A port of a first device includes remote device detection logic to detect, on a link, a remote second device, determine, from a voltage generated at the port, whether the second device is direct current (DC)-coupled or alternating current (AC)-coupled to the link, and select one of first settings or second settings to be applied at the port in communications over the link with the second device based on whether the second device is DC-coupled or AC-coupled.

The present application relates to a cache invalidation unit for a computing system having a processor unit, CPU, with a cache memory, a main memory and at least one an alternate bus master unit. The CPU, the main memory and the at least one an alternate bus master unit are coupled via an interconnect for data communications between them. The cache invalidation unit generates one or more invalidation requests to the cache memory in response to the alternate bus master unit writing data to the main memory. The cache invalidation unit comprises a page address generator unit to generate page addresses relating to at least one address range and an invalidation request generator unit to generate an invalidation request for each page address. The one or more generated invalidation requests are transmitted by the cache invalidation unit via to the cache memory of the CPU.

A first device is determined as connected to a first one of a plurality of ports of a root complex. Addresses are assigned corresponding to a first hierarchy of devices including the first device. A second device is determined as connected through a mapping portal bridge at a second one of the ports of the root complex, the second device included in another second hierarchy of devices. A mapping table is generated that corresponds to the mapping portal bridge. The mapping table defines a translation between addressing used in a first view of a configuration address space of the system and addressing used in a second view of the configuration address space. The first view includes a view of the root complex and the second view includes a view corresponding to the second hierarchy of devices, the first hierarchy of devices being addressed according to the first view.

A peripheral interface circuit and a peripheral memory system are provided. The peripheral interface circuit includes an interface sequencer, an input/output controller, a register unit and a data buffer. The interface sequencer receives requests from the input/output controller and accesses the peripheral memory in response to the requests. The data buffer is randomly accessed by address. If target data of the data access request exists in the data buffer, the input/output controller returns data from the data buffer in response to the request; if target data of the data access request does not exist in the data buffer, the input/output controller sends an interface request to the interface sequencer to access the peripheral memory and keeps a copy of at least the target data in the data buffer.

A semiconductor device includes a plurality of circuits, a general bus configured to be connected to each of the plurality of circuits and to provide a general channel among the plurality of circuits, and a designated bus configured to be connected to a subgroup of circuits from among the plurality of circuits and to provide a designated channel among the subgroup of circuits.

An embedded controller is provided for a computer, including a processor, first one or more logic elements providing a serial peripheral interface (SPI) module to communicatively couple the embedded controller to an SPI bus as an SPI slave, and second one or more logic elements providing a platform environment control interface (PECI)-over-SPI engine, to build an SPI packet providing an encapsulated PECI command and send a notification to an SPI master that the packet is available.

Embodiments of the present invention provide components and a system for providing a safer environment for using a cutting torch. The system includes a cutting torch and a control box. There is communication from the user to the control box to allow fluids to flow to the torch. The control box includes closed biased valve(s) such that if there is a condition where there is no instruction from the torch to the control box and/or power is lost, the valves will shut, preventing fluid from flowing into the torch.

The invention relates to a combustible sleeve for accommodating propellant charge powder, to munitions designed using such a sleeve, and to a production method for such sleeves. The sleeve according to the invention is designed for accommodating propellant charge powder and has a jacket wall made of combustible felted fibrous material and an inlay of intersecting threads in the jacket wall. The threads are disposed therein at a distance from one another such that felted fibrous material reaches through the regions between the threads. The method comprises the following steps: preparing a jacket wall made of combustible felted fibrous material and inserting an inlay made of intersecting threads into the jacket wall. The threads are disposed therein at a distance from one another such that the felted fibrous material extends through the regions between the threads.

Penetrators and methods of manufacturing penetrators are disclosed. One method of manufacturing a penetrator having arrowhead geometry and base geometry includes the steps: (a) cold heading a piece of material to form a blank; (b) machining the blank to create the arrowhead geometry; and (c) roll forming the blank to create the base geometry. Another method of manufacturing a penetrator having arrowhead geometry and base geometry includes the steps: (a) machining a piece of material to create the arrowhead geometry; and (b) roll forming the piece of material to create the base geometry. Yet another method of manufacturing a penetrator from a blank includes the steps: (a) machining the blank to create a first surface feature of the penetrator; and (b) roll forming the blank to create a second surface feature of the penetrator.

A method of making a liner for a shaped charge or an explosively formed projectile may include making a liner substrate using a 3D additive manufacturing process. At least a portion of the surface of the liner substrate may be surface finished. The surface finished portion may be electroplated with a metal to form a multi-layer liner.

