to the front part. Full Article
inst Tremolo and bridge device for stringed instruments By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 27 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST A tremolo device for a stringed instrument is described in which a base plate is configured for surface mounting to a body of the instrument. A pivot plate is pivotally coupled to the base plate along an edge of the pivot plate. Each string is associated with a string seat. The string is threaded through the string seat receiving a terminal end of the string. The string seat includes a keyed portion that slidably attaches the string seat to the pivot plate in a keyed slot provided in a bottom surface of the pivot plate. A spring disposed between the base plate and the pivot plate maintains the pivot plate in a first position relative to the base plate until a user provides an action to pivot the pivot plate relative to said base plate. The spring returns the pivot plate to the first position when the user action is terminated. Full Article
inst Percussion instrument mounting apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The invention relates to an apparatus for mounting a percussion instrument onto a stand. The apparatus comprises a support portion and a retaining portion, the support portion comprising a support member arranged for attachment to the stand and including a shaft, the retaining portion comprising a gripping member having a pair of elements spaced apart from each other and one or more spreader means arranged to urge the spaced apart elements away from each other, wherein the support and retaining portions are adapted to mount the percussion instrument therebetween, the shaft engageable with the retaining portion, the elements of the gripping member normally biased to a first position that is capable of retaining the shaft between the elements in a locked position in the said retaining portion, the elements movable to a second position in which the retaining portion can be received on or removed from the first position on the shaft, the elements movable from the first position to the second position by activation of the or each spreader means. Full Article
inst Machining installation for workpieces By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 08 Apr 2014 08:00:00 EDT A machining installation for workpieces comprises a workpiece positioning device comprising a workpiece holder pivot unit as well as a tool positioning device comprising a tool holder pivot unit. The workpiece holder pivot unit is designed such that a workpiece holder is pivotable about at least three and no more than four workpiece holder pivot axes. Moreover, the tool holder pivot unit is designed such that a tool holder is pivotable about no more than two tool holder pivot axes. The machining installation has a simple design and ensures flexible and accurate machining of workpieces. Full Article
inst Expandable fusion device and method of installation thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention provides an expandable fusion device capable of being installed inside an intervertebral disc space to maintain normal disc spacing and restore spinal stability, thereby facilitating an intervertebral fusion. In one embodiment, the fusion device includes a body portion, a first endplate, and a second endplate, the first and second endplates capable of being moved in a direction away from the body portion into an expanded configuration or capable of being moved towards the body portion into an unexpanded configuration. The fusion device is capable of being deployed and installed in both configurations. Full Article
inst Intervertebral implant facilitating unilateral placement, instruments and methods By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Implants, tools and methods for performing unilateral posterior lumbar interbody fusion are provided. An interbody implant includes a body having a top and bottom surface extending along a length thereof; and first and second side surfaces extending between the top and bottom surfaces on opposite sides of the body. The height of the first side surface is greater than the height of the second side surface. Full Article
inst Positive control of robotic surgical instrument end effector By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method of controlling an operation of a robotically-controlled surgical instrument can include receiving a first input signal at a controller indicative of a user's readiness to actuate the surgical instrument to perform a surgical procedure, outputting an output signal from the controller to provide feedback to the user in response to the received first input signal, receiving a second input signal at the controller confirming the user's readiness to actuate the surgical instrument, outputting an actuation signal from the controller in response to receiving the second input signal, and actuating the surgical instrument to perform the surgical procedure based on the actuation signal. Full Article
inst Reactor installation and removal tools By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 30 Jul 2013 08:00:00 EDT A reactor installation tool and method for installing a reactor unit in a reactor tube. A reactor installation tool including a movable assembly and a fixed assembly linked together such that the movable assembly can be adjusted relative to the fixed assembly. The movable assembly including a reactor sleeve attachment means for releasably securing a reactor sleeve loaded with a reactor unit to the tool. The fixed assembly including an expandable clamping unit for releasably securing the tool to a reactor tube. A reactor unit can be installed in the reactor tube by adjusting the movable assembly to extract the reactor unit from the reactor sleeve as the fixed assembly is rigidly secured to the reactor tube. The fixed assembly can be released from the reactor tube and the reactor installation tool can be removed from the reactor tube. Full Article
