A method for indicating one-way latency in a data network, with continuous clock synchronization, between first and second node having clocks that are not synchronized with each other includes a continuous synchronisation session and a measurement session. The method repetitively sends predetermined synchronization messages from the first node to the second node and from the second node to the first node, calculates a round trip time for each message at the first node, updates a synchronization point if the calculated round trip time is smaller than a previously calculated round trip time, stores the updated synchronization points of a synchronization window, and calculates a virtual clock from the updated synchronization points of the synchronization window. The measurement session collects multiple measurements of one-way latency between the first and second nodes using the virtual clock, and generates a latency profile by interpolating the multiple measurements.

Latency is a measure of time delay experienced in a system. Network latency in a packet-switched network is measured either one-way (the time from the source sending a packet to the destination receiving it), or two-way (the one-way latency from source to destination plus the one-way latency from the destination back to the source). Where precision is important, one-way latency for a link can be more strictly defined as the time from the start of packet transmission to the start of packet reception.
There are many possible techniques to synchronize time between a source and a destination. It is possible to achieve time synchronization by using synchronized clocks that use Global Positioning System (GPS) technology. GPS considers a satellite environment as reference time for the synchronization of the source and the destination. The synchronization accuracy depends on the precision with which the source and destination hosts are able to synchronize their internal clock to the GPS signal. Using GPS for synchronizing has several drawbacks:                the synchronization of several devices, each of which is equipped with a GPS receiver, can be expensive        the GPS antenna has to be located within a specific distance from the receiver, limiting the positioning of monitoring devices
Another synchronization system that can be used is Network Time Protocol (NTP) servers. The synchronization is obtained through the time reference offered by public NTP servers located across the Internet. This is the cheapest synchronization technique, but it does not provide as accurate results as GPS does; the accuracy depends on the characteristics of the paths followed by the NTP synchronization messages and on the distance between the NTP server and the source and destination that must be synchronized.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,283,568, with the title "Methods, systems and computer program products for synchronizing clocks of nodes on a computer network", discloses an algorithm for clock synchronization between two nodes using virtual clocks, a generalization of the clock synchronization for many nodes, and using many round-trip-delays to compute an average one-trip delay. A key feature of the embodiment described is that each node manages a virtual clock relying on average measurements for every other node it synchronizes with.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System for establishing and maintaining a clock reference indicating one-way latency in a data network


An endoscopic system and method for performing endoscopic surgery at locations where tissue inserts into bone which including a sleeve member for forming an opening in the body between tissue and bone having a tube, an instrument portion interconnected to a register portion, open ends, slot segments extending inwardly from said open ends, access opening for accessing the interface of tissue and bone, and an obturator configured for inserting slidably into the sleeve member and in the body between tissue and bone.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to endoscopic surgery at locations in the body where tissue inserts into bone and more particularly to a method and system of performing endoscopic heel surgery.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various techniques and systems for performing endoscopic surgery in the body have been developed. These systems provide instrument access and visualization of tissue targeted by a specific operation. Advances have been made at locations in the body where a natural channel or simple pathway can be formed by a tube having a slot or opening for identifying and operating on the target tissue. However, at other locations in the body these known methods and systems for endoscopic surgery have problems providing access and visualization at or near a line of insertion of tissue to bone. Problems occur because most bones have an arcuate surface with the corresponding line of insertion curving away from the opening resulting in the diminished reach of an instrument and imaging of an endoscope. Other disadvantages of known systems include diminished visualization of deep cuts in thick tissues, the ability to identify and operate on adjacent tissues often requiting repositioning of the tube. Furthermore, a repositioned tube may not provide the needed access or visualization of the specific operation. Repositioning has other disadvantages including requiring additional surgical time and procedures, larger incisions to maneuver the tube, and increased likelihood of damage to tissue or the like. Thus, the development of method and system for use in endoscopic surgery of these arcuate bone surfaces and lines of insertion without the disadvantages of known methods and systems would advance the state of the art.
In addition, these known endoscopic techniques and systems have not solved problems of the particular environment of the bone and tissue in the foot. As the human foot is the foundation for most movement, foot pain and discomfort can cripple and seriously reduce such movement. Typically, adverse foot mechanisms coupled with factors such as obesity or various types of traumatic motion can lead to a painful heel syndrome or plantar fasciitis with or without a spur forming on the os calcis. The pain is located at a site where the plantar fascia inserts into the medial and/or lateral tubercle of the os calcis. The insertion site follows an arcuate surface of the os calcis that may have a radial component extending distally form both tubercles with a predilection towards the medial aspect of the foot. Problems arise because the foot is formed from a complex web of compact tissue and bone under considerable tension with no available natural channel. Known endoscopic techniques have advocated forming a channel using sharp dissection or using systems that visualize and blindly resect tissue from one end of a tube. Each of these has the disadvantage of increasing the risk of severing vascular and neural structures around the heel.
Various non-endoscopic surgical techniques have been put forth to relieve the painful heel syndrome. Solutions have ranged from the use of conservative measures such as orthotics to surgical intervention with varying results depending upon the patient and other factors. Surgical intervention includes forming large incisions at or around the heel, surgical exploration or dissection to reach the plantar fascia, release of the plantar fascia from the os calcis, and excision of the degenerated fascial tissue and/or spur. Known methods of surgical intervention have frequent sequela related to the interruption of the anatomy of the heel such as problems from the division of the medial calcaneal nerve causing foot numbness, protracted post operative pain and discomfort, skin incision problems or painful scars on the bottom and medial aspect of the foot, the inability to ambulate, as well as incomplete release of the plantar fascia due to inadequate visualization of the operative site. Thus, a need exists for a simple heel surgery that reduces surgical trauma without lengthening the recovery time.
Thus it is desirable to develop a method and system for endoscopic surgeries targeting the insertion of tissue to bone that reduces the trauma of surgical intervention. The system being able to overcome problems of the prior art to operate with greater precision than known before to minimize scaring, damage to tissues, identify a plurality of tissue and bone structures, and release tissue and/or resect bone. The method and system should be adaptable to foot surgery with increased surgical precision, reduced trauma and damage to the vascular and neural structures for the remedy of plantar fasciitis such as in fasciotomies, fasciectomies, biopsies and resections of a spur on the os calcis. It is desirable to form a system that can perform multiple operations and procedures for the release of the plantar fascia and reduction of bone spurs that reduces recovery time and damage.

Method and system for performing endoscopic surgery at locations where tissue inserts into bone


A semi-aqueous ethylene-vinyl alcohol coating composition that is a stable, homogeneous solution which is capable of being easily applied to a substrate to form a multi-layer structure at room temperature, by spray, rod, gravure, or other mechanical means. Upon evaporation of the volatile components, this coating solution leaves a clear, homogeneous film comprising EVOH. The film resists degradation and discoloration during the lifetime of the structure, and upon incineration or recycling does not evolve harmful acids into the environment.

