A device for applying a product to keratinous fibers comprises a tail having a longitudinal axis X and an application element extending from an end of the tail. The application element may comprise at least a first face and a second face, each of the faces being delimited by two longitudinal edges and extending over at least part of a length of the application element. The first face may form with the axis X a first non-zero angle xcex1 having a vertex oriented toward a first end of the application element, and wherein the second face may form with the axis X a second non-zero angle xcex2 having a vertex oriented toward a second end of the application element. The second end of the application element may be opposite to the first end.

The present invention relates to a device for applying a product to keratinous fibers, for example to eyelashes, eyebrows, moustaches, hair or other similar fibers. Such a device may be suitable for applying a make-up product, such as a mascara or the like, to eyelashes or eyebrows, and/or a care product.
The present invention also may relate to brushes, sometimes referred to as xe2x80x9ctwisted brushes.xe2x80x9d Such twisted brushes may be obtained by arranging bristles between two branches of wire, which may be configured as a hairpin, and then twisting the two branches of the wire about its axis. The twisted wire forms a double helix (i.e., one helix for each wire branch). The turns of the helix, depending on the direction of twisting of the wire, may rise either from the left to the right or from the right to the left when the brush is observed vertically from the front. The first type of twisting, i.e., wherein the turns rise from the left to the right, makes it possible to obtain a brush sometimes referred to as a xe2x80x9cleft-hand brushxe2x80x9d. Such a brush is described in EP 0 611 170 in the name of the present Applicant. The second type of twisting, i.e., wherein the turns rise from the right to the left, makes it possible to obtain a brush sometimes referred to as a xe2x80x9cright-hand brushxe2x80x9d. Such twisted brushes generally comprise a xe2x80x9cbristledxe2x80x9d portion defining an application element. This bristled portion may be extended by a xe2x80x9cnon-bristledxe2x80x9d portion of the twisted wire, referred to herein as the xe2x80x9ctailxe2x80x9d of the brush. The tail may be used for fastening the device to a stem, which may be connected to a handling member for gripping the device.
The present invention also relates to applicator devices obtained by molding, such as molding thermoplastics, including, for example, polyethylenes or polypropylenes. Such molded devices also may comprise a xe2x80x9ctailxe2x80x9d for fastening the device to a stem. Alternatively, the tail itself may form the stem. Applicator devices may also be obtained by machining, casting, or stamping, and materials other than thermoplastics maybe used.
In some conventional applicator devices, the cross-section of the application element is substantially centered with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tail. Thus, regardless of the angular position of the device, at any given axial position of the device, the distribution of the product around the device may be substantially uniform. However, during application, it may be found that from time to time, for a given area of the keratinous fibers, for example, eyelashes on the eyelid, there may be too much product and it may be desirable to be able to spread the product to other areas. Conversely, from time to time the user may not have enough product in one place and would like to add to it. To apply the product properly, therefore, may require manipulations of the brush with respect to the eyelashes or other keratinous fibers. Such manipulations may require some practice by the user.
FR-A-2 715 038 describes a structure having one or more cut faces. According to certain embodiments, the structure comprises a single cut face which may or may not be parallel to the axis of the brush tail. Such a cut face extends over a major part of the brush. The brush terminates in an end portion in the form of a truncated cone which does not define any face bounded by two longitudinal edges. Alternatively, the brush comprises two cut faces parallel to the brush tail axis. In the end, the resulting structure is relatively symmetrical about the brush tail axis.
FR 2 605 505 describes a twisted brush, forming the subject of a series of cutting operations so as to define a plurality of faces which are either parallel to the brush tail axis or are all inclined in the same direction, especially in the direction of a free end of the brush. In each case, the structure thus formed is symmetrical about the brush tail axis.
Another type of brush, obtained by molding, is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,403,624. The brush described in this document comprises a row of tines whose free end forms a beveled edge. These tines are intended for combing the eyelashes. Other tines are oriented radially about a portion of the brush axis and used for applying the product. The profile for loading the product, because of the configuration of the brush, is relatively binary and no way progressive. Only the radially oriented tines on an angular portion of the brush can be used effectively to apply the product.
EP-A-0 410 821 describes a twisted brush whose cross-section rotates from one end of the brush to the other, so that peak lines are defined and define at least one helix at the surface of the brush. The faces defined by the brush are either parallel to the brush tail axis or inclined in the same direction.
It is one of the optional objects of the present invention to produce a device for applying a product to keratinous fibers, such as the eyelashes or eyebrows, for example, that solves, completely or partly, the problems discussed above with reference to the devices of the prior art.
In particular, it is an optional object of the invention to produce a device for applying a product to keratinous fibers, for example to the eyelashes or eyebrows, which may be relatively simple to use and may require a shorter learning phase for the user as compared to conventional devices.
It is another optional object of the invention to produce an application device, such as for mascara or other care products, that may make it possible over at least part of a length of the application element to obtain an amount of product that varies according to the angular position on the application element. The amount of product also may vary along the application element in at least one gradual profile.
It is another optional object of the invention to produce an application device which may make it possible to apply the desired amount of product and to separate the fibers to be treated with substantially the same movement, or with a movement that is continuous with the movement intended for applying the product.
It is yet another optional object of the invention to produce an application device which may allow for progressive coating of the fibers to be treated. With respect to the eyelashes such progressive coating may assist in lengthening and/or curling them.
Yet more optional objects may appear in the following detailed description.
The devices and methods of dispensing described herein may optionally solve some or all of the problems discussed above with reference to conventional dispensing devices and methods. It should be understood that the invention could be practiced without performing one or more of the optional objects and/or advantages described above. Certain other optional aspects of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description which follows.
According to a first optional aspect of the invention, a device for applying a product to keratinous fibers comprises a tail having a longitudinal axis X and an application element extending from an end of the tail. The application element comprises at least a first face and a second face. Each of the faces may be delimited by two longitudinal edges and may extend over at least part of a length of the application element. The first face may form with the axis X a first non-zero angle xcex1 having a vertex oriented toward a first end of the application element, and the second face may form with the axis X a second non-zero angle xcex2 having a vertex oriented toward a second end of the application element. The second end may be opposite to the first end.
Thus, for example, the first non-zero angle xcex1 may comprise an opening turned toward the tail of the application device. The second non-zero angle xcex2 in this example may have an opening turned away from the tail of the application device, and also from the opening of the first angle xcex1. In other words, the vertex of the angle xcex1 is turned toward one end of the application device and the vertex of the angle xcex2 is turned toward an opposite end of the application device as the angle xcex1.
Optionally, the first and second faces denote two faces each having at least one length portion with which the eyelashes may be brought into engagement, in succession, without an appreciable axial movement of the brush with respect to the eyelashes. The faces may, for example, be arranged opposite to each other with respect to the axis, or they may be adjacent to each other. In other words, the first and second faces may be in a different angular position around the axis X but may overlap along the axis X, i.e., extend over substantially the same axial position, at least partially, or even over their entire length.
Because of the configuration of the applicator device according to the invention, a structure is produced which may be relatively easy to use, even by a novice. The edges defining the faces of the application element may fulfil the role of separating the fibers to be treated. Their oblique orientation with respect to the brush axis may also, during the natural movement of brushing the fibers, such as, for example, by a slight rotation of the device about the tail axis, progressive penetration of the bristles or tines of the device between the fibers to be treated.
Furthermore, the oblique and reversed orientations of the first and second faces may make it possible to create transverse orientations of the fibers with respect to the bristles, tines, or other application members of the application element, so as to coat the fibers and to grip them. This may allow for lengthening of and/or curling of the fibers. The reverse orientations of the first and second faces optionally generate a dissymmetry, or eccentricity. Such eccentricity may be enhanced if the first and second faces are located substantially opposite one another. This may form an application element capable, for a given axial position on the device, of producing a variable product-coating profile all around the application element. This is because when the application element passes through a wiping member forming part of an assembly with which the application device is associated, the wiping of a first point of the application element located at a first angular position, may differ from the wiping of a second point of the application element located at a second angular position and at substantially the same axial position as the first location. Because of the both oblique and reverse orientation of the faces with respect to the tail of the device, the coating of the first and second points may change, one with respect to the other, both reversibly and progressively along the application element from the first point to the second point.
Thus, in terms of application characteristics, it may be found that a brush of the xe2x80x9cright-hand brushxe2x80x9d type has advantages, such as those relating to the coating of the fibers to be treated for the purpose of lengthening them that often may be found in conventional brushes of the xe2x80x9cleft-hand brushxe2x80x9d type. However, in the brushes of the present invention, greater ease of use, especially for a make-up novice, for example, and greater ability to deposit more product on the fibers to be treated may be found. It may be noted in particular that, upon application, the product may be almost immediately deposited uniformly. This is unlike some conventional application devices that may generate, at least at the start of applying the product, lumps. Such lumps may then be removed by relatively lengthy brushing, which may require the user to have at least some skill.
According to an optional characteristic of the invention, the device comprises at least two transverse cross-sections between which the first and second faces extend. The axis X may intersect the two end faces. In other words, despite its obliquity at least with respect to certain application faces, the axis X intersects the transverse cross-sections within the surface envelope of the application device (i.e., the volume defined by the outer surface of the application element). This characteristic may permit, upon application, a rotational motion relative to the device with respect to the fibers to be treated, about the axis X. This relative rotational motion, because of the faces which are oblique with respect to the axis X, may cause the bristles, tines, or other similar application members of the device to progressively penetrate between the fibers to be treated.
