Author: claimsbot

1. A method for diagnosing a human subject’s Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) health state or change in ASD health state or identifying a human subject’s risk of ASD, the method comprising the steps of:
a) analyzing at least one blood sample from said subject by high resolution mass spectrometry to obtain accurate mass intensity data for ionized metabolites;
b) comparing the accurate mass intensity data to corresponding data obtained from one or more than one reference blood sample to identify an increase or decrease in accurate mass intensity; and
c) using said increase or decrease in accurate mass intensity for diagnosing said subject’s ASD health state or change in ASD health state or identifying the risk of ASD in said subject,
wherein the accurate mass intensity is measured, in Daltons, at one or more of the following hydrogen and electron adjusted accurate masses, or neutral accurate masses \xb15 ppm,
wherein the hydrogen and electron adjusted accurate masses or neutral accurate masses at which intensity is increased in ASD are: 174.1408, 218.2034, 242.2033, 246.2345, 249.8832, 256.2189, 258.2346, 302.2219, 328.2402, 329.2436, 362.0842, 558.4652, 592.4705, 594.4849, 594.4858, 595.4887, 596.5017, 596.5018, 597.5053, 613.338, 622.4949, 724.5244, 728.5573, 747.5203, 749.5371, 750.5406, 766.4787, 766.5359, 775.5516, 776.5559, 777.5689, 779.4864, 791.5471, 792.494, 792.5522, 793.4944, 805.5608, 806.5089, 807.5133, 819.5794, 820.5267, 826.5555, 826.5563, 827.544, 828.5476, 834.5398, 837.5888, 841.5387, 851.5681, 851.5694, 852.5713, 852.5719, 856.6691, 858.6834, 858.6842, 859.6879, 876.7233, 879.5982, 879.5992, 904.7514, 905.7564, 950.7566, and 962.7618, and
wherein the hydrogen and electron adjusted accurate masses or neutral accurate masses at which intensity is decreased in ASD are: 878.7575, 550.4964, 551.4998, 893.7762, 906.7790, 865.7508, 753.5273, 894.7838, 549.4840, 866.7550, 548.4807, 760.5813, 604.5431, 946.8169, 892.7708, 605.5462, 860.7753, 863.7358, 920.8001, 759.5781, 919.7934, 562.4959, 782.5645, 576.5117, 876.7429, and 577.5154.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said method comprises monitoring an ASD therapy in the human subject, and wherein said increase or decrease in accurate mass intensity is used in step (c) to determine whether the therapy is improving the biochemical state of the subject.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the therapy is a carnitine therapy.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the accurate mass intensities are ionized metabolites.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising
analyzing at least one blood sample from said patient by mass spectrometry to obtain accurate mass intensity data for one or more than one internal control metabolite; and
calculating a ratio for each of the accurate mass intensities obtained in step (a) to the accurate mass intensities obtained for the one or more than one internal control metabolite;
wherein the comparing step (b) comprises comparing each ratio to one or more corresponding ratios obtained for one or more than one reference blood sample.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the internal control metabolite is cholic acid.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination of the ASD health state or change in ASD health state comprises the determination of: the presence or absence of ASD, a biochemical ASD phenotype of the subject, an elevated risk of ASD, or a positive, negative, or nil effect of an ASD therapeutic strategy on the subject’s underlying biochemical ASD phenotype.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the biochemical ASD phenotype is characterized as any one of:
a) elevated levels of saturated or monounsaturated very long chain fatty acid (VLCFA)-containing ethanolamine phospholipids;
b) elevated levels of docosahexaenoic acid (22:6, DHA)-containing ethanolamine phospholipids;
c) elevated levels of polyunsaturated VLCFA-containing ethanolamine phospholipids;
d) decreased levels of 18:3, 20:3, 22:3, or 24:3-containing ethanolamine phospholipids; and
e) combinations thereof.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the blood sample is whole blood, plasma, serum, or a subfraction of whole blood.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the accurate mass intensity data is obtained using a mass spectrometer selected from the group consisting of: a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance, time of flight, orbitrap, quadrupole and triple quadrupole mass spectrometer.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein a liquidliquid extraction is performed on the blood samples whereby non-polar metabolites are dissolved in an organic solvent and polar metabolites are dissolved in an aqueous solvent.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the metabolites are ionized by positive or negative electrospray ionization, positive or negative atmospheric pressure chemical ionization, or a combination thereof.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein the reference sample is taken from a non-ASD subject, one or more ASD subjects not on a therapeutic regimen, or from the human subject at a pre-therapy stage or at an earlier-therapy stage.