The packaging industry in general finds many applications for multi-layer structures which combine different materials with varying properties designed to provide complex barrier functions.
Metals, particularly aluminum and steel, have been used extensively, typically in the form of cans. As an alternate, aluminum, in the form of foil, has been widely used in other types of packages, especially flexible packaging. Metals protect the contents of a package from external sources of potential contamination such as light, moisture and gases, while simultaneously maintaining a constant atmosphere inside the package by preventing escape of volatile components.
However, there are limitations to the usefulness of metals as barrier materials. One problem is flex cracking, where fractures in the metal defeat barrier properties. Another problem is that one encounters recycling difficulties when a metal foil is disposed within a composite multi-layer structure.
PVDC has been known in the industry as a material by which good barrier properties may be obtained, in lieu of aluminum foil. Aqueous PVDC dispersions or solvent-borne PVDC solutions are easy to apply and form clear, continuous films. However, during the lifetime of a PVDC-containing structure, degradation of the PVDC has been observed. PVDC films discolor upon aging, exposure to light, and exposure to certain agents. When PVDC breaks down, hydrochloric acid is generated, which may then result in acid contamination of the package contents. Further, there has been environmental criticism based upon liberation of hydrochloric acid upon the incineration of multi-layer structures containing PVDC.
EVOH is another polymeric resin that has been shown to provide barrier protection to multi-layer packaging structures. See, for example, Sogi et al U.S. Pat. No. 3,560,325, granted Feb. 2, 1971; and Schroeder U.S. Pat. No. 4,254,169, granted Mar. 3, 1981. EVOH imparts good barrier properties to a structure, and also provides a clear, glossy film. There is no break-down of the polymer to release acid. Nor is there acid contamination of either the package contents or the environment. Films of EVOH are not known to discolor.
EVOH is an attractive alternative to metal foils and PVDC in the packaging industry because it does not exhibit the foregoing disadvantages.
EVOH has typically been applied to composite structures by extrusion coating. However, there are many instances where it is not practical to extrusion coat a substrate with resin. For example, it may be necessary to use one or more adhesive layers to adhere the extruded EVOH to other substrates. This calls for sophisticated, expensive co-extrusion equipment. Further, EVOH should not be processed at temperatures exceeding 500.degree. F. because oxidation and/or degradation of the polymer may take place. Extrusion and co-extrusion expose the resin to elevated temperatures and thus pose a risk of EVOH degradation which results in inferior barrier performance.
EVOH may also be utilized to replace PVDC in multi-layer structures. PVDC is normally applied as a liquid coating. Thus, there is a need in the art for EVOH in liquid form so that it can be applied as a liquid coating.
The prior art reflects various attempts to incorporate EVOH into solutions. Thus, EVOH has been dissolved in mixtures of alcohol and water. However, the resulting solutions are unstable, i.e., the resin precipitates out of solution after a day or so. Another difficulty posed by such solutions is that they do not form very satisfactory films when applied by rod, gravure or similar devices, followed by drying. Instead of obtaining clear and even films, the resulting films exhibit uneven leveling, partial opacity, streaks and voids. Moreover, the solutions must be heated prior to application to a substrate.
The use of a 5-10% solution of an EVOH resin in water, formic acid and isopropanol has also been described in the literature (Modern Plastics, February 1986, page 80) as providing an oxygen barrier by dip coating. It has, however, been found in accordance with the present invention (see Controls E, I and K in the tabulation below) that formic acid- and isopropanol-containing EVOH solutions do not form uniform, high quality EVOH barrier films.
Accordingly, it is among the objects of the present invention to provide an improved EVOH-containing coating solution and a method of coating substrates (e.g., films, pre-formed articles or the like) therewith for forming EVOH barrier coatings for films, rigid containers or other multi-layer structures.


A system and method for failure recovery for a node in an IPTV network makes use of the ability of an IMS Gateway, an Open IPTV Terminal Function, and an IPTV Control Server to provide each other with information about a session to be recovered in a manner which allows the control session state to be reconstructed without impacting the user's viewing experience.

In the past, television programming was originally broadcast to viewer's television sets through a radio wave transmission in a defined frequency band referred to as a channel, transmitted from a broadcast tower and received by antennas located at a home. As technology progressed, these broadcast signals were retransmitted over a common access cable infrastructure to the home.
As technology has provided new or improved delivery mechanisms, they have been employed to allow for improved or enhanced television experiences. With the arrival of packet based data networks, and the processing power to properly encode and decode video data at sufficiently high frame rates, Internet Protocol TV (IPTV) is becoming more accessible. IPTV employs a packed based delivery network where infrastructure elements are employed to verify that a given use is authorized to access content before the requested content is delivered to the user.
In packet based networks, broadcasting data is not typically done. Instead data is either sent to a specific node (unicast) or sent to a plurality of nodes (multicast). Many users can join a multicast session, and from the user perspective, this may not show any differences from a conventional broadcast.
In conventional IPTV environments, the network is built upon an Internet Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), an architectural framework which uses a plurality of Internet Protocols (IP) for delivering IP multimedia services to a user. The IMS network employs Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) as a control channel protocol. SIP commands are employed to provide control over the initiation and termination of sessions. The packets containing the actual video content are not delivered through the control session, but instead are delivered in the content delivery session using another protocol such as the Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP).
Reference is now made to FIG. 1a (prior art). In an exemplary IPTV network 100, one or more Open IPTV Terminal Function (OITF) devices, which are often provided in the form of Set Top Boxes (STB), are connected to an IP network via an IMS Gateway (IG) 104 and an access router (not shown). For simplicity, only one OITF device 102 is shown in this example.
It should be understood that an OITF 102, as with many other nodes in an IPTV network, is a device that performs a number of different functions and can be implemented in either dedicated hardware as is typically the case in an STB, or on a general purpose computer. Some components of the device are dedicated to decoding the audio and video data, leaving administration of the network functionality to other components of the device. This is often described by referring to the device as having a data plane and a control plane.
Typically a SIP session is used to create a control session, which in turn, is used to create a content delivery session between a Content Source 108 and an OITF. A SIP session 106a is established between OITF 102 and the IG 104, and an associated SIP session 106b is established between the IG 104 and the IPTV Control Server (IPTV CS) 110, which is used to invoke and tear down RTP sessions, as well to perform other session-related management functions. An RTP session 112 is established between the OITF 102 and the Content Source 108. Note that the IG 104 is acting as a Back to Back User Agent (B2BUA) between the two associated control sessions 106a and 106b that form a single virtual session. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that for the sake of brevity this may be referred to simply as a control session. Alternatively, an HTTP session may be established between the OITF 102 and the IG 104, in lieu of the SIP session 106b. In this case, the IG 104 would still use a SIP session with the IPTV CS 110 and handle all the necessary inter-working between the associated HTTP and SIP control sessions.
At present, there is no mechanism supported by an open standard group in the IPTV space, such as the Open IPTV Forum, that provides for a graceful recovery procedure to allow a node to recover from a failure. An OITF or an IG that experience a failure cannot perform a restart or other recovery mechanism without adversely impacting the user's experience (i.e. a disruption to the user's viewing occurs).
Reference is now made to FIG. 1b (prior art), which shows an existing method for restarting an OITF 102. Following a control session failure 116, software fault, or other type of failure, the OITF 102 performs a restart 118. All user and session data is cleared from the OITF 102, and the session state is lost 120, even though a content delivery session may still be active between the OITF 102 and the content source 108. In order to re-establish a control session, the content delivery session must also be terminated and restarted, as the delivery session is managed by (i.e. initiated, modified, terminated) and associated with the control session. As such, restarting an OITF is equivalent to a full power off-power on condition.
Accordingly, it should be readily appreciated that in order to overcome the deficiencies and shortcomings of the existing solutions, it would be advantageous to have a solution for gracefully recovering from errors and failures without impacting the user.


