A combined seat and cane device comprised of a hollow tube with a handle pivotally connected at a top end, and a plurality of four seat support members with an attached fabric seat is removably inserted in a cavity at the top end in a manner to be deployed as required for forming a seat framework. At a lower end of the combined seat and cane device is a quadraped leg assembly that folds out and locks. The combined seat and cane device is easy to carry and caters to an individual's needs.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to improvements in portable seating devices and, more particularly, to an improvement in a combined seat and cane.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the related art, combined canes and seats are well known. Disabled people forced to use canes to aid in walking are faced with obstacles on a daily basis that most of us take for granted. Simple travel from place to place becomes a major undertaking that requires considerable effort. Fortunately, the public is becoming increasingly aware of the difficulties that these people face and are responding in a positive manner. For example, legislation such as the Americans with Disabilities Act imposes responsibilities upon the public sector to make provisions to accommodate the physically disabled so that they may gain access to, and take advantage of, the various goods and services available to others. Unfortunately, however, there are many aspects in which our society has failed to respond thus far in addressing this issue. Access for the disabled doesn't just mean being able to get inside the door, it means being able to do so with a relative amount of comfort. A prime example of this situation is that many times waiting in lines is involved. These lines can be found in grocery stores, banks, license bureaus, and the like where there are no seating areas provided in lines. Additionally, the wait may be from a few minutes to thirty minutes or more, which is extremely uncomfortable, if not impossible, for many disabled people. Accordingly, there is a need for a means by which disabled people can have access to seating areas while waiting in lines with greater ease and efficiency.
Prior art combined canes and seats attempt to fulfill this need by providing a collapsible seat connected to the main shaft body of the cane via a collapsible attachment means. To use, one simply folds the seat down into the horizontal position and seats themselves thereon. The bottom tip of cane rests on the ground and the user supports their weight thereon in this fashion. Examples of these type of cane and seat combinations are U.S. Pat. No. 4,684,090 issued to Skarland, and U.S. Pat. No. 731,291 issued to Dulin. However, the drawback of to these inventions is that one must constantly balance themselves on the seat as the entire weight of the user is transmitted to the ground solely through the tip of the cane. Another type of cane and seat combination, found in U.S. Pat. No. D 284,429 issued to Garde, appears to try to eliminate this problem by providing a collapsible seat and cane combination with a folding tubular structure that has a pair of legs for supporting the device when in the open position. However, such an arrangement proves to be bulky when carrying and doesn't look like a conventional cane.
The present invention eliminates this problem by providing a conventional cane with a collapsible leg and seat assembly that allows a disabled individual to quickly deploy when stationary such as waiting in a line. At the base of the cane there are a plurality of legs that fold out and lock in a tripod-based arrangement similar to that found on a music stand. The seat assembly is a plurality of four retracting rods connected together via a pair of cross-members that stow conveniently inside the hollow stem of the cane. A fabric seat covering also unfolds from within the hollow cane stem wherein said fabric covering is connected along two edges to said cross-members and suspended therebetween in a semi-taut manner. When collapsed the Cane Seat forms a thin, streamlined, and lightweight arrangement that functions as a cane in a conventional manner. As a result of using the Cane Seat, the individual may move around with relative ease, and always be guaranteed access to a seat whenever they find themselves waiting in a line.
A search of the prior art did not disclose any patents that read directly on the claims of the instant invention; however, the following references were considered related:
U.S. Pat. No. Inventor Issue Date 4,684,090 Skarland August 4, 1987 731,291 Dulin June 16, 1903 D 284,429 Garde July 1, 1986 4,562,850 Earley et al. January 7, 1986 4,130,294 Walker December 19, 1978 4,062,372 Slusher December 13, 1977 D 290,186 Meunchen June 9, 1987 D 251,098 Diedrich et al. February 20, 1979 5,060,967 Hulterstrum October 29, 1991


A diverter valve comprises a housing having inlets, a first outlet, and a second outlet. The inlets are connected to hot and cold water supplies, and mixing of the hot and cold water occurs both inside the housing and inside a mixing chamber external to the valve. The first outlet is connected to a spout, and the second outlet is connected to a spray unit. A valve element is mounted in the housing, movable between a closed position and an open position with respect to the first outlet. A piston member comprising a first piston at the bottom end of the valve element, and a second smaller piston at the top end of the valve is responsive to pressure differential between the second outlet and the inlet for movement to a first and second position. When a lower pressure exists at the second outlet, the piston member moves to the second position, closing off the first outlet. The valve also includes a flow regulator to regulate the flow through the second outlet. Fluid is directed into the flow regulator by channels running through the bottom piston. The flow regulator allows pressure to build up inside the valve, providing an increased closure force on the second outlet when the first outlet is open. An inverted cup washer prevents fluid leakage from the second exit by any other route than through the flow regulator. Build up of water inside this cup washer pushes it against the housing, providing an anti-knocking mechanism. The diverter valve may be included in a faucet assembly along with a separate isolated channel for filtered water.

This invention relates to valve structures and more particularly to a diverter valve that incorporates an improved closure mechanism and anti-knocking mechanism.
Diverter valves are commonly used in water tap or faucet assemblies to divert water between a spout and a hand spray. When the spray is operated, the diverter valve shuts off the flow of water to the spout. When the spray is shut off, the diverter valve automatically adjusts to allow water to flow from the spout again. Such systems are particularly used in domestic environments, as well as commercial establishments,
A common method of implementing this automatic diverter system is by means of a piston mechanism. The valve comprises a housing containing a valve member shaped to act as a piston. The valve member is movable from a first position, in which the outlet to the spout is open, to a second position, in which the outlet to the spout is closed off. The piston is responsive to a difference in pressure between the spray outlet and the inlet, so that when the spray is open, the piston moves to close off the spout. Additionally, such a valve may comprise both hot and cold water inlets, such that mixing of the hot and cold water occurs. For example, Moen (U.S. Pat. No. 2,949,933) describes a hot and cold water mixing valve, which can also automatically divert the mixed water from a principle outlet passage to an auxiliary outlet passage when a control valve on the auxiliary passage is opened.
However, a problem with existing diverter valves is that they only operate over a limited pressure range. At high pressures, leakage tends to occur. At low pressures, there is not enough force to close the seal on the spout properly, again resulting in leakage.
Another problem is the tendency for knocking to occur. Knocking is when a valve member is quickly moved from one position to the second position and rebounds back, thereby producing an audible hammering effect in the water line. It can be sufficiently loud as to make someone using the spray/spout system to believe that there is something seriously wrong with it. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,577,653 (Masco Corporation), a new design of valve is described, which is intended to reduce knocking of the valve member in the housing. This is achieved largely by prongs at the bottom of the upper housing part which bear on the conical mid-portion of the valve member. However, the design of Masco's valve is extremely complicated. The present invention aims both to improve substantially on the pressure range over which the valve will operate, and to reduce the amount of knocking which occurs, based on a design which is fairly straightforward and easy to construct.


This invention relates to a process for purification of nanotube soot in a non-destructive and efficient method using a polymer having a coiling structure to extract nanotubes from their accompanying material without damage to their structure and with a high mass yield. Nanotube soot is added to a solvent which including a coiling polymer to form a solution. The solution is mixed with a nanotube composite suspension is formed with extraneous solid material such as amorphous carbon settling at the bottom of the solution. The nanotube composite suspension is decanted from the settled solid.

