A moveable swivel joint assembly for joining a pair of pipes. A male body member includes a first open end attachable to one of the pipes and a second end having external threads, with a recess in the second end on each side of the external threads. A female body member includes a first open end attachable to the other pipe and a second end having internal threads which mate with the male body member external threads. A pair of o-ring seals are provided, one o-ring seal residing in each recess in order to provide an internal and external seal for the swivel joint assembly while allowing rotation of the body members with each other.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a swivel joint assembly for joining a pair of pipes together while allowing movement of the pipes with respect to each other. In particular, the present invention is directed to a pipe swivel joint assembly that will seal both internally and externally of the joint assembly.
2. Prior Art
Bulk liquid products, such as petroleum products, are often stored in large cylindrical storage tanks. Different types of roof structures are provided for the storage tanks. In one arrangement, a roof is supported and floats on the surface of the liquid product contained within the tank. The roof rises and falls as the level of fluid within the tank rises or falls. The floating roof is advantageous in that it minimizes product loss to the atmosphere. Floating roofs include pan-type, pontoon-type and double deck-type roofs. The roof and accompanying accessories are allowed to float from the lowest level to the maximum design liquid level and then return.
The roof and supporting structures must be designed to support specified loading conditions. The weight of rainfall on the roof is one such condition. Indeed, American National Standards Institute/American Petroleum Institute (ANSI/API) Standard 650 addresses these issues. For example, the roof must be designed to support minimum loads per square foot.
Floating roofs will often be provided with roof drains. Each roof drain will include a water sump to collect water on the top of the roof. In a typical design, the roof sump will be connected to a jointed series of pipe lengths which pass through the interior of the tank and then through the base or sidewall of the tank. Accordingly, water or other liquids gathering on the top of the roof will be drawn off through the drain system. The pipe lengths and joints will be submerged in the liquid product in the tank. The pipes and the swivel joints will, thus, be subject to liquid both within the joints from the roof drainage and on the exterior from the liquid product in the tank.
Drains will be designed to prevent the roof from accumulating a water level greater than design at a maximum rainfall rate.
In the past, swivel joints have been constructed which utilize a plurality of ball bearings to facilitate movement of one member with the other.
There remains a need for a swivel joint that will require minimum assembly and that may be serviced easily.
It is, therefore, a principal object and purpose of the present invention to provide a moveable swivel joint assembly for joining a pair of pipes.
It is a further object and purpose of the invention to provide a swivel joint assembly for joining a pair of pipes which includes: a male body member having a first end attachable to one pipe and a second end having external threads with a recess on each side of the external threads; a female body member having a first end attachable to the other pipe and a second end having internal threads mates with the male body member external threads; and wherein one o-ring seal resides in each recess to provide an external and internal seal for the swivel joint assembly.
It is a further object and purpose of the present invention to provide a moveable swivel joint assembly including a shoulder extending radially from the male body member and a cushioning spacer o-ring juxtaposed between the female body member second end and the shoulder.
It is a further object and purpose of the present invention to provide a moveable swivel joint assembly wherein the male body member first end terminates in a flange connectable to one pipe and wherein the female body member first end terminates in a flange connectable to the other pipe.
It is a further object and purpose of the present invention to provide a moveable swivel joint assembly for a floating tank roof wherein at least one joint assembly joins at least one pair of pipes.


A process for generating electricity in which a gas/liquid mixture is compressed in a compressor, partially purified in an accumulator/separator, partially purified in a coalescent filter, subjected to pressure regulation, and then fed to a microturbine.

A process for controlling a system for generating electricity in which a multiplicity of compressors which are connected to a microturbine are selectively turned on and off in response to the level of gas pressure.
Microturbines, also known as turbogenerators and turboalternators, are gaining increasing popularity and acceptance. These microturbines are often used in conjunction with one or more compressors which supply gaseous fuel to them at a desired pressure, generally from about 40 to about 500 pounds per square inch.
The microturbines are often employed in a system comprising two or more microturbines. These systems could be supplied by only one compressor, but such operation often results in too much compressor capacity when less than all of the microturbines are operating.
It is an object of this invention to provide a process for controlling the output of a multiplicity of compressors connected to one or more microturbines.
A process for controlling a system for generating electricity, which system is comprised of a first compressor, a second compressor, a first microturbine, and a second microturbine, comprising the steps of supplying a first compressed gas at a pressure of from about 40 to about 500 pounds per square inch from a first gas source to said first microturbine, making a first measurement of the pressure of gas within said first gas source, supplying gas from a second gas source to a first compressor, compressing said gas from said second gas source in said first compressor to a pressure of from about 40 to about 500 pounds per square inch, thereby producing a second compressed gas, supplying said second compressed gas to said first gas source, supplying said second compressed gas from said first gas source to said first microturbine, making a second measurement of the pressure of gas within said first gas source, supplying gas from a second gas source to a second compressor, compressing said gas from said second gas source in said second compressor to a pressure of from about 40 to about 500 pounds per square inch, thereby producing a third compressed gas, supplying said third compressed gas to said first gas source, and supplying said third compressed gas from said first gas source to said second microturbine.


A fish attractant dispensing lure includes a housing with at least one (1) ejection channel, a dispenser unit, and a power source. The lure housing encases the dispenser unit, which is configured to retain a volume of a fish attractant in a liquid state. A dispensing mechanism is in electrical communication with the power source. When the dispenser unit is activated, the fish attractant is dispensed into the surrounding environment via the dispensing mechanism through at least one (1) ejection channel.

The technology used by anglers to catch fish has become increasingly complex in nature. Fishermen no longer rely solely on the traditional hook and worm approach to attract their game. Instead, a broad range of products have hit the market, designed to aid the fisherman to catch more fish quickly. One (1) of the more popular aids is that of various liquids that is applied to lures in an effort to attract fish based upon scent or smell. While such aids have generated some success, they do suffer from the fact that insertion in water tends to quickly wash the attractant off. This forces the fisherman to frequently remove the lure from the water and re-apply the liquid. This results in a reduced period of time that fishing is actually taking place, and may scare fish away due to the noise of frequent lure removal and re-casting. Accordingly, there is a need for a means by which the advantages of using chemical style attractants to attract fish can be enhanced to ensure that more fish are caught. The development of the present invention fulfills this need.

Automatic fish attractant dispensing lure


An ECU switches a combustion mode of an HCCI engine from HCCI combustion to spark ignition combustion. The ECU executes the following operations a) and b) before switching an intake lift amount from a first intake lift amount to a second intake lift amount:                a): switching an exhaust lift amount from a first exhaust lift amount to a second exhaust lift amount while ensuring an internal EGR amount, and        b): delaying a closing timing of an exhaust valve so as to reduce the internal EGR amount after switching the exhaust lift amount from the first exhaust lift amount to the second exhaust lift amount.

The present invention relates to a homogenous charge compression ignition engine (HCCI engine). In the HCCI engine of the present invention, the combustion mode can be switched between homogenous charge compression ignition combustion (HCCI combustion) and spark ignition combustion (SI combustion).
In recent years, homogenous charge compression ignition (HCCI) engines have been drawing attention, and various researches have been conducted on such engines. Excellent fuel economy and thermal efficiency and low emission can be gained from the HCCI engines. In some kinds of HCCI engines, fuel is directly injected into a combustion chamber during an intake stroke. That is, only air is drawn into the combustion chamber from an intake passage and fuel is mixed with air for the first time in the combustion chamber. However, in most of the HCCI engines, the fuel is mixed with air on the intake passage so as to generate air-fuel mixture. The air-fuel mixture is supplied to the combustion chamber from the intake passage.
The temperature increases and the pressure rises in the air-fuel mixture contained inside the combustion chamber as a piston rises at the time of the compression stroke of the engine, so that the mixture spontaneously ignites. One obstacle that needs to be overcome in terms of putting HCCI engines into practice is that the engine operating range, which allows homogenous charge compression ignition (HCCI) combustion to be stably controlled, is still narrow. In order to overcome the obstacle, there is a trend to implement HCCI combustion in stationary engines where the ordinarily used operating range is relatively narrow, for example, gas engines for GHPs (gas heat pumps).
In an actual operation of the HCCI engines, an engine low rotation speed range, a middle rotation speed range, a low load range and a middle load range are frequently used. It has been proposed that the combustion mode is switched between the HCCI combustion range and the spark ignition (SI) combustion range according to the running state of the engine. The spark ignition (SI) combustion is carried out in the high rotation speed range, the extremely low load range, and the high load range.
For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2003-106184 (JP 2003-106184 A) discloses a configuration in which a throttle is closed so as to return the air-fuel ratio to be stoichiometric when the combustion mode is switched from the HCCI combustion to the spark ignition combustion. Then, the lift amount of an exhaust valve is increased so as to reduce the internal EGR amount. That is, when the combustion mode is switched from the HCCI combustion to the spark ignition combustion, the throttle is first closed. This may cause insufficient intake air or low torque and makes the combustion difficult. Therefore, this may cause fluctuation of engine torque or occurrence of abrupt changes in the torque.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2004-150383 (JP 2004-150383 A) discloses a configuration in which the combustion mode is first switched from the HCCI combustion to the stratified spark ignition combustion and then to the spark ignition combustion. Therefore, an in-cylinder injector is essential in the combustion chamber. When the combustion mode is switched from the HCCI combustion to the spark ignition combustion, the fuel injection amount is gradually increased in a state of the stratified spark ignition combustion. When the air-fuel ratio of the air-fuel mixture is reduced to a predetermined value, the fuel injection timing is advanced and the throttle opening degree is reduced. Accordingly, the combustion mode is switched to the normal spark ignition combustion in a stoichiometric state. That is, after the throttle opening degree is increased, the combustion mode is switched from the stratified spark ignition combustion to the normal spark ignition combustion in a stoichiometric state. If the throttle opening degree is reduced in this way, abrupt changes may occur in the torque.
An objective of the present invention is to suppress the occurrence of abrupt changes in the torque of the HCCI engine when the combustion mode is switched from the HCCI combustion to the spark ignition combustion.
One aspect of the present invention provides a homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) engine that allows a combustion mode to be switched between an HCCI combustion and a spark ignition combustion. The HCCI engine comprises a combustion chamber, an intake valve and an exhaust valve. An intake variable valve mechanism changes an intake lift amount, which is a lift amount of the intake valve. The intake lift amount is set to a first intake lift amount in the HCCI combustion and the intake lift amount is set to a second intake lift amount in the spark ignition combustion. An exhaust variable valve mechanism changes an exhaust lift amount, which is a lift amount of the exhaust valve. The exhaust lift amount is set to a first exhaust lift amount in the HCCI combustion and the exhaust lift amount is set to a second exhaust lift amount in the spark ignition combustion. A controller controls the intake variable valve mechanism and the exhaust variable valve mechanism. The controller sets an internal EGR amount, which includes the amount of burned gas that remains in the combustion chamber at the time of the HCCI combustion and burned gas re-drawn into the combustion chamber through an exhaust port. The controller sets a negative valve overlap period during which both of the intake valve and the exhaust valve are closed such that not all the burned gas is discharged from the combustion chamber. When switching the combustion mode from the HCCI combustion to the spark ignition combustion, the controller executes following operations of a) and b) before switching the intake lift amount from the first intake lift amount to the second intake lift amount:
a): switching the exhaust lift amount from the first exhaust lift amount to the second exhaust lift amount while ensuring the internal EGR amount and
b): delaying a closing timing of the exhaust valve so as to reduce the internal EGR amount after switching the exhaust lift amount from the first exhaust lift amount to the second exhaust lift amount.
Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the invention.

