The present invention relates to polypeptide inhibitors of platelet activation and derivatives thereof, purified from the venom of the North American Water Moccasin and to methods for their purification. This invention also relates to DNA sequences and recombinant DNA molecules which code for these polypeptide inhibitors of platelet activation. And this invention relates to recombinant DNA molecules which code for fusion proteins comprising both a polypeptide inhibitor of platelet activation and an anti-thrombin polypeptide. This invention also relates to pharmaceutically acceptable compositions and methods characterized by at least one of these natural or recombinant inhibitors of platelet activation, alone or in combination with anti-thrombin compounds. The compositions, combinations and methods of this invention are particularly useful in the treatment of thrombotic diseases.

Platelet aggregation and release reactions (collectively known as platelet activation) are essential to hemostasis. However, perturbations in platelet mechanisms controlling hemostasis may yield thrombi (blood clots) which are pathogenic when blood flow to dependent tissues is occluded. This is the case in a variety of life-threatening vascular diseases, such as myocardial infarction, stroke, pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, peripheral arterial occlusion and other blood system thromboses. Therefore, strategies to control platelet aggregation and release are desirable in the treatment of these diseases [L. A. Harker and M. Gent, "The Use of Agents that Modify Platelet Function in the Management of Thrombotic Disorders" in Hemostasis and Thrombosis, R. W. Colman et al., eds., pp. 1438-56, J. B. Lippincott, Co., Philadelphia, Pa. (1987)]. Furthermore, inhibition of platelet aggregation may also be desirable in the case of extracorporeal treatment of blood, such as in dialysis, storage of platelets in platelet concentrates and following vascular surgery.
A large number of compounds, both naturally occurring and synthetic, are known to cause platelet aggregation and release. These include ADP, collagen, arachidonic acid, epinephrine, thrombin, ristocetin, and the thromboxane A.sub.2 mimetic, U46619. The mechanism by which each of these compounds causes platelet aggregation or release varies and involves one of several different receptors on the platelet surface.
A wide variety of antiplatelet agents are currently used for prophylaxis and treatment of arterial thrombotic disorders. Because most of these agents are specific for particular platelet aggregation and/or secretion mechanisms, the agent of choice in a given regimen depends upon the particular mode of platelet activation sought to be inhibited. Antiplatelet agents act in a wide variety of ways, including inhibition of platelet cyclooxygenase, antagonism of the thromboxane A.sub.2 receptor, inhibition of thromboxane A.sub.2 synthetase, elevation of cAMP levels, and antagonism and neutralization of platelet surface glycoprotein IIb/IIIa.
Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa is the platelet fibrinogen receptor. It self-associates as a two-chain complex in a calcium-dependent manner, upon stimulation of platelets with ADP, epinephrine, thrombin or prostaglandin derivatives and precursors thereof [S. J. Shattil et al., "Changes in the Platelet Membrane Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa Complex During Platelet Activation", J. Biol. Chem., 260, pp. 11107-14 (1985); G. A. Margeurie et al., "Human Platelets Possess an Inducible and Saturable Receptor Specific for Fibrinogen", J. Biol. Chem., 254, pp. 5357-63 (1979)]. This results in platelet aggregation mediated by a cross-linking between fibrinogen and the activated glycoprotein IIb/IIIa complexes of two platelets. Specifically, the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa binds to an Arg-Gly-Asp sequence in fibrinogen [M. D. Pierschbacher and E. Ruoslahti, "Cell Attachment Activity of Fibronectin Can Be Duplicated By Small Synthetic Fragments of the Molecule", Nature, 309, pp. 30-33 (1984); K. M. Yamada and D. W. Kennedy, "Dualistic Nature of Adhesive Protein Function: Fibronectin and Its Biologically Active Peptide Fragments Can Autoinhibit Fibronectin Function", J. Cell Biol., 99, pp. 29-36 (1984); N. Ginsberg et al., "Inhibition of Fibronectin Binding to Platelets By Proteolytic Fragments and Synthetic Peptides Which Support Fibroblast Adhesion", J. Biol. Chem., 260, pp. 3931-36 (1985); E. F. Plow et al., "The Effect of Arg-Gly-Asp-Containing Peptides on Fibrinogen and Von Willebrand Factor Binding to Platelets", Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA, 82, pp. 8057-61 (1985); T. K. Gartner and J. S. Bennett, "The Tetrapeptide Analogue of the Cell Attachment Site of Fibronectin Inhibits Platelet Aggregation and Fibrinogen Binding to Activated Platelets", J. Biol. Chem., 260, pp. 11891-94 (1985); M. Kloczewiak et al., "Localization of a Site Interacting With Human Platelet Receptor on Carboxy-Terminal Segment of Human Fibrinogen Gamma Chain", Biochim. Biophys. Res. Comm, 107, pp. 181-87 (1982)].
The most widely used antiplatelet agent is aspirin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor. Although aspirin blocks ADP- and collagen-induced platelet aggregation, it fails to prevent cyclooxygenase-independent platelet aggregation initiated by agonists, such as thrombin. Moreover, numerous clinical studies have failed to demonstrate a significant benefit of aspirin in the treatment of arterial thrombosis [L. A. Harker and M. Gent, supra]. In addition, aspirin causes a modification of platelet enzymes that requires at least one week to reverse--effectively putting a treated patient at risk for hemorrhaging if surgery or severe trauma should occur during that one week period.
Specific inhibitors of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa, such as monoclonal antibodies [J. S. Bennett et al., "Inhibition of Fibrinogen Binding to Stimulated Human Platelets By a Monoclonal Antibody", Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 80, pp. 2417-21 (1983); R. P. McEver et al., "Identification of Two Structurally and Functionally Distinct Sites on Human Platelet Membrane Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa Using Monoclonal Antibodies", J. Biol. Chem., 258, pp. 5269-75 (1983); B. S. Coller, "A New Murine Monoclonal Antibody Reports An Activation-Dependent Change in the Conformation and/or Microenvironment of the Platelet Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa Complex", J. Clin. Invest., 76, pp. 107-08 (1985)] and small Arg-Gly-Asp-containing peptides [T. K. Gartner and J. S. Bennett, supra], are less toxic, faster acting and have a shorter duration of effect as compared to aspirin. These compounds are effective against a number of different platelet aggregation mechanisms, but not against platelet secretion mechanisms. Both Arg-Gly-Asp peptides and antibodies toward glycoprotein IIb/IIIa have been shown to have antithrombotic efficacy in in vivo models of thrombosis [Y. Cadroy et al., "Potent Antithrombotic Effects of Arg-Gly-Asp-Val (RGDV) Peptide In Vivo", Circulat., Part II, 75, p. II-313 (1988); B. S. Coller et al., "Antithrombotic Effect of a Monoclonal Antibody to the Platelet Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa Receptor in an Experimental Animal Model", Blood, 68, pp. 783-86 (1986); S. R. Hanson et al., "Effects of Monoclonal Antibodies Against the Platelet Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa Complex on Thrombosis and Hemostasis in the Baboon", J. Clin. Invest., 81, pp. 149-58 (1988); T. Yasuda et al., "Monoclonal Antibody Against the Platelet Glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa Receptor Prevents Coronary Artery Reocclusion Following Reperfusing With Recombinant Tissue-Type Plasminogen Activator in Dogs", J. Clin. Invest., 81, pp. 1284-91 (1988); B. S. Coller et al., "Inhibition of Human Platelet Function In Vivo With A Monoclonal Antibody", Annals Int. Med., 109, pp. 635-38 (1988)].
In order to effect inhibition of platelet aggregation, Arg-Gly-Asp-containing peptides must be administered at concentrations greater than 10.sup.-5 M. Such requisite dosages imply limited commercial feasibility of those peptides. Monoclonal antibodies to glycoprotein IIb/IIIa are more potent inhibitors of platelet aggregation, but their synthesis in mouse hybridoma cells poses greater potential immunological complications [S. R. Hanson et al., supra]. In addition, Arg-Gly-Asp peptides and antibodies toward glycoprotein IIb/IIIa fail to block platelet secretion. Therefore, these agents may have a limited effectiveness in vivo due to proaggregating effects of released platelet elements and their subsequent activation of the circulating platelet pool.
Thrombin inhibitors, such as heparin, have also been employed as platelet inhibitors. These compounds inhibit or reduce thrombin-mediated platelet aggregation, but have no effect on platelet activation caused by other mechanisms. Furthermore, heparin is known to cause certain dangerous side effects, such as hemorrhaging and thrombocytopenia.
Many attempts to obtain other, more effective antiplatelet agents have centered around snake venoms. Although most snake venoms are known to contain compounds which activate platelets and cause aggregation and secretion, some have been shown to contain inhibitors of platelet aggregation or platelet release reactions as well. Some of these inhibitors, such as those purified from Agkistrodon rhodostoma or Trimeresurus gramineus are enzymes. These two compounds digest fibrinogen and ADP, respectively [C. Ouyang et al., ".gamma.-Fibrinogenase from Agkistrodon rhodostoma (Malayan Pit Viper) Snake Venom", Toxicon, 21, pp. 25-33 (1983); C. Ouyang and T. F. Huang, "Inhibition of Platelet Aggregation by 5'-Nucleotidase Purified from Trimeresurus gramineus Snake Venom", Toxicon, 21, pp. 491-591 (1983)]. Other venom-derived inhibitors act non-enzymatically by blocking the platelet fibrinogen receptor. These include the proteins carinatin, purified from Echis carinatus and trigramin, purified from Trimeresurus gramineus [C. Ouyang et al., "Characterization of the Platelet Aggregation Inducer and Inhibitor from Echis carinatus Snake Venom", Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 841, pp. 1-7 (1985); T. F. Huang et al., "Trigramin", J. Biol. Chem., 262, pp. 16157-63 (1987)].
Trigramin is the best known of all of the snake venom-derived inhibitors. It is a single polypeptide chain with a molecular weight of 10,000. It appears to act by blocking the association of fibrinogen and glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (Kd=2.1-8.8.times.10.sup.-8 M). This inhibition is effectively competed by monoclonal antibodies to glycoprotein IIb/IIIa, as well as by an Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser tetrapeptide. Sequence analysis of a chymotryptic peptide derived from reduced, S-pyridylethyl trigramin reveals that this protein contains an Arg-Gly-Asp sequence. However, whereas small Arg-Gly-Asp containing peptides are effective only in blocking platelet aggregation at concentrations above 10.sup.-5 M, trigramin is effective at concentrations of about 10.sup.-8 M. It is likely that the increased potency of trigramin stems from an optimized alignment of the Arg-Gly-Asp sequence in three-dimensional space, as well as contributions from other structural determinants in the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa-trigramin complex. Despite its effectiveness, trigramin does not inhibit platelet release reactions, namely serotonin release induced by thrombin or U46619. Therefore, the antiplatelet activity of trigramin in vivo may be impaired due to the proaggregating activities of secreted platelet components, resulting in limited efficacy.
Accordingly, the need still exists for an antiplatelet agent which is free from the drawbacks associated with these conventional compounds. Ideally, this antiplatelet agent should be equally effective in inhibiting all mechanisms of platelet activation and its potency should be such that it can be effectively administered in relatively low doses as compared with dosage regimens using conventional antiplatelet agents.

