A data storage system has two computers. Each computer is assigned to a set of data. Two copies of each set of data are maintained. A first copy is stored on a first set of disks and a second copy is stored on a second set of disks. Each time that a data is written by a computer, a label is written to each set of disks, the label having fields for a status of each computer, a first ordinal which is increased each time that a new data is written, and a time stamp giving a time at which the last write was performed. After failure of a computer, a processor determines, in response to reading the labels of the first set of disks and the second set of disks, the most up to date copy of the data assigned to the failed computer.

A storage system typically comprises one or more storage devices into which data may be entered, and from which data may be obtained, as desired. The storage system includes a storage operating system that functionally organizes the system by, inter alia, invoking storage operations in support of a storage service implemented by the system. The storage system may be implemented in accordance with a variety of storage architectures including, but not limited to, a network-attached storage environment, a storage area network and a disk assembly directly attached to a client or host computer. The storage devices are typically disk drives organized as a disk array, wherein the term "disk" commonly describes a self-contained rotating magnetic media storage device. The term disk in this context is synonymous with a hard disk drive (HDD), a direct access storage device (DASD) or a logical unit number (lun) in a storage device.
Storage of information on the disk array is preferably implemented as one or more storage "volumes", defining an overall logical arrangement of disk space. The disks within a volume are typically organized as one or more groups, wherein each group is operated as a Redundant Array of Independent (or Inexpensive) Disks (RAID). Most RAID implementations enhance the reliability/integrity of data storage through the redundant writing of data "stripes" across a given number of physical disks in the RAID group, and the appropriate storing of redundant information with respect to the striped data. The redundant information may thereafter be retrieved to enable recovery of data lost when a storage device fails.
In the operation of a disk array, it is anticipated that a disk can fail. A goal of a high performance storage system is to make the mean time to data loss as long as possible, preferably much longer than the expected service life of the system. Data can be lost when one or more disks fail, making it impossible to recover data from the device. Typical schemes to avoid loss of data include mirroring, backup and parity protection. Mirroring stores the same data on two or more disks so that if one disk fails, the "mirror", disk(s) can be used to serve (e.g., read) data. Backup periodically copies data on one disk to another disk. Parity schemes are common because they provide a redundant encoding of the data that allows for loss of one or more disks without the loss of data, while requiring a minimal number of disk drives in the storage system.
The storage operating system of the storage system typically includes a RAID subsystem that manages the storage and retrieval of information to and from the disks in accordance with input/output (I/O) operations. Configuration management in the RAID subsystem generally involves a defined set of modifications to the topology or attributes associated with a volume or set of volumes. Configuration management is based on volume naming to identify the data (data set) that a client or operator wishes to access in accordance with a configuration management operation.
In the RAID subsystem, volumes are assigned names and identifiers (e.g., file system identifiers, fsids) in order to distinguish them from one another. A volume name is illustratively a string of characters (chosen by an operator) that is stored within a data set. Conventional procedures prevent a new volume from being created with the same name as a volume that is currently present in the system. However, if a volume data set is removed (for example, the disks that comprise the volume are disconnected from the system) a new volume may be created with its name. When the disks are reinserted into the system a name conflict arises; i.e., both volumes have the same name. A name conflict may also arise when a volume with a given name is disconnected from one system and connected to a different system that contains a volume with the same name.
In all cases, the system must be able to provide a unique name for each volume in order to avoid situations where configuration requests are sent to the wrong volume. Furthermore, once a resolution of the name conflict occurs, the resolution decision must be consistent each time the RAID subsystem is restarted. If one of the volumes with a conflicted name is removed and reattached to a system that does not already contain a volume with the conflicted name, the volume should revert to its original (non-conflicted) name. Although prior systems provide a mechanism for resolution of name conflicts, such resolution is not consistent across reboot operations nor do they utilize a scheme for determining the ordering in which conflicts are resolved based on attributes of the conflicted volumes.
In addition, it is desirable to resolve naming conflicts based on attributes of the conflicted volumes, e.g., native versus non-native, online vs. offline, active vs. failed. As used herein, native denotes a volume for which "primary" data service is provided by the current system. As such, data service migrates to the primary system when the primary system is capable of servicing data. Online denotes that the volume is configured to provide data service for clients, whereas offline denotes that the volume is configured to disallow data service. An offline state may be the result of manual operator intervention or self-configuration by the system as a result of configuration data associated with the volume. Active denotes a volume that is capable of providing data service and failed denotes that the volume is incapable of providing data service. Examples of this latter state include failures due to missing disks and corrupted configuration data.
It is generally desirable to increase the availability of the storage service provided by a storage system. The availability of the storage service may be increased by configuring a plurality of storage systems in a cluster, with the property that when a first storage system fails, a second "partner" storage system is available to take over the services and data otherwise provided by the failed storage system. The partner storage system provides these services and data by a "takeover" of resources otherwise managed by the failed storage system.
In an example of such a cluster configuration, nonvolatile memory (e.g., nonvolatile random access memory, NVRAM) is utilized by each storage system to improve overall system performance. Data written by a client is initially stored in the nonvolatile memory before the storage system acknowledges the completion of the data write request of the client. Subsequently, the data is transferred to another storage device, such as a disk. Each storage system in a cluster maintains a copy of the data stored in its partner's nonvolatile memory. Such nonvolatile memory shadowing is described in further detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/011,844 entitled Efficient Use of NVRAM during Takeover in a Node Cluster by Abhijeet Gole, et al., which is incorporated herein by reference as though fully set forth herein.
Nonvolatile memory shadowing ensures that each storage system in a cluster failover (CFO) configuration can takeover the operations and workload of its partner system with no loss of data. After a takeover by a partner system from a failed system, the partner storage system handles storage service requests that normally were routed to it from clients, in addition to storage service requests that previously had been handled by the failed storage system. The "surviving" partner storage system takes control of the failed storage system's data set and its network identity, and initiates storage service on behalf of the failed storage system.
However, a scenario in which both a storage system and its data set fails may occur under a variety of circumstances, including but not limited to, power failures at the system/data set site (a temporary failure) and catastrophic loss of the physical location (a permanent failure). A scenario of this latter form (termed a disaster scenario) is infrequent and highly disruptive to the client application environment. Typically, declaration of a disaster and the invocation of a procedure to resolve the disastrous situation occur under operator control.
As noted, mirroring (such as volume mirroring) stores the same data (data set) on two or more disks so that if one disk fails, the "mirror" disk can be used to serve (e.g., read) the data set. The goal of volume mirroring is to be able to continue operating with either data set after some equipment failure precludes the use of or access to the other data set. A storage system manages the mirrored relationship between the data sets, i.e., the system recognizes that the data sets constitute a mirrored pair and thus maintains consistency of data between the two data sets in accordance with a conventional mirror resynchronization procedure. An example of a mirror resynchronization procedure is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/225,453, titled Resynchronization of Mirrored Storage Devices, which application is hereby incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein.
A problem that may arise with such a mirrored volume configuration involves a "split-brian" situation wherein two divergent "views" of the data sets are created. For example, assume there are two collections of disks storing the data sets for a volume, wherein the data sets are represented by DS1 and DS2. The intent is that the data sets stored on those disks be completely identical. When one data set (e.g., DS2) is brought into the mirrored volume after being offline, i.e., physically removed from the system for a period of time, a comparison operation is performed to determine whether the data sets (DS1 and DS2) have divergent views. This determination is illustratively performed based on an understanding of how the divergent views may arise.
Assume further that DS1 and DS2 of the mirrored volume are both online and functioning when DS2 is lost. In this context, DS2 is lost as a result of being physically removed from the system for a period of time either by disconnecting the disks of the volume or shutting down power to the disks. The effect of DS2 being lost is that DS1 moves forward (i.e., data is written to DS1). Subsequently, the system is halted and DS2 is reattached to the storage system as DS1 is detached from that system. The system is then restarted. As a result, all client updates that had occurred to DS1 during the time that DS2 was offline are lost and new data written by the clients is now stored on DS2 such that DS2 moves forward. The storage system is then halted, DS1 is reattached to the system and the system is restarted. This is an example of a classic split-brain situation: the data sets are created from a common source (storage system), move in two different (divergent) directions and then come together again.
Typically, the problem arises after DS1 has moved forward. That is, in response to detaching DS2 from the storage system for a period of time, DS2 should not be thereafter allowed to take the place of DS1 when it is subsequently reattached to the system. If both data sets are allowed to come back online together, there are two divergent views of the data sets and a decision has to be made as to which data set is allowed to move forward. Realistically, DS1 is the valid copy of the data set, whereas DS2 is invalid. This split-brain situation is independent of clustering and reflects a situation that may arise due to periodic maintenance of a system, as well as transient connectivity failures in the system. Tools are therefore needed to efficiently bring the divergent views of the data sets in synchronization (to a common state) without having to examine the content of each independent data set. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a technique that avoids (prevents) a mirror split-brain situation.


