Abstract: The present invention is directed to a self locking tensioner that can be used to place a piston or stud in tension. The present invention is directed to a tensioner comprising slip wedges positioned between a piston and a body which houses the piston and the slip wedges.

Abstract: An interchangeable jewelry mounting system that allows for the attachment and detachment of gems from a jewelry setting. This system is provided with a gem mount that has a gem permanently secured to the mount. This mount contains an internal safety catch that, when engaged secures the gem mount to the jewelry setting. The jewelry setting is provided with latches that engage pins on the gem mount to ensure that the internal safety catch does not disengage prematurely.

Abstract: A wheel lock includes a key engaging member and a rotatable sleeve. The key engaging member has a threaded opening for receiving a bolt and a key shaped end for mating with a key. The rotatable sleeve surrounds at least a portion of the key engaging member. The rotatable sleeve is attached to the key engaging member and is capable of rotating around the key engaging member. The wheel lock may further include a spring washer for attaching the rotatable sleeve to the key engaging member. The rotatable sleeve is capable of rotating around the key engaging member without causing the threaded opening of the key engaging member to rotate. The key engaging member is configured such that the key engaging member rotates when a shaped protrusion of the key is mated with the key shaped end of the key engaging member and the key is rotated.

Abstract: A wheel assembly has a housing, a wheel, a rotating device and a controlling device. The housing has a sleeve, an extending portion extending laterally from the sleeve, and brackets extending from opposite sides of the housing. The wheel is rotatablely mounted between the brackets of the housing via a shaft. A rotating device includes a lower pole for engaging with the sleeve of the housing, and a fixing element at bottom of the lower pole for fixing the lower pole on the sleeve in assembly. The controlling device includes a limiting element and a pressing element cooperating with each other to limit direction of the housing and rotation of the wheel simultaneously. The limiting element is mounted in the extending portion and adjacent to the wheel in assembly. The pressing element is mounted on an end of the extending portion for driving the limiting element.

Abstract: An earring includes an earring body, a locking bar provided at one end of the earring body and formed with a locking groove, and a locker provided at the other end of the earring body to be selectively locked with the locking bar. The locker is formed with an insert groove, the insert groove is provided at an inside thereof with a locking protrusion, and a locking release button is positioned adjacent to the locking protrusion while protruding out of the locker. The spring includes a compression spring and the locking protrusion is adapted to lock with the locking groove of the locking bar while performing a straight movement in a state in which the locking protrusion is elastically supported to the spring. The locking/unlocking operations of the coupling parts are easily performed and an aesthetic appearance of the earring is improved.

Abstract: A stackable U-nut fastener includes first and second spaced arms and a folded edge portion interconnecting the arms. A plurality of U-nut fasteners can be engaged one with another to form a collated strip of fasteners. A collating tab from one arm of one U-nut fasteners engages an opening in an arm of an adjacent U-nut fastener.

Abstract: A handle assembly includes a handle body including a handle body having at least one attachment portion proximate a respective end of the handle body, wherein the at least one attachment portion is configured to engage a door panel. At least one latch member is coupled to a respective one of the at least one attachment portion, and the at least one latch member is configured to attach the at least one attachment portion to the door panel. At least one protective member is coupled to a respective one of the at least one attachment portion. The at least one protective member facilitates reducing damage to the door panel during installation of the handle assembly to the door panel.

Abstract: The present invention provides a linear fastening system capable of rapid engagement and disengagement. More specifically, the system utilizes a cooperating collet member and a compression ring member which are constructed and arranged to slip easily over a shank member. The fastener system is secured by linearly traversing a compression member in an overlapping fashion over the collet member thereby utilizing ribbed surfaces to compress the collet member to grip the outer surface of the shank member. In this manner, the linear fastener system is capable of providing a precise, secure, and reproducible connection between multiple components without the need to apply rotational torque to the assembly.

Abstract: A method of joining workpieces includes rotating a friction stir rivet via a mandrel and driving the rivet into the workpieces causing frictional heating between the rivet and the workpieces and causing the materials of the workpieces to soften, thereby providing a fiction stirred displaceable path for the rivet to traverse, and driving the rivet along the displaceable path until the rivet mandrel pierces through the workpieces and a cap of the rivet is seated against the workpieces. Subsequent to seating the cap, further rotation of the mandrel is stopped and the workpieces are allowed to cool and harden. An axial load is then applied to the mandrel sufficient to provide mechanical loading between the rivet body and the workpieces. A resultant volume of displaced material from the workpieces is fixedly attached to the workpieces, thereby avoiding the creation of a potentially detachable slug of the displaced material.

Abstract: A screw, in particular a self-tapping screw, has a screw thread which covers up to the front end of the screw formed as a drilling tip or cutting tip. In the front area, starting with a distance from the front end of the screw, there is an opposite thread showing the same pitch as the screw thread, however, its thread height is lower than the thread height of the screw thread. This second, opposite single-thread, double-thread or triple-thread/multi-thread forms a cutting edge with its thread edge which is used to cut fibers in order to reduce wedge effect during screwing in the screw. The screw is particularly suitable for wood or wood-like materials in the edge areas of structural elements.

Abstract: An article of jewelry including a body having an outer major surface and a decorative pattern formed on the outer surface of the body, the pattern including pairs of intersecting grooves and an optically transparent synthetic decorative element that includes admixed glitter, diamond dust, or both formed in a respective well created by the intersection of each pair of intersecting grooves.

