A system and method for providing a magnetoresistive head is disclosed. The method and system include providing a spin valve including a synthetic free layer. The synthetic free layer includes a ferromagnetic layer. The method and system also include providing an antiferromagnetic biasing layer exchange coupled to a first portion of the ferromagnetic layer. The antiferromagnetic biasing layer magnetically biases the synthetic free layer to ensure the single domain structure and reduce noise.

Currently, spin valves are typically used for the magnetoresistive (MR) element in MR read heads. A spin valve includes two magnetic layers, a free layer and a pinned layer. A spin valve also includes a spacer layer and a conventional antiferromagnetic (AFM) layer. The spin valve may also include a capping layer. The free layer and pinned layer are separated by the spacer layer. The magnetic moment of the pinned layer is typically fixed by exchange coupling to the conventional AFM layer. The free layer is typically biased to ensure that the free layer has a single domain structure. The free layer is typically biased using either permanent magnets or antiferromagnets. In order to read data stored on a recording media, the MR head is placed in proximity to the recording media. The magnetic moment of the free layer may change based on the magnetic moment of the bit currently being read. As a result, the resistance of the spin valve changes and the magnetic moment of the bit can be determined.
The current trend in recording technology is toward higher areal densities. As densities increase, the size of each bit is reduced. Therefore, the magnetic moment of each bit diminishes. As the magnetic moment of each bit decreases, the ability of each bit to affect magnetic moment the free layer is reduced. This is because the magnetic moment of the free layer becomes very large compared to the magnetic moment of a bit. Because the bit has less effect on the free layer, the spin valve becomes unable to read efficiently at higher density recording media.
In order to increase the ability of the free layer to read at higher densities, the magnetic moment of the free layer is reduced. If the magnetic moment of the free layer is reduced by decreasing the thickness of the free layer, an increased portion of the resistance of the spin valve is due to scattering at the surfaces of the free layer. This is particularly true when the free layer has a thickness that is less than the mean free path of electrons in the free layer, which is approximately fifty Angstroms. This scattering at the surfaces of the free layer is spin independent and, therefore, reduces the portion of the resistance of the spin valve that is due to magnetoresistance. Decreasing the thickness of the free layer thus reduces the magnetoresistance of the spin valve, which is undesirable.
To avoid this reduction in magnetoresistance, the magnetic moment of the free layer can be reduced by providing a ferrimagnetic synthetic free layer. The synthetic free layer includes two ferromagnetic layers separated by a spacer layer. The distance between the ferromagnetic layers is selected so that the ferromagnetic layers are strongly antiferromagnetically coupled. Furthermore, one ferromagnetic layer has a greater magnetic moment than the other ferromagnetic layer. Thus, although the ferromagnetic layers are antiferromagnetically coupled, the combination has a small magnetic moment. This allows the spin valve having the synthetic free layer to be used in reading higher densities. Furthermore, the thickness of the synthetic free layer can be set so to be longer than the mean free path of elections in the layer. Thus, the symmetric free layer maintains a physical thickness greater than fifty Angstroms, while decreasing the effective magnetic thickness. Scattering at the surfaces of the synthetic free layer does not unduly reduce the magnetoresistance of the spin valve. Thus, the spin valve having the synthetic free layer can be used in reading higher areal density recording media.
Although the spin valve having a synthetic free layer can be used in high density recording applications, the magnetic moment of the synthetic free layer may be unstable. It is desirable for each of the ferromagnetic layers of the synthetic free layer to have a single domain structure. If the ferromagnetic layers in the synthetic free layer have multiple domains, then the walls of the domains will move when the spin valve is used to read data. Domain wall motion is a source of non-repeatable noise. Noise due to domain wall motion can be substantially eliminated if the magnetic layers in the synthetic free layer have a single domain structure.
Typically, permanent magnets are used to magnetically bias a synthetic free layer of a spin valve. However, if permanent magnets are used to bias the synthetic free layer, then the permanent magnets are magnetostatically coupled to both of the ferromagnetic layers in the synthetic free layer. The ferromagnetic layers have opposite directions of magnetization. The ferromagnetic layer having a direction of magnetization that is the same as the permanent magnet may have a single domain structure. However, the permanent magnet may cause domains to be formed in the other ferromagnetic layer. Consequently, permanent magnets do not ensure that both ferromagnetic layers of the synthetic free layer have a single domain structure. Therefore, noise due to domain wall motion is not reduced.
Accordingly, what is needed is a system and method for biasing the synthetic free layer. The present invention addresses such a need.

System for biasing a synthetic free layer in a magnetoresistance sensor


The present invention pertains to modified bradykinin antagonist peptides of the formula X-A.sup.0 -B.sup.1 -C.sup.2 -D.sup.3 -E.sup.4 -F.sup.5 -G.sup.6 -H.sup.7 -J.sup.8 -K.sup.9, where at least one of F.sup.5, H.sup.7 and J.sup.8 is an indane substituted amino acids.

The invention relates to novel biologically active peptides which act as antagonists of the biological activities of bradykinin and its homologs and congeners, the pharmaceutically acceptable salts of these antagonists, and their application as therapeutic agents.
Bradykinin (BK), a nonapeptide (SEQ ID:3) (Arg.sup.1 -Pro.sup.2 -Pro.sup.3 -Gly.sup.4 -Phe.sup.5 -Ser.sup.6 -Pro.sup.7 -Phe.sup.8 -Arg.sup.9) and its physiologically important related peptides, kallidin (Lys-bradykinin) and Met-Lys-bradykinin, exhibit physiological actions which qualify them as mediators of inflammatory reactions, hypotensive states, and pain. Bradykinin is overproduced in pathological conditions such as septic (Robinson et al., Am. J. Med. 59: 61 (1975)) and hemorrhagic (Hirsch et al., J. Surg. Res. 17: 147 (1974)) shock, anaphylaxis (Collier and James, J. Physiol. 160: 15P (1966)) , arthritis (Jasani et al. , Ann. Rheum. Dis. 28: 497 (1969); Hamberg et al., Agents Actions 8: 50( 1978); Sharma et al., Arch. Int. Pharmacodyn. 262: 279 (1983)) , rhinitis (Proud et al., J. Clin. Invest. 72: 1678 (1983); Naclerio et al., Clin. Res. 33: 613A (1985)) , asthma (Christiansen et al., J. Clin. Invest. 79: 188 (1987)), inflammatory bowel disease (Zeitlin and Smith, Gut 14: 133 (1973)), and certain other conditions including acute pancreatitis, post-gastrectomy dumping syndrome, carcinoid syndrome, migraine, and hereditary angioedema (Leme, Handb. Exp. Pharmacol. 50/I: 464 (1978)). The production of bradykinin results in pain at the site of the pathological condition, and the overproduction intensifies the pain directly or via stimulation by bradykinin of the activation of the arachidonic acid pathway which produces prostaglandins and leukotrienes, more distal mediators of inflammation (Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology, Vol. 25, Springer-Verlag (1969), and Vol. 25 Supplement (1979); Stewart, in "Mediators of the Inflammatory Process," Henson and Murphy, eds., Elsevier, (1989)).
Bradykinin has been found to be produced in inflammatory reactions in the intestine, provoking contraction of smooth muscle and secretion of fluid and ions. The existence of specific bradykinin receptors in the mucosal lining of the intestine and in intestinal smooth muscle is demonstrated by Manning et al. (Nature 229: 256 (1982)), showing the influence of bradykinin in very low concentrations upon fluid and ion secretion.
The production of bradykinin and associated pain in angina has been studied and reported (Kimura et al., Amer. Heart J. 85: 635 (1973); Staszewska-Barczak et al., Cardiovasc. Res. 10: 314 (1976)). The reported action of bradykinin and prostaglandins acting in concert are the natural stimulus for excitation of the sensory receptors signalling the pain of myocardial ischemia.
Bradykinin and bradykinin-related kinins are not only produced endogenously, but may also be injected into an animal via stings or bites. It is known that insects such as hornets and wasps inject bradykinin related peptides that cause pain, swelling and inflammation.
Bradykinin and related peptides exert their actions on biological systems by combining with specific receptors on cell membranes in the affected tissues. These receptors are of two classes, designated B1 and B2. The B2 receptors require the entire bradykinin sequence for effective receptor combination and production of the biological effects, whereas the B1 receptors do not respond to intact bradykinin, but respond selectively to bradykinin lacking the carboxy-terminal arginine residue; this peptide is designated [des-Arg.sup.9 ]-bradykinin. [des-Arg.sup.9 ]-Bradykinin is produced in the body by one of the enzymes that normally destroys bradykinin, the plasma enzyme carboxypeptidase N, that removes the carboxy-terminal arginine residue. Essentially all normal physiological responses and many pathophysiological responses to bradykinin are mediated by B2 receptors, whereas in certain damaged tissues and in certain kinds of chronic inflammation, B1 receptors are induced. The currently accepted wisdom is that bradykinin antagonist drugs for treatment of chronic inflammation must have antagonist action at both B1 and B2 receptors.
The search for understanding of the mechanisms of action of bradykinin, which is essential for the development of useful tools for diagnostic use, and for the development of therapeutic agents aimed at alleviating the intense pain and other symptoms caused by the overproduction of bradykinin, was severely hindered by the lack of specific sequence-related competitive antagonists of bradykinin until the discovery of the first effective bradykinin antagonists by Vavrek and Stewart in 1985 (Vavrek et al., Peptides 6:161-164 (1985); U.S. Pat. No. 4,693,993). In these early antagonists, the proline residue at position 7 of bradykinin was replaced by a D-aromatic amino acid residue, usually D-phenylalanine or D-thienylalanine. Subsequently, many modifications of the original bradykinin antagonists have been described (reviewed by J. M. Stewart and R. J. Vavrek in R. M. Burch, ed., "Bradykinin Antagonists," Pergamon, 1990), but most effective antagonists have had an aromatic amino acid residue at positions 5 and 8 and a D-aromatic residue at position 7. In certain antagonists, positions 5, 7, and 8 are occupied by aliphatic amino acid residues (J. M. Stewart, et al. in "Peptides 1992," C. H. Schneider and A. N. Eberle, eds., ESCOM, Leiden, 1993, pp 691-692).
Antagonists for bradykinin B1 receptors are obtained by replacing the phenylalanine residue at position 8 of [des-Arg.sup.9 ]-bradykinin by an aliphatic amino acid, such as leucine. Thus, [Leu.sup.8, des-Arg.sup.9 ]-bradykinin and Lys-[Leu.sup.8, des-Arg.sup.9 ]-bradykinin are effective B1 receptor antagonists. All of the bradykinin antagonists of the type described by Stewart and Vavrek, containing a D-amino acid residue at position 7, act only upon B2 receptors. In certain in vivo assays, some of these early antagonists were shown to act upon both B2 and B1 receptors, but it was demonstrated that those antagonists were substrates for carboxypeptidase N, and that the antagonist action on B1 receptors occurred only after cleavage of the antagonist to the [des-Arg.sup.9 ]analog. Newer, more potent, types of bradykinin antagonists contain residues at position 8 (such as Cpg, Oic) that block the degradative action of carboxypeptidase N; these antagonists have no action at B1 receptors. The present art of bradykinin antagonist peptides has not described any B1 antagonists that possess a carboxy-terminal arginine residue. Certain of the bradykinin antagonists described in this application that do contain the carboxy-terminal arginine residue have been found to possess high antagonist activity at both B1 and B2 receptors. This discovery runs counter to all principles generally accepted in the state of the art of bradykinin antagonists. Notwithstanding prior efforts, there remains a considerable need to provide improved B1 and B2 receptor antagonists. A main object of the present invention is to provide such receptor antagonists which include indaneglycine substituted bradykinin antagonists demonstrating B1 receptor and B2 receptor antagonist activity with high potency and broad specificity of antagonism.

