Abstract: As rotational mechanical devices accelerate or decelerate, they generate torque against their housing and/or their surroundings. This torque represents wasted energy that is lost to the system. The invention comprises the use of equal and opposite force from an energy source such as a spring or counterweight to counteract to the torque generating forces in the mechanical device.

Abstract: A dual draw and return fuel manifold with an integral mounting bracket for use on a mobile vehicle containing at least two fuel tanks such as a heavy duty truck. The invention overcomes problems associated with assembling several fittings to a bracket and reduces the opportunities for leaks to develop in a vehicle fuel system by incorporating the fittings and mounting apparatus into a one piece design. There is a manifold which contains two three way tees integrated onto a mounting bracket or body. The mounting bracket has two engagement legs for engagement to a chassis mounted component over and to a vehicle drive train component. In a preferred embodiment these engagement legs will be engaged on either side of a transmission of the vehicle. The return and supply manifolds are located one on top of another on the manifold such that they may be easily connected to the high pressure tubing of the fuel system.

Abstract: An independent steering and/or braking control to improve motor vehicle stability and stopping utilizes a steer-by-wire system that includes a steering input system, a controller in electronic communication with the steering input system, and a plurality of roadwheel systems. Each of the roadwheel systems is in electronic communication with the controller, and each roadwheel system includes a steering actuator and a steerable wheel rotatably and operably connected to the steering actuator. The steerable wheel is configured to be angled independent of other steerable wheels and relative to a direction of travel of the motor vehicle. A method of stopping the motor vehicle as it travels includes angling a pair of the steerable wheels thereof in opposing directions.

Abstract: A variable road feedback device (20) for a steer-by-wire system (50) comprises a housing (31) that contains a magnetorheological fluid (32), a magnetic field generator (34) for generating a variable magnetic field within the housing (31) in order to vary the viscous resistance of the magnetorheological fluid (32) therein, and a rotor (24) rotatably mounted within the housing (31) that rotates through the magnetorheological fluid (32) and is responsive to the variable viscous resistance thereof.

Abstract: A hydraulic power steering apparatus for a vehicle is provided with a main control valve in which a valve opening degree is controlled on the basis of a relative movement between an input shaft interlocking with a steering wheel and an output shaft interlocking with a steering mechanism for turning a steered wheel, a power cylinder mechanism generating a steering assist force, a pump apparatus discharging a fixed flow amount of working oil, a first flow passage including a supply passage communicated with the main control valve, and a control unit controlling an assist control valve. The main control valve controls a supply amount of the working oil in the first flow passage to the power steering apparatus, and the assist control valve controlling a flow amount of a part of the working oil discharged from the pump apparatus 1 is controlled to a set valve opening degree set on the basis of a vehicle speed and an oil pressure of the working oil in the first flow passage, by the control unit.

Abstract: A hydraulic steering arrangement (1) having a steering valve (2) is described, by way of which steering valve (2) a steering motor is in communication with a pump and which steering valve (2) has a slider (3) having two end faces (8), which slider (3) can be displaced by a pressure fluid by means of a hydraulic steering unit (4) having a steering handwheel (5), the hydraulic steering unit (4) having two work connections (6) and each work connection (6) applying a work pressure to a respective end face of the two end faces (8) of the slider (3) by way of a connection (7).

Abstract: In a motor-driven power steering apparatus, a grease storage is provided in a lower portion of an engagement portion between a drive gear and an intermediate gear in a housing, and a partition wall for preventing a lubricating material or grease from flowing down from the grease storage to an engagement portion between a pinion shaft and a rack shaft is provided in a periphery of a pinion shaft inserting portion of the housing.

Abstract: A clean check is performed on a gearbox by flushing an oil-based fluid through the gearbox and then through a filter. The filter is then weighed to determine the weight of contaminants collected in the filter. The contaminant weight is compared to a predetermined level, wherein the gearbox is acceptable if the contaminant weight is below the predetermined level. This method is carried out on a system that includes a source of the oil-based fluid fluidly connected to an inlet of the gearbox and a filter fluidly connected to an outlet of the gearbox. A device such as a pump is provided for causing the oil-based fluid to flow through the gearbox and the filter.

Abstract: An apparatus for changing oil in a vehicle having an internal combustion engine with lubrication passages, the apparatus having a system for air purging the lubrication passages to expediently remove the oil. The apparatus includes a pressure transducer in the fluid line of the air purge system to monitor a pressure drop of the compressed air when the spent oil has been removed from the engine. When the pressure drop exceeds a predetermined value the air purge system automatically deactivates.

