An information entity rating system includes a content subsystem having a structured data sub-subsystem and an unstructured data sub-subsystem. The content subsystem receives content-based profile data for an information entity and separately processes structured and unstructured data to combine content-based profile data for an individual system user with the content-based profile data for the information entity to determine computed rating functions indicating structured and unstructured content-based value of the information entity to the user. A collaboration subsystem receives collaborative input data for the information entity and for processes the collaborative input data to determine at least one computed collaborative rating function indicating a collaboration-based value of the information entity to the user. A correlation subsystem receives data from the content subsystem and from the collaboration subsystem to determine exceptions to the computed rating functions on the basis of comparisons of data included in the content-based and collaboration data and to generate an exception data value function indicating an opposing value to at least one of the content-based and collaboration values. An output system combines the structured content-based. unstructured content-based, and collaboration-based value functions, and the exception data value function in generating an output rating predictor of the informon for consideration by the user.

The present invention relates to information processing systems for large or massive information networks, such as the internet, and more particuarly to such information systems in which an information filter structure uses collaborative feedback data in determining the value of a document or other information entity (informon) to a user.
In the operation of the internet, a countless number of informons are available for downloading from any of at least thousands of sites for consideration by a user at the user's location. A user typicaly connects to a portal or other web site having a search capability, and thereafter enters a particular query, i.e., a request for informons relevant to a topic, a field of interest, etc. Thereafter, the search site typically employs a "spider" scanning system and a content-based filter in a search engine to search the internet for informons which match the query. This process is basically a pre-search process in which matching informons are found, at the time of initiating the search for the user's query. by comparing informons in an "informon data base" to the user's query.
The return list of matching informons can be very extensive according to the subject of the query and the breadth of the query. More specific queries typically result in shorter return lists. In some cases, the search site may also be structured to find web sites which probably have stored informons matching the entered query.
Collaborative data can be made available to assist in informon rating when a user actually downloads an informon, considers and evaluates it, and returns data to the search site as a representation of the value of the considered informon to the user.
In the patent application parent to this divisional application, i.e., Ser. No. 08/627,436, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,867,799, filed by the present inventors on Apr. 4, 1996, and hereby incorporated by reference, an advanced collaborative/content-based information filter system is employed to provide superior fitering in the process of finding and rating informons which match a user's query. The information filter structure in this system integrates content-based filtering and collaborative filtering to determine relevancy of informons received from various sites in the internet or other network. In operation, an individual user enters a query and a corresponding "wire" is established, i.e., the query is profiled in storage on a content basis and adaptively updated over time, and informons obtained from the network are compared to the profile for relevancy and ranking. A continuously operating "spider" scans the network to find informons which are received and processed for relevancy to the individual user's wire and for relevancy to wires established by numerous other users.
The integrated filter system compares received informons to the individual user's query profile data, combined with collaborative data, and ranks, in order of value, informons found to be relevant. The system maintains the ranked informons in a stored list from which the individual user can select any listed informon for consideration.
As the system continues to operate the individual user's wire, the stored relevant informon list typically changes due to factors including a return of new and more relevant informons, adjustments in the user's query, feedback evaluations by the user for considered informons, and updatings in collaborative feedback data. Received informons are similarly processed for other users' wires established in the information filter system. Thus, the integrated information filter system compares network informons to multiple user's queries to find matching informons for various users' wires over the course of time, whereas conventional search engines initiate a search in response to an individual user's query and use content-based filtering to compare the query to accessed network informons to find matching informons during a limited search time period.
The present invention is directed to an informon rating system in which content-based filter profile data and collaborative feedback filter data are integrated and compared to data representative of an informon being rated to determine the relevancy and value of the informon to an individual user. This system is embodied in the multi-level, integrated collaborative/content-based filter disclosed in the parent application, and it receives informon data, which is passed downwardly through the filter structure, and collaborative feedback data which is sent from a collaborative feedback data processsing system called a mindpool system. Another copending patent application, entitled MULTI-LEVEL MINDPOOL SYSTEM ESPECIALLY ADAPTED TO PROVIDE COLLABORATIVE FILTER DATA FOR A LARGE-SCALE INFORMATION FILTERING SYSTEM, Serial Number (Atty. docket # LYC2), filed by the current inventors concurrenty herewith, provides further discosure and explanation of the mindpool system.

System and method employing individual user content-based data and user collaborative feedback data to evaluate the content of an information entity in a large information communication network


