A puff quilt square maker and method for fabricating a puff quilt square for use in fabricating a quilt or other similar article, such as a child's book, clothing, or decorative article. The puff quilt square maker is used to fabricate puffs in quitting of various shapes and sizes, including the size of the design and the height of the puff, in order to fabricate virtually any design in soft sculpture. A gathering guide is used to gauge each gathered edge of a piece of fabric. The gathering guide is provided with a first slit for receiving and holding one end of the thread used to gather the fabric and a plurality of second slits for receiving and holding a further portion of the thread. The puff quilt square maker includes a core and a guide ring for fabricating a puff. The fabric is placed over the core, with a reference mark positioned over the center of the core. After the fabric has been aligned with the core, the guide ring is slipped over the fabric to the bottom extent of the core. The fabric, while maintained over the core with the guide ring, is then sewn to secure the gathers formed around the base of the core. After the entire circuit around the guide ring is sewn, the guide ring is removed from about the core and the core is withdrawn from the puff In order to shape the puff, a stuffing is inserted through the opening formed in the previous step. The puff quilt square is completed by attaching the puff quilt square face to a backing. In order to achieve sculpting effects to simulate a particular article, the puff is embroidered. Upon completion of the required number of the puff quilt squares, the puff quilt squares are incorporated into the quilt or other article.

It is well known that quilting has been an established art for many years. Quilts have been made for many years for many purposes. Practically, quilts are used for providing warmth while seated, or while asleep. More artistically, quilts are used for decorative purposes. While quilts can be readily purchased for either of these purposes, it is often desirable for one to make their own quilts as either heirlooms or gifts. Because of this, hand-made quilts are known to be high in value.
Various factors lend to the value of a quilt. Included are the quality of the quilting (i.e., uniformity of the stitching, quality of the fabric, etc.), the selection of colors, and the pattern. Many standard patterns have been used for many years. Typically, however, the standard patterns are merely for fabricating a flat quilt. Features not typically found on quilts include raised patterns, or three-dimensional soft sculpture.
There have been devices produced for use in various needlework arts. Typical are those devices disclosed in the following U.S. Patents:
______________________________________ U.S. Pat. No. Inventor(s) Issue Date ______________________________________ 4,563,785 S. Samelson Jan. 14, 1986 4,690,084 D. Krieger Sept. 1, 1987 4,774,778 T. Williams Oct. 4, 1988 4,814,218 B. Shane Mar. 21, 1989 5,141,140 D. J. Moffett-Hall Aug. 25, 1992 5,186,998 J. R. Eugster Feb. 16, 1993 5,291,843 M. Hori Mar. 8, 1994 ______________________________________
Of these, the device disclosed by Samelson ('785) and the method disclosed by Krieger ('084) are each related to a finished product having a "puffed" design. The '785 device includes a device for stitching a circular pattern into two layers of fabric having a foam rubber core interposed therebetween. The resulting pattern is a simulated button. The '084 method is disclosed for use in mass production of a quilted product wherein the quilting is accomplished by a prescribed embroidered design. A puffed design is accomplished by sewing two pieces of fabric together, with one having a high shrinking tendency. The embroidered composite fabric is then subjected to hot water treatment in order to shrink the back fabric relative to the front fabric, thereby resulting in the puffed design. In each of these disclosures, a "puff" design is accomplished merely as a result of the stitching of two layers of fabric. These disclosures do not teach a device or method for pre-forming a desired puff in order to accomplish a selected soft-sculpture. Nor do these disclosures teach a device or method for making a puff-style applique for attaching to a quilt pattern.
This devices disclosed by Williams ('778) and Hori ('843) are each adapted for use with an embroidery hoop. The '778 device is provided for aligning a fabric prior to securing the fabric in the hooping frame. The '843 device is an attachment structure for removably attaching a workpiece holder to a movable portion of a sewing machine used for embroidering materials. The attachment structure is used to move an embroidery hoop relative to the needle of a sewing machine. Although each of these devices is associated with an embroidery hoop, neither teaches a device used to form a selected pattern around which is sewn a stitch line. On the contrary, each device teaches the use of an embroidery hoop for the purposes of stretching fabric on which is embroidered a particular pattern.
The device disclosed by Shane ('218) is a quilted craft article, and a method and kit for making the same. However, the '218 device does not disclose the use of a puffed design in association with the quilted article. Nor does the '218 device disclose a device or method for making a puffed article for use in quilting.
Moffett-Hall ('140) discloses a device for making fabric appliques. The '140 device is comprised primarily of a base plate, a shape plate, and a template. The base plate is a continuous member upon which is mounted the shape plate. The shape plate defines at least one opening with a selected configuration. The template is configured to be closely received within the opening defined by the shape plate. A piece of fabric is placed within the opening after which the template is inserted therein. The edges of the fabric are then flattened over the template such as by ironing. The product is a uniformly shaped applique. However, once the template is removed, there is no definite shape that the applique must retain. For example, for some materials, ironing will not cause the fabric to retain its shape.
The device disclosed by Eugster ('998) is a duplex filter cloth for chamber type filters. The '998 device is fabricated from two pieces of fabric each having an opening formed in a central region thereof, and a collar defined about the central opening. The collars of each piece of fabric are oriented toward one another and are sewn together. However, the '998 device does not teach the manufacture of a puffed element for use with quilting.
Although there are several devices which are used to manufacture various sewn products, embroidered goods, and some specifically for use in quilting, the above-referenced devices fail to teach the manufacture of a puffed article for us in making a quit,. Further, the prior art of record does not teach a means for making a sewn product having a selected depth and outline.
Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a means for manufacturing a puffed article for use in association with the manufacture of a quilted article.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a device whereby the puffed article defines a selected outline and a selected depth.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a device whereby the puffed article is manufactured as a unit and sewn into the quilted article.

Puff quilt square maker and method for using


The present invention is a method and apparatus for protecting a power supply from electrical faults. The present invention operates substantially independently of the current drawn by the load. In addition, the present invention includes a time delay circuitry for preventing false detection of ground faults when the power source is connecting to the load. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus of the present invention includes a control circuitry for connecting the power supply to the load. The apparatus also preferably includes a sensor circuitry for detecting electrical faults, including ground, transient, and arc faults, and triggering the control circuitry to disconnect the power source from the electrical faults when electrical faults are detected. Thus, the present invention can protect wiring and load connections from improper operation and fire hazards that may be caused by electrical faults. Finally, the apparatus preferably includes a fault protection condition indicator to indicate whether the circuit breaker circuitry is working properly.

Many devices known in the art are useful for protecting power sources from electrical faults. There are at least three types of electrical faults: a ground fault, a transient fault, and an arc fault. A ground fault occurs when a grounded conductor comes into contact with electrical circuitry, causing an excessive current flow in that circuitry. A transient fault occurs when a grounded conductor briefly comes into contact with an electrical circuitry, causing a temporary excessive current flow in that circuitry. As a result of the excessive current drawn by ground and transient faults, power supplies can become overloaded, and the load that a power supply is meant to power ends up receiving little or no current. An arc fault occurs when an arc is struck between two conductors that are not in physical contact but are close to each other. An arc can produce high temperatures in its vicinity, which can create a fire hazard.
Existing devices for protecting power sources from electrical faults use thermal sensors, magnetic sensors, and/or current sensors to detect electrical faults. For these devices, it is necessary to select and calibrate their sensors to accommodate the current drawn by the load for proper operation, making the existing fault protection devices load dependent. The process of selecting and calibrating particular sensors to the current drawn by the load is time consuming and expensive. Furthermore, these sensors must be recalibrated when the current drawn by the load changes significantly or if a different load is used.
Accordingly, there exists a need for an electrical fault detection and protection device that operates independently of the load so that no calibration of the sensor is needed and is cost-effective to construct.

Method and apparatus for detecting electrical faults and isolating power source from the electrical faults


A closet drawer system which includes a back support member having an opening utilized to secure the back support member to a surface, and cavities disposed on opposite ends thereof; and first and second side support members having a projection disposed on a first end, which are operable with the cavities of the back support member so as to secure the first and second side support members to the back support member. Each of the side support members includes a second end formed so as to be operable as a latch receiving section. The closet drawer system further includes a first and second latch member, each of which is operable with one of the latch receiving sections so as to secure the second end of the side support members to a support structure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a closet drawer system for forming slidable storage units, and more specifically, to a closet drawer system that exhibits a simplified mounting mechanism and which is compatible with standard closet organizers.
2. Description of Related Art
Numerous devices have been developed for forming modular slidable drawers suitable for mounting to a wall and a closet pole organizer. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,605,238 ("the '238 patent") discloses a known modular shelving system. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the '238 patent, the system comprises vertical support members 20 which function to support shelve brackets 24. The rear end of the shelve bracket 24 is typically secured to a wall, while the front end of the bracket 24 is secured to a block assembly 23. As shown, the front end of the bracket 24 is secured to the support member 20 via multiple hardware components, including the block assemblies 23, washers 33 and numerous screws, which are necessary to secure the block assemblies to the vertical support members 20, and to secure the shelve brackets 24 to the block assemblies 23.
While such known systems provide the flexibility of modular units, they suffer from significant drawbacks. Foremost, such systems are not easy to assemble. Indeed, in order to assemble a single drawer, a significant amount of hardware must be handled and assembled. Further, for the same reason, such systems are not readily reconfigurable. For example, in order to relocate a drawer, a significant amount of hardware must be disassembled and then reassembled. Finally, as all of the components are typically pre-drilled at the factory, often times alignment problems arise when the consumer attempts to assemble the unit. Such alignment problems can prevent the consumer from assembling the system, if the consumer does not have the capability of redrilling the necessary holes.
Accordingly, there remains a need for a closet drawer system which eliminates the foregoing problems of known modular drawer systems, and which is compatible with existing standard closet organizers, such as that shown in the '238 patent.


