A movement limiting suited for use with air gathering means that may also generate tones as a result of motion created by the energy of the wind gathered, is disclosed. The wind gathering means may be either flexible, or substantially rigid. The means are usually planar but may also be three dimensional. The motion is limited to an arc of less than 360 degrees, about a pivot point. The pivot may also be on the longitudinal access of a pole to which wind gathering means, such as flags or banners may be attached. The tone generation means may either generate original tones or cause the regeneration of preselected tones. An advantage of one embodiment of the rotation limitation device is that it prevents flags or banners from wrapping around the flagpole. In another embodiment of the device multiple tones may be generated by the relative motion of the tone actuator and tone generator.

The present invention relates to devices capturing wind motion and the power derived from the flow of air which have limited motion and more particularly to devices for converting natural wind power or power derived from the flow of air into musical sound while so moving.
For many years devices have converted the movement of air into mechanical force. Many of these devices convert wind or air power into musical sound. As windmills pump water, these devices utilize wind-gathering means such as an array of blades or other shapes to capture the kinetic energy of moving air. Generally such an array is attached to a central hub and shaft assembly which is allowed to rotate and thereby translate the movement the air into a rotational mechanical force.
Examples of such devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 214,895 (1895), U.S. Pat. No. 340,740 (1886), U.S. Pat. No. 346,197 (1886), U.S. Pat. No. 424,293 (1890), U.S. Pat. No. 2,495,365 (1950), U.S. Pat. No. 2,532,835 (1950), U.S. Pat. No. 4,872,387 (1989), U.S. Pat. No. 5,368,515 (1994), U.S. Pat. No. 5,334,797 (1994) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,648,624 (1997). In each of these devices, force generated by the movement of the air is first translated into multiple revolutions of a shaft that in turn connects to a sound producing actuator or actuators.
A rotating helix powered by air movement has also been utilized to produce rotational mechanical forces and thereby power a sound producing actuator as is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,015,431 (1912). All of these devices convert the flow of air over the device into a more or less steady rotational mechanical motion due to the rotational inertia of the devices. The devices therefore produce a repeating tone or as in the case of U.S. Pat. No. 5,334,797 (1994) a continuous repeating sequence of tones. This repetition may become tiresome to the ear.
Another approach to translating the kinetic energy of moving air into a mechanical force is through the movement of air over and around a surface such as a flag or banner. A number of devices have been designed to allow a flag to rotate freely in the wind about a pole or other support structure. Examples of such devices are found in U.S. Pat. No. 957,606 (1910), U.S. Pat. No. 4,727,822 (1988), and U.S. Pat. No. 5,375,555 (1994). However, no attempt is made in any of these devices to translate the rotation of the flag about the support structure into a useful mechanical force or to create a sound.
Further, limiting rather than allowing for the free rotation of a banner is important in dealing with the common problem of banners over-wrapping on horizontally positioned support structures. Currently, there are a limited number of devices that attempt to restrict rotational motion of rigid elements incorporated into or clamped onto banners. These devices are limited to a cord, rod or weighted tethers attached to the free corners of a flag or banner, or other devices that restrict an insufficient area of the flexible material of the banner to be effective.
The device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,820,500 (1974), for example, uses a restricting arm that is not fully engaged with or incorporated into the flag. The device is cumbersome in appearance and is not useable with banners that have a hemmed sleeve for fitting onto the pole.
As can be seen from the above a need exists for a bi-directional rotational limiter for use with wind gathering means. Further, such a device would preferably use the force of the wind to generate musical tones. More preferably, such a device would utilize the wind gathering devices as a tone amplifier. To the knowledge of applicant, no such device exists that meets this need in a satisfactory fashion. It is toward meeting this need that the present invention is directed.
The invention is a device for both limiting the motion of a wind gathering means and for converting natural wind power or other airflow into musical sound. In most embodiments of the present invention, the motion being limited by the motion limiting means is the bi-directional rotation of a wind gathering means, which therefore converts natural wind power or other airflow into musical sound. The wind gathering portion of the device most usually comprises a pivoting broad planar surface for intercepting air in motion, though the wind gathering means may be three dimensional. The wind gathering means is mechanically linked to a pick or other sound actuator means. The sound actuator means activates sound generating means. Such a generating means is likely mechanical, but could be connected to an analog or digital reproduction of one or more desired sounds.
In the case of a mechanical sound generation, the mechanical linkage is such that a change in relative position of the planar surface causes a strike corresponding relative change between a tone actuation means such as a pick, and a tone source, or tone generation means with any of its associated tone production means to occur. Three basic arrangements are possible: 1.) The actuating member of the device can be connected to or set in motion by the planar surface, while the tone source is held stationary, 2.) The tone source may be connected to or set in motion by the planar surface while the actuating means is held stationary, and, 3.) The actuating member and the tone source both move and are set in motion by more than one planar surface.
Any combination of the above basic arrangements is possible for creating a strike to occur between the pick and the tone source. Further, the tone source of the device is connected to or mounted on a resonant body to amplify the sound produced. In some configurations of the device the tone source may be capable of producing adequate audible volume for the application without the need for the amplification of the resonant or sound amplifying portion of the device. In other configurations the tone source may have the aid of one of many tone production devices such as an escapement type of action mechanism that aids in the proper striking of the tone-producing element. Such an aid may be engaged and set in motion by the tone activation trigger device of the invention. The idea and development of an escapement action is a defining, well-known feature in piano keyboard design for the control of tone volume.
The planar surface of the device can be formed of a flexible material such as that normally used for a banner or curtain formed of any lightweight flexible material. The planar surface of the device can also be formed of a thin, lightweight, rigid or semi-rigid material such as sheet metal, plastic, or wood. Planar surfaces formed of flexible material are usually more appropriate in configurations of the device wherein the tone source is held stationary with respect to the tone activation trigger which is mechanically linked in some manner to the planar surface.
Configurations of the device in which the planar surface is formed of a rigid or semi-rigid material may appropriately be designed with various relationships between the tone activation trigger and the tone source, i.e., pick movable/tone source stationary, pick stationary/tone source movable, and pick and tone source free to move relative to one another. In all these configurations of the device the planar surface is understood to supply the power to produce a musical tone through the collective harnessing of the air pressure against its broad surface. These forces are due to natural air movement relative to the surface such as wind or other sources of air movement such as an indoor forced air heating or cooling system or a fan.
Besides providing a sufficiently large surface area to harness energy from the movement of air relative to the surface as the path of air movement changes direction, the planar surface may also be designed to operate as a soundboard. In the configuration of the device wherein the planar surface is formed of a rigid or semi-rigid material, the sound energy generated by the tone source of the device can be mechanically coupled to the planar surface which acts as a soundboard to amplify the sound or musical tone generated by the tone source.
As is well known in the field of acoustics, a soundboard can used to amplify the sound generated by a vibrating tone source through the use of resonant material with a broad surface area. For example, with the harpsichord, the motion of the strings (the tone source) is transmitted to a soundboard on which the strings are mounted, and the vibration of this surface accounts for nearly all of the sound that is heard. Resonant air cavities or boxes are not needed for amplification. If the planar surface is not utilized as a soundboard, the tone source must be of sufficient audible volume by itself.
The device is supported by a rigid (a pipe or a pole) or semi-rigid (e.g. a taut hung rope) structure which is not subject to movement by the force of the moving air. The rigid support need not be straight or even tubular. A garden flag may have an arched support that attaches to the ground. The support may also provide for connection of the support to a surface such as the wall of a building and the surface to which the device is attached may function as a soundboard for the device. The support structure for the device may provide a spiked end to be inserted into the ground (as in a garden flag support), a clip (for attachment to a taut hung rope), a flange (for a mast for a hanging banner), suction cup (for attachment to glass or other smooth surface), or other means appropriate for attaching to a particular surface.
Multiple removable adapters may be provided to allow the support structure of the device to be mounted to a variety of surfaces. Further, the device may provide for anti-theft devices to connect the support to a surface. A pin inserted through the mast of a support for a banner or flag at a point near its connection to a wall or other surface, for instance, could be part of a lock mechanism, which prevents a person from pulling the mast out of the support connection.
The device utilizes a hinged movement to translate the collective forces of the wind to a movement of the tone source or tone activation trigger. The hinged motion has its pivot point on or incorporated into one of the following: 1.) The planar surface, 2.) The support structure, or 3.) A housing connected to the planar surface and/or the support. The pivot may be a rotating sleeve having an axis coincident with the axis of the support structure. The pivot may also be held by a support structure which itself has one or more other pivots, for a truly multidirectional motion of the air collection surface and connected tone activation trigger or tone source hardware.
The sleeve may be an elongated tube with provisions for attachment points for the wind catching surface. The sleeve may provide a surface configuration with raised areas which are designed to engage a mating surface on an attachment clip to provide a positive registration of the clip on the sleeve and to thereby prevent rotation of the clip on the sleeve.
Therefore, the pivot point of the device has as one lever arm the collective forces acting upon a wind (air movement force) catching surface at some distance to the pivot point, and as another lever arm a tone activation trigger or tone source acting with some force upon a corresponding tone source or tone activation trigger (respectively) at some distance to the pivot point.
The tone source of the device can be a tine, a string under tension, or as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,760,319 (1998), a tone tube, i.e., a string or tine within a tube. Even cutouts on a surface, such as tines (metal fingers) cut out on and from a surface of a metal tube could be used as a tone source.
The device may include multiple tone activation triggers acting on a tone source at any given time. Also, more than one pick may be mounted as lever arms on the pivot point, the multiple lever arms being located at different angles around the circumference of the pivot and thereby causing the tone activation triggers to contact the tone source at varying degrees of rotation about the pivot point. The tone activation triggers may be part of a lever assembly; alternatively they may be separately attached.
One tone activation trigger system, for instance, might include a molded nylon shaft having radial picks, with the shaft being centered within the diameter of a tone tube (as previously referenced). The shaft can be connected to the lever arm through an opening such as a slot in the wall of the tube. Precise positions of the picks may be adjustable with various screw or clamping means on the lever, housing, or support. For instance, a pick composed of a small diameter axial shape may slide within a hole of a pick holding means, with the hole being bisected by a set screw or the pick may be threaded with one end into that hole, while its other end faces the tone source for striking. The picks or other tone activation triggers may be formed of a various commonly known materials.
The planar surface of the device must be connected to the pivot with a lever arm having sufficient length to provide suitable force to the tone activation triggers to generate a musical tone when the tone source is actuated. In the case of a flexible flag, the connection must provide a lever arm of greater length than that needed for use with a rigid wind catching surface of similar dimensions.
A standard 28xe2x80x3xc3x9740xe2x80x3 flexible nylon or cloth banner, for example, moving in the wind may require a lever arm extending into the flag or banner a few inches in order to generate a force of sufficient magnitude to actuate tone source. The lever arm of the connection is a rigid or semi-rigid structure such as a clip that clamps onto the flag. If the planar surface of the device consists of a sheet of balsa wood, for example, the lever arm of the connection may extend less than an inch onto the surface from the edge. The shorter lever arm is adequate since the planar surface material is stiff enough to maintain its wind-catching shape without the aid of a longer stiff arm to make the connection.
In short, the overall length of the flexible wind catching planar surface almost or fully defines the length of lever arm of the connection. In a device having a rigid planar surface the lever arm of the connection (rigidly attached to the planar surface) can be short because the overall dimension of the planar surface provides a lever arm of sufficient length. Because wind conditions vary, and flags vary in weight, the device may provide for an adjustable connection to the planar surface so that the length of the effective lever arm of the connection may be adjusted to provide sufficient force to actuate the tone source.
The lever arm of the device that connects to flags or banners may provide features for keeping the flags and banners from slipping out of place. For instance, the device may utilize clips that connect to a banner by sandwiching the banner between them. Alternative anti-slip methods of connection include other indented, ridged, or sticking clip surfaces. The clips of this device are configured in such a way as to avoid damage to the banner and are easily applied or removed. The arms of the clips may crimp the banner or flag between them utilizing a special shaped surface, such as ridges on one arm mating with troughs on the opposing arm.
The device may provide for the attachment of flags using their grommets for fastening to the clips. Clips or other provisions for attachment of the wind-catching surface may provide a resonant function through the choice of material, shape or method of attachment to the tone source. Clips may be formed in decorative shapes or colors to enhance the visual impact of the device. Clips may utilize any method of providing sufficient force to grip the wind-catching surface and to hold the clip in place while also facilitating its removal.
Custom designed banners may provide for sewn pockets on the banner to hide the lever arm of a device specifically designed for use with banners. A pocket for connecting to the lever arm of the device can also be created in a flag or banner by folding over a portion of the material and attaching it with hook and loop fasteners.
The force of gravity may be used to return the lever arm and tone activation trigger of the device to a neutral position when air is not acting upon the planar surface. The device may also provide a position resetting force to return the planar surface to a neutral position. A spring can be used to provide the resetting force. A counterweight can also provide the force to return the planar surface to a neutral position. The reset mechanism, the multiple directions of movement of the planar surface (which in turn actuates the tone source), and the intermittent nature of air flow are all serve to randomize the sequence of tone production in a particular device.
A feature common to all possible configurations of the device is that the planar surface that is moved by the airflow is restricted to rotation about a pivot point through an angle of less than 360 degrees; the wind gathering planar surface cannot make a full revolution. In a device where the tone source is located within a tube, the planar surface"" rotational freedom is constrained by a screw or pin protruding through a slot in the tube. The restriction on rotation is important in the case of a device where the planar surface is a banner or flag because the surface is prevented from wrapping around the mast. The device could also be utilized as an anti-wrap attachment for a flag or banner with no provision for the creation of a musical tone.
Multiple planar surfaces may be ganged together to power the rotation of a single device. Further, the planar surface need not be a simple shape so long as it serves to capture air motion in more than one direction. If desired the wind catching means need not even be planar, but could comprise any desired three-dimensional shape.
The device may include means for adjusting the speaking length, tension or any other parameter needed to alter the tuning or tone of any or all of the tone producing or amplifying parts of the device. Positioning of sleeves, bridges or holding means associated with this device may be adjustable
The device may also incorporate gears into the pivot mechanism to which the lever arm that connects to the planar surface is attached to multiply the force or to increase the number of tones generated by the movement of the air. The incorporation of gears can also provide space-saving or structural advantages based upon this leveraged force.
The device provides a simple and inexpensive means for generating a musical tone from the movement of air. The device allows a simple flag or banner to be used to generate a musical tone when the movement of air relative to the flag or banner causes it to change position. Movement of the air is the sole source of mechanical power to generate the musical tone. Further, the device provides for amplification of the generated musical tone by acoustic means.
Accordingly, a prime object of the present invention is to provide a bi-directional rotationally limited means of using forces generated by airflows to produce sounds.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a bi-directional rotation limiter especially suited for attachment to wind gathering means.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a bi-directional rotationally limited means of using forces generated by airflows to produce sounds where the wind gathering means also amplify the sound generated thereby.
These and further objects, as shall hereafter appear, are readily fulfilled by the present invention in a remarkably unexpected manner as will be readily discerned from the following detailed description of an exemplary embodiment thereof especially when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like parts bear like numerals throughout.

