JP2012110980A

JP2012110980A - Crossing tweezer for fixing ribbon, and method of fixing ribbon

Info

Publication number: JP2012110980A
Application number: JP2010259610A
Authority: JP
Inventors: Akihiro Suzuki; 昭宏鈴木
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-11-20
Filing date: 2010-11-20
Publication date: 2012-06-14
Anticipated expiration: 2030-11-20
Also published as: JP4723046B1

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide improved crossing tweezers for fixing a ribbon capable of easily fixing the ribbon to the hair of a pet animal, and to provide a method of fixing the ribbon.SOLUTION: Either of ends of a pair of plate materials 11 is fixed to either of ends of the crossing tweezers 1 and attached to the outside in an open angle shape. After winding the rubber 15 of the ribbon 13 around the closed tip 7 of the crossing tweezers over both the plate materials 11, the crossing tweezers are pinched to open the tip 7, then a tuft 25 of pet' hair 23 is inserted into the open tip 7 and the tip 7 is closed. By opening both the plate materials 11 by pressing them by fingers from the inside, the rubber 15 of the ribbon 13 is released from both the plate materials 11 by being pressed by both the plates 11, and thereby, the tuft 25 of hair 23 can be easily fixed to the ribbon 13.

Description

この発明は、ペットである動物の毛にリボンを取付けるためのリボン取付用交差型ピンセット及びリボン取付方法に関する。 The present invention relates to a ribbon mounting cross-type tweezers and a ribbon mounting method for mounting a ribbon on the hair of an animal that is a pet.

ペットである動物たとえば犬のトリミング（美容）では、トリミング最終作業で犬の耳の毛にリボンを付けることが多い。しかし、犬もその時の機嫌の具合などでリボンを嫌がって付けさせてくれない事もしばしばである。また、トリマーが男性の場合は指も大きく、女性のようにリボンに不慣れな者はうまく付ける事ができない。初心者のトリマーや素人の方の場合には、なおさら、うまく付ける事ができない。 In animal trimming (beauty) such as a dog, a ribbon is often attached to the ear hair of the dog in the final trimming operation. However, dogs often dislike ribbons because of their moods, etc. Also, if the trimmer is a man, the fingers are large and those who are unfamiliar with the ribbon like a woman cannot wear it well. In the case of beginner trimmers and amateurs, it can't be applied well.

下記特許文献１には、交差型ピンセットを真珠加工に使用するものが記載される。また下記特許文献２には、交差型ピンセットを手術に使用するものが記載される。 Patent Document 1 listed below uses a cross-type tweezers for pearl processing. Patent Document 2 listed below uses a cross type tweezers for surgery.

米国特許抄録６３５２２９３US Patent Abstract 6352293 米国特許抄録５２１７４６４US Patent Abstract 5217464

この発明は、以上の問題点を解決するために、交差型ピンセットを改良し、ペットである動物の毛にリボンを容易に付けることができるリボン取付用交差型ピンセット及びリボン取付方法を提供することを目的とする。 In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides an improved cross tweezers and a cross tweezers for attaching a ribbon and a ribbon attaching method capable of easily attaching a ribbon to animal hair which is a pet. With the goal.

以上の課題を解決するために、第一発明は、交差型ピンセットと、この交差型ピンセットの両先端に、それぞれ一端が固定されることで、外側へハの字に取付けられた一対の板材と、を有し、この両板材の上から前記交差型ピンセットの閉じた先端に、リボンのゴムを巻き付けた状態で、各前記板材と前記交差型ピンセットの間に指が入る隙間または弾性を、各前記板材が有することを特長とするリボン取付用交差型ピンセットである。 In order to solve the above problems, the first invention includes a cross-type tweezers, and a pair of plate members attached to the outer sides of the cross-type tweezers by fixing one end to both ends of the cross-type tweezers. In the state where the rubber of the ribbon is wound around the closed tip of the cross-type tweezers from above the both plate materials, the gap or elasticity in which a finger enters between each of the plate materials and the cross-type tweezers, It is a cross-type tweezers for attaching a ribbon, characterized in that the plate material has.

