Abstract: A septum used for sealing an opening formed in a neck of a container, the septum includes a top septum member that fits over the outside of the opening in the container and a bottom radial septum member structurally connected below the top septum to seal inside the neck of the container.

Abstract: For maintenance after wet cleaning of a plasma processing apparatus which processes a specimen in a vacuum processing chamber by using a plasma, when restoration processing after the wet cleaning of members configuring the vacuum processing chamber is performed with the vacuum processing chamber opened to the atmosphere, it is automatically or semiautomatically judged whether the restoration processing is appropriate or not according to a predetermined optimum sequence inherent in the apparatus, and the next processing is started automatically or semiautomatically according to the results.

Abstract: A tool for embossing high aspect ratio microstructures is provided, wherein the microstructures provide decreased surface reflection and increased transmission through an optical component. The tool is fabricated by a process that comprises etching columnar pits in a silicon substrate using inductively coupled plasma, followed by reactive ion etching of the columnar pits to create relatively pointed obelisks. The silicon substrate is then preferably rinsed prior to vapor depositing a conductive layer thereon. Finally, a metal is electroformed over the conductive layer to form the embossing tool. The embossing tool is then pressed against an optical coating, for example a polymer sheet, to create microstructures having aspect ratios from 1 to 5.

Abstract: Wiring circuit boards with bumps can be manufactured such that stable bump connections are possible and plating pre-treatments or other difficult operations are rendered unnecessary. By utilizing a technique whereby a bump-formation etching mask 7 is formed on a bump-forming surface 3a of a metal foil 3 which has a thickness that is the sum of the thickness t1 of the wiring circuit 1 and the height t2 of the bumps 2 which are to be formed on the wiring circuit 1 (t1+t2), and then the bumps 2 are formed by half-etching the metal foil 3 to a depth corresponding to the desired bump height t2 from the bump-formation etching mask 7 side, wiring circuit boards with bumps can be manufactured such that stable bump connections are possible and plating pre-treatments or other complex processes are rendered unnecessary.

Abstract: A method for forming optical devices on-planar substrates, as well as optical devices formed by the method are described. The method uses a linear injection APCVD process to form optical waveguide devices on planar substrates. The method is performed at approximately atmospheric pressure. According to the method, a wafer with a lower cladding layer already formed by either CVD or oxidation is placed on a conveyer, which may include a heating element. The heated wafer is transported underneath a linear injector such that the chemicals from the linear injector react on the wafer surface to form a core layer. After the core layer is formed, photoresist is spun on the surface of the wafer, and then standard lithography is used to pattern the optical devices. Next, reactive ion etching (RIE) is used to form waveguide lines. The remaining photoresist is then removed. An upper cladding layer is formed to substantially cover the core regions.

Abstract: A method of generating ejection pattern data for a plurality of nozzles for use in selectively ejecting functional liquid droplets from the nozzles is to draw on ore more one chip-forming area on a workpiece. The method includes a pixel-setting step of setting pixel information concerning an array of pixels in the chip-forming areas, a chip-setting step of setting chip information concerning an array of the chip-forming areas on the workpiece, a nozzle-setting step of setting nozzle information concerning an array of the nozzles, and a data-generating step of generating the ejection pattern data for the nozzles from the pixel information, the chip information, and the nozzle information, based on a positional relationship between the workpiece and the functional liquid droplet ejection head. The ejection pattern data are easily and quickly generated for the nozzles arranged in an array in the plurality of functional liquid droplet ejection heads.

Abstract: A method of forming an opening through a substrate having a first side and a second side opposite the first side includes forming spaced etch stops in the first side of the substrate, etching into the substrate from the second side toward the first side to the spaced etch stops, and etching into the substrate between the spaced etch stops from the second side. Etching into the substrate to the spaced etch stops includes forming a first portion of the opening and etching into the substrate between the spaced etch stops includes forming a second portion of the opening.

Abstract: A page-wide inkjet print head is formed by assembling individual glass fiber tube sections, which are then sintered together drawn to thin or neck the diameter of the orifices, slicing the glass tube sections and depositing individual semiconductor control circuits in or approximate to the top of the glass tube sections. Ink reservoirs can supply water based ink that flows through the glass tube sections but which is held in place by capillary action. Ink is ejected by heating a semiconductor resistive element deposited into one open end of the tube section so as to cause the ink to be ejected onto a print medium.

