The present invention provides a novel power generating device, wherein the rotary inertial force of a fly wheel cooperating with a pneumatic auxiliary power apparatus is employed to maintain that the fly wheel rotates continuously and acceleratingly and outputs power. The part of the output force of the fly wheel is used to drive an air compressor for generating compressed air, to be input into a pneumatic motor of the pneumatic auxiliary power means so that the output power of the pneumatic motor is fed back to the fly wheel in order that the fly wheel maintains the inertial force to rotate continuously. The fly wheel also drives a cam type control apparatus so to control the compressed air that it supplies intermittently to the pneumatic motor for driving the fly wheel. Additionally, the fly wheel is preferably mounted with a weight, and a compensation device for beating the fly wheel in order to increase inertial torque each time when the weight rotates to a predetermined angle. Initially the fly wheel is actuated by the drive of power sources such as a motor or an engine, and next through driving apparatus to drive an air compressor until the fly wheel has reached to a predetermined rotary speed and the pressure of the compressed air stored within the air compressor has reached to a predetermined value, then the power source separates from the system and the fly wheel now continues to rotate by its rotary inertial force and the auxiliary power apparatus and produces power. With the device of the present invention it is possible to save energy and to eliminate public nuisance.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a novel power generating device and especially to a power generating device, whereby in cooperation with a pneumatic auxiliary power means driven by an air compressor the inertial force of fly wheel is used to maintain the fly wheel in continuous accelerating rotation and so to further generate an output of power.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The well-known conventional power generating device includes motors driven by electric power, internal combustion engines or external combustion engines driven by combustion energy of fuels, pneumatic motors driven by air pressure, hydraulic motors driven by hydraulic pressure, water mills driven by water and wind mills driven by wind. In said various power generating devices, except for those which use water power and wind power as energy source to drive, all others still consume continuously much energy in operation, such as electric power, powers from oil, coal and other fuels. Although the water and wind mills do not waste said energy sources, but they are confined by terrain, and occupy larger spaces volume. Therefore, the cost of equipment is expensive.
Recently, some generator by using solar power or tide or sea wave has been developed. However, such kinds of devices are also limited by terrain and climate, and the volume occupied is also large and the cost needed is very expensive.
Additionally, said power generating apparatuses driven by oil and coal will induce air pollution and other public harmful problems.
Therefore, it is important to provide a power generating device which consumes less energy, is not expensive and not confined by terrain, climate and space, and is easy to be controlled and widely used as required and expected by those skilled in the art.


The invention generally relates to a pallet or other flat platform having one or more, preferably two, perpendicular dividers secured to the surface of the flat platform and each other in a stable manner. Gas cylinder(s) are set in an upright position on the same surface of the flat platform as the divider(s). The cylinder(s) are secured, generally by steel bands or nylon straps, to the divider(s) and/or the flat platform surface.

Shipping of compressed gases in cylinders requires a shipping container or cylinder restraining system that prevents damage to the cylinder and to the cylinder valve by its contents (if transporting cylinders containing liquefied compressed gases in any position other than upright). Transporting compressed gas cylinders properly, safely and in accordance with Government (US Department of Transportation), including international rules and industry regulations is a mandatory requirement. Emergency response hotline services recommend transporting compressed gas cylinders in upright position. Both the potential for cylinder damage and therefore the regulatory requirements in domestic and international transport are particularly high. Today, the normal means of shipping of individual or small numbers of cylinders is by custom built crates (FIG. 3) or in horizontal pyramids on standard shipping pallets (FIG. 2). Other restraining systems include strapping upright cylinders on railings of a flattop transport platform (FIG. 1). These current transport systems are expensive, non-recyclable/re-usable, heavy and/or make suboptimal use of space.
The instant disclosure provides an economical, safe, re-usable transport system that is light weight and makes optimal use of space by holding cylinders upright.

Transport system for compressed gas cylinders


A compound of formula [I]:X—R[I]wherein X represents the group:

In the 1960s, many trials for the preparation of an organic electroluminescence device were reported using conjugated materials generally having fused aromatic rings (U.S. Pat. No. 3,172,862, issued 1965; U.S. Pat. No. 3,173,050, issued 1965). The efficiencies and lifetimes of these organic EL devices were much lower than those obtained from inorganic systems at the same time, so research mainly focused on the inorganic materials. The reason for the low luminance of the early organic EL devices is the highly resistive EL medium, which prevents the efficient injection of carriers into the light-emitting layer. Tang and VanSlyke solved this problem successfully in the late 1980s (Tang and VanSlyke, Appl. Phys. Lett. 1987, 51, 913). They improved the performance of an organic EL device significantly by using a structure with two thin layers: a hole-transporting layer of an organic substance laminated on an organic emitting layer. This work revived the research on organic EL devices, and resulted in the development of a new generation of light-emitting diodes with organic dyes. Since then, much work has been done to further improve the efficiency, stability, colour purity and so forth of such devices (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,141,671; 4,539,507; 6,020,078; 5,935,720; 5,972,247; 5,593,788; 4,885,211; 5,059,862; 5,104,740; 5,069,975; 5,126,214; 5,389,444; 6,165,383; 6,245,449; Chen, Shi and Tang, Macromol. Symp., 1997, 125, 1; Segura, Acta. Polym., 1998, 49, 319; Mitschke and Bauerle, J. Mater. Chem. 2000, 10, 1471).
Performance stability of EL devices is a very important consideration for practical applications. A number of factors are known to influence the device stability. These include thermal and chemical stability of materials (including hole-transporting materials, electron-transporting materials and emitting materials, etc.), carrier mobility of electron and hole-transporting materials, the configuration of device, as well as environmental factors. To address these problems, several useful methods have been developed and are well documented. For example, one is to dope a strongly emitting material into a host material to form a guest-host system. It has been shown that an organic EL device with good efficiency and high stability, as well as desired colour with proper chromaticity, can be obtained by doping different strongly emitting materials into a host material such as tri-(8-hydroxyquinolinato)aluminum (AIQ3).
The thermally induced deformation of the hole-transporting materials is thought to be one of the main causes of degradation. Thus, many studies have been focused on the design and preparation on new hole-transporting materials, and the relationship between the properties (e.g. Tg) and molecular structure (U.S. Pats. No. 6,242,115; 6,333,521; EP 0,699,654 A1; Shirota, J. Mater. Chem., 2000, 10, 1). Isoindole derivatives have been synthesized by the reaction of phthalaldehyde and an amine in the presence of an alkylthiol which was used as the detection method for amino acids, peptides, and proteins. It has also been found that isoindole derivatives are highly fluorescent emitting in blue. Some highly fluorescent polymers containing isoindole moiety have been prepared and showed properties of high glass transition temperatures and high thermal stabilities. However, these materials have never been used in small molecule organic EL devices.
The object of the present invention is to provide novel compounds which are suitable for use as hole-transporting materials in organic electroluminescence devices. These compounds should be highly thermally stable, and should have a similar hole-transporting ability to known hole-transporting compounds.

Abstract: and R is either (i) represented by the formula [II]

Abstract: wherein n is 1 or 2, and the or each R7 group is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and halogen atoms, cyano, nitro, mercapto, carbonyl and sulfone groups, and optionally substituted alkyl, haloalkyl, hydroxyalkyl, aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy, alkylamino, arylamino, alkylthio, arylthio, ester, siloxy, cyclic hydrocarbon and heterocyclic groups;or (ii) is selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, aryl, cyclic hydrocarbon and heterocyclic groups;wherein in each case R1–R6 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and halogen atoms, cyano, nitro, mercapto, carbonyl and sulfone groups, and optionally substituted alkyl, haloalkyl, hydroxyalkyl, aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy, alkylamino, arylamino, alkylthio, arylthio, ester, siloxy, cyclic hydrocarbon and heterocyclic groups. The compounds are useful as hole-transporting materials in electroluminescence devices.


A phenol alkylation catalyst exhibiting a desirable combination of activity, selectivity, and regenerability is prepared from a catalyst precursor that includes specific amounts of magnesium oxide, copper oxide or a copper oxide precursor, a hydrous magnesium aluminosilicate-containing binder, a pore-former, a lubricant, and water. Methods of forming and regenerating the catalyst, as well as a phenol alkylation method, are described.

Alkylation of phenol with an alkanol to form a 2,6-dialkylphenol is a well-established industrial process. For example, phenol can be alkylated with methanol to form 2,6-dimethylphenol (also known as 2,6-xylenol), which is a monomer used to form the thermoplastic poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether). Alkylation catalysts containing magnesium oxide are commonly employed and often generated by calcination of catalyst precursor containing magnesium carbonate. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,620,908 B2 to Watson et al, issued 16 Sep. 2003; U.S. Pat. No. 6,897,175 B2 to Parrillo et al., issued 24 May 2005; and U.S. Pat. No. 7,081,432 to Ingelbrecht et al., issued 25 Jul. 2006. Catalysts prepared by this method can exhibit high catalytic activity and selectivity for 2,6-alkylation. However, they often exhibit poor structural integrity that is manifested as a fracturing of catalyst particles to create fines, a pressure drop across the catalyst bed (decreasing productivity), a limited useful lifetime (requiring frequent catalyst replacement and associated process downtime), and an inability to be regenerated and reused. There is therefore a need for magnesium oxide-based alkylation catalysts that exhibit improved structural integrity while maintaining catalyst activity and selectivity.

