This invention discloses a process for producing a high Viscosity Index lubricant having a VI of at least 125 from a waxy hydrocarbon feed having a wax content of at least 40 wt %. The process comprises catalytically dewaxing waxy paraffins present in the feed by isomerization in the presence of hydrogen and in the presence of a low acidity large pore zeolite isomerization catalyst. This catalyst has a ratio of SiO.sub.2 /Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, as synthesized, of at least 50:1, wherein the catalyst is prepared in the absence of boron. The alpha value of the catalyst is no greater than 20. The catalyst comprises a noble metal hydroisomerization catalyst such as Pt. The feed may be hydrocracked prior to dewaxing with the large pore zeolite. The effluent of the process may also be further dewaxed by either solvent or catalytic means in order to achieve target pour point.

Mineral oil based lubricants are conventionally produced by a separative sequence carried out in the petroleum refinery which comprises fractionation of a paraffinic crude oil under atmospheric pressure followed by fractionation under vacuum to produce distillate fractions (neutral oils) and a residual fraction which, after deasphalting and severe solvent treatment may also be used as a lubricant basestock. This refined residual fraction is usually referred to as bright stock. Neutral oils, after solvent extraction to remove low viscosity index (V.I.) components, are conventionally subjected to dewaxing, either by solvent or catalytic dewaxing processes, to achieve the desired pour point. The dewaxed lube stock may be hydrofinished to improve stability and remove color bodies. Viscosity Index (V.I.) is a reflection of the amount of viscosity decrease a lubricant undergoes with an increase in temperature. The products of solvent dewaxing are dewaxed lube oil and slack wax. Slack wax typically contains 60% to 90% wax with the balance being entrained oil. In some instances it is desirable to purify the slack wax of entrained oil by subjecting the slack wax to a deoiling step in which the slack wax is diluted with dewaxing solvents and filtered at a temperature higher than that used in the filtering step used to produce the slack wax. The purified wax is termed deoiled wax, and contains greater than 95% wax. The byproduct of the second filtration typically contains 50% wax and is termed foots oil.
Catalytic dewaxing of lube stocks is accomplished by converting waxy molecules to light products by cracking, or by isomerizing waxy molecules to form species which remain in the dewaxed lube. Dewaxing catalysts preserve high yield primarily by having pore structures which inhibit cracking of cyclic and highly branched species, those generally associated with dewaxed lube, while permitting easier access to catalytically active sites to near-linear molecules, of which wax is generally composed. Catalysts which significantly reduce the accessibility of species on the basis of molecular size are termed shape selective. Increasing the shape selectivity of a dewaxing catalyst will frequently increase the yield of dewaxed oil.
The shape selectivity of a dewaxing catalyst is limited practically by its ability to convert waxy molecules which have a slightly branched structure. These types of species are more commonly associated with heavier lube stocks, such as bright stocks. Highly shape selective dewaxing catalysts may be unable to convert heavy, branched wax species leading to a hazy lube appearance at ambient temperature and high cloud point relative to pour point.
Conventional lube refining techniques rely upon the proper selection and use of crude stocks, usually of a paraffinic character, which produce lube fractions with desired qualities in adequate amounts. The range of permissible crude sources may, however, be extended by the lube hydrocracking process which is capable of utilizing crude stocks of marginal or poor quality, usually with a higher aromatic content than the better paraffinic crudes. The lube hydrocracking process, which is well established in the petroleum refining industry, generally comprises an initial hydrocracking step carried out under high pressure, at high temperature, and in the presence of a bifunctional catalyst which effects partial saturation and ring opening of the aromatic components which are present in the feed. The hydrocracked product is then subjected to dewaxing in order to reach the target pour point since the hydrocracked product usually contains species with relatively high pour points. Frequently the liquid product from the dewaxing step is subjected to a low temperature, high pressure hydrotreating step to reduce the aromatic content of the lube to the desired level.
Current trends in the design of automotive engines are associated with higher operating temperatures as the efficiency of the engines increases. These higher operating temperatures require successively higher quality lubricants. One of the requirements is for higher viscosity indices (V.I.) in order to reduce the effects of the higher operating temperatures on the viscosity of the engine lubricants. High V.I. values have conventionally been attained by the use of V.I. improvers e.g. polyacrylates and polystyrenes. V.I. improvers tend to undergo degradation due to high temperatures and high shear rates encountered in the engine. The more stressing conditions encountered in high efficiency engines result in even faster degradation of oils which employ significant amounts of V.I. improvers. Thus, there is a continuing need for automotive lubricants which are based on fluids of high Viscosity Index and which are resistant to the high temperature, high shear rate conditions encountered in modern engines.
Synthetic lubricants produced by the polymerization of olefins in the presence of certain catalysts have been shown to possess excellent V.I. values, but they are relatively expensive to produce. There is therefore a need for the production of high V.I. lubricants from mineral oil stocks which may be produced by techniques comparable to those presently employed in petroleum refineries.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,975,177 discloses a two-stage dewaxing process for producing lube stocks of high V.I. from waxy feedstocks. In the first stage of this process, the waxy feed is catalytically dewaxed by isomerization over zeolite beta. The product of the isomerization step still contains waxy species and requires further dewaxing to meet target pour point. The second-stage dewaxing employs either solvent dewaxing, in which case the rejected wax may be recycled to the isomerization stage to maximize yield, or catalytic dewaxing. Catalysts which may be used in the second stage are ZSM-5, ZSM-22, ZSM-23, and ZSM-35. To preserve yield and V.I., the second stage dewaxing catalyst should have selectivity similar to solvent dewaxing. U.S. Pat. No. 4,919,788 also teaches a two-stage dewaxing process in which a waxy feed is partially dewaxed by isomerization over a siliceous Y or beta catalyst with the product subsequently dewaxed to desired pour point using either solvent dewaxing or catalytic dewaxing. Dewaxing catalysts with high shape selectivity, such as ZSM-22 and ZSM-23, are preferred catalysts. These examples, however, do not teach synergistic effects involving more than one dewaxing catalyst.
Ser. No. 08/017,949 discloses a two stage hydrocracking and hydroisomerization process. The first stage employs a bifunctional catalyst comprising a metal hydrogenation component on an amorphous acidic support. The second stage, the hydroisomerization step, is carried out over zeolite beta. Subsequent dewaxing is optional but recommended. Either solvent dewaxing or catalytic dewaxing maybe used subsequently in order to obtain target V.I. and pour point. There is no teaching of catalytic synergism in this invention.
In Ser. No. 08/017,955, petroleum wax feed is subjected to hydroisomerization over a noble metal-containing zeolite catalyst of low acidity. The paraffins present in the feed are selectively converted to iso-paraffins of high V.I. but lower pour point so that a final lube product of good viscometric properties is produced with a minimal degree of subsequent dewaxing. The process, which operates under high pressure, is well suited for upgrading waxy feeds such as slack wax with aromatic contents greater than about 15 wt. % to high Viscosity Index lubricating oils with high single pass yields and limited requirement for product dewaxing.
Related cases primarily emphasize solvent dewaxing with Catalytic dewaxing as a possible alternative or secondary step. The advantage of solvent dewaxing the product of the isomerization stage in that wax is rejected and can be recycled to the isomerization catalyst to improve the yield of high V.I. lube. However, operational costs for solvent dewaxing are higher than for catalytic dewaxing. Additionally, the pour point of the solvent dewaxed lube stock is restricted by solvent refrigeration capability to approximately -5.degree. to 0.degree. F. Catalytic dewaxing enables production of high V.I. lubes having pour points significantly lower than those possible for solvent dewaxing. An unexpected development of the total catalytic dewaxing process is that it can produce lubricants with equivalent or higher V.I. at equivalent or lower pour points than lubricants produced by solvent dewaxing. U.S. Pat. No. 5,302,279 (and the analogous European patent application EP 464 547 A1) teaches the use of a low acidity form of zeolite beta for isomerizing and dewaxing furfural raffinates. The improved selectivity of a catalyst of low acidity over one of high acidity was demonstrated in the examples.


A child support for supporting the head of a child for bathing purposes comprises a base having a top face, a bottom face, a pair of elongated side faces and a pair of short end faces. One of the end faces has a first gear fixedly coupled thereto in coplanar relationship with one of the side faces. The bottom face of the base has a plurality of suction cups mounted thereon. A reclining head rest has a top face, a bottom face, a pair of side faces and a pair of end faces. A bottom one of the end faces has a pair of tabs integrally coupled thereto and extending therefrom in coplanar relationship with the side faces of the reclining head rest for pivotally coupling with the side faces of the base adjacent to the end face to which the first gear is coupled. The reclining head rest has a dial rotatably coupled to one of the side faces thereof with a second gear coupled thereto and residing within an interior space of the reclining head rest and in engagement with the first gear of the base for allowing the selective pivoting of the reclining head rest by way of the rotation of the dial. A top end face of the of the reclining head rest has a cutout formed therein for receiving a neck of a child. The reclining head rest also has a support plate pivotally coupled along the top end face thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to child shampoo supports and more particularly pertains to a new reclining shampoo support for children for supporting a head of a child at various angles for shampooing purposes.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of child shampoo supports is known in the prior art. More specifically, child shampoo supports heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art child shampoo supports include U.S. Pat. No. 4,754,503; U.S. Pat. No. 3,965,496; U.S. Pat. No. 5,022,102; U.S. Pat. No. 4,765,003; U.S. Pat. No. 4,167,048; and U.S. Patent Des. 267,599.
In these respects, the reclining shampoo support for children according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of supporting a head of a child at various angles for shampooing purposes.