DNA sequences encoding snake venom inhibitors of platelet activation processes for producing those inhibitors and compositions using them


An indoor light source emits light having an emission spectrum including a first peak in a wavelength region of 440 to 460 nm, a second peak in a wavelength region of 540 to 560 nm, and a third peak in a wavelength region of 610 to 630 nm. When the highest one of intensities at the first peak, the second peak, and the third peak is 1 in terms of relative intensity, the emission spectrum includes a lowest light intensity of 0.7 or higher in terms of relative intensity in λ1 to λ2 in nm, and a lowest light intensity of 0.8 or higher in terms of relative intensity in λ2 to λ3 in nm, where λ1 is a peak wavelength at the first peak in nm, λ2 is a peak wavelength at the second peak in nm, and λ3 is a peak wavelength at the third peak in nm.

Illumination apparatuses including semiconductor light-emitting devices such as laser emitting diodes (LED) as light sources, instead of fluorescent or incandescent lamps, have been used indoors, or used in buildings or in houses. For example, an illumination apparatus including a light-emitting device is used as a light source for indoor visual inspection of painted surfaces of products, such as home electric appliances and automobiles.
A semiconductor light-emitting device emits light with a narrow region of wavelengths, and may only emit monochromatic light. To produce white light as illumination light, a plurality of semiconductor light-emitting devices that emit light with different wavelength regions are prepared, and a plurality of light beams with different colors emitted from such semiconductor light-emitting devices are combined to produce white light. A plurality of phosphors that emit light with different wavelength regions using excitation light with the same wavelength are prepared, and a plurality of fluorescence beams with different colors are combined into white light.
This method of combining colors allows a light source to produce white light and also light with other spectra for intended use.
The light-emitting apparatus described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2015-126160 includes two blue light-emitting devices with different peak wavelengths, a green phosphor that is excited by light emitted from the blue light-emitting device to emit green light, and a red phosphor that emits red light to improve color rendering.

Indoor light source and illumination apparatus


A method of auditing operation of a television appliance consistent with certain embodiments involves detecting an event that triggers an audit; generating a fingerprint value, wherein the fingerprint value is function of the television network characteristics at an authorized installation location; comparing the fingerprint value with a stored reference value; if the fingerprint value is within specified limits of the stored reference value, permitting the television appliance to carry out a normal operational function; and if the fingerprint value is outside of specified limits of the stored reference value, inhibiting the television appliance from carrying out a normal operational function. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Digital cable television appliances are becoming mainstream devices in the modem home. These devices may be stand-alone "set top boxes" that are either leased from the cable operator or purchased by the consumer through retail channels. The device may also be integrated directly into new television receivers as part of the "plug and play" initiative for digital television, for example as mandated by the U.S. FCC (Federal Communications Commission).
As the cost of implementing digital decoding capabilities in consumer products rapidly declines and the prevalence of digital programming on cable television systems grows, the cable industry is executing plans for removal of all remaining analog television services from their systems to reclaim spectrum, reduce operational costs and reduce signal theft. The result, for the foreseeable future, will be that cable operators must supply their customers having legacy analog televisions, VCRs, etc. with digital converters that convert the digital signals to analog signals used by these legacy devices in order for these devices to continue operation in an all-digital network.
Industry estimates at this writing indicate that there may be four or more legacy analog devices attached to the cable system in a typical household in addition to any existing digital cable converter or CableCARD™ enabled products. Because of the sheer volume of digital converters that the cable operators will need to deploy to support all of the analog devices presently in their subscribers' homes, and the fact that these devices cannot presently utilize electronic program guides, video-on-demand or pay-per-view services, cable operators have no method to recover the huge capital outlay on the advanced, two-way digital cable boxes they currently have available to deploy. As a result, their attention is now focusing upon very inexpensive, one-way digital converters for this purpose, providing current analog subscribers like-for-like digital service at a significantly lower cost to the operator than replacing analog devices with presently available two-way devices. Many cable operators, for regulatory and other reasons, intend to provide these one-way converters at no cost to their subscribers and believe that the cost of providing these devices can be more than offset through the recovery of valuable spectrum, reduction of operational costs—i.e. "truck rolls" (service calls) for. connect/disconnect and elimination of signal theft.
These simple digital converters are generally intended only for the most basic service tiers, ones that are presently delivered in analog form and therefore left unprotected against unauthorized reception, unlike the current premium services, which employ modern digital encryption. A conservative estimate is that as many as one third of the channels carried in modern cable systems are presently still analog basic services and national research indicates that roughly 11.5 million U.S. households steal these cable services each year at a cost of $6.5 billion in lost revenue annually (see Cox Communications Press Release Cox Communications Joins Nationwide Signal Theft Awareness Week June 1-5, BUSINESS WIRE, May 21, 2004).
The transition of the basic tiers from analog services to exclusively digital services having encryption applied will eliminate most of the present forms of signal theft that occur because these new digital converters will be individually addressable by the cable operator. Unlike today, merely having physical access to the cable signal either through unauthorized connection by tampering or because there hasn't been a costly dispatch of field personnel to the premises to implement a disconnect will no longer suffice for present analog customers to receive services for which the cable operator is not compensated. This also applies to new digital television receivers if the owner has not obtained a CableCARD™ from the cable operator and had it electronically authorized for service.
A typical conversion scenario for the all-digital transition would be for a cable operator to upgrade a headend serving a community or city to carry basic tier content in digital form in addition to the analog format presently carried. Next, all current two-way devices deployed for decoding premium digital services are reprogrammed to receive only digital content, including the new digital replacements for the analog tier, instead of the present mixed formats. In parallel, the operator will begin distribution of the new one-way converters to existing subscribers based upon the number of cable outlets in the home that are reported by the subscriber as connected to a legacy analog device (Video Cassette Recorder, television, etc.). There is no way for the cable operator to determine externally the analog device count without either surveying the subscribers or performing a physical audit. The operator will likely deploy these new converter devices en-masse to subscribers as each node of served by a cable headend is converted from mixed analog/digital to all digital through the removal of analog services. A node typically serves from 500 to 2000 customers and the converters must be available to subscribers prior to cutover to avoid service interruption.
While the introduction of all-digital services and low cost digital converters would seem to address all the issues of unauthorized viewing and signal theft, because the low cost converters are only one-way devices, a new opportunity to deprive cable operators of fair payment for service emerges. When subscribers are contacted to determine the quantity of converters necessary for supporting the analog appliances in the home, the subscriber may intentionally "over-report" the quantity of analog appliances in the home. They can later provide the converters received from the cable operator to friends, family, etc. to "split the costs" of basic cable service. There are other models where one-way converters can be redistributed without the knowledge or authorization of the cable operator. Since these devices are assigned by the operator to a valid subscriber, they remain authorized and the cable operator is deprived of subscription revenue because the devices are present in locations other than the home of record for the authorized subscriber.
Other one-way devices that attach to the cable network also suffer from the same issue. The new CableCARD™ device for digital televisions is an example of such a device that suffers the same vulnerability to unauthorized redirection. Two-way devices, such as existing digital cable decoders for premium services, are less likely to suffer from this issue because there are ways to detect electronically the location of these devices through headend interrogation and response with the time delay to respond being measured to determine the cable distance to the device. In such an application, the response time values for two devices assigned to the same address can be compared for similarity and physical proximity inferred.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Location detector for digital television appliances


A semiconductor chip package having a back side connection and method of manufacture. The semiconductor chip package can combine industry standard die having conductive back sides with flip chip bump bonding to provide discrete and integrated devices that require less space on a printed circuit board. The chip packages can include a die connected by front side bond pads to a substrate. The substrate includes terminals opposite the side facing the die that electrically connect to contact pads on the opposite side of the substrate by way of vias. In one embodiment, the vias are buried in the substrate. The substrate contact pads connect to bond pads on the front side of the die. The back side of the die is electrically connected to a bond pad (and thereby to the terminal through the via) using a conductive substance that can cascade from the back side of the die to the bond pad. Solder balls can be attached to the terminals to provide solder connections to a printed circuit board. An insulating coating can be applied to the die between the conductive substance and the edge of the die along which the conductive substance cascades. In an alternative embodiment, the substrate is eliminated and the conductive substance directly connects the die back side to a printed circuit board.