Carbon nanotubes are a relatively new class of materials which, in their pure form are of great technological interest as mechanical reinforcing, electrically and thermally conducting additives for static protection. The present invention relates to a method of purification of the carbon nanotubes by a non-destructive and efficient method using a new type of polymer to extract them from the accompanying material without damage to their structure.
When friction and separation occurs between materials, a transfer of electrons from the atoms on the surface will take place. This process is referred to as triboelectric generation. The resulting imbalance of electrons is what is called an electrostatic charge. This electrostatic surface charge is either positive or negative depending on whether there is a deficiency or abundance of free electrons respectively. We refer to this charge state as static electricity because it tends to remain at rest or static unless acted upon by an outside force. The amount of charge generated through the process of friction and separation will be influenced by the extent of the contact, the materials involved, relative humidity, and the texture of the material. Static charges of up to 30,000 Volts (V) are not uncommon and can be generated by the simple act of walking across a floor; yet a discharge of only 10 V can destroy a class 1 electrostatic discharge (ESD) sensitive device. Static electricity is an essence invisible although we often see it effects and can feel and measure its presence or electrostatic field. Since it is created from an imbalance of electrons it is not in a natural or stable state. Material with an imbalance of electrons will, when possible, return to a balanced state. When this is done rapidly a zap or spark associated with rapid ESD occurs. We may feel the zap if the discharge that occurs is over 3000 V. Electrostatic discharges below that level are below the threshold of human sensation but are still lethal to electronic and associated semi-conductor devices.
One common misconception is that conductive materials do not generate charges. This is because the dissipation of static charges from grounded conductive material tends to be complete and rapid. Ungrounded conductors can generate and hold static charges.
The material the inhibits the generation of static charges from triboelectric generation is classified as antistatic. An antistatic material can be conductive, dissipative or even insulative. Only conductive or dissipative antistatic material should be used in ESD safe areas. Insulative material are more commonly understood to generate and hold a static charge. Since they are insulators they do not allow the charge to move or distribute throughout the object. Grounding is not an effective method of neutralising insulators. Static fields on insulators are not necessarily permanent either; they will eventually be neutralised by gradual recombination with free ions. Free ions are charged particles that occur naturally in air. They may be in the form of atoms, molecules, or group of molecules such as water droplets. As free ions pass near a charged object of the opposite polarity they are attached by the field and will gradually return the material to a state of balance. A charged object is surrounded by an electrostatic field. This field can also effect nearby objects by charge induction. Charge induction lets an electrostatically charged object charge other nearby objects without actually touching them; typically as far away as several feet.
In the processing of film materials of plastics, static material can cause materials to cling to each other causing product quality problems or production slow-down. In clean rooms, charged materials can hold static-laden dust, preventing these dust particles from being circulated and picked up by the filtration system. Microelectronics suffers a different type of quality problem due to static electricity. Electronic components are composed of micro miniature traces and structures of alternating layers that may be insulative, conductive or semi-conductive. Rapid ESD can cause damage to these underlying structures via the traces of the component. Unfortunately, ESD damage to electronic components is not as readily apparent as the effects of static electricity in other industries. This is because ESD damage is not generally visible as it occurs and may be latent or not show up in functional testing of electronic devices. ESD damage may lead to premature or intermittent failure. Estimates of the cost of ESD damage to electronic based equipment run as high as five billion dollars annually. The cost of ESD damage is not simply the cost of the components, but includes the cost of labour and may include all of the expenses associated with field repair. Another cost is that of lost business due to customer dissatisfaction.
Current methods used to combat static electricity include charge prevention, shielding and neutralisation. Charge prevention is accomplished by reducing the exposure to charge generating materials. Charge generation can be prevented through the elimination of unnecessary activities that create static charges, the removal of unnecessary materials that are known charge generators and the use of antistatic materials.
Antistatic materials are those materials that are shown to create minimal static charges generally less than 200 V, when exposed to friction and separation. Antistatic materials may be naturally low in charge generation properties or have been made or treated with an antistatic agent.
Carbon nanotubes are graphite sheets that are rolled up and closed at either end producing a closed tube of carbon atoms. Carbon nanotubes have an electronic character that ranges from semi-conducting to metallic. It is these unique electronic characteristics that confers on the carbon nanotubes their potential for use as antistatic agents.
Carbon nanotube production can be carried out using the Krxc3xa4tschmer generator where sublimation and recombination occur to form carbon nanotube soot from graphite rods in a plasma. To date, there have been problems purifying the carbon nanotubes from the soot. Methods that have previously been disclosed for purifying carbon nanotubes include purification by treatment with strong chemical oxidants, purification by burning of unpurified samples and purification using surfactants. One such method is described in No. U.S. Pat. No. 5,560,898. All of the previously disclosed methods have disadvantages. Chemical oxidants do remove the nanotubes from the impure soot but tend to break chemical bonds in the nanotubes, especially at the tips. Methods involving burning tend to produce better purity samples but the yields are very poor in the order of 1% to 2% yield of carbon nanotubes. Purification using surfactants is more efficient but still involves high power ultrasonic bath treatment which is again known to break nanotubes at their tips.
It is an object of the present invention to overcome these problems.
It is also an object of the invention to provide a method for purifying carbon nanotubes that is not destructive and is efficient and easy to reproduce.
According to the present invention there is provided a composition which includes nanotubes and an organic material. Preferably the organic material has a coiling structure. The term xe2x80x9ccoiling structurexe2x80x9d as used in this specification means a structure which facilitates the organic material wrapping about the nanotubes, that is capable of forming structures which wrap, coil, curve or bend around the nanotubes. The material may form strands and/or ropes for this purpose.
The term nanotube as used in this patent specification is taken to mean any nanostructure and related materials. The organic material may comprise one or more polymer (conjugated and non-conjugated), oligomer (conjugated and non-conjugated) and monomer (conjugated and non-conjugated) or combinations thereof. The nanotubes which are mixed with these can be in the form of carbon nanotubes, nanotubes of other materials such as vanadium pentoxide for example, nanostructures (regular and undefined), as well as derivatives of these which can be based on or contain, as an example, Silicon, Boron, Tin, nitrogen, compounds of vanadium and oxygen such as vanadium pentoxide, etc. The nanostructures can have dimensions from nanometers in length to millimeters in length, as well as nanometers in width to micrometers in width.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the organic material is a polymer.
In a particularly preferred embodiment the polymer is poly(m-phenylene-co-2,5-dioctoxy-p-phenylenevinylene).
Various other coiling polymers, oligomers and aggregates can be used such as poly(dioctyl fluorene) or poly(sulphonic acid). Other polymers such as polyacetylene which can form strands and/or ropes could also be used. Further, DNA and all related coiling biological systems could be used.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a process for purifying nanotube soot comprising the steps of:
adding nanotube soot to a solvent which includes a nanotube extracting material to form a solution;
mixing the solution to form a nanotube composite suspension and separate solid material;
allowing the separate solid material to settle;
removing the nanotube composite suspension.
The nanotube extracting material keeps the nanotubes in suspension while allowing the undesirable solid materials such as amorphous carbon to settle out. Preferably the nanotube extracting material is an organic material. Ideally the organic material has a coiling structure.
In a preferred embodiment the nanotube extracting material is one or more polymer, oligomer or monomer or combinations thereof.
In a preferred embodiment the nanotube extracting material is poly(m-phenylene-co-2,5-dioctoxy-p-phenylenevinylene).
Preferably the nanotube soot, nanotube extracting material and solvent are mixed in an optimized ratio dependent on the starting materials used. The solvent could be a liquid or gel. Any suitable solvent which can solubilise the nanotube extracting material can be used.
In another embodiment of the invention the solvent used is an organic solvent.
In another embodiment of the invention the organic solvent is an arene aromatic hydrocarbon.
Conveniently, the solution is mixed by sonication. However, any other suitable mixing method may be used.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the solution is mixed in a low power ultrasonic bath for at least 20 minutes.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a process for making a nanotube and organic polymer suspension comprising the steps of mixing a solvent with an organic polymer to form a solution having a desired viscosity, said viscosity being sufficient to suspend nanotube containing material to the solution, and mixing the nanotube containing material through the solution to form a nanotube and organic polymer suspension.
In another aspect the invention provides a nanotube extracting polymer poly(m-phenylene-co-2,5-dioctoxy-p-phenylenevinylene, of the formula:
The side groups can be changed if desired to change the helical structure. In some cases only one side group may be provided.
In a still further aspect the invention provides a method for preparing poly(m-phenylene-co-2,5-dioctoxy-p-phenylenevinylene)polymer comprising:
adding a phosphonate salt and an aldehyde to an ionizing solvent;
heating the mixture;
adding a potassium salt to the mixture;
allowing the mixture to react for a preset time period to form a polymer;
pouring the mixture into a solvent to enable the polymer to precipitate;
separating the polymer from the liquid;
drying the polymer; and
purifying the polymer.
In one embodiment of the invention the phosphonate salt, aldehyde and ionizing solvent are mixed in an optimised concentration ratio.
In one embodiment of the invention the phosphonate salt used is 1,4-bis(2,5-dioctoxy)benzyldiethyl-phosphonate.
In another embodiment of the invention the aldehyde used is terphthalaldehyde.
In another embodiment of the invention the ionising solvent is a formamide.
In one embodiment of the invention the polymer is prepared in an inert atmosphere.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the inert atmosphere is an argon atmosphere.
In another embodiment of the invention the mixture is heated to between 70 and 90xc2x0 C.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the mixture is heated to about 80xc2x0 C.
In another embodiment of the invention the potassium salt is potassium tert-butoxide.
In another embodiment of the invention the mixture is allowed to react for at least 3 hours.
In another embodiment of the invention the solvent used is water.
In another embodiment of the invention the polymer is separated from the liquid by centrifugation.
In another embodiment of the invention the polymer is dried under vacuum.
In another embodiment of the invention the polymer is purified by continuous extraction using an alcohol.
In another embodiment of the invention the polymer is purified by continuous extraction using a primary alcohol.
In another embodiment of the invention the alcohol is selected from the group including methanol, ethanol, propan-1-ol and phenylmethanol.

Materials Ireland, a division of Forbairt

The Provost Fellows and Scholars of the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth Near Dublin of College Green


A vehicle-mounted device for hoisting and transporting big game such as deer, and more particularly a device for mounting on an all-terrain vehicle such as a quad, is disclosed. The device includes two or more spaced-apart lift lines for encircling the trunk of a big-game carcass so as to hoist and transport the carcass with the trunk extending substantially horizontally. The lift lines are attached to a common reel rotatably mounted to the vehicle. The device includes a hand crank for rotating the reel so as to spool in the lift lines and a hand-manipulable set screw for locking the reel and lift lines during transportation of the carcass.

