Author: claimsbot

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic dart comprising:
a ring-shaped frame including an inner flange, a score ring disposed on the inner flange, and a circuit board disposed on the inner flange, the circuit board having a signal transmission assembly having a plurality of switches;
a round target grille confined by the frame, the target grille including a central rotary shaft so as to be rotatable with respect to the inner flange, a peripheral flange, a plurality of sector-shaped spaces, and a plurality of holes each at an intersection of a circumferential bar and a radial rib of the target grille;
a plurality of protective frames including a plurality of staged inner positioning protrusions secured in the holes;
a plurality of target blocks disposed on the sector-shaped spaces;
a plurality of containers for receiving the target blocks, each container including a plurality of pegs on the bottom;
a sensor assembly including a plurality of thin boards and a circuit board, the sensor assembly being releasably secured to the target grille and being electrically connected to the circuit board;
a rear board releasably secured to both the target grille and the frame; and
a score display board on the bottom, the score display board including a signal receiving assembly,
wherein when a thrown dart hits one of the target blocks, the hit target block is pressed to displace inward to cause the pegs to contact the sensor assembly and enable one of the switches for running one of a plurality of score calculation programs, in response a score signal is generated by the sensor assembly, the score signal is sent to the signal transmission assembly for enabling it to detect, determine, and encode the signal and wirelessly transmit the encoded signal to the score display, and the signal receiving assembly receives the encoded signal for decoding, analyzing, and showing a score calculated by the score calculation program on the score display board.
2. The electronic dart of claim 1, wherein each protective frame comprises a first end slope at its longer section, a projection extended from the end slope, a second end slopes at its shorter section being matingly engaged with the first end slope, and a recess in the second end slope for receiving the projection.
3. The electronic dart of claim 1, wherein the frame further comprises a plurality of projecting sliding blocks on the bottom and the score display board further comprises a concave engagement portion on the top being matingly engaged with the peripheral arc of the frame, and a plurality of grooves disposed on the engagement portion for releasably receiving the sliding blocks.
4. The electronic dart of claim 1, wherein the signal transmission assembly further comprises a signal transmission module and an encoding microprocessor, and the signal receiving assembly comprises a receiving module, a decoding microprocessor, a game microprocessor, and a display microprocessor whereby in response to a signal receiving at the receiving module the decoding microprocessor decodes the received signal, the game microprocessor determines which score calculation program is performed, and the display microprocessor shows the score.
5. The electronic dart of claim 1, wherein the score is added to a password and a dart code of the hit target block to obtain a check sum.
6. The electronic dart of claim 1, wherein each target block comprises a target block body and a target block frame having an upper opening for receiving the target block body.
7. The electronic dart of claim 1, wherein each target block comprises a target block body and a hollow target block frame for receiving the target block body.
8. The electronic dart of claim 1, wherein the frame further comprises a plurality of rear studs equally spaced apart around the inner flange, the target grille further comprises a plurality of hole-shaped tabs equally spaced apart around the peripheral flange, and the rear board comprises a plurality of first and second apertures so that the rear board and the target grille are able to be secured together by driving a plurality of first fasteners through the first apertures and the tabs, and the rear board and the frame are able to be secured together by driving a plurality of second fasteners through the second apertures and the studs.

