Abstract: A method is provided for producing a piston for an internal-combustion engine of the structure in which a piston body which is composed of a crown having a groove for fitting a piston ring into an outer circumference surface and a skirt in connection with the bottom of the crown is provided with an annular cavity for flowing cooling liquid on an inside of the groove, the method comprising the steps of: forming the crown and the skirt individually; forming an annular groove for the annular cavity in the inner bottom of the crown and an annular rib in connection with the open edge of the annular groove before the crown and the skirt are joined together; bending the rib toward the opening of the annular groove by application of pressure to close the opening of the annular groove to thereby form the annular cavity; and joining the crown and the skirt together.

Abstract: When the lens barrel is in the storage state, a part of a lens group and a group cylinder are inserted into an aperture of a diaphragm unit and a shutter blade of a shutter unit is closed for light shielding. With this arrangement, the cylinder length in the storage state is shortened, and the performance degradation of an image sensor and optical components provided on a front side of an image sensor can be prevented as well.

Abstract: A head-mounted device for mounting on the head of a user includes a first pressing member for pressing a first portion of the head from a first direction; a second pressing member for pressing a second portion of the head from a second direction that is different from the first direction; a string member that concatenates the first pressing member and the second pressing member; a structure that guides the string member so that the first and the second pressing members move in the first and the second directions, respectively, according to changes in the length of the string member; and an adjusting unit that adjusts the length of the string member.

Abstract: A jigsaw puzzle transporting system having a bottom part, a base plate and a lid is provided. An at least substantially vertically projecting frame is present on the bottom part for peripherally surrounding the base plate. A shoulder with a holding face fitting into the frame projects from the lid. Side faces, mutually facing in a closed position, of the shoulder and of the frame cooperate for releasably locking the shoulder in the frame. The shoulder in the closed position is positioned, relative to the base plate received in the frame, such that a distance between the holding face and an upper surface, facing the latter, of the base plate is less than a jigsaw puzzle piece height.

Abstract: A communication device includes a recognition unit configured to recognize a service provided by a network, a generation unit configured to generate a packet to be transmitted to an external device that provides the service recognized by the recognition unit based on a priority set to the packet according to the recognized service when the service is recognized by the recognition unit, and a connection unit configured to establish a connection with the external device using the packet generated by the generation unit.

Abstract: Articles comprising a fibrous support of nanofibers and an interfacially polymerized polymer layer disposed on a surface of the fibrous support are useful, e.g., as fluid separation membranes.

Abstract: A management apparatus instructs a wireless terminal wirelessly connecting to a first base station to switch wireless connection to a second base station. After the wireless terminal switches the wireless connection to the second base station as instructed, the wireless terminal transmits a message for updating information used for determining a forwarding destination of the message received by the relay apparatus. The relay apparatus updates the information used for determining the forwarding destination of the received message based on the message transmitted from the wireless terminal.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device for carrying a hose or other tubular member. The device includes a first base member releasably connected to a second base member. The first and second base members operate to form a plurality of openings sized to receive a length of hose or other tubular member. The plurality of openings may be configured to permit charging of the hose without removing the hose from therein. The device may include a locking mechanism for selectively securing the first base member to the second base member. The locking mechanism may define a handle for supporting the device. The locking mechanism may further include a handle release for selectively unlocking the locking mechanism.

Abstract: An adjustable occipital plate includes a central body portion having a plurality of arms extending therefrom in a generally Y-shaped configuration. Two of the arms include elongate slots for slidably receiving retaining members therein. Each retaining member includes a U-shaped channel for receiving a spine rod and a set screw. The central body portion and one arm include openings for receiving bone screws therein. Each of the arms may be angled with respect to the central body portion.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device comprising: a packaging box for the flexible material part, dimensioned to hold said part flat; folding means for folding said part without direct handling; and a reception tube for receiving said folded flexible material part. The invention is characterized in that the folding means comprise; a traction suture connected to the flexible material part, which passes through the tube, and, walls forming a funnel whereof the base emerges proximate to the opening of the tube through which the flexible material part is designed to be inserted into said tube, said funnel being designed, when a traction is exerted on the traction suture, to gradually fold down the zones of the part located laterally relative to the tube towards the zone of the part located opposite the opening of said tube, to enable the part to be inserted into the tube.

Abstract: A communication system includes an image pickup device and an information processing apparatus. The image pickup device is connectable to a printer, and the information processing apparatus is connectable to a server device. The image pickup device includes an acquiring unit that acquires printer information indicating information on the printer if the image pickup device is connected to the printer and a transmitting unit that transmits the printer information acquired by the acquiring unit to the information processing apparatus if the image pickup device is connected to the information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus also includes a display control unit that displays, on a display unit, an indication that the printer indicated by the printer information can be registered with the server device, based upon the printer information transmitted from the transmitting unit.

Abstract: Membranes suitable for microfiltration, ultrafiltration (UF) and nanofiltration (NF) filters are provided. Such membranes may include a nanofibrous scaffold, optionally in combination with a non-woven substrate and/or a coating of a polymer and a functionalized nanofiller. Suitable membranes may also include a coating of a polymer and a functionalized nanofiller on a substrate, which can include a non-woven membrane, a nanofibrous scaffold, or both.

Abstract: A bottle assembly is provided having a body portion defining a cavity therein, a top lid assembly connectable to the body portion, which includes a selectively deployable and retractable spout, a spout bottom lid; and a resilient tube having a lumen therethrough, wherein the lumen is occluded when the spout is retracted and the resilient tube is kinked, and wherein the lumen is opened when the spout is deployed and the resilient tube is not kinked; a trigger assembly for selectively moving the spout between a deployed and a retracted condition; and a bottom lid assembly selectively connectable to a bottom end of the body portion, the bottom lid assembly including a valve assembly to open and close a fluid path into the cavity of the body portion.

Abstract: Several ceramic armor systems are provided herein. One such system is a ceramic armor system for personnel. Such system includes an integral ceramic plate, or a plurality of interconnected ceramic components providing an integral plate. The ceramic has a deflecting front surface or a flat front surface, and a rear surface. A front spall layer is bonded to the front surface of the ceramic plate. A shock-absorbing layer is bonded to the rear surface of the ceramic plate. A backing is bonded to the exposed face of the shock-absorbing layer. A second such system is a ceramic armor system for vehicles. Such system also includes an integral ceramic plate, or a plurality of interconnected ceramic components providing an integral plate. The ceramic plate has a deflecting front surface or a flat front surface, and a rear surface. A front spall layer is bonded to the front surface of the ceramic plate. A shock-absorbing layer is bonded to the rear surface of the ceramic plate.

Abstract: A computer system is disclosed having an enclosure having a plurality of components. The computer system further includes a first chamber including a first set of cooling devices; and a second chamber including solely a set of components and a second set of cooling devices. The second chamber is located adjacent to the first chamber, and the set of components includes components not included in the first chamber. The set of components includes solely a plurality of storage components selected from the group consisting of a CD-ROM and a hard drive. Air flow is unidirectional from a front side of the enclosure to a rear side of the enclosure. Further, air flow is prevented from flowing between the first chamber and the second chamber by a solid separation mechanism there between. The first chamber has an air flow path independent of the air flow path of the second chamber.