A drive axle assembly for motor vehicles, includes a support beam member having a substantially flat, enlarged central plate section and two opposite arm sections, a differential assembly module secured to the central plate section and enclosed into a housing formed by a rear cover and a front cover secured to opposite surfaces of the central plate section. A method for assembling the drive axle assembly comprises the steps of securing the front cover to a front mounting surface of the support beam member, fastening the differential assembly module to the central plate section of the support beam member, and fastening the rear cover to the rear mounting surface of the support beam member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to axle assemblies for motor vehicles and methods for assembling thereof in general, and more particularly to a method for assembling axle assemblies.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Rigid drive axle assemblies are well known structures that are in common use in most motor vehicles. Such axle assemblies include a number of components that are adapted to transmit rotational power from an engine of the motor vehicle to wheels thereof. Typically, the rigid drive axle assembly includes a hollow axle housing, a differential, which is rotatably supported within the axle housing by a non-rotating carrier. The differential is connected between an input drive shaft extending from the vehicle engine and a pair of output axle shafts extending to the vehicle wheels. The axle shafts are contained in respective non-rotating tubes that are secured to the carrier. Thus, rotation of the differential by the drive shaft causes corresponding rotation of the axle shafts. The carrier and the tubes form a housing for these drive train components of the axle assembly, inasmuch as the differential and the axle shafts are supported for rotation therein.
The axle housings are generally classified into two basic types. The first axle housing type is a unitized carrier construction, commonly referred to as a Salisbury type axle assembly, illustrated in FIG. 1. In this structure, the Salisbury type axle assembly 301 includes a carrier 312 (which houses a rotatable differential mechanism 340) is directly connected to the two tubes 316 and 317 (which house the rotatable axle shafts 320). An opening is provided at the rear of the carrier to permit assembly of the differential therein. A cover 326 closes this opening during the use. The cover 326 is connected by bolts (not shown) to a rear face 330 of the carrier 312 hydraulically seals the housing against the passage of lubricant. A brake assembly 314 located at the end of a tube 316 extending outboard from the ends of an axle carrier 312. Located within the differential case is a drive pinion 332 rotatably supported by a rear drive pinion bearing 334 and a front drive pinion bearing (not shown) supported on the inner surface of a portion of the axle carrier casing 338 that extends forward from the center line of the axle assembly. A driveshaft, driveably connected to the output shaft of a transmission, is coupled to the shaft of the drive pinion 332. The differential mechanism 340, located within the differential case 348, includes a ring gear 342, in continuous meshing engagement with drive pinion 332 and supported rotatably on the differential rear drive pinion bearing 334 and the front drive pinion bearing located within the housing gear and cylindrical extension 338 of the carrier 312. The axle carrier 312 also includes laterally directed tubular extensions 344, 346, which receive therein the ends of housing tubes 316 and 317, respectively. Located within the carrier 312 is a differential case 348, on which bevel pinion gears 350, 352 are supported for rotation on a differential pinion shaft 354. Side bevel gears 356, 358 are in continuous meshing engagement with pinions 350, 352 and are driveably connected to left and right axle shafts 320, located respectively within tubes 316 and 317. The axle shaft 320 is connected to the corresponding side bevel gear 356. Unitized carrier axle housing constructions of this type are economical to manufacture and are readily adaptable for a variety of vehicles.
The second axle housing type is a separable carrier construction, and is commonly referred to as a Banjo type axle, illustrated in FIG. 2. In this structure, the Banjo type axle 401 includes an axle housing 402 having axle tubes 406a and 406b connected together by a central member 404. The axle tubes 406a and 406b are adapted to receive and rotatably support output axle shafts 414a and 414b. The axle housing 402 is formed separate and apart from a carrier 422. This central member 404 is generally hollow and cylindrical in shape, having a large generally circular opening 410 formed therethrough. During assembly, a differential 420 is first assembled within the carrier 422, then the carrier 422 is secured to the central member 404 of the axle housing 402. The overall shape of this type of axle housing (i.e., the generally round shape of the central member 404 and the elongated tubes 406a and 406b extending therefrom) generally resembles the shape of a banjo musical instrument. Hence, this type of axle housing is referred to as the Banjo type axle housing. The Banjo type axle housings are advantageous because the carrier 422 and differential 420 can be removed from the axle assembly 401 for service without disturbing the other components thereof.
However, both Banjo and Salisbury type axles have their disadvantages. Thus, there is a need for a rigid drive axle assembly that combines the advantages of both Banjo and Salisbury type axles and lessens their shortcomings.

Drive axle for motor vehicles and method for assembling the same


Disclosed is a pharmaceutical composition for modulating immunity, which comprises a benzimidazole, represented by the following general formula (I), a 3H tautomer, an optically active enantiomer or a pharmaceutically acceptable acid-addition salt thereof wherein, R represents an alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, a hydroxyphenyl group or a methoxyphenyl group. This pharmaceutical composition is useful for treating cytokine-related diseases such as rheumatism, inflammation and allergy:

The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition for modulating immunity, which comprises benzimidazoles, 3H tautomers, optically active enantiomers or pharmaceutically acceptable acid-addition salts thereof
European Patent No. 0,008,391, discloses, in particular, 5-(5-methyl-3-oxo-4,5-dihydro-2H-6-pyridazinyl)-benzimidazole represented by the following formula I and substituted at the 2-position thereof, 3H tautomers, optically active enantiomers and pharmaceutically acceptable acid-addition salts thereof:
In the formula I, R represents an alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, a hydroxyphenyl group or a methoxyphenyl group. These compounds have useful pharmaceutical characteristic properties and, in particular, show not only an anti-viral activity, an interferon-producing activity and an ulcer-inhibitory activity, but also an activity against the cardiovascular system or an activity as a cardiac, an anti-hypertensive activity and/or an anti-thrombin activity.
According to the definition, the term xe2x80x9cactivity against the cardiovascular systemxe2x80x9d means the activity, which exerts influence on the heart and blood vessels, but in this case, this activity is expressed in terms of an anti-thrombin activity and cardiac activity as well as the influence on the blood pressure, in this European Patent.
In the light of these pharmacological properties, the compounds disclosed in this European Patent, 3H tautomers, optically active enantiomers and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof with inorganic acids or organic acids are suitably used in the treatment of chronic heart failure or angina and/or the prophylaxis of arterial thromboembolism and arterial obstruent diseases as well as the treatment of ulcer and the extermination of viruses and viral diseases.
More specifically, these compounds have been used as therapeutic agents for treating heart failure since they have a cardiac activity and these compounds have likewise been used for treating arterial thromboembolism and arterial obstruent diseases since they have an anti-thrombin activity, in particular, an activity against platelets.
Moreover, European Patent No. 0,330,052 especially discloses a therapeutic agent containing the foregoing benzimidazole, which is represented by the general formula I and which has an anti-ischemic activity against the heart. In addition, European Patent No. 0,387,762 discloses the simultaneous use of the benzimidazole and a xcex2-blocker, which can not only offset the muscle positive and negative inotropic effects, but also improve the heart functions under the somatically stressed conditions.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a pharmaceutical composition for modulating immunity, which comprises benzimidazoles.
This and other objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and Examples given later.
According to the present invention, there is provided a pharmaceutical composition for modulating immunity, which comprises a benzimidazole represented by the following general formula (I), a 3H tautomer, an optically active enantiomer or a pharmaceutically acceptable acid-addition salt thereof:
In the formula I, R represents an alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, a hydroxyphenyl group or a methoxyphenyl group.
Surprisingly, the benzimidazole represented by the general formula I shows an immunity-modulating effect through the reduction of a considerably high CRP value, whose normal level is not more than 0.3 mg/dl in the healthy adult (see, Robey Frank A. et al.: J. Biol. Chem. 262:7053-7057(1987); and Kottgen Eckart et al.: J. Immunol. 149:445-453(1992). Accordingly, it has been found that the compound is suitably used in the treatment of cytokine-related diseases such as rheumatism, inflammation, allergy, atherosclerosis, collagenous diseases, hepatitis, pancreatitis, inflammatory enteropacy, glomerulonephritis, toxic-shock syndromes, diffuse intra-intestinal coagulation syndromes, graft-versus-host diseases, tumors and immunodeficient diseases.
It has been known that pharmaceutical agents showing an effect of modulating immunity may in general be effective in the treatment of these cytokine-related diseases.
In this specification, the term xe2x80x9cCRPxe2x80x9d means C-reactive proteins or proteins reactive with the polysaccharides present on the bacterial cell bodies of Diplococcus pneumoniae. This is not detected in the plasma originated from normal persons and immediately appears in the blood flow when inflammation or disintegration of tissue is taken place. In a variety of infectious diseases, a large quantity of CRP appears in the blood flow within several hours after the infection and is reduced and disappears as the patients recover from the infectious diseases. Moreover, the rate of positiveness is high in case of tissue-degenerative diseases such as rheumatic fever, chronic articular rheumatism, cardiac infarction and malignant tumors. The determination of this CRP value would permit the estimation or judgment of any change in the symptoms and the degree of severity.
Preferred benzimidazoles represented by the formula I are, for instance, those represented by the formula I wherein R is a methyl group, a 2-pentyl group, a 4-methoxyphenyl group or a 4-hydroxyphenyl group and, in particular, those represented by the formula I wherein R is a 4-methoxyphenyl group or a 4-hydroxyphenyl group, in particular, a 4-methoxyphenyl group. Preferred examples thereof also include 3H tautomers, optically active enantiomers and pharmaceutically acceptable acid-addition salts thereof.
The acute toxicity of the compound represented by the general formula (I) wherein R is a 4-methoxyphenyl group or a 4-hydroxyphenyl group is known from the literatures or the like.
To achieve the desired effect of the present invention, the dose of the compound of the general formula (I) to be administered to the adult person ranges from 0.1 to 5.0 mg and preferably 1.0 to 2.5 mg when it is administered once or twice a day and, in particular, it is administered twice a day in a dose of 1.25 mg. However, the dose should be determined by the physician while taking into consideration various conditions such as the symptoms and body weights of patients to be treated, the kinds of selected compounds to be administered and the route of administration selected. Therefore, the present invention is not restricted to the foregoing specific dosage range.
To use the compounds as pharmaceutical agents, the foregoing active substance is blended with at least one member selected from the group consisting of inert conventionally used carriers and/or diluents such as corn starch, lactose, glucose, microcrystalline cellulose, magnesium stearate, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, citric acid, tartaric acid, water, water/ethanol, water/glycerol, water/sorbitol, water/polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol, cetyl stearyl alcohol, carboxymethyl cellulose or fatty substances such as hydrogenated oil to form conventional galenical preparations such as tablets free of any coating, coated tablets, capsules, powders, suspensions, drops, ampuls, syrups or suppositories. The composition of the present invention can be administered through a variety of administration routes such as oral and per rectum routes, as well as local or parenteral routes, for instance, injection or inhalation.
The effects of these compositions are determined according to the following methods.
2-(4-Methoxyphenyl)-5-(5-methyl-3-oxo-4,5-dihydro-2H-6-pyridazinyl)-benzimidazole (hereunder referred to as imobendan was orally administered to a patient who suffered from heart failure while malignant articular rheumatism set in as a complication and the CRP value thereof was determined with the elapse of time.
The CRP value was determined by the latex agglutination assay disclosed in Senju Osamu, et al.: J. Clin. Lab. Immunol. 19:99-103(1986) according to a method identical to that disclosed in Claus David R. et al.: J. Lab. Clin. Med. 87:120-128(1976).
The CRP value of the patient prior to the administration of Pimobendan was found to be 4.7 mg/dl. When Pimobendan was administered to the patient in a dose of 1.25 mg, the CRP value thereof was reduced and therefore, the compound was administered in a dose of 1.25 mg twice a day on and after the next day (this was defined to be the day at which the administration was initiated).
The patient was subjected to the echocardiography and as a result, it was found that the heart function was improved. Thus, the administration of Pimobendan was discontinued. Thereafter, Pimobendan was again administered to the patient in a dose of 1.25 mg twice a day to confirm the effect of the drug to reduce the CRP value. As a result, it was found that the CRP value was again reduced and the inflammation due to the malignant articular rheumatism was recovered.
The following Table 1 shows a part of the CRP values determined during the foregoing test period.
Note: The numerical value given in parentheses represents the day at which any Pimobendan was not administered.
The results listed in Table 1 clearly indicate that the compound administered could appropriately reduce the CRP value to a clinically satisfactory level.
This novel finding clearly suggests that the composition of the present invention, in particular, Pimobendan is suitably used in the treatment of cytokine-related diseases.
Thus, according to the present invention, there can be provided a pharmaceutical composition showing the immunity-modulating effect through the reduction of the abnormally high CRP value.

