All The Claims

1. A phosphor activated by europium and rare earth ions, said phosphor selected from phosphors of formula I and phosphors of formula II;
M1F2-M1S: Eu2+, Ln3+\u2003\u2003(I)
M23M32O5X2: Eu2+, Ln3+\u2003\u2003(II)
wherein
M1 is Ba, Sr, Ca, Zn, Mg, or a combination thereof;
M2 is Ba, Sr, Ca, Mg, Zn, or a combination thereof;
M3 is Al, Ga, B, In, or a combination thereof;
X is F, Cl, Br, I, or a combination thereof; and
Ln is Dy, Yb, Tm, Er, Ho, Sm, Nd, or a combination thereof.
2. A phosphor according to claim 1, of formula I
M1F2-M1S: Eu2+, Dy3+\u2003\u2003(I).
3. A phosphor according to claim 1, of formula II
M23M32O5X2: Eu2+, Dy3+\u2003\u2003(II).
4. A phosphor according to claim 1, of formula II
Sr3M32O5X2: Eu2+, Dy3+\u2003\u2003(II).
5. A phosphor according to claim 1, of formula II
M23Al32O5X2: Eu2+, Dy3+\u2003\u2003(II).
6. A phosphor according to claim 1, of formula
SrF2\u2014SrS: Eu2+, Dy3+.
7. A phosphor according to claim 1, of formula
Sr3Al2O5Cl2: Eu2+, Dy3+.
8. A composition comprising a phosphor of formula I or II, dispersed in a polymer matrix;
M1F2-M1S: Eu2+, Ln3+\u2003\u2003(I)
M23M32O5X2: Eu2+, Ln3+\u2003\u2003(II)

wherein
M1 is Ba, Sr, Ca, Zn, Mg, or a combination thereof;
M2 is Ba, Sr, Ca, Mg, Zn, or a combination thereof;
M3 is Al, Ga, B, In, or a combination thereof;
X is F, Cl, Br, I, or a combination thereof; and
Ln is Dy, Yb, Tm, Er, Ho, Sm, Nd, or a combination thereof.
9. A composition according to claim 8, wherein the phosphor is of formula I
M1F2-M1S: Eu2+, Dy3+\u2003\u2003(I).
10. A composition according to claim 8, wherein the phosphor is of formula II
M23M32O5X2: Eu2+, Dy3+\u2003\u2003(II).
11. A composition according to claim 8, wherein the phosphor is of formula
Sr3M32O5X2: Eu2+, Dy3+.
12. A composition according to claim 8, wherein the phosphor is of formula
M23Al2O5X2: Eu2+, Dy3+.
13. A composition according to claim 8, wherein the phosphor is of formula
SrF2\u2014SrS: Eu2+, Dy3+.
14. A composition according to claim 8, wherein the phosphor is of formula
Sr3Al2O5Cl2: Eu2+, Dy3+
15. A lighting apparatus comprising a light source and a phosphor of formula I or II radiationally coupled to the light source
M1F2-M1S: Eu2+, Ln3+\u2003\u2003(I)
M23M32O5X2: Eu2+, Ln3+\u2003\u2003(II)

wherein
M1 is Ba, Sr, Ca, Zn, Mg, or a combination thereof;
M2 is Ba, Sr, Ca, Mg, Zn, or a combination thereof;
M3 is Al, Ga, B, In, or a combination thereof;
X is F, Cl, Br, I, or a combination thereof; and
Ln is Dy, Yb, Tm, Er, Ho, Sm, Nd, or a combination thereof.
16. A lighting system according to claim 15, wherein the phosphor is of formula I
M1F2-M1S: Eu2+, Dy3+\u2003\u2003(I).
17. A lighting system according to claim 15, wherein the phosphor is of formula II
M23M32O5X2: Eu2+, Dy3+\u2003\u2003(II).
18. A lighting system according to claim 15, wherein the phosphor is of formula
Sr3M32O5X2: Eu2+, Dy3+.
19. A lighting system according to claim 15, wherein the phosphor is of formula
M23Al2O5X2: Eu2+, Dy3+.
20. A lighting system according to claim 15, wherein the phosphor is of formula
SrF2\u2014SrS: Eu2+, Dy3+.
21. A lighting system according to claim 15, wherein the phosphor is of formula
Sr3Al2O5Cl2: Eu2+, Dy3+.
22. A phosphor blend comprising a phosphor of formula I or II, dispersed in a polymer matrix;
M1F2-M1S: Eu2+, Ln3+\u2003\u2003(I)
M23M32O5X2: Eu2+, Ln3+\u2003\u2003(II)