Big-game hunting is practised throughout the world. Many big-game hunters use rough-terrain vehicles such as conventional four-wheel-drive pickup trucks, sport utility vehicles and all-terrain vehicles (such as the four-wheel vehicles commonly referred to as "quads"), when hunting. Many hunters prefer quads for hunting as they are smaller and generally more suitable for rough terrain and forested areas than pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles.
Typically, there are difficulties associated with transporting a big-game carcass from the kill site, which may be remote, forested and/or hilly. A big-game animal may weigh as much as several hundred pounds. It is typically extremely difficult or impossible for one person to lift the carcass of a big-game animal and it may not be possible for one person to load the carcass of a big game animal into a pickup truck or sport utility vehicle. The quads used in hunting typically have rear and front racks that are sufficiently strong to support the carcasses of some big-game animals. However, it is typically not possible for one person to lift the carcass of a big-game animal onto the rear or front rack of a quad. As well, generally, such racks are configured so that big-game animals cannot safely be carried on the racks, in that the carcass of a large animal on a rear rack will tend to intrude onto the operator's seat and a carcass on the front rack will interfere with the operator's ability to steer the quad, thus making operation of the quad more difficult and possibly dangerous.
Vehicle-mounted devices for hoisting game are known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,806,063 (issued to York, 21 Feb. 1989); U.S. Pat. No. 6,089,431 (issued to Heyworth, 18 Jul. 2000); and U.S. Pat. No. 6,250,483 (issued to Frommer, 26 Jun. 2001) all disclose devices for mounting on a trailer hitch at the rear of a vehicle for hoisting a big-game animal such as a deer. The hoists disclosed in each of these patents comprise a substantially-vertical strut and boom arrangement and a single cable or rope for preferably attaching to the back legs of the animal such that when hoisted, the animal hangs lengthwise, head down. It would be awkward to transport a carcass thus suspended as it would tend to swing about unless secured. The strut disclosed in the Frommer patent is rotatable about a vertical axis relative to the vehicle to which the device is mounted such that a carcass lifted with the device can be swung toward the adjacent portion of the vehicle to which it is mounted, for example, into the box of a pickup truck. The strut disclosed in the Heyworth patent is similarly rotatable and the Heyworth patent contemplates using the device disclosed therein to hoist a big-game carcass for loading into a separate transportation means, such as a utility trailer. None of the devices disclosed in the York, Heyworth and Frommer patents are intended for supporting big-game carcasses during transport over rough terrain as the lengthwise suspension of the carcass would require that the carcass be strongly secured to prevent it from swinging. As well, the devices disclosed in these patents project above the tops of the vehicles to which they are attached and may tend to catch on overhanging branches in forested areas.
Vehicle mounted devices for transporting game are also known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,219,106 (issued to Glunt, 15 Jun. 1993) discloses a device for mounting on a four-wheel-drive vehicle comprising a platform that when installed, overlies the hood of the vehicle. In use, a big-game carcass may be carried on the platform. The Glunt patent does not disclose a device for loading the big-game carcass onto the platform.
A device for mounting on an all-terrain vehicle, such as a quad, and intended for use in both lifting and transporting a game carcass is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,911,556 (issued to Caldwell, 15 Jun. 1999). The Caldwell device comprises a frame for pivotally mounting to the rear of a rear rack on a quad; and a leg pivotally mounted to the frame and having an angled "spade point" at the distal end of the leg. In use, when preparing to lift a carcass, the frame is pivoted down so that it projects rearwardly with its distal end resting on the ground, and the leg is positioned projecting forward from beneath the frame with the spade point resting on the ground. An animal carcass is then placed on the frame. Driving the quad forward causes the spade point to engage the ground, thus resisting further forward movement of the leg. As the quad moves forward the leg pushes the frame causing it to pivot upward and thereby lift the animal carcass. The frame projects above the quad rack in the up/carrying position and although the arms telescope, they may catch on overhanging branches. As well, the efficacy of the lifting operation of the Caldwell device depends on the character of the ground. For example, it appears that the Caldwell device might not work well on hard or frozen ground as the spade point might not penetrate such ground, or on muddy or swampy ground as such ground might offer insufficient resistence to the spade point to effect the lifting of the frame.
What is needed is a vehicle-mounted device for hoisting and transporting big-game carcasses that is suitable for transporting a carcass over rough terrain; is simple and robust; does not project from the vehicle to which it is attached in such a way as to tend to catch on overhanging branches; and is not dependent on the character of the ground for lifting.

Device for mounting on a vehicle for hoisting and transporting a big-game carcass


A vehicle seat for a vehicle having a floor has an occupant use position, a stowed position, and an ingress/egress position. The seat includes a riser pivotally coupled to the vehicle floor, a seatback pivotally connected to the riser, and a cushion pivotally coupled to the seatback. The seatback remains fixed with respect to the riser when the seat is moved from the occupant use position to the ingress/egress position and the riser remains fixed with respect to the vehicle floor when the seat is moved from the occupant use position to the stowed position.

The present specification relates to vehicle seats. More specifically, the present specification relates to a four-bar vehicle seat having both a stow and an ingress/egress function.
Vehicle seats, particularly vehicle seats used in the second row of vehicles having a third row of seats, such as sport utility vehicles and vans, are typically designed to fold, slide, or pivot forward to permit easier entry into the third row of seats. Further, it is also desirable for vehicle seats to have a stow position, in which the seatback folds forward creating a larger space in the vehicle for storage of bulky cargo.
Conventional vehicle seats are typically designed to permit easier ingress and egress to the next row in one of two ways. First, the seat can be mounted on tracks and the seatback pivotally mounted to the seat cushion such that to permit ingress and egress, the seatback is folded forward and the seat moved to a forward position on the tracks to create more room. This type of seat is typically called a dump style seat. Second, conventional seats can have rear legs that are releasably mounted to the floor of the vehicle such that more room for ingress and egress is created by releasing the rear legs and pivoting the entire seat forward about pivotally mounted front legs. Seats having this type of mechanism are conventionally called fold and tumble seats.
The conventional designs used for the ingress and egress function described above have the following disadvantages. If the seat is mounted on tracks and slides forward on those tracks, the rear portion of the tracks remain on the vehicle floor, creating a tripping hazard for occupants moving into and out of the vehicle, as well as being aesthetically unpleasing. The same disadvantages result from fold and tumble style seats with releasable rear legs because the floor mount remains in place, interfering with occupants and generally being unsightly. Further, both the tracks and the rear leg and associated floor mount interfere with the leg room of passengers seated in the next row when the seat is in the driving position. Further still, seats having a releasable rear leg typically require a mechanism to automatically retract the leg as the seat is tumbled forward such that passengers are not harmed or interfered with when entering or exiting the vehicle. The equipment necessary to automatically retract the rear leg into the frame of the seat adds manufacturing costs to the vehicle seat. Further still, moving the conventional seat out of the way to permit ingress and egress can require two steps, the first involving folding the seatback forward and the second involving sliding the seat forward or tumbling the seat after releasing the rear leg. Yet further still, the track mounted dump style seat may not create a sufficiently large opening for ingress and egress because the rear portion of the seat cushion remains level with the floor of the vehicle after sliding forward rather than lifting up and out of the way.
Conventional seats can also be designed to permit a stowed or utility position. The conventional mechanisms used to place a vehicle seat into a stowed position include a pivot between the seatback and cushion allowing the seatback to be folded down to an essentially flat position on the cushion to create more cargo space. Another conventional method involves a releasable rear leg as described above permitting the entire seat to be tumbled forward into a recess or cavity in the floor of the vehicle. A third conventional style includes the use of a four-bar seat mechanism to pivot the entire seat forward into a cavity in the vehicle after first folding the seatback down onto the seat cushion.
The conventional mechanisms used to create a stowed position have the following disadvantages. If the seatback is designed to fold onto the cushion for storage but the cushion itself does not shift in some manner, it is difficult to design a seatback that will fold to an essentially horizontal position because of the upholstery and padding on the seatback and cushion. In order to avoid this problem, the seatback can be designed with substantially less upholstery and padding, sacrificing occupant comfort. Further, as described above, seats that have a releasable rear leg are more costly and result in the floor mount left behind after releasing the rear leg thus interfering with occupants and cargo storage in the vehicle. Further, four-bar type seats that kneel into a stowed position serve the utilitarian function of having a stowed position but may not include the second function of moving into a position to permit occupant ingress and egress from the vehicle.
Accordingly, there is a need for a vehicle seat that has both a stowed position and a position to permit occupant ingress and egress that is cost effective, does not leave unsightly and hazardous hardware on the floor of the vehicle when in the stowed or ingress/egress positions, that does not have tracks or a rear leg that interfere with the leg room of occupants in the next row, that creates enough room to permit easy ingress and egress from the vehicle, and that does not require multiple steps to place the seat into the ingress/egress position or the stowed position.
The teachings hereinbelow extend to those embodiments that fall within the scope of the appended claims, regardless of whether they accomplish one or more of the above-identified needs.
An exemplary embodiment relates to a vehicle seat for a vehicle having a floor. The seat includes a riser pivotally connected to the vehicle floor, a seatback pivotally connected to the riser, an upper member pivotally connected to the seatback, and a front leg pivotally connected to the upper member and the vehicle floor. The upper member is not directly connected to the riser.
Another exemplary embodiment relates to a vehicle seat coupled to a vehicle floor and having a front leg, a riser, an upper member, and a seatback. The vehicle seat includes a first pivot connecting the upper member and the front leg, a second pivot connecting the front leg and the vehicle floor, a third pivot connecting the vehicle floor and the riser, a fourth pivot connecting the riser and the seatback, and a fifth pivot connecting the seatback and the upper member.
Further, an exemplary embodiment relates to a vehicle seat coupled to a vehicle floor and having an occupant use position, a stowed position, and an ingress/egress position. The vehicle seat includes a riser pivotally coupled to the vehicle floor, a seatback pivotally coupled to the riser, and a cushion pivotally coupled to the seatback. The seatback remains fixed with respect to the riser when the seat is moved from the occupant use position to the ingress/egress position. Further, the riser remains fixed with respect to the vehicle floor when the seat is moved from the occupant use position to the stowed position.