Rotationaly limited air driven tone generator


Disclosed are improved methods and apparatus for radiolabeling, particularly methods and apparatus for large scale in-line radiolabeling of products, such as proteins and antibodies.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field chemical modification of molecules and, in particular, provides improved methods and apparatus for radiolabeling of various substances including, but not limited to, proteins and peptides for use in the pharmaceutical industry. More specifically, but without restriction to the particular embodiments hereinafter described, this invention relates to methods and apparatus for continuous large-scale radiolabeling of proteins and peptides.
2. Description of Related Art
Biotechnology plays an important role in medicine, agriculture and other areas of technology. Continued advances in such fields require ongoing biotechnological developments, such as increased and efficient production of radiolabeled materials, including for example proteins, such as antibodies and peptides, and other pharmaceuticals requiring modification involving electrophilic addition of desired molecules or elements such as a radiolabel.
Research aimed towards improving radiolabeling methods is ongoing. The prior art and currently available methods, however, all suffer from their particular deficiencies and drawbacks. These drawbacks include relatively low total activity, radiolysis of the product and the relatively low volume of the labeling batch.
Accordingly, to provide the type of radiolabeled materials required to promote ongoing biotechnological and biomedical developments, the art needs new and improved methods of radiolabeling materials, particularly proteins and antibodies. The development of large scale radiolabeling methods for use in the pharmaceutical industry is particularly sought after.

Methods and apparatus for continuous large-scale radiolabeling of proteins


Aqueous antimicrobial and biofilm removal compositions, comprising essential oils and certain cationic, anionic, amphoteric or non-ionic surfactants individually or in combination having an hydrophile-lipophile balance (HLB) of about 16 or above are effective oral mouthwashes and topical antimicrobial solutions. Optionally C2, C3, benzyl, 3-phenylpropanol or 2-phenylethanol alcohols can be added singularly or in combination from about 2 to about 20v/w %.