A wet electrolytic capacitor that includes an anode, cathode, and a liquid electrolyte disposed therebetween is provided. The cathode contains a metal oxide coating, such as NbO2, in conjunction with other optional coatings to impart improved properties to the capacitor.

Electrolytic capacitors are increasingly being used in the design of circuits due to their volumetric efficiency, reliability, and process compatibility. Typically, electrolytic capacitors have a larger capacitance per unit volume than certain other types of capacitors, making electrolytic capacitors valuable in relatively high-current and low-frequency electrical circuits. One type of capacitor that has been developed is a wet electrolytic capacitor that includes an anode, a cathode, and a liquid or "wet" electrolyte. Wet electrolytic capacitors tend to offer a good combination of high capacitance with low leakage current and a low dissipation factor. In certain situations, wet electrolytic capacitors may exhibit advantages over electrolytic capacitors in which the electrolyte is a solid. For example, wet electrolytic capacitors may, in certain situations, operate at a higher working voltage than solid electrolytic capacitors. Additionally, by way of example, wet electrolytic capacitors sometimes may be much larger in size than solid electrolytic capacitors, leading to larger capacitances for such large wet electrolytic capacitors.
In conventional wet electrolytic capacitors, the anode may be a metal foil, for example, a tantalum foil. The anode may also be a metal "slug," for example, a "slug" of powdered tantalum material. As is known in the art, the term "slug" may refer to the anode body portion of a capacitor. A tantalum slug may be formed by mixing powdered tantalum particles with a suitable binder/lubricant to ensure that the particles will adhere to each other when pressed to form the anode. The powdered tantalum is compressed under high pressure around a tantalum wire and is sintered at high temperature under vacuum to form a sponge-like structure, which is very strong and dense but also highly porous. The porosity of the resulting tantalum slug results in the slug having a large internal surface area.
In certain wet electrolytic capacitors, the cathode is a container, which is filled with the liquid electrolyte. For example, the cathode may be a tantalum or tantalum-plated cylindrically-shaped container that acts as the negative terminal of the electrolytic capacitor. In these wet electrolytic capacitors, the liquid electrolyte and the porous, sintered anode are disposed within the cathode container. The wet electrolyte electrically connects the anode and the cathode, and thus, must have a certain conductivity. In many typical wet electrolytic capacitors, the liquid electrolyte is an aqueous solution of sulfuric acid.
Some conventional wet electrolytic capacitors are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,369,547 and 6,594,140 to Evans, et al., both of which are incorporated herein in their entireties by reference thereto for all purposes. In the Evans, et al. '547 patent, a metal container having an inside surface and an outside surface functions as the cathode of the capacitor, and a porous coating is disposed at the inside surface of the container in electrical communication with the container. Similarly, in the Evans, et al. '140 patent, the cathode of a wet electrolytic capacitor includes a coating and is described as an electrochemical-type capacitor electrode. Additionally, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,721,170 to Evans, et al., packaged hybrid capacitors are described, and the cathode of such a hybrid capacitor is said to include a porous metal oxide film, preferably a metal oxide cathode layer of ruthenium.
Coatings, such as those described in the Evans, et al. patents mentioned above, may be applied to a metal substrate for use as a cathode in a wet electrolytic capacitor using various techniques, such as the methods described in the '547 and '140 Evans, et al. patents, as well as the substrate coating process disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,224,985 to Shah, et al., which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference thereto for all purposes.
Despite the development of various wet electrolytic capacitors with coated cathodes having certain improved properties, a need currently exists for improved wet electrolytic capacitors that exhibit increased effective cathode capacitance. Specifically, a need currently exists for wet electrolytic capacitors having an extremely large cathode capacitance, which enables such wet electrolytic capacitors to exhibit improved volumetric efficiency. The wet electrolytic capacitors of the present invention and the cathodes for use in such capacitors address these and other needs.


An apparatus for aligning flat, generally rectangular items includes a first conveyor for advancing the items in a conveying direction; a second conveyor for receiving the items from the first conveyor and for advancing the items in the same conveying direction; an endless conveyor chain having a length portion curved in a horizontal plane and being at a height level above the conveying plane of the second conveyor; a plurality of uniformly spaced carrier elements secured to the conveyor chain for catching items that have been advanced on the second conveyor and for guiding the items in a curvilinear path; and a third conveyor for receiving the items from the conveyor chain.