Abstract: An etchant and a method for roughening a copper surface each capable of permitting copper with roughened surface which exhibits acid resistance and permits a copper conductive pattern and an outer layer material to be firmly bonded to each other therethrough in manufacturing of a printed wiring board to simplify the manufacturing. The etchant may contain an oxo acid such as sulfuric acid, peroxide such as hydrogen peroxide and an auxiliary component such as an azole and chlorine. The azole may comprise benzotriazole (BTA). The chlorine may be in the form of sodium chloride (NaCl). The etchant permits a copper surface to be roughened in an acicular manner.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of heating an insulating layer, such as is found in semiconductor devices, in which a formation has been etched through a layer of resist comprising reactive etching the resist, inhibiting absorption of or removing water vapour and/or oxygen at the exposed surfaces of the etched formation and filling the formation with conductive metal in the absence of said water vapour and/or oxygen.

Abstract: A tool for embossing high aspect ratio microstructures is provided, wherein the microstructures provide decreased surface reflection and increased transmission through an optical component even at high incident angles. The tool is fabricated by a process that comprises anisotropic etching of columnar pits in a silicon substrate using inductively coupled plasma, followed by isotropic reactive ion etching of the columnar pits to create relatively pointed obelisks. The silicon substrate is then preferably rinsed to remove remaining photoresist prior to vapor depositing a conductive layer thereon. Finally, a metal is electroformed over the conductive layer to form the embossing tool. The embossing tool is then pressed against an optical coating, for example a polymer sheet, to create microstructures having aspect ratios from 1 to 5.

Abstract: To reduce the size of a gas-insulated switch for the purpose of utilizing the space of a power station or substation effectively and improving the economy thereof. A gas-insulated switch equipped with a fixed contact and a moving contact that can contact with and separate from the fixed contact, wherein the breakage of the moving contact is operated with a single shock absorber in both the breaking action and the closing action of the moving contact. As a result that use of the gas-insulated switch according to the present invention improves the overall energy efficiency of components, a device with further reduced driving energy can be realized for a gas-insulated switch of the same specification.

Abstract: A method is proposed for arc spraying by means of a spray gun (1). The spray gun includes two electrically conductive spray wires (2) and at least one first supply device (3) for supplying a fluid (4), with an electrical voltage being applied to the spray wires (2), the spray wires (2) being fed by means of a wire guide (5), an arc (6) being ignited by the electrical voltage, the spray wires (2) being converted into a melt (8) in a melting region (7) and the melt (8) being applied by the fluid (4) to the surface (9) of a body (10). In this connection, particles (11) from a storage container (12) are supplied to the melt (8) by the fluid (4).

Abstract: The present invention includes a method for brazing of two objects or heat treatment of one object. First, object or objects to be treated are selected and initial conditions establishing a relative geometry and material characteristics are determined. Then, a first design of an optical system for directing heat energy onto the object or objects is determined. The initial conditions and first design of the optical system are then input into a optical ray-tracing computer program. The program is then run to produce a representative output of the heat energy input distribution to the object or objects. The geometry of the object or objects, material characteristics, and optical system design are then adjusted until an desired heat input is determined.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for separating and replacing a cap from a shank of a tip of a welding electrode. The cap and the shank form a peripheral hollow joint that is defined by a recessed end surface of the shank and a back surface of the cap. The apparatus includes a guide frame having a recessed portion sized for receiving the tip of the welding electrode. The apparatus also includes a cap withdrawing tool movably mounted on the guide frame. The tool has two facing wall sections each having a wedge that is inserted in the peripheral hollow joint. The wedge is forced against the back surface of the cap and removes the cap from the shank by means of a driving mechanism that moves the cap withdrawing tool toward the tip of the welding electrode that is engaged in the recessed portion of the guide frame.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of manufacturing a welding stud from a wire by cold-working and by hardening and tempering. The welding stud particularly serves to be welded to a workpiece by means of an electric stud welding method and consists of a mounting portion and a welding portion. According to the invention, the wire is first pre-treated by hardening and tempering and is then cold-worked in such a way that the mounting portion and the welding portion have different strengths.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device for selective laser sintering in which powder is introduced in layers into a jacketed design space, forming a powder cake which is consolidated layerwise by laser radiation. The design space is encircled and heated by a jacket heating device.

