The present invention relates to a vinyl polymer terminated in a silanol group, a hydrolyzable silyl group or an acrylic functional group,                to a method of producing a vinyl polymer having a hydrolyzable silyl group at one or more termini thereof        which comprises reacting a vinyl polymer having a silanol group at one or more termini thereof with a silicon compound having two or more silicon atom-bound hydrolyzable groups,        and a method of producing a vinyl polymer having an acrylic functional group at one or more termini thereof        which comprises reacting a vinyl polymer having a silanol group at one or more termini thereof        with a silicon compound represented by the general formula (3):XSiR2—G—O—C(O)C(L)═CH2   (3)wherein X is a hydrolyzable group.

Vinyl polymers, in particular (meth)acrylic polymers, having a crosslinking silyl group(s) within the molecule are used in highly weathering-resistant coatings utilizing the high weathering resistance owing to the main chain and crosslinking point(s) thereof. These (meth)acrylic polymers are generally produced by copolymerizing a (meth)acrylic monomer having a crosslinking silyl group(s) with another monomer or other monomers and, therefore, crosslinking silyl groups occur randomly in the molecular chain. It is thus difficult to use them in lieu of rubbers. On the other hands, attempts have been made to produce crosslinking silyl-terminated (meth)acrylic polymers and use them in sealing or adhesive compositions. As for the production of crosslinking silyl-terminated (meth)acrylic polymers, Japanese Kokoku Publication Hei-03-14068, for instance, discloses a method which comprises polymerizing a (meth)acrylic monomer(s) in the presence of a crosslinking silyl-containing mercaptan, a crosslinking silyl-containing disulfide and a crosslinking silyl-containing radical polymerization initiator, and Japanese Kokoku Publication Hei-04-55444 discloses a method which comprises polymerizing an acrylic monomer(s) in the presence of a crosslinking silyl-containing hydrosilane compound or a tetrahalosilane. Further, Japanese Kokai Publication Hei-06-211922 describes a method of producing crosslinking silyl-terminated (meth)acrylic polymers which comprises synthesizing a hydroxyl-terminated acrylic polymer using a hydroxyl-containing polysulfide in excess of an initiator and further converting the hydroxy group(s).
As a general method of introducing a crosslinking silyl group into a polymer terminus or termini, there may be mentioned the use of the hydrosilylation reaction involving a polymer terminus alkenyl group(s). However, compounds having both a silanol group and a hydrosilyl group are unstable and difficult to obtain and, therefore, it is difficult to introduce a silanol group(s) into a polymer terminus or termini by this method.
On the other hand, among crosslinking silyl groups, the silanol group is highly reactive and frequently used in the field of silicones, in particular, utilizing its high reactivity. However, almost no silanol-terminated polymers other than silicones are known since the production thereof is difficult as discussed above.
Further, among crosslinking silyl groups, ketoximo groups, acyloxy and like groups are highly reactive and are frequently used in the field of silicones, in particular, utilizing their high reactivity. However, almost no ketoximo- or acyloxy-terminated polymers other than silicones are known since the production thereof is difficult as discussed above.
Meanwhile, it is known that alkenyl-terminated polymers can crosslink by themselves or be crosslinked by using a curing agent such as a hydrosilyl-containing compound to give curing products excellent in heat resistance and durability. As the main chain skeletons of such polymers, there may be mentioned polyether polymers such as polyethylene oxide, polypropylene oxide and polytetramethylene oxide; hydrocarbon polymers such as polybutadiene, polyisoprene, polychloroprene, polyisobutylene, and hydrogenation products derived therefrom; polyester polymers such as polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate and polycaprolactone; and polysiloxane polymers such as polydimethylsiloxane, among others, and these are used in various fields according to the characteristics of the respective main chain skeletons.
(Meth)acrylic polymers have those characteristics which other polymers such as mentioned above cannot have, for example high weathering resistance and heat resistance, oil resistance and transparency, and the use of some having an alkenyl group(s) on a side chain(s) in highly weathering resistant coatings has been proposed (e.g. Japanese Kokai Publication Hei-03-277645, Japanese Kokai Publication Hei-07-70399). However, alkenyl-terminated (meth)acrylic polymers are difficult to produce, hence have hardly been put into practical use.
Japanese. Kokai Publication Hei-01-247403 discloses a method of producing acrylic polymers having an alkenyl group at both termini which uses an alkenyl-containing dithiocarbamate or diallyl disulfide as a chain transfer agent.
Further, Japanese Kokai Publication Hei-06-211922 discloses a method of producing alkenyl-terminated acrylic polymers which comprises producing a hydroxyl-terminated acrylic polymer using a hydroxyl-containing polysulfide or an alcohol compound as a chain transfer agent and further utilizing the reactivity of the hydroxyl group.
On the other hand, curable rubber-like elastomer compositions are widely used as adhesives, sealants and shock absorbers. According to the curing means, these are roughly classifiable into the so-called moisture-curable compositions which are stable under tightly closed conditions but cured by the action of moisture at room temperature to give rubber-like elastomers and compositions undergoing the crosslinking reaction upon heating, for example through the hydrosililation reaction.
However, it is difficult by the methods mentioned above to introduce an alkenyl group terminally into a polymer with certainty. Further, these methods generally use radical polymerization and, therefore, the polymers obtained have a broad molecular weight distribution (ratio of weight average molecular weight to number average molecular weight), which is generally not less than 2, and, accordingly, show a high viscosity, which is a problem. When the viscosity is high, problems arise, for example handling in application as a sealing agent or adhesive, for instance, becomes difficult or it is impossible to incorporate a large amount of a reinforcing filler.
Furthermore, it is not easy to introduce a radical-polymerizable acrylic functional group into (meth)acrylic polymers polymerized by radical polymerization. In particular, almost no oligomer compounds with an acrylic functional group introduced terminally thereinto have been synthesized.
On the other hand, in photocurable compositions, low-molecular compounds having an acrylic functional group(s) are used in many instances. In this case, the odor resulting from evaporation of low-boiling unreacted compounds during and after curing is a great problem. For avoiding this problem, oligomers having an acrylic functional group(s) are used. However, mainly from the synthesis viewpoint, such oligomers are restricted to the epoxy-acrylate, urethane-acrylate, polyester-acrylate and like types, and few oligomers having a high molecular weight are available. As a result, the curing products derived from them tend to become relatively hard ones. Any products having good rubber elasticity cannot be obtained.

Polymer, processes for producing polymer and composition


A framing element is provided. The framing element includes an F-shaped body defined via a spine, a first flange extending from the spine, and a second flange extending from the spine. The body is unitary. The first flange having a flange end portion distal to the spine. The flange end portion including a first track. The spine having a spine end portion distal to the first flange. The spine end portion including a second track. The second flange is between the first flange and the second track.

In the present disclosure, where a document, an act and/or an item of knowledge is referred to and/or discussed, whether directly and/or indirectly, then this reference and/or discussion is not an admission that the document, the act and/or the item of knowledge and/or any combination thereof was at the priority date, publicly available, known to the public, part of common general knowledge and/or otherwise constitutes prior art under the applicable statutory provisions and/or is known to be relevant to an attempt to solve any problem with which the present disclosure is concerned.
During construction, many framing techniques are used. One of such techniques includes manual assembly of multiple framing components into a single framing element. However, such assembly is inefficient for various reasons. For example, manual assembly involves excessive material, which is costly. Similarly, manual assembly wastes man-hours, which are also costly. Resultantly, better approaches are desired.
While certain aspects of conventional technologies have been discussed to facilitate the present disclosure, no technical aspects are disclaimed. The claims may encompass at least one of the conventional technical aspects discussed herein.


