A refrigeration system and refrigeration method for a data center are disclosed. The refrigeration system includes: a first heat exchanger disposed on a back plate of an indoor cabinet of the data center, and a phase-change heat-exchange cooling tower disposed outdoor of the data center. The first heat exchanger and the phase-change heat-exchange cooling tower are communicated by a secondary refrigerant delivery pipeline. The phase-change heat-exchange cooling tower transfers heat carried in the secondary refrigerant into air and condenses the secondary refrigerant to a liquid again; the secondary refrigerant employs a phase-change heat-exchange working medium. An air pump is disposed in the phase-change heat-exchange cooling tower and on a by-pass of the secondary refrigerant delivery pipeline to pressurize the secondary refrigerant in gas-state delivered in the secondary refrigerant delivery pipeline to increase the condensing pressure for condensing the secondary refrigerant to a liquid again.

With the development of the Internet, data centers are getting bigger and bigger. In order to maintain normal access of users on the Internet, the data center can be equipped with IT equipment such as servers. All IT equipment in the data center will generate a lot of heat during operation, and the accumulation of heat, rise of indoor temperature of the data center will seriously affect the normal operation of the IT equipment in the data center. Therefore, a corresponding cooling system needs to be disposed in the data center to cool the data center and ensure the normal operation of the IT equipment in the data center.
In order to obtain lower cooling energy consumption, a solution is used in the prior art to locate the data center close enough to a cold region and configure free-of-charge cooling schemes, such as direct/indirect free-of-charge cooling on a wind side and indirect free-of-charge cooling on a water side. In particular, the indirect free-of-charge cooling on the water side is applied on a large scale because it is adapted for meeting needs in the construction of large-scale data centers. For example, FIG. 1 is a structural diagram of a refrigeration system for a data center employed in the prior art. As shown in FIG. 1, the data center refrigeration system commonly used in the prior art employs a cooling tower and a plate exchanger (plate-type exchanger) to exchange heat of an evaporation side and a condensation side through an evaporator and a condenser, respectively. For example, in a natural cooling mode, the chilled water comes out of a terminal air conditioner, and after entering the plate exchanger, it exchanges heat with the cooling water; when the chilled water is cooled to a certain temperature, it enters the terminal air conditioner to absorb heat; meanwhile, the chilled water from the cooling tower enters the plate exchanger to absorb the heat of the chilled water, and heats up and then enters the cooling tower for heat dissipation. As shown in FIG. 1, in order to ensure circulation of the chilled water and circulation of cooling water, corresponding valves are also provided to ensure the performance of circulation.
It can be known from the above that the refrigeration system of existing data centers not only has high water consumption, but also causes waste of water resources, and the structure is very complicated and the maintenance costs are high.

Refrigeration system and refrigeration method for data center

BEIJING BAIDU NETCOM SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


The present invention provides an aqueous emulsion having excellent polymerization stability and standing stability and a redispersible powder. Specifically, the present invention relates to an aqueous emulsion of a polymer obtained by polymerizing an acrylic monomer in the presence of a polyvinyl alcohol containing an acetoacetic ester group; wherein the polyvinyl alcohol containing an acetoacetic ester group has block character [η] of 0.3 to 0.6, hydrolysis degree of at least 97% by mol and acetoacetic esterification degree of 0.01 to 1.5% by mol, and the value obtained by dividing the maximum value by the minimum value of the respective average acetoacetic esterification degree for each of the polyvinyl alcohol containing an acetoacetic ester group separated by particle size of 44 to 74, 74 to 105, 105 to 177, 177 to 297, 297 to 500 and 500 to 1680 μm is 1.0 to 3.0. Also, the present invention relates to a redispersible fiber obtained by drying the aqueous emulsion.

The present invention relates to an aqueous emulsion having excellent polymerization stability and standing stability. More specifically, the present invention relates to an aqueous emulsion, in which polymer particles comprising an acrylic monomer which have polyvinyl alcohol containing an acetoacetic ester group with little difference in acetoacetic esterification degree by particle size and high blockiness attached to the surface thereof are the dispersoid, and a redispersible powder obtained by drying the aqueous emulsion. The aqueous emulsion and redispersible powder of the present invention can be used as an adhesive for particleboards and an additive for cement and mortar.
Conventionally, in order to give mechanical stability and frozen stability to an acrylic aqueous emulsion, polyvinyl alcohol (hereinafter referred to as PVA) is used as a protective colloid. However, although mechanical stability and frozen stability of the emulsion are improved, polymerization stability is insufficient and particularly, when the resin content in the emulsion is a high concentration of more than 50% by weight, polymerization cannot be conducted. Therefore, when PVA is used as a protective colloid of an acrylic aqueous emulsion, the resin content in the emulsion must be at most 50% by weight, which is a problem in terms of productivity. Also, the stability of the obtained emulsion is insufficient and there is the problem that viscosity increases over time.
Also, the vinyl acetate or acrylic aqueous emulsion and the redispersible powder obtained by drying the aqueous emulsion are used for mixing in cement and mortar. However, when the emulsion is mixed, there is the problem that flowability of the cement and mortar becomes poor over time and workability decreases.
Therefore, desired is development of a PVA protective colloid, by which polymerization can be conducted even when the resin content in the emulsion is a high concentration of at least 50% by weight, in the case that PVA is used as a protective colloid of an acrylic aqueous emulsion, and an aqueous emulsion or redipsersible powder, which does not decrease workability when mixed in cement and mortar.
As a means therefor, the method of using polyvinyl alcohol containing an acetoacetic ester group as an emulsifying dispersion agent is suggested and described in many patent documents. For example, JP-A-9-110925 discloses a process for preparing PVA containing an acetoacetic ester group (hereinafter referred to as AAPVA). AAPVA, in which the value obtained by dividing the maximum value with the minimum value of the acetoacetic esterification degree (hereinafter referred to as AA degree) of each AAPVA separated by particle size of 44 to 74, 74 to 105, 105 to 177, 177 to 297, 297 to 500 and 500 to 1680 μm is 1.0 to 3.0, is described as having excellent transparency and stability as an aqueous solution and being suitable as an emulsifying dispersion agent.
JP-A-2003-277419 discloses an aqueous emulsion in which PVA containing an active hydrogen group such as an acetoacetic ester group, a mercapto group and a diacetone acrylamide group, which has block character [η] of more than 0.6, hydrolysis degree of more than 95.0% by mol and low blockiness, is attached to a polymer. The mechanical stability, frozen stability and high temperature storage stability of the obtained aqueous emulsion and the mechanical stability of the redispersible powder obtained by drying the emulsion are described as being favorable. Furthermore, Examples are described, wherein polymerization is conducted so that the resin concentration in the emulsion becomes 50% by weight.
JP-A-2002-60406 discloses a powder obtained by attaching PVA containing an acetoacetic ester group or a mercapto group and having high blockiness of block character [η] of 0.3 to 0.6 to a polymer comprising an ethylenic unsaturated monomer and/or a diene monomer. It is described that the obtained powder is excellent in redipersibility and the properties of cement in which the powder is mixed are favorable. Furthermore, Examples are described, wherein polymerization is conducted so that the resin concentration in the emulsion becomes 50% by weight.
However, in recent years, from the viewpoint of increased productivity, the emulsion is preferably polymerized with as high resin concentration as possible. In the aqueous emulsions of the above patent documents, when polymerization is conducted with resin concentration in the emulsion of at least 50% by weight, problems occur, such as coarse particles develop due to insufficient polymerization stability and the viscosity of the emulsion increases due to insufficient standing stability.
Also, in the case that the aqueous emulsions and the redispersible powder of the above patent documents are mixed in cement and mortar, workability is favorable when the cement and mortar are used immediately after mixing, but when used some time after mixing, flowability of the cement and mortar decreases and there is the problem that workability decreases.

The Nippon Synthetic Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.


Provided is a film package assembly to be used within a camera such that conventional winding and rewinding components are eliminated. Provided is a film package assembly which includes a new light-tight film canister device, a roll of film and a film take-up cartridge. The film package assembly being designed so as to be loadable within a camera in non-darkroom or lighted conditions.

