A hopper for feeding documents also serves as a stacker for stacking therein documents in a generally upright position. When the fed documents or the once-stacked documents are to be fed to a singulation mechanism, the hopper or stacker is put into a feeding mode, and when the documents are to be stacked or sorted, the hopper or stacker is switched to a stacking mode. Such hoppers or stackers are arranged in a plurality of stages, and when each sorting is to be effected, addresses are read while changing the mode of each hopper or stacker to repeat the sorting, so that the documents are sequenced by a radix sort method.

This invention relates to an apparatus for sorting sheets or the like, and more particularly for sequencing randomly-arranged sheets or the like in a desired order.
A carrier route sequencing operation of mail for sequencing the volume of mail into a carrier route in accordance with addresses has required many hands, and with the increase of mail, an amount of labor for such sequencing operation has become very large, and therefore it has been desired to automate the operation. Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 51-105897 (Document 1) discloses an apparatus for feeding and taking out sheets or the like, in which a sorting information provided on the sheets or the like such as mail is read, and the charged sheets or the like are sequenced in an order designated by the sorting information. The Document describes that in order to sequence the randomly-stacked sheets or the like, it is necessary to sequence the stacked sheets or the like several times, and therefore a stacking section is provided just above a feeder section and is opened at its bottom to cause the stacked sheets or the like to fall on the feeder section to be conveyed onto the feeder section, and by doing so, the sorting (sequencing) is repeatedly effected to sequence the charged sheets or the like in an order designated by the sorting information.
Card sequencing apparatuses are disclosed in Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication Nos. 5-342422 (Document 2) and 1-113888 (Document 3). Stacked cards are once sorted into a plurality of stacker-feeder sections, and then are sequentially taken out therefrom to be arranged in a predetermined order or sequence. In this technique, the stacker-feeder section is provided for each sorting class, and each stacker-feeder section must be provided with discharge rollers for separating and discharging the once stacked cards.
In the above Document 1, mail once stacked in the stacker are caused to fall on the feeder section, so that an impact produced thereby can disturb the mail in posture. As a result there is a problem that the mail are arranged obliquely when again separated by a singulator mechanism, and in the worst case, the mail get out of the sorting machine when falling.
In the above Document 2, the sorted cards are merely arranged according to sorting classes, and an order or sequence in such arrangement is not taken into consideration. In the technique of the above Document 3, cards are handled in thousands (1,000) such that the cards having the same number in hundred's place are stacked in respective temporary stackers, and are grasped by ten sets of impellers having ten grasping portions to be subjected to sequencing. Therefore, there is a problem that when a number of cards increases, the handling speed is lowered, and that when speed is tried to increase a number of the temporary stackers as well as a number of the impellers must be increased. In the technique of the above Documents 2 and 3, there is a further problem that each stacker-feeder section provided for each sorting class requires discharge rollers for discharging the cards, and is complicated in construction, and the size of the apparatus is increased.

Apparatus for sorting sheets or the like


A film includes first and second outer layers, a core layer, and first and second substrate layers, each layer including a polymer; at least one of the substrate layers includes an amidic wax, and at least one of the outer layers includes an amidic wax present in an amount of 1% to 50% of the amount of wax in the first and second substrate layers respectively. The wax can be blended with a transition metal salt of stearic acid, or ester of stearic acid. Alternatively, a film includes first and second outer layers, and a substrate layer, each layer including a polymer; at least one of the first outer layer, second outer layer, and substrate layer including a blend of an amidic wax, and a transition metal salt of stearic acid, or ester of stearic acid.