A computer enclosure has a front bezel with two doors and a two-way lock mechanism controlling the locking of the doors. The swinging ends of the doors meet at a central portion of the bezel where the lock mechanism is located. The lock mechanism includes a guide plate located at the rear of the bezel having two guide channels that receive the bolts of the lock mechanism. A lock extends through the guide plate, and its rotatable barrel attaches to a cam plate at the rear of the bezel. The cam plate has two slots, each engaging one of the bolts. The bolts slide between withdrawn and extended positions in response to urging forces from the edges of the slots as the cam plate rotates in response to the turning of the lock, thus locking and unlocking the doors.

Despite the proliferation of desktop and other small computers, many computer systems continue to be housed in upright cabinets of varying sizes. The front of the computer cabinets often have one or more doors. When open, the doors provide access to internal functional equipment, such as disk drives, and when closed provide protection for the equipment, as well as an appealing outer appearance for the cabinet. The door or doors may also provide a measure of security if they are lockable.
In cabinets having two doors, the cabinet is often configured so that the swinging ends of the doors are adjacent to each other at the interior of the front of the cabinet. In such a case, a single lock may be used to control the locking of both doors. This type of lock is referred to as a "two-way" lock. A two-way lock typically has more than the two lock positions (open/locked) found on a one-way lock. For example, if each door is to be independently lockable, the lock must have 4 positions, corresponding to the 4 possible sets of lock conditions of the two doors. And like all locks, two-way locks are preferably strong and smooth-acting, while achieving the functional requirements placed on them.


Articles of frozen confectionery which provide a spiral pattern are obtained by extruding frozen confectionery material through a plurality of nozzle member tubes which are aligned successively and which each have a shape to provide a product which has a shape which includes an arc portion and a tangent portion, the arc portion extending from the tangent portion so that the arc portion is defined thereby as two semi-circular portions of differing diameter connected by the tangent portion. Each successive tube of the plurality of aligned tubes has an interior cross-section hollow larger than the cross-section hollow of the preceding tube, and each preceding tube is fitted into the succeeding tube to deliver extrudate within the suceeding tube and additional frozen confectionery material is introduced into each successive tube to add layers to the product.

The invention concerns a process and a device for manufacturing extruded frozen confectionery with contrasting colourings and flavours defining a spiral, intended to fill family portions or "bulk" portions or pots or moreover for the manufacture of frozen lollies.
A device is known, for example from European Patent Application Publication No. 0 293 022, for filling portions of frozen confectionery containing a sauce or a syrup with which a contrasting design is produced in a double spiral or double concentric circles by means of a hollow rotating shaft placed axially in a tube and comprising lateral openings, while the tube comprises a central deflector element in the vicinity of the outlet delivery tube. The hollow shaft produces a pattern consisting of concentric circles of syrup which the deflector divides into two sub-patterns.
According to U.S. Pat. No. 3227103, for example, two pastry doughs are extruded, each through delivery tubes defining a spiral inscribed in a circular contour, so as to manufacture cakes of the "Swiss rolls" type. Such a device does not allow two frozen compositions to be co-extruded in the form of a spiral inscribed in a circle with correct definition of the contour of the spiral pattern, since it creates preferential flows which distort this pattern by reason of the high friction in the delivery tube in the form of a spiral and at the center of the pattern in relation to the periphery.

Process and apparatus for manufacture of a co-extruded iced confection


A hydraulic circuit for heavy equipment is disclosed, which utilizes a hydraulic fluid supplied from a hydraulic pump for driving a cooling fan, as a pilot signal pressure, without installing a separate constant displacement pilot pump for supplying the pilot signal pressure to a control valve for controlling the hydraulic fluid to be supplied to a working device such as a boom. The hydraulic circuit includes first to third hydraulic pumps connected to an engine; a first control valve installed in a flow path of the first hydraulic pump; a second control valve installed in a flow path of the second hydraulic pump; a hydraulic motor connected to the third hydraulic pump; a cooling fan, connected to the hydraulic motor, for discharging cooling wind to an oil cooler; a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic tank; an electric relief valve, installed in a drain flow path of the third hydraulic pump, for variably controlling a rotation velocity of the cooling fan; a controller for controlling the hydraulic pressure that drives the hydraulic motor; and a pilot pressure generator, installed in a pilot flow path branched and connected to a flow path of the third hydraulic pump, for supplying a pilot signal pressure to the first and second control valves when shifting.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hydraulic circuit for heavy equipment which can utilize a part of flow rate of a hydraulic pump that drives a hydraulic pump for a cooling fan, as a hydraulic power source of remote control valve lever, and more particularly, to a hydraulic circuit for heavy equipment which can utilize a hydraulic fluid supplied from a hydraulic pump that drives a cooling fan, as a pilot signal pressure, without installing a constant displacement pilot pump for supplying the pilot signal pressure to a control valve that controls the hydraulic fluid to be supplied to a working device such as a boom.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIG. 1 shows a conventional hydraulic circuit for heavy equipment comprising first and second variable displacement hydraulic pumps 2 and 3 and third and fourth constant displacement hydraulic pumps 4 and 15 which are connected to an engine 1; a first control valve 5 installed in a flow path of the first variable displacement hydraulic pump 2 and controlling the hydraulic fluid to be supplied to an actuator that drives a working device, such as a boom, a bucket, a traveling device, or the like, by using a pilot signal pressure supplied from the fourth hydraulic pump 15; a second control valve 5a installed in a flow path of the second variable displacement hydraulic pump 3 and controlling a hydraulic fluid to be supplied to an actuator that drives a working drive, such as a swivel device, an arm, a traveling device, or the like, by using a pilot signal pressure supplied from the fourth hydraulic pump 15; a hydraulic motor 9 connected to the third constant displacement hydraulic pump 4; a cooling fan 10, connected to and rotated by the hydraulic motor 9, for discharging cooling wind towards an oil cooler 11 to lower a temperature of the hydraulic fluid drained to a hydraulic tank T through a return flow path 16; a temperature sensor 13 for detecting the temperature of the hydraulic fluid of the hydraulic tank T; an electric relief valve 12, installed in a drain flow path 17 of the third hydraulic pump 4, for controlling the hydraulic pressure that drives the hydraulic motor 9, to variably control rotation velocity of the cooling fan 10; and a controller 14 for varying a set pressure of the electric relief valve 12 in response to a detected signal from the temperature sensor 13 to control the hydraulic pressure that drives the hydraulic motor 9.
In case where the first and second control valves 5 and 5a are switched by the pilot signal pressure supplied from the fourth hydraulic pump 15 in accordance with the switching of a pilot pressure generator 6, the inner spools of the first and second control valves 5 and 5a controlling the hydraulic fluid supplied to the actuator from the first and second hydraulic pumps 2 and 3 will not be shown and described herein.
The pilot pressure generator 6 is connected to the fourth constant displacement hydraulic pump 15, and generates the pilot signal pressure to a driver at the switching. Reference numeral 6 denotes a relief valve installed in the flow path 18 of the fourth hydraulic pump 15 and draining the hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic tank T when a load exceeding the pressure set in the fourth hydraulic pump 15 generates.
As the inner spools of the first and second control valves 5 and 5a are shifted in accordance with the switching of the respective pilot pressure generator, the working device such as a boom is driven by the hydraulic fluid supplied to the actuator from the first hydraulic pump 2, and the swivel device is driven by the hydraulic fluid supplied to the actuator (e.g. a swing motor) from the second hydraulic pump 3.
The hydraulic motor 9 is driven by the hydraulic fluid supplied from the third hydraulic pump 4 along the drain path 17, and as the cooling fan 10 is driven by the hydraulic motor 9, the temperature of the hydraulic fluid passing through the oil cooler 11 installed in a return path 16 and returned to the hydraulic tank T.
The intensity of cooling blast discharged from the cooling fan 10 to the oil cooler 11 is in proportion to the rotation velocity of the cooling fan 10, and as the rotation velocity of the cooling fan 10 is increased, the load pressure of the hydraulic motor 9 is proportionally increased.
In this instance, the load pressure of the hydraulic motor 9 is controlled by the electric relief valve 12. More specifically, if the load pressure of the hydraulic fluid supplied to the hydraulic motor 9 from the third hydraulic pump 4 exceeds the set pressure of the electric relief valve 12, the hydraulic fluid supplied from the third hydraulic pump 4 passes through the electric relief valve 12 and is drained to the hydraulic tank T. Consequently, the rotation velocity of the cooling fan 10 is controlled by the set pressure of the electric relief valve 12.
The temperature of the hydraulic fluid is raised when the working device such as a boom is driven. When the hydraulic fluid returned to the hydraulic tank T from the actuator passes through the oil cooler 11 installed in the return path, the temperature of the hydraulic fluid is lowered by the cool blast discharged from the cooling fan 10.
More specifically, as the detected signal corresponding to the temperature of the hydraulic fluid of the hydraulic tank T which is detected by the temperature sensor 13 is put in the controller 14, the controller 14 varies the set pressure by transmitting the control signal to the electric relief valve 12 so as to maintain the temperature of the hydraulic fluid in a set value.
For example, if the temperature of the hydraulic fluid stored in the hydraulic tank T exceeds the set temperature, the controller increases the set pressure of the electric relief valve 12 to increase the operation pressure which drives the hydraulic motor 9, thereby increasing the rotation velocity of the cooling fan 10 and thus improving the cooling capacity of the oil cooler 11.
With the conventional hydraulic circuit for the heavy equipment shown in FIG. 1, the fourth constant displacement hydraulic pump 15 discharges a constant amount of the hydraulic fluid in accordance with the rotation of the engine 1. The hydraulic fluid discharged from the fourth hydraulic pump 15 is momentarily used as the pilot signal pressure to switch the switch valves 5 and 5a when the pilot pressure generator 6 is switched.
When the load exceeding the set pressure is generated in the pilot flow path 18, the hydraulic fluid discharged from the fourth hydraulic pump 15 is drained to the hydraulic tank T through the relief valve 8, which leads to the power loss.
That is, power loss=(set pressure of relief valve 8)×(amount of hydraulic fluid to be drained to hydraulic tank T).
Since the pilot pump 15 is connected to the engine 1, the construction of the hydraulic circuit becomes complex, and a cost thereof is thus increased.
FIG. 2 shows another conventional hydraulic circuit for the heavy equipment.
The hydraulic circuit includes a hydraulic pump 50, an actuator 51 connected to the hydraulic pump 50, a solenoid valve 52 installed in a flow path 59 between the hydraulic pump 50 and the actuator 51 and controlling start, stop and direction change of the actuator 51, a sequence valve 56 installed in the first flow path 55 connecting a main inlet port 53 with a primary pressure outlet port 54, and a pressure reducing valve 58 installed in a secondary flow path 57 branched from the primary flow path 55 to constantly maintain the pressure of the secondary pressure output port 60.
With the construction of the conventional hydraulic circuit shown in FIG. 2, since the sequence valve 56 is installed in the flow path 59 between the hydraulic pump 50 and the solenoid valve 52, unnecessary power loss is incurred between the hydraulic pump 50 and the solenoid valve 52.