The present invention relates generally to photographic film packages and methods for loading the same into associated cameras such as 35 mm cameras, single-use cameras, APS cameras, or the like. The present invention also relates generally to cameras which facilitate the loading of the film packages according to the present invention.
Various types of cameras such as those mentioned above are well known in the art. Typically, each type of camera utilizes a somewhat unique method of loading a particular film package into the camera. In conventional cameras, such as conventional 35 mm cameras, film is generally loaded from the back of such cameras by opening a back door thereto, placing a film cartridge loaded with film into the camera, pulling a film leader of the film extending from the cartridge across the inside of the camera, engaging the film leader on a wind-up spool or similar device, and then closing the back door. Once loaded, the film from the cartridge may be wrapped around the wind-up spool as individual frames are exposed for picture taking, and after all of the frames have been exposed, the film may be manually or mechanically drawn back into the film cartridge for further film processing. Rewinding the exposed film back into the film cartridge requires certain necessary rewinding equipment which adds to the overall complexity of these types of cameras and also increases manufacturing costs. Alternatively, once loaded, the film from the film cartridge may be manually or mechanically advanced to a storage chamber of the camera which houses the wind-up spool or similar device prior to exposing the individual frames of the film for picture taking. Cameras which utilize this method of loading must incorporate certain necessary winding equipment which also adds additional components and manufacturing costs to such cameras. Film for these types of conventional cameras is normally contained and sold in a single film cartridge. Conventional cameras such as those just described are designed to remove film from these single film cartridges and at some point in time prior to removing the film from the camera for further film processing, winding or rewinding the exposed frames of the film back into the same single film cartridge.
So called single-use cameras are becoming extremely popular in the market place and are well known to those skilled in the art. As the name implies, single-use cameras are manufactured and sold with the intent of being used only a single time (i.e., with only one roll of pre-loaded film) by the purchaser or ultimate user. Typically, taking into account manufacturing costs and their intended use, single-use cameras are usually made of plastic. Film is preloaded into single-use cameras during manufacturing prior to sale and then the cameras are sealed closed. The film is loaded into the back of single-use cameras in much the same way as film is loaded into conventional 35 mm cameras, thus having the same attendant problems as mentioned above for conventional 35 mm cameras.
Single-use cameras are usually sealed by securely assembling a back cover to each camera with a locking mechanism such as screws, adhesive, thermal bonding, etc., so that the back cover cannot be easily removed. As generally understood, film cannot be removed from a single-use camera without destroying at least part of the camera. It is intended that the camera user return the entire camera, intact, to a developing lab for film processing after the user is finished taking pictures. The lab will remove the exposed film and discard the camera body. There is a large commercial market for recycling discarded single-use cameras for resale.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,972,649 describes a single-use camera where film is withdrawn from a film cartridge and wound into a roll after which the roll of film and the film cartridge are loaded into the camera. One problem with the loading method described in the '649 patent is that in order to prevent the film from being prematurely exposed, the loading of the film into the camera must take place in darkroom conditions. Such a requirement presents problems for those situations where darkroom conditions are not easily or economically available such as, for example, the single-use camera recycling industry. Moreover, another problem with the loading method described in the '649 patent is that because of the requirement of loading film in darkroom-like conditions, the typical consumer is prevented from reloading film into a single-use camera for subsequent use.
Advanced Photo System cameras or APS cameras utilize what is commonly referred to as a film safe cartridge which has a light lock door and does not, at the time of purchase, or at the time that film is first inserted into a camera, have a film leader extending from the cartridge to facilitate film loading. Film is loaded into and removed from these cameras via a film cartridge opening normally disposed on the bottom of the cameras. The light lock door of the film cartridge is usually automatically opened by the camera after the film has been loaded. The camera then drives the film out of the cassette and into a film storage or spool area on the opposite side of the camera from the film cartridge storage area. Before the film cartridge can be removed from the camera, the camera rewinds the film back into the film safe cartridge and then closes the light lock door to prevent the film inside the cartridge from being undesirably exposed. Although APS cameras provide certain advantages when it comes to protecting film from unwanted exposure, APS cameras generally include complex internal mechanisms which are designed to open and close the light lock door of the film safe cartridges.
As is well known in the art, 110 and 126 cameras use, respectively, 110-size film and 126-size film. Film for these types of cameras is sold in light-tight film packages which incorporate a pair of light-tight cartridges separated by a solid bridge. Film is contained in one cartridge prior to exposure arid advanced into the other cartridge as individual frames of film are exposed for picture taking and thereafter advanced. Once all of the film has been exposed and transferred from one cartridge to the next, the film package is removed for further film processing. As is well known in the art, 110 and 126 cameras are standardized in that any 110-size film package or 126-size film package can be placed in any 110 camera or 126 camera because all of such cameras are designed to include similar dimensions. Thus, one 110-size film package or one 126-size film package is the same as the next 110-size film package or the next 126-size film package. Stated differently, 110 cameras and 126 cameras are built or manufactured around the film packages for 110-size or 126-size film. One problem with these types of film packages is that although such prior rigid double cartridge film package systems work well for the standardized 110 cameras and 126 cameras, such rigid double cartridge systems are not well suited for other conventional cameras such as 35 mm cameras which are not standardized. Thirty-five mm cameras come in all kinds of different shapes and sizes where the length of film between chambers located on opposite sides of an exposure frame varies in significant amounts. Thus, a rigid double cartridge system, like a 110 or 126 rigid double cartridge, for one 35 mm camera would not necessarily fit or work in a different 35 mm camera.
Notwithstanding the many known film systems, there is a need for a new and improved camera which eliminates the need for complicated internal mechanical winding and rewinding systems normally used for film placed therein, thereby reducing costs associated with manufacturing cameras of the type contemplated for use according to the present invention. There is also a need for a view film package for use with such a new camera which is ready for use once placed within a camera without having to pre-wind film into a storage or spool compartment as is currently done for many known cameras. Moreover, there is also a need for a new film package which does not require rewinding of film back into a film cartridge for further processing after all of the frames have been exposed prior to removing the film from the camera as is currently done for many other known cameras. What is further needed is a method for loading a new film package into a compatible camera in which the film can be easily and reliably installed in non-darkroom like conditions. What is also needed is a new film package assembly which is capable of use in conventional cameras having different internal components, shapes and sizes. What is needed is a film package assembly which is adapted for use in cameras of varying dimensions rather than having the situation where certain dimensions of the cameras are controlled by the particular film package used therein as is currently the case for many known camera systems. The present invention accomplishes these and other goals.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Film canister device for use in a film package assembly and a method for loading a camera therewith and a camera loadable thereby


In a communication apparatus to which a recording medium is attachable, a display unit displays, in a case where a recording medium attached to the communication apparatus includes a wireless communication function not included in a wireless communication unit in the communication apparatus, an item related to a wireless communication function included in the wireless communication unit in the communication apparatus and an item related to a wireless communication function not included in the wireless communication unit in the communication apparatus from among wireless communication functions included in the recording medium.

1. Field
Aspects of the present invention generally relate to a communication apparatus to which a recording medium having a communication function is connectable.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, a memory card having a wireless communication function has been on the market. Such a memory card allows a communication apparatus, such as an imaging apparatus, to more easily transfer image data to an external device. If the memory card is attached to a digital camera, the digital camera can transmit image data to an external device capable of performing wireless communication. Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-128910 discusses an imaging apparatus on which an operation for setting a wireless communication function can be performed when a memory card having the wireless communication function is attached thereto.
On the other hand, a communication apparatus having a built-in wireless communication function is gradually becoming popularized. A user of the communication apparatus can thus use both the wireless communication function built in the communication apparatus and the wireless communication function of the memory card.
As described above, the wireless communication functions usable by the user are diversifying. Further, it is assumed that there will be cases where the user attaches a recording medium having the wireless communication function to the communication apparatus having the built-in wireless communication function. In such a case, if the wireless communication functions of both the communication apparatus and the recording medium become more diversified, the communication apparatus and the recording medium may have similar wireless communication functions.

Communication apparatus, control method therefor, and storage medium


Asymmatric, porous polyamide membranes permeable to fluid flow comprising:. (A) a porous skin layer, and PA1 (B) adjacent to the skin layer, an integral, porous support layer having at least one region comprising a network of substantially parallel, hollow tube-like structures, each of the tube-like structures being oriented such that the longitudinal dimension of each tube-like structure is essentially perpendicular to the skin layer; PA1 wherein PA1 the skin layer is relatively thin and dense compared to the support layer, PA1 the pore diameters in the skin layer are relatively small compared to the diameters of the tube-like structures in the support layer, PA1 in membrances having support layers with more than one region, the cross-sectional area of the tube-like structures is larger in regions located farther from the skin layer, and PA1 the polyamide is an aliphatic polyamide having a glass transition temperature of less than 200.degree. C., and method of making the same. These membranes are useful in ultrafiltration and microfiltration processes.

