A snap mounted electrical power connector for a printed circuit board. The electrical power connector is included of an input power receptacle that forms a first portion of a current carrying path through the electrical power connector and an output power receptacle that forms a second portion of the current carrying path through the electrical power connector. The input power receptacle and the output power receptacle are configured to connect along a common axis perpendicular to the printed circuit board by a snap connection.

The invention relates to electrical power connectors, and more particularly, to a snap mounted electrical power connector for a printed circuit board that connects along a common axis.
Power connectors are required to bring power to printed circuit (PC) boards. These power connectors generally include two individual power receptacles that mount on opposing sides of the PC board. Each receptacle is mounted on its respective side of the PC board using screws or other similar fasteners. The receptacles are mounted in an offset configuration that prevents the mounting of one receptacle from interfering with the mounting of the other receptacle. The input receptacle mounted on the back plane of the PC board includes three male electrical contacts that mate with a line, neutral, and ground electrical receptacles of an external power cord leading to a wall socket. The output receptacle mounted on the front plane of the PC board includes a line, neutral, and ground receptacle configured to receive the male contacts of an internal power cord. The internal power cord is soldered at its opposing end to the PC board.
Electrical leads that extend from the backside of each receptacle and pass through apertures in the PC board provide an electrical connection between the two receptacles. Copper tracers printed on the PC board connect the corresponding electrical leads for each receptacle to complete a circuit. In some cases an electrical filter is used to filter noise generated by the power supply. The filter is typically mounted on the PC board at the connection point of the internal power cord and the PC board.
Unfortunately, the above-described configuration presents several problems in the art. One problem is the physical space occupied by the offset mounting configuration. The physical space occupied by any one component on a PC board is an important concern because of the demand for smaller electronic products. The offset configuration of the individual receptacles utilizes approximately four square inches of space on the front and back plane of the PC board. Another problem with this configuration is that the electrical leads that pass through the PC board pose a danger of electrical shock to individuals working on the PC board. To prevent injury a non-conductive foam padding is often pressed onto the leads. This padding, however, is easily detached and lost. Finally, another problem with this configuration is that the PC board is easily damaged during mounting of the power receptacles due to careless workers over tightening the fastening screws.
The present invention overcomes the problems outlined above and advances the art by providing a snap mounted electrical power connector that mounts on a PC board along a common axis. A first advantage of the present power connector is that the mounting along the common axis significantly reduces the amount of space utilized by the power connector. A second advantage of the present power connector is that it mounts by a snap connection onto the PC board without the use of independent fasteners or adhesives. A third advantage of the present power connector is that it eliminates the need for the electrical leads, tracers, and non-conductive foam padding, resulting in a safer connector with lower manufacturing costs. A fourth advantage of the present power connector is that in some examples, it includes an internal electrical filter that filters radio frequency interference from a power cord. Advantageously, the internal filter eliminates the need for a separate filter mounted on the PC board resulting in further space savings. A fifth advantage of the present power connector is that the snap mounting provides a faster and easier method of assembly.
The electrical power connector is comprised of an input power receptacle that forms a first portion of a current carrying path through the connector and an output power receptacle that forms a second portion of the current carrying path through the connector. The input power receptacle and the output power receptacle are configured to connect to the PC board by a snap connection along a common axis perpendicular to the board.
In some examples of the present power connector, the input power receptacle and the output power receptacle are contained in a single housing that fits into an aperture formed in the PC board. The power connector could snap into the aperture or be connected in the aperture by loose or captive hardware. In other examples of the present power connector the input power receptacle and the output power receptacle are contained in separate housings that connect together along the common axis from opposing sides of the PC board. The input power receptacle and the output power receptacle could connect together along the common axis by a snap connection or using the loose or captive hardware.

Electrical power connector for printed circuit boards


A method for recognizing and identifying objects by means of several sensors, particularly using imaging sensors (L, W, V) in the infrared and/or visible wavelength range and radar devices (R) which are based on the generation of a synthetic aperture. According to the invention, generation of the synthetic aperture occurs in accordance with the ROSAR principle, wherein a plurality of antenna elements (A), which the radar device (R) comprises, is placed on the aircraft (F) along its arched contour (K), controlled sequentially and scanned, and wherein the information acquired by the radar devices (R) and the imaging sensors (L, W, V) is subsequently processed, in such a way that optimal imaging of the surroundings of the aircraft (F) is made possible in every viewing direction.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,963,653 describes a method for recognizing and identifying objects, whereby data from several sensors are processed and evaluated together. In particular, SAR (synthetic aperture radar) and IR (infrared) sensors are used in this connection. However, it has proven to be a disadvantage that imaging is possible only crosswise to the flight direction, using the SAR radar devices. Common evaluation of data from the SAR radar devices with IR sensors is therefore possible only for a limited sight range.
It is therefore the task of the invention to indicate a method with which it is possible to recognize and identify objects, using SAR radar equipment and IR sensors also in the flight direction.
This task is accomplished using the method according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the method according to the invention are the object of dependent claims.
According to the invention, generation of the synthetic aperture occurs in accordance with the ROSAR principle, wherein a plurality of antenna elements, which the radar device comprises, is placed on the aircraft along its arched contour, controlled sequentially and scanned. The information acquired by the radar devices and the imaging sensors is subsequently processed, according to the invention, in such a way that optimal imaging of the surroundings of the aircraft is made possible in every viewing direction.
Using the antenna elements of the radar device that function according to the ROSAR principle, arranged according to the invention, it is therefore possible to image not only the region crosswise to the flight direction of the aircraft, but also the region in the flight direction of the aircraft. In contrast to known SAR radar devices, the sight range of the ROSAR radar device used in the method according to the invention is not limited to a specific viewing angle.
