Author: claimsbot

1. A machine, comprising:
a base disposed on the machine;
a steering column pivotably coupled to the base at one end;
at least one column plate having a pinned end forming a pin opening and a slotted end forming a slot, wherein the pinned end is pivotably coupled to the steering column with a column pin extending through the pin opening and a pin hole formed in the steering column;
at least one base plate having a pinned end forming a pin opening and a slotted end forming a slot, wherein the pinned end is pivotably coupled to the base with a base pin extending through the pin opening and a pin hole formed in the base;
wherein the column plate contacts the base plate such that the respective slots in the base plate and the column plate’s respective slots intersect to form an opening therethrough;
a locking pin disposed to fit in the opening and configured to push the at least one column plate against the at least one base plate creating a friction force between the at least one column plate and the at least one base plate that prevents the steering column from moving relative to the machine;
wherein the steering column is movable with at least two degrees of freedom relative to the machine when the locking pin is in an unlocked position, and wherein the steering column is not movable relative to the machine when the locking pin is in a locked position.
2. The machine of claim 1, wherein the steering column further comprises multiple sleeves that slidably fit within one another to lengthen and shorten the steering column.
3. The machine of claim 1, wherein the steering column further comprises a column bracket disposed on the steering column that secures the locking pin relative to the steering column.
4. The machine of claim 3, wherein the column bracket is pivotably connected to the base.
5. The machine of claim 1, wherein the steering column further comprises a column housing including an outer sleeve and an inner sleeve.
6. The machine of claim 5, wherein the outer sleeve has an inner diameter slightly larger than an outer diameter of the inner sleeve allowing the inner sleeve to fit inside of the outer sleeve so the steering column can telescope to become longer and shorter.
7. The machine of claim 5, wherein:
the steering column further comprises a column plate bracket disposed on the outer sleeve, the column plate bracket forming the pin holes in the steering column; and
wherein the column pin extends through the pin holes to pivotably connect the at least one column plate to the outer sleeve.
8. The machine of claim 1, wherein the steering column further comprises a column plate bracket disposed on the steering column that secures the column pin relative to the steering column.
9. The machine of claim 1, wherein the base further comprises a base plate bracket disposed on the base that secures the base pin relative to the base.
10. The machine of claim 1, wherein:
the locking pin includes a locking lever; and
wherein the steering column is movable with respect to the machine when the locking lever is in an unlocked position, and wherein the steering column is unmovable with respect to the machine when the locking lever is in a locked position such that the locking lever pushes the at least one base plate against the at least one column plate.
11. A steering column assembly, comprising:
a base;
a steering column pivotably coupled to the base at one end;
at least one column plate having a pinned end forming a pin opening and a slotted end forming a slot, wherein the pinned end forms a pin opening and is pivotably coupled to the steering column with a column pin extending through the pin opening and a pin hole formed in the steering column;
at least one base plate having a pinned end forming a pin opening and a slotted end forming a slot, wherein the pinned end forms a pin opening and is pivotably coupled to the base with a base pin extending through the pin opening and a pin hole formed in the base;
wherein the column plate contacts the base plate such that the respective slots in the base plate and the column plate’s respective slots intersect to form an opening therethrough;
a locking pin disposed to fit in the opening and configured to push the at least one column plate against the at least one base plate creating a friction force between the at least one column plate and the at least one base plate that prevents the steering column from moving relative to the base;
wherein the steering column is movable with at least two degrees of freedom relative to the base when the locking pin is in an unlocked position, and wherein the steering column is not movable relative to the base when the locking pin is in a locked position.
12. The steering column assembly of claim 11, wherein the steering column further comprises multiple sleeves that slidably fit within one another to lengthen and shorten the steering column.
13. The steering column assembly of claim 11, wherein the steering column further comprises a column bracket disposed on the steering column that secures the locking pin relative to the steering column.
14. The steering column assembly of claim 11, wherein the steering column further comprises a column housing with an outer sleeve and an inner sleeve.