Canadian Patent No. 1,168,006 (Wrasidlo) discloses an asymmetric ultrafiltration membrane having a skin layer supported by an "open honeycomb structure". The specification states that only polymeric materials having glass transition temperatures of at least 200.degree. C. would be suitable in the invention since only polymers having such relatively high glass transition temperatures are sufficiently rigid to form the honeycomb support structure. Of the polyamides, only polyarylamides were specifically identified as useful. The specification also states that the skin layer of the membranes has slit-like fissures instead of substantially circular pores.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,629,563 (Wrasidlo) discloses asymmetric membranes which may be used as ultrafilters or microfilters. The membranes can have a skin layer and a porous, asymmetric, reticulated support layer. The membranes described in the '563 patent can be made of polyamide, however, only polyhexamethylene terephthalamide, an araliphatic polyamide, is specifically disclosed. The membranes are formed by casting a polymer dope while that dope is in an unstable liquid dispersion condition.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,627,992 (Badenhop et al.) describes membranes formed from aromatic polyamide resins. The membranes described in the '992 patent can be symmetric or asymmetric and can be produced using a solution of the polyamide in an aprotic solvent.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,340,481 (Mishiro et al) describes a hollow fiber membrane having a three-dimensional net-like structure of fine pore passages. In Example 8, one such hollow fiber membrane is prepared from a casting solution containing 18 weight percent polyamide, methyl alcohol, water and calcium chloride dihydrate using a 1:1 methanol/water coagulation bath.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,722,795 (Gohl et al.) describes asymmetric, self-supporting membranes, useful for ultrafiltration, which may be in the form of a flat sheet, tube, or hollow fiber. The patent states that suitable membrane materials are polymers which are soluble in polar, non-protonic organic solvents such as dimethylsulfoxide. While the patent states that polyamides are preferred for use in forming the membranes, only an aromatic polyamide is specifically disclosed.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,876,738 (Marinaccio et al.) describes a process for making microporous membranes in which a film-forming polymer, e.g. nylon, is dissolved in a solvent system, e.g., a formic acid solution, the resulting solution is cast to form a film, and the film is quenched in a non-solvent bath, e.g. water/salt or alcohol/salt solutions, to form a microporous membrane. This patent does not state that these membranes are asymmetric.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,482,514 (Schindler et al.) describes a process for preparing ultrafiltration membranes using a formic acid solution of polyamide containing about 1 to 7% polyethylene glycol. The patent states that the membrane possesses an ultrafiltration skin layer and a backing layer in which the pore size increases with the distance from the ultrafiltration skin. FIG. 2 of the patent depicts a cross-sectional view of a membrane having a gradually increasing pore size.
Japanese Kokai Application JP 58094863, laid open June 6, 1983, describes polyamide membranes having a rough surface and a smooth surface. It describes the process of preparing one such membrane which includes preparation of a 10 to 40 weight percent solution of nylon 6,6 dissolved in formic acid mixed with calcium chloride and water, casting of the resulting solution, and intermittent coagulation, e.g. by repeated dipping of the cast membrane in a coagulation bath, of the cast film to form an uneven surface. The disclosed pore sizes range from 0.05 to 500 .mu.m on the rough surface and 1 to 1000 .mu.m on the smooth surface.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,615,024 (Michaels) describes anisotropic membranes which can be formed from polyamides such as polyhexamethylene adipamide and other such polyamides known as "nylon", however, no such membranes are exemplified.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,340,480 and 4,340,479 (Pall et al.) disclose a process for preparing skinless liquofilic alcohol-insoluble polyamide microfiltration membranes from polyamide having a ratio of methylene to amide groups of about 7 to 1 to about 12 to 1. The patents disclose that membranes prepared according to the described process have pores of uniform diameter. The patents also state that their membranes can have "tapering pores" but they do not describe highly asymmetric membranes.

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company


A variable camshaft phase adjustment device (phaser) for an internal combustion engine having at least one camshaft. The phaser has a housing having an outer circumference for accepting a drive force, and a rotor connected to a camshaft coaxially located within the housing. The housing and the rotor are capable of rotation to shift the relative angular position of the camshaft and the crankshaft. The spool valve comprising a spool slidably mounted within a bore in the rotor. In the spool a chamber is present that has an input communicating with the bore the spool is mounted in, an output communicating with the outside, and an air flow restriction. Hydraulic fluid from the input communicating with the bore is prevented from communicating with the outside by the air flow restriction. The air flow restriction is either in the input communicating with the bore or the output communicating with the outside.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention pertains to the field of variable camshaft timing systems. More particularly, the invention pertains to a vent mechanism for venting air out of a variable camshaft timing system.
2. Description of Related Art
Internal combustion engines have employed various mechanisms to vary the angle between the camshaft and the crankshaft for improved engine performance or reduced emissions. The majority of these variable camshaft timing (VCT) mechanisms use one or more xe2x80x9cvane phasersxe2x80x9d on the engine camshaft (or camshafts, in a multiple-camshaft engine). In most cases, the phasers have a rotor with one or more vanes, mounted to the end of the camshaft, surrounded by a housing with the vane chambers into which the vanes fit. It is possible to have the vanes mounted to the rotor, and the chambers in the housing, as well. The housing""s outer circumference forms the sprocket, pulley or gear accepting drive, usually from the camshaft (typically a chain, belt or gears). The phaser operates using engine oil as the working fluid, introduced into the oil chambers on either side of vanes, so as to rotate the camshaft angularly relative to the drive from the crankshaft.
Since phasers cannot be perfectly sealed they are subject to the introduction of air into the system. When air is present in phaser it can cause rattling of the vane, an inability to hold phase angle, and an overall sluggish response. In the prior art, air that is present in the system is compressed in the vane chamber by torque reversals or is allowed to leak out through seals. The prior art does not provide an effective, efficient way in which to remove air present in the phaser.
In a variable cam timing (VCT) system, the timing gear on the camshaft is replaced by a variable angle coupling known as a xe2x80x9cphaser,xe2x80x9d having a rotor connected to the camshaft and a housing connected to (or forming) the timing gear, which allows the camshaft to rotate independently of the timing gear, within angular limits, to change the relative timing of the camshaft and crankshaft. The term xe2x80x9cphaser,xe2x80x9d as used here, includes the housing and the rotor, and all of the parts to control the relative angular position of the housing and rotor, allowing the timing of the camshaft to be offset from the crankshaft. In any of the multiple-camshaft engines, it will be understood that there would be one phaser on each camshaft, as is known to the art.
There are three common types of phasers: Cam Torque Actuated (CTA), Oil Pressure Actuated (OPA), and Torsion or Torque Assist (TA). In a CTA phaser, the variable cam timing system uses torque reversals in the camshaft caused by the forces of opening and closing engine valves to move the vane. Control valves are present to allow fluid flow from chamber to chamber causing the vane to move, or to stop the flow of oil, locking the vane in position. The CTA phaser has oil input to make up for losses due to leakage but does not use engine oil pressure to move the phaser.
In OPA or TA phasers, the engine oil pressure is applied to one side of the vane or the other, in the retard or advance chamber, to move the vane. The TA phaser adds check valves either one in each supply line to each chamber or one in the engine oil supply line to the spool valve. The check valves block oil pressure pulses due to torque reversals from propagating back into the oil system, and stop the vane from moving backward due to torque reversals. Motion of the vane due to forward torque effects is permitted.
In all three phasers, OPA, CTA, and TA, a spool valve controls the oil that is allowed to enter and exit from the vane chambers. The spool controls the exit and entry of oil by the placement of its lands. The position of the spool is controlled by a force solenoid which may be mechanical, electrical, or variable, or a differential pressure control system (DPCS). The spool valve is influenced towards the force solenoid by a spring. The spool valve commonly is in a bore in the rotor.
A variable camshaft phase adjustment device (phaser) for an internal combustion engine having at least one camshaft. The phaser has a housing having an outer circumference for accepting a drive force, and a rotor connected to a camshaft coaxially located within the housing. The housing and the rotor are capable of rotation to shift the relative angular position of the camshaft and the crankshaft. The spool valve comprising a spool slidably mounted within a bore in the rotor. In the spool a chamber is present that has an input communicating with the bore the spool is mounted in, an output communicating with the outside, and an air flow restriction. Hydraulic fluid from the input communicating with the bore is prevented from communicating with the outside by the air flow restriction. The air flow restriction is either in the input communicating with the bore or the output communicating with the outside.

Method to vent air from a cam phaser with a center mounted spool valve


Disclosed are a flat wiper blade 2 and a flat wiper blade assembly. The flat wiper blade according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a wiper strip 10 which wipes a wiping surface; a frame 30 which supports the wiper strip 10; a first and a second spoilers 41 and 42 which are coupled to the frame 30; and a seating part 100 to which adaptor parts 3 and 4 coupled to a wiper arm are coupled and which is coupled to the frame 30 in an attachable and removable manner.

1. Field
The present invention relates to a flat wiper blade and a flat wiper blade assembly, and more particularly to a general wiper blade which is connected to wiper arms having mutually different specifications and shapes according to the kind of a vehicle, and a general wiper blade assembly.
2. Description of Related Art
In general, a wiper blade removes impurities, snow, rain or the like when driving and prevents a driver's front sight from being deteriorated and performs a repetitive reciprocating action in a fan shape as a motor drives a link apparatus connected to a wiper arm.
The wiper blade includes a long wiper strip contacting with a glass surface and a frame maintaining and supporting the wiper strip in a longitudinal direction of the wiper strip. The wiper blade including the frame is known as a conventional wiper blade in the art. Recently, a wiper blade is being employed which makes use of one frame curved at a predetermined curvature and formed in the form of a long thin bar. Such a wiper blade is known as a flat wiper blade or a flat-bar wiper blade in the art. As compared with the conventional wiper blade, the flat wiper blade has a less height and receives less air resistance. With a uniform load, the flat wiper blade is also able to cause the wiper strip to contact with the glass surface. The flat wiper blade is connected to the wiper arm such that a connection unit formed in the central portion of the frame of the flat wiper blade is connected saparably to the end portion of the wiper arm.
The conventional wiper arm for a vehicle, that is, the conventional driving arm for a vehicle is largely classified into a "U" shaped clip type having a catching structure, a bayonet type fitted as a plug type, a pin type forming a protrusion in a side portion and taking a fitting structure by the protrusion, a side hole type performing a fitting coupling in a side portion of a wiper apparatus, developed by a Bosch corporation, and a top-lock type performing a coupling by a covering structure in an upper portion of the wiper apparatus, and the various types of driving arms have a limitation in that they can use only dedicated wiper apparatuses since their shapes and sizes are different from other.
Accordingly, product standardization for the wiper device is difficult to achieve, and thus the flexibility of product design is reduced. Moreover, since wiper blades which correspond to a variety of the wiper arms respectively should be manufactured, the time and cost required for manufacturing the wiper blades are increased.

Flat wiper blade and flat wiper blade assembly


An electric lamp (1) comprising a gastight lamp vessel (2) for the transformation of electrical energy into light, which lamp vessel has two current conductors (3,6; 4,7) which extend to the outside. The lamp further comprises an outer envelope (9) in which the lamp vessel (2) is arranged with a space between the lamp vessel and the outer envelope. The outer envelope (9) has a lamp cap (11) to which the current conductors (6,7) are electrically connected. The lamp (1) further has means (17) for switching off the lamp by short-circuiting the current conductors (6,7) in the case of fracture of the outer envelope (9).

