[System] You are an expert US patent attorney. Draft a set of independent and dependent claims based on the provided invention description. Use correct USPTO formatting.

[User]
Title: Grease Gun Cartridge Construction

Technical Field and Background:
The present invention resides in the structure of a grease gun cartridge adapted for use on a grease gun having any of a wide variety of grease gun pump constructions, typical of which pump constructions are shown in the drawings herein and in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,338,478; 3,344,084; 2,978,151; 1,368,840; 1,349,994; and 4,601,412, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. The typical mechanism in the gun head for operating these prior grease gun pumps consists of a grease loading and ejection cylinder in which a piston is slidably mounted for reciprocation between a grease loading stroke and a grease pressurizing (ejection) stroke, back and forth across a grease inlet port on the gun head, which port is in communication with the grease loading and ejection cylinder in the head. The inlet port is also in communication with a grease reservoir (cartridge) positioned in a metal barrel which is affixed to the gun head. In these mechanisms the grease in the loading operation is pressurized by a cartridge piston, a cartridge piston cocking rod, and a compression spring means having one end bearing against the lower inner end of the barrel (not shown) and having its other end bearing against the lower end of the piston within the filled cartridge and pressurizing the grease column within the cartridge toward and through the inlet port and into the grease loading cylinder. The piston in the gun head closes off the inlet port on its pressurizing (ejection) stroke and forces the grease, which was forced into the loading and ejection cylinder through the inlet port on the piston suction stroke by means of the cartridge spring, out of the gun head on the ejection (pressurizing stroke) and through a hose to a ZERK or equivalent fitting. One-way valving opens the loading and ejection cylinder to the hose on the piston ejection stroke and closes off the cylinder to the hose on the ejection piston suction stroke. Hand operated lever means or dual handle means operates the back and forth reciprocating action of the piston.

Invention Disclosure:
A grease gun cylinder walled cartridge adapted for direct attachment to any of a variety of grease gun head constructions and grease pumping systems, wherein the cartridge wall can be of any color or completely clear and see through, wherein the grease column within the cartridge is pressured toward and through an inlet port in the gun head, which port opens on the section stroke of a piston mounted in said cylinder into a loading portion of a cylinder of the grease pumping system, and wherein the grease column pressuring means is ambient air pressure.

[Assistant]
1. A grease cartridge construction comprising a cylindrical tubular cartridge wall having:
a top end portion which is closed off by a removable closure means and a closed bottom end portion and forming a grease reservoir chamber;
thread means on an outer surface of the cylindrical tubular cartridge wall adjacent to said top end and adapted to be screwed into a threaded mounting socket of a grease gun head;
a first removable closure means closing said top end of said wall;
a column of grease in said chamber and having a lower end surface and an upper end surface, said lower end surface of said column being spaced above said closed bottom end of said wall to provide an ambient air chamber;
a pumping means comprising a flexible, resilient bulb mounted on said bottom end portion of said cartridge wall, wherein an air inlet of said pumping means is in communication with the ambient atmosphere, and wherein an air outlet of said pumping means is in communication with said ambient air chamber, wherein said bulb is affixed to said bottom end portion of said cartridge wall which comprises a housing member containing said bulb, wherein the housing member itself is formed with a cylindrical side wall adapted to be tightly slid into a lower end portion of said cartridge wall; and
an air vent structure in said bottom end portion of said wall which lies below said lower end surface of said column for allowing a controlled flow of ambient air into said ambient air chamber to form a positive pressure in said chamber relative to a suction pressure which would exist in a grease gun on its suction stroke.

2. The cartridge construction of claim 1 wherein said cartridge wall is comprised of formed plastic material and wherein a wiper disc is in place against the proximal end of said column of grease.

3. The cartridge construction of claim 2 wherein said air vent structure comprises an aperture formed through said bottom end portion of said cartridge wall.

4. The cartridge construction of claim 3 wherein said aperture is an air passage through a one way valve.

5. The cartridge construction of claim 1 wherein said pumping means further comprises a one-way air valve structure having a body portion affixed to a distal end of said housing member, and wherein said air outlet of said bulb is in communication with said one-way air valve structure.

6. The cartridge construction of claim 5 wherein said valve structure comprises an air passage formed through said body portion, which passage is normally closed by a pair of opposing resilient lips which form a slit which opens under air pressure generated by squeezing said bulb.

7. A grease gun having:
a head section containing a grease pumping cylinder and piston mounted therein;
a grease inlet port in said head section communicating with said cylinder;
a grease outlet port in said head section communicating with a hose member affixed to said head;
a grease cartridge affixed to said head section and comprising a cylindrical tubular cartridge wall having an open top end portion and a closed bottom end portion and forming a grease reservoir chamber;
thread means on the outer surface of said wall adjacent to said top end and being screwed into a threaded mounting socket of said grease gun head section, whereby said inlet port is in communication with said chamber;
a second closure means closing said bottom end of said wall;
a column of grease in said chamber and having a lower end surface and an upper end surface, said lower end surface of said column being spaced above said closed bottom end of said cartridge wall to provide an ambient air chamber;
an air pumping means comprising a flexible, resilient bulb mounted on said bottom end portion of said cartridge wall, wherein an air inlet of said pumping means is in communication with the ambient atmosphere, and wherein an air outlet of said pumping means is in communication with said ambient air chamber, wherein said bulb is affixed to said bottom end portion of said cartridge wall which comprises a separate housing member, wherein the housing member itself is formed with a cylindrical side wall adapted to be tightly slid into a lower end portion of said cartridge wall;
an air vent structure in said bottom end portion of said wall which lies below said lower end surface of said column for allowing a controlled flow of ambient air into said ambient air chamber to form a positive pressure in said chamber relative to a suction pressure which would exist in said grease gun on its suction stroke.

8. The grease gun of claim 7 wherein said cartridge wall is comprise of formed plastic material a wiper disc is in place against the proximal end of said column of grease.

9. The cartridge construction of claim 8 wherein said air vent structure comprises an aperture formed through said bottom end portion of said cartridge wall.

10. The cartridge construction of claim 9 wherein said aperture is an air passage through a one way air valve.

11. The cartridge construction of claim 7, wherein said pumping means further comprises a one-way air valve structure having a body portion affixed to a distal side of said housing member, and wherein said air outlet of said bulb is in communication with said one-way air valve structure.

12. The cartridge construction of claim 11 wherein said valve structure comprises an air passage formed through said body portion, which passage is normally closed by a pair of opposing resilient lips which form a slit which opens under air pressure generated by sequeezing said bulb.

13. The cartridge construction of claim 12 wherein said air passage enters said body portion along a longitudinal axis of said body portion and along a coextensive longitudinal axis of said cartridge and exits said body portion at a substantially right angle to said longitudinal axes.

14. The cartridge construction of claim 6 wherein said side wall of said housing member is provided with an annular seal adapted to form a grease seal against the inner surface of said cartridge wall, and wherein said side wall of said housing member is provided with a plurality of flexible metal barbs which are affixed to the exterior surface of said side wall and extend outwardly therefrom at an acute angle toward said bottom end of said cartridge.

15. The cartridge construction of claim 14 wherein said barbs are portion of an annular rim which is nested in an annular groove in said side wall of said housing member.


[System] You are an expert US patent attorney. Draft a set of independent and dependent claims based on the provided invention description. Use correct USPTO formatting.

[User]
Title: Protective Baseball Sliding Glove

Technical Field and Background:
In the sport of baseball, base running is an essential part of a player's skillset. Base running is such an important skill that oftentimes players are particularly valued for their base running abilities when base stealing and when advancing bases during a play. One of the facets of base running that must be mastered in order to be an effective baserunner is sliding. While there are many variants for sliding into a base, slides are generally initiated head first or feet first. A baserunner may attempt a slide for a number of reasons including trying to avoid a tag out by a defensive player. This is generally accomplished by attempting to position the body as far from the defensive player as possible while still making contact with the base. A slide may also be used to hinder a defensive play (such as a double play) by disrupting the defensive player's movement and actions during the play. While slides may be effective for avoiding a tag out or for disrupting a defensive play, slides are not without the threat of injury to the baserunner, particularly when sliding head first. When sliding head first, the baserunner's hand is extended toward the base and is vulnerable. It is possible for the baserunner to injure a hand for a number of reasons such as being stepped on by the spiked shoes of the defensive player. The risk of injury is exacerbated by the fact that batters and baserunners generally do not wear protective gear for the hands. The present invention is a protective baseball sliding glove that protects the user's hand when the user is sliding head first into a base. The present invention protects the user's hand from being stepped on or otherwise harmed as the user attempts to make contact with a base while sliding.

Invention Disclosure:
A protective baseball sliding glove is a device for protecting the user's hand when the user is sliding into a base. The user is able to position his or her hand within a hand-enclosing rigid housing that is then placed into a glove that covers the hand-enclosing rigid housing and a portion of the user's forearm. The user is able to grasp a cross-brace within the hand-enclosing rigid housing, anchoring the user's hand within the hand-enclosing rigid housing. The position of the cross-brace may be adjusted via a plurality of adjustment holes on the hand-enclosing rigid housing that allows the user to move the cross-brace to his or her comfort. A securing stabilizer strap may be utilized to secure the glove as well as provide structural support and rigidity to the user's wrist.

