A holding sealing material includes laminated mats. One or more fixed parts partially combine the mats. Each of the mats has a basic rectangular shape. Each of the mats has a recess on one of shorter sides of the rectangular shape and a projection on another shorter side and is designed to be wound around an object to be wound so that the projection and the recess are fitted to each other. The mats have respective longitudinal lengths that increase as a distance from the object to each of the mats increases. A mat that is placed at a closest position to the object has a shortest longitudinal length. An area of the projection of the mat that is placed at a closest position to the object is smaller than an area of the projection of a mat that is placed at a farthest position from the object.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a holding sealing material, a method for winding the holding sealing material around an object to be wound, and an exhaust gas purifying apparatus.
2. Discussion of the Background
Exhaust gas discharged from internal combustion engines such as diesel engines contains particulate matter (hereinafter, also referred to as PM). In recent years, there has arisen a serious problem that PM is harmful to the environment and human bodies. Moreover, since exhaust gas also contains toxic gas components such as CO, HC and NOx, there have been growing concerns about influences of these toxic gas components on the environment and human bodies.
In view of these, there have been proposed various exhaust gas purifying apparatuses intended for collecting PM in exhaust gas and for converting the toxic gas components. These exhaust gas purifying apparatuses include: an exhaust gas treating body made of porous ceramics such as silicon carbide and cordierite; a casing for accommodating the exhaust gas treating body; and a holding sealing material that is made of an inorganic fiber aggregate and is disposed between the exhaust gas treating body and the casing. This holding sealing material is used mainly for purposes such as protection of the exhaust gas treating body from damage that may be caused by contact between the exhaust gas treating body and the casing surrounding the exhaust gas treating body as a result of vibrations and impacts during travel of an automobile or the like; and prevention of exhaust gas leakage from space between the exhaust gas treating body and the casing.
This holding sealing material is formed by a mat containing inorganic fibers. The mat has a basic rectangular shape having longer sides along the longitudinal direction and shorter sides substantially perpendicular to the longer sides in a plan view. One of the shorter sides of the rectangular shape has a recess and the other shorter side has a projection having the same shape as the cut-out part of the recess. The mat is wound around the exhaust gas treating body and the projection is fitted into the recess. In this state, the holding sealing material serves to prevent exhaust gas from leaking out.
In recent years, there has been a growing demand for good warming performance of the holding sealing material in order to allow the exhaust gas treating body to effectively exhibit its exhaust gas treating performance by keeping the exhaust gas treating body sufficiently warm. This demand can be satisfied with a structure in which there is a larger space between the exhaust gas treating body and the casing, and the holding sealing material is disposed in the space to prevent heat transfer between the exhaust gas treating body and the casing. To achieve this structure, the holding sealing material should be thicker.
Moreover, in order to make the holding sealing material more firmly hold the exhaust gas treating body, there is also a growing demand for further enhancement of repulsion of inorganic fibers, which is a factor contributing to holding ability. To meet this demand, the weight per unit area (basis weight) of the holding sealing material should be increased.
The thickness or weight per unit area (basis weight) of the holding sealing material can be increased by increasing the thickness of the mat of the holding sealing material. However, in recent years, multi-layer mats obtained by laminating a plurality of mats have been used to increase the thickness or the basis weight of the holding sealing material, instead of changing the mat thickness.
In the case that such a holding sealing material including a plurality of mats is wound around the exhaust gas treating body, the projection and the recess of each mat should be successfully fitted to each other under proper control of the tension in the mats.
JP-A 2007-218221 and JP-A 2009-264186 listed below disclose holding sealing materials of a multi-layer structure designed with consideration for fitting between the projections and the recesses.
JP-A 2007-218221 recites a holding sealing material (monolith holding material) designed such that laminated mats can be wound around a monolith without looseness of the mats with fitting parts on both sides of each mat fitted to each other (Claim 1). JP-A 2007-218221 also teaches that in order to secure the above performance of the holding sealing material, the laminated mats are fixed to one another with at least one end being freely movable (Claim 3).
JP-A 2009-264186 discloses a holding sealing material in which a plurality of mats have a longitudinal length that sequentially increases with the order of lamination, the mats are fixed with one another at two or more fixed parts, and at least two of the fixed parts are located at different positions in the longitudinal direction in a side view.
The contents of JP-A 2007-218221 and JP-A 2009-264186 are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Holding sealing material, method for winding the holding sealing material around object and exhaust gas purifying apparatus


A video recording apparatus having a built-in type camera which includes an imager for picking up an object and a recorder for recording a video signal derived from the imager in accordance with a predetermined format having an analog-to-digital converter for converting the video signal from the image to digital image data, a memory for storing the digital image data, a converting circuit for converting the image data read out from the memory to an image signal, a superimposing circuit for superimposing the image signal formed of the image data upon the video signal from the imager, a control circuit for controlling the writing and reading of the image data in the memory, a first operation switch for causing the control circuit to store the image data in the memory, a second operation switch for causing the control circuit to superimpose the image signal upon the video signal, and a third operation switch causing the control circuit to designate the color of the image signal, wherein when the second operation switch is in its OFF-state, the third operation switch is operated as a selection switch of other camera mode functions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to video tape recorders and, more particularly, is directed to a video tape recorder having a built-in camera which comprises an image pickup portion for picking up an image of an object and a recording portion for recording a video signal derived from the image pickup portion, and which is suitable for application to a so-called 8 mm video tape recorder having a built-in type camera.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A prior-art 8 mm video tape recorder having a built-in type camera comprises an image pickup portion for picking up an image of an object and a recording portion for recording a video signal derived from the image pickup portion on a magnetic tape. Such an 8 mm video tape recorder is also provided with a character generator for generating, for example, a title information or the like and has a superimposing function for superimposing an image signal upon the video signal derived from the image pickup portion and a so-called titler function. According to the combination of the superimposing function and the titler function, the image signal of the title information is superimposed upon the video signal derived from the image pickup portion.
Further, a so-called titler apparatus, a Telopper apparatus and the like are provided as peripheral apparatus in order to record the video signal having inserted thereinto the title information corresponding to the recorded content and the image signal of Telop information such as a commentary for a picture and the like by a video tape recorder. Upon use, the titler apparatus, Telopper apparatus and the like are generally combined with the floor-type video tape recorder and are used to edit the recorded tape or the like.
The prior-art video tape recorder having a built-in type camera utilizes three kinds of operation switches to superimpose the image signal of the title information corresponding to the recorded content upon the video signal. The first operation switch is used to store the image signal of the title information in a memory. The second operation switch is used to superimpose the image signal of the title information stored in the memory upon the video signal. The third operation switch is used to selectively switch the color of the image signal of the title information to be superimposed upon the video signal.
In the case of the prior-art video tape recorder having a built-in type camera with three kinds of operation switches associated with the title information, if it is intended to increase a new function in association with the title information, then it becomes necessary to independently provide a special operation switch, which provides a complicated arrangement, an increased cost and a degraded operating characteristic.

Combined video recorder and camera with superimposition of video and data


A hydraulic liquid transporter for changing of different pressure and flows prevailing in three chambers that are separated from each other, having a slurry filling pump that has a suction side and a pressure side, the suction side of being connected to a mixture collecting container, the pressure side being connected to a first pressure line, a feeding space having of three feeding chambers being connected from said first pressure line, a discharging forwarding liquid pump having a suction side and a pressure side, the pressure side of the discharging forward liquid pump being connected to a second pressure line which is connected to a mixture delivering line, a discharge forwarding line connecting the suction side of the discharging forwarding liquid pump from the feeding space, a first integral flow reversing device for connection said first pressure line from said discharge forwarding line through said feeding space, a second integral flow reversal device for connecting said second pressure line from said mixture delivering line through the feeding space, both first and second integral flow reversing devices being arranged in a relative opposed relationship with their center lines substantially coinciding with each other.

Various versions of cell type feeders are known, as formed with separated spaces for transporting particulate solids and liquids in pipelines. The objectives of these transporters is to enable actuation of remote pipelines under high pressure, or hydraulic transports, with pressure and flows produced by the pumping of liquids alone. The kinetic energy needed in the hydraulic systems for causing the mixture flow in the transporting pipeline will be obtained by pumping clean water. The task of the cells is to transmit pressure and flow of clean liquid required for high pressure flow. For this reason the structure of the apparatus should assure conditions for the transfer of pressure and flow.
Depending on the structural layout of known cells, feeders of containers are known comprising one or more small or large (50-200 m.sup.3) cylindrical closed containers with undivided spaces, which can be placed under pressure; feeders are also known formed of two or three closed pipe chambers having each a length of 50 to 400 m.
Experience shows that mainly hydraulic transporters having pipe chambers are being principally used in practice.

Hydraulic transporter with united streaming reversing means


A shift register with low power consumption has memory circuits 151-15N connected in series, gate circuits in memory circuits 152nxe2x88x921 in the odd-numbered locations become conductive when clock signal CK is high, and gate circuits in memory circuits 152n in the even-numbered locations become conductive when clock signal CK is low, wherein data signals S input are latched for output when the gate circuits are shut off. The circuit configuration is simplified. The Shift register operates every one half of the cycle of clock signal CK, allowing the frequency of clock signal to be reduced by half, resulting in reduced power consumption.