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 tire that defines radial and transverse directions and comprises a tread and a spoke having body geometry including a thickness that varies along the length of the spoke along the general radial direction that starts at one value, that gradually reduces to a second value, that then gradually increases to a third value, that then reduces to a fourth value and that then increases again to a fifth value wherein the length of said spoke follows a path and said path is offset from perfectly straight path from a first end of said spoke a second end of said spoke.
2. A tire according to claim 1 wherein the first, third and fifth values of the thickness of the spoke are substantially the same.
3. A tire according to claim 2 wherein the second and fourth values of the thickness of the spoke are substantially the same.
4. A tire according to claim 3 wherein the second and fourth values of the thickness of the spoke are approximately 60% the value of the first, third and fifth values.
5. A tire according to claim 4 wherein the tire is a 20555N16 sized tire, the first, third and fifth values of the thickness of the spoke is approximately 3.4 mm while the second and fourth values of the thickness of the spoke is approximately 2.0 mm and the tire comprises a plurality of similarly configured spokes.
6. A tire according to claim 5 wherein the radial height of the spoke is approximately 76 mm.
7. A tire according to claim 6 wherein the spoke has an offset or deviation of its path between the two ends of the spoke wherein the offset is 25% or less of the radial height of the spoke, and is preferably around 15% of the radial height of the spoke.
8. A tire according to claim 7 wherein the spoke is configured to elastically deform when subjected to a deflection of 15 mm toward the center of the tire along its radial direction.
9. A tire that defines radial and transverse directions and comprises a tread and a spoke having body geometry including a thickness that varies along the length of the spoke along the general radial direction that starts at one value, that gradually reduces to a second value, that then gradually increases to a third value, that then reduces to a fourth value and that then increases again to a fifth value wherein the thickness of the spoke increases and decreases twice along the length of the spoke and the spoke comprises four zones or regions and has a centerline along the length of the spoke and wherein said centerline has two inflection points and a midpoint found between said inflection points along the centerline.
10. A tire according to claim 9 wherein the first value of the thickness of the spoke may be found at one end of the spoke and the fifth value of the thickness of the spoke may be found at the other end of the spoke and wherein the first zone is a transition region between said first end and a first inflection point where the thickness reduces to the second value, the second zone is a transition region between the first inflection point and the midpoint where the thickness increases to a third value, the third zone is a transition region between the midpoint and the second inflection point where the thickness increases to the fourth value, and the fourth zone is a transition region between the second inflection point and the other end of the spoke where the thickness increases to the fifth value.
11. A tire according to claim 10 wherein the second and fourth values of the thickness is approximately 60% of the value of the first, third and fifth values.
12. A tire according to claim 11 wherein the tire is a 20555N16 sized tire and the first, third and fifth values of the spoke is approximately 3.4 mm and the second and fourth values of the thickness of the spoke is approximately 2.0 mm and the tire comprises a plurality of similarly configured spokes.
13. A tire according to claim 12 wherein the spoke has a radial height of approximately 76 mm.
14. A tire according to claim 13 wherein the spoke has an offset or deviation of the spoke from a perfectly straight path along the radial direction and said offset is 25% or less of the radial height of the spoke, and is preferably around 15% of the radial height of the spoke.
15. A tire according to claim 14 wherein the spoke is configured to elastically deform when subjected to a deflection of 15 mm toward the center of the tire along the radial direction of the tire.
16. A tire according to claim 9 wherein the centerline is constructed from a series of analytical curves such as lines and arcs and the spoke further comprises boundary curves that are also constructed from analytical curves such as lines and arcs.