Pharmaceutical composition for modulating immunity


A power connector socket includes a housing and a lamella cage. The housing includes a socket and an opening at a side portion of the socket. The lamella cage passes through the socket and includes a ring portion and contact lamellae. The ring portion is adjacent to the opening. The contact lamellae outwardly extend from a side portion of the ring portion and are annularly arranged. One of two ends of each of the contact lamellae includes a fixed end formed on the ring portion, and a free end outwardly extends from the other end of each of the contact lamellae. The contact lamellae include contact portions extending toward an interior portion of the socket. The contact portions are a first position adjacent to the fixed end of each of the contact lamellae and on a second position of a middle portion of each of the contact lamellae.

The battery of the electric vehicle can be charged by inserting an electrical plug connector into the electrical receptacle connector in the electric vehicle. The electrical plug connector has a standardized shape and five housings. Therefore, the electrical receptacle connector on the electric vehicle and the electrical plug connector of the charging gun at the charging station are mated with each other and connected to each other. Specifically, the five conductive bodies (pins) of the electrical plug connector are respectively two AC power pins, a ground pin, a proximity detection pin, and a pilot control pin.
The electrical receptacle connector has a socket, and crown pin is inserted into and fixed in the socket. Conversely, the electrical plug connector has an insertion pin for being inserted into the socket and being partly contacting the lamella cage. Hence, the electrical connection between the electrical receptacle connector and the electrical plug connector can be achieved through the lamella cage.


The embodiments set forth a technique for enabling a group of computing devices to delegate tasks in a manner that promotes energy savings. According to one embodiment, each computing device is configured to identify situations where the computing device has an energy advantage (e.g., when plugged-in) and should serve as a proxy computing device to other computing devices. Each computing device is also configured to identify situations where the computing device has an energy disadvantage (e.g., a low battery) and should seek out another computing device to act as a proxy computing device. In this manner, computing devices can delegate tasks between one another to reduce or eliminate the processing redundancies that otherwise occur when the computing devices work in isolation to maintain network connectivity and carry out tasks on their own.

Recent years have shown a proliferation in the number of individuals who operate computing devices (e.g., smartphones, tablets, laptops, etc.). Typically, users migrate to various locations throughout the day, and, as a result, clusters of computing devices tend to continually form and disintegrate. A cluster can include, for example, two or more computing devices that share a common user account, two or more computing devices that share similar hardware features, and the like. In general, a cluster can form when at least two computing devices are communicatively coupled to one another via a Personal Area Network (PAN) (e.g., via a Bluetooth® connection, a direct WiFi connection, a Near Field Communication (NFC) connection, etc.). These local networks are typically formed when the computing devices transmit (i) identifying information that enables the computing devices to establish a particular level of trust, and (ii) connection information, which together enable the computing devices to form a communicative coupling. In turn, the computing devices can implement useful functionality, e.g., performing direct file swaps between one another.
Despite the foregoing connectivity techniques, computing devices continue to work in isolation when carrying out various tasks that are involved with providing internet-category connectivity (e.g., push notifications, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone calls, geolocation updates, and the like). Notably, a considerable amount of energy is consumed when carrying out these tasks, as application processors and radios within the computing devices need to continually wake in order to transmit, receive, and process data. This is unfortunate considering that, in many cases, there exists an overlap between data that is processed by two or more computing devices within a cluster, yet the computing devices continue to process the overlapped data in an isolated and redundant manner.

Opportunistic offloading of tasks between nearby computing devices


A method and system for mail run balancing of critical documents on a sorter machine that comingles both critical and non-critical documents. A plan identifying a set of critical documents to be processed as part of a mail run is received at the sorter. The plan includes an individual identifier code for each critical document. Sets of critical and non-critical documents are sorted as part of the comingled mail run. A camera scans the documents for the individual identifier codes on the critical documents during sorting. The camera captures an image of the scanned critical documents. A list of scanned individual identifier codes of sorted critical documents is stored for later use, along with the captured images of the documents. The list of scanned individual identifier codes is compared to the identifier codes of the critical documents in the plan. Based on the comparison, a first comparison list of scanned identifiers that do not match any identifiers in the plan and a second comparison list of identifiers in the plan that are not matched to pieces scanned are generated. The first comparison list is reconciled with the second comparison list by, at least in part, displaying the captured images to assist in matching corresponding documents from the lists.