A continuous-wavelength absorption detector adapted for continuous-flow detection is provided. The detector includes an electronics section, a bifurcated optical guide and a detector-cell. Each branch of the optical guide has a plurality of fibers, and at one end the branches are separated and connected to different portions of the electronics section. One of the branches is terminated next to a source for producing illumination to irradiate sample material and the other branch is terminated next to a detector for producing an absorption spectrum signal. At the opposite end of the optical guide the fibers of the two branches are combined to form a common end which is connected to the detector-cell. The detector-cell includes an approximately vertically aligned continuous-flow sample cell which is connected to a sample line and also includes a concave mirror. Within the detector-cell, the common end's fiber ends are held at a fixed location on one side of the sample cell with the concave mirror being located on the opposite side. Illumination is guided from the electronics section through its respective branch of the optical guide to the common end where the light is transmitted from the fixed location across the sample cell to irradiate the sample material. The sampling material absorbs optical energy of certain wavelengths to a greater extent than other wavelengths to provide an absorption spectrum. Portions of the illuminations are reflected back across the sample cell by the concave mirror to the fiber ends at the fixed location. Reflected light which strikes the branch fiber ends associated with the detector for producing the absorption spectrum signal is then guided to the electronics section. There, an absorption spectrum signal is produced which is proportional to the illumination intensity of the wavelengths striking the fiber ends.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to spectroscopic chemical analysis and more particularly to flow cells (sample cells) of flow-through optical detectors which are used in continuous-flow analysis, flow injection analysis, colorimetry and liquid and gas chromatography.
2. Description of the Related Art
Developments in the techniques and methodologies of chemical analysis have advanced rapidly over the last several years, especially for laboratory spectrophotometers; however, the evolution of state-of-the-art hardware designed specifically for obtaining the spectral characteristics of sample material subjected to illumination in continuous-flow analysis, FIA (flow injection analysis), colorimetry or HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography) has lagged far behind. Currently, obtaining an absorption spectrum from a continuous-flow sample system is done with complex, bulky instruments which may have inherent design limitations that increase the cost of sampling and/or reduce the performance of the detector.
In this specification, continuous-wavelength, absorption detection is the obtaining of a spectrum over a bandwidth of interest for quantitative analysis. The spectrum represents the transmittance or absorbance of the source radiation (illumination) after it has been subjected to the sample material. The bandwidth may fall within the optical range (visible spectrophotometric analysis); thus, this specification includes the area of optical detection; however, the methods and apparatus discussed herein may also apply to absorption detection in the ultraviolet (ultraviolet spectrophotometric analysis) and the infrared region (near-infrared and infrared spectrophotometric analysis) as well as the previously mentioned visible region of the spectrum. In addition, the methods and apparatus discussed herein may also apply to dual-wavelength absorption detection wherein a measuring wavelength and a reference wavelength are utilized for the absorption analysis instead of using an absorption spectrum.
A typical simple spectrophotometer (absorption detector) includes an electromagnetic radiation source, a radiation detector, a sample cell (sample chamber) and a monochromator containing a prism or grating system which dispenses the source radiation so that only a limited wavelength, or frequency, range is allowed to irradiate the sample at a time to produce an absorption spectrum for detection by the radiation (illumination) detector. In this specification the terms "illumination or radiation detector" will be used to avoid confusion with the term "absorption detector". The illumination detector converts the illumination into an electrical signal representative of the absorption spectrum. In another typical embodiment, all wavelengths of the source radiation simultaneously irradiate the sample. The absorption spectrum is dispersed such that it may either be detected by passing a limited bandwidth range of the spectrum over the radiation detector at a time or by spreading the absorption spectrum over a radiation detector acting as an array. The array detector provides an individual output signal for each limited wavelength range. Other methods are also well known to practitioners of the art for producing electromagnetic radiation (illumination) to irradiate a species and for producing an absorption spectrum signal representative of the absorption spectrum of the species which has been subjected to that illumination. Any of these methods may appropriately be applied to the teachings of this invention. However, although there are various means for producing illumination and detecting an absorption spectrum, many of these systems may not have the ability to detect absorption spectra efficiently and accurately due to inherent design limitations associated with the use of typical flow cells (sample cells).
Prior art FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C illustrate, in simplified form, arrangements used within spectrophotometers for producing electromagnetic radiation to irradiate a sample material (species) in a continuous-flow detector-cell and for detecting an absorption spectrum. The term "detector-cell" in this specification includes a sample cell and the components associated with it. These associated components enable: (1) the source radiation to enter the sample cell to irradiate the sample, (2) the absorption spectrum to exit the sample cell for detection, and (3) the sample material (species) to enter the sample cell as a continuous-flow.
FIG. 1A is a simplified representation of a detector-cell having a continuous-flow sample cell 10a located between a means for producing radiation (optical energy) 12 and a means for producing an absorption spectrum signal 14. In this arrangement, optical energy is transmitted inline with the sample flow. The length of the optical energy path within the sample cell determines the sensitivity of the absorption detector. The longer the optical path is within the sample cell, the greater the detector's sensitivity to differences in absorption between the wavelengths or frequencies within the bandwidth of the spectrum.
In FIG. 1A, sample cell 10a is shown in a vertical-longitudinal cross-sectional view. This particular sample cell 10a is known as a "Z" flow-through channel structure. Other channel geometries are possible for, for example, FIG. 1B illustrates in another vertical-longitudinal cross-section view, another widely used flow-through sample cell 10b which has a "U" structure. The directions of flow in sample cells 10a and 10b are indicated by the arrows. The optical energy enters the sample cell in each of the FIGs. at window 16 and exits by window 18.