inst Method of installing reactor units By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 01 Jul 2014 08:00:00 EDT A reactor installation tool and method for installing a reactor unit in a reactor tube. A reactor installation tool including a movable assembly and a fixed assembly linked together such that the movable assembly can be adjusted relative to the fixed assembly. The movable assembly including a reactor sleeve attachment means for releasably securing a reactor sleeve loaded with a reactor unit to the tool. The fixed assembly including an expandable clamping unit for releasably securing the tool to a reactor tube. A reactor unit can be installed in the reactor tube by adjusting the movable assembly to extract the reactor unit from the reactor sleeve as the fixed assembly is rigidly secured to the reactor tube. The fixed assembly can be released from the reactor tube and the reactor installation tool can be removed from the reactor tube. Full Article
inst Monoclonal antibodies against GMF-B antigens, and uses therefor By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The disclosure relates to anti-glial maturation factor beta (“GMF-B”) monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and fragments thereof, as well as hybridoma lines that secrete antibodies or fragments. Therapeutic and diagnostic uses of such antibodies, including treatment and detection of cancer and dementia, and methods and kits for detecting cells or samples expressing GMF-B, including soluble GMF-B, are also encompassed. Full Article
inst Methods, devices, and computer program products for providing instant messaging in conjunction with an audiovisual, video, or audio program By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Methods, devices, and computer program products for providing instant messaging in conjunction with an audiovisual, video, or audio program are provided. The methods include providing an audiovisual, video, or audio program to a user. Viewer/listener input is received requesting activation of a program-based instant messaging function. A viewer/listener identifier corresponding to the viewer/listener is associated with a program identifier that uniquely identifies the audiovisual, video, or audio program being provided to the user to thereby generate a program viewer/listener record. The program viewer/listener record is transmitted to an electronic database. A list of other users who are viewing or listening to the program in addition to the viewer/listener is acquired from the electronic database. The list of other users is transmitted to the viewer/listener. Full Article
inst Antineoplastic hydrogels, and enzyme-instructed preparations thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 25 Feb 2014 08:00:00 EST Disclosed is a general methodology to create nano fibers of therapeutic molecules that have a dual role, as both the delivery vehicle and the drug itself. It is shown that with proper molecular design, the integration of enzymatic reaction and self-assembly provides a powerful method to create molecular hydrogels of clinically-used therapeutics without compromising their bioactivities. In addition, the results disclosed herein demonstrate enzyme-instructed self-assembly as a facile strategy for generating the supramolecular hydrogels of molecules that inherently have poor solubility in water. For example, by covalently connecting paclitaxel with a motif that is prone to self-assemble, a hydrogel of paclitaxel can be formed without compromising the activity of the paclitaxel. Full Article
inst Methods for installing a bounded paving system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method for installing a paver system includes positioning a first grid substrate adjacent to a second grid substrate, the first and second grid substrates form a paver support surface. At least the first grid substrate includes an integrated boundary ridge extending along the first paver support surface. The first grid substrate is interlocked with the second grid substrate with a first paver piece bridging the first and second grid substrates to form a paver linkage. Movement of at least the first paver piece is arrested beyond the integrated boundary ridge by directly or indirectly engaging at least the first paver piece against the integrated boundary ridge. In another example, movement of the first paver piece is arrested by anchoring at least the first paver piece on the first and second paver support surfaces through distribution of forces incident on at least the first paver piece through the paver linkage. Full Article
inst Contraction joint installer for concrete slabs By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus and method to install contraction joints in concrete slabs. The method uses a device, which inserts a strip of plastic or paper tape into freshly laced concrete, as the device is driven across a concrete slab. The tape is folded immediately prior to being inserted into freshly placed concrete, and functions to weaken the slab at the contraction joint location for the purpose of causing a crack to form in the slab. Plastic tape can be used, which functions as a moisture vapor retarder, and thereby, protects floor coverings from moisture damage, such as mold and mildew, at contraction joint locations. Full Article
inst Two piece twist action retractable writing instrument By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A retractable pen includes a cartridge partially received in a recess of a cap such that a first end of the cartridge is fixedly attached to the cap. An elongate barrel includes first and second open ends and a through channel fluidly interconnecting the first and second open ends. A portion of the barrel is snugly and threadedly received in the recess such that the cartridge is received in and extends through the through channel, and the barrel and the cap are rotatingly movable relative to each other via the threaded engagement between an extended position in which the second end of the cartridge extends through and out of the second open end of the barrel, and a retracted position in which the second end of the cartridge is disposed within the barrel. Full Article
