According to the present disclosure, an image forming apparatus for minimizing a shift amount of the registration roller for the first and subsequent sheets is provided. The image forming apparatus forms an image on a sheet conveyed on a conveying path. The image forming apparatus includes an exposure device. Further, the image forming apparatus includes a pair of registration rollers 110 configured to convey the sheet in a conveying direction with the sheet nipped by the pair of the registration rollers, and a detection unit configured to detect the side edge position in the width direction of the sheet conveyed. The control unit 200 of the image forming apparatus determines the image writing position for the first sheet, and controls the image writing of the exposure device based on the detection result of the CIS 141 for the first sheet.

Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to an image forming apparatus which forms an image on a sheet.
Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, some image forming apparatuses which form an image on a sheet include a mechanism for aligning a position of a sheet with an image to be written on the sheet. In this mechanism, for example, the sheet is shifted in a direction (a width direction of the sheet) which is perpendicular to a sheet conveying direction, thereby correcting the sheet position. Thus, there are image forming apparatuses which include a sheet conveyance device having a mechanism for correcting the posture (skew) and the position of the sheet to be conveyed to an image forming unit. Further, with the tendency to improve productivity of an image forming apparatus in recent years, a period allowed for a shift action by the registration roller for a sheet position correction and that allowed for the process of a return operation after a shift etc., to spend becomes short. Therefore, when a position deviation of the sheet conveyed toward the image forming unit is large, the amount the shift action for correcting the same also becomes large. Therefore, it may not possible to complete the return operation within a predetermined period in some cases.
Further, it is desirable to minimize the shift amount at the time of correcting the position deviation. For example, as the shift amount of the registration roller becomes large, "twist" may arise in the sheet. As a result, the conveying direction of the sheet may be inclined, or shift accuracy may be deteriorated. It is desirable to minimize the shift amount of the sheet, also from this point of a view. In addition, as the miniaturization of an apparatus, there is a tendency to decrease the distance between the registration roller which has a shift mechanism and the conveyance roller positioned at the upstream thereof (i.e., the upstream in the conveying direction). And, upon shift action by the registration roller, for all the conveyance rollers except for the registration roller, it is necessary to cancel nipping of the sheet by the conveyance rollers. Therefore, it may disturb the minimization of an apparatus, and may increase the cost due to a complicated configuration of the apparatus.
Under these circumstances, US2009/0154975 (A1) describes an image forming apparatus which employs a control method in which, based on the detection result of a certain sheet in a width direction, an image forming position of a sheet, which is conveyed after a predetermined pages, is determined for decreasing the shift amount. Specifically, the mechanism provided in the apparatus corrects the inclined tip portion of the sheet by moving the tip of the sheet conveyed by the pre-registration roller to contact with the nip portion of the registration controller, which is provided upstream of the registration roller, to curl the sheet. Further, the apparatus includes a width direction correcting mechanism which corrects the position in a direction which is perpendicular to the conveying direction of the sheet (i.e., width direction of the sheet). This width direction correcting mechanism includes a width direction detection unit configured to detect a position in a sheet width direction provided downstream of the registration roller, and shift unit configured to shift the registration roller in the sheet width direction with nipping the sheet.
In recent years, an intermediate transfer tandem type in which image forming units each corresponding to one of four colors are arranged on an intermediate transfer belt is mainly used, due to its advantageous adaptability for a variety of sheets and advantageous print productivity. However, especially in the color image formation, a peripheral length of an intermediate transfer belt is relatively long, therefore, it takes relatively long time from a completion of forming an image of first color to an arrival of the image to a secondary transfer section.
On the other hand, US2009/0154975 (A1) describes an image forming apparatus in which a sheet width direction detection unit is arranged downstream of a registration roller. Therefore, the time from detecting a sheet end to a conveyance of the sheet to a secondary transfer section is less than the time for the arrival of the image to a secondary transfer section describe above.
Thus, in this image forming apparatus, as to each of the first sheet and the second sheet, the correction amount of the image formation position is decided to be zero, while the deviation amount of the position of the sheet end itself is used as the amount to be shifted by the registration roller. As above, there remains a problem that the shift amount of the registration roller becomes large in the first sheet, for example.
The present invention is directed to solve these problems in the prior art, and is mainly directed to an image forming apparatus which can minimize, from the first sheet as well as following sheets, the shift amount by the registration roller. Particularly, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus for minimizing the shift amount even in a configuration in which the conveyance distance of the sheet in an image process becomes relatively long, for example, in an intermediate transfer tandem type.


A pressure swing adsorption process including the step of separating a gas mixture by absorbing at least one gas component in an adsorbent mass provided within each vessel of a plurality of vessels. The separating step has a single pressure equalization cycle. The separating step is preferably performed with only four valves per vessel of the plurality of vessels. Additionally, a pressure swing adsorption system of the invention includes a plurality of vessels each containing therein an adsorbent mass configured to separate a gas mixture by absorbing at least one gas component in said adsorbent mass, where the system is configured to separate the gas mixture using a single pressure equalization cycle and includes only four valves per vessel of the plurality of vessels.

Pressure swing adsorption (PSA) is a commonly used process for the purification of gases. Exemplary applications include separation of hydrogen from gas mixtures, separation of helium from natural gas, purification of landfill gas, and air separation for production of oxygen, nitrogen and/or argon.
Related art PSA systems are limited by their very large product and raffinate gas flow fluctuations. These fluctuations require sizeable storage or surge tanks to dampen the flow fluctuation adequately to allow proper function of downstream process equipment connected to the PSA system.
Industrial-scale gas separations have traditionally been executed using PSA cycles possessing at least one pressure-equalizing step to enhance pressurized product fractional recovery at a given purity. Increased fractional recovery decreases the amount of gas rejected to the raffinate surge tank, and ensures a more nearly continuous flow of pressurized product gas. Cycles having three or more equalizations are known.
Another step taken to reduce flow pulsation in the related art is to operate cycles having many equalizations and many vessels in a single process train. An example of a PSA system having many vessels and many equalization steps is U.S. Pat. No. 3,986,849 to Fuderer et al. which describes process trains possessing as many as ten adsorbent vessels and fifty-five valves. In industrial applications, the high energy and operating costs associated with loss of recoverable product has usually been outweighed by the considerable increase in complexity associated with more complex PSA cycles having one or more pressure equalizations except for very large plants. Thus, most plants employ extremely large surge tanks for both pressurized product and raffinate gas.
Related art PSA systems of all types, but especially those having multiple equalizations, are also subject to severe limitations due to their very high complexity and attendant high parts count. Not only does this complexity significantly increase the probability of a component failure, it also significantly increases the system size, assembly time, and material cost. Most related art PSA systems are single point of failure systems. Notable exceptions are the process revealed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,234,322 to De Meyer et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 6,699,307 by Lomax. Even in the exemplary related art processes, the PSA plant must eventually be shut-down to conduct maintenance on the defective component. Such shutdowns are extremely undesirable as they incur a significant amount of lost production time for the entire process facility. Further, when the PSA is connected to a high temperature process such as a hydrocarbon steam reformer, autothermal reformer, partial oxidation reformer, ammonia synthesis plant or ethylene cracker, the lifetime of the connected process equipment may be greatly reduced due to the high mechanical stresses incurred during a shutdown and restart event.
Keefer et al. describe systems using multiple rotary PSA modules in parallel in U.S. Pat. No. 6,051,050 in order to achieve greater overall system capacity, but do not disclose a method or strategy for operating these modules in the event of malfunction. The rotary modules of Keefer et al. are quite different than those accepted in industrial practice, and are not subject to the same type of single point valve failure as valved PSA apparatus. Their mode of failure is through gradual seal failure. The modules of Keefer also have a very large number of active beds, and they are thus less concerned with variations in product and raffinate gas flowrate pulsation. The low-pulsation rotary modules of Keefer et al., and the similar inventions of U.S. Pat. No. 5,112,367, U.S. Pat. No. 5,268,021 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,366,541 to Hill et al. suffer from inevitable leakage due to their use of sliding seals. This leakage results in reduced purity and product recovery, as well as maintenance problems due to limited seal lifetime. High pressure exacerbates these problems, making rotary modules less desirable for industrially-important separations than the valved PSA apparatuses accepted in the related art.
Because of the extremely large size of related art valved PSA systems and their very high cost, it has remained extremely undesirable to provide backup PSA capacity to prevent process shutdowns, especially for valved PSA systems having pressure equalizations and large numbers of adsorbent beds, with their attendant high complexity.
The present inventors have previously developed improved apparatuses for advanced PSA systems that greatly reduce the complexity of PSA apparatus employing pressure equalizations in U.S. Pat. No. 6,755,895 (hereafter "the '895 patent"). We have also developed new methods for executing PSA cycles which dramatically-reduce the number of valves required to execute PSA cycles in U.S. Pat. No. 6,699,307 (hereafter "the '307 patent"). We have also developed improved methods of controlling flows of purge and equalization gas in co-pending U.S. Pat. No . 6,887,301 (hereafter "the '301 patent") as well as more advanced PSA apparatus and a novel approach to the use of multiple, modular PSA's to reduce flow variability, manufacturing cost and provide ease of service and fault tolerance in co-pending U.S. Pat. No. 6,918,953 (hereafter "the '953 patent"). All of these references are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Although these inventions all address the shortcomings of related art PSA's, further room for improvement remains.
The novel PSA cycles of the '307 patent are directed at separations benefiting from multiple pressure equalizations, which are generally beneficial in obtaining optimal PSA product recovery for equilibrium separations. Under certain circumstances, however, a single pressure equalization may be preferred to maximize performance. Examples include cases where an unusually-high amount of purge gas is required to strip adsorbed impurities from the adsorbent surface, where the void fraction of the adsorbent mass is low, or where the operating pressure is low. The same situation may arise when the economic value of the purified product is low and the allowable capital cost for the PSA is very low.
The modular PSA method and apparatus of the '953 patent greatly reduces the flowrate variation of a PSA plant, potentially reducing the required volume of gas storage tanks to buffer this variation, reducing the required size of piping and valving and reducing the total footprint of the PSA plant. It does, however, disadvantageously increase the number of piping connections, structural supports, etc.