The synthetic aperture known for the conventional SAR method is not generated, in the proposed radar system, in that the aircraft moves relative to the target object, for example, but rather the individual antenna elements, arranged adjacent to one another, are electronically controlled sequentially and scanned. In the evaluation according to the ROSAR method, as well, the rotating antenna movement is simulated by means of the sequential control and scanning of adjacent antenna elements.
Using the method according to the invention, the orientation and navigation of an aircraft is significantly improved by means of an active warning of obstacles and imaging of the existing earth surface. However, the orientation, particularly in the case of an aircraft at take-off and landing, for example in the case of technically inadequate airports, is also significantly improved.
For this purpose, imaging and perception of the flight pass and landing field, as well as timely recognition of obstacles, a precise navigation possibility, and an efficient transmission of voice/data by way of communications networks are required.
A safe landing of aircraft on technically inadequate airfields, or those not equipped at all, requires all-weather-capable, aircraft-autonomous flight control to the landing strip, as it is possible using a radar device that functions according to the ROSAR principle (ROSAR sensor), and the additional capability of also recognizing smaller parts, for example on the landing strip, that are hazardous for the take-off and landing procedure.
The measures described below provide comprehensive coverage of the landing concept for aircrafts, for example air planes, drones, or helicopters having different sensor systems, even taking into consideration military aspects, which coverage includes intelligent signal processing and communication.
It is advantageous if the data acquired by the sensors, where it is advantageous if these are laser radar devices, heat imaging devices, or video cameras integrated into the aircraft nose, and the data acquired using the ROSAR sensor, are collected by a first data processing unit and processed to produce a common image. Because of the multi-spectral effect of a combination of a ROSAR sensor with an optronic sensor, object signatures can be evaluated and imaged in better and more precise manner. If a laser radar device is used as an option sensor, for example, a more detailed image of the surroundings will be achieved for the common image, because of the improved distance resolution and lateral resolution.
Using the method according to the invention, a quasi-three-dimensional radar image of the terrain and the obstacles will be produced, using the ROSAR sensor. The precise resolution takes place using the option sensor, where it is advantageous if these are laser radar devices, heat image devices, or video cameras. By means of the coupling of the radar device that functions according to the ROSAR principle (ROSAR sensor), usually in the cm or mm wavelength range, with the option sensors, which usually function in the infrared or visible range, the all-weather capabilities of the ROSAR sensor supplement the high resolution capabilities of the option sensors in the near range. Thus, for example, in the case of an aircraft landing, the limited usability of the option sensors in bad weather is of subordinate importance, since here only short ranges are required for the recognition of obstacles.
Another advantage is that using a combination of different active and passive option sensors with the ROSAR sensor, a graduated poor-weather capability is achieved. Thus, the method according to the invention guarantees that even upon entry into the poor-weather range, imaging of the surroundings is possible.
The range of option sensors in poor weather is greater for the passive infrared sensor (in the atmospheric windows 8-12 μm and 3-5 μm) because of the greater wavelength and the illumination-dependent thermal emission of objects to be imaged (fire sight) than that of laser radar (in the wavelength range of approximately 1.5 μm), followed by a video camera.
Using the method according to the invention, data with different dimensionalities can be linked with one another. A radar device functioning according to the ROSAR principle, or a laser radar device generates a spatial top view of the terrain to be imaged. The option sensors, such as heat image cameras or video cameras, offer a perspective view of the terrain to be imaged. Using the method according to the invention, these data are linked with one another and can be made visible or processed further. Thus, for example, flat parts located on a landing strip can also be represented as flat parts in a cartographic image of the landing strip.
An advantage of linking a ROSAR sensor with option sensors is that in addition to a determination of the object position that is independent of the weather, a determination of the object properties that is independent of the weather is also possible. Thus, it is possible, using a ROSAR sensor, to obtain information about the material of an object to be imaged, for example, even in poor weather.
In an advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, the image generated in the first data processing unit is processed further in a second data processing unit, with a corresponding terrain image from a database, to produce a further image. This further processing of the data with the corresponding terrain image takes place by means of the known pass-point method and additionally by means of a pass-area method. Pass areas are terrain regions that are characterized by noticeable line arrangements or textures and that are indicated on the map. The image correction required for data linking is then carried out analogous to the known pass-point method and pass-areas.
Linking of the image generated in the first data processing unit with the terrain image takes place by means of symbolic and/or by means of iconic image processing. In the case of iconic image processing, the pass-points symbolically arranged on the map are transformed into pass-areas as a two-dimensional image signal, as they are typical, in particular, for road intersections and texture peculiarities, and it is advantageous if they are then linked with the image data from the first data processing unit. It is advantageous if these data, acquired within the framework of data diffusion, e.g. obstacle data, are either displayed on a display or represented in a known virtual cockpit.
Navigation takes place, in particular, on the basis of a digitalized terrain map, including added infrastructure data (airport, landing strip, taxiways, etc.) in the form of a CD-ROM as the database. In the case of a virtual cockpit, flight control therefore takes place using the combination of a digital terrain model together with a satellite-supported navigation system, where it is advantageous if this is GPS (global positioning system). The region over which the aircraft has just flown is shown from the viewing position of the pilot, in the form of a synthetic view, in real time. Because of its better positioning accuracy, the more suitable differential GPS is proposed.
It is advantageous if the acquired data are transmitted to an evaluation station or to other communications participants, for example other aircraft. This can be done, for example, by way of the mobile radio network (GSM network) and/or by means of mobile communications via satellites. The use of mobile communications allows two-way communication, i.e. full duplex operation and group communication. As an alternative, transmissions by means of high-frequency technology (HF/VHF network) are also possible, but then the required large antenna must be integrated into the fuselage of the aircraft.
However, in exchange HF/VHF transmission has the advantage that it is independent of the available infrastructure.