A multi-petal adapter that enables projectiles of different sizes to be used in a single dearmer. The adapter includes a plurality of petals that are secured, in a detachable way, to a base. The main function of the base is to secure the petals until the projectile is fired from the dearmer. Whereupon, the adapter will start petalling until the petals become detached from the base, so that the adapter imparts minimal or no energy or damage to the intended target. The adapter fully regulates the energy imparted to the various projectiles, by allowing propellant gases to bleed through channels that are formed between the petals. As a result, the present adapter fully supports a proper projectile launch and ensures its proper orientation toward the target.

A hand operated press for reloading metal rifle cartridges including indicating means for providing for an operator of the press discrete indications of the different forces that can be manually applied through the drive mechanism during use of the press to crimp the second end of a cartridge against a bullet in the cartridge to allow the operator to use one of those indications to manually apply the same force to form essentially the same degree of crimp of the second ends of identical cartridges against identical bullets in the cartridges.

An active/passive system for managing the temperature of fluid within an automatic transmission includes two heat exchangers, an active solenoid valve and a passive wax motor valve. A first heat exchanger provides transmission fluid heating and receives a flow of engine coolant. A second heat exchanger provides transmission fluid cooling and is exposed to ambient air. The solenoid valve which is preferably driven by a signal from a transmission control module (TCM) and the wax motor valve cooperate to provide three states of operation: transmission fluid heating, that is, heat added, cooling, that is, heat removed and pass-through or bypass (without heating or cooling).

An operation management apparatus includes an air conditioning thermal load prediction unit configured to calculate an air conditioning thermal load predicted value indicating a predicted amount of heat required to adjust temperature to a pre-set temperature on a day-of-prediction, a power generation output prediction processing unit configured to calculate power generation output prediction data indicating a generated power obtained by a generator within the day-of-prediction, and an operation planning unit configured to prepare an air conditioning heat source operation plan, and determines a purchased power and the generated power using the power generation output prediction data to thereby prepare a power facility operation plan indicating a schedule of a power output from the purchased power source and the generator, so that the purchased power per predetermined time supplied from a purchased power source of a commercial power system becomes a target value.

A heat transfer device including a container in which a heat-transfer fluid circulates in a closed loop. The heat transfer fluid is capable of undergoing an increase in volume on solidifying. The container further contains particles suspended in the heat-transfer fluid. At least some of the particles are compressible under the pressure of the fluid, as the fluid is solidifying, so as to at least partially compensate for the increase in volume of the fluid upon solidifying.

An apparatus and method for minimizing cold spots on plates of a plate-type fluid-to-fluid heat exchanger averages the plate temperature at a hot-fluid exit plane of the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger matrix is constructed to internally vary the flow patterns of opposing hot and cold fluid streams so that the heat transfer coefficient values of one or both fluid streams, designated as h, are optimized so the hot fluid value is a greater value than that of a cold fluid value. Plate variable flow structures are arranged in a manner that allows higher velocity hot fluid flow and possible lower velocity cold fluid flow in areas where the plate temperatures are coolest and the opposite configuration where plate temperatures are hottest.

A control system for an HVAC system serving at least two zones, each zone receiving conditioned air by way of a zone duct, each zone duct including a zone damper having a first portion responsive to the static pressure in a HVAC system to open and bleed an amount of conditioned air past the damper when the static pressure of the system increases above a selected level, a second portion controlled by a actuator to move between an open and a closed position in response to a zone thermostat, and a coupling mechanism coupling the first and second portions to limit the relative movements of the two portions with respect to each other, and a biasing mechanism exerting a torque against the system static pressure differential. The first portion can be a single one-piece undivided blade pivotally mounted with a shell surrounding the zone damper.

Includes a low flow-rate region (R2) that is disposed on an upstream side of a combustion region (R1) within a second pipe (2), and that has a relatively slow flow-rate of combustion gas (G1) within the second pipe, and a flame kernel formation unit (3a) is disposed in the low flow-rate region.

New net shape strength retaining high temperature alloy parts are formed from fine metallurgical powders by mechanically blending the powders and placing them in die, placing a piston in the die, extending the piston into a driving chamber, filling the chamber with CH4 and air and compressing the powders with the filling pressure. Igniting gas in the chamber drives the piston into the cavity, producing pressures of about 85 to 150 tsi, compacting the powders into a near net shape alloy part, ready for sintering at 2300° C. without shrinking. The alloy parts are Re, Mo—Re, W—Re, Re—Hf—HfC, Re—Ta—Hf—HfC, Re—Mo—Hf—HfC, Mo—Re—Ta, Mo—Re-f-HfC, W—Re—Hf—HfC, W—Re—Ta—Hf—HfC or W—Re—Mo—Hf alloys.

