The present invention aims to alleviate at least one of the abovementioned disadvantages and to provide a hydroponic apparatus which will be reliable and efficient in use. Other objects and advantages of this invention will hereinafter become apparent.

This invention relates to a hydroponic apparatus.
This invention has particular but not exclusive application to a hydroponic apparatus, and for illustrative purposes reference will be made to such application.
Hydroponics involves growing plants in the absence of soil, the necessary nutrients being delivered to the plants in the form of a nutrient solution in water, which passes over the roots of the plant. Hydroponic techniques have certain advantages over more conventional agriculture, which include the ability to carefully control optimum feeding, the elimination of weeds and it allows an improved control of pests and diseases. However, there is a high capital cost compared to traditional methods of agriculture. For this reason, hydroponic cultivation has to be carried out relatively intensively and efficiently if it is to be commercially viable.
One hydroponic method is where the roots of the plants are contained in gullies or conduits which are irrigated, generally continuously, with a nutrient solution.
Many designs for efficient, long lasting and easily installed gully or conduit systems have been trialed.
Various rigid and semi-rigid gullies and conduits are known.
For example, there are rigid plastic extruded conduits of rectangular or circular cross-section.
However, a number of disadvantages are evident with the existing rigid-type conduits. For example, with flat-based conduits, the nutrient flow is not always concentrated through the roots. Rather the flow of nutrients can pass either side of the roots, thus depriving the roots of maximum exposure to the nutrients. Furthermore, the flat top of such conduits tend to trap rain water which has a tendency which in turn may enter the conduit through the opening through which the plant is growing, thus diluting the nutrient solution.
With circular conduits, the roots of the plant are constrained such that, essentially, the lateral growth of the roots equals the longitudinal growth, whereas, in nature, it is preferred that the lateral growth be greater than the longitudinal growth. This can be obviated by transplanting the plant to a conduit having a larger internal diameter at an appropriate time in the development of the plant. However the additional handling of the plant increases costs of production. A further disadvantage of a circular conduit is that it is too xe2x80x9cdeepxe2x80x9d for certain plants such as lettuce and herbs which only have a shallow root ball and thus cannot be effectively coated with the nutrient solution.
It is also known to provide a completely flexible plastic tube which is not dimensionally stable. The tube need to be filled with a growing medium and the tube takes the shape of the growing medium. Typically, these flexible tubes adopt a somewhat elliptical shape due to sagging of the growing medium in the tube. However the tube is completely filled with the growing medium and this impedes water flow, air circulation and is quite unsatisfactory.
The present invention aims to alleviate at least one of the abovementioned disadvantages and to provide a hydroponic apparatus which will be reliable and efficient in use. Other objects and advantages of this invention will hereinafter become apparent.
Throughout this specification, the term xe2x80x9csubstantially elliptical cross-sectionxe2x80x9d is not limited to a cross-section which delineates a regular oval, but includes within its scope any related non-regular cross-section or similar but wherein the major axis remains of a greater length than the minor axis.
With the foregoing and other objects in view this invention relates to a hydroponic conduit comprising a dimensionally stable elongate member having at least one opening formed therein through which a plant may extend, wherein the elongate member is of substantially elliptical cross-section having an upper surface and a major axis, said at least one opening being formed in the upper surface of said member and wherein the major axis of the substantially elliptical cross-section of said member is substantially horizontal.
By being dimensionally stable, the hydroponic conduit can keep the desired elliptical cross-section without needing to be filled with a growing medium as is the case with an entirely flexible tube. Thus, the dimensionally stable elliptical conduit can be only partially filled with a growing medium that means that water circulation, air circulation and the like is improved.
Preferably, the elongated member includes a plurality of openings formed therein and wherein the spacing between adjacent openings may be determined by the type of plant to be grown. For example, the openings may be spaced at regular intervals longitudinally along one surface of the member and wherein each opening may be substantially co-axial with the minor axis of the member.
Because the elongated member may be initially provided to purchasers as a hollow elongated member without any openings formed therein, in one embodiment, an etched line may be provided along one surface of the member, such as a line co-axial with the minor axis of the member. The etch line may be used as a guide for the centre of openings to be cut into the member subsequently by the purchasers according to their individual requirements.
In use, the conduit would be used as a component of a hydroponic apparatus and in a method of hydroponic culture.
Therefore, according to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hydroponic apparatus for use in hydroponic culture, said apparatus including:
at least one conduit comprising an elongated member of substantially elliptical cross-section, said conduit being provided with inlet means for introducing a nutrient solution into said conduit, outlet means for allowing the nutrient solution to exit said conduit and at least one opening formed therein through which a plant may extend.
In one embodiment there may be provided inlet means associated with each end of the conduit and outlet means associated with an intermediate portion of the conduit. In yet another embodiment the inlet means may be associated with a portion of the conduit intermediate the opposing ends of the conduit and wherein each end may include outlet means.
However, preferably the inlet means is associated with one end of the conduit and the outlet means is associated with the opposing end of the conduit.
The conduit is preferably of the type described above.
Furthermore, it will be appreciated that the apparatus may include a multiplicity of conduits positioned such that the major axes are substantially horizontal and in a side-by-side relationship. The conduits may be supported by a supporting structure such as a table.
The outlet means may include drainage means, such as a sump, which may be adapted to collect solid or semi-solid detritus and separate same from the exiting nutrient solution before the thus-depleted solution is returned to the inlet means of the conduit.
In yet another aspect of this invention, there is provided a method of hydroponic culture, said method including:
providing a hydroponic conduit comprising an elongated member of substantially elliptical cross-section, said conduit being provided with inlet means for introducing a nutrient solution into said conduit, outlet means for allowing the nutrient solution to exit said conduit and at least one opening formed therein through which a plant may extend;
supporting a seedling within said opening such that at least some of the roots of the seedling are retained within the conduit; and
using the inlet means to introduce a sufficient quantity of a nutrient solution into said conduit to make contact with the roots of the seedling.

Hydroponic apparatus using elliptical conduit


A toner container includes an elongated container main body, a toner discharge port, a first rotation member configured to convey the toner toward the toner discharge port, a support plate provided in the container main body and disposed in such a way as to face the wall surface, and an opening and closing member provided between the wall surface and the support plate and supported by the support plate in such a way as to be able to move between a closing position and an opening position. The support plate includes a first opening portion formed at a position corresponding to the toner discharge port and larger than the toner discharge port in size, and a film member attached to the support plate in such a way as to cover the first opening portion and including a second opening portion formed at a position corresponding to the toner discharge port.

The present disclosure relates to a toner container including a storage portion for storing toner, and relates to an image forming apparatus.
Conventionally, there is known an image forming apparatus that can form an image on a paper sheet by using developer that includes toner. In this type of image forming apparatus, a toner container for supplying toner to a developing device in the image forming apparatus is provided. The toner container is attached to an apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus in a detachable manner. When the toner in the toner container is consumed and the toner container becomes empty, the toner container is removed from the image forming apparatus to be replaced with a new toner container filled with unused toner.
In addition, the conventional image forming apparatus includes a cleaning device and a waste toner container, wherein the cleaning device removes used toner (waste toner) that has remained on a photoconductor drum after a transfer, and the waste toner container stores the waste toner removed by the cleaning device.
In addition, the conventional toner container includes a toner discharge port and an opening and closing member (shutter member), wherein the toner discharge port is used to supply toner to the developing device, and the opening and closing member is configured to open and close the toner discharge port. The toner discharge port is, for example, formed in a shape of being opened downward. The opening and closing member is supported by the toner container in such a way as to be able to move between a closing position of closing the toner discharge port and an opening position of opening the toner discharge port. The opening and closing member is moved from the closing position to the opening position in interlocking with an attachment operation in which the toner container is attached to the image forming apparatus. In addition, the opening and closing member is moved from the opening position to the closing position in interlocking with a removal operation in which the toner container is removed from the image forming apparatus.

Toner container, image forming apparatus


A roller clutch cage includes two mirror image sections that press fit together to create a series of roller pockets with full profile side rails that fit closely between the races, filling up essentially the entire radial space between the races. The side rails and cross bars that form the pockets are radially solid and uninterrupted, providing full load support between the races. Each cage section is designed to be by pass molded, with slots in the cross bars that also give the cage both contractive and expansive flexibility. The cage flexibility allows it to be installed easily, and also allows it to conform better to and between the races during clutch operation. While the radially uninterrupted and complete side rails retain lubricant around the rollers more completely, the slots allow it to drain in a controlled manner.