The invention relates to an electric lamp having a gastight inner bulb for converting electrical energy into light, the lamp also having an outer bulb surrounding and spaced apart from the inner bulb, the lamp also having a lamp cap connected to the outer bulb, and two current conductors extending from the inner bulb, carried by a support, and electrically connected to the lamp cap, the lamp also having means designed for switching off the lamp in the case of a defect of the outer bulb.
Such a lamp is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,229,678 (Petro), the lamp being a high-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp. Such lamps may form a safety risk if the outer bulb of the lamp breaks while the lamp continues burning. In such a case, in fact, there is the particular risk that the high temperature and high pressure inside the inner bulb will cause the latter to break as well, so that hot substances are released into the atmosphere, with all the possible disadvantages this involves for any persons and objects that happen to be in the vicinity. Petro proposes a solution for this problem by providing a switch for switching off the lamp if the outer bulb should inadvertently be fractured. This switch is present in the top inside the outer bulb, connected in series in the electrical circuit of the lamp. The switch comprises an electrically conducting element which under normal circumstances bears under spring pressure on the inner surface of the outer bulb and which springs outward upon a fracture of the outer bulb, thus breaking the electrical circuit in the lamp. Switching-off of the known lamp in the case of an outer bulb fracture accordingly takes place through interruption of the electrical circuit inside the lamp.
A disadvantage of this solution is that the switch used therein gives the lamp an unattractive appearance, while furthermore there is an undesirable optical disturbance because the switch forms an optical barrier for the light issuing from the inner bulb to the exterior. A further disadvantage of the known lamp is that mounting of the switch is cumbersome and expensive in mass manufacture, which renders this lamp uninteresting from an economic point of view.
It is an object of the invention to counteract the disadvantages of the prior art indicated above, by providing means for extinguishing an electric lamp upon the ocurrence of a defect (for example, a fracture) of the outer bulb, in a simple, elegant, and accordingly economically responsible manner, without any undesirable optical side effects.
According to the invention, an electric lamp of the kind mentioned in the opening paragraph is characterized in that said means are constructed for short-circuiting the current conductors upon the ocurrence of a defect of the outer bulb. The short-circuit preferably activates one or several fuses present in the lamp cap, so that switching-off of the lamp can take place in a reliable but safe manner, for example, through an interruption or melting of the fuse(s).
In a preferred embodiment of a lamp according to the invention, said means are at least substantially formed by a switch which is brought from an idle state into a short-circuit state upon fracture of the outer bulb. In particular, said switch is at least substantially formed by a resilient element which in the idle state rests against the inner surface of the outer bulb and which in the short-circuit state short-circuits the two current conductors. Preferably, the resilient element is already electrically connected to one of the current conductors when in the idle state.
In a further preferred embodiment of a lamp according to the invention, said resilient element is held under spring pressure in the idle state by means of an oxygen-binding, evaporating getter which releases the spring upon fracture of the outer bulb. This has the additional advantage that the lamp is also extinguished by the resilient element if the outer bulb does not break, but does show a hole, which means that the lamp nevertheless also forms a safety risk. The outer bulb will be gastight if such a getter is used.
In a further preferred embodiment of the lamp according to the invention, said switch is at least substantially formed by a resilient element which is brought from an idle state into a short-circuit state upon an impact load on the lamp. The switch preferably comprises a rod element which is electrically connected to one of the current conductors and a ring element which is electrically connected to the other current conductor, said rod element in the idle state being inside the ring of the ring element and making electrical contact with the ring in the short-circuit state through a lateral movement, thus short-circuiting the two current conductors. This arrangement results in a short circuit of the current conductors in the event of a force exerted on the lamp, irrespective of whether the outer bulb actually breaks, has a hole, or has a crack. In other words, any unacceptable force exerted on the lamp which involves a safety risk is detected and leads to switching-off of the lamp.
It is noted in this connection that the present invention has no limitation regarding the type of electric lamp, i.e. it may be implemented in a so-called tungsten halogen incandescent lamp as well as in a gas discharge lamp. The former type is, for example, a halogen incandescent lamp with bromine, chlorine, hydrogen, and also a rare gas and/or nitrogen as the filling gas, while the latter type may be, for example, a high-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp. Although the outer bulb need not necessarily be gastight in the case of a halogen incandescent lamp, the safety risk described above is present in both types of lamps when the outer bulb is fractured. As was noted before, the present invention is accordingly applicable to both types.
The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing an electric lamp according to the invention, which method is characterized in that said means are constructed for short-circuiting the current conductors upon a defect of the outer bulb.

Safety switch for an electric lamp having an inner bulb and an outer bulb


A method for river/lake level regulation and a water conservancy system. The method for level regulation employs a non-closure mode; a water reservoir system is built on one side of a river/lake, water from the river/lake enters into the reservoir system when the water level of the river/lake exceeds a warning water level, and the river/lake is replenished with the water stored in the reservoir system when the water level of the river/lake is unduly low; the conservancy system, which employs the non-closure mode, is built on one side of a river/lake waterway and includes the water reservoir system and a first water passage, the water reservoir system communicates with the river/lake waterway through the first water passage. The method for river/lake level regulation and the water conservancy system realize river/lake level regulation during drought and flood periods without any river/lake closure, so that water resources are control effectively.

The present invention relates to the field of water conservancy construction and in particular to a non-closure water conservancy system.
Water is one of the resources indispensable for the survival, and scientific and effective regulation and control of water resources is a necessary way to benefit mankind. For thousands of years, mankind has to pay for the use of water resources with endless efforts and lives, and flood inundations have taken countless precious lives and properties. After decades of efforts, the transformation of the two major river/lake system has made significant achievements in north and south China, and the river closure of the Three Gorges of Yangtze River and the closure of Xiaolangdi of Yellow River are successful models.
The existing closure-type water conservancy project not only cannot solve the problem of flood control in midstream and downstream areas, but also would instead exacerbate floods in upstream area, causing droughts in downstream area and causing significant sediment deposition due to the destruction of vegetation, leading to a serious impediment to the development of shipping, meanwhile resulting in a large number of immigrants which increases the burden on the government and the people, and the greatest harm is the serious damage to the ecosystem, causing imbalance of aquatic habitat and, over time, endangerment to some of the aquatic life, or even inducing earthquakes and climate change disorders. There are also significant security risks on war preparedness, and cities and villages around the reservoir will be destroyed once war takes place in future.
To make better use of freshwater resources, study of a non-closure water conservancy system has great significance to society and environment.

Method for river/lake level regulation and water conservancy system


The present invention provides (1) an Apocynum extract containing not less than 4% of flavonoid compounds and is free of hypericin and hyperforin, (2) an antidepressant composition (in the form of a food, dietary supplement or medicine) containing the Apocynum extract, and (3) a method for treating depression using the Apocynum extract.