Abstract: A passive lubrication system for bearings of a kind such as an evaporative cooler. The system has a container having a lid which contains oil. A delivery tube depends into the oil. The tube extends to the lubrication site and preferably one or more coils are formed in the tube. Oil will be slowly drawn through the tube and coils without additional pumping energy being required.

Abstract: In a control device for double-deck elevator systems equipped with a plurality of elevators that have an upper deck and a lower deck that are conveyed simultaneously to two adjacent floors and that assign elevator decks to respond to boarding hall calls from each floor, to select the optimal deck for responding to boarding hall calls is selected from among all of the aforementioned decks to make elevator travel and passenger transport more efficient.

Abstract: A mounting bracket apparatus for a disc brake of a vehicle is provided for measuring torque in a disc brake mounting bracket. The invention includes a bracket capable of being secured to a non-rotatable part of a vehicle. The bracket includes first and second caliper bracket abutments and a cross member extending in the direction of the rotational axis of the disc. The cross member joins the first and second caliper bracket abutments at respective first and second corner-shaped portions. A force sensor is located adjacent the first corner-shaped portion of the bracket adapted to sense strain in the first corner-shaped portion.

Abstract: A ventilated brake rotor having vents disposed between two discs. The vents are defined by an adjacent pair of vanes distributed around the first disc and disposed below the second disc. Each vane is defined by a camber. The camber, in turn, is parallel to a curve that is defined by two camber lines. The curve is tangent to the leading end of a first camber line and tangent to a trailing end of the second camber line. The first and the second camber lines intersect where the first camber line is defined from a point on the interior radius of one of the two discs that intersects a datum. Moreover, the first camber line extends at a throat angle from the datum.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a ventilated brake rotor, including a hub mounting face, a rotor ring having two faces, and a hub wall connecting the hub mounting face to the rotor ring. The rotor ring has alternately faced conical passages disposed at an angle less than 90 degrees to the face of the rotor ring. Each passage passes through both the first and second face of the rotor ring, and when the ventilated brake rotor is rotated each passage acts as a conduit for air flow through the rotor ring.

Abstract: A knob arrangement for operating parking brakes intended for use in vehicles comprising brake units and an electrically operated tensioning means for applying or releasing braking force to said brake units. According to the invention, a means is arranged to sense the position of the knob and to send control signals to a first electric motor which is arranged to power said tensioning means for generating a braking force corresponding to the position of the knob. The knob is manually adjustable and, in a fully applied position, at maximum braking force, mechanically lockable. A control motor is arranged to automatically displace the knob to the fully applied and mechanically locked position dependent on second control signals applied to the motor. In its fully applied, locked position the knob is only releasable from the locked position by manual operation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rotor assembly. The rotor assembly includes a rotor having rotor holes disposed about an axis. Bushings are disposed within the rotor holes in order to protect the rotor holes from compression impact deformation. Each bushing includes an internal slot that permits the rotor to radially expand and contract due to changes in the temperature of the rotor. A hub having pin holes that align with the rotor holes is held to the rotor by drive pins disposed within the pin holes and the bushings. A bolt is placed into the drive pin and tightened to fix the hub to the rotor in the axial and circumferential directions. Other features are disclosed.

Abstract: A device for transferring steering responsibility from a first electro-mechanical actuator to a second electro-mechanical actuator comprises a cylinder and a first piston slideably disposed within the cylinder. A second piston is slideably disposed within an interior chamber of the first piston. A first locking sleeve is disposed within the interior chamber, a second locking sleeve is disposed within the interior chamber in opposition to the first locking sleeve, a first spring is disposed within the interior chamber interposed between the first locking sleeve and the first piston, and a second spring is disposed within the interior chamber interposed between the second locking sleeve and the first piston. The pistons and the locking sleeves also each include at least one groove disposed therein. Snap rings may be disposed within the grooves. A damping mechanism may also be incorporated into the structure of the device.

Abstract: A damper piston assembly includes a rod, a piston, a rivet disk, and a spring. The piston surrounds the rod between a riveted end and a longitudinal stop of the rod. The piston includes a valve assembly having a valve body with an orifice extending therethrough. The rivet disk surrounds the rod and has an opening for fluid communication with the orifice. The rivet disk is longitudinally secured between the piston and the riveted end of the rod. The spring is positioned in compression longitudinally between the rivet disk and the longitudinal stop of the rod.

