The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of a polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)-containing food, such as an infant formula, where a composition comprising a PUFA is added at a late stage of the infant formula preparation process in this way, the PUFA""s are minimally exposed to conditions during the process that induce degradation of the PUFA""s.

The present invention relates to the field of nutrition, especially the field of infant nutrition. In particular, it relates to foods containing at least one polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), such as an infant formula.
Recently, the importance of the addition of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA""s) to infant formulas has been acknowledged (see for instance U.S. Pat. No. 4,670,285 and European Patent Publications EP-A-0231 904 and EP-A-0404056).
Infant formula is usually prepared by the following general process.
1. Pasteurised milk (skimmed, evaporated or whole milk) is standardised by the addition of whey protein concentrate, minerals, water-soluble vitamins, trace elements and carbohydrates at, high temperatures, for example 60xc2x0 C.
2. Vegetable oil, oil-soluble emulsifiers, oil-soluble vitamins and anti-oxidants are mixed at high temperatures, for example 60xc2x0 C.
3. The oil mixture obtained from 2 (an oil phase) is added to the standardised milk obtained from 1 (a water phase) with sufficient agitation to allow mixing.
4. The mixture obtained in 3 is homogenised in two stages at high temperature and pressure, for example 60xc2x0 C. at 150 and 30 bar.
5. The emulsion obtained under 4 is cooled to a low temperature, for example 5xc2x0 C.
6. If desired, water-soluble vitamins, minerals and trace elements are added to the cooled emulsion.
7a. Emulsion 6 is sterilised in-line at ultra high temperature (UHT) and/or in appropriate containers to obtain a formula in the form of a sterile liquid; or
7b. Emulsion 6 is pasteurised and spray dried to give a spray dried powder which is filled into appropriate containers.
8. If desired, other dry ingredients, e.g. vitamins, minerals, trace elements, whey protein concentrate and carbohydrates can be added to the spray dried powder from 7b.
Thus at several points in the infant formula preparation process high temperatures and pressures are used, for example during the following process steps:
melting and blending fats it the oil phase (2)
dissolving oil soluble emulsifiers in the oil phase before homogenisation (2);
pasteurisation before homogenisation (in 4);
homogenisation (4);
sterilisation (7a);
pasteurisation, after homogenisation (7b); and/or
spray drying, if performed (7b).
Typically, the PUFA""s which are used for the supplementation of infant formula are in a triglyceride, phospholipid, fatty acid or fatty acid ester form and are oily liquids. The most convenient way to disperse PUFA-containing lipids homogeneously is by mixing them in with the oil phase before the homogenisation step. Thus, currently, the PUFA-containing lipid is added to the oil phase, because the PUFAs are usually contained in lipids which themselves are oils. This is much easier than trying to homogeneously disperse the PUFAs in the formula at a later stage, especially once the emulsion in (3) has been formed.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a process for the preparation of a foodstuff comprising a polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), the process comprising:
a) providing an oil phase and an aqueous phase;
b) mixing the oil and aqueous phases to obtain an emulsion;
c) optionally, drying the emulsion to obtain a dried material; and
d) adding at least one PUFA (to the dried material).
A second aspect of the present invention relates to a foodstuff prepared by the process of the first aspect.
It will thus be seen that in the invention the PUFA is added at a relatively late stage in the preparation of the foodstuff. The advantage of this is that the or each PUFA (there may be more than one) is minimally exposed to conditions which can cause degradation.
There are usually three main causes of degradation during a conventional foodstuff preparation process that contains a PUFA. These are heating, drying and homogenization. Heating can take place at a number of places during prior art preparative processes. This includes heating of the oil phase, as well as heating during homogenization and sterilisation, and of course pasteurisation. The process of the invention seeks to minimise the exposure of the PUFAs to these various steps in order to maximise the preservation of the PUFA, and therefore to minimise degradation. Thus, the invention at its broadest can be regarded as a process for producing a PUFA-containing foodstuff, where at least one PUFA in added at a stage after one or more potentially PUFA-degrading stage(s) have occurred. The PUFA may therefore be added after one or more heating and/or drying stages.
This is entirely contrary to conventional wisdom, where the (PUFA) has, until now, been added to the, starting oil blend, because of course the. PUFA itself is an oil (and therefore there is no phase separation problem). It can be particularly difficult to disperse the PUFA for example, after the emulsification in (b), and so previously foodstuff manufacturers have tended to add the PUFA at the oil blend stage.
In addition, for existing foodstuff manufacturers, if it is decided to supplement the previously (non-PUFA containing) foodstuff with a PUFA, then this can easily be accomplished by adding the PUFA to the oil phase in (a). The reason for this in that one does then not need to significantly change the production plant, or significantly modify the process. Thus, since in recent times. PUFAs have been found to be advantageous in, for example, infant formulas, the PUFAs have been added to the oil phase in existing processes.
It in not until the present invention that it has been restaged that adding the PUFA at such an early stage can have disadvantages, because the PUFA becomes degraded. The invention may therefore provide a solution to the problem of preparing a PUFA-containing foodstuff where the PUFA is subjected to as few as possible degrading stages.
The PUFA can thus be added at a later stage than in a prior art process for the preparation for the foodstuff. This can then minimise the PUFAs exposure to unfavourable conditions. Preferably, the PUFA is added after the drying step in (c). This drying may comprise spray drying.
The foodstuff is preferably one that is suitable for humans, such as babies and/or infants. It may therefore be an infant formula. Such a formula will usually comprise milk. However, the foodstuff may be a milk or milk substitute. The foodstuff can therefore be a powdered milk product.
The foodstuff can be a solid, in which case it is preferably dried, and optimally in the form of a powder. Preferably, it is miscible or dispersible in an aqueous liquid, such as water. Such foodstuffs may therefore produce a milk-like product on addition to water.
The foodstuff can also be in a liquid form (e.g. in the case of an infant formula), which is ready for use, or a concentrated liquid from which can be diluted before use with water. If the foodstuff is a liquid then the drying stage (c) can be omitted.
Alternatively, the infant formula may be a powdered product, in which case this can be added to water. (The resulting liquid composition is often then warmed, e.g. to 35xc2x0 C., before administration). In a solid form, foodstuff may not only be an infant formula, but may be a milk powder suitable for addition to coffee, tea, chocolate or other such beverages.
The PUFA can be added in a variety of forms. It may be added as part or a component of a liquid or solid composition. If liquid, this may be a lipid composition and/or an oil. The oil may contain solely the PUFA or it may contain a number of other ingredients. If a solid composition is used, the PUFA may, be encapsulated in capsules or it maybe in a powdered form, for example coated onto a solid carrier. For these latter forms reference is made to the copending International patent application filed on the same day as this case, in the name of Gist-brocades B.V., entitled xe2x80x9cPUFA coated solid carrier particles for foodstuffxe2x80x9d,
Suitable microencapsulation techniques are, for example, described in WO-A-94/01001.
The PUFA-containing composition, if a lipid, can be an oily liquid. Typically the PUFA can be in the form of a phospholipid, triglyceride, or a mixture thereof. However, the PUFA can also be in the form of a fatty acid or fatty acid ester.
If the composition containing the PUFA is a liquid, then preferably it is an oil. The oil may come from a variety of sources, including vegetable, animal and microbial sources. Vegetables sources include blackcurrant oil. Animal sources include fish oil or egg yolk lipid. Microbial sources are, however, preferred. These include fungal sources, such as a fungus of the order Mucorales. For example, the fungus may belong to the genus Mortierella, such as of the species Mortirella alpina. Such organisms can produce arachidonic acid (ARA).
Other microbial sources include algae. The algae may be a dinoflagellate and/or belong to the genus Crypthecodinium. In particular, the algae is Crypthecodinium cohnii.
Preferred PUFAs are a C18, C20 C22 xcfx89-3 or a C18, C20 or C22 xcfx89-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid. Preferred are the C20 or the C22 xcfx89-3 or C20 or C22 xcfx89-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids. These include not only arachidonic acid (ARA) but also eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) end docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Suitable methods for preparing these PUFAs are disclosed in the copending International application filed on the same day as the present application, also in the name of Gist-brocades B. V., and entitled xe2x80x9cPreparation of microbial polyunsaturated fatty acid PUFA, containing oil from a pasteurised biomassxe2x80x9d.
More than one PUFA can be added. In this case, two or more PUFAs may be from a different source, and therefore one may add either the PUFAs separately (as separate compositions) or mix, the two PUFAs (to give a single composition) before addition during the foodstuff preparation process. For example, fish oil contains DHA which may be mixed with one or more microbial oils containing another PUFA (e.g. ARA).
In the process of the invention it is preferred that the starting oil phase does not contain any PUFAs. This is because they are suitably added later. The drying in (c), which in optional, can be performed by any suitable technique known in the art, although spray drying is preferred. Suitably in (d) the oil and aqueous phases are homogenised after initial mixing. The emulsion so far will usually be an oil in water emulsion.
It is preferred that the source of the PUFA is a microbial oil and/or a fish oil in this came, vegetable oils alone (i.e. not part of a mixture or blend) can be excluded such as maize, soy and/or corn oil. Preferably, the foodstuff will not contain a compound containing 2,2,4-trimethyl-2,2-dihydroquinaline moiety.