The present invention relates to novel Apocynum extracts, antidepressant compositions containing the Apocynum extracts in the form of foods, dietary supplements, medicines and the like, and methods for treating depression using the Apocynum extracts.
The etiology of depression has been extensively discussed by many works, but has not been sufficiently explained yet. Various factors seem to be involved in the etiology and complicated with each other. Possible factors include biological factors such as neurochemical and genetic findings as well as situational or psychosociological factors such as previous personality or life stress.
Clinical features of depression include depressive state, anhedonia (the inability to enjoy themselves), psychomotor inhibition, incoherence of thought/cognition, anxiety and agitation, physical (autonomic) symptoms, etc.
Currently available drugs for treating depression (antidepressants) include tricyclic antidepressants such as imipramine, clomipramine, trimipramine; tetracyclic antidepressants such as maprotiline, mianserin; triazolopyridines such as trazodone; benzketoxime-based selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as fluvoxamine. However, tricyclic or similar cyclic antidepressants have been shown to have side effects such as anticholinergic effects (dry mouth, blurred near vision, constipation, dysuria), antihistamine effects (weight gain, sedation), antiadrenergic effects (postural hypotension, vertigo, dizziness) and cardiotoxicosis or acute poisoning caused by excessive intake. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors have been associated with the danger of inducing serotonin syndrome. Therefore, there is a demand for antidepressants with less side effects.
Recently, St. John""s Wort was reported to be effective in treating depression (K. Lindle et al., British Medical Journal, 313, 253 (1996)). St. John""s Wort or Hypericum perforatum is provided by drying aerial parts harvested during the flowering stage, and has been long used as extracted oil in Europe for treating wound and neuralgia. Moreover, flavonoid compounds such as hyperoside and isoquercitrin contained in St. John""s Wort were shown to have an antidepressant effect (V. Butterweck, et al., Planta Med. 66, 3-6 (2000)).
However, St. John""s Wort contains a compound having a dimer structure of anthraquinone called hypericin, which is known to cause photosensitivity as one of serious side effects (B. Geoffrey, Lancet (North American Edition), 352,1121-1122, (1998)). A component of St. John""s Wort, hyperforin is also known to induce a drug metabolizing enzyme to affect pharmacokinetics of drugs such as cyclosporin (F. -B. Adriane, Lancet, 355, 9198, 134-138, (2000), L. B. Moore et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. USA, 97, 7500-7502, (2000)).
In China, leaves of Apocynum venetum L. are used as substitute tea, which is effective in lowering fever or treating hypertension, cardiac insufficiency, bronchitis, dropsy, neurasthenia, etc.
Recently, roasted tea of leaves of Apocynum venetum L. (Apocynum tea) was reported to show a cholesterol-lowering effect (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 9-224623) and prophylactic/curing effects against infective diseases (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 10-167978). However, these teas or hot water extracts of Apocynum venetum L. normally contain 1-2% flavonoids but never contain more than 4% flavonoid compounds. No extracts of Apocynum venetum L. containing 4% or more flavonoid compounds have been reported.
Moreover, nobody has known that Apocynum venetum L., teas of Apocynum venetum L. and extracts of Apocynum venetum L have an antidepressant effect.
An object of the present invention is to provide a naturally derived antidepressant composition in the form of a food, dietary supplement, medicine or the like that contains neither hypericin nor hyperforin and is safer even during extended administration, as well as a method for treating depression using it.
After extensive studies to find a safer antidepressant, we succeeded in preparing a new extract of leaves of Apocynum venetum L. containing 4% or more of flavonoid compounds and accomplished the present invention on the basis of the finding that this extract shows an antidepressant effect.
Accordingly, the present invention provides an Apocynum extract containing 4% or more of flavonoid compounds.
The present invention also provides an antidepressant composition containing the Apocynum extract. The composition may be in the form of a food, dietary supplement or medicine.
The present invention also provides a method for treating depression using the Apocynum extract.
(1) Apocynum extracts
Leaves of Apocynum venetum L. (scientific name) are used. Leaves of Apocynum venetum L. may be used as fresh leaves as harvested or after dried or roasted, but preferably dried and roasted.
Apocynum extracts used in the present invention can be obtained by extracting leaves of Apocynum venetum L. with water, ethanol, ethanol hydrate or an organic solvent followed by concentration, optionally adsorbing thus obtained extract to an acrylic, styrene, methacrylic or aromatic synthetic adsorbent and concentrating fractions eluted with 10-95% ethanol hydrate, and optionally drying the extract, provided that they contain 4% or more of flavonoid compounds. The content of flavonoid compounds in the extracts is preferably 4-50%, more preferably 4-10%.
As used herein, flavonoid compounds mean materials in which two phenyl groups are linked via three carbon atoms of a pyran ring or a similar structure, including chalcone, flavanone, flavone, flavonol, flavanonol, flavanol (catechin), isoflavone and anthocyan.
Apocynum extracts of the present invention preferably contain 4% or more of flavonoid compounds as expressed in the total content of hyperoside and isoquercitrin. Apocynum extracts of the present invention also preferably contain 4% or more of flavonoid compounds as expressed in the total content of hyperoside, isoquercitrin, astragalin and trifolin. All these compounds are flavonol glycosides.
The content of flavonoid compounds in Apocynum extracts can be analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography, for example, and spectrophotometrically determined in a range of 280-340 nm.
Apocynum extracts of the present invention contain neither hypericin nor hyperforin. Hyperforin and hypericin in Apocynum extracts can be analyzed by using a high performance liquid chromatograph (Von J. Holzl and E. Ostrowski, Deutche Apotecker Zeit, 127, 1227-30 (1987)) on a column YMC PAK ODS 100xc3x976 mm i.d. with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile:methanol:water:phosphoric acid=55:45:1:0.1 at 1 mL/min, during which a hyperforin peak appears at 8.9 min as monitored at a detection wavelength of 254 nm and a hypericin peak appears at 14.3 min as monitored at a detection wavelength of 590 nm. Apocynum extracts of the present invention show no peak corresponding to hypericin and hyperforin.
(2) Compositions
The present invention also provides antidepressant compositions containing Apocynum extracts in the form of a food, dietary supplement or medicine. Apocynum extracts used in the present invention preferably contain 4% or more of flavonoid compounds as determined above, though lower contents may also be suitable.
When compositions of the present invention are pharmaceutical compositions, the administration route is not specifically limited, but they preferably have a dosage form suitable for oral administration. Pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention can be in various dosage forms. For example, dosage forms suitable for oral administration include, but not limited to, tablets, capsules, powders, granules, pills, liquids, emulsions, suspensions, solutions, spirits, syrups, extracts and elixirs. Formulations may contain various pharmaceutically acceptable carriers including, but not limited to, excipients, binders, disintegrating agents, lubricants, flavors, colorants, sweeteners, corrigents, solubilizing agents, suspending agents, emulsifiers, coating agents, vitamin C and antioxidants.
The dose of pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention is generally 1 mg-2000 mg, preferably 1 mg-1000 mg daily per adult expressed as Apocynum extracts or 0.01 mg-300 mg expressed as total flavonoids. Obviously, the dose can be specifically adapted to the age, weight and condition of the patient being treated, the route and period of administration, the treatment progress and other factors. The daily dose can be divided into several subdoses. Compositions may be administered in combination with other antidepressants or other therapies.
Compositions of the present invention can be in the form of a food or dietary supplement. For example, Apocynum extracts can be mixed with base materials into noodles, breads, candies, jellies, cookies, soups and healthy beverages. These foods or dietary supplements can contain inorganic ingredients such as iron or calcium; various vitamins; oligosaccharides; dietary fibers such as chitosan; proteins such as soybean extracts; fats such as lecithin; and sugars such as sucrose or lactose, in addition to Apocynum extracts.
Apocynum extracts of the present invention can be combined with ginseng extracts, ginkgo leave extracts, Gotu-Kola extracts, Siberian ginseng extracts, astragalus extracts, guarana extracts, maca extracts, dandelion extracts, artichoke extracts, gentiana extracts, schisandra extracts to provide compositions in the form of a food, dietary supplement, medicine or the like having the effect of improving depression caused by mental stress.
Apocynum extracts of the present invention can be combined with extracts of black cohosh extracts, pumpkin seed extracts, soybean extracts, licorice extracts, Dong Quai extracts, chaste tree extracts, pomegranate extracts, and dioscorea extracts to provide compositions in the form of a food, dietary supplement, medicine or the like having the effect of improving climacteric melancholia.
(3) Depression
As used herein, depression refers to the disease classified as xe2x80x9cdepressionsxe2x80x94related disorders in the International Classification of Diseases, Injuries and Causes of Death. 10th version, ICD-10 published by World Health Organization or the disease evaluated as xe2x80x9cdepressionxe2x80x9d by multiaxial diagnosis according to DSM-IV of xe2x80x9cDiagnostic Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders, DSMxe2x80x9d published by American Psychiatric Association (APA) among various typing and classification protocols of depression so far proposed.
Thus, the term xe2x80x9cantidepressantxe2x80x9d means reducing, improving or preventing some symptoms of depression as defined above. Whether or not a composition is xe2x80x9cantidepressantxe2x80x9d can be determined by the patient""s own feeling of improvement, some effect ascertained by the physician""s diagnosis or the like.
(4) Effects
Apocynum extracts of the present invention were tested for antidepressant effect by a common method for evaluating antidepressant effect called as the forced swimming test (Porsolt et al., Nature, 266, 730-732 (1977)). As a result, Apocynum extracts showed an antidepressant effect comparable to a known tricyclic antidepressant imipramine-HCl.
The following examples further illustrate the present invention without, however, limiting the invention thereto. Various changes and modifications can be made by those skilled in the art and these changes and modifications are also included in the present invention.

