A pneumatic radial tire includes a pair of annular bead portions 2A, 2B, a tread portion 3 having a tread surface portion, a pair of sidewall portions 4A, 4B each connecting one of both end portions of tread portion 3 in tire-width directions and an outward end in the tire-radial direction of the corresponding one of the bead portions 2A, 2B, and a carcass layer 5 extending continuously across and through the bead portions 2A, 2B, the sidewall portions 3, and the tread portion 4A, 4B, the carcass layer 5 being configured to form a framework of the tire. Main grooves are formed respectively in a tire's equatorial portion including a center line in the tire-width directions of the tread portion and in a portion located closer to a vehicle-fitted inner side than the tire's equatorial portion is, each main groove extending continuously in a tire-circumferential direction of the tread portion, a land-portion block row in which a plurality of blocks are consecutively arranged in the tire-circumferential direction is formed in a portion of the tread portion located closer to a vehicle-fitted outer side than the tire's equatorial portion of the tire is, and in a section taken in the tire-width directions, a surface curvature radius of a case line of the carcass layer on the vehicle-fitted outer side is larger than a surface curvature radius of a case line of the carcass layer on the vehicle-fitted inner side while the tire is inflated with air.

Patent Document 1 discloses a pneumatic radial tire as related conventional art of this kind.
In the pneumatic radial tire, at least one main groove extending in the tire-circumferential direction is formed in a portion on the outer side of the tread portion when the tire is fitted to the vehicle. In addition, of all the main grooves thus formed, the one that is closest to the tire equator line is set to have a relatively large width. Thereby the pneumatic radial tire can improve the drainage of the tread portion.
In addition, in the pneumatic radial tire, at least two main grooves extending in the tire-circumferential direction are formed in portions located on the inner side of the tread portion when the tire is fitted to the vehicle. Of all the main grooves thus formed on this side, the one that is closest to the tire equator line is set to have a relatively small width. Thereby, the pneumatic tire can reduce the noise generated in the tread portion.    Patent Document 1: JP-A 2004-90763


An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for facilitating copy protection. The apparatus includes a definition module, a request module, and a determination module, each coupled to a first storage sub-system. The definition module is configured to define a protection definition for a plurality of electronic storage devices of the first storage sub-system. The request module is configured to receive a copy request from a second storage sub-system. The determination module is configured to determine at the first storage sub-system a copy protection status of a destination device. The copy protection status may be indicated by the protection definition, which includes a protection indicator and may include one or more restriction indicators. The apparatus advantageously allows a user to protect a selected destination device against accidental or otherwise detrimental copying.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to data copying and more particularly relates to facilitating copy protection on an electronic storage device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Data is copied for a variety of reasons. For example, a user may want to make a backup copy of data. Additionally, the user may want to move the data to make it accessible to a certain application program or network area. Different copying technologies, for example, point-in-time, synchronous continuous, asynchronous continuous, and so forth, exist in order to facilitate different copying needs.
Within a storage area network (SAN), copy functions in storage controllers allow a user to invoke a copy of one volume onto another volume. The volume from which data is copied may be referred to as the source volume. The volume onto which the copied data is written may be referred to as the destination volume or target volume. Volumes also may be discussed in terms of electronic storage devices, since a logical volume may be stored on one or more physical storage devices. When data from a source volume is copied to a target volume, the data that was previously on the target volume is overwritten by the newly copied data. When a user incorrectly specifies a target volume, valuable data on the target volume may be accidentally or unknowingly lost due to such overwriting.
Conventional copying technologies in storage sub-systems allow any volume to be selected as a target volume in a copy operation. Some exceptions apply, but they are typically limited to volumes that are in use or otherwise unavailable to participate in the copy operation. Unfortunately, accidental designation of the destination volume can cause a substantial loss of valuable data. For example, if a user means to copy data from volume A to volume B, but accidentally designates volume C as the destination volume, there may be no way to prevent the operation of copying data from volume A to volume C. As a result, the data from volume C may be lost, even though the designation of volume C as a target volume may have been incorrect and accidental.
The potential for copying mishaps using conventional techniques is complicated by the size and complexity of many SANs and storage sub-systems. A SAN system having ten storage sub-systems may have hundreds, even thousands, of volumes distributed among the storage sub-systems within the SAN system. It may be extremely difficult to track all of the illegal copying operations that may be attempted among the various storage sub-systems and volumes. Additionally, the difficulty may drastically increase as the storage sub-systems and volumes are dynamically used, replaced, and reassigned within the SAN system, thereby, requiring frequent and complicated synchronization.
From the foregoing discussion, it should be apparent that a need exists for an apparatus, system, and method to facilitate copy protection. Beneficially, such an apparatus, system, and method would allow a user to protect a selected destination device against accidental or otherwise detrimental copying. The apparatus, system, and method also may beneficially eliminate the need for a complex and centralized database to describe all of the potentially illegal copy operations that may be attempted with a SAN system.

Apparatus, system, and method for copy protection

International Business Machines Corporation


A trimbit circuit for flash memory integrated circuits is described. The trimbit circuit is used to store the addresses of bad rows and/or columns in flash memory arrays. Furthermore the trimbit circuit is used to store the trimbits for trimable circuits in the integrated circuit, i.e. voltage references, precision oscillator, etc. The invention includes a row of flash memory trimcells and a trimcell differential amplifier circuit. The trimcell differential amplifier circuit can serially shift in trimbits into a latch and serially shift out trimbits without having to program the flash memory trimcells. The final settings of the trimbits can be programmed by means of a high voltage buffer. A non-overlapping clock generator and additional logic is also included to control the circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of integrated circuits, and specifically, to fuse circuits used to increase the production yield of flash memory integrated circuits.
2. Background Information
Particle defects due to fabrication environments can cause flash memory integrated circuits, especially those with high density memory arrays, to fail. As a result, a yield loss in production test is realized, thereby causing the final satisfactory product to cost substantially more in order to cover the cost of the faulty parts. To help increase production yield, a technique, commonly known as redundancy repair (row, column, or block), is used to avoid use of the failed memory portion in favor of a corresponding redundant memory portion included on the integrated circuit just for such purposes.
Redundancy circuits typically store the addresses of the failed memory portion by using fuse circuits which compare the incoming addresses versus the stored redundancy addresses for a match. If a match is found, the redundancy array is enabled and the main array is disabled. An enable fuse is typically included to enable or disable the redundancy addresses.
In addition to the storage of redundancy addresses, the fuse circuit can be used to store the settings for other circuits, such as voltage references, precision oscillators, etc. At production test, these circuits can be trimmed by the fuse circuit in order to increase the production yield. In one embodiment, fuse circuits are referred to as trim circuits and flash memory fuses are referred to as flash memory trimcells.
Some conventional implementations use a resistor fuse as a programmable element to store the failed addresses. The fuse is blown by applying a high current through the fuse by a test enabling circuit. However, such a fuse is one-time programmable only. Since the current required to blow the fuse is usually high, the transfer switch has to be large, and requires a correspondingly large chip area.
Other implementations use erasable programmable read-only memory ("EPROM") technology. However, as implemented, an EPROM fuse is also one-time programmable. Furthermore, an EPROM requires complicated shielding over the fuse after programming in order to retain the programming charge.
In yet other implementations, an electrically erasable programmable read only memory ("EEPROM") is used in an inverter mode (as commonly known), i.e., the cell in the read mode acts as a current sink for some loading elements such as a PMOS, NMOS, or a resistor. The device gate is typically held at 2V and its source at ground, with its drain coupled to the load. The voltage at the loading element is the output of the memory cell.
Conventional methods of generating trim bits are by placing the EEPROM cells on an area away from the array. Reading and programming is done in parallel. However, the problem with this method is that the EEPROM cells will not properly match the cells in the array. Also, the parallel read and programming modes require extensive circuits when large trimbit quantities are used.
In prior art U.S. Pat. No. 4,617,651 by W. Ip and G. Perlegos and U.S. Pat. No. 4,538,245 by G. Smarandolu and G. Perlegos, the fuse element is a one time programmable fuse as opposed to the many times programmable flash memory fuse of the present invention. The flash memory fuse enables the redundancy and trimable circuits to be programmable many times and does not require high currents to drive the fuse. Furthermore, in '651 and '245 patents, the programming of the fuse elements is done in parallel in contrast to the serial loading and programming of the present invention. The serial loading saves a considerable amount of space, especially when large trimbit quantities are used.
In prior art U.S. Pat. No. 5,148,395 by David Sowards, EEPROM fuses are stand alone and outside of the array. Additionally, large support circuits are required to operate it.
In prior art U.S. Pat. No. 5,642,316 by Hieu Van Tran and Trevor Blyth, the EEPROM fuses are programmed by the same column drivers as the main array. Therefore, a column redundancy scheme is not allowed. Also, the EEPROM fuses first have to be programmed in order to use the trimbits for characterization of the performance of the integrated circuit. This is not the case in the present invention, since the trimbits can be serially loaded in a latch where they are stored and used for characterization of the integrated circuit. Also, programming, erasing, and reading of the flash memory fuses is done by means of separate drivers. Therefore, a column redundancy scheme is allowed. The flash memory fuses are embedded in the array and thus match the flash memory cells in the array.