14. The method of claim 1, wherein the intensity is measured at or \xb11 ppm of the hydrogen and electron adjusted accurate mass, or neutral accurate mass.
15. A method for diagnosing a human subject’s Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) health state or change in ASD health state or identifying a human subject’s risk of ASD, the method comprising the steps of:
a) analyzing at least one blood sample from said subject using an analytic device or system comprising a mass spectrometer to obtain quantifying data for one or more than one metabolite marker;
b) comparing the quantifying data for said one or more than one metabolite marker to corresponding data obtained from one or more than one reference blood sample to identify an increase or decrease in the level of said one or more than one metabolite marker in said blood sample; and
c) using said increase or decrease in the level of said one or more than one metabolite marker to diagnose the human subject’s ASD health state or change in ASD health state, or to identify the risk of ASD in said subject,
wherein the one or more than one metabolite marker comprises one or more than one molecule selected from the group consisting of ethanolamine phospholipids; docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-containing phospholipids; DHA precursor-containing phospholipids; catabolic products of DHA beta-oxidation-containing phospholipids; polyunsaturated very long chain fatty acids (VLCFA)-containing phospholipids; and combinations thereof, and
wherein the human subject is diagnosed with ASD based on having: elevated levels of ethanolamine phospholipids containing saturated or monounsaturated VLCFA, docosahexaenoic acid (22:6, DHA), VLCFA DHA precursor (24:5, 24:6), catabolic products of DHA beta-oxidation (20:6), or polyunsaturated VLCFA; decreased levels of ethanolamine phospholipids containing 18:3, 20:3, 22:3, 24:3 fatty acids; or combinations thereof.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein said method comprises monitoring an ASD therapy in the human subject, and wherein said increase or decrease in the level of said one or more than one metabolite marker is used in step (c) to determine whether the therapy is improving the biochemical state of the subject.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the therapy is a carnitine therapy.
18. The method of claim 15, wherein the one or more than one metabolite marker is selected from the group consisting of: PtdEtn 16:018:0, PtdEtn 16:020:0, PtdEtn 16:022:0, PtdEtn 16:024:0, PtdEtn 16:026:0, PtdEtn 16:028:0, PtdEtn 16:030:0, PtdEtn 16:032:0, PtdEtn 16:034:0, PtdEtn 16:036:0, PtdEtn 16:038:0, PtdEtn 16:040:0, PtdEtn 18:018:0, PtdEtn 18:020:0, PtdEtn 18:022:0, PtdEtn 18:024:0, PtdEtn 18:026:0, PtdEtn 18:028:0, PtdEtn 18:030:0, PtdEtn 18:032:0, PtdEtn 18:034:0, PtdEtn 18:036:0, PtdEtn 18:038:0, PtdEtn 18:040:0, PtdEtn 