Apocynum venetum extract for use as antidepressant


An ozone purification system for fluids that includes a pump having an inlet for receiving the fluid. The pump includes at least one opening. An expansion tank is in communication with a first of the at least one opening of the pump, wherein the fluid may flow from the pump through the at least one opening to the expansion tank. The system includes an ozone generator having an ozone impregnator, which is in fluid communication with the expansion tank and is adapted to inject an amount of ozone into the fluid. A holding tank is in communication with the pump. A valve is in communication with the pump and includes a first and a second position. The valve directs the fluid to exit the system when valve is in the first position, and the valve recycles the fluid to the expansion tank when the is in the second position.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to water treatment systems, specifically those systems that are used to sterilize and cleanse water.
2. Description of the Related Art
Water is a valuable resource that serves numerous different purposes. Perhaps the most well known use of water is as a beverage for human or animal consumption. In addition, water is essential for bathing and cleaning. Water is also used in beverage and food processing as an ingredient and/or as a cleaning agent for cleansing the ingredients and/or the processing equipment. Water also serves important purposes in medical facilities, pharmacies, and research laboratories. For instance, in medical facilities water is used to cleanse and/or sterilize wounds, burns, surgical equipment, and hospital supplies. In pharmacies, water is used to reconstitute dehydrated medication and prepare medicinal remedies. In research laboratories, water is used to cleanse supplies, prepare solutions, extract compounds, and wash products.
However, raw water often contains pathogens and other microbes that can cause adverse reactions in humans and animals. Consequently, raw water must be cleansed before it can safely serve these purposes. In the case of certain purposes, such as cleansing cuts, scrapes, burns, and the like, the water may also need to be sterilized. Furthermore, raw water typically contains minerals such as iron, which may stain surfaces, skin and hair, and calcium, which forms scale build-up on surfaces. Consequently, some uses require that the water be demineralized before use. Attempts have been made to cleanse water including adding various chemicals to the water to kill pathogens and/or filtering the water to remove pathogens. Unfortunately, these methods often do not cleanse the water to the degree necessary for some uses, such as medicinal and pharmaceutical purposes.
One known chemical method commonly used by municipal utilities includes adding large amounts of chlorine to the water. However, the chlorine may adversely affect the taste of the water, and may also combine with any organic matter present in the water to produce undesirable and potentially dangerous compounds. In addition, the chlorine may cause adverse reactions in people who are sensitive to chemical chlorine. Furthermore, even after chlorination, the water still may still contain a level of microbes that, although deemed safe, may still cause adverse reactions in some people. As a result, some chlorination methods include adding one or more additional chemicals in an attempt to kill the remaining pathogens from the water. However, these attempts are often unsuccessful and can compound the problems associated with chlorination.
Another known method of cleansing water includes impregnating water with ozone (O3) to assist in killing pathogens and other microbes. Such a system is shown in FIG. 1. In these systems the water is impregnated with ozone, or "ozonated," and the ozonated water is held in a storage tank until used. Unfortunately, over a period of time the ozone (O3) breaks down forming O2, which does not provide the same cleansing effects as ozone. Thus, the stored ozonated water remains effectively ozonated for only a limited period of time. In addition, once the ozone breaks down and the water is no longer considered clean it is generally not used. This results in the generation of a significant amount of waste water. Furthermore, the previous ozone impregnation systems typically use an excess amount of ozone, which may come out of solution during storage of the ozonated water. This excess ozone is usually vented from the system and is neither recovered, nor recycled. Thus, a substantial external supply of ozone is required to impregnate the water, thereby resulting in higher costs and the need for a larger ozone production and storage unit.
Another drawback to previous ozonation systems is that effluent (waste) water is often introduced directly into the ozonation system without preliminary cleansing or filtration. In this case, the ozone is performing more than just the sterilization of the water; it is also cleansing the water. Consequently, the use of such effluent water requires very large quantities of ozone in order to sufficiently clean and maintain a minimum concentration of ozone in the water. Furthermore, the higher the quality of the water introduced into the ozonation system, the higher the quantity of residual ozone remaining in the water. Therefore, the amount of residual ozone in water is greatly reduced in ozonation systems using effluent water because the ozone is being used, not only to sterilize the water but also, to remove all contaminants and minerals. In addition, some of these previous ozonation systems utilize the same tank both for storing the ozonated water and for introducing the effluent water to the ozonation system, thereby quickly contaminating the ozonated water and further reducing the already decreasing ozone level. Thus, the use of effluent water in the previous ozonation systems presents many problems in the sterilization and cleansing of water.
With respect to the demineralization of the water, a common method of removing minerals from the water involves the use of a water softener. Such water softeners remove minerals, such as iron and calcium, but are not capable of sufficiently removing pathogens and other microbes from water.
Therefore, a need remains for a water sterilization system that provides purified water that is free of microbes and other pathogens.


There is provided a method of fabricating an analog capacitor using a post-treatment technique. The method includes forming a lower insulating layer on a semiconductor substrate. A bottom electrode is formed on the lower insulating layer, and a capacitor dielectric layer is formed on the bottom electrode. Then, the capacitor dielectric layer is post-treated in a deoxidizing medium. Then, the post-treated capacitor dielectric layer is post-treated in an oxidizing medium. A top electrode is formed on the post-treated capacitor dielectric layer. The analog capacitor fabricated through the post-treatment as above has a low VCC.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a method of fabricating an analog capacitor, and more particularly, to a method of fabricating an analog capacitor using a post-treatment technique.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
An analog capacitor is a unit element that is commonly used in an analog to digital (AD) converter, an RF device, a switching capacitor filter, a CMOS image sensor, or the like. The analog capacitor stores information in analog form, and has the property that the quantity of stored electric charge is varied, depending on the applied voltage.
Further, it is preferable that such an analog capacitor should demonstrate the properties of a low voltage coefficient of capacitance (VCC) and a low leakage current. The VCC required is a small level in its absolute value. Hereinafter, the value of the VCC refers to a dimension of its absolute value. In order to improve the VCC property, a capacitor having a poly-insulator-poly (PIP) structure has been replaced with an analog capacitor having a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) structure. However, such a capacitor having the MIM structure still exhibits a relatively high VCC.
Therefore, efforts have been made toward post-treating the bottom electrode and the dielectric layer of the capacitor in order to reduce the leakage current of the capacitor. A method of post-treating the lower electrode and/or the capacitor dielectric layer is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,143,598 entitled "Method of fabrication of low leakage capacitor" to Martin, et al., and also, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,103,567 entitled "Method of fabricating dielectric layer" to Shih, et al.
The method disclosed by Martin, et al. includes depositing a first electrode of a capacitor. The first electrode is plasma-treated in an oxidizing medium where nitrogen and oxygen are present. Then, a dielectric layer is deposited, and the dielectric layer is plasma-treated in an oxidizing medium where nitrogen and oxygen are present. Then, a top electrode of a capacitor is formed. Further, dinitrogen oxide (N2O) may be used to plasma-treat the electrode. In the meantime, the method disclosed by Shih, et al. includes forming a high-k dielectric layer such as a tantalum oxide layer (Ta2O5), and performing a plasma-treatment or a deep ultra-violet ozone treatment.
According to these methods, the dielectric layer is post-treated in an oxidizing medium where nitrogen and oxygen are present, or treated with oxygen plasma or ozone, thereby reducing a leakage current. However, the methods do not achieve a reduction in the VCC property of the analog capacitor.

Method of fabricating analog capacitor using post-treatment technique


Business rule statements written in a natural language are automatically converted into DRL language sentences. A language conversion apparatus 10 includes: a storage device 16 that stores syntax definition information 30 for defining syntaxes to convert a business rule statement written in a natural language into a DRL language sentence on a syntax basis, and conversion information 40 for converting element variables of the business rule statement into element variables of the DRL language sentence; and a CPU 11 that analyzes a syntax of the business rule statement by comparing the business rule statement with the syntax definition information 30 and converts the business rule statement into the DRL language sentence by referring to the conversion information 40.

A computer system for automatically defining and registering rules, conditions, judgment standards for business purposes, or coping strategies from experiences as business rules and making complicated business judgments on the basis of a combination of such business rules is called a business rule management system (BRMS) and is used for, for example, credit or insurance examinations in the financial industry, or bill calculation based on complicated discount plans for cell-phone bills. The business rules are defined in a production rule (if-then rule) format of "if . . . , do . . . (or do not . . . )." Conventionally, an expert called a knowledge engineer is required to set the business rules; however, the business rule management systems in recent years can register and change the business rules by using a natural language and a mechanism for, for example, excluding conflicting business rules, so that even persons who do not have specialized knowledge can operate the business rule management systems. A product called JRules provided by IBM is known as such a business rule management system.

Language conversion apparatus, language conversion method, and language conversion program


A feeder device includes a feed finger and a lifting arm. The feed finger is mounted to and movable relative to the frame along a feed stroke in a feed direction and in an opposite return direction. The feed finger is pivotable towards and away from a feed object. The lifting arm is fixedly mounted to the frame. The feed finger moves relative to the lifting arm as the feed finger is moved along the feed stroke. The lifting arm has a deflectable tip engaging the feed finger. The deflectable tip is deflected as the feed finger is moved in the feed direction. The deflectable tip is un-deflected as the feed finger is moved in the return direction. The un-deflected tip engaging the feed finger and pivoting the feed finger away from the feed object as the feed finger is moved along the lifting arm in the return direction.

The subject matter herein relates generally to feeder devices that eliminate return drag on a fed object.
In typical terminal crimping systems, a terminal and a wire are both fed to a crimping zone of an applicator. The applicator includes crimp tooling that defines the crimping zone. The crimp tooling is configured to mechanically crimp the terminal to the wire to produce an electrical lead. The terminal crimping systems may use a wire feeder device and/or a terminal feeder device to deliver the respective wire and terminals to the crimping zone for each crimping operation. Some wire and terminal feeder devices use a linear indexing feed member that moves linearly in a feed direction and in an opposite return direction. The feed member of such feeder devices is designed with the purpose of selective engagement of the feed object (such as the wire or the terminal). For example, the feed member engages the feed object as the feed member moves in the feed direction to advance the feed object toward the crimping zone, while the feed member disengages the feed object as the feed member moves in the return direction. Thus, although the feed member indexes back and forth between an advanced position and a retracted position, the object that is being fed should only move in one direction, the feed direction.
In some feeder devices, the feed member is forced downwards against the fed object as the feed member moves in the feed direction by a biasing member, such as a torsion spring. The force applied to the feed member by the biasing member must be strong enough to overcome friction forces and tension from the source of the fed object (for example, a bulk wire source). On the return stroke, though, the strong force applied by the biasing member may not allow the feed member to completely disengage from and clear the fed object as the feed member moves in the return direction. The feed member, for example, may scrape the wire that is being fed, and the scraping may be sufficient to damage the wire by removing a protective coating on the wire or even severing at least part of the conductive core of the wire.
Additionally, the feed member may pull back on the fed object which interferes with the position of the fed object in the crimping zone, even causing the object to move backwards at least partially out of the crimping zone. Such interference in the position of the fed object by the movement of the feed member in the return direction may cause the fed object, whether it be the wire or the terminal, to misalign with the other of the wire and the terminal in the crimping zone. Electrical leads have to meet very strict lead specifications and quality standards. A wire that is not properly located in either the side-to-side or front-to-back directions relative to the terminal, and vice-versa, will not meet the lead specifications and are usually discarded. Leads that do not meet the specifications are discarded, which wastes time and materials. Therefore, in some known linear indexing feeder devices, the feed member moving in the return direction damages the fed object and/or interferes with the position of the object in the crimping zone, which degrades the quality of the resulting produced lead.