Bradykinin antagonist peptides containing indane-substituted amino acids


A rocker arm shaft retainer includes an elongated contoured sheet-like body having two opposite ends, two opposite sides longer in length than the ends, and a central portion between the sides. A plurality of fingers extend from the central portion towards the sides and each finger has a contoured recess for engaging a rocker shaft. The fingers define slots for receiving rocker arms. The retainer further includes a plurality of thrust faces along edges of the fingers for axial positioning of rocker arms on a rocker shaft. A plurality of bosses are also disposed on the fingers, each of the bosses having a generally flat surface.

It is known in the art relating to internal combustion engines to utilize rocker arm and shaft-type valvetrains. In this type of valvetrain, it is necessary to retain the rocker arm shafts and properly space the rocker arms on the rocker shafts. Several different conventional methods exist to retain the rocker shafts and to maintain rocker spacing. These include using clamping blocks to retain the rocker shafts and spacers to axially position the rocker arms. Other systems use springs to thrust the rocker arms against a machined face on the cylinder head or some secondary casting thereof.
These conventional systems require the use of a multitude of parts for the retention of the rocker arm shafts and the axial positioning of the rocker arms. Further, conventional systems also require additional machining of parts. Machining and the need for multiple parts increases the cost of positioning and retaining the rocker arms and rocker arm shafts and of assembling these components into an engine.


A bag forming apparatus and method with single drive unit operating a drive roller and a cross-cut mechanism with the drive motor assembly being internalized within the drive roller. The apparatus is particularly designed for feeding, solely through use of a full film width contact drive roller, film material derived from a single supply roll of two ply film material. The arrangement avoids tracking problems, as well as any requirement for a supply roll driving, braking and tension monitoring. The supply roll can be laid in position on underlying, passive support rollers prevented from inertia induced over-rolling by a passive friction device which tension in the film material being fed between the single, cylindrical drive roller and an opposing pair of spaced, driven rollers in a pinching relationship with the film material being fed past the drive roller. The apparatus and method features easy slide in, slide out edge sealer and vent hole former inserts that are held by, and move with, the bag width adjustable driven rollers. The edge seal inserts feature a heating element that is compressed against the film material by an internal bias in the edge sealer. The heating element can be a a plug-in heating unit easily inserted and removed from the remainder of the insert. The cross-cut device is swung into a film material pinching position with respect to the drive roller by a drive transmission assembly and, upon return to a stand-by state, the cross-cut device automatically separates the completed bag below and partially completed bag above the cross-cut/seal. The bag forming apparatus of the present invention is particularly well suited for use with a high speed, high volume foam dispenser.

In the packaging industry, a variety of devices have been developed to automatically fabricate foam filled bags for use as protective inserts in packages. Some examples of these foam-in-bag fabrication devices can be seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,376,219; 4,854,109; 4,938,007; 5,139,151; 5,575,435; 5,679,208; and 5,727,370.
In addition to the common occurrence of foam dispenser system lock up or poor mix performance in prior art foam-in-bag systems, the film supply, tracking, sealing and feed components of prior art foam-in-bag systems also represent particular sources of headaches for operators of prior art devices. The headaches include, for example, attempting to understand and operate a highly complicated, multiple component assembly for feeding, sealing, tracking and/or supplying film (often C-fold) to the bag formation area; high breakdown or misadjustment occurrence due to the number of components and complex arrangement of the components; high service requirements (also due in part to the number of components and high complexity of the arrangement in the components); poor quality bag formation, often associated with poor tracking performance, particularly with respect to C-fold film supply systems which have a different type of side edge arrangement (unconnected versus connected edge) that is inherently prone to difficult maintenance of good tracking characteristics; vent hole blockage and/or product contamination from foam exiting the vent(s); and lack of versatility in regard to vent length and vent location.
Another particularly problematic area associated with the prior art foam-in-bag systems lies in the area of heated resistance wire replacement, both in regard to edge sealing and in regard to the cross-cutting/sealing systems. In the prior art systems, there is often required delicate operator manipulation with certain tools to achieve removal and reinsertion of broken, or worn, heated wires (which is a common occurrence in the thin heated resistance wires used in the industry to form the seals).
In addition, prior art systems suffer from other drawbacks, such as relatively slow bag formation and a slow throughput of completed bags which, in some systems, is partially due to a reverse feed requirement to break an upper, not-yet-completely formed bag from a completed bag with one or both adhered by the bond formed between the earlier melted and presently cooled plastic material on the heated cross-cut wire.

Apparatus and method for producing bags and foam-in-bag cushions


An improved apparatus (11) for emitting infrared radiation of a desired wavelength includes a primary surface (35); a burner (24) for raising the temperature of the primary surface so as to cause the primary surface to emit infrared radiation of a first wavelength; a secondary surface (26) surrounding the primary surface in spaced relation thereto and arranged to be heated by infrared radiation emitted by the first surface and for emitting infrared radiation of a second wavelength toward the object; and an actuator (28) for selectively varying the spacing between the primary and secondary surfaces so that infrared radiation emitted by the secondary surface will be at a desired wavelength and will be focused; whereby the apparatus will emit infrared radiation of a desired wavelength toward the object. The improved apparatus may be used in a method of de-icing a portion of an aircraft, which includes the steps of: providing a structure (10) having an infrared heater (23); moving an aircraft relative to the structure to a position adjacent the heater; operating the heater so as to emit radiation toward the object; and controlling the wavelength of radiation emitted by the heater; thereby to melt snow and ice from the aircraft portion.