A showerhead attachment is used for generating aromas. The showerhead attachment holds an aroma containing material such as a gelatin type capsule to be intermixed with a portion of the running water and discharged through a discharge orifice. The showerhead attachment comprises a housing, a dispensing chamber, a removable and attachable cylinder, and a filter assembly. As water begins to flow through a water supply conduit, it will exit the conduit and enter into an inlet port of the housing to course through the housing and around the dispensing chamber and on through an outlet port, where the water will the flow through the showerhead into a cleansing stream raining down upon the bather. As the water enters the housing and flows around the dispensing chamber, a small portion of the total volumetric flow will enter an inlet orifice and will thus be diverted into an auxiliary water stream flowing into the dispensing chamber. The auxiliary water stream will proceed into a side compartment of the cylinder, where it will impinge upon the gelatin capsule, then flow down toward a bottom open end and around a connecting shaft end of an upper attachment portion. The pressure created by the auxiliary water stream onto the capsule will create in essence a squeezing effect upon the capsule and/or a dissipation of the capsule that will cause aromatic gel to trickle out through an upper orifice member, a bottom orifice member and the filter assembly.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to the field of showerhead attachments. More particularly, the present invention relates to the field of showerhead attachments for creating a scented environment using running water and aromatic material.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Specifically, aromas which create soothing environments may have therapeutic properties and are increasingly being utilized as an alternative means of relaxation and a source of intense physical stimulation and pleasure. Certain aromas are well known to have a very soothing effect. One of the disadvantages with prior art devices is that they involve the addition of additives into the flow of water provided by a showerhead conduit, thereby exposing a user's body directly to the aromatic material and releasing only a small fraction into the ambient air. Another disadvantage with prior art devices is that creating such an aromatic environment in a bathroom or shower stall may cause problems when using burning candles or incense sticks due to high humidity and may result in the release of smoke in a small enclosed area.
The following sixty-one (61) prior art patents are found to be pertinent to the field of the present invention:
1. U.S. Pat. No. 843,260 issued to Cloud on Feb. 5, 1907 for "Bathing Apparatus" (hereafter the "Cloud Patent"); PA1 2. U.S. Pat. No. 877,045 issued to Brooks on Jan. 21, 1908 for "Spray" (hereafter the "Brooks Patent"); PA1 3. U.S. Pat. No. 1,146,353 issued to Shapley on Jul. 13, 1915 for "Faucet Attachment For Shower Baths" (hereafter the "Shapley Patent"); PA1 4. U.S. Pat. No. 1,264,772 issued to Butler on Apr. 30, 1918 for "Medical Liquid Deliverer Attachment For Water Pipes Of Bath Tubs" (hereafter the "Butler Patent"); PA1 5. U.S. Pat. No. 1,658,830 issued to Bingham on Feb. 14, 1928 for "Medicinal Spraying Device" (hereafter the "Bingham Patent"); PA1 6. U.S. Pat. No. 1,973,319 issued to Nelson on Sep. 11, 1934 for "Soap And Crystal Dispenser" (hereafter the "Nelson Patent"); PA1 7. U.S. Pat. No. 2,058,901 issued to McPherson on Oct. 27, 1936 for "Solution Making And Dispensing Apparatus" (hereafter the "McPherson Patent"); PA1 8. U.S. Pat. No. 2,189,936 issued to Brandfon on Feb. 13, 1940 for "Mixer For Deliquescent Bath Spray Tablets" (hereafter the "Brandfon Patent"); PA1 9. U.S. Pat. No. 2,199,478 issued to Bruzaud on May 7, 1940 for "Shower Head" (hereafter the "Bruzaud Patent"); PA1 10. U.S. Pat. No. 2,201,528 issued to Freng on May 21, 1940 for "Apparatus For Adding Extracts Or The Like To Shower Baths" (hereafter the "Freng Patent"); PA1 11. U.S. Pat. No. 2,238,969 issued to Butterfield on Apr. 22, 1941 for "Dishwashing Apparatus" (hereafter the "Butterfield Patent"); PA1 12. U.S. Pat. No. 2,478,348 issued to Wicker et al. on Aug. 9, 1949 for "Sanitary Shower Stall" (hereafter the "Wicker Patent"); PA1 13. U.S. Pat. No. 2,602,699 issued to Otto et al. on Jul. 8, 1952 for "Mixing Device For Water Lines" (hereafter the "Otto Patent"); PA1 14. U.S. Pat. No. 2,609,232 issued to Taulman on Sep. 2, 1952 for "Shower" (hereafter the "Taulman Patent"); PA1 15. U.S. Pat. No. 2,659,627 issued to McConnell on Nov. 17, 1953 for "Shower Head" (hereafter the "McConnell Patent"); PA1 16. U.S. Pat. No. 2,907,528 issued to Lambton on Oct. 6, 1959 for "Mixing Device For Delivering Liquid Mixtures Or Solutions" (hereafter the "Lambton Patent"); PA1 17. U.S. Pat. No. 2,975,980 issued to Siebert et al. on Mar. 21, 1961 for "Shower Heads" (hereafter the "Siebert Patent"); PA1 18. U.S. Pat. No. 3,003,703 issued to Lambton on Oct. 10, 1961 for "Device For Delivering Liquid Mixtures" (hereafter the "Lambton Patent"); PA1 19. U.S. Pat. No. 3,008,650 issued to Prokop, Sr. on Nov. 14, 1961 for "Shower Head" (hereafter the "Prokop Patent"); PA1 20. U.S. Pat. No. 3,018,969 issued to Gentry on Jan. 30, 1962 for "Dual Purpose Shower Head Assembly" (hereafter the "Gentry Patent"); PA1 21. U.S. Pat. No. 3,106,345 issued to Wukowitz on Oct. 8, 1963 for "Shower Bath Water Control With Additive Attachment" (hereafter the "Wukowitz Patent"); PA1 22. U.S. Pat. No. 3,134,545 issued to Armond on May 26, 1964 for "Water And Soap Shower Spray" (hereafter the "Arnond Patent"); PA1 23. U.S. Pat. No. 3,180,579 issued to Tomaso on Apr. 27, 1965 for "Tubular Container Holder For Shower Head" (hereafter the "Tomaso Patent"); PA1 24. U.S. Pat. No. 3,199,788 issued to Davis on Aug. 10, 1965 for "Dispenser" (hereafter the "Davis Patent"); PA1 25. U.S. Pat. No. 3,212,716 issued to Mills et al. on Oct. 19, 1965 for "Materials Dispensing Shower Head Device" (hereafter the "Mills Patent"); PA1 26. U.S. Pat. No. 3,230,550 issued to Carlson on Jan. 25, 1966 for "Sanitary Shower Stall" (hereafter the "Carlson Patent"); PA1 27. U.S. Pat. No. 3,352,320 issued to Camp on Nov. 14, 1967 for "Shower Head Valve" (hereafter the "Clamp Patent"); PA1 28. U.S. Pat. No. 3,486,695 issued to Novak on Dec. 30, 1969 for "Shower Water Additive Dispensing Apparatus" (hereafter the "Novak Patent"); PA1 29. U.S. Pat. No. 3,495,948 issued to Long et al. on Feb. 17, 1970 for "Bypass Chemical Dissolver" (hereafter the "Long Patent"); PA1 30. U.S. Pat. No. 3,655,135 issued to Altman et al. on Apr. 11, 1972 for "Steam Outlet Head With A Dispenser For Fragrance Or Medicant" (hereafter the "Altman Patent"); PA1 31. U.S. Pat. No. 3,764,074 issued to James on Oct. 9, 1973 for "Shower Head And Liquid Agent Dispensing Attachment" (hereafter the "James Patent"); PA1 32. U.S. Pat. No. 3,797,747 issued to Buzzi et al. on Mar. 19, 1974 for "Device For Aspirating And Admixing Additives Into A Stream" (hereafter the "Buzzi Patent"); PA1 33. U.S. Pat. No. 3,801,018 issued to Plotz on Apr. 2, 1974 for "Shower Head" (hereafter the "Plotz Patent"); PA1 34. U.S. Pat. No. 3,842,447 issued to Usher on Oct. 22, 1974 for "Device For The Introduction Of Fluent Medium Into A Main Flow Of Liquid Passing Along A Closed Passage, Such As A Pipe" (hereafter the "Usher Patent"); PA1 35. U.S. Pat. No. 3,847,354 issued to Lemond on Nov. 12, 1974 for "Shower Head Additive Dispenser" (hereafter the "Lemond Patent"); PA1 36. U.S. Pat. No. 3,917,172 issued to O'Hare on Nov. 4, 1975 for "Fluid Mixing And Dispensing Apparatus" (hereafter the "O'Hare Patent"); PA1 37. U.S. Pat. No. 3,964,686 issued to Lopez on Jun. 22, 1976 for "Showerhead With Secondary Liquid Dispenser" (hereafter the "Lopez Patent"); PA1 38. U.S. Pat. No. 4,055,278 issued to Seymour on Oct. 25, 1977 for "Dispensing Shower Head" (hereafter the "Seymour Patent"); PA1 39. U.S. Pat. No. 4,081,139 issued to Migliozzi on Mar. 28, 1978 for "Multi-Carrier Dispenser Fixture For Shower Heads" (hereafter the "Migliozzi Patent"); PA1 40. U.S. Pat. No. 4,131,232 issued to Pollinzi on Dec. 26, 1978 for "Automatic Shower Dispenser" (hereafter the "Pollinzi Patent"); PA1 41. U.S. Pat. No. 4,189,100 issued to Karp on Feb. 19, 1980 for "Fluid Dispenser For A Shower Bath" (hereafter the "Karp Patent"); PA1 42. U.S. Pat. No. 4,211,368 issued to Legros et al. on Jul. 8, 1980 for "Device For Aerating And Chemically Activating Shower Water" (hereafter the "Legros Patent"); PA1 43. U.S. Pat. No. 4,218,013 issued to Davison on Aug. 19, 1980 for "Shower Head Fluid Dispenser" (hereafter the "Davison Patent"); PA1 44. U.S. Pat. No. 4,281,796 issued to Fugent et al. on Aug. 4, 1981 for "Bathroom Mixing Device" (hereafter the "Fugent Patent"); PA1 45. U.S. Pat. No. 4,397,050 issued to Davis et al. on Aug. 9, 1983 for "Quick Shower Or Power Shower" (hereafter the "Davis Patent"); PA1 46. U.S. Pat. No. 4,432,105 issued to Pitroda on Feb. 21, 1984 for "Shower Device" (hereafter the "Pitroda Patent"); PA1 47. U.S. Pat. No. 4,463,462 issued to Greenhut on Aug. 7, 1984 for "Shower Dispensing Container-Receiver Coupling System" (hereafter the "Greenhut Patent"); PA1 48. U.S. Pat. No. 4,467,964 issued to Kaeser on Aug. 28, 1984 for "Automatic Mixing Device For Use In A Shower Head" (hereafter the "Kaeser Patent"); PA1 49. U.S. Pat. No. 4,623,095 issued to Pronk on Nov. 18, 1986 for "Liquid Adding Apparatus And Method For A Shower Fixture" (hereafter the "Pronk Patent"); PA1 50. U.S. Pat. No. 4,872,225 issued to Wagner on Oct. 10, 1989 for "Cleaning Apparatus And Method For Bath Enclosures " (hereafter the "Wagner Patent"); PA1 51. U.S. Pat. No. 4,901,765 issued to Poe on Feb. 20, 1990 for "Coupling For Mixing Lotions Or Other Liquids With Shower Water" (hereafter the "Poe Patent"); PA1 52. U.S. Pat. No. 4,921,171 issued to Cupit on May 1, 1990 for "Showerhead Dispenser" (hereafter the "Cupit Patent"); PA1 53. U.S. Pat. No. 4,956,883 issued to Lane on Sep. 18, 1990 for "Shower Fixture" (hereafter the "Lane Patent"); PA1 54. U.S. Pat. No. :5,004,158 issued to Halem et al. on Apr. 2, 1991 for "Fluid Dispensing And Mixing Device" (hereafter the "Halem Patent"); PA1 55. U.S. Pat. No. 5,070,553 issued to Chambers on Dec. 10, 1991 for "Showerhead Assembly" (hereafter the "Chambers Patent"); PA1 56. U.S. Pat. No. 5,093,943 issued to Wei on Mar. 10, 1992 for "Multi-Function Shower Head" (hereafter the "Wei Patent"); PA1 57. U.S. Pat. No. 5,274,858 issued to Berry on Jan. 4, 1994 for "Shower Soap System" (hereafter the "Berry Patent"); PA1 58. U.S. Pat. No. 5,305,476 issued to Ohyama et al. on Apr. 26, 1994 for "Shower Bathing Device" (hereafter the "Ohyama Patent"); PA1 59. U.S. Pat. No. 5,333,789 issued to Garneys on Aug. 2, 1994 for "Soap Dispenser Insert For A Shower Head" (hereafter the "Garneys Patent"); PA1 60. U.S. Pat. No. 5,351,892 issued to Conte on Oct. 4, 1994 for "Unitary, Multi-Purpose, Self-Contained Selection, Dilution, Mixing And Dispensing Apparatus" (hereafter the "Conte Patent"); and PA1 61. U.S. Pat. No. 5,454,516 issued to Smyrl on Oct. 3, 1995 for "Showerhead With Selectable Liquid Dispenser" (hereafter the "Smyrl Patent").
The Cloud Patent discloses a bathing apparatus. It comprises a cylindrical casing with an upper head removably secured thereto and a lower head removably secured thereto, where the upper head is adapted to connect with any convenient source of water supply. The cylindrical casing receives and stores a bar of soap or other matter therein. The water entering the cylindrical casing will dissolve the soap, in which the water and the dissolved soap enter into a hose which is connected to a delivery chamber for delivering water and the dissolved soap to a user.
The Brooks Patent discloses a spray which is adapted to be connected to a water supply pipe. The spray has a plurality of chambers for receiving a chemical ingredient therein. A rotating mechanism is attached to the spray for rotating and directing a flow of water to one of the chambers under pressure for spraying the water from the spray.
The Shapley Patent discloses a faucet attachment for shower baths. It is a simple and comparatively inexpensive shower bath attachment which is clamped to any faucet and adjusted to any angle within a limited range for directing the jets of water to the desired locations.
The Butler Patent discloses a medical liquid deliverer attachment for water pipes of bath tubs. It comprises a hollow container with a removable cover and an integral bottom end. An opposite tube is threadedly engaged with a spray head.