A vacuum arc deposition device comprising a vacuum vessel with a vacuum arc evaporation source disposed in the vacuum vessel, a plurality of arc current introduction portions are disposed to the vacuum arc evaporation source along with a plurality of arc discharge power sources for supplying arc electric power correspondingly to the plurality of arc current introduction portions. The vacuum arc vapor deposition device provides a large evaporation area and a high film formation rate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vacuum arc deposition device for forming films by utilizing a vacuum arc phenomenon.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Among various methods for forming films in vacuum, a vacuum arc vapor deposition method has industrially been used as a method capable of efficiently forming a hard film such as TiN. The vacuum arc vapor deposition is executed according to such a method as to generate a so-called vacuum cathode arc discharge between a cathode and an anode disposed in a vacuum vessel and to evaporate the cathodic material from an arc spot formed on the surface of the solid cathode, thus depositing the resultant vapor on a substrate disposed in the vacuum vessel to form a film.
As a device for realizing the vacuum arc vapor deposition, there have been known such devices as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publications Nos. Sho 58-3033 and sho 52-14690, which have been variously improved after that. As an evaporation source for a vacuum arc vapor deposition as shown in FIG. 7 is well-known to those skilled in the art.
In FIG. 7, a vacuum arc evaporation source 1 disposed in a vacuum vessel 2 has a cathode 3 and an anode 4. An arc discharge power source 5 is connected between the cathode 3 and the anode 4. A target 6 comprising a material to be evaporated is disposed to the cathode 3. When a vacuum arc discharge is generated under a voltage of several tens of volts and with a current from several tens to several hundreds of amperes, by an ignition mechanism (not illustrated), an arc spot is generated on the surface of the target 6 and vapor is emitted therefrom. The vapor is made to deposit on a substrate 7, to thereby form a film 8. An arc stabilizing mechanism 10 is disposed around the target 6 with an aim for maintaining the surface of the target 6 as a predetermined evaporation surface 9 (disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Sho 59-208070).
In the drawing, are also shown a vacuum pump 11 and a bias power source 12.
The vacuum arc vapor deposition may provide a high vapor ionization ratio so as to obtain a dense film of high quality and also provides a high film formation rate. Further, the area and shape of the evaporation surface 9 of the target 6 is not constrained by the evaporation process, and many target shapes and sizes may be used. For example, the evaporation surface 9 can be constituted as a circle of 100 mm diameter or as a rectangular shape with 1 m length in the longitudinal direction. The evaporation source 1 having a rectangular evaporation surface 9 is useful for forming a deposition film on a large-sized member or on a sheet-like product of large width, such as, a steel sheet.
However, there has been the following problem in a vacuum arc evaporation source when the evaporation source has a large area. As the evaporation surface is enlarged, the arc average current density at the surface of the evaporation surface is reduced in a reverse proportion with the area so that the vapor deposition rate in front of the evaporation surface is correspondingly reduced. As one of countermeasures therefor, a method for increasing the arc discharge current in accordance with the increase in the evaporation surface may be considered. Indeed, this method can achieve an advantageous effect within a certain extent of an area ratio, but it brings about another problem as the area is further increased.
Namely, an arc current of about 100A is typically required for an evaporation source having an evaporation area of about 100 mm diameter, which is the surface area of targets which are most commonly used. From the simple proportional rule, the discharge current of 300A would be required for an evaporation source having three times of the above area. Further, for an evaporation source having ten times of the above area, the discharge current of 1000A would be required. Although arc discharge at 300A can be coped with using the existent technique, the arc discharge at 1000A or greater causes the following practical problems which are particularly important in an evaporation source for continuous operation.
1. The arc discharge current becomes huge.
2. The diameter of a cable transmitting the arc power is increased along with an increase in current to result in inconvenience for handling. Since the cross section of a cable conductor required for the power transmission is increased in proportion with the square of electric current, wiring has to be done not by usual cables but by bus bars, particularly, in a region in which the current exceeds 1000A, which increases the difficulty in an assembling work.
3. As the current flowing in the cable increases, the intensity of a magnetic field caused thereby is also increased, which gives an effect on the movement of an arc spot to result in undesired effect such as localization of discharge.
4. Even if an evaporation surface of a large area is provided, the arc spot tends to localize to a portion of an evaporation surface to possibly cause uneven evaporation.
5. As the discharge current becomes greater, a current concentrated portion is formed not only on the surface of the cathode but also on the surface of the anode (anode spot) to possibly damage that portion.
Accordingly, even if an evaporation source of a large evaporation area is used, since the arc discharge current can not be increased in proportion with the evaporation area by the reason described above, there has been a problem that the film formation rate in average is reduced. As a result, in an application use requiring a high film formation rate, a necessary film formation rate can not be attained by an evaporation source of a large area. Therefore, large-scaled evaporation source can be constituted.


A theft protection collar is provided for a motor vehicle having a steering column with an ignition switch and shift lever and consists of a bracket which is removably connected and located to the steering column. The bracket covers and protects the ignition switch and retains the shift lever to prevent the unauthorized operation thereof.

The instant invention relates generally to motor vehicle security devices and more specifically it relates to a theft protection collar for a motor vehicle which provides the prevention of an unauthorized operation of an ignition switch and shift lever in the motor vehicle.
There are available various conventional motor vehicle security devices which do not provide the novel improvements of the invention herein disclosed.


Two volume levels may be produced in a backup alarm merely by reversing polarity of the DC power connections to the circuit of the present invention. The magnitude of output power produced by any device powered by a DC source may be switched between two levels merely by reversing polarity of the power source connected to the device when used with a circuit of the present invention.

Alarm devices are required for many applications, including mobile construction, mining and industrial equipment. Such devices emit a sound in the audible range of human hearing to warn persons in the immediate area that an emergency or other unexpected event is taking place, or that a vehicle is backing up and that the operator of the vehicle may not see or be able to maneuver around those persons.
In the prior art of backup alarms, there is substantial technology for control of the volume of alarm sound emitted by such alarm devices. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,603,317 and 3,173,136. In addition, modern prior art electrically-operated backup alarms usually comply with criteria and standards promulgated by government agencies as well as self-regulating industrial organizations. See for example Section 1926.601 of the Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Standards entitled "Motor Vehicles"; Department of Interior Mining Enforcement and Safety Administration Section 77.410; U.S. Army Corp of Engineers Manual Section EM385-1-1; and Society of Automotive Engineers (S.A.E.) Standard J994B.
Frequently, the sound level in typical prior art electrically-operated backup alarms is pre-set. The sound level in some alarms may be manually adjusted among more than one sound level using switches, shorting bars and the like. In still other types of backup alarms, the emitted sound level is automatically adjusted relative to sensed ambient noise levels. In such devices, the emitted sound level is automatically adjusted between pre-set maximum and minimum levels in accordance with recommended or required standards. The increase or decrease of emitted sound level between those limits is approximately linear and remains at a substantially constant level above the sensed ambient noise.
Most backup alarms are ruggedized, even hermetically sealed, to survive severe operating environments. Similarly, other alarm devices and other outdoor lighting and environmental sensor systems are also ruggedized and hermetically sealed.
In addition to concern for contributing to hearing impairment of persons working in or otherwise exposed to noise levels in excess of 62 db, operators of machinery simply tire of listening to loud alarm devices in their work place, especially when the machinery they are operating backup frequently. Since such alarm devices are important for safety and welfare of all personnel in the immediate areas of mobile construction equipment and industrial machinery, the risk of injury to such personnel and other persons in the area is increased if backup alarms are disabled or otherwise modified so they can not be heard above ambient noise levels. However, ambient noise levels vary and a simple, reliable and inexpensive method for setting the level of emitted sound from low-cost backup alarms is desirable.
In addition to simple, reliable and inexpensive adjustment between two levels of emitted sound levels from backup alarms for mobile construction, mining and industrial equipment, apparatus for simple, reliable and inexpensive adjustment of light intensity, sensor sensitivity or the volume or magnitude of the output of any other system powered from a DC source is desirable. Thus, a circuit for setting the output levels of a system having two pre-determined levels without a switch or other hardware, without separate power control, and, if sealed, without compromising the integrity of the seal is desirable.

Method and apparatus for controlling electric circuit output level in backup alarms lighting fixtures, sensors and the like


A probe head of a pitot probe includes a mandrel having a helical groove, a heater within the helical groove of the mandrel such that an exterior surface of the heater is flush with an exterior surface of the mandrel, and an outer shell having an interior surface in air-tight contact with the mandrel and the heater.

The present disclosure relates generally to air data probes, and in particular, to pitot probes.
Pitot probes are installed on aircraft to measure air data parameters. Pitot probes are exposed to the environmental conditions exterior to the aircraft, which are often cold. As such, heaters are positioned within pitot probes to ensure the pitot probes function properly. The heater is generally connected to the probe head of the pitot probe. It can be difficult to successfully connect the heater to the probe head.

Pitot probe with mandrel and pressure swaged outer shell


Disclosed is a syringe for a micro-dosing syringe pump. The syringe includes a reservoir having an outlet port; a plunger having a track, with the plunger received inside a portion of the reservoir; a plunger driver comprising a gear connected to one end of a shaft and a pin located adjacent an opposite end of the shaft, with the plunger driver received inside the plunger and with the pin located inside and engaging the track. In use, rotation of the gear in a first direction advances the plunger into the reservoir a first distance as the pin travels in the track and rotation of the gear in a second direction opposite the first direction advances the plunger a further distance into the reservoir as the pin travels in the track. The design prevents excess dosing in a runaway motor failure.

This section provides background information which is not necessarily prior art to the inventive concepts associated with the present disclosure.
Micro-dosing syringe pumps are known in the art and often used to deliver medicaments such as insulin, other hormones, chemotherapy medicaments, antibiotics and pain relievers just to name a few. These devices include a syringe generally comprising a reservoir, a plunger and a means to drive the plunger into the reservoir to deliver the medicament to a patient. Often times the means to drive the plunger comprises a telescoping set of screw drives that telescope outward as an end gear is driven in a rotational manner in one direction. Other systems use a screw-threaded rod that is rotated to drive a nut that is connected to the plunger, with rotation of the rod driving the nut upward and the plunger into a reservoir. Other systems use a scissoring system to drive a plunger into a reservoir. In general, for all of these systems the mechanism usually involves rotation of a part to drive the plunger and the rotation is always in the same direction.
One issue with all of these prior art plunger driver mechanisms is that they need complicated methods to address the issue of over-dosing. Such an issue can arise when a runaway motor event occurs. In such an event the motor, which drives the plunger through one of the aforementioned mechanisms, continues to run after delivery of the intended dose and thus the dosing continues and the patient can be over-dosed.
It is desirable to provide a plunger driver mechanism that avoids the problems of a runaway motor event and does so in a cost effective and simple manner. The present invention provides an elegant, mechanical, always "on" guard against runaway motor events. It also provides for accurate and repeatable dosing in a micro-dosing syringe pump system.