Trimbit circuit for flash memory integrated circuits


The power control circuitry comprises a series of power switching circuits, each power switching circuit being associated with one of the circuit portions and being provided with an enable signal and responsive to its enable signal being set to connect the voltage source to the at least one voltage line of the associated circuit portion. Further, at least one enable qualifying circuit is provided, each such enable qualifying circuit being associated with one of the power switching circuits and being arranged to generate an output signal used to determine the enable signal provided to a later power switching circuit in the series. Each enable qualifying circuit sets its output signal when both the enable signal provided to the associated power switching circuit is set and the at least one voltage line of the circuit portion associated with that power switching circuit has reached a predetermined voltage level.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to power control circuitry, and to a method of operating such circuitry, such power control circuitry being arranged to control the connection of a voltage source to an associated circuit.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In a data processing system, it is often the case that many of the circuits within the system spend a significant proportion of the time inactive. However, even when inactive, those circuits can consume significant power due to leakage current. Accordingly, it is known to provide power control circuitry in association with such circuits to disconnect those circuits from a voltage source when they are not being used, and to then reconnect them to the voltage source when those circuits need again to become active.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a known power control circuitry that can be provided in association with a circuit 40. In this example, the power control circuitry comprises a plurality of PMOS transistors 10, 20, 30 provided in parallel between an operating supply voltage VDD and a voltage line 50 used by the circuit 40, this voltage line 50 also being referred to herein as a virtual VDD line (VVDD). When the circuit 40 is to be disconnected from the power supply VDD, for example when it is entering a standby mode of operation, each of the PMOS transistors 10, 20, 30 receives a power off signal at a logic one level at their gate inputs 15, 25, 35, respectively, which causes those transistors to be turned off, and hence causes the voltage line 50 to be isolated from the operating supply voltage VDD. When the circuit 40 is later required to enter an active mode of operation, then the power off signals are cleared to a logic zero level, thus causing each of the transistors 10, 20, 30 to turn on and pull the voltage line 50 up to the operating supply voltage VDD.
Whilst three PMOS transistors are shown in FIG. 1, it will be appreciated that the number of PMOS transistors provided will vary dependent on embodiment, and indeed in some embodiments only a single PMOS transistor may be required. Further, the voltage line 50 illustrated in FIG. 1 may actually consist of a number of discrete voltage lines, each of which services particular portions of the circuit 40. In addition, the circuit 40 may take a variety of forms. For example, in one embodiment this circuit 40 may take the form of a memory device. Alternatively, the circuit may comprise any logic block within a data processing system, for example a processor core, an arithmetic logic unit (ALU) within a core, a memory controller device, a video controller, etc.
In addition to using such power control circuitry in association with the operating supply voltage, similar circuitry can also be used in association with other voltage sources applied to the circuitry 40, for example the ground voltage. The Article "A Novel Powering-Down Scheme for Low Vt CMOS Circuits" by K Kumagai et al, ULSI Device Development Laboratories, NEC Corporation, 1998 Symposium on VLSI Circuits, Digest of Technical Papers, shows in FIG. 1 a circuit having power control circuitry provided in association with both the operating supply voltage VDD and the ground voltage. In that paper, diodes are also provided in parallel with the transistors of the power control circuitry to limit the change in voltage that can occur on the voltage lines of the circuit, hence ensuring that data can be retained in the standby mode, referred to therein as the sleep mode.
Irrespective of whether the circuit of any particular implementation requires any data holding mechanisms such as the above-mentioned diode mechanism in order to allow the circuit to hold data values whilst it is in the standby mode, a common problem that can occur in any circuit employing power control circuitry is a problem of inrush current when the circuit is later re-connected to the voltage source. Generally, during the shift from the standby state to the active state, a large capacitance may be required to charge up the voltage line 50 to the operating supply voltage VDD and to charge any internal nodes within the circuit 40 that are required to be at the operating supply voltage level when the circuit is in its active state of operation. A large inrush current (voltage surge) may occur in the power supply VDD during this charging period, and this large inrush current may cause voltage drops in the power supply VDD, which might potentially cause other circuits using the power supply VDD to malfunction. It will be appreciated that a similar problem can also be exhibited on other voltage source lines connected to the active circuit using similar power control circuitry, for example the ground line discussed earlier. In particular, any variations in the ground voltage line may again cause other circuits to malfunction.
One way of seeking to reduce the inrush current is described in the article "ChipOS: Open Power-Management Platform to Overcome the Power Crisis in Future LSIs" by H Mizuno et al, 2001 IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference. As described therein, when a voltage source is to be applied to a particular logic block, the gates of the power switches provided in power limiter circuitry associated with that logic block are driven with a low slew rate. Accordingly, the voltage on the gates of those power switches is increased relatively slowly so that those switches turn on relatively slowly, and accordingly the time taken to charge up the voltage line of the logic block to the voltage level of the connected voltage source is increased, thereby limiting the peak current. In accordance with the technique described in the article, the gates are driven with a low slew rate by first driving those gates lines with a small driver and only later driving those lines with a large driver. However, whilst such an approach can limit the peak current, and thereby reduce the inrush current, the approach of using simple circuits such as a weak driver to reduce the slew rate of the power switch enable signal provided to the gates of the power switches is very sensitive to manufacturing process variations, and accordingly the amount of current limitation that can be achieved will vary significantly dependent on such process variations. As a result, such an approach does not provide a very reliable technique for reducing inrush current.
The article "Universal Serial Bus (USB) Power Management" by K Lynn, Wescon 97 Conference Proceedings, 4-6 Nov. 1997, Pages 434 to 441, also describes a technique for reducing the inrush current by slowing down the turn-on time of the power switches in the power control circuitry. In accordance with the technique mentioned therein, the power switches are provided with a charge pump which slows the turn-on time to between 1 ms and 2 ms. Whilst the use of more complex analog circuits such as the above-mentioned charge pumps can remove some of the process sensitivity that would be exhibited by the earlier-mentioned technique for limiting the slew rate of the enable signals provided to the power switch gates, their increased complexity adds to the area of the power control circuitry which in turn increases cost.
The article "X2000 Advanced Avionics Project Development of a New Generation of Avionics for Space Applications" by R Blue et al, Aerospace Conference 2003, Proceedings 2003 IEEE, Volume 5, 8-15 Mar. 2003, Pages 5-2303 to 5-2314, describes a number of avionics building block modules, including modules for power distribution and power regulation. A power switch slice is described, and it is mentioned that inrush current control is provided within the power switch slice, but no details of how that is achieved is discussed.
It would be desirable to provide an improved technique for limiting inrush current when employing power control circuitry to control the connection of a voltage source to an associated circuit, which is less susceptible to process variations, but is also less costly to implement than known solutions employing analog circuits such as charge pumps.


A battery module including a plurality of battery cells aligned in a direction, each of the battery cells including a cap plate including a terminal portion, and a vent portion to exhaust a gas; a cover covering the vent portions; and a heat-resistance member between the battery cells and the cover, and having an opening formed in a region corresponding to each vent portion.

1. Field
Aspects of embodiments of the present invention relate to a battery module.
2. Description of the Related Art
A high-power battery module using a non-aqueous electrolyte with high energy density has recently been developed. The high-power battery module is configured as a large-capacity battery module manufactured by connecting a plurality of battery cells in series and which may be used for driving devices, such as motors of electric vehicles and the like, which require high power.
A battery cell includes an electrode assembly and an electrolyte, and the electrode assembly is composed of positive and negative electrode plates. The battery cell generates energy by an electrochemical reaction of the electrode plates and the electrolyte. In this case, high-temperature gas may be generated inside the battery cell due to a side reaction of the electrochemical reaction.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A face mask includes an arcuate transparent sheet which extends about a central axis, and which has an upper engaging edge portion extending therealong. The upper engaging edge portion has a central positioning hole formed in a middle thereof to define a reference line with the central axis, two elongated first grooves formed respectively at two side ends of the upper engaging edge portion to define a first chord therebetween perpendicular to the reference line, and two elongated second grooves respectively inboard to the first grooves. The second grooves define a second chord therebetween perpendicular to the reference line. Each of the first and second grooves extends along the upper engaging edge portion. Each second groove is longer than each first groove. As such, the face mask can be assembled on different kinds of helmets and the like.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a face mask, more particularly to a face mask with elongated grooves for facilitating assembly of the face mask on a helmet or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional transparent face mask is assembled on a front brim of a helmet or a helmet frame. For example, a helmet has two pivot members to engage an upper engaging edge portion of a face mask such that the face mask can be rotated upwardly about the pivot members. Another exemplary helmet has a plurality of fastening members disposed along a front brim thereof to secure firmly a face mask for safety purpose. For different helmets and helmet frames, face masks with different engaging holes have to be manufactured. The requirement to provide face masks with different holes causes inconveniences in manufacture and inventory management.

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A support for removably fastening a bicycle on-board device having an oblong shape along a bicycle oblong element is disclosed, wherein the support has at least one first opening configured to receive a shank of a first device for fastening to the oblong element, and a second opening configured to receive a shank of a second device for fastening to the oblong element, the first opening and the second opening being spaced along a longitudinal direction of the oblong element, the first opening being configured to receive the shank of the first fastening device alternatively in at least two first positions spaced apart in said first opening, the two first positions being spaced along a direction transversal to the oblong element.