16:018:1, PtdEtn 16:020:1, PtdEtn 16:022:1, PtdEtn 16:024:1, PtdEtn 16:026:1, PtdEtn 16:028:1, PtdEtn 16:030:1, PtdEtn 16:032:1, PtdEtn 16:034:1 PtdEtn 16:036:1, PtdEtn 16:038:1, PtdEtn 16:040:1, PtdEtn 18:018:1, PtdEtn 18:020:1, PtdEtn 18:022:1, PtdEtn 18:024:1, PtdEtn 18:026:1, PtdEtn 18:028:1, PtdEtn 18:030:1, PtdEtn 18:032:1, PtdEtn 18:034:1, PtdEtn 18:036:1, PtdEtn 18:038:1, PtdEtn 18:040:1, PtdEtn 16:018:2, PtdEtn 16:020:2, PtdEtn 16:022:2, PtdEtn 16:024:2, PtdEtn 16:026:2, PtdEtn 16:028:2, PtdEtn 16:030:2, PtdEtn 16:032:2, PtdEtn 16:034:2, PtdEtn 16:036:2, PtdEtn 16:038:2, PtdEtn 16:040:2, PtdEtn 18:018:2, PtdEtn 18:020:2, PtdEtn 18:022:2, PtdEtn 18:024:2, PtdEtn 18:026:2, PtdEtn 18:028:2, PtdEtn 18:030:2, PtdEtn 18:032:2, PtdEtn 18:034:2, PtdEtn 18:036:2, PtdEtn 18:038:2, PtdEtn 18:040:2, PtdEtn 16:018:3, PtdEtn 16:020:3, PtdEtn 16:022:3, PtdEtn 16:024:3, PtdEtn 16:026:3, PtdEtn 16:028:3, PtdEtn 16:030:3, PtdEtn 16:032:3, PtdEtn 16:034:3, PtdEtn 16:036:3, PtdEtn 16:038:3, PtdEtn 16:040:3, PtdEtn 18:018:3, PtdEtn 18:020:3, PtdEtn 18:022:3, PtdEtn 18:024:3, PtdEtn 18:026:3, PtdEtn 18:028:3, PtdEtn 18:030:3, PtdEtn 18:032:3, PtdEtn 18:034:3, PtdEtn 18:036:3, PtdEtn 18:038:3, PtdEtn 18:040:3, PtdEtn 16:020:4, PtdEtn 16:022:4, PtdEtn 16:024:4, PtdEtn 16:026:4, PtdEtn 16:028:4, PtdEtn 16:030:4, PtdEtn 16:032:4, PtdEtn 16:034:4, PtdEtn 16:036:4, PtdEtn 16:038:4, PtdEtn 16:040:4, PtdEtn 18:020:4, PtdEtn 18:022:4, PtdEtn 18:024:4, PtdEtn 18:026:4, PtdEtn 18:028:4, PtdEtn 18:030:4, PtdEtn 18:032:4, PtdEtn 18:034:4, PtdEtn 18:036:4, PtdEtn 18:038:4, PtdEtn 18:040:4, PtdEtn 16:020:5, PtdEtn 16:022:5, PtdEtn 16:024:5, PtdEtn 16:026:5, PtdEtn 16:028:5, PtdEtn 16:030:5, PtdEtn 16:032:5, PtdEtn 16:034:5, PtdEtn 16:036:5, PtdEtn 16:038:5, PtdEtn 16:040:5, PtdEtn 18:020:5, PtdEtn 18:022:5, PtdEtn 18:024:5, PtdEtn 18:026:5, PtdEtn 18:028:5, PtdEtn 18:030:5, PtdEtn 18:032:5, PtdEtn 18:034:5, PtdEtn 18:036:5, PtdEtn 18:038:5, PtdEtn 18:040:5, PtdEtn 16:020:6, PtdEtn 16:022:6, PtdEtn 16:024:6, PtdEtn 16:026:6, PtdEtn 16:028:6, PtdEtn 16:030:6, PtdEtn 16:032:6, PtdEtn 16:034:6, PtdEtn 16:036:6, PtdEtn 16:038:6, PtdEtn 16:040:6, PtdEtn 18:020:6, PtdEtn 18:022:6, PtdEtn 18:024:6, PtdEtn 18:026:6, PtdEtn 18:028:6, PtdEtn 18:030:6, PtdEtn 18:032:6, PtdEtn 18:034:6, PtdEtn 18:036:6, PtdEtn 18:038:6, PtdEtn 18:040:6, PlsEtn 16:018:1, PlsEtn 16:018:2, PlsEtn 16:018:3, PlsEtn 16:020:4, PlsEtn 16:022:6, PlsEtn 18:018:1, PlsEtn 18:018:2, PlsEtn 18:018:3, PlsEtn 18:020:4, PlsEtn 18:022:6, PlsEtn 18:118:1, PlsEtn 18:118:2, PlsEtn 18:118:3, PlsEtn 18:120:4, PlsEtn 18:122:6 and combinations thereof.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the human subject is diagnosed with ASD based on a statistically significant (p<0.05) increase or decrease in the level of said one or more than one metabolite marker relative to the corresponding data of the reference blood sample from a non-ASD subject.