One way roller clutches typically include a cage that provides the basic structural foundation for the clutch. The cage includes a series of circumferentially spaced roller pockets, formed by axially spaced, annular side rails interconnected by axially extending cross bars, each of which pockets contains an individual roller and spring. The cage is installed by various techniques between a cam race and a coaxial pathway race. The pathway race, which is often, though not always, the inner race, has a simple cylindrical surface or pathway, on which the rollers freely roll and on which the cage pilots. The cam race is more complex, and includes a series of circumferentially spaced, asymmetrically V shaped notches, separated from one another by semi cylindrical, co radial bearing surfaces. Each V or saw tooth shaped notch has a long, shallow angled side sloping in one direction, called a earn ramp, against which a spring loaded roller is continually urged by an individual spring that pushes off the cage. The selective wedging or jamming of the rollers against the cam ramps locks the races together when they attempt to relatively rotate in one direction, but allows free wheeling in the other relative direction. Each notch also has a much shorter and steeper, oppositely sloped side, sometimes called a cam hook, which simply provides a quick surface transition back down to the adjacent semi cylindrical bearing surface. Since the cam hook has no necessary function per se, other than to serve as a transition from one surface to another, it could, theoretically, have any shape that was practical to machine. It is typically flat, however.
A use has been found for the cam hook in terms of how the cage is installed to, and properly oriented relative to, the cam race. Cage installation to the cam race is an operation that is generally carried out before the pathway race is pushed coaxially inside of the cam race. A common cage to cam race assembly method is the so called "twist lock" technique, detailed in co assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,712,661. The plastic cage is molded with radially outwardly extending reaction ears that are short enough to pass through the peaks of V shaped notches, thereby allowing the cage to be freely pushed axially inside the cam race. The cage position that allows this pass through is angularly offset from the cage's final position. After pass through, the cage is then twisted back to its final installation position, causing a sloped surface of the reaction ears to abut the cam hooks. As the cage is twisted back, a flat face of the reaction ears simultaneously slides over and "locks" to the outside faces of the cam race, which prevents the cage from shifting axially on the cam race. The inner pathway race is added last by the so called "ringing on" method, with an axial push and simultaneous twist in the same direction that the cage was twisted. This compound motion of the pathway race causes the cylindrical pathway to concurrently roll all of the rollers slightly up the cam ramps, that is, toward the cam hooks, thereby compressing the roller springs. Afterward, the force of the compressed springs pushing the rollers off of the cage and against the cam ramps also continually pushes the reaction ears back against the cam hooks, thereby keeping the cage in its proper angular orientation on the cam race. Clearly, an absolute requirement of the twist lock technique of cage installation is that the profile of the outer edges of the cage side rails not closely match the profile of the V shaped notches. If it did, then there would the enough cage clearance to allow the cage to pass through the cam race in an angularly offset orientation.
Other methods of installing, orienting, and retaining the cage to the cam race do exist, such as that disclosed in co assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,995,489, in which the cage is molded with a shape that causes it to twist itself automatically as it is pushed onto the cam race. Another method is shown in co assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,062,512, in which the cage is pushed straight in without a twist, but has a special design that allows it to effectively shrink in circumference and then re expand so as to snap into a central groove in the cam race and retain itself without reaction ears. In both designs, however, there is significant radial clearance between the cage and the cam ramps. A full profile cage, that is, one in which the outer edges of both side rails of the cage closely matched the exact shape of the cam ramps with little or no clearance, would inherently have to be installed with just a simple, straight on push fit, with no angular offset or twisting. As such, a separate means, such as snap rings, might have to be used to retain the cage to the race, which is obviously not preferred over a self retaining cage.
Another function of the cage, beyond acting as a framework to hold the rollers and springs, is to keep the races radially spaced apart during clutch operation in a near coaxial relation, sometimes referred to as concentricity control. This is typically accomplished by providing arcuate sections in the cage, known as beating blocks, that pilot on the pathway and closely fill the radial space between the pathway and the semi cylindrical portions of the cam race. The bearing blocks keep the races concentric, or, at least, limit the degree of running eccentricity to an acceptable level. The beating blocks should be radially solid, or nearly so, in order to provide good load support between the races. When a clutch is designed with more rollers and cam ramps within a given circumference, in order to give it a higher torque capacity, the interstitial space between the cam ramps that is available for bearing blocks inevitably becomes narrower, limiting the load support that beating blocks can provide. An alternative for providing concentricity control would be a full profile cage, that is, a cage having axially opposed side rails with outer edges that closely matched the entire profile of the cam race, as well as an inner edges that piloted closely on the pathway. If full profile cage side rails could also be made radially solid and uninterrupted, then they could provide a large measure of the inter race load support that bearing blocks typically provide. In addition, such solid, full profile cage side rails, if they could be practically manufactured, would provide stronger roller pockets with better resistance to impact from the ends of the rollers. Another possible benefit would be improved retention the lubricant that is often pumped between the cage side rails through feed holes bored through the pathway race. Full profile, small clearance pocket side rails would do a better job of keeping the lubricant around the rollers, reducing wear. Lubricant retention is poor if there is a large radial clearance between the edges of the cage side rails and the race surfaces. Enhanced lubricant retention for typical large clearance cages must currently be provided with extra seals added on to the cage, as is shown in co assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,714,803.
The real world impediments to making a hypothetical roller clutch cage with full profile, radially solid side rails are many, in terms of manufacturing, installation, and clutch operation after assembly. As far as manufacturing, it is almost a requirement now that cages be plastic injection moldings, and, preferably, one piece moldings made by the so called axial draw or by pass molding method. In a cage designed to be produced by the pass method, only two axially parting molds, with no internal inserts or radially moving slides, are sufficient to form the entire cage. There are many existing cage designs that achieve that objective, one of which can be seen in co assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,712,661, a basic design that is repeated and modified in many other patents. The hallmark of all one piece, by pass moldable cage designs is cage side rails that are not radially continuous or solid, so that they do not radially overlap or block the opposite side rail as viewed in the axial direction. To achieve that basic relationship, one side rail must occupy less than the entire radial space between the races, while the opposed side rail occupies the remainder of that radial space, or some portion of the remainder. In contrast, radially solid, full profile cage side rails would completely radially overlap, and it would be physically impossible to by pass mold them with two axially parting molds. To make a plastic cage with radially solid side rails would require either that it be molded in one piece with inserts and slides, or that it be molded in multiple pieces that were assembled together after molding. One such multi-piece cage is shown in co assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,054,192, in which each pocket is separately molded and then snapped together like links in a bracelet. This, of course, maximizes the possible number of separate pieces, which is not a desirable option for ease of manufacture or assembly. Even that design, however, cannot provide full profile side rails, because it, too, relies on the twist lock cage assembly technique described above. The other option for solid, strong, full profile cages is to provide two stamped metal side rails that are held together by separate cross rails, as shown in co assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,787,490. Even with this design, the side rails do not conform very closely to the cam profile. The reason for this is that there is no circumferential flex or give in metal side rails, so a true full profile, closely conforming side rail could bind up on the cam race during cage installation, if tolerances in the side rail shape were only slightly off.
Another problem with a true full profile cage side rail, even if it were to be made of more flexible plastic, is the temperature expansion and contraction differential that exists between plastic and the metal clutch races during clutch operation. Some provision should be provided to allow the plastic cage to compensate by expanding and contracting, so as to conform itself to the metal clutch races. Cage side rails that were simply the plastic equivalent of full profile metal side rails would not be able to expand and contract freely. Several one piece, by pass molded cage designs do include structural features that allow temperature differential compensation. These are typically slots or other relieved areas that allow the pockets to flex back and forth relative to one another. Examples may be seen in co assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,712,661, 4,830,463 and 4,850,463. None of these designs, however can have full profile, radially solid cage side rails, because of the very fact that they are one piece by pass moldings.
To summarize, what the plethora of existing cage designs outlined above fails to provide in a single design is a plastic roller clutch cage with strong, full profile, radially solid side rails, which is by pass molded and easily assembled with a minimal number of pieces (meaning two), which can be easily installed to the cam race after assembly without binding, which retains itself to the cam race after it is installed, and which will conform itself after installation to the races.

Moldable roller clutch cage with full support pockets


An earphone/headphone device, and a housing for such device are presented. The housing has proximal and distal ends defining respectively, a proximal closed-end portion and a distal open-end portion of the device, and comprises a sound source site for mounting a sound source in this site inside the housing, and an acoustic cavity extending from a back side of the sound source site and the proximal end portion of the housing. The acoustic cavity is configured to define a perpetual self-feeding closed-loop structure for propagation of backwave sound originated at the sound source site, such that the backwave sound is trapped and circulates in the closed-loop structure.

