The present invention relates to substantially alcohol free beverages having a sweetener system which ensures the full perception of the flavour system within the beverage while at the same time containing flavanols as a sweetness cutting material which reduces the sweetness impression of the sweetener system. In particular the present invention relates to beverages which are considered most appealing to an adult taste, having a full flavour impression while being considered less sweet than conventional beverages usually designed for children,

This is a National Stage filing of PCT/US98/25443 filed Dec. 1, 1998.
The present invention relates to substantially alcohol free beverages having a sweetener system which ensures the full perception of the flavour system within the beverage while at the same time comprising flavanols as a sweetness cutting material which reduces the sweetness impression of the sweetener system. In particular the present invention relates to beverages which are considered most appealing to an adult taste, having a full flavour impression while being considered less sweet than conventional beverages usually designed for children, who prefer a stronger sweetness impression.
It is well-known in the art that in order to provide a beverage with a well rounded and full bodied flavour it is necessary to provide a sweetening system containing natural and/or artificial sweetening components such as sugar and high intensity sweetening compounds such as saccharin, acesulfam K, cyclamate, or aspartame (known under the trade name Nutra-Sweet). On the other hand it is known that in particular adult consumers of beverages have a desire for a less sweet beverage composition.
In order to provide in particular adult consumers with a less sweet tasting beverage several well-known alternatives are available. The addition of a bitter tasting ingredient such as chinin or grapefruit flavours have been tried in tonics and citrus beverages (also alcohol free beer could be considered in this context). However, many consumers do not find a bitter note appealing, in particular since it usually is not adequate to overcome the sweetness perception in such beverages as tonic water, bitter lemon or grapefruit juice comprising beverages. Even so these beverages comprise a bitter tasting compound they are still rated as too sweet mostly by adult consumers.
An alternative conventionally used is to increase the amount of acids in a beverage in order to change the sweetness impression of the sweetening composition comprised in the beverage. However, this has limitations in that too much added acids in beverages are not appealing to many consumers and some actually complain about heartburn caused by a too high acidity.
A third apparent alternative is the reduction of the sweetening composition amount in order to reduce the sweetness impression of a beverage. However, this (as indicated above) causes a reduction of the flavour impression of such a beverage composition and therefore causes a lack of appealing flavour to consumers of such beverages. At the same time a reduction of the sweetening compounds covers a consistency/mouth feel change which often is described as xe2x80x9cwateryxe2x80x9d further enhancing the impression that such a beverage has less flavour.
One possibility widely used in beverage compositions, however for different reasons (such as a preservation effect or as an acidifier), is to provide the beverage with a sparkling CO2 content. This does have a reducing effect on the sweetness impression of such compositions. At the same time the addition of CO2 to beverage compositions reduces all taste impressions in line with the reduction of the sweetness impression. The reason for this is believed to be caused by the reduced amount of liquid actually contacting taste corpuscles on the sensoric sensitive areas of the mouth when drinking such compositions. Based on this CO2 is added usually to beverages for it""s refreshing effect and as part of the preservative system in beverages.
Therefore, the inventors of the present invention have investigated whether the addition of certain compounds would not provide a solution to the problems associated with conventional attempts to reduce the sweetness impression of alcohol free beverages. It now has been found that indeed the addition of certain well-known compounds causes a reduction in the sweetness impression of a beverage composition. The addition of such sweetness cutting compounds is, however, also associated with a detrimental flavour effect on the beverage compositions and hence has conventionally not been used in order to provide a sweetness cutting effect but for other reasons.
It is therefore an objective of the present invention to provide beverage compositions without reducing the sweetening composition contained in such beverages compositions but with a sweetness impression which is lower than would usually be expected from the sweetener composition comprised in the beverage. It is another objective of the present invention to maintain the flavour impression of a beverage composition while reducing the sweetness impression without raising the acidity level and without introducing an objectionable bitter note, or astringency to the beverage composition.
It is a further objective of the present invention to define the amount of sweetness cutting compounds to be added to a beverage composition in dependence on the beverage composition as such, i.e. without the sweetness cutting compounds, so as to prevent the generation of a flavour impression substantially different from the original beverage composition.
The present invention relates to beverage compositions having a reduced sweetness impression and comprising optionally a CO2 content of up to 10 times the volume of the liquid, a sweetening composition which may comprise natural or artificial sweetening compounds or combinations thereof including in particular high intensity sweeteners such as saccharin, acesulfam K, cyclamate, aspartame or fruit juice or fruit juice concentrate from fruit like those belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family, preferably Luo Han Guo fruit. The sweetening composition is included to provide a sweetening strength measured by the sweetness impression on an attribute grading test of a rating of at least 4 points in the attribute grading test (the test details and definitions are given below) when the sweetening composition is dissolved in water which has the same CO2 content as desired for the final beverage. In the same test the bitterness impression is measured.
The beverage further comprises flavanols as a sweetness cutting composition in an amount of 60-150 ppm, preferably 70-120 ppm, more preferably 80-100 ppm by weight. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the beverage composition further comprises one compound or a combination of compounds selected from triple sec flavour; vermouth flavour; mint flavour or combinations thereof.
The sweetening composition preferably contains compounds selected from the group of sugars such as saccharose, glucose, fructose, lactose, maltose, sorbit, dextrose, sorbose, xylit, lactit, maltit, isomaltit, or high intensity sweeteners such as saccharin, cyclamat, aspartam, acesulfam K, thaumatin, glycin or combinations thereof. The sweetness cutting composition according to the present invention can further contain compounds selected from the group of polyphenols of a molecular weight ranging from 500 to 3000, preferably ranging from 850 to 2800, such as tannins or tannic acids (e.g. obtainable from wood extractions, particularly from oak chips), gymnemic acid and its salts such as triterpene saponin, glycorides such as ziziphin or hodulcin, compounds such as 2 (4-methoxyphenoxy)-propanic-acids and -salts or -esters or combinations thereof.
Since the addition of CO2 effectively reduces all flavour impressions of a composition it is not necessary or desirable to include CO2 in the beverage compositions of the present invention for its sweetness impression reducing effect. However, CO2 is considered by many consumers to provide or raise the refreshing and stimulating effect of a beverage. Hence the inclusion of CO2 is desirable in the context of the present invention. The amount of CO2 to be added in beverages preferably is in the range from 2 to 4 times the volume of the beverage, even more preferably in the range from 2.5 to 3.5 by volume.
As used herein the term xe2x80x9cbeveragexe2x80x9d refers to a beverage composition which is in a single-strength, ready-to serve, drinkable form. Beverages of the present invention typically comprise at least 80% water. Beverages include both carbonated and noncarbonated forms.
As used herein, the term xe2x80x9cbeverage concentratexe2x80x9d refers to a beverage composition in liquid form usable to prepare a single strength beverage.
Beverage concentrates within the scope of the present invention typically comprise from 30% to 70%, preferably from 40% to 60%, water. They are usually formulated to provide, drinkable beverages when diluted with 2 to 5 parts by weight water.
As used herein mineral amounts are referred to as the supplemented amounts. Naturally contained minerals are not included when referring to mineral amounts.
As used herein the term single strength refers to the ready-to-serve concentration of beverage compounds.
As used herein the term xe2x80x9cfruit juicexe2x80x9d refers to citrus juices, such as orange juice, lemon juice, lime juice, grapefruit juice, tangerine juice and mixtures thereof. Non citrus juices such as apple juice, grape juice, pear juice, cherry juice, berry juice, pineapple juice, kiwi juice, cashew juice, peach juice, apricot juice, plum juice, prune juice, passion fruit juice, banana juice, melon juice, cranberry juice, acerola juice, litschi juice, karambola juice, mango juice, sharon fruit juice, cherry moya juice, lulo juice, physalis juice, and mixtures of these juices, as well as mixtures of citrus and non-citrus juices. All amounts of fruit juice referred to herein are on the basis of 100% fruit juice in its single strength concentration.
As used herein, the term xe2x80x9ccomprisingxe2x80x9d means various components can be conjointly employed in a beverage and beverage concentrate of the present invention. Accordingly the term xe2x80x9ccomprisingxe2x80x9d encompasses the more restrictive term xe2x80x9cconsisting ofxe2x80x9d.
As used herein percentages are given as percent by weight of the beverage in its single strength dilution unless indicated otherwise. Percentages of water include the amount of water inherent in fruit juices.
According to the present invention beverage formulations are claimed comprising a sweetening composition and flavanols as a sweetness cutting composition to reduce the sweetness impression of the sweetening composition. Hence the required compounds in the beverage composition according to the present invention are the sweetening composition and the flavanols. However, it is desirable, and for any commercial successful beverage mandatory, to also comprise some or all of the optional compounds indicated below. They are therefore optional in respect to the technical development according to the present invention but commercially of high significance.
The sweetening composition according to the present invention consists of all compounds which provide sweetness in a beverage composition. Hence natural or artificial compounds which are considered to provide sweetness to a beverage composition are included in the sweetening composition according to the present invention. Also sweetening compounds which are included with other compounds, intentionally selected for other purposes such as for example flavour compositions or fruit juice compositions, are part of the sweetening composition according to the present invention.