20. The method of claim 15, wherein the blood samples are analyzed by MSMS transition.
21. The method of claim 20, wherein the one or more than one metabolite marker is characterized by a MSMS transition selected from the group consisting of: 718.5255.2, 746.6255.2, 774.6255.2, 802.6255.2, 830.7255.2, 858.7255.2, 886.7255.2, 914.8255.2, 942.8255.2, 970.8255.2, 998.9255.2, 1026.9255.2, 746.6283.2, 774.6283.2, 802.6283.2, 830.7283.2, 858.7283.2, 886.7283.2, 914.8283.2, 942.8283.2, 970.8283.2, 998.9283.2, 1026.9283.2, 1054.9283.2, 716.5255.2, 744.6255.2, 772.6255.2, 800.6255.2, 828.6255.2, 856.7255.2, 884.7255.2, 912.7255.2, 940.8255.2, 968.8255.2, 996.8255.2, 1024.9255.2, 744.6283.2, 772.6283.2, 800.6283.2, 828.6283.2, 856.7283.2, 884.7283.2, 912.7283.2, 940.8283.2, 968.8283.2, 996.8283.2, 1024.9283.2, 1052.9283.2, 714.5255.2, 742.5255.2, 770.6255.2, 798.6255.2, 826.6255.2, 854.7255.2, 882.7255.2, 910.7255.2, 938.8255.2, 966.8255.2, 994.8255.2, 1022.9255.2, 742.5283.2, 770.6283.2, 798.6283.2, 826.6283.2, 854.7283.2, 882.7283.2, 910.7283.2, 938.8283.2, 966.8283.2, 994.8283.2, 1022.9283.2, 1050.9283.2, 712.5255.2, 740.5255.2, 768.6255.2, 796.6255.2, 824.6255.2, 852.6255.2, 880.7255.2, 908.7255.2, 936.7255.2, 964.8255.2, 992.8255.2, 1020.8255.2, 740.5283.2, 768.6283.2, 796.6283.2, 824.6283.2, 852.6283.2, 880.7283.2, 908.7283.2, 936.7283.2, 964.8283.2, 992.8283.2, 1020.8283.2, 1048.9283.2, 738.5255.2, 766.5255.2, 794.6255.2, 822.6255.2, 850.6255.2, 878.7255.2, 906.7255.2, 934.7255.2, 962.8255.2, 990.8255.2, 1018.8255.2, 766.5283.2, 794.6283.2, 822.6283.2, 850.6283.2, 878.7283.2, 906.7283.2, 934.7283.2, 962.8283.2, 990.8283.2, 1018.8283.2, 1046.9283.2, 736.5255.2, 764.5255.2, 792.6255.2, 820.6255.2, 848.6255.2, 876.6255.2, 904.7255.2, 932.7255.2, 960.7255.2, 988.8255.2, 1016.8255.2, 764.5283.2, 792.6283.2, 820.6283.2, 848.6283.2, 876.6283.2, 904.7283.2, 932.7283.2, 960.7283.2, 988.8283.2, 1016.8283.2, 1044.8283.2, 734.5255.2, 762.5255.2, 790.5255.2, 818.6255.2, 846.6255.2, 874.6255.2, 902.7255.2, 930.7255.2, 958.7255.2, 986.8255.2, 1014.8255.2, 762.5283.2, 790.5283.2, 818.6283.2, 846.6283.2, 874.6283.2, 902.7283.2, 930.7283.2, 958.7283.2, 986.8283.2, 1014.8283.2, 1042.8283.2, 700.5281.2, 698.5279.2, 696.5277.2, 722.5303.2, 746.5327.2, 728.5281.2, 726.5279.2, 724.5277.2, 750.5303.2, 774.5327.2, 726.5281.2, 724.5279.2, 722.5277.2, 748.5303.2, 772.5327.2, and combinations thereof.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein the human subject is diagnosed with ASD based on a statistically significant (p<0.05) increase or decrease in the level of said one or more than one metabolite marker relative to the corresponding data of the reference blood sample from a non-ASD subject.