Methods and apparatus for improved control of PSA flow variations


A depth gauge leading the cutting edge in a cutter device has a body portion disposed in a substantially upright plane. The depth gauge includes a top plate portion cantilevered laterally over the body. A juncture section joins the depth gauge plate portion to the body of the cutter and is deformed intermediate its front and rear ends to strengthen the depth gauge against breakage.

The present invention relates to an improved depth gauge for a cutter device.
Cutters for endless cutter devices movable along a path for cutting a kerf in a work piece, such as may be found in a saw chain for cutting wood, generally have a cutter portion with a leading cutting edge and a depth gauge portion spaced forwardly of the cutting edge to control the depth of cut taken by the cutter. The depth gauge is instrumental in producing efficient cutting and reducing the possibility of kickback during operation of the saw on which the chain runs.
Depth gauges in the past generally have included a single thickness of cutter material which extends upwardly in a region spaced forwardly from the cutter edge as disclosed in Silvon U.S. Pat. No. 4,353,277. Others have included bent over depth gauge portions such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,085,113 and 4,989,489 to Pinney, U.S. Pat. No. 4,911,050 to Nitschmann and U.S. Pat. No. 4,841,825 to Martin.
The single thickness upright depth gauge as illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,353,277 may have a tendency to dig into the work piece and not provide consistent cutting depth control. Further it is less stable than a bent over depth gauge. The bent over depth gauges illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,911,050; 4,989,489; and 5,085,113 generally have substantially rectangular configurations as viewed in plan, and are susceptible to breakage.
An object of the present invention is to provide a novel depth gauge leading a cutter edge which overcomes the disadvantages of prior devices.
It has been found that prior cantilevered bent over depth gauges may be subject to failure in the region of the bend line, or juncture section, joining the cantilevered depth gauge plate to the body portion of the cutter. Failure often will begin as cracks on the inner side of the bend at the opposed front and rear free ends of the bend. These cracks then migrate inwardly toward the central region of the bend in the depth gauge, producing failure.
It has been discovered that two design modifications may be made to minimize, or eliminate, this problem. First is by producing a larger radius juncture section joining the body portion and depth gauge plate portion. Second, it has been found that benefits arise by deforming the depth gauge material in the bend, or juncture region, inwardly toward the center of bending in a region intermediate the forward and rearward ends of the depth gauge.
The deformation may be in the form of an indentation in the laterally outwardly facing side surface of the juncture section which deforms material inwardly on the underside of the cantilevered depth gauge plate portion. This shifts the neutral axis of the juncture section inwardly toward the center of bonding, such that the stresses will be significantly reduced at the inner sides of the bend at opposed free ends of the bend to eliminate or minimize previously-experienced failure.
An added benefit and advantage occurs from providing an indented deformation on the laterally outwardly facing side of the juncture section. Added side plate relief is provided on the depth gauge forwardly of its rearwardmost edge to reduce drag and friction in the kerf cut, thus to provide more effective and efficient action for the depth gauge.


A scent dispersion system, comprising a heating device having a top surface, and a container of scented wax disposed upon the top surface of the heating device. Upon heating, scent from the wax is caused to disperse into the surrounding environment. The system may further comprise an air circulating fan associated with the heating device, for circulating air around the container of scented wax, to help disperse the scent.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to devices for dispersing scent throughout an area. More particularly, the present invention relates to a device for heating scented wax or candles to provide the benefits of scented candles without the problems that candles can create.
2. Related Art
Scented candles have enjoyed increasing popularity in recent years. They are available in a wide variety of pleasant scents, such as spices, herbs, and perfumes, and thus help to mask unpleasant odors and provide a desirable ambiance. They are also believed to provide some benefits through aroma therapy, such as relieving headaches, allergies, etc.
However, candles require a flame, and involve combustion. Consequently, they present a potential fire danger, and also disperse combustion products into the air, some of which may be toxic, such as carbon monoxide, plastics, and other noxious hydrocarbons. In a closed environment, such as a room, these combustion products can accumulate to hazardous levels, and with prolonged use, may lead to serious health problems. Moreover, the soot which accumulates with candle use is unattractive and increases the need for cleaning of walls, ceilings, etc.


Infinitely adjustable shelving including a vertically elongated standard having a vertically elongated outwardly facing slot therein, a U-shaped bracket positionably mounted on the standard and being horizontally elongated with the proximal end (nearer the standard) being equipped with upper and lower connection means which are arranged to provide a locking force on the standard in conjunction with an intermediate protuberance on the bracket.

This invention relates to infinitely adjustable shelving and method, and, more particularly, to a system which provides for a unique engagement of a horizontal support member with a slotted vertical standard.
The invention has an advantageous application not only in garages and basements to provide wall shelving but is a quality system which can be used elsewhere in the home and business.
Infinitely adjustable support systems have been known in the past--example U.S. Pat. No. 4,779,830 which utilizes deformable plastic as the means for connecting the horizontal and vertical members. A number of problems have characterized the prior art shelving. One has to do with the difficulty in obtaining the correct position. Another is the need for close tolerances which created manufacturing problems and raised the cost of the shelving. A further problem has to do with the use of friction for anchoring the parts together which during installation or repositioning marred the paint or other finish on the standard.
The invention not only avoids the problems of tolerances and marring but provides a structure wherein the shelves are much easier to reposition. Also, the invention provides an improved way for adding brackets for an additional shelf or taking out an existing shelf to accommodate oversized books, for example. Still another advantage of the invention is that the construction can compensate for misaligned standards which has been a problem characteristic of certain types of shelving brackets and standards in the past. The mode of operation provides a unique advantage that unlike the prior art, a larger force or load on the shelving here creates more friction so that the bracket will not slide under load.
The instant invention provides a novel distribution of forces between a beam-like horizontal bracket and a column-like slotted standard to generate a reliable engagement. According to the invention, there are three bearing points which cooperate in resisting loads applied to the shelving carried by the brackets.
Each bracket, at the points of engagement has upper connection means which fit internally into the generally channel standard, an intermediate protuberance which is arranged to bear against the exterior of the standard on one of the walls defining the slot, and a lower connection means of the bracket which includes a pair of hooks adapted to flank the slot-providing walls of the standard.
Through the provision of this structure, a novel operation results. More particularly, there is a reversal of force direction at the lower connection means as the loading on the bracket is positioned further away from the standard. In all loadings, however, the force at the upper connection means is directed toward the distal or cantilevered end of the bracket. For light loadings or loadings that are close to the standard, the distally directed force at the upper connection means is effectively opposed by a proximally force exerted on the standard at the protuberance Advantageously, the protuberance is located fairly closely adjacent to the upper connection means. These forces just described at the upper connection means and the protruberance create the friction forces necessary to hold the bracket in a desired position on the standard.
Where the loading is close to the standard, for example, the force direction on the lower connection means is also directed distally or away from the standard. Thus, there are upper and lower forces creating friction which are directed away from the standard and an intermediate force at the protuberance which is directed toward the standard and in cooperation with the other two forces develops advantageous holding power.
In the instance where the loading is significantly away from the standard--as is the case with a substantial load near the cantilevered end of the bracket or the shelf carried by the bracket--the force direction at the lower connection means is reversed from that just described. In other words, the force direction is proximally and thus extends in the same direction as that previously exerted through the protuberance In such a situation, the combination of the opposing forces through the upper and lower connection means provide a strong frictional engagement of the bracket with the standard so as to resist the additional loading developed near the end of the bracket.
Other objects and advantages of the invention may be seen in the details of construction and operation set forth hereinafter.

