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FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention is in the field of seat base support assemblies. It relates to seat base support assemblies for furniture or the like wherein the support assemblies employed are of the non-coil spring type; i.e., they comprise sinuous spring bands, wire grids or chord-rubber webbing, or are made up of flexible steel bands. The invention finds particularly advantageous application to sinuous band seat spring assemblies, however, and is discussed initially in that context.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Over the past ten to twelve years furniture seat spring torsioning devices such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,210,064, No. 3,388,904, and No. 3,525,514, met the industry's long sought need for deep-drop uplift at the back rail and also contributed in other ways to the luxury seat which evolved during that time frame. As eleven (11) gauge helical spring connectors became disproportionally more expensive during this period these devices have been used almost exclusively with SWING ANCHOR connecting links and radius links such as disclosed in U.S Pat. No. 3,790,149, and depended upon kinetic energy stored in the arced sinuous spring itself to produce all upward resilience. The upholstered furniture styles most widely sold at the time developed all the back rail uplift considered desirable using such connecting links.
During the past three to four years, however, there has been a move toward the use of thicker and thicker cushions. Attractive new and thicker cushion materials, including foam rubber laminates, have necessitated the lowering of seat frame heights dramatically. As a result, an urgent need was created in such constructions for more upward resilience of a strong dynamic nature in the spring base.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved rail connector for sinuous spring bands, wire grids, chord-rubber webbing, and flexible steel bands.
Another object is to provide a rail connector which embodies the salutary features of conventional helical spring connectors while retaining essentially none of the undesirable features thereof.
Still another object is to provide a rail connector which produces spring torsioning and dynamic uplift at the back rail through kinetic energy which it itself stores, and which then cooperates with any spring action in the seat base support assembly, which might be sinuous, arced, or de-arced, a wire grid, chord-rubber webbing, or flexible steel bands.
Yet another object is to provide such rail connectors which give varying degrees of dynamic uplift resilience obtained by offering alternative spring action modes within themselves.
The foregoing and other objects are realized in accord with the present invention by producing two related forms of rail connector. A first form uses pre-stressed, close wound coil spring with attachment arms. In one alternative the coil spring is wound on an axis transverse to the axis of spring expansion and contraction while in another alternative the coil spring is wound on an axis longitudinally arranged relative thereto. In either alternative the connector may selectively have a leverage-amplified torsioning capability.
A second form uses a pre-stressed, cantilever spring configuration. This connector may selectively be used with a sinuous spring band having leverage-amplified torsioning incorporated therein.
The invention for the first time provides seat spring-enhancing connectors that in themselves combine the four essential seat-force-generators; i.e., (1) torsioning; (2) dynamic uplift; (3) expansion-contraction; and (4) leverage-amplification. These, in turn, produce to the greatest degree the four most desired seat-performance characteristics; i.e., (1) initial-drop; (2) deep-drop; (3) softness without "oil canning", "bucketing", "jack-knifing", or "bottoming"; and (4) resilient uplift proportionate to load.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention, including its construction and modes of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view through a portion of the back end of a furniture seat spring base, illustrating a spring band assembly including a first form of rail connector embodying features of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a view taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 illustrating one modification of the first form of rail connector embodying features of the invention;
FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 illustrating another modification of the first form of rail connector embodying features of the invention;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion of an alternative first form of rail connector embodying features of the invention;
FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 1 illustrating a second form of rail connector in a spring band assembly embodying features of the invention;
FIG. 7 is a view taken along line 7--7 of FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 illustrating the second form of rail connector in a sinuous spring band assembly embodying features of the invention; and
FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 7 illustrating the second form of rail connector in another sinuous spring band assembly.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, a portion of the back end of a furniture seat base is illustrated generally at 10. The seat base 10 comprises spring band assemblies 15, only one of which is shown, extending in parallel relationship between the front rail (not shown) and back rail 16 of the base frame. Each assembly 15 includes a normally arced sinuous spring band 20 of standard loop size; i.e., a seven-eighths (2/3) inch interval between linear segments 25 and semi-circular segments 26 of the band. Each band 20 is connected to the back frame rail 16 by a first form of rail connector 30 embodying features of the invention.
The rail connector 30 is fabricated of eleven (11) gauge wire, similar to standard helicals. It comprises a section 35 of three coils tightly wound on an axis transverse to that of the band 20 and the axis of expansion and contraction of the connector 30.
Extending from the coil section 35, at their uppermost extremity, tangent to the arc of the coils and in opposite directions, are a rail-attachment leg 38 and a spring-attachment leg 39. The rail-attachment leg 38 terminates in a transversely disposed anchor section 40 which seats in a conventional "G" clip 41, while the spring-attachment leg 39 seats on and grips the spring band 20.
The spring attachment leg 39 is inclined slightly upwardly from the horizontal, in contrast to the rail-attachment leg 38, and includes an upwardly formed shoulder 45 and a terminal hook 46. The shoulder is formed approximately mid-way between the hook 46 and tangency with the coil 35, seven-eighths (2/3) inches each way in the case where the band 20 is regular sinuous.
As seen best in FIG. 1, the downwardly opening hook 46 is designed to seat over the penultimate linear segment 25b in the spring band 20, while the ultimate linear segment 25a seats against the shoulder 45. The result is to lock the end of the band 20 and the connector 30 together.
In operation, the attachment-arm 39 reaching up into the band 20 sets up a torsioning effect in the back of the band. The arm 39 is spring loaded upwardly by the strength of the coil section 35 and produces dynamic uplift. At the same time the coil section 35 permits of longitudinal expansion-contraction of the connector 30. The coil section 35 and rail-attachment leg 38 extending outwardly of the band 20 end amplify the leverage induced torque.
In an alternative construction of the first form of the invention, as seen in FIG. 3, the rail connector 130 is attached to the rail 116 through a gang bore 142. The rail-attachment leg 138 of the connector has a shorter anchor section 140 which can pass through the bore 142 from front to back of the rail 116 and then seats against the back of the rail to lock the connector 130 to the rail.
The spring-attachment leg 139 in this form of the connector is much shorter and has an upwardly formed hook 146 at its inner end. The hook 146 is so formed that when it seats upwardly, onto the ultimate linear segment 125a of the spring band 120, it cannot slip off during seat base operation.
The connector 130 provides both dynamic uplift and resilient expansion-contraction at the band end. It does not induce torsion or leverage amplification.
The connector 130 can also be connected to the ultimate linear segment 125a of the band 120 by a conventional VLE clip, as seen at 150 in FIG. 4. As such, the single spring attachment leg 139 obtains a wider purchase area on the band 120 end. The effect is to enhance lateral stability of the spring band assembly.
Turning now to FIG. 5, a modified coil section for a connector otherwise identical to that hereinbefore discussed is illustrated at 235. As illustrated, the coil section 235 is tightly wound in five (5) coils on an axis longitudinally aligned with the sinuous spring band span (not shown). This form of the connector 130 produces the same salutary effects, the dynamic uplift being produced by a torquing expansion-contraction of the coil section 235 in contrast to the loop compression-expansion of the coil section 35, however.
FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate a portion of a furniture seat base 310 comprising spring band assemblies 315 (only one shown) in which a second form of spring band 320 connector is illustrated at 330. The connector 330 uses a cantilever principle to provide dynamic uplift to the band 320 at the back rail 316.
The rail connector 330 is fabricated of spring steel wire of relatively heavy gauge; i.e., eight (8) gauge or heavier. As best illustrated in FIG. 7, it includes a pair of identical connector arms 331 extending parallel to each other between the rail 316 and the band 320.
As seen once again in FIG. 6, each connector arm 331 includes a generally V-shaped body 335 made up of a rail-attachment leg 338 and a spring-attachment leg 339. The legs 338 are vertically oriented and preferably four (4) inches long. The legs 338 are joined at their upper ends by a base leg 340 which seats in a conventional EKS clip 341 stapled to the top of the rail 316.
Curving upwardly and inwardly from the lower end of each rail-attachment leg 338 is a corresponding spring-attachment leg 339. The spring-attachment legs 339 are approximately eight (8) inches long.
Formed on the free ends of the legs 339 are attachment hooks 346 identical to the hooks 146 hereinbefore discussed. The connector 330 is a variation of the second form of the invention wherein the hooks 346 receive and seat on the ultimate linear segment 325a of the spring band 320.
In operation the legs 338 are braced against the rail 316 with the spring-attachment legs 339 extending inwardly and upwardly therefrom to the hooks 346. In unloaded position the hooks are disposed approximately one (1) inch above the level of the EKS clip 341. The connector 330 thus is effective to dynamically urge the spring band 320 end upwardly when a subject is seated. At the same time longitudinal resilient expansion-contraction can and does take place in the connector 330, enhancing seat base softness.
FIG. 8 illustrates a sinuous spring band assembly 415 which incorporates a connector 430 identical to the connector 330 hereinbefore discussed.
In the spring band assembly 415 the connector hooks 446 are seated on a linear segment 425f of the band 420 which is sixth from the end of the band; i.e., the ultimate linear segment 425a. The linear segment 425a is connected to the rail by a SWING ANCHOR connector clip 460 such as illustrated in FIG. 1 of the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,790,149. The base of the clip 460 is seated, together with the base leg 440 of the connector 430, in the conventional EKS clip stapled to the top of the rail 416.
The spring band 420 immediately inwardly of its ultimate linear segment 425a, at the penultimate linear segment, is bent upwardly for the length of one semi-circular band segment 426a and then bent back into the normal arc of the band. This creates a torsion inducing moment arm configuration in the end of the band as illustrated at FIG. 12 in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,525,514.
In operation of this spring band assembly 415 the connector 430 performs the same functions as previously ascribed to the connector 330. Further, however, its dynamic uplift is effected inwardly of the band end. This uplift, coupled with the torsion inducing band 420 configuration and the articulate connection provided by the clip 460 produces a highly sophisticated and luxurious seat base.
FIG. 9 illustrates a sinuous spring band assembly 515 which also incorporates a connector 530 identical to the connector 330 hereinbefore discussed. In the assembly 515 the sinuous band 520 is a de-arced band, however; i.e., it has very little inherent upward resilience. In this assembly the connector 530 pre-loads the band 520 upwardly at the fourth linear segment 525d from the ultimate linear segment 525a.
The ultimate linear segment 525a is seated in the EKS clip 540 on the rail 516, together with the base leg 540 of the connector 530. The connector leg 539 thus preloads the band 520 upwardly with the seat base 10 in its relaxed state as a subject is seated and rises, the connector provides a dynamic uplift which would otherwise not be present.
All of the connectors hereinbefore discussed are also used to connect other forms of seat base support means to the frame rails. As will readily be understood, wire grids such as manufactured under the trademark PERMA-MESH by Flexolators, Inc., chord-rubber webbing such as manufactured by the Pirelli, s.p.a., of Italy, and flat steel bands, for example, do not have stored upward resilience in the sense that arced sinuous spring bands do. When connected to the back frame rail by connectors embodying the inventions disclosed herein, however, they are provided with a dynamic uplift adjacent the back rail. In this sense they are similar to a de-arced sinuous spring band.
While several embodiments described herein are at present considered to be preferred, it is understood that various modifications and improvements may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modification and improvements as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. | A rail connector and improvement in seat base support assembly. The connector takes two basic forms. In the first a pre-stressed, close wound coil, disposed either transversely or longitudinally of the connector, is effective to continuously bias the seat base support means upwardly. In the second a cantilevered, curved spring arm serves the same purpose. The connector may be configured to reach into the body of a sinuous spring band, for example, and define a torque arm in the band, at the back rail. All forms are applicable to wire mesh, chord rubber webbing, flat steel bands and sinuous, both arced and dearced. | 2,520 |
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention concerns a highly concentrated mineralised natural complex and the method for its production, with respect to the integration of mineral oligoelements in pharmaceutical, cosmetic and herbal field, for human and animal usage, and for the care of the flora in general.
2. Description of Related Art
Currently, elements obtained by the purification of inorganic material, or, for example, through operations of synthesis, hemi-synthesis, chelation, complexation are being used as integrators of minerals oligoelements.
The so obtained inorganic formulations present considerable problems of absorption and side effects. The ingested substances are thereby absorbed in a very little amount, consequently inducing the user to ingest considerable quantities, so that the absorbed ones can quantitatively satisfy the individual need.
Another disadvantage of the products obtained with the known technique is the one due to the undesired side effects, for example, after the ingestion of substances used for integrating iron gastric disturbances may occur.
On the other hand, it is known that some organic substances, such as some vegetable and/or animal products, contain oligominerals that are effective for man's health and simultaneously do not have negative side effects. However, those elements useful for man's health are contained in the above mentioned organic substances in very small percentages, hence they have poor therapeutic qualities.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The aim of the present invention is on the one hand to produce mineralised natural complexes of one or more mineral elements at a high concentration, which together predispose the human organism to their high absorption without producing negative side effects, on the other hand, the aim is to determine a process through which the mentioned complexes are realised.
The process, related to this invention, which allows to reach such results, consists in resorting to natural substances, like vegetable and/or animal products, then, usually, in the carrying out of their mixing in definite proportions, therefore in their treatment until the inorganic part is separated from the organic one, and finally, in the transformation of the produced minerals blend into an easily administrated product, like capsules and tablets. For the consumer their intake is the equivalent to the intake of a quantity of minerals comparable in a qualitative and quantitative way to the ones that would be taken, in favourable cases, with the ingestion of an initial high quantity of vegetable or animal material. Moreover, the elaboration of organic natural products, among those containing an oligomineral mixture as close as possible to the wanted optimum, allows to obtain a mineral formulation that has a high biological affinity for man, with a greater bio-availability and compared with those that are nowadays on the market less harmful side effects. These formulation which for the complexity of the elements contained even in traces, cannot absolutely be chemically reconstructed. The invention through which such results have been reached, is realised on the one hand with natural mineralised complexes with a high concentration of one or more main elements of vegetable and/or animal origin and a plurality of other elements equally useful to the human organism, and on the other hand with a process for their production realised through the mixing, in definite proportions, of the vegetal or animal products to be mineralised, and also with their mineralization through the elimination of the organic portion.
Such process is, therefore, characterised by the treatment of natural organic products in order to obtain a mineralised complex containing all the mineral substances originally contained in the raw material treated first in form of oxides and other salts. Such mineralised complexes will be titrated in each element by considering those that are contained in a larger quantity, for example calcium, iron, zinc, potassium, copper, magnesium and manganese, and the aforesaid mineralised complexes will be finally checked to ascertain the absence of elements recognised as toxic, such as lead, cadmium and mercury.
The mineralised natural complexes so produced permit to reach advantageous results, as described here below, unlike the use of single mineral elements obtained with methods known nowadays.
In particular, they allow the organism to be integrated not only with the single primary elements, prevailing in the mineralised complex, but also with an innumerable series of other useful minerals that the mineralised complex contains in a composition which is formulated in nature. For instance, instead of assuming only "Gluconate Iron" as with the existing technique, the mineralised complex is taken as obtained from a mixture of vegetal products such as Capsella bursa pastoris, of which the upper part is used, Cynara of which the leaves are used, Salvia offinalis, of which the leaves are used. Such complex allows to intake iron in form of oxide and salts together with many other oligoelements, such as calcium, zinc, magnesium, potassium, sodium, copper and manganese, besides other ones in tiny traces, which aid the assimilation of iron without creating harmful side effects.
The elaboration of natural organic products allows, that is to say, to produce a mineralised complex from which the human organism perfectly absorbs most of the various oligomineral elements contained in the same complex. The natural formula, possessing precise qualitative and quantitative relations of the single elements--probably due to biological affinity--determines a much greater absorption than the one obtained by ingesting the single elements presently used. Both the ratios between the single elements and the association between the single substances can be the cause of the considerable absorption of these last ones by the organism. In fact, many of the substances present in minimum doses, even if untraceable, act as catalysts, therefore helping the absorption of the primary element needed for the desired integration.
Another advantage is due to the minor side effects resulting from the nature of the formulation more compatible with man.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
More characteristics of the invention will be evident from the following detailed description with reference to the process illustrated on the block diagram, provided only as example, in the enclosed drawing, which shows in schematic form a flow diagram of the apparatus elements associated with performing the invention, and the steps of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In the process exemplified in the drawing figure:
1 indicates the tank containing the mixture of vegetable and/or animal natural products, each one in a clean and fragmented state, containing one or more primary mineral elements in addition to those in smaller quantities, combined with organic substances to be eliminated;
2 indicates the heated cell, normally at a temperature included between 200° and 900° C., in which the mixture coming from container 1 is mineralised, therefore the organic portion is normally separated in vapours and fumes.
The mineralised complex in container 3 is a mineral complex characterised by a qualitative and quantitative composition of the chosen primary mineral elements, each one combined with a plurality of mineral elements already present, sometimes in minimum measures, on the vegetal and/or animal products from which they are originally produced and contained. The product coming out from group 3 is in one case conveyed directly to chamber 6, and in the other case conveyed to mixer 4 in which it is mixed with other active principles coming from container 5 in order to originate in chamber 6 the mixture that is to be transformed into capsules or tablets, then to be packed and after distributed on the market.