23. The method of claim 15, wherein the analytic device or system further comprises a chromatography column, and the blood samples are analyzed by liquid chromatography (LC) and MSMS transition.
24. The method of claim 15, further comprising:
analyzing at least one blood sample from said subject to obtain quantifying data for one or more than one internal control metabolite; and
obtaining a ratio for each of the levels of said one or more than one metabolite marker to the level obtained for the one or more than one internal control metabolite;
wherein the comparing step (b) comprises comparing each ratio to one or more corresponding ratios obtained for the one or more than one reference blood sample.
25. The method of claim 24, wherein the internal control metabolite is cholic acid.
26. The method of claim 15, wherein the human subject is diagnosed with ASD based on having either: elevated levels of ethanolamine phospholipids containing saturated or monounsaturated very long chain fatty acids (VLCFA); docosahexaenoic acid (22:6, DHA); VLCFA DHA precursor (24:5, 24:6); catabolic products of DHA beta-oxidation (20:6), polyunsaturated VLCFA; decreased levels of ethanolamine phospholipids containing 18:3, 20:3, 22:3, 24:3 fatty acids or combinations thereof.
27. The method of claim 15, wherein the determination of the ASD health state or change in ASD health state comprises the determination of: the presence or absence of ASD, the biochemical ASD phenotype of the subject, an elevated risk of ASD, or a positive, negative, or nil effect of an ASD therapeutic strategy on the subject’s underlying biochemical ASD phenotype.
28. The method of claim 27, wherein ASD is detected by measuring any one of the following biochemical ASD phenotypes:
a) elevated levels of saturated or monounsaturated very long chain fatty acid (VLCFA)-containing ethanolamine phospholipids;
b) elevated levels of docosahexaenoic acid (22:6, DHA)-containing ethanolamine phospholipids;
c) elevated levels of polyunsaturated VLCFA-containing ethanolamine phospholipids;
d) decreased levels of 18:3, 20:3, 22:3, or 24:3-containing ethanolamine phospholipids; and
e) combinations thereof.
29. The method of claim 15, wherein the blood sample is whole blood, plasma, serum, or a subfraction of whole blood.
30. The method of claim 15, wherein the mass spectrometer of the analytic device or system is selected from the group consisting of: a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance, time of flight, orbitrap, quadrupole and triple quadrupole mass spectrometer.
31. The method of claim 15, wherein a liquidliquid extraction is performed on the blood samples whereby non-polar metabolites are dissolved in an organic solvent and polar metabolites are dissolved in an aqueous solvent.
32. The method of claim 31, wherein the analytic device or system analyzes the extracted samples by positive or negative electrospray ionization, positive or negative atmospheric pressure chemical ionization, or a combination thereof.
33. The method of claim 15, wherein the reference blood sample is taken from a non-ASD subject, one or more ASD subjects not on a therapeutic regimen, or from the human subject at a pre-therapy stage or at an earlier-therapy stage.
34. The method of claim 15, wherein the analytic device or system analyzes the level of said one or more than one metabolite marker in said sample using a colorimetric chemical assay, an antibody-based enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA), a dipstick chemical assay, or mass spectrometry.

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 method of evaluating a birefringence functional layer, comprising:
measuring an amount of residual double bonds of a birefringence functional layer in an optical element, comprising a light-transmitting substrate, a birefringence functional layer made of a polymerizable liquid crystal material provided above the light-transmitting substrate, a coloring layer provided between the light-transmitting substrate and the birefringence functional layer, directly or indirectly on a surface of the birefringence functional layer, and an alignment film for aligning a driving liquid crystal material provided directly or indirectly on a surface of the birefringence functional layer,
whereby the birefringence functional layer is formed by aligning a polymerizable liquid crystal monomer having a polymerizable group at least at one terminal followed by fixation, and a degree of reduction of residual double bond in the birefringence functional layer before and after heat treatment at 250\xb0 C. for 1 hr is less than 0.25;
applying heat treatment at 250\xb0 C. for 1 hr, followed by leaving until the optical element comes to room temperature;
measuring an amount of residual double bonds of the heat-treated birefringence functional layer; and
calculating a difference between the amounts of the residual double bonds before and after the heat treatment to obtain another degree of reduction of residual double bonds.