The Bingham Patent discloses a medicinal spraying device. It comprises an outer casing which has a base and a top detachably secured to the base. A handle portion is attached to the base for receiving a flexible hose to supply water to the outer casing of the spraying device.
The Nelson Patent discloses a soap and crystal dispenser which is attached to a water spray nozzle.
The McPherson Patent discloses a solution making and dispensing apparatus.
The Brandfon Patent discloses a mixer for deliquescent bath spray tablets. It comprises a hollow cylinder container with a hollow tube which extends outside of the container and connects between a showerhead and a water supply conduit. In the midway portion the tube are a series of small perforations for discharging liquid and causing turbulent condition therein. At an upper portion of the tube there is a small transverse duct open at one of its ends to the hollow container and having in its upper side an orifice. A tablet of perfume or medicate material is disposed within the container. The water flows through the tube, a portion entering the duct through the orifice to be discharged at its open end, partially filling the container therefore to reenter the tube through the small perforations in a charged condition so that the water will be perfumed or medicated by the immersed tablet and mixed with the outflow to be dispensed by the spray head.
The Bruzaud Patent discloses a showerhead.
The Freng Patent discloses an apparatus for adding extracts or the like to shower baths. It comprises a piston pump and an exchangeable vessel for extract.
The Butterfield Patent discloses a dishwashing apparatus.
The Wicker Patent discloses a sanitary shower stall.
The Otto Patent discloses a mixing device for water lines.
The Taulman Patent discloses a shower.
The McConnell Patent discloses a showerhead.
The Lambton Patent discloses a mixing device for delivering liquid mixtures or solutions. It comprises a housing with an inlet and outlet openings for the water and holding means engageable with a closed container within the housing and filled with the substance to be mixed with the water to open the container and permit discharge of the contents of the container into the housing.
The Siebert Patent discloses showerheads.
The Lambton Patent discloses a device for delivering liquid mixtures. It comprises a housing with a cylindrical portion which merges into a belled portion. The cylindrical portion has a bore which provides the inlet opening for the water to enter into the housing while the outer end of the belled portion is closed by a detachable perforated cover which provides the outlet and through which the liquid issues as spray.
The Prokop Patent discloses a showerhead.
The Gentry Patent discloses a dual purpose showerhead assembly.
The Wukowitz Patent discloses a shower bath water control with an additive attachment. The attachment has a section of conduit with an upper end connected to a main water supply conduit and a lower end connected to a showerhead. The attachment also includes a downwardly extending pipe portion containing a valve which is regulated by a handle to control the rate of flow of liquid through the pipe portion from a container holding the liquid.
The Armond Patent discloses a water and soap shower spray which is mounted parallel to the main showerhead.
The Tomaso Patent discloses a tubular container holder for a showerhead.
The Davis Patent discloses a dispenser which is coupled into a main water supply conduit. The dispenser has a mechanism which manually controls the amount of substance into the shower water. The mechanism serves to dispense the substance into the shower water under pressure from an expendable aerosol water.
The Mills Patent discloses a materials dispensing showerhead device. It comprises a valve mechanism which has a position to provide communication between a soap container and another position to provide a flow restriction in a water flow passage through the device, thereby creating a lower pressure area by the flow restriction to aspirate liquid soap out of the soap container and into the shower water flow stream.
The Carlson Patent discloses a sanitary shower stall.
The Camp Patent discloses a showerhead valve.
The Novak Patent discloses a shower water additive dispensing apparatus. It comprises a plurality of additive reservoirs, a multiple position valve, a timing valve, and separate conduits with metering valves for metering the rate of flow of shower water additive through the conduits to the multiple position valve.
The Long Patent discloses a bypass chemical dissolver.
The Altman Patent discloses a steam outlet head with a dispenser for a fragrance or medicant. It has an inlet port, an outlet port and a connecting interior channel for passage of steam through the head. A reservoir is positioned on top of the steam outlet head for retaining the fragrance. An orifice connects the reservoir with the channel to mix the fragrance or medicant with the steam passing through the head.
The James Patent discloses a shewerhead and liquid agent dispensing attachment. It comprises a valve which interconnects a source of pressurized water and a supply of liquid agent to a showerhead by which one control adjustment accomplishes proportioning, mixing and aeration of the fluid.
The Buzzi Patent discloses a device for aspirating and admixing additives into a stream. It comprises an injector with a main bore, increasing in width in the flow direction, and suction bores communicating with the main bore. A liquid-return-flow interrupter is arranged at the inlet side of the injector and is in the form of a free jet air chamber communicating with the open air through corresponding openings and adapted to be bridge by the liquid concentrated into a fine jet by a nozzle bore.
The Plotz Patent discloses a showerhead.
The Usher Patent discloses a device for the introduction of fluent medium into a main flow of liquid passing along a closed passage. The device has a casing adapted to connected with the passage so that a fluent medium feed cavity in the casing communicates hydraulically with the passage as a result of forming a break in the passage.
The Lemond Patent discloses a showerhead additive dispenser. It comprises a centrally bored tubular member with opposite ends respectively connected to a showerhead and a main water supply conduit for passage of the shower water through the bore. A removably attachable container is connected to the tubular member by tubes. A control valve is provided to control the amount of water diverted from an inlet portion of the bored tubular member into and through the container so that such diverted water may pick up bath oil or other additives contained within the container and carry them back into the tubular member on an outlet side for mixing with the main flow of water going to the showerhead.
The O'Hare Patent discloses a fluid mixing and dispensing apparatus.
The Lopez Patent discloses a showerhead with a secondary liquid dispenser. The showerhead has a compartment in which a hygienic liquid is stored and selectively mixed into the water stream. A valve is positioned in the compartment and a valve operator disposed outside the showerhead selectively opens the valve to dispense the liquid.
The Seymour Patent discloses a dispensing showerhead. It comprises an enclosure adapted to be connected to a water supply. The enclosure has a container which carries a cartridge rotatable to present different bath preparations to a stream of water passing through a flow path in the enclosure and out of a showerhead opening in one end of the enclosure.
The Migliozzi Patent discloses a multi-carrier dispenser fixture for showerheads.
The Pollinzi Patent discloses an automatic shower dispenser for automatically mixing controlled amounts of liquid additive to the shower water. The dispenser is attachable to the water inlet pipe and includes a plastic refillable container for holding the liquid additive and dispensing it under the flow of gravity. A valve is positioned over the mouth of the receptacle for controlling the flow of the liquid additive.
The Karp Patent discloses a fluid dispenser for a showerhead. The dispenser is mounted between a pressurized water pipe and a shower nozzle. A fluid reservoir is mounted on top of the dispenser for storing the fluid to be dispensed.
The Legros Patent discloses a device for aerating and chemically activating shower water. The device is attached to the showerhead. It comprises a first mixing chamber for mixing water and air, and a second mixing chamber for mixing the aerated water with a chemical.
The Davison Patent discloses a showerhead fluid dispenser. It comprises a valve block for selectively dispensing one of plurality of select liquids into the water stream discharged by the shower nozzle.
The Fugent Patent discloses a bathroom mixing device. It comprises a main body with two opposite passages for communicating with a cylindrical chamber. A revolvable cylinder is located within the chamber for control of and routing of fluids passing therethrough.
The Davis Patent discloses a quick shower or power shower.
The Pitroda Patent discloses a shower device which stores one or more additives, and allows injection and mixing of the additives into the water stream delivered to a showerhead. A passage for the water stream provides a pressure differential sufficient to draw the additives into the water stream, while check valves are used to prevent backflow of the additives
The Greenhut Patent discloses a shower dispenser container-receiver coupling system. The system is used for connecting a bottle to a shower dispenser. The bottle has a cam on its neck and the shower dispenser receiver into which the container can be screwed has a slot forming a detent that is deflected by the cam as the container is turned, to resist unscrewing in of the container.
The Kaeser Patent discloses an automatic mixing device for use in a showerhead.
The Pronk Patent discloses a liquid adding apparatus and method for a shower fixture. The apparatus adds the liquid soap or some other liquid to the water stream which flows through a showerhead.
The Wagner Patent discloses a cleaning apparatus and method for bath enclosures.
The Poe Patent discloses a coupling for mixing lotions or other liquids with shower water. It comprises a coupling body with an inlet portion and an outlet portion with a flow path. A mixing chamber is mounted in fluid communication with the flow path through the coupling body which serves to selectively mix liquid with the water.
The Cupit Patent discloses a showerhead dispenser. It comprises a showerhead mounted to discharge a water spray along a declining axis and a reservoir mounted on top of the showerhead and having a discharge port immediately adjacent and alongside the spray outlet of the showerhead.
The Lane Patent discloses a shower fixture for dispensing liquid soap into or adjacent to a water stream emitted from a primary showerhead.
The Halem Patent discloses a fluid dispensing and mixing device for dispensing a predetermined total amount of a selected additive into a water steam, with the rate of mixing of the additive and water being controlled by the water pressure. A pump is used to dispense the additive from a storage chamber.
The Chambers Patent discloses a shower head assembly.
The Wei Patent discloses a multi-function showerhead. It comprises a showerhead body mounted at the upper end of a grip several units for making bubbles, message, scrubbing, etc. passable to be selectably and additionally attached on the showerhead body.
The Berry Patent discloses a shower soap system.
The Ohyama Patent discloses a shower bathing device. It comprises a passage through which hot water is passed, a chamber filled with medical solution to supply the medical solution into the passage, a stream pump for mixing the medical solution in the chamber with hot water passing through the passage, and a screw inserted into a through hole for adjusting the amount of the medical solution supplied to the stream pump.
The Garneys Patent discloses a soap dispenser insert for a showerhead.
The Conte Patent discloses an unitary, multi-purpose, self-contained selection, dilution, mixing and dispensing apparatus.
The Smyrl Patent discloses a showerhead with selectable liquid dispenser.
It is highly desirable to have a very efficient and also very effective design and construction of a showerhead attachment for generating aromas. It is also desirable to provide a showerhead attachment with the capability of creating an aromatic environment in a bathroom or a shower stall, that will do so by using the force of the pressurized water supply, and that will avoid exposing the person's body directly to the aromatic material.