The present invention pertains to a shift register; in particular, to a bidirectional shift register.
Conventionally, a gate driver utilizing a shift register has been utilized for a panel display device utilizing liquid crystal and plasma.
Symbol 200 in FIG. 8 indicates a panel type display device provided with panel 211, multiple pixels 210 formed on panel 211, gate driver 102, and source driver 202.
Multiple (N, in this case) gate lines 2211-221N and multiple (M, in this case) source lines 2211-222M are connected to gate driver 102 and source driver 202, respectively.
Pixels 210 are arranged in the form of a matrix, and a transistor is provided in each pixel 210. In the transistor in 1 pixel 210, a gate terminal and a source terminal are connected to gate line 221x and source line 222m corresponding to its position (n,m) in the matrix.
Drain terminal of the transistor in each pixel is connected to an electrode used to apply a voltage to a displaying member, such as a liquid crystal or a light-emitting element, wherein the displaying member in pixel 210 becomes bright or dark as the transistor in pixel 210 becomes conductive according to the voltage applied to the source terminal of said transistor.
In said display device 200, gate driver 102 supplies a signal to the respective gate lines in order to make the transistors in the respective pixels conductive in a time-divided manner.
The order the signal is supplied can be either in the forward direction, that is, from first gate line 2211 toward the Nth gate line 221N, or in the backward direction. When the signal is supplied from gate driver 102 to gate line 221n, the signal which makes the transistors conductive is applied at once to the gate terminals of M pixels 210n,1-210n,M connected to said gate line 221n, and the electrical connection is achieved between the drain terminals and the source terminals of M pixels 210n,1-210n,M connected to said gate line 221n.
When the signal is applied to gate line 221n, source driver 202 applies a voltage corresponding to the display condition of M pixels 210n,1-210n,M connected to said gate line 221n.
Therefore, M pixels 210n,1-210n,M connected to gate line 221n become bright or dark according to the level of the voltage supplied by source driver 202.
When the display of 1 gate line 221n is finished, a voltage is supplied to next gate line 221n+1 using the same procedure.
One screen is displayed as the first through the Nth gate lines 2211-221N are scanned in said manner.
A block diagram of a conventional internal circuit of such a gate driver 102 is shown in FIG. 6.
Said gate driver 102 has input level conversion circuit 112, shift register 105, and output level conversion circuit 106.
Output level conversion circuit 106 has multiple (N, in this case), that is, the first through the Nth, buffer circuits 1161-116N according to the quantity N of gate lines 2211-221N, wherein the output terminals of buffer circuits 1161-116N are respectively connected to gate lines 2211-221N.
Shift register 105 has multiple (N, in this case), that is, the first through the Nth, memory circuits 1151-115N according to the quantity of buffer circuits 1161-116N, wherein the output terminals of memory circuits 1151-115N are respectively connected to the input terminals of buffer circuits 1161-116N. Signals output from respective memory circuits 1151-115N are applied with voltage conversion and supplied to gate lines 2211-221N by buffer circuits 1161-116N.
Because respective memory circuits 1151-115N of said gate driver 102 have the same configuration, the detailed internal circuit of nth memory circuit 115n is shown in FIG. 7 to represent them.
Each memory circuit 1151-115N has forward transmission input terminal F, backward transmission input terminal B, and output terminal SR.
When the forward transmission input terminal and the backward transmission input terminal of nth memory circuit 115n are expressed as Fn and Bn with the suffix n, and the output terminal is expressed as SRn, output terminal SRnxe2x88x921 of (nxe2x88x921)th memory circuit 115nxe2x88x921 of the former stage is connected to forward transmission input terminal Fn of nth memory circuit 115n, output terminal SRn+1 of (n+1)th memory circuit 115n+1 of the latter stage is connected to backward transmission input terminal Bn, to which signals output from memory circuits 115nxe2x88x921 and 115n+1 of the former and the latter stages are respectively input.
Then, output terminal SRn of nth memory circuit 115n is connected to forward input terminal Fn+1 of memory circuit 115n+1 of the latter stage and backward transmission input terminal Bnxe2x88x921 of memory circuit 115nxe2x88x921 of the former stage.
Selection circuit 117, first and second gate circuits 124 and 125, and first and second latch circuits 118 and 119 are provided inside of respective memory circuits 1151-115N.
Selection circuit 117 is connected to forward transmission input terminal Fn and backward transmission input terminal Bn. In addition, selection signal LR and inverted selection signal XLR with the opposite polarity are input to selection circuit 117 from input level conversion circuit 112, whereby either forward transmission input terminal Fn or backward transmission input terminal Bn is selected, depending on the logical combination of highs and lows of selection signal LR and inverted selection signal XLR, and the selected input terminal gets connected to first gate circuit 124 of the latter stage via inverter 123.
Clock signal CK and inverted clock signal XCK with the opposite polarity are input to first and second gate circuits 124 and 125. First gate circuit 124 is shut off when clock signal CK is high and becomes conductive as it changes from high to low in order to transmit the signal to first latch circuit 118 of the latter stage.
First latch circuit 118 holds the signal input and outputs said signal to second latch circuit 119 of the latter stage via second gate circuit 125.
Second gate circuit 125 becomes conductive when clock signal CK is high, and it is shut off while first gate circuit 124 is conductive.
Therefore, as soon as clock signal CK changes from low to high, and first gate circuit 124 changes from the conductive state to the shut-off state, second gate circuit 125 becomes conductive, and the output of first latch circuit 118 is input to second latch circuit 119. As a result of said operation, a signal with the same logic as that of the high or the low signal held in first latch circuit 118 gets held in second latch circuit 119. The signal held in second latch circuit 119 is output from output terminal SRn.
When clock signal CK changes from high to low as described above, the signal input from forward transmission input terminal Fn or backward transmission input terminal Bn is latched into first latch circuit 118. Then, when clock signal CK changes from low to high, the signal latched into first latch circuit 118 is transferred to second latch circuit 119 for output.
Therefore, when forward transmission input terminal Fn is selected, the signals stored in respective memory circuits 1151-115Nxe2x88x921 are transmitted to memory circuits 1152-115N of the latter stage as 1 cycle of clock signal CK is completed. When the backward transmission input terminal is selected, the signals stored in respective memory circuits 1152-115N are transmitted to memory circuits 1151-115Nxe2x88x921 of the former stage as 1 cycle of clock signal CK is completed.
FIG. 9 is a timing chart for explaining the signal transmitting condition when forward transmission input terminal Fn is selected, wherein symbol t0 indicates the time high pulse signal STV is input into memory circuit 1151 of the initial stage.
At said time t0, clock signal CK, which has changed from high to low, is input to memory circuit 1151 of the initial stage along with pulse signal STV, first gate circuit 124 in memory circuit 1151 of the initial stage becomes conductive due to said clock signal CK, and the same high signal as pulse signal STV gets held by first latch circuit 118.
Next, when clock signal CK changes from low to high at time t1, second gate circuit 125 becomes conductive, and the high signal held in first latch circuit 118 is transferred to second latch circuit 119 and output to buffer circuit 1161 of the initial stage and memory circuit 1152 of the next stage from output terminal SR1.
At memory circuit 1152 of the next stage, the high signal is output from output terminal SR2 at time t2 as 1 cycle of clock signal CK is completed after time t1.
High signal is output from output terminal SRn of nth memory circuit 115n at time tn in the manner described above.
Although shift register 105 of the prior art has the aforementioned configuration, as the display device becomes much smaller but more precise, the gate driver is provided with more pins, so that the number of the elements in the circuit ends up increasing.
In addition, because the power consumption increases as the number of circuits increases, this problem must be solved before it can be used in portable equipment.
The present invention was created in order to solve the aforementioned inconvenience of the prior art, and its purpose is to present a shift register by which a low-power-consumption gate circuit can be configured.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention the shift register is provided with a first memory circuit having a first selection circuit which outputs a signal to be input to a first input terminal or a second input terminal selectively according to a selection signal, a first gate circuit which outputs the signal output from the aforementioned first selection circuit selectively according to a first clock signal, and a first latch circuit which holds the signal output from the aforementioned first gate circuit and outputs the signal to a first output terminal and a second memory circuit having a second selection circuit which outputs a signal to be input to a third input terminal or a fourth input terminal connected the aforementioned first output terminal selectively according to the aforementioned selection signal, a second gate circuit which outputs the signal output from the aforementioned second selection circuit selectively according to a second clock signal complementary to the aforementioned first clock signal, and a second latch circuit which holds the signal output from the aforementioned second gate circuit and outputs the signal to a second output terminal; and memory circuits having the same configurations as those of the aforementioned first and second memory circuits are connected alternately in series.
In addition, in accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, it is desirable that the aforementioned first memory circuit has a first logic circuit which applies a logical operation to the signal output from the aforementioned first latch circuit and the aforementioned first clock signal and outputs the resulting logical operation signal to a third output terminal, and the aforementioned second memory circuit has a second logic circuit which applies a logical operation to the signal output from the aforementioned second latch circuit and the aforementioned second clock signal and outputs the resulting logical operation signal to a fourth output terminal.
Furthermore, in accordance with another aspect of the invention, it is desirable that the aforementioned first input terminal is connected to the second output terminal of the memory circuit of the former stage, the aforementioned first output terminal is connected to the fourth input terminal of the memory circuit of the former stage, the aforementioned fourth input terminal is connected to the first output terminal of the memory circuit of the latter stage, and the aforementioned second output terminal is connected to the aforementioned second input terminal and the first input terminal of the memory circuit of the latter stage.
One aspect of the present invention is configured in the aforementioned manner, wherein when the data signals are output from the output terminals of the memory circuits in the odd-numbered locations as the gate circuits of the memory circuits in the odd-numbered locations become conductive, the gate circuits of the memory circuits in the even-numbered locations are shut off. Next, when the gate circuits of the memory circuits in the odd-numbered locations are shut off, the gate circuits of the memory circuits in the even-numbered locations become conductive, and the data signals output from the memory circuits in the odd-numbered locations are input to the latch circuits of the memory circuits in the even-numbered locations.
As described above, the gate circuits of the memory circuits in the odd-numbered locations and the gate circuits of the memory circuits in the even-numbered locations operate complementary to each other, and the respective memory circuits output the data signals input from the memory circuits of the former stage to the memory circuits of the latter stage according to the (first or second) clock signal.
In addition, in a further aspect of the present invention, the direction the data signals are shifted can be reversed by changing the logic of the selection signal input to the selection circuit of each memory circuit.


