Author: claimsbot

1. A dental floss dispensing unit comprising:
a housing; and
a supply spool coupled to the housing and having a length of floss wound thereabout, the supply spool having a locked position, where the supply spool is fixed with respect to the housing, and an unlocked position, where the supply spool is free to rotate with respect to the housing; wherein
the length of floss includes a plurality of segments and is dispensable from the housing when the spool is in the unlocked position,
the dispensing unit includes a locking mechanism through which the length of floss is drawn when the floss is dispensed from the housing, and
the locking mechanism adjusts the supply spool from the unlocked position to the locked position in response to segments being drawn through the locking mechanism.
2. The dental floss dispensing unit of claim 1, wherein the supply spool changes between the locked and unlocked position independently of rotation of the supply spool.
3. The dental floss dispensing unit of claim 1, wherein the supply spool changes from the unlocked position to the locked position in response to at least one segment being dispensed from the housing.
4. The dental floss dispensing unit of claim 1, wherein the plurality of segments includes first segments and second segments, each of the first segments including a common property that distinguishes the first segments from the second segments.
5. The dental floss dispensing unit of claim 4, wherein the common property includes one of stiffness, thickness, and texture.
6. The dental floss dispensing unit of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a cover moveable between an open position and a closed position, and wherein moving the cover from the open position to the closed position adjusts the spool from the locked position to the unlocked position.
7. A dental floss dispensing unit comprising:
a housing;
a length of floss in the housing, the length of floss including first portions and second portions, the first portions having a different stiffness than the second portions; and
a locking mechanism engaging the floss and changing between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration depending upon whether the locking mechanism is engaged with one of the first portions or one of the second portions, wherein
the first portions are stiffer than the second portions,
the locking mechanism changes from the unlocked configuration to the locked configuration when the length of floss is withdrawn from the housing and one of the first portions engages the locking mechanism, and
the locking mechanism defines a serpentine path through which the length of floss extends and that is sensitive to changes in stiffness of the floss extending through the serpentine path.
8. The dental floss dispensing unit of claim 7, wherein the floss is wound about a supply spool.
9. The dental floss dispensing unit of claim 8, wherein the supply spool is rotatable with respect to the housing when the locking mechanism is in the unlocked configuration and the supply spool is restricted from rotating with respect to the housing when the locking mechanism is in the locked configuration.
10. The dental floss dispensing unit of claim 7, further comprising an actuator for changing the locking mechanism from the locked configuration to the unlocked configuration.
11. A dental floss dispensing unit comprising:
a housing;
a length of floss in the housing, the length of floss including first portions and second portions, the first portions having a different stiffness than the second portions; and
a locking mechanism engaging the floss and changing between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration depending upon whether the locking mechanism is engaged with one of the first portions or one of the second portions, wherein
the length of floss can be withdrawn from the housing such that alternating first and second portions engage the locking mechanism, and wherein the locking mechanism changes from the unlocked configuration to the locked configuration in response to a desired number of first and second portions engaging the locking mechanism.
12. The dental floss dispensing unit of claim 11, wherein the floss is wound about a supply spool.
13. The dental floss dispensing unit of claim 12, wherein the supply spool is rotatable with respect to the housing when the locking mechanism is in the unlocked configuration and the supply spool is restricted from rotating with respect to the housing when the locking mechanism is in the locked configuration.
14. The dental floss dispensing unit of claim 11, wherein the first portions are stiffer than the second portions, and wherein the locking mechanism changes from the unlocked configuration to the locked configuration when the length of floss is withdrawn from the housing and one of the first portions engages the locking mechanism.
15. The dental floss dispensing unit of claim 11, further comprising an actuator for changing the locking mechanism from the locked configuration to the unlocked configuration.