Infinitely adjustable shelving and method


An exemplary connecting structure (30), for connecting a first metal element (31) and a second metal element (32), includes a threaded weld bushing (34) and a fastener (36). The threaded weld bushing includes a main body (340) for being spot welded to the first metal element with a plurality of weld joints, and a collar (342) extending from one end of the main body for abutting the first metal element and connecting to the second metal element, and a fastener latching portion (346) defined in the main body and the collar. The fastener is configured for engaging with the fastener latching portion so as to prevent the second metal element detaching from the threaded weld bushing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to connecting structures and methods for using the same, and more particularly, to a connecting structure used for connecting metal elements and a method using the same.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Rivets are generally used as connecting structures to connect metal elements together. Referring to FIG. 8, a typical rivet 10 is shown. The rivet 10 is used for connecting a first metal element (not shown) and a second metal element (not shown) together. The rivet 10 includes a collar 11 and a cylindrical portion 12 extending from one end of the collar 11. The collar 11 is gear-shaped and includes a plurality of gear teeth 15. The rivet 10 defines a threaded hole 13 through the cylindrical portion 12 and the collar 11. The rivet 10 defines an annular groove 14 at an end of the cylindrical portion 12 adjoining the collar 11.
To use the rivet 10, the collar 11 of the rivet 10 is pressed into a first corresponding through hole of the first metal element, thus the gear teeth 15 of the collar 11 is inserted into the first metal element and part of the materials of the first metal element are displaced into the annular groove 14 of the rivet 10. Therefore, the collar 11 of the rivet 10 can be tightly engaged in the first through hole of the first metal element. The cylindrical portion 12 of the rivet 10 is received in a second corresponding through hole of the second metal element and a screw (not shown) engages in the threaded hole 13 of the rivet 10. Thus the first metal element and the second metal element are joined together.
Referring to FIG. 9, another typical rivet 20 is shown. The rivet 20 includes a collar 21, a shaft portion 22, and a gear-shaped portion 23. The gear-shaped portion 23 is disposed between the collar 21 and the shaft portion 22. The collar 21 is cylindrical. The shaft portion 21 is a frustum of a cone, thus one end of shaft portion 21 is smaller the other end of the shaft portion 21. The smaller end of the shaft portion 21 is connected to one end of the middle portion 23. The rivet 20 defines a threaded hole 24 through the collar 21, the shaft portion 22, and the gear-shaped portion 23.
To use the rivet 20, the first through hole of the fist metal element corresponds to the gear-shaped portion 23 of the rivet 20 and the second through hole of the second metal element corresponds to a larger end of the shaft portion 22. The larger end of the shaft portion 22 of the rivet 20 is pressed into the first through hole of the first metal element, thus the gear-shaped portion 23 of the rivet 20 is inserted into the first metal element and part of the materials of the first metal element are extruded to cover the shaft portion 22. Therefore, the shaft portion 22 of the rivet 20 can be tightly engaged in the first through hole of the first metal element. The collar 21 of the rivet 20 is received in the second through hole of the second metal element and a screw (not shown) engages in the threaded hole 24 of the rivet 20. Thus the first metal element and the second metal element are joined together.
However, if a thickness of the first metal element and the second metal element is less than 0.8 millimeters, the strength produced by the rivets 1020 for bonding the first metal element and the second metal element will be unduly small, thus the above described rivets 10, 20 are not acceptable when joining such metal elements together. In addition, if a hardness of the first metal element and a hardness of the second metal element are both larger than 90 on the Rockwell Hardness B scale (HRB), the threaded holes 13, 24 of the rivets 10, 20 are easily destroyed by the first metal element and the second metal element, thus the rivets 10, 20 are not the preferred means of joining such metal elements together.
Therefore, a new connecting structure is desired in order to overcome the above-described shortcomings. A method for using the connecting structure to connect metal elements is also desired.

Connecting structure for connecting metal elements and method using the same

Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd.


A modular a lower body support device is shown herein. An adjustable frame supports the bodyweight of a user such that the knee of the user rests within a knee frame, the shin of the user rests within a bend frame, and the ankle of the user rests within an ankle frame; a knee pad insert is removably attachable to the frame, and a skid plate insert is removably attachable to the knee pad insert; straps and slots are used to fasten the user to the frame; the user may sit on an integrated seat while kneeling, or may wear the device while ambulatory.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is directed toward the field of modular lower body support devices. More particularly, this invention relates to a modular lower body support device providing replaceable knee pad and skid plate inserts.
2. Discussion of Prior Art
Many occupations require workers to assume kneeling positions in order to attend the task for which they are employed. Unfortunately, assuming a kneeling position for an extended period, or repeatedly, causes those in such a position discomfort, cramping, muscle fatigue, or other similar problems.
Many devices have been proposed over the years to alleviate the discomforts associated with working in kneeling positions. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 1,296,522 to Holsey shows a simple knee pad device. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 1,547,166 to Davidison shows a slightly more sophisticated knee pad. However, neither device provides much in the way of actual support or cushioning. That is, even though the knee is elevated above whatever surface on which the knee pad rests, the user's weight still stresses the knee directly.
In U.S. Pat. No. 2,627,301 to Emmett, a knee board is shown. Although this device implements a recognizable pad to cushion the knee, it does not allow much mobility to a standing user. As such, its utility is diminished.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,377,309 to Mengshoel another knee board device is illustrated. Through a variety of configurations, Mengshoel discloses a more portable device than previously shown. Additionally, the device has provision for a seat element, which takes some stress off the user's knees. However, the user's weight still passes through the user's ankles. Moreover, in the J-shaped ankle configuration the user's leg may separate from the pad, especially when employed in a dynamic occupational setting. Additionally, the O-shaped ankle configuration, the ability of the user to equip the device is impaired. That is, putting one's foot through the O-shaped ankle configuration is difficult.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,772,071 to Richards, a complicated knee pad device is shown. Said device includes a frame with a knee pad section, a seat section, and a mid-shin floor engaging member. This device is hampered by its obvious complexity. Moreover, it is designed with an integrated knee pad, limiting the user to employing that knee pad exclusively. Additionally, this device is not particularly stable, being prone to side-to-side rolling or pivoting.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,865,507 to Earl, a kneeler is shown. This kneeler allows a certain amount of the user's weight to pass through the seat incorporated in the frame of the device. However, a user of the device cannot walk around with this device attached to their legs. As such, the user would have to carry such device with them, greatly diminishing its utility.
In U.S. Pat. No. 7,303,516 to Petersen, a lower body support device is shown. Said device allows a user to choose a knee pad and strap it onto a frame through a fastening means. It also features a removable seat for supporting the weight of the user. Despite these advantages, the lower body support device does not provide its own replaceable knee pad insert, which would be easy to install and remove; and, would be certain to fit onto the frame. Moreover, it does not provide a replaceable skid plate insert for use under the aforesaid replaceable knee pad insert.
As such, there is a void in the prior art in the field of lower body support devices. The prior art lacks a modular device which provides an easily replaceable knee pad insert, together with a replaceable skid plate insert, which may be integrated into a suitably comfortable and sturdy lower body support frame. The present invention fills this void.


Genetic constructs, transformation vectors and methods are taught for production of transgenic plants which can be selectively removed from a growing site by application of a chemical agent or physiological stress. The invention links a target gene for the trait of commercial interest to a conditionally lethal gene, which can be selectively expressed to cause plant death. By use of the genetic constructs, transformation vectors and methods of the present invention, invasion of environments and contamination of commercial non-engineered productions by transgenic plants can be avoided. Methods are also taught for transformation of Brassica species.

