A method, a user interface and a system for use in determining shade of a patient's tooth, wherein a digital 3D representation includes shape data and texture data for the tooth is obtained. A tooth shade value for at least one point on the tooth is determined based on the texture data of the corresponding point of the digital 3D representation and on known texture values of one or more reference tooth shade values.

A method of analyzing a positional relationship between a dental restoration and a dental substructure. The method has steps of scanning a reference area and determining the shape of the dental substructure in its positional relationship to the reference area, and thereby providing a virtual dental substructure model and scanning the reference area along with scanning at least a portion of the dental restoration in fit position with the dental substructure to provide a virtual assembly model. The method further has the step of providing fitting quality information between the dental restoration model and the dental substructure model. The method utilizes superposing of further virtual models to provide the fitting quality information. The method facilitates the assessment of the quality of the fit between a dental restoration and a dental substructure.

A driven damper assembly, comprises a first main-damper cover plate comprising an inclined portion. The inclined portion comprises a notch. A first plane passes through the first pre-damper cover plate. A second plane passes through the first main-damper cover plate and is parallel to the first plane. The notch comprises a first wall and a second wall. The first wall is not parallel to the second wall. The inclined portion extends away from the second plane at an angle greater than zero degrees away from the second plane and less than ninety degrees away from the second plane. The first pre-damper cover plate comprises a tab with a first portion extending outwardly at an angle greater than zero degrees away from the first plane and less than ninety degrees away from the first plane, wherein the tab engages the notch at the first wall and the second wall.

An assembly comprising a first member, a second member, and a clutch plate. The second member is maintained in a spaced apart relationship from the first member. The clutch plate has radially extending engagement structures and is disposed between the first member and the second member. The clutch plate has a first half and a second half that are slidably rotatable with respect to one another. The first half and the second half of the clutch plate rotate in opposite directions when axial pressure is applied to the first member.

A lockup clutch for a torque converter is provided. The lockup clutch includes a clutch plate and a piston assembly. The piston assembly includes a base section and a shim fixed to the base section. The shim is arranged for contacting the clutch plate to cause engagement of the lockup clutch. A method of forming a lockup clutch is also provided. The method includes fixing a shim to a base section to form a piston assembly; and arranging the piston assembly adjacent to a clutch plate such that the shim is arranged for contacting the clutch plate to cause engagement of the lockup clutch. A torque converter is also provided.

A shifting device for a positively engaging clutch having complementary first and second positively engaging coupling elements includes a housing and an actuator rod which is axially movable within the housing by means of an associated rod actuating mechanism. A clutch shift fork for engagement with the first coupling element is mounted on the actuator rod for axial movement of the first coupling element into and out of engagement with the second coupling element in response to axial movement of the actuator rod. The clutch shift fork is mounted on the actuator rod by a threaded connector such that the clutch shift fork is axially movable on the actuator rod. Thus conveniently the axial position of the clutch fork on the shaft may be altered by rotating the shaft relative to the clutch fork for accurate positioning of the clutch fork relative to the coupling element with which it engages.

The invention relates to a self-contained and wireless monitoring device (10) for use in a washing machine (1) to indicate shortage of detergent in said washing machine. The monitoring device comprises a sensor (13) arranged to monitor detergent concentration in washing liquid (5) of said washing machine and to provide an alarm signal (A) when said monitored detergent concentration is below a target value. The monitoring device is capable of floating in said washing liquid and comprises signalling means (11) for indicating said shortage of detergent in response to said alarm signal. The invention further relates to a package containing such a monitoring device and a method for indicating shortage of detergent.

Disclosed herein is a method of controlling drainage of wash water remaining in a washing machine. The method includes draining wash water from a tub to an outside of the washing machine, supplying wash water into the washing machine after the draining wash water, and re-draining the wash water to the outside of the washing machine after the supplying wash water.

A washing machine and a control method thereof to achieve washing performance using bubbles without damage to fiber structures of functional clothes. When a washing course of functional clothes is selected, a motor is frequently rotated at a period of a predetermined time or less, causing the clothes to uniformly adsorb the water. Thereafter, bubbles are generated and applied to the clothes. A drive operation rate of the motor is raised stepwise to wash the clothes to which the bubbles have been applied, so as to effectively remove sweat, contaminants, or the like contained in the clothes.