Amide waxes have been used for many years as slip agents in the production of films. Chemically, the waxes are primary, secondary, tertiary, or bis fatty amides, such as oleamide and erucamide.
Amidic waxes are generally immiscible with the host polymer with which they are typically associated via an extrusion process. Host polymers typically include polypropylene, ethylene/alpha olefin copolymer, ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) or other ethylene copolymers such as ionomer resin, ethylene/acrylic or methacrylic acid copolymer, ethylene/acrylate or methacrylate copolymer; or low density polyethylene (LDPE).
Producers of polymeric film operate on the principle that the wax molecule is of a lower molecular weight than the host polymer, and therefore generally more mobile than the host polymer. When the host polymer is in a molten state (during extrusion), waxes can migrate more freely through the host polymer. Waxes migrate through a host polymer in solid state as well, but at a much slower rate. This wax migration, and the polar amide component of the wax molecule, leads to the phenomenon that the wax will diffuse to the surface of the polymeric film. The diffusion rate for surface migration is the "bloom rate". The bloom rate is influenced not only by the relative molecular weights of the wax and host polymer, but also by the level of saturation of the wax hydrocarbon chain, the polarity of the host polymer, and the architecture of the secondary, tertiary, and bis fatty amide molecules.
Producers of polymeric film also operate on a second principle that packaging applications typically require a film with a low coefficient of friction (COF). This requirement is dictated by the need for the film to run properly on packaging equipment used by food processors and other packagers. For example, in the case of Vertical Form Fill Seal (VFFS) equipment, typical film requirements are a film-to-film COF of less than 0.3. Low molecular weight amidic waxes require sufficient time to "bloom" to the surface before a low COF is achieved in the final film. The resin choice for the surface layer of a VFFS film must have sufficient heat seal properties. Thus, sealant layers typically include those resins mentioned above, such as LLDPE, metallocene catalyzed polymers, and EVA polymers. These materials are much tackier than polypropylene (PP) or propylene/ethylene copolymer (EPC), and present a challenge for the development of adequate film surface properties such as COF or slip.
To help reduce this surface tackiness or tendency for the polymeric film to stick to itself or block, antiblock agents are typically utilized in the surface layer. Typical particulate antiblock agents include various silicas, carbonates, synthetic particulates, etc. Other types of antiblock agents include amidic waxes themselves such as the bis fatty amides. While such antiblock agents can reduce tackiness, they may not yield a high slip polymeric film.
For some packaging applications, the polymeric film is extruded in annular form, one or both edges of the film are slit, and the planar film is either wound or centerfolded in a manner well known in the art. A cylindrical forming piece is used to cast the molten polymer into an initial film thickness and diameter in the shape of a tube. The molten polymer is quenched to solid state by a water bath or spray, as it travels over the forming cylinder, into a continuous length of precursor film tubing.
A problem encountered in this process is that at the extrusion die, a significant amount of wax migrates to the surface of the just emerging tubing as the precursor film contacts film making equipment located downstream of the extrusion die. If wax has been added to the host polymer in the extrusion process at a level to provide the adequate (low enough) COF and adequate (high enough) slip properties needed in the final heat shrinkable film, the equipment becomes covered in wax over time. Such waxy deposits eventually break off in solid form or transfer to the tube in liquid form, resulting in aesthetic anomalies in the final film. Although aesthetic or cosmetic anomalies in the film are sufficient by themselves to affect the commercial viability of the film, at some level of contamination, the physical properties of the film can be compromised as well. Thus, frequent cleaning of the film making equipment may be required, resulting in undesirable downtime. Film end use governs the frequency of the cleaning interval, thereby limiting continuous extrusion to relative short periods of time, and increasing the cost of film production.
A second problem associated with the production of many polymeric films intended for packaging applications is that after the precursor film forming step described above, additional orientation steps are completed and a resulting heat shrinkable film is typically wound up in roll form. Amidic waxes such as erucamide often require a minimum of 24 hours to approach a sufficient equilibrium concentration on the film's outer surface (i.e. often require a minimum of 24 hours to bloom to the film's outer surface) to permit adequate processing on packaging equipment. When polymeric films are made, especially heat shrinkable films, the film is rolled up such that the bottom (that is, the interior winds near the film core) of a film roll can be under a relatively high tension of several hundred pounds per square inch. This roll pressure has been found to retard or even prevent significant wax from blooming to the film surface after the film is wound into roll form. Additionally, a film roll which is wound under high pressure may result in wax diffusion through several film layers thereby depleting wax concentration in some regions of the roll and buildup in other regions. Wax migration in the roll undermines desired consistent film performance from the beginning to the end of the roll. Consequently, the level of wax on the film surface has been shown to be greater on the top of the roll (i.e. the exterior winds of the roll) where roll pressure is less, than it is at the end of a roll nearest the metal, paper or plastic roll core member. This significantly affects the ultimate performance of the film, especially with respect to the manner in which the film runs or "tracks" on high-speed packaging equipment. Additionally, in some cases only portions of a roll of film may be utilized on packaging equipment, and the rest has undesirably "blocked", i.e. bonded together at film surfaces on the roll, resulting in significant roll footage waste.
Applicants have found that a solution to the above-mentioned first problem (the build up of wax during the film making process) is to dispose one or more amidic waxes in an inner layer of a multi-layer film. This solution results in either no amidic wax present in the surface layers of the multi-layer film, or else significantly less wax present in the surface layers than in one or more inner substrate layers during the initial stages of film formation.
Applicants have found that a solution to the second above-mentioned problem (the differential level of surface wax within the rolled film) is to include a transition metal salt of stearic acid, or an ester of stearic acid, in the inner substrate layer or layers, and/or the surface layers of the film. Applicants have found that a transition metal salt of stearic acid, or an ester of stearic acid, acts as a facilitator to cause the wax to bloom more quickly to the surface of the film. Such accelerated bloom provides a multi-layer film with desired surface properties. Thus, wax in an inner substrate layer diffuses to the film's outer surfaces before the film is wound onto a roll, thereby providing adequate slip prior to the pressures encountered during winding of the film onto a core member. Such controlled bloom time can reduce the need for above-mentioned wax migration within a film roll and result in more uniform levels of wax at the film surface throughout a roll length.
The two solutions in suitable combination provide a polymeric multi-layer film, such as a heat shrinkable film, having good slip (i.e. low COF) properties, while eliminating significant wax build-up on film-making machine components. The ability to control wax migration reduces manufacturing waste and provides improved performance by ensuring consistency throughout rolls of polymeric films.
Definitions
"Polymeric film" herein means a thermoplastic polymeric film, laminate, sheet, web, or the like, which can be used to package an article. The film can be used alone, or as a component in a rigid, semi-rigid, or flexible product, and can be adhered to a non-polymeric or non-thermoplastic substrate such as paper or metal.
"Polymer" and the like herein means a homopolymer, but also copolymers thereof, including bispolymers, terpolymers, etc. Polymers that may be used to formulate outer, substrate, or core film layers include, by way of example, any resin typically used in films for packaging applications, such as the following polymers, their copolymers, or blends: polyolefin, polyethylene, ethylene/alpha olefin copolymer, ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer; ionomer resin; ethylene/acrylic or methacrylic acid copolymer; ethylene/acrylate or methacrylate copolymer; low density polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polycarbonate, polyamide (nylon), acrylic polymer, polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polyester, ethylene/styrene copolymer, norbornene/ethylene copolymer, ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymer, etc. Additives can be included in the composition to impart properties desired for the particular article being manufactured. Such additives include, but are not limited to, fillers, pigments, dyestuffs, antioxidants, stabilizers, processing aids, plasticizers, fire retardants, anti-fog agents, etc.
"Polyolefin" herein means a homopolymer, copolymer, terpolymer etc. of a C2 to C10 aliphatic alpha-olefin, such as ethylene, propylene, butylene, hexene, octene, norbornene, and the like. "Ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer" (EAO) herein refers to copolymers of ethylene with one or more comonomers selected from C3 to C10 alpha-olefins such as propene, butene-1, hexene-1, octene-1, etc. in which the molecules of the copolymers comprise long polymer chains with relatively few side chain branches arising from the alpha-olefin which was reacted with ethylene. This molecular structure is to be contrasted with conventional high pressure low or medium density polyethylenes which are highly branched with respect to EAOs and which high pressure polyethylenes contain both long chain and short chain branches. EAO includes such heterogeneous materials as linear medium density polyethylene (LMDPE), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), and very low and ultra low density polyethylene (VLDPE and ULDPE), such as DOWLEX™ or ATTANE™ resins supplied by Dow, ESCORENE™ or EXCEED™ resins supplied by Exxon; as well as linear homogeneous ethylene/alpha olefin copolymers (HEAO) such as TAFMER™ resins supplied by Mitsui Petrochemical Corporation, EXACT™ resins supplied by Exxon, or long chain branched (HEAO) AFFINITY™ resins supplied by the Dow Chemical Company, or ENGAGE™ resins supplied by DuPont Dow Elastomers. EAO also includes IPN resins, such as Elite™ resins supplied by Dow.
"Host polymer or host resin" herein mean polymers that may be used to formulate the outermost and substrate layers of the packaging films of the invention and which house the amidic waxes. Host polymers that may be used typically include the following polymers, their copolymers or blends: polyethylene, ethylene/alpha olefin copolymer, ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer, ionomer resin, ethylene/acrylic or methacrylic acid copolymer, ethylene/acrylate or methacrylate copolymer, low density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, polypropylene, propylene/ethylene copolymer, propylene/ethylene/butene terpolymer, polystyrene, syndiotactic polystyrene, ethylene/styrene copolymer, and norbornene/ethylene copolymer.
"Core layer" herein means a central layer(s) of a multi-layer film; in a three layer film, the core layer is the second layer in the sequence of layers; in a five layer film, the core layer is the third layer in the sequence of layers.
"Substrate layer" herein means an inner host layer of a multi-layer film, not an outermost layer of the film; in a three layer film, the substrate layer is disposed between the respective outermost layers; in a four layer film, the substrate layers are the second and third layers in the sequence of layers and disposed between the respective outermost layers; in a five layer film, the substrate layer(s) denote the host layer(s) disposed between outermost layers.
"Interpenetrating Network Polymer" (IPN resin) herein refers to multicomponent molecular mixtures of polymer chains. Because of molecular mixing, IPN resins cannot be separated without breaking chemical bonds. Polymer chains combined as IPN resins are interlaced at a molecular level and are thus considered true solid state solutions. Interpenetrating networks, unlike blends, become new compositions exhibiting properties distinct from parent constituents. Interpenetrating networks provide phase co-continuity leading to surprising enhancement of physical properties. Due to the mixture of at least two molecular types, these compositions may exhibit bimodal or multimodal curves when analyzed using TREF or CRYSTAF. Interpenetrating networks as herein used includes semi-interpenetrating networks and therefore describes crosslinked and uncrosslinked multi-component molecular mixtures having a low density fraction and a high density fraction. Specific production methods for preparing IPN resins useful for carrying out the present invention, are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,747,594 (deGroot et al.), U.S. Pat No. 5,370,940 (Hazliff et al.), and WO 94/17112 (Kolthammer), all herein incorporated by reference in their entirety. IPN resins can be prepared using a parallel or sequential multiple reactor scheme, and can be produced from a solution polymerization scheme. Alternatively, IPNs useful for the inventive films may be prepared within a single reactor by completing polymerization of the heterogeneous component prior to initiating the polymerization of the homogeneous component. Examples of catalysts suitable for producing the homogeneous component are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,026,798 and 5,055,438 (Canich); U.S. Pat. No. 3,645,992(Elston); U.S. Pat. No. 5,017,714 (Welborn); and U.S. Pat. No. 4,076,698 (Anderson); all herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.
"Homogeneous" herein refers to polymerization reaction products of relatively narrow molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn less than or equal to 3.0) and relatively narrow composition distribution. Homogeneous polymers are structurally different from heterogeneous polymers, in that homogeneous polymers exhibit a relatively even sequencing of comonomers within a chain, a mirroring of sequence distribution in all chains, and a similarity of length of all chains, i.e., a narrower molecular weight distribution. Furthermore, homogeneous polymers are typically prepared using metallocene or other single-site catalysts, rather than, for example, Ziegler Natta catalysts. Processes for preparing and using linear homogeneous polyolefins are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,206,075, U.S. Pat. No. 5,241,031, PCT International Application WO 93/03093, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,026,798 and 5,055,438 (Canich); U.S. Pat. No. 3,645,992(Elston); U.S. Pat. No. 5,017,714 (Welborn); and U.S. Pat. No. 4,076,698 (Anderson); each of which is hereby incorporated by reference thereto, in its entirety. Further details regarding the production and use of linear homogeneous ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers are disclosed in PCT International Publication Number WO 90/03414, and PCT International Publication Number WO 93/03093, both of which designate Exxon Chemical Patents, Inc. as the Applicant, and both of which are hereby incorporated by reference thereto, in their respective entireties. Still another genus of homogeneous polyolefins is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,272,236, to LAI, et. al., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,278,272, to LAI, et. al., both of which are hereby incorporated by reference thereto, in their respective entireties. Each of these patents disclose "substantially linear" homogeneous long chain branched ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers produced and marketed by The Dow Chemical Company. Still another genus of homogeneous polyolefins is homogeneous hyper-branched polyolefins, which is inclusive of SSH polyolefin. The phrase "substantially spherical homogeneous polyolefin" (i.e.,"SSH polyolefin") refers to single site catalyzed resin with a polymer architecture wherein there are at least 50 side branches, such as at least 60 side branches, from the main chain for every 1000 main chain carbons. Hyper-branched homogeneous polyethylene, while resembling other homogeneous resins in aspects such as low polydispersity index (Mw/Mn of less than or equal to 3.0, such as less than 2.7, or having a Mw/Mn of from 1.9 to 2.5), do not resemble commercial linear homogenous ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer, or long chain branched homogeneous ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer, at least in that the hyperbranched homogeneous polyethylenes may be characterized as having a mixed population of side chains of different chain length, together with a high side chain branching level. Additionally, it is possible that at least some of the short chain side branches of the hyperbranched homogeneous polyethylene are themselves short chain branched. While the molecular weight is similar from one polymer chain to the next, the different side branch length and/or structure affects the crystallinity in a different manner than commercial homogeneous resins such as Mitsui TAFMER® polymer or Dow ENGAGE® polymer.
"Heterogeneous" herein refers to polymerization reaction products of relatively wide variation in molecular weight (Mw/Mn greater than 3.0) and relatively wide variation in composition distribution, i.e., typical polymers prepared, for example, using conventional Ziegler-Natta catalysts. Heterogeneous copolymers typically contain a relatively wide variety of main chain lengths and comonomer percentages. Processes for preparing heterogeneous geneous resins are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,314,912 (Lowery et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 4,547,475 (Glass et al.), and U.S. Pat. No. 4,612,300 (Coleman, III); all incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
"Transition metal salt of stearic acid, or ester of stearic acid" herein means a transition metal salt of stearic acid, such as zinc stearate; or an ester of stearic acid, such as glycerol monostearate; or a blend thereof.
"Antiblock agents" herein means particles which may be used to lower the coefficient of friction and/or adhesion of outer film surfaces, and includes various silicas (fumed, precipitated, gelled, etc.), natural silicates (talc, diatomaceous earth, etc.), magnesium silicate, carbonates, synthetic silicate, natural alumina; synthetic alumina, alumino silicate, synthetic particulates (uncrosslinked styrenic polymeric particles, crosslinked styrenic polymeric particles, high molecular and ultrahigh molecular weight siloxanes, uncrosslinked acrylic polymeric particles, crosslinked acrylic polymeric particles, polyethylene particles, styrenic, acrylic, siloxane, fluoropolymer, etc.), etc. Other types of antiblock agents include amidic waxes such as the bis fatty amides. Antiblock quantities depend at least in part depend on particle size. Generally, the larger the particle, the less needed. When the size is less than one micron, for example, 20,000 ppm provides adequate slip properties, whereas for a particle size of about 5 μ, about 1000 ppm antiblock loading provides the same effect. Specific methods for producing films having good antiblocking performance are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,925,454 (Bekele), herein by reference in its entirety.
"Heat shrinkable" herein refers to a property of a material which, when heated to a temperature of 200° F., will exhibit a free shrink (ASTM D 2732-83) of at least 8% in the longitudinal direction, and at least 8% in the transverse directions of the film. Heat shrinkable films of this invention are solid state oriented as contrasted to hot blown films which are melt state oriented. Heat shrinkable films exhibit free shrink at their softening point as contrasted to hot blown (single bubble) film which do not show shrink performance at low temperatures and must be heated to temperatures approaching the melting point of film resins.
"Amidic wax" herein refers to primary, secondary, tertiary, or bis(fatty) amides. Examples of the different types include primary fatty amides such as erucamide, behenamide, oleamide, or stearamide; secondary fatty amides such as stearylerucamide, erucylerucamide, oleylpalmitamide, stearylstearamide, or erucylstearamide; tertiary fatty amides such as dimethylstearamide, diethylstearamide; and N,N′-bis(fatty) amides such as N,N′-ethylene bis(stearamide), N,N′-methylene bis(stearamide), N,N′-ethylene bis(oleamide), or N,N′-propylene bis(oleamide). These waxes can be used with the present invention singularly or in combination.
All compositional percentages used herein are presented on a "by weight" basis, unless designated otherwise.