This invention relates to an apparatus for aligning items, particularly chocolate bars, having an approximately rectangular outline in plan view (footprint) and for supplying the items to a subsequent processing apparatus, such as a packing machine.
Known apparatus of the above-outlined type which align items to be advanced to a packing machine, for example, a packing machine which wraps the items in a tubular bag wrapper, are in most instances designed for a predetermined item size and a predetermined type of alignment and therefore do not have optimal flexibility for various applications.

Apparatus for aligning items having an approximately rectangular footprint


In one embodiment, values are retrieved from a number of MISRs which are coupled to a number of microprocessor buses, and a random number is generated based on the retrieved values. In another embodiment, a built-in self-test (BIST) local block of a microprocessor is assigned a major address, and each of a number of multiple input shift registers (MISRs) in the BIST local block is assigned a minor address. An instruction to turn on and initialize the MISRs is then issued, and a request to read the MISRs is issued in response to a request for an encryption key. The MISR readings are then XORed with each other, and with historical readings, if any, to generate an encryption key.

Much of today's computer based cryptography requires cryptographically strong random and/or pseudo-random number input (collectively referred to herein as random number input). The cryptographically strong random number input serves as a basis for the generation of cryptographically strong encryption keys. In some systems, a random number will form an encryption key "as is" (i.e., the random number will be used as an encryption key without modification). In other systems, a random number will be used to "seed" an encryption key generation process.
A common form of cryptography which often requires a random number input is public key cryptography. In a form of public key cryptography referred to as RSA (the Rivest, Shamir, and Adelman approach), three elements are required—a public encryption key, a private encryption key, and a modulus. The public encryption key is simply an arbitrary constant, which is usually recommended to be 3 or 65,537. The private encryption key is computed as a mathematical function of two randomly generated large prime numbers (i.e., two random number inputs) and the public encryption key. The modulus is merely the product of the two large prime numbers. To insure that a user can both send and receive encrypted data, the public encryption key and the modulus are publicly distributed over a network. The private encryption key is not distributed over the network, and is preserved in secrecy by its owner.
To send and receive encrypted data over a network, RSA public key cryptography requires the generation of public and private encryption keys for each user desiring to send and/or receive encrypted data over the network. When User A wants to send encrypted data to User B, User A encrypts their data using User B's public encryption key and modulus. Upon receiving User A's data, User B can decrypt User A's data using their private encryption key and modulus. In other words, User B uses User B's own private encryption key and modulus to decrypt data which User A encrypts using User B's public encryption key and modulus. The success of RSA public key cryptography is based on three principles: 1) if the randomly generated large prime numbers are truly large and truly random, it is extremely difficult for an attacker to factor the user's publicly distributed modulus, and as a result, it is extremely difficult for an attacker to determine the identity of the two prime numbers—a message sent to a specific user can only be decrypted if the two prime numbers factored into the specific user's modulus are known; 2) knowing the algorithm which is used to generate a user's modulus (i.e, multiplication) does not assist an attacker in factoring the user's modulus; and 3) users' private encryption keys can really be kept private since there is no need to transfer copies of these keys from one user to another.
The success of RSA public key cryptography therefore depends in part on the generation of two truly random large prime numbers. Many other forms of cryptography also depend on true random number generation. Unfortunately, random numbers are hard to come by in a computer, since by design, computers are very deterministic. If cryptography systems requiring truly random numbers are not provided with truly random numbers, it becomes much more likely that an attacker might be able to decipher encrypted data.
The problem of random number generation is compounded by the fact that many cryptography systems encrypt many different data packets, each of which, or only a small number of which, share the same random number input. Such systems therefore require a high volume of random number inputs, all of which have no relation to one another and are therefore truly random.
In addition to public key cryptography, other situations arise in which cryptographically strong random numbers are needed. For example, one situation is in zero knowledge proofs. A zero knowledge proof is a situation in which one party (a person or computer program) needs to prove to another party that they both share a secret (e.g., a password, access to a social security number, an account number, etc.). If the second party cannot prove to the first party that it already knows the secret, then the first party will not want to disclose and/or discuss the secret with the second party. Random numbers are often required as part of a zero knowledge proof. See, for example, the discussions of zero knowledge proofs found in "Strong Password-Only Authenticated Key Exchange" by David P. Jablon, www.IntegritySciences.com, Mar. 2, 1997; "Zero Knowledge Proofs of Identity" by U. Feige, A. Fiat, and A. Shamir, Proceedings of the 19th ACM Symposium on Theory of Computing, pp. 210-217 (1987); and "Strongbox: A System for Self Securing Programs" by J. D. Tygar and B. S. Yee, CMU Computer Science: 25th Anniversary Commemorative (1991); and "Multiple non-interactive zero knowledge proofs based on a single random string" by U. Feige, D. Lapidot, and A. Shamir, 31st Annual Symposium on Foundations of Computer Science, Vol. 1, pp. 308-317 (October 1990). One method of conducting zero knowledge proofs is via Simple Password-authenticated Exponential Key Exchange (SPEKE). SPEKE is an attractive protocol for authentications conducted between wireless hand-held devices, set top boxes, diskless work stations, smart cards, etc.
Several solutions to the problem of true random number generation have been posed. A first of these solutions is used in versions of PGP, a software-based cryptography application sold by Network Associates of Santa Clara, Calif. PGP keeps a file comprising random numbers which are produced in response to the time intervals between keystrokes which a user makes as they input data into to the PGP program. One disadvantage of this system is that the random number file is kept in a user's file system. The file can therefore be read by a savvy attacker, and/or the values in the file could be forced to values which are supplied by the attacker. In either case, once the attacker knows the values which are queued to be used by the PGP program, it becomes much easier for the attacker to decipher data which is encrypted by the PGP program. Another disadvantage of the PGP program is that only a small amount of random number data is sometimes available since 1) a user is usually not required to input a lot of data into the PGP program, and few keystrokes are therefore made, and 2) depending on the computer and the operating system which the user is using, the time intervals between the user's keystrokes might be quantized to the point where only a few bits of random information are generated in response to each keystroke interval (e.g., four bits of data per keystroke interval). Furthermore, when a user makes numerous keystroke in succession, the speed at which the user makes successive keystrokes will often be quite uniform. An attacker's knowledge of any of the following can therefore be used to zero in on the range of random number data available to the PGP program: a user's typing speed; a user's computer type and speed; and a user's operating system.
Another problem with using user keystrokes for the generation of random number data is that some devices which need to generate random number data might never (or rarely) receive direct user input. For example, consider a server which runs entirely automated computer programs, and which is accessed by an operator via a keyboard only rarely. Or consider a disk which is directly connected to a network (e.g., a Network Attached Storage (NAS) device). In each of these cases, nearly all accesses to the device are initiated over a network (e.g., the Internet), and direct keyboard input to the device is rarely received. Such devices benefit much less from the PGP program's methods of generating random number data.
A second method which has been posed as a solution to the problem of true random number generation involves timing the time it takes to access a disk. A disk access is dependent on the location of the data being accessed, the rotational speed of the disk, and the time it takes to move a disk's heads. All of these factors can vary significantly from one disk access to another, and the time it takes to access a disk is therefore "in theory" a good source of random data. In actuality, however, the amount of random data which can be derived from a single disk access is limited by the resolution with which disk access times can be measured on a given system. Quite often, this resolution is low (e.g., eight bits). Furthermore, a disk access is relatively slow in comparison to the speed at which a computer can execute software which has already been loaded into the computer's cache and RAM memories. Computers on which a lot of files are encrypted therefore suffer performance penalties when they must wait on random number input generated in response to relatively slow disk accesses. A solution to this speed problem is the maintenance of a random number file. This, however, leads to the same data security problem posed by the PGP software program (i.e., since the file is stored in a user's file system, an attacker might be able to access the file, and/or seed the file with known values). Yet another problem with timing disk accesses is that absent a real need to access a disk, encryption software will have to request a disk access for the sole purpose of timing the disk access, and not for the purpose of retrieving substantive data from the disk. Such "dummy" accesses increase the mechanical wear on a disk and introduce system delays which might delay another user's legitimate access to the same disk.
A third method which has been posed as a solution to the problem of true random number generation involves adding to a microprocessor a circuit for amplifying and digitizing the thermal noise produced by the microprocessor. The problem with such a circuit is that it is very hard to verify that it is working properly (i.e., it is hard to test). Since the output of the circuit is intended to be random, the circuit can only be tested by acquiring significant amounts of data from the circuit, and then subjecting the data to complex analysis to determine if the data is in fact random. Another problem stems from the fact that implementing such a circuit as part of a microprocessor's hardware makes it impossible to run two microprocessors in "lock-step". The ability to run two microprocessors in lock-step is an important feature, as it enables one to run the same software program on two microprocessors and compare the state of each microprocessor after execution of each instruction in the software program. If the states of the two microprocessors differ after the execution of an instruction, one can assume that one of the microprocessors is faulty. Since slight manufacturing variances in two supposedly identical microprocessors can alter the thermal noise produced by each, the states of the microprocessor's thermal noise circuits will obviously differ. It is therefore impossible to run microprocessors with thermal noise circuits in lock-step.
Other methods for generating truly random numbers tend to generate data which is progressively more random, but generate the data at a greater cost. For example, one researcher has reported that he connected a digital video camera to his computer and pointed it at three lava lights. He then took all of the bits from the digital image generated by the video camera and put them through a hashing function to generate a string of random bits. While the random numbers generated from this string of random bits might be cryptographically strong, it is not practical for most computer users to implement such a system. Radios and microphones coupled to analog-to-digital converters have also been proposed as sources of random data. However, these devices suffer from the same problems as digital video cameras. They can be expensive, and they do not come standard on all computer systems.
The ultimate source of random data comes from measuring the arrival times of byproducts of radioactive decay. The decay can be background decay (i.e., naturally occurring decay which occurs in the environment around us, but at extremely small levels which require very sensitive detectors to measure) or decay of a radioactive source in a measurement instrument.
Due to the shortcomings and disadvantages of the above methods for generating random numbers, a need exists for a truly random number generator which: 1) generates truly random numbers, 2) is testable, 3) is cost-effective, and/or 4) is very difficult for an attacker to seed with known values and/or reset.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Generation of cryptographically strong random numbers using MISRS