Bicycle on-board electronic systems are known and are becoming increasingly sophisticated. The on-board device or the system that it is part of can for example be intended for controlling and/or managing the gearshift and/or for acquiring, processing and/or storing parameters and/or data relative to the cyclist and/or to the bicycle and/or to the trip. The on-board device or the system that it is part of can also be intended for mobile telephone communication, for multimediality and/or for anti-theft surveillance of the bicycle.
The bicycle on-board device can also merely comprise a battery power supply unit, possibly with associated power supply electronics, for other devices of the on-board electronic system, or vice-versa just one or more circuit boards without a battery power supply unit.
US 2001/0042767 A1 and EP 1 553 012 A1 each describe a containment unit for an electronic system for controlling/powering at least one on-board electronic device for a bicycle, having a configuration suitable for fastening outside of the frame at the same attachment point as a bottle cage, and preferably with the same fastening means.
The Applicant observes that in such documents the position on the frame is uniquely defined and therefore is restricted to a specific model of bicycle frame.
US 2005/0280244 A1 describes a bicycle control apparatus that can be mounted in a seat post and more specifically in a seat post that is detachably mounted in the seat tube. According to such a document, the seat post, at its lower end opposite the saddle, comprises a circuit mounting structure like for example an internal threading. The control apparatus comprises a tubular housing, that can be inserted in the seat post, as well as a cover at the lower end of the tubular housing. The tubular housing houses a control unit in the form of a microprocessor, and it has an internal threading at the lower end. The cover is shaped like a stepped bolt comprising: a head, equipped with a tool engaging structure and having an outer diameter that is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the seat post; a first male threaded portion having a diameter that is slightly smaller than the diameter of the head; and a second male threaded portion having a diameter that is slightly smaller than the diameter of the first male threaded portion. The second male threaded portion is screwed into the internal threading of the tubular housing; then the first male threaded portion is screwed into the internal threading of the seat post. In an alternative embodiment, the housing is mounted in the seat post in a different manner. The first male threaded portion of the cover is replaced by a mounting structure comprising a plurality of movable projections in the form of retaining balls slidingly retained in a corresponding plurality of retaining holes and biased radially outwardly by a corresponding plurality of springs. The mounting structure also includes a plurality of stationary projections in the form of rectangular male splines. In the seat post, the circuit mounting structure comprises, instead of the female threading, a plurality of recesses in the form of hemispherical grooves and a plurality of recesses in the form of female splines. This embodiment, with respect to the first, has the advantage of not subjecting the cables to twisting during assembly into the seat post.
Holes are provided in the tubular housing and in the cover, for the passage of cables for data and energy transport, equipped with respective connectors. Holes are similarly provided in the seat post, for the passage of cables, equipped with respective connectors. There can also be a groove in the inner peripheral surface of the seat post or in the outer peripheral surface of the housing, to house the cables that come out from the cover and lead them upwards, for example towards the top tube of the frame.
The Applicant observes that such a control apparatus has a series of drawbacks. Indeed, such an apparatus needs the seat post to have a tubular cylinder shape, while bicycle frames and therefore seat posts with a non-circular cross section are increasingly common, mainly for aerodynamic reasons; moreover, such an apparatus requires a substantial alteration of the seat post to make the circuit mounting structure, which moreover adapts poorly to seat posts made of a composite material such as carbon fibre. Moreover, it requires the disconnection of the signal and power cables whenever one wishes to remove the saddle. Furthermore, since it has to fit into the seat post that is in turn sized to fit in the seat tube of the frame, the apparatus necessarily has a small transversal size. Finally, bicycle frames with integrated seat post, for which such an apparatus is not suitable, are increasingly common.
The technical problem at the basis of the invention is to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks and allow an on-board device to be attached to a bicycle in a versatile manner, not restricted to a specific model of bicycle or frame.

Bicycle on-board device and related support and mounting method


This method comprises bringing exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine, which is operated at a fuel-lean air/fuel ratio, in contact with an iridium-containing catalyst in a first zone and then in contact with a platinum-containing catalyst in a second zone situated downstream of the first zone. This method is effective for exhaust gas from lean burn engines over a wide temperature range of 200 to 500.degree. C., produces less N.sub.2 O in a low-temperature range of 200 to 300.degree. C., and can purify exhaust gas stably and effectively even at a high temperature of 700.degree. C. or over.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of purifying exhaust gas that is discharged from internal combustion engines, which are operated at a fuel-lean air/fuel ratio, such as gasoline lean burn engines, 2-stroke engines, and diesel engines, and contains oxygen in excess to reducing components, such as hydrocarbons, and particularly to a method useful for removing nitrogen oxides.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Internal combustion engines that are operated at a fuel-lean air/fuel ratio, such as gasoline lean burn engines, and diesel engines, (hereinafter referred to as lean burn engines) are advantageous because the amount of fossil fuel required to do a certain work is less in comparison with conventional gasoline engines and the amount of exhaust of carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2), a substance that causes global warming, can be decreased. However, because the exhaust gas contains oxygen in excess to reducing components, such as hydrocarbons (HC), the prior art technique of removing nitrogen oxides (NO.sub.x) is unsatisfactory and therefore its wide propagation is restricted.
Conventionally, with respect to NO.sub.x, nitrogen monoxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO.sub.2) that are considered to cause mainly acid rain and photochemical smog have been remarked in view of the pollution control while nitrous oxide (N.sub.2 O) is considered harmless. However, quite recently, it is pointed out that N.sub.2 O likely causes global warming and destruction of the ozonosphere and it is expected that the exhaustion of N.sub.2 O is required to be restricted in the future.
In recent years, as a method of treating exhaust gas from lean burn engines for transportation means, such as automobiles, it is studied that a catalyst is used to selectively reduce NO.sub.x with HC remaining in the exhaust gas without allowing that HC to react with oxygen present in excess, and various methods are proposed wherein different catalysts are used. For example, there are proposed (1) a method wherein a zeolite catalyst a metallosilicate catalyst, or an aluminophosphate catalyst that have been ion-exchanged with a transition metal, such as Cu and Co, is used (U.S. Pat. No. 4,297,328, and Japanese Pre-examination Patent Publication (KOKAI) Nos. 63-100919, 3-127628, 3-229620, and 1-112488) and (2) a method wherein a catalyst comprising a noble metal, such as Pd, Pt, and Rh, supported on a porous metal oxide carrier, such as zeolite, alumina, silica, and titania, is used (Japanese Pre-examination Patent Publication (KOKAI) Nos. 3-221143 and 3-221144). These catalysts are required to have various characteristics, and since in some cases the exhaust gas from a lean burn engine reaches a temperature of 700.degree. C. or more, and in particular in the case of the exhaust gas from an engine for transport vehicles, such as buses, trucks, and passenger cars, the temperature of the exhaust gas sometimes reaches as high as about 800 to 900.degree. C. temporarily during the operation because the load on the engine changes violently, the catalyst for purifying exhaust gas is demanded to have heat resistance at such a high temperature. In addition, a long-term reliability to the extent of 100,000 to 160,000-kilometer mileage is demanded. However, the catalyst in (1) has defects that the effective temperature range where the removal of NO.sub.x occurs is 350.degree. C. or over, which is relatively high, and that the catalyst is thermally deteriorated drastically in a steam-containing exhaust gas at 650.degree. C. or over, and on the other hand although the catalyst in (2) allows conversion of NO.sub.x at a relatively low temperature of 200.degree. C. to 300.degree. C., the catalyst has problems that the effective temperature range is narrow and a considerable amount of N.sub.2 O is produced concomitantly as a partial reduction product of N.sub.x O.
As a method that offsets the defects of the above single catalyst system and realizes a higher efficient removal of NO.sub.x, various methods are proposed which use a plurality of catalyst systems that are combined stepwise. For example, (1) a method wherein a Cu-ion-exchanged zeolite catalyst is placed in the upper stream of the flow of exhaust gas and a Pt/alumina catalyst is placed in the lower stream (Japanese Pre-examination Patent Publication (KOKAI) Nos. 1-139145 and 4-367713), (2) a method wherein a Ni or Ru/alumina catalyst is placed in the upper stream and a Pt/alumina catalyst placed in the lower stream (Japanese Pre-examination Patent Publication (KOKAI) No. 5-76776, and (3) a method wherein a Pt, Rh, or Pd/alumina catalyst is placed in the upper stream and a Cu/zeolite catalyst is placed in the lower stream (Japanese Pre-examination Patent Publication (KOKAI) No. 5-96132 are known. However, since, in the method in (1), the catalyst in the upper stream and in the method in (3), the catalyst in the lower stream are unsatisfactory in heat resistance, respectively, and in the method in (2), the NO.sub.x removal performance is unsatisfactory in a high-temperature range of 300.degree. C. or higher, all of these methods fail to be used in practice.
Further, a two-stage catalyst system is known wherein a catalyst comprising rhodium or iridium is placed in the upper stream and a catalyst comprising platinum or palladium is placed in the lower stream (Japanese Pre-examination Patent Publication (KOKAI) No. 52-65177). However, this catalyst system is intended to purify exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine that is operated at an air/fuel ratio of about 14.6 where the reducing components and the oxidizing components in the exhaust gas are equivalent, so that the catalyst system is not effective to purify the exhaust gas from lean burn engines that are operated in the presence of excess oxygen and the removal of NO.sub.x proceeds scarcely.
Further, a method wherein the exhaust gas from a lean burn engine is purified by using a catalyst comprising iridium and platinum, in coexistence manner, supported on a metallosilicate carrier is known (Japanese Pre-examination Patent Publication (KOKAI) No. 5-245386). However, in the catalyst used in this method, the light-off (catalyst inlet temperature versus conversion) performance curve of NO.sub.x, HC, and CO is similar to that of a catalyst supported only platinum and any substantial effect due to the action of iridium cannot be observed. The performance of the removal of NO.sub.x is still unsatisfactory. It is assumed that, probably, when exhaust gas comes in contact with such a co-supporting catalyst, out of HC's that are to act as reducing agents for NO.sub.x present in the exhaust gas, more reactive olefinic HC's interact first with platinum that is higher in oxidizing ability, and as a result, N.sub.2 O is produced as a reduction product of NO.sub.x in the low-temperature zone and the olefinic HC's are oxidized to CO.sub.2 completely in the higher-temperature zone.

