A driver for a switch in a GIS (Gas Insulation Switchgear) includes a motor, a shaft connected with a moving contact of the switch, a gear connected with one terminal of the shaft and configured to transfer power of the motor to cause the shaft to reciprocate the moving contact through the shaft, a cam spline combined with the shaft and spaced apart from the gear, and a micro-switch connected with the cam spline and configured to control an operation of the motor.

A method of manufacturing a power contactor from an existing contactor having a magnetic amplifier that comprises a blowout coil and a ferromagnetic core, and an arc chute for extinguishing an arc generated by opening the existing contactor under a current load is disclosed. The method includes removing a bolt assembly from the existing contactor and at least one side plate from the existing contactor. The method also includes removing the ferromagnetic core from the existing contactor.

The invention relates to a medium voltage switchgear assembly which comprises at least one disconnector and whose drive unit is disposed inside or outside a gas chamber according to the generic part of claim 1. In order to further develop a switchgear assembly of the generic type so as to render the same more compact and more functional, the disconnector is embodied as a three-position vacuum chamber switch.

The present invention relates to contactors for unidirectional DC operation with permanent magnetic arc extinguishing. In addition to the blow magnets, the contactors are equipped with compensatory permanent magnets for compensating the magnetic field in the vicinity of the contact bridge in order to prevent contact levitation, i.e., an uncontrolled opening of the contacts that is due to a magnetic force generated by a strong current flowing through the contact bridge. To this end, the compensatory permanent magnets are arranged in the vicinity of the contact bridge and polarized in the opposite direction of the blow magnets. The magnetic field of the compensatory magnets and the current flowing through the contact bridge are generating a magnetic force that acts on the contact bridge and tends to keep the electrical contacts closed.

An arc runner assembly for use in a circuit interrupter provides a pair of arc runners that are situated at opposite sides of a stationary contact of the circuit interrupter. If used in a DC application, the arc runner assembly is configured to communicate a positive DC arc along one of the arc runners in a first direction away from the stationary contact and is further configured to communicate a negative DC arc along the other arc runner in another direction away from the stationary contact. The arc runner assembly additionally includes a support that is electrically engaged with a conductor of the circuit interrupter on a surface opposite that on which the stationary contact is disposed. The improved arc runner assembly advantageously facilitates extinction of electrical arc and extinguishes both positive and negative DC arcs in a DC application.

Electrical enclosures are provided that include arc resistant features designed to add structural strength for arc containment, to inhibit arc propagation, and/or to direct the release of pressure within and/or from the enclosure in order to provide arc resistant electrical enclosures. In general, the arc resistant features may be designed to provide enclosures where in the event of an arc fault, the doors and covers remain closed, parts are not ejected from the enclosure, holes are not produced in the enclosure, indicators located in close proximity to the enclosure do not ignite, and/or grounding connections remain effective. Further, the foregoing features may be designed to provide electrical enclosures that comply with industry guides and standards for arc resistant ratings.

An electric switch for application to high- and very high-voltage circuit breakers and switches comprising a flexible toroidal helical spring (8) placed in a groove of a control rod (1) carrying a movable resistance-insertion contact (2), and springs (4) placed about the movable resistance-insertion contact to cause the springs to be compressed until a certain value is reached, at which value the movable resistance-insertion contact causes the flexible toroidal helical spring (8) to deform under pressure enabling the movable resistance-insertion contact (2) to be withdrawn. Among other uses, the switch is suitable for use in a resistance-inserting device that does not need additional mechanical moving parts. For application to high- and very high-voltage circuit breakers and switches.

A circuit interrupter includes, a first contact and a second contact, the second contact being moveable relative to the first contact, a drive assembly structured to move the second contact relative to the first contact, and an erosion monitoring device including a linear transducer coupled to a portion of the drive assembly. The liner transducer is structured to generate an output signal representative of an amount of linear displacement of the portion of the drive assembly, wherein the erosion monitoring device is structured to monitor a degree of erosion of at least one of the first contact and the second contact based on the output signal.