In the general formulation the production process of a mineral complex first foresees the quantitative determination of the metals that one wishes to integrate, hence a selection of the vegetal and/or animal raw materials that present a particularly high content of the above-mentioned metals. After having accomplished the choice of the organic raw materials to be used, the process through which the wanted mineral complex is obtained, can be described in a detailed way as follows:
The chosen raw materials are analysed to make sure that the element is to be integrated is constant in them.
The selected raw materials are dried, then individually cut and sieved until obtaining a uniform granulometry that is adapted for being mineralised.
The previously processed raw materials as described above, are eventually mixed between them in the right proportion in order to obtain in the final complex the content of principal elements as wanted in the ratio. The aforesaid mixture is distributed on trays of stainless steel until reaching a layer of 5 cm. for each tray. The trays are stacked in a muffle one on top of the others, with some space between them for combustion fumes to escape.
The normally methane operating muffle is programmed in such a way to reach within it a temperature of approximately 200-400° C. for 1-3 hours, then it is raised to a temperature of about 500-900° C. for 3-5 more hours, or anyway until the complete removal of the organic portion from the mixture of drugs introduced. The first period of time, at a temperature of 200-400° C., is essential in order to obtain a perfect light coloured mineralised product, without any carbonised organic products.
The mineralised product obtained from the muffle is subjected to a quantitative analysis for being titrated, at least in its main elements, and to a control in order to verify the absence of elements recognised as toxic. It can be conveyed in the packaging division, or first mixed with additional chosen active principles, and hence sent to the packaging.
However, the invention is illustrated here as follows with reference to two applications for the production of different highly concentrated mineralised natural complexes.
EXAMPLE 1
A Mineral Complex Particularly Rich in Iron
Drugs used:
Capsella bursa pastoris, of which the upper part is used;
Cynara scolymus, of which the leaves are used;
Salvia officinalis, of which the leaves are used
The proportion for the mixing has been chosen according to the content of iron in the single drugs above-indicated, in particular:
Capsella bursa pastoris: 20%
Cynara scolymus: 70%
Salvia officinalis: 10%
The selected vegetal drugs have been cut until reaching a uniform granulometry that is adequate to be mineralised. The optimal granulomethy is the following:
Capsella bursa pastoris: 1.5-2.0 mm.
Cynara scolymus: 1.5-2.0 mm.
Salvia officinalis: 1.5-2.0 mm.
The aforesaid fragmented mixture has been distributed on the stainless steel trays until reaching a layer of about 5 cm. of drug for each tray. The trays are stacked one on top of the other, with some space between them for the combustion fumes to escape. The methane operating muffle is programmed to reach within it a temperature of approximately 300° C. for a time of 2 hours at first, then it is raised and kept at a temperature of approximately 700° C. for 4 more hours. The first step at 300° C. is essential in order to obtain a perfect white coloured final product completely inorganic. The mineralised product is encapsulated in gelatine capsules with a final weight of about 500 mg. In this process the obtained mineralised complex contains all the mineral substances originally contained in the raw materials in form of oxides and other salts. The composition of the mineralised complex is the following:
______________________________________Element Concentration in the complex in mg/g______________________________________Iron 7.73 Calcium 109.8 Zinc 0.19 Magnesium 21.75 Potassium 85.0 Sodium 9.3 Copper 0.03 Manganese 0.49______________________________________
Due to the high concentration of iron and the relatively high specific weight of the mineralised complex, only four capsules a day are sufficient to obtain a good daily integration of such element (the daily recommended ration of iron is 14 mg. according to the Italian Law). As a matter of fact, the solubility, and therefore the bio-availability with a pH: 1, is extremely high: in fact 2 g. of product are 93.05% soluble in one litre of hydrochloric acid with a pH: 1 at 37° C. (liquid simulating gastric juice).
EXAMPLE 2
A Mineral Complex Particularly Rich in Calcium
Drugs used:
Paretaria officinalis, of which the upper part is used;
Urtica dioica, of which the leaves are used;
Eucalyptus globulus, of which the leaves are used;
Ginkgo biloba, of which the leaves are used.
The proportions for the mixing have been chosen according to the calcium content in the single above-mentioned drugs, in particular:
Paretaria officinalis: 10%
Uttica dioica: 50%
Eucalyptus globulus: 30%
Ginkgo biloba: 10%
The selected vegetable drugs have been cut until reaching a uniform granulometiy, adequate for being mineralised. The optimal granulometry for each drug is the following:
Paretaria officinalis: 1.5-2.0 mm.
Urtica dioica: 1.5-2.0 mm.
Eucalyptus globulus: 1.5-2.0 mm.
Ginkgo biloba: 1.5-2.0 mm.
After having mixed the drugs, separately chopped up by following the above-mentioned granulometry, the mixture is distributed on steel trays until reaching a layer of 5 cm. of drug for each tray. The trays are stacked one on top of each other, with some space between them for the combustion fumes to escape.
The muffle, normally heated with methane, is programmed in such a way to reach within it a temperature of approximately 300° C. for 2 hours, then it is raised and kept at a temperature of about 700° C. for 4 more hours. The first step at 300° C. is essential in order to obtain a perfect white coloured final product and completely inorganic. The mineralised product is encapsulated in gelatine capsules with a final weight of about 500 mg. In this process the obtained mineralised complex contains all the mineral substances originally contained in the raw materials in form of oxides and other salts. The composition of the obtained mineralised complex is the following:
______________________________________Element Concentration in the complex in mg/g.______________________________________Iron 1.9 Calcium 299.5 Zinc 0.46 Magnesium 33.74 Potassium 94.6 Sodium 8.5 Copper 2.5 Manganese 4.08______________________________________
Due to the high concentration of calcium and the relatively high specific weight of the mineralised complex, only five capsules per day are sufficient to obtain a good daily integration of calcium (in Italy the recommended daily ration of calcium is of 800 mg.). In fact, the solubility, and so the bio-availability with a pH: 1, is extremely high: 2 g. of product are 77.15% soluble in a little of hydrochloric acid with a pH: 1 at 37° C. (liquid simulating gastric juice). The process is repeated for any other individually chosen vegetal and/or animal product, or in combination with other organic products characterised by a high content of metal or metals, through which the integration of mineral oligoelements in humans, animals or plants is intended to be operated. | The invention concerns a highly concentrated mineralised natural complex, characterised by at least one main mineral element quantified with nutritional and/or dietetic integrator properties and by other mineral elements obtained in the complex from the mineralization of vegetal and/or animal products. Moreover, it concerns the method for its production consisting in using vegetal and/or animal organic substances, having a high content of oligominerals, in carrying out their fragmentation, their mixing and the mineralization until the inorganic part is completely separated from the organic part, and then in transforming the aforesaid inorganic part in forms of easy commercialization. | 2,493 |
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The field of the invention pertains to electric devices to open and close draperies or curtains, and in particular, to devices that automatically control the position of the draperies or curtains in response to light or heat.
A light actuated electric drapery drive is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,471,275 wherein the circuit provides overload protection in addition to providing opening and closing of the draperies by manual switches or the light sensor. The light sensor actuates the circuit to operate the drive motor upon sufficient lighting level.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,675,023 discloses combined heat and light sensors for mounting atop a building. The combined heat and light sensors are mounted for electro-mechanically driven movement to follow the sun during the day. In response to the heat and light striking the sensors with changing levels and direction throughout the day, the sensors control the opening and closing of draperies or Venetian blinds progressively about the building as the sun progresses about the building.
Of more general interest is U.S. Pat. No. 3,529,214 which discloses light responsive systems to automatically control street lamps. The systems include means in the circuit to ignore sudden flashes of light so that the street lamps will not be extinguished in response to a sudden and momentary flash of light.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In response to the need for a simple and very compact electric drive for draperies or curtains that is automatically actuated in response to changed light level, applicant has invented the very compact and unobtrusive curtain puller disclosed below. The curtain puller is meant to replace the conventional spring loaded tensioner which typically includes a freely rotatable pulley for engagement with the loop of drapery cord and means to attach to the floor or wall.
The new light actuated curtain puller externally appears much like the above tensioner with a pulley adjacent the top and spring tensioned means extending from the bottom for attachment to a floor or wall adjacent the draperies or curtains. Atop the new puller is a light sensing means with a cap to control the direction from which light may enter the light sensing means. As with the tensioner the new puller is preferably positioned behind or adjacent the edge of the drapery or curtain near the side of the window. In this location the cap can shield the light sensing means from the interior lighting and permit light to enter from the window and behind the drapery or curtain.
Inside the new puller is a miniature high torque electric motor having the drive shaft attached to the external pulley. In the preferred embodiment the motor is a reversible alternating current motor optically isolated from a direct current control circuit. The direct current control includes means triggered by the light sensing means to cause a first timing circuit to begin a timing cycle. If the first timing cycle is completed a second timing cycle begins with the start of a motor operate signal.
A flip flop circuit retains the current state of the motor and draperies and permits operation of the motor only for a change of the draperies.
Alternatively, optional configurations can use a direct current reversible electric motor and motor drive or a digital decoder can be substituted for the light sensing means to receive and decode control signals passed through the building wiring.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front exterior view of the curtain puller;
FIG. 2 is a side exterior view of the curtain puller;
FIG. 3 is a top view of the curtain puller;
FIG. 4A is an electric schematic for the photoelectric cell circuit;
FIG. 4B is an electric schematic for the timing and status circuit; and
FIG. 4C is an electric schematic for the power supply and motor drive circuit.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 is the exterior box or container 10 for the curtain puller. The box 10 may be constructed of metal or plastic halves that merely snap together or are fastened together with mechanical fasteners. Adjacent to the top of the box is a separate cover piece 12 open at the top and affixed to the front of the box 10. Within the cover 12 is a drive pulley 14 mounted on a motor drive shaft extending from a small electric motor 16 within the box 10. The pulley 14 engages the drapery or curtain cord 18 in turn extending downwardly about the pulley 14 and upwardly to the curtain rod (not shown). Thus, the electric motor 16 drives the curtain cord 18 to open or close the curtains or drapes. In other words, the motor 16 moves the object or curtains from an open first position to a closed second position or vice versa.
Below the box is a bracket 20 that may be attached to the wall of a house adjacent a window with mechanical fasteners through the holes 22 in the bracket. Within the bracket 20 is a transverse rod 24 to which a pair of springs 26 are attached at their lower end. The upper ends of the springs 26 are attached to a second transverse rod 28 in turn affixed to the inside of the back of the box 10. The springs 26 provide suitable tensioning for the curtain cord 18.
Atop the box 10 is a small shield 30 which may be manually rotated about a vertical axis. The shield 30 has an opening 32 to permit light to enter therein. Inside the shield is a photocell connected to the internal circuitry of the curtain puller. A 110 volt AC power supply cord as indicated at 34 extends into the box 10 and is attached to a rectifier and motor power circuit indicated at 36. Also inside the box 10 is a printed circuit board 38 to which are attached the electric elements comprising the control circuit for the curtain puller. As shown the box 10 encloses the entire electric control and power supply for the curtain puller. The box 10 is not substantially larger than a conventional spring tensioner for a curtain cord loop.
FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C illustrate the control and power circuitry for the curtain puller. With the exception of the 110 volt AC power supply cord 34 and plug for the electrical power to the curtain puller, the control and power circuitry is entirely contained within the box 10. Referring in particular to FIG. 4C, a fuse F1 and transformer T1 in the 110 volt AC supply provide power to a regulator circuit comprising a diode bridge 40 and an integrated circuit regulator REG-1. The regulator circuit provides 12 volts DC power to the control circuit illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B and to the isolator circuit including opto-isolators IC1 and IC2 shown in FIG. 4C. The transformer T1 also provides AC power at reduced voltage to the pulley drive motor 16 through the triacs Q1 and Q2. Triacs Q1 and Q2 are in turn triggered by signals respectively from opto-isolators IC1 and IC2. In other words, the transformer and regulator circuit act as a power supply means for supplying power from the 110 AC power source to the control circuit and motor. A suitable motor 16 is a reversible 24 volt 60 cycle AC motor. A reversible DC motor might be substituted for motor 16 with suitable changes in the power supply to provide DC current and solid state switching means in substitution for triacs Q1 and Q2.
The opto-isolators or optical couplers IC1 and IC2 provide electrical isolation between the AC power for the motor 16 and the low voltage substantially DC control signals in the control circuit shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B. The signal through the opto-isolators IC1 and IC2 is provided by a 12 volt DC signal in turn controlled by a pair of transistors Q3 and Q4. The pair of optically isolated connection circuits is between transistor Q4 and triac Q1 and between transistor Q3 and triac Q2. Thus, the control of rotational direction of the motor 16 is determined by a signal from opto-isolator IC1 to triac Q1, or for the other direction, by the signal from opto-isolator IC2 to triac Q2.
The control circuit identified by the reference 38 to a printed circuit board within the box 10 comprises in FIGS. 4A and 4B a photo-electric cell Q5 which is contained within the hooded cover 30 at the top of the box 10. In response to a sufficient increase or decrease in light the photo cell Q5 provides an input to an integrated circuit IC3 which in turn provides an output at pin 7 of a sudden up or down voltage change as indicated by arrows 42 and 44. In other words, the photoelectric cell Q5 is a light sensing means for detecting changes in levels of light, i.e., presence or absence of light in the daytime and nighttime, respectively. The sudden change in voltage up 42 or down 44 is provided as an input to pin 4 of integrated circuit IC4 which in turn massages the signal to provide through integrated circuit IC7 a reset and start signal illustrated by the "one shot" 46 at pin 4 of integrated circuit IC7. The reset and start "one shot" 46 in turn is provided to pin 6 of a dual timer integrated circuit IC5.
A suitable integrated circuit IC4 is a Motorola Monostable Multivibrator MC14538B or equivalent. Integrated circuit IC5 is a National Semiconductor Dual Timer LM556 or equivalent.
The reset and start "one shot" 46 is also provided through integrated circuit IC8 from pin 3 to the base of transistor Q6, which with the associated circuitry and dual timer IC5 provides a ramp function timing signal that increases in voltage continuously from the moment that the "one shot" reset and start signal is received. Typically, this ramp function, as indicated schematically by arrow 48 on the XY plot adjacent transistor Q6, constantly increases the charge on capacitor C6 until a prespecified voltage is reached. Each time the signal from the photocell Q5 passes a threshold of increasing light or decreasing light an up or down voltage change is generated by integrated circuit IC3 and sensed at the base of transistor Q6 to reset the ramp function output 48 by discharging capacitor C6. Typically the ramp function circuit elements connected between transistor Q6 and pins 1, 2 and 3 of integrated circuit IC5 are specified to provide about a 15 minute time period from start or reset until a specified voltage is reached. Thus, short term changes in light level sensed by the photo electric cell Q5 do not result in actuation of the control circuit beyond resetting the ramp function output 48.
Once the specified ramp function voltage is reached, the second timer of integrated circuit IC5 is actuated by the output 1 at pin 5 to T2 pin 8. The second timer includes the circuit elements connected to pins 7, 11, 12 and 13 of integrated circuit IC5. The potentiometer P1 provides adjustable means for setting the length of time the motor 16 operates by setting the specified ramp function maximum voltage for the second timer.
With actuation of the second timer an output 2 signal at pin 9 is provided to pin 3 of integrated circuit IC6 which acts as a flip-flop or latch to determine the current state or position of the motor 16 and thereby determine the current position of the curtain. A suitable integrated circuit IC6 is Motorola Dual Flip-Flop MC14013B or equivalent. The flip-flop integrated circuit IC6 thereby permits or does not permit the motor to operate depending upon the direction of operation of the motor the previous time the motor was actuated to move the curtain. In other words, the flip-flop or latch acts as a latching means for determining the current position of the motor in either of the first and second positions and for actuating the motor to move the object or curtain to the position opposite the current position of the object or curtain. The status of the integrated circuit IC6 can be easily determined by the light emitting diode D8 which is connected to pin 9 of integrated circuit IC6 and illuminated when the curtain is in the closed position. A by-pass or a manual switch S2 is also provided so that the curtain can be conveniently opened or closed as desired during the night or during the day. The manual closure or opening of the curtain is sensed through the connection to pins 2 and 5 of integrated circuit IC6. The output from integrated circuit IC6 pins 1 and 2 respectively provide one-half of the control to the base of transistor Q4 or the base of transistor Q3 thereby determining the direction of rotation. The other half of the control is provided by the output at pin 9 of the dual timer IC5.
Once actuated by the output at pin 9 of integrated circuit IC5 the motor operates for a period of time necessary to move the curtain as set by the exterior circuitry and potentiometer P1 of the second timer of dual timer IC5. The second timer circuit is also actuated by engaging the manual switch S2 to also start the motor running with the second timer. In either case the motor runs for a set period of time sufficient to open or close the curtain. In summary, the flip-flop circuitry only permits the motor to operate when either the signal from integrated circuit IC3 or from the manual switch S2, if thrown, provides for movement of the curtain opposite to that of the previous movement of the curtain. | An automatic electro-mechanical device for opening and closing a curtain or drapery in response to changed light striking a photoelectric cell on the device. The device comprises a miniature high torque reversible electric motor and control packaged in a container of substantially the same size as a conventional cord tensioner of curtains or draperies. To close the drapes at sun-down and open the drapes at sun-up automatically without actuation if the lighting changes for short periods of time, the device comprises a dual timer circuit with individual ramping circuits. One timer circuit monitors the sustained presence or absence of light for a predetermined amount of time. The other timer regulates the motor drive run time. A flip flop circuit signals the current state of the curtains or drapes by providing memory of the last directional movement of the motor. | 2,426 |
RELATED APPLICATIONS
Co-pending application Ser. No. 060,408, filed July 25, 1979, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,271,839 for Dilatation Catheter Method and Apparatus shows a dilatation catheter in which dilatation is accomplished by everting a balloon from the end of a catheter, blowing the balloon up to dilate an occluded blood vessel, deflating the balloon, and re-inverting the balloon within the catheter.