Systems for mass producing mail pieces are well known in the art. Such systems are typically used by organizations such as government agencies, banks, insurance companies and utility companies for producing a large volume of specific mailings like benefit payment checks, billing statements, or promotional offers.
Mail pieces are typically processed in large groups called "mail runs." Several thousand related mail pieces are grouped together in a mail run, with similar types of processing and inserts. Mail runs are typically tracked and managed as a group, and mail runs are conventionally submitted to a delivery service for delivery as a group. In order to gain high volume discounts, it is desirable to comingle and sort mail from different mail runs. Thus, high-value critical mailings, such as government benefit checks, might be mixed with less important mail, such as purely informational notices.
Once a finished mail piece has been formed, it is typically stacked in preparation for transfer to a carrier service, such as the U.S. Postal Service. Often, in order to receive the aforementioned postal discounts, it is advantageous to sort the outgoing mail in accordance postal regulations using known sorting machines, such as the Olympus sorting machines available from Pitney Bowes Inc. Most postal authorities offer large discounts to mailers willing to organize/group mail into batches or trays having a common destination. Typically, discounts are available for batches/trays containing a minimum of two hundred (200) or so mailpieces.
Mailpiece sorters are often employed by service providers, including delivery agents, e.g., the United States Postal Service USPS, entities which specialize in mailpiece fabrication, and/or companies providing sortation services in accordance with the Mailpiece Manifest System (MMS).
Prior to transfer to the delivery service, completed mail runs are typically checked for quality and completeness. Because of the high volume of mail that is handled, occasionally a document submitted to the mail production equipment for processing cannot be accounted for at the output end. The unaccounted for mail pieces may have been mishandled, damaged, destroyed, or misplaced.
There are different costs associated with unaccounted for mail pieces. For example, one cost is the expense of resubmitting and reprocessing the mail piece to ensure that the recipient gets the communication. Another cost may be harm caused if a missing document was accidentally stuffed into the wrong envelope and was sent to the wrong recipient. It is also possible that a recipient may not receive their intended mail, or that they might receive two of the same pieces. Depending on the particular circumstances, mailers will weigh the costs and risks and determine how carefully to balance mail runs. For some types of mail runs, failure to balance mail piece accounts may not be significant. As an example, for a mailing that merely included a department store coupon, a mailer might decide to send out an unbalanced mail run. In this case, the mailer is risking the cost that a recipient might not receive an intended coupon, or perhaps get an extra coupon. This cost most likely would not justify redoing the entire mail run. Rather, the unaccounted mail piece might be reprinted and sent, and the balancing failure could be ignored.
However, if the mail run included financial, medical, or other sensitive information, a mailer may need 100% balancing before submitting a mail run for delivery. The potential harm, and loss of customer trust, if sensitive information were not received, or sent to the wrong recipient, could be very damaging. In practice, some mailers have been known to bear the costs of completely redoing the mail runs when perfect balancing cannot be achieved.
With balancing considerations in mind, mailers want to get maximum postal discounts, and the best way to do that might be to comingle mail runs of critical documents with mail runs of less important documents. However, the effort to balance an entire comingled set of mail run may be prohibitively difficult and time consuming using conventional methods. Two methods for balancing are (1) balancing by count and (2) balancing by identifier. Those two methods are both inadequate for dealing with the large comingled mail set that includes both critical and non-critical mail runs.
Balancing by count is accomplished by comparing the machine counters at the end of the run with an expected count of mail pieces. This approach is complicated when reject pieces are often run through the sorter more than once to retry them. Doubled pieces also create special situations. A "double" occurs when two mail pieces stick together and are processed together in the sorter as one piece. Most sorters attempt to detect doubles, and in such cases the system can correct the count. However, undetected double feeds create a situation where it is often impossible to find the missing mail piece.
The drawback of the balancing by count approach is that there is little that can be done when the counts do not match. This problem becomes particularly acute when large numbers of mail pieces are comingled. In such cases hundreds of thousands of documents could be run through the sorter in a single pass. If the counts are off then there is little choice but to rerun the entire set of mail. If the critical "high value" documents only represent a small fraction of the overall mailing this could be an onerous burden. Since balance by count is based on the final counts it cannot be attempted until the sorter run is completed. This jeopardizes the timeliness of sorter processing since one is never sure whether one will fail to balance and how long it will take to remediate the mail.
Balancing by identifier is accomplished by putting a unique identifier on each piece and having the sorter read that unique identifier off of each piece fed. The identifier might be in the form of a barcode or it might be in the form of a keyline string that is read by an optical character recognition (OCR) system.
Using this method, at the end of the run, the operator can print out a set of reports that list the identifiers not accounted for. The operator must then go through the reject pockets and other pockets on the sorter to find each mail piece.
The biggest issue with the balancing by identifier technique occurs when one identifier is accidentally read as another identifier (i.e. a substitution error). An example of a substitution error might occur if the OCR read a keyline of "12" as a '1Z". In this case one identifier ("1Z") might appear to have been seen twice and another identifier ("12") might appear to be missing. The problem with this is that all or some of these pieces involved would have been sorted to their respective sorter pockets, and would be hard to manually find.
Aside from the fact that it does not deal well with substitution errors this technique also has the disadvantage that it usually involves manual manipulation of the mail piece. Pieces where the identifier cannot be read must be out-sorted, so they can be physically collected and "checked off" the list of unaccounted for pieces.
Also this technique is still best applied when the sorter run is complete. There are two reasons for this. The first is that it is because it is confusing to be physically collecting rejects off of the sorter while it is actively running. The second is that there is little point of printing off a report and checking off the spoils when one has not completed the run.


A stand includes a leverage base, two vertical rods, and a wheel supporting unit that is attached to the vertical rods and that is adapted to support a wheel thereon. The base has two fixed posts, which have upper ends that are connected respectively and telescopically to the vertical rods. The vertical rods are locked releaseably on the posts, thereby permitting adjustment of the heights of the supporting unit and the wheel.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a stand for a motorcycle, more particularly to a stand, which can support a wheel of a motorcycle at different heights.
2. Description of the Related Art
When one intends to fix a motorcycle, it is necessary to position the same relative to the ground. In some cases, for convenience during maintenance and repair, one wheel of the motorcycle is preferably raised from the ground at an appropriate height. Hence, a known stand, which includes a handle and a wheel supporting unit that are fixed on a leverage base, has been proposed heretofore to support one wheel of a motorcycle at a predetermined height and therefore position the same relative to the ground. However, because the raised height of the wheel is fixed, the known stand is not suitable for working with different types of wheels.
It is an object of this invention to provide an adjustable stand, which can support one wheel of a motorcycle at different heights.
According to this invention, a stand includes a leverage base, two vertical rods, and a wheel supporting unit that is attached to the vertical rods and that is adapted to support a wheel thereon. The base has two fixed posts, which have upper ends that are connected respectively and telescopically to the vertical rods. The vertical rods are locked releaseably on the posts, thereby permitting adjustment of the heights of the supporting unit and the wheel.


An airframe structural element, such as an aircraft rib, is disclosed that comprises an integral pipe connector element for connecting pipes through the structural element. The pipe connection means provided by the pipe connector element may be aligned on a common axis with a pipe connection means provided by an adjacent airframe structural element.

Many engineered structures such as aircraft, spacecraft, shipping and automotive structures comprise extensive pipe-work systems arranged for the transport of fluids. Such pipe-work systems may provide external or internal transport of fluids and are generally physically supported by elements of the relevant structure. For example, pipe-work is fixed to structural elements using clamps or other means. In some cases, the required route for a given pipe runs through openings or conduits in structural elements. Such openings or conduits are commonly employed as fixing points for the pipe-work. Pipe-work commonly comprises sections of pipes interconnected with pipe connectors. The pipe connectors are often combined with the fixing function for the pipe-work. In other words, pipe connectors are mounted on or fixed to structural elements, thus providing the required support for the pipe-work. The pipe connectors are then interconnected with lengths of pipe.
One problem with such pipe-work systems is that, in order to provide for the specific route of a given piece of pipe-work through the relevant structure, a large number of different connectors or pipe sections are required. Having such a large part count can increase the complexity and length of the assembly process. Furthermore, providing openings and any associated fixing points in structural elements in order to accommodate pipe connectors or sections effectively weakens those structural elements.


In a drum based imaging system where it may be necessary to change the drum to accommodate different imaging media sizes there is a need to adapt the drum rotational drive system to control the new drum load. An automated process for updating the control parameters without requiring user intervention uses parameter identification or adaptive control to identify or characterize the new drum load.

Imaging systems that employ a drum to scan an imaging media past a writing head are well known in the art. Commonly the imaging head does not have enough imaging beams to write the entire width of the drum in a single rotation and hence the writing head is translated in a direction aligned with the drum axis to address the entire surface of the media.
It is important, particularly in high resolution imaging systems, to provide accurate and consistent rotation of the drum load to achieve acceptable imaging results. As an example, in Computer to Plate imaging systems, where a printing plate precursor is imaged by a laser based exposure head, a commonly used resolution is 2400 dpi. A common drum format used in such systems is a 32-inch circumference and 44-inch wide drum made from cast aluminium. Speed regulation of around 0.5% has found to be sufficient for imaging at these high resolutions. Furthermore, good positional control may also be required for loading and unloading imaging media in a system wherein media handling is automated.
A rotational drive system for an imaging drum will commonly employ servo control means to ensure that the drum rotates at a consistent speed. Such servo systems are well known in the art.
A problem arises in recently emerging imaging systems that have facilities for changing the drum during normal operation. One such system is the ThermoFlex® imaging system sold by Creo Inc. of Burnaby, BC, Canada. The ThermoFlex® system is presently being upgraded with the capability of imaging on a drum or on a sleeve. A sleeve is simply a media that is supplied attached to a tubular substrate rather than the more conventional flat plate format. To accommodate differing sleeve diameters, a variety of different sized drums are provided. In practice, a drum shell of the correct diameter is loaded onto a common mandrel in order to support a particular sleeve.
Whenever the drum load is changed the control parameters for the rotational drive system must also be changed since these parameters are typically set for a specific load and may not work with the new load. This is an inconvenience for the user and there remains a need for a method to easily accommodate the change between different drum loads.

