Author: claimsbot

1. A molded running board for a vehicle, comprising:
a molded support member; and
a molded second member; said molded second member being molded separately and apart from said support member;
wherein said support member and said second member are welded together; and wherein said support member comprises reinforcing ribs running lengthwise between opposite ends of said support member and lateral edges, and wherein a height of said reinforcing ribs is slightly greater than that of said lateral edges; wherein pressure is applied to a top portion of said second member by said reinforcing ribs.
2. The molded running board according to claim 1, wherein a material of said support member comprises a reinforced polypropylene, and a material of said second member comprises a thermoplastic olefin.
3. The molded running board according to claim 1, wherein a material of said support portion comprises a reinforced polypropylene selected in the group consisting of polypropylene reinforced with glass fibers, polypropylene reinforced with talc nanoparticles and polypropylene reinforced with mineral fillers.
4. The molded running board according to claim 1, wherein said support member is generally open.
5. The molded running board according to claim 1, wherein said support member is provided with apertures on a bottom portion thereof.
6. The molded running board according to claim 1, wherein said second member comprises a top member fixedly secured to said support member.
7. The molded running board according to claim 6, wherein said top member has a step surface provided with non-skid ribs.
8. The molded running board according to claim 6, wherein said support and second members are configured to yield a generally tubular running board, when assembled.
9. The molded running board according to claim 6, wherein said support member has a generally U-shaped cross-section.
10. The molded running board according to claim 9, wherein said second member has a separate step pad mounted thereto.
11. The molded running board according to claim 9, wherein said step pad is made of thermoplastic olefin and includes mounting tabs configured and sized to engage corresponding apertures of said support member.
12. The molded running board according to claim 1, wherein said second member is secured to said support portion via electromagnetic welding.
13. The molded running board according to claim 12, wherein said support member includes edge portions provided with a rectangular channel therein to receive a third material.
14. The molded running board according to claim 13, wherein said second member is further provided with edges configured and sized to be received in said channel.
15. The molded running board according to claim 13, wherein said third material is compatible with said first moldable material and with said second moldable material.
16. The molded running board according to claim 15, wherein said third material melts under an electromagnetic field and bonds said support member with said second member.
17. The molded running board according to claim 15, wherein said third material is an electromagnetic material.
18. The molded running board according to claim 17, wherein said third material comprises polypropylene and ferromagnetic particles.
19. The molded running board according to claim 1, wherein said support member is mountable to the vehicle by at least two brackets.
20. The molded running board according to claim 19, wherein said at least two brackets are integrally formed with said support member.
21. The molded running board according to claim 19, wherein said at least one bracket includes a stiffening matrix of ribs.
22. The molded running board according to claim 19, wherein said at least two brackets are formed separately from said support member in a material selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic material and metal.
23. The molded running board according to claim 22, wherein said at least two brackets are mounted to said support member by means selected from the group consisting of mechanical fasteners and electromagnetic welding.
24. A generally tubular molded running board for a vehicle comprising:
a first generally U-shaped member molded in a first moldable material and provided with lateral edges;
a second generally U-shaped member molded in a second moldable material and provided with lateral edges;
wherein a) said first moldable material has structural characteristics that are sufficient to provided adequate rigidity to said running board; b) said lateral edges of one of said first and second U-shaped members define a channel; c) said lateral edges of the other of said first and second U-shaped members include a projection corresponding to said channel; and d) said projection being secured in said channel; said first and second members being secured together by welding.
25. The generally tubular molded running board according to claim 24, wherein said projection engages in said channel via electromagnetic welding.
26. The generally tubular molded running board according to claim 24, wherein said first moldable material is reinforced with a material selected from the group consisting of glass fiber, talc nanoparticles and mineral fillers, said second moldable material comprises a thermoplastic olefin.
27. The generally tubular molded running board according to claim 26, wherein said first moldable material includes polypropylene.
28. A molded running board for a vehicle comprising:
a support member molded in a first thermoplastic material;
a second member molded in a second thermoplastic material; and
an electromagnetic adhesive material interposed between said support member and said second member;
wherein said electromagnetic adhesive material fixedly secures said second member to said support member via electromagnetic welding; and
wherein said support member comprises reinforcing ribs running lengthwise between opposite ends of said support member and said support member includes lateral edges; and wherein a height of said reinforcing ribs is slightly larger than that of said lateral edges and said second member engages both said lateral edges and said reinforcing ribs.
29. The molded running board according to claim 28, wherein said second member comprises a top member.
30. The molded running board according to claim 28, wherein said first thermoplastic material comprises polypropylene reinforced with a material selected from the group consisting of glass fiber, talc nanoparticles and mineral fillers, said second thermoplastic material comprises thermoplastic olefin.

