Abstract: An elastic band for securing an object for transport is comprised of a stretchable sheet exhibiting an elongation limited to an elastic range of the sheet. The sheets is transformed to a string-like or band-like elastic strap exhibiting deformations extending substantially in longitudinal direction of the sheet. The strap is wrapped around the object in snug fits as a result of a return force generated by the elastic elongation. The deformations are imparted through suitably puckering, rolling or twisting the sheet.

Abstract: An adjustable fastening system is disclosed for cinching together first and second opposing cinching members, interconnected via a closed-loop cablecable assembly, or a cable assembly including a discrete-length cable. The cable assembly is cooperable with an anchoring member which maintains the cable assembly in a tensioned state, thereby cinching the first and second cinching members together. The anchoring member includes at least one groove for receiving the cable assembly.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus (1) for locking a cord (2), a wire, a tube or any other bendable member into a locking position with a locking portion. The locking portion (3) has at least one open slits shaped receiving cavity (5) defined at one end of the locking portion, the cavities having an opening that is facing away from a portion (7) of the cord that is under tension and the cavity having a width that is less than a diameter of the cord so that the portion (7) that is under tension and a portion (8) of the cord that is received within the receiving cavity are substantially perpendicular to one another.

Abstract: A zip fastener has mouldings on the opposite tapes which hinder the movement of the sliders relative to the tapes. The movement of the sliders past the mouldings can be felt by the user and so helps indicate when the sliders, are in position at the bottom of one tape, ready to receive the male movable open parts pin. The moulding rides past a shoulder on the slider as the pin is pushed into position. The invention is also useful with fasteners having a single slider.

Abstract: A side-actuated clip that is actuated by using only one hand. The clip consists of two halves, withone stationary and the other pivotal. A pivot shaft having a helical shape passes through a mounting bracket of the second, pivotal plate-half. The mounting bracket has an interior opening corresponding to the shape of the helically-shaped pivot shaft. The pivot shaft is spring biased. As the pivot shaft is translated in the mounting bracket secured to the second, pivotal plate-half, such movement causes the second plate-half to pivot open or closed, depending upon the direction of translation of the pivot shaft. The spring biases the shaft in a linear direction that pivots the second plate-half into its closed, clamping position.

Abstract: A snap-hook comprises a pivoting finger with a rotary locking ring cooperating with a locking bolt. This bolt has an operating component designed to cooperate alternately with a hole or a notch arranged in the locking ring with a preset angular offset, respectively in the first locked position to perform said positive locking of the ring in rotation when the operating component is inserted in the hole, and in a second unlocked position with formation of an internal link with a hang-up between the ring and finger when the operating component engages in the notch, moving from the second unlocked position to the first locked position being performed manually by a rotational movement of the ring causing the hang-up to be released at the beginning of travel following the reaction of the ring on the operating component, and insertion of the operating component in the hole at the end of travel for positive locking of the ring in rotation.

Abstract: A side release buckle having a retaining strap includes a male plug member and a female socket member. The plug member has a pair of resiliently flexible arm members and a center piece. A retaining strap is disposed between each arm member and the center piece near the distal end of the male plug member. The retaining strap acts to prevent outward extension of the flexible arm members beyond a breaking point. The retaining strap also allows for minimal resistance for inward flexing of the arm members during normal operation of the buckle.

Abstract: A buckle for a seat belt of a motor vehicle has a frame 10 including a base and upstanding side walls, a lock pin 12 extending between the side walls, a lock bar 18 engagable in an aperture 26 in a latch plate 24 associated with the seat belt, a slider 16 connected with the lock bar 18, said slider 16 being retained under the lock pin 12 when the lock bar 18 is engaged in a latch plate aperture 26, a release button 20 for releasing said slider 16 from the lock pin 12 and thus releasing the lock bar 18 from engagement with the aperture 26 in the latch plate 24. At least one portion of the lock pin 12 contacted by the slider 16 is rotatably mounted within the buckle and is rotated by the motion of the slider 16 during the course of insertion into and/or release from the buckle of a latch plate 24.

