Disclosed is a shower corner shelf installation tool that includes a first and second arm that are pivotally connected to one other and are configured to support a shower corner shelf thereon when the shower corner shelf installation tool is in use, the first and second arms each have an upper sidewall connected to a lower sidewall by an outer sidewall positioned there between; anchor members protruding from the outer side wall of each arm that are configured to grip a shower corner to temporarily affix the shower corner shelf installation tool thereto while in use; leveling members extending above the first and second arm that are independently configured to selectively adjust the shower corner shelf during installation; and a tensioning member configured to extend between the first and second arm and apply force to the first and second arms and anchor members while the shower corner shelf installation tool is in use to temporarily affix the shower corner shelf installation tool to shower corner.

As discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,439,510 and U.S. Pat. No. 9,526,337, over the past two decades, residential bathrooms have become increasingly more elaborate, lavish, and luxurious. In most high-end bathrooms, custom fixtures, custom made sinks, custom showers, custom baths, and custom wall and shower tile have become commonplace in residential homes and luxury hotels. For example, in most of these high-end custom bathrooms, showers utilize custom tile, including but not limited to, marble, granite, ceramic, and travertine. In these custom showers, corner shelves have also become increasingly popular to place shampoos, soap, and other toiletries inside the shower in lieu of alternative options such as shower caddies. These corner shelves advantageously provide the functional utility of storing items within the shower while concurrently being aesthetically pleasing.
As discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,439,510 and U.S. Pat. No. 9,526,337, corner shelves typically have two different, conventional modes of installation. A first mode of installation includes framing a corner shelf area using lumber, which is subsequently covered with sheet rock. After hanging sheet rock within the shower area, and over the corner shelf area, decorative tile or stone is subsequently placed within the shower and forms both the shower area and the corner shelf. However, this method of forming a corner shelf within a shower is complex and time consuming. Also, these types of shower corner shelves are often susceptible to water damage and deterioration because water often penetrates through holes in the grout if the grouting is not constantly maintained. A second mode of installation includes, installing a pre-formed corner shelf within an existing shower corner. In order to install the pre-formed shower corner shelf within a pre-existing shower corner, a tile saw must first be used to cut and remove a portion of the tile that forms a groove/channel/recess capable of receiving complimentary protrusions from the pre-formed corner shelf. For example, when installing shelf, an adhesive is applied to the pre-formed shelf's protrusions, which are then pressed in and adhered to the groove/channel until the shelf is fixed to the shower corner. After installation, grout may be applied around the edges of the shelf to prevent water from leaking into the wall immediately behind shelf and the shower tile. After installation, the shelf can be used for toiletry storage.
Each of the above mentioned shelf installation methods are complex, laborious, and time consuming. U.S. Pat. No. 9,439,510 and U.S. Pat. No. 9,526,337 addressed these issues by providing alternative, more efficient methods and assemblies for retrofit shower corner shelf installation. However, a need remains for additional more efficient methods and assemblies for retrofit shower corner shelf installation including specialized tool(s) that further facilitate these alternative methods.


A reinforcing brace excellent in productivity and cost performance is provided which can advantageously improve a rigidity of a floor panel without deteriorating aerodynamic performance. The reinforcing brace comprising a longitudinal press-formed product including a cylindrical section 12 located at a middle area in a longitudinal direction thereof and flat portions 44, 44 located at end areas in the longitudinal direction thereof. Further, an outer surface of the cylindrical section 12 is made as regulating surfaces 26, 32, 36 which reduce air resistance by regulating a flow of air passing under the vehicle body. Furthermore, a plurality of insertion holes 46 are positioned in the flat portions 44, 44 into which fastener members are inserted.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a reinforcing brace. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improvement of the reinforcing brace for reinforcing a floor panel, which is installed to an undersurface of the floor panel of a vehicle so as to extend in a vehicle width direction.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Conventionally, various safety standards for vehicles such as motorcars are set to protect occupants from injuries resulting from impact collisions. Such safety standards for vehicle and the like are becoming more stringent year by year. A new safety standard to protect occupants from injuries resulting from side impact collisions (hereinafter, referred to as a side impact safety standard) was introduced in a few years ago. The side impact safety standard requires not only a side panel such as a door panel but also a floor panel providing a floor of vehicle to meet the standard. Thus, in recent years, as one option to meet the side impact safety standard required to the floor panel, a longitudinal reinforcing brace for improving the strength of the floor panel has been increasingly installed to the floor panel so as to extend in a vehicle width direction.
As such a reinforcing brace or reinforcement device for use in a floor panel, there are known a reinforcing brace formed of a metal pipe (see, JP-A-2008-279951) and a reinforcing brace composed of a press-formed product having an angular U-shaped cross sectional shape which is made by a longitudinal plate formed of a super high tensile strength steel through hot press, for example. However, the following problems are inherent in the conventional reinforcing braces formed of the pipe and the press-formed product having an angular U-shaped cross sectional shape.
Specifically, in the reinforcing brace formed of a pipe, a plurality of insertion holes for fastener members such as bolts, which allow the reinforcing brace to be installed to a floor panel, are positioned in installation sections located at both end sides in a longitudinal direction (axial direction) of the reinforcing brace. However, the width of the installation section of such reinforcing brace is inevitably small, because the installation sections of the reinforcing brace are formed by pressing both end side portions in a longitudinal direction of the pipe so as to have a flat shape. In other words, the width of the installation section is limited by the outside diameter of the pipe. Therefore, it is difficult to freely set a position and interval of the plurality of insertion holes in the installation section of such a small width. Consequently, it is also difficult to freely set a position of the fastener members, which are inserted into the insertion holes positioned in the installation section, when installing the reinforcing brace beneath the floor panel. Meanwhile, the floor panel to which the reinforcing brace is installed generally has a lot of concave and convex portions, and various members and parts are installed thereto. For this reason, when the reinforcing brace formed of a pipe is used as a reinforcing brace for a floor panel, installation of the fastener members, which are inserted into the insertion holes of the installation section, to the floor panel by the fastener members poses difficulties, because there is few flat area in the floor panel and it is difficult to set a position of the reinforcing brace so as not to be in contact with the other members and parts installed to the floor panel.
Even in such a reinforcing brace formed of a pipe, if flat brackets of large width are joined by welding, for example, to both end portions in a longitudinal direction of the pipe to form installation sections, position and arrangement intervals of a plurality of insertion holes positioned in the installation section can be set freely. However, due to the welding of the brackets, the number of facilities and processes in the production of the reinforcing brace will increase. Further, the number of parts for the reinforcing brace will increase because of the employment of the bracket, which is an independent member from the pipe. Consequently, deterioration in productivity of the reinforcing brace and an increase in the production cost thereof will be inevitably caused.
Meanwhile, the reinforcing brace formed of a press-formed product having an angular U-shaped cross sectional shape has a configuration in which a side wall is vertically provided on each side in a width direction of a longitudinal flat portion. Therefore, in such reinforcing brace, the width of the flat installation sections made of the end portions in a longitudinal direction of the steel plate can be set freely by changing a width of the steel plate, which is a material of the reinforcing brace, or by changing a height of the side wall which is formed by press working against the steel plate, for example. Thus, the position and intervals of the plurality of the insertion holes in the installation section can be freely set. However, torsional rigidity of the reinforcing brace formed of the press-formed product decrease more as the width of the flat portion become bigger. Accordingly, it is difficult to secure the same torsional rigidity as the reinforcing brace formed of a pipe. In addition, when such a reinforcing brace is installed to the undersurface of the floor panel so as to extend in a vehicle width direction, the side walls vertically provided on the both end sides in the width direction of the flat portions are arranged so as to protrude from the floor panel in a vertically downward direction. Due to this arrangement, air resistance under the vehicle body while driving is increased and aerodynamic performance is deteriorated.


This invention provides a device for removably securing a wide variety of objects to different surfaces utilizing a partial vacuum. The device includes flexible material comprising one or more opening(s), wherein each opening is capable of forming a continuous seal with a portion of an object and the remaining material is capable of forming a continuous seal with a surface. The size of the opening and the size of the material can vary within the constraints that adequate material remains surrounding the opening to enable a continuous seal to be formed with a surface when an object is inserted into the opening. The device is used by inserting an object into an opening, thereby forming a continuous seal between the object and the opening and pressing the device against a surface, displacing air to create a partial vacuum in a manner that causes a continuous seal to form between the flexible material and the attachment surface, thereby removably securing the object to the surface.