The aqueous phase can be thought of as a water-containing phase. It is thus possible for this aqueous phase to be an emulsion, for example a milk or milk product, such as evaporated skimmed or semi-skimmed milk. Thus, the aqueous phase can refer to a substance where the continuous (or bulk) phase is aqueous.
Preferably the PUFA is added immediately after the drying in (c). The drying in preferred embodiments results in a spray-dried powder. The PUFA can then be applied, or added, for example to give a coating of the PUFA onto the spray dried powder. In this case, the PUFA composition is preferably a liquid, such as an oil. This oil may additionally contain lecithin, for example at 0.2 to 0.3%. The composition may therefore be a lecithin/PUFA mixture.
If the PUFA containing composition is an oil, such as a vegetable oil, then it can be used not only to apply the PUFA, but also the lecithin.
A suitable food stuff preparation process, in particular or an infant formula is outlined on page 10.
The point at which the PUFAs are added in prior art processes is shown: this is where the PUFA is added to the oil blend. Also shown in the preferred stage of addition of the or each PUFA according to the present invention, much later on in the infant formula (IF) preparation process.
If the foodstuff is to be a liquid, then the PUFA can be simply added to the liquid that will form the final liquid foodstuff. However, if the foodstuff is to be a solid, for example a powder then preferably the PUFA is added to the powder. Here the PUFA can be sprayed and/or mixed onto the powder. Suitably the PUFA will remain liquid at room temperature, and therefore it can be absorbed on or coated on particles constituting the powder. Here the PUFA will suitably be in a liquid form (that is to say, the PUFA has preferably not solidified. Indeed, suitably the or each PUFA is a liquid at room temperature. Preferably, the PUFA will have a melting point that is from 5xc2x0 C. to xe2x88x9210xc2x0 C. In the powder form, the foodstuff preferably has a water content that is less than 5%, and preferably less than 1 or 2% (by weight).
In another embodiment of the intention, the PUFA is present in a xe2x80x9cpre-mixxe2x80x9d. This can be an infant formula constituent additionally containing lactose and whey proteins and optionally vitamins and minerals. This can be added to the powder, that is to become the infant formula, after spray drying.
Preferably in stage (b) after mixing the oil and aqueous phases the resulting mixture is subjected to homogenisation. Here, the mixture can be forced through a small nozzle or hole at high pressure, and suitably at high shear forces. This can be accomplished using any well known technique in the art.
As previously discussed, the preferred method of drying the emulsion, if the foodstuff is to be solid (such as a powder) is by spray drying. Here the emulsion can be reduced to a water content of from 2 to 5%. Spray drying techniques are well known in the art: usually one provides a tower at the top of which is a spinning disk or nozzle onto which or through which the emulsion is passed. This yields (often fine) droplets in the form of a mist or aerosol. The resulting particles are dried at a temperature of 70 or 80xc2x0 C. to 140xc2x0 C.
The resulting particles can have an average diameter of from 5 to 1000 xcexcm, such as from 50 to 250 xcexcm. Generally speaking it consists of a matrix of the components that were in the aqueous phase, the inside of which are the oil particles that were previously present in the oil in water emulsion.
The resulting particles can be further dried, for example on a fluidised bed. Here, particles may be subjected to hot air, and may be moved either on a conveyer belt or on a vibrating surface. Suitably there is a temperature gradient, such as from 80 to 20xc2x0 C. The particles can be dried at from 3 to 10 such as from 4 to 6 minutes. Preferably, they will hive a water content of from 0.5 to 6 such as from 1 to 3% by weight.
In a pre-mix some of the spray dried particles can be added to a xe2x80x9cpre-mixxe2x80x9d of the various components that can be added to infant formula.
The PUFA can then be added. This may be as a liquid or solid (e.g. lipid composition). The PUFA can be added directly after spray drying, during spray drying (if the temperature is lowered) or later at the same time as one or more other ingredients such as vitamins, minerals, trace elements, whey protein concentrate and/or carbohydrates) are added.
For example, the PUFA may be added when the powder is present (e.g. being dried) on a fluidised bed.
In the prior art the PUFAs are added to the oil blend which is then mixed and heated with other ingredients. This is then homogenised to form an emulsion. The emulsion is then cooled. The various processes then diverge depending on the type of infant formula (IF) product to be produced.
Also shown is when the PUFA is (preferably) added according to the process of the invention. Processes A and B both produce liquid IF products, the latter being a concentrate, suitable for dilution. In both pathways the PUFA is added after homogenisation, but before sterilisation. A PUFA is usually added before the infant formula is added (or filled) into a vessel in preparation for sterilisation.
Taking process C this produces a solid (e.g. powder) IF product, the PUFA is preferably added after the drying stage (referred to as (c) stage previously); again this maybe before the material is added to, or filled, into a vessel. There is no sterilising stage here, since that can be performed after addition of the powdered product to water.
Thus, in a preferred process, the invention in the first aspect comprises:
a) providing an aqueous phase, or a water-containing phase, to which is optionally added other ingredients such as water, whey proteins (usually solids: a by-product of cheese-making), lactose, and/or maltodextrin. All these ingredients can be mixed and/or heated. This phase may in fact be an emulsion, and is preferably derived from milk;
b) providing an oil phase. This phase may contain vitamins and/or emulsifiers. Once added, the oil phase can be mixed and/or heated;
c) mixing the oil and aqueous phase, to form an emulsion: preferably, this is then homogenised;
d) optionally, cooling the (e.g. homogenised) emulsion, which may then be stored;
e) optionally, adding further ingredients such as vitamins, minerals and/or pH adjusters;
f) optionally concentrating the resulting material;
g) if the foodstuff is to be liquid, optionally preheating and/or subjecting to ultra-high temperature (UHT) treatment;
h) optionally homogenising if the foodstuff is to be a liquid, but if the foodstuff is to be a solid, such as a powder, performing drying (such as spray drying);
i) adding one or more PUFA(s) and optionally ingredients such as vitamins and/or minerals;
j) filling a container with the material obtained; and
k) if the material is a liquid, subjecting it to sterilisation.
In a particularly preferred process of the present invention, the foodstuff is prepared as follows:
a) Standardising milk (either pasteurised, skimmed, semi-skimmed or half-fat milk) by addition of whey protein concentrate, minerals, water-soluble vitamins, trace elements and/or carbohydrates. This standardisation is achieved by mixing and/or heating, for example at 50 to 70xc2x0 C.;
b) Preparing an oil phase, containing an oil (e.g. vegetable) oil, oil-soluble emulsifiers, oil-soluble vitamins and/or antioxidants. These ingredients can be mixed and then preferably heated (to improve mixing), for example at 50 to 70xc2x0 C.;
c) Mixing the oil phase with the aqueous phase, and optionally heating, so as to form an emulsion;
d) Homogenising the emulsion. This can be performed at an elevated temperature and/or pressure, it may also be performed in one or more steps, such as in two stages. If heating is performed, then this is from preferably at from 50 to 70xc2x0 C. If elevated pressures are used, then for example in a first stage this is at from 120 to 180 such as from 140 to 160 bar (Atm). In a second stage, the pressure can be at from 15 to 45, such as from 25 to 35 bar (Atm);
e) Cooling the homogenised emulsion. This may be to a temperature of from 3 to 7xc2x0 C., such as from 4 to 6xc2x0 C.;
f) Adding to the cooled emulsion other ingredients such as water soluble vitamins, minerals and/or trace elements;
g1) Sterilising the emulsion of (f), such as at ultra high temperatures (e.g. at least 100xc2x0 C., such as from 110 to 140xc2x0 C.) if the foodstuff is to be a liquid so that it is sterile; or
g2) Pasteurising the emulsion of (f) and drying it (such as by spray drying) in order to give a dried material, such as a spray dried powder (sterilisation here may not be necessary since the water content can be so low that microorganisms will not be able to grow);
h) Adding the or each PUFA, and optionally adding other (usually dry) ingredients, for example vitamins, minerals, trace elements, whey protein concentrate and/or carbohydrates.
As will have been apparent, a number or other various ingredients can be added to the foodstuff. These include sugars, proteins, vitamins, emulsifiers, minerals and/or pH adjusters. In the final foodstuff, the proteins are preferably present at from 0 to 35% by weight, the vitamins can be present at from 0 to 2% by weight, emulsifiers can be present at from 0 to 2% by weight as well, and minerals can be present at from 0 to 3% by weight.
Suitable minerals include calcium lactate, calcium chloride, zinc sulphate and/or copper sulphate. Preferred carbohydrates can include meltodextrin and/or lactose monohydrate.
Vitamins can include water soluble or oil soluble vitamins. Water soluble vitamins can include vitamin B1 (thiamine hydrochloride), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride), vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin), folic acid, niacinamide, calcium-D-pantothante, biotin, sodium ascorbate, carnitine (HCl) and/or taurine. Oil soluble vitamins can include vitamin A (acetate), vitamin D (calciferol), vitamin E (tocopherol acetate), vitamin K1 (phytomenadione).
There are four embodiments of the process of the invention which are exemplified. These are the preferred means or adding the PUFA during the preparation process.
The first is that the PUFA is added as a liquid (such as a homogeneous lipid) to the dried material, directly after spray drying, preferably while the dried material is on a fluidised bed.
In a second, the PUFA is again added as a liquid, but this time as an oil in water emulsion. Again, the PUFA can be added directly after spray drying, preferably while the dried material is on a fluidised bed.
Thirdly, the PUFA can be added as a powder: here the PUFA may be absorbed and/or coated onto solid carriers, such as solid carrier particles. Again, the PUFA can be added after the spray drying process, preferably by means of mixing with the dried material, such as in a conventional mixer.
Fourthly, the PUFA can be added as a solid, again as a powder, but here the PUFA is microencapsulated. Again, the PUFA is preferably added after the spray drying process, and may be mixed with the dried material in a conventional mixer.