inst Eraser cap assembly for writing instrument By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An eraser assembly having at least one eraser, an eraser holder having a first rim including at least one notch, the eraser being disposed in the eraser holder and an eraser cap having at least one tab extending therefrom. The tab of the eraser cap engages the notch of the eraser holder, thereby securing the cap to the eraser holder and enclosing the eraser. Full Article
inst Writing instrument having a protective element for the retractable tip By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A writing instrument includes a body extending between a rear end and a front end of the body which has an opening, the body defining an inner volume; a writing member mounted inside the body and including a tip which protrudes from the front of the body; a protective element including a guide portion sliding along the body and a protective end which extends the guide portion and has an opening to allow the tip to pass through, the protective element being movable between a tip protection position and a retracted position for writing; an elastic return element coupled with the guide portion in order to bias the protective element towards the protection position; and a system for locking the retracted position. Full Article
inst Air conditioning installation and control method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An installation for cooling an electronic device includes an air conditioner having an air outlet for blowing cooling air to a room; a first detector adjacent to the air outlet of the air conditioner, for detecting a temperature of the cooling air; a rack accommodating the electronic device, the rack having an air inlet for receiving the cooling air from the air conditioner and an air outlet for exhausting air to the room; a second detector adjacent to the air inlet of the rack, for detecting a temperature of air received through the air inlet of the rack; and a controller for acquiring the temperatures detected by the first and the second detectors, and controlling a quantity of the cooling air blown from the air outlet of the air conditioner so as to decrease a difference between the temperatures detected by the first and the second detectors. Full Article
inst Surgical instrument with ratcheting rotatable shaft By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An ultrasonic surgical instrument comprises a reusable housing including an internal transducer and an internal end effector rotation assembly. An exemplary rotation assembly is a ratchet and pawl assembly, which allows the transducer to rotate in a first direction but not in a second, opposite direction. The end effector, including an integral torque wrench, is attached to the transducer to form a single unit that is rotatable relative to the housing. The transducer attaches to a stationary cable via slip rings. The cable communicates with a generator, which provides electrical power to the transducer. The transducer converts the electrical power into ultrasonic vibrational energy, which is transmitted to the end effector. Full Article
inst Instruments for delivering transfascial sutures and methods of transfascial suturing By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An instrument for delivering a suture transfascially may include a handle, a shaft extending from the handle, and at least one needle that is moveable to an extended position beyond the end of the shaft. A suture may be delivered transfascially with the instrument. The instrument may include a suture catch associated with each needle for retaining and releasing a suture segment. A shield may be provided to shield the sharp end of each needle when it is moved to the extended position. A method of delivering a transfascial suture may include inserting an instrument into an abdominal cavity and deploying, from within the abdominal cavity, each needle through a soft tissue repair patch and then through at least part of the abdominal wall. A suture or suture segment may be advanced across the fascia with the at least one needle. Full Article
inst Composite vertebral spacers and instrument By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An intervertebral fusion cage that is adapted to contain an inserter within its inner volume during insertion of the cage. Full Article
inst Anchoring device and system for an intervertebral implant, intervertebral implant and implantation instrument By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Various embodiments of intervertebral implants, anchoring devices for intervertebral implants, and implantation instrumentation are provided, along with various embodiments of methods for using one or more of the devices. Some embodiments of an anchoring device have a body comprising at least one curve and a rigid plate elongated along a longitudinal axis so that its front end enters at least one vertebra while its rear end remains in the passage of an implant. In some embodiments, the plate comprises at least one longitudinal slot separating at least one posterior portion of the plate into two branches, with at least one branch comprising at least one withdrawal stop configured to retain the device in the implant. Full Article
inst Flexible harmonic waveguides/blades for surgical instruments By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 04 Aug 2015 08:00:00 EDT In one embodiment, a surgical instrument comprises an articulable harmonic waveguide. The articulable harmonic waveguide comprises a first drive section comprising a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end of the first drive section may be configured to connect to an ultrasonic transducer. The articulable harmonic waveguide further comprises a first flexible waveguide coupled to the distal end of the first drive section. An end effector extends distally from the first flexible waveguide. The surgical instrument further comprises an articulation actuator to flex the first flexible waveguide. Full Article
