A mooring device for securing of watercraft to a structure having spaced apart planking is provided. The mooring device comprises a shaft, an elongated head mounted transverse to the shaft on one end, a T-shaped handle removably mounted on the other end, a clevis, an enlarged plate disposed on the shaft and a biasing spring encircling the shaft adapted to bias the plate toward the bar. The mooring device has a locking bar associated therewith which is substantially a planar elongated bar having a wedge shaped offset portion on one end, a T-shaped handle support on the other end and a shaft support intermediate the ends. The offset portion is adapted to be disposed between the planking with a knee of the bar bearing against the top surface of the plate. The locking bar is rotated in the plane of the bar until the offset portion bears against the underside of the plate, the shaft support on the back of the body bears against the shaft and the handle support underlies the T-shaped handle. A padlock is then inserted through the shackle and the lock hole in the bar securing the locking bar to the mooring device thereby securing the mooring device to the structure.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a locking device for a mooring device adapted for removably mooring a watercraft to a dock. The mooring device is a spring-loaded fastener requiring only a quarter turn to move from a fastening position to a release position and utilizes a locking bar engaged with elements of the mooring device to lockably secure watercraft to a docking platform.
2. Prior Art Statement
When a watercraft owner desires to moor a watercraft to a dock, it is customary to secure a lanyard to a cleat on both the dock and the boat by lacing the opposite ends of the lanyard around the respective cleats in a figure eight fashion. Such a mooring is temporary in nature and does not prevent theft of the watercraft as it is easy to remove the lanyard from either the dock or the boat. For a more secure docking of a watercraft, the craft may be raised from the water on a boat lift but such docking is cumbersome and generally available only at the home location of the boat or a marina equipped with boat lifts. Therefore, a mooring device adapted for mooring and locking a watercraft to a dock is desired wherein the mooring device has a spring-loaded fastener requiring only a quarter turn to move from a fastening position to a release position and a separate locking means which engages elements of the mooring device for lockably securing a watercraft to any mooring structure having spaced apart decking or planking.
It is known to utilize a mooring device for temporarily mooring a watercraft to a dock having spaced apart dock planks wherein the mooring device has a rigid T-bar form body with an elongated head secured transversely to one end of a shaft, a flat plate mounted on the shaft with a biasing means associated therewith to bias the plate toward the shaft. For instance, see the U.S. Pat. No. 4,297,963 issued on Nov. 3, 1981 to Keith Beacom.
It is further known to provide a device for securing valuables such as a boat wherein the device has a U-shaped hasp with an eye at one end of one of the legs for attaching chains, cables or the like with both legs of the hasp having a slot therethrough for receiving a latch lug pivoted to one of the legs. For instance, see U.S. Pat. No. 4,873,848 issued on Oct. 17, 1989 to Henry Honeyman, III.
It is also known to provide a locking system for a boat having a centerboard slot where a locking member having an elongated portion projecting through the slot and extending beyond the ends of the slot with at least one end having at least one dimension greater than at least one dimension of the slot wherein the locking member has means for securing a cable, chain or rope with a padlock therein. For instance, see U.S. Pat. No. 4,418,550 issued to James Hamilton on Dec. 6, 1983 or U.S. Pat. No. 5,467,617 issued on Nov. 21, 1995 to Jerold R. Huebner.
Furthermore, it is known to provide an anti-theft device for a trailer and boat having an outdrive with a propeller with a plurality of blades, the anti-theft device having a yoke with side portions extending around opposite sides of the outdrive, a propeller locking arm engaging the rear annular surface of the propeller and extending into the hollowed area of the hub and a lock means for securing the anti-theft device to a fixed object. For instance, see U.S. Pat. No. 5,184,488 issued on Feb. 9, 1994 to William H. Sandlin.
Finally, it is well known to provide an eye in each of two elements for securing the elements together with a padlock such as is used in a common door or trunk hasp.

Locking device for a watercraft mooring device and methods of making the same


A pneumatic tire comprises a tread portion provided with tread grooves each having a bottom and sidewalls, the tread grooves provided with ejectors for preventing stone trapping. The ejectors protrude from the groove bottom independently of the sidewalls, the ejectors having a substantially triangular shape. The tread grooves comprise a main groove extending continuously in the tire circumferential direction, and the triangular ejectors are disposed in wide portions of the main groove. The wide portion has sidewalls flaring toward the center line of the main groove, and the triangular ejector disposed therein has two sides substantially parallel to the flaring sidewalls, respectively. The main groove is further provided with a continuous ejector extending along the length of the main groove, or a series of independent rectangular ejectors arranged along the length of the main groove at intervals.

The present invention relates to a pneumatic tire having tread grooves provided with triangular ejectors for preventing stone trapping.
In the land moving vehicles, particularly trucks, construction vehicles and like running on a gravel road, construction site and the like, small foreign objects such as stones are liable to be trapped in wide circumferential grooves, and the groove bottom is liable to be damaged during running.
A conventional method for preventing such stone trapping and damage therefrom is to dispose a circumferentially extending ridge in the bottom of a wide circumferential groove.
Japanese patent application No. JP-A-3-67706 discloses a heavy duty tire having at least two tread grooves, in which a ridge protruding from the groove bottom is formed in a point of intersection of the at least two grooves. The ridge has branches extending towards the respective grooves. As the ridge is supported by the radiated branches, its rigidity becomes relatively high. Therefore, if a stone is entered in a point of intersection, it is liable to be trapped therein and damage the groove.


A vehicular operating apparatus in which an operating portion on which operating switches are arranged is arranged in a vehicle cabin in a separate location that is physically distanced from a display portion that displays an operation menu image showing the positional arrangement and function of the operating switch of the operating portion. An imaging mechanism captures an image of a hand of a user that operates the operating portion, a combining and displaying mechanism combines the captured image of the hand with the operation menu image and displaying the combined image on the display portion, and a light emitting portion illuminates the operating portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a vehicular operating apparatus in which an operating portion on which operating switches are arranged is arranged in a vehicle cabin in a separate location that is physically distanced from a display portion that displays an operation menu image showing the positional arrangement and function of the operating switch of the operating portion.
2. Description of the Related Art
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. JP-A-2000-6687, for example, discloses a related on-board equipment switch safety operating system which includes a multi-functional switch operating plate arranged in a preferable position in a vehicle, in which a plurality of various switches for operating various on-board equipment are arranged together, a display which is arranged in a preferable position in the vehicle within an operators forward field of view and displays an image of the arrangement of the plurality of switches, and a controller which, when the operator operates a given switch with a fingertip, performs control to notify the operator of the positional arrangement and function in the image of the given switch shown on the display based on a detection signal that is output when operation of the given switch is detected. This operating system is structured such that the given switch on the multi-functional switch operating plate can be operated in real time by a fingertip while the operator visually confirms the image of the given switch displayed on the display while looking ahead.
Also, another related on-board switch operating apparatus, which is operated by the driver and controls electronic equipment in a vehicle, includes a switch array which can be arranged in a position near the driver's seat, thus allowing easy operation by the driver, and in which a plurality of switches are arranged; a camera which can be arranged near the driver's seat and which consecutively captures images of the switch array and switch operations by the driver; an indicator image data storing portion which stores indicator image data for indicating near each switch the function of that switch on the image captured by the camera; an image combining portion which combines the images of the indicating image data in the indicator image data storing portion with the image data of the captured image; a display portion which can be arranged in or near a front panel and displays the combined image; and a control portion which receives a switch operating signal and outputs a control signal for performing control corresponding to the function indicated on the image of the switch (for example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. JP-A-2000-335330; similar technology is also disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. JP-A-10-269012 and Japanese Patent Application Publication No. JP-A-2004-26046).
Also, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. JP-A-10-236243 discloses a blind touch controller for specifying a menu for vehicle information shown on a display, which has switch operating means for specifying the vehicle information menu. Human detecting means is provided on the switch operating means. When an operating finger is extended to operate the switch operating means, this human detecting means detects an object approaching an access area in a range a predetermined distance from the switch operating means, recognizes that the detected object is the operating finger, and generates an access signal.
In the various vehicular operating apparatuses described above, the operating portion can be arranged in a position that is physically distanced from the display portion by using a camera to capture an image of the hand of the user which is operating the operating portion and showing that image superimposed on the display portion that shows the operation menu image. These apparatuses are thus useful because they make so-called blind operations of on-board equipment easy.
However, because the operating portion is mounted in a vehicle, it is inevitably exposed to an environment in which sunlight will shine onto it. When sunlight enters the operating portion, it may cause the color (saturation) and brightness of the operating portion in the image to change or cause shadows from objects to be cast onto the operating portion. As a result, the contrast difference or the color (saturation) difference between the image of the portion of the hand and the image of the portion other than the hand in the image (i.e., the image of the operating portion) tend to decrease, making it difficult or impossible to accurately extract the image of the portion of the hand from the image captured by the camera. Also, in an environment in which there is insufficient lighting such as at night, it is conversely necessary to light up the operating portion using cabin interior lighting or the like. In this case as well, attempting to provide sufficient lighting may bother the user, as well as result in shadows, for example, being cast on the operating portion just as in the case with sunlight, thus making it difficult or impossible to extract the image of the hand.