Method, system and product for automatic execution of operations sequences. An operations sequence, which includes a first operation immediately followed by a second operation, is obtained. The operations sequence or portion thereof is automatically executed, at least by performing: in response to a determination that a first element required for performing the first operation is available for user interaction in a first state of the computing device, mimicking a user interaction with the first element to perform the first operation, whereby causing a current state of the computing device to change from the first state to a second state; and in response to a determination that a second element required for performing the second operation is available for user interaction in the second state, mimicking user interaction with the second element to perform the second operation.

Computing devices for personal use have become more and more ubiquitous in the last few decades. This trend of increasingly widespread use was further boosted in recent years with the advent of mobile platforms, such as Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), hand-held computers, and computerized mobile phones running a full-fledged operating system, commonly known as "smartphones". These devices typically have general-purpose processors, memory and storage that provide users with computing power nearly on par with that of desktop computers. Additional prevalent features include connectivity to various communications networks and other devices, e.g., Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs), cellular networks, Near Field Communication (NFC), etc., and one or more types of sensors, such as cameras, microphones, accelerometers, Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers, and the like.
Many mobile computing devices include a touch-sensitive display (also known as a "touch screen") with a Graphical User Interface (GUI) serving as the main form of user interaction. The user interacts with the GUI primarily through finger contacts and gestures on the touch-sensitive display. Thus, operating the mobile device and its different functionalities can prove difficult or even impossible when one or both of the user's hands are occupied or when the user is unable to look at the display screen, whether for intermittent periods or at all. This situation commonly occurs when the user is driving a vehicle, for example. In a 2014 interview, Larry Page, Google's CEO and co-founder, addressed this issue: "We still feel computers are pretty bad. You're messing around, you're scrolling on your touchscreen phone. You're in a car and it's bouncy and it doesn't really work". In this scenario it is evident that some form of voice control is desirable. In recent years, with the introduction of the "Virtual Assistant" such as Ski™, Cortana™ and Google Now™, a significant stride has been made towards this reality as voice recognition improved significantly.
As humans are creatures of habit, and as many computing devices share common features and functionalities between them, usage of computing devices can exhibit great regularity and repetitive patterns, such that the same operations or sequences of operations are frequently performed by a user or a plurality of users.

Automatically executing operations sequences


A system and associated methods are disclosed for objectively assessing the vision of a user using a computing device. In at least one embodiment, upon an assessment application in memory on the computing device being initialized, a baseline profile is established for the user based on a current state of an at least one visual parameter associated with a display screen of the computing device. The assessment application selectively modifies the at least one visual parameter periodically, and then monitors and records the user's response to the modifications. The user's responses are compared to the baseline profile and, upon the responses exceeding a pre-defined threshold Delta value, the assessment application notifies the user of a possible change in their vision.

The subject of this patent application is generally related to vision assessment, and more particularly to a system and associated methods for objectively assessing vision using a computing device.
Applicant(s) hereby incorporate herein by reference any and all patents and published patent applications cited or referred to in this application.
By way of background, the human visual system is the part of the central nervous system which gives the ability to process visual detail, as well as enables the formation of several non-image photo response functions. It detects and interprets information from visible light in order to build a representation of the surrounding environment. The visual system carries out a number of complex tasks, including the reception of light and the formation of monocular representations; the buildup of a nuclear binocular perception from a pair of two dimensional projections; the identification and categorization of visual objects; assessing distances to and between objects; and guiding body movements in relation to visual objects. Traditional methods used for assessing a patient's visual functions require the involvement of a trained human physician (or physician's assistant). As such, these methods tend to be either completely manual or semi-automated at best. Relatedly, relying upon a physician to perform such assessments requires that a patient actually make an appointment with their physician, hoping then that such periodically scheduled assessments are serendipitously timed so as to catch a vision-related disease at a relatively early stage. Furthermore, these traditional visual assessment methods require the active, conscious and subjective participation of the patient. As a result, the assessments suffer from a risk of being strongly influenced by the voluntary (or involuntary) and subjective responses of the patient. Additionally, traditional assessment methods tend to constitute a cross-sectional evaluation of visual function with separated results rather than a compendium of these visual parameters and its multivariate analysis.
Aspects of the present invention are directed to solving all of these problems by providing a system and associated methods for assessing vision using a computing device, as discussed in detail below.

System and methods for assessing vision using a computing device


An apparatus for confirming the fitting of an electric connector in which a male connector housing is fitted in a hood of a female connector housing so as to connect together metal terminals received respectively in the terminal receiving chambers of the male and female connector housings. A lock lever, having a holder spring, is pivotally connected at one end to a first side portion of the hood. A locking plate, having a provisional locking groove and a complete locking groove, is formed on a second side portion of the hood. Both the provisional and complete locking grooves are engageable with the holder spring. A fitting confirmation projection is formed on a reverse surface of the lock lever, and interferes with the male connector housing when the fitting of the male connector housing is imperfect, thereby preventing the engagement between the holder spring and the complete locking groove. The apparatus also may be used when a hood of a female connector housing is fitted in an electronic unit case so as to provide an open window in the electronic unit case. In this embodiment, a manipulation press portion is formed on a second end of the lock lever. Additionally, a screen portion is formed on the press portion so as to close the window in the electronic unit case to prevent foreign matter from penetrating the electronic unit case.

The present invention relates to a device for confirming the fitting of an electric connector used in an electric wiring in a vehicle.
In an electric connector, a pair of mating connector housings are fitted together so as to connect together female and male metal terminals received respectively in the connector housings. In order to ensure such an electrical connection, a locking device is provided between the two housings to prevent them from becoming disengaged
FIG. 5 shows a conventional locking device. A locking arm b, deformable upwardly and downwardly, is provided on an outer peripheral wall of a male connector housing a, and a retaining hole f is formed in a hood e of a female connector housing d. A retaining projection c of the locking arm b is engageable in the retaining hole f. When the depth of fitting of the housing a into the hood e reaches a predetermined level the retaining projection c is engaged in the retaining hole f to make the male connector housing a and the female connector housing d a single locked mechanism.
The assembly and fitting operations of the electric connector are performed manually. Since numerous connectors normally must be assembled, some connector products may be in an unlocked condition resulting from an imperfect fitting due to operator error. It is difficult to discover such unlocked products visually during a subsequent inspection stage. Another problem is that the locking strength between the male and female housings can be increased by forming the locking arm b into a lever-like shape whose opposite ends are supported. However, if the locking strength between the male and female housings is excessive, this excessive locking strength, together with the resistance offered by the metal male and female terminals, makes the fitting operation of the housings difficult. Therefore, the locking strength heretofore has been purposely limited. As a result, when a force E perpendicular to the arm b is imparted thereon, the locking arm may be released inadvertently.
This problem of the locking between the connector housings becoming inadvertently released must be avoided, particularly when the electric connector is used in a wiring system for an air-bag device in a vehicle. Further, imperfect fitting and inadvertent release of the locking mechanism cannot be tolerated because of safety considerations.

Apparatus for confirming fitting of electric connector


The present invention relates to a device for growing mushrooms, comprising a shelving, arranged for supporting beds for holding compost, said beds for holding compost wherein the beds are placed at a mutual distance above each other characterized in that the beds are movable between at least a first position, wherein a second bed supported above a first bed at least partially impedes the accessibility of the first bed in a direction perpendicular to the plane in which the first bed extends and a second position in which at least a larger part of the first bed is free approachable from a direction perpendicular to the plane in which the first bed extends than in the first position.