15. The steering column assembly of claim 14, wherein the outer sleeve has an inner diameter slightly larger than an outer diameter of the inner sleeve allowing the inner sleeve to fit inside of the outer sleeve so the steering column can telescope to become longer and shorter.
16. The steering column assembly of claim 15, wherein:
the steering column further comprises a column plate bracket disposed on the outer sleeve, the column plate bracket forming the pin holes in the steering column; and
wherein the column pin extends through the pin holes to pivotably connect the at least one column plate to the outer sleeve.
17. The steering column assembly of claim 11, wherein the steering column further comprises a column plate bracket disposed on the steering column that secures the column pin relative to the steering column.
18. The steering column assembly of claim 11, wherein the base further comprises a base plate bracket disposed on the base that secures the base pin relative to the base.
19. The steering column of claim 11, wherein:
the locking pin includes a locking lever; and
wherein when the locking lever is in an unlocked position the steering column is movable with respect to the base, and when the locking lever is in a locked position the locking lever pushes the at least one base plate against the at least one column plate making the steering column unmovable with respect to the base.
20. A method of assembling a steering column assembly, comprising:
providing a base;
providing a steering column;
pivotably coupling one end of the steering column to the base;
including at least one column plate having a pinned end forming a pin opening and a slotted end forming a slot;
pivotably coupling the pinned end of the at least one column plate to the steering column with a column pin;
including at least one base plate having a pinned end forming a pin opening and a slotted end forming a slot;
pivotably coupling the pinned end of the at least one base plate to the base with a base pin such that the at least one column plate and the at least one base plate are in contact causing their respective slots to intersect forming an opening therethrough;
providing a locking pin to fit in the opening and push the at least one column plate against the at least one base plate creating friction between the at least one column plate and the at least one base plate that prevents the steering column from moving relative to the base; and
wherein when the locking pin is in an unlocked position the steering column is movable in at least two directions relative to the base, and when the locking pin is in a locked position the steering column is not movable relative to the base.

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

What is claimed is:

1. A chimeric pathogenic organism wherein virulent transformation of the organism is controlled in the wild-type organism by binding of the I domain of a surface integrin-like protein to a cell, said chimeric organism comprising a chimeric surface integrin-like fusion protein in which the I domain is replaced by an antibody fragment that binds a disease-associated antigen on a cell,
wherein binding of the antibody fragment to the disease-associated antigen triggers virulent transformation of the chimeric pathogenic organism so as to cause the organism to infiltrate the cell.
2. The chimeric pathogenic organism of claim 1, wherein the antibody fragment is a single chain antibody.
3. The chimeric pathogenic organism of claim 1, wherein the antibody fragment binds to an antigen on a tumor cell.
4. The chimeric pathogenic organism of claim 3, wherein the antigen is contained in an abnormal surface protein of the tumor cell.
5. The chimeric pathogenic organism of claim 3, wherein the antigen is selected from the group consisting of GAG-72, ERBB2, EGP-2, CEA, CD44, I-FR, neu, and the Lewis (Y) tumor associated antigen.
6. The chimeric pathogenic organism of claim 3, wherein the tumor cell is selected from the group consisting of adenocarcinoma of colon, ovary or breast; cervical nonmucinous ovarian carcinoma; and breast, ovarian , colorectal, and pancreatic cancers.
7. A chimeric pathogenic C. albicans comprising:
an integrinl (INT1) fusion protein in which the I domain is replaced by an antibody fragment that binds to a disease-associated antigen on a diseased cell,
a disabled wild-type high affininity iron transporter (CAFTR) gene, and
a DNA construct comprising a wild-type CAFTR gene under the control of an enhanced filamentous growth protein (EFG1p) response element, wherein binding of the antibody to the disease-associated antigen triggers expression of the CAFTR gene in the DNA construct and filamentous transformation in the chimeric pathogenic C albicans.