It is sometimes necessary to de-ice certain portions of an aircraft prior to take-off.
Existing technology in common use today involves the spraying of large quantities of chemicals onto the working surfaces (e.g., wings, rudder, ailerons, flaps, stabilizers, etc.) of the aircraft. These chemicals are normally applied just prior to the aircraft's departure from the boarding gate. Federal requirements dictate a maximum time interval between application of the de-icing spray and take-off. This time interval is usually on the order of from about fifteen to about thirty minutes. Unfortunately, with the traffic jams common at some major airports, the departure interval is often extended beyond that recommended. If this occurs, the plane must sometimes be de-iced a second time before take-off. The desire to maintain established schedules and to minimize costs makes this second step undesirable, even if needed. The presence of ice and snow on airfoil surfaces during take-off has been indicated as the probable cause of many crashes.
The foregoing, when considered along with soon-to-be-enforced stricter environmental regulations concerning the handling, storage, use and collection of oversprayed de-icing chemicals, establishes a present need to find a better way to remove accumulations of ice and snow in preparation for take-off.
Two types of de-icing chemicals are in use today. The United States typically uses Type I, which is a mixture of ethylene glycol or propylene glycol and water. This mixture is heated to about 140.degree.-180.degree. F., and then sprayed on the aircraft. European countries commonly use Type II. This is a blend of glycol and a thickening agent, which creates a thicker jelly-like substance. The Type It mixture does hold longer, but can affect take-off of small aircraft. Hence, it is not recommended for use on aircraft having rotation speeds of less than about 85 knots.
It has been proposed that all U.S. airport de-icing equipment be modified to use European Type II chemicals. However this has shortcomings. Upon information and belief, propylene glycol is considered safe to humans by the Food and Drug Administration, but is harmful to the environment. While not currently regulated by OSHA, it has been reported to cause skin irritation, and is listed as a hazardous air pollutant in the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990. Ethylene glycol is poisonous to humans, and is regulated by OSHA because of a risk of throat and respiratory tract irritation. The Water Quality Act of 1987 prohibits the discharge of polluted water into navigable waters and regulations have been promulgated to prevent airports from dumping or discharging glycol-contaminated storm water run-off into rivers and sewer systems.
Accordingly, there is believed to be a clear and present need for an improved method of, and apparatus for, de-icing portions of an aircraft without the need of such de-icing chemicals.

Method of, and apparatus for, de-icing an aircraft by infrared radiation


Disclosed herein is a stabilizer mixture for modifying an olefin-based polymer, which comprises at least one organic phosphorus-containing antioxidant represented by a formula selected from the group consisting of formulae (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), and (8), as well as at least one sulfur-containing carboxylate salt represented by a formula selected from the group consisting of formulae (9), (10), (11), and (12). Also disclosed herein is a modified polymer composition prepared from an olefin-based polymer using the stabilizer mixture. The olefin-based polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyolefin, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, and a combination thereof.

Olefin-based polymers, such as polyolefins and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, are widely used for making various products, because they have good chemical stability, mechanical strength, electrical insulating ability, and dimensional stability and they are non-toxic and easily processable. However, olefin-based polymers have defects, such as susceptibility to discoloration (for example, yellowing) and reduced mechanical properties, due to oxidative degradation caused by heat, light, and oxygen.
It is well-known that an antioxidant may be used in a process for manufacturing a molding product from an olefin-based polymer to prevent the olefin-based polymer from oxidative degradation so as to enhance the mechanical property and thermal resistance of the olefin-based polymer. However, use of antioxidants might result in coloration and reduced processing stability of olefin-based polymers. In addition, an anti-acid agent may be used in a process for manufacturing a molding product from an olefin-based polymer to inhibit the degradation of the olefin-based polymer by an acidic substance. Nevertheless, anti-acid agents might result in coloration and reduced processing stability of olefin-based polymers.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Modified polymer composition and stabilizer mixture for making the same


The card edge connector (1) comprises an insulative housing (2) with a number of terminals (3) retained therein, and a pair of ejector mechanisms (4) pivotally attached to opposite ends of the housing. Each ejector mechanism includes a body portion (40), an abutment (42) and a handle (45). The body portion defines a channel (46) between the abutment and the handle. The channel comprises an upper channel (460) and a lower channel (462). The lower channel has a smaller width than that of the upper channel.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a card edge connector, and particularly to a card edge connector having ejector mechanisms for ejection of an inserted card therefrom.
2. Description of Related Art
Card edge connectors are used in computers and other electronic devices for establishing an electrical connection between a main printed circuit board (usually called a mother board) and a card (usually called a daughter board). Referring to FIG. 4, a conventional card edge connector 1xe2x80x2 comprises an insulative housing 2xe2x80x2, a plurality of terminals 3xe2x80x2 retained in the housing 2xe2x80x2 for electrically connecting with a card 5xe2x80x2, and a pair of ejector mechanisms 4xe2x80x2 pivotally attached to opposite ends of the housing 2xe2x80x2 for ejection of the card 5xe2x80x2 from the connector 1xe2x80x2. Each ejector mechanism 4xe2x80x2 includes a body portion 40xe2x80x2, an abutment 42xe2x80x2 at one end of the body portion 40xe2x80x2, and a handle 45xe2x80x2 at an opposite end of the body portion 40xe2x80x2. The body portion 40xe2x80x2 has a pair of pivots 400xe2x80x2 formed on opposite sides thereof for engaging with a corresponding pair of holes 212xe2x80x2 defined in the housing 2xe2x80x2. The body portion 40xe2x80x2 also defines a channel 46xe2x80x2 having a certain wide width for providing sufficient flexibility to facilitate mounting of the ejector mechanism 4xe2x80x2 to the housing 2xe2x80x2. The channel 46xe2x80x2 is equal in width along a longitudinal axis thereof. To eject the card 5xe2x80x2 from the connector 1xe2x80x2, an external force is exerted on the handles 45xe2x80x2 to rotate outwardly the ejector mechanisms 4xe2x80x2 about the pivots 400xe2x80x2. During the rotation of the ejector mechanisms 4xe2x80x2, the abutments 42xe2x80x2 push the card 5xe2x80x2 to move upwardly until the card 5xe2x80x2 is completely ejected from the terminals 3xe2x80x2 of the connector 1xe2x80x2.
However, the abutment-to-pivot distance is smaller than the handle-to-pivot distance, which results in a relatively small moment arm. According to the principle of leverage, the smaller the moment arm is, the larger the force is. Therefore, when ejecting the card 5xe2x80x2 from the connector 1xe2x80x2, a relatively large force is applied to a lower body portion located between the pivot 400xe2x80x2 and the abutment 42xe2x80x2. Because the width of the channel 46xe2x80x2 is large, the mechanical strength of the lower body portion is weak due to its reduced thickness. As a result, the lower body portion of the ejector mechanism 4xe2x80x2 is easy to be broken during the process of ejecting the card 5xe2x80x2.
Hence, a card edge connector with improved ejector mechanisms is required to overcome the disadvantages of the related art.
Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to provide a card edge connector having improved ejector mechanisms, the ejector mechanism having large mechanical strength for preventing breakage.
In order to achieve the object set forth, a card edge connector in accordance with the present invention comprises an insulative housing defining a slot for receiving a daughter board therein and a plurality of terminal-receiving passageways each in communication with the slot, a plurality of terminals received in the passageways each including a mating portion extending into the slot for electrical connection with the daughter board and a tail portion extending beyond a mounting face of the housing for electrical connection with a motherboard, and a pair of ejector mechanisms pivotally, attached to the housing. Each ejector mechanism includes a body portion, a handle at one end of the body portion, and an abutment at an opposite end of the body portion. The body portion defines a channel between the handle and the abutment to divide the body portion into a first and a second body portions. A lower section of each of the first body portion and the second body portion has a larger thickness than that of an upper section thereof.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Card edge connector with improved ejector mechanism


A PrintTicket does not necessarily exist in each page of an XPS document. Regarding a page where no PrintTicket exists, the page is printed by referring to a PrintTicket in a higher hierarchical level. Here, when a plurality of XPS documents are combined, a user's intended print result may not be obtained when the PrintTicket in the higher hierarchical level to which the page refers changes before and after combining. Before a combining process is executed, print setting information of a page element is generated based on print setting information of an element in a higher hierarchical level than the page hierarchical level. A combined document is generated by combining a structured document including a page element to which the generated print setting information is added and another structured document including a page element to which the generated print setting information is added.