[Assistant]
1. A protective baseball sliding glove system comprising:
a hand-enclosing rigid housing;
a cross-brace;
a plurality of adjustment holes;
a hand opening;
a glove;
the hand-enclosing rigid housing comprising a front portion, a rear portion, an external lateral surface, and an internal lateral surface;
the front portion and the rear portion being positioned opposite to each other along the hand-enclosing rigid housing;
the cross-brace being removably engaged into the plurality of adjustment holes;
the plurality of adjustment holes traversing through the external lateral surface and the internal lateral surface;
the hand opening traversing into the hand-enclosing rigid housing, parallel to the front portion and the rear portion;
the hand-enclosing rigid housing being enclosed within the glove;
the cross-brace comprising a grasping rod and a cylindrical pad; and
the grasping rod being sheathed by the cylindrical pad.

2. The protective baseball sliding glove system as claimed in claim 1 comprising:
a finger access slot;
the front portion comprising a palm section and a finger section;
the palm section being positioned adjacent to the finger section;
the finger access slot traversing through the hand-enclosing rigid housing from the front portion up to the rear portion; and
the finger access slot traversing through the hand-enclosing rigid housing from the finger section towards the palm section.

3. The protective baseball sliding glove system as claimed in claim 1 comprising:
the plurality of adjustment holes comprising a first plurality of adjustment holes and a second plurality of adjustment holes;
the first plurality of adjustment holes and the second plurality of adjustment holes being positioned opposite to each other along the hand-enclosing rigid housing;
the first plurality of adjustment holes being oriented parallel to the second plurality of adjustment holes;
a first end of the cross-brace being removably engaged into a first selected hole from the first plurality of adjustment holes; and
a second end of the cross-brace being removably engaged into a second selected hole from the second plurality of adjustment holes.

4. The protective baseball sliding glove system as claimed in claim 3 comprising:
a first fastener;
a second fastener;
the first fastener being removably engaged into the first end; and
the second fastener being removably engaged into the second end.

5. The protective baseball sliding glove system as claimed in claim 1 comprising:
a securing stabilizer strap; and
the securing stabilizer strap being adjacently connected to a wrist section of the glove.

6. The protective baseball sliding glove system as claimed in claim 5 comprising:
a plurality of hook fasteners;
a plurality of loop fasteners;
the plurality of hook fasteners and the plurality of hook fasteners being positioned on a wrist section of the securing stabilizer strap;
the plurality of loop fasteners being offset from the plurality of hook fasteners along the securing stabilizer strap; and
the plurality of hook fasteners being removably engaged to the plurality of loop fasteners.

7. A protective baseball sliding glove system comprising:
a hand-enclosing rigid housing;
a cross-brace;
a plurality of adjustment holes;
a hand opening;
a glove;
a securing stabilizer strap;
the hand-enclosing rigid housing comprising a front portion, a rear portion, an external lateral surface, and an internal lateral surface;
the front portion and the rear portion being positioned opposite to each other along the hand-enclosing rigid housing;
the cross-brace being removably engaged into the plurality of adjustment holes;
the plurality of adjustment holes traversing through the external lateral surface and the internal lateral surface;
the hand opening traversing into the hand-enclosing rigid housing, parallel to the front portion and the rear portion;
the hand-enclosing rigid housing being enclosed within the glove;
the securing stabilizer strap being adjacently connected to a wrist section of the glove;
the cross-brace comprising a grasping rod and a cylindrical pad; and
the grasping rod being sheathed by the cylindrical pad.

8. The protective baseball sliding glove system as claimed in claim 7 comprising:
a finger access slot;
the front portion comprising a palm section and a finger section;
the palm section being positioned adjacent to the finger section;
the finger access slot traversing through the hand-enclosing rigid housing from the front portion up to the rear portion; and
the finger access slot traversing through the hand-enclosing rigid housing from the finger section towards the palm section.

9. The protective baseball sliding glove system as claimed in claim 7 comprising:
the plurality of adjustment holes comprising a first plurality of adjustment holes and a second plurality of adjustment holes;
the first plurality of adjustment holes and the second plurality of adjustment holes being positioned opposite to each other along the hand-enclosing rigid housing;
the first plurality of adjustment holes being oriented parallel to the second plurality of adjustment holes;
a first end of the cross-brace being removably engaged into a first selected hole from the first plurality of adjustment holes; and
a second end of the cross-brace being removably engaged into a second selected hole from the second plurality of adjustment holes.

10. The protective baseball sliding glove system as claimed in claim 9 comprising:
a first fastener;
a second fastener;
the first fastener being removably engaged into the first end; and
the second fastener being removably engaged into the second end.

11. The protective baseball sliding glove system as claimed in claim 7 comprising:
a plurality of hook fasteners;
a plurality of loop fasteners;
the plurality of hook fasteners and the plurality of hook fasteners being positioned on a wrist section of the securing stabilizer strap;
the plurality of loop fasteners being offset from the plurality of hook fasteners along the securing stabilizer strap; and
the plurality of hook fasteners being removably engaged to the plurality of loop fasteners.

12. A protective baseball sliding glove system comprising:
a hand-enclosing rigid housing;
a cross-brace;
a plurality of adjustment holes;
a hand opening;
a glove;
a securing stabilizer strap;
the hand-enclosing rigid housing comprising a front portion, a rear portion, an external lateral surface, and an internal lateral surface;
the plurality of adjustment holes comprising a first plurality of adjustment holes and a second plurality of adjustment holes;
the front portion and the rear portion being positioned opposite to each other along the hand-enclosing rigid housing;
the cross-brace being removably engaged into the plurality of adjustment holes;
the plurality of adjustment holes traversing through the external lateral surface and the internal lateral surface;
the hand opening traversing into the hand-enclosing rigid housing, parallel to the front portion and the rear portion;
the hand-enclosing rigid housing being enclosed within the glove;
the securing stabilizer strap being adjacently connected to a wrist section of the glove;
the first plurality of adjustment holes and the second plurality of adjustment holes being positioned opposite to each other along the hand-enclosing rigid housing;
the first plurality of adjustment holes being oriented parallel to the second plurality of adjustment holes;
a first end of the cross-brace being removably engaged into a first selected hole from the first plurality of adjustment holes;
a second end of the cross-brace being removably engaged into a second selected hole from the second plurality of adjustment holes;
the cross-brace comprising a grasping rod and a cylindrical pad; and
the grasping rod being sheathed by the cylindrical pad.

13. The protective baseball sliding glove system as claimed in claim 12 comprising:
a finger access slot;
the front portion comprising a palm section and a finger section;
the palm section being positioned adjacent to the finger section;
the finger access slot traversing through the hand-enclosing rigid housing from the front portion up to the rear portion; and
the finger access slot traversing through the hand-enclosing rigid housing from the finger section towards the palm section.

14. The protective baseball sliding glove system as claimed in claim 12 comprising:
a first fastener;
a second fastener;
the first fastener being removably engaged into the first end; and
the second fastener being removably engaged into the second end.

15. The protective baseball sliding glove system as claimed in claim 12 comprising:
a plurality of hook fasteners;
a plurality of loop fasteners;
the plurality of hook fasteners and the plurality of hook fasteners being positioned on a wrist section of the securing stabilizer strap;
the plurality of loop fasteners being offset from the plurality of hook fasteners along the securing stabilizer strap; and
the plurality of hook fasteners being removably engaged to the plurality of loop fasteners.


[System] You are an expert US patent attorney. Draft a set of independent and dependent claims based on the provided invention description. Use correct USPTO formatting.