inst Instantaneous recommendation of social interactions in a social networking system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT As a user of a social networking system views a page that includes information provided by the system, certain types of social interactions are monitored. If an interaction monitored for is detected, at least one recommendation unit is identified to present to user on the page. The recommendation unit is identified based on a description of the interaction. The recommendation unit suggests that the user perform a social interaction in the social networking system. The recommendation unit is transmitted to a device of the user and is presented to the user on the page without having to reload the entire page. Full Article
inst Single-cable automatic IRD installation procedure By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method, apparatus, system, and computer program product for auto-installing an integrated receiver/decoder (IRD) includes issuing an auto-installation command from the IRD to an outdoor unit (ODU) and receiving a plurality of tones from the ODU in response to the auto-installation command, each tone representing a center frequency of available user bands (UBs). The auto-installation also includes acquiring a UB center frequency by the IRD, requesting the ODU to confirm a UB number corresponding to the acquired UB center frequency, and receiving confirmation from the ODU that a UB number corresponds to the acquired UB center frequency. The auto-installation also includes sending an acceptance of the assigned UB number from the IRD to signal the ODU that it may mark the assigned UB as assigned. Full Article
inst Wireless power transfer electric vehicle supply equipment installation and validation tool By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A transmit pad inspection device includes a magnetic coupling device, which includes an inductive circuit that is configured to magnetically couple to a primary circuit of a charging device in a transmit pad through an alternating current (AC) magnetic field. The inductive circuit functions as a secondary circuit for a set of magnetically coupled coils. The magnetic coupling device further includes a rectification circuit, and includes a controllable load bank or is configured to be connected to an external controllable load back. The transmit pad inspection device is configured to determine the efficiency of power transfer under various coupling conditions. In addition, the transmit pad inspection device can be configured to measure residual magnetic field and the frequency of the input current, and to determine whether the charging device has been installed properly. Full Article
inst Insertion and removal assembly for installing and removing data storage drives in an enclosure By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An insertion and removal assembly for installing and removing hard drives from an enclosure, such as a computer chassis, is provided. The insertion and removal assembly includes a sliding member configured to receive a hard drive, a lever handle rotatably connected to the sliding member and an attachment wall having a plurality of protrusions defining a plurality of slots, each slot configured to receive one sliding member. A user reveals a slot for accepting the installation of the hard drive in the enclosure by pushing a tab on the attachment wall near a distal portion of the lever handle to release the lever handle and then pulling the lever handle outward exposing the sliding member. A hard drive is inserted into the sliding member and pushed inwardly into the chassis. Conversely, the sliding member can contain a hard drive which is partially ejected by unlatching and subsequently pulling the lever. Full Article
inst Detachable motor powered surgical instrument By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A detachable motor-powered surgical instrument is disclosed. The instrument may include a housing that includes at least one engagement member for removably attaching the housing to an actuator arrangement. A motor is supported within the housing for supplying actuation motions to various portions of a surgical end effector coupled to the housing. The housing may include a contact arrangement that is configured to permit power to be supplied to the motor only when the housing is operably attached to the actuator arrangement. Full Article
inst Surgical instrument with stowing knife blade By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A surgical instrument with a stowing knife blade includes an elongated shaft, an end effector coupled to the shaft and including two opposed jaws, a housing included in one of the jaws, a first member mounted in the housing and movable distally, a knife pivotally coupled with the first member, and a second member. The knife is configured to cut when advanced distally. The first and second members are moved distally at the same rate during a cutting motion of the knife and the second member blocks a rotation of the knife relative to the first member during the cutting motion of the knife. After moving through the first distance, relative movement between the first and second members occurs so as to permit or induce the previously blocked rotation of the knife so that the knife can be stowed. Full Article
inst Detachable motor powered surgical instrument By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A detachable motor-powered surgical instrument is disclosed. The instrument may include a housing that includes at least one engagement member for removably attaching the housing to an actuator arrangement. A motor is supported within the housing for supplying actuation motions to various portions of a surgical end effector coupled to the housing. The housing may include a contact arrangement that is configured to permit power to be supplied to the motor only when the housing is operably attached to the actuator arrangement. Full Article