Late addition of PUFA in infant formula preparation process


An assembly consists of a backrest and an airbag module, the backrest having a frame, a padding and a covering part. The airbag module has an ejection channel that is attached to the frame. The covering part is designed so as to be rigid whereas the padding in an area of transition to the covering part is configured so as to be so pliant that by deformation of the padding a gap is produced between the covering part and the padding, for the airbag to come out of the backrest.

The invention relates to an assembly consisting of a backrest and an airbag module.
The backrest is part of a vehicle seat and comprises a frame, a padding and a covering part. The airbag module comprises an ejection channel that is attached to the frame and serves to provide a restraining effect for a vehicle occupant, especially in case of a side impact. For this purpose, an airbag folded in the airbag module is filled with compressed gas so that it unfolds at the side of the backrest between the upper torso and, if necessary, the head of the vehicle occupant on the one hand, and the door or side structure of the vehicle on the other hand.
An advantage of installing the airbag module in the backrest is that it is always fundamentally in the same position with respect to the upper torso of the vehicle occupant, regardless of whether a very tall occupant is sitting there with the seat slid all the way back or whether a very short vehicle occupant slides the vehicle seat very close toward the steering wheel or the dashboard. The disadvantage of installing the airbag module in the backrest is, of course, that the airbag module has to be accommodated in such a way that it is relatively well protected so as to prevent damage, for example, due to a load being transported in the vehicle, yet in such a way that the unfolding airbag is able to come out of the backrest without any problem. There are numerous concepts in the state of the art for purposes of fulfilling these intrinsically contradictory requirements.
DE-A-196 81 575 describes an assembly of the type mentioned above in which the airbag module is attached to the covering part of the backrest. The area of the covering part that lies against the padding is configured as a swiveling flap that swings open towards the outside, that is to say, towards the side structure of the vehicle, when the gas generator of the airbag module is activated and the airbag unfolds, so that a gap is formed between the padding and the covering part through which the airbag can emerge.
EP-A-0 776 793 describes a vehicle seat in which the airbag module is installed in a separate housing at the side in the backrest. The housing is provided with a covering flap that, when the gas generator is activated, can be pushed towards the outside by the unfolding airbag so that a gap is formed through which the airbag unfolds.
Moreover, solutions are known in which the padding of the backrest is closed by a tear-off seam that is located in the area of what will later be the gap for the deployment of the airbag and that is destroyed by the unfolding airbag.
The drawback of all of these known solutions is, first of all, that the structure of the backrest is relatively complicated and secondly that, due to the expensive design, a large number of parameters influence the unfolding of the airbag so that the unfolding process is not reliably reproducible.
The object of the invention is to improve an assembly of the type described above in such a way that an especially simple structure is achieved, which allows a reliable, consistently reproducible unfolding of the airbag.
This is achieved in an assembly consisting of a backrest and an airbag module, the backrest having a frame, a padding and a covering part. The airbag module has an ejection channel that is attached to the frame. The covering part is designed so as to be rigid whereas the padding in an area of transition to the covering part is configured so as to be so pliant that by deformation of the padding a gap is produced between the covering part and the padding, for the airbag to come out of the backrest. There are a number of advantages to this construction. For one thing, the structure of the backrest is especially simple. No special measures have to be taken to close off the gap through which the airbag emerges when it is activated, since this gap is closed by the intrinsic elasticity of the padding. Moreover, the covering part is not a component of the airbag module, so no special requirements have to be met in terms of the material properties, the design, etc. Finally, a precisely reproducible unfolding behavior is achieved since the only parameter that influences the gap for the unfolding airbag is the flexibility of the padding. The resistance that the padding offers to the unfolding airbag, however, is relatively low in any case, so that changes in the elasticity of the padding have a negligible effect on the unfolding process.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the gap is formed between the padding and the covering part in the side area of the backrest and that the ejection channel is configured so as to be curved, it extending starting from a rear side of the frame facing away from the padding toward the side area. By arranging part of the airbag module on the rear side of the backrest, the gap through which the airbag emerges can be arranged relatively close to the backrest. Due to the resultant greater distance between the outlet opening of the gas generator and the thorax region of a vehicle occupant, the airbag is rendered more suitable for restraining events in which the vehicle occupant is not seated in the position that was assumed and for which the airbag module was designed. Moreover, better sitting comfort is ensured in the lateral support region of the backrest. Furthermore, by guiding the airbag in the ejection channel, the airbag is deployed more uniformly through the gap between the padding and the covering part. The uniform deployment of the airbag through the gap is further enhanced in that the compressed gas supplied by the gas generator is thoroughly distributed as a result of the relatively large distance between the area of the airbag module into which the compressed gas flows and the gap between the padding and the covering part. Finally, the ejection channel serves as a guide for the airbag so as to prevent jamming of the airbag when it is coming out of the gap between the padding and the covering part, even if components of the vehicle intrude in this process.
Preferably, it is provided that the padding has a slanted surface lying opposite the airbag module. The slanted surface helps the padding to recede when the gas generator is activated and the airbag is unfolded, and guides the airbag out of the backrest.
According to the preferred embodiment, it is provided that the airbag module has a gas lance that constitutes the connection to a gas generator. In this manner, the gas generator can be arranged flexibly in the backrest so that, through the spatial separation of the gas generator and the ejection channel, the possibility arises to stow the airbag very compactly and to design the airbag module correspondingly compactly. Thus, they can also be used in narrow vehicles or in vehicles with a bulky side structure.
The ejection channel of the gas bag module may be formed by a housing which preferably consists of plastics and is configured in two pieces. On the side facing the outside of the seat, the housing consists of a covering and on the side facing the inside of the seat it consists of a holding part. Provision may be made that sections of the housing are moved in the nature of a flap, for opening an outlet for the emergence of the airbag.
Advantageous embodiments of the invention will be apparent from the subordinate claims.

