Abstract: A method of mechanically securing a first object including a thermoplastic material in a solid state to a second object with a generally flat sheet portion, with a perforation of the sheet portion, and with the sheet portion having an edge along the perforation is provided, wherein the first object is positioned relative to the second object so that the edge is in contact with the thermoplastic material and wherein mechanical vibration energy is coupled into the assembly including the first and second objects until a flow portion of the thermoplastic material due to friction heat generated between the edge and the thermoplastic material becomes flowable and flows around the edge to at least partially embed the edge in the thermoplastic material. After the mechanical vibration stops, the thermoplastic material is caused to re-solidify, whereby the re-solidified thermoplastic material at least partially embedding the edge anchors the first object in the second object.

Abstract: A system for controlling a franking machine from a remote computer comprises control software for controlling the franking machine, communications apparatus for the franking machine to communicate with the computer, a user application operating on the computer to interface with the control software via the communications apparatus, and a programming library for communicating with the user application, the programming library providing the user application with a series of functional controls of the franking machine. A method for operating a franking machine using the functional controls. A computer readable medium containing the programming library.

Abstract: In a communications system, a host computer in a data center communicates with a multiplicity of electronic postage meters via telephone dial-up lines to conduct telemeter setting (TMS) transactions. Through the communications, the host computer may collect statistical data from each meter, and may impose a cumulative postage amount limit, a time limit and/or a piece limit on the meter. To ensure security and data integrity, the communicated data between the meters and the host computer is selectively encrypted and/or authenticated.

Abstract: An electric cigar lighter for installation in a dashboard of a motor vehicle, has an electrically conductive lighter plug containing an electrically conductive glow coil dish with a glow coil having one end electrically connected to the glow coil dish and another end connected to the lighter plug. A socket having a plug-in contact electrically connected to a negative-pole terminal establishes electrical connection with the lighter plug when the lighter plug is inserted therein. A switch associated with the lighter plug includes a fixed non-flexible contact element secured in the bottom of the socket in electrically insulated relationship thereto and electrically connected to a positive-pole terminal and the glow coil dish which is mounted at the end of the lighter plug and arranged for movement relative thereto into and out of electrical contact with the contact element.

Abstract: An electric cigar lighter which can be fitted and illuminated automatically is disclosed. A reduction in parts of the electric cigar lighter, with the product being easier to fit in a dashboard, is achieved when the holding cup is additionally designed as a socket for the igniter plug having an incandescent head. A bimetallic spring contact electrically connected to the positive potential contact part, which in the operating state contacts an ignition dish of the incandescent head, is disposed on the inside wall area of the cup bottom, and at least one spring contact of the negative potential contact extends through the cup bottom to electrically contact and electrically engage with a conductive edge bead of the igniter plug. This means that the holding cup according to the present invention is used in an advantageous manner not only for illumination purposes, but also as a socket for the igniter plug.

Abstract: An electric cigar lighter has an illumination device in which only an annular zone around an electric cigar lighter is illuminated by means of a luminous ring. The electric cigar lighter makes it possible to illuminate not only a luminous ring surrounding the cigar lighter but also the centrally situated actuating button. It includes a first reflection surface, a light transmission web, light-passage openings, and a second reflection surface. Light rays emitted by a lamp and incident on the first reflection surface, the light rays being parallel to the central axis and within a sleeve wall, are not only directed into the luminous ring via the light transmission web but are also reflected radially into the inside of the illumination sleeve, through the light-passage openings, onto the second reflection surface and from there are thrown into a front zone of the actuating button. According to the invention, substantially homogeneous light distribution over the entire front zone of the cigar lighter is achieved.