Abstract: The invention relates to a piston ring comprising a slit forming a joint, a bearing surface, an inner peripheral surface, and upper and lower flanks extending thereinbetween. An inconstant cross-sectional interruption is provided in the region of the inner peripheral surface and, seen from the peripheral direction, is larger in the region of the joint than in the region which diametrically opposes the joint. The wall thickness of the inventive piston ring varies in the peripheral direction and is smaller in the region of the joint than in the region which diametrically opposes the joint. The relation between the wall thickness and the cross-sectional interruption is always such that the piston ring has a constant torsional angle, seen over the periphery.

Abstract: Cylinder head gasket with a metallic gasket plate comprising a combustion chamber opening enclosed by a bead, and a stopper surrounding the opening and delimiting deformation of the bead, the stopper formed by elevations of a gasket sheet metal layer which are obtained by deformation thereof, the stopper is designed such that in sections through the sheet metal layer along circular cylindrical surfaces coaxial with the opening the stopper comprises a row of discrete elevations following one another in a circumferential direction of the opening and corresponding depressions located directly opposite these elevations, and in a plan view of the sheet metal layer in the area of the stopper, the total area occupied by the elevations is at least half of the total area of the stopper, and the shape of the elevations differs from the shape of circular arcs at least partially enclosing the opening.

Abstract: A lock system includes: a latch which is rotatably supported on a housing, and is brought into engagement with and disengagement from a striker; a spring for biasing the latch in a direction in which the engagement of the latch with the striker is released; a slide member which is rotatably supported on the housing, controls the rotation of the latch, and is an integrated molded part; a rotation preventing portion which prevents a rotation of the latch in a biased direction; a rotation permitting portion which permits the rotation of the latch in the biased direction; and a driven portion which links with a manual operation unit, wherein: the rotation preventing portion and the rotation permitting portion are provided at one end portion of the slide member; and the driven portion is provided at the other end portion of the slide member.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a frame, a head section coupled to the frame and movable relative to the frame between first and second angular positions, and a sensor operable to determine an angular position of the head section. The apparatus also has an alarm that is activated if the angular position of the head section is not sufficiently large enough.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for transferring patients are provided. A patient transfer device may have a wheeled base and a lateral transfer structure. A patient may lie supine on a patient support structure on top of a transfer sheet. Airbags may be adjusted beneath the transfer sheet to form channels. To transfer the patient from the patient support structure to the wheeled base, the lateral transfer structure is extended into the channels beneath the patient. A stretcher frame is formed from the extended lateral transfer structure. A stretcher that supports the patient is formed by attaching the transfer sheet to the stretcher frame. After the stretcher has been formed, the extended portions of the lateral transfer structure may be retracted to move the stretcher and patient on top of the wheeled base. The patient transfer device may be adjusted to allow the patient to assume a sitting position during transit.

Abstract: A door opening/closing device includes, between a door operating lever and an open-door latch unit, a first connection link connected to the door operating lever and a third wire cable. One end of the third wire cable is connected to the first connection link and the other end is connected to the open-door latch unit to connect the first connection link and the open-door latch unit to each other.

Abstract: A retrofit cover for fully or partially enclosing a mattress, wherein the cover is formed of a unitary, integrally formed fabric having a fire barrier element. The cover is capable of rendering mattresses, mattress foundations, upholstered furniture article and other articles filled with resilient cushioning materials that were not originally manufactured to meet a full-scale open flame standard capable of passing such newly mandated standard for performance in newly manufactured items. When tested in accordance with the flame resistance test protocols of 16 CFR 1633 or TB 603, the item encased in the retrofit cover has a maximum heat release rate of less than 200 kW and a total energy release of less than 25 MJ in the first five minutes of the test.

Abstract: A cushion heated convectively using a positive temperature coefficient of resistance type resistive heating element, includes a mattress pad, seat or the like with a bottom surface secured around its perimeter to an air permeable top surface, forming a plenum and containing tubular spacer material or other air flow structure therein. The plenum is connected to a power unit housing a blower, a heating module and a controller unit. The heating module includes a PTC type heating element. A remote control is provided, and a foldable antenna attachable to the convective unit facilitates wireless communication with the controller unit. The user resting atop the cushion controls the blower and heating module to deliver air of a desired temperature and quantity to the cushion and through the top surface.

Abstract: A door lock for an oven includes a lock housing, a geared motor, an actuating shaft to be driven by the geared motor, a retaining plate and a locking element formed as a lever to be operated by the actuating shaft. The lever is mounted on the retaining plate and has a lever axle for reversibly changing location relative to the lock housing. A spring exerts a force being overcome in an emergency-unlocking function permitting adjustment of the retaining plate to allow opening of the lever having been previously brought into a locking position by the actuating shaft, without further operation of the actuating shaft. The actuating shaft is adjustable along its axis by the lever having been unlocked in an emergency.