This invention relates to a device for securing one or a plurality of objects to a variety of surfaces.
It is often desirable to secure open beverage containers to a moving surface, such as a deck, dashboard, or table in a boat or recreational vehicle. While it is desirable to prevent sliding and tipping of the container due to acceleration, i.e. changes in the speed, orientation or direction of the vehicle, it is of course desirable to have the ability to lift the container for the purpose of drinking or pouring from it. Previously, various attempts have been made to design devices that would accomplish these somewhat contradictory purposes.
It is known to coat the bottoms of beverage containers with a non-slip material to reduce slippage. However, this significantly increases the cost of manufacture of the container and, in addition, does not address the problem of tipping. In fact, such an arrangement actually increases the tendency of the container to overturn because a sheer force acting on the container at its center of mass (which is located above its support surface) will cause a rotational moment about the non-slip interface. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,413,302, 5,273,182, 4,836,488, 4,137,356, 3,847,324, 4,978,566, and 4,040,549 disclose various slip resistant coasters and cup holders. A separate coaster or cup holder having a non-slip material reduces the cost of the container, but does not address the other limitations mentioned above.
Insulated beverage holder xe2x80x9csleevesxe2x80x9d have also been used to reduce slippage of beverage containers on movable surfaces. Such a beverage holder is usually constructed of polystyrene and is configured to essentially surround the container. Such a device may have a non-slip surface to decrease the likelihood of slippage. In addition, a base of increased diameter may serve to somewhat increase the stability of the container against tipping. However, because there is necessarily a thickness associated with the base portion, such a device serves to raise the center of gravity of the container to attendantly increase the likelihood of spillage.
A wide variety of devices, referred to as suction cups, or suction devices, have been, disclosed that secure objects by utilizing a partial vacuum formed between the device and the attachment surface. In one form or another, such suction devices generally rely on having a non-porous flexible lip fully seated on a non-porous surface to create a partial vacuum thereby suctionally adhering the device, with an attached object, to a surface. Objects are attached, either permanently or temporarily, to the suction device, which is attached, either permanently or temporarily, to a surface. In other examples the order of attachment is reversed. The attachment between the object and the suction device is described as being attached xe2x96xa1 to xe2x96xa1 or xe2x96xa1 on xe2x96xa1 the object or suction device, rather than xe2x80x9cthroughxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cinxe2x80x9d the suction device.
Recently, it has been known to utilize a suction device to secure a beverage container to a surface. Such a device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,795,525 issued to Cross et al. The holding device disclosed therein consists essentially of an initially flat, flexible disc secured to the concave bottom of an aluminum beverage can. The diameter of the disc is larger than that of the can. The disk is deformed into a concave shape in conformance with the bottom surface of the can. When placed upon a table or the like, the weight of the can sets a suction or vacuum chamber created by the convex shape of the disk and its flexible edges that protrude from the peripheral edges of the can. The non-slip characteristics of the disk minimize slippage of the can. In addition, the protruding edges of the disk add stability to the can.
However, the device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,759,525 has several limitations. In particular, this device is only suitable for use with a container having a concave bottom. In addition, since the suction chamber has a relatively large volume the device requires a significant displacement due to the weight of the can in order to set the suction. By the same token, it is difficult to break the seal thereof. In order to overcome this, a vent hole or passage may be provided to eliminate the sealing effect and thus the suction holding ability of the device. The vented Cross device can then be lifted without any manipulation of the coaster. Such a devise is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,180,132, however, this devise comprises an article holder which is only suitable for attachment of an object with an appropriate size and shape.
U.S. Des. Pat. No. 357,170 discloses a double-sided suction cup for dinnerware, which has a downwardly concave body that apparently functions by securing to an attaching surface and an upwardly concave body that attaches to a dinner plate such that, by imposing downward pressure, there forms between the dinner plate and the attaching surface a vacuum chamber. Another suction device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,192,043, which teaches a magnetic rubber suction disc used for detachably securing an alarming device to a metal surface. This device, however, does not interact well with other objects as it is permanently affixed to the alarming device; furthermore, it is apparently unsuitable for attachment to plastic, drywall, wood, ceramics, and other non-metallic surfaces. In these examples, the suction device increases the distance between the bottom of the object and the top of the attaching surface, thus decreasing stability.
Further suction devices are known, with various improvements, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,760,987, 5,511,752, 5,133,524 and 5,742,971, however, no single device is yet known to have universal utility. Specifically, these suction devices remain generally unsuitable as they are designed to produce only one or more of the following effects or features: double-suction; enhanced release; device specific; surface specific; or enhanced suction. The prior art does not provide for positioning the object in or through the device, which would facilitate improved stability. The secured object in the prior art is either permanently mounted to the top of the suction device, or is temporarily secured by a hook, hanger, or clasp either permanently or temporarily attached to the top of the suction device.
In addition, the prior art usually secures the object using a relatively small area of attachment per suction device. The area of attachment to the object is usually small in relation to the size of the object which has the effect of reducing stability. There are no internal design features that ensure some measure of proportionality between the size of the object, the area of the object attachment point, and the area of attachment to the surface.
There remains a need, therefore, for a suction device that can interact with a variety of objects for the purpose of temporary attachment to a variety of surfaces, and that allows an object to be inserted in and through the device. There is also a need for a suction device with an expanded attachment area for interaction with both an object and with the surface, to provide increased stability. Ideally, the design should exhibit a measure of proportionality between the size of the object, the area of the object attachment, and the area of attachment to the surface, an internal feature of that design would make significant contributions to the stability of the attachment.
In light of the foregoing, it is thus an object of the present invention to provide a device for securing objects that overcomes some of the deficiencies of the prior art devices.
This background information is provided for the purpose of making known information believed by the applicant to be of possible relevance to the present invention. No admission is necessarily intended, nor should be construed, that any of the preceding information constitutes prior art against the present invention. Publications referred to throughout the specification are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties in this application.
An object of the present invention is to provide a device for removably securing objects. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention there is provided a device for removably securing objects comprising: (a) flexible material; (b) one or more opening(s) in said material, whereby said opening is capable of forming a continuous seal with a portion of an object, said flexible material is able to form a continuous seal with a surface capable of forming a partial vacuum, and said opening is positioned within the boundaries of said material whereby sufficient material remains surrounding said opening to enable a continuous seal to be formed with said surface when:
(1) an object is inserted into said opening forming a seal between the object and the opening and
(2) said device is pressed against said surface in a manner that causes a continuous seal to form between the flexible material and said surface, in a manner that displaces air to create a partial vacuum, thereby removably securing said object to said surface.


Disclosed is an improvement to the assay for protein in urine involving the use of a molybdate or tungstate salt and an indicator dye which forms a complex with molybdate or tungstate whose absorption band is shifted in the presence of protein. The improvement involves the use of an ionizable phosphate containing compound characterized by the formula: ##STR1## to reduce background interference caused by constituents normally present in urine.

Various methods for the determination of protein in aqueous fluid have been reported in the literature. These methods include the Kjeldahl method, biuret method, Lowry method, dyestuff combination method, UV method and fluorometric method. Widely used methods for the assay of urinary protein are the Kingbury-Clark method; reported in J. Lab. Clin. Med., 11, 981 (1926); the Exton method; reported in Rinsho Byori, 15, 699 (1967); Merlemans method; reported in Clin. Chim. Acta, 5, 757 (1960) and the Coomassie brilliant blue method; reported in Anal. Biochem., 72, 248 (1976).
In general, protein interacts with various substances, particularly with dyes such as bromphenol blue, coomassie brilliant blue and eosine as well as metal ions such as silver (I), copper (II), zinc (II) and lead (II). Typically, the addition of protein to the reaction between a dye and a metal ion gives a spectral change to a dye-metal ion solution. Fujita et al report in Bunseki Kagaku Vol. 32, Pp. E379-E386 that the addition of protein to the reaction between pyrogallol red and molybdenum (VI) produces a different spectrum than that of the pyrogallol red-molybdenum (VI) complex solution. These authors report that among metal ions tested, large amounts of iron (II) interfered with the protein determination and that among anions tested, organic acids such as citrate, oxalate and tartrate ions decreased the absorbance at 600 nm. While large amounts of other ions did not interfere, Fujita et al report that large amounts of creatinine and amino acids caused a slight increase in absorbance at 600 nm.
Japanese Kokai Patent No. SHO 62[1987]-6170 discloses a test strip for protein determination comprising a molybdate salt, a pigment which forms a complex with molybdate and whose adsorption band is shifted in the presence of a protein and a chelating agent which combines with molybdate ions. A similar assay for trace amounts of protein is disclosed in Japanese Kokai Patent 61-155757 in which there is described the use of a chelating agent which is able to bond with molybdenum or a metal ion which is able to bond with oxalic acid, citric acid, phosphoric acid or their salts which are normally present in the test sample. This assay is a dye binding method using the complex of pyrogallol red and molybdenum. At low pH the dye-metal complex is red. The color changes to blue when deprotenated at higher pH. The protein causes the dye to deprotonate more easily (at a lower pH) by the interaction of positively charged amino acid groups stabilizing the negatively charged deprotonated dye-molybdate complex.
The major limitation to the transition metal-pyrogallol red method of protein detection is the interference of chelating agents and nitrogen compounds normally found in urine. Background color or the color without protein is also dependent on urinary interfering compounds. Citrate, phosphate, tartrate and oxalate shift the dye-metal complex to a red color (protonated form in Scheme I). ##STR2##
The extent of the shifts is given in Tables 1-3; the direction of the shift is given below in Table A. Presumably the carboxylic acid groups complex the metal to stabilize the red protenated form.
TABLE A ______________________________________ Affect on Blue Color Ion of Background ______________________________________ Ammonium No effect Oxalate Decreases relative to water Creatinine No effect Citrate Decreases relative to water Phosphate Decreases relative to water ______________________________________
Creatinine and amino acids such as glycine shift the complex to blue (deprotonated form). This effect is the same as that observed with protein. To observe this effect, the creatinine concentration must be higher than the range tested in Tables 1-3 which represents the physiological extremes in urine. These interferences have been reduced by the use of chelating agents or metal ions which do not react with the dye. Two Japanese patents to Wako Ltd. describe the use of certain chelates and metals to reduce interferences. These patents, 62[1987]-6170 and 61-155757 (1986) cite oxalic acid as the preferred species for limiting interferences associated with the use of molybdate-pyrogallol red reagents.
It has more recently been discovered that tungstate acts in a manner similar to molybdate in the presence of protein and a dye. Useful tungstate salts include sodium tungstate, potassium tungstate, lithium tungstate, ammonium tungstate or a tungstate with an alkyl, dialkyl, trialkyl or tetraalkylammonium ion or a phosphotungstate bearing a similar cation.