Provided is a method for washing laundry in a washing machine, wherein the washing machine includes a tub and a drum disposed inside the tub, the method comprising: supplying wash water into the tub; rotating the drum such that the laundry is attached the drum and spraying the wash water changed to whirling water into the drum; and draining the wash water from the tub.

A process obtains an aged or faded effect on garments made of protein fibers such as wool, cashmere and silk. Granules of inert materials, which are particularly light in order not to damage very fine fibers, are introduced into a tumbler. The garments were previously treated with a chemical product commonly referred to as “dye retardant” for inhibiting dyeing of the fabric. The tumbler is pre-arranged so that the chemical product does not migrate through holes or openings. Raw confectioned garments that are to be treated, such as jerseys or outerwear, are introduced into the tumbler. The garments are extracted from the tumbler at the end of migration of the chemical product for inhibiting dyeing of the outer surface of the garments by the granules and steamed in an autoclave to fix the chemical process of the product for inhibiting dyeing of the outer surface of the garments. The garments are then dyed with a specific selection of dyes that must be defined each time according to the desired result.

Disclosed is a drum type washing machine having a touch up function and a method for touching up thereof. The drum type washing machine having the touch up function is provided with a touch up button for removing wrinkles on laundry left in the drum type washing machine and a method for touching up. Accordingly, it is not required for a user to additionally execute rinsing and dehydrating processes, or ironing so as to remove wrinkles on the laundry, thus it is convenient. And, since it is not required to additionally execute the rinsing and dehydrating processes, it is capable of preventing unwanted consumption of water and electricity.

Appliances having a detergent dispenser that may be flushed with a water flow for removal of residual treating chemistry while reducing sudsing are disclosed. An example dispenser includes a cup with a bottom wall, a siphon tube projecting upwardly from the bottom wall, a cover for the siphon tube, an opening configured to introduce a liquid stream into the cup from a position above and beyond a periphery of the cover, wherein substantially all of the liquid stream flows downwardly along a trajectory defined by the opening and terminating below and within the periphery of the cover, and wherein the liquid stream directly impinges a portion of at least one of the cup or the siphon tube below the cover.

A double frequency-shift keying modulating device includes a modulation module. The modulation module receives an oscillating signal and a digital signal, and generates a modulation output signal that has a first frequency. The first frequency is associated with a frequency of the oscillating signal and varies periodically at a second frequency. The second frequency is associated with the digital signal and the frequency of the oscillating signal.

A method for mixing short staple and down cluster by a dry processing utilizes an air tool to blow the short staple over, so that the scattered short staple is mixed in the down cluster. Stirring blades are further applied for stirring. Chemical agents are needless, no pollution is generated, and processing time is preferably reduced since the mixture does not have to be soaked in the chemical agent. Both the processing time and the manufacturing cost are decreased. Preferably, a proportion of the short staple to the down cluster is adjustable for different needs and divergent warmth retaining effects.

An apparatus for processing a sample of fibers and trash, having a cylinder for receiving the sample. Pins extend from the surface of the cylinder and retain the fibers. A knife extends along the cylinder adjacent the pins, and removes the trash that is not retained by the pins. The trash is separated from the sample along a downward direction. A counter-flow of air in an upward direction is directed towards the cylinder, where the velocity is sufficient to blow the fibers that are not originally retained by the pins up toward the cylinder, and yet is insufficient to prevent gravity from pulling the trash downward.

A fiber sample conditioning system having a comb for engaging and retaining fibers to form a beard, and at least two rotating brushes for brushing the fibers simultaneously from opposite sides of the beard in a direction along the fibers away from the comb.

The purpose of the invention is to reduce the abrasive impact of the fiber or the yarn on the rollers coated with elastic material, which are used for drafting and guiding purposes in yarn production techniques, and thus keep the operating conditions and yarn quality parameters constant. The fiber on the top rollers coated with elastic material especially in the mechanical ring compact yarn production among the yarn production techniques, is an apron cladding method, over the top roller and the bearing guide arms connected to a bearing body found on the bearing unit placed on the pressure arm, in a way that it would cover these together. The method includes the operation steps of stretching the aprons by application of tension via a tension component and, while the fiber drafting operation continues, the bearing unit carrying the aprons being shifted in the horizontal plane in certain intervals.