Abstract: A vibration-damping device comprising: at least one rigid housing member fixedly disposed in a vibrative member; and a plurality of independent mass members disposed non-adhesively and independently in the at least one housing member such that each of the plurality of independent mass members is opposed to the at least one housing member with a given spacing therebetween in a vibration input direction, and is displaceable relative to the at least one housing member. The each independent mass member is independently displaced relative to the at least one housing member so that the independent mass member and the housing member are brought into elastic impact against each other at their respective abutting surfaces which are opposed to each other in the vibration input direction.

Abstract: A luggage article including first rollers and selectively deployable or nondeployable second rollers. The luggage article includes a handle that is movable between a retracted position and an extended position. The user can selectively deploy or not deploy the second rollers even when the handle is in the extended position. An improved detent device and also an improved caster system are also disclosed. Also, a wheeled panel mechanism by itself for use not only with luggage but also other articles such as carts, dollies and baby carriages, is disclosed.

Abstract: In a transmitting system for a small-sized vehicle in which a crankshaft of an engine and an input shaft of a multi-stage transmission are connected to each other through a fluid transmitting device, a shifting clutch is interposed between the crankshaft of the engine and the multi-stage transmission in a series relation to the fluid transmitting device. A lock-up clutch is interposed between a pump impeller and a turbine impeller of the fluid transmitting device. Thus, when the multi-stage transmission is to be shifted, the shifting operation can be conducted lightly, in spite of a creep phenomenon of the fluid transmitting device, by bringing the shifting clutch into an OFF state. Moreover, during cruising of the vehicle, the slipping of the fluid transmitting device can be inhibited by the OFF state of the lock-up clutch to enhance the transmitting efficiency.

Abstract: A torsional vibration damper for incorporation into the torque transmission path between two components or subassemblies, especially for a hydrodynamic coupling device, includes at least two disk-like damper members. Each damper member has a radially outward coupling region and a radially inward coupling region, and at least one deformation region extending between the radially outward coupling region and the radially inward coupling region. Each deformation region is elastically deformable at least in some areas to permit a relative circumferential movement between the radially outward coupling region and the radially inward coupling region.

Abstract: An axle disconnect device for use in an all wheel drive vehicle. The axle disconnect device includes a one-way overrunning clutch and a spring contacting the clutch. A spline locking ring contacts the spring on an end opposite of the clutch. A friction dog spline engages the surface of the spline locking ring while a differential ramp ring contacts the friction dog spline. The axle disconnect device also includes a cover ramp engaging the differential ramp ring.

Abstract: A power train between the output shaft of the engine and the input shaft of the transmission in the power train of a motor vehicle has a composite flywheel receiving torque from the output shaft and transmits torque to the input shaft by way of a clutch disc in response to engagement of a friction clutch which is arranged to transmit torque between the clutch disc and the flywheel. The clutch disc has an input section adapted to receive torque from the flywheel and an output section adjacent the mass of a dynamic damper. Transmission of torque between the mass and the clutch disc takes place by way of the coil springs of an oscillation damper and a slip clutch in series with the oscillation damper.

Abstract: The invention is based on a vehicle transmission with a hydrodynamic retarder (1), the stator (3) of which is supported on a transmission housing (2) and the rotor of which is coupled with the vehicle input drive part of the transmission. The proposal is, that the stator (1) be pivotally anchored in the transmission housing (2) to rotate about the axis of rotation (17) of the rotor within a limited angular area. Further that said stator (1) is supported on at least one spring element (5, 6) on the transmission housing (2), whereby at least one spring element (6) acts upon a regulating piston (8) of the pressure regulation valve (7).

Abstract: A track assembly comprises an inner channel member, an outer channel member and a top plate, through which load bearing rollers selectively protrude An inflatable air bag is between the inner and outer channels for raising and lowering the inner channel. The rollers are attached to the inner channel and are raised and lowered to a recessed state as the air bag raises and lowers the inner channel. An air line fitting at one air bag end passes through the outer channel member side wall to fix the air bag end longitudinally in place. The other end is clamped by two plates sandwiching the air bag end therebetween. One of the clamp plates has two opposing tabs extending therefrom and which engage mating slots in the side walls of the outer channel. As the bag inflates and deflates, the clamp tabs permit the air bag end to ride up and down vertically wherein the tabs ride up and down in the slots. This keeps the bag end longitudinally in place without adding additional fixation components.