Showerhead attachment and method for generating aromas


A pneumatic nail gun includes a gun body, a movable cylinder, a piston and a slidable sleeve valve. The gun body has a main air housing collecting a compressed high pressure air with a constant pressure, and a trigger at one end of the main air housing driving the high pressure air to shoot a nail. The movable cylinder is disposed in the main housing, which moves upward when the trigger is pressed, and moves downward for reposition when the trigger is released. The piston is slidably movably disposed in the cylinder, which has a driver blade extending from the piston. The driver blade protrudes out of the gun body for punching against the nail in accordance with a downward movement of the piston. The slidable sleeve valve is assembled at an outer peripheral surface of the cylinder, which introduces high pressure air to drive the piston move upward when the cylinder moves downward to its lower dead center, and is driven downward after the piston moves to its upper dead center.

The present invention relates to a pneumatic nail gun, and particularly to a pneumatic nail gun having a movable cylinder and slidable sleeve valve.
Pneumatic nail gun generally utilizes a compressed high pressure air to drive a piston to punch a nail, for joining two objects by shooting a nail through both objects. A conventional pneumatic nail gun can be classified into two kinds, one kind being coupled with a magazine, another kind being coupled with a canister. The magazine generally contains the T-shaped or I-shaped nail rows and utilizes an elastic deformation force of a spring to drive each nail to the nail feeding mechanism. The canister contains full-round head strings of larger nails, which is combined with a nail pusher. The nail pusher utilizes a high pressure air and spring to drive each nail to the nail feeding mechanism.
The general structure and function of a nail gun is briefly introduced as follows. A nail gun has a gun body, the gun body having a gun handle and a gun head; a fastening cylinder disposed in the gun head; a high-pressure air pipe coupled to one end of the gun handle, and a high-pressure air being input and introduced into the cylinder; a piston disposed in the cylinder, the piston connected to a nail shooting mechanism at the external end of the gun head, and the nail shooting mechanism coupled to a nail magazine. When the nail gun is triggered, and the piston is pushed outward by the air pressure such that the nail shooting mechanism can shoot out the nail at the nailing position. In addition, an air chamber is provided at an outer peripheral surface, which receives high pressure air from the cylinder to drive the piston to its original position when the piston moves to its lower dead center.
However, the air chamber just can receive the high pressure air when the piston moves downward and be closed when the piston moves upward. That is the air chamber can not receive high pressure air when the piston moves upward. Thus, the collection of the high pressure air in the air chamber for upward movement of the piston is limited, and the stability of the upward movement of the piston is lower. Especially, in the process of continuous nail punching, the instability of upward movement of the piston lowers the speed and efficiency of nail punching.
For resolving the problem, one method of adding the cubage of the air chamber is provided in recently technology. However, the method still is not an ideal resolution.
Accordingly, what is needed is a pneumatic nail gun that can overcome the above-described deficiencies.


An electrical assembly is provided for selectively operating a household appliance in a demonstration mode or a standard mode. A logic unit (2) is adapted to control the electrical and/or electronic components of the household appliance (1), and to make the household appliance (1) perform a standard mode or a demonstration mode. A power supply device (5), external to the household appliance (1), is adapted to deliver electric power to the household appliance (1). The household appliance (1) comprises a power supply circuit (3) adapted to be connected to the power supply device (5) or directly to the supply mains (4), in order to energize the logic unit (2) and the other electrical and/or electronic components of the household appliance (1). The household appliance (1) further comprises a detection device (9) adapted to detect if the power supply circuit (3) is connected to the power supply device (5) or directly to the supply mains (4). The logic unit (2) is configured to enable the performing of the demonstration mode if the detection device (9) detects that the power supply circuit (3) is connected to the power supply device (5), and to enable the performing of the standard mode if the detection device (9) detects that the power supply circuit (3) is connected directly to the supply mains (4).

The present invention relates to an electrical assembly for selectively operating a household appliance in a demonstration mode or a standard mode.
Nowadays household appliances, for example refrigerators, washing machines, oven, etc., are usually exposed in shops by placing a great number of them aligned side by side on the shop floor.
The differences in the external appearance of the various household appliances of a same kind are often small, while the technical characteristics and the operational functions of different appliances of the same kind may be very different.
There is therefore the need to give to the possible customers a way to appreciate, directly in the shop (or in other exposition places, such as a trade fair), the operational functions of the household appliance, so as to help costumers to choose the appliance which best meets theirs requirements.
In order to satisfy this need, there have been developed some household appliances adapted to operate in a demonstration mode, called also "demo mode", that is a functional mode which allows the user to interact with the user interface (usually comprising a display and an input device, such as a keyboard or one or more buttons or knobs) of the household appliance substantially in the same way as if the household appliance would really work, but without really activating the main loads of the household appliance (e.g. compressors, motors, pumps, heating elements, etc.). The demo mode could also comprise the representation via the user interface of some information regarding the household appliance, for instance the power consumption, a description of the operational functions, some instructions, etc. In this way the user can learn and also practise on the various functions of the household appliance, even if the latter doesn't really operate.
For example in the demo mode a user could practice on setting and activating the washing programs of a washing machine, a rapid cooling function in a refrigerator, a particular cooking program in an oven, etc.
An example of a household appliance provided with a demo mode function is illustrated, for instance, in KR 20040095777, which discloses a control device of an oven display unit and a method thereof, which are provided to operate the display unit of the oven according to place or time, by selecting the normal operation mode and the demo mode, with a demo mode setting switch before supplying power; the control device and the method are also adapted to improve the safety and the reliability by an automatically stopping function of the oven in the demo mode. The control device of the oven display unit comprises a demo mode setting switch for selecting the demo mode by a user.
Another electrical appliance (in this case a shaving apparatus) provided with a demo mode function is disclosed for example in U.S. Pat. No. 5,801,637; in this case the shaving apparatus is powered by a rechargeable battery. The shaving apparatus comprises a display with signs for indicating a status of operational functions of the apparatus, such as the residual charge of the battery and the residual number of usage periods. The shaving apparatus further comprises a control system for activating the signs in dependence on a condition of use of the apparatus during a cycle of use which corresponds to recharging and to discharging of the rechargeable battery. The control system includes a demonstration mode for demonstrating on the display a cycle of use of the apparatus, by displaying in an accelerated manner the signs in the sequence of their appearance during the cycle of use. If the shaving apparatus is connected to the mains voltage, a microcontroller, comprised in the shaving apparatus, detects the connection to the mains voltage and can choose from a single demonstration or a recurrent demonstration.
Usually, in the known household appliances provided with a demo mode function, the demo mode is activated by pushing a particular combination of keys provided on the user interface of the appliance.
In some of these known household appliances the demo mode is automatically disabled if the household appliance is switched off and/or if no electric power is supplied to the household appliance; this feature involves a drawback, which will be explained in the following. When these known household appliances are exposed in a store, many of these household appliances are usually connected to a same electric line which provides the power supply to all of them (the power supply is necessary, for example, in order to perform the demo mode); in order to avoid energy wastage, the electric line is typically not powered when the store is closed (for example during the night), so as to switch off all the household appliances connected to the electric line. Since the demo mode of these known household appliances is automatically disabled if the household appliance is switched off and/or if no electric power is supplied to the household appliance, when the electric line is powered once more, the demo mode of this kind of household appliance is not active, and therefore it has to be manually activated by an operator; this operation may require a lot of time, in particular if there are many household appliances, and therefore sometimes the demo mode isn't activated.
There are however other known household appliances in which both in order to enable the demo mode and in order to disable the demo mode it is necessary to push a specific combination of keys; in this case, once the demo mode has been activated, it remains active even after the power off and the successive power on of the household appliance.
However, also these known household appliances have a drawback; in fact sometimes it happens that a household appliance is sold after, the demo mode has been activated, and if the customer isn't aware that the household appliance is in the demo mode, he could believe that its new household appliance doesn't function correctly, with the consequent discomfort due to the need of calling the customer service.
Moreover, even if the user is aware that the household appliance is performing the demo mode, he might not know how to disable the demo mode, and therefore also in this case he could have the need of calling the customer service.
Moreover in both the two known kinds of household appliances described above, there is the risk that a user might inadvertently activate the demo mode during the functioning of the household appliance (for example by an accidental pushing of the keys), which may cause, for example, the deterioration of the objects of which the household appliance is operating; for example, if the household appliance is a refrigerator, the activation of the demo mode during the real functioning of the appliance may cause the products contained in such a refrigerator to get warm, and therefore to quickly rotten.

Electrical assembly for selectively operating a household appliance in a demonstration mode or a standard mode

Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V.


A flexible conduit for insertion into a body lumen comprises a plurality of elements coupled end to end to define a conduit lumen. A first one of the elements includes a male portion and a female portion. A second element includes a female portion having an inner surface configured to engage a male portion of an outer surface of the first element to form a first ball joint. A third element includes a male portion, an outer surface of the male portion of the third element configured to engage an inner surface of the female portion of the first element to form a second ball joint. The male and female portions of the first element are adapted to frictionally engage the female portion of the second element and the male portion of the third element to establish a rigid connection therebetween.

Many procedures for the exploration and treatment of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract involve the insertion of an endoscope into the GI tract. During examinations, a user may navigate the GI anatomy using a steerable endoscopic tip, or alternatively by performing a series of torquing, pushing and pulling maneuvers at the proximal end of the device to advance and direct the distal end. The forces applied to the endoscope are transferred to the surrounding tissue and may be problematic and painful. Movement of the endoscope may cause spasms and may, in certain cases, even perforate the intestine. It is therefore necessary to perform the procedure slowly and at times, it may not be possible to reach remote areas without unduly traumatizing surrounding tissue.
Various guides have been developed in order to absorb this stress and facilitate insertion of the endoscope while minimizing the impact on the lumenal walls. However, the current guides are often expensive, bulky and/or require added steps which unduly complicate the procedures.