inst Surgical instrument having a plastic surface By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A surgical instrument including a handle portion, a body portion, a movable handle, a tool assembly, a drive beam and a closure apparatus is disclosed. At least one of the closure apparatus and a contact surface of the tool assembly include a plastic surface. The body portion extends distally from the handle portion. The movable handle is located on the handle portion and is in mechanical cooperation with a drive member. The tool assembly includes an anvil, a cartridge assembly and a contact surface. The drive beam includes a proximal engagement portion and is configured to engage a portion of the drive member. The closure apparatus is configured to engage the contact surface of the tool assembly. At least a partial actuation of the movable handle moves the closure apparatus distally into engagement with the contact surface to approximate the anvil and the cartridge assembly. Full Article
inst Sliding sleeve for circular stapling instrument reloads By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A surgical stapling device and method for joining tissue portions are provided including a handle assembly, an elongate body extending from the handle assembly, a cartridge assembly supported on a distal end of the elongate body, and an anvil assembly at a distal end of the surgical stapling device. The anvil assembly includes a shaft for removably coupling the anvil assembly to the cartridge assembly and a head pivotally mounted to a distal end of the shaft. A sleeve member is slidably disposed about the shaft of the anvil assembly and is transitionable between a first position, where the sleeve member engages the head of the anvil assembly to secure the head in an un-tilted condition, and a second position, where the sleeve member is disengaged from the head of the anvil assembly to allow the head to tilt. Full Article
inst Surgical instrument By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A surgical instrument is provided. The surgical instrument includes a housing. The surgical instrument includes an elongated portion extending distally from the housing and defines a longitudinal axis. An end effector operably couples to the elongated portion. A first pivoting member pivotably couples to a distal end of the elongated portion. The first pivoting member defines a first pivot axis intersecting the longitudinal axis when the first pivoting member is rotated. A distal mounting assembly pivotably couples to the first pivoting member and operably couples to the end effector. The distal mounting assembly defines a second pivot axis intersecting the first pivot axis and the longitudinal axis when the proximal mounting assembly is rotated. Full Article
inst Surgical instrument having a plastic surface By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A surgical instrument including a handle portion, a body portion, a movable handle, a tool assembly, a drive beam and a closure apparatus is disclosed. At least one of the closure apparatus and a contact surface of the tool assembly include a plastic surface. The body portion extends distally from the handle portion. The movable handle is located on the handle portion and is in mechanical cooperation with a drive member. The tool assembly includes an anvil, a cartridge assembly and a contact surface. The drive beam includes a proximal engagement portion and is configured to engage a portion of the drive member. The closure apparatus is configured to engage the contact surface of the tool assembly. At least a partial actuation of the movable handle moves the closure apparatus distally into engagement with the contact surface to approximate the anvil and the cartridge assembly. Full Article
inst Surgical instrument having a plastic surface By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A surgical instrument including a handle portion, a body portion, a movable handle, a tool assembly, a drive beam and a closure apparatus is disclosed. At least one of the closure apparatus and a contact surface of the tool assembly include a plastic surface. The body portion extends distally from the handle portion. The movable handle is located on the handle portion and is in mechanical cooperation with a drive member. The tool assembly includes an anvil, a cartridge assembly and a contact surface. The drive beam includes a proximal engagement portion and is configured to engage a portion of the drive member. The closure apparatus is configured to engage the contact surface of the tool assembly. At least a partial actuation of the movable handle moves the closure apparatus distally into engagement with the contact surface to approximate the anvil and the cartridge assembly. Full Article
inst Fastening instrument for deploying a fastener system comprising a retention matrix By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A surgical stapling instrument can comprise, one, a handle comprising an actuator and, two, an end effector comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal end and the distal end. The end effector can further comprise a first jaw configured to support staples comprising staple legs and, in addition, a second jaw supporting a matrix element opposite the staples, wherein one of the jaws is movable toward the other in order to engage the matrix element with the staple legs. The stapling instrument can further comprise a cam operably coupled with the actuator, wherein the cam is movable along the longitudinal axis to deform the staple legs. Full Article
