Author: claimsbot

1. A tow rack, comprising:
a tongue releasably couplable to a towing vehicle;
a beam assembly having a cradle for securing therein a tire of a towed vehicle, the beam assembly couplable to the tongue and horizontally pivotable relative to the tongue, and wherein the beam assembly comprises an anti-pivot mechanism to selectively prevent horizontal pivoting of the beam assembly relative to the tongue.
2. The tow rack of claim 1, wherein the anti-pivot mechanism comprises an aperture extending through at least a portion of the beam assembly and at least a portion of the tongue for receiving a pin therein.
3. The tow rack of claim 1, further comprising a ramp selectively couplable to the beam assembly to facilitate rolling of the tire onto the beam assembly and into the cradle.
4. The tow rack of claim 1, wherein the beam assembly comprises a receiver for selectively receiving a cross bar coupled thereto, the cross bar configured to receive a tie strap for securing the towed vehicle to the beam assembly.
5. The tow rack of claim 1, wherein the beam assembly is pivotally coupled to the tongue via a hinge bolt and a linchpin, and wherein the linchpin is usable to prevent the horizontal pivoting of the beam assembly relative to the tongue.
6. The tow rack of claim 1, further comprising first and second cross bars selectively couplable to the beam assembly, the first and second cross bars extending in opposing directions and each configured to receive a tie strap for securing the towed vehicle to the beam assembly.
7. The tow rack of claim 1, wherein the beam assembly comprises a clevis for receiving the tongue therein.
8. The tow rack of claim 1, wherein the beam assembly comprises first and second plates spaced apart to receive and couple therebetween the tongue.
9. A tow rack, comprising:
means for supporting a tire of a towed vehicle;
means for selectively securing the supporting means to a towing vehicle;
means for pivotally coupling the supporting means to the securing means in a horizontal direction; and
means for selectively preventing pivotal movement of the supporting means relative to the coupling means.
10. The tow rack of claim 9, further comprising means for enabling rolling of the tire of the towed vehicle onto the supporting means.
11. The tow rack of claim 10, further comprising means for selectively coupling the enabling means to the supporting means.
12. The tow rack of claim 9, further comprising means for selectively coupling a cross bar to the supporting means, the cross bar configured to receive a tic strap for securing the towed vehicle to the supporting means.
13. A tow rack, comprising:
a beam assembly having a cradle for receiving a tire of a towed vehicle therein;
a tongue for selectively coupling the beam assembly to a towing vehicle, the beam assembly pivotally couplable to the tongue in a horizontal direction; and
a ramp couplable to the beam assembly to facilitate rolling of the tire onto the beam assembly, the ramp removable from the beam assembly after positioning of the tire in the cradle.
14. The tow rack of claim 13, wherein the beam assembly comprises a stud for selectively coupling thereto the ramp.
15. The tow rack of claim 13, wherein the beam assembly comprises a cross bar receiver for selectively coupling a cross bar thereto, the cross bar configured to receive a tie strap for securing the towed vehicle to the beam assembly.
16. The tow rack of claim 13, wherein the beam assembly comprises an anti-pivot aperture for receiving a pin therein for selectively preventing pivotal movement of the beam assembly relative to the tongue.
17. The tow rack of claim 13, wherein the pin is removable from the anti-pivot aperture and couplable to a hinge bolt pin for securing the beam assembly to the tongue.
18. The tow rack of claim 13, wherein the beam assembly comprises first and second plates spaced apart to receive and couple therebetween the tongue.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A holding sealing material having a mat shape, comprising:
an adsorption portion configured to adsorb urea and having a width and a longer side face;
a holding portion configured to hold an exhaust gas treating body and having another width and another longer side face, the width of the adsorption portion being smaller than the another width of the holding portion, the longer side face facing the another longer side face via a space; and
a coupling portion connecting the adsorption portion and the holding portion.
2. The holding sealing material according to claim 1, further comprising:
a bonding portion comprising a flammable material and connecting the longer side face of said adsorption portion and the another longer side face of said holding portion.
3. The holding sealing material according to claim 1, further comprising:
a holding member disposed between the longer side face of said adsorption portion and the another longer side face of said holding portion, said holding member comprising a material that hardly absorbs liquid in comparison with said adsorption portion.
4. The holding sealing material according to claim 3, wherein said holding member comprises a material having a porosity smaller than a porosity of said adsorption portion.
5. The holding sealing material according to claim 3, wherein said holding member comprises a wire mesh.
6. The holding sealing material according to claim 1, wherein said adsorption portion and said holding portion comprise different materials.