A sealed solenoid, magnetically operated electric power switch is suitable for use as capacitor, line and load switch operating at transmission and distribution voltages that includes no dynamically moving seals through the sealed container housing the contactor portion of the switch. The sealed solenoid switch includes a magnetically operated drive system with an actuator that magnetically couples across the container wall to avoid the use of a moving or sliding seal as part of the drive system. The sealed solenoid switch may also include a ballast resistor and resistor contact located inside the sealed container to avoid another seal as part of the ballast system. A magnetic latch holds the switch in a closed position, and a spring holds the switch in the closed position, to avoid the need for an energizing current to maintain the switch in either position.

The high voltage relay consists of a main body (1). One set of electrical contacts (2a, 2b) upper and lower respectively. High voltage connections to connect the voltage being switched (3a, 3b) are electrically connected to the upper and lower contacts respectively. Several size options for the electrical contacts will allow for a wide range of currents. A cylinder (4) driven by a fluid (e.g. Air, Nitrogen, Hydraulic fluid) moves the electrical contacts together during the ON state of the device. During the OFF state of the device the cylinder moves the electrical contacts apart to isolate the switch voltage. The greater the High Voltage being switched the greater the distance the electrical contacts must be moved apart in the OFF state. The cylinder is supplied the fluid power from a small solenoid (5) on the device. This solenoid has control voltage connections to actuate the device.

A circuit protection device is provided for use with a circuit that includes at least one pair of conductors. The protection device is configured to generate an arc. The protection device includes at least a pair of electrode assemblies electrically coupled to the at least one pair of conductors and a conductor base to support the pair of electrode assemblies. The protection device includes a cover coupled to the conductor base and defining at least one isolation chamber, wherein the electrode assemblies are disposed within the isolation chamber. The protection device includes a containment shield moveably coupled to the cover. The containment shield defines a containment chamber configured to contain charged particles produced by the arc. The containment shield is operative to move relative to the cover in response to a change in pressure produced by the arc within the containment chamber. An isolation assembly is coupled to at least one of the cover and the containment shield and configured to prevent the cover from contacting the containment shield.

A guide assembly for a switchgear assembly is provided. The guide assembly includes an elongated support member and a passage. The support member is coupled to and extends from a housing assembly rear sidewall. The support member extends in the circuit breaker assembly direction of travel. The passage is disposed on the circuit breaker assembly base and also extends in the circuit breaker assembly direction of travel. The support member is substantially aligned with the passage. In this configuration, as the circuit breaker assembly moves between a withdrawn position and an installed position, the support member moves between a first position, wherein the support member is not disposed in the passage, and a second position, wherein the support member is partially disposed in the passage. When the support member is in the second position, the support member bears a portion of the weight of the circuit breaker assembly base.

Provided is a sector gear including: a drive gear having a drive part that forms a part of a circle and has a plurality of teeth and a non-drive part that forms a remaining part of the circle and provides a non-contact angle of at least approximately 90 degrees; first and second movers forming a disconnector and a grounded breaking switch, respectively; and first and second driven gears engaged with the drive gear and respectively engaged with the first and second movers and configured to make the first mover or the second mover operate in conjunction with the drive part of the drive gear according to a direction of rotation of the drive gear, wherein an intermediate angle between the first and second movers is between approximately 90-135 degrees. The present invention can reduce the size of the gas-insulated switchgear having the sector gear.

Equipment protection systems, arc containment devices, and methods of assembling arc containment devices are disclosed. In one example, an electrical isolation structure includes a conductor base, a cover coupled to the conductor base and defining an isolation chamber, a containment shield disposed on the conductor base within the isolation chamber, and a biasing assembly positioned between the cover and the containment shield. The containment shield defines a containment chamber configured to enclose the plurality of electrode assemblies. The containment shield is configured to at least partially contain the arc products within the containment chamber. The biasing assembly is configured to permit the containment shield to move away from the conductor base to thereby define a gap between the conductor base and the containment shield to enable at least some of the arc gases to vent from the containment chamber.

Disclosed is a curable composition comprising an epoxy resin and a filler composition, a cured product obtained by curing said curable composition as well as the use of the cured products as electrically insulating construction material for electrical or electronic components.

An electrode assembly for a circuit breaker is provided. The electrode assembly includes a conductive assembly and a heat transfer assembly. The conductive assembly includes a stem portion and a contact portion. The heat transfer assembly includes a number of elongated bodies, a first heat transfer surface, and a second heat transfer surface. The first heat transfer surface is disposed on the conductive assembly. Each heat transfer assembly body includes a second heat transfer surface. Each heat transfer assembly body is coupled to the conductive assembly with the first heat transfer surface coupled to a number of second heat transfer surfaces.