Syringe with a bidirectional plunger advancing mechanism for a micro-dosing syringe pump


A protective cover for securely housing at least one fastened electrical connector. The protective cover includes a top section and a bottom section moveably connected to one another, with the cover having a plurality of portals therein for receiving a plurality of electrical conductors therethrough. The bottom section of the cover includes a top surface having a recess in a portion leading down into a connection compartment which has a connection area. The connection area is provided with one or more orifices, with an accompanying channel for each of the one or more orifices extending down within the connection area. The one or more orifices with the accompanying channel are adapted to receive and securely house a lower portion of at least one fastener of the at least one fastened connector.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to protective covers for electrical connectors and, more particularly, to an improved protective cover for fastened electrical connectors (e.g. bolted electrical connectors).
2. Brief Description of Prior Developments
The use of protective covers for protecting electrical connectors from water, dust and other contaminants is known in the art. However, with most conventional covers, the electrical connector is not firmly secured in place within the cover, thereby leading to problems related to movement or shifting of the connector within the cover. In addition, conventional covers are also limited in the number and types of electrical connectors which they may house.
Examples of protective covers known in the art for housing electrical connectors are described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,112,148, U.S. Pat. No. 3,147,338 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,556,288. Specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 3,112,148 relates to a protective sheath for an electric connector and means for mounting and positioning the connector in the sheath. U.S. Pat. No. 3,147,338 relates to two-section hinged covers providing an insulating enclosure for bare connections of insulated wiring. U.S. Pat. No. 5,556,228 relates to protective covers for protecting a plurality of terminals within a housing from dust or dirt and the like during a period of time until being assembled on a vehicle, and the like. Further examples of protective covers for electrical connectors and/or related devices are described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,629,806, U.S. Pat. No. 4,339,629, U.S. Pat. No. 4,451,696, U.S. Pat. No. 4,865,557, U.S. Pat. No. 5,226,740, U.S. Pat. No. 5,439,759 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,645,448.
Despite the above advances, there is still a strong need in the art for a protective cover which securely and firmly houses fastened electrical (e.g. bolted electrical connectors) in place within the cover, such that these electrical connectors do not move or shift when housed within the cover. There is also a need in the art for a universal protective cover which may securely house several different combinations of electrical connectors therein using the same cover. Moreover, there is also a need in the art for a cover which allows the user to inspect or perform other work on the electrical connector while housed within the cover; without having to hold the connector in place.
The invention accomplishes the above needs in the art and also provides other advantages, as will be described in detail below.

Protective cover for fastened electrical connectors


A method (and related apparatus) includes receiving user input and generating at least one of schematic content for a circuit based on the received user input and a printed circuit board (PCB) layout based on the circuit. The method further includes generating a bill of material (BOM) for the circuit, and receiving a user selection of at least one of a computer-aided design (CAD) tool format and a PCB layout tool format. The method also includes receiving a user selection to include footprints for the components used in the schematic content or PCB layout and exporting at least one of the schematic content, and PCB layout as well as the PCB footprints to one or more files in accordance with the selected CAD and/or PCB layout tool format.

Electrical circuit designs normally require that a schematic be created in order to document and/or simulate the design. This process is normally performed in a computer aided design (CAD) tool. In addition, the printed circuit board (PCB) layout needs to be created in a CAD tool in order to construct the physical circuit board. In the past, the process of creating an electrical circuit design typically involved first creating the electrical circuit design, including the schematic, bill of materials (BOM) and PCB layout using the user's knowledge, relevant reference materials such as datasheets and application notes, and/or a design synthesis. Then the user unfortunately had to manually enter the schematic and/or printed circuit board (PCB) layout into a CAD tool.

Circuit design synthesis tool with export to a computer-aided design format


A process for producing ultra fine silica particles, the process comprising directing a plasma jet onto a silicon-containing compound thereby to form silica vapor and condensing the silica vapor on a collection surface.

The present invention relates to a process for producing ultra fine silica particles of sub micron size, i.e. silica particles having an average diameter of less than 1 micron. Such particles are sometimes referred to in the art as xe2x80x9ccolloidalxe2x80x9d silica particles.
Ultra fine sub micron silica particles are known in the art. For example, a fine silica particle material wherein the silica particles are spherical particles having an average diameter between 7 and 40 nanometers and produced by the hydrolysis of a volatile silane compound in an oxygen-hydrogen gas flame is available in commerce under the trade name AEROSIL from the company Degussa AG of Frankfurt Am Main, Germany. In addition, the production of fine silica particles is disclosed in xe2x80x9cThe Chemistry of Silicaxe2x80x9d, by Ralph Kìsla, 1979, John Wiley and Sons, Inc. That document discloses on page 25 three ways for producing anhydrous amorphous silica particles at high temperature, these being vaporising silicon dioxide in an arc or plasma jet and condensing it in a stream of dry inert gas; oxidising silicon monoxide in the vapour phase with air and condensing the silicon dioxide; and oxidising silicon compounds in the vapour state, such as SiH4, SiCl4 or HSiCl3 with dry hydrogen or in a hydrocarbon flame.
The present invention aims to provide improved processes for the production of ultra fine sub micron silica particles.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a process for producing ultra fine silica particles, the process comprising directing a plasma jet onto a silicon-containing compound thereby to form silica vapour and condensing the silica vapour on a collection surface.


To provide a thrust fork to arrest a resisting criminal without danger of being stabbed by an edge tool, a thrust fork main body (2) attached to an end of a handle portion (1) is provided with a forked rod (21), movable opening and closing rods (23), which have base end portions respectively pivoted to leading ends of the forked rod and freely swivel only inside the forked rod without outward movement, a returning element (24) to return the opening and closing rods (23) by a spring to an original position, and a constraining rope (26), both ends of which are engaged with leading ends of the opening and closing rods (23) respectively to form a ring 44 having a suitable size inside the forked rod, whereby the end of the forked rod is opened and closed via swiveling of the opening and closing rods.

As a conventional thrust fork, as shown in FIG. 12 for example, there has been generally known a structure in which a thrust fork main body 103 constituted by a forked rod 104 branched in a semicircular shape, a U shape, a V shape or the like (the semicircular shape in the drawing) is attached to a leading end of a handle portion 101 constituted by a telescopic rod 102 or the like (refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent. Publication No. 7-103695, Japanese Utility Model No. 3089372, Japanese Utility Model No. 3041513, Japanese Utility Model No. 3083227, for example). The thrust fork is structured such that the police man or the like holds the handle portion 101 by hands and presses a body of a criminal or the like by the forked rod 104 so as to seize it, so that the criminal or the like can be constrained.
However, the conventional thrust fork has the following problems. (1) Since the conventional thrust fork is structured such as to press the body of the criminal or the like so as to seize it, the conventional thrust fork can not be effectively used in a place where a wall or a boarding of a building, or a barrier material such as a fence or the like does not exist. (2) Since a motion of the criminal or the like cannot be held at a position which is apart from the barrier material, there is a risk that that the criminal or the like escapes at a time of arresting. (3) Since the structure is made such that the forked rod presses only the body of the human body, the motion of the body can be held, however, arms and feet can be freely moved. Accordingly, a lot of trouble is caused in the next action, that is, an arresting operation such as handcuffing or the like. (4) Since arms can be moved freely, for example, at a time of seizing the criminal or the like who holds an edge tool such as knife or the like, there is a danger that the arresting person is stabbed by the edge tool at a time of arresting by handcuffing or the like.
Accordingly, the inventor of the present application has developed a thrust fork (a prior art) having the following structure, in order to solve the problems mentioned above. The thrust fork in accordance with the prior art is a thrust fork having a thrust fork main body attached to a leading end of a handle portion, wherein the thrust fork main body comprises a forked rod, movable opening and closing rods, which are connected to leading ends of both branches of the forked rod and arranged to be opposed each other so as to rise and fall in the directions of moving close to and apart from each other at a predetermined angular range, a lock means for locking and releasing freely a motion of both the opening and closing rods at a time when both the opening and closing rods rise and fall at the predetermined angle, and a rope for constraint provided such that one end is engaged with the leading end portion of the one opening and closing rod and the other end is engaged with the leading end portion of the other opening and closing rod, and has a suitable length, and wherein the leading ends of the forked rod are opened and closed by rising and falling both the opening and closing rods, and a ring is formed by the rope at a time when both the opening and closing rods rise and fall (refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-289593).
In accordance with the prior art mentioned above, since force is applied to the leading ends of the opening and closing rods via the rope, when pressing the thrust fork to a target region (for example, an arm of the criminal or the like) in the state that both the opening and closing rods are opened, both the opening and closing rods fall, and are locked in the state that the portion between both the leading ends of the forked rod is closed by both the rods. Further, when both the opening and closing rods fall, an endless ring is formed by the rope. Accordingly, in the case of pressing the leading end of the thrust fork main body to the arm holding the edge tool, for example, at a time of arresting the criminal having the edge tool or the like, both the opening and closing rods fall, and are locked in the state that the arm is caught in the ring formed by the rope. Accordingly, since the arm holding the edge tool is constrained by the ring of the rope, and the motion of the arm is controlled, it is possible to avoid the danger of being stabbed by the edge tool and it is possible to easily arrest the criminal. Further, in the case of pressing the leading ends of the thrust fork main body to an ankle region of the criminal or the like, the opening and closing rods are locked by the same operation as mentioned above in the state that the ankle region is caught in the ring of the rope so as to be constrained. Accordingly, since the criminal or the like can be easily tripped sideways by operating the handle portion such as pulling the handle portion, it is possible to easily arrest the criminal or the like, similarly to the foregoing.
However, the following room to be improved still exists in the prior art. The prior art requires a work for resetting the movable opening and closing rods to the original position every time after use. Further, since the structure, for example, of the lock means or the like is complex, the manufacturing requires a lot of man-hours, and a production cost is increased.