Method of purifying exhaust gas from internal combustion engine


A positioning shaft of a dual direction cable reel is disclosed. The cable reel comprises an upper cover, a pad, a reeling disc, a coiled cable, a spring, and a lower cover, characterized in that the reeling disc and a positioning element mounted at the inner edge of the lower cover form an engaging and disengaging mechanism, wherein the positioning element includes a positioning shaft and a positioning plate and the positioning plate covers the top portion of the positioning shaft and is secured with a peg and the positioning plate has a pivot hole at the center thereof for the pivot mounting of the positioning shaft, and the front end of the positioning plate exposed from the shaft body of the positioning shaft is provided with a sliding protruded section corresponding to the railing slot at the bottom section of the reeling disc, and the bottom section is provided with an operation railing slot for the sliding protruded section to rotate along the reeling slot so as to provide an alternating engaging and a disengaging action.

(a) Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cable reel, and in particular, to a positioning shaft of a dual direction cable reel.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
The conventional cable reel employs a steel bead to position a coiled cable on a cable reel and FIGS. 6 and 7 show such a conventional cable reel structure. The reel structure A10 includes a front cover A1, a spring A2, sliding seat A3, a transmission cable A4, a positioning bead A5 and a rear cover A6. The spring A2 is positioned within the sliding seat A3 which is the source of power to reel the transmission cable A4. However, the bead A5 for positioning is by sliding and therefore the bottom section of the sliding seat A3 is provided with a rail A3 allowing the bead A5 to be in the rail A3. However, the bead A5 causes noise. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a positioning shaft of a dual direction cable reel which mitigates the above drawback.

Positioning shaft of a dual direction cable reel


A light attachment device for removable attachment to an electrosurgical pencil and/or an electrosurgical pencil attachment such as a shroud for an electrosurgical pencil. The light attachment device may be automatically turned on and off in conjunction with the activation and deactivation of the electrosurgical pencil and/or electrosurgical pencil attachment.

Most electrosurgery pencils now include smoke evacuation means to remove smoke, fluids, and debris away from the surgical site during a surgical procedure. However, although this removal of smoke, fluids, and debris provides a surgeon with better visibility during cutting and/or coagulation at the surgical site, some surgeries involve parts of the body that have less visibility than other parts of the body especially in those areas that are deeper in the body cavity. Further, although external lighting aids can be used that are separate and apart from the electrosurgery pencil, the use of such lighting aids is not efficient and may result in a more crowded surgical site thereby making manipulation of the electrosurgery pencil by the surgeon more difficult.
Accordingly, there is a need for a light attachment device for both electrosurgery pencils and electrosurgery pencil attachments that can be easily and removably secured to an electrosurgery pencil and/or electrosurgery pencil attachment so that the area of/in a patient's body where cutting and/or coagulation takes place can be illuminated. There is also a need for a light attachment device for electrosurgery pencils and electrosurgery pencil attachments that includes a movable lighting element that can be moved in all directions with respect to the light attachment device in order to better illuminate an area in or on a patient where an operation or medical procedure is taking place.

Light attachment device for electrosurgical pencil and electrosurgical pencil attachments


A movable-contact unit to be used in an operating panel of various electronic devices is disclosed. The movable-contact unit is formed of movable contacts directly held on an inorganic EL sheet. To obtain adequate tactile feedback from the movable contacts even in a low temperature environment, a holding section of adhesive is patterned on the underside of the inorganic EL sheet such that the area of the holding section is not less than 25% and not greater than 50% of the area of the movable contact. Then the movable contact is held adhesively by this patterned holding section of the adhesive.

A variety of electronic devices have various structures in their inputting sections. Portable devices, among other electronic devices and typically represented by portable phones, have increasingly used a panel switch as an operating panel. The panel switch is formed by placing a movable-contact unit on a printed wired board of an electronic device, and the movable-contact unit is formed by adhesively holding movable contacts on the underside of a base sheet made of insulating film such as PET.
Due to their portability, the portable devices can be used in various environments including a wide range of temperature, so that the operating panel needs to be capable of operating smoothly in the various environments. The foregoing conventional movable-contact unit and the panel switch using the conventional movable-contact unit are described hereinafter.
FIG. 6 shows a sectional view of the conventional movable-contact unit, FIG. 7 shows a sectional view of the panel switch formed of the conventional movable-contact unit, and FIG. 8 shows a perspective exploded view of the same panel switch.
As illustrated in the sectional view of FIG. 6, conventional movable-contact unit 10 is formed this way: domed movable contact 5 made of a thin metal sheet is held on the underside of base sheet 1 at its center top face, which base sheet 1 is made of insulating film such as PET. In general, adhesive 3 is patterned on the underside of base sheet 1, and then movable contact 5 is adhesively held by holding section 3A of adhesive 3.
The placement of movable contacts 5 is determined in response to an operating panel of a device, and a plurality of movable contacts 5 are placed independent of each other, thereby forming panel switch 20.
Adhesive 3 formed on the underside of base sheet 1 is also available around movable contacts 5, and the surrounding sections 3B of adhesive 3 holds separator 7, which has a top face that has undergone a releasing process, on the underside of sheet 1. Separator 7 is laminated entirely on the underside of sheet 1 in order to prevent the adhesion of dust to movable contacts 5 during transportation and storage.
Before movable-contact unit 10 is used, separator 7 is removed by using its releasing process, and movable-contact unit 10 is bonded to wired board 15 (ref. FIGS. 7 and 8) of the device by surrounding sections 3B exposed at the underside of base sheet 1. Wired board 15 includes a fixed contact on its top face, and the fixed contact is formed of outer fixed contact 17A and center fixed contact 17B in pairs.
As shown in FIG. 7, each one of contacts 5 of movable-contact unit 10 is placed on outer fixed contact 17A corresponding to the contact 5 at its lower end of the outer rim, so that contact 5 is adhesively placed on wired board 15, thereby forming panel switch 20. On top of panel switch 20, key mat 25 is placed for depressing movable contact 5, so that the operating panel is constructed.
Panel switch 20 operates this way: key mat 25 is depressed at its keytop, such that pressing force is applied to corresponding movable contact 5 via base sheet 1. When the force exceeds a given value, the center of movable contact 5 is reversed producing tactile feedback, so that the bottom of contact 5 touches center fixed contact 17B, i.e. outer fixed contact 17A is shorted to center fixed contact 17B via movable contact 5. When the depressing force is removed, movable contact 5 restores itself to its original position (switch-off position as shown in FIG. 7).
Panel switch 20 discussed above provides the user with excellent tactile feedback (click feeling) in a slim structure, so that it has been widely used in portable phones which have become progressively slimmer.
It has recently been preferred to have the keytop of key-mat 25 illuminated, and thus it has been proposed that an LED mounted on wired board 15 as a light source for the illumination be replaced with an EL (electro luminescent) sheet. Because the EL sheet can be used as a surface light source and allows illumination of an object with its surface emission. FIG. 9 shows a sectional view of an example of the EL sheet, and this example, called an inorganic EL sheet, comprises the following elements:
(a) optically transparent base film 30 made of, e.g. PET (polyethylene terephthalate), and placed on the light emitting side, i.e. placed as the top face of the EL sheet; and
(b) transparent electrode layer 31, light emitting layer 32, dielectric layer 33, back electrode layer 34, and insulating layer 35, laminated and printed on the underside of film 30 in this order. It has been proposed that this inorganic EL sheet 40 be placed beneath key mat 25, or that movable contacts 5 be bonded directly to EL sheet 40, thereby forming a movable-contact unit. Related prior art is disclosed in, e.g. Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. H10-144172, or No. 2001-273831.
Recently, devices have been downsized and slimmed, so that the inventors of the present invention think that a surface light source in a slim body is useful as a movable-contact unit, one of the elements of an operating panel of the devices. The inventors thus have studied the replacement of base sheet 1 of conventional movable-contact unit 10 with inorganic EL sheet 40.
The movable-contact unit under study employs inorganic EL sheet 40; however, EL sheet 40 has a problem in that it is thicker than conventional base sheet 1 because of its multi-layer printings, and yet, it becomes highly rigid in a low temperature environment. The inventors thus encountered the problem that the operation in the low temperature environment provides the user with degraded tactile feedback obtained from movable contacts 5. In the environment at −20° C. that is generally the lower limit of operating a mobile communication device such as a portable device, almost no tactile feedback is obtained from movable contacts 5.