According to yet another optional aspect, a device for applying a product to keratinous fibers comprises a tail having a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis X. The device further comprises an application element having an end extending from the first end of the tail. The application element may be oriented along a substantially straight direction. A substantially straight line passing through the center of gravity of at least two transverse cross-sections of the application element may extend in a different direction than the axis X. Optionally, the substantially straight line passing through the center of gravity of at least two transverse cross-sections of the application element may be non-parallel or substantially non-parallel to the axis X of the tail, and the substantially straight line may cross the axis X at a position located axially between the at least two transverse cross-sections. The center of gravity of each of the at least two transverse cross-sections may optionally be the geometric center of the cross-sections. This may be the case, for example, when the cross-sections are circular or have a regular polygonal shape.
Yet another optional aspect of the invention includes a device for applying a product to keratinous fibers comprising an application element formed from a curved twisted wire core holding a plurality of bristles. The application element may comprise at least two faces. Each of the faces may be delimited by two longitudinal edges and extending over at least part of a length of the application element. A line passing through a center of gravity of at least two transverse cross-sections of the application element may extend in a different direction than the twisted wire core, and the line may have a curvature that is substantially the same as the curvature of the twisted wire core. The line may optionally be substantially non-parallel to the twisted wire core, and may cross over (i.e., intersect or pass over each other in two different, parallel planes) the twisted wire core at a position located axially between the at least two transverse cross-sections. As used herein, the term xe2x80x9ccrossxe2x80x9d encompasses situations in which two lines intersect each other and situations in which two lines are in differing parallel planes and pass over one another when viewed from at least one vantage point. The center of gravity of each of the at least two transverse cross-sections may optionally be the geometric center of the cross-sections. This may be the case, for example, when the cross-sections are circular or have a regular polygonal shape.
According to another optional aspect, a device for applying a product to keratinous fibers comprises an application element comprising a substantially straight twisted wire core holding a plurality of bristles. The application element may have at least two faces. Each of the faces may be delimited by two longitudinal edges and may extend over at least part of the length of the application element. A straight line passing through a center of gravity of the application element and being perpendicular to the at least two transverse cross-sections of the application element may be non-parallel, or substantially non-parallel, to the twisted wire core. The straight line may cross the twisted wire core at a position located axially between the at least two transverse cross-sections. Optionally, the two transverse cross-sections may be cross-sections taken in respective planes that are substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the application element.
According to yet another optional aspect, a device for applying a product to keratinous fibers comprises a tail having a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis X. The device further comprises an application element having an end extending from the first end of the tail. The application element may be oriented along a substantially straight direction. A substantially straight line passing through a center of gravity of a volume defined by an outer surface of the application element between a first transverse cross-section of the application element and a second transverse cross-section of the application element and being substantially perpendicular to the first and second transverse cross-sections may extend in a substantially different direction than the axis X. The substantially straight line optionally may be non-parallel or substantially non-parallel to the axis X and may intersect the first and second transverse cross-sections. As an optional example, the substantially straight line may intersect the first and second transverse cross-sections as their respective geometric centers. Optionally, the first and second transverse cross-sections may be cross-sections taken in respective planes that are substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the application element.
Yet another optional aspect of the invention includes a device for applying a product to keratinous fibers comprising an application element formed from a curved twisted wire core holding a plurality of bristles. The application element comprises at least two faces, each of the faces being delimited by two longitudinal edges and extending over at least part of a length of the application element. A substantially straight line may pass through a center of gravity of a volume defined by an outer surface of the application element between a first transverse cross-section of the application element and a second transverse cross-section of the application element. The substantially straight line may intersect the first transverse cross-section at a first point and intersect the second transverse cross-section at a second point, the substantially straight line being substantially perpendicular to the first transverse cross-section and the second transverse cross-section. A curved line having a curvature that is substantially the same as the curvature of the twisted wire core may pass through the first and second points and extend in a different direction than the twisted wire core. The curved line may be non-parallel or substantially non-parallel to the twisted wire core. The curved line optionally may be non-parallel or substantially non-parallel to the twisted wire core and may intersect the first transverse cross-section and the second transverse cross-section. As an optional example, the substantially straight line may intersect the first and second transverse cross-sections at their respective geometric centers. Optionally, the first and second transverse cross-sections may be cross-sections taken in respective planes that are substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the application element.
In yet another optional aspect of the invention, a device for applying a product to keratinous fibers comprises a tail having a longitudinal axis X and an application element extending from an end of the tail. A plane containing the axis X may intersect a peripheral edge of each transverse cross-section of at least one longitudinal region of the application element, the plane intersecting the peripheral edge of each cross-section at a first location and a second location. In a first direction along at least a portion of the longitudinal region, a distance from the first location to the axis X may increase and a distance from the second location to the axis X may decrease.
Yet a further optional aspect includes a device for applying a product to keratinous fibers comprising an application element formed from a twisted wire core holding a plurality of bristles. The application element may be configured such that a first location at which a first straight line passing through the twisted wire core intersects a first point on a peripheral edge of a first cross-section of the application element is closer to the core than a second location at which a second straight line, parallel to the first straight line and passing through the twisted wire core, intersects a first point on a peripheral edge of a second cross-section of the application element. The application element may further be configured such that a third location at which the first straight line intersects a second point on the peripheral edge of the first cross-section is farther from the core than a fourth location at which the second straight line intersects a second point on the peripheral edge of the second cross-section.
According to another optional aspect, a device for applying a product to keratinous fibers comprises an application element having a first longitudinal axis, a first transverse cross-section, and a second transverse cross-section. The device further comprises a tail portion extending from a first end of the application element, the tail portion having a first end, a second end, and a second longitudinal axis. The first longitudinal axis and the second longitudinal axis may cross each other at a location within a volume defined by an outer surface of the application element between the first transverse cross-section and the second transverse cross-section. Optionally, the first longitudinal axis and the second longitudinal axis may be skewed with respect to each other. Also optionally, the first longitudinal axis may be in a first plane and the second longitudinal axis may be in a second plane, the first plane and the second plane being parallel to each other.
According to yet another optional aspect of the invention, a device for applying a product to keratinous fibers comprises an application element having a first longitudinal axis, a first transverse cross-section, and a second transverse cross-section. The device further comprises a tail portion extending from a first end of the application element. The tail portion has a first end, a second end, and a second longitudinal axis. The first longitudinal axis and the second longitudinal axis may be non-parallel, or substantially non-parallel, and closest to each other at a location within a volume defined by an outer surface of the application element between the first transverse cross-section and the second transverse cross-section. The location where these two axes are closest to each other may be found by projecting the two axes into a plane and determining their point of intersection. In addition, a line intersecting the first and second non-parallel axes at the location at which the two are closest to each other is orthogonal to both axes. The application element, over at least part of its length, optionally may have a longitudinal axis that substantially coincides with the second longitudinal axis. Again optionally, the first longitudinal axis and the second longitudinal axis may be skewed with respect to each other. Also optionally, the first longitudinal axis may be in a first plane and the second longitudinal axis may be in a second plane, the first plane and the second plane being parallel to each other.
Yet another optional aspect includes a device for applying a product to keratinous fibers, the device comprising an application element comprising a twisted wire core holding a plurality of bristles. A longitudinal axis of at least a portion of the application element extending from a first transverse cross-section to a second transverse cross-section may cross the twisted wire core at a location within a volume defined by an outer surface of the portion of the application element.
Another optional aspect includes a device for applying a product to keratinous fibers, the device comprising an application element comprising a twisted wire core holding a plurality of bristles. A longitudinal axis of at least a portion of the application element extending from a first transverse cross-section to a second transverse cross-section may be closest to the twisted wire core at a location within a volume defined by an outer surface of the portion of the application element. The longitudinal axis and the twisted wire core may be non-parallel, or substantially non-parallel.
According to another optional aspect, a device for applying a product to keratinous fibers comprises an application element and a tail portion extending from a first end of the application element. The tail portion has a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis. The longitudinal axis of the tail portion may pass through at least a first transverse cross-section of the application element and a second transverse cross-section of the application element. The longitudinal axis of the tail portion may cross a longitudinal axis of a portion of the application element extending between the first transverse cross-section and the second transverse cross-section at a location within a volume defined by an outer surface of the portion of the application element.