Sweetening compositions typically comprise sugars such as saccharose, glucose, fructose, lactose, maltose, sorbit, dextrose, sorbose, xylit, lactit, maltit, isomaltit, or high intensity sweeteners such as saccharin, cyclamat, aspartam, acesulfam K, thaumatin, glycin. Also natural compounds known for their intense sweetness, so called natural high intensity sweeteners such as fruit juice or fruit juice concentrate from miracle fruit (synsepalum dulcificum of the family sapotaceae), from fruit of the Cucurbitaceae family, preferably Luo Han Guo fruit (Siraitia grosvenorii of the family Curcurbitaceae), serendipity berry (dioscoreophyllum cuminsii) or others are considered compounds which if present in a beverage composition form part of the sweetening composition of the beverage.
By xe2x80x9cfruit juice or fruit juice concentrate of the fruit of the Cucurbitaceae familyxe2x80x9d it is understood puree or serum or juice from any fruit from the plant of the family Cucurbitaceae , tribe Jollifieae, subtribe Thladianthinae, genus Siraitia. Especially preferred are the genus/species S. grosvenorii, S. siamensis, S. silomaradiae, S. sikkimensis, S. africana, S. borneensis, and S. taiwaniana. The most preferred fruit is the genus /species S. grosvenorii, which is often called Luo Han Guo fruit. Although particular reference is made to Luo Han Guo juice or concentrated juice, other juices of the Cucurbitaceae family which contain at least 0.01% sweet triterpene glycosides or mogrosides are useful in this invention. Preferably the juices will contain more than 0.01% to about 20% mogrosides, preferably mogroside V, mogroside IV, siamenoside and mixtures thereof.
Chemically mogrosides are triterpene glycosides which are more fully described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,084,010. In particular mogroside IV, mogroside V and siamenoside I have a low calorie content and a sweetness which is said to be from about 300 to 500 times that of sugar. They are therefore especially useful as a sugar replacement or sweetening compound for beverages. The characteristics and chemical structural formula of mogroside IV, mogroside V siamenoside I have been described by Matsumoto et al. Chemical-Pharmaceutical-Bulletin 38 (7), page 2030-2032, 1990 and R. Kasai et al. Agri. Biol. Chem. 53, (12) page 3347-3349, 1989.
Reference is made to WO 94/18854 for a typical process of preparing juice from fruit of the Cucurbitaceae family.
The amount of the sweetening composition, regardless how it is constituted in terms of its individual ingredients is such that in an attribute grading test the sweetening composition dissolved in water, which also comprises the same CO2 content as desired for the beverage composition, provides the sweetening-in-water-solution with a sweetness impression of at least 4 rating points according to the attribute grading test as defined below. The reason for this minimum sweetness impression by the sweetening composition is that sweetening compositions having a sweetness impression below 4 rating points tend to be not considered sweet in the first place and reduction of their sweetness impression is not relevant to the acceptability of such beverages.
In a preferred embodiment according to the present invention the sweetness impression provided by the sweetening composition comprised in the present invention is at least such that it results in a rating of 6 rating points in an attribute grading test as defined below when analysing the sweetening composition in a water solution comprising the same CO2 content as desired for the final beverage composition.
The other compound comprised in the beverages according to the present invention are flavanols. The flavanols can comprise natural or artificial flavanols which provide a reduction in the sweetness impression of beverage compositions. Preferably the flavanols are derived from or provided as green tea compounds. It preferably further comprises those compounds of sweetness cutting compositions as indicated above.
The amount of the flavanols is selected so as to provide a solution in water of the sweetening composition at a CO2 content identical to that of the beverage composition with a sweetness impression which is at least 0.5 rating points, preferably from 0.8 to 2 rating points, lower than the sweetness impression of the same solution without the sweetness cutting composition in the attribute grading test defined below.
It is also important that the flavanols and other sweetness cutting compounds do not cause the overall composition to develop undesirable flavours. in particular bitter flavours and astringency have been found to be quite unacceptable in the context of green teas for beverages. Therefore, when using green tea to provide the flavanols an upper limit of the sweetness cutting effect is desirable while as an alternative the generation of a bitter taste impression can also be used as a check mark to adjust the amount of sweetness cutting composition included in the beverage composition. In particular if green tea is added in an amount which causes the composition of water, sweetening composition and sweetness cutting composition to develop an increase in the overall bitter taste of more than 2 points on the attribute grading scale such a quantity of sweetness cutting composition would not be desirable anymore.
Beverages contemplated in the context of the present invention can comprise a flavour composition which comprises a flavour selected from fruit flavours, botanical flavours, artificial flavours and mixtures thereof.
As used herein, the term xe2x80x9cfruit flavourxe2x80x9d refers to those flavour derived from the reproductive part of a seed plant, especially one having a sweet pulp associated with the seed. Also included but less preferred within the term xe2x80x9cfruit flavourxe2x80x9d are synthetically prepared flavours made to simulate fruit flavours derived from natural sources. Particularly preferred fruit flavours are the citrus flavours including orange flavours, lemon flavours, a variety of other fruit flavours can be used such as apple flavours, grape flavours, cherry flavours, pineapple flavours and the like. These fruit flavours can be derived from natural sources such as fruit juices as defined above and flavour oils, or else synthetically prepared.
As used herein, the term xe2x80x9cartificial flavourxe2x80x9d refers to flavours which cannot be derived from natural sources. Artificial flavours are in particular those flavours chemically generated or biologically engineered which provide a flavour impression outside the range of those naturally available. Artificial flavours are not those flavours which are synthetically prepared but chemically identical to natural flavours (i.e. fruit flavours or botanical flavours) which are considered as natural flavours synthetically prepared.
As used herein, the term xe2x80x9cbotanical flavourxe2x80x9d refers to flavours derived from parts of a plant other than the fruit. As such, botanical flavours can include those flavours from nuts, bark, roots and leaves, including tea leaves. Also included within the term xe2x80x9cbotanical flavourxe2x80x9d are synthetically prepared flavours made to simulate botanical flavours derived from natural sources. Examples of such flavours include cola flavours, tea flavours and the like. These botanical flavours can be derived from natural sources such as essential oils and extracts, or else can be synthetically prepared.
The flavour component can comprise a blend of various flavours e.g. lemon and lime flavours, cola flavours with citrus flavours to form cola flavours etc. If desired, fruit juices or their concentrates such as orange juice, lemon juice, lime juice, apple juice, grape juice and the like can be used in the flavour composition.
The flavour in the flavour composition is sometimes formed into emulsion droplets which are then dispersed in the final beverage. Because these droplets usually have a specific gravity less than that of water and would therefore form a separate phase in the final beverage, weighting agents (which can also act as clouding agents) are typically used to keep the emulsion droplets dispersed in the beverage. Examples of such weighting agents are brominated vegetable oils and resin esters, in particular the ester gums. See L. F. Green, Developments in Soft Drinks Technology, Vol. 1 (Applied Science Publishers Ltd. 1978) pp. 87-93 for a further description of the use of weighting and clouding agents in liquid beverages. Besides weighting agents, emulsifiers and emulsion stabilisers can be used to stabilise the emulsion droplets. Examples of such emulsifiers and emulsion stabilisers include the gums, pectins, celluloses, polysorbates, sorbitan esters and propylene glycol alginates. See L. F. Green, supra at p. 92.
The particular amount of the flavour composition effective for imparting flavour characteristics to a beverage can depend upon the flavour(s) selected, the flavour impression desired, and the form of the flavour composition. For flavour compositions which are substantially free of fruit juice (i.e. on a single strength basis comprising no more than about 1% fruit juice by weight of the beverage) the flavour composition can be comprised in the beverage at an amount of at least 0.001% by weight of the beverage and typically from 0.05% to 1% by weight of the beverage. If fruit juice or concentrates thereof are part of the flavour composition up to twice these amounts can be used.
Beverages contemplated according to the present invention may also be carbonated. Usually a beverage will be considered to be carbonated if it comprises more than 0.3, preferably more than 1 times the volume of the beverage of solubilized carbon dioxide. Carbonated beverages comprise carbondioxide typically from 1 to 4.5, preferably from 2 to 3.5 times the volume of the beverage.
The carbonated beverage can be placed in a container such as a bottle or a can which is then sealed. See L. F. Green, Developments in Soft Drinks Technology, Vol. 1 (Applied Science Publishers Ltd. 1978), pp. 102-107, for a further description of beverage making in particular the process for carbonation.
Another compound in a beverage composition considered in the context of the present invention are fruit juice compounds or its concentrate/puree. The juice compound according to the present invention is selected from one of the fruit juice compounds indicated above.
The amount of addition of juice concentrate to beverages preferably is in the range from as low as 0.5%, up to 60%, preferably from 1% to 30%, by weight on a single strength basis. In these amounts the fruit juice content in the beverage composition will provide a certain sweetener effect due to its sugar content. This sugar content is part of the sweetener composition of the beverage.
Optionally the beverages can comprise edible acids which include phosphoric acid, fumaric acid, adipic acid, lactic acid, tartaric acid, gluconic acid, succinic acid, malic acid, citric acid or their respective sour salts. Also optionally the beverages can comprise supplemented solubilized minerals which include iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, as well as supplemented vitamins. Supplemented minerals or vitamins should be included in a quantity of 15%, preferably 30%, of the Recommended Daily Intake in 100 ml beverage product according to the European Council Directive No. 90/496/EEC of September 24, 1990 on nutritional labeling for foodstuff.
Attribute grading tests have conventionally been used in the foods and beverage industry to assess the perception of certain aspects of a food or beverage by an educated rating panel. The attributes which are rated for the purpose of the present invention are sweetness, bitterness and possibly astringency.
Due to the wide use of attribute grading tests in the food and beverage industry a standard test set-up has been established under ISO 6564-1985 (E), xe2x80x9cSensory Analysisxe2x80x94Methodologyxe2x80x94Flavour profile methodsxe2x80x9d. This ISO test allows a wide variety of test set-ups depending on the particular purpose of the test.