A bicycle electricity generator is provided including an annular stator and an annular rotor, both of which are coaxially mounted on a bicycle wheel axle in a position between a bicycle wheel hub and a fork, wherein the stator is fixed either on the wheel axle or on the fork; the rotor is fixed in connection with the bicycle wheel hub, the rotor's rotating center being coincident with the rotating center of the bicycle wheel; a rotating force transmitting member made of a resilient material for transmitting a rotating force from the hub to the rotor is provided in a position between the rotor and the hub so as to form frictional engagement with both the rotor and the hub, wherein either an auxiliary transmitting structure is provided for auxiliarily transmitting a rotating force from the bicycle wheel hub to the rotor and wherein one portion of the auxiliary transmitting structure is fixedly secured with respect to the rotor and another portion of the auxiliary transmitting member is fixedly secured with respect to the bicycle wheel or one or more spacers are disposed between the rotor and the rotating force transmitting member and the one or more spacers are in frictional engagement with the rotor and the rotating force transmitting member.

The present invention relates to a bicycle electricity generator and a method of attaching the electricity generator to a bicycle.
A bicycle is usually equipped with an electricity generator which generates electricity by rotating a bicycle wheel so as to supply the electricity to a lighting device. Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 63-502652 and Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 1-23900 have disclosed a bicycle electricity generator which is attached to the axle of a bicycle wheel.
A conventional bicycle electricity generator, which is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 63-502652, comprises a stator mainly consisting of a coil, and a rotor mainly consisting of a magnet, both of which are combined together by means of a bearing. In more detail, the stator is fixed on a fork of a bicycle, whilst the rotor is fixed onto spoke members of a bicycle wheel. While the bicycle is running, the rotation of a bicycle wheel will cause the rotor to rotate, thereby enabling the generator to produce electricity.
Another conventional bicycle electricity generator, which is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 1-23900, also comprises a stator and a rotor, both of which are combined together by means of a bearing. In more detail, the stator is fixed on the axle of a bicycle wheel, whilst the rotor is fixed on a hub which is freely rotatable with respect to the wheel axle and holds a number of spokes. While the bicycle is running, the rotation of a hub will cause the rotor to rotate, thereby enabling the generator to produce electricity.
However, in the bicycle electricity generator disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 63-502652, since the rotor is fixed onto spoke members (thin wire-like members) of a bicycle wheel, there is only a low strength in the fixation of the rotor, resulting in a problem that the rotor is apt to fall off the spoke members.
On the other hand, in the bicycle electricity generator disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 1-23900, although the rotor is fixed on a hub, sometimes this kind of fixation is difficult because of the particular specifications of bicycles different. For instance, the distance between a hub and a fork will be different in different types of bicycles. In some extreme cases, a distance between a hub and a fork is too small or too large, making it impossible for a bicycle electricity generator to be installed on the axle of a bicycle wheel.

Bicycle electricity generator and a method of attaching the electricity generator to a bicycle


A method for curing a macromolecular cyanurate network. The method of curing includes suspending a plurality of functionalized silica-coated magnetic nanoparticles in a resin mixture, which includes cyanate ester monomers, cyanate ester oligomers, or both. After a static magnetic field is applied to the plurality of functionalized silica-coated magnetic nanoparticles in the resin mixture, an alternating electromagnetic field (having frequency ranging from about 1 kHz to about 10 MHz) is imposed for a cure time.

Macromolecular networks featuring cyanurate cross-links are highly valuable because of the unique combination of outstanding thermal resistance; favorable flame, smoke, and toxicity characteristics; relatively low cost for the level of performance achieved; mechanical toughness; and ease of processing. Liquid dicyanate ester monomers having viscosities below 1 Pa are recognized as affording some of the most affordable and convenient processes for the production of high-strength fiber-reinforced composites. Among these, Primaset® LECy (Lonza Ltd., Basel, Switzerland) is particularly well-known for its low viscosity and for providing a fully cured network with a glass transition temperature in excess of 250° C. Preparation of the liquid di(cyanate ester) resin principally found in Primaset®, 1,1-bis(4-cyaanthophenyl)ethane, is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,284,968.
One disadvantage of cyanate ester monomers and oligomers for macromolecular network formation is that formation of the networks requires high temperature initiation of thermal polymerization via cyclotrimerization. The addition of metal-containing catalysts can effectively lower this temperature; however, care must be taken when introducing heat into these highly catalyzed systems. For example, excessive heat may cause runaway chemical reactions in which the heat produced by the reaction further accelerates the reaction in a self-reinforcing cycle.
Thus there exists a need for methods by which heat may be introduced into a cyanate ester resin, in a highly controlled manner, to affect thermal cure in a safe and effective manner.
One conventional solution to the controlled introduction of heat into a cyanate ester resin is the use of magnetic nanoparticles, such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,565,892. Magnetic nanoparticles have unique capabilities in polymer nanocomposites, including, the ability to be positioned precisely in three-dimensional space by means of magnetic fields and without physically contacting the monomer or oligomer. Once positioned, significant amounts of heat may be generated by exposing the magnetic nanoparticles to high frequency, alternating electromagnetic fields. Therefore, magnetic nanoparticles have, at least in part, overcome some of the difficulties associated with introducing a controlled quantity of heat to precisely determined locations within a pre-determined region of a cyanate ester resin.
Yet, the conventional magnetic nanoparticles, which are comprised of ferromagnetic or superparamagnetic substances (such as cobalt or iron oxide), exhibit a number of shortcomings. For example, such conventional metallic, magnetic nanoparticles are susceptible to corrosion and may facilitate undesired, catalytic side reactions. One such undesired side reaction is the hydrolytic degradation of macromolecular cyanurate networks. Another such reaction is the decomposition of cyanurate networks at elevated temperatures. Networks containing magnetic nanoparticles may experience decomposition at significantly faster rates at temperatures where, in the absence of such nanoparticles, the decomposition takes place far more slowly, if it all.
Resultantly, there remains a need for methods of effectively isolating the magnetic nanoparticles from the macromolecular cyanurate network while retaining the advantageous ability of introducing a controlled quantity of heat to precisely determined locations within a pre-determined region of a cyanate ester resin sufficient to initiate cure of the resin.
For cyanate ester resins, the required cure temperatures range from about 120° C. to about 250° C., depending on the final properties of the network. These temperatures are significantly higher than the 60° C. that is required for many therapeutic applications. Accordingly, there also remains a need for methods of introducing a quantity of heat sufficient to raise the temperature to a level sufficient to initiate cure.

Method for producing cyanurate networks via inductive heating of silica-coated magnetic nanoparticles

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force


A front tire for-wheeled vehicles comprising a carcass of toric form having a high transverse curvature and provided with a central crown and two sidewalls terminating in a pair of beads for anchoring to a corresponding mounting rim, a tread band located on the crown and a circumferentially-inextensible belt structure disposed between the carcass and tread band. The belt structure at a radially external position is comprised of a layer of cord coils substantially disposed at a zero angle to the equatorial plane of the tire in axial side-by-side relationship and extended from one axial extremity of the belt to the other axial extremity of the belt. The winding thickness of the cord coils increasingly grows from the equatorial plane to the belt axial extremities.