The present invention provides a method for an efficient elucidation of the function of a protein or peptide encoded coded by cDNA, in which only a partial sequence of the protein or peptide is elucidated and the function is unknown. The method adding an antisense oligonucleotide complementary to the partial sequence of the cDNA to an evaluating system for the biological function, whereby the protein or the peptide encoded by said cDNA can be expressed. Accordingly, the function of the protein/peptide encoded by a cDNA can be efficiently elucidated even in a stage where only a partial sequence of said cDNA is analyzed.

1. Field of the Invention
With an object of elucidating and analyzing the function of novel DNA such as cDNA which has a possibility of being associated with certain types of diseases in a specific organ or tissue and wherein the nucleotide sequence of said DNA is partially sequenced, the present invention relates to a method for probing the function of said cDNA using an antisense oligonucleotide complementary to the partial sequence of said cDNA. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for efficiently probing the function of a protein encoded by a DNA wherein the nucleotide sequence of said DNA is partially sequenced, e.g., obtained by a random decoding of cDNA library and the like, whereby pharmaceuticals, diagnostic agents, chemical reagents, etc. can be developed.
2. Description of Related Art
At present, it is assumed that there are several tens of thousands of genes which code for proteins and peptides in the cells of animals including human being. In a human genome project which has been proceeded in the field of genetic engineering, revelation of the primary structure of proteins encoded by all human genes is one of the most important targets. However there is a problem that, even if the nucleotide sequence of the genome is revealed, the primary structure of the protein encoded by said revealed sequence cannot be determined because, usually, there are many intron regions in genes.
In addition, even if the structure of each gene is determined, it does not help elucidate life phenomena, particularly various biological phenomena based upon the function of the protein encoded by human gene until it becomes clear what kind of functions such many genes have. Furthermore, it is useless to developing useful pharmaceuticals or non-contributable to the therapy of various diseases and illnesses. As a result of development of biochemical and molecular biological techniques, structures and functions of some proteins and peptides have been revealed already. The actual status is, however, that few genes have ever been isolated and revealed in terms of the structure and function of the coded proteins. Most of the rest have not been imagined at all even for the types and the numbers thereof. It is expected that, among such unknown proteins and peptides, some will be targets for the development of unique pharmaceuticals, diagnostic agents and chemical reagents. Thus, it is very important to know not only the sequence information of gene but also the functions of said gene, particularly the functions of the proteins encoded by the gene.
According to the conventional methods, however, a substantial amount of labor and cost is required for finding out novel proteins and peptides and also for elucidating their structures and functions. Therefore, it has not been possible to investigate them in an efficient manner. In brief, in such conventional methods, it is necessary to find a biological function in which novel protein/peptide is thought to participate. However, when the known assessment system for biological functions is utilized, discrimination with known protein/peptide is difficult and, preferably, it is necessary to find a novel biological function. Consequently, most of endeavors for finding novel proteins and peptides have been devoted to the investigation of such novel biological functions. However, even if novel proteins/peptides can be found by chance, they are obtained in a very small amount in most of the cases. In view of the above, it is necessary that protein is purified paying much labor, that a partial amino acid sequence is determined and that, based upon the resulting sequence, cDNA which codes for said protein/peptide is cloned. Although an expression cloning using, as an index, a biological function has been conducted, there has been little cases of success. As such, it has been only possible to utilize it to the development of pharmaceuticals, diagnostic agents and chemical reagents as a result of a series of voluminous and complicated studies from finding of the function until cloning of cDNA which may require much labor and cost. Under such circumstances, it is not easy to investigate many proteins and peptides. Furthermore, such a means cannot be utilized for the case where the biological function is entirely unknown.
In recent years, there has been a rapid progress in genetic engineering techniques and the studies have been carried out in an effective manner but, in spite of that, the technique such as a cDNA cloning requires skill and experience. Especially in the case of sequencing of cloned cDNA, it should be conducted by hand using radioisotopes (RI). However, as a result of a recent development and improvement in analyzers for nucleotide sequences (DNA sequencers), it has been possible to conduct an analysis of nucleotide sequences without the use of RI and, moreover, in an automatic manner. As such, the analysis of nucleotide sequences which was conducted only by the use of cloned cDNA fragments can now be carried out using much more cDNA fragments as objects. Thus, if the nucleotide sequences can be elucidated one after another by such a means and if the structures of the proteins and peptides encoded thereby can be clarified, it will be now possible to effectively achieve the novel proteins and peptides.
In view of the above, projects (a representative example is a human genome project) in which only the partial sequence of cDNA library is randomly decoded and the resulting sequences are analyzed after putting in a database have been carried out throughout the world. As a result, when a cDNA which has a homology with the cDNA coding for known protein/peptide is obtained, functions of the protein/peptide encoded by said cDNA can now be presumed to a considerable extent from the resulting sequence information only. In fact, subtypes of known proteins and peptides have been successively elucidated by means of such an approach.
However, it is usual that most of cDNA's do not exhibit a homology which is sufficient for estimating the function with the cDNA which codes for known proteins and peptides. Therefore, even if a lot of partial sequences of cDNA are determined, there is very little possibility of success in revealing the function. Accordingly, the actual present status is that there have been many accumulations of partial sequences of cDNA wherein the sequences themselves are novel but neither structure nor function encoded thereby are elucidated. It is not easy to elucidate the structure and function of coded proteins/peptides based on the partial nucleotide sequence of novel cDNA.
For example, in the case of presumption of an amino acid sequence from a nucleotide sequence of cDNA having novel sequence, there are six translation frames which have a possibility of coding for the protein or peptide. When there is entirely no nucleotide sequence such as TGA, TAG or TAA which is supposed to be a translation termination codon at the downstream from ATG (which is supposed to be a translation initiation codon) or at the upstream from TGA, TAG or TAA (which is supposed to be a translation termination codon) in the above six frames, then a possibility that the amino acid sequence encoded by said frame is an amino acid sequence of the protein/peptide encoded by said cDNA will be strongly suggested. There is also a possibility that, when there is entirely no nucleotide sequence such as TGA, TAG or TAA supposed to be a translation termination codon, all of those translation frames will code for the peptide or protein. In addition, when the nucleotide sequence is partially substituted or dropped due -to an error in analyzing the nucleotide sequence, there is a possibility of substitution of the partially coded amino acid sequence or of a shift of the translation frame. Accordingly, at present, it is possible to decide the correct amino acid sequence of the protein/petide encoded by said cDNA only when the cDNA having a full-length translation frame (an area between the translation initiation codon [ATG] at the upstream and that [TGA/TAG/TAA] at the downstream in a single translation frame) is available and its entire nucleotide sequence is determined.
Only when such problems are overcome, it is possible to chemically synthesize the partial peptide of said protein/peptide or to prepare said protein/peptide in full by means of genetic engineering in large quantities. For example, it is possible to prepare antiserum/antibody against said protein/peptide or to label it with a suitable fluorescent substance or radioisotope. However, investigation of the function requires many additional difficulties and labor.
In addition, it has been known to investigate the function by an introduction to cultured cells or transgenic animals either as they are or after a modification followed by an excessive expression or a destruction but all of those need a lot of cost and time and they are not able to be commonly applied to many cDNAs.
As mentioned hereinabove, although it is easy to decide the partial sequence of cDNA, it is still difficult to decide the function of the protein/peptide encoded thereby.
Now, the role played by cDNA will be considered. Since cDNA is an artificially synthesized DNA using a reverse transcriptase wherein mRNA is used as a template, it has a nucleotide sequence complementary to mRNA. Accordingly, unlike genome DNA wherein protein-coding regions are interrupted by intervening sequences (introns), it is possible to decide the amino acid sequence of the coded protein by deciding the nucleotide sequence of cDNA. The characteristic features of cDNA as compared with genome DNA are (1) since there is no intron, the primary structure of the coded protein can be determined immediately when the nucleotide sequence is sequenced; (2) since its size is small, it can be handled easily; and (3) when a suitable promoter or the like can be utilized, it can be expressed in all types of cells from eukaryotic to prokaryotic ones.
In addition, although it is not possible to check from the structure when and in which cell it is expressed in the case of genome, an expression in the cell can be surely proved in the case of cDNA upon the completion of cloning. Accordingly, such a tissue specificity is one of the very useful information for checking the function of the gene. When such a property of cDNA is taken into consideration, the importance of the role played by cDNA in a human genome project can be clarified.
