The present invention is an improved quick release locking nut for quick change type mop holders. The mop holder has a frame attachable to a mop stick and a clamping member for securing mop fill. The quick release locking nut is slidably mounted on a central shank of the frame, and has a pivotally mounted pawl which is biased by a spring. The inner screw threads on the tip of the pawl are engaged with the outer screw threads on the central shank, in order to lock the quick release locking nut on the central shank for preventing the clamping member from sliding on the central shank. When the pawl is pressed against the spring and its tip is disengaged from the central shank, the quick release locking nut is unlocked and can be slid on the central shank for allowing the clamping member to slide on the central shank so that the mop clamp can be released.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of mop holders. More particularly the present invention relates to the field of mop holders adaptable to mop sticks and having adjustable clamps.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The following nineteen (19) patents were uncovered as being the most relevant prior art relating to the present invention:
1. U.S. Pat. No. 422,361 issued to Alton on Mar. 4, 1890 for "Screw Nut" (hereafter the "Alton Patent").
2. U.S. Pat. No. 499,402 issued to Stewart on Jun. 13, 1893 for "Mop" (hereafter the "Stewart Patent").
3. U.S. Pat. No. 756,385 issued to Look on Apr. 5, 1904 for "Mop or Brush Holder" (hereafter the "first Look Patent").
4. U.S. Pat. No. 786,576 issued to Look on Apr. 4, 1905 for "Mop or Brush Holder" (hereafter the "second Look Patent").
5. U.S. Pat. No. 900,843 issued to Folberth on Oct. 13, 1908 for "Quick Release Nut" (hereafter the "Folberth Patent").
6. U.S. Pat. No. 923,282 issued to Look on Jun. 1, 1909 for "Mop and Brush Holder" (hereafter the "third Look Patent").
7. U.S. Pat. No. 1,174,550 issued to Dobbins on Mar. 7, 1916 for "Mop Holder" (hereafter the "Dobbins Patent").
8. U.S. Pat. No. 1,193,865 issued to Brown on Aug. 8, 1916 for "Dust Cap for Valve Stems" (hereafter the "Brown Patent").
9. U.S. Pat. No. 1,611,033 issued to Hill et al. on Dec. 14, 1926 for "Mop" (hereafter the "Hill Patent").
10. U.S. Pat. No. 1,728,845 issued to Wellington on Sep. 17, 1929 for "Combination Brush and Mop Holder" (hereafter the "Wellington Patent").
11. U.S. Pat. No. 2,118,361 issued to Schaeffer, Jr. on May 24, 1938 for "Quick Action Nut" (hereafter the "Schaeffer Patent").
12. U.S. Pat. No. 2,305,352 issued to Helminiak on Dec. 15, 1942 for "Mop Head" (hereafter the "Helminiak Patent").
13. U.S. Pat. No. 2,328,287 issued to Martin on Aug. 31, 1943 for "Holder for Mops and Other Articles" (hereafter the "Martin Patent").
14. U.S. Pat. No. 2,692,403 issued to Friar on Oct. 26, 1954 for "Means for Removably Securing Mopheads to Handles" (hereafter the "Friar Patent").
15. U.S. Pat. No. 2,724,852 issued to Clark on Nov. 29, 1955 for "Mop Stick Clamp" (hereafter the "Clark Patent").
16. U.S. Pat. No. 2,900,652 issued to Kautenberg on Aug. 25, 1959 for "Quick Change Mop Holder with Outer Hinged Jaw" (hereafter the "Kautenberg Patent").
17. U.S. Pat. No. 4,963,656 issued to Guthrie on Sep. 15, 1987 for "Quick Adjusting Nut" (hereafter the "Guthrie Patent").
18. Swiss Patent No. 172,308 issued to Ammann on Dec. 17, 1934 (hereafter the "Swiss Patent").
19. Russian Patent No. 654,807 issued to Dombrovskii on Mar. 30, 1979 (hereafter the "Russian Patent").
The Alton Patent discloses a screw nut. The screw nut is designed for securing the position of a fuse-box "B". It includes a nut "N" and a thumb-piece "T" which is threaded. The nut "N" has a vertical hole for sliding over a screw "S" and a horizontal hole for receiving the thumb-piece "T". The thumb-piece "T" has a threaded hole for engagement with the screw "S". It is secured to the nut "N" by a limiting screw "M" and further biased by a spring W.
The Stewart Patent discloses a mop comprising a stick "A" and a T-shaped head "B". Head "B" is attached to an end of stick "A" and has a transverse portion that serves as part of a clamp. A U-shaped wire "C" has a transverse portion that is parallel to the transverse portion of head "B" and serves as the other part of the clamp, and two oppositely disposed portions extend backwardly which converge to stick "A" and are pivotally attached to a lever "D". Lever "D" is forked to straddle stick "A" and pivotally attached to a ring "E" that is slidably linked on stick "A". A spiral spring "F" is wound on stick "A" between head "B" and ring "E", such that its expensive tendency holds the clamp closed when lever "D" is thrown back.
The first Look Patent discloses a mop or brush holder having a similar structure as the Stewart Patent. It comprises a handle "a", a clamp-head "b", a clamp-jaw "d", a lever "h", and a pawl "l" having an annular part "l" surrounding handle "a". Clamp-head "b" is mounted upon one end of handle "a" and forms a clamp with a straight part "d'" of clamp-jaw "d". The side of clamp-jaw "d" are curved in a bow shape with their ends pivotally mounted to a lever "h" that is interconnected with pawl "l". This is different from the Stewart Patent in that instead of using a spring, it uses a ratchet "n" mounted on handle "a" between clamp-head "b" to fasten the clamp. When lever "h" is pressed down to fasten the clamp, pawl "l" engages the ratchet-teeth.
The second Look Patent discloses a different mop or brush holder. The second Look Patent is different from the First Look Patent in that instead of using a pawl having an annular part surrounding the handle, it uses a pawl "d" and does not have an annular part surrounding the handle, but having parallel bars "d'" and "d"' sliding between the handle and a retainer "b'" of the ratchet.
The Folberth Patent discloses a quick release nut. The quick release nut is a wing nut having a fixed wing and a pivoted wing. The pivoted wing can be rotated between an engaged position and a disengaged position.
The third Look Patent discloses a further different mop or brush holder. The primary object of the third Look Patent is to make the various parts of the mop or brush holder in a manner to permit rapid assembly. The structure of the third Look Patent is similar to the first Look Patent. The difference is that the pawl and the lever of the third Look Patent are detachable.
The Dobbins Patent discloses a mop holder comprising a head member attached to a handle member, and a T-shaped clamp having an extended shank connected to a lever. The lever is pivotally mounted to the handle member and has ratchet-teeth. A loop is pivotally mounted further distally on the handle member such that when the lever is pulled to swing backward, the loop can engage the ratchet-teeth of the lever to fasten the clamp.
The Brown Patent disclosed a dust cap for valve stems. The dust cap includes two clamping arms which can be pivoted by their respective finger pieces. The lower ends of the clamping arms have inner screw threads for engagement with the valve stem.
The Hill Patent discloses a mop. The mop has a removable supporting rod for the mop cloth or fill. It also includes a wing nut for locking a triangular shaped brace member.
The Wellington Patent discloses a combination brush and mop holder. It comprises a lever 18 pivotally mounted to a handle 1. Similar to the lever of the Dobbins Patent, lever 18 has a series of ratchet notches 20. The difference is that lever 18 is retained in a fastened position by a hook 23 mounted on handle 1, and its ratchet notches 20 are used for engaging the loop end of mop clamping yoke 8.
The Schaeffer Patent disclose a quick action nut. The quick action nut is designed for a paint agitating machine which includes a stationary clamping member and an adjustable clamping member. The quick nut is readily slipped over a threaded rod to a clamping position and then threaded to engage the adjustable clamping member to the stationary clamping member.
The Helminiak Patent discloses a mop head. The mop head includes an inner clamp and a frame having an outer clamp. The inner clamp is biased by a coil spring towards the outer clamp bar of the frame.
The Martin Patent discloses a holder for mops and other articles. The holder includes two jaws. One jaw is integral with a supporting member. The other jaw is mounted for angular movement on a fulcrum of the support member. The holder further includes a clutch device for adjusting the movable jaw.
The Friar Patent discloses a means for removably securing mopheads to handles. The mophead includes an outer frame having a removable cross member, and an inner frame locked by a wing nut.
The Clark Patent discloses a mop stick clamp designed for use with a conventional mop stick. It comprises a T-shaped clamping frame member 13, a lever member 28, a pair of rods 31 and 32, a coil spring 26 and a clamping bar 21. One end of coil spring 26 is attached to frame member 13, and the other end to lever 28. Each rod 31 and 32 has one end interconnected with lever 28 and the other end hook-shaped for adapting clamping bar 21.
The Kautenberg Patent discloses a quick change mop holder with outer hinged jaw. The quick change mop holder includes a one piece bail, a hinged cross bar, a clamping head, and a wing nut which is threaded on a central screw bar for locking the clamping head. The one-piece bail and the central rod are secured to a stick by a sheet metal socket. The major disadvantage of the wing nut utilized in the Kautenberg Patent is that the wing nut has to be rotated many turns for traveling a required distance along the screw bar to release or fasten the clamping head. This not only slows down the process of installing or replacing a mop, but also makes it hard to use for people having little strength in their hands, especially elderly people.
The Guthrie Patent discloses a quick adjusting nut. The quick adjusting nut is designed for a conventional milling machine. It includes a nut body 24, a depressible button element 26, and a compression spring 28. The limitation of the quick adjusting nut utilized in the Guthrie Patent is that its three components, the nut body, the depression button and the compression spring, will become loosened apart once the locking member is not mounted on a threaded shank.
The Swiss Patent discloses mop head. The mop head includes an outer frame and an inner frame. The inner frame is locked by a wing nut.
The Russian Patent discloses a quick release locking nut engageable to a screw rod. The quick release locking nut is not designed to be slid nor rotated on the screw rod. Instead it is the screw rod which is going to be slid or rotated. Accordingly the body shape of the quick release locking nut is not designed to be easily and firmly griped by hand. The cross-sectional view in FIG. 3 of the Dombrovskii Patent shows that the quick release locking nut has an asymmetrical body shape, which is similar to a single wing nut. This single-wing shaped body is primarily not suitable for being handled and is only acceptable when the nut is not designed to be slid or rotated anyway. Moreover, this single-wing shaped configuration would be worse than a double-wing shaped nut. This is because to rotate the double-wing quick release locking nut, a user may place two fingers on the locking member, each on a respective wing of the double-wing shaped locking member. There is only one wing on the quick release locking nut of the Russian Patent for merely one of the user's fingers to rest on. It makes it harder to rotate the quick release locking nut, particularly for people with less strength in their hand.
The above discussed prior art patents disclose many common components and features of mop holders. However, the locking and releasing mechanisms utilized in the prior art mop holders are often undesirable for people with less strength on their hands, especially elderly people, because they usually find the lever hard to operate. For example, the commonly used wing nut often requires many turns. On the other hand none of the quick nuts designed for other machinery is suitable for mop holders.
It is desirable to have a new mop holder where the clamp locking mechanism can be securely fastened and quickly released. Ther is a significant need for a mop holder which is easy to use, especially for elderly people without much strength and where the clamp locking mechanism is not attached to the mop stick, so any kind of mop stick can be interchangeably adapted.