The semiconductor industry has continued to provide products with increased speed and memory while at the same time reducing the overall space requirements of the integrated circuits and electronics associated with these improved products. However, pressure still exists within the industry to reduce the size of circuits and space requirements of the electrical components on the printed circuit boards so that the overall size of the electronic device (such as a cellular telephone) is minimized. The industry has developed a "chip-scale" standard to define minimum space requirements for semiconductor components. A chip-scale circuit is one that has an area equal to or less than 1.2 times the area of the die used to make the device.
Semiconductor chip manufacturers have typically focused on reductions in size of memory modules and microprocessors. For example, large scale integrated circuits, such as microprocessors are typically tab-leaded, flip chip bumped or coated onto the printed circuit board. However, the smaller pin count components such as transistors, diodes and FETs are still connected using lead frame technology to the printed circuit board. The reduction in size of these smaller pin count semiconductor chips to chip-scale dimensions or near chip scale dimensions would further decrease the overall size of semiconductor circuit boards.
Various methods have been used to accomplish reductions in size, including "flip-chip" technologies. In a flip chip devise, the flip chip bonding is a technique of using solder balls to solder the chips face down on a substrate. An example of flip chip bump bonding is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,912,545.
A conductive epoxy has also been used to making a frontside connection from multiple die to a substrate. An example of this can be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,657,206 where the connection is made from the die front Oside to the substrate.

Semiconductor and flip chip packages and method having a back-side connection


A sheet transport device includes a sheet supporting surface which receives a plurality of sheets set thereon, a separation roller which separates the sheets set on the sheet supporting surface sheet by sheet to transport a separated sheet in a predetermined transport direction, and a first detection unit which is disposed to the supporting surface and detects whether a sheet is set on the sheet supporting surface. The separation roller and the first detection unit are disposed to be separated at least in a sheet width direction orthogonal to the predetermined transport direction, and a distance between the first detection unit and an end edge of the separation roller at a side of the first detection unit is longer than a short side of a non-allowable sheet which is smaller than a minimum sheet size within an allowable transport range set in the sheet transport device.

There has been known a sheet transport device configured to read an image on a sheet using a reading unit while transporting the sheet along a predetermined transport path.
The sheet transport device separates a plurality of sheets set on a sheet supporting surface sheet by sheet, transports a separated sheet, and reads an image on the sheet during the transporting process.
In this type of sheet transport device, a size of a sheet which can be read by the sheet transport device is set as specification in advance. In other words, a maximum sheet size and a minimum sheet size of a sheet which can be transported in the transport path is set as specifications. In many cases, the maximum sheet size and the minimum sheet size, in particular, the minimum sheet size is determined by a distance of arrangement of transport roller pairs in a transport direction which are arranged at a plurality of positions on the transport path to transport the sheet.
In other words, in many cases, there is employed a method in which a driving roller and a driven roller of the transport roller pair nip a sheet to transport the sheet. In this configuration, in order to appropriately transport a sheet, it is necessary to pass the sheet from a nip portion of the transport roller pair arranged at an upstream side of the transport path to a nip portion of a subsequent transport roller pair arranged at a downstream side. Therefore, it is necessary that the transport roller pairs are arranged within a distance allowing the passing of the sheet and the sheet is laid across at least two of the nip portions at the upstream side and the downstream side.
When a user accidentally or forcibly sets a sheet smaller than the minimum sheet size set as specifications of the device on a sheet supporting surface, performs a reading start operation, and starts the transporting of the sheet, there could be a concern, for example, that the passing of the sheet cannot be performed and the transporting of the sheet is stopped at a middle of the transport path. When the transporting of the sheet is stopped in the middle of the transport path, it is difficult to take out the sheet.


A voltage reference circuit (2) is provided which includes a 2nd order curvature correction circuit (3) that eliminates undesirable 2nd order polynomial temperature dependency characteristics. A bandgap reference circuit (Q4, Q3, Q2, Q1, R2 and R1) forms a bandgap current (I.sub.X) that is dependent upon absolute temperature. A translinear cell (Q15, Q14, Q13, Q12, Q11 and Q10) transforms this current in a squaring transformation and divides the squared current by a temperature independent current (I.sub.X). A current mirror (Q17 and Q16) adjusts the value of the squared current so that it approximates the value of the 2nd order term of the bandgap reference circuit.

Many integrated circuits require a stable reference voltage for operation. For example, reference voltages are used in data acquisition systems, voltage regulators, virtual grounds, measurement devices, analog-to-digital converters and digital-to-analog converters to name a few. U.S. Pat. No. 5,191,555 assigned to Texas Instruments Incorporated utilizes a reference voltage in a voltage regulator system for a dynamic random access memory, DRAM, application.
A buried-Zener reference is one way to produce a reference voltage. Another way to produce a reference voltage is with a bandgap voltage circuit. Bandgap voltage circuits can operate with a lower supply voltage than buried-Zener references and can also dissipate less power. The above U.S. Pat. No. 5,191,555 illustrates in FIG. 77 a bandgap circuit. Other bandgap reference circuits are illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,168,209, 4,939,442, 4,906,863 and 4,362,984 all assigned to Texas Instruments Incorporated. Long term stability of a bandgap voltage reference exceeds that of a buried-Zener reference.
Ideally, a voltage reference circuit would provide a constant voltage regardless of the circuit temperature or its loading conditions. A buried-Zener reference usually has a large amount of temperature dependence, so a bandgap reference is often used when more temperature stability is required. However, any voltage reference, including a bandgap voltage reference, has a certain amount of temperature dependence. A function describing this temperature dependence can be represented as a mathematical polynomial series. Traditional bandgap reference circuits substantially cancel only the first-order term of this function. This, however, still leaves a large amount of variance due to the remaining terms. The 2nd order term, in particular, remains and causes reference inaccuracies as the temperature of the circuit changes. The above U.S. Pat. No. 4,939,442 contains a temperature correction feature. Other correction features are needed.
It is an object of the invention to provide a voltage reference circuit that provides a stable reference over temperature changes.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a circuit to eliminate 2nd order temperature dependency characteristics of bandgap reference circuits.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a bandgap reference voltage circuit that substantially cancels first and second order polynomials.
Other objects and advantages will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having reference to the following specification and drawings.

Second order low temperature coefficient bandgap voltage supply


A method and apparatus for controlling an engine involves detecting a crank angle of an engine; detecting a rotation number of the engine based on the crank angle; detecting an injection timing by a fuel injection valve; determining an acceleration state; calculating a time period from injection to acceleration initiation based on the acceleration state and the injection timing; detecting a load of the engine; determining an injection correction value based on at least the acceleration initiation timing and the rotation number of the engine; determining a fuel injection pulse width based on the injection correction value, and controlling the fuel injection valve accordingly.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for controlling an engine which prevents a phenomena wherein a mixture is diluted (hereinafter, called "leanness phenomena") by correcting a fuel supply quantity in acceleration time.
2. Discussion of Background
A conventional control of this kind is shown, for instance, in Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 27491/1989, wherein a fuel injection quantity is increased during acceleration times.
In the conventional control, the increase of fuel is controlled in accordance with an acceleration state, wherein an increase of wasteful fuel is prevented by increasing only the fuel necessary for the acceleration, or by reducing the increase quantity of fuel in the acceleration time, inversely to an increase in the rotational number of the engine, whereby purification of exhaust gas and saving of fuel are performed.
In the conventional control, a corrected fuel quantity determined by an acceleration state and the rotation number, is injected at an injection timing which succeeds an acceleration initiation. Accordingly, a large amount of air is sucked in a time period from the acceleration initiation to the succeeding injection timing, which causes the leanness phenomena. Therefore, in the acceleration time, knocking is generated and much nitrogen oxides (NO.sub.x) contained in the exhaust gas is emitted, which contaminates the air.

Method and apparatus for controlling an engine


A broadcast method for simultaneously switching an announcement to a plurality of subscribers of a communication system is provided. Given announcements that are to be disseminated according to the broadcast method of the invention, a call should be switched such that a subscriber hears the announcement from the beginning. In order to meet this demand, call requests for an announcement are inventively collected and are simultaneously through-connected after the expiration of the collecting time.

Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed generally to communications systems and more specifically to a broadcast method for simultaneous switching of an announcement to a plurality of subscribers of a communication system.
Description of the Related Art
In communication systems, the following two methods are known for switching announcements having a fixed text (standard announcements). In one method, announcements are switched in the broadcast method without time-adjusted employment. A plurality of subscribers are thereby connected to the same announcement port. Up to a prescribable, maximum plurality of further subscribers are arbitrarily added to the running announcement according to the set up of the connection. The maximum listening duration is realized per announcement connection via a call-time limitation.
The other method is operated without broadcasting. In this method only a single subscriber is connected to an announcement port at any time. The announcement is started with the seizure of the announcement port. As a result thereof, the subscriber always hears the announcement from the beginning. The listening time can be a certain number of complete runs of the announcement.