Transmission takes place, entirely or in part, in automated manner, and also serves to establish a formation or fleet management. Furthermore, automatic, semi-automatic, or even manually controlled communication with databases (for example a database of the airport) takes place, in order to call up data that are relevant for flight safety, on the one hand, and to transmit current data from the surroundings of the aircraft during landing (obstacles, weather condition data, etc.) to external databases, on the other hand. This is particularly necessary and useful in military operations in unknown airfield terrain.

Method for recognizing and identifying objects


It was found that if a copolymer of maleic acid or maleic anhydride with an alkyl vinyl ether, which has a specific viscosity of 3.5 or more, is used as an antibacterial-enhancing agent, the action of an antibacterial agent in an oral composition is enhanced and the effect such as adhesion prevention of a soft deposit is improved.

The present invention relates to an oral composition. In particular, it relates to an antibacterial antiplaque oral composition useful for toothpaste.
More specifically, it relates to an oral composition containing an antibacterial agent effective to inhibit plaque, and an antibacterial-enhancing agent used therefor, which is a toothpaste composition containing a substantially water-insoluble noncationic antibacterial agent (NAA), and a copolymer of maleic acid or maleic anhydride with an alkyl vinyl ether operative as an antibacterial-enhancing agent (AEA) to enhance the antibacterial antiplaque activity of the NAA.
As described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Hei 6-192060, unlike calculus which is a hard calcified deposit on tooth surface, dental plaque is a soft deposit that forms on any part from the tooth surface to soft oral tissue surface adjacent thereto, especially at the gingival margin. It is said that the plaque such as the soft deposit causes the occurrence of gingivitis. Moreover, the deposit of plaque appears to other persons as a dirt on the tooth so that they may find it unsightly and filthy during face-to-face conversation.
Accordingly, it is highly desirable to include in oral compositions, which are a composition for drugs and materials used in the oral cavity such as toothpaste, antibacterial agents having a function capable of reducing plaque, especially substantially water-insoluble noncationic antibacterial agents such as triclosan (namely, 2,4,4xe2x80x2-trichloro-2xe2x80x2-hydroxydiphenyl ether).
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,022,880 to Vinson et al, though it does not relate to an antiplaque agent, a compound providing zinc ions as an anticalculus agent is admixed with the same antibacterial agent as described above, a wide variety of antibacterial agents which are disclosed, including noncationic compounds such as halogenated salicylanilides and halogenated hydroxydiphenyl ethers.
The combination of the noncationic antibacterial antiplaque halogenated polyhydroxydiphenyl ether, triclosan, with zinc citrate trihydrate has been disclosed in European Patent (EP) Publication 0161,899 to Saxton et al, or in many other publications.
Triclosan is also disclosed in EP Publication 0271,332 to Davis as a toothpaste component containing a solubilizing agent such as propylene glycol.
Further, German Patent Disclosure DE 3,532,860 discloses triclosan in combination with a copper compound.
Still further, EP Publication 0278,744 discloses the combination of triclosan with a potassium-containing tooth desensitizing agent, while EP 0161,898 discloses triclosan as an antiplaque agent in a dentifrice formulated to contain a lamellar liquid crystal surfactant phase.
As described above, several of the commonly known publications related to prior patent applications disclose a combination of triclosan as one effective component of an oral composition with other component. Moreover, in several of these commonly known publications, it is shown that the antiplaque effectiveness of an antibacterial agent such as triclosan exemplified as one component of oral compositions is enhanced by including in the composition an antibacterial-enhancing agent which enhances the preferable delivery of the antibacterial agent to, and retention thereof on, oral surfaces.
In the specification of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/738,766, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,202,112, there are described toothpaste and dental gel compositions which contain an amount of a synthetic linear viscoelastic cross-linked polymeric thickening agent, especially a cross-linked methyl vinyl ether/maleic anhydride copolymer, effective to render the oral composition linearly viscoelastic, and a method of promoting oral hygiene by applying an effective amount of the composition to dental surfaces.
On the other hand, the above-described Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Hei 6-192060 describes that the antiplaque effectiveness of NAA""s such as triclosan in oral compositions is still further enhanced by including in the compositions as an AEA one or a mixture of the synthetic cross-linked polymer, and that such inclusion in dentifrices such as toothpaste and dental gel compositions is preferable.
In the above-described conventionally publicly-known prior arts, when NAA and AEA are used in combination, a sufficient antibacterial antiplaque property can be obtained. However, an effective application of these compositions onto dental surfaces cannot be attained, and therefore still further improvement has been desired as a component for teeth surface application or as a composition.
Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to enhance the application effect to be more preferable state, and to provide more preferable combination of an antibacterial agent and an antibacterial enhancing agent.
In order to overcome the above-described problems, the present inventors have made an extensive research on an oral composition that is harmless to oral surfaces. As a result, the present inventors have found that an oral composition is effective comprising a substantially water insoluble noncationic antibacterial agent used in an effective antiplaque amount, and a specific antibacterial-enhancing agent in an amount effective to enhance delivery of the antibacterial agent to, and the retention thereof on, the oral surfaces, wherein the specific antibacterial-enhancing agent comprises a synthetic polymer of maleic acid or maleic anhydride with an alkyl vinyl ether which has a specific viscosity of 3.5 or more. The present invention has been accomplished based on this finding.
The subject matter of the invention will be described hereinbelow.
A first aspect of the present invention relates to an oral composition comprising an antibacterial agent and an antibacterial-enhancing agent, the antibacterial-enhancing agent being a copolymer of maleic acid or maleic anhydride with an alkyl vinyl ether, in which the copolymer has a specific viscosity of 3.5 or more.
A second aspect of the present invention relates to an oral composition according to the first aspect of the invention, in which the alkyl vinyl ether is methyl vinyl ether.