Polymeric film with low blocking and high slip properties


Methods, computing devices, and computer-readable media are provided for interpreting gestures and triggering actions on a graph when the gestures are detected. The triggered actions may include the addition or deletion of nodes, connections between nodes, or connections between node ports; the expansion or collapse of a set of nodes; or the copying of nodes. The input may describe an action of selecting, dragging, holding, flicking, shaking, pinching, unpinching, or spinning a graphical object such as a node or a connection. Gesture interpretation logic determines whether the input matches a stored or known gesture. If the input matches a gesture, then the gesture interpretation logic may perform an action mapped to the gesture instead of or in addition to the normal action that would otherwise be caused by each individual input.

Networks of computing devices may be designed or modeled using network design or modeling software that graphically represents different components of the network and relationships between those components (collectively, "network elements") as different nodes and other graphical elements on a graph. The nodes on the graph may be geometric shapes, glyphs, icons of devices, or other graphical representations of the devices. For example, different nodes may represent different routers, switches, hubs, servers, and other computing devices that are part of a network. Nodes may also represent collections or group of devices, logical or virtual components, or arbitrary collection of these. For example, the data and forwarding plane of a network switch may be represented as separate graphical objects even if contained in the same physical hardware object. Graphical connections such as line segments between the nodes may represent physical wired communicative couplings such as Ethernet, fiber, or USB; physical wireless communicative couplings such as satellite, Bluetooth, or wireless b, n, or g signaling; or logical communication sessions between the different nodes. A graph of nodes in a network may be constructed as information is inputted by a user into the network design or modeling software. In some systems, an initial graph may be constructed by the network design and modeling software automatically, by crawling the network and discovering devices that are on the network. This initial graph may be modified or customized by a user.
Network design or modeling software often includes a graph interface that allows graph nodes, graphical connections, and other graphical elements to be added, removed, arranged, or grouped on the graph. The graph interface may also support panning such that different portions of the graph may be viewed, and zooming such that portions of the graph may be viewed in more or less detail. In one example, the graph interface may include a toolbar or tool palette of selectable tools or modes for adding, removing, arranging, or grouping nodes, graphical connections, and other graphical elements, or for zooming or panning on the graph. Switching between multiple tools or modes and managing multiple nodes or groups of nodes, such as tens, hundreds, or more nodes, could involve several large cursor movements, precise clicks or selections on the part of the user, and repeated actions by the user. A single erroneous click may result in the loss of prior input. For example, a user may select several nodes by holding down the SHIFT key, and an erroneous click or a mistaken lift of a finger from the SHIFT key could cause a de-selection of the nodes already selected.
The approaches described in this section could be pursued, but are not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated herein, the approaches described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.

Multi-touch gesture-based interface for network design and management


A transducer for non-invasive measurement includes: a shear-type piezoelectric element; and a host material. The shear-type piezoelectric element is mounted to a first face of the host material. A second face of the host material is mountable to a wall of a vessel that holds a liquid. When the second face of the host material is mounted to the wall of the vessel, the transducer when activated at an activation frequency launches a Lamb wave into the wall of the vessel. The transducer is designed such that a phase velocity of the Lamb wave in the wall of the vessel is greater than a speed of sound in the liquid held by the vessel.

Ultrasonic waves, generated by a transducer attached to a wall of a vessel have been used for the non-invasive measurement of parameters, such as level, speed of sound, mixing state etc., of a liquid contained within the vessel. The term "vessel" is used here and throughout this document in a broad sense, not being limited to a closed container, but also including containers that are at least partly open, and also including tubes or plumbing or pipelines that are configured to contain or guide any kind of media, such as liquids, liquified solids or gases of all kinds. The term "transducer" is used here and throughout this document to comprise both sender and receiver.
However, the radiation field launched into the liquid may not be as desired, leading to non-optimum measurements.
There is a need to address this issue.


A materials handling apparatus that is securable to a materials handling vehicle so as to permit an operator to position an arm carrying a pusher element over a stack of large heavy packages and to bring the pusher element to bear on the top package on the stack so as to push the package from the stack onto a carrier such as a pallet.

Paper makers and/or converters provide papers in the form of large sheets that are packaged in large boxes or with heavy duty wraps. These packages are large and heavy. Typically a package of such sheets would have dimensions up to 40".times.58".times.6" or more, and have weights up to 200 pounds and more.
Paper makers and/or converters typically provide a number of grades and colors of papers which are put up in pallet load quantities. Users, frequently would prefer to order in package quantities. In order to serve this need, vendors will take orders for package quantities and make up mixed loads. A common practice in the art is to place at least one pallet of the grades and colors ordered at floor level and make up mixed loads by manhandling the large heavy packages from the storage pallet to a transport pallet.
It is common practice in the art to store pallets containing packages of sheet papers in stacks or racks that can be several pallet loads high.
There has been a long felt and recognized need in the art for a means for removing single packages directly from storage pallets and transferring them to a pallet carried on a transport vehicle without the need for manhandling the packages. Heretofore, the art has not provided such means. The packages are large, heavy, and difficult to engage and control and move with conventionally available materials handling equipment. The value of the papers in the packages, combined with the vulnerability of the paper to damage, have heretofore made it unfeasible to use presently available materials handling units to effect pallet-to-pallet transfers of such packages.


Angular velocity in a rolling action of a vehicle is detected by an angular velocity sensor, and a difference between two angular velocities detected in a short time interval is calculated. The calculated angular velocity difference is compared with a predetermined threshold value. If the angular velocity difference is larger than the threshold value, a passenger-protecting device is activated. A rolling angle of the vehicle may be calculated by integrating the detected angular velocity, and a combination of the rolling angle and the angular velocity may be compared with a predetermined threshold. If the combination exceeds the threshold, it is determined that the vehicle is rolling over and the passenger-protecting device is activated.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system for activating a passenger-protecting device such as a curtain airbag mounted on an automotive vehicle.
2. Description of Related Art
As a device for protecting passengers from a rollover of an automotive vehicle, various devices have been proposed: a curtain airbag that is inflated along a side of a vehicle, a seatbelt with a pretensioner winding the seat belt instantaneously, and a device for repeatedly winding a seat belt by a motor.
An example of conventional passenger-protecting device including a curtain airbag is shown in FIG. 10. The curtain airbag 90 is activated, i.e., inflated by an activating system 51 composed of an angular velocity sensor 61 and a control unit 80 that includes a CPU 80a, a ROM 80b and a RAM 80c. An angular velocity ω, when a vehicle is rolling, is detected by the angular velocity sensor 61. The detected angular velocity ω is fed to means 81 that calculates a rolling angle θ by integrating the detected angular velocity ω. The detected angular velocity ω and the calculated rolling angle θ are fed to means 83 that determines that the vehicle is rolling over if both of the angular velocity ω and the rolling angle θ exceed respective predetermined levels. Means 84 activates, i.e., inflates the curtain airbag 90 when it is determined that the vehicle is rolling over.
The conventional activating system, however, is not able to quickly respond to particular situations under which a vehicle rolls over. For example, when a vehicle skids and hits a curb, the vehicle may roll over very quickly. This type of the rollover is referred to as a trip-over-type rollover. When the trip-over-type rollover occurs, passengers sitting on seats are pushed against a side of the vehicle by inertia. Under this situation, the curtain airbag may not be smoothly inflated along the side of the vehicle. In case where the seat belt with a pretensioner or the device for repeatedly winding a seat belt by a motor is used, the passengers cannot be properly protected from being thrown out of the vehicle or from colliding with structures in the vehicle, because the conventional activating system may not respond quickly enough to the trip-over-type rollover.
Another situation under which a quick response of the activating system is required is a so-called flip-over-type rollover. A rollover of a vehicle that occurs when the vehicle runs onto a sharp slope while driving at a high speed is referred to as the flip-over-type rollover. Since this type of rollover occurs instantaneously as the trip-over-type rollover does, the same problems as in the trip-over-type rollover may arise. Therefore, it is very important to detect the trip-over-type and the flip-over-type rollovers in their early stage and to quickly activate the passenger-protecting device.