Transgenic Plants
It is known that new and altered traits (so-called "novel traits") can be imparted to crop species by recombinant DNA technology. In order to derive these crops with novel traits, a method to insert recombinant DNA into the crop genome is required. This method, commonly referred to as transformation, is technically challenging and requires significant effort in developing the protocols for culture, transformation itself and regeneration of whole plants. In some species transformation has become routine, while in other species transformation remains difficult and time-consuming. Nevertheless, some crop varieties that were genetically engineered to express novel traits have been released into the commercial production chain, and others are undergoing field trials in preparation for commercial release
Many of these transgenic crop varieties have novel traits that provide altered phenotypes. These phenotypes include novel compositions, enhanced resistance to pests, disease or environmental stresses, and tolerance to herbicides. Such tolerance provides new means to control weeds and new production opportunities for farmers.
Many current novel traits in commerce affecting agronomic characteristics are collectively referred to as "input" traits, i.e. those traits that relate to the economics of production. For example, herbicide tolerance is an input trait as it allows farmers more options in controlling weeds; typically the costs of weed control can be lowered by these novel herbicide tolerances. Thus the economics of production or "inputs" required to grow the crop are favorably altered. Other traits such as resistance to insects can lower the costs for farmers through reduced chemical insecticide applications.
In addition to input traits, there are "output" traits that alter the composition or quality of the harvested plant. Such traits impact the final products or "outputs" from a crop and can include altered oil or meal composition, reduced antinutritional content and crops with altered processing characteristics. There has been a considerable effort towards the development of crops with output traits that provide new products, economic value and increased utility.
Some traits are classified as high-value "output" traits. Such traits reside in crop plants used for "molecular farming" to produce novel proteins with commercial or pharmaceutical applications. Molecular farming holds considerable promise for the economical production of large volumes of commercially useful and valuable proteins. Use of crop plants to mass produce proteins offers many advantages over fermentation technology including: ease of production; stability of the product when synthesized in plant storage organs such as tubers or seed; and possibility of recovering valuable co-products such as meal, oil or starch from the plants.
Proteins contemplated for mass production by molecular farming include industrial enzymes; for example, those derived from microbial sources such as proteases, starch or carbohydrate modifying enzymes (e.g. alpha amylase, glucose oxidase, cellulases, hemicellulases, xylanases, mannanases or pectinases). Additionally, the production of enzymes such as ligninases or peroxidases which are particularly valuable in the pulp and paper industry, has been suggested within various crop species. Other examples of commercially or industrially important enzymes which can be produced using molecular farming are phosphatases, oxidoreductases and phytases. The number of industrially valuable enzymes is large and plants offer a convenient vehicle for the mass production of these proteins at costs anticipated to be competitive with fermentation.
Additionally, molecular farming is being contemplated for use in the production and delivery of vaccines, antibodies (Hein, M. B. and Hiatt, A. C., U.S. Pat. No. 5,202,422), peptide hormones (Vandekerckhove, J. S., U.S. Pat. No. 5,487,991), blood factors and the like. It has been postulated that edible plants which have been engineered to produce selected therapeutic agents could provide a means for drug delivery which is cost effective and particularly suited for the administration of therapeutic agents in rural or under-developed countries. The plant material containing the therapeutic agents could be cultivated and incorporated into the diet (Lam, D. M., and Arntzen, C. J., U.S. Pat. No. 5,484,719).
In total, the novel input and output traits contemplated for crop plants are very broad in scope and can lead to the development of numerous new products and processes. Accordingly, reliable means to produce plants with novel traits and incorporate the initial transgenic plants into breeding and variety development programs are important tools for the delivery of these products into commerce.
A problem of transgenic plant production is that upon recovery of a transgenic event in a plant cell, a considerable effort is needed to recover morphologically normal, fertile plants for use in subsequent breeding schemes. Thus methods that allow for the simple identification of plants that have received the transgene is a primary objective for commercialization.
The selection or identification of transgenic plants by reliable methods that do not require biochemical or calorimetric assays are particularly convenient. A method that allows for flexibility can be additionally valuable, such as a scheme that can be used at any point in the development of a transgenic variety. A most preferred method would allow selection in culture, identification in breeding and introgression activities, as well as identification and discrimination at the field level.
Concerns Associated with Field Release of Transgenic Plants
It has been suggested that the release of genetically modified crops could lead to environmental damage because of their expression of genetic potential that would not ordinarily be attained by natural selection or via sexual recombination. It has further been suggested that released transgenic plants could invade natural ecosystems either through the spread of the plants themselves or through hybridization with wild relatives. These issues have been extensively debated and experimentation has been initiated to test for continued survival of transgenic plants and transfer of traits from crop species to wild relatives. (e.g. University of California, Risk assessment in agricultural biology: proceedings of an international conference, 1990, Casper, R., & Landsman, J., 1992; The bio-safety results of field tests of genetically modified plants and microorganisms. Proceedings of the 2nd International Symposium on The Biosafety Results of Field Tests of Genetically Modified Plants and Microorganisms, 1992, Goslar, Germany, Dale, P. et al., 1992; The field release of transgenic plants, The British Crop Protection Council. Brighton Crop Protection Conference: Pests and Diseases , Vols. I, II and III; Proceedings of the 3rd International Symposium on The BioSafety Results of Field Tests of Genetically Modified Plants and Microorganisms, 1994, Monterey, Calif., Jones, D. D., 1994)
The consensus of the studies and experimental results achieved to date supports the view that the degree of potential spread of transgenes to wild relatives is highly dependent upon the species and environmental conditions. Crossing with relatives is not likely with some species and probable for others (Raybould & Grey, J., Applied Ecology 30: 199-219, 1993). The degree to which any transformed plant can be invasive of other habitats, and hence the environmental risk, is also dependent on the plant species itself. Many crops are highly specialized and adapted to non-competitive cultivation practices and, thus, they are not generally considered a serious environmental risk (Dale et al., Plant Breeding 111:1-22, 1993; Fishlock, D., The PROSAMO Report, published by the Laboratory of the Government Chemist, Queens Road, Teddington, Middlesex, UK TW11 OLY).
However, it is generally agreed that there are probably some risks that certain crop plants, ornamentals or plants cultivated for natural pharmacological purposes could become weedy pests since many of the weedy species currently affecting agricultural production were at one time introduced from another environment, frequently for ornamental, culinary or medicinal reasons (Keeler, K. H., Biotechnology 7: 1134-1139, 1989).
While years of study will be required to understand fully the potential impact of transgenic plants on the environment, a potentially more serious near term problem relates to contamination of agricultural production with novel traits from transgenic plants. Both Xenia effects (direct effect of cross pollen on the composition of seed) and volunteers or seed that remain in the field can contaminate subsequent agricultural production. Although such events have not been a major problem in the past, the inadvertent contamination of crops intended for general consumption with visually indistinguishable varieties developed for other purposes, for example, crops that contain a pharmaceutically active protein, has become an issue of particular concern. Accordingly, the ability to discriminate transgenic crops in a simple and reliable way is of value.
Currently, physical isolation combined with border rows that function as pollen traps have been employed to contain plants with transgenic traits under study and development (e.g., Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Regulatory Directive 94-08; Assessment Criteria for Determining Environmental Safety of Plants with Novel Traits, Regulatory Directive 94-09: The Biology of Brassica napus L. (Canola/Rapeseed), Regulatory Directive 95-01; Field Testing Plants with Novel Traits in Canada). However, with increasing commercial production of transgenic plants, the potential for contamination within a commodity increases dramatically. This potential contamination has become a major concern for the oilseed rape industry and will become a significant issue for other major crops (e.g. corn), as greater numbers of different recombinant genotypes reach the market place.
Contamination of commercial crop production with traits from another cultivar that affect quality and performance is a potentially serious problem. However, because of possible contamination of food products, a potentially more serious problem is the use of canola (or other crops) as a production vehicle for heterologous proteins of commercial or medicinal value. Although production standards as set out above can be implemented to preserve the identity of individual transgenic lines and reduce unintended contamination, the outflow of genes to other cultivars may eventually occur. The issues relating to the occurrence and spread of genes that do not impart a distinctive morphology or an easily identifiable trait (such as herbicide tolerance) have not yet been resolved.
Though many techniques have been used to introduce genes into plants, genetic constructs in the prior art do not include features that are useful for identifying and selecting transgenic plant cells in culture or for controlling the persistence or potential spread of the transgenes. Accordingly, genetic constructs that operate within a mechanism that permits discrimination of transgenic plants from non-transgenic plants, or discrimination among transgenic plants carrying different traits, would solve the contamination problem. A mechanism that has no effect on non-transgenic plants, yet allows the plants containing a specific transgene to be eliminated as they are identified, would also provide a solution. Furthermore, a mechanism which selectively removes crop plants containing specific transgenes from other commercial crops not having those transgenes would also be valuable.
Methods for Transformation of Plants
In general, two methods for introducing DNA into plant cells are currently in widespread use. The first involves the use of Agrobacterium, or similar soil bacteria, to transfer DNA. Target plant tissues or cells are co-cultivated with a suitable Agrobacterium strain that injects plasmid DNA into plant cells (Schilperoot, R. A. et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,838; Schilperoot, R. A. and Hoekema, A., U.S. Pat. No. 5,464,763). Subsequently, the individual transformed plant cells are regenerated into whole plants.
The Agrobacterium transformation system is based historically on the use of a natural bacterial vector that is the causal agent of crown gall disease. Crown gall disease represents the results of a natural form of plant transformation. The naturally occurring tumor inducing (Ti) plasmids of Agrobacteria comprise: the DNA sequences needed for the transfer of DNA into plant cells; the DNA sequences needed for integration of foreign DNA into the host plant DNA, called the border fragments; and genes, called oncogenes, that result in the formation of plant growth regulatory substances that cause the formation of galls at the site of infection. The Ti plasmids also typically code for genes that result in the formation of certain types of unusual amino acids (opines) that can be metabolized by Agrobacteria, but not by plant cells. In the natural system, the portion of the Ti plasmid which is transferred to the recipient plant host (the T-DNA) usually contains all these genes and DNA sequences.
The oncogenes of the tumorigenic Agrobacterium strains have been extensively studied. Generally, there are two types of oncogenes on the Agrobacterium plasmid: the tmr oncogene and the tms oncogenes. The tmr oncogene (also known as the ipt gene) encodes an enzyme which synthesizes isopentyl-adenosine 5′-monophosphate which is a cytokinin plant hormone that induces shoot formation in a suitable host. The oncogenes referred to as tms (comprising tms oncogene 1 and tms oncogene 2) encode enzymes responsible for auxin overproduction in suitable hosts, leading to the production of roots. When combined, the tms and tmr genes usually lead to the production of crown galls on suitable hosts.