Now, in the current technology, cDNA whose structure is completely analyzed is essential for analysis of structure and function of the gene which is a functional unit of genome. However, in the current art, it is still difficult to obtain a full-length cDNA clone. Moreover, it is substantially impossible to check the function directly from the cDNA whose structure is elucidated only partly. Accordingly, so far as the conventional investigating means for the function analysis is utilized, the current status is that initiation of the study for elucidating its function is not possible from the information for the partial sequence only of the voluminous cDNA library and that will be a large problem in proceeding the study. In addition, even when the structure of the full-length cDNA is elucidated, much difficulty and labor are needed for construct the expression system which effectively expresses the desired protein from said information only. In fact, at present, any researching means for investigating the function from the cDNA sequence information wherein only partial sequence is known has not been established yet.
Now, an art in which a repression of expression of gene is conducted by a chemical synthesized oligonucleotide having a complementary sequence to a sequence in a domain specific to said gene or mRNA transcribed from said gene is widely known as an antisense method (G. Zon, Pharmaceutical Res., 5(9). 539 (1988); C. A. Stein et al., Cancer Res., 48, 2659(1988); E. Uhlman et al., Chemical Rev., 90(4), 543 (1990); J. Goodchild, Bioconjugate Chem., 1(3), 165 (1990)). Attempts for conducting the repression of expression of virus gene, oncogenes, etc. using such an antisense oligonucleotide has been investigated particularly in detail. The antisense oligonucleotide used therefor has a disadvantage that it is easily decomposed by a hydrolase such as nuclease when the oligonucleotide is in a natural phosphate structure. Therefore, in order to improve the stability against such an enzyme, various nucleotide derivatives which are chemically modified in phosphate groups or sugar-hydroxyl groups have been developed. An example of derivatives in which a phosphate group in nucleotide is modified is a phosphorothioate (F. Eckstein, Angew. Chem., 6, 431 (1983); F. Eckstein et al., Biochemistry, 23, 3443 (1984); J. W. Stec et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 106, 6077 (1984); F. Eckstein et al., Ann. Rev. Biochem., 54, 367 (1985)), a methylphosphonate (P. S. Millar et al., Biochemistry, 18, 5134 (1979); P. S. Millar et al., Biochimie, 67, 769 (1985); P. O. P. Ts'O et al., Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci., 507, 220 (1988)), etc.
In addition, a method of methylating a 2'-hydroxyl group has been proposed as one of the attempts for improving the stability by modifying the 2'-hydroxyl group of a ribose ring which is a constituting unit of the nucleotide (Y. Furukawa et al., Chem. Pharm. Bull., 13, 1273 (1965); E. Ohtsuka et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 15, 6131 (1987)). Among those, a phosphorothioate derivative (which completely covers the mRNA to be treated and, thereafter, is able to become a substrate hydrolyzable with RNase H) is fully capable of achieving an antisense effect, is stable to hydrolase or the like and exhibits a relatively low cell toxicity and, accordingly, it is used as the best antisense derivative at this moment. As such, phosphorothioate derivatives have been widely utilized as an effective means for repression of expression of genes.
At present, this method of elucidating the function of cDNA by means of an antisense method using an antisense oligonucleotide such as said phosphorothioate derivatives was reported to be used with an object of confirming the presumed function of said cDNA after presuming almost all of the functions of the cDNA by a homology investigation or the like of the sequence information with the known gene as a result of analysis of full-length nucleotide sequence of cDNA (H. Weintraub et al., Trends in Genetics, 1, 22 (1985); C. V. Cabrera et al., Cell, 50, 659 (1987); C. Inoue et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 84, 6659 (1987); R. Heikkila et al., Nature, 328, 445 (1987); P. Harrison et al., Lancet, 342, 254 (1993); C. Wahlestdt et al., Nature, 363, 260 (1993); A. Osensand et al., Nature, 364, 445 (1993)). However, there has been no case of utilization of the antisense method for elucidating the function of novel cDNA wherein only partial sequence is known.
As such, the means which have been known for investigating the function from the structure of gene are:
(1) a method in which the function which is intensified by an excessive expression of the gene is analyzed; and PA1 (2) a method in which a homology with known genes using is investigated by computers. PA1 (1) a method for probing the function of a protein encoded by a cDNA wherein a nucleotide of said cDNA is partially sequenced, which comprises assessing the change of biological actions when an antisense oligonucleotide substantially complementary to the partial nucleotide sequence to an assessment system for biological functions thereof; and PA1 (2) a method according to (1) in which said partial nucleotide sequence is a segment positioned at the 5'-terminal region of a full-length nucleotide sequence of said cDNA. PA1 (3) a method according to (1) in which said antisense oligonucleotide is selected from the group consisting of polydeoxynucleotides containing 2'-deoxy-D-ribose, polyribonucleotides containing D-ribose, any other type of polynucleotide which is an N-glycoside of a purine or pyrimidine base, or other polymers containing nonnucleotide backbones including protein nucleic acids and synthetic sequence specific nucleic acid polymers commercially available or nonstandard linkages, providing that the polymers contain nucleotides in a configuration which allows for base pairing and base stacking such as is found in DNA and RNA; PA1 (4) a method according to (1) wherein said antisense oligonucleotide is selected from the group consisting of methyl phosphonates, phosphorotriesters, phosphoramidates, carbamates, phosphorothioates, and phosphorodithioates; and PA1 (5) a method for probing the function of a protein encoded by a cDNA wherein a nucleotide of said cDNA is partially sequenced but no biological action thereof is known, which comprises: PA1 (6) a method for probing the function of a protein encoded by cDNA wherein a nucleotide of said DNA is partially sequenced by techniques including a random decoding, etc. of the cDNA library, etc., which comprises the following steps: PA1 (7) a method according to any of (1) to (6) in which the assessment system for the biological function wherein the protein or peptide encoded by said cDNA can be expressed is a cell having a possibility of expressing the protein or peptide encoded by said cDNA; PA1 (8) a method according to any of (1) to (7) in which the assessment system for the biological function wherein the protein or peptide encoded by said cDNA is a cell which is capable of expressing the mRNA having a nucleotide sequence complementary to said cDNA; PA1 (9) a method according to any of (1) to (8) in which the cell used for the assessment system is a cell culture; PA1 (10) a method according to any of (1) to (9) in which the cell used for the assessment system is a cell selected from the group consisting of nerve cell, bone cell, muscle cell, blood vessel cell, endocrine cell, lymphocyte, reticuloendothelial cell and the like or, more particularly, a selected from the group consisting of smooth muscle cell, endothelial cell, fibroblast, epithelial cell, blood cell and the like; PA1 (11) a method according to any of (1) to (10) in which the cell used for the assessment system is a cell derived from the tissues which constitute epidermis, mucous membrane, exocrine gland, endocrine gland, lung, digestive organ, urinary/genital gland, genital cell, liver, fat tissue, connective tissue, blood vessel, muscle, hematocyte, bone marrow, nerve, etc. and is an established cell strain or a primary cultured cell from the above normal or tumorized tissue; PA1 (12) a method according to any of (1) to (11) in which the change of biological actions is a promotion or an inhibition of the production of enzyme, extracellular matrix and adhesion molecule, transcription controlling factor, growth factor, hormone, cytokine, differentiation/induction factor, chemotaxic factor, neurotransmitter and the like in the cell; PA1 (13) a method according to any of (1) to (12) in which the change of biological actions is a production of a factor related to various amplifications and differentiations or a gene-expression regulating factor such as growth factor, hormone, cytokine, a chemotaxic factor such as a factor capable of promoting the migration of leukocyte, protein capable of increasing the phagocytosis or bacteriocidal ability of leukocyte, lymphocyte growth factor, T cell activating factor, T cell growth factor, antigen-specific inhibiting factor specifically acting on an immune system, antigen-nonspecific inhibiting factor, etc. as well as various gene products including various enzymes and regulatory factors and also a promotion or an inhibition of the production of said gene products in cells; PA1 (14) a method according to any of (1) to (11) in which the change of biological actions is a change on the surface of the cell, such as production of receptor protein or production of adhesion molecules, or a change outside the cell, such as a formation of extracellular matrix; PA1 (15) a method according to any of (1) to (11) in which the change of biological actions is: PA1 (16) a method according to any of (1) to (11) in which the change of biological actions is a change in the second messenger (such as liberation of arachidonic acid, liberation of acetylcholine, liberation of Ca.sup.+2 , generation of cAMP, generation of cGMP, production of inositol phosphate metabolites, change in cell membrane potentials, phosphorylation of protein, activation of c-fos and change in pH); PA1 (17) a method according to any of (1) to (11) in which the change of biological actions is a morphological change of cells such as elongation of neutrite, shrinking or expansion of the cell, generation and disappearance of intracellular granules, etc.; PA1 (18) a method according to any of (1) to (17) which is a series of processes comprising: PA1 (19) a pharmaceutical or diagnostic composition or chemical reagent comprising an effective amount of a protein whose function is elucidated by a method according to any of (1) to (18); PA1 (20) a method for developing a pharmaceutical or diagnostic composition or chemical reagent which comprises using an assessment system for the biological function of the protein elucidated by a method according to any of (1) to (18); PA1 (21) a pharmaceutical or diagnostic composition or chemical reagent comprising an effective amount of an antisense oligonucleotide per se prepared in a probing method according to any of (1) to (18); PA1 (22) a method according to any of (1) to (17), in which the assessment step (b) is carried out in a system capable of detecting a biological response relying on said cDNA; PA1 (23) a method according to any of (1) to (18), in which said detecting system is an in vitro system; and PA1 (24) a method according to any of (1) to (18), in which said detecting system is an in vivo system.
In elucidating the function of cDNA using the method of (1), it is unavoidable to firstly clone the cDNA of a full length for completely coding for protein so that all of its sequence information is checked. In constructing the expression system wherein the desired protein can be efficiently expressed from such an information, a lot of difficulties and labor are needed.
In the method (2), it is possible to investigate the function from the information on a partial sequence provided for the highly homologous sequence, but if it remains to show the lower homologous sequence, an elucidation of the function of cDNA from said cDNA wherein only the partial sequence is known (that is an object of the present invention) is not possible.