System for activating passenger-protecting device mounted on automotive vehicle


A method and chip design are provided for reducing power consumption. A first functional block having a phase logic circuit may be provided in a first area of a chip. A second functional block having an edge-triggered circuit may be provided in a second area of the chip. Edge-triggered circuits within the second functional block may be replaced with dual edge-triggered circuits. Phase logic circuits may be clocked by a full frequency clock signal and dual edge-triggered circuits may be clocked by a half-frequency clock signal.

Electronic devices, such as microprocessors, are steadily operating at faster and faster speeds. As microprocessors run at higher and higher speeds, the power delivered to the microprocessors by a power supply starts to become an issue. Power consumption has become a significant limiter in high-performance microprocessor design. One of the largest components of power consumption is the clocking subsystem, including clock generation, distribution, and clocking power consumed in flop-flops and latches. In order to achieve significant frequency increase, the pipelining depth typically increases with each new processor, hence increasing the number of clocked elements and further adding to the clocking power. At the same time, low jitter and skew requirements of the clock network result in significant distribution power.


A grain oriented electrical steel sheet has sufficiently low iron loss and having less conventionally-concerned warpage of the steel sheet even after the steel sheet is subjected to artificial magnetic domain refining treatment, where strain-introducing treatment is conducted with high energy so that an iron loss-reducing effect can be maximized. The grain oriented electrical steel sheet is obtained by adjusting tension to be applied to a tension-applying insulating coating, or to both surfaces of the steel sheet by the tension-applying insulating coating, before strain-introducing treatment in the range of Formula (1):1.0≦(tension applied to non-strain-introduced surface)/(tension applied to strain-introduced surface)≦2.0  (1),and by controlling the amount of warpage of the steel sheet toward the strain-introduced surface side after strain-introducing treatment in the range of 1 mm or more and 10 mm or less.

Grain oriented electrical steel sheets mainly used as iron cores of electric appliances such as transformers are required to have excellent magnetic properties, in particular, low iron loss properties. There have been mainly employed in this regard, as indices of magnetic properties, magnetic flux density B8 at magnetic field strength: 800 A/m and iron loss (per kg) W17/50 when a grain oriented electrical steel sheet has been magnetized to 1.7 T in an alternating magnetic field of excitation frequency: 50 Hz.
To reduce iron loss of a grain oriented electrical steel sheet, it is important to subject the steel sheet to secondary recrystallization annealing so that secondary recrystallized grains are accumulated in {110}<001> orientation (or Goss orientation) and to reduce impurities in the product.
However, there are limitations in controlling crystal orientation and reducing impurities in terms of balancing manufacturing cost, and so on. Therefore, some techniques have been developed to introduce non-uniformity to the surfaces of a steel sheet in a physical manner and artificially reducing the magnetic domain width to reduce iron loss, namely, magnetic domain refining techniques.
For example, JP 57-002252 B proposes a technique for reducing iron loss by irradiating a final product steel sheet with a laser, introducing a linear, high dislocation density region to the surface layer of the steel sheet and thereby reducing the magnetic domain width.
In addition, JP 06-072266 B proposes a technique for controlling the magnetic domain width by means of electron beam irradiation.
To perform magnetic domain refining treatment such that it is effective in reducing iron loss, it is necessary to introduce relatively large thermal energy to a surface of a steel sheet. However, a problem arose when such large thermal energy was introduced to a surface of the steel sheet, where the steel sheet suffered warping toward the surface on which the strain-introducing treatment had been performed.
Once warping occurs, the steel sheet may possibly experience a degradation in handling ability when assembled as transformers or the like, deterioration in hysteresis loss due to its shape, deterioration in hysteresis loss caused by the elasticity strain introduced when the steel sheet is assembled as transformers or the like, and so on. This is considered significantly disadvantageous in terms of both manufacture and properties.
It could therefore be helpful to provide a grain oriented electrical steel sheet having sufficiently low iron loss and having less conventionally-concerned warpage of the steel sheet effectively even after the steel sheet is subjected to artificial magnetic domain refining treatment, where strain-introducing treatment is conducted with high energy so that an iron loss-reducing effect can be maximized.


An apparatus for reducing noxious gases in the exhaust emissions of an automobile is disclosed. During engine cold start, a cold start injector having a heater downstream of the injector outlet vaporizes fuel so that a leaner air-fuel mixture can be used, thereby reducing engine emissions before the engine and catalytic converter warm up. The heater includes various configurations for swirling the fuel and exposing it to large surface areas for improving the vaporization of the fuel. A tapered bore surrounding the throttle allows for precise air flow control into the cold start device during engine warm-up.

The increase in atmospheric pollution generated by exhaust emissions from conventional gasoline and diesel powered internal combustion engines have caused both federal and state governments to enact laws and establish regulations which impose even greater restrictions on the performance of motor vehicles in the areas of exhaust gas emission and fuel economy. For example, the ULEV FTP 75 standards for gasoline engines that are to take effect in the next few years call for double digit reductions in the levels of noxious emissions over the 1990 ULEV FTP standards (up to 90% in the case of hydrocarbons).
During the start of a cold engine, and before the catalyic converter can warm up to be effective, engine emissions are particularly high. After warm-up and during normal running, the catalytic converter reduces emissions, and the internal combustion engine usually operates at a 14.7:1 air to fuel mixture ratio which also yields reduced emissions. However, when the engine temperature is below a certain point, it is more difficult for all of the fuel to be vaporized, and a choke factor is needed to supply extra fuel. Otherwise, not enough fuel will be vaporized, resulting in a mixture leaner than the desired 14.7:1 stoichiometric ratio. Typically, the first twenty seconds of engine startup operates in a cold start "enrichment" mode in which a richer than stoichiometric air/fuel mixture is delivered. As the engine heats up to normal operation, the additional fuel supplied in the air/fuel mixture is gradually decreased until the desired stoichiometric ratio is reached and the engine is running smoothly.
During the cold start enrichment mode, the increased amount of fuel delivered to the combustion chamber causes an increase in hydrocarbon and nitrous oxide emissions due to incomplete burning of the fuel. At the present levels of allowable hydrocarbon emission, the cold start enrichment mode uses an air/fuel ratio of about 10:1 through 14:1, producing emissions that do not exceed today's standards of 7.0, 0.39 and 0.40 grams/mile for CO, HC/NMOG and NOx. These levels of emissions, however, will have to be reduced to 1.7, 0.040 and 0.20 grams/mile respectively to meet the U.S. government's ULEV FTP 75 emissions regulations in the near future. This represents a 90% reduction in HC emissions over present levels.
Heretofore, manufacturers have provided a number of devices to warm the engine faster and to make the choke more sensitive. However, these devices have been too slow or too complicated to effectively meet upcoming ULEV FTP 75 regulations during that short cold start duration period. Furthermore, catalytic converters provide almost no assistance to reducing emission levels during the cold start period. Thus, what is needed is an uncomplicated apparatus for enabling smooth engine operation during cold starts that produces engine emissions that will meet the U.S. government's future ULEV FTP 75 regulations requirements.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a cold start apparatus which can reduce the amount of excess fuel needed during cold start procedures.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a cold start apparatus which can reduce the exhaust emissions of an internal combustion engine during cold start operation so as to meet the requirements under the upcoming ULEV FTP 75 regulations governing exhaust emissions.
It is a further object of the present invention to reduce the overall fuel consumption of an internal combustion engine.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide a cold start apparatus that includes self cleaning mode which reduces maintenance requirements.
It is still another object of the present invention to accomplish the above-stated objects by utilizing an apparatus which is simple in design and use, and economical to manufacture.
The foregoing objects and advantages of the invention are illustrative of those which can be achieved by the present invention and are not intended to be exhaustive or limiting of the possible advantages which can be realized. Thus, these and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description herein or can be learned from practicing the invention, but as embodied herein or as modified in view of any variations which may be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the present invention resides in the novel methods, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

Cold start engine control apparatus and method

Hitachi America, Ltd., Research and Development Division


A corner protector for use with a surgical tray includes a base, at least one side extending from the base, and at least one aperture extending through the base. The at least one aperture allows a medium to pass therethrough. The corner protector further includes at least one stud extending from a major surface of the corner protector such that when the corner protector is positioned against a surgical tray, a channel is created between the corner protector and the surgical tray.

The present invention relates to the field of corner protectors. In particular, the invention relates to corner protectors for use with surgical trays.
Surgical trays are used to organize, sterilize, and carry surgical instruments into an operating room for use by a surgeon. Because the surgical trays and instruments carry pathogens, the trays and instruments must be sterilized prior to being placed in the operating room. This is done by placing the instruments in the trays, wrapping the trays in sterile wraps, as shown in FIG. 1, and placing the wrapped trays in a sterilization chamber where a sterilization agent such as steam, gas, or plasma is used to sterilize the trays and instruments. The wrapped trays are then carried to the operating room for use.
Unfortunately, after the sterilization process has taken place, it is often discovered that the feet of the trays have punctured through the sterile wrap, as shown in FIG. 2, causing the trays and instruments contained therein to be contaminated. If a surgical instrument tray and the instruments therein cannot be used because the foot of the tray or corner punctured the sterilization wrap, the surgery might have to be delayed or possibly canceled, costing the hospital or surgery center time, money and frustration for both the staff and physicians.


