Abstract: A handgun holster includes a first body section and a second body section, each section being constructed of a single, unitary piece of material. The two body sections are interconnected to form a handgun holster body defining an internal handgun receiving pocket, the pocket including a barrel section and a trigger section. A biasing element is integrally formed in the first body section and includes a flexible portion extending inwardly into the trigger section of the pocket from a first surface of the first body section. A retention element is integrally formed in the second body section and includes a raised portion extending inwardly into the trigger section of the pocket from a first surface of the second body section that opposes the first surface of the first body section.

Abstract: Flexible straps for a carrier include a strap body having a top, bottom, two lateral and two end surfaces. The strap body has a lengthwise axis, a widthwise axis and a thickness axis. At least one aperture can extend through the strap body from the top to the bottom surface and can be space apart from each other along the lengthwise axis by a spacer portion. The flexible strap includes a spacer cross-sectional area defined by an area of a cross-section of the spacer portion cut by a plane oriented orthogonally to the lengthwise axis. The flexible strap includes an aperture cross-sectional area defined by an area of a cross-section taken at a widthwise widest point of at least one of the apertures cut by a plane oriented orthogonally to the lengthwise axis. The aperture cross-sectional area is greater than at least two-thirds of the spacer cross-sectional area.

Abstract: A truck bed winch mount assembly provides a mount for a winch in the truck bed of a pickup truck to allow the winch to pull objects into the truck bed. The assembly includes a back rack that has two legs that are joined by upper and lower horizontal cross-members. The back rack attaches to side rails that engage each of the side wall of the truck bed. The winch can be mounted on winch-supporting post that is coupled between a center portion of the upper and lower horizontal cross-members. The side rails have at least two expansion fittings that expand into the stake pockets of the side wall of the truck bed to hold the truck bed winch mount assembly in place. The expansion fittings allow the truck bed winch mount assembly to be easily installed and removed without damaging the integrity of the truck bed. The height of the winch can be adjusted along the winch supporting post.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a device for transferring the weight of an optical device to the body of the person using that optical device. In some devices, a support harness with shoulder straps is used to bear the weight of the optical device transferred by a support frame. The support frame may be temporarily attached to the optical device and/or support harness for easy assembly and disassembly. In some embodiments, the support harness is collapsible into a compact size.

Abstract: The present invention provides an integrated attachment and carrying means for detachable attachment to a transport device comprising a carrying means for carrying by a user; and at least one attachment means comprising a means for attachment to a transport device, wherein the attachment means is attached to or integrated with the carrying means. The invention further provides a bag featuring such an integrated attachment and carrying means and a method of use of such an integrated attachment and carrying means.

Abstract: A fracturing apparatus is provided. The fracturing apparatus includes a first board portion, a pressing element, a first suction device, a second board portion, a second suction device, and a cylinder. The first suction device is secured to the first board portion. The second board portion is rotatably connected to the first board portion. The second suction device is secured to the second board portion. The pressing element is secured to the first board portion and disposed between the first board portion and the second board portion. The cylinder is located on the first board portion and includes a piston rod rotatably connected to the second board portion. When the piston rod extends, the second board portion is pressed by the piston rod and swiveled about the first board portion.

Abstract: A presser assembly is provided in which a presser plate or presser board mounting adapter is clamped to a lower end of a presser stem. A rail having a lower channel and an upper channel is provided for clamping the presser plate or presser board mounting adapter to the stem, and more particularly, a presser foot coupled to the lower end of the stem. The present invention allows the presser plate or the presser board mounting adapter to be mounted to the stem without the use of tools or fasteners.

Abstract: A nail gun of the present invention includes an adjusting portion which has elasticity. The elasticity of the adjusting portion is able to offset a thrust force of a nail pusher pushed by a magazine, so that a nail slot receives a nail only. The nail gun ensures not to shoot two sticks of nails simultaneously. The nail squeezes one side of the adjusting portion in a firing process so that the nail gun can provide sufficient space. Thereby when the nail is thicker, it can be shot by the nail gun. The present invention need not adjust by hand anymore for shooting different thickness of nails. The nail gun can not shoot two sticks of nails simultaneously.