Abstract: An apparatus for assembling an automotive body on an assembly line having a right-hand body subassembly line, a left-hand body subassembly line and an underbody subassembly line, for delivery to a pallet transport system for movement through a body framing subassembly line. The apparatus includes an overhead transport system for transporting automotive components along at least one of the subassembly lines and for conveying the automotive components along a pallet transport system on the body framing subassembly line. The overhead transport system includes a trolley movable along a single overhead rail, a carriage slidably movable relative to the trolley, and a plurality of antler nests. Each antler nest is individually engageable with the carriage. The apparatus also includes a lowerator for transferring components from the overhead transport system to a geometry fixture at a workstation along the subassembly line.

Abstract: An unscrambling and aligning conveyor comprises a plurality of tapered rollers attached to a pair of side supports. The tapered rollers are driven at a single speed and tapered to a minimum diameter to define an alignment region. The tapered rollers create a lateral speed decrease toward the alignment region of the conveyor, causing separation and rotation of the articles, and thereby enabling the articles to be singulated in the alignment region. The tapered rollers are supported by the side supports such that center axis of each roller is horizontal to thereby defining a downwardly sloping article transport surface which increases movement of the articles towards the alignment region. The unscrambling and aligning conveyor is driven at a speed greater than the input conveyor located adjacently upstream thereof to provide articles with a gap therebetween so that articles moving along the unscrambling and aligning conveyor are properly singulated.

Abstract: A device for removing printed products, having a fold and being transported uniformly spaced and astraddle by a transport device, has a rotatingly driven gripping device with controlled gripping elements for gripping one of the printed products by the fold on the transport device and removing the printed product while stably holding the printed product. The rotatingly driven gripping device has control elements for controlling an opening movement and a closing movement of the gripping elements and is adjustable for adaptation to the different thicknesses of the printed products during running.

Abstract: A system for conveying objects (1), which comprises at least one endless transporter (2) able to route the objects (3) along a so-called transportation surface (S), the transporter (2) comprising a plurality of pushers (6) regularly spaced apart, fixed to a movable support (7) for the pushers (6), continuously travelling, in a single direction and periodically along a closed-loop path which extends substantially in a so-called conveying plane (P), perpendicular to the said transportation surface (S) the path being locally contiguous with the transportation surface (S), characterized in that each pusher (6) is mounted so as to be able to move between a so-called inactive position in which the pusher (6) is located at a distance from the transportation surface (S) and does not project therefrom, and a so-called active position in which it projects at least partially from the transportation surface (S) in order to come into engagement with an object (3) and push it along the said surface (S), so that it is possi

Abstract: A switch device including an operating member which includes a plurality of actuating sections, opposing corresponding spring sections, for operating their corresponding spring sections. By actuating the actuating sections, corresponding switches are switched. Ends of the actuating sections which oppose their corresponding spring sections are inclined in the outward direction of the operating member. The tilt angle of an actuating section which opposes its corresponding spring section which is not provided along with a switch is greater than the tilt angle of an actuating section which opposes its corresponding spring section which is provided along with its corresponding switch. In a conventional switch device, one or two switches are actuated depending on what portion of the operating member is pressed. Therefore, differences in the clicking characteristics are produced.

Abstract: An improved air-gap slide switch is provided. The air-gap slide switch comprises a slide switch assembly having a slide body and a slide contact removably attached to the slide body for providing electrical conductivity between two printed circuit board contacts when the slide body is in a closed position. No conductivity is provided between the PCB contacts when the slide body is in an open position. The slide body also comprises a longitudinally extending channel wherein a compression spring may be mounted. The compression spring provides a biasing force between the slide body and the slide contact. The slide contact includes two contact arms that retain the slide contact within two contact arm channels located on the slide body. By slidably retaining the contact arms in the contact arm channels, the slide contact is provided a degree of longitudinal motion with respect to the spring channel and the compression spring.

Abstract: A lock switch apparatus comprises: a key insertion hole 7; a detection switch unit 9 for detecting the insertion of an operation key 2 in the key insertion unit 7; a lock unit 11 for locking the operation key 2 when the operation key 2 is inserted in the key insertion hole 7; and a lock detection unit 13 for detecting the operation state of the lock unit 11. The lock unit 11 is configured so that the operation key 2 is locked by the attraction of a solenoid 12, a movable system of a solenoid-side movable portion is configured by providing an associatively movable portion which moves in association with the solenoid-side movable portion with respect to the solenoid-side movable portion of the solenoid 12, and vibration/impact absorbing means 14 is provided to provide a balance state of operating forces applied to the movable system.

