All The Claims

1. A process for producing 3-(2-cyano-1-propenyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid or its salt comprising reacting a 3-formyl-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate and propionitrile in the presence of a base.
2. The process according to claim 1, wherein the base is a strong base.
3. The process according to claim 1, wherein the base is at least one base selected from the group consisting of alkali metal hydroxides, alkaline earth metal hydroxides, transition metal hydroxides, tetraalkylammonium hydroxides, alkali metal alkoxides and phosphazene compounds.
4. The process according to claim 1, wherein the base is at least one base selected from the group consisting of alkali metal hydroxides, alkaline earth metal hydroxides, transition metal hydroxides and tetraalkylammonium hydroxides.
5. The process according to claim 1, wherein the base is an alkali metal hydroxide or alkaline earth metal hydroxide.
6. The process according to claim 1, wherein the base is potassium hydroxide or cesium hydroxide.
7. The process according to claim 1, wherein a 3-formyl-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate and propionitrile are reacted in the presence of a solvent.
8. The process according to claim 7, wherein the solvent is an ether solvent or sulfoxide solvent.
9. The process according to claim 7, wherein the solvent is tetrahydrofuran or dimethyl sulfoxide.
10. A process for producing a 3-(2-cyano-1-propenyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate represented by formula (4):
wherein, R2 represents a chain hydrocarbon group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms or cyclic hydrocarbon group having 3 to 10 carbon atoms each of which optionally have at least one substituent selected from the following Group A;
Group A: halogen atoms, acyl groups having 2 to 7 carbon atoms, alkoxy groups having 1 to 7 carbon atoms optionally having a substituent, alkylthio groups having 1 to 3 carbon atoms and aryl groups having 6 to 10 carbon atoms optionally having a substituent;

comprising
a first step of reacting a 3-formyl-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate and propionitrile in the presence of a base, and
a second step of reacting 3-(2-cyano-1-propenyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid or its salt obtained in said first step and a monohydroxy compound represented by formula (2):
R2\u2014OH\u2003\u2003(2)
wherein, R2 represents the same meaning as described above;
in the presence of a zirconium compound.

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 barrel for an electrically-controllable variable focal length lens in a button-battery type housing, comprising:
a hollow isolating cylindrical tube of a dielectric material with an inner diameter substantially equal to an outer diameter of the lens housing;
at least two bumps extending radially towards the inside of the tube and forming bearing surfaces for a periphery of the lens in a same radial plane;
first metallizations extending on at least one of said bearing surfaces and therefrom into first channels formed in an internal wall of the tube towards at least one end of the tube; and
second metallizations, each of which forms a contact area on a portion of the internal wall of the tube to bear against a lateral surface of the lens and extends towards said at least one end of the tube.
2. The barrel of claim 1, further comprising third metallizations arranged in second channels extending in the internal wall from one end to the other of the tube.
3. The barrel of claim 1 wherein the first metallizations extend towards both ends of the tube.
4. The barrel of claim 2 wherein the first, second, and third metallizations each extend to both ends of the tube and on end surfaces of the tube.
5. The barrel of claim 1, comprising a drop of conductive glue at each location where there is a contact between a metallization of the barrel and the lens.
6. The barrel of claim 1 wherein each bump comprises a groove between the bearing surface and the internal tube wall.
7. The barrel of claim 1, comprising an electrically-controllable variable focal length lens and at least one of another electrically-controllable variable focal length lens and a fixed lens.
8. A photographic device comprising:
a lens having a button-battery type housing;
a hollow isolating cylindrical tube having first and second ends and an inner diameter substantially equal to a diameter of the lens housing;
a bump extending radially towards the inside of the tube and forming a bearing surface for a periphery of the lens;
a first metallization extending on said bearing surface and therefrom into a first channel formed in an internal wall of the tube towards at least one end of the tube; and
a second metallization forming a contact area on a portion of the internal wall of the tube to bear against a lateral surface of the lens and extending towards said at least one end of the tube.
9. The device of claim 8, comprising a third metalization extending, in a second channel formed in the internal wall of the tube, from the first end to the second end of the tube.
10. The device of claim 8 wherein each of the first and second metalizations extends onto an end surface of the tube.
11. The device of claim 8 wherein the bump is one of a plurality of bumps extending radially towards the inside of the tube in a same radial plane, each forming a bearing surface for a periphery of the lens.
12. A device, comprising:
a cylindrical tube;
a bump formed on an inner surface of the tube and having a bearing surface;
a first metallization extending on the bearing surface and along the inner surface of the tube to an end of the tube; and
a second metallization, electrically isolated from the first metallization, extending along the inner surface of the tube to an end of the tube.
13. The device of claim 12, comprising a channel formed in the inner surface of the tube and in which the first metallization extends.
14. The device of claim 12, comprising a channel formed in the inner surface of the tube and in which a third metallization extends from a first to a second end of the tube.
15. The device of claim 12 wherein an end of the tube includes a shoulder region configured to receive an end of an additional tube.
16. The device of claim 12, comprising a lens, having a button-battery type housing, positioned within the tube such that a first electrode of the lens is in electrical contact with the second metallization and a second electrode of the lens bears against the bearing surface of the bump and is in electrical contact with the first metallization.
17. The device of claim 16, comprising an additional tube positioned concentrically with the tube, and coupled thereto in a stacked configuration.
18. The device of claim 16, comprising an additional lens positioned within the tube.
19. The device of claim 16, comprising a camera to which the tube is coupled in a position corresponding to an optical sensor network.
20. The device of claim 19, comprising a cellular telephone, of which the camera is a part.
21. A method, comprising:
forming a cylindrical tube of non-conductive material, including forming a bump extending inward from an inner wall of the tube, and forming a channel extending in the inner wall of the tube from the bump to at least one end of the tube;
depositing a first metallization on a bearing surface of the bump and an inner surface of the channel; and
depositing a second metallization extending along the inner surface of the tube to at least one end thereof.
22. The method of claim 21 wherein the step of forming the cylindrical tube comprises forming a first portion of the tube of a first material to which a metallization will bind, and forming a second portion of the tube of a second material to which a metallization will not bind.
23. The method of claim 21 wherein the step of depositing the second metallization comprises depositing the second metallization extending along the inner surface of the tube from a first end to a second end thereof.
24. The method of claim 21 wherein the steps of depositing the first and second metallizations comprise sensitizing regions of the tube where the metalizations are to be deposited.
25. The method of claim 21 wherein the steps of depositing the first and second metallizations comprise depositing the first and second metallizations on an end surface of the tube.