A tube connector made from a polyamide composition, the polyamide composition including at least one first polyamide A having an average number of carbon atoms per nitrogen atom CA and at least one second polyamide B having an average number of carbon atoms per nitrogen atom CB, wherein CA≤8.5 and CB≥7.5, and wherein CA<CB. The composition may include a third polyamide C having an average number of carbon atoms per nitrogen atom CC, wherein CB≤CC.

Tubes are needed to store and convey different types of fluids. For instance, in motor vehicles, tubes are used for feeding fuel from the tank to the engine, for the cooling circuit, for the hydraulic system, for the air-conditioning system, etc.
Polyamides are widely used for making such tubes. In view of all the technical requirements at stake, it is often necessary to resort to multilayer structures. For instance, use is commonly made of at least one outer layer based on polyamide having a relatively high average number of carbon atoms per nitrogen atom (such as PA 11 or PA 12), providing the desired flexibility and mechanical resistance to the tubes; and of at least one inner layer called a barrier layer, providing the required impermeability to the conveyed fluids. Polyamides having a relatively low average number of carbon atoms per nitrogen atom (such as PA 6 or PA 6.6 for instance), as well as non-polyamide materials such as ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer, may be included in the barrier layer.
The above tubes are either linked together or linked to functional parts (such as filters), using connectors.
Conventional connectors are usually manufactured by injection molding, using a polyamide material, such as PA 11 or PA 12, generally reinforced with glass fibers.
A conventional method to link the connectors to the tubes and/or functional parts is based on mechanical anchoring achieved owing to a relief on the connectors.
A safer and more effective fixation method involves the partial melting of the polymers in the connectors and tubes and/or functional parts. Such partial melting may be achieved for example by spin welding, ultrasound welding or the like. However, the adhesion of one substrate made from a polyamide to another substrate made from another polyamide is variable: for instance the adhesion of PA 12 with PA 12 or PA 11 is good, but the adhesion of PA 12 with PA 6 is not.
There is therefore still a need for connectors exhibiting a better adhesion with respect to various kinds of tubular substrates, and in particular with respect to various types of polyamide-based tubular substrates, especially in the context of a welding assembly process such as spin welding.
Another constraint is that shrinkage should remain as low as possible at the end of the manufacturing process (just like with conventional connectors made from PA 12 for instance).

Tube connectors based on a polyamide composition


A method of rewarding loyalty of a user may include providing a personal terminal to the user, detecting whether the personal terminal is within proximity of an interaction terminal, and based at least in part on the proximity of the personal terminal to the interaction terminal, providing a benefit to the user.

The immediate consumption channel in the food and beverage industry typically includes food and beverages from vending equipment such as vending machines, or host equipment such as fountain machines and coolers. In general, food and beverages that are immediately available to a consumer and are ready to eat or drink can be considered part of the immediate consumption channel.
Broadly marketing to the immediate consumption channel can be challenging. The immediate consumption channel is fragmented by a plethora of equipment manufacturers, equipment owners and operators, and equipment makes and models having varied internal electrical and software configurations. Therefore, implementing new marketing opportunities can be high risk. Extensive engineering efforts may be required to address both newer equipment and older equipment that may not conform with industry standards. Operators may require new technology to work on all makes and models of equipment, but because non-industry-standard equipment may not support new technology, the introduction of the new technology may be stalled or may fail completely.
Engineering technology that addresses the entire existing base of equipment at a cost that enables new technology to be adopted across the industry may be difficult. Within the existing base of equipment, less than half of existing vending machines support current industry standards, and within the subset that do, many of these machines may not be located in places that generate sufficient revenue to justify equipping the machines with, for example, electronics aimed at driving more sales.
Further, vending and host equipment platforms can vary widely. For example, vending machines may be unattended, with the consumer selecting and paying for the product directly at the machine. Coolers may be accessible to the consumer in an attended environment, with the consumer selecting the product from the cooler and paying for the product at, for example, a cash register. Fountain equipment may be operated by an attendant or may be self-serve and may typically require the consumer to pay for the beverage separately. Though all examples of equipment in the immediate consumption channel, the diverse nature of the equipment and the diverse nature of the consumer's interaction with the equipment can complicate the implementation of broad marketing opportunities directed at the immediate consumption channel as a whole.
Consumer confidence may be affected by money acceptance issues and the absence of loyalty and other types of rewards. These and other issues may negatively impact the consumer's experience, and therefore the consumer's loyalty at the equipment. Alternatives to currency, such as cashless payment alternatives, have been introduced in the industry. However, the cost of associated cashless terminal hardware, the limited pool of compatible equipment, and recurring fees and transaction costs associated with processing cashless payments may stall the adoption of such technology.
Consumers and operators may want an interaction experience that is available on all platforms of vending and host equipment. Operators may want to provide the consumer with an experience that breeds consumer loyalty, and consumers may want to be rewarded for their loyalty. Additionally, both operators and consumers may want cashless payment options at the equipment. Operators may also want to create marketing campaigns directed at the immediate consumption channel that can drive immediate consumption sales. Therefore, a need exists in the industry for the systems and methods to address these drawbacks.
A further need exists for systems and methods for implementing a loyalty program.

Methods for implementing a loyalty program


A process for producing a highly-orientated ultralong conjugated polymer while the orientation thereof is maintained, which comprises:. a step of immersing a substrate having a hydrophilic surface in a nonaqueous organic solvent containing a compound having at least an unsaturated group, such as an acetylenic group, etc., and --SiA.sub.x H.sub.3-x group in which A denotes chloro or lower alkyl and x is an integer of from 1 to 3, whereby forming a monomolecular film of the above compound on the substrate, PA0 a step of orientation the monomolecular film in a specific direction, and PA0 a step of polymerizing the monomolecular film by using irradiation or a metal salt catalyst, PA0 the irradiation using electron beam, X-ray or gamma ray, the metal salt catalyst being MoCl.sub.5, MCl.sub.6, NbCl.sub.5, TaCl.sub.5, or the like as a metal halide catalyst, or Mo(CO).sub.5, W(CO).sub.6, Nb(CO).sub.5, Ta(CO).sub.5, or the like as a metal carbonyl catalyst.

This invention relates to an electric material and more specifically, it relates to a process for the production of a highly-orientated ultralong conjugated polymer having conjugated bonds, such as polyacetylenic bonds, which exhibits electrical conductivity and nonlinear optical effects.
Polymers of acetylene, a derivative thereof, etc., have, in the molecule, a linear main chain having a .pi.-electron conjugated bond system and therefore have electrical conductivity and nonlinear optical effects. For this reason, they are widely studied as an optical and electronic function materials.
As a process for producing polymers of acetylene or its derivative, a polymerization process of Shirakawa et al is well known, which uses a Ziegler-Natta catalyst.
Since, however, presently known polymers of acetylene and its derivatives are unstable to heat, pressure, UV ray, etc., in oxygen-containing atmosphere, studies are being made for the stabilization thereof.
However, no method has been found for the stabilization of polymers of acetylene or its derivatives.
Further, no technique has been developed for the control of the orientation of polymers of acetylene and its derivatives.
In view of the above problems, there is provided, according to this invention, a process for the production of a ultralong conjugated polymer having high stability and high orientation.

Process for the production of a highly-orientated ultralong conjugated polymer

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


The invention relates to a biometric device (1) for capturing fingerprint information and for extracting significant data from a partial fingerprint area, comprising processing means (8), a line sensor (2) for consecutively capturing fractional fingerprint images from fractional areas of a finger through a relative sliding movement between the finger and the line sensor, means for consecutively storing the fingerprint information in a first memory (6), decision-making means (3) for deciding when the information stored in the first memory constitutes a partial fingerprint area, extraction means (4) for extracting significant data from the partial fingerprint area stored in the first (7), where the captured fractional fingerprint images are stored in the first memory (6) in such a way that several consecutive fractional images are compared with the previously captured images, and are combined together to form a partial fingerprint area which is large enough for the extraction of the significant data, and where the oldest stored fingerprint image data is discarded from the first memory (6) when new fingerprint image data is stored in the first memory (6). In this way, it is possible to use a line sensor with a limited surface and still be able to reduce the memory requirements by extracting significant data representing the fingerprint.