Abstract: A method of forming a key comprising the steps of: depositing an electroless metallic layer on an upper surface of a substrate; removing the metallic layer from selected portions to expose the substrate, said exposed portions of the substrate defining the image of an indicia; depositing a second metallic layer on the remaining portions of the first metallic layer by electrolysis; and coupling a lower surface of the substrate to an element for actuating a switch. A device for tactile actuation by a user, having an element, for activating a switch, coupled to a body supporting a metallic layer for tactile actuation by a user, wherein the metallic layer extends over an upper surface of the body and wherein at least one aperture extends through the metallic layer to said upper surface thereby defining at least one visible indicia.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for withdrawing and dewatering slag from a gasification system. In particular, the present invention relates to a conveying lockhopper and method of using the conveying lockhopper to collect slag and other waste byproducts from the gasifier of a gasification system. The conveying lockhopper is configured to receive slag from a gasifier, simultaneously extract and dewater the slag, and expel the processed slag directly into an awaiting container suitable for carrying the processed slag away. The conveying lockhopper generally comprises a housing with inlet and outlet valves to receive and expel slag, respectively. The housing is inclined at an angle typically between 5 and 60 degrees to the horizontal so that the outlet is at a higher elevation than the inlet. Inside the housing, an auger or similar conveying mechanism conveys the slag from the inlet towards the outlet while simultaneously dewatering the slag.

Abstract: A method for chemical vapor deposition for producing a thin film. The method includes the steps of: introducing a reactive gas into a reaction chamber wherein a substrate is supported in the reaction chamber; combining charged particles with a component of the reactive gas for ionizing the component; and electrostatically depositing the ionized component onto the substrate in an electric field. Charged particles may be photoelectrons or positive or negative ions produced by discharge. The reactive gas may be solely an ingredient gas containing a component for a thin film or a mixture of the ingredient gas and an oxidizing or reducing gas.

Abstract: A process for forming a coating on a substrate by condensation of a coating material onto the substrate while the substrate is moving through an enclosure under vacuum in which evaporation of the coating material takes place.

Abstract: A target and magnetron for a plasma sputter reactor. The target has an annular vault facing the wafer to be sputter coated. Preferably, the magnetron includes annular magnets of opposed polarities disposed behind the two vault sidewalls and a small closed unbalanced magnetron of nested magnets of opposed polarities scanned along the vault roof. The nested magnets are rotated along the vault. An integrated copper via filling process with the inventive reactor or other reactor includes a first step of highly ionized sputter deposition of copper, which can optionally be used to remove the barrier layer at the bottom of the via, a second step of more neutral, lower-energy sputter deposition of copper to complete the seed layer, and a third step of electroplating copper into the hole to complete the metallization. The first two steps can be also used with barrier metals.

Abstract: A polymeric material which to form a stable, reproducible interface between the ionic and electronic domains of an ion selective sensor, or an ion selective field effect transistor, or the like is provided. When employed in an ion selective sensor, the polymeric material is advantageously provided over a solid internal reference electrode and an ion selective material is provided thereover. According to one embodiment, the polymeric material of the invention includes less than about 1.63×10<immobilized charged sites per gram (less than about 2.72 millaequivalents/gram). According to another embodiment, the polymeric material includes immobilized sites of charge opposite that of mobile ions involved in the redox couple. A preferred polymeric material comprises a copolymer of methacrylamidopropyltrimethylammoniumchloride and methylmethacrylate.

Abstract: The present invention disclose a method for fabricating planar reference electrodes. Particularly, the present invention relates to the planar reference electrode comprising plate (4); electrode connection (1); electrode (3); insulating membrane (2); inner reference solution (5); junction (7 or 9); and protecting membrane (6, 8 or 9), and processes for fabrication thereof, in which the junction is composed of porous material such as cotton thread, glass fiber, cellulose nitrate, cellulose acetate, filter paper and any material that can produce capillary action; porous polymer membrane; or a capillary either directly printed on the substrate or inserted with a thin film. The planar reference electrode of the present invention exhibit stable electric potential and short activation period, and may be used in both potentiometry and voltammetry. The planar reference electrodes of the present invention can be easily miniaturized and mass produced.

Abstract: The present invention provides an integrated, fully automated, high-throughput system for two-dimensional electrophoresis comprised of gel-making machines, gel processing machines, gel compositions and geometries, gel handling systems, sample preparation systems, software and methods. The system is capable of continuous operation at high-throughput to allow construction of large quantitative data sets.