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 cutting a food item, the apparatus comprising:
a body defining a first opening and supporting a first blade extending within the first opening, the first blade non-removably fixed to the body and having a side surface, and a cutting edge that extends along an end of the side surface and is configured to cut the food item; and
a dial directly connected to the body, rotatable about an axis, and having a fixed size, the dial supporting a second blade having a side surface, and a cutting edge that extends along an end of the side surface and is configured to cut the food item;
wherein the dial is rotatable relative to the body between a first position, where the side surface of the second blade is directly adjacent to the side surface of the first blade, and a second position, where the side surface of the second blade is offset from the side surface of the first blade
wherein the body includes a handle positioned and configured such that a user grasps and applies a force to the handle in a direction generally parallel to the axis to move the first and second blades through the food item for cutting.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first and second blades are configured to cut the food item into a first number of pieces when the dial is in the first position and a second number of pieces when the dial is in the second position, the first number of pieces being different than the second number of pieces.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first number of pieces is eight and the second number of pieces is sixteen.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a locking mechanism to releasably secure the dial in at least one of the first position and the second position.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the locking mechanism includes a tab and a detent, and wherein the tab engages the detent to releasably secure the dial in at least one of the first and second positions.
6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the locking mechanism includes a second detent, and wherein the tab engages the first-mentioned detent to releasably secure the dial in the first position and engages the second detent to releasably secure the dial in the second position.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body supports a first plurality of blades and a first central ring, the first plurality of blades radially extending from the first central ring to the body, and wherein the dial supports a second plurality of blades and a second central ring, the second plurality of blades radially extending from the second central ring to the dial.
8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the second central ring includes a serrated cutting edge.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first blade and the second blade have cutting edges in substantially the same horizontal plane.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a cover removably coupled to at least one of the dial and the body, wherein the cover facilitates removal of the food item from the first opening.
11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein when in the first position, the side surface of the second blade abuts the side surface of the first blade.
12. An apparatus for cutting a food item, the apparatus comprising:
a body having a handle;
a first plurality of blades non-removably fixed to the body and arranged about a central axis; and
a second plurality of blades supported by a dial that is directly connected to the body, the second plurality of blades being rotatable relative to the first plurality of blades between a first position to cut the food item into a first number of pieces and a second position to cut the food item into a second number of pieces, the second number of pieces being greater than the first number of pieces;
wherein the second plurality of blades maintains a constant radial position in a direction toward or away from the central axis while rotating relative to the first plurality of blades; and
wherein the handle is positioned and configured such that a user grasps and applies a force to the handle in a direction generally parallel to the central axis to move the first and second plurality of blades through the food item for cutting.
13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first plurality of blades and the second plurality of blades include substantially the same number of blades.
14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein each of the first plurality of cutting blades includes a side surface and a cutting edge that extends along an end of the side surface, wherein each of the second plurality of cutting blades includes a side surface and a cutting edge that extends along an end of the side surface, and wherein, when in the first position, the side surface of each of the second plurality of blades is directly adjacent to the side surface of a respective one of the first plurality of blades and, when in the second position, the side surface of each of the second plurality of blades is offset from the side surface of the respective one of the first plurality of blades.
15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first number of pieces is eight and the second number of pieces is sixteen.
16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the handle is a first handle and further comprising a second handle spaced apart from the first handle on the body.
17. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a locking mechanism to releasably secure the second plurality of blades in at least one of the first position and the second position.
18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the locking mechanism includes a tab and a detent, and wherein the tab engages the detent to releasably secure the second plurality of blades in at least one of the first and second positions.
19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the locking mechanism includes a second detent, and wherein the tab engages the first-mentioned detent to releasably secure the second plurality of blades in the first position and engages the second detent to releasably secure the second plurality of blades in the second position.
20. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein at least one of the blades in the first plurality of blades and at least one of the blades in the second plurality of blades have cutting edges in substantially the same horizontal plane.

1. The method of forming a coil on a substrate, comprising the steps of:
providing a one-piece silicon wafer substrate having a first surface and a second surface;
etching a continuous wound recess into said substrate from said first surface by a deep reactive ion etched technique;
etching a continuous wound recess into said substrate from said second surface by a deep reactive ion etched technique;
forming a dielectric coating on the portions of said substrate that face into said recesses; and
depositing an electrically-conductive material in said recesses to form two series-connected oppositely-wound coils;
thereby to form a coil on said substrate.
2. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein each surface is substantially planar.
3. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein each recess has a substantially rectangular transverse cross-section.
4. The method as set forth in claim 3 wherein each recess has a transverse depth-to-width ratio of at least about 10.
5. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein each recess has a transverse width of about 9 microns.
6. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein each recess has a transverse depth of about 100 microns.
7. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the spacing between adjacent convolutions of each recess is about 5 microns.
8. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said dielectric coating is silicon dioxide.
9. The method as set forth in claim 8 wherein said silicon dioxide coating is formed by heating said etched substrate in a steam autoclave.
10. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said coating has a thickness of not greater than about 1 micron.
11. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein each recess is wound in a generally rectangular pattern.
12. The method as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising the additional step of:
depositing a seed layer in each recess before said electrically-conductive material is deposited thereon.
13. The method as set forth in claim 12 wherein said seed layer includes titanium and copper.
14. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said electrically-conductive material is copper.
15. The method as set forth in claim 14 wherein said copper material is electroplated in said recess.

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 integrated refinery process for the production of high quality gasoline blending components having low volatility comprising:
(a) providing a first ethylene-containing refinery stream;
(b) separating a C2+fraction from said first stream to produce a second refinery stream richer in ethylene than said first stream;
(c) providing an isopentane-containing refinery stream;
(d) contacting said isopentane-containing refinery stream with said second refinery stream in the presence of an ionic liquid catalyst in an alkylation zone under alkylation conditions; and
(e) recovering high quality gasoline blending components of low volatility from said alkylation zone.
2. A process according to claim 1, wherein the ethylene-containing refinery stream comprises offgas from a FCC unit.
3. A process according to claim 1, wherein the ethylene-containing refinery stream comprises FCC de-ethanizer overhead.
4. A process according to claim 1, wherein the ionic liquid catalyst comprises a hydrocarbyl substituted pyridinium chloride or a hydrocarbyl substituted imidazolium chloride.
5. A process according to claim 4, wherein the ionic liquid catalyst comprises an alkyl substituted pyridinium chloride or an alkyl substituted imidazolium chloride.
6. A process according to claim 5, wherein the ionic liquid catalyst is selected from the group consisting of 1-butyl-4-methyl-pyridinium chloroaluminate (BMP), 1-butyl-pyridinium chloroaluminate (BP), 1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium chloroaluminate BMIM) and 1-H-pyridinium chloroaluminate (HP).
7. A process according to claim 1, further comprising blending the high quality gasoline blending components into gasoline.
8. A process according to claim 1, wherein the isopentane-containing stream comprises isopentane extracted from an FCC unit, isopentane extracted from a hydrocracking unit, C5 and C6 streams derived from distillation of crude oil, or C5 and C6 streams extracted from a reformer.
9. A process according to claim 1, wherein the ionic liquid catalyst further comprises an HCl co-catalyst.
10. A process according to claim 1, wherein the first ethylene-containing refinery stream comprises ethylene, propylene, butylenes and pentenes.
11. A process according to claim 1, wherein the first refinery stream contains hydrogen and further comprises separating a C2\u2212 fraction from the first refinery stream which is richer in hydrogen than said first stream; and recovering hydrogen from the C2\u2212 fraction.
12. A process according to claim 1, further comprising:
(f) providing a third refinery stream comprising at least one olefin selected from the group consisting of ethylene, propylene, butylenes, pentenes and mixtures thereof;
(g) providing a fourth refinery stream comprising at least one isoparaffin selected from the group consisting of isobutane, isopentane and mixtures thereof;
(h) contacting said third and fourth refinery streams with an ionic liquid catalyst in a second alkylation zone under alkylation conditions; and
(i) recovering gasoline blending components from the second alkylation zone.
13. A method of improving the operating efficiency of a refinery by reducing fuel gas production and simultaneously producing high quality gasoline blending components of low volatility comprising:
(a) providing a first refinery stream comprising hydrogen and C2-C5 olefins;
(b) separating a C2+ fraction from said first stream to produce a second refinery stream richer in olefins than said first stream and a third refinery stream richer in hydrogen than said first stream;
(c) providing an isopentane-containing refinery stream;
(d) contacting said isopentane-containing refinery stream with said second refinery stream in the presence of an ionic liquid catalyst in an alkylation zone under alkylation conditions;
(e) recovering high quality gasoline blending components of low volatility from said alkylation zone; and
(f) recovering hydrogen from said third refinery stream.