Phenol alkylation catalyst precursor and catalyst, method of forming catalyst, method of regenerating catalyst, and method of alkylating phenol


A view finder for an electronic still camera includes a photographing optical system which is provided in front of a recording medium to form a picture image on the recording medium, and a viewing optical system which is provided optically behind the recording medium and on the optical axis of the photographing optical system. The picture image formed on the recording medium is viewed through the viewing optical system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a view finder for an electronic still camera, which uses a recording medium on which an optical image, formed by a photographing lens, is recorded as a visible image.
2. Description of Related Art
It is known to use a silver halide photographic material as an optical image recording material, since it exhibits a high photosensitivity and resolution, and can be obtained at a low cost. However, a troublesome developing process is required and a visible image cannot be obtained at the time of photographing.
To simplify the developing process, a dry process has been proposed. However, even in the proposed dry process, an instant development is not possible. That is, an image cannot be viewed during the photographing operation. Numerous other non-halide photographic materials are known including electronic photographic materials, diazo photographic materials, free radical photographic materials etc. However, none of these have the same optical properties as those belonging to the silver halide photographic material. Moreover, instant development is not possible using these photographic materials. Note that since electronic photographic materials can be developed using the dry process and that an electrostatic latent image obtained by the exposure can be immediately developed using toner etc., electronic photographic materials have been widely used mainly in copying machines.
In electronic photographing technology, a photographic material from which a recording medium is made has been proposed, wherein the recording medium itself can be directly electronically developed, and a developed visible image thereof can be immediately obtained without any chemical treatment being necessary after exposure. Note that in this specification the recording medium which can be electronically developed is referred to as an electronic development type recording medium.
In Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 5-2280, for example, a recording medium is disclosed, which is comprised of an electrostatic data recording medium and an electric charge holding medium in combination. The electrostatic data recording medium is provided with a photoconductive layer and an inorganic oxide layer, and the charge holding medium is provided with a liquid crystal display element. In this arrangement, if the electrostatic data recording medium is exposed while a voltage is applied between the electrostatic data recording medium and the charge holding medium, electric charges, corresponding to the quantity of light to be incident thereupon, are produced. The intensity of an electric field to be applied to the liquid crystal display element, opposed to the electrostatic data recording medium, varies depending on the electric charges produced. An image corresponding to the distribution of the quantity of light is displayed in the liquid crystal display element, i.e. it has been developed.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 5-150251 discloses a dispersive liquid crystal display element in which the image displayed on the liquid crystal display element can be maintained even after the electric field to be applied thereto has been removed.
When an electronic development type recording medium is used with an electronic still camera, it is conventional to make use of either a single lens reflex type view finder, or an optical view finder independent from a photographing optical system. However, in these types of view finders many optical elements are necessary and thus the structure of the camera is complicated.

View finder for an electric still camera


An exemplary method of etching an oxide layer and a nitride layer is provided. In particular, a substrate is provided. A surface of the substrate has an isolating structure projecting therefrom. A first oxide layer, a nitride layer and a second oxide layer are sequentially provided on the surface of the substrate, wherein the first oxide layer is uncovered on the isolating structure, the nitride layer is formed overlying the first oxide layer, and the second oxide layer is formed overlying the nitride layer. An isotropic etching process is performed by using an etching mask unmasking the isolating structure, and thereby removing the unmasked portion of the second oxide layer and the unmasked portion of the nitride layer and further exposing sidewalls of the isolating structure. The unmasked portion of the first oxide layer generally is partially removed due to over-etching.

1. Technical Field
The present invention generally relates to a method of etching oxide layer and nitride layer and, particularly to a method of forming an oxide-nitride-oxide (ONO) structure.
2. Description of the Related Art
Usually, there are many applications of nitride and oxide within integrated circuits (ICs), for example, an isolating structure between adjacent transistors, a gate sidewall spacer, an etch stop layer, a protection layer for outermost layer of IC chip, an ONO structure, etc.
A non-volatile static random access memory (nvSRAM) is taken as an example. The nvSRAM generally includes a static random access unit and a non-volatile memory unit of two parts. The static random access unit is for temporarily accessing data when a power is supplied. The non-volatile memory unit is for storing data in the circumstance of the power being cut off and then providing the stored data to the static random access unit for use when the power is retrieved. The nvSRAM can use a silicon-oxide-nitride-oxide-silicon (SONOS) structure formed therein as a memory cell. In operation of the nvSRAM, data signals (e.g., digital signals "0" and "1") are performed with an action such as write (or termed as programming), erase or read in the SONOS structure.
However, during a conventional process for manufacturing the SONOS structure, it is found that after dry etching a top oxide layer and a nitride layer, sidewalls of a shallow trench isolation (STI) structure protruding from a wafer surface usually have unwanted residual material layer existed thereat and whereby forming a redundant fence (or termed as sidewall residual material or redundant sidewall spacer). Such redundant fence would change a surface profile of the STI structure and increase a width of the STI structure. Moreover, the redundant fence would become shielding masks of subsequent etching process and implantation process, even if adjusting the position or direction of mask for the implantation process, the influence caused by the redundant fence still could not be eliminated. As a result, dimensions of an effective area of doped region and an effective etching window are decreased. In other words, the redundant fence would cause the decrease of the effective area of active region, especially for a narrow width device. Even more, the redundant fence would cause a drop of current of the narrow width device and thus influence the operation of the narrow width device.
In order to get rid of the redundant fence, if attempting to add an additional isotropic etching process or an additional anisotropic etching process, a bottom oxide layer of the SONOS structure would suffer from twice over-etching, which would easily cause a substrate material (e.g., silicon) underneath the bottom oxide layer to be damaged, especially at the situation of the bottom oxide layer being extremely thin, electrical properties of device such as electric current are adversely affected consequently.

Method of etching oxide layer and nitride layer


A system including a first dielectric layer comprising a solid material configured to form a first layer of a radome, and a second dielectric layer comprising a solid material configured to form a second layer of the radome. The first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer are spaced apart to provide an inner gap configured as a third layer of the radome. The inner gap is exclusively filled with a gas. The radome is configured to provide for the radome to be frequency selective. A radome and method are also disclosed.

Embodiments relate to radome technology and, more particularly, to radome technology which provides for frequency selectivity with reduced signal loss.
A radome is a structural, weatherproof enclosure typically provided to protect a sensor and/or antenna. The radome is constructed of material that minimally attenuates the electromagnetic signal transmitted or received by the antenna and/or sensor. More specifically, the radome is transparent to radar, radio, or infrared waves.
A multimode sensor (semi-active and/or passive infrared ("IR") as well as millimeter-wave radar frequencies ("RF")) generally includes a radome for protection from the environment as well as for band selectivity, such as a radome that can pass IR and some millimeter wavelength signals, and reject other millimeter wave and microwave signals. The radome should have very little effect on the signals that pass through it, while rejecting certain wavelengths (e.g., a particular band of RF signals) to reduce the radar cross section as well as reduce electromagnetic interference reaching the antenna and thus the circuitry of the senor. Additionally, the interior of the body and the sensor circuitry housed in the body is also able to be disrupted by electromagnetic interference ("EMI"), Frequencies near the operating RF are excluded from the normal signal path, just past the antenna, using filters.
Known radomes include those having frequency selective slots which allow the radar signal to pass through while excluding other frequencies. However, this type of radome does not allow for the transmission of IR signals. Another known radome allows both IR and millimeter wave radar signals to be transmitted. To make this type of radome frequency selective, wire grids are inserted between two layers of dielectric material, and the dielectric materials are in direct contact with each other. The surfaces of the two dielectrics that must touch each other are difficult to machine to the tolerance necessary so as not to allow small spaces to appear between the two layers. These small spaces can also cause an interference effect which can spoil the JR image. This radome type is also expensive to manufacture, and the wire grids are known to block some of the IR and millimeter wave signals which increases the signal loss of the radome.
Though current radome technology allows for radomes to be used with multimode sensors Which have semi-active and passive infrared as well as millimeter-wave radar, manufacturers and users of systems utilizing such multimode sensors would benefit from a radome which reduces signal loss attributed to structure of the radome while also reducing costs associated with the manufacture of such radomes.

System and method for providing a frequency selective radome


An assembly includes a collet including radially convergible jaws for receipt of an optical fiber threaded through the collet and outwardly from the rear opening of a housing containing the collet. The assembly comprises a container for a fluid for softening the plastic coating of a fiber extending through the assembly. When the plastic coating has softened, a barrel is screwed inwardly of the housing and against a surface of the collet for causing convergence of, and grasping of the plastic coating by, the collet jaws. The assembly is then moved axially of the fiber for stripping the softened plastic coating from a front end of the fiber.

This invention relates to plastic coated optical fibers, and particularly to a method and apparatus for first softening and then stripping a preselected length of a plastic coating from the end of a fiber without damage of interior glass portions of the fiber.
Optical fibers are now extensively used in various telecommunication systems and many techniques have been developed for fiber splicing. In one technique, for example, the plastic coating of a fiber is first soaked in a chemical bath for softening the plastic coating for causing it to expand into tight fit within a surrounding tube which is then pulled, along with the plastic coating, off an end of the fiber. Problems exist, however, in obtaining a sharp break in the plastic coating and preventing damage of the underlying glass portions. These problems show up as poor quality fiber to fiber splices.
In my above-identified co-pending parent application, there is disclosed a fiber stripping apparatus for cracking and stripping an extremely thin, outer, color coding layer from a fiber. The apparatus uses a chuck assembly including convergible jaws for symmetrically grasping and slightly compressing the fiber outer layer. The present invention makes use of a convergible jaw mechanism somewhat similar to the jaw mechanism disclosed in my parent application, and the subject matter thereof is incorporated herein by reference.