1. A cleaning device for use with an image forming apparatus, comprising:
a frame including a fixing portion;
a cleaning member, fixed at the fixing portion, for removing a developer from an image bearing member, wherein said cleaning member includes: a blade portion contacted to the image bearing member with respect to a counter direction to a movement direction of the image bearing member; and a flexible supporting member for supporting said blade portion, said supporting member including one end portion where said blade portion is provided, another end portion including a portion-to-be-fixed for being fixed at the fixing portion, and a bent portion between said one end portion and said another end portion in a side remote from a surface of the image bearing member toward an outside with respect to a line connecting the portion-to-be-fixed and a contact portion where said blade portion is contacted to the image bearing member, wherein the portion-to-be-fixed is provided downstream of the contact portion with respect to movement direction of the image bearing member; and
an engaging portion provided on said frame, wherein said engaging portion is engaged, in a state in which said blade portion is not contacted to the image bearing member, with a portion-to-be-engaged provided at said supporting member to position said cleaning member, and wherein said engaging portion is spaced from said portion-to-be-engaged in a state in which said blade portion is contacted to the image bearing member.
2. A cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein said portion-to-be-engaged is an opening provided at said supporting member, and said engaging portion is a projection which enters said opening, and
wherein a size of said opening is larger than a size of said engaging portion with respect to a movement direction of said supporting member moved by being urged by the image bearing member.
3. A cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein said portion-to-be-engaged is a projection provided at said supporting member, and said engaging portion is an opening, wherein said projection enters said opening, and
wherein a size of said opening is larger than a size of said engaging portion with respect to a movement direction of said supporting member moved by being urged by the image bearing member.
4. A cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein said portion-to-be-engaged is provided between said bent portion and said blade portion.
5. A cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein said portion-to-be-engaged is provided at said supporting member in each of a side and another side with respect to a longitudinal direction of said blade portion.
6. A process cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, comprising:
(i) an image bearing member;
(ii) a frame including a fixing portion;
(iii) a cleaning member, fixed at the fixing portion, for removing a developer from said image bearing member, wherein said cleaning member includes: a blade portion contacted to said image bearing member with respect to a counter direction to a movement direction of said image bearing member; and a flexible supporting member for supporting said blade portion, said supporting member including one end portion where said blade portion is provided, another end portion including a portion-to-be-fixed for being fixed at the fixing portion, and a bent portion between said one end portion and said another end portion in a side remote from a surface of said image bearing member toward an outside with respect to a line connecting the portion-to-be-fixed and a contact portion where said blade portion is contacted to said image bearing member, wherein the portion-to-be-fixed is provided downstream of the contact portion with respect to movement direction of said image bearing member; and
(iv) an engaging portion provided on said frame, wherein said engaging portion is engaged, in a state in which said blade portion is not contacted to the image bearing member, with a portion-to-be-engaged provided at said supporting member to position said cleaning member, and wherein said engaging portion is spaced from said portion-to-be-engaged in a state in which said blade portion is contacted to the image bearing member.
7. A process cartridge according to claim 6, wherein said portion-to-be-engaged is an opening provided at said supporting member, and said engaging portion is a projection which enters said opening, and
wherein a size of said opening is larger than a size of said engaging portion with respect to a movement direction of said supporting member moved by being urged by the image bearing member.
8. A process cartridge according to claim 6, wherein said portion-to-be-engaged is a projection provided at said supporting member, and said engaging portion is an opening, wherein said projection enters said opening, and
wherein a size of said opening is larger than a size of said engaging portion with respect to a movement direction of said supporting member moved by being urged by the image bearing member.
9. A process cartridge according to claim 6, wherein said portion-to-be-engaged is provided between said bent portion and said blade portion.
10. A process cartridge according to claim 6, wherein said portion-to-be-engaged is provided at said supporting member in each of a side and another side with respect to a longitudinal direction of said blade portion.
11. An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, comprising:
(i) an image bearing member;
(ii) a frame including a fixing portion;
(iii) a cleaning member, fixed at the fixing portion, for removing a developer from said image bearing member, wherein said cleaning member includes: a blade portion contacted to said image bearing member with respect to a counter direction to a movement direction of said image bearing member; and a flexible supporting member for supporting said blade portion, said supporting member including one end portion where said blade portion is provided, another end portion including a portion-to-be-fixed for being fixed at the fixing portion, and a bent portion between said one end portion and said another end portion in a side remote from a surface of said image bearing member toward an outside with respect to a line connecting the portion-to-be-fixed and a contact portion where said blade portion is contacted to said image bearing member, wherein the portion-to-be-fixed is provided downstream of the contact portion with respect to movement direction of said image bearing member; and
(iv) an engaging portion provided on said frame, wherein said engaging portion is engaged, in a state in which said blade portion is not contacted to the image bearing member, with a portion-to-be-engaged provided at said supporting member to position said cleaning member, and wherein said engaging portion is spaced from said portion-to-be-engaged in a state in which said blade portion is contacted to the image bearing member.
12. An image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said portion-to-be-engaged is an opening provided at said supporting member, and said engaging portion is a projection which enters said opening, and
wherein a size of said opening is larger than a size of said engaging portion with respect to a movement direction of said supporting member moved by being urged by the image bearing member.
13. An image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said portion-to-be-engaged is a projection provided at said supporting member, and said engaging portion is an opening, wherein said projection enters said opening, and
wherein a size of said opening is larger than a size of said engaging portion with respect to a movement direction of said supporting member moved by being urged by the image bearing member.
14. An image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said portion-to-be-engaged is provided between said bent portion and said blade portion.
15. An image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said portion-to-be-engaged is provided at said supporting member in each of a side and another side with respect to a longitudinal direction of said blade portion.