The present invention relates to a device for growing mushrooms. At industrial scales, mushrooms are traditionally grown at indoor locations, often called growing rooms, wherein shelvings are placed that support beds for holding compost and casing soil, on which the mushrooms are grown.
The compost and casing soil are placed on pulling nets, that allow to fill and empty the bed with compost and casing soil easily. Usually, this is done after every two or three flushes of mushrooms, since the compost has lost its fertility and nutrition then. Beds for growing mushrooms allow the pulling nets with the compost to be pulled from one end in the length direction to another end in the length direction. The ends are therefore openable, that is, access can be provided at the support level of the bed, for instance because an end wall is (re)movable. Preferably access can also be prohibited, in order to prevent compost falling out at the ends.
The beds are placed at a mutual distance above each other in the shelving, and harvest of the mushrooms takes place manually by harvesters, standing next to the beds at various height levels and delivering the mushrooms to harvesting conveyors once they are cut. From there on they are further processed, either manually or in an automated way.
The beds have an average length of 10 to 100 meters, a width of 0.5 to 2 meters, preferably between 0.6 and 1 meter and more preferably between 0.65 and 0.75 meter and are usually placed 0.4 to 1.4 meters above each other. As a result, the harvesters cannot reach all mushrooms without stooping. Given the required speed of working and the total length of the beds, this makes harvesting a cumbersome job, with even certain health risks. Moreover, harvesters tend to stand straight to avoid a painful back, but in this position they only have sight to a part of the bed, with the result that part of the harvesting takes place on intuition, which may have a negative impact on the quality of the work, since a better selection can be made when an eye is kept on the work.


A projector capable of simultaneous or concurrent projection in different positions in the depth direction. The projector includes a plurality of display sections each of which forms a collimated image light ray, a superimposing optical system that superimposes the image light rays having exited out of the plurality of display sections on one another with the image light rays unfocused, a projection optical system that projects an image corresponding to the image light rays superimposed by the superimposing optical system, and a circuit apparatus that causes the image light rays to exit out of local image source areas set in the plurality of display sections to shift a position where the image light rays are superimposed on one another to a plurality of superimposition positions different from one another along an optical axis.

In a projector of related art, since a projection optical system that enlarges and projects an image on a planar display element is used, a plane where focus is achieved is a substantially flat plane, and allowed adjustment is only shifting the position of the plane forward or rearward. That is, simultaneous or concurrent projection in spaces having different depth ranges is not allowed, and there has been no projector capable, for example, of performing projection on a curved screen with focus maintained over the surface or coping with a change in the shape of the curved screen.
Meanwhile, there is a technology that allows an imaging apparatus to acquire information on the direction of light incident on a two-dimensional sensor and simultaneously capture images of subjects separate from each other in the depth direction (PTL 1).

Projector capable of projection in different positions in the depth direction


A minimally invasive and open surgery surgical system for implanting spinal screw assemblies to be connected by a spinal rod is disclosed. In one form, the system includes an improved tool device for inserting a cap insert into an initial and final locking of a screw assembly and securing a spinal rod inserted through an incision to a vertebra. In another form, the system also includes a screw fixation system that allows greater variability in thread diameter for orthopedic implant for in the spine, iliac crest, or bones.

Implant devices secured to bone or bone segments are utilized to promote the healing and repair of various parts of the human body. In some cases, the implant devices are secured to bone or bone segments such that the bones themselves heal, fuse, or stabilize relative to one another. In other cases, implant or fixation devices are used to secure bones or bone fragments such that the surrounding soft tissue may heal without being disturbed by relative movement of the bones.
During the surgical procedure to implant fixation devices, a plurality of bone screws or other fixation elements, in concert with coupling members, are secured to a plurality of respective bones. Each of the bone screws, or anchor members, is then secured relative to the others with an additional apparatus, such as a connecting member, brace or rod. A pedicle screw and rod system is one such example that is commonly used to secure adjacent vertebrae together in a desired relationship.
As an example, a patient may require that a number of vertebrae be secured so that fusion of the bones may take place. To accomplish fusion a number of bone anchors may be secured to a plurality of vertebrae via threaded engagement or by hooks that engage anatomy about the vertebrae. Each bone anchor or hook may be integrally attached to a coupling member which often include upstanding walls forming a u-shape resembling a yoke. The coupling members may be integral with the anchor member head or may be movably attached and articulate relative to the anchor members. Each coupling member in turn may be secured relative to the other coupling members by a connecting member or rod. A locking device or cap is driven into each of the coupling members ultimately locking the rod relative to each coupling member.
When positioning a bone anchor or hook, the orientation of the anatomical structures often results in a skewed relationship of the coupling members relative to each other. The connecting member, once placed in the coupling members, is utilized to reorient the vertebrae in a more desirable relationship. Undesirable relationships of vertebrae are often attributed to disc collapse, trauma, or disease such as scoliosis. In the case of collapse, distraction of the vertebrae may be desirable. If the anchor, coupling member and rod accompany an interbody device, contraction of the vertebrae to promote fusion may be desirable. However in the case of trauma or scoliosis, the connecting member may be pre-bent in a predetermined manner conforming to the ultimate desired position of the vertebrae. The deformation, or bend, of the spinal connecting member takes the shape of the desired spinal alignment and thus will likely not conform to the skewed relationship of the coupling members. The connecting member or rod may need to be reduced and or rotated to be captured in the coupling members.
The reduction and rotation of spinal rods is currently accomplished by devices relying on threaded mechanisms for linear advancement of the rods into the coupling members. While these devices may be effective, they are typically complicated, bulky, involve many revolutions to achieve reduction, offer little in the way of tactile feed back to the operator, require two hands for the reduction process, and are not easily adapted to minimally invasive surgery.
Minimally invasive surgeries require that only small incisions be made (typically ¾″) in the skin of the patient posterior to each vertebrae requiring a spinal implant assembly. Tissues that impede entry to the surgical site are then distracted, and a pedicle screw assembly, typically attached to an anchor extension or yoke manipulator, is introduced to the surgical site. All subsequent procedures take place in or adjacent to the yoke manipulator including, but not limited to, rod reduction, rod rotation, and deployment and securance of a locking device. Typical instruments that perform rod reduction are not adaptable from open surgery techniques to the limited area afforded in minimally invasive surgery. In addition the complexity of current instruments, their method of operation, and the need for additional tools to complete the surgery lead to lengthier surgical times.

Spinal rod and screw securing apparatus and method


An ion exchanger for a coolant circuit is provided with a housing that has an inlet and an outlet for a coolant. An ion exchanger medium is disposed in the housing. The housing is made of a plastic material and is an injection-molded part. A first plastic filter element is arranged in the outlet and embedded by injection molding in the first plastic material of the housing. In the inlet, a second plastic filter element is arranged and embedded by injection molding in the plastic material of the housing.

The invention concerns an ion exchanger for a coolant circuit, comprising a housing that is provided with an inlet and an outlet for a coolant, wherein in the housing an ion exchanger medium is received.
DE 10 2009 012 379 A1 discloses an ion exchanger for the coolant circuit of a fuel cell. By means of the ion exchanger, undesirable ions that, for example, may be generated by contact of the coolant with a metal housing are to be removed from the coolant. The ion exchanger comprises a cartridge in which an ion exchanger resin is received that is flowed through by the coolant. For this purpose, the ion exchanger cartridge is provided with an inlet and an outlet that each are covered by a porous cover in order to retain the ion exchanger resin in the housing of the cartridge while the coolant passes through it.
A comparable device is disclosed also in DE 10 2009 037 080 A1 which also discloses an ion exchanger in the coolant circuit of a fuel cell. The cartridge is embodied as an upright cylindrical body that has an inlet at the bottom wherein the ion exchanger resin is retained by a screen above the inlet.


A system and method for facilitating user interaction with a software application. An example method includes displaying a first primary window of an application; providing a user option to select a sub-window of the first primary window, resulting in generation of a detached window corresponding to the sub-window in response thereto; leaving a first user interface control in the first primary window in place of the sub-window, wherein the first user interface control provides a first user option to implement a first action pertaining to the detached window; and including a second user interface control in proximity to the detached window, wherein the second user interface control provides a first user option to implement a second action applicable to the detached window and primary window. The user interface controls may be implemented via headers in the primary window and detached window. Data is automatically synchronized between windows.

The present application relates to software and more specifically to user interface designs and methods for facilitating efficient user access to data and software functionality.
User interface designs and accompanying methods for facilitating user access to data and software functionality are employed in various demanding applications, including enterprise, scientific research, financial analysis, and ecommerce applications. Such application often demand user friendly applications that facilitate efficient management of application windows and content to enable rapid performance of tasks and user access to requisite data and functionality without requiring undue navigation through software menus, windows, and so on.
Efficient methods for manipulating application windows and facilitating data access are particularly important in enterprise applications, such as Customer Relationship Management (CRM) applications, which often demand features for user management of complex simultaneous tasks involving multiple instances of running applications and/or application windows.
For example, a customer service agent working with a CRM application may simultaneously assist several customers via electronic chat. This may involve a user opening potentially hundreds of application windows, running multiple simultaneous software processes, performing multiple data retrieval steps, and so on. Conventionally, changes to one window may not be updated in a related window (i.e., the windows are not synchronized), and important windows may become buried and lost behind other less important windows. Typically, users must manually switch to windows with relevant content when they switch context (e.g., when a user switches from assisting one customer to assisting another customer). Work may be interrupted when windows become disorganized and when content is lost among open windows.
To address problems with multiple overlapping windows, agents may employ very large monitors or several monitors over which application windows may be dispersed. However, important windows may remain obscured behind other windows, and windows may remain relatively disorganized and camouflaged among other similar looking windows.
Generally, conventional software applications often attempt to incorporate as much data and functionality as possible into a single primary view, e.g., webpage or application window. Application features and functionality are often optimized for a primary task performed in the primary window. Additional windows may be spawned for secondary tasks, but these windows often obscure features and user interface controls of the primary window. This can be problematic even in cases involving only a few open windows.
A primary window may have sub-windows or sections that contain summarized data. However, summarized data may lack requisite detail for a given task. In addition, complex tasks or simultaneous tasks may require access to more data and more granular views of data than can fit within a single view.
Typically only a subset of data, windows, and tools are visible and readily accessible or available at a given time. This may further inhibit rapid performance of secondary tasks, e.g., involving cross-referencing of data, and so on, when requisite windows do not fit within a single view. This may reduce worker productivity and cause user frustration, as a user must stop working on a primary task to navigate to different part of the application or website to perform a secondary task.
In certain cases, to avoid tedious navigation within a single view, users run multiple instances of an application concurrently to access requisite data. However, work interruptions and human error may still occur when windows become disorganized and when content is lost among multiple unsynchronized open windows.
Hence, conventional software applications often lack effective mechanisms for enabling efficient access to data and functionality, and may further suffer from data synchronization problems. These problems become increasingly problematic when more software tasks are addressed approximately in parallel or when working on complex tasks involving multiple windows, data sets, and software processes.