Broadcast method for simultaneous switching of an announcement to a plurality of subscribers of a communication system


A device for measuring a distance between objects. The inventive device includes a first member having a second member telescopingly received therewithin. Measurement indicia is printed on the second member and starts at a known length of the first member to indicate an overall length of the device which can be read at an intersection of the first and second members. The invention may include a detent assembly for securing the second member relative to the first member, and may further include a third member slidably received within the second member for measuring greater lengths.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to measuring structures and more particularly pertains to a telescoping measuring device for measuring a distance between objects.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of measuring structures is known in the prior art. More specifically, measuring structures heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art measuring structures include U.S. Pat. No. 4,180,914; U.S. Pat. No. 3,492,737; U.S. Pat. No. 4,621,431; U.S. Pat. No. 4,566,200; U.S. Pat. No. 4,399,616; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,203,227.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a telescoping measuring device for measuring a distance between objects which includes a first member having a second member telescopingly receive therewithin, with measurement indicia printed on the second member and starting at a known length of the first member to indicate an overall length of the device at an intersection of the first and second members, wherein the invention may further include a detent assembly for securing the second member relative to the first member, and a third member slidably received within the second member for measuring greater lengths.
In these respects, the telescoping measuring device according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of measuring a distance between objects.


A device for winding a flattened firefighting hose which has a T-bar of a handle and an abutted and welded shaft normally disposed to the handle. The shaft on its second end is recessed into a junction box on the opposite end of the shaft from the handle and welded into position. The junction box has a pair of preferably recessed spaced prongs emanating from the opposite face of the junction box. These prongs are also spaced apart and are of equal length. Stainless steel construction is preferred. All members are perfectly formed of round tubing though square tubing may be utilized and in either case should be preferably about xc2xexe2x80x3 in diameter.

This invention pertains to a device to be used by one fireman to rewind a previously extended fire hose that is empty of water.
Ofttimes one will walk or drive by a firehouse and observe a long extended fire hose, often one-hundred feet or more, being curled around itself into a spiral. A fireman or trainee is stooped over pulling and coiling the empty hose around itself such that it can thus be relocated onto a truck or stowed in the firehouse for storage. Not only is this effort tedious, but it is uncomfortable due to the continued bent over position required to carry this out. Since fire trucks often carry as much as 2,000 feet of hose in 100 to 200 foot lengths, the rewind job is not one that firefighters look forward to. Applicant, who has an employment history with several fire agencies, believed that there had to be a better way to achieve the desired result. The result is this invention.
The invention accordingly comprises the device possessing the features, properties, and the selection of components which are exemplified in the following detailed disclosure, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.
For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The device of this invention is a T-bar formed of a handle and shaft, the shaft being connected to a junction box from which emanates a pair of spaced prongs directed away from the handle of the T-bar. The structure is preferably formed of stainless steel.
Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.


A headrest for a vehicle seat has a head support and a mounting assembly carrying the head support on a vehicle seat and comprising a four-pivot linkage having an upper holding element on the head support and a lower holding element fixed to the seat. First and second links interconnect the upper holding element at respective first and second upper pivots on the upper holding element and the lower holding element at respective first and second lower pivots on the lower holding element. Thus the four-pivot linkage can shift the head support relative to the vehicle seat between a front position moved forward toward the head of a seat occupant, and a rear position moved backward therefrom. The upper are at a different relative horizontal spacing on the upper holding element than the lower pivots on the lower holding element.

The headrest comprises a head part held on the backrest of a vehicle seat by a mounting assembly. The mounting assembly comprises a first holder on the backrest, and a second holder on the head part. The head part is supported so as to be vertically movable and in the horizontal direction by the mounting assembly.
A headrest from the prior art is described in DE 10 2015 206 956 [U.S. Pat. No. 9,566,884]. The headrest comprises a head support supported on a support bar bracket by two four-pivot linkages. The support bar bracket is fixedly held on the backrest of a vehicle seat. The head support can be moved forward and backward horizontally with the help of the four-pivot linkage. A head support element, on which the head support is guided in a vertically movable manner, is fastened to upper ends of the connecting members of the four-pivot linkage that run vertically. A front side section of the headrest element is thereby arranged upstream of the four-pivot linkages.
A patient chair is described in DE 87 17 434, in the case of which the head support is supported in a horizontally and vertically movable manner similarly as in the case of the above-mentioned publication. In this prior art, the spacing of the upper and of the lower pivots differs, so that the pivoting of the linkage arms is associated with a pivoting of the head support.
An adjusting device for the headrest of a vehicle seat that comprises a four-pivot linkage embodied as parallelogram, is described in DE 10 2014 214 897.


3 and 4-substituted 2(5H)-furanone compounds influence the balance between bone production and bone resorption in mammals, including humans. The active compounds are administered to mammals, including humans, in an effective dose which ranges between 0.05 to 100 mg per kilogram, body weight, per day, for the purpose of influencing the balance between bone production and bone resorption, and particularly for treating osteoporosis.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising as active ingredients one or more 3- and 4-substituted 2(5H)-furanone compounds, and methods for administering such compositions to mammals, including humans, for the purpose of inhibiting bone loss.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
Osteoporosis is a disease which manifests itself in a decrease of bone density throughout the body. The descreased bone density is due to loss of calcium containing bone mineral and also due to loss of bone matrix (collagen). The disease of osteoporosis usually afflicts elderly patients, more frequently post menopausal women, although beyond the age of 80 the frequency of the disease is about the same in men as in women. The cause of osteoporosis is not well understood, nevertheless it is believed that bone is continuously formed and resorbed during the life of a mammal, including human, and that in persons suffering from osteoporosis the rate of bone resorption is faster than the rate of bone formation, resulting in a net loss of bone density. Thus, osteoporosis is a disease where the balance between bone production and resorption, especially the balance of deposit and resorption of calcium in the bone, is disturbed.
The present methods for treating osteoporosis include physical therapy, administration of anabolic agents, drugs containing phosphorous, vitamin D, calcium salts, fluoride salts calcitonin, and of the antibiotic mithramycin. In post-menopausal women estrogen replacement therapy is also employed to prevent or lessen bone loss.
Among the foregoing, mithramycin is believed to decrease the rate of bone desorption, and thus modify the balance between bone production and resorption. The prior art which is believed to be closest to the present invention is U.S. Pat. No. 4,916,241 describing certain 5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone derivatives which are substituted in the 4 position with a substituted phenyl-methyl, substituted phenylhydroxymethyl, substituted phenyl alkyl, or with substituted phenyl-hydroxyalkyl groups, and which modify the balance between bone production and bone resorption in a host animal, including man.
As further background to the present invention, it is noted that several types of 4-substituted 2(5H)-furanone derivatives, especially 4-substituted 5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone derivatives, and certain 3 substituted 2(5H)-furanones as well, have been discovered and disclosed in the prior art to be anti-inflammatory, calcium channel blocking and/or antiproliferative agents. However, to the best knowledge of the present inventor the only disclosure of 4-substituted-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone compounds as agents for modifying the balance between bone production and bone resorption is in the above-noted U.S. Pat. No. 4,916,241 reference.
Unfortunately, none of the known methods for treatment of osteoporosis, or more broadly speaking, methods for favorably modifying the balance between bone production and resorption, are entirely satisfactory. Therefore, the search continues in the art for better and/or additional agents for inhibiting bone loss. The present invention represents an important discovery and advance in the art in this regard.

Pharmaceutical compositions and method for administering 3 and 4-substituted 2(5H)-furanones to a mammal for inhibiting bone loss


Unstructured grids are automatically constructed in a domain containing complex internal boundaries. Simulation grids are constructed for reservoirs or fields which contain complex fault planes. Reconciling among generated fault grid-points and other reservoir/field grid-points is performed, enabling the use of unconstrained Delaunay triangulation. High-quality orthogonal unstructured grids are provided with good convergence properties for reservoir simulation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to modeling wellbores in reservoir simulation, and more particularly to generating unconstrained Voronoi grids in a domain containing complex internal boundaries.
2. Description of the Related Art
Reservoir simulation is the primary tool used by the oil industry for the planning and development of subterranean hydrocarbon reservoirs. With the advancement of drilling technology, wellbores which have multiple branches and complex geometries are increasingly being deployed in order to enhance production and injection processes in these reservoirs.
Applicant's related prior co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/171,815 mentioned above relates to accurately modeling near-wellbore flow for complex wells to enhance the performance prediction for these wells. The modeling allows reservoir analysts and engineers improved data about wells and reservoirs for the decision making process to exploit the available resources.
A Corner-point-geometry or CPG grid is a known and often used to represent faults in reservoir simulation models. An example of a CPG grid is shown at G in FIG. 2. A CPG grid is a flexible, structured grid in which each finite-volume cell is a hexahedron defined by its eight-corner coordinates. For a severely faulted model, the grid can become severely distorted and non-orthogonal. A technique known as multi-point flux approximation (MPFA) is normally required to maintain discretization accuracy. However, numerical difficulties can be caused for an iterative linear solver when solving the multiphase flow problems using discretization in this manner. In practice, only major faults are represented so that the grid is not too distorted.
Unstructured gridding around internal boundaries has also been done. So far as is known, unstructured gridding for the most part has used what is known as Delaunay triangulation, with what is known as a Voronoi grid being the dual grid of the generated triangular mesh.
Traditionally, in order to preserve the internal boundary geometry, the applied Delaunay triangulation has to be constrained in order to honor internal boundary lines as the generated triangle's edge. This technique is described U.S. Pat. No. 8,212,814, "Generation of a Constrained Voronoi Grid in a Plane", Branets et al. During the constrained Delaunay triangulation of this technique, unstructured grid points have to be adjusted, repositioned or removed, or new grid points have to be inserted explicitly near the internal boundary in order to satisfy the constraint criteria to have the generated near-internal-boundary triangles have edges on the internal boundary. Such a grid point adjustment procedure is called grid smoothing. It is usually computationally expensive, especially for large simulation models. Additionally, it leads to congested grid regions in order to satisfy boundaries but at the cost of lessened discretization, and less satisfactory convergence for reservoir simulation.
In the prior art, in the near intersection area, the grid points from each of the internal boundaries were kept during Delaunay triangulation which in turn could create many bad shaped triangles with small angles. This is discussed in "Modeling Heavily Faulted Reservoirs," SPE paper 48998, SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, New Orleans, La., USA, Sep. 27-30, 1998, Heinemann, et al. As a consequence, such undesired triangles increased modeling complexity and introduced numerical errors which eventually led to poor discretization and poor computational efficiency during flow simulation.
The prior art constrained Voronoi grid generation used a constrained method which involved grid smoothing to force the generated Voronoi cell edge to conform to the internal boundary geometry. The grid smoothing had to swap triangle edges, re-position grid points, or insert a new point in order to preserve the internal boundary geometry structure.

