Author: claimsbot

1. An alarm device configured to detect and deter an unauthorized opening of a lid of a product container, the alarm device comprising:
a circuit board portion and a sensing unit mounted under the lid of the product container, the lid having an open state and a closed state detectable by the sensing unit;
an audible alarm mounted on the circuit board portion;
the sensing unit comprising:
first and second cantilevers that extend generally parallel to each other and outward from a mounting base, the first and second cantilevers comprising first anchored ends extending generally out of the mounting base and second non-anchored ends, the second non-anchored ends crisscrossed, bowed outwardly in a relatively opposed direction and crisscrossed again to form an ovate-shaped opening therebetween before finally ending parallel to each other again, the first cantilever at the second non-anchored end having a first electrical terminal and having a nodule on a top side thereof that abuts an inner surface of the lid when the product container is in the closed state and acts to push the first cantilever towards the second cantilever at the non-anchored ends, and wherein the second cantilever at the second non-anchored end comprises a second electrical terminal facing said first electrical terminal biased by the cantilevers in an electrically non-contacted state maintained so long as the lid is in the open state;
wherein if the lid is in the closed state, the lid presses against the nodule that in turn presses on the first cantilever’s second non-anchored end such that the first and second facing electrical terminals are in an electrically-connected state;

a switching unit mounted on the circuit board portion and comprising a magnetically-operated pin capable of selectively extending into the ovate-shaped opening to lock the first and second electrical terminals of the first and second cantilevers into the electrically-connected state regardless of the openclosed state of the lid; and
wherein the audible alarm is activated upon opening of the lid if the switching unit does not have the magnetically-operated pin selectively extended into said ovate-shaped opening, and responsive to the first and second electrical terminals being in the electrically non-contacted state.
2. The alarm device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the circuit board portion comprises a 0.032\u2033 FR4 double sided printed circuit board.
3. The alarm device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the circuit board portion includes a microcontroller, wherein the microcontroller is in electrical communication with the first electrical terminal, the second electrical terminal, and the audible alarm.
4. The alarm device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the product container is a digital data storage case for housing a CD or DVD.
5. The alarm device in accordance with claim 4, wherein the circuit board portion fits snugly within a central indention of the digital data storage case.
6. The alarm device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the audible alarm means comprises an amplifying unit and a piezo buzzer.
7. The alarm device in accordance with claim 6, wherein the piezo buzzer emits a minimum 80 dB sound at 4 KHz when the audible alarm is activated.
8. The alarm device in accordance with claim 1, wherein a position of the magnetically-operated pin selectively changes from a retracted position to the extended position responsive to applying external electromagnetic force to the switching unit in a first direction, and wherein the position of the magnetically-operating pin selectively changes from the extended position to the retracted position responsive to applying external electromagnetic force to the switching unit in a second direction.
9. The alarm device in accordance with claim 8, wherein the first direction is different than the second direction.
10. The alarm device in accordance with claim 9, wherein the external electromagnetic force applied in the second direction originates from a de-magnetizing station at a retail checkout stand.
11. The alarm device in accordance with claim 1, wherein a position of the magnetically-operated pin with respect to the ovate-shaped opening corresponds to an arming state of the alarm device.
12. The alarm device in accordance with claim 11, wherein the arming state is one of armed or disarmed, and wherein the alarm device can be reused by way of a resetting of the arming state.
13. The alarm device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the mounting base is rectangular in shape and comprises a plastic exterior.
14. The alarm device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the alarm device is battery-powered.
15. A method of installing and implementing the alarm device in accordance with claim 1, the method comprising:
placing the alarm device in the product container;
inserting product contents into the product container;
closing the lid;
arming the alarm device at an arming station, said arming comprising selectively retracting the magnetically-operated pin from the ovate-shaped opening while the lid firmly engages the nodule and the product container is in the closed state; and
authorizing a user to open the product container by disarming the alarm device at a checkout stand, said disarming comprising extending the magnetically-operated pin into the ovate-shaped opening while the lid firmly engages the nodule and the product container is in the closed state.
16. The method in accordance with claim 15, further comprising sealing or shrink-wrapping the product container following closing the lid.