Homogenous charge compression ignition engine and controlling method of the engine


A portable and covered toilet which can be easily assembled and used in a variety of remote locations that require proper waste disposal. An inexpensive flushing system maintains sanitary conditions, and, a cover, included to provide privacy, is folded onto the base, and the toilet is taken apart and situated thereon in a convenient, packaged unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a portable toilet that provides privacy of use in remote locations where a toilet facility may be otherwise unavailable or inconvenient, such as camping, sporting events or at picnics. The instant invention allows the use of a portable toilet that provides necessary privacy with an erectable cover and facilitates cleanliness through use of a flushing system. The toilet and cover outfit can be easily disassembled and transported. The disassembled toilet and cover is conveniently enclosed within a rectangular base and is stored as a lightweight unit in a box or other container.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many persons rely on portable toilets for camping, traveling, and tailgating at sporting events. Public portable toilets already in place may not be at a proximate location and may also be overcrowded and unsanitary. Some public areas may lack any facilities at all, resulting in the improper use of natural areas, to the detriment of the environment.
The Prior Art encompasses a variety of devices for the disposal of waste in portable toilets or containers. Units without flushing capability may employ the use of a bag or an assembled box. Upper chambers within these types of disposal means become unsanitary if not provided a means of cleaning and flushing the areas that come into contact with waste, however. Removal and disposal of waste is highly unpleasant.
Manual and electrically-powered portable flushing units have been demonstrated, but most are inordinately expensive; others do not accommodate privacy, particularly when employed by large groups of people. Complex pumping units have a tendency to be very heavy which prohibits ease of transportation, and toilets that have the capability of being transported and covered require assembly, a time-consuming requirement.
The present invention is directed toward overcoming the problems discussed above, particularly through features of cleanliness and privacy, while at the same time being collapsible, lightweight, and conveniently portable.


A sculpturing input device for computerized 3D sculpturing includes a base for connection to a computer loaded with a virtual engraving program, and a magnetic stylus for use with the base for controlling a virtual engraving tool to cut a virtual object of the program. An optical position measuring system is provided in the base for measuring the position and direction of the stylus relative to the base, and determining the position and direction of the tool relative to the object. A magnetic force feedback system is provided in the base for exerting a magnetic resistive force upon the stylus when the tool cuts into the object, thereby simulating a counteracting resistive force of the object being cut.

The present invention relates to a 3D (three-dimensional) sculpturing input device for computerised 3D sculpturing.
Traditionally, while engraving a clay model using an engraving tool, the artist is able to feel the resistance of the clay material against cutting, in that the deeper the cut into the clay material is, the larger the resistive force is. Nowadays, sculpturing may also be performed by means of a computer, but the sense of the counteracting force against cutting is not available.
The invention seeks to provide a 3D sculpturing input device for computerized 3D sculpturing, which is capable of providing a sculptor with a feel of the cutting counteracting force.
According to the invention, there is provided a sculpturing input device for computerized 3D sculpturing, which device comprises a base for connection to a computer installed with a virtual engraving program, a magnetic stylus for use with the base for controlling a virtual engraving tool to cut a virtual object of the program, an optical position measuring system provided at the base for measuring the position and direction of the stylus relative to the base, said position and direction determining the position and direction of said tool relative to said object, and a magnetic force feedback system provided at the base for exerting a magnetic resistive force upon the stylus when said tool cuts into said object, thereby simulating a counteracting resistive force of said object being cut.
It is preferred that the stylus have a magnetic tip, the tip having a series of two visually distinct parts along the tip.
More preferably, the two parts are both substantially spherical but have different sizes.
More preferably, the two parts are coated with fluorescent material.
In a preferred embodiment, the base has a generally flat body having a recess in which the stylus is to be used, and the optical position measuring system and the magnetic force feedback system are provided on at least one side of the recess.
More preferably, the optical position measuring system includes at least two image sensing units located to face the recess at intercepting angles and cover substantially the entire space of the recess. face the recess at intercepting angles and cover substantially the entire space of the recess.
Further more preferably, each image sensing unit is formed by a camera and an adjacent infra red signal emitter.
Further more preferably, the camera has a lens, and the infra red signal emitter has an annular arrangement of infra red light emitting diodes disposed around the lens, said lens and light emitting diodes pointing in the same direction forwards.
In a preferred embodiment, the magnetic force feedback system includes a plurality of electro-magnets located around the recess and underneath the recess.
More preferably, the electro-magnets are electronically controlled to provide a magnetic force of an increasing strength in an interactive manner when said engraving tool is cutting deeper into said object, for simulating the counteracting resistive force of a physical object being cut.


A microchip system comprises a self check subsystem operable to perform a self test of at least one subsystem of the microchip system, and/or on the interoperability of subsystems. An antenna and a communications subsystem wirelessly transmit self check information from the microchip system. The communications subsystem may also receive information, data or instructions from an off-chip system or device. Self check tests may occur during manufacture of the microchip system and/or during operation. The microchip system may comprise a passive power subsystem coupled to an antenna to receive power in the form of an electromagnetic field, and which provides electrical power derived therefrom to at least one other subsystem of the microchip system.

1. Field of the Invention
This disclosure generally relates to microchip systems formed on chips or wafers, and to the manufacturing and/or operation of the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Microchip systems are becoming increasingly complex as micro-fabrication techniques permit the formation of integrated circuits with ever decreasing dimensions, thereby allowing an ever increasing number of circuit components to be formed on a wafer or chip. The increase in complexity and the increase in the number of components also increases that probability that a fault will occur during the fabrication process, resulting in one or more faulty components, and consequently rendering the resulting microchip system unusable. This is particularly troublesome as the number of manufacturing operations increases, since significant costs will in incurred in producing an unusable product. Those costs may include lost time, money and materials used in creating the faulty microchip system, treatment and/or disposal of the resulting waste, and the reduced throughput of the expensive equipment used in the micro-fabrication process.
In a similar vein, progress in nano-technology including manufacture of MEMS devices is making sophisticated lab-on-chip systems, also known as total analysis systems (μTAS), commercially viable. Such lab-on-chip systems are one specific subset of microchip systems. Lab-on-chip technology uses integrated circuit like micro-fabrication techniques to translate experimental and analytical protocols into chip architectures, typically formed as fluid reservoirs and interconnected pathways
The lab-on-chip systems typically employ one or more MEMS devices, which may take a variety of forms. For example, MEMS devices may take the form of various microfluidic devices capable of performing operations on small bodies of fluids and/or on particles suspended in a fluid, for example, a colloidal suspension. Microfluidic devices commonly employ fluids such as whole blood samples, bacterial cell suspensions, protein or antibody solutions, and various buffers, and reagents.
Microfluidic devices may include one or more channels typically with a dimension less than one millimeter, or may take the form of a channeless field or array. Microfluidic devices may employ pumps, valves, gears, electrodes and other structures, which typically have analogs on the macroscopic world, to move fluids and/or suspended particles using, for example, pressure or electrokinetic forces. The controlled movement may be employed to combine materials, divide materials, concentrate materials, direct materials to reagents, etcetera.
Microfluidic devices may be used to obtain a variety of measurements including molecular diffusion coefficients, fluid viscosity, pH, chemical binding coefficients, and enzyme reaction kinetics. Other application for microfluidic devices include capillary electrophoreses, isoelectric focusing, electrowetting, immunoassays, flow cytometry, sample injection of proteins for analysis via mass spectrometry, PCR amplification, DNA analysis, cell manipulation, cell separation, cell patterning and/or chemical gradient formation. Many of these applications have utility for clinical diagnostics.
Lab-on-chip systems may have several advantages over conventional laboratory systems. For example, such systems typically have a smaller physical footprint than standard laboratory setups, and have low power consumption. Micro-fabrication techniques permit simplified manufacturing and superior reproducibility, reducing costs. Lab-on-chip systems also provide the ability to work with very small volumes of samples, agents, reagents or other materials. This lowers the cost of materials, permits smaller samples to be taken from test subjects, such as patients, and also reduces disposal costs. Lab-on-chip systems may enhance automation leading to lower costs, higher throughput and more consistent results.
There is still significant room for improvement in the structure of lab-on-chip systems, and in the manufacture and operation of such device. Such improvements may be directed at reducing the cost of such devices, and making the devices more reliable and easier to manufacture and/or operate.