第二発明は、ペットである動物の毛にリボンを取付ける方法において、請求項１のリボン取付用交差型ピンセットの閉じた先端に、この先端に取付けられた両板材の上から、リボンのゴムを巻き付ける第１工程と、前記リボン取付用交差型ピンセットをつまんで先端を開く第２工程と、開いたリ前記ボン付用交差型ピンセットの先端に、前記毛の房を挿入する第３工程と、前記リボン取付用交差型ピンセットを閉じる第４工程と、前記両板材を内側から押して開くことで、前記両板材に押されて前記ゴムが前記両板材から離れ、前記リボンを前記毛の房へ取付けを完了する第５工程と、を有することを特長とするリボン取付方法である。 According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the method of attaching a ribbon to animal hair that is a pet, the rubber of the ribbon is applied to the closed tip of the cross-type tweezers for attaching a ribbon from above both plate members attached to the tip. A first step of winding, a second step of pinching the ribbon-attached cross-type tweezers to open the tip, and a third step of inserting the hair strand into the tip of the opened re-bonded cross-type tweezers, A fourth step of closing the cross-type tweezers for attaching the ribbon, and pressing both the plate materials from the inside to open them, so that the rubber is pushed away from the both plate materials and the ribbon is attached to the hair tress. A ribbon attachment method characterized by comprising a fifth step.

第一、又は第二発明によれば、リボン取付用交差型ピンセットの閉じた先端に、この先端に取付けられた両板材の上から、リボンのゴムを巻き付けた後に、リボン取付用交差型ピンセットをつまんで先端を開き、この開いた先端に、ペットの毛の房を挿入し、先端を閉じる。そして、両板材を内側から指で押して開くことで、両板材に押されてリボンのゴムが両板材から離れ、これにより、リボンを毛の房へ取付けを容易に行える。 According to the first or second invention, after the ribbon rubber is wound around the closed tip of the ribbon mounting cross-type tweezers from above both plate members attached to the tip, the ribbon mounting cross-type tweezers is mounted. Open the tip by pinching, insert a tuft of pet hair into this open tip, and close the tip. And by pushing both board | plate materials with a finger | toe from the inside and opening, it is pushed by both board | plate materials, the rubber | gum of a ribbon leaves | separates from both board | plate materials, and, thereby, attachment of a ribbon to a hair | bristle tuft can be performed easily.

この発明の一実施形態に係るリボン取付用交差型ピンセットを示すもので、（Ａ）は全体斜視図、（Ｂ）はつまんで先端を開いた状態を示す図、（Ｃ）は閉じた先端に、両板材の上から、リボンのゴムを巻き付けた状態を示す図である。1A and 1B show crossed tweezers for attaching a ribbon according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1A is an overall perspective view, FIG. 1B is a diagram showing a state in which the tip is pinched and closed, and FIG. It is a figure which shows the state which wound the rubber | gum of the ribbon from on both board | plate materials.

この発明の一実施形態に係るリボン取付方法の工程を示すもので、（Ａ）はペットの動物である犬のリボンを取付ける前の全体斜視図、（Ｂ）は犬の毛の房をセットペーパーに織り込んでいる状態を示す図、（Ｂ２）は織り込んだ状態図、（Ｃ）はリボン取付用交差型ピンセットの閉じた先端に、両板材の上から、リボンのゴムを巻き付けた状態を示す図、（Ｄ）はリボン取付用交差型ピンセットをつまんで先端を開き、その開いた先端に、毛の房を織り込んだセットペーパーを挿入した状態を示す図、（Ｅ）はリボン取付用交差型ピンセットを閉じ、両板材を内側から押して開いている状態を示す図、（Ｆ）は両板材から押されたリボンのゴムが離れた状態を示す図、（Ｇ）リボンが取付けられた状態を示す図、（Ｈ）リボンが取付けられた犬の全体斜視図である。The process of the ribbon attachment method based on one Embodiment of this invention is shown, (A) is the whole perspective view before attaching the ribbon of the dog which is a pet animal, (B) is a set paper of the dog hair tuft. The figure which shows the state woven in, (B2) is the woven state figure, (C) is the figure which shows the state which wound the rubber | gum of the ribbon from the both board | plate materials on the closed tip of the cross-type tweezers for ribbon attachment. (D) is the figure which shows the state which pinched the cross-type tweezers for ribbon attachment, opened the front-end | tip, and inserted the set paper which woven the hair tuft into the open front end, (E) is the cross-type tweezers for ribbon attachment The figure which shows the state which closed and closed both board | plate materials from the inner side, (F) is a figure which shows the state from which the rubber | gum of the ribbon pushed from both board | plate materials separated, (G) The figure which shows the state in which the ribbon was attached (H) Ribbon is attached It is an overall perspective view of a dog.