17. A method of detecting and deterring an unauthorized opening of a lid of a product container, the method comprising:
monitoring an open state and a closed state of the lid by way of an alarm device, the alarm device comprising:
a circuit board portion and a sensing unit mounted under the lid of the product container, the lid having an open state and a closed state detectable by the sensing unit;
an audible alarm mounted on the circuit board portion;
the sensing unit comprising:
first and second cantilevers that extend generally parallel to each other and outward from a mounting base, the first and second cantilevers comprising first anchored ends extending generally out of the mounting base and second non-anchored ends, the second non-anchored ends crisscrossed, bowed outwardly in a relatively opposed direction and crisscrossed again to form an ovate-shaped opening therebetween before finally ending parallel to each other again, the first cantilever at the second non-anchored end having a first electrical terminal and having a nodule on a top side thereof that abuts an inner surface of the lid when the product container is in the closed state and acts to push the first cantilever towards the second cantilever at the non-anchored ends, and wherein the second cantilever at the second non-anchored end comprises a second electrical terminal facing said first electrical terminal biased by the cantilevers in an electrically non-contacted state maintained so long as the lid is in the open state;
wherein if the lid is in the closed state, the lid presses against the nodule that in turn presses on the first cantilever’s second non-anchored end such that the first and second facing electrical terminals are in an electrically-connected state;

a switching unit mounted on the circuit board portion and comprising a magnetically-operated pin capable of selectively extending into the ovate-shaped opening to lock the first and second electrical terminals of the first and second cantilevers into the electrically-connected state regardless of the openclosed state of the lid; and
wherein if the switching unit does not have the magnetically-operated pin selectively extended into said ovate-shaped opening and the lid is opened, the first and second electrical terminals are in the electrically non-contacted state;

determining, by the alarm device, if the lid is in the unauthorized open state by determining if the first and second electrical terminals are in the electrically non-contacted state; and
activating the audible alarm responsive to determining that the first and second electrical terminals are in the electrically non-contacted state.
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 apparatus for modeling a skeletal structure before and after a surgical procedure is performed on the structure, the apparatus comprising:
a base, the base including a generally planar surface;
a first bone member coupled to the base, the first bone member representing a bone involved in the surgical procedure, and the first bone member being coupled to the base generally parallel to the surface of the base;
a second bone member coupled to the first bone member to simulate a skeletal joint, the second bone member being movably coupled to the first bone member so that the second bone member may be moved between an extended position and a flexed position relative to the first bone member, and the second bone member being movably coupled to the base and adapted to move generally parallel to the surface of the base;
at least one bone portion movably coupled to the bone member, the bone portion representing a part of the bone involved in the surgical procedure that is repositioned in the surgical procedure from a preoperative position to a postoperative position;
wherein the bone portion may be selectively moved between a preoperative position, representing the position of the part of the bone before the surgical procedure is performed, and a postoperative position representing the position of the part of the bone after the surgical procedure is performed; and
at least one stopping member coupled to the base, wherein the stopping member is adapted to stop the second bone member from being moved past a predetermined location on the base.

1. A stall protection circuit for use with a motor comprising:
a switch for controlling powering of the motor, the switch being operable to first, second, and third states, the first state powering the motor with current flowing in a forward direction, the second state powering the motor with current flowing in a reverse direction, and the third state preventing powering of the motor;
a single current sensor configured to sense current flowing in both of the forward and reverse directions;
a stall detection circuit configured to compare current sensed by the single current sensor to a current threshold and to output a first signal if the current is less than the threshold and to output a second signal if the current is greater than the threshold;
a first switch connected on one side of the motor and a second switch connected to an other side of the motor, each switch being controllable to an open or closed position; and
a latching circuit configured to receive the first and second signals and for connecting or disconnecting the motor from the powering associated with the first or second state depending on whether the first or second signal is received, the latching circuit connecting the motor by closing both switches when the first signal is received and disconnecting the motor by opening at least one of the switches when the second signal is received.
2. The circuit of claim 1 further comprising a first diode connected across the first switch and a second diode connected across the second switch, the first diode preventing current flow in the forward direction and the second diode preventing current flow in the reverse direction.
3. The circuit of claim 2 wherein the latch circuit opens both of the switches if the second signal is received.
4. The circuit of claim 2 farther comprising two diodes connected in series across the motor and between both of the switches and diodes.
5. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the stall detection circuit includes a first comparator for comparing current flowing in the forward direction to the current threshold and a second comparator for comparing the current flowing in the reverse direction to the current threshold.
6. The circuit of claim 5 wherein the first comparator outputs a first value if the current in the forward direction is less than the current threshold or the current is in the reverse direction and a second value if the current in the forward direction is greater than the current threshold.
7. The circuit of claim 6 wherein the second comparator outputs the first value if the current in the reverse direction is less than the current threshold or the current is in the forward direction and the second value if the current in the reverse direction is greater than the current threshold.
8. The circuit of claim 7 wherein the stall detection circuit includes a comparator for comparing the first value to the second value, the comparator issuing the first signal if both of the comparators output the first value and the second signal if either one of the comparators outputs the second value.
9. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the stall detection circuit determines a stall condition if the current is greater than the threshold and without sensing a speed of the motor.
10. The circuit of claim 1 wherein stall detection circuit is unable to output the second signal unless the switch is held in the first or second states.
11. A stall protection circuit for use with a motor comprising:
a switch for controlling powering of the motor, the switch being operable to first, second, and third states, the first state powering the motor with current flowing in a forward direction, the second state powering the motor with current flowing in a reverse direction, and the third state preventing powering of the motor;
a first switch connected on one side of the motor and a second switch connected to an other side of the motor, each switch being controllable to an open or closed position;
a stall detection circuit configured to simultaneously compare a voltage drop across each of the switches to a threshold and to output a first signal if the voltage drop is less than the threshold and to output a second signal if the voltage drop is greater than the threshold; and
a latching circuit configured to receive the first and second signals and for connecting or disconnecting the motor from the powering associated with the first or second state depending on whether the first or second signal is received, the latching circuit connecting the motor by closing both switches when the first signal is received and disconnecting the motor by opening at least one of the switches when the second signal is received.
12. The circuit of claim 11 further comprising a first diode connected across the first switch and a second diode connected across the second switch, the first diode preventing current flow in the forward direction and the second diode preventing current flow in the reverse direction.
13. The circuit of claim 12 wherein the latch circuit opens both of the switches if the second signal is received.
14. The circuit of claim 12 further comprising two diodes connected in series across the motor and between both of the switches and the diodes.
15. The circuit of claim 11 further comprising:
the stall detection circuit including a first pair of amplifiers for amplifying a first sensed voltage and a second sensed voltage and a second pair of amplifiers for amplifying a third sensed voltage and a fourth sensed voltage;
wherein the first and second sensed voltages respectively correspond with sensed voltage on first and second sides of the first switch;
wherein the third and fourth sensed voltages respectively correspond with sensed voltage first and second sides of the second switch; and
wherein the stall detection circuit relies on the amplified sensed voltages in determining the first and second signals.
16. The circuit of claim 15 wherein the stall detection circuit further includes operational amplifiers connected to outputs of the first and second pairs of amplifiers, the operational amplifiers configured to calculate the voltage drop across the switches based on the amplified sensed voltages.
17. The circuit of claim 16 wherein the stall detection circuit includes a first comparator for comparing the voltage drop across the first switch to the threshold and a second comparator for comparing the voltage drop across the second switch to the threshold, the first and second signals being determined from the outputs of the first and second comparators.
18. A seating system comprising:
a switch for controlling movement of a motor used to position the seat between stops included on opposite ends of a seat rail, the switch being operable to first, second, and third states, the first state moving the seat forwardly with current flowing through the motor in a forward direction, the second state moving the seat rearwardly with current flowing through the motor in a reverse direction, and the third state preventing movement of the seat by preventing current flow through the motor, wherein the current flowing in the forward directions has a forward polarity opposite to a reverse polarity of the current flowing in the reverse direction;
a stall detection circuit configured to disconnect power to the motor when the seat abuts one of the stops, the stall detection circuit has a first comparator configured to compare current flowing with the forward polarity to a current threshold and a second comparator configured to compare current flowing with the reverse polarity to the current threshold and to output a signal if the current associated with either one of the forward and reverse polarities is greater than the threshold; and
a latching circuit configured to disconnect power to the motor upon receipt of the signal.