Assembly consisting of a backrest and an airbag module

TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH and Co. KG


Proposed is a plug-in connector incorporating an RJ45 connection jack for a data transmission cable (2), said cable being especially a hybrid cable with at least one light transmission conductor (7, 8) and associated therewith also parallel aligned electrical conductors (12). In accord with the invention, the housing contains a connection block (11), which is box-like in shape and which is equipped with at least two openings for the insertion of at least two light conductors (7, 8), one circuit board (18) with connection elements (23) for the joining of the electrical conductor (12) of the hybrid data cable, whereby the circuit board (18) can be mechanically connected to one side of the connection block. The circuit board contains parallel arranged contact paths (19) which are accessible by means of the of open recesses (9) of one of the connection blocks, and the circuit board as well as the given auxiliary casing which surrounds the connection block (11). This arrangement also allows the connection of electrical elements which are yet to be attached. The invention concerns also a complementary plug-in coupling similarly constructed.

The invention concerns a plug-in connector incorporating an RJ45 connector jack for electrical and light transmission, which especially relates to hybrid cable applications, as stated in the principal concept of claim 1, and also concerns a complementary plug-in coupling also employing the RJ45 connector jack in accordance with the principal concept of claim 9.
Plug-in connectors for modern data transmission technology are usually designed either as electrical plug-in connectors with RJ45 connector jacks or a light conductor, generally having ends terminating in RJ45 connector jacks.
In networks of mixed construction, it is possible that not only electrical lines but also light conductors may be installed, so that a great need has been created in such networks for cable connections that are appropriate for both electrical and light transmissions.
Hybrid cables are known which accept, within a common outer enclosure, conductors respectively designed for transmission of light as well as electrical current. Typically, the employed conductor terminals lead to separate plug-in connectors.
DE 203 17 751 discloses a plug-in arrangement for the manufacture of an optical, plug-in connector for an optical cable, wherein an RJ45 connector jack is employed. In this case a coupling sleeve is provided, into which the RJ45 equipped plug can be inserted, by means of which the optical transmission means, i.e. the light transmitting fibers, can be coupled with each other. The housing body has borings to receive the ends of the optical fibers, wherein contiguous fibers, enclosed in a ceramic shell, can confront one another in essentially a face to face manner.
EP 1 199 587 teaches a connection system for a hybrid cable, which has optical fibers running parallel along electrical conductors, both of which can be connected to corresponding conductors in a common, insertable plug. In this case the underside of the plug has electrical contacts which can communicate with spring clamp contacts on the forward end of a connector bushing. The bushing may be mounted on a circuit board. The fastening of the conductor onto the plug is, in any case, done in a customary manner.
The invention has the purpose of making available a plug-in connector incorporating an RJ45 connector jack, which is adaptable to serve as an electrical and optical transmission cable. This is true, in particular, when used with a hybrid cable which enables a high immunity to noise interference and can also carry a plurality of optical fibers.
This purpose is achieved by the invention as defined in claims 1 and 9. Additional features of the invention are described in subordinate claims.
The invention in accord with claim 1 concerns a plug-in connector employing an RJ45 connector jack for a data transmission cable having at least one light conductor line as well as electrical lines running parallel thereto, and having further a terminal for an end of the light conductor line and in addition, electrical contacts. The described assembly of optical and electric contacts (hereinafter referred to as "connection block") has an auxiliary housing for protection of both contacts.
By means of such a plug-in connector, combinations of electrical and optical cables, especially combined as a hybrid data cable, can be brought into a contacting union with a complementary female coupling, or with an appropriate bushing, whereby, by means of the insertion of conducting projections into the corresponding bushing both an electrical and an optical data transfer can be made.
In accord with the invention, an auxiliary housing of the plug-in connector encases a said connection block, which has a positioning detent for itself (and its assembly) and said connection block is relatively box-like in its assembly. This connection block has at least two penetrative openings for receiving at least two light conductors. A circuit board designed for a data transmission cable carries attachment facilities for the electrical conductors. The circuit board can be connectedly attached on one end of the connection block and contains parallel arranged contact tracks which make themselves available through penetrative openings at one end of the connection block and the encasing auxiliary housing. The auxiliary housing protects the connective assembly of the conductive wires of electrical connectors which are part of the connection block.
A plug-in connector of this type is obviously assembled from individual components which are simple to manufacture and capable of being easily fitted together. However, in the final assembled state of the components, a robust, precise plug-in connector is created, which fulfills all professional requirements for its functioning. Receptive, penetrative openings therein for the guidance of light conductors permit an exact structure for light transmission advantageously allowing the least possible loss of energy from transmitted light. The electrical contacts are simultaneously protected in their arrangement and enable a precise positioning of the contacting wires.
Advantageously, circuit boards possess blade type clamps for the joining of the electrical conductors of the cable. The connection and the securement of the electrical conductors to the blade-clamp connection is advantageously carried out by the use of a pressure block, which fits in an axial transverse direction over the blade connections, thus enabling the assurance of quick and secure contacting.
Advantageously, the employed auxiliary housing is furnished with openings to accommodate mechanical positioning detents of the connection block. An auxiliary housing serves first, for the protection of the electrical connections, second, to furnish openings for the penetrating connections wiring of an input bushing to be attached thereto. The locking system of the positioning detents also holds the plug-in connector properly aligned with its connections from the bushing.
To enhance the securement of the light conduction means, penetrations into the connection block can be protected by inserted cylindrical shells of plastic, metal or ceramic material.
The housing of the plug-in connector is advantageously composed of a plurality of parts, whereby the individual components of the plug-in unit housing can be properly interlocked together. By means of a threadedly tightened cable clamp fitting on the rear side of the housing (rear being to the left as seen in the drawing), it becomes possible to affix a combination cable or a hybrid cable securely to the plug-in connector.
In a further embodiment, provision can be made that the circuit board be molded as a component of the connection block or be alternatively welded, adhesively affixed, or secured by retaining detents therewith.
The invention concerns also a plug-in coupling employing the RJ45 connector jack to accommodate the insertion of two data cables, especially hybrid cables, with respectively at least one light conductor and therewith electric conductors which are run parallel thereto, with connection blocks for the ends of the light conductor fibers and for the electrical contact, all secured in a two-part coupling housing. Such plug-in couplings serve the purpose of connecting two provided cables with end to end plug-in contacts, which, among other advantages, allow increasing cable length.
In accord with the invention, the plug-in coupling also possesses a box like circuit assembly, wherein two circuits are combined to present two complementary faces confrontingly opposite one another. The two circuit assemblies, with the aid of aligned axially parallel bores, are to be joined together for the reception of and the arrangement of light conductors. Externally, and extending beyond the ends of this combined assembly is a circuit board with two spring clamp sets respectively placed to meet the electrical coupling of plug-in connectors which are to be hereto joined. The connection block and the circuit board are so aligned in respect to one another that they can be housed within two-part coupling blocks, whereby, accordingly, the circuit board also extends beyond the coupling block at both ends.
A plug-in coupler of this essentially two-part coupling block and housing design represents the necessarily opposing, but complementary female part to match a plug-in connector in accord with the description of claim 1.
Advantageously, the connection block has within its axial bores, plastic, metal or ceramic cylindrical shells order to increase the precision of the guidance of confronting ends of the light conductors to be inserted therein. The said shells are secured in place.
The half-blocks used in the plug-in coupling are advantageously aligned in respect to one another by means of being affixed by blind bores in one half-block which receive complementary positioning prongs from the matching half-block. The employed circuit board has, on both sides of the board, soldered spring clamp sets for the securement of conduction paths of the plug-in connectors which are to be thereto connected. The spring clamp sets on both ends of the circuit board are appropriately cross-connected with one another. Alternative to such conductor paths on the circuit board, that the spring clamp sets can be interconnected by means of wire connections.
The invented plug-in connector system, created from a plug-in connector in accord with claim 1 and a plug-in coupling as described in claim 9, can be made a part of a mixed network with great advantage. This advantage is attributable to the fact that, in particular, hybrid cable can function by means of only a single plug-in procedure while carrying both electrical circuitry as well as light-conducting means. Contrary to the conventional plug-in connector, which is designed to operate either only with light conduction means or as a conventional RJ45 copper cable plug-in system with added receptacles for light-conducting fibers, the invented plug-in arrangement is compatible with other copper systems, which individually require only a very small installation space and enable a secure connection and respond well to high operative demands. The invented plug-in connections can be made on the site since no special tools are required. Because of the modular assembly, the invented plug-in arrangement can also be repaired and maintained in the location of operation.