この発明の実施形態を、図１、図２に示す。
図１（Ａ）に示すように、この実施形態に使用される交差型ピンセット１は、本体３を構成する２枚の腕部５が、先端近くで交差しており、これにより本体３をつまむことで、通常のピンセットとは逆に、先端７が開く（図１（Ｂ）参照）交差型である。そして、交差部９から先端７までの寸法が、全体に比して小さく、つまんだ力がロスなく先端７を開く力になりやすい。 An embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 1A, in the cross-type tweezers 1 used in this embodiment, two arms 5 constituting the main body 3 intersect each other near the tip, thereby pinching the main body 3. Thus, contrary to normal tweezers, the tip 7 is open (see FIG. 1 (B)) and is a cross type. And the dimension from the intersection part 9 to the front-end | tip 7 is small compared with the whole, and the pinched force tends to become the force which opens the front-end | tip 7 without loss.

この交差型ピンセット１の両先端に、一対の板材１１が、外側へハの字に取付けられる。各板材１１の一端は、略コの字型に屈曲し、交差型ピンセット１の二つあるうちの一つの先端７を、外側から内側に巻くように接着し取付けられる。
板材１１は、薄いステンレスの金属製で、弾性を有する。このため、両板材１１を押さえて交差型ピンセット１の上に寝かせ、その上から、交差型ピンセット１の閉じた先端７に、リボン１３のゴム１５を巻き付けることが、容易に行える。 A pair of plate members 11 are attached to both ends of the cross-type tweezers 1 in an outward U shape. One end of each plate member 11 is bent into a substantially U-shape, and one tip 7 of the two crossed tweezers 1 is bonded and attached so as to be wound from the outside to the inside.
The plate 11 is made of a thin stainless metal and has elasticity. For this reason, it is possible to easily wrap the rubber 15 of the ribbon 13 around the closed tip 7 of the cross-type tweezers 1 while holding both the plate materials 11 and lay them on the cross-type tweezers 1.

板材１１の本体部分は直線的である。このため、寝かせた両板材１１と、本体３が曲線的である交差型ピンセット１との間に、指が入る隙間１７を有する。
よって図１（Ｃ）に示すように、両板材１１の上から交差型ピンセット１の閉じた先端７に、リボン１３のゴム１５を巻き付けた状態で、板材１１と交差型ピンセット１の間に指が入る隙間１７を有する。 The main body portion of the plate member 11 is linear. For this reason, it has the clearance gap 17 in which a finger | toe enters between the both board | plate materials 11 which laid down, and the cross-type tweezers 1 with which the main body 3 is curvilinear.
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1 (C), a finger is placed between the plate material 11 and the cross-type tweezers 1 with the rubber 15 of the ribbon 13 wound around the closed tip 7 of the cross-type tweezers 1 from above both the plate materials 11. There is a gap 17 into which.

図２に、この発明の一実施形態に係るリボン取付方法の工程を示す。
同図（Ａ）に示すように、ペットの動物である犬１９がトリミング（美容）を終わり、リボン１３を取付ける準備ができる。そして、同図（Ｂ）に示すように、その犬１９の耳２１の近くの毛２３を房２５をにして、セットペーパー２７に包み込み、同図（Ｂ２）に示すように、セットペーパー２７を縦に３回ほど短く織り込む。 In FIG. 2, the process of the ribbon attachment method which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention is shown.
As shown in FIG. 5A, the dog 19 which is a pet animal finishes trimming (beauty) and is ready to attach the ribbon 13. Then, as shown in the same figure (B), the hair 23 near the ear 21 of the dog 19 is wrapped in the set paper 27 with the tuft 25, and as shown in the same figure (B2), the set paper 27 is Weave shortly about 3 times vertically.