Volvo Construction Equipment Holding Sweden AB


A system for remote control of an electrically operated railroad wayside equipment having a power supply for powering the wayside equipment. a central controller provides central control signals. A transmitter associated with the controller receives the control signals and transmits communications signals corresponding to the control signals. A remote equipment controller controls operation of the wayside equipment in response thereto.

Railroad systems include wayside equipment located along the track, such as switches, signals, and vehicle detectors. A wayside equipment may be defined as, for instance, a hot box detector, a hot wheel detector, a dragging equipment detector, a high water detector, a high/wide load detector, an automatic equipment identification system, a highway crossing system, an interlocking controller system, or any other equipment located adjacent the track and used to monitor the status of the track, environment and railway vehicles. Such equipment must necessarily be located throughout the railroad system, and is thus geographically dispersed and often located at places that are difficult to access. Systems are currently in use for communicating operational and status information relating to the condition of the train or the track to control centers. For example, position indicators are provided on switches and right-of-way signals and a signal responsive to the position of a switch is communicated to a control center for that section of track.
Such wayside equipment includes visual wayside signals to provide the driver with right-of-way information not necessarily obtainable by looking down the track. Such equipment is important. Due to the limited field of view from a locomotive and the great inertia of a moving train, it is not always possible to rely on a train operator to stop a train within the range of the driver's vision.
Such wayside signals are subject to normal equipment reliability concerns. The proper operation of such equipment is important to the safe and reliable operation of the railroad. In order to reduce the probability of equipment failures, routine maintenance and inspections are performed on wayside equipment. An inspector will visit the site periodically to inspect the equipment and to confirm its proper operation. Unexpected failures may occur in spite of such efforts, and such failures may remain undetected for a period of time.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,785,283 describes a system and method for communicating operational status of train and track detecting wayside equipment to a locomotive cab. This system is directed to the reduction of radio congestion in the VHF radio system used to communicate between the wayside equipment and the locomotive. This system is described as being used for monitoring or reporting the status of grade crossing warning systems.
FIG. 1 is diagram of a prior art wayside system in which four (4) power lines supply power to signal 1 remote from the controller and four additional power lines supply power to signal 2 remote from the controller. In some installations, the distance between the controller and each signal and the distance between signal 1 and signal 2 may be significant, but limited to several thousand feet. Thus, the reliability of the signals is dependent upon the reliability of the power lines connecting the controller and the signals. In addition, the maximum distance between a controller and signal equipment is limited to the power carrying capability of the power line.
There is a need for upgraded wayside equipment to be more reliable and more easily monitored. There is also a need for upgraded wayside equipment that can be retrofitted to an existing wayside system. Further, there is also a need for an expandable, modular wayside system which can accommodate many controllers, many wayside devices and many control signals without geographic constraints. In addition, such wayside equipment and systems should have failure mode designs which default to safer or more restrictive status in the event of a malfunction or fault.

Remote system for monitoring and controlling railroad wayside equipment


The present invention is directed to a method for reducing mast cell mediated allergic reactions, including mast cell mediated allergy and asthma. Mast cell mediated allergic reactions, including type I hypersensitivity reasponse to allergens and asthma, are reduced by administering a dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) derivative to a patient in a manner which quickly raises blood levels of the active agent.