Imaging drum driving methods and apparatus providing automated setting of control parameters

Kodak Graphic Communications Canada Company


A hybrid, vertical axis helical turbine assembly capable of providing unidirectional rotation under an omni-directional low speed obverse fluid flow (gas or liquid), respectively gas flow is disclosed. The assembly comprises a minimum (but not limited to) of three hybrid (airfoil enhanced helical vane profile) wings, which are substantially spaced from the vertical axis (Z) and circumferentially spaced from one another. Each hybrid wing is fixed to the center hub in a rigid position by two or more arms, which are symmetrically located from each other in conjunction with the hub's horizontal axis (X). The hybrid, vertical axis helical turbine assembly provides high torque at very low wind speed because of the absolute symmetric airfoil enhanced helical vane profile wing, which design maintain adaptive lift to drag ratio over the one rotational revolution time line in coincidence of the upwind direction. These characteristics make the hybrid, vertical axis helical turbine assembly suitable for urban off grid and grid tie applications in low wind speed areas and areas of reputable wind turbulence.

Existing vertical Axis turbines have a number of problems including pulsing power cycle; airfoils variable angle of attack (AoA); very high centrifugal stresses on the structure and axial pressure on the bearings. Further, increasing of tip speed ratio (TSR) on specific types, design and modifications cause decrease of torque especially at low fluid flow (upwind speed). The present invention provides a design of vertical axis turbine assembly in which at least some of the abovementioned problems are alleviated or fully remedied.

HVATA-hybrid vertical axis turbine assembly operable under omni-directional flow for power generating systems


An IC card connector (10) including an insulative housing (12) having a plurality of cavities (14) extending therethrough in a vertical direction for receiving a corresponding number of contacts (16) therein. Each contact (16) includes a surface mounting tail (40) which is pressed against by a corresponding standoff (42) formed on a bottom surface (38) of the housing (12). A significant space (36) is formed on the underside of the housing (12) generally below the cavities (14) for allowing mounting plural tiny components (102) thereunder on the PC board (100). A stopper (48) is formed on the bottom portion of each cavity (14) for supportable engagement with the corresponding downward flexed contact (16) when the IC card is pressed on the housing (12). A pair of recesses (52) are formed on two sides of the housing (12) each with a bump (54) therein for engagement with a plate device (50) which is optionally attached to the top surface (30) of the housing (12) for installation of the connector (10) on the PC board (100)by suction.

1. Field of The Invention
The Invention relates to card connectors, and particularly to the connector for use within the cellular phone for receiving an identification card therein.
2. The Prior Art
IC cards other than the standard memory cards or I/O cards, are also popularly used in the communication field. Different from the memory cards and I/O cards each of which adopts a standardized 68 pins memory card host connectors as an interface device for interconnection with the computer and as a complementary connector for coupling to the 68 positions socket connector built in the memory card, IC cards each generally uses the connector having a plurality of spring contacts facing up for engagement with a corresponding number of circuit pads printed on the surface of the IC card which faces down toward the connector wherein such IC card is substantially secured to the connector in the vertical direction for resisting the upward forces caused by the restoring force of the contacts of the connector. The IC card connectors may be referred to U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,820,186, 4,843,223, 4,902,233, 4,013,255, 5,169,345, 5,224,873, 5,226,826, 5,231,274, 5,259,777, 5,320,552, 5,337,220, 5,425,651 and 5,470,260. Generally speaking, for efficiently holding the IC card with regard to the connector, there is a cover directly attached to the connector as shown in some of the aforementioned patents. Anyhow, a recent attempt in the cellular phone having an IC card therein, is to use the lid of the cellular phone for holding the IC card against the IC card connector instead of using the cover of the connector, and therefore the structure of such IC card connector can be simplified by removing therefrom the attached cover shown in the prior arts.
An object of the invention is to provide an IC card connector having the simplified structure for easy self-assembling and installation on the PC board, and convenient engagement with the IC card used within the phone set.


Embodiments generally relate to long-distance, 3-phase, AC electricity transmission structures. In one embodiment, the structure comprises an array of beams, the array comprising a sub-array of 3N active beams, wherein N is an integer, one passive beam on the right side of the sub-array of active beams; and one passive beam on the left side of the sub-array of active beams. The centers of the cross-section of each of the active and passive beams lie in a single plane. In another embodiment, the structure comprises an array of 3N metal active beams, wherein N is an integer; and a tunnel of rectangular cross-section with either 90 degree or rounded corners. The array of beams is mounted within the tunnel, and the two side walls of the tunnel are lined with a highly conductive metal having a thickness similar to the thickness of metal used in the active beams.

High voltage and high power, 50 Hz or 60 Hz, 3-phase, long-distance electrical power transmission lines are common. They typically consist of 3 or 6 groups of wires with one or two groups of wires for each of the 3 phases. Each group of wires can contain 1-4 wires for each of the 3 phases. The groups of wires are usually suspended from very tall metal towers by long insulators. These transmission lines operate at high voltages, such as 115 kV, 230 kV and 765 kV and at power levels up to 1-2 Giga watts.
Conventional electrical power transmission lines operating above 230 kV usually consist of three groups of wires on one side of the metal tower and another three groups of wires on the other side. Due to the inherent asymmetry of the arrangement of the groups of wires, some phases experience an electrical transmission impedance that is higher than the impedance for other phases. Often this impedance imbalance is corrected along the length of the transmission line by adding capacitance to null the unequal amounts of inductance created by the transmission line for each phase.
Not only is the impedance of conventional electrical transmission lines unbalanced, it is also high compared to the resistance of the load. Therefore, the transmission line is highly inductive. This high inductance must be balanced by adding capacitors along the length of the transmission line for an efficient transmission of power.
Conventional transmission lines mounted on lattice towers require a large right of way, are unsightly, and create significant magnetic fields and health risks in their local area. They also are expensive to maintain and subject to outages due to high winds, ice storms and snow. They are relatively expensive—about $1.6 M per GW per km of length for long distance transmission lines. The percentage of the cost of a conventional transmission line that is devoted to the active elements (the wires) is only about 12%. Thus, a radically new design could dramatically lower the cost of transmitting electrical power over long distances.
Underground transmission lines also exist, but are more expensive than conventional above ground transmission lines. For high voltages and high power, it is expensive to insulate the underground conductors, to shield them from water penetration and to provide for sufficient thermal conductivity to enable the conductors to carry high power.
In the prior art, extensive work has been done with gas insulated three-phase transmission lines for high voltage, high power and long-distance electricity transmission. Most of this prior art uses conductors that are large, hollow, cylindrical tubes, rather than stranded wire. The tubes are in multiples of three, arranged in a triangular cross-section, and located inside a cylindrical metal conduit. The combination of the symmetric, triangular arrangement of conductors and the identical geometry from each conductor to the enclosing metal conduit should assure that the impedance of each conductor is the same.
Unfortunately, practical implementations of large conductors, positioned symmetrically inside a cylindrical metal tube and insulated for high voltage are difficult to achieve and expensive. To transmit power levels above 10 GW, the conducting tubes need to be large. The conducting cylindrical conduit that encloses the tubes needs to be even larger. To preserve the symmetry, the insulators need to have triangular, hexagonal or higher order symmetry. Thus, the entire structure becomes very difficult to implement over a long distance at a competitive cost.
Rectangular geometries are much more practical to implement at a reasonable cost. However, while obtaining an impedance balance for a 3-phase electrical transmission system is conceptually easy with multiples of 3 conductors arranged in a cylindrically symmetrical geometry, it is very difficult in a rectangular geometry. An array of conductors in a rectangular geometry will have one conductor at each end. The impedance of these end conductors will be different than the impedance of any of the conductors in the middle of the array. Since there are only two ends, it is not possible to have one of the end conductors carry each of the 3 phases. Hence, the conductors for each phase will not have the same impedance and there will be an imbalance among the phases. Also, the electric current tends to flow on conductor surfaces that are adjacent to other conductor surfaces. Thus, the outsides of the end conductors will carry little current, which is inefficient and costly.
In the prior art, there are examples of large, hollow, rectangular bus bars used as conductors for transmitting 3-phase electrical power over short distances and at low voltages to electric arc furnaces. Electric arc furnaces depend on a careful balance among the impedance of the transmission system for each phase. Various compensation schemes have been developed for creating a balance among the 3-phases, even though the transmission system itself is not balanced among the 3 phases. This compensation approach may be acceptable for the short, low-voltage, high current transmission system required for an electric arc furnace. However, it is not practical or cost effective for a long-distance, high current and high voltage electrical transmission line.
There are other issues that must be solved for long-distance, high voltage and high power electrical transmission lines. Conventional above-ground transmission lines have a very large air space between conductors to minimize electric arcs triggered by fog, falling rain and snow. Conventional underground transmission lines are wrapped with many layers of solid insulation (e.g. plastic, tar paper, etc). Underground lines that are wrapped with insulation have great difficulty implementing an insulation that can withstand extremely high voltage (EHV or 765 kV), that has good thermal conductivity to carry away heat, and that provides sufficient protection from water incursion. Also, this insulation wrapping is expensive.
Finally, a high power electrical transmission structure would require expansion joints for thermal expansion that must flex at least 36,500 times over 100 years. These joints must also conduct very high currents (circa 10,000 amps) and have smooth surfaces that will minimize corona discharge. Prior art solutions are based on flexible, high current conductors like woven cables and bundles of thin sheets of copper that offer flexibility. However, they are often too expensive, will not flex 36,500 times with a very low probability of breaking, and can have edges that promote corona discharge. There are also prior art solutions for thermal expansion of oil and gas pipelines, as shown in FIG. 5. Unfortunately, the solutions used for oil and gas pipelines cannot be used for electrical transmission lines, when the spacing between adjacent lines is small and must be precisely controlled.

