202 results about "Improved balance" patented technology

The present invention relates to lightweight high strength microsphere containing ceramic particles having controlled microsphere placement and / or size and microsphere morphology, which produces an improved balance of specific gravity and crush strength such that they can be used in applications such as proppants to prop open subterranean formation fractions. Proppant formulations are further disclosed which use one or more microsphere containing ceramic particles of the present invention. Methods to prop open subterranean formation fractions are further disclosed. In addition, other uses for the microsphere containing ceramic particles of the present invention are further disclosed, as well as methods of making the microsphere containing ceramic particles.

Apparatus and methods for reconfiguration of a communication environment based on loading requirements. Network operations are monitored and analyzed to determine loading balance across the network or a portion thereof. Where warranted, the network is reconfigured to balance the load across multiple network entities. For example, in a cellular-type of network, traffic loads and throughput requirements are analyzed for the access points and their user equipment. Where loading imbalances occur, the cell coverage areas of one or more access points can be reconfigured to alleviate bottlenecks or improve balancing.

An exercise machine carriage system which allows for a wide range of exercises while maintaining improved balance and control for the exerciser. The exercise machine generally includes a stationary frame and a carriage adapted to slide along at least one track on the frame. The carriage may include at least one opening on its upper surface to be used by an exerciser to perform a variety of exercises. The carriage may also include, either in combination with the openings or alternatively, at least one carriage strap extending across its upper surface for use in a variety of exercises. Platforms may also be included on either end of the frame, each of the platforms including its own platform strap. By utilizing such openings and / or straps, a wide variety of exercises may be accomplished that otherwise would be difficult or impossible to perform on conventional exercise machines.

An exercise machine carriage system which allows for a wide range of exercises while maintaining improved balance and control for the exerciser. The exercise machine generally includes a stationary frame and a carriage adapted to slide along at least one track on the frame. The carriage may include at least one opening on its upper surface to be used by an exerciser to perform a variety of exercises. The carriage may also include, either in combination with the openings or alternatively, at least one carriage strap extending across its upper surface for use in a variety of exercises. Platforms may also be included on either end of the frame, each of the platforms including its own platform strap. By utilizing such openings and / or straps, a wide variety of exercises may be accomplished that otherwise would be difficult or impossible to perform on conventional exercise machines.

Improvements on mats for practicing yoga are presented. The mats typically provide improved balance, stability, relief of joint and knee pain, and / or improved grip, among other advantages. One particular mat has an upper surface with protrusions, such as knobs, to provide a feeling of acupressure massage to the user. The mat may be continuous and rolled up for storage, or may be divided into sections and folded. A layer of foam may be provided for cushioning, and the foam may optionally be a memory foam. Alternative embodiments include a mat without the protrusions on the upper surface, a mat with cushioning that has an undulating or otherwise irregular surface, and a mat that has no central foam but which is made of a single material.

A feedback device for measuring balance related information, and for producing a stimulation of the skin that encodes that information in a way that is useful to the wearer of the device. At least one sensor detects balance information and transmits at least one balance information signal to a signal processing subsystem. The signal processing subsystem converts the received balance information signal into at least one stimulation control signal. The signal processing subsystem then transmits the stimulation control signal to at least one stimulator, which provides stimulation to a wearer of the device reflecting the stimulation control signal received from the signal processing subsystem.

The present invention provides a coffee composition for use with a single serve beverage unit. The beverage unit consists of a container having a first structure to enable the introduction of a liquid such as hot water into the container to contact the coffee composition and a second structure to enable the release of a coffee extract out of the container. The coffee composition comprises various coffee ingredients demonstrating an improved property, or an improved balance between two or more of properties, selected from aroma, strength, flavor, cup color, acidity, density, extractability, bed permeability, brewing time, yield, structural integrity, quality consistence and uniformity, and cost-effectiveness. Methods of using such coffees are also disclosed.

A thermoplastic composition comprising in combination an aliphatic / aromatic co-polycarbonate component; an impact modifier; and a rigid copolymer, and optionally a polycarbonate component and / or a polycarbonate-polysiloxane copolymer is disclosed. The co-polycarbonate comprises repeating carbonate units and repeating aliphatic units. The compositions have a significantly improved balance of properties, including melt flow and impact.

A poly(arylene ether)-polyolefin composition is prepared by melt-blending a poly (arylene ether), a poly(alkenyl aromatic) resin, a hydrogenated block copolymer of an alkenyl aromatic compound and a conjugated diene, and an unhydrogenated block copolymer of an alkenyl aromatic compound and a conjugated diene to form a first blend, and melt-blending the first blend and a polyolefin to form a second blend. Reinforcing fillers may, optionally, be added during formation of the second blend or in an additional step. Multiple mixing elements, low throughput, and high extruder rotations per minute may be used to achieve high energy mixing of the first and second blends. Compositions prepared by the method exhibit an improved balance of impact strength, stiffness, and heat resistance, as well as reduced variability of physical properties.