A third aspect of the present invention relates to an oral composition according to the first aspect of the invention, in which the specific viscosity of the copolymer of maleic acid or maleic anhydride with an alkyl vinyl ether is 3.8 to 5.2.
A fourth aspect of the present invention relates to an oral composition according to the first aspect of the invention, in which the copolymer of maleic acid or maleic anhydride with an alkyl vinyl ether is used in an amount of 0.1 to 2.5% by weight.
A fifth aspect of the present invention relates to an oral composition according to the first aspect of the invention, in which the antibacterial agent is a noncationic antibacterial agent.
A sixth aspect of the present invention relates to an oral composition according to the fifth aspect of the invention, in which the noncationic antibacterial agent is triclosan.
A seventh aspect of the present invention relates to an oral composition according to any one of the first to sixth aspects of the invention, in the form of a toothpaste, a liquid toothpaste, a dental gel or a mouthwash.
All the substantially water insoluble noncationic antibacterial agents (NAA) which are disclosed in the above-described prior arts, are effectively used in the present invention.
In the present invention, NAA can be used alone and also in combination of two or more thereof. Further, it can be used together with other components that do not affect the action and effect of NAA. The effective ratio of NAA used is, in an effective antiplaque amount, preferably from about 0.01 to 5% by weight, more preferably from about 0.03 to 1% by weight, still more preferably from about 0.25 to 0.5% by weight and most preferably from about 0.25 to 0.35% by weight, in the oral composition comprising the NAA and an antibacterial-enhancing agent described later as another essential component.
For example, the NAA is used in an amount of about 0.3% by weight in a dentifrice such as toothpaste, dental gel or the like, and it is used in an amount of from about 0.03 to 0.3% by weight, more preferably from about 0.03 to 0.1% by weight in a mouthwash or a liquid dentifrice.
The NAA used is substantially water-insoluble and the term xe2x80x9cwater-insolublexe2x80x9d as used herein means that the solubility of the NAA is less than about 1% by weight in water at 25xc2x0 C. and is in actuality even less than about 0.1% by weight.
Examples of the NAA according to the present invention include the phenolic compounds such as thymol, eugenol, hexyl resorcinol and 2,2-methylene bis(4-chloro-6-bromophenol) or triclosan. Of these, triclosan is preferable.
In the oral composition according to the present invention, the AEA as another essential component comprises a copolymer of maleic acid or maleic anhydride with an alkyl vinyl ether, which is preferably used in an amount of about 0.02 to 5% by weight, more preferably about 0.1 to about 2.5% by weight in the oral composition of the present invention. The polymer used has a higher molecular weight than that of the conventional one and its specific viscosity is preferably 3.5 or higher, more preferably 3.8 to 5.2.
Preferable examples of the above-described copolymer having a higher specific viscosity include VEMA A106H (a specific viscosity: 4.0) or VEMA A106H5 (a specific viscosity: 4.5), which is a copolymer of maleic anhydride with methyl vinyl ether, produced by Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd., and those are easily available.
Incidentally, examples of the conventionally used copolymer with a low specific viscosity include one having a specific viscosity of 1.0 (AN139 produced by Gantrez, which is a copolymer of maleic anhydride with methyl vinyl ether), one having a specific viscosity of 0.3 (AN119 produced by Gantrez, which is a copolymer of maleic anhydride with methyl vinyl ether; VEMA A101 produced by Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd.), one having a specific viscosity of 1.0 (VEMA A103 produced by Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd.) and one having a specific viscosity of 3.0 (S-97 produced by GAF Corporation, which is a copolymer of maleic anhydride with methyl vinyl ether; VEMA A106 produced by Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd.).
As described above, the copolymer of maleic anhydride with an alkyl vinyl ether according to the present invention, which has a high specific viscosity, is used preferably within the range of 0.02 to 5% by weight, more preferably of 0.1 to about 2.5% by weight. It is found that such usage enables the desired effect, more specifically, a preferable delivery of triclosan to, and retention thereof on, oral surfaces, and that the difference is large in the obtained effect between AEA having a high specific viscosity and AEA having a low specific viscosity.
The oral compositions according to the present invention have excellent stability against phase separation or syneresis, viscosity change in storage, and settling of dissolved, dispersed or suspended particles under high and low temperature conditions, freedom from fish eyes, excellent texture and other cosmetic properties, ease of extrusion from a dispensing tube, pump or the like (easily shear thinned), good stand-up after extrusion (quick recovery of structure), and fluoride ion availability to dental enamel-like substances leading to improved anti-caries effects.
The oral composition according to the present invention will retain sufficient energy when a stress or strain is applied, at least over the extent expected to be encountered for products of this type, for example, when squeezed out of a toothpaste tube or pump to return to its previous condition and exhibit excellent stand-up when the stress or strain is removed.
In the polymer having the same structure unit, as the molecular weight becomes higher, a value of the specific viscosity as described in the present invention becomes greater. Therefore, the specific viscosity is widely used as the standard relatively indicating a molecular weight of polymer, and the specific viscosity used in the present invention essentially means the same thing as the molecular weight.
The measuring method of the specific viscosity is shown below.
In methyl ethyl ketone which is a solvent, a copolymer as an object of measuring is dissolved to prepare a solution having a concentration of 1% (weight/volume %, at 25xc2x0 C.). By using a capillary viscometer prescribed by JIS K6726, the copolymer solution obtained is measured on the falling time at 25xc2x0 C., and the specific viscosity is calculated by the following formula: specific viscosity=(Axe2x88x92B)/B. In the above-described formula, A=a measured value on falling time of copolymer solution, B=a measured value on falling time of the solvent only.
It is needless to mention that the toothpaste or the like as an oral agent according to the present invention may have an anticalculus property in addition to the above-described antiplaque property, and an effective anticalculus amount of an anticalculus agent is desirably included in these oral compositions. An anticalculus agent as described herein typically includes linear, molecularly dehydrated (generally water soluble or synthetic) polyphosphates and preferred examples thereof include hexametaphosphates, tripolyphosphates and pyrophosphates.