The present invention relates to a high-transverse-curvature tire, in particular for motor-vehicles.
The invention is more particularly addressed to a front tire for two-wheeled vehicles in which the high transverse curvature is defined by particular values of the ratio between the height of the tread crown from a line passing through the tread axial width extremities, measured at the equatorial plane, and the distance between said tread extremities. This value, in any case at least as high as 0.3, is higher than that concerning the corresponding rear tire, which usually does not exceed 0.3.
In the following of the present description said ratio will be referred to as "curvature ratio" or, in a usual manner, as "tread camber".
It is known that a two-wheeled vehicle while travelling over a curvilinear path tilts on the side internal to the curve at an angle defined as the camber angle, which angle can reach values as high as 65.degree. relative to a plane which is vertical to the plane of the ground; this operation brings the tires to a point to cause a slip thrust counteracting the centrifugal force acting on the vehicle.
It is also known that as the vehicle speed gradually increases and the radius of curvature of the path of travel gradually decreases, the tire tilting alone is not sufficient to compensate for the effect of the centrifugal force: therefore an increase in the slip thrust is required and this is achieved by tilting the rolling plane of the front tire relative to the tangential direction of the curvilinear path according to an angle referred to as "drift angle", by an operation carried out by the driver through steering the handlebar. In this manner the necessary increase in the slip thrust is achieved. Of course, as is well known, the rear tire cannot be steered.
In order to be able to create this greater slip thrust necessary to balance the centrifugal force effect, the front tire includes a belt, disposed between the carcass and the tread, said belt being formed of at least two radially superposed strips of cords symmetrically inclined to the equatorial plane of the tire.
This belt structure has a high stiffness, useful to generate appropriate thrust slips, which stiffness is however too great from the point of view of comfort, because the handlebar may only be controlled with a very strong effort, which will bring about weariness of the driver, and vibrations resulting from the road-bed unevenness are transmitted to the handlebar.
One could think of replacing the above mentioned belt made of strips of crossed cords with a more flexible belt structure provided with longitudinally-oriented cords which is capable of better taking up the ground unevenness. A tire of this type is described for example in the European Patent Application EP 0 565 339 A1; said tire is provided with a belt, between the carcass and tread, comprising at least one layer of zero-degree cords distributed in a configuration offering a greater thickness at the sides than in the middle.
More particularly, the cord amount in a given central area has a value of between 60% and 80% of the amount of cords close to the tire shoulders.
However, this solution is not feasible for many reasons; first of all because such a tire is not capable of developing important slip thrusts. In fact, the zero-degree cord layer does not offer a sufficient strength to the tangential forces acting in a direction transverse to the cord lying. Secondly, due to the substantial inextensibility of the cords, the zero-degree winding up must be carried out on a previously shaped support, in particular an auxiliary manufacturing drum suitably made convex, such as for example the drum described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,437,006 filed by the present Assignee, or directly on the previously shaped carcass.
However, making a zero-degree cord winding on said drum involves increasingly greater difficulties as the curvature increases, which difficulties can be overcome only with the aid of drums having a low transverse curvature and by virtue of the presence of an underlying rubberized layer promoting adhesion of the cord coils and preventing the wound end coils on the drum surface from slipping off.
In this case, it is pointed out that the rubberized layer has only the function of ensuring, by its adhesive character, the geometrical and structural stability of the layer of coils being formed as a result of winding of the cord on the drum, so that in the finished tire said rubberized layer is only a nuisance element increasing the tire cost and weight (which weight increase exactly occurs in the region where the centrifugal force takes the highest values) without involving any structural or behavioral advantage.
One could then think of making said tire with a belt comprising a layer of zero-degree cords and two layers of cords symmetrically inclined to the equatorial plane of the tire and also having the function of enabling winding of the coils around said drum; it is well apparent that this belt could not solve the problem coped with in the present invention, as it would have even more stiffness than the value requiring to be reduced.
For the above reasons, the usual tires for front wheels for motor-cycles generally have belt structures consisting of two superposed strips having crossed cords.
Such a fact implies another drawback to be added to the already mentioned great stiffness, which on the other hand is necessary. The ideal condition that one would like to reach in such a belt is that involving a low stiffness at the central tread portion which is engaged when the vehicle is running on a straight stretch, in which condition flexibility is more useful than stiffness, and a high stiffness at the tread extremities which are engaged when the vehicle is running on a curve, in which condition strong slip thrusts are necessary.
This differentiated stiffness could be achieved by grading the thickness values of the cords in the corresponding belt portions, but in practice this feature has not yet been achieved.
According to a first known manufacturing method, the two belt strips with crossed cords are disposed in a flat arrangement on the shaped carcass and the side portions of the strips are bent down onto the carcass sidewalls. Thus a greater thickness of the cords on the sidewalls is achieved, according to wishes. Unfortunately, this operation involves a very important deformation of the strips which must conform to the sidewall surface of the carcass of decreasing diameter and therefore causes a strong structural unevenness in the carcass of the finished tire.
According to another known manufacturing method, the belt is disposed in a flat arrangement on the carcass in the form of a cylindrical sleeve or on the already mentioned auxiliary manufacturing drum and the assembly is then expanded until a toric form is reached; the operation involves a reduction in the crossing angles between the strip cords and in the cord angle of each strip relative to the equatorial plane of the tire close to said plane, which will result in a greater thickness of the cords in the central area and lower thickness in the side areas of the belt.
Practically a cord thinning out is achieved where a greater thickness should be required and vice versa, so that the stiffness values are reversed with respect to the required optimal values.
In spite of the above, the last-mentioned manufacturing method is preferred for use, just to avoid the inconvenience of the structural unevenness encountered with the first manufacturing method.
The use of belt strips with zero-degree cords however has been already proposed in different publications.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,301,730 discloses a tire comprising a toric carcass, a tread band and a belt between the carcass and tread, in which the belt is formed of three cord layers and more particularly: a radially innermost layer with inextensible zero-degree cords, two layers radially external to the zero-degree layer and comprising cords crossed with each other according to given angles symmetrical to the equatorial plane.
It is apparent that the above tire represents the worst possible solution for achievement of the intended purposes: the accomplishment of a cord arrangement at an angle of zero degrees on the radially innermost outline requires the use of a rubberized layer to be interposed between the drum and the zero-degree winding, which will bring about many drawbacks.
On the other hand, due to its radially internal position, it is inappropriate to control the effects of the centrifugal stresses on the radially outermost layers having crossed cords, as these layers under the effect of said centrifugal forces can expand and thereby impair the belt stability and the integrity of the tire itself. Also known from German Patent DE 34 10 857 is a tire for motor-bikes comprising a radial carcass, a tread and a three-layered belt interposed between the carcass and tread. The belt is comprised of two layers of cords crossed with each other respectively at angles of 56.degree. and 135.degree. to the equatorial plane and a radially outermost layer of cords at an angle of zero degrees.
This solution has been already discussed beforehand and the greater stiffness of same relative to the known belts devoid of the zero-degree cord layer has already been emphasized.

High-transverse-curvature tire, in particular for a two-wheeled vehicle


A brace structure includes a top plate of a wood-frame structure with a first plate vertically oriented on one side of the top plate and a second plate vertically oriented on the other side of the top plate. Two strips extend between the first edge and the second edge across the top plate. The strips include a space therebetween for passage of utility conduits. The plates have flanges for strength along the edges connecting the two strips. The plates also have fasteners therethrough and into the top plate.

The field of the present invention is structural reinforcement in wood-frame buildings.
A need commonly exists to provide utilities, such as plumbing and electricity, to a wood-frame building. Often, main utility piping or wiring is routed into the attic or between floors of a building or other available space above an inhabited area. In order to route pipes and wiring from the attic or other upper space into a wall, a utility installer typically cuts or drills a hole in the portion of the wood-frame that forms the top of the wall--the pieces of lumber referred to as the top plate.
While this hole in the top plate is necessary to provide utilities to the structure, the hole also can significantly weaken or fully disrupt the top plate. As the hole increases in diameter, the strength of the top plate decreases and the shear strength of the entire structure may be adversely affected. Where cut completely, the top plate loses the ability to transfer force in tension or in sheer across the cut.
One of the ways in which low-level wood-frame structures are damaged and destroyed in earthquakes, tornadoes and hurricanes is through the failure of walls placed in shear under the load. Structural engineers often strengthen portions of the walls of such a structure to provide greater resistance to shear only at spaced locations. The shear forces on the wall are then transferred along the top plate to these strengthened portions. Typically, top plates run continuously across a wood-frame building in both directions so as to provide appropriate strength against shear. Failure of the top plate at any one point can defeat the transfer of shear forces such that the wall can fail in shear. A weakening of the top plate by either cutting or drilling through it for the passage of utilities, therefore, weakens the entire wall.
Heretofore, metal straps have been used which are placed to one or both sides of the top plate adjacent the hole or cut in recognition of the loss of structural integrity at such locations. Such metal straps typically act quite well in tension but provide little support in either compression or in shear. Another solution has been to bolt an angle iron to the inside of the top plate in these areas. The substantial extension of one of the flanges outwardly from the structure has a significant detrimental impact on the placement of wall board, other surface features and juxtaposed structural elements. The angle iron does contribute to strength in compression as well as tension.


In a medical network management system (NMS) (20), health plan beneficiaries access a team of health care professionals over the telephone to help them assess their health needs and select appropriate care. The NMS (20) is implemented with an article of manufacture for use with a data processing system (13). A storage medium (15) has stored therein a medical provider information stored program (22) and a medical provider database (24). The medical provider database describes clinical services or procedures available from each provider by clinical codes or procedure codes. The data processing system (13) is configured by the medical provider information stored program (22) when executed by the data processing system (13) to use the clinical codes or procedure codes to identify a medical provider from the medical provider database for providing a specific medical service to a patient.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a system and process for managing health care and addressing many of the problems faced by those involved with health care today; payers, patients, and providers. More particularly, it relates to such a system and process which interfaces with health plan beneficiaries who have decided to seek health care services from a doctor and/or some other type of health care provider. These calls are answered by nurses and/or other types of health care professionals, who use the proprietary information tools and processes of the network management system (NMS) to help patients assess their health needs and then select appropriate care.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Using conventional approaches to access the health care system, many individuals with self-correcting conditions will see a doctor and begin to receive care that in most cases will not have medical benefit Many will also receive treatment from a provider who is not the most qualified to treat their particular condition. For such reasons, there has been an effort to develop alternative approaches.
Consumer Health Services currently operates a telephone-based, hospital and doctor marketing and referral service under the brand name of Prologue. Consumer Health collects information about doctors and makes patient referrals to doctors.
Other approaches have been suggested in the prior art For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,852,173, issued Jul. 25, 1989 to Bahl et al. discloses the use of branched tree logic, primarily for a speech recognition system. However, the teaching of this patent also suggests application of branched tree logic for medical applications as follows: "While the invention will most often refer to speech recognition and specifically to next word prediction, the described invention is equally applicable to any pattern recognition system in which a next event or next data predictor is based upon a past event or given set of data. For example, given a list of a patient's medical symptoms, what is the best course of treatment or what is the best diagnosis." (Column 1, lines 60-69). However, the system and process there disclosed imposes the limitation that all nodes in the branched tree logic be related to each other in terms of probability or be probabilistically dependent on each other. It is believed that such a limitation is not appropriate for an effective medical network management system and process, because numerical data to establish the dependencies is not available. There is therefore a need for patient screening system and process in which the branched chain logic does not require nodes that are related probabilistically or probabilistically dependent on one another.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,838,275, issued Jun. 13, 1989 to Lee and U.S. Pat. No. 4,290,114, issued Sep. 15, 1981 to Sinay both disclose systems and processes including patient screening by non-physicians, but without the use of branched chain logic for such screening.
A variety of approaches are also known in the art for systems and processes that automate medical diagnosis. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,263,123 discloses an expert system using a form of fuzzy logic for medical diagnosis. However, it should be recognized that diagnosis is a different problem than managing access to medical providers who can then make a diagnosis and institute effective treatment.
Accordingly, the art relating to patient screening and provider referral is fairly well developed. However, a need remains for further development of such systems and processes, especially in light of current movement to a universal care medical system.