Articles containing a matrix material and plurality of copper nanoparticles in the matrix material that have been at least partially fused together are described. The copper nanoparticles are less than about 20 nm in size. Copper nanoparticles of this size become fused together at temperatures and pressures that are much lower than that of bulk copper. In general, the fusion temperatures decrease with increasing applied pressure and lowering of the size of the copper nanoparticles. The size of the copper nanoparticles can be varied by adjusting reaction conditions including, for example, surfactant systems, addition rates, and temperatures. Copper nanoparticles that have been at least partially fused together can form a thermally conductive percolation pathway in the matrix material.

A method for the oxidation and sintering of pellets includes the introduction of a first medium into a compartment through an inlet connected to the compartment and the heating of the medium in the inlet through the use of a combustion arrangement. The use of the combustion arrangement includes the ignition of the fuel, the combustion of the fuel, and the transfer of combustion heat to the first medium that is present at the combustion arrangement. In a region in the inlet outside the direct passage of the first medium, the ignition of the fuel, the combustion of the fuel and the transfer of combustion heat to the first medium take place. By the introduction of a second medium into the region in the direct vicinity of the combustion arrangement, the combustion of the fuel and the transfer of combustion heat also to the second medium take place.

The present invention relates to a process for the recycling of steel industry iron bearing by-products into a shape suitable for feeding into a direct reduction furnace, comprising the steps of mixing and grinding 50 to 99 wt % of ore and pellet fines and 1 to 50 wt % of slurry, mill scale and/or bag house dust, pelletizing the mixture and indurating the pellets so obtained by heating for 5-60 minutes at a temperature in the range of 1100-1350° C.; and a pellet produced from Iron bearing waste material and having compression strength of at least 2.8 kN and/or a drop number of at least 3.

A method for leaching copper and molybdenum from an ore, residue and/or concentrate containing such, in which more than 1% w/w of the total molybdenum is present as a sulfide and in which more than 1% w/w of the total copper is present as an oxide, the method comprising the steps of: exposing the ore, residue and/or concentrate to an aqueous solution of chlorine (I)-based oxidizing species of a pH of at least 3.0; oxidizing the molybdenum by the chlorine-based oxidizing species thereby providing a treated ore, residue and/or concentrate and a reduced aqueous solution of chlorine-based oxidizing species; leaching the treated ore, residue and/or concentrate by exposing the treated ore, residue and/or concentrate to an aqueous ammoniacal ammonium carbonate solution to form a pregnant leach solution containing both copper and molybdenum; and passing the pregnant leach solution containing both copper and molybdenum to a means for metal recovery.

A method of making metal nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes is disclosed. A mixture of a transition metal compound and an aromatic polymer, a precursor of an aromatic polymer, or an aromatic monomer is heated to form a metal nanoparticle composition, optionally containing carbon nanotubes.

A method during the oxidation and sintering of pellets includes the introduction of a first medium into the compartment through an inlet connected to the compartment and the heating of the first medium in the inlet through the use of a combustion arrangement. The use of the combustion arrangement includes the ignition of the fuel, combustion of the fuel, and the transfer of the combustion heat to the first medium that is present at the combustion arrangement. A second medium is introduced to the inlet through an intake in the direct vicinity of the combustion arrangement, where the ignition of the fuel and the combustion of the fuel take place for the transfer of combustion heat also to the second medium. The heated first medium and the heated second medium are mixed before or during their introduction into the compartment.

Seizure resistance and wear resistance of Cu—Bi—In copper-alloy sliding material are enhanced by forming a soft phase of as pure as possible Bi. Mixed powder of Cu—In cuprous alloy powder and Cu—Bi containing Cu-based alloy powder is used. A sintering condition is set such that Bi moves outside particles of said Cu—Bi containing Cu-based powder and forms a Bi grain-boundary phase free of In, and In diffuses from said Cu—In containing Cu-based powder to said Cu—Bi containing Cu-based powder.

