Merged compounds of ion channel modulating compounds, including, for example, merged compounds of the ion channel modulating compound of the following formula: (I) are described herein, as well as methods of making and using such merged compounds and pharmaceutical compositions containing such merged compounds.

Multiple drug therapy is a treatment and/or prevention method that may have advantages. For example, it may be used when a single therapeutic agent does not sufficiently elicit a desired biological response or when a single therapeutic agent causes a condition that requires additional treatment. Many times, two or more therapeutic agents are prescribed in tandem for the treatment or maintenance of the same physiological condition, where each therapeutic agent elicits a different or cumulative physiological response. However, multiple drug therapies are also used for the treatment or maintenance of different, yet associated, physiological conditions. For instance, a first therapeutic agent may cause a side effect which in turn requires the use of a second therapeutic agent.
Although multiple drug therapies can be beneficial treatment methods, many times they are a last-resort therapy that becomes burdensome to a patient, both in terms of lifestyle issues, such as the cost associated with taking multiple drugs, and in terms of overall patient health.
Multiple drug therapies often require a patient to take increased levels of each individual therapeutic agent to obtain the desired physiological response. The increased dosing levels in turn lead to greater physiological stress and to an increase in the risks associated with adverse side effects of each individual drug. Although therapeutic agents in multiple drug therapies are commonly intended to elicit complementary physiological responses, drug/drug interactions may be important considerations, especially at high dosing levels. Drug/drug interactions can cause serious and even detrimental side effects for a patient. For instance, competitive binding of two different drugs to the same metabolic enzymes or plasma proteins may cause a disproportionate increase in a single unbound drug substance, leading to adverse side affects and a disruption of the intended therapy.
Some of the disadvantages associated with multiple drug therapies may be overcome by incorporating the multiple pharmacophores involved in a multiple drug therapy into a single therapeutic agent. Rather than the adverse effects known to accompany high dosing levels of different therapeutic agents, the multiple pharmacophores contained within a single compound would likely have beneficial effects. For instance, synergistic effects of the multiple pharmacophores could lead to a decrease in compound dosing levels. Decreased dosing levels in turn can lead to a decrease in drug/drug interactions, a decrease in the risks associated with adverse side effects and a decrease in overall physiological stress. In addition, ease of patient care is provided, as two therapeutic agents may be simply provided in a single formulation.
Physiological conditions associated with arrhythmia often require a patient to take more than one therapeutic agent. The treatment, maintenance or prevention of conditions associated with arrhythmia could benefit from substances that combine the pharmacophore of two or more therapeutic agents into a single compound.
Cardiac ion channels are proteins that reside in the cell membrane and control the electrical activity of cardiac tissue. In response to external stimuli, such as changes in potential across the cell membrane, ion channels can form a pore through the cell membrane, and allow movement of specific ions into or out of the cell. The integrated behavior of thousands of ion channels in a single cell results in an ion current, and the integrated behavior of many ion currents makes up the characteristic cardiac action potential.
Arrhythmia is a variation from the normal rhythm of the heart beat and generally represents the end product of abnormal ion-channel structure, number or function. Both atrial arrhythmias and ventricular arrhythmias are known. The major cause of fatalities resulting from cardiac arrhythmias is the subtype of ventricular arrhythmias known as ventricular fibrillation (VF). Conservative estimates indicate that, in the U.S. alone, each year over one million Americans will have a new or recurrent coronary attack (defined as myocardial infarction or fatal coronary heart disease). About 650,000 of these cases will be first heart attacks and about 450,000 of these cases will be recurrent attacks. About one-third of the individuals experiencing these attacks will die as a result. At least 250,000 individuals a year die of coronary heart disease within 1 hour of the onset of symptoms and before they reach adequate medical aid. These are sudden deaths caused by cardiac arrest, usually resulting from ventricular fibrillation.
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia seen in clinical practice and is a cause of morbidity in many individuals (Pritchett E. L., N. Engl. J. Med. 327(14):1031 Oct. 1, 1992, discussion 1031-2; Kannel and Wolf, Am. Heart J. 123(1):264-7 Jan. 1992). The prevalence of AF is likely to increase as the population ages and it is estimated that 3-5% of patients over the age of 60 years have AF (Kannel W. B., Abbot R. D., Savage D. D., McNamara P. M., N. Engl. J. Med. 306(17):1018-22, 1982; Wolf P. A., Abbot R. D., Kannel W. B. Stroke 22(8):983-8, 1991). While AF is rarely fatal, it can impair cardiac function and is a major cause of stroke (Hinton R. C., Kistler J. P., Fallon J. T., Friedlich A. L., Fisher C. M., Am. J. Cardiol. 40(4):509-13, 1977; Wolf P. A., Abbot R. D., Kannel W. B., Arch. Intern. Med. 147(9):1561-4, 1987; Wolf P. A., Abbot R. D., Kannel W. B. Stroke 22(8):983-8, 1991; Cabin H. S., Clubb K. S., Hall C., Perlmutter R. A., Feinstein A. R., Am. J. Cardiol. 65(16):1112-6, 1990).
Atrial fibrillation can be divided into three groups based on the duration of the AF episode and the refractoriness to cardioversion. The three groups are: paroxysmal, persistent and permanent, in decreasing order of receptivity to treatment. Permanent AF is resistant to any form of pharmacological treatment and cardioversion, and therefore patients with permanent AF may be considered candidates for therapies such as the MAZE procedure and can be treated with either calcium channel blockers or β-blockers to control ventricular rate.
In the remaining two categories of paroxysmal and persistent AF, treatment has a dual intent. Firstly, if a patient is in AF, physicians may wish to restore normal sinus rhythm (AF conversion). Secondly, after the patient has successfully attained normal sinus rhythm the physician will attempt to maintain normal sinus rhythm and prevent recurrence of AF.
If a patient is in AF, the physician may elect to restore sinus rhythm by the use of pharmacological rhythm control agents such as ion channel modulating compounds as described in PCT Published Patent Application No. WO 1999/50225; PCT Published Patent Application No. WO 2000/047547; PCT Published Patent Application No. WO 2004/098525; PCT Published Patent Application No. WO 2004/099137; PCT Published Patent Application No. WO 2005/018635; and U.S. Published Patent Application No. US 2005002693, or alternatively, to allow AF to continue, and ensure that ventricular rate is controlled (correcting tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy).
The AFFIRM (Atrial Fibrillation Follow-up Investigation in Rhythm Management, 2001) trial and RACE (Rate Control Equal to Rhythm Control) trial examined comparative efficacy and mortality rates between AF patient groups using either rhythm control or rate control drugs. Results of these studies indicated that rate and rhythm control are equivalent in efficacy in relatively asymptomatic patients with atrial fibrillation. The AFFIRM trial randomized patients to medical therapy either to restore atrial rhythm or to control ventricular heart rate, whereas RACE compared medical therapy to control heart rate with electrocardioversion of rhythm. The primary study endpoint of the AFFIRM trial, total mortality, was slightly lower in the rate-control arm, although the trend was not statistically significant. Outcomes were approximately the same for the two groups in the secondary endpoint, ischemic stroke. In the RACE study, the difference between primary endpoints was also small. It was reported that patients with hypertension in particular did not do well with electrocardioversion for rhythm control. The rate of mortality, thromboembolism, or other severe complications was approximately 19 percent for rate-control therapy vs. approximately 31 percent for rhythm control.
There are two classes of antiarrhythmic agents that restore and maintain sinus rhythm through rhythm control; Class I and Class III antiarrhythmics. A summary of their ion channel blocking profiles and mechanism of action is as follows:
Class IA: Sodium channel blockers that prolong ventricular repolarization, including quinidine, procainamide, disopyramide
Class IB: Sodium channel blockers that shorten ventricular repolarization, including lidocaine, mexiletine, tocamide, phenyloin
Class IC: Sodium channel blockers with little effect on ventricular repolarization, including encamide, flecamide, propafenone
Class III: Potassium channel blockers that primarily prolong ventricular repolarization, including amiodarone, bretylium, d,i-sotalol, ibutilide, azimilide
The SWORD study (Waldo, A L et al. Effect of d-sotalol on mortality in patients with left ventricular dysfunction after recent and remote myocardial infarction. Lancet 1996, 348, 7-12) has shown that optically pure d-sotalol increased mortality by 65% compared to placebo. In light of those results, K. Stoschitzky et al (Stoschitzky, K. et al., Racemic beta-blockers—fixed combinations of different drugs. J. Clin. Cardiol. 1998, 1, 14-18) suggest to replace the currently used racemic mixtures with the optically pure 1-enantiomers.
There are two classes of antiarrhythmic agents that restore and maintain sinus rhythm through rate control; Class II and IV antiarrhythmics. A summary of their ion channel profiles and mechanism is as follows:
Class II: β-adrenergic blocking drugs that indirectly reduce ICa-L current in SA nodes, and AV nodes, including propranolol, atenolol, metoprolol, esmolol, timolol
Class IV: Calcium channel blockers that block ICa-L current, thus slowing conduction in SA and AV nodes and depressing contractility in all heart myocytes, including verapamil, diltiazem
The VERDICT (Verapamil versus Digoxin Cardioversion Trial, Van Noord, T. et al., VERDICT: The Verapamil versus Digoxin Cardioversion Trial: A Randomized Study on the Role of Calcium Lowering for Maintenance of Sinus Rhythm after Cardioversion of Persistent Atrial Fibrillation. J. Cardiovasc. Electrophysiol. 2001, 12, 766-769) has shown that the use of calcium-lowering drugs alone initiated pre-ECV (electrical cardioversion) and continued post-ECV seems to be insufficient to prevent subacute relapses.
AF patients are commonly treated with various agents, such as β-blockers, to control ventricular rate (Van Gelder, I. C. et al. A comparison of Rate Control and Rhythm Control in Patients with Recurrent Persistent Atrial Fibrillation. N. Engl. J. Med. 2002, 347 (23), 1834-1840; Basler, J. R. et al. β-Adrenergic Blockade Accelerates Conversion of Postoperative Supraventricular Tachyarrhythmias. Anesthesiology 1998, 89 (5), 1052-1059 and Yahalom, J. Beta-Adrenergic Blockade as Adjunctive Oral Therapy in Patients wuth Chronic Atrial Fibillation. Chest 1977, 71 (5), 592-596) β-adrenoceptor-blocking agents depress sinus node automaticity and inhibit atrioventricular nodal function by prolonging refractoriness and slowing conduction (Sung, R. J. et al. Beta-Adrenoceptor Blockade: Electrophysiology and Antiarrhythmic Mechanisms. Am. Heart J. 1984, 108, 1115-1120 and Kowey, P. R. et al. Electrophysiology of Beta Blockers in Supraventricular Arrhythmias. Am. J. Cardiol. 1987, 60, 32D-38D).
There remains a need in the art to identify new antiarrhythmic treatments, for both ventricular arrhythmias as well as for atrial arrhythmias. The present invention fulfills this need, and further provides other related advantages.
Related Literature
Certain ion channel modulating agents are disclosed in PCT Published Patent Application No. WO 1999/50225; PCT Published Patent Application No. WO 2000/047547; PCT Published Patent Application No. WO 2004/098525; PCT Published Patent Application No. WO 2004/099137; PCT Published Patent Application No. WO 2005/018635; and U.S. Published Patent Application No. US 2005002693.