Abstract: An adjustable ring according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a ring portion having an outer surface and an inner surface defining an opening for receiving a finger therethrough; a movable segment coupled to the ring portion and movable between a first position and a second position; and a spring element coupled to the ring portion and the movable segment to allow movement of the movable segment between the first position and the second position. According to another embodiment of the present invention, the adjustable ring further includes an insert portion coupled to an inner surface of the ring portion, the insert portion having an opening; and the movable segment coupled to the insert portion and having a surface movable through the insert portion opening.

Abstract: There is disclosed a pair of components which, in the embodiment described, are a tooth (2) and adaptor (3) for earth-moving apparatus (1). The adaptor is for mounting the tooth on an earth-moving bucket, this mounting being releasable to allow replacement of the tooth when worn. The components define aligned passages (11) through which a locking pin (12) extends to retain the components together. The locking pin has formations (22) for engaging formations (20) on the first component when the pin is rotated from a free position into a locked position. The pin has an insertion recess (27) which is aligned with the formations (20) allowing the pin, in the free position, to be inserted into, or removed from, the aligned passages. The formations (20) are resiliently movable to stably engage the pin when in the locked position.

Abstract: A helical-shaped insert to engage a threaded fastener to a receiving member includes a helical coil having a plurality of coil sections having inner and outer surfaces forming a thread shape, and opposing first and second coil end sections. A removable tang extends radially inward from the first coil end section. A continuously curved surface at a finished end of the second coil end section forms a tangent point where the continuously curved surface tangentially meets the second coil end section outer surface. A notch in the first coil end section proximate to the tang and positioned between the inner and outer surfaces permits removal of the tang by mechanical failure at the notch. A second notch in the second coil end section and the continuously curved surface assist coil removal.

Abstract: A part mounting mechanism includes a boss, and a resin clip adapted to be assembled to the boss. The resin clip includes holding pieces, elastic engagement pieces, and a connecting portion. The part mounting mechanism also includes projecting portions formed on facing inner surfaces of the connecting portion at predetermined intervals in a staggered fashion along a direction in which the boss is inserted. When the boss is inserted into the connecting portion, the projecting portions bite into the distal end portion of the boss.

Abstract: An assemblable jerk handle for a lanyard cord including in one embodiment a base portion having a center channel with interior progressive teeth for receiving the lanyard cord and a cap portion for permanently snap-fitting to the base portion to securely grip and therefore retain the lanyard cord within the base portion. In another embodiment, the assemblable jerk handle comprises a base portion having a center channel positioned therethrough for receiving a bifurcated plug that receives the lanyard cord therein and forcibly closes about the lanyard cord to securely grip and therefore retain the lanyard cord within the base portion.

Abstract: An anti-unscrewing device for coupling the tubular ends of two components in fluid conveying or delivery systems by means of a threaded ring nut that can be screwed to one of said tubular ends to connect said ends, wherein said anti-unscrewing device comprises a connecting portion to connect the device to one of the components and at least one counter element provided with an engaging portion suitable to engage a corresponding engaging surface formed at said ring nut, such that the engaging portion can be displaced by means of a movement of the ring nut. There are further provided guide means dictating a movement path for the counter element, such that an unscrewing movement of the ring nut will cause the engaging portion to move to a locking position relative to the ring nut thereby preventing the ring nut from unscrewing.

Abstract: A hinge plate for concealed placement between door frame and door panel, has two mounting bases that can be set into recesses in the door frame and in the door panel, and hinge brackets that work together in pairs, which are connected to rotate about a vertical axis of rotation. On the mounting bases, in each instance, the end of one hinge bracket is mounted to rotate about a vertical axis of rotation, and the end of the other hinge bracket is guided to move longitudinally. The hinge brackets are structured as connection elements having the same construction, which have a U shape with a connecting stay and vertically oriented shanks The hinge brackets are joined together in the manner of a plug-in connection, and are connected to rotate at the connecting stays.

Abstract: An apparatus for preventing removal of, or tampering with, a construction fitting includes two construction element engaging components and a fastener for connecting the two construction element engaging components to one another. The fastener includes a bolt extending between the two construction element engaging components and a nut for tightening on the bolt rigidly connecting the two engaging components with a gap therebetween. A body portion, for at least partially covering a nut, prevents access thereto by an unfastening tool with the body portion extending from the nut to a position alongside the bolt within the gap. A locking device is able to be moved relative to the body portion between a first position, in which the apparatus is removable from the construction fitting, and a second position in which the apparatus is prevented from being removed from the construction fitting with the locking device extending, in the second position, from the body portion in a direction toward the bolt with the gap.

Abstract: The invention concerns a non-extending hinged bracelet including a plurality of links (6, 6?) hinged one after the other, each of the links including on one side a male hinge element and on the other side a female hinge element, the male hinge element of one link (6) being inserted in the female hinge element of the next link (6?) to form a hinge (1), said hinge elements being traversed by a pin forming the articulation of the hinge (1), a U-shaped part (14) which covers said hinge (1) including branches (16) which are engaged on either side of the hinge (1) and which have holes (18) in which the ends of the pin are engaged, said bracelet being characterized in that a cover (12) extending between two adjacent links (6, 6?) is arranged between the hinge (1) and the U-shaped part (14).