Author: claimsbot

1. A coupling arrangement for coupling a withdrawal arrangement (4) to a package (1) with liquid or essentially liquid contents (3), which withdrawal arrangement (4) is intended for the withdrawal of the contents (3) from the package (1), wherein:
at least significant parts of the package (1) consist of synthetic material,
the coupling arrangement (5) comprises an inner coupling device (9) that is arranged within the package (1) and welded to the wall (2) of the package (1) and that comprises an outer part (10) that is provided with holes through which part it is arranged on the inner surface of an unbroken part (11) of the wall (2) of the package (1),
the coupling arrangement (5) comprises an outer coupling device (12) that is arranged on the withdrawal arrangement (4),
the outer coupling device (12) comprises a tube section (14) with which the unbroken part (11) of the wall of the package (1) can be broken and that can be introduced into the hole (15) in the outer part (10) of the inner coupling device (9) in order to be coupled to this such that the contents (3) in the package (1) can be withdrawn through the tube section (14), and
the outer coupling device (12) comprises at least one protruding part (16) and the inner coupling device (9) at least one space (17) into which the protruding part (16) of the outer coupling device (12) can be introduced so that the inner and outer coupling devices (9, 12) can be coupled together, the at least one space (17) having an inner bottom part (17b) and being open towards the unbroken part (11) of the wall (2) and at an outer edge (10c) of the outer part (10) of the inner coupling device (9),
the protruding part (16) of the outer coupling device (12) andor the space (17) andor unbroken parts (11) of the wall of the package (1) which covers the space (17), are designed such that said unbroken parts (11) of the wall (2) can be inserted into the space (17) by the protruding part (16) without breaking said parts (11).
2. The coupling arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the protruding part (16) of the outer coupling device (12) is positioned on such a distance (A) from the tube section (14) which is the same as or greater than the distance (B) between the space (17) and the hole (15) in the outer part (10) for the tube section (14).
3. The coupling arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the protruding part (16) is arranged on a flange (14a) which is arranged on the tube section (14).
4. The coupling arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the tube section (14) has an axis, the at least one protruding part (16) including a plurality of radially extending spaced-apart protruding parts (16) extending from the flange (14a), each of the radially extending spaced-apart protruding parts (16) having surfaces extending generally radially that are spaced from the surfaces extending generally radially of the other protruding parts (16).
5. The coupling arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the protruding part (16) andor the space (17) isare designed such that there is a small space (18) for the unbroken part (11) of the wall (2) between the protruding part (16) and walls of the space (17) when said unbroken part (11) is introduced in the space (17).
6. The coupling arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the outer part (10) inside the hole (15) forms at least one edge (10b) behind which a coupling part (14b) of the outer coupling device (12) can be coupled for coupling the outer and inner coupling devices (9, 12) together.
7. The coupling arrangement according to claim 1, wherein a ring of spaces (17) is arranged in the outer part (10) around the hole (15) for the tube section (14).
8. The coupling arrangement according to claim 7, wherein each space (17) comprises a channel formed in the outer part (10) and extending from an open end to a closed end at the inner bottom part (17b) of the outer part (10).
9. The coupling arrangement according to claim 1, wherein:
the hole (15) in the part (10) that is provided with holes is circular or essentially circular, and the tube section (14) has a shape that essentially corresponds to this.
10. The coupling arrangement according to claim 1, wherein at least the inner coupling device (9) consists of synthetic material.
11. The coupling arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the contents of the package (1) are liquid or half-liquid foodstuffs, such as, for example, ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, dressing or similar.
12. The coupling arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the package (1) is a plastic bag.
13. The coupling arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the inner coupling device (9) comprises an inner part (19) with the shape of a ring that is coupled to the outer part (10).
14. The coupling arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the tube section (14) has an axis, the at least one protruding part (16) including a plurality of radially extending spaced-apart protruding parts (16), each of the radially extending spaced-apart protruding parts (16) having surfaces extending generally radially that are spaced from the surfaces extending generally radially of the other protruding parts (16).