Plants which contain the Ti oncogenes are phenotypically abnormal, having crown gall tumors or curled and twisted leafs due to growth hormone imbalance. These abnormal plants are unsuitable for commercial applications. Although these plants can be easily identified following transformation, they do not form morphologically normal plants. Accordingly, the Agrobacterium Ti plasmid has been modified in a variety of ways, and typically by removal of the oncogenes, to become a tool for the introduction of DNA into plant cells. Generally, Agrobacterium transformation methods that have been used to date have used Ti plasmids in which the genes that result in the formation of cytokinins and auxins and the genes for opine synthesis have been removed. Such plasmids are generally referred to as being "disarmed". Accordingly, an "armed" Ti plasmid is generally considered to contain an oncogene.
The Ti plasmid for use in plant transformation has further been engineered to contain restriction sites, for the convenient introduction of foreign genes between or adjacent to one or more of the border fragments, and genes for identification and selection of transformed cells, such as antibiotic resistance genes or β-glucuronidase synthase (GUS) genes. Replication genes are often introduced to the Ti plasmid to allow replication of the plasmid in non-Agrobacterial hosts. The vir (virulence) genes that are required for the mobilization of DNA and transfer of the plasmid from the bacterial cell are often retained on a separate plasmid or in a location of the Ti plasmid distinct from that containing the DNA which is to be transferred and, as such, are not transferred to the recipient plant cells.
The second wide spread technology employed to generate transformed plants involves the use of targeted microprojectiles. These methods have been employed to transform both monocots and dicots that are recalcitrant to Agrobacterium methods. A variety of different microprojectiles and methods of bombardment have been described in, for example, Sanford, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,945,050; McCabe, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,149,655; Fitzpatrick-McElligott et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,466,587; and Coffee et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,302,523, 5,464,765. The DNA introduced using targeted microprojectiles comprises similar functional features for expression in plant cells, equivalent to those introduced via Agrobacterium systems, for example, the vector used often comprises engineered sites for foreign gene insertion and genes needed for identification or selection of transformants.
Other methods that have been used to obtain transformed plants include: microinjection directly into cell nuclei (Crossway et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,743,548); and direct DNA uptake by protoplasts (Paszkowski et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,231,019, 5,453,367)
Although the general approach to plant transformation is well-understood, the practical application of plant transformation processes is often limited by genotypic response of plant cells to transformation and culture conditions. It is not unusual for only one or two narrow genotypes within a species to be amenable to transformation. Accordingly it is not simple, or in some cases possible, to efficiently transform all genotypes within a crop species. Despite numerous attempts to alter culture and transformation protocols, some plant genotypes are recalcitrant to transformation by techniques that are efficient within other genotypes. Thus in many cases a specific genotype that is amenable to transformation is first used, then the transgenic event is crossed, or "introgressed" into germplasm that is recalcitrant to the same transformation method. Although this method may allow for the eventual introduction of a transgene into a line that can not be transformed without undue effort, the process takes time and effort since one has to select for the transgene at every sexual cross.
Thus a method that allows rapid discrimination of plants into which the transgene has been introduced by either transformation or introgression, would greatly facilitate production of transgenic plants. In particular, a non-destructive visual assay would allow rapid screening of large numbers of breeding lines and segregating populations. This screening process, if applied at the seedling stage or even at the stage of seed development (e.g. embryo rescue), would find utility within commercial varietal production programs by allowing selection of lines at an early stage, thus eliminating the need to grow plants to maturity, thereby saving time and land resources. Such a method could also be used to eliminate significant number of null lines from cultivation and allow for a streamlined breeding and introgression process. In particular, such a method would be useful for producing Brassica plants carrying transgenes for input or output traits, including high value output traits.
Brassica Transformation
Transformation of members of the Cruciferae family by Agrobacterium and other methods has been reported. However, many of the reports that relate specifically to Brassica transformation have detailed the difficulty in routinely obtaining transformed Brassica species by Agrobacterium mediated transformation. Many of the reports have shown success with one or two particular varieties, but there is no teaching of detailed methods that are generally applicable to all species within the Brassica genus. Although many manipulations of culture conditions can be employed, some varieties have proven to be extremely difficult to transform by previously reported methods. Thus significant effort is expended for the introduction of transgenes in these genotypes by crossing and introgression. Any improvements and discoveries that allow for the reliable generation of transgenic plants from these genotypes or allow for a more efficient means to introgress these traits would be a significant improvement over the art.
Many of the initial Brassica transformation studies were carried out with a single genotype, B. napus cv Westar (Radke et al, Theor. Appl. Genet. 75:685-694, 1988; Moloney et al., Plant Cell Reports 8:238-242, 1989; Moloney et al., 1989, U.S. Pat. No. 5,188,958; Moloney et al., 1989, U.S. Pat. No. 5,463,174). Westar was a convenient choice since it responded to tissue culture and transformation protocols described in the references cited above and allowed recovery of transgenic plants. Westar remains the genotype of choice for transformation experiments; however, the agronomic properties of the variety are considered poor by comparison with recent cultivars. Hence a gap remains in reliable transformation technology and commercial genotypes of Brassica napus oilseed.
Moreover, many Brassica transformation studies conducted using the described methods, or variations thereof, have produced results that are highly variable and are dependent upon the innate response of the specific plant materials to the transformation protocol. As an example, the transformation frequencies that have been achieved for Brassica napus are sometimes variable and very low (Fry et al., Plant Cell Reports 6:321-325, 1987; Mehra-Palta et al., In Proc 8th Int. Rapeseed Congress, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, 1991; Swanson and Erickson, Theor. Appl. Genet. 78:831-835, 1989). Variable and often low transformation frequencies have also been observed with other Brassica species, such as B. oleracea (Christie and Earle, In Proc 5th Crucifer Genetics Workshop, Davis, pp 46-47, 1989; Metz et al., Plant Cell Reports 15: 287-292, 1995; Eimert and Siegemund, Plant Molec. Biol. 19:485-490, 1992; DeBlock et al., Plant Physiol. 91:694-701, 1989; Berthomieu and Jouanin, Plant Cell Reports 11:334-338; Toriyama et al, Theor. Appl. Genet. 81:769-776, 1991); B. rapa (Radke et al., Plant Cell Reports 11:499-505, 1992; Mukhopadhyay et al, Plant Cell Reports 11:506-513, 1992); B. juncea (Barfield and Pua, Plant Cell Reports 10:308-314, 1991; Deepak et al., Plant Cell Reports 12:462-467, 1993; Pua and Lee, Planta 196:69-76, 1995); B. nigra (Gupta et al, Plant Cell Reports 12:418-421, 1993); and B. carinata (Narasimhulu et al., Plant Cell Reports 11:359-362, 1992; Babic, M. Sc. Thesis, Univ of Saskatchewan, 1994).
The many Brassica species, varieties and cultivars represent a very diverse group with radically different morphologies and physiological characteristics. Many Brassica species of commercial interest do not respond well or at all to the methods previously described. In particular, Brassica napus oilseed species with unusual fatty acid compositions appear to be recalcitrant to conventional transformation efforts. One genotype, typified by the variety AG019, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,965,755 is a high oleic acid, low linoleic acid genotype that is unresponsive to conventional transformation methods, for example, that described by Moloney (ibid). The variety AG019 and varieties derived therefrom have valuable fatty acid compositions that provide oil with improved oxidative stability and nutritional value. Crossing with a conventional oil profile Brassica napus, for example, a transformed Westar, as a means to introduce a transgene, causes a loss in oil profile and requires significant breeding efforts to reconstruct the desired oil profile. In most cases it is uncertain that this can be attained. Thus, a transformation method is required which is useful for transformation of recalcitrant Brassica, particularly Brassica napus oilseed species with altered oil profiles, more particularly transformation of Brassica species AG019 and progeny derived therefrom.
Accordingly, methods to transform recalcitrant genotypes of Brassica will be valuable. Furthermore, methods to identify transformed plant cells, and plants and progeny derived therefrom will also be valuable particularly if the methods are simple, non-destructive in nature and allow visual identification of the plants or cells that contain the transgene of interest. If such methods further provide discrimination at the field level, then a wide range of appliations is feasible.
Methods have been developed that address these needs to some degree. Visual marker genes such as the β-Glucuronidase or GUS gene are available, but require a biochemical or histochemical assay. Genes which respond to applied chemicals are typified by so-called "conditionally lethal" genes. However, these typically lead to a lethal phenotype, hence are not useful for tracking transgenes in a breeding process. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a conditionally lethal gene that is useful in a breeding program, as well as other commercially important objectives.
Conditionally Lethal Genes
Conditionally lethal traits and genes which impart these traits, are known. Many conditionally lethal genes lead to a lethal phenotype and plant death. However, some conditionally lethal genes can be used in a fashion that will not necessarily lead to cellular death. An example of such a conditionally lethal gene is the Agrobacterium Ti plasmid tms oncogene 2. This oncogene codes for the enzyme indoleacetamide hydrolase (IAMH) that, in combination with Agrobacterium oncogene 1 which codes for indoleacetamide synthase (IAMS), forms part of the indoleacetic acid (IAA) synthesis pathway typical of this type of bacterium.
The formation of indoleacetic acid by plants takes place by a different pathway from that of Agrobacterium. Hence, the expression of IAMH (oncogene 2) in plants does not result in the formation of indoleacetic acid because the substrate for the enzyme, indoleacetamide, is not present in plant cells. However, application of indoleacetamide to plants expressing the IAMH gene results in the rapid accumulation of IAA. Even though IAA is a naturally occurring auxin plant growth regulator, uncontrolled high levels of IAA rapidly disturb cellular metabolism resulting in senescence and cell death. The enzyme IAMH is capable of hydrolyzing other indoleamide-related substrates including naphthalene acetamide resulting in production of the well known synthetic plant growth regulator naphthalene acetic acid (NAA).
The use of a conditionally lethal gene, such as the IAMH oncogene, for roguing maize plants is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,180,873 (Jorgensen) issued January, 1994. Jorgensen teaches transformation of plants to contain a conditionally lethal gene. The plants are subsequently subjected to linkage analysis, then selected for close linkage between the lethal gene and a target locus which is either pre-existing or introduced by traditional breeding techniques. U.S. Pat. No. 5,426,041 of Fabijanski et al issued June 1995, teaches a method of hybrid seed production using IAMS in combination with IAMH. Neither patent teaches a method for using the oncogene 2 in a non-lethal means or for selection during and after transformation. Neither patent teaches a method for using oncogene 2 for selectively removing related species having acquired the transformed genetic material.
Thus a conditionally lethal gene within a genetic construct also containing a novel trait offers a convenient means to control spread of the novel trait. However, because the lethal gene does not provide a non-destructive means to identify or select transformed plant cells, specifically Brassica cells, traditional conditionally lethal genes do not solve the present problem of selecting, identifying and tracking transgenic plants and progeny derived therefrom.
Accordingly, another object of the present invention is to modify and use a previously identified conditionally lethal gene to track transgenes during the breeding and commercialization process as well as under field conditions.