Technical Field
The present invention relates to a method of combining a plurality of structured documents.
Background Art
Hitherto, at the time of performing printing, duplex printing, layout printing (also called N-up printing) for printing a plurality of pages on a face of a single sheet, or the like has been set as print setting information for saving paper and ink.
However, these items of print setting information are not set over a plurality of print jobs. Therefore, when a plurality of print jobs are generated while designating, for example, duplex printing of a plurality of documents with odd pages, the back face of the last page of a printed matter of each print job becomes a blank page. Thus, there is an issue such that sheet saving cannot be efficiently realized.
In response to this issue, the technique of combining a plurality of print jobs and handling the combined print jobs as a single print job is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-243463. A plurality of print jobs are combined to generate a single combined print job, and duplex printing is set for this combined print job. As a result, for example, when the last page of the first print job included in the combined print job is arranged on the front face of a sheet, the first page of the second print job included in the combined print job can be arranged on the back face of the same sheet.
Also, a printing system different from conventional printing systems has been appearing in recent years. In this new printing system, the XPS format, instead of the conventional EMF format (Enhanced Meta File), is used as a data format stored in a spool file. XPS, which will be described later using FIG. 1, is an electronic document format that is an open standard developed by Microsoft. XPS can have a PrintTicket, which is XML data describing print setting information, for each element such as a page.

Document processing apparatus, control method, and storage medium


Dimercapto-substituted dinitriles are prepared which correspond to the formula: ##STR1## wherein X represents: ##STR2## These compounds have been found to exhibit antimicrobial activity in industrial and commercial applications and compositions containing these compounds are so employed.

This invention pertains to the use of dimercapto-substituted dinitrile compounds as antimicrobials agents.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,533,233 discloses the preparation of compounds of the formula: ##STR3## wherein R in an alkyl or aralkyl group. These compounds are disclosed as being useful as intermediates for the production of organic compounds of commercial utility. U.S. Pat. No. 3,776,891 discloses the preparation of compounds of the formula: EQU (CN).sub.2 C.dbd.C(S-A-NRR.sub.1).sub.2
wherein A represents a straight- or branched-chain alkylene of 2-4 carbon atoms and R and R.sub.1 independently represent lower alkyl, aralkyl or cycloalkyl. These compounds are disclosed as being useful as accelerators for the vulcanization of rubber.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,087,451 discloses the preparation of compounds of the formula: ##STR4## wherein X represents chlorine, bromine or iodine, and R' and R" may be the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and acyclic hydrocarbon monovalent radicals having 1-8 carbon atoms. These compounds are disclosed as being useful as antimicrobials.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,389,400 discloses the preparation of compounds of the formula: ##STR5## wherein X represents chlorine, bromine or iodine, and R' and R" may be the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and acyclic hydrocarbon monovalent radicals having 1-8 carbon atoms. These compounds are disclosed as being useful as antimicrobials.
The desirability of identifying or discovering new antimicrobial agents is widely recognized. New antimicrobial agents are desired for several reasons: these include, but are not limited to, responding to the problem created by the development of microbe strains resistant to known antimicrobials, the occurrence of undesirable interactions of certain known antimicrobials with the medium or product in which the antimicrobial is used, and high toxicity of certain known antimicrobials to certain non-target organisms such as mammals.
The present invention solves these problems by disclosing new compounds which may be employed as an antimicrobial.

Composition and use of dimercapto-substituted dinitriles as an antimicrobial


A group of identical bezel plates having bilateral symmetry interchangeable, in a compound bezel assembly, with at least one other group of identical bezel plates having bilateral symmetry to produce multiple, bilaterally symmetrical, compound bezel configurations with different appearances using a minimal number of component plates; and method and apparatus for providing a venting bezel assembly with a plenum chamber formed between component plates.

The present invention relates generally to the production of bezel assemblies and, more particularly, to the cost effective production of multiple bezel assemblies with different appearances through the use of interchangeable component plates.
Many devices used in the computer, telecommunications, electronics and other industries are mounted in sheet metal housings which are in turn mounted in a vertical rack assembly. Rack mounts have long been used in electronics instrumentation applications to mount housings containing various instruments such as voltmeters, signal generators, oscilloscopes, and power supplies. The telecommunications and networking industry often mount switching assemblies and other components in rack mounted housings. Examples of rack mounted housings applications in the home electronics industry include stereo components and home entertainment center audio and video components. In the computer industry computers and computer peripherals including mass storage devices such as tapes, optical disks, CD-ROMs, DVDs are provided in rack mounted sheet metal housings. Sheet metal housings are also used to house peripheral devices such as DVD drives which are fixedly or removable mounted in bays within a larger computer housing.
In rack mounted housings, and some other types of housings as well, an assembly known as a xe2x80x9cbezel assemblyxe2x80x9d or simply xe2x80x9cbezelxe2x80x9d is attached to the front face of the housing. In some cases the bezel has no function other than to provide a xe2x80x9cfinishedxe2x80x9d appearance to the portion of the housing which is visible to users. In other cases the bezel may contain an opening, such as for insertion or removal of media, control knobs or buttons, viewable displays or other functional features. However even with such functional bezels, the appearance of the bezel is usually considered very important to the organization which markets the associated product. In many cases the bezel is the only feature of the product which the end user actually sees.
In many industries one company, generally referred to as an xe2x80x9coriginal equipment manufacturerxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cOEMxe2x80x9d, manufactures a particular product which it sells to other companies. Each of these other companies subsequently sells the product under its own trademark or brand name, either to distributors or directly to end users. In such cases the company selling to the distributors/end users may require the OEM to provide visual marking that identifies the product with the company selling to distributors/end users. For products sold in housings, this identifying visual marking is often provided by customizing the housing""s bezel. However, producing customized bezels for its different customers typically significantly increase an OEM""s manufacturing costs. If the OEM simply sells the same identical product to each of its customers it is able to maintain relatively low production costs since the same machinery, tooling and production steps may be used for producing all of the products. If the OEM produces a customized bezel for each of its customers, separate bezel tooling must be created for each customer and, depending upon the bezels, special assembly techniques and/or components may be required as well.
It would be generally desirable to provide a bezel assembly of a type which may be efficiently and inexpensively produced in a plurality of different configurations, each having a unique appearance.
The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for producing multiple bezel assemblies having different appearances.
Thus the invention may comprise a bezel assembly for a modular rack mounted device comprising a unitary central plate having a central longitudinal plane extending parallel to its lateral side face portions. The central plate is symmetrical about the central longitudinal plane. The bezel assembly includes a first side plate having a central longitudinal plane extending parallel to its lateral side face portions, and having a central lateral plane extending parallel to its top and bottom face portions. The first side plate is bilaterally symmetrical about at least one of the central planes thereof and is disposed with one of the lateral side face portions thereof in adjacent relationship with a first lateral side face portion of the central plate. The bezel assembly includes a second side plate identical to the first side plate having a central longitudinal plane extending parallel to its lateral side face portions, and having a central lateral plane extending parallel to its top and bottom face portions. The second side plate is bilaterally symmetrical about at least one of the central planes thereof and is disposed with one of the lateral side face portions thereof in adjacent relationship with the second lateral side face portion of a central plate.
The invention may also comprise a method of producing housing assemblies including:
a) providing a plurality of identical housing frames;
b) providing a plurality of identical central bezel plates each being bilaterally symmetrical about a plane of symmetry;
c) providing a plurality of first identical side plates, each having a front face portion with a first front surface configuration, first and second parallel lateral side face portions and each being bilaterally symmetrical about a plane of symmetry;
d) providing one or more other sets of identical side plates including at least a plurality of second identical side plates, each having a front surface configuration different from said the front surface configuration of the first side plates and each being bilaterally symmetrical about a plane of symmetry;
e) mounting pairs of the plurality of identical first side plates on individual ones of the plurality of identical housing frames with one of the identical central plates disposed between each of the pairs of first side plates in a plate arrangement which is bilaterally symmetrical about the plane of symmetry of the central plate to provide a plurality of housing assemblies having a first bezel configuration;
f) mounting pairs of the plurality of identical second side plates on individual ones of the plurality of identical housing frames with one of the identical central plates disposed between each of the pairs of second side plates in a plate arrangement which is bilaterally symmetrical about the plane of symmetry of the central plate to provide a plurality of housing assemblies having a second bezel configuration.
The invention may also comprise a bezel assembly including a first plate and a second plate each having at least one vent passage extending therethrough. The second plate is mountable in overlying peripherally abutting relationship with the first plate with at least one interior portion thereof positioned in spaced relationship with an oppositely positioned portion of the first plate. A plenum chamber is formed between the first and second plates with the vent passages in the first and second plates being in fluid communication with the plenum chamber. The plenum chamber obviates aligning the vent passages of the two plates to pass air through the two plate assembly.

Hewlett Packard Development Company, L.P.