15. A coupling arrangement for coupling a withdrawal arrangement (4) to a package (1) with liquid or essentially liquid contents (3), which withdrawal arrangement (4) is intended for the withdrawal of the contents (3) from the package (1), wherein:
at least significant parts of the package (1) consist of synthetic material,
the coupling arrangement (5) comprises an inner coupling device (9) that is arranged within the package (1) and that comprises an outer part (10) that is provided with holes through which part it is arranged on the inner surface of an unbroken part (11) of the wall (2) of the package (1),
the coupling arrangement (5) comprises an outer coupling device (12) that is arranged on the withdrawal arrangement (4),
the outer coupling device (12) comprises a tube section (14) with which the unbroken part (11) of the wall of the package (1) can be broken and that can be introduced into the hole (15) in the outer part (10) of the inner coupling device (9) in order to be coupled to this such that the contents (3) in the package (1) can be withdrawn through the tube section (14), and
the outer coupling device (12) comprises at least one protruding part (16) and the inner coupling device (9) at least one space (17) into which the protruding part (16) of the outer coupling device (12) can be introduced so that the inner and outer coupling devices (9, 12) can be coupled together,
the protruding part (16) of the outer coupling device (12) andor the space (17) andor unbroken parts (11) of the wall of the package (1) which covers the space (17), are designed such that said unbroken parts (11) of the wall (2) can be inserted into the space (17) by the protruding part (16) without breaking said parts
wherein there are provided two, three or four protruding parts (16) and eight, ten or twelve spaces (17).

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 for graphically organizing and manipulating a plurality of information elements on a display of a computer, the method comprising:
retrieving a plurality of information elements from a storage location operably connected to the computer, each said information element having at least one characterization attribute associated therewith;
graphically organizing the plurality of information elements retrieved from the storage location along a first vector or axis on the display;
receiving input from a user of the computer corresponding to a selected characterization attribute associated with a related information element, the selected characterization attribute being selected by the user of the computer from among characterization attributes of the plurality of information elements along the first vector or axis; and
graphically organizing a subset of the plurality of information elements along a second vector or axis on the display, the first and second vectors or axes being organized on the display such that the second vector or axis intersects or adjoins the first vector or axis at a non-zero degree angle at a location proximate to the selected information element,
wherein the subset of the plurality of information elements only includes information elements having the selected characterization attribute associated therewith.
2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first vector or axis of information elements and the second vector or axis of information elements have at least one information element in common.
3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the second vector or axis of information elements is adapted to be, at least partially, displayable co-planar with the first vector or axis of information elements.
4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the selected characterization attribute is selected from the group consisting of the characterization attributes of the information elements of the first vector or axis of information elements.
5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the selected characterization attribute is selected by selecting an information element from the first vector or axis of information elements.
6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the selected characterization attribute is selected without regard to the characterization attributes of the information elements of the first vector or axis of information elements.
7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the information elements comprises a first version and a second version, and wherein a third vector or axis of information elements is defined by the versions of the at least one of the information elements.
8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one information element displayed by the display is a graphical representation of its content.
9. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein a graphical representation of at least one selectable characterization attribute of at least one information element is graphically displayed along with its at least one information element.
10. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein a vectorial space is defined by the first vector or axis of information elements and the second vector or axis of information elements, and wherein the vectorial space is adapted to change size on the display.
11. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first vector or axis of information elements is adapted to display information elements along a chronological order.
12. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the vectors or axes of information elements is adapted to display the information elements along a substantially linear disposition.
13. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein at lest one of the characterization attributes is an identifier code.
14. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of creating a new information element having at least one characterization attribute.
15. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one information element is a document.
16. A method as recited in claim 1, comprising graphically manipulating the first vector or axis of information elements.
17. A method as recited in claim 1, comprising graphically manipulating the second vector or axis of information elements.
18. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein selecting at least one characterization attribute is selecting at least one characterization attribute of the first vector or axis of information elements.
19. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one information element is a web page.
20. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one information element is a music file.
21. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one information element is a picture.
22. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one information element is a video file.
23. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one information element is music album art.
24. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the selected characterization attribute is associated with at least one information element of the first information element vector or axis.
25. A method as recited in claim 1, comprising graphically manipulating at least one information element of the first vector or axis of information elements to select at the least one characterization attribute.
26. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first and second vectors or axes are substantially orthogonal to one another.
27. A system for graphically organizing and manipulating a plurality of information elements on a display of a computer, comprising:
a storage location operably connected to the computer, the storage location including a plurality of information elements, each said information element having at least one characterization attribute associated therewith;
an organization module configured to graphically organize the plurality of information elements retrieved from the storage location along a first vector or axis on the display; and
a selection module configured to receive input from a user of the computer corresponding to a selected characterization attribute associated with a related information element, the selected characterization attribute being selected by the user of the computer from among characterization attributes of the plurality of information elements along the first vector or axis,
wherein the organization module is further configured to graphically organize a subset of the plurality of information elements along a second vector or axis on the display, the first and second vectors or axes being organized on the display such that the second vector or axis intersects or adjoins the first vector or axis at a non-zero degree angle at a location proximate to the selected information element,
wherein the subset of the plurality of information elements only includes information elements having the selected characterization attribute associated therewith.
28. The system as recited in claim 27 wherein the organization module is adapted to send instructions to a processor for running a task that is, at least in part, for organizing the information elements.
29. The system as recited in claim 27 wherein the selection module is adapted to send instructions to a processor for running a task that is, at least in part, for selecting the at least one characterization attribute.
30. The system as recited in claim 27 further comprising a user interface module.
31. The system as recited in claim 30 wherein the user interface module is adapted to receive an input from a user, the input being related to the at least one characterization attribute.
32. The system as recited in claim 31 wherein the user interface module is adapted to store input information into memory based on the input.
33. The system as recited in claim 32 wherein the selection module is adapted to retrieve the input information from memory.
34. The system as recited in claim 31 wherein the user interface module is adapted to send instructions to the selection module, the instructions being based on the input.
35. The system as recited in claim 27 wherein the selection module is adapted to store a selection information into memory, the selection information being related to the at least one characterization attribute.
36. The system as recited in claim 35 wherein the organization module is adapted to retrieve the selection information from memory.
37. The system as recited in claim 27 wherein the selection module is adapted to send instructions to the organization module, the instructions being related to the at least one characterization attribute.
38. The system as recited in claim 27 wherein the organization module is adapted to store vector or axis information in memory, the vector or axis information being based on one of the first vector or axis and the second vector or axis.
39. The system as recited in claim 38 wherein the user interface module is adapted to display the information elements based on the vector or axis information.
40. The system as recited in claim 27 wherein the organization module is adapted to send instructions to the user interface module, the instruction being based on at least one of the first vector or axis and the second vector or axis.
41. The system as recited in claim 30 wherein the user interface module is adapted to send instructions to the display, the instructions being based on at least one of the first vector or axis and the second vector or axis.
42. A computer readable storage medium tangibly storing a program for organizing and manipulating information elements on a device that, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to execute a method comprising:
retrieving a plurality of information elements from a storage location operably connected to the computer, each said information element having at least one characterization attribute associated therewith;
graphically organizing the plurality of information elements retrieved from the storage location along a first vector or axis on the display;
receiving input from a user of the computer corresponding to a selected characterization attribute associated with a related information element, the selected characterization attribute being selected by the user of the computer from among characterization attributes of the plurality of information elements along the first vector or axis; and
graphically organizing a subset of the plurality of information elements along a second vector or axis on the display, the first and second vectors or axes being organized on the display such that the second vector or axis intersects or adjoins the first vector or axis at a non-zero degree angle at a location proximate to the selected information element,
wherein the subset of the plurality of information elements only includes information elements having the selected characterization attribute associated therewith.
43. The computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 42 further comprising sending instructions to a processor for running a task that is, at least in part, for organizing the information elements.