Medical network management article of manufacture


Alkali-containing bottom ash produced by a circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boiler is recycled to downstream spray dryer absorption (SDA) apparatus to more fully utilize the unused reagent present in the ash, and/or to reduce the amount of reagent used while not increasing NOx generation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, in general, to the field of circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boilers used to produce steam for industrial processes or electric power generation and, more particularly, to systems comprising such CFB boilers in combination with spray dryer absorbers (SDAs) used to remove acid gas compounds from gases produced during the combustion of fossil fuels in such boilers.
2. Description of the Related Art
Electric power generating plants and other industries that combust fossil fuels (e.g., coal, oil, petroleum coke, and/or waste materials) create various contaminants that include, among other things, acid gases (such as sulfur oxides) and other unwanted and/or undesirable chemical compounds in the flue gas produced during combustion.
In the 1970s, fluidized-bed combustion technology was first applied to large-scale utility boiler units to explore new ways of burning solid fuels, especially high-sulfur coal, in an environmentally acceptable and efficient manner. In concept, fluidized beds burn fuel in an air-suspended mass (or bed) of particles. By controlling bed temperature and using reagents such as limestone as bed material, emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) can be better controlled. Additional benefits of fluidized-bed combustion include wide fuel flexibility and the ability to combust fuels such as biomass or waste fuels, which are difficult to burn in conventional systems because of their low heating value, low volatile matter, high moisture content or other challenging characteristics. This technology is now used in a variety of industrial and utility boiler applications. For a better understanding of the various types of fluidized bed boilers the reader is referred to STEAM its generation and use, 41st Ed., Kitto and Stultz, eds., Copyright© 2005, The Babcock & Wilcox Company, particularly Chapter 17, the text of which is hereby incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein.
One type of fluidized bed boiler is known as a circulating fluidized bed boiler, or CFB. CFB boilers are widely used for combusting sulfur-containing fuels since the typical CFB furnace gas temperature range allows for effective use of limestone and other alkali-containing sorbents injected into the furnace for in-furnace sulfur capture. The most commonly utilized alkali is calcium oxide, CaO, (a.k.a. lime) which reacts with sulfur dioxide in the flue gas producing calcium sulfate:CaO+SO2+½O2→CaSO4
CFB boilers typically allow achieving a percentage of sulfur capture in the range of low-to-medium 90% without use of additional emission control equipment. Some fuels, e.g. oil shale, may even contain a sufficient amount of alkali that will allow, when fired at typical CFB furnace temperatures, a similar percentage of sulfur capture without sorbent injection.
Even though CFB boilers are quite efficient at reducing the amount of sulfur dioxides present in the flue gases, there are situations where even further sulfur oxide reductions, particularly sulfur dioxide, are required. When the required percentage of sulfur capture reaches the high 90% range, achieving this solely in the CFB furnace or reactor becomes either impossible or uneconomical. In these cases, post-combustion equipment is often required.
One of the most common methods for reducing sulfur oxides in flue gases is through a spray drying chemical absorption process, also known as dry scrubbing, wherein an aqueous alkaline solution or slurry is finely atomized (via, for example, mechanical, dual fluid, or rotary atomizers), and sprayed into the hot flue gas to remove the contaminants. For a better understanding of spray drying chemical absorption processes, or dry scrubbing, the reader is referred to STEAM its generation and use, 41st Ed., Kitto and Stultz, eds., Copyright© 2005, The Babcock & Wilcox Company, particularly Chapter 35, pages 35-12 through 35-18, the text of which is hereby incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein.
Spray dry absorption (SDA) reflects the primary reaction mechanisms involved in the process: drying alkaline reagent slurry atomized into fine droplets in the hot flue gas stream and absorption of SO2 and other acid gases from the gas stream. The process is also called semi-dry scrubbing to distinguish it from injection of a dry solid reagent into the flue gas.
In a typical boiler installation arrangement, the SDA is positioned before the dust collector. Flue gases leaving the last heat trap (typically, air heater) at a temperature of 250° F. to 350° F. (121° C. to 177° C.) enter the spray chamber where the reagent slurry is sprayed into the gas stream, cooling the gas to 150° F. to 170° F. (66° C. to 77° C.). An electrostatic precipitator (ESP) or fabric filter (baghouse) can be used to collect the reagent, flyash and reaction products. Baghouses are the dominant selection for U.S. SDA installations (over 90%) and provide for lower reagent consumption to achieve similar overall system SO2 emissions reductions.
SO2 absorption takes place primarily while the water is evaporating and the flue gas is adiabatically cooled by the spray. Reagent stoichiometry and approach temperature are the two primary variables that control the scrubber's SO2 removal efficiency. The stoichiometry is the molar ratio of the reagent consumed to either the inlet SO2 or the quantity of SO2 removed in the process. Depending upon available reagent and acid gas content in the flue gases, the stoichiometry can vary widely; e.g., from about 1 to more than 10. The difference between the temperature of the flue gas leaving the dry scrubber and the adiabatic saturation temperature is known as the approach temperature. Flue gas saturation temperatures are typically in the range of 115° F. to 125° F. (46° C. to 52° C.) for low moisture bituminous coals and 125° F. to 135° F. (52° C. to 57° C.) for high moisture subbituminous coals or lignites. The optimal conditions for SO2 absorption must be balanced with practical drying considerations.
The predominant reagent used in dry scrubbers is lime slurry produced by slaking a high-calcium pebble lime. The slaking process can use a ball mill or a simple detention slaker. SDA systems that use only lime slurry as the reagent are known as single pass systems. Some of the lime remains unreacted following an initial pass through the spray chamber and is potentially available for further SO2 collection. Solids collected in the ESP or baghouse may be mixed with water and reinjected in the spray chamber of the SDA along with the SDA reagent.
If the fuel sulfur content is low and/or the fuel contains enough alkalis, as is known to be the case for certain types of coal and oil shale, the ash particles themselves could serve as a source of reagent in the SDA. Typically, the alkali in fuel that can produce sufficient sulfur capture is calcium carbonate (CaCO3).
Another example of ash particles being capable of serving as a reagent source in the SDA for capturing SO2 is the ash from the circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boiler. This type of boiler typically utilizes limestone, which has as its predominant component calcium carbonate, fed to the furnace for in-furnace capture of SO2 generated in the combustion process.
Whether part of the fuel or limestone, calcium carbonate in the furnace undergoes calcination, i.e. releases gaseous carbon dioxide and yields a solid calcium oxide, CaO, also known as lime:CaCO3→CaO+CO2
The CaO reacts with SO2 in the furnace gases thus producing calcium sulfate:CaO+SO2+½O2→CaSO4
Calcium sulfate generated in the reaction covers the surface of the particle with a shell impenetrable for SO2 thus stopping the reaction and rendering any CaO in its core unutilized.
This unutilized alkali is contained in the ash streams discharged from the CFB boiler or reactor. There are typically two major ash streams discharged from the CFB boiler: fly ash, i.e., fine particles carried with the flue gas leaving the CFB boiler, and bottom ash, i.e., coarser particles discharged at the furnace bottom.
In order to react with SO2 in the SDA, the ash particles containing alkalis have to be reactivated. This can be done by wetting them with water spray. In such a case, instead of spraying lime slurry, water will be sprayed into the flue gas in the SDA. The humidification of the particles facilitates ionic reactions of the unutilized alkali with remaining sulfur dioxide in the flue gas thus providing for sulfur capture. If the alkali slurry is injected, it will provide for sulfur capture in addition to what can be achieved by humidifying fly ash particles. This, however, will incur expenses associated with preparation and injecting the alkali slurry. Use of fly ash humidification for sulfur capture is described in R. A. Curran et al., "Cold-Side Desulfurization by Humidification of Fly Ash in CFB Boilers", Proceedings of the 13th International Conference on Fluidized Bed Combustion, 1995.
A typical SDA process is as follows. The flue gas enters a spray dryer absorber where the gas stream is cooled by the reagent slurry or water spray. The mixture then passes on to the baghouse for removal of particulate before entering the induced draft fan and passing up the stack. If lime slurry is used as a reagent, pebble lime (CaO) is mixed with water at a controlled rate to maintain a high slaking temperature that helps generate fine hydrated lime (Ca(OH)2) particles with high surface area in the hydrated lime slurry (18 to 25% solids). A portion of the flyash, unreacted lime and reaction products collected in the baghouse may be mixed with water and returned to the SDA as a high solids (35 to 45% typical) slurry. The remaining solids are directed to a storage silo for byproduct utilization or disposal. The fresh lime and recycle slurries (if any) are combined just prior to the atomizer(s) to enable fast response to changes in gas flow, inlet SO2 concentrations, and SO2 emissions as well as to minimize the potential for scaling.
SO2 absorption in an SDA occurs in the individual slurry droplets or particles of wetted ash. Most of the reactions take place in the aqueous phase; the SO2 and the alkaline constituents dissolve into the liquid phase where ionic reactions produce relatively insoluble products. The reaction path can be described as follows:SO2(g)SO2(aq)  (a)Ca(OH)2(s)→Ca+2+2OH−  (b)SO2(aq)+H2O⇄HSO3−+H+  (c)SO2(aq)+OH−⇄HSO3−  (d)OH−+H+⇄H2O  (e)HSO3−+OH−⇄SO3−2+H2O  (f)Ca+2+SO3−2+½H2O→CaSO3.½H2O(s)  (g)
The above reactions generally describe activity that takes place as heat transfer from the flue gas to the slurry droplet or wetted ash particle causes evaporation of the slurry droplet or the water from the surface of the wetted ash particle. Rapid SO2 absorption occurs when liquid water is present. The drying rate can be slowed down to prolong this period of efficient SO2 removal by adding deliquescent salts to the reagent feed slurry. Salts such as calcium chloride also increase the equilibrium moisture content of the end product. However, since the use of these additives alters the drying performance of the system, the operating conditions must be adjusted (generally increasing the approach temperature) to provide for good long-term operability of the SDA and the ash handling system. Ammonia injection upstream of a dry scrubber also increases SO2 removal performance. SO2 absorption continues at a slower rate by reaction with the solids in the downstream particulate collector.
An SDA/baghouse combination also provides efficient control of HCl, HF and SO3 emissions by the summary reactions of:Ca(OH)2+2HCl→CaCl2+2H2O  (1)Ca(OH)2+2HF→CaF2+2H2O  (2)Ca(OH)2+SO3→CaSO4+H2O  (3)
Proper accounting of the reagent consumption must include these side reactions, in addition to the SO2 removed in the process.
Spray dryer absorbers (SDAs) can be a separate structure, or they can be an integrated part of the flue that precedes one or more particle collection devices, such as one or more baghouses or electrostatic precipitators.
Humidifying alkali-containing fly ash particles in the SDA allows further (after the CFB furnace) SO2 reduction in the flue gas and/or reduced consumption of the reagent, e.g., limestone fed to the furnace and/or lime slurry fed to the SDA. This, however, does not improve utilization of alkali contained in the bottom ash. The latter is addressed in U.S. Patent Application No. US2005/0287058 that teaches recycling part or all of the bottom ash to the CFB furnace. While improving utilization of alkali in the bottom ash, however, this method will cause an increase of NOx generation in the furnace since CaO, a predominant alkali component in the CFB ash, catalyzes oxidation of nitrogen released with fuel volatiles in the furnace.
Thus, there is a need in the art for a device and/or method for reducing the SO2 emissions and/or amount of reagent necessary for its reduction while not causing an increase in NOx generation.