There is provided an information processing system that includes an integrated circuit chip having stored therein a plurality of file systems, a first information processing apparatus that engages in communication with the integrated circuit chip and a second information processing apparatus that engages in communication with the first information processing apparatus. The first information processing apparatus includes a command packet linking unit that generates a single linked command packet by linking a second command packet generated by the second information processing apparatus within a first command packet and a first command packet transmission unit that transmits the linked command packet to the integrated circuit chip to be directed to the plurality of file systems. The second information processing apparatus includes a second command packet generation unit that generates the second command packet and a second command packet transmission unit that transmits the second command packet to the first information processing apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information processing system, an information processing apparatus and an integrated circuit chip, and more specifically, it relates to a technology to be adopted when writing to the memories (system internal memories) in a plurality of file systems present within an integrated circuit chip (IC card) in response to a single command, through which the previous state is held by restoring each system internal memory having been overwritten to the pre-overwrite state if a condition, such as a power-down, which disables the overwrite of some of the system internal memories, occurs.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an information processing system realized in conjunction with an IC card, file systems each corresponding to a specific service provider may be assigned in a single memory area of the IC card so as to allow the single IC card to be shared by a plurality of providers (see, for instance, Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. JP-A-2005-196411). An example of a structure that may be adopted in an IC card used in such an information processing system is explained in reference to FIG. 25. As shown in FIG. 25, internal access to file systems 710 and 720 in an IC card 700 is managed individually via a memory management system, whereas access by an external communication packet is managed through an encrypted communication function. A device (Reader/Writer) that reads data from and writes data to the IC card 700 transmits to the IC card 700 commands, individually encrypted each in correspondence to one of the file systems 710 and 720, as command packets, and the commands are processed in the individual file systems 710 and 720 in the IC card 700.
While overwriting a plurality of system internal memories in response to a single command within an IC card containing a plurality of file systems, a condition, such as power-out that disables an overwrite of some of the system internal memories may occur. Under such circumstances, a roll-back in a single file system in the IC card is assured, but a roll-back over a plurality of file systems is not assured in the related art. This, in turn, leads to fragmentation of the processing executed in the IC card, and since the extent of the roll-back varies among application programs, the Reader/Writer or the host controller may be required to execute complex processing.

Information processing system, information processing apparatus and integrated circuit chip


A method for terminating a gearshift for an automatic transmission for a motor vehicle is provided, wherein a positive-locking shifting element is involved. After the initiation of the gearshift, there is an evaluation of the continuous signals of at least one control unit of the vehicle, which affect the engine torque and thus the turbine speed gradient. Based on the evaluation of the signals, an upcoming change to the turbine speed gradient that exceeds a first predetermined threshold value or falls short of a second predetermined threshold value is detected, and, upon such detection, the gearshift is terminated.

With automatic transmissions of motor vehicles, which use positive-locking shifting elements in addition to friction-locking shifting elements, during gearshifts, the shifting command for closing the at least one positive-locking shifting element is triggered by means of the application of force (through, for example, electromechanical actuators, the application of hydraulic or pneumatic force, etc). by the transmission software with a certain temporal suspension prior to achieving the point of synchronization of the at least one positive-locking shifting element
Through this, after the expiration of the existing delays (in particular, signal propagation delays, hydraulic delays, the covering of the stretch for the closing of the positive-locking shifting element, etc), a pre-defined differential rotational speed window for the actual single-track process for the positive-locking shifting element is met.
This approach is especially important if, upon a downshift and the engagement of a gear, one engaged shifting element is a positive-locking shifting element.
In particular with hydraulically actuated positive-locking shifting elements in automatic transmissions, the temporal suspension prior to reaching the point of synchronization is strongly dependent on the temperature of the transmission oil.
The required temporal suspension for the triggering of the closing of a positive-locking shifting element may be determined from trials, and in an automatic transmission is calculated from the turbine speed gradient.
If, after the triggering of the signal for the closing of the positive-locking shifting element, a spontaneous change to the turbine speed gradient exceeding a predetermined threshold value arises, the differential rotational speed window necessary for the harmless engagement of the positive-locking shifting element, in a disadvantageous manner, can no longer be achieved because of the very low shift time of the shifting element up to the form lock, even through counter-measures.

Method for terminating a gearshift for an automatic transmission for a motor vehicle wherein at least one positive-locking shifting element is involved


A device for training a pitcher or thrower, the device having a form that simulates the ball for which the pitcher is to be trained, examples being a softball or baseball. The device is constructed to allow one part of it to visibly rotate while one or more additional parts of the device visibly do not. It has a surface similar to the surface of the ball for which the pitcher would train, and a means to emit a distinctive and easily audible sound when it is properly thrown.

This invention relates generally to the field of throwing a ball and more specifically to a machine for training a pitcher.
The instant disclosure relates to devices used to train a pitcher in the proper technique for throwing specialty pitches such as those known to athletes as curve balls, risers, and drop balls. Such a pitch, when executed properly, leaves the pitcher's hand in such fashion that the ball thrown is rotating as rapidly as possible on an axis which is perpendicular to the desired line of flight so that, in accordance with the natural laws governing the passage of rotating spherical bodies through the atmosphere, said ball thrown will travel in an arc. Such a pitch is notably effective at defeating a batter's swing and thus it is extremely valuable and beneficial to learn. However, since learning to throw such pitches is very difficult, a device to facilitate this learning process is coveted. Thus the art revealed in present disclosure is desirable.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,820,495 by Howland teaches a training ball of approximately the same size and weight of a regulation ball with a counterweight connected to the training ball at a fixed distance and position, said counterweight being approximately the same size and weight as the training ball. When the device is properly thrown, it will rotate about a balance point in a plane vertical to the ground.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,472,187 by Kempf discloses a substantially disc shaped throwing device having two flat sides lying in parallel planes and a circular profile with a circular perimeter surface connecting the two flat sides.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,991,838 by Groves discloses a baseball having a colored stripe visual display spiraling downward on the cover from the top of the ball to the bottom.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,407,193 by McGinley teaches a ball with markings on the cover indicating the proper finger placement for a variety of pitches.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,930,773 by Outlaw discloses a truncated cone device having a closed end and an open end and also having a gripping member, usually in the shape of a ball, attached to the closed end and a ball inserted into the interior of the truncated cone through the open end.
The curve ball training device disclosed by Howland, consists essentially of two balls joined together. As such, it bears little resemblance to the single ball a pitcher must throw. This severely limits its value as a training device. A pitcher throwing it, will not achieve arm speed or pitch velocity comparable to what one would expect in actual competition. Furthermore, a different release point must be used in practice than in an actual game to hit the same target. Thus the Howland taught device is not suitable for teaching throwing accuracy. Furthermore, the extra weight and size along with the bi-spheroidal configuration of the Howland device make it much more difficult and dangerous to catch and return to the thrower.
In substantial contrast to Howland, the present disclosure teaches art substantially same weight and size as a regulation ball used in actual competition. Thus, it can be thrown in practice with substantially the same velocity and flight path with substantially the same release point a pitcher would use in actual competition, and it may be more easily and safely caught and returned to the user. The instant disclosure is therefore an improvement over Howland.
The ball pitch training device disclosed by Kempf is a disk rather than a ball. Therefore, the surface of the device to be gripped by a thrower is smaller than the gripping surface of a regulation ball used in actual competition. Further, because the Kempf disclosure is by necessity of less volume than a regulation ball, it must be therefore, more dense if it is to match the weight of a regulation ball. Thus, the Kempf device cannot be held in exactly the same manner as a regulation ball nor will it be thrown with substantially the same motion as a regulation ball. It will emphatically not have the same feel as a regulation ball. In substantial contrast, the instant disclosure teaches a device that can be of the same dimensions and overall total density of a regulation ball and is thus an improvement over Kempf.
Groves teaches a conventional ball with a cover having colored markings such that when the ball is thrown with the proper rotation, said colored markings will generate a particular image. The pitcher can see the image generated by his or her throw and by comparison with the ideal image known to be generated by a properly executed throw, determine the required changes in his pitching motion and technique. In this, the Groves teaching is an attempt to deal with the same problem to which the instant disclosure is directed, but the manner in dealing with it is altogether different than that taught by the instant disclosure.
The baseball pitching training device by McGinley discloses only a method of teaching the proper finger positions to be employed in the delivery of a desired pitch type. McGinley makes no allowance for feed-back to tell a pitcher if his or her technique is correct, in substantial contrast to the instant disclosure.
The curve ball training device as taught by Outlaw is a non-spherical device which separates into two components upon execution of a pitch with one component traveling to a target and the other remaining in the hand of the pitcher. The device and its use bear little physical resemblance to the ball a pitcher must actually throw in game play. In substantial contrast, the present disclosure teaches the release of the device which remains integral and intact for the duration of its usage.


An assist device for donning and/or doffing a compression garment includes a sleeve having an interior surface bounding a passage extending between a top end and an opposing bottom end, the top end including a top opening communicating with the passage, the bottom end including a bottom opening communicating with the passage, the sleeve being comprised of a sheet of flexible material. A resiliently stretchable material is secured to the bottom end of the sleeve so as to resiliently, radially constrict the sleeve thereat. A band is secured to the top end of the sleeve, the band outwardly expanding the top end of the sleeve.

