Abstract: An anti-winding assembly reduces or prevents debris from winding on a trimmer and/or makes them easier to remove. The trimmer includes a trimmer head mounted to a rotatable arbor and supporting one or more cutting lines. The anti-winding assembly includes a collar positionable between the trimmer head and an adjacent trimmer component, and a shield positioned radially outward of the collar. The shield covers gaps between the collar and the trimmer head and between the collar and the adjacent trimmer component. The assembly reduces exposure to pinching gaps and to powered rotating parts that enable tight windings that can accumulate to lock trimmer rotation.

Abstract: A tool having a flexible shaft, a first end and, a second end and capable of being bent about its axis. The tool transfers rotary motion from a device to tool. The shaft, manufactured from a rigid material, has at least one flexible segment, each flexible segment have at least one sinuous slot ascending in a helical path. With multiple segments, the helical path of the slots can be opposite or the same. With one or more segments having multiple slots, the slots can be parallel or have opposite ascensions, thereby crossing one another. The helical paths can vary within each segment or from segment to segment.

Abstract: An improved flexible component used for dynamic stabilization of spinal segments for the treatment of vertebrae deformities and injuries and for the replacement of a complete or segment of the body of a vertebra in the spine is described. The flexible component is comprised of a solid, suitable implant material with a longitudinal bore the entire length and an appropriately formed slot which extends spirally around the shaft either continuously or segmentally. The flexible component may be encapsulated, fully or partially, in a suitable implant grade elastomeric resilient material. When used for a dynamic stabilization device, the component is attached to the vertebral bodies by pedicle screws know to those in the art. When used as a vertebral replacement device, attached to the component's opposite ends are members for attachment to the adjacent vertebra that allow for height and angular adjustment.

Abstract: A flexible fastening device having multiple segments, one or more of which are flexible and one or more segments that also include threads. The flexibility is created through the use of at least one helical slot formed generally in the center segment of the element. Additional flexible segments also have at least one helical slot in either the same helical rotation and pattern or in an opposite rotation and/or different pattern. An elastomeric material can fill the hollow body, extend into the slots and/or encompass the exterior. The flexible fastening device can have a hollow body, including leading and trailing edge, or can have a partially hollow body.

Abstract: In a rotating grass trimmer, a top loading line blade and corresponding head securely hold the cutting lines with multiple orientations of the line blade. An alternative embodiment provides a simplified loading scheme where a cutting line is loaded into the trimmer head from its outside, through a line outlet to a fixed receiver without the need for a moving or mechanical line gripping or biting type mechanism. With this construction, a worn line can be replaced by pulling it back out or by reversing it back through the same outlet from which it was initially inserted. The design eliminates practically all of the costs associated with the current state of the art rapid loading mechanisms as there is no physical compression, gripping or biting into the line by any mechanical or moving mechanism. Additionally, the line is insertable in multiple orientations.

Abstract: A power tool head is including a trimmer head or the like is powered with an AC or DC motor. The head and tool attachment are ergonomically constructed to facilitate use and operation. In the trimmer tool, molded line blades with or without an aerodynamic cross-section provide for effective cutting at low speeds and low power requirements. The line blades may be selectively oriented to improve strength and durability.

Abstract: A glider assembly for a handheld trimmer includes a glider shaft coupleable at one end with a rotating head of the handheld trimmer, and a glider plate connected to an opposite end of the glider shaft. The glider plate is part-spherical or saucer shaped and includes a concave side and a convex side. A bearing acts between the glider plate and the glider shaft. The assembly enables an operator to rest the weight of the trimmer on the ground during use while controlling a cutting height.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of producing a flexible circuit board having gold selectively plated on only desired elements of the conductive circuits. These desired elements typically are attachment sites, such as wire bond pads or ball grid array pads, for semiconductor chips. This method eliminates the requirement to buss all circuits to a common plating contact by using a background seed metal for plating continuity. This method also provides a means to alleviate the requirement for precise registration or alignment when multiple photoresist layers are employed in order to selectively plate only a portion of the metallic elements present on the flexible circuit board. The defect of resist lifting followed by nickel/gold underplating is eliminated by conditioning the intermediate photoresist to survive the nickel/gold plating bath.

Abstract: A push-pull control cable assembly having a casing of a predetermined length with a core slidably received therein. A push-through-to-lock anchor fitting is provided at each end of the casing. A fixedly positioned terminal end fitting is secured to the core through an end rod. The fixedly positioned terminal end fitting employs a receiver with a blind bore. A slot in the receiver transversely intersects the blind bore, and a locking tab is received in the slot to be selectively slidable between first and second positions. The locking tab has an aperture. The aperture permits a connecting spur to be inserted therein and withdrawn therefrom when the locking tab is in its first position. The aperture engages the connecting spur to preclude withdrawal thereof when the locking tab is in its second position. A selectively positionable terminal end fitting is secured to the core through another end rod. The selectively positionable terminal end fitting has a housing.