A flame retardant thermoplastic composition comprising in combination a polycarbonate component comprising an aromatic polycarbonate and a polycarbonate homopolymer or copolymer comprising repeat carbonate units having the following structure:wherein R1 and R2 are independently at each occurrence a C1-C4 alkyl, n and p are each an integer having a value of 1 to 4, and T is selected from the group consisting of C5-C10 cycloalkanes attached to the aryl groups at one or two carbons, C1-C5 alkyl groups, C6-C13 aryl groups, and C7-C12 aryl alkyl groups; a polycarbonate-polysiloxane copolymer; an impact modifier; and a flame retardant. The compositions have excellent chemical resistance as well as an improved balance of physical properties such as impact strength and spiral flow, while at the same time maintaining their good flame performance.

A composition comprising a polyester, polycarbonate, organopolysiloxane-polycarbonate block copolymer, organophosphorus flame retardant, fluorinated polyolefin, and one or more additives. In one embodiment, the composition has an improved balance of properties, including one or more of a melt volume rate, Vicat softening temperature, notched Izod impact strength and a UL 94 flammability rating.

A butyl polymer having improved processability is described, together with a process for production thereof. The butyl polymer derived from a reaction mixture which contains: (i) a monomer mixture comprising a C4 to C7 monoolefin monomer (preferably isobutylene) and a C4 to C14 multiolefin monomer (preferably isoprene); (ii) a multiolefin cross-linking agent (preferably divinyl benzene); and (iii) a chain transfer agent (preferably diisobutylene (2,2,4-trimethyl-1-pentene)). The subject butyl polymer has an improved balance of cold flow, filler dispersion, extrusion rate and die swell.

A beta-type free-piston Stirling cycle engine or cooler is drivingly coupled to a linear alternator or linear motor and has an improved balancing system to minimize vibration without the need for a separate vibration balancing unit. The stator of the linear motor or alternator is mounted to the interior of the casing through an interposed spring to provide an oscillating system permitting the stator to reciprocate and flex the spring during operation of the Stirling machine and coupled transducer. The natural frequency of oscillation, ωs, of the stator is maintained essentially equal to ωpωp1-αpkpand the natural frequency of oscillation of the piston, ∩p, is maintained essentially equal to the operating frequency, ωo of the coupled Stirling machine and alternator or motor. For applications in which variations of the average temperature and / or the average pressure of the working gas cause more than insubstantial variations of the piston resonant frequency ωp, various alternative means for compensating for those changes in order to maintain vibration balancing are also disclosed.

A polymeric fibrous nonwoven liner for gypsum board having an improved balance of strength and wet bond strength, wherein the liner is thermally bonded and includes a mixture of lower-melting binder fibers and higher-melting fibers and the liner contacting the gypsum composition is mechanically worked to open up the pore structure and increase the bulk of a layer of the fibers on the mechanically worked surface to increase the penetration of the gypsum composition, thus increasing the wet adhesion between the gypsum composition and the liner.

An exercise device for improving balance, comprising a platform; a balancing element mounted to the platform so as to permit angular displacement of the balancing element relative to the platform; an adjustable angular displacement limiter for determining a limit of the angular displacement of the balancing element relative to the platform; and an adjustment access path to provide adjustment access to the limiter while the balancing element is operably mounted to the platform.

A composition comprising polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, organopolysiloxane-polycarbonate block copolymer, and epoxy-functional block copolymer for providing an improved balance of properties, including heat aging performance in combination with impact resistance. Articles molded from the composition are advantageously useful for automotive applications.

An apparatus for performing exercises to improve balance including an exercise platform on one end of a helical spring supported on a base platform. In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of legs extend perpendicularly from the base platform which function as stops to preventing tilt of the exercise platform from exceeding a maximum tilt. The bottom end of each leg is mounted on a plate lying flush on the base platform that can be oriented so that the leg is positioned at a location corresponding to the required maximum tilt. A vertical rod is supported at a location spaced from the exercise plaform selected by the user depending on his exercise. Various devices such as a punching bag of tethered ball is attached to the vertical rod for incorporation into the users exercise regimen.

An exercise machine carriage system which allows for a wide range of exercises while maintaining improved balance and control for the exerciser. The exercise machine generally includes a stationary frame and a carriage adapted to slide along at least one track on the frame. The carriage may include at least one opening on its upper surface to be used by an exerciser to perform a variety of exercises. The carriage may also include, either in combination with the openings or alternatively, at least one carriage strap extending across its upper surface for use in a variety of exercises. Platforms may also be included on either end of the frame, each of the platforms including its own platform strap. By utilizing such openings and / or straps, a wide variety of exercises may be accomplished that otherwise would be difficult or impossible to perform on conventional exercise machines.