Co-pending application Ser. No. 114,979 filed Jan. 24, 1980 for Flexible Calibrator shows a catheter having a calibrator bead at the distal end thereof which is used to measure the diameter of the lumen in a stenotic segment of blood vessel. The present invention comprises a calibrator bead in trailing relation to a dilatation balloon. The combination of these two elements enables the calibrator element to measure the lumen of the dilated artery rather than, as in the co-pending application, being used to measure the lumen of an occluded passage in a pre-dilated artery.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for use in dilating occluded blood vessels and for measuring the degree of dilation of the occlusions within these vessels. Prior to the present invention these two objectives were attainable, as a result of the teachings set forth in the above-identified copending patent applications, by the use of two catheters, one having a balloon element to dilate the occlusion and the other having a calibrator element to measure the widened lumen of the occluded segment of artery. This could result in the repeated insertion and removal of catheters into and out of arteries until the sizes of the enlarged passages of the occluded segments of the arteries were of acceptable dimensions. The heavier the traffic of catheters within blood vessels the greater is the risk that material may be accidentally dislodged therefrom with possible consequent blockage elsewhere in the blood circulation system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention combines in a single catheter a dilatation balloon element and a calibrator bead element. Following dilatation of an occlusion the calibrator bead may be moved into the dilated lumen of the occlusion in order to determine whether the occlusion has been sufficiently dilated. The two objects are thereby achieved without the need of indulging in the time-consuming and hazardous activities of repeatedly removing and replacing catheters.
The principal object of the invention is to combine in a single catheter instrument dilatation balloon means which can be inflated and deflated and calibrator bead means to measure the lumen of the dilated occlusion in the artery.
This and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings forming part of this specification.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a semi-schematic view of the present catheter positioned adjacent an occlusion.
FIG. 2 is a similar view showing the occlusion being dilated.
FIG. 3 is a similar view showing the balloon element reinverted.
FIG. 4 is a similar view showing the catheter during the course of movement through the same artery to the next occlusion to be treated.
FIG. 5 is a view showing in elevation and longitudinal cross-section the details and construction of the present catheter with the balloon element everted.
FIG. 6 is a view like that of FIG. 5 showing the balloon element in inverted condition.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The catheter comprises a calibrator oval 10, a flexible shaft 12, a manifold 14 which serves for the connection of a syringe 16 to the instrument, a balloon 18 which is longitudinally extensible from the oval 10 under the fluid pressure applied by syringe 16 and thereafter laterally expansible under increased fluid pressure, and a guide wire 20 to be pulled to re-invert the balloon 18 within the oval 10.
A blood vessel 22 partially occluded by occlusion 24 is provided with an incision 26 for the introduction into the vessel of the catheter. The catheter is moved along the vessel until the oval 10 bears against the end of occlusion 24, as shown in FIG. 1. The syringe 16 is then attached to manifold 14 and actuated to evert the balloon 18 and extend it into the restricted lumen of occlusion 24. The fluid pressure is then increased to radially expand the balloon and compress the occlusion. The fluid pressure is then reduced by reverse operation of the syringe and the syringe is removed from manifold 14. Wire 20 is then manually pulled to re-invert the balloon within the oval. The oval is then moved within the compressed occlusion 24. Ready movability of the oval through the occlusion indicates that the occlusion has been adequately compressed. If the oval is not readily movable through the occlusion the instrument is used to further compress the occlusion. Once the occlusion has been suitably compressed the instrument may be moved further along the vessel 22, as indicated in FIG. 4, if there is a further occlusion to be treated.
The details of construction of the instrument are shown in FIGS. 5-6. The oval 10 and shaft 12 are formed by a tightly wound helical spring 28 which provides the catheter with sufficient flexibility to enable its movement through tortuous arteries. The oval and shaft are provided with an overcoating 30 of silicone, heat-shrink tubing, Teflon, or the like.
The balloon element 18 is made of an elastomeric material such as latex. One end of the balloon is attached to the end of the oval 10 and the other end of the balloon is attached with suture 32 to guide wire 20. The wire 20 is small in diameter relative to the internal diameter of spring 28 to provide an annular fluid passage between the syringe 16 and balloon 18.
Expansion of the balloon element out of the end of the catheter takes place in anisotropic fashion, with the balloon element first everting out of the catheter in advance of substantial lateral expansion, and then, after eversion, laterally expanding in response to the continued exertion of fluid pressure internally of the catheter. Optimal dimensional data for the catheter and the balloon element are set forth in my co-pending application Ser. No. 060,408.
While the invert-evert form of balloon is preferred, other types and forms of balloons may be used as long as they do not impede the movability of the catheters through the arteries and as long as they do not interfere with the use of the calibrator ovals to measure or calibrate the inside diameters of the arterial lumens. | A catheter is provided with an inflatable-deflatable balloon element to radially enlarge a partially occluded artery lumen and the catheter is provided with a calibrator oval to internally gauge the enlarged lumen. | 1,119 |
GOVERNMENT RIGHTS
This application was funded under United States Department of Agriculture Contract No. 90-34189-5014 Sub of 4501. The United States Government has certain rights under this application and any patent issuing thereon.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/376,395, filed Jan. 23, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,527,959.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(1) Summary of the Invention
The present invention relates to table salt (sodium chloride) substitute compositions and their method of use. In particular, the present invention relates to physical mixtures of lysine monohydrochloride and potassium chloride, and optionally succinic acid which produce a salty taste and which unexpectedly closely parallels the taste of table salt.
(2) Description of Related Art
Numerous compositions have been described by the prior art as table salt substitutes. Illustrative are U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,874,055 to Liebrecht; 2,824,008 to Perri et al; 2,829,056 to Kemmerer; 3,015,567 to Hause et al; 3,993,795 to Mauror et al; 5,145,707 to Lee; 5,173,323 to Omari; 5,176,934 to Lee and 5,229,161 to Turk. Some of the compositions use lysine mono- or dihydrochloride and potassium chloride mixed together (Omari and Kemmerer); however, there are additional ingredients, particularly glutamates which produce allergic reactions (asthma, headaches, etc. in certain people) and do not enhance taste or sodium chloride, which is to be avoided in salt-free diets.
OBJECTS
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide novel potassium chloride lysine monohydrochloride mixtures, preferably with a small amount of succinic acid which closely parallels the taste of table salt. Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for using the compositions. Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide the compositions which are easily prepared as an admixtures. These and other objects will become increasingly apparent by reference to the following description.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention relates to an edible composition having a salty taste which consists essentially of an admixture selected from the group consisting of (1) lysine monohydrochloride and potassium chloride, and (2) the lysine monohydrochloride, the potassium chloride and succinic acid each of which are food grade, wherein the weight ratio of the lysine monohydrochloride to potassium chloride is between about 1 to 9 and 3 to 2 and wherein the ratio of lysine monohydrochloride to succinic acid is between about 3 to 1 and 13 to 1 and the composition has a pH between about 5.5 and 6.3.
The present invention also relates to a method for imparting a salty taste to a food which comprises providing an edible composition in the food which consists essentially of an admixture selected from the group consisting of (1) lysine monohydrochloride and potassium chloride, and (2) the lysine monohydrochloride, the potassium chloride and succinic acid which are food grade, wherein the ratio of the lysine monohydrochloride to potassium chloride is between about 1 to 9 and 3 to 2 and wherein the ratio of lysine monohydrochloride to succinic acid is between about 3 to 1 and 13 to 1 and the composition has a pH between about 5.5 and 6.3.
The composition is easily prepared by simple mixing of the ingredients. In order to mask the bitter aftertaste of the potassium chloride there must be between 10% to 60% of the lysine monohydrochloride. When crystals of lysine monohydrochloride are physically mixed with crystals of potassium chloride, the resulting mixture has the appearance of, and taste intensity of, table salt, without the characteristic taste of the potassium ion. Lysine monohydrochloride can also be co-crystallized with potassium chloride from a solution in which they are soluble (such as water) to produce a salty crystalline mixture. The succinic acid produces a more salty taste in amounts between about 0.1 and 10 percent by weight in the composition. In the most preferred compositions the weight ratio of lysine monohydrochloride to potassium chloride is between 2 and 3 to 7. When succinic acid is present, the weight ratio of lysine monohydrochloride to potassium chloride is 2 and 2.99 to 7 and the succinic acid is included in an amount between 0.1 and 10 percent by weight of the composition.
Lysine is an essential amino acid and thus is a dietary supplement. Potassium chloride is commonly used as a salt substitute to avoid sodium intake. Succinic acid is a common food acid. Thus, the composition fulfills dietary as well as taste needs.
The following are illustrative Examples of the compositions of the present invention.
EXAMPLE 1
Table 1 shows the results of taste tests by a taste panel of 3 people of various compositions incorporating lysine monohydrochloride (LysMhc) lysine monohydrate (Lysmh) potassium chloride (KCl) and an acid (HCl) or base (KOH).
TABLE 1______________________________________Salt Molar Ratio ofname Lys/Cl/K Solution comp. Sol. pH Taste______________________________________1 2:4:2 Lysmhc + KCl 5.55 Salty+++2 2:3:1 Lysmhc + KCl 5.66 Salty-acid3 2:2:1 Lysmhc + Lysmh + KCl 9.34 Salty4 4:3:1 Lysmhc + Lysmh + KCl 9.48 Salty-sweet5 2:2:1 Lysmhc + KOH 9.50 Salty- metallic6 2:6:2 Lysmhc + KCl + HCl 1.00 Acidic______________________________________ *The salt+ tastes saltier than salty and salty- tastes less saltier than salty. ** The water used was double distilled water.
A crystallized dry salt product composed of Lysmhc and KCl (1) with a molar ratio of 2:4 was found to possess the desired salty taste.
EXAMPLE 2
Table 2 shows the results of taste tests by a taste panel of 3 people for various mixtures of lysine monohydrochloride (Lysmhc) and KCl mixtures as dry salts and in solution.
TABLE 2______________________________________weight % Sol./2 gLysmhc/KCl Dry Mixture water pH______________________________________0/100 (25%) Irritates Irritates 7.6210/90 Salty++++* Salty++++ 6.2320/80 Salty+++ Salty++++ 6.2130/70 Salty++ Salty+++ 6.1240/60 Salty++ Salty+++ 6.0150/50 Salty+ Salty+ 5.9960/40 Salty Salty 5.9770/30 Salty- Salty+ 5.8780/20 Salty-- Salty+ 5.8390/10 Salty--- Salty-- 5.71100/0 (33%) Salty-sweet Salty-sweet 5.75100% dd** Water -- -- 5.70______________________________________ *The salt+ tastes saltier than salty and salty- tastes less saltier than salty. **double distilled water.
As can be seen from Table 2 mixtures including 10 to 60% of the lysine monohydrochloride with potassium hydrochloride had the desired taste both in dry form and in solution. These mixtures also had an acid pH between about 5.5 and 6.3 depending upon the amount of lysine monohydrochloride.
EXAMPLE 3
Table 3 shows different concentrations of a thirty weight percent (30%) lysine monohydrochloride to potassium chloride mixture (dry) mixed which is then dissolved in water used in taste tests by a taste panel of 3 people.
As can be seen, the mixture can be used in an amount up to about 30% by weight in water to produce the desired salty taste.
TABLE 3______________________________________30 wt % Lys/KClCont. in water pH Taste Comment______________________________________10 6.04 salty Clear sol.20 6.02 salty+ Clear sol.30 6.02 Salty++ Clear sol.40 5.90 Irritates Saturated25% (100% KCl) 7.62 Irritates Clear sol.25% (100% 7.11 Standard BlurredNaCl) sol.______________________________________
No other amino acid tested (including glutamic acid, glutamic acid monohydrochloride, glycine, glycine monohydrochloride, and lysine monohydrate) provided the masking of the potassium taste. The optimal concentration of lysine monohydrochloride in the mixture was about thirty percent (30%) by weight in Example 3 based upon taste tests.
EXAMPLE 4
A preference test was conducted in which 38 panelists participated and tasted four dry samples in random order. The samples were:
1. 70/30 wt % potassium chloride/crystalline lysine monohydrochloride, which is the subject of the current application.
2. Commercially available MORTON SALT SUBSTITUTE (containing potassium chloride, fumaric acid, tri- and mono-calcium phosphate).
3. Example 1 of U.S. Pat. No. 2,829,056 (containing lysine dihydrochloride, mono-potassium glutamate, potassium chloride and tricalcium phosphate).
4. Regular table salt.
The results of this test indicated the composition No. 1 of the invention was preferred to No. 2 and No. 3. The ranking of Samples No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 were 61, 75, and 86, respectively, with the lowest number being preferred. The ranking was determined as follows: There was statistically difference at the 95% level between No. 1 and No. 3 (U.S. Pat. No. 2,829,056), but the difference between No. 1 and No. 2 was not statistically significant.
EXAMPLE 5
Taste trials were performed to assess the intensity of the composition No. 1 of the invention in aqueous solution. In these trials a fifth sample was added to those of Example 4.
5. Same as No. 1 with 10% succinic acid added.
A 4% solution was prepared of each sample and the rank scores were 16, 49, 50, 55, and 55 for samples No. 4, No. 5, No. 2, No. 3 and No. 1, respectively. This test indicates that the samples No. 1 and No. 5 were about 50% the intensity of regular table salt.
EXAMPLE 6
Succinic acid (SA) was added to physical mixtures of potassium chloride (KCl) and lysine monohydrochloride (LysMhc). The results are shown in the following Table 4.
TABLE 4______________________________________Wt % KCl/LysMhc/SA Dry Mixture Taste 4% Solution Taste______________________________________70/30/00 salty very mild salty70/15/15 very acidic, irritates very acidic, irritates70/20/10 very acidic acidic70/25/05 salty acidic salty acidic70/27.5/2.5 very good salty mild salty45/45/10 salty acidic very little saltiness______________________________________
These data indicate that there is a taste improvement by addition of a small amount of succinic acid. The ratio of lysine monohydrochloride to succinic acid that gives this advantage is 10:1 as in application Ser. No. 08/376,395, filed Jan. 23, 1995. Preferably between about 2.5 and 2.9 percent of the composition is succinic acid and the remainder is potassium chloride.
It is intended that the foregoing description be only illustrative of the present invention and that the present invention be limited only by the hereinafter appended claims. | A physical mixture which consists essentially of compositions of lysine monohydrochloride and potassium chloride alone or admixed with small amounts of succinic acid, in particular weight ratios, and which has a salty taste comparable to table salt (sodium chloride). The mixture masks the bitter aftertaste of the potassium chloride and can provide dietary lysine which is an essential amino acid. | 1,644 |
PRIORITY CLAIM
In accordance with 37 C.F.R. 1.76, a claim of priority is included in an Application Data Sheet filed concurrently herewith. Accordingly, the present invention claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/785,423, filed on Mar. 14, 2013, entitled “EXPANDABLE CORPECTOMY DEVICE”, the contents of which are hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention generally relates to improvements to vertebral implants and, more particularly, to a longitudinally expandable vertebral implant including telescoping sections configured for incremental expansion by a ratchet expander for ease of securement at any desired increment in situ.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The spine consists of vertebrae that are categorized into sections known as the cervical, thoracic and lumbar section in a flexible arranged column. The vertebrae are separated by small cartilaginous cushions known as intervertebral discs. Intervertebral discs are oblate spherical structures that maintain the space between adjacent vertebrae. Each intervertebral disc consists of an outer annulus fibrosus, which surrounds the inner nucleus pulposus. The annulus fibrosus consists of several layers of strong annular fibrocartilage to contain the nucleus pulposus and distribute pressure evenly across the disc wherein a mucoprotein gel serves to absorb shocks.
Deterioration of an intervertebral disc results in limited mobility and can cause severe pain. For instance, normal aging causes the nucleus pulposus to lose fluid and contract in volume resulting in a reduction in the intervertebral space. Any reduction of space between adjacent vertebrae may put pressure on the nerves of the spinal column. Further, a reduction in volume of the nucleus pulposus reduces the disc's ability to absorb shock which can result in disc herniation. The bulge of a herniated disc may also put pressure on nearby nerve structures resulting in pain as well as diminished range of motion.
Surgical options are available including laminectomy and discectomy combined with vertebral fusion and/or dynamic stabilization. However, these surgical options are highly invasive and require prolonged hospitalization and recovery. More recently, artificial disc replacement prosthetics have been used to replace or augment all or part of the removed or resected intervertebral disc.