A circuit breaker including a pair of separable contacts and an arc chamber is provided. The separable contacts include a fixed contact having an upper surface. The arc chamber includes magnetic members disposed on either side of the separable contacts. The magnetic members have a lower surface below the fixed contact upper surface.

A gas insulated switchgear includes an enclosure, a first fixed conductor, one side of the first fixed conductor being bent at a right angle and another side of the first fixed conductor being fixed on one side of the enclosure, a second fixed conductor configured to be spaced apart from the first fixed conductor and configured to be fixed on another side of the enclosure, a screw configured to form an axis on inner of the enclosure and being spaced apart from the first and second fixed conductors and a movable conductor configured to move along the axis through a rotation of the screw, one side of the movable conductor being in contact with the second fixed conductor.

A flexible shunt for a vacuum circuit breaker can have a reduced straight length and improved flexibility even with an increased thickness within a predetermined accommodation space of a main circuit part. The flexible shunt comprises a pair of conductive plates, each including a clamp connecting portion configured as a flat conductive member, the clamp connecting portion being connected the clamp, a terminal side connecting portion configured as a flat conductive member, the terminal side connecting portion being connected to the terminal side, and a flexible curved portion configured to connect the clamp connecting portion to the terminal side connecting portion, the flexible curved portion being formed to be projected outwardly.

A gas-insulated type circuit breaker including a housing defining a gas volume for a dielectric insulation gas; a first arcing contact member and a second arcing contact member, wherein the first arcing contact member and the second arcing contact member are movable relative to each other along an axis; a first nominal contact member and a second nominal contact member, wherein the first nominal contact member and the second nominal contact member are movable relative to each other along the axis; and a first nominal contact shielding arrangement including an inner shield member and an outer shield member, wherein the inner shield member and the outer shield member are arranged coaxially about the axis. The first nominal contact member is arranged co-axially between the inner shield member and the outer shield member, and is movable relative to the inner shield member and to the outer shield member.

A circuit breaker includes a first contact and a second contact. An electric arc zone is disposed between the contacts. A feed channel opens into the electric arc zone, connecting the electric arc zone to a hot gas reservoir volume. The hot gas reservoir volume, in turn, is connected to a compression volume. An outflow opening is disposed in a wall of the compression volume. The outflow opening is permanently open, at least in a contacting state of the contacts.

Circuit breakers include an arc chamber and an arc chute comprising a plurality of arc plates in the arc chamber. The circuit breakers also include a line conductor assembly with at least one arc runner attached to a line conductor in the arc chamber. The arc runner can extend below but adjacent to a bottom arc plate to thereby guide a respective arc into the arc chute.

A gas-insulated circuit interrupter is disclosed, the interrupter having an improved design for quenching electrical arcs. The interrupter includes a first contact and a second contact configured to alternatively connect to and disconnect from the first contact. One or both of the contacts are at least partially contained in an arcing chamber. The arcing chamber includes the point at which the contacts connect during current-carrying operation of the interrupter. The arcing chamber is at least partially surrounded by a heating chamber for accommodating a quenching gas. A channel connects the heating chamber and the arcing chamber and is positioned to direct the quenching gas toward the first contact and the second contact arcing area. One or more valves direct gas from the arcing chamber to the heating chamber when the interrupter is operated to interrupt a current.

An exemplary medium or high voltage switch has a first set of contact elements and a second set of contact elements. Each contact element includes an insulating carrier carrying conducting elements. In the closed state of the switch, the conducting elements align to form one or more current paths between terminals of the switch along an axial direction. For opening the switch, the contact elements are mutually displaced by means of one or two drives along a direction perpendicular to the axial direction. The switching arrangement is arranged in a fluid-tight housing in a gas of elevated pressure or in a liquid. The switch has a high voltage withstand capability and fast switching times.

An electrode assembly for a vacuum interrupter is configured such that supporting members can support most of a contact electrode plate and a supporting electrode plate in an axial direction with coil conductors interposed therebetween. Accordingly, an impact generated between electrode assemblies upon a closing operation of the vacuum interrupter may be evenly distributed onto the supporting members, which may result in preventing each of the electrode plates and the coil conductors from being deformed. Also, the supporting members are inserted into the electrode plates and the coil conductors, thereby effectively preventing a current from flowing via the supporting members. In addition, the supporting member may be wide and large so as to simplify an assembly operation and reduce an assembly time.

