Patents Represented by Attorney Howson & Howson LLP
  • Patent number: 7967708
    Abstract: A chain guide is composed of a resin shoe engageable with an aluminum base frame. The shoe has a hook formed at a chain entry end for engagement with a chain entry end of the base frame, and a C-shaped hook at the chain exit end engageable with a side edge of the base frame. The shoe is engaged with the base by first engaging the C-shaped hook with the side edge of the base frame, then flexing the chain entry end of the shoe until the hook at the chain entry end can receive the chain entry end of the base. The shoe is moved a short distance toward the chain exit end of the base until a projection formed on a back surface of the shoe near the chain entry end snaps into a depression formed on a front surface of the base frame, locking the shoe and base together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventors: Atsushi Hayami, Tomoya Iwata
  • Patent number: 7963501
    Abstract: A butterfly valve including a housing having a hollow passage defining a flow path and a shaft mounted to the housing and extending transversely across the flow path. The shaft defines an axis of rotation for a butterfly valve element carried on the shaft. The valve element can be rotated about the axis between an open position permitting flow along the flow path and a closed position restricting flow along the flow path. The butterfly valve element includes a thin, substantially disc-shaped, flow-regulating plate having front and rear faces and a flow-straightening vane extending from one of the faces transversely relative to the shaft. The vane is solid and extends substantially to the wall of the hollow passage thereby defining separate non-communicating flow channels on opposite sides thereof for reducing flow turbulence and for straightening and accelerating flow across the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Boyesen Engineering
    Inventor: Gregory Rarick
  • Patent number: 7963872
    Abstract: The plates of transmission chain for an engine are formed with a guide-contacting configuration composed of spaced flat surfaces that come into sliding contact with a flat chain guide, and convex surfaces, continuous with and between the flat surfaces, for sliding contact with a convex chain guide. The convex surfaces are connected by a concave surface that, with the guide surface, forms an oil-retaining clearance. The radius of curvature of the convex curved surfaces of the plate preferably increases gradually from the location where they meet the flat surfaces toward the location where they meet the concave surface. The plates can have the same configuration on the side facing the inside of chain loop as on the side facing the outside of the chain loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventors: Takashi Tohara, Tatsuya Konishi
  • Patent number: 7964070
    Abstract: Provided is a manufacturing method of high purity hafnium including the steps of making aqueous solution of chloride of hafnium, thereafter removing zirconium therefrom via solvent extraction, performing neutralization treatment to obtain hafnium oxide, further performing chlorination to obtain hafnium chloride, obtaining hafnium sponge via reducing said hafnium chloride, and performing electron beam melting to the hafnium sponge in order to obtain a hafnium ingot, as well as a high purity hafnium material obtained thereby and a target and thin film formed from such material. The present invention relates to a high purity hafnium material with reduced zirconium content contained in the hafnium, a target and thin film formed from such material, and the manufacturing method thereof, and provides efficient and stable manufacturing technology, a high purity hafnium material obtained according to such manufacturing technology, and a target and high purity hafnium thin film formed from such material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: JX Nippon Mining & Metals Corporation
    Inventor: Yuichiro Shindo
  • Patent number: 7959782
    Abstract: A Ni—Pt alloy and target superior in workability containing 0.1 to 20 wt % Pt and having a Vickers hardness of 40 to 90. A method of manufacturing the Ni—Pt alloy comprises steps of subjecting a raw material Ni having a purity of 3N level to electrochemical dissolution, neutralizing the electrolytically leached solution with ammonia, removing impurities through filtration with activated carbon, blowing carbon dioxide into the resultant solution to form nickel carbonate, exposing the resultant product to a reducing atmosphere to prepare high purity Ni powder, leaching a raw material Pt having a purity of 3N level with acid, subjecting the leached solution to electrolysis to prepare high purity electrodeposited Pt, and dissolving the resultant high purity Ni powder and high purity electrodeposited Pt. The method enables rolling of the Ni—Pt alloy ingot upon reducing the hardness thereof, which results in the stable and efficient manufacture of a rolled target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: JX Nippon Mining & Metals Corporation
    Inventor: Yuichiro Shindo
  • Patent number: 7951029
    Abstract: In an engine timing chain guide composed of a synthetic resin shoe supported on a frame by L-shaped and strip-shaped engagement members integrally molded as unitary parts of the shoe, the L-shaped members are formed with oblique tongues that resiliently engage side edges of the frame member, and the strip-shaped engagement members include surfaces that extend obliquely toward, and resiliently engage, a side edge of the frame member. Laterally extending legs of the L-shaped members are also formed with bulged portions, and the frame member is sandwiched between the bulged portions and a back side of the shoe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventors: Haruhisa Oota, Junya Kurohata
  • Patent number: 7951275