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A selectively adjustable bar lock assembly for retaining cargo being transported in vehicles or other motive devices which includes a pair of relatively telescoping tubes which are rotatable within outwardly disposed resilient cushion members and which are frictionally locked by an internal cam upon their relative rotation. In some embodiments, separate or integrally formed retention receptacles are used to receive the cushion members to positively align the cushion members relative to the walls of the vehicles.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is generally directed to bar lock devices of a type which are utilized to secure cargo being transported in vehicles and other transportation vehicles and, more particularly, to such bar locks which include telescoping members having outer resilient cushions which are selectively engageable with the sidewalls of the vehicles and which include internal cam locks which are selectively operable by the relative rotation of the telescoping members of the locking device. In the present invention, the telescoping members are rotatable with respect to the outer resilient cushions which are enlarged with respect to the diameter of the telescoping members to thereby provide relatively yieldable frictioned surfaces which are selectively urged against the sidewalls of the vehicles upon the relative extension of the telescoping members of the locking devices.
In some embodiments of the present invention, retention receptacles are mounted to, or formed as a feature of, the interior sidewalls of vehicles, or other motive devices, and include recesses of a size to receive the resilient cushions of the locking device to thereby further inhibit or prevent accidental shifting of the locking device relative to the sidewalls of the vehicles or motive devices. Further, additional frictional retention of the bar lock devices relative to the vehicles' inner surfaces, either normal conventional or with formed-in or secondarily attached retention receptacles, may be achieved by the use of interlocking materials such as hook-and-loop textile of the type generally referred to as "VELCRO", or through the forming-in or application of a high friction surface or surface coating to the sidewall surface.
2. History of the Related Art
Over the years there have been many proposals for securing cargos within storage areas or beds of transport vehicles including trucks, cars, trains, aircraft and water vessels. It is imperative that when cargos are being transported that they be prevented from being damaged and thus means must be provided for securing cargos to prevent shifting during transport. Not only is it important from the point of view of protecting articles being shipped from damage but also to prevent injury to individuals who may be in cargo areas or are exposed to cargos during shipment.
To protect articles being shipped in larger vehicles, such as ocean going vessels, it has been proposed to utilize specially shaped containers in which the cargo is placed within the containers and thereafter on-loaded into specifically designed holding areas or cargo bays of the vessels. In this manner, the shipping containers are designed to cooperate with the cargo storage areas of the vessels to prevent movement of goods during shipment. The use of specially shaped containers, however, to protect articles being transported, is not a practical solution to shippers of small goods, individual items, or for persons utilizing conventional transportation vehicles such as pickup trucks, vans, station wagons, and the like. An alternative retention system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,702,653 to Gaulding et al., which discloses a system for retaining freight in trailers, box cars and other larger transport vehicles. The patent discloses a series of channel members which are mounted along the sidewalls of the vehicles in which locking crossbars are retained. The crossbars are spring loaded so that the amount of pressure being applied to the bars outwardly into the channel members is selectively adjusted to prevent shifting of the bars relative to the channels. Again, however, such a system is not cost effective and could not be utilized in smaller vehicles such as pickup trucks, vans, station wagons, and rental trailers frequently used for moving goods.
In order t avoid the necessity of providing fixed structures within transport vehicles, it has been proposed to utilize portable locking assemblies which may be used to secure cargos placed within beds of trucks or storage areas of other vehicles. In U.S. Pat. No. 2,974,931 to Reel et al., an extendable locking bar assembly is disclosed which incorporates a pair of telescoping members which are supported centrally by an enlarged sleeve. Each telescoping member carries a friction pad at its outer end which is designed to engage the sidewalls of a vehicle and which is locked in frictional engagement with the sidewalls by the operation of a locking mechanism mounted through the central portions of the locking assembly. The locking assembly is utilized to adjust the amount of pressure that the pads place against the sidewalls of the vehicle but are complex and require that the installer overcome the resistance of internal springs in order to effect the frictional engagement of the mechanism with the sidewalls of the vehicle.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,720,222 to Nagy, somewhat similar locking bar assemblies to that disclosed in the patent to Reel et al. are shown which utilize pairs of rods or bar members which are extendable by the use of over-the-center pivot assemblies which act against internal springs in order to urge elastomeric pads carried by the rods against the sidewalls of a vehicle. With this type of locking arrangement the amount of tension created is dependent upon the force developed between the two bar members with the force being applied against the sidewalls of the vehicle by the elastomeric pads. However, the pads only provide a noncompressable friction surface which protects the sidewalls of the vehicle; the pads do not assist in providing increased compressive force to aid in securing the assemblies against the sidewalls of a vehicle.
Another type of extendable bar lock assembly for securing cargo within vehicles is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,737,056 to Hunt. The assembly includes a central member having a pair of threaded cargo bed engaging arms extending outwardly on either side thereof so that upon the rotation of the central member the end units are threadingly urged towards the sidewall of a vehicle. Unfortunately, many individuals cannot provide sufficient physical strength to adequately and securely engage such a bar lock assembly within a vehicle and therefore the assembly can be loosened by any jolt to the vehicle or shifting of the load.
In view of the foregoing, the prior art does not disclose simplified, lightweight, and reliable cargo locks which may be easily installed without minimum physical effort and also does not disclose bar lock assemblies which may be broken down into individual components for storage when not in use.