Abstract: A technique and apparatus for providing reciprocating hydroenhancement includes a pair of fabric spools with a hydroenhancement process disposed therebetween. The hydroenhancement process is configured to impart a minimal amount of hydroenhancement to the fabric passing therethrough and may comprise only a single vacuum roll and associated single hydroenhancement jet (other arrangements may use two or three of vacuum rolls and jets in order to provide controllable "front side" and "back side" treatments on a per pass basis). The fabric to be treated is loaded onto a first spool, passes through the hydroenhancement process and is thereafter taken up on the second spool. Once the entire length of fabric has been treated and loaded onto the second spool the process is reversed; the fabric is unwound from the second spool, treated a second time and re-loaded onto the first spool. The process is reversed once again, and a second "forward" treatment is imparted to the fabric. This "back and forth" (i.e.

Abstract: A construction for a rubber blanket for use on a fabric compressive shrinkage apparatus is described. The blanket includes an inner bearing surface defining a bearing face and an outer surface defining a working face, with the edges of the belt along the bearing surface being beveled so that the bearing face is relatively narrower than the overall belt width. The specially-configured edge construction reduces the tendency of the edges of the blanket to curve upwardly when the blanket is properly tensioned for operation of the apparatus, and the tendency of water to be flung around the edges of the belt and onto the working face is reduced. Further, the beveled side edges promote longer blanket life by reducing the tendency for the edges to crack. Also as a result of the edge construction, a larger effective working face of the blanket can be attained, thereby enabling larger widths of fabric to be processed on the apparatus than previously achievable with outer surface-beveled blankets.

Abstract: A relatively inexpensive web widening apparatus which is suitable for the manufacture of a widened web having a large width and a lightweight web while maintaining a high widening ratio and the uniformity of the web and can be operated with ease at a high efficiency comprises a widening tool in contact with the web, having first and second groups of widening plates arranged in a width direction of the web to face each other, at least one pair of cross guiders which can nip both side end portions of the web, and guide means for moving the widening plates of the first and second groups in such a manner that the interval between the widening plates expands gradually as they rotate and then narrows gradually.

Abstract: An improved device for producing longitudinally and/or transversely drawn-out foil webs, in particular foil webs simultaneously drawn-out along two axes, is characterized in that the actual clamping means that hold the edges of the foil are held and anchored, together with the nipper carriage that carries them, by means of an overlying bridge so as to leave a gap under the bridge in the cross view. A shielding wall projects upwards into the gap. The top edge of the wall ends above the plane of the foil web.

Abstract: A robotic turret tool for use with an industrial robot is mountable onto the spindle of the robot and capable of having multiple tools mounted thereto. The turret tool includes a mounting bracket adapted to be affixed to the spindle of the industrial robot, the mounting bracket including a locking element support. A turret shaft affixed to said mounting bracket. A turret head is rotatably supported on the turret shaft with multiple tools attached to the turret head allowing the robot to select which tool to use through rotation of the turret head. A locking element is slidably mounted in the locking element support. The locking element including an upper electrical supply connector and an upper pneumatic supply conduit path. The locking element is movable from a locked position engaging said turret head to an unlocked position away from said turret head.

Abstract: A railroad car truck frame jack clamps a side frame, the clamps suspend a cross tube which in turn suspends one or more cylinders which raise a bolster plug thereby lifting the bolster relative to the side frame and decompressing the truck springs for repair or replacement, twisting loads being minimized in the preferred embodiment by a lost motion slot.

Abstract: A casing for sign comprising a backing sheet and side members having each a lip along an edge of the backing sheet. The sign casing further comprises a crimp or a plurality of crimps in the lip of each side member and into the backing sheet for retaining the backing sheet to the side members. The lip of each side member is adjacent a first side of the backing sheet, and a lateral portion of each side member is adjacent a second side of the backing sheet. The lip and the lateral portion of each side member form a slot enclosing an edge of the backing sheet. The lateral portion of the side member further has a groove facing the lip, for receiving a swollen portion of the crimp. The casing is manufactured on a production table having a central top surface, a first side surface and a second side surface.

Abstract: A plurality of holes 2, each of which permits insertion of a small-diameter of an article to be manufactured, are formed in a flexible metal retaining plate 1 having a thickness of about 100 micrometers. A pair of notches 3, 3 are formed in the internal periphery of each hole 2 so as to be opposite to each other, and a cantilever 4 is defined between a pair of the notches 3, 3. The small-diameter portion of the article to be manufactured is inserted into each hole 2, and the cantilevers 4 and the hole 2 are integrally fixed together by welding. A plurality of the articles to be manufactured retained by the retaining plate 1 are fed as a unit to a surface abrasion step, a film-forming step, and others. As a result, a plurality of sensor elements can be simultaneously manufactured.