An apparatus for processing a sample including fibers and trash, having a cylinder rotating in a first direction for receiving the sample. The cylinder has a surface with rigid pins. The pins engage and retain the fibers of the sample. A collection surface receives the trash that falls from the cylinder. A counter-flow of air moves in a separation region between the cylinder and the collection surface in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to and towards the underside of the cylinder. The counter-flow of air has at each position within the separation region an air-flow velocity that is sufficient for the counter-flow of air to blow the fibers that are not originally retained by the pins up toward the cylinder and thereby engaging the fibers with the cylinder, and yet insufficient to prevent gravity from pulling the trash downward through the counter-flow of air.

A securing device for mechanical components that is comprised of the securing device is designed as a longitudinal plastic strip comprised of a first complementary tab and a second complementary tab. The first complementary tab and the second complementary tab interlock together and rest flush against one another in a manner that lines up the hole of the first complementary tab with the hole of the second complementary tab. The securing device may be surrounded by a cushion to improve the securing functionality of the device.

A mounting assembly 10 for mounting a roller brush 12 onto a cleaning apparatus includes a mounting housing 14 configured to be mountable on the cleaning apparatus. The mounting housing has a through hole for receiving an idle shaft 16 that is sized to be engageable within a blind hole 42 formed in the adjacent end hub 32 of the brush 12. The idle shaft 16 is resiliently loaded in the direction toward the brush hub 12 by a loader assembly 18 which includes a compression spring 16 acting against retaining ring 48 engaged with the idle shaft 16.

A wheelchair cushion comprises a dual stiffness fluid. A cushion also comprises an ability to adjust fluid volume.

The invention discloses a body cushioning pad, a body contact mat and a multi-layered cushioning structure composed of the body cushioning pad and the body contact mat. The cushioning pad consists of a plurality of foam blocks, each provided with an internal cavity having a predetermined size and shape to control the firmness of the block and means for maintaining the foam blocks as a unit. The body contact mat is a bi-dimensional latticed structure of spaced-apart studs made of a compressible material linked together by flexible linking elements. The multi-layered cushioning structure comprises both the cushioning pad and the body contact mat, and a wrapper to wrap the cushioning pad and the contact mat together.

A cellular cushion includes a base, a plurality of hollow cells, and support material. The base includes at least a first layer and a second layer. The plurality of hollow cells are coupled to, and extend outward from, only one of the first layer and the second layer. Each of the plurality of cells extends from a root defined at only one of the first layer and the second layer outwardly to an outer end. The plurality of cells are coupled together in flow communication via a plurality of channels extending between the cells. The support material is inserted within at least one of the hollow cells. The second layer coupled to the first layer such that the support material is between an inner surface of said at least one of the hollow cells and the second layer.

A secure short-distance-based communication and validation system validates users in a validation area. The system may include multiple zones in the validation area and beacons in each zone. A run-time mobile device identifier and keys that may be location-specific, device-specific and time-specific are generated and utilized for secure communication between mobile devices and a zone computer in a zone. The validation area may be in a vehicle, and validation may include deducting a fare.

Disclosed is an intelligent shoe for the blind, which includes a sole and an upper. At least a portion of the sole is provided with multiple pressure sensors for generating pressure sensing signals when the sole is in contact with raised ground surface. The intelligent shoe further includes a storage chip, used to pre-store a signal characteristic of pressure sensing signals generated when the sole is in contact with a blind sidewalk, and a ata processing chip electrically connected to the multiple pressure sensors and the storage chip, used to compare a signal characteristic of pressure sensing signals from the pressure sensors with the pre-stored signal characteristic, and determine that the sole deviates from the blind sidewalk and send a prompt signal in the case that the signal characteristic of the pressure sensing signals from the pressure sensors is inconsistent with the pre-stored signal characteristic.