An attachment device for lifting and removing build plates and additive manufactured parts built on the build plates from an additive manufacturing machine. The attachment device may fit onto a lift trolley to cooperatively engage with and lift the build plate upward off of a surface of the additive manufacturing machine. The attachment device may include a support bar, two lifting arms, and a mounting bracket. The support bar may have a slider track formed therethrough, so that the lifting arms can be adjusted to correspond with a width of the build plate. The lifting arms may each having a channel formed along a length thereof and an interfacing portion slidably located within the slider track. The channels may be sized and shaped to engage with a bottom surface and/or opposing edges of the build plates. The mounting bracket may attach to a lifting device of the lift trolley.

Additive manufacturing is a method of creating parts that uses directed energy to melt or sinter powder that is deposited on a platform and exposed uniformly to a vacuum or a cover gas. A first layer of powder is uniformly deposited on the build platform, and then the directed energy melts the powder to create a first layer of the part. Then another layer of powder is uniformly deposited onto the first layer, and the directed energy fuses this layer to the first layer. This process is repeated until a three-dimensional part is complete.
Completed parts must typically be manually lifted from an additive manufacturing build chamber. Specifically, an operator must lift the part and the build plate from the build chamber and place the part onto another transport device or carry it to a next desired location. Lifting of large parts, some of which may weigh in excess of 300 pounds, may generally increase risk of injury and increase the odds of a part being dropped or otherwise damaged during manual transport.
Thus, there is a need for an apparatus or method for removing large additive manufactured parts from the build chamber without risking injury or part damage.

Lifting and removal device for additive manufacturing system

Honeywell Federal Manufacturing & Technologies, LLC


The heated laminating roll of the present invention comprises a cylindrical core having an exterior surface, an electrical resistance heating wire disposed on the exterior surface of the cylindrical core, and a silicone rubber cover disposed on the core. The silicone rubber cover provides the exterior surface of the roll. A metallic mesh is disposed within the silicone rubber cover. The metallic mesh is electrically insulated from the heating wire and is also electrically grounded. The metallic mesh layer is typically constructed of copper. The roll also may include temperature sensing devices disposed within the silicone rubber cover. The temperature sensing devices may also be disposed within the interior of the cylindrical core. The heated laminating roll provides the benefits of using an electrical resistance heater wire and additionally includes means to effectively conduct heat throughout the roll as well as providing means to safely shield the user from electrical shock.

Heated rolls are used in the laminating process where a thin protective thermoplastic film is applied to an article. The article to be laminated may include such things as paper documents and packaging for food stuffs.
The laminating process typically involves passing the article and the thermoplastic film through adjacent heated nip rolls which fuse the film directly to the article by the application of heat and pressure. Once the article has passed through the heated nip rolls, the thin protective thermoplastic film is essentially adhered to the article.
Most existing laminating machines use heated nip rolls that include a cylindrical core that has a silicone rubber cover. The heated nip rolls are typically heated internally through the use of heated liquids. The liquid may be heated internally within the roll through the use of heating elements. More commonly, the liquid is heated externally in a special heater.
Although heated nip rolls using heated liquid are generally effective at maintaining nip rolls at a constant temperature necessary for laminating, there are significant disadvantages to this technology.
A first disadvantage of using a heated liquid to heat laminating machine nip rolls is the length of time required to heat the liquid and thus the roll to operating temperature. This delay forces machines to be turned on well in advance of using the machine. Once the machine is at operating temperature the machine can not typically be shut down as the heat up time required would cause extensive delays.
Laminating roll heating systems of this type using a heated liquid as the means to heat the rolls are often used in work environments where the laminating machine is only used intermittently throughout the work day. A typical work environment where laminators are used is a copy or print shop. The laminating machine could be used for large production runs such as menus or for small jobs such as laminating a single document. Keeping a laminating machine at operating temperature all day to be able to perform small intermittent jobs adds a significant expense as the power requirements of keeping laminating machines of this type at operating temperature are quite high.
Another disadvantage of laminating machines that use a heated liquid to heat the nip rolls is the unsafe nature of hot liquids. Should a pressurized hose or cylinder rupture, the hot oil or glycol used in the heating the rolls would be likely to uncontrollably spray out of the system and inflict severe injuries and property damage.
Heated laminating rolls have previously been developed that use resistance wires to heat the laminating rolls. The resistance wires on these laminating rolls have been disposed on the core of the laminating roll underneath a covering of silicone rubber.
An advantage of using resistance heater wires is that resistance heater wires are much quicker at bringing a laminator roll to operating temperature than heated liquid systems. Because of this the laminating machine does not need to be maintained at operating temperature at all times. This feature saves considerable expense over heated liquid systems due to the decreased power usage. Laminating machines maintained at operating temperature often contribute a large amount of heat to work environments. This extra heat increases the cooling requirements of air conditioning equipment and the electrical power consumption expense associated therewith.
Laminating machines using resistance heater wires have fewer space requirements compared to a heated liquid system that has an external liquid heater. This feature also makes the laminating machines using resistance heater wires more easily accommodated into a work space.
Laminating machines using resistance heater wires to heat the laminating rolls also use a rolls that are considerably lighter in weight than the rolls used in heated liquid type machines. The extra weight of rolls using heated liquid requires that the entire laminating machine is also built of a heavy construction to properly support the heavy rolls. This extra weight also requires heavier drive mechanisms and heavier duty drive motors. Because of the overbuilt nature of heated liquid laminating machines the machines are less portable than resistance heater wire systems and are much more costly to manufacture.
In addition to the decreased materials required, laminating machines using resistance heater wires generally are also much simpler to manufacture compared to machines using heated liquid as a means to heat the rolls. This simplicity presents significant cost savings to the manufacturer. There are also corresponding savings to the operators of the laminating machines using resistance heater wires that are derived from a substantial decrease in the maintenance requirements of these laminating machines.
There are also safety benefits of using resistance heater wires to heat laminating rolls. There are no hot pressurized liquids that could inflict severe injuries or property damage if a component of the system ruptures. There is a significant decrease in safety inspections for resistance heater wire laminating machines as the machines do not use pressurized heated liquids.
Although there are significant benefits to using resistance heater wires as a means to heat rolls in laminating machines, there have also been two significant disadvantages that were not overcome by the prior art.
A first disadvantage of laminating rolls using resistance heater wires is due to the uneven application of heat to the rolls by the resistance wire. Attempts at conducting heat evenly to the rolls in previous systems have comprised the impregnation of the silicone rubber roll covering with copper particles or the use of metallic compounds electro-sprayed over the resistance wires. Impregnating silicone rubber with copper particles provided an increase in the heat conductivity of the silicone rubber and a more even heat distribution on the rolls. In this way the disadvantage of uneven heat distribution was overcome with this design. However, this system was unsuccessful because mixing copper particles into silicone greatly restricts the methods of applying silicone to the core of a laminating roll during the manufacturing process. Additionally, the silicone is difficult to machine to a necessary surface finish due to the inclusion of copper particles which cause excessive tearing and pitting at the outer machined surface of the silicone. As a very smooth surface finish is required for high quality laminating the process proved to be undesirable.
Electro-spraying laminating rolls with copper to increase the heat conductivity has also proven to be unsuccessful as the additional manufacturing costs are prohibitive. Furthermore, metallic coatings produced by electro-spraying are quite brittle and do not hold up well to the rigors of pressure and temperature shock that effect laminating rolls.
An additional problem with the prior art laminating rolls using electrical resistance heater wires has been the safety risk associated with working around live electrical wires that are covered only with the silicone rubber covering on the roll. The risk with this system is due to the sharp tools often used in conjunction with laminating machines. These tools may penetrate into the silicone where the tool may contact a live resistance wire causing injury to the user.
For the foregoing reasons there is a need for a heated laminating roll that utilizes the substantial benefits provided by electrical resistance heater wires but additionally provides a means to conduct the heat uniformly throughout the roll. There is also a need for a heated laminating roll that provides a safety mechanism to ensure that a user of the laminating machine cannot come in contact with a live electrical resistance wire.


This invention is directed to acquisition of a communication path for a mobile communication apparatus in a case of occurrence of communications beyond the capacity of a radio base station due to a communication trouble or the like.