The present invention relates to an earphone or headphone device configuration.
Earphone or headphone device is a mini speaker device that is configured to be inserted into the ear or worn over the ear, or worn adjacent to or in the vicinity of the ear, and is used for personal listening to an audio source. Earphone or headphone device, in contrast to a loudspeaker device which emits sound into the open space, e.g. room or environment (allowing anyone nearby to listen), is configured to allow a single user to listen to an audio source privately. Earphones or headphones are connected to a signal source (e.g. receiver, stereo amplifier, digital devices, like MP3 Player, phone or other handheld communication device, computer, radio, and portable music player), either directly or using a wireless technology.
The performance of an earphone or headphone device, similarly to that of a loudspeaker, is defined by the quality of its sound output (e.g. signal-to-noise; directionality, frequency response, harmonic distortion, etc.). More specifically, the earphone/headphone performance is evaluated by its ability to faithfully reproduce the wave form of the original source, i.e. a degree of match between the profile (frequency and amplitude profile) of a the earphone's output signal and the original source signal.
One of the common problems of earphones/headphones is associated with backwave distortion effects. The backwave distortions are associated with sound waves including those emerging from a back side of the sound waves source (an electroacoustic transducer or headphone driver), and also reflections/diffractions of sound waves from the inner surfaces of the earphone/headphone acoustic cavity and interactions between these reflected/refracted sound waves with the sound waves directly propagating from the loudspeaker towards the output of the earphone/headphone. Since such forward- and backward-generated sound waves are out of phase with each other, their interaction reduces the magnitude of the output signals (being listened). Further, since these sound waves travel different paths through the acoustic cavity, and accordingly arrive at the output of the cavity (and thus at the ear canal) at slightly different times, this introduces destructive phase and timing effects to the reproduced audio including comb-filtering and distortion resulting in loss of audio definition, separation, and overall deteriorated sound quality.


The present invention relates to the use of matrix metalloproteinase 7 (MMP-7) and/or its precursors and fragments with MMP-7 immunoreactivity, or of circulating anti-MMP-7 antibodies, as humoral biomarkers in diagnostic in vitro methods for the detection, early detection, monitoring and/or prognosis of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in human patients.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the third most common malignancy of the urinary tract after prostate and bladder cancer. It is a cancer which is particularly difficult to diagnose. Indeed, RCC patients frequently have non-specific symptoms or are completely asymptomatic until a relatively advanced state is reached. Consequently, at the time of diagnosis, 15 to 25 percent of kidney cancer patients already have metastatic RCC. Once metastatic disease develops, the prognosis for long-term survival is poor.
Today, RCC normally is incidentally detected by abdominal ultrasound (US) and computed tomography (CT). It is occasionally suggested by a radioisotope bone or renal perfusion scan. However, these techniques are time consuming and expensive.
A number of efforts are currently performed to characterize RCC using molecular biological, cytogenetic, immunohistochemical as well as proteome-based techniques. In this context, many markers have been evaluated for their potential use as diagnostic or prognostic factors. However, as yet none of them has been validated in vigorous trials. The current state of the matter can be summarized as follows:
Interleukin 6 and its receptor might play a role in tumor proliferation as well as in certain symptom signs associated with metastatic renal cancer (Blay J Y et al., Cancer Res. (1992) 52, 3317-22).
FGF (Fibroblast Growth Factor), an angiogenic factor, may serve as potential prognostic marker of disease progression (Rak J W et al, Anticancer Drugs, (1995) 6, 3-18).
Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, a specific inhibitor of urokinase, was reported as a prognostic factor in predicting early relapse of renal cell carcinoma. High and low risk groups for disease-free survival can be discriminated by plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 antigen content in the tumor tissue (Hofmann R et al, J. Urol. (1996) 155, 858-62).
Recent studies have described that expression of E-cadherin, which plays a major role in cell-cell adhesion of normal epithelium, is decreased in renal cancer. Its rate may be correlated with tumor aggressiveness (Shimazui T, Cancer Res. (1996) 56, 3234-7).
WO 02/082076 relates to identification of tumor markers which are immunogenic in RCC patients. The authors reported that these proteins are presented at the surface of the tumor cell and therefore are not circulating. The authors describe an immunoassay to detect the presence of circulating antibodies specific to these tumor marker proteins in the serum of an individual. Therefore, the immunoassay is not based on the direct detection of RCC markers in the circulation but on an indirect detection of (circulating) autoantibodies raised against RCC tumor marker proteins present in patients' tissue. Matrix metalloproteinases or antibodies against matrix metalloproteinases are not mentioned.
There is still a need for additional tumor markers for the detection and follow-up of renal cell carcinoma, especially for humoral tumor markers which can be detected in blood samples and serum or plasma samples respectively and which, therefore, can be included in the list of biomarkers determined in routine patient health screening. If it were possible to early diagnose renal tumors, this would have a very high impact on improving the outcome of RCC. The availability of an effective diagnostic assay would make it possible to screen routinely especially high risk populations (i.e. Von Hippel-Lindau, Hemodialysis, transplanted or immunodepressed patients, (N. J. Vogelzang, (1998) The Lancet, 352, 1691-1696)) and to detect asymptomatic tumor. A sensitive humoral renal cell carcinoma marker test would also have high value for detecting tumor recurrence in patients with renal cell carcinoma after total or partial nephrectomy. Such a marker will allow completing the evaluation of the extension of the disease. It may help to limit the use of invasive examination and to adapt therapeutics earlier. Such humoral marker will facilitate the monitoring of tumors during the treatment and allow a better prediction of therapeutic responses and prognosis.

In vitro method for diagnosing and monitoring renal cell carcinoma (RCC) using MMP-7 as humoral biomarker for RCC


Tamper indicating, child proof system includes annular tear strip on the cap; and a rotatably indexing latch finger on the cap which engages a raised annular retainer ridge with bypass opening on the neck of the container. A tactile indicator of the rotational location of the bypass opening is under the tear strip for sensing by a finger that is in simultaneous contact with the cap, when the tear strip is removed. A lower ridge includes an index key for orienting the latch finger away from the bypass opening during assembly of the system.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to closures for containers, more specifically to a tamper indicating, child proof, reusable snap-off cap and container closure system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The container closure art is replete with tamper-indicating, child proof designs including caps with frangible elements connecting the cap to the container, and with spring loaded bayonet locking means, spring loaded ratchet means, and other arrangements which make it difficult for a child to open the container once the frangible element is breached.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,449,638, patented May 22, 1984 by E. Davis describes a tamper indicating, child proof design of a container having a cylindrical neck with open top mouth. The mouth opening also continues through a portion of the neck in a vertical finger width slot.
A cap with a rotatable plug and a lower skirt is pressed over the neck, whereby the skirt engages annular raised ridges on the neck of the cap preventing subsequent removal of the skirt from the neck. The plug extends into and seals the open top mouth.
An annular tear band joins the upper portion of the cap with the skirt, and also is attached by telltale bridge members to the plug. Tearing away the band separates the top of the cap from the skirt, and breaks the bridge members to further indicate the initial breach of the closure.
The plug has a radially oriented finger hole which must be accessed by way of the finger width slot, in order to be able to apply upward pressure to the plug by a finger to remove it with the cap top from the container. The upward finger pressure can only be applied to the plug from within the plug.
The top of the plug includes an arrow to help the user rotate the plug finger hole into alignment with the slot.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,449,639, patented by E. Davis, on May 22, 1984, describes a tamper-indicating, child-resistant closure with a cap having a top part, a tear band in the middle, and a captive band at the bottom, cooperating with the neck of the container.
In assembly, the cap is forced onto the neck until a pair of annular parallel raised ridges in the inside of the captive band pass a corresponding pair of annular parallel raised ridges on the outside of the container neck, thereby irreversibly retaining the captive band on the neck.
The top part of the cap has an arcuate internal lug to engage below an arcuate external projection on the rim of the container neck to keep the cap on the container after the tear band is removed by pulling on a pull tab. The cap then cannot be removed until it is rotated so that the lug disengages from the projection to free the cap for removal from the neck. Indication is given for rotation of the cap to the disengagement position, for example, by an upward pointing arrow on the outer surface of the container, and a serrated grip tab by which the cap is lifted, shaped into a downward pointing arrow.
To breach the closure and to open the container, the user tears away the band. Frangible bridge members attached variously to the cap top, tear band, pull tab, and captive band, provide indication of tampering by breaking when the tear band is removed.
The user then lines up the two arrows to bring the cap into position for removal, and urges the cap up and off the container by way of a serrated grip tab.


Disclosed are devices, systems, apparatuses, methods, products, and other implementations of vapor pressure solids. In some embodiments, a vapor pressure solid may include a one- or multi-component matrix material. In some embodiments, the multi-components matrix material is a two-part PDMS comprising a first and second matrix material. The first matrix material is capable of being mixed with one or more vaporizable fluids that causes the first matrix material to swell. The second matrix material is capable of being mixed with the swelled first matrix material to produce an actuating material. When the actuating material is heated, the one or more vaporizable fluids expand, resulting in vapors. The increased pressure applied by the vapors causes the actuating material to expand.

Actuating or 'smart' materials address the increasing needs of creating engineered material systems that provide diverse features relating to mechanical actuation, sensor abilities and artificial intelligence integration among others. Typically, these types of actuating materials are biologically inspired materials that integrate biological concepts and features in their structure and microstructure in order to create controllable and adaptive functionality of the material systems in which they are integrated. Furthermore, actuating materials rely on converting an input energy into a type of mechanical output such as force or displacement. As a result, they require the use of a prime mover (e.g., fluid, electromagnetic force etc.) and mechanisms to convert the functions of the prime mover to the desired effect. However, conventional actuating materials are inefficient. For example, the use of fluids in actuating materials requires hydraulic systems in order to provide adaptive control. Such hydraulic systems require the use of electric motors to power them and may also be prone to faults and defects. As a result, this may require several components that are not easily manufactured and that impair the ability to miniaturize the actuating system. Further, these components are not easily created with 3D printing.