A candle with shimmering properties has (i) wax; and (ii) light reflective particles dispersed throughout the wax, in the form of a candle base mixture, such that upon lighting the candle base mixture with a flame, at least a portion of the candle base mixture melts from a solid state to a liquid state, forming a pool of molten liquid in which the liquid moves. The light reflective particles highlight the movement of the liquid, such that the movement of the liquid is visible to an observer. A wick may be mounted within the candle base mixture and a container may contain the candle base mixture. A fragrance and/or dye are optional ingredients of the candle.

A perch-shank device is disclosed as having a perch with an upper, central, and lower portion. The upper portion has an eyelet for attaching a headstall or chinstrap. The lower portion directly connects to a mouthpiece. The invention also includes a shank having an upper and lower portion, wherein the lower portion has an eyelet for attaching a rein and the upper portion of the shank is connected above the lower portion of the perch adjacent to one of the central and upper portion of the perch.

An apparatus includes a slider of a recording head comprising a plurality of electrical bond pads coupled to bias sources and a ground pad. Each of a plurality of electrical components of the slider is coupled to at least one of the electrical bond pads. At least one of the electrical bond pads is a shared electrical bond pad coupled to at least two of the electrical components. At least one diode is coupled to at least one of the electrical bond pads and at least one of the electrical components.

An invention is provided for a security shutter assembly. The security shutter assembly includes a shutter door having a plurality of operable louvers pivotally mounted between vertical stiles. A locking element is attached to the first vertical stile, and can be set in a locked position that secures the shutter door closed, and an open position that allows the shutter door to be opened. The locking element includes a louver flange portion that extends over the louvers when the louvers are in the closed position and the locking element is in the open position. However, the louvers block the louver flange from being positioned over the louvers when the louvers are in the open position, thus preventing the locking element from being placed in the open, and unlocked, position while the louvers are in the open position.

A shutter-blind system for windows is provided. The system includes a frame and a plurality of rotatable parallel louvers coupled within the frame. Each louver of the plurality of louvers is operatively coupled to adjacent louvers with a collapsible linkage. The system may further comprise a biasing member coupled to a first louver located at a first end of the plurality of louvers and a resisting member coupled to a second louver located at a second end of the plurality of louvers. The biasing member pulls against the resisting member to maintain tension in the collapsible linkage. According to certain embodiments, the frame elements are coupled within a window opening and trim elements are coupled to cover gaps between the frame elements and the window opening.

A vehicle side window, composed of HPR laminated glazing or advanced ejection mitigating laminated glazing, is provided with an inverted U-shaped channel, bonded to its upper edge, and extending into side channels of the door frame. The inverted U-shaped channel acts as a movable upper door channel, providing the door glazing with sufficient rigidity and pull-out resistance that it performs in an accident as if it were fully rolled up.

An adjusting apparatus is provided in a sash to turn slats automatically while the sash is being opened. The adjusting apparatus includes a plurality of first engaging members, a driven unit, and a driving unit. The first engaging members are connected to the slats respectively. The driven unit is connected to the frame of the sash for reciprocation, and has a second engaging member, wherein all the first engaging members are engaged with the second engaging member. The driving unit is connected to the carrier and the driven unit respectively to drive the driven unit to move while the sash is being opened. The first engaging members are turned by the second engaging member when the driven unit is moved by the driving unit to turn the slats from the first position to the second position.

Methods and apparatus are provided for finishing a composite floor. The apparatus includes a grouting pan configured to be affixed to the rotating head of a finishing machine. The grouting pan has a planar bottom surface and a curved sidewall. Grouting pans are rotated over a prepped surface such that the curved sidewalls trowel the mortar onto the rough composite surface and the bottom surface which is in contact with the prepped floor forces the mortar into the surface voids such that a grouted surface.

A method of manufacturing a lithium-ion secondary battery electrode sheet disclosed herein includes the step of preparing powder 220 of granulated particles. In this step, the powder (220) of granulated particles (240) including active material particles (241) and a hinder (242) is prepared. The powder (220) is deposited on a strip-shaped collector foil (201) that is being conveyed. Then, the powder (220) is removed from widthwise center portions (202) and (203) of the collector foil (201), and a squeegee (106) is brought into contact with the powder (220) remaining on the opposite sides of the center portions (202) and (203) of the collector foil (201), thus adjusting the thickness of the powder (220). Subsequently, the powder (220) remaining on the opposite sides of the center portions (202) and (203) of the collector foil (201) is pressed.