Movable-contact unit and panel switch using the same

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A splash-proof beverage lid closure (20) for a travel mug has a lid member (30) in the form of a peripheral rim with a raised pouring lip (32) on one side and a disengagement tab (34) on the other. A circular sidewall (36) integrally distends from the lid member, and an inclined recessed disc (44) is integrally formed within a lower portion of this circular sidewall. The disc has a liquid egress aperture (46), an alignment slot (48), a pair of parallel snap-in clasp slots (50) and a disc vent hole (52) therein. A blocking barrier slide (58), complete with an upright thumb actuating bar (60) on the upper portion of the slide, includes an alignment tab (62) along with a pair of extended snap-in clasps (64) on a bottom portion of the slide and a slide vent hole (68) therethrougth. The slide snap-in clasps captivate the slide onto the disc. When the slide is manually urged away from the liquid egress aperture the slide vent hole aligns with the disc vent hole, an unobstructed flow of liquid is permitted through the aperture, and, when the blocking barrier slide is slid over the egress aperture the vent holes are misaligned and closed, forming a splash-proof closure preventing liquid from sloshing from the lid closure during transportation and limiting spillage when a travel mug having the lid closure attached is inadvertently tipped over.

The present invention relates to beverage lid closures in general. More specifically the invention is for a thermoplastic closure for beverages that has a barrier slide that linearly slides over and covers an opening in the lid to prevent splashing of the liquid contents.
Previously, many types of beverage lids have been used in endeavoring to provide an effective means to cover liquid containing cups, mugs and tumblers. In order to provide added utility, the lid normally contains an opening allowing a person to drink out of directly or to insert a straw. In the past some prior art used separate stoppers to plug the hole, others utilized hinged plugs, rotating lid sections, removable plugs etc.
The prior art listed below did not disclose patents that possess any of the novelty of the instant invention; however the following U.S. Patents are considered related:
Ross in U.S. Pat. No. 5,018,636 teaches a safety mug for liquids with an improved top which permits the liquid to retain its temperature while it is in the mug and further secure the liquid if the mug is bumped. The mug utilizes a single drink hole covered with a sealing member, or lid, rotatably retained by an internal shelf. The lid is hemispherical in shape and extends into and across the mug. The shape of the top includes a continuous groove or bump on the inside which forces any liquid to take a circuitous route before exiting the mug, creating a barrier, such that the liquid will not spill out should the container be accidentally bumped or jarred.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,102,000 issued to Feldman.III is for a drink mug that has an inwardly projecting ring, with spaced notches, that contain lid latch members carried on the lid which pass through vertical passages in the body. Flexible fingers connect the latch to the lid with two vertical passages opposite each other and two notches at 90 degrees to the vertical passages. The lid contains an opening for drinking as shown and described.
Karp in U.S. Pat. No. 5,249,703 discloses a travel mug and lid combination. A cylindrical well in the lid has a vertical dividing wall so that the lid may be readily rotated by hand. Diametrically opposed notches in the lid align with gaps in the annular lip allowing a person to drink from the otherwise sealed container.
Yeh in U.S. Pat. No. 5,368,186 teaches a safety lid for a drinking mug. The lid has a circumferential mouth and internal surface also a central core with a circular sidewall attached to its bottom surface. A circular ring is attached to the circular side wall of the central core and an outer surface is adapted to frictionally engage the internal surface to the mouth of the ring. The lid has a semi-circular gap on the edge of the disk. The central core has a curved channel that is similarly shaped. When the two elements are rotated into alignment a passage way is created for drinking from the mug.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,477,979 issued to Goessling et al. is for a beverage mug with a removable closure. A sipping liner is utilized that lies within the mouth of the vessel below the rim preventing the beverage contained within from splashing out of the mug. The lid fits over and engages the liner opening; however, the liner may detached from the lid and installed separately in the mouth of the vessel. A sipping aperture and vent are placed in the liner for drinking from the mug.
Ward et al.in U.S. Pat. No. 5,531,353 discloses a drinking cup with a removable lid that is disconnected and placed onto a storage portion of the base for stability of the cup and to add utility to the invention.
Finally Hatsumoto et al. in utility U.S. Pat. No. 6,098,834 and design U.S. Pat. No. D406,006 teaches a drinking receptacle cover that utilizes a slant cover plate with a valve assembly for opening and closing a spout formed at a lowest portion of the slanted plate. The valve assembly is pivotally supported by brackets protruding from the bottom surface of the cover plate and a push rod penetrates the opening formed in the rim of the plate.
In the past few decades the use of travel mugs for coffee and soft drinks has become extremely popular and a myriad of types and styles have been developed and marketed to fill this need. The stainless steel double walled vacuum insulated travel mugs in particular, have been well accepted, however, the continued use in motor vehicles has created a problem since the liquid within the vessel is subject to spillage either by sloshing caused by sudden braking, centrifugal force on turns or fast starts.
It is therefore a primary object of the invention to utilize a lid closure on the travel mug that has a closure slide that is in intimate contact with the lid and easily slides over the liquid opening when not in use, providing a splash proof covering that is attached to the lid to prevent any unwanted liquid loss.
An important object of the invention is the easy removable of the closure slide for sanitary cleaning. This feature is lacking in most prior art that is attached to the lid itself as any apparatus that requires rotation or linear movement is normally attached in a permanent manner. The invention includes not only a removable closure slide but the lid itself has both a smooth unobstructed top and bottom surface that is simple to clean. Removal of the closure slide is easy and intuitively obvious which is accomplished by simply pinching two snap-in clasps together and in so doing this action disengages the clasps and simultaneously forces the closure slide from the slots. After cleaning, the closure slide is replaced by simply snapping the clasps back into place in the slots.
Another object of the invention is that the closure slide locks in the open position to preclude closing by gravity when the travel mug is tipped up for drinking. The snap-in clasps expand into the slots that are wider on one end and effectively lock the closure slide in the open position however not so tightly as to disallow closing when required.
Still another object of the invention is that both the closure slide and disc contain a vent opening that interface with each other when aligned and become asymmetrical when slid apart preventing the passage of air. The vent arrangement permits a smooth even flow of liquid from the mug and yet prevents leakage when closed.
Yet another object of the invention is that it is intuitively obvious to operate since the closure disc has an upright raised thumb actuating bar formed on the center of the top. Its mere appearance is indicative of its purpose which is a cover or stopper over the opening.
A further object of the invention is the modern streamlined shape of the closure slide which matches the decor of the container and is visually attractive.
A final object of the invention is that it is cost effective to manufacture as only one movable element is required and its assembly is extremely simple and quick to accomplish. Since there are only three separate parts, a lid member interfacing with a closure slide, both easily injection molded of thermoplastic, and an O-ring type sealing ring, also molded. Once the cost of the tooling is amortized the piece price becomes very economical.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description of the preferred embodiment and the appended claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


A motor drive unit for driving a motor of a motorized window treatment may comprise software-based and hardware-based implementations of a process for detecting and resolving a stall condition in the motor, where the hardware-based implementation is configured to reduce power delivered to the motor if the software-based implementation has not first reduced the power to the motor. A control circuit may detect a stall condition of the motor, and reduce the power delivered to the motor after a first period of time from first detecting the stall condition. The motor drive unit may comprise a stall prevention circuit configured to reduce the power delivered to the motor after a second period of time (e.g., longer than the first period of time) from determining that a rotational sensing circuit is not generating a sensor signal while the control circuit is generating a drive signal to rotate the motor.

Motorized window treatments, such as motorized roller shades, may include a flexible material, such as a shade fabric, and a motor drive unit for controlling a motor to adjust a position of the shade fabric (e.g., a position of a bottom edge of the shade fabric). For example, the motor drive unit of a motorized roller shade may be located inside of a roller tube around which the shade fabric is wrapped. The motor drive unit may rotate the roller tube in two opposing angular directions to adjust the position of the shade fabric. The motor drive unit may comprise a control circuit (e.g., a microprocessor) and a rotational position sensing circuit (e.g., a Hall-effect sensor circuit) for monitoring a present angular position of the roller tube in order to keep track of a present position of the shade fabric between a closed position (e.g., a fully-closed position) and an open position (e.g., a fully-open position).
If the shade fabric become stuck on an object near the motorized window treatment and/or is otherwise prevented from moving, the motor may stall. During a stall condition, the motor may draw a very large amount of current and overheat, which may cause damage to the motor and/or the motor drive unit of the motorized window treatment. The control circuit may be configured to detect the stall condition, for example, by detecting that the motor is not rotating (e.g., in response to the rotational position sensing circuit while the control circuit is actively driving the motor). In response to detecting the stall condition, the control circuit may slow down and/or stop the motor to prevent the motor from overheating. However, if the control circuit is prevented from detecting the stall condition and/or from removing the stall condition (e.g., as a result of a fault in the electrical circuitry), the motor and/or the motor drive circuit may overheat and be damaged.