The present invention relates to a method for treating or alleviating migraines, by administering to a patient in need thereof compound (I), or salts thereof, or pharmaceutical preparations thereof comprising mixtures of compound (I) or salts thereof with pharmaceutically-acceptable diluents

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to huperzine A and its derivatives, as well as their application as pharmaceutically-active analgesic agents.
2. Description of the Related Art
Chronic pain types include cancer pain, caused by the tumor pressing on bones, nerves, and other organs; nociceptive pain, caused by damage of tissues or organs; arthritic pain, caused by autoimmune response, such as inflammation (arthritis, gastritis, hepatitis); and neuropathic pain, especially migraine pain, caused by various abnormalities of the central nervous system.
Clinically, migraine pain features pulsating headache on one or both sides of the head, having duration of between 4 and 74 hours for each attack, and being simultaneously accompanied by symptoms of nausea, vomiting and photophobia. In certain patients specific premonitory symptoms, lasting about 10 to 20 min, such as visual symptoms of scotoma and light flash, numbness, and dizziness, may occur before the incidence of migraines.
With acceleration of the life styles and increase of work pressure, the incidence of migraines has been on the rise throughout the world. In fact, migraines constitute now the most common medical condition distressing modern people. For example, in China migraine affects 3%-5% of adult population, of which females are more susceptible than males by a factor of 3 to 4. In most cases, the onset of migraine occurs in adolescence.
In developed countries, the incidence of migraine is much higher. The statistics from the National Headache Foundation (USA) show that one of every ten people suffers from migraine headaches in USA, but more than half of the patients have not been even properly diagnosed. Similar data from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NIH, USA) has revealed that there are 28 million patients with migraines in America and that migraine has caused an annual loss of about 157 million working days. Not surprisingly, pain management is one of the most common goals of homeopathy, and the treatment of migraine has become a hot medical field.
Conventional analgesics include two main types: opiate receptor ligands, with the typical example of morphine, which has strong analgesic effects but is prone to cause addiction; and non-narcotic analgesics, with the typical example of aspirin-derived paracetamol. There are also various new-generation analgesics having multiple mechanisms of action, conceived and manufactured successfully via modern processes for drug design, screening and development, which have weak analgesic effects, but which usually do not form dependence. Although some of these analgesics have serious side effects, e.g., they cause damage to the digestive tract, they are widely used and have an estimated combined market share of nearly 10 billion US dollars.
In the past twenty years, new types of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) antagonists and receptor stimulants have been identified in migraine effective treatment agents. Meanwhile, the development of analgesics acting on various targets of CNS has become a hot field in the new drug development area. However, most of these research objectives have focused on the 5-HT receptor and the dopamine receptor. Specifically, in the last 10 years, it was discovered that the 5-HT receptor and the dopamine receptors are divided into various subtypes, and the ability to interact with certain subtypes is related to analgesic effects of drugs, as well as the decrease or complete elimination of toxic and other side effects. This precipitated a great amount of research on these targets.
Acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter, was discovered much earlier than 5-HT. However, the acetylcholine receptor and acetylcholine esterase have not been popular targets for developing analgesic drugs. Nevertheless, in European Pat. No. EP 413667 A and U.S. Pat. No. 5,010,083, compounds used for treatment of both memory loss and relief of pain have been reported, which suggests that improvement of memory has some association with analgesia, and further reveals that increase in the level of acetylcholine may have analgesic action.
In addition, Stoyan once reported that the alkaloids nivalin and syntostigmine may alleviate migraine pain (Stoyan Iv Ikonomoff, Archives Suisses de Neurologie, Neurochirurgie et de Psychiatrie, Vol. 102, Fascicule, pages 299-312 (1968)). It was later found that these two compounds may inhibit activity of acetylcholine esterase. Because of a low inhibition activity of acetylcholine esterase or a low ability to permeate the blood-brain barrier, higher doses of these two compounds, and other acetylcholine esterase inhibitors subsequently tested, are required in order to provide therapeutic effects.
To achieve high concentrations, these compounds must be administered by injection. Hence, on one hand, the blood drug concentration is so high so as to have many side effects; on the other hand, the administration by way of injection is inconvenient. As a result, the research on acetylcholine esterase inhibitors used for treatment of migraine was put on hold. This was the first time when it was proposed that acetylcholine esterase inhibitors could be used for treatment of migraine.
The breakthrough in this field came from research and development of novel inhibitors of acetylcholine esterase. These novel inhibitors, such as donepezil, have high activity, highly-selectivity and easy permeation through the blood-brain barrier, so that they are able to overcome the shortcomings of the first generation of acetylcholine esterase inhibitors described above for the treatment of migraine. As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,608,088, donepezil was observed to have efficacy on migraine in clinical trials.
Huperzine A can inhibit acetylcholine esterase selectively, is easy to permeate through the blood-brain barrier, can promote memory reappearance and enhance memory maintenance. However, no literature reports have appeared that huperzine A may used for pain control, and especially the treatment of migraine.