inst Articulated surgical instrument By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An exemplary surgical apparatus may include a shaft defining a lumen therein; articulation bands extending through and slidable generally longitudinally within the lumen of the shaft; an end effector affixed to the articulation bands; and generally annular segments positioned about the articulation bands along at least a portion of the length of the articulation bands to define an articulated region, where the segments laterally constrain the articulation bands. Full Article
inst Circular stapling instrument By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A circular stapling instrument including a stapling forming assembly that is actuated independently from actuation of the cutting assembly is provided. The instrument includes a handle assembly, an elongate body extending from the handle assembly, a cartridge assembly mounted on a distal end of the elongate body. The cartridge assembly includes a pusher and a knife assembly. The knife assembly is selectively fixed relative to the pusher. Full Article
inst Panel fastener, panel assembly and methods of assembly and installation By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Panel fasteners, panel assemblies, methods of assembly and installation of panel assemblies and panel fasteners, anchor systems, anchor systems with captive fasteners and assemblies are disclosed. Full Article
inst Image recording apparatus, recording-media aligning method executed by the same, and non-transitory storage medium storing instructions readable by the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT An image recording apparatus includes: a recording unit for recording an image on a recording medium; a tray for supporting the recording medium recorded by the recording unit; a conveyor mechanism for conveying the recorded medium to the tray; and an alignment mechanism for aligning a plurality of recording media stacked on the tray, by application of an external force. In a period from a start to an end of recording based on one recording job, the alignment mechanism aligns the plurality of recording media stacked on the tray in a period in which image recording is not performed, and the alignment mechanism does not align the plurality of recording media stacked on the tray in a period in which image recording is being performed. Full Article
inst Seat cushion, for instance for an aircraft seat, and a method for manufacturing such a seat cushion By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A seat cushion, in particular for an aircraft seat, the seat cushion comprising a seat part having a receiving surface adapted to receive a person and a reinforcing part supporting the seat part, wherein at least the reinforcing part contains expanded polypropylene (EPP), preferably comprising fire retardant properties. The invention further relates to a method for manufacturing such a seat cushion, a seat comprising such a seat cushion and a vehicle comprising such a seat. Full Article
inst Operating unit for installation in an aircraft cabin By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An operating unit (1) for installation in an aircraft cabin comprises an operating unit front side (10) and an operating unit rear side (20), at least one operating element (12, 14) attached in the region of the operating unit front side (10) and accessible to a user, and a holding device (40) for attaching the operating unit (1) to a monument (30) accommodating the operating unit (1) in its state mounted in the aircraft cabin. The holding device (40) is designed to attach the operating unit (1) in its state mounted in the aircraft cabin to the monument (30), in a first position or in a second position, as desired, the operating element (12, 14) in the second position of the operating unit (1) being situated in a spatial position which is lowered with respect to the spatial position of the operating element (12, 14) in the first position of the operating unit (1) and/or is displaced in a direction parallel to an imaginary straight line connecting the operating unit rear side (20) to the operating unit front side (10). Full Article
inst Template-based installation of workflow systems in a print shop environment By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Sep 2013 08:00:00 EDT Systems and methods are provided for installing workflow servers for a print shop. One embodiment is a system that installs a workflow server for a print shop. The system accesses installation templates, configured for different categories of print shop, that describe a set of print shop resources expected to exist at the category of print shop. The system also installs workflow server software on a computer system of a print shop. During the installation, the system determines a category for the print shop, selects an installation template that matches the category of the print shop, and performs a dialogue of queries with a user to determine which resources of the set of print shop resources identified by the installation template are available to the print shop, wherein the dialogue excludes queries for print shop resources that are not in the set of print shop resources described by the installation template. Full Article
inst Method for replacing a transformer in a wind energy installation By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method of replacing a generator of a wind power installation. The generator is provided in the interior of a pylon of a wind power installation and the pylon has a door opening. An exchanging cross beam is fixed by way of a first fastening point to a crane hook of a mobile crane. A first end of the cross beam is introduced with a second fastening point through the door opening into the pylon. The transformer to be replaced is fixed to the second fastening point of the first end. A compensating weight is fixed at the second fastening point to the second end of the cross beam. The second end of the cross beam is tilted or inclined until the transformer is at the height of the door opening and the crane hook is moved until the transformer to be replaced is outside the door opening. Full Article