Provided are a method of access control and a device supporting the method. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the method includes: selecting access information for an access to a cell; determining channel access priority class (CAPC) mapped to the selected access information; performing a listen-before-talk (LBT) procedure based on the CAPC; and transmitting an access request to the cell, when a result of the LBT is successful. According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, the method includes: determining channel access priority class (CAPC) mapped to a control message; performing a listen-before-talk (LBT) procedure based on the CAPC; and transmitting the control message, when a result of the LBT is successful.

Efforts have been made to develop an improved 5th-generation (5G) communication system or a pre-5G communication system in order to satisfy a growing demand on radio data traffic after commercialization of a 4th-generation (4G) communication system. A standardization act for a 5G mobile communication standard work has been formally started in 3GPP, and there is ongoing discussion in a standardization working group under a tentative name of a new radio access (NR).
Meanwhile, an upper layer protocol defines a protocol state to consistently manage an operational state of a user equipment (UE), and indicates a function and procedure of the UE in detail. In the discussion on the NR standardization, an RRC state is discussed such that an RRC_CONNECTED state and an RRC_IDLE state are basically defined, and an RRC_INACTIVE state is additionally introduced.
Carrier aggregation with at least one SCell operating in the unlicensed spectrum is referred to as Licensed-Assisted Access (LAA). In LAA, the configured set of serving cells for a UE therefore always includes at least one SCell operating in the unlicensed spectrum according to Frame structure Type 3, also called LAA SCell. Unless otherwise specified, LAA SCells act as regular SCells.
LAA eNB and UE apply Listen-Before-Talk (LBT) before performing a transmission on LAA SCell. When LBT is applied, the transmitter listens to/senses the channel to determine whether the channel is free or busy. If the channel is determined to be free, the transmitter may perform the transmission; otherwise, it does not perform the transmission. If an LAA eNB uses channel access signals of other technologies for the purpose of LAA channel access, it shall continue to meet the LAA maximum energy detection threshold requirement.
Meanwhile, In NR-U, UE can stay in RRC_IDLE or RRC_INACTIVE on a cell in unlicensed band.

Method for performing access control and device supporting the same


Compositions for a hand and body creme made substantially of naturally occurring ingredients are described. Such compositions are highly effective in clearing eczema and other common skin ailments. One embodiment, in which the hand and body creme is a creamy solid, is made by forming an admixture of cocoa butter, almond oil, jojoba oil, vitamin E oil, a commercially available beeswax derivative, hydrogenated soybean flakes, pure beeswax and vitamin A oil. In alternate embodiments, water, shea butter and honey are added to vary the consistency and moisturizing properties of the composition. In still other embodiments, essential oils from a variety of plant sources are added for a range of fragrances.

Skin ailments such as itchiness, dryness, eczema, psoriasis and rashes are a source of irritation for many individuals. The cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries offer a range of topically applied cremes, lotions and other like products for the treatment and relief of such common skin ailments. These products typically contain oils, waxes, or colloidal solids which act as skin emollients, therapeutic additives such as vitamin oils or zinc, and synthetic ingredients such as organic surfactants and preservatives. Such compositions provide easy-to-use and quick relief for certain ailments such as itchiness, dryness and rash. However, these compositions typically lack any long-lasting therapeutic effect in the treatment of skin ailments such as eczema and psoriasis. Additionally, some of the synthetic ingredients cause adverse reactions in users with sensitive skin, and some of the synthetic ingredients, such as formaldehyde, are known or suspected carcinogens. It would be desirable to provide a topically applied composition for the treatment and relief of eczema, psoriasis and other common skin conditions, which is made substantially of naturally occurring ingredients.
Other known products for the therapeutic treatment of skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis contain tar derivatives such as whole coal tar or pine tar in an emollient base. Products containing tar derivatives may cause permanent staining of plastic and fiberglass materials, discoloration of color-treated hair, eye irritation, and allergic irritations. A need persists for a topically applied composition which is highly effective in the treatment and relief of eczema and psoriasis, as well as common ailments such as dryness and itching, yet is free of tar derivatives.

Hand and body creme for the treatment of skin ailments


A method for manufacturing an SOI wafer, including steps of: bonding a bond wafer and a base wafer each composed of a silicon wafer at room temperature with a silicon oxide film interposed therebetween; a thinning the bond wafer; and before the bonding step, cleaning the wafers with a hydrophilic cleaning liquid and drying the cleaned wafers by suction drying or spin drying. After the drying step is ended and before the bonding step is started, the wafers are stored until a state where a bonding speed at which the bonding step is to be performed is 20 mm/second or less. The bonding is performed with the bonding speed of 20 mm/second or less. This provides a method for manufacturing an SOI wafer by which an SOI wafer can be manufactured while generation of outer-peripheral micro voids is suppressed in a simple manner.

When two silicon wafers are bonded at room temperature, the bonding progresses from one side of an outer peripheral edge of each wafer toward the opposite side of the outer peripheral edge. Finally, air may be enclosed by the bonding and remain, causing micro-size voids at the outer peripheral portion (hereinafter, referred to as outer-peripheral micro voids) in some cases.
An outer-peripheral micro void is formed in a region 3 to 5 mm from an edge of an outer peripheral portion of a wafer and has such a size that the diameter is about 0.1 to 1 mm. There is a trend that increasing the bonding speed during the bonding increases the outer-peripheral micro voids.
When two wafers stacked on each other are partially pressed, the bonding of the wafers extends over the entire interface owing to attraction force that acts between the surfaces with low roughness and high precision. Thus, the bonding speed can be measured by observing the advancement of the bonding wave with an infrared camera or the like.
To increase the bonding strength in bonding wafers, the surface(s) to be bonded is/are subjected to a plasma treatment (in which the surface(s) to be bonded is/are exposed to plasma and activated). Thereby, the bonding speed is increased, so that outer-peripheral micro voids are likely to be generated.
Patent Document 1 states in paragraph [0061] that "edge voids", which are voids appearing at an outer peripheral portion of a bonded wafer, can be suppressed when the bonding speed is less than 1.7 cm/s. Moreover, Patent Document 2 states in [0005] and [0006] that setting a contact wave speed of 50 mm/second or less can suppress micro voids at an outer peripheral portion of a wafer. Patent Document 1 states that heating decreases the thickness of a water layer adsorbed at the wafer surface. Patent Document 2 states that the bonding progression speed is controlled by controlling the pressure, type, and viscosity of an atmosphere in a bonding environment. However, it cannot be said these are simple methods.


A mobile node is provided having an address-obtaining unit that can obtain a temporary address that is assigned to the mobile node for each network to which the mobile node migrates. The temporary address is held an address hold unit and corresponds with a home address that has been set in advance. Additionally, an address post processing unit can post an address post message including the temporary address to a home migration host position control unit that manages addresses of the mobile node.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a migration communication control device that controls a communication between a mobile node and a corresponding node to enable them to communicate continuously when the former migrates by managing addresses assigned to the former each time it migrates across networks.
(2) Description of the Related Art
Recent progress in the field of electronic technology makes it possible to assemble smaller and lighter portable computers. These portable computers referred to as mobile nodes are designed so that they can migrate across networks: they are unplugged from a network and plugged in another and communicate with a stationary node. Thus, each of them is assigned a specific address to prove its identity. The address, in general, includes location information as to which network the mobile nodes are currently plugged in, and for this reason, a new address is assigned each time they migrate.
For example, the address composed of a network address unit for specifying a network in which the mobile node is currently plugged in and a node address unit for proving the mobile node's identity in the network, or the address used in a conventional network architecture such as Internet Protocol(details of which are in Internet Protocol, RFC791, Jon Postel, September, 1981), they must be changed every time the mobile nodes migrate.
However, once the mobile node migrates to another network, a communication with the stationary node will be terminated. This is because a packet is transmitted to its old address only to be wasted.
Thus, to enable the mobile node and stationary node to communicate continuously when the former migrates, it is necessary to control the communication by managing the steadily changing address.
To date, two address managing methods have been proposed: one by Sony Computer Science Laboratory Inc. and one by the Department of Computer Science at Columbia University.
Sony Computer Science Laboratory Inc. proposed a method using VIP(Virtual Internet Protocol), details of which are on "VIP: Lower Layer Internet Protocol", Fumio Teraoka, Yasuhiko Yokote, Mario Tokoro, Proceed of Data Processing Convention: Multimedia Communication and Distributed Processing.
In this method, each mobile node is assigned a VIP(Virtual Internet Protocol) address and a PIP(Physical Internet Protocol) address. The former is an unchanged address used in a communication application for packet transmission and reception; and the latter is an address changed for every migration to specify an update physical location of the mobil node. Data related to both addresses are held in a cache of a gateway. Under these conditions, the stationary node transmits a packet to the mobile node to the VIP address thereof, and the packet is converted into another packet addressed to the PIP address when it passes the gateway, thence transmitted to the mobile node via the gateways placed in a route onwards. These gateways collect data related to a correlation between the VIP and PIP addresses from the header of the packet upon the receipt thereof, thus updates data in the cache, and hence are able to convert other packets addressed to the VIP addresses into the packets addressed to the PIP addresses based on the correlation entered in the cache.
In this method, in short, the use of the address constituting with the VIP and PIP addresses enables the mobile node and the stationary node to communicate continuously when the former migrates.
The Department of Computer Science at Columbia University proposed a method using an Internet Protocol address of which network address unit does not specify the network which the mobile node is currently plugged in but declares itself to be the mobile node, hence a certain value is given as the network address unit to all the mobile nodes. As well, the method uses an MSS(Mobile Support Station) installed at each network to manage the IP addresses and control a packet route to the mobile node. The MSS is designed so that it collects data related to the update physical location of the mobile nodes by referring other MSSs.
Given these conditions, when the stationary node transmits a packet to the mobile node when it migrates, it first transmits the packet to a first MSS installed in its network; thence the first MSS transfers the packet to a second MSS installed in a network which the mobile node is currently plugged in; and finally the second MSS transfers the packet to the mobile node.
In this method, in short, the use of the MSS enables the mobile node and the stationary node to continue the communication when the former migrates.
In the first method, however, all the nodes must be constructed so that they understand both the VIP and PIP addresses, causing them to extend a scale functionally, otherwise making it impossible to apply this method to apparatuses employed in existing networks. In addition, the communication via the gateways reduces communication efficiency compared with direct packet transmission, because the gateways check whether they have received the packet addressed to the VIP address or PIP address each time they receive it, as well as whether or not to collect the data therefrom to update those in the cache.
In the second method, each network must have the MSS, and the communication via the MSSs makes it impossible to transmit the packet directly, thereby reducing the communication efficiency.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Partner node migration control unit and method