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 battery comprising an anode and a cathode, wherein said cathode comprises:
a) a gas diffusion layer;
b) a current collector disposed on said gas diffusion layer;
c) a carbon conductor layer disposed on said current collector wherein said carbon conductor layer comprises carbon particles dispersed in hydrophobic matrix; and
d) an electrocatalyst layer comprising electrocatalyst particles dispersed throughout a matrix having a lower hydrophobicity than said hydrophobic matrix.
2. A battery as recited in claim 1, wherein said battery is a metal-air battery.
3. A battery as recited in claim 1, wherein said battery is a zinc-air battery.
4. A battery as recited in claim 1, wherein said gas diffusion layer comprises a porous tetrafluoroethylene fluorocarbon polymer.
5. A battery as recited in claim 1, wherein said current collector comprises elongated strips of a metal.
6. A battery as recited in claim 1, wherein said current collector comprises elongated strips of a metal having an average width of not greater than about 100 m.
7. A battery as recited in claim 1, wherein said carbon particles have an average size of not greater than about 10 m and a substantially spherical morphology.
8. A battery as recited in claim 1, wherein said hydrophobic matrix comprises a tetrafluoroethylene fluorocarbon polymer.
9. A battery as recited in claim 1, wherein said electrocatalyst particles comprise NiCoO particles.
10. A battery as recited in claim 1, wherein said electrocatalyst particles comprise carbon composite particles.
11. A battery as recited in claim 1, wherein said electrocatalyst particles have an average particle size of not greater than about 10 m and a substantially spherical morphology.
12. A battery as recited in claim 1, wherein said electrocatalyst particles have an average size of not greater than about 5 m.
13. A battery as recited in claim 1, wherein said current collector, said carbon conductor layer and said electrocatalyst layer have a total average thickness of not greater than about 100 m.
14. A battery comprising an anode and a cathode, wherein said cathode comprises:
a) a gas diffusion layer;
b) a current collector disposed on said gas diffusion layer;
c) a gradient functional layer disposed over said current collector; and
d) a separator;
wherein said gradient functional layer comprises carbon particles and electrocatalyst particles, wherein the concentration of carbon particles relative to electrocatalyst particles decreases from said current collector to said separator.
15. A battery as recited in claim 14, wherein said battery is a metal-air battery.
16. A battery as recited in claim 14, wherein said battery is a zinc-air battery.
17. A battery as recited in claim 14, wherein said gas diffusion layer comprises a porous tetrafluoroethylene fluorocarbon polymer.
18. A battery as recited in claim 14, wherein said current collector comprises elongated strips of a metal.
19. A battery as recited in claim 14, wherein said current collector comprises elongated strips of a metal having an average width of not greater than about 100 m.
20. A battery as recited in claim 14, wherein said carbon particles have an average size of not greater than about 10 m and a substantially spherical morphology.
21. A battery as recited in claim 14, wherein said gradient layer comprises a tetrafluoroethylene fluorocarbon polymer.
22. A battery as recited in claim 14, wherein said electrocatalyst particles comprise NiCoO particles.
23. A battery as recited in claim 14, wherein said electrocatalyst particles comprise carbon composite particles.
24. A battery as recited in claim 14, wherein said electrocatalyst particles have an average particle size of not greater than about 10 m and a substantially spherical morphology.
25. A battery as recited in claim 14, wherein said current collector and said gradient layer have a total average thickness of not greater than about 50 m.
26. A battery comprising an anode and a cathode, wherein said cathode comprises:
a) a gas diffusion layer;
b) a current collector disposed on said gas diffusion layer;
c) an electrocatalyst layer disposed over said current collector; and
d) a separator;
wherein said electrocatalyst layer comprises electrocatalyst particles in intimate electrical contact with said current collector.
27. A battery as recited in claim 26, wherein said battery is a metal-air battery.
28. A battery as recited in claim 26, wherein said battery is a zinc-air battery.
29. A battery as recited in claim 26, wherein said gas diffusion layer comprises a porous tetrafluoroethylene fluorocarbon polymer.
30. A battery as recited in claim 26, wherein said current collector comprises elongated strips of a metal.
31. A battery as recited in claim 26, wherein said current collector comprises elongated strips of a metal wherein said elongated strips have an average width of not greater than about 100 m.
32. A battery as recited in claim 26, wherein said electrocatalyst layer comprises a tetrafluoroethylene fluorocarbon polymer matrix.
33. A battery as recited in claim 26, wherein said electrocatalyst particles comprise NiCoO particles.
34. A battery as recited in claim 26, wherein said electrocatalyst particles have an average particle size of not greater than about 10 m and a substantially spherical morphology.
35. A battery as recited in claim 26, wherein said current collector and said electrocatalyst layer have a total average thickness of not greater than about 30 m.
36. A method for making a cathode for a battery, comprising the steps of:
a) providing a gas diffusion layer;
b) depositing a current collector on said gas diffusion layer;
c) depositing a carbon conductor layer comprising carbon particles on said current collector using direct-write deposition; and
d) depositing an electrocatalytic layer on said carbon conductor layer using direct-write deposition.
37. A method as recited In claim 36, wherein said current collector is deposited using direct-write deposition.
38. A method as recited in claim 36, wherein said current collector comprises a plurality of elongated strips having an average width of not greater than about 100 m.
39. A method as recited in claim 36, wherein said gas diffusion layer comprises a fluorocarbon polymer and wherein said gas diffusion layer is treated to promote adhesion of said current collector.
40. A method as recited in claim 39, wherein said treatment step comprises etching said fluorocarbon polymer.
41. A method as recited in claim 36, wherein said step of depositing a current collector comprises direct-write deposition of a soluble metal precursor and a particulate metal precursor.
42. A method as recited in claim 36, wherein said step of depositing said carbon conductor layer comprises depositing carbon particles coated with a fluorocarbon polymer.
43. A method for the fabrication of a gradient layer in an energy device, comprising the steps of:
a) depositing a current collector on a diffusion membrane; and
b) depositing a gradient layer on said current collector wherein said gradient layer comprises carbon particles and electrocatalyst particles dispersed throughout a matrix and wherein the ratio of carbon particles to electrocatalyst particles varies through said gradient layer in a controlled manner.
44. A method as recited in claim 43, wherein said current collector and said gradient layer have a total average thickness of not greater than about 30 m.
45. A method as recited in claim 43, wherein at least one of said carbon particles and said electrocatalyst particles are coated with a fluorocarbon polymer.
46. A method as recited in claim 43, wherein said gradient layer is deposited using a direct-write tool.