Vapor pressure solid articles and methods for making and using the same

The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York


The present invention relates generally to methods to prepare NK and LTi-like, NK22 cells from HSCs and uses of those cells.

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) give rise to all blood lineages1. As HSCs differentiate along one lineage, they gradually lose the ability to develop into other lineages2. Hematopoietic differentiation involves lineage commitment, defined here as the initiation of developmental program(s) that lead to a particular cell fate. The accompanying inability to differentiate into other lineages has been referred to as lineage maintenance3. Lineage commitment and lineage maintenance are complementary processes that guide cell fate decisions. Thus, cells committed to a particular lineage have alternative developmental choices until lineage maintenance is complete4.
Hematopoietic differentiation has been schematically depicted as a "tree of hematopoiesis", outlining the possible developmental choices. According to this prevailing schema, the decision between lymphoid and myeloid lineages occurs very early. However, alternative views have been proposed, including the existence of a common myelo-lymphoid progenitor5-6. Elucidation of hematopoietic developmental pathways and extrinsic stimuli that influence them is instrumental to understanding both normal and malignant hematopoiesis. In particular, factors that favor natural killer (NK) cell development could be used to exploit their activity against malignancies.
NK cells are innate immune effector cells. Their derivation from either lymphoid or myeloid lineages was debated early in their discovery. Further research showed that NK cells can be derived from common lymphoid progenitors (CLPs) and hence have been considered separate from myeloid lineage8-9.
Human secondary lymphoid tissues (SLTs) contain IL-22 producing cells with an immature NK phenotype. The study of human IL-22 producing NK lineage cells is limited by their location in SLT. Accordingly, investigators use small quantities of material obtained from either aborted fetal tissue or surgical specimens, potentially in the setting of pathology.

Generation of natural killer cells and lymphoid tissue inducer-like (LTi-like) NK-22 cells


A lubricant composition for use in metalworking processes comprising a fatty acid, an amino alcohol and a phosphate ester. Optional components include a triazole, an amine carboxylate, an amine borate or a vegetable oil. The composition may be used in dilute form in water or alcohol.

The manufacture of rolled metal parts requires primarily that ingots, bars or plates of steel or other metals, are roll formed through a succession of high pressure rollers, each reducing the base stock to a successively smaller cross-section until the desired dimension/shape is attained. These extreme pressure processes traditionally use large volumes of sulfonated/sulfated and/or chlorinated mineral oil or other mineral oil derivatives with extreme pressure additives to lubricate and cool the metal during the rolling process.
In the manufacturing of cast metal parts, the parts are cast from molten metal in foundry molds then machined to the desired shapes and dimensional tolerances. Lubricants are used to cool and lubricate the machine tools and the metal surfaces during the machining.
In the manufacture of powdered metal (sintered) parts it is frequently necessary to restrike or reform the parts after sintering in order to achieve specific dimensional tolerances desired or to compress the part to a desired higher density. This process is identified by various terms including "sizing", "re-striking", "coining", "burnishing" or "qualifying". Lubricants are used on the surface of the powdered metal parts in processing the parts before sintering and in sizing the parts after sintering. Lubricants are further used in machining and burnishing the parts.
Sizing requires the part to be placed in a steel or carbide die and squeezed under extremely high pressure to produce the specified dimensional and/or density requirements. This process requires extreme pressure boundary layer lubricants at the outset of the sizing stroke, followed by anti-weld lubricants as the heat and pressures tend to act to gall the workpiece and weld the exfoliative to the surfaces.
Typical lubricants are mineral oils and synthetic oils such as polybutenes, .alpha.-olefins and polyethyleneglycols. These oils do not have strong polar groups and they are relatively low in lubricating ability. Accordingly, they cannot be used as a lubricant by themselves. Therefore, oiliness improvers, for example fats, saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, fatty acid esters, phosphates and alcohols are used to improve the lubrication properties of these oils. However, under extreme pressure applications, the oiliness improver is not effective and an extreme pressure additive such as sulfur, chlorine, phosphorus or lead is necessary. If chlorine is added and water is present during processing HCl is liberated causing serious corrosion problems. Furthermore, these oils are not suitable for making parts of higher densities with higher sizing pressures, because such oily lubricants tend to cause burning.
In the sizing process, a portion of the lubricant enters the pores of the powdered metal part, and other portions of the lubricant may be redeposited on the surface during ejection and handling. If the lubricant is an oil, excessive amounts entering the pores of the parts may prevent the part from compressing (a phenomenon known as hydraulicing) and may damage the dies.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,086,087 to Morris discusses the problem of oil in powdered metal parts and teaches that the pores be filled in a pretreatment step with an immiscible liquid, such as water, prior to contacting the metal part with the lubricant. The immiscible liquid is intended to prevent the oil lubricant from entering the pores, but excess water in the pores can also cause hydraulicing. It would be advantageous to have a lubricant which avoids this problem of oil based lubricants.
Because of the difficulty with oil lubricants, a common practice is to dry-coat the parts before sizing. The dry coating may be zinc-stearate, calcium carbonate or a similar dry lubricant which is suspended in a highly volatile carrier such as alcohol or trichloroethane. These lubricants are adequate in the dry form for medium pressure lubrication. In extreme pressure dry sizing, historically the lubricant has been a siloxane suspended in 1,1,1,-trichloroethane or a similar highly volatile solvent. The latter category of dry lubricant is generally considered the most successful to date for extreme pressure applications. Such dry lubricants are often supplemented with the addition of graphite powder. A significant problem of dry lubricants is that they have no cooling capacity.
In all cases the lubricant must also be compatible with subsequent operations. In the case of mineral oil based lubricants, and some dry lubricants, they generally must be removed before the part can be subjected to subsequent processing. This removal process may require burning off the lubricant in an oven at about 800.degree. to 1000.degree. F., or vapor degreasing the parts with chlorinated solvents, neither of which is desirable. The subsequent processes which necessitate the removal of the lubricants include, but are not limited to, heat treating, steam oxidizing, and resin impregnation.
Many powdered metal parts are subject to secondary operations which include but are not limited to drilling, tapping, honing, milling, broaching, lapping, and turning. Each of these operations may require a unique coolant or lubricant with different performance parameters capable of cooling the part and tools as well as providing corrosion control for the parts and equipment. For example, honing oils often require a high sulfur content; machining coolants might be semi-synthetic or synthetic lubricants; tapping lubricants require chlorinated oils. Each of these has its characteristic advantages and disadvantages.
A powdered metal parts manufacturer may have as many as a dozen different specialty purpose lubricants and rust inhibitors, each requiring special operator training and storage and disposal considerations. In view of the above, it would be advantageous if one lubricant could replace all of the oils, dry lubricants and coolants for these operations.
In addition to application problems with extreme pressure lubricants there are serious environmental problems with the use and disposal of solvents and oils. The products based on mineral oil cause oil smoke and oil mist in the work-room and air quality problems in and around the machines.
Although a water based lubricant generally dissipates from heat before total compression, an excess of fluid can cause hydraulicing. Moreover, if the lubricant is water based, it must have adequate corrosion control additives in order to survive the heat and pressure and still provide sufficient corrosion control until the parts are processed to the next operation.
Accordingly, there is a need to find an environmentally acceptable high performance metal working lubricant. The lubricant must demonstrate good lubricating and cooling ability at high surface pressures and/or good cutting and conversion velocities to give products the desired conformation, tolerance and surface finish, as well as decreased wear of the tools. Additionally, there is a need to find a metal working lubricant which can be used in a variety of the functions and processes of metal working, metal forming and metal finishing.
Accordingly, the present invention provides lubricant compositions that unexpectedly meet these stringent requirements. The compositions of this invention may also be used in many other applications such as conventional metal working, textile processing, paper processing and hydraulic systems.