Abstract: A surgical stapling device has a handle assembly, an elongated body portion, a shell assembly housing a plurality of staples and an anvil assembly movable relative to the shell assembly. An approximation mechanism is movable from a first position to a second position to move the anvil assembly relative to the shell assembly between a spaced position and an approximated position. A firing mechanism for advancing the staples is actuable when the approximation assembly is in the second position and the anvil assembly is in the approximated position. A lockout mechanism operatively associated with the approximation mechanism is movable from a non-blocking position to a blocking position, wherein in the non-blocking position the approximation mechanism is movable from the first position to the second position and in the blocking position movement of the approximation mechanism from the second position to the first position is prevented.

Abstract: A surgical staple including a crown and a deformable member extending from the crown, the deformable member having a notch configured to cause the deformable member to bend at the notch when the staple is deformed from a first shape into a second shape. The crown of the surgical staple, in various embodiments, further includes a forming surface, or anvil, which is configured to deform the deformable member and/or guide a distal end of the deformable member when the distal end contacts the crown.

Abstract: A loading unit for use with a surgical stapling apparatus is provided and includes a tool assembly having a cartridge assembly and an anvil assembly that are movable in relation to one another; a surgical buttress releasably secured to a tissue contacting surface of the anvil assembly and/or the cartridge assembly, wherein each surgical buttress is secured to the anvil assembly and/or the cartridge assembly by at least one anchor; a release assembly associated with the anvil assembly and/or the cartridge assembly; and a drive assembly slidably translatable through the tool assembly between proximal and distal positions, wherein the drive assembly actuates the release assembly to thereby release the anchor to free the surgical buttress from the anvil assembly and/or the cartridge assembly.

Abstract: A surgical instrument comprising a handle assembly, a body, a tool assembly and an articulation assembly is disclosed. The articulation mechanism includes a receptacle, and a main shaft. A lower clutch is fixedly positioned within the receptacle and has a serrated portion including a plurality of serrations. An upper clutch includes at least one projection positioned to engage the serrations of the lower clutch to releasably retain the main shaft at a rotatably fixed position. An angle between a first pair of adjacent serrations is defined as a first angle, an angle between a second pair of adjacent serrations is defined as a second angle, and an angle between a third pair of adjacent serrations is defined as a third angle. The first angle, the second angle, and the third angle are each different from one another.

Abstract: A surgical instrument. The surgical instrument has an end effector and a trigger in communication with the end effector. The surgical instrument also has a first sensor and an externally accessible memory device in communication with the first sensor. The first sensor has an output that represents a first condition of either the trigger or the end effector. The memory device is configured to record the output of the first sensor. In various embodiments, memory device may include an output port and/or a removable storage medium.

Abstract: A surgical instrument. The surgical instrument has an end effector and a trigger in communication with the end effector. The surgical instrument also has a first sensor and an externally accessible memory device in communication with the first sensor. The first sensor has an output that represents a first condition of either the trigger or the end effector. The memory device is configured to record the output of the first sensor. In various embodiments, memory device may include an output port and/or a removable storage medium.

Abstract: A circular stapling instrument including a stapling forming assembly that is actuated independently from actuation of the cutting assembly is provided. The instrument includes a handle assembly, an elongate body extending from the handle assembly, a cartridge assembly mounted on a distal end of the elongate body. The cartridge assembly includes a pusher assembly and a knife assembly. The knife assembly is selectively fixed relative to the pusher assembly.

Abstract: A surgical stapling device and method for joining tissue portions are provided including a handle assembly, an elongate body extending from the handle assembly, a cartridge assembly supported on a distal end of the elongate body, and an anvil assembly at a distal end of the surgical stapling device. The anvil assembly includes a shaft for removably coupling the anvil assembly to the cartridge assembly and a head pivotally mounted to a distal end of the shaft. A sleeve member is slidably disposed about the shaft of the anvil assembly and is transitionable between a first position, where the sleeve member engages the head of the anvil assembly to secure the head in an un-tilted condition, and a second position, where the sleeve member is disengaged from the head of the anvil assembly to allow the head to tilt.

Abstract: A mounting apparatus bonds an electrode of an electronic component and an electrode of a substrate with thermally fusible bond metal to mount the component on a substrate. The apparatus includes a heater base that moves on a path to and from the substrate, a bonding tool, a pedestal to hold the electronic component by vacuum. The bonding tool is heated with a ceramic heater in the heater base to thermally bond the electronic component retained on the pedestal. The bonding tool includes a cooling flow passage providing communication between the upper surface and a side surface of the pedestal. This offers the advantage of shortening the time for cooling during mounting of the electronic component.