This invention relates to compositions comprising essential oils having antimicrobial activity with one or more cationic, anionic, or amphoteric surfactants having a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) or about 16 or greater. In particular, this invention relates to the employment of the combined essential oils and surfactants as an effective antimicrobial and plaque removal oral rinse. Other uses are also contemplated such as a topical solution to kill microbes and remove biofilm from medical and dental equipment and tubing.
Essential oils have long been known to have some degree of antimicrobial properties and some degree of antiplaque activity. However, sufficient activity is lacking, until the present invention.
A wide variety of microorganisms are found in the oral cavity, and among these are gram-positive anaerobic rods associated with the development of plaque such as Corynebacterium, Nocardia, Neisseria, and Streptococci, such as S. mutens, S. bovis, S. salivarius, and gram-positive streptococci of the genus Peptostreptooccus.
In addition, there is also present in plaque relatively small amounts of other substances such as salivary proteins, carbohydrates, epithelial cells and leukocytes. These organisms play a key role in the etiology of plaque. The bacterial organisms associated with plaque formation produce a capsular material, which apparently causes the cells of the organism to adhere to each other, holding the plaque together and allowing for further growth. For example, one of the capsule forming bacteria, which occurs in large numbers in early plaque is Neisseria sicca.
Removal of plaque and/or calculus by a dentist is currently the only safeguard against serious gingival inflammation caused by the accumulation of significant amounts of plaque.
Conventional mouthwashes serve primarily to sweeten the breath, are formulated for that purpose, and are believed not to function in any in any significant way to loosen or remove plaque from the dental surfaces.
There is a definite need in the art for an oral hygiene composition which, when used alone, or in conjunction with a regular tooth brushing regime, renders the plaque present on the dental surface more susceptible to removal.
Essential oils which have the characteristic or flavor of the plant (or synthetically derived) from which they are obtained having long been used as antimicrobial agents. Most essential oils are composed of terpenes, oxygenated constituents, sesquiterpenes, and a small amount of a nonvolatile residue. The principal essential oil constituents can therefore be divided into two broad classes of organic compounds: those, which contain only carbon and hydrogen, and those, which contain carbon, hydrogen and oxygen.
The carbon-hydrogen essential oils include paraffins, olefins, aromatic hydrocarbons, terpenes (olefinic as well as mono and tricyclic) a few lower terpene homologs, sesquiterpenes (aliphatic as well as mono, bi, and tricyclic), diterpones, and azulenes. Of these the terpenes and sesquiterpenes are most characteristic of essential oils. The fundamental building block of the terpene series is the isoprene unit, sometimes called a hemiterpene. Two such units give rise to the terpenes; three to the sesquiterpenes, four, to the diterpenes.
The carbon hydrogen - oxygen essential oils usually represent the more soluble portion of the oil. In this very broad class are included alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, and esters. As in the case of the carbon-hydrogen essential oils, many types are to be found saturated and unsaturated aliphatic as well as aromatic compounds, and also terpenic and sesquiterpenic compounds (aliphatic, monocyclic, bicyclic, and in the case of the sesquiterpene compounds, even tricyclic). Other important constituents are phenols and phenolic ethers, acids (usually esterified), lactones, oxides, and coumarins. Of lesser importance are the furan derivatives, the coumarones, and the quinones.
As in the pharmaceutical industry where the chirality of the bioactivity drug can play an important part in the enhance activity, the same can be true with essential oils and their antimicrobial efficacy. When stereoisomerism occurs, the molecule can have enantiomers, which differ in structure only in the left - and right handedness of their orientations. Optical activity in essential oils exists primarily by having one or more chiral carbon atoms. Thus it is theoretically possible that one of the enantiomers has greater antimicrobial activity, then the racemic mixture. Of course, the separation of an optically active substance would require additional expense, and unless there was a dramatic improvement at relative low costs, this methodology would not be cost-effective. Nevertheless, the preparation or optically active separation resulting in a significant enhancement of antimicrobial and/or biofilm removal capability is incorporated into the body of this invention.
The following list illustrates the voluminous numbers of essential oils having varying degrees of antimicrobial activity (not all inclusive): anethol, anise oil, anol, bay oil, bergamot oil, camphor, carvacrol, carvone, cedar leaf oil, citronel, eucalyptol, eugenol, guaiacol, hinokitiol, Isoeugenol, lavender oil, lemon oil, d-limonene, linalool, menthol, methyl salicylate, mustard oil, oil of cajeput, oil of cubeb, oil of santal, osimen, peppermint oil, phenolics, phenyl salicylate, pimento, pine oil, rosemary oil, safrale sage oil, saligenin, sassafras oil, spearmint oil, storax, vanillin, wintergreen oil, and other similar constituents.
This invention is not limited by the above specific essential oils. Many of the above components can be further chemically modified to enhance antimicrobial activity and are therefore part of the specifications of this invention concerning essential oils.
Furthermore, the specification includes stereoisomers and/or geometrical isomers of essential oils having chirality, because it is known that there can be significant difference in antimicrobial activity between the isomers.
For the purpose of carrying out the experimental portion of this invention, the following well-known essential oils were utilized; thymol, menthol, eucalyptol, and methyl salicylate were used.
Surfactants are often an important constituent of disinfectants. They are employed to achieve both uniform wetting of the surface to be treated and frequently an additional cleaning effect. This is why particular attention should be given to this group of substances when formulating a disinfectant, as there are many ways in which the two groups of compounds can interact. It is generally known that, for instance, anionic surfactants promote the inactivation of quaternary ammonium compounds. The same most likely applies to other positively charged biocides, e.g., betaines, guanidines, biguanides, etc. The inactivating effects are generally obtained with surfactant concentrations well above critical micelle concentration of about 0.75 to about 2.5 weight %.
In contrast at lower concentrations improvements of the biocide often occur. The cause of the improved action by additional of low quantities of surfactants is considered to be an accumulation of the agent within micelles of the surfactant which adsorb at the microorganism cell wall. The active substance thus becomes enriched at the cell wall which means that a lower does is required for the desired effect. The property of surfactant at a higher concentration to inhibit the action of antimicrobial agents is attributed both to complexing and solubilizing in surfactant micelles. In both cases, the availability of full antimicrobial active substance is reduced.
Several mouthwashes that have been marketed for the reduction of bacteria and the prevention of plaque build-up generally rely on a combination of biocides and ethanol.
Commercial products contain up to 26.9% ethanol. However, the use of alcohol containing formulations tends to produce unpleasant side effects including pain and stinging of the oral mucous, foul aftertaste and discoloration of teeth. The use of alcohol in mouthwashes is being scrutinized by various government agencies due to some adverse physiological reactions, which are delineated in the literature including an increase in oral cancer. There are also societal advantages to a non-alcohol mouthwash, since it would discourage alcoholics from imbibing with the product. Hospitals would be more predisposed to purchase these non-alcohol formulations.
Therefore, where required or desired it is possible to have a no alcohol product, a low alcohol product (xcx9c5 toxcx9c15%) or a high alcohol product (up to 26.9%) by using the teachings of this invention.
The term surfactant is a contraction of surface-active agent. Surfactants are characterized by the following features. These amphipathic molecules are composed of groups of opposing solubility tendencies, typically an oil-soluble hydrocarbon chain and a water-soluble non-ionic or ionic group. At equilibrium, the concentration of a surfactant solute at the phase interface is greater than its concentration in the bulk of the solution. At a critical surfactant concentration (CMC-critical micelle concentration) the surfactant forms aggregates called micelles. Surfactant solutions exhibit combinations of detergency, foaming, wetting, emulsifying, solubilizing and dispersing properties.
Surfactants are classified depending on the charge of the surface-active moiety. In anionic surfactants, this moiety carries a negative charge. In cationic surfactants, the charge is positive. In nonionic surfactants there is no charge. In amphoteric surfactants solubilization is provided by the presence of positive and negative charges in the molecule.
An old and well-accepted method to determine functionality of surfactants is known as the hydrophile -lipophile balance (HLB). The HLB is an expression of the relative simultaneous attraction of a surfactant for water and for oil. The HLB of a surfactant determines the type of an emulsion that tends to be formed. It is an indicative of the behavior characteristics and not an indication of surfactant efficiency.
Within one or two HLB units, the ranges result in the following applications:
The appearance of emulsions is governed essentially by the particle size and by the difference in refractive index of the external and internal phases. Transparency may be gained either by having both phases of the same refractive index or by virtue of the internal phase being dispersed in such small particles that refraction does not occur because the particle size of the emulsion is several times smaller than the wavelength of light.
The ability to form a small particle (0.05u or less) micelle containing a relatively water insoluble biocide essential oil is a major advantage in improving its efficacy in killing bacteria found in the mouth and other areas. The transparent appearance is of an aesthetic nature for the consumer.
It is also understood in the teaching of this invention that combinations of surfactants can be used to arrive at HLB""s that are useful to form the transparent or semi-transparent emulsions. When two or more surfactants are to be blended the HLB of the combinations is easily calculated. If x is the proportion of one surfactant having an HLB of A, and the other surfactant has an HLB of B, the HLB of the combination can be expressed for all practical purposes as xA+(1xe2x88x92x)B. This is a straight-line relationship. If the value of this 16 or greater, then most likely the combination will be workable.
In a further embodiment of the antimicrobial solution of this invention, selective organic acids are included to enhance the overall efficacy. It is known that certain compositions, e.g., sodium benzoate and sodium salicylate (U.S. Pat. No. 4,657,758) enhance the removal of plaque from the dental rinse formulation.
Additional organic acids helpful to enhance biofilm removal are hydroxy carboxylic, e.g., lactic acid, and mandelic acid as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,942,480. Salicylic acid is also a hydroxy carboxylic acid.
All of the above organic acids have to varying degrees, antimicrobial activity. They also function as pH buffering agents, if needed.
Where applicable any of the above components when possessing optical activity can be either a racemic mixture or an optically active stereoisomer.
Effective amounts can range from 0.2 to 2.0 weight %.
Another optional ingredient, which can be included in the antimicrobial solutions of this invention, is a compound selected from the various chelating compounds. Chelators are widely used as preservative agents in many OTC formations. At the cellular level, the chelator sequesters divalent cations that are important for cell survival, such as calcium, from the lipid bilayer and from the cell interior. Lack of calcium alters the fluidity of the cell membrane, impairs calcium - dependent metabolic processes, and ultimately results in the death of the cell.
Examples of chelators are ethylenediamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA), ethylene glycol-bis (B-aminoethyl ether)- N,N,Nxe2x80x2,Nxe2x80x2-tetraacetic acid (EGTA), 2,2xe2x80x2-(ethylenediimino) - dibutyric acid (EBAA) and nitrilo triacetic acid (NTA).
Other chelators useful for this invention include phosphino polycarboxylic acid, diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid, amino tris (methylene phosphonic acid, polyaspartic acid, hydroxyethane diphosphonic acid, and the like. The amount of chelator can vary, but a preferred range for this invention is from about 0.10 to about 1.0 weight %.
Many of the antiseptic mouthwashes contain high levels of ethanol, some as high as 26.9% by volume based on the total volume. Previously, mouthwashes using essential oils would lose some of their potency. However, this invention allows the formulator considerable leeway either to use no alcohol or to use reduced amounts, e.g., 5 to 20% volume. This is a considerable feat as exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 5,891,422 where the reduction of ethanol was only from about 2-7% by volume.
In addition to ethanol, other alcohols can be used at much lower concentrations not to exceed 5% by volume. Some examples are propanol, isopropanol, benzyl alcohol, phenylethyl alcohol, phenoxyethanol or phenoxypropanol.
An important criteria of this invention is to use a surfactant or surfactants which will form a transparent or semi-transparent emulsion with micelle formation of the essential oils having a particle size of about 0.05u. It was determined by careful studies, that the HLB of the surfactant (s) should be of about 16 or greater. Since there are literally thousands of surfactants, many of which fulfill these criteria, it would be a very difficult task to examine every one of them on an individual basis. However, the concept of having an HLB of about 16 or greater is important in order to carry out the scope of this invention. Essential oils used were:
It was found experimentally that higher concentrations of the essential oils could be used when using the surfactants described in this invention. In many cases twice as much, or even more.
The following surfactants were found to give the desired results.
It was found experimentally that combinations of surfactants resulted in clear transparent emulsions of the essential oils of this invention. This additive relationship is true even if one of the surfactant has an HLB of less than 16. As long as the linear additive relationship is satisfied e.g., XA+(1xe2x88x92x) B where x is the proportion of one surfactant having an HLB of A, and the other surfactant has an HLB of B. If this value is 16 or greater a semi-transparent or transparent emulsion will result.