Reduction of background interferences in the molybdate-dye protein assay


An article supply apparatus includes an inclined passage which inclines downwardly toward a predetermined direction, a vibration imparting device which vibrates the inclined passage, an article feeding device which feeds a plurality of articles to the upper end side of the inclined passage, a visual sensor which captures images of the articles on the inclined passage and which obtains information for identification of at least a position of each of the articles on the inclined passage, and a robot arm which picks up the articles one by one from the inclined passage by using the information obtained by the visual sensor and which supplies the picked-up articles to a predetermined supply destination.

As this kind of article supply apparatus, an article supply apparatus which houses a plurality of articles in a bowl and transfers them to a rotating table from the bowl, which detects a position or posture of each of the articles on the rotating table by using a visual sensor, and which supplies the articles to predetermined destinations by picking up the articles one by one by using robot arms based on the detected result is known (See Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, Publication No. 2006-082186, for example).
And, an article supply apparatus which controls posture of each of the articles on a transportation passage provided in a bowl by vibrating the articles in the bowl so that the articles moves on the transportation passage, and which supplies the articles to a predetermined supply destination from the end side of the transportation passage is also known (See Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, Publication No. 2015-030543, for example).


An ink ribbon for a printer or the like has a leading and/or trailing, optically operative control strip. The control strip has only a first light-impervious or opaque control portion and a second transparent control portion. The control portion adjoining the ink ribbon is of a length of between 1 and 4 cm.

The invention concerns an ink ribbon for a printer, typewriter or the like, more particularly but not exclusively a transfer ribbon for a thermal transfer printer.
An ink ribbon for a printer or the like is often provided with a sensing or control strip, referred to hereinafter as the control strip, which is adapted to produce an optical effect. The control strip may be disposed at the leading end or the trailing end or at both ends of the ribbon. The optically operative control strip, in conjunction with a suitable sensor arrangement in the printer, provides that, when the end of the ink ribbon is reached, the ink ribbon stops and further operation of the printer is disabled. Hitherto, various kinds of control strips have been used, more particularly in dependence on the nature of the layer of ink on the ink ribbon. If a transparent control strip is used, light can suddenly pass through the control strip at the end of the ink ribbon when the control strip reaches the sensor arrangement of the printer, and as a result the procedure for switching off the printer is triggered. It is however also possible to use a light-impervious control strip so that, when the control strip passes into the region of the corresponding sensor arrangement, less light is allowed to pass through the control strip, in comparison with the ink ribbon. That reduction in the degree of transmission of light then represents the signal for the printer to be switched off. Now, hitherto the situation was such that different control strips have been used in dependence on the different types of printers for which the ink ribbons are intended, more specifically, either control strips which have a higher degree of light-transmissivity or transparency relative to the ink ribbon, or control strips whose light-transmissivity or transparency is less than that of the ink ribbon. That involves an increased level of expenditure, both in regard to the manufacturer of the ink ribbons and also in regard to the dealers trading with such articles. Moreover, if a user inadvertently employs an ink ribbon with an unsuitable control strip, which is possible in view of the fact that the ink ribbons or the cartridges thereof are otherwise of the same configuration, that can even give rise to serious damage to the printer.
JP-A-3(1991)-75185 discloses a thermal transfer ribbon in which the control strips are longitudinally divided. Control strip portions having a multiplicity of alternately transparent and opaque regions are provided at one end above the line of division of the control strip and at the other end below that line of division. That makes it possible to distinguish between the leading end and the trailing end of the ink ribbon. However, such a ribbon can also only be used with certain types of printer.

Ink ribbon for a printer, typewriter or the like


An image pickup apparatus for breast examination capable of reliably imaging an entire breast is provided. That is, according to this invention, a breast introduced into a detector ring can be placed reliably in a radiographic field of view of the apparatus. That is, the image pickup apparatus for breast examination according to this invention includes a support at an opening opposite to an opening at a side, where a breast of a patient is inserted, of a through-hole of the detector ring. A tip of the breast introduced into the detector ring is obstructed by this support, and cannot project outside the detector ring but contacts a contact surface located in the radiographic field of view. According to this invention, the tip of the breast does not project outside the radiographic field of view, and the breast introduced in the detector ring can be positioned reliably in the radiographic field of view of the apparatus.

A medical institution has a sectional radiographic apparatus installed therein for imaging a distribution of a radioactive drug. A specific construction of such a sectional radiographic apparatus will be described. A conventional sectional radiographic apparatus has a detector ring with radiation detectors arranged in an annular shape for detecting radiation. This detector ring detects a pair of radiation (pair of annihilation radiation) emitted in opposite directions from a radioactive drug in a patient (see Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, for example).
As a type of such sectional radiographic apparatus, there is a sectional radiographic apparatus for breast examination. This image pickup apparatus for breast examination will be described specifically. FIG. 14 is a view illustrating a conventional image pickup apparatus for breast inspection. With a conventional image pickup apparatus 51 for breast inspection, one of the breasts B of a patient M is introduced into a detector ring 62 at the time of examination. In this state, the detector ring 62 detects pairs of annihilation radiation emitted from the patient M.
The detector ring 62 determines a source of the pairs of annihilation radiation emitted from the breast B, and a distribution of the radioactive drug is generated based on this position information. Since the radioactive drug has a property to accumulate more in cancer tissue than normal tissue, breast cancer can be checked by diagnosing a distribution map of the radioactive drug.

Image pickup apparatus for breast examination

Nishinokyo-Kuwabaracho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto


The present invention is directed to a casket system having a bottom wall, a pair of side walls, a pair of end walls, a lid, and bed-like members of like material and construction, the side walls, the end walls and the bottom wall connected to form an open box, the lid removably securable to ledges of the box adjacent the opening of the box to provide a coffin, and wherein the box ledges include means for removably securing the bed-like members thereto when the lid is removed to provide a bed-like arrangement.

The present invention relates generally to caskets, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a casket system which is convertible to provide a bed-like arrangement.
Caskets are a necessary part of the funeral director's business and must meet with certain legal requirements. By and large, caskets have been made and sold by manufacturers to suit their purposes.
Over the past century, people have tried to diminish the visual effect of caskets. Caskets are a symbol of death and no one really likes to look at caskets.
None of us can actually imagine our own demise and being placed in a box with a lid about to be closed over us forever. For this reason, the lid may be the most offensive aspect of the casket appearance. Thus, there remains a need to soften the visual effect of the casket.
Previously, others have attempted this by creating devices to draw attention to the deceased. Improvements in the field of casket-making have centered on providing a casket which presents the corpse in the most restful or peaceful position during the viewing by mourners. For example, devices have been made which fit within a casket to raise or angle parts of the body into particular positions such as the tilting of the upper torso so that the body faces slightly toward the viewing side of the casket.
The present invention, however, is an attempt to mask the environment within which the deceased is laid to rest by providing a casket system which has high aesthetic qualities which departs from the typical mournful funeral effect incident to burial caskets as heretofore made.


A capacitor includes a cathode having a coating including an oxide of one of cobalt, molybdenum, and tungsten, a nitride of a metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, vanadium, zirconium, niobium, molybdenum, and tungsten, a carbide of a metal selected from the group consisting of vanadium, niobium, molybdenum, and tungsten, an intercalation carbon cathode, or an electrically conducting polymer selected from polyacetylene, polypyrrole, poly-p-phenylene, polythiophene, poly-3-phenylthiophene, and poly-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-thiophene, an anode including a metal selected from tantalum, aluminum, niobium, zirconium, and titanium, spaced from the coating, and an electrolyte in contact with the coating and the anode.