The present invention is related to a method for reducing the effects of mast cell mediated allergic reactions, including mast cell mediated allergy and asthma. In accordance with the present invention, these allergic reactions are reduced by administering a dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) derivative.
The publications and other materials used herein to illuminate the background of the invention, and in particular cases, to provide additional details respecting the practice, are incorporated by reference, and for convenience are numerically referenced in the following text and respectively grouped in the appended bibliography.
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a weak androgen, serves as the primary precursor in the biosynthesis of both androgens and estrogens (1). DHEA has been reported to play a mitigating role in obesity, diabetes, carcinogenesis, autoimmunity, neurological loss of memory (2-5), and the negative effects of GCS on IL-2 production by murine T cells (6).
Recent insight into the mechanism of action of DHEA has come from studies of ischemia-induced reperfusion injury. The clinical term used to describe the pathological process of wound extension is progressive dermal ischemia and it appears to represent the consequences of a host-initiated, time-dependent reperfusion injury. DHEA, DHEAS, DHEA congeners and DHEA derivatives have been found to either reduce or protect thermally injured mice against reperfusion damage of the microvasculature. Additionally, intervention therapy with the active agent could be withheld for up to 4 hours after burn with substantial therapeutic benefit. It has been observed that the immediate response to a burn injury is in many ways similar to an experiment reperfusion injury in other tissues. Studies suggest that DHEA, either directly or indirectly, through its action on endothelium prevents damage to the microvasculature in reperfusion injury.
In another study the effect of DHEA on ischemia/reperfusion injury of the isolated rat cremaster muscle was evaluated. The experimental approach employed intravital microscopy to establish whether DHEA pre-treatment of rats prior to ischemia/reperfusion of the isolated muscle would protect against damage to the capillaries and venules of microcirculation. These studies indicated that in control animals, 6 hours of ischemia followed by re-flow analysis at 90 minutes and 24 hours lead to insufficient perfusion of the muscle. In DHEA pre-treated rats, 6 hours of ischemia followed by re-flow analysis at 90 minutes, 24 hours and even 4 days showed normal perfusion values in the isolated muscle. In addition, it was clear that the DHEA pre-treatment prevented sticking of neutrophils to endothelium. Additional studies in a global ischemic model demonstrated the protective effect of DHEA given intravenously after resuscitation of clinically dead rats.
Bacterial translocation is the process by which indigenous gut flora penetrate the intestinal barrier and invade sterile tissue. Included in this process is the migration of microbial organisms to the draining mesenteric lymph nodes, spleen, liver, blood and in some instances, the lung (7, 8). This phenomenon has been documented in humans following thermal injury (9-11) and ischemia-reperfusion injury (12). DHEA, DHEAS, DHEA congeners and DHEA derivatives have been found to either reduce or prevent bacterial translocation.
The evidence implicating the role of neutrophils in adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is substantial but indirect (13). Some of the first suggestions that neutrophils may cause an ARDS-like picture were found in severely neutropenic patients who were infused intravenously with donor neutrophils. Occasionally, within hours of neutrophil infusion, there was an abrupt "white-out" of the lungs (by x-ray) and onset of ARDS symptoms. Numerous studies have shown that neutrophils accumulate in the lung during ARDS. For example, their presence has been demonstrated histologically. During the early phases of ARDS, the number of circulating whole blood cells transiently decreases, probably due to their abnormal pulmonary sequestration. Some neutrophils that accumulate within lung capillaries leave the vascular space and migrate into the interstitium and alveolar airspaces. In normal healthy volunteers, neutrophils account for less than 3% of the cells that can be obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). In patients with ARDS, the percentage of neutrophils in the lavage is markedly increased to 76-85%. The accumulation of neutrophils is associated with evidence of their activation. They demonstrate enhanced chemotaxis and generate abnormally high levels of oxygen metabolites following in vitro stimulation. Elevated concentrations of neutrophil secretory products, such as lactoferrin, have been detected in the plasma of patients with ARDS. Further evidence that neutrophils actively participate in lung injury was obtained from a clinical study of patients with mild lung injury who were neutropenic for an unrelated reason (e.g., receiving chemotherapy). It was noted that lung impairment frequently worsened if a patients hematological condition improved and circulating neutrophil counts recovered to normal levels.
As further proof that stimulated neutrophils can independently injure lung tissue, in vitro experiments have been performed using vascular endothelial and lung epithelial cells as targets. In some reports, neutrophils have been shown to detach endothelial cells or alveolar epithelial cells from the surface of the tissue culture dish. Obviously, if such an event were to occur in vivo, the denuded surfaces would permit substantial leakage of plasma contents. Furthermore, many reports have provided clear evidence that stimulated neutrophils are able to facilitate lysis of cultured vascular endothelial cells and alveolar epithelial cells. DHEA, DHEAS, DHEA congeners and DHEA derivatives have been found to either reduce or prevent ARDS.
In the United States, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) represents the fifth most common cause of death (14). COPD also constitutes one of the most important causes of work incapacity and restricted activity (15). COPD, along with many other pulmonary diseases, causes pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular hypertrophy or cor pulmonale. Over 12 million patients in the United States alone have chronic bronchitis or emphysema, and approximately 3 million are chronically hypoxic with PaO.sub.2 <60 mmHg. These patients develop hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction, and eventually, right ventricular hypertrophy (16). Once right ventricular hypertrophy develops, the three-year mortality rate of those patients is 60% (17, 18). Irrespective of the current management, morbidity and mortality of patients with COPD and pulmonary hypertension remain high.
One model to study pulmonary hypertension is the pulmonary vasoconstriction induced by alveolar hypoxia. Experiments in isolated animal (19) and human (20) pulmonary arteries suggest that hypoxia-induced pulmonary vasoconstriction is mediated by a direct effect of hypoxia on pulmonary vascular smooth muscle cell. It has been reported (21) that hypoxia can depolarize the pulmonary vascular smooth muscle membrane by inducing an increase in tissue Na.sup.+ and a decrease in K.sup.+. More recently, it has been reported that hypoxia can alter the membrane potential in rat main pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell and can stimulate Ca.sup.2+ influx through voltage-gated channels (22). There is strong evidence that Ca.sup.2+ entry blockade can attenuate hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction in isolated rat lung (23) and in patients with chronic obstructive lung disease (24). Conceivably, hypoxia may effect other membrane transport mechanisms that are involved in Ca.sup.2+ influx and/or efflux. For example, Voelkel et al. (25) speculated that hypoxia may impair Ca.sup.2+ extrusion. Farrukh et al. (26) has demonstrated that cAMP and cGMP reverse hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction by stimulating Ca.sup.2+ ATP-ase-dependent Ca.sup.2+ extrusion and/or redistribution. DHEA, DHEAS, DHEA congeners and DHEA derivatives have been found to either reduce or prevent pulmonary hypertension.
The above findings, as well as the finding that DHEA, DHEAS, DHEA congeners and DHEA derivatives reduce the expression of p-selectin by endothelial cells, are shown in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,489,581; 5,532,230; 5,583,126; 5,587,369; and 5,635,496 and the published application of PCT/US95/10990, all incorporated by reference herein.
Allergic diseases are mediated, at least in part, by IgE antibody; IgE antibody production is a central feature of allergic diseases. These include food allergy, stinging insect allergy, latex allergy, and anaphylaxis, allergic rhinitis, and asthma. It will also deal briefly with diseases such as atopic dermatitis, whose pathogenesis is obscure but is likely to be related to other allergic diseases. The chapter focuses on human systems but includes some results with rodent models.
Allergic diseases affect 20% to 30% of the population of the United States (27). It may suggest some selective advantages to being a patient with these diseases. The majority of patients with allergic diseases are atopic. Atopic individuals produce IgE antibody to airborne allergens such as proteins in ragweed and/or grass pollens and/or dust mites, and they express allergic rhinitis and/or asthma and/or atopic dermatitis. Food allergy is often the first manifestation of allergic diseases in young atopic children. Moreover, there is a strong genetic component to the atopic state.
The expression of allergic disease requires a number of sequential events, including exposure to allergens, induction of IgE antibody production, binding of IgE to he surface receptors of mast cells and basophils, re-exposure to allergen, binding of allergen to cell-associated IgE, signal transduction in mast cells and basophils, mediator secretion, and mediator effects on end-organs such as blood vessels and bronchial smooth muscle.
As defined by Coombs and Gell (28), hypersensitivity reactions can be subdivided into four types, called 1,11, 111, and IV, which represent four distinct immune mechanisms that result in tissue injury. A subdivision of type IV reactions into IV A and IV B is also described below. This classification is outlined schematically in Table 1. These same four processes represent mechanisms of immune protection from infectious agents, as described below.
Type I reactions are "immediate hypersensitivity," or classical allergic reactions. These reactions occur within 15 mins following interaction of soluble antigen with mast cell-bound IgE antibody. The pathology is related to mast cell degranulation, and the reaction is driven by mast cell mediators such as histamine and leukotriene C4 (LTC4). An example of an in vivo counterpart is an urticarial reaction following injection of penicillin in a penicillin-allergic patient. The importance of type I reactions in protection from infectious organisms is uncertain, although the increased vascular permeability mediated by these reactions probably facilitates the capacity of antibody and inflammatory cells to arrive at the infected site (29).
Substances that induce symptoms of immediate hypersensitivity by inducing IgE antibody responses are termed allergens. Most atopic individuals produce IgE antibody to a long list of aeroallergens, that is, allergens found in the air. These allergens induce sensitization via exposure to the afferent immune system in the nasal or respiratory tract. A variety of allergens, derived from outdoor and indoor airborne sources, foods, and insect venoms, have been cloned and sequenced. The T-cell response pattern to allergens appears to be quite similar to that of conventional antigens, in that antigenic fragments are presented via MHC class II molecules on antigen-presenting cells to the T-cell receptor (30). Immunodominant peptides have been identified on several allergens; these have generally been DR-restricted, but recent studies have identified DP-restricted responses (31). The dose of exposure, the route of exposure (e.g., what type of particulate), and the genetic background of the host all interact to determine the magnitude of the IgE response to allergens. The levels of exposure to airborne allergens are quite low, suggesting that immune response genes may be identified that determine responsiveness to specific allergen epitopes (32). Moreover, the reasons why atopic patients produce IgE and make other immune responses to airborne allergens, while nonatopic patients do not, are not explained.
IgE antibodies are preferentially formed in response to parasitic antigens or allergens. Although low in concentration, IgE antibodies bind with high affinity to specific receptors (Fc.epsilon.RI) on mast cells and basophils. Antigen cross-linking of IgE molecules and the receptors to which they attach initiates the release or production of a variety of cellular mediators. The mediators begin a series of physiologic events that lead to allergic diseases, such as allergic rhinitis, asthma and urticaria, but they may also help to confer specific protective immunity against parasites.
Antigen-mediated crosslinking of Fc.epsilon.RI results in secretion of mediators from mast cells. Both the morphology of the mast cells and the mediator levels in tissue fluids confirm that mast cell degranulation occurs in vivo during allergic reactions (33, 34). The mediators secreted by mast cells and basophils account for the symptoms of allergic reactions (35). These include the following preformed mediators, which are associated with granules: histamine (bound to sulfated proteoglycans, either heparin or chondroitin sulfate), the proteoglycans themselves, and several proteases, including the neutral proteases, carboxypeptidase(s), tryptase, and (in some mast cells) chymase. The cytokine TNF-.alpha. is released in part from a stored form in mast cells (36), but this cytokine is not stored in macrophages or T cells. In addition, there are newly synthesized molecules, including LTC4, PGD2, and PAF, and cytokines.
Asthma is a chronic disease of the large and small airways of the lung (37-39) which affects 5% to 10% of the population. The disease is more common in children, but may persist for years and may develop only in adult life. Asthma is characterized by several clinical and pathological features. The most prominent feature is bronchospasm, or narrowing of the airways; the bronchospasm is often reversible over time or with treatment. Asthmatic patients have prominent contraction of the smooth muscle of large and small airways, an increased mucus production, and an inflammatory infiltrate consisting of eosinophils, as well as basophils and T lymphocytes; epithelial cell shedding occurs (40, 41). Airway narrowing is due not only to bronchial smooth muscle contraction, but also to mucus production and inflammation. Important laboratory findings include evidence of airway narrowing, increased numbers of circulating eosinophils, and moderate increases in total serum IgE (compared to nonasthmatic patients of the same age). A substantial number of patients are atopic and a substantial number express IgE antibody against specific allergens such as dust mite (42). One additional finding is airway hyperreactivity. That is, while stimuli that induce smooth muscle contraction, such as histamine and methacholine (an acetylcholine-like agent), may induce bronchospasm in all individuals, much lower concentrations of these bronchospastic agents are required in order to induce bronchoconstriction in hyperreactive individuals.
The mechanisms that induce all the pathologic findings in asthma are not known. In many patients with asthma, allergen exposure may induce a fall-blown, severe episode of airway inflammation. In such patients, the mechanisms are presumed to be the same as those that induce a pulmonary LPR after inhalation of allergen: that is, allergen crosslinks mast cell-associated IgE antibody, which in turn leads to the release of mast cell mediators.
Mast cell mediators such as histamine and LTC4 are important inducers of bronchospasm and mucus production. Cytokines, perhaps derived from mast cells or T cells (which may interact with antigen processed by an antigen-presenting cell), induce inflammation. Eosinophil-derived mediators, such as major basic protein, peroxidase, and cationic protein, appear to be important in inducing epithelial injury (40, 43). There also appear to be antigen-independent mechanisms of inducing asthma, including viral infection and exercise. It is possible that these other mechanisms are also initiated by a common pathway of mast cell activation (although many investigators believe that mast cells are not of central importance). It is likely that eosinophils are an important mediator of asthma; in patients, levels of circulating eosinophils increase when asthma worsens. Moreover, glucocorticoids are effective in treating moderate and severe asthma and in reducing levels of circulating and tissue eosinophils.
Several abnormalities may be present in patients with asthma. They not only tend to be atopic, and thus have increased tendency to produce IgE antibodies to allergens, but their basophils tend to secrete mediators more readily in response to certain stimuli (44). Furthermore, many patients with asthma have been reported to have several abnormalities of autocrine or neuropeptide receptors. Some years ago, it was noted that asthmatic patients had a generalized decrease in .beta.-adrenergic receptor (which mediates smooth muscle relaxation) responsiveness and increased cholinergic and .beta.-adrenergic (which mediates smooth muscle contraction) responsiveness; indeed, some of these patients have circulating antibodies to .beta.-adrenergic receptors. However, these findings are not specific for asthma (45). More recently, asthmatic patients have been reported to have a decrease in receptors for vasoactive intestinal peptide (a ligand that relaxes smooth muscle) and perhaps an increase in receptors for substance P (a ligand that contracts smooth muscle) (46, 47).
Several non-IgE pathways result in asthma. Viral infections are associated with concomitant worsening of pulmonary function (38). Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents, such as aspirin, may exacerbate asthma; about 5% of asthmatic patients are sensitive to these agents (48). It has been hypothesized that these agents act by altering the metabolism of arachidonic acid, since these agents block prostaglandin synthetase. However, the precise mechanism is unknown. Another cause of asthma is exercise, apparently because of a fall in temperature and humidity of the airway. The mechanisms are not clear. One interesting hypothesis, that exercise-induced asthma results from inducing local hyperosmolarity, which is in turn a trigger for mast cell activation, has not been confirmed. Among all these non-IgE pathways, whether mast cell mediator release has a role is arguable.
One of the most interesting areas of recent investigation concerns the role of allergens. Case-control studies of emergency room admissions with asthma have established that IgE antibodies to certain allergens, namely, "indoor allergens" from dust mite, cat, and cockroach, are important risk factors (37, 49). Other studies have shown that, in allergic patients, inhalational challenge with these allergens induces an inflammatory LPR and bronchial hyperreactivity. Dust mite-sensitive patients with asthma, when moved into an environment free of dust mites, may exhibit a dramatic improvement in symptoms (50). These latter findings are provocative, although they need to be repeated in a controlled study. Unexpectedly, improvement of some patients required months; there is no obvious explanation for this. As previously noted, other studies with dust mites suggest that high dust mite exposure in the first two years of life is predictive of the presence of asthma at age 10. Consequently, environmental control of these allergens is being tested for its effectiveness in treating asthma. In addition, immunotherapy (see below) is effective in treating some patients with allergen-induced asthma.
Environmental factors other than allergens may be important in asthma. Certain chemicals, such as ozone and nitric oxide, are reported to worsen asthma (51, 52). Also, passive cigarette smoke exposure worsens asthma (53).
Within the last 10 years, the incidence of asthma, its severity, and deaths from asthma have increased. The increase in asthma morbidity and mortality is most striking in children, and in the United States the morbidity and mortality are highest in African-American children in the inner city (54). These epidemiologic trends have not yet been adequately explained. One interesting idea is that, in attempts to improve the energy efficiency of homes, these homes have become "tighter" and less leaky and have allowed the concentrations of allergens and other adverse environmental factors to increase (55).
It is desired to identify compounds which are useful in the treatment of mast cell mediated allergic reactions, including type I hypersensitivity response to allergens and asthma.