These flow cells (10a and 10b), shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, are commonly used, but in order for optical radiation to be transmitted inline with the flow path of the sample material, the sample has to follow a tortuous path of flow into and out of the sample cell. One frequent problem with spectrophotometers having these types of flow cells is that they are subject to bubble noise. Often the species may have entrained gas bubbles or air bubbles. Bubble noise is caused by the bubbles becoming trapped within the sample cell due to the tortuous path of the sample through the flow cell. The natural buoyancy of the bubble in the fluid may cause it to contact and to adhere to a wall of the flow cell. When the pumping system does not provide enough flow to overcome the adherence and the friction between the bubble and the wall, it may be difficult to dislodge the bubble from the flow cell. The pumping system then causes the bubble to pulsate between pumping cycles, thus causing pulsations in the illumination intensity or causing variations in the detected absorption spectra.
One solution to the bubble problem is to use another arrangement for the sample cell as shown in the vertical cross sectional view for FIG. 1C. This sample cell 10c is a straight flow-through cell aligned vertically such that the optical energy is transmitted across the cell, i.e., transverse to the flow. However, in order to maximize sensitivity, the cell is broadened to increase the optical path length. By increasing the optical path length, the volume of the cell is increased. This increases the dead zone of the sample cell. A larger dead zone requires larger volumes of sample material for adequate separation between the samples and to prevent different species from mixing within the sample cell. In addition, this enlargement also results in reducing the total number of samples that may be processed in a continuous-flow system over a given time period.
If the optical path length is decreased to reduce the volume of the cell, the sensitivity of the detector is reduced. For example, assuming everything else remains the same, if the optical path length is halved, then the amount of absorption at various absorbing wavelengths will be substantially reduced. Sensitivity is particularly important when a heavily diluted sample which does not readily absorb at the absorbing wavelengths is used. Since so little absorption occurs across the bandwidth, then it may be difficult to determine the composition of the species especially if the sample line was subject to bubble noise or other forms of noise that is present in a plant environment.
There are other limitations with the arrangements shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C. Since the means for producing the radiation 12 and the means for detecting the absorption spectrum signal 14 are on opposite sides of the flow cell 10, these arrangements may not effectively utilize the light (radiation) entering the cell, i.e., they do not exhibit high coupling efficiency for collecting the light. Radiation upon entry into the flow cell through window 16 will diffuse (fan-out). Diffusion of this light may result from many causes. Primarily, in this case, it results from a light source producing a beam of light having rays which originate from a plurality of point sources. And, all of these point sources are not aligned so that when the rays of light from each point source enter the inlet window 16, the rays are not exactly aligned with the length of the flow cell and the outlet window 18. Additionally, other forms of diffusion also occur; these forms include: (1) refraction of light as it crosses material boundaries, (2) scattering of light due to particles along the path length and (3) the tendency of light to spread out normal to its path of movement (beam spreading).
If the flow cell is narrow, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, some light, due to fan-out (diffusion), may be absorbed in the walls or blocked by the walls of the flow cell. If the flow cell is wide, as shown in FIG. 1C, only a limited portion of the light upon entry into the inlet window 16 will be directed at window 18. If large amounts of optical energy are lost within the flow cell, then the detector will have a reduced ability to detect weak, e.g., strongly absorbed, illumination at the radiation detector. The weakest absorption signal that can be detected is limited by the "dark" current (noise) produced by a photodetector or photodetector array. As the illumination becomes weaker, the signal to noise ratio is reduced until a point is reached where it is not possible to distinguish between the signal produced by the weak illumination and the noise.
The signal to noise ratio between the detected illumination and the dark current may be increased by increasing the magnitude of the optical energy entering the sample cell. However, increasing the amount of light transmitted into the flow cell could also result in increasing the temperature of the sample. Sample heating could cause chemical reactions or bubbles to come out of solution resulting in the sample no longer being representative of the material from which the sample was obtained.
The windows 16, 18 of FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C are also sources of inherent design limitations. They may be an integral part of the flow cell or they may be removable. In any case, they become dirty or scarred from the sample material. This reduces the performance of the absorption detector. The windows must then be cleaned or replaced. Whether the windows are an integral part of the flow cell or separately attached, the windows are difficult to inspect, clean or replace in typical detector-cell arrangements.
Safety concerns related to electrical components of the absorption detector also affect the utility of this type of detector. The cost to install this absorption detection system could be expensive due to the expenditures necessary to meet fire and building codes. These safety codes are necessary because: (1) the sample cell may contain hazardous and/or explosive materials when sampling, and/or (2) the detector's electrical circuitry, which powers the means for producing the radiation and the means for producing the absorption spectrum signal, could ignite hazardous or explosive vapors in the local area or vapors from the sample cell. For example, when the arrangements shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C are used for in-plant monitoring, the means for producing the radiation, the means for producing the absorption spectrum signal and the detector-cell are housed in separate compartments with the compartments being located adjacently to, and inline with, each other so that optical energy may be transmitted between the compartments. The need to locate these components near each other and within the line of sight of each other, yet separate them to meet safety codes substantially reduces the options available in locating an absorption detector within a processing environment.
A simple, compact, robust and inexpensive absorption detector is needed which features a detector-cell configuration that: (1) reduces bubble noise, (2) compensates for and utilizes the diffusion of radiation to maximize optical coupling, (3) allows easy access to the windows for inspection or replacement, (4) increases the sensitivity of the detector without increasing the dead zone of the sample cell and (5) provides for greater selectivity in locating absorption detector components to meet safety codes.

