There is provided a rack for supporting a skateboard by hanging the skateboard vertically by way of one pair of its wheels and allowing the board and remaining pair of wheels to hang below. The rack comprises a broad, flat plate mountable on a wall or other substantially vertical surface. A support shelf for a skateboard comprising two shelf parts, one for each of a pair of skateboard wheels, is located on the front face of the plate and extends outward from the plate. The support shelf has a horizontal supporting surface in the shape of the inside of a partial tube. The inside tube surface is generally cylindrical and conforms to the outer surface of the skateboard wheels. The partial tube has an arc of approximately 130.degree. to 180.degree. of a circle, measured from a point at which a vertical line tangentially intersects the surface, so that the wheels may be easily inserted from above, but such that the wheels can rest securely and be adequately supported by the supporting surface. The plate further comprises an integral lateral extension at its lower edge. The extension should extend downward and be shaped symmetrically about the vertical center of balance of the plate. The extension should rest against the wall to stabilize the rack and counter the rotational force exerted by a hanging skateboard.

This invention relates to a support rack for a skateboard or other similar wheeled device. More particularly, this invention relates to a wall-mountable rack for suspending a skateboard by one set of wheels thereof.
The increased popularity of skateboards has created a need for proper storage or display means. As i#stands, skateboards present a danger in the home or public place when left unattended on the floor, or are simply left leaning against a wall when not in use. Current methods of displaying skateboards for sale in stores include laying the skateboard on edge on a shelf, or suspending the skateboard on a hook by way of the wheel truck. All of these attempts at supporting the skateboard are inadequate due to the inherent instability of a skateboard, i.e. a broad flat irregular shaped board having two sets of wheels attached underneath. These current methods result in either the skateboard tipping over to expose the wheels, or to expose the top surface of the board rollable on the wheels. When a skateboard is suspended by way of its wheel truck, the board has a tendency to swing about the suspending means due to the usually cylindrical shape of the truck.
Furthermore, current sales display racks for skateboards are often simply shelves or pegboard hooks, with the skateboards displayed in a whatever direction results. Since a major factor in choosing to buy a skateboard is not only the function, but how it looks to the buyer, these unappealing display means may detract from the visual effect desired by the seller.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a support rack for a skateboard which can safely support and display a skateboard in a stable position.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a support rack which is especially adapted to support and display a skateboard in a visually advantageous manner.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a support rack which can be made economically and consists of a single piece.


An artificial spinal disk comprises a central capsule that is configured to slide laterally within the disk space with one or more of flexion, extension, and lateral bending of the spine so as to shift an instantaneous center of rotation of the artificial disk. In one embodiment, the invention comprises an artificial spinal disk comprising a first plate having an inwardly directed surface, a second plate having an inwardly directed surface facing generally toward the inwardly directed surface of the first plate, and a central capsule with outwardly directed opposed faces that slidably mate with the inwardly directed surfaces of the first and second plates.

A wide variety of artificial spinal disk designs have been developed over the past several years. Some designs, such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,001,130 and 5,123,926 include resilient plastic or fluid filled bag type structures that are placed between adjacent vertebra. These designs provide flexibility, but present the risk of rupture or breakage, and can be difficult to contain effectively within the disk space. Other designs have attempted to use ball-and socket type couplers between endplates or other retaining devices attached to the vertebral bodies. Currently, devices which use metal-metal interfaces rather than resilient bodies are favored for their reliability and strength. However, these types of couplings do a poor job of imitating the natural relative movement of vertebral bodies separated by a natural anatomical disk. Furthermore, this type of replacement disk typically focuses all the forces from weight and motion in a single direction and on a very small part of each vertebral body. This can cause excessive stress on the bone in the area where the artificial disk connects to the vertebral body. Improved designs that reduce these problems are needed in the art.


An apparatus for measuring the optoelectric properties of an organic light-emitting device (OLED) comprising a platform, a goniometer, a three-axis moving device and a computer. The goniometer is disposed on one side of the platform and an OLED is disposed on the goniometer. The three-axis moving device is disposed on another side of the platform. The photo-detector is disposed on the three-axis moving device with the photo-detector toward the OLED on the goniometer. The goniometer, the three-axis moving device and the photo-detector are connected to the computer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for measuring optoelectric properties and measurement method thereof. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus for measuring optoelectric properties of an organic light-emitting device (OLED) and the measurement method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Organic light-emitting device (OLED) is a flat panel display device with a high electrical-to-photonic energy conversion efficiency. OLED display panels are frequently used in mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs) and various other types of flat display devices. Because of the many special properties useful in this multi-media age including no viewing angle restriction, easy to fabricate, low production cost, high response speed, wide operating temperature range and full colorization, research and development on OLEDs are intense and focused. The organic light-emitting panel is a device that utilizes the organic functional materials, which radiate spontaneously to achieve image display. According to the molecular weight of the organic functional materials, the organic light-emitting panel is classified into two types, i.e. the small molecule OLED (SM-OLED) and the polymer light-emitting device (PLED).
In general, optoelectric properties of OLED must be tested as soon as the fabrication is finished. In other words, the brightness, the coloration, the viewing angle, the degree of display uniformity, the contrast and the response time must be measured accurately. Conventionally, the optoelectric properties of an OLED are measured according to the following method.
First, an organic light-emitting device (OLED) is clamped on a simple fixture. Thereafter, power is provided to the OLED through a power supply such as a Topmard 6306D direct current power supply. A photo-detector (SR-2) is positioned manually before a brightness measurement of the OLED is carried out. The resulting measurement is recorded manually and then fed into a computer for data rearrangement, graph plotting or statistical data analysis. A viewing angle measurement of the OLED is then carried out manually by turning the fixture holding the OLED a fixed rotation angle (for example, a rotation of 10°). Subsequently, the aforementioned photo-detector is again used to measure the brightness. A measurement is carried out for each 10° rotation. Furthermore, uniformity of the OLED is also carried out manually by moving the fixture holding the OLED to a new position and then using naked-eye inspection and the aforementioned photo-detector to measure the brightness. To measure the contrast of the OLED, a brightness meter (Lux meter) is used to measure overall brightness level of the surrounding. Thereafter, the brightness meter is used to find the contrast ratio of the OLED. After the measurement of various optoelectric properties, all the data have to be fed into a computer manually so that the data can be processed, plotted out in graphic form or statistically analyzed. Furthermore, the aforementioned measurements may have to be repeated a number of times during which the operator cannot leave if an accurate and useful analysis is required.
Hence, in the conventional method of measuring the optoelectric properties of an OLED, a lot of time and labor is spent during the measurement to adjust the angles, position the device, clamp the device, align the instrument, dissemble the device and calibrate the instruments. Each OLED has to go through the same set of operations manually. Furthermore, visual alignment is very imprecise and the manual adjustment, setting, positioning and turning of the OLED and the measuring instrument may produce so much errors that the measured results are highly inaccurate. Lastly, the conventional method does not provide any means of gauging the response time of the OLED.

Apparatus for measuring optoelectric properties of OLED and the measurement method thereof


An integrated galvanically isolated meter devices and method for making integrated meter devices are disclosed. An embodiment of an integrated meter device includes a carrier, a control chip disposed on the carrier, a first measuring device chip disposed on the carrier, the first measuring device chip galvanically isolated from the control chip and configured to measure at least one first parameter of a first wire of a power line and a package encapsulating the control chip and the first measuring device chip.

Power line meter devices can be used to track one or more parameters on one or multiple phases of a power line or a power line. A meter device is usually an electronic device which is coupled to the power line and which is adapted to measure the voltage and current of the power line. Data representing the voltage and current of the power line can be processed and stored in order to determine power or energy consumption. The user and the utility provider are then able to access this data remotely or at the location at any time. Power line metering can help utility providers manage overall energy consumption patterns and cope with peak-demand challenges. Moreover, power line metering can provide better service to the utilizer. Power line metering can help customers to better manage their own usage, for example.
Several solutions for electric meters on single- or poly-phase power lines or power lines already exist. In a typical poly-phase meter arrangement the power parameters of each phase can be measured using a current transformer and a voltage transformer. For single-phase meter arrangements, solutions are known which use resistors, shunts, voltage dividers and/or current transformers. The parameters such as the power parameters and the power quality parameters such as the power factor, the harmonic distortion, the dc offset, etc. can be calculated from the sampled data using a digital signal processor or a general purpose processor.
Electric meters typically comprise several discrete packaged devices. For example, an electric meter may comprise a discrete sensing device such as a sensor (e.g., hall sensor) or a transformer and a discrete galvanic insulator such as an opto-coupler.
Because cost, space and the number of chips are always crucial, there is a need for a meter arrangement which requires fewer and more cost efficient chips (e.g., shunts or voltage dividers) and therefore is more optimized in terms of cost and space as compared to current solutions.

Integrated galvanically isolated meter devices and methods for making integrated galvanically isolated meter devices


An SIM card connector and a mobile terminal are disclosed. The SIM card connector comprises a card holder as well as a power supply terminal, a first terminal and a second terminal disposed within the card holder. When the SIM card is plugged, the power supply terminal connects with a power supply contact of the SIM card earlier than the first terminal, and the first terminal connects with the power supply contact earlier than the second terminal. The mobile terminal comprises an interruption detection module, a power supply management module and an SIM card connector. The power supply management module is configured to stop supplying power to the power supply terminal when it is determined that a signal received by the power supply management module changes from a second control signal into a first control signal.

An SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card stores information of a user of the corresponding digital mobile terminal, a key for encryption, a telephone book of the user and so on. The mobile terminal can be used by the user for communication only when the SIM card is plugged therein.
The SIM card is provided with metal contacts, which connect with terminals of an SIM card connector of the mobile terminal to allow for communication. When the SIM card is completely plugged into the SIM card connector, each of the metal contacts connects to just one terminal. However, in the process of plugging the SIM card into or removing the SIM card from the SIM card connector, it is likely that some terminals of the SIM card connector connect to more than one metal contact simultaneously. If, in this case, the SIM card connector is still kept energized, there will be a risk of damaging the SIM card due to a short-circuit. For example, refer to FIG. 1, which is a schematic view illustrating operations of plugging or removing the SIM card in the prior art. After the SIM card 10 is completely plugged into the SIM card connector (not shown), the metal contacts 101 of the SIM card 10 are in one-to-one correspondence with the terminals 102 of the SIM card connector. In the process of removing the SIM card 10, it is likely that one terminal 102 connects to two metal contacts 101 simultaneously because of the large touch areas between the terminal 102 and the metal contacts 101. If, in this case, the terminal 102 is still connected with the power supply, then the SIM card 10 will be short-circuited.
In mobile terminals of the early stage, the structure design is such that the battery can be installed only after the SIM card has been plugged and, on the other hand, the SIM card can be removed only after the battery has been removed, so there is no risk of short-circuit of the SIM card. However, as the mobile terminals are developing towards an integrated form, built-in batteries have become a general trend. Correspondingly, there might be cases where the SIM card is hot plugged in or removed with the mobile terminal being powered on.

Huizhou TCL Mobile Communication Co., Ltd


In a method for producing a temperature sensor, there is first provided a substrate, on the first surface of which there is arranged a sensor structure having a first end and a second end, wherein the sensor structure substantially completely covers the first surface of the substrate. Then an insulation layer is at least partially formed on this sensor structure on which a first and a second contact area are then formed. The first and second contact areas are formed such that they are conductively connected to the first end and the second end of the sensor structure, respectively.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a temperature sensor and to a method for its production and particularly to a temperature sensor, preferably a platinum temperature sensor, with space-saving contact terminals and a method for the production of such a temperature sensor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Platinum temperature sensors in thin-layer technology have been produced in various implementations for years.
German Patent Application DE 44445243 C2 describes a temperature sensor with a ceramic substrate, a resistance sensor embedded in the ceramic substrate and having a positive resistance temperature coefficient, two first lines connected to the resistance sensor and serving for current supply, two second lines connected to the resistance sensor, wherein the voltage drop at the resistance sensor may be detected by means of the two second lines, and a voltage divider resistor connected between the two second lines and in parallel to the resistance sensor, wherein the output signal voltage of the temperature sensor is present as partial voltage of the voltage divider resistor, and wherein two pads are further arranged on the surface of the ceramic substrate and connected to one of the two second lines and/or the voltage divider resistor.
German Patent Application DE 10232380 A1 describes a sensor with wire connection and a method for producing a sensor with wire connection, wherein the sensor comprises a first insulation layer, a second insulation layer with an opening, a plurality of metal conductive traces, and a plurality of electrodes, wherein each metal conductive trace includes a contact area and is arranged between the first and the second insulation layer, and wherein each electrode further includes a connection area arranged separate from the contact area, and wherein the electrodes are further in electrical connection with the contact areas through the openings.
German Patent Application DE 3733192 C1 describes a PTC temperature sensor and a method for the production of a PTC temperature sensor element for the PTC temperature sensor, wherein the PTC temperature sensor comprises two ceramic films and is designed such that the PTC resistive trace is hermetically encapsulated with respect to the measurement gas and the ambient air, and wherein the PTC resistive trace is further connected to the contact areas on the other side of the film through two punched vias.
With respect to FIGS. 1 and 2, a conventional method for the production of a platinum sensor according to an approach as it is known in prior art will be explained below in more detail. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the figure parts A each show top views of the temperature sensor, and the figure parts B each show side views. Such sensors are known from DE 10020932 C1.
In the conventional approach, as it is shown in FIG. 1, a sensor structure 12, preferably a meandering platinum resistive trace, is applied to a substrate 10. The resistive trace 12 has a first end 12a and a second end 12b. Furthermore, a first contact area 14 and a second contact area 16 are arranged on the substrate 10, wherein the first contact area 14 is connected to the first end 12a of resistive trace 12, and wherein the second contact area 16 is connected to the second end 12b of the resistive trace 12.
For the completion of the temperature sensor, as shown in FIG. 2, a first connecting wire 18 is affixed to the first contact area 14, and a second connecting wire 20 is affixed to the second contact area 16. Furthermore, a protective layer 22 is preferably applied over the resistive trace 12 (see FIG. 2B). The connecting wires 18, 20 are further preferably additionally fixed by means of a glaze 24 also partially covering the cover 22.
FIG. 3 also shows a conventional temperature sensor in which the temperature sensor element is of the SMD type. Unlike the embodiment described with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2, the resistive trace 12 is arranged on the substrate 10 such that the respective ends 12a and 12b of the resistive trace 12 are arranged adjacent to opposite ends of the substrate 10 at which there are also arranged the contact areas 14 and 16. Similarly to FIGS. 1 and 2, it may also be provided here to cover the resistive trace 12 with a protective layer 22 (see FIG. 3B).
The temperature sensors described with respect to FIGS. 1 to 3 have been produced in various implementations and used for precise temperature measurement tasks for years, as has been mentioned. The typical structure of these sensor elements, as described with respect to FIGS. 1 to 3, includes an Al2O3 ceramic substrate 10 on which a platinum film 12 having a thickness of about 1 μm is applied. The platinum film is further structured so that the resistive trace has a resistance in the order of, for example, 100 ohm. This platinum resistive trace 12 is usually protected by the protective layer 22 (for example a glaze layer). The connecting wires 18, 20 are generally welded to the two contact areas 14, 16, with the exception of SMD types, wherein the wires are additionally provided with the glaze drop 24 to allow mechanical stress on the connecting wires 18, 20 during further processing.
For years there has been a tendency in prior art that the thin-film sensor elements described by way of example with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2 have become smaller and smaller, having, for example, a width of 1 mm, a length of 1.5 mm and a height of 0.8 mm, or even smaller. This is accompanied by a simultaneous increase in the nominal resistance values, for example to 1,000 ohm or even higher.
In the implementations currently known, both the resistor structure and the contact zone for the application of connecting wires and/or, for SMD devices or SMD-like implementations, the contact zone and/or the contact pads are arranged on the same plane, i.e. on the substrate surface, as can be seen in FIGS. 1 to 3. With the increasing miniaturization and the simultaneously increasing requirement to generate a high nominal resistance value, ever finer structures (resistive traces) have to be created, wherein a certain area portion always has to be reserved for the two contact areas. These contact areas 14, 16 may occupy considerably more than 50% of the overall area of the surface of the substrate 10 in comparably short elements, because, for example, the wire structure on the chip may not become infinitely short for reasons of mechanical strength. This area portion is not available for the resistive structure and therefore has to be compensated for by very fine traces, i.e. small trace widths, because the thickness of the platinum film used and/or the metal film used may not be produced infinitely thin.
However, in the case of very fine trace widths, for example of less than 5 μm, the structuring becomes more and more difficult, because the planarity of the substrates or other spurious effects (e.g. very fine dust in spite of the clean room, minimal variations in the photoresist process) also have a more and more negative effect and result in less yield.

Temperature sensor and method for its production


The problems associated with the use of chromic acid (CrO.sub.3) binders are substantially overcome by a basic refractory monolith incorporating molybdenum trioxide (molybdic oxide, moO.sub.3) as the binding agent. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the basic monolith contains about 0.5 wt. % pH modifier, such as sodium carbonate; about 2 wt. % molybdic oxide (MoO.sub.3); about 3 wt. % crude clay; and 75 to 99 wt. % basic refractory aggregate.

This invention relates to basic refractory monoliths and, more particularly, it concerns a molybdenum trioxide bonded basic refractory and method.
Basic monoliths are refractory compositions which are either preformed or formed on site. They are installed by various forming techniques, such as casting, fettling, gunning, spraying, troweling, or in some cases by pressing. The term "basic" implies that the major component in the mix is a base oxide, such as lime, magnesia, or a combination of these common refractory oxides.
In the past, chromic acid (CrO.sub.3) has been the preferred binder for basic monoliths. Use of this binder imparted monolithic shapes with exceptional strength and slag resistance. Chromic acid contains the element chromium in the +6 valence state which is commonly referred to as hexavalent chrome.
While use of the chromic acid binder has provided adequate utility, recently, there has been a great deal of concern over the use of chromic acid because chromium +6 may be toxic and carcinogenic. For example, the EPA has forbidden routine disposal of materials containing more than 5 ppm of soluble chromium.
The refractory industry, in response to EPA concerns, has abandoned the use of chromic acid as a binder and has used as substitutes epsom (MgO.multidot.SO.sub.4 .multidot.7H.sub.2 O) salts, phosphates, silicates, nitre cake (NaH.multidot.SO.sub.4 .multidot.H.sub.2 O), sulfamic acid (H SO.sub.3 .multidot.NH.sub.2), citric acid, and anhydrous boric acid (H.sub.3 .multidot.BO.sub.3) either individually or in combination. Although these substitute binders have provided adequate service, they have not provided equivalent service to that achieved using chromic acid.
In light of the foregoing, there is a need for an improved basic refractory monolith including a binder which provides desired levels of slag resistance and strength and is environmentally safe.