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 performing a cleaning action by removing particles from a fluid flowing through said apparatus, comprising
a cyclone separator positioned substantially in the path of said fluid flow, said cyclone separator having one or more inlets and fluid flow guides, and
at least one electrostatic precipitator positioned substantially in said flow,
said cyclone separator including at least two axial flow cyclone separator elements provided in a concentric configuration along a common axis, wherein a cyclone separator element is provided between the two axial flow cyclone separator elements.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cyclone separator elements are arranged inside each other in order of increasing separation efficiency from the outer to the inner cyclone separator element.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an inlet to a first inner cyclone separator element is positioned substantially offset from an inlet to a first outer cyclone separator element.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a conduit providing an airflow to an internal combustion engine.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the precipitator has at least two emitter points to increase corona discharge.
6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein one stage of the electrostatic precipitator is at least one emitter rail.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the at least one emitter rail is negatively charged.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes at least one inlet duct which directs fluid flow into said apparatus.
9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein at least one emitter rail is housed within at least one inlet duct and provides particles flowing therein with a negative charge.
10. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein a stage of the electrostatic precipitator comprises one or more plates.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein at least one of the plates is positively charged.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein at least one of the plates is negatively charged so as to cause negatively charged particles within the flow to be repelled towards the at least one positively charged plate.
13. The apparatus of claim 12, comprising at least two negatively and positively charged plates, said plates being interspersed alternatively such that adjacent plates have opposite charges.
14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the plates are mounted on an outer surface of the outer cyclone separator element.
15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cyclone separator is located intermediate first and second stages of the electrostatic precipitator.
16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one or more of the cyclone separator elements are configured to induce a helical fluid flow to the fluid flowing in the apparatus, a subsequently induced centrifugal force causing at least a portion of particles contained in said fluid to impact against a wall enclosing the cyclone separator, thereby removing a portion of said particles from the fluid flow.
17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein each cyclone separator element has a wall and at least one cyclone guide to induce and maintain the cyclonic motion of the fluid therein.
18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein at least part of the fluid flow generated by the cyclone separator sweeps over the second stage of the electrostatic precipitator.
19. The apparatus of claim 1, configured to turn off the precipitator for a period of time, thereby removing any charge associated with plates of the precipitator.
20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the current supplied to the plates is turned off when the velocity of the fluid flow reaches a certain level.
21. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein plates of the precipitator are mounted on a cyclone separator element.
22. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising wires supplying current to the plates located within a first cyclone guide.
23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the first cyclone guide comprises an insulated connection rail to prevent arcing between oppositely charged plates.
24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the precipitator is located between a first cyclone separator element and a second cyclone separator element.
25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the plates of a second stage of the electrostatic precipitator extend axially from a first outer cyclone guide on the plates of the second stage, said plates extending both inwardly and outwardly to be in contact with the fluid flowing through the first or second cyclone separator element.
26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the cyclone precipitator plates are substantially annular in shape.
27. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a hopper for collection of particles removed from the fluid flow.
28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the hopper is tapered to prevent the particles removed from the fluid flow from re-entering the fluid flow.
29. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the inlets or one of the cyclone separator elements are constructed from one or more polymers with a sufficiently high deflection temperature to keep the fluid within the apparatus cool.
30. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cyclone separator is positioned in a relatively high airflow speed and the precipitator is positioned in a relatively lower airflow speed.
31. A vacuum cleaner comprising the apparatus of claim 1.
32. An apparatus for removing particles from the flow of fluid entering an internal combustion engine, said apparatus including a cyclone separator and a two stage electrostatic precipitator, both the separator and the electrostatic precipitator being positioned substantially in a path of said flow of fluid, the cyclone separator comprising at least two concentrically mounted axial cyclone separator elements, wherein a cyclone separator element is provided between the two axial flow cyclone separator elements.
33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein said cyclone separator elements are in fluid communication.
34. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the cyclone separator elements are positioned inside each other in order of increasing separation efficiency.

1461178139-82d1f0e4-ac7b-444a-9f31-0e9c65b44f17

1461178128-f2423f26-6e6d-4353-8424-22b0cf09d269