The present invention concerns improved capacitors and particularly capacitors employing a pseudo-capacitor-type cathode and a wet slug-type capacitor anode to achieve improved performance including increased energy storage density.
Tantalum wet slug capacitors have long been known in the capacitor arts. An example of the structure of a wet slug tantalum capacitor is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,780,797. Fundamentally, as described there, the wet slug capacitor includes a tantalum or tantalum-plated container that is the cathode or negative terminal of the electrolytic capacitor. An electrolyte and a porous sintered tantalum anode are disposed within the container. Tantalum forms a native oxide on exposed surfaces that may be increased in thickness by anodic oxidation. In the conventional wet slug capacitor, both the anode and cathode have insulating tantalum oxide coatings that are spaced apart from each other but are both in contact with the electrolyte, typically a sulfuric acid solution. Since sulfuric acid is electrically conductive, a conductor-insulator-conductor structure including metal, oxide coating, and electrolyte is present at both the anode and the cathode. Each of these conductor-insulator-conductor structures is itself a capacitor, i.e., an anode capacitor and a cathode capacitor. The capacitances of these electrode capacitors are to some degree determined by the thickness of the oxide layers formed on the anode and the cathode. Increasing the thickness of the anode oxide layer but not the cathode oxide layer, for example, by anodic oxidation, increases the breakdown voltage that a wet slug capacitor can withstand but reduces the overall capacitance of the capacitor. Typical breakdown voltages for a single capacitor can range from ten to one hundred twenty-five volts.
In the wet slug capacitor, the anode capacitance is effectively electrically connected in series with the cathode capacitance. As is well known, the net capacitance of two capacitors connected in series is smaller than the smaller of the capacitances of the two capacitors. Because the oxide layer at the anode of a wet slug capacitor is usually much thicker than the thickness of the oxide layer at the cathode, the anode capacitance of a wet slug capacitor is smaller than the cathode capacitance. For example, in a typical structure, the anode capacitance may be 3,100 microfarads and the cathode capacitance may be 8,700 microfarads. The resulting net capacitance of that capacitor is about 2,300 microfarads.
Although wet slug capacitors having useful capacitances and breakdown voltages can be readily produced, there is always a desire to increase the capacitance per unit volume of those capacitors, i.e., the energy storage density, without a reduction in the breakdown voltage. One proposed method of increasing the energy storage density of a wet slug capacitor is described in the cited patent. In that patent, a number of metallic films are deposited on the inside of the container of the capacitor. In particular, it is suggested that a film selected from the platinum group of metals, i.e., ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, and platinum, be alloyed with the tantalum of the container in segregated islands where the native oxide has been removed from the tantalum. Various techniques can be employed to deposit the platinum group metal, such as sputtering and electrolytic or electroless plating, followed by a heat treatment at a relatively high temperature, for example, from 925xc2x0 C. to 1,500xc2x0 C. Preferably, a platinum group metal layer is subsequently deposited on the islands to form a spongy layer. The platinum group metals apparently improve the energy storage density of capacitors having the structure described in the patent.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,942,500, a platinum group metal is applied to a capacitor cathode by cladding, i.e., by rolling a very thin layer of the platinum group metal with the tantalum metal. Explosive bonding is also mentioned. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,043,847, electrolytic co-deposition of a base metal and platinum group metal on the inside surface of a wet slug capacitor container is described. Addition of the platinum group metal by these techniques is said to increase the energy storage density.
A different type of electrolytic capacitor, frequently referred to as an electrochemical capacitor, employs so-called pseudocapacitive electrodes. These capacitors generally have metal oxide electrodes including a substrate of titanium or tantalum. Typically, a hydrated chloride of the metal, which may be ruthenium, is dissolved in isopropyl alcohol and applied to a heated titanium or tantalum substrate. The heat drives off the solvent, resulting in the deposition of a metal chloride. That chloride is heated to a high temperature in air to convert the metal chloride to an oxide. For example, the metal chloride film may be heated to about 250xc2x0 C. for approximately one-half hour to remove the solvent completely and to drive off water. Thereafter, in a second elevated temperature step, for example, at approximately 300xc2x0 C., a large surface area film of the oxide of the metal, for example, ruthenium oxide, is formed on the substrate. The oxide film is highly porous, meaning that it has a very large surface area.
A conventional electrochemical capacitor includes such electrodes as the anode and as the cathode, typically with a sulfuric acid solution electrolyte. The electrical charge storage mechanism is not fully understood. Electrical charges may be stored on the very large surface areas of the two electrodes, providing the capacitance characteristic. Electrical charges may be stored by a reversible change in the oxidation state of a material in an electrode. No matter what the charge storage mechanism is, it is substantially different from the charge storage mechanism of a wet slug capacitor electrode.
Although electrochemical capacitors can provide much higher energy storage densities than wet slug capacitors, the breakdown voltage of individual cell electrochemical capacitors is very low, typically only about one volt, i.e., essentially the dielectric breakdown voltage of the electrolyte. Even if electrochemical capacitors are connected in series, it is difficult to produce a practical capacitor with a breakdown voltage comparable to the breakdown voltages of wet slug capacitors. Thus, electrochemical capacitors have not been widely used.
It is an object of the invention to provide an improved capacitor having a practical breakdown voltage and a high energy storage density.
According to one aspect of the invention, a capacitor comprises a cathode including a coating of an oxide of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of cobalt, molybdenum, and tungsten, an anode spaced from the cathode and including a metal selected from the group consisting of tantalum, aluminum, niobium, zirconium, and titanium, and an electrolyte disposed between and in contact with the cathode and the an-ode.
According to a second aspect of the invention, a capacitor comprises a cathode including a coating of a nitride of a metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, vanadium, zirconium, niobium, molybdenum, and tungsten, an anode spaced from the cathode and including a metal selected from the group consisting of tantalum, aluminum, niobium, zirconium, and titanium, and an electrolyte disposed between and in contact with the cathode and the anode.
According to a third aspect of the invention, a capacitor comprises a cathode including a coating of a carbide of a metal selected from the group consisting of vanadium, niobium, molybdenum, and tungsten, an anode spaced from the cathode and including a metal selected from the group consisting of tantalum, aluminum, niobium, zirconium, and titanium, and an electrolyte disposed between and in contact with the cathode and the anode.
According to another aspect of the invention, a capacitor comprises a carbon intercalation cathode, an anode including a metal selected from the group consisting of tantalum, aluminum, niobium, zirconium, and titanium disposed on a second metal body opposite and spaced from the carbon intercalation cathode, and an electrolyte disposed between and in contact with the cathode and the anode.
According to a further aspect of the invention, a capacitor comprises an electrically conducting polymeric cathode selected from the group consisting of polyacetylene, polypyrrole, poly-p-phenylene, polythiophene, poly-3-phenylthiophene, and poly-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-thiophene, an anode including a metal selected from the group consisting of tantalum, aluminum, niobium, zirconium, and titanium disposed on a second metal body opposite and spaced from the electrically conducting polymeric cathode, and an electrolyte disposed between and in contact with the cathode and the anode.
In the invention, one electrode of a capacitor is a wet slug capacitor-type electrode, for example, the anode. The other electrode is an electrochemical-type capacitor electrode, for example, an oxide of cobalt or tungsten, an oxide or nitride of molybdenum, a nitride of titanium, vanadium, zirconium, niobium, molybdenum, or tungsten, a carbide of vanadium, niobium, molybdenum, or tungsten, a carbon intercalation cathode, or an electrically conducting polymer. For the same capacitance value, the cathode of a capacitor according to the invention is reduced in size compared to a conventional wet slug capacitor. If the volume of the conventional wet slug capacitor for a particular capacitance is maintained, then the anode of a capacitor according to the invention can be increased in size relative to the conventional wet slug capacitor anode, increasing the capacitance and the energy storage density as compared to a conventional wet slug capacitor. In addition, if the capacitance of a conventional wet slug capacitor is maintained, then the volume of a corresponding capacitor according to the invention can be made smaller than the conventional wet slug capacitor, increasing energy storage density. A high breakdown voltage, characteristic of the conventional wet slug capacitor, is obtained in the invention, because of the presence of the conventional wet slug capacitor anode, while realizing increased energy storage density because of the presence of the pseudocapacitor cathode.


The invention relates to a surgical guide for receiving and guiding a surgical instrument, the guide including; an elongate body extending from a proximal end to a distal end, the elongate body including at least one aperture for receiving and guiding the surgical instrument; at least one positioning mechanism, the positioning mechanism adapted to be directly or indirectly connected to the body and adapted to engage or abut an anatomical location of a patient on which the guide is to be used. The guide is particularly useful in aiding canine tibial tuberosity advancement procedures.

Tibial tuberosity advancement (TTA) procedures are performed to treat deficient cranial cruciate ligaments in dogs. Currently used TTA procedures include the TTA Rapid™ procedure developed by Rita Leibinger Medical. This procedure allows an osteotomy to be made through a section of the proximal tibia allowing the tibial tuberosity to be advanced outwardly, the advanced tuberosity then held in position using a corresponding tibial tuberosity implant, typically in the form of a wedge. Such advancement of the tibial tuberosity stabilises the stifle joint by changing the angle of the patella ligament, and reducing tibiofemoral shear forces during weight bearing.
The TTA Rapid procedure includes the use of a saw and drill guide to assist the surgeon in correctly positioning the tibial osteotomy, allowing a first pin or drill guide to be inserted at the base of the osteotomy and a second pin at the top of the osteotomy at the proximate end of the tibia. Using this guide, the length of the osteotomy can be controlled and be reproduced exactly over a large number of surgeries. The angle of the osteotomy is typically an oblique angle from the longitudinal axis of the tibia and when using known saw guides, this angle is estimated each time the saw guide is positioned. By having to estimate the angle at which to place the drill guide, it is not possible to reproduce a successful surgery on further patients, and leaves the surgeon open to errors in judgement when placing the guide.
An osteotomy performed at an incorrect angle may result in patellar luxation, corresponding implants not having an optimal fit within the space provided, or may affect the degree to which the tuberosity is able to be advanced, as well as potentially jeopardising the long term success of the TTA operation.
The lack of consistency in the obliquity of the TTA osteotomies also makes it difficult to identify a full set of location parameters of the required osteotomy that may be reproduced across a range of animals.