Managing display of detachable windows in a GUI computing environment


A composite transistor is disclosed for use in radiation hardening a CMOS IC formed on an SOI or bulk semiconductor substrate. The composite transistor has a circuit transistor and a blocking transistor connected in series with a common gate connection. A body terminal of the blocking transistor is connected only to a source terminal thereof, and to no other connection point. The blocking transistor acts to prevent a single-event transient (SET) occurring in the circuit transistor from being coupled outside the composite transistor. Similarly, when a SET occurs in the blocking transistor, the circuit transistor prevents the SET from being coupled outside the composite transistor. N-type and P-type composite transistors can be used for each and every transistor in the CMOS IC to radiation harden the IC, and can be used to form inverters and transmission gates which are the building blocks of CMOS ICs.

Radiation hardening of ICs against single-event transients is becoming increasingly important as device sizes become smaller and smaller, and as clock speeds become faster and faster. A single-event transient (SET) is a disturbance in an IC produced by an energetic particle (e.g. an ion, proton, neutron) impinging on a sensitive node in the IC and depositing sufficient charge to create a transient signal therein. The sensitive nodes of a CMOS circuit are the drain-body reverse-biased junctions of the "OFF" transistors. When an energetic particle impinges on the drain-body reverse-biased junction in an "OFF" transistor, it generates electrons and holes which are collected by the junction. This can produce a transient signal which can temporarily switch the "OFF" transistor to an "ON" state. As a result, the transient signal can change the state of a flip-flop, latch or memory cell formed by that transistor, thereby creating erroneous data in the IC and producing a single-event upset (SEU). The transient signal can also be propagated in the IC to affect the state of other logic elements therein.
A number of schemes have been proposed and implemented to mitigate the effects of SETs and SEUs in digital circuits. These schemes are briefly discussed below.
Spatial redundancy utilizes additional circuits to detect and/or correct SEU errors caused by SETs. This scheme, which includes the use of replicated storage cells and voting schemes, can require a significant increase in circuit complexity.
Temporal redundancy is based on sampling an input multiple times before it is stored in a register. If the duration of a signal is less than a predetermined pulse width, the signal is assumed to be a SET or noise, and is ignored by the register. This scheme has been effective for hardening against SETs which are generated external to the register, but can be ineffective for a SET produced inside the register. Additionally, as CMOS devices become smaller and faster, they become more sensitive to SETs with the SETs having a pulse width comparable to the pulse width of the logic signals propagating in the IC. As a result, this scheme is expected to become less effective for smaller and faster transistors, or else the operating frequency of the ICs will need to be limited to allow effective filtering of the SET signal.
Filtering is based on the use of feedback circuits which are added to registers to slow down their response time. As a result the registers do not respond to signals, external or internal, faster than a predetermined response time. This scheme imposes a space penalty due to the substrate space required for the feedback circuits; and it also imposes a speed penalty due to the response time set by the feedback circuits.
SET reduction schemes are based on the use of processing techniques to reduce charge generation and collection in semiconductor material produced by energetic particle strikes. For example, silicon-on-insulator (SOI) CMOS transistors have a much smaller cross section compared with bulk CMOS transistors and thus are less sensitive to SETs. High-energy, high-dose implants can also be used for CMOS transistors to reduce the charge collection from an energetic particle strike. The use of SET reduction schemes can be difficult to implement for ICs fabricated in a foundry since it requires that the foundry's processing techniques must be changed.
SET suppression schemes eliminate transient signal propagation when a SET occurs instead of mitigating the effects of the SET. SET suppression schemes have been disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,175,605; 6,278,287; 6,794,908; and in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0007743. The SET suppression schemes known heretofore are less than satisfactory due to a number of factors including the existence of alternate current paths that can allow propagation of SETs around a protected transistor, the existence of certain elements of a circuit (e.g. transmission gates) which remain unprotected against SETs, the inapplicability of these SET suppression schemes to circuits formed with bulk CMOS transistors, and the inapplicability of these SET suppression schemes to circuits formed with body-tied SOI transistors.
The present invention provides a radiation-hardened composite transistor which overcomes the limitations of the prior art.
The radiation-hardened composite transistor of the present invention can be substituted for each and every transistor in a conventional CMOS IC to produce a radiation-hardened IC.
The radiation-hardened composite transistor of the present invention is applicable to any and all types of CMOS ICs and circuits therein including transmission gates.
The present invention is applicable to both CMOS circuits formed using bulk silicon transistors, and to circuits formed using body-tied SOI transistors.
These and other advantages of the present invention will become evident to those skilled in the art.

Radiation-hardened transistor and integrated circuit


The present disclosure describes an atomizer having a body with an inner portion and an outer portion; an atomizer member; and outlet channels about the spraying axis (X1) for ejecting air so as to shape the spray of material. The atomizer also has an outlet chamber communicating with the outlet channels; and an inlet duct for feeding air to the outlet channels. The atomizer also includes at least two intermediate chambers juxtaposed and extending about the spraying axis (X1); axial intermediate channels, two juxtaposed intermediate chambers being interconnected via a set of intermediate channels distributed about the spraying axis (X1); and outlet ducts distributed about the spraying axis (X1).

In the present patent application, the term "coating material" is used to designate any material in liquid or in powder form that is to be sprayed towards an article to be coated, e.g. a primer, a paint, or a varnish.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,776,520 describes a rotary atomizer for spraying liquid paint. That rotary atomizer has a body comprising a main inner portion and an outer portion fastened to the inner portion, by screw-fastening. The rotary atomizer of U.S. Pat. No. 4,776,520 also has an atomizer member for atomizing the coating material, and a turbine. The atomizer member is arranged at a downstream end of the body in such a manner as to form a spray of paint, when said atomizer member is driven in rotation by the turbine. Outlet channels are provided in the body, uniformly about the axis of rotation. The function of the outlet channels is to eject air so as to shape the spray of paint, these jets of air usually being referred to as "shroud air". The rotary atomizer also has an outlet chamber that is formed in the body and that extends about the axis of rotation. The outlet chamber communicates with each outlet channel. Upstream from the outlet chamber, an inlet duct is provided in the body so as to feed compressed air to the outlet chamber and thus to the outlet channels.
It is observed that the flow rates of shroud air flowing through the respective outlet channels are not distributed uniformly about the axis of rotation. A single inlet duct brings air into the annular outlet chamber. That annular outlet chamber generates head losses that increase with increasing distance from the inlet duct. That non-uniform distribution of the flow rates of air might, if it is not controlled, cause undesired asymmetry in the spray of coating material, and thus in the thickness of the layer of coating material deposited on the article to be coated, in particular while the rotary atomizer is moving facing the article to be coated.
A particular object of the invention is to remedy those drawbacks, by proposing a rotary atomizer that achieves controlled distribution, e.g. uniform and symmetrical distribution, of the shroud air about the spraying axis, with limited air consumption.


Described herein are Chk2-inhibitor compounds and derivatives thereof, and methods of treating or preventing disease and disease symptoms using the compounds and compositions thereof.

Tumorigenesis is an evolutionary process that selects for genetic and epigenetic changes, allowing evasion of anti-proliferative and cell death inducing mechanisms that normally limit clonal expansion of somatic cells. Lowe et al., Nature, 432, 307-315 (2004).
It has been hypothesized that DNA damage checkpoints might become activated in the early stages of tumorigenesis, leading to cell-cycle blockade or apoptosis, either of which might constrain tumor progression. The ATM-Chk2 kinase pathway has been implicated in this process. As such, members of that pathway, including Chk2, are thought to play a role in tumorigenesis. Thus, modulators of members of the ATM-Chk2 pathway may be implicated as anticancer agents, and their use, either alone or in combination with other anticancer agents, may provide new strategies for treatment or prevention of cancer, and other diseases, disorders, and symptoms thereof where apoptotic cell death is associated.