Transgenic plants and methods for production thereof


A flag and pole mounting assembly for attaching a flagpole to a vehicle includes a middle shaft extending substantially between two sidewalls of the vehicle and adjustable endshafts for extending the total length of the mounting assembly. Posts at each end of the middle shaft engage with stake pockets located in the two sidewalls of the vehicle. A flagpole attachment member couples to the middle shaft and defines a cavity for receiving and securing the flagpole to the middle shaft. A light source connected to the flagpole attachment member illuminates the flagpole or an associated flag when the flagpole is coupled to the flagpole attachment member. A solar panel or other power source is electrically connected to the light source for powering the light source. The mounting assembly may only utilize one stake pocket or may engage with the sidewalls of the vehicle without use of any stake pockets.

1. Field
The present invention relates generally to assemblies for attaching objects to vehicles and improvements thereof. More particularly, the present invention relates to mounting assemblies for attaching flagpoles to trucks and improvements thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the field of automobile attachment assemblies, a variety of designs and structures exist for fastening various objects to an exterior or interior of a vehicle. Assemblies for fastening signage, lighting elements, antennas, hitches, placards, flags or other objects have been designed for mounting upon vehicles of various shapes and sizes. Many vehicle owners, particularly for patriotic reasons or to showcase their support for favorite sports organizations, desire to display a flag upon their automobile. Trucks provide a favorable structure for flag attachment due to their generally large chassis assemblies and truck bed storage areas where blocking visibility out of a cabin window is less of a concern than for automobiles.
Truck bed sidewalls often include one or more holes that provide access to enclosed areas within the truck chassis, known as stake holes or stake pockets. Certain designs have used these stake pockets to provide a secure attachment mechanism for a mounting assembly used to fasten an object to the truck bed side wall. These mounting assemblies may also be attached semi-permanently, for example, with screws or bolts, when positioned within the stake pockets for increased stability. Other designs have instead focused on vacuum-based or alternative fastening methods, such as roof-mounted suction cups or window-mounted clamps. Those who desire a longer lasting solution may alternatively opt for a more permanent design that requires drilling or puncturing into the body of the vehicle in order to fasten the object with screws, adhesives or clamps to the automobile chassis.
While current flagpole mounting systems exist in the prior art, such systems are often made for small, lightweight flags or are difficult to install or maintain. Current systems may even require permanent alterations to the vehicle, increasing the chances for expensive damage or repair costs when removing the system or potentially hurting the resale value of the vehicle. Thus, current systems do not adequately meet the needs of individuals who desire an inexpensive and removable, yet secure, flagpole mounting system, particularly those individuals who desire a mounting assembly or system that can securely fasten one or more of larger or heavier objects to vehicles without requiring permanent alterations to the vehicle chassis. Ideally, the mounting assembly would utilize the stake pockets, sidewalls, or back side behind the cab/rear window of a truck bed for attaching the mounting assembly to the vehicle. In order to accommodate the wide variety of vehicles available for purchase with a wide variety of dimensions, the mounting assembly should also be adjustable so that costly individual engineering or manufacturing of the assemblies for specific vehicle types is avoided. An ideal mounting assembly should be safe to both the owner of the vehicle on which it is installed and to owners of other vehicles that may be in the vicinity of such a vehicle on the roadway. Hence, the mounting assembly should be configured to securely couple to the vehicle and adequately hold the mounted object during vehicle movement or during a crash. Safety is of particular importance for commercial vehicles available today with ever-increasing engine performance and vehicle speed capabilities.
An ideal mounting assembly should also be practical for everyday use. Thus, the mounting assembly should be easy to both install and to remove by the owner of the vehicle. The mounting assembly should also be difficult for casual thieves to steal flags already attached to the mounting assembly without requiring the owner to un-mount the mounting assembly and store it elsewhere when the vehicle is parked or unattended. Finally, an ideal mounting assembly should also minimize the amount of storage area taken up by the mounting assembly and should also provide illumination to any attached flagpole. In addition to aesthetic reasons, those individuals desirous of flying the American flag on their vehicle for patriotic reasons need a form of illumination upon the flag in order to comply with the flag display requirements during the hours of darkness specified by Title 4, Chapter 1, Section 6 of the U.S. Code.


A light fixture for a vehicle includes a housing with a light-transmitting face divided into two adjacent light-transmitting face portions, which adjacent face portions are separate and discrete first and second face portions. A light-emitting diode (LED) array is positioned in the housing so as to emit light from the first face portion, the LED array including a plurality of adjacent rows of LEDs, each row of LEDs including a plurality of adjacent LEDs. A first electrical connector is provided for connecting the LED array to an electrical system of the vehicle so as to transmit light from the LED array when the vehicle running lights are on, when the vehicle is braking, and for signaling a vehicle turn. A further light source is positioned in the housing so as to emit light from the second face portion, and a second electrical connector is provided for connecting this light source to the electrical system of the vehicle so as to transmit light from the light source when the vehicle is backing up. The invention is also applicable to a method of converting a conventional light fixture for a vehicle into a light fixture as described above.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a light fixture for a vehicle and conversion method.
2. Description of Conventional Art
As illustrated in FIG. 1, conventional multi-compartment vehicular lamps generally include a lens assembly 1 which covers a housing member 2. The lamp housing 2 typically supports a back-up function incandescent lamp 3 (for indicating that the vehicle is backing up) and a stoptaildirectional function incandescent lamp 4 which are inserted in sockets 5 and 6, respectively (a stop function for indicating that said vehicle has stopped, a tail function for illuminating the back of said vehicle, and a directional function for indicating which direction said vehicle is turning). The sockets 5 and 6 are connected by wires 7 and 8, respectively, to a power source within the vehicle (not shown) to provide illumination for a vehicle, as necessary. A suitable connecting means may be employed for connecting housing member 2 to a vehicle, and an electrical connecting member electrically connects the vehicular lamp to an electrical system of a vehicle. Conventional vehicular rear lamps also may include a license plate illuminating lamp, and the face of the lamp may include a reflective surface portion for providing a reflex rear reflector (not shown).
The lens assembly 1 typically includes a back-up function lens 9 which covers the back-up function lamp 3 and a stoptaildirectional function lens 10 which covers the stoptaildirectional function lamp 4. Of course, the position of the lamps may vary, and the number of functions (stop, tail, directional, back-up, license plate) per lens or lamp may vary depending on the type of vehicle.
Shortcomings of this conventional lamp assembly include the short life of the multi-function incandescent bulb, and a somewhat high power consumption with resultant voltage drop.
There remains a need in the art for longer-lived vehicular light fixtures, and methods for converting conventional fixtures to longer-lived fixtures.


This disclosure relates to a method for situation-dependent storage of data of a system, in which data of the system is detected, is amalgamated in at least one data block and is stored in a volatile memory, and in which, in response to the occurrence of at least one predefined trigger event in the at least one data block, amalgamated data are transferred from the volatile memory into a read-only memory, and in which a time window, in which the data for the at least one data block is captured, is selected automatically and dynamically according to the at least one trigger event.