Molybdenum trioxide bonded basic monolith and method


An electronic device includes a substrate, a first coil that has a spiral shape and is provided on the substrate, a second coil that has a spiral shape, is provided above the first coil, and is spaced from the first coil, a first connection portion that electrically couples the first coil and the second coil, a wire that is provided on the substrate and connects one of the first coil and the second coil to outside, and a second connection portion that is mechanically connected to an outer side face of outermost circumference of the second coil and is mechanically connected on the substrate where one of the wire and the first coil is not provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an electronic device, and more particularly, to an electronic device having spiral-shaped coils longitudinally spaced from each other.
2. Description of the Related Art
An inductor or a capacitor is used for phase matching or the like. For example, there is a demand for downsizing, low cost and high performance in a RF system such as mobile phone or wireless LAN (Local Area Network). An electronic device such as an integrated passive device where passive devices such as an inductor or a capacitor are integrated on a substrate is used in order to satisfy the demand.
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-157738 discloses an integrated electronic device using a spiral-shaped coil on a substrate acting as an inductor. Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2007-67236 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,518,165 disclose an inductor in which spiral-shaped coils are longitudinally spaced from each other.
In accordance with the inductor disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2007-67236, high Q value is obtained. There is, however, a problem that mechanical strength and impact resistance of an upper layer coil are not sufficient, because the coils are longitudinally spaced from each other in the inductor disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2007-67236.


The present invention provides an improved disposable article for the absorption and containment of urine or other body exudates, for example a diaper, training pants or an adult incontinence article, that has a high fecal fluid intake rate as measured by the Fecal Fluid Intake Test.

Personal care absorbent articles, such as diapers, training pants, and adult incontinence garments typically include a liquid pervious top layer (often referred to as a bodyside liner or topsheet), a liquid impermeable bottom layer (often referred to as an outer cover), and an absorbent core between them. The absorbent core is often defined as including a front region (closer to the front waist of the wearer), a back region (closer to the rear waist of the wearer), and a crotch region (the lowermost region on a wearer, connecting the front region to the back region). For purposes of this document, the front region of the absorbent core may be defined as including one-third of the length of the absorbent core measured from the edge of the absorbent core which is closest to the front waist edge of the article. The back region of the absorbent core may be defined as including one-third of the length of the absorbent core measured from the edge of the absorbent core which is closest to the rear waist edge of the article. The crotch region of the absorbent core may be defined as including the remaining one-third of the length of the absorbent core which is bounded by the front region and the back region.
Conventional bodyside liner materials are liquid pervious layers constructed of a nonwoven fabric such as a spunbonded layer of polypropylene spunbonded fibers. Bodyside liners are designed to provide a liquid pervious barrier between a wearer of a personal care absorbent article that includes the liner and any absorbent structures beneath the liner. With this in mind, it is known to provide bodyside liners which are liquid pervious and that do not retain liquids. Such liners merely act as a pass through or separation layer. The structure of such bodyside liners is optimized primarily based on providing liquid intake and dryness, mostly with respect to urine. Conventional bodyside liners do not permit the intake of fecal matter, particularly runny fecal matter.
In addition to urine, absorbent articles are also subjected to insults of runny fecal matter. Although efforts have been made to absorb, contain, or otherwise entrap runny fecal matter, conventional bodyside liners do not provide sufficient intake of runny fecal matter and do not limit the spread of runny fecal matter. Consequently, runny fecal matter has a greater tendency to spread and leak, than does urine, from conventional absorbent articles.


An electrorheological fluid which comprises a dispersion medium containing fluorine atoms in an amount larger than 0 wt % but not larger than 50.0 wt % and particles for electrorheological fluid use that are contained in the dispersion medium in an amount of 10-50 vol % of the total volume of the dispersion medium and the particles, the particles comprising a sulfonic-acid-group-containing polymer having a sulfonic acid group content of 30-70 wt %.

An electrorheological (ER) fluid is a fluid which reversibly changes in rheological characteristic upon application of an electric field. Clutches, brakes, dampers, haptic devices, rehabilitation apparatuses, and other devices and apparatuses making use of the high level of its response have been proposed.
As such an electrorheological fluid exhibiting a large electrorheological effect enabling use for such applications, up until now, for example, a fluid comprised of sulfonated polystyrene particles dispersed in silicone oil has been proposed (Patent Literature 1).
When using an electrorheological fluid for such applications, it is required that the shear stress when applying an electric field be large and also that the base viscosity (viscosity when not applying an electric field) be low and a difference between stress when not applying an electric field and applying it be large. The dispersion stability of the particles is also one of the important characteristics demanded. If the dispersion stability of the particles is poor, the stability of the electrorheological effect at the time of application of voltage is also affected. On this point, the art described in Patent Literature 1 tends to be low in dispersion stability and high in base viscosity and had the problem that a sufficiently high electrorheological effect (ER effect) was difficult to obtain.
The change in viscosity of an electrorheological fluid is substantially proportional to the square of the electric field intensity applied. To obtain a shear stress able to be applied to various device applications, application of a high voltage of several kV/mm is considered necessary. To operate these electric devices with as low a voltage as possible, for example, the method of narrowing the electrode gap and the method of giving relief shapes to the electrodes to suppress slippage between the electrorheological fluid and the electrode surfaces (Patent Literatures 2 to 4) have been proposed.
Among the above methods, the method of narrowing the electrode gap has the following difficulties.
In the production of an electric device using an electrorheological fluid, a process is adopted in which, first, the device is assembled, and then the electrorheological fluid is filled in the electrode gap. Therefore, if the electrode gap is narrowed, filling the fluid between the electrodes becomes extremely difficult. If filling the electrorheological fluid between the electrodes, the possibility of bubbles remaining in the electrode gap becomes higher. If bubbles remain, the problem of the dielectric breakdown voltage easily dropping, spatter occurring, and the electrorheological fluid deteriorating and the problem of the performance of the device becoming unstable occur. In particular, these tendencies are remarkable in the case of an electrorheological fluid in which particles are dispersed.
To prevent the above phenomenon, for example, the technique of degassing the electrorheological fluid in advance has been proposed (Patent Literature 5). However, even if the electrorheological fluid itself is degassed, when filling the electrorheological fluid in a narrow electrode gap, entry of bubbles is unavoidable.
In the known art for operating electric devices using an electrorheological fluid at a low voltage, when studying the technique of giving relief shapes to the electrodes, cases were seen in which even if giving relief shapes to the electrodes, the electrorheological effect was not improved much at all. Depending on the extent of the relief shapes, a tendency arose for dielectric breakdown to occur more easily than when the electrodes are flat. This dielectric breakdown is believed to occur due to bubbles entering into the relief shape parts of the electrode surfaces when injecting the electrorheological fluid and sparks being generated when applying a high voltage. If bubbles enter into interfaces between the electrodes and the electrorheological fluid, sometimes slippage similar to the hydroplaning phenomenon occurs between the two.
On this point, even if degassing the electrorheological fluid in advance in accordance with Patent Literature 5, in devices with a narrow electrode gap, in particular in devices with extremely complicated electrode shapes, it is difficult to avoid bubbles remaining in the electrode gap. The above problem is still not solved.

Electrorheological fluid and electric device


The present invention is directed to a rigid, lightweight filled resin foam having voids dispersed in a continuous phase which is formed from a polyester polyol-polyurethane hybrid resin having reinforcing particles selected from fly ash, treated red mud and mixtures thereof dispersed therein. The hybrid resin may form an interpenetrating polymer network with a polyurethane and/or a modified hybrid polyurethane resin. The present invention is also directed to a process for preparing the above rigid, lightweight resin foam, and to a composition for use in this process. The foam of the present invention is useful in building materials and the like requiring high tensile and compressive strength and corrosion and thermal resistance.

