Author: claimsbot

1. A self-tensioning handle for an endoscopic device, the handle comprising:
an upper portion;
an intermediate portion mounted to the upper portion; and
an actuating portion operably connected to the adjustable portion for operating the endoscopic device, wherein the handle is configured to fit in a palm of a user’s hand and the upper, intermediate, and actuating portions are molded together.
2. A handle according to claim 1, further comprising a sliding portion attached to the intermediate portion.
3. A handle according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate portion further comprises a slot, and further comprising a sliding portion with a retainer sliding in the slot, wherein the sliding portion controls a throw of the handle.
4. A handle according to claim 1, further comprising a sliding portion attached to the intermediate portion, the sliding portion configured for attachment of a control rod for the endoscopic device.
5. A handle according to claim 1, further comprising a sliding portion and a pin in an aperture of the sliding portion, and a cam, the sliding portion riding in the intermediate portion, the pin moving up and down in response to the cam for gripping and releasing a control rod.
6. A handle according to claim 1, further comprising a sliding portion attached to the intermediate portion, the sliding portion comprising a divided rear portion.
7. An endoscopic device with a handle according to claim 1, further comprising an end-effector mounted to the handle.
8. A self-tensioning handle for an endoscopic device, the handle comprising:
an upper portion;
an intermediate portion mounted to the upper portion;
an adjustable portion mounted to the intermediate portion; and
an actuating portion operably connected to the adjustable portion for operating the endoscopic device, wherein the handle is configured to fit in a palm of a user’s hand.
9. A handle according to claim 8, wherein the upper portion, intermediate portion, and actuating portion are molded from a plastic material as a unit.
10. A handle according to claim 8, wherein the intermediate portion further comprises a device for fixedly mounting a first portion of the endoscopic device and the adjustable portion comprises a device for mounting a second portion of the endoscopic device.
11. A handle according to claim 8, wherein the device for fixedly mounting the first portion is a button screw and the device for fixedly mounting the second portion is a pin vise.
12. A self-tensioning handle for controlling an endoscopic device, the handle comprising:
a proximal portion for mounting a first portion of the endoscopic device;
a distal portion for mounting a second portion of the endoscopic device; and
a squeezable actuation portion comprising at least two webs attached to the proximal and distal portions.
13. A handle according to claim 12, wherein the squeezable actuation portion comprises at least one of a distal and a proximal portion.
14. A handle according to claim 12, wherein at least one of the first and second portions are attached to the handle with an adhesive.
15. A handle according to claim 12, wherein at least one of the first and second portions are attached to the handle with a fastener.
16. A handle according to claim 12, further comprising an end-effector for mounting to the proximal and distal portions.
17. An endoscopic device comprising a handle according to claim 12, and further comprising an end effector attached to the distal and proximal portions.
18. A self-tensioning handle for an endoscopic device, the handle comprising:
a proximal portion for mounting a first portion of the endoscopic device;
a distal portion for mounting a second portion of the endoscopic device;
a bendable portion connecting the proximal and distal portions; and
at least one control device for controlling movement of the endoscopic device, wherein the proximal, flexible and distal portions are molded together.
19. A handle according to claim 18, wherein the proximal portion of the handle comprises a hand-grip with indentations for fingers of a user.
20. A handle according to claim 18, wherein the at least one control device is selected from the group consisting of a rotatable control portion, an adjustable control portion, and a locking portion.
21. A handle according to claim 18, wherein the proximal and distal portions each comprise a web and further comprising a fastener for fixing a position of one of the proximal and distal portions with respect to the other of the proximal and distal portions for controlling the endoscopic device.
22. A handle according to claim 18, wherein at least one of the proximal and distal portions comprises a control portion for adjustably mounting a portion of the endoscopic device.
23. An endoscopic device with a handle according to claim 18, further comprising an end effector for mounting to the proximal and distal portions.