Yet another optional aspect of the invention includes a device for applying a product to keratinous fibers, the device comprising an application element having at least a first face and a second face extending along at least a portion of the length of the application element. The device further comprises a tail portion extending from a first end of the application element, the tail portion having a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis. A distance from the first face to the longitudinal axis of the tail portion at a first transverse cross-section of the application element may be greater than a distance from the first face to the longitudinal axis of the tail portion at a second transverse cross-section of the application element. A distance from a second face to the longitudinal axis of the tail portion at the first transverse cross-section of the application element may be less than a distance from the second face to the longitudinal axis of the tail portion at the second transverse cross-section of the application element.
According to yet another optional aspect of the invention, a device for applying a product to keratinous fibers comprises an application element having at least two faces extending along at least a portion of a length of the application element. The device further comprises a tail portion having a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis. The first end of the tail portion is connected to the first end of the application element. In a lengthwise direction along at least the portion of the application element, at least one of the at least two faces may converge toward the longitudinal axis of the tail portion and at least another of the at least two faces may diverge away from the longitudinal axis of the tail portion.
In yet another optional aspect, a device for applying a product to keratinous fibers comprises an application element comprising a twisted wire core holding a plurality of bristles. The application element may have at least a first face and a second face extending along at least a portion of the twisted wire core. A distance from the first face to the core at a first transverse cross-section of the application element may be greater than a distance from the first face to the core at a second transverse cross-section of the application element. A distance from a second face to the core at the first transverse cross-section of the application element may be less than a distance from the second face to the longitudinal axis of the core at the second transverse cross-section of the application element.
Yet another optional aspect of the invention includes a device for applying a product to keratinous fibers, the device comprising an application element comprising a twisted wire core holding a plurality of bristles. The application element may have at least two faces extending along at least a portion of the twisted wire core. In a lengthwise direction along at least the portion of the core, at least one of the at least two faces may converge toward the core and at least another of the at least two faces may diverge away from core.
Optionally, the faces of the application element may be plane, concave, or convex. A concave shape may allow the longitudinal edges defining the faces to be more clearly pronounced.
The faces also may be offset angularly with respect to the axis, for example substantially opposite to each other, or may be adjacent adjacent. When the faces are located substantially opposite to each other, a first region, capable of coating the fibers to a maximum extent, may lie diametrically opposite to a second region capable of combing the fibers in an optimal manner. The transition from one region to the other, by moving along the brush, may take place relatively progressively, for example, by following the oblique profile of the first and second faces.
At least a portion of the first face and at least a portion of the second face may extend over substantially the same axial position along the axis X. Also, the first and second faces may extend over substantially the same axial position along the axis X.
The longitudinal edges of the first and second faces may be substantially parallel to each other. Alternatively, they may be non-parallel to each other. For example, they may be convergent and/or divergent curves, over at least part of their length.
The angles xcex1 and xcex2, which optionally are acute, may be identical so that the first and second faces are parallel to each other. This may facilitate use of the device.
Alternatively, the angles xcex1 and xcex2 may differ from each other so that the first and second faces are substantially non-parallel to each other. These parameters, especially relating to the respective angles of the faces, may be adjusted according to factors, such as the desired characteristics at application and/or rheology of the product to be applied.
By way of optional example, angles xcex1 and xcex2 may range from approximately 20xc2x0 to approximately 15xc2x0. Also optionally, the angles xcex1 and xcex2 may range from approximately 20xc2x0 to approximately 10xc2x0 or from approximately 3xc2x0 to approximately 8xc2x0. These angles also may optionally vary according to the length portion of the application element along which the first and second faces extend and/or according to the cross section of the device.
The device according to any of the above-mentioned optional aspects of the invention optionally may comprise at least a third face having two ends which may be in a plane parallel to the axis X. Such a face, which may be oriented substantially parallel to the tail axis of the device, may have a planar, a concave, or a convex profile. The concave or convex regions may be oriented either longitudinally to the axis X or transversely to the axis X.
The application element optionally may be, at least over part of its length, for example, over at least an end part, substantially centered on the axis X. In the case of a device for applying a product to eyelashes, such an end portion may facilitate application of the product to the lower eyelashes or those eyelashes in the corners of the eye. Also optionally, the application element may be substantially symmetrical with respect to the axis of the tail or with respect to a twisted wire core.
The application element may be formed from bristles held by a twisted wire core. The tail portion may be formed from a non-bristled portion of the twisted wire core. The bristles may be made of synthetic fibers, such as made of a polyamide, for example, nylon-6,6, nylon-6,10 or nylon-6,12, or made of fibers of an elastomer, or the bristles may be made of natural fibers.
Branches of the twisted wire may be twisted about each other to form a helix. The bristles may extend substantially radially outwardly with respect to the core and the turns of the helix may rise from left to right when the application element is observed substantially vertically from the front (left-hand brush). Alternatively, the turns of the helix may rise from right to left when the application element is observed substantially vertically from the front (right-hand brush).
The bristles of the application element may comprise bristles having a hollow cross-section, and/or bristles made of an elastomer, and/or bristles having at least one capillary groove, and/or bristles twisted around their longitudinal axis, to the right or to the left, and/or bristles having ends that have been ground, and/or bristles having ends that form an excrescence, such as in the form of a bead, and/or bristles of various lengths, and/or bristles incorporating fillers, such as bacteriostatic fillers, magnetic fillers or fillers capable of improving slip, and/or flocked bristles, or a mixture of such bristles.
Also optionally, the device may be formed by molding, for example, by molding a thermoplastic. The device optionally may be formed by casting, by machining, or by stamping. The application element may comprise a plurality of application members, such as tines, arranged in at least one row. The tines may have their bases substantially aligned, or at least partly offset alternately on each side of a separating surface. The tines may be arranged such that two successive tines define recesses, for example, V-shaped recesses. These recesses may hold product so as to coat the fibers to be treated in order to lengthen and/or curl them.
At least over part of its length, the application element may be of a substantially regular polygonal cross-section, for example, of triangular, square, rectangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, octagonal, or other similar cross-sections, such as, for example, circular or elliptical. Optionally, the application element may have an irregular polygonal cross-section. The cross-section of the application element may optionally be substantially uniform over at least part of the length of the application element or may optionally be changing over at least part of the length. In the latter case, the cross-section may progressively change.
A longitudinal axis of the application element may be chosen from a straight axis and a curved axis.
The transverse cross-sections of the application element optionally may correspond to the end faces of the application element. Alternatively, the transverse cross-sections of the application element may be taken at any other planes disposed between the two end faces.
In the case of twisted wire brushes, the operation for forming the brushes, and especially for forming the first and second faces, may optionally be carried out by means of a cutting tool. For example, an automatically controlled clipper may be used. The cutting tool may be mounted in line on the industrial tool for manufacturing such an application device. Optioinally, the brush produced in the twisting step may be a cylindrical brush of substantially constant circular cross-section. Depending on the final desired configuration of the brush, the first and second faces may be cut immediately from such a cylindrical brush resulting from the twisting operation. Optionally, an intermediate shaping step may be carried out so as to give the brush an intermediate shape, from which the first and second faces may be cut. Such an intermediate shape may be in the form of a cylinder, a truncated cone, a rugby ball (lozenge), a peanut, a diabolo, or other similar shapes.
According to yet another optional aspect, an applicator may comprise any of the application devices described herein and a stem having a first end connected to the device. For example, the stem may be connected to a tail of the device. The stem may have a second end connected to a handling member. The stem may be integral with or form the gripping element. The stem may lie along the tail axis or the core axis, or make an angle with the tail axis or the core axis. Optionally, the handling member may form a closure element capable of removably closing an opening of a container associated with the applicator.
According to another optional aspect, an assembly for applying a product to keratinous fibers may comprise a container for containing the product. The container may define an opening near which a wiping member may optionally be placed. The assembly may further comprise an applicator according to optional aspects of the invention. The wiping member may comprise an angular lip formed by one edge of a sleeve, for example made of an elastomer. Alternatively, the wiping member may comprise a block of foam, for example an open- or semiopen-cell foam, through which an axial passage or slot passes. The assembly may further comprise product in the container. The product may optionally contain fibers, such as nylon, rayon, cotton or viscose fibers. Such fibers may allow eyelashes to be lengthened further. The application device may be suited to this kind of product in so far as it may make it relatively easy for the fibers to be properly oriented with respect to the application element itself, during the wiping operation, and then with respect to the eyelashes, during application. The length of such fibers may range from approximately 0.2 mm to approximately 2 mm.
Yet another optional aspect of the invention includes a method of applying a product to keratinous fibers. The method may comprise providing an application device according to any of the optional aspects of the invention and loading at least a portion of the application element with a product to be applied to keratinous fibers. The method may further comprise placing at least the loaded portion of the application element in contact with the keratinous fibers to apply the product to the keratinous product.
Aside from the structural and procedural arrangements set forth above, the invention could include a number of other arrangements, such as those explained hereinafter. It is to be understood that both the foregoing description and the following description are exemplary.