8. The chimeric pathogenic C. Albicans of claim 7, wherein the antibody fragment is a single chain antibody.
9. The chimeric pathogenic C. Albicans of claim 7, wherein the antibody fragment binds to an antigen on a tumor cell.
10. The chimeric pathogenic C. Albicans of claim 9, wherein the antigen is contained in an abnormal surface protein of the tumor cell.
11. The chimeric pathogenic C. Albicans of claim 9, wherein the antigen is selected from the group consisting of GAG-72, ERBB2, EGP-2, CEA, CD44, I-FR, neu, and the Lewis (Y) tumor associated antigen.
12. The chimeric pathogenic C. Albicans of claim 9, wherein the tumor cell is selected from the group consisting of adenocarcinoma of colon, ovary or breast; cervical nonmucinous ovarian carcinoma; and breast, ovarian, colorectal, and pancreatic cancers.
13. A method for treating a disease associated with the presence of cells having a disease-associated surface antigen in a subject in need thereof, said method comprising:
administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a chimeric pathogenic organism according to claim 1 so as to cause binding of the antibody fragment to the disease-associated antigen on the cells,
thereby treating the disease by triggering infiltration of the chimeric pathogenic organism into the cells without substantial damage to healthy cells.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the antibody fragment is a single chain antibody.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein the antibody fragment binds to an antigen on a tumor cell.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the disease-associated antigen is contained in an abnormal surface protein of the tumor cell.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the antigen is selected from the group consisting of GAG-72, ERBB2, EGP-2, CEA, CD44, I-FR, neu, and the Lewis (Y) tumor associated antigen.
18. The method of claim 15, wherein the tumor cell is selected from the group consisting of adenocarcinoma of colon, ovary or breast; cervical nonmucinous ovarian carcinoma; and breast, ovarian , colorectal, and pancreatic cancers.
19. The method of claim 15, wherein the antigen is a tumor marker.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the method further comprises administering to the subject a therapeutic amount of an immunosuppressive agent.
21. The method of claim 20, wherein the immunosuppressive agent is selected from the group consisting of cyclosporin A, OKT3, FK506, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), azathioprine, a corticosteroid, an antilymphocyte globulin, and an antithymocyte globulin.
22. A method for generating a chimeric therapeutic organism from a pathogenic organism that possesses in the wild-type an integrin-like protein with an I domain, said method comprising:
replacing the I domain in the integrin-like protein of the pathogenic organism with an antibody fragment that binds to a disease-associated antigen on a diseased cell;
wherein the wild-type pathogenic organism undergoes virulent transformation by binding of the I domain of the surface integrin-like protein to a cell, and wherein the chimeric therapeutic organism undergoes virulent transformation by binding of the antibody fragment to the disease-associated antigen on the cell.
23. The method of claim 22, wherein the pathogenic organism is C. albicans and wherein the method further comprises disabling the wild-type CAFTR gene in the C. albicans, and
introducing a DNA construct comprising a wild-type CAFTR gene under the control of a EFG1p response element,
wherein binding of the antibody fragment to the disease-associated antigen triggers expression of the CAFTR gene in the DNA construct and filamentous transformation in the chimeric pathogenic C. albicans.
24. The method of claim 23, wherein the antibody fragment is a single chain antibody.
25. The method of claim 23, wherein the antibody fragment binds to an antigen on a tumor cell.
26. The method of claim 25, wherein the disease-associated antigen is contained in an abnormal surface protein of the tumor cell.

1. A POS terminal for allowing a plurality of customers to pay a bill easily on a split-the-bill settlement basis, comprising:
a display unit;
a storage unit for storing information as to items ordered by the customers and amounts of money for the items;
an input unit; and
a controller for generating split-the-bill information representing the items ordered by the customers and the amounts of money for the items, in association with the respective customers, based on data entered into said in-put unit and the information stored by said storage unit, and controlling said display unit to display a split-the-bill settlement image representing each respective customer simultaneously, along with the association between the items ordered and each respective customer, and the amounts of money owed by each respective customer for the items, based on said split-the-bill information.