予め、同図（Ｃ）に示すように、リボン取付用交差型ピンセットの閉じた先端７に、両板材１１の上から、リボン１３のゴム１５を３回巻き付けたものを用意しておく。そして、同図（Ｄ）に示すように、前記（Ｃ）のリボン取付用交差型ピンセットを指２９つまんで先端７を開き、その開いた先端７に、毛２３の房２５を織り込んだセットペーパー２７を挿入し、閉じる（同図（Ｅ））。 As shown in FIG. 3C, a ribbon 13 is prepared by winding the rubber 15 of the ribbon 13 three times from above the two plate members 11 around the closed tip 7 of the ribbon mounting cross-type tweezers. Then, as shown in FIG. 4D, the cross-type tweezers for attaching the ribbon of (C) is pinched by 29 fingers to open the tip 7, and the set paper in which the tuft 25 of the hair 23 is woven into the opened tip 7. 27 is inserted and closed ((E) in the figure).

次に、同図（Ｅ）に示すように、リボン取付用交差型ピンセットの両板材１１を内側から親指２９ａと人差指２９ｂで押して開く。すると、同図（Ｆ）に示すように、両板材１１から押されたリボン１３のゴム１５が、ゴム１５自身の弾性や板材１１の弾性により、勢いよく両板材１１から離れる。これにより、同図（Ｇ）に示すように、犬１９の耳２１の近くの毛２３にリボン１３が取付けられる。同様に反対側の耳２１にもリボン１３を取付けると、同図（Ｈ）のように、リボン１３の取付けが完成する。 Next, as shown in FIG. 5E, both plate members 11 of the ribbon mounting cross-type tweezers are pushed open from the inside with the thumb 29a and the index finger 29b. Then, as shown in FIG. 4F, the rubber 15 of the ribbon 13 pressed from both the plate materials 11 is vigorously separated from the both plate materials 11 by the elasticity of the rubber 15 itself and the elasticity of the plate material 11. Thereby, the ribbon 13 is attached to the hair 23 near the ear 21 of the dog 19 as shown in FIG. Similarly, when the ribbon 13 is attached to the ear 21 on the opposite side, the attachment of the ribbon 13 is completed as shown in FIG.

「実施形態の効果」
この実施形態によれば、以上説明したように、リボン取付用交差型ピンセットの閉じた先端７に、この先端７に設けられた両板材１１の上から、リボン１３のゴム１５を巻き付けた後に、リボン取付用交差型ピンセットをつまんで先端７を開き、この開いた先端７に、ペットの毛２３を折り込んだセットペーパー２７を挿入し、先端７を閉じる。 "Effect of the embodiment"
According to this embodiment, as described above, after the rubber 15 of the ribbon 13 is wound around the closed tip 7 of the cross-type tweezers for attaching the ribbon from above both plate members 11 provided at the tip 7, The tip 7 is opened by pinching the ribbon-attached cross-type tweezers, the set paper 27 into which the pet hair 23 is folded is inserted into the opened tip 7, and the tip 7 is closed.

仮に通常のピンセットであると、ゴム１５を巻き付けたピンセットを開いた状態に維持するのは難しい。しかし、交差型ピンセット１はつまむだけで、開いた状態を簡単に維持でき、取付け作業が容易である。
また、仮に板材１１がないと、ゴム１５が交差型ピンセット１の閉じた先端７に巻き付いたままであり、ゴム１５を先端７から離すことができにくい。
その原因は、ペットの毛２３を折り込んだセットペーパー２７は、交差型ピンセット１の閉じた先端７に押しつぶされており、このため、ゴム１５が接するのは交差型ピンセット１の閉じた先端７だけであり、セットペーパー２７にはほとんど接触していない。そのため、交差型ピンセット１を後退させても、ゴム１５は、セットペーパー２７に接触して残ることはなく、交差型ピンセット１とともに後退してしまうからである。
しかし、両板材１１を内側から指で押して開くことで、両板材１１に押されてリボン１３のゴム１５が両板材１１から、ゴム１５自身の弾性や板材１１の弾性により勢いよく、離れ、これにより、リボン１３を毛２３の房２５へ取付けが容易に行える。 If it is a normal tweezers, it is difficult to keep the tweezers around which the rubber 15 is wound open. However, the cross-type tweezers 1 can be easily maintained in an open state by simply pinching them, and attachment work is easy.
Further, if the plate member 11 is not provided, the rubber 15 remains wound around the closed tip 7 of the cross-type tweezers 1 and it is difficult to separate the rubber 15 from the tip 7.
The reason is that the set paper 27 in which the pet hair 23 is folded is crushed by the closed tip 7 of the cross-type tweezers 1, so that the rubber 15 contacts only the closed tip 7 of the cross-type tweezers 1. And is hardly in contact with the set paper 27. For this reason, even if the cross-type tweezers 1 are moved backward, the rubber 15 does not remain in contact with the set paper 27 but moves back together with the cross-type tweezers 1.
However, by pressing both the plate materials 11 with fingers from the inside and opening them, the rubber 15 of the ribbon 13 is pushed by the both plate materials 11, away from both the plate materials 11 due to the elasticity of the rubber 15 itself and the elasticity of the plate material 11. Thus, the ribbon 13 can be easily attached to the tuft 25 of the hair 23.