Merged ion channel modulating compounds and uses thereof


A method for controlling watermark embedding in a media object through the use of a watermark embedding command. The use of the embedding command enables watermark embedding to be adapted for the transmission channel at the time of transmission.

Digital watermarking is a process for modifying physical or electronic media to embed a machine-readable code into the media. The media may be modified such that the embedded code is imperceptible or nearly imperceptible to the user, yet may be detected through an automated detection process. Most commonly, digital watermarking is applied to media signals such as images, audio signals, and video signals. However, it may also be applied to other types of media objects, including documents (e.g., through line, word or character shifting), software, multi-dimensional graphics models, and surface textures of objects.
Digital watermarking systems typically have two primary components: an encoder that embeds the watermark in a host media signal, and a decoder that detects and reads the embedded watermark from a signal suspected of containing a watermark (a suspect signal). The encoder embeds a watermark by altering the host media signal. The reading component analyzes a suspect signal to detect whether a watermark is present. In applications where the watermark encodes information, the reader extracts this information from the detected watermark.
Several particular watermarking techniques have been developed. The reader is presumed to be familiar with the literature in this field. Particular techniques for embedding and detecting imperceptible watermarks in media signals are detailed in the assignee's U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,614,914 and 5,862,260, which are hereby incorporated by reference. Watermarking techniques particularly adapted to graphic art and halftone images are set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 6,449,377, entitled Methods and Systems for Watermark Processing of Line Art Images, U.S. Pat. No. 6,694,041, entitled Halftone Watermarking and Related Applications, and provisional application 60/263,987, entitled Halftone Primitive Watermarking and Related Applications, which are hereby incorporated by reference.
In watermarking applications and related literature, digital watermarks are classified as robust, fragile and semi-fragile. A robust watermark refers to a watermark that is designed to survive typical and even malicious processing of the watermarked signal that distorts the watermarked signal and makes it more difficult to reliably detect and read the watermark. A fragile watermark refers to a watermark where the watermark degrades in response to certain forms of processing like printing copying, scanning, compression, etc. Fragile watermarks are typically used in authentication application to detect tampering of a signal. Semi-fragile watermarks combine the concepts of fragile and robust watermarks. These types of watermarks are designed to survive certain types of processing like compression, yet detect tampering like cropping or swapping of signals. Fragile and semi-fragile watermarks may be used to trigger certain actions or control usage of the watermarked content when degradation of the fragile watermark is detected.
In digitally watermarking media signals, such as audio, still images and video, there are a number of challenges and trade-offs. One challenge is to embed the watermark so that it is sufficiently robust for the particular set of attacks anticipated for the application, while making sure that the watermark is sufficiently imperceptible for that application. For some applications, it is not possible to fully anticipate the types of processing that a media object will encounter, even before it is distributed. For example, a music track may be produced and distributed in a number of different formats (different compression rates, different compression codecs, different broadcast formats, etc.). Each of these formats may degrade or distort the watermark differently. In addition, the music track may be rendered using high fidelity audio equipment, or lower quality equipment, giving rise to different perceptual quality constraints. In particular, lower quality rendering enables the watermark to be embedded more robustly because perceptibility constraints on the watermark are less stringent. The same is true for video signals, like movies, television programming, advertisements, etc.
In the case of still images, an image may undergo transformations, such as compression, color conversion, halftoning, etc. before it is finally printed or rendered. Consider, for example, graphic art used in advertisements, packaging, and brochures. Such art imagery may include a collection of a raster images that are combined to form a final image. For a particular design project, the graphic artist creates a piece of graphic art for a customer, typically including a collection of constituent images in different formats. Some of the images may be line art, vector graphics, color halftone or color multi-level per pixel images (in color formats like RGB, CMYK or YUV). The entire image product is described in a job ticket that encapsulates the rendering functions to control the assembly of the constituent images and the printing process.
The customer may want to apply a watermark to the final image product for a variety of applications, such as inserting a customer identifier for tracking purposes, linking the image to the customer's web site, etc. There are two main problems, potentially inter-related. One problem occurs with the content flow and timing of adding the watermark flow. Another problem occurs with adding watermarks to vector graphics. The stage at which the watermark message payload and embedding parameters are defined may not always be the appropriate stage to embed the watermark in the host signal. One place to embed the message payload of the watermark into the graphic art is in the raster interface processing (RIP) stage. In this stage, the constituent images are assembled and converted to a particular halftone image format compatible with the printer. The halftone image format includes one or more color planes of pixel elements that specify the presence or absence of ink at corresponding pixel locations. The RIP stage usually occurs at the Pre-Press house or Printer, and requires the person with the most critical eye for color. In addition, this stage, by definition, results in a complete raster image. The watermark can be defined for vector graphics (or line-art), but is ultimately embedded in a raster image when printed with common modern equipment. The customer doesn't usually interact with the Pre-Press house or Printer, except to possibly proof the image. In addition, these locations are under terrible time and cost constraints and do not want to deal with inefficient and costly customer interactions. Finally, many graphic art pieces contain little or no raster sections; thus, the watermark cannot be added before the art is rasterized at the RIP stage. Despite the difficulty of watermarking prior to rasterizing for printing, it is often necessary to preview the watermarked final image product on a display screen, or desktop printer, which poses the problem or how to embed the watermark for previewing.
If the graphic artist has to add the watermark before the Pre-Press house or Printer, the graphic artist must rasterize the image. This causes two problems. First, the graphic artist must now deliver a file consisting of a large number of bits (i.e. size). Second, the graphic artist is not the best person to deal with the color management required to produce a quality image.
The difficulty is that the customer is already working with the graphic artist and wishes to define the contents of the watermark, but the watermark is ultimately embedded in the rasterized image in the Pre-Press house or Printer. A similar problem exists for other media types like audio and video, where the watermark payload is specified at a stage different than the most appropriate stage for embedding the watermark in the content.
If the image file is a vector graphic, whether rendered for printing as described above, or distributed electronically such as on the web, a participant such as the owner, may want to watermark the vector graphic. The participant wants that watermark to be embedded in the rendered image whenever the vector file is rendered, such as on a computer screen, possible within a wed browser or printer. This allows illegitimate copies, such as copies made with a print screen function, to be identified.
A method for controlling watermark embedding in a media object through the use of a watermark embedding command is described below. In the process of creating the media object, the method includes a watermark embedding command among a set of one or more rendering commands that specify how the media object is to be rendered. For example, certain media signal formats like PCL, PDF, or postscript for images, MIDI and structured audio for audio signals, and MPEG-4 and MPEG-7 for audio and video signals, include descriptors that control how a particular media signal is to be rendered. The watermark embedding command includes a combination of the following items: an identifier used to link to customer or related content information, the custom's web site or store, the intensity at which to embed the watermark, areas not to embed, batch processing options, printing preferences for images, watermarking embedding methods to use on different media types, formats, or different parts of the media object, and desired rendering quality.
The watermark embedding command enables the customer or creator to specify watermark message payload and embedding parameters and preferences, and enables the rendering device to embed the watermark appropriately for a particular rendering process. In the case of graphic art, the customer can preview the watermarked content on the graphic artist's monitor or inexpensive printer, which rasterizes the image for display, embeds the watermark in response to the command, and renders the watermarked image. In addition, the Pre-Press house or Printer, can add and modify the watermark without interacting with the customer, thereby saving time and money.
In general, the watermark embedding command includes the message payload to be embedded and rules or links to how to embed these bits. Thus, the watermark function is implemented according to the desired embedding method when the graphic art is rendered, such as on the screen, printed proofs or final printing plates.
This method is extended to other types of media objects, including audio or music tracks, video sequences, etc. Further features will become apparent with reference to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.
The objects of watermark embedding commands may include, but are not limited to the following: watermarks can be embedded in rendering description content, such as vector graphics, MIDI, and structured MPEG audio and video. In addition, watermarks can be embedded at a time and location separate from where and when the watermark and content is rendered. This reduces costs by allowing proper interaction between the content owner and creators, who have different responsibilities and skills.
One aspect of the invention is a method for controlling embedding of a digital watermark in a media signal. The method receives a watermark embedding function specifying watermark embedding parameters, including watermark message payload. The method stores the watermark embedding function in association with the media signal. At transmission of the media signal into a transmission channel, the method reads the watermark embedding function and steganographically embeds the watermark message payload into the media signal by making adjustments to the media signal to adapt the digital watermark to the transmission channel. This method may be implemented in software as computer executable instructions.
Another aspect of the invention is a media object processing system comprising input means for enabling a user to specify commands for a media object, including a watermark embedding function to be applied to the media object. The watermark embedding function includes parameters controlling embedding of a watermark message payload in the media object. The system also includes a watermark embedder module for steganographically embedding the watermark message payload into the media object based on the watermark embedding function and a transmission channel. The watermark embedder module varies adjustments of the media object with the transmission channel to embed the watermark message payload in the media object dependent on the transmission channel.
Yet another aspect of the invention is a computer readable medium comprising one or more commands describing how to embed a digital watermark in a media object, and a watermark embedding function specifying how to embed a watermark message payload into the media object, where adjustments made to embed the watermark message payload vary with the transmission channel.
Further features and aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