Device, assembly, and method for applying a product to keratinous fibers


A pressure sensor includes a pressure sensitive element for sensing a distributed fluid pressure and producing a signal in response. The pressure sensitive element is configured to be mountable on an airfoil or a hydrofoil, for example as a thin film piezoelectric element. The sensor finds applications, for example, in measuring lift or drag on the airfoil or hydrofoil.

For airfoils and hydrofoils (collectively herein, "foils") it is useful to enable measurements of fluid dynamic forces including lift and/or drag. In certain applications, the inventors have determined that there may be benefits to making such measurements using sensors having an improved form factor and that have reduced structural impact on structures being monitored.


A system with a sensor assembly is used to determine direction of movement of an object so that accuracy of position calculation is improved. The sensor assembly measures at least two operational characteristics and generates corresponding operational characteristic signals. A control unit monitors and compares transitions of the signals to more accurately determine direction of movement for the object.

This invention relates to a system that monitors two sensor signals to determine direction of movement of an object so that position of the object can be more accurately determined.
Many different types of control systems monitor various characteristics of an object in order to make control decisions. For example, sensors can monitor and generate data that can be used to determine speed, position, and/or direction of movement of the object. Direction is determined by comparing two sensor signals to each other and position is incremented or decremented according to the direction. A system micro controller calculates position. It is important that a determination of direction of movement be accurate so that position can be accurately determined. Misjudgments of the direction can result in error in position calculation.
Misjudgments can occur either by a signal phase shift or by noise. The phase shift is caused by imbalance between the two sensors and/or imbalance between the interface circuits for the sensors. Noise can also cause misjudgments. For example, if the first sensor turns high from low due to noise when a rising edge of the second sensor is received, the direction of movement can be misjudged.
Thus, it is desirable to have a system that can more accurately determine direction of movement of an object to increase accuracy of position determination.


A gas assisted molding apparatus having gas introduced into the plastic charge as the charge is flowing into the mold cavity. The gas and plastic are simultaneously injected into the mold cavity and the gas can be introduced at the nozzle end or barrel of the injection molding machine. Optionally, the gas may be injected into a hot runner manifold or into the cavity itself simultaneously with the plastic. The apparatus includes a conventional gas injection mold, a source of inert gas, such as nitrogen, and an injection assembly. A common power source is used for both the injection of the plastic and the gas to assure simultaneous inflow of both the gas and the molten plastic at the same pressure.

The present invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for the injection of gas and plastic into a mold cavity. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for plastic injection molding in which a predetermined quantity of a pressurized inert gas is introduced into a quantity of plastic melt while the melt is flowing from the barrel into the mold cavity.
Injection molds typically comprise stationary and moving mold halves (i.e., the core side and the cavity side) which are closed and clamped together to form a mold cavity therebetween for shaping articles from thermoplastic compositions. The thermoplastic is heated into a molten condition and is injected under pressure through a nozzle and into the mold cavity by means of a screw ram. Injection pressures of 2,000 to 10,000 psi are common at the gate locations. The plastic is allowed to cool to sufficiently harden the thermoplastic whereupon the mold is opened and the hardened articles are removed.
A traditional plastic molding problem is the formation of surface distortions or xe2x80x9csink marksxe2x80x9d on the appearance side of the molded article opposite to ribs or bosses on the backside of the article and resulting from the high injection pressures used to fill the cavity, the pack out pressure, and/or from an uneven pressure gradient resulting from the injection pressure at the gate being higher than the pressures at the extreme ends of the molded article. High injection pressure can cause strain marks or molded-in strain in the hardened article, resulting in warpage at once, or over a period of time after molding, or if the end use of the molding is in a high temperature area. When ribs are formed in the moldings, the wall thickness versus rib configuration can cause the ribs to buckle or bend the molding, due to shrinkage differential. In large projected area moldings where the plastic cannot flow from the gate to the end of the molding, hot runner molds are needed and high clamping forces (e.g., 1,000 to 10,000 pounds per square inch of projected area) are required to hold the mold halves together. These molds are costlier to build, and the gates from the hot runners can add weld lines to the molded product. Injection molding machines which can provide these high clamping forces are costly to operate.
The molding of thick-sectioned parts presents its own demands. One of the approaches taken in the molding of such parts is the use of structural foam. A part produced according to this process is relatively light in weight. However, the surface finish of such a product is poor and typically requires extensive finishing operations. Also, the method required for molding structural foam parts is cumbersome, since it necessitates relatively long cycle times (for the cooling of the plastic in the mold). The requisite method also produces parts having inconsistent surface finishes due to streaking. As the flowing plastic material enters the mold cavity, bubbles produced by the foaming agent can form at the front of the flow near the point of entrance. Streaking results as the flowing material passes by the bubbles.
Another approach taken in the molding of thick-sectioned parts is a process that has come to be known as xe2x80x9cgas assisted injection moldingxe2x80x9d in which an inert gas is injected through the plastic injection nozzle and directly into the thick areas of the melted thermoplastic, thereby creating hollow sections in the part. According to known gas assisted injection molding methods, the gas is injected after the molten plastic resin has substantially filled the mold cavity. With such conventional gas assisted molding process, sink marks and warpage can be minimized and possibly be eliminated. The gas forms hollow portions in the body of the material and/or hollow channels (gas channels) in the thicker portions, such as between the surface of the part and a backside detail, such as a rib. For ribbed products, the base of the ribs must be made thicker or wider in order to help direct the gas channel, which is just the opposite of normal design practice with plastic where ribs are made as thin as possible to try to eliminate shrinkage and shorten cooling and cycle times. With the gas channel at the base of a rib, material will shrink away from the inside surface of the channel as the molded part cools because the material is hottest at the center of the section. Therefore, as the plastic part shrinks during cooling, the sink marks on the visible outside surface of the parts can be minimized.
A disadvantage in conventional gas assisted molding technology is that the possibility of achieving Class A surfaces on the appearance surfaces of the molded parts is inhibited by shadow marks caused by gas holes in the thicker areas of the molded articles, and gas permeation caused by the gas not being retained in the thicker areas and overflowing into the wall thickness of the articles. This often causes thinning and weakening of the wall, raised areas, and blush marks.
Injection molding of parts utilizing a pressurized gas source is shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,344,596, issued on Sep. 6, 1994, to Hendry for METHOD FOR FLUID COMPRESSION OF INJECTION MOLDED PLASTIC MATERIAL. While the method of this patent represents an improvement in the molding of articles of the type shown therein through the use of a gas, there remains a need for improvements in forming low cost articles.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improvement to the art of gas assisted plastic injection technology. An additional object of the present invention is to provide a gas assisted molding method and apparatus that reduces the overall cost of gas delivery systems normally associated with gas assisted injection molding.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide such a method and apparatus which demonstrates reduced costs through, for example, electric power consumption. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a method and apparatus which demonstrates reduced costs through, by way of a further example, eliminating costly gas units.
A further object of the present invention is to provide such a method and apparatus which demonstrates reduced costs through, by way of yet an additional example, eliminating sophisticated and costly electrical conduits. Still a further object of the present invention is to provide such a method and apparatus which eliminates the need for a high pressure gas compressor and its associated maintenance problems.
Still an additional object of the present invention is to provide such a method and apparatus which eliminates the need for spillover of molten material into a spillover cavity. Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide such a method and apparatus which eliminates shadow, permeation, and hesitation marks.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide such a method and apparatus which relies upon the same power source to inject both plastic and gas. A further object of the present invention is to provide such a method and apparatus which eliminates clogged gas injection pins by eliminating the need for the pin itself in the mold cavity.
Yet an additional object of the present invention is to provide such a method and apparatus which allows for the use of lower cost pins outside of the mold cavity in the plastic flow. An additional object of the present invention is to provide such a method and apparatus which allows the steps of the process to be controlled by linear distancing, thus eliminating the need for a controlling timer.
Still a further object of the present invention is to provide such a method and apparatus which establishes a correct volume and pressure of gas prior to the step of plastic injection. Still a further object of the present invention s to provide such a method and apparatus which allows relatively easy yet accurate control of gas volume as well the gas pressure.
Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide such a method and apparatus which allows for the relatively easy change of both gas volume and pressure as required from task to task. An additional object of the present invention is to provide such a method and apparatus which relies upon a low-cost, low-maintenance, low pressure unit. A further object of the present invention is to provide such a method and apparatus which allows for the introduction of gas into the melt flow at a controlled rate as opposed to a single shot, thus creating a virtually continuous gas flow.
These and other objects of the present invention are achieved by the provision of a gas assisted molding apparatus having gas introduced into the molten plastic charge as the charge is flowing into the mold cavity. The gas and plastic are simultaneously injected such as in the barrel or at the nozzle end of the injection molding machine. Optionally, the gas may be injected into a hot runner manifold or into the cavity itself simultaneously with the plastic. The apparatus includes a conventional gas injection mold, a source of inert gas (such as nitrogen), and an injection assembly. A common power source is used for both the injection of the plastic and the gas. This insures that the gas and plastic will flow together into the mold in a simultaneous manner and at the same pressure. (Conversely, using separate power sources, one for plastic and the other for the gas, will result in one fluid overcoming the other, thus providing an unacceptable product.)
The gas is introduced into the plastic at any point of the process while the plastic is being injected. The volume of plastic is pressure-dependent upon the desired volume and pressure of the gas. According to the method, the screw in the injection barrel is rotated to deposit a preferred quantity of plastic (less the anticipated gas volume) in the front of the barrel. The molten plastic is forced into the mold by moving the screw longitudinally forward in the barrel by the hydraulic system normally incorporated into the injection molding machine. During the movement of the screw at any time during the injection stroke, a measured amount of gas is injected into the plastic melt through an injection nozzle (or pin) into the flowing molten plastic material using the same hydraulic pressure used to move the screw to inject the plastic out of the barrel and into the mold cavity. The injection of gas into the plastic is accomplished by operating a hydraulic cylinder to compress the gas in a gas chamber until it reaches a value equal to the pressure of the plastic located in the front of the barrel. The power to activate the hydraulic cylinder is flow-coupled to the hydraulic pressure used to force the plastic out of the end of the barrel. In this situation, the gas pressure at the pin equals the pressure moving the plastic by the screw into the mold, thus resulting in the simultaneous injection of plastic and gas into the mold to create a hollow article. The components of the system are then reset to their predetermined positions in preparation of the next molding cycle.
In alternate embodiments, the plastic could be injected by an electric or pneumatic operated mechanism and the gas could be injected into the molten plastic materials by the same power source and at the same pressure.