Detector-cell adapted for continuous-flow absorption detection


A magnetic recording medium having a ferromagnetic metal thin film on at least one surface of a non-magnetic support. The magnetic recording medium has a surface layer containing at least either one of fluorine compounds represented by the following formulae (1) and (2): EQU Rf-R.sub.1 Formula (1) EQU Rf-R.sub.2 -Rf Formula (2). where. Rf: (CF.sub.3).sub.a CF.sub.3-a (CF.sub.2).sub.b PA1 a: 1 to 3 PA1 a+b: 1 to 11 PA1 R.sub.1 : an alkyl or alkenyl group having from 8 to 26 carbon atoms PA1 R.sub.2 : an alkylene or alkenylene group having from 2 to 14 carbon atoms.. The surface layer may be formed on a carbon film provided on the ferromagnetic metal thin film. The surface layer may further contain a fluorine compound having at least one polar group and a perfluoroalkyl group, and a rust inhibitor. These components may be contained in or coated on a back coat layer. The magnetic recording medium is excellent in running properties, durability and shelf stability.

The present invention relates to a magnetic recording medium having on a magnetic layer a lubricant layer containing an organic fluorine compound. More particularly, the present invention relates to a metal thin film type magnetic recording medium which is excellent in running properties, durability and shelf stability.
To improve magnetic properties required for high-density magnetic recording, e.g., high-definition recording, digital recording, etc., metal thin film type magnetic recording mediums formed by vapor deposition or the like have been demanded in place of the conventional coating type magnetic recording mediums. However, in a metal thin film type magnetic recording medium, a metal layer, which serves as a recording layer, is formed on the surface of the magnetic recording medium, and the metal layer is usually protected with only an extremely thin oxide layer formed on the metal surface. Thus, the metal thin film type magnetic recording mediums have been demanded to improve markedly in running properties, durability, running durability in repeated use, shelf stability, etc.
Under these circumstances, it has been proposed to coat the surface of the thin film metal layer with various lubricants. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (KOKAI) No. 63-9011 (1988) proposes using a perfluorocarboxylic acid perfluoroalkyl ester C.sub.n F.sub.2n+1 RCOO(CH.sub.2).sub.m OC.sub.k F.sub.2k+1. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (KOKAI) No. 62-266728 (1987) discloses a magnetic recording medium that uses a carboxylic acid perfluoroalkoxyalkyl ester RCOO(CH.sub.2).sub.n OC.sub.m F.sub.2m+1. These lubricants are, however, hydrolytic and hence decomposed during storage for a long time, resulting in a failure to exhibit the required lubricating function. Moreover, the decomposition product may impair running properties and durability. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (KOKAI) No. 62-256218 (1987) proposes using a carboxylic acid perfluoroalkyl ester RCOO(CH.sub.2).sub.m C.sub.m F.sub.2m+1. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (KOKAI) No. 62-236120 (1987) proposes using a carboxylic acid perfluoroalkyl ester and an extreme-pressure additive. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (KOKAI) No. 62-236119 (1987) proposes using a carboxylic acid perfluoroalkyl ester and a perfluoro polyether. However, all of these lubricants are hydrolytic and therefore suffer from the same problems as those described above.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (KOKAI) No. 63-298709 (1988) discloses a technique in which C.sub.n F.sub.2n+1 (CH.sub.2).sub.m X (X is OH, COOH, or COOR) is mixed with at least one selected from the group consisting of a higher fatty acid, an ester, and an alcohol. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (KOKAI) No. 03-241523 (1991) proposes using RfCOOR (Rf is an alkyl group a part of which is fluorine, and R is an alkyl group having not more than 5 carbon atoms). However, these lubricants are compounds having an ester linkage, which are unsatisfactory with regard to running properties at low temperature, suffer from a high coefficient of friction and are lacking in anticorrosion properties. Accordingly, the magnetic recording layer gathers rust during storage for a long time, resulting in the running properties and durability being degraded.
Japanese Patent Application Post-Examination Publication No. 03-19602 (1991) discloses a metal thin film type magnetic recording medium which uses as a lubricant a fluorine-containing surface-active agent, or a fluorine-containing hydrocarbon having a group, e.g., SO.sub.3 Na, SO.sub.3 K, SO.sub.3 H, etc., more specifically, C.sub.8 F.sub.17 SO.sub.2 F, or perfluoroalkylpolyoxy ethylene having OH, SO.sub.3 M, or RfCONH(CH.sub.2).sub.3 (RF is a perfluoroalkyl group) at a terminal thereof, i.e., compounds having a terminal betaine structure. With these fluorine compounds, excellent running properties can be obtained, but still durability and shelf stability are not satisfactory. Moreover, these fluorine compounds are insoluble in a hydrocarbon solvent and therefore need a special solvent, e.g., a fluorine-containing solvent, for coating.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (KOKAI) No. 64-72313 (1989) discloses a technique in which a monomolecular film having the structure of Rf-Rh-X, i.e., perfluoroalkyl group--alkyl group--polar group, is formed on a magnetic layer of a thin metal film. With this technique, the .mu. value is improved, but the formation of a monomolecular film by Langmuir Blodgett (LB) process is inferior in productivity and hence impractical. Further, the magnetic recording medium is inferior in still durability and shelf stability, and the solubility of the lubricant in a hydrocarbon solvent is not insufficient.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (KOKAI) No. 58-100228 (1983) discloses a lubricant with two chains in which a perfluoroalkyl group and an alkyl group are bonded together. The double-chain lubricant (C.sub.3 F.sub.7 CH.sub.2 CO.sub.2 --) is applied to a coating type magnetic recording medium. However, it is impossible to expect such a lubricant with a short chain length to satisfactorily lower the coefficient of friction when it is used as a protective layer for a magnetic recording layer of a thin metal film. In addition, when applied to a metal thin film type magnetic recording medium, the lubricant suffers from the disadvantages that the corrosiveness is undesirably high, and the coefficient of friction is high. Moreover, it is necessary in order to coat the lubricant to use a coating solution prepared by dissolving the lubricant in a fluorine-containing solvent. Further, since the lubricant itself readily hydrolyzes, the magnetic recording medium using this lubricant cannot be stored for a long period of time.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (KOKAI) No. 62-92227 (1987) discloses a metal thin film type magnetic recording medium which uses an ammonium salt of Rf(CH.sub.2).sub.n COO as a fluorine compound lubricant or uses as a lubricant a compound having a fluoroalkyl group having not less than 3 carbon atoms, an aliphatic alkyl group having not less than 8 carbon atoms, and an OH group. These compounds can be dissolved in isopropanol to prepare a coating solution, and thus are advanced lubricants. However, they are still unsatisfactory in terms of such characteristics as .mu. value, still durability, and shelf stability, and cannot exhibit excellent characteristics under a wide variety of environmental conditions, particularly, over a wide temperature range of from high temperature to low temperature, or a wide humidity range of from high humidity to low humidity.
It has also been proposed to use perfluoroalkyl polyethers and derivatives thereof as lubricants in addition to the above-described lubricants [for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (KOKAI) Nos. 60-61918 (1985), 61-107528 (1986), U.S. Pat. No. 3,778,308, Japanese Patent Application Post-Examination Publication No. 60-10368 (1985), U.S. Pat. No. 4,897,211, etc.]. However, these lubricants of fluorine-containing organic compounds suffer from an undesirably high coefficient of friction occurring between the magnetic layer and a sliding member of a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus during running at low speed and therefore cannot impart satisfactory running properties to the magnetic layer. The lubricants are also unsatisfactory with regard to shelf stability; the magnetic layer may peeled off due to corrosion by an acidic gas, e.g., sulfurous acid gas, which may result from acid rain. Accordingly, no practicable magnetic recording medium can be obtained with these lubricants.
Fatty acids and fatty acid esters [for example, see Japanese Patent Application Post-Examination Publication Nos. 28-28367 (1953), 51-39081 (1976), 51-30981 (1976), Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (KOKAI) Nos. 56-80828 (1981), 61-24017 (1986), etc.] suffer from an undesirably high coefficient of friction occurring between the magnetic layer and a magnetic head and are also unsatisfactory with regard to the resistance to corrosion by an acidic gas, e.g., sulfurous acid gas.
Further, most of the above-described lubricants are generally inferior in solubility in hydrocarbon-containing organic solvents and soluble in only fluorine-containing organic solvents. Therefore, a fluorine-containing organic solvent must be used to coat a conventional lubricant on a magnetic recording layer as a protective layer. Fluorine-containing organic solvents are costly and causative agents that destroy the ozone layer. Thus, fluorine-containing organic solvents have serious problems from the viewpoint of protecting natural environment, and also suffer from the problem that they have an adverse effect on the manufacturing system and deteriorate the working atmosphere.
The present invention provides a lubricant which is soluble in a hydrocarbon-containing organic solvent, thereby solving the problems arising from the use of a fluorine-containing solvent, and which imparts running properties, durability and shelf stability to a metal thin film type magnetic recording medium obtained by a vapor deposition, sputtering or the like, whereby the recording density is markedly improved.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a magnetic recording medium, for example, a high-density recording medium, particularly, a metal thin film type magnetic recording medium capable of markedly improving the recording density, which is given running properties, durability, repeated running durability, and shelf stability.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a magnetic recording medium for a cam coder useful for outdoor use.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a magnetic recording medium capable of exhibiting satisfactory running properties and durability under various environmental conditions, i.e., over a wide temperature range and a wide humidity range.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method of producing a magnetic recording medium using a lubricant which is soluble in a hydrocarbon-containing organic solvent so that it is unnecessary to use a fluorine-containing organic solvent, and thus the production method is free from environmental pollution.

Magnetic recording medium having a carbon protective layer and a fluoro-lubricant supplied from a backcoat layer


The present invention relates to a method for bringing a powder and a liquid component, preferably polymer and monomer, in contact with each other for mixing thereof, preferably to form bone cement, wherein the powder component (P) is placed in a mixing container (1) in which the mixing shall occur and the liquid component (M) in a liquid container (18) from which said the liquid component (M) is transferred to the powder component (P) in the mixing container (1). In this method, a vacuum is generated in the mixing container (1) and the liquid container (18) is opened by means of at least one cannula (14) or similar member through which the liquid component (M) can be brought to flow from the liquid container (18) to the mixing container (1). The vacuum is brought to suck the liquid component (M) from the liquid container (18), through the cannula (14) and into the mixing container (1) to the powder component (P) therein, and/or is the liquid component (M) pressed into the mixing container (1) through the cannula (14) while the liquid container (18) is compressed because of the pressure difference between the vacuum in the interior of the liquid container (18) and the air pressure outside the liquid container. The invention also relates to a device for carrying through the method.