「他の実施形態」
以上の実施形態では、板材１１が直線的でしかも弾性を有したので、ゴム１５を巻き付けた状態で、板材１１と曲線的な形状の交差型ピンセット１の間に指が入る隙間１７を予め有する。あるいは、この予め有する隙間１７の大きさが十分でなくても、弾性により板材１１を押し広げることで、指が入る隙間１７をあらためて形成することができる。 "Other embodiments"
In the above embodiment, since the plate member 11 is linear and elastic, it has in advance a gap 17 in which a finger enters between the plate member 11 and the curved crossed tweezers 1 in a state where the rubber 15 is wound. . Alternatively, even if the size of the gap 17 that is provided in advance is not sufficient, the gap 17 into which the finger can be inserted can be newly formed by expanding the plate 11 by elasticity.

しかし他の実施形態では、板材１１は直線的であるため始めから指が入る隙間１７を十分に有し、弾性が少ないものでもよい。あるいは、隙間１７を有するための形状はほとんど有さないものの、弾性だけを有することで板材１１を押し広げて指が入る隙間１７を形成するものでもよい。
以上の実施形態では、毛２３を房２５をセットペーパー２７に短く織り込むものであったが、他の実施形態では、セットペーパー２７を使用せずに、毛２３に直接にリボンを取付けるものであっても構わない。 However, in another embodiment, since the plate 11 is linear, it may have a sufficient gap 17 for a finger to enter from the beginning, and may be less elastic. Alternatively, although there is almost no shape for having the gap 17, it is possible to form the gap 17 in which the finger is inserted by expanding the plate 11 by having only elasticity.
In the above embodiment, the bristles 23 are woven shortly into the set paper 27, but in other embodiments, the ribbon is directly attached to the bristles 23 without using the set paper 27. It doesn't matter.

以上の実施形態では、板材１１はステンレス製であったが、他の実施形態では、他の金属製や、プラスチック製でもよい。
以上の実施形態では、板材１１は接着剤で取付けたが、他の実施形態では、他の取付け方法、例えば、ネジ式の取付でも構わない。
以上の実施形態では、犬１９の毛２３をセットペーパー２７に包み込んだ上から、直ちに、リボン取付用交差型ピンセットによりリボン１３の輪ゴム１５を取付けることで、リボン１３が取付けられるものであった。しかし、他の実施形態では、毛２３をセットペーパー２７に包み込んだ状態を安定して維持するために、先に別の輪ゴムのみをセットペーパー２７に取り付け、その後で、リボン取付用交差型ピンセットによりリボン１３の輪ゴム１５を取付けることで、リボン１３が取付けられるものとしてもよい。 In the above embodiment, the plate member 11 is made of stainless steel, but in other embodiments, it may be made of other metal or plastic.
In the above embodiment, the plate member 11 is attached with an adhesive. However, in other embodiments, other attachment methods, for example, screw type attachment may be used.
In the above embodiment, the ribbon 13 is attached by attaching the rubber band 15 of the ribbon 13 immediately after wrapping the hair 23 of the dog 19 in the set paper 27 with the cross-type tweezers for attaching the ribbon. However, in another embodiment, in order to stably maintain the state in which the hair 23 is wrapped in the set paper 27, only another rubber band is first attached to the set paper 27, and thereafter, by cross-type tweezers for ribbon attachment. The ribbon 13 may be attached by attaching the rubber band 15 of the ribbon 13.