An apparatus for instruction in the techniques of blow molding includes an air cylinder actuated ram parison extruder secured atop a frame carrying a low mass mold set. The mold set includes two thin wall mold segments mounted for reciprocal travel toward a closed position at a molding station. Each mold segment is adjustably secured to one of a pair of webbed, heat dissipating jaws with each jaw being adjustably mounted to a worm-driven carriage. Mold segment set up is accomplished by loosely mounting the jaws to their respective carriages and the mold segments to their jaws; the jaws are brought toward one another to close and align the mold segments. With the segments closed and registered, they are then tightened to the jaws and the jaws to the carriages thereby assuring repeated registration of the mold segments during molding cycles.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to pedagogic shop apparatus for instruction in plastics forming technology and more particularly to a blow molding apparatus suitable for such purposes.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
Previous attempts at teaching various techniques of the fabrication of plastic products to young pupils, e.g. high school and middle or junior high school students, resulted in the realization that in most instances the utilization of actual production equipment proved ineffectual.
The methods and apparatus of blow molding fabrication represent a substantial area of technology suitable for instruction to students. Modern blow molding methods are hybrids of plastics processing and glass blowing technology. Initial attempts at blow molding hollow objects such as bottles from a charge of molten plastic in a manner similar to that used in glass blowing proved ineffectual since the plastic material did not have a propensity for providing uniformity of wall thickness upon expansion as does glass.
Successful results were achieved through the utilization of a hollow closed end tube of viscous plastic known as a parison and blowing the viscous parison within a hollow mold. Parisons have been produced by heat sealing the bottom of an open viscous tube formed by continuous or ram extrusion. Alternatively, parisons were produced by injection molding a closed end tube.
Instruction in the principles and theory of blow molding could not readily be accomplished with student operation of actual production machinery. Such machinery was generally quite expensive, cumbersome, and much too intricate for the purpose of explanation and illustration of the various stages of the process. In some instances the complexity of such equipment was such that the desired pedagogic objectives were obfuscated. Further, since the majority of such machinery was automated to some extent, student control of stages of the molding cycle was not attainable.
Additionally, commercial blow molding equipment was inappropriate for school shop usage, since the primary design objective was production runs of commercial products utilizing custom designed molds. Set up of such equipment was quite complex and time consuming; however in commercial applications set up costs were amortized over the production run.
A prime factor in commercial blow molding cycles is the time required for cooling of parts. In many commercial applications, cooling time often constitutes as much as 90% of the total cycle time, hence cooling efficiency has become a significant factor in the design of molds and blow molding equipment. For this reason most blow molding equipment utilized water cooled molds having appropriate partitions or drilled channels to accommodate a flow of cooling water. Understandably, commercial blow molding equipment was unsuitable for use in classroom environments due to equipment costs and complexity of operation.
Students in a school shop did not require automated machinery. Nonautomated equipment capable of performing the actual processes, yet simple in design without complexities such as water cooling apparatus, was required. Such equipment would ideally allow students to operate the machinery in classroom surroundings permitting observation and participation in the various stages of a production cycle. Also of significant educational value is a pedagogic machine wherein the student actually attempts setting up the equipment for a particular project.
Other problems encountered with attempts to adapt prior machinery for pedagogic use have been the loss of the student's interest usually attributed to the performance of perfunctory tasks in a fabricating cycle of a machine set up by the instructor another student.
When students actually did set up molds in school shop molding equipment, it has been found that they were prone to error and various difficulties were encountered. Particularly with blow molding equipment, where a pair of mold segments were mounted for reciprocal movement to mate in registration over a hot extruded parison, proper realignment of mold segments after mold separation was difficult for students.


An apparatus worn by a driver or user of vehicle: The apparatus has a yoke with an aperture sized to receive a user""s head. The head of the user passes through the aperture and the yoke rests on the user""s shoulders. The apparatus has two pairs of adjustable juxtaposition elongated substantially L-shaped flanges. The first pair of elongated substantially L-shaped flanges is adjustably connected to a helmet and the second pair is adjustably connected to the yoke. The helmet and second pair of elongated substantially L-shaped flanges arcuately traverse the first pair of elongated substantially L-shaped flanges in the horizontal plane thereby permitting movement of the user""s head in the horizontal plane with respect to the user""s field of view but preventing movement of the user""s head in the vertical plane with respect to the user""s field of view.

The invention relates, in general, to an apparatus worn by a driver or user of a high performance competition vehicle to prevent head and neck injuries to the driver or user during an accident. In particular, the invention relates to an apparatus that permits the driver""s or user""s head movement in the horizontal plane relative to the driver""s or user""s field of view and prohibits the driver""s or user""s head movement in the vertical plane relative to the driver""s or user""s field of view. More particularly, the invention relates to an apparatus that maintains the driver""s or user""s field of view in the horizontal plane while seated in the vehicle in a full upright position or in a modified seated position.
High performance vehicles driven in competition sporting events travel at high speeds and in close proximity to other high performance vehicles. Generally, the competition sporting event is conducted on a closed, controlled racetrack. The spectators of the sporting event are typically separated from the racetrack by barriers to protect the spectators in case of vehicular accidents. The barriers are typically high concrete or steel walls that separate the spectators from the vehicles.
Unlike the driver of a passenger vehicle the driver of a high performance vehicles in competition have a field of view directed to the racetrack in front of the driver, to the right and to the left of the vehicle i.e., the high performance vehicle driver""s field of view is in the horizontal plane parallel to the racetrack. The high performance vehicle""s arrangement of the instrument panel is positioned to accommodate the driver""s field of view in the horizontal plane. Movement of the driver""s head in the vertical plane is not required as it is for a driver of a passenger type vehicle.
Typically, the torso of the driver of the competition vehicle is strapped or secured into the driver""s seat or to the vehicle except for the driver""s head. A helmet is worn by the driver to protect the head from impact during an accident involving another vehicle or the impact of his vehicle with the racetrack""s retaining wall. If an accident occurs, the driver""s torso remains stationary in relation to the seat to which he is strapped. The unrestrained head and neck of the driver may be violently forced forward, forced to the left or forced to the right in relation to the strapped-in driver""s torso. The forces applied to the driver""s head and neck during an accident may cause the driver""s neck to break or suffer severe injuries.
An attempt in the past to prevent injuries to the driver""s neck and head during an accident involved restraining the driver""s head by connecting the helmet of the driver to the driver""s seat by a strap. While this attempt provides stabilization of the driver""s head in relation to the driver""s seat, it does not provide stabilization of the driver""s head in relation to the driver""s torso. During an accident, the driver""s head may still be permitted to be violently forced forwarded, forced to the left or forced to the right in relation to the strapped-in driver""s torso. Another attempt to prevent injuries to the driver""s neck and head during an accident involved the driver wearing a yoke positioned on the his shoulders. The yoke along with the driver is strapped to the driver""s seat. The driver""s helmet is connected to the yoke via a pair of moveable rods positioned on either side of the helmet. The rods move on a pair of arcuate tracks positioned on the yoke thereby allowing movement of the driver""s head in the horizontal plane with respect to the driver""s field of view. During an accident, the rods permit the driver""s head to rotate in the vertical plane in relation to the yoke and may cause neck injuries to the driver.
The present invention is an apparatus worn by a driver of a high performance competition vehicle to prevent head and neck injuries to the driver during an accident. The apparatus fits over the driver""s head and shoulders and via a plurality of adjustable straps is secured to the torso of the driver. The apparatus may, if desired, be adjustably positioned on the driver to accommodate the driver in a full upright-seated position or in a modified seated position within the confines of the vehicle. Typically, the field of view of the driver of the high performance competition type vehicle is directed forward in front of the vehicle, to the right or to the left of the vehicle i.e. the driver""s field of view is in the horizontal plane parallel to the direction of travel of the vehicle. The instrument panel of the competition vehicle is in the field of view of the driver during competition; therefore, movement of the driver""s head in the vertical plane is not required. The driver of the high performance competition type vehicle having use of the present invention is able to move his head in the horizontal plane relative to his field of view but is not permit movement of his head in the vertical plane relative to his field of view.
The apparatus has a yoke with an aperture sized to receive the driver""s head. The head of the driver passes through the aperture and the yoke rests on the driver""s shoulders. The yoke has a front portion seamlessly attached to a rear portion. A plurality of straps is adjustably connected to the yoke and about the driver thereby adjustably securing the yoke""s front and rear portions to the driver""s torso.
A helmet is vertically aligned with the yoke""s aperture and adjacently spaced from the yoke""s front and rear portions. The helmet fits over the driver""s head and extends to below the driver""s jaw line. The helmet has a visor area enabling unrestricted full field of view for the driver. The helmet is connected to the yoke via a first and second pair of elongated substantially L-shaped flanges.
The first pair of elongated substantially L-shaped flanges are adjustably secured to either side of the yoke""s aperture. The first pair of elongated substantially L-shaped flanges each have a curved portion. The curved portion is formed to accommodate the arched portion of the yoke resting on the driver""s shoulders. Each curved portion has a flat substantially rectangular portion perpendicularly connected along its longitudinal length. The first pair of elongated substantially L-shaped flanges are adjustably secured to the yoke""s front and rear portions via a plurality of slots and retaining nuts and bolts.
The second pair of elongated substantially L-shaped flanges are juxtaposition the first pair of elongated substantially L-shaped flanges. The second pair of elongated substantially L-shaped flanges are adjustably secured to either side of the helmet via a pair of slots. The slots allow the helmet to be adjusted up or down in the vertical plane to accommodate the position of the driver""s head in relation to the driver""s shoulders. After the helmet is adjusted, it is secured to the second pair of elongated substantially L-shaped flanges by a plurality of nuts and bolts. Each flange has a flat substantially rectangular portion perpendicularly connected along its longitudinal length. Each substantially rectangular flat portion has an elongated arcuate slot extending along its longitudinal length. The second pair of elongated substantially L-shaped flange""s substantially rectangular flat portions are juxtaposition to the first pair of elongated substantially L-shaped flange""s substantially rectangular flat portions.
At least one pair of quick-release mechanisms may, if desired, be installed via the arcuate slots to secure the first pair of elongated substantially L-shaped flanges to the second pair of elongated substantially. L-shaped flanges. As the driver rotates his head from right to left or left to right the second pair of elongated substantially L-shaped flanges arcuately traverses the first pair of elongated substantially L-shaped flanges. The arcuate movement is derived from the quick-release mechanism traversing the second pair of elongated substantially L-shaped flanges"" arcuate slots. This action causes the second pair of elongated substantially L-shaped flanges to rotate in the horizontal plane in relation to the first pair of elongated substantially L-shaped flanges. The head of the driver is restricted to rotational movements in the horizontal plane and is prohibited from rotational head movements in the vertical plane.
In operation, the helmet is attached to the second pair of elongated substantially L-shaped flanges and in concert with the first pair of elongated substantially L-shaped flanges is adjustably secured to accommodate the driver in a full upright seated position or in a modified seated position within the confines of the vehicle. When the driver is in the full upright-seated position, his head and torso are perpendicular to his field of view i.e., the field of view is parallel to the horizontal plane. The helmet and the first and second pairs of elongated substantially elongated L-shaped flanges are adjusted forward or backward across the yoke via the yoke""s slots to maintain the driver""s field of view in the horizontal plane. Once adjusted the first pair of elongated substantially elongated L-shaped flanges are secured in place by a plurality of nuts and bolts.
When the driver is in the modified seated position, the driver""s torso is semi-reclined thereby requiring the head of the driver to be rotated forward toward his chest area to allow full field of view in the horizontal plane while operating the vehicle. To accommodate the driver in the modified seated position the helmet and the first and second pairs of elongated substantially elongated L-shaped flanges are adjusted forward across the yoke and secured (as discussed above).