Abstract: A method for the joining of ceramic pieces with a hermetically sealed joint comprising brazing a continuous layer of joining material between the two pieces. The wetting and flow of the joining material is controlled by the selection of the joining material, the joining temperature, the time at temperature, the joining atmosphere, and other factors. The ceramic pieces may be aluminum nitride and the pieces may be brazed with an aluminum alloy under controlled atmosphere. The joint material is adapted to later withstand both the environments within a process chamber during substrate processing, and the oxygenated atmosphere which may be seen within the shaft of a heater or electrostatic chuck.

Abstract: [Problem] To provide a highly efficient manufacturing method including an RH supply-diffusion process by which the number of magnets processed at a time can be increased without allowing sintered R-T-B based magnets to stick to holding members. [Solution] A method for producing a sintered R-T-B based magnet including the steps of: forming a stack of RH diffusion sources and sintered R-T-B based magnet bodies by stacking the diffusion sources and the magnet bodies alternately with a holding member having openings interposed; and carrying out an RH supply-diffusion process by loading the stack into a process vessel and creating an atmosphere with a pressure of 0.1 Pa to 50 Pa and a temperature of 800° C., to 950° C., within the process vessel.

Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor device manufacturing system according to the present disclosure which manufactures a semiconductor device using a chip stack. The system includes a chip reducing apparatus and a chip bonding apparatus, the chip reducing apparatus includes a reduction chamber, an oxide film of the surface of the terminal of each chip is reduced in the reduction chamber, the chip bonding apparatus includes a reflow chamber isolated from the reduction chamber, a solder ball is bonded to the terminal of each chip in the reflow chamber, and the chip bonding apparatus is installed separately from the chip reducing apparatus.

Abstract: An adhesive layer forming step of forming an adhesive layer on a surface of a substrate; a solder layer forming step of forming a solder layer on the adhesive layer by loading plural solder powders with in-between spaces; and a filler supplying step of supplying fillers to the in-between spaces of the solder powders that have been formed on the adhesive layer are included.

Abstract: A carton for packaging one or more articles includes a top panel, base panel and pair of opposing side panels forming a tubular structure, each end of the tubular structure being at least partially closed by a respective one of first and second opposed end walls each formed from end closure panels. The carton includes first and second detachable corner portions defined by first and second weakened lines of severance respectively. The first detachable portion includes a first portion of the first end wall whereas the second detachable corner portion includes a first portion of the second end wall. The second portion of the first end wall is operable upon removal of the first detachable corner portion to form a dispenser, and a second portion of the second end wall is operable to form a handle upon removal of the second detachable corner portion.

Abstract: A method of making an ordered element list includes providing a plurality of machine-readable codes, each machine-readable code encoding a corresponding element or a reference to a corresponding element, and wherein each element of the plurality of elements forms a portion of a plurality of different ordered lists, each ordered list enabling a function having one or more operations; using a receiver to receive in order a digital image of each of a plurality of the machine-readable codes; using a processor to extract the elements received or referenced by the received digital images of the machine-readable codes; arranging the extracted elements in the received order to form an ordered list; and using a processor to perform the function enabled by the ordered list.

Abstract: Bar codes used for various applications. A bar code can be used for biometrics, or for computer data entry. A special bar code is described that has additional information, but can be read by other readers.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a personalized shopping experience with a portable computing device (“PCD”) are described. The system and method may include checking-in PCD consumers upon entering an establishment of a merchant. The checking-in of the PCD consumer may include verifying credentials for gaining access to a central mobile payment controller and receiving a merchant identifier corresponding to a merchant from a computer communications network. Next, a scan of a machine-readable code associated with at least one of a good and a service may be received. Information associated with the machine-readable code may be retrieved from a database. Subsequently, a personalized price for the at least one good or service may be determined by applying one or more rules. The personalized price may be transmitted over a computer communications network to the portable computing device for display to the PCD consumer.