A network management system and method in a telecommunications network for selectively accessing a plurality of synchronization sources of varying levels of accuracy, availability, and cost, and for enabling individual subscribers to select which synchronization source they utilize for each service application. Alternatively, the network management system may dynamically provide each subscriber with the least expensive synchronization source having the required level of accuracy for the subscriber's selected application.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
This invention relates to mobile telecommunication systems and, more particularly, to a system and method of supervising proper frame and time slot synchronization between radio base stations and mobile stations in a mobile telecommunications network.
2. Description of Related Art
Personal Communication Services (PCS) is a synchronous data communication service to be offered as an end-user communication service for mobile subscribers. IS-136.2, one of the standards for PCS operations, requires a common source for synchronization of symbol and Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) frame and time slots with an absolute frequency tolerance of approximately +/-5 parts per million (ppm) (translated to Stratum 3E). IS-136.2 is hereby incorporated by reference herein. Future services are expected to include more digitized data as services include more data transfer and video with real-time capabilities in addition to voice. Tolerances tighter than the +/-5 ppm of IS-136.2 may be required for some applications. A strong need therefore exists to define Operation and Maintenance (O&M) objects that are capable of properly supervising synchronization between base stations and mobile stations.
The current synchronization source for mobile telecommunications networks is classified as Stratum 4 at the user end, and its accuracy has been adequate for voice and most data communications. However, communications such as high definition video require a more accurate synchronization source. There are several alternative sources for network synchronization which provide better accuracy than Stratum 4 at the user end. These sources, in order of decreasing accuracy, include the Global Positioning System (GPS), the Loran-C navigation system, and SONET Digital Hierarchy (SDH) O&M. Each of these synchronization sources provides a different level of accuracy, and the more accurate sources are generally more expensive to implement, access, and utilize as synchronization sources for mobile telecommunications networks. To date, service providers have not offered the more expensive synchronization sources at the user end because there is no billing structure set up to charge their subscribers for the increased cost of operation, and the service providers do not want to pay for the increased capability themselves.
One solution to the problem of providing adequate synchronization for all service applications is to implement the most accurate synchronization source and utilize it for all applications. However, this solution is very expensive, and generally provides a more accurate source than most service applications require. With this solution, subscribers utilizing applications with less stringent requirements would pay unnecessarily high rates because of the higher synchronization cost. Subscribers utilizing service applications requiring the tightest synchronization tolerance, on the other hand, would be subsidized by the subscribers having less stringent requirements since payments from the other subscribers help pay for the synchronization source.
It would be advantageous to have a system in a mobile telecommunications network that provides required levels of synchronization while overcoming the inequities of existing solutions regarding cost to subscribers. The present invention provides such a system.

System and method for rapid selection of synchronization sources in a mobile telecommunications network


The construction and installation of a curved, laminated wooden bending rail used as a hand rail on a spiral staircase or the like is significantly facilitated utilizing a series of contoured clamp structures which circumscribe the rail and uniformly engage it, at each clamp location, around its entire periphery. Each clamp structure includes a pair of bolt-connected clamping blocks which may be drawn into circumbscribing abutment with and tightened around the rail. When the clamp structure is fully tightened, the surfaces of cutout portions in the two clamping blocks each closely conform to and uniformly engage a lateral half of the rail periphery and laterally clamp the rail laminae together with a clamping force which is very evenly distributed along the nonplanar opposite lateral side surfaces of the clamped rail section, thereby essentially eliminating marring and deformation of the rail caused by clamping force concentrations on circumferentially spaced portions thereof.

The present invention relates generally to the fabrication and installation of wooden hand rails for freeform staircases, such as spiral staircases, and more particularly relates to improved clamping methods and apparatus for fabricating and installing curved, laminated wooden staircase hand rails.
As is well known in the construction industry, the fabrication and installation of curved, laminated wooden hand rails on curving staircase structures is a cumbersome, time-consuming and rather difficult task which must be carefully performed in order to provide an acceptable installed hand rail product. The typical spiral staircase hand rail is formed from an elongated, laminated wooden structure commonly referred to as a "bending rail" which is defined by a laterally abutting series of relatively thin flexible wooden laminae which are glued together to form the hand rail which typically is provided with an ornately configured cross-section along its length, the decorative cross-section usually having lateral projections and indentations along its length.
To form the wooden bending rail, a suitable wood glue is applied to the facing vertical side surfaces of the individual laminae, and the laminae are then hand-pressed and held together until the initially assembled bending rail is clamped to temporary vertical support members secured to each individual stair step on the stair case. Since conventional bending rails are quite long-typically in the range of from about 16 feet to about 30 feet--it normally takes four or five workers to manually hold spaced apart longitudinal sections of the bending rail together until the rail is temporarily clamped to these vertical support members. The four or five workers typically carry the bending rail up the staircase, while still holding the individual rail laminae together, and a central longitudinal portion of the rail is clamped to one of the vertical support members. The rail is then bent into place and successively clamped (toward its opposite ends) to additional temporary vertical support members.
Additional intermediate clamps are then installed on the bending rail, between each of the vertical support members, and the glue between the rail laminae is allowed to dry. When the glue has dried, the temporary clamps are removed, and the bending rail is permanently secured to balusters later installed on the staircase.
In addition to being a decidedly awkward task, this conventional installation of wooden bending rails is less than satisfactory from a variety of other standpoints. For example, the temporary clamping of longitudinally spaced apart sections of the bending rail is conventionally accomplished using ordinary metal C-clamps which force small wooden blocks against opposite, laterally outwardly projecting side surface portions of the rail. This causes undesirable lateral stress concentrations on the outwardly projecting opposite side portions of the rail, tending to indent and mar them. Accordingly, when the temporary clamps are removed, a great deal of work is often required to smooth over these marred areas.
Additionally, to inhibit relative vertical shifting between the individual rail laminae, it has heretofore been necessary to form complementary ribs and grooves on the vertical side surfaces of the laminae which are adapted to interlock and hold the upper and lower side surfaces of the rail in precise alignment while the laminae are being manually pressed together by the various workers as the rail is being carried up the staircase and being temporarily clamped to the vertical support members. The necessity of forming these interlocking ribs and grooves on the individual bending rail laminae significantly increases the fabrication cost of the bending rail. Moreover, it is necessary that these interlocking ribs and grooves be very precisely located on the individual laminae to avoid undesirable irregularities in the top and bottom side surfaces of the bending rail. If these ribs and grooves are not very precisely located, it is necessary to subsequently expend considerable effort to smooth out the top and bottom side surfaces of the finished bending rail.
From the foregoing it can be readily seen that improved clamping apparatus and methods for forming and installing bending rails of this general type would be highly desirable. It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide such improved apparatus and methods.

Apparatus and associated methods for forming curved wooden hand rails for spiral staircases and the like


An improved capacitor for a semiconductor memory, and method for depositing material on a substrate is shown. The material to be deposited is energized by irradiation with light in a chamber in which a CVD method is carried out. The energy induced by the irradiation remains in the molecules of the material even after the molecules have lain on the substrate. With the residual energy, the molecules can wander on the substrate even to a hidden surface. Due to this wandering, the deposition can be performed also on the inside of a deep cave.

This invention relates to a capacitor for a semiconductor memory, and to a method in which a photo CVD process is carried out so that the deposition is effectively performed also on insides of depressions.
There is broadly known and used a low pressure CVD method, a plasma CVD method, and a chemical vapor deposition method for semiconductor processing. In the semiconductor processing method, depressions such as a hole, a trench, a cave (a sub-surface re-entrant opening having surfaces out of line-of-sight) or so on are configured on whose surfaces are placed a product created by the CVD method to form a buried field insulating layer or an electric element such as a capacitance in the depression, or to fill an over-etching region in the form of a depression. When a formation of a layer on the depression is desired, it is inevitable that the thickness "ds" of the layer on an inner surface (depression) and the thickness "dt" of the layer on an upper surface result in dt/ds >1. One of the problems of researching to obtain a finely configured semiconductor in the VLSI field is how an inverse ratio, namely ds/dt, can be increased near 1. Further, in the case where the depth of a cave has a measure more than the measure of the opening of the cave, it was impossible to form a uniform layer throughout the inside of the cave. Such caves are formed, e.g., with a known trench method which can dig a cave of depth having a measure 3 to 5 times as large as the measure of the width of the opening thereof. Anyhow, existing methods are not suitable to perform a deposition in such a cave.
Namely, according to an existing CVD method, atoms or molecules are deposited on a substrate in an excited condition which are diffused into vapor after being decomposed or after undergoing a reaction caused by thermal energy. The existing process can be performed effectively when it is carried out under negative pressure, since the active molecules have a relatively long mean free path in the vapor under a negative pressure, compared with that under the atmospheric pressure. For example, on a substrate with a trench of 2 micron meters in width and also in depth, a depression resulted in a layer 1 of micron meter thickness on the upper surface, a layer with at most a thickness of 0.7 micron meter on the side wall of the trench and a layer with the thickness of 0.6 micron meter on the bottom of the trench. In any case, a step coverage ds/dt is expected only up to about 0.7.
According to another known method, step coverages are no more than that of the above method. Normally, ds/dt=0.3-0.5. A plasma enhanced CVD alone is comparable with the above LPCVD.
Another problem associated with the prior art is as follows. When a surface having depressions is coated with an overlying layer, the top surface of the overlying layer inevitably becomes uneven. Some troubles are caused by the uneven surface. For example, when a multi-level interconnection is produced with intervening insulating films for isolating constituent electrode arrangements on different levels (as illustrated in FIGS. 8(A)-8(E)), the electrode arrangement (or pattern) overlying an uneven surface of the intervening insulating film may not be connected to the electrode pattern beneath the intervening insulating film.