Use of Chk2 kinase inhibitors for cancer treatment

The United States of America, as Represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services


A combined set of interacting instruments for constructing and analyzing mathematical figures includes a ruler, an adjustable triangle assembly, a compass and a protractor. The ruler includes an elongated strip of rigid or semi-rigid plastic having a length, width and relatively thin thickness. A pivot point is provided in a general middle portion of the ruler together with three parallel longitudinally extending guideways along portions of the ruler. One of the guideways includes a positioning hole for a writing instrument to act as a compass. The triangular assembly includes two moveable elements having first and second ends with the two elements pivotally connected together at one end of each of the elements so they can be disposed in an end to end relationship. The moveable elements also have a guide follower that fits within one of the guideways in the ruler. A protractor is also made of a thin sheet of plastic material and has a generally flat base portion and arcuate upper portion with angular indications between 0 and 180° marked on the base and upper portions. The protractor also includes a pair of guide followers for positioning within a second of said longitudinally extending guideways.

Combination instruments for drafting and geometric construction are well known and have been in use for many years. For example, a U.S. Pat. No. 2,054,420 of Hochman, discloses a combination drafting implement that includes a ruler, a protractor and a compass. A protractor includes a generally semi-circular arc plate with the usual angle scale markings thereon. A protractor and scale elements are preferably distinct so that each can be used independently of the other according to conventional practices.
A more recent drafting instrument is disclosed in a patent of Concari et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,426,859. As disclosed therein an instrument for performing various drawing and measurement functions is disclosed. The instrument includes an elongated plate having a straight edge and a measurement region. A protractor plate is connected to the elongated plate and cooperates with a rotatable center dial for the drawing and measuring of angles. The instrument also preferably includes holes through the elongated plate. The holes are configured to receive a marking instrument so the device can be used as a compass. Additionally, an attachment region allows the instrument to be held in a conventional ring binder.
Finally, a U.S. Pat. No. 6,405,443 of Thorn et al. discloses a geometric construction device. The device forms circles or arcs with a marking instrument and simultaneously measures angles. The device includes a radius arm and a rotatable member. The radius arm includes means for receiving the marking instrument and a disc having a pivot point and being rotatable about the pivot point. The disc is used to attach the rotatable member to the radius arm. The rotatable member in combination with the radius arm forms a 360° protractor. The rotatable member has a plurality of radius holes in it for receiving the marking instrument. These radius holes may be used to form circles or arcs with the radius being less than or equal to the radius of the disc. The 360° protractor is capable of measuring degrees between 0° and 360° while circles or arcs are being formed.
Notwithstanding the above it is presently believed that there is a need and a potential commercial market for an improved set of interacting instruments. There should be a need for such sets because they include a ruler, an adjustable triangle assembly, a compass and a protractor. Further, it is believed that such devices can be manufactured and sold at a competitive price, are durable and easy to use to construct or analyze mathematical figures.


An object of the present invention is to enable provision of a toilet device in which a user can select a necessary toilet wash mode whenever necessary. According to the present invention, in a toilet device which comprises: water supply means for supplying water to a rim water supply portion for flushing wash water to a bowl face of a toilet and to a jet water supply portion for orienting a trap drainage portion of the toilet; and control means for controlling operation of the water supply means, wherein said control means has a toilet wash mode for discharging a stool, and two or more toilet wash modes besides the above mode, and wherein the toilet device is provided with an operation switch for enabling selection of the two or more toilet wash modes.

In a conventional toilet device, when cleaning a toilet using a cleaning brush or the like, the wash water trapped in the flushing tank was used in order to rinse a cleaning substance used for cleaning stains clinging in the toilet.
However, the water trapped in the tank is flushed out completely within approximately two to three seconds, and it was necessary to wait for water to be trapped [again] in the tank (approximately thirty seconds to a minute) in order to flush the toilet again. Also, since there is always trapped water remained in a bowl portion, it was difficult to scrub the bottom part of the bowl portion with a cleaning brush or the like to clean [the toilet].
Moreover, in a toilet device which is provided with a jet water supply portion, besides a rim water supply portion, at a bowl portion of the toilet, [the toilet device] is designed such that water is supplied to the jet water supply portion, following the rim water supply portion, thus the problem was that this water would not contribute to rinsing (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication. H3-90746, for example).


A device for practice bowing a stringed musical instrument for the purpose of teaching the movement of a real bow along a path perpendicular to the strings on the string instrument while maintaining a fixed sounding point. The bowing practice device comprises an elongated shaft simulating the ribbon of horsehair on a real bow. This shaft is movably supported in a sleeve which has a groove in the outer surface thereof for receiving a string of a string instrument. The string is held in the groove by two elastic O-rings supported on the sleeve. The movement of the shaft along a path essentially coaxial with the passageway through the string-positioned sleeve provides for movement of the practice device along a path essentially perpendicular to the strings on the string instrument. However, when the shaft is moved along a path departing the aforementioned path a discernable resistance to this movement occurs due to the shaft contacting the walls of the passageway so as to signal the student to reposition the shaft for movement thereof along the proper path.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to music training devices and more particularly to a training device used in practicing the bowing of a string instrument such as a violin, viola, or cello.
2. Description of Related Art
A bow used for bowing a stringed musical instruments takes its name in all languages from the fact that it originally was shaped like the bow used in archery. The modern bow for stringed instruments is formed with a long tapered and slightly inwardly curved horsehair-supporting shaft or stick usually made of Pernambuco wood or fiberglass. One end of a flat ribbon formed of a plurality of horsehairs is attached to the distal end or tip of this stick by inserting the end of the ribbon of horsehair in a hole in the stick and fixing it in place with a wood plug. The ribbon of horsehair is then tightly pulled against the spring of the stick (much like an archery bow) and then attached to the other end of the stick by using a sliding component of the bow, commonly known as a frog. The frog is a small, generally rectangularly-shaped block of ebony wood or plastic supported on the underside of the stick near the end of the stick close to the point at which the musician holds the bow. The ribbon of horsehair is passed in an evenly manner through a metal ferrule in the frog and then a screw mechanism at the end of the bow is selectively turned to loosen or tighten the ribbon of horsehair against the spring of the stick.
Stringed musical instruments produce their tone or sound when the ribbon of horsehair on the bow is drawn across the strings of the musical instrument. The ribbon of horsehair on the bow is typically coated with powdered rosin which renders the horsehair tacky or sticky for vibrating the string on the musical instrument and creating a sound or tone as the rosined ribbon of horsehair is selectively drawn across the strings. The sound is best produced on a string instrument by a musician when the latter moves the bow at an angle precisely perpendicular to the strings and when the point of contact or sounding point between the ribbon of horsehair and the strings is essentially one inch from the wooden bridge on the instrument which supports the strings. Bowing along a path that is essentially, and preferably precisely, perpendicular to the strings while maintaining an immoveable or fixed sounding point with respect to the string-supporting bridge on the string instrument are essential elements required for the proper playing of a string instrument. The teaching and learning of this precise movement of the bow along with maintaining a fixed sounding point have been particularly difficult to achieve.
Devices have been previously developed for practice bowing perpendicular to the strings on musical instruments. However, none of these previously developed devices have the capability of teaching the musical student the skill of bowing perpendicular to the strings while simultaneously maintaining an immoveable sounding point. These previously developed practice devices commonly used guide posts of metal or plastic attached to the top of the stringed musical instrument, usually a violin. One such previous practice device utilized a pair of parallel metal, wicket-shaped guide posts that are attached to a violin with plastic fittings. In the use of this device, the player draws a real bow over the strings of the violin along a path located between the metal guides. Another previous practice device required the mounting of a pair of plastic vertical rods on the violin by employing adhesive straps positioned about the body of the violin. Using this practice device, the player draws a real bow over the strings of the instrument between the plastic rods.
The previously known bowing practice devices such as described above each suffer some shortcomings or drawbacks which detract from their use as a bowing practice device. For example, the guide posts and the vertical rods of the above-described practice devices provide too much leeway in allowing the bow to easily deviate from a precise sounding point on the string and also in allowing the bow to excessively fluctuate from a bowing path that is perpendicular to the strings on the musical instrument. These previously known practice devices have also been found to allow string crossing so as to further complicate the intended purpose of these devices. Further, these previously known practice devices are cumbersome to attach to musical instruments and may, in fact, damage a string instrument of value so as to limit their use on relatively inexpensive string instruments.
All previously known bowing practice devices require the use of both the string instrument and a real sound-producing bow and can be attached to violins of standard sizes (full size, 3/4 size, 1/2 size, 1/4 size, 1/8 size, 1/16 size) and may be adapted to fit very small violas. However, these previously known practice devices cannot be adequately adjusted to fit a larger standard size viola and the attachment thereof to a cello of any size has been found to be impossible. Another shortcoming with these previously known practice devices is that they can not be readily stored in a standard instrument case for easy transport and accessibility thereof.

String instrument bowing practice device


An improved process for manufacturing a linear glucamide surfactant comprises reacting an N-alkylglucamine, e.g., N-methylglucamine, a fatty ester, e.g., coconut methyl ester and a catalyst selected from trilithium phosphate, trisodium phosphate, tripotassium phosphate, tetrasodium pyrophosphate, tetrapotassium pyrophosphate, pentasodium tripolyphosphate, pentapotassium tripolyphosphate, lithium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, lithium carbonate, sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, disodium tartrate, dipotassium tartrate, sodium potassium tartrate, trisodium citrate, tripotassium citrate, sodium basic silicates, potassium basic silicates, sodium basic aluminosilicates, potassium basic aluminosilicates and mixtures thereof.

