Abstract: A method of optimizing a power supply network is executed by a CAD system, and estimates current consumptions of component function blocks, then determining routes of power supply lines in such a manner as to pass through areas with local maximum values of the estimated current consumption, determining the entire route of the power supply network, finally regulating width of each power supply line incorporated in the power supply network on the basis of the amount of current passing therethrough so that the power supply network is free from electromigration.

Abstract: A method for altering a magnetic characteristic of a medium that includes the steps of providing a magnetic write head adjacent to a carrier bearing a fluid magnetic slurry, providing a sequence of randomly arranged information signals, and transmitting the sequence of randomly arranged information signals to a magnetic write head controller. The magnetic write head is operated in response to the controller to provide sequential representations of the randomly arranged information signals at predetermined amplitude levels in the fluid magnetic slurry by altering a magnetically discernible characteristic of the slurry. The fluid magnetic slurry is then cured to permanently fix the sequential representations.

Abstract: The device has a winding drum (5) mounted fixedly in terms of translation in a frame (1) and to insure that the cord is wound in even turns without overlapping there is of a traveling nut (6) engaging with a screw thread formed on the winding drum and an eyelet for guiding (8) the cord at its entry into the frame (1). The nut moves between an end of the cord (7a) fixed to the drum and the guiding eyelet (8). In the traveling nut is furthermore advantageously mounted a retractable stop (13) controlled by the cord (7) in order to oppose the rotation of the drum in the direction of unwinding when the cord is slack.

Abstract: A commercial refrigerated display case includes mullions for slideably receiving removable ballast drawers from the sides of the mullions for quickly and easily servicing fluorescent ballasts.

Abstract: A catheter for introducing fluid into the vascular system includes ports in the catheter's sidewall which are obliquely angled with respect to the longitudinal axis of the catheter. Certain pairs of ports are oriented toward each other, and certain other pairs of ports are oriented away from each other. The arrangement of ports causes fluid to exit the ports in streams which are oriented at oblique angles corresponding to the angles of the port. The obliquely angled streams create advantageous circulation paths proximate to the catheter which generally improve efficacy of the injected fluid associated with the medical application. The catheter may be used for a variety of purposes, including to perform thrombolysis.

Abstract: In a crochet machine for warp knitting workings, the vertical oscillations usually imparted to the threading tubes (17) and the eye-pointed needles (11) are replaced by a vertical oscillation imparted to the needles (6) through the needle bar (4). Said needle bar has respective opposite ends fastened to driving arms (8) operated by horizontal-movement means (7) of the needles and in engagement with oscillating supports (26) driven with a vertical reciprocating motion. An idler roller (37) extending between the oscillating supports (26) deviates the article of manufacture (5) coming from the needle bar (4) in a horizontal direction, before the article of manufacture reaches a roller drag unit (35).

Abstract: An automatic packaging system closes and seals a hybrid box having end flaps with a narrow paper strip sealed to and around an inside perimeter of the box. A projecting edge of the narrow strip extends out of the box approximately as far as the outer edges of the end flaps. First, the end flaps are folded away from the narrow paper strip. A pair of spreading fingers move in synchronism with boxes while they are being carried by a conveyor. The spreading fingers are moved toward the boxes and inserted into a "bag" opening formed by narrow strip. The spreading fingers move apart for closing the projecting edges of the narrow strip and bringing the sides of the strip into face-to-face confrontation. There the sides are gripped and stretched to prevent puckers or pleats. While the projecting edges are so gripped in a face-to-face confrontation, they are sealed in order to close the "bag" opening formed by the paper strip.

Abstract: A feeding device for animals, such as poultry, is of a type which is designed to be supplied with feed by a conveyor tube (60) from which it is suspended. The device comprises a plate (10, 110) and a receptacle (20, 120). The inside area of the receptacle can, if desired, be in communication with the inside of the plate (10, 110). The conveyor tube (60) communicates with the inside area of the receptacle (20, 120). The level of feed in the plate (10, 110) can be adjusted when it is in communication with the inside area of the receptacle (20, 120), the plate (10, 110) functions as a trough.

Abstract: An adjustable-length cane with a grasping apparatus includes a trigger at one end of the cane and a finger at the other end. The trigger and the finger are pivotally mounted within the body of the cane and have portions extending out of the cane body through slots. A cord and pulley system within the cane body connects the trigger and the finger so that when the trigger is activated, the finger closes or opens to either grasp or release objects. The finger includes a locking clip or similar device which holds the cord at a preselected point. This feature allows the user to vary the amount that the finger opens, and it allows the grasping apparatus to operate optimally irrespective of the length of the cane. The grasping apparatus may be locked in the closed position by appropriately sliding a sleeve into a locking zone on the trigger.