A method and related system for semiconductor equipment prevention maintenance management. The method includes recording process parameters of each piece of equipment, recording equipment parameters when each piece of equipment is processing, evaluating and recording time and cost of prevention maintenance after each piece of equipment runs prevention maintenance, evaluating the quality of semiconductor products, and analyzing a relationship between the corresponding process parameter, the corresponding equipment parameters, prevention maintenance cost, and semiconductor products of each piece of equipment.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and related system for semiconductor equipment management, and more particularly, to a method and related system for semiconductor equipment prevention maintenance management.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In semiconductor processing, each piece of semiconductor equipment runs prevention maintenance to modify the efficiency the piece of semiconductor equipment and semiconductor processing during a period, which provides more objective standards for testing data of semiconductor products. In the prior art, prevention maintenance of semiconductor equipments is performed by an experienced manufacturing engineer, who measures data to analyze and perform prevention maintenance of the semiconductor equipment according to the analytic results. However, the analytic results must been judged and evaluated by the manufacturing engineer to perform prevention maintenance. In addition, analytic knowledge of the semiconductor process is based on the analytic results according to some test items, including the efficiency of the semiconductor equipments, data measures of the semiconductor process, and prevention maintenance costs of the semiconductor equipment. The analytic results are not integrated to provide whole reference data for prevention maintenance of semiconductor equipment. Prevention maintenance knowledge is usually lost when manufacturing engineers leave the company, which causes a great loss to the manufacturer.

Method and related system for semiconductor equipment prevention maintenance management


There are provided a high brightness polarizing plate and a liquid crystal display device including the high brightness polarizing plate as a lower polarizing plate. The high brightness polarizing plate includes: a polarizer; and a protective film disposed on a side of the polarizer, wherein the protective film faces a backlight unit, and a primer layer including a low-refractive polymer resin and fine hollow particles is formed on a side of the protective film opposite to a side thereof facing the polarizer.

Liquid crystal display devices have recently been used in a wide range of devices including small electronic devices such as cellular phones as well as in large electronic devices, such as personal computers and televisions, and the application range thereof has been gradually widened. Since such Liquid crystal display devices are not self-luminous, generally, a light source such as a backlight unit is disposed at one side of a lower polarizing plate located below a liquid crystal cell, and light emitted from the light source is directed to pass through the liquid crystal cell to display images.
Liquid crystal display devices having high levels of brightness can display brighter images. In addition, Liquid crystal display devices having high levels of white brightness can have high contrast ratios, and thus, can display clear images. Therefore, a large amount of research has been actively conducted into improving the brightness of Liquid crystal display devices.
In the related art, a method of decreasing the content of iodine in a polarizer has been proposed as a method of improving the brightness of Liquid crystal display devices. However, the proposed method may result in a decrease in the degree of polarization. Furthermore, in other techniques proposed for improving light use efficiency, a reflective polarizing plate is disposed around a lower polarizing plate, and light emitted from a backlight unit but having a polarization state unnecessary for the lower polarizing plate is selectively reflected by the reflective polarizing plate toward a reflective plate of the backlight unit so that the light can be re-reflected. However, these techniques require additional processes and relatively expensive materials.
In general, an air gap exists between a lower polarizing plate and a backlight unit of a Liquid crystal display device and, due to a difference in refractive indices between the air gap and the lower polarizing plate, light may be reflected. Due to such a reflection of light, the amount of light emitted from the backlight unit and incident on the lower polarizing plate is reduced to result in a decrease in brightness. Although the existing brightness improving methods described above can be used to increase light use efficiency, the existing brightness improving methods can not be used to prevent a decrease in brightness such as that caused by an air gap.
Therefore, a new technique is needed for improving the brightness of a Liquid crystal display device by preventing a decrease in brightness caused by an air gap between a lower polarizing plate and a backlight unit.

High brightness polarizing plate and liquid crystal display device including the same


Various endoscopes are integrated with an applicator configured for delivering a therapeutic solution to an internal anatomic target that may be infected by pathogenic microorganisms and a UV light-emitting device transmitting UV light thereto.

Endoscopes are instruments used to examine the interior of a hollow organ or a cavity of the body in order to minimize invasive surgeries. Endoscopes are often employed as disease-diagnosis tools; for example, a gastrointestinal (GI) endoscope and a cystoscope can visualize a patient's GI tract and urinary tract to diagnose, respectively, an unexplained diarrhea or hematuria. In addition, endoscopes may be combined with a variety of surgical instruments to enable surgeons to perform procedures, such as orthopedic implantations, while imaging the region of interest using video, ultrasound, laser, optics or other imaging modalities.
Conventionally, both diagnostic and surgical endoscopes assist in examination of interior body regions only; actually treating disease may require another separate procedure. As a result, patients must often make repeated clinic visits with attendant inconvenience and delays, risking not only increased mental anxiety but also complications associated with progressing symptoms. In addition, the use of endoscopes may result in injury to or pathogenic infections at the surgical site (e.g., the implantation site), a consideration that limits use of endoscopic examination as an adjunct to treatment.
Consequently, there is a need for a system and a method that can combine endoscopic examination with therapy. In addition, it is desirable for such a system and method to be associated with a reduced risk of pathogenic infections that can result from endoscope usage.

Endoscopes enhanced with pathogenic treatment


A drive device includes a driven body provided on an opening of a case, and a polymer actuator which is bent and deformed in a height direction and movably supports the driven body in the height direction. A first conductive portion is provided on the case side, a second conductive portion is provided on the driven body side, and the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion configure a plurality of contact portions. When the driven body is raised by the polymer actuator, the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion come into contact with each other by the plurality of contact portions, and thus, the raised state of the driven body is detected.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a drive device using a polymer actuator capable of moving a driven body by the polymer actuator.
2. Description of the Related Art
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 61-67882 discloses a Braille device in which a switch mechanism for confirming an operation of a push rod is provided.
In Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 61-67882, the push rod is moved up and down by a solenoid, and when the solenoid is out of order and the push rod cannot be appropriately pushed up, the switch is not turned on, and thus, it is possible to inform abnormality.
Then, the driven body is shortened and weight thereof is reduced from needs such as a decrease in the thickness of the device and a reduction in power consumption, and a polymer actuator is considered as an actuator for driving the driven body in a predetermined direction.
The polymer actuator is configured to include electrode layers on both surfaces of an electrolyte layer and is bent and deformed in a height direction when a voltage is applied to a portion between electrode layers, and thus, a decrease in the thickness of the device and a reduction in power consumption can be promoted.
However, when the driven body is driven to be raised by the polymer actuator bent and deformed in a predetermined direction, a force in an inclined direction is generated between the polymer actuator and the driven body in order to bend and deform the polymer actuator, and the driven body may be driven in a state of being inclined. In this case, the driven body is caught between openings provided on a case, the driven body cannot protrude straight from the opening and with a predetermined dimension, and particularly, this easily occurs as the size of the driven body is decreased and the weight thereof is decreased.
Such an abnormal movement state of the driven body cannot be securely detected by the switch mechanism of Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 61-67882.