Abstract: A system for tracking drugs during a transfer and administering process is configured to reduce labeling errors that can occur during that process. The system includes a storage container reader configured to read a set of one or more storage-container-associated machine-readable indicia positioned on a container containing a drug. The set of one or more storage-container-associated machine-readable indicia identifies the drug. The system further includes, at the point of care of a patient, an indicia-generating device configured to generate machine readable drug-delivery-container-associated indicia identifying the drug based on the storage-container-associated machine-readable indicia. A drug delivery container reader, also located at the point of care, is configured to read both sets of machine readable indicia to verify that the drug delivery container has been correctly labelled. A method implemented by the system results in the reduction in labeling errors.

Abstract: An embodiment of an optoelectronic apparatus for assisting an operator in determining the shooting attitude to give to a hand-held grenade launcher so as to strike a moving target including an electronic processing unit configured so as to: measure the pitch angle and the heading angle of the grenade launcher and the distance of the target when the grenade launcher is moved by the operator during the pointing of the moving target, determine position data indicative of the positions of the moving target, determine a future impact time of the grenade on the target on the basis of position data and of data indicative of the ballistics of the grenade, determine a shooting attitude of the target on the basis of the impact time, measure the pitch angle and heading angle indicating the attitude imparted to the grenade launcher by the operator, compute a pitch difference between the shooting pitch angle and the pitch angle measured and a heading difference between the shooting heading angle and the heading angle meas

Abstract: A system for storing information relating to a medical implant device implanted in a patient includes a credit card sized card device structured to be carried by the patient external to the patient's body. The card device includes a wireless transponder device securely storing information relating to at least one of the medical implant and the patient. The system also includes a reader device structured to selectively and securely read the information from the wireless transponder device. In one implementation, the reader device is able to selectively and securely read the information from the wireless transponder device using a direct electrical connection (e.g., using transcutaneous contact) without an air interface.

Abstract: A bag stand (1) for securing a bag comprising a base (4), a pole (2) connected to the base (4), and a means for securing the bag, wherein the means for securing the bag is attached to the pole, characterised in that the means for securing the bag comprises at least one supporting means having a pair of clips (10, 11) pivotally secured thereto.

Abstract: A portable data reader and methods of operation for reading encoded data, such as optical code labels and RFID tags, from an object. The data reader includes a housing adapted for handheld operation and a touch screen display supported on the housing. The data reader further includes one or more reading engines each associated with a set of decoding instructions for configuring the reading engines to read data from the object. The reading engines are each associated with a unique control gesture that may be applied to the touch screen display to configure the data reader with a particular reading engine. The portable data reader includes a processing subsystem communicatively coupled to the touch screen and the reading engines and operable to detect whether a control gesture has been applied to the touch screen display or rocker keys and then to configure the data reader with the selected reading engine.

Abstract: An optical code reader (80,150,180,210) forms images of an optical code on an object (20). The reader (80,150,180,210) comprises first and second viewing surfaces generally transverse to one another. The surfaces bound a viewing volume (64) in which the object (20) may be imaged. The reader (80,150,180,210) also comprises a set of one or more imagers (60) positioned on an opposite side of one or more of the first and second viewing surfaces relative to the viewing volume (64), and oriented and configured to capture images of the object (20) from at least three different views (62). Each of the views (62) passes through one of said first and second viewing surfaces. At least one of said views (62) passes through the first viewing surface, and at least one of said views (62) passes through the second viewing surface. The reader (80,150,180,210) also comprises at least one mirror (130), off which is reflected at least one of the views (62).

Abstract: A magnetic head device which suppresses output fluctuation even though the output changes in part of an output waveform from the magnetic head. The magnetic head device includes a magnetic head for reproducing information recorded in a magnetic information recording medium; an amplifier section for amplifying a reproduced signal that the magnetic head has reproduced, by using a gain; an A/D converter section for converting the reproduced signal that has been amplified, to a digital signal, by sampling the signal at predetermined intervals, in order to output the converted digital signal; a signal comparator section for comparing a digital signal output value with a predetermined output criterion value; and a gain control section for adjusting the gain in such a way as to make the output value closer to the output criterion value, in the case where the output value is either greater or smaller than the output criterion value.