Method for reducing mast cell mediated allergic reactions


There is provided an oligopeptide compound comprising: (a) at least one nitrogen-containing basic group attached to at least one end of the oligopeptide; and (b) two or more heterocyclic monomers, at least one of which is substituted in the heterocyclic part by a branched, cyclic or part cyclic C3-5 alkyl group, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof; which compound, salt or solvate binds to the minor groove of DNA.

Because of its fundamental role in molecular biological processes, DNA represents an important target for drug action. Compounds that can recognize defined sequences of DNA have a wide variety of potential uses, such as the modulation of gene expression.
The outer surface of double-helical DNA has two channels, namely the major and minor grooves. Both of these grooves contain chemical information by way of arrangements of hydrogen-bond donors and acceptors, electrostatic charges, dipoles, hydrophobic regions and so on.
The major groove contains approximately twice the information content of the minor groove in terms of the number of potential hydrogen-bonding contacts. In view of this, the major groove is the preferred recognition site for cellular proteins such as control proteins, promoters and repressors.
In contrast, the minor groove is normally (with a few exceptions) relatively unoccupied. The vulnerability of the minor groove makes it a particularly useful target for compounds that bind to DNA. Indeed, perhaps for this very reason, the minor groove is the binding site for certain naturally occurring antibiotics (such as netropsin and distamycin).
Netropsin and distamycin are oligopeptides based on pyrrole amino acid monomers. These compounds both bind to DNA with dissociation constants in the order of 10−5 M. They also show a preference for AT-rich regions of DNA. Although they have intrinsic biological activity, netropsin and distamycin also have many limitations including toxicity, moderate affinity and limited selectivity. A number of workers have therefore prepared synthetic analogues of netropsin and distamycin, with a view to overcoming these disadvantages. Many of these compounds are reviewed by Sondhi et al. (Curr. Med. Chem. 4, 313 (1997)), Reddy et al. (Pharmacology & Therapeutics 84, 1 (1999)), Wemmer (Biopolymers 52, 197 (2001)) and Dervan (Bioorg. Med. Chem. 9, 2215 (2001)).
Compounds designed to bind to DNA regions containing GC base pairs are described in, for example: Anti-Cancer Drug Design 5, 3 (1990); Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89, 7586 (1992); Biochemistry 32, 4237 (1993); Science 266, 647 (1994); Anti-Cancer Drug Design 10, 155 (1995); Bioorg. Med. Chem. 8, 985 (2000); and Mol. Biol. 34, 357 (2000). Various other netropsin and distamycin analogues are described in: J. Am. Chem. Soc. 114(15), 5911 (1992); Biochemistry 31, 8349 (1992); Bioconjugate Chem. 5, 475 (1994); Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 222, 764 (1996); J. Med. Chem. 43, 3257 (2000); and Tetrahedron 56, 5225 (2000). Further, the use of certain netropsin and distamycin analogues as antimicrobial, antiviral and/or antitumor agents is described in Molecular Pharmacology 54, 280 (1998), Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 6(18), 2169 (1996), J. Med. Chem. 45, 805 (2002), Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 12, 2007 (2002), international patent applications WO 97/28123, WO 98/21202, WO 01/74898 and WO 02/00650, as well as in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,912,199, 5,273,991, 5,637,621, 5,698,674 and 5,753,629. Methods of synthesizing analogues of netropsin and distamycin are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,090,947.
Cellular uptake of distamycin analogues is described in Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 11, 769 (2001).
None of the above-mentioned documents describe oligopeptide analogues of netropsin or distamycin, which analogues comprise at least two heterocyclic monomers, at least one of which is substituted in the heterocyclic part by a branched, cyclic or part cyclic C3-5 alkyl group. Surprisingly, we have found that compounds of this type bind with a high affinity and specificity to the minor groove of DNA.


The present invention relates to bar clamps, and more specifically, to attachments for extending the length of such clamps and enabling such clamps to be adaptable to a wider array of clamping needs. The accessories include an extension bar, a coupling that attaches one end of the extension bar to the clamp primary bar locking the bars in longitudinal alignment, and a stop that attaches to the primary bar or extension for fixing the location of a clamp jaw along the bars.