Plug-in connector and coupling in the form of an RJ45 connector jack

TKM Telekommunikation und Elektronik GmbH


A novel element in the play of a variant of Blackjack or twenty-One includes allowing a player to split off a single card after taking a hit when the hit card matches an earlier dealt card, such as one or the other of the two first cards in the original hand or another hit card. It is preferred that the game is played so that a single card may be split off after taking a hit when the last hit card of a player matches the value of the previous card dealt to that player. The split off of a card preferably may not be exercised when the player""s last hit broke or busted the player""s hand.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to casino table card games, particularly variations of Blackjack or Twenty-one card games, and a method of playing those game variations.
2. Background of the Art
Blackjack or Twenty-One is a card game that is played on a live casino gaming table, on a video table, on-line through casino/gaming network connections and on a video gaming machine. The most popular method of play is with a live dealer and a number of players (usually up to a maximum of seven because of physical limitations on table size) at a table. Where there are seven player stations, each of the stations or positions is equally spaced around the tabletop. The dealer is positioned at one side of the table and players are positioned at an opposite, arcuate edge of the table, which is approximately semicircular in its most common form. A wagering area for placement of wagers and for receiving cards is provided at each player position, usually in the form of a printed circle identifying where wagers or cards are to be placed. To begin play of the games of Blackjack or Twenty-One, the dealer is provided with one or more (typically 1, 2, 6 or 8 decks) shuffled decks of cards. These decks may now be continuously shuffled to provide an unlimited supply of cards. These may be standard playing card decks, or modified decks according to the rules of particular games. A player places money or chips to identify the size of a wager to enter the game. Upon placement of a wager by players, the dealer provides each player that has made a wager with two initial cards. These cards may be provided with both cards face down, one card face down and another face-up, or with both cards face-up. The degree of display of a player""s hand (in a casino version of the game where players compete with a dealer) has no consequence or influence on the play or outcome of the game. This is the player""s preliminary hand. At or about the same time, the dealer is also provided with two cards (with one card shown face-up).
The player evaluates the player""s initial hand, and where a dealer""s card is displayed, against the partially revealed dealer""s hand. The player then evaluates how the player""s hand will be played and how wagering will continue based on the assessment.
In the play of Blackjack or Twenty-One, one or more standard decks of cards typically are used. An ace dealt to a player has a point value of either xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9c11xe2x80x9d at the election of the player; a face card (jack, queen or king) has a point value of xe2x80x9c10xe2x80x9d and each of the remaining cards (xe2x80x9c2xe2x80x9d through xe2x80x9c10xe2x80x9d) have a point value equal to what is alternatively referred to as the numerical face value or number value of the card. Point values of cards held by the player are added together to obtain a player total point value. The suits of cards in a standard blackjack game have no special value and are not used in scoring hands. A dealer total point value is obtained in a similar manner, with an ace required to be a count of eleven when the player""s count on a hand would be 17, 18, 19, 20 or 21.
After the wagers are placed within the imprinted circle, the player and the dealer are each dealt a hand comprised of two cards from the same shuffled deck(s). The cards of the player""s hand are dealt face-up, partially revealed or face-down. A first (not necessarily first in order of dealing) card of the player""s hand is dealt face-down. A second one of the player""s hand is dealt face-up.
Whenever the player""s face-up card is either an ace or has a point value of xe2x80x9c10xe2x80x9d, the dealer ascertains the point value of the face-down card without revealing it to the player unless the dealer total point value is xe2x80x9c21xe2x80x9d. When the first two cards of the dealer hand cause the dealer total point value to be xe2x80x9c21xe2x80x9d, the dealer is said to have blackjack whereupon the dealer turns the face-down card face up. Under the circumstance of the dealer having a blackjack, the dealer wins against all players, except those who also have a blackjack, where a push or tie is declared. Similarly, when the two cards of the player hand causes the player total point value to be xe2x80x9c21xe2x80x9d, the player is said to have blackjack, and that player immediately wins against the dealer, unless the dealer also has a two-card hand point count of 21, another blackjack.
When the dealer has blackjack, the dealer wins the wager with two exceptions. A first exception occurs when the dealer""s face up card is an ace and the player places a separate and additional wager (up to a maximum of one-half the amount of the initial game wafer) representing an insurance bet. When the dealer does not have blackjack, the player loses the insurance bet. When the dealer has blackjack, the insurance wager is paid off to the player as 2:1 and the insurance bet is returned to the player.
The second exception to the dealer winning with a blackjack occurs when the player also has blackjack. In that case, the player""s wager is a push, and is returned to the player. The second exception is just one example of when the player hand and the dealer hand have the same total point value and is referred to as a push or tie.
When the player has a blackjack and the dealer does not, the player wins the wager. When neither the dealer nor the player has blackjack, the player then has four options. A first option is to have the count of the player""s hand augmented by at least one additional card (referred to as a xe2x80x9chitxe2x80x9d). The player may elect to have successive hits until the player total point value reaches a point count where the player wants to stay or where the count exceeds xe2x80x9c21xe2x80x9d and the player has broken or busted. When the total point value of a hand exceeds xe2x80x9c21xe2x80x9d it is said to bust or break. The player loses the wager when the player hand busts. Therefore, busting or breaking is a catastrophic termination of play of the player.
A second option is not to have the player hand augmented by any additional cards (referred to as a xe2x80x9cstandxe2x80x9d). The player may elect stand at any time that the player hand has not busted, including with the initial two-card hand dealt to the player at the beginning of the game.
A third option, referred to as doubling down, permits the player to double the wager and receive one additional card. For example, if the player has a point count where no card dealt to the player would cause the hand to break, and the dealer displays a weak card (e.g., 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6) as the expose card, the player may double the initial wager and limit hits to a single card. This is ordinarily done when the player""s initial count in the first two cards are 9, 10 or 11.
A fourth option is available when the player""s initial hand is comprised of two cards that are a pair or of the same point count (e.g., such as a pair of nines, or each of the two cards has a value of xe2x80x9810xe2x80x99, a 10 and a jack, or a pair of queens, for example). The player may split the pair into first and second player hands. An additional card is dealt to the first player hand (which is then played as a regular hand, with similar options as described above being available in the play of the first split hand). After play has been concluded with the first split hand, a card is dealt to the second split card to form the second player hand. The second split hand is then played to conclusion in the manner of a regular Blackjack hand or Twenty-One hand. In most casinos, the player is given the added opportunity of creating even more hands by splitting if either or both of the second two cards dealt to the player also has the same number count as the split pair of cards. There is normally a limit of 3 or 4 total hands that may be created by splitting cards, however, the number of splits possible may be any amount desired by the house. There may also be rules that aces can be split only once and that aces may receive only a single card (no subsequent hits) when aces are split from the initial hand.
The decision to hit or stand is made with an objective of causing the player total point value to be closer to xe2x80x9c21xe2x80x9d than the dealer total point value without busting. It should be understood that central factors in making the decision are the dealer""s face-up card and the player""s two-card total point value.
After all of the players stand the dealer""s face-down card is turned face-up, whereby both cards of the dealer hand are face-up. When the dealer""s total point value is less than xe2x80x9c17,xe2x80x9d the dealer must hit until the dealer total point value is at least xe2x80x9c17.xe2x80x9d When a hit causes the dealer hand to bust and the player hand has not busted, the player wins the wager. A xe2x80x98softxe2x80x99 17, (where a player""s ace counted as 11 contributes to the point total of 17), may be hit again at the option of house rules. It should be understood that when the dealer""s initial hand includes an ace and a six, for example, it is referred to as a soft xe2x80x9c17xe2x80x9d because the ace causes the exemplary hand to have alternative point values of xe2x80x9c7xe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9c17xe2x80x9d. Usually, the dealer hand cannot be hit when it is the soft xe2x80x9c17xe2x80x9d.
When neither the player hand nor the dealer hand busts and the dealer total point value exceeds the player total point value, the dealer wins and vice versa. When there is a push, there is no winner; the initial wagers representative of the bets are returned to the player. This describes the essentially standard method of play of the game of Blackjack or Twenty-One. As with any form of entertainment, variations, extensions or improvements of the game are often attempted or described.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,730 (Pike) describes a method of playing a wagering game that is achieved by providing a side bet opportunity during the play of a Twenty-One game. The player is given the opportunity to place this side bet with the hope of receiving winnings when certain predetermined card configurations are received. Upon receipt of these defined card configurations, the player is immediately paid winnings during the process of the Twenty-One game. These additional winnings are based on sequences of cards and are independent and separate from wagers in the Twenty-One game. Additionally, all of the predetermined card configurations are preferably chosen such that they will not interfere with the underlying Twenty-One game. As a basis for paying out winnings, it is required that the game consecutively receive these certain card configurations during the play of the Twenty-One game after having made a bet in expectation of those card configurations appearing. Also, the final configuration of the Twenty-One hand is irrelevant to the side bet game as the players win immediately when the predetermined configurations are received, long before completion of the hand.