Beverage comprising an effective amount of flavanols as sweetness cutting composition


A loom reed including upper and lower bars which support reed dents and extend along the length of the reed is provided with a connecting device for connecting a brace to the upper bar to restrict longitudinal movement of the reed during loom operation.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a device for securing a weaving reed, hereafter reed, to the batten beam of a weaving machine, the reed comprising an upper profiled bar, in particular an upper U-channel, a lower profiled bar, in particular a lower U-channel, to be secured to the batten beam, and reed dents mounted in-between the channels.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is known to affix the lower U-channel profiled bar of a reed by a clamp, for instance by a key, to a batten beam. However it has been observed that at high weaving rates, i.e. of the order of 1,000 or more filling insertions per minute, that the reed dents may break in the vicinity of the lower U-channel profiled bar.
It is known to reinforce one or both ends of the reed with solid steel bars which are mounted between the upper and lower U-channels in relation to the reed dents and parallel to them. Such a reinforcing bar may be straight or be bent several times. When such a reinforcing bar is situated on the filling insertion side of the reed, difficulties are encountered in locating the main air jet nozzles and a cutter for the fillings, which should be located directly at the fabric selvage or at the reed. If such a reinforcing bar is mounted on the opposite reed side, then it will hamper the installation of a filling detector or of a filling stretcher, which also should be mounted directly at the fabric""s side selvage or at the reed. In many cases this leads to a fabric having relatively wide waste edges. Moreover there may be streaks at the fabric edge in the zone of a solid-steel reinforcing bar. Regardless, at high weaving rates, such a reinforcing bar may fail to prevent the reed dents from breaking at the lower U-channel.
The objective of the invention is to create a device of the initially cited kind to substantially reduce the danger of the reed dents breaking.
This problem is solved in that the upper profiled bar of the reed is secured, at least in its end region, to the batten beam by a connecting brace element running substantially in the reed""s longitudinal direction, against displacements in said longitudinal direction relative to the beam.
The invention offers the feature that the reed, in particular the upper profiled bar, and the reed dents shall not oscillate in the longitudinal direction of the reed. As a result the danger of reed dent rupture in the vicinity of the lower profiled bar already is substantially reduced.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the connection element shall be flexible transversely of the reed. Consequently the connection brace element will not restrict the reed dent deformation transversely to the reed""s longitudinal direction at beat up against the fabric""s edge, and thereby the reed dents are able to deform uniformly at beatup. This feature generally precludes fabric streaks. Also the danger of reed dent rupture in the vicinity of the lower profiled bar caused by beatup stresses is substantially reduced.
In a preferred embodiment, the connecting brace element is a metal blade affixed both to the upper profiled bar of the reed and at a distance from the end of the reed to the batten beam. In an advantageous design, the blade is made of steel and its thickness transversely to the reed is about 2 mm, its height parallel to the reed is about 15 mm and its length is approximately 100 to 200 mm. Such a blade will not bend at the stresses encountered, and longitudinal reed displacements are substantially prevented. Transverse displacements however are allowed and as a result the danger of forming streaks in the fabric is reduced.
In a further embodiment of the invention, a support holding the connecting brace element is mounted on the batten beam in a direction along an extension of the reed. As a result the connecting element is connected in simple manner to the batten beam while spaced from the reed. As regards an airjet loom, at least one main jet nozzle shall be mounted appropriately on this support. When the connecting element is mounted opposite the insertion side, then appropriately a filling detector and/or a filling stretcher shall be mounted on the said support. As a result, this support also can be used to mount operationally required components and the total number of additional parts is very low.
The invention also contemplates a method for bracing a reed against longitudinal movement at its upper end.
Further features and advantages of the invention will be evident from the description of the embodiments shown in the drawing and in the sub-claims.


The invention relates to a vegetation element (10) for greening artificial or natural surfaces with dicotyledonous plants (18). The vegetation element consists of a support (14), soil improvement substrate (16) and dicotyledonous plants (18) and is configured such that it can be rolled up. According to the invention the vegetation element is characterized in that the support is a net (28), a woven or knitted fabric, a randomly bonded nonwoven or a fibre mixture which can be deposited on natural or artificially produced mineral soil (12). The soil (12) is prepared aseptically and the soil improvement substrate (16) is incorporated into an upper layer (24) of the soil (12) by compression or mixing, whereby the pH of the substrate (16) differs from the pH of the soil (12) and is adjusted to meet the physiological needs of the dicotyledonous plants (18). As a result a mixed layer (20) of soil (12) and substrate (16) is formed which has a line (22) separating it from the unmixed soil situated underneath. Germinable plant material of the dicotyledonous plants (18) is introduced into the mixed layer (20). As they form, the roots of the plants become anchored in the mixed layer (20) and the support (14). The above vegetation element (10) is further characterized in that it can be machine-stripped.