Generating unconstrained voronoi grids in a domain containing complex internal boundaries


A geodesic globe formed of identical overlapping and interlocking specific geometric configuration segments formed of a bendable material which can be folded and interlocked whereby if the pieces are printed with portions of a map of the world they form a puzzle which can be assembled into a globe.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to geodesic domes, and more particularly, to a geodesic globe made of a multiple of identical segments which can be imprinted with portions of the world map to form a puzzle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The present invention is closely related to the work developed by Richard Buckminister Fuller who developed a laminar geodesic dome comprised of diamond configuration based panels arranged in overlapping relation which were weaved together to create inner and outer facing sheets. The Fuller geodesic dome is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,203,144 issued Aug. 31, 1965, for a Laminar Geodesic Dome. The art described therein most closely related to the present invention is disclosed in FIGS. 12 through 16 and 18 and 21. There shown are globes or portions of globes formed from triangular panels. It will be shown that while the present invention utilizes the basic triangle configuration based panels, the panels are created and interlocked in completely different ways than envisioned by the Fuller patent.


Techniques and structures for providing a multitenant environment having both a relational database and a non-relational database. A database query is received with at least one server computing device providing a multitenant environment having a relational database system and a non-relational database system, the database query in a format corresponding to the relational database system. The query is parsed with the at least one server computing device to find one or more components of the query directed to data stored in the non-relational database system. One or more components of the query directed to data stored in the non-relational database system are converted to one or more scans of the non-relational database system. Results from the query of the relational database system and results from the one or more scans of the non-relational database system are collected. The results from the query and the results of the one or more scans to a combined result are combined. The combined results are provided to a client entity.

Any subject matter discussed in the background section should not be assumed to be prior art merely as a result of its mention in the background section. Similarly, a problem mentioned in the background section or associated with the subject matter of the background section should not be assumed to have been previously recognized in the prior art. The subject matter in the background section merely represents different approaches, which in and of themselves may also correspond to implementations of the claimed inventions.
As service providers grow (in terms of numbers of customers and/or amount of customer data), data retention and management becomes more complex. With that growth comes the significant challenge of how to effectively and efficiently represent the increased volume of data. Users typically want consistent interfaces and/or functionality while also needing more suitable storage and semantics.

Multi-tenancy for structured query language (SQL) and non structured query language (NoSQL) databases


An organopolysiloxane emulsion composition which contains a polyoxyalkylene-modified organopolysiloxane compound represented by formula (1) as an emulsifying agent or as an emulsifying assistant.(LR2SiO1/2)a(R3SiO1/2)b(R2SiO2/2)c(RSiO3/2)d(SiO4/2)e  (1)(In the formula, L represents a polyoxyalkylene group represented by formula (2); R represents a hydrogen atom, a hydroxy group, an alkyl group, an aryl group, an aralkyl group or an alkoxy group; a represents a number of 2-4; b represents a number of 0-2; c represents a number of 50-1,000; and each of d and e represents 0 or 1.)—H2C—CH2—(CH2)r—O-(EO)s-(AO)t—R1  (2)(In formula (2), EO represents an oxyethylene group; AO represents a linear or branched oxyalkylene group having 3-10 carbon atoms; R1 represents an alkyl group, a hydrogen atom, a carboxy group, an acyl group or a phenyl group; r represents a number of 0-10; s represents a number of 1-100, t represents a number of 0-150; and (s+t) represents a number of 15 or more.)

Resin compositions of urethane resins, acrylic resins and the like are divided into solvent-based systems which use organic solvents to provide good film formability and water-based systems which, due to concerns over environmental contamination, do not include organic solvents. Owing to concerns over organic solvents evaporating in the drying step and adversely affecting worker health, solvent-based resin compositions most often use high-boiling organic solvents such as N,N′-dimethylformamide (DMF).
Artificial leathers and synthetic leathers that have been internal addition treated or surface treated with a solvent-based or water-based resin composition are used in such applications as automobile seats, furniture and apparel, and are desired to have gloss, slippage and leveling ability. Highly polymerized polydimethylsiloxanes are included so as to satisfy the need for slippage and wear resistance. In order to be able to include polydimethylsiloxanes both in solvent-based resin compositions and in water-based resin compositions, emulsification or the like must be carried out to enable the polydimethylsiloxane to disperse both in DMF and in water. However, when a polydimethylsiloxane emulsion composition obtained by emulsification with a nonionic surfactant, an anionic surfactant or a cationic surfactant is included in a DMF or other solvent-based resin composition, it does not uniformly disperse, as a result of which an emulsified state cannot be maintained and the polydimethylsiloxane separates out. Accordingly, there has existed a desire for the development of highly polymerized polydimethylsiloxane emulsion compositions that are capable of dispersing in both solvents such as DMF and in water.
Emulsion compositions that are stable to solvents have hitherto been developed. Patents relating to emulsion compositions which include polar solvents such as alcohols are described below.
Patent Document 1: JP No. 3023250 discloses an oil-in-water type emulsion cosmetic containing a cyclic silicone, a surfactant, a highly polymerized pendant polyoxyalkylene-modified silicone, ethanol and titanium oxide. A polyoxyalkylene-modified silicone in which silicone side chains are modified with short-chain polyoxyalkylene groups is used, which differs in structure from that of the polyoxyalkylene-modified organopolysiloxane compound included in the emulsion composition of the present invention. Also, an emulsion composition of a cyclic silicone is mentioned, and so the object of this art is not the emulsification of a highly polymerized organopolysiloxane.
Patent Document 2: JP No. 3417567 discloses an emulsion of an oil and a lower alcohol obtained with a pendant polyoxyalkylene-modified silicone. By using a pendant polyoxyalkylene-modified silicone as the emulsifying agent, the emulsion is stable even when it includes a high concentration of alcohol. This art uses a polyoxyalkylene-modified silicone having silicone side chains modified with short-chain polyoxyalkylene groups, which silicone differs in structure from the polyoxyalkylene-modified organopolysiloxane compound included in the emulsion composition of the present invention. Also, emulsion compositions in which the base oil is a liquid paraffin, a higher alcohol, a silicone oil or the like are given as examples, and so the object of this art is not the emulsification of highly polymerized organopolysiloxanes.
Patent Document 3: JP No. 3633820 discloses an emulsion which is intended for use as a cosmetic and includes a polysiloxane obtained from a polyoxyalkylene-modified silicone that is modified at both ends, a powder treated for water repellency, and ethanol. Because the emulsion composition of the present invention does not include a treated powder, the compounding ingredients are different. Also, emulsion compositions containing cyclic siloxanes and 6 cs low-viscosity polysiloxanes as the base oil are mentioned as examples, and so the object of this art is not the emulsification of highly polymerized organopolysiloxanes.
Patent Document 4: JP No. 5646355 discloses an emulsion which is intended for use as a cosmetic and includes a polydimethylsiloxane, a polyether-modified silicone and a lower alcohol. The polydimethylsiloxane has a viscosity of from 20 to 10,000 mm2/s, which differs from the viscosity of the organopolysiloxane of the present invention.
In addition, patents relating to resin compositions obtained by formulating urethane resin compositions for artificial leather or synthetic resin with polydimethylsiloxanes are described.
Patent Document 5: JP-A 2014-80713 discloses the formulation of a solid dimethylsilicone in a urethane resin, and the use of the resulting composition as a surface treatment agent for synthetic resins. A non-emulsified dimethylsilicone is used, and appears to be incapable of being blended into a water-based resin composition. Accordingly, this does not disperse in solvent-based or water-based resin compositions, and so this art differs from the emulsion composition of the present invention.
Patent Example 6: JP-A 2007-314919 discloses a water-based resin composition which includes, together with a urethane resin: a polyisocyanate crosslinking agent, a silicone compound and a filler. The silicone compound is a polyether-modified silicone. Hence, this art differs from the emulsion composition of the present invention which is obtained by emulsifying a highly polymerized organopolysiloxane.
In addition, a patent relating to a paint that includes a polydimethylsiloxane and a polyalkylene-modified organopolysiloxane is described.
Patent Example 7: JP 5186079 discloses a paint additive which is a mixture of a silicone modified at one end with a polyether and a nonionic surfactant, which can persistently impart a slight degree of hydrophilicity to the surface of a coating film, and the purpose of which is to exhibit an ability to prevent fouling by aquatic organisms over an extended period of time. The present invention was developed with the object of imparting slippage and wear resistance to synthetic resins, artificial resins and the like used in automobiles and bags. Hence, the art described here differs from the present invention both in its makeup and in the intended use.