Bar clamps are well known for use in holding a work piece in a predetermined position. The known bar clamps typically comprise relatively moveable jaws attached to a bar. U.S. Pat. No. 4,926,722 to Sorensen and Gatzemeyer is exemplary of a bar clamp structure of the prior art.
Typically, bar clamps are employed to hold a number of objects together for gluing or other purposes to retain the objects in a fixed position for a certain period of time. The user may be required to employ multiple clamps of varying lengths to accommodate different objects of different dimensions.
While a movable jaw provides a variety of clamping positions along the length of the clamping bar, the finite length of the clamping bar limits the range of clamping positions available for each clamp. In many instances it may be necessary for the user to utilize multiple clamps of varying lengths to accommodate various objects in association with accomplishing a variety of clamping tasks.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,530,565 to Simpson illustrates and describes a bar clamp wherein the bar clamp uses a threaded fastener to lock an extension bar in proper alignment.
The current bar clamps are limited in the arrangement of the clamp jaws. Typically, one of the jaws is fixed at one end of the bar clamp. Thus, the possibility of adjustments is predetermined.
There is a need for improvements in bar clamps which would provide a movable jaw component and a fixed jaw component in conjunction with a variety of bar lengths to enable the securement of the fixed jaw along the length of the bar to allow for a bar clamp to be adapted to a wider variety of clamping needs than possible with the current designs.


A machine for forming a negative cast of an end portion of an amputated limb has an outer rigid tubular body; an elastically deformable tubular membrane housed within the rigid tubular body and having its opposite annular end portions fluid-tightly connected to the rigid tubular body, to define a through-duct through which the limb passes and, with the rigid tubular body, a fluid-tight elongated annular chamber with variable volume surrounding the limb; a reference membrane for positioning of the limb within the duct being provided at the outlet of the duct.

In the field of the production of prostheses for amputated limbs, in particular lower limbs, to which the following discussion will explicitly refer without loss of generality, it is common practice to form a negative cast of the end portion or stump of the amputated limb, then, on the basis of said negative cast, produce a positive model, and form on the latter the attachment or socket portion of the respective prosthesis.
Currently, the negative cast is produced with the limb in a non weight-bearing condition, i.e. at rest. In order to obtain a model as close as possible to the end portion of the limb, the negative cast and/or the model subsequently produced undergo long, laborious and complex custom machining operations.
Once the attachment portion of the prosthesis has been formed based on the model, said attachment portion is customised by fitting it on the end portion of the patient's limb and performing a series of coupling tests in weight-bearing conditions. During these tests, the attachment portion is gradually modelled in order to eliminate localised stress on the limb and/or undesired deformation both of the muscular part and the soft tissues of the limb.
Although universally used, the procedure described not only requires great experience and sensitivity of the prosthetists, but also requires considerable time, entails a high level of patient involvement and essential cooperation of the patient.

Machine for forming a cast of an end portion of an amputated limb


The present invention has the object of providing a charged particle beam irradiation method ideal for reducing the focus offset, magnification fluctuation and measurement length error in charged particle beam devices. To achieve these objects, a method is disclosed in the invention for measuring the electrical potential distribution on the sample with a static electrometer while loaded by a loader mechanism. Another method is disclosed for measuring the local electrical charge at specified points on the sample, and isolating and measuring the wide area electrostatic charge quantity from those local electrostatic charges. Yet another method is disclosed for correcting the measurement length value or magnification based on fluctuations found by measuring the amount of electrostatic charge at the specified points under at least two charged particle optical conditions, and then using a charged particle beam to measure fluctuations in measurement dimensions occurring due to fluctuations in the electrostatic charge at the specified locations.

The greater scale of integration and miniaturization of semiconductor devices in recent years has resulted in many diverse patterns being formed on the wafer and makes it ever more important to evaluate and measure the dimensions and shapes of these patterns. How fast these measurement points can be detected is critical for quickly and automatically testing the numerous measurement points. During fast detection of measurement points, it is necessary to focus on the pattern after shifting to the measurement point and to also set the desired magnification (scale) for observing that point.
In charged particle optical systems, the conditions for focusing on the wafer are determined by the acceleration voltage of the charged particle supply, the voltage applied to the wafer, and the height of the wafer.
In the method disclosed for example in JP-A No. 126573/1999, a laser beam is irradiated onto the wafer, the height of the wafer is detected by using that reflected light, and the height information obtained in this way is fed back to an objective lens control system serving as one control device for the charged particle optical system, and the necessary excitation voltage is applied to the objective lens at the same time that movement to the observation point ends.

Sample electrification measurement method and charged particle beam apparatus


Systems, apparatus and methods are described including operations for securing display output data against malicious software attacks.

In a variety of situations, such as online financial transactions or the like, a computing device may need to present information to a user in a non-tampered manner. In such situations, malicious software (i.e., malware) such as kernel mode kernel mode rootkits and/or user-mode rootkits can inject code into a user application. The malicious code may attach key loggers or read memory, such as displayer buffers, and steal users credentials or other data.
In some existing implementations, a display buffer may be protected using encryption (e.g., protected audio video path (PAVP) encryption), hardware isolation, and/or a display protected via a virtual memory manager. However, such implementations may not be available on every platform and, in general, they may be costly and/or difficult to implement.
In various computing implementations, it may be desirable to protect user data and, in particular, sensitive user data (e.g., usernames and passwords, financial account information, or the like) against mal ware attacks.

Securing display output data against malicious software attacks


An apparatus and method provide logic for processing information. In one implementation, an apparatus includes a receiving unit configured to receive a selection of displayed content from a user. An obtaining unit is configured to obtain data corresponding to the selection. The data includes text data. An identification unit is configured to identify a keyword within the text data, and a storage unit is configured to store the keyword in a keyword database.

The disclosed exemplary embodiments relate to an information processing device, information processing method, and information processing program, which can be suitably applied town information display system constructed using an information display terminal which displays electronic books such as novels, magazines, and so forth, that are distributed as digital data.
Heretofore, with portable search devices, upon a word of a source language being input from a keyboard and a search start key being operated, for example, words in a target language which are a translation of the source language word, usages and the like using the target language words, and so forth, are read out of an electronic dictionary database and displayed.
With a portable search device, upon a desired phrase or usage or the like in the dictionary information being selected by a cursor key being operated or by way of a touch panel with an input pen, in a state with the dictionary information displayed, the selected portion is underlined.
In this way, a portable search device has been arranged to enable use of an electronic dictionary in the same way as a case of underlining a desired phrase or usage or the like in a paper dictionary with a pencil (e.g., see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication number 10-11457 (pp. 3, 5, 6).

Image processing device, information processing method, and information processing program


An adaptor for coupling pipes together that has a pair of spaced apart pipe members disposed parallel to each other, with each of pair of pipe members including an opening at a top and at a bottom for receiving an additional pipe, and a bridging member connecting the pair of pipe members and defining a passage between the pipe members. A kit including an adaptor and one or more additional pipe members also is provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a adaptor that is especially useful for coupling common plumbing components to create an overflow siphon apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
A variety of devices are known to exist for coupling pipes together ranging from standard fittings to adhesives. A fitting must provide good connectability, and, depending on the application, access to other pipe components and adequate pressure resistance. Thus, for example, a siphon or overflow box of the type commonly used for aquariums ideally would be made from pipes and fitting that are economical to make, easy to assemble, simple to disassemble for cleaning, and adequately well connected to resist any leaks resulting from the large volume of water constantly moving through these apparatus. However, most siphons or overflow boxes today are made from injection molded or assembled pieces of flat material that are relatively expensive to manufacture and are not easy to disassemble or clean.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,761,227 issued to Willinger et al. discloses a "overflow box-type" aquarium filter that includes an intake chamber for receiving contaminated aquarium water from the aquarium tank and a filter chamber in flow communication with the intake chamber. An impeller serves to draw water from the aquarium tank to the intake chamber through a removable intake U-tube. Upon stoppage of the impeller, the flow of water reverses and flows back into the aquarium tank. While this device may be suitable for its particular purpose, it is unnecessarily complicated and requires that the impeller stops before too much water is drawn into the filter chamber such that overflow occurs.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,728,293 by Guoli et al. discloses a filter assembly that has a generally U-shaped siphon tube that has telescopic legs and a flow regulator that provide for flow between the filter assembly and the aquarium tank. While the U-shaped siphon tube is removable from both the filter area and tank for cleaning, the flow regulator and removable legs make this siphon relatively complex to manufacture and increase the risk that a part of the siphon will be lost or broken from disassembly and handling.
Hence, it would be useful to have a pipe fitting that enables a user to conveniently assemble a siphon from common parts, thus providing an economical and easy to use and clean apparatus.


A fishing lure has retractable hooks. A spring has a coiled portion mounted around a pin in the lure body, two energizing leg extending from the coiled portion, and a foot extending laterally from each energizing leg. The feet engage a rearward side of the shank of each hook. A trigger has a rod on a forward end that extends from the body for attachment to a line. The trigger has a trigger body that engages a forward side of each of the shanks. The trigger and the lure body have mating detent surfaces to releasably retain the hooks in a cocked position. A forward pull on the rod releases the trigger to move forward, freeing the coiled portion of the spring to unwind, causing the energizing legs to rotate the hooks to the extended position.

