Author: claimsbot

1. An automotive vehicle interior plastic part having a dampening support surface capable of wirelessly and conductively allowing electrical signals to travel between the part and an electrical device arbitrarily positioned and supported on the surface, the part comprising:
a substrate molded from an insulating material in a molding process;
a dampening first member bonded to the substrate and formed from a first non-metallic conductive material molded onto the insulating material in the molding process, the first member forming a first part of the support surface; and
a dampening second member bonded to the substrate and formed from a second non-metallic conductive material molded onto the insulating material in the molding process, the second member forming a second part of the support surface, wherein the substrate electrically insulates the first member from the second member and wherein the first and second members dampen vibration and shock at the support surface and allow electrical signals to travel between the part and the device during vehicle motion.
2. The part as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrical signals include electrical power signals and wherein the device includes a rechargeable battery.
3. The part as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrical signals provide data communication between the part and the device.
4. The part as claimed in claim 1, wherein the molding process is an injection molding process.
5. The part as claimed in claim 4, wherein the injection molding process comprises an insert molding process.
6. The part as claimed in claim 4, wherein the injection molding process comprises a multi-shot molding process.
7. The part as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the first and second non-metallic conductive materials comprises an electrically conductive elastomer.
8. The part as claimed in claim 7, wherein each of the electrically conductive elastomers comprises an electrically conductive thermoplastic elastomer.
9. The part as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first member is formed as a first integral, unitary, conductive structure including a first base portion and a first set of surface-defining portions, each of the first set of the surface-defining portions and the first base portion including particles of a first filler dispersed therein in a concentration sufficient to provide a substantially continuous conductive path in the first member.
10. The part as claimed in claim 9, wherein the second member is formed as a second integral, unitary, conductive structure including a second base portion and a second set of surface-defining portions, each of the second set of surface-defining portions and the second base portion including particles of a second filler disbursed therein in a concentration sufficient to provide a substantially continuous conductive path in the second member.
11. The part as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first and second sets of surface-defining portions are sized, shaped and arranged laterally adjacent to each other in a pattern at the support surface in relation to a predetermined distribution of contacts on the device to achieve wireless conductive signal transfer between the device and the part in various positions and orientations of the device when supported on the support surface.
12. The part as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first conductive structure includes a first coupling portion electrically coupled to the first base portion and being operable for biasing the first set of surface-defining portions at a first voltage level.
13. The part as claimed in claim 12, wherein the second conductive structure includes a second coupling portion electrically coupled to the second base portion and being operable for biasing the second set of surface-defining portions at a second voltage level different from the first voltage level.
14. The part as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first and second sets of surface-defining portions are interdigitated.
15. A vehicular charging pad having a dampening support surface capable of wirelessly and conductively charging an electrical device arbitrarily positioned and supported on the surface, the pad comprising:
a substrate molded from an insulating material in a molding process;
a dampening first member bonded to the substrate and formed from a first non-metallic conductive material molded onto the insulating material in the molding process, the first member forming a first part of the support surface; and
a dampening second member bonded to the substrate and formed from a second non-metallic conductive material molded onto the insulating material in the molding process, the second member forming a second part of the support surface, wherein the substrate electrically insulates the first member from the second member and wherein the first and second members dampen vibration and shock at the support surface and allow charging of the device during vehicle motion.
16. The pad as claimed in claim 15, wherein the first member is formed as a first integral, unitary, conductive structure including a first base portion and a first set of surface-defining portions, each of the first set of the surface-defining portions and the first base portion including particles of a first filler dispersed therein in a concentration sufficient to provide a substantially continuous conductive path in the first member.
17. The pad as claimed in claim 16, wherein the second member is formed as a second integral, unitary, conductive structure including a second base portion and a second set of surface-defining portions, each of the second set of surface-defining portions and the second base portion including particles of a second filler disbursed therein in a concentration sufficient to provide a substantially continuous conductive path in the second member.
18. The pad as claimed in claim 17, wherein the first and second sets of surface-defining portions are sized, shaped and arranged laterally adjacent to each other in a pattern at the support surface in relation to a predetermined distribution of contacts on the device to achieve wireless conductive power transfer to the device in various positions and orientations of the device when supported on the support surface.