2. The POS terminal according to claim 1, further comprising:
a printer for printing payment slips for the respective customers based on said split-the-bill information.
3. The POS terminal according to claim 1, wherein said input unit comprises:
a communication unit for receiving data transmitted from a handy terminal through which the items ordered by the customers are entered.
4. The POS terminal according to claim 1, wherein said input unit comprises:
a mouse for outputting a signal; and
said controller generates said split-the-bill information based on the signal output from said mouse.
5. The POS terminal according to claim 1, wherein said display unit comprises:
a touch panel for outputting a signal; and
said controller generates said split-the-bill information based on the signal output from said touch panel.
6. The POS terminal according to claim 1, wherein payment of the amounts of money owed by each respective customer is not permitted until the split-the-bill information displayed on said split-the-bill settlement image is accepted.
7. A method to be carried by a POS terminal for allowing a plurality of customers to pay a bill easily on a split-the-bill settlement basis, comprising the steps of:
storing information as to items ordered by the customers and amounts of money for the items;
generating split-the-bill information representing the items ordered by the customers and the amounts of money for the items, in association with the respective customers, based on data entered into said POS terminal and the stored information; and
displaying a split-the-bill settlement image representing each respective customer simultaneously, along with the association between the items ordered and each respective customer, and the amounts of money owed by each respective customer for the items, based on said split-the-bill information.
8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of:
printing payment slips for the respective customers based on said split-the-bill information.
9. The method according to claim 7, wherein payment of the amounts of money owed by each respective customer is not permitted until the split-the-bill information displayed on said split-the-bill settlement image is accepted.
10. A computer-readable medium storing a control program for enabling a computer to perform a process comprising:
storing information as to items ordered by respective customers and entered into the computer and amounts of money for the items;
generating split-the-bill information representing the items ordered by the customers and the amounts of money for the items, in association with the respective customers, based on data entered into a POS terminal and the stored information; and
displaying a split-the-bill settlement image representing each respective customer simultaneously, along with the association between the items ordered and each respective customer, and the amounts of money owed by each respective customer for the items, based on said split-the-bill information.
11. The computer readable medium according to claim 10, wherein said process further comprises:
printing payment slips for the respective customers based on said split-the-bill information.
12. The computer-readable medium according to claim 10, wherein payment of the amounts of money owed by each respective customer is not permitted until the split-the-bill information displayed on said split-the-bill settlement image is accepted.

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. An anti-slip treatment pad comprising a band with two ends and having a treatment pad characterized in that the two ends are provided with a fastening unit and the band forms into a circular body by fastening the two ends of the band to each other, and the band is applied onto any part of the body and is fastened by means of the fastening unit to form the anti-slip treatment pad.
2. The anti-slip treatment pad of claim 1, wherein the band is elastic and being made from a water resistant material.
3. The anti-slip treatment pad of claim 1, wherein the treatment pad is a hot treatment pad or a cold treatment pad.
4. The anti-slip treatment pad of claim 1, wherein the internal and external said of the two ends of the band are provided with a first fastening plate and a second fastening plate.
5. The anti-slip treatment pad of claim 1, wherein the two ends of the band are provided with a first fastening element and a second fastening element such that the first and second fastening element fastens to each other to form a circular body.
6. The anti-slip treatment pad of claim 1, wherein the circular band is provided with a bag with an opening for holding a treatment pad.
7. The anti-slip treatment pad of claim 6, wherein the opening is mounted with a seal element to prevent pad from falling out from the opening.
8. The anti-slip treatment pad of claim 7, wherein the fastening element is a zip or a self-fastening VELCRO, facilitating the withdrawal or insertion of a treatment pad.
9. The anti-slip treatment pad of claim 1, wherein the band is provided with a plurality of elastic bands corresponding to the treatment pad, and the end portion of each elastic band and the corresponding surface of the circular band are respectively provided with a first and a second fastening plate, such that a user can secure the elastic band onto the circular band.