Huperzine A and its derivatives as analgesic agents

Abstract: wherein: R represents —NHC(O)OR3; and R3 represents methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl or phenylmethyl.


A rechargeable battery module is disclosed. The rechargeable battery module includes a number of rechargeable battery cells, two end portion fixing structures, a middle fixing structure, a number of thermal bars, a bolt and a nut. The two end portion fixing structures are positioned in opposite directions. The bolt passes one end portion fixing tube, middle fixing structure and the other end portion fixing tube and fixes the rechargeable battery module by linking with the nut.

Rechargeable batteries are widely used in many products, such as notebooks, tablets, mobile phones, and even large electric vehicles and robots. Since space in the aforementioned devices is limited. How to arrange the rechargeable battery set (battery cells) and prevent them from coming off due to vibration to ensure heat dissipating can be effectively operated is a problem for engineers to take care of for individual case any time.
Review the prior arts, there are many techniques can be applied. Please refer to FIG. 1. The U.S. Pat. No. 6,465,123 discloses a box type rechargeable battery module 1. It is composed of a bottom plate 11 and several fixing structure 12. The fixing structure 12 includes a number of semi-circular structures formed to one another. The semi-circular structure can just accommodate a half of rechargeable battery cell 20. There are corresponding semi-circular structures on the bottom plate 11. The semi-circular structure of the fixing structure 12 can combine that of the bottom plate 11 to fix several rechargeable battery cells 20. In addition, two semi-circular structures of the fixing structure 12 can also combine to fix other rechargeable battery cells 20, Thus, multi-layer rechargeable battery cell 20 are composed to be a main part of the battery module 1. Finally, a cover (not shown) will be fixed with the bottom plate 11. The battery module 1 is formed. Many battery modules are manufactured by similar means as disclosed in the present invention. However, an obvious defect is that such structure needs different toolings are required according to different applied subjects (devices). As far as the cost is concerned, it is not economic. Meanwhile, cooling effect is limited.
As shown in FIG. 2, a battery module 3 is also provided in another prior art. It includes: a first battery bracket 31, a second battery bracket 32 and a liquid cooling module 33. Each battery bracket 31 and 32 has a number of hollowed accommodating portion 34 to accommodate a number of battery units 40, correspondingly. The liquid cooling module 33 includes: an entrance channel 331, an outlet channel 332, a channel board 333 having a channel and a first connecting member 334 and a second connecting member 335 linked to opposite sides of the channel board 333. The first battery bracket 31 and the second battery bracket 32 can be stacked to each other. The channel board 333 is installed between the first battery bracket 31 and the second battery bracket 32 with two opposite sides fixed by the first connecting member 334 and second connecting member 335, respectively. After a cooling liquid comes from the entrance channel 331, it flows to the channel of the channel board 333. The heat generated by the battery unit 40 in the battery brackets 31 and 32 can be taken away and conducted to the second connecting member 335 on the other side. Then, the cooling liquid flows out from the outlet channel 332.
The aforementioned battery module 3 definitely can conduct the heat generated by the battery unit 40 in operation out of the battery module 3 fast and efficiently due to the design of the liquid cooling module 33. But since it needs an extra structure, the liquid cooling module 33, cost of constructing the battery module 3 is high. It is time consumptive to assemble.
Therefore, a rechargeable battery module having low cost, being easily assembled, operating with efficient heat dissipation and able to fix the internal battery cells, is still desired.


An inkjet printing method with the steps of: I) providing an ink jet printer that is responsive to digital data signals; II) loading the printer with an ink jet recording element having a support having thereon in order: a) at least one porous, ink-retaining layer; and b) a fusible, porous ink-transporting layer having fusible, polymeric particles and a film-forming, hydrophobic binder; III) loading the printer with an ink jet ink composition; IV) printing on the image-receiving layer using the ink jet ink composition in response to the digital data signals; and V) fusing the fusible, porous ink-transporting layer to provide a continuous polymeric layer on the surface of the ink jet recording element.