Fishing by casting artificial lures is widespread pastime. The lures come in many shapes, colors and sizes. One or more barbed hooks will be attached to the lure body. Some lures are designed for returning on the surface of the water and others for being submerged.
Snagging the hook of a lure on weeds or other submerged objects has been a longstanding problem. Often, the fisherman is unable to free the lure simply by pulling on the line. In many cases the lure will be lost.
Lures with retractable hooks are known in the patented art. The hooks rotate from an exposed position to a cocked position with the barbs recessed within the body. Some type of bias means urges the hooks toward the exposed position, and a detent device retains the hooks in the cocked position. When the lure is grabbed by a fish, the detent frees the hooks to rotate to the exposed position. Although the various types appear to be workable, improvements are desired.


An automated luminaire which allows for the selection of a diffuser or a hot mirror which is mounted to engage the light beam at an angle non perpendicular to the central axis of the light beam and nonparallel or not in the same plane as the diffuser. The selector is articulated in a manner to automatically engage a selector based on what other light modulators are selected to engage the light beam and to automatically oscillate or scan when there is a likelihood of damage to the hot mirror or diffuser based on how long it is engaged and/or light intensity and/or other modulators selected and or temperature sensor data in the luminaire.

Luminaires with automated and remotely controllable functionality are well known in the entertainment and architectural lighting markets. Such products are commonly used in theatres, television studios, concerts, theme parks, night clubs and other venues. A typical product will commonly provide control over the pan and tilt functions of the luminaire allowing the operator to control the direction the luminaire is pointing and thus the position of the light beam on the stage or in the studio. Typically this position control is done via control of the luminaire's position in two orthogonal rotational axes usually referred to as pan and tilt. Many products provide control over other parameters such as the intensity, color, focus, beam size, beam shape and beam pattern. The beam pattern is often provided by a stencil or slide called a gobo which may be a steel, aluminum or etched glass pattern. The products manufactured by Robe Show Lighting such as the Robin MMX Spot are typical of the art.
The optical systems of such automated luminaires may be designed such that a very narrow output beam is produced so that the units may be used with long throws or for almost parallel light laser like effects. These optics are often called 'Beam' optics. To form this narrow beam with the large light sources in the prior art the output lens either needed to be very large with a large separation between the lens and the gobos or of a short focal length and much closer to the gobos. It is problematic to use a large separation with a large lens as such an arrangement makes the luminaire large and unwieldy and makes automation of the pan and tilt movement difficult. Thus the normal solution is a closer and smaller lens with a short focal length. Alternatively the thick heavy front lens may be replaced with a Fresnel lens where the same focal length is achieved with a much lighter molded glass lens using multiple circumferential facets. Fresnel lenses are well known in the art and can provide a good match to the focal length of an equivalent plano-convex lens, however the image projected by such a lens is typically soft edged and fuzzy and not a sharp image as may be desired when projecting gobos or patterns.
FIG. 1 illustrates a multiparameter automated luminaire system 10. These systems commonly include a plurality of multiparameter automated luminaires 12 which typically each contain on-board a light source (not shown), light modulation devices, electric motors coupled to mechanical drives systems and control electronics (not shown). In addition to being connected to mains power either directly or through a power distribution system (not shown), each luminaire is connected is series or in parallel to data link 14 to one or more control desks 15. The luminaire system 10 is typically controlled by an operator through the control desk 15. Control of the automated luminaire 12 is effectuated by electromechanical devices within the luminaire 12 and electronic circuitry 13 including firmware and software within the control desk 15 and/or the luminaire 12. In many of the figures herein, important parts like electromechanical components such as motors and electronic circuitry including software and firmware and some hardware are not shown in order to simplify the drawings so as to teach how to practice the inventions taught herein. Persons of skill in the art will recognize the need for these parts and should be able to readily fill in these parts.
FIG. 2 illustrates a prior art automated luminaire 12. A lamp 21 contains a light source 22 which emits light. The light is reflected and controlled by reflector 20 through a hot mirror 23, aperture or imaging gate 24, and optical devices 25, 27 which may include dichroic color filters, effects glass and other optical devices well known in the art. Optical components 27 are the imaging components and may include gobos, rotating gobos, iris and framing shutters. The final output beam may be transmitted through focusing lens 28 and output lens 29. Lens 29 may be a short focal length glass lens or equivalent Fresnel lens as described herein. Either optical components 27, lens 28, or lens 31 may be moved backwards and forwards along the optical axis to provide focus and/or beam angle adjustment for the imaging components. Hot mirror 23 is required to protect the optical systems 25 and 27 from high infra-red energy in the light beam and typically comprises a glass plate with a thin film dichroic coating designed to reflect long wavelength infra-red light radiation and only allow the shorter wavelength, visible, light to pass through and into the optical system.
More recently lamps 21 with extremely small light sources 22 have been developed. These often use a very short arc gap, of the order of 1 mm, between two electrodes as the light producing means. These lamps are ideal for producing a very narrow beam as their source etendue is low, and the size of the lenses and optical systems to collimate the light from such a small source can be substantially reduced. However, the short arc and small light source coupled with the short focal length, and thus large light beam angles, of the reflector also tend to produce a light beam with large amounts of energy concentrated in the central region, known as a hotspot. This intense central energy region is not ideal for producing a large even wash of light, and can easily damage or destroy elements of optical systems 25 and 27, in particular glass gobos and projection patterns will be damaged by the intense central hotspot. The light energy damages the surface coatings and materials of the gobos. A diffusing or homogenizing filter can be added to ameliorate the hotspot, producing improved wash light performance and protecting the optical elements, however this has the unwanted side effect of reducing the luminaires ability to produce a narrow tight beam.
There is an increased need for an improved heat projection and homogenizing system for an automated luminaire utilizing a light source with an intense hotspot such that the luminaire is capable of producing a narrow light beam in a first mode, and of producing a wide wash beam or projecting gobos without damaging them in a second mode.

Heat protection and homogenizing system for a luminaire utilizing a lamp with an intense hotspot


A coil assembly for a solenoid valve includes a bobbin formed from an electrically insulative material. A bore extends axially through the bobbin. A first flux ring having a sleeve extending axially from an annular base is mounted upon a first end of the bobbin with the sleeve extending into the bobbin bore. Similarly, a second flux ring also having a sleeve extending from an annular base is mounted upon a second end of the bobbin that is opposite from the first flux ring with its sleeve extending into the bobbin bore. The flux rings are formed from a magnetically permeable material that has a high heat conductivity. Magnet wire is wound upon the assembled bobbin and flux rings to form the coil assembly.