Abstract: A method of joining successive sections of tubular members having substantially dissimilar flexibilities is involved that includes the step of providing a transitional zone intermediate said successive sections having a flexibility intermediate those of the successive sections. Articles made by the process are also disclosed.

Abstract: A wire crimping apparatus includes a pair of wire-length setting rollers, a pair of crimping cylinders arranged in a direction of feeding a wire, a pair of wire guides which are openably/closably attached between said pair of crimping cylinders, a pair of moving tables which has connector container grooves opposite to said pair of crimping blades and can move independently of a direction horizontally orthogonal to a wire, and a wire guide stand which has a wire pushing-down cylinder and can move in the direction vertically orthogonal to the wire. On a pair of moving tables, each wire is crimped to the connector on a first moving table at a forward position in the direction of wire feeding, is extended to have a required length between the moving tables by the wire-length setting roller, crimped to the connector on a second moving table at a backward position in the direction of wire feeding, and the moving tables are moved in opposite directions to connect wires between the connectors in a crossing manner.

Abstract: A motor stator delaminator separates individual electrical laminations from a stack thereof. A stack is transferred from an infeed conveyor at a loading station onto an elevator. The elevator raises the stack inside a tower to a holding station. At the holding station, support for the stack is transferred from the elevator to a holding mechanism. The elevator descends to the loading station. A breaker plate extends into the interior of the tower between the holding station and the loading station. The stack is released by the holding mechanism to fall by gravity onto the breaker plate. That action separates the individual laminations. A door opens a discharge opening in the tower, and an eject mechanism pushes the individual laminations through the discharge opening and out of the tower.

Abstract: A magnetic clutch includes a rotor and an armature facing to each other for establishing a coupling connection. A serpentine magnetic circuit is formed in the rotor and the armature. A method for manufacturing a rotor of a magnetic clutch of the invention comprises the step of deforming a single ring-shaped plate of a magnetic material, by a plastic deformation process such as cold forging, into a ring-shaped element comprising generally concentric inner and outer cylindrical walls, and a ring-shaped bottom wall. Prior to or after or simultaneously with this step, ring grooves are formed on the bottom wall. A nonmagnetic material is then filled in the ring grooves, and the bottom surface of the bottom wall is cut to form a friction surface. By this cutting, the nonmagnetic material is exposed at the friction surface.

Abstract: A method for making ceramic, micro-electromechanical tools which can be used for the production of micromagnets with a multi-pole, micro-polarization pattern.

Abstract: Superimposing strip layers including a positive electrode strip and a negative electrode strip, which are put into layers together with a separator strip which is put between the electrode strips, are spirally wound around an outer circumference of a bobbin having an end cross section similar in shape to a center hole of a spiral electrode to form a substantially circular center hole in the spiral electrode while extracting the bobbin.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for support and alignment of electronic modules. Electronic modules have V-shaped grooves in their top and bottom surfaces. A rack assembly includes an upper frame and a lower frame, each having a plurality of parallel guide members attached to a support member. The upper and lower frames are advantageously constructed as mirror images of each other. The guide members are adapted to be received in the grooves in the electronic modules, the guide members of the upper frame receiving the grooves in the top surfaces of the modules and the guide members of the lower frame receiving the grooves in the bottom surfaces of the modules. A module is installed in the assembly by aligning the grooves in the module with the corresponding guide members of the frames and pushing the module into the rack assembly.

Abstract: To enable bonding flat and corrugated sheets at their contact points by laser welding or other welding methods while laminating and spirally winding the sheets, a process of producing a metal catalyst carrier for exhaust gas purification in the form of a metal honeycomb column composed of flat and corrugated metal sheets alternately laminated, wound together, and bonded to each other, the process includes the steps of: forming plural openings in a flat sheet of a metal; laminating one piece of the flat sheet having the openings formed therein and one piece of a corrugated sheet of a metal and bonding the laminated flat and corrugated sheets to each other to form a composite sheet; and spirally winding the composite sheet around an axis to form columnar turns each composed of an outer flat layer composed of the flat sheet and an inner corrugated layer composed of the corrugated sheet, while bonding an outer turn and an adjoining inner turn by welding an inner corrugated layer of the outer turn, in a portion ex

Abstract: A metal foil leaf assembly for catalytic converters, the leaf assembly including at least two juxtaposed foil leaves, each having opposite ends to establish a leaf length and at least one corrugated leaf segment shorter than the leaf length. At least one of the opposite ends is joined by appropriate technique, such as welding, brazing, or folding. The leaf assembly is incorporated in catalytic converter body having a cylindrical jacket tube. A plurality of radiating foil leaves extend in adjacent curved paths and are joined at the outer ends thereof to the jacket tube. The foil leaves define fluid passage cells between juxtaposed flat and corrugated leaf segments, and each of the foil leaves has at least one corrugated segment.