Organopolysiloxane emulsion composition and resin composition


Various embodiments include apparatuses and methods enabling a dim-to-warm circuit operation of an LED multi-colored array. In one example, an apparatus includes a hybrid driving-circuit coupled to the LED array and to a single control-device to receive an indication of a luminous flux desired from the LED array. A color temperature for the LED array is determined based on the desired luminous flux of the LED array. In various embodiments, the hybrid driving-circuit includes an analog current-division circuit to produce current for at least two LED current-driving sources and a multiplexer array coupled between the analog current-division circuit and the LED to provide periodically, for a predetermined amount of time, current from at least one of the at least two LED current-driving sources to at least two colors of the LED array. Other apparatuses and methods are described.

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are commonly used in various lighting operations. The color appearance of an object is determined, in part, by the spectral power density (SPD) of light illuminating the object. For humans viewing an object, the SPD is the relative intensity for various wavelengths within the visible light spectrum. However, other factors also affect color appearance. Also, both a correlated color temperature (CCT) of the LED, and a distance of the temperature of the LED on the CCT from a black-body line (BBL, also known as a black-body locus or a Planckian locus), can affect a human's perception of an object. In particular there is a large market demand for LED lighting solutions, such as in retail and hospitality lighting applications, where a color temperature of the LEDs can be controlled. Specifically, there is an increasing market demand for dim-to-warm lights for home and office installations. Contemporaneous lighting systems have attempted to satisfy this dim-to-warm LED mark by using two control devices: one for light output (e.g., luminous flux), and a separate device for CCT control. However, having two devices is costly to install. It would be ideal to have the LED light change its color temperature in relation to an amplitude of the incoming current while using only a single control-device.
The information described in this section is provided to offer the skilled artisan a context for the following disclosed subject matter and should not be considered as admitted prior art.


A floor covering designed to protect concrete floors from extreme mechanical abuse, such as impact and abrasion involving a floor covering which is applied in three steps:. the first layer comprises a thermosetting resin with aggregate fillers and broadcast;. the second layer is a thermosetting resin compound which serves as a bonding agent between the first layer and the next layer to be applied;. the third layer comprises a latex-based cementitious material filled with ductile iron filings.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a floor covering designed to protect concrete floors from extreme mechanical abuse, such as impact and abrasion. More particularly, this invention involves a floor covering which is applied in three steps:
the first layer comprises a thermosetting resin with aggregate fillers and broadcast;
the second layer is a thermosetting resin compound which serves as a bonding agent between the first layer and the next layer to be applied;
the third layer comprises a latex-based cementitious material filled with ductile iron filings.
2. The Prior Art
Concrete is subject to mechanical abuses, resulting in its eventual failure, in virtually every industrial setting. For many years, polymeric floor coatings have been used to protect concrete floors from light to moderate mechanical abuses commonly found in the industrial sector. However, when subject to severe impact and, more importantly, severely abrasive environments, the friction generated between the polymeric floor and the abrasive actor generates heat sufficient enough to exceed the Heat Deflection Temperature (HDT) of the polymeric floor, resulting in failure of the floor.
Iron filled cementitious overlayments have been used by themselves for several years to provide impact and abrasion resistance. These systems alone have several drawbacks. First, cementitious materials are inherently prone to bond failure when applied over a concrete substrate. Secondly, because of the cure through the hydration of water, a 28 day waiting period prior to putting the area back into use must be made available. Thirdly, if not cured properly, cementitious overlayments are very prone to shrinkage cracks, resulting in its eventual debonding and failure.
It is the purpose of this invention to combine the two aforementioned systems, therefore overcoming their individual drawbacks and producing a highly mechanical, abuse-resistant floor coating.
Searches were conducted on the present invention and the following listed documents represent the results of these searches:
______________________________________ Patent No. Inventor Issue Date ______________________________________ 3,334,555 Nagin, et al. 08/08/67 3,908,043 Evans, et al. 09/23/75 4,339,289 Lankard 07/13/82 4,363,836 Sakato, et al. 12/14/82 4,400,413 Emmons, et al. 08/23/83 4,689,268 Meader, Jr. 08/25/87 4,746,552 Tokumoto, et al. 05/24/88 4,761,313 Jacobs 08/02/88 5,049,411 Sellstrom, et al. 09/17/91 5,120,574 Cogliano, et al. 06/09/92 UK Pat. 402,811 Swindin 12/07/33 Netherlands 7,010,960 Chemie 01/26/72 ______________________________________
Article in Scientific American "Waterproofing Concrete", Oct. 2, 1915, page 291.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,746,552 to Tokumoto, et al. discloses a concrete finish with polyester emulsion topped with a cement layer.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,689,268 to Meader, Jr. discloses concrete coated with epoxy, bonding agent and then a polyurethane.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,363,836 to Sakato, et al. discloses concrete coated with polyvinyl alcohol/vinyl acetate. The outer layer is cement.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,400,413 to Emmons, et al. discloses an acrylic latex concrete.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,908,043 to Evans, et al. teaches an epoxy overcoat on a concrete floor.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,120,574 to Cogliano, et al. discloses use of a polymeric concrete overlay with a methacrylic primer.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,334,555 to Nagin, et al. discloses the use of an epoxy in conjunction with aluminum oxide to act as the primary wear surface for a traffic bearing surface.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,339,289 to Lankard demonstrates a method of constructing a concrete patching material through the use of steel fibers.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,761,313 to Jacobs discloses a method of applying a filled thermosetting resin flooring material to a substrate by spreading a resin-rich layer upon the substrate and thereafter broadcasting an aggregate over the resin-rich layer.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,049,411 to Sellstrom, et al. discloses a method of bonding an aggregate filled epoxy system to wet concrete.
UK Patent No. 402,811 to Swindin describes a method of road making utilizing stone, sand and cement as the aggregate and latex, water and rubber as the binders.
The Scientific American of Oct. 2, 1915 suggests the use of finely pulverized iron filings in a cement mix.
Netherlands Patent No. 7,010,960 to Chemie teaches applying multiple layers of epoxy resins with several of the layers containing aggregate such as quartz or sand for coating roads, bridges and floors.


This invention comprises an improvement in the preparation of high molecular weight polyester, said improvement comprising simultaneously and continuously crystallizing, drying and heating low molecular weight particulated, melt polymerized linear condensation polyester prepolymer resin by subjecting said prepolymer resin to a high frequency energy field in the range from about 20.0 to about 300 megahertz for a period of time ranging from about 20 to 90 seconds.

Generally, two major and distinct process steps are employed in the production of high molecular weight polyesters involving solid phase polymerization techniques. The first step involves the preparation of a low molecular weight polyester prepolymer resin using either a batch or a continuous melt phase polymerization process. The resulting molten prepolymer is then solidified and converted into a particulated form such as, for example, pellets, diced cubes, granules, powders, etc., and is known in the art as solid phase feed polymer. This prepolymer or solid phase feed polymer (these terms being used interchangeably throughout this specification) typically will have an intrinsic viscosity in the range from about 0.35 to about 0.60 and a moisture content ranging from about 0.40 to about 0.25 percent by weight and will be amorphous, as evidenced by its having a density of 1.34 grams per cubic centimeter or less.
The second step involves the actual solid phase polymerization of the above-described particulated prepolymer to the desired high molecular weight product. For polyethylene terephthalate, the solid phase polymerization step is normally conducted at temperatures ranging from about 185.degree. C. to about 250.degree. C. and preferably from about 220.degree. C. to about 240.degree. C. in an inert gas atmosphere or in vacuum employing either batch rotary blender-dryers, fluid bed dryers, tray dryers or continuous gravity flow reaction towers.
In addition, it is a generally acknowledged and accepted fact that because of the wet, amorphous nature of this prepolymer it is necessary to subject it to an intermediate step wherein the prepolymer is heated, dried and crystallized to avoid degradation and agglomeration of the prepolymer when it is exposed to solid phase polymerization conditions. It is also known that when subjecting said wet, amorphous prepolymer to this intermediate step the particulated prepolymer will tend to agglomerate into an unmanageable mass, just as in the solid phase polymerization step, unless means are taken to prevent this fusion. One means of preventing fusion of the particulated prepolymer during the heating, drying and crystallization thereof is to subject the prepolymer to vigorous forced motion. Examples of processes for the pretreatment of polyester prepolymer in which vigorous forced motion prepolymer is employed include U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,064,112 and 4,161,578. However, a major drawback to processes employing vigorous forced motion of the particulated prepolymer during the heating, drying and crystallization thereof is the generation of polymeric fines which can account for from about 0.06 to about 0.11 percent by weight of the total weight of prepolymer being treated. The presence of these fines in the prepolymer is undesirable not only because they give rise to handling problems but also because of the adverse effect they have on the quality and uniformity of the final polymeric product and its performance when subjected to operations such as melt spinning and injection molding.
Another approach to the heating, drying and crystallization of particulated wet amorphous polyester prepolymer prior to the solid phase polymerization thereof is the process described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,634,359. In this patent is disclosed an improvement in a process for the preparation of high molecular weight polyesters, particularly high molecular weight polyethylene terephthalate, by after-condensing the corresponding low molecular weight polyester in the solid phase. The specific improvement in the process is stated to be the drying, crystallizing and heating of the low molecular weight prepolymer to solid phase polymerization temperatures by means of high frequency energy in the presence of a streaming dry gas.
In carrying out the process described in the above-referenced patent it is stated that the use of a streaming dry gas and the manner in which the heating with high frequency is performed are extremely important limitations on the successful operation of the process. According to this patent, the use of a streaming dry gas is essential for the instant withdrawal of water set free from the polyester during the heating process if hydrolytic decomposition of the polyester is to be maintained within tolerable limits and that the heating must be conducted in such a manner that the range of temperature in which crystallization takes place with optimum speed is not exceeded before the polyester has adapted the crystallite form in order to avoid melting the granulated polyester into a solid lump. The specific manner in which the heating is to be conducted is disclosed as consisting of either slowly heating the polyester to condensation temperature, i.e. between 5 and 15 minutes with constant movement of the granulated polyester or rapidly heating the polyester to 100.degree. C. to 180.degree. C., maintaining the polyester in a field-free space at the temperature reached until it is sufficiently crystallized and then and only then subjecting said crystallized polyester to further high frequency heating to raise the temperature thereof to condensation temperatures. The deleterious effects which occur as a result of not using a streaming dry gas and heating too rapidly are illustrated in Example 3 of the patent. In that example granulated polyethylene terephthalate was heated to 240.degree. C. within 5 minutes and in the absence of a streaming dry gas. The effects of such a rapid heating and lack of a streaming dry gas were that the material melted together into a solid clump and that the specific viscosity (which is a measure of its molecular weight) of the material was reduced from an original value of 0.88 to a value of 0.75, a 17 percent decrease.