Coupled fluid injection with flow control


Ripper point structure includes a nose with a tapered top that initiates lift and fracture of compacted soil layers. The tapered top with an included angle of about 100 degrees just forward of the parting wear shin creates a parting stress which increases until the center portion of the soil profile is cut by a sharp leading edge of the shin. In a winged embodiment, gently sloping ripper point wings gradually enter the fracture plane left below the lifted compaction layer and initiate a second fracture of the soil profile. The wings are spaced rearwardly from the point so that the point and wear shin have enough time to lift, fracture, and part the soil profile in contact with the shank prior to any wing action.

Deep tillage points such as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,437,337 and 5,540,288 have been designed to leave soil surface relatively level while still achieving substantial sub-soil fracturing. In commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,443,237 a central body or point with opposed wings extend downwardly and laterally is shown. The upper surface of each of the wings forms an upward angle in the rearward direction of approximately 15 degrees with the horizontal. The point is slid onto a lower mounting portion of a ripper shank, and a bolt is inserted through a hole in the shank and a set of slots in the lower rear portion of the point. The bolt, hole, and slot arrangement provides a loose connection between the shank and the point and functions primarily to retain the point when the point is out of the ground. Ground reaction forces are transferred directly from the point to the mounting portion so that the bolt is not heavily loaded during tillage operations.
Although the deep tillage points described above have reduced ground disturbance compared to many other previously available point designs, farmers continue to require lessened soil disturbance. Conservation farmers desire a relatively wide point for fracturing but still want low surface disturbance and high residue retention, particularly when operating in highly erodible land conditions. An improved point structure is necessary that provides the high fracture, high residue, low surface disturbance ripping desired by many farmers today. In addition, it is desirable to provide a point structure which reduces need for leveling and/or slot closing wheels. In point structures such as described above, lifted soil falling from the back edges of the wings it is not able to drop fully because the edges are located along side the shank. Soil flow beside the shank creates a substantial amount of wear on the rear of the shank as the soil tries to drop back towards the ripper slot. Also, surface disturbance is created by soil flowing aggressively around the back edge of the ripper shank towards the ripper slot.
In many point structures, the thin hardware attaching surfaces or walls at the rear of the point are the limiting factor in attempts to extend point life. The carbides used to extend the wear life often deposit in the thin section around the attaching bolt slot and result in brittleness and part breakage. Therefore, the thin walls were the limiting factor in the amount of carbides that could be used without risk of cracking.
Farmers often desire to simply leave a slot in the soil for better moisture absorption and air infiltration. In such situations, a wingless ripper point for inter-row ripping in standing crops is necessary.


An adjustable shaft and hosel assembly allows for dependent and independent adjustment of a golf club's face angle, loft angle, and lie angle. The adjustable shaft and hosel assembly comprises a shaft sleeve, a hosel portion, a tubular adjustment piece having non-parallel upper and lower surfaces, and a retention feature that provides an engagement between the tubular adjustment piece and the shaft sleeve to prevent the tubular adjustment piece from becoming detached from the shaft sleeve.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a golf club head having an adjustable shaft and hosel assembly. More specifically, the present invention relates to a golf club shaft and hosel connection assembly comprising one or more shims that permit a user to adjust the loft, lie, and face angle of the golf club head, either dependently or independently without requiring the user to remove the shaft from the hosel completely.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is known that changing the angle of a golf club shaft with respect to the golf club head will change certain club specifications, including loft angle, lie angle, and face angle. Several types of adjustable golf clubs are currently available on the market. These models allow the user to adjust one or more of the golf club head's loft, lie and face angle by adjusting certain golf club components, which themselves rotate the shaft in a cone-shaped path about a reference axis.
Several of these models include angled wedges or tubular adjustment features that are retained on a shaft sleeve with features such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,235,839. The problem with these retention features, and in particular the separate retainer disclosed in connection with FIG. 38 of that reference, is that the retainer is often composed of a weaker material than the shaft sleeve and thus has a high failure rate. Furthermore, once the retainer is affixed to the shaft sleeve as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,235,839, the retainer must be permitted to move in a circular pattern during adjustment of the tubular adjustment feature (which moves the shaft sleeve around a cone-shaped path), and thus the shaft sleeve of golf club head, between its available angular positions. This movement requires that the hosel bore be sized to permit the movement of the retainer. The movement of the retainer thus becomes the limiting factor when calculating the minimum hosel bore for a golf club head, and can lead to a hosel having an undesirably large diameter, thereby limiting where the hosel can be disposed on a golf club head. Therefore, there is a need for adjustable golf clubs having narrower hosel bores and stronger, more streamlined adjustability retention features.

Adjustable golf club shaft and hosel assembly


There is provided a method of fabricating a MOS transistor using a total gate silicidation process. The method includes forming an insulated gate pattern on a semiconductor substrate. The insulated gate pattern includes a silicon pattern and a sacrificial layer pattern, which are sequentially stacked. Spacers covering sidewalls of the gate pattern are formed, and source/drain regions are formed by injecting impurity ions into the semiconductor substrate using the spacers and the gate pattern as ion injection masks. The silicon pattern is exposed by removing the sacrificial layer pattern on the semiconductor substrate having the source/drain regions. The exposed silicon pattern is fully converted into a gate silicide layer, and concurrently a source/drain silicide layer is selectively formed on the surface of the source/drain regions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of fabricating semiconductor devices, and more particularly to a method of fabricating a MOS transistor using a total gate silicidation process.
2. Description of the Related Art
MOS transistors are widely in use as discrete switching devices in semiconductor devices. With the increase in integration of semiconductor devices, the size of the MOS transistor has been reduced. As a result, the reduction in the channel length of the MOS-transistor causes a short channel effect.
The junction depth of the source/drain region of the MOS transistor is required to be reduced to improve the short channel effect. The reduction of the junction depth of the source/drain region increases the sheet resistance of the source/drain region, which results in a decreased ability to provide an appropriate driving current required in a high performance transistor. Therefore, a self-aligned silicide process is widely used in order to decrease the sheet resistance of the source/drain region, and to reduce the sheet resistance of the gate electrode.
The self-aligned silicide process has been developed and widely used to form a silicide layer at the source/drain region and on top of the polysilicon of the gate region at the same time. In accordance with this process, the thickness of the silicide layer formed at the source/drain region should be smaller than the junction depth.
Also, with the MOS transistor scaled down, the thickness (Tox) of the gate insulating layer has been reduced to avoid the short channel effect and improve the current drivability. The reduction of the thickness of the gate insulating layer increases the capacitance of the gate insulating layer so as to improve the current drivability.
However, as a result of the reduction of the thickness of the gate insulating layer, poly depletion occurs in the MOS transistor, in which a polysilicon layer is used as a gate electrode. The poly depletion layer increases the electrical equivalent thickness of the gate insulating layer, and decreases the drive current.
As a method of solving the poly depletion problem, use of a metal gate has been widely studied. However, the metal gate has a drawback in the form of a difficulty in controlling threshold voltage of a transistor. Specifically, the threshold voltages of the NMOS transistor region and the PMOS transistor region should be controlled in order to employ the metal gate in a CMOS transistor. However, the use of a different metal gate in each MOS transistor makes the fabrication processes too complicated to be practicably employed.
One method for solving the problems of poly depletion and the metal gate is taught by Tavel et. al. in a research paper entitled, "Totally Silicided (CoSi2) Polysilicon: a novel approach to very low-resistive gate (˜2Ω/□) without metal CMP nor etching," (IEDM 2001, p.825–828, December of 2001).
However, the method disclosed in the above paper also has a drawback in that a threshold voltage (Vth) is increased due to a decrease of the absolute value of a flat band voltage (Vfb) since a midgap material is used as a metal gate, and that the fabrication processes are complicated since the silicide layer of the source/drain region and the gate silicide layer are formed respectively using separate processes. Specifically, in order to form the silicide layer of the source/drain region and the gate silicide layer using separate proecsses, a chemical mechanical polishing process (CMP) is required.
In order to concurrently form the silicide layer of the source/drain region and the gate silicide layer using the total gate silicide process, it is necessary to reduce the gate height. However, when the gate height is even slightly reduced, ions are injected into a channel region during the ion implantation process into the source/drain regions, which causes a problem that leakage current of the MOS transistor is increased.
As a result, it is necessary to optimize the fabrication method of the MOS transistor being capable of solving the poly depletion problem.