Integrated test-on-chip system and method and apparatus for manufacturing and operating same


Disclosed herein is an ocular drug delivery system, comprising a positively charged chitosan-modified hydrogel, a secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) hydrolysable liposome encapsulating an anti-inflammatory drug and having a negative surface charge, a first thiolated hyaluronic acid (HA-SH) nanoparticle encapsulating a wound-healing drug and having a negative surface charge, and a second HA-SH nanoparticle encapsulating a transforming growth factor-β inhibitor and having a negative surface charge. The sPLA2 hydrolysable liposome and the first and second HA-SH nanoparticles are attached to the positively charged chitosan-modified hydrogel by electrostatic attraction. Uses of the system are also disclosed.

Diseases affecting the cornea are a major cause of blindness worldwide, second only to cataract in overall importance. The epidemiology of corneal blindness is complicated and encompasses a wide variety of infectious and inflammatory eye diseases that cause corneal scarring, which ultimately leads to functional blindness. The corneal epithelium is composed of two to three cell layers of flattened superficial cells, two to three cell layers of wing cells, and a single layer of columnar basal cells. The superficial cells adhere to one another via desmosomes, and such cells are encircled by tight junctions. Due to these tight junctions, the corneal epithelium represents the rate-limiting barrier for the permeation of therapeutic drugs. Therefore, the development of strategies to overcome these barriers for the targeted ocular delivery of drugs, e.g. to the cornea, remains a major challenge.
Because of the presence of natural phospholipids, cell-like membrane and excellent biocompatibility, liposomes are a promising means of delivering ocular drugs. When applied topically, liposomes can attach to the hydrophobic corneal epithelium, where they continuously release the bound drug content, improving pharmacokinetics and decreasing toxic side effects. Studies have shown that liposomes can be prepared and are hydrolysable by secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) and that hydrolysis by sPLA2 leads to release of the drug encapsulated within the liposome. Moreover, the products of sPLA2 hydrolysis, a lysolipid and a fatty acid act as permeabilizers of cell membranes leading to increased cell uptake of the drug. Since sPLA2 levels are elevated in cancerous tissues and at sites of inflammation (e.g., dry eye disease, chronic blepharitis, chronic ocular surface inflammation, and contact lens intolerance), sPLA2 activated liposomes may be used to preferentially deliver encapsulated drugs to such sites.
It is well known that hyaluronic acid (HA), a naturally-occurring glycosaminoglycan (GAG), plays a key role in wound healing. The structure of HA consists of repeating disaccharide units of D-glucuronic acid and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine linked by β-1-3 and β-1-4 glycosidic bonds. Purified native HA has many biomedical applications, including viscosurgery, viscosupplementation and wound healing.
Hydrogels are formed by crosslinked polymers and are able to absorb high quantity of water without being dissolved. HA hydrogels are physically or covalently crosslinked HA gels. HA molecules are generally functionalized to allow reaction with a cross linker. Crosslinked HA hydrogels, for example, can be prepared by crosslinking with molecules such as diepoxybutane, ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether (EGDGE) or polyethylene glycol diglycidyl ether (PEGDE).
HA hydrogels have been used for several applications including drug delivery applications, and they are able to provide sustained, local delivery of a variety of therapeutic agents. Use of HA as a scaffold material in hydrogels has been pursued due to the biocompatibility, low toxicity, lack of immune response and biodegradability of HA hydrogels. Although HA hydrogels have been studied for drug delivery applications, the delivery rates are difficult to control. If a hydrophilic drug is incorporated into a hydrogel, the incorporation is easy (large amounts can be loaded), but drug release is also rapid. On the other hand, it is difficult to get large amounts of hydrophobic drugs into such hydrogels, for solubility reasons. Any un-dissolved drug will migrate to the surface of a hydrogel and be released in a burst (within a day or two).
Thiolated polymers or so-called thiomers have recently gained considerable attention as platforms for controlled drug delivery. Thiomers might be useful to overcome the oral bioavailability problems associated with various categories of therapeutic agents such as peptides, antisense oligonucleotides, heparins or cephalosporines. Mucoadhesive matrix tablets, patches or microparticles are useful for, intraoral, peroral and ocular, local or systemic delivery. Another purpose of thiol modification is to combine the mucoadhesive features of hyaluronic acid with the new thiomer technology for the improvement of mucoadhesion (Kafedjiiski K. et al. (2007), International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 343:48-58).
In spite of the aforesaid, there is still a need to develop a new ocular drug delivery system that can repair damaged corneal tissues and exhibit satisfactory efficacy in treating ocular diseases.