    Abstract: Provided is a hollow cathode sputtering target comprising an inner bottom face having a surface roughness of Ra?1.0 ?m, and preferably Ra?0.5 ?m. This hollow cathode sputtering target has superior sputter film evenness (uniformity), generates few arcing and particles, is capable of suppressing the peeling of the redeposited film on the bottom face, and has superior deposition characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: JX Nippon Mining & Metals Corporation
    Inventor: Shiro Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 7946238
    Abstract: An auxiliary strap, connected to a tie-down strap for securing a boat to a trailer, is removably anchored to a drain opening in the boat, by being connected to a tethered drain plug, or by being connected to a spring clip that extends into the drain opening. The connection of the tie-down strap to the drain opening reminds the boater to reinstall the drain plug before launching the boat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Safe Launch LLC
    Inventors: Steven J. Colsher, Raymond G. Haber
  • Patent number: 7947106
    Abstract: Provided is Sb—Te alloy powder for sintering in which the maximum grain size of the powder obtained by subjecting gas atomized powder of an Sb—Te alloy to mechanical pulverization is 90 ?m or less, and a sintered compact sputtering target obtained by sintering this powder. Further provided is a manufacturing method of Sb—Te alloy powder for a sintered compact sputtering target including the steps of dissolving an Sb—Te alloy, thereafter subjecting this to gas atomization to obtain atomized powder, and further subjecting this to mechanical pulverization in an inert atmosphere without any atmospheric exposure so as to manufacture powder having a maximum grain size of 90 ?m or less and reduced oxygen content. Thus, the Sb—Te alloy sputtering target structure can be uniformalized and refined, generation of cracks in the sintered target can be inhibited, and generation of arcing during sputtering can be inhibited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: JX Nippon Mining & Metals Corporation
    Inventor: Hideyuki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7943140
    Abstract: A self-adjuvanting immunogenic composition comprising multiple immunogens, each immunogen comprising a lipopeptide cap, a universal T helper sequence and an immunodominant HIV-1 Tat B cell epitope. The immunogen also comprises one or more linker sequences and/or polar charged amino acid sequences. The HIV-1 Tat B cell epitope of each immunogen has an amino acid sequence of V-D-P-Xaa7-L-Xaa9-P-W-Xaa12-Xaa13-Xaa14-Xaa15-Xaa16-amide SEQ ID NO: 1, in which the amino acid positions at Xaa7, Xaa9 and Xaa12 are selected from specific amino acid residues choices and in which the amino acid positions at Xaa13-Xaa16 may be absent or specific amino acid residue choices. The lipopeptide is a dipalmitoyl-S-glyceryl-cysteine or a tripalmitoyl-S-glyceryl cysteine or N-acetyl (dipalmitoyl-S-glyceryl cysteine), each with an optional neutral amino acid linker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Thymon, LLC
    Inventor: Gideon Goldstein
  • Patent number: 7942772
    Abstract: In a silent chain having interleaved guide rows and joint rows, guide plates at the outer sides of the guide rows are connected by engagement pins which extend through overlapping recesses formed on the outer flanks of the guide row plates, and on the inner flanks of the joint row plates. The engagement pins contact sprocket teeth before the outer flanks of the guide row plates contact the sprocket teeth. Cutouts formed in the guide plates adjacent the engagement pins allow the guide plates to deform and thereby absorb the impact imparted to the engagement pins by the sprocket teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventors: Masatoshi Sonoda, Takayuki Morimoto
  • Patent number: 7943021
    Abstract: Provided is an Sb—Te alloy sintered compact target using atomized powder consisting of substantially spherical particles of an Sb—Te alloy, wherein the spherical atomized powder consists of particles that were crushed and flattened, and the flattened particles exhibiting a ratio (flatness ratio) of short axis and long axis of 0.6 or less occupy 50% or more of the overall particles. With this Sb—Te alloy sintered compact target, particles exhibiting a long axis orientation aligned within ±45° in a direction that is parallel to the target surface occupy 60% or more of the overall particles. In addition, the oxygen concentration in this Sb—Te alloy sintered compact target is 1500 wtppm or less. Thus, the Sb—Te alloy sputtering target structure can be uniformalized and refined, generation of cracks in the sintered target can be inhibited, and generation of arcing during sputtering can be inhibited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: JX Nippon Mining & Metals Corporation
    Inventor: Hideyuki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7943033
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to an electrolytic copper plating method characterized in employing pure copper as the anode upon performing electrolytic copper plating, and performing electrolytic copper plating with the pure copper anode having a crystal grain diameter of 10 ?m or less or 60 ?m or more. Provided are an electrolytic copper plating method and a pure copper anode for electrolytic copper plating used in such electrolytic copper plating method capable of suppressing the generation of particles such as sludge produced on the anode side within the plating bath upon performing electrolytic copper plating, and capable of preventing the adhesion of particles to a semiconductor wafer, as well as a semiconductor wafer plated with the foregoing method and anode having low particle adhesion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: JX Nippon Mining & Metals Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Aiba, Takeo Okabe, Junnosuke Sekiguchi
  • Patent number: 7938918