A mobile communication apparatus 50 (MS: Mobile Station) which uses wireless such as a mobile phone or a PHS (Personal Handy-phone System) or the like shown in FIG. 12,communicates using a communication system 9. In the communication system 9, the mobile communication apparatus 50 connects with a wireless base station 29 (BTS: Base Transfer Station) via a wireless communication path 60. Moreover, the wireless base station 29 is connected with an exchange office 43 which is composed of a base station control apparatuses (RNC: Radio Network Controller) and a mobile exchange office (MMS: Mobile Multimedia Switching System) via a wireless or a wired dedicated telecommunication network 42 of a respective communications service provider. The exchange offices 43 are mutually connected via a Public Switched Telephone Networks (PSTN: Public Switched Telephone Networks) 44. In this way, the mobile communication apparatuses 50 are mutually connected via the wireless base station 29 and afterwards communications infrastructures.
A general wireless base station 29 connects with the mobile communication apparatuses 50 which are locating within radius range from hundreds meters to ten-several kilometers, and connects the mobile communication apparatuses 50 in a limit of communication capacity in the case that these are the mobile communication apparatuses 50 of the same communication service provider and the same communication method. In other words, the general wireless base station 29 has no limitations on number of connectable mobile communication apparatuses 50.
Besides this kind of the wireless base station, there is a base station called a femtocell, rang of connection of which is tens meters radius and which is used in a home or in an office (refer to the patent literature 1). The femtocell has a connectable range of tens meters radius and does not correspond to a large movement of the mobile communication apparatus which is being connected, and aims at providing a stable and high speed connection with a wired communication network compared with a general wireless communication network for the mobile communication apparatuses. Therefore, in the case that the wired communication line of the femtocell is used by other users, the femtocell cannot provide a communication of the wired communication network to the mobile communication apparatus of a use who installs the femtocell. Accordingly, in order to limit the connection by other users, the femtocell registers the mobile communication apparatuses which can be connected with the femtocell.

Communication relay apparatus, communication relay system, communication relay method, and communication relay program

Abstract: A communication relay apparatus comprises: a wireless connection unit that connects with a mobile communication apparatus via a wireless communication path; a wired connection unit that connects with a wired communication path; and an authentication unit that permits, based on a first authentication, the connection of the mobile communication apparatus to the wired communication path and that permits, based on the establishment of a second authentication, the said connection if the first authentication is not established and further if information for permitting the said connection has been registered.


An electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) is disclosed. The EEPROM includes a tunneling region in a semiconductor substrate, a control gate region in the semiconductor substrate and separated from the tunneling region by a device isolating layer, a tunnel oxide layer in a trench in the semiconductor substrate between the tunneling region and the control gate region, and a polysilicon layer on the tunnel oxide layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to semiconductor devices, and more particularly, to an electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) and a method for manufacturing an EEPROM.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
As kinds of non-volatile memories, there are, e.g., a single-poly electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) having a single poly-crystalline silicon (polysilicon) layer acting as a gate, a stacked gate (EEPROM tunnel oxide [ETOX]) non-volatile memory (NVM) having two poly-crystalline silicon layers vertically stacked one above another, a dual-poly EEPROM between the single-poly EEPROM and the stacked gate, and a split gate EEPROM.
Generally, although the stacked gate has the smallest cell size and complex circuitry and thus, is suitable for high density or high performance applications, recommending the stacked gate for low density NVM applications may be inappropriate. EEPROM is an advantageous NVM for use in the low density applications. For example, the single-poly EEPROM may be manufactured by adding approximately two mask processes to an otherwise standard process for manufacturing semiconductor logic devices.
Hereinafter, a general EEPROM will be described.
FIG. 1 is a plan or layout view illustrating a general EEPROM cell.
The general EEPROM cell shown in FIG. 1 performs a programming operation and an erase operation by Fowler-Nordheim (F-N) tunneling. A tunneling region 50, a read transistor region 52, and a control gate region 54 shown in FIG. 1 will be described in detail in the following detailed description. The respective regions 50, 52, and 54 include active regions 20A, 20B, and 20C, and wells 10A, 30, and 10B. A patterned polysilicon layer 40 is formed in part over the regions 50, 52 and 54.
In the EEPROM cell shown in FIG. 1, assuming the use of an N-type metal oxide semiconductor (NMOS) transistor, both the wells 10A and 10B are N-type, whereas the well 30 is P-type. In this case, it is necessary to isolate at least part of the EEPROM cell from a P-type semiconductor substrate (see FIG. 2).
Meanwhile, to perform the programming and erase operations, the tunneling of electrons occurs in the tunneling region 50. An efficiency of these operations generally depends on a coupling ratio between a capacitance A of the tunneling region 50 and a capacitance B of the control gate region 54.
To increase the coupling ratio between the two capacitances A and B during the programming and erase operations, an area of the control gate region 54 should be increased to increase an overlap area between the active region 20C and the patterned polysilicon layer 40 in the control gate region 54. However, this increase in overlap may increase the entire size of the cell. As a result, an EEPROM containing a relatively small number of bits (e.g., several tens of bits) may have an increased cell area and consequently, deteriorated (or at least partially inefficient) cell density.
Although it may be suggested to manufacture a dual-poly EEPROM cell in order to achieve enhanced cell density, a dual-poly EEPROM manufacturing process may require a separate process for forming the dielectric layer between the control gate and the floating gate (e.g., for controlling the capacitance between the gates), or a separate process for forming the control gate, resulting in a relatively complicated manufacturing process of the EEPROM cell.

EEPROM and method for manufacturing EEPROM


A system for concurrent gaming comprises a gaming server and a client computer connected to the gaming server by means of an open communication network. The gaming server is instructable by the client to randomly select multiple, concurrent hands of playing cards to a player in a turn of a game of Caribbean Stud poker. The compositions of the multiple, randomly selected concurrent hands is transmitted by the gaming server along the communication network to the client computer where they are displayed to the player, under program control as part of a simulation of the game of Caribbean Stud poker. Gaming server also generates the gaming server also randomly selects a hand associated with a dealer in the game, the composition of the dealer's hand being also transmitted by the gaming server to the client computer and displayed as part of the simulation. The player then makes desired game play decisions, in turn, as a function of each one of the, multiple concurrent hands and the dealer's hand.

A well-known variation of the game of poker is called Caribbean Stud.
This game is a game of poker between each one of a number players and a dealer. During a turn of the game, each player is required to make an initial wager called an ante. After wagering the ante, each player and the dealer receive five cards dealt from a single deck of 52 playing cards. The playing cards are dealt to each player face down, while the dealer receives one card face up and the remainder face down. Each player must not, at this stage, disclose the playing cards that have been dealt to him.
Each player is then required to decide, on the basis of the playing cards which have been dealt to him, and the dealer's exposed playing card, whether to continue with his participation in this turn of the game (that is, to "play") or to terminate his participation in the turn (that is, to "fold"). If a player folds, he loses his ante wager. If a player decides to play, he must make a further wager, known as the main wager, which is equal to twice the amount of the ante wager.
Once the main wager has been made in this manner by all players who have decided to play in the particular turn of the game, the dealer and the players all reveal their hands. In order to participate in the game (that is, "to qualify") is, the dealer's hand must contain an Ace and a King, or better, in a conventional ranking of poker hands. If the dealer does not qualify, each player who has not folded wins the ante wager at even money and has the main wager is returned to him. If the dealer qualifies, the dealer's hand is compared to that of each player. If a player has a better poker hand than that of the dealer, the player wins the ante bet at even money and wins the main bet according to a predetermined table of odds. If a player has a worse poker hand than that of the dealer, both the ante wager and the main wager are lost.
A problem with this game of Caribbean Stud is that each player may only play one hand at the time. The reason for this is that if more than one hand was to be played, a player could swap playing cards between the two or more hands, thereby gaining an advantage over the dealer. Even in the absence of cards swapping, a player could, potentially, gain an advantage by playing multiple hands and adjusting his playing strategy in accordance with a collective knowledge of the playing cards in the multiple hands that have been dealt to him in a particular turn of the game.


A pallet lifting and moving mechanism with a base, cam member, a removable handle and a wheel rotatingly secured to the cam member to lift the base from a support surface wherein the base supports a leading edge of an associated pallet to facilitate loading and supports a trailing edge of an associated pallet to facilitate unloading of the associated pallet from a delivery truck. The invention also contemplates a method of lifting the leading edge of the associated pallet during loading and the trailing edge of the associated pallet during unloading.