Mixing devices for mixing polymer and monomer for production of bone cement are already known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,328,262 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,973,168. At the device of U.S. Pat. No. 5,328,262, there is polymer in the mixing container and monomer is poured into the mixing container from a liquid container. Then, polymer and monomer are mixed under a vacuum and after mixing, the bone cement is collected under a vacuum for subsequent discharge. At the device of U.S. Pat. No. 4,973,168, there is polymer in the mixing container and monomer in a syringe with a cannula. This cannula is used for puncturing a membrane in the mixing container, whereafter monomer is injected into the mixing container.
It has been noticed that the device and method of U.S. Pat. No. 4,973,168 for adding monomer to polymer do not meet the present demands for quick and effective distribution of the monomer in the polymer for producing bone cement with the required properties.

Method for bringing a powder and a liquid component in contact with each other for mixing to form bone cement


An image processing apparatus capable of displaying a preview image which has close resemblance to an original image or an edited image automatically applies image processes, such as magnification/compression, rotation, and displacement, to the preview image on the basis of the size of an image and the size of a display screen. Image size information and a reference position mark are displayed after being synthesized. A preview image is thus displayed which may easily be checked by an operator.

Present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and method and, more particularly, to an image processing apparatus and method capable of confirming an image by previewing.
Since conventional image processing apparatuses, such as a copying machine, are now able to deal with colors and equipped with highly technology functions, it becomes possible for these image processing apparatus to edit and output an image which is more complicated than ever. In order to obtain an edited image in the operator's desired colors, and the like, the edited image has to be actually printed on recording paper so as to confirm the processed image, and the operator often has to repeat this confirmation process many times until the desired image is obtained. This process is very inefficient in term of time and cost.
Accordingly, an image processing apparatus having a so-called "preview function" in which the edited image is displayed on a display device, such as CRT, instead of printing the edited image on recording paper, has been proposed and manufactured in order to dispense with aforesaid inefficient process.
As a conventional image processing apparatus having the preview function, an apparatus which displays to confirm a read document image on a monochrome liquid crystal display is manufactured. However, if an image processing apparatus can perform full-color image processing, it is impossible to confirm results of color adjustment or color conversion processes on the aforesaid monochrome liquid crystal display. Therefore, an image processing apparatus having a preview function to display the edited image on a full-color display unit has been proposed.
FIGS. 15A to 15C and 15A' to 15C' show relationship between sizes of originals and sizes of images displayed on a display unit of the image processing apparatus having a conventional preview function. More specifically, FIGS. 15A to 15C show originals whose sizes are A3, A4R, and A4, respectively, placed on a platen glass and seen from under it, and FIGS. 15A' to 15C' shows positions and sizes of displayed images, respectively corresponding to FIGS. 15A to 15C, on the display unit. Further, black triangles in FIGS. 15A to 15C indicate the reference positions for placing the originals. Similarly, black triangles in FIGS. 15A' to 15C' indicate the reference positions on the display unit corresponding to the reference position in FIGS. 15A to 15C.
An example of the image, corresponding to an A3-sized original which is the maximum size to be scanned, and displayed on the display, is shown in FIG. 15A'. Regarding A4R- and A4-sized originals, the images corresponding to these originals are displayed on the display unit as respectively shown in FIGS. 15B' and 15C' in the same compression ratio as that of the A3-sized original to the corresponding displayed image. Further, an original is always scanned from the same starting position on the platen glass regardless of the sizes of originals.
In the aforesaid conventional image processing apparatus, an image of an original is displayed on the display unit in the fixed compression ratio regardless of the size of the original, thus, the display unit displays an image of the platen cover in addition to the original image, or a useless blank area, as shown in FIGS. 15B' and 15C', thus the original image can not be displayed efficiently.
Further, in the aforesaid conventional image processing apparatus, the image of the original is not always displayed in the whole area of the display unit. Therefore, it is inconvenient to confirm which position of the recording paper sheet and in what size with respect to the size of the recording paper sheet, the scanned original image will be printed.
Furthermore, since the reference position on the platen glass is at the different corner from that on the display unit, it is difficult to check upper and lower edges and right and left edges of the original image on the platen glass.
Furthermore, in preview display, no matter what size the original is, the display position of the scanned original image on the display unit is fixed. As shown in FIGS. 15A' to 15C', for example, the original image is displayed so that the reference position is always at a corner of the display unit. Accordingly, in a case where an image which is displayed in a very small area on the display unit is to be processed, the image is displayed at a corner of the display unit, which does not provide an attractive view. Further, it is not possible to change the display position of an image on the display unit to the preferable position to the operator.


An electrically assisted bicycle includes a crank shaft, pedals, an electric motor, a pedal effort sensor that detects a pedal effort exerted on the pedals, a propelling detection sensor that detects that the electrically assisted bicycle is starting to be propelled, and a controller that executes a first control in which a command value provided to the electric motor is obtained based on the output of the pedal effort sensor and a second control in which a command value provided to the electric motor is obtained based on the output of the pedal effort sensor and the output of the propelling detection sensor. The controller is configured or programmed to select the first control or the second control as a calculation method of a command value provided to the electric motor during a period of time from a state in which the electrically assisted bicycle is stopped until a detection of the rotation of the crank shaft.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrically assisted bicycle.
2. Description of the Related Art
Electrically assisted bicycles are known from Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication JP-A 2001-122184 and the like in which a motor torque is imparted to assist the pedal effort exerted by a rider. In the electrically assisted bicycle described in Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication JP-A 2001-122184, a plurality of response speeds are set at which an electric driving force is outputted in response to an application of a man-powered driving force, such that the riding comfort is enhanced by switching the response speeds by a switch or according to a mean value of the pedal effort.
Although electrically assisted bicycles are known in which the riding comfort is enhanced as in the electrically assisted bicycle described in Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication JP-A 2001-122184 above, wider output characteristics of an electric motor are desired depending upon situations or preferences of the rider.


A plant growth and care system, wick veins, for all containers, utilizing a multi-treated combination of flat sheets of layered wick materials combined and formulated according to the best knowledge of the horticulture science per species of plant, said treated wicks, coated and veined with preferred plant aids are placed flat out across the bottom of container covering drains, preventing soil leakage, two or more strips for larger containers according to size. Wick veins provide plant food treatment and moisture storage, also dissolution and distribution throughout. They also provide oxidation aeration to condition plant aids and foods. They also furnish adequate drainage to all types of sealed surface containers, glazed, plastic, glass, etc., now known as beautiful but deadly. The above treated wicks are all motivated by the enclosure of plastic tubes and wick cords and strips, providing porous passages between the several flat formula coated wick layers, the plastic tube extends on out above soil to top of container and is pierced at chosen areas in bottom of container to provide complete service throughout. Action is motivated by air pressure through tubes forcing moisture and all types of care and treatment recommended, through the vented tubes, these are spread and resupplied by the treated layers of wick materials covering the bottom and up the sides of container. Surely and timely by air pressure force moving all types of care to all root areas conditioner and mixing all stored foods therein.