A method is applied to a system including a host cluster and at least one pair of storage arrays. The host cluster includes a quorum host, the quorum host includes a quorum unit, and the quorum host is an application host having a quorum function. A pair of storage arrays includes a first storage array and a second storage array. The quorum host receives a quorum request, temporarily stops delivering a service to the first storage array and the second storage array, determines, from the first storage array and the second storage array, which is a quorum winning storage array and which is a quorum losing storage array according to logic judgment, stops the service with the quorum losing storage array, sends quorum winning information to the quorum winning storage array, and resumes the delivered service between the host cluster and the quorum winning storage array.

AA is mainly applied to redundancy and backup of data in an AA cluster system. The AA cluster system includes a host cluster, several storage arrays, and a quorum server. For example, the several storage arrays include a storage array A and a storage array B. When the AA cluster system normally runs, the host cluster may deliver read/write services both to the storage array A and the storage array B. When the host cluster needs to deliver a write service to the storage array A, a host in the cluster system first delivers write data to the storage array A, and then the storage array A writes the delivered data both to the storage array A and the storage array B. After the data write to both the storage array A and the storage array B is completed, the storage array A returns data write completion to the host. A data write process of the host cluster on the storage array B is similar to the foregoing basic procedure. When split-brain occurs in the storage array A and the storage array B, that is, a communication fault occurs between the storage array A and the storage array B, one storage array in the AA cluster system may automatically take over the service to avoid service downtime and a data loss. For example, the host delivers data to the storage array A, a communication fault occurs between the storage array A and the storage array B, and the storage array A and the storage array B separately initiate a quorum request to the quorum server after the fault is detected. The quorum server determines, according to logic judgment to enable the storage array A to take over the service, and returns quorum results in response to the storage array A and the storage array B. Although it is determined that the storage array A takes over the service, the data delivered by the host to the storage array A is not synchronized to the storage array B because of the fault between the storage array A and the storage array B. If the storage array B is not disconnected from the host when the storage array A takes over the service, data that is read by the host from the storage array B is erroneous data, resulting in input/output (I/O) fencing. In other approaches, to ensure data consistency between the storage array A and the storage array B, an agreement is made between the storage array A and the storage array B using software, and it is required that the storage array B should stop the service before the storage array A unilaterally provides a service. For example, it is agreed that, when detecting that the storage array B cannot perform communication, the storage array A can receive the service only after 10 seconds to ensure that the storage array B has stopped the service before the storage array A unilaterally provides a service.
In the other approaches, there are at least the following problems. In the other approaches, there is a strict requirement on a time sequence of the storage array A and the storage array B. However, during actual running of the storage arrays, there are some uncontrollable factors. For example, the storage array B cannot stop the service in time because of excessive system central processing unit (CPU) usage, a network latency, or the like. As a result, out-of-order of a time sequence and data inconsistency between the storage arrays occur, causing I/O fencing.

Method and apparatus for redundancy in active-active cluster system


Apparatus and a method forming a container having a base member with opposed walls and an interior that is capable of storing items below a top plate member for supporting objects exterior to the container; with the top plate member extending into grooves of the opposed walls and being slidable on rollers, with respect to the base member without disturbance to any objects supported thereon, to expose and allow access to the interior. The top plate member can form a plurality of separate sections that are moveable away from each other.

This invention relates to containers, and more particularly to containers that can serve as furniture.
Containers are is characterized by having a movable member that allows access to an interior compartment for storage. Some containers have a slab-like top that can be opened. When such a container is closed, the slab-like top can be used to support objects that are removed when the container is to be opened.
Some containers with slab-like tops are supported by legs, and form container tables. Various kinds of container tables have been developed for many different uses. Examples include breakfast, bedside and card container tables; coffee, console, concertina (folding), dining, dressing, library (writing), side (dessert), sofa (lamp) and tea container tables.
When the legs of such tables are removed, they serve as storage chests.
Small, rudimentary containers, constructed of metal or wood, were known to the earliest recorded civilization of the Sumerians in the area of what is now know as Iraq. The culture of the Sumerians passed to the Babylonians and then to the Assyrians. Subsequently the Egyptians were exposed to this culture and produced small containers of fine workmanship with graceful designs and slab-like tops.
The Greeks inherited the Egyptian civilization and developed further forms of containers with slab-like tops. The supporting structure for the slab-like tops was architectural in character and of considerable variety, beautifully proportioned and fashioned from marble, metals, and inlaid woods. These materials were frequently decorated with relief carvings and paintings with ornamental motifs borrowed from architectural forms.
The Romans next brought container construction to an even greater degree of development in marble and metals, as shown by examples found at excavations at Pompeii and Herculaneum. In addition to simple containers entirely of metal or wood, there are ornamented examples that are delicately carved and inlaid with ivory and precious metals. Where the containers are provided with legs, they are formed with sphinxes, wings of griffins, fluted columns, or carved to resemble the legs of rams or lions.
Since it was the Roman custom to recline at dining, rather than sit in Greek fashion, many Roman tables also served as containers, with a low height. But because of their expense, tables in ancient times were owned only by the rich.
In the Middle Ages and Renaissance containers became primitive, although there were circular, oval, and oblong examples. Generally, the containers has flat-board tops covered with a tablecloths that could extend to the floor.
Virtually all containers of the Gothic period were of oak, massive in proportions and sturdily built. Their ornamentation was almost entirely of small-scale carved architectural motifs, such as tracery, pointed arches, and finials on sides supporting slab-like tops.
During the Italian Renaissance containers were made in all sizes, generally in rectangular form, with flat tops made of single planks of walnut. Small containers frequently had flat, hexagonal and octagonal tops.
In Spain, containers between 1500 to 1650 were of Italian design, with tops having plain, square-cut edges.
In the 16th century some containers became jointed or framed together as permanent items of furniture, and were known as xe2x80x9cjoynedxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cframedxe2x80x9d containers, generally of oak.
Elizabethan containers in England had the merit of extreme solidity. Storage containers were strongly constructed of stout timbers and slabs of oak joined with wooden pegs. Nails were not used to avoid corrosion from rust. The style remained unchanged for a century boards joined to form flat, slab-like tops.
By the Restoration in England in 1660, the small walnut storage container had developed into forms of varying sizes and shapes, including those with a hinged top.
From the 17th to 19th Centuries, beginning during the reign of Louis XIV from 1643-1715, French taste became the standard of excellence in Europe. Containers with flat marble tops were extravagantly gilded, inlaid with tortoise shell, metals, and rare woods. In England, containers in solid silver were produced during the reign of Charles II from 1660-1685, and for Versailles during the reign of Louis XIV.
Mahogany came into general use during the 18th century, and a wide variety of xe2x80x9coccasionalxe2x80x9d storage tables were developed for such refinements in living as tea drinking and gaming. Examples include the card table, tea table and bedside table, as free adaptations of earlier models in walnut.
In addition there were two types of dressing table for storage: the poudreuse, at which the hair was powdered, and the coiffeuse, at which the hair was dressed. Both the poudreuse and coiffeuse had hinged flat tops with a mirror fitted beneath, but in the coiffeuse the mirror was flanked with containers for various cosmetics.
As the 18th century proceeded, dressing tables grew increasingly elaborate, being fitted with bookrests, for letter writing, for use in bed and even for use in dining. In England, the master furniture maker, Thomas Chippendale (about 1718 to 1779), introduced tea tables with open fretwork galleries and designs taken from Gothic and Chinese sources. Near the end of the 18th century designs in mahogany were superseded by the highly elaborate designs of George Hepplewhite and Thomas Sheraton in satinwood and rosewood. Their designs had flat, marble tops.
In the 19th century mahogany tables developed in England in Regency style, and in France in Empire style had turning legs and brass mountings, as precursors of the later Victorian and Restoration styles.
In the 20th century table storage furniture continues to be characterized by having a flat, slab-like top. Various kinds of storage containers and storage tables have been developed for different uses.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to increase the facility with which containers and storage table can be used, while provide both novel aesthetic appeal and utility.
Another object of the invention is to achieve a new style of container furniture which is easy and economical to manufacture.
A further object of the invention is to present a novel style in containers generally and container furniture in particular.
In accomplishing the foregoing and related objects, the invention provides a container formed by a base member having an interior that is capable of storing items and a top member that is capable of supporting objects that are exterior to the container, with the top member being slidable with respect to the base member, without disturbance to any objects supported thereon. The slide movement of the top member exposes the interior thereof and allow access thereto.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the container has a base member that is proportioned to slidably receive the top member, and includes opposing walls which are adapted to slidably receive the top member.
The base member can be a quadrilateral with opposed walls, and the top member is slidably receivable within grooves of the opposed walls. A support can adjoin each of the grooves for supporting the top member. The support can include rollers for promoting the slidable movement of the top member.
The top member can be a unitary or composite structure and be formed from a plurality of separate sections, which can be oppositely slidable to expose the interior of the base member.
In a method of the invention for fabricating a container having an exterior and interior storage capability, the steps include (a) providing a base for the interior storage of items; and (b) slidably affixing to the base a support member for the exterior storage of items; whereby access to interior storage can be made by slidably moving the support member without disturbing any items supported thereby.
The method can include the step of fabricating a container wherein the base member is a quadrilateral with pairs of opposing walls, and the support member is planar and slidably receivable by the quadrilateral, which includes wall supports for said planar support member.
The quadrilateral can include wall-mounted rollers to facilitate the slidable movement of the support member.
In a method of the invention for storing items interiorly and exteriorly, the steps include (a) placing items for storage within a container; and (b) placing other items upon a slidable cover of the container; whereby there can be access to the interior of the container without disturbance to the other items by the slidable movement of the cover.
The other items can be positioned on a planar top member that serves as a slidable cover for the container, which can have quadrilateral walls by which the cover is slidably received.
In the method of of the invention for storing items, the cover can serve as the complete closure for the container, which can include rollers to facilitate the movement thereof from one position to another.
The slidable cover can have a plurality of sections which are slidably moveable away from one another to expose the interior of the container.