Several optional blackjack side wagers have been described. These include the Over/Under 13, Super 7s, Top of the Deck, Royal Match (Boylan et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,098,107, 1992), and Bust-Out wagers. A separate progressive jackpot wager achieved through a predetermined arrangement of cards also has been proposed (Jones et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,861,041, 1989).
U.S. Pat. No. 5,413,353 is directed to a method of playing a blackjack-type card game. Each player places an identical dealt into a pot. The dealer deals two cards to each player, but receives no cards himself. The players may split pairs in the initial hand, draw additional cards or stand. The player with the best blackjack hand overall takes the pot. If two or more players tie, the pot is divided or the game is declared a tie and cards are redealt.
In the normal play of Blackjack or Twenty-One, the ability to split cards or form additional hands has been limited to cards of equivalent count dealt in the original or initial player""s hand of two cards. Although some discussions, for example the specification of Hansen, U.S. Pat. No. 5,660,392 (column 4, lines 44-56, describe splitting xe2x80x9ccards of the same valuexe2x80x9d, this language is believed to refer exclusively to splitting the initial hand of two cards, especially since no rules or guidelines are provided with respect to any other mechanism for forming multiple hands, and it is assumed that the reader understands the standard rules for splitting the initial two-card hand of the player.
A novel element in the play of a variant of Blackjack or Twenty-One includes allowing a player to split off a single card after taking a hit when the hit card matches an earlier dealt card, such as one or the other of the two first cards in the original hand or a subsequent hit. It is preferred that the game is played so that a single card may be split off after taking a hit when the last hit card of a player matches the value of the previous card dealt to that player. The splitting off of a card preferably may not be exercised when the player""s last hit breaks or busts the player""s head.
The invention includes a method of playing blackjack that comprises:
a) dealing two cards comprising a first card and a second card to at least one player to form a player""s hand;
b) allowing the player to take at least one additional card after receiving the two cards;
c) if any additional card matches a value of previously dealt card in the player""s hand, allowing the player to separate the latter additional card into a separate hand for the player.
This separation of the latter card ordinarily does not allow for the separation of the earlier card into a distinct hand. This is a possible option, but could cause the play of the game to become overly complex. There is likely to be a house rule, also, that allows a maximum number of hands (e.g., 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6) to be played by a single player after splitting off cards by any method, including play according to the rules of the present game.
The invention also includes a method of playing blackjack that comprises:
a) dealing two cards comprising a first card and a second card to at least one player;
b) allowing the player to take at least a third card in addition to the two cards;
c) if the last card dealt matches a previously dealt card in the hand, allowing the player to separate the last card dealt into a second hand for the player.
The present invention is an alteration in the normal play of Blackjack or Twenty-One which allows players to split-off single cards to form an additional hand when a hit card taken after receipt of the initial two-card hand matches an earlier dealt card (in numerical value) in the player""s hand. When that card is split off, the player completes the play of either the original hand or the new split-off hand to completion before playing the other hand. It is preferred that the split-off card should match the last card previously dealt to the player, so that card matches may be split only when consecutively dealt cards to a player""s hand match in value. It is also an option to prohibit the splitting-off of cards when the last card breaks the player""s hand. Numerous variations in play consistent with the advanced splitting-off feature of the present invention are possible in the play of the game. In contrast, conventional splitting rules allow splitting of only the first two cards dealt.
Examples of the alternative splitting-off step of the present invention are shown in the following analysis. The inventive splitting-off step follows the normal deal of the two card initial player""s hand(s). The player may play that hand in the normal manner, including splitting cards of like value and playing multiple hands. The inventive delayed splitting-off feature comes into play after the player begins accepting hits on the initial two card hand or on any two card hand resulting from a previous splitting of cards of like value in the initial two-card hand.
The delayed splitting feature of the present invention is best understood by way of example. When the initial hand constitutes two cards (X is the value of the first card and Y is the value of the second card) of values X and Y, the player may take a hit if desired. The value of the first hit card may be Z (any single value other than X or Y) or may be X or Y. If the value of the card is Z, the point total (Tpp) of the player""s hand is X+Y+Z. If Tpp is more than 21, the player""s hand has broken or busted. At this point, as in a conventional Blackjack or Twenty-One game, the hand is over for that player. If the Hit card is a card with a value X or Y (Vx,y), the player may elect to split off the hit card to form an additional hand, if the rules allow for splitting off the hit card if it is the same value as either X or Y. The rules may allow (or not allow) for splitting off the hit card in either event where the sum of Vx,y+X+Y is less than greater than or equal to 21. It would not typically be optimal game strategy for a player to split-off the hit card if the point total was equal to 21 (which would guarantee at least a push, unless the dealer had a blackjack), but the strategy of a player could call for that move to possibly maximize winnings on the hand. The rules may allow splitting only where the sum of Vx,y+X+Y is 21 or less, and not allow splitting-off where the sum of Vx,y+X+Y is greater than 21. These selections are made by the house to adjust the hold maintained by the house or to speed up the game by reducing the number of hands that a player might have.
In other examples of the invention, the hit card W is dealt after Vx,y is dealt, and the sum of the point values of all cards dealt prior to W plus the value of W must not exceed 21 in order for the player to split off the W card.
When a player splits off a hit card according to the practice of the invention, the most usual format of play would then be for the dealer to provide that player with one or more hit cards to the first hand, and play that xe2x80x98firstxe2x80x99 player""s hand to conclusion. Again, the house may vary the rules, but this method or format of play tends to be more consistent with the normal play of split initial two-card hands. The first hand is played to conclusion, with additional in-play splitting off of cards still being allowed, up to any maximum number of total hands for a single player that a house wishes to set on a single hand. After the first hand is played to conclusion, the split-off card is treated as the first card in the play of a second hand with both normal Blackjack or Twenty-One rules applying except that the special in-play splitting-off rules of this invention in operation. It is possible for the house rules to allow the split-off card to be played as a hand before completing play on the original hand from which a card has been split off.
According to the invention, the delayed split feature of the present invention may be combined with conventional splitting rules so that any time a pair is dealt, either consecutively or otherwise, splitting is possible, up to the stated maximum number of permitted splits.
Special rules may also be provided by the house. For example, in a less preferred (by the house) method of play, if the player doubles down and matches one of the cards in the initial two-card hand, the player may split-off the double down hit card, and receive a xe2x80x98replacementxe2x80x99 hit card. This would be a significant advantage to a player, and casinos may not activate this rule, even though it is an option according to the contemplated practice of the invention.
Given these general considerations in the practice of the invention, other rules and considerations of play might also be used. For example, the additional rules or play available might include:
2) a player doubling down on any number of cards (assuming that a double down has not already been made on a previous hit, or even after a double down has been made on a previous hit, the second double down being for the amount of the original wager or the amount of the original wager plus the double down hit),
3) a double down on the first hand and/or second hand after splitting,
4) surrender at any time by breaking a hand, (either hand), after the dealer has confirmed that the dealer does not have a blackjack,
5) any double down may be for less then the wager amount on that hand, and
6) the main new play event of splitting the last received card after receiving a hit that matched an earlier dealt card in value.
Additional rules that can be put into play could be that:
1) a player""s blackjack always wins (e.g., 1:1 against a dealer""s blackjack),
2) suited blackjacks pay 3:2, and unsuited blackjacks pay 1:1 (thereby balancing the effect of the immediately preceding additional rule 1)),
3) a six-card no bust hand automatically wins (with or without the dealer checking for a dealer""s blackjack),
4) when splitting by any mechanism, the maximum number of hands for a player would be 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6,
5) different amounts of wagers (either higher or lower, and possibly dependent upon predetermined events, such as matching identical cards [e.g., two queens of spades, or two kings of any suit], allowing for the player to place different amounts of wagers on the split-off card hand) may be placed on the split off hand than on the originally dealt hand, and
6) split aces may receive only one card, or may be allowed to receive any number of cards the player wishes, until the players stays or breaks. As is standard with splitting aces, counts of 21 received on split aces are not usually considered blackjacks (although with the 1:1 payoff rule, this rule may be waived, if elected by the house).
The following non-limiting examples of play of the game exemplify rules, manners of executing those rules, and options that may be available for play by the players.