This invention relates to a vegetation element for sodding artificial or natural surfaces with dicotyledonous plants and a method of producing same.
A variety of such vegetation elements are known, e.g., those described in German Patent 36 31 716 C2, German Patent 42 19 275 C2, European Patent Application 0 706 753 A1 and German Patent 195 23 406 C1; they are used in particular for extensive sodding of roofs and have proven largely successful. With these vegetation elements, a mat-shaped element which may be made of coconut fibers, mineral wool fibers, synthetic fibers or mats of these mixtures is precultivated either before application to the surface to be sodded and then is cultivated by gardening methods or it is provided with seeds, sprouts, spores or other plant material of germinable dicotyledonous plants only after application to the surface to be sodded. It is also known that mats into which a substrate as well as plant seeds and plant sprouts have been incorporated or where the sprouts are stitched onto the mat may be used, but in either case the mats are otherwise left to themselves, so to speak, when applied to the surface to be sodded.
In particular in the case of vegetation elements which are precultivated before being applied to the surface to be sodded, the cost is high because the support mats themselves are relatively expensive, and the gardening care is labor-intensive and is therefore also associated with a relatively high cost. In addition, there may be high disposal costs in the event the roof must be cleared.
There has thus long been a need to reduce the cost of such vegetation elements.
Therefore, the object of this invention is to create a vegetation element of the type described above so that it will be inexpensive, will require the least possible manual processing and will also be suitable for processing by machine.
This object is achieved with a vegetation element for sodding synthetic or natural surfaces with dicotyledonous plants, as set forth herein.
According to this invention, the support is provided in the form of a net, a woven or knit fabric or a fiber blend which can be applied to a naturally grown or synthetically produced mineral soil, said soil having been prepared to be sterile, and the soil improvement substrate is incorporated under pressure or by mixing into an upper layer of the soil, where the pH of the substrate does deviate or may deviate from the pH of the soil and is coordinated with the physiological needs of the dicotyledonous plants, so that the result is a mixed layer of soil and substrate having a dividing line with the unmixed soil beneath it, and germinable plant material of the dicotyledonous plants is introduced into the mixed layer, so that the developing roots become anchored in the mixed layer and on the support, and furthermore the vegetation element can be stripped off by machine.
To summarize, the object is achieved in a surprisingly simple manner by creating a vegetation element which is advantageously adapted to the morphological conditions of dicotyledonous plants of the known vegetation elements for sodding surfaces with monocotyledonous plants, i.e., ready-to-use grasses or roll-up lawns and to expand it in this way.
In the area of so-called roll-up lawns or ready-to-use grasses such as those known, for example, from German Patent Application 42 30 312 A1, Unexamined German Patent 23 58 931 and German Utility Model 297 12 457 U1, vegetation elements for extensive sodding are created which are extremely inexpensive and can be harvested by machine, i.e., stripped off and rolled up. Monocotyledonous plants, especially grasses, form a so-called root felt which makes it possible for the lawn to be stripped without requiring the use of an expensive fiber mat as a support material for the roll-up lawn. The root felt is so tight and dense that it alone guarantees sufficient stability of the roll-up lawn.
Due to the morphology, such ready-to-use grasses can be implemented only with monocotyledonous plants. Dicotyledonous plants, e.g., species of Sedum such as Sedum acre, Sedum album, Sedum dasyphyllum, Sedum sexangulare, Sempervivum arachnoideum, etc. do not form a dense root felt that would guarantee sufficient stability by itself. Therefore, relatively thick and especially expensive supports had to be used in the past to guarantee adequate cohesion of the plant cover and the vegetation element as a whole.
The accomplishment of the inventor can be seen in particular in the fact that he has developed a specific sequence of process steps for achieving a vegetation element which resembles a roll-up lawn in structure but is provided with dicotyledonous plants which are not actually suitable for such cultivation. This apparent paradox is solved in particular by a method according to the invention.
For differentiation from monocotyledonous plants (monocotyledons), in particular grasses, the term xe2x80x9cdicotyledonous plantsxe2x80x9d as used below is understood to refer not only to true dicotyledons but also to spore-bearing plants such as moss, ferns, lycopodium and lichen.
Although these are not true dicotyledonous plants from a biological standpoint, from a technical standpoint they are characterized like dicotyledonous plants in that they do not form a dense root structure.
The inventor has recognized that it is possible to apply the technique used in the production of ready-to-use grasses to the field of artificial sodding with dicotyledonous plants, in particular the succulents (Sedum species), herbs, mosses, ferns, lichen and the like which have a weak root system, although this was previously considered to be impossible. The inventor has recognized in particular that it is important that the mineral soil (mother earth) on which the vegetation element is cultivated must be sterile. Otherwise, unwanted plant species already present in the soil would grow upward into the vegetation support and would thus destroy proper cultivation of the vegetation element. The term sterility as used here is understood to refer not only to disinfection of the soil, because this would only destroy pests such as nematodes in particular and microorganisms, but it is especially important to completely destroy all weed seeds, spores and unwanted plant parts such as plant parts of quick grass (Agropyron repens).
To be sure, the possibility of later unwanted secondary growth of grasses and sedges, especially due to airborne seeds, cannot always be ruled out. To this extent, it should be emphasized that after conclusion of the cultivation measures, the finished vegetation element may have less than 100% dicotyledonous plants. In the critical germination and sprouting phase, however, it is extremely important for the soil to be sterile, because grasses of dicotyledonous plants growing into the vegetation support would compete for the root space as well as the available supply of water and nutrients, which could thus destroy the cultivation measures.
In addition, it has also been found that introducing a soil improvement substrate or plant substrate which is formulated specifically for the physiological needs of the dicotyledonous plants is necessary, and the substrate must be introduced in such a way that the substrate penetrates no deeper than approximately 2 cm into the soil. Otherwise the pH of the outcropping soilxe2x80x94usually a field that is otherwise used agriculturally or a synthetically produced and backfilled soilxe2x80x94could be damaged in the long run to such an extent that the outcropping soil would be useless for further agricultural use. Furthermore, limited penetration of the substrate into the outcropping soil is important to create a more or less sharp dividing line between the mixed layer and the unmixed outcropping soil.
This separation line is needed to permit machine stripping of the vegetation element and to maintain the root depth so that as few roots as possible are cut when harvesting the vegetation element.
Furthermore, a limited depth of penetration of the substrate into the mixed layer in compression is important because otherwise the support would penetrate too deeply into the soil and then it could be damaged or even destroyed by the blades of the machines in the subsequent stripping operation.
Finally, the support which serves as an anchoring point for the roots of the dicotyledonous plants according to this invention is very important in the technical implementation of the xe2x80x9croll-up lawnxe2x80x9d of dicotyledonous plants according to this invention. Use of supports made of a polypropylene mesh or nonwoven, for example, may be known in the state of the art, but the supports there are used exclusively for reinforcing the vegetation elements for installation on inclined surfaces where the support serves to accommodate any tensile forces that occur.
Practical experiments have shown that strip widths of 25 cm to 2.5 m and strip lengths of 50 cm to 35 m can be achieved with a vegetation element designed in this way.
In particular, machine stripability of such a vegetation element drastically reduces the cost of production of such a vegetation element. Manual cutting and rolling up, which was necessary in the past, was very labor-intensive and was therefore associated with a high cost. So far, the vegetation supports have been cultivated on a dividing film which separates the vegetation mat forming the vegetation support from the outcropping soil, so that the plants cannot send roots into the soil. However, such films can lead to a buildup of moisture which can damage or even destroy the vegetation. There have been attempts in the past to avoid this problem by cultivating corresponding vegetation supports with a maximum length of 15 meters on a gradientxe2x80x94created artificially if necessary.
This risk can be eliminated by the vegetation support according to this invention. Outcropping soil provides natural drainage which makes is possible to prevent a buildup of moisture. In addition, the cultivation may now take place over any desired area extent and without an inclined surface.
In advantageous embodiments of this invention, moss, ferns and/or monocotyledonous plants may be combined in with the dicotyledonous plants.
In practical embodiments of this invention, the mixed layer has a thickness of 1 cm to 3 cm, and furthermore the support is a mesh or the support is a woven fabric or a fiber blend. It is also possible here for the support to be made of plastic or a material that can decompose.
With regard to the soil improvement substrate, the substrate may be a mixture according to European Patent 0 383 109 B1 or German Patent 40 04 284 C1, or the substrate may be a substrate mixture available under the brand name BIO-STUCCO which is a trademark of Mr. Wolfgang Behrens. European Patent 0 383 109 B1 discloses the following materials which are suitable substrates:
(a) bark mulch.
(b) bark mulch+5 to 10% clay granulate.
(c) bark mulch+5 to 10% open-pored substance, preferably lava.
(d) bark mulch+5 to 10% clay granulate+5 to 10% lava. German Patent 40 04 284 C1 discloses a dry bio-mass consisting of seeds and/or plant parts and/or mosses as well as fertilizer and a dry adhesive that can be mixed with the bio-mass. This dry adhesive imparts a gluing effect in conjunction with water. The binding agent or vehicle is preferably a synthetic polyacrylamide compound in the form of granulate or powder that is capable of absorbing water in amounts multiple times its own weight. This dry bio-mass material is also a suitable substrate. In other practical embodiments of this invention, it is possible for the grain size fractions of the substrate to be in a range of 0.006 mm to 35 mm. In any case, the end substrate resulting from mixing the outcropping soil with the substrate should correspond to or at least approximate substrates according to the Guidelines for Planning, Execution and Care of Sodded Roofs of the FLL, 1995 edition, point 9 xe2x80x9cVegetation Support Layer.xe2x80x9d
Furthermore in additional practical embodiments of this invention, the soil may be a brown earth soil.
A method according to this invention for production of the vegetation element is characterized by the following process steps:
a) the outcropping soil is compressed,
b) the soil is prepared so it is sterile,
c) the support is applied to the soil,
d) the substrate is poured onto the support,
e) the substrate is worked through the support into the soil under pressure at least in part and then compressed,
f) plant material of germinable dicotyledonous plants is sown,
g) the vegetation element is cared for as a gardening element,
h) the vegetation element is stripped by machine.
Process step b in particular is of great importance. If the outcropping soil still contained microorganisms (diaspores), and in particular if it contained the seeds of monocotyledonous plants and/or unwanted dicotyledonous plants, these plants would grow upward and would destroy the efforts to create the vegetation element for dicotyledonous plants. Therefore, as the inventor has recognized, the soil must first be sterilized. According to a practical embodiment of this invention, the soil is sterilized with dazomet in granular form, a product available under the brand name BASAMID which is a trademark owned by BASF AG Corporation.
According to another embodiment of this method, the substrate is then worked into the soil to a depth of 1 to 2 cm and is compressed. This depth has proven appropriate because only penetration of the substrate into the soil to a depth of approximately 1 cm with subsequent compression guarantees that there will be a more or less sharp dividing line between the mixed layer and the outcropping soil beneath it and that the substrate cannot penetrate so deeply that the pH of the outcropping soil could be influenced in a negative sense.
An alternative method for production of a vegetation support is characterized by the following process steps:
a) the outcropping soil is compressed,
b) the soil is prepared to be sterile,
c) the substrate is poured onto the soil,
d) the substrate is incorporated into the soil and compressed,
e) the support is applied to the soil,
f) the germ-free plant material of the dicotyledonous plants is sown or dispersed,
g) the vegetation element is cared for as a gardening element,
h) the vegetation element is stripped by machine.
In refinements of this method, the support may be worked into the layer beneath it by mechanical means and/or the support may be defined by dispersing a layer of substrate.

Vegetation element for greening artificial or natural surfaces and method for producing same


Ingestible drugs contain an effect pigment.