Slidable and threadable quick release locking nut for quick change type mop holders


A digital still camera for receiving a optical tape cassette having optical tape including an image sensor for capturing an image; focusing an image of a subject onto the image sensor which in response thereto captures such image; a structure for receiving the optical tape cassette; an optical writer for effecting a change in the optical properties of the optical tape. The optical tape is movable into operative relationship with the optical head; the image sensor and the optical writer causes the optical head write to effect changes in the optical properties of the optical tape in accordance with the image captured by the image sensor.

The present invention relates to digital still cameras which capture and store images.
Digital still cameras exist that capture an image with a sensor, and store captured images within the digital still camera. Various media storage systems have been developed that permit the storage of one or more of the capture images in a removable media cassette. The cassettes can hold a flexible (xe2x80x9cfloppyxe2x80x9d) or rigid (xe2x80x9chardxe2x80x9d) rotating disk having a magnetically or optically sensitive coating. U.S. Pat. No. 5,264,457 is one such system, wherein a digital still camera stores captured still images on a removable optical disk.
Digital images are data, and other systems have been disclosed that record data onto writable optical or magnetic tape. Such a method is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,541,021. A magnetic tape is stored on two reels, and individual images are recorded in separate areas on the tape. A magnetic head having a plurality of writing elements is used to record digital image information.
Conventional photographic film can be considered an optical media that can stores image information onto light sensitive silver halide grains using an optically focused image. Such grains are limited in recording density compared to an optical tape medium. In the Advanced Photographic System (APS) standard, a removable cassette carries a strip of light sensitive film in a light tight cassette. Features on the film strip and in the cassette permit the film strip to be stored on a single spool. The film is accessed by thrusting the film from the cassette, passing the film through an exposing area and taking the film up onto a take-up spool. The film is advanced for reading or writing an image and the film is wound back into the cassette for removal. The APS cassette has a small size than optical tape spool-to-spool systems, and protects the media using a single spool.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an efficient storage arrangement for digital still cameras.
This object is achieved in a digital still camera for receiving a optical tape cassette having optical tape comprising:
(a) an image sensor for capturing an image;
(b) optical means for focusing an image of a subject onto the image sensor which in response thereto captures such image;
(c) means for receiving the optical tape cassette;
(d) an optical head including write means for effecting a change in the optical properties of the optical tape;
(e) means coupled to the optical tape cassette for moving such optical tape into operative relationship with the optical head; and
(f) means coupled to the image sensor and the optical head write means for causing the optical head write means to effect changes in the optical properties of the optical tape in accordance with the image captured by the image sensor.
It is an advantage of the present invention to provide a digital still camera that can convert images captured by an image sensor into a format which is stored on optical tape.
An important feature of the present invention is that images can be captured on optical tape stored in an optical tape cassette which can readily be inserted and removed from the digital still camera.
It is another advantage of the present invention to provide an improved removable image storage means for a digital still camera that stores multiple digital images in a optical tape cassette. The optical tape cassette can be conventional that protects optical tape from damage. A single recording element is needed to write to the optical phase change on the optical tape. Surface contact problems are eliminated by non-contact writing to the optical tape. High resolution images are written to each frame by micro-stepping the recording head to create a plurality of partial circular tracks. A plurality of frames permits storage of multiple images.