In order to reduce the pain associated with the movement of the intervertebral joint, surgical intervention is often indicated as a means to alleviate pressure upon the spinal cord while concomitantly stabilizing the associated vertebrae. This involves a surgical procedure to distract the disc and or vertebra, or portions thereof, and the insertion of bone fusing material into the cavity of the opposing vertebra. Corpectomy devices have been developed to help support the spine and maintain the normal spacing between opposing vertebrae. Some of these devices may be packed with fusing material to ensure solid bone growth between the two vertebrae. Typically, corpectomy devices are manufactured at various heights requiring that a cavity between opposing vertebrae be distracted to a dimension corresponding to the sized corpectomy device. The surgical procedure to prepare the implant site can be difficult and lengthy. Moreover, the procedure can increase risk of trauma to the tissues surrounding of the implant site.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The instant invention is a longitudinally adjustable corpectomy device which fits within the intervertebral distracted channel. The device includes a means for engaging an extendable member to accommodate the distracted channel. An expanding member moves in relation to a base member in accordance with a rack and pinion type operation. The ratchet mechanism prevents the two members from contracting once expanded.
An objective of the instant invention to provide a corpectomy device that may be adjusted within the intervertebral cavity or adjusted in situ within the cavity.
It is a further objective of the instant invention to provide an expandable corpectomy which can be expanded by use of a rack rotated by a removable shaft.
Yet another objective of the instant invention is to provide vertebra engagable endplates which are arranged to pivot and self adjust.
Other objectives and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with any accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention. Any drawings contained herein constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
FIG. 1 is a side view of the corpectomy device in a compressed position with the pivoting endplate angled forward;
FIG. 2 is a side view of the corpectomy device in a compressed position with the pivoting endplate angled backward;
FIG. 3 is a side view of the corpectomy device in a raised position with the pivoting endplate centered; backward;
FIG. 4 is the opposite side view of FIG. 3 depicting the pinion driver;
FIG. 5 is the perspective view illustrating the ratchet mechanism for use in locking the members in position;
FIG. 6 is a pictorial view depicting the corpectomy device between vertebra in a compressed position;
FIG. 7 is another pictorial view of FIG. 6 from a different perspective;
FIG. 8 is view of FIG. 7 with a pinion driver;
FIG. 9 is view of FIG. 8 upon rotation of the pinion driver;
FIG. 10 is a pictorial view depicting the corpectomy device between vertebra in an expanded position;
FIG. 11 is a pictorial view depicting the ratchet mechanism of the corpectomy device;
FIG. 12 is a pictorial view depicting the corpectomy device with a top endplate;
FIG. 13 is a pictorial view of the corpectomy device in position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to the Figures, set forth is the corpectomy device 10 in a compressed position with the pivoting endplate 12 angled forward. The corpectomy implant device 10 is defined by a base member 14 telescopingly received into an expansion member 16 . The base member 14 is formed from a housing having a lower end 15 with a first 17 and second 19 side walls extending from said lower end 15 . Said base member include end walls 21 and 23 positioned between said first and second side walls 17 , 19 each having a centrally disposed U-shaped slot 18 formed therein extending from the lower end along a length of the end walls with a first edge 20 of said slot 18 non-engaging and a second edge 22 lined with an engaging edge, preferably directional ratchet teeth 22 . Lower endplate 12 can be inserted into the open end of the base member 14 , the lower endplate having a surface 11 for use in bone engagement.
The expansion member 16 is formed from housing having first and second side walls 25 and 27 and first and second end walls 29 and 31 , the four walls constructed and arranged to encompass said base member walls. Side wall 25 includes an aperture 24 sized to permit insertion of pinion tool 30 having a shoulder 32 that allows ease of rotation by bearing upon the side wall 25 with a pinion for engagement of the ratchet teeth 22 . Rotation of the pinion tool 30 provides extension of the expansion member 16 from the base member 14 as the pinion tool is limited in movement with the expansion member 16 by the size of the aperture 24 .
Positioned with the base member is a spring loaded biasing ratchet assembly 36 having a pair of engagement prongs 38 and 40 that engage the ratchet teeth 22 . The biasing ratchet assembly 36 includes having a biasing member 41 that engages an inner surface of the base member 14 expanding the engagement prongs 38 and 40 against the ratchet teeth 22 wherein the spacing of the extension member from the base member is unidirectional to prohibit compression of the structure once positioned. The expansion member 16 permits the device to expand relative to the base member 14 and overall longitudinal dimension of the device. Upper endplate 42 can be inserted into the open end of the expansion member 16 , the upper endplate having a surface 44 for use in bone engagement.
The endplates 12 and 42 may be interchangeably connected or permanently attached, such as laser welded, to the corpectomy device. These endplates may be of any desired shape, size or thickness. For example, the endplate 42 of FIG. 12 is substantially flat with engagement teeth 44 forming a pattern allowing bone growth material to pass through. In FIGS. 1-3 the endplate 12 can be moved at an angle that will allow the implant to restore the normal curvature of the spine after the corpectomy device is installed. Moreover, the shape may or may not correspond to the cross-sectional shape and size (foot-print) of the base. In those instances where the patient presents unusual physiology, such as curvature of the spine (lordosis or kyphosis), additional physiology compensating members may be interposed with the respective endplates. These compensating members allow the corpectomy implant device 10 to take on a more arcuate shape thereby conforming more closely with the existing spinal configuration.
FIG. 2 is a side view of the corpectomy implant device 10 in a compressed position having expansion member 16 placed over the insert of base member 14 with the pivoting endplate 12 angled backward. FIG. 3 is a side view of the corpectomy implant device 10 in a raised position with the pivoting endplate 12 centered.
FIG. 4 is the opposite side view of FIG. 3 depicting the pinion driver 30 inserted into aperture 24 . FIG. 5 is the reverse perspective view illustrating the biasing ratchet mechanism 36 for use in locking the base member 14 and the expansion member 16 in a raised position.
FIGS. 6-8 and 13 are pictorial views depicting the corpectomy implant device 10 between vertebra 100 and 102 in a compressed position.
FIGS. 9-11 depict the device in an expanded state with the pinion driver 30 used to raise the expansion member 16 over the base member 14 .
Accordingly, in preferred embodiments, a corpectomy device comprises a base member, an expansion member, an upper or lower endplate.
In another preferred embodiment, the base member comprises a slot having a first side wall and a second side wall, wherein the first side wall is smooth and the second side wall comprises one or more teeth, spikes or jagged edges.
In another preferred embodiment, the expansion member comprises an aperture for receiving a pinion tool having a first shoulder wherein the first shoulder is smooth, and a second shoulder for engagement of the base member.
In yet another preferred embodiment, the corpectomy device comprises a ratchet, the ratchet comprising at least one engagement prong, a biasing member or combinations thereof.
In yet another preferred embodiment, the upper and lower endplates are interchangeable and comprise patterns, dimensions, shapes, smooth surfaces, grooved surfaces, rough surfaces, or mobility for engaging a vertebra.
Embodiments of the invention are also directed to methods for manipulating the distance between vertebrae in a patient in need thereof.
Accordingly, in a preferred embodiment, a method of manipulating the distance between adjacent vertebrae in a patient, comprising surgically inserting an expandable corpectomy device into an intervertebral cavity, the corpectomy device comprising an upper endplate, a lower endplate, a base member wherein the base member is telescopingly receivable into an expansion member; the base member comprising a slot having a first side wall that is smooth and a second side wall lined with teeth; the expansion member having an aperture for receiving a pinion tool for increasing longitudinal distances of the expansion member relative to the base member.
In some preferred embodiments, the distances between the teeth in the second side wall of the base member aperture are sized so that the expansion can occur by desired increments.
In another preferred embodiment, the corpectomy device comprises a spring loaded biasing ratchet having a pair of engagement prongs for engaging the second side wall of the aperture of the base member and a biasing member for engaging an inner surface of the base member.
In other preferred embodiments, the upper endplate is insertable into an open end of the expansion member, the upper endplate having a surface for bone engagement. Preferably, the upper and lower endplates are interchangeable and comprise patterns, dimensions, shapes, smooth surfaces, grooved surfaces, rough surfaces, or mobility for engaging a vertebra.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Furthermore, to the extent that the terms “including”, “includes”, “having”, “has”, “with”, or variants thereof are used in either the detailed description and/or the claims, such terms are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising.”
It is to be understood that while a certain form of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and any drawings/figures included herein.
One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The embodiments, methods, procedures and techniques described herein are presently representative of the preferred embodiments, are intended to be exemplary and are not intended as limitations on the scope. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and are defined by the scope of the appended claims. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention which are obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be within the scope of the following claims. | The instant invention is a longitudinally adjustable corpectomy device which fits within the intervertebral distracted channel. A ratchet mechanism allows for an extendable member to adjust to a longer length to accommodate a distracted channel. The ratchet type mechanism allows the members to move in a unidirectional movement to prevent the two members from contracting once expanded. | 2,487 |
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for collecting poultry from poultry houses. To meet the ever increasing demand for chicken in the American diet, a mass production process has evolved wherein a centrally located processing plant is supplied with live chickens from an array of surrounding satellite chicken farms.
Each chicken farm is individually operated and includes a number of poultry houses where the chickens are confined from the baby chick stage to the time they are harvested. By confining the chickens, productivity is increased while the operating costs are lowered. However, by confining the chickens in a densely populated area, careful control of air temperature, humidity and bacteria count must be maintained. While raising the chickens in a poultry house is accomplished under automated and manual process control, harvesting the chickens is still a labor intensive procedure which has not changed much over the years.
The harvesting procedure begins by placing a number of chicken coops within the poultry house. A typical chicken coop is formed of 15 cages arranged in rows and columns with three cages in a row and 5 cages in a column all joined together to form a rectangular enclosure. Each cage is formed with a front opening having a pivoted door which provides access to the interior of the cage.
The actual loading is accomplished by men working in pairs. Each man catches a number of chickens in each hand and thrusts them into the opening in the cage, one man following the other, until the cage is full. The door is then closed and the next cage is filled, and so on down the column. During the loading process, there are short intervals of time when the cage opening is unprotected and chickens can escape. In an attempt to thwart the escape, some chickens can be harmed, and the resultant confusion disrupts the loading process.
This invention is directed to the provision of a flexible vision blocking curtain across the loading opening to prevent the escape of chickens during the loading process by interrupting their line of sight.
A number of cages to thwart the escape of chickens have been invented, as typified by U.S. Pat. No. 4,285,299, issued Aug. 25, 1981 to Doverd E. Thomas; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,596,950 issued Jan. 28, 1997 to Briggs et al. The patent to Thomas shows a hinged door arranged at an angle to the horizontal so that the poultry can slide down into the cage and cannot escape. Briggs et al. show a pair of inwardly swinging gates which are biased to a closed position. When loading poultry, the gates swing inwardly to deposit the poultry within the cage and then swing to a closed position.
While the above mentioned patents do teach the design of poultry cages to prevent escape during loading, the prior art does not teach the use of a vision blocking flexible curtain across the opening.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The overall object of the present invention is to improve upon the prior art loading gates by adding a flexible vision blocking curtain across the cage opening to lie in the vision path of chickens already in the cage to prevent them from seeing an escape opening.
It is a specific object of the invention to suspend a vision blocking flexible curtain along a top portion of the cage opening so as to enable the curtain to swing inwardly when chickens are loaded and to swing outwardly when the chickens are unloaded.
It is another object of the invention to form the curtain in various shapes to suit the needs of a particular application. Instead of a plastic sheet, the curtain can also be formed of a loosely woven fabric to increase ventilation. In both the sheet plastic or woven fabric construction, a hem or additional weight may be added to the sides and bottom to control flexibility and curtain restoring force after being pushed into an open position. The curtain can also be formed of overlapping strips to increase flexibility.
It is yet another object of the invention to devise a novel method of loading chickens into a cage of a coop by integrating a vision blocking opening to eliminate the criticality in the timing between door opening and hand loading of a batch of chickens to prevent their escape. In so doing, the loading operation can be carried out with less disruption and less harm to chickens.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front view of an assemblage of cages forming a chicken coop with the door of the top right cage in an open position;
FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the FIG. 1 coop;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view of the open cage shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 along with the closed cage immediately below;
FIG. 4 is a part schematic view of the opaque curtain across the cage opening as viewed from inside the cage;
FIG. 5 is a schematic side view illustrating the operation of the curtain;
FIG. 6 shows a modified curtain formed of individual strips; and
FIG. 7 shows a modified curtain formed of a loosely woven fabric.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now in general to the drawings and in particular to FIGS. 1-3, a chicken coop 10 is shown for transporting chickens from a poultry house to a processing plant. The chicken coop is formed of an assembly of cages 11, here fifteen in number, arranged in rows and columns with three cages in a row and five cages in a column. The cages are integrally joined to form a rectangular enclosure having a roof 12, five floors 13, a front wall 14, rear wall 15 and four side walls 16. The side walls 16 and rear wall 15 are formed of an open framework to confine the chickens while providing ventilation. The two interior side walls 16 form a common wall for adjacent cages. A pair of spaced tubular, rectangular beams 17 are joined to the underside of bottom floor 13 to receive a fork lift to move the coop.
Each cage 11 of the coop has a frame opening 18 which collectively form the front wall 14. Each frame opening comprises a top frame member 19, a bottom frame member 20 and two side frame members 21. The frame members can be fabricated from lengths of square tubing common to multiple frame openings.
Referring now to FIG. 3, a door 22 is pivotally mounted on the bottom frame member 20 to move from an open position shown in the top cage of FIG. 3 to a closed position shown in the lower cage in FIG. 3. The pivotal mounting of door 22 includes a limiting pivot position where the door remains at rest in an open position with its inside surface substantially flush with the cage floor as shown in the top cage in FIG. 3. In its closed position shown in the bottom cage in FIG. 3, the door is rotated until it engages a stop 23 where it remains until manually moved to an open position. A handle 24 is mounted on the outside surface of the door to facilitate manual opening and closing.
The prior art shows numerous mechanisms for opening and closing a cage door. A simple hand latch is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,285,299 mentioned above while an over center spring mechanism 25 is employed here to hold the door closed when it is manually lifted from its at rest open position. The mechanism for opening and closing the cage door is conventional and is not part of the disclosed invention.
A vision obstructing flexible curtain 26 is mounted across the opening 18 forward of the door to obstruct the opening when the door is in its open position. Applicant has discovered that when caged chickens cannot see an unobstructed escape path they will not attempt an escape. The curtain 26 in FIG. 3 is in the form of a black sheet of plastic having a hem 27. As seen in FIG. 4, the curtain is hung from the inside of the top member 19 by means of a clamping strip 28 and a number of screws 29.
FIGS. 4 and 5 are part schematic views explaining the mode of operation of the vision obstructing curtain. FIG. 4 is a view of the inside of the curtain as seen by chickens confined by the remaining five sides of the cage. The inventor has discovered that chickens will not attempt flight when an open escape path is not visible to them. In this manner, the invention solves the problem of chicken escape when door 22 is in the open position during the cage loading operation. As an optional feature, a wood dowel or steel pin 34 can be inserted in hem 27 for ballast.
FIG. 5 diagrammatically explains the operation of the curtain. FIG. 5 also discloses an alternative mounting for the curtain. Instead of a clamping strip and screws as shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 5 discloses a series of open hooks 30 spaced along top member 19 which supports the curtain on a matching series of grommets 31. As seen in FIG. 5, when door 22 is in the open position, chickens are pushed through the curtain, causing it to rotate in a counterclockwise direction as shown by the arrows 32 around pivots 30, 31. After the chickens are loaded, the curtain rotates back to its vertical rest position, darkening the opening. When the cage is full, door 22 is moved to a closed position. To unload all of the cages in a coop, a fork lift engages the rectangular beams 17, and rotates the coop about a quarter turn in a counterclockwise direction. The weight of the birds sliding down the floors forces the doors to open and the curtains to swing to an open position as shown by the arrows 33. After the chickens are unloaded, the coop is rotated back to a rest position and the doors are closed.
FIG. 6 shows a modified curtain construction which is suspended from top frame member 19 in a manner similar to FIG. 4. However, instead of a single layer curtain, two layers 34 and 35 are employed. The front layer 34 is split at cuts shown with a solid line while the rear layer 35 is split at cuts shown with a dashed line. This construction provides for greater flexibility while still obstructing the line of sight.
FIG. 7 shows a modified curtain suspended from top member 19 in the manner shown at 28 and 29 in FIG. 4 or by means of hooks and grommets as shown in FIG. 5. The curtain 35 is formed of a closely woven fabric which allows for a certain degree of ventilation while obstructing the line of sight.
It is not intended to limit the present invention to the details of illustration or terms of description of the preferred embodiments shown above. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alterations therein may be made within the scope of the present invention. | Method and apparatus for loading a poultry coop. Each compartment in the coop has a rectangular frame opening which is blocked or unblocked by a pivoted door. A flexible vision blocking curtain is hung across the opening to prevent the escape of any poultry during the loading procedure. | 1,918 |
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention relates to heaters, such as positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heaters, used to vaporize air treatment chemicals from a substrate. More particularly it relates to spring assemblies which can adjust for thermal expansion of such heaters.
[0004] Electrical heaters have been developed to heat a substrate (e.g. a mat) impregnated with an air treatment chemical, to thereby dispense the chemical. For example WO 2006/046209 (the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein) discloses one such PTC electrical heater. Also representative of the current state of the art are U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,404,463, 4,431,983, 4,728,779, 4,874,924, 5,256,857 and 5,471,034, and also WO 97/02054.
[0005] However, devices of this type do have some drawbacks. For one thing, the outer housings of such PTC heaters tend to undergo thermal expansion during operation. As most of the electrical components are anchored to the housing, this can cause relative movement of the electrical parts with respect to each other, thereby disrupting electrical contact, or rendering heat transfer less efficient.