Abstract: A diamond heat sink having a very high thermal property, to be used for radiation of semiconductor devices or compressors, includes a plate-shaped diamond substrate and fins for increasing the thermal property. The fins are combined with the substrate and are of a material having a heat conductivity of at least 1 (W/cm.multidot.K), for example, diamond. Such heat sink is produced by a simple process including arranging a base material and fins for growing diamond in such a manner that the surface of the base material and the upper ends of the fins are substantially the same height by the use of a suitable supporting member or by working the base material itself and growing diamond thereon by a gaseous phase synthesis method.

Abstract: A method for installing a tube repair sleeve in a tube at a selected location relative to a tube defect or a tube support. The method includes using a hydraulic expander having at least one expandable bladder. The expander includes a stud having at least one conduit formed therein and a plurality of slidable expandable bladders mounted on the stud for radial expansion, each of the bladders in fluid communication with the conduit. A detector means is mounted on the expander and responsive to tube supports and defects in the tube. Finally, a control system is electrically connected with the detector means and operative to control the expansion of the bladder in response to signals received from the detector means.

Abstract: A method of making a reinforced structural member comprising a solid structural member of recycled plastic having a reinforcing bar inserted therein, extending inwardly from one surface. The solid structural member is formed by extrusion into a desired shape. A notch is formed in the solid structural member extending inwardly with respect to the surface against which force is to be exerted. An untensioned reinforcing bar formed of a material having characteristics of resilience and compressibility different from that of the structural member is inserted and locked into the notch. The reinforcing bar is complementary in shape to the notch, and is held in place by the density of the solid structural member and fasteners. In this way, two dissimilar materials, neither of which alone has sufficient strength, rigidity, or "memory" can be combined to create a durable, inexpensive set of components which substantially exceed the mechanical qualities of either material by itself.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a body member which has a pair of guide surfaces. A blade projects from a first of the guide surfaces and the cutting edge of the blade forms an acute angle with the first guide surface. The plane of the blade forms an acute angle with the second guide surface thereby facilitating a clean cutting action. The angle of the plane of the blade maintains contact between the guide surfaces and the carton being opened and minimizes any tendency for the carton opener to leave the cut. The body member includes a curved portion forward of the blade and a projecting wall portion which serves to position the hand of the user in the correct ergonomic position for safe and efficient operation.

Abstract: A nail cutter including a cutting plate defining a non-sharpened cutting surface, a cutting blade and a driver for bringing the cutting blade and the cutting surface into cutting engagement with a nail disposed between the cutting blade and the cutting surface.

Abstract: Described is manipulator and method of use thereof wherein the manipulator has a firmly standing base and provision for mounting, running and presenting differently thereon commercially available, normally hand held electric razors on a turntable rotatable about the base. Rotation of the turntable presents blades of the razor to the user differently so facial hair on various parts of the face may be shaved through movement of the user's head and razor rotation. The manipulator enables users with limited hand and arm coordination to shave independently.Preferred elastomeric means for carrying the razor on the turntable improves shaving comfort.

Abstract: A cigar cutter comprising a housing having a cigar tip receiving aperture, a cigar tip cutoff blade having an inclined cutting edge, and a blade mounting slide telescopically fitted to the housing and adapted to be manually operated to move the blade to cut off a cigar tip inserted through the aperture. A guide on the slide engages a guide receiving channel in the housing; the slide is guided to slide into and out of the housing, and to move the blade past the aperture to a fully inserted position. A spring disposed in the channel above the guide biases the slide outwardly from the housing. The blade is mounted on the slide with the cutting edge facing generally away from and at an angle to the guide. When the slide is manipulated into the housing against the bias of the spring, forces exerted on the slide by the blade during cutting of a cigar force the slide laterally within the housing, pressing the guide against the channel.

Abstract: A girdling tool including a runner which glides along the periphery of a part of a tree; and a knife which girdles the part of the tree, the knife and the runner being angularly spaced from each other so as to define a space for positioning therein the part of the tree, wherein rotation of the runner about the knife changes the size of the space for positioning therein the part of the tree.