A reel (108) for an agricultural harvesting head (104) has thrust bearings at the ends of its bat supports (128) that counteract sagging of the reel under the force of gravity.

Agricultural harvesters such as combine harvesters travel through agricultural fields harvesting crops. The harvesting machines typically have an agricultural harvesting head disposed at the front of the agricultural harvester that engages the standing crop plants.
The agricultural harvesting head functions by severing the stalks of the crop plants adjacent to their roots, and carrying the cut crop plants into the agricultural harvester for further processing.
There is a need to direct the crop plants onto the agricultural harvesting head as the roots are severed. This function is provided by a reel. The reel extends laterally with respect to the direction of travel of the agricultural harvester. The reel engages the top portions of the crop plants as their stalks are severed, and pushes the upper portions of the crop plants rearward such that the cut crop plants are received by conveying mechanism on the agricultural harvesting head. The conveying mechanism carries the cut crop plants to the agricultural harvester where the crop plants are processed further.
The reel of an agricultural harvesting head is generally in the form of central tube that extends laterally and is elongate. Several smaller tubes commonly called "bats" are distributed equiangularly around the circumference of the central tube. These bats are generally spaced equidistant from the central tube. Each bat supports several fingers that are spaced equidistantly apart with respect to each other. These fingers extend in the same direction on each bat.
The central tube is driven in rotation, and in turn causes the bats to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the central tube. As each bat ascends and engages the tops of the uncut crop plants, the fingers on the bat urge the crop plants rearward and onto the upper surface of the agricultural harvesting head.
In recent years, agricultural harvesting heads have been made longer and longer. This increased length has required that the central tubes be made stiffer so they do not sag in the middle. When the central tube sags in the middle, there is a risk that the fingers will be cut by the elongate reciprocating knife that severs the stalks of the crop plants adjacent to the roots.
This need for greater stiffness due to length has required that the central tube be made with a larger diameter, and often with a thicker wall as well. This, in turn, means that the agricultural harvesting head is not just heavier proportional to its length but heavier due to the increased wall thickness of the central tube and larger diameter of the central tube.
This additional weight, in turn, requires that the agricultural harvester be made heavier to support this weight, in particular the feederhouse upon which the agricultural harvesting head rests, and the hydraulic cylinders that raise and lower the feederhouse, and thus the agricultural harvesting head.
What is required, therefore, is a reel that is lighter in weight than the traditional reel arrangement. It is an object of this invention to provide such a reel.


The present invention relates to a device and a method for the application of composites in tooth cavities. The device consists of a spray gun with integrated lighting for light-polymerizable composites, a measuring unit and a control unit. The composites are applied under controlled, precisely dosed exposure to polymerization light. According to the invention, the composite initially runs onto the walls of the cavity or onto previously introduced filling material and then, as a result of the light exposure, is transformed into the gel state. Thus, a large part of the polymerization shrinkage of the composite occurs while the composite is still plastically deformable so that any formation of gaps is compensated by the composite continuing to flow. It is only at this point in time that a sufficiently high dosage of light is applied for complete curing to occur.

In restorative and preventive dentistry, filling cavities, dental defects or root canals of teeth is of special importance. Apart from a plurality of different materials (e.g. gutta-percha, amalgam, gold), composites are also used as filling materials. Composites are mixtures of a polymerizable plastic matrix with organic and inorganic filling materials. The polymerization of these composites is triggered by exposure to visible blue or ultraviolet light after the composites have been applied into the cavity. Thus, the method which is currently common is comprised of first applying the composite into the cavity and subsequently hardening the composite by exposure to light.
All composites tend to form gaps due to their shrinkage behavior during hardening such that in case of the formation of a gap the tooth cavity will not be hermetically sealed. Due to this lack of hermetic sealing of the tooth cavity bacterial infestation of the gaps is possible and thus new caries and pain can be caused.

Device and method for the application of light-curing composites


Disclosed is a high-strength steel sheet having a tensile strength (TS) of 780 MPa or more and excellent in ductility, fatigue properties, stretch flangeability, surface characteristics, and sheet passage ability that can be obtained by providing a predetermined chemical composition and a steel microstructure that contains, by area, 20-50% of ferrite, 5-25% of bainitic ferrite, 1-10% of martensite, and 5-15% of tempered martensite, and that contains, by volume, 10% or more of retained austenite, in which the retained austenite has a mean grain size of 2 μm or less, a mean Mn content in the retained austenite in mass % is at least 1.2 times the Mn content in the steel sheet in mass %, the retained austenite has a mean free path of 1.2 μm or less, and the tempered martensite has a mean free path of 1.2 μm or less.

In order to secure passenger safety upon collision and to improve fuel efficiency by reducing the weight of automotive bodies, high-strength steel sheets having a tensile strength (TS) of 780 MPa or more, and reduced in thickness, have been increasingly applied to automobile structural members. Further, in recent years, examination has been made of applications of ultra-high-strength steel sheets with 980 MPa and 1180 MPa grade TS.
In general, however, strengthening of steel sheets leads to deterioration in formability. It is thus difficult to achieve both increased strength and excellent formability. Therefore, it is desirable to develop steel sheets with increased strength and excellent formability.
In addition, strengthening of steel sheets and reducing the thickness significantly deteriorates the shape fixability of the steel sheets. To address this problem, a press mold design is widely used that takes into consideration the amount of geometric change after release from the press mold as predicted at the time of press forming.
However, the amount of geometric change is predicted on the basis of TS, and accordingly increased variation in TS of steel sheets results in the predicted value of geometric change deviating more markedly from the amount of actual geometric change, inducing malformation. Such steel sheets suffering malformation require adjustments after subjection to press forming, such as sheet metal working on individual steel sheets, significantly decreasing mass production efficiency. Accordingly, there is a demand for minimizing variation in TS of steel sheets.
To meet this demand, for example, JP2004218025A (PTL 1) describes a high-strength steel sheet with excellent workability and shape fixability comprising: a chemical composition containing, in mass %, C: 0.06% or more and 0.60% or less, Si+Al: 0.5% or more and 3.0% or less, Mn: 0.5% or more and 3.0% or less, P: 0.15% or less, and S: 0.02% or less; and a microstructure that contains tempered martensite: 15% or more by area to the entire microstructure, ferrite: 5% or more and 60% or less by area to the entire microstructure, and retained austenite: 5% or more by volume to the entire microstructure, and that may contain bainite and/or martensite, wherein a ratio of the retained austenite transforming to martensite upon application of a 2% strain is 20% to 50%.
JP2011195956A (PTL 2) describes a high-strength thin steel sheet with excellent elongation and hole expansion formability, comprising: a chemical composition containing, in mass %, C: 0.05% or more and 0.35% or less, Si: 0.05% or more and 2.0% or less, Mn: 0.8% or more and 3.0% or less, P: 0.0010% or more and 0.1000% or less, S: 0.0005% or more and 0.0500% or less, and Al: 0.01% or more and 2.00% or less, and the balance consisting of iron and incidental impurities; and a metallographic structure that includes a dominant phase of ferrite, bainite, or tempered martensite, and retained austenite in an amount of 3% or more and 30% or less, wherein at a phase interface at which the austenite comes in contact with ferrite, bainite, and martensite, austenite grains that satisfy Cgb/Cgc >1.3 are present in an amount of 50% or more, where Cgc is a central carbon concentration and Cgb is a carbon concentration at grain boundaries of austenite grains.
JP201090475A (PTL 3) describes "a high-strength steel sheet comprising a chemical composition containing, in mass %, C: more than 0.17% and 0.73% or less, Si: 3.0% or less, Mn: 0.5% or more and 3.0% or less, P: 0.1% or less, S: 0.07% or less, Al: 3.0% or less, and N: 0.010% or less, where Si+Al is 0.7% or more, and the balance consisting of Fe and incidental impurities; and a microstructure that contains martensite: 10% or more and 90% or less by area to the entire steel sheet microstructure, retained austenite content: 5% or more and 50% or less, and bainitic ferrite in upper bainite: 5% or more by area to the entire steel sheet microstructure, wherein the steel sheet satisfies conditions that 25% or more of the martensite is tempered martensite, a total of the area ratio of the martensite to the entire steel sheet microstructure, the retained austenite content, and the area ratio of the bainitic ferrite in upper bainite to the entire steel sheet microstructure is 65% or more, and an area ratio of polygonal ferrite to the entire steel sheet microstructure is 10% or less, and wherein the steel sheet has a mean carbon concentration of 0.70% or more in the retained austenite and has a tensile strength (TS) of 980 MPa or more.
JP2008174802A (PTL 4) describes a high-strength cold-rolled steel sheet with a high yield ratio and having a tensile strength of 980 MPa or more, the steel sheet comprising, on average, a chemical composition that contains, by mass %, C: more than 0.06% and 0.24% or less, Si: 0.3% or less, Mn: 0.5% or more and 2.0% or less, P 0.06% or less, S: 0.005% or less, Al: 0.06% or less, N 0.006% or less, Mo: 0.05% or more and 0.50% or less, Ti: 0.03% or more and 0.2% or less, and V: more than 0.15% and 1.2% or less, and the balance consisting of Fe and incidental impurities, wherein the contents of C, Ti, Mo, and V satisfy 0.8≤(C/12)/{(Ti/48)+(Mo/96)+(V/51)}≤1.5, and wherein an area ratio of ferrite phase is 95% or more, and carbides containing Ti, Mo, and V with a mean grain size of less than 10 nm are diffused and precipitated, where Ti, Mo, and V contents represented by atomic percentage satisfy V/(Ti+Mo+V)≥0.3.
JP2010275627A (PTL 5) describes a high-strength steel sheet with excellent workability comprising a chemical composition containing, in mass %, C: 0.05% or more and 0.30% or less, Si: 0.01% or more and 2.50% or less, Mn: 0.5% or more and 3.5% or less, P: 0.003% or more and 0.100%, S: 0.02% or less, and Al: 0.010% to 1.500%, where Si+Al: 0.5% to 3.0%, and the balance consisting of Fe and incidental impurities; and a metallic structure that contains, by area, ferrite: 20% or more, tempered martensite: 10% or more and 60% or less, and martensite: 0% to 10%, and that contains, by volume, retained austenite: 3% to 10%, where a ratio m/f of a Vickers hardness (m) of the tempered martensite to a Vickers hardness (f) of the ferrite is 3.0 or less.
JP3231204B (PTL 6) describes a steel sheet with a multi-phase excellent in fatigue properties, the steel sheet comprising a chemical composition containing, in mass %, C: 0.03% or more and 0.15% or less, Si: 0.3% or more and 1.5% or less, Mn: 0.1% or more and 2.0% or less, P: 0.1% or more, Al: 0.005% or more and 0.1% or less, and S: 0.005% or less, and the balance consisting of Fe and incidental impurities; and a tri-phase structure that contains hard, bainite and martensite phases in ferrite phase, wherein the ferrite has a grain size of 4 μm or more and 15 μm or less and a Vickers hardness (Hv) of 140 or more and 180 or less, the bainite has a grain size of 6 μm or less and a Vickers hardness (Hv) of 250 or more and 400 or less, and the martensite has a grain size of 6 μm or less and a Vickers hardness (Hv) of 400 or more and 700 or less, and wherein a volume fraction of the entire hard phase is 5% or more and 40% or less, and the entire hard phase has a mean free path of 20 μm or less.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