As described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Hei 6-192060 above, U.S. Pat. No. 4,515,772 to Parran et al discloses oral anticalculus compositions containing a fluoride ion source and soluble dialkali metal pyrophosphates alone or admixed with tetraalkali metal pyrophosphates. U.S. Pat. No. 4,627,977 to Gaffar et al discloses oral compositions containing the above-described preferred polyphosphate anticalculus agents in combination with a fluoride and a polycarboxylate to inhibit enzymatic hydrolysis of the polyphosphate in saliva. Such polycarboxylates, when cross-linked, are operative herein as AEA""s.
The linear molecularly dehydrated polyphosphates are generally employed in the form of their wholly or partially neutralized water soluble or readily water dispersible alkali metal (e.g. sodium or potassium) salts or ammonium salts, or any mixtures thereof. Representative examples include sodium hexametaphosphate, sodium tripolyphosphate, disodium diacid, trisodium monoacid, tetrasodium pyrophosphates, the corresponding potassium salts and the like. Especially desirable are the tetraalkali metal pyrophosphates such as tetrasodium pyrophosphate (TSPP), tetrapotassium pyrophosphate (TKPP) or mixtures thereof, especially mixtures with a relatively large content of TKPP. These polyphosphate anticalculus agents, when employed in oral compositions of the present invention, are used in approximate weight amounts of 0.1 to 7% by weight, typically 0.1 to 3% by weight, usually 2% by weight.
The sources of fluoride ions, or fluoride ion-providing compounds, when employed herein as an inhibitor of enzymatic hydrolysis of polyphosphate anticalculus agents and/or as anti-caries agents are well known. These compounds may be slightly soluble in water or may be fully water-soluble. They are characterized by their ability to release fluoride ions into water and by freedom from undesired reactions with other compounds of the oral preparation.
Examples of these compounds include inorganic fluoride salts, such as soluble alkali metal, alkaline earth metal salts, for example, sodium fluoride, potassium fluoride, ammonium fluoride, calcium fluoride, a copper fluoride such as cuprous fluoride, zinc fluoride, barium fluoride, sodium fluorosilicate, ammonium fluorosilicate, sodium fluorozirconate, sodium monofluorophosphate, aluminum mono-or difluorophosphate, and fluorinated sodium calcium pyrophosphate. Among these, alkali metal and tin fluorides, such as sodium and stannous fluorides, sodium monofluorophosphate (MFP) and mixtures thereof, are preferred.
The amount of the fluoride-providing compound used is dependent to some extent upon the type of compound, its solubility, the type of oral preparation and the like, but it is said that generally it must be about 0.005 to about 3.0% by weight in the preparation. Needless to say, it must be a nontoxic amount.
In a dentifrice preparation, e.g. dental gel, toothpaste (including cream), toothpowder, or dental tablet, an amount of such compound which releases up to about 5,000 ppm of fluorine ion by weight of the preparation is considered preferable. Any suitable minimum amount of such compound may be used, but it is preferable to employ sufficient amount of compound to release about 300 to 2,000 ppm, more preferably about 800 to about 1,500 ppm of fluoride ion. Typically, in the cases of alkali metal fluorides and stannous fluoride, this compound is present in an amount of up to about 2% by weight, based on the weight of the preparation, and preferably in the range of about 0.05 to 1% by weight. The compound may be present preferably in an amount of from about 0.1 to 3% by weight, more typically about 0.76% in the form of sodium monofluorophosphate (MFP) and from about 0.005 to 1% by weight, more typically about 0.243% by weight in the form of sodium fluoride (NaF).
In certain other desirable forms of the oral composition according to the present invention, for example, the oral composition may be substantially solid or pasty such as toothpowder, a dental tablet, a toothpaste, dental gel or cream.
The vehicle of such solid or pasty oral preparations generally contains polishing materials. Examples of the polishing materials include water-insoluble sodium metaphosphate, potassium metaphosphate, tricalcium phosphate, dihydrated calcium phosphate, anhydrous dicalcium phosphate, dihydrated calcium phosphate, anhydrous pyrophosphate, magnesium orthophosphate, trimagnesium phosphate, calcium carbonate, aluminum silicate, zirconium silicate, silica, bentonite, and mixtures thereof.
Other suitable polishing materials include particulate thermosetting resins described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,070,510 of Dec. 15, 1962 such as melamine-formaldehydes, phenol-formaldehydes, urea-formaldehydes, and cross-linked polyepoxides and polyesters.
Among these, preferred polishing materials include crystalline silica having particle sizes of about 5 xcexcm or less, a mean particle size of about 1.1 xcexcm or less and a surface area of about 50,000 cm/g or less, silica gel or colloidal silica, and an amorphous alkali metal alumino-silicate complex.
When visually clear gels are employed, a polishing material such as colloidal silica and alkali metal alumino-silicate complexes, for example Syloid 72 and Syloid 74 (trademark: SYLOID) or Santcel 100 (trademark: SANTCEL) is particularly useful, since they have refractive indices close to those of gelling agent-liquid (including water and/or humectant) systems commonly used in dentifrices.
Many of the so-called xe2x80x9cwater-insolublexe2x80x9d polishing materials are anionic in character and also include small amounts of soluble materials. Insoluble sodium metaphosphate may be formed in any suitable manner as illustrated by Thorpe""s Dictionary of Applied Chemistry, Volume 9, 4th Edition, pp. 510-511.
The forms of insoluble sodium metaphosphate known as Madrell""s salt and Kurrol""s salt are further examples of suitable materials.