Preparation of high molecular weight polyester


Apparatus and methods for the flow analysis of multiphase fluids including a liquid phase in a tubular conduit use Stoneley waves by exciting and detecting sonic wave energy in the tubular conduit. Information about the Stoneley mode component is obtained in one approach by using techniques that excite only the Stoneley mode together with certain other well behaved wave types, and then compensating for the latter. Alternatively the Stoneley arrival is specifically identified in the detected waveforms. Embodiments are described for: determining the flow rate of a liquid; detecting the presence or absence of gas in a liquid; determining the composition by volume of the dispersed phases in a multiphase fluid; determining the size distribution of bubbles in a multiphase fluid; and determining the velocity of slugs in a multiphase fluid.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for analyzing a fluid that includes at least one liquid phase, contained in a tubular conduit; and more particularly to a method and apparatus for analyzing a fluid that includes a liquid phase, contained in a tubular conduit, using the sonic Stoneley wave.
Many industrial activities involve an analysis of fluids that include at least one liquid phase, contained in a tubular conduit. In one such activity, viz. providing drilling and production services to the oil industry, one may be particularly interested in providing an early detection of gas intruding in the mud during drilling, or a detection of gas presence and bubble distribution in drill stem testing, or in obtaining production or injection profiles, or in analyzing flowing slurries or mud cuttings. Other activities include measuring the characteristics of flowing fluids that include a liquid phase, involved in industrial processes and in distribution systems.
Many different techniques have been proposed to measure flow characteristics of fluids, i.e. liquids, gases, and combinations thereof (multiphase fluid), contained in tubular conduits. For example, some known techniques are based on sensing and correlating local pressure fluctuations, and on sensing the pressure field set up by a venturi or vortex element. A number of other well known techniques are based on the propagation of sonic or ultrasonic energy in a flowing fluid.
Examples of techniques for determining fluid velocity that involve the use of sonic energy propagating in the fluid are disclosed in the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,881,543, issued Oct. 11, 1932 to Hartig et al.; 2,151,203, issued Mar. 21, 1939 to Hartig; 2,274,262, issued Feb. 24, 1942 to Wolff; 2,534,712, issued Dec. 19, 1950 to Gray; and 4,003,252, issued Jan. 18, 1977 to Dewath. The apparatus disclosed in the Hartig et al. U.S. Pat. No. 1,881,543 uses sound tubes inserted through the tube into the fluid flow and measures fluid velocity with a reflection-compensated continuous wave, or "CW" measurement technique. The apparatus disclosed in the Hartig U.S. Pat. No. 2,151,203 uses ports along a tube and measures fluid velocity with a travel time technique. The apparatus disclosed in the Wolff patent uses ports along a tube and measures air velocity with a CW technique. The apparatus disclosed in the Gray patent introduces sonic pulses into an unconfined air stream and determines air velocity with a travel time technique. The apparatus disclosed in the Dewath patent uses transducers recessed in the acoustically damping liner of a tube, which achieves a fluid flow conduit substantially devoid of protuberances and cavities. A CW technique is used to determine fluid velocity.
Another nonintrusive instrument that overcomes some of the disadvantages of the Dewath apparatus is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,445,389, issued May 1, 1984 to Potzick et al. An acoustic technique is discussed which involves the use of wavelengths longer than the cutoff wavelength of the conduit, such that when the acoustic waves reach the receivers, the cutoff spatial modes will have decayed nearly to zero and only the fundamental waves will be present. A CW technique is used to determine fluid velocity and sound velocity.
Most of these techniques are said to be applicable to fluids generally, including liquids such as oil and water. yet, none of these techniques has been adapted to oilfield service applications, where the fluid is a liquid or a multiphase fluid including a liquid phase. The techniques that rely on extensive use of damping materials are impractical for most environments encountered in oilfield services, while the other techniques either fail or are not reliable when used to investigate a liquid or multiphase fluid.
The technique disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,236,406, issued Dec. 2, 1980 to Reed et al., involves the use of ultrasonic energy directed through the fluid being investigated, for determining fluid sound velocity. The technique is said to be capable of metering water content in an oil-water system by the determining sonic velocities in the flowing oil-water mixture. Other ultrasonic techniques are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,991,650, issued July 11, 1961 to Katzenstein et al. Various propagation paths, including one approximately along the longitudinal axis of a portion of a pipe, are illustrated and described.
Ultrasonic techniques have been adapted for use in oilfield servies, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,452,077, issued June 5, 1984 to Siegfried; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,130,808, issued Apr. 28, 1965 to Walker, Jr. et al. These techniques share a disadvantage with the non-borehole ultrasonic techniques, viz. they sample only a limited region of the fluid under investigation. Hence, they are not advantageous in applications for which a measurement independent of flow profile is desired. The technique disclosed in the Siegfried patent further is disadvantageous in being adversely affected by tool eccentricity, irregularities in the well casing, and particulates and gas phases in the borehole liquid.

Apparatus and method for analyzing a fluid that includes a liquid phase, contained in a tubular conduit


A computer system includes a central processing unit which further includes an execution unit and two levels of data cache and an error checking and correcting unit. During error-free operation, external cache fill data is supplied directly to the execution unit while a copy of the data is checked by the error checking and correcting unit. In response to detection of an error by the error checking and correcting unit, the use of the fill data by the execution unit is aborted. Furthermore, the data path for fill data is dynamically reconfigured to force remaining pending fill data to pass through the error checking and correcting unit prior to reaching the execution unit or either of the caches. Once all pending fill data has been processed, the data path is reconfigured back to its error-free mode of operation such that fill data is transmitted directly to the execution unit while a copy of the data is checked by the error checking an correcting unit.

This invention relates generally to computer systems and more particularly to computer systems having central processing units (CPUs) employing error correction during cache fill operations.
As is known in the art, computer systems generally include at least one central processing unit and a memory interconnected by a system bus. In a typical computer system implementation, instructions and data are stored in the same memory. The processor fetches instructions from the memory and executes operations on data as specified by the fetched instructions. As the speed of processors has increased, a need has arisen to find ways to more suitably match the access time of the main computer memory to the computational speed of the processor.
One known way of accomplishing this is through the use of cache memory. A cache memory comprises a relatively small, yet relatively fast memory device arranged in close physical proximity to a processor. The utilization of cache memories is based upon the principle of locality. It has been found, for example, that when a processor accesses a location in memory, there is a high probability that the processor will continue to access memory locations surrounding the accessed location for at least a certain period of time. Thus, a preselected data block of a large, relatively slow access time memory, such as a main memory module coupled to the processor via a bus, is fetched from the main memory and stored in the relatively fast access cache memory. Accordingly, as long as the processor continues to access data from the cache memory, the overall speed of operation of the processor is maintained at a level significantly higher than would be possible if the processor had to arbitrate for control of the bus and then perform a memory read or write operation, with the main memory module, for each data access. Since cache memory typically has a much faster access time than main memory, a CPU with a cache memory system spends much less time waiting for instructions and operands to be fetched and/or stored. In multi-processor computer systems, each CPU is typically provided with its own cache or cache system.
A cache memory contains a subset of the information stored in main memory and typically resides on the data path between the processing unit and the system bus. The system bus is used by the CPU to communicate with the main memory as well as other processors in a computer system. When a processor attempts to access a main memory location whose contents (data) have been copied to the cache, no access to main memory is required in order to provide the requested data to the CPU. The required data will be supplied from the cache as long as the data contained in the cache is valid. Since access to the cache is faster than access to main memory the processor can resume operations more quickly.
The high performance capabilities achieved in a RISC computer are further enhanced when a plurality of such RISC computers are arranged in a multiprocessor system utilizing cache memories. A multiprocessor system can comprise, e.g., a plurality of RISC computers, an I/O device and a main memory module or modules, all coupled to one another by a high performance bus. The RISC computers can be utilized to perform co-operative or parallel processing as well as multi-tasking among them for execution of several applications running simultaneously, to thereby achieve dramatically improved processing power. The capabilities of the system can be further enhanced by providing a cache memory at each one of the RISC computers in the system.
While the above described cached, multi-processor RISC computer system represents a state-of-the-art model for a high performance computer system, the art has yet to achieve an optimal level of performance efficiency. For example, bus read transactions may involve errors of various types including, e.g., data parity errors and hard errors. Often read transactions involving errors take longer to complete than error free read transactions. This frequently creates timing problems requiring the bus interface control flow for the error free transfer of data to be different from the control flow for transactions involving errors.
Further timing problems may arise during read type bus transactions if the bus interface, on the module initiating the read transaction, was to check the validity of the data involved in every data transfer. In such a case, there may not be sufficient time for the bus interface to complete the data transfer in time to be ready for a subsequent bus data transfer.
Known approaches used to solve the above timing problems include slowing down the next bus transfer following every processor initiated read type transaction, i.e. increase the amount of time before the bus interface must respond to the subsequent bus transaction by delaying the subsequent transaction. Such an approach requires that the bus protocol provide a mechanism to slow down the rate of bus transfers and results in a waste of bus bandwidth.
Another known approach has been to use software to control the error handling during read transactions. In such a scheme, the control flow logic of the bus interface need not handle read transactions involving errors any differently than transactions which do not involve errors since the error handling is done by the software and not the control flow logic. However, the use of software for error handling has several disadvantages, including the fact that it is relatively slow in detecting and responding to errors. Thus, when software is used for error handling, a substantial period of time may pass before an error is detected. During that time, in which the error goes undetected, performance of the computer system may become unpredictable as a result of the error's presence in the computer system. In a cached multiprocessor computer system, this may result in the loss of coherency throughout the computer system.
Yet another known approach is to have data which is returned from external memory or the backup cache flow through error checker/corrector logic en route to the execution unit as well as the primary and secondary caches. However this approach adds additional CPU cycles to the latency of the external fill procedure.