This invention relates to the use of effect pigments including platy titanium dioxide pigments, titanium dioxide and/or iron oxide coated on inorganic platy substrates, and combinations of the same, in ingestible drugs including pharmaceuticals and related oral products. These pigments provides a unique optical effect in such ingested drugs. They can also be used in decorative applications for foods (e.g. in cake frostings, gelatin desserts and candy coatings) and drugs, as well as for functional uses, such as a unique way to mark/identify drugs. Such effects are not possible using conventional absorption colorants.
This invention relates to the use of effect pigments including pearlescent pigments and platy titanium dioxide pigments in ingestible and oral drug products. The resulting compositions are also a part of this invention.
As used in this specification, the term xe2x80x9cingestiblexe2x80x9d product means a product which is intended in the ordinary course of use to be swallowed, for instance, a foodstuff or beverage or an orally administered pharmaceutical composition. The type of ingestible product or oral composition is not restricted. The ingestible product or oral composition is preferably intended for human use. As used in this specification, the term xe2x80x9cdrugxe2x80x9d means a therapeutic agent, i.e., any substance, other than food, used in the prevention, diagnosis, alleviation, treatment or cure of disease in man and animals. The term thus encompasses, for example, both pharmaceuticals and vitamins and the like products.
Effect pigments per se are well known. These pigments are usually a laminar materials with relatively high indexes of refraction relative to the medium in which they are incorporated. As a result of the reflection and refraction of light, these pigments can exhibit pearl-like luster, and interference color and/or color travel. The effect pigments most often encountered commercially are those which are coating on a support, and particularly are titanium dioxide coated and iron oxide coated micas. One of the effect (pearlescent) pigments used in the present invention is the well-known titanium coated mica. The particle size of such pigments is preferably about 200 xcexcm or less and more preferably about 100 xcexcm or less.
Platy TiO2 pigments, i.e., titanium dioxide platelets which exhibit interference colors but are not deposited on a substrate, per se are known. These pigments have a laminar structure and are distinct from pearlescent pigments which, as just noted, are based on coating a support. By the term xe2x80x9cplatyxe2x80x9d is meant the pigment particles have an aspect ratio of at least about 2 to 1 and a largest dimension of about 1 to 150 xcexcm, and more preferably about 3 to 75 xcexcm. Therefore, a platy TiO2 interference pigment is defined as consisting of smooth platelets of TiO2 having a high aspect ratio and controlled thickness such that various interference colors are produced depending on the thickness of the platelet.
A number of other platy effect pigments are covered by this invention. They include, but are not restricted to, platy iron oxide pigments, platy bismuth oxychloride pigments, platy guanine pigments, platy aluminum oxide, platy silicon dioxide, platey pigments of the genreal formula MnxAlyFe2xe2x88x92(x+y)O3, platy metal flake pigments such as aluminum, and any combinations of these. The combinations may be blends of the various pigments, or depositions of one or more on another of these. For example, a platy iron oxide pigment may be used to create a unique optical effect in a coating. Alternately, iron oxide may be coated on a platy titanium dioxide substratum, achieving a distinctly different effect.
The effect pigments can be combined with natural colorants, color pigments or coloring fruit and plant extracts to give the food or pharmaceutical an interesting new shade. Examples of fruit and plant extracts that could be used as a colorant include carrot juice, red beet juice, elder juice, hibiscus juice, paprika extract and aronia extract. The effect pigment of the invention can add increased light and moisture protection to the colored food or pharmaceutical. Vitamin preparations, for example, can be stored for a longer period of time. Also in some cases, such as colored tablets, a delayed release of the active ingredients can be established or augmented.
The pigment is incorporated into the ingestible product or oral composition in any convenient manner. The pigment may be incorporated in a coating system, or alternately, in the composition itself. The amount is not restricted and any amount which provides the desired optical effect can be employed. In general, the total concentration of all coloring agents in the food or pharmaceutical should not exceed about 12% by weight, although it can go up to about 15% by weight. Some products can be colored with as low as about 0.005% by weight. Preferably, the amount of effect pigment is about 0.01 to 6% by weight, and more preferably, about 0.1 to 2% by weight. Where combined with another colorant, the mixture ratio of the effect pigment with the other colorant depends upon the desired effect and is preferably about 20:1 to 1:20 and more preferably about 5:1 to 1:1. A surprising and unexpected aspect of the present invention, and one unique to the platy TiO2 pigment is that very low concentrations can be employed while achieving the desired effect. An amount which is one-half or less of the amount of non-platy titanium dioxide-coated mica pigments can be used to achieve the same effect. Typically, a concentration of about 1 weight % or less can be employed.
Coatings on all types of food can be colored with the agent of the present invention. Examples include pigmented sugar in shellac coatings, both alcoholic and aqueous, coatings of oils and waxes in combination with gum arabic and with cellulose material such as hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, cake decorations, compressed products, dragees, chewing gum, gum products, fondant products, marzipan, fillings, cocoa gum, glazes, chocolate containing products, ice cream, cereal, snacks, produce, cake bases, gel and gelatin products, candy, licorice, puddings, desserts, icings, beverages, milk products and the like. Colored tablets, gelatin capsules, coated tablets, ointments and syrups are other products of the present invention.
In order to illustrate the invention, various examples are set forth below. It will be appreciated, however, that these are intended to be illustrative and are not intended to be limiting.

Use of effect pigments in ingested drugs


A system and method of bonding is disclosed which is suitable for providing a strong interlocking adhesive bond between two surfaces. At least one bonding surface is provided with multiple layers of spherical shaped protrusions. The multilayer spherical bonding surface is formed from the substrate and therefore is continuous. Many methods may be employed to form this surface, including the lost wax casting process. Such bonding surfaces provide good interlocking properties for bonding agents such as epoxy resins and ceramics. In addition, the uniform curvature of the spherical particles themselves reduces points of stress thereby substantially reducing or even eliminating the formation of stress fractures.