Bottom ash injection for enhancing spray dryer absorber performance


This invention relates to the refining of steel external to a primary steelmaking vessel, for example in the ladle. More particularly, it is: A.) a method of synthesizing a slag on the steel that (i) mitigates the detrimental effects of existing natural slag carried over from the primary steelmaking vessel, (ii) is low in specific bulk density, due to gas evolution and foaming, (iii) is suitable for refining of steel, and (iv) is not aggressive to the ladle refractory lining; B.) a method, and composition for treating any primary slag that has entered the ladle; C.) a method and composition for coating refractory linings. The present invention involves the manufacture in situ of a secondary ladle slag, the treating of ladle slag, and the protection of refractory linings by the addition of materials including calcium carbide, foaming agents such as one or more carbonates of calcium, magnesium, and sodium, and other components used to adjust slag composition. The properties of the secondary ladle slag are engineered using an optical basicity scale.

For the most part, steel making is a batch procedure involving several steps. Hot molten metal (iron-carbon alloy with impurities) is produced continuously in a blast furnace to produce iron. The molten iron is transported batch-wise, optionally with some scrap steel, to a primary converter, for example a basic oxygen furnace, and is transformed into steel (primary steelmaking) by blowing oxygen to remove carbon and phosphorus. Alternatively, scrap steel may be melted, for example, in a primary electric arc furnace, with oxygen blowing to remove carbon and phosphorus. In both of the above primary steelmaking operations, the steel is usually formed in the presence of a primary slag, mostly composed of oxides including calcium, silicon, iron, manganese, phosphorus, chromium and aluminum. The primary slag is "oxidizing" with respect to acceptable steel oxygen contents prior to casting, and therefore it is not suitable for further steel refining operations. In the past, primary slag was modified within the primary steelmaking vessel and a secondary refining step was carried out to adjust the steel and primary slag compositions and temperature. More recently, such refining steps have been carried out outside of the primary steelmaking vessel, usually in a transfer ladle used to transfer molten steel to a pouring or casting location.
The term ladle, as used herein, describes a vessel usually having a consumable refractory lining which is used for transferring molten metal, particularly steel, from one place to another, for example, from a primary steelmaking furnace to a continuous caster.
Steel refining in the ladle has become common practice in recent years, and is now often combined with arc reheating in the ladle to maintain and control temperature. The ladle slag (secondary ladle slag) is an important aspect of ladle refining because its chemical and physical properties influence the economics of production and the quality of the final steel product. In most ladle refining practices, the molten steel is tapped from the primary steelmaking vessel into a ladle substantially free of primary slag. Alternatively, primary slag may be substantially removed subsequent to tapping into a ladle by raking or similar known processes. Additions are then made to the substantially slag free steel in the ladle to synthesize a new slag with desirable properties, usually referred to as a synthetic ladle slag or secondary ladle slag. Another approach to eliminating primary slag is tapping the primary slag along with the steel, and then treating the primary slag so that it becomes suitable for secondary refining.
Secondary ladle slags should provide various combinations of the following functions and characteristics adapted to specific applications:
7. Protect the steel from contact with the atmosphere, and;
Individually, components of the secondary ladle slag are not molten at steel refining temperatures. However, by ensuring such components are present in the proper proportions, in the proper particle size ranges and well mixed, it is possible to achieve a molten slag at steel refining temperatures through a process of dissolution of components into each other. To expedite the dissolution process, ladle slag additives should be well mixed together and should be selected so that the individual particles are sized small enough to promote quick dissolution and large enough to ensure even spreading of the added material in the ladle slag across the melt surface. Conventional practice utilizes particle sizes preferably in the range of about 0.50 to about 1.50 inches although small particle sizes may occasionally be employed for specialized purposes. Although this is known in the art, there is disagreement as to the appropriate size of particles. The desirability of thorough mixing of the components prior to addition to the ladle is not widely recognized.
In practice, the dissolution of ladle slag additives to form a continuous molten oxide phase is rarely achieved without the use of fluidizers such as calcium fluoride. A disadvantage of fluidizers such as calcium fluoride is that they can dissolve ladle refractory linings.
Slag additive dissolution may also be expedited by arc heating in the ladle. The intense heat from an arc may cause the slag additive components to melt and dissolve more rapidly. However, overheating of the slag may also increase solubility of the refractory lining material. Another problem with arc heating is that refractory lining wear can be increased by arc instability which can cause hot gas and slag to be propelled against the ladle refractory lining.
Reducing arc instability by using a fluid ladle slag of high basicity is known in the art, as described by Oliver et al., "International Symposium on Ladle Steelmaking and Furnaces," Metallurgical Society of CIM, Aug. 28-31, 1988, pages 130-143. Stabilizing the arc by injection of argon through an axial hole in the electrode is also known in the art, as described by Segsworth, U.S. Pat. No. 4,037,043, and by Oliver et al., "Plasma Heating for Ladle Treatment Stations," Iron and Steelmaker, July 1989, pages 17-22. These measures can reduce arc instability and thereby reduce the wear rate of refractory linings but they do not eliminate arc instability and it is desirable to find additional ways to promote better arc stability.
Another known approach to stabilizing arcs is the foaming of a slag to engulf the arc, for example, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,447,265 and in U.S. Pat. No. 4,528,035. These procedures involve the injection of carbonaceous material, lime, and oxygen into a primary steelmaking furnace during the refining stage. This process is said to be effective in increasing slag volume and protecting the furnace refractory walls from excessive wear. The injection of oxygen, however, produces an oxidizing atmosphere, which is not appropriate for use in ladle arc refining where reducing conditions are desirable. This is unfortunate, since the refractory lining lifetimes could be increased by such a process.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,198,229, Katayama et al. discuss the use of calcium carbide as a component of synthetic slag for dephosphorization of alloy steel, stainless steel, or ferrochromium. In this technique a combination of calcium carbide, alkali metal halide, and, optionally, calcium metal alloys creates a condition whereby metallic calcium becomes available within the slag phase at the slag/metal interface. This metallic calcium can then combine with phosphorus dissolved in the metal phase to form Ca.sub.3 P.sub.2 which is assimilated into the slag phase, thereby dephosphorizing the metal. The purpose of the calcium carbide is to dephosphorize not to deoxidize the metal or the slag.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,842,642, Bowman discusses the use of iron blast furnace slag to flux other components for synthetic ladle slag, especially lime and dolomitic lime, thereby reducing the wear rate of the ladle refractories. This technique is said to hasten the dissolution of MgO into the slag, thus decreasing the duration of non-equilibrium between the MgO in the refractory ladle lining and the MgO dissolved in the slag so that refractory lining wear rate is decreased.
As noted above, attempts are usually made to eliminate primary steelmaking slag from ladle refining processes, either by retention of the primary slag in the primary steelmaking furnace or by raking from the surface of the melt in the ladle, or both. The degree of success of these processes is variable and unpredictable. Some primary slag usually remains on the steel in the ladle when secondary refining is commenced. It is known to add reductants such as ferrosilicon or aluminum to the slag or to the ladle during filling to reduce the iron oxide and manganese oxide carried over in the steelmaking primary slag. However, if added in excess, these reductants dissolve in the steel, making the steel chemistry variable and difficult to predict. In addition the reaction products associated with these reductants may be acidic with respect to ladle refractory linings, and therefore increase the solubility of lining material in the slag thereby increasing the wear rate of the lining. Carbon has been used as such a reductant but the efficiency is low and unpredictable due to the low density of the carbon additives with respect to the slag and reactivity of the carbon with the air above the ladle. Carbon is also soluble in steel, and may be picked up by the steel during the process, thereby altering the steel chemistry which, in many cases, is unacceptable.
The technique of slag foaming has been successfully used in the electric arc steel melting (primary) furnace for the purpose of increasing slag volume, stabilizing the arcs, and lengthening the service life of refractories. The steel furnace is an oxidizing environment (one of the functions is to oxidize carbon out of the steel), so slag foaming is accomplished by injecting particulate carbon and lime into the furnace, along with oxygen blown from a lance, or with iron oxide materials. The carbon combines with the oxygen source to form CO gas and causes foaming of the slag. The injected lime cools the slag to stabilize the foam. This practice has been suggested for use in the ladle, but is not appropriate because of the need to inject oxygen or iron oxide, both undesirable in the ladle steel refining process. Foaming agents that absorb heat when releasing gases are traditionally not used in ladle refining processes.
The use of a reductant for reducing iron oxide in ladle slag is also known, but the materials used thus far have disadvantages. Aluminum is expensive, increases alumina content of the slag, and is an alloying element in the steel, so variability of its concentration is undesirable. Ferrosilicon also results in the increase of slag acidity, and silicon is also an alloying element which has specified composition ranges in steel.