[User]
Title: Stable Proton Exchange Membranes And Membrane Electrode Assemblies

Technical Field and Background:
Electrochemical cells generally include an anode electrode and a cathode electrode separated by an electrolyte, where a proton exchange membrane (hereafter “PEM”) is used as the electrolyte. A metal catalyst and electrolyte mixture is generally used to form the anode and cathode electrodes. A well-known use of electrochemical cells is in a stack for a fuel cell (a cell that converts fuel and oxidants to electrical energy). In such a cell, a reactant or reducing fluid such as hydrogen or methanol is supplied to the anode, and an oxidant such as oxygen or air is supplied to the cathode. The reducing fluid electrochemically reacts at a surface of the anode to produce hydrogen ions and electrons. The electrons are conducted to an external load circuit and then returned to the cathode, while hydrogen ions transfer through the electrolyte to the cathode, where they react with the oxidant and electrons to produce water and release thermal energy. Fuel cells are typically formed as stacks or assemblages of membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs), which each include a PEM, an anode electrode and cathode electrode, and other optional components. Fuel cell MEAs typically also comprise a porous electrically conductive sheet material that is in electrical contact with each of the electrodes and permits diffusion of the reactants to the electrodes, and is know as a gas diffusion layer, gas diffusion substrate or gas diffusion backing. When the electrocatalyst is coated on the PEM, the MEA is said to include a catalyst coated membrane (CCM). In other instances, where the electrocatalyst is coated on the gas diffusion layer, the MEA is said to include gas diffusion electrode(s) (GDE). The functional components of fuel cells are normally aligned in layers as follows: conductive plate/gas diffusion backing/anode electrode/membrane/cathode electrode/gas diffusion backing/conductive plate. Long term stability of the PEM is critically important for fuels cells. For example, the lifetime goal for stationary fuel cell applications is 40,000 hours of operation. Typical membranes found in use throughout the art will degrade over time through decomposition and subsequent dissolution of the ion-exchange polymer in the membrane, thereby compromising membrane viability and performance. While not wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that this degradation is a result, at least in part, of the reaction of the ion-exchange polymer of the membrane and/or the electrode with hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) radicals, which are generated during fuel cell operation. Fluoropolymer membranes are generally considered more stable in fuel cell operations than hydrocarbon membranes that do not contain fluorine, but even perfluorinated ion-exchange polymers degrade in use. The degradation of perfluorinated ion-exchange polymers is also believed to be a result of the reaction of the polymer with hydrogen peroxide. Thus, it is desirable to develop a process for reducing or preventing degradation of a proton exchange membrane or membrane electrode assembly due to their interaction with hydrogen peroxide radicals, thereby sustaining performance while remaining stable and viable for longer periods of time, wherein as a result, fuel cell costs can be reduced.

Invention Disclosure:
A proton exchange membrane and a membrane electrode assembly for an electrochemical cell such as a fuel cell are provided. A catalytically active component is disposed within the membrane electrode assembly. The catalytically active component comprises particles containing a metal oxide such as silica, metal or metalloid ions such as ions that include boron, and a catalyst. A process for increasing peroxide radical resistance in a membrane electrode is also provided that includes the introduction of the catalytically active component described into a membrane electrode assembly.

[Assistant]
1. A proton exchange membrane for an electrochemical cell comprising:
an ionomer substrate, and
a catalytically active component disposed within or on a surface of the substrate, said catalytically active component comprising particles of a metal oxide,
a stabilizer comprising one or more ions containing an element from the group of aluminum, boron, tungsten, titanium, zirconium and vanadium, which stabilizer modifies the outer surface of the particles of metal oxide,
at least one metal or metal ion catalyst different from the stabilizer and selected from the group of cerium, platinum, palladium, lanthanum, yttrium, gadolinium, silver, iron, ruthenium, titanium, vanadium, and combinations thereof, which catalyst modifies the outer surface of the particles of metal oxide;
such that the catalytically active components are bi-metallic or multi-metallic surface-modified particles of metal oxide containing two or more than two different metals or metalloids on their surface, and wherein at least 10% and up to 100% of the surface sites on the particles of metal oxide are occupied by the stabilizer or the catalyst;
wherein the stabilizer includes boron ions.

2. The proton exchange membrane of claim 1 wherein the catalyst is from the group of cerium, platinum, lanthanum, gadolinium, iron, ruthenium, and combinations thereof.

3. The proton exchange membrane of claim 1 wherein the particles of metal oxide are selected from the group of alumina, silica, TiO 2, Ti 2 O 3, zirconium oxide, manganese dioxide, manganese oxide, Y 2 O 3, Fe 2 O 3, FeO, tin oxide, copper oxide, nickel oxide, tungsten oxide, germania, CeO 2, Ce 2 O 3, and combinations thereof.

4. The proton exchange membrane of claim 1 wherein the catalytically active components are colloidal particles having a mean particle diameter of less than 200 nanometers.

5. The proton exchange membrane of claim 4 wherein the colloidal particles contain silica.

6. The proton exchange membrane of claim 1 wherein the catalyst is from the group of cerium and ruthenium.

7. The proton exchange membrane of claim 1 wherein the catalytically active components are colloidal particles having a mean particle diameter of less than 100 nanometers, and the colloidal particles contain silica and boron ions.

8. The proton exchange membrane of claim 7 wherein the catalyst is from the group of cerium and ruthenium.

9. The proton exchange membrane of claim 7 wherein the colloidal particles have a mean particle diameter of less than 25 nanometers.

10. The proton exchange membrane of claim 1 wherein the ionomer substrate is a hydrocarbon ionomer.

11. The proton exchange membrane of claim 1 wherein the ionomer substrate is a partially fluorinated ionomer.

12. The proton exchange membrane of claim 1 wherein the ionomer substrate is a highly fluorinated ionomer.

13. The proton exchange membrane of claim 1 wherein the ionomer substrate is a perfluorinated sulfonic acid ionomer.

14. The proton exchange membrane of claim 1 wherein the ionomer substrate is a reinforced membrane.


[System] You are an expert US patent attorney. Draft a set of independent and dependent claims based on the provided invention description. Use correct USPTO formatting.

[User]
Title: Urea-Based Pressure Sensitive Adhesives

Technical Field and Background:
Adhesives have been used for a variety of marking, holding, protecting, sealing and masking purposes. Adhesive tapes generally comprise a backing, or substrate, and an adhesive. One type of adhesive, a pressure sensitive adhesive, is particularly preferred for many applications. Pressure sensitive adhesives are well known to one of ordinary skill in the art to possess certain properties at room temperature including the following: (1) aggressive and permanent tack, (2) adherence with no more than finger pressure, (3) sufficient ability to hold onto an adherend, and (4) sufficient cohesive strength to be removed cleanly from the adherend. Materials that have been found to function well as pressure sensitive adhesives are polymers designed and formulated to exhibit the requisite viscoelastic properties resulting in a desired balance of tack, peel adhesion, and shear strength. The most commonly used polymers for preparation of pressure sensitive adhesives are natural rubber, synthetic rubbers (e.g., styrene/butadiene copolymers (SBR) and styrene/isoprene/styrene (SIS) block copolymers), various (meth)acrylate (e.g., acrylate and methacrylate) copolymers and silicones. Each of these classes of materials has advantages and disadvantages.

Invention Disclosure:
Non-silicone urea-based adhesives are disclosed which are prepared by the polymerization of reactive oligomers with the general formula X—B—X, where X is an ethylenically unsaturated group and B is a unit free of silicone and containing urea groups. The reactive oligomers can be prepared from polyamines through chain extension reactions using diaryl carbonates followed by capping reactions. Adhesive articles, including optical adhesive articles may be prepared using the disclosed non-silicone urea-based adhesives.

[Assistant]
1. An adhesive comprising a cured mixture comprising:
at least one X—B—X reactive oligomer, wherein
X comprises an ethylenically unsaturated group,
and B comprises a non-silicone segmented urea-based unit, wherein the X—B—X reactive oligomer is the reaction product of a non-silicone segmented urea-based diamine and a Z—W—Z material, wherein Z comprises an amine-reactive group and W comprises a linking group, followed by the reaction with a Y—X material wherein X comprises an ethylenically unsaturated group, and Y comprises a Z-reactive group, and wherein the non-silicone segmented urea-based diamine is the reaction product of a polyoxyalkylene diamine with a diaryl carbonate; and
an initiator, wherein the adhesive is a pressure sensitive adhesive.

2. The adhesive of claim 1, wherein Z—W—Z comprises a diisocyanate and Y—X comprises a hydroxyl-functional (meth)acrylate.

3. The adhesive of claim 1, wherein the adhesive is a self-wetting and removable adhesive.

4. The adhesive of claim 1, wherein cured mixture further comprises an ethylenically unsaturated material.

5. The adhesive of claim 1, further comprising at least one additive, wherein the additive comprises a pressure sensitive adhesive, a plasticizing agent, a tackifying agent or a mixture thereof.

6. The adhesive of claim 5, comprising 5-60 weight % of added pressure sensitive adhesive and 5-55 weight % plasticizer.

7. The adhesive of claim 5, wherein the plasticizer comprises isopropyl myristate.

8. The adhesive of claim 6, wherein the added pressure sensitive adhesive comprises a (meth)acrylate pressure sensitive adhesive.

9. A polymerizable reactive oligomer comprising the structure X—B—X, wherein X comprises an ethylenically unsaturated group and B comprises a non-silicone segmented urea-based unit.

10. The reactive oligomer of claim 9, wherein the non-silicone segmented urea-based unit comprises at least one urea group and at least one oxyalkylene group.

11. An adhesive comprising a cured reaction mixture, the reaction mixture comprising:
at least one X—B—X reactive oligomer, wherein
X comprises an ethylenically unsaturated group,
and B comprises a non-silicone segmented urea-based unit; and wherein the X—B—X reactive oligomer is the reaction product of a non-silicone segmented urea-based diamine and a Z—X material, wherein X comprises an ethylenically unsaturated group, and Z comprises an amine-reactive group, wherein the amine-reactive group Z reacts with an amine group of the non-silicone segmented urea-based diamine and wherein the non-silicone segmented urea-based diamine is the reaction product of a polyoxyalkylene diamine with urea; and
an initiator; and wherein the adhesive is a pressure sensitive adhesive or a heat activated adhesive.