The present invention relates to bonding and more particularly to the preparation of two surfaces for bonding with a bonding agent.
There are numerous methods that have been used for joining together two or more surfaces. The more common methods include welding, joining, or bonding. Two surfaces may be welded together by melting or dissolving them together. Two surfaces may be joined together using a suitable piece of strong material that can be pushed or compressed in some manner. Included in this category are bolts, screws, nails, and rivets. Two surfaces may be bonded together using a bonding agent that forms an adhesive bond to both surfaces. Pressure sensitive adhesives commonly employed for use in labels are a prime example of this type of bonding. Two surfaces may also be mechanically bonded together with a bonding agent that hardens to a strong rigid material. A good example of this bonding is the use of glue to bring two surfaces of wood together.
In the case of welding two surfaces together, if carried out properly with the right materials, very strong bonds result which can be as strong or even stronger than the two substrates themselves. The welding of two metal surfaces is accomplished by employing a small but intense area of heat at the site where the two pieces are to be joined. The heat is so intense that the metal of both pieces melts and flows together. Quite often additional metal is added to the weld during the process. A welding rod of a suitable material (usually the same material as the substrate) is placed in the heated area so that it melts and flows into the weld to build it up. Most metals require very high temperatures and as such only certain conditions are suitable for welding. These include electrical discharge for arc, tig, mig, and spot welding and high temperature gas mixtures such as acetylene-oxygen for gas welding.
Unfortunately, welding cannot always be used to bond two metal surfaces together. In many instances the substrates may not be made of a material that can be welded. In addition, even if the substrate is made of a suitable material it may not be of suitable dimensions for welding. It may be too thin making welding without bum through difficult or even impossible. One surface may be on a thicker substrate than the other resulting in uneven heating or even thermal distortion.
The welding together of two plastic surfaces requires that the plastic is capable of either melting by the application of heat, or dissolving into a solvent. In the case of joining plastic surfaces together by heat, the plastic must have a suitable melting point that allows the material to flow together. Many plastics will soften but not easily melt. In such instances it is often practice to use an alternative method to weld the two pieces together without the need to apply heat. Some plastics are soluble in common solvents. For example polystyrene is substantially soluble in toluene. If a drop of toluene is placed onto a piece of polystyrene and a second piece of polystyrene placed on top, the toluene will dissolve some polystyrene from both surfaces. This layer of polystyrene solution will mix into both surfaces. When the toluene evaporates, the pieces will be firmly joined. Sometimes it is practice to dissolve some of the plastic into the solvent prior to application between the two surfaces to be joined. The familiar plastic model kits sold in hobby shops use this system. The individual model pieces are made from polystyrene, and the glue is a solution of polystyrene dissolved in toluene. This system works well because when the two pieces are bonded together with this glue, the final joint that results is the same material as the substrate (polystyrene). In this respect a true weld has been achieved.
While effective for joining certain types of plastic materials together, welding by heat and/or solvent will not work for the stronger more advanced plastics used in composites. The reason for this is that a weld derives strength by forming a continuous bond of substantially the same material from one substrate to the other. In other words, The two pieces that are welded together literally become one. It is as if the resultant piece was initially made as a single piece. In order for this to take place, the substrate material must become fluid and flow to become at least part of the joint. Advanced polymers commonly employed in composites contain a substantial amount of crosslinking.
The crosslinking keeps the polymer rigid and strong. Crosslinking also prevents the polymer from being welded by heat or solvent. Heavily crosslinked polymers will not melt. If heated they will burn or degrade without melting. Heavily crosslinked polymers will not truly dissolve in solvents. They may swell or even become weak enough to pull apart, however they will not dissolve to form a free flowing liquid.
The joining of two pieces together using a third piece that interconnects both pieces to be joined is a very common practice. A good example of this method of joining is the common nail. A nail is a relatively long and narrow piece of metal having a sharpened end and a blunt end. When joining two pieces together using nails, one piece is placed on top of the other. The sharp end of the nail is positioned into the top piece and directed toward the bottom piece. A hammer is then used to strike the blunt end causing the nail to be driven into both pieces. The result is that the nail holds both the top piece and the bottom piece together. While common for joining two wooden boards together, nails are relatively easily pulled out. Furthermore if nails are to be used for joining two pieces of material together the material must yield to the nail without breaking or shattering. Thus while effective for joining two pieces of wood, nails are not always best suited for joining hard or brittle materials together.
Other examples of this type of fastening include rivets, bolts, and screws. Rivets are fasteners having a wide end and a narrow end that is expandable. Using rivets requires a hole to be drilled through both substrates. The holes are aligned and the rivet pressed into this hole until the wide end rests firmly against the top piece. When the rivet has been pressed all of the way in, the narrow end is expanded so that it cannot work its way out. Rivets are commonly used to join thin sheets of metal together.
Bolts and screws are threaded fasteners that can either be threaded directly into a substrate or alternatively can have a threaded nut screwed onto the free end to tighten the substrates together. In either case, these fasteners join two pieces together by virtue of the fastener itself providing an independent connection between the two pieces.
The bonding of two substrates together with a bonding agent relies on both the strength of the bonding agent as well as adhesion of the bonding agent to both joining surfaces. Adhesive bonding between a bonding agent and a surface relies on molecular attraction and compatibility between the bonding agent and the substrate. If the surface to be bonded and the bonding agent can form true chemical bonds which cross the interface between them, then a strong bond can form based on molecular attraction alone. The nature of this attraction can be that of covalent bonds that result from surface reactions between the bonding substrate and bonding agent, or alternatively, Ionic bonds may form between oppositely charged atoms or groups of atoms. Weaker attractive forces may also play a significant role in adhesion such as hydrogen bonding, polar forces or even the weak attractions that result from the electron clouds in the atoms of one molecule being weakly electrostatically attracted to the positively charged nuclei in the atoms of other molecules.
This type of bonding, while being exceedingly strong, is not easily achieved. In addition, substantial improvements can be obtained by increasing the available surface area. This is usually done by increasing the surface roughness of the substrate. With adhesive bonding the surface of the substrate in the bonding area must be absolutely clean and free from foreign contamination. Furthermore contamination must be removed on a molecular level. In practice this is exceedingly difficult to achieve. Because of this, the use of surface adhesion alone for bonding is very difficult to achieve and in practice many bonding agents rely on at least some mechanical interlocking between the bonding agent and the intended bonding surface of the substrate.
In practice, adhesive bonding by itself is rarely if ever encountered. There is usually some surface roughness which results in some mechanical interlocking of the bonding agent to the substrate. Both factors combined determine if a bonding agent will adequately fasten together two substrates. In other words adhesive bonding usually relies at least partly on mechanical bonding.
Mechanical bonding resulting from the interlocking between a bonding agent and a substrate surface naturally occurs to some extent owing to the fact that most surfaces are inherently rough. This is especially true if the surface roughness was increased for the purposes of promoting adhesion. Surface roughness enhances bonding between a bonding agent and the substrate surface by increasing the available surface area for bonding and by providing sites where mechanical interlocking of the bonding agent with the substrate can occur.
Many bonding agents such as polymers used in the composite industry tend to shrink when cured. This shrinkage can be in excess of one percent. Such shrinkage may result in the delamination or separation of the bonding agent from the substrate or cause the formation of stress that can result in delamination at a later time. In either case, the shrinkage of common curable polymer based bonding agents such as epoxy resins when cured represents substantial bonding issues.
Fillers are often mixed with bonding resins prior to curing. One particularly common filler is fumed silica. This material is a form of silicon dioxide which is very small in particle size. Because there is less resin, (some of the volume is now occupied by the inert filler) overall shrinkage is reduced. Other fillers include hollow polymeric microballons such as 410 Microlight available from West System. West system is a registered trademark of Gougen Brothers, Inc., P.O. Box 908, Bay City, Mich. 48707. Flocked cotton fiber, microscopic glass bubbles, and glass fibers cut to relatively short lengths of less than about one inch.
One particularly interesting example of the use of fillers to reduce shrinkage is outlined in U.S. Pat. No. 4,108,813. Intermeshing spherical quartz sand particles are used to reduce the shrinkage of flooring cement along with the addition of smaller spherical plastic beads to improve flow characteristics. The result is a low viscosity mixture that hardens into a dense cement floor structure with very little shrinkage.
In addition to reducing the shrinkage of curable bonding agents, many fillers increase bulk strength and often improve overall adhesion. Unfortunately, the use of fillers with curable bonding agents does not always guarantee that a strong and permanent bond will result.
The best way to assure that a strong and permanent bond will form between a bonding agent and substrate is by way of mechanical anchorage. Even in the absence of adhesive forces mechanical anchorage by a bonding agent to a surface by physical interlocking assures a good bond. In the case of the rivet, in order to separate the two pieces, the rivet must be broken. Although there are no adhesive forces between the rivet and the substrates, mechanical interlocking provides a strong bond. In a similar manner when a bonding agent is attached to a substrate by mechanical interlocking anchorage either the bonding agent or the substrate must be broken in order to achieve separation.
Ideally it is best practice to provide a strong bond between a substrate and bonding agent that has mechanical interlocking as well as good surface adhesion. A good example of this type of bonding is the use of wood glue. Wood glue is a water based polar polymer emulsion that is compatible with the surface of wood. Often these polymer emulsions contain polyvinyl alcohol as an additive or as part of the polymers that make up the glue itself. Polyvinyl acetate is also employed with many wood glues which of course is polar by virtue of the ester group of acetic acid. Hydrogen bonding and polar forces result in good adhesion of the glue to the wood. In addition to wood having a high polarity it also has a relatively high porosity. The wood glue is actually absorbed into the wood to form a mechanical interlocking bond.
When two or more pieces of wood are glued together in this manner the resulting bond is often stronger than the wood itself.
In order to provide a mechanical interlocking bond between a bonding agent and a substrate it is common practice to roughen the surface or even drill small holes. While this practice often produces strong bonding by improving mechanical anchorage, it has one major drawback. Sharp edges resulting from scratching or drilling holes in the substrate become points of stress which can later initiate cracking or even breakage of the bonding agent/or agents. Because of this, numerous methods have been employed to enhance mechanical anchorage of a bonding agent to a bonding surface while minimizing points of stress.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,202,055 outlines the use of ceramic particulate of a material having a diameter of between 0.5 mm and 1.0 mm incorporated in a polymer for the purposes of anchoring a highly stressed endoprostheses. With time after implantation, the ceramic material dissolves away and is replaced by bone tissue. Bioactivating bonding residues aid in bone growth. The result is bone growth in spherical nodules embedded into a polymer.
The spherical shape of the resulting bone nodules significantly reduces the chances of stress fracture formation over time and under the conditions of abuse. Although advantageous in many respects, in the case of brittle bones, the point where the spherical nodule meets the main surface of the bone is a possible failure point.
Another related bonding method involves the attachment of particulate material to a substrate prior to bonding. U.S. Pat. No. 4,927,361 uses this technique to provide dental attachments that will form a good bond to a tooth surface. The particulate coating may take the form of discrete particles, or alternatively may form one or more layers. The result is that mechanical interlocking occurs between the substrate and the adhesive material that bonds the substrate to the tooth.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,854,496 discloses a method of producing a porous metal-coated substrate by diffusion bonding of metal powder particles. Pressure is used to push the particles into the substrate allowing for bonding to occur at reduced temperatures. The diffusion process itself is carried out in a non-reactive atmosphere below the temperatures normally required for sintering. The result is a sintered porous surface which is suitable for bonding to a second substrate and which provides good mechanical interlocking with a suitable bonding agent.
Also worthy of mention is the use of discrete microspheres continuous with a surface substrate. Experiments in this area have been carried out in the area of dentistry. Allan H. Elder, the author of this patent, has prepared bonding surfaces suitable for bonding Maryland bridges. Although these results were successful, improved interlocking characteristics may be obtained by employing multiple layers of these spherical shaped particles.
The above prior art references disclose several methods for achieving bonding between two surfaces. Of particular interest is the use of substantially spherically shaped particles on a substrate surface to improve bonding. The result is a bonding surface having interlocking characteristics with virtually no tendency to produce points of stress.
While these methods provide bonding substrates for various purposes, further improvements in bonding may be realized by employing the teachings of this invention. For example, no mention is made of a truly continuous piece of substrate material possessing interlocking characteristics prior to bonding. The advantages of such a substrate are that it will have material properties that are uniform throughout and therefore posses few if any areas of discontinuity. Such a substrate would be desirable owing to the fact that areas of discontinuity represent possible sources of failure. Such areas or zones of discontinuity include interfacial zones, intercrystalline phase boundary zones, and possible surface contamination at the interface. Employing multiple layers of bonding particles increases the number of these zones in these substantially discontinuous structures. The result is an increase in the likelihood of stress cracks, detachment, or even breakage.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a bonding surface having a continuous phase with the substrate.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a bonding surface having good interlocking properties.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a bonding surface having virtually no points of stress.
It is still another object of this invention to provide a bonding surface which may be easily prepared using low cost materials and equipment.
This invention therefore proposes the preparation of one or more bonding surfaces consisting of multiple layers of substantially spherically shaped nodules protruding from a continuous substrate. These protruding nodules are part of the substrate itself and are formed during the manufacturing process. The resulting substrates have unusually good bonding properties to a wide range of materials and exhibit virtually no tendency to initiate breakage or failure.
Various methods may be employed to prepare such substrates including the lost wax process. The lost wax process has been employed for years in the metal casting industry and is a preferred method for preparing many of the bonding substrates outlined of this invention.
The bonding substrate may be made from any number of materials including pre-formed composite components, metal parts and pieces, or even ceramic materials such as porcelain.

Multilayer spherical bonding construction

174 E. Montecito Ave., Unit 3, San Gabriel Ct.


A locking and release mechanism for a slide assembly comprised of multiple telescoping channel members interacting, opposing cantilever springs mounted on the telescoping slides or channel. The mechanism can be made of plastic, spring steel or other alternative materials. The mechanism can be used on ball bearing or friction telescoping drawer slide assemblies.