Abstract: Other optically ingredients include antimicrobial enhances and biofilm removal agents e.g., chelating compounds and certain organic acids.


A method is disclosed for covering a roof with seamable sheet material for roofing prepared from a polymeric composition of matter comprising the steps of:

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is directed to a method for covering a roof. More specifically, this invention is directed to a method for covering a roof using a sheeting material comprising a copolymer of ethylene, propylene, and at least two nonconjugated dienes.
2. Description of Related Art
Industrial roofs in the past were traditionally treated with bitumen compositions to provide weather proofing. This practice in recent years has been replaced to a significant degree by applying rubber sheet materials to industrial roofs. In one common form of roofing system, a single-ply waterproof membrane or sheet, composed of ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM), is placed on top of a flat roof structure. The single-ply roof membrane is supplied in rolls having widths varying from ten to forty feet. In use, the membrane is unrolled on the roof and positioned in place. Appropriate splices are made at the edges of adjacent sheets, and suitable flashing is provided at curbs, skylights, vent pipes, and the like, all in a manner well known in the art.
To secure the membrane to the roof structure, three fundamentally different approaches have been taken. In one approach, known as the xe2x80x9cadheredxe2x80x9d roofing system, adhesive is applied to the entire roof and used to fasten the lower surface of the membrane and the upper surface of the roof structure. In a second approach, known as the xe2x80x9cballastedxe2x80x9d system, the membrane is placed on the roof structure without adhesive there between, that is xe2x80x9cloosely laid,xe2x80x9d and the membrane is held in position by a layer of smooth stone placed on top of it. In a third approach, known as a xe2x80x9cmechanically attachedxe2x80x9d roofing system, elongated metal or plastic nailing strips having adhesive applied to the bottoms thereof are placed on top of the membrane at periodic spaced intervals, much like a grid, and secured in place by driving fasteners through the nailing strip and membrane into the underlying roof structure.
Originally, the roofing material was available only in rolls of relatively narrow width, for example, four feet wide. For a roof of large dimensions, the time required to apply the roofing material strips of narrow width was found to be excessive and, owing to high labor costs, intolerable from a commercial standpoint. Accordingly, to reduce the application time, and hence the cost, of roofing with synthetic rubber sheet stock, it was found desirable to provide sheet stock in rolls of very large width, such as forty feet wide. With sheet stock of such width, the time required to roof a building in this manner was a mere fraction of that necessary with sheet stock of narrow width. A method and apparatus for providing indefinite length stock of very large width from indefinite length stock of relatively narrow width are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,337,112.
The use of elastomeric ethylene-propylene-nonconjugated diene terpolymer and isobutylene-conjugated diene copolymer compositions as the material in the construction of roof sheeting is well known in the art. Such sheeting in the cured, or cross-linked, state provides excellent roofing material in those applications where flat material is acceptable for disposition on equally flat or moderately contoured structures. Additionally, it is possible, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,461,875, to modify such materials in order to render them suitable as flashing, for use on those portions of a roof characterized by irregular shape.
Owing to outstanding weathering resistance and flexibility, cured EPDM based roof sheeting has been rapidly gaining acceptance. This material is normally prepared by vulcanizing the composition in the presence of sulfur or sulfur-containing to compounds such as mercaptans. U.S. Pat. No. 4,803,020 also discloses the use of radiation cross-linking promoters in an EPDM sheeting composition that can be cured by ionizing radiation. A disadvantage of utilizing these elastomers is the lack of adhesion of EPDM, especially cured EPDM, to itself. In applying EPDM sheets to a roof, it is usually necessary to splice the cured EPDM sheets together. The splice or seam area is subjected to both short-term and long-term stresses such as those caused by roof movement, heavy winds, freeze-thaw cycling, and thermal cycling. Such stresses may manifest themselves in shear forces or peel forces (i.e., the seam peels back under severe stress conditions or results in a partially open seam under less severe conditions).
In view of the foregoing problem, adhesives have been used to bond the cured EPDM sheets together. Alternatively, special EPDM formulations have been devised that permit heating the overlapped edges and seaming them using heat and pressure in the absence of an adhesive.
A variety of methods for adhering or seaming the roofing membranes together has developed over the years. For example, solvent-based adhesives, which typically employ neoprene or butyl-based compounds, have been used to bond roof sheeting materials together by applying with a brush or other similar means the liquid or pastelike adhesives directly to the edge areas of the roofing membranes to be joined.
Alternatively, polymeric tapes have been developed, as adhesive compositions that are unvulcanized but which contain curatives so as to be vulcanizable or vulcanized. These are typically used in the form of a preformed tape to bond sheet membranes together.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,000,140 discloses a waterproof sheet material suitable for use as a waterproof roofing layer, the sheet being composed of a mixture comprising (a) a bituminous material, (b) a synthetic polymeric material, and (c) particulate filler, said synthetic material comprising at least one uncured copolymer selected from ethylene-propylene copolymers and ethylene-propylene-diene copolymers and at least one synthetic polar elastomer.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,129,542 discloses a thermoplastic, elastomeric material that is obtained by curing under shear conditions (e.g., in a high shear internal mixer) a blend of vulcanizable rubber (e.g., SBR, EPDM) and a bituminous material in the presence of a rubber vulcanizing agent (e.g., sulfur or peroxide).
U.S. Pat. No. 4,337,112 discloses an apparatus and method for making a composite sheet of indefinite length and very large predetermined width from indefinite length sheet stock of relatively small width.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,424,253 discloses blends of chlorinated hydrocarbon rubber selected from chlorosulfonated polyethylene having about 22 to 28 weight percent Cl and 0.4-1.2 weight percent sulfur and chlorinated polyethylene having about 22 to 28 weight percent Cl with EPM or EPDM elastomers (which may be terpolymers or tetra polymers) in a proportion of 75 to 93 percent of the former and 6 to 25 percent of the latter that can be compounded with usual fillers, pigments, stabilizers, and processing aids and formed into sheets that form hot bonded laminate structures with linear ethylene polymer sheets.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,445,306 discloses a system for mechanically attaching a flexible waterproof membrane to an underlying structure including an elongated fastening bar that is placed above the membrane and fastened to the roof structure with fasteners that are driven through the bar from the tops thereof through the underlying membrane and into the roof structure, and an elongated waterproof strip having (a) a central region sandwiched beneath the bottom of the bar and the membrane, and through which the fasteners also pass, and (b) marginal regions that wrap upward around the bar and overlap each other above the bar and the heads of the fasteners, providing a waterproof seal for the bar with a double thickness layer of strip material above the fastener heads.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,461,875 discloses a composition for application as roof sheeting or flashing comprising 100 parts of an elastomer selected from the group consisting of EPDM, butyl rubber, and an EPDM-butyl rubber mixture; 0.1 to 3.0 parts of a compound having the structural formula {(CH2)nNCS}2S6, where n is 4 or 5; and 0 to 5.0 parts of a sulfur donor curative.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,722,961 discloses a roofing membrane composition comprising:
(a) a first hydrolyzable polyolefin having a density less than or equal to 0.92 selected from the group consisting of
(i) a copolymer of ethylene or propylene and silane and
(ii) a silane modified polyethylene, polypropylene, or ethylene/propylene copolymer
wherein, in (i) or (ii), the silane is present in an amount of about 0.5 to about 10 percent by weight based on the weight of the first polyolefin, said first polyolefin being present in the composition in an amount of about 20 to about 90 percent by weight based on the weight of the composition;
(b) a second polyolefin selected from the group consisting of
(i) an ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer rubber;
(ii) a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate; and
(iii) a copolymer of ethylene and ethyl acrylate;
said second polyolefin being present in the composition in an amount of about 10 to about 80 percent by weight based on the combined weight of the first and second polyolefins;
(c) a particulate filler selected from the group consisting of carbon black and nonblack reinforcing fillers and mixtures thereof; and
(d) an oil compound suitable for roofing membranes selected from the group consisting of paraffin oils, naphthenic oils, and liquid polybutene.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,732,925 discloses vulcanizable elastomeric roof sheeting or flashing compositions comprising a vulcanizable elastomer, a metallurgical carbon and a vulcanizing agent. The compositions may additionally contain conventional thermal or furnace-type carbon blacks and other conventional rubber chemical additives.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,096,743 discloses a process for curing a heat-weldable roofing membrane by applying elemental sulfur on the exterior surface of the roofing membrane, said membrane being a blend of
(a) 50 to 80 percent by weight of an ethylene/propylene/nonconjugated diene elastomer and