A profiled arc splitter plate for a switch having a fixed contact and a movable contact is provided to increase electromagnetic attractive forces on the arc generated during contact separation. The plate (300) comprises a body (306) defining an operatively inverted substantially V-shaped recess having a center notch (302) provided at the vertex of the recess and at least one protrusion (304) defined on either side of the center notch (302) along the inclined side walls of the recess, the movable contact of the switch displaceable through the recess without contacting the inclined side walls, in a spaced apart manner from the protrusions (304) and the center notch (302). Chamfers 308 are provided at an end of the plate (300) proximal to the vertex of the recess to provide an exit for hot gases towards the vent of the arc chamber.

A removable faceplate for a portable electronic device is provided. The faceplate permits a user to change the physical appearance of a surface of the device while retaining access to the mechanisms for controlling the function of the device. Preferably, the removable faceplate and electronic device are configured with a means for association and dissociation that can be activated without the use of a tool and the means is not visible when the faceplate is attached. Additionally, an improved packaging system is provided to enable a vendor or manufacturer to package faceplates with the devices that they will cover and to allow substitution of faceplates in the packaging without disturbing the packaging of the electronic device itself. Further, there is a method for distribution of the packaging system.

Containers and dispensers for wiping substrates, and wet wiping substrates in particular, have been provided with lids, the containers have been susceptible to leakage, or difficulties in dispensing the contents. Provided is a refillable container for storing and dispensing wiping substrates. A refill cartridge containing wiping substrates having a peelable seal disposed on a first surface and a second surface for forming a seal with the container lid is provided.

A packaging device includes first and second thermoplastic films superposed with each other, wherein predetermined portions of the thermoplastic films are bonded creating a plurality of fluid containers, a plurality of check valves each connected to a corresponding fluid container, a fluid passage in a first direction connected to the check valves, and a second border between an inflated section including the plurality of fluid containers and an uninflated section, wherein the first and second thermoplastic films are folded and two side edges of the films are bonded and a first portion of a first border connecting the inflated section to a second section is folded and an overlapped portion of the first portion is bonded leaving a remaining portion of the first border unbonded wherein the uninflated section forms a loop, and wherein the uninflated section forming the loop is folded into the inflated section to form a lining.

Container assemblies can include a first container and a second container, where the second container extends into and is supported by the first container. The first container and the second container can each include a flange around the periphery of an access opening. The flange of the second container is configured to provide support for the second container via engagement with the flange of the first container. In some instances, the second container can extend into and be supported by the first container through engagement of the flange of the second container with the flange of the first container such that a side panel of the first container is not in contact with a corresponding side panel of the second container. The container assembly can also include a lid for retaining the second container in the first container and/or for sealing to the first container and/or the second container.

An apparatus is provided for dispensing a roll of sheet material in severable portions therefrom. The apparatus comprises a housing having a rim portion longitudinally offset from a base portion by a sidewall portion extending therebetween. The base and sidewall portions define a compartment for holding the roll of sheet material, and the sidewall portion includes a longitudinally extended dispensing slot formed therethrough communicating with the compartment. The sidewall portion forms about the dispensing slot at least one tapered edge. A lid is detachably coupled to the rim portion of the housing to enclose the compartment, and includes a bottom surface portion. A pivot structure is formed on at least one of the base and bottom surface portions to pivotally engage an axial end of the roll of sheet material for angular displacement thereon.

The present invention provides an assembly for the preparation of a medical device having a porous coating comprising hydrogen peroxide. Particularly interesting medical devices are catheters (such as urinary catheters), endoscopes, laryngoscopes, tubes for feeding, tubes for drainage, guide wires, condoms, urisheaths, barrier coatings e.g. for gloves, stents and other implants, extra corporeal blood conduits, membranes e.g. for dialysis, blood filters, devices for circulatory assistance, dressings for wound care, and ostomy bags. The coating is in particular a hydrophilic coating formed from cross-linked polyvinylpyrrolidone. In one embodiment, the assembly holds a dry catheter element in one compartment of a package and an aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution in another compartment. The solution may also comprise stabilizers, e.g. chelators, and osmolality increasing agents. The catheter for insertion in the urethra is useful for the treatment, alleviation or prophylaxis of microbial infections such as urinary tract infections (UTI).