12. The adhesive of claim 11, wherein Z comprises an isocyanate, an azlactone, an anhydride or a combination thereof.

13. The adhesive of claim 11, wherein the adhesive is a self-wetting and removable adhesive.

14. The adhesive of claim 11, wherein the cured mixture further comprises an ethylenically unsaturated material.

15. The adhesive of claim 11, further comprising an additive, wherein the additive comprises a pressure sensitive adhesive, a plasticizing agent, a tackifying agent or mixture thereof.

16. The adhesive of claim 15, comprising 5-60 weight % pressure sensitive adhesive and 5-55 weight % plasticizer.

17. The adhesive of claim 15, wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive comprises an acid-containing (meth)acrylate pressure sensitive adhesive.

18. A method of preparing an adhesive comprising:
providing a curable composition comprising:
at least one X—B—X reactive oligomer, wherein X comprises an ethylenically unsaturated group, and B comprises a non-silicone segmented urea-based unit, wherein the X—B—X reactive oligomer is the reaction product of a non-silicone segmented urea-based diamine and a Z—W—Z material, wherein Z comprises an amine-reactive group and W comprises a linking group, followed by the reaction with a Y—X material wherein X comprises an ethylenically unsaturated group, and Y comprises an Z-reactive group, wherein Z—W—Z comprises a diisocyanate and Y—X comprises a hydroxyl-functional (meth)acrylate;
and an initiator; and
curing the curable composition; wherein the adhesive is a pressure sensitive adhesive.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the non-silicone segmented urea-based diamine is the reaction product of a polyoxyalkylene diamine with a diaryl carbonate.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the non-silicone segmented urea-based diamine is the reaction product of a polyoxyalkylene diamine with urea.

21. An adhesive article comprising:
a pressure sensitive adhesive comprising the cured reaction product of at least one X—B—X reactive oligomer, wherein X comprises an ethylenically unsaturated group,
and B comprises a non-silicone segmented urea-based unit wherein the X—B—X reactive oligomer is the reaction product of a non-silicone segmented urea-based diamine and a Z—X material, wherein X comprises an ethylenically unsaturated group, and Z comprises
an amine-reactive group, wherein the amine-reactive group Z reacts with an amine group of the non-silicone segmented urea-based diamine and wherein the non-silicone segmented urea-based diamine is the reaction product of a polyoxyalkylene diamine with urea; and a substrate.

22. The adhesive article of claim 21, wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive further comprises at least one additive, wherein the additive comprises a pressure sensitive adhesive, a plasticizing agent, a tackifying agent, or a mixture thereof.

23. The adhesive article of claim 22, wherein additive pressure sensitive adhesive comprises an acid-containing (meth)acrylate pressure sensitive adhesive.

24. The adhesive article of claim 22, wherein the plasticizer comprises isopropyl myristate.

25. The adhesive article of claim 21, wherein the substrate is a tape backing, a film, a sheet, or a release liner.


[System] You are an expert US patent attorney. Draft a set of independent and dependent claims based on the provided invention description. Use correct USPTO formatting.

[User]
Title: Sterile Molded Dispenser

Technical Field and Background:
Catheters may be inserted into a patient's vasculature and deployed at various locations within the patient for a wide variety of purposes and medical procedures. For example, one type of catheter is used in percutaneous catheter intervention (PCI) for the treatment of a vascular constriction generally known as a stenosis. In this instance, the catheter has a distally mounted balloon that can be placed, in a deflated or unexpanded condition, within the stenosis, and then inflated or expanded to dilate the narrowed lumen of a blood vessel. This type of balloon dilation therapy is generally referred to as percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA). When the treatment is more specifically intended for vessels of the heart, the process is known as percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). In other PCI procedures, a stent is expanded into contact with the vessel wall to prevent narrowing or restenosis of the artery. For example, FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the deployment of a PTCA treatment catheter 16 within a patient's vasculature. To treat small diameter vessels remote from an entry point into a patient, a guiding catheter 10 may be used to span the distance. Guiding catheter 10 is typically inserted into a large artery 12 near the patient's groin and is then advanced towards the heart H to the entry opening or ostium of a diseased coronary artery. Guiding catheter 10 provides a conduit through which catheters and guidewires, such as treatment catheter 16 and a guidewire 18 , can be passed from outside the patient to the vessel being treated. Treatment catheter 16 generally includes a flexible elongated tubular shaft and a luer fitting 14 . For certain interventional procedures, treatment catheter 16 may include a dilatation balloon and/or a stent disposed along a distal portion thereof. Referring now to FIGS. 3-4 , catheters are commonly packaged and stored in a packaging hoop 11 as shown in FIG. 3 in accordance with the teachings of the prior art. Packaging hoop 11 consists of a coiled tube 13 having a proximal opening 17 through which treatment catheter 16 is inserted. Several clips 15 are coupled to tube 13 to maintain the tube in the coiled configuration. The overall diameter of packaging hoop 11 is selected to be as small as possible without imparting a lasting curve shape to the generally straight medical device during the shelf life thereof. An overly small diameter hoop 11 may also create excessive friction forces and thereby possibly cause product damage during loading or unloading of the medical device. Luer fitting 14 , located at the proximal end of treatment catheter 16 , has an area 19 that fits into proximal opening 17 of tube 13 , as shown in FIG. 4 , in order to secure treatment catheter 16 in packaging hoop 11 until it is removed for clinical use. One potential issue with utilizing clips 15 for holding tube 13 in the coiled configuration is that the packaging may not stay flat because clips 15 cannot grip tube 13 with much force without undesirably pinching or kinking the tubing and thereby restricting the loading and unloading of treatment catheter 16 . Furthermore, tube 13 may separate from clips 15 during distribution. In addition to coiled tube 13 and clips 15 , catheter packaging typically requires additional parts or components such as a sealed pouch that completely envelopes the entire hoop 11 . In addition, a sealed pouch further requires that the pouch be fully contained within a box or carton in order to protect the pouch. One potential issue with this packaging configuration is that the pouch can move inside the box during transport. This creates the possibility for the tube 13 or clips 15 to pierce the pouch and compromise the sterility of the catheter. If this were to occur, a breach of the pouch may be undetectable by the operator. Accordingly, there remains a need in the art for improved packaging that overcomes these disadvantages of currently available catheter packaging, as well as a need to reduce the number of packaging components and the cost of packaging.

Invention Disclosure:
A package for a medical device having an elongated shaft and a proximal luer fitting, the package includes a one-piece body formed as a single structure. The one-piece body includes at least a spiral casing formed therein, the spiral casing defining a spiral lumen configured to receive the elongated shaft of the medical device. The package includes a luer retaining portion at one end of the spiral casing with barrier film sealed to the luer retaining portion to maintain the sterility of the medical device. The package further including a cap placed over the luer retaining portion and barrier film to protect the integrity of the barrier film and prevent perforation of the barrier film which would compromise the sterility of the medical device.

[Assistant]
1. A package for holding a medical device having an elongated shaft, the package comprising:
a one-piece body that defines a spiral lumen configured to receive the elongated shaft of the medical device, the spiral lumen having a first end and a second sealed end, wherein the first end has a luer retaining portion;
a barrier film sealed to the luer retaining portion to maintain sterility of the luer retaining portion; and
a cap releasably secured to the luer retaining portion to cover and protect the barrier film.

2. The package of claim 1, wherein the luer retainer portion defines an opening configured to receive a proximal luer fitting of the medical device.

3. The package of claim 1, wherein the luer retainer portion has a hook portion extending therefrom, the hook portion spaced apart from the spiral lumen.

4. The package of claim 1, wherein the barrier film includes two sheets sealed together on each side of the luer retainer portion.

5. The package of claim 4, wherein the two sheets each have a tab portion, the tab portions are not sealed together and are configured to allow an operator to grasp the tab portions and peel apart the two sheets to aseptically present the luer retaining portion.

6. The package of claim 1, wherein the cap has a housing defining a chamber to receive the luer retaining portion with the barrier film sealed thereon.

7. The package of claim 1, wherein the cap has a locking member to releasably secure the cap to the luer retaining portion.

8. The package of claim 7, wherein the locking member has a living hinge portion and a pin portion, the pin portion having a pin extending substantially perpendicular from a surface of the pin portion, the living hinge portion having an opening therethrough to receive the pin when pin portion is rotated about a living hinge such that the pin extends through the opening of the living hinge portion and contacts the luer retaining portion.

9. The package of claim 8, wherein the locking member has a clasp portion extending from the pin portion, the clasp portion has an arcuate tongue extending substantially perpendicular from a surface of the clasp portion, such that as the pin and clasp portion are rotated about the living hinge, the tongue is received by an opening in the luer retaining portion and thereby secures the cap to the luer retaining portion by restricting the movement of the pin and clasp portions to only rotational movement about the living hinge.