Watermark embedding functions adapted for transmission channels


An apparatus and method for delivering a prosthetic device through the vasculature of a patient includes a radially expandable member coupled to the distal end of an elongate shaft. The expandable member has an open frame configuration and an outer mounting surface for mounting the prosthetic device in a collapsed state thereon. The expandable member expands radially outwards from a first configuration to a second configuration to expand a prosthetic device mounted thereon.

When treating certain medical conditions, it is sometimes desirable to expand a frame or other radially expandable member in an orifice or conduit of a patient's body. For example, expandable tubes called stents are commonly inserted into a natural conduit of a patient's body and expanded inside the conduit to hold the conduit in an open position. Such expandable stents can be used to expand, widen, or otherwise provide structural support to various conduits of the human body, including, for example, arteries, veins, bile ducts, the esophagus, and the colon. In other treatment procedures, prosthetic heart valves that include a frame member are implanted into the body at a treatment site (e.g., a heart valve annulus). These prosthetic heart valves can be positioned in the heart valve annulus by expanding the frame member to roughly the size of the valve annulus.
Such frames or stents can be self-expanding or expanded using an expansion balloon. One conventional method involves positioning a frame on a balloon of a balloon catheter, maneuvering the balloon and frame to the treatment site, and inflating the balloon with a fluid to expand the frame or stent to the desired size. Such an approach, however, can have drawbacks. For example, during the expansion of the balloon the orifice or conduit is usually at least partially, if not completely, occluded, which can cause certain undesirable effects. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide methods and delivery systems that eliminate or reduce these and other potential drawbacks.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Expandable member for deploying a prosthetic device


An improved twin propeller marine propulsion unit. A vertical drive shaft is journaled in the lower gearcase and drives a pair of bevel gears. A pair of concentric propeller shafts are mounted in the lower torpedo section of the gearcase and each shaft carries a propeller. A slidable clutch is movable between a neutral, a forward, and a reverse position and serves to operably connect the outer propeller shaft with one of the bevel gears when the clutch is moved to the forward drive position. A gear is mounted for sliding movement in unison with the clutch and acts to operably engage the inner propeller shaft with the second bevel gear when the clutch is in the forward drive position so that both propellers are driven in opposite directions to provide forward motion for the watercraft. The propulsion unit also includes a dual cooling water pick-up system in which seawater is drawn to the water pump both through a series of vertical inlet ports in the gearcase and through a plurality of inlet holes that are located in the forward end of the lower torpedo section. Exhaust gas from the engine is discharged through the rear end of the lower housing section through axial passages in the hub of the forward propeller and then across the outer surface of the rear propeller.

Many marine propulsion units, such as outboard drives and inboard-outboard drives, utilize a forward-neutral-reverse transmission along with a twin propeller. The typical twin propeller system includes a vertical drive shaft which is operably connected to the engine and is journaled for rotation in the lower gearcase. The lower end of the drive shaft carries a beveled pinion which drives a pair of coaxial bevel gears. Mounted for rotation within the central openings of the bevel gears is an inner propeller shaft, the outer end of which carries a first propeller, while an outer propeller shaft is journaled around the inner shaft and carries the second propeller, which is located forwardly of the first propeller.
Incorporated with the typical twin propeller propulsion system is a sliding clutch mechanism having forward, neutral and reverse positions. When the clutch is moved to the forward drive position, the clutch mechanism will act to operably connect the propeller shafts to the respective bevel gears to thereby rotate both propellers in the opposite directions and move the watercraft forwardly. Movement of the clutch mechanism to the reverse drive position in the typical system, will operably engage only the inner propeller shaft with one of the bevel gears, while disengaging the outer propeller shaft, to thereby drive the watercraft in a reverse direction.


Disclosed is an accessory attachment system for a slide-action handgun having a slide cover with side holes, a mounting flange, and a flange lock pin. The slide cover includes a front end, a rear end, an upper surface, a right and left side that cover a slide mechanism of the firearm. The mounting flange is inserted into the upper surface of the slide cover for receiving and securing a handgun accessory. The mounting flange has a bottom surface configured to secure the accessory attached to the mounting flange to the underlying slide mechanism of the slide action handgun using the flange lock pin.

The slide mechanism of modern-style handguns is primarily comprised of an inverted U-shaped steel shell having precision-machined tips that match channel rails machined into the bottom handle assembly. This machined rail system allows the slide mechanism to only move backwards and forwards in a precisely restricted manner during discharge. The handgun is rated for up to 20,000 firings before component replacements may be required due to wearing of metal-to-metal contact points, such as the slide mechanism rail system. In order to improve the aesthetics of the handgun, reduce the handgun's weight, and to protect the slide mechanism rail system from fouling agents, some modern style handguns, encase the slide mechanism in a cover. For many designs, this cover is made of machined metal that is secured to the slide mechanism at one or more points by push pins or other hardware, which allows the slide mechanism and cover to move as one assembly.
For metallic covers, aiming optics such as dot-sights, are attached to the top surface of the cover. Metallic slide covers may add significant weight to the firearm. Also, in policing circumstances for example, they can provide a light-reflective surface, which allow the presence of the weapon to be observed by an assailant. There is a need of a weapon that addresses both of these issues by incorporating a dark-colored, dense polymer material as the slide cover. The dense polymer cover is lighter than steel and absorbs light. One drawback of using a dense polymer material for the slide cover is that add-on devices, such as aiming optics, cannot be affixed reliably to the cover. The handgun addresses this issue by affixing the dot-sights into dovetails machined into the slide mechanism itself and the polymer cover has cutouts that fit over and around the dot-sights.
Another drawback to slide covers, in general, is that they typically require physical machining to accommodate different attachments, such as laser optics made by third parties. Laser optics are often preferred additions to the firearm since they are less accurate than rifles and dot-sights typically require extensive training to master. Many third-party laser optic designs require picatinny mounting rails to be affixed somewhere on the firearm. Most modern style handgun manufacturers incorporate a short picatinny rail attached to the underside of the barrel. In many cases, shooters attach a laser optic aiming device to this under-barrel rail. However, this is a problematic location to place the laser optic device for at least a few reasons. First, the barrel-end is subjected to the largest percussive force during discharge, which tends to loosen overtime the attachment fasteners of the laser optic on the picatinny rail. Second, the shooter cannot view the laser dot in the line-of-sight aiming point since the beam is projected to the target from under the barrel. Third, other optic devices such as red-dot optics and mini-scopes, which do not project an observable light beam directly on the target, are required to be line-of-sight mounted.
A preferred method of mounting precision optics onto a moving slide would be to incorporate a flange specifically designed to accommodate a guide and fastener pattern tailored to the manufacturer and securing the flange directly to the moving slide. However, adding custom mounting flanges to the upper surface of a handgun's slide rail cover to accommodate after-market accessories often requires either replacing the slide cover entirely, removing the firearm's existing rear sight to utilize the firearms existing dovetail, or costly gunsmithing. This problem is further exacerbated with the current models since the slide cover is made from a dense polymer, which is not a well-suited material for directly mounting precision optics.
What is needed in the art is an accessory attachment system for attaching a durable mounting flange for accessories, such as line-of-sight optics, on the top side of the firearm without requiring costly replacement of critical components that might affect the design performance and warranty of the weapon. Additionally, an accessory attachment system for reliably attaching such accessories to the slide without requiring costly gunsmithing or custom machining is also needed. What is further needed in the art is an accessory attachment system for gun owners to readily customize their weapon to aftermarket accessories without requiring specialized gun-working skills or tools.