Ocular drug delivery system and uses thereof


Use of neutralized or partially neutralized copolymers obtainable from

The present invention relates to the use of hydrophobically modified polymers of monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids as thickeners in hair cleansers, and to aqueous compositions which comprise these polymers.
Thickeners are used widely to increase the viscosity of aqueous preparations, for example in the field of pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. Examples of frequently used thickeners are fatty acid polyethylene glycol monoesters, fatty acid polyethylene glycol diesters, fatty acid alkanolamides, ethoxylated fatty alcohols, ethoxylated glycerol fatty acid esters, cellulose ethers, sodium alginate, polyacrylic acids and neutral salts.
The use of known thickeners is, however, depending on the preparation to be thickened, associated with disadvantages. For example, the thickening action and the salt stability of the thickener can be unsatisfactory, and their incorporation into the preparation to be thickened can be hindered.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,915,921 (The B. F. Goodrich Company) describes copolymers comprising 95-50% by weight of monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids and 5-50% by weight of an acrylic acid or methacrylic acid ester of a C10-C30 fatty alcohol. Optionally, the polymers can be crosslinked. The copolymers are used as thickeners for toothpastes and printing pastes.
EP 0 268 164 (The B. F. Goodrich Company) describes the use of crosslinked copolymers of monoolefinically unsaturated acids (50-99% by weight) and alkyl esters of monoolefinically unsaturated acids (50-1% by weight) (crosslinked with pentaerythritol triallyl ether), which are known under the CTFA name xe2x80x9cAcrylates/C10-30-Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymnerxe2x80x9d. The latter are used to stabilize O/W emulsions in cosmetic and pharmaceutical preparations such as, for example, skin creams, skin lotions and gels.
In WO 97/21744 (BASF Aktiengesellschaft) copolymers which have to be crosslinked are used.
These polymers are precipitation polymers and are free-flowing powders which are stirred into water and then neutralized. This neutralization step is necessary in order to convert the acidic polymers into the carboxylates, which are ultimately responsible for the viscosity.
It is known that these crosslinked (hyhdrophobically modified) polyacrylic acids in the neutralized state react very sensitively to salt. The viscosity breaks up. For this reason, it is unusual to use these polymers in shampoo formulations as viscosity-imparting agents. Because of the salt concentrations present therein (surfactants, surfactant mixtures, NaCl as impurity in surfactants) it is not possible for viscosity to form. The presence of cationic auxiliaries leads to complex formation and precipitation.
EP 0128 237 (The B. F. Goodrich Company) describes weakly crosslinked copolymers (0.1 to 1.0% by weight) of monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids (95.5 to 98.9% by weight) and esters of these carboxylic acids (1 to 2.5% by weight) for use as thickeners in a printing paste.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,432,881 (Dow Chemical Company) describes copolymers of water-soluble monomers such as, for example, acrylamide, acrylic acid etc., preferably the combinations thereof, and N-alkylacrylamides and acrylic esters. The hydrophilic/hydrophobic fraction ratios are from 98:2 mol % to 99.995:0.005 mol %, preferably from 99:1 mol % to 99.9:0.1 mol %. The molecular weights are between 200,000-5,000,000 g/mol, preferably between 800,000-2,5000,000 g/mol. The resulting polymers are used as dispersible hydrophobic thickeners, used in formulations comprising the described polymers, a nonionic surface-active substance (HLB 2-15) and an inorganic salt for increasing the viscosity of water.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,395,524 (Rohm and Haas Company) describes the copolymerization of hydrophilic components (e.g. acrylamide, acrylic acid, N-vinylpyrrolidone etc.) with N-alkylacrylamides (alkyl=C10 to C36, preferably C12 to C22). The copolymerization is carried out as precipitation polymerization or polymerization in solution. The molecular weight of the polymers described is MW greater than 30,000 g/mol. The resulting polymers are used as thickeners of aqueous systems, sedimentation stabilizers, surface-active substances or dispersants.
WO 98/31334 describes hair conditioners which do not comprise salts, are not clear and comprise water-insoluble components such as silicone oil and fatty alcohols as active component.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a thickener which can be stirred into a formulation without problem. The formulation preferably comprises at least one alkyl or alkenyl polyglycoside. Such formulations are used inter alia in the cosmetics industry, in particular in hair cleansers, in particular in shampoos. The resulting formulation should be clear and stable and thicken as a result of the addition of the polymers according to the invention.
Surprisingly, we have now found that neutralized, hydrophobically modified polymers of monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids are highly suitable as thickeners for surfactant-containing compositions, e.g. in mild shampoo formulations, in particular for compositions which comprise an alkyl or alkenyl polyglycoside. The formulations according to the invention are clear. The abovementioned disadvantages are not observed here.
We have found that this object is achieved by copolymers which comprise at least 50% by weight and at most 99% by weight of monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid. Preference is given to polymers containing at least 58% by weight and at most 99% by weight of monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, and very particular preference is given to polymers with a content of monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid of from 65% by weight to 99% by weight.
The polymers are prepared by free-radical polymerization of the corresponding monomers, which in each case comprise at least 50% by weight of monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid.
The hydrophobic component used is at least 1, at most 50% by weight of an a) monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid ester with a saturated C8- to C30-alcohol, preferably a C8- to C18-alcohol (e.g. octyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, nonyl acrylate, decyl acrylate, lauryl acrylate, myristyl acrylate, cetyl acrylate, stearyl acrylate, behenyl acrylate, hexyl methacrylate, octyl methacrylate, nonyl methacrylate, decyl methacrylate, lauryl methacrylate, myristyl methacrylate, cetyl methacrylate, stearyl methacrylate, behenyl methacrylate, tert-butylcyclohexyl acrylate). In this connection, particular importance is attached to the acrylic or methacrylic esters of fatty alcohols having from 8 to 18 carbon atoms.
As an alternative to the monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid esters, it is possible to also use b) N-alkyl- or N,N-dialkyl-substituted carboxamides, the alkyl radicals independently of one another being aliphatic or cycloaliphatic alkyl radicals having at least 8 carbon atoms (e.g. N-stearylacrylamide, N-stearylmethacrylamide, N-(1-methyl)undecyl acrylate, N-(1-methyl)undecyl methacrylate, N-dodecylacrylamide, N-dodecylmethacrylamide, N-octylacrylamide, N-octylmethacrylamide, N,N-dioctylacrylamide, N,N-dioctylmethacrylamide, N-cetylacrylamide, N-cetylmethacrylamide, N-dodecylacrylamide, N-dodecylmethacrylamide, N-myristylacrylamide, N-myristylmethacrylamide, N-(Z-ethyl)hexylacrylamide, N-(2-ethyl)hexylmethacrylamide.
Particular preference is given to C8 to C18-alkyl radicals.
As a further alternative to the monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid esters, it is also possible to use c) vinyl esters of long-chain aliphatic carboxylic acids (C8 to C30 carboxylic acids). Preference is given to using vinyl esters of C8 to C18 carboxylic acids.
In addition, it is possible to use d) alkyl vinyl ethers, preferably those containing C8 to C18-alkyl radicals.
It is of course also possible to use mixtures of two or more carboxylic acid esters, carboxamides, vinyl esters or alkyl vinyl ethers, provided the sum of the contents of these comonomers does not exceed 50% by weight.
As the hydrophilic component, it is possible to use the following copolymerizable monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids (or else mixtures thereof) (from 50 to 99% by weight, preferably from 58 to 99% by weight, particularly preferably from 65 to 99% by weight):
Monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms, such as acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, dimethacrylic acid, ethacrylic acid, maleic acid, citraconic acid, methylenemalonic acid, allylacetic acid, vinylacetic acid, crotonic acid, fumaric acid, mesaconic acid and itaconic acid, are preferred.
From this group of monomers, preference is given to using acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, maleic acid or mixtures of said carboxylic acids.
The monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids can be used in the copolymerization in the form of the free acid andxe2x80x94provided they existxe2x80x94the anhydrides, or in partially or in completely neutralized form. These monomers are preferably neutralized using alkali metal bases or alkaline earth metal bases, ammonia or amines, e.g. sodium hydroxide solution, potassium hydroxide solution, soda, potash, sodium hydrogen carbonate, magnesium oxide, calcium hydroxide, calcium oxide, gaseous or aqueous ammonia, triethylamine, ethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, morpholine, diethylenetriamine or tetraethylenepentamine.
Other suitable comonomers are, for example, the C1-C4-esters, Nxe2x80x94C1-C4-alkyl- or N,Nxe2x80x94C1-C4-dialkyl-substituted amides, where the alkyl radicals of the dialkylamide can be identical or different, and nitriles of the abovementioned carboxylic acids, e.g. methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, hydroxyethyl acrylate, hydroxypropyl acrylate, hydroxybutyl acrylate, hydroxyethyl methacrylate, hydroxypropyl methacrylate, hydroxyisobutyl acrylate, hydroxyisobutyl methacrylate, monomethyl maleate, dimethyl maleate, monoethyl maleate, diethyl maleate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate, acrylamide, methacrylamide, N-dimethylacrylamide, N-tert-butylacrylamide, acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, dimethylaminoethyl acrylate, diethylaminoethyl acrylate, diethylaminoethyl methacrylate and the salts of the last-named monomers with carboxylic acids or mineral acids and the quaternized products. Each of the alkyl groups in the esters and amides can be hydroxy-substituted.
In addition, other suitable copolymerizable monomers are acrylamidoglycolic acid, vinylsulfonic acid, allylsulfonic acid, methallylsulfonic acid, styrenesulfonic acid, 3-sulfopropyl acrylate, 3-sulfopropyl methacrylate and acrylamidomethylpropanesulfonic acid, and monomers containing phosphonic acid groups, such as vinylphosphonic acid, allylphosphonic acid and acrylamidomethanepropanephosphonic acid.
Other suitable copolymerizable compounds are N-vinylpyrrolidone, N-vinylcaprolactam, N-vinylimidazole, N-vinyl-2-methylimidazole, N-vinyl-4-methylimidazole, diallylammonium chloride, vinyl acetate and vinylpropionate. It is of course also possible to use mixtures of said monomers.
The monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid and the hydrophobic component or components and, where present, the other suitable monomers total 100%.
The copolymers are prepared by known processes, for example solution, precipitation or inverse suspension polymerization using compounds which form free radicals under the polymerization conditions.
The polymerization temperatures are usually in the range from 30xc2x0 C. to 200xc2x0 C., preferably from 40xc2x0 C. to 140xc2x0 C. Examples of suitable initiators are azo and peroxy compounds, and the customary redox initiator systems, such as combinations of hydrogen peroxide and reductive compounds, e.g. sodium sulfite, sodium bisulfite, sodium formaldehyde sulfoxylate and hydrazine.
The copolymers have K values of at least 10 and are essentially uncrosslinked. They preferably have a K value of from 12 to 70, particularly preferably from 15 to 50. The K values are determined in accordance with H. Fikentscher, Cellulose-Chemie, Volume 13, 58 to 64 and 71 to 74 (1932) in a 0.1 molar aqueous NaCl solution at 25xc2x0 C., at concentrations between 0.1% and 5% depending on the K value range.
The present invention also relates to aqueous compositions which comprise at least one neutralized or partially neutralized, hydrophobically modified polymeric carboxylic acid of the nature described above, and at least one surfactant.
The invention further relates to aqueous compositions which comprise
a) at least one alkyl or alkenyl polyglycoside, in particular a C8-C18-alkyl or C8-C18-alkenyl polyglycoside,
b) at least one hydrophobically modified polymeric carboxylic acid having the composition described above,
c) optionally another surfactant different from a), and
d) a neutral salt and
e) other auxiliaries such as preservatives, emulsifiers, perfume oils, care substances such as panthenol, collagen, vitamins, protein hydrolysates, stabilizers, pH regulators, dyes, pearlizing agents, bodying agents, silicones, humectants, refatting agents, salts, acids (for example lactic acid, citric acid) and other customary additives.
The polyglycosides are preferably polyglucosides, which are a homolog mixture obtained by acetylation of glucose with fatty alcohols. The average number of glucose units per molecule is in the range from 1 to 3.
A preferred alkylpolyglucoside (APG) is Plantaren(copyright), in which from 1 to 7 glucose units are linked glycosidally to a fatty alcohol (usually 12 carbon atoms). Preferably, 2 glucose units are linked.
The content of polyglucosides is preferably at most 60% by weight.
The abovedescribed polymers are generally present in the compositions in an amount of at least 0.2% by weight, preferably up to 30% by weight, particularly preferably in an amount of at least 0.5 to 20% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.
The surfactant present in the compositions according to the invention may be anionic, nonionic, cationic or amphoteric.
Suitable anionic surfactants are, for example, alkyl sulfates, alkyl ether sulfates, alkylarylsulfonates, alkyl succinates, alkyl sulfosuccinates, N-alkoyl sarcosinates, acyl taurates, acyl isethionates, alkyl phosphates, alkyl ether phosphates, alkyl ether carboxylates, alpha-olefinsulfonates, in particular the alkali metal and alkaline earth metal salts, e.g. sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and ammonium and triethanolamine salts. The alkyl ether sulfates, alkyl ether phosphates and alkyl ether carboxylates can have between 1 and 10 ethylene oxide or propylene oxide units, preferably from 1 to 3 ethylene oxide units, in the molecule.
Suitable examples are sodium lauryl sulfate, ammonium lauryl sulfate, sodium lauryl ether sulfate, ammonium lauryl ether sulfate, sodium lauryl sarcosinate, sodium oleyl succinate, ammonium lauryl sulfosuccinate, sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, triethanolamine dodecylbenzenesulfonate.
Suitable amphoteric surfactants are, for example, alkylbetaines, alkylamidopropylbetaines, alkylsulfobetaines, alkyl glycinates, alkyl carboxyglycinates, alkylamphoacetates or -propionates, alkyl amphodiacetates or -dipropionates.
For example, cocamidopropylbetaine or sodium cocamphopropionate can be used.
Examples of suitable nonionic surfactants are the reaction products of aliphatic alcohols or alkylphenols having from 6 to 20 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain, which can be linear or branched, with ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide. The amount of alkylene oxide is from about 6 to 60 mols per mol of alcohol.
Also suitable are alkylamine oxides, mono- or dialkyl-alkanolamides, fatty acid esters of polyethylene glycols, ethoxylated fatty acid amides, alkylpolyglycosides or sorbitan ether esters.
In addition, the formulations (e.g. shampoo formulations) can comprise customary cationic surfactants, such as, for example, quaternary ammonium compounds, for example cetyltrimethylammonium chloride.
In addition, other customary cationic polymers can also be used, such as, for example, copolymers of acrylamide and dimethyldiallylamronium chloride (polyquaternium-7), cationic cellulose derivatives (polyquaternium-10), guar hydroxypropyltrimethylammonium chloride (INCI: Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride), copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone and quaternized N-vinylimidazole (polyquaternium-16, -44, -46) and others.
For additional thickening, the compositions according to the invention can comprise a neutral salt, in particular sodium sulfate and, preferably, sodium chloride. The neutral salt is generally present in an amount of from 0.1 to 10% by weight, in particular from 0.5 to 5% by weight.
Other additional thickeners which can be used in the formulations are, for example, PEG-55, propylene glycol oleate, PEG-120 methyl glucose dioleate and others.
In addition, the compositions according to the invention can comprise customary auxiliaries and additives known to the person skilled in the art, for example preservatives, emulsifiers, perfume oils, care substances such as panthenol, collagen, vitamins, protein hydrolysates, stabilizers, pH regulators, dyes, pearlizing agents, bodying agents, silicones, humectants, refatting agents, salts, acids (for example lactic acid, citric acid) and other customary additives.
The polymers according to the invention can also be mixed with traditional polymers customary in cosmetics in cases where very specific properties are to be set.
Other suitable cosmetics polymers (e.g. in shampoo formulations) are, for example, cationic polymers having the name polyquaternium according to INCI, e.g. copolymers of vinylpyrrolidone/N-vinylimidazolium salts (Luviquat(copyright) FC, Luvquat(copyright) HM, Luviquat(copyright) MS, Luviquat(copyright) Care), copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone/dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate, quaternized with diethyl sulfate (Luviquate PQ11), copolymers of N-vinylcaprolactam/N-vinylpyrrolidone/N-vinylimidazolium salts (Luvquat(copyright) Hold); cationic cellulose derivatives (polyquaternium-4 and -10), acrylamide copolymers (polyquaternium-7), cationic guar gum derivatives.
Other sutiable cosmetics polymers (e.g. in hair cosmetics) are also neutral polymers, such as polyvinylpyrrolidones, copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone and vinyl acetate and/or vinyl propionate, polysiloxanes, polyvinylcaprolactam and copolymers with N-vinylpyrrolidone, polyethylenimines and salts thereof, polyvinylamines and salts thereof, cellulose derivatives, polyasparatic acid salts and derivatives.
To set specific properties, the preparations can also comprise conditioning substances based on silicone compounds. Suitable silicone compounds are, for example, polyalkylsiloxanes, polyarylsiloxanes, polyarylalkylsiloxanes, polyether siloxanes or silicone resins.
In each case based on the total weight, the aqueous compositions according to the invention generally comprise:
from 0.2 to 20% by weight, preferably from 0.5 to 15% by weight, of at least one polymer having the composition described above,
from 0 to 50% by weight of at least one surfactant and
from 0.5 to 50% by weight of at least one alkyl or alkylene polyglycoside,
based on the total weight of the aqueous formulation.
According to a preferred embodiment, the aqueous compositions according to the invention comprise:
a) from 0.2 to 20% by weight, preferably from 0.5 to 15% by weight, of at least one polymer having the composition described above;
b) from 1 to 50% by weight of at least one anionic surfactant, in particular an alkyl ether sulfate;
c) from 0.5 to 50% by weight of at least one C8-C18-alkyl or C8-C18-alkenyl polyglycoside;
d) from 0 to 5% by weight, preferably from 0.5 to 3% by weight, of at least one neutral salt,
based on the total weight of the aqueous formulation.
These compositions according to the invention are prepared in the customary manner, it being possible to use the polymers described as such or as aqueous solutions. It is typical to stir in the thickening agent into the aqueous surfactant mixture. Auxiliaries can be stirred into the thickened mixture without problems.
The compositions according to the invention are, in particular, cosmetic or pharmaceutical copositions. Preferred cosmetic compositions are haircare compositions, in particular shampoos. The polymers described can, however, also be used in industrial preparations, such as hydraulic fluids, cleaning preparations, crop-treatment compositions, printing inks, coating compositions and preparations for animal nutrition.