An input device for a game machine for inputting signals to a game machine using a computer, including: at least one control member projecting to the outside of a casing; a movement-transmitting member formed around the control member and operatively associated with the movement of an operating point of the control member, the movement-transmitting member being provided with a plurality of conductive elastic members; and a board provided in the casing and having formed thereon resistors corresponding to the conductive elastic members, the conductive elastic members changing the area of contact between the conductive elastic members and the resistors according to a direction of movement and a tilt angle of the operating point of the control member so as to vary the amount of resistance; wherein, by moving the operating point of the control member, analog signals corresponding to the movement are input to the game machine.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an input device for a game machine using a computer which allows a game player to enjoy a fully realistic game in real time on a screen of the game machine by operating a control member, such as a control key, a control button, and a control lever.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, game machines using computers (hereinafter, referred to simply as a xe2x80x9cgame machinexe2x80x9d) have rapidly become widespread in which it is possible for a game player to enjoy a game on a display screen by operating various control members, such as control keys, control buttons, and control levers according to a game software previously stored in a computer device or input at the time of game play. As the software used in such game machine, various types of software, such as a role-playing type, speed competition type, fight/dialogue type, and creating/rearing type software have been conceived.
For example, when a general-purpose computer is used as a game machine using game software previously stored or input at the time of game play, a key board, a mouse, and the like, are used as input devices. In most cases, however, a game machine exclusively for games is used and therefore, an input device called a xe2x80x9ccontrollerxe2x80x9d or a xe2x80x9cjoy stickxe2x80x9d, provided separately from the game machine, is generally used as the input device to be operated by a game player.
This input device is called a controller having a so-called multi-face switch, and has a cross key, a key top, a selection key, and a control lever provided on the upper surface of a casing substantially shaped like a rectangular parallelepiped (or a modification thereof), and one or more button keys are provided on the right-hand and left-hand sides of the front face. Furthermore, on the inner surface of the upper part of the casing, there is provided a first board, such as a flexible board, provided with a contact portion connected to digital control members, such as the cross key, the key top, the selection key, and the like. On the inner surface of the lower part of the casing, that is, below the first board, there is provided a second board, such as a printed board, provided with a contact portion connected to an analog control member, such as the control lever. Furthermore, on the inner surface of the front face, there is provided a printed board provided with a contact portion connected to each button key. These flexible and printed boards are electrically connected to each other, and furthermore, are connected to the game machine by a cable via a connector. In some cases, no cable is used, and connection to the game machine is effected wirelessly.
In the input device as described above, by being continuously turned around the turning fulcrum, the control lever is continuously moved in an arbitrary direction, forward, backward, rightward, and leftward, so as to continuously change the actions of persons, operating states of vehicles, and the like according to the game on the screen.
The game player can enjoy a game projected onto the display screen by appropriately operating various keys or the control lever with fingers in accordance with the progress of the game.
An analog input section of the above input device comprises several control levers capable of turning about fulcrums, and two sets of rotary potentiometers having rotation axes in two perpendicular directions for detecting the turning directions and angles of the control levers. The motion of each of the control levers is detected by an output signal from the corresponding rotary potentiometer, and the detected value is input to the game machine.
However, in the input device of a type in which rotary potentiometers for detecting the turning directions and the like of the control levers of the analog input section are provided between the control levers and printed boards connected to the control levers, the structure is complicated. In addition, since expensive rotary potentiometers are used, the cost of the input device increases.
Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the foregoing problems, and an object thereof is to provide an input device for a game machine which allows simplification of the structure of an analog input section having control members, such as a control lever, and to reduce the cost thereof.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an input device for a game machine which is able to reduce the size, thickness, and weight of the device by reducing the number of boards used therein.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an input switch which makes it possible to obtain analog variable output in accordance with an operating force.
In order to achieve the above objects, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an input device for a game machine for inputting signals to a game machine using a computer, including: at least one control member projecting to the outside of a casing; a movement-transmitting member formed around the control member and operatively associated with the movement of an operating point of the control member, the movement-transmitting member being provided with a plurality of conductive elastic members; and a board provided in the casing and having formed thereon resistors corresponding to the conductive elastic members, the conductive elastic members changing the area of contact between the conductive elastic members and the resistors according to a direction of movement and a tilt angle of the operating point of the control member so as to vary the amount of resistance; wherein, by moving the operating point of the control member, analog signals corresponding to the movement are input to the game machine.
With this configuration, unlike a conventional input device for a game machine in which rotary potentiometers are provided between a control member and a board connected to the control member, an analog input section has a simple structure, and signals corresponding to the movement of the operating point of the control member can be input to the game machine without using the expensive rotary potentiometers. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the cost of the input device.
The analog input section of the input device for a game machine according to the present invention operates in association with the movements of the control member and the operating point of the control member, and includes the control member, the movement-transmitting member, the conductive elastic members, and the resistors.
Since the analog input section of the input device for a game machine of the present invention has no need of including the rotary potentiometers included in the analog input section of the conventional input device for a game machine, the thickness of the analog input section is reduced, whereby it is possible to reduce the size and thickness of the overall device.
In addition, the thickness of the analog input section of the input device for a game machine of the present invention can be very reduced as compared to the analog input section having the rotary potentiometers included in the conventional input device for a game machine. Therefore, unlike the conventional input device for a game machine in which an analog input section is provided on a second board that is separately provided from a first board having provided thereon contact portions connected to digital control members, such as a cross key, a key top, selection keys and the like, the analog input section of the input device for a game machine of the present invention can be provided on the board having provided thereon the contact portions connected to the digital control members, such as the cross key, the key top, and the selection keys, and the resistors can be provided on the board. Therefore, the number of boards used in the device can be reduced, and the thickness and weight of the analog input section are reduced, whereby it is possible to reduce the size, thickness, and weight of the overall device.
In the input device for a game machine of the present invention, the movement-transmitting member may preferably be skirt-shaped, and a peripheral section of the skirt abuts against the bottom of the casing to serve as a tilt fulcrum when the control member is tilted. With this configuration, the rotation length between the fulcrum and the conductive elastic members is elongated, whereby the force of contact between the conductive elastic members and the resistors according to the tilting operation of the control member can be stabilized.
In addition, in the input device for a game machine of the present invention, each of the conductive elastic members may preferably be shaped like one of a frustum of a pyramid and a truncated cone, and may be gradually deformed from an end thereof according to an operating force exerted on the control member. With this configuration, the areas of deformation of the conductive elastic members are correctly changed according to the operating force, whereby the areas of contact between the conductive elastic members and the resistors can be precisely changed.
Furthermore, in the input device for a game machine of the present invention, elastically deformable support members may preferably be attached to the movement-transmitting member, and the conductive elastic members may preferably be provided on the bottoms of the support members. With this configuration, the thickness of the input device can be reduced. In addition, the support members are deformed by the tilting operation of the control member, whereby the conductive elastic members and the resistor smoothly contact each other.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an input device for a game machine for inputting signals to a game machine using a computer, including: at least one control member projecting to the outside of a casing; a movement-transmitting member provided around and separately from the control member and operatively associated with the movement of an operating point of the control member from a neutral axis, the movement-transmitting members being provided with a plurality of first contacts; a board provided in the casing and having formed thereon a plurality of second contacts constituting planar analog switches with the first contacts; and a push switch provided in the casing at a position corresponding to the control member for effecting ON/OFF operation in response to upward and downward movements of the operating point of the control member.
With this configuration, unlike a conventional input device for a game machine in which rotary potentiometers are provided between a control member and a board connected to the control member, an analog input section has a simple structure, and signals corresponding to the movement of the operating point of the control member can be input to the game machine without using the expensive rotary potentiometers. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the cost of the input device.
In addition, with the above configuration, one control member can serve as both of an analog control member and a digital control member. That is, when the control member is moved downward so that the operating point thereof does not offset from the neutral axis, the control member pushes the push switch in the ON state. Since, however, the movement-transmitting member does not move and the first contacts do not come into contact with the second contacts, digital signals are input to the game machine. When the control member is depressed so that the operating point thereof moves from the neutral axis, the movement-transmitting member moves to bring the first contacts into contact with the second contacts, and moreover, the areas of contact between the first and second contacts correspond to the amount of movement of the operating point, but the control member does not come into contact with the push switch. Therefore, analog signals are input to the game machine. When the control member is axially pushed and depressed so that the operating point thereof moves from the neutral axis, both of the digital signals and analog signals are input to the game machine.
An analog input section of the input device for a game machine according to the present invention operates in association with the movements of the control member and the operating point of the control member, and includes the control member and planar analog switches consisting of the first contacts and the second contacts.
In the input device for a game machine of the present invention, each of the first contacts may preferably be composed of a conductive elastic member shaped like one of a frustum of a pyramid and a truncated cone, and ends of the conductive elastic members may gradually come into contact with the second contacts, whereby the area of contact is changed. With this configuration, the areas of deformation of the conductive elastic members are correctly changed according to the operating force, whereby the areas of contact between the conductive elastic members and the resistors can be precisely changed.
In addition, in the input device for a game machine of the present invention, the movement-transmitting member may have a through hole in the center thereof, and the control member may be inserted into the through hole to be supported so as to move up and down. With this configuration, it is possible to simplify the operational structure of the push switch.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an input device for a game machine for inputting signals to a game machine using a computer, comprising: at least one analog control member and at least one digital control member projecting to the outside of a casing; an analog input section operating in association with the movement of an operating point of the analog control member; a digital input section for effecting ON/OFF operation in response to the operation of the digital control member; and a board having formed thereon one of contacts constituting the analog input section and one of contacts constituting the digital input section.
With this configuration, unlike the conventional input device for a game machine in which the analog input section is provided on a second board that is separately provided from a first board having provided thereon contact portions connected to digital control members, such as a cross key, a key top, selection keys and the like, one of the contacts constituting the contact portion of the analog input section can be provided on the board having provided thereon one of the contacts constituting contact portions connected to the digital control members, such as the cross key, the key top, and the selection keys, and the like. Therefore, the number of boards used in the device can be reduced, and the thickness and weight of the analog input section are reduced, whereby it is possible to reduce the size, thickness, and weight of the overall device.
In the input device for a game machine of the present invention, the analog input section may preferably be composed of a conductive elastic member provided on the analog control member and a resistor opposing the conductive elastic member, the digital input section may preferably be composed of a first contact provided on the digital control member and a second contact opposing the first contact, and a resistor and the second contact may be formed on one board. With this configuration, it is possible to reduce the size, thickness, and weight of overall device.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an input switch comprising a switch section having a movable contact and moved up and down by an operating force; and a board having a fixed contact disposed to oppose the movable contact, and the movable contact being brought into contact with the fixed contact by the downward movement of the switch section to thereby output signals; wherein the movable contact is composed of a conductive elastic member shaped like one of a frustum of a pyramid and a truncated cone and the fixed contact is composed of a resistor formed on the board, and the amount of resistance of the resistor is variable and variable output values are obtained by changing the area of contact between the conductive elastic member and the resistor. With this configuration, the area of deformation of the conductive elastic member is correctly changed according to the operating force, and the areas of contact between the conductive elastic member and the resistor can be precisely changed, whereby precise output values can be obtained.
In the input switch of the present invention, the board may be a flexible board, and the switch section may be supported on the surface of the flexible board and have elastically deformable legs. With this configuration, it is possible to provide a thin input switch.