Abstract: Plasma is generated in a vacuum processing apparatus and a high-frequency voltage is applied to a lower electrode on which a wafer is placed. The high-frequency voltage applied to the lower electrode is subjected to periodical on-off modulation, the on-off duty ratio of which is determined for each wafer or each plurality of wafers, to carry out plasma processing on the wafer. As a result, in the plasma processing carried out on the wafer, the wafer is fabricated with a high degree of reproducibility by suppressing variations in fabricated-line dimension from wafer to wafer without decreasing the throughput.

Abstract: The invention recites a plasma-arc spray gun comprising a cathode and an anode defining a longitudinal axis. The anode further includes an external surface and an internal chamber, the internal chamber extending from a first end to a second end. At least a portion of the internal chamber is defined by revolving a non-linear curve about the longitudinal axis. The plasma-arc spray gun also includes a gun body supporting the cathode and the anode.

Abstract: In order to produce a trench structure having steep sidewalls free of residues in an, in particular, glass-fiber-reinforced substrate, the substrate is provided with a conformal mask having cutouts corresponding to the trench structure to be produced. In this case, the laser beam is guided over the cutouts of the mask in such a way that the low-energy edge regions of the laser beam are shielded and that proportion of the laser beam which impinges on the polymer surface, at each point, has an energy density above a threshold at which the substrate material including a glass fiber reinforcement that is possibly present is completely removed.

Abstract: A marking (3 to 5) is provided in a surface (8) of an element (1) which comprises a substrate (6) of aluminum or an alloy thereof and an anodized outer layer (7) in that a region (10) of the surface (8) is irradiated with a laser beam such that at least one visual property of the surface (8) in said region (10) is changed and a visual marking (3 to 5) is obtained which is observable to the human eye. The laser beam penetrates the anodized outer layer (7) at least to a major degree and induces the change in the at least one visual property substantially locally only in a zone (9) where the anodized outer layer (7) adjoins the substrate (6).

Abstract: When holes are being drilled in an electric circuit substrate, a laser beam is moved on concentric circular tracks in the region of the hole to be drilled. The transition from one circular track to the next takes place in each case on an arc that departs approximately tangentially from the circular track last traversed and nestles approximately tangentially against the circular track newly to be described in such a way that in each case the starting point of a new circular track is offset by a prescribed angle from the starting point of the preceding circular track.

Abstract: A glass cutting method and apparatus in which the laser beam to be irradiated onto a glass to be machined has a leading portion with a low energy density, and a trailing portion with a high energy density, thereby being capable of maximizing the thermal impact applied to the glass when the laser beam is irradiated, whereas the glass is divided into a plurality of glass portions, for which the moving speed and energy of the laser beam are controlled to meet respective thermal stress distributions at those glass portions, thereby being capable of achieving an improvement in the quality of the cut glass surface while achieving a rapid glass cutting process.

Abstract: A power supply apparatus for a welder includes a rectifier (104) and a smoothing reactor (106) which operate together to convert a commercial AC supply voltage to a DC voltage. The DC voltage is converted to a high-frequency voltage by an inverter (108), which, in turn, is voltage-transformed by a voltage-transformer (110). The voltage-transformed, high-frequency voltage is converted to a DC voltage by a rectifying diode (112) and a smoothing reactor (114), and the resulting DC voltage is applied to a workpiece (118a) and a torch (118b). A current detector (120) develops a load current representative signal, and a control circuit (122) so controls a drive circuit (126) which drives the inverter (108) that the load current representative signal becomes equal to a reference current signal provided by a reference source (124). When a small load current is used, a pulse forming switch (140) is repetitively turned on and off to produce a pulse current from a pulse current setting source (139).

Abstract: In the present invention, an iron based alloy which contains by mass %: 0.20% or less of C; 6.0 to 16.0% of Cr; 6.0 to 16.0% of Ni and whose martensitic transformation starting temperature (Ms point temperature) is in the range of 0-170° C., inclusive of 0° C. and exclusive of 170° C., is used as a welding material. With respect to a weld metal, the weld metal has a iron alloy composition which contains by mass %: 0.20% or less of C; 3.0 to 13.0% of Cr; 3.0 to 13.0% of Ni and whose martensitic transformation starting temperature (Ms point temperature) is in the range of 50-360° C., inclusive of both 50° C. and 360° C.