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A mounting system is provided for securing a metal support surface to a metal bracket on a railroad car. The invention is improved by a compressible, energy absorbing arrangement secured intermediate the support surface and the bracket for preventing metal to metal contact between the support surface and the bracket and absorbing vibrational energy caused by movement of the railroad car.

Railroad cars are typically provided with support surfaces, such as various steps and running boards, to enable personnel to access different areas onboard. Currently, these steps and running boards are manufactured from metal and are mounted by simple nut and bolt fasteners to metal brackets fixedly attached to surfaces of the railroad cars. A problem with metal to metal contact arises as the railroad cars travel along the rails creating twisting, torquing and excess harmonic vibration. These forces seriously fatigue the metal components and lead to cracking thus shortening the life of the steps and the running boards.
Accordingly, it is desirable to alleviate the deficiencies of the prior art support surface attachment on railroad cars, and provide a mounting system which protects steps and running boards from the destructive vibrational energy caused by movement of the cars.

Isolation mounting system for railroad car steps and running boards


An embodiment provides a pulse harmonic modulation method comprising transmitting a first data initiation pulse to an input of a first resonant circuit thereby creating an oscillating waveform at an output of a second resonant circuit and transmitting a first modifying pulse to the input of the first resonant circuit. The first modifying pulse can modify a first portion of the oscillating waveform.

Near-field inductive links have been extensively used in conventional methods for short-range data and power transmission. An inductive link between two magnetically-coupled coils is now one of the most common methods to wirelessly send power and data from the external world to an Implantable Medical Device ("IMD") that requires relatively high data transmission bandwidth. Conventional inductive links include two adjacently coupled LC tank resonant circuits—one on a receiver-side and one on a transmitter side. By tuning these LC tank circuits at a wireless carrier frequency, the amplitude of a transmitted signal on the receiver-side can be increased significantly while attenuating the out-of-bound interference.
There are numerous applications for using inductive links to transmit and receive data. For example, IMDs that can use inductive links to receive data and power include, but are not limited to, neuromuscular stimulators, cochlear implants, visual prostheses, and the like. Further, applications seeking to avoid the use of batteries due to size, cost, and lifetime constraints can highly benefit from inductive coupling systems and methods. Examples of these applications include, but are not limited to, Radio-Frequency Identification ("RFID"), contactless smartcards, wireless Microelectronic Mechanical Systems ("MEMS"), and the like. Achieving high power transmission efficiency, high data transmission bandwidth, and small size while maintaining robustness and a low Bit-Error-Rate ("BER") against impediments, such as external interference, supply ripple, load changes, internal digital switching noise, and coupling variations due to vibrations and coils misalignments, are some of the major challenges in the design of conventional inductive coupling systems.
Some biomedical implants, particularly those that interface with the Central Nervous System ("CNS"), such as cochlear and visual prostheses, need relatively large amounts of data to simultaneously interface with a large number of neurons through multiple channels. In some instances, a minimum of 625-1000 pixels are needed in a visual prosthesis to enable a patient to read text with large fonts. Every stimulation command in such prostheses can require ten bits for addressing the stimulating sites, six to eight bits for stimulation pulse amplitude levels, and two to four bits for polarity, parity-checking, and sequencing. This would suggest at least 20-bits per command frame are required for site selection and stimulus amplitude information. Considering that it might be necessary to stimulate electrodes at rates up to 200 Hz each (for physiological reasons) and there is a need for up to four commands per biphasic-bipolar stimulation pulse in some microstimulator architectures, then raster scanning all 625 sites at this rate requires a serial data bit stream of 625-sites×20-bits×4-commands×200-frames=10 Mbps. The fact that all the electrodes might not need to be refreshed at all times, significantly reduces the required data rate. However, it is clear that a high data transmission bandwidth is needed for wireless implantable microstimulators that interface with the CNS.
Data transmission techniques in conventional systems have mostly been carrier based. In broadband wireless communications, such as the IEEE-802.11a standard for wireless LAN application, data-rates as high as 54 Mbps have been achieved at the expense of increasing the carrier frequency up to 5.8 GHz, which yields a data-rate to carrier-frequency ratio of only 0.93%. In other words, each data bit is carried by 107.4 carrier cycles. Such high carrier frequencies, however, are impractical for use in IMDs. The maximum carrier frequency for biomedical implants is limited to a few tens of MHz (generally 20˜30 MHz) due to the coupled coils' self-resonance frequency, increased power loss in the power transmission circuitry at higher carrier frequencies, and excessive power dissipation in the tissue, which increases as the carrier frequency squared (fr2). Therefore, a goal of conventional inductive coupling systems and methods is to transmit/receive each data bit with a minimum number of carrier cycles in order to maximize the data-rate to carrier-frequency ratio and minimize power consumption.
Implantable devices that record the neural activity and send the information out of the body also need wide bandwidth data links. This is because neural signals have a wide bandwidth (0.1 Hz˜10 kHz) and recording from a large number of electrodes generates a large volume of data. Conventional systems have employed different modulation schemes for transmitting data outside the body. A goal of these systems is to use modulation circuitry that is very low power, capable of handling high data rates, and very small. Also, because power and data are often transmitted simultaneously, the data link must be robust in the presence of the power carrier interference, which can be orders of magnitude larger than the data carrier.
Several modulation schemes have been used in conventional systems for data transmission via an inductive link, including Amplitude Shift Keying ("ASK"), On-Off Keying ("OOK"), Frequency Shift Keying ("FSK"), Phase Shift Keying ("PSK"), and Pulse Position Modulation ("PPM"). ASK has been commonly used in conventional systems and methods because of its simple modulation and demodulation circuitry. This method of modulation represents digital data as variations in the amplitude of a carrier signal. ASK, however, is not robust against coupling variations and faces major limitations for high-bandwidth data transmission. High-bandwidth ASK needs high order filters with sharp cut-off frequencies. This requires large capacitors that cannot be easily integrated in the low-frequency end of RF applications.
A remedy that has been proposed is the so-called suspended carrier modulation or On-Off Keying ("OOK"), which is a simple form of ASK that represents digital data as the presence or absence of a carrier wave. OOK boosts the modulation index up to 100% (turning the carrier on and off) to achieve high data rates with low-order integrated filters at the expense of an average 50% reduction in the carrier power. Even with OOK, however, achieving high data-rates is challenging, and data rates are usually less than 10% of the carrier frequency.
FSK and PSK operate by modulating data in the frequency or phase of a sinusoidal carrier wave, respectfully. A limitation with FSK is that it occupies a relatively wide bandwidth (>5 MHz). PSK has fewer limitations compared to ASK, OOK, and FSK. However, the dependence of all of these methods on a carrier signal results in high power consumption, particularly on the transmitter side of the transmissions system.
For wideband data transmission from IMDs to the outside of the body (referred to as the uplink), most conventional systems have employed active back telemetry circuits, such a Voltage Controlled Oscillators ("VCO"), that utilize similar carrier based modulation techniques in the far-field domain. This has been done despite the fact that the external receiver antenna can be placed in a patch right across the skin. As a result, the RF transmitter is one of the key power consuming blocks in such IMDs. An alternative method used in conventional systems is passive back telemetry using Load Shift Keying ("LSK"), which is abundantly used in RFID tags for data rates up to 0.5 Mbps. LSK is limited because of its requirement for strong coupling between coils, a switch across the IMD power coil, and an ASK receiver outside of the body. Although the switch is relatively simple to implement and consumes little power, the switch entirely shuts off the power transfer to the IMD when it is closed. Hence, a fundamental problem with LSK is reducing the IMD received power by the switching duty cycle, which is not desired in high performance IMDs.
In 2002, the U.S. FCC issued a ruling deregulating the use of Ultra-Wide Band ("UWB") for communications. A variation of UWB, known as Impulse Radio ("IR")-UWB, in which data is transmitted via sub-nanosecond pulses through wideband antennas, soon became popular in conventional systems for short-range low applications, such as Body Area Networks ("BAN"). Conventional IR-UWB systems are able to consume small amounts of power because they are carrier-less, which means they do not require any continuously on power-consuming, high-frequency oscillators or frequency stabilization circuitry. These characteristics make IR-UWB look like an attractive choice for the uplink in IMDs. The caveat, however, is that the ordinary IR-UWB, which is intended for far-field interactions in the 3.1˜10.6 GHz band, is highly absorbed in water; thus, it cannot penetrate or pass through a tissue volume conductor.
Additionally, in UWB, modulation schemes such as OOK and PPM have been used in conventional systems by coding data in the presence and/or location of the pulses. One of the benefits of UWB is the use of discrete pulses for data transmission instead of continuous carrier signals. This eliminates the use for power consuming components such as oscillators, PLLs, and mixers, and, therefore, contributes to the design of low power and low complexity transmitters. There are, however, problems with using these UWB methods in applications where a power carrier is present. The power carrier interference can dominate the data carrier on the receiver side, such that data recovery becomes nearly impossible.
Several conventional systems have adopted the idea of a carrier-less wireless link from the IR-UWB and applied it to inductive links in the near-field domain. These methods use sharp pulses to transfer data in applications, such as chip stacking, multimedia, and BAN. In most of these methods, to achieve high data rates, the Self Resonance Frequencies ("SRF") of both the Transmitter ("Tx") and Receiver ("Rx") coils are kept quite large to allow the high frequency components of the sharp data carrying pulses to effectively pass through the inductive link and reconstruct the pulse on the Rx side. It can be shown that when a simple Gaussian pulse with the width of passes through an inductive link with LC tank circuits on the Rx and Tx sides, the pulse is differentiated by the inductive coupling between the coils and its fundamental frequency shifts from DC to fP=√{square root over (2)}/πtpw. As a general rule, the inductive link bandwidth should be kept above 2fP to limit undesired Inter-Symbol Interference ("ISI"). Otherwise, if the inductive link bandwidth is not wide enough, it significantly attenuates the higher harmonic components of the sharp transmitted pulse. This results in ringing on the Rx side that extends well beyond the designated bit period. This will either increase the ISI and BER or lead to data rate reduction—both of which are undesirable.
Maintaining high SRF in 100's of MHz range in implanted coils, which are used in IMDs, is not quite feasible because the coils' dimensions, inductance, an separation are often much larger and their parasitic resistance is much lower than that of the on-chip coils used in chip-to-chip communication. Due to high conductivity of the tissue volume conductor, there is also significantly more parasitic capacitance around the IMD coils that are implanted or attached to the body compared to those operating in the air (BAN). Therefore, many of these conventional methods are inapplicable in IMDs.
A possible solution to the bandwidth limitation is lowering the coils' quality factor, Q, by adding series or parallel resistors to the coils. Unlike coils used in IMDs, on-chip coils inevitably have low Qs due to their high parasitic resistance. Low Q, however, has the undesirable effect of decreasing the range of the inductive link, i.e. the maximum coil separation. This occurs because the amplitude of the received signal decreases and the noise and interference due to lowering the receiver selectivity increases, which, consequently, degrades the Rx Signal-to-Noise Ratio ("SNR").
Therefore, there is a desire for systems and methods that take advantage of the low power and low transmitter-complexity properties of conventional UWB methods as well as interference rejection properties of the conventional resonance based methods. Further, there is a desire for systems and methods that allow coils to maintain their high Q, filter out undesired sources of interference, increase the inductive link voltage gain, and maximize the SNR at the Rx.