Systems, such as vehicles, may be equipped with data recorders for recording in an accident. The main task of such data recorders is to make the intended behavior of vehicle systems in accident situations comprehensible. For this purpose, relevant data from a period of a few seconds before the accident are recorded in accident situations and near-accident situations, such as when an airbag is triggered or when emergency braking is triggered. These data are designed to objectivize accidents for individual parties in an accident and to assist in comprehending the course of the accident and understanding its circumstances.
In currently available data recorders, data are usually only stored in a period prior to the trigger event upon a trigger, i.e., when a trigger event occurs. Thus, for example, a data recording can end when triggering a restraint system. Such a fixed end of data storage can result in the loss of important information after the trigger event.
DE 10 2015 208 358 A1 discloses a method and a system for recording and/or securing video data in a vehicle. It disclosed that the video data is detected in an event-controlled manner and stored in a ring memory.
DE 10 2013 206 948 A1 discloses an apparatus and a method for providing data of an autonomous system and a method for producing an autonomous system. It disclosed that data are stored in a local memory during operation of the apparatus by means of an autopilot, said data being detected by a sensor in a certain interval.
A storage unit for vehicle data recording is disclosed in DE 10 2014 205 924 A1.

Method and device for situation-dependent storage of data of a system


Methods and apparatus are provided for managing data flows in a switch connected in a network. Such a method includes monitoring a set of data flows traversing the switch for compliance with a predetermined resource-usage policy, and, in response to detection of a non-compliant data flow, mirroring a set of data packets of that flow to send respective mirror packets to a mirror port of the switch. The method further comprises using the mirror packets sent to the mirror port to construct a non-compliance notification for the non-compliant flow, and sending the non-compliance notification into the network. The resource-usage policy can be defined such that the switch is operable to send a non-compliance notification before occurrence of congestion due to the non-compliant flow.

The present invention relates generally to flow management in networks, and more particularly to management of data flows in network switches to inhibit network congestion.
Current network switches may implement various techniques associated with controlling congestion in a network. At a basic level, switches typically employ some form of AQM (Active Queue Management) system to monitor the status of queues in switch buffers and selectively drop data packets when necessary. Packets may be dropped if a queue is full, for example, or may be dropped on a probabilistic basis in dependence on average queue lengths according to a RED (Random Early Detection) algorithm or variant thereof. Packet-drops result in loss of data or, if dropped packets can be detected by network protocols, re-sending of the packets, with adverse implications for network efficiency (protocol overhead, increased latency and multiple sends which might cause congestion elsewhere in the network). Switches may also employ control mechanisms which operate at Layer 2 of the OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) model. These link-level mechanisms, such as Ethernet Pause Frame, PFC (Priority-based Flow Control), PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) credits, etc., aim to control flow of packets into the switch on Layer 2 links to manage congestion in the switch. These mechanisms can propagate back-pressure to upstream nodes. Blocked "hot" data flows can prevent other "cold" flows from advancing via HOL (Head-of-Line) blocking. A single hotspot can, in extreme cases, cause global collapse of network throughput.
Some switches implement more elaborate congestion control schemes which operate at higher OSI layers. In ECN (Explicit Congestion Notification) enabled networks, for example, switches can mark (rather than drop) packets in response to congestion, e.g. via a RED scheme, to set a flag (ECN codepoint) in the packet. This flag is detected by the destination node (receiver) of the packet and echoed back to the source node (transmitter) which can then throttle the offending data flow, e.g. by reducing its congestion window as for a packet drop. ECN and other elaborate congestion control mechanisms, such as DCTCP (Data Center Transmission Control Protocol) and QCN (Quantized Congestion Notification) aim to control data flows at their source to address congestion on a global basis. However, these schemes can be complex and are restricted in their application. They require handling at upper OSI layers and only operate with specific protocols that support their implementation.
Improvements in mechanisms for managing data flows in networks would be highly desirable.

International Business Machines Corporation


A semiconductor device includes a lower insulating layer formed on a primary surface of a semiconductor substrate; a sealing layer formed in contact with a top surface of the lower insulating layer; and a conductive member including a first conductive member formed on the sealing layer and having a first film thickness and a second conductive member formed on the sealing layer in contact with a first conductive member and having a second film thickness that is smaller than the first film thickness.

Wafer level CSP (chip size package) that is of the same size as the semiconductor substrate and that connects circuit elements formed on the primary surface of the semiconductor substrate to external elements via rewiring is used as the technology of packaging an LSI chip.
As a technology to suppress leakage of electromagnetic noise from the circuit elements formed on the primary surface of the semiconductor substrate in the wafer level CSP, formation of a shield that covers the entire surface of the semiconductor substrate in which the rewiring is connected to the ground of the circuit elements is proposed (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 2001-156209, for example).

Semiconductor device and manufacturing method of semiconductor device


Hot runner injection molding systems with externally heated injection runner nozzles for such systems. The heater is preferably a tubular heater with the resistive element applied to the exterior surface by fine film printing. The heater is adapted to externally heat a hot runner injection mold runner nozzle.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to hot runner injection molding systems and more specifically to externally heated injection runner nozzles for such systems.
2. Related Art
There is a need for a better way of heating injection nozzles in plastic molding machines.
Hot runner injection molding systems have several melted material flow passageways that are uniformly heated over the entire flow path leading from a molten reservoir to a mold cavity or cold runner. The melted material that flows through the passageway must remain liquid until reaching the mold cavity or cold runner. To control flow rate and pressure, the heated passageway leads to or from injection mold runner nozzles which may be externally heated. This nozzle is sometimes referred to as a hot runner gate injection nozzle or a hot runner probe injection nozzle but will hereafter be simply referred to as a "runner nozzle." These runner nozzles are typically located in the hot runner molding system's manifold base. The nozzles extend through ports leading to each of the molding cavities or to a secondary heated or unheated passageway within a mold block. It is essential to adequately and uniformly heat the runner nozzle because this is often the final point in the heated portion of the flow passageway just prior to being injected into the mold. At this point the material must be at or above its melting point in order for the molten material to flow freely through the runner nozzle, so the nozzle can reliably perform its function of controlling flow rate.
Significant transitions in temperature at the point of the runner nozzle are not desirable as the nozzle is a key part of any molding process because transitions in temperature may change the fluid consistency of the melted material such as thermoplastic which may result in a defective final product. Also, if it is desired to intermittently shut off flow and turn flow back on for a given nozzle, heating of the nozzle is necessary to maintain the residual material in a melted state, to prevent clogging.
Currently, runner nozzles are typically heated by a heat source external to the nozzle. Typically, the runner nozzle is heated by a resistive wire proportionally spirally wound heating element. The spirally wound element forms a cylinder that is co-axially disposed about the exterior surface of the runner nozzle. However this type of heater configuration operates inefficiently due to heat loss because of the open exposure of the heating element to the surrounding environment. It also increases the diameter of the nozzle and thus requires bigger openings in the manifold to receive the nozzle. Also, many of the standard nozzle heaters are not completely encapsulated by an insulated sheath, which make it more difficult to maintain a temperature at the runner nozzle location that is uniform with the remainder of the flow passageway. In addition the physical design of the resistive element (i.e. spiral) is limited as well. The gauge of the resistive wire heating element required to generate enough heat is such that the wire cannot be formed into complex circuit patterns. In many cases various complex circuit patterns other than a simple spiral pattern are desired in order to achieve more efficient heat distribution. Also, these types of heaters can be bulky and difficult to maintain and repair. Installation is difficult because of the large leads of the resistive element, and the mold designer must allocate space for the large leads and increased nozzle/heater combination. In addition, in many cases the externally heated runner nozzle apparatus has to be adapted to accommodate a thermocouple device which requires an additional space for the thermocouple and its wiring. A better way is needed to uniformly heat the runner nozzle, heat it efficiently and the design should be cost effective and easy to maintain and repair.
Conventional industrial equipment which provide heat externally to a flow passage, such as the subject runner nozzle, will generally provide heat by the means described above or by a single or multiple band heater design. However, there are some less common methods utilized to provide heat externally to a flow passageway. For example, one method is to apply a thick film resistive element layer to the external surface of a fluid flow passageway or to the external surface of a tubular heating sleeve by way of a decal application.
For the decal application process a resistive thick film pattern is printed on a sheet of silicone coated paper using standard pastes and screen print settings. The dried print is then covered with a clear acrylic coating, and the thick film decal is ready after drying. Soaking in water then releases the thick film paste with its acrylic top carrier film. This is then rolled onto the external surface of an object such as a tubular fluid flow passageway or a tubular heating sleeve. Firing in a conventional furnace burns off the acrylic layer and sinters the thick film pattern onto the surface.
The decal method is chosen by some artisans because they determined that printing a resistive trace circuit pattern on non-flat surfaces such as tubular surfaces proves very difficult or too expensive to be practical using standard screen printers because of the three-dimensional movements of the printer head which would be needed. A tubular heater sleeve bearing the decal application and co-axially disposed on the runner nozzle is a solution since it allows two-dimensional production of the circuit and subsequent bending of the decal in the third dimension. Also, the decal can be applied directly to the runner nozzle's external cylindrical surface. In either case a porcelain dielectric layer is usually applied to the metallic external surface of the tubular shaped object before the decal is applied.
However, the decal method has lots of problems. The decal method is not widely used because it is prone to error. Application of the thick film to the decal substrate is one step where errors may occur. Once the thick film is correctly two-dimensionally applied to the decal substrate, it has to be reapplied in the third dimension to a cylindrical external surface that has been properly prepped. The reapplication process may result in tears or voids in the thick film because at this stage the material is not a coherent solid mass. Air bubbles may form between the thick film and the final tubular surface. Firing in a furnace is required to cure and to burn off an acrylic layer. Again, a void may result from this process particularly if the acrylic burns off in a non-uniform manner.
In many cases it is desired to have multiple resistive element layers and multiple dielectric layers. If the decal application method described above is utilized to accomplish this task the problems asserted above will only be compounded. Proper alignment of each decal with immediately preceding decal is a significant problem. Either multiple decal application steps will have to be carefully and precisely performed or multiple layers will have to be initially applied to the decal prior to the transfer application step. However, in either case the problems asserted above such as voids and cracks will be multiplied both by the extra steps and extra layers. It should be noted that multiple firings will be necessary in order to cure each decal application layer thereby increasing the risk for a defective end product. This risk factor is important because multiple layers are often desired to achieve a certain temperature profile, or achieve greater thermal isolation, or to maintain temperature uniformity.
The decal method, as well as a screen printing method, have another serious drawback. They are limited as to the trace pattern that can be utilized for a heater design. In many cases, it is desired to print a continuous circumferential spiral trace pattern around a tubular body for efficient and uniform heat distribution. This is not physically achievable with a screen printing or decal printing method, which must have gaps for structural support in the mask and which will have edges that, for a tubular heater, would need to be so precisely aligned as to be impractical and would still have an interface or gap at the edges. Thus, neither a decal nor a screen can physically produce a continuous circumferential spiral trace pattern on a tubular body.
In addition to the decal method, another method is utilized specifically for hot runner nozzle external heaters. This method involves flat ceramic substrates and a printed circuit pattern thereon by means of screen printing. A printed circuit pattern is applied to a flat ceramic substrate sheet. When the printed circuit pattern is applied to the flat ceramic sheet, the sheet is in a paste or unfired state. Therefore the sheet is flexible and can then be wrapped around a tubular object. The sheet with the circuit pattern applied is usually wrapped around a ceramic core and fired for curing thereby completing the heating element. In known applications this completed heater can then be co-axially inserted onto a runner nozzle. This wrapping method could be used to wrap the ceramic substrate with the printed circuit applied around a metallic tube with a ceramic exterior surface thereby forming a tubular heating element. However, it cannot produce a continuous circumferential spiral trace pattern. It should be noted that problems similar to that of the decal method as discussed above may occur. Voids and tearing may occur during the wrapping and firing steps.
A way is needed to reliably manufacture a tubular heater with an optional continuous circumferential spiral trace pattern that can be co-axially disposed around or made an integral part of the exterior surface of an injection mold runner nozzle in order to externally heat the nozzle thereby replacing the conventional proportionally spirally wound resistive wire heating element. The method must be produceable, easy to accommodate and install, maintainable, and reliable.