Abstract: An insert for surgical glove has a flexible, generally planar member which includes material that attenuates x-rays or other ionizing radiation. The insert can be attached to a medical practitioner's hand to protect the medical practitioner against undesirable radiation during the performance of medical procedures without limiting the dexterity or tactile sensitivity of the fingers. The low profile of the planar member allows a surgical glove to be worn over the insert to maintain a sterile environment during medical procedures. The radiation-inhibiting material may include a plurality of lead-vinyl sheets held in a sheath. The sheath is removably insertable into a cloth pocket to form the flexible planar member. The member is attached to the medical practitioner's hand by using an adjustable strap.

Abstract: A bottle for spraying or dispensing liquids comprising a principal chamber, a siphon tube extending alongside the chamber and a separate trigger bulb connected to the top of the siphon tube. The siphon tube is also pinch molded so that a valve seat is formed therein. When the trigger bulb is decompressed, the liquid that is drawn up into the siphon tube cascades over into the trigger bulb. When the trigger bulb is fully primed, any pressure subsequently applied to the trigger bulb will cause the liquid to be sprayed out of the bottle.

Abstract: An optical element positioning device comprises a fixed member fixed to an optical apparatus having an optical axis, a movable member supported by the optical apparatus so as to be movable with respect to the fixed member, and holding a plurality of optical elements along the moving direction, a first permanent magnet arranged in the fixed member, and a plurality of second permanent magnets equal in number of the optical elements, disposed in the movable member along the moving direction and selectively able to face the first permanent magnet when the movable member is moved.

Abstract: An electrical appliance or tool having a pre-assembled electrical contact carrier on one end thereof. The carrier has a flex strain relief surrounding one end of the power cord. A flange is connected to the strain relief and is sized to contact the exterior of the appliance or tool to hold the power cord on to the appliance or tool. A retaining head is attached to and spaced from the flange to be located in the interior of the appliance or tool. The retaining head has at least a pair of electrical contacts which can be mechanically and electrically connected to corresponding lead wire contacts. The invention also concerns the pre-assembled power cord electrical contact carrier.

Abstract: A box-like luggage item, such as a trunk, has panels forming ends, sides, top, and bottom of the box. Extruded strips having coves therein receive and grip edges of the panels in order to form the panels into the box-like structure. The box-like structure has a lid and a body with some of the extruded strips having a single cove for receiving a lower edge of each side of the lid and other extruded strips receiving an upper edge of each side of the body. Each of these extruded strips contains an area of a predetermined cross section for receiving an arm of an L-shaped bracket having the same predetermined section which strengthens and aligns the corner of the frame. This ability to align corners enables an elimination of a prior art practice of first installing a strip, cutting a notch in the strip, and then removing the notched material in order to mount hardware.

Abstract: In a device for forming ornamental stitch seams, which comprises two or more needles (3a, 3b) moving alternately backward and forward through a needle plate (2) and a looper (5) cyclically movable following an elliptical trajectory (t) under the needle plate (2), the needles (3a, 3b) describe inclined trajectories (y) to form, with the needle plate (2), an acute angle turned towards the sewing direction (A), for crossing the looper trajectory (t) at a "crossing area" that, relative to a vertical direction (v) passing by the point at which the needles (3a, 3b) get through the needle plate (2), is shifted in a direction opposite to the sewing direction (A).

Abstract: The present invention is related to a capacitor-couple electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit for protecting an internal circuit and/or an output buffer of an IC from being damaged by an ESD current. The capacitor-couple ESD protection circuit according to the present invention includes an ESD bypass device for bypassing the ESD current, a capacitor-couple circuit for coupling a portion of voltage to the ESD bypass device, and a potential leveling device for keeping an ESD voltage transmitted for the internal circuit at a low potential level. By using the present ESD protection circuit, the snapback breakdown voltage can be lowered to protect the very thin gate oxide of the internal circuit especially in the submicron CMOS technologies.

Abstract: A device for forming circles that includes a first member which is rotatably attached to a second member. The first and second members include a first peripheral section and a second peripheral section, with one of the sections being arcuate. The first peripheral section of the first member is generally opposite the second peripheral section of the second member and the first peripheral section of the second member is generally opposite the second peripheral section of the first member. In one embodiment, the first peripheral section is arcuately curved and the second peripheral section is tapered. In another embodiment, the first peripheral section is arcuately curved and tapered and the second peripheral section is generally flat. Marking means are removably secured between the opposing sections of the first and second members.

Abstract: The described process for making a continuous composite material structure (50) starts from a continuous semifinished product (1) made of a reinforcing fiber comprising an upper layer (4) and a lower layer (5) facing each other and mutually connected by intermediate threads (6). It comprises the steps of moving the continuous semifinished product (1) along a working path; impregnating the semifinished product (1) with a resin; coupling a lower surface of the continuous semifinished product (1) with a first ribbon (23); moving one of said layers (4, 5) apart from the opposite layer for bringing the intermediate threads (6) from a first condition in which they are disposed substantially parallel to the two external layers (4, 5) to a second condition in which they are disposed transversally of the external layers; and polymerizing the impregnated semifinished product (1) to make the continuous structure (50).