The input component includes a molding that forms an external frame, a sensor sheet formed by providing a sensor electrode on a base sheet formed of a resin film, the sensor sheet being installed inside the molding, a display element capable of being illuminated by an internal light source, a light shielding portion that shields a light from the internal light source, the display element being illuminated when the internal light source is on, a contact with the display element enabling an input operation, a colored transparent layer formed so as to have a color tone that creates a blackout in which the display element becomes integrated with the light shielding portion surrounding the display element when the internal light source is off so as to become difficult to perceive, the colored transparent layer being provided so as to be layered on the display element, and a light diffusing layer.

A lighting device for a sheet metal is provided, for emitting lights on a sheet metal. The lighting device includes: a bottom plate; a wireless remote module, including a signal receiver for receiving a wireless control signal; a plurality of lighting modules, for emitting a plurality of light colors; a cover body, covering the lighting modules and including a light translucent portion and a light opaque portion. The wireless remote module controls the lighting modules to emit light. The light from the lighting modules goes through the light translucent portion and projects a projection boundary defined by a common boundary constructed by the light translucent portion and the light opaque portion on the sheet metal. A lighting system for a sheet metal is also provided, including the lighting device described above and a support device. The lighting device is adjustably assembled with the support device.

A method for pushing information proactively includes: receiving updated data; querying search records that match the updated data; determining search records that meet a push condition, and obtaining user information corresponding to the search records that meet the push condition; pushing, according to the user information, the updated data to all or part of users corresponding to the user information. In the embodiments of the present invention, after receiving updated data, the server proactively obtains the search records of users, screens the users according to the push condition, and pushes the updated data to the screened users. In this way, the information is proactively pushed, which shortens the time interval of providing information for the users, and improves the efficiency of obtaining needed information by the users.

An apparatus, computer-readable medium, and computer-implemented method for visualizing relationships between pairs of columns, comprising identifying a relationship classification corresponding to two columns in a plurality of columns based on a data type of each column in the two columns, applying one or more statistical measures to data in the two columns to generate association data quantifying a plurality of relationships between data values in a first column of the two columns and data values in a second column of the two columns, wherein the one or more statistical measures are determined based at least in part on the relationship classification, and transforming the association data into a visualization, wherein the visualization comprises one or more indicators corresponding to one or more relationships in the plurality of relationships and wherein a layout of the visualization is determined based on the relationship classification.

Networking systems and methods for establishing and maintaining virtual computing clouds are disclosed. A networking system can comprise a server and various instances of a software agent, each agent being installed on a computing device participating in a virtual computing cloud. The server can maintain account setting for a user, wherein the settings can indicate which files on indicated computing devices are included in the virtual computing cloud. The networking system can selectively synchronize data between the computing devices automatically and in a secure manner, and can transmit data in real time to simulate local storage when synchronization of certain files is inappropriate in light of file incompatibility. As a result, the networking system can provide the user with a seamless, automatic system and method for accessing a total computing environment.

A method for separating carbon dioxide from a gas stream, in particular from a flue gas stream, wherein, a gas stream is brought into contact with a washing medium in an absorber of a separation device and the carbon dioxide contained in the gas stream is separated; the charged washing medium is supplied to a desorber of the separation device to release the carbon dioxide; a vapor stream is removed from the desorber and is supplied to a cooling unit to form a condensate; degradation products, in particular nitrosamines, contained in at least a partial stream of the condensate are photolytically decomposed to decomposition products; at least the decomposition products, in particular nitrites and amines, are removed; and at least a partial stream of the condensate is returned to the desorber. A corresponding separation device separates carbon dioxide from a gas stream.

A mobile purification device for purifying indoor air and/or fresh air, has a holder and a filter element having a particle-filtering and a gas-adsorbing region, the particle-filtering region having a filter medium and the filter element being received in the holder to purify indoor air and/or fresh air containing smoke and/or particles and is useful as a mobile purification device, filtering particle-polluted and/or smoke-polluted indoor air and/or fresh air as effectively as possible, with particulate, emitted contaminants being prevented as far as possible from being discharged from the gas-adsorbing region into a space, wherein the particle-filtering region faces a downstream side of the holder and in that the gas-adsorbing region faces an upstream side, which can be supplied with indoor air and/or fresh air polluted with smoke and/or particles.