1. A safety device for use in conjunction with a boat, comprising;
a spherical shell;
a mechanism for fixedly mounting a seat within the spherical shell in a substantially upright seated position; and
a mechanism for securely mounting the spherical shell within a cockpit of the boat in a closed position, wherein upon application of a sufficient force the mechanism for mounting the spherical shell within the cockpit of the boat releases the spherical shell in the closed position, and wherein the seat remains in the substantially upright seated position during the release, thereby protecting a passenger within the spherical shell.
2. The safety device of claim 1, wherein the mechanism for mounting the spherical shell within the cockpit of the boat releases the spherical shell when the boat breaks apart.
3. The safety device of claim 1, wherein the safety device further includes a hatch formed within the spherical shell.
4. The safety device of claim 3, wherein the hatch is hingedly mounted to the spherical shell at a first end of the hatch and releasably latched to the spherical shell at a second end of the hatch.
5. The safety device of claim 3, wherein the hatch further includes a hydraulic arm.
6. The safety device of claim 1, wherein the spherical shell comprises an impact resistant, substantially fracture resistant material.
7. The safety device of claim 1, wherein the mechanism for mounting the seat within the spherical shell further comprises a platform fastened within the spherical shell.
8. The safety device of claim 7, wherein the platform further comprises a footrest.
9. The safety device of claim 1, wherein the mechanism for mounting the seat within the spherical shell further comprises:
a first ring rotatably attached within the spherical shell;
a second ring rotatably attached within the first ring; and
a platform attached within the second ring to accommodate attachment of the seat.
10. The safety device of claim 9, wherein the platform further comprises a ballast.
11. The safety device of claim 1, further including a safety pack secured within the safety device.
12. The safety device of claim 1, wherein the largest circumference of the spherical shell is mounted within in the cockpit of the boat.
13. The safety device of claim 1, wherein the mechanism for mounting the spherical shell within the cockpit of the boat comprises:
a flexible seal that allows for releasable attachment of the spherical shell within the cockpit of the boat; and
a mounting bracket to securely affix the flexible seal to the cockpit of the boat.
14. A safety device for use in a storm, comprising:
a substantially transparent impact resistant spherical shell;
a mechanism for mounting a seat within the spherical shell comprising:
a first ring rotatably attached within the spherical shell;
a second ring rotatably attached within the first ring; and
a platform attached to the second ring to accommodate attachment of the seat; and

a mechanism for mounting the spherical shell to a secure location during the storm.
15. The safety device of claim 14, wherein the platform further comprises a footrest.
16. The safety device of claim 14, wherein the platform further comprises a ballast.