Method of probing the function of proteins or peptides encoded by partially sequenced cDNAs by inhibiting protein synthesis with antisense oligonucleotides


A computing device for managing a security system is disclosed. The computing device includes one or more processors. In some embodiments, the one or more processors can receive a number of events occurring in one or more of a number of polling loop networks. The events are monitored by a control device. The one or more processors can determine whether an occurrence frequency of the events exceeds a first threshold, where the occurrence frequency is defined as a number of the events divided by a period of time during which the events occurred. The one or more processors can in response to determining that the occurrence frequency exceeds the first threshold, automatically notify a user of the security system via a web application.

A security system, including a number of security devices, can interconnect the security devices by one or more communications techniques, e.g., a polling loop. In such a system that uses polling loops to communicate, a control panel generally polls or queries each of the security device on some periodic basis in order to ensure that the security devices are up and running. To assure the control panel can properly communicate with the security devices, irregular events occurring on the polling loop are desired to be monitored.

Systems and methods for managing a security system


A device for securing a dispensing nozzle to a fill tank includes a securing mechanism and a means for connecting the securing mechanism to the fill tank's cap chain. After connected to a fuel tank cap chain and upon subsequent attachment to a dispensing nozzle, the device prevents the nozzle from dislodging from the fuel tank.

The present invention relates to a device for securing a dispensing nozzle to a fill tank. While this application focuses on the invention's usefulness for securing a gasoline, diesel, or other fuel dispensing nozzle to a fill tank on a passenger or other motorized vehicle (truck in the trucking industry), one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize the invention's applicability for securing any type of dispenser to a receiving container.
During refueling of fuel tanks on motor vehicles, such as semi-trucks, a driver will often leave the nozzle unattended without any means to secure the nozzle to the fill tank. As a result, fuel spills occur where the nozzle dislodges from the tank due to a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, manual interference with the nozzle's hose, weather conditions, and pressure changes in the fuel line. Such spillage creates environmental clean-up issues, pollution, health and safety risks, and other undesirable hazards.
Some devices endeavor to rectify this problem.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,017,630 introduces a spout coupling and member extending therefrom into the fuel tank.
In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 5,385,182 introduces a nozzle clamp and latch, which also extends into the fuel tank.
In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 4,557,302 introduces a nozzle retainer ring.
Such devices function by long term modification of or attachment to a dispensing nozzle and are not designed to be easily transported with a tank from one nozzle to the next in between fueling. Presently, no device exists that a driver can transport between and use at various fueling stations. Furthermore, prior devices, such as those cited previously may be obsolete where fuel tank inlets are too narrow to permit the insertion of the devices.
A device for securing a dispensing nozzle to a fill tank that does not rely on or operate by long-term attachment to a dispensing nozzle or by insertion into a fuel tank inlet would constitute a significant advancement in the art.

Device for securing a dispensing nozzle to a fill tank


In order to control the sonde of an underground object, such as an underground boring tool, a predetermined sequence of rotation steps is applied to the object and that sequence is detected. The detection of the appropriate sequence causes the sonde to change its function, for example by changing the carrier frequency of the signal transmitted by the sonde on to change the data output sequence or transfer rate, or to change output power. While it is possible to use a single rotation step, the use of more than one step, with each step to be carried out within a predetermined time, reduces the risk of error.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the control of an underground object. It is particularly, but not exclusively, concerned with the control of a sonde forming part of an underground boring tool.
2. Summary of the Prior Art
It is well known that if an underground boring tool generates a magnetic field, that magnetic field can be detected above ground by a suitable locator. An example of this is described in e.g WO96/29615 in which a solenoid on or in the underground tool generates a magnetic field which is detected to measuring locations. It is also possible, by modulating the magnetic field, to transmit information from the underground boring tool to the locator. Therefore, it is possible to have a sonde in which such field generation, modulation, etc is controlled. The sonde then makes it possible to transmit information from the underground boring tool to the locator.
In particular, it is possible for the sonde to transmit data representing the orientation of the underground boring tool. In WO96/29615, the boring tool incorporated a tilt sensor, and the sonde could then transmit the data from that sensor to the locator. Other sensors, such as roll sensors, may also be provided.
In such arrangements, the sonde generated a low frequency electromagnetic field (typically 8 to 30 kHz), which carrier is modulated to transmit sensor data. Such communication is thus from the sonde to the locator, and there is no direct communication from the locator to the sonde.
Normally, the carrier signal generated by the sonde is at a predetermined frequency. The locator is then controlled to detect that carrier frequency, and the modulations thereon. However, signalling between the sonde and the locator may be affected by interference from underground sources of electromagnetic radiation such as electrical cables, or the magnetic field distortion effects of buried metallic structures. Such interference effects are frequency dependent, and therefore it is possible that transmission between the sonde and the locator at a particular frequency may be greatly affected by such interference, whereas transmission at another frequency may not be affected, or affected much less. Of course, changing the carrier frequency may also affect the range of transmission between the sonde and the locator, battery life, etc, and therefore there is potentially a balance between these factors. If the operator of the locator finds that interference is a problem, the operator may decide that operating at another carrier frequency would be beneficial. However, in the existing systems, it is not possible for the operator to signal to the sonde to change frequency.
It would, of course, be possible to provide a suitable signalling path from the locator to the sonde by increasing the complexity of both the locator and the sonde. This would increase the size and cost of the sonde, which may not be desirable or practical for an underground boring tool.
However, existing underground boring tools are normally connected to their drive in a way which permits the drive to rotate the boring tool. Many underground boring tools have an axially offset slanted face which enables the boring tool to be steered so that it moves in the desired direction at any time. In order to detect this rotation, sondes associated with such tools include a roll sensor, information from which can be transmitted to the locator. In normal circumstances, the information from the roll sensor is used by the operator to control the direction of movement of the boring tool.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A method for managing recipes in a semiconductor manufacturing process which includes resolving a recipe to provide a resolved recipe using a configuration for a current context and rendering the recipe to provide a rendered recipe. The rendered recipe corresponds to a format suitable for consumption by an equipment interface of the semiconductor manufacturing process.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to semiconductor manufacturing and more particularly to recipe management in semiconductor manufacturing.
2. Description of the Related Art
A recipe, or process program, is a piece of data that sets forth what a semiconductor manufacturing machine will do when the machine is run. These recipes are important to the proper manufacturing of a product. Accordingly, it is desirable that known good recipes be kept in a secured, version-controlled repository. Such a repository is called a recipe manager.
Each recipe typically includes a recipe body which has a number of configuration settings encoded within the recipe body. Changing these configuration settings involves changing the recipe body via a process called recipe editing. In many cases, the recipe can also be accompanied by variable parameters that are provided along with the recipe body. The settings of variable parameters override or augment settings in the recipe body.
One important client of a recipe manager program is the equipment interface. Equipment interfaces consult the recipe manager before processing and receive back a set of recipe bodies and variable parameter settings that are used for processing (collectively called a recipe). Current recipe managers allow users to select a recipe as well as to interactively set the values of variable parameters that are provided to machines at particular contexts. In a few limited cases, the recipe managers are capable of altering the settings inside recipes. Due to the proliferation of advanced process control (APC), which provides for continuous, automated changes to processes, an interactive approach to recipe management is becoming obsolete.
Known equipment integration techniques typically have the recipe manager download interactively configured recipes to the equipment interface and then have the equipment interface query an APC application for settings that override the setting received from the recipe manager. The equipment interface then either modifies the recipe body or changes the settings of the appropriate variable parameters. Although this technique can be made to work, deploying logic to make modifications to multiple interfaces is often tedious, expensive, and redundant. Modifying recipe bodies and variable parameters are recipe management tasks. Performing the recipe modifications at each of a plurality of equipment interfaces may make it difficult to assemble a coherent history of all of the actual values used in processing. These actual values are of significance to process control and yield analysis.
The SECS II communication standard (E5) defines the format and protocol by which a recipe body and its associated variable parameters are transmitted to the equipment interface. There is presently no known corresponding standard, however, defining the format in which the recipe body and variable parameters are transmitted from the recipe manager to the equipment interface. Each legacy recipe manager defines its own format, and it is up to the integrator to transform that format into the appropriate structure and data types for communication with a specific equipment interface.

Render-resolve method of obtaining configurations and formatting it for use by semiconductor equipment interfaces


Disclosed are methods, systems, and non-transitory computer-readable medium for deriving platform feedback data from raw feedback data for dynamic retrieval by downstream subsystems. For example, a method may include detecting a return notification trigger of a user, identifying segment data, determining a return notification form identifier based on the segment data, loading an electronic return notification form corresponding to the return notification form identifier, receiving raw feedback data from the user device, deriving platform feedback data from the raw feedback data using a plurality of mappings stored in one or more electronic mapping databases, and storing the platform feedback data in at least one of a feedback service component and a return notification service component, in one or more formats configured for retrieval by one or more downstream subsystems associated with managing and/or analyzing the one or more wearable items.

Online service provider systems may collect user feedback at an electronic platform. Collecting user feedback data and electronically rendering the feedback data to other subsystems may help generate useful analytics data associated with user transactions, inventories, and operations of the online service. However, there may be multiple different versions of electronic feedback forms to be utilized for collecting user feedback data, depending on circumstances such as technical contexts, users, or segments. For example, because some mobile application users may not update their applications to the latest version in a certain time frame, the online service provider systems may be running different versions of electronic feedback forms for user interfaces of different users. In addition, different vendors or platform tenants may, for example, require utilizing differently arranged electronic feedback forms to suit their own needs. Thus, it may be highly desirable for an online service provider system to be able to dynamically render different types of feedback forms onto different user interfaces. It may also be highly desirable for an online service provider system to be able to dynamically map the elements collected from different electronic feedback forms to a uniform set of core metrics that may be utilized by other subsystems of the online service provider system.
The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Unless otherwise indicated herein, the materials described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art, or suggestions of the prior art, by inclusion in this section.

Systems and methods for deriving platform feedback data for dynamic retrieval by downstream subsystems


Along with displaying on a map a sign which indicates the type of a traffic event at the side of the traffic lane upon which the traffic event has occurred, the sign and the position of the traffic event are displayed upon the map in a state of being connected together by a line or by a drawing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device and a method for displaying road traffic information.
2. Description of Related Art
A road traffic information display device is known which, in order to classify road traffic information into information related to the flow of traffic upon a lane in one direction along a road and information related to the flow of traffic upon a lane in the other direction along the road, displays the road traffic information upon a screen by displacing it to the right side or to the left side from the center of the road (for example, refer to Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication 2001-208557).