(b) 20 to 50 percent by weight of an ethylene-containing polymer selected from the group consisting of polyethylene a-monoolefin copolymer wherein the monoolefin contains from 3 to 12 carbon atoms and is present in amounts of 2 to 8 percent by weight, and an ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer having a vinyl acetate content up to about 10 percent by weight, said membrane containing a cure accelerator. The roofing membrane is exposed to ambient outdoor temperatures resulting in migration of sulfur to the interior of the membrane where, together with the cure accelerator, it effects cure of the membrane.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,256,228 discloses a heat seamable sheet material for roofing prepared from an uncured polymeric composition of matter that comprises 100 parts by weight of a polymer blend comprising about 50 to 90 parts by weight of polyolefins having a crystallinity of up to about 2 percent by weight. The polyolefins are prepared from monomers having at least two carbon atoms and mixtures thereof. The polymer blend also comprises about 10 to 50 parts by weight of a highly crystalline thermoplasticity promoter selected from the group consisting of polymeric olefins prepared from monomers consisting of at least two carbon atoms; about 50 to 250 parts by weight of a filler selected from the group consisting of reinforcing and nonreinforcing materials and mixtures thereof per 100 parts of the polymer blend; and about 20 to 150 parts by weight of a processing material and mixtures thereof per 100 parts of the polymer blend. A method for covering a roof comprises the steps of applying layers of sheet material as described above to the roof being covered; overlapping adjacent edges of the layers; heating the overlapped areas to slightly above the softening point of the sheet material and seaming the overlapped areas using heat and sufficient pressure to provide an acceptable seam, the composition of matter having sufficient self-adhesion without the use of an adhesive.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,504,136 discloses an adhesive tape composition that includes a polymer blend comprising at least one EPDM rubber, and preferably three EPDM rubbers in substantially equal amounts, and an adhesive-enhancing polymer selected from the group consisting of polyisoprene, polybutadiene, and ethylene-propylene copolymer and mixtures thereof. The tape adhesive composition further includes at least one tackifying additive compatible with said polymer blend and a sulfur and organic accelerator cure package for said polymer blend, the adhesive composition being devoid of butyl rubber which is found in most other adhesive tape compositions. A method is also provided for covering roofs that includes the step of employing the adhesive tape composition.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,594,073 discloses ambient temperature-curable roofing compositions and ambient temperature-curable sheeting compositions, both of which include an elastomer or elastomer mixture such as ethylene-propylene nonconjugated diene terpolymer, butyl rubber, and mixtures thereof. Such elastomers are cured with conventional dialkylthiourea and sulfur type curatives. Also used are conventional thiuram and dithiocarbamate type accelerators.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,733,621 discloses an adhesive roofing tape based on a combination of brominated butyl rubber and EPDM. A nondiene block terpolymer is interspersed in the cross-linked polymer network. A plasticizer and tackifier are included to provide resiliency and permanent tack. An important aspect of the invention is to use a high molecular weight polyisobutylene plasticizer and a peroxide curing system. Rapid cross-linking without concomitant rapid degradation of the brominated butyl rubber occurs, and some limited degradation of the plasticizer contributes to surface tack.
The rubberized polymer compositions from which sheet materials used in the production of roofing membranes vary greatly, but they must have characteristics that permit processing at high speeds through two-roll mills or calenders into thicknesses in the range of about 20 to about 60 thousands of an inch. One characteristic of the polymer compositions that significantly affects the milling operation of these sheet materials is known as xe2x80x9ctack.xe2x80x9d If the tack is too great or too little, the composition does not process through the equipment. Typically, the composition does not separate from the rolls of the mill and form a sheet of uniform thickness. Minor variations in the tack property of a polymer composition can provide significant variations in the efficiency of the process for making roof sheeting and preventing waste of material during processing.
During the manufacture of sheeting membranes, it is necessary to assemble many individual pieces in order to provide larger sheets. This procedure is accomplished by overlapping an edge of one sheet onto another sheet to create a bond between the sheets. This process is repeated until the desired length is achieved. The areas that are overlapped must possess sufficient uncured tack so that the overlapped joint holds together and does not delaminate when the assembled sheeting membrane continues through the other stages of manufacture.
In some roof sheeting manufacturing processes, the stored, uncured sheeting stock enters the process by being broken down or masticated on a mill before being fed as strips into other processing equipment. The room temperature stock, when placed on the mill, has to break down and band or stick onto the mill surface without any external help so that strips can be cut from the banded stock and fed to other downstream processing equipment. The polymer used within the compounded stock naturally controls this mill behavior. Failure of the stock to break down and band on the roll can cause it to fall through the mill rolls and onto the floor and result in an interruption in the production cycle.
Ethylene-propylene-ethylidene norbornene terpolymers perform well in is sheeting applications but are deficient in tack and mill processability because their tangent delta is too high. It is possible to achieve excellent tack properties and mill processability via incorporation of DCPD or other diene referenced herein, because the DCPD increases branching and thus reduces tangent delta.
One object of the present invention is to provide a method for covering a roof that includes the use of an EPDM type polymer that has good uncured tack properties and characteristics that facilitate processing during the sheet manufacturing process.
The present invention is directed to a method for covering a roof that includes using a composition comprising a thermosetting rubber composition. The rubber composition comprises a tetrapolymer of ethylene, propylene, and at least two nonconjugated dienes.
More particularly, the present invention is directed to a method for covering a roof with seamable sheet material for roofing prepared from a polymeric composition of matter comprising the steps of:
applying layers of sheet material prepared from a seamable polymeric composition of matter to the roof being covered;
overlapping adjacent edges of said layers; and
adhering the overlapped areas to provide an acceptable seam strength;
wherein said composition of matter comprises an interpolymer of ethylene, propylene, and at least two nonconjugated dienes, each having one reactive double bond.
The EPDM elastomers employed in the practice of the present invention perform well in sheeting applications and include desirable tack properties and mill processability. Such sheeting in the cured, or cross-linked, state provides excellent roofing material where flat material is acceptable for disposition on equally flat or moderately contoured structures. Cross-linked EPDM rubber sheeting has an excellent reputation as an effective barrier to roof leaks on the surfaces on which it is applied. The utilization of EPDM roof sheeting provides a very effective long-term protector against water leakage.
EPDM is used as the elastomer in the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The EPDM used is an interpolymer prepared by the polymerization of at least four monomers, which include ethylene and one or more olefin monomer(s) having the general formula H2Cxe2x95x90CHR, wherein R is an alkyl group having from one to seven carbon atoms. In a preferred embodiment, one such olefin monomer is propylene. The EPDM also includes at least two nonconjugated dienes, each having one reactive double bond available for crosslinking, which can be a C6-C12 linear or C9-C10 bridged ring hydrocarbon diene copolymerizable with the aforementioned monomers. The dienes are preferably selected from the group consisting of 1,4-hexadiene, 2-methyl-1,5-hexadiene, 1,9-octadecadiene, dicyclopentadiene, tricyclopentadiene, 5-vinyl-2-norbornene, 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene, and 5-methylene-2-norbornene.
In addition to the two or more nonconjugated dienes, each having one reactive double bond available for crosslinking, there may also be, if desired, one or more additional dienes having two reactive double bonds such as, but not limited to, 1,4-pentadiene, 1,5-hexadiene, 1,7-octadiene, 3,6-dimethyl-1,7-octadiene, 4,5-dimethyl-1,7-octadiene, 1,9-decadiene, 1,11-dodecadiene, 1,20-heneicosadiene, 5-(5-hexenyl)-2-norbornene, 2,5-norbornadiene, 5-(2-propenyl)-2-norbornene, and the so-called xe2x80x9cnorborneonorbornenexe2x80x9d obtained by reaction of cyclopentadiene with norbornadiene-2,5.
The elastomers contain about 50 to 75 weight percent of ethylene and about 1 to 15 weight percent of the dienes, the balance being propylene. The preferred embodiment of the elastomer employed in the practice of the present invention is an ethylene, propylene, ethylidene norbornene, and dicyclopentadiene tetrapolymer having excellent uncured tack properties and improved mill processability. Desirable concentrations of ethylidene norbornene (ENB) are 1 to 10 weight percent and, preferably, 2 to 4 weight percent. Desirable concentrations of dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) are 0.1 to 5 weight percent. A more desirable concentration of DCPD is 0.3 to 2 and, preferably, 0.4 to 1 weight percent. Desirable ratios of ENB to DCPD are 2:1 to 20:1. The preferred ratio of ENB to DCPD is 5:1. The dicyclopentadiene provides these properties by lowering the tangent delta value of the polymer composition as compared with a terpolymer of ethylene, propylene, and ethylidene norbornene. These properties are important in the manufacture of roof sheeting products.
The improved tack properties are provided by the addition of dicyclopentadiene along with the customary amount of ethylidene norbornene usually found in terpolymers of ethylene, propylene and ethylidene norbornene, which makes the polymer structure more branched, as manifested by a reduced tangent delta value,
The EPDM interpolymer composition employed in the practice of the present invention preferably has a Mooney viscosity (ML1+4 @ 125xc2x0 C.) of about 35 to about 90 or, desirably, about 40 to about 70. A preferred high molecular weight EPDM interpolymer can be prepared by polymerizing ethylene, propylene, and at least two nonconjugated dienes in the presence of a Ziegler-Natta catalyst in a suitable solvent while, if necessary, supplying hydrogen as a molecular weight modifier. The polymerization is performed in solution.
A Ziegler-Natta catalyst consists of at least one transition metal compound such as, for example, a solvent-soluble or partially soluble vanadium compound, and at least one organometallic compound such as, for example, an organoaluminum compound.
The vanadium compounds are, preferably, VOCl3, VCl4 or the reaction products of VOCl3 or VCl4 with at least one alcohol. In this case, the alcohol includes, for example, a member selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, pentanol, hexanol, heptanol, octanol, decanol, undecanol, dodecanol, and the like, and isomers thereof. Alcohols having three to eight carbon atoms are preferred.