In a principal aspect the present invention relates to a mechanism, incorporated in a drawer slide assembly having multiple telescoping slide channels for locking one telescopic, slide channel or member in an extended position in a second slide channel and subsequently manually release the telescoped slide channel from its locked and extended position by means of a manual release construction which avoids exposure to a pinch point.
Multiple drawer cabinets for office storage and the like include drawers that are typically mounted on slide assemblies comprised of two or more nesting, telescopically movable slide channels or members which are attached respectively to the inside of a cabinet housing and the outside of the drawer. Various types of such slide assembly mechanisms have been developed to facilitate the safe and efficient movement of drawers between a drawer closed position and a drawer open position.
Often it is desirable to open a drawer and maintain the drawer in the open position as the contents of the drawer are reviewed or accessed. Various mechanisms incorporated in the slide assembly have been proposed for maintaining drawers in an open, locked position. Typically such mechanisms require manual release and thus exposure of the individual using the drawer to pinch points associated with the locking mechanism for the slide assembly. Development of a locking and release mechanism for a slide assembly which minimizes or avoids exposure of individuals to pinch points is thus a desirable objective and one motivation for development of the present invention.
Briefly, the present invention comprises a locking and release mechanism for a drawer slide which provides for automatic locking of a multiple channel slide assembly in an extended position and manual release when in the extended position.
Thus the slide assembly will include at least a first or outer slide channel and a second or inner slide channel which telescopically slides in the outer slide channel in a longitudinal axial direction. Each of the slide channels includes a center span or web. The center webs are in opposed, generally parallel relation to one another and slide longitudinally with respect to each other as the channels slide. The inner slide channel includes a first cantilever spring mounted on the central web with an active biased end that extends into the pathway of the center web of the outer slide channel when the inner slide channel is moved to the extended position to block or preclude movement of the inner channel slide to the retracted position once the inner slide channel has been extended. In order to release the first cantilever spring associated with the inner slide channel, a second cantilever spring is mounted on the center web of the outer slide channel. The second cantilever spring includes a prong which extends over the end of the outer slide channel in alignment with the longitudinal axis and opposed to the first cantilever spring mounted on the inner slide channel. The prong may be manually actuated to move toward and engage the first cantilever spring on the inner slide channel and thereby release it from blocking movement of the inner slide channel telescoping into the outer slide channel. Because the prong overlies the end of the outer slide channel, the described arrangement precludes exposure to a pinch point associated with the outer slide channel and, in particular, with the region of engagement of the outer slide channel with the first cantilever spring mounted on the inner slide channel.
Thus it is an object of the invention to provide an improved slide assembly having a feature which locks the slide assembly in an extended position while providing a safe and efficient release mechanism to enable release of the slide assembly from the extended position.
Another object of the invention is to provide a simple, effective, unobtrusive, and accessible mechanism for slide assemblies which will lock the assembly in an extended position and yet provide for easy release from the locked position.
Another object of the invention is to provide a locking and release mechanism for slide assemblies which may be easily incorporated in slide assemblies of the type hereto manufactured without significant modification.
These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description that follows.

Drawer slide assembly locking and release mechanism


A floatation device for a child having a buoyant board, with generally parallel top and bottom surfaces, and with a child opening in about the middle of the board. A child seat is provided beneath the opening attached to the board for supporting a child in the opening with his abdomen about even with the board. A wet play area is recessed in the top surface of the board in front of the opening in reach of the child, the play area having a bottom surface below the waterline of the board when a child is on the board. An opening in the board connects the play area to the bottom surface to allow water to enter the play area when the board is in the water. A canopy is mounted on the board. The canopy has an awning support mounted on the board behind the child opening. An awning is rotatably mounted on the awning support for movement between an operative position where the awning is generally horizontal over the child opening and an inoperative position allowing access to the child opening.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is directed toward a child""s floatation device.
2. Description of the Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under CFR xc2xa7xc2xa71.97-1.99
Floatation devices for a child are known as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,766,052. However, the known devices do not permit the child to interact readily with the water he is floating on nor do they provide a readily adjustable and easily removably canopy. The known devices also do not have an adjustable and easily removable seat for the child.
It is the purpose of the present invention to provide a child""s floatation device having means whereby the child in the device can readily interact with the water he is floating on. It is another purpose of the present invention to provide a child""s floatation device having a canopy that is readily removable and that also is easily movable between operative and inoperative positions. It is a further purpose of the present invention to provide a seat for the floatation device that is adjustable in height and that is also easily removable.
In accordance with the present invention a floatation device is provided with a depressed play area within easy reach of the child which play area can partly fill with water providing the child with a splash play area. The floatation device can also be provided with viewing means in the device in front of the child allowing the child to view into the water hl is floating on.
Also in accordance with the present invention, a floatation device is provided with a canopy that is easily connected or disconnected to the float. The canopy is also easily adjustable between a first, protective position where the canopy protects the child from the sun or rain and a second, open position allowing the child to be easily placed within or removed from the device. The canopy has an awning that can be pivoted on awning support means between first stop means locating it in the protective position and second stop means locating it in an open position.
The invention is particularly directed toward a flotation device for a child having a buoyant board, with generally parallel top and bottom surfaces, and with a child opening in about the middle of the board. A child seat is provided beneath the opening attached to the board for supporting a child in the opening with his abdomen about even with the board. A wet play area is recessed in the top surface of the board in front of the opening in reach of the child, the play area having a bottom surface below the waterline of the board when a child is on the board. An opening in the board connects the play area to the bottom surface to allow water to enter the play area when the board is in the water.
The invention is also particularly directed toward a floatation device for a child having a buoyant board with a child opening in about the middle of the board. A child seat is provided beneath the opening attached to the board for supporting a child in the opening with his abdomen about even with the board. A canopy is mounted on the board. The canopy has an awning support mounted on the board behind the child opening. An awning is rotatably mounted on the awning support for movement between an operative position where the awning is generally horizontal over the child opening and an inoperative position allowing access to the child opening.


A tool for retrieving animal waste is effective in complete removal as it deploys at its end a row of tines that are inserted beneath the solid waste so that is can be lifted from the ground as the first step for proper disposal. The waste is then removed from the tines by a plate that pushes it off into a waste receptacle.

The present invention relates to a device for animal waste disposal
It is desirable and frequently required by law that pet owners promptly remove pet dropping from public parks and sidewalks, as well as from private property, for health reasons, as well as the damage it does to grass and other vegetation.
As many pet owners do not wish to bend over and use papers or plastic bags to remove droppings by hand an array of devices have been developed.
However, many of these prior art device are deficient are deficient in one manner or another as will be discussed below. Virtually all prior art devices attempt to provide a more sanitary means of removing pet waste, that is to avoid contact. Some these prior art devices use one of more scoops o shovel shapes to capture the waste. Frequently, these prior art devices tend to either incompletely remove droppings, or if used to completely remove the dropping also require the removal of surrounding grass and soil, and are hence also injurious to landscaping.
Further, these devices also tend to collect animal waste residue, and hence require regular cleaning and additional maintenance.
If the tools are used move aggressively to remove all residues, more residues tend to stick to the tool. Further, the tool portion that contacts the waste can be difficult to clean.
Accordingly it is a first object of the invention to provide an improved means to remove animal droppings, and particular pet droppings wherein the user/handler need not stoop over.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide such an improved apparatus that can completely remove such animal waste, yet will not damage grass or ground cover.
It is still a further object of the invention to provide such a device having the above attributes, that while capable of completely removing such animal droppings of varying consistency, will not become soiled or clogged and will hence be easier to clean and maintain.


A light duty, liquid comprising: a paraffin sulfonate, an alpha olefin sulfonate, an amine oxide, a magnesium containing inorganic compound, and water.