1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to devices and methods for donning and doffing an appendage garment. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to devices and methods that assist in the donning and doffing of compression garments.
2. The Relevant Technology
Compression garments, such as calf stockings, leg stockings, and arm sleeves, are medical garments designed specifically for applying continuous pressure to an appendage such as the foot, leg, or arm. Compression garments are typically made from an elastic material that can resiliently stretch around a limb to provide compression therapy. Compression garments are commonly used in treating a variety of vascular and circulatory related conditions such as lymphedema, chronic vein insufficiency ("CVI"), post sclerotherapy, deep vein thrombosis, edema, varicose veins, spider veins and other vein disorders and diseases. Compression garments can both reduce swelling in an appendage and inhibit the progression of various venous disorders.
Because compression garments are necessarily tight fitting, one of the common complaints of compression garments is the difficult in donning and doffing the garments. This problem is further exacerbated by the fact that many people who wear compression garments are overweight, elderly, and/or suffer from arthritis. Such conditions can significantly limit the dexterity and strength commonly needed to don and doff compression garments. For example, the donning of a compression stocking requires the patient to slide the stocking over the end of the foot and pull the stocking up over the leg. Many patients are unable to either reach their foot or have insufficient strength to hold onto and pull the tight fitting garment over the foot and along the leg.
In an attempt to address the above problems, various mechanical devices have been designed that open up and expand or stretch the compression garment in order to facilitate placement onto a limb. Such mechanical devices, however, can be complicated to use and uncomfortable during the donning process. Furthermore, most mechanical devices are designed for donning a compression garment, but provide no assistance for doffing the compression garment.
In addition, in many situations it may be necessary for a patient to don and doff a compression garment several times during a single day. Conventional mechanical devices can be bulky and awkward to transport for use at needed times and locations. Still other devices have been designed for use in sliding on compression garments that have holes at both ends but cannot be used with compression garments has a closed end, such as a compression stocking have a closed toe.
Accordingly, it would be advantageous to have a device and related methods for donning and doffing compression garments which are easy and comfortable to operate, require the patient to have only minimal strength and dexterity to use, can be used with compression garments having an open or closed toe, and which can be easily transported for repeated use at different times and locations.

Apparatus for donning and/or doffing a compression garment and related methods


A color image forming apparatus, when a white LED is made to emit light onto a color image so that the reflected light can be detected, changes a color measuring condition in adaptation to a reflectance predicted for the image from the forming condition of the color image to be detected. The amount of reflected light is detected by photodiodes, and the image forming condition is adjusted, based on the detected amount of reflected light of each color image. Thereby, irrespective of the reflectance of each color image, the color measurement of each color image is effected with good accuracy, and the hue and density of the color image to be detected are accurately detected, thereby to form a color image with excellent color reproduction.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a color image apparatus capable of forming a color image, such as a copying machine or a printer of an electrophotographic type, an electrostatic memory type or the like provided with a color measuring apparatus for automatically color-measuring an output image, a color measurement controlling method for the color image forming apparatus, and a storage medium and a program capable of being read by a computer.
2. Related Background Art
There has heretofore been a case where a color image forming apparatus or the like is provided with a color measuring apparatus for detecting image information from an image formed by the apparatus.
FIGS. 13A and 13B of the accompanying drawings illustrate the construction of a color measuring apparatus which can be utilized in a color image forming apparatus of this kind. FIG. 13A shows an example of the image detection thereof, and FIG. 13B shows an example of an image detection circuit (a circuit for converting the output current of a photodiode into a voltage). This example is an example of a sensor using a photodiode to detect reflected light from a toner.
In FIG. 13A, the reference numeral 201 designates a photodiode (sensor), and the reference numeral 102 denotes an LED which serves as a light source and which, as described below, illuminates a patch of toner with a constant amount of light.
The reference numeral 104 designates a toner patch which is an object of detection formed on a conveyed transferring material 1, and reflected light 206 from this toner patch 104 enters the photodiode 201, whereby a photocurrent is generated. The photocurrent is converted into a photoelectric conversion output (voltage signal) V203 by a resistor 202.
This photoelectric conversion output V203 reflects the amount of reflected light from the surface of a toner patch, in real time. A color measuring apparatus can be formed by a sensor using such a photodiode.
Specifically, as the LED light source 102, three LEDs of for example red (R), green (G) and blue (B), differing in light emission spectrum from one another, are provided to serve as light sources of respective colors, and the respective LEDs are caused to emit light independently of one another onto the toner patch which is the object of measurement, and the output of the sensor corresponding to each LED is obtained, whereby there can be obtained the R, G and B components of reflected light from the toner patch, and chromaticity such as L*a*b* or XYZ in color space processing or the like can be calculated.
FIG. 14 of the accompanying drawings is a block diagram showing the pixel construction of a line sensor of an accumulation type utilized in a conventional color image forming apparatus.
The reference numeral 204 denotes a sensor array comprising pixels 207 to 220. The reference numeral 205 designates a reading-out circuit, and the reference numeral 206 denotes a reset circuit. The pixels 207 to 209 and 220 are pixels of which the surfaces are shielded from light. The pixels 210 to 219 are a row of pixels responding to light.
The pixels 207 and 220 serve also as dummy pixels absorbing the unevenness of a sensor characteristic by their being located at the end portions.
Here, for simplicity, an example having ten pixels responding to light is described, but in practice the number of effective pixels is determined according to need. As the dark pixels, there has been shown an example in which there are 3 bits in the first half and 1 bit in the second half, but again the number of bits is increased or decreased depending on the degree of leakage of light between the pixels and the requirements of the particular actual system.
FIG. 15 of the accompanying drawings is a timing chart illustrating the operation timing of the line sensor of the accumulation type shown in FIG. 14.
First, a reset pulse 221 is applied to a port P1, thereby to reset the sensor 201, after which the reset is released and accumulation is started. During the accumulation, the accumulation capacitance (not shown) of the sensor 201 is charged with a photocurrent conforming to the amount of incident light.
However, the bits shielded from light have their accumulation capacitance charged with a dark current generated by the pixel portion. After accumulation for a predetermined time ta, a forwarding pulse 222 is applied to a port P2, whereupon the output of the sensor 201 is collectively forward to the reading-out circuit 205, and is outputted as an output signal 224 from a port P4 for each pixel on the basis of a shift pulse 223 inputted by a shift register in the reading-out circuit 205 through a port P3.
At this time, an output corresponding to the dark pixel 208 is defined as a dark time output and is subtracted from the outputs of the subsequent effective pixels, whereby there is obtained a signal in which an error due to the dark current of the sensor 201 has been corrected. The color measuring apparatus can also be formed by such a cumulative type sensor.
Specifically, for example, R, G and B filters are provided on the surface of the sensor, and the toner patch which is the object of measurement is illuminated by a light source like a white LED having a spectrum over the entire visible light area, and the output of the sensor 201 corresponding to each filter is obtained, whereby the R, G and B components of reflected light from the toner patch are obtained, and chromaticity such as L*a*b* or XYZ in the above-mentioned color space processing can be calculated.
FIG. 16 of the accompanying drawings is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the construction of a color image forming apparatus of this kind, and corresponds, for example, to the case of a four-set tandem type color laser printer.
Also, the color laser printer forms an electrostatic latent image by image light formed on the basis of an image signal in an image forming portion, develops this electrostatic latent image to form a visible image, further transfers this color visible image to a transferring material (a recording medium), and then fixes the color visible image.
In FIG. 16, the image forming portion is comprised of photosensitive drums 5Y, 5M, 5C, 5K, injection charging devices 7Y, 7M, 7C, 7K as primary charging means, developing devices 8Y, 8M, 8C, 8K and toner cartridges 11Y, 11M, 11C, 11K in respective stations juxtaposed by the number of developing colors, an intermediate transferring member 12, a sheet feeding portion, a transferring portion and a fixing portion 13.
Each of the photosensitive drums 5Y, 5M, 5C and 5K is constituted by an aluminum cylinder and an organic photoconductive layer applied to the outer periphery thereof, and is rotated by the driving force of a drive motor, not shown, being transmitted thereto, and the drive motor rotates the photosensitive drums 5Y, 5M, 5C and 5K counter-clockwise in conformity with an image forming operation.
Exposure light is sent to the photosensitive drums 5Y, 5M, 5C and 5K from scanner portions 10Y, 10M, 10C and 10K, and light from each of those scanner portions is selectively applied to the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 5Y, 5M, 5C and 5K, respectively, whereby electrostatic latent images are successively formed thereon.
As the primary charging means, provision is made of the four injection charging devices 7Y, 7M, 7C and 7K for charging the yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C) and black (K) photosensitive drums in the respective stations, and the respective injection charging devices are provided with sleeves 7YS, 7MS, 7CS and 7KS.
As developing means, the four developing devices 8Y, 8M, 8C and 8K for effecting yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C) and black (K) development in the respective stations are provided to visualize the above-mentioned electrostatic latent images, and the respective developing devices are provided with sleeves 8YS, 8MS, 8CS and 8KS. The respective developing devices are detachably mounted with respect to an apparatus main body.
The intermediate transferring member 12 is an endless belt member passed over a drive roller 18a and driven rollers 18b, 18c, is in contact with the photosensitive drums 5Y, 5M, 5C and 5K, is rotated clockwise during color image forming, and is sequentially subjected to transfer by the action of primary transferring rollers 6Y, 6M, 6C and 6K for the respective colors.
Transferring materials 1 are contained in a sheet feeding cassette 2 or a sheet feeding tray 3 as sheet feeding means (sheet feeding port), and the transferring materials 1 are conveyed one by one along a conveying path 25 constituted by a sheet feeding roller 4 and conveying rollers 24 and arrive at registration rollers 23. This is detected by an ante-registration sensor 19.
During image forming, the conveyance of the transferring material is stopped for a predetermined time by the ante-registration sensor 19 in timed relationship with the arrival of the color visible images on the intermediate transferring material 12 at a transferring area. The transferring material 1 is fed from the registration rollers 23 to the transferring area, and a secondary transferring roller 9 comes into contact with the intermediate transferring member 12 and nips and conveys the transferring material, thereby to superimpose and transfer the color visible images on the intermediate transferring member 12 onto the transferring material 1 one at a time.
The secondary transferring roller 9 is brought into contact with the intermediate transferring member 12 as indicated by a solid line as long as the color visible images are superimposed and transferred onto the intermediate transferring member 12, but it is brought to a spaced-apart position indicated by dotted line after the termination of the printing process.
The fixing portion 13 serves to fix the transferred color visible images while conveying the transferring material 1, and is provided with affixing roller 14 for heating the transferring material 1 and a pressure roller 15 for bringing the transferring material 1 into pressure contact with the fixing roller 14, as shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B. The fixing roller 14 and the pressure roller 15 are formed into a hollow shape, and contain heaters 16 and 17, respectively, therein. That is, the transferring member 1 bearing the color visible image thereon is conveyed by the fixing roller 14 and the pressure roller 15 and also have heat and pressure applied thereto, whereby the toners are fixed on the surface thereof.
After the fixing of the visible image, the transferring material 1 is discharged to a sheet discharging portion, not shown, by discharge rollers, not shown, thus completing the image forming operation. The discharge of the transferring material 1 from the fixing portion is detected by a fixed sheet discharge sensor 20.
Cleaning means 21 stores therein waste toners after the color visible images of the four colors formed on the intermediate transferring member 12 have been transferred to the transferring material 1.
Color misregister detecting means 22 forms a color misregister detection patch on the transferring material, detects the amounts of misregister among the colors in a main scanning direction and a sub-scanning direction, and applies feedback so as to finely adjust image data to thereby reduce color misregister.
When the above-described multicolor image forming apparatus is used, if fluctuation occurs in one or another portion of the apparatus due to a change in environment or the long-time use of the apparatus, the density and chromaticity of an image obtained will fluctuate.
Particularly, in the case of a color image forming apparatus of the electrophotographic type, even a slight density fluctuation may lead to the possibility of color balance being destroyed, and therefore, it is necessary always to keep constant density and gradation.
So, process conditions such as several kinds of exposure amounts and developing biases corresponding to absolute humidity and gradation correcting means such as a look-up table (LUT) are provided for the toner of each color, and on the basis of the absolute humidity measured by a temperature and humidity sensor, not shown, the then-applicable process conditions and gradation correction value are selected.
Also, in order that constant density, gradation and hue may be obtained even if, during the image forming process, fluctuation occurs to image forming colors in the respective portions of the apparatus with the fluctuation in environment, a toner image for density detection (hereinafter referred to as a "toner patch") is formed on the intermediate transferring member with toner of each color, and this toner patch is detected by an optical sensor disposed at a location equivalent to the detecting means 22, and from the result thereof, feedback is applied to the process conditions such as the exposure amount and the developing bias and density control is effected, thereby to obtain a stable image.
However, in a color measuring apparatus using the sensor and the controlling method according to the prior art to obtain a stable image in the multicolor image forming apparatus, the following problems have been encountered in effecting the color measurement of the toner patch on the paper after fixing.
First, in order to obtain a stable image, it is necessary to form toner patches of various chromaticities on the transferring material, actually measure those chromaticities by the above-described sensor 201 to find the difference thereof from a desired chromaticity, and apply feedback to the process conditions.
Also, the reflectance of the toner patch is not uniform but varies from a high level to a low level, and the output of the sensor 201 fluctuates from a nearly saturated output to nearly a dark-time output. In the case of a patch which is high in density and low in reflectance, the output thereof becomes small and is buried in the quantization error during the AD conversion of the signal or the noise of a reading-out system, and a correct signal cannot be obtained.
Accordingly, in the case of a patch which is low in reflectance, color measurement accuracy becomes bad, and when the result thereof is to be fed back to the image forming apparatus in an effort to achieve color stabilization, there has been the problem that conversely the hue becomes unstable.