Split card feature during continued play of blackjack


An on-demand fluid dispenser to dispense fluid in response to gas generation by a gas cell. The on-demand fluid dispenser includes an expandable gas chamber, a fluid chamber, and an on-demand gas cell. The expandable gas chamber includes a moveable plunger forming a wall of the expandable gas chamber. The moveable plunger also forms a wall of the fluid chamber. The on-demand gas cell is configured to generate the gas on demand. The on-demand gas cell is also configured to direct the gas to the expandable gas chamber to expand the expandable gas chamber. Expansion of the expandable gas chamber moves the moveable plunger to reduce a volume of the fluid chamber and to dispense an amount of fluid from the fluid chamber.

Dispensing devices such as those that periodically deliver a shot of fragrance into the air are well known. These devices have various control and activation systems including batteries and timers. The mechanisms for delivering the shot may include aerosol type devices that operate over a large range of pressures and piezo pumps.
Conventional gas cells are used for generating gases such as hydrogen from liquids such as water at relatively slow rates in which a volume of gas is generated slowly for periodic use of the gas for motive or other purposes. These gas cells are used in fluid delivery systems that operate automatically. For example, some conventional gas cells in fluid delivery systems continuously generate gas at a slow rate over a long period of time. A build-up in pressure provides a motive force for causing the fluid to exit from a storage chamber. The force is typically automatically applied at predetermined time intervals under the control of a timer and other controls for automatic, periodic delivery of the fluid.
Conventional fluid delivery systems that utilize gas cells are deficient in accounting for changes in environmental or system conditions. For example, as a volume of a gas chamber in a conventional fluid delivery system increases over time, the generation of the gas at a constant rate has a changing effect on the fluid delivery over time due to changes in atmospheric pressure, temperature, or other environmental conditions. Changes in pressure of contained gas due to changes in temperature or elevation typically impact the amount of fluid delivered by conventional gas generation fluid delivery systems such that these systems lack consistency under changing operating conditions.

Gas generation dispenser apparatus and method for on-demand fluid delivery


A pivot bearing used in a vehicle trailing arm suspension includes a housing, a resilient bush compressed and bonded in the housing, and a rigid axial sleeve in the bush. The bush has voids, above and below the sleeve when the pivot bearing is fitted for use and stiffening elements which extend between the voids at opposite sides of the sleeve. When the pivot bearing is in use in a vehicle trailing arm suspension, the voids increase flexibility of the bush under generally vertical loading on the pivot bearing. The stiffening elements enhance the stiffness of the bush in generally horizontal direction for improved vehicle dynamics and reduced vibration. Preferably, the stiffening elements are of plate or leaf form, are bonded to the bush, and extend arcuately about the sleeve. The voids extend partially through the axial thickness of the bush from opposite ends of the bush and generally accurately about the sleeve. The bush also has enlarged opposite circumferential end portions. The end portions extend circumferentially beyond diametrically opposite parts of the external circumference of the sleeve and are in-turned towards the sleeve. Edges of the stiffening elements extend into the opposite end portions of the voids.