1. Field Of The Invention
Foamed recyclables are molded, lightweight, two-polymer structured materials containing large amounts of industrial waste products. The physical properties of the cured products are excellent when compared to the properties of commercially available foams. The industrial waste products are fines, or must be converted to fines, prior to use in the foamed recyclable. The binder or glue that encapsulates each particle and forms the cellular walls of the foam is itself a unique, two-polymer thermoset that, when cured, allows maximum physical property attainment through polymer design.
Molded or processed foamed recyclables of the present invention are useful as, e.g., lightweight roofing materials (e.g., tiles or slates), decorative or architectural products, outdoor products, low cost insulation panels, fencing, lightweight, buoyant or corrosion-resistant marine products, etc.
2. Discussion Of Related Art
Hybrid resins are known, and are described in Edwards, The Application Of Isophthalic Unsaturated Polyester Urethane Hybrids In Conventional Molding Techniques, 42nd Annual Conference Composites Institute, The Society Of The Plastics Industry, Inc., Feb. 2-6, (1987) (pp. 1-6, Session 8-C), U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,822,849, 4,892,919 and 5,086,084.
Interpenetrating polymer networks, or IPNs are also known. An IPN is a material which consists of a pair of networks, at least one of which has been synthesized and/or crosslinked in the presence of the other. An IPN can be described as an intimate mixture of two or more distinct crosslinked polymer networks that cannot be physically separated. Interpenetrating polymer networks can be classified into several categories. For example, when only one polymer is crosslinked and the other is linear, the product is called semi-IPN. U.S. Pat. No. 4,302,553 discloses two structurally different crosslinked polymers, which when combined, form an IPN structure. The IPN structure is comprised of the two different crosslinking polymers which are permanently entangled with one another and characterized in that no chemical interaction had occurred between the individual networks. Interpenetrating polymer networks are also described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,923,934 and 5,096,640.
Foamed and/or cured foams of polymer resins, which may contain inorganic fillers, are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,642,403, 3,697,456, 4,331,726, 4,725,632, 4,777,208, 4,816,503, 4,216,294, 4,260,538, 4,694,051, and 4,946,876.
Despite this activity, the products produced by the prior art, especially products of lightweight construction materials, do not have sufficiently well-balanced properties with regard to structural strength, as well as with regard to corrosion and thermal resistance, and processing.
Preparation of foams of unsaturated polyesters useful in the manufacture of lightweight building materials has been attempted using a number of different techniques. However, a difficulty encountered in attempts to produce unsaturated polyester foams is the generation of gases so as to cause a uniform expansion of the resin at ambient temperatures before any appreciable crosslinking occurs. The present inventor has discovered that with a two polymer system, a significant portion of the crosslinking and curing does not have to occur immediately after the maximum amount of gases has been released. Indeed, upon completion of the first polymer reaction, the crosslinking reaction can be delayed for hours. However, should appreciable crosslinking occur before maximum gas release, the accompanying exothermic reaction will cause cracking as the previously unreleased gases are generated thereby causing stresses against a very rigid crosslinked structure which is unable to further expand. Moreover, should the polyurethane reaction have not occurred to a point sufficient to maintain the cell structures, the gases will gradually escape, and the expanded resin will drop back to its original state. The cured polymer will form much like a standard resin casting, with little or no expansion.
Lightweight cementitious compositions are known in which the desired weight reduction over concrete is achieved by the use of lightweight aggregate. However, articles made from such materials are brittle and possess tensile strengths which are low and limit many practical applications. Also, the density range of lightweight concretes is three times higher than the foam of the present invention.
Low density rigid polyurethane modified-polyisocyanurate foams have been widely used as insulative structural members. As with other polymeric materials, it is often desirable to reduce the polymer content and improve the properties of these members by the addition of inorganic fillers. Unfortunately, it has proven difficult to provide a rigid polyurethane or polyisocyanurate foam containing more than about 10% by weight of such fillers. These fillers tend to rupture the cells of the foam, which in turn dramatically reduces its insulative capacity. Another undesirable effect of high levels of fillers is that the foam becomes very friable. Since higher filler levels are desired, because they provide a less expensive material and certain physical property improvements, it would be highly desirable to provide a highly filled, rigid polyurethane-modified polyisocyanurate foam which has good insulative properties and low friability.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,661,533 relates to using a particular inorganic filler, namely fly ash, as the inorganic filler for filling rigid polyurethane modified-polyisocyanurate foams. High percentage additions of fly ash to very light weight (2 pounds per cubic foot (pcf)) insulating foam are described. The use of the fly ash inorganic filler enables the foam to be filled to a theoretical level of about 80% of the foam's total weight without deterioration of the insulative properties, friability and compressive strength. The foam is useful as board insulation, sheathing insulation, pipe insulation and the like. However, even though the foam of the above patent is highly filled with fly ash, the problems associated with the formation of two distinct polymer and hybrid resin technology where a very high percentage of the end product is crosslinkable (up to 90%) did not have to be addressed. Additionally, the superior processing advantages inherent in the polyester/polyurethane chemistry are not possible with the prior art product. The potential physical properties obtainable from the filled foam of the present invention, having two distinct polymer systems, are much higher, and the ability to control individual reactions in the polyester/polyurethane system used in the present invention is considerably better than that possible with the single shot polyurethane/polyisocyanurate chemistry of the prior art.

Cured unsaturated polyester-polyurethane hybrid highly filled resin foams


A photographic element which comprises at least one temporary barrier layer formed by applying an organic solvent solution containing at least two kinds of copolymers, wherein each of said at least two kinds of copolymers comprises, as its constituents, at least one monomer selected from group A, at least one monomer selected from group B, and at least one monomer selected from group C:. group A: mono(meth)acrylates of polyhydric alcohols; PA1 group B: ethylenic unsaturated monomers having a carboxyl group; and PA1 group C: ethylenic unsaturated monomers which are other than those of groups A and B, and which are copolymerizable with the monomers of groups A and B.

It is a well known technique in the field of usual photography and diffusion transfer photography to provide a temporary barrier layer between layers of a photographic element into which a processing composition permeates.
In the diffusion transfer photography process, in particular, it has been a practice to use a neutralization layer in order to, for example, cease the development or stabilize the image. For preventing too early neutralization of the developing solution and the decrease in maximum density resulting therefrom which may cause by the use of the neutralization layer, it is also widely known to provide a temporary barrier layer as a mechanism for controlling the neutralization timing (i.e., as a timing layer).
In general, the reaction for developing silver halide photographs proceeds quickly at a high temperature but slowly at a low temperature. When the diffusion transfer process is to be applied to instant photography wherein the development is performed not under temperature control but at various temperatures different from the conventional photography, it is therefore highly important that photographic elements are capable of compensating temperature so that the developing solution is neutralized within a short period of time at a high temperature at which the development proceeds quickly but the neutralization is slowly carried out at a low temperature at which the development proceeds slowly, thus giving good images regardless of changes in the development temperature.
As examples of these timing layers capable of compensating temperature, U.S. Pat. No. 3,856,522 proposes to use butyl acrylate/diacetone acrylamide/styrene/methyl methacrylate copolymers; U.S. Pat. No. 4,061,496 proposes to use acrylonitrile/vinylidene chloride/acrylic acid copolymers; and JP-A-53-7266 discloses to use styrene/butyl acrylate/acrylic acid copolymers (the term "JP-A" as used herein means an "unexamined published Japanese patent application").
Although the timing layers described in these patents are excellent in the capability of compensating temperature of the neutralization reaction of developing solutions, they suffer from various problems. One of these problems resides in that since these timing layers are made of latex polymer materials, they should be dried at a high temperature under strictly controlled conditions (temperature, humidity, time, etc.), after the application, to give good coating films. Accordingly, complicated application/drying apparatuses are needed, which results in an increase in the cost in many cases. Moreover, the timing layer thus applied frequently undergoes aggregation which lowers the transparency of the film. Furthermore, there arise other troubles such that the timing layer frequently has only a low film strength, the timing layer is frequently peeled off due to poor adhesion thereof to the lower layer, etc.
To solve these problems, attempts have been made to form timing layers by applying polymer solutions in organic solvents. According to JP-A-56-97346, for example, a vinylidene/methyl acrylate/itaconic acid copolymer latex is once powdered and then dissolved in an organic solvent followed by application. Further, U.S. Pat. No. 4,440,848 proposes to use copolymers obtained by solution polymerization of vinyl esters, while JP-A-59-202463 proposes to use copolymers obtained by solution polymerization of ethylenic unsaturated methacrylates having reactive groups such as phthalimido.
Although the timing layers disclosed in these patents make it possible to compensate the temperature in the neutralization reaction of developing solutions, the range of the temperature thus compensated is very narrow, compared with the temperature range employed in the instant photography in practice, in each case and thus only unsatisfactory images can be obtained thereby.
In addition, the above-mentioned timing layers frequently suffer from a problem that, when stored under high humidity at high temperature, the neutralization timing period is prolonged due to the poor storage stability with time and thus the maximum and minimum densities are elevated. This problem relates closely to the Tg of the polymer material employed in the timing layer. Namely, a higher Tg brings about the more serious problem.
Such a timing layer is frequently located next to the layer wherein an alkali processing composition is developed. However, it is often observed that the timing layer adheres to the opposite layer, between which the development layer is sandwiched, before the development of the processing composition and thus the processing composition cannot be uniformly developed, i.e., an adhesion trouble. This trouble also relates closely to the Tg of the polymer material employed in the timing layer. In this case, the problem is that a lower Tg would cause the trouble more often.
Accordingly, a Tg of the polymer affects to the storage stability with time and to the adhesion trouble oppositely each other, which makes it very difficult to regulate the Tg of a single polymer so as to satisfy both of these requirements.

Photographic elements having temporary barrier layer


A plunger and barrel assembly includes a barrel that defines a plunger bore. A plunger having a pressure face end and a side surface is positioned in the plunger bore and moveable between an advanced position and a retracted position. An O-ring is in contact with the side surface of the plunger and the plunger bore. At least one of the plunger and the barrel define a receiver volume that opens into the plunger bore. A compressible member is positioned in the receiver volume.

In one class of fuel injectors, a reciprocating plunger is utilized to pressurize fuel to initiate and sustain injection. With each reciprocation, pressure gradients along the plunger can oscillate between zero and about twenty thousand psi or more at a frequency of many times per second. Because of this high cyclic pressure gradient, fuel naturally has the tendency to leak past the plunger along the plunger bore wall. For a number of reasons, including decreased complexity, increased reliability, allowable fuel leakage, concerns about where and how to route the leaked fuel and for other reasons known to those skilled in the art, it is often desirable to eliminate leakage past the plunger by using an O-ring seal. However, because of the high frequencies involved in injection cycles and the extreme magnitude of cyclic pressure changes acting on an O-ring seal, most presently available O-rings tend to fail long before the other components of the fuel injector. In other words, O-ring technology has not sufficiently advanced to provide reliable and long term sealing at the high frequencies and relatively extreme pressures experienced within a fuel injector environment.
One response to this problem has been to include a pressure receiver volume at a position between the O-ring and the pressure face end of the plunger. This pressure receiver volume typically takes the form of an annulus machined in the side wall of the plunger below the O-ring but above the pressure face end of the plunger. Cyclic pressures on the O-ring are substantially attenuated by the inclusion of a pressure receiver volume since a substantial amount of the high pressure in each injection cycle is absorbed in the receiver volume before the same ever reaches the O-ring seal. Pressure in the receiver volume drops or resets itself when the plunger is undergoing its return stroke between injection events. One problem associated with the simple use of a receiver volume to attenuate pressures on the O-ring is the need to make the volume relatively large in order to provide a satisfactory attenuation on the pressures experienced by the O-ring seal. In other words, more pressure attenuation can be provided by making the receiver of volume ever larger; however, realistic space constraints and plunger guiding considerations, among other things, limit the realistic amount of volume that can be devoted to the pressure receiver volume space.
The present invention is directed to overcoming this and other problems associated with sealing against fluid leakage past a reciprocating plunger within a fuel injector.