A vacuum filter backflushing system having an air recapturing adapter coupled to a vacuum motor's air exhaust port which recaptures a portion of exhaust air and introduces the air into a recaptured air passage. The recaptured air passage is coupled to an air flow director which is configured to direct air to an air filter. The air flow director is configured to selectively prevent air from flowing through the filters in a normal air flow direction and allow the air in the recaptured air passage to backflush the filter by dislodging particles from air filter media. The recaptured air passage can terminate after a last air filter, such that the recaptured air passage is pressurized, or the recaptured air passage can recouple back into the air exhaust port or the air recapturing adapter, such that the air is in constant motion in the recaptured air passage.

A flush driving device for a toilet includes a mounting bracket, a control panel that includes a sensing window and manual buttons, and a manual operating mechanism that includes bars cooperating with the manual buttons and rotating mechanisms connected with the bars. Rotating shafts of the rotating mechanisms are mounted in the mounting bracket. An automatic operating mechanism includes a driving motor, a rod controlled by the driving motor, and lifting mechanisms cooperating with the rod. The flush driving device also includes pull arms connected to both the rotating mechanisms and the lifting mechanisms for controlling the flush of the toilet.

A system for flushing a vacuum toilet in an aircraft, with a bowl drain for removing toilet waste water from a bowl, a drain line, a bypass flow line for feeding-in air, a drainage valve and a waste water line. The bowl drain and the bypass flow line are connectable to the drain line, and the drainage valve on the input side is connectable to the drain line, and on the output side is connectable to a waste water line. In an implementation of the vacuum toilet as a vacuum urinal, the system may provide either water flushing or waterless flushing.

A splash guard designed to protect the gap between the back of a sink and the adjoining wall or mirror. The guard has an upper edge and a lower edge. There upper edge is attached to the mirror, preferably through the use of suction cups. The lower edge is provided with a bendable bar which a user can bend—using hand strength—into any desired shape. The bendable bar is bent into a shape which conforms the lower edge of the guard to the posterior sink geometry. The lower edge is then placed immediately behind the posterior sink geometry.

There is provided a flush toilet device capable of being configured in a compact size and supplying a sufficient flow amount of water to a toilet to reliably flush and discharge waste. According to the flush toilet device, a straight pipe portion of a throat which is arranged inside a tank is arranged in a state where a center axis thereof inclines with respect to a front-back direction of the tank when viewed from an upper side.

The device has a line arrangement (2), which possesses an inlet (3) connectable to a supply line and an outlet (4) connectable to a shower arm (5). A heating element (6) serves for the provision of warm water. An energy store (7, 8) is provided, with which the power range for the provision of shower water can be extended. The heating element (6) for the provision of warm water is, in particular, a continuous-flow heater. The energy store (7, 8) is, in particular, a thermal, electrical, electrochemical or chemical energy store. During the shower process, the energy store is available as an additional energy source for the preparation of shower water.

A lavatory pan device for separating stool and urine includes a stool and urine tray, a supporting device, and a moment force producing device. The stool and urine tray consists of a flat plate and the rib inclining upward and extending outward from the whole or partial edge of the flat plate. The lavatory pan has an opening or an entry way at the longitudinal side and is connected on the supporting device. Through the moment force produced by the prescribed moment force producing device, the stool and urine tray can roll over on the supporting device. The described moment force producing device is set on the stool and urine tray and it is between tow supports of the above supporting device and the opening or entry way.

A safety shower system having a trailer; a tank mounted to the trailer, the tank having an tank outlet, a pump having a pump inlet and a pump outlet, the pump inlet in fluid communication with the tank outlet; a valve having at least one valve inlet, a valve switch, and a valve outlet, the valve outlet fluidly connected to the pump; at least one pressure vessel having a vessel outlet, the vessel outlet fluidly connected to the at least one valve inlet; at least one conduit connected to the pump outlet; and a shower head connected to the at least one conduit.