In a method for producing a reduced iron pellet, when a powder formed article including iron oxide and carbon is heated and reduced in a rotary hearth furnace, a formed article produced using a raw material, in which an average diameter of the iron oxide is 50 microns or less and a ratio of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide in a reduction zone is from 0.3 to 1, is reduced at a temperature of 1400° C. or less, thereby producing a reduced iron pellet in which a metallization ratio of iron is 50 to 85% and a ratio of residual carbon is 2% or less.

A process for manufacturing high aspect ratio silver nanowires is provided, wherein the recovered silver nanowires exhibit an average diameter of 25 to 80 nm and an average length of 10 to 100 μm; and, wherein the total glycol concentration is

Carbothermic reduction of magnesium oxide at approximately 2200 degrees Kelvin yields a high temperature mixture of magnesium vapors and carbon monoxide gas. Previous processes have sought to cool or alter the mixture to cause the yield of pure magnesium, which is then used in subsequent processes for its reducing properties. The present invention takes advantage of the stability and inertness of carbon monoxide at elevated temperatures enabling the magnesium vapor/carbon monoxide gas mixture from the carbothermic process to be used directly for the production of other metals at high temperatures. Chromium oxide, manganese oxide, zinc oxide and sulfide, and several other metal compounds can be reduced by the magnesium vapor/carbon monoxide gas mixture at temperatures high enough to prevent the gas mixture from back-reacting to magnesium oxide and carbon.

A device for automatic demounting of a tire from a rim having: a support arm (4); a demounting tool (10) articulated to the support arm (4); an attachment member (12) having one end articulated to the demounting tool (10) by a first articulation pin (13) and the other end thereof pivoted to the support arm (4) around a second articulation pin (14) extending substantially parallel to the first articulation pin (13); at least one extension appendage of the support arm (4) or a section (17) of the support arm (4), which extends beyond the second articulation pin (14); and at least one tie rod member (18) that is articulated on one side to the tool, and on the other side to the extension appendage or section (17) of the support arm (4).

An apparatus (1) for mounting and removing a tire (2) on and from a respective rim (3) comprises: a movement element (9) for moving a bead (2a) of the tire (2) in order to insert/remove the bead (2a) into/from a respective groove in the rim (3); means (4) for supporting and moving the rim (3), designed to rotationally drive the rim about its longitudinal axis; characterized in that the means (4) for supporting and moving the rim (3) comprise a sensor (252) for measuring the mechanical strain applied to the supporting and movement means (4) as a result of the mechanical stress on the bead (2a) of the tire (2) during mounting/removal of the latter on/from the rim (3).

A tire spoon holder is provided. The tire spoon holder may include: a first and second handle; a first and second jaw, each jaw connected to at least one of the handles wherein the jaws are configured to come together when the handles are moved toward each other; and a loop attached to at least one jaw or handle. A method of attaching a tire spoon to a wheel rim may be provided. The method may include: attaching a tire spoon holder to a wheel rim; slipping a tire spoon through a loop in the tire spoon holder; and inserting a flat portion of the tire spoon between a tire and the wheel rim.

The present invention relates to a demounting device comprising a support member translatable along a movement axis (y-y), drive means for the support member, a tool-holder arm (3) borne by the support member (2), an abutment element (4) and a hook-like extraction member (5) both supported by the tool-holder arm (3), the abutment element (4) having a substantially flat work surface (4a), whereas the hook-like extraction member (5) is suitable for being moved in a substantially transverse direction with respect to the rotation axis (x-x) of a rim (W).

The present invention relates to a device for demounting a tire (T) from a rim (W) including at least one support element;an articulation pin element borne by the at least one support element;a spring shackle element having a first end and a second end articulated on the articulation pin;a demounting lever;an actuator borne by the at least one support element and set to act on the demounting lever in order to make the demounting lever angularly move during use; andfriction or elastic loading means designed to slow the angular movement of the spring shackle element around the articulation pin with respect to its angular movement around the first axis (x-x).

A pneumatically operated gas valve includes a piston positioned in a cylinder with one closed end so that the piston may seat against a gas outlet to close the gas valve. A control reservoir may be formed in the cylinder between the piston and the closed end of the cylinder. Means for filling the control reservoir with gas to a control pressure may be provided so that the control pressure acting against the piston may close the gas valve. A release valve may be opened to allow the gas in the control reservoir to escape through an exhaust port to open the gas valve.