A foamed isocyanate-based polymer having a cellular structure and comprising a non-surface cross-linked superabsorbent polymer, the foamed polymer being capable of: (i) absorbing at least about 10 times its weight of a 0.9 wt./wt. % aqueous NaCl solution maintained at a temperature of from about 20.degree. to about 25.degree. C., and (ii) retaining at least about 10 times its weight of absorbed aqueous NaCl solution which is bound to the superabsorbent polymer. A process for producing the foamed isocyanate-based polymer is also described. The process comprises the steps of: contacting an isocyanate, an active hydrogen-containing compound, an aqueous blowing agent, a catalyst and a non-surface cross-linked superabsorbent polymer, the superabsorbent polymer being capable of absorbing at least about 10 times its weight of a 0.9 wt./wt. % aqueous NaCl solution maintained at a temperature in the range of from about 20.degree. to about 25.degree. C.; and expanding the reaction mixture to produce the foamed isocyanate-based polymer. The active hydrogen-containing compound comprises from about 10% to 100% by weight of a hydrophilic active hydrogen-containing compound and from 0 to about 90% by weight a non-hydrophilic active hydrogen-containing compound. The foamed isocyanate-based polymer is ideally suitable for use in an absorption layer in a personal hygiene device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a foamed polymer and to a process for production thereof. More particularly, the present invention relates to a foamed isocyanate-based polymer (e.g. polyurethane foam, polyurea foam, polyisocyanurate foam, etc.) and a process for production thereof.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Isocyanate-based polymers are known in the art. Generally, those of skill in the art understand isocyanate-based polymers to be polyurethanes, polyureas, polyisocyanurates and mixtures thereof.
It is also known in the art to produce foamed isocyanate-based polymers. Indeed, one of the advantages of isocyanate-based polymers compared to other polymer systems is that the chemistry can be used to achieve desired product properties in situ.
One of the conventional ways to produce a polyurethane foam is known as the "one-shot" technique. In this technique, the isocyanate, a suitable polyol, a catalyst, water (which acts to generate carbon dioxide as the blowing agent and can optionally be supplemented with one or more secondary organic blowing agents) and other additives are mixed together at once using, for example, a mechanical or impingement mixer. Generally, if one were to produce a polyurea, the polyol would be replaced with a suitable polyamine. A polyisocyanurate may result from cyclotrimerization of the isocyanate component. Urethane-modified polyureas or polyisocyanurates are known in the art. In either scenario, the reactants would be intimately mixed quickly using a suitable mixer.
Another technique for producing foamed isocyanate-based polymers is known as the "prepolymer" technique. In this technique, a prepolymer of polyol and isocyanate (in the case of a polyurethane) are reacted in an inert atmosphere to form a liquid polymer terminated with isocyanate groups. To produce the foamed polymer, the prepolymer is thoroughly mixed with water and, optionally, a polyol (in the case of producing a polyurethane) or a polyamine (in the case of producing a polyurea) in the presence of a catalyst or a cross-linker.
As is known by those of skill in the art, many conventional isocyanate-based foams are non-hydrophilic (i.e. relatively hydrophobic). Such foams generally have an aversion to aqueous fluids. Practically, this results in such foams being unable to absorb or pick up significant quantities of aqueous fluids (e.g. the foams will float on water) other than by mechanical entrainment. Accordingly, such foams are vimally never used in an application in which significant aqueous fluid absorption and retention is a desired feature.
In copending U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 08/413,433 (Wilson) and 08/554,896 (Wilson), the contents of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference, there is disclosed a foamed isocyanate-based polymer having a cellular structure and containing a superabsorbent material, the polymer being capable of: (i) absorbing at least about 20 times its weight of an aqueous fluid maintained at a temperature of from about 20.degree. to about 25.degree. C. and (ii) retaining at least about 20 times its weight of absorbed aqueous fluid which is bound to the superabsorbent material. The foamed isocyanate-based polymer disclosed in the Wilson '433 and '896 applications may be produced by a process which comprises reacting and expanding (via a suitable catalyst and blowing agent) a mixture comprising an isocyanate, an active hydrogen-containing compound and a superabsorbent material. The superabsorbent material is capable of absorbing at least about 20 times its weight of an aqueous fluid maintained at a temperature in the range of from about 20.degree. to about 25.degree. C. The active hydrogen-containing compound comprises from about 10% to 100% by weight of a hydrophilic active hydrogen-containing compound and from 0 to about 90% by weight a non-hydrophilic active hydrogen-containing compound. The foamed isocyanate-based polymer is ideally suitable for use in an absorption layer in a personal hygiene device.
An example of known superabsorbent materials are superabsorbent polymers. A good discussion on superabsorbent polymers may be found in "SUPERABSORBENT POLYMERS Science and Technology", ACS Symposium Series 573, Edited by Bucholz et al. (1994), the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
A superabsorbent material, such as a superabsorbent polymer, may be thought of as an ionic hydrocolloid. Generally, such a material is considered to be superabsorbent if it is able to imbibe, absorb or gel at least about 10 times its weight of a fluid and retain the fluid under moderate pressure (this property is also known as Absorbency Under Load or AUL. and is discussed in more detail hereinbelow), for example using the protocol discussed U.S. Pat. No. 5,147,343, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
Current conventional, commercial superabsorbent polymers are cross-linked polymers of partially neutralized acrylic acid--see Chapter 2 of "SUPERABSORBENT POLYMERS Science and Technology", ACS Symposium Series 573, Edited by Bucholz et al. (1994), the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. The crosslinked polymers are actually terpolymers of acrylic acid, sodium acrylate and a crosslinker. Such polymers may be produced by free-radical polymerization in aqueous solution, graft copolymerization or suspension polymerization and, depending on the degree of cross-linking of the polymers, are referred to as first generation (lightly cross-linked) and second generation (cross-linked) superabsorbent polymers.
Once the cross-linked polymers are produced (these may be regarded as "non-surface cross-linked superabsorbent polymers"), it is known in the art to post-treat them to effect surface cross-linking (these post-treated materials may be regarded as "surface cross-linked superabsorbent polymers"). This further cross-linking at the surface of the particles is known to alter the absorption rate of the polymer--see published British patent application 2,119,384 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,497,930, the contents of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
Surface cross-linked superabsorbent polymers contain a discontinuous network and thus, have offered a number of variations in product properties. As discussed in Chapter 8 of "SUPERABSORBENT POLYMERS Science and Technology", ACS Symposium Series 573, Edited by Bucholz et al. (1994), the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference, first and second generation (non-surface cross-linked) superabsorbent polymers suffer from the fact that their retention capacity varies directly with the degree of cross-linking whereas their AUL varies indirectly with the degree of cross-linking--this is illustrated in FIG. 1 which includes retention capacity and AUL for first and second generation superabsorbent polymers. Third generation (surface cross-linked) superabsorbent polymers were developed as an improvement over first and second generation superabsorbent polymers--this is illustrated in FIG. 2 which includes retention capacity and AUL for third generation superabsorbent polymers. Thus, third generation (surface cross-linked) superabsorbent polymers are characterized by an increased AUL compared to second generation (non-surface cross-linked) superabsorbent polymers. Not surprisingly, third generation (surface cross-linked) superabsorbent polymers are significantly more costly (e.g. 10% or more) than second generation (nonsurface cross-linked) superabsorbent polymers. Thus, on an equivalent basis, improved performance is achieved at an increased cost.
While the foamed isocyanate-based polymer disclosed in the Wilson '433 and '896 applications represents a significant advance in the art, there is continuous need for improvements in the art. For example, there is a continuous need to improve and optimize the fluid absorbing efficiency of the superabsorbent material contained in the foam matrix. Depending on the particular application for the foamed polymer, such an improvement would allow one or more of: (i) reduction of the amount of superabsorbent material required to meet a specified fluid absorption/retention (thereby reducing the cost of producing the foamed polymer), (ii) the ability to improve the performance of the foamed polymer (i.e. increasing the fluid absorption/retention thereof) beyond that conventionally obtained, and (iii) reduction in the cost of product of the foamed polymer to meet a specific performance criterion.
In light of the above, it would be advantageous to have a foamed isocyanate-based polymer which is hydrophilic and characterized by improved absorption (or pick up) and retention of an aqueous fluid. It would be further advantageous if such a foam could be produced in a relatively uncomplicated way and possessed reproducible physical properties.

Foamed polymer and process for production thereof


Plastic or polymeric materials can be rendered substantially more practical for use in gas laser systems, and the problem of gas contamination due to outgassing of volatile materials can be significantly reduced by coating the polymeric elements with a thin dielectric film.