A housing shell for electrical measuring, controlling and communication devices, in particular the lower housing part of a cellphone, has very great flexural and torsional rigidity in spite of an extremely small wall thickness if it is formed as a part created by a forming operation from the planar blank of a thermoplastically impregnated long-fibered multi-layered mat. Fine-membered functional elements of likewise thermoplastic material are then molded onto the housing shell in an injection mold.

An electronic component packaging sheet formed of a styrene resin composition includes: (A) 29-65 mass parts of a styrene-conjugated diene block copolymer; (B) 51-15 mass parts of a polystyrene resin; and (C) 20-9 mass parts of an impact resistant polystyrene resin. Components (A)-(C) each have a weight average molecular weight (Mw) within a specified range.

A sheet roll comprises two glass films and a coupling portion, wherein end portions of the glass films are coupled together via the coupling portion and the coupled glass films are rolled into a roll shape. The coupling portion is a sheet-like coupling member formed of a resin film and placed on the end portions of the two glass films in a rolling direction so as to span therebetween. The sheet-like coupling member includes wide joint portions joined respectively to the end portions of the two glass films, and a necked portion which is narrower than the wide joint portions and is formed at a middle portion of the sheet-like coupling member in the rolling direction.

A multi-standard flash-memory-card carrier is about the same size as a thick credit card and fits into a wallet. The multi-standard flash-memory-card carrier has bays that accept flash-memory cards. Larger bays on one side receive SD cards and a Memory Stick Duo card, while micro bays on another side of the carrier receive microSD cards and Memory Stick Micro cards. A carrier spine sandwiched between top and bottom covers has openings forming the bays. Spring-clip tabs on spring-clip fingers fit into notches on the side of the flash-memory cards to secure the flash-memory cards into the multi-standard flash-memory-card carrier to prevent loss. The spring-clip fingers are movable parts of the carrier spine that are deformed during insertion of the flash-memory cards. Both micro and standard flash-memory cards can be carried in the same multi-standard flash-memory-card carrier that can be placed in plastic sleeves for credit cards in a person's wallet.

A novel packaging for flat media having substantially square panels wherein at least one of the panels is adapted to form a compartment for storing a phonographic record, an audiovisual record or any flat media. The arrangement of the square panels enables the package to be folded in a compact, flat configuration for ease of storage and shipping. When erected, the package forms a cube that could be used as additional storage. The cube may be erected with either of the sides of the panels visible so as to afford greater opportunity for display.

Protective mailer capable of being processed by postal processing equipment without causing damage to the article held by the mailer. The pocket holding the article inside the mailer is offset relative to one edge, when folded, by a distance sufficient to prevent damage when the mailer is oriented and processed. The mailer may include a resizing flap that, when unfolded and deployed, changes the dimensions of the mailer so that the mailer is processed by the postal processing equipment as a non-letter or flat mailpiece.

A holder is for supporting a portable electronic device, including at least one sheet. A base portion, a first supporting portion and a second supporting portion formed on the at least one sheet. The base portion, the first supporting portion and the second supporting portion are parallel with each other and folded relative to each other. A latching piece is formed on the base portion, the latching piece having a bendable portion. The first supporting portion is folded relative to the base portion, and the second supporting portion is folded relative to the first supporting portion until the second supporting portion is held by the latching piece, the base portion, the first supporting portion and the second supporting portion cooperatively form a three-dimensional structure that can support the portable electronic device at an angle relative to the at least one sheet without collapsing.

A catheter assembly including an elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end has at least one drainage opening. A hydrophilic coating is provided on at least a portion of the elongate end of the catheter. A fluid containing member is provided and is either arranged on the elongate member or within a separate area of the container. The fluid containing member contains sufficient hydrating fluid to hydrate the coating of the catheter. A container contains the elongate member and the fluid containing member and incorporates at least one foil layer to prevent evaporation of the hydrating fluid. A method of using the catheter includes inserting a catheter into a user's body and draining fluid from the user's body.

An insertion tool packaging, includes a main body that has at least one hanging region, at least one viewing region, and at least one receiving region, which is configured at least substantially to receive at least one insertion tool. The packaging further includes at least one protective element, which is configured to at least substantially protect a user against injury.