The present invention relates to novel light duty liquid detergent compositions with high foaming and good grease cutting properties.
The prior art is replete with light duty liquid detergent compositions containing nonionic surfactants in combination with anionic and/or betaine surfactants wherein the nonionic detergent is not the major active surfactant. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,658,985 an anionic based shampoo contains a minor amount of a fatty acid alkanolamide. U.S. Pat. No. 3,769,398 discloses a betaine-based shampoo containing minor amounts of nonionic surfactants. This patent states that the low foaming properties of nonionic detergents renders its use in shampoo compositions non-preferred. U.S. Pat. No. 4,329,335 also discloses a shampoo containing a betaine surfactant as the major ingredient and minor amounts of a nonionic surfactant and of a fatty acid mono- or di- ethanolamide. U.S. Pat. No. 4,259,204 discloses a shampoo comprising 0.8 to 20% by weight of an anionic phosphoric acid ester and one additional surfactant which may be either anionic, amphoteric, or nonionic. U.S. Pat. No. 4,329,334 discloses an anionic-amphoteric based shampoo containing a major amount of anionic surfactant and lesser amounts of a betaine and nonionic surfactants.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,935,129 discloses a liquid cleaning composition containing an alkali metal silicate, urea, glycerin, triethanolamine, an anionic detergent and a nonionic detergent. The silicate content determines the amount of anionic and/or nonionic detergent in the liquid cleaning composition. However, the foaming properties of these detergent compositions are not discussed therein.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,129,515 discloses a heavy duty liquid detergent for laundering fabrics comprising a mixture of substantially equal amounts of anionic and nonionic surfactants, alkanolamines and magnesium salts, and, optionally, zwitterionic surfactants as suds modifiers.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,224,195 discloses an aqueous detergent composition for laundering socks or stockings comprising a specific group of nonionic detergents, namely, an ethylene oxide of a secondary alcohol, a specific group of anionic detergents, namely, a sulfuric ester salt of an ethylene oxide addict of a secondary alcohol, and an amphoteric surfactant which may be a betaine, wherein either the anionic or nonionic surfactant may be the major ingredient.
The prior art also discloses detergent compositions containing all nonionic surfactants as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,154,706 and 4,329,336 wherein the shampoo compositions contain a plurality of particular nonionic surfactants in order to affect desirable foaming and detersive properties despite the fact that nonionic surfactants are usually deficient in such properties.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,013,787 discloses a piperazine based polymer in conditioning and shampoo compositions which may contain all nonionic surfactant or all anionic surfactant.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,450,091 discloses high viscosity shampoo compositions containing a blend of an amphoteric betaine surfactant, a polyoxybutylenepolyoxyethylene nonionic detergent, an anionic surfactant, a fatty acid alkanolamide and a polyoxyalkylene glycol fatty ester. But, none of the exemplified compositions contain an active ingredient mixture wherein the nonionic detergent is present in major proportion which is probably due to the low foaming properties of the polyoxybutylene polyoxyethylene nonionic detergent.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,595,526 describes a composition comprising a nonionic surfactant, a betaine surfactant, an anionic surfactant and a C12-C14 fatty acid monoethanolamide foam stabilizer.
It has now been found that a high foaming liquid detergent properties can be formulated with a paraffin sulfonate, an alpha olefin sulfonate, an amine oxide, and magnesium ions.
Accordingly, one object of this invention is to provide novel, high foaming, light duty liquid detergent compositions containing an alpha olefin sulfonate surfactant.
To achieve the foregoing and other objects and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein the novel, high foaming, light duty liquid detergent of this invention comprises an alpha olefin sulfonate, an amine oxide, magnesium ions and water wherein the composition does not contain an alkyl benzene sulfonate surfactant, an ethoxylated alkyl ether sulfate surfactant, a glycol ether solvent, an ethoxylated and/or propoxylated nonionic surfactant, a zwitterionic surfactant, a hetroatom containing alkyl aldonamide compound, a mono- or di-saccharides a polyoxyalkylene glycol fatty acid, a builder, a polymeric thickener, a polydimethyl siloxane, a siloxane-oxyalkylene copolymer, an acid, a clay, a fatty acid alkanol amide, abrasive, silicas, tricloscan, alkaline earth metal carbonates, alkyl glycine surfactant, cyclic imidinium surfactant, or more than 0.2 wt. % of a perfume or water insoluble hydrocarbon other than trichlorocarbanilibe.
The present invention relates to a light duty liquid detergent which comprises approximately by weight:
(a) 6% to 30% of a paraffin sulfonate surfactant;
(b) 12% to 22% of an alpha olefin sulfonate surfactant;
(c) 3% to 12% of an amine oxide surfactant;
(d) 0.25% to 13% of magnesium containing inorganic compound; and
(e) the balance being water wherein the composition does not contain a hetroatom containing alkyl aldonamide compound, a glycol ether solvent, an ethoxylated and/or propoxylated nonionic surfactant, a zwitterionic surfactant, an alkyl benzene sulfonate surfactant, an ethoxylated alkyl ether sulfate surfactant, a polyoxyalkylene glycol fatty acid, a polydimethyl siloxane, a siloxane-oxyalkylene copolymer, a mono- or di-saccharides, a builder, a polymeric thickener, an acid, a clay, a fatty acid alkanol amide, abrasive, silicas, triclosan, alkaline earth metal carbonates, alkyl glycine surfactant, cyclic imidinium surfactant, or more than 0.2 wt. % of a perfume or water insoluble hydrocarbon other than trichlorocarbanilibe.
The C12-C20 paraffin sulfonates used at a concentration of 6 wt. % to 30 wt. %, more preferably 8 wt. % to 14 wt. % in the instant compositions may be monosulfonates or di-sulfonates and usually are mixtures thereof, obtained by sulfonating paraffins of 10 to 20 carbon atoms. Preferred paraffin sulfonates are those of C12-18 carbon atoms chains, and more preferably they are of C14-17 chains Paraffin sulfonates that have the sulfonate group(s) distributed along the paraffin chain are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,503,280; 2,507,088; 3,260,744 and 3,372,188 and also in German Patent 735,096. Such compounds may be made to specifications and desirably the content of paraffin sulfonates outside the C14-17 range will be minor and will be minimized, as will be any contents of di- or poly-sulfonates.
The present invention also contains 12 wt. % to 30 wt. %, more preferably 20 wt. % to 24 wt. % of an alpha olefin sulfonates, including long-chain alkene sulfonates, long-chain hydroxyalkane sulfonates or mixtures of alkene sulfonates and hydroxyalkane sulfonates. These alpha olefin sulfonate surfactants may be prepared in a known manner by the reaction of sulfur trioxide (SO3) with long-chain olefins containing 8 to 25, preferably 12 to 21 carbon atoms and having the formula RCHxe2x95x90CHR1 where R is a higher alkyl group of 6 to 23 carbons and R1 is an alkyl group of 1 to 17 carbons or hydrogen to form a mixture of sultones and alkene sulfonic acids which is then treated to convert the sultones to sulfonates. Preferred alpha olefin sulfonates contain from 14 to 16 carbon atoms in the R alkyl group and are obtained by sulfonating an a-olefin.
The amine oxides used at a concentration of 3 to 10 wt. %, more preferably 4 wt. % to 8 wt. % in forming the light duty liquid compositions are depicted by the formula:
wherein R1 is a C10-C18 a linear or branched chain alkyl group, R2 is a C1-C16 linear group and R3 is a C1-C16 linear alkyl group, or the amido radical:
wherein R is an alkyl group having about 9 to 19 carbon atoms and a is the integer 1 to 4: R2 and R3 are each alkyl groups having 1 to 3 carbons and preferably. 1 carbon;
The magnesium inorganic compound used at a concentration of 0.25 wt. % to 3 wt. %, more preferably 0.5 wt. % to 2 wt. % of the instant composition is a magnesium oxide, sulfate or chloride. The magnesium salt or oxide provides several benefits including improved cleaning performance in dilute usage, particularly in soft water areas. Magnesium sulfate, either anhydrous or hydrated (e.g., heptahydrate), is especially preferred as the magnesium salt. Good results also have been obtained with magnesium oxide, magnesium chloride, magnesium acetate, magnesium propionate and magnesium hydroxide. These magnesium salts can be used with formulations at neutral or acidic pH since magnesium hydroxide will not precipitate at these pH levels.
The water is present at a concentration of 40 wt. % to 83 wt. %. Excluded from the instant compositions are a polydimethyl siloxane foam controller, a siloxane-oxyalkylene copolymer, a heteroatom containing alkyl aldonamide and a skin conditioning agent.
In addition to the previously mentioned essential and optional constituents of the light duty liquid detergent, one may also employ normal and conventional adjuvants, provided they do not adversely affect the properties of the detergent. Thus, there may be used various coloring agents and perfumes; ultraviolet light absorbers such as the Uvinuls, which are products of GAF Corporation; sequestering agents such as ethylene diamine tetraacetates; magnesium sulfate heptahydrate; pH modifiers; etc. The proportion of such adjuvant materials, in total will normally not exceed 15% by weight of the detergent composition, and the percentages of most of such individual components will be a maximum of 5% by weight and preferably less than 2% by weight. Sodium formate or formalin can be included in the formula as a perservative at a concentration of 0.1 to 4.0 wt. %. Sodium bisulfite can be used as a color stabilizer at a concentration of 0.01 to 0.2 wt. %.
The present light duty liquid detergents such as dishwashing liquids are readily made by simple mixing methods from readily available components which, on storage, do not adversely affect the entire composition. Solubilizing agent such as ethanol, sodium chloride and/or sodium xylene or sodium xylene sulfonate are used to assist in solubilizing the surfactants. The viscosity of the light duty liquid composition desirably will be at least 100 centipoises (cps) at room temperature, but may be up to 1,000 centipoises as measured with a Brookfield Viscometer using a number 21 spindle rotating at 20 rpm. The viscosity of the light duty liquid composition may approximate those of commercially acceptable light duty liquid compositions now on the market. The viscosity of the light duty liquid composition and the light duty liquid composition itself remain stable on storage for lengthy periods of time, without color changes or settling out of any insoluble materials. The pH of the composition is substantially neutral to skin, e.g., 4.5 to 8 and preferably 5.0 to 7.0. The pH of the composition can be adjusted by the addition of Na2O (caustic soda) to the composition.
The instant compositions have a minimum foam volume of 350 mis after 40 rotation at 25xc2x0 C. as measured by the foam volume test using 0.033 wt. % of the composition in 150 ppm of water. The foam test is an inverted cylinder test in which 100 ml. of a 0.033 wt. % LDL formula in 150 ppm of H20 is placed in a stoppered graduate cylinder (500 ml) and inverted 40 cycles at a rate of 30 cycles/minute. After 40 inversions, the foam volume which has been generated is measured in mis inside the graduated cylinder. This value includes the 100 ml of LDL solution inside the cylinder.

High foaming, grease cutting light duty liquid detergent