Method of fabricating MOS transistor using total gate silicidation process


A connector device for a fiber optic cable. The connector device includes a housing assembly (5, 25, 31) arranged to house a section of a fiber optic cable (9); a first fiber optic connector (47) including a body (48) that is arranged to receive a first optical fiber; a second fiber optic connector (49) including a body (50) that is arranged to receive a second optical fiber; and attachment mechanism (41, 65) for releasably attaching each of the first and second fiber optic connectors (47, 49) to the housing assembly (5, 25, 31). A fiber optic connector assembly (1) and a method for changing the polarity of first and second optical fibers in a fiber optic cable assembly (1) are also disclosed.

In data communications systems fibre optic cables having a plurality of fibre optic cables are frequently used to connect between communications nodes. Typically the fibre optic cable assembly includes a pair of optical fibres, one for transmitting and one for receiving (typically the receiving fibre is labelled A and the transmitting fibre is labelled B). The overall net effect of the data communications cabling is that the transmitting cables B have to connect with receiving ports A, and receiving cables A have to connect with transmitting ports B. However, during installation, it is not uncommon for the installers to get confused between the transmitting and receiving cables and a cross over can occur such that the transmitting cables B are not connected with receiving port A, and vice versa. For many connector types, installers are prevented from simply unplugging the duplex cable connectors and reinserting them in another orientation because the connectors are uni-directional and therefore can only be inserted into the complementary receiving ports in one orientation. Thus it is necessary for the installer to replace the existing cable or remove the connecting head from the fibres and effectively remanufacture the cable on site, which is very cumbersome and time consuming.
This problem has been addressed in US 2011/0299814 and U.S. Pat. No. 8,152,385. In each of these documents the solution is to provide a duplex cable having first and second fibre optic cable connectors that are each rotatably mounted to a housing, independently of the other. This is a relatively complex solution for a cable assembly is mass produced and requires relatively precise and robust engineering to ensure that the fibre optic connectors retain their axial alignment within the housing, and are only rotated when required to do so. Therefore it is desirable to provide a simplified solution to the above-mentioned problem.
Another problem with duplex type fibre optic connectors is that when plugged into the receiving ports it can be difficult to remove the cable assembly. This is because the connectors are usually plugged into a panel having a high density of connectors, which means there is limited space around each connector. Thus it can be difficult for a user to manipulate the locking levers when removing the connector from the panel.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,152,385 and US2011/0299814 have each addressed this problem by providing an additional lever that is arranged to actuate the locking levers. The additional lever is separate from the locking levers and is attached to an upper surface of the connector body. While this provides a reasonably satisfactory means of actuation, with the specific arrangements disclosed, it is still necessary for the user to position his finger relatively close to the locking levers in order to operate the additional lever, particularly in the arrangement shown in US2011/0299814.
Thus there is a desire to provide a fibre optic cable assembly that includes an improved means of actuating the fibre optic connector locking levers.
A further problem with known fibre optic cable assemblies is that each assembly design tends to be bespoke for each different type of fibre optic connector. This leads to increased manufacturing and assembly costs. It is highly desirable to have a connector system that includes a connector body that can be used with several different types of fibre optic connectors in order to reduce manufacturing and assembly costs.
While these problems mainly occur in the data communications industry, the invention also has applicability to telecommunications industry, and any other situation where fibre optic cables are connected together.


The visor system of the present invention provides a unique visor control and visor in which a two-piece control receives an elongated pivot rod. The combined torque control and slide permit the visor panel to slide with respect to the pivot rod and comprises a lubricous polymeric slide which extends around the visor rod to provide a sliding interface between the visor rod and a torque spring which surrounds the polymeric member and allows the visor to be moved to desired adjusted positions. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the slide comprises a segmented and partially split polymeric sleeve surrounding the visor rod. An adjustable cylindrical steel torque spring surrounds the sleeve and is secured to the visor body for providing the desired visor rotation and sliding action.

The present invention relates to vehicle visors and particularly to a visor which is adjustable along its longitudinal axis.
There exists a variety of visors which can provide front and side window protection against incident sunlight. Conventional single visor installations typically provide a visor which can be pivoted from the windshield position to the side window position but are not normally otherwise adjustable along the axis of the visor pivot rod. To provide such adjustability, several sliding visors have been developed, including those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,925,233, 4,998,765, 5,161,850, 5,409,285, and 5,653,490. Although these visors provide the desired additional sun-blocking protection by allowing a visor to move along the longitudinal axis of the pivot rod to which it is mounted, the somewhat heavy polymeric core construction and/or the additional guide means somewhat complicate and increase the cost of the structure. Further, it is desired to reduce the complexity of controls for such visor constructions and integrate in a control the somewhat competitive forces required to provide a holding rotational torque for the visor and yet allow the visor to slide along the visor rod. In order to provide a less costly, easy to manufacture visor of lightweight construction, the improved sliding visor construction and control of the present invention have been developed.


A piston valve for use in connection with the fire protection industry is disclosed which includes features for protecting against corrosion. A sacrificial zinc anode is mounted in the body of the valve under the handwheel. A polymeric piston is used which cannot corrode. A grease fitting protects against corrosion at the interface of the spindle and the valve body or bushing within the body.

Piston intake valves are known in the industry. It is further known that they are kept wet. Corrosion is a known problem. In particular, corrosion is caused by various factors including, but not limited to, use of dissimilar metals and use of waters having different mineral content. The water is an electrolyte which promotes corrosion between the piston and the cylinder wall, the spindle and the piston, and the spindle and the housing.
The fire truck upon which the piston valve is mounted is made of steel. The piston and the housing are typically made of aluminum. The spindle which drives the piston is made from stainless steel.
The combination of steel, aluminum, and certain ions in the water usually portend trouble for a fire department in the use of these valves. In some areas of the country the composition of the water exacerbates the problem thus causing time consuming maintenance on the valves.


A method and apparatus for detecting an icing condition. The apparatus comprises a sensor system and an icing condition detector. The sensor system is configured to collect drops of water from air on an exterior of an aircraft and generate a number of images of the drops of water collected. The icing condition detector is configured to detect a presence of a number of types of icing conditions for the aircraft using the number of images from the sensor.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates generally to detecting icing conditions and, in particular, to detecting icing conditions for an aircraft. Still more particularly, the present disclosure relates to detecting supercooled drops of water, including supercooled large drops (SLD) for aircraft.
2. Background
In aviation, icing on an aircraft may occur when atmospheric conditions lead to the formation of ice on the surfaces of the aircraft. Further, this ice also may occur within the engine. Ice forming on the surfaces of the aircraft, on inlets of an engine, and on other locations is undesirable and potentially unsafe for operating the aircraft.
Icing conditions may occur when drops of supercooled liquid water are present. In these illustrative examples, water is considered to be supercooled when the water is cooled below the stated freezing point for water but is still in a liquid form. Icing conditions may be characterized by the size of the drops, the liquid water content, air temperature, and other parameters. These parameters may affect the rate and extent at which ice forms on an aircraft.
When icing occurs, the aircraft does not operate as desired. For example, ice on the wing of an aircraft will cause the aircraft to stall at a lower angle of attack and have an increased drag.
Aircraft may have mechanisms to prevent icing, remove ice, or some combination thereof to handle these icing conditions. For example, aircraft may include icing detection, prevention, and removal systems. Ice may be removed using deicing fluid, infrared heating, and other suitable mechanisms.
Aircraft may be certified for operation during different types of icing conditions. Some aircraft may be certified to operate in normal icing conditions, but not those that include supercooled large drops. Currently used sensor systems are unable to differentiate between normal and supercooled large drop icing conditions. Therefore, it would be desirable to have a method and apparatus that takes into account at least some of the issues discussed above, as well as other possible issues.