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 universal power adapter comprising:
a base having
conducting pins for electrical connection with respective conductors of an electrical power socket providing main electrical power,
electrical terminals on a first side of the base, respectively corresponding to and respectively connected electrically to the corresponding pins on a second side of the base,
a rotatable safety cover having openings and rotatable between a first position shielding the electrical terminals and a second position providing access to the electrical terminals through the openings, and
a first rotational mechanical coupler on the base; and

an adapter body including
a second rotational mechanical coupler co-operating with and rotating relative to the first rotational mechanical coupler to secure the body to the base, the safety cover being rotated by the adapter body to the second position upon connection of the adapter body to the base,
respective electrical contacts in the body and engaging corresponding electrical terminals of the base, when the adapter body and the base are secured to each other; and

a power converter module within the adapter body and converting electrical power at a first voltage and applied to the conducting pins to electrical power at a different, second voltage, different from the first voltage, output from the adapter body.
2. The universal power adapter of claim 1 wherein the conducting pins extend from a first side of the base for insertion into apertures of an electrical power socket and the electrical terminals are located on a second side of the base opposite the first side.
3. The universal power adapter of claim 1 including a power cord extending from the base, the power cord having a remote end remote from the base, and a plug at the remote end of the power cord, the plug having the conducting pins for connection with an electrical power socket, wherein the electrical terminals are connected electrically to respective conducting pins via individual conductors in the power cord.
4. The universal power adapter of claim 3 wherein the base further includes an inverter for transforming direct current power supplied to the conducting pins into alternating current supplied at the electrical terminals.
5. The universal power adapter of claim 3 wherein the plug is configured for use with an aircraft or automotive power supply.
6. The universal power adapter of claim 1 wherein the adapter body comprises a lug engaging and rotating the safety cover to the second position when the adapter body is secured to the base.
7. The universal power adapter of claim 1 wherein the safety cover includes a lock preventing rotation of the safety cover to the second position when the adapter body is not secured to the base.
8. The universal power adapter of claim 1 wherein the lock comprises an aperture in the safety cover and a resiliently deformable tab on the base which, when located within the aperture, prevents rotation of the safety cover to the second position.
9. The universal power adapter of claim 8 including a lug inserted into the aperture in the safety cover when the base and the adapter body are mated, securing the adapter body to the base, the lug displacing the tab and engaging and rotating the safety cover to the second position when the adapter body is secured to the base.
10. The universal power adapter of claim 1 further including a removable cover for concealing the electrical contacts of the body, the removable cover rotatably coupling to the adapter body, the removable cover including a battery-operated light.
11. The universal power adapter of claim 1 further comprising a voltage selector switch on the adapter body and connected to the power converter module, the voltage selector switch including an externally viewable portion for viewing a voltage selection, the viewable portion comprising a semi light transmissive indicator disk having voltage markings thereon and an illumination source located beneath the disk to illuminate the disk from behind.
12. The universal power adapter of claim 11 wherein the illumination source is connected to the power converter module and is controlled in illumination state to indicate respective operational states of the power converter module.
13. A base for a universal power adaptor having an adapter body with electrical contacts and a first rotational mechanical coupler therein for securing the adapter body to the base, the base comprising:
respective conducting pins extending from a first side of the base for insertion into corresponding apertures of an electrical power socket providing main electrical power,
respective electrical terminals located on a second side, opposite the first side, of the base and corresponding to and electrically connected to respective conducting pins,
a rotatable safety cover having openings and rotatable between a first position shielding the electrical terminals and a second position providing access to the electrical terminals through the openings,
a second rotational mechanical coupler co-operating with the first rotational mechanical coupler of the adapter body to secure the adapter body to the base with respective electrical contacts of the base engaging the corresponding electrical terminals of the adapter body, when the adapter body and the base are secured to each other, and
a lock preventing rotation of the safety cover from the first position to the second position when the adapter body is not secured to the base, wherein the lock comprises an aperture in the safety cover and a resiliently deformable tab on the base which, when located within the aperture, prevents rotation of the safety cover.
14. A universal power adapter for use with electrical appliances, the adapter comprising:
a first connector body connectable with an electrical power system,
a power cord extending from the first connector body to a remote end, remote from the first connector body,
a mating socket connected to the power cord at the remote end of the power cord, and
a detachable adaptor tip at the remote end of the power cord, wherein
the mating socket comprises
a second connector body attached to the remote end of the power cord and having pin sockets in an end opposite the power cord and a first indicator thereon,
electrical terminals located in the pin sockets that are connected electrically to the first connector body via conductors in the power cord, and
a locking collar rotatable located on the second connector body, the locking collar having a bayonet catch member on an internal wall and a second indicator for alignment with the first indicator; and