Stall protection for a motorized window treatment


A calculation speed of division carried out in a computer is increased. Partitioning means partitions a dividend y that is a 32-bit digital datum at every 8 bits from the least significant bit to generate four bit blocks y(1) to y(4). For the respective bit blocks, table reference means finds solutions z(1) to z(4) obtained by dividing, by a divisor x, values expressed by replacing the bits other than the bits in each bit block with 0, while referring to tables (1) to (4) stored in storage means. Addition means adds all the solutions z(1) to z(4) to find the solution z.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a calculation method and a calculation apparatus using a computer. The present invention also relates to a program embodied on a computer readable medium that causes a computer to execute the calculation method.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various kinds of medical images such as X-ray images, RI images, CT (Computed Tomography) images, ultrasonic images, and MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) images have been in wide use in the field of medicine. Furthermore, radiation image reading/recording systems (CR; Computed Radiography) using stimulable phosphor are also well known. Stimulable phosphor stores a portion of energy of radiation irradiated thereon, and emits a phosphorescent light in accordance with the stored radiation energy upon exposure to an excitation light such as a visible light or a laser beam. In a radiation image reading/recording system, radiation image information of a subject such as a human body is recorded in a stimulable phosphor sheet and the sheet is scanned with an excitation light such as a laser beam to cause the sheet to emit a phosphorescent light. The phosphorescent light is photoelectrically read to obtain an image signal.
In such a system, image processing such as tone processing and frequency processing is carried out on the image signal and a visible diagnostic image of an excellent diagnostic value (that is, an image easy to read) is recorded on a photosensitive material (such as a film), based on the image signal after the image processing. Alternatively, the image signal is displayed on a display device such as a CRT after being recorded temporarily in a recording medium. In this manner, the radiation image is reproduced and provided for diagnosis. Various kinds of image processing such as tone processing, frequency enhancement processing for emphasizing soft-tissue, bones, the mediastinum, and the like, soft-tissue or bone display processing using energy subtraction, and enlargement/reduction processing can be carried out as the image processing for reproduction of radiation image information regarding a human body.
In such image processing, operations including division, such as filtering processing and interpolation processing, is carried out a large number of times (for each pixel, for example). Therefore, a large amount of calculation is carried out. Especially, since medical images that need to be of high quality have a large amount of data, the amount of calculation also becomes extremely large.
However, a computing speed for the image processing described above depends on the performance capability of a computer inside an image processing apparatus. Therefore, in order to speed up the image processing, the computing speed of computers have been increased.
Unfortunately, only increasing the computing speed of a computer does not fundamentally solve the problem of operation speed, because the content of the image processing also becomes more complex for better processing in accordance with an increase in the computing speed.
Therefore, in order to speed up the image processing, an efficiency of the calculations carried out in the computer needs to be improved, in addition to increasing the computing speed.
A computing speed by a computer is generally much slower for division than for addition or subtraction. Therefore, in the image processing that often uses division repeatedly, the computing speed of division greatly influences an operation time necessary for the image processing. Consequently, fast division in a computer can lead to an increase in the image processing speed.

Calculation method for division of digital data, calculation apparatus for division of digital data, and program therefor


Method and apparatus for forming cast members. Steps are provided in the cast member by sliding mounting flanges of hollow plastic step inserts into slots provided in the inner mold shell. The cast material is then poured into the mold. Once the cast material has set, the cast member is withdrawn from the mold assembly. The step insert mounting flanges are broken away, leaving hollow step inserts into which manhole steps are force-fittingly mounted. The inserts are provided with integral cover tabs which cover larger slots provided to facilitate insertion of the step inserts, preventing leakage of the cast material into the mold assembly. Integral cover tabs are similarly provided on enforcement ring support members mounted in a similar fashion to insertion slots provided on one of the mold members to cover larger width slot portions to prevent seepage of cast material. Similar seals are provided by cylindrical-shaped inserts for use in wetcast and drycast fabrication methods.

It is well known in the art to provide manhole assemblies with steps to facilitate a descent into and ascent from the manhole assembly through the top opening thereof.
One of the preferred techniques is described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,974,615 issued Aug. 17, 1976, assigned to the assignee of the present invention, which patent teaches the use of hollow plastic manhole step inserts releasably mounted to an inner mold member of a mold assembly. The cast material is poured into the mold assembly and when set, the cast member is withdrawn from the mold assembly. Mounting flanges provided at the open end of the manhole step inserts are arranged to break away from the main body portion of the manhole step insert when the cast member is lifted out of the mold assembly, leaving the manhole step inserts imbedded in the cast material. A pair of such inserts is adapted to receive the free ends of a substantially U-shaped step member, which free ends are force-fitted into the hollow manhole step inserts forming an excellent force fit there between.
The aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,974,615 teaches manhole step inserts having two pairs of flanges arranged at right angles relative to one another. One pair of flanges engages an internal surface of the inner mold member while the other pair of flanges is bent inwardly to pass through a substantially rectangular-shaped opening in the inner mold shell so that the two pairs of flanges cooperate to embrace the inner mold shell therebetween to maintain the manhole step insert in proper position preparatory to pouring the cast material into the mold assembly.
In order to simplify the mounting of the manhole step insert to the inner mold shell and in order to avoid the need for flexing the pair of flanges which are passed through the rectangular shaped opening and which may prematurely break due to said flexing, a design has been developed in which a pair of insertion slots are precision cut into a blank member which is inserted into an opening in the inner mold shell and preferably welded thereto.
FIG. 1a shows a conventional arrangement in which the step insert 10a shown in FIGS. 1b, and 1c comprises a hollow housing having a closed end 10a, four (4) elongated sides 10b through 10e and an open end 10f. A pair of flanges 10g and 10h are integrally joined to the right-hand ends of sides 10b and 10d. A second pair of flanges 10j and 10k are integrally joined to the right-hand ends of sides 10c and 10e. Flanges 10j and 10k extend further to the right than flanges 10g and 10h before bending outwardly.
Rectangular-shaped openings are cut into the inner mold shell 12. One such rectangular shaped opening 12a receives a blank 14 fitted into opening 12a and preferably fixedly secured thereto such as by welding. A pair of slots 15, 16 are precision cut into blank 14 so that the left-hand ends 15b, 16b of slots 15 and 16 have a width greater than the right hand ends 15a, 16a of slots 15 and 16.
The increased width of slot portions 15b and 16b is chosen to be sufficient to permit insertion of the flanges 10j, 10k therethrough. The manner of insertion is such that the step insert 10 is aligned so that the flanges 10j, 10k are moved into alignment with the slot portion 15b, 16b. The step insert 10 is then moved in the direction shown by arrow A to press tabs 10j, 10k through slots 15b, 16b so that they are clear of the slots and extend slightly beyond the concave surface of inner mold shell 12. At this time, the step insert is moved to the right so that the projecting portions 10j-1, 10k-1, are fitted in the narrow slots 15a, 16a and flanges 10j, 10k rest against the concave surface of inner mold shell 12 extending respectfully upwardly and downwardly from narrow slot portion 15a, 16a. Flanges 10g and 10h rest against the convex surface of the blank 14.
Cast material is poured between the inner and outer mold shells 12, 18. When the cast material (typically concrete) is set, the cast member is removed from the mold assembly, typically by lifting the cast member vertically upward. The flanges 10j, 10k break away from the main body of the step insert 10. FIG. 1c shows the jagged edges E where the flanges 10j, 10k have broken away from the main body portion 10. Either a substantially U-shaped aluminum step 20 or plastic polypropylene step 22 is inserted into the step inserts by movement of the free arms 20a, 22a which are pressed or driven into an interference fit within the hollow interior of the step inserts (only half of each of the aluminum (20) and plastic polypropylene (22) step is shown in FIG. 1c for purposes of simplicity.
The insert 10 is preferably made of polypropylene which has a life expectancy exceeding concrete itself and further exhibits excellent chemical resistance. The inserts 10 tend to serve as a protective shield against dissimilar material reaction such as an electrolysis of aluminum and concrete. The insert meets requirements of all ASTM C-478 § 12 and Performance Test Procedures of ASTM C-497.
The insert 10 design shown in FIGS. 1a–1c has a disadvantage that seepage occurs through the larger width slots 15b, 16b provided in the blank 14 while the concrete is being poured into the mold assembly. More specifically, fines were found to seep through the wider slot areas 15b, 16b and enter into the mechanical hinge work provided for release of the cast member. Additional problems occurred when the cured concrete parts stripped out of forms were found to exhibit a honeycomb structure in the region where the fines bled through.
A number of conventional step members utilized in manhole assemblies and the like have been provided with substantially rectangular and in most cases square-shaped, cross-sectional shapes, as can be seen in FIG. 1c. Other step members adapted for insertion into the step inserts are designed to have circular cross-sections. In addition, as can be seen from FIG. 5a, a major portion of the insertable portion of each leg of the step is provided with a generally saw-tooth-shaped configuration wherein the saw-tooth configuration is of such a nature as to facilitate insertion of the legs to the step into each step insert while providing a frictional fit of significantly increased gripping force which acts against a force acting in the direction to withdraw the step legs from the insert.
The steps of circular cross-section thus require a step insert of a design and shape which conforms with and cooperates with the design and shape of the steps whose legs are adapted to be inserted therein.
Manhole assemblies are typically produced through either a drycast or a wetcast method, both of which methods are well known in the art.
Utilizing one conventional drycast method, the granulated casting material is placed into the mold assembly which is vibrated and packed down to assure that the dry casting material is evenly and densely packed within the mold assembly. When the casting material has been filled to the appropriate level within the mold assembly and appropriately compacted, the core portion of the mold extends a pair of reciprocating pins, which are operated by hydraulic means, into the casting material to form openings within the cast material of a size appropriate for receiving the legs of a step. In the conventional technique, the tremendous pressures developed within the casting material cause these openings to "sag" or become "off-round" when the pins are removed and the openings often accumulate some of the cast material when the cast member is removed from the mold assembly which necessitates the operators employing a drill or other device to reopen or "reround" the openings to enable the legs of a step to be inserted therein.
The hydraulically-operated pins which create the step openings typically extend from a core mold member which has a curved, convex outer periphery. The casting material entering into the openings in the region between the pins and the opening in the core member through which the pins extend, serves to render the pins inoperative and possibly even causing damage to the mechanism. At the minimum, the entry of fines into the mechanism require regular maintenance to maintain the mechanism in operating condition, which disadvantages are to be avoided.
In the employment of the wetcast method, there has heretofore been no step insert available which is inserted into the casting material by hydraulically operated pins.