[0006] To adjust for this to some extent there have been attempts to incorporate springs into the assembly. One approach is to make a portion of the electrical contact itself into an integral spring-like structure. However, this can increase production costs or complexity, or be difficult to reliably implement if one also wishes to use optimal electrical contact materials.
[0007] There have also been attempts to instead use separate springs which bias an electrical contact against a heater, yet allow some relative movement. However, to date, these assemblies have had their own deficiencies (e.g. complexity; cost; inability to adjust for certain types of expansion).
[0008] Apart from this, PTC heater elements are sometimes so fragile that their abutment with associated electrical contacts (particularly those that are stamped) can lead to breakage of the PTC element. A stamped contact can have a sharp edge which, over time, can lead to such cracking. While there have been attempts to avoid the use of stamped contacts with sharp ends (e.g. our company's U.S. Ser. No. 11/614,645 filed on Dec. 21, 2006), materials which are optimal for that purpose may not be optimal for certain spring related functions.
[0009] Hence, a need still exists for improved electrical heaters useful for vaporizing air treatment chemicals.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] In one aspect the invention provides a heating device having a housing defining an internal cavity and having spaced supports extending there from into the cavity, a heating element positioned in the cavity, a first electrical contact abutting the heating element along a first side of the heating element, a second electrical contact abutting the heating element on a side thereof opposite the first side, and a spring suspended by the spaced supports and having a portion thereof biasing the second electrical contact towards the heater element.
[0011] The spring has a convex surface pointed away from the second electrical contact and rising sufficiently there from so as to be pressed against the interior surface of the housing. As a result, the convex portion of the spring is compressed and remaining parts of the spring apply pressure against the second electrical contact, securing it against the heating element. The spring is sufficiently compressed that, even as the housing expands when heated, the spring remains in contact with the housing and continues to apply pressure against the second electrical contact. As a result, the second electrical contact remains properly engaged against the heating element, and the heating element, in turn, is also urged against the first electrical contact, ensuring uninterrupted electrical connections.
[0012] In preferred forms the heating element is a pill-shaped positive temperature coefficient heating element, the spring has a convex surface pointed away from the second electrical contact and a concave surface pointed towards the second electrical contact, and the first electrical contact has a contact head that bulges towards the heating element. The first electrical contact may also serve a heat diffusion function.
[0013] Our heaters are intended to be used with a substrate positioned against an outside surface of the housing, the substrate bearing a volatilizable air treatment chemical such as an insect control active ingredient, a scent, a deodorizer, or the like. Heating causes the chemical to volatize from the mat, thereby treating the room air.
[0014] For example, in one preferred embodiment the heater could be used with a conventional mosquito control mat formed of compressed cellulosic fibers that have been impregnated with an insect control agent such as allethrin or metofluthrin. The art is well aware of a number of other substrates, and other air treatment chemicals, that can be used with these types of devices (e.g. repellents, fragrances, deodorizers).
[0015] Our devices therefore accommodate thermal expansion, without imposing undesirable design constraints on the electrical contacts. Further, our devices can be inexpensively produced, which may be particularly important to their commercial potential in some third world markets.
[0016] The foregoing and other advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description. In that description reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part thereof, and in which there is shown by way of non-limiting illustration a preferred embodiment of the invention. The claims which follow thereafter should be looked to in order to judge the full scope of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention, shown with an impregnated mat about to be installed therein;
[0018] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the FIG. 1 embodiment, albeit without the impregnated mat shown;
[0019] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a PTC heater portion of the FIG. 1 device;
[0020] FIG. 4 is another exploded perspective view of the PTC heater of FIG. 3 ;
[0021] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of part of the PTC heater of FIG. 4 , but showing how alternate forms of the preferred spring could instead be used;
[0022] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4 - 4 of FIG. 1 ; and
[0023] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7 - 7 of FIG. 6 .
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0024] Referring first to FIGS. 1-2 and 6 - 7 , there is shown a vaporizer 10 which includes a cover 12 having a air grill 13 , a PTC heater 14 , an impregnated mat 16 , and a housing bottom 18 . As will be apparent from FIG. 3 , PTC heater 14 includes a first housing part 20 , a second housing part 22 , a first electrical contact 24 , a PTC pill form heating element 26 , a second electrical contact 28 , and most importantly spring 30 . The first housing part 20 supports the first electrical contact 24 , which abuts a second side 25 of the PTC heating element 26 . The second electrical contact 28 abuts a side 27 of the PTC heating element 26 opposite the side abutting the first electrical contact 24 .
[0025] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 , the first housing part 20 and second housing part 22 form a clamshell type housing to define a cavity 33 there between. First housing part 20 has support pegs 32 integrally formed therewith and extending into the cavity 33 . These pass the first electrical contact 24 by virtue of cut outs 37 . The ends of the spring 30 can be pinned or otherwise fastened to the support pegs 32 spanning the distance between them.
[0026] The second housing part 22 also has pegs 34 protruding inwards towards the first housing part 20 . These pegs 34 help fix the first electrical contact 24 in place when the housing is closed.
[0027] The first electrical contact 24 preferably comprises a flat heat diffuser plate section 36 linked by a right angle bend to an elongated leg 38 . The leg 38 forms one terminal of a linkage to the power supply, and thus after assembly extends outside the housing. There are also apertures 40 for receiving additional pegs 32 from the first housing part 20 .
[0028] The PTC heating element 26 includes a first side 27 and a second side 25 . While heating element 26 is shown in a “pill” form, other conventional PTC element shapes could also be used. Further, heating element 26 can have metallization on either or both sides (not shown).
[0029] The second electrical contact 28 preferably comprises a U-shaped plate 50 including an elongated leg 52 extending away from the plate 50 at a right angle. Elongated leg 52 forms the second terminal of a linkage to the power supply and ultimately remains extending outside the housing. There is also a curved dome having a contact portion 56 . The dome can have a convex side 62 .
[0030] A spring 30 is in the form of a stainless steel strip having apertures 68 , 70 in opposing ends 72 , 74 . The apertures 68 , 70 receive the tapered ends 39 of pegs 32 in wedging fashion, to thereby suspend the spring 30 over and against second electrical contact 28 . The middle suspended portion 76 of the spring 30 is convex in shape (i.e., bulges outwardly, away from the second electrical contact 28 ).
[0031] While stainless steel is an optimal metal for the spring in this environment, it is not optimal for the second electrical contact 28 . For that we prefer a metal such as aluminum.
[0032] Referring most specifically to FIG. 5 , alternate spring embodiments 30 A and 30 B of the spring 30 are shown. For spring 30 A two of the spring 30 elements are attached to each other face-to-face to create a convex bulge 86 and a concave bulge 88 . In spring 30 B the middle portion of a single spring 30 is split lengthwise, leaving three thinner strips 80 , 82 and 84 . Strips 80 and 82 are convex (curving away from the second electrical contact 28 ), while the middle strip 84 is concave in shape (curving toward the second electrical contact).
[0033] The convex portion 76 of the spring 30 presses against the interior side of the second housing part 22 when the housing is assembled, somewhat compressing the convex portion of the spring. The convex portion 76 is sufficiently compressed that, when the housing expands in response to the heating of the heating element 26 , the convex portion rebounds to cause the spring 30 to remain in contact with the second housing part 22 and to continue to apply pressure against the second electrical contact 28 . The convex portions 80 and 82 of alternative embodiment spring 30 B and 86 of alternative embodiment spring 30 B function in that same way. Thus, regardless of the spring embodiment 30 , 30 A, 30 B used, the spring helps maintain a positive pressure contact between the second electrical contact 28 and the PTC heating element 26 , and thus indirectly between the first electrical contact 24 and the PTC heating element, even during thermal expansion of the housing. In fact, because the spring 30 receives heat directly from the heating element 26 by conduction through the second electrical contact 28 , the spring tends to expand to an extent proportionally greater than the expansion of the housing, which tends to urge the convex portion of the spring even more securely against the housing. The combination of convex and concave portions of alternative spring embodiments 30 A and 30 B allows those curved parts to be compressed so as to achieve the same overall displacement as is achieved by compression of the convex portion of spring 30 but with less distortion of each individual curved part.
[0034] Note also that because the parts are held close together, heat can readily transfer from the pill form heating element 26 to the heat diffusing plate portion of the first electrical contact 24 . Thus, the process of transferring heat to an outer surface 92 of the PTC heater remains efficient even during thermal expansion. Note that the thermal expansion problem occurs even if preferred plastics are used for the outer housing.
[0035] As seen in FIGS. 6 and 7 , the heater 14 is, after final assembly enclosed by protective cover 12 and housing bottom 18 of the vaporizer 10 . The mat 16 fits between that cover and outer surface 92 .
[0036] While the present invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment, various other embodiments are possible as well. For example, it is not essential that the heater be in pill form, or even be a PTC heater.
[0037] Thus, the claims should be looked to in order to judge the full scope of the invention.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0038] The present invention provides a heating device with an improved spring/electrical contact assembly to adjust for heat expansion. | An electrical heating device is disclosed that is suitable to vaporize air treatment chemicals from an impregnated substrate. The device is provided with a PCT heater held between electrical contacts and a spring that is compressed between the housing of the heating device and one of the electrical contacts to maintain pressure thereon in spite of thermal expansion of the housing, ensuring good electrical contact between the PCT heater and the electrical contacts. | 2,271 |
[0001] This invention relates to devices for preparing corn-on-the-cob to be eaten. More specifically, the invention relates to devices for use in cleaning the silks of the corn away from the corn-on-the-cob, and to cutter devices for removing the corn kernels from the cob.
[0002] Devices have been proposed and sold in the past for removing silks from the cob. Cutters also have been proposed for removing corn kernels from the cob.
[0003] Some of the prior corn cutters suffer from the problem that an elongated handle gets in the way of the cutting operation and tends to make it difficult to use.
[0004] It also has been proposed in the past to mount both a brush and a cutter on a single elongated handle, with the blade of the cutter being positioned so that the handle is perpendicular to the corn cob as the device is used to cut the corn off of the cob. This device, it is believed, also is relatively awkward to use, and has other shortcomings limiting its commercial acceptability.
[0005] As a result, known prior devices for cutting corn from the cob, and for removing silks from the corn to be cooked, have generally been awkward to use, and otherwise less than fully satisfactory.
[0006] Another problem with prior cutters is that the blades often do not cut the corn to a consistent depth; that is, sometimes, the blades dig into the cob too deeply or not deep enough.
[0007] Therefore, it is the object of the present invention to provide a corn preparation device which eliminates or alleviates the foregoing problems.
[0008] More specifically, it is an object to provide a device which can be held easily in the hand while cutting corn from the cob, or while removing silks from the corn cob, and with only minimal contact between the hands of the user and the corn.
[0009] It also is an object of the present invention to provide a protective holder for the corn cutter to keep it from cutting inadvertently.
[0010] It is a further object to provide such a device which is easily convertible from de-silking brush to a cutter so that both functions can be provided in a single compact device.
[0011] In accordance with the present invention, the foregoing objectives are met by the provision of a single structure which is easy to grasp and can be used either as a corn cutter in cutting corn from the cob, or as a brush for removing silks from the cob.
[0012] The foregoing is accomplished by the novel construction in which a base member is provided with first and second opposing faces of a relatively broad extent. Extending from a first one of the surfaces is a brush, and extending from the opposite one of the surfaces is a cutter. A cover is provided to cover either one of the two implements. The cover fits securely onto the body so as to form a palm-fitting pushing structure against which the user can push. The device can be converted from a cutter to a de-silking brush, or vice versa, simply by moving the cover from one surface to the other.
[0013] The invention further provides a cutter blade which is sharpened on both sides of the edge. This tends to guide the blade in a straight path, not forcing it to dig too deeply or cut too shallowly in passing through the corn.
[0014] Because the cover forms a palm-fitting structure for the device, it is believed to be easier to use and to push than certain other devices which have an elongated handle, and tends to hold the fingers of the user out of contact with the corn, thus minimizing such contact and minimizing covering the fingers with messy food juices, butter, and minimizing potential contamination.
[0015] The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in or apparent from the following description and drawings.
In the Drawings:
[0016] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the scrubber-cutter device of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the two units shown in FIG. 1 assembled together with parts of the structure cut away to better illustrate the device;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the base member of the present invention with the brush assembly removed and the bottom portion facing upwardly;
[0019] FIG. 4 is an end elevation view, partially cut away, of the device shown in FIG. 2 with the cover reversed to the bottom side to cover the cutter and leave the brush exposed;
[0020] FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of a brush unit which fits into the base member shown in FIG. 3 , with the bristles on the other side of the structure shown in FIG. 5 and therefore not visible;
[0021] FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the interior of the structure shown in FIG. 3 , with a bridge element positioned in the structure to help support the brush member;
[0022] FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of the bridge member piece shown in FIG. 6 ; and
[0023] FIG. 8 is a broken-away cross-sectional view through the cutting blade taken along line 8 - 8 of FIG. 2 .
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
[0024] Referring first to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a fresh corn cutter and de-silker 20 is shown in an exploded view.
[0025] The device 20 includes a base member 22 with a brush 40 extending upwardly from the base on a first side 36 of the base, and (referring to FIG. 2 ) a corn cutter 48 with a blade 52 extending from the lower surface 38 of the base member. A cover 24 is provided. Cover 24 has side walls 28 and 30 , and a curved upper surface 26 which has a decorative finish simulating the look of an ear of corn. The cover 24 is shown lifted above the base 22 , as is customary in an exploded view.
[0026] When it is desired to use the cutter 48 on the bottom surface 38 to cut corn off of the cob, the cover is placed over the brush by pressing the cover down over the edge 32 and against a ledge 34 extending circumferentially around the side of the base 22 . By this means, the cover is fastened securely to the base. The assembled unit is comparable in size and shape to a bar of soap, and can be fitted into the palm of the hand of the user to push the blade 52 longitudinally through the corn-on-the-cob to strip the fresh corn kernels from the cob.
[0027] FIG. 4 of the drawings shows the cover 24 reversed and attached to the bottom edge of the base member 22 so that it covers the cutter 48 . This leaves the brush 40 exposed so that it can be used to de-silk the corn.
[0028] Whether the device is used for de-silking the corn or cutting it, the cover forms a convenient, fairly tall grippable structure which fits neatly into the palm of an adult hand, much like a bar of soap. The cover provides an upwardly spaced gripping surface which raises the fingers of the hand above the surface of the corn so that the fingers are not so easily soiled and so that the corn tends to be more protected from possible contamination by contact with the fingers. When the device is stored, the cover can cover either the brush or the cutter. If it covers the cutting blade, this protects against accidental cutting of objects or fingers.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
1. Base Member
[0029] The base member 22 is shown in FIGS. 1 , 2 and 3 . Referring particularly to FIG. 3 , the base member is a molded plastic part with a projecting ridge 34 around the periphery with slight extensions of the ridge at 35 . The projections 35 are used as grippers to hold the body member with one's fingers when the cover 24 is being removed or replaced on the body. The vertical walls are curved as at 62 and 64 in a shape approximating the curvature of a typical ear of corn. The base member is shaped to accommodate the ear of corn, both on the bottom surface 38 and the upper surface 36 .
2. Brush Structure
[0030] The brush structure 40 is illustrated in FIGS. 1 , 4 and 5 . The brush structure is a single molded part comprising a molded bristle base 42 and molded brush bristles formed in the same molding operation. Low density polyethylene is the material of which the base and bristles are made so as to make them relatively soft and flexible.
[0031] The underside of the brush unit is shown in FIG. 5 . Flexible vertical plastic walls 80 form an elongated rectangular shape to match that of the base member 22 and to fit into the cavity 60 shown in FIG. 3 with an interference fit. Tabs extend from the opposite short ends 44 of the bristle base to facilitate removing and replacing the bristle base in the base member 22 , thus providing means for separating the parts for washing.
[0032] As it can be seen in FIG. 4 , the upper surface of the bristles and the upper edge of the bristle base 42 are given with a curvature approximating that of an ear of corn.
[0033] Referring again to FIG. 5 , in the longitudinal center of the bristle base structure shown in FIG. 5 is a reinforcing rib 82 . A projection 84 is formed which, when the bristle base 42 is fitted into the base member 22 , extends downwardly by a predetermined distance to abut against a surface 90 (see FIG. 6 ) of a bridge member 86 which is fitted into the cavity 60 of the base member 22 shown in FIG. 3 . This provides vertical support for the flexible bristle base and bristles to prevent undue distortion under the scrubbing force or cutting force applied by the user.
3. Cover
[0034] The cover 24 , which is shown in FIGS. 1 , 2 and 4 , has a thumb-shaped recess 43 ( FIG. 1 ), two pairs of slight projections 49 located above and below the projection or flange 34 , and two slight vertical projections on the internal surface of the side wall 28 of the cover to mate with the projections 49 to provide a secure but releasable friction fit between the cover and the base member. The thumb recess 43 increases the degree of effective projection outwardly of the areas 35 which facilitates gripping of the cover and the base to push them together or pull them apart.
[0035] The cutter 48 and its blade 52 are best seen in FIGS. 2 , 4 and 8 . The cutter 48 comprises a blade which is generally U-shaped with a curvature in the direction shown in FIG. 3 so as to approximate the curvature of an ear of corn.