19. A conductive charging pad having a dampening support surface capable of wirelessly and conductively charging an electrical device arbitrarily positioned and supported on the surface, the pad comprising:
a substrate molded from an insulating material in a molding process;
a dampening first member bonded to the substrate and formed from a first non-metallic conductive material molded onto the insulating material in the molding process, the first member forming a first part of the support surface; and
a dampening second member bonded to the substrate and formed from a second non-metallic conductive material molded onto the insulating material in the molding process, the second member forming a second part of the support surface, wherein the substrate electrically insulates the first member from the second member and wherein the first and second members dampen vibration and shock at the support surface and allow charging of the device.
20. The pad as claimed in claim 19, wherein the first member is formed as a first integral, unitary, conductive structure including a first base portion and a first set of surface-defining portions, each of the first set of the surface-defining portions and the first base portion including particles of a first filler dispersed therein in a concentration sufficient to provide a substantially continuous conductive path in the first member.
21. The pad as claimed in claim 16, wherein the second member is formed as a second integral, unitary, conductive structure including a second base portion and a second set of surface-defining portions, each of the second set of surface-defining portions and the second base portion including particles of a second filler disbursed therein in a concentration sufficient to provide a substantially continuous conductive path in the second member.
22. The pad as claimed in claim 21, wherein the first and second sets of surface-defining portions are sized, shaped and arranged laterally adjacent to each other in a pattern at the support surface in relation to a predetermined distribution of contacts on the device to achieve wireless conductive power transfer to the device in various positions and orientations of the device when supported on the support surface.

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 evaporated fuel purge device that purges fuel evaporated from a fuel tank to an engine having a turbocharger, the device comprising:
a main passage through which the evaporated fuel passes;
a fuel inlet passage through which the evaporated fuel flows into the main passage;
a fuel outlet passage through which the evaporated fuel flows out of the main passage;
a valve disposed in the main passage to open or close the main passage;
a branch passage branched from the main passage at a position downstream of the valve in a flowing direction of the evaporated fuel;
an ejector having a drawing portion that is connected with the branch passage;
an air inlet passage through which intake air flows into the ejector from a downstream of the turbocharger in a flowing direction of the intake air; and
an air outlet passage through which the intake air flows out of the ejector to an upstream of the turbocharger in the flowing direction of the intake air, wherein
the ejector is located between the air inlet passage and the air outlet passage in the flowing direction of the intake air, the intake air passing through the drawing portion, the drawing portion drawing the evaporated fuel from the branch passage using the intake air passing through the drawing portion,
the fuel inlet passage, the fuel outlet passage, the main passage, the valve, the branch passage, the air inlet passage, the air outlet passage, and the ejector are formed integrally with each other, and
at least three of the fuel inlet passage, the fuel outlet passage, the air inlet passage, and the air outlet passage are arranged to extend parallel with each other in an extending direction.
2. The evaporated fuel purge device according to claim 1, wherein
all of the fuel inlet passage, the fuel outlet passage, the air inlet passage, and the air outlet passage extend parallel with each other in the extending direction.
3. The evaporated fuel purge device according to claim 1, further comprising:
a first check valve disposed in the main passage at a position between the fuel outlet passage and a branch point from which the branch passage is branched from the main passage, wherein
the first check valve restricts the evaporated fuel from flowing the fuel outlet passage to the fuel inlet passage.
4. The evaporated fuel purge device according to claim 1, further comprising:
a second check valve disposed in the branch passage, wherein
the second check valve restricts the evaporated fuel from flowing from the air inlet passage to the fuel inlet passage.
5. The evaporated fuel purge device according to claim 1, wherein
an overall dimension of the air inlet passage, the air outlet passage, and the ejector in the extending direction is set smaller than an overall dimension of the fuel inlet passage, the fuel outlet passage, and the main passage in the extending direction.
6. The evaporated fuel purge device according to claim 1, wherein
the main passage has
a first passage located adjacent to the air outlet passage and extending parallel with the air outlet passage,
a second passage extending from the first passage away from the air outlet passage in a direction crossing the first passage, and
a third passage extending from the second passage away from the first passage to be parallel with the air inlet passage, and

the branch passage is branched from the third passage at a downstream of the valve, and extends in a direction crossing the third passage.