This invention relates in general to solenoid valves for electronic brake control systems and in particular to a solenoid valve coil wound upon an integrated bobbin and flux ring assembly.
An Electronic Brake Control System (EBCS) is often included as standard equipment on new vehicles. When actuated, the EBCS is operative to modulate the pressure applied to the vehicle wheel brakes. A typical EBCS includes a plurality of solenoid valves mounted within a control valve body and connected to the vehicle hydraulic brake system between the brake master cylinder and the individual wheel brake cylinders. The solenoid valves usually are normally open, or isolation, valves and normally closed, or dump, valves. Proportional solenoid valves also can be included. The valve body further includes one or more accumulators for the temporary storage of brake fluid during an operating cycle of the EBCS.
A separate hydraulic source, such as a motor driven pump, is usually included in the EBCS. The pump supplies pressurized brake fluid for reapplying the controlled wheel brakes during an EBCS operational cycle. The pump is typically included within the control valve body while the pump motor is mounted upon the exterior of the control valve body. The pump motor is usually a direct current motor which operates from the vehicle power supply. Typically, the motor runs continuously during an EBCS braking cycle.
An EBCS further includes an electronic control module which has a microprocessor. The microprocessor is electrically connected to the pump motor, a plurality of solenoid coils associated with the solenoid valves, and wheel speed sensors for monitoring the speed and deceleration of the vehicle wheels. The microprocessor also is typically electrically connected to the brake light switch and receives a signal from the switch when the vehicle brakes are applied. Additionally, the EBCS may include one or more accelerometers which also are connected to the microprocessor. The microprocessor includes a memory portion which stores control algorithms for each mode of operation of the EBCS. The control algorithms comprise a set of instructions for the microprocessor which control the operation of the EBCS. The control module is usually mounted upon the valve body. The assembled valve body, motor and control module form a compact unit which is often referred to as an electro-hydraulic control unit.
During vehicle operation, the microprocessor in the EBCS control module continuously receives speed signals from the wheel speed sensors. Depending upon the received signals, the microprocessor can select one of several modes for operation of the EBCS. For example, if the microprocessor detects a potential wheel lock-up condition while the vehicle brakes are applied, the microprocessor will select an Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) mode of operation and activate an ABS braking cycle. During an ABS braking cycle, the microprocessor actuates the pump motor and selectively operates the solenoid valves in the control valve to cyclically relieve and reapply hydraulic pressure to the wheel brakes. The hydraulic pressure applied to the wheel brakes is adjusted by the operation of the solenoid valves to limit wheel slippage to a safe level while continuing to produce adequate brake torque to decelerate the vehicle as desired by the vehicle operator.
Another mode of operation provides Traction Control (TC). If the microprocessors detect excessive slip of a driven wheel when the wheel brakes are not applied, the EBCS will apply the brakes to the slipping wheel and thereby transfer more engine torque to the non-slipping wheel.
The EBCS can also include Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) mode of operation. The VSC mode is entered when the microprocessor detects a potential loss of directional control, such as, for example, a spin-out of the vehicle. In the VSC mode of operation, selected wheel brakes are applied to restore directional control of the vehicle.
Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a partial sectional view of a typical EBCS solenoid valve 10 mounted upon an EBCS control valve body 11. The control valve body includes a plurality of internal passages (not shown) that communicate with the valve 10. The valve 10 is a digital valve, that is, it is either open or closed. The particular valve 10 shown in FIG. 1 is a normally open valve, however, the following discussion also applies to normally closed valves. The valve 10 includes an axially shiftable armature (not shown) which is biased in an upward direction by a spring (not shown) such that a ball valve (not shown) is maintained in a normally open position. The ball valve cooperates with a valve seat member 15 which is mounted in the valve body 11. The armature and ball valve are slideably disposed within a valve sleeve 16 having a closed end.
A solenoid coil 20 is carried by the valve sleeve 16 and surrounds the armature 12. The coil 20 is enclosed by a cup shaped metal flux casing 21. The valve sleeve 16 extends through an aperture 22 formed in the upper end of the flux casing 21. An annular flux ring 23 is disposed in the open lower end of the flux casing 21. The flux casing 21 and flux ring 23 complete a magnetic flux path which passes through the armature and the valve seat member 15.
The solenoid coil 20 is of conventional design, comprising a winding 24 formed from multiple turns of an insulated magnet wire having a round cross section, such as #28 xc2xd magnet wire. The magnet wire is helically wound upon a plastic bobbin 26. The bobbin 26 has a cylindrical center portion 28 that terminates in upper and lower flanges, 30 and 32, respectively. A pair of terminal pin supports 34 extend in an axial direction from the top of the bobbin 26. Each of the supports 34 is molded over a terminal pin 36. An end 38 of the coil winding wire is wound around the base of each of the terminal pins 36 and soldered thereto. The pins 36 are electrically coupled to via a printed circuit board (not shown) to the EBCS microprocessor.
When it is necessary to actuate the valve 10 during an anti-lock braking cycle, an electric current is supplied through the terminal pins 36 to the solenoid coil 20. The current establishes a magnetic field in the armature which pulls the armature in a downward direction, closing the ball valve. When the current is interrupted, the magnetic field collapses, allowing the spring to return the armature to its original position, thereby reopening the ball valve. An EBCS control unit also typically includes other digital solenoid valves, such as normally closed solenoid valves (not shown), which have structures similar to the normally open valve 10 described above. Additionally, an EBCS control unit can include proportional solenoid valves.
This invention relates to a solenoid valve coil wound upon an integrated bobbin and flux ring assembly.
For electronic brake control systems being currently developed, vehicular solenoid valves can be energized for long periods of time. The energized coils generate heat that must be conducted away from the coils to avoid overheating. Conventional coil bobbins typically have air gaps and low-pressure contacts between the bobbins and the metal parts of the other components of the control system. Accordingly, current units have poor heat conduction properties. Therefore, a coil assembly having improved heat conduction properties would be desirable.
The present invention contemplates a bobbin assembly for a solenoid valve coil that includes a bobbin formed from an electrically insulative material with a bore extending axially therethrough. The bobbin assembly further includes a flux ring formed from a magnetically permeable material having a high heat conductivity. The flux ring has an annular base portion and a tubular sleeve extending axially into an end of the bobbin bore. The bobbin has a pair of flanges formed upon the ends thereof. A winding is wound upon the bobbin between said flanges.
The bobbin assembly can include a second flux ring that also is formed from a magnetically permeable material having a high heat conductivity. The second flux ring has an annular base portion and a tubular sleeve extending into an end of the bobbin bore opposite from the other flux ring.
The bobbin can include an annular ring formed upon an inner surface of the bore and spaced from the ends of the bore. The annular ring forms a stepped bore within the sleeve with the steps positioning at least one of the first and second flux rings within the bore. Alternately, the bobbin can include an least one axially extending rib formed upon an inner surface of the bore and spaced from the ends of the bore. The rib positions at least one of the first and second flux rings within the bore.
The invention further contemplates that the coil and flux rings are received within a flux casing with at least one of the flux rings secured to the flux casing. In the preferred embodiment, the flux rings are pressed into the ends of the flux casing to retain the coil and flux rings within the flux casing.
The invention also contemplates a method for fabricating a solenoid coil assembly that includes forming a bobbin having a generally tubular shape with an axial bore extending therethrough. A flux ring having a sleeve portion extending axially from an annular base portion is provided and the sleeve portion of the flux ring is pressed into an end of the bobbin bore. A coil is then wound upon the bobbin to form a coil assembly. The coil assembly is inserted into a flux casing and the flux casing is secured to the coil assembly. The invention further contemplates that the step of mounting a flux ring upon the bobbin center portion also can include providing a second flux ring having a sleeve portion extending axially from an annular base portion and pressing the sleeve portion of the flux ring into the end of the bobbin bore that is opposite from the first flux ring.
Various objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, when read in light of the accompanying drawings.

Solenoid valve coil having an integrated bobbin and flux ring assembly


Fly-fishing tweezers which are engageable with hackle or fishing line are formed from either metallic or polymeric material and include a pair of substantially parallel legs that extend from a proximal joint end. Each end of the legs of the fly-fishing tweezers is formed with an inwardly directed gripping member which has a friction bearing surface that will fixedly engage the hackle or fishing line. Furthermore, the tweezers are fitted with a locking slide that when moved in the distal direction, flexes the legs together and holds the gripping portions together. The fly-fishing tweezers include a rod member extending from the proximal end of the tweezers designed to be placed between the index finger and the thumb of an operator to faciliate the rotation of the tweezers around an axis, such as a fishing hook.

The use of Fishermans' pliers, tweezers or fishing tools for the purposes of holding, tying, and retaining one member (e.g., hackle) relative to another body (e.g., a fishing hook) has been widely practiced for some time. Exemplary of early devices which were designed and intended for use as fishing tools is U.S. Pat. No. 5,568,698 which was issued to Harding on Oct. 29, 1996, for an invention entitled "Multipurpose Fishing Tool." Another example of fishing pliers is provided by U.S. Pat. No. 5,207,012 which issued to Lael on May 4, 1993 for an invention entitled "Fisherman's Pliers." Still another example of a fishing pliers is provided by U.S. Pat. No. 4,796,318 which issued to Bigej on Jan. 10, 1989 for an invention entitled "Fisherman's Pliers." Each of these examples is typical of the types of fishing tools or pliers which rely on an inherent ability of the tools or pliers to reconfigure itself for complete engagement of the distal tip with a particular item.
In many applications it is desirable that fishermens' pliers or tweezers provide a stable fastening means against which a structure, such as a hackle, can be positioned and held stationary. To accomplish this, however, it is necessary for the operator of the fishing tool to maintain hand or finger pressure on the handle end of the pliers or tweezers to maintain engagement of the distal gripping means with the hackle or fishing line. While the pliers or tweezers are engaged with the hackle, the tweezers, in the present invention, are used to facilitate treading the hackle over the fishing hook shaft and position it is a predetermined location for tying.
In addition to the functional considerations mentioned above, it is also of practical importance that the tweezers be easily engaged with and disengaged from the particular hackle or fishing line with which it cooperates. The preferred method for maintaining engagement, of course, would, be a one-step locking operation wherein the legs of the tweezers are flexed toward each other, forcing the distal gripping means to engage the hackle or fishing line.
Likewise, the preferred method for disengagement would be effectively another one-step operation. The present invention incorporates a sliding locking mechanism which flexes the legs toward each other when moved to its distal direction and releases the legs when the moved to its proximal position.
In light of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide lockable tweezers for holding a hackle or other fishing items that are engaged with a fishing line to establish an effective means to facilitate the threading of the hackle or fishing line over the shaft of a fishing hook to generate a final fishing hook/hackle fly.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a locking mechanism which can be slid distally or proximately along the pair of legs in a one-step operation.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a lockable tweezers for tying fly-fishing hooks which is relatively easy to manufacture, simple to operation and comparatively cost effective.

Locking tweezers for tying fly-fishing hooks

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A variable c1 is counted up by one for the Nth bit in attribute information=“1”, and a variable c0 is counted up by one for the Nth bit=“0” (S402). When the total code amount of the coding results of pieces of attribute information which have been coded up to now has exceeded a predetermined threshold, a value held by the variable c0 at this time and that held by the variable c1 are compared with each other to determine which of “1” or “0” is set for the Nth bit of subsequently input attribute information (S405).

Conventionally, compression of information representing the attribute of each pixel which forms an image, i.e., so-called attribute information uses lossless coding so as not to change the attribute information. However, the compression ratio of lossless coding changes depending on the contents of data to be coded (in this case, attribute information). In an application of lossless coding, it is difficult to control the coded data amount.
In this situation, as a method of controlling the code amount of attribute information, there has conventionally been disclosed a technique of suppressing variations in attribute information to decrease the number of types of information, and thereby increasing the coding efficiency in compressing the attribute information.
According to the prior art, however, when coded data of attribute information does not fall within a target data amount, the information is changed to preset attribute information, and the meaning of the changed attribute information greatly deviates from the original one, degrading the image quality in a subsequent image process and the like.

Image coding apparatus and image coding method