Analog input device to input multi directional signals


A selector device for moving at least one object such as a substrate to a processing station includes an object-holder rotatably mounted on a support and having areas for receiving objects to be processed which can be moved successively to the processing station. A force accumulator member connected to the object-holder rotates the object-holder in one direction. An incrementer mechanism has a stop system on the support and an abutment system on the object-holder and respectively associated with the receiving areas. The stop system cooperates successively with the abutments of the abutment system to hold the object-holder at successive positions such that the receiving areas are successively located at the processing station. A trigger arrangement operates on the incrementer mechanism so that the stop system passes selectively from one abutment to the next abutment after rotation of the object-holder by the force accumulator member.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention concerns a selector device for feeding an object such as a substrate to a processing station.
The device of the invention finds a particular application in vacuum deposition installations for producing thin optical, electronic or opto-electronic films for surface treatment of optical fibers and associated components such as transmitters, receivers, amplifiers, connections and switches.
2. Description of the Prior Art
At present to process substrates in a vacuum enclosure the enclosure is provided with an airlock connected to pump means and the substrates are transferred from the airlock to the processing area within the enclosure and vice versa by means of a transfer rod. Such installations are extremely complex, large in size and not especially compatible with equipment for optically inspecting the substrates, making them particularly costly. Also, the substrate processing times are particularly long, given the various types of deposit that may be applied.
One object of the invention is to propose a selector device of relatively simple construction which can significantly increase the throughput of objects to be processed, especially if the processes are different.

Selector device for feeding an object such as a substrate to a processing station


A pool cover drain substantially completely drains collected rainwater without use of pumps or electrical hookups. The pool cover drain is non-centrally located in a pool cover. It is attached to a flexible hose that directs the water to a swimming pool sidewall drain outlet. A weighted tubular element creates a conical depression in said swimming pool cover. The weighted tubular element is placed atop the pool cover in close proximity to said pool cover drain. Collected rainwater is directed along the outside and, optionally, the inside walls of the weighted tubular element, and into the pool cover drain. Angled weighted projections are located on an end of the weighted tubular element proximate the pool cover drain to facilitate gravity feed of collected rainwater into the pool cover drain. These angled weighted projections are weighted by filling the projection tube with sand, or optionally without sand by slotting the projection tube and allowing rainwater to collect therein and act as a weight. The weighted tubular element is provided with T type projections opposite to the angled weighted projections to prevent rolling and displacement of the weighted tubular element during high velocity wind gusts. A filter in the pool cover drain prevents clogging by debris and the like.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to pool drains for above ground swimming pool covers; and more particularly, to an automatic drain that is easy to install, and functions with minimal hardware to effectively remove collected rain water and accumulated debris without stretching, straining or otherwise damaging the pool cover.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Many approaches have been proposed by prior art workers for removing rainwater accumulated over covers to container vessels, including swimming pools. Many of the swimming pool cover drains require electric motor driven pumps. Gasoline and other chemical storage vessels with closed tops drain the rainwater using gravity flow through the inside of a lattice of pipes to a common location from which the rainwater is drained.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,614,717 to Wiggins discloses a floating tank roof. This floating tank roof floats over the liquid in a tank and captures rainwater and snow without sinking. A central portion attached to rigid rings drains rainwater into the periphery of the roof surrounding the central rigid ring. A limber bottom as well as the weight of water collected in the central portion maintains the tapered bottom of the periphery. This taper allows the water to be gravity drained through a pipe connected to the periphery. Alternately, the central region may also have a drain connection. The floating tank roof disclosed by Wiggins does not drain all collected rainwater, and does not suggest features required for a pool cover drain.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,579,657 to Gurrieri discloses a swimming pool cover drain. The rainwater collected above the swimming pool cover is pumped through a filter with the same pump used to circulate the swimming pool water. A floating ball sensor determines when the swimming pool cover is pumped out. When the swimming pool cover is completely pumped a valve shuts the inlet allowing normal circulation of swimming pool water. The draining of collected rainwater requires the circulating pump to run. Separate valve hardware is required to prevent rainwater from entering the pool water.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,690,502 to Guber, Jr. (hereinafter, the "'502 patent") discloses a pipe containing an annular pontoon floating roof, which has high enough buoyancy to float on a hydrocarbon liquid surface in a tank. The edges of the annular pontoon seal against the tank sidewalls prevent entry of rainwater into the hydrocarbon tank. A central box channel provides structural rigidity to the annular pontoon and also acts as a draining element for collected rainwater collected, which increases the density of the pontoon and may submerge it below the surface of the hydrocarbon liquid. The collected water is drained through a flexible hose, which passes through the hydrocarbon liquid into a drain outlet located on the sidewall of the tank. The central box channel is connected to a parallel array of chordal pipes to provide additional structural rigidity. The annular pontoon roof disclosed by the '502 patent does not suggest a drain for swimming pool covers. The sealed floating pontoon moves according to the amount of rainwater collected, thereby presenting an arrangement that does not apply to swimming pool covers.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,757,812 to Duncan (hereinafter, the "'812 patent") discloses a roof standing water eliminator. It is installed in a low area in the roof. A float sensor detects accumulation of water and activates a pump. When the accumulated water is exhausted, the same float sensor shuts off the pump. The drainage system proposed by the '812 patent is not suitable for draining swimming pool covers. It requires a pump driven by an electrical motor that is turned on when sufficient rainwater is collected.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,214,671 to McKibbin et al. (hereinafter, the "'671 patent") discloses a floating roof drainage system. A central drain connects a plurality of welded pipes on the roof to drain accumulated rainwater. Sleeve type couplings provide a hinge-like motion between welded segments, so that the floating roof can be moved. The edge of the floating roof is sealed against the tank to prevent rainwater from entering the product stored in the tank. U.S. Pat. No. 4,248,357 to Stafford (hereinafter, the "'357 patent") discloses a floating roof drain. The floating roof edge is sealed against the tank wall by a seal strip. The floating roof collects rainwater and drains it through a central drain, which is connected to a coiled conduit connecting the central drain of the floating roof with a drain located in the bottom of the tank. When all the content of the tank is emptied, the floating roof essentially contacts the bottom of the tank and a frusto-conical contour of the bottom, together with a cylindrical portion, accommodates the central drain and the coiled conduit. The '671 and '357 patents disclose floating roof rainwater draining systems having sealed edges. Such systems are not suitable for use as a swimming pool cover drain.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,318,421 to Ward (hereinafter, the "'421 patent") discloses a float controlled siphon valve for a swimming pool cover. A hinged float is used to sense the water level and open a closure of a siphon inlet. The closure of the siphon is accomplished by a male opening and a female closure manufactured from a softer material, which moves away from the male member when the water level in the swimming pool cover rises. When the water level drops, the float moves downwards, forcing the female member over the male inlet creating a seal for the siphon system. The siphon system drains the accumulated rainwater over the pool cover by gravity without need of pumps, or the like. Drainage of water accumulated over the swimming pool cover is incomplete, since the float must remain primed at all times, and closes the valve before all the collected rainwater has been drained. Moreover, moving parts in the '421 patent system may become clogged with debris accumulated over the swimming pool cover.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,819,681 to Hodak discloses an apparatus and method for draining a swimming pool cover. A central drainage passage in a completely covered swimming pool cover is associated with upper and lower flanged members, which seal around a hole formed in the pool cover. The drain is connected to an elbow, which connects to a drain outlet located in a sidewall of the swimming pool. A flexible bellowed connection associated with the elbow accommodates the vertical motion of the water level or the swimming pool cover. A fixed rainwater liquid level is maintained above the pool cover to assure that the pool cover stays in place. This is accomplished by locating the drainage hole adjustably above the swimming pool cover. At all times, the level of rainwater is maintained above the swimming pool cover at a preset level by adjusting the position of the central drainage hole above the pool cover. A single central hole in the pool cover coupled with a large head of rainwater stresses the polymeric material of the swimming pool cover. This stress may enlarge the large central hole by tearing. Alternatively, the weight of rainwater above the swimming pool cover may tear the polymeric pool cover at the edges where it is attached. Excessive rainwater weight may also cause the swimming pool cover to become submerged beneath the water level in the pool.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,830,040 to Eng discloses an automatic swimming pool cover drainer. A float connected to a lever arm opens an inlet to a siphon valve and quickly closes when the water level reaches a preset value. Drainage of the water in the siphon exit line is thereby prevented so that the siphon action is not broken. The siphon discharge line is always filled with water. Electrical or mechanical means may be used to reset a latch mechanism assisting siphon valve closure. Water is always present on the swimming pool cover. Consequently, the plastic material of the swimming pool cover has to bear the weight of water, together with the sensing and activating mechanisms of the automatic drainer. Moreover the device disclosed by the patent does not empty out the accumulated rainwater completely. Accumulated debris on the swimming pool cover may interfere with the lever mechanism and prevent the siphon from remaining in a primed condition.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,863,984 to Celiano discloses a system and method for maintaining a swimming pool cover drained of accumulated precipitation. A pump with its intake is disposed in the reservoir region above the swimming pool cover where the rainwater accumulates. The pump discharges the rainwater outside this region and has a fluid flow-monitoring sensor in the discharge line. A clock circuit turns on the pump for a 10-second period. If the flow sensor in the discharge tube detects rainwater, the pump stays on. When the flow switch no longer senses flow and shuts off, the pump is also turned off. An electrical motor and power line connections are required for operation of the system.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,802,629 to Zietek discloses a self-draining pool cover. The pool cover has a central aperture to which a drain fitting is connected. The pool cover is attached over the sides of the above ground swimming pool and the central drain fitting in the swimming pool cover is connected to a first hose, which drains the collected rainwater by creating a conical depression in the swimming pool cover. The first hose is placed within the swimming pool water and is connected to a second fitting attached to the sidewall of the swimming pool. A second hose connected to this second fitting external to the above ground swimming pool drains away the rainwater. In order for the central drain to drain the collected rainwater, a conical depression must first be created. This depression is created by taut attachment of the swimming pool cover to the sides of the swimming pool and attachment of a hose disposed within the swimming pool water that is attached to a drain fitting in the sidewall of the swimming pool. The hose must be pulled taut to create the required conical depression. This results in high stress within the hose. A drain fitting proximate the hose pulls the plastic swimming pool cover; creating a large aperture in the plastic sheet, which can tear easily. Displacement of water due to the depression created within the swimming pool cover creates additional stresses thereon.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,946,743 to Hashmi discloses a self-draining pool cover. A central aperture in a swimming pool cover attached over the sides of a swimming pool is fitted with a collar to accept a hose. The collar is sealed water tight against the swimming pool cover by use of a rubber grommet. The hose connected to the collar drains the collected rainwater to the skimmer of the pool. This draining action requires that the collar be located at an elevated location, compared to the skimmer. Since the skimmer is at the same level as the general water level in the swimming pool, the pool cover has to essentially float above the water line. To achieve this floating action, the pool cover must be stretched taut. Inasmuch as the central aperture is a large opening, stretching of the pool cover can cause it to tear.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,260,217 to Loft, Jr. discloses a winter swimming pool cover and draining device. The swimming pool cover has a central aperture. A tube having slots in the upper portion is attached to the swimming pool cover using a threaded connection and gaskets to create a watertight seal between the tube and the swimming pool cover. The bottom of the tube is connected to an elbow which, in turn, is connected to a flexible hose conduit. The other end of the flexible hose conduit is attached to a sidewall of the above ground swimming pool below the water line. Rainwater drains through slots in the tube into the flexible hose conduit, and is discharged through a fitting attached to the sidewall of the pool. Since the tube is attached to the elbow and flexible hose conduit, it is not rigid. Consequently it is very difficult to locate and align the aperture of the swimming pool cover with the slotted tube. In addition, the threaded device with gasket must be tightened at the same time that the pool cover is attached firmly to the sidewalls of the aboveground swimming pool. The large aperture in the swimming pool cover may tear due to the stresses required by these multiple, complex, and unwieldy operations.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,338,169, 6,357,964 and 6,497,533 to DeGarie disclose a floating cover for large reservoirs. Means are provided for covering the top free surface of the liquid and for accommodating the up and down motion of the top surface according to the liquid level within the reservoir. A floating grid is anchored to the perimeters of the walls of the reservoir. The grid floats over the liquid surface due to its buoyancy. A water impermeable membrane is affixed to the perimeter walls and is loosely laid over the floating grid. An array of weights anchored to the wall is placed over the water impermeable membrane in between the free spaces of grid beams. Accumulated rainwater behaves in a fashion similar to the weights, and keeps the membrane taut. Drain holes at many locations are provided in the water impermeable membrane for draining collected rainwater through interconnected fittings, which terminate via a common drain. Side to side movement is anticipated for the perimeter-anchored membrane, as the liquid level in the reservoir is changed. This movement may interfere with beam and weight locations, snagging the drain holes and the drain connections with the beam. The disclosure does not elaborate how the drain holes function when the liquid level is changed. Any rainwater creates 'puddles', which tend not to create a well-formed valley located near the drain holes. No disclosure is contained by these patents concerning a drain for pool covers.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,487,733 to Bonelli et al discloses a self-draining swimming pool cover. The swimming pool cover consists of two layers. A top layer, which is a screen portion, prevents entry of debris. The bottom layer is the swimming pool cover. The bottom layer has a central aperture through which a drain fitting is attached. The drain fitting has a gasket, which seals the swimming pool cover against the fitting. The drain fitting is attached to a conduit, which may be a flexible hose, submerged in the swimming pool water connected to a drain fitting attached to a sidewall of an above ground swimming pool. A buoyant ring having a circular cross section joins the top and bottom layers, acting as a barrier. The single aperture is a large hole, so that stretching of the swimming pool cover applies stresses that may tear the central aperture. The buoyant ring prevents formation of a depression at the drain unless the drain physically pulls down the bottom layer; and this cannot readily occur, since the conduit is flexible. If the screen is taut, the bottom layer simply floats above the water level carrying the drain.
There remains a need in the art for a low cost, reliable, easy to use pool cover drain that is easy to attach and drains the collected rainwater completely as soon as it is collected without use of pumps, motors and electrical hook ups. The device must drain the collected rainwater completely, since any accumulation of rainwater applies stress to the polymeric pool cover sheet and will lead to eventual tearing of the pool cover.