The organoaluminum compound can be selected from the group consisting of, for example, triethylaluminum, triisobutylaluminum, tri-n-hexyl-aluminum, diethylaluminum monochloride, diisobutylaluminum monochloride, ethylaluminum sesquichloride, butylaluminum sesquichloride, ethylaluminum dichloride, butylaluminum dichloride, methylaluminoxane, which is the reaction product of trimethylaluminum with water, and the like. These organoaluminum compounds can be used singly or in admixture of two or more.
The solvent employed in the polymerization reaction is usually a hydrocarbon solvent. Desirable hydrocarbon solvents include n-pentane, n-hexane, n-heptane, n-octane, isooctane, cyclohexane, and the like. These hydrocarbon solvents can be used singly or in admixture of two or more.
It is within the scope of the present invention to blend the above-described EPDM polymer with one or more additional compatible elastomers for special needs. Exemplary elastomers are chlorosulfonated polyethylene, chlorinated polyethylene, a copolymer of ethylene or propylene and silane, a silane modified polyethylene, polypropylene, or ethylene/propylene copolymer, polyethylene, polypropylene, ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer, poly isoprene, and polybutadiene. Where such an additional elastomer is used, it is preferred that it be butyl rubber, i.e., a copolymer of isobutylene and isoprene, as well as other rubbery copolymers comprising at least 50 percent by weight of an isoolefin having four to eight carbon atoms and 50 percent or less by weight of an open chain conjugated diolefin having four to eight carbon atoms. xe2x80x9cButyl rubberxe2x80x9d is intended also to include halogenated butyl rubber such as chlorobutyl or bromobutyl rubber as well as those types of butyl rubber in which conjugated diene functionality has been added in the linear backbone at the diolefin units.
A roofing composition for use in the practice of the present invention is provided by including an effective quantity of a curing agent with the EPDM interpolymer. The roofing composition can be manufactured in sheets of the desired dimensions. Such sheets are usually formed by calendering or extruding the polymer composition.
The EPDM interpolymer must be accompanied by an effective quantity of a curing agent or a xe2x80x9ccurative package.xe2x80x9d A curative package can include a peroxide compound or a sulfur donor curative and at least one cure accelerator, which provides cross-linking of the rubber chains when later subjected to curing temperatures.
The sulfur donor curative may be one or more of the following compounds: sulfur, dimethyl-diphenylthiuram disulfide, dipentamethylenethiuram tetrasulfide, tetraethylthiuram disulfide, tetramethylthiuram disulfide, alkyl disulfides, selenium diethyldithiocarbamate, selenium dimethyldithiocarbamate, 4,4xe2x80x2-dithiodimorpholine, and N,Nxe2x80x2-dithiobis(hexahydro-2H-azepinon-2). It should be appreciated that this list is not exclusive and other sulfur donating compounds known in the art are within the contemplation of this invention. The preferred curing agent is sulfur, preferably at a level of about 0.1 to about 5.0 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the elastomer, more preferably 0.4 to 3.0 parts, most preferably 0.5 to 2.0 parts, and in commercially available elemental form such as the commonly used rhombic crystalline form called xe2x80x9crubber makers"" sulfurxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cspider sulfur.xe2x80x9d
The optional cure accelerator is of one of the following classes:
1. Thiazoles, wherein representative materials are benzothiazyl disulfide and 2-mercaptobenzothiazole.
2. Thiuram monosulfides and thiuram disulfides. Among the thiuram mono- and disulfides are included lower-alkyl, monocyclic, aryl, and cyclic alkylene thiuram sulfides. Representative materials include:
Tetramethylthiuram disulfide;
Tetramethylthiuram monosulfide;
Tetraethylthiuram disulfide;
Tetrabutylthiuram monosulfide;
Diisopropylthiuram disulfide; and
Phenylethylthiuram disulfide.
3. A dithiocarbamate-type accelerator such as a salt of a dialkyldithiocarbamate wherein the alkyl groups can have one to six carbon atoms and wherein such a salt can be formed in conjunction with bismuth, cadmium, copper, iron, nickel, lead, potassium, selenium, sodium, tellerium or zinc. Specific examples are:
Zinc dibutyldithiocarbamate;
Zinc pentamethylenedithiocarbamate;
Bismuth dimethyldithiocarbamate;
Nickel dibutyldithiocarbamate;
Copper dimethyldithiocarbamate;
Selenium diethyldithiocarbamate;
Lead dimethyldithiocarbamate;
Selenium dimethyldithiocarbamate;
Tellurium dimethyldithiocarbamate;
Tellurium diethyldithiocarbamate;
Cadmium diethyldithiocarbamate;
Zinc dibenzyldithiocarbamate;
Zinc dimethyldithiocarbamate; and
Zinc diethyldithiocarbamate.
More than one of the curative agents or xe2x80x9ccure acceleratorsxe2x80x9d can be utilized to optimize the desired blend of cured properties and to optimize the processing characteristics. The use of more than one cure accelerator can be desirable for accommodating the solubility limitations of each individual type of accelerator in EPDM. Also, the tendency of certain materials to xe2x80x9cbloomxe2x80x9d to the surface of the rubber part can be minimized by maintaining each material at a level well below the solubility limit in the base rubber elastomer.
As indicated above, elastomeric roof sheeting or membrane is normally vulcanized prior to application to the roof surface. Thus, vulcanizing systems for EPDM elastomer compositions used as roofing membranes can be virtually any of those known in the art to be effective in the heat curing of EPDM compositions. Suitable vulcanizing systems can be readily determined without undue experimentation by appropriate selection from the vulcanizing agents and accelerators listed above.
As also mentioned above, elastomer roof flashing which is applied to the roof surface in an unvulcanized state contains a special cure package that allows it to cure in situ on the roof. Thus, EPDM compositions that are used as flashing materials for vulcanized EPDM roofing membranes contain a special vulcanizing system that allows the EPDM flashing to cure in situ on the roof under ambient temperature conditions over a period of time. In time, the EPDM flashing will develop physical properties that are comparable to those of the vulcanized EPDM roofing membrane.
It is also contemplated that the sheeting materials used in the practice of the present invention can have additional ingredients incorporated in their composition. Among the additives that can be present in the composition are processing oils, plasticizers, antioxidants, UV stabilizers, cure retarders, filler and reinforcing agents, and the like.
Filler and reinforcing agents, which can be especially useful in the composition, can be selected from the group consisting of carbon black, silicates, talc, mica, clay, calcium carbonate, and the like, and mixtures thereof. Where fillers are used in the roofing membrane composition, they are normally added because of their reinforcement capability, which can contribute a substantial increase in tensile strength. These fillers are introduced into the composition in particulate form. The particles have a size in the range of about 10 to about 500 millimicrons, and, preferably, in the range of about 25 to about 100 millimicrons. Carbon black is used where a black roofing membrane is desired. Nonblack fillers such as precipitated silica, clay, and magnesium silicate can also be used, as well as mixtures of carbon black and nonblack fillers.
Other ingredients can be incorporated into the roofing compositions employed in the practice of the present invention, including activators such as zinc oxide, stearic acid, and zinc stearate; antidegradants; tackifiers; and processing aids. The curable elastomer will typically contain a metal oxide, such as zinc oxide, with a fatty acid, such as stearic acid. Alternatively, a metal stearate such as zinc stearate can be employed, which combines the activating effects of the metal oxide and fatty acid.
An oil type compound can also desirably be added to the roofing membrane composition. When reinforcing fillers such as carbon black are added to polymers, the viscosity of the mixture may become very high, thus reducing the capacity of the mixture to be worked into roofing membranes. Therefore, unless the viscosity can be reduced, the amount of filler that can be mixed into the polymer may be limited. The function of the oil type compounds is to reduce the viscosity of the mixture and also soften the polymer. As the oil type compounds are added to the composition, the amount of filler can be increased. Examples of oil type compounds are paraffin oils, naphthenic oils, and liquid polybutene. Liquid polybutene is considered to be more compatible with ethylene copolymers than paraffin oils. The oil type compound is typically used at a level of about 10 to about 100 parts where the filler level is in the range of about 50 to about 200 parts by weight.
The compounding of the composition of this invention can be accomplished by any suitable means including an internal mixer (for example, a type B Banbury mixer), a transfer mixer, an extruder, or an open mill. Independent of the method of compounding the composition, the resulting composition has a cure rate that correlates with the development of cross-linking. In the type B Banbury internal mixer, the dry or powdery materials are added rapidly followed by the addition of any liquids, e.g., process oils, plasticizers, etc., and, finally, the elastomer(s).
The roofing composition that comprises the composition is in the form of sheets of the desired dimensions, usually formed by calendering or extruding the sheet, then cutting the sheet to proper size and shape. The sheets may be cut for use as roof sheeting or flashing members.
A desirable process for manufacturing the roof sheeting of this material is as follows.
Ingredients, such as EPDM, filler, plasticizer, and curative/activators, are mixed to form a polymer composition. The polymer composition is then formed into slabs, which can be stored for hours or days. The slabs of polymer composition are warmed on a mill and then fed to a calender, extruder, or similar means to form sheets. The sheets of polymer composition can be partially overlapped and spliced. Then, the sheets are cured, preferably by subjecting them to heat and/or pressure. Heating is desirably performed by a steam autoclave. The continuous sheet can be dusted with talc or a similar release compound, or a release sheet can be laid over the continuous sheet, whereupon it can be rolled for further handling and shipping.
The desirable mill banding properties of the polymer composition facilitate handling in the mill and during feeding to a calender, extruder, or similar means. This desirable mill banding property imparts a significant commercial benefit in the manufacture of the polymer composition.
The roof covering employed in the practice of the present invention can cover any roofing base material, such as wood, composition board, concrete, brick, or metal. In many applications, insulating or vapor barrier layers may desirably be first placed over the roof bottom prior to the disposition of the composition.