A pharmacy bottle system includes a bottle and a ring. The bottle is formed as a single piece of molded plastic material and includes a body and a neck. The body defines an interior cavity. The interior cavity extends from a first end to a second end of the interior cavity. The body includes a spine portion covering the first end of the interior cavity. The spine portion defines a spine width measured from a front to a back of spine portion. The neck extends from the second end of the interior cavity and has an opening therethrough providing access to the interior cavity. The ring is secured about the neck of the bottle. The ring defines a ring width measured between a front and a back of the ring. The ring width is larger than the spine width. The neck extends above a top surface of the ring.

A sterilizable pouch for surgical instruments includes a sterilant permeable sheet with a first sealing strip and a sterilant impermeable sheet with a second sealing strip. The sealing strips are sealed together to define the pouch. At least one sealable open portion is for sealing the pouch after surgical instruments are located inside the pouch. An indicator material for indicating sterile processing conditions inside the pouch is located on an inner surface of the sterilant impermeable sheet inside the pouch.

A bed-side system for preventing infection that uses a flush and swab caddy attached to an IV pole or other bed-side equipment. By providing convenient and secure storage for pre-filled syringes, alcohol swabs, and other medical supplies, it can improve individual patient care. In an embodiment, the caddy attaches to the IV pole and comprises a locking compartment for pre-filled syringes and an open tray for alcohol swabs and other medical supplies. The syringes may be filled with saline, heparin, or another solution.

A toilet tissue roll holder is provided having a telescoping structure that is attachable to a wall surface for providing replacement toilet tissue to a dispenser and shrouding unused rolls prior to deployment. The device includes a lowermost housing having a base surface, rounded sidewalls, an interior volume, and an open front. The lowermost housing connects to a first upstanding sidewall thereabove, which in turn supports a plurality of telescoping sidewalls that form individual toilet tissue roll containers extending upward. A viewing window is provided through at least one of the device sidewalls above the lowermost housing to allow an administrator to visualize whether a minimum number of reserve toilet paper rolls are still available. The structure is expanded and contracted depending on the number of rolls therein, while the lowermost housing and first upstanding sidewall provide the base structure that is secured to a support wall.

A carton for containing a plurality of articles. The carton comprises panels that extend at least partially around an interior of the carton. The panels comprise a top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel. The carton has a reinforced handle for grasping and carrying the carton.

A method of treating a cancer of the central nervous system in a subject in need thereof is provided. The method comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of an agent which reduces blood glutamate levels and enhances brain to blood glutamate efflux to thereby treat the cancer of the central nervous system in the subject.

A bottled drink includes a cap and a bottle where a granular supplement containing multiple constituents in a stable manner is stored in the cap and a solution suitable for dispersing the granules is filled in the bottle. Granules which contains mutually incompatible multiple chemical agents or nutritional constituents and whose surface is coated with polyglyceryl fatty acid ester are stored in the cap of the bottle and the bottle is filled with a solution whose viscosity at a shear deformation speed of 0.01 s−1 is 10 to 300 Pa·s.

A reversible folio for a tablet computer has a tablet shell with a cavity removably receiving the tablet computer. A keyboard is pivotally and removably coupled to the tablet shell. A channel is pivotally coupled to an edge of the keyboard. An interior of the channel removably receives the proximal edge of the tablet shell, and has a profile mating with a profile of the tablet shell. The channel and proximal edge have first and second symmetrical magnet arrays, respectively. The proximal edge of the tablet shell physically mates with the channel of the keyboard, and the second magnet array of the tablet shell magnetically mates with the first magnet array of the channel, in both a first orientation and an opposite second orientation.

A container has a base and walls connected to the base to define an interior space. The walls have upper edges that terminate in a plane and define an opening for access to the interior space. Wetted donnable articles are stacked within the container, each article in a flat configuration at least partially perpendicular to the opening permitting withdrawal of any one of the donnable articles through the opening in a flat configuration. Walls on opposing sides of the base of the container diverge from each other with increasing distance from the base, such that the interior space widens gradually toward the opening. Walls on other opposing sides of the base have lower portions connected to the base and upper portions connected to the lower portions by steps that lengthen the interior space abruptly.