Color image forming apparatus and color measurement controlling method therefor


The disclosure concerns a method for providing communication with a mobile station (12) via a first wireless access point (10) as well as the access point. The mobile station (12) has a first identifier for use in a first communication network (14) and the wireless access point comprises a first wireless interface for a first type of wireless communication with mobile stations in relation to the first communication network (14), a second wireless interface for a second type of wireless communication with mobile stations in relation to a second communication network (16), a mapping unit associating the first type of wireless communication for the mobile station with the second type of wireless communication for the mobile station based on the first identifier and a traffic control unit transporting traffic of wireless communication of the second type for the mobile station through the first communication network (14) based on the association.

Wireless Local Area network technology such as IEEE 802.11, also denoted Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) is today becoming more and more popular in order to for instance provide hostspots where mobile stations can communicate.
At the same time mobile communication networks exist, which are focused on mobility.
These two types of networks may furthermore be co-located; they may exist in the same geographical location. However, a mobile terminal using one type of network will then typically have to disconnect from this network before connecting to the other network.
The current Wi-Fi deployments are thus mainly totally separate from mobile networks, and are to be seen as non-integrated. The usage of Wi-Fi is mainly driven due to the free and wide unlicensed spectrum, and the increased availability of Wi-Fi in mobile terminals like smartphones and tablets. The end users are also becoming more and more at ease with using Wi-Fi for example at offices and homes.
There may in such situations exist a desire to combine these networks. One situation where this may be of interest is if there is congestion in one of the networks. Then it would be advantageous to switch over to the other network for some traffic. However such switchover should then be as seamless as possible. Another reason for providing them combined is to improve user experience.
There is thus a need for an improvement in the combining of these two different types of communication technologies. It is furthermore a need for a combining where signalling between core elements of the two networks is limited.

Wireless access point connected to two communication networks


The present invention relates to thermally driven pumps. More specifically, one embodiment of the present invention relates to the use of a thermoelectric material to create a thermally driven, bi-directional pump, such as a micro pump, with no moving parts using the thermal transpiration effect (a Knudsen pump). One embodiment of the thermally driven pump of the present invention utilizes a thermoelectric material to assist with the thermal transpiration process resulting in a substantially symmetrical, bidirectional pump. A thermoelectric module is used to induce a temperature gradient across a nanoporous article having at least one nanochannel thus creating fluid flow via thermal transpiration across the nanochannel. The use of the thermoelectric module eliminates the need for a heat sink thereby making the pump substantially symmetrical and enabling bidirectional flow which is accomplished by reversing the polarity of the power supply to the thermoelectric module resulting in reversing the direction of heat transfer.