7. The holding sealing material according to claim 6, wherein said adsorption portion comprises a material having a porosity larger than a porosity of said holding portion.
8. The holding sealing material according to claim 7, wherein said adsorption portion and said holding portion comprise inorganic fibers, and said inorganic fibers forming said adsorption portion have an average fiber diameter that is smaller than an average fiber diameter of said inorganic fibers forming said holding portion.
9. A holding sealing material having a mat shape, comprising:
an adsorption portion configured to adsorb urea and having a width and a longer side face; and
a holding portion configured to hold an exhaust gas treating body and having another width and another longer side face, the width of the adsorption portion being smaller than the another width of the holding portion, the entire longer side face of said adsorption portion is separated from, and faces the entire another longer side face of said holding portion.
10. The holding sealing material according to claim 9, wherein said adsorption portion and said holding portion are prepared as different members.
11. The holding sealing material according to claim 9, further comprising:
a bonding portion comprising a flammable material and connecting the longer side face of said adsorption portion and the another longer side face of said holding portion.
12. The holding sealing material according to claim 9, further comprising:
a holding member disposed between the longer side face of said adsorption portion and the another longer side face of said holding portion, said holding member comprising a material that hardly absorbs liquid in comparison with said adsorption portion.
13. The holding sealing material according to claim 12, wherein said holding member comprises a material having a porosity smaller than a porosity of said adsorption portion.
14. The holding sealing material according to claim 12, wherein said holding member comprises a wire mesh.
15. The holding sealing material according to claim 9, wherein said adsorption portion and said holding portion comprise different materials.
16. The holding sealing material according to claim 15, wherein said adsorption portion comprises a material having a porosity larger than a porosity of said holding portion.
17. The holding sealing material according to claim 16, wherein said adsorption portion and said holding portion comprise inorganic fibers, and said inorganic fibers forming said adsorption portion have an average fiber diameter that is smaller than an average fiber diameter of said inorganic fibers forming said holding portion.
18-21. (canceled)

1. An adaptive variable-length coding method whereby quantized orthogonal transform coefficients are scanned in a zigzag pattern, are modified into run, level data and then are variable-length coded in a coding system for image data, said method comprising the steps of:
setting a plurality of variable-length coding tables having different patterns of a regular region and an escape region according to statistical characteristics of said run, level data;
selecting one of said plurality of variable-length coding tables according to intrainter mode information of the currently processed block, zigzag scanning position and quantization step size; and
variable-length coding the orthogonal transform coefficients according to said selected variable-length coding table, wherein said selecting step has the selecting range of a plurality of variable-length coding tables having different patterns of a regular region and an escape region according to said intrainter mode information of the currently Processed block.
2. The adaptive variable-length coding method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said variable-length coding table is selected in accordance with said zigzag scanning position and quantization step size within the range determined by the corresponding mode.
3. The adaptive variable-length coding method as claimed in claim 1, wherein data of said escape region of said variable-length coding table selected in said variable-length-coding step is coded into data having variable run-length and level-length.
4. An adaptive variable-length decoding method for decoding the data coded by said adaptive variable-length coding method as claimed in claim 1, in a decoding system for image data, said decoding method comprises the steps of:
setting a plurality of variable-length decoding tables having different patterns of a regular region and an escape region according to statistical characteristics of the run, level data;
inputting intrainter mode information transmitted from said coding system;
inputting quantization step size transmitted from said coding system;
detecting position information while zigzag-scanning by accumulating run values of run, level data;
selecting one of said plurality of variable-length coding tables according to said intrainter mode information, quantization step size and position information; and
variable-length decoding the data received according to said selected variable-length coding table.
5. The adaptive variable-length decoding method as claimed in claim 4, wherein said variable-length decoding table selecting step has the selection range of a plurality of variable-length coding tables having different patterns of a regular region and an escape region according to said intrainter mode information of the currently processed block in said mode information inputting step.
6. The adaptive variable-length decoding method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said variable-length decoding table is selected in accordance with said zigzag scanning position and quantization step size within the range determined by the corresponding mode.
7. The adaptive variable-length decoding method as claimed in claim 4, wherein data of said escape region of said variable-length decoding table selected in said variable-length-decoding step is decoded into run, level data corresponding to variable run-length and level-length.