Abstract: applying layers of sheet material prepared from a seamable polymeric composition of matter to the roof being covered, overlapping adjacent edges of said layers, and

Abstract: adhering the overlapped areas to provide an acceptable seam strength; wherein the composition of matter comprises an interpolymer of ethylene, propylene, and at least two nonconjugated dienes, each having one reactive double bond.


A rectangular flexible shield that is placed into the toilet bowl shielding the back and sides of the bowl to prevent or reduce urine spills. The urine shield is removably attached to the raised toilet bowl seat by a generally u-shaped hook.

Not Applicable.
Not Applicable.
This invention relates to a guard or shied removably attached to a toilet seat and used to direct the urine stream of a young boy into the toilet bowl, and to prevent splashing and missing of the toilet bowl.
A variety of apparatuses for preventing urine spills have been proposed. There are a whole series of patents describing devices that open when the toilet seat is raised and close when the toilet seat is lowered. Some recent examples of such devices are seen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,564,135, issued to Jones on Oct. 15, 1996; U.S. Pat. No. 5,373,589, issued to Rego and Levesque on Dec. 20, 1994; U.S. Pat. No. 5,276,925, issued to Blaha on Jan. 11, 1994; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,348,776, issued to Sarjeant on Jul. 27, 1981. All of the above-described devices are permanently or semi-permanently attached to the toilet bowl making cleaning of the devices difficult. In contrast, the present invention is designed to be easily removed from the toilet bowl to facilitate use of and cleaning of the device.
There is another series of patents that describe urine shields that are mounted on the toilet bowl rim by means of a flange or similar part. The use of a flange, clips, or other means of mounting the shield on the toilet bowl rim makes placement and removal of the shield difficult. In all of these patents, the urine shield must be carefully positioned to fit exactly on the toilet bowl rim. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,071,778 issued to Renshaw on Jan. 8, 1963, discloses a toilet shield that is mounted by means of a xe2x80x9cCxe2x80x9d shaped flange on either the toilet bowl rim or the toilet seat. In a comparable design, U.S. Pat. No. 2,980,919 issued to Otto and Swann on Apr. 25, 1961, discloses a toilet shield that attaches to the toilet rim by means of an outwardly projecting flange. In another comparable design, U.S. Pat. No. 5,077,840, issued to Masters et al. on Jan. 7, 1992, claims a toilet shield that is held in place by a means for supporting the shield on the toilet bowl rim. The support means is described in the specification as a xe2x80x9cflange or like part.xe2x80x9d In yet another comparable design, U.S. Pat. No. 5,465,431, issued to Wertz on Nov. 14, 1995, discloses a lip that mounts on the toilet bowl rim.
There are also design patents that describe toilet shields that are mounted on the toilet bowl rim by means of a flange or similar device. These include U.S. Pat. No. D394,900, issued to Tae Cho Kang on Jun. 2, 1998; U.S. Pat. No. D405,168, issued to Henry on Feb. 2, 1999; and U.S. Pat. No. D365,386, issued to McDonald et al. on Dec. 12, 1995.
In a related series of patents, the shield is mounted on the toilet bowl rim by means of hooks, clips, or other similar device. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,117,512, issued to Bressler on Jun. 2, 1992, discloses a shield or guard that is secured on the toilet bowl rim by means of clips. U.S. Pat. No. D394,497, issued to Johnson on May 19, 1998, claims a design for a shield that is mounted on the toilet bowl rim by means of clips with screws. U.S. Pat. No. D369,856, issued to Lucido on May 14, 1996, claims a design that is mounted to the toilet bowl rim by means of suction cups and clip-like projections.
The use of a flange, clips, or other means of mounting the shield on the toilet bowl rim makes placement and removal of the shield unwieldy. In order to remove the shield it will have to be disengaged from the entire toilet bowl rim. Removal of such a shield will require the use of two hands to manipulate the shield. Likewise, inserting a shield that is mounted on the toilet bowl rim will require exact alignment of the shield and rim. This is especially true for Otto et al., U.S. Pat. No. 2,980,919, and Lucido, U.S. Pat. No. D369,856, which both have members that fit underneath the toilet bowl rim. Moreover, because toilet bowls come in different sizes, the use of flanges or clips with an inflexible shield will mean that the shield can only fit on one toilet bowl size.
The present invention is attached to the toilet simply by mounting the shield on the raised toilet seat. The present invention can be easily removed by lifting the shield upwards. The present invention can be removed using only one hand. The present invention can be easily inserted into the toilet bowl by compressing the sides of the shield and placing the hook on the toilet seat.
The present invention is made out of a flexible material so that it will fit into any size toilet bowl. Several of the toilet guard patents describe guards made out of solid material that will fit on only one size toilet bowl. Masters et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,077,840) discloses a free standing, non-resilient channel to direct urine into the toilet bowl. Likewise, Renshaw (U.S. Pat. No. 3,071,778) discloses a funnel shaped guard that necessarily made of a solid material. In a comparable design, Wertz, (U.S. Pat. No. 5,465,431) discloses a urinal trainer made out of rigid plastic material. The use of solid material for the shield means that the shield will fit only one size toilet bowl, or that different shields must be purchased for different size bowls. The present invention is made out of flexible material and can be used in any size bowl.
The prior art also includes targets for improving a boy""s aim while urinating. U.S. Pat. No. 4,744,113, issued to Kogut on May 17, 1988, discloses a target that is attached to the toilet bowl rim and shows a picture only after getting wet. In a comparable design, U.S. Pat. No. 4,044,405, issued to Kreiss on Aug. 30, 1977, discloses a target that may be placed inside the toilet bowl. Neither of these inventions includes a urine shield. Bressler, U.S. Pat. No. 5,117,512, discloses a target on the urine shield. However, the target is placed above the rim of the toilet bowl. This will have the effect of teaching boys to direct the urine stream too high. One embodiment of the present invention discloses a target placed close to the water surface, teaching boys to direct the urine stream into the toilet bowl.
The present invention is a flexible shield that is used to toilet train boys. The shield is inserted into the toilet bowl along the back rim of the bowl. A clip on the back of the shield attaches to the upraised toilet bowl seat and allows the shield to be easily inserted and easily removed. The shield prevents urine from splashing outside the toilet bowl. The shield also may contain a target to encourage proper aiming of the urine stream.
Several of the objects and advantages of the present invention are described below.
One object of the invention is to direct the urine stream of a boy into the toilet bowl, so as to avoid messy spills and clean-up.
It is a further object to provide an easy to insert and easy to remove urine shield that fits on any size toilet bowl.
It is still a further object to provide an inexpensive urine shield.
It is still a further object to provide an easy to clean urine shield.
It is still a further object to help to teach boys to direct their urine stream into the toilet bowl.
Further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings.