Compositions for synthesizing ladle slags


A method for fabricating semiconductor device is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: providing a substrate having at least a fin-shaped structure thereon and the fin-shaped structure includes a top portion and a bottom portion; forming a gate structure on the fin-shaped structure; forming a cap layer on the top portion of the fin-shaped structure not covered by the gate structure; performing an annealing process to drive germanium from the cap layer to the top portion of the fin-shaped structure; removing the cap layer; and forming an epitaxial layer around the top portion of the fin-shaped structure.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method for fabricating semiconductor device, and more particularly, to a method of using annealing process to drive germanium into fin-shaped structure.
2. Description of the Prior Art
With the trend in the industry being towards scaling down the size of the metal oxide semiconductor transistors (MOS), three-dimensional or non-planar transistor technology, such as fin field effect transistor technology (FinFET) has been developed to replace planar MOS transistors. Since the three-dimensional structure of a FinFET increases the overlapping area between the gate and the fin-shaped structure of the silicon substrate, the channel region can therefore be more effectively controlled. This way, the drain-induced barrier lowering (DIBL) effect and the short channel effect are reduced. The channel region is also longer for an equivalent gate length, thus the current between the source and the drain is increased. In addition, the threshold voltage of the fin FET can be controlled by adjusting the work function of the gate.
Nevertheless, conventional FinFET fabrication of forming recesses after removing part of fin-shaped structures to accommodate the growth of epitaxial layer typically causes the fin-shaped structures to be lower than the surrounding shallow trench isolation (STI) as a result of over-etching, thereby influencing the formation of epitaxial layer afterwards. Hence, how to improve the current FinFET fabrication process for resolving this issue has become an important task in this field.

Semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same


The present invention leverages scalable learning methods to efficiently obtain a Bayesian network for a set of variables of which the total ordering in a domain is known. Certain criteria are employed to generate a Bayesian network which is then evaluated and utilized as a guide to generate another Bayesian network for the set of variables. Successive iterations are performed utilizing a prior Bayesian network as a guide until a stopping criterion is reached, yielding a best-effort Bayesian network for the set of variables.

With the advent of the Internet, and especially electronic commerce ("e-commerce") over the Internet, the use of data analysis tools, has increased dramatically. In e-commerce and other Internet and non-Internet applications, databases are generated and maintained that have astronomically large amounts of information. Such information is typically analyzed, or "mined," to learn additional information regarding customers, users, products, etc. This information allows businesses and other users to better implement their products and/or ideas.
Data mining (also known as Knowledge Discovery in Databases—KDD) has been defined as "The nontrivial extraction of implicit, previously unknown, and potentially useful information from data." Data mining can employ machine learning, statistical and/or visualization techniques to discover and present knowledge in a form that is easily comprehensible to humans. Generally speaking, humans recognize or translate graphical items more easily than textual ones. Thus, larger amounts of information can be relayed utilizing this means than by other methods. As such, graphical statistical models have proven invaluable in data mining.
A Bayesian network is a graphical statistical model that encodes probabilistic relationships among variables of interest. Over the last decade, the Bayesian network has become a popular representation for encoding uncertain expert knowledge in expert systems. More recently, researchers have developed methods for learning Bayesian networks from data. When used in conjunction with statistical techniques, the graphical model has several advantages for data analysis. First, because the model encodes dependencies among all variables, it readily handles situations where some data entries are missing. Second, a Bayesian network can be used to learn causal relationships, and hence can be used to gain understanding about a problem domain and to predict the consequences of intervention. Third, because the model has both a causal and probabilistic semantics, it is an ideal representation for combining prior knowledge (which often comes in causal form) and data. And fourth, Bayesian statistical methods in conjunction with Bayesian networks offer an efficient and principled approach for avoiding over fitting of data.
Statistical models can include such models as decision trees and decision graphs. A decision tree data structure corresponds generally to an acyclic, undirected graph where nodes are connected to other respective nodes via a single path. The graph is acyclic in that there is no path that both emanates from a vertex and returns to the same vertex, where each edge in the path is traversed only once. A probabilistic decision tree is a decision tree that is used to represent a conditional probability distribution for a target variable given some set of predictor variables. As compared to a table, which is another way to represent a conditional probability distribution when all variables are discrete, a tree is generally a more efficient way of storing probabilities because of its ability to represent equality constraints within a conditional probability distribution.
A decision graph is a further generalization of a decision tree. Similar to a decision tree, a decision graph can represent equality constraints in a conditional probability distribution. In contrast to a decision tree, however, non-root nodes in a decision graph can have more than one parent. This characteristic enables a richer set of relationships to be represented by a decision graph than by a decision tree. For example, relationships between a non-root node and multiple parent nodes can be represented in a decision graph by corresponding edges interconnecting the non-root node with its parent nodes.
There are two traditional approaches for constructing statistical models, such as decision trees or decision graphs, namely, a knowledge-based approach and a data-based approach. Using the knowledge-based approach, a person (known as a knowledge engineer) interviews an expert in a given field to obtain the knowledge of the expert about the field of expertise of the expert. The knowledge engineer and expert first determine the distinctions of the world that are important for decision making in the field of the expert. These distinctions correspond to the variables in the domain of interest. For example, if a decision graph is to be used to predict the age of a customer based on the products that customer bought in a store, there would be a variable for "age" and a variable for all relevant products. The knowledge engineer and the expert next determine the structure of the decision graph and the corresponding parameter values that quantify the conditional probability distribution.
In the data-based approach, the knowledge engineer and the expert first determine the variables of the domain. Next, data is accumulated for those variables, and an algorithm is applied that creates one or more decision graphs from this data. The accumulated data comes from real world instances of the domain. That is, real world instances of decision making in a given field.
Typically, the data-based approach is more commonly utilized from a general stand point. Over the last few years, however, the sizes of these databases have been exponentially increasing as the ability to gather data more efficiently increases. This has produced enormous databases that take immense amounts of time to analyze, despite the ever increasing speeds gained in computer processing technology and storage access techniques.

Scalable methods for learning Bayesian networks


A coordinate measurement machine (CMM) includes a manually-positionable articulated arm. The articulated arm includes arm segments and rotary joints. At least one of the rotary joints includes a bearing assembly that comprises first and second bearings, a shaft that engages an inner race of the first bearing and an inner race of the second bearing, a housing that engages an outer race of the first bearing and an outer race of the second bearing, and a transducer configured to output an angle signal corresponding to an angle of rotation of the shaft relative to the housing. The shaft and the housing may be fabricated from materials having coefficients of thermal expansion selected to minimize change in moment rigidity and/or radial rigidity of the bearing assembly as the ambient temperature changes from the lower limit to the upper limit of the CMM operating ambient temperature range.

The present disclosure relates generally to a coordinate measuring machine and more particularly to a high accuracy, ultra-lightweight portable coordinate measuring machine.
Coordinate measurement machines serve to, among other things, measure points in a three-dimensional space. Coordinate measuring machines trace the measuring points in Cartesian coordinate space (x, y, z), for example. Coordinate measuring machines typically consist of a stand and a tracing system. The stand may serve as a reference point relative to which the tracing system moves in the space in a measurable manner. The tracing system for a portable coordinate measuring machine may include an articulated arm attached to the stand at one end and a measurement probe at the other end.
For the measurement to be useful, it must be accurate. Very high accuracy, however, is difficult to achieve because of factors such as temperature and load conditions. For example, changes in the bearing assembly caused by thermal changes have a negative effect on the measurement's accuracy.
Accuracy improvements may be available. Conventionally, however, such improvements came accompanied by significant increases in mass and/or weight of the coordinate measuring machine. Conventional portable coordinate measuring machines of improved accuracy were bulky and heavy. These are undesirable characteristics for coordinate measuring machines, particularly portable coordinate measuring machines. Moreover, processes for constructing and assembling coordinate measuring machines' joints, particularly long joints, with the required precision to obtain accurate measurements have not been available.