Fluid seal for cyclic high pressures within a fuel injector


The invention provides an IP switching based radio network controller. The radio network controller comprises a plurality of functional modules, at least comprising: an ATM interface module, an interface management module, a radio signaling management module and a radio bearer processing module, characterized in that, the radio network controller replaces an ATM switch with an IP switching network to achieve data and signaling exchange among the above functional modules in the radio network controller. Said functional modules respectively comprise at least one functional board, and the functions of each of the functional modules are respectively achieved in different functional boards. The radio network controller of the invention has the advantages of low cost, simple configuration and management, and easy to achieve the system.

The radio network controller (RNC) is an important component in the third generation mobile communication wideband code division multiple access system (3G W-CDMA), which performs important functions such as access control of a radio network, management of radio resources, establishment and release of radio links, and the performance of which will directly decide quality of service that can be provided by the whole 3G W-CDMA system. Since a huge 3G network can only be built step by step, in order to ensure low cost and high efficiency of an initial investment of an operator and smooth extension of the 3G network, the RNC must have good extendibility.
However, in the current 3GPP Release 1999 protocol specification regarding W-CDMA, the RNC and other network elements in the 3G systems transmit information through ATM. Therefore, many equipment providers naturally adopt ATM switching mode. However, the ATM switch has many defects such as high cost, complex configuration and management, and hard to extend.
FIG. 1 describes features of the structure of an ATM switching based radio network controller. It can be seen from FIG. 1 that, the ATM switching based radio network controller comprises a multiplexing and interface module (MUX), an ATM switching model (Switching), a signaling processing unit (SPU), a data processing unit (DPU) and a resource control unit (RCU), wherein the MUX module performs an external interface function of the controller, the Switch module performs data exchange between the above units and maintain routing of the data exchange, the SPU module performs the processing of a signaling part of the protocol, the DPU module performs the processing of a data part of the protocol, and the RCU module performs a control function of radio resources and local resources of the controller, and is connected to an external operation, maintenance and management (O&M) equipment.
A common ATM switching has the following features: the ATM switching is connection oriented, and requires configuration and management operations such as node initialization and routing table maintenance; the ATM switching network is difficult to perform a multipoint transmission and broadcast function, and the ATM switching module (ATM switch) must use the routing table to determine a next output route and port of the information; the ATM route identification is network structure oriented, is determined by a virtual path identification (VPI) and a virtual channel identification (VCI), and needs to be configured and maintained. During information transmission, a header of each information element comprises the current route identification.
Generally, an ATM switching flow is that, a switching node extracts the route identification from a received information element, looks up the routing table to obtain the next route identification and the output port, changes the route identification in the header of the information element, and transmits the information element out from the output port. By taking the 3G protocol as an example, in a radio network controller using ATM technology, the operating principle of information exchange is shown in brief as follows:
RRC message flow:
Iub→MUX→Switch→DPU→Switch→SPU
NBAP/RANAP/RNSAP/ALCAP message flow:
Iub/Iur/Iu→MUX→Switch→SPU
Iub→Iur data flow:
Iub→MUX→Switch→DPU→Switch→MUX→Iur
Iub→Iu data flow:
Iub→MUX→Switch→DPU→Switch→MUX→Iu
The above information exchange flows will be respectively explained below:
1. RRC information exchange flow: after the RRC information coming from the Iub interface is received by the multiplexing and interface module (MUX), its route identification is exchanged and is transmitted to the ATM switching module (Switch); the Switching module exchanges the route identification and transmits the information to a specified data processing unit (DPU); the DPU module processes a user plane protocol and reroutes so as to re-transmit the information to the Switch module; the Switch module exchanges the route identification and finally transmits the information to the signaling processing unit (SPU).
2. RANAP information exchange flow: after the RANAP information coming from the Iu interface is received by the multiplexing and interface module (MUX), its route identification is exchanged and is transmitted to the ATM switching module (Switch); the Switch module exchanges the route identification and finally transmits the information to the signaling processing unit (SPU). NBAP, RNSAP and ALCAP information flows are the same as or similar to the RANAP information flow.
3. Iub to Iur information exchange flow: after the user data information coming from the Iub interface is received by the multiplexing and interface module (MUX), its route identification is exchanged and is transmitted to the ATM switching module (Switch); the Switch module exchanges the route identification and transmits it to a specified data processing unit (DPU); the DPU module processes the user plane protocol and reroutes so as to re-transmit the information to the Switch module; the Switch module exchanges the route identification and transmits it to the MUX module; MUX module exchanges routes and finally transmits the information to the Iur interface.
4. Iub to Iu information exchange flow, which is similar to the Iub to Iur information exchange flow, but finally transmits the information to the Iu interface.
When the above message flows or data flows are switched based on ATM, it is crucial to specify in the header of each data package, ID of PVC and its AAL2 or AAL5 as an index of the ATM switching.
It can be seen from the features of the ATM switching itself and the operating principle of ATM information exchange, the traditional radio network controller using ATM switching technology has the following defects: since an end-to-end connection needs to be established between ATM switching based processing units, the process of configuring, establishing and removing routes is complex and its switching network needs a lot of routing information to manage and maintain. In addition, it is very difficult to pack and unpack ATM information elements, such that each step of the switching flow has a certain complexity.
As to the extendibility, the ATM switching based radio network controller generally uses a single chassis, thus its extensibility is poor. Since the ATM switching mechanism is difficult to be achieved, even if a back-plate bus type is used, existing ATM switching products are generally used between multiple chassis. Since switching ports supported by these products are generally fewer, if they are cascaded by multiple layers, the switching routing configuration will be more complex and the operation and maintenance will be more difficult. For example, if the radio network controller is extended on the basis of the structure shown in FIG. 1, not only an extended switching interface block (SXB) is required to be added in each chassis, but also an external ATM switch is required to connect an elementary unit (chassis) with an extended unit (chassis). Since connecting end points have different features, the multiplexing and interface (an external interface of the RNC that is mainly user-network interface UNI) module cannot be identical with the extended switching interface (the internal extended interface of the RNC that is mainly network-network interface NNI), which further adds the complexity and processing difficulty of the switching routing in the ATM switching module within the chassis. When the number of the extended chassis increases, the complexity of the switching module in the chassis increases, thus routing configuration and management becomes a bottleneck of the extensibility and maintainability of the overall product. In addition, the use of external ATM switch or cascaded ATM switch having a large capacity also has the problem of complex configuration, which is also a factor to limit its extensibility.
Since the various processing modules (for example, SPU, MUX, SXB, and so on) cannot be implemented in a unified platform, the cost for implementing the processing modules is comparatively higher. Heretofore, the cost for implementing the ATM switching module or ATM switch is also comparatively higher and there is little choice in the market, thus the overall cost of the ATM switching based radio network controller is comparatively higher.
In summary, the radio network controller using the ATM switch is high in cost, complex in configuration and management and difficult to extend, all of which will affect the build of the future 3G network.

IP switching based distributed radio network controller


The present invention relates generally to mitochondria protecting agents for treating diseases in which mitochondrial dysfunction leads to tissue degeneration and, more specifically, to compounds, compositions and methods related to the same. The methods of this invention involve administration of a pharmaceutically effective amount of a mitochondria protecting agent to a warm-blooded animal in need thereof, and composition of this invention contain a mitochondria protecting agent in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent. Mitochondrial associated diseases which may be treated by the present invention include (but are not limited to) Alzheimer""s Disease, diabetes mellitus, Parkinson""s Disease, neuronal and cardiac ischemia, Huntington""s disease and stroke.