10. A package for holding a medical device having an elongated shaft, the package comprising:
a unitary body defining a spiral lumen configured to receive the elongated shaft of the medical device, the spiral lumen having a first end and a second sealed end, wherein the second end has a closed distal tip and the first end has a luer retaining portion, wherein the luer retainer portion defines an opening configured to receive a proximal luer fitting of the medical device;
a barrier film including two sheets sealed together by heat sealing with the luer retaining portion disposed therebetween to maintain sterility of the proximal luer fitting; and
a cap releasably secured to the luer retaining portion to cover and protect the barrier film,
wherein the cap includes a housing defining a chamber, the cap configured to slidably receive the luer retaining portion with the barrier film within the chamber, the cap is secured to the luer retaining portion with a releasable locking member extending from the cap.

11. The package of claim 10, wherein the wherein the package is configured such that the two sheets are sealed between sealing die, the sealing die each have U-shaped portions which are configured such that when the die come together, the die form a shape which accommodates the shape of a luer retainer of the luer retaining portion.

12. The package of claim 11, wherein a mandrel is disposed within the luer retainer to provide structural support from within luer retainer.

13. The package of claim 11, wherein a polypropylene layer is disposed between the two sheets to create a bond between the two sheets during the sealing process.

14. The package of claim 10, wherein the cap housing has at least one guide portion defining a groove in fluid communication with the chamber, and is configured such that as the cap is placed on the luer retaining portion, the groove receives an edge of the luer retaining portion, and the luer retaining portion slides along the extent of groove until the edge of the luer retaining portion abuts the guide portion at the end of the groove.

15. The package of claim 14, wherein the at least one guide portion suspends barrier film within the chamber of the cap to minimize contact between the barrier film and an interior surface of the chamber.

16. The package of claim 10, wherein the locking member is configured such that it secures the cap to the luer retaining portion by rotating a clasp portion about a living hinge to connect the clasp portion to the locking member.

17. The package of claim 16, wherein the locking member has an opening for releasably receiving a pin extending from the clasp portion.

18. The package of claim 17, wherein it is configured such that if the clasp portion is rotated about the living hinge to remove the pin from the opening, the pin fractures and the clasp portion is no longer connected to the luer retaining portion.

19. The package of claim 16, wherein the clasp portion further includes an arcuate tongue receivable within an opening of the luer retaining portion to prevent removal of the cap from the luer retaining portion.

20. The package of claim 10, further configured such that the locking member may be released to unsecure the cap from the luer retaining portion and the cap may be removed from the luer retaining portion.

21. The package of claim 20, further configured such that the two sheets of the barrier film may be separated to aseptically present the proximal luer fitting.


[System] You are an expert US patent attorney. Draft a set of independent and dependent claims based on the provided invention description. Use correct USPTO formatting.

[User]
Title: Bisphenol A Preparation Apparatus And Preparation Method

Technical Field and Background:
Bisphenol A is prepared from a reaction of acetone and excessive phenol in the presence of an acidic catalyst. In order to obtain high-purity bisphenol A from this reaction product, low boiling point materials including water is removed, bisphenol A and/or solid adduct crystals of bisphenol A and phenol are precipitated by crystallization, a slurry including the solid adduct is separated into solids and liquids, and phenol is removed from the recovered solid adduct, so that bisphenol A is obtained. A continuous crystallization process has been industrially used to efficiently purify a large amount of a reactant. In the continuous crystallization process, a slurry including the solid adduct obtained within a crystallizer is separated into solids and liquids, and a solid adduct is recovered and a liquid phase remains. The liquid phase includes phenol in an amount of about 70 wt %, bisphenol A in an amount of about 15 wt %, and other by-products. Thus, in order to reuse phenol included in the liquid phase, a reaction mother liquid from which some by-products are removed is cyclically supplied to a reactor that requires excessive phenol. In this process, it is required to increase the efficiency of the reactor in the above-described reaction.

Invention Disclosure:
Provided are an apparatus and a method for preparing bisphenol A. In the present invention, all or some of a mother liquid stream is circulated to a flash rector through a bypass line after crystallization in a process of preparing bisphenol A so as to increase a conversion rate of bisphenol A in a reactor, reduce energy, and use a heating source of phenol to be discharged to an upper side of the flash reactor, and thus the reaction efficiency of the whole process can be increased.

[Assistant]
1. A bisphenol A preparing apparatus comprising:
a main reactor that discharges a reaction product of a reaction between phenol and acetone through a reaction product stream;
a flash reactor that separates the reaction product stream into a bisphenol A concentration stream and a phenol concentration stream;
a bisphenol A purification unit that separates the bisphenol A concentration stream into a bisphenol A purification stream and a mother liquid stream and discharges the separated mother liquid stream;
a recovery reactor that discharges a recovered reaction product, which is obtained by additionally reacting the mother liquid stream separated in the bisphenol A purification unit, to the main reactor through a recovered reaction product stream; and
a bypass line that is positioned between the recovery reactor and the main reactor and that introduces at least some of the separated mother liquid stream into the flash reactor.

2. The bisphenol A preparing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
a heating source that supplies heat to the flash reactor.

3. The bisphenol A preparing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
a dehydrator that is positioned between the main reactor and the flash reactor and separates the reaction product stream into a reactor reflux stream and a bisphenol A production stream.

4. The bisphenol A preparing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bisphenol A purification unit comprises:
a crystallizer that crystallizes adduct of bisphenol A and phenol in the bisphenol A concentration stream; and
a solid-liquid separator that separates the crystallized adduct of bisphenol A and phenol from a mother liquid.

5. The bisphenol A preparing apparatus of claim 4, wherein the bisphenol A purification unit comprises:
a first crystallizer that crystallizes adduct of bisphenol A and phenol in the bisphenol A concentration stream;
a first solid-liquid separator that separates the crystallized adduct of bisphenol A and phenol to be discharged from the first crystallizer from the mother liquid;
a second crystallizer that recrystallizes the crystallized adduct of bisphenol A and phenol separated in the first solid-liquid separator; and
a second solid-liquid separator that separates the crystallized adduct of bisphenol A and phenol to be discharged from the second crystallizer from the mother liquid.

6. The bisphenol A preparing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
a bisphenol A purification device that melts crystallized adduct of bisphenol A and phenol present in the bisphenol A purification stream to be discharged from the bisphenol A purification unit to separate bisphenol A and phenol.

7. The bisphenol A preparing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
a mother liquid purification device that removes pentane from the mother liquid stream separated in the bisphenol A purification unit.

8. The bisphenol A preparing apparatus of claim 5, further comprising:
a first heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the phenol concentration stream separated in the flash reactor and the bisphenol A purification stream separated in the solid-liquid separator to melt the crystallized adduct of bisphenol A and phenol.

9. The bisphenol A preparing apparatus of claim 5, further comprising:
a first heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the phenol concentration stream separated in the flash reactor and the bisphenol A purification stream separated in the second solid-liquid separator to melt the crystallized adduct of bisphenol A and phenol; and
a second heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the phenol concentration stream separated in the flash reactor and the bisphenol A purification stream separated in the first solid-liquid separator to melt the crystallized adduct of bisphenol A and phenol.

10. A bisphenol A preparing method comprising:
a step of reacting phenol with acetone in a main reactor and discharging a reaction product through a reaction product stream;
a step of separating the reaction product stream into a bisphenol A concentration stream and a phenol concentration stream in a flash reactor;
a step of separating the bisphenol A concentration stream into a bisphenol A purification stream and a mother liquid stream in a bisphenol A purification unit and discharging the separated mother liquid stream;
a step of additionally reacting the separated mother liquid stream through a recovery reactor after the mother liquid stream separated in the bisphenol A purification unit, and discharging the separated mother liquid stream to the main reactor through a recovered reaction product stream; and
a step of introducing at least some of the separated mother liquid stream from the recovered reaction product stream into the flash reactor through a bypass line.

11. The bisphenol A preparing method of claim 10, further comprising:
a step of supplying heat to the flash reactor through a heating source.

12. The bisphenol A preparing method of claim 10, further comprising:
a step of separating the reaction product stream into a reactor reflux stream and a bisphenol A production stream through a dehydrator positioned between the main reactor and the flash reactor.

13. The bisphenol A preparing method of claim 10, wherein the step of separating the bisphenol A concentration stream into a bisphenol A purification stream and a mother liquid stream in a bisphenol A purification unit comprises:
a step of crystallizing adduct of bisphenol A and phenol in the bisphenol A concentration stream through a crystallizer; and
a step of separating the crystallized adduct of bisphenol A and phenol from a mother liquid through a solid-liquid separator.

14. The bisphenol A preparing method of claim 13, wherein the step of separating the bisphenol A concentration stream into a bisphenol A purification stream and a mother liquid stream in a bisphenol A purification unit comprises:
a step of crystallizing adduct of bisphenol A and phenol in the bisphenol A concentration stream through a first crystallizer;
a step of separating the crystallized adduct of bisphenol A and phenol to be discharged from the first crystallizer from a mother liquid through a first solid-liquid separator;
a step of recrystallizing the crystallized adduct of bisphenol A and phenol separated in the first solid-liquid separator through a second crystallizer; and
a step of separating the crystallized adduct of bisphenol A and phenol to be discharged from the second crystallizer from the mother liquid through the second solid-liquid separator.