Reference is made to commonly assigned, co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/955,549 by Wexler, filed of even date herewith, entitled Ink Jet Recording Element.
The present invention relates to a inkjet printing method using a porous ink jet recording element.
In a typical ink jet recording or printing system, ink droplets are ejected from a nozzle at high speed towards a recording element or medium to produce an image on the medium. The ink droplets, or recording liquid, generally comprise a recording agent, such as a dye or pigment, and a large amount of solvent. The solvent, or carrier liquid, typically is made up of water, an organic material such as a monohydric alcohol, a polyhydric alcohol or mixtures thereof.
An ink jet recording element typically comprises a support having on at least one surface thereof at least one ink-receiving layer. The ink-receiving layer is typically either a porous layer that imbibes the ink via capillary action, or a polymer layer that swells to absorb the ink. Swellable hydrophilic polymer layers take an undesirably long time to dry. Porous ink-receiving layers are usually composed of inorganic or organic particles bonded together by a binder. The amount of particles in this type of coating is often far above the critical particle volume concentration, which results in high porosity in the coating. During the ink jet printing process, ink droplets are rapidly absorbed into the coating through capillary action and the image is dry-to-touch right after it comes out of the printer. Therefore, porous coatings allow a fast xe2x80x9cdryingxe2x80x9d of the ink and produces a smear-resistant image.
Ink jet prints, prepared by printing onto ink jet recording elements, are subject to environmental degradation. They are especially vulnerable to damage resulting from contact with water and atmospheric gases such as ozone. The damage resulting from the post imaging contact with water can take the form of water spots resulting from deglossing of the top coat, dye smearing due to unwanted dye diffusion, and even gross dissolution of the image recording layer. Ozone bleaches ink jet dyes resulting in loss of density. To overcome these deficiencies, ink jet prints are often laminated. However, lamination is expensive as it requires a separate roll of material.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,785,313 and 4,832,984 relate to an inkjet recording element comprising a support having thereon a fusible, ink-transporting layer and an ink-retaining layer, wherein the ink-retaining layer is non-porous. However, there is a problem with this element in that it has poor image quality.
EP 858, 905A1 relates to an ink jet recording element having a porous, outermost layer formed by heat sintering thermoplastic particles such as polyurethane which may contain a slight amount of a hydrophilic binder such as poly(vinyl alcohol). However, there is a problem with this element in that it has poor resistance to mechanical abrasion when it does not contain a hydrophilic binder, and poor water-resistance when it does contain a hydrophilic binder.
It is an object of this invention to provide an inkjet printing method using an ink jet recording element having a fusible protective uppermost layer and ink-retaining underlayer which can be printed with ink jet inks without bleed. It is another object of the invention to provide an ink jet printing method using a porous ink-transporting layer that has good mechanical integrity and is abrasion resistant. It is another object of the invention to provide an ink jet printing method using an ink jet recording element having a protective uppermost ink-transporting layer that is thermally fusible and thereby can be rendered water resistant. It is another object to provide an ink jet printing method using an ink jet recording element that can be thermally fused to provide high density of the printed image.
These and other objects are achieved in accordance with the invention which comprises an ink jet printing method comprising the steps of:
I) providing an ink jet printer that is responsive to digital data signals;
II) loading the printer with an ink jet recording element comprising a support having thereon in order:
a) at least one porous, ink-retaining layer; and
b) a fusible, porous ink-transporting layer comprising fusible, polymeric particles and a film-forming, hydrophobic binder;
III) loading the printer with an ink jet ink composition;
IV) printing on the image-receiving layer using the ink jet ink composition in response to the digital data signals; and
V) fusing the fusible, porous ink-transporting layer to provide a continuous polymeric layer on the surface of the ink jet recording element.
By use of the ink jet printing method of the invention, a porous ink jet recording element is obtained that has good abrasion resistance, has good water-resistance and high print density.
The fusible, polymeric particles employed in the invention may have any particle size provided they will form a porous layer. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the particle size of the fusible, polymeric particles may range from about 0.5 to 10 xcexcm. The particle may be formed from any polymer which is fusible, i.e., capable of being converted from discrete particles into a continuous layer through the application of heat and/or pressure. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the fusible, polymeric particle comprises a condensation polymer, a styrenic polymer, a vinyl polymer, an ethylene-vinyl chloride copolymer, a polyacrylate, poly(vinyl acetate), poly(vinylidene chloride), a vinyl acetate-vinyl chloride copolymer. In still another preferred embodiment, the condensation polymer may be a polyester or polyurethane.
The film-forming, hydrophobic binder useful in the invention can be any film-forming hydrophobic polymer capable of being dispersed in water. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the hydrophobic binder is an aqueous dispersion of an acrylic polymer or a polyurethane.
The particle-to-binder ratio of the particles and binder employed in the ink-transporting layer can range between about 98:2 and 60:40, preferably between about 95:5 and 80:20. In general, a layer having particle-to-binder ratios above the range stated will usually not have sufficient cohesive strength; and a layer having particle-to-binder ratios below the range stated will usually not be sufficiently porous to provide good image quality.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the ratio of the mean volume weighted size of the dispersed film forming hydrophobic polymeric binder particles to the fusible, polymeric particles is preferably 0.15 to 1, and more preferably greater than 0.41 to 1, as determined by a Horiba LA-920 Laser Scattering Particle Size Distribution Analyzer (Horiba Instruments, Inc.). While not being bound by any theory, it is believed that if the ratio is below the lower limit stated, the binder particles pass through the interparticle voids between the larger fusible particles, and deposit at the interface with the ink-retaining layer. The resultant structure blocks ink flow into the ink-retaining layer, resulting in undesirable bleed. The interparticle voids are taken to be the radius in the plane of contact of the interstice, r, formed by three spheres of radius, R. In a close packed array, r=0.15R, and in the more open array of square packed spheres r=0.41R.
The ink-retaining layer can be any porous structure, but it is preferred that the mean pore radius is smaller than the uppermost ink-transporting layer. Thus, if the ink-retaining layer is composed of particles and binder, the particles will be significantly smaller than the fusible, polymeric particles in the upper ink-transporting layer, thereby assuring a correct pore-size hierarchy.
In general, the ink-retaining layer or layers will have a thickness of about 1 xcexcm to about 50 xcexcm, and the top ink-transporting layer will usually have a thickness of about 2 xcexcm to about 50 xcexcm. In a preferred embodiment, the ink-retaining layer is present in an amount from about 1 g/m2 to about 50 g/m2, preferably from about 5.0 g/m2 to about 30 g/m2.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the ink-retaining layer is a continuous, co-extensive porous layer which contains organic or inorganic particles. Examples of organic particles which may be used include core/shell particles such as those disclosed in U.S. Ser. No. 09/609,969 of Kapusniak et al., filed Jun. 30, 2000, and homogeneous particles such as those disclosed in U.S. Ser. No. 09/608,466 of Kapusniak et al., filed Jun. 30, 2000, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Examples of organic particles which may be used include acrylic resins, styrenic resins, cellulose derivatives, polyvinyl resins, ethylene-allyl copolymers and polycondensation polymers such as polyesters.
Examples of inorganic particles which may be used in the ink-retaining layer employed in the invention include silica, alumina, titanium dioxide, clay, calcium carbonate, barium sulfate, or zinc oxide.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the porous ink-retaining layer comprises from about 20% to about 100% of particles and from about 0% to about 80% of a polymeric binder, preferably from about 80% to about 95% of particles and from about 20% to about 5% of a polymeric binder. The polymeric binder may be a hydrophilic polymer such as poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(vinyl pyrrolidone), gelatin, cellulose ethers, poly(oxazolines), poly(vinylacetamides), partially hydrolyzed poly(vinyl acetate/vinyl alcohol), poly(acrylic acid), poly(acrylamide), poly(alkylene oxide), sulfonated or phosphated polyesters and polystyrenes, casein, zein, albumin, chitin, chitosan, dextran, pectin, collagen derivatives, collodian, agar-agar, arrowroot, guar, carrageenan, tragacanth, xanthan, rhamsan and the like. Preferably, the hydrophilic polymer is poly(vinyl alcohol), hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, a poly(alkylene oxide), poly(vinyl pyrrolidinone), poly(vinyl acetate) or copolymers thereof or gelatin.
Suitable porous materials for an ink-retaining layer include, for example, silica or alumina in a polymeric binder. In a preferred embodiment, the ink-retaining layer is porous fumed alumina in a crosslinked poly(vinyl alcohol) binder.
In order to impart mechanical durability to an inkjet recording element, crosslinkers which act upon the binder discussed above may be added in small quantities. Such an additive improves the cohesive strength of the layer. Crosslinkers such as carbodiimides, polyfunctional aziridines, aldehydes, isocyanates, epoxides, polyvalent metal cations, vinyl sulfones, pyridinium, pyridylium dication ether, methoxyalkyl melamines, triazines, dioxane derivatives, chrom alum, zirconium sulfate and the like may be used. Preferably, the crosslinker is an aldehyde, an acetal or a ketal, such as 2,3-dihydroxy-1,4-dioxane.
The porous ink-retaining layer can also comprise an open-pore polyolefin, an open-pore polyester or an open pore membrane. An open pore membrane can be formed in accordance with the known technique of phase inversion. Examples of a porous ink-receiving layer comprising an open-pore membrane are disclosed in U.S. Ser. No. 09/626,752 and U.S. Ser. No. 09/626,883, both of Landry-Coltrain et al., filed Jul. 27, 2000.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, two porous, ink-retaining layers are present in the ink jet recording element employed in the invention. In this embodiment, the uppermost layer is substantially the same as the lower layer, but at a thickness of only 1% to 20% of the thickness of the lower layer, and also contains from about 1-20% by weight of a mordant, such as a cationic latex mordant.
The two porous, ink-retaining layers can be coated simultaneously or sequentially by any of the known coating techniques as noted below. The dye image is then concentrated at the thin uppermost ink-retaining layer containing a mordant, and thereby enhances print density.
The support used in the ink jet recording element employed in the invention may be opaque, translucent, or transparent. There may be used, for example, plain papers, resin-coated papers, various plastics including a polyester resin such as poly(ethylene terephthalate), poly(ethylene naphthalate) and poly(ester diacetate), a polycarbonate resin, a fluorine resin such as poly(tetra-fluoro ethylene), metal foil, vinyl, fabric, laminated or coextruded supports, various glass materials, and the like. In a preferred embodiment, the support is a resin-coated paper. The thickness of the support employed in the invention can be from about 12 to about 500 xcexcm, preferably from about 75 to about 300 xcexcm.
If desired, in order to improve the adhesion of the base layer to the support, the surface of the support may be corona-discharge-treated prior to applying the base layer or solvent-absorbing layer to the support.
Since the image recording element may come in contact with other image recording articles or the drive or transport mechanisms of image recording devices, additives such as surfactants, lubricants, UV-absorbing agents, matte particles and the like may be added to the element to the extent that they do not degrade the properties of interest.
The layers described above, including the base layer and the top layer, may be coated by conventional coating means onto a support material commonly used in this art. Coating methods may include, but are not limited to, wound wire rod coating, slot coating, slide hopper coating, gravure, curtain coating and the like. Some of these methods allow for simultaneous coatings of both layers, which is preferred from a manufacturing economic perspective.
After printing on the element employed in the invention, the fusible, porous ink-transporting layer is heat and/or pressure fused to form an overcoat layer on the surface. Fusing is preferably accomplished by contacting the surface of the element with a heat fusing member, such as a fusing roller or fusing belt. Thus, for example, fusing can be accomplished by passing the element through a pair of heated rollers, heated to a temperature of about 60xc2x0 C. to about 160xc2x0 C., using a pressure of 5 to about 15 MPa at a transport rate of about 0.005 m/sec to about 0.5 m/sec.
Ink jet inks used to image the recording elements employed in the present invention are well-known in the art. The ink compositions used in ink jet printing typically are liquid compositions comprising a solvent or carrier liquid, dyes or pigments, humectants, organic solvents, detergents, thickeners, preservatives, and the like. The solvent or carrier liquid can be solely water or can be water mixed with other water-miscible solvents such as polyhydric alcohols. Inks in which organic materials such as polyhydric alcohols are the predominant carrier or solvent liquid may also be used. Particularly useful are mixed solvents of water and polyhydric alcohols. The dyes used in such compositions are typically water-soluble direct or acid type dyes. Such liquid compositions have been described extensively in the prior art including, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,381,946; 4,239,543 and 4,781,758, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.