44. The computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 42 further comprising sending instructions to a processor for running a task that is, at least in part, for selecting the at least one characterization attribute.
45. The computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 42 further comprising storing selection information into memory, the selection information being related to the at least one characterization attribute.
46. The computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 45 further comprising retrieving the selection information from memory.
47. The computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 42 further comprising sending instructions for the graphical organizing, the instructions being related to the at least one characterization attribute.
48. The computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 42 further comprising storing vector or axis information in memory, the vector or axis information being based on one of the first vector or axis and the second vector or axis.
49. The computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 42 further comprising receiving input information from another device, the input information being related to the at least one characterization attribute.
50. The computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 42 further comprising sending output information to another device, the output information being based on at least one of the first vector or axis and second vector or axis.
51. The computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 50 wherein the output information is at least in part produced as a result of the graphically organizing.
52. A method of manipulating data on a display of a computer, the method comprising:
(a) retrieving a plurality of information elements from a storage location operably connected to the computer, each said information element having at least one characterization attribute associated therewith;
(b) graphically organizing the plurality of information elements retrieved from the storage location along a vector or axis on the display;
(c) receiving input from a user of the computer corresponding to a selected characterization attribute associated with a related information element, the related information element being selected by the user of the computer from among the plurality of information elements organized on the display;
(d) graphically organizing a subset of the plurality of information elements retrieved from the storage location along a further vector or axis such that the further vector or axis and the vector or axis on which the selected characterization attribute is located are non-parallel to one another, the subset of the plurality of information elements including only information elements having characterization attributes associated therewith that match the selected characterization attribute associated with the related information element; and
(e) enabling (c) and (d) to be repeated at least one additional time.
53. The method of claim 52, wherein each said information element is a document.
54. The method of claim 52, wherein at least one information element displayed in the vector or axis also is displayed in the further vector or axis.

1. A protective circuit module for a secondary battery comprising:
a circuit board;
at least one protection control circuit element on the circuit board for preventing overcharge and over-discharge of the secondary battery;
a first conductive pad coupled to the circuit board; and
a positive temperature coefficient device between the at least one protection control circuit element and the first conductive pad such that when a secondary battery temperature reaches a threshold value, resistance of the positive temperature coefficient device is increased and battery current is reduced.
2. The protective circuit module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the positive temperature coefficient device comprises:
a first conductive plate resistance welded to the first conductive pad;
a positive temperature coefficient resistance element connected to the first conductive plate; and
a second conductive plate connected to the positive temperature coefficient resistance element.
3. The protective circuit module as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first conductive plate is serial resistance welded to the first conductive pad such that at least two serial resistance welds are formed on a surface of the first conductive plate.
4. The protective circuit module as claimed in claim 2,
wherein the positive temperature coefficient resistance element is between the first conductive plate and the second conductive plate.
5. The protective circuit module as claimed in claim 2 further comprising:
a second conductive pad spaced from the first conductive pad on the circuit board;
a first conductive lead connected to the first conductive plate, the first conductive lead being connectable to a first conductive tab of the secondary battery; and
a second conductive lead connected to the second conductive pad, the second conductive lead being connectable to a second conductive tab of the secondary battery.
6. The protective circuit module as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a through hole in the circuit board such that the first conductive pad is coupled to the through hole.
7. The protective circuit module as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a through hole in the circuit board,
wherein the first conductive pad comprises:
a protrusion coupled with the through hole in the circuit board; and
a plate portion connected to the protrusion and welded to the circuit board by solder;

wherein the positive temperature coefficient device is resistance welded to the plate portion.
8. The protective circuit module as claimed in claim 7, wherein the positive temperature coefficient device comprises:
a first conductive plate resistance welded to the plate portion;
a positive temperature coefficient resistance element connected to the first conductive plate; and
a second conductive plate connected to the positive temperature coefficient resistance element.
9. The protective circuit module as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first conductive plate is direct resistance welded to the plate portion to form a direct resistance weld on the first conductive plate and a direct resistance weld on the protrusion.