The technical field of the invention is laser systems and, more particularly, the conservation of excitation media in gas lasers.
Gas lasers typically rely upon a pressurized gas which is excited to a light-emitting state by a high voltage electrical pulse. The chamber of a gas laser is usually constructed such that a small volume of the working gas medium is confined in a discharge zone between two electrodes. A small portion of the gas in the chamber is consumed in the electrical process of generating each laser pulse. A circulatory system (e.g., a fan or blower) continually recycles fresh gas into the discharge zone.
The gas in such a system undergoes a slow process of degradation, and eventually the energy produced by the laser pulses decreases. When the performance of the laser decreases below a threshold output energy level or the beam profile is degraded or shot-to-shot energy variations are observed, the gas in the chamber must be replaced with new gas.
The length of time a laser can operate without requiring the gas in the chamber to be replaced is called the gas lifetime. This length of time is a critical factor in the operation and value of gas lasers.
The present invention is directed toward fabricating excitation chambers which provide longer gas lifetimes than those of present laser systems.
The gas lifetime is related to the materials within the chamber which come in contact with the gas. The type of materials that form the structural elements of the chamber have a significant impact on the gas lifetime. The excitation chambers and the elements within it can be constructed out of various materials, such as metals, ceramics and plastics.
Most metals have little effect on the degradation of a gas in a chamber. However, metal components are typically expensive and are ill-suited for those elements of the chamber which come in close contact with the discharge zone because they can induce electrical arcing.
Ceramic materials, likewise, have little effect on the working medium, and because of their dielectric properties, can be used without risk of electrical discharges. However, ceramic materials are also expensive and difficult to fabricate in complex shapes. Moreover, because of their brittle nature, they are unsuitable for moving parts (such as blowers) or for parts that experience mechanical stresses.
Plastics also present problems in use. Several types of plastics are commonly used in the construction of laser excitation chambers in lasers because they are inexpensive, durable and easily shaped into parts. However, plastics tend to release volatile organic compounds over time, particularly in the harsh environment of a gas laser head assembly This "outgassing" of organic molecules significantly contributes to a shorter gas lifetime.
The problem of organic molecule outgassing has been identified by others. See, for example, Tennant et al., "Long-Life, Maintenance-Free Excimer Lasers", Proceedings of the Conference on Laser Eng. and Optics, Abstract No. TUU1 (1988). In this presentation, the authors suggested that elimination of organic materials and careful selection of metals and seals can extend laser gas life. However, this approach would preclude the use of plastic components.
Accordingly, there exists a need for better materials for use in gas laser excitation chambers. Compositions which can be inexpensively and readily fabricated into laser head assembly elements and withstand the conditions experienced during laser operation without contributing to the degradation of the working gas medium would satisfy a long felt need in the art.

Methods and compositions for protecting laser excitation gases from contamination


An optical multiplexer and/or optical demultiplexer for multiplexing and/or demultiplexing a plurality of wavelengths comprises a plurality of optical filters each of which transmits a predetermined wavelength and reflects other wavelengths, said optical filters being arranged so that an optical beam is transmitted or reflected via each optical filter in sequence in a zigzag fashion. A light source or light detector is provided behind each optical filter to project or receive a collimated optical beam. The angle of incidence when a beam is applied to an optical filter is small. And, another optical means is provided to connect the present optical multiplexer and/or demultiplexer with an outside optical fiber. The transmission wavelength of each optical filter is different from the others.

The present invention relates to an optical multiplexer and/or an optical demultiplexer which can be utilized for spectroscopic analysis in optical equipment, and/or combining and/or separation of optical signals in wavelength-division multiplexing transmission system.
A telcommunication system utilizing an optical fiber transmission system has the advantages over prior metallic cables, such as small loss, wide bandwidth, small cable diameter, light-weight cable, high-flexibility cable, no cross talk characteristic, and immunity to electromagnetic interference. And the latest developments for manufacturing optical fiber with low loss, and for controlling the wavelength in light sources, makes possible a wavelength-division multiplexing transmission system which transmits a plurality of wavelengths in a single optical fiber. This technology not only increases the transmission capacity of an optical fiber, but also makes possible a two-way transmission system and/or simultaneous transmission of a plurality of different signals.
FIG. 1 shows an example of the basic configuration of a wavelength-division multiplexing transmission system (called W.D.M.). In this figure, the signals of a plurality of channels (CH.sub.1, CH.sub.2, . . . , CH.sub.n) at the transmission side are converted to a driving signals for driving light sources by respective transmitter circuits (TR.sub.1, TR.sub.2, . . . , TR.sub.n), and are applied to light sources (T.sub.1, T.sub.2, . . . , T.sub.n). Each light source generates a light beam according to said driving signals and each of said light beams has the center wavelength (.lambda..sub.1, .lambda..sub.2, . . . , .lambda..sub.n), and each of said center wavelengths corresponds to a different channel. As a light source a laster or a light-emitting-diode (LED) can be generally utilized. The output light beams from the light sources are applied to an optical multiplexer (MUL) through an optical fiber and are multiplexed or combined therein, then the multiplexed light beams are applied to an optical fiber transmission line (LINE).
At the reception side, each wavelength is separated from the others by an optical demultiplexer (DE-MUL), and each separated light beam is applied to each light detector or sensor (R.sub.1, R.sub.2, . . . , R.sub.n), which converts the optical signal to an electrical signal. Said electrical signal is applied to a corresponding output terminal through a receiver circuit (REC.sub.1, REC.sub.2, . . . , REC.sub.n).
It should be appreciated that, in a two-way WDM transmission system, both the light sources and the light detectors are provided at both the transmission side and the reception side.
The present invention provides an optical multiplexer and/or an optical demultiplexer utilized as mentioned above as an example. It should be noted that due to the reversibility of a light beam, the structure of an optical multiplexer is the same as the structure of an optical demultiplexer. Accordingly, it should be noted that the word "multiplexer" or "demultiplexer" involves both a multiplexer and a demultiplexer unless a specific definition is given.
Some of the prior devices which can be utilized as an optical multiplexer are a prism, an optical grating, and a wavelength-selective filter. A prism and an optical grating are wavelength selective devices which utilize the relationship between the wavelength and the refractive index, or diffraction angle of a prism or an optical grating, respectively.
A wavelength selective filter reflects a specific wavelength and transmits other wavelengths, and is embodied by plastics with coloring matter or dye, or a laminated thin film interference filter in which thin film multi-layers are attached on a glass substrate through vacuum evaporation.
A graded index rod lens has a radial index profile of the refractive index as shown below. EQU N(r)=N.sub.0 (1-(A.sup.2 /2)r.sup.2)
where N(r) is the refractive index at the point of the radius (r), N.sub.0 is the center refractive index, A is a constant, and r is the length from the center. When a light beam is applied to the center of the rod in the axial direction, the diameter of the beam changes periodically, and when a light beam is applied to a portion other than the center of the rod, the light beam goes in a zigzag fashion. The combination of the above characteristics of a rod lens and an interference thin film filter provides an optical multiplexer.
This optical multiplexer has a structure as shown in FIG. 2, in which an interference filter 3 is sandwiched between a pair of graded index rod lenses 1 and 2. The light beam coming into the graded index rod lens proceeds in a zigzag fashion through the graded index rod lens as shown by the arrow in the figure. When used as an optical multiplexer, the lengths of the graded index rod lenses 1 and 2 are designed to be about 1/4 of the zigzag pitch of the light beam. The interference thin film filter 3 is a reflection film made of dielectric multi-layer film with a wavelength dependency characteristic, that is, reflectivity and transmissivity of this film differs depending on the wavelength of the light
The following is a description of signals with two different wavelengths .lambda..sub.1, and .lambda..sub.2, introduced into the optical fiber 100, and separated into two different positions. The optical signal waves of two different wavelengths emitted from the optical fiber 100 proceed zigzag and propagate through the graded index rod lens 1 and enter the interference filter 3. Then, the interference filter 3 reflects the optical signal wave with wavelength .lambda..sub.1 but transmits the optical signal wave with wavelength .lambda..sub.2. The optical signal wave with wavelength .lambda..sub.1 is reflected and enters the optical fiber 101. The optical signal wave with wavelength .lambda..sub.2 propagates through the graded index rod lens 2 and is introduced into the optical fiber 102. Therefore, the two optical signal waves with different wavelengths can be separated. The characteristics of the interference filter 3 as a multiplexer are determined by the position 5 of the fiber 100. The positions 6 and 7 of the optical fibers 101 and 102 which receive the separated signal waves are also determined by the position 5 of the optical fiber 100. Therefore, the optical multiplexer as shown in FIG. 2 has the disadvantage that the characteristics of the interference filter 3 and the positions of the fibers 101 and 102 for reception of the waves cannot be adjusted independently.
When three or more waves are to be separated, the configuration shown in FIG. 3 is utilized. In this case, a plurality of graded index rod lenses 1, 2, 1', 2', 1", 2" are assembled. However, loss will be great if connecting positions of these graded index rod lenses are not controlled with precision. The larger the number of signal waves to be separated, the greater the adjustment difficulties.
Another prior optical multiplexer utilizing a wavelength selective mirror is disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 3,953,727. According to said U.S. patent, a plurality of selective mirrors oriented at 45 degrees in relation to the axis of the light beam are arranged in a cascaded configuration, and each selective mirror reflects a specific wavelength. Accordingly, when there are many wavelengths to be multiplexed or demultiplexed, a light beam must pass many selective filters, therefore, the transmission loss is great. Further, said U.S. patent has the disadvantage that when the wavelength to be separated is near to that of the other wavelength, separation is impossible since the angle of incidence is as large as 45 degrees, and the transmission and/or reflection characteristics of that filter depends upon whether the light beam is P-polarized light or S-polarized light.
Said U.S. patent also discloses a multiplexer in which a plurality of band pass filters are arranged around a glass plate with semi-reflective walls. However, this multiplexer has the disadvantage that the loss of the light beam is great since the light beam suffers from a plurality of partial reflections or partial transmission in said semi-reflective walls.

Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Public Corporation


A gravity flow feeder is disclosed having a vertically arranged, canister, funnel, chute, and trough arrangement wherein feed contained within each canister is allowed to flow down, aided by gravity, to settle within a feed trough. Use of a timing mechanism and a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder allows for the articulation of a closeable access to open or close the trough in order to protect the feed contained from the elements and scavenging animals and condition the timing of animal arrival at the feeder. Any number of feed containing canisters may be implemented in order to provide for mixing of various types of feed within the trough for maintenance of a balanced diet for desired animals.