One way of simplifying the use of various types of appliances which are protected by, for example, passwords, access codes and the like, is to replace the codes with devices which recognize the user on the basis of different physical characteristics, so called biometry. One type of biometrical characteristic is fingerprint information, which can be used to test and either confirm or reject a user's attempt to gain access to an appliance, a premises, etc., referred to as user identity verification. Verification with the aid of fingerprint information is in most cases done by the user having stored his fingerprint information in the equipment in question in advance, by which means a template is created. The information for creating this template can either be input into the appliance which the user will later want to have access to, or via a central appliance.
When the user attempts to gain access to the equipment in question, a biometric device inputs information from the user's finger and compares the input information to the template in order to decide if the user is to be granted access to the equipment or not.
Equipment which verifies with the aid of fingerprint information must satisfy a number of requirements, for example reliability and speed. Verification in portable devices, for example mobile telephones, portable computers, different types of cards, etc., further requires that the equipment must be as small, lightweight and energy-efficient as possible. Another requirement is that the equipment should be as inexpensive as possible.
Known types of devices for verifying a user's identity with the aid of fingerprint information read information from a user's fingerprint and compare this with a template by means of the input information being combined into a representation of the fingerprint, which is then compared with the template which has been stored in advance. A disadvantage of such types of equipment is that they require a great deal of memory, on account of the representation of the fingerprint which is built up. This is also a drawback of known devices for registering said reference information. Memory is expensive, takes up space and requires a great deal of current, which means that known devices are relatively expensive and large. A large use of memory will also slow down the system.
Another parameter which affects cost and takes up space is the surface area of the sensor which is used to read the fingerprint information for the verification. This surface area can be reduced by using what is referred to as a line sensor, in other words a sensor which surface area is too small to read a complete fingerprint without the finger and the sensor moving relative to each other. During verification or registering with the aid of such a sensor, the finger is moved relative to the sensor, and the above-mentioned representation of the fingerprint is built up in a memory on the basis of consecutively input partial areas. Thus, line sensors satisfy the requirements regarding the size and cost of the actual sensor, but the requirement for memory remains. Using a line sensor, the equipment must be able to read information from a moving finger, as distinct from equipment which uses surface-area sensors, against which the finger is simply placed or held.
One example of prior art is SE 515 239, which deals with a method for assembling a composite image of a fingerprint, using a sequence of partial images. This document appears to deal exclusively with assembling an image of, for example, a fingerprint, and suffers from, inter alia, the abovementioned drawback of a large need for memory space.
EP 0813164 B1 discloses a system in which a fingerprint image is collected by relative sliding motion between a finger and the sensor. The sensor is in the form of a line sensor, i.e. a bar that is longer than a finger is wide, but is relatively narrow compared to the length. The sensor thus collects partial images of the fingerprint image and adds them together into a full image, which is stored in a memory. The image of the fingerprint is formed from a matrix of sensor elements.
EP 1317730 B1 discloses a method and a device for checking fingerprints. The method comprises the steps of recording in succession at least two digital images of finger areas and comparing each of the recording images with a reference image that represents at least one previously recorded reference fingerprint from a reference finger areas.
EP 0470530 B1 discloses a fingerprint verification method comprising the steps of performing partial density differentials on a corresponding fingerprint image with respect to two directions, determining a point as a centre of characteristics where an extreme value of a histogram of a corresponding partial differential value occurs in both directions and performing a fingerprint verification by use of the corresponding centre of characteristics.
EP 1150608 B1 discloses a system for checking fingerprints comprising a sensor which is adapted to record a fingerprint made by a fingertip. The surface of a sensor is so small that it can record merely a partial fingerprint. This partial fingerprint is compared with different parts of a complete, previously stored reference fingerprint to determine whether the partial fingerprint originates from the same person as the reference fingerprint.
GB 2310522 B discloses a fingerprint ID system, which compares input fingerprint image data with registered fingerprint image data, where minutiae bulge-line direction patterns and bulge-line curvature patterns are compared, and the matching degree between the fingerprint image data and the registered data is compared with two threshold values for judging if a fingerprint corresponds to registered data. When the matching degree is between the two thresholds, minutiae are compared successively in minutia high-density areas and minutia medium-density areas.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,699,519 A discloses a system in which a fingerprint is observed, a small portion at a time, using a flying spot scanner, whose spot travels along a predetermined path at each position to provide an electrical analogue signal indicative of the nature of the fingerprint at each position. The analogue signal is converted into digital form and temporarily stored in a memory having a plurality of storage elements. The signal stored in the memory is constantly circulated through each of the storage elements to provide for detection of minutiae (i.e. ridge endings, bifurcations, etc.) regardless of their angular orientation. Detecting the occurrence of specified minutia is achieved by sensing the states of selected ones of the storage elements.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,582,985 A discloses a data carrier which comprises an internal processor for processing supplied identification information of the owner during a card verification process, and for generating an acceptance signal as a result of a positive verification. The internal processor includes a verification device which comprises a sensor for sensing a fingertip of the owner and obtaining corresponding finger print line information. When a fingerprint is verified as valid, an acceptance signal is generated.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,607,384 A discloses an arrangement for generating a classification code for a fingerprint having a pattern of ridges, the ridges having a plurality of reference features, which includes overlaying the intersection of a pair of cross-hairs at a first one of the reference features. A line is overlaid from a second one of the reference features to the first reference feature. The cross-hairs are oriented so that the line bisects a quadrant of the cross-hairs. The ridges crossed by predetermined portions of the cross-hairs are counted to generate the classification code.
EP 1330185 B2 discloses a device for biometric verification of an individual's identity by means of fingerprint information, comprising controller and memory means, means for consecutively reading, and storing in said memory means, fingerprint information from partial areas of a finger, and means for extracting, and storing in said memory means, verification data from fingerprint information read from a partial area, means for verification processing of the extracted verification data, and decision-making means for deciding if fingerprint information from a new partial area has been read. At least those points in time when fingerprint information from a new partial area has been read are used by the controller means to update the contents of the memory means, said updating comprising removing fingerprint information from previously read partial areas, the controller means also updating the stored verification data on or before said points in time. In this device, the memory requirement for fingerprint verification is reduced when compared with a system using a full size sensor. The size of the sensor surface is also reduced when compared with a system using a full size sensor.
All of the devices and methods described above require a substantial amount of memory and/or a relatively large sensor surface. There is thus still room for an improved device and an improved method for biometric verification.

Biometric verification device and method


A damper has ridges and furrows thereon and a through hole therein. The damper includes a carbon nanotube film structure and an amorphous carbon structure. The carbon nanotube film structure defines a number of micropores therein. The amorphous carbon structure is composited with the carbon nanotube structure. The amorphous carbon structure comprises a number of amorphous carbon particles received in the micropores.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a damper and a loudspeaker using the same.
2. Description of Related Art
An electro-dynamic loudspeaker typically includes a diaphragm, a bobbin, a voice coil, a damper, a magnet, and a frame. The voice coil is an electrical conductor and is placed in the magnetic field of the magnet. By applying an electrical current to the voice coil, a mechanical vibration of the diaphragm is produced by the interaction between the electromagnetic field produced by the voice coil and the magnetic field of the magnets, thus producing sound waves by kinetically pushing the air. The diaphragm will reproduce the sound pressure waves, corresponding to the original input electric signals.
The damper is configured for holding the diaphragm connected to the bobbin to freely move up and down but not radially. However, when an input power is increased to a certain level, the damper might deform along the radial direction thereof or lose elasticity along the axial direction thereof, thereby causing audio distortion.
What is needed, therefore, is to provide a damper and a loudspeaker using the same with high strength and Young's modulus.

Damper and loudspeaker using the same cross-reference to related applications


A knob on a round suction cup is mounted in an opening in the back of a bow portion of a clip, away from the nip section. A roller on the nip cooperates with a flat sliding surface, another roller or a groove to receive and hold a card. Printing on the suction cup or on a sticker which receives the suction cup is visible through a transparent windshield.

It is useful to mount a parking pass on a windshield of a car so that the parking pass is visible through the windshield. One common form of mounting is to construct the pass with a hole and slit for hanging on the mirror post. When the pass must be removed and replaced repeatedly, the slit may enlarge, allowing the pass to drop.
A two-part identification may be desirable in which one part is permanently mounted on the windshield and in which another part is visible through a windshield. Mirror hang cards do not provide that function.
Other suction cup clip devices have the disadvantages of complexities of construction or use which make them unsatisfactory for the desired object of the invention.


The present invention is partial protective wear for protecting the front surface of a hand, the palm, front surface of the fingers, side surface of the fingers, webs and nails. The partial protective wear includes a body with a periphery edge that defines a palm portion, finger portion, web portion and nail portion. The body includes an attachment side and a protective side. The attachment side releasably attaches the partial protective wear on the front surface of the hand. The palm portion protects the palm of the hand. The finger portion protects the front surface and side surface of the fingers of the hand. The nail portion protects the nail plates and nail grooves of the hand and the web portion protects the webs of the hand.

Basking in the sun is known to be bad for your skin and could lead to skin cancer. These risks have been alleviated with the introduction of self tanners. Self tanners include creams, lotions, gels, and sprays. Self tanners have a skin staining or coloration effect.
Self tanners affect any area of the skin to which it is applied. If protective hand and foot wear is not worn during application, the palms of hands, soles of feet, front surface and side surface of fingers, bottom surface and side surface of toes, webs between the fingers and toes, as well as nails are affected, and the discoloration is not easily removed.
Plastic or rubber gloves and socks can be used to prevent the self tanner from coming into contact with the palms, soles, fingers, toes, webs, and nails. However, gloves and socks prevent the self tanner from contacting the backside of hands and fingers as well as the topside of feet and toes resulting in a tan line around the wrists and ankles.
An applicator as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,636,406 teaches a pad that covers the palmar side of the hand, but does not protect the sides of fingers from coloration or staining. Further, the pad does not protect the webs and nails from coloration or staining.
There is a demand for protective wear that effectively guards the palms of hands, soles of feet, front surface and side surface of fingers, bottom surface and side surface of toes, webs, and nails from undesired staining or coloration, while allowing desired staining or coloration to the back surface of hands and fingers as well as the top surface of feet and toes. The present invention satisfies that demand.