2. A method of evaluating a birefringence functional layer according to claim 1, wherein the birefringence functional layer is formed by forming a coating film by coating a birefringence functional layer composition solution containing a polymerizable liquid crystal monomer directly or indirectly on a top surface of the substrate, and then aligning the polymerizable liquid crystal monomer in a desired direction, followed by irradiating a top surface of the coating film with light to cause a polymerization reaction between the polymerizable liquid crystal monomers.
3. A method of evaluating a birefringence functional layer according to claim 1, further comprising:
obtaining the degree of reduction of residual double bonds by dividing the difference between the amounts of the residual double bonds before and after the heat treatment by the amounts of the residual double bonds before the heat treatment.
4. A method of evaluating a birefringence functional layer according to claim 3, further comprising:
judging whether the obtained degree of reduction of residual double bonds is under 0.25 or not.
5. A method of evaluating a birefringence functional layer according to claim 3, further comprising:
judging whether the obtained degree of reduction of residual double bonds is 0.01 or more.
6. A method of evaluating a birefringence functional layer, comprising:
measuring an amount of residual double bonds of a birefringence functional layer in an optical element, comprising a light-transmitting substrate, a birefringence functional layer made of a polymerizable liquid crystal material provided above the light-transmitting substrate, and a coloring layer provided between the light-transmitting substrate and the birefringence functional layer, directly or indirectly on a surface of the birefringence functional layer;
applying heat treatment at 250\xb0 C. for 1 hr, followed by leaving until the optical element comes to room temperature;
measuring an amount of residual double bonds of the heat-treated birefringence functional layer; and
calculating a difference between the amounts of the residual double bonds before and after the heat treatment to obtain a degree of reduction of residual double bonds.
7. A method of evaluating a birefringence functional layer according to claim 6, wherein the birefringence functional layer is formed by forming a coating film by coating a birefringence functional layer composition solution containing a polymerizable liquid crystal monomer directly or indirectly on a top surface of the substrate, and then aligning the polymerizable liquid crystal monomer in a desired direction, followed by irradiating a top surface of the coating film with light to cause a polymerization reaction between the polymerizable liquid crystal monomers.
8. A method of evaluating a birefringence functional layer according to claim 6, wherein the optical element is comprising of an alignment film for aligning a driving liquid crystal material provided directly or indirectly on a surface of the birefringence functional layer.
9. A method of evaluating a birefringence functional layer according to claim 6, further comprising:
obtaining the degree of reduction of residual double bonds by dividing the difference between the amounts of the residual double bonds before and after the heat treatment by the amounts of the residual double bonds before the heat treatment.
10. A method of evaluating a birefringence functional layer according to claim 9, further comprising:
judging whether the obtained degree of reduction of residual double bonds is under 0.25 or not.
11. A method of evaluating a birefringence functional layer according to claim 9, further comprising:
judging whether the obtained degree of reduction of residual double bonds is 0.01 or more.
12. A method of evaluating a birefringence functional layer according to claim 6, wherein the birefringence function layer is formed by aligning of polymerization liquid crystal monomer having a polymerization group at least at one terminal followed by fixation.