8. An adaptive variable-length decoding method for decoding image data encoded by an adaptive variable-length coding method, in which quantized orthogonal transform coefficients of the image data are scanned in a predetermined pattern and are encoded, the decoding method comprising:
selecting one of a plurality of variable-length decoding tables according to intrainter mode information, scanning position information and quantization step size, wherein the plurality of variable-length decoding tables comprise:
a table selectable for an alternating-current (AC) component of an intra mode that is different from a table selectable for an inter mode;
a table selectable for a direct-current (DC) component of the intra mode;
a table selectable for a direct-current (DC) component of an inter mode; and
a table selectable for an alternating-current (AC) component of the inter mode;

variable-length decoding the encoded quantized orthogonal transform coefficients according to the selected variable-length decoding table.
9. The adaptive variable-length decoding method of claim 8, wherein said variable-length decoding tables have different patterns of a regular region and an escape region.
10. The adaptive variable-length decoding method of claim 9, wherein data of said escape region of said variable-length table selected in said variable-length-decoding step is decoded into data having variable or fixed run-length and level-length.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A semi-automatic sliding device of a sliding-type portable communication terminal comprising a body housing and a sliding housing sliding on the body housing in a longitudinal direction, the sliding device comprising:
a first member;
a second member alternatively moving in a transverse or longitudinal direction of the first member while facing the first member;
a guide for guiding the movement of the second member in a transverse or longitudinal direction with regard to the first member; and
a ring shape elastic body rotatably coupled at opposite ends at its circumference to the first and second members and functioning as a semi-automatic driving source for driving the second member in the transverse or longitudinal directions,
wherein the ring shape elastic body exerts a force, when deformed, in a direction from a center of the ring shape towards a periphery of the ring shape,
wherein the force drives the second member towards a fully extended state if the second member is in a substantially extended state in the transverse or longitudinal direction, and
wherein the force drives the second member towards a fully retracted state if the second member is in a substantially retracted state in the transverse or longitudinal direction.
2. The semi-automatic sliding device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ring shape elastic body
is deformed during movement of the second member,
supplies a driving force to move the second member to an initial position when the second member moves by a distance shorter than a desired distance in the transverse or longitudinal direction, and
supplies driving force to move the second member to a termination position when the second member moves farther than the desired distance in the transverse or longitudinal direction.
3. The semi-automatic sliding device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ring shape elastic body comprises:
a fixed end rotatably connected to the first member;
a movable end rotatably connected to the second member and moving along with the second member in the transverse or longitudinal direction of the first member; and
an elastic member disposed between the fixed end and the movable end and functioning as a semi-automatic driving source of the second member,
wherein the fixed end and the movable end are substantially symmetrically arranged around the ring shape elastic body,
wherein the fixed end, the movable end and the elastic member are integrally formed, and
wherein the ring shape elastic body exerts a force, when deformed, in a direction from a center of the ring shape towards a periphery of the ring shape.
4. The semi-automatic sliding device as claimed in claim 3, wherein
the ring shape elastic body is deformed in an elliptical shape while supplying the driving force.
5. The semi-automatic sliding device as claimed in claim 1, wherein
an upper surface of the body housing functions as the first member, and
a bottom surface of the sliding housing functions as the second member.
6. A semi-automatic sliding device of a sliding-type portable communication terminal comprising a body housing and a sliding housing sliding on the body housing in a longitudinal direction, the semi-automatic sliding device comprising:
a first member;
a second member;
coupling means for restricting the second member so that the second member moves while facing the first member;
guide means for guiding the movement of the second member in a transverse or longitudinal direction with regard to the first member; and
a ring shape elastic body rotatably coupled at opposite ends at its circumference to the first and second members and functioning as a semi-automatic driving source for driving the second member,
wherein the ring shape elastic body exerts a force, when deformed, in a direction from a center of the ring shape towards a periphery of the ring shape,
wherein the force drives the second member towards a fully extended state if the second member is in a substantially extended state in the transverse or longitudinal direction, and
wherein the force drives the second member towards a fully retracted state if the second member is in a substantially retracted state in the transverse or longitudinal direction.
7. The semi-automatic sliding device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the coupling means comprises:
a fixed coupling member for fixing a first portion of the ring shape elastic body; and
a movable coupling member for moving a second portion of the ring shape elastic body.
8. The semi-automatic sliding device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the ring shape elastic body comprises:
a fixed end rotatably connected to the first member by the coupling means;
a movable end rotatably connected to the second member by the coupling means and moved along with the second member by the guide means in the transverse or longitudinal direction; and
an elastic member disposed between the fixed end and the movable end and functioning as a semi-automatic driving source for driving the second member.