Abstract: Ceramic susceptor whose wafer-retaining face has superior isothermal properties, and that is suited to utilization in apparatuses for manufacturing semiconductors and in liquid-crystal manufacturing apparatuses. In plate-shaped sintered ceramic body 1, resistive heating element 2 is formed. Fluctuation in pullback length L between sintered ceramic body outer-peripheral edge 1a and resistive heating element substantive-domain outer-peripheral edge 2a is within ±0.8%, while isothermal rating of the entire surface of the wafer-retaining face is ±1.0% or less. Preferable is a superior isothermal rating of ±0.5% or less that can be achieved by bringing the fluctuation in pullback length L to within ±0.5%.

Abstract: A cover assembly includes a ring mounted on a garbage bin, a cover mounted on the ring and a slot pivot device for slowly pivoting the cover relative to the ring. The slow pivot device includes a slow pivot element installed between the ring and the cover. The slow pivot element includes an internal tube, an external tube enclosing the internal tube and a spring connected between the internal tube and the external tube. Thus, rotation of the internal tube relative to the external tube exerts a torque on the spring. The spring is received in the internal tube so that an end thereof is connected with the internal tube. The internal tube is received in the external tube so that the other end of the spring is connected with the external tube. The internal tube includes a clip formed on an internal side thereof for clipping an end of the spring. The external tube includes a clip formed on an internal side thereof for clipping an opposite end of the spring.

Abstract: A protective cap for a threaded valve stem includes a generally cylindrical portion including a closed end, an open end and a cylindrical wall portion therebetween. A plurality of locating ribs are located on an internal surface of the cylindrical wall portion. A plurality of fingers project radially inward from the internal surface between the locating ribs. A tear strip formed by two frangible members, and a pull tab are formed on an external surface of the cylindrical wall portion Each finger is located between a pair of the locating ribs and has a flexible portion adjacent the internal surface for locating the fingers in unlocked state and a locked state. The fingers in the unlocked state are inclined toward the open end, and the fingers in the locked state curl toward the closed end.

Abstract: A trash can assembly has a shell, a lid fitted over the top end of the shell, a pedal positioned adjacent the bottom end of the shell, a link assembly coupling the pedal and the lid, and a motion damper coupled to the link assembly for slowing the closing motion of the lid. The assembly also includes an inner liner that is retained inside the shell, with a support frame secured to the top end of the shell and having a ridge on which a peripheral lip of the inner liner rests.

Abstract: A garbage storage device includes a bin, a bracket, a lid, a pedal, a linkage and a buffer. The bracket is formed on or attached to the bin. The lid is pivotally mounted on the bracket. The pedal is pivotally mounted on the bin. The linkage connects the lid with the pedal so that the lid is lifted as the pedal is trodden. The buffer is arranged between the bracket and the lid for buffering the lid.

Abstract: A locking lid and method for a valve box. The locking lid has a closure and surrounding external seal, which fit into the valve box opening and close/seal it. The locking mechanism of the locking lid preferably consists of an actuator spindle that extends through the closure, and that is received in an actuator follower positioned therebelow. The actual follower is in pivotal engagement with a plurality of locking pawls, such that turning of the actuator spindle causes movement of the actuator follower and thus pivoting of the locking pawls—moving the locking pawls into a locked or unlocked position relative to a lid seat within the valve box.

Abstract: A container for vending single servings of beverages and snack foods, includes a liquid-impermeable wall providing a compartment for the beverage. An inside section of the wall defines a recess isolated from the compartment and open to the container exterior at the bottom. Near the upper end of the recess, the inside wall diameter is decreased in steps, to frictionally engage a leading edge region of a snack-food cartridge or other product inserted into the recess. A pull tab between the cartridge and the recess is accessible to remove the cartridge. Alternatively, a cartridge wrapper can be shaped to provide a pull tab component. The preferred snack-food cartridge includes a compliant thin film or foil wrapping surrounding a stack of cookies, a bar, or other snack food. In alternative arrangements, the container has a vertical slot for viewing a cartridge inserted into the recess, or is formed with horizontal top and bottom wall sections.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatuses and methods for removably attaching a utensil to an external surface, The utensil includes an adhesive arrangement that secures the utensil to the external surface and a protective covering that prevents the adhesive arrangement from binding to the external surface until the protective covering is removed by a user. The user may remove the utensil from the external surface and subsequently return the utensil to be in contact with the external surface. The present invention supports different types of utensils, including plates, cups, bowls, and tablecloths.