Compact, high power, high voltage, long-distance electrical transmission line structure


An image forming apparatus, comprising an image carrier to carry toner image formed based on image data, a cleaning blade to remove residual toner on the image carrier by being in contact with the image carrier and a toner storage portion structured to store the residual toner removed by the cleaning blade and so that the image carrier can rub on the residual toner, wherein the toner storage portion is located on an upstream side of a contacting point between the cleaning blade and the image carrier in a moving direction of the image carrier and in a position where the toner storage portion is not in contact with the cleaning blade.

The present invention relates to image forming apparatuses using the electro-photographic method, such as copiers, printers, facsimile machines and apparatuses combining these functions, and in particular, relates to a technique to improve durability of these apparatuses by preventing filming on the photosensitive drum or on the intermediate image transfer belt, or damage to the edge of the cleaning blade.
The blade cleaning method is known which is a cleaning method used in image forming apparatuses configured to form a toner image on a photosensitive drum employing various means for charging, exposure, and development around the drum, then either directly transferring the toner image onto the recording material (sheet of paper), or temporarily transferring the toner images from plural photosensitive drums onto an intermediate image transfer belt and then conducting a secondary transfer of the toner image on the belt onto a recording material. In order to remove any residual toner remaining on the photosensitive drums or on the intermediate image transfer belt (both of which are collectively called an image carrier) after the images have been transferred, commonly arranged is a cleaning blade made of an elastic material such as urethane which presses against the image carrier in the direction counter to the direction of movement of the image carrier.
Recently, increased printing rate and higher durability are required of an image forming apparatuses, and image defects have become problems, such as image striations and unevenness caused by filming of the photosensitive drum or the intermediate image transfer belt, as well as cleaning defects caused by wear or damage to the edge of the cleaning blade. Filming is caused by adhesion of lubricants such as calcium stearate (CaSt) and zinc stearate (ZnSt), or wax included in the toner onto the image carrier, and the electrical image transfer field of the adhered portion is weakened because the surface resistance there becomes higher. Further, because the adhesion force between the toner and the intermediate image transfer belt becomes stronger on the adhered portion, it becomes hard to remove the toner from the intermediate image transfer belt. For these reasons, the decrease of transferring performance on the adhered portions causes striation or unevenness of the image. Further, portions where filming appears raise their frictional drag and, hence the edge of the cleaning blade is scratched and bent on the surface of the intermediate image transfer belt, resulting in damage to the cleaning blade edge.
Lubricants are added into the toner to improve smoothness of the cleaning blade, and wax is added into the toner to improve separability of the recording material after the fixing process.
There is a tendency that more filming or damage occurs on the edge of the cleaning blade on intermediate image transfer belts than on photosensitive drums. The reason is considered to be because the surface of the intermediate image transfer belt is harder than that of the photosensitive drum and is hard to shave off. This condition makes it easier for materials such as the toner to adhere and accumulate on the surface of the intermediate image transfer belt.
As a countermeasure against these problems, a well-known technique to eliminate filming is to polish the image carrier.
Another well-known technique is to improve lubrication or polishing effect between the image carrier and the cleaning blade which reduces frictional drag by forming a toner band in areas other than the image area, which supplies adequate toner to the edge of the cleaning blade during non-imaging operation.
Further, to prevent bending of the cleaning blade by reducing frictional factors between the cleaning blade and the intermediate image transfer belt, there is an image forming apparatus which is structured to scrape off the residual toner adhering to the intermediate image transfer belt, and stores a part of the residual toner in a storage portion and further scoops up the toner for re-adhesion to the intermediate image transfer belt with a brush roller (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[Patent Document 1] Official Gazette of Japanese Patent Tokkaihei No. 11-38778
The image carrier may be polished with emery paper, non-woven fabric including abrasive particles or a lapping film by contact of these materials with the rotating image carrier. However, problems of the emery paper or the non-woven fabric include abrasive particles easily causing damage to the image carrier, and further lapping film which has a fine mesh easily becomes clogged and the polishing effect does not last long even though it is very effective for a short time.
When a toner band is formed on an area other than the image area on the intermediate image transfer belt, another problem is that if the toner band is formed between successive sheets of paper, the toner band adheres to the transfer roller and stains the back of the sheet. A structure considered to be effective is one which retracts the transfer roller while the toner band passes near the roller to prevent staining, however, in case of high speed machines, no enough time can be secured for the retraction, and therefore, forming the toner band causes adverse effects during the normal image forming operation, and further the number of the finished copies per unit time decreases, and still further consumption of toner increases.
Yet further, according to the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the residual toner is re-supplied to the intermediate image transfer belt. Unless the contacting load of the cleaning blade against the intermediate image transfer belt is increased, a problem occurs that the residual toner slips under the edge of the cleaning blade, however if the contacting load is increased another problem occurs that the edge is easily worn.

Image forming apparatus with cleaning blade and residual toner storage compartment

Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.


A device for pulling the starter cord of a lawn mower engine utilizes a pulling cable attached to a pulley wheel activated by a high torque electric motor. An elongated base supports an upright post, upon which the motor is mounted. A chute protectively guides the cable as it spans the distance between the pulley wheel and starter cord. A restoring cable, in association with a return wheel and coil spring unwind the pulling cord from the pulley wheel when the motor is deactivated.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to apparatus for effecting a starting pull upon the rope of a recoil-start type internal combustion engine.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Small internal combustion engines in the range of 2-10 horsepower are commonly used upon various types of wheeled machines such as lawn mowers, snow blowers, roto-tillers, edgers, cement mixers, generators, air compressors, etc. Such engines typically consist of one or two cylinders and may have an output shaft oriented in either horizontal or vertical disposition.
Numerous starter devices for small engines have been disclosed in the prior art, particularly in attempts to aid in the starting of stubborn engines. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,569,315 to Bodnar discloses an electric drill operated device adapted to engage a shaft associated with a small engine. Such devices are of limited adaptability with respect to various engine designs. The benefits of using such devices are diminished because of the measures needed to adapt the starting device to the requirements of the engine.
Crank-spring type starters such as disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 4,716,868 to Reuter store mechanical energy from a hand crank, said energy being subsequently released by a rachet and pawl. Starters of this type are prone to mechanical failure and therefore are seldom installed upon modern small engines.
The vast majority of small engines currently produced are adapted with a rope-pull-recoil starter such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,850,233 to Ishigo. Recoil rope starters utilize a rope wound upon a spool by a recoil spring. The spool is usually geared for mechanical advantage to a clutch which engages an input shaft. The force exerted by a pull upon the rope causes engagement of the clutch, producing rotation of the spool and input shaft, which in turn cycle the engine in order to start it. Upon release of force upon the rope, it is recoiled upon the spool by a recoil spring.
Recoil starting devices having either vertical or horizontal pull strokes have been disclosed. Devices requiring a vertical pull generally utilize the force of gravity to stabilize the machine while the rope is pulled. Often the weight of the machine is great enough to overcome the resistance to the rope pull exerted by the engine cylinder compression upon starting. Some machines are adapted to be stepped upon while starting to further stabilize the machine and provide greater starting force by the person pulling the rope.
However, machines which have a horizontal-pull rope starter and are mounted upon wheels require that the person starting the machine steps upon the machine to stabilize it. The nature of the horizontal pull while stepping upon the machine is often awkward, and requires the person starting the machine to rotate the torso while bending over. This maneuver has been known to cause serious back injuries, and is difficult for back sufferers and elderly persons to perform, particularly with a stubborn starting machine requiring numerous pulls. The problem is particularly experienced by those performing this starting motion often, such as repairmen and landscapers.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an auxiliary starting device for horizontal rope-pull-start engines associated with small machines.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a starting device of the aforesaid nature which is easily adaptable to a variety of engines, requiring no modification of the machine.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a starting device of the aforesaid nature capable of immobilizing the machine against pulling force applied to the rope starter of the engine.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a device of the aforesaid nature which is easily disengaged subsequent to starting.
Still other objects of this invention are to provide a device of the aforesaid nature which is simple to use, easily maintained, durable, and amenable to low cost manufacture.
These and other beneficial objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description.


A flat panel display with a built-in touch panel includes a display panel having a lower substrate, an upper substrate, and a plurality of touch sensing patterns on the upper substrate. The plurality of touch sensing patterns includes a plurality of sensing cells on a bottom surface of the upper substrate that faces the lower substrate, a plurality of outer lines on the bottom surface of the upper substrate that connect lines of sensing cells of the plurality of sensing cells along at least one of a first direction or a second direction to a driving circuit, a plurality of connection lines that correspond to respective outer lines on the lower substrate. The plurality of outer lines are connected to the driving circuit via the plurality of connection lines on the lower substrate, and the plurality of outer lines are electrically connected to the corresponding connection lines.

1. Field
Embodiments relate to a flat panel display with a built-in touch panel.
2. Description of the Related Art
A touch panel is an input device that may allow a user's instruction to be inputted by selecting an instruction content displayed on a screen of an image display or the like with a user's hand or object.
The touch panel may be formed on a front face of the image display to convert a contact position into an electrical signal. A user's hand or an object may contact, e.g., directly contact, the touch panel at the contact position. Accordingly, the instruction content selected at the contact position may be inputted as an input signal to the image display.
Since such a touch panel can be substituted for a separate input device connected to an image display, such as a keyboard or mouse, the application fields for a touch panel have been gradually extended.