The invention relates to a mechanism for facilitating the loading and unloading of palleted contents to and from a delivery truck and more particularly to a mechanism capable of lifting the leading edge of an associated pallet during loading and the trailing edge during unloading, thereby minimizing the potential for the mechanism to contact an obstacle on the vehicle floor during the loading and unloading operations. The invention also relates to a method of lifting the leading edge of the associated pallet to facilitate loading and unloading thereof.
It is generally well known in the field of freight handling to place loads of material on pallets and employ a mechanism such as a forklift truck apparatus or a pallet jack, for example, to raise the palleted contents to facilitate the loading and unloading operations.
Typically, the pallet jack includes narrow tines or forks which are employed for lifting the loaded pallets. A handle which operates an associated pump is typically employed to raise the tines or forks. The handle is repeatedly moved in an arcuate up and down manner to raise the tines or forks to a desired height. The forklift truck requires the use of an associated motor to raise the tines or forks to the desired height.
Since mechanisms such as the pallet jack and the forklift truck are heavy, bulky, expensive, and in certain situations require separate operators, it is desirable to have an easily operated mechanism which is economical to produce.
An object of the present invention is to produce a pallet lifting and moving mechanism capable of only slightly lifting or raising one end of the palleted contents to facilitate the movement thereof.
Another object of the present invention is to produce a pallet lifting and moving mechanism which is simple and economical to manufacture.
Another object of the present invention is to produce a pallet lifting and moving mechanism which is easy to use.
Yet another object of the present invention is to produce a pallet lifting and moving mechanism which facilitates the safe movement of palleted contents from one position to another.
Still another object of the present invention is to produce a pallet lifting and moving mechanism which is lightweight and requires a minimal amount of space for operation.
The above, as well as other objects of the invention, may be readily achieved by a pallet lifting and moving mechanism comprising: a base including a supporting surface engaging portion; a cam member pivotally secured to the base; wheel means operatively mounted to the cam member; and a handle secured to the cam member for pivotally moving the cam member to elevate the base.
The invention also contemplates a method of lifting an edge of an associated pallet during transport of the pallet on a support surface using a pallet lifting and moving mechanism having a base with a support surface engaging portion and a lip portion extending outwardly therefrom, a cam member pivotally secured to the base, wheel means rotatingly secured to the cam member, and a handle detachably secured to the cam member, the method comprising: placing the lip portion under the edge of the pallet; causing the cam member to be cammed downwardly using the handle to cause the cam member to contact the support surface thereby raising the pallet lifting and moving mechanism with respect to the supporting surface and similarly raising the pallet edge with respect to the support surface; further causing the cam member to be cammed downwardly using the handle to cause the wheel to contact the support surface; moving the pallet into a desired position on the support surface; causing the cam member to be cammed upwardly using the handle to cause the wheel to lose contact with the support surface; causing the cam member to be further cammed upwardly to cause the cam surface to lose contact with the support surface; and removing the lip portion from under the edge of the pallet.


A backlighting display assembly for an LCD that utilizes a plurality of LEDs that are in spaced relation adjacent to the LCD such that the LEDs do not directly light the LCD and instead a reflective material such as a potted material is placed in parallel spaced alignment from the LCD and LEDs such that light is reflected off of the reflected surface to illuminate the interior LCD and open target areas of the circuit board of the assembly thus providing proper lighting for the LCD, transparent and semi-transparent areas of the graphic overlay of the control panel.

The present invention relates to the field of back lighting for an LCD (liquid crystal display) and/or graphical images on a transparent or semi-transparent graphic overlay. In a display application using an LCD and target areas on a graphic overlay of a control panel, sufficient backlight is needed. Standard display assemblies include the use of a circuit board and LCD on a control panel wherein the panel fits into a frame. Currently in the art, to provide proper backlighting to the entire backside of the control panel including the circuit board, a single diffused backlight is placed over the LCD. This large diffused backlight is very expensive and not cost economical. Additionally, this large backlight consumes a considerable amount of printed circuit board area thus limiting the usable area of the circuit board.
Also known in the art is the use of LEDs (light emitting diodes) that are mounted to shine directly on the LCD. However, this solution provides a backlight that is not esthetically pleasing and that additionally creates hot spots on the LCD because the LEDs do not evenly diffuse to provide the sufficient backlighting needed in this application. Additionally, these direct shine through or reverse mount LEDs tend to bleed out the viewable segments on the graphic overlay due to the limitations of the viewing angle and the short distance to the LCD. Consequently, there is a need in the art for a backlighting system that will provide sufficient backlighting for an LCD and target areas of a graphic overlay that is esthetically pleasing and economical to produce.
Thus, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a backlighted display assembly in combination with a reflective surface in order to backlight an LCD and areas of a graphic overlay that are transparent or semi-transparent in nature.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide LEDs in spaced apart relation to fully illuminate an LCD and graphic overlay to maximize the use of the circuit board.
Another object of the present invention is to use a sealing potted material to reflect light in order to diffuse the light spatially along the LCD and graphic overlay without creating "hot spots" or LED bleeding. These and other objects, features, or advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the specification and claims.


A plurality of relay apparatuses are provided within an IP network of an ISP, and these relay apparatuses are connected to each other by logical tunnels. Each relay apparatus determines the type of a destination address at the Layer 2 level from the data loaded from a host device. When the type is for broadcast, the relay apparatus identifies a tunnel as a relay destination from the data contents set in correlation with destination addresses at the Layer 3 level, and transmits the data only to the relevant relay destination tunnel.

Such a conventional data relay method provides service by an IP-VPN, which is service equivalent to service provided by a private line, obtained by establishing a logical tunnel on, for example, a backbone IP network of an ISP. For instance, an intranet such as an intracorporate network, that has been set up conventionally by using a private line, is constructed by utilizing this IP-VPN service of the ISP.
In such IP-VPN service, networks constructed by terminals (host devices) such as PCs of plural users share the backbone IP network of the ISP. Therefore, the IP-VPN service has an advantage such that a network can be constructed at lower cost as compared to the service through a private line singly used by a user. Further, the IP-VPN service is relay service using the Layer 3 (Network layer) level, and also provides a connection service between LANs that relays through LANs of users at the Layer 2 (Data Link layer) level to make a connection between the LANS.
An ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) being widespread based on an Internet access network or an optical fiber access network uses technology called PPPoE (Point to Point Protocol over Ethernet), and host devices of users and an ISP are connected through a network set-up by an access-network service enterprise (hereafter called "access network"). At this time, tunneling technology called L2TP (Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol) or MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) is used to provide one-to-one communication within the access network. In this tunneling technology, a new header is added to data communicated between the host device of a user and the ISP within the access network to encapsulate the data, and the data is relayed within this access network.
FIG. 20 is a schematic constructional diagram showing a system construction of a conventional Internet access network that relays data via the ADSL. In this figure, the access network 20 is set up by the internally provided network terminating device 21 and BAS (Broadband Access Server) 22, and the logical tunnel 23 is established between the network terminating device 21 and BAS 22. The IP network 10 of the ISP is connected with the network terminating device 21 through a line L, and the host devices 27 to 29 of users A to C are connected to the BAS 22 through respective ADSLs (telephone lines) 24 to 26. The data transmitted from the IP network 10 of the ISP is input into the network terminating device 21 through the line L, where the data is subjected to relay processing, and the data is forwarded to the BAS 22 through the logical tunnel 23, and distributed to the respective host devices 27 to 29.
That is, when data is to be distributed from the IP network 10 of the ISP to each user, the data transmitted from the IP network 10 of the ISP is loaded into the network terminating device 21 in a packet structure consisting of IP header and data. This packet is added with header for tunnel within the access network 20 (IP header within an enterprise network) and PPP (Point-to-Point Protocol) header in the network terminating device 21, and is transmitted to the BAS 22. The BAS 22 removes only the header for tunnel from the packet and transmits the packet as PPP data to the respective host devices 27 to 29 through the ADSLs 24 to 26.

Data relay method, its apparatus, and data relay system using the apparatus


An improved non-spill water bottle cap is developed for preventing water spillage when a water bottle is inverted to place on a water dispenser. The improved non-spill water bottle cap comprises a cylindrical plastic tube (10), a spherical float (20) for controlling the water flow, a plastic cap head (30) integrally formed with the cylindrical plastic tube (10), an edge frame (11) disposed at the end of the cylindrical plastic tube (10) and an annular flange (13) with a plurality of peepholes (13a) disposed at the mouth of the plastic cap head (30) for retaining the spherical float (20) inside the cylindrical plastic tube (10), and an annular sealing ridge (12) for momentarily blocking the water flow path by contacting the spherical float (20) to form a seal when the water bottle is inverted.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a non-spill water bottle cap for preventing water spillage when a water bottle is inverted to place on a water dispenser. Particularly, the improved non-spill water bottle cap has an advanced feature for momentarily blocking the water flow path of the water bottle. The improved non-spill water bottle cap consists of a transparent cylindrical plastic tube, a spherical float, an annular flange with a plurality of peepholes and an annular sealing ridge.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Recently, bottled purified water is increasingly consumed by many people due to pollution of drinking water reservoirs. Along with the increase in purified water consumption, bottled purified water and its dispenser became essential devices at many modern offices and homes. Some such devices are also equipped with an electric hot water and cold water dispensing system.
When a water bottle is emptied, a new water bottle must be placed on the dispenser. Before installing a new water bottle, a seal on the water bottle must be removed, then the bottle must be lifted and inverted simultaneously to orient the port vertically downward toward the dispenser. During this replacing process, many people may experience spilling the water on the floor.
A user who has once experienced the water spilling may have anxiety when they place a new water bottle on the dispenser.
In order to solve the spilling problem, many different types of devices are suggested. A typical device is cited here as an example for discussion.
Korean Patent No. 1999-007557 discloses "a device for opening and closing the port of a water bottle for the hot and cold water dispenser" comprising a floating ball, guiding bar, end ring shape support and inserting cap for stopping water spill during the inversion of the bottle.
However, this device has a problem in that the floating ball is frequently stuck in the narrow neck of the water bottle due to water pressure exerted on it. Thus, the user must often shake the water bottle to release the stuck ball from the neck of the water bottle.
Accordingly, it is required to develop a device that can prevent the stuck ball and water spilling problems during the inversion of the water bottle to place on the dispenser.