Accessory attachment system for a handgun having a polymer slide cover


A storage bin and a top lid are temporarily locked for sealing, the storage bin is provided on tops of two opposite sides thereof with several pivot seats, notches are provided each between every two of the pivot seats, the storage bin has several through holes and receiving grooves; the top lid is divided into two halves and is provided on one side of each half with pivot seats, the two halves are pivotably connected with the storage bin by means of axle holes provided on the aforesaid pivot seats and two axles, and have thereon several transverse limiting protrusions, longitudinal limiting protrusions and limiting blocks which together form a limiting area, one side of each half has protruding engaging portions and recessed engaging portions mutually alternately arranged, the protruding engaging portions each has on the bottom thereof an engaging groove, while the recessed engaging portions each has on the top thereof an engaging strip and an engaging block, several round holes on the top lid are exactly located respectivly on several through holes on the storage bin to allow several buckling belts to extend through the round holes and through holes and to buckle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improved structure for covered storage bins, and especially to an improved structure for storage bins wherein storage bins and top lids thereof are temporarily locked for sealing and thus to protect and keep intactness of the articles in the storage bins, to prevent them from dropping during shipping, when the storage bins are loaded with the articles, the top lids are temporarily locked by engagement with the storage bins to well protect the articles in the storage bins, a receiving groove for an indicating tag is provided on each side of each storage bin to show the contents therein, such storage bins thus are distinguishable, safe and convenient.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Storage and shipping for smaller articles normally are done with storage bins for preventing the smaller articles from scattering in a mess and occupying too much space, thereby no necessity is it to move every piece of the articles in strorage and moving, and therefore time is saved and working is easier in transportation, for this reason, use of storage bins are more and more popularized, conventional storage bins (referring to FIG. 1) do not have fixed lids, articles are placed in such storage bins A and moved or stored without lids thereon, however, the articles in these storage bins A are subjected to dropping and hence no adequate safety is endued with, and when in storage, the storage bins A are subjected to incoming of dust and imprurities, so that when the storage bins A are to be used, they must be wiped and cleansed, this is troublesome for workers, and strorage and moving of the storage bins A are so inconvenient that articles and members of a device with higher delicacy or quality are not suitable to be stored or transported in such storage bins A; a user of such storage bins A might use top lids B for temporary covering, the top lids B and the storage bins A do not have any fixing or junction between them, when the storage bins A are moved or when the storage bins A are collided by an external thing, the top lids B may drop; or a worker does not cover the lids B in time after he uncovered the lids B to thereby render the lids B to lose their function of covering the storage bins A; if the storage bins A are tied with ropes after covered with lids B to prevent the lids B from dropping, this may obtain the function of preventing from dropping, however, the storage bins A are heavier after tying, and tying and untying works are quite troublesome and very inconvenient, use of the lids B on the storage bins A seems to be much more bothersome.


An ankle supporting shoe comprising a sole member. Attached to the top surface of the sole member is a midsole including a planar portion having a continuous flange formed partially about and extending upwardly from the planar portion. Attached to the upper surface of the midsole and a toe portion of the top surface of the sole member is a structural member including a base portion formed to suit the shape of the wearer's foot and lateral and medial struts extending upwardly from the base portion. A boot is attached to the sole member in a manner wherein the lateral strut extends between the outer surface of a lateral side portion of the boot and the inner surface of the flange, with the medial strut extending between the outer surface of a medial side portion of the boot and the inner surface of the flange. Upper and lower strap members are engaged to the shoe which, when tightened, cause the lateral strut to extend about the front of the lateral malleolus of the ankle and the medial strut to extend behind the medial malleolus of the ankle.

Ankle injuries resulting from forced internal rotation and flexion of the ankle joint are commonly seen in work and sport activities and routinely result from participation in sports, such as running, tennis, basketball, and hiking. These ankle injuries vary in severity from simple ligament pulls to ligament ruptures and bone fractures. In certain cases, lengthy time periods are required to achieve full recovery, though many types of sprains tend to recur. In recognition of the frequent occurrences of these injuries, it has been a common practice for athletes to protect themselves from such injuries through the use of orthopedic devices which limit the natural ankle movements that are normally encountered in the course of walking or running. These orthopedic devices are typically provided in the form of ankle braces, elastic bandages or the like, made of stiff material, laced, wrapped or otherwise attached to the ankle. However, these types of support devices have not been very popular among the public due to such devices having the effect of excessively restricting most of the ankle's movements thus resulting in poor athletic performance, as well as being difficult and time-consuming to install upon the ankle and uncomfortable to wear.
Due to these deficiencies associated with conventional ankle braces and the related techniques used to prevent sports related ankle injuries, various types of prior art athletic shoes have been developed in an attempt to incorporate structures adapted to provide support to the ankle of the wearer. Examples of such prior art devices include shoes which are formed to include a high-top upper portion having a cushioning portion commencing just below the ankle and extending over the lower portion of the leg at the ankle opening. Other types of prior art shoe constructions range from an essentially unitary sheet panel covering the entire upper portion of the shoe, to diverse arrangements of textile sheet portions and leather reinforcement portions which act to distribute stresses within the shoe to prevent injury to the ankle.
Though the prior art shoe designs attempt to provide adequate support to the foot of the wearer so as to prevent strains or other injury to the ankle resulting from excess movement of the ankle joint, such prior art constructions do not fully achieve their objective due to the competing demands of shoe flexibility and light weight, with the desirability of providing full support. As such, in addition to using the prior art ankle supporting shoes, athletes generally tape their feet to provide additional support when playing strenuous games. Though certain prior art athletic shoes such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,989,350 to Bunch et al. attempt to overcome the known deficiencies of other prior art athletic shoes by incorporating strut and support strap arrangements, these and other similar shoes are also generally deficient in that they do not provide uniform support to the entire foot of the shoe wearer. The present invention overcomes the deficiencies associated with prior art ankle supporting shoes by providing an ankle supporting shoe which is adapted to provide full support to the foot of the wearer.

Multi-application ankle support footwear


A holding device to attach one or more accessories to a firearm is disclosed. An example holding device disclosed herein comprises a top mount to engage one or more accessories, a bottom mount to engage the firearm, a fixing bore in one of the top mount and the bottom mount, a fixing pin in the other one of the top mount and the bottom mount, the fixing pin being dimensioned to insert into the fixing bore, a slider associated with the fixing bore, and a tensioning device to move the slider to cause the top mount and the bottom mount to move toward one another.