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 doctor blade holder comprising:
upper and lower mutually spaced jaw components defining a slot therebetween;
doctor blade removably retained in said slot; and
nozzle means in one of said jaw components for directing fluid under pressure into said slot for application to said doctor blade.
2. The doctor blade holder of claim 1 further comprising means associated with said upper jaw component for exerting a force urging a working edge of said doctor blade against a surface to be doctored.
3. The doctor blade holder of claim 2 wherein said force is opposed by a first reactionary force exerted on a working edge of said blade by the surface being doctored and by a second reactionary force exerted by said lower jaw component.
4. The doctor blade holder of claim 3 wherein said nozzle means is arranged in said lower jaw component.
5. The doctor blade holder of claim 4 wherein said upper jaw component extends continuously across the surface to be doctored, and wherein said lower jaw component is divided into sections spaced one from the other across said surface.
6. The doctor blade holder of claim 3 wherein said doctor blade is carried in a blade support cartridge, and wherein said nozzle means serves to direct fluid under pressure into said slot for application to both said doctor blade and said blade support cartridge.
7. The doctor blade holder of claim 6 wherein said second reactionary force is exerted by only a portion of said lowerjaw component, with the remainder of said lower jaw component being separated from said blade support cartridge by a space, and wherein said nozzle means is in communication with said space.

1. A power cord protecting fitting applied to a power cord that has a connecting member connected to an electrical appliance at one end thereof, and an insertion plug to be plugged in a wall outlet at another end thereof,
the power cord protecting fitting, while being fixed to the electrical appliance and disposed between the connecting member and the insertion plug of the power cord, comprising a force lightening unit that lightens a force transferred to the connecting member when a force is applied to the power cord between a position where the power cord protecting fitting is disposed and the insertion plug in a direction that moves away from the connecting member.
2. The power cord protecting fitting according to claim 1, wherein the force lightening unit comprises a sandwiching member that can sandwich the power cord.
3. The power cord protecting fitting according to claim 2, further comprising a sandwiching-off preventing member that prevents the power cord sandwiched by the sandwiching member from being freed from being sandwiched.
4. The power cord protecting fitting according to claim 1, wherein the force lightening unit comprises a cord winding member that can wind the power cord.
5. The power cord protecting fitting according to claim 4, further comprising a disengagement preventing member that prevents the power cord wound around the cord winding member from being disengaged from the cord winding member.
6. The power cord protecting fitting according to claim 1, wherein the power cord protecting fitting is integrated with a housing of the electrical appliance.
7. A power cord protecting fitting applied to a power cord that has a connecting member connected to an electrical appliance at one end thereof, and an insertion plug plugged in a wall outlet at another end thereof, the power cord protecting fitting comprising:
a fixing part fixed to the electrical appliance; and
a projection part projected beyond the connecting member connected to the electrical appliance in a direction opposite to the connecting direction of the connecting member.
8. The power cord protecting fitting according to claim 7,
wherein the electrical appliance has a caster and is movable.
9. The power cord protecting fitting according to claim 7,
wherein the power cord protecting fitting is disposed between the connecting member and the insertion plug of the power cord, and comprises a force lightening unit that lightens a force transferred to the connecting member when a force is applied to the power cord between a position where the power cord protecting fitting is disposed and the insertion plug in a direction that moves away from the connecting member.
10. The power cord protecting fitting according to claim 9, wherein the force lightening unit comprises a sandwiching member that can sandwich the power cord.
11. The power cord protecting fitting according to claim 10, further comprising a sandwiching-off preventing member that prevents the power cord sandwiched by the sandwiching member from being freed from being sandwiched.
12. The power cord protecting fitting according to claim 9, wherein the force lightening unit comprises a cord winding member that can wind the power cord.
13. The power cord protecting fitting according to claim 12, further comprising a disengagement preventing member that prevents the power cord wound around the cord winding member from being disengaged from the cord winding member.
14. The power cord protecting fitting according to claim 7, wherein the power cord protecting fitting is integrated with a housing of the electrical appliance.
15. An electrical appliance comprising:
a power cord protecting fitting applied to a power cord that has a connecting member connected to the electrical appliance at one end thereof, and an insertion plug to be plugged in a wall outlet at another end thereof,
wherein the power cord protecting fitting, while being fixed to the electrical appliance and disposed between the connecting member and the insertion plug of the power cord, comprises a force lightening unit that lightens a force transferred to the connecting member when a force is applied to the power cord between a position where the power cord protecting fitting is disposed and the insertion plug in a direction that moves away from the connecting member.
16. An electrical appliance comprising a power cord protecting fitting comprising a fixing part fixed to the electrical appliance and a projection part projected beyond the connecting member connected to the electrical appliance in a direction opposite to the connecting direction of the connecting member.
17. The electrical appliance according to claim 16, wherein the electrical appliance is movable.
18. The electrical appliance according to claim 15, wherein a distance between a connection part to which the power cord is connected, and the power cord protecting fitting is 200 mm or less.