Non-spill water bottle cap for purified water dispenser


A packaging assembly for packaging brittle food products such as taco shells and tostada bowls is provided. The package has a generally L-shaped backing assembly into which the food product is inserted. A transparent overwrap covers the entire package. The L-shaped cardboard backing assembly is a three-layer cardboard assembly having an inner corrugated cardboard layer and top and bottom thin cardboard layers with the top and bottom thin layers preferably capable of receiving printed graphics. In a preferred embodiment, the upper and lower thin cardboard layers are formed from a single unitary cardboard sheet which is folded over onto the corrugated sheet to form a sandwich-type three-layer structure. The resulting package supports and protects the tortilla products from damage, yet allows a substantial portion of the tortilla products to be viewed by a consumer, allowing the consumer to quickly verify that the tortilla product has not been damaged or spoiled.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to packaging for food products and, in particular, to packaging for fragile food such as tacos, tostadas and the like.
2. Description of Related Art
A long-standing problem in the food packaging industry is the packaging of brittle or fragile food products such as tortilla products in a manner sufficient to allow the product to be shipped and stored without damage. However, for tortilla products in particular, it is not sufficient to merely provide a sturdy package for preventing damage. The package should also allow for easy viewing of substantially the entire food product by a consumer prior to purchase because consumers are reluctant to purchase brittle or fragile food products unless they can easily verify that the products have not been spoiled or damaged. Further, consumers are reluctant to purchase products such as taco shells or tostada bowls without being able to verify the quantity of the product.
Several packages for tortilla products, particularly taco shells, have been provided wherein at least a portion of the product is visible to the consumer. Examples include U.S. Pat. No. 4,697,707 to Engdahl, U.S. Pat. No. 4,381,837 to Cortopassi, U.S. Pat. No. 4,018,905 to Adamek et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 4,299,850 to Wallen et al. Although the packaging structure set forth in these patents may provide improved protection of the tortilla products, a significant portion of the tortilla products are obscured from view by the packages. In particular, each packaging structure provides side walls of one form or another for enclosing and protecting the side ends of the taco shells, but which also, at least partially, obscure the side ends from view. With taco shells in particular, a likely location for chipping or damage is the outer end of the tortilla product. By obscuring the ends of the taco shells from view, either in whole or in part, customers cannot easily verify that these fragile portions of the taco shells are not damaged. Moreover, tortilla product packages such as those set forth in the exemplary patents listed above are typically formed from fairly complicated cardboard or plastic structures which require substantial manufacturing and assembly effort. In particular, these packages are formed from one or more cardboard blanks which require numerous fold lines and cut lines which require numerous steps to manufacture the blank and to later assemble the blank into a final package. The assembly steps are too complicated to allow quick and efficient assembly by hand. Moreover, the packaging structures of the exemplary patents listed above are adapted primarily, or solely, for taco shells and cannot easily be used for other tortilla products such as circular or rectangular tostada bowls or tostada shells.
Moreover, the cardboard used to assemble the packages of the prior art is often too thin to prevent the package from flexing or bending, thus allowing possible damage. Furthermore, those packages, which allow at least a partial view of the product, typically do not also allow for printed graphics and descriptions to be conveniently incorporated onto the package. Those packages, which provide adequate space for graphics, such as a basic enclosed box, typically do not allow for easy viewing of the product.
Heretofore, no adequate packaging has been developed for brittle food products such as tortilla products which not only reliably protects the brittle food product from damage, but also allows substantially the entire product to be easily viewed by a consumer, particularly side end or edge portions, and which can be easily and inexpensively manufactured and assembled.

Shrink wrap package for fragile food products


An augmenting circuit (153) augments an embedded PN sequence of 2.sup.N -1 chips generated by an N-bit LSSR (111) to provide an augmented PN sequence of 2.sup.N chips and an augmented PN sequence of 2.sup.N chips shifted by D chips. The augmenting circuit comprises a N-bit counter (123) that counts a plurality of clock bits. The N-bit counter provides a pre-carry signal that changes state when the counter's index equals a predetermined value and provides a value of the N-k most-significant-bits (MSB) of the index. A logic circuit (107,119) receives the plurality of clock bits and responds to the pre-carry signal to gate the plurality of clock bits. A comparator (135) receives the value of the N-k MSB and a threshold value to output a select signal that controls a multiplexer (139).

There are three main multiple-access methods utilized in cellular communication systems. In frequency-division multiple access (FDMA), each carrier frequency represents a channel that provides a cellular-telephone user access to the system. In time-division multiple access (TDMA), each carrier frequency is divided into a number of time slots, and the time slots represent the channels for accessing the system. In CDMA, there are multiple channels assigned to a single carrier frequency as in TDMA, however, a channel is differentiated from other channels of the same frequency by a spreading code imprinted on the user's transmission rather than by a time slot.
In generalized terms, in a receiver of a CDMA system, two digital signals, or bit streams, are combined together to create a third bit stream that is transmitted over a carrier frequency. The first signal contains information, such as the digitized voice of the cellular-telephone user at a data rate of 9600 bits-per-second (bits/s). The second signal is a stream of pseudorandom bits ("chips") at a data rate ("chip rate"), such as 1.23 Megabits/s, which is produced by a PN sequence generator. The second signal contains the "code" that is imprinted on the information by combining the first signal and the second signal. This combination produces a third signal that contains the information of the first signal and has the chip rate and randomness of the second signal. In this example, a single information bit has 128 PN chips combined with it.
The same code applied to the information signal is used by a receiver in the CDMA system to decode the signals received on the carrier frequency, including the third signal as well as other signals sharing the same frequency, and thus extract the information of the first signal.
The Interim Standard IS-95 has been adopted by the Telecommunications Industry Association for implementing CDMA for the North American cellular telephone system. This standard requires a PN sequence generator that can provide a PN sequence of 32,768 chips (2.sup.15) while simultaneously providing the same PN sequence of chips except shifted by an integer multiple of 64 chips.
For a detailed description of a known PN sequence generator for use in a CDMA system, see U.S. Pat. No. 5,228,054 issued to Rueth et al., incorporated herein by reference. The known PN sequence generator utilizes a 15-stage Linear Sequence Shift Register (LSSR) to generate a PN sequence of 32,767 chips (2.sup.15 -1), and a sequence augmenting circuit that inserts one additional PN chip in the PN sequence of chips, to provide an augmented PN sequence of chips having the required length of 32,768 chips as a primary output. The inserting, or augmenting, is performed by inhibiting for one cycle the change in state of the LSSR when a predetermined 15-bit state of the LSSR is detected, (the LSSR has a respective state for each chip), thus the inserted chip is a repeat of the immediately preceding chip.
The known PN sequence generator also includes a mask circuitry and logic circuitry to provide a shifted version of the PN sequence of chips.
To augment the shifted PN sequence of chips, a correction circuit adds an extra chip to the shifted PN sequence of chips at the appropriate point in the shifted PN sequence of chips and prevents an unwanted chip from being added to the shifted sequence of chips when the extra chip is being inserted in the PN sequence of chips. As was necessary in augmenting the PN sequence of chips to produce the primary output, it is necessary to determine the predetermined state of the LSSR in order to augment the shifted PN sequence of chips.
Because the known PN sequence generator uses the predetermined state of the LSSR in augmenting the PN sequence of chips and shifted PN sequence of chips at the appropriate point in the PN sequence, logic circuitry must be provided that decides when to augment the sequences according to the detected predetermined state of the LSSR. Because this logic circuitry is relatively involved, a need exists for a PN sequence generator that is less complicated.

Method of and apparatus for generating a pseudorandom noise sequence


The disclosure relates to a flexible underwater pipe intended for transporting fluids, in particular hydrocarbons, comprising at least one layer comprising a polymer resin comprising surface-modified titanium dioxide nanoparticles bonded to the polymer by a covalent and/or hydrogen bond.