Flat panel display with built-in touch panel


A Java.TM.-to-Database Connectivity Server monitors client communications, accesses a database such as a Sybase relational database, upon client command establishes a connection to the database, accesses requested data from the database, manipulates the data, and relays the data to the client. The Java.TM.-to-Database Connectivity Server is programmed in the Java.TM. programming language to facilitate communications with Java.TM. clients using Java.TM. sockets. The Java.TM.-to-Database Connectivity Server includes an Applications Programmer Interface (API) on the server side of a client/server interface and implementation of System Query Language (SQL) queries on the client side. The Java.TM.-to-Database Connectivity Server supplies an interface between Java.TM. applications and database servers using an easy-to-use Java.TM. server Applications Programmer Interface (API) forming a uniform framework for building or integrating database connectivity across organizations and companies globally. A single API supplies connectivity with a database, for example, with Oracle or Sybase database servers. In some embodiments, the Java.TM.-to-Database Connectivity Server is platform-independent and usable on any platform in any usage model (nomadic, remote access, Internet, and Intranet, for example), and encoded entirely in the Java.TM. programming language using sockets and multi-threading.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to information service technology. More specifically, the present invention relates to a system and operating method for connecting an application or applet to a database.
2. Description of the Related Art
The Internet is regarded by many as the fastest growing market on Earth. In the 1990s, the number of Internet users has grown exponentially. In June of 1995, an estimated 6.6 million hosts were connected, an increase of nearly 5 million hosts in a mere six months. The current growth rate on the Internet is approximately 75% per year. In June of 1995, the 6.6 million hosts included approximately 120,000 networks and over 27,000 web servers. The number of web servers is doubling approximately every 53 days.
Various technical innovations have proven highly suited to the Internet environment. For example, in 1990 programmers at Sun Microsystems developed a universal programming language, eventually known as "the Java.TM. programming language". Java, SpecJava, Sun, Sun Microsystems and the Sun Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All SPARC trademarks are used under license and are trademarks of SPARC International, Inc. in the United States and other countries. Products bearing SPARC trademarks are based upon an architecture developed by Sun Microsystems, Inc.
The Java.TM. programming language resulted from programming efforts intended for coding in the C++ language. The Java.TM. programming language thus has many commonalities with C++ but is further regarded as a simple, object-oriented, distributed, interpreted yet high performance, robust yet safe, secure, dynamic, architecturally neutral, portable, and multi-threaded language. The Java.TM. programming language has emerged as the programming language of choice for the Internet. Many large software and hardware companies have licensed the Java.TM. programming language from Sun Microsystems.
The Java.TM. programming language is designed to solve several problems in modern programming practice. The Java.TM. programming language omits many rarely-used, poorly-understood, and confusing features of C++. The omitted features primarily concern operator overloading, multiple inheritance, and extensive automatic coercions. The Java.TM. programming language includes automatic garbage collection to simplify the task of Java.TM. programming and avoiding memory allocation and deallocation as in C++. The Java.TM. programming language eliminates the usage of pointers, instead supporting true arrays having array boundaries which are explicitly checked. The elimination of pointers eliminates vulnerability to many viruses and bugs. The Java.TM. programming language includes objective-C interfaces and specific exception handlers.
The Java.TM. programming language has an extensive library of routines for coping easily with TCP/IP protocol (transmission control protocol based on internet protocol) and FTP (file transfer protocol). The Java.TM. programming language is intended for usage in networked/distributed environments. The Java.TM. programming language facilitates the construction of virus-free, tamper-resistant systems. Authentication techniques supported by the Java.TM. programming language are based on public-key encryption.
One highly advantageous aspect of the Internet is the accessibility of databases to the network. Databases are collections of data configured with a structure for accepting, storing, and providing, on demand, data for single or multiple users. The combination of networks for facilitating information transfer to many users and databases for supplying large amounts of data to the many users are naturally synergistic. Unfortunately, since the Java.TM. programming language is a relatively new programming language, direct access connections between the Java.TM. programming language and databases have not yet been developed so that the Java.TM. programming language cannot directly access a database. Accordingly, an important technical issue is the connectivity of Java.TM. applications and applets to databases. Connectivity is the capability of a system or device to be attached to other systems or devices without modification. As system development organizations begin to migrate to Java.TM. /Web-enabled environments, the connectivity of Java.TM. application and applet connectivity to various databases becomes highly advantageous.
What is needed is a highly efficient, powerful and usable system and operating method for executing database transactions between a Java.TM. front-end and a standard System Query Language (SQL)-type database.
Although Java.TM. applications can be programmed to communicate with databases using interfaces such as CGI-BIN, typical object-oriented techniques, and C/C++ solutions, the amount of program code development and interfacing effort using these techniques is substantial and, in some cases, essentially prohibitive.
Therefore, a system and operating method that facilitates interfacing between databases and Java.TM. applications or applets and minimizes the amount of application code for forming the interface is highly advantageous.


An electronic device (10) according to the present invention is provided with a display unit (102) that displays an object with which a predetermined function is associated, a touch sensor (103), a tactile sensation providing unit (104) that provides a tactile sensation to a touch face of the touch sensor, and a control unit (106) that controls the tactile sensation providing unit (104) to provide a first tactile sensation when contact on a display surface of the object is detected and furthermore to execute the predetermined function associated with the object when data based on pressure of the contact satisfies a predetermined threshold, the electronic device thereby preventing an erroneous operation due to unintentional contact and allows for operation without confirmation of the screen display.

Easy-to-use electronic devices for the visually impaired, such as those with partial or total vision loss, are being studied. Among conventional electronic devices, techniques for facilitating operation by the visually impaired include, for example, providing unevenness on the housing and reading the content of an operation aloud. These approaches have drawbacks, however, in that the number of patterns that can be represented by unevenness on the housing is limited, and reading aloud is inconvenient in public places. For an electronic device displaying icons on the screen, a technique also exists to change the form of display of the icons in accordance with the past selection frequency of icons (for example, see Patent Literature 1).

Electronic device and control method for electronic device


A method and apparatus for detecting a flashback condition in a fuel nozzle (8) of a gas turbine (10) are provided. The fuel nozzle is configured to pass a flow of air (20) to be mixed with a fuel in a premixing zone (11). The apparatus includes at least one fuel injecting device (12) positioned to define a point of fuel injection in the premixing zone. The apparatus further includes an electrode (16) positioned upstream of the point of fuel injection. The electrode is adapted to sense a flashback condition that can occur in the premixing zone.

Flashback is one undesirable condition that can occur in state of the art combustion or burner systems, such as gas turbine combustion systems having one or more fuel nozzles configured to provide a premixing of fuel and air in a premixing zone located upstream of a burning zone (main combustion zone). The flashback condition generally occurs when a flame travels upstream from the main burning zone into the premixing zone, which is not intended to sustain combustion reactions. As a consequence, serious damage may occur to the combustion system, potentially resulting in a catastrophic malfunction of the system and a concomitant substantial financial loss.
The use of ion-sensing detectors (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,429,020) and other devices, such as thermocouples and fiber optics, to detect flashback is well known. However, up to the present invention, flashback detection techniques (including those described in the foregoing patent) have commonly required the detection device to be at the premixing zone. That is, such techniques have typically required the detection device to be positioned downstream of one or more fuel injectors. This positioning requirement of the flashback detection device may entail a fairly complex integration into the fuel nozzle and/or installation arrangements subject to reduced reliability and/or burdensome access for reparability or servicing, once the combustion system is operationally deployed. Accordingly, for some combustor geometries it may be desirable to provide a flashback detection arrangement in a combustion system, such as a gas turbine, that is not subject to the foregoing drawbacks.