A feedback device for measuring balance related information, and for producing a stimulation of the skin that encodes that information in a way that is useful to the wearer of the device. At least one sensor detects balance information and transmits at least one balance information signal to a signal processing subsystem. The signal processing subsystem converts the received balance information signal into at least one stimulation control signal. The signal processing subsystem then transmits the stimulation control signal to at least one stimulator, which provides stimulation to a wearer of the device reflecting the stimulation control signal received from the signal processing subsystem.

Improved adhesives are provided through the use of styrenic radial block copolymers, containing at lest 40 wt % diblock copolymers, the adhesives have improved adhesive properties and a reduced elastic behaviour under die-cutting conditions. Compared to conventional linear block copolymers of similar molecular weight, radial copolymers offer higher holding power and lower melt viscosity for the adhesive. They therefore contribute to an improved balance between processability and end-use properties.

Disclosed herein is a polymeric composition comprising a polycarbonate polymer, a mineral filler, and a sulfonate salt. The sulfonate salt apparently forms a barrier between the polymer matrix and the mineral filler. The resulting composition has an improved balance of tensile modulus, impact strength, ductility, and flow properties.

A poly(arylene ether)-polyolefin composition is prepared by melt-blending a poly(arylene ether) and a compatibilizer to form a first blend, and melt-blending the first blend and a polyolefin to form a second blend. The composition lacks an unhydrogenated block copolymer, a poly(alkenyl aromatic) resin, or both. Multiple mixing elements, low throughput, and high extruder rotations per minute may be used to achieve high energy mixing of the first and second blends. Compositions prepared by the method exhibit an improved balance of impact strength, stiffness, and heat resistance, as well as reduced variability of physical properties.

A spinning bristled roller assembly for the nozzle of a vacuum cleaner or other carpet cleaning apparatus. The roller assembly includes three bearings protected by a comprehensive thread guard system. The three bearing system, in combination with the structure of the tubular roller body and bearing housing provides an assembly having inherently improved balance characteristics that eliminate the prior need for dynamic balancing to ensure vibration-free operation.

A poly(arylene ether)-polyolefin composition is prepared by melt-blending a poly(arylene ether) and a compatibilizer to form a first blend, and melt-blending the first blend and a polyolefin to form a second blend. The composition lacks an unhydrogenated block copolymer, a poly(alkenyl aromatic) resin, or both. Multiple mixing elements, low throughput, and high extruder rotations per minute may be used to achieve high energy mixing of the first and second blends. Compositions prepared by the method exhibit an improved balance of impact strength, stiffness, and heat resistance, as well as reduced variability of physical properties.

Improved adhesives are provided through the use of styrenic radial block copolymers, containing at least 40 wt % diblock copolymers, the adhesives have improved adhesive properties and a reduced elastic behavior under die-cutting conditions. Compared to conventional linear block copolymers of similar molecular weight, radial copolymers offer higher holding power and lower melt viscosity for the adhesive. They therefore contribute to an improved balance between processability and end-use properties.

A universal gripping surface is provided on an intravenous catheter assembly. The universal gripping surface provides a plurality of surfaces whereby a user may grip the catheter assembly in a desired gripping configuration for improved balance and control of the catheter assembly during insertion of the catheter. Additionally, the universal gripping surface includes a guard feature to prevent a user's unintended contact with various components of the catheter assembly whereby the contact may result in an undesirable “over the bevel” condition.

A drum washing machine including an improved balance weight mounting structure is disclosed. The drum washing machine includes a cabinet which forms an outer appearance of the drum washing machine, a tub disposed in the cabinet such that the tub is balanced in weight between positions opposing to each other on a front wall of the tub with respect to a center of the front wall of the tub, and a drum rotatably disposed in the tub to perform a washing function in accordance with a rotation of a motor attached to a rear wall of the tub. Balance weights are mounted to the front wall of the tub to cause the tub to be balanced in weight between positions opposing to each other on the front wall of the tub with respect to the center of the front wall of the tub.

A flame retardant thermoplastic composition comprising in combination a polycarbonate component; a polycarbonate-polysiloxane copolymer; an impact modifier, wherein the impact modifier comprises wherein the impact modifier comprises a rubber modified thermoplastic resin comprising a discontinuous elastomeric phase dispersed in a rigid thermoplastic phase; and a flame retardant. The compositions have an improved balance of physical properties such as impact strength and flow, while at the same time maintaining their good flame performance.

A curable composition includes a functionalized poly(arylene ether) resin, an acryloyl monomer, and a phosphorus flame retardant. The composition exhibits an improved balance of properties such as toughness, flame retardance, heat-resistance, and moisture resistance. It is useful, for example, as an encapsulant for semiconductor products.