１…交差型ピンセット、３…本体、５…腕部、７…先端、９…交差部、１１…板材、１３…リボン、１５…ゴム、１７…隙間、１９…犬、２１…耳、２３…毛、２５…房、２７…セットペーパー、２９・・指。 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Cross type tweezers, 3 ... Main body, 5 ... Arm part, 7 ... Tip, 9 ... Crossing part, 11 ... Board material, 13 ... Ribbon, 15 ... Rubber, 17 ... Gap, 19 ... Dog, 21 ... Ear, 23 ... Hair, 25 ... tuft, 27 ... set paper, 29 .. Fingers.

第二発明は、ペットである動物の毛にリボンを取付ける方法において、請求項１のリボン取付用交差型ピンセットの閉じた先端に、この先端に取付けられた両板材の上から、リボンのゴムを巻き付ける第１工程と、前記リボン取付用交差型ピンセットをつまんで先端を開く第２工程と、開いた前記リボン付用交差型ピンセットの先端に、前記毛の房を挿入する第３工程と、前記リボン取付用交差型ピンセットを閉じる第４工程と、前記両板材を内側から押して開くことで、前記両板材に押されて前記ゴムが前記両板材から離れ、前記リボンを前記毛の房へ取付けを完了する第５工程と、を有することを特長とするリボン取付方法である。

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the method of attaching a ribbon to animal hair that is a pet, the rubber of the ribbon is applied to the closed tip of the cross-type tweezers for attaching a ribbon from above both plate members attached to the tip. A first step of winding; a second step of pinching the ribbon-attached cross-type tweezers to open the tip; a third step of inserting the hair tress into the tip of the opened cross-type tweezers with ribbon; and The fourth step of closing the cross-type tweezers for attaching the ribbon, and pressing both the plate materials from the inside to open the rubber, the rubber is pushed away from the both plate materials, and the ribbon is attached to the hair tress. And a fifth step to be completed.

Claims

交差型ピンセットと、この交差型ピンセットの両先端に、それぞれ一端が固定されることで、外側へハの字に取付けられた一対の板材と、を有し、この両板材の上から前記交差型ピンセットの閉じた先端に、リボンのゴムを巻き付けた状態で、各前記板材と前記交差型ピンセットの間に指が入る隙間または弾性を、各前記板材が有することを特長とするリボン取付用交差型ピンセット。 The cross-type tweezers and a pair of plate members attached to the outer sides of the cross-type tweezers by fixing one end to both ends of the cross-type tweezers. Crossed type for ribbon mounting, wherein each plate has a gap or elasticity that allows fingers to be inserted between each plate and the crossed tweezers with the ribbon rubber wrapped around the closed tip of the tweezers tweezers.

ペットである動物の毛にリボンを取付ける方法において、請求項１のリボン取付用交差型ピンセットの閉じた先端に、この先端に取付けられた両板材の上から、リボンのゴムを巻き付ける第１工程と、前記リボン取付用交差型ピンセットをつまんで先端を開く第２工程と、開いたリ前記ボン付用交差型ピンセットの先端に、前記毛の房を挿入する第３工程と、前記リボン取付用交差型ピンセットを閉じる第４工程と、前記両板材を内側から押して開くことで、前記両板材に押されて前記ゴムが前記両板材から離れ、前記リボンを前記毛の房へ取付けを完了する第５工程と、を有することを特長とするリボン取付方法。 In the method of attaching a ribbon to animal hair, which is a pet, a first step of winding a ribbon rubber on the closed tip of the cross-type tweezers for attaching a ribbon according to claim 1 from above both plate members attached to the tip. , A second step of pinching the ribbon-attached cross-type tweezers to open the tip, a third step of inserting the hair tress into the tip of the opened cross-type tweezers for attaching the ribbon, and the ribbon-attaching cross A fourth step of closing the mold tweezers and a fifth step of pressing the both plate members from the inside to open them, and pressing the both plate members to release the rubber from the both plate members, thereby completing the attachment of the ribbon to the hair tress. A ribbon mounting method characterized by comprising a step.