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 damper comprising:
a pair of members, and
silicone-based unvulcanized rubber interposed between said pair of members,
said pair of members being disposed in such a manner as to be rotationally movable with respect to each other,
said silicone-based unvulcanized rubber having a degree of plasticity of not less than 30 and not more than 420 as measured with a William plastometer, and
relative rotationally moving energy between said pair of members being absorbed through the plasticity deformation of said silicone-based unvulcanized rubber
one of said pair of members including a housing which has a housing body,
another one of said pair of members including a gap forming member accommodated relatively rotatably in said housing body for forming a gap in association with an inner surface of said housing body.
2. The damper according to claim 1, wherein said damper is a damper for an automobile seat, and includes:
a housing serving as said one member and having an arm portion and a housing body integral to said arm portion; and
a gap forming member serving as said other member and accommodated rotatably in said housing body, said gap forming member forming a gap in cooperation with an inner surface of said housing body,
said silicone-based unvulcanized rubber being disposed in the gap, said damper being adapted to transmit the rotation of said automobile seat to said housing by means of said arm portion, and said gap forming member being adapted to be fixed to a chassis on which said automobile seat is rotatably installed.
3. An automobile seat comprising:
said damper for an automobile seat according to claim 2; and
a seat provided rotatably on said automobile chassis,
the rotation of said seat being transmitted to one of said housing and
said gap forming member, and another one of said housing and said gap forming member being fixed to said chassis.
4. The automobile seat according to claim 3, wherein a backrest is rotatably provided on said seat.
5. The damper according to claim 2, wherein said housing body has a plurality of concentric arcuate projections, and said gap forming member has a plurality of concentric hollow cylindrical recessed portions in which said arcuate projections of said housing body are respectively disposed with the gap therebetween.
6. The damper according to claim 2, wherein a slit extending radially and communicating with the gap is formed in said gap forming member.
7. The damper according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said pair of members has, on a surface thereof in contact with said silicon-based unvulcanized rubber, one of a projection and a groove extending in a direction intersecting a direction of the relative movement.
8. The damper according to claim 7, wherein said surface in contact with said silicone-based unvulcanized rubber includes a cylindrical surface, and one of said projection and said groove extends substantially parallel to a center line of said cylindrical surface.
9. The damper according to claim 7, wherein said surface in contact with said silicone-based unvulcanized rubber includes one of an annular surface and a disk-like surface, and one of said projection and said groove extends in a radial direction of said one of said annular surface and said disk-like surface.
10. The damper according to claim 1, wherein said silicone-based unvulcanized rubber has a degree of plasticity of not less than 60 and not more than 320.
11. The damper according to claim 1, wherein said silicone-based unvulcanized rubber has a degree of plasticity of not less than 160 and not more than 320.
12. The damper according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said pair of members has an uneven surface in contact with said silicone-based unvulcanized rubber, and said uneven surface prevents the slippage of said silicone-based unvulcanized rubber in a vicinity of said uneven surface in the relative movement of said pair of members.
13. The damper according to claim 1, wherein said damper is a damper for an automobile seat, and includes:
a housing serving as said one member and having an arm portion and a housing body integral to said arm portion; and
a gap forming member serving as said other member and accommodated rotatably in said housing body, said gap forming member forming a gap in cooperation with an inner surface of said housing body,
said silicone-based unvulcanized rubber being disposed in the gap, said housing being adapted to be fixed by means of said arm portion to a chassis on which said automobile seat is rotatably installed, and said damper being adapted to transmit the rotation of said automobile seat to said gap forming member.
14. The damper according to claim 1, wherein said damper is a damper for an automobile seat, and includes:
a housing serving as said one member and having a collar portion and a housing body integral to said collar portion; and
a gap forming member serving as said other member and accommodated rotatably in said housing body, said gap forming member forming a gap in cooperation with an inner surface of said housing body,
said silicone-based unvulcanized rubber being disposed in the gap, said damper being adapted to transmit the rotation of said automobile seat to said housing by means of said collar portion, and said gap forming member being adapted to be fixed to a chassis on which said automobile seat is rotatably installed.
15. The damper according to claim 1, wherein said damper is a damper for an automobile seat, and includes:
a housing serving as said one member and having a collar portion and a housing body integral to said collar portion; and
a gap forming member serving as said other member and accommodated rotatably in said housing body, said gap forming member forming a gap in cooperation with an inner surface of said housing body,
said silicone-based unvulcanized rubber being disposed in the gap, said housing being adapted to be fixed by means of said collar portion to a chassis on which said automobile seat is rotatably installed, and said damper being adapted to transmit the rotation of said automobile seat to said gap forming member.
16. A method for manufacturing a damper comprising:
providing a pair of members disposed in such a manner as to be rotationally movable with respect to each other;
interposing silicone-based unvulcanized rubber between said pair of members,
fashioning said silicone-based unvulcanized rubber to have a degree of plasticity of not less than 30 and not more than 420 as measured with a William plastometer; and
structuring the pair of members such that relative rotationally moving energy between said pair of members is absorbed through the plasticity deformation of said silicone-based unvulcanized rubber.