9. The semi-automatic sliding device as claimed in claim 6,
wherein the guide means comprises a slot,
wherein the pathway comprises a first guide slot that extends substantially linearly in the transverse direction of the first member and a second guide slot that communicates with the first guide slot and extends substantially linearly in the longitudinal direction of the first member, and
wherein the first and second guide slots form an \u2018L\u2019 shape.
10. A semi-automatic sliding device of a sliding-type portable communication terminal comprising a body housing and a sliding housing sliding on the body housing, the sliding device comprising:
a first member;
a second member;
coupling means for restricting the second member so that the second member moves while facing the first member;
guide means for guiding the movement of the second member on the first member in a predetermined direction; and
a ring shape elastic body rotatably coupled at opposite ends at its circumference to the first and second members, the ring shape elastic body supplying driving force to move the second member to a fully retracted position if the second member is in a substantially retracted position and supplying driving force to move the second member to a fully extended position if the second member is in a substantially extended position,
wherein the ring shape elastic body exerts the driving force, when deformed, in a direction from a center of the ring shape towards a periphery of the ring shape, and
wherein the coupling means comprises a fixed coupling member for rotatably fixing a first portion of the ring shape elastic body; and a movable coupling member for rotatably moving a second portion of the ring shape elastic body.
11. The semi-automatic sliding device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the ring shape elastic body comprises:
a fixed end rotatably connected to the first member by the fixed coupling member;
a movable end rotatably connected to the second member by the movable coupling member; and
an elastic member disposed between the fixed end and the movable end and functioning as a semi-automatic driving source for driving the second member.
12. A sliding-type portable communication terminal comprising:
a body housing comprising a plurality of keys on an upper surface of the body housing;
a sliding housing comprising a display unit mounted on the upper surface of the body housing and sliding on the body housing in a longitudinal, first transverse, or second transverse direction, so as to open and close a desired region on the upper surface of the body housing; and
a three-directional sliding device for connecting the sliding housing to the body housing,
wherein the keys comprise first keys opened only after the sliding housing moves to a first fully open state from a fully closed state in the longitudinal direction or when sliding in the first transverse direction, second keys opened as the sliding housing slides to the first fully open state from the fully closed state in the longitudinal direction, when sliding in the first transverse direction, or as the sliding housing slides to a second fully open state from the fully closed state in the second transverse direction, and third keys opened only as the sliding housing moves to the second fully open state from the fully closed state in the second transverse direction or moves to a third fully open state from a partially closed state in first transverse direction,
wherein the first, second, and third keys comprise mutually exclusive keys, and
wherein the first keys and the second keys are positioned horizontally to each other, and the second keys and the third keys are positioned vertically to each other.
13. The sliding-type portable communication terminal as claimed in claim 12, wherein the three-directional sliding device operates semi-automatically by providing a driving force for driving the sliding housing towards a fully extended state if the sliding housing is in a substantially extended state in the first transverse, second transverse, or longitudinal direction, and for driving the sliding housing towards a fully retracted state if the sliding housing is in a substantially retracted state in the first transverse, second transverse, or longitudinal direction.
14. The sliding-type portable communication terminal as claimed in claim 13, wherein
the first transverse direction is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and
the second transverse direction is substantially parallel with the first transverse direction and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.
15. A semi-automatic sliding device of a sliding-type portable communication terminal comprising a body housing and a sliding housing sliding on the body housing, the sliding device comprising:
a first member;
a second member;
coupling means for restricting the second member so that the second member moves while facing the first member;
guide means for guiding the movement of the second member in a first transverse direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction, or a second transverse direction substantially parallel with the first transverse direction and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction; and
a ring shape elastic body rotatably coupled at opposite ends at its circumference to the first and second members and functioning as a semi-automatic driving source for the sliding movement of the second member,
wherein the ring shape elastic body exerts a force, when deformed, in a direction from a center of the ring shape towards a periphery of the ring shape,
wherein the force drives the second member towards a fully extended state if the second member is in a substantially extended state in the first transverse, second transverse, or longitudinal direction, and
wherein the force drives the second member towards a fully retracted state if the second member is in a substantially retracted state in the first transverse, second transverse, or longitudinal direction.
16. The semi-automatic sliding device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the ring shape elastic body comprises:
a fixed end rotatably connected to the first member by the coupling means;
a movable end rotatably connected to the second member by the coupling means and moved along with the second member by the guide means in the longitudinal, first transverse, or second transverse direction of the first member; and
an elastic member disposed between the fixed end and the movable end and functioning as a semi-automatic driving source for driving the second member.