Manhole insert for manufacture of a cast member and to provide a step insert having increased structural and holding strength


A method of forming a patterned material layer, the method comprising: a resist layer forming step of forming a resist layer on a substrate, the resist layer including a first photosensitive resin layer, an intermediate resin layer, and a second photosensitive resin layer; an exposing step; a developing step of partly removing the resist layer so as to form a trench exposing the substrate and partly removing the intermediate resin layer so as to form a groove on a side face of the trench, thereby forming a resist frame; a vacuum coating step of forming a vacuum coating layer having a material pattern part covering the exposed part of the substrate and a part to lift off covering the resist frame; and a liftoff step of removing the part to lift off in the vacuum coating layer together with the resist frame, so as to yield a patterned material layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a patterned material layer, a method of forming the same, a microdevice, and a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Related Background Art
In the manufacture of microdevices such as thin-film magnetic heads, thin-film inductors, semiconductor devices, thin-film sensors, and thin-film actuators, patterned material layers made of predetermined materials such as magnetic materials and conductive materials are formed by such methods as vacuum coating methods like sputtering and frame plating methods using resist frames (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. HEI 11-175915, 2001-23984, and 2002-197612).

Patterned material layer, method of forming the same, microdevice, and method of manufacturing the same


For preventing a slack of a wire harness and bending the wire harness more smoothly, a harness holder includes an inner clamp member for supporting the wire harness and an outer clamp member supporting rotatably the inner clamp member. The slack preventing member is formed longer than the harness guide in a harness leading direction. Mounting the harness holder at a vehicle body and disposing a protector for receiving the wire harness at a slide door, the wire harness is wired from the harness holder to the protector. In a partially opened slide door, the slack preventing member supports the wire harness. In a full opened and a completely closed door, the harness guide supports the wire harness.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a harness holder for wiring a wire harness without a twist from a vehicle body to a slide door to supply electric power continuously, and a harness layout structure by using the harness holder.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 17, 18 show an example of a harness layout structure of a slide door by prior art Patent Reference 1).
In the structure, a harness protector 42 (a cover is not shown) is provided at a slide door 41 of a car, and a wire harness 43 pushed upwardly by a flat spring 44 is received freely to be flexed in the protector. One end of the wire harness 43 is led out from a front area of the protector 42 and connected with an auxiliary device at the slide door. The other end of the wire harness 43 is wired from an oval bottom opening 45 of the protector 42 through a traversing space 46 to a vehicle body 47, freely to be swung.
FIG. 17 shows the slide door 41 in completely closed condition, and FIG. 18 shows the slide door 41 close to full open in partially open condition. The wire harness 43 is pulled backwardly when the slide door 41 is in the completely closed condition, and pulled forwardly when the slide door 41 is in the full open condition. Although, especially, the wire harness 43 intends to be slacked downwardly when the slide door 41 is in partially opened condition, the wire harness 43 is prevented from the slack to be pushed upwardly by the flat spring 44.
The wire harness 43 is supported at a step portion 48 of the vehicle body 47 or the near area freely to rotate in circumferential direction by a harness holder 51 shown in FIG. 19. Detail of FIG. 19 is referred in patent reference 2.
The harness holder 51 is divided to an upper half and a lower half of synthetic resin housings 52, 53. The housings 52, 53 are respectively provided with a half-circle opening 55 for supporting a corrugated tube 54 covering outside of the wire harness to rotate freely, and a guide wall 56 for guiding the corrugated tube 54 curvedly. A surrounding groove 57 of the synthetic resin corrugated tube 54 engages with the half-circle opening 55.
In accordance with open-and-close of the slide door 41 shown in FIG. 17, 18, the wire harness 43 (the corrugated tube 54) is bent and twisted in circumferential direction (moving rotationally). The twist is absorbed by the harness holder 51. In accordance with open-and-close of the slide door 41, the wire harness 43 swings back and forth. The guide walls 56 guide the wire harness 43 curvedly, so that the wire harness 43 can be prevented from folding.
When using a corrugated tube with an oval cross-section (not shown), by clamping the corrugate tube with a separated rotation member, the rotation member can be supported in a housing to rotate freely in circumferential direction.
References are follows;                Reference 1: Japan Patent Application Laid open 2002-17032, page 4, FIGS. 4–5;        Reference 2: Japan Patent Application Laid open 2002-199558, page 9, FIG. 6.Objects to be Solved
However, according to aforesaid usual harness holder and the harness layout structure by using that, when an overall height of the protector 42 can be designed high enough as shown in FIG. 20A, 20B, the wire harness 43 is prevented from slacking between the slide door 41 and the vehicle body 47 (the traversing space 46) by the pushing force of the flat spring 44. When the overall height of the protector 42′ cannot be designed so high because of layout of the other parts in the slide door of as shown in FIGS. 21A, 21B (the received length of the wire harness 43 is the same), the flat spring 44 cannot absorb the slack of the wire harness 43, and the wire harness 43 has a slack 43a easily. Thereby, the wire harness 43 may interfere with the vehicle body. And the wire harness 43 may be bent with small radius curve at the harness holder 51, so that the wire harness has folding and stress concentration and is worn or damaged. Also, by opening a slit of the corrugated tube, properties of water proof and dust proof are deteriorated.
The curved guide walls 56 (FIG. 19) project from top, bottom, right and left sides of the harness holder 51, so that the dimensions of the harness holder 51 becomes larger to require a large mounting space at the vehicle body, and the looks becomes worse.
When the weather strip 58 for water proof corresponding to the slide door is disposed in the vicinity of the step portion 48 of the vehicle body, the wire harness 43 having the slack in the partially opened condition of the slide door may interfere with the weather strip 58. Thereby, the corrugated tube and the weather strip 58 would be worn. This drawback may be occurred easily not only in the low profile protector 42′ but also in the high profile protector 42 (FIG. 20).
To overcome the above drawback, an object of this invention is to provide a harness holder, which can prevent a slack of a wire harness and folding with a small radius of the wire harness at the harness holder so that the wire harness can be prevented from wear and damage by stress concentration and interference with the other parts and can be designed to have compact structure, and a harness layout structure by using the harness holder.
How to Attain the Object
In order to attain the object, a harness holder according to the present invention includes an inner clamp member for supporting a wire harness, the inner clamp member having a slack preventing member for preventing slack of the wire harness, and an outer clamp member for supporting rotatably the inner clamp member. The slack preventing member is formed integrally with a surrounding harness guide.
According to the harness holder mentioned above, the wire harness led out in axial direction along the inner clamp member can be securely prevented from slacking by contacting with the slack preventing member. Because the slack preventing member rotates together with the inner clamp member and the wire harness, the slack preventing member would not rub the wire harness in circumferential direction. When the harness holder is disposed at the vehicle body and the wire harness is wired from the harness holder to the slide door, the wire harness is swung and twisted in accordance with open-and-close of the slide door, and the twisting is absorbed by rotation of the inner clamp member. The slack preventing member can prevent securely the wire harness from slacking, which may occur when the harness holder moves closest to a power supply unit at the slide door in the partial opened condition of the slide door.
The wire harness led out in axial direction along the inner clamp member is bent to contact with the harness guide with no radial gap and led to a power supply side. When the harness guide is disposed at the outer clamp member, the wire harness is led out from the inner clamp member and contacts with the harness guide of the outer clamp member. Therefore, the wire harness is folded with a small radius at a top end of the inner clamp member. By providing the harness guide at the inner clamp member, this drawback is prevented, and the wire harness is bent with a large radius, so that bending stress (stress concentration) of the wire harness is relaxed. Because the harness guide rotates together with the inner clamp member and the wire harness, the harness guide would not rub the wire harness in circumferential direction. The wire harness is supported stably to contact with the harness guide when the slide door is in the complete closed condition and in the full opened condition.
The harness holder is further specified by that the slack preventing member has a curved surface which diameter increases outwardly.
According to the harness holder mentioned above, the wire harness is bent along the curved surface of the slack preventing member to have a smooth and large bending radius. If the slack preventing member has no curved surface, the wire harness may be folded easily at the top end of the slack preventing member. The curved surface can prevent the drawback securely. The stress concentration of the wire harness is extremely relaxed.
The harness holder is further specified by that the harness guide has a curved surface which diameter increases outwardly.
According to the harness holder mentioned above, the wire harness is bent along the curved surface of the harness guide to have a smooth and large bending radius. If the harness guide has no curved surface, the wire harness may be folded easily at the top end of the harness guide. The curved surface can prevent the drawback securely. The stress concentration of the wire harness is extremely relaxed.
The harness holder is further specified by that the slack preventing member is formed longer in a direction of leading the harness out than the harness guide.
According to the harness holder mentioned above, the wire harness is supported in a long length by the long slack preventing member, so that the slack of the wire harness is prevented securely. When the slack preventing member has a curved surface, the wire harness is bent smoothly along the curved surface with a large radius.
The harness holder is further specified by that a cutout is disposed oppositely to the slack preventing member and the harness guide is formed shortly at a side of the cutout.
According to the harness holder mentioned above, the wire harness is supported in a short length by the short harness guide. Thereby, the wire harness is led to have a long effective length from the harness guide to the power supply side and a slacked spare length thereof is controlled short. When the harness guide has a curved surface, a bending point of the wire harness moves to deep side of the inner clamp member, and the wire harness is bent with a large radius from the deep side of the inner clamp member. And an extending length of the wire harness toward the slide door is shortened.
The harness holder is further specified by that an opening is formed along a lengthwise of the harness between the harness guide and the slack preventing member.
According to the harness holder mentioned above, the wire harness can be inserted easily along the opening into the inner clamp member. The opening may be disposed at a position on which the wire harness is pushed not strongly to the harness holder during open-and-close operation of the slide door. The opening prevents unexpected contact between the wire harness and the harness holder, and a weight of the harness holder is decreased and resin molding of the inner clamp member is simplified.
The harness holder is further specified by that the harness guide is continued annularly to the slack preventing member.
According to the harness holder mentioned above, the slack preventing member continues integrally in circumferential direction to the harness guide, so that stiffness of each components is large not to be bent and deformed when contacting with the wire harness.
The harness holder is further specified by that the outer clamp member is provided at the top end thereof with a guide surface being positioned on a surface extending along the curved surface of the harness guide.
According to the wiring device mentioned above, the wire harness is bent with a larger radius by contacting with the curved surface of the harness guide and the curved surface of the outer clamp member. Thereby, the stress concentration of the wire harness is more relaxed by contacting with two points.
A harness layout structure by using the harness holder is specified by including the harness holder, being disposed in a vehicle body, and a protector disposed in a slide door, the protector receiving the wire harness with a spring load, and by that the wire harness is wired from the harness holder to the protector, and the wire harness is supported by the slack preventing member when the slide door is opened partly, and the wire harness is supported by the harness guide when the slide door is opened or closed.
According to the harness layout structure mentioned above, when the slide door is closing, the wire harness is led against the spring load toward an opposite direction of close from the protector by the harness holder as a supporting point. When the wire harness is opening, the wire harness is led against the spring load toward an opposite direction of open from the protector by the harness holder as a supporting point. When the slide door is in a partially opened condition, the protector is the closest to the harness holder. Especially, when the total height of the protector is small, the wire harness intends to be slacked even if having the spring load. At the time, the slack preventing member prevents the slack of the wire harness. When the slide door is in the completely closed condition and in the full opened condition, the harness guide bends the wire harness smoothly with a large radius.
The above and other objects and features of this invention will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Harness holder and harness layout structure thereby