Abstract: A box-like container includes a bottom wall and two side walls formed from a single sheet of material, such as corrugated plastic, and a pair of rigid end walls are attached to the ends of the bottom and side walls by a locking mechanism. A continuous reinforcing hoop is provided along the upper edges of the side and end walls.

Abstract: Apparatus for use with a coin bucket is disclosed and includes a string and a flexible body defining a tubular sleeve. The sleeve can be manipulated so as to define a passage having an inlet and an outlet and which is shaped and dimensioned to permit travel of the bucket, bottom-first, through the inlet to an operative position whereat the top of the bucket is disposed within the passage, spaced from the inlet. A channel is formed in the sleeve which encircles the bucket when same is disposed at the operative position, and at least one opening is formed on the sleeve exterior leading into the channel. The string is positioned within the channel with its ends each emerging from the at least one opening so that same can be drawn to form, in the passage, a constriction which grips around and retains the bucket at the operative position.

Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing individual sheets of a paper product from a stack of sheets loaded in the dispenser includes a housing having an internal compartment configured to hold a stack of sheets, and at least one door coupled to the housing. The door provides access and closure to the internal compartment, and the door has at least a portion of a dispensing opening formed therein through which individual sheets are dispensed. The door is configured to move into the internal compartment to provide an opened loading position for loading a stack of sheets. The door is also configured to move into alignment with adjacent portions of the housing when in a closed dispensing position such that the door abuts adjacent portions of the housing to provide a closure and hides an entry point into the dispenser, thereby providing an illusory appearance of being an unmovable portion of the dispenser.

Abstract: The present invention provides a commodity carrying-out apparatus of an automatic vending machine capable of reliably carrying out a commodity one by one without causing falling down or clinging of the commodities, and efficiently housing even commodities having no definite shape.

Abstract: Disposable plastic gloves in a point-of-sales box from which the gloves are removed following the removal of a transparent plastic panel through which the purchaser is provided with observed cognitive purchase aspects, one of which is color-coding of the gloves correlated to a recommended end use of the glove manufacturer.

Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing candy or other small objects, the dispenser having a rotatable hopper, having a hopper cavity therein, a tubular structure, having a storage portion for storing objects above the rotating hopper, a storage portion opening, a base portion, a base portion opening for dispensing objects, and a hopper positioning portion, where the rotatable hopper is positioned within the hopper positioning portion of the tubular structure, such that the rotatable hopper can rotate within the hopper positioning portion of the tubular structure, a tubular base plunger, inserted into the base portion of the tubular structure, and a hopper rotation mechanism connecting the base plunger to the rotatable hopper, where the hopper rotation mechanism is configured to rotate the rotatable hopper when the base plunger is moved within the base portion of the tubular structure.

Abstract: A product dispenser of the type adapted to release articles from vertical stacks is disclosed, which is configured to dispense a variety of articles whether in bulk or singularly. The present vending apparatus provides a main housing that is configured to receive interchangeable release mechanisms, with each mechanism dependent upon whether the dispensed article(s) is generally flat or of the small round type distributed by bulk similar to candies. The bottom surface of the product compartment defined on the top of main housing is configured to allow variability in the type of products released from the vertically mounted product cartridge.

Abstract: A muddler carrying-out device includes a muddler storing part for storing a plurality of stacked muddlers, and a muddler carrying-out part for carrying out the lowest muddler of the plurality of muddlers stored in the muddler storing part to a muddler takeout port. Further, the muddler carrying-out part operates below the second lowest muddler, and a distance of carrying out the muddler in the muddler carrying-out part is set at a distance of protruding a part of the lowest muddler from the muddler takeout port. When the lowest muddler is left without being pulled out at the time of carrying out the muddler, the lowest muddler moves over a distance of carrying out the muddler and the second lowest muddler is supported by the lowest muddler.