This invention relates to a pivot bearing, particularly, though not exclusively, for a vehicle trailing arm suspension.
Pivot bearings in a vehicle trailing arm suspension are subjected, in use, to forces in the vertical, horizontal, axial and torsional directions. It is desirable that the bearings be able to absorb these forces, including shock and out of phase wheel loading, and have a prolonged useful life.
Conventionally, pivot bearings for vehicle trailing arm suspension systems include a housing containing a generally cylindrical bush on a rigid axial sleeve in which a pivot of a trailing arm is located. Whilst being essentially stiff, the bush has some resilience intended to absorb vertical, horizontal and torsional forces, particularly roll induced forces and out of phase wheel loads. Usually, the bush is made of a rubber material. Bushes have been made solid and with the same level of stiffness/resilience all around the axial sleeve. This limits the effectiveness of the bush because the stiffness/resilience requirements at different angularly positioned parts of the bush around the pivot may vary appreciably in practice according to the direction in which loads are exerted on the bush in use. If the bush is heavily loaded in use, it will usually have a high level of stiffness which makes it too stiff for satisfactory absorption of loads. Alternatively, if the bush is made with a compromised level of stiffness/resilience for the range of loads exerted on it in use in different directions, its performance is clearly limited.
In order to vary the stiffness of the bush for different levels of forces acting on the pivot bearing from different directions in use, bushes have been made with voids, usually arcuate, above and below the axial sleeve. This softens the rate of the bush under general vertical loading whilst retaining greater stiffness in the generally longitudinal direction of the vehicle for compliance under roll and out of phase wheel loading. However, the stiffness provided in the generally longitudinal direction is limited and may be insufficient to cope satisfactorily with increasing loading conditions under which some vehicles are expected to operate.
According to a first aspect of the present inventions, a pivot bearing includes a housing which attaches the pivot bearing to a support means, a resilient generally cylindrical bush contained in the housing, and a rigid axial sleeve secured in the bush at which the pivot bearing is located for use. Voids are formed in first portions of the bush. When the pivot bearing is fitted for use, the voids are disposed above and below the axial sleeve. The pivot bearing includes stiffening elements made of material stiffer than that of the bush. The stiffening elements are contained in second portions of the bush and extend between the first portions at opposite sides of the axial sleeve.
The stiffening elements increase the stiffness of the bush in generally horizontal directions for improved vehicle dynamics and reduced vibration when the pivot bearing is in use.
The stiffening elements are rigid. They can be made of metal such as steel, or of a suitable plastics material. Preferably, the stiffening elements are securely retained, by bonding, to the bush. The stiffening elements can be of a plate or leaf form. The stiffening elements extend arcuately in the second portions about the sleeve. They can also take other forms. There can be a single stiffening element at each side of the sleeve, or there may be more than one stiffening element. Each stiffening element extends through the axial length of the bush and can project from the opposite ends of the bush.
Preferably, the bush is formed by molding. The voids are formed in the bush as it is molded. The stiffening elements are incorporated into the bush as it is molded, and the material of the bush is then bonded to the stiffening elements in the course of the molding process.
The voids extend arcuately, or generally arcuately, in the first portions of the bush about the sleeve. They can extend through the axial thickness of the bush, or partially through the thickness. The voids can extend into the bush from opposite end faces of the bush. In this latter arrangement similar, directly opposed, voids extend towards one another from the opposite end faces, but are separated by a central solid region of the bush.
Preferably, as viewed from each of the opposite ends of the bush, in the position of use of the pivot bearing, there is one elongated void above and one below the sleeve. Each void extends for a longer distance about the sleeve than the external diameter of the sleeve. Opposite ends of each void extend through and beyond notional parallel planes extending vertically tangentially of diametrically opposite parts of the external circumference of the sleeve. This increases the flexibility of the bush under generally vertical loading. Preferably, the ends of the voids are also enlarged, assisting in reducing stresses in the material of the bush at the ends of voids and facilitating compression of the bush under vertical loading. The annular width of the end regions of the voids can be increased and enlarged. In another form, the ends of the voids are enlarged by shaping them into two or more lobes, fingers or comparable projections running from the main bodies of the voids. At least one such projection at each end of a void extends inwardly towards the sleeve. In a preferred form, the ends of the voids are turned inwardly towards the sleeve to provide the enlargements. The ends of the voids can be turned inwardly at an angle, preferably substantially radially of the sleeve. Each end of the voids can also taper generally triangularly towards the sleeve.
The bush can have an interference fit in the housing. Alternatively, it can be bonded and/or molded into the housing.
In a preferred embodiment, the bush is formed, as by molding, separately from the housing and is then compressed into and bonded in the housing. The bush is fixed on the sleeve before insertion into the housing. The voids of the uncompressed bush are open so that the opposite longitudinal sides of the elongated voids extending above and below the sleeve are spaced apart. The ends of the voids are turned inwardly towards the sleeve in the manner described above and taper generally triangularly towards the sleeve. Upon insertion of the bush into the housing, and its radial compression thereby, the compression of the first portions containing the voids causes the opposite longitudinal sides of the voids to close together. In the assembled pivot bearing, therefore, the voids are substantially closed; only the inturned ends of the voids may remain open, through to a lesser extent than in the uncompressed state of the bush. Although the voids are closed, the first portions remain relatively compressible, thereby affording substantial compliance in the bush under loading in the vertical, and generally vertical, directions.
By contrast, the compression of the bush at the second portions resulting from its insertion into the housing, in combination with the stiffening afforded by the stiffening elements, leaves the second portions substantially stiffened against further compression under horizontal, and generally horizontal, loading on the bush when it is in use.
The stiffening elements, at least in the plate or leaf form, extend into opposite ends of the voids. When the ends of the voids are enlarged into lobes, fingers or comparable projections, as described, the stiffening elements preferably extend into the voids between adjacent projections. In the preferred form of the voids having the inwardly turned ends, the material of the bush is radiused into the ends of the voids at the stiffening elements where the stiffening elements break into the voids. These arrangements reinforce the bush where stresses are concentrated under vertical, and generally vertical, loading and help to prevent separation of the material of the bush from the stiffening elements adjacent the voids.
The bush can be bonded to the sleeve. When the bush is molded, it can be bonded onto the sleeve as it is molded. The sleeve can protrude from the opposite ends faces of the bush.
In one example, the sleeve is axially longer than the housing for compliance of the bush under axial and tilting loading. The sleeve projects symmetrically from the opposite axial ends of the housing. Preferably, the bush is shaped to correspond substantially in axial length to the length of the sleeve at its internal diameter and to have its ends inclined away from the sleeve so that the axial length of the bush reduces towards its external diameter. This allows for tilting of the bush relative to the sleeve and bulging of the ends under loading.
In one embodiment, a pivot bearing is made to be used in a vehicle trailing arm and its attachment to a supporting part of the vehicle. The pivot bearing is designed to withstand horizontal, vertical, axial and torsional loading when in use. The housing of the pivot bearing is cylindrical and co-axial with the sleeve. The bush is bonded onto the rigid axial sleeve and securely retained in the housing. Both the sleeve and housing are made of metal, for example steel. The bush has a cylindrical body with frusto-conical, or convex, end faces. The sleeve is longer than the housing and projects from the end faces of the body. The body is made of a rubber, polyurethane, or comparable, flexible material. Generally arcuately extending elongated voids are formed in first portions of the body. When the pivot bearing is fitted for use, the voids are above and below the sleeve, the voids opening through the end faces of the body. The voids are longer arcuately than the external diameter of the sleeve and have inwardly turned end portions which taper triangularly, generally radially, towards the sleeve. Stiffening elements extend through the second portions of the body adjacent diametrically opposed sides of the sleeve. There is one stiffening element at each side of the sleeve. The stiffening elements are made of metal, for example steel, and are of a plate or leaf form arcuately curved concentrically about the sleeve. The stiffening elements are shorter than the sleeve, extend through the full axial length of the body, and protrude from the opposite end faces of the body. Each stiffening element projects into the adjacent end portions of the voids.
The housing is fixed to the trailing arm for use of the pivot bearing such that the central longitudinal axis of the sleeve extends horizontally transversely of the arm. A pivot pin is located in the sleeve and is supported by opposed limbs of a mounting which straddles the pivot bearing and is fixed to the supporting part of the vehicle. The protruding ends of the sleeve abut, or bear on, thrust washers which abut opposed, inner surfaces of the respective limbs of the mounting. In use of the suspension system, generally vertical and horizontal loadings imposed on the pivot bearing by relative movement between the pivot pin and trailing arm are accommodated respectively by the voided first portions of the bush and the second portions stiffened by the stiffening elements. The body of the bush is able to sustain axial, torsional and tilting loading on the bush.
The pivot bearing can be included as original equipment on a trailing arm of a vehicle trailing arm suspension system.
Thus, according to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided vehicle trailing arm including a pivot bearing in accordance with the first aspect of the invention herein set forth, the housing of the pivot bearing begin fixed with respect to the trailing arm.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle trailing arm suspension system including at least one trailing arm in accordance with the foregoing second aspect of the invention.


Methods and apparatus for providing in-order delivery in Fibre Channel (FC) fabric are disclosed. A topological change between a first switch and a second switch is evaluated to determine whether the topological change may result in out-of-order delivery. If it is determined that the topological change may result in out-of-order delivery, a flush frame is sent to the second switch and stop-on-mark is performed on all interfaces of affected links. Upon receiving the flush frame, the second switch drains all virtual output queues (VOQs) and sends an acknowledgement frame to the first switch. The first switch resumes in-order-delivery in an affected link after receiving the acknowledgement frame or expiration of a lifetime time of a frame.

1. Technical Field
Embodiments described in this disclosure generally relate to techniques for reducing loss for data frames requiring in-order delivery on a Fibre Channel fabric. More specifically, embodiments described in this disclosure relate to providing less loss for in-order delivery in a Fibre Channel Fabric following a change in network topology.
2. Description of the Related Art
Switches in a Fibre Channel (FC) fabric, are often connected by multiple inter-switch links (ISL). Some applications, such as storage applications, communicating across a FC fabric, are often not designed to handle out-of-order delivery of frames and require that the FC fabric preserve the order of frames as they are delivered to the destination.
Traffic through the FC fabric is usually sent on some or all of the ISLs based on the cost of each link (dynamically determined by the switches). For example, the cost of each link and paths of flows in the FC fabric may be determined using the known Fabric Shortest Path First (FSPF) routing protocol. Sometimes, one flow may be able to traverse the FC fabric via multiple equal-cost paths. During topology changes in the FC fabric a change in the number of paths a flow can take may result in out-of-order delivery of frames.
To avoid out-of-order delivery, packets in affected flows need to be flushed after detecting a change in topology. For example, flushing packets may be performed by blocking traffic of effected flows for a certain worst-case period of time. One worst-case period of time may be the maximum lifetime of a packet within a switch multiplied by hop counts until the point of interest. Typically, a worst-case period of time is about 500 ms. However, blocking traffic for the worst-case period of time can disrupt network operation as more packets are dropped than necessary and network operation is at least temporarily halted.

Less loss in-order delivery protocol for fibre connection architecture