An interveinous type of wick vein service core, from my study and patent office search, etc., I believe to be the first professionally directed and prescribed, exactly timed, direct action force controlled, six method treatment system of plant care. The best action care anyone can get for planted beds or each type of container planted with any number of plants, plus attached color key identified wick veins and prescript packet of starter aids.
Life Line wick veins have a several avenue service tube cord enclosed in pressed layers of wick materials or a slip-on layer dome, each layer treated and combined with professionally prescribed plant aids to produce to grow the finest species of any chosen kind or species of plant in any variation of container, with or without drain. Prescripts are identified by color marks on wicks and markings on retail charts. No sweat, no lost time, no study, no search, no dirt, no storage, no mistakes, no worry, no failures, no excess damage, no dull dormant plants.
Wick veins are placed on bottom of container, covered with soil. The ends of tube and wick reaches up ends of container or planting bed to above surface of soil. This provides plant aid placement in wick and container, surface to soil aeration by wick increased by air pressure from tube, a great aid for porous type containers, a must for non porous plastic, glazed, etc., containers.
Excess settled water can be blown out opposite end of tube by pump giving test specimins. By closing end of tube, excess water is evaporated from bottom up through vents and driven out of soil, this also helps moisten leaves. Roots must be watered but not drowned to root rot, they must also be periodically aerated and fertilized with no excess damage.
This is all periodically direct action timed and we know just how long and when they drink, eat, or breath. Six system treatments are soil sweeteners or acidity, periodic aeration, special plant foods, temperature control, soil treatments and conditioners all professionally prescribed, and entered through tubes at pump, timely, accurately, directly force controlled, through tube, through vents out through prescript wick, up through soil to roots, plant-"prescript care". Excess moisture is pushed out through surface of soil, bringing moisture to foliage of plants.


A power efficient direct Tire Pressure Monitoring System, TPMS, for providing a non-continuous tire pressure monitoring of a tire of a vehicle, such as a automobile vehicle, the TPMS comprising:                a processing unit having at least a first operating mode and a second operating mode;        a timing unit;        an acceleration measuring unit;        a comparing unit;        a pressure measuring unit;        a transmitting unit; and,        a power supplying unit for supplying power to the processing unit in the first and second operating modes wherein the latter mode is less power consuming than the former mode, wherein the processing unit is adapted to:                    enter the second operating mode after an acceleration threshold and an operating clock frequency have been set; and,            enter the first operating mode responsive to a first trigger signal.

Driving a vehicle with correctly inflated tires can notably reduce fuel consumption and road safety risks. Indeed, under-inflated tires are more prone to stress damage, have less lateral traction, have a shorter tread life and are more vulnerable to flat fires and blow outs. Furthermore, under-inflated tires can increase the distance required for a vehicle to stop, especially if the surface is wet. In order to tackle this problem, several governments throughout the world have adopted mandatory standards for installing Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS) in vehicles. In fact with a TPMS, the driver of a vehicle is notified when a tire is significantly under-inflated. TPMS are also essential to warn the driver in case of air pressure loss of so-called runflat tires, which are designed to be safely driven while uninflated or underinflated due to a puncture or the like. A direct TPMS is configured to measure the air pressure directly inside the tire. For this, the TPMS needs to be located in the tire, usually attached to the inflation valve of the tire. The TPMS then transmits a signal proportional to the pressure measurement e.g. via RF to a central receiver which is usually mounted under the dashboard of the vehicle. Finally, the central receiver in operation will receive the signal, decode it, analyse it and send the pressure information to the display (e.g. LCD display) viewable by the driver of the vehicle.
In certain implementations of direct TPMS, the link that exists between the TPMS and the central receiver is solely unidirectional. This may be problematic since foregoing TPMS standards prescribe that pressure information from a tire must be measured while the vehicle is in motion. Hence, in case of a unidirectional link, the TPMS cannot be informed about the vehicle being in motion for example by the central receiver. Consequently in such case, the TPMS has to determine by itself that the vehicle is in motion. This is why direct TPMS usually comprise an accelerator sensor in addition to the pressure sensor. In this configuration a TPMS developer, in addition to the program code needed to determine the tire pressure, must write a program code to determine motion by verifying the state of the accelerator sensor at different points in time. TPMS program code development is quite challenging due to the fact that every TPMS operation, such as tire pressure or acceleration determination, must have the lowest power consumption possible since direct TPMS have their own independent power source (e.g. a battery) that cannot be changed once the TPMS is installed in the tire. Therefore, in order to fulfill lifetime requirements, power-hungry operations of the TPMS need to be reduced when possible.

Abstract: A tire, a vehicle and a method are also claimed.


An item of footwear having an interchangeable sole system, midsoles for such an item of footwear, and related methods for making such midsoles, including a receptacle incorporated in the midsole wherein a portion of the receptacle is configured to complement an engageable element of a sole unit so that a bidirectional stop is provided that helps secure the sole unit to the midsole, and wherein a material property of the receptacle differs from a material property of the midsole so that the midsole provides cushioning to the item of footwear, and the receptacle allows for engagement and disengagement of the engageable element of the sole unit to the midsole without the need for an outsole frame.

This invention relates to an interchangeable sole system for an item of footwear (e.g., shoes, boots, sandals, slippers) including a sole that can be quickly and easily replaced with other soles having different types of traction surfaces. In particular, the system includes a removable sole unit that interacts directly with a midsole of the footwear. The midsole includes receptacles adapted to help secure the sole unit to the midsole. The interchangeable sole system allows customization of an item of footwear with respect to traction, cushioning, support, fit, performance and/or aesthetic appearance.
Shoes having replaceable soles are well known and are used in many different applications. Examples of shoes where it is desired to have multiple different traction surfaces available on a single shoe are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,813,847, 7,331,123, 7,520,069, and 7,984,569, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. These shoes typically include a cavity in the sole of the boot and have a sole plate fill this cavity. The cavity is typically formed in an outsole frame that attaches to a midsole. These soles also have complementary pairs of engageable elements, associated with the sole and sole plate, to provide an interference fit that helps secure the sole plate to the sole. These shoes, however, have a distinct outsole frame that guides and holds the sole plate and that is attached to the midsole.
An example of a removable sole member for a sandal is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,442,869. The removable soles are attached to the underside of the upper sole by fasteners, screws, snaps, etc. Another example of interchangeable sole system is described in US 2003/0200675. This system includes a series of core modules, a top foot attaching member, and a bottom sole member. The top and foot members have mating components to interconnect with the core modules.
Shoes with interchangeable sole systems are typically heavier than a conventional shoe and have a bulky look. Accordingly, there is a need for a lighter and aesthetically pleasing sole system with improved performance in a variety of footwear applications.


Carriers for carrying a wheelchair, wheeled mobility device, personal transporter, or the like, are provided. Also, hitch assemblies, which are connected to a vehicle and are used to support these associated carriers, are also provided. One implementation of a carrier for carrying a wheeled mobility device may include an attachment link configured to be connected to a vehicle. The carrier also includes a basket component fixedly connected to the attachment link and further includes an upper bracket. The basket component and the upper bracket, for example, may be configured to support the wheeled mobility device.

On any given day, millions of people in the United States will be using some type of mobility device or walking aid. The need for such devices may be based on a person's physical handicap or disability (e.g., osteoarthritis), may be based on overly long distances that a person may otherwise need to traverse on foot, may be based on age, or may be based on other mobility impairment issues. Although most mobility assistance devices include crutches, canes, and walkers, about a quarter of the mobility assistance devices used in the United States include some type of wheeled device, such as a wheelchair, wheeled walker, or other self-propelled or battery-propelled personal transporter.
Furthermore, many people with mobility issues are sufficiently capable of operating a vehicle, allowing them to drive to a certain destination and then venture to farther places using their mobility assistance device. This offers the person an opportunity to maintain an independent and active lifestyle.
One problem with many wheeled mobility devices, however, is that they can tend to be heavy and/or bulky. Therefore, some vehicles may be equipped with a wheelchair ramp, lift, or other device for helping the person move the wheelchair into the vehicle. However, this equipment can be rather expensive and is not particularly necessary for all users. For most vehicles, which do not have such equipment installed, it can be a problem for someone who already may have physical limitations to lift a wheelchair or other similar device into a trunk of a vehicle, onto a bed of a pickup truck, into a back seat area of a van or minivan, or into any other storage compartment of a vehicle.
Therefore, there is a need for a simple and easy-to-use carrier device that may be used to carry a personal wheeled mobility device (e.g., wheelchair) on a vehicle. There is also a need for a device that can be attached to the vehicle and that can reduce the amount of heavy lifting required by the user to place the wheeled mobility device onto the carrier.