Thickeners for surfactant-containing compositions

Abstract: A) from 50 to 99% by weight of monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid and

Abstract: B) from 1 to 50% by weight of at least one comonomer chosen from the groups a) to d) or also mixtures of different monomers from groups a) to d)

Abstract: a) monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid esters with a saturated C8- to C30-alcohol

Abstract: b) N-alkyl- or N,N-dialkyl-substituted carboxamides, the alkyl radicals independently of one another being aliphatic or cycloaliphatic alkyl radicals having at least 8 to 18 carbon atoms,

Abstract: c) vinyl esters of aliphatic C8- to C30-carboxylic acids,

Abstract: d) C8- to C18-alkyl vinyl ethers,

Abstract: for the preparation of hair cleansers.


Techniques are provided for an access device, such as a Serial Attached Small Computer System Interface (SAS) expander, that is in communication with a storage device to subdivide the storage space of the storage device into a plurality of logical storage spaces, where the access device mediates storage and retrieval of data to and from the storage device. The access device maintains a unique identifier assigned to each of the logical storage spaces. Storage and retrieval of data to and from at least one of the logical storage spaces by way of the access device is based on the assigned unique identifier. The storage space may be subdivided using logical block addresses (LBAs) of the storage device without physically partitioning the available storage on the storage device.

Capacity of storage drives in computer systems, such as servers is often underutilized. Drive manufacturers tend to maintain the average selling price of a drive while increasing capacity through the use of technological advances. Therefore, it is often not practical to reduce the system cost, even if storage demands do not increase as offered capacity increases. In some applications, it is beneficial to share a drive across multiple hosts or servers. In conventional systems, a storage controller is used to implement volume management and carve out volumes from shared drives.
By way of example, the storage controller is positioned between the host servers and the storage drives, using a one of multiple storage networking standards such as Serial attached SCSI (SAS), Internet Small Computer System Interface (iSCSI) or fiber channel (FC). This storage controller is used to logically partition the drives and then to assign a logical unit number (LUN), e.g., LUN 0, LUN 1, and so on, to each partition. A host can then access a given volume for data storage and retrieval by addressing it using the LUN number in the storage network protocol, as defined by standards. In these storage environments the physical partitioning of drives by administrators, as well as LUN management, becomes expensive to scale as the number of hosts and LUNs increases.

Serial attached storage drive virtualization


A jambliner having a multi-part design includes a sash-engaging member defining a track and a pair of retaining arms extending from the sash-engaging member defining a channel. A resilient seal for biasing the jambliner against a window sash and sealing the jambliner against a jamb includes an elongated bulb having a spline of a shape corresponding to the shape of the channel. The resilient seal is removably attached to the sash-engaging portion through the mating of the spline and the retaining arms to form a dove-tail joint. The jambliner of the present invention facilitates replacement of the resilient seal after jambliner installation, as well as customization of the compression characteristics of the resilient seal to achieve specific biasing and sealing needs.

Double hung window assemblies generally include a frame, an upper window sash, a lower window sash, a pair of balances, and a pair of jambliners. The jambliners are each attached to a window jamb to guide the movement of the window sashes. A seal is typically disposed between the jambliner and the window jamb to block the infiltration of air into the space between the jamb and the jambliner, and to provide a biasing force that causes the jambliners to frictionally engage the sides of the sashes to maintain the sashes at desired positions.
In conventional window assemblies, the seal typically comprises a foam backing member or a jamb-engaging flap co-extruded with the jambliner. The foam backing member typically comprises a block of polyurethane foam affixed to the jambliner by a hot-melt adhesive. Although foam backings generally provide a sufficient biasing force after installation, it has been found that the foam has a limited useful life and degrades after repeated exposure to environmental elements such as wind and rain. As a result, the foam becomes brittle and hard, losing elasticity and the ability to prevent the leakage of air and moisture. Although in such instances replacement of foam backings is necessary, replacement can be quite messy and tedious, as the hot-melt adhesive must be reapplied for attachment of a new foam backing member.
The use of co-extruded flaps has eliminated the difficulty associated with the removal and replacement of foam backings, as the jambliner and the flap are integrally formed. However, such an integral construction has led to the need for replacement of the entire jambliner when the flap is inoperative due to defective design, breakage, or wear and tear. Furthermore, the process of co-extruding such flaps is often of increased complexity due to the differential cooling rates associated with the material used to form the flap and the material used to form the remainder of the jambliner. Moreover, the compression characteristics of co-extruded members cannot be altered after fabrication.

Window jambliner with removably attached members for biasing and sealing


A process for the preparation of novel grafted latexes having backbones formed from unsaturated monomers and having pendent isocyanate containing sidechains derived from isopropenyl-alpha, alpha- dimethylbenzyl isocyanate or copolymers thereof is described.. Grafting latexes is carried out using a free radical redox initiator system in an aqueous medium. Latexes such as polybutadiene, polyvinyl chloride, and polyvinyl chloride-acrylic copolymers are converted to the corresponding isocyanate-functional latexes by the process of the invention. The isocyanate-functional grafted and cografted latexes described are useful in curable compositions.