Abstract: A method for plating a second metal directly to a first metal without utilizing a mask. A semiconductor substrate is provided including at least one metal feature and at least one insulating layer covering the metal feature and the substrate. At least one recess is formed in the at least one insulating layer thereby exposing at least a portion of the metal feature. At least one conductive barrier layer is formed over the insulating layer and the exposed portion of the metal feature. A plating seed layer of a first metal is formed over the at least one barrier layer. A photoresist layer is deposited over the plating seed layer. Portions of the photoresist layer and portions of the plating seed layer outside of the at least one recess are removed. Photoresist remaining in the at least one recess is removed. A second metal is electroplated to the plating seed layer in the recess, using the barrier layer to conduct electrical current.

Abstract: An electrochemical processing chamber which can be modified for treating different workpieces and methods for so modifying electrochemical processing chambers. In one particular embodiment, an electrochemical processing chamber 200 includes a plurality of walls 510 defining a plurality of electrode compartments 520, each electrode compartment having at least one electrode 600 therein, and a virtual electrode unit 530 defining a plurality of flow conduits, with at least one of the flow conduits being in fluid communication with each of the electrode compartments. This first virtual electrode unit 530 may be exchanged for a second virtual electrode unit 540, without modification of any of the electrodes 600, to adapt the processing chamber 200 for treating a different workpiece.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring partial hydrogen pressure in a gas stream is described. The apparatus includes a housing with micro-fuel cell sensor disposed therein. The sensor includes a sensing element having first and second gas diffusing electrodes spaced from one another with an acidic electrolyte disposed between the electrodes. A first gas permeable membrane separates the first electrode from an external gas stream. A second gas permeable membrane separates the second electrode from atmospheric air. Electrochemical charging of the first electrode occurs when hydrogen from a gas stream diffuses through the first membrane to react with the first electrode, while the potential of the second electrode remains unchanged. The potential difference between the first and second electrodes measured as current is identified to represent the sensor output.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for inexpensively retrofitting existing cash register tills with an insert comprising a coin cup holder designed to fit into an existing bill slot for stabilizing coin cups. The coin cup holder allows the coin cup to rest evenly without rocking, and the coin cup can be removed from the till for ease of counting coins. A special coin cup is provided designed to rest in the coin cup holder and comprising a notch in one of the walls to allow it to pass the attachment points of a bill weight typically provided in existing cash tills to hold down bills in the bill slots.

Abstract: A tray apparatus for simultaneously holding food and beverage items while held in an automotive cup holder is disclosed. The apparatus has a left side tray, a right side tray and a container section. The container section is configured to firmly hold a beverage cup while also fitting firmly inside the cup holders commonly used inside cars, trucks or any other moving vehicle such as boats, planes, and heavy moving equipment.

Abstract: An apparatus for holding a media storage disk of a kind having a surface forming a central hole. The apparatus includes a base portion and two arms, each arm resiliently cantilevered and extending substantially perpendicular from the base portion. A disk locating means includes two portions, each having a disk engageable region. The two portions are also articulated to each other about an articulation axis and each portion is pivotally connected to one of the arms, respectively, about a pivot axis, the articulation axis located between the pivot axes. The two portions are moveable in a manner that moves the articulation axis from a side on one side of and between the two pivot axes, wherein the two portions are in a disk securing condition, to a position on the other side of and between the two pivot axes, wherein the two portions are in a disk releasing condition.

Abstract: This invention relates to a sleeve for holding one or more digital video discs with a first dimension in a first pocket and the accompanying graphics having a second dimension in a second opposing pocket. The digital video disc is supported in the first pocket by one or more stop seals which elevate the digital video disc to a more accessible position for removal.

Abstract: A packaging box, for a golf ball, is formed by folding a packaging sheet comprising a decomposable laminate material consisting of a polylactic acid-containing polymer film and a sheet of paper laminated with the polylactic acid-containing polymer film. A portion corresponding to a window is cut out from the paper, and the window is covered with the polylactic acid-containing polymer film laminated on the paper. The window is formed straddlingly on two or three planes such that the polylactic acid-containing polymer film covering the window is bent perpendicularly at a boundary between the planes adjacent to each other. A raised portion is formed on the packaging sheet.

Abstract: A packaging system for a door knob assembly is disclosed which includes a clear or translucent extruded tubular member for encasing a door knob, lever, deadbolt or other door hardware or accessory. A pair of end caps are disposed at opposite ends of the tubular member for defining a packaging volume therein. The particular door hardware contained within the packaging system may be supported on an insert which further provides a storage volume within the packaging system for additional components of the lockset. Retaining flanges extend from the end caps for releasably securing the packaged door hardware within the packaging system.