1. An umbrella, comprising:
a shank;
a fixed ring mounted on the shank;
a movable ring movably mounted on the shank;
a plurality of connecting members pivotally connected with the fixed ring and the movable ring;
a plurality of locking mechanisms each movably and retractably mounted in a respective one of the connecting members;
a plurality of ribs each detachably mounted on a respective one of the connecting members on the fixed ring and each releasably locked onto a respective one of the locking mechanisms;
a plurality of spreaders each detachably mounted on a respective one of the connecting members on the movable ring and each releasably locked onto a respective one of the locking mechanisms;
a plurality of arcuate support cables mounted on the fixed ring and the movable ring and each detachably connected with a respective one of the connecting members; wherein
each of the connecting members is provided with a receiving chamber to receive a respective one of the locking mechanisms;
the fixed ring has a periphery provided with a plurality of receiving grooves to pivotally receive the connecting members and to receive the support cables;
the movable ring has a periphery with a plurality of receiving grooves to pivotally receive the connecting members and to receive the support cables;
each of the connecting members has an end portion provided with an oblique retaining slot detachably mounted on a respective one of the support cables so that each of the connecting members is pivotally and detachably mounted on the respective support cable;
each of the spreaders and the ribs has an end portion provided with a positioning opening detachably positioned on a respective one of the support cables;
the positioning opening of each of the spreaders and the ribs aligns with the retaining slot of the respective connecting member.
2. (canceled)
3. The umbrella of claim 1, wherein
the receiving chamber of each of the connecting members extends through a whole thickness of each of the connecting members;
each of the spreaders and the ribs has a side provided with at least one locking hole;
each of the locking mechanisms includes:
at least one locking stub movably mounted in the receiving chamber of the respective connecting member and detachably locked in the locking hole of the respective spreader and the respective rib to detachably lock the respective spreader and the respective rib onto the respective connecting member;
at least one elastic member mounted in the receiving chamber of the respective connecting member and pressing the locking stub to push the locking stub outwardly from the locking hole of the respective spreader and the respective rib.
4. The umbrella of claim 3, wherein the locking stub of each of the locking mechanisms has a first end provided with an enlarged limit plate movably mounted in the receiving chamber of the respective connecting member and movable to abut an inner wall of the respective spreader and the respective rib to limit the locking stub of each of the locking mechanisms on the respective spreader and the respective rib.
5. The umbrella of claim 4, wherein the locking stub of each of the locking mechanisms has a second end provided with an arcuate guide portion to guide movement of the locking stub in the locking hole of the respective spreader and the respective rib.
6. The umbrella of claim 3, wherein each of the locking mechanisms further includes:
at least one housing secured in the receiving chamber of the respective connecting member to receive the locking stub and the elastic member;
a fixing plate secured in the housing and abutting the elastic member.
7. The umbrella of claim 6, wherein the elastic member of each of the locking mechanisms is biased between the fixing plate and the limit plate of the locking stub.
8-12. (canceled)
13. The umbrella of claim 3, wherein each of the spreaders and the ribs has an inner portion provided with a receiving hole connected to the locking hole and the positioning opening to fully receive the respective connecting member.
14. The umbrella of claim 1, wherein each of the ribs is attached to the fixed ring by the respective connecting member.
15. The umbrella of claim 1, wherein each of the ribs is pivotally connected with a respective one of the spreaders.
16. The umbrella of claim 1, wherein each of the spreaders is attached to the movable ring by the respective connecting member.
17. The umbrella of claim 3, wherein when the locking stub of each of the locking mechanisms is retractable into the locking hole of the respective spreader and the respective rib, the arcuate guide portion of the locking stub is movable to abut an inner wall of the respective spreader and the respective rib, so that the locking stub of each of the locking mechanisms is unlockable from the locking hole of the respective spreader and the respective rib, and each of the connecting members is unlockable from the respective spreader and the respective rib.
18. The umbrella of claim 17, wherein when each of the spreaders and the ribs is pulled outwardly relative to the respective connecting member, the locking stub of each of the locking mechanisms is detachable from the locking hole of the respective spreader and the respective rib by guidance of the arcuate guide portion of the locking stub and is retractable into and movable in the receiving hole of the respective spreader and the respective rib, so that each of the spreaders and the ribs is movable outwardly relative to the respective connecting member.
19. The umbrella of claim 1, wherein each of the connecting members is fully received and hidden in the respective rib and the respective spreader.