    Abstract: A high purity Ni—V alloy, high purity Ni—V alloy target and high purity Ni—V alloy thin film wherein the purity of the Ni—V alloy excluding Ni, V and gas components is 99.9 wt % or higher, and the V content variation among ingots, targets or thin films is within 0.4%. With these high purity Ni—V alloy, high purity Ni—V alloy target and high purity Ni—V alloy thin film having a purity of 99.9 wt % or higher, the variation among ingots, targets or thin films is small, the etching property is improved, and isotopic elements such as U and Th that emit alpha particles having an adverse effect on microcircuits in a semiconductor device are reduced rigorously. Further provided is a method of manufacturing such high purity Ni—V alloys capable of effectively reducing the foregoing impurities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: JX Nippon Mining & Metals Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichiro Shindo, Yasuhiro Yamakoshi
  • Patent number: 7939063
    Abstract: Recombinant nucleic acid molecules are constructed with a first sequence encoding a transgene under the control of regulatory sequences that direct expression of the transgene product in a hematopoietic stem cell, or a progenitor cell therefrom or cell differentiated therefrom. In one embodiment, the cell which expresses the transgene is a secretory cell. The cell is a megakaryotic progenitor cell, or a cell further differentiated therefrom, such as a platelet. The cell is a granulocyte/macrophage progenitor cell or a cell further differentiated therefrom, such as a mast cell or neutrophils. Such host cells containing the molecule or the molecule itself are employed in methods for treating or preventing infection, inflammation or vascular injuries or any disorders involving or mediated by cells of the hematopoietic lineage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignees: The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
    Inventors: Douglas B. Cines, Mortimer Poncz
  • Patent number: 7931780
    Abstract: A wet paper web transfer belt comprises a base body 30, a paper side layer 20, and a machine side layer 23. The paper side layer 20 is composed of a paper contacting side batt layer 21 made of hydrophilic fibers 41 and a base bode side batt layer 22 without the hydrophilic fibers 41, at least the paper contacting side batt layer 21 being impregnated with a high molecular weight elastic body 50 and at least a part of the hydrophilic fibers 41 being exposed on the surface of the paper contacting side batt layer 21. The water contained in the wet paper web remains within the paper contacting side batt layer 21 made of the hydrophilic fibers 41 with only a small amount of water moving into the base body side batt layer 22, thereby reducing dimensional changes of the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Ichikawa Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenji Inoue
  • Patent number: 7927629
    Abstract: A method of controlling a physical characteristic of polymeric nanocarrier-encapsulated protein particles includes altering or selecting a weight percentage of a hydrophobic polymer block in a total amphiphilic diblock copolymer of a primary emulsion of a double emulsion, freeze-thaw technique. The primary emulsion is formed using a freeze-thaw cycle of the amphiphilic diblock copolymer and a protein having a molecular weight of up to or equal to 300,000 Da. Selection of the hydrophobic polymer block percentage alters one or more characteristics of the resulting nanoparticles, such as shape. Thus, as one aspect, a method of producing filamentous polymeric nanocarrier-encapsulated protein (i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania
    Inventors: Eric Simone, Vladimir R. Muzykantov, Thomas D. Dziubla
  • Patent number: 7927879
    Abstract: Proposed is a zirconium crucible used for melting an analytical sample in the pretreatment of the analytical sample, wherein the purity of the zirconium crucible is 99.99 wt % or higher. In light of the recent analytical technology demanded of fast and accurate measurement of high purity materials, the present invention provides a zirconium crucible for melting an analytical sample, a method of preparing such analytical sample, and a method of analysis that enables the analysis of high purity materials by inhibiting the inclusion of impurities from the crucible regardless of difference in the analysts and their skill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: JX Nippon Mining & Metals Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Sakaguchi, Mitsuru Yamaguchi, Tomio Takahashi, Kouichi Takemoto
  • Patent number: 7927434
    Abstract: Provided is a Co—Cr—Pt—B alloy sputtering target comprising an island-shaped rolled structure formed from a Co-rich phase based on the primary crystal formed upon casting, and a Co—Cr—Pt—B alloy sputtering target in which the island-shaped rolled structure has an average size of 200 ?m or less. This Co—Cr—Pt—B alloy sputtering target has an uniform and fine rolled structure with minimal segregation and residual stress upon casting, and the present invention aims to enable the stable and inexpensive manufacture of the target, prevent or suppress the generation of particles, and to improve the production yield of deposition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: JX Nippon Mining & Metals Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichiro Nakamura, Akira Hisano
  • Patent number: 7927242
    Abstract: In a hydraulic chain tensioner having a housing, a hollow plunger slidable in a plunger-accommodating hole in the housing, and a hollow sleeve extending into the plunger from a bottom of the plunger-accommodating hole, and a check valve mounted at the opposite end of the sleeve, a passage is provided on the outer surface of the sleeve to accelerate the balance of pressure between a first high pressure chamber between the check valve and the protruding end of the plunger and a second high pressure chamber between the inner end of the plunger and the bottom of the plunger-accommodating hole. In an alternative embodiment, balance is accelerated by communication between the second high pressure chamber and an oil reservoir inside the sleeve on the upstream side of the check valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Namie, Hiroshi Hashimoto, Hiroyuki Miyake