Isopropenyl-alpha,alpha-dimethylbenzyl isocyanate or TMI.RTM. Unsaturated Isocyanate, a product of American Cyanamid Company under the trade name TMI.RTM. (meta) Unsaturated Aliphatic Isocyanate, is a monomer which has two distinct reactive groups, a vinylic group and an isocyanate group. TMI.RTM. Unsaturated Isocyanate occurs as the meta isomer, para isomer or mixtures of meta and para isomers. The meta isomer of TMI.RTM. isocyanate is represented by the formula: ##STR1##
Grafting is an art recognized process in which a reactive material, usually a monomer or an oligomer, is attached onto a graftable material, usually a polymer having a reactive site or a functional group capable of reacting with the reactive material to be grafted. The reaction by which grafting takes place can be, without limitation, any reaction which allows two materials to combine. Most frequently, however, it is a free radical reaction.
Homografting is defined herein as a grafting process in which only a monomer of one type (viz. TMI.RTM. Unsaturated Isocyanate) is used as the reactive material, resulting in a homografted polymer having one or more groups pendently attached to the graftable polymer.
Cografting is defined herein as a grafting process in which more than one monomer is used as the reactive material resulting in a cografted polymer having groups derived from monomers as well as one or more comonomers, such as copolymeric groups pendantly attached to a graftable polymer.
Grafting of isopropenyl-alpha, alpha-dimethylbenzyl isocyanate onto isocyanate-reactive polymers via the isocyanate functionality has been mentioned in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,766,185, 4,839,230, and 4,579,911 producing polymers having pendant isopropeny; groups. The cited patents however do not mention free radical homografting or cografting to produce polymers with pendant NCO groups.
The possibility of extrusion grafting of polyolefins with meta-isopropenyl alpha,alpha-dimethylbenzyl isocyanate via the isopropenyl group is disclosed in "Plastics Technology", November 1989, p. 13. Free radical grafting of meta-isopropenyl-alpha, alpha-dimethylbenzyl isocyanate onto polyolefins, polystyrene, acrylics, and polyesters has also been disclosed in "Modern Plastics", December 1989, page 16 with no mention of cografting.
Grafting saturated and unsaturated polymers with isopropenyl-alpha, alpha-dimethylbenzyl isocyanate or with isopropenyl-alpha, alpha-dimethylbenzyl isocyanate in combination with a cografting comonomer is disclosed in a copending application entitled "Isopropenyl-alpha, alpha-dimethylbenzyl Isocyanate-Grafted Polymers."
European Patent Application No. 185,606, published on Jun. 25, 1986, discloses a free-radical initiated grafting of a thioester synergist adduct of meta-isopropenyl-alpha, alpha-dimethylbenzyl isocyanate onto a styrene-butadiene rubber via the isopropenyl group. The grafted polymer product of the disclosure, however, is not isocyanate-functional. Furthermore, the grafting process is of low efficiency due to the poor reactivity of the isopropenyl group. Finally, the disclosure makes no reference to cografting with meta-isopropenyl-alpha,alpha-dimethylbenzyl isocyanate or adducts in combination with a cografting comonomer. Emulsion polymerization of meta-isopropenyl-alpha, alpha-dimethylbenzyl isocyanate is also disclosed in Eur. Pat. No. 194,222.
Copending United States Patent application No. 07/571,801 filed Aug. 23, 1990 describes the preparation of graft copolymers containing TMI.RTM. Unsaturated Isocyanate.
It is the object of this invention to provide a process for the preparation of isocyanate-functional latexes by homografting a graftable latex with isopropenyl-alpha, alpha- dimethylbenzyl isocyanate, or cografting in combination with a cografting comonomer at low temperatures.

Low temperature process for the preparation of isopropenyl-alpha, alpha-dimethylbenzyl isocyanate--grafted latexes


Methods for avoiding or reducing reliance on the need to use a physical payment instrument in substitution for cash for wagering on gaming terminals. With the method, the player uses a secure cashless payment instrument that does not require presentation of the payment instrument through an automatic reader fitted to a gaming terminal. The cashless payment instrument features a third-party security code and a two-level limited lifetime in which one level may be reset. The method may advantageously be used in small remote gaming facilities such as in island holiday resorts, in cruise ships and on-board international flights, for example.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the field of pay computer-controlled games, either games of skills or games of chance, and more particularly to the field of cashless payment.
2. Copyright Notice/Permission
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. The following notice applies to the software and data as described below and in the drawings hereto: Copyright 2004, Cyberscan Technology Inc., All Rights Reserved.
3. Description of the Related Art
Cashless solutions such as ticket-in and ticket out (TITO) as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,048,269, such as player account cashless as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,280,328, and such as smartcard cashless as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,577,733 each require a physical instrument (anonymous bar-coded printed ticket in the first case, a magnetic player card in the second case and an electronic wallet smartcard in the third case). In the first case (TITO), there is a requirement to fit a ticket reader as well as a ticket printer in each gaming terminal to print a ticket when the player presses the cash-out button. The printed ticket then must be presented to the cashier for cash redemption. Alternatively, the printed ticket may be inserted in another gaming terminal via a ticket reader to continue playing. Ticket printers and ticket readers, however, are complex and expensive devices that require immediate attention from trained technical staff in the case of paper jams or a malfunction. Moreover, accessing the inside of a gaming terminal requires following a strict security procedure that requires the use of special security keys and the maintenance of detailed paper logs. The requirement to have trained and trusted technical staff available permanently on site is not cost effective when considering small remote gaming facilities in island holiday resorts, cruise ships or on-board international flights.


A portable terminal user uses a portable terminal so as to select data to be printed among data in a server as well as an MFP from which the data is to be printed out. The server creates authentication data and transmits the authentication data to the selected MFP. The MFP displays the authentication data. The portable terminal acquires the authentication data through picture taking, and transmits the acquired data to the server. The server compares the created authentication data with the data transmitted from the portable terminal. If they match, print data corresponding to the authentication data is transmitted to the MFP, whereby the MFP performs printing. With such a configuration, an image output system attaining excellent usability for the user and improved security can be provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a data output system and a data output apparatus, and more particularly to a data output system and a data output apparatus capable of transrmitting and printing a desired data among stored data.
2. Description of the Related Art
A device attaining a print function such as an MFP (Multi Function Peripherals) or a printer has conventionally been used. Image data is stored in a server, from which data is downloaded and printed out by the MFP or the like.
When data in a server is to be printed at a remote location, a password is set for the data, for example.
As to a technology for data transmission, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2003-169187 discloses a technique to obtain a device address of a portable telephone, by indicating the device address thereof by a barcode for display on a liquid crystal display, picturing the bar code with a camera, and processing image information thereof in a CPU in the camera.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-352190 discloses such a technique that a portable telephone causes image data of an object pictured by a camera to be displayed on a display, a range of character area contained in the image data is designated by using a key input portion, and the image data and information on the designated range of character area is transmitted to an image processing server through a communication network. An image processing server recognizes characters contained in the image data received from the portable telephone with its internal character recognition function, and converts the characters into text data, which is in turn transmitted to the portable telephone. The portable telephone receives the text data transmitted from the image processing server.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2000-207301 discloses such a technique that a PC (personal computer) is equipped with a digital camera, with which an image including textual information is picked up, the textual information is cut out from the picked up image and thereafter subjected to OCR (optical character reading), and a mail address is recognized if there is @ mark found. When a mail address is recognized, a message "Do you want to designate this address as a destination?" is displayed. If an OK key is pressed, mailer software starts up and a screen for new mail transmission is shown. After a desired text is input, the mail is transmitted:
On the other hand, when data from the server is to be printed out from the conventional MFP, a security setting or a user operation has been complicated. In particular, when data is to be output from an MFP installed in a convenience store, for example, it is necessary to prohibit a third party from printing data. In contrast, if a complicated operation such as input of a password is required, it is less convenient for a user.

Data output apparatus performing data output after reception of authentication data from portable terminal

Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.


The present invention is directed to a connector converting device adapted for connecting a host unit having a plug to an external unit through a cable. The connector converting device is connected to the host unit having a first plug serving as data input/output interface to and from an external unit. The connector converting device comprises a first jack to which the first plug is connected, and a second jack to which a second plug of the cable of the external unit is connected, wherein the first jack and the second jack are electrically connected.

USB is widely popularized as interface with external peripheral equipments of PC (Personal Computer). As USB equipment using USB as interface, various USB devices are proposed, and are actually used.
Among these USB devices, recording media provided with USB as interface with PC have file system at the recording media to have ability to perform management of data by the file system, and to have excellent portability. From this fact, it is expected that such recording media will be widely popularized as new media. Such recording media provided with USB as interface with PC perform data transmission/reception to and from PC through USB.
Meanwhile, in apparatuses adapted for handling personal information such as PC, a fingerprint collation apparatus adapted for performing fingerprint collation to thereby perform certification of user to permit use of the apparatus is proposed in the Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. 2000-182025 publication.
This fingerprint collation apparatus is caused to be of the configuration in which a sensor unit for reading fingerprint information is separated from a collation processing unit for collating the fingerprint information which has been read by the sensor unit to connect both units by a predetermined interface cord to thereby realize user certification processing by fingerprint collation at a position remote from the PC. In view of the above, there is proposed a method in which the above-described recording media are caused to have certification processing function by bio-information to use such certification processing function for user certification of PC to thereby use the recording media as security device in using PC.
In general, USB device using USB as interface is connected to a PC serving as host equipment through USB cable. By control of the host equipment, power is supplied from the host equipment, or data communication is executed between the USB device and the host equipment.
For allowing the above-described recording media, etc. to be media having excellent portability, those recording media have the configuration such that they can be directly connected to USB jack that the PC has without intervention of the USB cable. Namely, recording media have the configuration provided with USB plug adapted to be USB jack that the PC has as the USB connector.
However, there are instances where it becomes very difficult to utilize USB jack that the PC has depending upon (machine) type of the PC and/or place where PC body provided with USB jack is installed (provided), etc. For example, in the desktop PC of the tower type, in the case where the USB jack is located at the rear surface of the PC body, and/or in the case such that there is limitation in the environment where user places (installs) PC so that USB jack is disposed at the position where the USB device cannot be connected, USB device provided with USB plug could not be utilized unless the USB cable is used.
Moreover, recording media caused to have, e.g., fingerprint collation processing function as certification processing function by bio-information are required to put finger with respect to fingerprint sensor of the corresponding recording medium which has been directly connected to PC. For this reason, there is the problem such that the USB connector of PC is damaged by pressing of finger, there is the problem such that since position of the USB jack is different in dependency upon (machine) type of PC, there may exist PCs of the structure in which it is impossible to put finger onto the fingerprint sensor, and there is the problem such that even in the case where finger can be put, it is impossible to perform precise collation processing.
In order to avoid such problems, it is required for permitting use position of the USB device to be freely changed to perform connection with the PC by the USB cable as described above.
However, since both ends of the USB cable have plug shape in the USB standard, it is impossible to connect USB device having USB plug and PC through USB cable.