Deer feeders are a common feature in the hunting industry. Many people prefer to set out a feeder in hopes of attracting and settling deer in a hunting area during the winter or other hard times so as to have a deer population present during the hunting season. Over the years, automated feeders have been developed which are intended to automatically feed a small quantity of feed, typically corn, upon the ground over a limited area around the feeder over time. Such feeders are often wind powered or powered by small electric devices using common batteries for operation. Once properly installed above an area through which deer traverse, deer will become accustomed to the feeder and receiving food from it and will be attracted and incentivized to stay in the hunting area.
While such feeders are somewhat effective, they do suffer a number of disadvantages. For example, scavenging animals, other than deer, are also attracted to the feeders, requiring that the feeder must be suspended or elevated at sufficient height as to prevent hog, squirrels, and other undesired animals from directly accessing the feed container. Due to such height, feeders are often difficult and inconvenient to load. Further, typical feeders which deposit feed directly upon the ground attracts hogs and other wild animals to the area. This presents a serious problem as, in addition to such animals eating valuable feed intended for deer consumption, hogs and other animals can scare away deer defeating the purpose of the deer feeder.
As well, deer feeders are generally designed with large barrels or tanks in which large amounts of feed can be stored for delayed production over time. Storage of large quantities of feed, typically enough to last several months, reduces the interaction of a hunter with the area which in turn prevents the chance of the hunter scaring off a deer population. During the off-season months it is advantageous to hunters to keep the deer population healthy and well fed in anticipation of the beginning of the hunting season. As such, many hunters prefer to mix feed such as corn, soy beans, rice bran, or commercial animal feed like sweet feed to maintain the deer population. Yet, mixing feed prior to depositing in the feeder container is time consuming and many times does not entirely mix together, leaving sections of the container with more feed than the other.
Feeder actuators, whether they are wind activated or set to articulate upon an electric signal from a timer, must be reliable. Deer are sensitive to their environment and any unknown noise or motion may cause them to flee. The whirring sound of an electric motor or the sudden spinning motion of a dispenser often times will spook the deer into fleeing the area, seriously jeopardizing game traffic along a game trail. Furthermore, where the dispenser mechanism requires contact with an animal, it usually must be hung at a lower location where the deer can reach and easily contact it. However, the lower a feeder is hung, the easier it becomes for squirrels, hogs, and other animals to contact it, using up the feed.
Even more so, producing feed by wind articulation or electronically timed triggering supplies feed at times when deer are not present to be attracted and does not condition the deer to come to the feeder at desired times. Rather the feed is produced upon the ground wherein the deer can eat at their leisure. Deer are foragers inclined to remain safely hidden during daylight hours, only straying from their protection during twilight and evening when they are less exposed to be preyed upon by predators. This creates a serious problem where a hunter would prefer the deer to arrive at the hunting area during daylight hours, the regulated hours reserved for hunting which are strictly enforced by each state's Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Thus, it is advantageous that deer be conditioned to eat at a feeder at preferred times.
In light of such disadvantages in typical game feeders, there is presently a need for a feeder which operates to condition deer to arrive at the feeder at desired times and which provides for proper mixing of feed and feeding of a deer population in a quiet and efficient manner without the necessity of depositing the feed upon the ground.


A cap installed in an ink jet recording head for sealing an ink ejection orifice of the ink jet recording head comprises a contacting member and a pressing structure. The contacting member is a member having an elastically deformable convex part which contacts a face on which the orifice is disposed and seals the orifice. The pressing structure presses the convex part of the contacting member toward the face in responsive to installing the cap.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cap for a recording head used for sealing tightly an ink ejection orifice of an ink jet recording head so as to protect the orifice, and an ink jet recording head in which the cap for a recording head can be mounted.
2. Description of the Related Art
One of the most important factors which determine the reliability in recording information by ink jet recording heads is a physical condition around the ink ejection orifice (hereinafter referred to as "orifice" simply) and a physical condition of ink fluid to be ejected outside the orifice. More specifically, extraneous substances such as dust and liquid drops on and around the orifice may deflect an ink drop let being ejected, and an increase in viscosity of ink in a liquid path near the orifice may lead an ink ejection to be faulty condition such as non-ejection. An attachment of such unfavorable extraneous substances and such increase in viscosity of ink fluid occur when the orifice of the recording head is exposed to the atmospheric air, for example, during ejecting ink for recording information or waiting for recording operation. It is known that, in order to prevent the attachment of such unfavorable extraneous substances and such increase in viscosity of ink, the orifice is capped with an adequate device except when the orifice is used for recording operation or the like, or the surface on which the orifice is disposed is wiped with a blade and so on according to demand.
It is easier to remove unfavorable extraneous substances by way of the above mentioned devices in case that the recording head is installed in the recording apparatus. However, in case that the recording head is shipped and transported from the factory to users through temporary storages, it may be required that some preventive method for removing unfavorable extraneous substances on the recording head and for reducing an increase of the viscosity of ink fluid should be employed.
Especially in case of exchangeable recording heads which can be installed in and removed from the apparatus body freely, as storage and transportation of such exchangeable recording heads are directed to an individual recording head separated from the recording apparatus, the above mentioned device for capping the recording head installed in the recording head cannot be directly applicable.
In addition to the above mentioned problems in removing unfavorable extraneous substances and preventing an increase in the viscosity of ink fluid, it is required to prevent ink fluid leakage due to external force and shock while transporting the recording head and due to a temperature change outside the recording head. In order to solve these problems, in some prior art apparatus, employed is a cap the structure of which is different from that used in the apparatus when installed. An example of such a cap is shown below.
As shown in FIG. 1, in Japanese Patent Application Laying-open No. 37436/1986, disclosed is a structure where a cap 70 covers the whole surface on which orifices 71a of the recording head 71 are arranged so that a swelling material inside the cap 70 absorbs ink fluid from the orifices 71a and swells so as to seal the orifices 71a. Alternatively, FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C also show a structure where a seal 80 is bonded on the surface on which orifices 81a of the recording head 81 are arranged so that the orifices 81a are sealed.
And furthermore, with a combination of a seal 90c and a pressing member 90b as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, by the assignee, proposed is a structure 90 where the seal 90c is pressed against the face 91a on which an orifice 91e of the recording head 91 is disposed. The structure is disclosed in WO/91/08267.
In this structure, the seal 90c which is larger than the orifice disposed face 91a is bonded onto the orifice disposed face 91a by using bonding materials with relatively weaker adhesive property. The bonded seal 90c is pressed by the pressing member 90b with a designated amount of force developed on the face around the orifices 91e on the orifice disposed face 91a. As a result, the orifices 91e are shielded completely against the atmospheric air and evaporation of ink fluid from the orifices 91e is prevented. A pressing force developed by the pressing member 90b is applied by means that a couple of arms of the cap 90a is caught by a part of the recording head 91 when the cap 90a is installed in the recording head 91.
Bonding materials used for contacting the seal 90c and the orifice disposed face 91a have a weak adhesive property as described above. That is, there is no need to guarantee complete sealing of the orifices by bonding the seal 90c itself, and hence, the seal 90c may have an adequate adhesive property so as to establish contacting of the seal 90c on the orifice disposed face. So far, it will be appreciated that the amount of bonding materials can be limited to be small enough to establish contacting of the seal 90c on the orifice disposed face and that unfavorable penetration of excess bonding materials into the orifices can be avoided so that bonding materials may not give unfavorable effect on ink ejection operations.
In the above mentioned structures for capping the recording head, the following problems still remain to be unsolved. In the structure using the cap 70 shown in FIG. 1, though ink fluid leakage is prevented even when external force and shock are applied or excess amount of temperature changes occur, there may be a case that leaked ink fluid from the orifices 71a is staying in a space between the swelling material in the space 71b and the cap 70. In this case, for example, when the cap 70 is removed in order to install the recording head in the recording apparatus by the user, ink fluid remained in the space may flow over the cap 70 and may be spattered over hands of the user, and even may lead to electric parts failure due to spilled ink fluid in the recording apparatus.
In the structure using the seal 80 as shown in FIGS. 2A-2C, it may not be easy to install the seal 80 on and around the orifices of the recording head precisely. When removing the seal 80 installed on the orifice disposed face, strong bonding materials used for contacting the seal 80 may be still present on the face near the orifices so that ink fluid ejection failure may be brought. On the other hand, when bonding materials with weak adhesive property is used, the seal of the recording head by the seal 80 is not completely established. And in case that the surface of the orifices is not continuously formed on its neighboring area, the seal 80 cannot seal the surface and its neighboring area completely.
Even in the structure as shown in FIGS. 3A-3C, in case that the surface 91a of the orifices 91 is not continuously formed on its neighboring area and the surface 91a is concave on the neighboring area, it may not be easy to bring the seal 90c into close contact with the orifices 91e by the pressing member 90b. These contact failure leads to incomplete seal to the orifices.
For example, in case that the orifice disposed face to be shown in FIG. 8 of the present invention where a cross-sectional shape of the orifice disposed face is a concave (arc) shape and the orifices is not placed in the bottom of the concave shape, the distribution of pressing force developed by the pressing member is not uniform over the concave shape because the shape of the contacting face of the pressing member 90b is a flat plane. That is, there may be a case that pressing member 90b cannot be deformed in responsive to the curved shape of the orifice disposed face and that, as a result, a well-conditioned contact between the seal 90c and the orifices 91e cannot be established.
In addition, in the structure shown in FIGS. 3A-3C, the pressing member 90b is composed of elastic and porous materials such as silicon porous materials and polyurethane porous materials which have a thickness of about three millimeters. In this case, as the pressing member 90b has about 50 cells of air voids per 1 inch, seven to eight orifices may be defined in the corresponding cell. These orifices contacting cells of air voids are not pressed directly by the substantial pressing member 90b through the seal 90c, and these orifices are pressed only by the seal 90c. As a result, which leads to unfavorable phenomena such as an increase in the viscosity of ink fluid absorbed in the pressing member 90b and spilt ink fluid around the orifices.
Furthermore, in the above mentioned structure of sealing and capping the recording head, there may be a problem that the number of additive components for sealing and capping the recording head inevitably increases.