7. The evaporated fuel purge device according to claim 6, wherein
the main passage has a crank shape constructed by the first passage, the second passage and the third passage,
the first passage extends along a longitudinal direction of the fuel inlet passage,
the second passage extends perpendicularly to the first passage, and
the third passage extends from the second passage toward the fuel outlet passage in the same direction as the first passage.
8. The evaporated fuel purge device according to claim 1, wherein
the fuel outlet passage has an axial direction that is the same as an axial direction of the fuel inlet passage, and
the fuel outlet passage has an axial center that is offset from an axial center of the fuel inlet passage.
9. The evaporated fuel purge device according to claim 1, further comprising:
a filter arranged in the second passage to collect a foreign object contained in the evaporated fuel.
10. The evaporated fuel purge device according to claim 9, wherein
the valve is located downstream of the filter in an area of the main passage shifting from the second passage to the third passage.
11. An evaporated fuel purge device that purges fuel evaporated from a fuel tank to an engine having a turbocharger, the device comprising:
a unitary integral main purge device body, including
a main passage through which the evaporated fuel passes;
a fuel inlet passage through which the evaporated fuel flows into the main passage;
a fuel outlet passage through which the evaporated fuel flows out of the main passage;
a branch passage branched from the main passage at a position downstream of the valve in a flowing direction of the evaporated fuel;
an ejector having a drawing portion that is connected with the branch passage;
an air inlet passage through which intake air flows into the ejector from a downstream of the turbocharger in a flowing direction of the intake air; and
an air outlet passage through which the intake air flows out of the ejector to an upstream of the turbocharger in the flowing direction of the intake air; and

a valve disposed in the main passage to open or close the main passage,
wherein
the ejector is located between the air inlet passage and the air outlet passage in the flowing direction of the intake air, the intake air passing through the drawing portion, the drawing portion drawing the evaporated fuel from the branch passage using the intake air passing through the drawing portion, and
at least three of the fuel inlet passage, the fuel outlet passage, the air inlet passage, and the air outlet passage extend parallel with each other in an extending direction.
12. The evaporated fuel purge device according to claim 11, wherein
all of the fuel inlet passage, the fuel outlet passage, the air inlet passage, and the air outlet passage extend parallel with each other in the extending direction.
13. The evaporated fuel purge device according to claim 11, further comprising:
a first check valve disposed in the main passage at a position between the fuel outlet passage and a branch point from which the branch passage is branched from the main passage, wherein
the first check valve restricts the evaporated fuel from flowing from the fuel outlet passage to the fuel inlet passage.
14. The evaporated fuel purge device according to claim 11, further comprising:
a second check valve disposed in the branch passage, wherein
the second check valve restricts the evaporated fuel from flowing from the air inlet passage to the fuel inlet passage.
15. The evaporated fuel purge device according to claim 11, wherein
an overall dimension of the air inlet passage, the air outlet passage, and the ejector in the extending direction is set smaller than an overall dimension of the fuel inlet passage, the fuel outlet passage, and the main passage in the extending direction.
16. The evaporated fuel purge device according to claim 11, wherein
the main passage has
a first passage located adjacent to the air outlet passage and extending parallel with the air outlet passage,
a second passage extending from the first passage away from the air outlet passage in a direction crossing the first passage, and
a third passage extending from the second passage away from the first passage to be parallel with the air inlet passage, and

the branch passage is branched from the third passage at a downstream of the valve, and extends in a direction crossing the third passage.
17. The evaporated fuel purge device according to claim 16, wherein
the main passage has a crank shape constructed by the first passage, the second passage and the third passage,
the first passage extends along a longitudinal direction of the fuel inlet passage,
the second passage extends perpendicularly to the first passage, and
the third passage extends from the second passage toward the fuel outlet passage in the same direction as the first passage.
18. The evaporated fuel purge device according to claim 11, wherein
the fuel outlet passage has an axial direction that is the same as an axial direction of the fuel inlet passage, and
the fuel outlet passage has an axial center that is offset from an axial center of the fuel inlet passage.