[0036] Referring again to FIG. 3 , the base member 22 has a pair of through holes 72 and 74 , and a pair of upstanding projections, 76 and 78 near the holes.
[0037] Referring to FIG. 2 , the cutter 48 includes the blade 52 with two legs 54 extending through the body 22 . FIG. 3 shows those legs 54 are attached to the projections 76 and 78 to anchor the legs of the cutter solidly. The legs are attached by adhesive and ultrasonic bonding.
[0038] The bridge member 86 is shown in FIG. 7 and it forms two vertical receptacles 92 and 94 into which the projections 76 and 78 fit, with a pair of tabs 98 and 100 to fit into the holes 72 and 74 . The bridge has a curved undersurface as shown at 96 to match the curvature of the lower surface of the structure shown in FIG. 3 . That curvature includes a raised portion 66 flanked by recessed portions 68 and 70 .
4. Cutter
[0039] Referring to FIG. 2 , the cutter 48 includes a blade 52 with serrated cutting teeth 50 . The cutter blade preferably is made of hard stainless steel of the type and quality used in food processor blades so that it maintains its sharpness for a long time.
[0040] The undersurface 38 of the cutter/de-silker device has a longitudinal recess 46 which helps to allow the corn kernels to pass underneath the blade without being cut up any more than necessary.
[0041] FIG. 8 is a broken-away, cross-sectional view of the blade 52 . The forward cutting edge is ground to be beveled on both sides of the cutting edge, as shown at 102 and 104 . This has the advantage that the edge shape does not force the blade downwardly towards the corn cob to cut more of the corn kernels than is desired, nor upwardly to cut too little. This is in contrast to those prior cutters whose blades have been ground only on one side.
[0042] Some of the advantages of the invention have been described above. Others include the fact that the assembled device 20 is relatively broad compared with prior devices. This allows a somewhat greater width for the cutting blade of the cutter, therefore allowing more to be cut with each stroke than in some prior devices, and yet does not require the use of excessive force. Similarly, the greater width increases the width of the brush 40 compared with some prior devices, thereby increasing the coverage of the brush and, hence, the speed of the de-silking process.
5. Materials
[0043] Some of the materials of which the device shown in the drawings is made have been mentioned above. The base 22 and the bridge 86 preferably are made of high impact polystyrene, and the cover 24 preferably is made of SAN.
[0044] These materials can be replaced by other suitable materials, within the skill of those experienced in the art.
[0045] The above description of the invention is intended to be illustrative and not limiting. Various changes or modifications in the embodiments described may occur to those skilled in the art. These can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. | A device is provided for cutting and/or de-silking corn on the cob. A single unit has a base and a removable cover. A brush for use in removing silks is mounted on one side of the base, and a cutter is mounted on the other side. When it is desired to use the tool on one side instead of the other, the cover is placed over the other tool. The cover then is used as an easy-to-grip palm-fitting structure to push the brush or the cutter along the ear of corn. | 2,500 |
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to plows for tilling the earth and more particularly to a moldboard type plow which is reversible for an improved result.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Reversible moldboard and disc type plows have been used for some time. They require an implement support which is shiftable to change the angle at which the implement is pulled through the earth as it proceeds back and forth so that the angle for one direction is the same as that for the following opposite direction.
A reversible plow throws the dirt in the same direction when travelling in opposite directions in a longitudinal path. The need for such a plow arises from the necessity to create equal furrows without leaving free spaces and to provide an even, levelled surface.
HISTORY OF THE PRIOR ART
In the past, reversible disks or an extra set of moldboards have been used so that right and left side plowing can be done, but at the cost of additional weight, equipment and power.
Reversible plows with disks fixed to a tool bar or with only one set of moldboards have also been used as in the U.S. Pat. Nos. to Gomez 4,800,963, Fowler 2,764,075, and Johnson et al. 3,305,025. Other patents of related nature are Brown 1,149,720, Dukes 2,597,079, Barrett 2,672,801, Jennings 2,724,313, Heckathorn et al. 3,042,120, Jennings 3,101,789, Watvedt 4,646,849, Korf 4,869,327, British patent 1,497,259 of Jan. 5, 1978, and U.S.S.R. patents 640,688 of January 1979 and 812,199 of March 1981.
The U.S. Pat. Nos. to Watvedt 4,603,745 and 4,825,955 disclose double plowshares mounted on a plow frame which is rotatable in a vertical plane about a shaft by the action of a pair of hydraulic cylinders and pistons.
French patent 2,390,079 of January 1979, especially FIG. 1, and Johnson et al. 3,305,025, mentioned above, especially FIG. 3, disclose hitch bars that are pivotably mounted in order to move in a vertical plane between plow angular positions.
The U.S. Pat. No. to Katayama et al. 4,553,605 discloses link arms that are movable up and down by lift rods operated by hydraulic cylinders for the purpose of tilting the implement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide a moldboard type plow in which the moldboards may be shifted to plow from either side, the shifting being done by power means controlled as required by the tractor hydraulics and able to stand up to the demanding type of plowing done by moldboards.
A further object is to provide a power operated means for tilting the frame carrying the moldboards in order to adjust the depth of cut of the bottom of the furrow.
A further object is to provide a hydraulic hookup for the moldboard shifting cylinders and the frame tilting cylinder(s) in which the cylinders are operated sequentially, instead of simultaneously, thus reducing the hydraulic pressure required for the operation, and in which all cylinders are locked following actuation in order to hold the moldboards in the adjusted plowing position.
The foregoing objects are accomplished by the use of a central moldboard carrying beam that is pivotally mounted in a frame having hitch connections, the beam being connected to trunnion mounted cylinder and piston assemblies that control the travel angle of the moldboards and the attitude or angle of the hitch connections being vertically shiftable by auxiliary cylinder and piston assemblies in order to adjust the tilt of the moldboards.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective from the right side of a preferred embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective to an enlarged scale from the left side of the same embodiment;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective from the rear of the forward portion of the apparatus;
FIG. 4 is a plan view indicating the pivotal movement of the beam which carries the moldboards;
FIG. 5 is a section to an enlarged scale on the line 5--5 of FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a section to an enlarged scale on the line 6--6 of FIG. 4;
FIG. 7 is a section to an enlarged scale on the line 7--7 of FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective from the left side of a modification of the invention;
FIG. 9 is a front elevation to an enlarged scale illustrating the hitch plate assembly;
FIG. 10 is a section to an enlarged scale on the line 10--10 of FIG. 8;
FIG. 11 is a section on the line 11--11 of FIG. 10;
FIG. 12 is a perspective to an enlarged scale of a moldboard;
FIG. 13 is a schematic of the hydraulic connections to the positioning and tilt cylinders; and
FIG. 14 is a schematic of hydraulic connections to the positioning cylinders and tilt cylinder of the modification.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With further reference to the drawings, there is illustrated a frame 10 having a front cross member 11, a rear cross member comprising upper and lower plates 12 and 13, right and left side members 14 and 15 extending perpendicularly rearwardly from the front cross member 11, and inclined side members 16 and 17 extending to the ends of the rear cross member 12 and 13.
At the rear of the front cross member 11 an arcuate plate 20 bridges the sides 14 and 15 for purposes which will be described. Extending upwardly from the central and forward portion of the front cross member is an upper hitch plate 22, in two parallel sections, and having a hitch pin 23 extending therethrough for the purposes of attaching to the hitch point of the tractor's three point hitch.
Spaced at either side of the upper hitch plate 22 are right and left lower hitch plates 25 and 26 each of which comprises a pair of spaced plate side members that are connected to the front cross member 11. Between the side members of each lower hitch plate is a cylinder and piston assembly including cylinders 27 and 28, pistons 29 and 30, which are connected to clevises 31 and 32 carrying hitch pins 33 and 34 projecting from the sides of the outer hitch plates where the hitch pin may be received by the lower connections of the three point hitch on the tractor. The cylinders 27 and 28 are mounted by pins 34 and 35 across the tops of the spaced hitch plates in order to permit any necessary swinging movement of the cylinder and piston assemblies.
In order to reduce the wear on the hitch plates, a replaceable and reversible metal wear plate 36 is mounted at the rear of each of the clevises 31 and 32. This protects the slot in which the pin 33 reciprocates from excessive wear.
The frame mounts a longitudinal beam which may be in two sections 40 and 41. The forward section 40 is received intermediate the upper and lower rear cross members 12 and 13 and connected thereto by a pivot 42 which permits the beam to swing laterally of the frame. The forward end of the frame has a ledge plate with upper and lower sections 45, 45 and wear strips 46, 47 which ride on the top and bottom of the arcuate plate 20 previously described, in order to support the forward end of the longitudinal beam.
In order to control the position of the longitudinal beam within the frame 10 a pair of cylinders 50 and 51 are mounted, one on each side of the beam. Thus a right cylinder 50 is mounted with its cylinder intermediate the upper and lower portions of the rear cross member 12 and 13 by a pivot or trunnion mounting 52, its piston 53 extending to a pin 54 mounted between a pair of lugs 55 which are in spaced relation from the forward end of the beam.
Similarly the cylinder 51 has a trunnion mounting 56 and a piston 57 which is connected to a pin 58 between lugs 59 on the opposite side of the beam.
It will be apparent therefore that by the simultaneous operation of the piston assemblies that the forward portion of the longitudinal beam may be angularly shifted from side to side within the frame 10.
The front and rear portions of the longitudinal beam 40-41 have a series of spaced brackets 60 which are connected to mounting plates 61 for holding a series of spaced moldboards 62.
For purposes of convenience and flexibility, as previously indicated, the longitudinal beam may be divided into two portions 40 and 41. The rear portion 41 of the beam has supports 70 and 71 for a rear wheel beam 72 for carrying a gauge wheel 73. Suitable adjusting means 74 are carried in the support 71 in order that the height of the gauge wheel may be adjusted.
With reference to FIG. 12, the moldboards 62 may be made of curved metal frame sections 90 having upper bracket means 91, central bracket means 92 and lower bracket means 93 with protective follower members 94 that aid in the control of the tractor. The frame sections 90 are faced with a wear sheet 95 secured by fasteners 96 and holder strip 97 for reducing the wear on the moldboards and the need for frequent replacement.
The hydraulic control circuit for the positioning cylinders and tilt cylinders is illustrated in FIG. 13. In this figure lines 100-101 may connect to the hydraulic control lines of the tractor. These are connected to a double dual lock out box 102.
In box 102 line 100 is connected to joints 104 and 105; line 101 is connected to joints 106 and 107.
Joints 104 is connected to lines 110 and 111 to one side of tilt cylinders 27 and 28. Joint 105 is connected to lines 113 and 114 to one side of positioning cylinders 50 and 51.
The return side of tilt cylinders 27 and 28 are connected by lines 115 and 116 to joint 106 and line 101 back to the tractor.
Similarly, the return lines 118 and 119 from the positioning cylinders 50 and 51 are connected to the joint 107 and line 120 to the line 101 to the tractor.
In the operation of the tractor hydraulics, the opening of the circuit will generally unlock the circuit with the less pressure, which is usually the positioning cylinder circuit, permitting movement of these cylinders until the plow beam goes the maximum extent and hits the stop, either on the right or the left side. At this point the pressure build up and causes the tilt cylinders to operate. After all of the hydraulic functions have been completed additional pressure will bleed over to the tractor relief. When the tractor lever is returned to neutral, the double dual lockout will lock all of the cylinders, preventing them from any movements during the plowing operation.
It will be understood that at the end of each row, the tractor three-way hitch is generally operated to raise the frame and the beam with the moldboards attached clear of the field until the tractor has turned 180° and is in position to resume plowing in the opposite direction. Then the three-way hitch is lowered in order that plowing in the opposite direction may be done. During the time that the three way hitch is raised the hydraulic circuit may be operated in order to properly position the beam with the moldboards in the proper position for plowing (See FIG. 4) and also to properly position the frame in its appropriately tilted position.
FIGS. 8-11 illustrate a modification of the invention. The modification is in the mounting by means of which the height of the left and right hitch pins are controlled. Instead of having a separate cylinder and piston assembly for each of the hitch pins, the modification includes a hitch plate pivot assembly, as particularly illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9. The assembly includes a hitch plate 150 that is mounted on and depends downwardly from the front cross member 11, substantially centrally thereof. The hitch plate has a center pivot 152 which supports a hitch bar 153 that is pivotally mounted between left and right lower hitch plates 154 and 155. The hitch plates have openings 156 and 157, respectively, for receiving the ends of the hitch bar as it oscillates, the hitch bar carrying left and right lift pins 159 and 160.
A pair of spaced lugs 162-163 are mounted over an opening 164 on the right side of the front cross member 11 and substantially over the right lower hitch plate 155. The lug 162 carries a pivot pin 166 which mounts a cylinder 167 which operates a piston 168 connected to a web 169 of a clevis 170 which engages the hitch bar 153 by means of a pin 171.
Accordingly, by operation of the cylinder and piston assembly the hitch bar may be caused to pivot about the pivot support 152 in order to raise and lower the right and left lift pins 160 and 159. A replacement tee-shaped wear plate 173 is held by a clamp 174 connected to the hitch plate 155 and engaging the clevis 170.
In order to control the operation of the positioning cylinders and the single tilt cylinder of the modification a hydraulic hookup as indicated on FIG. 14 is provided. The hookup includes the lines 100-101 to the tractor disconnects. The line 100 is connected to joint 180 and joint 181 which are connected to lines 182 and 183, respectively, to one side of the positioning cylinders and the tilt cylinder. The other line 101 is connected to line 184 and line 185 to the other side of the cylinders of the positioning cylinders and the tilt cylinder.
Ordinarily, activating the tractor hydraulics will unlock the circuit with the lesser pressure, usually the position cylinder circuit, permitting movement of the cylinders until the plow beam hits the stop on either the right or the left side. This will then permit the tilt cylinder to function. After all of the hydraulic functions have been completed the additional pressure bleeds over to the tractor relief. When the tractor lever is returned to neutral the double dual lock-out, as previously described, will lock all the cylinders preventing any movement during plowing. | A reversible moldboard plow has a plow carrying beam swingably mounted at the rear crossbar of a frame which carries trunnion mounted cylinders connected to the beam for moving the beam, the front of the frame carrying hitch pins for connection to a tractor hitch, the hitch pins being vertically movable in alternate relation in order to tilt the frame and the beam with the moldboards supported thereon. The hitch pins may be moved by independent cylinders and pistons or, alternately, by the movement of a transverse hitch bar on which they are mounted. | 2,481 |
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to surgical instruments and, more particularly, to a novel electro-surgical dissection and cauterization instrument for use primarily in laparoscopic/endoscopic procedures.
Many surgical procedures of today involving the removal and/or cauterization of tissue (e.g. endometriosis, lysis of adhesions, cholecystectomy, appendectomy, etc.) are performed with an electro-surgical dissection and cauterization instrument either in open surgery where the surgeon has direct view and access to the operation site, or in combination with an endoscope. Referring to the endoscopic surgery and, in particular, laparoscopic surgery which refers specifically to the abdominal area, the surgeon first makes usually several small, spaced incisions through the abdominal wall of the anesthetized patient. A source of compressed CO 2 is then delivered through one of the incisions to inflate the abdomen which effectively raises the abdominal wall above the organs and intestines of the patient. A space is thereby created therebetween which facilitates manipulation of surgical instruments which have been inserted into the abdomen through one of the incisions.
The surgeon views the internal operation site with a laparoscope which is a specialized type of scope inserted into the abdomen through an incision. The laparoscope is attached to a miniaturized, surgical camera assembly which operates by transmitting the image the camera is directed at inside the abdomen of the patient to the laparoscope eyepiece and/or a CRT screen in the operating room. A trochar is typically positioned within the incision to provide a smooth passageway for the instruments into and out of the abdomen. The electro-surgical instrument passes through the trochar to reach and perform surgery on the patient by the surgeon carefully manipulating the exposed end of the instrument.
Electro-surgical instruments are used primarily to separate and remove diseased tissue from healthy tissue such as polyps from the colon, for example. They are also used as probes to move tissue about during exploratory surgery. Supplying the instrument with controlled, electrical energy is well known in the art. With the patient properly grounded, a high frequency electric current is discharged at the distal, electrode end of the tool which augments its cutting capability while simultaneously cauterizing bleeding tissue and blood vessels. The electro-surgical instrument includes a proximal end with a plug permitting connection of the tool to an electro-surgical unit which supplies electric energy to the distal, electrode end of the tool. A rigid, linear insulating sleeve surrounds the instrument which delivers electric energy from the proximal, plug end to the distal, electrode end which itself is formed of electrically conductive material such as stainless steel.
The instrument's distal electrode may be found in a variety of configurations, each different configuration serving a different, specific function. For example, a working tip electrode in the shape of a snare or hook is used for grasping and pulling at tissue while a working tip electrode in the shape of a flattened spatula is used primarily to move tissue about and/or to cauterize bleeding tissue. Many other working tip electrode configurations appear on the market every day as the needs and likes of surgeons change.
In most, if not all, of the dissecting tools available today, the working tip electrode of the instrument just described extends directly from the distal end of the insulating sleeve. As such, there is a minimum of distance between the sleeve and the working tip electrode which, in many instances of use, obstructs or impairs the surgeon's view of the operation site as viewed in either complete open surgery or with a laparoscope during the procedure just described. The problem exists due to the small size of the working tip electrode in relation to the relatively large diameter of the sleeve from which it extends.