15. The bisphenol A preparing method of claim 10, further comprising:
a step of melting crystallized adduct of bisphenol A and phenol present in the bisphenol A purification stream to be discharged from the bisphenol A purification unit to separate bisphenol A and phenol.

16. The bisphenol A preparing method of claim 13, further comprising:
a step of exchanging heat between the phenol concentration stream separated in the flash reactor and the bisphenol A purification stream separated in the solid-liquid separator through a first heat exchanger to melt the crystallized adduct of bisphenol A and phenol.

17. The bisphenol A preparing method of claim 14, further comprising:
a step of exchanging heat between the phenol concentration stream separated in the flash reactor and the bisphenol A purification stream separated in the second solid-liquid separator through a first heat exchanger to melt the crystallized adduct of bisphenol A and phenol; and
a step of exchanging heat between the phenol concentration stream separated in the flash reactor and the bisphenol A purification stream separated in the first solid-liquid separator through a second heat exchanger to melt the crystallized adduct of bisphenol A and phenol.

18. The bisphenol A preparing method of claim 10, wherein the step of introducing the separated mother liquid stream into the flash reactor through a bypass line comprises introducing the separated mother liquid stream of 10% to 100% by weight into the flash reactor.


[System] You are an expert US patent attorney. Draft a set of independent and dependent claims based on the provided invention description. Use correct USPTO formatting.

[User]
Title: Layout And Timing Schemes For Ping-Pong Readout Architecture

Technical Field and Background:
In a typical CMOS image sensor readout circuit, there is only one pair of sample-and-hold circuits for storing the sampled reset and pixel signal values output by a selected row. These two sample-and-hold circuits are read out sequentially, with either the pixel signal level (“PIX”) read out first, followed by the reset level (“RST”), for example as is typical in a 3-T pixel readout scheme, or RST read out first, followed by PIX, for example as is typical in a 4-T pixel readout scheme. Readout is performed column-by-column. To increase the readout speed for high resolution image sensors, the ping-pong readout architecture can be adopted. The ping-pong readout architecture has two pairs of sample-and-hold circuits per column, for example as depicted in FIG. 1 . In alternating phases, each pair of sample and hold capacitors will act as the “sampling pair” while the other, opposing pair acts as the “output pair,” as follows. For example, referring to FIG. 1 , in a first phase, the PIX and RST signals for a given row, row n, are sequentially output from the pixel to a pixel output line ( 101 ). By operation of switches ( 104 and 105 ), these signals are sampled and held on a first pair of capacitors ( 102 and 103 ), during which such phase this first pair acts as the sampling pair. After this first phase, in a second phase, the first sample and hold capacitor pair ( 102 and 103 ) becomes the output pair and, by the action of switches ( 106 and 107 ) the sampled PIX and RST signals are output to respective PIX and RST signal bus lines ( 114 and 115 ). During this second phase, the second pair of sample and hold capacitors ( 108 and 109 ) acts as the sampling pair and receives, by the action of switches ( 110 and 111 ), and stores PIX and RST signals sequentially output from row n+1 to the pixel output line ( 101 ). This operation is followed by a third phase, wherein the first pair of sample and hold capacitors ( 102 and 103 ) again becomes the sampling pair, receiving PIX and RST signals from row n+2 while the second pair acts as the output pair, by the action of switches ( 112 and 113 ), outputting stored signals from row n+1 to the RST and PIX signal bus lines ( 114 and 115 ). The RST and PIX signal bus lines may input to a signal processing or storage element, for example an ADC, data buffer, or memory element. Because there are two pairs of sample-and-hold capacitors, the ping-pong architecture allows the simultaneous readout of one row during the sample- and hold phase of the next row. The overlapping timing of these operations decreases the time necessary for reading out each row and increases the frame rate. Accordingly, this ping-pong architecture advantageously allows high speed operations, for example in global shutter or extremely high frame rate cameras. The use of a ping-pong architecture has certain shortcomings and complications. First, adding the second pair of sample-and-hold circuits will increase the height of the circuit as well as adding extra control signals for selecting between the two sample- and hold pairs. Second, if the column readout pitch stays the same as pixel pitch, twice as many column readout select signals need to be placed into a single column, which results in increased parasitic capacitance among components. For example, a crowded column output architecture results in increased parasitic capacitance between the pixel output line and the sample-and-hold capacitor top plates, and between the sample-and-hold top plates and the readout output line. A third issue in ping-pong architecture is that the readout timing scheme becomes more complicated because of the overlap between previous row's readout and the next row's sample-and-hold phases. Big crosstalk spikes or missing codes may be produced in the neighboring readout circuit due to the parasitic capacitances caused by nearby operations. Presented herein is a modified ping-pong architecture which addresses the shortcomings of typical designs. Described herein are novel layouts for ping-pong architecture, which isolate sensitive components from sources of capacitance or other interference. Also disclosed are improved timing regimes that help prevent the problematic crosstalk and parasitic capacitance issues inherent in ping-pong architecture.

Invention Disclosure:
Ping-pong readout architecture allows for faster frame rates in CMOS image sensors. However, various problems are created by this architecture due to cross-talk between components. Provided herein are novel ping-pong readout layouts which better isolate components to reduce crosstalk issues. Also provided herein are novel timing schemes for operating ping-pong readout circuits which prevent crosstalk signal spikes or readout corruption.

[Assistant]
1. A ping-pong readout circuit comprising:
two side-by-side readout columns, wherein each column comprises two pairs of sample and hold capacitors and is configured to operate in ping-pong readout mode wherein a first pair of sample and hold capacitors samples pixel and reset signals from a selected row while a second pair of sample and hold capacitors outputs previously sampled pixel and reset signals to an output line;
wherein one or more dummy columns is present on either side of the paired readout columns; wherein
one of the dummy columns comprises a vertical signal bus controllably connected to the same and hold capacitors in each readout column which store pixel signals and a second dummy column comprises a vertical signal bus controllably connected to the same and hold capacitors in each readout column which store reset signals;
wherein each dummy column comprises at least one line of shielding; and
wherein at least one line of shielding separates each of the dummy and readout columns from its adjoining columns.

2. The ping-pong readout circuit of claim 1, wherein
one dummy column is present on either side of the paired readout columns.

3. The ping-pong readout circuit of claim 1, wherein
each dummy column comprises three lines of shielding.

4. The ping-pong readout circuit of claim 1, wherein
the shielding lines comprise metal or poly shielding material.

5. A method of operating a ping-pong readout circuit that comprises two side-by-side readout columns, wherein each column comprises two pairs of sample and hold capacitors and is configured to operate in ping-pong readout mode wherein a first pair of sample and hold capacitors samples pixel and reset signals from a selected row while a second pair of sample and hold capacitors outputs previously sampled pixel and reset signals to an output line; wherein one or more dummy columns is present on either side of the paired readout columns; wherein one of the dummy columns comprises a vertical signal bus controllably connected to the sample and hold capacitors in each readout column which store pixel signals and a second dummy column comprises a vertical signal bus controllably connected to the sample and hold capacitors in each readout column which store reset signals; wherein each dummy column comprises at least one line of shielding; and wherein at least one line of shielding separates each of the dummy and readout columns from its adjoining columns, the method including turning off a control signal which enables sampling of pixel output to sample and hold capacitors prior to turning off a control signal which enables output of previously sampled signals on an opposing pair of sample and hold capacitors.

6. A method of operating a ping-pong readout circuit that comprises two side-by-side readout columns, wherein each column comprises two pairs of sample and hold capacitors and is configured to operate in ping-pong readout mode wherein a first pair of sample and hold capacitors samples pixel and reset signals from a selected row while a second pair of sample and hold capacitors outputs previously sampled pixel and reset signals to an output line; wherein one or more dummy columns is present on either side of the paired readout columns; wherein one of the dummy columns comprises a vertical signal bus controllably connected to the sample and hold capacitors in each readout column which store pixel signals and a second dummy column comprises a vertical signal bus controllably connected to the sample and hold capacitors in each readout column which store reset signals; wherein each dummy column comprises at least one line of shielding; and wherein at least one line of shielding separates each of the dummy and readout columns from its adjoining columns, the method including outputting signals to an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and overlapping of a sampling phase on one set of sample and hold capacitors and readout of an opposing pair of sample and hold capacitors is performed while the ADC is in a reset phase.


[System] You are an expert US patent attorney. Draft a set of independent and dependent claims based on the provided invention description. Use correct USPTO formatting.