Abstract: Bar codes used for various applications. A bar code can be used for biometrics, or for computer data entry. A special bar code is described that has additional information, but can be read by other readers.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for capturing images of barcode enabled loyalty cards, detecting the compatibility of a barcode scanner with a virtual representation of a bar-code enabled card, and for location-aware handling of virtual cards. A system configured to practice the first method outputs a template of an expected size, and presents, within the template, a real-time image, obtained via a camera, of a card having a barcode. The system takes a picture of the card and, based on a card-template size relationship, extracts an image of the barcode. A system practicing the second method outputs a stored card image for a barcode scanner, and monitors an image feed of the bar code scanner scanning the display. If an associated scanner class indicates that the barcode scanner is unable to scan the stored image of the card, the system generates an alert.

Abstract: A method of decoding a barcode includes generating a first illumination towards a target object with a first illumination level, capturing a first image during a first exposure time period, and determining a first location and a second location on a scan line in the first image to find a switchover condition. If the switchover condition indicates the presence of a mobile display device, the method further includes generating a second illumination towards the target object with a second illumination level, capturing a second image during a second exposure time period, and decoding the barcode in the second image. Here, at least one of the second illumination level and the second exposure time period is determined based on values of pixels on the scan line between the first location and the second location.

Abstract: A contactless bi-directional device including first and second generally mutually electromagnetically decoupled contactless loop antennas which are arranged in at least partially mutually overlapping orientation, first and second contactless communication chips, each of the first and second communications chips being connected to a corresponding one of the generally mutually electromagnetically decoupled contactless loop antennas, thereby providing bi-directional communication.

Abstract: Bar codes used for various applications. A bar code can be used for biometrics, or for computer data entry. A special bar code is described that has additional information, but can be read by other readers.

Abstract: Bar codes used for various applications. A bar code can be used for biometrics, or for computer data entry. A special bar code is described that has additional information, but can be read by other readers.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of testing apparatus used to prevent freezing of relays in electrical components, particularly electrical components used in vehicles. One embodiment of a testing apparatus comprises a chamber with temperature control configured to control a temperature of an internal atmosphere of the chamber and a humidifier in fluid communication with the internal atmosphere of the chamber configured to supply humidified air to the internal atmosphere. A sealable opening in a wall of the chamber is configured to pass a wire harness from external the chamber to inside the chamber while maintaining a sealed environment within the chamber. The temperature control is configured to maintain a sub-zero temperature in the internal atmosphere while the humidifier maintains a saturated internal atmosphere.

Abstract: In a hot-water storage type heating unit 1, a liquid-liquid heat exchanger 15, which exchanges heat between a first hot-water circulation circuit 12 through which hot water stored in a hot-water storage tank 11 circulates and a heating circulation circuit 14 in which the hot water flows from a radiator unit 3 for heating, is disposed above the hot-water storage tank 11, and a circulation pump 16 is disposed in the first hot-water circulation circuit 12 on the downstream side of the liquid-liquid heat exchanger 15. In order to return the gas, which is separated by a gas-liquid separator 17 provided so as to be interposed in the first hot-water circulation circuit 12 between the liquid-liquid heat exchanger 15 and the circulation pump 16, to the hot-water storage tank 11, a return passage 18 which communicates between the hot-water storage tank 11 and the gas-liquid separator 17 is provided.

Abstract: A cloud of small to medium-sized space debris is mitigated by releasing drag-reducing particles into the cloud from a dispenser vehicle, causing the particles to collide or otherwise interact with, and thereby exchange momentum with, the debris particles, reducing the orbiting velocity of the debris to a degree sufficient to cause the debris to de-orbit, or to accelerate the de-orbiting of the debris, to Earth. Certain embodiments also include a shepherd vehicle containing systems for identifying and tracking the debris cloud and for coalescing the debris cloud to increase the particles density in the cloud.

Abstract: A fan system for use on oil and gas rigs. The system includes a hydraulic motor for generating a rotational force from a hydraulic fluid, a water pump member for pumping water, a control member for controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid and water. The system also includes a fan device having a plurality of individual blades for providing an airflow, with the fan device being operatively connected to the hydraulic pump member and a nozzle connected to the water pump member for spraying a mist, with the nozzle containing a variable opening for varying the pressure and volume of water discharged. A leak path is provided for capturing and channeling leaking fluids so that fluids are contained within the fan device not in the air stream.