Ultra-light and ultra-accurate portable coordinate measurement machine substantially immune to bearing assembly thermal effects


An enhanced DRAM contains embedded row registers in the form of latches. The row registers are adjacent to the DRAM array, and when the DRAM comprises a group of subarrays, the row registers are located between DRAM subarrays. When used as on-chip cache, these registers hold frequently accessed data. This data corresponds to data stored in the DRAM at a particular address. When an address is supplied to the DRAM, it is compared to the address of the data stored in the cache. If the addresses are the same, then the cache data is read at SRAM speeds. The DRAM is decoupled from this read. The DRAM also remains idle during this cache read unless the system opts to precharge or refresh the DRAM. Refresh or precharge occur concurrently with the cache read. If the addresses are not the same, then the DRAM is accessed and the embedded register is reloaded with the data at that new DRAM address. Asynchronous operation of the DRAM is achieved by decoupling the row registers from the DRAM array, thus allowing the DRAM cells to be precharged or refreshed during a read of the row register.

As the computer industry evolves, demands for memory have outpaced the technology of available memory devices. One of these demands is high speed memory compatibility. Thus, in a computer system, such as a personal computer or other computing system, memory subsystems have become an influential component toward the overall performance of the system. Emphasis is now on refining and improving memory devices that provide affordable, zero-wait-state operations.
Generally, volatile memories are either DRAM or static RAM ("SRAM"). Each SRAM cell includes plural transistors. Typically the data stored in a SRAM cell is stored by the state of a flip-flop formed by some of the transistors. As long as power is supplied, the flip-flop keeps its data: it does not need refreshing. In a DRAM cell, on the other hand, there typically is one transistor, and data is stored in the form of charge on a capacitor that the transistor accesses. The capacitor dissipates its charge and needs to be refreshed.
These two types of volatile memories have respective advantages and disadvantages. With respect to memory speed, the SRAM is faster than the DRAM due, partially at least, to the nature of the cells. The disadvantage, however, is that because there are more transistors, the SRAM memory is less dense than a DRAM of the same physical size. For instance, static RAMs traditionally have a maximum of one-fourth the number of cells of a DRAM which uses the same technology.
While the DRAM has the advantage of smaller cells and thus higher cell density (and lower cost per bit), one disadvantage is that the DRAM must refresh its memory cells whereas the SRAM does not. While the DRAM refreshes and precharges, access to the memory cells is prohibited. This creates an increase in access time, which drawback the static RAM does not suffer.
However, the speed and functionality of current DRAMS are often emphasized less than memory size (storage capacity) and cost. This is evidenced by the fact that DRAM storage capacity density has increased at a rate an order of magnitude greater than its speed. While there has been some improvement in access time, systems using DRAMs generally have had to achieve their speed elsewhere.
In order to increase system speed, cache memory techniques have recently been applied to DRAM main memory. These approaches have generally been implemented on a circuit board level. That is, a cache memory is frequently a high-speed buffer interposed on the circuit board between the processor chip and the main memory chip. While some efforts have been made by others to integrate a cache with DRAM, we first address the board level approach.
FIG. 1 indicates a prior art configuration (board-level) wherein a processor chip 10 is configured with a cache controller 12 and a cache memory 14. The main purpose of the cache memory is to maintain frequently accessed data for high speed system access. Cache memory 14 (sometimes called "secondary cache static RAM") is loaded via a multiplexer 16 from DRAMs 20, 22, 24 and 26. Subsequently, data is accessed at high speeds if stored in cache memory 14. If not, DRAMs 20, 22, 24 and/or 26 load the sought data into cache memory 14. As seen in FIG. 1, cache memory 14 may comprise a SRAM, which is generally faster than DRAMS 20-26.
Various approaches have been proposed for cache memory implementation. These approaches include controlling external cache memory by a controller, such as cache memory 14 and cache controller 12 in FIG. 1, or discrete proprietary logic. Notwithstanding its benefits, cache memory techniques complicate another major problem that exists in system design. Memory components and microprocessors are typically manufactured by different companies. This requires the system designer to effectively bridge these elements, using such devices as the cache controller 12 and the multiplexer 16 of FIG. 1. These bridge components are usually produced by other companies. The different pin configurations and timing requirements of these components makes interfacing them with other devices difficult. Adding a cache memory that is manufactured by yet another company creates further design problems, especially since there is no standard for cache implementation.
Exacerbating the system design problems is the disadvantage that the use of external cache memory (such as cache memory 14) compromises the main storage access speed. There are mainly two reasons for this compromise. First, and most significant, the main storage access is withheld until a "cache miss" is realized. The penalty associated with this miss can represent up to two wait states for a 50 MHz system. This is in addition to the time required for a main memory access. Second, the prioritized treatment of physical routing and buffers afforded the external cache is usually at the expense of the main memory data and address access path. As illustrated in FIG. 1, data from DRAMs 20, 22, 24 and 26 can be accessed only through cache memory 14. The actual delay may be small, but adds up quickly.
A third problem associated with separate cache and main memory is that the time for loading the cache memory from the main memory ("cache fill") is dependent on the number of inputs to the cache memory from the main memory. Since the number of inputs to the cache memory from the main memory is usually substantially less than the number of bits that the cache memory contains, the cache fill requires many clock cycles. This compromises the speed of the system.
A memory architecture that has been used or suggested for video RAMs ("VRAMs") is to integrate serial registers with a main memory. VRAMs are specific to video graphics applications. A VRAM may comprise a DRAM with high speed serial registers allowing an additional access port for a line of digital video data. The extra memory used here is known as a SAM (serially addressed memory), which is loaded using transfer cycles. The SAM's data is output by using a serial clock. Hence, access to the registers is serial, not random. Also, there is continuous access to the DRAM so refresh is not an issue as it is in other DRAM applications.
Another implementation that is expected to come to market in 1992 of on-chip cache memory will use a separate cache and cache controller sub-system on the chip. It uses full cache controllers and cache memory implemented in the same way as it would be if external to the chip, i.e. a system approach. This approach is rather complicated and requires a substantial increase in die size. Further, the loading time of the cache memory from the main memory is constrained by the use of input/output cache access ports that are substantially fewer in number than the number of cache memory cells. A cache fill in such a manner takes many clock cycles, whereby system access speed suffers. Such an approach is, in the inventors' views, somewhat cumbersome and less efficient than the present invention.
Still another problem in system design arises when the system has both (a) interleaved memory devices together with (b) external cache memory. Interleaving assigns successive memory locations to physically different memory devices, thereby increasing data access speed. Such interleaving is done for high-speed system access such as burst modes. The added circuitry for cache control and main memory multiplexing usually required by external cache memory creates design problems for effective interleaved memory devices.
Another problem with the prior art arises when memory capacity is to increase. Adding more memory would involve adding more external SRAM cache memory and more cache control logic. For example, doubling the memory size in FIG. 1 requires not only more DRAM devices required, but also another multiplexer and possibly another cache controller. This would obviously add to system power consumption, detract from system reliability, decrease system density, add manufacturing costs and complicate system design.
Another problem concerns the cost of manufacturing a system with an acceptable cache hit probability. When using external cache memory, manufacturers allocate a certain amount of board area for the main memory. A smaller area is allocated for the external cache. Usually, it is difficult to increase the main memory and the external cache memory while maintaining an acceptable cache hit probability. This limitation arises from the dedication of more board area for the main memory than for external cache.
A further problem with system speed is the need for circuitry external to the main memory to write "post" data. Post data refers to data latched in a device until it is needed. This is done because the timing requirement of the component needing the data does not synchronize with the component or system latching the data. This circuitry usually causes timing delays for the component or system latching the data.
As stated supra, access to the DRAM memory cells during a precharge and refresh cycle was prohibited in the prior art. Some prior art approaches have tried to hide the refresh in order to allow access to DRAM data. One DRAM arrangement maintained the data output during a refresh cycle. The drawback of this arrangement was that only the last read data was available during the refresh. No new data read cycle could be executed during the refresh cycle.
A pseudo-static RAM is another arrangement that attempted to hide the refresh cycle. The device was capable of executing internal refresh cycles. However, any attempted data access during the refresh cycle would extend the data access time, in a worst case scenario, by a cycle time (refresh cycle time plus read access time). This arrangement did not allow true simultaneous access and refresh, but used a time division multiplexing scheme to hide the refresh cycle.
Another way to hide the refresh cycle is to interleave the RAM memory on the chip. When a RAM memory block with even addresses is accessed, the odd memory block is refreshed and vice-versa. This type of implementation requires more timing control restraints which translate to a penalty in access time.
Another type of problem arises when considering the type of access modes to the main memory. One type of access is called page mode, in which several column addresses are synchronously applied to an array after a row address has been received by the memory. The output data access time will be measured from the timing clock edge (where the column address is valid) to the appearance of the data at the output.
Another type of access mode is called static column mode wherein the column addresses are input asynchronously. Access can occur in these modes only when RAS is active (low), and a prolonged time may be required in the prior art.
When manufacturing chips that support these access types, only one of these access types can be implemented into the device. Usually, one of the last steps in the making of the memory chip will determine if it will support either type of access. Thus, memory chips made this way do not offer both access modes. This induces an added expense in that the manufacturer must use two different processes to manufacture the two types of chips.
To overcome these problems, small modifications added to a component, such as a DRAM, may yield an increase in system performance and eliminate the need for any bridging components. To successfully integrate the modification with the component, however, its benefit must be relatively great or require a small amount of die space. For example, DRAM yields must be kept above 50% to be considered producible. Yields can be directly correlated to die size. Therefore, any modifications to a DRAM must take into account any die size changes.
In overcoming these problems, new DRAM designs have become significant. The greatest disadvantage to caching within DRAMs has been that DRAMs are too slow. The present invention in one of its aspects seeks to change the architecture of the DRAM to take full advantage of high caching speed that may now be obtainable.
One way to meet this challenge is to integrate the functions of the main storage and cache. Embedding the cache memory within localized groups of DRAM cells would take advantage of the chip's layout. This placement reduces the amount of wire (conductive leads) used in the chip which in turn shortens data access times and reduces die size.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,025,421 to Cho is entitled "Single Port Dual RAM." It discloses a cache with typical DRAM bit lines connected to typical SRAM bit lines through pass gates. Reading and writing the SRAM and DRAM arrays occurs via a single port, which requires that input/output busses communicate with the DRAM bit lines by transmitting data through the SRAM bit lines. Using SRAM bit lines to access the DRAM array precludes any access other than refresh to the DRAM array while the SRAM array is being accessed, and conversely precludes access to the SRAM array while the DRAM array is being accessed, unless the data in the SRAM is the same data as in the currently accessed DRAM row. This is a functional constraint that is disadvantageous.
Moreover, the SRAM cells of Cho FIG. 1 are full SRAM cells, although his FIG. 4 may disclose using only a single latch (FF11) rather than an entire SRAM cell. However, the use of a single port with a simple latch raises a severe problem. Such an architecture lacks the ability to write data into the DRAM without corrupting the data in the SRAM latch. Hence, the FIG. 4 configuration is clearly inferior to Cho's FIG. 1 configuration.
Another effort is revealed by U.S. Pat. No. 4,926,385 to Fujishima, Hidaka, et al., assigned to Mitsubishi, entitled, "Semiconductor Memory Device With Cache Memory Addressable By Block Within Each Column." There are other patents along these lines by Fujishima and/or Hidaka. This one uses a row register like Cho FIG. 4. Two ports are used, but two decoders are called for. While this overcomes several of the problems of Cho, it requires a good deal more space consumed by the second column decoder and a second set of input/output switch circuitry. (Subsequent Fujishima/Hidaka patents have eliminated the second access port and second decoder and have reverted to the Cho FIG. 1 approach, despite its disadvantages). Nevertheless, in this patent, the "tag" and data coherency control circuitry for the cache is external to the chip and is to be implemented by the customer as part of the system design. The "tag" refers to information about what is in the cache at any given moment. A "hit" or "miss" indication is required to be generated in the system, external to the integrated circuit memory, and supplied to the chip. This leads to a complicated and slower system.
Other Fujishima, Hidaka, et al. U.S. patents include U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,111,386; 5,179,687; and 5,226,139.
Arimoto U.S. Pat. No. 5,226,009 is entitled, "Semiconductor memory device supporting cache and method of driving the same." This detects whether a hit or miss occurs by using a CAM cell array. The basic arrangement is like the approach of Cho FIG. 1 but modified to collect DRAM data from an "interface driver," which is a secondary DRAM sense amplifier, rather than from the primary DRAM sense amplifiers. This architecture still accesses the DRAM bit lines via the SRAM bit lines and is plagued with the single port problem. Circuitry is provided to preserve coherency between the DRAM and the SRAM. A set of tag registers is discussed with respect to a system-level (off-chip) implementation in a prior art drawing. Arimoto implements his on-chip cache tag circuitry using a content addressable memory array. That approach allows N-way mapping, which means that a group of memory devices in the cache can be assigned to any row in any of N subarrays. For example, if an architecture is "4-way associative," this means that there are four SRAM blocks, any of which can be written to by a DRAM. This method results in a large, expensive, and slow implementation of mapping circuitry. Using a CAM array for tag control has an advantage of allowing N-way association. However, the advantage of N-way association seems not to outweigh the disadvantage of the large and slow CAM array to support the N-way SRAM array.
Dye U.S. Pat. No. 5,184,320 is for a "Cached random access memory device and system" and includes on-chip cache control. The details of the actual circuitry are not disclosed, however. This patent also is directed to N-way association and considerable complication is added to support this.
Another piece of background art is Matick et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,577,293 for a "Distributed on-chip cache." It has 2-way associative cache implemented using a distributed (on-pitch) set of master-slave row register pairs. Full flexibility of access is provided by dual ports that are not only to the array but also to the chip itself. The two ports are totally independent, each having pins for full address input as well as data input/output. The cache control is on-chip.
Thus it should be appreciated that the art has heretofore often directed efforts in achieving N-way association. While this has led to complications, the art has thought that N-way association is the approach to follow.
The present invention, according to one of its aspects, rejects this current thinking and instead provides a streamlined architecture that not only includes on-chip cache control, but also operates so fast that the loss of N-way association is not a concern.
Therefore, it is a general object of this invention to overcome the above-listed problems.
Another object of the present invention is to isolate the cache memory data access operation from undesirable DRAM timing overhead operations, such as refresh and precharge.
A further object of the present invention is to eliminate the need for a external static RAM cache memory in high speed systems.
Still another object of the present invention is to insure cache/main memory data coherency.
Another object of this invention is to insure such data coherency in a fashion which minimizes overhead, so as to reduce any negative impact such circuitry might have on the random data access rate.


