Abstract: A powered toothbrush to provide oral hygiene having a brush section with a first bristle carrier that is powered and driven to rotate in a first path of motion. A second bristle field including a plurality of brush elements extends from a base support of the brush section. An extension member having an end attached to the first bristle carrier and extending outwardly therefrom and at least partially into the second bristle field is also provided on the brush section whereby the extension moves upon movement of the first bristle carrier in the first path of motion to move the second bristle field in a second path of motion. The bristle fields may include a variety of elastomeric and/or non-elastomeric bristles to provide cleaning, polishing, whitening and stimulation to the teeth and gums.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device including a liquid crystal panel provided with fitting screw insertion holes respectively at a pair of side surfaces thereof, a pair of brackets including a holding portion covering one side surface of the liquid crystal panel, and flat plate portions formed at both ends of the side surface in parallel to the liquid crystal surface and a liquid crystal casing including a rear panel and a front panel covering the liquid crystal panel. In the liquid crystal display device, the pair of the brackets are screwed respectively to both side surfaces of the liquid crystal panel through holes provided in the holding portions and the fitting screw insertion holes of the liquid crystal panel and are screwed to the inside of the liquid crystal casing through holes provided in the flat plate portions.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes an apparatus main body, a lid body turnable with respect to the apparatus main body and having a display portion for displaying information, and a lid body turnably supporting mechanism for turnably supporting the lid body with respect to the apparatus main body. The lid body turnably supporting mechanism has a first turning shaft with its axial direction extending in parallel to a principal surface of the apparatus main body, and a second turning shaft provided at one end of the first turning shaft in such a manner as to be perpendicular to the principal surface of the apparatus main body. In this electronic apparatus, the second turning shaft of the lid body turnably supporting mechanism is located at one of corners of the apparatus main body or the lid body.

Abstract: Provided are an optical correcting system which can form a linear image or illuminating light having a substantially uniform light intensity distribution without reducing the efficiency of use of light, and an exposure head which can perform excellent exposure by using the linear image or the illuminating light. Light flux from a light source is collimated by the function of a collimator lens, and the collimated light flux enters into an optical correcting system for correcting light intensity distribution. The optical correcting system for correcting light intensity distribution changes the width of the light flux at the exit position at which each collimated light flux exits so that the light intensity distribution of a linear image is uniform when the collimated light flux is formed into the linear image.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for providing a semiconducting device including the steps of depositing a semiconducting layer onto a substrate by means of heating a gas to a predetermined, disassociation temperature so that the gas dissociates into fractions, whereby these fractions subsequently condense on the substrate to build up a semiconducting layer.

Abstract: A disk recording apparatus in which a marked improvement is achieved in terms of vibration dampening and shock impact resistance on the disk device. In this disk recording apparatus, a built-in disk device is elastically supported by a plurality of insulators, and the feeding direction of a carriage feeding mechanism for an optical disk and an optical pick-up of the disk device is substantially parallel to the optical axis of a photographic lens.

Abstract: A flush valve assembly for a water tank of a water closet which includes a first valve member which can be secured to the water tank and has a base sleeve position including a radiused inlet to thereby increase the discharge coefficient of the valve opening. A second valve member is coaxially and slidably mounted with respect to the first valve member so that the valve opening is created between the first and second valve members when the second valve member is removed from the first valve member. The second valve member is slidably movable between a first rest position, wherein the second valve member is seated on the base sleeve portion of the first valve member so that water cannot pass through the valve opening, and a second position, wherein the second valve member is removed from the base sleeve portion of the first valve member so that water can pass through the valve opening.

Abstract: A main cartridge body portion is formed with first and second openings facing first and second wall sections. These first and second openings are adapted for exposing a portion of the signal recording region of a disc-shaped recording medium to outside across inner and outer rims of the disc-shaped recording medium and for allowing the center of the disc-shaped recording medium to face outwards. First and second shutter members are arranged for movement between the first and second wall sections. The second shutter member is rotated in association with the first shutter member by having its portion engaged and held by an engagement holding portion provided on the first shutter member.

Abstract: A toilet includes a toilet bowl assembly having a toilet bowl and a trapway extending from the bottom of the toilet bowl to a sewage line. The toilet bowl has a rim channel provided along an upper perimeter portion thereof. In this toilet, the flush water flows through the rim channel in a path which is asymmetric and unidirectional along the entire perimeter portion thereof. The rim channel includes a plurality of rim openings distributed evenly along the perimeter of the rim channel. Flush water passing through the plurality of rim openings pre-wets the entire perimeter of the toilet bowl. The rim channel further includes a pair of water discharge slots which directs water directly into the toilet bowl in two powerful streams. The flush valve allowing passage of water from the water tank to the toilet bowl assembly is in the form of a valve inlet having a radiused port to generate greater energy throughput of the flush water.