The present invention is set against a background of change in society's attitudes to how natural resources are used. Petroleum feedstocks are non-renewable and increasingly costly, even impacting significantly on national balances of payment, and supply can be uncertain. There is a perception, increasingly commonly held, that it may be for the general good of society, as well as of the environment, to reduce the reliance of consumer disposable goods manufacturing on such feedstocks. However, a serious response to such notions requires efficient processes for converting locally or regionally available renewable resource feedstocks into desirable consumer goods such as laundry detergents.
The United States produces very considerable tonnages of sugars, such as glucose or corn syrup, as well as of fatty substances. There is a downward trend in traditional patterns of consumption of these particular renewable resources: people are tending to eat less sugars, and also less fatty foods, especially saturated fats, for health-related reasons. This makes their development for other uses, such as laundry detergents, all the more attractive.
A number of years ago, processes were explored for making textile assistants or detergents from fatty acids or their derivatives in combination with N-alkylglucamines, the latter made by reductive amination of glucose. Glucose reductive amination processes are more fully disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,016,962, Flint et al, issued Oct. 8, 1935.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,985,424, Piggott, issued Dec. 25, 1934, discloses manufacturing "textile assistants" by reacting (a) the product of heating glucose and aqueous methylamine in presence of hydrogen and a hydrogenating catalyst under pressure with (b) an organic carboxylic acid such as stearic acid or oleic acid. The condensation product, prepared at about 160.degree. C., is said to be "predominantly, if not exclusively, an amide" and is assertedly of the formula R--CO--NR.sub.1 --CH.sub.2 --(CHOH).sub.4 --CH.sub.2 OH wherein R is an alkyl radical containing at least 3 carbon atoms, while R.sub.1 is hydrogen or an alkyl radical.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,703,798, Schwartz, issued Mar. 8, 1955, asserts that compositions produced by reacting fatty acids or acid anhydrides with N-alkylglucamines (presumably such as the process as taught by Piggott) have poor color and poor detergency properties. It is indeed chemically reasonable that more than one compound can be formed by the Piggott process. Piggott makes no attempt to quantitatively prove the structures of the compounds or mixtures he prepared.
Schwartz ('798) goes on to report an improvement as a result of reacting fatty ester (as distinct from fatty acid or anhydride) with N-alkylglucamines. Although this process may overcome one or another deficiency of the art, such as of Piggott, it now transpires that the Schwartz process still has difficulties, in particular, in that complex mixtures of compounds can be formed even by the Schwartz process. The reaction may take several hours and the process can fail to give high quality product. Neither the process of Piggott not the process of Schwartz is known to have ever borne fruit in commercial practice.
In more detail, Schwartz notes that only one of several possible chemical reactions takes place when N-monoalkylglucamines are condensed with fatty esters or oils. The reaction is said to give compounds formulated as amides, e.g., ##STR1## where R' is fatty alkyl and R is a short-chain alkyl, typically methyl. This structure is apparently the same as the structure proposed by Piggott. Schwartz contrasts the single-product outcome he believes he secures with compounds he asserts are actually produced when acids are reacted with N-alkylglucamines, namely mixtures of the amide (I) with one or more by-products, to which he assigns esteramide and esteramine structures and which assertedly include compounds which are "inert and waxy, impairing the surface activity of" the structure (I) amide.
According to Schwartz, approximately equimolar proportions of N-monoalkylglucamines can be reacted with fatty alkyl esters by heating at 140.degree. C.-230.degree. C., preferably 160.degree. C.-180.degree. C. at normal, reduced or superatmospheric pressures for a period "somewhat in excess of one hour" during which time two initially immiscible phases merge to form a product said to be a useful detergent.
Suitable N-monoalkylglucamines are illustrated by N-methylglucamine, N-ethylglucamine, N-isopropylglucamine and N-butylglucamine. Suitable fatty alkyl esters are illustrated by the product of reacting a C.sub.6 -C.sub.30 fatty acid with an aliphatic alcohol e.g., methyl ester of lauric acid. Mixed glycerides of Manila oil or mixed glycerides of cochin coconut oil can apparently also be used as the fatty ester. When the glucamine is N-methylglucamine, the corresponding products with these fatty esters are characterized as the "fatty acid amides of N-methylglucamine", which are useful detergent surfactants. Another specific composition reported is assertedly "N-isopropylglucamine coconut fatty acid amide".
U.S. Pat. No. 2,993,887, Zech, issued Jul. 25, 1961, reveals there is even more complexity to the reactions of fatty substances with N-methylglucamine. In particular, Zech asserts that the products of high-temperature reaction (180.degree. C.-200.degree. C.) within the range disclosed by Schwartz have cyclic structures. No fewer than four possible structures are given. See '887 at col. 1 line 63-col. 2 line 31.
What is now believed actually to be provided by the fatty ester- N-alkylglucamine process of Schwartz are compositions comprising mixtures of formula (I) compounds together with appreciable proportions (e.g., about 25%, often much more) of several other components, especially cyclic glucamide by-products (including but not limited to the structures proposed by Zech) or related derivatives such as esteramides wherein as compared with formula (I) at least one --OH moiety is esterified.
Moreover, a reinvestigation of Schwartz suggests that there are other significant unsolved problems in the process, including a tendency to form trace materials imparting very unsatisfactory color and/or odor to the product.
More recently, the work of Schwartz notwithstanding, Hildreth has asserted that compounds of formula (I) are new. See Biochem. J., 1982, Vol. 207, pages 363-366. In any event, these compositions are given a new name: "N-D-gluco-N-methylalkanamide detergents", and the acronym "MEGA". Hildreth provides a solvent-assisted process for making the compounds differing seminally from Schwartz in that it returns to the use of a fatty acid reactant, instead of fatty ester. Moreover, Hildreth relies on pyridine/ethyl chloroformate as the solvent/activator. This process is specifically illustrated for octanoyl-N-methylglucamide ("OMEGA"), nonanoyl-N-methylglucamide ("MEGA-9") and decanoyl-N-methylglucamide ("MEGA-10"). The process is said to be cheap and high-yield. One must of course assume that "cheap" is relative and is meant in the sense of specialized biochemical applications of interest to the author: in terms of large-scale detergent manufacture, the use of pyridine and ethyl chloroformate would hardly be viewed as consistent with an economic or environmentally attractive process. Therefore, the Hildreth process is not further considered herein.
Hildreth and other workers have purified certain formula (I) compounds, e.g., by recrystallization, and have described the properties of some of the structure (I) compounds. Recrystallization is, of course, a costly and potentially hazardous (flammable solvents) step in itself, and large-scale detergent manufacture would be more economical and safer without it.
According to Schwartz supra, the products of the Schwartz process can be used for cleaning hard surfaces. According to Thomas Hedley & Co. Ltd. (now Procter & Gamble), British Patent 809,060 published Feb. 18, 1959, formula (I) compounds are useful as a surfactant for laundry detergents such as those having granular form. Hildreth (supra) mentions use of compounds of formula (I) in the biochemistry field as a detergent agent for solubilizing plasma membranes and EP-A 285,768, published Dec. 10, 1988 describes application of formula (I) compounds as a thickener. Thus, these compounds, or compositions containing them, can be highly desirable surfactants.
Yet another process for making compositions comprising formula (I) compounds is included in the above-identified disclosure of improved thickeners. See EP-A 285,768. See also H. Kelkenberg, Tenside Surfactants Detergents 25 (1988) 8-13, inter alia for additional disclosures of processes for making N-alkylglucamines which, along with the above-identified art-disclosed N-alkylglucamine processes can be combined with the instant process for an overall conversion of glucose and fatty materials to useful surfactant compositions.
The relevant disclosures of EP-A 285,768 include a brief statement to the effect that "it is known that the preparation of chemical compounds of formula (I) is done by reacting fatty acids or fatty acid esters in a melt with polyhydroxy alkylamines which can be N-substituted, optionally in the presence of alkaline catalysts". The above-referenced art strongly suggests that this statement is a gross simplification or is inaccurate. EP-A 285,768 does not cite any references in support of the quoted statement, nor has any reference other than EP-A 285,768 been found which actually does disclose any catalytic condensation of N-alkylglucamines with fatty esters or fatty triglycerides.
The European Patent Application contains the following Example entitled "Preparation of N-methyl-coconut fatty acid glucamide" in which "Na methylate" is understood to be synonymous with "sodium methoxide" and which has been translated from the German:
"In a stirred flask 669 g (3.0 mol) of coconut fatty acid methyl ester and 585 g (3.0 mol) of N-methyl glucamine with the addition of 3.3 g Na methylate were gradually heated to 135.degree. C. The methanol formed during the reaction was condensed under increasing vacuum at 100 to 15 mbar in a cooled collector. After the methanol evolution ended the reaction mixture was dissolved in 1.5 l of warm isopropanol, filtered and crystallized. After filtration and drying 882 g (=76% of theoretical) of waxy N-methyl coconut fatty acid glucamide was obtained. Softening point: =80.degree. to 84.degree. C.; Base number: 4 mg. KOH/g."
EP-A 285,768 continues with the following:
"In a similar manner the following fatty acid glucamides were prepared:
______________________________________ Softening Base No. Yield Point (mg. % (.degree.C.) KOH/g) ______________________________________ N-methyl lauric acid glucamide 76 94-96 6 N-methyl myristic acid glucamide 75 98-100 3 N-methyl palmitic acid glucamide 75 103-105 5 N-methyl stearic acid glucamide 84 96-98 6" ______________________________________
To summarize some important points of what can be gleaned from the art, the aforementioned Schwartz patent teaches that the problem of making formula (I) compounds from fatty esters or triglycerides and an N-alkylglucamine is solved by selecting fatty ester (instead of fatty acid) as the fatty reactant, and by doing simple uncatalyzed condensations. Later literature, such as Hildreth, changes direction back to a fatty acid-type synthesis, but does not document either that the teaching of the Schwartz patent is in error or how, short of making highly pure formula (I) compounds, to make such surfactants to detergent formulator's specifications. On the other hand, there has been one disclosure, in a totally different technical field, of sodium methoxidecatalyzed formula (I) compound synthesis. As noted, the procedure involves gradual temperature staging up to 135.degree. C. and recrystallizing the product.
In view of the foregoing observations, it would be very desirable to further improve processes for making surfactant compositions comprising formula (I) compounds. Such processes should be useful on a large scale and should result directly in compositions meeting laundry detergent formulators' specifications without need for recrystallization.
Accordingly, it is an object of the instant invention to provide an improved catalyzed process for manufacturing surfactant compositions by reacting fatty esters and N-alkylglucamines in the presence of particular catalysts.
It is a further object to provide product compositions of the invention for use in laundry detergents, including not only linear glucamide surfactant compositions having excellent quality and color, but also compositions comprising the linear glucamide surfactant in combination with one or more solid-form alkaline laundry detergent builders such as sodium carbonate.
These and other objects are secured, as will be seen from the following disclosure.