Method for depositing material on depressions

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


The present invention relates to a medication delivery device for expelling set doses of medicament, the medication delivery device comprising a position determining arrangement for detecting absolute positions of a movably mounted member, such as a dose indicator barrel, relative to a housing of the medication delivery device. The position determining arrangement comprises a plurality of electrically conducting electrodes arranged on an outer surface of the movably mounted member, and a plurality of contacts members fixedly arranged relative to the housing of the medication delivery device. A first and a second contact member are arranged to follow a first path across the electrically conducting electrodes upon movement of the movably mounted member relative to the housing, whereas a third and a fourth contact member are arranged to follow a second path across the electrically conducting electrodes upon movement of the movably mounted member relative to the housing.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,420,754 discloses a system for measuring the relative movement between two elements, such as the scale and slide of a hand-held measuring instrument. The system includes the provision of a number of groups of supply electrodes on the slide, each of the electrodes in each group being supplied from a respective one of a multiple number of output signals from a signal generator so that all of the supply electrodes are furnished with voltages according to a cyclic pattern, the slide also having at least one receiving electrode which feeds a signal processing unit. The scale is provided with an electronic pattern comprising internally galvanically connected parts, one being a detecting part, located close to the area where the supply electrodes of the slide are moved, the other of the two parts being a transferring part which is located close to the area where the receiving electrode of the slide is moved. The movement of the slide along the scale generates a signal from the receiving electrode which is derived from the signals from at least two adjacent supply electrodes and the position of the slide is determined by a signal processing unit which identifies the amplitude ratio of the received signals.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,329,813 discloses an inductive absolute position sensor applying at least one magnetic field generator that generates a first changing magnetic flux in a first flux region. A plurality of coupling loops have a first plurality of coupling loop portions spaced at an interval related to a first wavelength along a measuring axis and a second plurality of coupling loop portions spaced at an interval related to a second wavelength along a measuring axis. One of the first plurality of coupling loop portions and the second plurality of coupling loop portions are inductively coupled to a first changing magnetic flux from a transmitter winding in a first flux region to generate a second changing magnetic flux outside the first flux region in the other of the first plurality of coupling loop portions and the second plurality of coupling loop portions. A magnetic flux sensor is positioned outside the first flux region and is responsive to the second changing magnetic flux to generate a position-dependent output signal. The output signal varies at the first or second wavelength of the corresponding other of the first plurality of coupling loop portions and the second plurality of coupling loop portions that generates the second changing magnetic flux.
The arrangements suggested in both U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,420,754 and 6,329,813 are adapted for determining linear translations between two objects.
US 2004/0207385 relates to a device for contact free detection of a position of a rotor relative to a stator, where at least one electrode is arranged on the rotor and at least one electrode is arranged on the stator. The electrodes overlap in at least one rotational position of the rotor relative to the stator. US 2004/0207385 further relates to a corresponding method for measuring the rotational position of a rotor relative to a stator. The rotational position is detected using a capacitive coupling between the rotor electrode and the stator electrode.
US 2004/0207385 relates to contact free determination of angular positions between two objects such as between a rotatably mounted rotor and a stationary stator. It is a disadvantage of the arrangement suggested in US 2004/0207385 that the emitters and receivers are position in a manner where they take up an unnecessary amount of space. For compact systems the solution suggested by US 2004/0207385 is not applicable.
WO 02/092153 relates to a medication injector apparatus with various arrangements for position determination. The arrangement depicted in FIG. 20 of WO 02/092153 is constituted by an electrically conducting matrix where six horizontally oriented rows are connected by vertically oriented matrix elements. The six horizontally oriented rows and the vertically oriented matrix elements constitute an integrated electrically conducting matrix.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,986,585 relates to a device for converting mechanical deflections into corresponding electrical variables. Two pairs of contact terminals are moveably arranged relative to two groups of contact pads where driving signals are provided to one of said groups. One or more output signals are retrieved from one or more electrodes of the second group—said one or more output signals being indicative of the position of the contact terminals relative to the two groups of contact pads. The arrangement suggested in U.S. Pat. No. 5,986,585 is not suitable for measuring angular positions between two elements.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a space saving arrangement for measuring absolute position of a first member, such as a dose indicator barrel, relative to a second member, such as a housing of a medication delivery device.

Absolute position determination of movably mounted member in medication delivery device


A pedal system of the present invention includes a support element, a connecting shank, a fixation element and a transmission element. The support element has a pedal and a rotatable axle. The axle inserts through the connecting shank and the fixation element in a rotational operative relationship. The transmission element connects between the pedal and the connecting shank. The fixation element is adapted for a drum hammer to dispose thereon. The fixation element has a longitudinal slot and a positioning unit. The axle is movable between both ends of the longitudinal slot, and the positioning unit selectively fixes a relative position of the longitudinal slot and the axle. As such, the position of the drum hammer is adjustable for the player to achieve better performance effect.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pedal system for a percussion instrument, and more particularly for a drum.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Some of the conventional drum assemblies include pedal systems for the player to percuss the drum by foot. However, the conventional pedal system is not adapted for different drums with various dimensions. Specifically, the distance between a drum hammer of the pedal system and a drum skin varies case by case, which affects the player's performance.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Pedal system and a drum assembly using the same


In the present invention a direct X-ray conversion layer comprises a material having a perovskite crystal structure. This is preferable since this enables constructing an X-ray detector with edge-on illuminated detector elements.

In spectral photon-counting computed tomography (CT) small pixels of a dedicated spectral detector are used for determining energy of localized photon-to-electron conversions in a so-called direct conversion layer. State-of-the-art direct conversion layers in spectral detectors are usually based on cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) or cadmium telluride (CdTe) technologies and are typically greater than 1.5 mm thick for high photo-peak absorption and system sensitivity. Irradiation rates in a direct beam area are of an order of up to 10{circumflex over ( )}9 x-ray photons per square millimeter and second. Pixels should therefore be well below square millimeter size to allow single photon counting with readout times in the range of tens of nanoseconds. State-of-the-art CZT technology, using horizontal slabs of CZT with pixelated top or bottom contacts, allows for a typical minimum pixel size of 0.2-0.5 millimeters for a 2 millimeter detector thickness. This is not sufficient for high irradiation rates since state-of-the-art photon counting electronics cannot support the rate/channel equivalent in air. An alternative solution is to illuminate the CZT edge on. However, this requires very thin slabs of CZT, typically below 1 millimeter, which is very difficult to handle and manufacture in homogenous high quality that is required, making it a costly process. On top of that CZT itself is an expensive material.


Systems and methods for ranking communities based on members are described. One of the methods includes receiving a search query. The search query is received from a first user of a social network. The method further includes determining communities associated with the social network. Each community includes one or more posts. The one or more posts in a community are received from one or more members of the community. The method includes examining reputations of the members of the communities that satisfy the content match and ranking the communities based on the examination of the reputations of the members for presentation of the communities in a ranked order on a client device in response to the search query.

The Internet has created a web of computers and with that, has also created a web of information. People access the Internet to find information that they desire. For example, some people access the Internet to research an issue. Some other people access the Internet for socializing with other people.
People search the Internet for finding information regarding an object or person. To access more information regarding the object or person, people access a web browser. When people access the web browser, they can be lost in a large pool of information and may be unable to access desirable information regarding the object or person.


The present invention relates to a bidenitate diimino-complex of nickel or palladium containing at least one group OSi(R)3 wherein each R, equal to or different from each other, is selected from the group consisting of: C1-C20 alkyl, C3-C20 cycloalkyl, C6-C20 aryl, C2-C20 alkenyl, C7-C20 arylalkyl, C7-C20 alkylaryl, C8-C20 arylalkenyl, and C8-C20 alkenylaryl, linear or branched, preferably each R is independently methyl, ethyl or propyl. The present invention also relates to the process for the preparation of bidentate diimino complexes of nickel and palladium as well as the process for their use in olefin polymerization.