The acousto-optic bandpass filter is a device whereby one or more bands of optical wavelengths may be selected for further transmission. In this device, all light within the optical bandwidth of operation is first coupled from the core mode of a optical fiber to a specific cladding mode by a long-period photo-induced grating. These cladding mode lightwaves then enter an acousto-optic interaction region where selected RF frequencies of flexure waves, induced by an acoustic wave amplifier, re-couple selected bands of wavelengths back into the core mode. The interaction region is isolated from the broadband coupler by an acoustic absorber to limit acoustic interaction to the interaction region.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to telecommunication systems and assemblies, and more particularly to an acousto-optic bandpass filter.
2. Description of the Related Art
An important function in the telecommunication industry is signal switching. The switching can be performed either electronically or optically. In past years, the switching was accomplished through electronic means. However, with the increasing demand for lower cost, higher switching speeds, lower power consumption, and lower optical losses, optical switching is becoming more commonplace. There are two types of optical switches currently used; wavelength insensitive optical switches, and wavelength sensitive optical switches. The wavelength insensitive optical switches are typically broadband fiber-to-fiber switches used to redirect all the traffic from one optical fiber to another. Because the switching process is either thermo, electro-optic, or mechanical, the switching speed is satisfactory. However these switches do not satisfy the requirement of low cost, reliability, and low optical insertion loss.
The wavelength sensitive optical switches are needed for wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) signals because the wavelength separation between channels is small. A narrow optical band of traffic carried by a specific wavelength of a multi-wavelength signal may need to be separated from the rest of the traffic. A wavelength-sensitive optical switch can perform this function optically at considerable cost savings. Existing wavelength sensitive optical switches are usually bulky, have high power consumption, and high optical insertion losses. For instance, in a previous patent Tunable Optic Fiber Bandpass Filter Using Flexural Acoustic Waves, U.S. Pat. No. 6,151,427, by this inventor, I discuss an acousto-optic bandpass filter, however that invention uses a core block that introduces significant optical insertion losses, added complexity, and is costly to manufacture. The present invention does not require a core block component, thereby negating these problems and simplifying the architecture. Other acousto-optic filters include xe2x80x9cAcousto-optic Filter,xe2x80x9d U.S. Pat. No. 6,233,379 by Kim et al. hereby incorporated by reference. This invention performs the function of a band-stop filter and can select a limited number of optical bands (channels) simultaneously but does so at the cost of increased power consumption for each band selected to the limit of the acousto-optic generator. The current invention eliminates all the optical bands (channels) simultaneously without using any power and can select one or more channels to pass through the filter, thus performing a bandpass operation.
In consideration of the problems detailed above and the discrepancies enumerated in the partial solutions thereto, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved acousto-optic bandpass filter that does not require a coreblock and uses less electrical power.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a tunable acousto-optic filter.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an acousto-optic bandpass filter with multiple acoustic signals that have individual controllable strengths and frequencies.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a broadband cladding mode coupler to efficiently couple all the optical traffic from the core mode to a cladding mode for later selection of individual optical channels.
Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide an acousto-optic bandpass filter that includes an optical fiber with a core and a cladding where the strength or the magnitude of an optical signal coupled from the cladding to the core is changed by varying the amplitude of radio frequency (RF) signal(s) applied to the acoustic wave generator.
In order to attain the objectives described above, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an Acousto-Optic Bandpass Filter that includes a standard single-mode optical fiber with a core and a cladding surrounding the core in a concentric fashion. The optical fiber can support multiple cladding modes and a single core mode that is guided along the core. An acoustic wave amplifier has a base and a tip that is coupled to the fiber. The acoustic wave amplifier propagates an acoustic wave from the base to the tip and launches a flexural wave into the optical fiber. At least one acoustic wave generator is coupled to the base of the acoustic wave amplifier.
The acousto-optic bandpass filter is a device whereby one or more bands of optical wavelengths may be selected for further transmission. In this device, all light within the optical bandwidth of operation is first coupled from the core mode of a optical fiber to a specific cladding mode by a long period, typically photo or UV induced grating. These cladding mode lightwaves then enter an acousto-optic interaction region where selected RF frequencies of flexure waves, induced by acoustic wave generator, re-couple selected bands of wavelengths back into the core mode. The interaction region is isolated from the broadband coupler by an acoustic absorber to limit acoustic interaction to the interaction region.
In another embodiment of the present invention, an acoustic absorber is positioned between the broadband cladding mode coupler and the acoustic wave amplifier to prevent the acoustic waves from interfering with the broadband cladding mode coupler.
The aforementioned features, objects, and advantages of this method over the prior art will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

The United States of America as represented by the National Security Agency


Various embodiments disclosed relate to absorbent clumping animal litter compositions, and to methods of using and making the same. In some embodiments, the present invention provides an absorbent clumping animal litter composition including an absorbent component and a pumice component.

Many efforts have been made to develop an effective and inexpensive litter for animals, especially household pets, particularly cats. One type of animal litter is clumping animal litter, which "captures" the urine in a "ball" or "clump" of litter which can be scooped from the nonclumped (e.g., nonwetted) litter for easy removal. Although clumping litters have helped to eliminate the animal waste before it generates obnoxious odors, they still possess one or more undesirable properties or characteristics, including, for example, high bulk density, poor clumping ability, poor odor control, and dustiness.

Absorbent clumping animal litter compositions


In order to provide a novel method for producing a chip having a water-repellent obverse surface and a hydrophilic reverse surface, the characteristic of the present disclosure lies in that the obverse surface of the chip having a hydroxyl group is brought into contact with an organic solvent in which R1—Si(OR2)3 or R1—SiY3 is dissolved in a second hydrophobic solvent, while the reverse surface of the chip is protected by the water film, so as to form a water-repellent film on the obverse surface of the chip.

(1) Field of the Invention
The technical field relates to a method for fabricating a chip having a water-repellent obverse surface and a hydrophilic reverse surface.
(2) Description of Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 7,730,610 discloses a method for disposing small components 20 such as chips on a substrate 10. This method is referred to as "FSA method". In the FSA method, as shown in FIG. 15A, prepared is the substrate 10 including a plurality of hydrophilic regions 11 and a water-repellent range 12 which surrounds the plurality of the hydrophilic regions 11. Then, as shown in FIG. 15B, the components 20 to be disposed on the substrate are dispersed in a solvent 40 which is substantially insoluble in water, so as to prepare a component-dispersing liquid 50. Since the reverse surface of the component 20 is hydrophilic, the reverse surface of the component 20 is able to be in contact with one of the hydrophilic regions 11. On the contrary, the obverse surface is water-repellent. Not only the obverse surface but also surfaces other than the reverse surface of the component 20 are water-repellent.
Then, as shown in FIG. 15C, water is disposed on the plurality of the hydrophilic regions 11 with a first squeegee 61. Subsequently, the component-dispersing liquid 50 is applied with a second squeegee 62 to bring the component-dispersing liquid 50 into contact with the water 31 which has been disposed on the hydrophilic regions 11. In this procedure, each component 20 moves into the water 31 which has been disposed on the hydrophilic region 11. At this stage, the hydrophilic reverse surface faces the hydrophilic region 11. Subsequently, the water 31 and the solvent contained in the component-dispersing liquid 50 are removed so as to dispose the component 20 on the hydrophilic region 11. The reverse surface of the disposed component 20 is in contact with the hydrophilic region 11. U.S. Pat. No. 7,730,610 is incorporated herein by reference.

Method for fabricating a chip having a water-repellent obverse surface and a hydrophilic reverse surface

Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.


A fluid sprayer comprises a fluid source, a spray nozzle, a pump, and a handle with a base. The spray nozzle is disposed to accept a spray tip with an outlet aperture. The pump is disposed to pump fluid from the fluid source out the outlet aperture of the spray tip. The base has a sealable storage slot sized to contain and form an air seal with the spray tip when not in use.

The present invention relates generally to fluid spraying systems. More particularly, the invention relates to a tip storage compartment for a handheld fluid sprayer.
Fluid spraying systems are commonly used in a wide variety of applications, from industrial assembly to home painting. Handheld sprayers can be used by a human operator, while automated sprayers are typically used in mechanized manufacturing processes. It is common for handheld sprayers to accept a variety of spray tips configured to produce a variety of distinct spray patterns. During ordinary use, an operator may swap spray tips several times, as necessitated by task. Spray tips that are not in use are easily misplaced, and tend to dry rapidly. Spray tips coated or clogged with dried spray fluids (e.g. paint) can be difficult or impossible to clean. To prevent drying, spray tips are conventionally rinsed immediately after use.