A hand held device for aligning and supporting a lug nut tool having a socket on one end of an extended arm when rotating lug nuts on a vehicle wheel. The device is a lug nut tool support having a plurality of cylindrical through openings in an elongated main element positioned so that the plurality of cylindrical through openings is generally facing the vehicle wheel, with each opening providing a different elevation to align and support the lug nut tool when rotating the lug nuts during vehicle maintenance operations. An anchoring means may be added to each end of the tool support to reduce the likelihood of the tool support sliding on slippery surfaces. The cylindrical through openings are sized to allow any socket of the lug nut tool to pass through the cylindrical through openings and reduce the likelihood of the tool binding in the tool support.

This invention is of a lug nut tool support and more particularly to a tool support for the support and alignment of a lug nut tool when removing lugs nuts from a wheel of a vehicle on a variety of surfaces as is explained more fully hereinafter. The present invention is readily usable with a lug nut tool comprising a socket fitting the lug nuts on an extended arm, including the "L" shaped lug nut tool issued with many new vehicles and a standard 4-way lug nut tool found in many auto centers and department stores. Many people have difficulty loosening and tightening lugs nuts when removing or replacing the lug nuts on a wheel when rotating tires or when there has been a flat tire. Since flat tires can occur anywhere from generally level paved parking areas to unlevel surfaces, and on surfaces of varying compositions (e.g., concrete, asphalt, mud, grass, ice), the invention is a single unit hand held device that is compact and designed to be easily employed on varying surfaces and inclines without any additional assembly requirements. The tool support provides stability for the lug nut tool and allows the operator to more safely remove and replace the lug nuts. A second embodiment of the invention has a means of engaging the operational surface, an anchoring means, reducing the likelihood of the tool support sliding on slippery surfaces. This invention is a lug nut tool support with numerous cylindrical through openings at varying heights that provide a means to align an arm of the lug nut tool having a socket compatible with a lug nut being removed and provide a support surface when applying the torque to manipulate the lug nut tool. A number of prior art devices demonstrate the need for support of lug nut tools when applying torque to rotate the lug nut. U.S. Pat. No. 6,662,692B2 presents a lug wrench support with a sliding panel having apertures configured in the lug nut pattern of the wheel and two legs with a small footprint contacting an operational surface, such as the ground. The invention requires some manipulation and preassembly of pins to hold the panel at the required height. Additionally, when the lug wrench (i.e. lug nut tool) is positioned and a force applied to turn the lug nuts, the smaller surface area contacting the operational surface by the two legs will transmit a greater force per square inch to the operational surface than a larger surface area provided by the present invention. This greater force per square inch will result in a greater likelihood that lug wrench support will unintentionally sink into soft surfaces. Additionally, the small surface area of each leg contacting the operational surface increases the likelihood that the lug wrench support will cant on pitted surfaces, making the pattern of apertures difficult to align with the vehicle wheel lug nuts. The present invention provides an elongated larger surface area contacting the operational surface that will bridge across small pits and irregular areas, and reduce the pressure on softer surfaces providing increased stability. Also, the plurality of apertures of U.S. Pat. No. 6,662,692B2 that provide bearing support for the lug nut tool is in a pattern designed for the particular lug nut configuration of the vehicle wheels. When the lug nuts on the wheel are not oriented correctly to align with the pattern on the tool support, the wheel must be rotated to the correct position for the lug nut arrangement on the vehicle wheel to fit the pattern. The wheel will then most likely have to be held stationary to prevent the wheel from turning while rotating the lug nut. Depending on the method used to hold the wheel in a stationary position, the tool support panel may require another adjustment. The present invention requires no mechanical adjustments or preassembly due to numerous cylindrical through openings at varying heights. The best cylindrical through opening to support the lug nut tool's rotation of a particular lug nut is readily apparent after positioning the present invention so that the cylindrical through openings are facing the wheel. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,620,462, 4,625,600, 5,018,413, 5,263,392, 5,613,411, and 6,769,333B2 are additional examples of lug nut tool support devices. The present invention provides one or more advantages over each of these inventions. U.S. Pat. No. 5,018,413, U.S. Pat. No. 5,613,411, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,620,462 are not usable with an "L" shaped lug nut tool issued with most autos. U.S. Pat. No. 5,018,413, U.S. Pat. No. 4,625,600, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,263,392 may be difficult to align on unlevel or sloping terrain. The lug nut tool in U.S. Pat. No. 5,018,413, U.S. Pat. No. 4,620,462, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,625,600 may be subject to binding in the support on uneven or sloping terrain. The inventions described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,018,413 and 4,620,462 are likely more difficult to store in a vehicle than the present invention. U.S. Pat. No. 6,769,333B2, U.S. Pat. No. 4,625,600, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,263,392 may allow the lug nut tool to slip out of the tool support slot when applying torques to rotate the lug nut. U.S. Pat. No. 5,613,411 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,263,392 require some pre-assembly and a mechanical adjustment for each lug nut. The second embodiment of the present invention with an anchoring means reduces the likelihood of sliding on slippery surfaces. U.S. Pat. No. 5,018,413, U.S. Pat. No. 4,620,462, U.S. Pat. No. 6,769,333B2, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,625,600 make no provisions for slippery surfaces.


A moving device includes a rotary member rotatably supported by a frame of the image forming apparatus to move a latent image forming device between a first position at which the latent image forming device forms a latent image on a latent image bearing member and a second position at which the latent image forming device is separated from the latent image bearing member, a biasing member for biasing the rotary member, and a restriction member for restricting rotation of the rotary member in a state in which the latent image forming device is at the first position. A direction of the force of the biasing member is changed from a stopping direction in which rotation of the rotary member is stopped to a direction opposite the stopping direction while the rotary member is rotated to move the latent image forming device from the second position to the first position.