In a liquid crystal display device, rays of light of a light source for blue light emission are concentrated on a fluorescent material by using a lens of a first micro-lens array and fluorescent rays from the fluorescent material are concentrated on a pixel of corresponding color by using a lens of a second micro-lens array.

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device having high display efficiency.
A portable information apparatus as represented by a cellular phone is expected to have multifunction and high grade function while making its communication speed high, thus being needed to accommodate itself to image information of large capacity and is therefore required of high picture quality and ability to perform high definition display. To elaborate on the high picture quality, high contrast, high color reproductivity, wide viewing angle and outdoor legibility can stand for. On the other hand, because of incorporation of various kinds of devices in limited weight and volume, reduced thickness, reduced weight and low power consumption are also required.
The portable information device is used in a variety of environments, in an extremity of bright environment such as direct rays of the sun in the midsummer and in an extremity of dark environment such as a darkroom. For the purpose of obtaining relatively excellent displays throughout the variety of environments, a transflective type liquid crystal display device having a transmissive area and a reflective area within one pixel has been employed frequently.
A white light emitting diode is used as the light source of liquid crystal display device in which emitted blue light is transmitted through a fluorescent material for yellow light emission so that both colors are mixed to produce white color. The liquid crystal display device also has a light absorptive color filter in it. The filter in combination with the liquid crystal display device as an optical shutter, achieves a color display.
Another light absorptive member is also used in the liquid crystal display device and is responsible for reduction in display efficiency of the liquid crystal display device. Among the light absorptive members, a polarization plate and the color filter have high light absorption factors in the extreme but they play a fundamental role in the principle of display in the liquid crystal display device.
In order to improve the display efficiency of liquid crystal display device, various kinds of optical elements have been contrived. In connection with the aforementioned transflective liquid crystal display device, the use of a micro-lens has been thought of. More particularly, in the transflective liquid crystal display device, the area of one pixel is divided into one part for transmissive display and the other major part for reflective display, most of rays of light incident upon which is unusable. Then, it is expected that by concentrating rays of the light source to the transmissive display part through the micro-lens, most of rays of the light source can be utilized efficiently in principle.
Alternatively, the use of color conversion based on fluorescent materials has been considered. In other words, the light source ray is chosen as being ultraviolet light or blue light which can be converted into red, green or blue light by using the fluorescent materials. Subsequently, these rays of light come to or are incident on corresponding color filters, with expectation that the light absorption by the color filter can be reduced in principle. In addition to the fluorescent material, a hologram, for example, is used to separate a ray of white light of light source into its spectral components of red, green and blue which in turn are caused to be incident on corresponding color filters, thereby expectantly attaining a similar effect in principle.
Improvements in display efficiency of the liquid crystal display device based on the micro-lens and hologram are described in JP-A-2003-15121 or JP-A-2003-15122, for example. Improvements in efficiency achieved by converting the blue light from a light emitting diode arranged on the side quarter into red, green and blue rays of light through the uses of the fluorescent material are described in JP-A-2005-353650.