Carrier assembly for a wheeled mobility device


The apparatus for transporting cable sections enables transporting the cable sections cyclically or intermittently along a cable section processing line by means of double grippers which grasp opposite ends of an associated cable section. These double grippers are arranged at a substantially uniform spacing from one another at the outer periphery of a transport element. The double grippers are rotationally mounted perpendicular to the direction of movement of the transport element and perpendicular to the lengthwise axis of the grasped opposite ends of the cable sections. At least at two locations of the transport element there are stationarily arranged gripper actuators for opening each closed double gripper which has been closed under the action of the force of an associated spring, once in order to receive an infed cable section, and once to release the finished-processed cable section. The opposite ends of each engaged cable section are moved past cable work stations and during a work cycle, after having previously centered the related double gripper, processed or fitted with a terminal. By incorporating a pivot device or a rotary device each double gripper together with the grasped cable section, can be latchably rotated about its axis of rotation through predetermined angles.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a new and improved apparatus for transporting cable lengths or sections--also referred to in the art as wire or lead lengths or sections--in a direction substantially perpendicular to the lengthwise axis of such cable lengths or sections.
Generally speaking, the apparatus of the present development for transporting cable lengths or sections is of the type comprising at least one intermittently driven endless transport element or device arranged upon a machine frame. Grippers are arranged at the same spacing in tandem or behind one another at the outer periphery of the transport element. These grippers close due to the force of associated springs and grasp both ends of an associated cable section or length at the region of a deflection location of the transport element or device. These cable sections are delivered by a cable feed or infeed device. During the intermittent revolving motion of the transport element the grippers retain the cable sections, move such past work or processing stations, and at the region of the other deflection location of the transport element the grippers transfer the previously grasped cable sections to a cable processing station, such as a cable deposit structure or receiver or to a further cable fitting installation or station.
2. Discussion of the Background and Material Information
Such cable section transport apparatuses serve to cyclically or intermittently transport electrical cables along a cable processing line from one work or processing station to the next. At the work stations the ends of the cable sections are stripped of their electrical insulation and there is fitted a plugable terminal or electrical connector at the end of the electrical cable and which is preferably fabricated from a stamped or punched sheet metal part.
German Published Patent Application No. 2,622,360, published Dec. 8, 1977 discloses such type cable section transport apparatus, wherein gripper clamp carriages which are articulated to one another are assembled to form an endless articulated or hinge chain. Each gripper clamp carriage comprises four travel rollers riding upon support rails and a gripper clamp pivotally mounted upon bearing bolts. The gripper is retained in a closed position by a compression or pressure spring and a cam and in a open position by control rolls and guide cams. Two such endless articulated chain drives containing a forward feed path, a return path and two deflection locations are arranged in parallelism next to one another upon a machine frame so as to be retractable from one another in such a manner that a respective gripper of each articulated chain drive grasps an end of a cable section and the parallel spacing of both articulated chain drives is accommodated to the length of the cable section which is to be momentarily processed.
Furthermore, at one deflection location the articulated chain drives are provided with a respective toothed double drive wheel or gear arranged at both sides adjacent each chain and which in each case engage with the teeth between the travel rollers of the gripper clamp carriages and drive the articulated chains. A cantilever arm secured to the machine frame merges with the drive wheels. This cantilever arm has upper and lower guide tracks tangentially associated with the drive wheels and receive the travel rollers of the gripper clamp carriages. At the other deflection location there are provided tensionable stationary deflection guide tracks which merge with the upper and lower guide tracks. During a revolving movement the gripper clamps open for a short period of time, once in order to receive a cable section and once for the delivery of the finally processed cable section which has been fitted with terminals or connectors. At all other regions the gripper clamps are closed, and between the time that there is received and the time that there is delivered the cable section these gripper clamps firmly hold in place, through the force of a spring, the ends of each associated cable section to be processed.
A drawback of this cable section transport apparatus resides in the fact that, in particular, the drive wheels, the guide tracks for the travel rollers and the guide cams or curves for opening and closing the gripper clamps are relatively complicated and expensive, and the ends of the cable sections are retained in a rigid holder or support without any possibility of movement. A further drawback will be seen in that, such prior art cable section transport apparatus requires a considerable amount of space and yet there can not be transported and processed cable sections of random length. This is so because the minimum and maximum lengths of the cable sections is dependent upon how close together and how far apart there can be brought both of the justapositioned articulated chain drives.

Apparatus for transporting cable lengths or sections


A self-retaining adjustable diameter bolt assembly including a bolt having a head, a shank, and a threaded end adapted to be inserted into aligned holes in a pair of abutting panels for subsequent coupling to a nut on the blind side of the panels. The bolt includes a pawl engaging one side of the panel in which the bolt is inserted with the head thereof on the opposite side of the panels. A plurality of bushing segments are mounted on the bolt shank, the pawl extending through an opening in the segment adjacent the threaded end of the bolt shank. A nut, having a skirt portion, is threaded onto the threaded end driving the segments forward and filling the spacing between the holes and the bolt shank. The skirt portion of the nut overlies the pawl and protects the same. The nut can be fully torqued to cause complete radial expansion of the bushing segments in the aligned panel holes before bottoming out against the panels.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to self-retaining bolt assemblies; and, more particularly, to an adjustable diameter bolt assembly for use in aircraft and other similar installations.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Self-retaining bolts are well known in the aircraft industry. Such bolts are mounted in one panel and adapted to be selectively coupled to and disengaged from a mating member mounted in an adjacent panel. Such prior art bolts include means thereon for retaining the bolt to the panel in which it is installed so that it can't fall out during vibration or the like even if it is not connected to its mating member and for allowing subsequent easy release therefrom. One type of prior art bolt is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,759,671. In this patent, a self-retaining bolt is disclosed having means for retaining the bolt to the panel in which it is installed without weakening the bolt while permitting easy release therefrom. Such means is easy to manufacture and install, require relatively few working parts and does not require orientation in a fixed direction for assembly.
However, the holes in the panels in which such bolts are installed vary in internal diameter. It is difficult to provide a bolt having a shank diameter that tightly fits in all such panel holes. There is thus a need for filling the spacing between the bolt shank and the hole walls of the panel in which the bolt is installed. Bushing segments are known which are used to fill such spacing, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,192,820 to Pitzer. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,192,820 to Pitzer, there is disclosed a quick release pin having a plurality of male and female rings or bushings which, when compressed axially as a result of a compressive force applied to one end of the bushings, forces the male rings to contract and the female rings to expand to assume a larger diameter. That is, the effective diameter of the quick release pin can be increased after the pin is installed in a hole or opening in an installation. In like manner, the effective diameter of the pin can be reduced (or returned to its original diameter) when it is desired to remove the pin from the installation. There is a need for applying such bushing segments to a self-retaining bolt, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,759,671, while protecting the pawl during the torquing of the bushing segments.