A hot-forged copper alloy part which has a tubular shape, in which an alloy composition contains 59.0 mass % to 84.0 mass % of Cu and 0.003 mass % to 0.3 mass % of Pb with a remainder of Zn and inevitable impurities, a content of Cu [Cu] mass % and a content of Pb [Pb] mass % have a relationship of 59≦([Cu]+0.5×[Pb])≦64, a shape of the forged part satisfies a formula of 0.4≦(average inner diameter)/(average outer diameter)≦0.92, 0.04≦(average thickness)/(average outer diameter)≦0.3, and 1≦(tube axis direction length)/(average thickness))≦10, a forging material which is to be hot-forged has a tubular shape and satisfies 0.3≦(average inner diameter/average outer diameter)≦0.88, 0.06≦(average thickness)/(average outer diameter)≦0.35, and 0.8≦(tube axis direction length)/(average thickness))≦12, and 0%≦(degree of uneven thickness)≦30%, 0≦(degree of uneven thickness)≦75×1/((tube axis direction length)/(average thickness))1/2 in any location in a tube axis direction.

A high-strength seamless steel pipe for oil wells excellent in sulfide stress cracking resistance which comprises, on the percent by mass basis, C: 0.1 to 0.20%, Si: 0.05 to 1.0%, Mn: 0.05 to 1.0%, Cr: 0.05 to 1.5%, Mo: 0.05 to 1.0%, Al: 0.10% or less, Ti: 0.002 to 0.05% and B: 0.0003 to 0.005%, with a value of equation “C+(Mn/6)+(Cr/5)+(Mo/3)” of 0.43 or more, with the balance being Fe and impurities, and in the impurities P: 0.025% or less, S: 0.010% or less and N: 0.007% or less. The seamless steel pipe may contain a specified amount of one or more element(s) of V and Nb, and/or a specified amount of one or more element(s) of Ca, Mg and REM. The seamless steel pipe can be produced at a low cost by adapting an in-line tube making and heat treatment process having a high production efficiency since a reheating treatment for refinement of grains is not required.

A steel material superior in high temperature characteristics and toughness is provided, that is, a steel material containing, by mass %, C: 0.005% to 0.03%, Si: 0.05% to 0.40%, Mn: 0.40% to 1.70%, Nb: 0.02% to 0.25%, Ti: 0.005% to 0.025%, N: 0.0008% to 0.0045%, B: 0.0003% to 0.0030%, restricting P: 0.030% or less, S: 0.020% or less, Al: 0.03% or less, and having a balance of Fe and unavoidable impurities, where the contents of C and Nb satisfy C—Nb/7.74≦0.02 and Ti-based oxides of a grain size of 0.05 to 10 μm are present in a density of 30 to 300/mm2.

A component composition contains, by % by mass, 0.0016 to 0.01% of C, 0.05 to 0.60% of Mn, and 0.020 to 0.080% of Nb so that the C and Nb contents satisfy the expression, 0.4≦(Nb/C)×(12/93)≦2.5. In addition, the amount of Nb-based precipitates is 20 to 500 ppm by mass, the average grain diameter of the Nb-based precipitates is 10 to 100 nm, and the average crystal grain diameter of ferrite is 6 to 10 μm. Nb is added to ultra-low-carbon steel used as a base, and the amount and grain diameter of the Nb-based precipitates are controlled to optimize the pinning effect. Grain refinement of ferrite is achieved by specifying the Mn amount, thereby achieving softening and excellent resistance to surface roughness of steel.

Provided is bearing steel excellent in workability after spheroidizing-annealing and in hydrogen fatigue resistance property after quenching and tempering. The bearing steel has a chemical composition containing, by mass %: 0.85% to 1.10% C; 0.30% to 0.80% Si; 0.90% to 2.00% Mn; 0.025% or less P; 0.02% or less S; 0.05% or less Al; 1.8% to 2.5% Cr; 0.15% to 0.4% Mo; 0.0080% or less N; and 0.0020% or less O, which further contains more than 0.0015% to 0.0050% or less Sb, with the balance being Fe and incidental impurities, to thereby effectively suppress the generation of WEA even in environment where hydrogen penetrates into the steel, so as to improve the roiling contact fatigue life and also the workability such as cuttability and forgeability of the material.

This invention provides a copper alloy sheet material containing, in mass %, Ni: 0.7%-4.2% and Si: 0.2%-1.0%, optionally containing one or more of Sn: 1.2% or less, Zn: 2.0% or less, Mg: 1.0% or less, Co: 2.0% or less, and Fe: 1.0% or less, and a total of 3% or less of one or more of Cr, B, P, Zr, Ti, Mn and V, the balance being substantially Cu, and having a crystal orientation satisfying Expression (1): I{420}/I0{420}>1.0 (1), where I{420} is the x-ray diffraction intensity from the {420} crystal plane in the sheet plane of the copper alloy sheet material and I0{420} is the x-ray diffraction intensity from the {420} crystal plane of standard pure copper powder. The copper alloy sheet material has highly improved strength, post-notching bending workability, and stress relaxation resistance property.