[User]
Title: Fastening System

Technical Field and Background:
A fastening system of this type conforming to the prior art is disclosed in WO 2009/097950 A1. Such fastening systems serve to secure sheet-type panels in predefinable locations, for example, to conceal unattractive areas with a laminated veneer. They may also be used for thermal and sound insulation. For example, panel-type covering components may be used in automotive engineering to cover large areas of sheet metal parts as automotive body components. Loading doors, for example, may be the body parts, although body floors and roofs may also be involved. In addition to the automotive field, such fastening systems may also be used in railroads, ships and airplanes, where comparable problems must be solved. The fastening system permits a detachable connection between the covering component and another component. Technical equipment inside the other component, such as cables, air conditioning ducts, electronic control systems, etc., may be readily accessible as needed, by removing the covering component from the other component having the respective technical equipment. The removal is accomplished by disengaging the hook-and-loop fastening parts, i.e., releasing the hook-and-loop fastener connection. In an effort to ensure secure fastening of the covering components, hook-and-loop fasteners today are designed with high holding forces. Although this design ensures the required reliability of the fastening, problems may occur in removing the components because of the high holding forces. In unfavorable cases, this problem may result in detachment of the spacer body from the covering component when the holding forces of the engaged hook-and-loop fastening parts are stronger than the holding force in effect between the fastener of the spacer body and the covering component.

Invention Disclosure:
A fastening system for mounting detachable covering components, like panels, on other components (17), like carriage parts (19), has at least one spacer (1) with a spacer body (3). One spacer body side can be attached to the covering component. The opposite side has an adhesive closure part (7) detachably engaged with a corresponding adhesive closure part (16) attached to the other component (17). At least on one border of the side of the spacer body (3) connected to the covering component, a flat mesh (21) abuts to enlarge the connection area between the covering component and the spacer (1).

[Assistant]
1. A fastening system for detachably mounting a covering component on another component, comprising:
at least one spacer including a spacer body in a form of a hollow box part having a pre-definable installation height and having opposite first and second spacer sides;
a fastener on said first spacer side for securing said at least one spacer to the covering component;
a spacer hook-and-loop fastener part on said second spacer side being detachably engageable with a complementary hook-and-loop fastener part to releasably secure the covering component on the other component;
a flat mesh enlarging a connecting portion of said at least one spacer for connecting the covering component to said at least one spacer and extending from and being connected to at least one edge of said first spacer side, said mesh being fixed on said spacer body; and
a backing layer on said spacer hook-and-loop fastener part, said backing layer having a protruding retaining lug with a button-shaped enlargement on a side of said backing layer opposite hook elements on said backing layer, said backing layer being gripped from behind edges of a slot in said hollow box part forming a trough, said hollow box part having a bottom spaced from a plane containing said mesh, said slot having an open side allowing insertion of said retaining lug in said slot, said slot being formed in said bottom.

2. The fastening system according to claim 1 wherein
said spacer body is rectangular; and
said mesh is connected to all edges of said spacer body.

3. The fastening system according to claim 1 wherein
said mesh increases an area of said connecting portion of said at least one spacer to more than twice an area of said first spacer side.

4. The fastening system according to claim 1 wherein
said mesh comprises a polygonal periphery.

5. The fastening system according to claim 1 wherein
said spacer body is situated in a central area of said mesh.

6. The fastening system according to claim 1 wherein
said mesh comprises two intersecting groups of mesh bars, said mesh bars of each said group being parallel to one another.

7. The fastening system according to claim 6 wherein
said mesh bars of one of said groups intersect said mesh bars of the other of said groups at right angles.


[System] You are an expert US patent attorney. Draft a set of independent and dependent claims based on the provided invention description. Use correct USPTO formatting.

[User]
Title: Medicinal Storage, Safety, Organizational And Delivery Device

Technical Field and Background:
In a typical hospital setting, there is often a multi-dose patient specific vial of medication, for example here, insulin. Often, such a multi-dose patient specific vial holds 3 ml to 10 ml, with a single adult dose commonly being 30 Units, or 0.3 ml. Thus, with this example, in such a multi-dose patient specific vial of medication, there will be 10 to 33 doses per vial, or put another way, 10 to 33 opportunities for error or waste. In a hospital setting, each vial will be kept at the nurse's station, in the patient's room, on a medicine cart and sometimes, unfortunately, randomly in a pocket in a nurse's uniform. As result of the foregoing, (a) a multi-dose patient specific vial of medication is often wasted as result of non-use, for example the patient label can fall off or become unreadable, (b) a multi-dose patient specific vial of medication is often lost due to poor handling processes and procedures, (c) a multi-dose patient specific vial of medication is not used because of patient discharge, (d) a multi-dose patient specific vial of medication often expires before full use, (e) a multi-dose patient specific vial of medication may not be fully used due to medication changes. As a result, perfectly good medication, perhaps needed by another patient, becomes unavailable. Moreover, as a result of less than ideal storage means, both (a) the opportunity for error, for example by extracting the incorrect multi-dose patient specific vial of medication from a pocket or bed stand, and (b) the opportunity for non-permitted access, are heightened. Objectives of the present invention include increasing patient safety; having a more efficient system of dispensing medicines to patients; decreasing the average number of medicine vials needed per patient; securing medications; and adherence to The Joint Commission regulations and standards regarding high alert medications. To date, the principal safety, storage, organization and delivery devices for medicinal preparations tend to be either patient centric or pharmacy centric and nothing in between or encompassing both. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,148,515 titled, INSULIN PRESERVING TRAVEL KIT FOR DIABETICS that issued Sep. 15, 1964 discloses “medicine chests or kits and has particular reference to portable kits containing a temporary supply of insulin and hypodermic injection equipment for use by diabetics while traveling.” This is an example of a patient centric solution and does not address the problems incident in hospitals noted above. In another example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,529,446 titled, “INTERACTIVE MEDICATION CONTAINER that issued Mar. 4, 2003 discloses, “an interactive medication container that hold or otherwise organizes one or more medication vials or containers. Each vial has a memory strip containing medication and prescription information. Each vial can also include a reminder unit that is attached to and portable with the individual vials. The console or reminder unit reads the information strip of the vial and communicates this information to or interacts with a patient to remind them to take the medication. The medication container or reminder unit also gathers or tracks information such as consumption time, quantity remaining, patient feedback, and contraindication information. The medication container or reminder unit interacts with the patient by displaying questions or receiving and recording input from the patient before, during or after a dose of medication is taken. The patient input can be used to modify the dosing regimen for future doses of medication. The medication container reorders medication when the quantity remaining reaches a threshold level. Contraindication information in the memory strip is downloaded to a personal home computer or a hospital or nursing home computer.” Again, this is a patient centric solution and does not address the problems incident in hospitals noted above. In another example, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/181,873 titled, “AUTOMATED PHARMACY SYSTEM FOR DISPENSING UNIT DOSES OF PHARMACEUTICALS AND THE LIKE filed Jul. 13, 2011 discloses, “a system for storing and dispensing discrete doses of pharmaceuticals includes: a housing with an internal cavity having a front wall with first and second windows; multiple storage locations positioned within the housing; and a carrier assembly positioned and movable within the housing.

Invention Disclosure:
A lockable storage container and delivery device is provided that exposes the access port of liquid medicinal vials (such as for insulin) while maintaining identification, security, organization and inventory data access, for easy and documented administration of such medicine. The container has individual compartments for various types of medication, or variants of a similar medication (such as various types of insulin) in one convenient and secure container that provides optimal, efficient, cost-saving and safe delivery of medicine to patients.

[Assistant]
1. A storage container comprising a body comprising sidewalls connected together forming an enclosure defining a cross-sectional shape, a top with structure to open and close the top, and corresponding to substantially the same cross-sectional shape of the defined enclosure, a bottom corresponding to substantially the same cross-sectional shape of the defined enclosure and a means for locking the top in the closed position wherein said storage container is configured to hold a plurality of medicine vials wherein:
a. the sidewalls further comprise cutouts that each correspond to the cross-sectional shape of a neck of one of the medicine vials such that the medicine vial may be secured by placing the neck of the vial into one said cutout; and
b. the bottom further comprises cutouts that each correspond to the shape and size of the side of one of the medicine vials such that the identity of the medicine vials would be exposed by the bottom cutouts when the vials are secured into the storage container.

2. The storage container of claim 1, wherein said storage container is made from a clear material.

3. The storage container of claim 1, wherein said storage container is substantially rectangular approximately 8½ inches by 2 inches by 1 inch.

4. The storage container of claim 3 wherein said storage container is fitted to house four medicine vials.

5. The storage container of claim 1 further comprising openings in the body and corresponding openings in the top wherein when the top is closed said openings in the body and said corresponding openings in the top are aligned and further where said locking means is constitute single use breakaway tabs that can be inserted into the aligned openings.

6. The storage container of claim 1 further comprising one or more tabs on said top and corresponding mating means on said body that align with each of said corresponding tabs during closure such that when closed said tabs aligned with said mating means are capable of accepting said locking means for securing said storage container in the closed position.

7. The storage container of claim 1 further comprising clear physical closures of said bottom cutouts that constitute view areas capable of exposing identity and expiration dates of any inserted medicine vials.