20. The umbrella of claim 1, wherein
the positioning opening of each of the spreaders and the ribs has an elongate shape;
the positioning opening of each of the spreaders and the ribs extends in a longitudinal direction of each of the spreaders and the ribs;
the positioning opening of each of the spreaders and the ribs is directed toward the respective support cable.

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 electric junction box comprising:
a box main body;
a tubular guide portion projecting from the box main body and guiding a harness out of the box main body,
said guide portion being divided to a pair of gutter-shaped portions, each gutter-shaped portion being composed of a bottom wall portion and a pair of flat vertical wall portions extended vertically from both sides of the bottom wall portion in a circumferential direction, and the respective flat vertical wall portions of the pair of gutter-shaped portions being overlapped with each other in a radial direction; and
an elastically deformable flexible portion provided between at least one of the pair of gutter-shaped portions and the box main body, the elastically deformable flexible portion allowing the one gutter-shaped portion to be moved away from or close to the other gutter-shaped portion,
wherein an inner diameter of the guide portion in a neutral state, in which the flexible portion is not elastically deformed, is fitted for a smallest outer diameter of the harness and when the outer diameter of the harness is increased, the flexible portion is bent so as to move the pair of gutter-shaped portions away from each other.
2. The electric junction box as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pair of gutter-shaped portions is so formed that the respective vertical wall portions of the pair of gutter-shaped portions are kept overlapped with each other from a position where the pair of gutter-shaped portions is moved closest to each other when the harness having the smallest outer diameter is passed through the guide portion to a position where the pair of gutter-shaped portions is moved farthest away from each other when the harness having the largest outer diameter is passed through the guide portion.
3. The electric junction box as claimed in claim 2, wherein a groove is provided on each vertical wall portion of the one gutter-shaped portion, and each vertical portion of the other gutter-shaped portion is inserted into the groove.
4. The electric junction box as claimed in claim 3, wherein the harness is passed through the guide portion while the flexible portion is bent from a neutral position of the flexible portion so as to position the pair of gutter-shaped portions away from each other.
5. The electric junction box as claimed in claim 3, wherein an inner diameter of the guide portion in the neutral state in which the flexible portion is not elastically deformed is fitted for the smallest outer diameter of the harness, and when the outer diameter of the harness is increased, the flexible portion is bent so as to move the pair of gutter-shaped portions away from each other.
6. The electric junction box as claimed in claim 2, wherein the harness is passed through the guide portion while the flexible portion is bent from a neutral position of the flexible portion so as to position the pair of gutter-shaped portions away from each other.
7. The electric junction box as claimed in claim 2, wherein an inner diameter of the guide portion in the neutral state in which the flexible portion is not elastically deformed is fitted for the smallest outer diameter of the harness, and when the outer diameter of the harness is increased, the flexible portion is bent so as to move the pair of gutter-shaped portions away from each other.
8. The electric junction box as claimed in claim 1, wherein a groove is provided on each vertical wall portion of the one gutter-shaped portion, and each vertical portion of the other gutter-shaped portion is inserted into the groove.
9. The electric junction box as claimed in claim 8, wherein the harness is passed through the guide portion while the flexible portion is bent from a neutral position of the flexible portion so as to position the pair of gutter-shaped portions away from each other.
10. The electric junction box as claimed in claim 8, wherein an inner diameter of the guide portion in the neutral state in which the flexible portion is not elastically deformed is fitted for the smallest outer diameter of the harness, and when the outer diameter of the harness is increased, the flexible portion is bent so as to move the pair of gutter-shaped portions away from each other.
11. The electric junction box as claimed in claim 1, wherein the harness is passed through the guide portion while the flexible portion is bent from a neutral position of the flexible portion so as to position the pair of gutter-shaped portions away from each other.
12. The electric junction box as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elastically deformable flexible portion is attached to the box main body.
13. The electric junction box as claimed in claim 12, wherein the tubular guide portion is attached to the box main body via the elastically deformable flexible portion.
14. The electric junction box as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tubular guide portion is attached to the box main body.
15. The electric junction box as claimed in claim 1, wherein the movement of the one gutter-shaped portion is caused by an outer peripheral wall of the harness abutting an interior of the one gutter-shaped portion.