The present invention relates to thermally driven pumps. More specifically, one embodiment of the present invention relates to the use of a thermoelectric material to create a thermally driven, bi-directional pump, such as a micro pump, with no moving parts using the thermal transpiration effect (a Knudsen pump). The thermally driven Knudsen pump of the present invention achieves high flow rates in both directions, is easy to fabricate, generates a continuous pneumatic pressure, and exhibits an increased pump efficiency over prior art Knudsen pumps. A second embodiment of the present invention relates to Knudsen pumps utilized on micro fluidics platforms, particularly Knudsen pumps integrated and configured within the substrate of lab-on-chip devices and further configured to pump liquids through channels also configured within the substrate of micro fluidic devices in response to pressure generated within the channels of the Knudsen pumps resulting from thermal transpiration.
Knudsen pumps on the macro scale operate at pressures lower than atmospheric pressures. Because micro scale Knudsen pumps operate at atmospheric pressure (pumps with channels having a hydraulic diameter of 100 nm or less), Knudsen pumps have recently been utilized in micro scale applications. Macro-scale Knudsen pumps can operate at atmospheric pressure so long as they contain channels with a hydraulic diameter of 100 nm or less.
Microtechnology is technology whose smallest feature is less than one millimeter in size. Micromechanical systems, sensors, actuators, and pumps, for example, are increasingly being utilized in microtechnology applications. For example, Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems ("MEMS") refers to the integration of mechanical elements, sensors, actuators, pumps, and electronics on a common silicon substrate through micro fabrication technology. Fluid flow in microtechnology and MEMS applications is typically accomplished by external pressure sources, external mechanical pumps, or internal micro pumps.
For example, micro gas pumps find a variety of uses in microtechnology and MEMS ranging from gas manipulation, forced convective cooling, micro plasma, and gas chromatography to microfluidic applications like Lab-On-Chip, protein immunoassays and active micro mixers. In many applications such as filtration, by-pass medical devices, and micro total analysis systems, it is desired to have a pump that is bi-directional. Electrostatically actuated diaphragm pumps are commonly used micro pumps, but reliability can be a concern due to moving parts that are more prone to wear and tear, particularly in the micro scale.
Regarding micro fluidics platforms, micro fluidic devices have a tremendous potential in biomedical and chemical applications. They provide miniaturized platforms for fluidic handling, separation, mixing, dilution, etc. Some of the advantages of these devices are low cost, low sample requirement, fast response time, parallel processing and repeatability. One key component of all micro fluidic devices is a means to transport the liquids. This is typically performed with a micro fluidic pump.
Because of the high demand, many types of micro fluidic pumps have been developed including diaphragm pumps, electro hydrodynamic pumps, and electro osmotic pumps. However, most of these pumps suffer from some drawback, such as requiring a high voltage, working only within a certain pH value, requiring a non-sieve that results in filtration of the liquid, large size, and compatibility issues with the underlying micro fluidic device. External pneumatic pumps are commonly used in conjunction with valves, either integrated micro valves, or a plurality of external valves due to the difficulties of fabricating high quality micro valves. There is a need for a micro fluidics device that overcomes these challenges. There is also a need for a micro fluidics device that is configured so that it may be readily integrated with a micro fluidic channel, uses a low voltage, can pump any liquid through pneumatic actuation, and doesn't require any moving parts.
In the last few years, the Knudsen pump has been demonstrated at the micro level for pumping gases. Thermo molecular pumps, such as the Knudsen pump, inherently have a high reliability because they have no moving parts. The Knudsen pump also features a simplified fabrication process (no moving parts), continuous flow, and low operating voltages. The Knudsen pump operates on the principle of thermal transpiration. In 1910, Knudsen demonstrated the possibility of using thermal transpiration for the purpose of gas pumping. The phenomenon of thermal transpiration induces a pressure difference in a narrow channel, whose dimension allows the gas flow in free molecular or transition regimes to become rarefied, when a thermal gradient is established along the channel. A parameter called Knudsen number (Kn) is defined as the ratio of the mean free path of the gas molecules to the hydraulic diameter of the channel and its range for the above mentioned gas flow regimes is 0.1<Kn<10 and Kn>10 respectively. Optimally, the Knudsen number should be greater than 1 for the Knudsen pump to operate efficiently. For operation of a Knudsen pump at atmospheric pressure, channels that have a hydraulic diameter of less than 100 nanometers should be used. When larger channels are used, the pump is operated at pressures lower than atmospheric pressure. Generally if two containers are filled with the same gas separated by a narrow channel and kept at different temperatures, they settle at different pressures.
As Knudsen illustrated, when two large volumes are interconnected by a channel of very small cross-section, of radius smaller than the mean free path length of the gas molecules present, and when the ends of the channel are at different temperatures, then a pressure difference is established between the two large volumes. In the small-sized channel, molecules move under molecular conditions, and as a result the pressures differ at the two ends of the channel because of the temperature difference. Under molecular conditions, when thermal equilibrium is reached, then the pressures at the two ends of the channel are such that the ratio is equal to the square root of the ratio of the corresponding temperatures.
When the molecules reach the large volume adjacent to the hot end of the channel, their travel no longer occurs under molecular conditions, but occurs under viscous medium conditions. As a result, at the hot end of the channel, the molecules escape from the channel and penetrate into the adjacent large volume. This produces a pumping effect with a compression ratio that can be as great as the square root of the temperature ratio.
The flux of gas molecules going through the channel is represent by pressure as 'P', mass of the gas molecules as 'M', Boltzmann's constant absolute temperature as 'Γ' and subscripts 'h' and 'c' denote hot and cold chamber terms respectively. Once the equilibrium is reached, the ratio of the pressures of the hot and cold chambers is equal to the ratio of the square root of their absolute temperatures. This is represented by the following formula:
            P      h              P      c        =                    T        h                    T        c
In the free molecular flow regime the intermolecular collisions are negligible compared to the interaction of molecules with the walls of the channel. The average speed of molecules arriving from the hotter region is larger than those from the colder region. The mass fluxes from the two regions balance at equilibrium. With an increase of pressure in the chamber of higher temperature, an inverse flow is driven by the pressure difference of the two reservoirs. The two flows are counterbalanced at some pressure difference.
The mass flow rate through a single channel was derived by Sharipov, and is:
where r is the hydraulic radius, L is the length of the channel subjected to a temperature difference of ΔT, ΔP is the pressure difference across the channel, and Tav and Pav are the average temperature and pressure within the channel. The two flow coefficients, the thermally driven flow coefficient, Mt, and the pressure driven flow coefficient, Mp, are functions of the Knudsen number.
      M    .    =            P      av                          m                  2                                kT            av                                                  π                                                            r          3                    L                  (                                                  Δ                                                                                T                                      T              av                                                      M            t                          -                                            Δ                                                                                P                                      P              av                                                      M            p                              )
The maximum flow rate at ΔP=0 is a function of the channel length and the temperatures at the ends of the channel. To obtain the maximum flow rate there has to be an optimization between the channel length and the temperature difference obtained along the channel length, as they are interdependent. A longer channel will provide a larger temperature difference, but reduce the flow rate; while with a shorter channel the temperature difference will be reduced, which in turn will drop the flow rate.
In a micro fluidics environment, in applications that require increased pressure drop multiple micro fluidics pumps in series have been used to increase either the temperature gradient or channel length (e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 7,572,110). However, previously demonstrated pumps were only configured for and could only pump gases. There is a need for a micro fluidic pump that can pump liquid from a reservoir inside capillaries using thermal transpiration.
One of the major challenges encountered by the previous Knudsen pump designs is to thermally isolate the hot and cold chambers from each other. The hot chamber is actively heated while the cold chamber temperature is passively cooled. To maintain the cold chamber at room temperature a relatively long channel is used, but this adversely impacts the pump's flow rate. Furthermore, to optimize the pump efficiency, it is desired to thermally insulate the hot chamber to minimize thermal losses, and simultaneously cool the cold chamber. Previous pumps have passively cooled the cold chamber by using large areas to minimize the thermal resistance and by using heat sinks. The need for very different geometries for the hot and cold sides makes it difficult to make an efficient Knudsen pump that is also bi-directional. There is a need for a Knudsen pump, particularly a micro pump, with an actively cooled cold chamber which eliminates the need for a heat sink. Additionally, both hot and cold chambers can be thermally insulated thereby improving efficiency. It is then possible to create an efficient bi-directional Knudsen pump. A further advantage is that the channel length can be minimized, reducing the channel flow conductance and increasing the gas flow rate.
Thermoelectric materials exhibit the Peltier effect. When a voltage is applied across the two ends of the thermoelectric material or in other words current flows through the thermoelectric material a temperature difference is obtained across the same. The charge carriers (electrons) start moving in the opposite direction of the current, transferring the heat with them from one side of the material to the other side and in the process creating a temperature gradient across the material. For example, a thermoelectric or Peltier module is a solid state active heat transfer device which transfers heat from one side of the device to the other when voltage is applied across the device. The direction of heat transfer is controlled by the polarity of the current; therefore, reversing polarity will change the direction of heat transfer. A thermoelectric heat transfer module or device is comprised of one or more thermoelectric materials.
There is a need for a thermally driven micropump such as the Knudsen pump of the present invention. The pump of the present invention has no moving parts, high reliability and uses a low operating voltage. Additionally, the absence of moving parts allows a simple fabrication process. Once the operation has reached equilibrium, the Knudsen pump generates a continuous flow.
It is an objective of the present invention to create a pump with improved flow rates and efficiency as compared to prior art Knudsen pumps. It is another objective of the present invention to create an embodiment of the pump that is a thermoelectric Knudsen pump which utilizes a thermoelectric material to both actively heat the hot chamber and actively cool the cold chamber. It is another objective of the present invention to create an embodiment that is a bi-directional pump whereby the pump direction can be switched by changing the voltage polarity across the thermoelectric material. Another objective of the present invention is to create an embodiment that is a symmetrical pump with no moving parts. Yet another objective of the present invention is to create an embodiment that is a uni-directional pump integrated in a lab-on-chip device with no moving parts that operates using thermal transpiration.

Abstract: A second embodiment of the thermally driven pump of the present invention comprises a uni-directional, pneumatic, micro fluidic, Knudsen pump which can be integrated into a lab-on-chip device and is configured to pump liquids. The Knudsen pump of the second embodiment is generally comprised of a channel system comprised of a nanochannel and a shallow channel embedded in a bottom substrate and capable of alignment in series with other channels within a lab-on-chip substrate. The nanochannel and shallow channel are both covered by a second substrate comprised of material conducive to finalize creation of the Knudsen channels. A heater is also included within the nanochannel to induce gas flow by thermal transpiration which pneumatically moves liquid through the channels of a lab-on-chip.

University of Louisville Research Foundation, Inc.


A pneumatic off-the-road tire is used in motorcycles for motocross racing, and comprises a tread having a particular block arrangement of offset blocks and side blocks.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to pneumatic off-the-road tires, and more particularly to an improvement in the running performance of the pneumatic off-the-road tires used in motocross racing of running motorcycles on rough roads consisting of soft and hard road surfaces.
2. Related Art Statement
Heretofore, a tire as shown in FIG. 6 has been known as the pneumatic off-the-road tire. In FIG. 6, numeral 1 is a pneumatic off-the-road tire used in motocross racing, which has a tread pattern dividing a surface portion 2a of a tread 2 by grooves 3 into many isolated blocks 5. The size and arrangement of the block 5 are determined considering straight running road and cornering road in the racing course, the state of road surface and the like. In the conventional pneumatic off-the-road tires, blocks 5A arranged in a central portion 2b of the tread 2 attach importance to traction performance, so that blocks 5 with an edge 5a extending in the widthwise direction of the tire are fundamentally arranged in the central portion 2b. Thus, traction performance against momentary torque is obtained during straight running.
However, when the pneumatic off-the-road tire 1 is run on a circuit course for motocross racing, the motorcycle runs not only on the straight running road but also on the cornering road while being largely inclined at a large camber angle in both left and right directions. In this case, the tread 2 of the tire 1 shifts its ground contact area from the central portion 2b to both side portions 2c to thereby generate a large lateral force in the lateral direction. In the tread pattern as shown in FIG. 6, there is a problem in that the shifting of the ground contact area from the central portion 2b to the side portion 2c does not exhibit gentle behavior. That is, in the conventional tire 1, it is difficult to simultaneously establish traction performance and shifting performance, so that the driver is required to have a special driving technique in running on the cornering road.