This invention relates to a new class of nickel and palladium complexes useful in the (co)polymerization of olefins.
It has been recently discovered that complexes of nickel or palladium with alpha-diimine ligand can be used as catalysts for polymerizing olefins; for instance WO 96/23010 discloses with several examples various types of these complexes, showing that they can be used for polymerizing a large number of olefins.
Immobilizing these complexes on solid supports to enable heterogeneous polymerization processes, such as those based on gas-phase, bulk or slurry processes, is important for their efficient industrial utilization. In particular, some non supported nickel catalysts give rise to polymers characterized by a high level of branching. The melting points of these polymers are anticipated to be as low as to present problems with reactor operation at typical industrial operating temperatures, especially when heat dissipation by solvents is unavailable, as in continuous gas phase polymerization.
WO 96/23010 discloses supported diimine palladium or nickel catalysts. It exemplifies a process wherein a complex activated with a cocatalyst is adsorbed on silica.
WO 97/48736 relates to immobilized catalysts; they are substantially obtained by preparing a precursor solution mixing together the complex with an aluminoxane and adding this precursor solution to a porous support.
In some examples of WO 98/56832 the cocatalyst was supported on an inorganic support and then a diimino-complex was added, then the obtained catalyst was prepolymerized.
For avoiding the drawback of the migration of the active species into the homogeneous phase during the polymerization reaction, a chemical bond between the carrier and the diimino-complex could be desirable.
An object of the present invention is a bidentate diimino-complex of nickel or palladium containing a siloxy group, that can be easily supported on a carrier through a chemical bond between the carrier and the complex itself.
Another object of the present invention is an olefin polymerization catalyst comprising as catalyst component a diimino-complex of nickel or palladium containing a siloxy group.
A further object of the present invention is a solid polymerization catalyst comprising the diimino-complex of nickel or palladium object of the present invention, a carrier and a cocatalyst.
In this solid catalyst, the catalytic centres are attached to the support by means of the alkoxysilane functionality, thus providing a true heterogeneous catalyst. The preparation of said catalyst precursor results in little or no contaminating secondary reaction products, hence the catalyst is substantially or completely free from undesirable impurities. The catalysts can be used in solution, high pressure, slurry or gas-phase processes. The catalysts are especially useful for the production of branched polyethylene without requiring co-monomer.
The present invention relates to a bidentate diimino-complex of nickel or palladium containing at least one group OSi(R)3 wherein each R, equal to or different from each other, is selected from the group consisting of: C1-C20 alkyl, C3-C20 cycloalkyl, C6-C20 aryl, C2-C20 alkenyl, C7-C20 arylalkyl, C7-C20 alkylaryl, C8-C20 arylalkenyl, and C8-C20 alkenylaryl, linear or branched, preferably each R is independently methyl, ethyl or propyl.
The present invention also relates to the process for the preparation of bidentate diimino complexes of nickel and palladium as well as the process for their use in olefin polymerization.
The present invention relates to a bidentate diimino-complex of nickel or palladium containing at least one group OSi(R)3 wherein each R, equal to or different from each other, is selected from the group consisting of: C1-C20 alkyl, C3-C20 cycloalkyl, C6-C20 aryl, C2-C20 alkenyl, C7-C20 arylalkyl, C7-C20, alkylaryl, C8-C20 arylalkenyl, and C8-C20 alkenylaryl, linear or branched, preferably R is methyl, ethyl or propyl. Preferably the bidenitate diimino-complex of nickel and palladium is defined by the following general formulas:
wherein
M is nickel or palladium, n is 0, 1, 2 or 3; m is 1, 2 or 3,
each X, equal to or different from each other, is independently selected from the group consisting of: halogen, hydrogen, OR, N(R)2, R, wherein each R is independently selected from the group consisting of: C1-C20 alkyl, C3-C20 cycloalkyl, C6-C20 aryl, C2-C20 alkenyl, C7-C20 arylalkyl, C7-C20 alkylaryl, C8-C20 arylalkenyl, and C8-C20 alkenylaryl; linear or branched, preferably each R is independently methyl, ethyl or propyl; two X taken together can also form an aromatic or aliphatic divalent ligand, containing two equal or different donor atoms belonging to the group 14-16 of the periodic table of the elements, such as catecholate, 1,2-ethanediolate or 1,2-phenylenediamide, xcex1-deprotonated-xcex2-diketone, xcex1-deprotonated-xcex2-ketoester such as acetylacetonate or hexafluoracetylacetonate;
each R1, equal to or different from each other, is selected from the group consisting of: hydrogen, a monovalent aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon group, optionally containing heteroatoms of group 14 to 16 of the periodic table of the elements or boron; with the proviso that at least one R1 group is represented by the formula: R4OSi(R)3;
wherein
each R4, equal to or different from each other, is a divalent aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon group containing from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, optionally containing from 1 to 5 heteroatoms of groups 14 to 16 of the periodic table of the elements and/or boron;
preferably it is CR52(R6)aCR52,
wherein
each R5, equal to or different from each other, is selected from the group consisting of: hydrogen and R; two R5 can also unite to form a ring;
R6 is a divalent radical selected from the group comprising: O, NR, S, SiR52, C1-C20 alkylidene, C3-C20 cycloalkylidene, C2-C20 alkenylidene, C6-C20 arylidene, C7-C20 alkylarylidene, C7-C20 arylalkylidene, C8-C20 arylalkylidene, or C8-C20 alkenylarylidene, linear or branched, optionally containing heteroatoms of group 14 to 16 of the periodic table of the elements, and/or boron;
a is 0 or 1;
each R2, equal to or different from each other, is a radical which contains from 1 to 20 carbon atoms; this group optionally contains heteroatoms of group 14 to 16 of the periodic table of the elements and boron;
preferably each R2 is independently selected from the group consisting of: C1-C20 alkyl, C3-C20 cycloalkyl, C6-C20 aryl, C2-C20 alkenyl, C7-C20 arylalkyl, C7-C20 alkylaryl, C8-C20 arylalkenyl, C8-C20 alkenylaryl, linear or branched, optionally substituted by BR52, OR5, SiR53, or NR52, most preferably R2 is a alkylsubstituted phenyl, naphthyl or anthracyl, most preferably R2 is a 2,6 dialkylphenyl group, optionally substituted in position 4 by a group R as defined above.
each R3, equal to or different from each other, is hydrogen or a radical which contains from 1 to 20 carbon atoms; this group optionally contains heteroatoms of group 14 to 16 of the periodic table of the elements and/or boron;
preferably R3 is independently selected from the group consisting of: hydrogen, C1-C20 alkyl, C3-C20 cycloalkyl, C6-C20 aryl, C2-C20 alkenyl, C7-C20 arylalkyl, C7-C20 alkylaryl, C8-C20 arylalkenyl, and C8-C20 alkenylaryl, linear or branched, optionally substituted by BR52, OR5, SiR53, or NR52 where R5 is defined above;
two or more R1, R2, R3 and R4 can also unite to form a from 4 to 15 membered aliphatic or aromatic ring; the ring optionally contains heteroatoms of group 14 to 16 of the periodic table of the elements and boron.
Preferably R1 is selected from the group consisting of: hydrogen; C1-C20 alkyl; C3-C20 cycloalkyl; C6-C20 aryl; C2-C20 alkenyl; C7-C20 arylalkyl; C7-C20 alkylaryl; C8-C20 arylalkenyl; and C8-C20 alkenylaryl; linear or branched, optionally substituted by BR52, OR5, SiR53, NR52; or R4OSi(R)3 where R4 and R5 are defined above;
examples of group CR52(R6)aCR52 OSi(R)3 are:
xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3; xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94(CH2)pxe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3 wherein p ranges from 1 to 10;
xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3; xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94C6H4xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3; xe2x80x94CH(Et)xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSi(Et)2Me;
xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94CH2OSi(iPr)3; xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94Si(CH3)2xe2x80x94CH2OSi(iPr)3;
xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94Si(CH3)2xe2x80x94CH2OSi(iPr)3; xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94N(CH3)xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94CH2OSi(iPr)3;
xe2x80x94C(Me)2xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94C6H4xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSi(C5H11)3; xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94C6H4xe2x80x94C6H4Oxe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSi(CH2Ph)3;
xe2x80x94C(CH3)2xe2x80x94C(CH3)2xe2x80x94OSi(C6H4Me)3; xe2x80x94CH(Me)xe2x80x94CH(Me)xe2x80x94OSi(Et)(Me)2.
Compounds of general formula I and II, wherein the group R4OSi(R)3 is CR52(R6)aCR52OSi(R)3, can be prepared by a process comprising the following steps:
1) reacting a compound represented by formula III or IV
wherein each Z is independently selected from the group consisting of R1 and CR52H provided that at least one Z is CR52H; with a Bronsted base preferably selected from the group consisting of: organolithium compound, organosodium compounds, organopotassium compounds, oranomagnesium compounds, sodium hydride, potassium hydride, lithium, sodium, or potassium; preferably lithium alkyl, sodium alkyl, potassium alkyl; more preferably butyllithium;
2) contacting the obtained metallated compound with one equivalent of a compound of general formula Y(R6)nCR52OSi(R)3 (as defined above) and wherein Y is a leaving group, preferably halogen, sulfonate groups, more preferably iodine or bromine, and
3) reacting the obtained product with a compound of general formula LqMX2, wherein M and X have already been defined; L is a labile ligand, i.e. is a weakly coordination group that is removed during the reaction, for example L is a neutral Lewis base such as diethylether, tetrahydrofurane, dimethylaniline, aniline, triphenilphosphine, n-butylamine; 1,2 dimethoxyethane (DME) cyclooctadiene, pyridine, 1,1,2,2-tetramethylendiamine, aromatic or aliphatic nitriles, sulphides, sulphoxides or tioles, triaryl phosphines, arsines or stibines; and q is 1 or 2.
While not wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that in the above procedure, advantage has been taken of acidity of hydrogen atoms bonded at a carbon in the alpha position to the imino group. Thus, it is believed that following a selection of the base to be used, one acidic proton at the carbon atom at the alpha position of the imino group is removed, resulting in an anionic specie which is believed to be prone to act as a nucleophile in the presence of an electrophile. Thus a new bond can be formed when these two species interact. It is commonly known that such a new bond can be formed through two general pathways: by substitution or by addition. In the first case a leaving group is detached from the electrophilic centre. In the second case, a bond is broken (for instance a double bond becomes a single bond).
In order to have the desired alkoxysilane functional group in the final ligand thus formed, the functional group, or a suitable precursor of it, is preferably already present in the electrophile.
According to this synthetic procedure, choosing an appropriate base is desirable in order to selectively remove a hydrogen atom from the carbon atom in alpha to the imino group and, at the same time, not promoting undesired secondary reactions (for instance addition to the imine double bond). Also a suitable leaving group Y is preferably introduced in the electrophile in order to facilitate the formation of the new bond.
The synthetic method of the present invention has also the advantage of providing the possibility of linking more than just one functional group as long as there are more hydrogen atoms at the carbon atom in an alpha position to any of the two imine groups in the diimine precursor. It is sufficient to adjust the amount of base to be added to the original diimine in order to remove the desired number of hydrogen atoms.
Non limiting examples of compounds represented by formula YR5(CR67)nOSi(R)3 are:
Clxe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3, Clxe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3, Clxe2x80x94(CH2)2xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3, Clxe2x80x94(CH2)3xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3,
Clxe2x80x94(CH2)4xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3, Clxe2x80x94(CH2)5xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3, Clxe2x80x94CH3xe2x80x94(CH2)6xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3,
Clxe2x80x94(CH2)7xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3, Clxe2x80x94C6H4xe2x80x94CH3xe2x80x94OSiMe3, Clxe2x80x94(CH2)8xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3,
Clxe2x80x94(CH2)9xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3, Clxe2x80x94(CH2)10xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3, Clxe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94CMe2xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3,