Urine shield removably attached to toilet seat


An anterior thoracic/lumbar system comprising a thin plate and fasteners for securing the plate to vertebrae or other osseous material. The plate may be hinged along the central axis, with a pair of collinear holes on each portion of the plate. Each of the holes accommodates a bolt which is screwed into the vertebrae and secured to the plate using a nut.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to devices for use in spinal surgery, and, in particular, to a hinged anterior thoracic/lumbar plate which is implantable within a patient for stabilization of the spine.
2. Description of the Related Art
Eighty-five percent of the population will experience low back pain at some point. Fortunately, the majority of people recover from their back pain with a combination of benign neglect, rest, exercise, medication, physical therapy, or chiropractic care. A small percent of the population will suffer chronic low back pain. The cost of treatment of patients with spinal disorders plus the patient""s lost productivity is estimated at 25 to 100 billion dollars annually.
Seven cervical (neck), 12 thoracic, and 5 lumbar (low back) vertebrae form the normal human spine. Intervertebral discs reside between adjacent vertebra with two exceptions. First, the articulation between the first two cervical vertebrae does not contain a disc. Second, a disc lies between the last lumbar vertebra and the sacrum (a portion of the pelvis).
Motion between vertebrae occurs through the disc and two facet joints. The disc lies in the front or anterior portion of the spine. The facet joints lie laterally on either side of the posterior portion of the spine. The osseous-disc combination of the spine coupled with ligaments, tendons, and muscles are essential for spine function. The spine allows movement (flexation, lateral bending, and rotation), supports the body, and protects the spinal cord and nerves.
The disc changes with aging. As a person ages the water content of the disc falls from approximately 85 percent at birth to 70 percent in the elderly. The ratio of chondroitin sulfate to keratin sulfate decreases with age. The ratio of chondroitin 6 sulfate to chondroitin 4 sulfate increases with age. The distinction between the annulus and the nucleus decreases with age. These changes are known as disc degeneration. Generally disc degeneration is painless.
Premature or accelerated disc degeneration is known as degenerative disc disease. A large portion of patients suffering from chronic low back pain is thought to have this condition. As the disc degenerates, the nucleus and annulus functions are compromised. The nucleus becomes thinner and less able to handle compression loads. The annulus fibers become redundant as the nucleus shrinks. The redundant annular fibers are less effective in controlling vertebral motion. The disc pathology can result in: 1) bulging of the annulus into the spinal cord or nerves; 2) narrowing of the space between the vertebrae where the nerves exit; 3) tears of the annulus as abnormal loads are transmitted to the annulus and the annulus is subjected to excessive motion between vertebrae; and 4) disc herniation or extrusion of the nucleus through complete annular tears. Disc herniation can also cause arthritis of the facet joints, which, in turn, may cause back pain.
The problems created by disc degeneration, facet arthritis, and other conditions such as spondylolysis, spondylolisthesis, scoliosis, fracture, tumor, or infection are frequently treated by spinal fusion. Such problems may include pain in the back or legs, nerve injury, risk of future nerve injury, or spinal deformity. The goal of spinal fusion is to successfully xe2x80x9cgrowxe2x80x9d two or more vertebrae together. To achieve this, bone from the patient""s body (spine or iliac crest) or from cadavers is grafted between vertebrae. Alternatively, bone graft substitutes, such as hydroxyapatite and bone morphogenetic protein, may be used. The bone graft is placed between the vertebrae in the disc space and/or over the posterior elements of the vertebrae (lamina and transverse processes). The surgeon scrapes the vertebrae to create bleeding. Blood flows into the bone graft. The scraped bone, blood clot (hematoma), and the bone graft simulates a fracture. As the patient heals, the xe2x80x9cfracturexe2x80x9d causes the vertebrae to be fused and heal together.
Spinal instrumentation may be placed onto or into the spine to immobilize the vertebrae that are going to be fused. Immobilization leads to a higher fusion rate and speeds a patient""s recovery by eliminating movement. The use of spinal fixation plates or rods for correction of spinal deformities and for fusion of vertebrae is well known. Typically, a rigid plate is positioned to span bones or bone segments that need to be immobilized with respect to one another. Bone screws may be used to fasten the plate to the bones. Spinal plating systems are commonly used to correct problems in the lumbar and cervical portions of the spine, and are often installed posterior or anterior to the spine.
One technique of treating these disorders is known as surgical arthrodesis of the spine. This can be accomplished by removing the intervertebral disk and replacing it with bone and immobilizing the spine to allow space to connect the adjoining vertebral bodies together. The stabilization of the vertebrae to allow fusion is often assisted by a surgically implanted device to hold the vertebral bodies in proper alignment and allow the bone to heal, much like placing a cast on a fractured bone. Such techniques have been effectively used to treat the above described conditions and in most cases are effective at reducing the patient""s pain and preventing neurologic loss of function.
Several types of anterior spinal fixation devices are currently in use. One technique involves placement of screws completely through the vertebral body, called bicortical purchase. The screws are placed through a titanium plate but are not attached to the plate. This device is difficult to place, and over-penetration of the screws can result in damage to the spinal cord. The screws can back out of the plate into the surrounding tissues as they do not fix to the plate. Several newer generation devices have used a unicortical purchase of the bone, and in some fashion locking the screw to the plate to provide stability and secure the screw from backout. Problems have resulted from over rigid fixation and stress shielding, resulting in nonunion of the bony fusion, chronic micromotion during healing, resulting in stress fracture of the fixation device at either the screw to the plate resulting in screw backout, or inadequate fixation strength and resultant collapse of the graft and angulation of the spine.
Another technique involves formation of a medical construct using surgical rods and connectors. Such systems include a pair of rods which are placed on opposite sides of the portion of the spine which is intended to be fused. Pedicle, lateral, and oblique mounting means are used to secure the rods relative to the desired portion of the spine which will be fused by the fixation system. However, this construct extends outwardly further than a plate/screw system, potentially affecting the surrounding muscle, and causing pain to the patient.
Plates and screws are often placed onto the anteriolateral portion of the spine to facilitate spinal fusion. Generally, they are placed across one or two disc spaces in the treatment of fractures and tumors. Most of the present systems use screws with nuts for the posterior portion of the vertebrae. The screws with nuts are commonly called bolts by those skilled in this art. Screws, without nuts, are placed through the anterior portion of the plate. The posterior bolts are generally thought to rigidly fix the plate to the screws. Some surgeons believe that the rigid bolt/plate construct provides more spinal stability. However, while screws without nuts are easier to insert, they also are known to back out, causing potential failure of the fusion. Devices have been devised to hold the screws within the plate. It is believed that there are no systems in the marketplace which uses an all bolt construct.
A typical device which is used for spinal fixation is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,611,581. This device consists of a simple plate having a series of openings for receiving threaded portions of force transmitting members which securely lock in a part of the bone of the vertebra in which they are mounted and a threaded portion which projects outwardly from the vertebrae. The vertebra is pulled into the desired relationship with adjacent vertebrae by tightening a nut on the outwardly projecting end portion of the force transmitting member.
Another typical device used is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,306,136. This patent discloses an implant which is used particularly as an anterior cervical plate, having a solid plate consisting of two sliding parts, each of which has holes for anchoring screws in two adjacent vertebrae. The sliding parts are provided with a screw and slot for limiting the sliding travel between the parts.
Another vertebrae connecting plate is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,147,361. This plate has a small thickness, and uses set screws which are screw engaged in threaded holes within the connecting plate to prevent any loosening of the screws within the plate.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a plate system for spinal surgery, which has a low profile and comfortably fits a patient""s anatomy.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a plate system which is easily implanted within a patient.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a plate system which is easily positioned and establishes a secure connection between vertebrae.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a plate system that is top loading and top tightening.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a plate system which is easily adaptable to the lumbarithoracic region of the spine.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent in the description that follows.


A three point pivoting 360xc2x0 articulable pinchless hinge connects two members which may pivot 360xc2x0 with respect to each other. The hinge has two opposing couplers, each having a toothed semicircular portion meshed with the opposing coupler toothed semicircular portion. Each coupler is adapted to be connected to one of the members to be pivoted with respect to each other. A pin is in each coupler extending along an axis of the semicircular portion thereof. A link connects each pin to maintain the meshed engagement of the couplers through 360xc2x0 of coupler pivotal rotation with respect to each other. The link has a sufficient width substantially that of the width of the coupler body as to block and prevent the meshed semicircular portions from pinching an individual""s finger or object. The hinge may also have a locking mechanism or detent which locks the two members at 180xc2x0 from each other.

This invention relates to a hinge, and more particularly, to a three point pivoting 360xc2x0 articulable pinchless hinge.
Hinges are well known for connecting members that are to rotate or pivot with respect to each other. One of the members may or may not be stationary. Examples of members that pivot with respect to each other are wall panels and room partitions. Examples where one member stays stationary include doors, gates, lids and covers. The most commonly known hinge is commonly referred to as the piano hinge. The piano hinge may generally be described as having flat or plate portions to be secured along the edges of the respective two members that are to be pivoted with respect to each other. The edges of the hinge plates have fingers or tabs that are formed arcuately into a complete loop portion for capturing a pin or rod. The tabs extending from opposing plates are staggered to permit them to interleave and become aligned with opposing tabs. The aligned looped tabs permit the pin or rod to be captured by the tabs and permit the hinge plates to pivot or rotate with respect to each other.
This type of hinge has two significant drawbacks. Firstly, this hinge structure typically does not permit 360xc2x0 articulation with respect to the two members but most commonly 180xc2x0. Secondly, piano hinges align the edges of the members closely together and, as a consequence, renders the piano style hinge prone to pinching fingers or other objects that happen to get placed in the vicinity of the hinge during such pivotal movement. This is largely because both hinge plate portions are close together and both pivot about a single axis.
FIGS. 1 through 3 show the significant limitations of the prior art hinges. For illustrative purposes, the hinges 6 are connected to wall panels or room partition members 5. Their articulation limitation, typically 180xc2x0, requires that the hinges be alternatively arranged as to permit every other panel to alternately rotate in the other direction. This limitation is required to obtain articulation of the panel assembly. Double headed Arrows A and Axe2x80x2 generally show the 180xc2x0 range of articulation of the panels in opposite direction of each other.
The limitation of this type of hinge structure is shown in FIG. 2. Corners 7 and objects, such as building support columns 8, are difficult to articulate the panels 5 with hinges 6 therearound in any type of aesthetically pleasing manner. FIG. 3 shows how every other hinge 6 is restricted beyond their 180xc2x0 arc of articulation thereby failing to make a perfectly arcuate or serpentine wall arrangement but rather a cornered wall arrangement B.
There is a need for a three point pivoting 360xc2x0 articulable pinchless hinge that is pinch proof, smooth in operation, positive in its movement and will give the user a full range of choices in positioning of the respective members to be hinged together.
A three point pivoting 360xc2x0 articulable pinchless hinge connects two members that may pivot 360xc2x0 with respect to each other. The hinge has two opposing couplers, each having a toothed semicircular portion meshed with the opposing coupler toothed semicircular portion.
Each coupler is adapted to be connected to one of the members to be pivoted with respect to each other. A pin is in each coupler extending along an axis of the semicircular portion thereof. A link connects each pin to maintain the meshed engagement of the couplers through 360xc2x0 of coupler pivotal rotation with respect to each other. The link has a width substantially that of the width of the coupler body as to block and prevent the meshed semicircular portions from pinching an individual""s finger or object. The hinge may have a locking mechanism that locks the couplers when they reach 180xc2x0 of rotation with respect to each other.
A principal object and advantage of the present invention is that the hinge permits 360xc2x0 of smooth articulation for the respective members which are pivotally connected whether both members are to be articulable or one member to be stationary.
Another object and advantage of the present invention is that the hinge has three points of pivoting to make the motion smooth and to space the members apart to prevent pinching.
Another object and advantage of the present invention is that the smooth and positive operations geared meshed arrangement of the hinge readily permits the hinge to support and hold the members in the position to which they are rotated to.
Another object and advantage of the present invention is that the hinge is ideal for use with panels, doors, gates or lids.
Another object and advantage of the present invention is that wall panels or room dividers with the present hinge can be positioned to create perfectly arcuate and serpentine wall structures with the full range of 360xc2x0 movement of each hinge.
Another object and advantage of the present invention is that significant forces exerted on members connected with the present hinge will not result in tip overs but rather the forces will readily be conveyed from panel member to panel member by the smooth and positive action of the hinges of the present invention.
Another object and advantage of the present invention is that includes a locking mechanism that locks the couplers when they reach 180xc2x0 of rotation relative to each other. A wall may thus be easily set up in a straight line, using panels with the hinges that automatically lock the panels in a straight line.
Another object and advantage of the present invention is that the couplers may be rotated beyond 180xc2x0 of rotation relative to each other by the application of additional force.
Other objects and advantages of the present hinge invention will be apparent upon viewing the figures and reviewing the following specification and claims.