A second problem surgeons have reported when using present day electro-surgical instruments is that the portion of the working tip electrode directly adjacent the sleeve occasionally makes inadvertent contact with healthy tissue surrounding the surgical work site. This has resulted in unintentional cauterization of healthy tissue which poses serious consequences to both patient and surgeon alike.
It is therefore a principle object of the present invention to provide an electro-surgical instrument including a rigid arm extending between the distal, working tip electrode and the insulating sleeve. The arm includes at least a portion thereof laterally offset from the longitudinal axis of the sleeve whereby obstruction of the surgeon's view of the working tip electrode and surgical work site by the sleeve is substantially reduced.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an electro-surgical instrument which provides an electrical insulating layer along the entire length of the tool up to the exposed working tip electrode such that inadvertent cauterization of tissue with portions of the tool other than the working tip electrode is eliminated.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a single-use, disposable, electro-surgical and cauterizing instrument for endoscopic procedures which is designed for easy handling and use by the surgeon.
Other objects will in part be obvious and in part appear hereinafter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the foregoing objects, the invention comprises an electro-surgical dissecting and cauterizing instrument for use primarily in standard endoscopic procedures which include the use of an endoscope to view the operation. The instrument has also proved very useful in open surgeries which do not include the use of an endoscope. An electric plug is included at the instrument's proximal end for connecting the tool to a conventional, electro-surgical unit which supplies high frequency electric energy to the working tip electrode of the tool at the control of the surgeon. The electric energy is delivered to the distal, working tip of the tool via a conductive rod surrounded by a linear, rigid sleeve formed of an insulating material, the sleeve extending from the plug end to the distal end of the tool which includes the working tip electrode.
The distal end of the tool includes an electrically conductive, rigid arm extending from the sleeve portion of the tool. Although several embodiments of the tool will be described in detail below, in each embodiment of the tool the arm extends from the sleeve and includes portions laterally offset from the longitudinal axis of the sleeve. The working tip electrode is formed at the free end of the arm and is used to make direct contact with the patient at the internal operation site. A thin jacket of insulating material is disposed upon the arm from the point where it extends from the sleeve right up to, but not including, the working tip electrode.
The working tip electrode comes in many different shapes depending on the needs of the surgeon in a particular surgical application. Electrode tips to be described in detail below include a hook and flattened spatula, for example. The fact that portions of the arm which extend between the sleeve and working tip are laterally offset from the main axis of the sleeve provides for maximum visualization of the working tip electrode and operation site by the surgeon.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side, elevational view of a first embodiment of the electro-surgical dissecting and cauterizing instrument shown operably connected to a conventional, electro-surgical unit in the intended manner;
FIG. 2 is a perspective, fragmentary view of the distal working tip end of the electro-surgical instrument seen in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a side, elevational, enlarged view of the distal end of the electro-surgical instrument seen in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a top view of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a perspective, fragmentary view of a second embodiment of the distal end of the electro-surgical instrument;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged, side, elevational view of FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a bottom, fragmentary view of the working tip end of the arm as taken along the line 7--7 in FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a perspective, fragmentary view of the distal end of a third embodiment of the electro-surgical instrument;
FIG. 9 is an enlarged, side, elevational view of FIG. 8; and
FIG. 10 is a bottom, fragmentary view of the working tip end of the arm as seen along the line 10--10 in FIG. 9.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring now to the drawings, there is seen in FIG. 1 a first embodiment of the electro-surgical dissecting and cauterizing instrument 10 including a distal, working end 12 and a proximal end 14 which includes an electric plug such that instrument 10 may be releasably and operably connected to a conventional, electro-surgical control unit 16. Control unit 16 is supplied high frequency, electrical energy via power supply 18 and further includes a switch means 20 which is used to control the flow of electrical energy from unit 16 to instrument 10. As such, a surgeon manually grasps unit 16 to work instrument 10 as described below. Although unit 16 is shown and described herein for the purpose of illustrating a typical electrical unit with which instrument 10 would be used, it is understood that plug 14 may be easily adapted to connect to a variety of electro-surgical units available today.
Dissecting and cauterizing instrument 10 is used primarily in surgical procedures which may or may not include the use of an endoscope to view the operation site. For purposes of description, the surgical procedure using an endoscope will be discussed. Also, surgical procedures of the type discussed herein are termed laparoscopic because they target the abdominal area. The type of endoscope used in the abdomen is therefore termed a laparoscope. In particular, the surgeon inserts distal end 12 into the abdomen of the anesthetized patient through a trochar (not shown) positioned within an incision made in the abdominal wall. The operation site is viewed at the eyepiece of the laparoscope and/or on a CRT screen by passing the laparoscope (also not shown) through an adjacent incision in the abdomen which has been previously inflated with CO 2 as is customary surgical procedure in laparoscopic surgery of this type. The raising of the abdominal wall above the innards of the patient with the CO 2 creates a space therebetween which increases maneuverability of instrument 10 within the abdomen besides increasing the viewing area of the surgical site with the laparoscope. Examples of typical laparoscopic procedures in which dissecting and cauterizing instrument 10 would be used are lysis of adhesions, cholecystectomy and appendectomy.
Dissecting and cauterizing instrument 10 includes a rigid insulating sleeve 22 which surrounds conducting rod 24 extending from plug 14 to distal end 12. Distal end 12 is seen to include a rigid arm 26 extending from substantially the center of the distal end 21 of sleeve 22. A working tip 28 electrode in the shape of a hook in the embodiment of tool 10 seen in FIGS. 1-4 integrally extends from arm 26. Arm 26 and working tip electrode 28 are formed of electrically conductive material such as stainless steel and are supplied electrical energy via a conductive rod 24 extending through sleeve 22. A thin layer or jacket of insulating material 30 in the form of a TEFLON heat-shrink tubing is disposed upon arm 26 from sleeve 22 to the base of working tip electrode 28.
Prior art electro-surgical instruments of which the present inventors are aware do not include an arm such as 26 extending between the working tip electrode 28 and end of sleeve 22 but instead have their working tip electrodes extend directly from the sleeve. As such, the view of the operation site is obstructed because of the close proximity of the sleeve to the working tip electrode since the diameter of the sleeve is substantially larger than the size of the working tip electrodes. To overcome this problem, the present dissecting and cauterizing instrument 10 includes arm 26 to effectively space working tip electrode 28 from sleeve 22. Furthermore, arm 26 is seen to include portions laterally offset from the linear axis x--x extending through the center of sleeve 22 and arm 26. This feature also increases the visualization of the surgical work site by having the working tip electrode 28 extend from a portion of the arm 26 which lies along an axis y--y which is parallel to and spaced from linear axis x--x of sleeve 22.
Referring to FIG. 3, arm 26 is seen to extend linearly from sleeve 22 for a first length having a distance d 1 and bend downwardly at an approximately 150 degree angle a 1 , with respect thereto for a second length having a distance d 2 . Arm 26 then bends upwardly at an approximately 150 degree angle a 2 to extend for a third length having a distance d 3 . As such, it may be seen that the first length of arm 26 labeled d 1 extends along linear axis x--x of sleeve 22 which is spaced from and extends parallel to third length d 3 . Working tip electrode 28 is seen to integrally extend from the distal end of third length d 3 and bend toward axis x--x to form a hook which is used primarily for pulling at tissue.
The electricity which flows through arm 26 and electrode hook 28 at the control of the surgeon augments the cutting capability of hook 28 and cauterizes bleeding blood vessels. To prevent unintentional cauterization with portions of instrument 10 other than hook 28, an insulating jacket 30 is disposed upon the entire length of arm 26.
Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, a second embodiment of instrument 10 is seen. In this second embodiment, arm 26' linearly extends from sleeve 22' for a first length having a distance D 1 as with the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4, bending downwardly and then upwardly at approximately 135 degree angles A 1 and A 2 for second and third lengths having distances of D 2 and D 3 , respectively. As such, the third length of arm 26' spanning distance D 3 lies along an axis Y--Y which is parallel to and spaced downwardly from the linear axis X--X of sleeve 22' where the first length of arm 26' spanning distance D 1 lies.
Arm 26' includes a third bend in an upwardly direction at an approximately 159 degree angle A 3 and extends linearly therefrom for a fourth length having a distance D 4 , crossing linear axis X--X such that the working tip electrode 32 lies on the side of axis X--X opposite to which axis Y--Y lies. It will be noticed in FIGS. 5-7 that working tip electrode 32 is in the shape of a flattened spatula which has a radial axis r--r which intersects linear axis Y--Y. Spatula 32 proves especially useful for cauterizing bleeding blood vessels rather than removing tissue from the patient's body. An insulating jacket 30' is disposed upon arm 26' from the distal end of sleeve 22' to the base of working tip electrode 32 to prevent any portion of arm 26' from unintentionally contacting and cauterizing healthy tissue surrounding the operation site.
Referring now to FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 which show yet a third embodiment of the invention, arm 26" is entirely linear and extends from sleeve 22" along an axis z--z which makes an approximately 6 degree acute angle A 4 with linear axis Z--Z of sleeve 22". Working tip electrode 32', which is also in the shape of a substantially circular, planar spatula, extends upwardly from arm 26" toward axis Z--Z. Working tip electrode 32' has a radial axis R--R which intersects linear axis Z--Z at an obtuse angle A 5 . An insulating jacket 30" is disposed upon arm 26" from sleeve 22" to working tip electrode 32'.
Based on the foregoing description of three embodiments of the invention, it may be realized that the length and configuration of the arms 26, 26' and 26" permit each of the respective working tip electrodes 30, 32 and 32' to be significantly spaced from and laterally offset from the longitudinal axis of the sleeve. This permits an enhanced viewing area of the surgical work site and working tip electrode for the surgeon. While the invention has been shown and described with particular reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated to those skilled in the art that variations in working tip electrode configuration and specific lengths and angles of the arm portion of the tool may be made to fit a particular surgical need without departing from the full scope of the invention as is set forth in the claims which follow. | An electro-surgical dissecting and cauterization tool comprises a linear, rigid insulating sleeve surrounding means providing an electric conducting path between a proximal, electric plug end and working tip electrode distal end. The plug attaches the tool to a conventional electro-surgical unit which supplies electrical energy to the working tip electrode end of the tool. A rigid arm extends between the sleeve and the working tip electrode and includes portions laterally offset from the main axis of the sleeve to increase visualization of the working tip electrode during surgery. | 2,845 |
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus of the type having a magnet with at least one patient receptacle and at least one support plate, as well as a predetermined number of transmit and/or receive coils, and which allows exposures with the subject in at least two predetermined exposure positions, with at least one exposure taking place using predetermined adjustment parameters.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In known magnetic resonance imaging apparatuses, for different exposure positions the associated exposure parameters must in general be modified at least partially. The exposure parameters that may have to be modified include e.g. the position of the support plate and the connection or disconnection of transmit and/or receive coils. As a rule, a modification of the exposure parameters requires a readjustment of the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus.
The adjustment essentially serves to optimize the RF chain (transmit and receive coils and associated amplifiers) and to optimize the homogeneity of the main magnetic field produced by the magnet (also called the basic magnetic field or B 0 field) in a volume under examination (imaging volume) located inside the patient receptacle. Due to the necessary homogeneity of the examination volume, this volume is also called the homogeneity volume.
The exposure parameters are also patient-dependent, since the patient represents an attenuation or damping for the transmit and/or receive coils. A precise adjustment thus also serves for patient safety with respect to the RF exposure.
In general, known magnetic resonance imaging apparatuses recognize automatically whether the. exposure parameters belonging. to particular exposure positions must be modified, and carry out a readjustment if warranted.
This adjustment normally requires 10 to 90 seconds per exposure position. Given certain examination procedures, this time is not available. This includes e.g. the tracking of doses of contrast agent over a larger body region that exceeds the available homogeneity volume of the nuclear spin resonance apparatus. In such cases, the patient must be guided by displacement of the support plate in a manner corresponding to the flow of contrast agent. If a smaller viewing field is not acceptable, the readjustment that is thereby required per imaging measurement (exposure) requires a multiple dosage of contrast agent, which is not desirable for the patient.
Alternatively to a smaller viewing field or to multiple injections of contrast agent, it is possible after the first adjustment to omit the further adjustments (readjustments) inherently required for high-contrast exposures. However, this leads to a considerable worsening of the image quality.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide magnetic resonance imaging apparatus of the type described above that provides high-contrast exposures in a short time, even given an examination of larger body segments.
This object is achieved in accordance with the principles of the present invention in a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus having a magnet and at least one patient receptacle and at least one support plate, as well as a predetermined number of transmit and/or receive coils. At least in two predetermined exposure positions, an exposure respectively takes place using predetermined adjustment parameters. The required adjustment parameters are inventively determined in a preceding adjustment process, and the exposures are executed in a subsequent exposure process.
For example, the exposure parameters can be modified by means of a spatial modification of position (longitudinal displacement, transverse displacement, rotation) of the support plate within the patient receptacle. Alternatively, or in addition, a modification of the adjustment parameters can take place by connection and/or disconnection of the transmit coils and/or the receive coils.
In the inventive magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, the required adjustment parameters are not determined immediately before each individual exposure, as is conventional. Rather, the required adjustment parameters are determined in an adjustment process that precedes the exposure process. Only after the determination of the required adjustment parameters are the exposures carried out, in a separate imaging exposure process.
The adjustment parameters are of course stored at least until the conclusion of the examination. The adjustment parameters thus can be used again, when identical or suitably similar exposure parameters (position of the support plate and configuration of the transmit and/or receive coils) are again reached in the context of the same examination.
In examinations with the inventive apparatus, high-contrast exposures are thus obtained, since it is not necessary to omit an adjustment. Due to the fact that the adjustment is carried out in a separate adjustment process, and the adjustment parameters are stored until the conclusion of the examination, the transmit and receive coils, or their coil elements, can be switched quickly during the examination, so that, in addition, reduced examination times result.
The inventive solution is suitable for a large number of different forms of magnetic resonance imaging apparatuses. Thus, for example, the magnet can be fashioned as a cylindrical magnet (solenoid) or as a horseshoe magnet (C-arm apparatus). Given cylindrically shaped magnets, the patient receptacle is fashioned as a patient tube.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus constructed and operating in accordance with principles of the present invention.
FIG. 2 schematically illustrates an embodiment of an apparatus in accordance with the invention, wherein the magnet which generates the basic magnetic field is a horseshoe magnet.
FIG. 3 schematically illustrates an embodiment of an apparatus in accordance with the invention, wherein the magnet which generates the basic magnetic field is a cylindrical magnet.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The apparatus in FIG. 1 has a support plate 1 that is arranged in longitudinally placeable fashion inside an examination volume of a magnet. Within the scope of invention, the magnet can for example a cylindrical magnet 18 as shown in FIG. 3 (solenoid) or a horseshoe magnet (C-arm) 19 as shown in FIG. 2 . Given cylindrically shaped magnets, the patient receptacle is fashioned as a patient tube as own in FIG. 3 .
The longitudinal displaceability of the support plate 1 is indicated with a double arrow 2 . Due to the longitudinal displaceability of the support plate 1 , larger body sections of a patient 3 lying on the support plate 1 can be examined.
The nuclear spin resonance apparatus shown in the drawing additionally has a predetermined number of transmit coils 4 and a predetermined number of receive coils 5 .
The transmit coils 4 can be connected, in a desired configuration, to a generator 7 by means of a transmit coil changeover switch 6 . The generator 7 supplies the transmit coils 4 with current via a-transmit amplifier 8 and via a matching element 9 .
The receive coils 5 can be connected, in a desired configuration, to a receiver 11 by means of a receive coil changeover switch 10 . The signals of the connected receive coils 5 are given to the receiver 11 via. a matching element 12 and via a receive amplifier 13 .
The configurations of the transmit coils 4 and the receive coils 5 , defined by the transmit coils changeover switch 6 and by the receive coils changeover switch 10 , are supplied to an adjustment unit 14 as inputs.
As a further input, the position of the support plate 1 , which is determined by a position sensor 15 , is supplied to the adjustment unit 14 .
The adjustment unit 14 processes the inputs that it has received from the transmit coils changeover switch 6 , from the receive coils changeover switch 10 , and from the position sensor 15 , and at its output supplies corresponding control signals to the generator 7 , to the transmit amplifier 8 , to the matching elements 9 and 12 , as well as to the receive amplifier 13 and to the receiver 11 .
In addition, the adjustment unit 14 supplies a control signal to a shim coil system 16 .
The inputs and the control signals (outputs) are stored, as adjustment parameters, in a memory 17 until the conclusion of the examination.
With the embodiment shown in the drawing of the inventive apparatus, larger bodily segments of the patient 3 can be examined. Such examinations are, for example, the tracking of doses of contrast agent over a larger body region, as carried out for example in subtraction angiography or in physiologically controlled imaging.
In the context of the preparation for measurement, which in the case of a peripheral angiography at the leg, includes slice positioning along the vascular tree, several measurements are already made without contrast agent. Due to the homogeneity volume of the magnet being too small, in these measurements the support plate 1 must be displaced, and so must be newly adjusted. The associated adjustment parameters for each position of the support plate 1 are stored in the memory 17 . As additional adjustment parameters, the connected configuration of the transmit coils 4 , as well as the connected configuration of the receive coils 5 , are stored in the memory 17 . In addition, the adjustment parameters include the corresponding control signals for the generator 7 , for the transmit amplifier 8 , for the matching elements 9 and 12 , as well as for the receive amplifier 13 , for the receiver 11 and for the shim coil system 16 .