Clxe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94CMe2xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3, Clxe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94CMe2xe2x80x94CMe2xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3,
Clxe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94C6H4xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3, Clxe2x80x94CMe2xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3, Clxe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94CEtMexe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3,
Clxe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94CEt2xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3, Clxe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94CMe2xe2x80x94CEt2xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3,
Clxe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94C6H4xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3, Clxe2x80x94CEt2xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3,
Brxe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3, Brxe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3, Brxe2x80x94(CH2)2xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3, Brxe2x80x94(CH2)3xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3,
Brxe2x80x94(CH2)4xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3, Brxe2x80x94(CH2)5xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3, Brxe2x80x94(CH2)6xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3,
Brxe2x80x94(CH2)7xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3, Brxe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94C6H4xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3, Brxe2x80x94(CH2)8xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3,
Brxe2x80x94(CH2)9xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3, Brxe2x80x94(CH2)10xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3, Brxe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94CMe2xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3,
Brxe2x80x94(CH2xe2x80x94CMe2xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3, Brxe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94CMe2xe2x80x94CM2xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3,
Brxe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94C6H4xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3, Brxe2x80x94CMe2xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3, Brxe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94CEtMexe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3,
Brxe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94CEt2xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3, Brxe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94CMe2xe2x80x94CEt2xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3,
Brxe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94C6H4xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3, Brxe2x80x94CEt2xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3,
Ixe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3, Ixe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3, Ixe2x80x94(CH2)2xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3, Ixe2x80x94(CH2)3xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3,
Ixe2x80x94(CH2)4xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3, Ixe2x80x94(CH2)5xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3, Ixe2x80x94(CH2)6xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3,
Ixe2x80x94(CH2)7xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3, Ixe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94C6H4xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3, Ixe2x80x94(CH2)8xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3,
Ixe2x80x94(CH2)9xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3, Ixe2x80x94(CH2)10xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3, Ixe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94CMe2xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3,
Ixe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94CMe2xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3, Ixe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94CMe2xe2x80x94CMe2xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe2, Ixe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94C6H4xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3,
Ixe2x80x94CMe2xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3, Ixe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94CEtMexe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3, Ixe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94CEt2xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3,
Ixe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94CMe2xe2x80x94CEt2xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3, Ixe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94C6H4xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3, Ixe2x80x94CEt2xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMe3,
Ixe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiEt3, Ixe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiEt3, Ixe2x80x94(CH2)2xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiEt3, Ixe2x80x94(CH2)3xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiEt3,
Ixe2x80x94(CH2)4xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiEt3, Ixe2x80x94(CH2)5xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiEt3, Ixe2x80x94(CH2)6xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiEt3,
Brxe2x80x94(CH2)7xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiPr3, Brxe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94C6H4xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiPr3, Brxe2x80x94(CH2)8xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiPr3,
Brxe2x80x94(CH2)9xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiPr3, Brxe2x80x94(CH2)10xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiPr3, Brxe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94CMe2xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiPr3,
Clxe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94CMe2xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiPh3, Clxe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94CMe2xe2x80x94CMe2xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiPh3,
Clxe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94C6H4xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiPh3, Clxe2x80x94CMe2xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiPh3, Clxe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94CEtMexe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OStPh3,
Clxe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94CEt2xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiPh3, Brxe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94CMe2xe2x80x94CEt2xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiMeEt2,
Brxe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94C6H4xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiPhMe2, Brxe2x80x94CEt2xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OSiEtPr2.
More preferred diimino compounds of formula I are:
Non limitative examples of compounds according to formula 1 are:
The compounds of the present invention can be used as catalyst components for polymerizing olefins, preferably alpha-olefins. This catalyst component is especially useful for the production of branched polyethylene without requiring co-monomer. The catalyst component of the present invention is preferably used in combination with a cocatalyst. Illustrative but non-limiting examples of co-catalysts are: aluminoxanes (methylaluminoxane (MAO), modified methylaluminoxane (MMAO), isobutylaluminoxane (IBAO), etc.), combinations of alkylaluminiums (such as trimethylaluminium, trimethylaluminium, tributylaluminium, etc.) and boron containing Lewis acids (such as trifluoroborate, trispentafluorophenylborane, tris[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borane, etc.), hydrogen Lewis acids (dimethylanilinium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)boron, HBF4, etc.), silver Lewis acids (such as AgBF4, AgPF6, AgSbF6, silver tetrakis[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate etc.) or others (such as sodium tetrakis[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate, etc.).
The catalyst component of the present invention is especially useful for being supported on a porous inorganic solid. As supporting material, any type of inorganic oxides can be used, such as: silica, alumina, silica-alumina, aluminum phosphates and mixtures thereof, obtaining supported catalysts with contents in transition metals between 0.01 and 10% by weight, preferably between 0.1 and 4%. Particularly preferred supports are silica calcined at a temperature between 600xc2x0 C. and 800xc2x0 C., and silica previously treated with alumoxane.
A process for preparing supported catalysts according to this invention comprises the following steps:
a) contacting, preferably under anhydrous conditions and inert atmosphere, a solution of at least one diimino-complex of the present invention, with the support material at a temperature between xe2x88x9220xc2x0 C. and 90xc2x0 C.; and
b) filtering and washing with a solvent, selected from aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon, or a mixture thereof.
Another process that can be used comprises the following steps:
a) contacting, preferably under anhydrous conditions and inert atmosphere, a solution of at least one diimino-complex of the present invention, with the support material at a temperature between xe2x88x9220xc2x0 C. and 90xc2x0 C.;
b) eliminating the solvent preferably through evaporation;
c) warming the solid residue up to temperature between 25 and 150xc2x0 C.
The solid catalyst obtained by this process can be further subjected to washing and subsequent filtration.
The amount of the diimino-complex which can be anchored onto the support with the above methods directly relates to the concentration of the reactive groups present in the support. For this reason silica, for example, should preferably have been calcinated at a temperature between 600xc2x0 C. and 800xc2x0 C., preferably in a dry atmosphere.
An advantageous aspect of this invention is that the support method, presumably as a consequence of the reaction of group xe2x80x94OSi(R)3 with reactive groups of the support surface, appears to prevent the desorption of the supported diimino-complexes. This type of interaction represents a significant difference between the organo-complexes heterogenization mechanism and other conventional methods, where the diimino-complex generally remains physisorbed on the support surface.
The procedure employed for the formation of the catalyst results in little or no by-products that could hamper the polymerisation process. Thus, no extra reactants other than the functionalized complex and the silica are needed. Thus, in a preferred embodiment, scavengers and other agents to neutralize the by-products are not used.
The choice of diimino ligand and metal can result in a highly active catalyst for the polymerisation of olefins. The properties of the polyolefins so obtained can be finely tuned by a selection of the structural properties of the diimine ligand attached to the silica, the nature of the metal centre employed and the polymerisation conditions used (e.g. temperature, pressure, concentration of reactants, etc.).
A solid catalyst system can be obtained by adding to the solid catalyst component a cocatalyst, for example alumoxane, boron compounds or mixtures thereof, at any step of the processes described above. For example, catalyst systems can be obtained by reacting silica with the bidentate diimino-complex and then adding alumoxane or treating silica with alumoxane and then reacting the obtained carrier with the bidentate diimino-complex.
For the polymerization in solution, the cocatalyst can be mixed with a solution of a diimino-complex of formula I or II and a supplementary quantity of cocatalyst can be added to the solution; or the catalyst can directly be added to the polymerization medium, which contains the cocatalyst.
For the polymerization in suspension, the cocatalyst can previously be mixed with the supported solid catalyst or it can be added to the polymerization medium before the supported catalyst, or both operations can be sequentially realized.
The most useful polymerization procedure can change according to the chosen type of polymerization process (solution, suspension, slurry or gas phase).
In general, the process comprises contacting the monomer, or, in certain cases, the monomer and the comonomer, with a catalytic composition according to the present invention, that includes at least one diimino-complex of formula I or II.
The alpha-olefins that can be used as comonomers to obtain ethylene copolymers can be one or more C3-C12 linear or branched alpha olefin, such as propylene, butene, hexene, octene and 4-methyl-1-pentene and can be used in proportions from 0.1 to 70% by weight of the total of the monomers. In the case of polymerization of ethylene the density of polymers can be as low as 0.86 g/cm3.
In the particular case of gas-phase suspension process or controlled particle morphology process, the used temperature will be preferably between 30xc2x0 and 100xc2x0 C., while for the solution process the usual temperature will be between 120xc2x0 and 250xc2x0 C.
The pressure will change according to the polymerization technique and may range from atmospheric pressure to 350 MPa.