17. The semi-automatic sliding device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the guide means comprises:
a first guide slot extending linearly in the longitudinal direction;
a second guide slot extending linearly in the first transverse direction; and
a third guide slot communicating with the first guide slot and extending linearly in the second transverse direction,
wherein the first, second and third guide slots comprise a \u2018\u2019 shape.
18. A semi-automatic sliding device of a sliding-type portable communication terminal comprising a body housing and a sliding housing sliding on the body housing, the sliding device comprising:
a first member;
a second member;
coupling means for restricting the second member so that the second member moves while facing the first member;
guide means for guiding the movement of the second member in a first longitudinal direction, a second longitudinal direction substantially parallel with the first longitudinal direction, a first transverse direction substantially perpendicular to the first longitudinal direction, or a second transverse direction substantially perpendicular to the first longitudinal direction and substantially parallel with the first transverse direction of the first member; and
a ring shape elastic body rotatably coupled at opposite ends at its circumference to the first and second members and functioning as a semi-automatic driving source for the sliding movement of the second member,
wherein the ring shape elastic body exerts a force, when deformed, in a direction from a center of the ring shape towards a periphery of the ring shape,
wherein the force drives the second member towards a fully extended state if the second member is in a substantially extended state in the first transverse, second transverse, first longitudinal, or second longitudinal direction, and
wherein the force drives the second member towards a fully retracted state if the second member is in a substantially retracted state in the first transverse, second transverse, first longitudinal, or second longitudinal direction.
19. A sliding-type portable communication terminal comprising a body housing and a sliding housing sliding on the body housing to open and close the upper surface of the body housing while facing the body housing, the portable communication terminal comprising:
an upper surface of the body housing;
a bottom surface of the sliding housing;
guide means for guiding the movement of the sliding housing on the upper surface of the body housing in a transverse or longitudinal direction; and
a ring shape elastic body rotatably coupled at opposite ends at its circumference to the body housing and the sliding housing, disposed between the bottom surface of the body housing and the upper surface of the sliding housing to function as a semi-automatic driving source for the sliding movement of the sliding housing,
wherein the ring shape elastic body exerts a force, when deformed, in a direction from a center of the ring shape towards a periphery of the ring shape,
wherein the force drives the sliding housing towards a fully extended state if the sliding housing is in a substantially extended state in the transverse or longitudinal direction, and
wherein the force drives the sliding housing towards a fully retracted state if the sliding housing is in a substantially retracted state in the transverse or longitudinal direction.
20. A semi-automatic sliding device of a sliding-type portable communication terminal comprising a body housing and a sliding housing sliding on the body housing, the sliding device comprising:
a first member;
a second member sliding in a diagonal direction of the first member while facing the first member;
guide means for guiding the movement of the second member in the diagonal direction; and
a ring shape elastic member having a fixed end rotatably connected at a first opposite end at its circumference to the first member, a movable end rotatably connected at a second opposite end at its circumference to the second member and moved along with the second member by the guide means in the diagonal direction, and a semi-automatic driving source disposed between the fixed end and the movable end for driving the second member,
wherein the elastic member exerts a force, when deformed, in a direction from a center of the ring shape towards a periphery of the ring shape,
wherein the force drives the second member towards a fully extended state if the second member is in a substantially extended state in the diagonal direction, and
wherein the force drives the second member towards a fully retracted state if the second member is in a substantially retracted state in the diagonal direction.
21. A semi-automatic sliding device of a sliding-type portable communication terminal comprising a body housing and a sliding housing sliding on the body housing, the sliding device comprising:
a first member;
a second member sliding along a curved guide slot while facing the first member;
guide means for guiding the movement direction of the second member; and
a ring shape elastic body having a fixed end rotatably connected at a first opposite end at its circumference to the first member, a movable end rotatably connected at a second opposite end at its circumference to the second member and moved together with the second member by the guide means along the curved guide slot, and the elastic body disposed between the fixed end and the movable end and functioning as a semi-automatic driving source for driving the second member,
wherein the ring shape elastic body exerts a force, when deformed, in a direction from a center of the ring shape towards a periphery of the ring shape,
wherein the force drives the second member towards a fully extended state if the second member is in a substantially extended state with respect to the curved guide slot, and
wherein the force drives the second member towards a fully retracted state if the second member is in a substantially retracted state with respect to the curved guide slot.
22. The semi-automatic sliding device as claimed in claim 21, wherein the guide means comprises a curved slot which is curved in a direction of approaching or departing away from the fixed end.