Automated water drop measurement and ice detection system


The lead-free, preferably lithium-free, optical glass is useful in imaging, projection, telecommunications, optical communication and/or laser technology, particularly for making precise-pressed optical elements. It has a refractive index nd of 1.50 to 1.57, an Abbé number νd of 61 to 70. It also has a low transformation temperature of about or below 400° C., good production and processing properties and crystallization resistance. It has a composition, in percent by weight, based on oxide content of P2O5, 40 to 60; Al2O3, 1 to 20; B2O3, 0 to <5; Na2O, 0 to 30; K2O, 0 to 30; Li2O, 0 to <1; ΣM2O, >15 to 40; BaO, 1 to 20; ZnO, 1 to 20; SrO, 0 to 5; CaO, 0 to 5; MgO, 0 to 5; and ΣMO, 5 to 25. In addition, it may contain standard refining agents, although it is preferably free of arsenic and fluorine.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lead-free and lithium-free optical phosphate glass, to the use of a glass of this type in the fields of imaging, projection, telecommunications, optical communication technology and laser technology, and also to optical elements or preforms for such optical elements made from this type of glass.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, the market trend in both optical and opto-electronic technologies (the application areas of imaging, projection, telecommunications, optical communication technology and laser technology) has been ever more towards miniaturization. This is evident from the ever-decreasing size of end products and of course requires increasing miniaturization of the individual parts and components of end products of this type. For producers of optical glasses, this development, despite increasing numbers of end products, is associated with a considerable drop in the volume demand for raw glass. At the same time, there is an increasing pressure on prices from the further processors on the glass manufacturers, since the production of smaller components of this type from glass in ingot or bar form entails a significantly greater scrap percentage, based on the product, and the processing of extremely small parts of this type requires a higher outlay than larger components.
Instead of separating glass portions for optical components out of glass in ingot or bar form, as has hitherto been customary, in recent times production processes in which near net shape preforms, such as for example gobs, can be obtained directly from the glass melt. By way of example, there is an increase in demand from the further processors for near net shape preforms for re-pressing, known as precision gobs. Precision gobs are generally understood to be preferably completely fire-polished, semi-free-formed or free-formed glass portions, which have already been divided into portions and have geometry close to the final shape of the optical component.
Precision gobs of this type can advantageously also be transformed into optical elements such as lenses, aspherical components, etc. by the process known as precise pressing or precise molding. There is then no longer any need for further processing of the geometric shape or the surface, for example by surface polishing. This process can flexibly adapt to the smaller volumes of glass melt (distributed between a large number of small pieces of material) by virtue of having short set-up times. On account of the relatively small number of cycles or pieces and given the generally small geometries, the added value of the process, however, cannot originate solely from the value of the materials. Consequently, the products have to leave the press in a state, which is "ready for system installation", i.e. it must be possible to dispense with complex reworking, cooling and/or cold re-machining. On account of the high geometric accuracies required, precision equipment with high-quality and therefore expensive mold materials have to be used for a pressing process of this type. The service lives of molds of this type form a huge part of the economics of the products and/or materials produced. An extremely important factor for achieving a high service life of the molds is for the operating temperature to be as low as possible, but this temperature can only be reduced to an extent, which still leaves the viscosity of the materials to be pressed sufficient for the pressing operation to be carried out. Therefore, there is a direct causal link between the working point and therefore the transformation temperature Tg of a glass, which is to be processed and the economics of a pressing operation of this type: the lower the transformation temperature of the glass, the higher the service lives of the molds and the greater the profit margin. This relationship results in the need for what are known as "low-Tg glasses", i.e. glasses with low melting and transformation points, that is to say glasses, which have a viscosity that is sufficient for processing at the lowest possible temperatures.
A further objective, which has been reported with regard to the process engineering of the melt, has been a recent increased demand for "short" glasses, i.e. for glasses whose viscosity varies considerably with a relatively minor change in the temperature within a certain viscosity range. In the melting process, this behavior has the advantage that the hot-forming times, i.e. the mold closure times, can be reduced. This, on the one hand, increases the throughput, i.e. reduces the cycle time, and, on the other hand, is also gentler on the mold material, which, as has been described above, likewise has a positive effect on the overall production costs. "Short" glasses of this type have the further advantage that on account of the more rapid cooling compared to correspondingly longer glasses it is even possible to process glasses with a relatively high tendency towards crystallization. This avoids preliminary nucleation, which could cause problems in subsequent secondary hot-shaping steps, opening up the possibility of also allowing glasses of this type to be drawn to form fibers.
Furthermore, it is also desirable for the glasses, in addition to the optical properties mentioned and required, to be producible from components that are as inexpensive as possible and to be sufficiently chemically resistant.
Although the prior art has already described glasses with a similar optical position or comparable chemical composition, these glasses have considerable drawbacks. In particular, many of the glasses contain relatively high levels of the relatively expensive component Li2O and/or of the components, which increase the tendency towards crystallization, such as TiO2.
EP 1 275 622 relates to a glass for pressed bodies with a low softening point. The latter property is achieved by adding very high levels of alkali metals and relatively little P2O5. The glass must contain at least 6 percent by weight of Li2O.
JP 09-301735 describes an optical glass likewise with a low softening point. In this case too, this property is achieved by adding very high levels of alkali metals and relatively little P2O5. The glass has to contain a considerable amount of both Li2O and TiO2.
JP 2002-173336 describes an optical glass with a high refractive index for precise pressing technology. The glass must contain at least 2 percent by weight of Li2O and must also contain the components WO3, Nb2O5 and/or TiO2, which are likewise expensive. U.S. Pat. No. 5,053,360 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,875,920 describe ion-exchangeable glasses which always contain at least 5 percent by weight of Li2O.
JP 61-036137 describes a glass with a low melting point; the examples only mention glasses, which contain at least 4 percent by weight of Li2O.
JP 09-278479 describes a low-melting glass, which contains at least one percent by weight of Li2O. Moreover, Y2O3, La2O3 and/or Gd2O3 are mandatory constituents. These are likewise expensive components.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,409,396 describes a glass substrate which, when coated with interference layers, produces an interference filter. The only example cites a glass, which is not lead-free and furthermore also does not contain either BaO or ZnO.
JP 11-349347 describes a crystalline glass composition with a low melting point. It contains at least 0.1 mol percent of SnO2 which functions, inter alia, as an opacifier in the glass. SnO2 only melts at very high temperatures in relatively large quantities in oxide glasses and therefore makes the melting process more difficult.
WO 94/08373 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 5,526,369), JP 63-021240 and DE 33 40 968 relate to laser glass, which must contain laser-active components, such as lanthanoides, and are therefore unsuitable for use as optical glasses.
DE 27 53 219 describes a fogging-free glass, which always contains from 6 to 15 mol percent of SiO2 and/or B2O3. Both components increase the liquidus point (upper devitrification point, UDP, German: "obere Entglasungsgrenze"), i.e. the temperature range above which no crystals can form in the glass or crystals which are present are dissolved again.
DE 1 596 854 relates to an optical glass with a substantially temperature independent optical path length. The examples cite exclusively glasses, which contain a sum of M2O of less than 15 percent by weight.
DE 1 089 934 describes an optical crown glass with a low dispersion. A refractive index position of from 1.50 to 1.57 at a dispersion of between 61 and 70 is not reached, however.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,381,925 describes a technical-grade glass with a high chemical resistance which has a P2O5 content of at least 60 percent by weight. Such a high level of P2O5 can no longer be added to the batch as a complex phosphate, but rather has to be added as free P2O5, which results in drawbacks in the melting properties during evaporation and dusting and produces a glass with a poor internal quality.
The same applies to the glasses described in JP 03-218941 for a polarizer in high-energy laser systems containing at least 60 percent by weight of P2O5. The optical glass described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,824,615 for precise-pressing technology also contains at least 73.9 percent by weight of P2O5 and also at least 1.1 percent by weight of Li2O.
DE 1 496 064 describes an optical glass, which contains at least 1 percent by weight of B2O3 and/or TiO2 with the drawbacks outlined above.
DD 29 825 describes a glass with a low refractive index and a high dispersion. It has to contain relatively large quantities of F and TiO2, inter alia, in order to set the optical position, in particular an Abbé number of less than 40. F is a component, which can make the production process more difficult on account of the ease of evaporation.
EP 0 481 166 relates to an optical glass which contains a relatively high ZnO fraction of 34 mol percent. Such a high level of ZnO increases the tendency of the glass to become opaque.
JP 02-124743 relates to an optical glass for precise pressing technology in which, however, the sum of components MO is well below 28 percent by weight.
JP 08-183632 describes a low-melting glass with phosphate content of at most 35 mol percent. It also contains at least 8 mol percent of B2O3. During melting, problems may arise in so far as a considerable proportion of B2O3 may be volatilized. Moreover, B2O3 makes the glass "long" in terms of its viscosity properties and also increases the UDP.