Traffic information display device, traffic information display method, and on-vehicle electronic apparatus


The melt strength and hence the processing window of blends of polycarbonate and PBT can be enhanced without degradation in the surface appearance of the article produced when relatively minor amounts of certain selected polymers are added to the blend. For example, a composition that has a thermoforming processing window of at least 15° C. for an article having a weight that is more than 100 grams, may contain 15 to 80% by weight of a polycarbonate resin; 10 to 80% by weight of polybutylene terephthalate, and 1 to 15% by weight of a semicrystalline melt strength enhancer. The melt strength enhancer is polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polycyclohexane-dimethyl terephthalate (PCT), polycyclohexanedimethyl terephthalate glycol (PCT-G), and (poly)ethylene co 1,4 cyclohexanedimethylene terephthlate (PET-G), or a combination thereof.

The present application relates to thermoformable polycarbonate/polyester compositions and to the use of such compositions in molded articles. The compositions of the invention are significant because the having a large processing window, thus facilitating the making of molded articles.
Numerous disclosures exist of products that combine polycarbonate and polyester components. As is common in combinations of polymers, these compositions make use of selected materials in selected amounts that emphasize certain desired characteristics for a particular product application, while minimizing undesirable side-effects. Thus, many compositions represent a compromise trading the good properties for a limited number of less desirable properties. In the compositions of the invention, the desired application is thermoforming or blow-molding, and the desired characteristics are a large processing window (sometimes called a forming window) and a quality product.
The processing window is the difference (in degrees C.) between the highest and the lowest temperatures over which thermoforming can be successfully performed. It is not an indication of the actual temperature required, but rather of the flexibility of the processing requirements. By way of example, XENOY™ X5300WX, a blend of polycarbonate and polybutylene terphthalate (PBT) sold by General Electric Co. has a narrow thermoforming processing window of less than 5° C.
Narrow processing windows arise because the melt strength of the material is low, such that cohesion is lost during forming if the temperature is significantly above the temperature at which the material is soft enough to form at all. To overcome this problem, the art has employed melt strength enhancers. One such material is styrene-acrylonitrile encapsulated polytetrafluoroethylene (TSAN, CAS NO: 9002-84-0) which is commonly employed to reduce drips (a consequence of added melt strength) and therefore enhance flame retardance in polycarbonate compositions. However, as demonstrated below, PC/PBT compositions made with TSAN as a melt enhancer can suffer from visible surface defects, making this approach less desirable.
WO 2005/066277 discloses polycarbonate/polyester compositions in which polycarbonate are combined with polycyclohexyldimethylterephthalate (PCT) or polycyclohexyldimethylterephthalate glycol (PCT-G). The results presented showed that melt strength was superior for compositions containing just branched polycarbonate was better than for one containing a mixture of branched and linear polycarbonate. The results further showed that higher levels of PCT-G had lower melt strength. Blends of PCT or PCT-G with polycarbonate and a poly-organosiloxane core shell impact modifier are disclosed in PCT Application WO98/17725. WO02/36685 discloses blends of 5 to 45% by weight polycarbonate and 55 to 95% of a copolyester such as PCT or PCT-G. WO 2004/069931 discloses compositions that contain polycarbonate, PCT and PCT-G for use in extrusion blow-molding.

Thermoformable polycarbonate/polyester compositions and uses


A fluid valve system is provided for a variable stroke motor. The valve has a housing forming a cylinder, a first fluid input into the cylinder, a first fluid output out of the cylinder, a second fluid input into the cylinder, and a second fluid output out of the cylinder. Provided within the cylinder is a shaft provided with slots. As the shaft rotates into a first position, fluid communication between the first fluid input and the first fluid output is shut off, while fluid communication between the second fluid input and second fluid output is opened. As the shaft rotates to a second position, communication between the first fluid input and first fluid output is opened, while the communication between the second fluid input and the second fluid output is shut off. The device is preferably hooked up to a drive cylinder in fluid communication with the first fluid output and the second fluid input. A piston is provided within the drive cylinder. A fluid supply is operably coupled to the first fluid input and means are provided for rotating the shaft at a constant speed. As pressure of the fluid increases, the stroke of the piston increases, thereby generating a longer piston stroke, while the speed of the rotating shaft remains constant.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates in general to a valve and associated piston actuated motor, and, more particularly, to a variable stroke motor and valve rotated at a constant speed.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the prior art internal combustion piston-type devices, it is known to inject a liquid hydrocarbon into a piston assembly, draw the piston outward to create a vacuum strong enough to vaporize the hydrocarbon, and then compress the hydrocarbon before ignition thereof. Since the ignition of the hydrocarbon gas typically creates waste material and uses up most of the oxidizer within the piston assembly, work must be performed to remove the waste material and introduce fresh oxidizer into the piston assembly before more hydrocarbon may be combusted.
One drawback associated with the internal combustion engine is the pollution generated by such an engine. Additionally, since fuels typically do not burn cleanly in an internal combustion engine waste deposits build up within the piston which can either decrease the efficiency of the engine or require regular maintenance of the engine.
An additional drawback associated with internal combustion engines is the range of speeds at which typical internal combustion engines operate. Since internal combustion engines operate based upon a predetermined stroke length, the force of the combustion must be at least adequate to move the piston this predetermined stroke length. The force, however, must not be too large, otherwise components of the internal combustion engine may be damaged. Although the "force" of the stroke may be manipulated, the length of the stroke in an internal combustion engine typically cannot be varied. Accordingly, vehicles powered by internal combustion engines typically require a clutch and gearing to step up or step down the rotational energy produced by the internal combustion engine.
The difficulties encountered in the prior art discussed hereinabove are substantially eliminated by the present invention. The present invention is designed to provide a variable stroke motor with a constant speed rotating valve to increase efficiency and decrease the drawbacks associated with prior art internal combustion engines.


A speed-change apparatus for satisfactorily performing the automatic gear shifting of the conventional gear transmission by controlling two motors comprises a select mechanisms including a stepping-motor 2, a select shaft provided with a select gear meshing with a motor gear 3 for transferring the rotation, a device for connecting the select shaft with the select-shift rod of the gear transmission, and a select sensor 6 for detecting an angle of rotation of the select shaft; the shift mechanism comprises a shift motor 9, an intermediate shaft 12, an actuator gear 11 meshing with a motor gear 10 for transferring rotation, a long actuator gear 13 provided on the periphery of the intermediate shaft 12, a shift shaft provided with a male screw 15, a cylindrical slider 17 with a female screw 16 meshing with the male screw 15 a shift gear 14 meshing with the long actuator gear 13, a mechanism coupled with the slider 17 for connecting the slider 17 with the select-shift rod, and a stroke sensor 19 for detecting an amount of axial movement of the slider 17.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an automatic speed-change apparatus for a gear transmission.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In order to release the driver from the troublesome operation of the speed change in the gear transmission, there has been developed an apparatus in which the mechanism for the manual gear transmission is used as it is and the speed change and the clutch operation are automated through the hydraulic apparatus by the computer control. However, it requires three cylinders for clutching, shifting and selecting, and a number of electromagnetic valves to actuate these cylinders, and further requires a hydraulic system, so that it has such problems as complicated structure, large size and high cost.
Also, a speed-change apparatus in which motors are used as actuators to select or shift the gear transmission has been disclosed in JP publication Toku-ko-sho 61-51697, for example. However, this apparatus requires certain numbers of motors depending on the numbers of the select lines, and because of using a plurality of motors or solenoids, it results in a complicated structure and large size apparatus and further in high cost.

Automatic speed-change apparatus for a gear transmission


A process and also to a system for cleaning and maintaining a medical hand-held instrument, in particular a dental hand-held instrument, with an elongate grip sleeve in which elements are arranged which pertain to a drive arrangement and which are, in particular, rotatably supported, for example a shaft. For the purpose of cleaning and maintaining the hand-held instrument different media are conducted through it. In this connection a first medium, for example oil, is conducted merely through a power-transmission region surrounding the elements of the drive arrangement, whereas, on the other hand, a second medium, for example a cleaning agent, is conducted additionally also through at least one further cavity within the hand-held instrument.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a process for cleaning and maintaining a medical hand-held instrument, in particular a dental hand-held instrument, that exhibits an elongate grip sleeve in which elements are arranged which pertain to a drive arrangement and which are, in particular, rotatably supported, wherein for the purpose of cleaning and maintaining the hand-held instrument different media are conducted through it. The invention relates furthermore to a system for cleaning and maintaining a medical hand-held instrument, in particular a dental hand-held instrument, that exhibits an elongate grip sleeve in which elements are arranged which pertain to a drive arrangement and which are, in particular, rotatably supported, the system being designed, for the purpose of cleaning and maintaining the hand-held instrument, to conduct different media through it. The invention relates furthermore to a process and a system for operating a medical hand-held instrument, in particular a dental hand-held instrument, that exhibits an elongate grip sleeve in which elements are arranged which pertain to a drive arrangement and which are, in particular, rotatably supported.
Related Technology
For the purpose of cleaning and maintaining a corresponding dental hand-held instrument in the form of an anglepiece it is known to clean the rotatably supported elements of the drive arrangement with a cleaning agent or cleaning fluid in a first step and to lubricate or oil them in a subsequent, second step. In this process the cleaning agent and the oil are conducted through cavity regions of the anglepiece that extend directly around rotatably supported elements of the drive arrangement. The anglepiece includes, besides these cavity regions which are perfused by the cleaning agent and the oil, yet further cavity regions, which are connected to the external space of the anglepiece via jointing gaps. These further cavity regions are connected to one another by a light-means guide, a coolant guide and ducts for sensor lines and power lines and at the same time are almost hermetically shielded or separated from the first-named cavity regions perfused by the cleaning agent and the oil. With the known process for cleaning and maintenance, the further cavity regions are consequently not treated. There is therefore a risk that pathogens, for example viruses, that have penetrated into the further cavity regions within the scope of a dental application of the anglepiece will not be removed from the anglepiece by the cleaning and maintenance and will subsequently allow a risk of infection to arise for users and patients.

Process and system for cleaning and maintaining and for operating a medical hand-held instrument