Abstract: A liquid atomizing method in which a collision portion formed by making at least two gases collide with each other, or a portion including the collision portion, and liquid are made to collide with each other to atomize the liquid. A liquid atomizing device includes at least two gas injection portions from which gases are injected, and a liquid injection portion from which liquid is injected, a collision portion formed by making gases injected from the at least two gas injection portions collide with each other or a portion including the collision portion, and liquid injected from the liquid injection portion are made to collide with each other to atomize the liquid.

Abstract: The thermal fogging device using a liquid, comprises: an assembly (3) for producing a pressurised hot gas flow; an ejection pipe (5); a first liquid source (7); the means (9) for injecting into the ejection pipe (5) a metered liquid flow from the first liquid source (7), characterised in that the means (9) for injecting the metered liquid flow comprises a Venturi device (V) having an area (R), the cross-section of which is narrowed so as to enable the suction of the metered liquid flow.

Abstract: A device is configured to eject droplets of an electrically non-conductive medium at a temperature of 360° C. or above. The device includes a fluid chamber body, the fluid chamber body having a fluid chamber for containing an electrically non-conductive medium at a temperature of 360° C. or above and for containing a conductive medium. The fluid chamber includes an orifice. In the fluid chamber, at least a part of the electrically non-conductive medium is positioned closer to the orifice than the conductive medium. The device further includes a heater configured to heat the electrically non-conductive medium and an actuator, the actuator includes electrodes for generating a current in the conductive medium and magnets for generating a magnetic field in the conductive medium.

Abstract: The irrigation matter (1) of the present invention is inserted and welded in the interior of a drip irrigation pipe (2) during production thereof. It has a number of protrusions (8) arranged in a row emerging from a solid flat part/base (6) of the outer convex surface (7) of the emitter (1). The pipe (2) is locally swollen, covers and is welded both on the protrusions (8) and on their base (6), so that a unified welded assembly is formed between protrusions (8) and the pipe. The water outlets (10) are typically and preferably formed between the prismatic protrusions (8) by cutting off the tips of the protrusions (8) during passage of the drip irrigation pipe in a continuously rotating concave fraise (35) located at the end of the production line. Cutting takes place after the pipe has passed through a system of successive pairs of concave and convex rollers which squeeze it, stretch it and make it rigid, maintaining it in a flattened convex and bent form.

Abstract: A water toy is provided which starts to move in different ways by the participation of a player in a play. A water toy is a water toy which pumps up stored water for discharge and includes a pump unit having in an interior thereof an electric pump for pumping up water and configured to pump up the water disposed below a toy main body, a power supply, a power supply switch configured to control an electric current supplied to the electric pump to activate or stop the electric pump, and a plurality of water discharge devices provided directly in the toy main body or coupled to the toy main body for discharging stored water, and a flow channel switching device configured to switch water channels reaching the plurality of water discharge devices.

Abstract: An injection device having at least one first spray hole and one second spray hole, which form a spray hole pair, the first and the second spray holes being situated so that a distance between the two spray holes is less than, or equal to twice a maximum opening edge distance at an inflow side of the two spray holes, and the spray hole axes of the first and the second spray holes being situated in directions that are different from each other.

Abstract: A spray head for a fluid dispenser device, including a hollow body having a substantially cylindrical sleeve and extending along a longitudinal axis (A), a substantially radial end wall provided with a spray orifice; and a spray profile upstream from the spray orifice. The spray profile includes at least one channel that is non-radial and/or non-axial relative to the longitudinal axis (A). The head, the spray orifice, and the spray profile are made as a single piece, the spray profile including a central pin, the internal end of the central pin, arranged inside the hollow body, being of shape that is conical or frustoconical, so as to guide the fluid towards the at least one non-radial and/or non-axial channel, the internal end forming an outlet valve.

Abstract: A valve assembly for an injection valve includes a valve body including a cavity with a fluid inlet portion and a fluid outlet portion, a valve needle axially movable in the cavity, the valve needle preventing a fluid flow through the fluid outlet portion in a closing position and releasing the fluid flow through the fluid outlet portion in a further position, an upper retainer arranged in the cavity and fixed to the valve needle, and an electro-magnetic actuator unit configured to actuate the valve needle, the electro-magnetic actuator unit comprising an armature, arranged in the cavity and axially movable relative to the valve needle, the armature configured to be coupled to the upper retainer when the valve needle is actuated to leave the closing position, and a permanent magnet arranged in the cavity adjacent the position of the armature when the valve needle is in its closing position.