1. Technical Field
Exemplary aspects of the present invention generally relate to a moving device and an image forming apparatus including the moving device.
2. Related Art
Conventionally, known image forming apparatuses employ an optical writing head including a plurality of light emitting elements arranged in an axial direction of a photosensitive member on which a latent image is formed.
Image forming apparatuses of this kind include a type equipped with a moving device that moves the optical writing head between an engaged position at which the optical writing head writes the latent image on the surface of the photosensitive member and a retracted position. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating such a moving device 250, located near a writing head 231. FIG. 10 is a top view of the moving device 250 shown in FIG. 9.
The writing head 231 shown in FIG. 9 is held by a holder 233. The holder 233 includes a guide rod 236 that penetrates through a frame 240 of the image forming apparatus. A spring seat 242 is provided to an end of the guide rod 236, and a compression spring 243 is disposed between the spring seat 242 and the frame 240.
As illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, the moving device 250 includes a pair of pressing levers 245, a lever 248, an arm 251, a rib 262, and so forth. The pair of pressing levers 245 is fixed to a shaft 246 at a predetermined interval. The shaft 246 is rotatably supported by a pair of brackets 247 disposed on the upper surface of the frame 240. The lever 248 is fixed substantially at the center of the shaft 246. One end of a wire 249 is connected to the lever 248. The other end of the wire 249 is fixed to an end of the arm 251, which is swingably attached to the front side (the lower side in FIG. 10) of the frame 240. The other end of the arm 251 is biased by a coil spring 249B in the direction indicated by an arrow D. The rib 262 is disposed on the inner surface of an openably closable front cover 260. The front cover 260 is attached to the front side of the frame by a hinge 261.
With the front cover 260 closed, the rib 262 presses the end of the arm 251 in the direction indicated by an arrow A while the pair of the pressing levers 245 presses the spring seat 242 against the compression spring 243, thereby pressing the holder 233 against a photosensitive member 211. With this configuration, the writing head 231 is positioned at the engaged position.
Upon replacement of the photosensitive drum 211, the front cover 260 is opened, moving the rib 262 in the opposite direction of the direction of arrow A in FIG. 10. Subsequently, the coil spring 249B and the compression spring 243 cause the arm 251 to rotate in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 10, and the wire 249 moves in the direction of arrow C. As the wire 249 moves in the direction of arrow C, the shaft 246 rotates in the direction of arrow E, thereby rotating the pressing levers 245 in the direction of arrow G in FIG. 9. With this configuration, the holder 233 is moved in the direction of arrow H by the compression spring 243, thereby moving the writing head 231 from the engaged position to a retracted position at which the writing head 231 is separated from the photosensitive member 211.
As the front cover 260 is completely opened, the pressing lever 245 is separated from the spring seat 242 as indicated by a broken line in FIG. 9. As a result, the compression spring 243 obtains its free length, thereby moving the writing head 231 with the holder 233 to the retracted position indicated by the broken line.
In the configuration described above, when the writing head 231 is at the retracted position, the pressing levers 245 are biased by the coil spring 249B and the compression spring 243 in the direction corresponding to the direction in which the writing head 231 is moved from the engaged position to the retracted position. Accordingly, even when the image forming apparatus receives some stress upon replacement of the photosensitive member, a developing device, and so forth, the writing head 231 does not easily move from the retracted position to the engaged position.
The rib 262 restricts rotation of the arm 251 to position the writing head 231 at the engaged position. Although advantageous, because the rib 262 is disposed on the front cover 260, which is opened and closed relative to the frame of the image forming apparatus, the restriction position of the arm 251 varies, and it is difficult to reliably position the writing head 231 at the engaged position with precision. As a result, a high-resolution latent image is not formed on the surface of the photosensitive member.

Moving device and image forming apparatus including the moving device


A medical image routing system that allows for a user to override the current routing of medical image data such that a user need only activate an interface to automatically interrupt the the first medical image data routing to a display(s) with the second medical image data automatically routed to the display(s). Upon activation of the interface a second time, the first medical image data routing is automatically reestablished and the second medical image data is automatically interrupted.

A wide variety of operating room systems are known for performing both diagnostic and surgical procedures. In particular, systems have been provided that allow a surgeon to perform a procedure with a variety of medical and operating room equipment. This equipment ranges from visual imaging tools (e.g., endoscopes, cameras, digital x-ray, ultrasound, computer tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, etc.) and systems, to medical devices (e.g. tools for cutting, grasping, extracting, irrigating, etc.), and other operating room equipment.
In particular systems, operating room visualization equipment has been provided that allows for visualization of the interior of an organ or joint while a surgeon is conducting a procedure. These visualization systems allow for a surgeon to view, typically on a surgical monitor placed either in or adjacent to, the sterile environment, a location inside the body where the procedure is being performed. These systems have further allowed for the recording of still pictures and video recordings of the area and procedure. Not only have the surgeon and those in the operating room been able to view the surgical site on the surgical monitor, but systems have further provided for the transfer of visualization information via a network connection to remote locations from the operating room. These systems have further allowed for previously generated diagnostic surgical image data to be retrieved and displayed as required during a surgical procedure. In this manner, individuals have had the capacity to view a surgical procedure from different locations. This has proved to be a very helpful educational tool (e.g. medical students can view a medical procedure from a class room) and has allowed for specialists to view the surgical procedure from a distance to provide expert analysis and input to the surgeon.
A number of medical procedures require the patient be maintained under anesthesia, typically by means of IV administered anesthetic or a gas mixture administered to the patient, or both. In such cases, a ventilator is provided which helps a patient breathe by giving oxygen to the patient through an endotracheal tube inserted into the trachea. It should be noted that when the tube is first inserted into the patient, the patient is asleep and is hyperoxygenated. Upon giving the patient anesthesia, the patient is quickly paralyzed and is not breathing on their own. It is critical for a physician to work quickly to insert the endotracheal tube into the patient, so as to ventilate the patient.
The insertion of the endotracheal tube involves risks that a physician and/or anesthesiologist seeks to avoid or at least minimize. It is estimated that between one in 6,000 to one in 8,000 general anesthesia procedures result in death. There are of course many causes but of these it is estimated that about one third of them are caused by the intubation procedure.
Some obstacles encountered by the anesthesiologist upon insertion of the endotracheal tube include the remoteness of the location where the tube is to be positioned, the consequent restriction of view as the tube is inserted, variations and anomalies in the anatomy of the patients, an uncomfortable and unnatural position for the anesthesiologist while holding the instrument, the potential need to change blades during the procedure, and the necessity for rapid intubation.
With the advent of endoscopic equipment and small cameras, instrumentation can enable viewing of a patient's cords and larynx on a video screen facilitating the intubation of the patient in a relatively quick and safe manner. A number of video laryngoscopes have been known including U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,827,178; 6,655,377; 6,543,447; 6,890,298; 7,044,909 and 8,029,440. Typically, these video laryngoscopes route video feeds to dedicated video monitors located adjacent to the laryngoscope (e.g. a video screen mounted beside or right on the handle of the laryngoscope).
As operating room control systems develop, the use of video displays and control systems continues to expand. U.S. Pat. No. 8,069,420 to Roderick Plummer (the Plummer patent) discloses an operating room system that allows for videos to be displayed on screens in the operating room. In particular, the Plummer patent allows for routing of video image data to a selected destination.
While steps have been made in the presentation of endoscope video imaging in an operating room system, the integration of video laryngoscopes into the operating room control system has not been effectively addressed. In current systems, the intubation process typically occurs with a system separate and apart from the operating room system. However, if during a surgical procedure it becomes necessary to re-intubate the patient, time is critical. Requiring moving the operating room equipment aside, moving the laryngoscope equipment in its place, intubating the patient, moving the laryngoscope equipment aside and moving the operating room equipment back into place can often lead to delayed time to intubate the patient and increased time under anesthesia, both of which are highly undesirable.
Likewise, the necessity of having to program the routing of the image data that is generated by the laryngoscope wastes valuable time that the patient is disconnected from the ventilation machine and not breathing. It also disadvantageously extends the time the patient is maintained under general anesthesia.

Configurable medical video safety system


A fluid actuated connector is provided with opposing circuit members that form the interior of the connector and which are substantially L-shaped with a substantially vertical portion facing a circuit card to be inserted into the connector and a substantially horizontal portion disposed onto a printed circuit board (PCB), such as a motherboard, or the like. The circuit members are disposed adjacent a frame and connector body such that a cavity is formed adjacent the circuit members and on a side opposite the electrical connection points being being contacted with the printed circuit card. The circuit membranes are formed of a single layer of dielectric material, to maintain the required resiliency, and have contacts, which may be in the form of "bumps" etched into an electrically conductive material applied to the surface of the dielectric facing the circuit card. The side of the circuit membrane in communication with the cavity, which is filled with a non-compressible fluid, receives the force that deforms the circuit membrane. In order to increase the force actually transferred to the contact bumps, rigid pads are placed on the inside of the circuit membrane such that the pressurized fluid acts directly on the rigid pads. These pads are etched into a metal layer deposited on the dielectric and placed substantially opposite the electrical contact bumps, thereby allowing transfer of the force from the fluid directly to the bumps without the intermediate layers of an expandable tube, bladder, or the like.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to fluid actuated connectors, and in particular to fluid connectors used in connecting printed circuit cards to printed circuit boards, such as a motherboard, the like capable of use in a computer product, such as a personal or mainframe computer.
2. Description of Related Art
Fluid actuated electrical connectors are well known in the art for providing force between contacts to allow for electrical connection. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,594,707 describes a fluid pocket with a flexible conductor supporting material having an insert strip conductor bonded thereto. The conductor supporting material expands in response to fluid pressure and provides contact between the insert strip and a spring connector. U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,956,258; 3,076,166; and 3,090,026 all describe a discrete fluid filled flexible bag, actuated by a screw compression device, which expands and contacts printed circuit cards, thereby forcing them into an electrically connecting relationship. U.S. Pat. No. 4,220,389 discusses a zero insertion force connector wherein an expandable tube runs parallel with contact surfaces and relieves the tension of a contact spring when expanded, thereby allowing a circuit card to be inserted into the connector. Upon deflation of the tube, the spring biases the contact surfaces towards the card making an electrical connection therebetween. U.S. Pat. No. 4,968,265 also describes various configurations utilizing discrete bladders and expandable tubes to effect connections between electrical contacts. Another U.S. Pat. No. 2,978,666 utilizes a flexible tube, doubled in half, thereby forming two parallel legs, having a row of contacts in between. A circuit card is then inserted intermediate the contacts and the tube is expanded which constrains the contacts against conductor strips of the printed circuit card. Finally. U.S. Pat. No. 2,636,068 and German Patent DE 3621064 A1 show connectors using a flexible bladder like member to effect electrical connection between contacts.
It can be seen that each of these references utilize a discrete component which is used to force an adjacent contact into an electrically contacting relation with another contact, circuit card, or the like. Conversely, none of the above cited art shows a single electrical/mechanical element which not only responds to fluctuations in fluid pressure, but also exhibits the electrical characteristics which match the printed circuit card being connected, i.e. controlled characteristic impedance, noise coupling coefficient, independent power connections with low inductance, etc.
Further, from a manufacturing point of view, it would be desirable to be able to fabricate this electrical circuit element membrane at the same time and with the same processes as the circuit card being inserted into the connector. Additionally, it would also be advantageous to eliminate the need for a mechanical element, e.g. discrete bladder, to provide force to a separate electrical element. The elimination of a component of the connector and the problems associated with manufacturing, and maintaining the mechanical element under pressure will provide a more reliable connector system. By elimination of the mechanical element a more uniform pressure is brought to bear on the electrical element, since a resilient layer between the pressurized fluid and the electrical contact being displaced is removed.
For these reasons, it can be seen how a single resilient electrical membrane utilized in a fluid connector is desirable.