A resist composition includes (A) a resin being insoluble or poorly soluble in alkali aqueous solution, but becoming soluble in an alkali aqueous solution by the action of an acid, (B) an acid generator having a structure to be cleaved by the action of an alkaline developer, and (C) a compound represented by the formula (I),

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a resist composition and a method for producing resist pattern.
2. Background Information
A resist composition which contains a resin, an acid generator and a quencher containing 2,6-diisopropylaniline is described in Patent document of JP-2006-257078A.
However, with the conventional resist composition, the critical dimension uniformity (CDU) of the obtained resist pattern may be not always satisfied with.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Resist composition and method for producing resist pattern

Abstract: wherein R1 and R2 in each occurrence independently represent a C1 to C12 hydrocarbon group, a C1 to C6 alkoxyl group, a C2 to C7 acyl group, a C2 to C7 acyloxy group, a C2 to C7 alkoxycarbonyl group, a nitro group or a halogen atom; m and n independently represent an integer of 0 to 4.


An RF unit receives predetermined signals. The RF unit amplifies the received signals. A gain control unit controls the gain at the RF unit based on the amplified signal and has the RF unit use the controlled gain. The gain control unit performs different controls on the received signals, depending on the case when the received signal is a known signal placed in the beginning of packet signal and the case when the received signal is a signal other than the packet signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a receiving technology, and it particularly relates to a receiving apparatus that receives packet signal.
2. Description of the Related Art
Road-to-vehicle communication has been under investigation in an effort to prevent collision accidents of vehicles on a sudden encounter at an intersection. In a road-to-vehicle communication, information on conditions at an intersection is communicated between a roadside unit and an in-vehicle unit. Such a road-to-vehicle communication requires installation of roadside units, which means a great cost of time and money. In contrast to this, an inter-vehicular communication, in which information is communicated between in-vehicle units, has no need for installation of roadside units. In that case, current position information is detected in real time by GPS (Global Positioning System) or the like and the position information is exchanged between the in-vehicle units. Thus it is determined on which of the roads leading to the intersection the driver's vehicle and the other vehicles are located.
When packet signals are received in wireless LAN compatible with the IEEE 802.11 standard and the like, the gain or amplification factor of an amplifier for amplifying the packet signals is set based on STF (Short Training Field) placed in the beginning of packet signal. The amplification suited to the received packet signal is not done if the accuracy in the setting of gain is low.

Receiving apparatus that receives packet signal

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


A method for a non-radioactive electrophoretic mobility shift assay performed with non-radioactive labeled dsDNA, non-radioactive labeled ssDNA or non-radioactive labeled RNA probes interacting with a nucleic acid binding protein in forming a complex, electrophoresing the mixture containing the complex, transferring the complex to a membrane, and detecting the complex transferred to the membrane by detecting the non-radioactive label in the complex.

Gel retardation or electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) is a useful method for visualizing specific interactions between DNA-binding proteins and DNA. DNA-binding proteins are involved in a variety of cellular processes ranging from transcription and replication to recombination and viral integration. Typically, .sup.32 P-labeled DNA probes containing the sequence bound by the protein of interest are used in mobility shift assays, but a non-radioactive method using DNA labeled with digoxygenin-dUTP has previously been described (Suske et al., 1989, Nucleic Acids Res. 17:4405). While hybridization of non-radioactive labeled probes has been employed in Southern or Northern analysis, and other than the method described by Suske et al., use of non-radioactive labeled probes directly for studying protein-polynucleotide interactions with EMSA has not previously been described.

Method for non-radioactive gel shift assays


A side skirt assembly for a trailer of a tractor-trailer includes a skirt panel and a plurality of skirt mounts that couple the skirt panel to the frame of the trailer. The skirt panel can be formed by a layered composite formed of alternating layers of fiberglass and layers containing recycled fiberglass. The position of the skirt mount can be laterally adjusted along the trailer frame whereby the skirt panel can be mounted to the trailer in more than one lateral position. Additionally, the skirt panel can include a track extending along at least a portion of the skirt panel length, and the track can slide relative to the skirt mount to adjust the longitudinal position of the skirt panel on the trailer during assembly.

To improve aerodynamics and increase fuel efficiency, a trailer of a tractor-trailer can include a side skirt mounted to the bottom frame of the trailer and extending vertically downward from the trailer towards the ground on both sides of the trailer. The side skirt is often arranged in a straight configuration generally parallel to the side walls of the trailer or an angled configuration extending inward from the side wall of the trailer towards one of the trailer landing gears.


Products and methods of increasing the Rigidity and Rim Stiffness of disposable containers are provided. The containers have an outer flange portion extending outwardly with a brim portion sloping downwardly defining a declivity angle α with respect to a horizontal generally parallel to the bottom portion and generally include an outward turn at the periphery of the container. A preferred method of improving rigidity includes press-forming: (i) a brim transition portion adjoining the downwardly sloping brim portion of the container and (ii) an outwardly extending annular evert portion adjoining the brim transition portion extending outwardly at an eversion angle β of at least about 25 degrees with respect to the downwardly sloping brim portion of the flange.