the detachable adaptor tip comprises
an adapter body having an electrical appliance connector at a first end and pin terminals at an opposite end for insertion into the pin sockets, wherein the electrical appliance connector is connected electrically to the pin terminals, and
a locking lug on the adapter body that is engageable with the bayonet catch member upon rotation of the locking collar to detachably secure the adaptor tip to the mating socket.
15. The universal power adapter of claim 14 wherein the bayonet catch comprises a circumferentially extending tab and an axial lip at an end of the tab, the locking lug engaging the axial lip upon full rotation of the locking collar to secure the adaptor tip to the mating socket.
16. The universal power adapter of claim 14 wherein the second connector body includes a mating collar for mating with the adapter body upon insertion of the pin terminals into the pin sockets.
17. The universal power adapter of claim 16 wherein the mating collar surrounds the pin sockets on an end opposite the power cord.
18. The universal power adapter of claim 14 further comprising a semi-circumferential band with disjoined ends arranged about the second connector body and a projection on the locking collar that is located between the disjoined ends of the band to restrain rotational motion of the locking collar on the second connector body.
19. The universal power adapter of claim 14 further comprising a retaining ring on the second connector body and a corresponding retaining tab on the locking collar cooperating with the retaining ring for securing the locking collar to the second connector body.
20. The universal power adapter of claim 14 further comprising an aperture in the adapter body and a corresponding pin on the second connector body for insertion into the aperture when the pin terminals and pin sockets cooperate in a specific orientation.
21. The universal power adapter of claim 14 further including at least one further power cord connected with the first connector body and at least one further mating socket and detachable adaptor tips located at a remote end of the further power cord.
22. The universal power adapter of claim 21 wherein the mating socket provides a selectable output voltage and the further mating socket provides a fixed output voltage.

1. An apparatus for implementing interleaved-dielectric joining of multi-layer laminates comprising:
a first multi-layer laminate and a second multi-layer laminate, each of the first multi-layer laminate and the second multi-layer laminate having with a laminated portion and an unlaminated portion; each unlaminated portion including a plurality of dielectric layers;
the first and second multi-layer laminates being joined together at the unlaminated portions by interleaving the plurality of dielectric layers;
a plurality of conductors carried by adjacent dielectric layers being connected, and
the interleaved portions being laminated together with heat and pressure, to create a larger laminate.
2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 includes a solid signal plane carried by one of the plurality of dielectric layers.
3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said laminated portions and said laminated together interleaved portions have approximately equal thickness.
4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said laminated portions and said laminated together interleaved portions include an equal number of dielectric layers.
5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 includes a pre-impregnated composite fibers material applied to said interleaved dielectric layers.
6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of dielectric layers of said unlaminated portion includes an interconnection pad for joining said plurality of conductors carried by adjacent dielectric layers being connected.
7. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said plurality of conductors carried by adjacent dielectric layers is connected using ultrasonic welding (USW).
8. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said plurality of conductors carried by adjacent dielectric layers is connected using plated through holes.
9. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said laminated together interleaved portions are drilled and plated using a plated through hole (PTH) process, creating a PTH connection between the conductors carried by adjacent dielectric layers.
10-18. (canceled)

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 flow amount control apparatus comprising:
a supply tank for storing a liquid;
a main pipe having a first open end connected to the supply tank in a water tight manner and a second open end disposed at a position lower than the first open end with respect to the gravity for transferring the liquid from the supply tank to the second open end;
a supply valve capable of preventing the liquid from flowing into the main pipe, the supply valve being placed at a position between the supply tank and the second open end;
a branch pipe having
a third open end connected to the main pipe in a water tight manner at a position between the supply valve and the second open end and
a fourth open end disposed at a position above the third open end with respect to the gravity;

a flow amount adjustment means for controlling an amount of the liquid flowing between the third open end and the second open end in response to a control signal, the means being connected to at least one of the second open end and the fourth open end;
a liquid level detection unit for detecting a liquid level in the branch pipe at two positions;
a timer; and
a controller for controlling the flow amount adjustment means in response to a first signal sent from the timer and a second and third signals sent from the liquid level detection unit.
2. The flow amount control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the flow amount adjustment means includes:
a pressure nozzle having a barrel, a chamber, and an outlet, the barrel and chamber being provided in a through hole formed therein;
a needle arranged in the chamber and movable forward and backward with respect to the outlet, the needle having a root fixed to a micrometer having a thimble;
an air path for blowing an air into the barrel;
a liquid path communicating with the chamber and the second open end; and
a stepper motor for holding the thimble of the micrometer.
3. The flow amount control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the flow amount adjustment means includes:
a gas source capable of supplying a gas having a first predetermined pressure higher than an atmospheric pressure;
a gas pipe connecting the gas source to the fourth open end in an air tight manner; and
an electro pneumatic transducer provided between the gas source and the gas pipe for adjusting the pressure of the supplied gas to a second predetermined pressure lower than the first predetermined pressure and higher than the atmospheric pressure to supply the pressure adjusted gas to the gas pipe.
4. The flow amount control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the gas is an inert gas.
5. The flow amount control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid level detection unit includes an optical sensor for detecting the liquid level in the branch pipe by emitting light on the branch pipe from outside thereof.
6. The flow amount control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an inert gas purge means for purging the supply tank and the fourth open end with an inert gas.