Optical glass and process for making precise-pressed optical elements therefrom as well as said optical elements


A method and apparatus for packet cut-though have been disclosed. In packet cut-through mode successive packet fragments are associated an identical logical data flow. This allows, for example, a SPI-4 interface to be able to successively transmit a whole packet for a logical port without intervening by traffic of other logical ports.

Packets are used in communications to convey data. Therefore how packets are handled (e.g. assembled, reassembled, switched, routed, etc.) can have an impact on things such as data throughput, latency, priority of arriving data, etc. If not handled properly or limited to a specific format could lead to latency and possible loss of data. This may present a problem.
In a SPI-4 interface (System Packet Interface v4), for example, a packet Y with fragments as illustrated in FIG. 3, and a packet Z with fragments as illustrated in FIG. 4, in cut-through mode (N.B. not packet cut-through), a data path carries successive packet fragments (associated to various logical data flow) as illustrated in FIG. 5. The delayed arrival of some fragments may present a problem.

Method and apparatus for packet cut-through


An electronic apparatus includes a base substrate, the base substrate including an interconnect. The electronic apparatus further includes a first die including a first semiconductor device, the first semiconductor device being coupled to the interconnect, and further includes a second die including a second semiconductor device, the second semiconductor device being coupled to the interconnect. The first and second die are attached to the base substrate in opposite orientations.

Power semiconductor devices are designed to be tolerant of the high currents and voltages that are present in power applications such as power train, motion control, air bag deployment, automotive fuel injector drivers, DC/DC, DC/AC, and AC/DC converters, and other power electronics instruments. Power semiconductor devices, such as insulated gate bipolar junction transistor (IGBT) and field effect transistor (FET) devices, are often used as electronic switches in such applications. IGBT and other power devices are often arranged and packaged in a power electronics module. Multiple modules may be used in circuits to provide phased or alternating current power to inductive loads such as motors or to increase power density.
Multiple aspects of the circuits are designed in an effort to accommodate the currents and noise resulting from inductive loads and/or parasitic inductances during the switching provided by the power semiconductor devices. For example, decoupling capacitors may be incorporated into the circuits to mitigate the effects of noise introduced by parasitic inductances. The decoupling capacitors may decouple portions of the circuit to protect devices from voltage spikes resulting from the parasitic inductances.
Electrical interconnects within power electronics modules present parasitic inductances. For example, wire bonds often introduce inductive noise during switching. In many modules, wire bonds are relied upon to connect terminals of a power semiconductor device to a lead frame. Some wire bonds accordingly handle high currents in many applications. Other wire bonds may also present inductive noise, including those wire bonds used to connect off-chip decoupling capacitors.
These parasitic inductances of such wire bonds may lead to a voltage spike or over-voltage in power electronics modules. Over-voltages may occur in connection with the sudden interruption of current flow to an inductive load despite the decoupling capacitors and other efforts to prevent such over-voltages. These and other over-voltages may destroy the power semiconductor device.
Snubbers are often used to protect the power semiconductor devices. Snubbers attempt to conduct undesirable transient currents around the power semiconductor device. Unfortunately, snubbers typically increase the manufacturing cost of the device and consume space and energy.

Semiconductor device apparatus and assembly with opposite die orientations


An improved tank configuration includes a die employed to stamp a formed member. The formed member may be used as the bottom head for a portable liquid container, and is constructed so that all welding is eliminated in the corner portions of the container. A trim machine is employed to remove uneven edges from the formed part. The invention is particularly useful in constructing sloped bottom tanks of increased depth. By the present invention, a stamped configuration is provided in which a draw formed tank bottom is formed so as to allow complete and full drainage of the tank bottom. The bottom head is finish trimmed to exact dimensions so as to facilitate assembly to the shell of the tank.

The present invention relates to a portable tank having an improved bottom configuration. More particularly, the present invention relates to a stamped-sloped configuration for the bottom of a portable tank having improved features with regard to manufacture and use of the tank. The invention is particularly useful in constructing sloped bottom tanks of increased depth.
Previous portable tank configurations are described, for example, in the following U.S. Pat. Nos.: 1,235,438 to Chynoweth; 1,430,000 to Bell; 2,180,185 to Weiss; 2,339,303 to Tillery; 3,096,900 to Breneman; 3,186,607 to Lubenow; 4,557,406 to Olinger et al; 4,648,521 to Thomas et al; 4,785,958 to Snyder; 4,840,284 to Snyder; and 5,287,717 to Lancaster.
By the present invention, there is provided an improved tank configuration with regard to the bottom portion thereof, wherein a die is employed to stamp a formed member employed as the bottom head for a portable container, and which is constructed so that all welding is eliminated in the corner portions of the container. A trim machine is employed to remove uneven edges from the formed part.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a stamped configuration in which a draw formed tank bottom is formed so as to allow complete and full drainage of the tank bottom.
It is another object of the invention to provide an improved tank bottom configuration in which all welded corner inserts are eliminated.
It is a further object of the invention to allow the bottom head of a portable container to be finish trimmed to exact dimensions, particularly when drawing a deeper head, so as to facilitate the assembly of these parts to the shell of the tank.


In an engine starting control system of an internal combustion engine in which an eco-run control is performed, a combustion stroke that each cylinder reaches when the internal combustion engine comes to an engine stopped state by the eco-run control is predicted, and in an expansion stroke cylinder that the predicted combustion stroke is an expansion stroke, fuel of a predetermined amount is injected from an intake passage injection valve into an intake passage just before the internal combustion engine comes to an engine stopped state, and in the expansion stroke cylinder, an engine start of the internal combustion engine in an engine stopped state is performed by injecting fuel from the cylinder injection valve into the cylinder and igniting the air-fuel mixture in the cylinder by an ignition plug.

In an internal combustion engine for an automobile, there is performed a control of the internal combustion engine in which the internal combustion engine is stopped automatically when the automobile decelerates or stops to improve the fuel consumption or the like, and when a starting operation such as pressing the accelerator pedal is performed, the internal combustion engine starts automatically, that is, a so-called economy running control (hereinafter referred to as "eco-run control") (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 10-47104).
When an engine start is performed in the internal combustion engine in which the eco-run control is performed, if a crankshaft is rotated at a predetermined position by a starter motor and fuel injection is performed in a specific cylinder so as to start the engine with combustion torque of the cylinder, a time period required for the engine start becomes longer, which makes a rapid engine start difficult.
In view of the above, there is disclosed a technique for shortening the time required for an engine start by detecting a cylinder in an expansion stroke when the engine is in a stopped state by the eco-run control, and when the engine starts, fuel is injected into the cylinder directly so as to generate combustion torque (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2001-342876).
When an internal combustion engine stopped by the eco-run control is caused to start, it is possible to perform an engine start by injecting fuel directly into a cylinder reaching an expansion stroke at the time of engine stop and using the combustion torque generated by the combustion of the fuel. However, the internal combustion engine is in an engine stopped state at the time of injecting the fuel, so there is no disturbance caused by the air current inside the cylinder, whereby the injected fuel is less likely to be diffused uniformly within the cylinder. Accordingly, there may be a case where too dense portions are caused locally in the air-fuel mixture prepared in the cylinder, causing an increase in unburned fuel components, and worsening of emission such as generation of black smoke.

Engine starting control system of internal combustion engine


A method and apparatus for automatically configuring a physical port of a switch with features appropriate to a connection type snoops incoming packets to determine the connection type and executes a port configuration macro installed on the switch to apply appropriate features for the connection type.

Modern switches and other internet infrastructure components, such as routers and bridges, are sophisticated devices that offer many features relating to security, quality of service, availability and other factors. A physical port of a switch must be configured to implement a selected set of features based on the connection type. However, the richness of the feature set and other options offered on sophisticated switches and other network infrastructure devices can overwhelm network management personnel who are not highly trained. Thus, in many cases the ports are not configured to take full advantage of the features and options provided by the manufacturer of the switch.
For example, recently, interest in using Ethernet in factory automation has grown due the inclusion of inexpensive Ethernet Network Interface Cards (NICs) on most personal computers and the low costs of commercial-off-the shelf components due to commoditization of Ethernet.
However, it is often the case that sophisticated network personnel are not available to configure ports when new devices are connected to a port resulting in less that optimal utilization of the features and options available on the switch.

Automatically configuring switch ports with appropriate features