Abstract: A food handling utensil having a handle component and a food engagement component constructed such that the handle component releasably retains the food engagement component. Food engagement components can include forks, knives, spoons, etc. which are retained by respective handle components to thereby provide table utensils used while eating. In another embodiment, the utensil incorporates two food engagement components such as forks and or spoons retained by two respective handle components, with a spring biasing component connected to the two handle components such that the handle components are held away from each other in a resting mode and are hand movable toward each other for use. This embodiment provides utility in grasping food items. The utensils of the present invention provide versatility for changes of handle appearance, replacement of damaged components, and/or requirements for small-space packing accommodations.

Abstract: A rotary cutter head assembly comprises a cutting element including a substantially spherical enlarged retaining portion, a filamentary flexible elongate cutting portion, and a substantially cylindrical intermediate strengthening portion, which is integral with and between the retaining portion and the filamentary portion and is of smaller cross-sectional area than that of the retaining portion, and a head including a first flange which is substantially planar, a second flange which is substantially planar and which extends substantially parallel to and is spaced from the first flange so as to define a channel between the first and second flanges, in which channel the retaining portion of the cutting element is releasably and pivotally retain.

Abstract: A handle on blades of knives, or the like, with a cross section which is substantially elliptical over its entire length and having the longer axis of the ellipse in the plane of the knife blade. The cross section reduces towards both ends of the handle in such a manner that the two ellipse axes of the ellipse cross sections of the offset end of the handle and of the free end of the handle are shortened by approximately the same amount. In this connection the two more narrowly curved ellipse arcs develop two vertex lines extending in longitudinal direction and lying in the plane of the knife blade.

Abstract: A glass breaking tool includes an elongate plunger which has a pointed head (i.e. ram member) at one end. The plunger, including the pointed head, is normally arranged within a housing. A contact block may be secured to the plunger at the second end thereof A coil spring may surround the plunger and may extend between the contact block at the second end of the plunger and a portion of the housing which may be substantially adjacent the first end of the plunger near the pointed head portion. The plunger is adapted for movement from its rest position where the pointed head is arranged within the housing to an extended position where the pointed head extends outside of the housing. Suction cups or adhesive is used to attach the tool to the portion of glass to be broken.

Abstract: The chain of an electromotive chain saw is quickly stopped by the combined use of an electric brake and a mechanical brake when a trigger member is turned off. The rear end of a brake band disposed to tighten a brake drum by operating a hand guard is secured to a bent rod. When the trigger member is released, the brake band is normally tightened around the outer periphery of a brake drum by the urging force of a coil spring. When the trigger member is released, a circuit provided with a brake winding is closed, thereby applying a dynamic braking force. When the dynamic brake force is applied, a centrifugal clutch is released quickly and the speed of stopping the brake drum is accelerated.

Abstract: A method of determining whether a structure such as a bridge has been severely damaged by an earthquake or other disturbance such as a flood. The method is designed to be carried out by unsophisticated persons immediately after such disturbance so that unnecessary delays will not be caused by the closing of bridges and the like which are not severely damaged. The method involves affixing a target to one portion of the structural member such as a span and affixing a pointer on another structural member such as a column. Preferably the target and pointer are positioned in such a way that a safe or unsafe determination can be easily made by the viewer.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for measuring circumferential surface dimensions of workpieces. A circular table is mounted with its upper surface in a horizontal plane for both rotational and reciprocal vertical movement. A plurality of through slots in the table extend radially with respect to its central axis of rotation. A like plurality of gripper fingers having both vertical and angularly disposed edges are affixed to a common cable for radial movement with respect to the table axis. When the table is in its upper position the fingers are positioned below corresponding ones of the slots, and when in the lower position portions of the fingers extend through the slots. As the fingers are moved toward the workpiece it is engaged by and rides up the angularly disposed edges until it abuts the vertical edges of the fingers. While the workpiece is supported above the table surface, one or more wheels rotatable about vertical axes are moved to engage the surface to be measured.

Abstract: A sighting device for use on an archery bow has one or more light gathering fibers that are substantially parallel to the archer's line of sight, instead of being bent as in prior sighting devices. The sighting device is preferably injection molded, and has two cross hairs that are also injection molded at the same time as the body member. The light gathering fiber is disposed in the body member at the point of intersection of the cross hairs, and may be press-fit into place. A threaded bolt, which attaches the sighting device to the archery bow, has an end that is overmolded with the body member to form an integral unit. Additional light gathering fibers may be used for different distances, with each of the fibers being substantially parallel to the archer's line of sight. The sighting device may optionally include a source of artificial light for low light conditions, or a lens that is normal to the fiber and that retains the fiber parallel with the archer's line of sight.