What is claimed is:

1. A hollow fiber membrane made of an ethylene-vinyl alcohol polymer, comprising a dense layer existing in the inner surface and a porous layer existing in the layer other than the dense layer, wherein said hollow fiber membrane has a porosity of 60 to 90%, an overall mass transfer coefficient for myoglobin in a water-based system of not less than 0.003 cmmin., and a rejection rate for albumin in a bovine blood system of not less than 97%.
2. The hollow fiber membrane according to claim 1, wherein the clearance for urea in a bovine blood system is not less than 175 mLmin and the clearance for 2-microglobulin is not less than 35 mLmin per membrane area of 1.6 m2 at a blood flow rate of 200 mLmin and a dialysate flow rate of 500 mLmin.
3. The hollow fiber membrane according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said hollow fiber membrane has a rate of pore area of not less than 30% at the depth of 1 m from the inner surface, and a diameter of a nodule forming the dense layer of 5 to 50 nm.
4. A process for producing a hollow fiber membrane made of an ethylene-vinyl alcohol polymer, comprising the steps of extruding a dope for forming a membrane comprising an ethylene-vinyl alcohol polymer and a solvent from a double annular nozzle, with pouring a hollow forming agent in the internal side of the double annular nozzle, the dope being transparent and homogeneous at a high temperature but inducing phase separation when its temperature is lowered, passing the hollow fiber membrane extruded from the double annular nozzle through the air, and thereafter introducing the hollow fiber membrane into a water bath, wherein a temperature ( C.) of the dope for forming a membrane (TD), a temperature ( C.) for phase separation (LST) and a temperature ( C.) of the air through which the hollow fiber membrane extruded from the double annular nozzle is passed (TA) satisfy the following relationships:
5LST40,
TDLST20, and
TALST.

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 bedding skirt configured to be rapidly inserted upon a ferrous material mattress frame, the bedding skirt comprising:
a front panel sufficiently long to hang from the ferrous material mattress frame to ground;
a back panel mechanically coupled to the front panel and sufficiently long to hang from the ferrous material mattress frame to the ground;
a plurality of magnets sewn between the front panel and the back panel such that the front panel and the back panel entirely surround each magnet and the plurality of magnets operate to adhere the bedding skirt to the ferrous material mattress frame;
wherein the bedding skirt is configured to be rapidly connected to the ferrous material mattress frame for use and rapidly removed from the ferrous material mattress frame for cleaning; wherein an upper portion of the front panel is mechanically coupled to a stretch fabric which further holds the bedding skirt to the mattress frame.
2. The bedding skirt of claim 1, wherein the stretch fabric is a two-way stretch fabric that stretches in one direction from selvedge to selvedge.
3. The bedding skirt of claim 1, wherein the front panel is mechanically coupled to the plurality of magnets.
4. The bedding skirt of claim 1, wherein the plurality of magnets are spaced at a twelve inch interval.
5. The bedding skirt of claim 1, wherein the plurality of magnets are neodymium magnets.