The present invention relates generally to mitochondria protecting agents for treating diseases in which mitochondrial dysfunction leads to tissue degeneration and, more specifically, to compounds, compositions and methods for treating such diseases.
Mitochondria are the subcellular organelles that manufacture essential adenosine triphosphate (ATP) by oxidative phosphorylation. A number of degenerative diseases may be caused by or associated with either direct or indirect alterations in mitochondrial function. These include Alzheimer""s Disease, diabetes mellitus, Parkinson""s Disease, neuronal and cardiac ischemia, Huntington""s disease and other related polyglutamine diseases (spinalbulbar muscular atrophy, Machado-Joseph disease (SCA-3), dentatorubro-pallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA) and spinocerebellar ataxias 1, 2 and 6), dystonia, Leber""s hereditary optic neuropathy, schizophrenia, and myodegenerative disorders such as xe2x80x9cmitochondrial encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and strokexe2x80x9d (MELAS), and xe2x80x9cmyoclonic epilepsy ragged red fiber syndromexe2x80x9d (MERRF).
Defective mitochondrial activity, including but not limited to failure at any step of the elaborate multi-complex mitochondrial assembly, known as the electron transport chain (ETC), may result in 1) decreases in ATP production, 2) increases in the generation of highly reactive free radicals (e.g., superoxide, peroxynitrite and hydroxyl radicals, and hydrogen peroxide), 3) disturbances in intracellular calcium homeostasis and/or 4) release of apoptosis inducing factors such as, e.g., cytochrome c. Because of these biochemical changes, mitochondrial dysfunction has the potential to cause widespread damage to cells and tissues For example, oxygen free radical induced lipid peroxidation is a well established pathogenetic mechanism in central nervous system (CNS) injury such as that found in a number of degenerative diseases, and in ischemia (i.e., stroke).
Mitochondrial dysfunction also is thought to be critical in the cascade of events leading to apoptosis in various cell types (Kroemer et al., FASEB J. 9:1277-1287, 1995). Altered mitochondrial physiology may be among the earliest events in apoptosis (Zamzami et al., J. Exp. Med. 182:367-377, 1995, Zamzami et al., J. Exp. Med. 181:1661-1672, 1995. In several cell types, including neurons, reduction in the mitochondrial membrane potential (xcex94xcexa8m), a sign of mitochondrial dysfunction, precedes the nuclear DNA degradation that accompanies apoptosis. In cell-free systems, mitochondrial, but not nuclear, enriched fractions are capable of inducing nuclear apoptosis (Newmeyer et al., Cell 70:353-364, 1994). Perturbation of mitochondrial respiratory activity leading to altered cellular metabolic states may occur in mitochondria associated diseases and may further induce pathogenetic events via apoptotic mechanisms. For example, altered mitochondrial activity may lead to undesirable elevated levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and subsequent intracellular damage or cell death.
Stressed (e.g., stressors included free radicals, high intracellular calcium, loss of ATP, among others) mitochondria may release pre-formed soluble factors that can initiate apoptosis through an interaction with novel apoptosomes (Marchetti et al., Cancer Res. 56:2033-2038, 1996; Li et al., Cell 91:479-489, 1997). Release of preformed soluble factors by stressed mitochondria, like cytochrome c, may occur as a consequence of a number events. In some cases, release of apoptotic molecules (apoptogens) occurs when mitochondria undergo a sudden change in permeability to cytosolic solutes under 1.5 KDa. This process has been termed permeability xe2x80x9ctransitionxe2x80x9d. In other cases, the permeability may be more subtle and perhaps more localized to restricted regions of a mitochondrion. In still other cases, overt permeability transition may not occur but apoptogens can still be released as a consequence of mitochondrial abnormalities. Thus, changes in mitochondrial physiology may be important mediators of apoptosis. To the extent that apoptotic cell death is a prominent feature of degenerative diseases, mitochondrial dysfunction may be a critical factor in disease progression.
Diabetes mellitus is a common, degenerative disease affecting 5 to 10 percent of the population in developed countries. The propensity for developing diabetes mellitus is reportedly maternally inherited, suggesting a mitochondrial genetic involvement (Alcolado et al., Br. Med. J. 302:1178-1180, 1991; Reny, International J. Epidem. 23:886-890, 1994). Diabetes is a heterogeneous disorder with a strong genetic component; monozygotic twins are highly concordant and there is a high incidence of the disease among first degree relatives of affected individuals.
At the cellular level, the degenerative phenotype that may be characteristic of late onset diabetes mellitus includes indicators of altered mitochondrial respiratory function, for example impaired insulin secretion and responsivity, decreased ATP synthesis and increased levels of reactive oxygen species. Studies have shown that diabetes mellitus may be preceded by or associated with certain related disorders. For example, it is estimated that forty million individuals in the U.S. suffer from late onset impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). IGT patients fail to respond to glucose with increased insulin secretion. A small percentage (5-10%) of IGT individuals progress to insulin deficient non-insulin dependent diabetes (NIDDM) each year. Some of these individuals further progress to insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). These forms of diabetes mellitus, NIDDM and IDDM, are associated with decreased release of insulin by pancreatic beta cells and/or a decreased end-organ response to insulin. Other symptoms of diabetes mellitus and conditions that precede or are associated with diabetes mellitus include obesity, vascular pathologies, peripheral and sensory neuropathies, blindness and deafness.
Due to the strong genetic component of diabetes mellitus, the nuclear genome has been the main focus of the search for causative genetic mutations. However, despite intense effort, nuclear genes that segregate with diabetes mellitus are known only for rare mutations in the insulin gene, the insulin receptor gene, the adenosine deaminase gene and the glucokinase gene. Accordingly, mitochondrial defects, which may include but need not be limited to defects related to the discrete non-nuclear mitochondrial genome that resides in mitochondrial DNA, may contribute significantly to the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus.
Parkinson""s disease (PD) is a progressive, mitochondria associated neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the loss and/or atrophy of dopamine-containing neurons in the pars compacta of the substantia nigra of the brain. Like Alzheimer""s Disease (AD), PD also afflicts the elderly. It is characterized by bradykinesia (slow movement), rigidity and a resting tremor. Although L-Dopa treatment reduces tremors in most patients for a while, ultimately the tremors become more and more uncontrollable, making it difficult or impossible for patients to even feed themselves or meet their own basic hygiene needs.
It has been shown that the neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) induces parkinsonism in animals and man, at least in part through its effects on mitochondria. MPTP is converted to its active metabolite, MPP+, in dopamine neurons; it then becomes concentrated in the mitochondria. The MPP+ then selectively inhibits the mitochondrial enzyme NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase (xe2x80x9cComplex Ixe2x80x9d), leading to the increased production of free radicals, reduced production of adenosine triphosphate and, ultimately, the death of affected dopamine neurons.
Mitochondrial Complex I is composed of 40-50 subunits; most are encoded by the nuclear genome and seven by the mitochondrial genome. Since parkinsonism may be induced by exposure to mitochondrial toxins that affect Complex I activity, it appears likely that defects in Complex I proteins may contribute to the pathogenesis of PD by causing a similar biochemical deficiency in Complex I activity. Indeed, defects in mitochondrial Complex I activity have been reported in the blood and brain of PD patients (Parker et al., Am. J. NeuroL. 26:719-723, 1989).
Similar theories have been advanced for analogous relationships between mitochondrial defects and other neurological diseases, including Alzheimer""s disease (AD), Leber""s hereditary optic neuropathy, schizophrenia, xe2x80x9cmitochondrial encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and strokexe2x80x9d (MELAS), and xe2x80x9cmyoclonic epilepsy ragged red fiber syndromexe2x80x9d (MERRF).
For example, AD is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that is characterized by loss and/or atrophy of neurons in discrete regions of the brain, and that is accompanied by extracellular deposits of xcex2-amyloid and the intracellular accumulation of neurofibrillary tangles. It is a uniquely human disease, affecting over 13 million people worldwide. It is also a uniquely tragic disease. Many individuals who have lived normal, productive lives are slowly stricken with AD as they grow older, and the disease gradually robs them of their memory and other mental faculties. Eventually, they cease to recognize family and loved ones, and they often require continuous care until their eventual death.
There is evidence that defects in oxidative phosphorylation within the mitochondria are at least a partial cause of sporadic AD. The enzyme cytochrome c oxidase (COX), which makes up part of the mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC), is present in normal amounts in AD patients; however, the catalytic activity of this enzyme in AD patients and in the brains of AD patients at autopsy has been found to be abnormally low (Parker et al., Neurology 44:1086-1090, 1994). This suggests that the COX in AD patients is defective, leading to decreased catalytic activity that in some fashion causes or contributes to the symptoms that are characteristic of AD.
One hallmark pathology of AD is the death of selected neuronal populations in discrete regions of the brain. Cell death in AD is presumed to be apoptotic because signs of cell death are observed whereas indicators of active gliosis and necrosis are not (Smale et al., Exp. Neurolog. 133:225-230, 1995; Cotman et al., Molec. Neurobiol. 10:19-45, 1995). The consequences of cell death in AD, neuronal and synaptic loss, are closely associated with the clinical diagnosis of AD and are highly correlated with the degree of dementia in AD (DeKosky et al., Ann. Neurology 27:457-464, 1990).
Indeed, focal defects in energy metabolism in the mitochondria, with accompanying increases in oxidative stress, may be associated with AD. It is well-established that energy metabolism is impaired in AD brain (Palmer et al., Brain Res. 645:338-342, 1994; Pappolla et al., Am. J. Pathol. 140:621-628, 1992; Jeandel et al., Gerontol. 35:275, 1989; Balazs et al., Neurochem. Res. 19:1131-1137, 1994; Mecocci et al., Ann. Neurol. 36:747-751, 1994; Gsell et al., J. Neurochem. 64:1216-1223, 1995). For example, regionally specific deficits in energy metabolism in AD brains have been reported in a number of positron emission tomography studies (Kuhl, et al., J. Cereb. Blood Flow Metab. 7:S406, 1987; Grady, et al., J. Clin. Exp. Neuropsychol. 10:576-596, 1988; Haxby et al., Arch. Neurol 47:753-760, 1990; Azari et al., J. Cereb. Blood Flow Metab. 13:438-447, 1993). Metabolic defects in the temporoparietal neocortex of AD patients apparently presage cognitive decline by several years. Skin fibroblasts from AD patients display decreased glucose utilization and increased oxidation of glucose, leading to the formation of glycosylation end products (Yan et al., Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 91:7787-7791, 1994). Cortical tissue from postmortem AD brain shows decreased activity of the mitochondrial enzymes pyruvate dehydrogenase (Sheu et al., Ann. Neurol. 17:444-449, 1985) and xcex1-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase (Mastrogiacomo et al., J. Neurochem. 6:2007-2014, 1994), which are both key enzymes in energy metabolism. Functional magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies have shown increased levels of inorganic phosphate relative to phosphocreatine in AD brain, suggesting an accumulation of precursors that arises from decreased ATP production by mitochondria (Pettegrew et al., Neurobiol Of Aging 15:117-132, 1994; Pettigrew et al., Neurobiol. Of Aging 16:973-975, 1995).
Signs of oxidative injury also are prominent features of AD pathology, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) are critical mediators of neuronal degeneration. Indeed, studies at autopsy show that markers of protein, DNA and lipid peroxidation are increased in AD brain, probably as a result of increased ROS production secondary to mitochondrial dysfunction (Palmer et al., Brain Res. 645:338-342, 1994; Pappolla et al., Am. J. Pathol. 140:621-628, 1992; Jeandel et al., Gerontol. 35:275-282, 1989; Balazs et al., Arch. Neurol. 4:864, 1994; Mecocci et al., Ann. Neurol. 36:747-751, 1994; Smith et al., Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 88:10540-10543, 1991). In hippocampal tissue from AD but not from controls, carbonyl formation indicative of protein oxidation is increased in neuronal cytoplasm, and nuclei of neurons and glia (Smith et al., Nature 382:120-121, 1996). Neurofibrillary tangles also appear to be prominent sites of protein oxidation (Schweers et al., Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 92:8463, 1995; Blass et al., Arch. Neurol. 4:864, 1990). Under stressed and non-stressed conditions incubation of cortical tissue from AD brains taken at autopsy demonstrate increased free radical production relative to non-AD controls. In addition, the activities of critical antioxidant enzymes, particularly catalase, are reduced in AD (Gsell et al., J. Neurochem. 64:1216-1223, 1995), suggesting that the AD brain is vulnerable to increased ROS production. Thus, oxidative stress may contribute significantly to the pathology of mitochondria associated diseases such as AD, where mitochondrial dysfunction and/or elevated ROS may be present.
Accordingly, there is a need for compounds, compositions and methods that limit or prevent damage to organelles, cells and tissues initiated by various consequences of mitochondrial dysfunction. In particular, because mitochondria are essential organelles for producing metabolic energy, agents that inhibit the production of, and/or protect mitochondria and cells against, ROS and other sources of injury would be especially useful. Such agents would be suitable for the treatment of degenerative diseases, including mitochondria associated diseases. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides other related advantages.
Briefly stated, the present invention is directed to the treatment of mitochondria associated diseases by administration to a warm-blooded animal in need thereof an effective amount of a mitochondria protecting agent having one of the following general structures (I) through (IV):
wherein X1, X2, X3, X4, Y1, Y2, Y3, Y4, Z1, Z2, Z3, W1, W2, W3, A1, R1, R2, R3 and R4 are as identified in the following detailed description.
The compounds of this invention have activity over a wide range of mitochondria associated diseases, including (but not limited to) Alzheimer""s Disease, diabetes mellitus, Parkinson""s Disease, neuronal and cardiac ischemia, Huntington""s disease and other related polyglutamine diseases (spinalbulbar muscular atrophy, Machado-Joseph disease (SCA-3), dentatorubro-pallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA) and spinocerebellar ataxias 1, 2 and 6), dystonia, Leber""s hereditary optic neuropathy, schizophrenia, and myodegenerative disorders such as xe2x80x9cmitochondrial encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and strokexe2x80x9d (MELAS), and xe2x80x9cmyoclonic epilepsy ragged red fiber syndromexe2x80x9d (MERRF).
Accordingly, this invention is also directed to method of treating a mitochondira associated disease by administration of an pharmaceutically effective amount of a mitochondria protecting agent to a warm-blooded animal in need thereof, as well as to pharmaceutical compositions containing a mitochondria protecting agent of this invention in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.
These and other aspects of the present invention will become evident upon reference to the following detailed description and attached drawings. To that end, various references are set forth herein which describe in more detail certain aspects of this invention, and are each incorporated by reference in their entirety.