A current-regulating driver circuit for a light emitting diode (LED) maintains energization drive to and thereby illumination provided by the LED at a prescribed, substantially constant value, over a relatively wide range of input (AC or DC) voltage. First and second input nodes are coupled to a source of AC or DC voltage and to a load, powered by the source of AC or DC voltage. An input rectifying diode is coupled to the first input node. A controlled current flow element is coupled in a first current flow path between the input rectifying diode and the LED and is controllably operative to supply current for illuminating the LED. A controlled current regulation circuit that includes a sense resistor coupled in series with the LED is coupled with the controlled current flow element between the first and second nodes, and is operative to regulate current supplied over the first current flow path by the controlled current flow element to the LED, and thereby accommodate variations in the value of the source of AC or DC voltage.

Electronic circuits often employ light emitting diodes (LEDs) to indicate the presence of an operational voltage or electrical power. In a typical application, the LED will be coupled in parallel with the load that is consuming electrical power. In order to operate within specified parameters, LEDs require a relatively narrow range of direct current and voltage. As a result, to use an LED as an indicator, it is customary practice to employ a series, current-limiting resistor that sets the operational parameters for the LED for a given application. A shortcoming of this approach is that a different valued resistor must be selected for each application. This limits the utility of a given driver circuit; moreover, the voltage must be a DC voltage of the proper polarity. It does not allow the same LED driver circuit to be used in the presence of a widely varying input voltage, nor does it allow for either AC or DC voltage.

Wide input voltage range light emitting diode driver


A microwaveable packaged good article is described. The microwaveable packaged good article includes a container and an overcap. The container includes a base and a continuous wall extending from the base terminating in a chime. The overcap includes a panel, a neck extending from the panel terminating in a drip bead, and a skirt radially spaced from the drip bead to define a channel between the skirt and the drip bead. In this regard, the chime is received within the channel upon assembly of the overcap to the container.

The present invention relates to a microwaveable packaged good article, and more particularly, it relates to an overcap for a microwaveable packaged good article.
Consumers have responded favorably to a variety of packaged foods provided as microwaveable packaged good articles. In particular, consumers have shown a strong preference for ready-to-eat packaged good articles that can be quickly and conveniently heated in a microwave oven. Some particularly popular packaged good articles include lunch or dinner entrees such as soups, chilies, stews, and pasta meals (e.g., spaghetti and ravioli) provided in sealed containers that are suitable for microwave heating.
In general, a microwaveable packaged good article includes a container containing a consumable item, an optional removable lid to sealingly preserve the consumable item within the container prior to preparation/consumption, and an overcap. To prepare the consumable item, the consumer typically first removes the overcap from the container for access to the removable lid. The removable lid is then separated from the container to expose the consumable item within the container. The overcap is then replaced on the container to form a covered cooking vessel. In this manner, the assembled container/overcap is readied for subsequent microwave heating of the consumable item.
During microwave heating, the consumable item is preferably heated to its boiling point. When the consumable item boils, steam is generated. In this regard, the overcap typically includes at least one vent to permit an equalization of pressure within the container. That is to say, the heated steam exits the container through the vent to alleviate a build-up of pressure inside the container. Boiling of the consumable item inevitably results in bubbling or splashing within the container, resulting in liquid accumulation along an inside surface of the overcap. Frequently, the bubbling/splashing consumable item will seep between the overcap and a lip of the container, dripping or flowing onto an exterior of the container.
For example, one known overcap for a microwaveable packaged good article includes a top panel provided with vent holes and a skirt descending from the top panel. A series of spaced reinforcing ribs is provided on the interior of the overcap, extending between an interior surface of the top panel and an interior side of the skirt. Upon final assembly, the ribs rest against a top of the container, with a portion of the skirt extending along an exterior of the container. Unfortunately, during microwave heating, the boiling consumable item within the container can accumulate between the reinforcing ribs and subsequently seep or drip between the skirt and the exterior of the container. These drips are unsightly, may soil the microwave (or other surface that the container is subsequently placed on), and may lead to user handling inconveniences.
In addition, the known overcap can deform when a large axial force is applied to the top panel. For example, during distribution and merchandising, several packaged good articles are commonly stacked vertically one on top of another. To this end, mass distribution normally entails grouping a number of individual packaged good articles within a tray or box, and then stacking multiple ones of the so-formed trays on a pallet. In this manner, a large axial loading is directed onto the top panel of the bottommost packaged good article present on a distributor's pallet or even a merchant's shelf.
By way of reference, the skirt/ribs of the known microwaveable container overcap are sized to position the top panel well above a top portion of the container to ensure adequate spacing during boiling. Thus, the overcap is supported relative to the container primarily by the ribs, which in turn are supported by the skirt. In the presence of axial loadings of greater than forty pounds, the known overcap exhibits structural failure in the form of the ribs deflecting or deforming, leading to non-reversible deformation of the skirt. These deformations create an unattractive merchandizing unit at the point of sale, reduce viability of the overcap during subsequent microwave heating and have the potential to damage the contained item by rupturing the removable lid. In any regard, the known overcap insufficiently resists deformation from axial loadings that are oftentimes encountered during normal distribution and merchandizing.
Consumers continue to show strong demand for microwaveable packaged good articles. Unfortunately, the standard overcap for microwaveable packaged good articles can lead to the boiling consumable item exiting the container and soiling the container's exterior and/or inside of the microwave. In addition, the known overcap employed with microwaveable packaged good articles can radially deform under common distribution and merchandizing loads, thus threatening the integrity of the packaged good article. Therefore, a need exists for an overcap for a microwaveable packaged good article that resists radial deformation and prevents boiling contents from exiting the container.

Microwaveable packaged good article overcap


A rotary machine support device is used for supporting a rotary machine including a hearing housing with a flange and a rotary shaft. The rotary machine support device includes a support portion which supports the rotary machine. The support portion includes: a mounting flange capable of contacting the flange; and arms, each arm including a holding portion which holds the mounting flange and the flange together while pressing the flanges contacting each other inward from outside in the radial direction thereof. The holding portion includes a pair of claw pieces. In addition, at least one of the mounting flange and a groove portion formed between the pair of claw pieces is formed in a tapered shape, and the tapered shape is formed so that the width thereof in the opposing direction of the flange and the mounting flange gradually decreases outward from inside in the radial direction.

In the related art, in a rotary machine which is rotationally driven by, for example, fluid, an unbalanced amount remaining in a rotary unit is detected, the remaining unbalanced amount is corrected if it is large, and thereafter an end product thereof is shipped. The rotary machine includes a turbocharger, a turbo compressor, a gas turbine or the like. The rotation balance correction on, for example, the turbocharger in the related art is described.
The turbocharger is a device which supplies compressed air to a combustion engine using exhaust gas energy of the engine mounted on a vehicle, a ship or the like.
The turbocharger includes a turbine blade which is rotationally driven by exhaust gas of the engine, a compressor blade which compresses air by rotating integrally with the turbine blade and supplies compressed air to the engine, and a rotary shaft in which one end part thereof is connected with the turbine blade and the other end part thereof is connected with the compressor blade. In addition, the turbocharger includes a turbine housing internally accommodating the turbine blade, a compressor housing internally accommodating the compressor blade, and a hearing housing in which a hearing supporting the rotary shaft is incorporated.
The rotation balance inspection on a turbocharger is performed before the turbocharger is shipped as a product.
In the rotation balance inspection, first, a rotary unit, in which a rotor composed of the turbine blade, the compressor blade and the rotary shaft is attached to the hearing housing, is prepared. Next, a portion of the rotary unit (the hearing housing) close to the turbine blade is mounted on a rotary machine support device using bolts or the like and is supported thereby. Thereafter, compressed gas having approximately the same pressure as that of the exhaust gas of the engine is supplied to the turbine blade, and thereby the rotor composed of the turbine blade, the compressor blade and the rotary shaft is rotationally driven.
When the rotation speed of the rotor reaches a predetermined rotation speed, a rotation angle detector detects a rotation angle of the rotor while an acceleration pickup detects an acceleration (vibration) of the rotor. In this way, for example, a calculator detects how much acceleration (vibration) occurs at every rotation angle and at the predetermined rotation speed. Based on the detected data, the unbalanced amount is determined. Thereafter, the balance correction is performed by machining the rotor so that a part of the rotor is removed and the unbalanced amount is eliminated.
In the rotation balance inspection on the turbocharger (the rotary machine), a configuration of the rotary machine support device used to support the turbocharger is known in which a pressing member presses a flange of the bearing housing of the turbocharger, namely the flange of the bearing housing to which the turbine housing is attached, against a support portion arranged on the side of the bearing housing opposite to the compressor housing, and the turbocharger serving as an inspection target is held and fixed thereto (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).