Abstract: A marking plumb bob having a separable two-part body assembly defining a reservoir for containing dry marking material and containing a ball check valve mechanism produces a circular ring shaped marking pattern to indicate the set position of a plumb line relative to a reference surface. A biasing spring associated with the check valve mechanism moves within the reservoir to agitate the marking material contained therein each time the ball check valve mechanism operates.

Abstract: A transparent flat sheet template facilitates joining and cutting of pieces of fabric used to make conventional quilting units, prior to assembly of the units into in a quilt. The template comprises a first edge having a first straight edge portion and a concave edge portion, the concave edge portion being a portion of a circle. The template has second and third straight edges disposed perpendicularly to each other, and a fourth edge disposed parallel to the second edge. The template also includes an arcuate guideline which is generally similar in size and shape to the concave edge portion, and a grid of first and second sets of straight guidelines marked on the template. The first set of guidelines are parallel to each other and to the first straight edge portion of the template. The second set of guidelines are parallel to each other and to the second edge of the template. The straight guidelines are used to align the template with edges of a square of fabric.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for accurately locating a train or a track repair vehicle along the track, or to locate accurately a track defect. When measuring track geometry, i.e. gage, cross level, warp, the measuring device moves foot by foot along the track and senses and stores a historical profile of various track geometry parameters. The historical profile is stored in a form usable in a processor in the geometry measuring equipment on a train or repair vehicle. The vehicle is run for a set distance to generate a real time profile which is correlated with the historical profile to get a match and a starting location. Then the vehicle proceeds foot by foot correlating the real time profile with the historical one so that an exact location on a specific track can be determined.

Abstract: Hanging bar for drying long lengths of pasta, having in cross-section a profile which narrows from the top down, and the surface of which has a raised pattern with a repeating motif such that the lengths of pasta rest on several successive asperities of the pattern along their bent-over part in contact with the bar.

Abstract: A drying cylinder comprises a cylindrical shell with head members at either end and is mounted for rotation about its central longitudinal axis. A gas fired burner assembly is mounted in the interior of the cylinder and comprises a plurality of burner segments which transmit heat to the shell by infrared radiation. The heat output of the burner segments are controllable as an assembly in unison or individually.

Abstract: An improved cyclone dryer is disclosed, having an upper, a lower cylinder and a cone-shaped chamber that define a cavity. The improved dryer is adapted for a high-speed airstream to enter the cavity via a tangential airstream orifice. Wet material is fed into the improved dryer via an input assembly that is mounted proximate an exhaust assembly and feeds wet material into the cavity, at a point proximate a lower portion of the cylinder and proximate the cone-shaped chamber.

Abstract: A self-cleaning doctor for use with a papermachine or other paper processing machines and a method for using, wherein the doctor includes a doctor blade which is mounted on a shaft for rotation between a loaded position in which the blade is in contact with a surface that it doctors and an unloaded position in which the doctor blade is removed from the surface. The blade is oriented substantially vertically downward away from the surface when the doctor is in its unloaded position. Rotation of the doctor between its loaded and unloaded positions causes waste paper or the like that deposits or collects on the doctor to fall off the doctor into the papermachine basement.

Abstract: The shoe incorporates adjustable straps that are positioned to tighten the shoe casing around a wearer's instep. A retractor mechanism incorporates elastic members. The elastic members are charged when the wearer loosens shoe by pulling on the straps. The stored energy is released when a catch is released releasing the elastic members to tighten and cinch the shoe on the wearer's foot. During charging a first elastic member is extended an intermediate distance and a second elastic member is charged a greater distance. The second elastic member triggers the release of the first elastic member when it reaches the intermediate position, increasing the tension available for cinching the straps.

Abstract: A shoe comprising a sole having a front end that tapers and comes to a point, a heel attached to the back end of the sole, an upper portion attached around the perimeter of the sole to form a shoe having a pointed toe section, and a toe line insert placed at the front of the inner surface of the sole in between the sole and the upper. The toe line insert forms a barrier between the wearer's feet and the pointed toe section. The toe line insert is curved and substantially conforms to the shape of a wearer's toe line. The toe line insert prevents the wearer's toes from entering the pointed toe section. A filler may be placed between the toe line insert and the front end of the shoe to maintain the structure of the front end.