A metal laminated substrate for an oxide superconducting wire is manufactured such that a non-magnetic metal plate T1 having a thickness of not more than 0.2 mm and a metal foil T2 made of Cu alloy which is formed by cold rolling at a draft of not less than 90% and has a thickness of not more than 50 μm is laminated to each other by room-temperature surface active bonding, after lamination, crystal of the metal foil is oriented by heat treatment at a temperature of not less than 150° C. and not more than 1000° C. and, thereafter, an epitaxial growth film T3 made of Ni or an Ni alloy having a thickness of not more than 10 μm is laminated to the metal foil.

A welding method for welding workpieces made of highly heat-resistant superalloys is provided. The method includes generating a heat input zone on the workpiece surface by means of a heat source, feeding welding filler material into the heat input zone by means of a feeding device, and generating a relative motion between the heat source and the feeding device on one hand and the workpiece surface on the other hand by means of a conveying device. Furthermore, according to the welding method, the mass feed rate is ≦350 mg/min.

There are provided a permanent magnet and a manufacturing method thereof enabling carbon content contained in magnet particles to be reduced in advance before sintering even when wet milling is employed. Coarsely-milled magnet powder is further milled by a bead mill in a solvent together with an organometallic compound expressed with a structural formula of M-(OR)X (M represents V, Mo, Zr, Ta Ti W or Nb, R represents a substituent group consisting of a straight-chain or branched-chain hydrocarbon, X represents an arbitrary integer) so as to uniformly adhere the organometallic compound to particle surfaces of the magnet powder. Thereafter, a compact body of compacted magnet powder is held for several hours in hydrogen atmosphere at 200 through 900 degrees Celsius to perform hydrogen calcination process. Thereafter, through sintering process, a permanent magnet 1 is formed.

A steel for an induction hardening including, by mass %, C: more than 0.75% to 1.20%, Si: 0.002 to 3.00%, Mn: 0.20 to 2.00%, S: 0.002 to 0.100%, Al: more than 0.050% to 3.00%, P: limited to 0.050% or less, N: limited to 0.0200% or less, O: limited to: 0.0030% or less, and the balance composing of iron and unavoidable impurities, wherein an Al content and a N content satisfy, by mass %, Al−(27/14)×N>0.050%.

Apparatus and method are provided for making the longitudinal temperature distribution of the bulbous end of a longitudinally oriented workpiece, such as a rail's head, generally uniform when the head has a non-uniform longitudinal temperature distribution. A combination of crown and skirt electric inductors is used to achieve the generally uniform temperature distribution by modulating the magnetic field intensity produced by current flow through one or more of the combination of crown and skirt inductors as required for the non-uniformly heated regions of the rail's head.

A system and a device for anti-thief protection, especially for open pockets of trousers, bags and the like, includes a mobile protection strip element (1) to be applied on the pockets hooks (12). The aim is attained by superposing the strip (1) on the pocket (T) and blocking the strip (1) using a plurality of hooks (12) in the form of clips located in the lower part (5) of the strip (1), the strip (1) supported by support elements (G), located in the upper part (2) thereof, which insert or hook in the zone overlying the pocket (T) to be protected.

Towel tags to permit minimizing the use of water and detergent during washing and minimizing wear and tear of towels, the spread of germs and diseases between towel users, and minimizing the use of energy, and saving money. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. Any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

A framing system having a base panel assembly configured so that an ornamental/informational object can be incorporated into the base panel assembly so as to be viewable from in front thereof. A frame extends around a peripheral region of the base panel assembly. Connectors on the base panel assembly and frame cooperate so as to allow the base panel assembly and frame to be: a) moved from a separated relationship relative to each other into an operatively joined relationship; and b) releasably maintained in the operatively joined relationship as an incident of the base panel assembly and frame changing from the separated relationship into the operatively joined relationship, without requiring use of any separate fasteners, once the operatively joined relationship is achieved.

A flexible light assembly includes a plurality of light guides that may be operably connected to one or more LED light sources. The light guides may include smooth surfaces that internally reflect light except at selected areas having irregular surface features that permit the escape of light to provide illuminated letters, numbers, designs, or the like. The light guides and LED light source may be disposed within a flexible housing.