Disposable food containers such as plates and platters with outwardly extending portions at their outer edges are known in connection with plastic products. The following patents disclose plastic containers with outwardly projecting portions on their outer flanges: U.S. Pat. No. 3,442,378 to Wolfe, see FIGS. 2 and 3; U.S. Pat. No. 3,268,144 to Gaunt, see FIGS. 3 and 5. Outwardly extending flange features are also seen in pulp molded products. U.S. Pat. No. 1,866,035 to Hart et al. discloses a pulp-molded plate with a bottom portion, a sidewall, a horizontal portion, an upward portion, a horizontal flange, a downward portion and an outwardly directed edge. See page 2, Col. 1, as well as FIGS. 2 and 3 of the '035 patent; note also U.S. Pat. No. 1,748,911 to Chaplin which discloses a pulp-molded plate including a sidewall, a surround, a downturn and an outwardly directed edge of thickened material which acts as a reinforcing annulus. See second Col., page 1, lines 75-86, as well as FIGS. 2 and 3 of the '911 patent. Commercial pulp molded products sometimes utilize geometry including at least a partial horizontal outer annulus around the flange, presumably for ease of trimming the final product which may be trimmed on a horizontal surface after forming. A stiffening outer border as such with a sharp eversion is not an art-recognized method of increasing strength of plastic or pulp molded products and such geometry has not been suggested for pressed paperboard products, discussed below.
Pulp molded articles, after drying, are strong and rigid but generally have rough surface characteristics. They are not usually coated and are susceptible to penetration by water, oil and other liquids. Pressed paperboard containers, on the other hand, can be decorated and coated with a liquid-resistant coating before being pressed by the forming dies into the desired shape. Vast numbers of paper plates and similar products are produced by each of these methods every year at relatively low unit cost. These products come in many different shapes, oval, rectangular or polygonal as well as round, and in multi-compartment configurations.
Many paperboard containers tend to exhibit somewhat less strength and rigidity than do comparable containers made by the pulp molding processes. Much of the strength and resistance to bending of a plate-like container made by either process lies in the sidewall and rim areas surrounding the center or bottom portion of the container. When in use, such containers are often supported by the rim and sidewall while the weight held by the container is located on the bottom portion. Thus, the rim and sidewall generally are placed in tension and flexure when the container is being used.
In plate-like structures made by the pulp molding process, the sidewall and overturned rim of the plate are, cohesive fibrous structures which have sufficient resistance to bending as long as they are not damaged or split. Because the rim and sidewall of the pulp molded containers are of a cohesive, unitary structure, they may be placed under considerable tension and flexure without failing. Plates produced by the pulp molding process do not typically have a continuous functional coating to prevent strength loss during use with hot, moist foods. Internal chemicals can be used to retard moisture and grease absorption. For improved moisture resistance, a secondary film can be laminated to the plate in a separate, post formation, step resulting in a significantly higher cost.
In contrast, when a container is made by pressing a paperboard blank, the flat blank must be distorted and changed in shape and area in order to form the blank into the desired three dimensional shape. This necessary distortion results in seams or pleats in the sidewall and rim, the areas of the container which are drawn in toward the center in press-forming the container, resulting from the decrease in the circumference of the formed container as compared to the blank. Unless considerable care is employed during the process of pressing, these seams or pleats can constitute material lines of weakness in the sidewall and rim areas about which such containers tend to bend more readily than do containers having unpleated sidewalls and rims. Moreover, unless well formed, such seams or pleats will often have a tendency to open or unfold as if attempting to return to their original flat shape. The necessary location of these pleats in the sidewall and rim of pressed paperboard containers places the greatest weakness in the area requiring the greatest strength. Unless carefully formed, such containers typically have been unable to support loads comparable to pulp molded containers of equivalent fiber content. Under tension, flexure or torsion, pleats can exhibit a tendency to open and/or hinge. Accordingly, most known pressed paperboard containers typically have significantly less load carrying ability than do pulp molded containers unless particular care is employed to transform disrupted regions in the plates into substantially integrated fibrous structures during the pressing process. In contrast to pulp molded plates, the pressed containers can easily have a continuous functional coating applied to the paperboard prior to forming, resulting in enhanced performance with hot and moist foods.
More general background with respect to pressed paperboard containers is seen in U.S. Pat. No. 4,606,496 entitled "Rigid Paperboard Container" of R. P. Marx et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,609,140 entitled "Rigid Paperboard Container and Method and Apparatus for Producing Same" of G. J. Van Handel et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,721,499 entitled "Method of Producing a Rigid Paperboard Container" of R. P. Marx et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,721,500 entitled "Method of Forming a Rigid Paper-Board Container" of G. J. Van Handel et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,203,491 entitled "Bake-In Press-Formed Container" of R. P. Marx et al. Equipment and methods for making paperboard containers are also disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,781,566 entitled "Apparatus and Related Method for Aligning Irregular Blanks Relative to a Die Half" of A. F. Rossi et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,832,676 entitled "Method and Apparatus for Forming Paperboard Containers" of A. D. Johns et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,249,946 entitled "Plate Forming Die Set" of R. P. Marx et al. The forming section may typically include a plurality of reciprocating upper die halves opposing, in facing relationship, a plurality of lower die halves. The upper die halves are mounted for reciprocating movement in a direction that is oblique or inclined with respect to the vertical plane. The paperboard blanks, after cutting, are gravity fed to the inclined lower die halves in the forming section. The construction of the die halves and the equipment on which they are mounted may be substantially conventional; for example, as utilized on presses manufactured by the Peerless Manufacturing Company. Optionally included are hydraulic controls. See U.S. Pat. No. 4,588,539 to Rossi et al. For paperboard plate stock of conventional thicknesses i.e. in the range of from about 0.010 to about 0.040 inches, it is preferred that the spacing between the upper die surface and the lower die surface is as taught in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,721,499 and 4,721,500.
As noted earlier, paperboard for disposable pressware typically includes polymer coatings. Illustrative in this regard are U.S. Pat. No. 5,776,619 to Shanton and U.S. Pat. No. 5,603,996 to Overcash et al. The '619 patent discloses plate stock provided with a base coat which includes a styrene-acrylic polymer as well as a clay filler as a base coat as well as a top coat including another styrene acrylic polymer and another clay filler. The use of fillers is common in the art as may be seen in the '996 patent to Overcash et al. In the '996 patent a polyvinyl alcohol polymer is used together with an acrylic emulsion as well as a clay to form a barrier coating for a paperboard oven container. See Column 12, lines 50 and following. Indeed, various coatings for paper form the subject matter of many patents including the following: U.S. Pat. No. 5,981,011 to Overcash et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,334,449 to Bergmann et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,169,715 to Maubert et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,972,167 to Hayasaka et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,932,651 to Liles et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,869,567 to Fujita et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,852,166 to Gruber et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,830,548 to Andersen et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,795,928 to Janssen et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,770,303 to Weinert et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,997,682 to Coco; U.S. Pat. No. 4,609,704 to Hausman et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,567,099 to Van Gilder et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,963,843 to Hitchmough et al.
Various methods of applying aqueous polymer coatings and smoothing them are known in the art. See U.S. Pat. No. 2,911,320 to Phillips; U.S. Pat. No. 4,078,924 to Keddie et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,238,533 to Pujol et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,503,096 to Specht; U.S. Pat. No. 4,898,752 to Cavagna et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,033,373 to Brendel et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,049,420 to Simons; U.S. Pat. No. 5,340,611 to Kustermann et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,609,686 to Jerry et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,948,635 to Iwasaki.
Note also the following patents of general interest with respect to forming paperboard containers: U.S. Pat. No. 6,527,687 to Fortney et al. which discloses a cut-in-place forming system with a draw ring and so forth. See Cols. 6-8; U.S. Pat. No. 3,305,434 to Bernier et al. which discloses a paperboard forming apparatus; U.S. Pat. No. 2,832,522 to Schlanger which discloses another paperboard forming apparatus; U.S. Pat. No. 2,595,046 to Amberg discloses still yet another paperboard forming apparatus.
Pressed paperboard containers such as plates, bowls and the like have been improved over the years in terms of strength and processing characteristics. In this respect, container design particularly the placement and configuration of transitions, sidewalls, and brims has been found to impact product performance and influence manufacturing characteristics. One configuration which has enjoyed substantial commercial success is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,088,640 to Littlejohn. The '640 patent discloses a disposable plate provided with a smooth outer profile which defines four (4) radii of curvature defined by arcs of the outer portions of the plate. The various radii are selected for enhancing rigidity of the pressed paper plate as compared to other conventional designs made from the same paperboard stock. The flowing arcuate design of the '640 patent offers additional advantages, notably with respect to manufacturing. It is possible to achieve high press speeds with design of the '640 patent, exercise pleating control and maintain product consistency, even when product is formed slightly off-center due to the forgiving tolerances inherent in the design.
Another configuration for pressed paperboard food containers which has also enjoyed substantial commercial success is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,326,020 to Cheshire et al. A pressed paper plate configured according to the '020 patent includes three frusto-conical or linear profiled regions about its sidewall and rim. The sidewall region includes a generally annular region flaring upwardly and outwardly from a periphery of a planar inner region and a first frusto-conical, linear profiled region adjoining the annular region with the frusto-conical region sloping outwardly and upwardly from the annular region. The rim region includes an outwardly flaring arcuate annular region adjoining an outer periphery of the first frusto-conical region, and a second frusto-conical region extending generally tangentially from the arcuate annular region. The second frusto-conical or linear profiled region extends outwardly and downwardly at an angle of about 6° to about 12° and preferably about 6° to 10.5° relative to the plane defined by the planar inner region. The rim of the container further includes an outwardly and downwardly flaring frusto-conical lip with a linear profile adjoining an outer periphery of the second frusto-conical region in order to aid in grasping of the paperboard container by the consumer. The downturn and lip provide considerable strength. Additionally, a plurality of radially extending mutually spaced pleats are also formed in the rim region and are internally bonded with portions of the rim region during formation of the paperboard container by a die press. Pressed paperboard containers configured in accordance with the '020 patent are capable of exhibiting very high flexural strength relative to other available containers; however the design is less forgiving in terms of manufacturing tolerances than that of the '640 patent design. In other words, added strength comes at the expense of processability. In still yet other cases, it is seen that an increase in rigidity is achieved by sacrificing Rim Stiffness. One attempt to improve pressware containers was to provide a bowl with a double brim; however, this attempt was not successful due to hinging of the product therebetween resulting in lower strength.
It has been unexpectedly found in accordance with the present invention that the Rigidity and/or Rim Stiffness of a paperboard serving container can be increased for a given configuration by adding pressed rim features including a transition and an outwardly extending evert as hereinafter described.

Pressed paperboard servingware with improved rigidity and rim stiffness


A heating apparatus and process useful for drawing ultrahigh molecular weight polyolefin fibers, such as polyethylene fibers. The heating apparatus includes a first set of rolls and a plurality of aligned ovens. The apparatus includes a second set of rolls at the exit of the ovens which rolls are adapted to provide the desired drawing of the polyolefin fibers. The apparatus and process provide a single draw step in a heated environment, with the use of preferably four or six horizontal ovens.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a heating apparatus for drawing polyolefin fibers and a process for drawing such fibers.
2. Description of the Related Art
High tenacity polyolefin fibers, such as gel-spun polyethylene fibers, are known in the art. Ultrahigh molecular weight polyolefins include polyethylene, polypropylene, poly(butene-1), poly(4-methyl-pentene-1), their copolymers, blends and adducts. They are prepared from ultrahigh molecular weight polyolefins, and in the case of polyethylene, ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). The preparation and drawing of such fibers have been described in various patent publications, including U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,413,110; 4,430,383; 4,436,689; 4,536,536; 4,545,950; 4,551,296; 4,612,148; 4,617,233; 4,663,101; 5,032,338; 5,246,657; 5,286,435; 5,342,567; 5,578,374; 5,736,244; 5,741,451; 5,958,582; 5,972,498; 6,448,359; 6,969,553 and U.S. patent application publication 2005/0093200, the disclosures of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference to the extent not incompatible herewith. An oven for drawing fibers is also disclosed in U.S. patent application publication 2004/0040176.
UHMWPE yarns are useful in many applications, such as in impact absorption and ballistic resistant products. These include body armor, helmets, aircraft shields and composite sports equipment. They are also useful in fishing line, sails, ropes sutures and fabrics.
In a typical drawing configuration, the gel-spun fibers are prepared by spinning a solution of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene, cooling the solution filaments to a gel state and then removing the spinning solution. The spun fibers are then drawn to a highly oriented state. In the drawing operation, typically the spun fibers are first fed to a first stack of heated rolls, then through one or more ovens (typically four), then to a second stack of heated rolls, then to one or more additional ovens (typically two), and finally to a third stack of heated rolls before the fiber or yarn is wound up. The speed and temperature of the rolls are adjusted, as are the temperature and temperature profile in the ovens, to obtain the desired drawing ratio and product characteristics in the fiber or yarn. The fibers are subjected to a two stage draw operation in accordance with this configuration.
Although such a configuration has produced excellent quality fiber and yarn, the overall operation is expensive due to the multiple heating zones and sets of rolls, and the throughput is restricted. It would be desirable to provide an oven configuration for polyethylene fibers which was less expensive to operate and could provide drawn fibers or yarns at a higher rate.

Heating apparatus and process for drawing polyolefin fibers