Pulse harmonic modulation systems and methods


A graphics system including a frame buffer having two or more buffers, a graphics processor and system memory. The graphics processor includes rendering logic, display logic and a buffer switch memory that stores an address. The display logic reads the address from the buffer switch memory and retrieves rendered data for display from one of the buffers. The rendering logic retrieves a next display list from the system memory after a continue indication is provided, renders the retrieved display list into another buffer, writes an address corresponding to the other buffer into the buffer switch memory and clears the continue indication. The continue indication may be a separate bit or a continue flag provided within each display list. The rendering logic sequences through the plurality of buffers in this manner to render a plurality of display lists. If only two buffers are provided, then the buffer switch memory includes an arm bit and the rendering logic sets the arm bit after rendering each display list. The rendering logic then waits until the arm bit is cleared before retrieving and rendering another display list.

Graphic capabilities are now common in a variety of applications for personal computers, including three-dimensional (3D) games, multimedia communications and computer-aided design applications (CAD), which perform many graphic functions, including 3D animation, sophisticated shading algorithms, transparency and alpha-blending, live video windows, stereo 3D windows, etc. To perform the desired graphic functions, the computer system must be capable of performing more sophisticated functions in less time. This is particularly true for graphics animation. The computer system must be able to draw complicated geographical figures and fill them while performing complicated 2D and 3D functions, such as patterning, depth cueing, color compare, alpha blending, accumulation, texture assisting, anti-aliasing, super-sampling, color masking, stenciling, panning and zooming, as well as depth and color interpolation, among other functions. The computer system must also draw the geographical figures at a much greater speed while manipulating the pixel data being refreshed to the display monitor.
The architecture of the personal computer system has advanced to handle many sophisticated graphic capabilities required by modern software applications. In more complicated architectures and for more sophisticated applications, a separate graphics processor or accelerator was provided to relieve the primary central processing unit (CPU), so that the CPU could perform other functions and operations. In some systems, the CPU executed an application program and generated programs or instructions for execution by a graphics coprocessor. For 3D capabilities, particularly animation, the cooperation between the CPU and the graphics coprocessor became more critical for determining the quality and speed of the animation. In many designs, the cooperation was not entirely efficient, so that the display became jerky or non-uniform, which was noticeable and distracting to the user. For example, the CPU was often used to monitor the operation of the graphics coprocessor via registers or memory addresses or the like, particularly with respect to status of frames being displayed and program portions being rendered in a frame buffer. In particular, the CPU typically polled one or more status registers to determine when one frame was completed to determine when to switch buffers during 3D operations. Such polling consumed valuable CPU time and reduced 3D performance.
It is therefore desirable to provide a graphics system to perform high level graphics functions and to achieve faster graphic data transfer without significantly depreciating the performance of the computer system. It is particularly desirable to provide improved cooperation between the CPU and a graphics coprocessor to improve 3D animation.

System and method of synchronizing multiple buffers for display


An expandable spinal implant configured for positioning within a space between adjacent vertebral bodies includes an upper body, a lower body, and first and second pins. The lower body is adapted to slidably receive the upper body. Grooves are disposed on opposing side surfaces of the upper body, and grooves are disposed on an inner surface of a bore defined through the lower body. Corresponding first and second apertures are defined through an end surface of the lower body thereby permitting advancement of the first and second pins within the first and second apertures, grooves of the lower body, and a corresponding pair of grooves of the upper body to secure the position of the upper body relative to the lower body. A method of performing spinal surgery is also disclosed.

The human spine includes thirty-three vertebrae. The vertebrae interlock with one another to form a spinal column. Each vertebra has a cylindrical bony body (vertebral body), two pedicles extending from the vertebral body, a lamina extending from the pedicles, two wing-like projections extending from the pedicles, a spinous process extending from the lamina, a pars interarticularis, two superior facets extending from the pedicles, and two inferior facets extending from the lamina. The vertebrae are separated and cushioned by thin pads of tough, resilient fiber known as intervertebral discs. Intervertebral discs provide flexibility to the spine and act as shock absorbers during activity. A small opening (foramen) located between each vertebra allows passage of nerves. When the vertebrae are properly aligned, the nerves pass through without a problem. However, when the vertebrae are misaligned or a constriction is formed in the spinal canal, the nerves get compressed and may cause back pain, leg pain, or other neurological disorders.
Disorders of the spine that may cause misalignment of the vertebrae or constriction of the spinal canal include spinal injuries, infections, tumor formation, herniation of the intervertebral discs (i.e., slippage or protrusion), arthritic disorders, and scoliosis. In these pathologic circumstances, surgery may be tried to either decompress the neural elements and/or fuse adjacent vertebral segments. Decompression may involve laminectomy, discectomy, or corpectomy. Laminectomy involves the removal of part of the lamina, i.e., the bony roof of the spinal canal. Discectomy involves removal of the intervertebral discs. Corpectomy involves removal of the vertebral body as well as the adjacent intervertebral discs.
The time-honored method of addressing the issues of neural irritation and instability resulting from severe disc damage have largely focused on removal of the damaged disc and fusing the adjacent vertebral elements together. Removal of the disc relieves the mechanical and chemical irritation of neural elements, while osseous union (bone knitting) solves the problem of instability.
While cancellous bone appears ideal to provide the biologic components necessary for osseous union to occur, it does not initially have the strength to resist the tremendous forces that may occur in the intervertebral disc space, nor does it have the capacity to adequately stabilize the spine until long term bony union occurs. For these reasons, many spinal surgeons have found that interbody fusion using bone alone has an unacceptably high rate of bone graft migration, expulsion, or nonunion due to structural failures of the bone or residual degrees of motion that retard or prohibit bony union. Therefore, intervertebral prostheses in various forms have been used to provide immediate stability and to protect and preserve an environment that fosters growth of grafted bone such that a structurally significant bony fusion can occur.
Many intervertebral implants have one or more fixed dimensions that may create challenges and/or lead to compromises when selecting a suitable implant for a surgical procedure.
Therefore, a need exists for an expandable spinal implant that can be inserted in a collapsed state in order to prevent over retraction of the anatomy, a reduction in surgical morbidity, and/or substandard implant sizing. Once the expandable spinal implant is in place, it can then be expanded to fill the anatomical space appropriately.