Catalyzed process for glucamide detergents


Apparatus for supporting a cutting bit having an extended shank on a rotatable cutting drum is provided. The support apparatus includes a bit holder having an upper body portion and a shank portion and a generally rectangular mounting base having rear, side and front members. The upper body of the bit holder includes a bore for receiving the cutting bit shank and upper rear abutment surfaces perpendicular to the bit axis. The shank of the bit holder has a lower rear abutment surface having horizontal and vertical areas and a threaded bore which extends into the shank intermediate the upper and lower abutment surfaces. The rear portion of the mounting base includes upper abutment surfaces perpendicular to the bit axis and a lower abutment surface having horizontal and vertical areas. A draw bolt passes through the rear portion of the mounting base and serves to draw the upper and lower abutment surfaces of the bit holder and mounting base, respectively, into engagement.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to miner cutting bit holders and, in particular, to miner bit holders which include a mounting base attached to a rotating cutting drum and a replaceable cutting bit holder.
2. Description of the Invention Background
In the materials mining industry it is typical to employ a mining apparatus which includes a vertically moveable rotating cutting drum which has cutting bits attached thereto. By virtue of the rotation of the cutting drum and the movement of the miner into the material to be mined, the material is removed for further processing.
It is well known that such cutting bits and their holders are subjected to considerable stresses during the mining operation. Such stresses occur axially, vertically and transverse relative to the cutting bit. Accordingly, in normal mining operations, cutting bits require frequent replacement due to wear or breakage. In fact, cutter bits must often be replaced on a daily basis. In view of this phenomenon, much effort has heretofore been directed to the provision of readily replaceable cutter bits which may be removed with a minimum of effort from their supports.
Because the bit holding devices are not the primary vehicles by which material is removed from the mine face, the bit holding devices are generally characterized by a longer service life. As such, the prior art has developed bit holding systems which include a bit holder which physically retains the cutting bit and which may be mounted in a mounting base which may be directly or indirectly welded into the miner's cutting drum. Nevertheless, the bit holders themselves are subject to considerable wear and breakage and may require replacement on two to six month intervals.
It is also known that bit holders must be able to hold the cutting bits against axial movement while allowing the cutting bits to freely rotate in order to minimize wear in any single localized region. However, the cutting bit holder must be securely fastened to the mounting base because, if not, looseness will occur between the bit holder and the mounting base which will quickly accelerate into deterioration of either or both of those components.
While the prior art has endeavored to provide miner bit holders which include bit holders and separate mounting bases, Applicants have discovered that the prior art bit holding devices do not sufficiently restrain lateral, axial and vertical movement between a bit holder and a mounting base to eliminate movement therebetween and, thus, the associated problems resulting therefrom. As such, due to their design, prior art bit holder-mounting base combinations are prone to premature failure.
Accordingly, the need exists for a miner cutting bit holding apparatus which includes a bit holder which may appropriately restrain the cutting bit while being replaceably received within a mounting base attached to the cutting drum to eliminate relative movement therebetween and which, consequently, avoids failure of the bit holder and mounting base to eliminate the awaiting frequent replacement of one or both of those elements.


Apparatus are provided for storing items within vehicle cargo compartments. A panel is pivotally secured within a cargo compartment and is movable between a closed position in adjacent, face-to-face relationship with the wall and one or more open positions substantially transverse to the wall, and a retractable retaining belt operably associated with the panel. The retaining belt is movable between retracted and extended positions. The retaining belt has a free end and a post attached to the free end that is configured to be gripped by a user so as to move the retaining belt to an extended position. A floor within the vehicle includes one or more apertures formed therein, and the post includes an end portion that is configured to be removably inserted into the one or more apertures so as to maintain the retaining belt in one or more respective extended positions.

The present invention relates generally to vehicles and, more particularly, to cargo management apparatus for use within vehicles.
Motor vehicles are typically provided with a cargo storage compartment of some type. For example, sedan-style automobiles are conventionally equipped with a trunk. Sport/utility vehicles, mini-vans, and other vehicles in which there are two or more rows of seating, are conventionally provided with a cargo storage area behind the last row of seating.
Items carried within vehicle cargo storage areas are often free to move about during vehicle operation, which may be undesirable. Cargo netting may be used to restrain items from movement within vehicle cargo storage compartments. While such netting may adequately restrain items from movement, cargo netting may require the use of two hands to hold the cargo netting back while placing items therewithin, which may be cumbersome.
Various devices are known for dividing vehicle storage compartments to prevent movement of items stored therein. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,027,155 to Wisniewski et al. describes a storage system for a vehicle cargo compartment that includes a cover that is removably attached to the floor of the cargo compartment and that is configured to rotate between open and closed positions. U.S. Pat. No. 5,669,537 to Saleem et al. describes a storage unit that extends between, and connects to, vehicle panels of a vehicle storage area. U.S. Pat. No. 5,501,384 to Wisniewski describes a storage system for a vehicle that includes a molded bin and a cover pivotally secured to the bin.
Unfortunately, these devices are somewhat complex and bulky and are not adapted to be compactly stored within the cargo storage area of a vehicle. Moreover, in vehicles such as sport/utility vehicles and mini-vans, cargo storage space may be somewhat limited. Accordingly, a need exists for a cargo storage device that can securely retain items within a cargo storage area during operation of a vehicle and that can be easily stored in an out-of-the-way location when not needed, and without requiring that the storage device be removed from the cargo storage area. In addition, a need exists to maximize the efficiency and utilization of existing cargo storage space without intruding on passenger space.
In view of the above discussion, an apparatus for storing items within vehicles is provided that includes a panel pivotally secured within a cargo compartment (e.g., to a vehicle cargo compartment wall, floor, etc.) and movable about a substantially vertical axis between a closed position in adjacent, face-to-face relationship with the wall and one or more open positions substantially transverse to the wall, and a retractable retaining belt operably associated with the panel, wherein the retaining belt is movable between retracted and extended positions. The retaining belt has a free end and a post attached to the free end that is configured to be gripped by a user so as to move the retaining belt to an extended position. A floor within the vehicle (e.g., a vehicle cargo compartment floor) includes one or more apertures formed therein, and the post includes an end portion that is configured to be removably inserted into the one or more apertures so as to maintain the retaining belt in one or more respective extended positions.
According to embodiments of the present invention, the retaining belt is disposed within the panel, and the retaining belt free end extends from a slot within the panel. The slot may be formed in various locations on the panel. A preferred location for the slot is in a free end of the panel or adjacent thereto.
The retaining belt may be formed from various materials and may have various shapes, lengths and configurations. According to embodiments of the present invention, the belt has a web configuration.
According to embodiments of the present invention, the panel may include a pocket formed therein that is configured to removably receive the post therein when the retaining belt is in a retracted position. The post serves as a handle that can be gripped by a user to move the panel from a closed position to an open position when the post is retained in the pocket.
According to embodiments of the present invention, the panel may be configured to be substantially flush with the wall when in the closed position. According to embodiments of the present invention, the vehicle wall may have a storage area formed therewithin. The panel may be pivotally secured to the wall and movable between a closed position covering the storage area and one or more open positions substantially transverse to the wall allowing access to the storage area.

Vehicle cargo panel having retractable belt