Abstract: A transporting/dispensing package for plural beverages including a carton (10), a pair of flaccid bags (12, 14) within the carton each bag having a fill spout (34, 36) secured to one of two sections (56, 58) of a spout-securing panel and a dispensing device (30, 32) secured to a front panel (22), and a bag-separation panel (46) between the bags. A pre-erected carton formed of a unitary blank and two flaccid bags, such pre-erected carton being easily erectable to form a package, and a method for transporting and dispensing more than one beverage.

Abstract: A soft, non sharp toothpaste container for use after inspection for tampering and having a clear packet sized to include sufficient toothpaste gel for one brushing. A toothpaste gel is put in the packet, the gel being essentially transparent. The packet is sealed during manufacture to prevent insertion of additional contents without visible violation of the packet. The packet may contain printing that is sufficiently clear to permit visual inspection of the packet prior to use. When the packet is formed as a toothpaste tube having a removable cap, the cap and body of the tube are soft and flexible. Otherwise, the packet includes a score cut to permit opening by tearing on the score cut.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein include systems and methods for dispensing multiple automotive appearance care products. Base fluids or raw materials may be placed in containers. The base fluids may be combined with a carrier fluid to produce a product fluid. Product fluids may be stored in containers prior to use. Product fluids may be dispensed as concentrated fluids and/or fluids ready for use. Product fluids may be used as products for automotive appearance care. Certain embodiments may also include means for automatically controlling product fluid dispensing and usage. Certain embodiments include methods for monitoring usage and assessing or determining costs to be charged a user of the dispensing system.

Abstract: A child resistant dispenser comprising a double-shelled threaded closure and dual opposed motion child resistant features. The child resistant dispenser comprises a double shelled closure having a first squeeze and turn child resistant feature. Hingeably attached to the closure is a lid. The lid has a squeeze and lift feature used to open the lid and access the dispenser comprising the second child resistant feature. The child resistant dispenser may be disposed on a container and in fluid communication therewith.

Abstract: A valve assembly includes a valve housing defining a metering chamber and an elongated stem. The stem is axially movable with respect to the valve housing for dispensing liquid and is rotatable for adjusting the length of the stroke of a piston to thereby select the volume of liquid dispensed with each actuation of the stem. A sliding float member is fitted around the stem within the chamber and is axially slidable with respect to the stem but is locked for rotation with the stem. The lower surface of the sliding float abuts, and floats above the upper surface of the piston, and the lower end of the stem is rotatable within the piston. A spring extends between a prong on the stem and the sliding float for urging the stem axially outward of the container and for urging the piston in a direction which maximizes the volume of the metering chamber such that the spring rotates with the stem and the stem rotates free of the piston.

Abstract: A liquid dispenser operates automatically when a hand is present. The dispenser has a screw mounted on a bottle cap housing that turns to pump liquid from an inverted bottle. The screw is turned by a sensor activated motor. A valve open to allow air to enter the bottle to replace the volume of soap dispensed.

Abstract: Liquid soap dispensers including a vacuum relief valve which comprises an enclosed chamber having an air inlet open to the atmosphere and a liquid inlet in communication with liquid in the reservoir and in which the liquid inlet opens to the chamber at a height below a height at which the air inlet opens to the chamber. The vacuum relief valve permits relief of vacuum from the reservoir without moving parts or valves.

Abstract: An extension cord belt clip is disclosed as an example of the present invention. The belt clip is simply constructed, inexpensive and very easy to use. The belt clip allows a cord to be made slack between a user and a tool to which the cord is connected, thereby prevents damage should the cord be inadvertently stretched to its full length during use. The belt clip is a one piece part having a rectangular back portion, a smaller rectangular front portion connected to the upper section of the back portion so as to flex in use, and an “S” shaped clip portion connected to the lower section of the front portion so as to also flex in use. The clip portion includes a cam follower surface for the cord to bear against when connecting the cord to the belt clip, and a support region between the clip portion and the front portion so that the cord is restrained during use.

Abstract: The present invention provides a multipurpose activity frame for a vehicle articulating roof rack system including a vehicle articulating roof rack system having a selectively removable portion operable between a stowed roof mounted position and a slideably and pivotally repositionable back end mounted position, a stationary top portion received by the selectively removable portion of the articulating roof rack system, and a rotatable bottom portion operable between a stowed vertical position and an open horizontal position received by the stationary top portion.