The present invention provides a sturdy display package which, in an embodiment, is made of first and second peripherally sealed transparent PVC sheets approximately 7.5 mils thick each. The package is particularly useful for displaying and protecting small items such as pain reliever packets or condoms. The invention includes a method and apparatus for making such a package. The first sheet is positioned over a nesting plate having a plurality of nesting modules, each corresponding to one package and being independently height-adjustable by a shim at a selected location to correct sealing flaws. The second sheet is then positioned over the first sheet so that the items are between the sheets. An RF-sealing die is provided having package-shaped sealing dies, each defining a pocket. The sealing die and nesting plate are pressed together so that each pocket receives a bulge formed by from one of the items. Each pocket has a foam insert which resiliently deforms and presses the second plastic sheet peripherally around the item. The RF sealing die nests against the nesting plate forming a plurality of seal areas, each enclosing one of the items and defining one package. The individual packages may then be cut from a resulting composite sheet.

The present invention generally relates to packaging. More particularly, the present invention relates to packaging a product between sealed plastic sheets.
Some small products are packaged in a single-unit quantity to be sold and dispensed individually. For example, aspirin, pain relievers, and antacids are commonly sold in two-tablet, single dose product packets. Similarly, condoms and other products are sometimes sold in individual product packets.
One type of conventional display for such packaged products consists of a cardboard stand on which an array of the individual packets are secured, such as by stapling. A consumer or store clerk tears each individual product packet from the display as it is needed. These product packets are typically made of paper, plastic, or foil-backed paper sheets, but may be made of other materials also.
Such conventional display systems have several disadvantages. For instance, the product packets are openly exposed and can become shopworn. This is a particular problem where the product has a slow turnover rate. Specifically, the packet material becomes scuffed, dogeared and unappealing to a consumer. Also, when a package is stapled to the display board, the package tears when removed. When the package becomes worn or damaged, a consumer might perceive the product as being unsanitary, decreasing its sales appeal. Therefore, a means for protecting an individual small packet is desirable. It is further desirable to provide a protective package for individually-dispensed products which can be attractively displayed, which is not necessarily damaged by removal from the display.
Another disadvantage to small product packets is that they typically have no room for a bar code symbol. Attachment of a custom bar code label is often desirable for individual merchants to automate the checkout process. A need exists for a package for displaying a small packet, wherein the package can display a bar code label.
A conventional package for displaying small items is a blister-type package formed from thermoplastic. In such a package, the thermoplastic is permanently molded, forming a cavity to accommodate an item. Unfortunately, deformed visibility through such packaging is characteristic. Therefore, it is desirable to provide a display package for small items which has little visual deformation.
Packages are known which are made of two flexible plastic sheets. However, such conventional packaging does not seal well. Furthermore, such packages lack a desired sturdiness for protecting contents and for ease of display. Therefore, a relatively sturdy package is desirable which is well sealed.