A method and apparatus for improved isolation of IF, LO, and RF frequency signals from the non-associated mixer ports (e.g., avoiding introducing RF frequency signals at the IF and LO ports, and similarly vis-a-vis other signals and ports), is provided by coupling a RF (or LO) signal to first ports of four-port first and second phase shift means, each having two signal output ports having 180.degree. phase difference for signals input from the first port, coupling the LO (or RF) signal to the first port of a third phase shift means, with two output signal ports having a phase difference of 180.degree., supplying the third phase shift means output signals to fourth ports of the first and second phase shift means, supplying the output signals of the first and second phase shift means to distinct ports of a five port mixer, and coupling an IF signal from the five port mixer to an IF port.

It is commonplace in the electronic art to combine a modulated or modulating signal with a local oscillator signal in order to obtain a further modulated signal at another frequency that is more easily amplified, filtered, broadcast and/or detected. This is done in a mixer.
In a typical demodulation application, a modulated radio frequency (RF) signal is combined in a mixer with a local oscillator (LO) signal to produce an intermediate frequency (IF) signal which may be then further amplified and detected to recover the information modulated onto the RF carrier. Alternatively, this process can be reversed, mixing an LO signal with an IF signal to produce a modulated carrier (RF) signal for further amplification and ultimate transmission as a modulated output signal.
The demodulation mixing process produces sum and differences of the RF and LO frequencies. One or more of the sum and difference frequencies is at the desired IF frequency, according to the following relations:
(1) f.sub.IF =f.sub.LO -f.sub.RF, i e., down conversion where f.sub.LO >f.sub.RF, PA1 (2) f.sub.IF =f.sub.RF -f.sub.LO, i.e., down conversion where f.sub.LO <f.sub.RF, PA1 (3) f.sub.IF =f.sub.LO +f.sub.RF, i.e. up conversion.
Similar relations apply to modulation of a carrier signal.
Examination of equations (1) and (2) shows that there is not a unique correspondence between f.sub.LO, f.sub.IF, and f.sub.RI. For a given value of f.sub.LO, two different values of f.sub.RF may produce the same value of f.sub.IF. For example, (see FIG. 1) for f.sub.LO =3 GigaHertz, both f.sub.RF1 =2.5 GigaHertz and f.sub.RF2 =3.5 GigaHertz can produce f.sub.IF =0.5 GigaHertz. The RF and IF frequencies are generally not discrete frequencies but narrow frequency bands determined by the modulation thereon. The LO frequency is typically sharply defined, but may be time varying in some cases.
A prior art double balanced mixer apparatus 10 is illustrated in FIG. 2. Mixer apparatus 10 comprises RF port 12, LO port 42, IF port 15, balun transformers 16, 40, and four port mixer element 19 comprising diodes 32, 34, 36, 38, and having input ports 24, 26, 28, 30. Signals 14, 18, 20, 44, 46, 48 are present in mixer apparatus 10. RF input signal 14 comprising either or both RF1 and RF2 enters at RF port 12. Balun transformer 16 splits incoming signal 14 into two substantially equal amplitude RF signals 18, 20 which have a relative phase displacement of 180.degree.. Signal 18 is sent to port 24 of four port mixer element 19 and signal 20 is sent to port 28 of mixer element 19. Similarly, LO port 42 supplies LO signal 44 to balun transformer 40. Balun transformer 40 splits LO signal 44 into two substantially equal amplitude RF signals 46, 48 having a 180.degree. relative phase displacement. Signal 46 is sent to port 26 of four port mixer element 19 and signal 48 is sent to port 30 of four port mixer element 19.
The nonlinear current versus voltage characteristics of diodes 32, 34, 36, 38 cause signals to be created at frequencies in accordance with EQS. 1-3, which signals are coupled to IF port 15 via balun transformer 16. Because balun transformers 16, 40 must be able to pass the RF, LO, and IF frequencies, the required bandwidth of the balun transformers is more difficult to realize.
Alternatively, mixers are employed for modulation of an LO signal by an IF signal to produce a modulated carrier, or RF signal. This process is similar to the demodulation process described above, with LO port 42 and IF port 15 accepting input signals and RF port 12 providing an output signal.
Prior art double-balanced high isolation mixers have a number of disadvantages well known in the art. Among these disadvantages are, for example: (1) inadequate port-to-port isolation, (2) relative complexity, (3) difficulty of implementation in compact form, suitable for incorporation in monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMIC's), and (4) difficulty in providing wide-bandwidth baluns.
MMIC's are typically constructed using Si, GaAs, or other compound or elemental semiconductor integrated circuit (lC) wafer processing technology on and/or in such wafers. It is highly desirable to have high isolation mixers which can be made with lumped elements or other structures that are compatible with IC fabrication techniques and geometries. In particular, it is important that they be of comparatively small size so as to not occupy disproportionately large substrate areas compared to the semiconductor diodes, transistors, etc., which mix the signals, or compared to the amplifiers or other signal processing elements that may be included in the MMIC. Such concerns are especially important in the frequency range from about 1 to 15 GigaHertz and above where the sizes of distributed circuit elements are unwieldy.
Thus, there continues to be a need for improved high isolation mixers and methods, especially those that use few components, are easy to construct and/or which employ elements that are readily integratable in and/or on MMIC's or the like. As used herein, the term "high isolation" is intended to refer to mixers that minimize or avoid coupling the RF frequency signal to the IF and LO ports, and similarly vis-a-vis the remaining signals and ports.


A vehicle repair rack having a platform for receiving vehicles for straightening is tilted as it is raised from the floor for easier loading of low vehicles, without the vehicle's bottoming out. The repair rack uses a parallel linkage to raise the platform. The platform is one link of the parallel linkage; and, the link that is parallel to the platform is allowed to elongate as the platform is raised, thereby causing the platform to move into non-parallelism with respect to the elongated link, so the platform is tilted. The parallel linkage includes legs as the other two links, and a connecting rod between the two legs is the elongating link. One end of the connecting rod has a slot that allows the connecting rod to move axially to a limited extent for the elongation.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to vehicle repair apparatus, and is more particularly concerned with means for tilting a repair rack during the raising of the rack above the floor.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Apparatus for repairing automotive vehicles following a collision typically includes a platform onto which the vehicle is loaded. The platform is subsequently raised above the floor level to have the vehicle at a convenient height for the work of straightening the vehicle. In raising the platform, the most common means is to provide a parallel linkage so that the platform is raised uniformly, and is level at all times.
The parallel linkage works well under most conditions, and such apparatus has been commercially successful: see for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,027,639. Using the parallel linkage, the platform is level on the floor, and the platform remains level as the platform is raised to any desired height. Other prior art apparatus utilizes separate fluid operated cylinders on each of the four legs supporting the platform; and, while such an arrangement works, it is more expensive than the use of one cylinder with mechanical linkages as in the cited patent.
In recent times, a number of automobiles are being made very low, so the undercarriage is close to the ground. It has been found that, in loading such a vehicle onto the prior art racks, the cars tend to "bottom out" as they move onto the platform. The lowest such a platform will go is flat on the floor, so there is no means for preventing the bottoming out, and consequent potential damage to the vehicle.


A disordered rocksalt lithium metal oxide and oxyfluoride as in manganese-vanadium oxides and oxyfluorides well suited for use in high capacity lithium-ion battery electrodes such as those found in lithium-ion rechargeable batteries. A lithium metal oxide or oxyfluoride example is one having a general formula: LixM′aM″bO2-yFy, with the lithium metal oxide or oxyfluoride having a cation-disordered rocksalt structure of one of (a) or (b), with (a) 1.09≤x≤1.35, 0.1≤a≤0.7, 0.1≤b≤0.7, and 0≤y≤0.7; M′ is a low valent transition metal and M″ is a high-valent transition metal; and (b) 1.1≤x≤1.33, 0.1≤a≤0.41, 0.39≤b≤0.67, and 0≤y≤0.3; M′ is Mn; and M″ is V or Mo. The oxides or oxyfluorides balance accessible Li capacity and transition metal capacity. An immediate application example is for high energy density Li-cathode battery materials, where the cathode energy is a key limiting factor to overall performance. The second structure (b) is optimized for maximal accessible Li capacity.