These metaphosphate salts exhibit only a minute solubility in water and therefore are commonly referred to as insoluble metaphosphates (IMP). There is present therein a minor amount of soluble phosphate material as impurities, usually a few percent by weight such as up to 4% by weight. A soluble phosphate material, which is believed to include a soluble sodium trimetaphosphate in the case of insoluble metaphosphate, should be reduced or eliminated by washing with water. The insoluble alkali metal metaphosphate is typically employed in powder form of a particle size such that no more than about 1% by weight of the material is larger than about 37 xcexcm.
The polishing material is generally present in the solid or pasty compositions in weight concentrations of about 10 to about 99% by weight. Preferably, it is present in amounts ranging from about 10 to about 75% by weight in toothpaste, and from about 70 to about 99% by weight in toothpowder.
In a toothpaste, the liquid vehicle may comprise water and humectant typically in an amount ranging from about 10 to about 90% by weight of the preparation. Specific examples of the suitable humectants/carries include glycerine, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol (e.g. polymerization degree: 400-600), and the like. Liquid mixtures of water, glycerine and sorbitol can also be used. In clear gels where the refractive index is an important consideration, a mixture containing from about 3 to 30% by weight of water, from 0 to about 80% by weight of glycerine, and from about 20 to 80% by weight of sorbitol is preferably employed.
Other conventional thickeners (binding, gelling agents) may be included in these dentifrice compositions, usually in amounts ranging from about 0.1 to about 4 parts by weight based on 1 part by weight of the defined cross-linked polymeric thickener.
Examples of such other thickeners include xanthan gum, hydroxyethyl cellulose and water-soluble salts of cellulose ether such as sodium carboxymethyl cellulose and sodium carboxymethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose. Further, natural gums such as carrageenan (Irish moss, Viscarin), gum karaya, gum Arabic, and gum tragacanth can also be used. In addition, colloidal magnesium aluminum silicate, Veegum or finely divided silica can be used as part of the thickening agent system. Preferred thickening agents include xanthan gum, carrageenan, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, sodium carboxymethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose and hydroxyethyl cellulose, preferably in proportions of from about 0.4 to about 3 parts per part of the cross-linked polymeric thickener.
Also useful is synthetic hectorite, a synthetic colloidal magnesium alkali metal silicate complex clay available for example as Laponite (e.g. CP, SP 2002, D) marketed by Laporte Industries Limited. The analysis results of Laponite D show, by weight, 58.00% SiO2, 25.40% MgO, 3.05% Na2O, 0.98% Li2O, and some water and trace metals. The specific gravity of this substance is 2.53 and it has an apparent bulk density (g/ml at 8% moisture) of 1.0.
Other suitable thickeners include starch, polyvinylpyrrolidone, hydroxybutyl methyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, alginates, gum ghatti, locust bean gum, pectins, and tamarind gum and the like.
The oral preparations are usually to be sold in suitable labeled packages or in other form. Thus a jar of mouthrinse will have a label describing it, in substance, as a mouthrinse or mouthwash and having directions for its use, and a toothpaste, cream or gel will usually be in a collapsible tube typically aluminum, lined lead or plastic, or other squeeze, pump or pressured dispenser for metering out the contents, having a label describing it, in substance, as a toothpaste, gel or dental cream.
In the composition according to the present invention, organic surface-active agents are used as composition components to achieve increased prophylactic action, assist in achieving thorough and complete dispersion of the anticalculus agent throughout the oral cavity, and render the instant compositions more cosmetically acceptable. The organic surface-active material is preferably anionic, nonionic or ampholytic in nature, and it is preferred to employ as the surface-active agent a detersive material which imparts to the composition detersive and foaming properties.
Suitable examples of anionic surfactants are given as below: water-soluble salts of higher fatty acid monoglyceride monosulfates, such as the sodium salt of the monosulfated monoglyceride of hydrogenated coconut oil fatty acids, higher alkyl sulfates such as sodium lauryl sulfate, alkyl aryl sulfonates such as sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate, higher alkyl sulfoacetates, higher fatty acid esters of 1,2-dihydroxy propane sulfonates, and the substantially saturated higher aliphatic acyl amides of lower aliphatic amino carboxylic acid compounds, such as those having 12 to 16 carbons in the fatty acid, alkyl or aryl radicals, and the like. Examples of the last mentioned amides are N-lauroyl sarcosine, and the sodium, potassium, and ethanolamine salts of N-lauroyl, N-myristoyl, or N-palmitoyl sarcosine which should be substantially free from soap or similar higher fatty acid material.
The use of these sarcosinate compounds in the oral compositions according to the present invention is particularly advantageous since these materials exhibit a prolonged and marked effect in the inhibition of acid formation in the oral cavity due to breakdown of carbohydrate in addition to enabling some reduction in the solubility of tooth enamel-like substances in acid solutions.
Examples of water-soluble nonionic surfactants are condensation products of ethylene oxide with various active hydrogen-containing compounds reactive therewith having long hydrophobic chains (e.g. aliphatic chains of about 12 to 20 carbon atoms), which condensation products (xe2x80x9cethoxamersxe2x80x9d) contain hydrophilic polyoxyethylene moieties, such as condensation products of poly(ethylene oxide) with fatty acids, fatty alcohols, fatty amides, polyhydric alcohols (e.g. sorbitan monostearate) and polypropyleneoxide (e.g. Pluronic PE6100, produced by BASF).
Various other materials may be incorporated as adjuvants in the oral preparations of this invention such as whitening agents, preservatives, silicones, chlorophyll compounds, other anticalculus agents, and/or ammoniated material such as urea, diammonium phosphate, and mixtures thereof. These adjuvants, when added, are incorporated in the preparations in amounts which do not substantially adversely affect the properties and characteristics desired.