In the following disclosure, positional terms such as "above" and "below" are used with reference to a gun in its normal firing position, that is, positioned to shoot "forward" (away from the shooter) in a generally horizontal plane.
Holding devices to attach, with precise positioning, an accessory device to a weapon are well-known in the art. For example, holding devices of this type are described in DE-GM 89 09 502 U1, GB 175 676 A, and, in a different field, U.S. Pat. No. 6,033,145. Holding devices of this type have many applications. One such application is to attach a precision optical-measurement accessory to a portal milling machine. In this example, the positioning of the accessory may need to be measured and adjusted several times a day depending on changes in the ambient temperature.
However, a more common application of a precision-positioning holding device is to attach an accessory, such as a telescopic sight, to a weapon, such as a rifle. Several issues may be encountered when attaching a telescopic sight to a rifle. For example, the attachment must be precise, because a divergence of the telescopic sight of only one (1) angular minute may produce an error of nine (9) cm at a distance of 300 m. Such an error can determine whether or not a target is hit successfully, especially considering the additional error introduced by the inherent spread of a sniper rifle. Another issue often encountered is that, depending on the particular situation, the telescopic sight must be easy to remove and reattach. Also, the holding device should be sufficiently strong and resilient so as to not wear out over time, that is, so as to provide a reproducible attachment of the telescopic sight to the rifle even after repeatedly detaching and reattaching the telescopic sight. Finally, the holding device should be able to withstand a reasonable amount of mechanical loading without misadjustment.
Telescopic sights used by the military are typically light in weight. Thus, if only a telescopic sight is to be mounted to the rifle, then a holding device having moderate strength and resilience should be sufficient. However, the holding device may be required to attach additional accessories that are coupled with the telescopic sight, such as night vision apparatus, distance-measuring equipment and many other options. In the latter case, the combined weight of all the accessories can easily exceed 2 kilograms, thereby requiring the use of a sufficiently strong and resilient holding device.
Holding devices traditionally used to attach telescopic sights on sniper rifles of the former East Germany are not adequate for securing the combined set of accessories described previously. In a typical holding device, a fixing pin is arranged on the barrel above the cartridge chamber and an opposite engagement formation sits on the bridge above the rear side of the magazine chamber. The fixing pin and the engagement formation are attached to the bottom side of the telescopic sight. The telescopic sight is initially held transverse to the axis of the bore of the rifle in a generally horizontal plane. The fixing pin is located with its vertical axis over a fixing bore. The fixing pin is introduced into the bore all the way to the back stop and the telescopic sight is then swiveled into a position parallel to the axis of the bore. Through this motion, ridges on the fixing pin engage underneath counter-ridges in the fixing bore, thus pressing the fixing pin to the bottom part of the holding device. At the same time, the engagement formation on the telescopic sight snaps into a counter-formation on the rifle, and complementary inclined recesses and projections press the engagement formation to the bottom part of the holding device. These ridges/counter-ridges and recesses/projections guide the attachment of the telescopic sight to the firearm and hold these pieces firmly together. The engagement formation has some amount of longitudinal clearance, which, however, does not negatively affect the alignment of the optical axis of the telescopic sight and the axis of the bore of the firearm.
The known holding devices described above are constructed so that they can be assembled and disassembled quickly. Moreover, the distance between the pin and the engagement formation typically has a tight tolerance. As a result, these holding devices are usually costly to manufacture as they require a considerable amount of manual work to fabricate their constituent components. Furthermore, if the telescopic sight is coupled with the above-mentioned accessories (e.g., night vision devices, distance-measuring equipment, etc.), then the increased surface pressure may cause the holding device to fatigue more quickly than expected.
To increase the strength and resilience of a traditional holding device, it may be possible to enlarge its constituent components by a proportional amount. However, this would result in a more costly, heavier design.

Holding devices to attach an accessory to a firearm


A method for manufacturing a DRAM capacitor whose lower electrode has a greater surface area, and is thereby able to increase the capacitance of the capacitor. The method comprises the steps of providing a substrate with a target conductive region and then depositing a first dielectric layer, an etching stop layer and a second dielectric layer sequentially over the target conductive region and the substrate. Next, a deep opening leading to the target conductive region is etched through the various layers, and a first conductive material is deposited to fill the deep opening completely. Thereafter, the second dielectric layer is patterned and etched to form a shallow opening exposing a portion of the first conductive layer and the etching stop layer. Then, a second conductive material is deposited into the exposed first conductive layer and etching stop layer. Finally, the second dielectric layer is removed, and then another dielectric layer and a third conductive layer are sequentially formed over the second conductive layer and the first conductive layer to complete the fabrication of the capacitor. In addition to increasing the surface area of the lower electrode, the capacitor of this invention has a small overall height measuring from the conductive layer to the substrate.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) capacitor. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for forming a lower electrode opening for a DRAM capacitor.
2. Description of Related Art
As the microprocessor of a computer becomes more powerful, the number of software programs that can be run by a computer simultaneously increase exponentially. Consequently, the amount of memory space necessary for storing digital data must also be increased. Therefore, highly efficient memory capacitors are in great demand. Accompanied by the increase in level of integration of DRAMs, a DRAM cell is now constructed from just one transfer field effect transistor and a storage capacitor. In general, a capacitor has an upper electrode and a lower electrode with a dielectric layer sandwiched between the two for providing the necessary dielectric constant. In addition, the capacitor is electrically coupled to a bit line, and reading and writing to and from the DRAM memory is achieved by charging or discharging the capacitor. Charging and discharging of the capacitor is carried out through the control of a transfer field effect transistor (TFET). The source terminal of the transfer transistor is connected to the bit line while the drain terminal of the transfer transistor is connected to the capacitor. The transfer transistor is switched on or off through a selection signal coming from a word line, which is electrically connected to the gate terminal of the transfer transistor. Hence, whether the capacitor is connected to the bit line allowing for charging or discharging of the capacitor depends upon the selection signal passed to the gate terminal.
Factors that affect the capacitance of a capacitor include: (1) the lower electrode; a lower electrode having a larger surface area will have more capacitance; (2) the dielectric constant of the dielectric layer; using a dielectric material having a higher dielectric constant to form a capacitor will increase its capacitance; and (3) the thickness of the dielectric layer; the thinner the dielectric layer, the higher its capacitance will be. Conventional DRAMs having storage capacity smaller than one megabits (Mbit) mostly have two-dimensional capacitors, commonly referred to as a planar type of capacitor. However, a planar type capacitor occupies lots of semiconductor substrate area, and so is unsuitable for use in high level integrated circuits. Highly integrated DRAM circuits, for example, those with memory having a storage capacity larger than about four Mbits, use three-dimensional capacitors. Three-dimensional capacitor constructs include the stacked type and the trench type.
Compared with a planar type of capacitor, a stacked type or a trench type of capacitor is able to provide the same capacitance to a capacitor despite a dimensional reduction. However, when the scale of integration for memory devices is further increased, for example. DRAM memory that stores up to 64 Mbit, even a simple three-dimensional capacitor construction is not enough.
One method of further increasing the surface area of the lower electrode, hence increasing the capacitance of a capacitor, is to develop horizontal extensions and then stacking them one over the other creating a fin-type of stacked capacitor. Another method is to allow the electrode and the dielectric film of the capacitor to extend vertically up to form a vertical structure called a cylindrical stack.
Yet, in the near future, the trend for integrating more and more devices into a wafer will continue, and the dimensions of a DRAM cell will shrink still further. As anybody familiar with the technology may well know, more reduction in memory cell dimensions will lead to a further reduction of the capacitance for its capacitor. One consequence of this is the production of more soft errors due to an increased effect by alpha rays. Therefore, people engaged in the semiconductor industry are still searching for ways to increase the capacitance of a capacitor though the available area is reduced.
In light of the foregoing, there is a need provide an improved method of fabricating DRAM capacitor.


A data recording method according to one aspect of this invention comprises specifying a plurality of regions with different radial positions on a disk, and detecting the tilt amounts of the respective regions with respect to the optical axis of a light beam on the basis of a focus control signal used to just-focus the light beam on a recording surface of the disk, calculating tilt correction amounts for the respective regions in accordance with the tilt amounts of the respective regions, correcting a tilt of the optical axis with respect to a predetermined region on the basis of the tilt correction amount corresponding to the predetermined region, and recording data on the predetermined region while the tilt of the optical axis with respect to the predetermined region is corrected.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a disk apparatus for recording/reproducing data on/from an optical disk using a light beam. The present invention also relates to a data recording method for recording data on an optical disk using a light beam. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a data reproduction method for reproducing data from an optical disk using a light beam.
2. Description of the Related Art
A high-density optical disk is achieved by an increase in line density and a reduction of the track pitch. Also, an optical system that irradiates a disk with a laser beam is required to achieve a reduced beam spot size as well as a higher density. The beam spot size is proportional to the wavelength of a light source and is inversely proportional to the numerical aperture (NA) of an objective lens. Therefore, the light source must use a shorter wavelength with increasing density.
The influences of disk tilts on recording/reproduction become more serious with increasing density of an optical disk. If a disk suffers any tilts, the signal recording characteristics lower, and crosstalk upon reproduction of a signal increases. In order to solve such problems, an optical disk apparatus which detects and compensates for any disk tilt has been proposed in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2000-232677.
Such disk tilt is not uniform over the entire surface of the disk. For example, more serious disk tilt often appears toward the outer periphery of a disk. On the other hand, data recording/reproduction on/from a disk is often executed continuously over a broad range of a disk. Since such continuous recording/reproduction over a broad range of a disk is influenced by various disk tilts, appropriate recording/reproduction is often disturbed. The technique disclosed in the above reference cannot solve this problem.