19. The system of claim 18 further comprising;
a first switch connected on one side of the motor and a second switch connected to an other side of the motor;
a first diode connected across the first switch and a second diode connected across the second switch, the first diode preventing current flow in the forward direction and the second diode preventing current flow in the reverse direction
wherein the stall detection circuit opens both of the switch to disconnect power to the motor; and
wherein both of the switches must be closed to allow current to flow through the motor.
20. The system of claim 19 wherein stall detection circuit is unable to output the second signal unless the seat abuts one of the stops and the switch is held in one of the first or second states.

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 fluid purification device comprising:
a device main body including:
an inner tube composed of a non-conductive material;
an outer tube composed of a non-conductive material, said outer tube being spaced apart from said inner tube by a predetermined distance and being arranged concentrically with respect to said inner tube, each of said inner tube and said outer tube being transparent or semi-transparent to ultraviolet light; and
a conductive member attached to a part of an inner surface of said outer tube to form an electrode;

a photocatalyst material of titanium or titanium alloy located within said inner tube; and
an ultraviolet light source arranged to irradiate an outer peripheral surface of said outer tube with ultraviolet light;
wherein said device main body is configured so that, when a voltage is applied to said electrode, a discharge in a space between said inner tube and said outer tube is created using a liquid flowing within said inner tube as an earth electrode so as to cause a gas flowing through said space to react to generate ozone;
wherein said device main body is configured to allow the ozone to mix with the liquid so as to purify the fluid; and
wherein said photocatalyst material is activated by the ultraviolet light received from the discharge in said space and from said ultraviolet light source.
2. The fluid purification device according to claim 1, wherein said ultraviolet light source is an electrodeless discharge tube.
3. The fluid purification device according to claim 2, further comprising a compression device for compressing the gas flowing in said space between said outer tube and said inner tube to a pressure in a range of 0.2 MPa to 1 MPa, and a fluid controller for adjusting a flow of the gas flowing in said space to a flow in a range of 1 Lmin to 20 Lmin.
4. The fluid purification device according to claim 2, further comprising a compression device for compressing the gas flowing in said space between said outer tube and said inner tube to a pressure in a range of 0.2 MPa to 1 MPa, an air dryer for drying the compressed gas from said compression device, and a fluid controller for adjusting a flow of the gas flowing in said space to a flow in a range of 1 Lmin to 20 Lmin.
5. The fluid purification device according to claim 2, further comprising a tubular body attached to an upstream side of said device main body, and a hair catcher detachably incorporated into said tubular body.
6. The fluid purification device according to claim 1, further comprising a compression device for compressing the gas flowing in said space between said outer tube and said inner tube to a pressure in a range of 0.2 MPa to 1 MPa, and a fluid controller for adjusting a flow of the gas flowing in said space to a flow in a range of 1 Lmin to 20 Lmin.
7. The fluid purification device according to claim 1, further comprising a compression device for compressing the gas flowing in said space between said outer tube and said inner tube to a pressure in a range of 0.2 MPa to 1 MPa, an air dryer for drying the compressed gas from said compression device, and a fluid controller for adjusting a flow of the gas flowing in said space to a flow in a range of 1 Lmin to 20 Lmin.
8. The fluid purification device according to claim 1, further comprising a tubular body attached to an upstream side of said device main body, and a hair catcher detachably incorporated into said tubular body.
9. The fluid purification device according to claim 1, wherein said conductive member is belt-shaped with an approximately C-shaped cross section and a width in a range of 10 mm to 50 mm.
10. A fluid purification device comprising:
a device main body including:
an inner tube composed of a non-conductive material;
an outer tube composed of a non-conductive material, said outer tube being spaced apart from said inner tube by a predetermined distance and being arranged concentrically with respect to said inner tube, each of said inner tube and said outer tube being transparent or semi-transparent to ultraviolet light;
a first conductive member attached to a part of an inner surface of said outer tube to form a first electrode; and
a second conductive member attached to a part of an inner surface of said inner tube to form a second electrode, said second conductive member having a width equal to or larger than a width of said first conductive member;

a photocatalyst material of titanium or titanium alloy located within said inner tube; and
an ultraviolet light source arranged to irradiate an outer peripheral surface of said outer tube with ultraviolet light;
wherein said device main body is configured so that, when a voltage is applied between said first electrode and said second electrode, a discharge in a space between said inner tube and said outer tube is created so as to cause a gas flowing through said space to react to generate ozone;
wherein said device main body is configured to allow the ozone to mix with a gas flowing within said inner tube so as to purify the gas; and
wherein said photocatalyst material is activated by the ultraviolet light received from the discharge in said space and from said ultraviolet light source.