19. The evaporated fuel purge device according to claim 11, further comprising:
a filter arranged in the second passage to collect a foreign object contained in the evaporated fuel.
20. The evaporated fuel purge device according to claim 19, wherein
the valve is located downstream of the filter in an area of the main passage shifting from the second passage to the third passage.

1. An apparatus for continuously producing a fin-seal on a string of linked packages produced on a continuous fill packaging machine, each of said packages being formed from a strip-shaped sheet of packaging material having opposed longitudinal edges, an exterior surface, and an interior surface, the interior surface having a meltable coating, said fin-seal apparatus comprising: (a) a tube-forming subassembly for bending said sheet of packaging material, such that the longitudinal edges of said sheet of packaging material are substantially aligned with one another and, at the areas adjacent the longitudinal edges, the interior surfaces of said sheet of packaging material are in contact with one another; (b) a seal-heating subassembly for heating said sheet of packaging material in the area of the longitudinal edges to melt the meltable coating; and (c) a seal-pressing subassembly for pressing the longitudinal edges together to form a longitudinal seal and to form a tube of packaging material.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising (d) a tube-conveying subassembly for conveying said sheet of packaging material through said tube-forming subassembly, said seal-heating subassembly, and said seal-pressing subassembly.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said tube-forming assembly comprises a forming ring having an aperture therein and a slot that extends from said aperture, said slot approximating the size of said fin-seal.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said seal-heating subassembly comprises a pair of longitudinal heater arms that are pivotally joined, said heater arms each containing a heater cartridge.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein pneumatic cylinders control the movement of said longitudinal heater arms.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said seal-pressing subassembly comprises at least one pair of opposed rollers, said rollers being made either entirely of stainless steel or having a stainless steel shaft and a urethane flange.
7. A liquid-filled tetrahedral package, said package being comprised of a strip-shaped sheet of packaging material having opposed longitudinal edges, an exterior surface, and an interior surface, the interior surface having a meltable coating, said package having a longitudinal fin seal and having a first transverse seal on one end of said package and a second transverse seal on an opposite end of said package, said second transverse seal being substantially perpendicular to said first transverse seal.
8. The package of claim 7, wherein said longitudinal fin seal comprises the longitudinal edges of said sheet of packaging material, said longitudinal edges having been aligned such that, in the area of said longitudinal fin seal, the interior surfaces of said packaging material contact one another and having been heated and pressed to form said longitudinal fin seal.
9. The package of claim 8, wherein said longitudinal fin seal lies substantially flat against said package.
10. The package of claim 7, wherein said packaging material has a construction selected from the group consisting of a multi-layer paper construction, a multi-layer foil construction, and a multi-layer film construction.
11. A closed-loop electrical system for independent temperature control of heated jaws in a continuous fill packaging machine, said heated jaws being conveyed in an endless circuit, said electrical system comprising (a) at least two power rails; (b) a plurality of heated jaws, each of said heated jaws comprising electrical contacts that contact said power rails, a thermocouple that measures the temperature at the face of said heated jaw, and a wireless transmitter that transmits readings from the thermocouple; (c) an antenna for powering said wireless transmitters and for receiving temperature transmissions from said wireless transmitters; and (d) a programmable logic controller for evaluating the temperature transmissions and adjusting the energy supplied to said power rails; wherein at least one of said power rails includes a base-level segment for maintaining said heated jaws at a target temperature and a power-correction segment for boosting the energy supplied to any given heated jaw when the temperature differential between the temperature transmissions for the given heated jaw and the target temperature is more than 10\xb0 F.
12. The closed-loop electrical system of claim 11, wherein the power-correction segment of said electrified power rail has a length such that only one of said heated jaws is in contact with the power-correction segment at any given time.
13. The closed-loop electrical system of claim 11, wherein said programmable logic controller maintains the temperature transmissions for each of said heated jaws as said jaws are conveyed past said antenna and boosts the energy supplied to the base-level segment of said power rails when the temperature transmissions for all heated jaws are below the target temperature.