14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the ethylene-containing refinery stream comprises offgas from a FCC unit.
15. A method according to claim 13, wherein the ethylene-containing refinery stream comprises FCC de-ethanizer overhead.
16. A method according to claim 13, wherein the ionic liquid catalyst comprises a hydrocarbyl substituted pyridinium chloride or a hydrocarbyl substituted imidazolium chloride.
17. A process according to claim 16, wherein the ionic liquid catalyst comprises an alkyl substituted pyridinium chloride or an alkyl substituted imidazolium chloride.
18. A process according to claim 17, wherein the ionic liquid catalyst is selected from the group consisting of 1-butyl-4-methyl-pyridinium chloroaluminate (BMP), 1-butyl-pyridinium chloroaluminate (BP), 1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium chloroaluminate BMIM) and 1-H-pyridinium chloroaluminate (HP).
19. A method according to claim 13, further comprising blending the high quality gasoline blending components into gasoline.
20. A method according to claim 13, wherein the isopentane-containing stream comprises isopentane extracted from an FCC unit, isopentane extracted from a hydrocracking unit, C5 and C6 streams derived from distillation of crude oil, or C5 and C6 streams extracted from a reformer.
21. A method according to claim 13, wherein the ionic liquid catalyst further comprises an HCl co-catalyst.
22. A method according to claim 13, wherein the first ethylene-containing refinery stream comprises ethylene, propylene, butylenes and pentenes.
23. A method according to claim 13, further comprising:
(g) providing a third refinery stream comprising at least one olefin selected from the group consisting of ethylene, propylene, butylenes, pentenes and mixtures thereof;
(h) providing a fourth refinery stream comprising at least one isoparaffin selected from the group consisting of isobutane, isopentane and mixtures thereof;
(i) contacting said third and fourth refinery streams with an ionic liquid catalyst in a second alkylation zone under alkylation conditions; and
(j) recovering gasoline blending components from the second alkylation zone.
24. A high quality gasoline blending composition having low volatility prepared by a process comprising:
(a) providing a first ethylene-containing refinery stream;
(b) separating a C2+ fraction from said first stream to produce a second refinery stream richer in ethylene than said first stream;
(c) providing an isopentane-containing refinery stream;
(d) contacting said isopentane-containing refinery stream with said second refinery stream in the presence of an ionic liquid catalyst in an alkylation zone under alkylation conditions; and
(e) recovering high quality gasoline blending components of low volatility from said alkylation zone.
25. A composition according to claim 24, wherein the ethylene-containing refinery stream comprises offgas from a FCC unit.
26. A composition according to claim 24, wherein the ethylene-containing refinery stream comprises FCC de-ethanizer overhead.
27. A composition according to claim 24, wherein the ionic liquid catalyst comprises a hydrocarbyl substituted pyridinium chloride or a hydrocarbyl substituted imidazolium chloride.
28. A composition according to claim 27, wherein the ionic liquid catalyst comprises an alkyl substituted pyridinium chloride or an alkyl substituted imidazolium chloride.
29. A process according to claim 28, wherein the ionic liquid catalyst is selected from the group consisting of 1-butyl-4-methyl-pyridinium chloroaluminate (BMP), 1-butyl-pyridinium chloroaluminate (BP), 1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium chloroaluminate BMIM) and 1-H-pyridinium chloroaluminate (HP).
30. A composition according to claim 24, wherein the isopentane-containing stream comprises isopentane extracted from an FCC unit, isopentane extracted from a hydrocracking unit, C5 and C6 streams derived from distillation of crude oil, or C5 and C6 streams extracted from a reformer.
31. A composition according to claim 24, wherein the ionic liquid catalyst further comprises an HCl co-catalyst.
32. A composition according to claim 24, wherein the first ethylene-containing refinery stream comprises ethylene, propylene, butylenes and pentenes.