Mitochondria protecting agents for treating mitochondria associated diseases


A dyeing machine comprises a roller mechanism, a nozzle mechanism having two nozzles, a fabric guide mechanism, wherein fabric is dyed twice. The degree of impingement on fabric is predetermined with respect to respective specific type of fabric, resulting in a more uniform dyeing as well as a shortening of process time and solution cycle. Moreover, the fabric guide tube may be upwardly, horizontally, or downwardly adjusted in order to obtain a better quality of respective specific fabric.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a dyeing machine with double dye solution spreading arrangement.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, dyeing is performed in a high temperature environment. Also, the quality of fabric is mainly affected by dye solution (i.e., dye solved in water) spreading, soaking, and fabric guide. In general, the dyeing arrangement of one specific fabric is different from the other one. In detail, firstly with respect to dye solution spreading, a large low pressure smooth dye solution is required in order to minimize the impinging effect of dye solution on the processed high quality fabric, otherwise it may cause crack or the like. To the contrary, a strong quick dye solution is required to spread on fabric having constituents such as polyester or the like in order to effectively flatten the surface thereof, thus preventing crack or the like. Secondly with respect to socking, a plurality of times of soaking may obtain a better dyeing quality as compared to single soaking. Thirdly with respect to fabric guide, an impinging on thin loosely textured fabric is preferred. Also, an loosening rather than impinging on cotton-based fabric is preferred. Moreover, a squeezing is required for manufacturing a wrinkled fabric.
A conventional dyeing machine comprises only a single nozzle. It is disadvantageous for poor uniformity and relatively long dyeing time. Further, with respect to dye solution spreading, a large strong dye solution is fed from pump. A sufficient time for spreading dye solution on fabric is not possible. Thus, such strong impingement on fabric may adversely affect the quality thereof. This is not suitable for high quality fabric. With respect to fabric guide, the arrangement of fabric guide (e.g., guide angle) is fixed, i.e., not readily adapted to particular requirements of specific type of fabric. Thus the application is limited.
Thus, it is desirable to provide an improved dyeing machine in order to overcome the above drawbacks of prior art.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a dyeing machine, wherein fabric is dyed twice by the double nozzle arrangement resulting in a more uniform dyeing as well as a shortening of process time and solution cycle.
In one aspect of the present invention, the fabric guide tube may be upwardly, horizontally, or downwardly adjusted in order to obtain a better quality of respective specific fabric. For example, when fabric guide tube is rotated downwardly to form a V, fabric may be squeezed in fabric guide tube. When fabric guide tube is rotated upwardly to form an A, fabric may be impinged by dye solution in the fabric guide tube. Moreover, fabric guide tube may be slightly adjusted horizontally to loosen fabric.
In another aspect of the present invention, the silicone strips are capable of significantly reducing the slippage between roller and fabric for preventing potential breakage of fabric from occurring. This provision is particularly suitable to fabric having short yarn. In contrast, it is possible to detach silicone strips from roller, thus exposing the smooth surface of roller. This tolerates a large slippage between roller and fabric. This configuration is particularly suitable to fabric having long yarn.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.

Dyeing machine with double dye solution spreading arrangement

No. 19, Her-Meei Lane, Section 2, Nan-Kaan Road, Lu-Jwu Hsiang


The present invention provides a composition in dry form, preferably in the form of a tablet, containing a combination of ingredients which upon addition to contaminated water effectively removes turbidity, metal and organic contaminants in the water and thereby makes the water safer for drinking. The composition is particularly useful for personal use so that safe drinking water can be obtained by the simple addition of the composition to the water to remove the turbidity and contaminating materials contained therein. Preferably the composition contains bentonite clay, attapulgite clay, polymeric coagulant and/or flocculent, biocide, zeolite and activated charcoal. The invention also provides a method for treating water with the composition as well as a method for making the composition.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to compositions which are useful for purifying turbid and/or polluted water to clarify and make such water suitable for drinking. In particular, the present invention is directed toward a formulation and use thereof which is advantageously formulated for purifying small quantities of water for personal use, such as would be necessary in emergency situations encountered by campers, military personnel and others who find themselves in a situation where the only drinking water available is contaminated with turbidity causing materials and other pollutants.