A sheet finishing apparatus includes a moving mechanism to move a puncher for boring punch holes in a sheet between a penetrate position and standby position, a detection section which is disposed upstream of the puncher in a sheet conveyance direction and detects a leading edge of the sheet, and a control section to control a moving mechanism based on a detection timing of the detection section and according to a size of the sheet and a movement speed of the sheet, so that a front corner of the sheet does not coincide with a position of a punching blade of the puncher when the sheet passes through the puncher.

In recent years, in an image forming apparatus (for example, MFP), a sheet finishing apparatus is disposed to be adjacent to the latter stage of the MFP in order to perform finishing on a sheet after image formation. The sheet finishing apparatus is called a finisher, and bores a punch hole in the sheet sent from the MFP or staples thereon.
In order to bore the punch hole in the sheet, the finisher is provided with a puncher having a plurality of punching blades. The punching blades are moved up and down by rotation of a punch motor, and the punching blades are moved down toward the paper face of the sheet, so that punch holes are bored in the sheet.
There is a case where the sheet sent from the MFP runs obliquely (hereinafter referred to as skew). When the punch hole is bored while the sheet is skewed, a trouble occurs when filing is performed. Thus, a skew correcting apparatus is provided to correct the skew of the sheet, and the punch hole is bored.
After the punch hole is bored in the sheet, the punching blade is stopped at rising position and the puncher stands by. When the punching blade is separated from the paper face, moves up and is located at the standby position, the position is the home position. Besides, a sensor to detect the lateral edge of the conveyed sheet is attached to the puncher, the puncher is moved in the direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the sheet, and the size of the conveyed sheet is detected by the sensor.
According to the sheet size or the hole type of the puncher, when a sheet is conveyed, the sheet may pass over the hole of the puncher, and there is a problem that when a curled sheet or a sheet with a folded front corner is carried in, the front corner of the sheet is caught by the hole of the puncher or the sensor, and a jam occurs.
JP-A-2003-212424 and JP-A-2006-160518 (US2006/0120783A1) disclose a sheet processing apparatus which prevents an end of a sheet from being caught in a hole of a punch unit.
JP-A-2003-267621 discloses a sheet processing apparatus which detects a lateral edge of a sheet and moves the position of a punching unit. JP-A-2001-97638 (U.S. Pat. No. 6,907,806B1) discloses a sheet processing apparatus including a sheet end detection sensor.
However, there is a case where when the sheet size, sheet conveyance speed, or hole type of the puncher varies, the front corner of the sheet is caught in the hole of the puncher, and a further improvement is requested.
Besides, there is a case where a puncher bores a punch hole in a sheet (tab sheet) having a tab. JP-A-2005-47642 discloses a sheet processing apparatus including a unit to determine whether a conveyed sheet is a tab sheet or not. In this example, the paper type is determined, and the stop timing at the penetrate position of the sheet is controlled.
However, there is a defect that since it is difficult to measure a skew amount when the tab sheet is skewed, a punch hole can not be bored at an accurate position.

Sheet finishing apparatus, sheet punching apparatus and control method


A laundry treating apparatus may include a tub, a drum, a driving system including a bearing housing and a driving motor for rotating a rotation shaft of the drum, supporting devices extending between a lower surface of the cabinet and the bearing housing, and a plurality of dampers installed between the supporting devices and the lower surface of the cabinet. The plurality of dampers may include first dampers extending inward from a front portion of the supporting devices toward the lower surface of the cabinet, and second dampers extending downward from the supporting devices toward the rear side of the cabinet. This arrangement may prevent vibration generated during rotation of the drum from being transferred to the tub, and thus an additional component for reducing vibration of the tub may not be required. Thus, the laundry treating apparatus may have a larger capacity within a fixed size of cabinet.

1. Field
This relates to a vibration reducing device for a laundry treating apparatus.
2. Background
In general, laundry treating apparatuses, such as washing machines, washing machines also having a drying function, or drying machines, may include a drum in which laundry items are received. The washing machine, or combination washing and drying machine, may also include a tub surrounding the drum for storing washing water, with the drum rotatably installed within the tub.


The present invention relates to a process for preparing 2-amino-5-cyano-N,3-dimethylbenzamide of formula (I)

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for preparing 2-amino-5-cyano-N,3-dimethylbenzamide of formula (I)
by reacting 2-amino-5-cyano-3-methylbenzoic esters or diesters with methylamine, for which the 2-amino-5-cyano-3-methylbenzoic esters or diesters are obtainable from the corresponding bromine compounds by cyanation with copper(I) cyanide. The bromine compounds are simple to prepare by brominating with a mixture of hydrogen bromide/hydrogen peroxide.
2. Description of Related Art
Preparation processes that also encompass the compound of formula (I) are already described in the literature (cf. for example WO 2008/08252, WO 2009/085816, WO 2009/006061, WO 2009/061991, WO 2009/111553, WO 2008/070158, WO 2008/082502) as leading to differing purity and yield.
The present invention accordingly has for its object to provide novel, economical processes for preparing 2-amino-5-cyano-N,3-dimethylbenzamide of formula (I) in higher purity, yield and better quality, especially by foregrounding the purification of the 2-amino-5-cyano-3-methylbenzoic esters or diesters needed for this.

Method for the production of 2-amino-5-cyano-N,3-dimethylbenzamide

Abstract: by reacting 2-amino-5-cyano-3-methylbenzoic esters or diesters with methylamine.


A tool device includes a handle and a driving shank having one end engaged into the handle and rotatably attached and coupled to the handle with a pivot shaft for allowing the driving shank to be rotated relative to the handle from a straight position in line with the handle to a position perpendicular to the handle to form a T-shaped driving tool device. The driving shank includes a number of depressions and the handle includes a spring biased detent member for engaging with either of the depressions of the driving shank and for anchoring the driving shank to the handle at selected angular positions. An actuating member is slidably received in the handle for actuating the detent member to engage with the driving shank.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a tool device, and more particularly to a tool device including a driving shank rotatably attached to a handle and rotatable relative to the handle to a straight position in line with the handle to form a typical screw driving tool or rotatable relative to the handle to an inclined position or a perpendicular position relative to the handle to form a T-shaped driving tool for allowing the tool device to be worked in different working positions.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Typical tool devices may comprise a handle and one or more tool elements removable from the handle and attachable to the handle to a position perpendicular to the handle to form a T-shaped driving tool for allowing the driving tool to be effectively rotated or driven by the users.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,714,409 to Primrose et al. discloses one of the typical tool handles comprising one or more tool elements removable from the handle and attachable to a notch of one of the handle members to a position perpendicular to the handle to form a T-shaped driving tool for allowing the driving tool to be effectively rotated or driven by the users.
However, the handle member is required to be formed with the notch to receive the tool elements such that the strength of the handle member will be greatly decreased. In addition, the tool elements may not be solidly secured or attached or coupled to the handle member such that the driving torque of the tool device is weak or small.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,930,377 to Lester discloses another typical tool device comprising one or more tool elements removable from the handle and attachable to a longitudinal bore of a tool receiving flange which is perpendicular to the handle to form a T-shaped driving tool.
However, similarly, the tool elements may not be solidly secured or attached or coupled to the handle member such that the tool elements may have a good chance to be disengaged from the handle member. In addition, the driving torque of the tool device is also weak or small.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional tool devices.

Tool device having rotatable driving shank