8. The storage container of claim 7 wherein said clear physical closures of said bottom cutouts contain magnification.

9. The storage container of claim 1 wherein said storage container is configured to a size and shape to optimally house the plurality of medicine vials wherein all vials containing the same type of medicine are oriented in the same direction and all vials containing a different type of medicine than any other are oriented in a different direction.

10. A method of drug administration comprising the steps of:
obtaining a storage container comprising a body comprising sidewalls connected together forming an enclosure, a top corresponding to substantially the same cross-sectional shape of the defined enclosure with structure to open and close the top, and a bottom corresponding to substantially the same cross-sectional shape of the defined enclosure and a means for locking the top in the closed position wherein said storage container is configured to hold a plurality of medicine vials wherein the sidewalls further comprise cutouts that each correspond to the cross-sectional shape of a neck of one of the medicine vials such that the medicine vial may be secured by placing the neck of the vial into one said cutout; and the bottom further comprises cutouts that each correspond to the shape and size of the side of one of the medicine vials such that the identity of the medicine vials would be exposed by the bottom cutouts when the vials are secured into the storage container;
securing the plurality of medicine vials in said storage container;
locking said storage container containing the plurality of medicine vials;
storing said storage container containing the plurality of medicine vials in an area where medicine contained in the vials is needed;
retrieving said storage container and administering said medicine contained in said storage container; and
re-storing said storage container back to the area where said medicine is needed.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein when securing a plurality of medicine vials, said securing is performed in a manner where all like vials of medicine are oriented in the same direction and all dissimilar vials of medicine are oriented in a different direction.


[System] You are an expert US patent attorney. Draft a set of independent and dependent claims based on the provided invention description. Use correct USPTO formatting.

[User]
Title: Decoy-Based Matching System For Facial Recognition

Technical Field and Background:
Facial recognition systems are increasingly used in a variety of applications. For example, facial recognition may be employed as part of a security check to either permit or deny access by a person to some resource, data or physical entry to a secured location. As another example, facial recognition is often used to identify people in photographs as an aid to organizing collections of photos or quickly identifying photos of interest. Existing techniques for facial recognition generally provide satisfactory results under controlled conditions. In a real world environment, however, facial appearance can vary dramatically due to changes in expression, illumination conditions, orientation/pose, etc. Such variations can significantly degrade recognition performance. Some approaches to address this problem require an on-line learning phase, while other approaches require the generation of thousands of classifiers to recognize a single face. These techniques impose relatively large computational burdens which may not be suitable for real-time applications.

Invention Disclosure:
Techniques are provided for facial recognition using decoy-based matching of facial image features. An example method may include comparing extracted facial features of an input image, provided for recognition, to facial features of each of one or more images in a gallery of known faces, to select a closest gallery image. The method may also include calculating a first distance between the input image and the selected gallery image. The method may further include comparing the facial features of the input image to facial features of each of one or more images in a set of decoy faces, to select a closest decoy image and calculating a second distance between the input image and the selected decoy image. The method may further include recognizing a match between the input image and the selected gallery image based on a comparison of the first distance and the second distance.

[Assistant]
1. A processor-implemented method for facial recognition, the method comprising:
comparing, by a processor, extracted facial features of an input image, provided for recognition, to facial features of each of one or more images in a gallery of known faces, to select a closest gallery image, wherein the known faces are associated with potential recognition matches to the input image;
calculating, by the processor, a first distance between the input image and the selected gallery image;
comparing, by the processor, the facial features of the input image to facial features of each of one or more images in a set of decoy faces, to select a closest decoy image, wherein the decoy faces are associated with persons that should not generate recognition matches to the input image;
calculating, by the processor, a second distance between the input image and the selected decoy image; and
recognizing, by the processor, a match between the input image and the selected gallery image based on a comparison of the first distance and the second distance, wherein the recognizing includes
rejecting the match if the second distance is less than the first distance,
accepting the match if the first distance is less than a first selected threshold value, and
accepting the match if a ratio of the first distance to the second distance is less than a second selected threshold value, even if the first distance is greater than the first selected threshold value.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting of the closest gallery image further comprises searching for a minimum distance between facial features of the input image and facial features of each of the one or more gallery images; and the selecting of the closest decoy image further comprises searching for a minimum distance between facial features of the input image and facial features of each of the one or more decoy images.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating the set of decoy faces by:
collecting decoy facial images;
clustering the decoy facial images into groups of similar faces based on distances between facial features associated with the decoy faces;
selecting a representative face from each the groups; and
compiling the representative faces into the set of decoy faces.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the facial features of the input image are extracted based on at least one of Local Binary Pattern Classification (LBP), Modified Census Transformation (MCT), Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Shift Invariant Feature Transformation (SIFT), Speeded Up Robust Feature Detection (SURF) or a Learning-Based Descriptor.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the calculations of the first distance and the second distance are based on at least one of Euclidean Distance, Manhattan Distance, Squared Euclidean Distance, Angel-Based Distance, Correlation Coefficient-Based Distance, Mahalanobis Distance or Chi-Squared Distance.

6. A system for facial recognition, the system comprising:
a feature extraction circuit to extract facial features of an input image provided for recognition;
a gallery ranking circuit to compare the extracted facial features of the input image to facial features of each of one or more images in a gallery of known faces, to select a closest gallery image, wherein the known faces are associated with potential recognition matches to the input image; and to calculate a first distance between the input image and the selected gallery image;
a decoy ranking circuit to compare the extracted facial features of the input image to facial features of each of one or more images in a set of decoy faces, to select a closest decoy image, wherein the decoy faces are associated with persons that should not generate recognition matches to the input image; and to calculate a second distance between the input image and the selected decoy image; and
a verification circuit to verify a match between the input image and the selected gallery image based on a comparison of the first distance and the second distance, wherein the verification includes
rejecting the match if second distance is less than the first distance,
verifying the match if the first distance is less than a first selected threshold value, and
verifying the match if a ratio of the first distance to the second distance is less than a second selected threshold value, even if the first distance is greater than the first selected threshold value.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the gallery ranking circuit is further to select the closest gallery image based on a search for a minimum distance between facial features of the input image and facial features of each of the one or more gallery images; and the decoy ranking circuit is further to select the closest decoy image based on a search for a minimum distance between facial features of the input image and facial features of each of the one or more decoy images.

8. The system of claim 6, further comprising a decoy set generation module to:
collect decoy facial images;
cluster the decoy facial images into groups of similar faces based on distances between facial features associated with the decoy faces;
select a representative face from each the groups; and
compile the representative faces into the set of decoy faces.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the feature extraction circuit is further to extract facial features of the input image based on at least one of Local Binary Pattern Classification (LBP), Modified Census Transformation (MCT), Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Shift Invariant Feature Transformation (SIFT), Speeded Up Robust Feature Detection (SURF) or a Learning-Based Descriptor.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the calculations of the first distance and the second distance are based on at least one of Euclidean Distance, Manhattan Distance, Squared Euclidean Distance, Angel-Based Distance, Correlation Coefficient-Based Distance, Mahalanobis Distance or Chi-Squared Distance.

11. At least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium having instructions encoded thereon that, when executed by one or more processors, result in the following operations for facial recognition, the operations comprising:
comparing extracted facial features of an input image, provided for recognition, to facial features of each of one or more images in a gallery of known faces, to select a closest gallery image, wherein the known faces are associated with potential recognition matches to the input image;
calculating a first distance between the input image and the selected gallery image;
comparing the facial features of the input image to facial features of each of one or more images in a set of decoy faces, to select a closest decoy image, wherein the decoy faces are associated with persons that should not generate recognition matches to the input image;
calculating a second distance between the input image and the selected decoy image; and
recognizing a match between the input image and the selected gallery image based on a comparison of the first distance and the second distance, wherein the recognizing includes
rejecting the match if the second distance is less than the first distance,
accepting the match if the first distance is less than a first selected threshold value, and
accepting the match if a ratio of the first distance to the second distance is less than a second selected threshold value, even if the first distance is greater than the first selected threshold value.

12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the selecting of the closest gallery image further comprises searching for a minimum distance between facial features of the input image and facial features of each of the one or more gallery images; and the selecting of the closest decoy image further comprises searching for a minimum distance between facial features of the input image and facial features of each of the one or more decoy images.

13. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11, further comprising generating the set of decoy faces by:
collecting decoy facial images;
clustering the decoy facial images into groups of similar faces based on distances between facial features associated with the decoy faces;
selecting a representative face from each the groups; and
compiling the representative faces into the set of decoy faces.

14. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the facial features of the input image are extracted based on at least one of Local Binary Pattern Classification (LBP), Modified Census Transformation (MCT), Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Shift Invariant Feature Transformation (SIFT), Speeded Up Robust Feature Detection (SURF) or a Learning-Based Descriptor.

15. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the calculations of the first distance and the second distance are based on at least one of Euclidean Distance, Manhattan Distance, Squared Euclidean Distance, Angel-Based Distance, Correlation Coefficient-Based Distance, Mahalanobis Distance or Chi-Squared Distance.