Any suitable flavoring or sweetening material may also be employed. Examples of suitable flavoring constituents are flavoring oils, e.g. oil of spearmint, peppermint, wintergreen, sassafras, clove, sage, eucalyptus, marjoram, cinnamon, lemon, and orange, and methyl salicylate. Suitable sweetening agents include sucrose, lactose, maltose, sorbitol, xylitol, sodium cyclamate, perillartine, APM (aspartyl phenylalanine methyl ester), saccharine and the like. When used, flavoring and sweetening materials are added such that they individually or together comprise up to about 0.1 to 5% by weight of the preparation.
An oral composition according to this invention when used as a mouthwash or dentifrice is applied regularly to the oral cavity as by xe2x80x9cswishing or brushingxe2x80x9d dental surfaces, such as every second or third day or preferably from 1 to 3 times daily, at a pH of about 4.5 to about 10, generally about 5.5 to about 9, preferably about 6 to 8, for at least 2 weeks up to 8 weeks or more up to lifetime. The composition is typically removed by rinsing with water after each application.


A time-out indicator is adapted for use in a pneumatic strapping tool for tensioning a strap around a load, adhering the strap onto itself, and cutting a feed end of the strap. The strapping tool has a cylinder housing, a piston disposed within a cylinder in the cylinder housing, a pneumatic weld motor operably connected to the piston, a vibrating weld element operably connected to the piston for contacting the strap and adhering the strap onto itself. A pneumatic module is mounted to the cylinder housing to provide compressed gas to the cylinder housing and the pneumatic weld motor. The time-out indicator includes a sleeve fitted into an opening in the module. The opening is disposed above and in communication with the cylinder. The sleeve defines a central, longitudinal opening. An indicator is biasedly mounted in the sleeve and disposed for contact with the piston. The indicator reciprocates between a retracted position and an extended position and indicates a cycle of the strapping tool as an in-cycle state in which the cylinder is under pressure, pressurizing the piston to urge the weld element into contact with the strap and a timed-out state in which the piston is not pressurized.

The present invention pertains to an improved tool for tightening a strap around an object or load and adhering the strap onto itself. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a time-out indicator for a pneumatic motor tool for tensioning a strap around a load and welding or melt-adhering the strap onto itself.
Strapping tools are well-known in the art. These tools come in a wide variety of types, from fully manual tools to automatic, table-top tools. These tools are generally specifically designed for use with metal strapping or plastic/polymeric type strapping.
One well known type of strapping tool is a hand-held tool, that can be carried to and from a job-site. When such a tool is configured for use with plastic or polymeric strapping, a pneumatic system is used to vibrate contacting interfacial surfaces of overlapping plastic strap portions. The tool includes a clamping member for anchoring a strap free end portion, and a rotatable feed wheel cooperating with an anvil foot to engage a feed strap portion that is tensioned about the load. A clutch engagably couples the feed wheel to a pneumatic motor which also vibrates a jaw that welds the overlapping strap portions.
An exemplary tool, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,380,393 to Drabarek et al., also assigned commonly herewith and incorporated herein by reference, discloses a strapping tool having a pneumatic circuit for automatically controlling tool operation, including the timing and duration of strap welding and the cool down period. A pneumatically actuated ram extended after strap tensioning pivots a cam that moves a vibrating weld plate into contact with overlapping strap portions to form the weld. Vibration of the weld plate terminates after a time period controlled by the accumulation of air in a chamber. Air is subsequently bled from a cylinder that counter-pivots the ram to move the welding plate away from the welded strap portions after the cool down period.
As will be recognized by those skilled in the art, known pneumatic strapping tools require many system components that increase the size and weight of the tool. In addition, even though the pneumatic circuit of the above-mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 5,380,393 automates many strapping operations otherwise performed manually, controlling timing of the various tool operations as relatively and precise, and as a result inconsistent strap tension and welds may result.
An improved pneumatic strapping tool is disclosed in pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/171,890, filed Jun. 14, 2002, entitled Dual Motor Strapper, which application is commonly assigned herewith, and the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. In this improved tool, two unidirectional pneumatic motors, one motor for tensioning or feeding strap and another, separate motor for welding the strap material onto itself are provided. To provide flexibility as to operation and maintenance, a self contained modular pneumatic member or module includes pneumatically controlled timing circuits and is readily installed onto and removed from the body and motor portions of the tool.
In this tool, one timing circuit provides for properly timing the xe2x80x9cweldingxe2x80x9d of the strap onto itself. That is, the timing circuit controls the time that the vibrating weld plate is maintained in contact with the overlapping strap portions to form the weld. The timing circuit works, in part, by accumulation of air in a chamber that halts vibration of the weld plate after a predetermined period of time. However, there is currently no indication of the changing state of the circuit. That is, there is no direct indication that the timing circuit has run its course.
Accordingly, there exists a needed for a timing indicator for the pneumatic circuit of a pneumatic strapping tool. Desirably, such an indicator is directly actuated by, e.g., operably connected to, the pneumatic circuit. More desirably, such an indicator provides readily visible indication of the state of the circuit and the weld cycle.
A time-out indicator is configured for use in a pneumatic strapping tool. The toll tensions a strap around a load, adheres the strap onto itself, and cuts a feed end of the strap. The tool has a cylinder housing, a piston disposed within a cylinder in the cylinder housing, a pneumatic weld motor operably connected to the piston, a vibrating weld element operably connected to the piston for contacting the strap and adhering the strap onto itself, and a pneumatic module mounted to the cylinder housing.
The pneumatic module includes a compressed gas inlet, a plurality of valves and passageways between the inlet and the valves to provide compressed gas to the cylinder housing and the pneumatic weld motor. The module further includes at least one timer for operation of the weld motor and for providing pressure to the cylinder. The module further controls timing of the weld motor.
The time-out indicator includes a sleeve fitted into an opening in the module that is disposed above and in communication with the cylinder. The sleeve defines a central, longitudinal opening.