Abstract: The present invention features a system and method for operating or operably connecting an American locking cylinder with a Profile mortise lock, wherein the American locking cylinder functions with the Profile mortise lock in place of a Profile locking cylinder. Essentially, the present invention provides a door lock cylinder conversion adapter that converts an American cylinder to be operable with a Profile mortise lock. The door lock cylinder conversion adapter functions to actuate the internal locking mechanism of a Profile mortise lock much the same way a standard Profile locking cylinder would, only with an American locking cylinder providing the means for effectuating the actuation.

Abstract: An automotive door lock having a lock mechanism (3) for releasably engaging a striker (4), and a release mechanism (5) interacting with the lock mechanism (3) to release the lock (1). The release mechanism (5) has a control member (18) which interacts with the lock mechanism (3), is loaded elastically into a rest position, and can be set to a work position to release the lock (1). The release mechanism (5) has an actuating member (31) activated selectively to move the control member (18), in a forward movement, from the rest position to the work position; and, during a return movement of the control member (18) to the rest position, the control member (18) and the actuating member (31) are disconnected to minimize the time taken to complete the return movement.

Abstract: A side rail pad system that provides modifications and components operable in association with hospital beds and the like that are designed to articulate. The system improves upon the structural shape of the side rails used in association with the articulating bed frames and provides an arrangement of side rail pads that are positioned between the side rails and the existing mattress platform. The side rail pads are positioned on the bed frame with flexible hinges in a manner that allows their alternate movement between a placement that fills the space between the side rails and the mattress when the side rails are in a raised position, and a placement away from the side of the mattress when the side rails are rotated into a lowered position.

Abstract: A door operating device is provided in a door of a vehicle and connected to a door latch allowing a striker of the vehicle to engage with or disengage from the door latch. The door operating device comprises an outside lever, a release lever under the outside lever and a locking lever connected to an actuator. In a locking position, only the outside lever rotates, while both the outside and release levers rotates in an unlocking position. The locking lever comprises first and second lever portions which separately move. If malfunction occurs, the second lever portion is moved by an actuator.

Abstract: A hinge assembly comprising first and second hinge elements rotatably mounted relative to each other and a plurality of elongate flexible members connected to the first and second hinge elements and extending there between, the elongate members being twisted about a longitudinal axis to a first condition prior to assembly the hinge assembly, wherein the hinge elements are rotatably movable from a first position in which the elongate members are in said first condition to a second position in which the elongate members are in a second condition.

Abstract: A vehicle door checker is provided that includes a housing attachable to a vehicle door, an arm having a first portion attachable to the vehicle, and wherein a second portion of the arm moves through the housing when the door is moved. The door checker also includes at least one slider held within the housing that is in sliding contact with the second portion of the arm inside of the housing. At least one biasing member is held within the housing, the biasing member biasing the slider against the second portion of the arm. A water management dam provides a barrier in the housing such that water is prevented from accumulating within the housing and freezing, wherein such freezing would cause damage to the housing and/or prevent the biasing member and slider from moving.

Abstract: A laminated low-permeability elastic ring (40) comprising an outer layer (40A) of a low permeability material that possesses impermeability to automotive fuel, and an inner core part (40B) of a low temperature-resistant material with excellent low temperature performance in order to maintain high elastic strength at low temperatures for the low permeability material layer.

Abstract: A hospital bed including a mattress and a frame. The width of the frame of the hospital bed is adjustable and the width of the mattress is adjustable. The hospital bed may include a frame and mattress adapted to support a heavy or large patient, including a bariatric or obese patient.

Abstract: A nursing bag, which has a padded nursing surface that can gently support an infant, a cavity into which baby-care products may be placed, and optionally a stiffening system in the cavity that provides rigidity when the nursing surface is under the weight of an infant. A nursing cover may optionally cover the nursing surface when the nursing surface is not being used as a nursing platform.

Abstract: Disclosed is an articulated bed has a stationary frame and a plurality of mattress support sections defining a mattress support area, the support sections including: a left section, a right section, a head section and a leg section. Each of the left, right, head and leg sections are hingedly movable, thereby enabling a patient to turn the body to the left or right and to sit up or lift the legs.

Abstract: The present invention provides a transversely interconnecting slidable stair rod bracket. The bracket may also be provided for use in a stair rod set, the set also including a stair carpet retaining rod and a finial. The bracket has a top portion and a bottom portion. The top portion having a plurality of projections and complementary shaped channels for receiving projections from the bottom portion; the bottom portion contains a rod-receiving portion, an outside end wall with an aperture therein for accepting either a threaded finial fastener which engages with a “female” finial, or the fastening portion of a “male” finial, and a plurality of projections and complementary shaped channels for receiving projections from the top portion.