International Business Machines Corporation


A fire-fighting hose nozzle or line nozzle, that is, a nozzle used to discharge fluid spray during fire-fighting operations, is accoutered for high water-pressure spraying of water or other fire fighting fluid by professional firefighters. Such a high-pressure can, for instance, put about 200 pounds (p.s.i.) or more pressure on a nozzle tip. The nozzle has a long, slender body member with a weighted and pointed tip, a discharge orifice at a position rearward of the pointed tip, and at least one transverse member, and in embodiments a plurality of transverse members. The transverse member most proximate to the proximal end of the body member functions both as a set of handles and as a stabilizing member. A second transverse member functions as a stabilizing member. The orifice is a slot angle-cut forward or backward from its mid-section which produces a wide and high fan-shaped spray in either the forward or backward direction. A set of such nozzles might include one nozzle for forward discharge and one for backward discharge. A method of using such a nozzle includes inserting the nozzle at least partially through an obstruction opening and discharging fluid backward, and includes lowering the nozzle down the side of a building to an opening, with the discharge orifice facing inward, and discharging fluid into the opening.

Professional fire-fighters routinely need or desire almost immediate access to interior regions of burning structures or other materials. The discharge of fire-fighting fluid(s) to the exterior or otherwise readily accessible surfaces may be insufficient to so much as mitigate a fire raging on nearby, but obstructed or otherwise inaccessible, surfaces. Delays in reaching critical areas often allow an otherwise controllable fire to spread and/or intensify exponentially, increasing the property loss and/or risk to human life. An insignificant fire can develop into a conflagration while fire-fighters wait for ancillary equipment.
Surfaces or regions that are routinely inaccessible to professional fire-fighters equipped with conventional primary or basic equipment (often as would be the fire-fighters deployed from the first engine that arrives at the site) include, without limitation, (a) obstructed interiors and/or regions, for instance those behind barred doors, behind barred windows, behind walls, roof structures or other structural barriers without sufficient entry routes, below or beneath docks, rail trestles and the like, within automotive vehicles, railway cars, aircraft, storage tanks and the like, (b) surfaces and regions beyond the reach of conventional equipment discharges, for instance areas not within a direct line from the discharge source, and (c) regions of high risk to a fire-fighter's safety. In some or even many instances an inaccessible area could be considered obstructed and/or beyond reach and/or a high-risk zone, and in such instances the selection of categorization is generally of no significance regarding the present invention.
A means for providing quick access to inaccessible regions is of limited or no value unless such means can also provide effective fire-fighting discharges in those regions under rigorous conditions.
A means for providing quick access to inaccessible regions is of limited or no value unless such means can be readily and reliably deployed under rigorous conditions.
A means for providing quick access to inaccessible regions is of limited or no value unless such means is sufficiently versatile so that it is not itself a specialty or ancillary equipment not available to the first fire-fighters on the scene.
A means for providing quick access to inaccessible regions is of limited or no value unless it can be effectively used in both a hands-on mode and in a remote (hands-off) mode.
A means for providing quick access to inaccessible regions is of limited or no value unless such means can be readily and reliably deployed in combination with conventional auxiliary equipment and conventional fire-fighting water or fluid sources.
Unlike unrestricted manipulation of conventional fire hoses and nozzles, the ability to manipulate and/or change the discharge direction or reach of a means for providing quick access to inaccessible regions once it is deployed will frequently be limited or non-existent. As mentioned above, there is little or no value unless the means can readily and reliably provide effective fire-fighting discharges in those regions. That in turn depends on whether the means provides a sufficient spray pattern without post-deployment manipulation or adjustment, and whether the means resists post-deployment whipping and other high-pressure static instabilities, particularly when deployed in the remote or hands-off mode.
Varied fluid spray patterns are known for less rigorous applications that can tolerate the concomitant structural complexities of these devices. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,947,387, issued Sep. 7, 1999, inventor Zink et al., describes a nozzle with three-dimensional spray pattern for internal cleaning wherein the divergent spray patterns are provided by a rotating water-jet. U.S. Pat. No. 5,505,383, issued Apr. 9, 1996, inventor Fischer, describes a fixed sprinkler head for discharging fine droplets over perhaps a sixteen-foot range, with a lead-in narrow neck that could easily be plugged or clogged by small foreign objects and with vertical side fins. U.S. Pat. No. 5,392,993, issued Feb. 28, 1995, inventor Fischer, describes a fire-protection fixed sprinkler head having a diffuser element via a deflector loading screw to provide a wide spray pattern mist and vertical side fins. U.S. Pat. No. 4,828,182, issued May 9, 1989, inventor Haruch, describes a nozzle employing compressed air, a complicated series of valves and a deflector flange to obtain a cooling mist having a relatively flat, wide spray pattern for cooling air conditioning systems and the like, not for fire-fighting purposes. U.S. Pat. No. 4,403,661, issued Sep. 13, 1983, inventor Tokar, describes a fixed sprinkler head with pair of side fins plus directional orifices/deflector producing a conical spray pattern.
Mechanical means to resist high water-pressure instabilities of a fire-fighting hose and nozzle are known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,887,801, issued Mar. 30, 1999, inventor Stevens, which describes a nozzle add-on (added upstream of a tip-discharge nozzle) which is comprised of a complex series of chambers to control high-pressure spray recoil. That combination does not provide any means for quick access to inaccessible regions.
Means to break down barriers in combination with a fire-fighting nozzle are known. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,857,629, issued Jan. 12, 1999, inventor Miller et al., describes a conical penetration nozzle having thirty-two serially and concentrically arranged ports, including ports that discharge in a backward direction, the combination of port arrangement and nozzle rotation (rotational couplings and thrust-producing nozzle means) stabilize the nozzle against whipping. The nozzle assembly can be launched or otherwise delivered to a target. U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,664, issued Nov. 24, 1998, inventor Relyea, U.S. Pat. No. 5,301,756, issued Apr. 12, 1994, inventor Relyea et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,211,245, issued May 18, 1993, inventor Relyea et al., each describe a piercing nozzle for fire-fighting, operable from an vehicle-mounted aerial boom, having a pointed, and possibly hardened steel, tip and discharge orifices upstream of tip. U.S. Pat. No. 4,485,877, issued Dec. 4, 1984, inventor McMillan et al., describes a conical penetration nozzle primarily for fire control behind barriers or within piles with opposed orifices upstream of conical tip providing sideways curtains of spray. There are of course instances when a nozzle that can be used to attack and thereby remove a barrier, even from a vehicle mounted aerial boom, is of value. Nonetheless, it is believed that none of these prior art devices can provide, in a single structure, (a) the effective fire-fighting discharges in inaccessible regions, (b) the ease and reliably of deployment, (c) the versatility, (e) the hands-on mode and the remote or hands-off mode, (f) the ready and reliable deployment in combination with conventional auxiliary equipment and conventional fire-fighting water or fluid sources, (g) the a sufficient spray pattern without post-deployment manipulation or adjustment, and (h) the resistance to post-deployment whipping and other high-pressure instabilities, which are all provided by the present invention, as described below.

Ready-access fire-fighting nozzle and method