In a process for producing cumene, benzene and a C3 alkylating agent comprising isopropanol are supplied to an alkylation zone comprising a molecular sieve alkylation catalyst under alkylation conditions such that the isopropanol reacts with the benzene to produce a reaction product comprising cumene. Subsequently, the supply of benzene and C3 alkylating agent to the alkylation zone is ceased and a gaseous stripping agent is supplied to the molecular sieve alkylation catalyst under conditions effective to remove nitrogenous impurities deposited on the catalyst during the preceding alkylation reaction. The supply of benzene and C3 alkylating agent to the alkylation zone is then reinitiated.

Cumene is an important intermediate in the chemical and polymer industries, with global cumene production currently exceeding twelve million metric tons annually. The majority of all cumene manufactured in the world today is used for the production of phenol. The demand for phenol for the manufacture of Bisphenol-A and subsequently polycarbonates is accelerating, owing to the broadening applications of polycarbonates in the electronic, healthcare, and automobile industries.
The rapid growth of cumene, phenol and Bisphenol-A production, however, has caused some concerns related to the imbalance of the acetone byproduct produced from the phenol plant. Thus, acetone and phenol are produced at an approximately 1:1 molar ratio from cumene, but are used at an approximately 1:2 molar ratio in the downstream Bisphenol-A production process. The excess acetone that is not used in the production of Bisphenol-A has caused some concern from phenol producers in that it may create a supply-demand imbalance and disrupt the economics of the phenol production business.
In addition, cumene is typically produced by reacting benzene and propylene under liquid phase or mixed gas-liquid phase conditions in the presence of acid catalysts, particularly zeolite catalysts. The resultant need to locate integrated cumene/phenol plants near a source of propylene has become an important issue with producers. Thus, in today's olefins market, there is also a supply-demand imbalance in the supply of propylene produced from conventional sources, such as ethylene plants, due to the reduced availability of feedstocks that favor the production of propylene. This imbalance has forced phenol producers to build their plants closer to feedstock supplies rather than to product outlets.
Numerous research efforts have been directed at solving the acetone imbalance and propylene supply issues described above by employing the excess acetone produced in the phenol plant to produce cumene. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,015,786 teaches a process for preparing phenol, comprising the steps of: (a) alkylating benzene with isopropanol using a zeolite catalyst under liquid phase conditions to synthesize cumene, (b) oxidizing the cumene from step (a) with molecular oxygen into cumene hydroperoxide, (c) subjecting cumene hydroperoxide to acid cleavage to synthesize phenol and acetone, and (d) hydrogenating the acetone from step (c) with hydrogen gas under liquid phase conditions into isopropanol which is recycled to step (a).
One problem encountered in producing cumene from the excess acetone from a phenol plant is that the acetone tends to contain significant quantities of nitrogenous impurities which carry over into the isopropanol intermediate product. Such impurities act as poisons to the zeolite catalyst employed in the downstream alkylation step and so must be removed or reduced to very low levels. However, attempts to remove these impurities from the acetone and isopropanol feeds with conventional solid acid adsorbents have proved to be only marginally effective due to the molecular polarity of the acetone and isopropanol, which competes with the adsorption of the polar nitrogen compounds. Also, the high water solubility of acetone and isopropanol eliminates the use of water washing, which is also commonly employed to remove nitrogen compounds from hydrocarbon streams.
Despite these problems, various methods are being investigated for reducing the level of nitrogen impurities in the isopropanol feed to the zeolite alkylation catalyst. However, whatever method is employed, it is very difficult to reduce these levels to zero and so in practice the zeolite catalyst will have a limited cycle life owing to the build-up of nitrogen compounds at the active acid sites of the catalyst. There is therefore a need for a method of rejuvenating the spent catalyst from an isopropanol alkylation process so as to extend its cycle life.
U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2010/0285949 discloses a method for rejuvenating a catalyst, particularly a spent catalyst used in the alkylation of benzene with propylene to produce cumene. The catalyst comprises at least 10 wt. % of a molecular sieve selected from at least one of a MCM-22 family molecular sieve, a molecular sieve having a framework type of BEA, a molecular sieve having a framework type of FAU, and a molecular sieve having a framework type of MOR, wherein the spent catalyst also comprises from 0.001 wt. % to 45 wt. % of hydrocarbons and 0.001 to 10 wt. % nitrogen containing components. The rejuvenation method comprises contacting the spent catalyst with a gaseous feedstock comprising at least one of N2, H2, alkane, He, Ar, CO, and CO2 for at least one hour at rejuvenation conditions comprising a temperature in the range from about 400 to 600° C., a pressure in the range from about 101.3 kPa-a to 10130 kPa-a, a space hourly velocity in the range of from 0.05 to 10 normal cubic meter gaseous feedstock per hour per kilogram of catalyst to form a rejuvenated catalyst and a gaseous product. The rejuvenated catalyst comprises at least 50 wt. % less nitrogen containing components than the catalyst prior to the contacting step, and the gaseous product comprises at least a portion of the gaseous feedstock and at least a portion of the hydrocarbons and the nitrogen containing components contained by the spent catalyst.
In accordance with the present invention, it has now been found that a spent zeolite catalyst deactivated in the alkylation of benzene with isopropanol can be successfully rejuvenated by treatment with a gaseous stripping agent, such as of N2, H2, alkane, He, Ar, CO, and CO2. This is surprising since the spent catalyst contains nitrogenous contaminants, which originated in the phenol process and which are significantly different from the nitrogenous impurities deposited on the catalyst when used to produce cumene by alkylation of benzene with propylene, which are typically ammonia and amines. The nitrogenous impurities originating in the phenol process result from the use of steam condensate and caustic in washing steps in the phenol process Filming amines and nitrogenous corrosion inhibitors that are present in the steam condensate and caustic are transferred to cumene recycle streams in the phenol process. These components subsequently undergo chemical reaction in the oxidation and hydroperoxide cleavage steps of the phenol process creating highly polar and non-ideal components in the acetone product, such as imines and oximes. These impurities are substantially different in nature from the typical nitrogenous impurities present in the cumene process by alkylation of benzene and propylene.


A protective guard to protect an extremity of a person from blows received during sports related activities comprises an elongate tubular member made of a stretchable fabric material that is received in tubular fashion concentrically over the extremity of the person. The fabric is stretched so that the tubular member conforms snugly around the extremity of the person. A rigid shell is molded so as to conform to the shape of the extremity of the person, with the rigid shell being placed over one end portion of the elongate tubular member so that the end portion of the tubular member is positioned between the extremity of the person and the rigid shell. The second end of the tubular member is pulled back over the rigid shell so as to cover the entire rigid shell and hold the rigid shell firmly in place on the extremity of the person even during rigorous physical activity involving the extremity of the person.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to protective devices or guards that are worn on an extremity of a person to protect the extremity from blows received during sports related activities. In particular, the present invention relates to such protective devices or guards which are custom molded or formed to the shape of the person's extremity on which the device or guard is to be used. The present invention especially relates to devices or guards of the type that are custom molded or formed to the shape of the shin of the person who is going to use the device to guard or protect the shins of the person when the person is participating in a sports activity such as hockey or soccer.
2. State of the Art
Protective guards that wrap at least partially around an extremity of a person and which are used to protect the extremity from blows received during sports related activities are well known in the art. Straps have been used to secure a rigid guard to the person's extremity. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,700,406 discloses an adjustable strap that wraps around the guard and the person's extremity. Most participants in a sports related activity such as hockey or soccer find that such straps are objectionable and that further, the straps do a mediocre job of retaining the guard in place during the rigorous action involved in the sports related activity.
To avoid the use of straps, it has been customary for participants in sports such as hockey and soccer to utilize two pair of socks. One pair of socks is worn against the foot and leg of the user, and a second pair of socks is worn over the first pair. A pad or a rigid shell, which is curvilinear so as to wrap around at least the forward portion of the shin of the person is held between the two pair of socks so as to curve around the shin of the person. This technique necessitates the wearing of shoes which are oversized to accommodate the thickness of the double pair of socks over the foot area.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,669,126 an athletic sock is disclosed having a single foot portion and two leg portions stitched or knitted together so that a shin guard can be worn over the inside sock portion and beneath the outside sock portion. The double pair of athletic socks are however still bulky and uncomfortable, and they do not provide sufficient support for the shin guards. The user has to continually reposition the shin guards after the guards slide downwardly on the leg of the user.
A modified sock-type shin guard is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,306,315 comprising an elastic generally tubular sock member that tightly surrounds the lower leg of the wearer in the vicinity of the shin. A pocket is provided in the front of the tubular member to receive an elongate substantially rigid member that is tapered toward the lower end thereof to substantially conform to the fibula of the wearer. The rigid member is made of heat formable material, and the rigid member is heat formed to the shin area of the leg of the user before the rigid member is inserted into the pocket in the tubular member. The sock-type shin guard of U.S. Pat. No. 4,306,315 is somewhat awkward to use inasmuch as the sock member must be positioned very precisely prior to the insertion of the rigid member, or the sock member and inserted rigid member must thereafter be moved and adjusted to a proper position.

Protective guard for extremity of a human body