An iontophoresis controller is configured for connection to an iontophoresis electrode pair. The controller controls infusion of a selected dose of ionic drugs into a patient through the electrode pair during a treatment period. The controller includes an electrode driver channel having an electrode output configured for electrical connection to the electrode pair. The electrode driver channel delivers a substantially constant electrode output current at a selected treatment level through the electrode output during the treatment period. The electrode output current rises exponentially from approximately zero to the selected treatment level, remains at the selected treatment level during the treatment period, and then falls exponentially to approximately zero. A microprocessor controls operation of the electrode driver channel to generate the electrode output current during the treatment period.

The present invention relates to an iontophoresis medication delivery system for controlling infusion of ionic drugs in medical iontophoresis. In particular, the present invention relates to an iotophoresis medication delivery system having an exponentially ramped output current.
Iontophoresis medication delivery systems transfer ionized molecules of a drug solution through a patient's skin. Drug migration is achieved by placing two electrodes on the patient's skin which are connected to an electric direct-current (DC) power supply. One of the electrodes is a source or "active" electrode filled with a drug solution. The other electrode is a return or "inactive" electrode filled with an electrolyte solution. The current delivered to the electrodes generates an electric field between the two electrodes which causes the ionized drug molecules to migrate from the active electrode into the tissues and bloodstream of the patient without the necessity of a hypodermic injection and its adverse effects.
However, patients may experience a shocking or stunning sensation during rapid changes in current level when the delivered current is turned on or turned off. This sensation can be minimized by ramping the current up from zero when the device is turned on and ramping the current down to zero when the device is turned off.
A linear ramp increases and decreases the delivered current slowly over time. An incremental ramp increases and decreases the delivered current in fixed increments over time. While the linear ramp and the incremental ramp reduce some of the discomfort experienced by the patient, the ramps are relatively inefficient since they significantly add to the total treatment time for delivery of a selected drug dose. For example, the linear ramp may take up to one minute to ramp the output current up from zero milliamperes to four milliamperes. If the rate of change of current is increased significantly, the ramp may not have an appreciable effect on patient comfort.
Lattin et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,406,658 and 4,457,748 disclose an iontophoretic device having a current control circuit which is applied to a pair of electrodes. The current control circuit includes an output transistor having a base connected to a capacitor. A pair of constant current diodes cause the charge on the capacitor and on the base of the output transistor to charge linearly. As the base of the transistor charges, the output current ramps up gradually from zero to a full current value over a period of about one second.
Jacobsen et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,141,359 discloses an epidermal iontophoresis device which includes a damping circuit to preclude sudden changes in current experienced when the device is turned on or turned off. The damping circuit limits incremental increases of current to minimize discomfort. Newman U.S. Pat. No. 4,931,046 discloses an iontophoresis drug delivery system in which the amplitude level of current pulses is increased in discrete steps (0.1 milliamperes) from a relatively low level to a selected operating level.

Iontophoresis electronic device having a ramped output current


A snowshoe is described in which both a simple toe strap and a simple ankle strap are connected to a single, large claw plate, wherein the heel of the user's foot is maintained on an upper surface of the decking.

This present invention relates to a snowshoe construction and, more particularly, to a lightweight snowshoe providing a user with enhanced maneuverability.
Because in the past snowshoes have been awkward to use, many design changes to the basic construction have been proposed. Much of the recent effort has been devoted to designing binding arrangements and their securance to the remainder of the snowshoe in such a way as to accommodate the natural stride of an individual, such as by allowing the foot to cant behind the user without the snowshoe itself leaving the ground. In other words, many relatively modern snowshoe designs include an articulating hinge rod or the like to allow the toe of a user to grip the snow (typically with the aid of a crampon) while the heel lifts up from the snowshoe. Examples of this type of shoe construction can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,517,772 and 5,787,612.
This approach, as well as other approaches, have not resulted in a snowshoe which is commercially acceptable for certain uses.


The present invention provides a combined ground and satellite system for global aircraft surveillance, navigation, landing guidance and collision avoidance which comprises a satellite subsystem consisting of both a satellite constellation and associated ground stations, and a ground subsystem consisting of a network of ground stations, together with an airborne subsystem comprised of a transponder unit located in each of the aircraft using the system. A high speed two-way data link is provided between each of the subsystems using spread spectrum technology to permit overlaying and operation of the system in an existing band of narrow channels with minimum mutual interference. The system of the invention is reliable because of the redundant subsystems, and is not subject to failure. Also, the system provides for computations to be made on the ground, rather than in the aircraft, thereby reducing the size and complexity of the airborne equipment. The system also achieves a high degree of precision, as compared with the prior art systems. The system also provides air/ground data communication.