Abstract: A push-pull control cable assembly having a casing of a predetermined length with a core slidably received therein. A push-through-to-lock anchor fitting is provided at each end of the casing. A fixedly positioned terminal end fitting is secured to the core through an end rod. The fixedly positioned terminal end fitting employs a receiver with a blind bore. A slot in the receiver transversely intersects the blind bore, and a locking tab is received in the slot to be selectively slidable between first and second positions. The locking tab has an aperture. The aperture permits a connecting spur to be inserted therein and withdrawn therefrom when the locking tab is in its first position. The aperture engages the connecting spur to preclude withdrawal thereof when the locking tab is in its second position. A selectively positionable terminal end fitting is secured to the core through another end rod. The selectively positionable terminal end fitting has a housing.

Abstract: A connector assembly includes a connector having an inner member with first and second open ends and a bore extending therebetween. The inner member is formed of a material which is impervious to a particular fluid to flow through the connector assembly. An outer member encapsulates the inner member and is formed of a material dissimilar from the material of the inner member, which material resists abrasions and other deleterious elements to which the connector is exposed. Flexible retaining latches are formed integrally on the outer member of the connector and snap over an annular projection formed on a tubular conduit upon insertion of the conduit through the first open end and into the bore of the inner member. An elastomeric seal disposed in the bore of the inner member provides a fluid tight seal between the conduit and inner member. Another elastomeric seal is located within the bore of the inner member adjacent the second open end, and provides a fluid tight seal with a tubular member inserted therein.

Abstract: A clip for retaining a conduit trapped in an end of a connector has a pair of resilient legs extending from an arcuate-shaped end member which occupies a relatively small amount of space around the periphery of the connector when the clip is connected thereto. Each of the legs includes an end finger which forms an acute angle with an outside edge of the leg and which locks around the outside of the connector housing when the clip is inserted in one of a pair of opposed slots or apertures formed in the housing. A guide tab extends from the end member and slides into a channel formed in the connector housing to insure that the clip faces the correct direction when inserted into the connector. The legs have chamfered inner front surfaces which slidably engage a front end of the conduit to allow the conduit to deflect the legs apart and slidably move between the legs. A flat back surface of the clip legs cooperates with an enlarged annular collar of the conduit to retain the conduit within the connector.

Abstract: A rotary controlled motion transmission assembly is mounted behind the dashboard of a vehicle and has a knob that extends through the dashboard for rotary actuation by an occupant of the vehicle to move a bulkhead door for controlling the environment within the vehicle. The knob is connected to a cam plate having first and second ramps which rotate upon rotation of the knob. A pair of spring biased plungers, each having a camming surface, operatively engage respective ramps. A pair of cables are connected to the plungers and extend along a circuitous path within flexible conduits to a receiver assembly, such that axial translation of the plungers upon rotation of the control knob, results in axial translation of the cables. The cables are connected to a pulley mounted on a shaft which is connected to the bulkhead door for opening and closing of the door.

Abstract: An improved assembly and method for the adjustment of a casing of the type having a cable slideably mounted therein to remove excess slack from the casing. The cable and casing circuitously extend between a lever of a vehicle temperature control module and a temperature control door movably mounted on a forward bulkhead of the vehicle. A first mounting member is attached adjacent to the control module lever and contains a first tang ring for slideably receiving a movable end of the casing. A second mounting member immovably mounts the other end of the casing adjacent to the bulkhead door. The first tang ring permits movement of the movable end of the casing therethrough in a first direction for removing slack from the casing, upon a predetermined amount of force being exerted on the casing by manual adjustment of the control module lever in a predetermined direction.

Abstract: An assembly for the self-adjustment of a casing of the type having a cable slideably mounted therein to remove excess slack from the casing. The cable extends between a lever of a vehicle temperature control module and a door movably mounted on a forward bulkhead of the vehicle. A first mounting member is attached adjacent the control module lever and is adapted for mounting a tang ring, a release bushing and a retaining insert therein, and for slideably receiving a movable end of the cable casing. The retaining insert retains the tang ring and the release bushing in the first mounting member. A second mounting member is attached adjacent the bulkhead door and immovably mounts the other end of the casing. The tang ring includes a plurality of tangs which are positioned to permit movement of the movable casing end therethrough in a first direction upon a predetermined amount of force being exerted on the casing for removing slack from the casing upon manual adjustment of the lever in a predetermined direction.

Abstract: The disclosed invention provides a flexible circuit board for use in surface mount technology. A polyaramid fiber reinforced resin provides a substrate for a copper cladding in which a circuit is formed. Overlaying the circuitry are a plurality of spaced insulating pads also reinforced with polyaramid fiber for dimensional stability. The spaces insulated pads define fold-lines along which the circuit may be folded, thereby providing a degree of flexibility required for flexible circuit applications.

Abstract: A process for making an article having an irregular internal passage utilizes a hollow polymer preform. The preform is filled with a relatively incompressible filler material such as a powder or a fluid, which supports the preform when it is placed in a mold, e.g. an injection mold. The filler enables the preform to withstand high molding pressures and prevents deflection and movement of the internal passage within the preform. The shell, a layer of a polymer material is then molded about the preform. After the final article has been formed, consisting of the preform and shell, the filler is removed for possible reuse.