A retractable seat back protector is provided for a motor vehicle seat. The protector includes a retractable roller with a first end of a flexible sheet fixedly attached thereto. A second end of the sheet is pulled in a direction away from the roller such that the sheet covers the seat back when the protector is in the extended position. The second end may have at least one fastener that allows the second end of sheet to be attached to the seat back. The protector is mounted onto the seat back proximal to a head rest area or a floorboard area, or may be mounted within the seat back or underneath the seat.

In order to increase the safety to children while traveling in a motor vehicle, child safety seats are typically placed in the rear seat of an automobile. When a child is placed in the child safety seat, the seat elevates and places the child closer to the back of the seat in front of him/her allowing the child to reach the back of the seat with their feet or hands or with other markable items. It is not uncommon for a child placed in a child safety seat to kick, throw things or spill a liquid or some type of food onto the back of the seat in front of him/her. These actions can result in the soiling and staining of the seat back in front of the child.
In order to prevent damage to the seat back in front of a child, a variety of items can be placed over the seat back to protect it. For example, a towel can be anchored by pinching one of the towel edges between the headrest and the seat, thus allowing the towel to fall down in front of the seat back. However, due to the erratic movements of the child and a child's natural tendency to grab items in its surrounding, a towel will fall down to the floorboard area and not provide a suitable solution. Also, items purchased that hang on the back of a seat and contain a pocket for travel items, toys, etc., are typically ripped or destroyed due to the child's erratic movements and attempts to pull said items off of the seat in front of him/her.
Prior art has attempted to protect seat surfaces by either placing a cover over the front of a seat or to attach a piece of cloth onto the back of the seat. However, neither method provides for adequate and convenient protection of a seat back when a child is placed in a child safety seat behind the front seats.


A grommet which is coupled with a connector and covers a wire which is connected to the connector so as to protect the wire is disclosed. The grommet is comprised of a coupling end having flexibility and being coupled with the connector, a tube-like end having an open end into which the wire is inserted prior to being connected to the connector, a hollow intermediate having flexibility and being provided between and connected with the coupling end and the tube-like end so as to contain the wire, and a handling member made of a hard material and arranged around the coupling end so as to be held in one's fingers.

The present invention relates to a grommet for a connector used for arranging wires in, for example, an automobile.
In order to arrange wires between two positions in which one moves relatively around the other such as a door and a body of an automobile, an elastic or flexible tube-like grommet is prepared so as to be coupled with a connector provided for wiring, thereby protecting wires arranged inside the grommet. This type of grommet is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication 55-44317.
FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the conventional grommet for protecting wires as described above, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an arrangement of the grommet, wires, and a connector just before the grommet is coupled with the connector. The grommet 1 includes a coupling end 2 which is rectangularly shaped corresponding approximately to a shape of a connector which is to be coupled with the grommet 1, a hollow intermediate 3, and a tube-like end 4 from which the wires are inserted. The coupling end 2 and the tube-like end 4 are connected with each other by the hollow intermediate 3, whereby the grommet 1 has a tube-like shape. Further, the entire grommet 1 may be unitarily molded into one piece of a flexible rubber material which has a uniform thickness. Prior to coupling the grommet 1 with a connector 5, a group of terminals 20 provided on one end of each of the wires 6 are inserted into the grommet 1 from the tube-like end 4. While the grommet 1 is grasped in a hand, each of the terminals 20 is inserted into terminal holes 21 for connecting, respectively. Next, the grommet 1 is coupled with the connector 5 through the coupling end 2. Further, the tube-like end 4 and the wires 6 are banded together with a roll of tape so that the tube-like end 4 is fixedly mounted on the wires 6. If the connector 5 is a male type connector, the connector 5 may be fitted in a female type connector as a final step for arranging the wires. In this way, the grommet 1 serves as a protector for the wires 6. Namely, the flexibility or elasticity of the grommet 1 is very advantageous when used with wires 6 which are arranged between two positions one of which moves relatively around the other in such a way that the wires 6 are bent or stretched.
On the other hand, due to the flexibility or elasticity of the grommet 1 which is unitarily molded into one piece of a elastic material such as rubber material, the grommet 1 may be stretched, bent, or twisted, while being held in one's fingers in order to execute coupling with the connector 5, thereby causing difficulty in coupling therewith. Fitting a connector inside the grommet 1 so as to accomplish a complete coupling may be especially difficult.