14. A heated jaw for a continuous fill packaging machine, said heated jaw comprising (a) a base, optionally having a separable support component attached thereto; (b) an insulator block attached to said base; (c) a heated jaw block attached to said insulator block on a side opposite said base, said heated jaw block comprising a heated jaw face, a heater cartridge embedded in said heated jaw block, and an axially bored channel proximate to the heated jaw face; (d) a thermocouple embedded in the axially bored channel for measuring the temperature of the heated jaw face; and (e) a wireless transmitter connected to said thermocouple and attached to said base for transmitting the temperature of the heated jaw face to an antenna.
15. The heated jaw of claim 14, wherein the heated jaw face has a patterned surface created by a plurality of lines engraved therein.
16. The heated jaw of claim 14, wherein said heated jaw face comprises a face component and a rear component between which components said heater cartridge is positioned.
17. The heated jaw of claim 14, wherein said heater cartridge is a uniform power density cartridge.
18. The heated jaw of claim 14, wherein said heater cartridge is a variable power density cartridge.
19. The heated jaw of claim 14, wherein said heater cartridge is embedded in a thermally conductive core before being embedded in said heated jaw block.
20. The heated jaw of claim 19, wherein said thermally conductive core is comprised of copper.
21. The heated jaw of claim 14, further comprising a first headspace plate that is attached at a proximal end to the top of said insulator block and a second headspace plate that is attached at a proximal end to the bottom of said insulator block, the distal ends of each of said headspace plates extending angularly over the heated jaw face.
22. The heated jaw of claim 14, wherein said wireless transmitter is held in a transmitter housing.

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 buckle holding structure for holding a buckle unit on a seat cushion, the buckle unit having: a belt of which one end is fixed to a vehicle body; and a buckle fixed to the other end of the belt, the buckle holding structure comprising:
a band that has elasticity, has a predetermined width, and is folded in a U shape to form a folded portion, wherein
both ends of the band are fixed to a rear end of the seat cushion so as to be disposed on the same plane in a width direction of the band;
the belt of the buckle unit is inserted into a gap formed between both ends of the band, which is fixed to the rear end of the seat cushion, and the folded portion; and
the buckle is caught by the folded portion.
2. The buckle holding structure according to claim 1, further comprising
a tongue piece that has elasticity and has a width larger than the width of the band, wherein
both ends of the band are fixed to the rear end of the seat cushion with the tongue piece interposed therebetween.
3. The buckle holding structure according to claim 2, wherein
one end of the tongue piece is sewn with both a surface skin and a bottom skin of the seat cushion.
4. The buckle holding structure according to claim 2, wherein
both ends of the band and one end of the tongue piece is sewn with both a surface skin and a bottom skin of the seat cushion.
5. The buckle holding structure according to claim 1, wherein
a cloth having no elasticity is sewn on the surface of the band.
6. A vehicle seat having a buckle holding structure for holding a buckle unit, the buckle unit having: a belt of which one end is fixed to a vehicle body; and a buckle fixed to the other end of the belt, the vehicle seat comprising:
a seat cushion;
a seat back;
a rotary arm with which the seat cushion is rotatably connected to the seat back, the seat cushion being rotatable in a process of transferring between a seatable state and a tip-up state where the seat cushion rotates upward from the seatable state and overlaps the seat back being in a upright position; and
an elastic band folded in a U shape to form a folded portion with both ends thereof being fixed to a rear end of the seat cushion to form a gap therebetween, the buckle unit being inserted into the gap, wherein
the buckle is held at the folded portion when the seat cushion is in the tip-up state; and
the elastic band draws the buckle onto the seat cushion in a process of transferring from the tip-up state to the seatable state.
7. The vehicle seat according to claim 6, further comprising a receiving surface which receives the buckle and is arranged between the rear end of the seat cushion and the folded portion.
8. The vehicle seat according to claim 7, wherein
the receiving surface is formed by disposing both ends of the elastic band on the same plane in the width direction thereof, the elastic band having a predetermined width.
9. The vehicle seat according to claim 7, further comprising a non elastic cloth which is fixed to the rear end of the seat cushion, with which the receiving surface is formed.