Autonomous pipeline reconfiguration for continuous error correction for fills from tertiary cache or memory


The optical fiber amplifier includes a rare earth doped optical fiber and a pumping light source for outputting pumping light for pumping the rare earth doped optical fiber, the optical fiber amplifier optically amplifying signal light received at an input end and outputting the amplified signal light from an output end, wherein the optical fiber amplifier further includes an optical fiber resonator for laser-oscillating a portion of light of spontaneous emission generated in the rare earth doped optical fiber, which has a wavelength shorter than the wavelength of the signal light, thereby to keep a gain substantially fixed independent of a variation in the wavelength of the signal light.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical fiber amplifier for optically amplifying a light signal and an optical fiber transmission apparatus using the optical fiber amplifier.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a conventional analog light transmission apparatus, a laser diode oscillating at a wavelength in the 1.3 .mu.m band has been used to generate signal light. With a recent development of an optical fiber amplifier doped with erbium (Er) ions capable of optically amplifying light having a wavelength in the 1.55 .mu.m band, an analog light transmission system using a signal falling within this wavelength bandwidth has been developed.
FIG. 14 shows a configuration of such an analog optical fiber transmission apparatus for transmitting light of the 1.55 .mu.m wavelength band. Referring to FIG. 14, signal light (wavelength: 1.55 .mu.m band) emitted from a DFB (distributed feedback) laser 30 is optically amplified by an Er-doped optical fiber amplifier 31. The amplified signal light propagates through a single-mode optical fiber 32 having a length of 10 km and then detected by a light receiver 33. The DFB laser 30 allows the output thereof to be modulated in accordance with an AM-FDM (frequency-division-multiplex) or FM-FDM analog signal. The Er-doped optical fiber amplifier 31 is pumped by laser light (wavelength: 1.48 .mu.m band) emitted from a pumping laser diode (not shown). A photodiode made of InGaAs or an avalanche photodiode is used for the light receiver 33.
An Er-doped optical fiber amplifier provides a high gain for light of the 1.55 .mu.m wavelength band. Thus, by using the Er-doped optical fiber amplifier as a booster amplifier, a totally optical distribution system where all lines from head ends to end users are implemented by optical fibers, can be constructed. This makes it possible to realize an image distribution service covering 100 or more channels and a high-definition TV image distribution service.
The modulation at the laser diode for emitting signal light as mentioned above not only modulates the power of the signal light emitted by the laser diode but also changes the frequency thereof. This phenomenon is called "chirping".
The Er-doped optical fiber amplifier provides a high gain for the light of the 1.55 .mu.m wavelength band, as described above. However, since the gain has a wavelength-dependency (gain tilt), the following problems arise due to the chirping.
When signal light whose power and frequency have both been modulated passes through the optical fiber amplifier, it is subjected to a secondary intermodulation (IM2) distortion caused by the frequency modulation and the gain tilt. As a result, the signal light distorts significantly. In general, the degree of distortion of the signal light at the optical fiber amplifier varies considerably depending on the power of the signal light input into the optical fiber amplifier.
In the case where a plurality of signal light beams with different wavelengths are amplified by a single optical fiber amplifier, the distortion characteristic varies considerably depending on the number of signal light beams, the wavelength, and the input power. This is because the gain and the gain tilt vary depending on these factors.

Optical fiber amplifier and optical fiber transmission apparatus

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A basketball hoop (60) mounted on the front (18) of a shirt (10) to provide a basketball game, is described. An aperture (24) through the front of the shirt serves to mount a bracket (58) to connect the basketball hoop to a support (44) housed inside an inner pocket (38) of the shirt. To play the game, a first player (100) wears the shirt with the basketball hoop extending outward from the front of the shirt. A second player then shoots a ball (66) at the basketball hoop and attempts to score goals by moving the ball through the basketball hoop. The players then switch places with the second player wearing the shirt and the first player shooting the ball. The player to record the most goals is the winner. A second embodiment comprising a basketball rim (90) having projecting arms (88) that are received in tubes (86) mounted in an inside pocket (70) provided on the shirt (74) is also described.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an article of clothing that provides a basketball game. In particular, the present invention relates to a shirt that is worn to support a miniature basketball basket for a basketball game. A pocket is sewn or otherwise mounted to the inside of the front portion of the shirt. An aperture through the front of the shirt provides an opening into the inside pocket. A support means is mounted in the inside pocket and a basketball receiving basket is connected to the support by a holding bracket. To play the game, the shirt is worn by a first player with the basketball basket extending upright from the front of the shirt. In this upright position, the axis of the basket is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first player. While the first player remains relatively still, in either a standing or seated position, a second player tosses or shoots a miniature basketball at the basket. A goal is recorded when the ball moves through the basket. The players then switch places with the second player wearing the basket and the first player shooting the basketball. The basket along with the bracket and the support are preferably removeable from the shirt so that the shirt can be worn without the basket. The outer surface of the front side of the shirt can also be provided with an indicia. This can comprise a sports team logo, a school logo or any other novelty indicia.
(2) Prior Art
The prior art has described various novelty articles that provide a basketball game. Representative of these are U.S. Pat. No. 2,939,707 to Lemelson and U.S. Pat. No. 3,244,420 to Poynter. Lemelson describes a game that has a basketball basket mounted on an inflatable bag. The bag is weighted to support the basket in an upright position. The game is played by shooting the basketball through the basket. Poynter describes a miniaturized basketball basket and backboard that is mounted on the rim of a receptacle, such as a wastebasket, or the like. A player shoots a ball at the basket and points are scored when the ball falls through the basket. These devices are not intended to be worn as articles of clothing.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,274,639 to Flanders describes a basketball game and exercise apparatus that is played by two players. An inflatable ball is rotatably mounted on a shaft within a hoop. Two attachment bars extend diametrically from the hoop and connect to belts mounted on the two players. The players then rotate their hips in a circular motion. This causes the inflatable ball to rotate in the hoop. At the same time, the players take turns shooting a ball at baskets extending upright from the two attachment bars.
The prior art has also described various articles of clothing that are worn for novelty or for playing a game. These include U.S. Pat. No. 4,120,053 to Nemirofsky; U.S. Pat. No. 4,354,282 to Langdon; U.S. Pat. No. 4,466,136 to Bottom et al; U.S. Pat. No. 4,723,323 to Wright, Jr.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,837,864 to Thill and U.S. Pat. No. 4,999,848 to Oney.
Nemirofsky describes a shirt for dispensing objects. The shirt has a first pocket for receiving coins and a second pocket for dispensing gumballs, or the like.
Langdon describes a shirt having score indicia and attached score recording markers for use by a player of an active sports game. The shirt enables the player to keep an accurate tally of the score without being encumbered by a hand held or clothing pocket retained score keeping device.
Bottom et al describes a shirt having a graphical representation imprinted on the front of the shirt. A three-dimensional, self-supporting structure is connected to the shirt to complete the design.
Wright, Jr. describes a child's activity bib that is worn by an adult holding the child. The child is held facing the bib. This allows the child to interact with the activities on the bib to help stimulate the child.
Thill describes a shirt having a three-dimensional applique sewn or otherwise attached to the front of the shirt.
Oney describes a novelty shirt having a foldable flap portion mounted on the front of the shirt. Indicia are printed on the shirt and the flap portion. The flap can be lifted to reveal a message hidden under the flap.
None of these prior art devices describe an article of clothing such as a shirt that can be worn to provide a basketball game. By using a soft basketball, preferably made of foam rubber or the like, the basketball game can be played indoors without the worry of the basketball bouncing and breaking a piece of household furnishing. The game can also be played outdoors. That way, the present invention provides an easy to play basketball game that can be played by two or more players for fun and entertainment. After the players are finished playing the game, the basketball basket along with the bracket and support can be removed from the shirt, and the shirt can be worn for its customary purpose.