Bidentate diimine nickel and palladium complexes and polymerization catalysts obtained therefrom


The present invention is directed to presenting a connector which has conductor patterns in very narrow pitch. A frame 50, in which plural beams 52, which have the same cross-section as a connector 1, are aligned in parallel, is molded from a suitable resin which is good in heat resistance and accepts plating. After electroless plating over the surface of each beam 52, resist is coated uniformly thereon. The beam 52 is exposed three-dimensionally using mirrors and masks. After removing resist and unnecessary plated copper, it is gold-plated or solder plated, as needed. The beams 52, on which the conductor patterns are formed, are separated from the frame 50, and by cutting each beam into a designed number, connectors of narrow pitch are obtained.

With increasing density of electronic devices, the number of contacts of circuit board connectors loaded on a circuit board is increasing and becoming more dense. Generally, such a circuit board connector comprises a first connector which has resilient metal contacts and a second connector which has nonresilient metal contacts.
Among these, the second connector is conventionally manufactured by combining a rigid housing made of insulating resin and many nonresilient metal contacts. The manufacturing method of the second connector may be (1) an insertion method in which contacts formed by stamping and/or forming are fixed in a housing by pressing or snapping the contacts in or on the housing; or (2) an injection molding method in which the contacts formed in the same manner as described in the foregoing are positioned in the mold into which insulating resin is injected to fix the contacts in the housing.
Furthermore, another connector manufacturing method is directed to a method of injection mold circuit device of which the surface is partly covered with a metal by plating, etc. (Molded Interconnection Device, hereafter called MID). The two-shot mold method is the method in which a double molding is performed with the resin, which can accept plating, and the resin, which cannot accept plating, and the metal coating is formed only on the resin which can accept plating.
The connector manufactured by using such a two-shot mold method is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2-78171. FIGS. 15 and 16 show the manufacturing process of such a connector. First, a resin, which cannot accept plating, is molded to form an insulating base 100 of which the cross section is approximately of an inverted T-shape. Then, a resin, which can accept plating, is molded in the narrow grooves 102 of the insulating base 100 to form contact regions 104 (FIG. 16), and by plating, using a runner 106 as the plating electrode, metal coatings are formed only on the surface of the contact regions 104. Subsequently, by cutting the gates 108, the connector, of which the conductor patterns are formed in the designed pitch, is completed.
However, with the increasingly narrower pitch and high number of terminals, the following problems arise in the conventional connector which is made by the combination of the insulating resin housing and the metal contacts. That is, the increasingly narrower pitch causes difficulty in the formation of the contacts and the housing, as well as the difficulty in assembly of the contacts to the housing. Furthermore, because of such difficulties, the manufacturing cost rises. Also, the increasing number of terminals causes nonuniformity in the soldered surface of the contacts to the circuit board, and it becomes difficult to maintain the coplanarity of the soldered surface. Furthermore, it is necessary to improve the precision in position in order to attain the designed pitch between the contacts.
Now, in the case of the connector to which the two-shot mold method of MID is applied, it is practically impossible to form conductor patterns in narrow pitch, for example, 0.5 mm pitch, etc., since the conductor patterns are formed by double molding. This is because, with an increasingly narrower pitch, the volume of the contact region is drastically decreased, and the flow of the resin, which accepts plating, is impeded. Also, since the gates 108 are in a single row, the conductor patterns are also in a single row, which is inappropriate for the connector of high density. Furthermore, since the molds are required for the two resins, this results in a higher manufacturing cost.
Consequently, the objective of the present invention is to provide a connector which solves the aforesaid problems.

Electrical connector having contacts formed by metal plating


A radiator module is provided including: a first infrared radiator including a first radiator tube arranged in a radiator plane; and a second infrared radiator including a second radiator tube arranged in the radiator plane. A cladding tube is arranged between the first radiator tube and the second radiator tube. Each of the first radiator tube, the second radiator tube, and the cladding tube is provided with a reflective coating.

Infrared radiator modules having multiple infrared radiators arranged in a radiator plane are known, and are often used as panel radiators.
Panel radiators have a front side and a rear side. Often, the front side of the panel radiator faces a process space such that only the radiation emitted towards the front side of the panel radiator is available as useful radiation in this type of radiator module. It is therefore desirable to have the maximum possible portion of the radiation emitted by the infrared radiators directed at the front side of the panel radiator since only this portion can be used for irradiation of a substrate.
As a general rule, infrared radiators emit undirected radiation. In order to provide the maximum possible fraction of the radiation emitted by the infrared radiators for substrate irradiation and simultaneously attain a high irradiation intensity in the process space, the infrared radiators usually have a common reflector allocated to them that extends at a predetermined distance from the infrared radiators.
The reflector reflects the portion of the radiation that reaches the rear side of the panel radiator and deflects the portion of the radiation in the direction of the substrate.
An irradiation apparatus including a radiator module of this type is known, for example, from DE 10 2013 105 959 A1. The radiator module includes a housing, in which multiple twin-tube infrared radiators are arranged. Moreover, the housing is provided with a reflector on its inside such that a maximum possible fraction of the emitted infrared radiation is coupled onto the substrate. Known radiator modules therefore usually include a rear space that is bordered by the infrared radiators on one side and the reflector on the other side.
The use of a separate reflector is disadvantageous though in that the reflector does not always reflect radiation right at the substrate, but rather, reflected radiation is also incident on neighbouring infrared radiators and can be reflected again there. This is usually observed to be associated with radiation losses that can impair the radiation efficiency of the radiator module. This problem is particularly evident if high irradiation intensities are to be attained with the radiator module. Radiator modules that are designed for high irradiation intensities are usually made to have a compact design, in which neighbouring infrared radiators are disposed at a minimum distance from each other. However, the probability of undesired reflection or absorption of radiation on the infrared radiators increases with decreasing distance of the infrared radiators. This impairs the energy efficiency of the radiator module.

Radiator module and use of the radiator module


An absorbent mat includes top and bottom layers of thermoplastic material with absorbent media disposed therebetween. The top and bottom layers are bonded directly together, or to the absorbent media disposed therebetween, in spaced-apart bond sites. One or more perforations are formed as a result of bonding in the top and/or bottom layers in a peripheral portion of each bond. Each perforation is in communication with the absorbent media and provides a pathway through which liquid can pass. The top and bottom layers may be monolithic thermoplastic film with an aperture formed therethrough at each respective bond by stretching the multi-layer absorbent mat. One or more perforations are formed in the peripheral portion of each bond site thereof as a result of stretching. Each perforation is in communication with the absorbent media and provides a pathway through which liquid can pass into the absorbent media.

Conventionally, meat, poultry, and other food products are displayed in individual packages which include a supporting tray having an absorbent pad in the bottom thereof to absorb liquids (e.g., blood, water, saline, mixtures thereof, etc.) exuded from the food product. A transparent outer plastic wrapping is usually employed to cover and surround the food product and tray to complete the package. There have been various attempts to control liquids exuded from food products within packaging in order to extend the shelf-life of such food products. For example U.S. Pat. No. 4,382,507 discloses an absorbent pad disposed in a food package for absorbing juices or other liquids exuded from food products.
Unfortunately, conventional food pads may not adequately absorb and retain exuded liquids from packaged food products. As a result, exuded liquids may accumulate in the tray and may migrate back into the food products, resulting in spoilage and/or discoloration thereof. In addition, exuded liquids may spill or seep from the food package, which may lead to unsanitary conditions.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,171,695 describes an absorbent core bonded to a film top layer. The absorbent core includes multiple layers of absorbent tissue paper calendared or embossed together. The laminate is held together by either mechanical forces or hydrogen bonding. The multiple layers absorb exuded liquids and expand. Unfortunately, the tissue paper layers may delaminate when wet and may not hold moisture well under pressure.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,250,310 describes a bi-layer absorbent pad having an absorbent core topped with a barrier layer of film or hydrophobic nonwoven material. Unfortunately, the absorbent pad is prone to delamination when wet. In addition, the absorbent media may break away and contaminate a food product, which is unsanitary and undesirable.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,756,939 describes an absorbent pad having absorbent media enclosed within a barrier material, such as plastic film. The film is perforated to allow liquids to seep in and be absorbed. Unfortunately, absorbent pads of this type may be slow to absorb liquids and are typically available only in pre-determined sizes, which may lead to liquid under absorption within a food package. These pouch type pads may contain superabsorbent material such as powder, granule, or fiber. The enclosed pouch is thought to be necessary to control the gel that results from the wetting of the superabsorbent material. The enclosed pouch also may expand or rupture when used for vacuum packaging or modified atmosphere packaging. This rupture can contaminate the package and, at times, can contaminate the production area.
Accordingly, there is a continuing need in the food packaging industry for absorbent pads having high levels of liquid absorbency, that do not delaminate easily when soaked in liquid, and that can be easily customized for various types, sizes, and shapes of food packages. It would be desirable to utilize superabsorbent materials in food packaging. Moreover, there is a need in food packaging for an absorbent pad that can absorb from its entire area, including the edges, and that does not trap air when used for modified atmosphere packaging or vacuum processing.