Thick film heater for injection mold runner nozzle


An NGL recovery plant includes a demethanizer (7) in which internally generated and subcooled lean oil absorbs CO2 and C2 from a gas stream (11), thereby preventing build-up and freezing problems associated with CO2, especially where the feed gas has a CO2 treatment at ethane recoveries above 90% and propane recoveries of at least 99%.

As the price of natural gas for use as fuel and chemical feedstock increases, new reserves of natural gas have regained considerable attention. However, many of the new reserves have relatively high percentages of acid gases, and especially carbon dioxide, while having relatively low percentage of desired hydrocarbons. Therefore, separation of carbon dioxide from natural gas has become critical to an economically attractive use of new natural gas reserves, and various methods and configurations have been developed.
In one method of separating carbon dioxide from a natural gas feed, at least a portion of the gas feed is subjected to cryogenic expansion. A typical cryogenic expansion process includes dehydration, cooling and partially condensation of the feed gas, wherein a first portion of the vapor fraction of the feed gas is turbo-expanded to the mid section of a column, and wherein a second portion is subcooled in an overhead subcooled exchanger and fed to the top of the demethanizer or deethanizer. Cryogenic processes are generally preferred due to their relatively simple configuration and relatively high efficiency. An example of a typical cryogenic process is shown in Prior Art FIG. 1, and particular configurations are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,157,904 to Campbell et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,690,702 to Paradowski et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 6,182,46 to Campbell et al.
However, the use of a turbo-expander in such configurations is generally limited to use of a feed gas with a relatively low CO2 content, most typically 2 mol % and less. Where the feed gas has a higher CO2 content, problems associated with CO2 freezing in the top of the demethanizer are frequently encountered. This is especially critical where relatively high ethane recovery is desired due to the low operating temperature requirements by the column overhead, which typically causes an increase in internal reflux and buildup of CO2.
To circumvent at least some of the problems with CO2 freezing, CO2 may be removed in an upstream CO2 removal unit to reduce the feed gas CO2 content before feeding to a NGL recovery plant. While CO2 removal units generally reduce difficulties associated with freezing, addition of such units requires substantial capital investment and operating costs.
In another method of separating carbon dioxide from a natural gas feed, CO2 removal from a feed gas for NGL recovery may be performed using a solvent (here: lean oil) absorption process. Lean oil absorption processes generally include a lean oil, typically a butane (or higher hydrocarbon) stream, to absorb the C2 plus hydrocarbons from the feed gas. An example of a typical lean oil absorption process is shown in Prior Art FIG. 2 and particular configurations are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,340,429 to Minnkkinen, et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,687,584 to Mehra et al. Among other advantages, such processes may operate at a higher temperature, thus often avoiding CO2 freezing in the columns. However, most conventional lean oil absorption processes require substantial quantities of energy for lean oil regeneration and lean oil cooling. Furthermore, and especially where the CO2 concentration in the feed gas is relatively high, a high lean oil circulation is required to achieve a satisfactory NGL recovery. Therefore, and at least from an energy efficiency and process simplicity perspective, cryogenic turbo-expander processes are generally preferred over the lean oil absorption process.
Consequently, although various configurations and methods for NGL recovery are known, all or almost all of them suffer from one or more disadvantages. Thus, there is still a need to provide methods and configurations for improved NGL recovery.

Configuration and process for NGL recovery using a subcooled absorption reflux process


A system and method for identifying duplicate master data using associated behavioral data. A first record and a second record are accessed in at least one master data repository, where the first record and the second record do not share a unique field value. At least one behavior field common to a first behavior record and a second behavior record is accessed, where the first behavior record is associated with the first record and where the second behavior record is associated with the second record. At least one input parameter is obtained to configure a duplication test. The duplication test is performed between the first record and the second record based on the at least one input parameter, where the duplication test is performed on the at least one behavior field. A duplication test result is produced based on the duplication test.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the invention described herein pertain to the field of computer systems and software. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, one or more embodiments of the invention enable systems and methods for matching similar master data objects using associated behavioral data, for example transactional data.
2. Description of the Related Art
Businesses utilize data repositories to make business decisions. The data repositories house objects such as companies, customers, persons, products and other entities. Business decisions are best made using data that is as accurate as possible. Problems arise when data repositories contain data duplicates that should be merged into one object, but which exist as slightly different objects. Minimizing data duplications across multiple distributed enterprise-wide computer systems is difficult. Within businesses that house data in multiple data repositories, data that exists on one data repository may actually represent data in a slightly different form in another data repository. Hence, businesses attempt to merge data duplicates and utilize unified versions of business objects known as master data. Failing to keep master data objects consistent lowers the ability of an organization to leverage its data, which in turn hurts profits.
Because of the problems associated with maintaining master objects based on similar data, some companies maintain data for each corporate division in independent computational facilities and databases. Hence, the business decisions are local to a division. By utilizing multiple data repositories a business cannot leverage combined buying power to obtain lower prices from common vendors. This architecture may be maintained after a company acquisition for example. Conversely, many organizations attempt to merge their data repositories to yield unified data. Solutions that attempt to match similar fields within data records utilize word dictionaries, token-based matching, normalization rules and regular expressions. For example, "Avenue" in one record may be abbreviated as "Ave." in another record. In such a case a regular expression of "Ave.*" will match both fields. Additionally, "Dick" and "Richard" may be matches for the same data object as selected from a list of synonyms which represent a name rule. This type of de-duplication utilizes a myriad of unreliable data and therefore yields false matches and missed matches. In addition to the relatively low accuracy achieved, there is a high cost of creating and maintaining data dictionaries and rules.
Furthermore, known matching strategies tend to place a high score or weight on the physical "address" field of two objects. If two objects include a large amount of shared substrings, such as a street number or apartment number, then it is reasonable to conclude that the two objects are duplicates. Hence, most de-duplication efforts to clean and enrich master data rely heavily on the location associated with an object. The problem with this approach is that many objects are migrating to virtual environments. For example, many customers are utilizing web-based interfaces to access bills and statements. As the world becomes less reliant on physical addresses, the strength of master data de-duplication based on physical address weakens. There are no known solutions that augment de-duplication with behavior data that is independent of physical address.
In summary, existing computer systems and methods lack effective mechanisms for performing data matching in a way that allows the system to utilize actions associated with the data objects, e.g., transactional data, to determine if the data objects are or are not duplicates. Because of the limitations described above there is a need for a system and method for matching similar master data using associated behavioral data.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System and method for matching similar master data using associated behavioral data