An indicator is biasedly mounted in the sleeve and is disposed for contact with the piston. The indicator reciprocates between a retracted position and an extended position. The indicator indicates a cycle of the strapping tool as an in-cycle state in which the cylinder is under pressure, pressurizing the piston to urge the weld element into contact with the strap and a timed-out state in which the piston is not pressurized.
Preferably, the indicator is in the retracted position when the strapper is in the in-cycle state and is in the extended position, by contact of the piston with the indicator, when the strapper is in the timed-out state.
A seal element is disposed along the stem for preventing the introduction or loss of compressed gas from the pneumatic module. In a current embodiment, the seal is positioned in a seal channel that is defined by a pair of spaced ring walls extending outwardly from the stem.
The sleeve can include an inwardly projecting lip at an upper end thereof. In this configuration, the stem includes an outwardly projecting wall adapted to contact the wall to retain the indicator within the sleeve. The outwardly projecting wall can be one of the ring walls.
A biasing element can be disposed in the sleeve for biasing the indicator to the retracted position. A retaining element is disposed to retain the biasing element in the sleeve. The retaining element can be a spring retaining clip that is received in a grooved formed in an inner wall of the sleeve.
A strapping tool can have the time-out indicator mounted in a pneumatic module for the tool.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, in conjunction with the appended claims.

Time-out indicator for pneumatic strapper


A new and distinct cultivar of late-season clingstone peach tree (i.e., Prunus persica) is provided. Attractive, nearly symmetrical fruit is formed that is well suited for processing having uniform bright yellow flesh that is free from red staining at the pit cavity. The fruit ripens at approximately the same time as that of the xe2x80x98Halfordxe2x80x99 cultivar (non-patented in the United States). The fruit color, flavor, and texture are believed to be superior to the xe2x80x98Halfordxe2x80x99 cultivar. The flowers are large and showy and the growth habit is spreading to upright-spreading.

The new clingstone peach cultivar was created at Davis, Calif., U.S.A. during a breeding program of the University of California for the development of improved processing peaches. An objective of the program was to develop a superior replacement cultivar for the late-season xe2x80x98Halfordxe2x80x99 cultivar (non-patented in the United States) that was introduced in 1921. This popular cultivar is heavily planted and is recognized to produce late-maturing fruit. The fruit flesh has a desirable yellow-gold color but often bears pink to red coloration near the pit cavity that is attributable to the formation of anthocyanins. This red coloration often oxidizes to brown when canned and thereby provides a less than optimum fruit color as well as an undesirable brown staining of the canned syrup. Additionally, the red-stained fruit stone or endocarp of the xe2x80x98Halfordxe2x80x99 cultivar tends to be prone to breakage during processing and sometimes imparts unwanted pit fragments to the fruit flesh that are difficult to remove.
During the course of the breeding program that yielded the new cultivar of the present invention, many seedlings were developed and evaluated. The seed that produced the new cultivar of the present invention was produced by the open-pollination of University of California breeding line xe2x80x98R, 13-33xe2x80x99 (non-patented in the United States). A total of twenty seedlings from such open-pollination were planted in 1986. The new cultivar of the present invention was selected from among these seedlings and was initially designated xe2x80x98F10EN, 6-27xe2x80x99. The evaluation and selection of the new cultivar of the present invention has continued over a number of years.
It was found that the new clingstone peach tree cultivar of the present invention:
(a) Exhibits a spreading to upright-spreading growth habit,
(b) Forms large showy flowers,
(c) Forms attractive nearly symmetrical fruit having uniform bright yellow flesh that is free from red staining at the pit cavity,
(d) Ripens at substantially the same time as the xe2x80x98Halfordxe2x80x99 cultivar (non-patented in the United States), and
(e) Is patricularly well suited for processing.
The new cultivar has been asexually propagated at Davis, Calif., U.S.A., by grafting on peach rootstocks. Such propagation has confirmed that the characteristics of the new cultivar are stable and are reliably transmitted to subsequent generations.
The new cultivar of the present invention is considered to offer superior characteristics when compared to the popular xe2x80x98Halfordxe2x80x99 cultivar and can be readily distinguished from such previously available cultivar. Unlike the xe2x80x98Halfordxe2x80x99 cultivar, the fruit of the new cultivar is firmer and is free from red staining at the pit cavity. The fruit is of similar size and ripens at approximately the same late season as the xe2x80x98Halfordxe2x80x99 cultivar. Also, the tree vigor is similar to that of the xe2x80x98Halfordxe2x80x99 cultivar. The pit of the new cultivar tends to be smaller than that of the xe2x80x98Halfordxe2x80x99 cultivar and thereby facilitates a greater processing case yield. Also, a lower frequency of pit fragments in the processed fruit flesh has been noted during observations to date. The level of soluble solids is similar to that of the xe2x80x98Halfordxe2x80x99 cultivar. The fruit skin is less pubescent than that of the xe2x80x98Halfordxe2x80x99 cultivar and tends to display a more uniform yellow-gold coloration. The leaves of the new cultivar are medium-sized with reniform glands and are a lighter green than those of the xe2x80x98Halfordxe2x80x99 cultivar.
The new cultivar of the present invention has been tested in plantings at Davis, Calif.; Winters, Calif.; and Parlier, Calif., U.S.A.
Wood of the new cultivar has been subjected to the virus indexing program of Foundation Plant Materials Service, University of California at Davis, Calif., U.S.A. All indices have proven to be negative for viruses for foundation trees of this genotype being maintained by such Foundation Plant Materials Service.
The new cultivar of the present invention has been named xe2x80x98Lillelandxe2x80x99.

Clingstone peach tree named xe2x80x98Lillelandxe2x80x99

The Regents of the University of California