Disk apparatus, data recording method, and data reproduction method for continuous data processing


Respiratory apparatus including stowage equipment is addressed. The equipment may include a non-rigid bag covering at least part of an oxygen mask. The bag additionally may have an opening through which a portion of the mask protrudes, thereby facilitating its grasping and rapid donning by a user.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,039,045 to Bertheau, et al., incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference, discloses an exemplary respiratory mask and an associated box or housing. As noted in the Bertheau patent: "As the cruising altitude of passenger and business airplanes increases, it becomes more and more difficult to protect the crew members against a sudden depressurization." See Bertheau, col. 1, 11.    16–18. Consequently, harnesses for respiratory masks have been developed which may be stored in a box in close proximity to the seat and may be grasped by the user with one hand and donned in a time as short as some seconds. However, if depressurization occurs at a very high altitude, lack of oxygen due to exposure to vacuum during some seconds may be sufficient for causing a delayed temporary loss of consciousness after which it will be too late for the pilot to resume aircraft control.    See id., 11. 37–44.
The Bertheau patent thus describes equipment including a mask harness which, among other features, "lowers the time period following pressurization failure before respiratory oxygen is available to the user." See id., 11. 59–61. Illustrated in FIG. 1A of the Bertheau patent is an exemplary storage box for the harness. Because of space restrictions in cockpits of many aircraft, often these storage boxes are sized to be only slightly larger than the dimensions of the associated mask (and uninflated harness), thus lacking room for many "full-face" masks combining both oxygen regulators and goggles.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,664,566 to McDonald, et al., also incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference, illustrates one such full-face assembly. The McDonald patent attempts to describe a supposed solution to this issue by utilizing so-called "flexible" lenses and seals so that "the mask may be rolled" for storage in a small(er), boxy container. See McDonald, col. 5, 11. 18–22. Such a container is illustrated, at least generally, in FIG. 3 of the McDonald patent.


Provided is a jerk block having a platform sized and constructed to hold a plurality of weight plates, a rig connector for removably mounting the platform to a rig support having plurality of holes, and a lock constructed to removably lock or clamp the jerk block in place using at least one of the holes on the rig support. Also provided is a jerk block assembly having two jerk blocks mounted on two rig supports, and a method of using the jerk block assembly to workout lifting weights in which the barbell is only supported on the rig by the weight plates contacting the platforms.

Traditional jerk blocks or Olympic weightlifting technique boxes are traditionally used as a stackable raised platform to move the barbell at different heights off the floor so a person can practice Olympic movements such as clean, snatch, jerk from different positions of the lift without starting from the floor every time. In addition, they are used to help a person practice jerks and allow them to drop the bar so the bar would not end up on the floor or in the front rack position. Not dropping the bar to the floor or to a person's chest would allow the person to attempt multiple jerks without cleaning the weight or receiving the jerk in the catch/front rack position after each jerk. When a lifter gets to the higher percentages of their personal best in that lift, receiving the bar could injure the athlete. This is why jerk blocks are so popular among Olympic weight lifters, collegiate athletes and CrossFit athletes.
Jerk blocks are extremely cumbersome, heavy and take up a lot of space because they must be able to receive several hundred pounds of force as well as move up and down in height. A typical jerk block set up takes up sixteen to twenty square feet of floor space. Due to floor space constraints, cost and storage most gyms are only able to procure one set up.
Conventional jerk block devices are shown in Published U.S. Patent Application Serial Nos. 2017/025260, published on 7 Sep. 2017; 2017/0120131, published on 3 May 2017; and 2015/0157892, published on 11 Jun. 2015, and in U.S. Pat. No. 9,555,309, issued on 31 Jan. 2017; and U.S. Pat. No. 9,682,275, issued on 20 Jun. 2017.
Conventional rig systems utilize a plurality of spaced apart rig supports. The rig supports each contain a plurality of spaced apart holes. Attachments, such as hooks can be connected to the holes at different heights. Typically, the hooks are used to directly contact and hold a weight bar having plates on opposite ends of the weight bar. The rig supports are typically spaced apart less than the total length of the weight bar so that hooks can hold the grip section. A typical weight bar is 2.2 meters in total length, and the length of the grip section is 1.31 meters. Thus, the typical distance between the rig supports is 1.31 meters or less.

Jerk block, jerk block set up, and method of using the jerk block set up


A photosensitive resin composition comprising (a) a compound having a group unstable to acids, (b) a compound generating an acid when exposed to actinic light, and (c) a benzotriazole derivative is suitable for forming a positive type photosensitive anionic electrodeposition coating material and is usable for producing printed circuit boards.

This invention relates to a positive type photosensitive anionic electrodeposition coating resin composition, a positive type photosensitive anionic electrodeposition coating material, an electrodeposition coating bath, an electrodeposition coating process and a process for producing printed circuit boards.
In production of printed circuit boards, first a layer of a photosetting resin composition is formed on a substrate, then the layer is irradiated imagewise with actinic light, and uncured portions are removed by development to form a resist pattern. In this process, various methods are employed for forming a layer of a photosetting resin composition. For example, there are known a method in which a solution of a photosetting resin composition (coating solution) is coated on a substrate by dip coating, roll coating, curtain coating or other coating techniques, and a method in which a film of a photosetting resin composition (photosensitive film) is laminated on a substrate. Among these methods, the method comprising laminating a photosensitive film is now predominantly used in the art as this method is capable of forming a photosetting resin composition layer with uniform thickness by a simple operation.
With a recent tendency toward higher density and higher precision of printed circuit boards, request is growing for the resist patterns of higher quality. That is, there are required resist patterns which are free of pin holes and have good adhesion to the underlying substrate surface. It is understood that the method comprising laminating a photosensitive film, which is now prevalently used, has a limit in meeting said request. According to this method, conformability to unevenness of substrate surface caused by scars at the time of substrate production, ununiformity of polishing, interstice of glass cloth forming an inner layer of the substrate, ununiformity of pits in copper plating on the surface, etc., is poor, and it is difficult to obtain sufficient adhesiveness. Such difficulty can be removed to some extent by carrying out the lamination of photosensitive film under reduced pressure (see Japanese Patent Examined Publication No. 59-3740), but a special and expensive apparatus is required for such practice.
Under these circumstances, interests have been shown again recently toward solution coating methods such as dip coating, roll coating, curtain coating, etc. These coating methods, however, have problems of difficulty in controlling film thickness, unsatisfactory uniformity of film thickness, formation of pin-holes, etc.
In the efforts for overcoming these problems, several proposals have been made on positive type photosensitive electrodeposition coating materials which are considered useful for producing printed circuit boards having through-holes. However, these coating materials, in most of which a quinonediazido group is used as photosensitive group, still had problems such as low photosensitivity. So, a new proposal has been made on an electrodeposition coating material containing a chemically amplified positive type photosensitive material comprising a combination of a compound which generates an acid upon irradiation with actinic light and a compound which has the nature of being decomposed by said generated acid and bettered in solubility in the developing solution, this coating material being far higher in photosensitivity than the conventional ones using a quinonediazido group (EP 0489560 Al).
These positive type photosensitive anionic electrodeposition coating materials, however, had a problem in that the copper ions eluted from the copper-clad laminate in the course of electrodeposition coating would form a chelate with the carboxyl group in the resist material to give rise to quasi-crosslinkage, so that when development is carried out with an alkali solution in a step after exposure, the exposed portion may not be developed sufficiently (hereinafter referred to as "underdevelopment").

Positive type photosensitive anionic electrodeposition coating resin composition


A bag hanger device for holding a flexible bag containing a flowable material having                a multi-sided, D-shaped or circular frame;        a cross-member having two ends wherein one end is attached to one side of the frame and an opposite end is unattached to the frame;        a closing device attached to an opposite end of the cross-member;        a locking device attached to the frame opposite the closing device and in alignment with the closing device attached to the cross-member;        at least one hanging means attached to the cross-member for holding the bag hanger device and a flexible bag attached thereto in a dispensing system;        wherein the bag hanger device when inserted into the flexible bag having at least one pocket enables engagement of the closing device with the locking device and holds the flexible bag in a position to prevent collapse, wrinkling or deformation of the flexible bag.

Currently, granular agricultural products are shipped in bulk containers to regional distribution centers and there dispensed into smaller containers to be sold to consumers. Typical bulk handling dispensing systems are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,738,153 and 7,075,019. It has been the practice to ship the granular materials in large rigid plastic containers which are then installed in the dispensing system and the granular material is metered out to small containers. However, these containers after use must be shipped back to the manufacturer and there thoroughly cleaned to prevent cross contamination of ingredients which considerably increases the cost for reuse of such containers. Large bags have also been used in place of the plastic containers. Typically, these bags have hanging straps which allow the bags to be hung in the dispensing device. But these bags, particularly large size bags for example holding fifty to several hundred pounds of granular material, are very difficult to install in the dispensing device and the hanging straps may break or tear particularly in those bags containing a large quantity of material. Also, the design of the bag with hanging straps allows the bag to partially collapse as the granular material is emptied from the bag into containers in the dispensing process. This causes granular material to be trapped and retained in the bag. Often these granular materials are agricultural products that can be expensive, where even a small amount of waste is not acceptable. Also, certain granular materials may present a hazard and such materials must be removed from the bag before it is sent to a disposal site. Similar problems occur for liquid materials that are dispensed in this manner.
There is a need for a bag and a bag hanger device that can be used to easily install the bag in a dispensing system in such a manner that the bag hanger device keeps the bag from collapsing or wrinkling thus preventing the trapping of any material being dispensed.