Abstract: The present invention enables to firmly assemble a steel-frame structure. To form a steel-frame structure or to join two steel members being reinforcing members thereof, a slip-proof surface having one or plural concentric higher parts and grooves is formed on the joined surface of one side or both sides of the steel members, and these two steel members are clamped by a connecting member that passes through connecting holes in the state where the first and the second slip-proof surfaces are mutually engaged or not engaged. Thus, joining force between the joined surfaces is increased.

Abstract: Provided is a camera capable of achieving a simplification of an assembly process thereof. The camera comprises a camera body, a gear system for driving a movable barrel of a zoom lens, and a flash tube for illuminating a subject. A flash holding plate holding the flash tube is mounted on the camera body. The flash holding plate is configured so as to hold not only the flash tube, but also each gear of the gear system by sandwiching the gear between the flash holding plate and the front face of the camera body. Thereby, the assembly process can become simpler, and the number of components can be reduced.

Abstract: Provided is a retrofocus imaging lens in which various aberrations are satisfactorily corrected, having a sufficient space from a mechanism viewpoint so that a focus group does not interfere with a lens shutter mechanism even at the time of focusing according to a rear-focus system. A retrofocus imaging lens has, in order from an object side, a first lens group and a second lens group. The first lens group is constructed of, in order from the object side, a front-side first lens group having a negative refractive power as a whole and a rear-side first lens group having a positive refractive power as a whole. The first lens group is basically constructed to have a positive refractive power as a whole. The second lens group includes one or more positive lens and one or more negative lens and has a positive refractive power as a whole. Each of the front-side first lens group and the rear-side first lens group includes, basically, one or more positive lens and two negative lenses.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus comprising: a keyboard for inputting signals; a display part for displaying the signals input through the keyboard; and a pointing member attached to the keyboard and having a board, a strain gage and a post. The strain gage is furnished on the board. The post is erected at a center of the board to transmit strain to the strain gage. The post is further displaced so as to move a cursor on the display part. The board is attached fixedly to a back of the keyboard by means of screws. The post is inserted through a hole in the keyboard so as to protrude from a face of the keyboard.

Abstract: A coupon manager is provided including a front end, back end and a central processor for facilitating the processing and settlement of coupons. The coupons are received from customers at the front end which may include a cashier register. The cashier scans a bar code on the coupons and the scanned information may be supplied to the back end. The received coupons are delivered to the back end for imaging and processing. The back end determines whether the coupons are valid. Valid coupons are destroyed and sent to a destruction bin, and invalid coupons may be sent to one of a number of other bins. The processed information is forwarded to the central processor which collates the information from a number of stores and reports the information to manufacturers for settlement. The present invention also provides a booklet having a listing of discounted items identifiable by a single bar code.

Abstract: A resuscitation device for providing a barrier between a rescuer and a patient requiring mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. This resuscitation device includes an inflatable portion which when inflated extends in the breathing direction between the rescuer and the patient so as to be placed around at least one breathing organ of the victim. An inflation member receives airflow from the rescuer to inflate the inflatable portion. In this resuscitation device, a valve assembly permits airflow from the rescuer to the patient and diverts the exhalation and body fluids of the patient from reaching the rescuer. An additional barrier member can also be provided for shielding the rescuer from the patient.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for cleaning fecal matter from the interior of an extracted animal intestine is disclosed. The apparatus has a horizontal tube member for supporting an intestine; support members attached to opposite sides of the tube member for supporting the side portions of a slit intestine; a transporter mounted below and adjacent to the bottom side of the tube for moving intestines from adjacent the distal end of the tube towards the proximal end; a cutting blade mounted above the tube member; and a plurality of nozzles arranged at transversely opposite sides of the tube member for directing fluid downwardly and about the top side of the pipe member. A method for cleaning animal intestines using such an apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A cassette auto changer system including a member for selectably providing a plurality of cassettes to be loaded into one or more tape signal readers. A cassette rack is provided including a plurality of cassette receiving compartments, a cassette port accessible from an outer side of the auto changer apparatus whereby cassettes may be inserted or removed from the auto changer apparatus, a tape transfer mechanism operable to selectably transport cassettes between the cassette rack and the tape signal reader, and the cassette port. A YES/NO sensor at the cassette port determines whether a cassette is present in the cassette port. In applicants' cassette auto changer system, when a YES indicator determined by the YES/NO sensor changes to a NO determination, a controller sets the cassette port an IN port empty condition.

Abstract: A process for providing a semiconducting device including the steps of depositing a semiconducting layer onto a substrate by means of heating a gas to a predetermined dissociation temperature so that the gas dissociates into fractions, whereby those fractions subsequently condense on the substrate to build up a semiconducting layer.