Composition and method for purifying water


An image processing apparatus for processing a picked-up image which is output from an image pickup element in which a microlens array for obtaining the picked-up image including ray directional information of an object image formed by a photographing optical system has been arranged has: a refocus processing unit for executing a refocus processing of the obtained picked-up image on the basis of the ray directional information and generating a reconstruction image; and a defect pixel detection unit for detecting a defect pixel from the obtained picked-up image. When the picked-up image is obtained, the detection of the defect pixel of the obtained picked-up image is performed. When a refocus processing is instructed, the refocus processing is executed to the picked-up image in which the detection of the defect pixel is performed.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and, more particularly, to an image processing apparatus for processing a picked-up image obtained by an image pickup element having a microlens array at a front side thereof.
Description of the Related Art
In the related art, there exist many image pickup apparatuses such as an electronic camera and the like for recording and reproducing a still image or a moving image picked up by an image pickup element such as CCD, CMOS, or the like to/from a recording medium serving as a memory card having a memory element.
An example of techniques regarding those image pickup apparatuses has been proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. S61-261974. Such an image pickup apparatus is constructed in such a manner that a microlens array (hereinbelow, abbreviated to an MLA) in which microlenses are arranged at a rate of one to a predetermined number of plurality of pixels is arranged at a front side of an image pickup element, thereby enabling incident direction information of a ray of light (ray directional information) which enters the image pickup element to be also obtained.
Although such an image pickup apparatus is called a Hand-held Plenoptic Camera in Ren. Ng. and 7 others, "Light Field Photography with a Hand-held Plenoptic Camera", Stanford Tech Report CTSR 2005-02, it is generally also called a "Light Field Camera".
As an application of such an image pickup apparatus, a normal photographed image is generated on the basis of an output signal from each pixel. As another application, a predetermined image processing based on the ray directional information is executed to a photographed image, thereby reconstructing an image focused to an arbitrary focal length (such a processing is called a refocus processing), or the like.
On the other hand, among recent electronic cameras, there exist many cameras each of which is equipped with an image pickup element having millions to tens of millions pixels. However, it is practically very difficult to manufacture an image pickup element in which all pixels properly perform a conversion into an electric signal corresponding to an incident light amount. Thus, several "defect pixels" which do not normally operate exist mixedly in the "pixels" of the image pickup element.
In the image pickup apparatus in the related art, an interpolation processing or the like using an image signal of a peripheral pixel of the defect pixel is executed, thereby correcting an image which is finally generated.
There are several methods of detecting the defect pixel which is a correction subject. For example, in a manufacturing step of the image pickup apparatus or image pickup element, methods which record and store an address of the defect pixel in a memory of the image pickup apparatus on the basis of the photographed image have been proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. S61-261974, and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-026794, and the like.
As another detecting method, there is a real-time defect pixel detecting method of discriminating the defect pixel based on a level difference or the like from the image signal of the peripheral pixel of the picked-up image every photographing by the image pickup apparatus. Such a method has been proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-286825, or the like.
However, in the photographing by the image pickup apparatus having the MLA as mentioned above, in order to realize the real-time detection of the defect pixel, there is the following problem.
That is, in the real-time detecting method of the defect pixel, on the basis of the level difference between the detection subject pixel and its peripheral pixel, whether or not that detection subject pixel is a defect pixel is discriminated. However, among the image pickup apparatuses having the MLA mentioned above, the image pickup apparatus based on a prerequisite that the reconstruction for executing the predetermined image processing such as a refocus processing or the like is performed has the following problem. That is, an arrangement of the pixel signals at the time of reading out from the image pickup element or at the time of storing the image data is not always an arrangement corresponding to a positional relationship of the object images, and thus the image data is of data which may not be suitable for direct display to observe. Therefore, if such an arrangement is used as it is, it is difficult to discriminate whether or not the detection subject pixel is a defect, based on the peripheral pixel signal of the defect pixel as shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-286825.
But, in order to detect the defect pixel, if some reconstruction processing is executed in order to obtain the image data which is suitable for direct display to observe the image which is used for detection, one pixel signal of the image obtained after the reconstruction becomes a signal generated by adding pixel signals of the plurality of image pickup element. Consequently, it is further difficult to detect which pixel of the image pickup element is a defect pixel, based on the pixel signal of the reconstruction image.

Image processing apparatus, image processing method, non-transitory computer-readable storage medium and image pickup apparatus for processing a picked-up image


An LED printer includes a printing control unit and an LED head. When a video signal received at the control unit has a higher resolution than the LED head, the control unit carries out the logical AND between successive bit data of the video signal to convert the video signal to a first signal. Corresponding to a line timing signal, this first signal is transferred as a head data signal to the LED head and is then printed on a basic raster scanning line. Further, the control unit also carries out the exclusive-OR between the successive bit data of the video signal so that the video signal is converted to a second signal and outputted to a line buffer. Corresponding to an additional line timing signal, the second signal is transferred as another head data signal to the LED head and is printed on an additional raster scanning line. The LED head drive energy for performing printing along the basic raster scanning line is set independently.

a) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a non-impact printer, and more specifically to a non-impact printer making use of an LED head as a print head.
b) Description of the Related Art
Non-impact printers led by electrophotographic printers receive print information for a host controller such as a microcomputer or a work station and perform printing by a print head such as an LED head.
The LED head employed in such non-impact printers is provided with light emitting diodes arranged at a predetermined density in a raster scanning direction. Depending on which level the density is set at, the resolution of a print to be obtained by an LED printer equipped with the LED head is determined. When this resolution is low, there are fewer dots per inch in the raster scanning direction. A picture so printed hence presents a zig-zag image at oblique lines so that the quality of the picture is low. To improve the quality of a print, an LED head having light emitting diodes at a high concentration is needed. Such an LED head is however difficult to manufacture so that its price is very high.

Printer and process for printing different size dots by setting drive energies based on adjacent data bit logic


A securing device for ski boots, including a lever associated laterally to a ski boot and provided with a cylinder for adjusting the tension of a cable which is preferably associable with a shell at its ends and externally embraces a presser and a flap. The device allows to achieve an optimum securing for optimally retaining the foot both at the instep and at the heel.

The present invention relates to a securing device particularly for ski boots.
Securing devices are generally used in ski boots for tightening the foot instep and heel regions.
The problem of these known devices is substantially that of obtaining both an optimum securing of the foot and a rapid release thereof; these devices must also be able to take-up a large amount of cable.
As a partial solution to this problem, the U.S. Pat. No. 4,620,371 granted Nov. 4, 1986, discloses a ski boot with foot securing device including a foot instep presser arranged inside a shell. The securing device is constituted by a cable which is fixed to a traction element at one end, wraps around a presser, embraces the heel region and is connected to a fixed point on said boot at its end.
In said securing device, the traction element is constituted by a winder of a cable which in turn embraces the foot instep and the heel of the user; the use of said winder allows to rewind and thus apply tension to a considerable amount of cable.
Although this securing device is undoubtedly-valid, it has some problems: first of all, the winder is expensive because of high production costs; secondly, it is very bulky and has protruding elements which can thus be subjected to shocks or breakages.
This winder furthermore does not allow to store the degree of tension applied to the cable.

Securing device particularly for ski boots


A crossbow includes a bowstring for firing an arrow combined therewith in the lengthwise direction of the crossbow body so as to be manufactured in a structure that does not have a bow on the crossbow body. Thus, carrying convenience can be provided, and at the same time, the maximum effective range of the crossbow can be adjusted by adjusting the tension of the bowstring.

The present invention relates to a crossbow used for leisure and hunting and, more particularly, to a crossbow which has a bowstring for firing an arrow combined with the body of the crossbow in the lengthwise direction thereof and which is fabricated to have a structure not having a bow in the body of the crossbow in order to provide the carrying convenience of the crossbow and to control a maximum effective range of the crossbow by controlling the elasticity of a bowstring.
In general, a crossbow is an apparatus for putting an arrow on a firing device having a wood stick form and firing the arrow and is an improved weapon having a longer range of fire and stronger penetration power than a common bow. The crossbow has a basic structure in which a groove for determining the direction of an arrow and a device for firing the arrow are combined at the center of the firing device. In modern times, the materials and structure of the crossbow have been variously improved and used for hunting and leisure.
"Korean Utility Model No. 20-0226759 (Mar. 29, 2001)" was disclosed as such a crossbow. Such a crossbow is configured to include a housing added to the front of a main body to which an arrow track, an aiming unit, a trigger, are added, a compression piece opened and closed by a hinge at the top of a mounting groove provided in the housing, an opening and closing means formed of a handle and a clamper for fixing and releasing the compression piece, and a clamping nut for fixing a rim frame inserted into the compression piece.
In such a conventional crossbow, the rim frame can be combined with and separated from a mounting unit easily and rapidly because the compression piece that is opened and closed up and down is added to the front of the main body, and the main body and the rim frame can be separated and kept in a case for portability, thereby enabling the crossbow to be easily used.
However, the conventional crossbow has a disadvantage in that the rim frame having a string combined with a rim must be used in order to fire an arrow. Furthermore, the conventional crossbow is problematic in that production costs are increased in fabricating the crossbow because the rim that generates tension for firing an arrow is made of expensive materials having high strength and high elasticity properties and it is inconvenient to use the crossbow because the rim frame must be combined with and separated from the main body of the crossbow.
Furthermore, the conventional crossbow has disadvantages in that it is impossible to hit the mark exceeding a maximum effective range of the crossbow because an arrow is fired using some elasticity of the rim and the string and that it becomes more difficult to load an arrow on the string if the maximum effective range of the crossbow is increased by increasing the elasticity of the rim and string of the crossbow. As a result, the conventional crossbow is problematic in that the maximum effective range of the crossbow is limited.


A basketball goal system is provided which helps improve the shooting skills of a use. The system includes a rim which is expandable and contractable in diameter. The rim has a pair of free ends which are caused to be moved relative to each other to change the rim diameter. Attached to each of the free ends is a device for causing such relative movement and thereby the expansion and contraction of the rim.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a basketball rim which has a variable diameter and which can be contracted/expanded to help improve the shooting skills of a user.
(2) Prior Art
In the game of basketball, it is well known that extensive practice by shooting a ball through a standard size hoop improves the frequency of making a goal. Using a hoop of smaller diameter during practice can further improve a shooter's skill or "touch". Smaller diameter practice hoops which clamp onto standard size basketball rims are commercially available. However, installation of these smaller diameter practice hoops require manual steps for attaching and detaching the practice hoop to an existing rim. As a standard rim is ten feet off the ground, the attachment and detachment steps must be performed with the use of a ladder. Furthermore, a clamp-on practice rim is not as effective as a plain small rim, as the double rim created by the detachable device is distracting to the user and does not allow development of accuracy skills in the normal course of shooting a basketball into a goal.
Conventional rims are also available which are smaller than a standard size; however, these are typically kept in place rather than frequently exchanged with a standard size rim as they require extensive time and tools to perform the exchange.