High-strength steel sheet and production method for same, and production method for high-strength galvanized steel sheet


A game hauling cart including a frame that has a first side portion, a second side portion, and a middle portion. The first side portion of the frame has a pair of handles with a first flat bar. The second side portion has a second pair of handles with a second flat bar. The middle portion has three flat bars proportionately spaced and forming a frame base. A wheel is rotatably mounted on a shaft portion. Included are a pair uprights with each upright having a wheel end and a frame end. The wheel end of each upright receives the shaft. The frame end of each upright is welded to a lower side of one of the flat bars of the frame base. A pair of braces are provided. Each brace has a bottom end welded to one of the uprights and a pair of arms that extend upward. Each of the arms are welded to the lower side of one of the three flat bars. A rigid mesh is included and positioned within the frame. Lastly, a wench is attached to one of the flat bars between the handles.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a game hauling cart and more particularly pertains to allowing game to be pulled into a symmetrical cart structure by a wench, and further allowing the structure to be supported by a bi-directional single wheel.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of a game carrying device is known in the prior art. More specifically, a game carrying device heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of transporting game carcass are known to consist basically of familiar, expected, and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which has been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,328,192 to Thompson discloses a manual pull-type carrier for transporting a large game carcass. U.S. Pat. No. 5,282,520 to Walker discloses a portable hunting stand and game carrier. U.S. Pat. No. Design 341,011 to Liberato discloses a game carrying device. U.S. Pat. No. 5,242,030 to Lobocco discloses a deer stand. U.S. Pat. No. Design. 315,447 to McMahon discloses a small game carrier. Lastly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,023,844 to Roberts discloses a large game carrier.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a game hauling cart that allows a game carcass to be secured with the J-hook of a wench, pulled by the wench into the carriage of the cart, and transported out of the wilderness in the carrier supported by a bi-directional single wheel.
In this respect, the game hauling cart according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of allowing game to be pulled into a symmetrical cart structure by a wench, and further allowing the structure to be supported by a bi-directional single wheel.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved game hauling cart which can be used for allowing game to be pulled into a symmetrical cart structure by a wench, and further allowing the structure to be supported by a bi-directional single wheel. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.


An antifouling coating composition which makes it possible to control the dissolution rate of a coating film and which can exert antifouling properties for a long period of time. An antifouling coating composition comprising an antifouling resin (A) obtained by reacting a base resin including, in one molecule, a carboxyl group and a group having a polyalkylene glycol structure with an oxide or a hydroxide of a divalent or more metallic atom in the presence of water in an amount of 1 to 30% by weight of the solid content of the base resin, and an antifouling agent (B).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an antifouling coating composition which can control the dissolution rate of a coating film and which can exert antifouling properties for a long period of time.
2. Description of Related Art
Heretofore, a resin having a carboxylate of tin has been used as a binder for an antifouling coating composition. However, since such resins can be harmful, the replacement of the tin carboxylate resin with another resin has been required in some instances. Thus, various resins, mainly having carboxylates of copper and zinc, have been investigated. For example, some typical alternative resins have been suggested in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 57464/1987 and 209005/1996, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
However, it is difficult to obtain sufficient control the erosion rate of a coating film obtained from each of these resins, and furthermore, while such resins can exert antifouling properties to some extent, a problem can arise that the antifouling properties cannot be maintained over an extended time period.


The present invention relates to an electronic control circuit that detects a short-circuit or excess current condition and, in response thereto, cuts off the output current from the system power supply. The circuit is disposed between a system power supply and a load device. An output transistor is connected between the system power supply and the load device to control the level of current supplied to the load device, including cutting off the current supply entirely in case of a short-circuit or excess current condition. The output transistor is controlled by a pre-drive transistor which, in combination with pre-drive resistors, provides a control signal to the output transistor to control the level of output current supplied to the load device. The control signal produced by the pre-drive transistor is dependent upon the output of an operational amplifier that compares the output potential to a pre-determined reference voltage to determine if the output potential has reached a stable level. In the event of a short-circuit or excess current condition, a switch network, consisting of a switch transistor, a resistor, and two diodes in the preferred embodiment, deactivates the pre-drive transistor, which in turn deactivates the output transistor. The output transistor cuts off the output current from the system power supply, thereby protecting the system power supply from possible damage.

Power supplies in electronic systems, such as automobile electrical systems, are subject to potential damage if a short-circuit or an excess current condition occurs. Present technology protects system power supplies by using active current sensors to determine if excess current is drawn from the power supply. Other existing technology involves the use of heat sensing devices to determine if the load device in the system or the pass transistor in the power supply is conducting excessive heat. If excess current or excess heat is detected in the system, the electrical system is shut down prior to the power supply incurring any damage. However, the use of active current sensors and heat sensing devices is not as cost effective as using individual electronic components. Moreover, the use of active current sensors and heat sensing devices requires complex methodologies to compensate for general temperature variations which are not as efficient as the present invention. Accordingly, there exists a need for an electronic control circuit that protects the system power supply from short-circuit or excess current conditions without requiring the use of an active current sensing device or heat sensing device.

Power supply with control circuit for short circuit detection and excess current protection


Embodiments provide a tank container including a base adapted to rest on an external support, an open frame joined to the base in spaced relation to a tank barrel, the frame defining a space about the tank barrel, an open protective structure supported by the frame, the protective structure impeding contact between the flange and an external structural agent, hoist engagement structure adapted to receive hoist rigging, and rigging protective structure supported by the frame.

A tank container is used to contain and transport a load of fluid material. The tank container includes a tank barrel for containing the fluid material. The tank container includes a container frame supporting the tank barrel. The container frame is adapted to rest on a suitable support. The support can be a floor or rack of a facility, or a deck or rack of a transport. The container frame can be adapted to be lifted or hoisted by a suitable lift or hoist. For example, in an arrangement, the container frame can be engaged by lifting apparatus such as a forklift. In an arrangement, the container frame can be engaged by hoist apparatus, such as a single point hoist. The single point hoist can include a hoist hook supported by a hoist cable. In one arrangement, the hoist hook supports rigging suitable to engage the tank container. The rigging can include a set of wire rope slings supported by the hoist hook and arranged to engage the tank container.
For the reasons stated above, and for other reasons stated below which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification, there is a need in the art for improved tank containers.

Tank container, frame, hoist eyes and protective structures