11. The fluid purification device according to claim 10, wherein said ultraviolet light source is an electrodeless discharge tube.
12. The fluid purification device according to claim 11, further comprising a compression device for compressing the gas flowing in said space between said outer tube and said inner tube to a pressure in a range of 0.2 MPa to 1 MPa, and a fluid controller for adjusting a flow of the gas flowing in said space to a flow in a range of 1 Lmin to 20 Lmin.
13. The fluid purification device according to claim 11, further comprising a compression device for compressing the gas flowing in said space between said outer tube and said inner tube to a pressure in a range of 0.2 MPa to 1 MPa, an air dryer for drying the compressed gas from said compression device, and a fluid controller for adjusting a flow of the gas flowing in said space to a flow in a range of 1 Lmin to 20 Lmin.
14. The fluid purification device according to claim 11, further comprising a tubular body attached to an upstream side of said device main body, and a hair catcher detachably incorporated into said tubular body.
15. The fluid purification device according to claim 10, further comprising a compression device for compressing the gas flowing in said space between said outer tube and said inner tube to a pressure in a range of 0.2 MPa to 1 MPa, and a fluid controller for adjusting a flow of the gas flowing in said space to a flow in a range of 1 Lmin to 20 Lmin.
16. The fluid purification device according to claim 10, further comprising a compression device for compressing the gas flowing in said space between said outer tube and said inner tube to a pressure in a range of 0.2 MPa to 1 MPa, an air dryer for drying the compressed gas from said compression device, and a fluid controller for adjusting a flow of the gas flowing in said space to a flow in a range of 1 Lmin to 20 Lmin.
17. The fluid purification device according to claim 10, further comprising a tubular body attached to an upstream side of said device main body, and a hair catcher detachably incorporated into said tubular body.
18. The fluid purification device according to claim 10, wherein said first conductive member is belt-shaped with an approximately C-shaped cross section and a width in a range of 10 mm to 50 mm.
19. A fluid purification method comprising:
providing an inner tube composed of a non-conductive material, and an outer tube composed of a non-conductive material, and spacing the outer tube apart from the inner tube by a predetermined distance so that the outer tube is arranged concentrically with respect to the inner tube, each of the inner tube and the outer tube being transparent or semi-transparent to ultraviolet light;
attaching a conductive member to a part of an inner surface of the outer tube to form an electrode;
arranging a photocatalyst material of titanium or titanium alloy within the inner tube;
irradiating an outer peripheral surface of said outer tube with ultraviolet light using an ultraviolet light source;
applying a voltage to the electrode to create a discharge in a space between the inner tube and the outer tube using a liquid flowing within the inner tube as an earth electrode so as to cause a gas flowing through the space to react to generate ozone;
mixing the ozone with the liquid flowing within the inner tube; and
activating the photocatalyst material using the ultraviolet light received from the discharge in the space and from the ultraviolet light source so as to purify the liquid.
20. A fluid purification method comprising:
providing an inner tube composed of a non-conductive material, and an outer tube composed of a non-conductive material, and spacing the outer tube apart from the inner tube by a predetermined distance so that the outer tube is arranged concentrically with respect to the inner tube, each of the inner tube and the outer tube being transparent or semi-transparent to ultraviolet light;
attaching a first conductive member to a part of an inner surface of the outer tube to form a first electrode;
attaching a second conductive member to a part of an inner surface of the inner tube to form a second electrode, the second conductive member having a width equal to or larger than a width of the first conductive member;
arranging a photocatalyst material of titanium or titanium alloy within the inner tube;
irradiating an outer peripheral surface of the outer tube with ultraviolet light using an ultraviolet light source;
applying a voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode to create a discharge in a space between the inner tube and the outer tube so as to cause a gas flowing through the space to react to generate ozone;
mixing the ozone with the gas flowing within the inner tube; and
activating the photocatalyst material using the ultraviolet light received from the discharge in the space and from the ultraviolet light source so as to purify the gas.