Bag hanger device and bag for product dispensing system for materials


A tool for holding the wheel bearing or the wheel bearing seal of a vehicle wheel. This tool is useful in the fields of aircraft manufacture and aircraft maintenance. The aircraft wheel is of the kind comprising a rim that has a flange on the hub side and a wheel bearing, mounted on a stub axle. The holding tool comprises a plate bearing a collar that presses against the wheel bearing. An arrangement to lock the tooling onto the rim of the wheel flange brings the pressing collar into locked contact with the wheel bearing.

The present invention relates to a tool for holding a wheel bearing or a wheel bearing seal of a vehicle wheel. It also relates to a method of installing/mounting or maintaining a vehicle wheel and a set of vehicle wheels using such a tool. It is applicable in the fields of aircraft manufacture as well as aircraft maintenance.
An aircraft comprises several undercarriages, each constituting a set of one or more wheels. During the manufacture of the aircraft, each wheel must be placed on its stub axle in order to allow it to be fixed subsequently. The same type of operation must be carried out during the maintenance of the aircraft.
When the aircraft is very large, the weights moved during mounting are high, while the operations of orienting and positioning the wheel hub on the stub axle are extremely precise.
In particular, it has been observed that, during mounting, a dynamic effect of the stub axle on the wheel bearing that equips the wheel leads to the ejection of the wheel bearing or, more specifically, the wheel bearing seal that protects it from the outside. When such a situation occurs in the aeronautical field, a non-conformity is raised in the manufacturing process and there is then a possibility of the wheel mounting being failed by the aircraft safety authorities.
Such a situation involves significant costs and the need to re-start the mounting operation with a new wheel. Said requirement also extends the unavailability time during maintenance or the mounting time during manufacture of the aircraft.

Tool for holding a wheel bearing or a wheel bearing seal of a vehicle wheel, method of installing or maintaining a set of vehicle wheels and set of wheels using such a tool


A photographic film cartridge has a word imprinted on the exterior surface of the cartridge visually indicating exposure status of film in the cartridge. A thermally responsive coating of a phase change medium overlies a portion of the word such that when the medium is rendered opaque, the word meaning is changed to indicate that the film is in an exposed state. The camera is provided with a heat generating element that is activated when images are exposed onto the film to render the phase change medium opaque. The camera is also provided with an opto-sensor and control means responsive to the phase change medium to allow loading of the film when the medium is in its unchanged condition and to prevent loading of the film when the phase change medium is changed to indicate exposed film in the cartridge.

Conventional 35mm film cartridges are normally sold with a portion of the film leader projecting from the exit slot of the cartridge. This allows the camera user to grasp and pull the film for loading in the camera and at the same time provides a visual indication to the camera user that the film in the cartridge is unexposed. Upon rewind, the film is rewound completely into the cartridge and the absence of the protruding leader indicates that the film has been exposed and prevents reuse of the film in a camera thus inherently providing protection against double exposure of the film. Recently, camera and film cartridge designs have been proposed in which the film is totally enclosed in the cartridge when sold. To load the film, the cartridge is inserted and the drive motor operates to thrust the film out of the cartridge to the film take-up spool. Upon rewind, the film is drawn entirely into the cartridge. As a consequence, there is no visual indication to distinguish between an exposed and an unexposed film roll and, thus, numerous camera and cartridge designs have been proposed to provide protection against re-use and double exposure of the film.
It is known, for example, to provide cartridges with mechanical features that cooperate with feelers in the camera that prevent insertion of cartridges into the camera when the film has previously been exposed. In many cases these mechanical features also provide a visual indication of the exposed condition of the film. A representative example of an arrangement providing both visible indication and mechanical lockout means is found in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,047,794. U.S. Pat. No. 5,115,268 discloses a mechanical slide on the film cartridge is movable by a cam arrangement upon insertion into the camera to cover the letters UN in the word UNEXPOSED printed on the end of the cartridge to provide a visible indication of an exposed condition of the film in the cartridge. In commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,032,854 and 5,030,978, a radial bar coded disc on the end of a film cartridge is sensed by an opto-sensor in the camera to position the film spool upon conclusion of rewind at a selected one of plural visual indicators that indicate the exposure condition of film in the camera.
Such arrangements however, require special cartridge designs that add to the cost and complexity of cartridge manufacture. In the case of cartridges with just visual indicators, it is possible to ignore the indicators and load the film into the camera thereby creating a possibility of double exposure of the film.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a simple, inexpensive cartridge and camera configuration that provides both a visual indication of the exposure condition of photographic film that also provides the capability of automatically preventing loading of exposed film into the camera thereby avoiding the possibility of double exposing the film in the camera.

Photographic camera and film cartridge with double exposure prevention


A multi-function draining basket for kitchen sink: includes a basket body, having a pair of supporting rods oppositely extended from the basket body adapted to be rested on two opposite edge portions of a kitchen sink, and at least a clamping panel pivotally secured on the basket body for clamping or holding a kitchen-waste bag on the clamping panel.

When washing utensils, bowls, or eating tools in a kitchen sink, it is quite embarrassing to treat the kitchen waste. A plastic bag or trash container may be provided for storing the kitchen waste in the bag or container. Still, the bag or container, if not equipped with a cover or lid thereon, may spread waste order outwardly or may attract cockroaches, flies, or ants into the kitchen waste, causing a hygienic problem.
It is therefore expected to disclose a draining basket, which may be hung or held on the kitchen sink for washing purpose and may be folded when not in use. Also, the draining basket is preferably attached with a kitchen-waste bag on the basket for storing the kitchen waste therein for hygienic purpose.

Multi-function draining basket for kitchen sink


A system and method for detecting the occurrence of a gunshot are provided. The method may include receiving acoustic signals at a microphone indicative of a magnitude of the acoustic signal at a plurality of discrete frequencies, converting the acoustic signals to a digital signal and then employing a Goertzel algorithm based digital signal filter on the digital signal to produce Goertzel magnitudes at the plurality of discrete frequencies. The method subsequently determines if a maximum value of the digital signal is higher than a predefined threshold value. If the threshold value is exceeded, the method predicts if the Goertzel magnitudes at the plurality of discrete frequencies are indicative of a gunshot sound via gradient boosting; and, transmits a signal indicative of a gunshot occurrence after predicting if a possible gunshot event has occurred. A debouncer may also be utilized to suppress duplicative signals.

The present invention relates to system for the detection of a gunshot and, more specifically, to the system and method of processing a digital signal to identify the gunshot sound and location of origination.
The occurrence of active shooter incidents has risen in recent years. In order to effectively respond to such incidents, it is important that individuals occupying a facility in which a gunshot has occurred, and emergency responders be provided with relevant and accurate information in a timely manner. Quickly providing both a notice that a gunshot has occurred and its relative location to occupants and emergency responders will significantly improve both the ability to eliminate active shooter threats and provide emergency response to those in harm's way.
Accordingly, there remains the need to be able to provide a gunshot detection system that accurately distinguishes the sound of a gunshot from other noise and identifies the location of the gunshot origination.
In one embodiment of the invention a method for detecting the occurrence of a gunshot is provided. The method includes the steps of: receiving acoustic signals at a microphone indicative of a magnitude of the acoustic signal at a plurality of discrete frequencies; converting the acoustic signals to a digital signal and then employing a Goertzel algorithm based digital signal filter on the digital signal to produce Goertzel magnitudes at the plurality of discrete frequencies. The method then determines if a maximum value of the digital signal is higher than a predefined threshold value. If the threshold value is exceeded, the method predicts if the Goertzel magnitudes at the plurality of discrete frequencies are indicative of a gunshot sound via gradient boosting; and, transmits a signal indicative of a gunshot occurrence after predicting if a possible gunshot event has occurred.
In another aspect of the invention, the Goertzel algorithm based digital signal filter produces a tuple of Goertzel magnitudes corresponding to eleven discrete frequencies for each digital signal packet corresponding to a sample duration of 10 milliseconds.
In another aspect of the invention, the plurality of discrete frequencies subject to the Goertzel algorithm based digital signal filter are selected from a group of frequency consisting of: 5, 800, 3800, 4000, 6100, 6200, 6300, 6700, 7200, and 8000 Hz.
In another aspect of the invention, the method also includes the step of retaining a series of ten preceding tuples of Goertzel magnitudes in a circular buffer after the tuples are produced at the Goertzel algorithm based digital signal filter.
In another aspect of the invention, the method also includes the step of transmitting the series of ten preceding tuples of Goertzel magnitudes from the circular buffer to a gradient boosting decision tree in the event that the digital signal of maximum value is higher than a predefined threshold value
In another aspect of the invention, the method also includes the step of receiving the positive output at a debouncer and generating a signal indicative of a gunshot occurrence while suppressing duplicative signals.
Further aspects or embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description, which is given by way of example only.
In describing the embodiments of the invention which are illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology is resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, it is not intended that the invention be limited to the specific terms so selected and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose

System and method of signal processing for use in gunshot detection


A pilot operated control valve has a housing defining an inlet and an outlet. A main valve poppet selectively engages a valve seat to control flow of fluid between the inlet and outlet. An aperture in the main valve poppet opens into a control chamber on a side of the main poppet remote from the valve seat. A pilot passage is formed in the main valve poppet with an inlet section between the inlet and the control chamber, and an outlet section between the aperture and the control chamber. A pilot poppet has a body that selectively seals communication between the control chamber and the aperture, and a pressure balancing stem attached to the body extends into the aperture. The pressure balancing stem having a recess which is acted upon by pressure in the outlet section and having an end which is acted upon by pressure in the inlet section. The pilot operated control valve also incorporates a compression check valve and/or a reverse flow check valve.