Method and apparatus for detecting a flashback condition in a gas turbine


A video overlay device of a mobile telecommunication terminal comprises a multiplexer for outputting at least one of a first video data and a second video data; and a video overlay unit for overlaying at least one of the first and second video data with graphic data in accordance with a predetermined ratio. The multiplexer selectively outputs at least one of the first and second video data based on input video selection signals provided by a central processing unit (CPU).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mobile telecommunication terminal, and more particularly, to a mobile telecommunication terminal which can display graphic data displayed on a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen of a mobile telecommunication terminal.
2. Description of the Related Art
A mobile telecommunication terminal can be utilized to provide various functions such as a camera function and a replaying function in addition to voice communication functions. The camera function and the multimedia replaying function are more popular now that wideband services is available. A mobile telecommunication terminal may include a high resolution digital cameral and a color LCD screen.
On the LCD screen of the mobile telecommunication terminal, icons provide certain information such as receiving sensitivity, battery capacity, message, bell/ vibration, etc. Certain graphic data for a menu display and video input through a camera and streaming video signals decoded by an MPEG-4 codec (coder and decoder) are also displayed.
Referring to FIG. 1, a block diagram showing a construction of a general mobile telecommunication terminal in which various video data can be displayed is provided. A general mobile telecommunication terminal comprises a central processing unit (CPU) 10; a camera module 102; an MPEG-4 video codec 103, and an LCD 104. The CPU 10 is for controlling each of the above components. The camera module 102 is for photographing videos as a digital method by using an image sensor. the MPEG-4 video codec 103 is for compressing and restoring graphic data inputted from the CPU 101, MPEG-4 streaming video data, and video data inputted from the camera module. The LCD 104 for displaying the compressed and restored data
The MPEG-4 video codec 103 includes a host interface 1031, a camera interface unit 1034, a video processing unit 1032, an arbitration circuit unit 1033, a memory 1035, and an LCD interface unit 1036. The host interface 1031 is for giving and taking graphic data and control signals with the CPU 101. The camera interface unit 1034 is for receiving a digital video signal from the camera module 102.
The video processing unit 1032 is for compressing the digital video signal inputted from the camera module 102 by a standard of the MPEG-4 or restoring MPEG-4 streaming data inputted from the CPU 101. The arbitration circuit unit 1033 is for arbitrating operations of said respective devices and data processing processes. The memory 1035 is for storing video data inputted from the camera module or video data restored in the video processing unit; and an LCD interface unit 1036 for providing data and control signals to the LCD 104.
Also included are a first display layer for displaying each kind of menu and icon showing various information of the terminal, a second display layer for video data photographed through a camera module, and a third display layer for video data which have restored MPEG-4 video streaming data downloaded from a video server.
The first layer provides for display for menus, icons, and a background screen of the mobile telecommunication terminal. The graphic data is displayed on the LCD through the host interface 1031, the arbitration circuit unit 1033, and the LCD interface 1036 on the basis of data showing information of the mobile telecommunication terminal provided from the CPU 101 and a clock and a synchronization signal required to operate the mobile telecommunication terminal.
The second layer provides for display of video data inputted from the camera module and is to store video data inputted from the camera module into the memory 1035 by compressing as one image, or to display inputted video data on the LCD 104 in real time. Real time digital R, G, B (red, green, and blue) signals inputted from the camera module 102 are displayed on the LCD 104 through the camera interface 1034, the video processing unit 1032, the arbitration circuit unit 1033, and the LCD interface 1036. Also, images stored in the memory 1035 are inputted to the CPU 101.through the arbitration circuit unit 1033 and the host interface 1031, compressed into a certain form (for example, JPG), and then stored in the memory 1035.
The third layer provides for the display of video data which have restored the MPEG-4 streaming video data is to display MPEG-4 streaming video data inputted from a video server (not shown) by restoring as original video data. The inputted video data is inputted to the video processing unit 1032 from the CPU 101 through the host interface 1031 and the arbitration circuit unit 1033. At this time, the video processing unit 1032 outputs the inputted MPEG-4 streaming video data by restoring as original video data. Also, the arbitration circuit unit 1033 receives the restored data and displays on the LCD 104 through the LCD interface 1036.
The three display layers have the following problems. When graphic data such as icons and the menus and video data are to be displayed, icons (play, stop, mute, and etc.) for controlling the video data and information of the terminal (for example, receiving sensitivity, battery capacity, and etc.) are displayed on an upper side or a lower side of the LCD screen. This limits the display area for video display. Alternatively, if the data is displayed on the entire LCD screen of the mobile telecommunication terminal in order to solve said problem, then the icons and menu information of the terminal corresponding to graphic data are not displayed. A solution is needed to the above problems and to maximize the video display area.

Video overlay device of mobile telecommunication terminal


A silver electroplating solution containing a cyanide as a silver source, said silver electroplating solution characterized by containing at least one type of compound of As, Tl, Se, and Te as a brightener and a brightness adjuster having a benzothiazole skeleton or benzoxazole skeleton. This plating solution utilizes the high speed property of gloss agents to the maximum, does not have an effect on the current density, gives stable non- or semi-gloss plating appearance, and facilitates control.

In the past, for silver electroplating solutions, silver electroplating solutions using a cyanide as a silver source and including compounds of As, Tl, Se, and Te as brighteners have been known (Japanese Patent No. 2756300).
By adding these gloss agents, there are the advantages that glossy silver plating films are obtained even with slight amounts of addition, the brightness degree increases the greater the amount of addition, the working current density is raised, and the speed is increased.
On the other hand, when forming silver plating films at front ends of inner leads or die pads etc. of lead frames for semiconductor packages, if bright (meaning becoming close to mirror surfaces), conversely problems such as image recognition not being possible at the time of wire bonding and sealability becoming inferior arise. Consequently, plating aiming at matt or semi-bright has been performed. Therefore, it has been necessary to lower the amounts of addition of brighteners.
In the case of the above gloss agents, however, originally only very small amounts were added, so if further lowering the amounts of addition, analysis becomes difficult and routine control of the amounts of addition by analysis becomes impossible. In practice, the amounts of addition are judged by the experience and judgment of the workers. Good control over the amounts of addition is therefore difficult.
Further, if reducing the amounts of addition of gloss agents, the working current density becomes low and the range becomes narrower, the production efficiency drops, and plating defects easily occur. In this case, if raising the working current density to raise the production efficiency, so-called "burnt deposits" or uneven plating ends up occurring.


A connection assembly adapted to join a surface element to an underlying support structure while maintaining a substantially zero gap abutting relation between the surface element and the support structure. The connection assembly includes a press-in retainer with a circumferential seal having a sealing foot. The sealing foot flexes about a living hinge while maintaining continuous sliding contact with the support panel without interfering with downward movement of the retainer.

Push-in type W-base retainers are used in a variety of connection assemblies to secure components of the assembly. For example, in automobiles such stud-like retainers are used to secure molding or other surface structures to underlying support elements such as body panels, support beams or the like. Such retainers typically include a stem with deflectable wing elements for securing the retainer to the support elements when the stem portion supporting the deflectable wing elements is pushed through an aperture in the support element. Typically, a head attached to the stem is configured for attachment to a doghouse or other complementary receiving element on the underside of the surface structure. In this regard, the head may include an enhanced diameter upper platform radial collar feature and an enhanced diameter lower radial collar feature with a spacing post extending between the upper and lower radial collar features. Thus, the spacing post may slide into a doghouse or other receiving element as will be well known to those of skill in the art and thereafter be blocked against axial withdrawal by the upper and lower radial collar features.
During use, as the stem is inserted into the aperture, the deflectable members may be compressed radially inwardly. The deflectable members then may spring outwardly as insertion is completed to lock behind the underside of the support element. Thus, with the head secured to the surface structure, the retainer forms a connection between the surface structure and the underlying support element.
W-base retainers are typically designed as a component of an overall assembly and work in conjunction with the other components with the goal of establishing and maintaining a "zero gap" condition between the sheet metal panel or other support element and the molding or other surface structure. To promote the desired "zero gap" condition, the W-base retainers typically provide a continuous pull down or clamp load condition. This constant pull down is intended to provide and maintain the desired "zero gap" condition between the support element and the molding or other surface structure. If this pull down force is compromised by a significant force acting in the opposite direction such that the molding or other surface structure does not seat against the sheet metal panel or other support element, an unacceptable gap condition may occur within the final assembled product. Such a gap condition may result in undesired rattling noise as well as in the introduction of dirt and water between the molding or other surface structure and the underlying support structure.
As much as is reasonably possible, it is generally desirable to limit the generation of squeaks, rattles and objectionable noises that may be created from movement of the retainer relative to the parts to which it is connected. By way of example only, and not limitation, various sealing arrangements for push through retainers are illustrated and described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,173,026 to Cordola et al. and US published application 2006/0099051 to Moerke, the contents of all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. To minimize corrosion, it is desirable also to prevent moisture from precipitation, carwashes, etc. from seeping past the retainer, and through the aperture in which the retainer is installed.
A variety of sealing structures have been used to minimize rattles and squeaks and to prevent moisture seepage past the retainer. Independent concave skirts such as described in US published application 2006/0099051 have been used in conjunction with push-in retainers at the base of the head to confront the body panel around the aperture in the panel. Elastomeric and foam seals also have been used to further improve sealing qualities against moisture penetration.
Although retainers as described incorporating concave skirts and/or seals have been used successfully to limit squeaks and rattles and to inhibit the penetration of moisture past the retainer, further improvements are desirable. Installing the seal as a separate part is cumbersome and awkward, complicating installation of the retainer. If installed on the retainer in advance, the seal can become dislodged, even if properly placed on the retainer. In automated assembly plants, a retainer missing a seal may not be detected and may be installed on the article in which it is used inadvertently. A loose retainer of this type will rattle or squeak, may provide a path for the penetration of moisture and may not adequately secure the second article or item as required. If the seal is adhered to the skirt of the retainer, the seal may not function optimally if the retainer is not seated squarely in the panel. Further, the position of the seal relative to the retainer skirt has limited the range of panel thicknesses with which the retainer can be used effectively to provide a seal against moisture intrusion.
As will be understood by those of skill in the art, a seal which is held between the retainer head and the support panel may experience a build, stack up condition as compression force is applied which results in a counteracting upward force being applied against the head which may partially offset the pull-down force provided by the deflectable wings. In some cases, the presence of seal elements which are compressed between the retainer head and the support panel may block the lower collar feature of the retainer from getting close enough to the underlying sheet metal panel to establish the desired "zero gap" condition between the sheet metal panel and the overlying molding or other surface structure. That is, the compressed seal in stack-up condition may act in the manner of a spacing shim holding the retainer head further away than intended from the sheet metal panel or other underlying support element. With the retainer head in this elevated condition, the attached molding or other surface element will likewise be held away from the panel or other support element and a gap condition may result.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Push through retainer connection with integrated hinging seal