Flexible pipes for conveying hydrocarbons, from outside to inside the pipe, generally comprise:                an external polymeric sheath to protect the pipe assembly and in particular to prevent the ingress of seawater into its thickness,        tensile armour plies,        a pressure vault,        an inner sealing polymeric sheath, and        optionally a metal carcass.
If the pipe comprises a metal carcass it is termed a rough bore. If it is not fitted with a metal carcass it is termed a smooth bore. In general for the transport of hydrocarbons, a pipe fitted with a carcass is preferred and a pipe without a carcass is adapted for conveying water and/or pressurized water vapour.
The metal carcass and the pressure vault are formed of longitudinal elements wound at a short pitch and they impart radial strength to the pipe whilst the tensile armour plies are formed of wound metal wires of longer pitch to bear the load of axial forces.
The type, number, sizing and organization of the layers forming flexible pipes are essentially related to their conditions of use and installation. The pipes may comprise additional layers to those mentioned above.
In the present application, the notion of short pitch winding designates any helical winding at a helical angle close to 90°, typically between 75° and 90°. The notion of long pitch winding covers helical angles of less than 55°, typically between 25° and 55° for the armour plies.
These flexible pipes are particularly suitable for the subsea transport of fluids, hydrocarbons in particular, at great depths. More specifically, they are of so-called unbonded type and are described in the standard documents published by the American Petroleum Institute (API), API 17J and API RP 17B.
Flexible pipes can be used at great depth typically down to a depth of 2500 meters. They allow the transport of fluids, hydrocarbons in particular, having a temperature of more than 60° C., typically reaching 130° C. and possibly even exceeding 150° C. and an internal pressure possibly reaching 1000 bars, even 1500 bars.
The constituent material of the inner polymeric sealing layer must be chemically stable and capable of affording mechanical resistance to the transported fluid and its characteristics (composition, temperature and pressure). This material must combine characteristics of ductility, long-term resistance (in general the lifetime of the pipe must be at least 20 years), mechanical resistance to heat and pressure. This material must particularly be chemically inert to the constituent chemical compounds of the transported fluid.
Pipes comprising an inner polymeric sealing layer containing a polymer can particularly be used. However the thermo-mechanical properties of polymers under the conditions of use previously mentioned (high temperature and pressure, high acidity and presence of water) may be distinctly reduced. Numerous studies have therefore been reported in an attempt to improve these properties, in particular to improve their resistance to creep and their tensile or compressive strength.
The adding of fillers to polymer resins allows an improvement in the chemical and mechanical properties of resins. It is often considered that the improvement in mechanical properties means an increase in tensile and/or bending strength and/or increased rigidity. However, these improvements are not specifically sought in the field of undersea flexible pipes. The desired improvement in mechanical properties for undersea flexible pipes exposed to high temperatures and/or pressures is improved creep resistance and more specifically compressive creep resistance.
Creep is the extending or deformation of the polymer resin subjected to continuous stress. Creep occurs in any part in polymer subjected to stress. The cause is the viscoelastic flow of the polymer over time due to the mobility of the polymer chains relative to each other. High temperatures and/or pressures accelerate creep. Resins are therefore sought in which the mobility of the polymer chains in relation to each other is reduced.
The conveying via the flexible pipe of fluids under pressure and at high temperature subjects the inner sealing polymeric sheath (pressure sheath of the pipe) to conditions promoting the creep of the polymer material into the interstices (or voids) between the metal wire(s) wound on a short pitch and forming the pressure vault. This phenomenon has several disadvantages and must therefore be controlled or limited. Therefore, if the sealing layer undergoes excessive creep in the voids, local cracking or local ruptures of the pressure layer may occur which may, in extreme cases, generate loss of imperviousness. In addition, extensive creep may completely fill the interstices between the wires of the pressure vault and thereby limit the flexibility of the structure.
To solve this problem related to creep of the pressure sheath, the size of the voids between the wires of the pressure vault is generally controlled so as to limit the volume inside which the sheath is able to creep. For this purpose the pressure vault is generally formed of wires stapled together, the stapling system preventing the voids from becoming too large. In practice, the maximum distance between two adjacent wires (void width) is of the order of 2 to 3 mm. It is not advantageous to reduce the width of the voids excessively since an excessive reduction would limit the flexibility of the pressure vault and hence of the pipe.
It has therefore been sought by some to reduce the depth of the voids which led to inserting an anti-creep device of thin, flat wire type directly above the voids between stapled wires, to prevent creep inside the said voids as described by FIG. 3 in WO 00/09899. It is true that this solution allows efficient limiting of creep, particularly if the pressure vault is formed of wire of strong thickness, but it also proves to be fairly complex and difficult to implement.
Solutions are also known which consist of increasing the thickness of the pressure sheath and even of adding an intermediate layer between the pressure sheath and the pressure vault. This intermediate polymeric sheath is said to be sacrificial since its sole function is precisely to bear the load of the creep phenomenon and thereby protect the pressure sheath. These solutions generate major increases in material costs (the sacrificial sheath has a thickness of the order of 3 mm, which is far from being negligible since the thickness of the pressure sheath is commonly of the order of 8 to 11 mm) and/or conversion costs.
Documents U.S. Pat. No. 7,123,826, WO 2008/113362 and WO 2008/146048 disclose flexible pipes of which some polymeric layers contain nanoparticles. However these solutions do not allow the solving of the above-mentioned problem relating to creep of the inner sealing sheath.

Flexible underwater pipe including a layer including a polymer resin including surface-modified titanium nanoparticles


A model railroad train or other vehicle capable of operating in a vertical plane, inverted, or at any other desired angle of inclination.

1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to the field of model trains, specifically those capable of being mounted on a vertical or inclined surface.
2. Background
Remotely controlled model vehicles such as cars and trains have been popular toys for adults and children alike for many years. Some of these vehicles are free-travelling, while others, such as slot cars and electric trains are constrained to a track. A user can control the speed of the vehicle, but the path remains fixed by the track.
Electric trains are generally comprised of an electrically powered scale model "locomotive," which pulls a number of non-powered "cars." Together, these components form the "train assembly" or "train." The train rides on a set of rails that are usually electrified and electrically insulated from one another. The rails are usually in a parallel configuration and connected by "ties" running perpendicular to the rails. These ties are then supported by a base structure called the "bed." The rails, ties, and bed are collectively called the "track assembly." A "layout" consists of a track assembly and at least one train mounted on a planar surface that can be decorated to resemble terrain, town, or other desired setting.
As the train sits on the rails, gravity holds the components on the rails, and the weight of the components provides the required friction to propel the train along the track and keep the train on the track assembly. To prevent "derailing," and improve the stability of the train, the cars are often weighted. Electrical power is transferred to the locomotive via the rails to move the train along the track.
Due to need for contact of the locomotive with the rails to have the power to drive the train, as well as the frictional force needed to propel the wheels along the track, model train layouts are mounted horizontally. Although this is a convenient for accessing the layout and is aesthetically pleasing, it can take up a great deal of space and can be inconvenient to store.
What is needed is a model train layout capable of being mounted vertically or at any angle. This could provide a novel twist on a traditional hobby, as well as solve the storage problems presented by conventional model train layouts.


A universal gear puller that comprises:. (a) a cylindrical hub having a central longitudinal hole therethrough, said hole being threaded; PA1 (b) a set of three rings, each of which is placed on the cylindrical hub and is at least partly rotatable about the cylindrical hub, said rings being maintained in position on the cylindrical hub by retaining means at the top and bottom of the cylindrical hub, each ring having a pair of parallel members attached to and extending away from the side of said ring, each pair of parallel members having a space therebetween that may be aligned with the threaded holes near the periphery of the exposed end surface of the gear while the central threaded hole in the cylindrical hub is aligned with the threaded hole in the shaft to which the gear is ordinarily bolted; PA1 (c) a thrust bolt screwed into said central threaded hole in the cylindrical hub; and PA1 (d) a non-threaded means that is long enough to extend to the bottom of the threaded hole in the shaft onto which the gear is ordinarily bolted and that is used to transfer the force from the thrust bolt when it is turned to apply force in order to pull the gear.

The present invention relates to a novel universal gear puller, particularly useful for pulling the crank gears from the crankshafts of Chrysler 2.2 and 2.5 liter engines and similarly configured crank gears.
There are crank gear pullers on the market that allow a mechanic to pull a crank gear without damaging it so that it can be reused. These crank gear pullers generally have slots in their nonflexible mounting plates so that the plate of the crank gear puller can be used on a variety of crank gears by putting the mounting bolts in the slots at the position of the mounting holes in the crank gear that are exposed when the pulley that is normally attached to the crank gear is removed. There are crank gear pullers that have two slots longitudinally aligned on either side of the central thrust bolt that is tightened in order to remove the crank gear. There are also crank gear pullers that have three slots generally aligned in a Y-configuration. However, none of these crank gear pullers can be used to pull the crank gears on Chrysler 2.2 and 2.5 liter engines and similarly configured crank gears, having 5 mounting bolts for the pulley. If one can mount one of these prior art crank gear pullers on such a crank gear, the central thrust bolt is not centrally aligned with the crank shaft, and therefore cannot be used to pull the crank gear.
Because of the configuration of the Chrysler 2.2 and 2.5 liter engine block surrounding the crank gear and the minute clearance between the back of the crank gear and the engine block, it is not possible to use a claw-type gear puller, where the claw would grab the back of the crank gear and hold it while the thrust bolt is turned in order to extract the crank gear.
Prior to the invention of the novel universal tool of the invention, whenever an auto mechanic had to remove the crank gear on a Chrysler 2.2 or 2.5 liter engine to get at the oil seal, he had to drill and cut the gear--a job that took about an hour, was very difficult and aggravating, and resulted in the destruction of the gear. There was no tool readily available to the average mechanic that would allow him to remove the gear intact in a lesser period of time.
The universal tool of the invention may be used as a crank gear puller that enables the mechanic to remove the gear intact within a very short 5 minute time period, thus saving both the crank gear and almost an hour of the mechanic's time.


A method and apparatus for performing a context sensitive speed tracking by generating a location of the mobile tracking device; determining context information related to the location; and analyzing the location and context information to determine an appropriate speed of the mobile tracking device in view of the context information.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a method and apparatus for performing context sensitive speed tracking.
2. Description of the Related Art
Speeding of a driver may significantly impact road safety and may increase employer/guardian liability. Thus, in some cases a driver's speed is monitored and reported to an employer or a guardian. For example, the driving speed of commercial drivers may be monitored by the driver's boss or hiring personnel, a teen-ager's driving speed may be monitored by a guardian, and the like.
Monitoring the speed of a driver may be challenging. Complying with a road's speed limit may not be a true indication of the driver's quality of driving. The driving speed limit may be an unsafe driving speed when a road is congested or when the weather impairs a driver's road visibility. In other situations, exceeding the posted speed limit to conform to traffic flow may be the safest manner of driving.
Therefore, there is a need for a method and apparatus of tracking the speed of a driver, wherein the tracked speed is context sensitive.