Lithium-ion ("Li-ion") batteries are one of the most investigated energy storage devices due to their relatively high energy and high power performances. The increasing demand for cheap, portable, high density energy storage for personal devices, transportation, and in the electrical grid has driven the development of advanced Li-ion battery systems. See B. Kang, G. Ceder, Nature 458, 190-193 (2009); P. Barpanda, et al. Nature materials 10, 772-779 (2011) and K. Kang, Y. S. Meng, J. Breger, C. P. Grey, G. Ceder, Science 311, 977-980 (2006).
With this increasing demand for high-performance Li-ion batteries, cathode materials, with high energy density, have been sought from diverse chemical spaces. In particular, oxide materials have drawn the most attention because they tend to deliver the highest energy density among all cathode materials.
More specifically, layered lithium transition metal oxides, such as LiCoO2, have been one of the most important classes of cathode materials for rechargeable lithium batteries. Currently, state-of-the-art high energy density battery systems are based on layered oxides targeting high voltage redox activity on Co, Mn, and Ni. In these materials, lithium and transition metal ions are well-segregated to form distinct layers which alternate in their crystal structure. In these ordered compounds, Li sites and pathways (a 2D slab in the layered oxides) are separated from the transition metal sublattice, which provides stability and electron storage capacity. FIG. 1 provides a schematic diagram of the layered-rocksalt structure, Li-M-O. Having well-ordered structures where there is little or no intermixing between the Li and the transition metal sublattice is generally considered important for obtaining high-capacity cathode materials with good cycle life. Indeed, the well-layeredness in their structure has been considered necessary for high lithium mobility in the materials, and cation mixing has been observed to result in poor cyclability by slowing down lithium diffusion. These observations may have led researchers to disregard cation-disordered lithium transition metal oxides as promising cathode materials.
Recently, important understandings have been made in the oxide space that enlarges the search space of high energy density cathode materials. Specifically, cation-disordered lithium transition metal oxides ("Li-TM oxides"), which were generally considered electrochemically inactive due to limited Li diffusion by their disordered structure, can be promising cathode materials if provided with enough Li excess (i.e., where the number of Li sites is greater than that of TM sites (x>0.09 in Li1+xTM1−xO2)). Indeed, facile Li diffusion is possible in disordered structures once enough excess Li is introduced, which, in turn, introduces a percolating network of facile Li diffusion channels (0-TM channels) through which Li diffusion can be facile in the disordered structure due to weak electrostatic repulsion on the activated Li+ ion upon Li diffusion by the lack of repulsive TM ions.
However, cation disorder/cation mixing still presents numerous difficulties and challenges in providing high energy density cathode materials. For instance, oxygen oxidation, which is often necessary to achieve high capacity from disordered materials, can trigger oxygen loss via lattice densification, which degrades 0-TM percolation (and hence Li diffusion) in the disordered materials by reducing the Li-excess level, especially near the surface. Thus, nearly all cation-disordered Li-TM oxides whose TM redox (for example, Fe2+/4+, Ni2+/4+, CO2+/4+) overlaps with oxygen redox suffer from large polarization after oxygen loss, showing limited cyclability. Additionally, oxygen loss can also lead to resistive surface layers, such as the layer of Li2CO3, which can further add impedance to the cathode. Furthermore, the performance of early disordered cathode materials has been limited by the necessary presence of heavy, inactive metals in the system and by the low voltage of the active redox couples.
One previously reported strategy for improving the stability of layered (rocksalt) materials is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,205,072 to Kang et al. Kang describes a fluorine substitution strategy on layered lithium nickel-manganese-cobalt based oxide materials that is said to improve the structural stability of the layered (rocksalt) materials against disorder. The structure selection between layered rocksalt and cation-disordered rocksalt structures depends highly on the composition of materials. The fluorine substituted lithium nickel-manganese-cobalt oxides that are discussed in Kang exclusively form into a layered rocksalt structure based on the compositional make-up and the oxidation states of the elements included in the composition. Kang, for example, does not discuss the role of fluorine substitution or the use of a divalent transition metal with vanadium or molybdenum on the structural integrity of cation-disordered structures.
Thus, in a departure from the approach of utilizing layered lithium transition metal oxides, disordered rocksalt systems have been identified as potential high-capacity cathodes, as disordered rocksalt systems offer flexibility in composition and redox behavior if at least 55% of the cation sublattice is occupied by Li (e.g., see J. Lee, A. Urban, X. Li, D. Su, G. Hautier, G. Ceder, Science 343, 519-522 (2014); and A. Urban, J. Lee, G. Ceder, Advanced Energy Materials 4, 1400478 (2014)). Nonetheless, the performance of disordered cathodes has been limited by the presence of heavy inactive metals in the system, low voltage of the active redox couples, poor reversibility due to oxygen loss and electrochemical inaccessibility of some of the Li on charge (e.g., see J. Lee, D.-H. Seo, M. Balasubramanian, N. Twu, X. Li, G. Ceder, Energy Environ. Sci. 8, 3255 (2014); and N. Yabuuchi et al. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. 112, 7650-7655 (2015)).
Accordingly, there remains a need for cation-disordered lithium transition metal oxides having improved electrochemical performances for use as, for instance, cathode materials.

Cation-disordered rocksalt lithium metal oxides and oxyfluorides and methods of making same

THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA


A consolidated pastry forming apparatus is provided that incorporates a separatable roller tool and a finishing tool. The roller tool includes a handle, a first pair of fork arms at one handle end, and a second pair of fork arms at the other handle end. A first cylindrical dough roller is mounted to the first pair of fork arms and a second convex dough roller is mounted to the second pair of fork arms. The finishing tool is removably attachable to the handle. The finishing tool is unitarily formed and somewhat elongated, and includes at one end thereof a plurality of tines suitable for puncturing a pastry crust, and at the other end thereof a protrusion suitable for crimping a pastry crust.

This invention relates to the field of pastry forming apparatus and more particularly to a pastry forming apparatus wherein a plurality of tools for the forming and working of dough and pastry are detachably interconnected together.
A cook or baker commonly has access to and utilizes many different tools in the preparation of food. These tools are typically stored collectively and loosely in drawers and the like in a kitchen area. When food is being prepared, the cook or baker must access and retrieve particular tools from the collection. Commonly, considerable time can be lost in locating, retrieving and collecting the specific tools needed or desired for a particular preparation task.
In the interest of saving time and labor, it would be desirable and useful to have tools that are employed in a given preparation procedure consolidated and thus stored together. Thereby, the task of locating, collecting and retrieving individual tools is simplified and shortened, and time and labor are conserved.
In a single pastry forming (including preparation) procedure, as those skilled in the art will appreciate, various individual and separate roller and crust forming and shaping tools are commonly employed, perhaps four or more separate tools being utilized. If a particular generic set of these tools could be consolidated into a common structural arrangement, then the foregoing problems associated with locating, collecting and retrieving individual separated tools are eliminated, or greatly minimized, since only one tool assembly would need to be preliminarily located from a general tool collection, which could be a brief and simple matter.
In pastry forming, a starting dough body is typically spread and rolled into a flattened sheet-like configuration using a roller to produce a crust (for subsequent processing). Prior art rollers include rolling pins and (typically) smaller rollers. The former comprise a cylindrical roller with an axially projecting and rotatable handle at each opposite end for two-handed operation. The latter comprise a roller whose opposite ends are rotatably associated with opposite terminal ends of a fork or yoke that is itself joined to a handle that extends perpendicularly and medially relative to the roller axis for single handed operation. The latter rollers are commonly either cylindrically shaped, or barrel-shaped (outwardly convex and relatively short in length), the latter configuration apparently being useful for rolling dough up the side of a container, such as a pie pan, or the like.
Also, in pastry forming, finishing tools are commonly employed. Common finishing tools include a fork-like tool having projecting sharp tines and a crimping tool. The fork-like tool is commonly used for making puncture holes in the upper crust of a pie to permit steam to escape from the pie during baking. The crimping tool is commonly used to impress and join together adjoining rim portions of the upper and lower crusts of a pie before baking.
There is a need in the pastry forming art for an improved consolidated pastry forming apparatus that incorporates both dough rolling means and pastry finishing means. The present invention aims to fulfill this need.
The present invention is directed to consolidated pastry forming apparatus that incorporates roller means and finishing means and wherein certain individual tool components coact yet are conveniently and simply detachably associated with one another.
The roller means comprises a roller assembly that includes an elongated handle which has a fork at each opposite end. Each fork has a roller rotatably mounted between the terminal ends thereof for rotation about an axis that is generally transverse to a longitudinal axis of the handle. One roller has a cylindrical side surface, the other is relatively shorter and has a convex side surface.
The finishing means comprises a unitarily formed tool that includes a generally flattened, somewhat elongated handle. At one handle end is a plurality of outwardly projecting tines for dough puncturing or marking, and at the opposite handle end is an enlargement for dough crimping or localized compressing.
The finishing tool is removably connected to portions of the roller assembly handle. Although this connection can be variously achieved, it is presently preferred to provide opposite side portions of the finishing tool with longitudinally extending, outwardly projecting flange portions that are configured to engage matingly rabbet portions provided in opposing side edge portions of the handle of the roller assembly.
When associated with the roller assembly, side surface portions of the finishing tool cooperate with the handle of the roller assembly to provide a smooth and easily held composite handle member that is useful in dough rolling using either one of the two rollers.
Thus, the inventive consolidated pastry forming apparatus incorporates a reversibly interconnected and cooperatively associated set of pastry forming tools comprising two independently operated dough rollers, a pastry (or dough) puncturing and marking tool and a pastry (or dough) crimping or localized compressing tool.
The inventive consolidated pastry forming apparatus provides a generic set of pastry forming and working tools in a common structural arrangement.
The apparatus is sturdy, convenient, easy to use and maintain and readily stored and retrieved for use in a pastry forming and/or working procedure.
Other and further objects, features, purposes and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those familiar with the pastry and pastry tool arts from the following description taken with the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.