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 system comprising:
(a) a switch including:
(i) a first state for allowing passage of a signal therethrough; and
(ii) a second state for preventing passage of the signal therethrough; and

(b) a detection circuit in communication with the switch, the detection circuit configured to:
(i) detect whether the signal includes an amplitude of at least a predetermined level;
(ii) operate the switch to the first state if the amplitude of the signal is at least the predetermined level; and
(iii) operate the switch to the second state if the amplitude of the signal is less than the predetermined level, wherein operation of the switch to the second state is delayed by a predetermined period of time,
wherein the system is a noise reduction system positionable between a cable television services provider and a cable television services recipient,
wherein the switch is configured to attenuate noise transmitted from the cable television services recipient to the cable television services provider,
wherein the detection circuit is in communication with the switch to selectively operate the switch between the first and second states,
wherein said detect includes demodulate and amplify a return signal from the cable television services recipient to the cable television services provider,
wherein the predetermined period is a second predetermined period and said detect includes transmit the demodulated and amplified return signal into a timer circuit to delay operation of the switch to the second state by the second predetermined period or to delay operation of the switch to the first state by a first predetermined period,
wherein the first predetermined period is shorter than the second predetermined period.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the detection circuit comprises a radio frequency detector for detecting the amplitude of the signal.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the detection circuit further comprises an amplifier in communication with the radio frequency detector, the amplifier for amplifying the signal.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the second predetermined period of time is selected to avoid a loss of data due to a premature operation of the switch to the second state.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the switch includes one or more of:
a radio frequency gate;
a radio frequency switch;
a voltage-controlled variable attenuator; and
combinations thereof.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the signal is a return signal, the system further comprising:
(a) a first interface for receiving a forward signal and providing the return signal; and
(b) a second interface for providing the forward signal and receiving the return signal.
7. The system of claim 6, further comprising a first diplex filter coupled to the first interface, the first diplex filter including:
(a) a forward signal port; and
(b) a return signal port in communication with the switch.
8. The system of claim 7, further comprising a second diplex filter coupled to the second interface, the second diplex filter including:
(a) a forward signal port; and
(b) a return signal port in communication with the switch.
9. The system of claim 8, further comprising a forward signal amplifier coupled to the forward signal port of the first diplex filter and the forward signal port of the second diplex filter.
10. The system of claim 8, further comprising a return signal amplifier coupled to the return signal port of the first diplex filter and the switch.
11. The system of claim 8, further comprising:
(a) a plurality of second interfaces;
(b) a radio frequency splitter coupled to the second diplex filter, the radio frequency splitter including a port coupled to a respective one of each of the plurality of second interfaces.
12. The system of claim 11, further comprising:
(a) a second radio frequency splitter coupled to the first interface, the second radio frequency splitter including:
(i) a first port coupled to the first diplex filter; and
(ii) a second port coupled to one or more of the second interfaces.