The present invention relates to pilot operated hydraulic valves, and more particularly to hydraulic control systems which incorporate such valves along with safety valves.
Construction machinery have moveable members which are operated by a hydraulic cylinder and piston arrangement. The cylinder is divided into two internal chambers by the piston and selective application of hydraulic fluid under pressure to one of the chambers moves the piston in a corresponding direction.
Application of hydraulic fluid to the cylinder typically is controlled by a manual valve, such as the one described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,579,642. In this type of valve, a manual operator lever was mechanically connected to a spool within the valve. Movement of the spool into various positions with respect to cavities in the valve body enables pressurized hydraulic fluid to flow from a pump to one of the cylinder chambers and be drained from the other chamber. By varying the degree to which the spool was moved, the rate of flow into the associated chamber can be varied, thereby moving the piston at proportionally different speeds.
There is a current trend with respect to construction equipment away from manually operated hydraulic valves toward electrically controlled devices and the use of solenoid valves. This type of control simplifies the hydraulic plumbing as the control valves do not have to be located in the operator cab. This changes in technology also facilitates computerized control of various machine functions.
Solenoid valves are well known for controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid and employ an electromagnetic coil which moves an armature in one direction to open a valve. Either the armature or a valve member is spring loaded so that the valve closes when the current is removed from the solenoid coil. As a result, solenoids conventionally are not used to operate a standard valve spool which requires proportional movement in two directions in order to raise and lower a hydraulic cylinder at controlled rates.
As a consequence, systems have been devised which utilize a pair of solenoid operated valves for each cylinder chamber to be power driven. For a given cylinder chamber, one solenoid valve controls the application of fluid under pressure from a pump to move the piston in one direction, and the other solenoid valve is alternatively opened to drain the fluid from the chamber to a tank to move the piston in the opposite direction. Thus, if both chambers of a cylinder chambers are to be power driven, four such solenoid valves are required, two supply valves and two drain valves.
Additional check valves and pressure relief valves should be provided in such a control system to ensure that excessive loading of the piston or pressures produced within the system do not adversely affect performance or create safety problems. As a consequence, a conventional system would incorporate a mounting block with a number of separate solenoid valves and safety valves rendering a relatively large physical structure.

Pilot solenoid control valve and hydraulic control system using same


Systems and methods of providing for processing a banking transaction, such as a debit card transaction, with an overdraft threshold. If a transaction drives an associated account to a negative balance, the amount of the transaction may be compared to an overdraft threshold. If the amount of the transaction does not exceed the overdraft threshold, an overdraft fee may be waived.

A typical debit card holder may make a purchase at a point of sale using the debit card to access funds in the card holder's account at a financial institution. The point of sale may be at any type of location, such as a merchant's physical location, via telephone, via electronic media, or an online environment, for example. When the sale is made funds are typically transferred from the card holder's account, such as a checking account, to the merchant's account. Since the funds are drawn directly from the card holder's account, as opposed to a line of credit, it is possible that the amount of the sale may exceed the amount of funds in the card holder's account. In such non-sufficient funds ("NSF") circumstances, the debit card issuer may provide the debit card holder with "overdraft protection." Through overdraft protection, the sale may be completed at the point of sale even though the sale will drive the card holder's account to a negative balance, or an "overdrawn" condition. The debit card issuer, such as a financial institution, may charge a fee or other penalty to the account holder when the account becomes overdrawn. Such penalties may decrease customer satisfaction levels, such as when a penalty is charged when the amount of sale is relatively small.
In view of the foregoing issues, a need exists for systems and methods for a financial institution to address overdrawn accounts while maintaining acceptable customer satisfaction levels.

Overdraft threshold analysis and decisioning


A multi-angle butterfly valve extension assembly is disclosed which comprises a universal joint for attachment to a stem of a butterfly valve, a shaft having a first end and a second end, the first end being connected to the universal joint, and an extension housing for supporting the shaft with the second end of the shaft extending out of the extension housing.

Hoppers and tank trailers have been commonly used to transport bulk commodities such as granular product or dry bulk material, including industrial products and food products. The hoppers may include multiple sections or compartments for receiving and holding the commodities, with each section or compartment having a generally conical or tapered bottom portion terminating at a discharge outlet. A discharge valve, such as a butterfly valve, is typically provided at the discharge outlet and when opened will allow the commodities to flow out of the tank trailer.
When the hopper or the tank trailer reaches its destination, the bulk commodity will be unloaded by use of a pressurized air system. Typically, this is accomplished by connecting tee assemblies for unloading and then initiating the pneumatic unloading of the bulk commodity from the hopper into a clean and sanitary pipe line. In this manner, the tee assemblies are connected at opposite ends thereof to generally horizontal pipes or hoses that are connected, in turn, to the hopper tees of other sections or compartments. These connections establish a generally horizontal path through the hopper tees and connected pipes or hoses for the flow of the materials discharged from the hopper sections or compartments.
Actual transfer of the bulk commodity that has been transported in the hopper is then accomplished by opening the discharge or dump valve, typically a butterfly valve, associated with the discharge outlet at the bottom of the hopper. Once the valve is opened, the bulk commodity material is moved out of the hopper by gravity flow or by air pressure vibration into and through the vertical section of the hopper tee. As the bulk commodity material drains through the vertical section of the hopper tee into the horizontal portion of the hopper tee, the material is directionally directed by air conveyance through the horizontal portion by a pressure differential in the pipe to cause the material to be directed to and discharged to a desired receptacle or area.
The butterfly valve is generally configured to be manually operated by a rotatable valve stem that projects generally outwardly and generally horizontally near the top of the vertical section of the hopper tee. The valve stem may be engaged by a valve handle so as to be rotated by the operation of the valve handle to open and close the valve. Typically, the projecting portion of the valve stem has been formed or machined at its outer end to have a non-circular cross-section so as to be easily engaged by a similarly configured socket portion associated with the valve handle.
Because the discharge valve for the hopper is positioned at the bottom of the hopper, access to the valve for purposes of opening and closing the valve is often inconvenient. Due to the limited ground clearance height of the valve and the valve being generally centered below the hopper, the valve is difficult to easily reach. Further, a valve handle device must frequently be employed by an operator to assist in actuating the discharge valve. Use of the valve handle device puts the operator in awkward or less than desirable position. Consequently, over the years, it has become desirable, if not customary, for valve handle devices to be constructed from aluminum or other lighter weight materials so as to lessen the strain on the operator as the operator attempts to handle and utilize the valve handle device in awkward positions.
The butterfly valve is used at the base of tank trailers, or even railroad cars, as a means to prevent the untimely discharge of the conveying cargo, whether it is grains, polymer beads, or other flowable materials. The butterfly valve may be manipulated into an open position to provide for the prompt discharge of material from the tank trailer or hopper. Usually, in order to gain access to the butterfly valve to operate the valve, the operator of the vehicle was required to climb under the tank trailer and in the early days, apply a wrench to the butterfly valve shaft, and forcefully turn it at least a quarter turn, in order to provide for opening or closing of the valve, during its manipulation and operation. The problem with such structure was its accessibility, because the operator was required to crawl deeply under the vehicle, to obtain access to the shaft, and to attain its manipulation, during usage. During inclement weather, obviously, this is a dirty task, but, regardless of the weather, it was still predominantly a difficult task. Also, the butterfly valve is in close proximity to hot air supply lines that can reach temperatures of 350° F. If caution is not exercised, it is possible that the operator may be burned by coming into contact with the hot air supply lines.
Consequently, there has existed a need for an improved butterfly valve extension assembly that can be more easily operated by a user without encountering undue interference with other equipment or piping at the bottom on the hopper. It would also be desirable to avoid any potentially hazardous conditions such as coming into contact with hot air lines or being near a tremendous amount of material being discharged. It would also be advantageous to provide a multi-angle butterfly valve extension assembly that is designed to enhance the safety and convenience of the vehicle operator, and to facilitate easy manipulation of a butterfly valve when unloading of a tank trailer.

Multi-angle butterfly valve extension assembly