After the conclusion of the measurement preparation, which includes the determination of the adjustment parameters, the support plate 1 is guided back into the initial position, and the contrast agent is administered. In the imaging measurement that now takes place, each of the positions of the support plate 1 used in the measurement preparation is newly set in succession, and the transmit coils 4 and the receive coils 5 are connected as in the measurement preparation. Subsequently, an imaging measurement (exposure). is immediately carried out with the known adjustment parameters stored in the memory 17 , i.e. without a new adjustment.
In the inventive apparatus, the required adjustment parameters are thus not determined immediately before each individual imaging measurement; rather, the required adjustment parameters are completely determined in a preceding adjustment process, in the context of the measurement preparation. According to the invention, the adjustment process thus precedes the exposure process. Only after the determination of the required adjustment parameters are the exposures (imaging measurement) carried out, in a separate exposure process. In examinations with the inventive apparatus, high-contrast exposures. are thereby obtained, since it is not necessary to omit an adjustment. In addition, due to the fact that the adjustment parameters are stored in a memory 17 until the conclusion of the examination, reduced examination times result. Due to the short examination times, in subtraction angiography the course of the contrast agent can thus be tracked without chronological gaps.
Although modifications and changes may be suggested by those skilled in the art, it is the intention of the inventors to embody within the patent warranted hereon all changes and modifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of their contribution to the art. | A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus has a magnet with at least one patient receptacle and at least one support plate, as well as a predetermined number of transmit and/or receive coils. In at least two predetermined exposure positions, at least one exposure respectively takes place using predetermined adjustment parameters. High-contrast exposures can be obtained in a short time, by the required adjustment parameters being determined in a preceding adjustment process, and the exposures are carried out in a subsequent exposure process. | 1,920 |
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to medical or surgical instruments and particularly to instruments for use in female sterilization or occlusion procedures.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the field of female sterilization, it is well known to provide permanent occlusion of the fallopian tube. More recently, the concept of using a fimbrial prosthesis for temporary or reversible female sterilization has been introduced. Capping the fimbria for sterilization involves the utilization of an inert device to protect the fimbria. U.S. Pat. No. 4,050,488 relates to use of fimbrial caps as a method of reversible sterilization.
A paper entitled "The Fimbrial Prosthesis" was presented at a workshop held in San Francisco, Dec. 4-6, 1977, and gives further background and research in the area of reversible female sterilization.
It is to this method of sterilization that the present invention instrument is directed. More specifically, the invention aims to provide an improved instrument for installing bands or hoods in occlusion procedures.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A forcep-like instrument is provided for mounting and ejecting either an elastic band or a hood for an occlusion procedure. One resilient leg of the device mounts a hollow open ended tube into which the fallopian tube or polypoid structure is drawn. The other somewhat shorter resilient leg is connected by a linkage to a collar which slides on the tube and ejects the band or hood for occluding the fallopian tube or polypoid structure.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of the instrument of the present invention being held by the operator and with a fimbrial hood about to be placed on the instrument prior to its application to the patient.
FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the instrument of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the instrument of FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary section view through the hood mounting and ejection mechanism with a fimbrial hood of a type employed with the present invention instrument in place.
FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but with the fimbrial hood having been inverted and drawn into the hood mounting sleeve and with the fimbria of the fallopian tube of the patient being delivered into the fimbrial hood.
FIG. 6 is a view similar to that of FIGS. 4 and 5 but with the ejection mechanism activated forcing the fimbrial hood from its mounting sleeve onto the fallopian tube of the patient.
FIG. 7 is a section view through the fimbrial hood after it is put into place and the instrument withdrawn allowing the fimbrial hood to encompass the fimbria and allowing movement of the fimbria within the hood preparatory to anchoring the hood in place with permanent sutures.
FIG. 8 is a pictorial view of an elastomeric, silastic band of the type employed with the instrument of the present invention when permanent occlusion of any tubular or polypoid structure is desired.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Turning now to the drawings, instrument 10 of the present invention is composed of a forcep body 11 having a pair of resilient legs 12, 13 secured to and extending from body 11; an open ended tubular sleeve member 14 integrally secured to a leg extension 13a; a linkage spring 15 having a pair of legs 16, 17; linkage mount 18; and ejection collar 19.
Sleeve member 14 is integrally secured to leg extension 13a which is set at a predetermined angle "X" (FIG. 5) appropriate to use of the instrument and is shown as approximately 120°. Leg 13 is slightly longer in length than leg 12 so that sleeve 14 resides outwardly from the free end of leg 12. A mount 18 is integrally secured to the outer free end of leg 12 and comprises a small sleeve having a bore 20 extending throughout its length. Linkage spring 15 is formed so that it passes through mount 18 by way of bore 20 and its legs 16, 17 extend outwardly and at their outer ends are bent inwardly to resiliently engage ejection collar 19 and provide a pivotal connection.
Ejection collar 19 is designed to be slidably received by sleeve member 14. Collar 19 moves freely on sleeve member 14 between extension 13a which acts as a stop and the outer end of travel on sleeve member 14. A pair of holes 21, 22 are formed in the walls of collar 19 and receive the ends of legs 16, 17 so that collar 19 is retained on sleeve member 14. In a relaxed position, collar 19 rests against leg extension 13a and prevents any movement past this position. When leg 12 is forced toward leg 13 by the fingers of the operator, mount 18 abuts against leg 13 and spring legs 16, 17 force collar 19 forward on sleeve member 14 to the hood or band ejection position seen in FIG. 6.
Turning now to a description of the operation of instrument 10, instrument 10 as shown in FIGS. 1-6 receives a vacuum line 23 which is slidably mounted on the rear end of sleeve member 14. With ejection collar 19 in a retracted position, see FIGS. 1-3, a fimbrial hood 25 is placed on the forward, free end of sleeve member 14, see FIG. 4. In order to do this, shoulder 26 must be stretched over the free end of sleeve member 14 as best seen in FIG. 4. Once in position, shoulder 26 abuts against collar 19. Next, through application of vacuum through vacuum line 23, hood 25 is inverted to the position of FIG. 5. Sometimes, in addition to vacuum, hood 25 must be urged inward by the operator nudging hood 25 with some instrument at hand. Once hood 25 is in position adjacent fimbria 28 as in FIG. 5, fimbria 28 of fallopian tube 29 is guided into hood 25, see FIG. 5. Once fimbria 28 is positioned within hood 25, leg 12 is depressed causing spring legs 16, 17 and correspondingly collar 19 to move forward until shoulder 26 of hood 25 is forced from sleeve member 14 and engages fallopian tube 29. At this point, instrument 10 is withdrawn allowing hood 25 to regain its form as illustrated in FIG. 7. Hood 25 is now anchored in place on tube 29 by placing a sufficient number of sutures 35 through shoulder 26 and into tube 29.
Another application of instrument 10, although not illustrated, would be for situations where permanent occlusion is desired. Such permanent occlusion may be desired for permanent sterilization, permanent occlusion of blood vessels or permanent occlusion of polyps. In this application, an elastomeric, silastic band 30 as illustrated in FIG. 8 is employed and mounted on sleeve 14 and is ejected in the same manner as previously described with respect to hood 25.
The fact that the central axis of the longer leg member 13 resides at an obtuse angle with respect to the central axis of the sleeve member provides a convenient working arrangement. Also, the natural resiliency of the leg members 12, 13 is used to always bring the collar 19 to its retracted position. Thus, the invention instrument may be used rapidly and efficiently in an occlusion procedure. | A forcep-like instrument is provided for mounting and ejecting either an elastic band or a hood for an occlusion procedure. | 1,235 |
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of my invention is to provide a spray manifold for a commercial dishwasher that can be quickly mounted in the machine without the need to use any tools and novel means supports both ends of the hollow manifold, one end being connected to a hot water supply and the other end being supported by an adjustable self sealing cap. The spray manifold nozzles are automatically and correctly positioned to direct the hot water against the ware in the racks and this is accomplished when mounting the manifold in the dishwasher. The manifold has a smooth unobstructed interior that is coextensive with its length and this permits the manifold to be readily cleaned or examined when it is removed from the machine.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the spray manifold and shows how it is removably supported in a dishwasher, a portion of the dishwasher being shown in section.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged transverse section through the rear portion of the spray manifold and is taken along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1. The novel means for supporting this rear manifold end is shown in elevation.
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section taken along the line 3--3 of FIG. 2 and shows the apparatus for connecting the manifold rear end to a hot water supply pipe and illustrates how the manifold spray nozzles are held at a desired angle for spraying the ware in the racks.
FIG. 4 is a horizontal longitudinal section taken along the line 4--4 of FIG. 3, and further illustrates how the spray manifold is held in the desired position so that the spray nozzles will direct hot water at the desired angle against the ware in the racks.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged vertical section of the front manifold end shown in FIG. 1, and illustrates how the self sealing cap for this front end also supports the manifold.
FIG. 6 is a front elevation of the closure cap and is taken along the line 6--6 of FIG. 5.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
In carrying out my invention I show in FIG. 1, a transverse section through a commercial dishwashing machine indicated generally at A. The machine has a dish-receiving compartment B, in which the ware may be washed, rinsed and sterilized. Since the novelty in the present invention lies in the particular shape of the spray manifold and the means for quickly mounting it in the compartment B, or removing it therefrom, I have not shown in detail how the ware is moved into and out from the compartment because this may be done by hand or by a mechanism. The rear wall 1 of the compartment B has a hot water inlet pipe C, and if the compartment is used for washing the ware, the hot water should be at a temperature of 140° F., and the detergent may be mixed with this hot water and then pumps, not shown, may be used for recirculating the wash water for a predetermined time period. On the other hand, if the compartment is used for rinsing and sterilizing the ware at a low temperature of 140° F., for the hot water, a sterilizing agent such as chlorine, is mixed with the hot water and the water is recirculated for a predetermined time period in the compartment. In my copending patent application on a Low Temperature Conveyor Rack-Type Dishwasher, Ser. No. 26,016, filed Apr. 2, 1979, I show the rinse compartment divided into two sections, the first section using hot rinse water at 140° F., for removing the detergent wash water from the ware and the second section using chlorine in the 140° F., rinse water for rinsing and sterilizing the ware.
I will now describe in detail the particular structure of the hot water inlet pipe C and the novel means for removably supporting the inlet end of a spray manifold shown at D, in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. The hot water inlet pipe C, is arranged in a vertical position and is in communication with a source of hot water, not shown. The top of the hot water inlet pipe C, is closed at 4, see FIG. 3, and the front portion of the pipe has a hot water outlet opening 5 therein.
A U-shaped bracket E, see FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, has its web portion 6 extending across the front portion of the pipe C and it has an opening 7 that registers with the opening 5 in the inlet pipe. The bracket E, is secured to the wall 1 of the dishwasher A by bolts 8 or other suitable fastening means. A support F for the inlet end of the spray manifold D, is secured to the web portion 6 of the bracket E by bolts 9.
Both FIGS. 3 and 4 show the spray manifold support F provided with a conical-shaped outlet 10 that is in alignment with the openings 5 and 7 of the hot water inlet pipe C, and the bracket E, respectively. The inlet end of the spray manifold D has an outwardly flared portion 11 that receives the conical-shaped outlet 10 of the manifold support F, and makes a water tight seal therewith. The spray manifold has a plurality of jet nozzles G, arranged in a straight row and spaced from one another as shown in FIG. 1.
I provide novel cooperating means on the spray manifold support F, and the spray manifold D for arranging the row of jet nozzles G, in the proper angular position when the inlet end 11 of the spray manifold is coupled to the conical outlet 10 of the manifold support. The particular structure of the hot water pipe C, and the bracket E, may be altered without affecting one of the vital features in this invention. The point to keep in mind is that the support F for the inlet end of the spray manifold D, is anchored in a specific place in the compartment B of the dishwasher and the support F not only has a conical outlet 10 that is in communication with and receives hot water from the hot water inlet pipe C, but in addition, the support has an integral guide wing 12 shown in detail in FIGS. 3 and 4, that underlies a portion of the inlet end 11 of the spray manifold D. Also, the guide wing 12 has a central recess 13 with outwardly curved side edges 14 that will guide a pin 15, which depends from the manifold D, into the recess as clearly shown in FIG. 4. The center of the guide wing recess 13 lies in a vertical plane in which the longitudinal axis of the manifold D, also lies. The axes of the jet nozzles G, lie in the same vertical plane in which the pin 15 lies. The result is that the mere coupling of the flared inlet end 11 of the manifold D to the conical outlet 10 of the manifold support F will also properly align the row of jet nozzles G, at the correct angle because the coupling cannot be made until the pin 15 is received in the guide wing recess 13.
I have illustrated the spray manifold D, in FIGS. 3 and 4, as directing the hot water spray downwardly from the jets G, because in this case the manifold is positioned above the dish ware, not shown, in the compartment B. It is also possible to place this spray manifold D below the dish ware in the compartment and when this is done, the manifold support F, is rotated about the axis of the conical outlet 10 through a full 180° arc so that the guide wing recess 13 will be positioned above the manifold and the manifold will have to be rotated 180° on its axis for causing the pin 15 and the jet nozzles G to project upwardly and cause the jets G to point upwardly for causing the hot water to contact the dish ware from the underside. In actual practice there will be at least one spray manifold D placed above and one manifold placed below the dish ware for directing the hot water downwardly and upwardly against the dishes and my invention is broadly drawn to include both arrangements of the manifold or either one.
The apparatus for supporting and closing the front end of the spray manifold D, is shown in FIGS. 1 and 5. An arm H, is connected to the top 16 of the dish washer A by bolts 17 or other suitable fastening means. The arm has a downwardly inclined portion 18 and FIG. 5 shows this portion as having an integral boss 19 with a threaded bore 20 whose axis lies in a horizontal plane. A closure cap J, for the front end of the spray manifold D, has an axially aligned and integral threaded rod 21 that is received in the threaded bore 20 in the boss 19. The cap has a conical-shaped central portion 22 that protrudes from the interior of the cap and whose center is in alignment with the axis of the rod 21. This conical portion 22 is received in the outwardly flared front end 23 of the spray manifold D, and will make a liquid tight seal with the manifold as well as support it.
The cap J may be connected to or disconnected from the front end of the spray manifold D, without the need of any tools. The cap has an integral and outwardly flared skirt or rim 24 and this rim has scallops 25 therein to permit the operator's fingers to grip the rim for rotating the cap in one direction for connecting the cap to the front end of the manifold for closing and supporting the manifold or for rotating the cap in the opposite direction for freeing the cap from the manifold.
The axis of the threaded rod 21 of the closure cap J, is in horizontal alignment with the center of the conical outlet 10 of the manifold support F so that when the manifold D is supported at its outwardly flared forward end 23 by the closure cap J and is supported at its hot water inlet end by the conical outlet 10 of the manifold support F, the axis of the manifold will be in alignment with the axis of the threaded rod 21 and with the center of the conical outlet 10. In addition, the manifold D will have a water tight seal between the cap conical portion 22 on the cap and the outwardly flared forward end 23 of the manifold as well as have a water tight seal between the conical outlet 10 of the support for the inlet end of the manifold and the outwardly flared end 11 of the manifold. A rotation of the cap J, in one direction will accomplish this and will move the manifold against the conical outlet 10. Therefore a rotation of the cap in one direction will cause the manifold to be supported at both of its ends as well as water sealed at both of its ends. When the cap is rotated in the opposite direction, the spray manifold will be freed at both of its ends and may be removed for inspection and cleaning. The hollow cylindrical interior of the manifold is unobstructed throughout its entire length so that a cleaning brush or cloth can be used for cleaning purposes.
This is one of the novel features of my present invention and the other feature is the automatic aligning of the spray jets G, so that they will be held at the proper angle for spraying the hot water either downwardly against the dish ware or upwardly against them or both. It should be noted from FIGS. 2 and 4 that the support F, for the inlet end 11 of the spray manifold D, has arcuate-shaped slots 26 for receiving the shanks of the bolts 9. The center for these arcuate slots coincides with the axis of the opening 7 in the bracket E. It is possible with this structure to loose the bolts 9 and rotate the support F, clockwise or counterclockwise through a desired angle so as to swing the guide wing 12 and its guide slot 13 to the right or to the left of a vertical plane that extends through the common axis of the openings 5, 7 and 10. Now when the manifold D, is connected to the member F, the manifold must be rotated on its longitudinal axis to swing the pin 15 into alignment with the guide slot 13 whereupon the manifold can be moved to cause the pin 15 to enter the guide slot. In this simple manner, the nozzles G on the manifold D will be inclined at the desired angle. | A removable and self sealing spray manifold that has an unobstructed cylindrical interior extending throughout its entire length. Novel self sealing and manifold supporting means is provided at each end of the manifold. The rear end supporting means for the manifold connects the manifold to a hot water inlet pipe and includes means for correctly positioning the spray nozzles for directing the hot water against the ware in the racks. The means for supporting the front manifold end includes a self-sealing cap that can be removably connected to the manifold without the need of using any tools. | 2,258 |
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