10. The protective circuit module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the circuit board further comprises two longitudinal edges and has at least one circuit board protrusion on each longitudinal edge.
11. The protective circuit module of claim 2, wherein the resistance element is circular.
12. A battery pack comprising:
a secondary battery;
a first electrode tab and a second electrode tab protruding from the secondary battery;
a protective circuit module comprising:
a circuit board;
at least one protection control circuit element on the circuit board for preventing overcharge and over-discharge of the secondary battery;
a first conductive pad welded to the circuit board; and
a positive temperature coefficient device between the at least one protection control circuit element and the first conductive pad such that when a secondary battery temperature reaches a threshold value, resistance of the positive temperature coefficient device is increased and battery current is reduced; and

a resin securing the protective circuit module to the secondary battery while exposing the electrode terminals of the circuit board.
13. The battery pack as claimed in claim 12, wherein the positive temperature coefficient device comprises:
a first conductive plate resistance welded to the plate portion;
a positive temperature coefficient resistance element connected to the first conductive plate; and
a second conductive plate connected to the positive temperature coefficient resistance element.
14. The battery pack as claimed in claim 12, wherein the first conductive pad comprises:
a protrusion coupled with a through hole on the circuit board; and
a plate portion connected to the protrusion and welded to the circuit board by solder;
wherein the positive temperature coefficient device is resistance welded to the plate.
15. The battery pack as claimed in claim 13, a second conductive pad spaced from the first conductive pad on the circuit board;
a first conductive lead connected to the first conductive plate, the first conductive lead being connected to a first conductive tab of the secondary battery; and
a second conductive lead connected to the second conductive pad, the second conductive lead being connected to a second conductive tab of the secondary battery.
16. The battery pack as claimed in claim 15, wherein the first conductive lead is folded to provide a first conductive lead U-shaped fold and the second conductive lead is folded to provide a second conductive lead U-shaped fold.
17. The battery pack as claimed in claim 16, wherein insulating paper is located within both the first conductive U-shaped fold and the second conductive lead U-shaped fold.
18. The battery pack as claimed in claim 12, the circuit board further comprising two longitudinal edges and having at least one circuit board protrusion on each longitudinal edge.
19. The battery pack as claimed in claim 12, wherein the positive temperature coefficient resistance element is circular.
20. The battery pack as claimed in claim 12, wherein the battery current is reduced to substantially zero when the secondary battery temperature reaches the threshold value.

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 supply roll of a laminate;
a mandrel for wrapping said laminate therearound;
feed rollers that spool said laminate off said supply roll onto said mandrel, said feed rollers being attached to a mounting plate by an adjustable bracket that sets an angle of said laminate with respect to said mandrel, adjacent windings of said laminate being joined to one another at overlaps thereof, wherein each winding of said laminate makes at least one complete revolution around said mandrel before said laminate advances to its next adjacent winding so as to form a gas seal at the overlaps of the adjacent windings; and
a cutting station adapted to cut cylindrical tubes formed by windings of said laminate about said mandrel.
2. The system according to claim 1, wherein adjacent windings of said laminate are joined by application of heat thereto from a heat source.
3. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a coining roller adapted to press against overlaps of adjacent windings of said laminate.
4. The system according to claim 3, wherein said coining roller is arranged to be at the same angle with respect to said mandrel as said adjustable bracket.
5. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a controller that controls and synchronizes operation of said system.
6. The system according to claim 1, wherein said cutting station is axially moveable with respect to said mandrel.
7. The system according to claim 1, wherein said cutting station comprises:
a motor that drives a drive wheel;
a cutting wheel;
a plurality of cutting blades disposed in channels formed in said cutting wheel; and
a solenoid operatively connected to said cutting wheel, wherein before cutting said cutting wheel turns together with said drive wheel and said cutting blades do not contact said laminate, and said solenoid is operative to arrest rotational movement of said cutting wheel so as to impart a centripetal force on said cutting blades, thereby thrusting them to contact and cut said laminate.