The present invention is directed to an integrated global aircraft surveillance and navigation system having capabilities beyond those of the system described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,454,510 which issued Jul. 12, 1984 in the name of the present inventor. That patent discloses an aircraft surveillance, navigation, landing guidance and collision avoidance system which takes the form of a two-way data communication link between each of a multiplicity of controlled aircraft and a ground station. The system described in the patent also includes appropriate measuring equipment at the ground station which provides three-dimensional position data on the ground for aircraft control purposes, and which also provides three-dimensional position data in the aircraft for navigation, landing guidance and collision avoidance purposes. A two-way air/ground data link is also provided for miscellaneous data and control purposes.
Specifically, the present invention is concerned with a combined ground and satellite system for providing precise global aircraft navigation, surveillance, landing guidance, collision avoidance, and data linkage with a ground-based system, and which has capabilities beyond those of present day Global Positioning Systems (GPS).
Global civil aviation is rapidly moving toward widespread utilization of the prior art military Global Positioning System (GPS) and the civil version Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) yet to be implemented, both of which have substantial navigation advantages over previous systems. However, although the GPS-based landing guidance and dependent surveillance systems offer major advantages over the previously existing systems, there are critical shortcomings in present day GPS systems which involve integrity, availability and security. These shortcomings cannot practically be solved with the GPS-based systems or with the GNSS-based systems. In the GPS-dependent surveillance system, aircraft-derived GPS position data is transmitted to the ground by way of a constellation of communications satellites. It has been found that a constellation of eight geo-stationary and polar-orbiting satellites are sufficient to provide global coverage with redundancy in case of a satellite outage. A GPS-equipped aircraft may be interrogated by an Air Traffic Control (ATC) ground facility by way of one of the communications satellites, utilizing a discrete address, and the aircraft then replies by sending data representing its latitude/longitude, altitude and miscellaneous details using the same satellite link. Therefore, aircraft three-dimensional position data is made available to the Air Traffic Control (ATC) regardless of where the aircraft is located with respect to the earth.
Once the GPS communications satellite constellation referred to above is established for surveillance, means for global collision warning/avoidance is also available. The addition of a receiver on board the aircraft which operates on the aircraft-to-satellite up-link frequency enables all the aircraft in the vicinity to receive three-dimensional position data. This data can be processed for traffic environment display and horizontal, as well as vertical, escape maneuvers.
Although the GPS-based global functions such as those listed above represent distinct advances over the previously-used systems, there are many reasons for civil aviation to advance beyond GPS or GNSS-based systems. Some of these reasons are as follows:
A. The GPS-dependent global surveillance depends on accurate GPS positions from all aircraft. If there is a positional error from one aircraft, for whatever reason, a potential conflict with other aircraft in the vicinity arises which could lead to disaster. On the other hand, position data for a number of aircraft in an area derived from a common ground or satellite source, as is the case in the system of the present invention, is not subject to such a disastrous result.
B. The collision warning/avoidance function available in the GPS is superior to existing Threat Collision Avoidance Systems (TCAS) in that accurate relative positions are known in the GPS system of each aircraft, enabling cockpit traffic environment display, and horizontal as well as vertical escapes to be made. But this is also subject to the problem discussed in the previous paragraph, that is, the problem of potential aircraft conflicts if one aircraft reports an erroneously derived GPS position.
C. Although differential GPS-based landing guidance appears to be attractive from many aspects, it falls short in at least required integrity and availability with respect to existing Instrument Landing System (ILS) guidance. Moreover, with the multiple satellite-to-aircraft and ground-to-aircraft links required and the myriad of airborne GPS computations and corrections necessary, a heavy burden is placed on the equipment and processing in the aircraft, and not in the ground station where it should be.
D. Any satellite system is subject to jamming, either intentional or unintentional, and the complete dependence on GPS for global navigation, surveillance, landing guidance and other aviation functions has a tendency to lead to disaster.
In papers presented to the Institute of Navigation convention on Jun. 28, 1984 and Jun. 4, 1994, the present inventor described a new type of global surveillance and navigation system, which he designated an Integrated Global Surveillance and Navigation System (IGSANS). This system overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art GPS and GNSS-type systems, including those discussed in the preceding paragraphs.
The Integrated Global Surveillance and Navigation System (IGSANS) to be described herein consists of a satellite constellation and associated ground stations (satellite subsystem), and a ground station network (ground subsystem), each providing aircraft position data to an airborne subsystem. The basic functions provided by the IGSANS to be described are as follows: (a) precise global three-dimensional aircraft position for ATC surveillance; (b) precise global area navigation, pilot-selectable or standard routes, including great circle; (c) precise three-dimensional aircraft positions available globally to all aircraft in an area for collision warning/avoidance, and one which permits horizontal as well as vertical escapes; (d) a high speed two-way data link for aircraft requests, instructions, weather/runway conditions, etc.; and (e) in terminal areas, precise and versatile multi-runway landing guidance capabilities, including auto-flare guidance to touchdown and roll-out for all aircraft, with a high degree of freedom from multi-path errors.
It may be seen from the character of the IGSANS functions that aircraft position determination and data linking are at the heart of the system. Position determination via the satellite subsystem is accomplished with measurement of distances between the aircraft and three or more satellites of known position. The area satellite subsystem ground station transmits a digitally encoded and discretely addressed interrogation pulse concerning a particular aircraft to a satellite which, in turn, repeats the pulse to the addressed aircraft. The aircraft's digitally encoded reply pulse is received by three or more satellites, which again repeat the pulses to the satellite ground station. Precise time delay measurements between the interrogation and reply pulses allow the ground station to compute the precise aircraft position. In the case of the ground subsystem a facility in the vicinity of the aircraft transmits a similar discretely-addressed interrogation pulse to the aircraft. The time delay for the aircraft reply is measured to determine distance, and the incident angle of the reply signal wave front is measured by an interferometer antenna array to determine the precise azimuth angle.
The present invention provides an improved Integrated Global Surveillance and Navigation System (IGSANS) which is constructed to meet all the requirements of global ATC surveillance, navigation and collision warning/avoidance, precise landing guidance and high speed data link functions. The improved system provides a combined ground/satellite based system which results in substantial cost savings in both airborne and ground/satellite facilities and yet achieves the desired results discussed above.
The specific objectives of the present invention include the following:
A. to provide an improved combination ground and satellite system which utilizes spread spectrum technology to provide precise global navigation, surveillance, collision avoidance, landing guidance and data link capabilities; PA1 B. to provide such an improved combination ground/satellite system which utilizes spread spectrum technology to identify specific ground network stations or specific satellite area beams; PA1 C. to provide such an improved combination ground/satellite system which utilizes spread spectrum technology to permit overlaying and operating of the system in an existing band of narrow band channels with minimal mutual interference; PA1 D. to provide such an improved system having ground facilities which utilize interferometer angular measurements and spread spectrum technology to identify the facility and provide precise three-dimensional position measurements for landing guidance; and PA1 E. to provide such an improved system having airborne transponder equipment which communicates with ground/satellite subsystems utilizing spread spectrum technology to provide precise aircraft navigation, surveillance, collision avoidance, landing guidance and data link capabilities.

Combined ground and satellite system for global aircraft surveillance guidance and navigation


A device which includes: a housing that has a first surface, a second surface, and a third surface connecting the first surface and the second surface; a touch screen that is disposed on the third surface of the housing; at least one display that is a display, which is disposed inside the housing and has a first display area performing display on the first surface and a second display area performing display on the second surface; and a controller that displays a screen according to a first operation in the first display area if the first operation is detected by the touch screen of the third surface, and displays a screen according to a second operation different from the first operation in the second display area if the second operation is detected by the touch screen of the third surface.

There is a known device provided with a touch screen display. Examples of the device provided with the touch screen display include smart phones and tablets. The device provided with the touch screen display detects a gesture of fingers or a stylus pen through the touch screen display. Then, the device provided with the touch screen display operates according to the detected gesture. Examples of an operation according to a detected gesture are described in Patent Literature 1 for instance.
A basic operation of the device provided with the touch screen display is realized by OS (Operating System) of Android (a registered trademark), BlackBerry (a registered trademark) OS, Symbian (a registered trademark) OS, iOS, or Windows (a registered trademark) Phone or the like.

Device having touch screen and three display areas


A fuel storing device comprising a fuel storage container having therein a fuel storage portion which is enclosed by a stretchable film and can expand and contract. An atmospheric pressure relief valve which opens when the pressure of the space portion formed in the fuel storage container around the fuel storage portion starts to fall below atmospheric pressure and a positive pressure relief valve which opens when the pressure of the space portion exceeds a certain positive pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure are provided between the space portion and the outside air so as to maintain the pressure of the space portion at least at atmospheric pressure at all times.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fuel storing device for a motor vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
Known in the art is an internal combustion engine which prevents the discharge into the outside air of the fuel vapor produced in a fuel tank when refueling by leading the fuel vapor in the fuel tank into a charcoal canister at the time of refueling so as to cause it to be adsorbed in the charcoal canister. In this case, if there is too much of an amount of fuel vapor produced in the fuel tank at the time of refueling, it is necessary to make the charcoal canister larger in volume. To make the charcoal canister smaller in size, it is necessary to reduce the amount of the fuel vapor produced in the fuel tank as much as possible.
However, when fuel sits in the fuel tank, the upper space in the fuel tank becomes filled with fuel vapor. Accordingly, to reduce the amount of the fuel vapor produced in the fuel tank, it is becomes necessary to reduce the volume of the upper space in the fuel tank as much as possible. Known in the art is a fuel tank wherein, to reduce the volume of the upper space of the fuel tank, a separating film contacting the surface of the liquid fuel in the fuel tank and moving up and down with the surface of the liquid fuel is disposed in the fuel tank and a plate serving as a weight is placed on the separating film (see Japanese Utility Model Publication (Kokai) No. 60-158922).
If a weight is used in this way, however, not only is there the problem of the fuel tank becoming heavier, but also there is the problem that the construction of the fuel tank becomes complicated, so time is taken for fabricating the fuel tank.


Tetrabromophthalic anhydride and the corresponding free acid are propared by oxidizing in the liquid phase a compound of the formula ##STR1## each of A and A' is independently selected from oxygen, OH or acetoxy; each of R and R' is independently selected from H, OH, alkyl, alkylidene or oxygen;. x is 0 or 1; y is 3-x; and R.sub.y and R'.sub.y may together form a closed alicyclic or heterocyclic ring structure.. Mixtures of two or more compounds of formula (I), optionally in the presence of an oxidation catalyst, can also be employed as the starting material.

TBPA is conventionally prepared by brominating phthalic anhydride (PA) in an oleum solution containing 50% or more of free SO.sub.3, and using iodine as a catalyst. This process suffers from severe drawbacks: oleum is a hazardous material which is difficult to employ on an industrial scale, because it is corrosive and emits harmful vapors, and it reacts vigorously on contact with moisture. Acidic and toxic gases evolve during the reaction, and the reaction mixture may foam. The bromination reaction is promoted by working at higher temperatures and higher SO.sub.3 concentrations, under which condition sulfonation is also promoted, and sulfonated by-products must be removed from the product. Furthermore, iodine is an expensive catalyst, the isolation of the product from the oleum is problematic, and corrosion must be taken into account.
Another process, which suffers from similar drawbacks, brominates PA with bromine and hydrogen peroxide in sulfuric acid, with I.sub.2 catalysis [DE-OLS-2 250 550].
Oxidation of tetrabrominated m- and p-xylene has been carried out under specific conditions [U.S. Pat. No. 3,947,494] to obtain phthalic acids of improved quality but with relatively low yields. No oxidation of tetrabrominated o-xylene has been carried out in the art. The much greater difficulty in oxidizing ortho-xylene relative to the other two isomers is clear from the prior art [A.S. Hay et al., J. Org. Chem. 25, 616 (1960)], which teaches that "o-xylene, unlike the other two isomers, cannot readily be oxidized".

Intermediates to tetrabromophthalic anhydride and process therefor